For the first restaurant review of this school year, I decided to go (along with my friend and her boyfriend) to the new Mexican restaurant in downtown Fargo, which replaced the former District 64 bar on Broadway. Las Palmas Mexican Bar & Grill opened in late summer this year and is located right above the Juice-It smoothie shop if you frequent that area. Las Palmas is co-owned by the owner of El Agave Mexican Restaurant on 45th Street and the owner of the former District 64. That gave me hope for some scrumptious, authentic Mexican food.
It’s a smaller restaurant than others, but the size of an establishment doesn’t matter when it comes to good quality food. There is an option to sit outside on the small balcony where the windows open up, but that option goes away as the season shifts into winter.
As with any typical Mexican restaurant, we started off with a basket of tortilla chips and a small bowl of salsa. It’s safe to say that these were some of the best tortilla chips I have ever had from any restaurant – we went through about three baskets before our food arrived.
They came out warm, not too salty, and the perfect size for scooping up the delicious salsa. However, if salsa isn’t your go-to dip, they also offer homemade guacamole and cheese dip for an extra cost, but it’s definitely worth the money.
For the first entree, my friend decided to order the carnitas street tacos, which feature a type of pulled pork. There are other meat options, like chicken, steak, Mexican chorizo (finely ground pork), or al pastor (another style of seasoned pork) if carnitas aren’t your favorite. The tacos come in small corn tortillas, topped with onions and cilantro, with a side of spicy dipping sauce – and if you want, there’s half a lime to squeeze onto the tacos for some extra tangy flavor. Additionally, an order of street tacos comes with a decent amount of rice and black beans. The cost was relatively affordable at about $16 for that meal, and I gave it a 4/5 rating.
The next meal ordered was the Texas Fajitas – someone had to order the sizzling fajitas, it’s a must! These fajitas were an instant crowd-pleaser at our table. The meats on the hot skillet included chicken, steak, and shrimp, perfectly cooked, along with fresh, crispy bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes – my favorite part. All the meats were seasoned amazingly well, without overpowering the natural flavors of the shrimp or chicken, and the steak was wonderfully juicy.
The dish comes with a generous portion of warm tortillas, allowing you to create your own fajita wraps, along with sides of refried beans, rice, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo to customize each bite to your liking. This meal deserved a 5/5 for being so delicious.
For my meal, I went with the number four combo, which consists of one taco and one burrito. The taco comes with three different meat options: shredded chicken, shredded beef, or ground beef – I chose shredded chicken for mine. However, the burrito offers more flexibility than the taco, with non-meat options available! You can choose from a cheese or bean burrito, which sounded pretty good to me. The burrito comes topped with cheese and sauce for some extra flavor. This combo also included refried beans and delicious Mexican rice as sides. My meal only cost a little over $13, which is about the same as what I’d spend at McDonald’s for lower-quality food. I gave this meal a 4/5 rating.
There were dessert options, but we were too full to order any. If you’re curious, they do offer flan and churros as sweet treats.
Las Palmas Mexican Bar & Grill is a fantastic addition to the downtown Fargo dining scene. Its cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and top-notch food make it a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Mexican cuisine. Whether you’re there for a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, Las Palmas delivers on both flavor and value.
The menu offers something for everyone, from sizzling fajitas to affordable combo plates, and the homemade chips and salsa are a standout feature. With outdoor seating available during the warmer months, it’s a great spot for a casual meal with friends or family. I’ll definitely be returning to try more dishes – maybe next time, I’ll save room for dessert!
