Food was sooooo good! Their molcajete was so delicious! I can't even describe it! The nachos al pastor were also YUM. It's really good Mexican food that doesn't taste like other Mexican food we've had. Margaritas were good too! Are outdoors by a lovely creek. The kiddo loved watching the fish, skate bugs and crawfish. read more

Cute place. Located in dt Sonora. We ate on the outside deck. Complimentary chips & salsa is always a win. I ordered their tostaditos (mini tostadas) with shredded chicken. (Not too many restaurants offer shredded chicken oddly enough, so I was happy they did. ) I could only eat 2 and my husband ate the 3rd one. Husband got the carnitas plate with beans & rice. Carnitas did have crispy edges and was tasty. Rice wasn't too fluffy but was fairly good. Beans were good. Drinks: I got the margarita martini and husband got the Paloma. Both were tasty. We would definitely come back. read more

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This place used to be a great. Food was good, reasonably priced and good service. Came in today, half empty restaurant and we were seated immediately. 2 servers kept walking past our table, both making sure not to make eye contact. After about 15 minutes of watching them walk by us we went to the hostess to ask for a server. Another 5 minutes later one of the 2 waitresses stopped at our table. No greeting, no apology for the wait, no smile but rather an annoyance. Her "reason" for walking by us so many times is that she didn't know until that moment that we were her table. Took orders and left. We asked to speak to the manager and much to our surprise, and disappointment, she was the manager. The manager with a half empty restaurant, walking by a table with obviously no drinks or food had no clue she has a table. This time she all smiles pretending to be surprised by her own terrible attitude and service. No excuse for her terrible behavior, lack of customer service and worst lack of any managerial qualities. We left and went next door to Escondite de la Torre where we were greeted warmly with what true customer service looks like. read more

The Mexican food here is FIRE!! Ate here for lunch and dinner during a work trip to Sonora, CA and I genuinely enjoyed the food here. Very authentic Mexican food with a great bar. Both times I came were truly outstanding so the consistency was appreciated. I grabbed the enchiladas and the red sauce is some of the best enchilada salsa I've had. Very complex and full of flavor. Truly this dish is a 10/10. I got a side of rice and beans with my meal and a ni e cold draft beer and my total came out to about $30 bucks, so worth it! If your in the area and looking for some good food, make sure to consider them. Great little spot in town and you will not regret coming here. Thanks El Arroyo for the great meals! read more

El Arroyo - Outdoor patio area - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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I was in town visiting friends and one night we decided to grab some takeout from El Arroyo. My friends that live in Sonora had never been there and I actually found them on Yelp while we were on the hunt for food. We placed our order online and it was ready about a half hour later. We shared chips and salsa and a quesadilla. For my entree I went with three of the food truck tacos (shrimp) and rice. I can't remember what my friends ordered but two of us shared a slice of their dulce de leche cheesecake for dessert. Everything was pretty good. The chips and salsa and quesadilla were rather basic, but the shrimp in my tacos were juicy and just a wee bit spicy. The cheesecake was super rich and thick, great for two people to end a meal. When we picked up our food it wasn't quite ready yet, but I was able to check out the restaurant in person. There's a lovely patio overlooking a small waterway that runs between the restaurant and the businesses to the right of it. The inside is nicely decorated with some cool art on the walls and there's a small full service bar to the left when you walk in. Overall we had a good experience from start to finish and I imagine you will, too. read more

The food is always good, but lately service has been lacking. Tonight we had a party of 6 - appetizers came out staggered, drinks took a while to come out. We placed our orders and slowly the food started trickling out. Some of us got all of our food, some of our food was wrong and had to be sent back, I got my fajitas but not my rice and beans, my friend got her meal but not her tortillas. 3 of our party ordered drinks, and waited over 30 minutes, and had to ask about them twice before they came out - they came out after we were done with our meal and were packing up left overs. Our check we were charged for multiple of one item. One of the waitresses brought out a burrito that none of us ordered, another waitress came by and got in between 2 of us reached over the table and took a drink menu and asked if we were done - we said we were still using it and she took it. We got sauce that was frozen and had ice crystals in it and one of the servers was rude when serving the children their plates. The food is always great. But the service has gone down hill substantially. read more

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Stopped for appetizers and margaritas. Our server was so wonderful, very attentive and kind. If you are able to sit on the balcony area it's really cute but inside has its own great vibe. We loved the fresh guacamole and enjoyed skinny-jalapeño margaritas! If you like a little spice I strongly recommend. read more

Got the taco truck burrito myself, only $15 and was huge. Tasted great. Surprisingly fast service, and good ambiance.

