This spot was so cute. The interior is honestly really nice, cozy and small, but with such a fun, colourful vibe. The bar area is super pretty and the decor is just well done overall. It feels like a nice little hidden gem. There's a small seating area, but it's definitely more of a spot to hang out for a bit than a full-on restaurant. The staff were really friendly and super accommodating the whole time. They were quick and efficient, and you could tell they were genuinely nice people. That always makes a big difference. As for the food, it was pretty decent. We got the chicken tacos and they were flavourful, but not amazing. The toppings were good and everything fit together well, but the ingredients itself didn't feel like the highest quality. The chicken quesadilla was honestly pretty good, basic, but it did the job and tasted solid. We also got the nachos to start, which were okay. They were a bit plain and didn't have too many toppings (like, there were only a few olives on the whole thing lol). But the churros totally stole the show. They were absolutely delicious crispy, warm, and came with chocolate sauce that was so yummy. Those were definitely the highlight of the meal. Overall, it's a cute spot with a great atmosphere and friendly staff. The food was decent, but I'd go back mainly for the vibes and the churros. If you're looking for a chill place to hang out with friends and grab a sweet treat, this is definitely worth checking out. read more

El Jefe - Churros - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

Brutal. There's no vibe. The fish tacos were brutal - good portions but tasteless so what's the point? Taco shells were flour, not corn. They crisp the taco shells so they're brittle, it's like they crisp them up to hide staleness. The guac is made ahead so it's browning. The enchiladas were small and not good for $18. It's like this place has lost its soul. There's no effort anywhere for it to feel authentic. I'd rather go to Taco Bell. Service was fine. read more

A wonderful experience with great ambience Ordered nachos with drinks the smoked mazcal with cancun afternoon The drinks were really good absolutely awesome and potent Loved the Cancun afternoon more The nachos was fine not too good but overall a good experience There is waiting here however the service and experience more than makes up for it Would look forward to my next visit here read more

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This is actually my second time coming to this restaurant. The first time I walked by with some friends and we stopped by for a late night drink to watch the NBA finals. The food that people were eating around us looked amazing so I said I would come back again. A week later I'm back! It was a super hot day so my friend and I decided to sit out in the patio. They have this cute patio that's inclosed. Ambiance: Very cute and colourful with a Mexican theme. The place was lively with loud music and perfect place for a night out. The interior was nice and colourful with lots of high top seats. Food: This is where it all went downhill. I got a frozen margarita since it was so hot. The drink was watered down. Wasn't the typical margarita I was used to. We got some guacamole and chips to share. The chips was oily and greasy. I want impressed and got some tacos because I went crazy and got a main item. We got the steak taco. It was shaved meat and wasn't your typical steak. The shaved meat was not soft it was hard and crunchy like it was a day old. There was nothing on it but shaved meat and tomatoes very underwhelmed and tasteless. I was done from there and didn't want to order anything else. Service: Service was great. my server always came to ask us if we wanted anything else. That's where I gave the one star. I was so disappointed because I was so excited to try their food from my first visit. Will not be coming back again sadly. I am 0 for 2 with restaurants in Port Credit which is disappointing since it's such a lively place to be. Hopefully my third restaurant in Port credit will be a lot better. Stay tune.... read more

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Terrible tacos, mediocre service, Instagram-worthy murals. We were strolling by Port Credit and decided to give El Jefe a try - and absolutely regret doing so! It's a very Instagrammable place, don't get me wrong, but the food was really not good... I ordered a fish and shrimp taco - both came served on a flour tortilla and dressed with a ton of sauce. Let's start with the fish... it was heavily breaded but quite lean. I didn't enjoy the sauces either - and I really didn't like the hard, raw cabbage slaw. The shrimp had a frozen flavour to it but I enjoyed the accoutrements more than that on the fish taco (primarily the pickles). The service also wasn't great - our server didn't have his mask on properly and wasn't super attentive. read more

