Here are some facts about Botanas that are important. They have cool parking and the guy in the shed is always pleasant. He'll give you a ticket for free parking, but don't let it fool you, when you're ready to leave he won't be anywhere to be found. Probably because he'll be in his shed, quietly praying for you and your family. Let's cut right to the rest - food? They got it! The pièce de résistance, the chips and salsa. They're indescribable. Those baskets have no bottom and the part about it that's really cool is the staff doesn't shoot you dirty looks when you need more (and I stress need). Rumor has it they carry it around in their aprons as if it were ketchup and mustard. Additionally Botanas isn't the type of restaurant to throw down a bottle of ketchup and mustard when they seat you like you're just some gringo. No, the royal treatment is from beginning to end. Solid margs, the kind that eventually will knock you right on your seat. These margs, so solid, one could (and will) argue that they are the best within a reasonable vicinity. Great atmosphere. Seemingly endless hallways and corridors will lead you to and from your table. The bathrooms are also a highlight. The men's room has beautifully and meticulously painted murals depicting rain forests so lush, with animals so lifelike you'll feel like someone dropped you right into the amazon (or at the very least a Rain Forest Cafe). The women's restroom is very similar, but less adequate and with fewer urinals. Bottom line - Botanas is great. Thumbs up! read more

All I can say is...delicious authentic food. Fantastic outdoor patio and amazing artwork on the walls inside that transport you to another country which rocks when winter hits MKE. Every time I go, A+. read more

There are a lot of Mexican restaurants in the vicinity to choose from but we were starving and the place seemed busy (a lot of people going in and out). It had a unexpected corporate vibe the minute we walked in but we decided to try it any way - MISTAKE. Our waiter Angel gave us attitude, he was very short.... He asked for our drink order and seemed annoyed we didn't order margaritas. I asked if they had albondiga soup and he snicked "oh no, we don't have that", I settled for the enchilada soup which Ive never heard of, it tasted like thick warm tasteless enchilada sauce. We ordered the mini taco & enchilada plate, but the price wasn't sure wasn't mini..it cam freakishly fast but was luke warm and came with plastic lidded sour cream containers like from a fast food place...He rushed us through dinner not offering to refill our tiny plastic water cups or chips or offer desert... The molded taco shell seemed like it was out of an Ortega box from the market and when I complained it tasted burnt he didn't offer to do anything about it. BOTTOM LINE- "mediocre food at best and AWFUL rushed service". Having been born a raised in Southern California I know what Mexican food is supposed to taste like, and it is not this.. We would NEVER eat there again! read more

Best Mexican in Milwaukee area! We have beening going to Botanas from the date it opened and we have NEVER had a bad meal. Great patio in the summer for outside dining. Drinks Easily the best margarita's in town! Usually prefer on the rocks, but Botanas blended are soo smooth. Lot of varity if looking for something beyond regular lime (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blue Curacao, Banana, Midori Melon, Peach, Watermelon, Banana, Mango and Orange) plus a ton of different premium tequila options. Mexican beer too. 2 bars open when busy. Free chips and fresh salsa available at bars too - just ask the bartender. Food Food is always fast and fresh. Chile Steak, Tacos al Pastor ( Marinated pork, onions, cilantro and avocados) and Tequila Shrimp are favorites. Also all Enchiladas (de Mole, Verdes or Rancheras) are fantastic. Chicken Picado, Chile Relleno, seafood options and combination dinners are great. Traditional mexican retaurant otpions too. Service Owner Jaime Gonzalez is always stopping by to check on you. Service is also GREAT! The wait staff is friendly and prompt. Also have runners bringing more chips/salsa whenever you start getting low. Parking is available in 2 different lots, with parking attendants to keep and eye on things while eating. Always busy but they have added a lot of space so never too long of a wait. Besides if you have to wait - you can have an extra margarita! read more

Awful. Chips and salsa were good, so I thought it was a good sign, but my chicken tacos were flavorless and definitely made with canned chicken (I didn't know there was such a thing until I saw it and smelt it--it smells like tuna). Also, their chicken burrito that is supposed to contain rice, chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomato, and avocado (if you add), contained mostly chicken--yes, the canned chicken. My partner got it and we were disgusted by the fact that it was basically canned chicken wrapped in a tortilla. Never ever will go again. This is not was Mexican food should look or taste like. read more

Let's face it, Milwaukee (and the surrounding suburbs) have plenty of Mexican restaurants to choose from. However, I feel like Botanas gives me the most bang for my buck! I love their margaritas and their food is tasty & comes out fast! I started my bachelorette party out here and they easily accommodated my party of 18 ladies! Everyone loved their food and we had a great time. Great patio seating for the warmer months too! I'll keep going back for more! read more