1. Chips had burnt flavor. Cooking oil to blame. 2. Food prep took way too long. Restaurant was not full enough to justify the long wait. 3. My chile relleno dish had to be sent back: I could not saw through chile skin with fork and knife, using all my strength. Green sauce was very watery. Worst-ever version of this dish. A real shame as the location and service were good read more

Located on the main strip in downtown Sonora, I was pleasantly surprised to find El Arroyo. They have a nice patio area with a view of the creek. When there are concerts in the plaza area, it's close enough to hear the music! Daughter got the beef tacos and said they were some of the best she's had. I ordered the carnitas plate which was very tasty. More than enough food and although I hate wasting food, it's hard to get leftovers to go when you are traveling. Otherwise I would have packed this up! Service was attentive and prices were moderate. I mean, let's be honest, any Mexican place that has margaritas for less than $8 is unheard of these days! Despite the mixed reviews of this place, I would definitely come back. read more

El Arroyo - Patio seating - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

A friend of mine referred me to this restaurant. Upon moving into the surrounding area, this is one of my favorite places to go the Carnitas of phenomenal love the guacamole. The atmosphere is beautiful and the service is always on point. Love that you can sit outside and watch the people and be by the stream read more

I'm actually at El Arroyo's new location in Murphys, CA.... Our newest restaurant in Murphys. I'm sitting at their little bar area enjoying a nicely spiced salsa and chips while they prepare my order of fish tacos plate to go, .... so will further edit my comments later. They remodeled this location before opening. It is clean, bright, airy, and welcoming. I think a nice new business has made its way to Murphys. read more

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Very good chips & salsa Grt customer svc. Nice indoor/outdoor dining. We come here often. read more

El Arroyo - That cheese enchilada is the best. Chile relleno was great. - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Super disappointing experience here after reading the glowing reviews. And after being on a low carb diet for 10 months I was ready to pig out. Lol. My server was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup to start. Which tasted great, but was served in a mug and a table spoon rather than a soup spoon. Made it a bit difficult to eat. But I managed. And the flavor was on point. For my entree I ordered the Al Pastor which I was super excited for. The entree came out barely warm which was the first disappointment. The Al Pastor was ok flavor wise. Not too spectacular, but I was so stoked for carbs I didn't care. Unfortunately pulling a very large black hair out of my mouth, that was in the chicken ruined the meal for me. My server was very sweet and apologetic about it, and took the entree off the check. I couldn't finish it after that. So yeah...I'm sorry to say, very disappointing. read more

El Arroyo - Chicken Tortilla Soup - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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This is one of our favorite places to go. It's tucked down below the hustle and bustle on Washington St. This is by far the best Mexican food in the area. Tonight we were in the mood for fish. My wife had the fish street tacos and I had the Pescado El Pastor, a house special. Both were amazing! Believe it or not, one of the things I look forward to the most is the beans and rice. They are sooo good. Almost every time we go there we have great experience with the staff. They are always very friendly. read more

El Arroyo - Pescado El Pastor (a house special) - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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Had the chipotle plate and the molcajete plate. Super tasty. The cantarito was super yummy with generous amount of tequila. Will definitely be back. read more

I don't know how this is the #1 Mexican restaurant when searching for Sonora Mexican restaurants here on Yelp. I chose this place because of its rating and from the pictures and the menu it looked quite good. Let me start with the good, we sat outside and enjoyed the nice views, our waitress/service was fantastic and l had a decent Pina Colada. Food came quickly and was presented nicely. For the bad, while sitting outside, every now and then we'd get a whiff of some kind of sewage smell. The menu while vast is pricey. The food lacks much flavor and is dry. Boyfriend ordered a dry burrito and I ordered the shredded chicken taquitos, the chicken looked gross, was dry and wasn't shredded, more so chopped. Beans and rice were okay. I would not recommend El Arroyo, go across the street to Flappy's Pizza or to Emberz if you want some good food! read more

