First off the chips tasted off , dirty oil taste. I ordered pancakes, bacon nd eggs . Bacon had a similar taste as if it were made in dirty oil. All in all food didn't taste fresh . Won't be coming back read more

It was terrible. I followed the review based on the chile verde, so I ordered it. It was terrible. There was all green sauce and no meat. I couldn't believe my eyes. It looked like cat food. My boyfriend got the chicken tacos. No flavor and the taco shells were so stale, with a rubber crunch. I will never go back. Bring the rating to where it belongs. 2* at best!! Upside...it will make a turd. read more

Authentic Mexican food. I was impressed with this little restaurant tucked away in a heavy industrial neighborhood. Located on a secondary street corner a block off of Anaheim and Henry Ford, this hidden gem is definitely worth trying. The chips and salsa as a starter were good. Everything tasted fresh. The menu was extensive featuring anything I could have possibly wanted (including breakfast items for lunch). Only thing missing was a lunch portion. I had the chili verde. The meat was tender with the right amount of sauce and heat. The rice and homemade tortillas were great. There was nothing I could complain about. The service was extraordinary and the food was all I could have hoped for. I'm from the Midwest where Mexican food is not a strong point but this little place is better than some I've gotten even on the West Coast. My only criticism is that the neighborhood could get a little rough, especially after dark. read more

El Norte Restaurant - Chile Verde con Arroz y Frijoles a long with other items. - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

Omg disgusting. Some of the worst quality food I've ever been served. I ordered from door dash, when I brought food in my house I could immediately smell something was off. A foul smell like rotten milk was coming from the chile relleno, and the taco was filled with huge pieces of fat i was grossed out read more

El Norte Restaurant - Queso Taco de Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

Food was amazing. Service was really nice. I recommend this place to anybody gets here in town. I am from Fresno, California and I wish they had this in our town this restaurant love it. read more

This place is a gem! Amazing food, Joanna is the best! Highly recommend! Will be back again

Joanna is an amazing waitress ! Food taste like authentic Mexican food ! Highly recommend

Menudo was A 9/10 it was only missing a salsa macha (aceite). Very good flavor meat was tender and cut to perfection read more

El Norte Restaurant - Menudo - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

I was craving a chile relleno, so we decided to stop in. We ordered asada nachos, a chicken enchilada plate, a chile relleno plate, and a cheeseburger with fries for our son. We really enjoyed our meals, and Ms. Maribel was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The dining room is a bit dated, but it didn't take away from the experience. We loved the selection of Mexican sodas and drinks, and it was a great spot for a relaxed family lunch after worship rehearsal. Since our church is nearby, we're looking forward to coming back. read more

This place is a hidden gem!!!! I was starving, looking for a salad, and found this place on Yelp. It's hidden in the port area of Wilmington. I was hungry for a fish salad, they used to have one but seems to have taken it off the menu:-( thankfully the server recreated one for me!!!!!!!! The server was so nice! Very accommodating. My salad came out perfect! They had unsweetened ice tea! And over all my lunch was fresh, tasty, and it hit the spot! The place was spotless, had some nice alcoholic beverages options that I can't wait to try! Thank you for being awesome! See you soon! read more

Yo, all they did was make a me a bean cheese and rice burrito but that sheet came out ssooo fire!!! A hidden jem for sure for sure . Super lowkey with delicious food. Friendly helpful staff and smart Juke Box n Karaoke! What?! Bring on the mojitos and margaritas!! read more

They need to change the prices on the website bc they are definitely not accurate and I got carnitas plate my caritas where to burnt and my rice to watery read more

Apparently white people are not welcome here, even if you're nice, they will repeatedly mess up your order intentionally... The last was so blatant that it was an obvious middle finger...The women in front was nice enough but the kitchen, definitely not... read more

2nd time we have eaten there in the last two nights! Great Mexican food all around. So far, we've had various tacos and burritos and the Chili Verde plate. Can't wait to go back to try more things. Fun atmosphere inside with Karaoke on the weekends too. The lady at the register (possibly the owner) was so friendly and kind as was the young lady who waited on us while we waited for a Togo. Great salsa and ice cold beer as well. 10/10 read more

It's our new go to Mexican place. I've been dying to have some good chili verde for so long. I've not found it; but this place was so delicious, - excellent. Very very good. I rarely write a review. The only thing not my cup of tea was my shrimp cocktail. And I need to say I'm in Long Beach and they are Wilmington. They are a quick delivery and it has always been really hot. Don't know how they do it read more

