El jarro got some good reviews and it's true,. they have the best mex food in lafayette! decor is clay art. music is mex. seating is spread over 2 small rooms. sampling: -coffee(2.50) cinnamon spicy -chicken mole(home made 12) (monday special) nice tangy mole sauce over 2 pieces of dry chicken molds, a little more tenderness would have been nice. *scoop of spanish rice, some tomatos and spice: nice *salad consisting of avocado bits, black beans, tomatos, mex cheese, corn, red onions, lettuce, and special sauce: extraordinary flavors! -flan(4.50) dense texture, creamy would have been better. disappointing. shaved fruit in whipped cream and sauce on side was interesting. frijoles refritos: -chips (2?) and salsa(2.50) are extras, side orders -service: frantic : one waiter + one assistant, ok, needed to ask for coffee refill. -daily specials, price not listed. -food isn't usually fab, thus 4 stars. -ingredients used definitely fresh -menu is a variant on the usual mex fare. -return is definitely a possibility. 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 have to be honest-this was not my first choice for dinner in Lafayette on a Friday night. After looking at long waits elsewhere and completely over it for the week, I Yelped this spot and it seemed it would do. For starters, if they offer you a table in the back, wait for something else to open-or walk away. I had the single most unpleasant dining experience in their back room. It was freezing cold and the small cramped space with cement walls allowed for the most jarring noise and echoes of the surrounding conversations. It was so loud back there (with only 4 other tables) I literally had to shout at the top of my lungs to speak to my boyfriend. One other couple got seated back there and then left after a few minutes. It's not the fault of the restaurant but the patrons back there were obnoxious and the space just exacerbated their noise. Even once the offending table left, it was still jarringly loud and cold back there. Now, to the food. The veggie burrito was flavorful and tasty-the grilled bell peppers were fresh along with greens and great quality. They use white rice and whole black beans. For some, the portions, may be too small, but I thought it was a great size and just enough food. My boyfriend got the chicken flautas and really enjoyed his dish. He didn't want beans so they offered him salad instead. Chips and salsa are extra but well worth it, especially if you tack on the homemade and fresh guacamole. As a starter, it was absolutely worth it! Good food, friendly service, not so great atmosphere-you decide! read more

El Jarro - Fun murals in the small back room - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

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Okay. How do you start a review anyways? I'll begin with: Feeling hungry. Not into burritos, because flour and rise inflates my guts. Yes for fish. Chicken fajitas was the final. Such an amazing portion, 4-6 ounces of chicken breast. 3 table spoons of guacalamole and the same dose of pickup the guyo. I guess that if it gets complicated to make your own dishes at home, this is the place to start your diet right, with the right price and the right portion. Thank you for reading. You came down too far, now go have a nice life and let El Jarro live theirs. haha! read more

Food was great, chips are quality. Ambiance is like a taqueria but with table service. Unexpected treasure in Lafayette.

Came here for a late lunch cause the thai place was closed. The atmosphere is every hole-in-the-wall. Looks basic when you first walk in, but the back is beautiful. They share a bathroom with the nail place next door. For Mexican food, the price and the portions don't match up. Burritos and quesadillas are about $8, but they aren't the usual portions you might find in a taqueria. The food is average. The burrito was small, and my quesadilla was soggy. Chips are $3. They give you a tiny container of salsa with your burrito, but you have to pay for more if you want an extra container. The Horchata is $2.50. It's in a cup that's a little bigger than the water glass, but it tastes watered down. Service was alright. They didn't really check up on our water or if we needed anything else until we asked for the check. We both decided that this place isn't worth another visit. read more

El Jarro - Carne Asada Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

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We love this place! The staff is the nicest anywhere, the food is delicious, and we can generally get a table outside. All that and excellent chips, salsa and guacamole! My favorite dish is the enfrijoladas oaxaqueñas. It's the most satisfying brunch dish I can imagine! Not a fancy place but with food this good (and treasonably priced) who cares!? The best Mexican food in the area IMHO. read more

The tortas are the tits. I've had all three of them. Warm crunchy beach with premium ingredients in between.