This is a nice little restaurant. If you sit outside, you get a nice view from the patio. We sat inside, I was a little disappointed as the floors were very noticeably dirty. Table was not that clean either. The food however was very good. We ordered chips and salsa, chicken quesadilla, a burrito and al pastor tacos. Portion sizes are large read more

Food and service was good, we enjoyed shrimp ceviche, Street tacos and especially loved my Al Ajo Plate (Garlic Shrimp). If you're in Sonora go here! read more

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Yelp, once again you have lead me to the promised land, and it is called El Arroyo! As foodie travelers, visiting Twain Harte/Sonora area for a little family vacation left us a bit perplexed. Ahead of the trip we scoured Yelp in all the small towns surrounding and struggled to find anything that leapt off the page. We decided to cook most of our meals, but knew we had a one night we wanted to dine out, and that's when we found El Arroyo! Arroyo was a step above everything else in the area, and it was obvious from the photos on Yelp. Their food is clearly made with a lot of care, served in abundant portions by friendly staff, and the atmosphere is casual and comfortable too. They have a nice outdoor seating area along a canal running through town, but as a larger party we sat inside. I liked the variety of plates offered where you could choose your favorite protein and have it prepared a number of ways. I opted for the carnitas a La tampiqueña, which was sautéed with roasted tomatoes, onions and jalapeños, with a side of rice and beans. The carnitas were succulent and tender, the charred roasted veggies added nice flavor to the rich meat, and rolling it up in a tortilla with some of the house made Diablo sauce was perfect. Don't skip the guac! It's simply fantastic, and the house fried tostadas and chips are great too. We also enjoyed the cucumber jalapeño margarita a lot! Fresh juices and fruits really set this apart. They offer doubles on the menu and two doubles is the same price as a pitcher. We went pitcher because of that, but I'd go for the double next time because the pitcher was large and balanced, but it lacked the punch because of the volume. All in all, a home run and a must in Sonora or the area. Worth a drive! read more

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The Murphy's location was just as delicious! I tried the marinated chicken super burrito & my son had the steak super burrito, both were big enough for 2 meals! Everything tasted very fresh & homemade. The dining area has been renovated & the decor is nice & bright. Our server was very friendly and our food was served quickly read more

El Arroyo - 3 marinated chicken tostadas & vegan burrito. Delicious!!! - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Well it's been over 2 years since my last review. I was there because of a birthday celebration. The food was just o.k. I ordered the Taquitos but why would you put the taquitos in a sauce. The sauce caused my taquitos to get soggy. Why would you put sauce under the taquitos? They are supposed to be crunchy, not soggy. My bad because I assumed it would come with beans & rice but it didn't. I guess I should have read the menu more carefully. It will probably be another few more years before I come back again. read more

The carnitas tacos were great. The shrimp cocktail had no flavor and no sauce. I also don't like celery so that was a bummer. Should've used the salsa from the chips and salsa. Speaking of which that is not complementary and the rice is extra. The waitress failed to mention that. Only $5 more in total but it's the principle of the thing. read more

El Arroyo - Not the greatest shrimp cocktail In The world. - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

We came here for dinner after our big hike in Yosemite. Wow....downtown is the place to be on a Friday evening. Everyone was there. We were lucky to find parking not too far from the restaurant. We love the vibe so far. The outside of the restaurant is pretty cool. They have an outdoor patio overlooking a little creek area. We would have loved to have sat outside but it was way too hot. The inside of the restaurant is ok. They have two rooms. One is the bar area and the other is the restaurant area. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I ordered their mango margarita to start off with. That was yummy. As for dinner, I ordered their Three Taco Truck Tacos (chicken). I thought it would be easy for me to eat all three tacos since I haven't eatened in almost 24 hours but I was only able to eat one taco....bummer because that one taco I ate was good. Hubby ordered dessert of course lol. He ordered their Churro Doughnut with Ice Cream. That was obviously good lol. The location could not have been more perfect. The vibe is great. The food and drinks were good. read more

