Villa Mexico Cafe

Name: Villa Mexico Cafe
Address: 121 Water Street, Boston, MA, 02109, US
Telephone: +16179570725
Price range: $
Rating: 4

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Villa Mexico Cafe

The best Mexican food in Boston is a hidden gem. Come for the original grilled burritos, black salsa The first two Villa México Café locations were in Woburn.

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Villa México Café had its origins in Woburn, Mass. Julie King, owner, manager, cook, cleaner and everything else, moved there with her daughter, Bessie, after her American husband passed away from Alzheimer's. A lawyer in Mexico, Julie could not litigate in Massachusetts with

out going to school again. However, at that time her daughter's education came before hers. She therefore decided to open a restaurant since she found no good Mexican food in Woburn or its surroundings, or authentic Mexican food for that matter. She went into business with one purpose only: to bring authentic, homemade Mexican food to the people of New England. In 2006 Julie relocated to a gas station store in Beacon Hill. The last gas station in Boston became the notorious home of the "gas station burritos," and at that spot the restaurant earned its "Best Burrito in Boston" title from Boston Phoenix and Improper Bostonian. The gas station was demolished for redevelopment in 2013 and the latest Villa México Café opened in Boston's Financial District on January 11, 2016. During this period the business continued its black salsa sales and catering. Now, still serving authentic Mexican dishes like burritos, quesadillas, tacos, tostadas, fresh fruit waters and more, Villa México Café continues with its mission. To the like (or dislike) of customers, Julie and Bessie say that if they don't eat it in Mexico they won't sell it. Julie has come to be known as Momma King, nurturing customers as friends. To her and to the team the restaurant is not just a business, it is a home and a safe zone; welcoming everyone to eat, to learn, to talk and to make our city better together. As Momma King says, "Hi my friends! Welcome to our 'changarro!'"

01/13/2025

What a great first start of 2025!!!

Last week we welcomed you back with our traditional Rosca de Reyes (Mexican King Bread) and lots of baby Jesús were found 😂!

Remember Niels, Brien, Kerrie, and our other three friends who got the figurine: you have a FREE burrito or burrito bowl on February 2nd 😁!

Add to this fun start, our first catering of the year and team birthday, and we are thankful to be back ❤️

See you here for your authentic Mexican food, friends!

01/03/2025

Get ready for Monday! As we do every year, Rosca de Reyes straight from México!

Find the baby Jesús figurine for a free burrito!

See you soon friends, haply 2025!!!

12/23/2024

We had a fun gift exchange with our team this past Friday- the last day open for 2024 before holidays!

We will be on break this and next week, as we do every year, to rest, give our team a vacation to spend with their loved ones, and visit family in Mexico ourselves.

Thank you for everything you gave us this year, friends. For your orders, catering, love of our authentic Mexican food, support, encouragement, and joy! We wish you a wonderful two weeks of holidays and New Year's ❤️.

See you in 2025, ready for Rosca de Reyes straight from Mexico!!!

12/12/2024

It's not too late!

You have ONE WEEK to have the best authentic Mexican food in Boston for you and your work team, family and friends, and other guests this holiday season!

Our last day open before holiday vacation for the whole team is December 20, so get your catering orders in, get your salsa jars, get your tamales, and get your burritos!!!

Thank you friends ❤️!

12/06/2024

There may not be snow but it sure is cold!

Remember that we have your winter treat ready for you: Mexican hot chocolate!

What's so special about it? We'll, it's NOT spicy 😂 that's just a stereotype. Authentic Mexican hot chocolate is milk and cacao tablets boiled together. The chocolate melts and you get a rich, tasty, hearty cup of hot chocolate that warms up your soul!

But not all cacao tablets are equal, either. We've always used because it's a Mexican owned and made chocolate bar brand with less sugar and more cacao, compared to other brands.

Come and taste for yourself, and warm up while you sip!

12/02/2024

Thank you for including our authentic Mexican salsa on your gift guide Living Out Joy!

Make sure you get your black salsa jar for the cooks and foodies in your life, friends 😊 (livingoutjoy.com/2024-christmas-gift-guide).

Happy December, let's make the most of the last days of 2024!

11/29/2024

Thank you for including Villa México Café's back salsa jars in your holiday gift guide!!!

When we were at our little gas station we always wanted to be featured in our city's prime magazine for our authentic Mexican food. While on Water Street we've had such joy getting two Best of Boston awards through the years... Now we can add this to our accomplishments ❤️!!!

Get your salsa jars, friends 🎁!

11/27/2024

Dear friends, as you know we have been working hard all this year to make our salsa dreams come true!

This effort to manufacture and sell our salsa jars in stores has slowly grown. At the start of the year we were delighted to have won the pitch competition and most recently we began working with to get more press from states across the country. We got free professional product shots from our friend .zhao, attended food shows with local organizations supporting women in business and , and continued our own promotion of salsa jars here at the restaurant.

All this work shows you that it can be hard to make one idea grow, but with the right community and mindset nothing is impossible.

