First time going here and it was for a work event with about 10 people on a Friday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Was pretty packed and they have happy hour till 7.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Had a margarita which was actually pretty good. The table chips were fresh and whatever that white sauce was they had I devoured. I ordered the chicken quesadillas and they were decent but not the best I ever had. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Anyway over all not bad for a family outing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

El Gran Charro - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

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As I was stuck in traffic, I look over and saw this restaurant and said why not. It was located off Rt. 1 (Richmond Hwy), across from KFC and Juicy Bucket Seafood and Bar. As you walk in, the bar is in the center as the dining area is on either side of the restaurant with booths and tables. I ordered 1) Stuffed Jalapeños 2) Carne Asada 3) Huevos Con Chorizo 4) Chicken Tamale 5) Horchata 6) Three Tacos. Let's talk about the appetizer - stuffed jalapeños. You get six pieces and I tell you, they are perfectly fried, crispy, filled with cheese and jalapeño, comes with an amazing sauce and delicious. It's a must get item! The horchata was smooth, refreshing and delicious. I was a bit surprised when the huevos con chorizo arrive to the table. On the platter it was basically crumbled chorizo and eggs mixed together served with fluffy rice, refried beans and three warm tortillas. I incorporated everything together, placed it into the tortilla and there wasn't much flavor. But as I dipped it into the remainder of the stuffed jalapeño sauce .. wow it enhances the flavor and it was very delicious. The carne asada too was served with warm tortillas, sauté veggies but the meat was too thin and very chewy. I was very excited about tamales so I got the chicken. Unfortunately it didn't seem fresh, some parts were hard and it was very dry even with the sauce pour on top. As for the tacos, there were variety of proteins and also you can mix-match. So I selected fish, lengua and beef. When they arrived to the table, they were stacked on top of one another and most of the protein felled out. The beef and lengua (beef tongue) were tender, melted like butter and delicious unfortunately the fish was not listed as what kind of fish and the server advise it was white fish. As I took my first bite, I wasn't able to finish as the fish was tilapia. These types of fish has a unique odor and it affects the flavor on your palate. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is clean, server named Brandon was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They also have another location in Fred'burg at Harrison Crossing. read more

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This place is legit!! Need to come here if you are in town. The food was delicious!! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Typical Mexican decor and soundtrack with a good-sized bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lots of options on menu with lots of lunch specials. I did ask for shrimp enchiladas, which were not on the menu. So the server says sure that'll be $11. Then he says that'll be $12.25, then he said that's probably gonna be $12.55. As opposed to, "let me go check the price." LOL! I just ordered lunch special of one chicken enchilada, one chicken, taco, rice and beans. Service was good. The entire meal was mediocre, at best, but I was able to finish it. I'm hoping there are better choices in Stafford. If I'm feeling like Mexican, I'll definitely try someplace else. read more

A great experience all around. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was pretty busy on a Thursday night we barely got a parking spot, when we entered they were full so we grabbed the last two seats at the bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Unfortunately I can't remember the lady's name that was the bartender/ our server but she was on point. The margarita I had was very good. Being as busy as they were she never missed a beat. Our food was fresh and hot. Excellent flavor. I rarely ever eat the rice and beans and I finished them off. Can't wait to come back and try more. read more

Excellent everything! Our family has lived this place since they opened 17 years ago. Food is always perfect & plentiful. Servers and owners are a delight. My favorite entree is Chili Relanos. Absolutely perfect. Favorite dessert is plantains & cheesecake. Great margaritas too! I'm not sure how they can afford to serve such large portions for such low prices and yet they keep the quality so high. Makes me hungry just thinking about all their delicious choices! read more

El Gran Charro - Plantains y cheesecake - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Short wait during happy hour on a late Friday afternoon. Friendly & quick service. I enjoyed a house margarita and the Mexican burrito (three meats and 3 different sauces). I enjoyed the red and queso sauce the most (I think the green sauce was a bit more limey flavored than I expected). I liked that they served free tortilla chips & salsa while you waited - there was an interesting white sauce they also served with it that I didn't care for. read more

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Ben here 20+ times Not sure what changed tonight. Fully staffed and not busy because of upcoming storm. Sat at bar. Could no get Diego's or Christian's attention to come and take our dinner order. After being ignored for 20 minutes we left and went to Mi Rancho across the street, Great drinks and service to end the evening. Probably not returning to el Gran Charo. read more

This place can definitely fit a big group. Originally we were going to be outside but the cold windy weather changed that. Service was fast. Everyone very friendly. Food was good. Everyone else's food looked good too. read more

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Can't sleep on this one in a million small restaurant! I love the staff, they have a lot of people working so the food and drinks come out quick it's almost like a fancy fast food place. But waaaaay better! The food the queso the carne asada las margaritas are all wonderful. I love all my servers they're always so great and all speak Spanish which i personally love. I don't like really like when Latin based restaurants don't have servers that speak the native language. This is my go to always for a good priced meal anytime of the week one thing i do wish is that they were open later during the weekdays but other than that my heart belong to el gran charro read more

El Gran Charro - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Recieved wrong pick up order. When I called, I was told they were too busy to help me.

