The arroz con pollo is so delicious every time! Tonight, my server Andy was seriously the greatest I have ever had. GIVE THAT MAN A RAISE!!!

I came here with friends for dinner last night. Their system for assigning number is so random but it seemed to work for them. We were later according to one of my friends then the normal dinner crowd even though we were there just after 7. Maybe that's an Iowa thing...eating dinner early? Anyways, their menu is set up like the typical Mexican place. Though finding nachoes was hard on the menu. Which probably made sense based on how they were. They were basically beef, chips onions I think, cheese and jalepenos. There was no tomatoes, sour cream or guacamole. All of which would made the nachoes better. I typically judge Mexican restaurants on their nachoes because to me they are the easiest to make and should be the hardest to mess up. There were other options that I could have had but given I had most recently had the at Grande Azteca, I didn't want to be comparing them. The chips were plentiful and salsa was a decent medium. They did a good job of getting us in and out. You also were able to hear each other and we didn't have to shout across the circular table we were seated at. I will probably be back sometime but I don't come to Ames that much any more. read more

Outstanding Mexican restaurant in Ames. Our server provided world class service, the food was excellent, and price was very affordable. They have a large selection of food on the menu. A must stop when you are visiting Iowa State University. read more

Amazing food. Great service. Table and floor was clean. Could not have asked for a better experience. Food was out very quickly.

Had lunch here today. Service was good and everything was quick. Had a chimichanga lunch special. Price was low, and portion size was as well. Flavor was ok, but nothing special. Overall the place isnt bad, and the food is ok, but not something I would give rave reviews to at all. read more

Not that this place needs another positive review, but here it goes. This place has very friendly wait staff, insanity fast service, great margaritas (although expensive and they hide the price), and great food. I strongly recommend the Quesadilla chipotle, Chacas burrito, or Sammy's burrito. read more

Ok. This place checks off everything I am looking for. Clean place, fast and good service, cheap, and delish food. My family ordered their special fajita for two. It fed two adults, three little children. I don't know what they did with the meat, but the fajita was juicy and so flavorful. And all the servers were professional. I think we will be back when we are in Ames again. read more

Very tasty. Very quick. Very reasonably priced. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

This restaurant is in my regular rotation for lunch spots during the week. I have tried a few different things on their menu and everything has been very flavorful and fresh. The food comes out quickly and piping hot, and the servers are always friendly and willing to make recommendations or adjustments to your order to make sure that you are happy. Lately I have been getting the Philly burrito. I like it because it has no rice in it, which is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to burritos. It has lots of beef or chicken cut in strips like for fajitas, grilled onions and peppers. It comes with their white cheese sauce drizzled on top but it is not so thick that it overpowers the other flavors. Speaking of rice, in many Mexican restaurants the rice has no flavor but this one has a flavorful yellow rice. Even their salsa is flavorful with chunks of onion and cilantro and tomatoes. It is not like other places that seem like tomato sauce with a few bits of cilantro floating in it. The salsa is mild but I like a little kick to mine so I add a few drops of the red hot sauce that is found on every table and it also adds a bit of smokiness to the salsa. The chips are light and crunchy, not overly greasy. Their prices are on par with every other Mexican restaurant in the metro. I definitely recommend it if you have a craving for Mexican and are in Ankeny. read more

El Azteca - Philly burrito - Mexican Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Very fast service; very attentive and welcoming staff. Standard Mexican fare. Very clean. read more

Great food and the server was friendly and fast!! Can't beat that when you are hungry. I'll be back again always a great dining experience.