1st visit here last Saturday for lunch with the misses. I ordered the pulled pork burrito & the little woman order the soft taco's (1) with the marinated pork & the other with pulled pork. The food was very authentic & excellent flavor. The only minus in my opinion was the,when seated they asked if we wanted chips & salsa.Were thinking theya are complementary(as in almost all other Mexican stops we've visited). When the bill came the chips were $2.25 & the salsa was an additional $2.25. $22.10 for two items with the chips,before the tip seems a little steap,but hey the over head in Lafayette is pretty serious. Overall 3.5 stars...minus 1.5 for above stated chip & salas confusion. read more

Someone please come over and take pictures that will do the back dining area of this restaurant justice. If you're fortunate enough to grab a table in the area, my recommendation is to ignore the television for a few moments and appreciate the restaurant's aesthetic choices. It works well with what the place is trying to represent, I think. My family and I have been here a few times for lunch. The Quesadilla and Chicken Enchiladas Verdes are sure picks. Warm chips and fresh guacamole and salsa, if I remember correctly, are around $3.50. The waiters, waitresses, and people in the kitchen are friendly. Please feel free to email me with questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and consideration. read more

Surprisingly great food in an unassuming location in Lafayette. The chips are warm and delicious, and the tortas are massive and super tasty. If I still lived nearby, I'd make this a regular spot. The only downside I noticed was that the place was a little cold. Wear an extra layer in the winter. read more

El Jarro - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

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I feel bad for this, but here it goes. The salsa tastes like canned tomatoes and they chopped up some onions, cilantro and some other ingredients then threw them in there. It's completely tasteless and so was the guacamole. The chips tasted fresh and good. Our margarita tasted alright. All in all we got what we paid for, kinda. Total bummer, I had high hopes for this place. read more

This was an easy location to get to since we were meeting clients in Lafayette. There is a parking lot close by so that makes it convenient. Food was average. I ordered a cod taco and a marinated pork taco. The marinated pork was flavorful with the quacamole on top. The cod was good but not as flaky as I would like. I would go back and try it again and maybe order something different. read more

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Best Mexican in the area. Authentic and high quality. Doesn't look like much from the front but pretty big inside. Easy take out. Lots of parking in the back. read more

I had the steak burrito with no lettuce and cilantro in its place. I also had all the condiments on the side (Pico, guacamole, and sour cream). I ended up only eating the guacamole.....thats all it needed! read more

The best Mexican in Lafayette. Tortas are delicious. Prices are a little steep and service can be spotty but worth the wait and $. The place is small but clean and spacious enough. One of my favorite places in town! read more

El Jarro - Puebla torta and a corona. Definitely two meals! - Mexican Near Me - Lafayette, California

Never have I been treated so badly by any restaurant. I and others will never go to this place again. As I was walking into the front door there was a Lady eating out front. I entered as I had done many times before. I asked if I could order some food to go. The person that was in charge told me that they're closed and will not be able to make anything for me. I asked what time do you close? He told me that they closed earlier than what they post. I said that I was disappointed and I may not want to come back. As I was walking away on the sidewalk, he ran out of the restaurant trying to threaten me with his fist and Flipping me off, telling me F...Y...I could not believe that he was doing this. When I went back a few minutes later to ask for the manager with another friend, we were both confronted by the owner. At which point we asked why are we being treated this way and he said that I was calling them names. That was not true and I asked the lady if I had said anything bad to them. She turned to the owner and said that I had not say anything wrong to them. The owner told us that these are good boys and one is his son. Now we know how they are getting bad manners from. As I was in shock the son was flipping me off with his middle finger, more surprising was, that the father was OK with it, and told us to go somewhere else. It didn't stop there because as were walking away the owner called us Pansy's. What else is there to say then never again. read more

Had the Torta Mexicana and it was delish! Burritos are good too. Service was spotty since we were there during the Wine & Arts festival. Chips are very thin, only slightly greasy with just little sprinkling of salt. I think they're made onsite which goes far with me. Good salsa. Not great but good! Will come here to if I'm in a mood to support a local business. Will go to Baja Fresh across the street instead to save a few bucks (but will miss the tortas!). read more

First time visiting this Mexican restaurant. Good choice. My better half (who's well versed in Mexican foods) ordered a super burrito and indicated right away it was one of the best she's had. And that's saying a lot! I, too, had a burrito and must say she's right on. Very good. And the wait person was very nice and accommodating. Bottom line, no complaints. read more

We had a nice freshly prepped meal mid-afternoon. Good food and service in a modest sized place. We'll be back.

