If you're looking for authentic Mexican vibes, El Mariachi delivers. The decor, music, and overall energy create a festive and welcoming atmosphere. The staff were friendly and attentive, adding to the positive experience. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. The margaritas were a highlight -- strong, refreshing, and well-balanced. However, not everything hit the mark. The grande chicharrones were a bit dried out, and the birria tacos were a letdown -- they came out soggy, with cheese simply dropped on top rather than melted in. Not ideal for such a signature dish. Still, the overall experience was enjoyable enough that we returned two days later for happy hour (which is why we gave it a four because three dollar margaritas are amazing) -- and we were glad we did. El Mariachi has great potential, especially if they tighten up a few dishes. read more

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Decent but highly overrated Mexican restaurant in NE Louisville. Decent sized for being in a small strip mall. Service was good. Chips and salsa were decent. Menu seemed like typical Midwest Mexican menu. They did have birria options but mostly ground beef or chicken. NO COMBO PLATTERS for dinner! That's right. No taco and enchilada option. Various options of getting meats covered in queso with a side of tortillas but missing the basics. The hype reviews led to it sort of being a let down. I can't believe this is as good as it gets here. Again, it was fine but... read more

Cute restaurant. This is my first time in here as this location over the years has rotated Mexican establishments. I already know where the bomb Mexican food is in town so I just never tried this iteration, even though it's a mile from home. But after a movie, this is where my friend suggested. She loves this place. The decor and vibe is on point for Louisville Mexican food. Service was quick and pleasant. Chips and salsa... because you know how important this is. The chips were hard and dark like they'd been in the warming drawer a long time or were double fried. Not stale just really thick and overly crunchy, but not horrible, but not great. The salsa was good. Only one salsa was offered. I feel like she had two kinds in her hands and only left us one kind. If there were two, I'm betting the other was hotter and I would have loved to try it. The menu is large but not overwhelming. I ended up with a chimichanga. Ground beef and had them put the rice and beans side into my burrito before they fried it. Great choice on my part. I totally forgot or didn't notice that they pour queso over the top of the chimichanga to serve it. All that does is make the chimichanga soggy and effectively just a burrito. So I will check next time to make sure I get the queso on the side. The chimichanga was put together perfectly and was exactly what I wanted it to taste like. Good job to the kitchen! My friend got some kind of fiesta grill meal with all I can remember was that she had shrimp on her plate and it looked gorgeous and she really enjoyed it. She said it's her go to! The meal was inexpensive and quick to pay at the table. I didn't get the servers name, but she really was attentive and pleasant. I'll come back and try something else another day too. We were so busy talking, i forgot to get any pictures! read more

Food had a great flavor and the price is right! My burrito was a little cool and it was difficult to get my check, but I'll definitely be back. Probably for takeout though. read more

Nice atmosphere with great authentic decore. Not sure what I was expecting being from Chicago the capital of food but very pleasantly surprised the food had flavor and authenticity service was attentive inclusive of manager coming to the table to make sure everything was served to our satisfaction. If ever back in Louisville will visit again. read more

El Mariachi - Gordita with al pastor Sope de asada - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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The food, service, and atmosphere here is all top notch for a Mexican restaurant. The prices are very reasonable. Always happy to have my business here. read more

El Mariachi - Fajita Guanajuato - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Great food, great service, beautiful locale. We visited from out of town and were delighted to find this gem. The food is delicious and authentic. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for good food in a beautiful location. read more

El Mariachi - Tacos, from top to bottom barbacoa, barbacoa, rajas and queso. - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

It looked authentic, so we gave El Mariachi a shot While we're still adjusting to Louisville "style" Mexican food compared to "Tex-Amex" we really enjoyed our meal. El Mariachi Is the real deal. We started with the usual chips & salsa. Great salsa, but the chips are on the heavy side. We prefer them lighter (thinner). FYI, you get one bowl of chips & salsa complementary, then, your charged for refills (so says the menu). My wife ordered Gorditas. A thick corn tortilla "sandwich stuffed with shredded chicken and another with shredded pork. I preferred the pork, it was more moist. The tortillas had the consistency of a tamale. (Do they have those in Louisville?). I ordered chicken fajitas for one. A huge serving of grilled chicken with grilled red & green bell peppers and grilled onions. Better yet, the food was actually served on a sizzling hot skillet. The chicken came with 4 tortillas (you get to choose corn or flour), and a plate with lettuce, pico de Gallo, guacamole, rice and refried beans. Again, boracho or black beans aren't available. The fajitas were excellent. We'll seasoned. Not over cooked. Not swimming in grease. We'd come back pronto! read more

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Food is great, service is friendly. Don't not use online ordering, some of the items i ordered were not on the order at pick up.