After living in Stafford for 15+ years passing this place on a daily && moving away. After helping my friend move she treated me to lunch here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is very clean and spacious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We sat at the bar and the gentleman helping us was very nice and funny. The food came out pretty quickly *I was starving so I was SO pleased about that* Everything was delicious!!! Super flavorful and filling as well. I couldn't even finish my plate I was so sad. I will most definitely make it a point to visit more often since I still visit Stafford. read more

El Gran Charro - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Ambiance - I love the decor in here. It gives me true vibes from traveling to Mexico. The music was good, but not too loud. You could still have a conversation across the table without screaming. Food - Yum. I wish the shrimp chimichangas came with rice. The desserts were ok, not fantastic. However, my piña colada was on point! Service - They're quite busy on a Friday night so, you kinda have to flag down your server if you need anything. However, we got everything we needed without waiting too long. Overall, I'd come back. Next time I'd like to sit on the patio! read more

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The food is edible but not memorable. I've tried the mixed Fajitas on one occasion, and a chicken enchilada, beef taco, and chile relleno on another. Both visits fell below the mark. I found the food to be bland. It is also possible that I'm ordering the wrong things on the menu. The service was attentive on both visits, which was good. The restaurant had a decent atmosphere, and the margaritas were good. I probably would only return for the drinks. 3 Stars read more

Authentic beans, rice, and salsa. The staff is friendly and the bar is a fun vibe. Love the western Mexican theme. Come for the lunch specials! read more

El Gran Charro - Lunch special is too good to be true. - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

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After hearing so many positive things about this Mexican restaurant, we finally tried it recently. We went on a busy Saturday night, but were seated pretty quickly. Service was decent. The menu is typical of the "authentic Mexican" restaurants, but their execution was really nice. Their salsa was great and their habanero salsa was even better, especially when mixed with their regular salsa. Their guac was also fresh and very good as a dip. We got their bacon wrapped jalapeños and those were quite tasty, not spicy at all. Their Mole Poblano was quite sweet and not very good. But their Pollo Ranchero was excellent! Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and will definitely return! read more

El Gran Charro - Pollo Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Everything went well! The food and price is amazing... oh, and drinks too Server was great and we got our food super fast read more

My family and I can't get enough of this restaurant. The food is delicious, authentic and very very cheesy! The customer service is exactly what's to be expected. We were greeted at the front door and seated. Our drinks were great, the customer service was good, and the food was delicious! I've now started to make this a once a week, lunch spot. After coming with my family and having dinner, I have returned for drinks with friends, lunch on a slow day, and to go Mexican for the family because it's so good. read more

Went after church on a Saturday evening around 6:45. The parking lot, which had more than enough spots, was packed so we assumed we would have to wait as we were a party of 7. They seated us immediately and we had chips and salsa out on the table before we even all sat down! We had 3 kids under 7 so that was very appreciated! The waiter was excellent - funny, personable and attentive. We ordered our meals and it all came within 10-15 minutes. Everyone loved their food. My husband, a big eater, asked the waiter for a recommendation and he got the Burrito Mexicano (?) and he said it was very good. I ordered a fajita salad and a side of bacon wrapped jalapeños for the table. Wow!! My meal was huge! Chicken, steak and shrimp on a bed of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Fantastic and too much for me to eat so I took half of it home. The jalapeños were amazing...stuffed with queso blanco and served with a dipping sauce that enhanced every bite. This will be our go-to from now on after church! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]We have eaten here off an only almost monthly for 5 years and this has been our neighborhood go to for atmosphere and quality food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We bring every out of town guest here because it has been such a special place for a sense of community. Tonight we were ignored at the bar after ordering and receiving our first margaritas. We ordered our usual dips and requested more chips and then we became invisible. INVISIBLE. IGNORED. We felt Willfully and Completely ignored. It made me sad. Why? Did we say or do something rude? This place is so much better than what we experienced tonight. It isn't just about quelling hunger when going out to eat. I hope this is a one off experience. read more

I finally got to check this place out, been wanting to go for a while. It's always packed, mainly because there isn't anything around Stafford but I ordered the fajita lunch special and the guacamole dip. The chicken in the fajita was a little dried, but overall it was delicious. The only thing I loved about my meal was the guacamole, it tasted fresh. The queso the friend ordered was ok... something was off about it. I'll have to come and get something else in the future! read more

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Definitely a staple of Hispanic food for the Stafford area. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A place to bring your family from out of town to try.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Haven't had one bad experience here. Returning customer. read more

Friendly service and good mexican food at a great price. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good for family gathering celebrations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

El Gran Charro catered my daughter's graduation party yesterday. We had steak and pastor tacos along with chips,salsa,and white sauce. It was a big hit! The food was delicious and abundant. Out of townera raved over the salsa. Food was ready on time and still warm when we served it. Highly recommend! read more

Fantastic food, great and fast service, and the prices are very reasonable. Their bacon rapped jalapeño poppers are outstanding so is their white sauce. read more

There food is lwk tuff and really good I would say its the best Mexican restaurant in town.