El Jefe - Fish and shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

I went on a Saturday early afternoon and there was surprisingly barely anyone there. We got a seat at the patio section which was heated. In terms of food, we ordered a plate of nachos to share and each got a taco on the side. The nachos themselves were a large portion that was good for two people. As for the pescado taco I ordered, I think it was decent enough although the fish part wasn't very strong. I've definitely had other fish tacos in Mississauga that weren't as pricey (this was $6 for each taco) but were much more flavourful. In terms of service, I couldn't connect with the free wifi to get access to their menu, but they were able to give me an actual menu to look at. It took us awhile for the server to come by as well. We had time to spare and weren't in a hurry to go anywhere, but we definitely waited awhile for before we were able to flag down a server for the bill. read more

El Jefe - The nachos (with jalepenos on the side) - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

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This place often has a lineup. One time we came and it seemed the staff were seating their friends before people in line...we left. Hubby and I went one evening and got a table on the upper patio after a short wait. Hubby had margaritas that he enjoyed. I had a virgin mojito which tasted good but had some black mint leaves We shared yuca fries which were very crispy and tasty. I had the burrito bowl that was stuffed with very spicy jalapeños. I had to remove a bunch to be able to eat it. Son and I went for late lunch a different day and they said they only had tables in direct sun which was too hot. They offered to waitlist us but we went elsewhere. Cute spot, limited menu of ok food, not worth a long wait. read more

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El Jefe is a great local spot in the Port Credit community for their colourful patio and great Mexican eats. Upon arriving, I was greeted by the wait staff with friendliness and terrific service from the beginning of my meal to the end. The patio is fun and lively with the decor and colours to match the cheerful theme. It's very relaxing to sit down and enjoy a meal with friends and family. The food was quite good from my personal experience. The shrimp ceviche was nicely cured with right amount of lemon juice to accentuate the natural sweetness of the shrimp. Served with guacamole and chips, it's a solid way to start the meal. The tacos were quite delicious. If I were to pick, the cauliflower taco was prepared well with freshly fried cauliflower that mixes well the fresh cabbage slaw. The churros were not overly sweet and I enjoyed dipping them in the caramel/chocolate sauce for a great way to end off the meal. Whether it's for a night out or if you just want a classic sit down meal, be sure to check out El Jefe! read more

While the staff are actually nice, the service issues are well documented by other reviews - even the most basic things (e.g. bringing water, cutlery, plates) are overlooked, and the mediocre food doesn't exactly make up for it. Stick to the drinks if you're coming here. read more

El Jefe - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

Food 0/5 Service 3/5 Ambience 1/5 Horrible place in every aspect, food extremely disappointing. Never felt so upset in my life when it comes to food and cleanliness of a place. First and last time here. Dont waste your time or money here . read more

Absolute disaster, premise was freezing. food took forever (problems In the kitchen apparently). tacos sub par (greasy, cold, uneatable). Never again. Avid. read more

Stopped in here to check it out on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Port Credit was kind of bopping due to the nicer weather we were having. The restaurant was quite busy, but we were able to walk i and get a seat right away. The server came over right away and offered us water. The service was great from the start. We started with guacamole made table side and chips. The guacamole was pretty tasty. Could have used some more salt and a little more heat. We ordered the 3 tacos. They were much larger then other places I've been. I had the chicken, buffalo broccoli and the fish. All three were great and would recommend any or all. The decor was fun and funky. Would recommend this place if your feeling Mexican. read more

El Jefe - Guacamole and chips. - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

This place is in a lively area and the decor definitely gives off a party vibe as well. The food was OK, the drinks were much better. However, service is extremely slow here. The inside has a lot of Instagram-worthy photoshoot spots so that is a plus. read more

Super sad because this place is actually pretty lit and one of the only reasons why I loved going to port credit. But you know... a bad experience always trumps a great one and I can't return. Positives- local owned biz with yummy Mexican food- their tacos are bomb dot com. Service is fast and friendly as well. Negatives- TWO WORDS: FOOD POISONING. I mean, to the extreme. Immediately after, following to a whole week. The worst part is: it was the beginning of a PTO week. My boyfriend had the whole week off and to celebrate, we drove to port credit from Newmarket for a "cheers to PTO!" Dinner. Big mistake on our end! He always orders the chimichanga and it came out, it looked unusually dark as if it had been refried or heated up again after someone didn't want it. It was also a lot harder than normal. The taste however was normal. A bit off but something where you can't really put your finger on it. His bad was not saying anything - he ate it and immediately felt discomfort in his stomach. The following evening, days etc was hell on earth. Him running to the bathroom every few hours, uncontrollable bowel movements etc. The food poisoning lasted until SUNDAY of the NEXT week- aka, his entire PTO wasted on the toilet. This 100% came from the chimichanga because there was no other factor following and we all know how restos act when you try to pin them for food poisoning (because it's nearly impossible to prove) For this reason and trauma, we won't be coming back. Which makes me really sad because the nachos were some of the best I ever had... Advice: if something LOOKS/SMELLS OR TASTES slightly off- send it back and save your butthole. read more

El Jefe - 10/10 nachos. They're so good! - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

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Really great patios and drinks! Food is pretty consistently spicy - tried four different things and all had some kick to it so really good for spice lovers. Food was good and interesting. Service was slow but it was opening weekend so super fair, but waiter was also working bar so not a lot of connections or conversations were made. Good music and vibes and you could really party there! If drinks were less expensive And service was more attentive it would've been 5 stars! read more

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Queso Fundito was not very good, chips were fresh. The service was slow and sadly the Mens room really stinks. Thats not a good sign, management should be paying more attention. read more

Tacos. Meh. No bueno. Corn tortillas usually come in 2 per taco since they are so thin and fall apart. Meat was dry, and bland. See pic. Card payment problems with their system WiFi. Staff seemed cold and unfriendly. Other places to eat. Will not see my business again. read more

El Jefe - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

I have enjoyed this place many times. El Jefe offers a Mexican feel both in decor, food, and drinks. The patio is always buzzing in the warmer months and I would recommend this for those who are young, or young at heart. Plenty of parking is available in the area, although it pays to seriously consider taking the GO train at busier tirm read more

Service was pleasant, but the food was terrible. Guacamole was meh, but the tortilla chips were greasy and stale. We had shrimp tacos - three small fried shrimps in heavy batter overcooked. read more

For a place that claims to be authentic Mexican by their atmosphere and decor, the tacos are the furthest thing from authentic that I've ever taste in my entire life. Honestly, I can't believe I even stomached them. Not to mention they have NO hot sauce. It's unfortunate because the service is always nice. read more

Met up with a friend for dinner - this was a good halfway point for us and something new to check out. I don't love Mexican in the first place so I feel like I have a low number of experiences to compare this with. Everything seemed standard at best. The queso was good but required more chips (that we had to pay for). My tacos weren't bad, although my attempt to try something new result in my not finishing one of them. The margaritas were fine, but a reminder on why I hate buying mixed drinks when I'm out when it comes to value. It should be noted the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. Overall, a decent visit. Would I rush back? No. But I also wouldn't be opposed to eating here again at the halfway point. read more

My girls and I were looking for a quick late-lunch spot and we found El Jefe on the maps. When we arrived, we thought the patio was super cute, so we were excited to dine. We got seated immediately, and the staff was super friendly. A couple of us got drinks, and they were pretty good, and not terribly expensive, but I was so disappointed with my tacos. The shell was hard and chewy and cut my mouth, and it wasn't what I expected at all. The fish taco had like no taste, and the pork was mediocre. My friend thought their elotes were average, and their chips and guac were too. Wouldn't recommend. read more

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Great location and atmosphere! However food was not worth the price . They ran out of food but didn't even tell us until we asked about the appetizers twice. The mojito was diluted and basically just a lemonade, could hardly taste any alcohol and worse it came when I was done my meal. Ordered a quesadilla, veggie which was just melted cheese and they forgot to give any sides. Overall, a beautiful place just wish the service was better and more importantly the food! Disappointed :/ read more

FOOD 5 Food was great. 5 there! We ordered the fish tacos, huge satisfying portion, fish was fresh, and toppings were tasty. SERVICE 0 But, they did not have any hot sauce and even worse service was slow, inattentive and downright rude. Almost as if my patronage was an inconvenience. Based upon the terrible service alone, you couldn't pay me to dine at this restaurant again. The service really destroyed what would have otherwise been a fantastic experience. read more

My girlfriend took me to this place on a whim & they were the only place still open that was serving food. We got the nachos with chicken, guacamole & sour cream. Super good! Along with the pollo tacos & shrimp tacos. The way the pollo tacos tasted on that first bite was amazing! I'm definitely coming back to this spot, the staff was amazing too. Very nice people. I can't wait to try other things on the menu. read more

El Jefe - Shrimp & chicken tacos with nachos with chicken & guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

South side shuffle lunch. Have walked by many times, and always curious. My wife and I dropped in for a margarita and Mexican food that we love. Ordered the ceviche and 2 tacos. One beef, one fish. Ceviche is not ceviche. Frozen shrimp and no Chile's. We frequent Mexico but also make our own. This sucks. Sorry, just being honest. Tacos are ok. Can't say I would return based upon this experience read more

On Tuesday, we eat tacos. Fun Fact: El Jefe is a Spanish term meaning "the chief" or "the boss". The colourful Mexican restaurant is located in the heart of Port Credit and it is the perfect spot to soak up the sun while savouring a few drinks. Surrounded by the backdrop of a vibrant graffiti mural, the 75-seater patio is decked out with fairy lights that offers an ideal spot to devour on tacos and gauc. A great place to unwind and enjoy yourself with friends. They specialize in tacos and many other delicious entrees made with great authentic taste (menu is also limited). The bar is packed with a wide selection of tequila. They also cater to the Halal community by serving Halal chicken. I usually order the Crunch Fish Tacos but you can mix in the varieties. But don't be fool! They have a "promo" which says 3 for $17 on their menu as a special but if you look at the singles, it is $5 each. I am not a math whiz but something smells fishy here. Follow them on Instagram for their up to date news: @eljefepc read more

El Jefe - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

I ended up going here for dinner last night after walking around port credit. My friend and I put our name down on the super long list and were told it would be a 2-2.5 hr wait...which we were fine with given this was a place I wanted to check out for a while. We came back within an hour and were told we would be seated in 5 minutes. We got a nice table on the patio. We ordered the sangria pitcher, 1 taco each and the nachos. Food was mediocre (the tacos were soggy) and for the price actually felt ripped off would have much rather gone to burrito boyz!!! What was super disappointing however is the $40 (!!!!!) Pitcher of sangria which was actually only half filled and tasted horrible.. no wine at all. It was almost like they watered down some minute maid juice and served it to us for $40. Extremely dissapointed with that. Second issue... it was about an hour since we were seated when our server told us that there was a 90 min seating policy... (I've bever been told that at any restaurant and I get its covid so I gave them the benefit of the doubt).. but what really pushed things over was when our server came to us and told us we need to get up to go to the wireless machines to pay...where every table around us were brought machines to pay. Definitely will not be returning. Sad that the service and food are dissapointing.. as this place has so much potential with the location. I guess it will continue to attract young kids who just "want to go out" but not really looking for a quality experience. For more seasoned diners. Save your money and go to Burrito Boys!!! read more

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The tacos here are equivalent to what you get at Taco Bell. I was fooled by the cute exterior of the restaurant to come in. Very disappointing tacos here, it's not authentic tacos at all. The portions here was big but with sloppy execution - I found a huge chunk of onion not cut properly in my taco (see image). The crunchy fish taco was not as expected and tasted horrible. They try to do what Taco Bell does with dual shells - soft shell outside and hard shell on the inside. But it did not turn out great. The server told me I should've informed them if I didn't like the second hard shell. It's my first time here, how would I know this? Normal taco places wouldn't serve tacos like this. And it's probably the last time I'll ever come here! The only good thing here was the corona beer. read more

