I frequently ate here as a child when I would visit family. I am not local to Alabama. I always loved the salsa and when family would go back they would always bring me a jug. It's been 2-3 years since I have had it, but the salsa has definitely changed and it appears it's outsourced and bottled instead of being made in house now. I was disappointed in my meal from my previous memories of the restaurant. I understand it could have been an off night but I will definitely be trying other places in the area on future visits instead. read more

The Tex-Mex food we had was GREAT. My husband is from TX and is always looking for good MexI am food here in AL. Heather was an attentive and very nice server. read more

El Palacio Restaurant is a very Americanized version of Mexican food. It was somewhat quiet when I visited here. It is on the main road (231) through the area and service was friendly. Overall, I am going to give it three stars. Again, it is very Americanized and nothing too spectacular. read more

El Palacio Restaurant - the outside of the restaurant at night - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

While heading to Fla we stoped in Ozark at El Palacio Resturant. I found a piece of heaven. The food surpassed any we have had anywhere. The chicken in the meal had a taste and texture that was outstanding. I could not get enough and ate till I was stuffed passed normal. Whn I head to Fla again the EL PALACIO will be one of the most important stop. They also make you feel like family , and sitting down to grandma holiday meal. read more

Locally owned and operated if I ain't mistaken. Best texmex I know of. I always get the whole order of grande nachos ‍ read more

Our Classic's Church Group went here on Saturday September 23, our waitress Christy was great. Two ladies in our group ordered the Hamburgers when the food came out the buns for the hamburgers were burnt and made the hamburgers tough. One gentleman ordered the polo Loco the chicken was dry he asked for tortillas the tortillas came on a plate (2) he said they must have pulled them from the refrigerator cause they were ice cold , normally tortillas come wrapped in foil and heated . We had a total of 12 people and all were disappointed about the food. read more

Not Mexican food. No taste, no good. Ordered a quesadilla and cheese was some canned goop, barely heated. My friend got a plate of overcooked rubbery stuff was supposed to be meat. More fat on it than actual "meat" and slimy cold vegetables. Wasn't edible. Mentioned it to a waitress (not our waitress) who left and never came back. Terrible food, terrible service. Never saw our actual waitress after she dropped off the food. What the heck? read more

Not great food. Strange cheese sauce was funky tasting. Didn't taste like cheddar, more like velveeta. Also my wife's refried beans had no beans, like they were obliterated and runny. Just strange. I would not go back. Sorry, but just not a good food experience. The staff was friendly and server was great. read more

I haven't eaten here in over 20 years, I never really cared for the food, even growing up I wasn't a fan. However tonight after a long day working my wife wanted to try it. I begrudgingly agreed, now 2 hours later I sit here hungry writing this review. The wait to be seated was fairly long as they were short staffed so I won't rate based on that. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas for $16.99. After 20 or so min. the table that was seated after us got their food first, note I'm already one order of chips, salsa and cheese dip in now starting on the second order. My wife and sister in laws order arrives then mine. I'm somewhat concerned when I see a few green peppers and onions on the skillet with a few slices of slightly over room temp chicken on top with ZERO seasoning on it. I poke one slice of the chicken and it's maybe 90 ish degrees. Whatever I'm hungry so I build my first Fajita... one scoop of beans, a little rice, some lettuce, shredded cheese and the chicken topped with sour cream. This taste like bagged chicken with liquid smoke flavor poured on. I forced the first one down but refused to eat anymore. My wife had the chicken enchiladas and Chile relleno plate. She ate one enchilada and asked for a to go box because she didn't want to complain. My sister in law had the crispy quesadilla, she made it in 4 or 5 bites before she gave up and went back to the chips again, which were actually good. The sweet tea was as well. They comped my Fajitas but we paid $38 for the rest. They swear it isn't bagged chicken but did acknowledge they doused it with liquid smoke flavoring. Long story short... "Hey, let's go eat at El palacio" is not in our vocabulary. My dog thoroughly enjoyed the other enchilada, Chile Relleno and rice when we got home. This is the same review I posted on Google and the reply I got from the owner was just as bad as the food. read more

