Cute little spot tucked into a small plaza on Union. When I say the food is amazing!!!!! The staff are super friendly and love to offer menu item suggestions. They havw a lot of nee menu items and you will want to order everything. The food was sooo delicious. The salsa is spicy so beware if you aren't into spicy foods. Prices are very reasonable. Parking can be a concern but there is also overflow parking in the back. read more

El Mezcal - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

My favorite thing about this place is the friendly staff! They are so kind and good-natured. This is the type of Mexican restaurant where you order a platter vs. getting fresh tacos. If you're in the mood for fajitas, rice and beans, enchiladas, or another type of full meal, this is the place. I had the chile Colorado because I wanted to try something new, and it was delicious although spicy! As we left, I noticed a full bar in the back which would be a fun spot to get drinks after work. read more

The food. The service is good. I just love the cuisine that they have the that they have in their restaurant vibe. The restaurant gives off. Clean. read more

My husband and I ate here several times while he was working in the area. The service was always fast and friendly. I loved the chicken soup and the salsa was so delicious, it was on the spicier side which I loved. Highly recommended! read more

Best nachos with cheese and salsa dip ever! Can't wait to be back in Memphis and have these again. read more

El Mezcal - Nachos with cheese and salsa dip. - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I heard a lot about this place and I've passed it a lot and decided to give it a try! Very good Mexican food and even better drinks. The people were so nice and friendly. This would be a great place for cinco de mayo. The steak Mexicano was very good too! Check them out read more

See all

Been here twice. Fast, effcient service. Very capable staff. Owner quite nice and walked around checking on customers. Good portions, great staff, tasty drinks! read more

Wow! The food is really good: nice spicy salsa, delicious rice and beans, and huge tasty chimichanga. Very friendly service.

Food is nasty found a fly in my food and also a hair. Food service was bad. Smells like onions. Water was falling from roof. A piece of styrofoam also fell from the roof. read more

Love this El Mezcal! Friendly servers and quick service. Food and drinks are always delicious. Great atmosphere!

This is my go to Mexican because it has the flavors that I like and they know what Mexican food is supposed to taste and they're pretty fast

They wouldn't let us wash our hands for 15 minutes! The chips also tasted stale. When we tried to wash our hands and use the bathroom the lady washing the bathrooms cut in front of us and said no sit back down!? read more

Myself and a group of friends went for dinner, and we were very pleasantly surprised!! Don't let looks deceive you here at El Mezcal. Service was awesome and they were so attentive and kind. Food was freshly prepped, of excellent quality, and tasted amazing (I recommend an order of queso and then the chimichangas or taquitos). The homestyle vibe is there, and the food specials and drinks are great too if you're interested in those. Salsa is slightly on the spicier side but I enjoy that. Maybe not to some folks liking but something to note. My only potential gripe is the 3% up-charge on cards and some of the pricing choices. However, with that said you'll definitely be able to find a great option in your budget should you have one. Will EASILY be coming back here next time I'm in Memphis! read more

Every time I come here I'm always greeted with great service. This is a great place to come if you're craving quick Mexican food. Menu prices are low & portions are fair. read more

Maybe I ordered the wrong things. Th ground beef in the taco and enchiladas was flavorless and the taco salad had almost zero lettuce and a ton of some stewed chicken that was horrid. read more

Best ground beef nachos in town, even Togo. Well balanced, cheese was gooey and delicious, guac and veggies were fresh, meat was tender. The chips weren't super thick which I was thankful for. I prefer my chips to be thin, airy, and crispy. I would've taken a picture but they weren't the prettiest nachos togo, didn't change the fact that they were the best nachos I've had in a long time. The staff were also very friendly. I love that they have a loyalty program, will be visiting more often for sure. read more

The plaza outside looked sketchy, but inside was a clean, authentic Mexican restaurant with excellent service and good food! We were pleasantly surprised. read more

See all

This place is lame. Ingredients are clearly cheap and service is wanting. Atmosphere is lackluster and the food quality is YIKES. Too bad. Memphis needs better Mexican food, and unfortunately this place doesn't come through. read more

I really like this location. It's like the old school El Mezcal on Perkins that I grew up with! I wonder if it's still there? There is just something about this place I really dig. I'm not sure why... nostalgia I suppose. Be advised! Parking sucks! DO NOT LET THIS STOP YOU FROM EATING HERE! The staff is great and work really well together as an amazing team. I always get assistance from almost person that was there. They help check on us, pre buss our table, and refill our drinks. I am really impressed with the teamwork! Bravo! Food is always right and always good. It's hot and fresh tasting! They even put peas and corn in the rice! I've had a bunch of really great meals here! The produce is also on point. Avocados and other stuff is super fresh! Chips. Check. Salsa. Check. What more could you ask for??? Free cheese dip! Yes that's what I ask for!!!! Give it to me!!! read more

El Mezcal - Tamale and Cheese Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