My family and I have been going here for 10 years. Consistently great food and margaritas. Friendly staff & fresh, hot food. Service is quick. We especially love the Aros con pollo, Sammy's burrito, el azteca special, combo 23 and the queso dip. Go there now! read more

The food is amazing. The staff seems to genuinely care about their job. And they seem to always be having fun. I've never once had a bad experience at El Azteca and I've been there hundreds of times! read more

Big change since I was last here in the food. Salsa was so spicy, I couldn't eat it. But the food came out FAST! That being said, there were three types of meat in my enchiladas and quesadilla. I tried the chicken enchilada first and it didn't have any more taste than unsalted shredded chicken. The queso was very watery as well. So then I tried the beef(ground) enchilada. It had just a smidgeon of spice. I could have made this at home, that's the whole reason we go out to eat, because I'm a bad cook who can't make anything taste more than BLAND. Which this was. Then I went to the shredded beef quesadilla. Once again, no more than a smidgeon of flavor. The cheese was most flavorful. Like eating tofu. Clean. Friendly staff. Family friendly. Prices are ok. Street and lot parking. This place is darker than its other place on Dayton. And not as good food. They do have a full bar here. And TV, for you sports nuts. Marcy'sDinerTantrumScale 5/5-NoScreamingKids. read more

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Margarita was awesome. Food was super average

My friends and I all love el azteca, it's on our list of go-to's in Ames! Pretty well priced, nice ambiance, and quick service! They have always been very hospitable. The food is typical Mexican-American cuisine, the salsa is definitely above average! read more

I've been going here for years the wait staff is amazing, the food is delicious, and it's extremely affordable. Whenever people from out of town come I always recommend El Azteca. However I'm probably pretty biased considering a couple of the waiters know my order since I'm there so often! read more

If you order a drink, make sure you specify what size! I pointed at the other table's drinks when asking what they were, and he brought me a huge drink and said because that's what I pointed at. I asked him to bring a smaller size and he refused! And he was the owner!!! If it was me, I would have made sure the customer was happy instead of arguing with them. I asked the table next to me if they had asked them what size they wanted, and they said NO. They had also brought them the largest drink, just to make extra money. A waiter, especially the OWNER, should ask you what size always, and just a tip for running a good business-- the customer is always right! read more

New in the area, first time at this restaurant. Very good service and delicious food. I recommend the the California burrito but everything was good. Will definitely return. read more

The BEST place in Ames! Highly recommend. Quick service. Kind people. Delicious food. Pollo Chipotle is easily the best meal. Rafael is our favorite waiter! read more

If you get a jumbo texas margarita, you wont loose. Order that, enjoy the chips and salsa, then order the chipotle quesadilla. You will be happy. Love the staff there. read more

I love El Azteca. Love. I've only been to the Stange location, but I've never had a less than stellar meal and the service is always friendly. Every visit to El Azteca begins with complementary chips and salsa. The chips are always fresh and hot and the salsa is a nice consistency with good flavor. The salsa is just slightly spicy but you can add hot sauce to make it hotter if you so choose. My favorite entrees are the Chori-Pollo (chorizo and chicken covered in cheese) and the Pollo al Chipotle (chicken breast covered in a chipotle cream sauce). Both dishes come with hot tortillas so you can make little burritos with your dish. Yum! read more

El Azteca is your standard tex-mex joint with loud uptempo Hispanic dance music trying to keep up with the speed of service. The Stange location is miles ahead of the S. Dayton location on all counts - it's clean, the ingredients are fresh and the food comes out piping hot! Since La Fuente went downhill, El Azteca In Somerset is definitely THE place to eat Mexican in Ames, and it shows; on a normal weekend night, expect to wait 30-45 minutes for a table, but feel free to use that time to sip a margarita at the bar in the lobby! My wife and I have not yet found anything we didn't enjoy, although the tortilla chips leave a bit to be desired; they can, however, be brought up a couple of notches by ordering the $3.50 bean dip - refried beans with queso blanco - yum!. read more

Pretty good Mexican food! Food came out very quick and was delicious! Margarita's were very good as well!! I was very satisfied with my first visit and will certainly be back! read more

Very good Mexican food definitely the best in town. The atmosphere is great and you get your food very quick. It's not very expensive either for the great quality food you're getting. This is one of the best restaurants in Ames and is a go to spot for my friends and I. read more

