Was feeling hungry after a great hot yoga sesh and needed sustenance. A quick Yelp search showed this place was open so we decided to give it a try. The parking lot was packed so we weren't surprised to find a busy dining room. We were told it would be a 15 minutes wait but it was actually closet to 5 minutes. Service was friendly and attentive - I ordered a coffee and it was refilled constantly throughout the entire meal which I appreciate. You'd be surprised how often that little detail gets ignored at other breakfast/brunch places. I ordered the Birria hash and it was a lovely surprise - very flavorful with tender, juicy beef over crispy fried potatoes. I loved the different sauces, salsa, pickled onions, and even sour cream self-service bar from which I helped myself to some of their delicious avocado sauce and molcajete sauce. My companion said her crab Benedict was delicious and very filling. Food portions were generous, I had enough food to take home with me for a second meal. The ambiance of the place was impressive - sort of a modern Mexican feel with some fun details like the grocery items lined up on the wall above the registers. I will definitely be back to try some of the intriguing menu items I didn't get a chance to try. I didn't have any room left to try dessert so I'll have to do that next time! read more

EL Pastor - Crab Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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Ambiance is off the charts BEAUTIFUL. We needed this place desperately. Even on a cold, gray winter day, this place transports you to sunny, warm Mexico. I also really loved the vibe here- very multi-ethnic LGBTQ2S friendly. Staff are so friendly and the menu is totally unique. They do breakfast AND AUTHENIC Mexican street food- which is such a cool combo. The delivery is wonderful. Bravo!!! read more

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The food was very fresh and with great Mexican flavors. It's been a while since I had decent Mexican food and this place did not disappoint! Delicious our whole family enjoyed including our picky eater kids. read more

My neighbour recommended we come here, she raved about it a lot. She said it rivaled my personal favourite Mexican place, that I had recommended to her. So we drove down, and upon arrival, I realized we'd already been one time before. I had not been blown away on that occasion but I was having a bad day as I remember, and NOTHING, but nothing was going right that day. I was hangry, and had point blank refused to eat in 3 restaurants prior to this one, husband drove here and said "we're eating here and that's an end of it" and I knew he'd reached the end of his tether with me. Understandably. Poor guy. So I thought that it was only fair to give it another try. My neighbour had specifically mentioned the carne asada fries, which is on the appetizer menu. I asked if I could sub ground beef (I don't like carne asada, I always find it chewy, or has gristle) and they were happy to do that. Husband got the California burrito. They have a nice, very clean sauces bar with the things you'd expect like sour cream, jalapeños etc. I was intrigued by the raspberry habanero sauce, so I got a little pot of that. I had a little taste of it, and definitely, the fruity raspberry flavour is forefront, but then on the back of that is a nice warming heat. Very nice, I liked it a lot. The food came out pretty quickly. My plate was enormous - I've seen another review where someone is unhappy with the size of the portion of these fries - I cannot make that same complaint. There is a huge amount of food here. It's a definite sharing plate, if you're interested to know that. And beautifully plated too. And I was delighted that they weren't shy with the cilantro, which I love. Nothing says Mexico like a good green scattering of cilantro. Yum. I liberally doused my dish with the raspberry habanero sauce, and attacked it with great vigor. I was no match for this gustatory delight however. I could only manage about a 1/3 of it. Normally, I'd have gotten at least half downed with ease, but my appetite has taken a beating this past week, I'm not in a good place, and my appetite knows I'm not quite myself. Anyway, I've got a to-go box in it with more food than what I ate in the restaurant. Husband very much enjoyed his humongous burrito, nothing at all wrong with his appetite, he ate it all, and his tortilla chips with great gusto. The young ladies serving behind the counter where you order your food, are very pleasant and smiling. The space is very clean and modern, and large parties can be accommodated should you require. read more

EL Pastor - They serve breakfast too? Count me in - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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Dropped in for breakfast this morning. The menu was seriously amazing! A nice array of Standard American breakfast items but of course a terrific selection of amazing Mexican dishes. I had the birria hash, others had the Heuvos Rancheros. It was busy but worth the 20 minute wait for a table. Our order was taken quickly with drinks brought soon. Food came later - not too bad considering it's made with love and attention. This place is worth coming to Eagle River for! read more

