Stopped in for dinner with a friend. Food was all right - had the mole enchiladas with chicken, rice and beans. My friend had a senior plate of enchiladas. The mole tasted okay. We hadn't had deep fried ice cream in years, so ordered one to share. Turned out to not be deep fried nor hot. They took a scoop of vanilla and rolled it in some kind of mystery breading - neither of us could figure out what it was - and was ice cold. A couple of the servers we interacted with were friendly and fast. Would return again if in the area and would try other dishes. read more

El Caporal - Their version of deep fried ice cream - cold, not fried - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

I really wanted to like this place, but it ended up being pretty underwhelming. The interior feels dated and noticeably dark, which gave the whole restaurant a bit of a tired. Unfortunately, the food was the biggest letdown. Everything we ordered was very bland, lacking the bold flavors you'd expect from a good Mexican restaurant. On top of that, nearly every dish was completely smothered in an overwhelming amount of cheese. Instead of enhancing the food, it just made everything feel heavy and one-note. Overall, it wasn't a terrible experience, but definitely not one I'd go out of my way to repeat. read more

El Caporal - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

I love some good Mexican food and this place did not disappoint. Located directly adjacent to the Goodwill store in Maple Valley. Sizable parking lot and safe environment. Our server was Josie and she was prompt to greet us and deliver our drink choices. I opted for the number 16 large combo with taco, enchilada and chili relleno. Huge portions and everything was delicious. My wife went with the macho burrito with the shrimp filling. Hers was equally tasty and in fact, we had such a large portion. We each ended up taking some home to enjoy tomorrow. Our server was very attentive and polite. Kept our glasses filled and appeared when we needed something. Highly recommend this place. read more

El Caporal - Macho burrito with shrimp filling - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

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My wife and I love eating here. The inside is festive. They make excellent margaritas. The food is always good. I always order the macho carnitas burrito. It is so good every time. My wife prefers the ground beef tacos. Come in and have a great meal! read more

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Love this place there tacos is good the service is great one of my fav Mexican places to eat in My area read more

The food at El Caporal was amazing and I can't wait to go back. It is traditional Mexican food the way it should be. I recommended them to someone the very next day. The Chili Colorado and rice and beans really hit. Pork burrito was on point. read more

Our go to Mexican restaurant. We have attempted to try other restaurants in Maple Valley but nothing has compared. Only gave 4/5 stars because I have had better Mexican food in my life. However, food quality is consistent and will continue coming back! read more

A classic. Food and service is always good. The only restaurant worth going to in maple valley.

We were disappointed to see the King County Public Health rating was an "okay." We went in, anyway, looking forward to their delicious chicken mole and guacamole. We hadn't been for several months and were disappointed. The guacamole was blah and vegetables in it were not uniformly cut, with some big hunks of pieces. Little flavor even after adding salsa and lots of salt. The mole lacked the rich sweetness we have had here in the past. The salsa today was much too hot for us. So sad since we had looked forward to their tasty meals we had experienced in the past. Service was good. read more

We stopped for lunch at El Caporal Cantina. I ordered a non-standard item - a quesodilla without beef, chicken, nor shrimp but with specified vegetables: tomatomes, onions, and mushrooms. No problem, and it was delicious. Kudos to Illiana, who was very patient with my attempts at the vegetables in Spanish. She had the grace not to laugh at my pronunciation, though I'm sure it was a challenge. My wife enjoyed her chese crisps and had no leftovers. I had a teeny box of leftovers. Good value for the money. 4.5 stars. read more

Reliably, consistent, and good each time. Since the 90's this restaurant hasn't changed a bit so if you liked it then you'll like it now!

We just moved into the area and decided to try this restaurant. Don't judge a book by it's cover! Outside is really run down...but so is the entire shopping center! The wait staff were all very friendly, prompt, and checked in with us at least 3 times. The only con is that they should leave napkins on the table...instead you have to ask for them. But back to what they do well...the food is expensive but they give overly generous proportions for the price. The food is excellent! Everyone enjoyed their meal, we had leftovers, and the to-go boxes were quality. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes MX food. read more

Good dinners. Like the burritos, Arroz con Pollo (tomato-rice and chicken with a bit creamy cheese), enchiladas. Husband orders Fajitas without even opening the menu. Nice waiters & waitresses. read more

Been coming here since I was a kid and now I bring my kiddos! The food and service is amazing it's my favorite Mexican dinner spot!