El Palacio Restaurant - The reply from the owner on my review. - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

El Palacio greeter, Ashley, made us feel welcome with her friendliness and attentiveness. Our waitress, Skylar, was very helpful and prompt with our numerous requests (i.e. more chips, salsa, napkins, etc.). The menu was extensive and very reasonable. The best part was the food. My wife and I both ordered combination plates and were pleased with the quality and portions. The enchiladas and tacos were served fresh from the kitchen in a very appetizing manner. Next time in town we will definitely stop here for great Mexican food. read more

This restaurant is tex mex, you can order mexican or hamburger and fries. There were 11 of us and the table was perfect size. The food was really good and christy was a really good waitress, she stayed on top of our drinks and brought plenty chips and several dips. It is more food then we could eat. Enjoyable atmosphere. Ozark ala. Is just outside of fort rucker army base. Really good thanks read more

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I was recommended this place by two different people so I tried it out. I sat under the first dining section you see when walking in, it had a big skylight thingie above it and I was cold my whole meal and I didn't bring a jacket. The food was decent, a little plain but decent. The one thing I can't stand is being served an incomplete meal. I had the combo plate that comes with enchiladas and a taco, but it had no sides like rice and beans or tortillas. I've grown up eating Mexican food in New Mexico and Texas and I've never been served a plate without tortillas or rice and beans with my meal. I'd never go back for that reason. Rice and beans or some side dish should always come with the Mexican food, along with a bread item. The two good things were the customer service and the salsa. read more

This is a great place to eat lunch or dinner! Best salsa on the planet! Yes it's Hotbut Good. Ben and Kevin the owners are nice guys running a first class restaurant. read more

El Palacio Restaurant - Cool To go cup - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

not your typical Mexican food. I like it. it isnt a local Mexican restaurant that pops up on every corner offering white cheese dip and weak salsa. this place takes a sophisticated person to enjoy. read more

Seriously. The ONLY positive thing about this place are the nice automatic air fresheners located in each stall of the restroom. I was extremely thankful as I prayed that the worst "Mexican" food I've ever eaten would spare my life as it passed through my bowels. If you do decide to play with fate, may the odds be ever in your favor. read more

This place was not good. It's hard to screw up Mexican food but El Palacio found a way. The food was bland, and quality was on par with Taco Bell, at best. The waitress was rude and seemed irritated that I was there. Also, if there are any vegetarians in your party they should plan on filling up on chips and iceberg lettuce. Last but not least, their house recipe brown guacamole is a unique twist on the traditional green style, with a nice earthy taste. On a positive note, their salsa was good and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had two local craft beers on tap. read more

El Palacio Restaurant - Guacamole salad - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

Worst food my husband and I have ever had! Our waitress had long dirty (filed to a point) rat nails and fingered up the rim of our glasses when setting them down. The pitcher of margaritas tasted like powdered country time limeade, minus the tequila. Food gross, chips suck, drinks terrible. Cleanliness yikes! I'm terrified to see what the kitchen looks like! And yet this place will be busy at night!! Slim pickins I guess. Save your $$ O ya! Craft singles on the nachos!! Not even real cheddar! Gross!! read more

This was my 2nd try for this place. I only went back because my son wanted to try it and the El Palacio's in Huntsville was always so good. The first time I went, the salsa was the only saving grace. This time it wasn't great. I had the chicken nachos. They were not very flavorful and they were out of tomatoes. My son had the anchors with steak, shrimp, and chicken. The steak and shrimp were really good. He felt the same about his chicken as I did mine. read more

Friendly, hometown restaurant. This is by far my wife's favorite place in Ozark (been here for 50+ years), I really like it too, and have always enjoyed both the people and the atmosphere. Love to order nachos with steak & chicken, awesome flavor and piping hot. (And yes, they start you with free, fresh chips and salsa, what can I say, love nachos!) Is El Palacios authentic? The recipes are good, tasteful and served by people who live in OZARK, ALABAMA! Who CARES if it's authentic!!! It's food, it's good, and it's HERE! (not 20 miles away!!!) read more

