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Alexandria, VA

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El Fresco

4.6 (37 reviews)
Closed • 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

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Arroz con Pollo
Jens J.

Four stars, only a couple centimeters from being five stars. A great new restaurant in the Hybla Valley corridor. The remodel they did before opening El Fresco was a big upgrade to the premises. The atmosphere inside is modern, clean and airy. On a sweltering afternoon waiting for my tires to be changed at nearby Costco we decided to check out El Fresco. You place your order at the counter and if eating in, they bring your food out to you. Service was friendly and accommodating. We both ordered the arroz con pollo. A very good dish, containing a fresh green salad topped with a li'l dollop of sour cream. The chicken in the arroz on pollo was topped with both white and yellow cheese. The dish was accompanied by two warm tortillas. The cream cheese jalapeño poppers were fine, served with a chipotle dipping sauce. I'm not sure though why they are using disposable silverware when the plates that dishes are served on are not disposable.

Bar to order
karen k.

On site parking and a fully remodeled restaurant. Clean and easy to navigate. The young man at the counter was very helpful and steered us in the right direction of what to get. Lunch special is $9.95 and a super deal! Get the chicken fajitas which were Perfection , or the Taco & enchilada combination, all Served with rice, beans, and chips. There is also a salsa bar with mild to spiced salsas along with pico , onion, lemons and limes. Highly recommend and anticipate being back here often.

That bowl depth tho
Aaron S.

Sorry Chipotle, ive got a new boo and her name is El Fresco. This place is newly opened, and today happened to be their grand opening day where they ran a 5 dollar burrito bowl special. They redecorated the place (used to be a charcoal chicken joint) and its nice and modern looking. The staff was super friendly and accomodating which is always great. Heres why this burrito bowl is better than chipotle. First, all of the ingredients are fresh, but you can definitely taste everything. The pico was great, and you could distinguish between the jalapeno, cilantro, and tomato. Second, they layered the cheese. On top is the standard issue white cheese, but underneath the pico, lettuce and white cheese is a layer of yellow (not sure if cheddar or something different) that melted itself into the steak and lettuce. I almost missed it because it wasnt easy to see but its there and its fantastic. Third, the rice. Spanish rice is used here and it was so good. I typically get the lime cilantro at chipotle but the spanish rice gave it that chefs kiss. Fourth, is volume. Look at how deep that bowl is! They have a ton of other things on the menu that im looking forward to trying out so ill definitely be back. Oh, and they give you chips while you wait. Whats better than that!

The back register, salsa bar, and drink station
Tom K.

The food tastes great. Got the Asada Tacos lunch special. The asada is excellent quality. They have a salsa bar with hot, medium, and mild sauces, diced white onions, and fresh diced jalapeños. The prices at least for lunch are great! There are plenty of tables and the dining area is very clean. The lady at the register even gave me chips while I waited for my tacos!

Steak Nachos
Nicole H.

I had an awesome dining experience at El Fresco! I ordered the steak nachos with white queso. They were the most amazing nachos I've seriously ever had ! The meat was nice and tender, the veggies fresh. The white queso was creamy and delicious! Staff is super friendly and the owner is hardworking and always takes good care of us when we eat there. Place is clean and organized. They have a salsa bar! Yum! Lots of salsas to choose from. I ordered the fried ice cream for dessert and it was AMAZING! I loved my whole experience at El Fresco on Route 1 in Alexandria!

LoriLynn R.

Food is amazing and fresh and delicious cute inside and out. Staff is friendly. This is just a great place and our new come to spot. It's clean and all around spot on.

San Antonio Chili
John L.