I came here with coworkers but it's not a place I would go to on my own as there wasn't anything that really stood out about it. I would come back with my coworkers again if they wanted to. The restaurant had actually run out of some desserts so we weren't able to get much beyond sopapillas. The service is really quick though. To try: mezcal quesadilla quesadilla azteca Loved: - Fajita Quesadilla Ok: - Quesadilla Mexicana de Pollo - Sopapilla Disliked: - Arroz read more

El Mezcal - Back entrance - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Highly disappointed in the price gouging that is taking place. From the food prices, to the level service, to the mandatory 20% tip added, to the 3% charge to your bill for using a card. Who does this anymore. Everyone uses a card. It's just another way to nickel and dime you. This is not an upscale restaurant, just another Tex-Mex that has average food. I'll never be back. read more

A run in and run out. No major food ordered. Can't go wrong with bean dip and fried ice cream. Food was quick and hot. Dessert was ok. So while we was in the area waiting on the kids at the Kroc Center we just stopped in for snack and convo... they had a daily special for this Monday, an humongous burrito. 9 bucks. Passed our table several times. Looks Yummy !!! read more

See all

The food and service was excellent! It was a nice little restaurant. We were just visiting the area and got the reviews so we decided to try it. We were glad we did. read more

This is our favorite local Mexican food hangout! We love the food and margaritas are always perfect! All of the staff is friendly and always happy to see us. They really take special care of their customers here and if you want authentic Mexican food this is it! Everything on the menu is delicious and they have nice size portions. The prices are good and it's in a relaxing atmosphere. They have a full bar and usually have fútbal on the tv we watch. We've gotten take out a few times since the pandemic and miss going in. But this is a great spot for an excellent meal! read more

El Mezcal - Yummy margarita! - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

If I could rate it lower I would. There was a racial issue between some regular customers and my table. The staff sided with the regulars of course and they served me not warm but cold food after the altercation. read more

It was great！！ I love stuffs more than food.lol....Food are amazing, too！！ I love guacamole read more

See all

We eat here frequently and have consistently had great, friendly service and good food. While I generally choose from one or two favorites, I have tried other menu items and have never been disappointed. We always leave with an extra order of salsa to take home. The restaurant is always clean, inviting, and family friendly. read more

Memphis celebrates tremendous diversity in our community with a wide selection of folks who proudly share their culture and food. Oh sure you'll sometimes get food that has been Memphis-ized - BUT... what we love, what we want is to be able to go into a restaurant and enjoy food prepared with pride and love of their community and culture. What we don't wanna get is food that fails to resemble anything they would serve to their own family. Such as the way with El Mezcal. This Mexican haunt previously was a hustling and bustling family friendly establishment turning out food that they were truly proud of. As of late I find the food here to be barely presentable and have a little association with standard cooking practices of their culture. Take for instance enchiladas! Enchiladas should have a corn tortilla that was quickly dipped in hot oil and then bathed in a sauce to soften and swell with goodness before rolling up savory fillings and baking. On my last visit I received a cold dry tortilla that was stuffed with cold pre-prepared chicken bits and a smidge of salsa on top and I am sure that it was prepared in a microwave to barely warm. Where is the love of their culture and food?? Wow!! It just made me feel so bad for the wait staff that had to deliver this kind of ill prepared tasteless fair. When a restaurant does not deliver food with love - it reflects on everybody there including the people that have to earn their living serving up disappointing food like this. It wasn't always the case here at El Mezcal as previously the management was on top of serving delicious food and guess what? Back then there was a line out the door. Today there were three occupied tables in the whole restaurant - where are the patrons?? I am wondering if they get the connection. Anyway I'm sure their drinks are probably good so if you're looking for a place to perhaps watch a football game and have a cold one this establishment is fairly clean, but until they make some managerial changes I cannot recommend their food. I surely hope they're willing to turn things around because they have been a Memphis tradition for 20 years. read more

El Mezcal - Enchilada's Verde - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The service is a little slow but other than that the food is delicious and well priced. I enjoyed eating here a lot and will definitely come back. read more

El mezcal is always a safe bet on Mexican food. I always get a taco and fajita nachos (mixed) the staff is nice and the food is always good! Don't get lettuce on your nachos .... not good. Ewwww. This is short and sweet. I really don't have complaints! read more

By far my favorite Mexican restaurant!! They have the best frozen margaritas, great service, and amazing food!