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Food is less than acceptable. Lots of rice, frugal on cheese and meat and taste is not that impressive. The lettuce is stale. Service- CHECK your bill twice before paying it. We only ordered two items but they added extra items we didn't ordered. They said it was an honest mistake but a simple order like ours is very unlikely to make such mistakes. read more

We went to El Jefe last week for the first time. We figured it would be really busy on the weekend, so we waited until Monday and went early (6:30) to miss the crowds. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and told that there was a big party coming in, so they only had one table by the door or the bar for us to sit at. We chose the table by the door and were given menus. A very friendly waitress approached us right away for drink orders. I ordered a 9 oz glass of sauvignon blanc and she came back a moment later to say that they only had enough for a 5 oz glass. I said that was fine and she brought it over right away and said it was complimentary since they didn't have what I had asked for. I LOVED that! They also have 1/2 price margaritas on Mondays, so I had one of those too. It was delicious! It was just the right balance of sweet and tart. We ordered the guacamole en la mesa to start, which means she brought over the avocados and other ingredients and pounded in a mortar with a pestle, right at our table. It was served with lots of freshly made tortilla chips and was absolutely delicious (and a huge serving). We also ordered the shrimp ceviche with came with another huge portion of tortilla chips. We honestly could have only had those two appetizers and it would've been enough for the three of us. 2 of us each had the taco trio, so we ended up trying the Rio Grande (chicken), the calamar (squid), the carnitas (pork) and the matadero (beef). They were all tasty, but the calamar was definitely the best. Crunchy and perfectly cooked, with a delicious aioli and pico de gallo. My husband had the steak and huevos rancheros, which was two crispy corn tortillas topped with beans, beef, cheese and fried eggs. He loved it and said he'd definitely order it again. The service was fantastic! The waitress was very attentive and so friendly. She was over at our table at least 10 times while we were there. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was also great. We will definitely be going back! read more

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Used to be great but now with all the changes to how restaurants operate, I think it has gone downhill. Im on day 3 of food poisoning. Although it is always hard to prove, the last thing I ate was the chimi from here and within an hour I was violently ill. Did not eat anything else for a while before and didn't eat anything after. I ordered the chimi and asked for no cilantro, they brought it with cilantro all over - but whatever I just picked it off. The chimi seemed darker than usual (ate here a few weeks prior so I know how it should look and taste) and it seemed re-fried. In hindsight there's a high chance this was previously prepared and just re-fried. Pretty disappointed, as it was a decent place to go. But if they are no longer following safe food handling practices to optimize profits, I'll probably be staying away. read more

Such a cute little patio for drinks and snacks! Upon arrival the hostess took my name and number for covid-19 tracing. All the staff wore masks and were good about keeping distance when taking our orders. The reason my rating falls a little short is because it was difficult to order a second drink due to how busy our waitress was. I probably would have stayed longer and ordered more, but I can't do that if I can't even get my waitress to come over. I'll probably visit again on a different night to see if it's a one time thing or maybe they were short-staffed. But overall the drinks were good, snacks were average, I just wanted more! read more

El Jefe - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

It's like El Catrin of Port Credit. Their design, such as the entrance, the bar, other decoration, it's like its the franchise of El Catrin. I actually asked our waitress if it is, but she has never heard of the place. I got chicken chimichanga and guacamole to share. They mush the guacamole right in front of you, so that's pretty cool. I still preferred the El Catrin's though lol. The chimichanga was really good. It was filling and very yummy. We found out about this place when we lined up for Fired Up. This couple who has date nights every Thursday night for the past couple of decades highly spoke of this place. I think it was alright, my friend was in love with it though lol. It's a good place to try out. read more

El Jefe - Chicken chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

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Well, looks fancy but food and service here is horrible. I ordered Gringo taco and guacamole. It came after the wait of 45 mins, both of them taste just so plain. Their serving style is very fancy just like El-catrin but food does not taste even average. I also asked for beer on tap , The server herself told its not good an asked me to order something bottled. Patio is good if you want to have a drink or two. read more