This place is good no wonder its busy! I got Margarita jumbo and just one and I don't think I need another one. I ordered chimichanga with grilled chicken and as always chimichanga is good but grilled chicken is too dry and chewy so I didn't eat it. The place have a very welcoming feeling and I remembered when I used to live in San Diego. The price is cheap compared to other places that I have been, servers are very friendly and accommodating. Overall I would recommend this place. The only thing I don't like is the entrance is too small for all the people waiting for a table. read more

El Caporal - Chimichanga with grilled chicken - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

This is by far one of the best Mexican Restaurants in this area. Delicious menu items, friendly staff, and classic décor. The fajitas for two is one of the best deals here; plenty of food for a couple. There is plenty of parking out front, and it is easy to get to from the area. I recommend ordering their specialty drink - the cucumber margarita! Very tasty and refreshing! read more

El Caporal - Classic décor here! - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

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We order pickup from here all the time. Food is great, I especially like the fajitas and burritos.

Been coming here for decades. Food is always great. Combo Fajitas are amazing. I prefer their beans to other similar restaurants and get their Pico de gallo to go. Service is great the majority of the time, and I don't recall a time that it felt dirty in their unique environment. read more

A lot of parking available Big bright sign in the front of restaurant location. Entrance doors & tables & inside restaurant was clean. Excellent customer service Angel was my server. Got water & soda refilled fast. Free chips and fresh salsa so delicious. I ordered the appetizer and steak/chicken/bacon shrimp. All was delicious I would recommend anyone in the area to eat here. Comfortable chair and relaxing ambience read more

El Caporal - Delicious steak/chicken & bacon shrimps - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

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Even though the restaurant was empty it took 30 minutes to have our order taken. They did drinks fairly quickly but then pretty much disappeared. They took forever to check on us to replenish chips and salsa and after a glass of water spilled by our nephew we didn't have napkins. They never offered to bring us more. Service was not great and food was just so so. We noticed the food rating on the door was "ok". That should have been a sign. Food and service was not worth the wait. Not a go to Mexican restaurant. read more

Had a medical appointment and after we went to this restaurant since the Hispanic medical assistant recommended this restaurant. We had a great lunch and Iliana was our server, great attentive and very friendly. We will be returning for any future visits to Maple Valley. read more

coming here my whole life I have consistently received quality customer service every time. highly recommended very family friendly.

This place has gone downhill. The taquitos were overcooked and the cheese enchiladas were SO heavy with cheese (inside and out), you couldn't taste the bland enchilada sauce or find the soggy tortilla. The manager asked if everything was okay. We said, "not really" and told her why. About the enchiladas, she said, "next time ask for not so much cheese." What?! Then, she just said, "sorry" then walked away. The waiter was very nice, but the food and the manager? Not so much. We won't be back. read more

This is our new go to place for Mexican food. The first time we went I had Arroz Con Pollo . The second time I had the Tacos al Carbon. Both were excellent !!! The staff is very personable and friendly. The food is piping hot and very good. If you haven't been here before you won't be disappointed. read more

El Caporal - Tacos al Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

My son has been asking for good Mexican food for over 18 months. I told him once we're fully vaccinated we'd go. The meal didn't disappoint and was very worth the wait. My daughter has the taco salad which the only thing left was an empty plate. My son had a macho burrito which had everything inside. He loved it. I had the chimichanga with rice and beans. Also very delicious. My husband enjoyed the little bit of leftovers we had left. read more

We ordered takeout and it was all really good. There was an error on one of the dishes we ordered (got shrimp fajitas instead of the shrimp quesadilla we ordered) but the dish we got was very tasty. The cheese quesadilla we got for the kids was delicious. read more

My 7 year oldest favorite. Never disappoints. Friendly & Delicious!! The food is always great. The staff is always smiling. Love this place! read more

First thing i noticed was it's pretty dark in some areas. We could barely see the menu. Other areas are well lit. Servers were attentive and kind. The horchata sucked and was pricey. The food was ok. Nothing special about it. Not a bad place but could definitely improve. read more

El Caporal - Camarones a la crema - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

El Caporal in Maple valley is definitely a hidden gem and a great Mexican restaurant in the state of Washington. If you're a transplant from California you're definitely gonna be missing authentic Mexican food and surprisingly this place does have some great dishes. They decorate the restaurant with themes of holidays and they have the absolute best customer service. Upon entering you will see that they have hand sanitizer available and a sign to wear your mask. The staff here are very friendly and will remember you if you return, quite impressive. Now for the food! When you sit down they bring chips and salsa! Yes it's refillable :) and free of charge! Also when you order to go they also provide a bag of chips with salsa. It's not that spicy. My friend likes to order the El caporal burrito and I like getting the carne asada burrito and or the carne asada street tacos with lemon on the side. The food for Washington's about a 3/5 but since there's not very many places that serve delicious food with flavor this is pretty good. Price point is decent. They also have a lunch menu from 11-3 with smaller portions for less price. read more