Love this place - soft tacos, carnitas nachos, tortilla chicken soup, and the guacamole are all delicious!

We've gotten take out here several times and it's always very good. Definitely will continue to go back.

I frequent El Jarro as often as I can. I can't get enough of their tortas (sandwiches)! Occasionally the ingredients aren't as fresh as they could be and the waitperson is a little gruff, but I continue to come because I love their tortas. I have to give a shout out to their chips too! While the salsa is all over the map (depends on the chef of the day, I suppose), there's always the chance it could be excellent, so I order the chips and salsa. read more

Was looking for some quick and decent Mexican in the vicinity of Lafayette. That's just what this is. We had the crispy chicken flautas, vegetable enchiladas Oaxacaquenos, and a huevos plateros dish. My friend said the flautas were decent but lacking in flavor. I didn't care for the sweet flavor of the enchiladas (filled with potato?) but CR loved it. The huevos were two sunny side eggs with corn tortillas, refried black beans and some queso fresco. Nothing too spectacular, but it satisfied our craving. Chips and salsa were on point. Margaritas were decent, nothing fancy, with a good kick. They had a TV and put on the Warriors game for us, which was appreciated! Service was otherwise okay. There was an extra menu item on our bill that we didn't order but it was quickly removed. read more

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EL Jarro is always delicious! This is our family's go-to Mexican restaurant in Lamorinda. We love it! It has never disappointed! And the people who own it and work there are warm and kind. They remember our regular order. read more

Been going here since they opened and the food has always been outstanding. our Favs....any taco, chicken Caesar salad, chicken burrito, Chile rellenos, flautas, anything with carnitas, the great tortas and the guacamole and tasty chips! read more

Best deal in town!! The food/price ratio is unbeatable.

Amazing authentic Mexican, way better the El Charro! Unfortunately they will charge you for CHIPS and SALSA which is ridiculous they don't tell you! They will also charge you for EXTRA salsa if you run out, and even charge you for anything "extra" you ask. Other then that the food is incredibly delicious. read more

This is now my favourite Mexican place to eat, food taste delicious and fresh, very authentic, the place it's small but cute and cozy

As a Mexican is always hard to find authentic Mexican food and El Jarro provides you with that. I have tried Mexican food in the area of Lafayette and there's no comparison around the area, everyone that I had invited to this restaurant in the past, always I mean always comes back because of it's delicious food. Starting with service always on top of things and truly, I have no words of how to describe how good this restaurant is. I highly recommend this family restaurant. read more

Keep in mind... those chips and salsa they offer you when you sit down? They'll be on your bill at the end. Not cool. read more

Excellent chiles rellenos. Their taco salad is also very good and the have Mexico coke! The absolute best in the East Bay!

Go to spot - the salsa is ridiculously good and the service is incredible! Their burritos have always been a staple of mine.

I work in Lafayette so I am here a lot. Other mexican restaurants in the area don't have horchata so that is a plus for me. I love their tortas, burritos and mexican caesar salad. I have never encountered any issues with the staff being unfriendly on any take out or dine in experience. read more

this place is so good they literally slayed the carne asada burrito and the chips were like "yasss" and i literally was like "omfg this meal is so scrumptious like yas el jarro it's giving major bad b vibes" read more

Recommended by my wife, so I gave it a try. Well worth it! Tasty food, great service.

I called this restaurant last evening to see about their hours of operation. They said they were open until 9 PM. Tonight my husband and I tried to enter the restaurant at 7:25 and were denied service. They said they closed at 8 pm do to Covid. So interesting because every restaurant on that street was open for business and doing well I'm upset because it wasn't even 8 when we got there. But still they refused to serve us. I will not returning to this establishment ever again. Very poor way to treat customers. Very insulting. I hope the owners read this review and try a little harder to accommodate people especially when they arrive before closing. Btw their posted sign reads open til 9pm! read more

Such good and fresh Mexican food. 10/10 would recommend. My wife and I went here all the time when we lived in Lafayette. One of our favorite places to eat. read more

Mind you. . . It was 8:15pm when we walked in... however, to be severed what seemed like "scraps" was very disappointing.

Stopped by after a baseball game and was pleasantly surprized. Obviously authentic Mexican fare with fresh ingredients.