La Perla Produce

Found this on a whim on our way down to Chicago. Great food! The salsa has a smokiness to it, very good. I got the bistek plate and my husband got 2 tacos (steak and chorizo) — we left full and satisfied for only $ 13.
We’ll be making this a regular stop from now on.

I have been to many great Mexican restaurants, and this place sits comfortably near the top of my experiences. The enchiladas I had were the most authentic I’ve ever tasted, and left me wanting to try everything else on the menu. Everything tasted fresh, and incredibly authentic. I also got some of their sweet bread for the road, which didn’t disappoint either.

Driving to Chicago airport, found this gem restaurant. The food there was delicious, authentic Mexican! We offered, spicy shrimp and some chicken dish, the kids and is loved loved it! Will be back whenever we drive that way!!! Inexpensive, simply yummy and also can but authentic Mexican grocery there!

Restaurant section: If you want real authentic Mexican food get on over here. Good sized portions and a good price and the taste is REAL.

We came here to look for s’mores ingredients. Unfortunately, they did not have graham crackers, but instead we stayed for dinner. I ordered the carnitas plate (great portion, perfectly warm flour tortillas, wasn’t that big of a fan of the skin), while he got the 3 chicken enchiladas (just the right amount of food for him).
The restaurant/​grocery store is a great part of the neighborhood. We hardly saw anyone out on the streets and was very surprised to see so many people in line for food, groceries, etc.

As real as it gets!!! I had the pleasure to visit Mexico many times for a business project. The people were wonderful and they loved to introduce me to their local food. La Perla doesn’t just remind me of those times — it takes me back and puts me in a local diner in Monterrey, or Renosa.
Insider tip — spend time at the meat counter and watch them tenderize the meat — so that’s how they do it!

Best Mexican food around. Strongly suggest any of their tacos. The chorizo is fantastic. Their downside is I would say the chicken is «so-​so». Best salsa in the county though.
I have also used them twice for catering and they do a very good job. Their guacamole is good and typically has some nice spice/​flavor to it.

Guys! For the life of me I cannot begin to imagine what’s possessed so many people to give 5 stars for La Perla. It was a neat experience to travel into the bowels of Benton Harbor and have dinner at a grocery store. I get it… It was an experience indeed but not a 5 star one. Its authentic for sure and that is nothing I take lightly. We had a chicken burrito and fish tacos with chips/​salsa. The chips were great, perfectly salted and perfectly crispy. The Chick burrito was ok… yeah…thats about it… OK. The chicken was not seasoned terribly well, there wasnt any rice, the cheese had not particular flavor and they had run out of guac (how you run out of guac when your restaurant is located inside a grocery store is beyond me…). The fish tacos were bad… like real bad… please read this and DONT get the fish tacos. Lazy, slopy, and the fish was forever deep fried to the point that you tasted grease with hints of fish. Really really bad.
So look, I was what it was, a simple mexican joint and the prices were appropriate but it was nothing more than that.

The most delicious and authentic Mexican food in SW Michigan. By far!!! I usually order several a la carte pieces and skip the rice and beans from the dinners (though they aren’t bad at all).
I highly recommend the Mexican tacos, gorditas, flautas and sopes.
The one negative is often the staff doesn’t really seem in a good mood.

I can get past eating in a grocery store but it could certainly be cleaner. Being Vegan, we order off the side items menu and it makes for a strange order which they all started making fun of in Spanish. The food was OK, maybe a click above Taco Bell but not as clean. I would say the salsa is fresh but very watery/​runny. The chips are thick, and a bit greasy but included for dine in. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind your surroundings, this is the place for you.

This place is a gem. The food is excellent and could not be more authentic. Not too spicy for my mild taste buds. Portions are generous and you won’t go away hungry. Service is prompt and friendly. I would recommend this to anyone in or near Benton Harbor. My picky kids loved it too!

One thing I always say to myself as a lover of Mexican food, if the chips and salsa is not right, then the restaurant is not right. The chips had a perfect crisp and the salsa had a great balance of flavors with a kick. The cilantro made a great difference in the salsa.
I had a chicken burrito that was everything!!! I have viewed chipotle differently because of La Perla.
Can’t enjoy La Perla without a nice cup of horchata!!!

