Came in around lunch time and was surprised that there weren't many people there. My waiter was very nice and helpful, I asked about the birria tacos and he said that they were a 10/10... I disagree. The meat was very flavorful and the consumè was some of the best that I've had but the tortillas itself tasted as if it had been fried which I'm not a fan of... change that and you might get a 10/10 The cheese was mid and the rice wasn't something I would come back for. read more

See all

We had hesitated to visit EM because of the negative comments that had circulated, however, a co-worker's event forced the visit. Food is prepared quickly, but bland. Mixed drinks struggled. Prices are what one would expect, no surprises. Liked having three distinct dining zones (outside being one of them) to choose from. The interior not only needs to be decluttered, but repainted; bathrooms need more attention. Up to this point, EM aligns with its peers, however, their FOH staff struggled! They had ample headcount but lacked the necessary skills...shame on their "Leadership". Verdict: fear not, yet maintain lowered expectations or a glass half full point of view. read more

I usually get a takeout order, and everything is packaged neatly so nothing spills out. My favorites are the taco salad with beef and the chicken quesadilla. The portions are very generous! They also include chips with excellent salsa with your meal! I will definitely be back! read more

Solid but totally predictable standard Mexican food, prepared by Ecuadorians. This is the same plateful of enchiladas or tacos you can get at a thousand other Mexican places in the US -- although a bit better than most because they are always quick with the bowl of chips and salsa, service is usually attentive (if not always fully fluent in English), and they have a full bar. The fajitas are quite good, served on a sizzling plate; some of the more obscure dishes on the menu suck, but stick with the usual and you will do okay. read more

Good service but the food was some of the worst Mexican food I have ever had. Even the left overs ended up in the trash, with a house full of teens!! read more

it has gone downhill so bad and a order of tacos hard shell with ground beef it's gonna run you 950$ read more

El Mariachi - There was maybe a tablespoon of meat in there a lot of taco shell barely no food in it 9.50$ - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, Virginia

See all

Has to be the best Mexican restaurant I've been to excellent service and food but DO NOT GO TO THE LOVINGSTON LOCATION

Delicious dishes, friendly and fast service. I had no expectations going in but left thinking this is better than any Mexican food I've found in Richmond, VA, where we live! Enough for a meal and then some. Leftovers tasted even better! read more

I love beer by the pitcher and theirs is ice cold perfection. The Enchiladas Rancheros and the Fajitas are both really good too. Nice family atmosphere, tons of parking, easy WC access. read more

Since COVID we haven't eaten in restaurants but have always enjoyed eating here. The food has always met or exceeded our expectations in presentation and flavor. The prices are also comparable with the serving size portions. Although we aren't currently eating inside, we still partake in their carry out service. read more

We love this local place. The food is good, reasonably priced and consistent! The staff is helpful and the place is always clean. It doesn't matter if the place is empty or crowded, your food is quick and always fresh! read more