EL Pastor - Heuvos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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Great food at a decent price for Alaska. I've not realized how expensive a meal can be these days in Alaska but the food is better than I remembered. Based on a professional recommendation, we tried El Pastor for lunch today. Food, shrimp burrito for me and a carnitas taco for G, was delicious and the right amount of food. I also had a reindeer sausage and it was amazing! Not sure who is their supplier, but would like some sent to my home in the Lower 48! While the ice tea was not fresh, there are unlimited refills on the Coke products. Service was good and promptly brought out our food. Also, the atmosphere was really nice - good date spot or being the family or hang with your friends! I hope you appreciate the recommendation as much as we appreciated the recommendation from our bank! read more

This spot came under new ownership back in March, and happy to report the food is just as good as it previously was. They also added some menu items like a California style burrito & carne asada fries. I love Mexi-Cali cuisine so I tried both of these items. This burrito was hefty, and the flavors did not disappoint. I ordered mine with pastor, and each bite was a perfect balance of toppings. The carne asada fries were pretty, but the portion size was kind of disappointing & lacked an array of toppings. Something was off about them flavor wise though. It seemed they forgot to add seasoning to the fries so overall the dish was bland. They are open 7 days a week, and also do breakfast, which I also recently tried. For breakfast I ordered the chilaquiles & added carne asada. While they had great flavor the portion size was pretty small in comparison to the price. I will go try more of their breakfast items in the future as I've heard good things. Since my last review they also have added a salsa bar with a good variety of options so you can customize the spice level of your food as you eat. As well as now have a beer & wine licenses so you can get some libations with your meal. I am happy to see that this restaurant changed hands instead of closing, and the food is still very good. This is definitely one of my top restaurants in Eagle River, and one of my favorite Mexican spots in the greater Anchorage area. read more

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We were in town for work and a local coworker recommended El Pastor--said he and his wife come here often. So glad we met here for breakfast! The space is beautiful--bright, welcoming, and spotless the moment you walk in. It even smells clean, which is such a refreshing first impression. Our server, Rae, was an absolute gem. Friendly, attentive, and full of great recommendations (and, she kept the coffee flowing--critical for a busy workday!). I had the chilaquiles and swapped red chile for green--10/10 decision. My coworkers had the chile verde breakfast and the birria hash, and I heard nothing but rave reviews about that hash. Everything we had was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Can't wait to come back next time we're in town! read more

Husband and I stopped for dinner after hiking - must say it was an excellent stop! I had the chipotle chicken burrito. Oh...my....gosh....delicious! Chunky chicken pieces, nice smoky (not spicy) chipotle flavor, tasty guac, flavorful beans and rice on the side. My husband had the California Burrito with chicken - he said "the flavor was good, lots of chicken, it was just....so good. The chips tasted homemade and were some of the best ever." Looking forward to returning for the breakfast I've read so much about as well as the street tacos. read more

EL Pastor - Chipotle Chicken Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

El Pastore is hands down one of my favorite breakfast spots in the Anchorage area. While most people default to Snow City Café when asked about great breakfast places, I'd put El Pastore right at number two--if not tied for first. This cozy little Mexican restaurant, tucked away in a small-town vibe setting, is the kind of place you just fall in love with. They serve breakfast until 2 PM, and the food is consistently fantastic. I've been coming here for years and have tried so many different dishes--everything has been delicious. The staff is friendly and helpful, the atmosphere is warm and great for conversation, and the prices are very reasonable. One of the things I love most is the ability to customize the spice level--just add some of their hot sauce if you want to kick it up a notch. Absolutely a five out of five spot, 100% worth checking out if you haven't already! read more

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After two visits we have to surrender to the fact that this place isn't going to get it together. We had such high hopes. On a positive note we love the decor. Simple, yet authentic. A real south of the border feel. The service has been adequate, not excellent. The servers seem distant and disconnected with the job. Like I'm a number. The food quality falls short. The Carne Asadas tasted flat, almost like pie-cooked and reheated. The rice had several hard and crunchy grains, perhaps undercooked? There are several phenomenal Mexican restaurants in Anchorage and the surrounding area. Two in Eagle River, alone. Not comparing, but just pointing out the need to step-up one's game. 07/24 read more