This place has BASIC Tex-Mex food. Two of the desserts were stale, and one was awful. More about that later. El Fresco Tex-Mex Grill is a franchise company owned by Iranian immigrant Steve Ganji. He opened the first restaurant in 2008 in Chantilly, VA. This store opened on January 19, 2024. It is owned by a franchisee. All four of their locations are surrounded by Taco Bells. That's a smart plan! It ensures a customer base that eats simple Tex-Mex. When they come here, they'll rave about it because the food here is fresher and more flavorful. A Taco Bell executive said that all their regular dishes are made from a limited list of ingredients. That's why it all tastes similar. The flavor profile in everything we tried here was either basic or lacking. We made 2 visits and tried 10 items in hopes of finding something outstanding. 1) San Antonio Chili It was oily beef soup with ground meat, black beans, diced onions, tomato paste, and diced green peppers. It had a mild spiciness with moderate seasoning but no chili powder or cumin flavor. The meat tasted like a blend of chicken and beef. Edible and forgettable. 2) Chicken Nacho Supreme It had corn tortilla chips topped with plain shredded chicken, a choice of white queso or cheddar/jack cheeses, plain tomatoes, black olives, cilantro, jalapeňos, and sour cream. We chose queso, and it was typical. The flavor was the sum of the parts. The only added seasoning that I could taste was salt! They have a free salsa bar, which has jalapeños, pico de gallo, limes, lemons, onions, tomate rojo, tomatillo verde, and jalapeños asados. We used them to give this dish spiciness and depth of flavor. It was average at best. 3) Burrito Deluxe A flour tortilla with shredded chicken, Spanish rice, and beans. Covered with white queso, tomatoes, olives, cilantro, sour cream, and red chili. You have a choice of black, pinto, or mixed beans. The filling was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. The red chili was liquid from the chili described above. The Taco Bell method was used here. It's got many of the same ingredients as the nachos. 4) Chicken Fajita It had strips of grilled chicken sautéed with tomatoes, onions, and green peppers. It came with 3 flour tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, Spanish rice, cheese, sour cream, and a slice of lime. It was sautéed in a sauce with flavors of lime juice, garlic, cheap chili powder, and salt. It had depth of flavor that was ordinary. It had no smoke flavor and no brown sugar to balance the lime juice. Those are just a few changes it could use. It was okay overall. 5) Mariachi Burrito A flour tortilla filled with Spanish rice, carne asada, pollo asado, beans, lettuce, and pico de gallo. Covered with melted cheese, red chile, and cilantro. Served with sour cream and fresh guacamole. The guacamole was too salty. The meats were mildly seasoned and tender. Overall, it was moderately spicy and full of typical tasting ingredients. It was better than the Burrito Deluxe. 6) Chorizo con Huevos It had Mexican sausage and eggs mixed together and then topped with red chiles and melted cheese. It came with 4 tortillas and fried potatoes. Other than the seasonings and savoriness in the Chorizo, this was 2-dimensional in flavor and salty. It was mildly hot from the chiles. The potatoes were typical. 7) Southwestern Enchilada Platter Two soft corn tortillas filled with a protein or veggies, then covered with melted cheddar/jack cheese and red chile. Served with olives, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, guacamole, and sour cream. It came with Spanish rice and a choice of beans. We picked carnitas, which were moist, tender, and savory. It helped in making this flavorful and well-rounded. 8) Sopapillas with a side of honey They were dense, chewy, not fluffy, stale, and had hard edges. They were covered with powdered sugar. The taste and texture were awful! Why serve this? Unbelievable! 9) Apple Churros It had 3 pieces, deep-fried and covered with cinnamon. The filling tasted like apple pie filling. The dough tasted like it was stale and frozen too long. It was like vendor pre-made frozen churros. Go to Brazilian bakery for great fresh churros. 10) Mexican Fried Ice Cream It had a big scoop of plain vanilla ice cream coated with fried corn tortilla flakes and topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and a maraschino cherry. It was in a STALE tortilla bowl. No rich ice cream or crispy fried cornflakes. It's a mix of mundane flavors. The service was friendly, helpful, and responsive. I couldn't ask for more! 3 entrees only took 18 minutes to make. The dining room and restrooms were very clean. The restrooms were locked. Ask an employee for the key. They have a free parking lot that was repaved recently. The service was great, but the food wasn't. They give a good amount of food for the price, so there's value. I'd rather spend more and go to El Paso Mexican restaurant for superior Tex-Mex food.

Tex-Mex Grill
Shaun F.