This place is honestly a hidden gem! My boyfriend and I love doing a date night here! Our server is always amazing, the food is always fantastic and the drinks are perfect! Couldn't recommend this place more! Please show them some love because they are truly 10/10! read more

Great food and really affordable. Ordered two tacos and water. Total was well under $10 and the food was great. The chips and salsa includes three different types of salsa--all very yummy. Looking forward to dining here when I'm next in town. read more

Wonderful hole-in-the-wall restaurant with authentic Mexican food! Not all the staff know English, which means you're getting a great experience to practice your Spanish! (But fret not, if you don't know Spanish!) My family and I walked in and they seated us at a booth. It's not a large place. A good number of booths and tables in here. They show games on the TVs. It's fun in there which gives the place an intimate feel. But it's family-friendly as well. My mom ordered the sopa 7 mares. It's a seafood soup large enough for 2-3 people! It has crab, oysters, shrimp, and much more! It's got a nice kick to it and comes with toasted buttered bread. So yum! My dad got the fried tilapia. He enjoyed the crunch of it! My sister got the large chicken quesadilla. Wow! She was stuffed! It's got flavorful, marinated chicken. I got an asada gordita and tried a taco that had steak and chorizo. Everything was really tasty! I was stuffed! The chips and salsa they give you were homemade, thick chips. The salsa was also fantastic! Prices are bad at all! Pretty cheap stuff! Great staff as well! Friendly and attentive! I'd return again. They also own the grocery, butchery, and bakery on the same strip. Parking isn't hard since they've got a sizeable parking lot. read more

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Great food (and tequilas), with great portions, at great prices! The "new" Fiesta Grill meal is delicious combo of beef, chicken, and shrimp with rice + 4 flour tortillas is enough to feed 2. At $12.99 price (as of 1/8/23) we expected less, but the food was great and portions we'd expect to have paid $20 for anywhere else. read more

El Mariachi - Fiesta Grill meal - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Wonderful food. Ambiance and food reminded of home (California). Service was a little slow but pleasant servers. Will return.

UPDATED REVIEW... First time I've been since they moved around the corner. Service: prompt, very friendly, attentive Atmosphere: Colorful, beautiful murals, plenty of booths, large screen TVs, Mexican music, not too loud Value: big portions for very reasonable price Taste: I had chicken quesadilla. Fresh and plenty of shredded chicken in it. Friend had soft tacos chicken, pork, steak and chorizo. He said very flavorful, plenty of meat in all. Flour Tortilla kind of breaks up, but all in all it was very good. The chips appear handmade. They are very fresh and crunchy. We will definitely be back! read more

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Great place for Mexican food. The margs are fantastic! The service was quick and the staff was very nice. The ambiance is adorable with all the Coco paintings! We loved it and will be back. Portions were also large. read more

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Food was great and lunch specials were a decent value. I will be coming back. Did not appreciate NewsMax playing on both TVs in the front room while I ate. Hoping this isn't usual as I would otherwise put this place into my rotation. read more

I know 5 is bold but I've been 3 times now and every time what we've gotten has been over the top good, quality and taste. Fiesta grill. Enchiladas. .Margaritas ridiculously good read more

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It's been awhile since I was in I am glad to say everything is excellent large portion, full flavored and pleasing presentation. At prices that don't break the bank. read more

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Super authentic, Mexican restaurant. I loved the guacamole & the Gorditas are super! The service was great & fast. My first visit but I will be back. read more

It's a crime this place isn't busier than it is. This is some of the best Mexican food in America. Not Louisville, not Kentucky, America. It's that good. Gorditas. read more