Yum!!!!! Authentic and friendly. Good options for the whole family. Prices are reasonable as well:)

The worst customer service, a sign says wait to be seated and workers just come and pass you and don't even acknowledge you are there. When you finally are seated, you wait and wait and wait and no one even comes to give a menu or anything. The workers are just walking around not acknowledging you are there. It would be one thing if it was busy but most tables were empty. read more

Menudo? More like meh-nudo. So I was hyped--like genuinely excited--because . I Heard the menudo here was legendary, So I march in, throw down my $15 and proudly carry home the container of what I thought would be rich, meaty, soul-reviving goodness. I get home, rip the lid off like it's Christmas morning... and what do I see? A pale broth. That's it. Just sad, lonely broth. At the bottom? A handful--maybe 1/5 of the container--of actual meat. I thought I was being pranked. I even stirred it around like Dora the Explorer trying to find hidden treasure. Nope. That was it. Just a couple chunks of tripe doing the backstroke in sadness. I mean... $15?? That's restaurant menudo pricing, not "oops we forgot to include the main ingredient" pricing. A whole can of decent menudo at Carrs is like 8 bucks and actually gives you something to chew on. If they were running low, just say that. I would've picked something else. Instead, I got bamboozled by broth. I had to sit down and write this because the whole thing was so ridiculous, it felt personal. I don't know if I got the end-of-the-pot scraps or what.... By the way, a good menudo should have hominy. Zero stars for meat quantity. One star for broth temperature. Five stars for inspiring this emotional journey. read more

We visited one time, it is following the trend of order at the door, get your own tableware and condiments then find your table and they bring you your food. More or less a to-order cafeteria. No ambience to speak of, tile floors and basic table & chairs. The food is fine, some good but some not so much. Options are limited for vegetarian or low carb. Need to try them to see if it works for you. read more

Wow... what a breakfast treat!! We were pretty dedicated to another breakfast spot until it was purchased by another and changed pretty much everything we love about. After seeing all the great reviews for the last couple years, we decided to give them a try and so glad we did... kind of feeling a bit foolish for waiting so long now! I was worried that breakfast would have been over by 11:00 when we arrived on a Saturday but that was not the case, it's served until 2pm. Sooo many options from traditional pancakes, waffles and omelets to some seriously awesome breakfast tacos & burritos! Carne Asada breakfast tacos were amazing... scrambled eggs, beans, carne asada, onions, pepper & potato hash, served with corn or flour tortillas. The tortillas were so hot I couldn't even build my taco straight away. There's a nice salsa bar with several options, mild to hot and sour crème to boot! I have told half a dozen people about since Saturday morning ... The place was hopping, some were enjoying football on a big screen while others were just enjoying the company they kept... service was great and food will definitely bring us back again! read more

Best most authentic Mexican food in Eagle river. Best tacos, fantastic Carne asada. Can't wait to go back.

These are the best Tacos in the Anchorage bowl. They treat Mexican food like it should be. You get tacos served with onions, cilantro, and a lime wedge. That's real authentic tacos. The service is great and the staff are kind. read more

Best Mexican food in Alaska. Always delicious. Always well presented. Great ambiance.

Food was phenomenal and the service was so good!! I liked the atmosphere and how accommodating they were to allergies and preferences. Will go back! read more

EL Pastor - Carne Asada Fries Carne Combo Burrito Supreme - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

Always great food. It used to be full service and I miss that aspect. However the quality of food is always great.