Riddle me this: why is it that (nearly) all of the local Mexican restaurants lack the "pizzazz" associated with Mexican food? The recently-opened El Mariachi, run by the same crew from Lynchburg's La Herradura, brings Mexican food to Amherst. The restaurant occupies the former space of Pappy's, a grease-laden dive that had grown long in the tooth. The owners have done a commendable job in renovating the building - the façade, now clad in red brick and dark green metal roofing, resembles the rest of the buildings in this shopping center, and the once-dark and dingy interior is now bright and clean. Patrons can choose to sit in the bar area or among booths and tables in the main dining room. There's even a small patio area for those who can tolerate steam room-like July weather. Unfortunately, the restaurant's menu reads just like (insert any local area Mexican restaurant name here) and the kitchen turns out uninspired and bland-tasting food just like (insert any local area Mexican restaurant name here). It's better than the horrible slop at La Carreta, but that's setting the bar pretty low. Chips are crisp, but don't have any perceptible texture or flavor. The accompanying salsa has a nice jalapeño kick (there's a disclaimer that the restaurant sources those peppers from farmers in Georgia, so don't worry about salmonella - BTW, nice work FDA!) but the consistency of the stuff is like tomato paste. Meat and vegetables in the fajitas are nicely caramelized, but there's little flavor. Ditto the carne asada. It would really behoove the kitchen to marinate the meat and/or season it with the appropriate spices and herbs. And how about some pico de gallo (what are we to do with that slice of tomato?), fresh guacamole (not the chemical-tasting, runny and strange, green-hued glop from the Sysco truck) and house-made flour tortillas? As with most new restaurants, the kitchen and staff are still coming up to speed. That means some long waits before the food arrives. Also, the Commonwealth has not yet issued the license to sell beer, wine and booze, although we understand that the approval is days away. Time, clearly, will soon fix these issues. The staff at El Mariachi is very friendly and considerate, and seems genuinely grateful for the diners who have already patronized the restaurant since its soft-launch. Indeed, local taste buds have embraced the bold flavors and seasonings of certain ethnic food, as evidenced by the success of Thai Siam, Thai '99 and Machu Picchu. Curiously, however, our Mexican restaurants are laggards, opting instead to play it safe with Taco Bell-esque selections (excepting for the now-defunct La Plaza Allegre and its sibling, Los Chipotles). We're not expecting Rick Bayless here. And we don't care about Mexican / Tex-Mex / Southwest semantics. Just start cooking Mexican with some umph! read more

My family ordered their food and their meet was not cooked all the way. The color red was apparent in every dish and when we told and showed them, the cook said that it was cooked all the way when their own waitress agreed that it was not cooked all the way. We almost got sick...crazy. read more

Good food, servers are nice but not the most fluent in English. Seating and ambiance is ok. Clean restrooms.

Simply amazing. The cammarones diablos were spicy and delicious. Definately Ryan this place!

Stopped in hear for lunch on my way back from Red Hill VA. Food was good, but not great. Salsa almost looked and taste like spaghetti sauce. All in all it was good I'd eat hear for lunch again, but would look for another place for supper. read more

Coming from San Diego I will say this place does make good Mexican food but not too tasty. They have all the right plates on the menu but not the taste. read more

Good place to go in Amherst for mexican if you can't be bothered to go to La Carreta. Staff is friendly and the food is good. It didn't start out that great but I over the past year or two it has gotten much better. The portions have increased and the prices have stayed relatively the same. Food also can be spicy at times but I prefer this over the blandness it had at first. All in all good place to go during anytime of the day but can be a little crowded on the weekend. read more

This Mexican restaurant had the worst Mexican food that I have ever eaten. I do not consider myself a perfectionist about food ain any way. I have gone to Mexican restaurants throughout the country, and a number of them have served excellent Mexican food. At El Mariachi, the tacos were bland, and the queso dip was watery and not thick like it should be. Although this restaurant was beautifully decorated, the owner should ensure that the food is improved enough that people will recommend El Mariachi. Even if better quality ingredients were added to the food and they caused the menu prices to rise slightly, that may be what this restaurants needs to become a successful restaurant. read more

Standard fare, priced right. Lunch specials are a great value and the service is excellent.

I'm writing this for my brother who lives in Amherst. After seeing the 2 star reviews, we had to respond. "The people who run this and the waitstaff are very friendly. They create a warm atmosphere, and I always feel most welcome. With the limited places to eat in Amherst including two fast food restaurants, this is a welcome change. They create an authentic Mexican menu. Their fajitas are very good. Their rice and shrimp dish (arroz con carmaron) is excellent. I definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area." read more

Part of me thinks Taco Bell has more pizzazz than this place, though it's not horrible.

