I'm digging on their tortas, or Mexican sandwiches. Having only just discovered tortas in the last few years, I haven't had a ton of exposure, but this place easily makes the best I've had. Good bread, tasty fillings, fresh produce. Maybe once a week I get a craving, but sadly I'm not in Lafayette enough to satisfy them. Imma hafta go soon, though. I've eaten here several times in the past before discovering the tortas, and the food has been good every time. I remember the first time I went I tried the Chile Relleno and thought it was well above average. As well, a couple of my buddies swear by this joint as their go-to for Mexican food. read more

I love this place. Great food, great service, and great prices. I'm a big fan of their tortas, but I have had several of their specials and have been very happy with every visit. My family has a complaint about portion sizes - they think there isn't enough food on the plate - but I've been very happy with the portion sizes. The one and only time I had a problem with my food - wrong order - they made it right immediately. I was very satisfied. El Jarro doesn't have the party atmosphere and college crowd of the larger Mexican restaurants in Lafayette, which I really appreciate, and the tastiness of the food more than makes up for the lack of strawberry margaritas. Keep up the great work!! read more

I'm gonna break this down by categories: food 3.5 stars, tasty but it wasn't mind blowing. I wanted the chile rellenos w/o the jack cheese but they are pre-made, which I guess every place does it that way, according to our waitor. Instead I had the vegetarian burrito w/ cactus which I liked enough to get it again if I go. Service 2 stars - we felt rushed and they weren't very welcoming, plus they were not very attentive. Atmosphere 2.5 stars - The front room was traditional decorative, but very small and cold. The back room was even colder and more dreary. Prices 3.5 stars - There were 4 of us at our table and our bill was $40, not bad at all. read more

We are El Jarro dedicados--Ok I'm obvi no spanish speaking expert, but we really love this place. The price is cheap! The food is tasty! and we really think that the big, mean-looking waiter is actually very kind hearted and ultra hardworking. We like to tip him extra. I'm partial to the steak taco, tastes smokey, 2 will do, and at 2.50 each, you're not going to break the bank. The mister likes to try out the rest of the menu, ranging from 8-12 bucks, toss in a few beers, and it's around 25-28 for us both. One of the cheapest options in Lafayette, which has us coming back on a regular basis. El Jarro, thanks for being recession-friendly! read more

So how was it? The food is ok. It's made with fresh ingredients, and pretty well cooked. What's lacking in the punch you in the face flavor you'd expect from Mexican food. Salsa was watery and didn't match up to toasty warm chips. The al pastor torta? The most prominent flavor was mayonnaise. Maybe they're dumbing the palate down for Anglos? The service was, in a word, aloof. Bus boy was nicer. Wish we could have tipped him separately. You want good Mexican food, much better Mexican food? Keep driving for Concord. read more

Honestly, if this is the "best Mexican in Lafayette" then I feel bad for Lafayette. Marginally good food combined with horrible, inattentive service. I won't be returning. read more

This was not one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. First of all they don't have air conditioning. It was 95 outside and all they had in our area was one ceiling fan. I have never been to a Mexican restaurant before where they charge you for chips and salsa. I had beef tacos and it was ok. My friend has Mexican shrimp Caesar salad which she said was good. They gave her plenty of shrimp and the portions were nice size. I will never go there again. read more

Went in there tonight at 8:40 to order a burrito to go and was told that they were closed even though there were tables eating. If your hours say you stay open until 9 you shouldn't be turning people away 20 minutes before closing. Unfortunately I won't be coming back read more

Pulled up El Jarro on Yelp after my family put our name down at El Charro (which said they had a 30 minute wait that clearly was going to take longer). I figured we should give another business a try so gave them a call and after finding out El Jarro had a table for four, I convinced my family to check it out. They were also pretty full but luckily we got the last table for four! They brought out chips and salsa--both were great. Chips were still warm and the salsa was fresh. I decided to get the cod fish (something you don't often see on the menu at most Mexican places). It came with rice (with some sauce on top), a good helping of mixed vegetables, and the cod fish over nopalitos (comes from the pads of the prickly pear cactus). It was nice to have something that seemed more healthy. The vegetables were actually still green and were just steamed! I think this is the first time I've had steamed veggies at a Mexican place. Ha. My brother enjoyed his prawns and my Mom her carnitas taco and chile relleno. My Dad's steak chilaquiles was fine (but secretly I think he craved El Charro's steak diablo). My only really criticism is that the horchata was watered down. I don't think they had those normal big jars (since their counter area was not that big) so I don't think it was watered down by the ice. Worth checking out if you are in the area, but I probably would not make a special trip. read more