Second time dining here, first time wasn't great but I returned to try breakfast based on reviews. We were seated right away, promptly brought the water and hot coffee. The food looked and tasted great. I ordered the chilaquiles, loved how the plate was hot as it kept the food warm while I ate. The portion was generous, just enough heat from the salsa. The dining room was clean, nice ambiance, old school Juanes playing brought back memories lol. I'll definitely return and recommend giving them a try. read more

We had a group breakfast here. I ordered a breakfast Burrito with reindeer sausage. My cousin had a cool Chellito dish, I wish I ordered. I also ordered Horchata. Beware their own hot sauce burned my lips. Wish they had salsa instead. The house potatoes were good with it. Brought 1/2 back for breakfast tomorrow. read more

EL Pastor - Reindeer sausage breakfast Burrito. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

We loved it .. I moved to Alaska from California years ago and have tried multiple Mexican restaurants here and nothing really compares .. this place is the closest yet along with the salsa bar. Dessert was delicious too! Flan and fried ice cream only $5 each The service was great... we ordered and paid at the front and they served our order to us. The place was super cute inside too very relaxing and not squished with people right next to you .. well worth our money read more

EL Pastor - Menu items - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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Great food and service!! We had French toast, and they were delicious, also had Dos Salsas tostadas for breakfast and the sauces and chorizo were amazing! read more

EL Pastor - Dos Salsas Tostadas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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Was really good had the cornedbeef hash and eggs,service was good food tasted great this place is awesome

Best mexican Ive tried near acnhorage so far. wasnt busy at all but it should be. If you want try trysome really good mexican go here and get the birria read more

I ordered tacos (carnitas and chicken) and they were fantastic, with lots of meat, cheese, salsa, and fresh lettuce. The margarita was fantastic...no fake lime green coloring. I'll be back soon for a full meal! Super friendly staff and clean, comfy seating area. read more

El Pastor is a hidden gem in Eagle River. The restaurant is clean and spacious and the servers were friendly. Food arrived quickly. As of right now I've only had breakfast here, which I highly recommend. Lots of great Mexican options, such as huevos rancheros, plus standard American breakfast like biscuits and gravy. Prices are very reasonable. I ordered the dos salsas, which are two tostadas with refried beans, chorizo, lettuce, red and green salsa, sour cream, and queso fresco served with two eggs and a slice of bacon. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The portion sizes are generous - so much so that I ended up with leftovers. The lunch menu is available all day so I definitely intend to come back to try the tacos and quesadillas. read more

EL Pastor - Dos salsas from the breakfast menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

I tried this place for the 1st time and was very impressed! I had the chilaquiles. The food was outstanding and the service equally as good. Will definitely be back! read more

I think I found a Saturday morning breakfast spot finally. It was super busy when I came in but was promptly greeted and told I could sit at the bar which works for me. I had the traditional breakfast, bacon and eggs with hash browns. Even as busy as they were the food came out pretty quick and was delicious. read more

EL Pastor - Bacon and eggs with hasbrowns. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

I went to eat dinner and then breakfast there in the last week, here is my take: If you don't have time to read everything, please go to the bottom to the ***! 1) Dinner- I ordered the Carne Combo with carne asada, no onion and extra rice instead of beans. My order came out exactly as ordered and after about 20 minutes of waiting. Every aspect of the food was delightful, flavorful, and well plated. I was extremely impressed with the flavor of the salsa at the salsa bar. This portion was really well thought out, and perfect for someone on a normal night. If you are eating after an event or are particularly hungry, I recommend ordering the chips and salsa or something in addition. Because I was still a touch hungry, we ordered the Churro cake and the fried ice cream. The price was amazing--$5 per. Three people split the desserts and, frankly, couldn't finish them. The churro cake was really great and a great compliment to the fried ice cream. The churro cake had a great flavor! 2) Breakfast- Go to their breakfast. That's it. Go. They had a unique take on biscuits and gravy as it was a touch spicier than I was accustomed to, but I would not have it any other way. There was not anything on my plate that I would not highly recommend. I am not even a huge fan of eggs, but they were incredible! The country style potatoes were perfectly seasoned, the carne asada was soft and flavorful. It was a fantastic meal. ***One important thing to note: you can very much tell that everyone there is hustling and doing their best to make orders accurate. This is not the place that you want to go if you want something extremely fast. Several times I got up and got water myself and went up to the counter for more coffee. They were running everywhere and working extremely hard to make the food amazing. Please be patient with them as they very obviously have signs asking for more workers. They are doing amazing work and deserve a little patience I will undoubtedly be back. read more

