A giant photo of a colonial-era church from La Piedad, Mexico, hangs on a dining room wall in northeast Ohio. That picture points straight to the family that runs the kitchen.
They come from La Piedad, in the Mexican state of Michoacan. Their menu brings Michoacan-style carnitas and Sinaloa-style shrimp tacos to a busy suburban road packed with big-name competition.
I like how the place mixes familiar Tex-Mex comfort with dishes that feel personal. There’s a burrito topped with queso and diablo sauce, plus birria tacos with consomé for dunking. Desserts include Choco Flan and fried ice cream, which feels like a fair warning.
I believe small family-run spots like this keep a local food scene honest. The thought of digging into a plate of Michoacan-style carnitas, trying those birria tacos with warm consomé, and finishing with Choco Flan makes me want to skip the usual chain restaurant and give this family kitchen a try.
1. A Whole Family Runs The Show, And It Shows
Chain restaurants have corporate offices. La Casa Mexicana has the Hernandez family, and that changes the whole feel of the place.
Maria Hernandez helps lead the business alongside her husband, chef Marcos Hernandez. Elena Hernandez manages, while Fernando Hernandez and Juan Barajas round out the team.
The family traces its roots to La Piedad, a city in Michoacan, Mexico. That hometown connection shows up in the cooking, the decor, and the menu’s regional favorites.
They didn’t arrive in Boardman as beginners, either. The family has a background running Mexican restaurants across northeastern Ohio, including North Ridgeville, Wadsworth, Fairlawn, and Norton.
The Boardman location opened in January 2024. In restaurant years, that’s still pretty fresh, yet the team brought plenty of experience through the door.
I like that you can name the people behind the food. A chain can copy a recipe card, but it can’t copy a family story.
That personal stake matters on a busy road full of familiar logos. When your own name rides on every plate, cutting corners stops being an option.
So the next time a drive-thru calls your name, consider a detour. A family kitchen might deserve the vote instead.
2. Michoacan Carnitas Bring A Hometown Taste To Market Street
Michoacan is famous for carnitas, and the family behind this kitchen comes straight from that Mexican state. Naturally, their carnitas follow the Michoacan style.
That detail might sound small. It’s actually a big deal, because carnitas are a point of pride in the region the family calls home.
The menu doesn’t stop at one corner of Mexico. Shrimp tacos inspired by Sinaloa, a coastal state known for seafood, also earn a spot.
So you get a little road trip across Mexico without leaving Ohio. One order leans inland and porky, while the other heads for the coast.
The rest of the menu blends Tex-Mex favorites with these more traditional dishes. That means picky eaters and adventurous ones can share a table without a standoff.
I can’t imagine a better way to test a new spot than ordering its hometown specialty. If a family puts its region’s name on a dish, it’s probably proud of it.
Chains tend to sand off regional details to please everyone. This kitchen goes the other way and leans right into them.
Start with the carnitas, then branch out next visit. Your loyalty card at the chain can wait.
3. Heat Seekers Should Head Straight For The Burrito Infierno
Infierno means hell in Spanish, which tells you plenty about this burrito’s attitude. Consider yourself politely warned.
The Burrito Infierno packs grilled chicken and chorizo inside. Then it gets topped with queso dip and diablo sauce, a combo that sounds both cozy and bold.
The queso brings comfort to the party. The diablo sauce brings the drama, so keep that water glass close by.
Spice fans have other options too. The restaurant has pointed heat lovers toward Chicken Chipotle, Steak Adobo, and Seafood Soup as dishes on the spicier side.
There’s even a homemade hot salsa you can ask your server about. That’s a nice little secret for anyone who finds standard salsa too shy.
I like that the kitchen offers ways to turn the heat up without forcing it on everyone. Mild eaters stay happy, and fire fans get their thrill.
Many chains play it safe with spice to avoid complaints. Here, you can actually ask for more and get it.
Bring a friend who claims nothing is ever too hot. The Burrito Infierno is a fun way to test that claim.
4. Five Meats On One Platter Is A Strong Opening Argument
Adobo chicken, ribeye steak, bacon jumbo shrimp, chorizo, and carnitas all share one platter. That lineup is called La Parrillada, and it doesn’t believe in choosing.
Indecisive diners, this one’s for you. Instead of agonizing over the menu, you basically order a little of everything meaty.
It’s a smart pick for sharing, too. Pass it around the table and watch everyone stake out their favorite corner.
Then there are the Birria Tacos, another headliner. They’re made with slow-cooked shredded beef in adobo sauce and served with consomé on the side.
That consomé is the fun part. Dunking a taco into a warm, savory broth turns lunch into a hands-on event.
Birria tacos pop up often in local chatter about this restaurant. Considering the slow-cooked beef and that broth, the attention makes sense.
I believe a great platter and a great taco can carry a restaurant. Here you get both on the same menu, which feels a little greedy in the best way.
Napkins are not optional with birria. Grab a few extra before the dunking begins.