Came here while in town for work. Awesome! Our food was out in less than ten minutes. Everything was fabulous! Excellent margaritas. Our waiter was great. We will be back! read more

I've never been to the Hyland location but I would say this is the best Mexican place you'll find in Ames. This location is a little more "classier" but still a place where you can wear sweats and not feel like a loser. Service seems to be consistent and it has yummy salsa and margaritas :) The main thing is that it gets really busy Thursday through Sunday so be prepared to wait. read more

I'm a huge fan of El Azteca. Any time family comes to town, I always suggest it. Their salsa is super fresh and they don't stop bringing it as you run out. Their drinks are very strong, though a tad bit overpriced (I'd rather have a regular strength drink at a regular price). After visiting other mexican restaurants in some of my friends' hometowns, I originally thought their restaurants were bad but eventually came to realize that El Azteca is just really good! They may not be the MOST authentic mexican place but they are pretty delightful. The meat is well seasoned and just spicy enough to please everyone. I tend to add a little hot sauce or salsa to up the spicy though. I appreciate that their beans and rice taste fresh and not like they make one big batch for a week on end. The only points deducted is how quick everything comes. I barely have time to start my drink before my food is already at the table. This is great for a meal in a rush, but overall I prefer to be in a restaurant for 45 minutes to an hour to find it truly enjoyable. read more

3 stars for food but zero for service. Good Mexican food is hard to find in Ames (and elsewhere in Iowa). "Pork carnitas" was bland as were the rice and beans. Quesadilla was okay. Guacamole was, well, just avocado. Chile relleno was cheesy and strangely greasy. Sopapilla and churros were delicious once they were found under mounds of uninspired whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Service? Don't expect good service from anyone other than YOUR waiter. Helpers and other waiters are not interested in pitching in to help each other so if your waiter is busy, you are out of luck. On our visit, our waiter was busy and other waiters were standing around the bar. read more

This is the best Mexican food I have had since leaving Arizona. It's priced well, portions are legit and the taste...oh the taste of HOME. Jarritos are frosty cold and delicious. You have to ask for the spicy salsa and it's worth it! If you happen to find yourself in Ames, IA...El Azteca is the place to go for great food. The staff are fabulous too! Oh! get the sopapillas !! YUM. read more

SO GOOD! Quick service, kind wait staff, free warm chips and salsa, kickass margaritas, and stellar food. I always get the chicken enchiladas and a bunch of queso. The queso is so good that I have to refrain from drinking it straight from the bowl. The chicken in the enchiladas is always fresh and juicy. Wow, I am making myself drool. It's a fun place for birthdays! You get a free tequila shot and to wear a sombrero. What more could you want in a birthday? read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Ankeny & should be yours. Why? They have great friendly staff & wonderful customer service. They have a decent menu but not 8,000 pages long. Everything from their burritos, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas to their free chips & salsa, dips, margaritas, and imported beers are delicious. The service is speedy even when busy. They have decent specials & even something for your birthday. Their prices are also good in the first place. read more

One of my favorite restaurants, incredible customer service! The chips and salsa appetizers are great! Shrimp tacos are my favorite thing to order there. Highly recommend everyone to eat here! read more

I was very pleased from the start to the finish. The chips and salsa are tasty and the California burrito was huge and awesome! My kids loved the tacos and enchiladas as well. This will be a must visit. Place on my visits to Ames. read more

This place is always busy so small parties work best AND make sure everyone is accounted for because they won't seat you unless everyone is present. The waitstaff is always nice and cheerful. Food never takes long to come out, but while you wait you get complementary chips and salsa. The salsa is pretty good (a little too much onion in it sometimes). I usually get the combo plate #6 - beef taco, beef enchilada, rice and beans and it's pretty good food. I also think it's a good amount of food for the price. The enchilada sauce sometimes tastes like straight tomato sauce so that's really the only thing that's ever been inconsistent from my experience. Also everyone raves about the margaritas but I wasn't that impressed - maybe I hit it on a bad night? I thought the Texas margarita was pretty disgusting and actually sent it back in exchange for the classic house margarita which still wasn't much better... So far this is the best Mexican food I've been able to find in Ames and definitely recommend giving it a try! read more

