City: Spearfish, SD

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (605) 642-4765

Address: US 14

Description: The Rodriguez family, owners of all Guadalajara restaurants in South Dakota, has brought a little piece of Old Mexico with them to the small college town of Spearfish. Dagoberto (Dago for short) played soccer for several teams in Mexico before he and his wife, Claudia, made the move from (you guessed it) Guadalajara, Mexico, to the states. They run the restaurant in Spearfish with the help of several other family members, including their two children, who pitch in occasionally. But everyone is family at Guadalajara, and the staff goes out of its way to make you feel welcome. You’ll catch Dago making the rounds, shaking hands, and he’ll speak Spanish with you if you’d like him to.Great service is not the only noteworthy feature here—the food is as authentically Mexican as the family who makes it. Everything is made from scratch, from the chips and salsa all the way to the fried ice cream and sopapillas. You’ll find all the traditional Mexican favorites, but the chimichangas are a local favorite. The sauces add flair to any dish; the Rodriguezes make their own red, green, and mole (pronounced “mow-lay”) sauces, but there is also the delicious red ranchero sauce and other concoctions they refer to as “special” sauces. Portions are large, food is served piping hot, and a full bar can provide you with all the best Mexican drinks (be sure to try the margarita). Lunch is always a good deal at Guadalajara, but there are dinner specials every night and a kid’s meal for 99 cents on Sun.The experience doesn’t end there—Guadalajara’s decor reflects the old country. Everything is brightly colored, artwork and crafts all come from a small market town back home, and chairs and booths are brightly painted hand-carved wood made by one of Dago’s friends in Old Mexico. The Rodriguezes have also brought traditions along with them, and if they find out it’s your birthday, they’ll plop a gigantic sombrero on your head, sing “Happy Birthday” in Spanish, and take a picture so you can remember the embarrassment! Guadalajara is open every day of the week. There is a smoking section by the bar.