I love this place!! As a native Texan and frequent Mexico vacationer this is my go to place when I'm jonesing for some yummy Latin comfort food. It's so good. I love the shrimp a la mexicana, the carne asada is also super delish. Of course you can't go wrong with enchiladas or a chimichanga. It's all super yum. It's perfect for a low key date night with the hubs or quick weekday takeout. You go here for the food not for the looks. But once inside you'll know it's legit. Full bar so you can have beer or any other libation you want. I tend to get a horchata cause I mean why not!?!? Anywho, it's next to Golden Corral in the strip center next to the drive through. It's understated. It's authentic. It's delicious. You're welcome. read more

Disguisting. Very dirty i saw roaches in the bathrooms and they dont clean the tables. The waitress and waiters are very rude and they overcharged me and stole money from my card. I recoomend you stay far away from this chum bucket. read more

El Mariachi - Roaches smh - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We ordered delivery of a chicken quesadilla, two tacos and the chimichanga. The quesadilla was huge. We shared it after unfolding it from the box. The tacos were chorizo and a chicken item. They had cilantro and onions. The chimichanga lunch special had retried beans and rice. The rice was some of the best I've had in town. The chimichanga had a golden crispy shell and gooey cheese and chicken inside that was still warm. A delightful lunch. read more

My Wife and I decided to order from this restaurant for the first time. Let me just start with this. The queso appetizer we order for 13 dollars, literally looked like shredded cheese from the grocery store. It came with a scorched top and it was unmelted underneath. You could still see all the individual shredded pieces of cheese. I called the store and I said exactly this "Is your queso literally just shredded cheese?" They said "yes it is, that's how we make our queso"..... So if you want half a bag of shredded cheese from ShopRite and charged 13 dollars for it, order from this lovely restaurant. I could go on and on about the rest of the food, but I think this speaks volumes. STAY AWAY!! read more

This place has great micheladas and the pupusas, and fajitas were delicious. Also, their customer service is amazing. The waitresses were very friendly and attentive. I had a great time at this location and recommend it to all. Mexican beers are 3.75, freakn still. Otra cubeta por favor. read more

I've been back to El Mariachi three times now, and they have always been consistently good. My last trip back was with Melanie B., and you can see many of the details in her review. A couple of things to add: I don't think the tortillas were as much "soggy" as just soft. (Soggy to me seems "wet".. these weren't wet.. just not the same as I'm used to.. still awesome tacos though!) I got the carne asada and chorizo tacos, Mexican-style with a side of pico de gallo. They were damn tasty. The chile relleno is good(ish), but I prefer the ones I make at home. It seems like they were better previously, and I also definitely prefer them without sour cream. But, they are really good about taking orders the way that you want--ordering Mexican-style tacos, for instance, instead of the American-style that are listed on the menu--so I'm sure they would definitely do a chile relleno to my specs if I asked. We also got a bowl of limes delivered for our beer without even having to ask. Love. My gringa palate is pretty okay with the tamales--they aren't as good as the ones I had in Mexico proper, for sure, but I've noticed a lot of American tamales have a weird, funky flavor (from the Americanized masa, I guess?) that these are delightfully lacking--the masa just tastes like corn. They are not quite as moist, but they are also not all dried out, either, as I have experienced in some places. Until I can get back to Mexico, El Mariachi will do; definitely the best tamales I've had thus far in Columbus. (Also, regarding other reviews--I don't normally like to comment on other reviews, but if you go to a Mexican joint and order burritos and American-style tacos, don't be shocked when it's not as good as it could be. This isn't the kind of food that Mexican people eat in Mexico, so it makes sense that it would be less good than traditional Mexican offerings.) read more

