I have no pics. Forgot to take them. But the food is so good. I admit that the chips were average but the salsa was good. I had frozen margarita swirl. It was great. And the spicy green pork dish, Colorado Verde. My date had the ceviche. It was another great meal. The prices are reasonable. The service is very good. The drinks wonderful. And the food is exactly what you want. Throw in the Mexican music and it's a party! read more

Outstanding quality and authenticity! I have been to this restaurant at least 20 times in the past year. Fresh and visually very appealing as well as the taste and appearance. The food is always presented beautifully and with kindness. Having spent a year Mexico for a year, I return here time and time again for the experience to eat such delicious and well prepared, authentic Mexican food! I urge anyone to go and see for yourself! Try the deserts as well! Charlottesville is very fortunate to have a restaurant as El Jaripeo! All crafted from loving hands! A five star rating plus from me! read more

Always great food with exceptional service. Staff is quick to great you and checks back on you as you dine. It's is our Mexican restaurant of choice. read more

There now. After Guadalajara moved into Premade commercial chimichangas we've been looking for an alternative. Here at El Jaripro. Their chicken soup with Pico de Galla is very good. Their chimichangas were also good and house made. We shall return. Clean space, lots of room at 2:30 and sweet staff. read more

The salsa was freshly made and spicy, the chimichangas were excellent, and the fried ice cream was the best I've had in many years. read more

El Jaripeo - Fried ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The staff is friendly and accommodating. Even though the rest of my party isn't here they were ahead and gave me a table for us. I arrived shortly after they opened. They are polite and periodically checking on me. The restaurant in general is nice and a good place to bring your family or friends. The restrooms are clean and smell nice too. The food was good and everyone at my table liked their meals. read more

Came here with my wife for dinner. We both got margs for happy hour and they were massive, very pleased with them. The vibe was pretty typical for a Tex-mex place, but was nice. I got the special burrito with all the meats in it - the burrito mixto, but it was a little small for what most Mexican places have. The salsa was good but came out in tiny cups that we had to get refilled several times. Would come back though, one of the better Tex-mex places in town. read more

El Jaripeo - El burrito mixto - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Service was great, even the fellow diners were nice. Great ambience, including a little photo opp area for kids which we did not partake in. I got the chambord margarita and it was huge and delicious and the taco salad was great too. I wish the guacamole was saltier but that's a me problem. read more

Always enjoyed this place but last night they would not honor a $5 coupon I had purchased through the Attractions discount book because it was on my phone. Attractions has a mobile app where not only can you use the paper coupons in their coupon book but you also get electronic coupons for your phone. They should have honored it because they agreed to be part of the Attraction discount program. No big deal but it was embarrassing to be denied. read more

El Jaripeo - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This was the most vanilla boring food Mexican food restaurant. Pretty sure they don't even keep spices in the kitchen much less use them.

Good salsa. Chips sometimes stale. Good Texas Margarita. Food is ok. Sometimes better than other days. Service needs improvement. read more

Cinco de Mayo, what could possibly go wrong? Well, you would be happy to know a couple things. #1 - They allow to go margaritas on their patio. Have to wait for a table? No problem, grab that margarita and take it outside. Of course there is a wait on Cinco de Mayo. They wait was only about 30 minutes. That leads to #2 - They have a small bar in the back. We ended up grabbing a seat at the small bar in the back. The service was nice, even though they were hopping. The chips and salsa kept coming. The food took a while, but that is to be expected. The meal was very good, we typically don't get the same thing, but did this time. We both had leftovers which we had for lunch. Overall a fine experience that I'm sure we will repeat sometime soon. read more

I am very picky when it comes to Mexican food, this place... did not disappoint at all. The food was hot, fresh, and awesome flavor. The Chorizo Queso was so good. Their salsa has just the right amount of flavor and spice to it, as well. The steak is tender, juicy and VERY flavorful. The staff and service were top notch, at all times. They are very friendly and attentive to guests. The overall atmosphere of this place is a solid 9/10, and I would 100% return back for more meals. If you're in town and craving Mexican, definitely give them a try! You can tell it's a favorite closer to 5pm it gets as well. read more

This has been a neighborhood staple for years. I've been in more times than I can count, with family, friends, and co-workers. The food is good, nothing to write home about. The ambiance is vibrant and not too loud. The staff is attentive, but slow. This is another local place that I only go when I know I have time. The enchiladas are my favorite here. read more

The only thing that went well about this dinner was the Lime Margarita and the Chips and Salsa. Ordered three single tacos with no beans or rice but was charged for a meal. The Taco Salad was more like a soup, super runny for some reason. The Chorizo Cheese Dip had the texture of raw meat or dog food in it. Was not edible. read more

First the good. The service is excellent. However that does not make up for the subpar food. Rule of thumb for any Mexican style restaurant, if the Chips and salsa they give you are stale and bland don't hold I hope for the rest of the meal. I ordered the chicken enchiladas verdes. The chicken was dry and flavorless, the tortilla seemed stale which is saying something since it was covered in the sauce which had some flavor but not enough to cover the flaws. The side of beans and rice did not help. For the love of all please add some seasons to things. My abuela would have shammed the cook for how unseasoned all of it was, not to mention the lack of freshness. read more

We love this place. It's our go-to local fix for Mexican night. Service is great. Food is good. Usually get the Carnitas Tacos and it's loaded with meat. read more

My husband and I always enjoy El Jaripeo. The salsa is flavorful and has a wonderful spice, without being too hot. My favorite dish is the carnitas tacos, order it with a side of their tomatillo (green) sauce, you're welcome. My husband loves their burritos, especially the California burrito. In the 3 years we lived in Charlottesville, this was the closest thing we found to (good) genuine Mexican food in Charlottesville. I'm from Arizona, so we tried nearly every restaurant that claimed to serve Mexican food within the first month of moving. There is also a VERY good burrito place in Standardsville, if you're willing to make the short drive, trust me, it's worth it. read more

Slow service each time we went in. Second time they forgot our order and then came back with the wrong stuff. Ended up having to leave with our food because we ran out of time. No one seemed to acknowledge that our order was forgotten or there was a delay. Probably not going back for a while. read more

Amazing! All I got to say. Good service and communication. Reliable option and pretty affordable .

I have eaten there about ten times. The one word I would use to describe it is inconsistent. I have had one meal that was superior, one that was inedible due to to a gross amount of salt, and a few others that would cause me to not come back. Last evening was the final straw. Ordered a takeout meal on their online menu. Got it home and it was nothing close to what I ordered. I called them and they explained that what they served was what I ordered. Rechecked the online menu, and I was correct. Completely different food. To their credit, when I went in there today and showed them their own website order menu. They agreed it was screwed up and refunded the cost. Anyway, nice people, but no quality control and poorly managed. read more

My son says "I am in love with their taco salad and shredded chicken." The servers are fantastic.

This rating is based on comparing only Mexican restaurants. When I walk into a Mexican restaurant I'm expecting bold flavor and lot of Mexican flair. You won't get that here. I was disappointed. I think when some people "absolutely love this authentic Mexican food", its gotta be the cheap margaritas making them say that. Alcohol is masking your tastebuds people. I was greeted very silently but quickly. I was given complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were not even warm nor did they have that oil and salt on them like they were made in house. The salsa was ok. It was nice and spicy. Chips though, disappointing. I ordered the huevos rancheros with beans and rice w/steamed tortilla. Beans were good. Rice was ok. The eggs tasted like they were powdered eggs and had that consistency. They even smelled like powdered eggs. I ate a couple but not all. The ride home it just sat in my gut feeling so heavy. I stopped in Culpeper just to walk it off a bit. Shheesh. There are 3 great Mexican restaurants where I live and all three make a big deal about you as you walk in. All three locations smile that you are there and treat you as restaurant family! And all three of those places are local family Mexican restaurants. A fiesta of food and fun that makes you want to come back. I felt sad in here. Food mediocre. I wouldn't recommend. read more

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I love Mexican food and would love to eat here a couple of times a month. Problem is consistently rude waitresses. Try smiling and be accommodating. Also check on the customer once in awhile. Anyway I don't think I'll be back. 3 strikes and you're out. read more

Good food, healthy portions, clean and very friendly staff! Restaurant seating adequately spaced during Covid. If you enjoy magueritas, chips n' salsa, regular Mexican fare and yummy desserts at reasonable prices then this is a great choice! read more

I truly love you're taco salad it's so good butt u am confence my best friend for life he likes beef

Great service and wonderful food. Nice atmosphere too. A hidden gem in Hollymead. Highly recommended.

Since this is the closest mexican restaurant to us, we have been a few times. The food is pretty good. Their lunch combos are a great value. My favorite is the chile poblano & taco combination. Even when you get take out, they give you chips and salsa. I have had the margaritas only once and prefer to make them at home. They were too sugary and not really that tasty. During COVID, they haven't done well with setting up a system for social distancing/wearing masks, etc for pick ups. I would think there would be an fairly easy way to do this with the amount of covered outdoor patio and sidewalk space. It didn't seem to be a priority to even look like they were complying with the guidelines. read more

My favorite go-to for Mexican! Owner knows us well and great prices for the amount you get!

My kind of restaurant. Wholesome, tasty food, and lots of it. Used to eat here about once a month before the plague struck. After two years hiding out in the woods protecting my 85 year old lungs, El Jaripeo was my first foray out into society. Have ventured there twice now in the last couple of months and was not disappointed. My mainstay is the #11 and I do not deviate from that. And I am never disappointed. Service is quick, choice of eating in or outdoors now that the weather is warm. I am still amazed at their ability to serve the food hot, but just warm enough so you can dive right in, but their heavy plates keep it warm to the end. I will be back shortly! read more

Delicious food - authentic and flavorful. Great margaritas and salsa! We eat here all the time!

Very decent mexican food for the area. Service was good and the ambiance has improved since they took over the copy shop that used to be next to their location. Nothing amazing, but decent food for not a ton of money. Better then the other options nearby. read more

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Absolutely love this place. It's similar in style and menu to El Puerto and Guadalajara, but currently this is my favorite of these restaurants. Great chips and salsa, and wonderful service each time I stop by. Strongly recommend for a quick, not too expensive Mexican meal. read more

El Jaripeo - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Well, I am sad to say but this place did not impress. Food quality was mediocre and very bland. Definitely no authenticity in the food served. The margarita was literally lime juice with no trace of tequila. Definitely will not be returning. A solid margarita definitely would have kept us coming back for more... invest in quality drinks and people will keep returning! read more

visit on 5/23/2011 Great inexpensive weekday lunch specials. I like that they give you a mini carafe of their tasty salsa along with a basket of tortilla chips. Food was fresh and service was friendly. Not a bad choice for Mexican food in the area. read more

Consistently good food. Certainly not the best, but I've been here about 3 times and never had a bad meal. Their meat dishes tend to be best and work well with their sauces. Solid portions for the price. Margaritas aren't the strongest or most standout I've had, but they're pretty good. Definitely worth a try as far as the mexican food in Cville goes! read more

Wow, amazing flavors and good heat to the salsa, lunch menu is limited but reasonable, however the full dinner menu looks amazing.

excellent restaurant very good quality food, unique and the best, after trying all the restaurants I found the best... If you want to try a different well-seasoned food you have to visit El Jaripeo ..... this is one of my favorite dishes read more

El Jaripeo - Mexican Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Our favorite Mexican restaurant in town! We love it so much that this restaurant even found a place in our wedding vows. Now that's saying something. Friendly staff, good Mexican food. read more

This place used to be quick good and cheap. Now it is none of these consistently. It all depends on the server you get and the cooks in the kitchen. The food is getting to be typical Charlottesville Mexican. read more