The sope was ok. I was looking forward to the meundo. Was I wrong it literally tasted like Juanitas canned meundo. It didn't look fresh, the meat was dark, no flavor. Disappointed! And I love meundo, I eat it like 4 times a month. read more

Great food, and service. I got the enchilada and 1 sope and everything was amazing. They don't have a children's menu but they do have breakfast all day which was great because my 4 year old was able to get a good meal. The pancake plate with eggs and bacon was absolutely delicious! Reminded me of grandmas cooking at home. I met the owner, Teresa and she was so kind and welcoming. I stupidly misplaced my FAVORITE pair of sunglasses when we came in and could have swore I left them at the table, so I returned to look for them and the owner greeted me so nicely, helped me look for them and even sat there for 20 minutes looking through camera footage to help me find them. I didn't even have to ask her for that, she took the initiative to help out just to be kind. After all that, I found them in my car(super embarrassed for wasting her time) none the less, she was determined and eager to help me out which is rare and honestly so kind of her. Her willingness to help a customer and be kind is what will stay with me. Thank you Teresa and we will be coming back and recommending friends here! read more

This place has been a staple in the Wilmington area for as long as I can remember (decades). Great quality food and service. Personally, this place is comfort food for me. A nice balance of quality with quantity; portion sizes have always been rather generous, and let's just say, I have a healthy appetite. Wilmington has a lot of competition for top-notch Mexican cuisine and this place doesn't disappoint. The location (on the outskirts of an industrial neighborhood) would probably throw most folks off and could easily be missed, but I can't recommend this hidden gem enough. Pre-COVID: Great sit down place at all times of the day. Food quality and customer service are top notch, and there seemed to be a lot of regulars who frequent this place. Returning customers are always a good sign for any place - and I've been coming here since I was a kid. Good place for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Prep time for orders is consistently fast, the staff seems to hustle. The menu is pretty expansive and seems to offer a lot in terms of variety. Bonus points for the complimentary chips and salsa (spicy and non-spicy options are available - check with the staff on which is which). I want to say that the salsa is made in-house and can really bring the heat (warning for the spice intolerant). COVID Adjustments: One of the local businesses I would strongly support during the pandemic/lock-downs. Quality has remained the same and standards remain high. They have kept their full menu, which can't be said for a lot of restaurants at the moment (understandable if this happens further into this pandemic). Wait time is reasonable for a sit down joint transitioning to a to-go system. Their time estimates for pickup orders has been pretty accurate and the food seems hot and fresh when I show up a minute or two before I was told to show up. Phone orders have been error-free (a surprising issue with more restaurants these days). A new outdoor patio area has been created which is starting to bring back some of that pre-pandemic vibe. Only tried the outdoor dining service once at the beginning of this year, and man was it good to have the food fresh and not in a to-go container. A few dishes I'd highly recommend: Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, Chile Verde Fries (Asada Fries are an option, but that Chile Verde sauce... mmm...) , Burrito Norteno, Shrimp Quesadilla, Caldo de Salmon, or the Mojarra Frita plate. There is a really good Chia Cucumber Agua Fresca that will run out if you are ordering too late in the day (bonus points for the fresh agua fresca - when it's available). They also have your standard agua fresca machine that you find at most Mexican restaurants and a selection of glass bottle (Mexican) sodas and beers. I remember there being an option for fresh juice (carrot or orange) a few years back, but my go-to has been the Chia Cucumber Agua Fresca. If you are trying to find one of the better Mexican Restaurants in the Wilmington/Long Beach area (or South Bay, for that matter) give this place a shot. read more

I ordered a chiliquilles with the carne meat. THE FLAVORS WERE ALL THERE. The sauce was amazing and very much on point. Do not pass up this restaurant if you ever have the opportunity please give it a try. The food is AMAZING!!!! read more

This place is not a real Mexican restaurant. It's a Nicaraguan restaurant masquerading as Mexican. Example: Chile relleno was not even breaded. The beans were good,however was fill with vegetables. A classic Central American move. read more

Absolutely the best authentic Mexican food restaurant. Great outdoor seating area! The best hidden gem of Wilmington. read more

El Norte Restaurant - Best Mexican food great outdoor seating - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

Fantastic food, we will be back for sure. Do yourself a favor however and call the restaurant directly to order. I used the Grubhub app and found that I was being charged in some cases $10 over what the item was actually being sold for. read more

