Hacienda Mexican Restaurant (Kokomo, IN)

Seems like a pretty good deal!

 

Exterior: 4/5 

Seen from the parking lot

Hacienda is a regional chain with a few locations scattered across northern Indiana. The Kokomo location is in the little commercial area behind the former Kokomo Mall (we hardly knew ye) and the Chrysler plant. They've modernized the facade over the years, but it's consistently on-brand. I wouldn't say it's the most eye-catching building but they maintain it well.

Ambience: 4/5

Entryway

One of the dining areas

Decor

It's Mexico right out of a mid-century Western up in here. It's nice in the respect that the decor is subtle but still themed. Throughout the multiple dining areas there's ample seating and stuff is kept clean. There are always people at Hacienda. It's a local staple and a popular birthday destination - the waitstaff had to collect for a birthday song three different times while we were there on a Thursday night. That said, we came with a large party and we didn't have to wait to get seated. There's a ton of tables. We were never rushed to leave even though folks kept coming in.

Variety: 3/5

They're very proud of their house-made ranch

Lunazul Arriba Margarita

Nobody ever accused Hacienda of being especially authentic Mexican cuisine. They're Tex-Mex with a hard emphasis on the Tex. Their signature dish is a wet burrito (a burrito drowning in sauce) and they also do your generic tacos, chimichangas, quesadillas, etc. Now they do have an array of margaritas - I got the one that was on special (above) and it was huge but not especially strong. But a lot of their featured stuff is downright American, i.e. ranch and buffalo chicken dip. There isn't much on the menu to make you jump up and shout "Wow! That was really creative!" Honestly, I think that's the vibe a lot of their clientele prefers.

Quality: 4/5

Seafood a la Hacienda

Burrito Bowl

Birria Tacos

This is where Hacienda gets you: It's not authentic or creative, but it's good. They know their niche is greasy cheesy goodness and they occupy it vigorously. Their ranch is popular because it's darn tasty ranch. The buffalo chicken dip isn't Mexican, but it's great. Not everything is worth writing home about: My husband got a burrito bowl and it was something he could have gotten at Chipotle and had more control over. But a friend got the birria tacos and reported back that they were amazing, so there's some stuff they're getting right. (My seafood wrap things were ok: Not applause-worthy but still satisfying.) 

Kid-Friendly: 5/5

Likelihood of kids eating Mexican food here: Low

Chippies!

Kids' Mac and Cheese

Kids' Hot Dog

Kids love Hacienda. They were all over the place while we were there. Kid-wise this is a restaurant that knows what's up - their kid menu is mostly American food and the chips and salsa aren't spicy at all so kids go nuts for those bowls of tomatoey goodness. (I should add that the chips are really nice and big but thin and crispy.) The free treat they get on their birthday is clearly an added bonus. Honestly my kids are probably the biggest reason I'll be coming back here. They eat well and since the dining area is cavernous and busy they can't draw too much attention to themselves. 

Would Eat Again?: Green Light

Above all else, Hacienda is a highly community-oriented restaurant. They do community fundraiders all the time. Both of my parents have stories of their owner showing up to an event to donate enormous bags of their chips. So is the food spectacular? Naw. But it's a comfy place to eat and my kids love it. We'll be back.