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The beginning I didn't really care for their food. But I've been there recently a few times and it's definitely improved a lot. The food's really good here and I like the place. read more

Stopped here for lunch with my wife and a friend. The food had decent flavor (carnitas platter), but was just warm, not hot. Extra $$ for chips and salsa, and 3% kicker for using a credit card which was a surprise. Would like to think there are places who focus more on customer satisfaction. read more

I definitely give this place 5+ stars! Not only is the food DELICIOUS, but on Saturday nights they're doing Karaoke. Pat, the guy who runs it does a wonderful job of engaging with the crowd, and getting people up to sing. I've been here for dinner/drinks and karaoke the last two Saturdays and can't think of a better place in town to be well-fed and definitely entertained! Thanks El Arroyo for giving me a new "Hot Spot" to hang out on Saturday evenings!! read more

We've been there a few times. The last two times we sat in the main dining room. The food was Ok but there was a strong ammonia smell that really bothered me. The most recent time was disappointing. My burrito bowl was too salty and the margaritas were weak. The chips also were stale. The customer service was ho-hum. The restrooms are nicely decorated and clean. read more

We are starting out with drinks. This Marg is a must try. Wait staff has been outstanding and outdoor patio ambiance is amazing. read more

El Arroyo - Two Tacos Estilo Asdero - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Great place to sit outside in a great historic setting in Sonora. The service was great and the crispy chili verde tacos were exceptional. read more

El Arroyo - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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This evening I met with a friend for Margaritas and street tacos at El Arroyo. My fist time here and it was excellent the margaritas were good and to street tacos were delicious. Macy our server was the best she very attentive.. we sat on the patio it was really nice for sure I will be back. read more

Last year for our 47th wedding anniversary, my wife became addicted to their taco truck fish tacos and so we did a repeat this year. They were as remarkable as last year! We dined outdoors over looking the creek bubbling by and had a marvelous meal together. I had the Pescado El Pastor, and it was also totally delicious! This is one of our favorite places to dine. For those who want extra heat on their Mexican food, Diablo sauce can be ordered on the side, which I do and did! Not only hot, but quite tasty. We enjoyed a pleasant and attentive waitress who provided great service. read more

Had the best time at El Arroyo on Thanksgiving weekend! The restaurant has a pleasant vibe even before one enters. As you walk down the stairs to find this gem of a place, you will see a creek on the right flowing next to a wall full of beautiful mossy greens, a staircase adorned with fairy lights leading you into the restaurant. The food is incredibly flavorful. Our party ordered: 1. Wet burrito with chicken 2. Enchiladas (chicken) 3. Veg tacos 4. Fish tacos 5. Jalapeño margarita 6. Cantarito Everything was lip smacking delicious! We took the burrito to go since it was massive. Service was super friendly and helpful, we made many changes to existing items and took a long time to decide the drinks and the server was happily patient with us! Highly recommended for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike! read more

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Friendly staff, good food, really great air conditioning inside when it's roasting outdoors, and their tables/aesthetic is stellar. I love the custom wood tables and the entire bar section. 21+ can sit in the bar section and you can order all your food there, so don't worry if the main dining area is packed, head on over to the other side! Delicious drinks, lots of margarita options :) I had the Shrimp Rancheros and it was very good. Pretty dang spicy! And my friend got a steak quesadilla and loved it. The fresh guacamole is worth it, it's delicious. It's a little pricier than some other spots in town, but well worth the cost for a fun and delicious meal. read more

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Came here after The armory had no food. The guy in the front Sat us down and also took our order and was very friendly and fast ! Food was good too and we were a group of 9. We enjoyed our visit read more

This is such a beautiful restaurant! Eating on the patio next to the little creek was so much fun, and we took some fun pictures while waiting for our food. The location is super convenient, right in the middle of Sonora and across from our hotel. I ordered a shrimp salad and my friend and I shared the Queso Fundido. The Queso was small, but good. It came with a few tortillas and some chips for dipping. It wouldn't feed more than two people, so if you have more then you might need an additional appetizer lol! Service was good, ambiance was amazing. Would definitely come back if I'm ever in the area again. read more