I'm so happy El Fresco has arrived on Richmond Highway. The service is awesome! Staff are always smiling and they provide fresh chips and salsa while you wait for your order. I normally get veggie burritos or veggie quesadilla and I'm always satisfied. Their food is better than most restaurants on Richmond Highway. They also have a deal going on. Check it out!

Burrito minus tortilla (BMT) with guacamole

This place is combines all of the best parts of Moe's and Chipotle. Very good food, fresh!! The service was fine. I love the fact that guac and sour cream come automatically with your BMT (burrito minus tortilla/burrito bowl). All of the salsas at the bar are great! I ordered the BMT with steak.

Chicken Fajitas lunch! So delicious!
Maggie S.

This place is a small chain, but wow do they deserve kudos! Great service and absolutely so fresh, delicious and the prices are on point! Chips and salsa come with every meal with a great variety of salsas to choose from at the salsa bar. Will be back!

Vegetable Burrito
Colton B.

The food is spectacular with lots of vegetarian options. Their queso is very good, and the service is fast very friendly.

Shrimp Fajitas with pinto beans.

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Reviews are largely positive. People praise the fresh, flavorful food, friendly, quick service, and a clean, pleasant atmosphere.

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20 days ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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5 months ago

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8 months ago

We love love love this location. The food is fresh and hot. I choose plant based options.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

I go there often. Everything is fresh and delicious. The chicken fajitas are tender! My go to for myself or the whole family.

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2 years ago

Food & Service excellent every time. Everything is always fresh and delicious. Location is very clean

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Delicious Tex-Mex style enchiladas! Finally! Great, friendly service. I went twice in the first week. The chicken nachos were dry, though.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

It's hard to find good Mexican food in the DMV. The menu is amazing, the location is clean, and the staff are friendly.

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3 years ago

Enjoyed my chicken fajitas and got a free ice cream, cannot complain and will go back.

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Helena's Mexican Restaurant - Shrimp Fajitas

Helena's Mexican Restaurant

4.5(196 reviews)
2.5 mi

Awesome! We happened upon it while looking for something tasty to eat. YELP came to the rescue and…read morewe went on it. The parking lot was crowded and the restaurant was too! Even though crowded, it was warm and welcoming. We got a seat quickly as we were greeted by the friendly host. We were greeted at the table by our server, Maybeline. She brought out water quickly, made some recommendations and came right back to take our order. We had the fajitas and birria, steak and shrimp tacos. They were all so flavorful, as were the black and pinto beans. Even the chips and salsa were delicious. All in all it was a great Friday find! Go check it out!

As a family, we have been to Helena's many times. The last few times we have gone we have noticed…read morethat the prices have consistently gone up over the past year or so and the food quality seems to be lacking. On our last visit, we got the chicken fajitas, and the grilled chicken was so flavorless, tough, and honestly, hard to eat. The chicken definitely needs to be marinated and seasoned, and it was neither. Queso often comes out lukewarm and overly thick. Birria tacos were good, per usual. Also, my husband and I have definitely questioned the amount of tequila that they are putting in the margaritas. We usually have one or two (and while not looking to get drunk lol) it definitely seems as if there is little tequila in these margaritas (especially if you buy a pitcher!). The margaritas taste like straight lime. Tequila has a flavor (which is one of the reasons why I love a margarita!).It is NOT present at all in the Kiki margaritas. Service is fine. Nothing spectacular. It honestly depends on who you get...some servers are clearly more attentive than others.

Photos
Helena's Mexican Restaurant - Cozy bar area

Cozy bar area

Helena's Mexican Restaurant
Helena's Mexican Restaurant - Happy hour 22oz $7 Dos X

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Happy hour 22oz $7 Dos X

El Paso Rt1 Alexandria - Sopapillas

El Paso Rt1 Alexandria

4.0(598 reviews)
1.8 mi
•$$

Heyyy 10/10 if I…read morecould RATE higher!!! Found them while passing by, staying at the hotel near by, but looked on Groupon and seen they had a voucher for $13.50, you get $30 worth of food! We tipped of course and the FOOD/SERVICE: QUALITY!!!!! Original Mexican taste!! Original Mexican restaurant!! Parking lot packed, food is goooood!!! The wait time was literally 10-15 mins!! Amazing customer service! Sweet workers!! I'd come back!

I'd put sub ZERO if I could…read more Our first time at your restaurant today. We saw people give positive remarks about your food, and so as lovers of Mexican food and coming from the N.E. we were excited to try a new Mexican place! I'm not sure how you were given such good reviews because nothing was great about it. So disappointing on all fronts. The service was horrible - she didn't smile, she basically came up to the table and asked us what we wanted. Then when we said it was our first time and we needed some time to look, she walked off. No personality whatever throughout. The margharitas were so bland, full of juice and LUKE WARM - for 20.00 - that we ordered an extra shot - which she forgot until she stopped by 15 minutes AFTER our meal already came. The food was terrifically bland as heck. Nothing was seasoned well at all. We asked for the manager, and one said he was one of them. He was basically useless. He didn't apologize. He came back to our table and wanted to see if we wanted something else, this is after waiting forever for our first food. He didn't offer to take off anything, not that would allow - but it's called great customer service, which this place sorely also lacked. Then, clueless, asked if we wanted to wrap up our food that we did NOT like. The fajita was dry and hard - chx, steak, shrimp and over the top fried cod. No flavor in either rice or beans. Enchalada with chicken was so bland and boring. The sauce on top seemed like a tomato sauce from a can. Service/food/drinks were all bad. If that's the standard the people seemed to like around here, that's telling. Best part of the place, cold water. Amen to that.

Photos
El Paso Rt1 Alexandria - Fajitas margarita and a random T. rex lol

Fajitas margarita and a random T. rex lol

El Paso Rt1 Alexandria - Super Guacamole Loco

Super Guacamole Loco

El Paso Rt1 Alexandria - Super Guacamole Loco

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Super Guacamole Loco

Dos Amigos - Chicken, ribs, BBQ Ribs, Chicken and Steak Fajita

Dos Amigos

4.1(379 reviews)
4.1 mi•Braddock Road Metro
•$$

A great unexpected find! We were looking for something to early Dinner places after a long day of…read moresightseeing and Dos Amigos didn't disappoint! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Their service and good food made our day. Hope to come back again sometime soon on our next visit to Alexandria.

I generally don't post negative reviews because I know the food service industry is challenging…read more This isn't meant to be an attack on the restaurant, but I do want to share our experience. We arrived at 4:03 p.m. and left by 4:46 p.m. Our plan was to relax at the bar, enjoy happy hour margaritas, have appetizers, then dinner while watching the soccer match--a leisurely vacation evening. The hospitality, unfortunately, was lacking. Although our bartender wasn't rude, she seemed to be in a constant rush to get us to order, despite the restaurant being relatively quiet with only a few tables occupied. We even mentioned that we were hoping to enjoy a slow, relaxing evening, but we still felt hurried throughout our visit. The happy hour margaritas were very lime-forward with very little tequila. We switched to a regular menu margarita ("The Perfect"), but even that tasted weaker than expected. As tequila fans, we were disappointed. We also found the food to be far from authentic Tex-Mex. Having lived in San Antonio, I realize that's a high standard, but this didn't come close to what we expected. In the end, we asked for our food to go and left. We found another restaurant where we could relax and enjoy the kind of hospitality we had been looking for. I don't enjoy leaving critical reviews, but this was a disappointing experience, and unfortunately, I can't recommend it.

