Celebrating Cinco De Mayo with an Acapulco burrito

I used to love the Cancun Mexican Grill on West Saginaw Highway. That location was much more convenient than the one in Grand Ledge. So, imagine my surprise when, in 2022, Cancun moved out and was replaced by Acapulco Mexican Grill.

Acapulco is a Michigan-based restaurant chain with a total of five locations, three of them in the Lansing area. When I first stopped by the revamped restaurant, I was struck by how similar its menu was to Cancun’s. This was no coincidence. As it turns out, Acapulco and Cancun are managed by the same family, and the former is actually a spin-off of the latter.

Those who appreciate Cancun’s bright atmosphere and colorful tables might be surprised by Acapulco’s more muted and rustic ambience. The tables are plainly designed, and the cushions on the booths are shades of dark brown and red. Still, it’s fashioned like a Mexican cantina, complete with fancy sombreros and Day of the Dead-esque paintings on the walls.

I honestly didn’t intend to dine there the Sunday before Cinco De Mayo, but it worked out well for this review. My friend and I were seated right before the lunch hour, so it wasn’t too busy. Our waiter immediately brought us a basket of homemade tortilla chips and mild salsa, and we didn’t have long to wait for our food.

As stated previously, the menu is pretty much the same as Cancun’s: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, chimichangas and other traditional Mexican-restaurant fare. My friend tried the mushroom quesadilla, and though it sounded like an interesting choice, I went with what I knew: the restaurant’s trademark Burrito Acapulco with chicken.

The Burrito Acapulco is similar to a wet burrito, filled with shredded chicken and topped with burrito sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. It’s served with a side of Mexican rice and refried beans. The chicken, rice and beans are always perfectly cooked, and the lettuce is crisp and fresh, while the burrito sauce, sour cream and cheese blend perfectly together.

It’s difficult to say whether Acapulco’s food is better than Cancun’s. If you live in west Lansing, however, Acapulco is definitely a more convenient choice. Even though it doesn’t have the colorful ambience of Cancun, Acapulco still offers delicious Mexican food at reasonable prices.