My boyfriend and I happened across this restaurant as we were driving through the Whitehall area today. At first glance, this restaurant looks like a "hole-in-the-wall" strip mall restaurant. But the inside was surprisingly roomie and colorful. The place had a rather sizeable bar and plenty of seating. We were promptly greeted by our server and offered homemade tortilla chips with two very interesting dips. One was a salsa, with a very strong cilantro and lime flavor intially, but with a very bland finish. The second was a spicier red sauce, which was also a little lacking full flavor. However, the two mixed together weren't bad. The menu is fairly extensive, with over 100 items from which to choose. My boyfriend chose the Burrito Mariachi with shredded chicken, and I chose a combination platter, which consisted of refried beans, mexican rice, one soft taco, one enchilada, and one tamale. I also added a chile relleno from the a la carte menu. All-in-all, the flavors were "okay." Nothing wow'ed me, but nothing was bad either. His burrito and my taco were basically the same ingredients and flavors. The tamale needed salt. The enchilada was identical to the burrito and taco, sans the lettuce and tomato. The chile relleno was decent, but again, seemed like it needed SOMETHING to make the flavor really pop. The prices were totally reasonable, with the most expensive thing on the menu being just slightly over $10. The place was clean, including the restroom. Overall, I gave this 2 of 5 stars, because it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. I have definitely had better, and I most definitely wouldn't make a trip across town just to eat here again. read more

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I should have known by the prime Whitehall location and being rght across the street froom Mi Mexico that I went to last week it couldn't be that great. It's in a whole little mexican area next to a mexican supermarket so I was hoping for authentic food. Maybe that was my problem, that it was too authentic. For starters very cheesy interior, clean but just very cheap and broke looking. Speaking of cheap, the most expensive thing on the menu was $9 and that was fajitas, the rest of the meals wer e between $4-6! Crazy cheap, so I knew I could ordder one of everything like usual and be out of there with the than $20 spent and that for 3 people! We got the fajitas with steak, pretty bland, nothing special. The chicken fajita salad also actually sizzled and the chicken was good but still in all lacked flavor even though it had so many componenets to it. Then we got pretty adventurous since we didn't understand most of the meats and got one of each, chorizo was pretty greasy, the other meats we couldn't identify, when I asked the waiters what it was he said it was kinda like steak and the other a bit like chicken. Hmmm... ok well we had burrito, enchilada, tostada, and taco with strange meats that were kind of scary to eat and none tasted quite right. The service was nice and fast and we walked out paying $16, still not enough to get me to go back here. read more

El Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Love this place! We always have a great customer service experience going here and we are never dissatisfied with the quality and taste of the food that is prepared here. The staff are all so nice even though the obvious language barrier which keeps us from at times speaking as effectively as we would like. I highly recommend this place and you must try it at least once. You will not be disappointed read more

this little spot is on main street, close to Golden corral. in the past, when I would dine in. the menu seemed to be mostly text mex. this week however I got a different to me menu. it had a variety of delicious sounding Latin dishes. I had a chickcharone appetizer and a bowl of beef soup . both were very delicious . read more

Food was acceptable, service good. Went intending to use Buy One Get One Free Entertainment coupon, good till year's end. Laid coupon on table where highly visible. Mentioned to server we had a coupon. When she brought the check, she examined the coupon critically, leaving for the kitchen. She returned, saying manager would not accept it. I asked for manager. Server returned to kitchen twice, coming back saying he'd left. I asked for whoever in charge. Server left again then said they'd honor only 20% off and no one would come out to talk to me. It wasn't posted on the menu or dining room that Entertainment coupons not accepted. Server said they only take coupons from the back of shopping receipts. I have been to restaurants with different management/owners but they state on the menu that no coupons are accepted. Will never return. Also, take cash; they add a 3% surcharge if you use a credit card! Boo hiss. read more

Authentic, good, fast Latin American food, mostly Mexican. You will find tongue and tripe and posole on the menu. And plenty of cheesy music in the legitimate jukebox. And Spanish soap operas and other movies on the TV. What is important is that the food is good, plentiful, quick, and comes easily with a Latin American beer. The people are absolutely amazing. I just had one person notice I was dining alone at the far end of the bar with a book and they specifically introduce themself to me. It was simply because he wanted to make sure I didn't feel ostracized as the only non-Latin person in the place. I thought it was very well spoken for the entire environment. Good people good new friends! read more