Sooo deliciouso! Atmosphere, comfy seats, excellent authentic Mexican food. Bring fluent in Spanish is a plus. read more

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We were looking for somewhere new to get some Mexican takeout and El Mariachi was the first option we could find. Even on New Year's Eve, they were pretty quick to get our order ready. I had their steak tacos and really enjoyed them! Not to mention they are a large portion. We didn't receive our queso that we ordered but not the end of the world. El Mariachi is a pretty good choice! read more

We tried this place tonight because we wanted something different from our usual rotation. It's located in a strip mall next to a Hispanic grocery store. We got the steak quesadilla, carne taco, pastor taco, chicken sopesito and a margarita - and it was all $25! Everything tasted so authentic. The tacos are on two corn tortillas, the chicken was tender and flavorful, and everything was so on point without trying to do too much. I love restaurants like these that are all about simple ingredients, great flavors and reasonable prices. We're definitely coming back to show our support. read more

Nachos... that's all I wanted, nachos! The Mexican Restaurant I normally visit was closed. I could only find fajita nachos on the menu. So I asked if I could have ground beef nachos. I got exactly that, chips, cheese and ground beef. I guess I should've been more direct with my order. I did get a side of beans. I took two bites of the nachos, paid my tab and left. The chips were extremely salty. What happened to Nachos with ground beef, queso, pico, guacamole, salsa, sour crème, lettuce??!! How does a Mexican restaurant not carry a staple item?! This is my second and last visit. I mean, damn... how hard should it be to get a basic or grande nachos? read more

El Mariachi is legitimate. Upon entry nearly every table was filled. The entire bar was filled with laborers and contractors. The booths were occupied with UPS employees alike. Every TV was in Spanish. I knew in that moment it had to be good. Chips and salsa are complimentary and the salsa is far from bad. The chips were fresh and not stale like at many Mexican eateries. I ordered a very basic chicken enchiladas dish which comes with four rolled tortillas and a side of rice and beans. I also ordered a pastor Gordita. The chicken inside of the enchiladas actually had flavor and was moist! Every time I have ordered enchiladas at other eateries they are dry. I was blown away the amount of food for such little money. The enchiladas were $8.99. The Gordita was $2.99. The Gordita was great, although I would opt for different meat next time. The asada was cut in to tiny pieces. Overall this place is a must. Their seven seas seafood soup looks incredible. It's on the list. Eat here. read more

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In the wise words of my stepdad, "if nobody speaks English then the food must be good". No truer statement for this place. Maybe it's just the times We go but either way, easy 5 stars on quality and taste of food. We have always taken food to go here but I swear one day we will dine in. If you like street tacos and chips and guacamole this is your place! read more

We have visited twice and enjoyed our meal both times. Great, authentic food, clean restaurant and good service. I had the enchiladas and they were delicious! Perfectly seasoned, and the green sauce was amazing! read more

Found this place on yelp and decided to give it a go. The chips and salsa came out first and were delicious, the chips are very dense and had a great snap to them. Dinner came out pretty quickly and looked delicious. My skirt steak was a bit tough for my taste but the portion sizes were HUGE enough for at least two more meals for me. One tip, you do go up to the counter to pay, it was our first time and there was only one waitress so we sat for a while waiting. Overall a good experience. read more

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Great food! Great margs! Great service! We will definitely be back!! The atmosphere was perfect!!

I highly recommend this place, they have authentic Mexican food and the staff offers a great experience. The molcajete was just delicious. I'd love to visit the place again. You can go with your friends, family, partner, or whosoever you wish. read more

El Mariachi - Molcajete Norteño - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Best tacos in Louisville. Services was great. Love the murals and the cool tables. The sauces are HOT but DELICIOUS.

I had lunch here with my family and all I can say is - WOW!!! Unbelievable menu and authenticity and every dinner we had was excellent. Burrito, menudo, molcajete and chips were delicious This is one of those special finds you always want to go back to when in the area. The service was excellent and place was very clean read more

El Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is my newest hidden gem find in Louisville. I always judge my first impression of a Mexican restaurant based off their chips and salsa and this place hits above the mark on both! Their chips are so thick and crunchy and their salsa is just the perfect balance of heat and thickness. I absolutely live the sweet people who work here. They care so much about their customers and they create such an inviting atmosphere by doing so. Their tacos are some of the best I've had in town and the fajita nachos are my newest favorite. The chips are so thick that they don't just get soggy and their fajita is not just onions and I'm here for it! Absolutely love this place and I think it is a must stop when you're in the area! read more

If you want authentic Mexican food it's great! Try the corn tacos as those are authentic!

