After a Yelp search I found El Alegre Mexican Restaurant with really good reviews and an…read moreinteresting menu. A bit of a drive from Madison, but well worth it. El Alegre is located in a small modern strip of shops, with a party center they run next door. The restaurant is medium sized with a nice bar in the corner by the kitchen. The room is sleek and modern with black walls and tables, wood chairs and floors, and a colorful neon strip around the ceiling. Service was attentive without being intrusive. The menu is two sided and manages to have a nice variety without being overstuffed. I ended up ordering the Camarones a la Diabla, as someone who loves spicy shrimp it sounded great. A bit of a wait for the food, but the place was busy with the dining room almost full including a couple of larger tables. The chips and salsa was ok, but nothing special but provided a nice prelude while I waited for the meal. The meal came out nicely presented on a square white plate, which set off the colorful meal. The shrimp were nice sized, plump and well cooked; the sauce was excellent, not overly spicey, but instead complex and delicious with an interesting mix of flavors, it seemed to be similar to a mole instead of just a hot sauce. The refried beans and spanish rice were both good and the guacamole, sour cream and small salad was a nice compliment to the meal. The flour tortillas were very good, freshly griddled and fresh. I was very impressed with El Alegre, the decor is a nice change from most Mexican restaurants. I was very impressed with their version of Camarones a la Diabla, usually it is served with a fairly simple hot sauce, here they created a wonderful and complex sauce that perfectly complimented the shrimp and provided a true treat. If you are in the area and looking for some great Mexican food El Alegre is well worth a visit. If the rest of the menu is anything like my meal it is a great flavorful interpretation of Mexican food.

What a treat!!! Spending the night at a hotel and needed dinner, we're really pleased with this…read morerestaurant, food was very good, authentic Mexican. Margaritas were an excellent!

We ordered takeout today. We live close by and ordered this for a very special family meeting…read more Someone went to grab the food. It was ready in the amount of time they said it would be and it was packaged up nicely. The problem came when I opened up my Burrito Azado (burrito with steak). It was a soggy mess! Not only did it look nothing like the food in the menu (I get it, when does it, right?) Their cheese sauce or whatever it is that comes on it, was poured over the entire meal and the guacamole was inside the burrito. I can get over the guacamole being inside of it even though it was ALSO warm AND dripping out the side and bottom. There is, however, NO going back from the sauce that is poured all over everything with NO regard for the crispy tortilla. The tortilla was completely soaked through and falling apart, let alone any possible desired crispiness. It was inedible. If you're in the mood for a burrito, I'm not saying not to buy it from here. Flavor-wise, the steak is decent. However, I am saying to ensure that they do not put SAUCY SAUCE on it and get the GUAC on the side! My ~STILL~ rumbly-hungry-tummy is warning you, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, *86 the sauces or get them on the side!!! Signed, Disappointed and still rummaging through the pantry.

I was told I had 3 Illegitimate children at this establishment, my Birria tacos were delicious I…read moremust add

La Penca is one of those restaurants that reminds you why supporting local restaurants is so…read moreimportant. The food is authentic, fresh, and full of flavor, but what really makes this place special is the people behind it. They have THE BEST chimichangas in the city! Seriously, if you're a chimichanga fan, this needs to be on your list. The food consistently tastes fresh and thoughtfully prepared, and you can tell there is real pride behind what they serve. The staff is always amazing. They are friendly, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely make you feel appreciated as a customer. I love how grateful they are for the support and how they take the time to make guests feel like more than just another table. The service is consistently excellent, and that combination of authentic food, hospitality, and appreciation keeps me coming back. There's something special about a restaurant where you can taste the care in the food and feel the warmth from the people. If you haven't tried La Penca yet, go! Come hungry, order the chimichangas, and support a restaurant that clearly cares about its food, its customers, and the community. The ambience s really cool!

La Penca has some of the best casual and authentic Mexican food in Madison. It's affordable and…read morequick service, no frills. The nachos were so delicious from the meat to the beans to the amount of toppings. Cannot recommend enough! Free chips and salsa to start is always a bonus too.