Not loving this place at all! The only pleasant interaction we had was with the two hostesses. That was it. Once seated, the runner came and dropped the chips and salsa at our table without a word nor a smile. Our waiter seemed tense, annoyed and rushed. I ordered the fajita salad and its a large bowl of packed mixed greens, topped with some shredded chicken, steak and three shrimp. The only two choices of dressings were Italian and Ranch, both of which are served in a pouch (no one thought to make a dressing from scratch?). I sent it back and ordered the taco salad with chicken and it was l better but I didnt read where they would put queso at the bottom of the bowl. Overall not a pleasant experience and not a place I would return to. read more

El Gran Charro - A packet of dressing. Really? Smdh - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Not quite my favorite Mexican restaurant, but it's not bad. I do come here a lot though. I like their speedy service and reasonable prices. This place gets insanely busy, but it is a large establishment, so there is usually never a long wait. The Combination Dinners is a great deal. I think all platters under this section are under $10. Overall, the food is okay. I usually get some tacos. I am a fan of their chips and salsa and their yellow rice. 3 stars. read more

El Gran Charro - Tacos Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

Always good service, the salsa is good! My favorites are the chile Colorado and the chile verde, don't get the cheese enchilada, bland. My wife always get the fajitas so people know she eats her veggies. You can't beat the sizzle read more

Good Mexican restaurant. Service is always on point and their prices can't be beat. I eat here at least a few times a month. Stays open late during the week too. Not many places do in Stafford :) read more

So i have lived on the border and in Mexico, and this makes me no expert, but it helps. I was traveling on business when I saw this place and decided to give it a shot. I was kinda excited because i saw one of my favorite dishes to eat - a shrimp cocktail. Well, the sauce was not good, and the crackers were stale. I understand Virginia is nowhere near the Mexican border, and that's a good thing because it was a crime against Mexican cusine, and it could get ugly. As my friends would say - No mamen porfa! The chips were ok, but the red salsa was watered down. My grandma would turn over in her grave. read more

Every time we drive down route one we notice busy El Gran Charro is. My husband and I planned to try this local treasure last Sunday we went in and were able to be seated right away. We looked at the menu and decided to try the Queso Flamado as a starter. Before QF was ready we were delivered chips, salsa and a white sauce that neither of us had had before. The cheese came and I'll admit, I sort of expected a flame or hot spices or sometime but it looked and tasted like queso Blanco with a minimally scorched side and bottom because it was served in a skillet. The salsa was not great. But the white sauce was something to write home about delicious somehow sweet somehow savory and just spicy enough to give you a kick we loved it. Jeff ordered à la cart three separate types of tacos. He thought they were good. I ordered a shrimp appetizer as my meal with a side of corn tortillas and a little extra white sauce. We were not wowed by our meals but also the food was not bad. My dish unfortunately was so spicy I could not eat it in the restaurant. My husband ate his dish and took a bite of mine. He agreed the spices were abnormally hot and somewhat unexpected. The rest of my dinner was transferred into a to go container draining off the vinegar and spices and it was very good when I ate it later at home with more white sauce . Clearly the white sauce was the star player. The restaurant was well decorated, clean and inviting the host and the seater were welcoming and polite. The cost of our orders was very reasonable. Sadly our particular waiter did not do a great job he wasn't very knowland did not come back to check on us however we did notice great service at other tables and assume that issue to be an individual problem and not an establishment problem. Overall, the value was good and I may give other things on the menu a try if I came in the restaurant in the future. Maybe a nice girls margarita night with tortilla chips and white sauce. No read more

Pulled up to this place on a Friday night and they were packed! That was exciting. They said we had a 15 minute wait but were seated within 5. We were brought some chips and salsa with a side of creamy salsa. Not to spicy. Ordered me the burrito Mexicano. Good portion. Pork was very tender and flavored light to allow the salsas to blend in nicely. Wife ordered the two tacos and enchilada with beef. Beef was simple and tasty. The service was busy but not the most attentive. Will try next time. read more

El Gran Charro - Burrito Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Stafford, Virginia

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