El Palacio Restaurant - Chimichanga Supreme...... HOT PLATE! - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

Definitely a place of extreme reactions, there's no denying that. My whole family has been coming here for years. It's our Sunday night meal, but it's not unusual for us to come some during the week as well. The chips are hit and miss. If you come at a not busy time, then there may be a few stale ones, but if it's busy they're usually fresh. The salsa is out of this world. Seriously, this is the best salsa I've ever had. It's spicier than the traditional salsa, but it's full of flavor. The food is always good and usually fast. Service is also friendly. Those that haven't had it in a couple years may be surprised after visiting again. I've always loved the place, but it's been under new management for a couple years and it's definitely improved since then as well. Remember, though, that this place is not authentic at all. The staff are all usually not Mexican, and there's usually country music playing over the PA system. If you want authentic, try Rodeo or Blue Agave, but in my opinion, despite being non-traditional, I prefer El Palacio. read more

Excellent food, great service. Way too much. Recommend this to share entries. Local owned establishment. Kristen was our server and was so accommodating. read more

This place has been a family tradition to come to after Sunday service. Just wish we good have Giant Ritas on Sunday for an even better way to end the week! read more

El Palacio Restaurant - Always good - Mexican Near Me - Ozark, Alabama

We quit going here a while back due to food quality, however we decided to give it a try tonight and had the best experience. Our waitress Kaitlin was kind, attentive and on her game. I am giving her 5 stars, the food was better, but still needs improvement. Thanks for a great experience Kaitlin! You rock read more

Food was excellent. Did not have to wait long for a table. The waitress was friendly and took care of us. The new tabletops look great and update the look overall. Had an exciting lunch with my family and can't wait to go back! read more

I too was raised on El Palacio food. I won't set foot in the place again. Poor quality food, terrible service and high prices. What more could you ask for? read more

Now that they are under new management, they seem to be doing a lot better than in the past. Every time I've gone here for food I am always pleased. Everyone is polite and always checking on your drink. The food is a little pricey, but it's good nonetheless. I usually don't find nachos from a Mexican restaurant appealing, but theirs are so tasty looking I think twice about ordering them. And as for the drinks (water, soft drinks,) you really will get what you pay for. The glasses are huge! And you can even opt to have a pitcher on the table for some beverages I believe, like tea. I have heard complaints about the food not being authentic enough do be deemed "Mexican". Listen, it's not like you go into the restaurant and are greeted by Pedro and Mani, then get served a plate of beans with a glass of contaminated water...that's Authentic from what I've heard. You have to go up to a register to pay for your food when you're done, just like Waffle House. Cleanliness is always a priority because whenever guests leave they busboys and girls are all over the table wiping and vacuuming. read more

The food is great but the service is horrible. When I go to a "mexican" restaurant I shouldnt have to stare at my menu for 20 minutes without chips and salsa and no server. Then it takes forever to get the food. The manager(s) truly do not care about concerns or complaints. The past 3 times I have been here have been horrible experiences and they have never offered to discount my meal or anything. We will not be returning. Save yourself some time and drive 30 more minutes to Dothan and find a better restaurant. read more

We frequently travel US 231 through Ozark, and plan a meal stop at El Palacio for the excellent chiles rellenos. The prices are reasonable, and the service is prompt and courteous. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Food is consistently great and they have the best salsa in the world. I always stop by when I am in town. Great local ownership!! read more

Worst Mexican food ever. If you could give zero stars, we would. Way worse than bland. We didn't eat half before we left.