Super fantastic Authentic Mexican food. We sat at bar and had queso fresco, guacamole and Nachos. They have both American and Mexican versions. We had chicken instead of beef. There was just enough for two to be satisfied for a late night dinner. Both of the girls that waited on us were super sweet. Can't wait to go back and try the street tacos that I saw someone else having. read more

Literally 10 other places better near by just go there instead. Very disappointing over all. Long wait with zero people inside and order was still won't. I hate leaving bad reviews, this is why I gave them an extra star, honestly should be a 1 star. You've been warned. read more

El Mariachi - So this is what "no onions" looks like. Only said it 3 times. And only took 20 minutes to get wrong tacos. Yup, so D minus. - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

When I moved out to the East Side, a couple of different people told me "You need to go to El Mariachi." It went into my mental rolodex, but I kept having other places to go, or other things I wanted to try. Boy, that was dumb. From out ward appearances, this place isn't much - tucked next to a bodega (which they operate) and an auto shop, it's a hole in the wall that looks a lot like a "Restaurant in a box" place. Appearances are deceiving, though, especially if you come in on a weekend. You can get all the "usual" things here - Chile rellenos, tacos, tamales, and they're all good. But explore the menu and you start finding Ceviche, birria, menudo? Pozole? Many of them are only available on weekends, but it's worth the wait! These are labor of love dishes, and from the flavor and quality, there's a lot of love in there to enjoy. So, seriously. You need to go to El Mariachi. Don't wait. read more

Authentic!!! Great cheap tacos. You are always better off at a small taqueria like this around columbus than at any large mexican restaurant or chain where you only get comida gringo. I will be back whenever in the neighborhood for the taco lengua. read more

So, a friend and I took a trip to El Mariachi after getting a fantastic $10 off coupon, and what we experienced was pretty great! The atmosphere was really authentic, and you could tell who the regulars were: all crowding around the bar, watching soccer and drinking beer. We looked a little out of place, but it was a fun environment! Since I'm a vegetarian, I usually have to stick to chips, guacamole, beans, and rice. But I thought that El Mariachi had a great selection for non-meat eaters! I had a delicious veggie torta, and my friend had a chicken plate. He said he'd had better at other places since the chicken wasn't seasoned perfectly, but both our meals were fantastic at the price. The chips were also nice and thick, and the salsa options (one super spicy, one sweet) were pretty good. I did wish there was a nice mild version though! All in all, this was a fun experience and I'd recommend it to people looking for some cheap, quality Mexican food. read more

This is my favorite spot for authentic Mexican tacos. The prices are reasonable too. Staff is nice and place is clean.

Me gusta todo su menú Limpieza y muy buen servicio. I Love all food The aré in The Manu Nice and cleand. Good services. read more

I ate here tonight with a group from church. Food was good - I thought the steak was a bit overcooked for my taste but still good. Service was good though a bit of a language barrier but nothing too bad - and she was very good and very attentive- food came out quickly and restaurant very clean - I will return and would recommend to others read more