Wanted to check this place out when they opened, but they kept on closing down for lunch since they didn't have enough "food" to be open for 2 meal times. (I called them before going there.) So now, I made it and .... The place is smaller than I thought. They have a long front patio area which was definitely too cold for today. Once, you enter, there was a cool wall with bunch of sombreros. Service is slow for Sunday lunch and 3 items were not available from the menu, including the empanadas that I wanted to try out. They left the door open, so inside was freezing cold!! They also didn't have the drink that I requested. Happy: The 3 tacos that I ordered was good and it felt freshly prepared as the meat (fish, chicken and calamari) was not cold. Not happy: The 3 tacos were small and not filling at all. The presentation could be done better. They could have put them on a taco stand (like Moxie's do) and it didn't come with any sides at all. It would have been nice with a bean salad or corn salad or something!! And it was definitely not worth the money!! It should be 4 for $12 or 3 for $10 instead of 3 for $12. I'm small and I wasn't satisfied at all. I could eat another meal!! Oh yeah, they messed up my order! The waiter apologized, but the kitchen staff need to look closely at what they are making. My partner had the steach and huevos ranchos which he liked the taste of it, but again small on quantity of size to be satisfied for a guy. Verdict: It's great that they have another Mexican place in Port Credit, but I wouldn't go back to it at all. I'll rather try another restaurant along Lakeshore. Not worth your money!! Even for a tapas place, I can go somewhere else. read more

El Jefe - Steak and huevos ranchos. - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario

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One type of cuisine that seems simple but is so difficult to find with the perfect balance of flavours is Mexican cuisine. El jefe is a hidden gem on Lakeshore (Mississauga) and has bold and vibrant flavours, colors and artwork, a beautiful entrance, and a spacious, HEATED & Covered (retractable roof) Outdoor Patio. I was absolutely blown away by the delicious dishes! And the best part: They Have ** HALAL ** Chicken! @eatandtellofficial @eljefepc - 66 Lakeshore Rd E, Mississauga. Mexican The dishes we tried were: TAQUITOS 3 Deep fried flour tortillas stuffed with fire roasted poblano peppers, refried beans, corn & Oaxaca cheese, topped with avocado. (AMAZING! Even my pickiest eater, my son, loved them! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) MAIZ CALLEJERO Grilled corn cob, buttered and drizzled with a Mexican crema and topped with cotija cheese, cilantro & house spice. (SO good!) CAMARÓN  Pan seared pimento & lime salt shrimp, Mexican relish, cotija cheese, mango corn salsa. CHIMICHANGA (Most Popular) Stuffed with roasted chicken, three cheese blend, beans & corn. Topped with mango corn salsa, sour cream, cotija cheese, cilantro & tomatillo. (This was so delicious and GREAT for 2 people. Very filling and Delicious!) MOJITO (virgin) I loved this restaurant! The staff was so kind, the walls had beautiful artwork on it with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead - Holiday) theme. I fell in love with this place & I highly recommend you visit too, especially if you want authentic (halal) Mexican food right by the Lake. read more

Pretty good. Went with a friend on Saturday night. We were seated quickly and service was good. We ordered a bunch of tacos and guacamole to share. Overall a good experience and the restaurant had a pretty ambiance. I would return. read more

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The food is pretty good but a little pricier than most Mexican restaurants. The server was sweet but our service was extremely slow from getting our orders taken to getting our food to the table. We waited for 45-50 minutes for 2 entrees and 4 appetizers to come altogether. Also, their set up and strict seating on the patio cannot accommodate any party larger than 4 to sit together- this was a bit awkward and uncomfortable to try and socialize with your party. The area is narrow, but maybe they can get smaller tables that can be moved so it's not a safety/ fire hazard. So if you're going with a group 4 or less, this would be a better experience. read more

Came to Port Credit as a buddy of mine lives in the area and recommended we check this place out for some Mexican cuisine. Waitress sat us down, gave us a few recommendations and I ordered the Chimichanga. The meal was very good. El Jefe is on the better side of Mexican restaurants that I have been to. Would certainly love to come back next summer as we sat on the Patio but it was a little cold for that. Overall good experience at El Jefe. read more

El Jefe - Chicken Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Mississauga, Ontario