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Dos Amigos
Dos Amigos
Dos Amigos

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Don Taco

Don Taco

4.1(1.4k reviews)
3.8 mi•Old Town Alexandria
•$$

I don't make it out to Alexandria too often, but since it was a halfway point between a friend and…read moreme, it worked out perfectly. My friend chose Don Taco because it's one of his favorite spots, and he kept raving about how great the tacos were. And because really, you can't go wrong with chips, salsa, and drinks for a quick happy hour. The salsa which is not pictured had a great smoky kick, the tacos were very flavorful, fresh and hot. The host and waitress were very sweet, kind and attentive. The atmosphere was pretty cool, nothing to complain about. A lot of space, we sat upstairs which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, this place isn't handicap accessible so if you're unable to walk 2 flights of stairs this wouldn't be the a great option. Thank you Don Taco Staff

I visited after my yoga party, and one thing I really appreciated was that they were able to…read moreaccommodate our large group at the last minute. We had the entire upstairs area to ourselves, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The restaurant was clean, and I loved the mini fans placed throughout the space--perfect if you're feeling a little too warm or have enjoyed a few drinks! As for the service, it was a bit hit-or-miss. The young lady who took our orders was pleasant, but it took quite a while for drinks to come out. There were also several missing items from people's orders, which caused some frustration since those items had been ordered well in advance. Now, onto the food--the real star of the experience! Everyone in our group enjoyed their meals and had great things to say. I ordered a salmon taco, which I actually saved and ate the next day for lunch, and it was still delicious. The queso, however, wasn't a favorite among our group. On the other hand, the chips and salsa were a hit. The mocktails were excellent, and everyone seemed to enjoy their cocktails as well. Despite a few service hiccups, the food, drinks, and atmosphere made for a great experience. I would definitely visit again.

Photos
Don Taco - Bar area

Bar area

Don Taco - Taco Trio (Top)

Taco Trio (Top)

Don Taco

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Los Cuates - Sopaipillas

Los Cuates

3.0(441 reviews)
3.7 mi•Old Town Alexandria
•$$

I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I found it on the way to somewhere else and ended up…read morestopping here instead because I didn't want to go further with the heat. The service was great and quick! I ordered a fresh lemonade which came out in a margarita glass and it was sooo good! I would stop here again just for that. I ordered a sweet corn tamale which was a nice treat and the sour cream it came with must have had a touch of lime which took the appetizer to a new level for me. For food I ordered a chicken quesadilla which was pretty good. Not bad for a quick lunch. I also tried the fried ice cream. Not my favorite fried ice cream but it wasn't bad. I would definitely stop by again.

We decided to try a new Mexican spot in Old Town. We found street parking easily nearby early…read moreSunday afternoon. Cute colorful restaurant! We were greeted and seated immediately when we arrived. There were maybe 3 or 4 tables total occupied during our visit so not too busy on a Sunday afternoon. There is outdoor seating as well. Our server, who was very friendly, hyped the premium margarita so we gave in and said yes. We also tried the passionfruit margarita. The premium was strong but that's probably what you're going for anyway The passionfruit margarita was delicious but not strong at all. We tried the chips and dip and the Platanos Fritos (plantains with sour cream) to start. Chips were fresh and hot. Salsa was a bit creamy. Never had it like this before but the taste was pretty good. Plantains were perfect! While we didn't order the Guac ( Guacamole Molcajete) , it was brought to our table. We found it to be on the bland side with no hints of cilantro, onion, lime or salt. We saw a few bits of tomato but it tasted just like a plain smashed avocado. Not something we would order again. We decided to try all the street tacos except the vegetarian so we could taste everything. Steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, ground beef, pork (al pastor), carnitas. We also got the 3 street taco platter that came with the Mexican rice and beans. We found the shrimp and fish tacos to be lacking in the quantity of meat. But they were flavorful. The chicken, while plentiful, was dry even with the sauce. The steak, al pastor and carnitas were all packed with meat and delicious but both our Al Pastor tacos were missing the pineapple. The ground beef was my personal favorite but was very greasy. The Mexican rice and pinto beans....Both were just ok. Overall, food was ok we were expecting a bit more flavor. Service was great. Pricing was a bit higher than what we usually pay for a similar order.

Photos
Los Cuates - The view from the back of the front door and windows.

The view from the back of the front door and windows.

Los Cuates - Seafood Burrito with included sides.

Seafood Burrito with included sides.

Los Cuates - The storefront as viewed from across the street.

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The storefront as viewed from across the street.

El Fresco - mexican - Updated October 2026

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