We had lunch there today and the food was terrible. Husband ordered tacos, daughter ordered a chicken quesadilla and I had the Fiesta platter. Husbands tacos were so greasy the entire tortilla was soaked thru, daughters quesadilla was so soggy had to be eaten with a fork and my fiesta platter had shrimp on it that tasted like dirt. At first I thought it was just me and had othered try it and they spit it out. Tried explaining to two waitresses and they didn't seem to understand. We used to be regulars but will not be returning. read more

THE ABSOLUTE BEST! Give this place a try- their carne asada tacos are unmatched and the prices are amazing. Has quickly become our favorite place to eat- super authentic. Can't wait to try more of the menu. read more

El Mariachi - Carne Asada Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

On a recent outing for Mexican (we wanted to go to HAY!!! CHI-WA WAA, but it has closed), we ended up at El Mariachi. That's not to be read as a consolation restaurant. Not at all. El Mariachi was awesome and unbelievably authentic. We were immediately greeted when we walked in and seated just as quickly...and before we knew it *bam* there was basket of chips and salsa. The menu was pretty extensive, and written about 50/50 English/Spanish. True to form, though Jim (that's me!) ordered tacos. I absolutely love tacos that are made on a corn tortilla, my choice of meat, and nothing but onion and cilantro. My meat choices for this visit were carne asada, chorizo, and carnitas, my wife one of the shrimp meals. The food delivery was well-timed, as we had just finished up our first basket of chips. I asked for some salsa verde to accompany my tacos. Everything tasted GREAT. The salsa verde could have been a bit spicier, but that's not a complaint. I was in taco heaven. The only "problem" we experienced was a bit of a language barrier, but that wasn't the problem of the restaurant. The restaurant is very authentic (like I said before), and I don't think English is the primary language of the employees. We've been to Mexico and to Spain and can work our way though most restaurant conversations fairly well and were to order our meals relatively easily (and with a little bit of menu pointing) and, much to my delight, were delivered the way we wanted them. :) The "problem" came when I ordered an iced tea refill and got sweet tea instead, but given the situation I'm not going to give that a lot of weight. The décor is authentically Mexican, and the music was at a good volume level. The televisions were on channels that were covering soccer, the volume all the way down. El Mariachi is hidden away in a small retail area (that supports another Mexican eater), it's very easy to miss this restaurant, so SLOW DOWN, obey the speed limit, and visit for a meal. read more

El Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

In this otherwise middle-of-nowhere strip mall you'll find five sequential signs highlighting a small and glorious Mexican empire owned by a family from the state of Guanajuato. I suspect there are quite a few local Mexican imports that consider this corner of Louisville to be the Company Store, and it's a little slice of heaven for me too. El Mariachi is the anchor piece of the oasis, and it serves a full menu of delicious. For me, the highlight is authentic tacos. You can get "regular" which are your basic traditional street tacos and "classic" which are served with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and queso fresco on flour tortillas. The carnitas, pastor, asada, pollo, etc. wouldn't be noteworthy anywhere south of the border, but the quality is truly better than I expected. The tamales are quite good too, and the chips and salsa are house-made (the salsa verde has a nice kick). Beyond that, they have everything from posole and menudo to chile rellenos and huevos con chorizo. But honestly, I'm not sure how often I'll make it past ordering tacos. If you do make it out here, don't neglect looking in the other storefronts on either side. The supermarket has a nice looking meat counter and they sell the fresh chips and cheese, along with other Mexican staples. The panaderia and tortilleria are even more beautiful, highlighted by the corn tortilla factory and tres leches cakes. read more

El Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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I wouldn't waste your money, the food was very greasy. Pretty disappointed seeing as it's only a few minutes away. Won't be going back. read more

El Mariachi - Steak quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky