★★★★★
The birria tacos and consommé are the real deal — everything tasted fresh and the portions were huge for the price.
Mexican Restaurants · Palm River · Tampa
Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food
& Cafe
01
The place
Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe is a family-owned Mexican restaurant at 10278 Causeway Blvd in the Palm River area of east Tampa, FL 33619, inside the Shoppes at Causeway plaza. Opened in 2020, the cafe serves Tijuana street-food-inspired dishes including birria tacos, carne asada fries, California burritos, flautas, quesadillas, chimichangas, and rolled tacos, alongside scratch-made tortilla chips and house salsas. It holds a 4.7-star rating on Google with more than 2,300 reviews. Kitchen hours run Monday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday until 10pm, and Sunday 11am to 8pm. Vegetarian options, boba teas, specialty coffee drinks, and fresh bakery items are available. Dine-in, curbside pickup, and no-contact delivery via DoorDash are offered. On-site parking is free.
Tucked inside the Shoppes at Causeway in east Tampa's Palm River corridor, Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe is the kind of family-run counter spot regulars guard quietly — a small, cheerful kitchen turning out Tijuana street-food classics with the freshness of a home cocina. Since opening in 2020, it has racked up more than 2,300 Google reviews at a 4.7-star average, an unusually high signal for a casual Mexican cafe at this price point.
Order the birria tacos with consommé for dipping, the carne asada fries piled with cheese and guacamole, and the California burrito stuffed with fries and steak. Flautas, chimichangas, rolled tacos, and tostadas round out the savory menu, and the scratch-made tortilla chips and salsa are mentioned in review after review. Save room for boba teas, specialty espresso drinks, and the bakery case of conchas and sweet breads.
The cafe is fast-casual: order at the counter, grab a table inside or on the patio, and free parking is plentiful in the plaza lot. Reservations aren't taken. Takeout is easy via phone or the website, and delivery runs through DoorDash. Prices stay friendly — most plates land under $15 — and vegetarian swaps are available on most builds.
4.7★ on Google with 2,300+ reviews
Family-owned, Latino-owned
Tijuana street-food specialties
Birria tacos with consommé
What to expect
Counter-order casual Mexican in a tidy strip-mall cafe. Bright dining room, small patio, free plaza parking, and a menu that mixes Tijuana street tacos with breakfast burritos, bowls, boba tea, and a bakery case. Expect generous portions, scratch-made chips, and a friendly family-run vibe.
Then come for the photos
03
The shop, in frames
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04
What people are saying
★★★★★
Carne asada fries are loaded and the salsa is scratch-made. Family-run spot with super friendly staff.
★★★★★
Authentic Tijuana-style street food in Tampa. The California burrito and flautas were both excellent, and the boba tea was a fun bonus.
05
Frequently asked
Does Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe take reservations?
No — Lorita's is counter-service casual and seats guests on a walk-in basis. Call (813) 644-5652 for large group questions.
Is Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe dog/pet friendly?
Well-behaved dogs are generally welcomed on the outdoor patio area. Indoor seating is reserved for service animals only.
Where do I park near Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe?
Free on-site parking is available in the Shoppes at Causeway plaza lot at 10278 Causeway Blvd.
What are the most popular dishes at Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe?
Birria tacos with consommé, carne asada fries, the California burrito, flautas, and scratch-made tortilla chips with house salsa are the most-mentioned items in Google reviews.
What are Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe's hours?
Monday through Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–10pm, and Sunday 11am–8pm.
Does Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe offer takeout or delivery?
Yes — takeout and curbside pickup are available by phone or through loritasmexicanfood.com, and delivery runs through DoorDash.
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Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from Lorita's Fresh Mexican Food & Cafe.
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