What a gem! A cute Mexican restaurant in a produce market. The salsa was smoky and delicious and the chicken enchiladas were the best I’ve ever tasted. I’m from California so I’ve eaten a great deal of Mexican food and I think this topped my list of best Mexican restaurants. We bought flan in the market and ate it for dessert at home — it was a huge, yummy piece of flan.

Good authentic Mexican food. The plates are as beautiful (sometimes even more) as the picture in the menu. It is inside of a store, but I think this adds to the authenticity of the place. I ate Flautas and meat taco, and they were delicious, best ones I had in a while! Worth every penny. If you like Mexican, you cannot go wrong by coming here!

I came here after reading the Unilocal reviews about a year ago. When work told me they were sending me back to Benton Harbor I was delighted because I would be able to come back once again! Delicious food, very authentic. Don’t let the grocery store façade and entry scare you away! It’s definitely worth the stop! It’s a true gem as long as you aren’t looking for fancy accommodations. I just ate the pork burrito and it was to die for!

Possibly the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Maybe it’s just the fact that it’s so unexpected to find a Mexican restaurant like this in the area, but I absolutely love coming here. I’ve never had a bad meal here and even though it’s been a few years since I’ve moved away from the area, I still find myself craving La Perla and it’s an absolute must whenever I come back to visit the area.
You can’t really go wrong with anything you order here, but I usually go for a torta and one or two tacos. The fish tacos here are pretty solid as well. If you get thirsty, make sure to try the agua frescas they have. Strawberry is my go to, but the cantaloupe and horchata are legit choices as well.

Yes, this is a restaurant in a grocery store but this fact does not take away from how amazing the food is here! As you walk in, just turn right and walk straight to a Mexican food oasis in the middle of nowhere! I’ve brought many friends here in the past and even those from traditionally great places to get Mexican (Texas, California, etc.) say that La Perla is surprisingly authentic and a real delight considering the area.
My personal favorite has to be the fish taco! Be aware that this is an off menu item (a little pricier than their regular tacos)! The serving size is appropriate for a taco and pretty filling. The quality of the fish is outstanding as well. For my drink, I always get a Strawberry Fresca. To be completely honest, the large metal containers they dip their frescas out of are pretty shady, but definitely delicious. Lastly, their chips and salsa are my absolute favorite and comes free with your meal! Feel free to bring up your empty chip basket for more!
The restaurant side of the business is pretty disconnected from the grocery side so it really does feel like you’re in a legitimate restaurant in the end. I find that it’s pretty cold inside so maybe bring a sweater to keep you warm! This wouldn’t be a place I’d bring a first date though.
As a college student surviving on a budget, La Perla’s a great, authentic Mexican option in an area that you’d hardly expect to find food of this quality. A great location for a casual lunch/​dinner with friends.

Located in a Mexican supermarket. Get over the lack of ambiance and enjoy a great Mexican meal. Cheap, good, authentic… you can’t beat this place for some good grub. .just don’t bring a date here.

As I live in Houston, I typically try to avoid Mexican food while I travel, but this place had good reviews and drew me in. Good Mexican food in rural Michigan, who knew?
As previous reviewers have noted, this place is in the back of a Mexican grocery. It’s kind of a dive, so don’t expect to entertain work clients there, but the food is solid. Prices are pretty cheap too.
I will now admit that I wasn’t diligent in reading previous reviews; there is a review saying that the chorizo is kind of greasy, and it is. Flavorful, but greasy. Maybe that’s true with more authentic Mexican cuizine, but it isn’t the case for the awesome TexMex I enjoy in Houstonia.
I also got a taco, which was flawless. The salsa is homemade and is excellent. I also agree with a previous reviewer that the tacos are better than the burritos, but both are good.
If I return to the Benton Harbor area, I would return, but I would have a different food game plan and avoid the chorizo.

Tastes like food straight from Abuelita’s kitchen! All I can say is WOW! I had the carne asado torta and it melted in my mouth it was so delicious! Authentic Mexican grocery store with great food.
My friend brought me here and I was very impressed. I will definitely return next time I am in the area!