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The best Breakfast option in ER. The service of the staff and their spin on Breakfast is solid. My pic that I posted is my favorite meal so far, otherwise the Carne Asada Combo is bomb as well. Cheers! read more

EL Pastor - Carne Asada, Bacon, Eggs, Biscuit and Gravy! Pork Shoulder Chili Verde breakfast, Mexican Coffee. Bomb!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

I was referred to this place by one of my employees. The location is less than desired, hidden from the main drag in Eagle River. I was very underwhelmed walking into this place. We were not greeted at the door and it was a ghost town inside. But the food was quick to come out! I got the three street taco, it was ala cart, the husband got the huge burrito && we got the pozole && guac to share. The guac was pretty good, nothing to write home about tho. And I got the street tacos, one lingua, one Al pastor && one carne asada. The only one I liked was the lingua, it was super juicy and well cooked! The meat was super dry on the other two. The pozole had no flavor unfortunately- but the topping/ sides helped it some. The husband liked the burrito. Overall not impressed by the food here - maybe it would be different on a hoppin Friday night - but over all underwhelming experience. read more

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We recently tried this place on a whim after a Costco run. I'm sure glad we did! Fast, friendly and cute place! I had two tacos and my husband had a burrito(shrimp). we did have to pay for chips and salsa, but again- glad I did.. super good salsa, everything was very flavorful! Our meal was plenty for us and was around $35 even with paying for the chips & salsa! Will be back when through ER again for sure. Many things on the menu sounded amazing & I can NOT wait to try their breakfast-when looking at reviews it seems that this might be the place to go for a good breakfast. read more

EL Pastor - Tacos(halibut & barria), shrimp burrito, chips & salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

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This is a family owned restaurant that serves Mexican dishes. Their menu is simple but sufficient to satisfy almost anyone for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was here for breakfast and had the Waffle Combo of one large waffle on a separate plate, 2 eggs to order, chive of sausage or bacon, hash browns and coffee and cold water. The waffle was cooked just right with a mild crunchy surface and light but done interior. I ordered eggs over easy and they were cooked correctly with the yokes semi-runny. The hash browns were golden brown with a crunchy surface but again perfect inside. I choose the sausage which were two links of pork breakfast sausage. The outside was lightly browned but again they were moist and cooked inside. To often in some restaurants they come nearly black and over cooked but not here. The coffee was hot, dark black and flavorful. The breakfast was reasonably priced. This is also a family place and good for kids. They have several TVs for your viewing from any table. They can accommodate large groups. The waitress was friendly and efficient. She was attentive and checked on sufficiently to bring additional coffee and water and to be sure my order was correct. They have takeout, delivery by delivery services. This restaurant is not visible from the main road as it is behind a small mall and the VCA Animal Hospital. Another way to find it is turning like you were going the ER AIH and stay to the left and you will come right to the front of the restaurant and their large parking lot. They are well worth hunting to find them. read more

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Service: Friendly. Ambiance: Fast meal. Eat and run. Food: You like Tex Mex with high levels of salt? Go here! Not bad food just high in salt. Cost: Prices are fair here. Advice: Give this place a try if your local and need fast dish. read more

Great food and service. Definitely a repeat visit is needed. And the interior is inviting and warm.

Carne asada taco salad, el pastor nachos, chimichanga. Quick to come out the kitchen. Clean and good presentation. read more

EL Pastor - Carne asada taco salad, el pastor nachos, chimichanga - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Eagle River, Alaska

Under new management has made a huge difference to this place! They did some small changes to the interior, updated the menu, the designs, and the service changed for the good! We were greeted very nicely by the sweet girl working the cashier, (she said she designed the new menu board). The entire staff was very willing to help make your experience great, they checked in, asked how the food was after, it was great! The food definitely got an upgrade in quality and plating appearance. You now get high-quality, fresh food, with a fancy higher-end plating experience complete with applicable garnishes that was not included before. I'm very happy how this place is operating now under new management and will be back again! read more