El Azteca is consistently a great meal at a good price. The service is quick and their chips and salsa are very good. Ames has many fine Mexican restaurants and I find this a favorite for lunch. read more

I've been here twice now and have yet to be disappointed. Not much to say except they are consistent, tasty, very well priced, courteous, and enjoyable. I shall return! read more

Best Mexican restaurant in town. I have eaten at the Dayton location and do not care for it. At that location they seem very pushy "wanting you to leave the second you're done." Every time I come here I get the Shrimp Tacos. Their Margaritas are pretty good too. This time I asked for the 48oz and was surprised by how big the glass was. The food is always hot and served fresh. You can expect your food within ten minutes for a table of 4. They also serves chips n salsa as soon as you sit down. I recommend the hotter salsa(cost you only though). The quality has never been a disappointment. If you go on a weekend you may have to wait, but the wait time is usually short. I generally eat here about once or twice a month!! read more

El Azteca - Shrimp Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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I've been here a lot. It's your standard Midwest Mexican restaurant. Free chips and salsa, food comes out fast, carb and cheese bomb, etc. Good stuff usually. BUT. Yesterday we went with a small group of 5 for my boyfriend's 30th birthday on a Friday night. His actual birthday is in a couple days, but since this was a celebration dinner, we went a couple days early so we could hit a weekend night when people could join us. Wait was long, as usual (college kids are back in town). After 45 minutes I asked the host if we would be seated soon, and he said he didn't know our whole party was here. I said that yes, we are all here, and he said, "Well you didn't let me know you were ready to be seated." ????? I have never heard of this in a restaurant before. That's why the number system exists... So you can call ME when YOU are ready... We finally get seated. The servers here are normally in a good mood and happy to serve. Our waiter seemed like he did not want to be working at all. He took our drink orders, and we also ordered a large queso dip. Drinks came out with no queso. He came back to take our food order and we reminded him about the large queso -- we also asked for more chips and salsa, as ours were completely gone. He brought out a small queso, NOT the large size we asked for, and chips but NO salsa. ???? At this point our food was also coming out. We asked for more salsa again, which he did bring us. Here is the big thing: At the time we were ordering drinks, I told the waiter, "By the way, we're celebrating his birthday today!" And I pointed at my boyfriend. The waiter made a very awkward hesitant face, and then he said, "ummmmm, is his birthday ACTUALLY TODAY?" I said that it is in a couple days but we're all together now to celebrate. His response: "welllllll. We don't really do anything for that unless it's actually your birthday. So. um. yeah." and then HE WALKED AWAY? It was very uncomfortable and awkward. We had already heard about four groups being sung to with the sombrero that night. All we were looking for was your typical funny/cheesy Mexican restaurant song and dance for someone's birthday. Don't even need the free ice cream or tequila -- just make it fun! That's why we're celebrating here! This made for an awkward, bad vibe at the table. We really felt it took away from the birthday experience. Food was fine. Typical. Our server never came back to check on us until the bill arrived. This really makes me think twice about the restaurant... Service was not good. Food was average. Wait was long with a weird seating comment from the host. This place will continue to be busy with lines out the door as usual, but I'd really like to know more about the birthday situation and may call to ask sometime. read more

Great Mexican Restaurant!! Service, food, margaritas, all wonderful. Try the Albert Special. Yum! I asked for jalapeños with it!! I would say I have had better tortilla chips at other Mexican restaurants, but the salsa and the queso was very good. I would give it 5 stars it the chips were a bit better. read more