It was too cold for a taco truck this evening, and in need of both tacos and adult beverages, Susan R. and I headed over to Whitehall to El Mariachi instead of braving the elements. Once someone (Susie!) says the word taco (yeah yeah), I pretty much can't be stopped from needing authentic Mexican food STAT. And El Mariachi does a pretty good job. I love hole in the wall ethnic eateries, and El Mariachi is no exception. There was no one in here tonight except some dudes at the bar, so we took the opportunity to sit in the VERY MIDDLE of the restaurant. ;) I don't know if we just came at a strange time (Monday night, 830pm?), or what, but I hope this lil joint does good business, because their food and service is certainly worth it. And of course, the hole in the wall vibe means that it's all about the food and service, no pretension or b.s. Our server (the bartender) immediately brought us chips and two different salsas. I liked the cilantro one best, but both were very good. The chips were okay - I thought they could have used a bit of salt (but then again, what CAN'T?!), and could have been a bit thinner, but that's pretty nit-picky of me about free chips, so I'll just stfu. We ordered a bunch of stuff... I got a chorizo torta and two tamales, and Susie got two pork (I think?) tacos, a tamale, and a chile rellano. The thing I really like about this place is that unless you're ordering a plate or combo, it's pretty much like being in a table-service taco truck, with items a la carte. An excellent option for a 30-degree March night. The torta was fantastic - made on the proper Mexican bread, unlike that stupid bread you get at Junior's in the white middle class neighborhood (stuff white people like: Americanized Mexican Food, blech). I could seriously eat tortas all day and night, and this one was one of the better ones I've had in Cbus. I thought the tamales were just okay - a bit dry - but then when you have someone's Mexican momma sending you homemade ones, you get a bit spoiled. I also tried Susie's taco (yeah yeah) and was pretty impressed. The tortillas were a bit soggy for my liking, and I do think La Michoacana does a better job, but that was just based on this one experience. The filling was delicious, especially since she ordered them Mexican style (with cilantro and onion instead of lettuce and tomato - lame-o Americanization!). I didn't try the chile rellano, but Susie said it was delish. I do wonder about the sour cream all over it, though. Hmm. I'd definitely try it and ask for it sans dairy. We both had two beers (Tecate for me, Pacifico for S.) and hung out chatting forever. Our server was really nice and didn't try to push us out, even though it was a slow night. He interjected perfectly and was attentive without hovering. Perfect. I'd recommend El Mariachi as your winter Mexican food destination. I'm still a big fan of La Michoacana and the taco trucks clustered on West Broad and Georgesville Road, but this lil joint is certainly right up there. read more

Pretty good food, good prices, clean restaurant , fast polite service. I have no complaints. I definitely recommend.

Food here is horrible! This place gives us Latin people a bad name. Placed an order to go and relized they got our order wrong once we got home. We were willing to let it go and eat the food anyways but it was disgusting. I went back and told them they got the order wrong and that I would just like a refund. The lady from the kitchen came out and told me that I ordered the wrong thing when I had a receipt to prove it. I asked her again for a refund but she told me she can remake the order again and I told her again that i would just like a refund because we tried the food and we did not like it. She was very rude and very unprofessional and told me that no one had ever said that about her food which is clearly a lie if you read some of the reviews. She told me that I had nothing better to do. Not only did they get my order wrong had me drive all the way back home to find that out, the food was horrible and she was very nasty! Will never go back to this place and I'm not sure how they are still in business! read more

I love this place!! I always get the Tacos Lingua and a enchilada. Very authentic Mexican Food, with great staff. I was asking one of the family if the oysters were good, and bam he sent over a dozen and wouldn't charge me. I always am treated like a family member. If you want the real thing, try this place! Hank W read more

This place puts all the cookie cutter Mexican joints in this city to shame. I've gone here over five times in the past two months and it has always been great on each visit. They also prepare weekend only specials so we just had to go on a Saturday for the goat stew. So glad we did, my goodness it was truly amazing and definitely the most authentic Mexican fare I've experienced in Columbus. Extra stars for serving Bohemia beer! read more

I have lived in the area for 15 years and tonight was my first visit. Don't wait that long to check it out! !! True Mexican food! Hands down, best Mexican in eastern Cbus! If you like Tacoriendo, this is so much better! Also, shouldn't go there hungry, because the wait for food is a bit long. Not because it's busy, just slow service. English is the 2nd language at this restaurant. So if you're uncomfortable with that, just don't go. read more

This place is the most Mexican authentic restaurant I have been to in Ohio amazing food amazing service

Absolutely terrible, Some bad salsa, greasy chips. Televisions loudly blaring some Mexican station playing who knows what, we expected music. The food was awful and tasteless except for the mole which was almost like Hershey's chocolate syrup. I would never return and advise you not to go! read more

My husband and I tried this place because we had an Entertainment coupon. Even at full price, it was well worth the money. The salsa they served with the chips was quite spicy, yummy! I had the Platillo de Birria (goat meat served with guacamole, rice, refried beans, and tortillas - Saturdays only) and my husband had the Steak Tacos Especial. Both were delicious, authentic Mexican food. Our server was friendly and attentive. It's tucked back from Main Street in a small strip mall, so you might miss it if you weren't looking for it. We plan on coming back. read more