The vibe of the place was good and the salsa. When I ordered I ordered Mexican tacos,rice ,and beans. The tacos were like Taco Bell's tacos not the tacos that I expected. The rice was bland and had no flavor. The people that I went with order shrimp and they said the shrimp smelled and tasted weird. read more

Not a fan, not going back. This was my 5th or 6th visit to the place. The last two visits, lousy...and I brought a friend and then my sister, on a second visit, and really embarased me. Too many great Mexican or Latin food restaurants that are tons better. Now, observing the three other servers in the place...they were excellent, responsive, and had great personalities....wish we had them. What we got.... 1. do not make me ask for napkins 2. do not make me stop another server for a margarita that's small, and expensive 3. if you cannot speak English, or understand it, you probably should not wait on tables with only English speaking patrons - and if you do have a language challenge, tell us....we can respect the learning curve....and I do speak Spanish.... 4. if we ask you questions about how the food aka if it includes beans and rice, then you should know without going to the kitchen to ask 5. a smile goes a very long way! Food forgettable, service forgettable, margaritas...eeeee. Cheers to all my fellow food brats! read more

El Mezcal is just like every other Mexican restaurant in Memphis. This one just has weird parking bc it's on Union. They have really good fajita quesadillas and cheese dip. The service is pretty much the best out of all the others and they have coupons and really good lunch specials everyday of the week!! I haven't had a margarita here, but the bar did have a nice selection of premium tequilas to choose from. I finally tried the El Mezcal Sampler and it was okay. I just didn't like the chorizo quesadillas, but everything else was good and messy! I guess that's expected. I will definitely be back because it is close to home and I like it the most out of all the others in Midtown. read more

El Mezcal - El Mezcal Sampler. Sloppy but kinda tasty... kinda - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Used Yelp to find this place while in Memphis for work. I'm a TexMex gal, born and raised, so normally I don't stray from the source. But I took a chance. Happy I did. The happy hour margaritas are cheap but not watered down. The salsa was great, authentic yet not too spicy. I ordered the mixed fajitas and I was pleased with their flavor. I brought my leftovers to eat for lunch the next day. That's a good sign, right? Overall, not 5-star mind blowing food but good and tasty. (Also, my coworker was with me. She was embarrassingly picky about her order. Our server didn't seem too bothered by her. I gave him extra on the gratuity for keeping his cool in spite of her lameness.) read more

El Mezcal - Mixed fajitas and hh margarita on the rocks - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I've been here many times before. Usually it's ok service and good food. What can you expect out of a Mexican restaurant? But with my latest visit it was quite busy. This caused a lack of decent service, probably for being understaffed. I was greeted and even brought drinks in a timely manor for being so busy. However it went downhill from there. After my order was taken and food delivered, I asked for a knife. It's unknown to me why this wouldn't have been delivered with the food, or even with the fork ahead of the meal. After all, I did order a burrito smothered in cheese sauce (not exactly finger food). After waiting a while I asked a different server for a knife as my burrito sat in front of me untouched. It took 4 requests, 2 from the same server, and about 20 minutes before a knife was delivered. Then after I was almost done with my meal, to add insult to injury, one of the servers I had previously asked came by to make sure I had gotten a knife. While I understand it was busy and the staff was obviously overwhelmed, it shouldn't have taken so much effort to get a basic eating utensil after my food had been delivered. I'll probably be back, because the prices are descent, food good, and I understand this was probably just a (fingers crossed) one time instance. Perhaps the management should put at least one more staff member on duty at such a busy time. Simply having a bartender dedicated to the bar making drinks could have seriously helped the servers from having to make all there own drinks, especially at a 2-4-1 time/night. read more

El Mezcal - Waiting for a knife to eat my cheese covered burrito. Notice my empty salsa & two drinks, as I waited way too long. - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Definitely a hole in the wall, but good service and food for a very reasonable price. Try the homemade Sangria. Popular with med and law students. Good for lunch or an informal dinner. Certainly worth a try if you're in town on business or a casual vacation or weekend trip. read more

Not too bad. The salsa was a disappointing start. Basically tomato sauce with a minimal amount of seasonings added in. The sweet tea, however, had a great flavor. I ordered the steak fajita nachos. They weren't too bad. Not a whole lot of flavor in the steak but not bad. I asked for some of their tomatillo salsa and was brought some dark red salsa. It was strong on flavor but had no heat. Not horrible, but the Italian deli across the street is probably a lot better. I wish I'd noticed that before going in here. read more

Well the search goes on to find the best Mexican restaurant in Memphis. This place most doesn't live up to the 4 star rating it has. I got the chicken fajita. First of all, for 13 bucks I better get more than just half a plate of fajita but that's exactly what I got. Half a plate. The chicken fajita was okay but I would need to more than half a plate to be for sure.. My lady got the enchiladas supreme. She said the beans were watery and tasted bad. Other than that she said it was okay. The rice with cheese sauce was by far the best and it the only reason this place gets a 2 star. So the search continues for good Mexican food. read more

El Mezcal - Enchilada Supreme - Mexican Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

See all

Ummmmmm, went here recently for a quick lunch with my husband. Had heard good things about it from a friend. Their spicy salsa was yum, but guess that was the only good thing about this place. I was not a fan of their enchiladas, and fajitas. The service was very quick and the servers very friendly. read more