We don't know what may come in 2025, many in our communities are worried, and we are still fighting to keep the business afloat after clearing debt and restarting from zero post-pandemic. The only thing that will keep us going is supporting each other and hoping for better. We will be here making the best authentic Mexican food we can to comfort your body and soul. Never lose your faith and hope.

On the day before Thanksgiving, we want to thank EVERYONE who has helped us move our salsa business along, keep the restaurant open, and given us hope ❤️.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being our community friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

11/26/2024

In the holiday spirit!

We love this season where everybody focuses on what's most important: family and community!

Hopefully you like our decorations and holidays spirit as we get ready to celebrate and wrap up another year on Water Street. We have yummy authentic Mexican hot chocolate to fight off the cold if you're looking for a treat as well!

Remember: December 16 is the last day for salsa jars and tamale orders!

🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄

11/24/2024

It’s that time of the year, pie making for Community Servings!

This is one of our favourite charity events to be part of! We’ve made apple pies for years and their sale supports healthy meals for people all around us.

If you haven’t purchased a pie, head to https://www.servings.org/events/pie-in-the-sky/ to buy one or make a donation before Thanksgiving, friends! Maybe you'll get one of ours 😊❤️😊!

11/19/2024

From Boston to Chicago and across the US, get your salsa jars today!

Got a lovely little package from in Boston! They sent some of their homemade black salsa and chips and I can’t wait to give them a try. Order your own from this highly-rated eatery at villamexicocafe.us.

11/11/2024

HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO THOSE STRONG WOMEN & MEN WHO FOUGHT FOR THEIR COUNTRY!!!

CWO ROBERT KING, served in the US NAVY, our beloved Husband and Bessie's Dad.
He taught us to love, to care, and to respect our second home THE UNITED STATES. As many, many veterans, who served in here.

Thank you Daddy for all your time, effort and love granted to the U.S., thank you for teaching us to be a good Citizens as you did. Your daughter and I are very proud of you!!! Love to heaven ❤️💕♥️

11/04/2024

We had a beautiful October and start to November, all thanks to YOU friends!

It was wonderful to meet friends from Mexico who have supported us through the years on social media from México! They finally made it in to eat authentic Mexican food in Boston 😊. ¡Gracias por visitarnos!

We also had a big order for the on opening day, more work done for the salsa sales with help from a friend to take pictures, our loved anual charity event benefiting , and an eventful Día de Mu***os with our altar, sugar skull painting for kids, and the first ever Day of the Dead concert which featured our little business as we set up our altar (it was an incredible and beautiful surprise ❤️).

Our outdoor seating is also picked up, but we are still OPEN and welcome your business!!!

As the cold season comes, and more of you stay home to work remote, please order our Mexican food for catering and delivery, or salsa jars shipped nationwide, to keep our doors open and our team employed. Thank you!!!

www.villamexicocafe.us/catering
www.villamexicocafe.us/salsa
Order delivery on 👌

11/01/2024

¡Feliz día de Mu***os! Happy Day of the Dead, friends!

We have your pan de mu**to sweet bread, authentic Mexican hot chocolate, tamales, and sugar skulls to enjoy this beautiful tradition and remember loved ones.

It's also the last Friday and weekend of outdoor seating 😭 so come visit! Kids can paint sugar skulls for free tomorrow, November 2, from 10am to 1pm. We will be selling sweet bread, hot chocolate, and tamales during those hours tomorrow.

AND! If you want a wood pellet from our outdoor seating please come take them in Sunday as we break down! Or if you have a business that picks up these materials please help us take them!

***os **to

10/27/2024

It's salsa season!!!

Happy Sunday friends, we are making our way to the Post Office after preparing black salsa shipments for Chicago, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, and around Massachusetts!

If you didn't read our newsletter, well stop taking orders for our authentic Mexican salsa on December 16. Plan ahead!!!

THANK YOU ❤️ your salsa orders help us end the year strong amidst slow season 🙏.

10/25/2024

Outdoor seating season is over :(. We hope you enjoyed this space as much as we enjoyed setting it up to see you eat, gather, and even celebrate birthdays!

As we make space in the basement for the tables and chairs, we're reaching out to our community for some assistance. Do you have a local removal service that takes wood and pallets? Or can you recommend one?

We have to break down our patio on Saturday and Sunday after our annual Day of the Dead kid's day. Since this is the first year we build out at sidewalk level, help and guidance are welcome! Thank you friends :)!

10/23/2024

Get ready for our Day of the Dead annual specials and kid's day!

Our altar is already set up so come view it! Starting Monday, 10/28, you can buy authentic Mexican food for this tradition: pan de mu**to (once-a-year-made sweet bread), Mexican hot chocolate, and tamales. Set up your altar and home and eat delicious treats through this beautiful holiday.

On Saturday, 11/02, kids can come and paint calaveras, or sugar skulls, for free from 10 am to 1 pm. It's a great chance for them to learn and have fun. Plus, it's the last time this year to use our outdoor patio!

We love to share this heartfelt holiday with you, reminding everyone that Día de Mu***os is not "Mexican Halloween" or a costume. Come eat and share with us!

