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El Local

4.8 (220 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Open • 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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EL LOCAL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - El Local

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July 2026 ~ Margarita - delicious!
Margaret M.

July 2026 - We are always searching for "real" Mexican food. So happy we found this restaurant. The staff were very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and how the food and drinks are prepared. We really enjoyed our choices (see photos) and our margaritas! Salud!

Adela M.

The hype is real! After reading all the reviews and seeing all the yummy pics, we decided to stop in and try it for ourselves. We came on a Saturday around 5 and it was busy, we were told there would be almost an hour wait on the food and there wasn't a table available so we sat at the bar. It was worth it. I had met the bartender at an event before and was pleasantly surprised to see him behind the bar but he was working his magic and the drinks coming out looks beautiful. He took great care of us. We ordered flautas and a torta, the food came out in 20 minutes and it was soo delicious. The food felt and tasted so authentic. The space is not small but not big and it's def unique but festive and cool. We tried visiting again on Thursday for dinner but this time there was a line outside, we need to time this better but worth it.

Birria Tacos
Tara G.

I was visiting the area for business and was craving street tacos. I stopped in to place a to go order and the bartender was so friendly and inviting I decided to get one of their house margaritas while I waited. The margarita was fresh and delicious and the cutest glassware. I ended up ordering the birria tacos and a side of their black beans. It was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be back!

Free chips
Ben O.

This is hands down my new favorite spot for tacos -- both for the taste and the price. They start you off with free chips and three different salsas. The green one (I'm guessing salsa verde) instantly became my favorite -- super fresh and packed with flavor. My wife and I each ordered four tacos, and they were amazing. The tripa taco was so good I had to go back for a second one, and my wife had to try it too. These are true street tacos -- smaller than your average taco but absolutely loaded with flavor. Just cilantro, onion, a squeeze of lime, and a little salsa...perfection. If you love authentic, flavorful tacos at a great price, this place is a must.

Chips on the house
Jean O.

We stopped by this little gem after dropping our kid off at university. We chose the tacos. We ordered different kinds: al pastor, chicken, pork, chorizo, beef etc. the stand outs are definitely the tripa and the Lengua. Had to order seconds on the tripa so delish highly recommend to stop by here if you're in the mood for tacos! Very feasibly priced and service was quick. They also served chips on the house with very good salsa, especially the salsa verde. Lots of seating!

Cecilia T.

If you're looking for real Mexican flavor in Fort Myers, El Local absolutely delivers. The food tastes authentic, fresh, and made with care exactly the kind of place that reminds you how Mexican food is supposed to taste. Every dish comes out full of flavor, well-seasoned, and satisfying. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff treats you like family from the moment you walk in. Service is attentive without being overbearing, and the whole place has that relaxed, neighborhood feel that makes you want to come back again. The portions are generous, the ingredients taste fresh, and you can tell there's pride behind the kitchen. Whether you stop in for tacos, burritos, or a full meal, it feels like a small piece of Mexico right here in Fort Myers.

Taco plate.  Asada, chicken & Al pastor tacos. So good!

Best tacos I've had in south Florida! Service was outstanding and place looks so pretty.

Shredded Beef Enchiladas, rice and beans.
Lori G.

This restaurant quickly became our go-to dinner spot. We found El Local on Yelp about a month ago and decided to try it out. It was a very busy Friday night, but the service was fantastic. Every server and team member was engaged with the tables, with more than one server checking on us (and others). They were also great at making recommendations for our food, since we had never eaten there. I forgot to take pictures but we've been back 3 times since! The food has been fantastic! Fresh herbs, tender meat, flavorful ingredients and everything we've had has been great. Previously we tried gorditas (soooo good), enchiladas and two kinds of burritos. This time, we chose quesabirria and shredded beef enchiladas. Both were fantastic! Even more, the drinks are incredible. The bartender has made a few different drinks, including margaritas and mojitos and they're never too sweet, just refreshing and delicious. The vibe of the restaurant is very easy going, fun (with some Latin music on) and relaxing environment. It's been very clean on each visit as well. Can't wait to go back!

Ianka S.