I hadn't been to Botanas in quite a while, so when I had a hankering for Mexican this past Sunday, it seemed like a good choice. I remembered the food there rather fondly; unfortunately, it's gone from "very good" to "generic." I wouldn't say the food was *bad* (I had the #3 combo platter) it was simply the same generic Mexican you can get in any number of places in Milwaukee. The service was disappointing. While our waitress was prompt in bringing our food out, she disappeared for the rest of our meal (pet peeve - if I'm only drinking water, and you're going to give me water in the smallest glass imaginable, can you please refill it promptly? Or AT ALL? PLEASE?) and we had to flag her down for the check. While La Fuente lacks the ambiance of Botanas, and the food isn't THAT much better, at least the service is solid...and that's where I'll be going the next time I crave Mexican. read more

Never disappointed--food and service are always amazing! Best in Milwaukee!

I was born and raised in LA, so I know Mexican food. This place is unbelievable given that its in this white-bread city. I've got to admit that everything I've had here is great, but then again, the only thing I've had is enchiladas and the fajitas, and both were extraordinary. The service was also great . We had a flamboyantly gay waiter who was just hilarious to hear talk - think Agador Spartacus from the Birdcage - he was killing me. I've also had a margy here before and it was really good as well. I'd say Botanas is always a good bet. You probably can't go wrong if you're in the mood for some good Mexy food. read more

This place is sooo nice! The food is great, I had rice and beans with tortillas, guac and salsa. I'm usually not a fan of guac but i love the guac here. The employees were all extremely nice, every employee we passed said hello and goodbye to us. The interior decorating is BEYOND, it's so nice, very good atmosphere for a special dinner. Love! read more

Excellent lunch spot. Salsa and chips are very good and both are always fresh. Salsa has the flavor profile I expect, balanced seasoning and proper amount of cilantro. The lunch combos are a nice selection and inexpensive. I usually get the chicken as the meat option. Chicken tortilla soup is a bonus during lunch. Margaritas are tasty in all varieties. I would 5 star the place, but the meat options are lacking flavor and spice. To each their own. read more

Delicious! Food came out quickly. Service was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I've lined in Milwaukee for 15 years and it's my first time here. I'll definitely be back! read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. Delicious margaritas, quick service, the best chips and salsa and the best lunch special. Our server Antonio tonight was THE best. I recommend one of the mini combinations (chicken enchilada with salsa verde and mini cheese chimichanga). read more

I think if you are in the Milwaukee area and want any good, authentic Mexican food, you would be foolish not to go get it from 5th and National. And if you want good drinks to go with your food, then Botanas would be the best choice. However be prepared since many other people agree with me - as there is almost always a long line, I usually wait an hour for a table. But the wait is part of the experience, most people will go to the bar and enjoy the delicious margaritas! They have a lot of different kinds, but my favorite has to be the frozen rainbow margarita and though they are more expensive than the plain margaritas on the rocks, I say splurge and try it. We will usually share a pitcher between four people and get sloshed before dinner. The food is pretty good too, I have had better Mexican food before, but very rarely. Ultimately, I would never go to any other Mexican restaurant than Botanas and the only reason I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars is that I usually don't mind waiting, it does end up being a bit long. read more

In the mood for some FAST, no frills Mexican food? Yeah! Me too! For the first time ever, we got seated in the back room. Not the one to the right of the door, but the one straight back from the bar. It's a strange place in that back room. You can get lost in the sea of tables that look like they were plucked out of a dining room from the Old Country Buffet. The drop ceiling and recessed lighting is reminiscent of being in an office space. Nevertheless, it was good for people watching. The food is always good and the menu doesn't require much thought. They have tacos, burritos, tostadas, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, and some other specialties. Nothing too extreme. Nothing that requires going out on a limb for some off the wall flavor combinations. Sometimes, less is more. read more

For years my girlfriend and I have been La Fuente fans when it came to our favorite Mexican restaurant in Milwaukee. Over the past year, Botanas has taken over as our favorite and here are the reasons why: 1) Their dinner entrees taste better (meat quality is better) 2) They don't ask you for your order before you look at the menu I have ordered a couple entrees here and I am now Locked in with the super burrito with steak. The meat tastes great and you can't go wrong for under $10. Why 4 stars and not 5? -Their salsa is alright, but it isn't as good as a lot of other local places and their bar wait area is always smokey. read more

Unfortunately it's time for a downgrade. We generally always order the same things here, things we know we like, and don't stray. We went here for a private party with food set up buffet style. That food was pretty terrible. It was Tex-Mex style all the way, and even the tortillas on the side were flour, not corn. Meh. The shredded chicken was super bland, and tacos had lettuce and cheddar...It just was not anything special, and I can (and do) make better American-style tacos at home. If this is what you get when you order other stuff on the menu here, I'm not sure why people love it so much. So, I think it really depends on what you order here. The Americanized stuff was just plain bland and boring all the way. If you find something here you like, just stick with it. I hesitate now to recommend Botanas to friends because it comes with a caveat of "but only order these things." read more

Ambiance: Brightly almost garishly painted. I didn't see the upper dining room but the lower dining room had a three dimensional mural across the ceiling of a sky. Some of the 3 dimensional clouds were a peach color, I assume to recall the idea of the setting sun hitting them. Instead it made me think of liposuction excess that should be in hazmat bags. Beverages: Coke products! Rejoice, rejoice! This was a business lunch so I didn't get to sample their bar drinks, however their Horchata looked really good and creamy. Food: As is typical with Mexican restaurants in this area, tables are given complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were good, clearly freshly made, light and crispy and not greasy. The salsa had a kick and was good. For my entrée I got the Carne Asada Beef Tacos. Three generously proportioned tacos with aforementioned beef, lettuce and tomato. These were pretty good although I felt they were a bit underseasoned and had to lightly salt them, this is a rarified action for me. Otherwise they were excellent, the beef was succulent and had a nice bark to them from searing. The tomatoes and lettuce were fresh. I think the addition of cilantro to these tacos would bump them up to perfection. One of my dining companions ordered the seafood enchiladas, and they looked AMAZING. I want to go back and give those a try. Staff: Everyone was courteous and our waiter was sweet, attentive and expeditious. While I am not a big fan of Mexican food I must say Botanas really does a great job and I would gladly return. read more

This is a solid place all around. Was here a few weeks ago for dinner on a Saturday night, and had a very good meal. A few thoughts: -the service was quick. I'm talking real quick. -the food felt authentic. Sometimes in Mexican places, it feels very Americanized, but not here. -portions are of a decent size. Since I was the DD (as always), I had extra room for food because there was no booze taking up space. I had both a bowl of the enchilada soup, and a chicken burrito. -both were spot on. I can't say there was anything that stood out as blowing me away, but in the same breath, they were both done exactly right. -we sat in what felt like a big dining room, almost cafeteria style. I didn't love this, but what can you do on a Saturday night at 6pm? Overall, one of the better Mexican places I've been to in a long time. We got there early, but I could see this place filling up quickly on a weekend. read more

We stopped here for lunch. The lunch special is really good. It's about 8 dollars for your desired combination of tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, chimichongas, etc. I just wish it had a bit more lettuce/vegetables... The enchilada soup that comes with the special is also super good! I think I could have done a bowl of that instead as my meal. We sat in their outdoor patio in the back, which has a bunch of umbrellas for share on hot days. While we were there for lunch, Yovani Gallardo (pitcher on the Brewers) was also there apparently. So I suppose this was also a good sign that the food is authentic as well? read more

Great Mexican American staples, friendly and efficient service, lively and energetic place, family-friendly. We (party of 4) were seated within 5 minutes on a busy Saturday night. The hosts and servers were prompt, professional, and pleasant. Warm basket of chips, flavorful salsa w a bit of heat. We devoured them and asked for more before our entrees had even arrived. I ordered one big chimichanga- vegetarian, and asked for extra spice. The server said I could get a side of a spicy sauce. The sauce was brick red in color with a slightly bitter taste and a slow heat that builds with every bit of it. I poured it over everything bc it was so good. That entree alone was about $11. We also ordered a half size of chunky guacamole- i liked the texture and a half serving is still abundant, but mediocre/ bland in taste. Perhaps more lemon, jalapeño flavor was needed- Something to make it stand out. Next time, I'd like to try the enchiladas w 4 moles, or the mini chimichanga + enchilada verde combo. read more

Best Mexican food in Milwaukee hands down I never had a problem when I went there.... everything I had there was delicious the drinks are awesome I absolutely love the soup read more

This place was absolutely amazing! Also a lot bigger than it looks from the inside. I came with family to meet some friends and would definitely come back. I had the rainbow margarita and it tasted as good as it looked! Make sure to get the guacamole appetizer too. Their creamy guacamole is to die for! Honestly, it was so good that I definitely ate too much and spoiled my dinner appetite a bit. Regardless, the combo meal I had was great! Everything is huge portions, so know that when ordering. Overall, no complaints though! Loved it and will be coming back. read more

At Botanas you will see several faces of wait staff and support staff all eagerly waiting to help make your experience unique and remarkable. I was met in the jungle of Mexico and led down a stone carved Mayan temple corridor to a court yard oasis where we were greeted with tasty drinks and traditional Mexican fair. The food is top quality and the staff is too! read more

Botanas Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Great food. Staff is fantastic. Felt welcome & appreciated. Stopped in on a humid Saturday afternoon. Everyone was accommodating, food was fast. Love the decor and ambiance. Would be good for date night and groups out to catch up. Saw lots of families and happy kiddos. Will visit again. read more

Went here for the first time yesterday and it was okay. The drinks were amazing but a bit overpriced. Salsa was really good, had a kick to it. First round of chips were good but second basket was stale. I had a mini combo w/ a tamale & enchilada. The tamale was dry, enchilada was decent. The rice was amazing! My husband has steak & peppers. The flavor was good but steak was tough. It was extremely loud inside, could barely here each other speak. Decor inside and out was very nice. We might try it again and order something different. read more

Killer margs and good Mexican food in a nice atmosphere. I would prefer to go here over La Perla. Viva Milwaukee! read more

Maybe the best interior of all Mexican restauants I've been to in the Milwaukee area. The food is fantastic the carne asada tacos are legitimate. read more

Mexican food for the masses. The more the better. A margarita trading house. This high output is notable in the food. Just average Mexican food done consistently to appeal to gringo sensibilities and palette. Not that the food is bad it's just average however sometimes its below average if they're trying to pump out orders or have a bunch of inventory left over from previous day(s). No surprises or unfamiliar flavors. Nothing uncommon as it could upset the patrons. Space is decorated in such a way that you think it's an authentic type Mexican place. Every inch is utilized to pack in as many people as possible. read more

Angel is the BEST waiter I have ever had! I travel the world and he by far surpassed my expectations. The food was wonderful, the price is ridiculous for what you get. This is a family friendly, inexpensive wonderful restaurant!!! read more

Botanas is a lot of fun! if you go on a busy night there will be men playing guitars, they serenade you on your birthday...that sort of thing. Great for groups to enjoy some decent food and some delish margaritas!! The fish tacos are the best thing Ive ever had there, I was craving my leftover first thing in the morning. The guacamole is also so yummy!!! read more

Love this place!! I've been here over 50 times and I've never been disappointed. I'm vegan, so my options are limited, but what I can get is so satisfying. The margs are strong. The food is consistent. And delicious. The service is unmatched by any other restaurant. Even when they're slammed, the food hits the table FAST! read more

Went there for the first time on Saturday, the patio was very nice. The food surprised us, tasty and huge portion, enough for 2 meals (we took left over home for lunch next day). My husband ordered steak and chicken fajitas, I ordered shrimp soup--which has now become my favorite. The margarita was very good also. We deduct a star because our waiter took so long to take care of us. read more

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Great restaurant. Nice bar and they have a great selection on Margaritas. The decor is well done. Great atmosphere! Food came fast and in large portions and was very tasty. read more

Great food - best salsa I've ever had. All of the wait staff is great. On a recent visit, our party of 7 missed the automatically added gratuity for larger parties and accidentally added a second tip. Not only did the server bring this to our attention, but after we decided that such honesty deserved *both* tips (honesty is such a rarity these days), the manager stopped by to confirm our intentions. Great employees, great atmosphere, and I love the new sign on the front door! read more

This my favorite Mexican restaurant ever! Been going here soon after they opened. Have seen it expand and get better and to a second location that's just as good as the original!! 5 thumbs up read more

Pretty good but a bit pedestrian when it comes to Mexican food. I had the Chile Espanol, Tamal and Enchilada and they were OK but there wasn't anything special about them. You couldn't tell the difference between the meat and the beans. The margaritas were pre-made and watery and too sugary. I would say that Botanas, La Fuente, Jalapeno Loco and La Perla all seem like the same restaurant to me as I have eaten at all of them. They are always packed, the food is not worth the wait, when you ask for hot sauce, they bring tabasco or try to charge you more. It is never a good thing to look look around at a ethnic restaurant and not see anyone of that ethnicity eating there. It was good but I've had better. read more

Botanas platter appetizer was enough for six of us. Nice variety but very cheesy. Poblano mole was very good with pulled chicken. Outdoor patio is very inviting and the service I find to be excellent. Cheers! read more

What can I say about Jaime and his team? They're fantastic people and they make delicious food. Known for their lightning fast service, your food always comes out piping hot and never greasy. Personal favorites are the flautas and the tostadas. Always crispy, and the meat is always very tasty. Try the fajitas if you haven't. Honestly fajitas are pretty typical but the experience of having the plate placed in front of you still sizzling is fun. The downside? You leave smelling like Mexican food and wind up having to wash all of your clothes. Don't plan on wearing anything super nice here for that very reason. read more

Staff was super nice and courteous the margaritas were great the one drawback was the fajitas had no flavor to them. It's a friendly fun atmosphere. We will be back and I will go back to my chicken tacos. read more