first off it's pronounced el harro.(soft a) I moved here from Oakland which has many good Mexican restaurants el jarro is in their class. we eat there often. we've taken numerous friends and they all loved it. chips are warm or hot. best salsa ever. It doesn't come out of a jar. It's medium spicy and quite tasty. I usually get their excellent rellenos. the chiles are perfect. my friend loves the tilapia Oaxaca my second favorite is enchiladas placeras vegetarian Service is a 15% tip my only quibble is no sparkling water. so I settle for iced tea. there is a small parking lot behind the restaurant. there's an unmarked entrance on the left end of the building and a back door entrance best of all they're wheelchair friendly. I've not eaten at el charro so I can't compare them read more

Outdoor dining in pleasant weather with great food and service; what more could we ask! We've not come here before and I'll not make THAT mistake again -- will come again, and often. Their carnitas burrito was excellent and the chile relleno excellent too. read more

Really horrible experience in regards to customer service & food to price portions. I don't believe they deserve a well written review. read more

El Jarro - Soggy quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

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If I were to rate just the food I'd probably say 3 stars. But the combination of crappy service & an overpriced menu brings it down to 2 stars. I had the garlic shrimp & they were pretty decent. Asked for extra hot salsa & got charged an additional $2.75 which seems like BS to me - (in addition to being charged just for chips & salsa in the first place.) The service was in inattentive, our waitress seemed like she was just on auto pilot and did not want to be there. Want really good Mexican? Drive an extra 15 minutes to Martinez & go to La Prima Vera. read more

I enjoyed every single bite of my chile relleno and green enchilada! Probably the best chile relleno I had in the US. I LOVE that the salsas are fresh. Black beans were delicious. Service was fantastic. I left the restaurant feeling happy for a great lunch!! Definitely coming back to try other dishes. THANK YOU! read more

El Jarro - Chile relleno and green chicken enchilada platter. Is not on the menu. $13.95 - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

I have to agree with my son, this place has wheels and I hope it stays around. I had the pork loin and chorizo sandwich with oaxaca cheese and it rocked! The bread had just the right amount of "tooth" to it. My daughter had a taco salad that she said was "much better than the breakfast burrito" she had there a week earlier. Mmmm, still thinking about that sandwich a day later (in a good way). Salsa and *warm* chips were excellent. Will DEFINITELY be back! Only niggling complaint was that the free guacamole was on the salty side. Try this place! Help it stay in business!!!! read more

Delicious high quality food! I absolutely love the Carne Asada burrito. They are always quick too.

Really good traditional CA Mexican food, delicious chilaquiles , enchiladas verde. Really good Guacamole and warm chips! Not fancy, just really good comforting food. read more

Woe is me for ignoring this awesome restaurant for so long. All these years I mistakenly assumed this was Mexican food for gringos(you know what they say about "ass"uming). I finally broke down and now I've been twice in the last week. Everything was top notch. The interior is pleasant and there are a few tables out front as well. The server (there appears to be one main guy who's there most of the time) is super sweet and attentive. The tortilla chips are made to order. And that's something you almost never see in restaurants. When they come out they're good and hot (and not because they were sitting under a heat lamp either) with just a whisper of oil remaining to catch salt from the shaker. The salsa is pretty mild and made from canned tomatoes but frankly, I'd rather eat salsa with deep flavor than a pico de gallo made from underripe fresh tomatoes any day. The guac is homemade and not diluted with a bunch of sour cream as I often see in inferior taco joints. I had 2 carnitas tacos on both visits and they were great. Succulent salty pork in good quantity. Topped with a little guac and you're half way to heaven. Even the refried black beans were good and that's a rarity. I love you El Jarro !!!! read more

The best Mexican food in Lafayette. By far. *** Value :: A bit pricey, but obviously I think it's worth it. **** Food :: The food is fresh and authentic. **** Service :: The service is fine -- but they get an extra star for making plates not listed on the menu (e.g., chorizo con huevos - Mexican sausage with eggs). Give it a try, and don't be afraid to ask for exactly what you want. read more

After reviewing this page it seems that YELP has the name incorrect for now and I want to make sure everyone knows that this is NOT EL CHARRO. The name is El Jarro and it seems that some of the reviews here might be misdirected. The food is authentic and fresh. Don't miss it. read more