I've only ordered delivery, but oh my GOSH it was still hot and delicious, I can only imagine what…read moreit's like eating at the restaurant. I had the chicken chimichangas, and I always love places that give you TWO of the fried deliciousness. The sauces on the side were awesome, but next time I will probably opt to dip the chimichanga into the sauce instead of pouring on top - made it a little soggy. I loved the rice and beans, tasy and the perfect sides. I definitely plan to order again!

For me, if the salsa and margaritas hit the mark I'm all in- found this and more at Camp Cantina. I…read morewas visiting Madison with friends and in search of a great Mexican food dinner. We lucked out with this place! I had the shrimp à la diabla and a Patron margarita and was extremely happy. My friend had the Quesabirria Tacos, that were recommended by the owner/server, and they were delicious, too. The coconut margarita was served with toasted coconut and honey on the rim and was super tasty. If I lived in Madison I would be ordering take out and dining here all the time.

Delicious Quesadilla and good service. The atmosphere is fun too. Reasonable prices. The servers…read morewere very nice. Our family enjoyed it including my grandson.

Always wanted to stop in and check out the place. Didn't care for the decor, door handles were…read moreguns. We went in anyways, love the copper ceiling but didn't love the bones & open kitchen area. Waitstaff was attentive & friendly. We shared the Bangin shrimp, the shrimp was cooked properly and the they were crispy but the lettuce it was served on was a sad presentation. A few tortillas would have elevated the dish.

Such good food? Highly recommended. Would visit again. Get the pork tacos. So tasty! Yumread more

Fantastic Cali-Mex made from scratch with fresh ingredients and healthy options. The fajitas were…read moreespecially impressive, beautifully presented and flaming hot. Service was attentive and friendly, making for an all-around excellent dining experience. We'll definitely be back.

I ordered through my Prime Grubb Hub+ account. The membership is free and if you order over a…read morecertain amount you'll get free delivery. So I do not know what their dinning room looks like. I ordered the Brisket burrito, on the side came guacamole, sour cream and fresh pico. It was big enough for two people. Lots of flavor and filling. My friend ordered the Brisket quesadillas, side of beans and rice. Grub Hub was there when they said they'd be there. The driver forgot to leave the coke I ordered. He saved the day, came back with said coke in hand minutes later. Good food and great first time I used GrubHub service.

Part old-school Texas service station, part Día de los Muertos fever dream, this Mexican joint…read morerolls into town with plenty of personality and absolutely no interest in being boring. Think vintage roadside charm colliding with Texas-sized Mexican soul, where the colorful lights glow overhead and every corner feels like a celebration of some sort. It's a little gritty, a little festive, and a whole lotta fun--like your favorite roadside pit stop got dressed up for a fiesta and decided never to go home. Expect bold colors, quirky details, Texas swagger, and an atmosphere that says "pull up a chair, grab a cold one, and stay awhile." I have to say their Cadillac Margarita rolls in with serious Texas-Mexican swagger. Made with Don Julio Reposado Tequila and a generous splash of Grand Marnier, this beauty is smooth, citrusy, and unapologetically grown-up. It's better than any Margarita I have had in quite a while. Tubbs Fajitas aren't like your typical sub-par fajitas, they come to the table sizzling, smoky, and ready to cause a little commotion. My favorite protein is the Green Chile Chicken, they let the sautéed peppers and onions bring that sweet, savory fajita magic to life, Texas style! Overall, this place is just a great time. It's colorful, quirky, loud in all the right ways, and packed with enough Texas-Mexican personality to keep things interesting. The food comes out hot and full of flavor, the margaritas are legit, and the atmosphere practically dares you not to have fun. Cheers!

The vegan cheese is so great for the nachos. Not for those with a nut allergy but if you can't do…read moredairy this is an amazing swap. Portion size is huge and the staff are always friendly and chatty. I'll pick this local stop over a Chipotle or QDoba any time. The parking can be an issue in this location so you may have to street park.

Really nice staff working! The meat (particularly the barbacoa) was really flavorful. The corn dip…read morewas amazing. Really liked the variety of toppings you could mix in your burrito bowl. The restaurant was cute. The tables were dirty from the last people who sat there, and we got the wrong flavor of margarita but it was still good. I would definitely get a carryout next time. I think it would be great if they offered a small and a regular size bowl.