This is Xmas with a special editorial, filling in for John is Luana, targeting five star rated establishment's delicacy (fish deep fried Tilapia). Raid X also reviewing the very important refried beans that is the bases of all Mexican dishes or combos! There is many factors involved in these two items, but will stick to R&R to avoid being side tracked! I ordered a bean and cheese burrito with both Luana and I testing and confirming the refried beans already 5 stars getting an (A ) for quality and (excellent) for taste and ease on digestion! Luana testing Tilapia, she wanted her owned so I only got a small piece, that was browned to perfection at the right temperature and was deep fried in fresh expensive oil! Luana and I giving this dish 5 stars for excellent taste and ease on digestion! Thank you Luana for your support and on behalf of the people special thanks to the owner's of El Norte for providing quality food to the people! Xmas Love's El Norte ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- read more

See all

I work in the area, and this place has the best authentic Mexican food. Everyone is friendly. They have karaoke nights. My friend and I always come here before work or on lunch break. You won't be disappointed. read more

I'm waiting for my truck to get fixed so I came in and ordered a plate of vegetables normally I order the veggie burrito but I did not want any tortilla today like always great customer service very attentive, plus I get to wait while my truck gets fixed read more

El Norte Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

This restaurant is by far my favorite mexican restaurant! The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They have the best ceviche and the most flavorful molcajete you will EVER have. Their tortilla soup and quesa tacos are also amazing!! I have tried almost everything on the menu and nothing ever disappoints! read more

One of the best spots in Wilmington to eat at a fair price...Authentic until you order breakfast and your Chorizo and beans comes with Hash Browns instead of some Papas...Mexican Food not Dennys read more

El Norte Restaurant - Bomb!! - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

Amongst all of the authenticity available on Wilmington, El Norte is highly recommendable. My favorite is their shrimp cocktail, and wet burritos. Friendly, fast-paced environment sure to welcome you with a delicious meal. read more

El Norte Restaurant - Shrimp cocktail with a fresh Jamaica. ¡Buen aprovecho! - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

Good food friendly staff! I like that there open late. Good for truckers and Longshoremen!

Good food ive been twice I always judge a spot by its chile verde and carne asada both are great here. Good service good alcohol selection if youre in the neighborhood check it out! read more

Interesting when you drive ride share you wind up in the oddest of areas and this is where I wound up. Walked in and they were doing spanish karaoke and everyone was pretty good. I was the only gringo in the place and I think the waitresses were surprised as it was 12 midnight and I just really belonged at a Denny's but this place was perfect, good food, chips, salsa, tortillas and a meat dish (barbacoa i think) rice and salad and coke all for $19 which was fine. Even bought a fresh blueberry muffin for dessert. Odd it shares a wall with Dreams Strip Club next door but that is the area, with another XS gentlemens club down the street. Great food and good music provided by the locals!! read more

This place is where im going to take my bird to eat when i catch it. They have authentic Mexican delicious entres everything is good. The people are friendly and the service is great. They have kareoke entertainment and serve any alcholic beverage you can think of as well as fresh seafood daily. Thats it thats right. read more

El Norte Restaurant - Wee...one happy go lucky. - Mexican Near Me - Wilmington, California

So deliciouse i was drinking and the next day i woke up and yeah i was light head spinning and was hungry my friend said this plase was deliciouse and so i tried it and sure enough it was sooooo good i do reccomand this plase i got the special burrito and i want to be hungry so i can get another one ao good read more

Other than the waitress giving me dirty looks the entire time I was there (maybe she thought I worked at the strip club next door??), the shrimp quesadilla was awesome and same goes for the salsa! Seriously considering going back for lunch today. read more

Pretty good food with a lot of variety. Very nice looking friendly waitresses. The place is a bit run down. There is a lot of truckers, longshoreman, mechanics, and refinery workers. They have a nice jukebox and many interesting staff workers. I like their tortas and burritos. Check this place out. read more

For years now I have been coming to El Norte and their food is has always been consistent friendly place smiley faces and best of all great food. read more

This is a real Mexican restaurant. No Taco Bell crap here.Good food. Cold beer and if your lucky your waitress will speak enough English to take your order. read more

We go to this restaurant regularly....good food at a good price, friendly staff. I love their Camarones De La Plancha. The decor is not much but the food and price make up for it. Overall, a very good value. read more

Best Mexican restaurant in all of southbay, in an industrial area, but nice people and great service, it's the bomb!