I eat lunch here often chips an salsa is always good. Usually have the lunch beef fajitas. Sometimes have texan fajitas which has chicken an shrimp. Also the enchilada rancheras an burrito mexicanos are good dishes to. read more

The service here is very quick. Chips and salsa were fresh and the salsa was just hot enough without being too hot. Enchiladas and tacos were delicious! Very reasonably priced menu. Only thing not great was the waitress who could've been friendlier, maybe she just wasn't having a good day!? Other than that, can't wait to be back in the area to visit again!! read more

It was a very outstanding resurant and food. Theme backround and set up beautiful...almost felt i was in Mexico city eating. Also presentation of food was fantastic and and taste" AWESOME" read more

Great vegetarian options & quick service! Perfect little place in the Town of Amherst!

I have to adfmit I am baffled by the above reviews...I travel to Cuernavaca every year and have been going to Mexico for thirty years, and I can attest that, other than some regional differences and a bit of "Americanization" (such as meat sauce on the tamales), this is about as authentic as you will get in a foreign land. I teach Spanish at the local High school and am a huge fan of this restarant, both becasue of the nice people running it and the classy way they are presentling a foreign culture, and because of the delicious food. The owners are from Equador and some of the waitstaff are from Mexico. They own two Mexican restaurants in the neighboring towns of Altavista and Bedford (Moneta) called "El Cazador" and will be opening a NEW "El Mariachi" in downtown Lynchburg (at the market) in late March 2011. They have a huge fan base (just do a Google search on the Altavista and Chatham (run by a family member) restaurants. On Saturdays they do NOT take an afternoon siesta so you can go all day long! The menu is a mixture of classic Mexican dishes with a few regional specialties (such as a classic 'Jalisco Special" which buries a tamale under a circle of salad ingredients and includes two taquitos). This menu is not "Tex-Mexed", which means really hot with chilis...but then, in Mexico it is not overly picante...YOU add the spice with the salsas! Sometimes in Mexico a Mole sauce (a chocolate spiced sauce for pork or chicken) can be very hot, bu the restaurants will always warn of this on the menu. Let's face it, if a Mexican restaurant did NOT Americanize the foods somewhat they would not do much business! Just as our pizzas don't resemble ANY pizza I've ever had in Italy and our "chinese" food bears no resemblence to any I've eaten in Hong Kong, it would be unfair to complain that the food is not hotter or spicier...after all, they must provide service to a population who does NOT overly spice their food! Back to why I like this restaurant: Pros: -The nicest Mexican ambiance in central Va: new and clean, uncluttered, pretty murals, QUIET, with enuf privacy to actually have an intimate conversation... muted light at night that gives a calming atmosphere; separate full-service bar. -two muted flat-screens in the corners for diners who must eat alone- having something to watch on the wall will make you less lonely or aware of being alone -Nice, well-rounded menu with a few spicy elements (ask the staff to help in your decision). They caramelize the shrinp and chicken really well- try the Ensalada Fiesta for a great salad with shrimp and chicken, or the Quesadilla Texana, a delightful folded-over quesadilla with the fillings of a chicken & shrimp fajita but with a delicious cheese sauce. Another classic is the Tacos del Pastor, soft tacos filled with marianated and roasted pork that you spice up or down with pico de gallo, a bowl of truly HOT salsa, rice, beans and Crema (sour cream). THAT will give you a true taste of a Mexican classic! - true Mexican cervezas (beer) and refrescos (sodas) from fruit...try the pinapple drink...light and delicious. The coffee is FANTASTIC... rich and not too roasted...the best coffee around. -on Tuedays they have Margaritas for $1.50....try the peach margarita! Cons: -They close from 2 until 5 on weekdays for siesta....if they were open after school I think they'd be surprised how much business they could get from the high school across the street. They do, however, stay open all day on weekends. -I can think of no other cons...do you get the impression that I think you should at least TRY this restaurant?? Say hello to Gerardo, the manager for me! read more

Tasty food, excellent prices, great service. Not fine dining, but certainly better than most area Mexican restaurants.

We just ordered takeout from here and when we got home and started eating, we realized that both dishes that had beef were under-cooked. Some of the beef was still pink, but there were other chunks that were almost completely raw! I called them and informed the manager of this, but I was told I had to drive back and return the food to get a refund or another dish. We did not want to drive all the way back to the restaurant, so we told the manger to forget it and we won't be doing business there anymore. His reply....a very nonchalant, "okay, thank you." Eat here if you want to eat almost raw and under-cooked beef. read more

Fast, friendly service. Bland salsa, stale chips. Grilled shrimp in salad were grilled to perfection, but could have used a dressing or side of guacamole. Kids enjoyed their burrito/taco combo, but felt meat should have been seasoned. Verde Burrito - sauce was good but meat was flavorless. read more

I loved it! Maybe they've improved since the last review?? Place was clean and nicely decorated. Service was great as well as prices. Would definately eat there again. read more

Not sure what Victor and Mike were wanting but Amherst's El Mariachi is by far my favorite Mexican Restaurant. If anyone knew what the building was like when Pappy's left it, it's amazing what a good job the current owners did with the renovation. Actually it's just amazing that they could get rid of all the greasy residue that was on pretty much everything. It's clean, bright and cheery. The wait staff is always nice and efficient. The food is very good - my favorite is the chicken fajita. I'm really looking forward to going to their new location in downtown Lynchburg as that is the area where I am employed. read more

I eat here occasionally because it is local, cheap and friendly. The Mexican food is nothing special. Just like every other Mexican place in Amherst, it is lacking in flavor. read more

My family and I went to this Mexican rest. On 10/09/2009, after reading reviews I was a little skeptical on going here. When we got there we were greeted with respect and friendliness, and as soon as we sat down we rcvd our chips and salsa (DELICIOUS SALSA!!! CAN TELL IT IS HOMEMADE!) and the nice and attractive waiter came up and gave us outstanding service. I must say I have been to all the Mexican places around Lynchburg and Charlottesville and this is the best by far, 200% better than ALL the La Carreta's, and Guadalajara's. The guacamole and cheese dip are the best, and you can tell that everything there is extremely fresh and def. homemade. Also, and they do have a full bar, I will go back without a doubt and take everyone I know! Prices are great as well! read more

I was really surprised to see the other 2 reviews here. I really LIKE this place! I like La Carreta, too...but actually think that here has more flavor to their dishes. The staff is very attentive and I've never waited more than a few minutes for my food. The price s are very good and the restaurant itself is clean and inviting. So that said...not sure why these other 2 are so negative :( read more

We eat here once a week or so. We think this is the best Mexican restaurant north of Texas. It is generally quiet and relaxing. The service is usually fast and friendly. The prices are good and the restaurant is clean. I would call the food more Tex-Mex than Mexican, but it is good. The salsa is made in house and varies in taste from time to time but is generally good. Not always as hot as some, but good. For price, service and taste, I would recommend it. read more

Easily the worst Mexican food I've ever had. The chips were borderline stale. We received one basket for a table of 5 and requested a refill that never came (they were pretty terrible, but we were starving). It was only about a 5 minute wait before our dinner was brought to the table, so we just let the chip thing go. All of the plates were HOT - like fresh out of a microwave hot - including the children's plates. My order was wrong. I received two meals instead of the side item ordered. We still had to pay for that additional plate. Even with the extra food, we left hungry, because it was inedible. The "chile relleno" was a 1"X1" tiny piece of square pepper skin with some sort of white meat sauce on top (not cheesy at all). The chimichangas were not sealed. The enchilada and burrito meat was bland, and the sauce tasted like the average can you can pick up at Walmart. There is so much more I could say about this experience, such as how the staff never comes to the table to check on you, but you'd probably doze off before I could finish listing off the many problems in this establishment. We're not from the area, but should we ever return, we'll stay far away from El Mariachi. read more