If you're looking for true authentic Mexican food, you're on the right place! food was so bomb that I even forgot to take a picture of it and that says a lot. Friendly staff, great ambiance, amazing food!

Mary H.

The food here is delicious and the staff are amazing! They were super busy but continually checked in on us while we were waiting and throughout the meal. Absolutely will be back!

Chips, queso and salsa
Makayla B.

Another restaurant we found close by that had really great reviews! Do not pass up El Local. We came on a weekend, mid afternoon for a later lunch. We decided to give El Local a try as we were craving some good authentic food, we were not disappointed at all! Started with chips and queso, which was very good! Went to our entrees of Burrito and Tostadas! The size portions were large so we ended up having to bring about half of everything home. If you are looking for great authentic food, El Local is a great place! Staff is very friendly and takes the time to go over any questions you have.

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9 months ago

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2 months ago

Fabulous food, fresh and incredibly tasty. Good selection and very authentic. Service was great.

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

Great food! Ambiance is okay and service is good. Give it a try! I've seen lots of small groups.

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4 months ago

Found this place on Yelp. It lived up to the reviews; good service, clean and delicious food. I especially liked the tomatillo salsa !!

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El Local Reviews in Other Languages

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El Sabor De Puebla

El Sabor De Puebla

4.6(209 reviews)
7.6 mi

Huge serving sizes. Fajitas, Quesadilla, and Burritos are . Excellent service and atmosphere. Thank…read moreyou to Mr. Roberto and Chris! Make sure to ask for a shirt!

My husband and I were on the hunt for an authentic Mexican restaurant, so we turned to Google, and…read morethat's how we discovered this hidden gem! El Sabor de Puebla in South Fort Myers, Florida. From the moment you walk through the door, you feel like you've stepped right into Mexico. The restaurant is incredibly colorful and beautifully decorated. They even have a place outside to take photos. We were seated quickly, and shortly after, the owner, Mr. Roberto, came over personally to thank us for choosing his restaurant. We ended up talking with him at length, and what a genuinely kind and hardworking man. You can tell how much pride he takes in his restaurant and how hard he's working to build a better life. That personal touch made our experience even more special. Our waitress brought out homemade tortilla chips and pico de gallo along with three different sauces, each with its own level of heat, from the milder green avocado sauce to the green chili and the roasted chile de árbol. The pico was incredibly fresh and delicious! We really enjoyed the sauces also. We ordered the tricolor beef enchiladas and two pork carnitas so we could sample both. Everything came out quickly and beautifully presented. The enchiladas were wonderful and came with a fresh salad, rice, and refried beans. The rice was especially delicious, but the pork carnitas stole the show! So so good!! HUGE HUGE portions with reasonable pricing. From the colorful atmosphere and delicious food, this was a wonderful experience from beginning to end. We're so glad we found this little gem and would highly recommend giving it a try!

Photos
El Sabor De Puebla - Bright and colorful interior with plenty of seating.

Bright and colorful interior with plenty of seating.

El Sabor De Puebla - Shrimp fajitas for two

Shrimp fajitas for two

El Sabor De Puebla - Table decor

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Table decor

Tres Amigos Taqueria - Carne asada burrito

Tres Amigos Taqueria

4.4(104 reviews)
5.8 mi
•$$

I tried this spot not far from where I live. I enjoyed my food, it came out fast. Service was…read morefriendly. I enjoyed my food and all the different types of salsa. Only con in my opinion is that it is on the pricy side for street tacos. I would say it is more of a take out spot but they do have plenty of seating. I would probably go back on a night I needed something to eat that was different and not fast food.