As far as the service goes, I have always been treated attentively and well here. I also see a lot of people complaining about being charged for chips and Salsa, what they neglect to mention is that the chips are very fresh, warm, and delicious. Some of the best chips I have eaten and the Salsa is also above average. I recommend the tortas but the burritos and tacos are all really quite fantastic. Superior quality food here compared to most Bay Area mexican food, which I find to be of poor quality and bland. If you are looking for a spot in Lafayette for a better than average Mexican dish, give this one a shot. read more

Wish I could have tasted the food here. After waiting half-an-hour for our food, the waitress back came to our table to retake our order. Very upsetting and disappointed... and hungry, we left. Manager or owner tried to talk us into waiting for second order to have it made "To Go", but with two kids in tow, no way. Too bad. He should have given us his business card and comp'd our next meal, but this wasn't even offered. read more

I cannot believe the ratings are a good as they are for this place. I got the Carne Asada, and the meat was in two thin portions that were tough (despite asking for it medium). Extremely small portions of grilled onions, guacamole, and pico del gallo. What, no grilled peppers?? I will definitely not return. read more

Southern Mexican food at its best. Atleast that what we were told. I have had the pleasure of researching some very great, and not so very great restaraunts in the San Francisco Bay Area. My wife is from Mexico City so I like to think I've always got an expert beside me that is able to compare the meals to the "real deal". This restaraunt is good, but I can't go kuch further than that. The guacamole that was served with our chips was the first indication that the meals would be good. It was bright green and had a wonderful flavor that our 4 year old could not stop eating. I ordered the garlic prawns which I understand are to die for. The prawns were covered in a red garlic sauce that was good but not great. The prawns were smaller than I expected but ok. You can see in my photo just how small they actually were, and the dish presentation was just ok. It did state on the menu that the meal would include rice, sweet corn, and vegetables. However, no corn ever arrived. If it did maybe it would have filled up the part of my plate that looked so empty. The waitress was a bit less responsive than I would have liked but she was the only one on shift on a Saturday nite. They are definitely a good restaraunt, but I cannot go any higher then that. I would want to return to the restaraunt to see if my opinion changes. Maybe I order something outside of the seafood menu and on a slower nite of the week. We actually had the pleasure of walking to the restaraunt with another family who said the seafood is what they are most popular for and his family visits at least once a week. Also, we were reassured that they have a full bar and great Michelada's. My wife enjoyed her meal. Which included a thinly cut piece of meat which I was surprised was very good and not dry. However presentstion was not a strong suite of the chef as you can see on the picture. As far as the restaraunt feel, it is open, quiet but not too quiet, and the chairs and tables are somewhat comfortable. Very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. The kitchen is blocked by a huge wall so you don't hear much in the way of kitchen and service noise. In closing it is worth a visit if you have not gone yet. In closing you will not be disappointed if your looking for decent Mexican food, and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices are not bad either, however they actually reflect the quality and presentation spot on. Not the expensive Lafayette prices I expected to see when I walked in. Good luck in your travels and I hope you enjoy. read more

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Best Mexican food!! The restaurant is super cozy and the service is great. The menu has lots of yummy options and the prices are good!

This place is not all that great. My friend and I came here after reading all the good reviews of this place. It's a cute restaurant, with good service. We went for lunch, and I ordered a fish dish with a cream sauce. I like my food spicy, so I asked for it that way. My friend ordered chicken tacos. The food was ok. It was fresh, but very bland. There was no spice to it, even after I asked for it spicy. It's also pretty pricey for lunch. There are better places in the area... read more

Food is here is decent but is nothing to write home about. For Lafayette, it is probably the best you are going to get. I find this to be rather pedestrian all around, although they do have some dishes on the menu that are cut above your average joint in terms of authenticity and creativeness. That all said, I generally find their food to be a little lacking in the flavor department. If things were seasoned a bit better, I might by willing to pay the relatively high prices here, but, as it stands, I feel like it a tad overpriced for what it is. read more

Love it. Hot and fresh chips. Excellent Fajitas. Servings were a bit smaller, prices were a bit higher, and service was a bit slower. But 4 stars...which must be saying something about the food. read more

Went there this week, suprisingly wasn't busy. I got a Chicken Taco Salad and it was really good! I've already reviewed this place twice but me and my coworkers are always eating here because it's so goood! hopefully I'll get to try everything on the menu. Taco salad was great and an alternative to the normal heavy Mexican cuisine! read more

Very consistent. Go to Mexican spot in Lafayette. Back area seating good for wrangling our kids.

