When I walked into Chapala, I was immediately welcomed by kind restaurant staff. The ambiance inside was very inviting and charming. Chapala opened its doors around the same time my family started our personal taco quest in 2020. It was really difficult at first to open a restaurant in the pandemic, but owner Cesar Ochoa told the Ann Arbor Observer that found the support he needed from employees that had also worked for him in at his former Mexican restaurant in Livonia. He strived to bring authentic Mexican food to the streets of Ann Arbor and share what “Mexicans eat when they go out” (Maynard). 

Once we got to the table, I didn’t need much time to decide what I wanted. The Tacos Mexicanos made my mouth water as I read what was inside: chorizo, onions, cilantro, and salsa verde. I, of course, had to get a side of guacamole to dip it in. While we waited, my friends and I talked about how good the food at other tables looked. My stomach rumbled every time the waiter walked past with food. It wasn’t long before the waiter came back with a plate of steaming tacos that overwhelmed my nostrils with various different spices. The four tacos sat side by side, and you could still hear the sizzling of the meat. I quickly took a bite and indulged in the hot, slightly crunchy, flavor-packed taco. As soon as it touched my lips, I knew I made the right choice. Nothing is worse than feeling like someone else out-ordered you. Luckily, I had not. The combination of the soft tortilla with the smooth but spicy meat and the crunch of the onion on top, made for a euphoric experience that couldn’t be matched. It took me back to feeling like I was at home with my family raving about how tacos rarely let you down. I was very impressed with the quality of my tacos, and Chapala’s atmosphere throughout the night.