***os

10/21/2024

Happy Monday, friends! Did you get our newsletter this month? Well, don't worry because you can still read it here: https://conta.cc/4eVUGYh

We have two great annual events coming up: Men of Boston Cook for Women's Health and Day of the Dead! Make sure you read to find out how to join us and order.

Remember: with the colder weather, we could REALLY benefit from your orders and catering business as foot traffic slows down. Let us serve you our authentic Mexican food with excellent customer service. Call or email us: 6179570725, [email protected].

***os

Address

121 Water Street
Boston, MA
02109

Telephone

+16179570725

Website

https://www.VillaMexicoCafe.us/, https://direct.chownow.com/order/38480/locations/58578

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Videos

Happy short week friends! If you haven't reas this month's newsletter, you may have come in and been surprised by our Día de Muertos altar! This is our traditional annual Day of the Dead altar, and we hope you like seeing it and asking questions about it when you visit. It's open to the public for viewing, please come! We love sharing this holiday for everyone to learn that Día de Muertos is not Mexican Halloween or a face painting costume, why it matters and the deep rich history behind this holiday that really lasts 7 days. We also welcome you, our community, to put photos of loved ones in the altar if you'd like (including pets). From October 28 to November 1, we will have the traditional pan de muerto sweet bread, Mexican hot chocolate, and "altar packs" for sale. Then, on November 2 we welcome our little friends to come paint sugar skulls for free from 10am to 1pm! We will have tamales, more sweet bread and hot chocolate for the grown ups to purchase 😋. Remember, as long as you love your loved ones will never be gone ❤️ #diadelosmuertos #AuthenticMexican #MexicanFood #VillaMexicoCafe #Boston #pandemuerto #tamales

How do we make our tamales? Come take a look! Scroll to see us making chicken tamales in green tomatillo sauce. Our tamales are as homemade and handmade as everything else in our menu 👌. It all starts with good masa, or dough. We use chicken stock from the cooked chicken for the tamales instead of water or lard and season the masa with Mexican spices. After cooking the chicken and pulling it, we make our green tomatillo sauce and mix it with the chicken and diced boiled potatoes to make sure the filling is nice and filling! Each tamal (the singular is not tamale), is stuffed with a spoonfool of relleno, or the chicken in green sauce stuffing. Then, we use two washed and “steamed” corn husks. You need to keep the corn husks in hot water to make sure they are flexible to bend and fold, that’s how they get steamed. And we use two husks to protect the filling in the tamales from sneaking out! The folding is a thing of practice, but once you get the hang of it you can make up to 200 tamales in two hours like we do! Once you fill, fold, and pack, you get all of your tamales to cook. Packed neatly into pots with a steam rack at the bottom to create a water boil, or baño maría. They are left to cook for two to three hours- depending on the flame heat. After, you have cooked tamales that can be fast freezed to eat as you’d like. Full disclosure: this is the only dish in our menu we have to freeze and every day we bring out tamales to sell. Due to the level of work and time it takes to make them, we would not be able to cook tamales daily! However, homemade tamales will ALWAYS taste better than store bought- even when frozen! We hope you liked this little tour, my friends 😊! As always, get your authentic Mexican food only at Villa México Café ❤️. #tamales #authenticmexican #mexicanfood #boston #villamexicocafe

Make breakfast burritos with us! Bright and early today to deliver burritos with Huevos a la Mexicana, Steak, and Chorizo. Order yours off our catering menu! #breakfast #breakfastburrito #Burrito #Boston #huevosalamexicana #chorizo #catering #AuthenticMexican

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Our Story

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Villa Mexico Cafe’s mission is to share the authentic food and culture of Mexico with the people of New England, to build bridges between communities. As a minority-female-owned business, it is one of the first authentic Mexican restaurants in Massachusetts. Villa México Café had its origins in Woburn, Mass. Julie King, owner, manager, cook, cleaner and everything else, moved there with her daughter, Bessie, after her American husband passed away from Alzheimer's. A lawyer in Mexico, Julie could not litigate in Massachusetts without going to school again. However, at that time her daughter's education came before hers. She therefore decided to open a restaurant since she found no good Mexican food in Woburn or its surroundings, or authentic Mexican food for that matter. The first two Villa México Café locations were in Woburn. In 2006 Julie relocated to a gas station store in Beacon Hill. The last gas station in Boston became the notorious home of the "gas station burritos," and at that spot the restaurant earned its "Best Burrito in Boston" title from Boston Phoenix and Improper Bostonian. The gas station was demolished for redevelopment in 2013 and the latest Villa México Café opened in Boston's Financial District on January 11, 2016. During this period the business continued its black salsa sales and catering. Now, still serving authentic Mexican dishes like burritos, quesadillas, tacos, tostadas, fresh fruit waters and more, Villa México Café continues with its mission. To the like (or dislike) of customers, Julie and Bessie say that if they don't eat it in Mexico they won't sell it. Julie has come to be known as Momma King, nurturing customers as friends. To her and to the team the restaurant is not just a business, it is a home and a safe zone; welcoming everyone to eat, to learn, to talk and to make our city better together. As Momma King says, "This is not my business, this is my home. And you are not my customers, you are my friends!"