My husband and I have eaten here a few times now and have never left unhappy. Service has always been great. Drinks are always refilled quickly and the salsa is amazing! Their lunch menu and .99 cent Tuesday margaritas are awesome! Nice portion sizes too! The green chili enchiladas on flour tortillas are the best! read more

The worst! Food is awful! I've tried to eat there a couple of times to give them a chance & it's the same. Food is bland & not Mexican more along the line of Americanized Mexican! I don't understand how they stay in business. read more

I've been coming to El Palacio' s ever since they opened in the late 1960's, they've had their ups and downs, over the years with different management and locations, (three I think). Now they're almost as good as ever. They have good authentic Mexican food. Their guacamole is very good and a good quality indicator of any Mexican Restaurant. I was in Alabama recently and my sister and I stopped by on September 11, 2015 and we enjoyed Steak fingers and Quesadillas and they were as good as I remembered. read more

I am a die hard EP fan, since the late 70s. Its had its ups and downs for sure, and i was really worried when i heard it had new owners. But the service was the best that it has been in many many years. Management/staff were VERY attentive. Food came out quickly anf was piping hot. Hot sauce was good and thick like it used to be. EP still has the best chile relleno that i have ever eaten. Recommended! read more

I must start with telling you that I am a good that can cook. I travel throughout the southeast and Mexican food is one of my favorites. However, this was the worst Americanized Mexican food I have ever had. To start with the chips and salsa. The chips were not fresh, nor warm and the salsa was unrecognizable. It was very hot and had no tomato or cilantro taste at all. I like things hot but this was overboard and there was no milder salsa available. So then my order of tamale, taco, and enchilada with rice and beans arrived. The rice was mushy and tasted as if it came out of a can and the refried beans, which were canned, were topped with american cheddar cheese. The taco shell was not fresh and was tough. The meat mixture used was overcooked, burned in places and overloaded with cumin. No chili flavor at all. The taco was topped with, you guessed it, american cheese. The enchilada had no sauce on it and was topped with again, american cheese. The tamale was wrapped in a corn husk and the masa was the right consistency but tasted like chemicals from the water used to make it. Personally I make mine from chicken stock. The flavor was horrible. So if you are looking for an Americanized Mexican experience, this is a place for you. But personally save yourself the trouble and buy a taco kit yourself at your favorite grocery store and fix it yourself. read more

Yuck, yuck yucky!!! Just wasted $38! My wife said lets get a to go box and carry it home to our dog. I bet her a dollar that our dog will spit it out. I have eaten at my fair share of Mexican joints and this was by far the worst one I ever ate at. It is probably the worst food I've ever eaten. Even worse then the private that cook our dinner on the weekends while I was in the army. Worse then the horse tongue I ate while stationed with the Belgium army. We had the chicken and steak fajita for 2. The chips were stale, the cheese dip taste like cheese whiz. The chicken was bland and I swear it was hormel canned chicken. The steak (and I laugh as I write this) was greasy nasty greasy. I feel sorry for the people of Ozark if this is what they think Mexican cuisine is suppose to be. I usually give a place second chance but I will probably never dine in Ozark again but if I do it won't be here. read more

This is really more American with a hint of Mexican food. The food is kind of bland and the cheese dip is yellow instead of white. The service was stellar, but if you want really good Mexican food, go to Los Cabos. read more

Arrive Sunday night. Waited for waitress for quite a while. Drinks came after a long wait with no straws anywhere in the restaurant. Wait. Chips came with salsa and half the bowl were so greasy you could not eat. Requested replacement but they came drenched again in grease. Had waitress to rewarm cheese dip because it was cold waiting on chips. Ordered Mexican steak fingers but tasted so different and left on plate. Waited and waited for check. Had to ask cashiers for check so we could go. Waitress said she had thrown away and brought us another one. Floor carpet is nasty and table sides peeling off. We loved this restaurant for years but will never go back. This is not the first bad experience here but it is our last. Tried to leave restaurant without negative attitude but cashiers knew they had a problem. read more

Since I was literally raised on El Palacio food since I was a teenager, I have to give this place 2 thumbs up. Great food, fair service. I have been eating here for nearly 40 years so I probably had a bad experience or two. But, 40 years later it's still in my top 10 favorites. Some places just get better with age. read more

Been coming to this place for 30 years. Moved about 23 years ago and this place is always on my "must do" list when I come home to visit. Still has the best nachos I've ever had. And I'm now in California where the food is as authentic as buying it in Mexico (which yes, I've done). read more