I have some of the worst food of my life at this location, however, I decided to give them another chance because other locations manage to serve a decent dish. We were here for lunch and I had an amazing Carne Asada plate. It was hot, flavorful and filling, so much so that I assumed a mistake was made. I returned a couple weeks later and found out a mistake was made indeed. On my second visit the food was not as good as the previous meal and the portion was much smaller. I think they served the dinner portion for lunch, however, again the meat was overcooked and the server failed to refill our chips, salsa or beverages. I have changed my original review from 1 to 3 stars. The former visit was a 5, but the latter was about a 3 and I suspect on most days that's the best they can do. If you want Mexican, I'd suggest you go a block south to Hacienda Del Mar. The food isn't much better, but the service and consistency of food will make you happy. I don't know if this is a family place or franchise, butt I have had three meals, a 1 star, a 5 star and a 3 star. That should make any owner have a conversation with the staff about how their job influences business. read more

Wonderful staff, good food for a reasonable price. Good bar area for get togethers. The food is predictable, which makes it good for children. Family has been coming here for 15+ years. Pollo Asado is always a hit. read more

El Caporal has fantastic food. We have been eating or getting takeout from there since they opened 20+ years ago. Honestly, the only thing I can ever remember, negatively, is my husband not getting his drink with his dinner. The food is great. The place is clean. The service is excellent. Adios! read more

The staff was super nice, the restaurant was clean, but the food was somehow.... tasteless? Everyone recommends this place so we thought we would check it out, and maybe it's perfect for the taste pallets of the pale folks of Maple Valley, but it wasn't great for us. read more

Parking was a bit difficult due to Friday night. As soon as you walk in you have your normal Mexican Restaraunt theme with stucco walls & aloe plants all over the place near & far. The chips were warm so that was nice. Guacamole was way too bland. Queso was rock hard/thick. My son said the American burger was decent. I did not like the wet burrito. I asked for no celery but the burrito was filled with this :( my sister ordered the chicken wings off of the appetizer menu. Even though it was an appetizer she got her "meal" the very last. Actually after I had completed mine. Which is not convenient when you're eating out with little kiddos as well. She also mentioned the wings were burnt & dis flavored. We will not be returning. Although the skinny margarita was sooooo delicies! Hence the 2 stars :) read more

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El Caporal always does a great job and has vast menu of selections. The staff is always friendly too! Tonight I ordered the fajita salad with steak, I don't like green peppers so I always get extra mushrooms and zucchini in its place. It was exceptionally good tonight! The steak was sliced thin and very tender. It was cooked perfectly with pink in the middle with just the right amount of fajita seasoning. If you are really hungry go for the macho burrito covered with sour cream and guacamole and filled with your choice of meat and beans and rice, it is truly a masterpiece for your tastebuds and the perfect thing for a starving young man like my son who can almost eat the entire thing. I really like their salsa here too, it is not too thick or too thin and is spicy, peppery with lime and a lot cilantro. Go and enjoy with the family, they always treat you like you are part of theirs. read more

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This place is awesome! They have the best salsa! It's actually pretty spicy and I can handle a lot of spice! I ordered the combo with a Chile rellano and chicken and cheese enchilada. It was so good! The chicken was super moist and flavorful! I hate ordering enchiladas at some Mexican restaurants because chicken is so dry, not here! read more

El Caporal - Chile rellano and chicken and cheese enchilada! So good! - Mexican Near Me - Maple Valley, Washington

Favorite local mexican restaurant and wonderful family service. We always sit in the bar and enjoy bartenders margaritas and chili colorado or verde. Just plain good old fashioned mexican food. We love the comfy old rolling chairs at the bar tables! Also a great place to watch a game! read more

This is the best Mexican restaurant in Maple Valley, hands down. Good chips and salsa, I've never had anything here I was unhappy with, and their enchiladas are fabulous! The service is pretty quality - my water glass never stays empty for more than a few minutes, and I love their salsa and chips. The chips, BTW, are complimentary unlike some places that charge you per basket, which is just beyond annoying. They're also great with following customized orders, which is super important if you have food allergies, or even if you just dislike refried beans. If you're trying to pick between this place and another Mexican restaurant in the area, go with this one. It isn't perfect but it is super super great. P.s. I avoid here on overly hot days, as they do not have AC. A lot of places don't out here, but sometimes it's nice to know before you go. read more

Food was delicious and came out very fast drinks were great and so were the employees definitely will return for food. Prices were actually really good to spent more on a meal at jack in the box the other day so definitely worth it read more

Food was great the couple times we have been here. We typically do take out and the last time we went we decided to eat in and the service was soooo slow. It wasn't terribly busy but it seemed like there was so much confused between workers as to who was doing what where. Took about 20 min alone just to get our bill. But again the food is definitely delicious. I just recommend the take out option. read more