Julia was our super, nice server. Very good food! We had fajitas, a burrito bowl, chips and guac and a pitcher of margs. Loved it! Of note: the marinated chicken was pretty spicy, for me anyway. Also the service was very slow (it wasn't even busy), good thing we weren't in a hurry. read more

El Arroyo is picturesque. It's located in the heart of Sonora and has a charming outdoor area - framed by stunning flowers and lush foliage. It's also located right by a flowing creek, which further adds to the lovely ambiance. El Arroyo's menu is phenomenal. Their menu has a variety of dishes - ranging from freshly made guacamole, Pescado Al Pastor (they use basa fish and it's excellent), fajita and burrito bowls, a variety of swoon worthy shrimp dishes, incredible salads, carnitas, enchiladas - and much more. Every dish that came out to our group recently looked amazing and was bursting with color and flavor. I was particularly impressed by the presentation of the fish tacos and fajitas. They were definitely photo worthy and I love that they even make their own tortillas here! In addition to our incredible main dishes - our group enjoyed big pitchers of freshly made margaritas and well-made micheladas. If you're looking for an extensive menu that can easily accommodate any dietary concern and event - El Arroyo is your spot. The staff couldn't have been kinder and the food was excellent. I'm looking forward to future visits. Trust. read more

I hadn't been to El Arroyo in years but rediscovered it when they started having Karaoke there on Saturday nights and have been going regularly since. Most places start their Karaoke at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m which is kind of late. I like that El Arroyo starts at 6:00. We like to go early and have dinner and then hang out for Karaoke and drinks after. The food is great and the staff is very friendly. Even if you don't sing, it's fun to come and hear some really talented singers. read more

My kids took me to El Arroyo for my birthday. I gave them five stars for the delicious food, but had a few concerns which are noted below. One star lost for the concerns, and also because they do not give chips and salsa!! You have to buy them. We started with the flour tortilla chips and salsa, and the queso that was served with three corn tortillas. Both were good, and we would definitely order it again. However, you get a 2 ounce cup of salsa -- very stingy!! I love to drown my food in yummy spicy salsa. There was no spice to the queso -- it is Oaxaca cheese which melts fantastically but does not have a lot of flavor. We ordered the three carnitas mini tacos for the table. They were delicious!! Topped with Parmesan cheese and crema ... we wiped them out! I had the carnitas sopes, hold the lettuce and tomato. They came just as ordered, puffy, crispy, and yummy! My son had the chimichanga with carnitas, wet. I thought it could have been more crispy, but my son loved it. Could have softened a bit with the sauce. My other son had the shrimp tacos. The shrimp portion was generous, and the crema was tasty. It just happened to be buy one get one on Margarita pitchers, so we couldn't resist. They were some of the best we've had! Plenty of tequila -- not at all watered down. We will definitely eat there again, and can't wait!! Don't listen to some of the bad reviews regarding the small portions of the antojitos. The meaning of antojito is "snack." They are small, but the quality is scrumptastic! The service was speedy, our water stayed full, and requests were taken care of quickly. I'm glad I picked this place for my birthday. And now the concerns -- Concern one: the reception area is tiny -- the desk is huge and does not leave room to wait. There are signs that say to not block the servers and walkway, but no place else to stand. We entered and were told it would take five minutes -- not to be seated, but to just add our name to the list. There were no others waiting to add their name to the list. You can wait outside, but we were there on April 2nd and it was a chilly evening at 7:00 pm. No matter where we waited, we were in the way including in the bar. I would recommend taking the gargantuan desk out, move the little podium from the dining room, and add a bench or two. Concern two: we were seated at a freshly wiped booth -- super appreciated, but the bench was wet. We did not realize until after we sat down. Seating should be dried before seating guests. Concern three: the hostess very openly fixed her hair at the front entrance. There were bathrooms literally 10 steps away. She spent quite a bit of time and started out facing the wall, turned toward the door, then back toward the wall. I'm not sure if she handles food, but some training is needed. read more

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