Their tortas are awesome! Really solid Mexican food with great service. They are always super quick to make food, even at busy times. We frequent often and get the Cancun and Super Special 2 tortas read more

Mazatlan torta with breaded chicken breast instead of beef is my favorite have been going here for years now, always made with fresh ingredients specially the avocado it's always delicious! Staff is nice & friendly & the dessert flan is so yummy!! 4 stars not 5 because it's so hard to find parking & they charge $3.00 for salsa & chips. read more

(update 12-15-08 ) - I'm upgrading my rating to a 5 star. I've been here a lot now, and I always get tortas of various types, and they are always fantastic. The place is small, but so is the town. yes they charge for chips - but they are warm and fantastic. 2.25 for bottomless chips, and I think 2.25 for bottomless guacamole. I really, really like this place. it is worth stopping at if passing through. ( end update) I went there for the first time last night -- had the Toluca Torta, it was very good, I'd give it a strong 4. My wife had one of the chicken tortas, it was very good as well. She was smart and only ate half, I powered through the whole sandwich and was stuffed. The bread is fantastic on these Tortas. Not your typical soft roll, but a really tasty roll. The made to order chips were great. I didn't mind paying $2.25 for chips and salsa, they were excellent chips, and came with salsa and guacamole. Free refills. While not everyone loves guacamole, you can't get it anywhere for $2.25 to go with chips. I read on other reviews there was no liquor license, not true. I saw wine, I saw tequila. They have a liquor license, I just don't think they stock a full bar. The restaurant is small, but we had no problem getting a seat at 7pm on a Tuesday night. Service was ok, not great. When my Dos Equis was done, the server never came by for me to get a water, however, he did magically refill my wife's iced tea glass many times. Soda is sold by the can - so no refills. I'm definitely going back - I love tortas and these were all unique and special, from what I understand these are what all other tortas are modeled after. My son had the chicken strips and he said they were very good. Large portion of strips and fries. read more

A delightful little restaurant. Good eats, a compact but varied menu, fresh ingredients, a good looking dining area (and al fresco tables, too), and prompt service. A recommended date location--whether you're with a friend or a significant other. read more

This place is a solid 4 1/2 stars, but since i cant give them that, ill go forward with 5 rather than 4. The food is great, the chips and salsa homemade, and the owner is extremely nice. El Jarro is a little treat in a town with other mexican "chains" that serves up great traditional and modern mexican food at a reasonable price. I highly rec the puebla torta (mexican sandwhich); comes with chicken, cheese, avocado and a nice sauce on a toasty, buttery bread. Its filling, and tastes FRESH! note.. the chips and salsa and avocado are NOT free, even though they mention it in passing. I would rec getting the chips and salsa as they are devine and bottomless for under $2.. the avocado, skip, its expensive. if you want a nice lunch, grab a dos xx beer and enjoy a puebla torta outside watching Lafayette go by. read more

Came for a late lunch with my husband and son and got seated in the front by the window (best spot in the house). We were served quickly by the waiter who wasn't the friendliest guy in the world but not a jerk either. Maybe some social issues or just hates his job? Idk. Paying for chips and salsa at a Mexican place is a no-no in my book so they lost a star there. I honestly don't think I have ever had to pay for chips and salsa before. I ordered the taco salad and it was so good. Only complaint would be that I was expecting a large tortilla bowl with the goodies inside and instead received a teeny tiny crunchy tortilla. Also, the side of beans I requested was approximately a tablespoon. The overall amount of food was decent but I just thought the ratios were bizarre so a star was lost there. They were nice about us having a two year old which these days means a whole lot to me. Star added. read more

Great fresh food and good price for the quality! It's cute place with outdoor seating area, definitely will be back!

This little place is a little gem of a find. Great food at great prices. The chips, salsa and guacamole are superb, and are brought to your table before you even order. The food is reasonably priced (maybe even better than that), and the service is great. I absolutely agree with Wendy's more detailed review below. It's a little hole-in-the-wall cafe, but wonderful. read more

THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD!!!! You must to try the HORCHATA which comes w. free refills tons of different Mexican sandwich tortas to choose from! we've never had bad service read more

The tacos and guacamole are bomb; I try to order some of the other items on the menu but it's tough to resist the carnitas and tacos al pastor. Very friendly staff and a few nice options for sitting outdoors; either in the quiet back patio, or in front of the restaurant on the sidewalk, where you can watch the richies go by. read more