5. Seafood Nachos Prove Chips Can Get Fancy
Shrimp, crab meat, grilled vegetables, and pineapple salsa all pile onto one plate of chips. Meet the Seafood Nachos, the fanciest nachos on the block.
Pineapple salsa adds a sweet and tangy twist. It pairs nicely with seafood and keeps every bite from feeling too heavy.
The appetizer list goes beyond nachos. You’ll also find plenty of starters, plus fajitas, bowls, and meat entrees like Carne Asada.
That range makes group dinners easier. Someone wants steak, someone wants a bowl, and someone just wants to snack, so everybody wins.
Vegetarians aren’t left staring at a side salad, either. A vegetarian combination plate with a bean burrito and a cheese enchilada sits right on the menu.
I like when a menu thinks about everyone at the table. It shows the kitchen expects families and friend groups, not just one type of diner.
Chain menus often feel copied from the same template. This one mixes seafood surprises, meaty classics, and meat-free plates in a way that feels personal.
Order the Seafood Nachos for the table first. Then see who gets brave enough to take the last crab-topped chip.
6. Save Room, Because The Dessert List Is Not Messing Around
Choco Flan, fried ice cream, xango, churros, and sopapilla all wait at the end of the meal. Five desserts is a lot of temptation for one small stomach.
Choco Flan stacks chocolate cake with creamy flan. It’s basically two desserts that agreed to work together.
Xango might be the one newcomers haven’t tried. It’s a fried, cheesecake-style treat, and it’s a fun pick if you want something different.
Fried ice cream remains a crowd-pleaser for a reason. Something cold with a crunchy outside just feels like a party trick you can eat.
Drinks get the house-made treatment too. Horchata, the sweet cinnamon rice drink, is made in-house, and so is the hibiscus iced tea.
The hibiscus tea is a bright, ruby-colored option for anyone skipping soda. Horchata, meanwhile, practically doubles as dessert in a glass.
I can’t imagine leaving without at least splitting something sweet. Sharing counts as self-control, right?
Chains often serve frozen desserts with fancy names. A house-made horchata and a lineup of classic Mexican sweets feel far more personal and fun.
7. A Y-Shaped Counter And A Church Photo Set The Mood
Most restaurant counters run in a straight, boring line. This one forms a “Y” shape, with about 27 seats that make it easier for groups to chat face to face.
Four large-screen TVs hang nearby, along with several high-top tables. Game nights suddenly look a lot more appealing.
The main dining room is separate and seats about 100 people. Booths and tables mix together, and two big TVs are visible from different angles.
One wall holds the room’s real star. A large photograph shows a colonial-era church from La Piedad, the family’s hometown in Mexico.
That photo quietly tells you whose restaurant this is. It’s a little piece of Michoacan right here in Ohio.
The owners also made the space their own. They added a large front window and changed the decor after the previous occupants finished a facelift.
Prefer fresh air? A spacious patio offers outdoor dining when the weather plays nice.
I like that every seating area has its own personality. Pick the lively counter, a cozy booth, or the patio depending on your mood.
8. Planning A Party Gets Way Easier Here
Round booths for six to eight people are just the starting point. La Casa Mexicana offers a whole ladder of party-friendly spaces.
A small private room with sliding doors fits 8 to 12 guests. A larger private room, also with sliding doors, holds 13 to 24.
Bigger crowd? The banquet hall accommodates 25 to 120 guests, and the restaurant advertises no additional room rental fee. Contact the team to discuss menu packages and event arrangements.
Menus can be customized, so the food can match the occasion. Birthday, graduation, or family reunion, the spread can fit the crowd.
Birthday celebrations come up a lot in local talk about this restaurant. With this many room sizes, it’s easy to see why families pick it.
Sliding doors on the private rooms are a smart touch. You get privacy for speeches or gifts without feeling cut off from the restaurant’s energy.
Chains rarely offer this kind of flexibility. Usually you get a few pushed-together tables and a crossed-fingers hope.
Book early if you’re planning an event on a popular date, and confirm the room arrangements and pricing with the restaurant before sending invitations.
9. Taco Bars, Fundraisers, And Directions For Your Next Craving
Sometimes the food needs to come to you. Catering covers taco bars, fajita bars, quesadilla trays, and enchilada trays.
A taco bar is the ultimate office lunch peacemaker. Everyone builds their own plate, and nobody argues about toppings.
Schools, clubs, and community groups can also ask about fundraising opportunities. The restaurant has promoted events that return a portion of qualifying sales to participating organizations, so it’s worth checking the current terms when arranging one.
That’s a tasty way to support a team or classroom. You eat dinner, and a local group gets a boost.
Finding the place is simple. La Casa Mexicana sits at 7334 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512, right in the middle of the area’s busy dining strip.
The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, noon on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. Closing times are 9:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. Sunday.
I believe a restaurant that feeds fundraisers and family parties becomes part of a community. That’s something no national chain can fake from a head office.
So next time you’re cruising Market Street in Ohio, skip the usual logo. A family from La Piedad has a seat waiting for you.
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