Always on the look out for the local Mexican restaurant that we haven't tried. Tres Amigos was on…read morethe list and didn't disappoint. Tucked in the shopping plaza at Winkler / Gladiolus in Ft Myers, this cute and cozy spot has easy access to and from the beach and close to Health Park hospital. There are booths and a few tables for seating and to-go orders were available and certainly popular on our visit. The decor was festive and soft Mexican music played in the background. Bottled Mexican sodas, can sodas and beer are available. We chose sodas and chips and salsa to start as we scanned the menu. Please note, this is not like going to a typical American Mexican restaurant were chips and salsa come complimentary; you'll pay for a basket of fresh, hot, crispy tortilla chips and a 3 types of fresh salsa : green, spicy red and a creamy green. All were exceptional and fresh. Hubby ordered combo fajitas; beef and chicken. It came with a generous side of beans, rice and tortillas. I ordered the chicken flautas which also came with a side of beans and rice. Fajitas; meats were juicy and vegetables were cooked perfect. The flour tortillas were homemade and perfect taco size. Chicken flautas were crispy with a nice helping of shredded lettuce and cream sauce atop. We both enjoyed the refried beans and rice. Although my only complaint would be a bit more seasoning as I did use salt. Service was friendly, swift and efficient. The restaurant was tidy and clean. Definitely an easy laid back vibe. Can't wait for our next visit; I eyed the chicken nachos and they looked divine!

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Tres Amigos Taqueria
Tres Amigos Taqueria - Vegetable quesadilla

Vegetable quesadilla

Tres Amigos Taqueria

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Cantina Laredo - Strawberry Margarita and Grilled Chicken Fajita

Cantina Laredo

3.6(475 reviews)
6.5 mi
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It was pretty good. The skirt steak tacos were fresh. I…read moreknow this is nit picking but I really dislike when restaurants use par boiled rice. I loveeee Spanish rice but using parboiled rice ruins it.

I stopped here for lunch on a Saturday, and the place was not busy. My first thought when I walked…read morein, was that they decorated beautifully for Christmas, but the place looked like a generic American restaurant, and not a Mexican one. For what they had to work with though, the place did look lovely with all of the decorations! The hostess was warm and welcoming, and after she seated us in a booth, our server, Andre, came up to us and asked if we would like a beverage. Andre was highly attentive during our stay, yet also gave us the time and respect to make menu choices and eat our appetizer before we ordered our meal. Andre made the guacamole tableside, asking if we were OK with all of the ingredients, which we were happy to include. I love that the guacamole was fresh and plentiful. The chips were light and fresh! (Andre was always great in asking if we'd like more chips, drink, etc.) I ordered off their plant-based menu which is all vegan! I had a hard time deciding, but finally chose their Impossible bowl. It was delicious! I wish I lived in the area and could come back and try another dish, but sadly my vacation is almost over. Thank you for having a vegan menu with so many great options! I truly appreciate it.

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Cantina Laredo - Inside

Inside

Cantina Laredo - Grilled Chicken Fajita

Grilled Chicken Fajita

Cantina Laredo - Margherita

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Margherita

Mr Tequila - My Fajita plate

Mr Tequila

3.9(35 reviews)
9.9 mi

Was in Florida visiting was told about this spot. Came with my husband and two daughters my inlaws…read moreand my brother in law. Was seated promptly it wasn't too busy which was good. My 9 year old was happy because there was grilled cheese on the kids menu. I ordered a burrito it was so big I took half home and ate it the next day. They brought chips with salsa to the table . I had a margarita it was pretty strong as I only had one. My husband and daughter ordered the same. my brother n paw is only 20 years old. He ordered a virgin mango margarita a large it was like 100oz someone ordered a chicken quesadilla. Food was delicious waitress attentive would come again

The food was absolutely delicious, I ordered the Taco Salad Bowl and I've had this in other places…read morebut this was amazing because instead of having the beans, guacamole, sour cream etc. on the side it was with the lettuce in the bowl, all of it . It was the best Taco Salad Bowl I have ever tasted. I will definitely come back to this Mr. Tequila again. My husband had the Chicken and Steak Fajitas and he said he totally enjoyed it, it was very tasty. The service was wonderful and our waiter was so nice and friendly. The ambiance was really extremely pleasant, even the pictures on the tables were so much more pleasant than most of the other Mr. Tequilas I have eaten at, this decor was so nice and this particular one was definitely very family friendly. We can't wait to go back to this one again. Loved it

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Mr Tequila - Host stand with hosts

Host stand with hosts

Mr Tequila
Mr Tequila - Inside dining area

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Inside dining area

El Local - mexican - Updated October 2026

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