This was the first restaurant I ate at when I moved to Memphis. I'd visited Memphis before and dined downtown, but this was my first "living here" experience. I had been unpacking all day and just happened upon this place when I went out in search of a margarita. I've been back several times and enjoyed it every time. Food: I've had several people in Memphis tell me this place has the best Mexican food in town. Perhaps it was a small coincidence that they told me that as they were sitting there eating with me. Truth be told, I do think this place stands out as far as the quality of their food. Mexican is one of those food types that's easy to do alright, but it's hard to really do something special. I think the quality of their cooking combined with the wide range of options on their menu really puts this place a few notches above almost every Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. I highly recommend the Pollo Loco Tapatio, but I have yet to be displeased with anything I've had. Drink: I'll be honest here: when I go for Mexican I drink two things: Margaritas and Patron. Doing otherwise just seems incredibly rude and inappropriate. That being said, I really like the house margaritas at this place. They're just really good for the money. Often house margaritas are too sweet or too weak on the liquor content, but they really know how to do them right here. And Patron... It's hard to mess up Patron. Atmosphere: the atmosphere on this one is what brought me to the restaurant. When driving by, the building is right next to the railroad tracks and looks a lot like an old train station. I'm not sure if it ever was an actual train station or not, but they incorporate a lot of the old train station feel into their motif. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, this place doesn't have the walls covered in paintings of cactuses and gigantic sombreros. In fact, they keep true to the "trainy" feel by having a little miniature train that runs around the top of the downstairs dining area and many other railroad touches like a foot rail at the bar made out of old railroad tracks. They also have a nice little outdoor patio for when the weather is nice. Service: I don't know that the service is that memorable, but I've never gone away thinking, "That was bad." Like many Mexican restaurants, there's a lot of Spanish spoken all around you, and a few people are a bit difficult to understand when they speak English, but the servers and bartenders are really quick to get whatever you need and are pretty polite. Bottom line: I think people are right. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in town. It's not just any one thing. It's the whole experience combined. I suggest you visit and visit often. read more

Ok? I went back since I was going to Gelsons, mistake again. I wish it made some impact on "the owner" her feedback tells you all you need to know. The lack of acknowledgement regarding the price and quality issues is just amazing. They have all they need to be a great restaurant, fix the problems or the customers will. read more

Collierville location I have liked this place over the years but had a bad experience today. 4 of us for dinner. They got three of the four meals wrong. The food quality was poor tonight. The bill was wrong. Server was not inclined to offer any remedies. read more

Don't go for your birthday.... they call you fat when they sing to you. Little did they know, I was spanish at the table and they were singing to my wife..... I was furious... Oh by the way the food is horrible too. Coming from a spanish person that has cooked almost all the dishes they do.... el patron in spanish translates to the owner. I bet not for too much longer. read more

Not my favorite El Patron location. They the place feels a little old and run down and the food quality doesn't seem to be as good as the others locations. Also the servers are not the best in the chain. I like El Patron, but I tend not to go to this location. There's a much better one just a bit farther south on Germantown Road next to the Huey's that I'd recommend instead. read more

I've been here about a dozen times, and it's hit or miss. Don't get the shrimp. It's always dry and overcooked. I have had a decent chimichanga here. The chips and salsa are par for the course. The service has been bad in the past, but lately is very good (hence the extra star). read more

This was my first time coming and it did not disappoint! The customer service was excellent, food came out fast, and tasted great!

-Freezing cold restaurant? -Sudden Ghost town during Saturday lunch rush? -Cold food? -Dirty restrooms with no purse hook? -Flooding toilets!? I used to be a fan and believe this was THE BEST but unfortunately I won't be returning. There's too many other Mexican restaurants in town for me to pay good money and get such poor quality as I got today. The temp dropped in the 50s today and I'm sensitive to cold but honestly, my husband and I could tell no difference from inside the restaurant vs outside.The whole place was dead today. On a Saturday! At noon! First red flag. The server came to take our order and brought us the cheese dip we asked for and it was super cold! The food still had good flavor but it was Luke warm at best and there was more shredded lettuce than anything. We both had to use the restroom and my hubby said his feet stuck to the floor and you can tell from the title what happened to me. Our waitress was ok but didn't check much after we received our food so we just kind of ran out of chips and salsa and napkins. There were at least 4 other servers sitting with her talking and laughing and folding silver ware ver the wall behind us, so we kinda felt ignored. The only pleasantry was the nice man at the counter that took my payment. I was just happy to go back outside in the sun and defrost. read more

Great food at a decent price! I've been going for years. The food is always fresh and the wait is never long. The staff are awesome and smiling! Salsa and chips are free while you wait ;) read more

Bang average at best, with all the options for good Mexican food and Margarita's near by your best off driving right past this place.

I loved everything about this place!! Service was good, food was the best ever!! I highly recommend this place if you love Mexican food!! This is my now go to place for anytime I want Mexican food!! LLOOOVVVEEEE IT!!!!! read more

I don't care what review you read trust me this places food and service is excellent.I always ask for Fernando he is the just best.Best items to order are the chicken cheese and rice, chipotle mango chicken, or the coconut shrimp.And the best margaritas are the Texas style read more

We come here just about every Friday night. Food is usually well done. Staff is okay - waiters can me inattentive at times, but usually they are decent. Once, my 18 month old nephew was crying, and they brought him a toy to entertain him. The girls at the door are always friendly. All in all, it's a good restaurant that needs a little improvement to be great. read more

El Patron - Inside the restaurant. - Mexican Near Me - Bartlett, Tennessee

Worst "Mexican" restaurant in the Memphis area! Had the chicken, it was dry. Beans were from a can and tortillas were cold. My Margarita had no alcohol in it. read more

We actually decided to come when another restaurant nearby was too crowded, and it was a fantastic decision! This was my first time at this restaurant after driving past it almost every day for two years. We started with a pitcher of beer and large cheese dip and of course salsa, their salsa was surprisingly more spicy than we expected it to be. I tried a vegetarian dish with a spinach enchilada, chalupa, and rice. Everything was delicious!! We also had a pitcher of margarita and I think it was the perfect balance of alcohol and flavor. They are located next to the railroad tracks in Bartlett, and a cute touch to the downstairs area is a train the travels around the perimeter of the restaurant. The only "negative" thing I can think of is their restrooms/room that leads to the restrooms could use a cleaning. The restrooms are also dimly lit. But we will definitely try this place again! read more

The restaurant has a cool, festive vibe. Food was good, not great. Tacos-schmacos!! The queso was a bit thin and watery, but was twerkable. Fajitas were the best I've had in a while. Portions were befitting a man of beefy stature such as my self. I hear the margaritas were stellar or (ahem) muy bueno! Bartender was mad cool too, BTWl! read more

Good food, good service, nice atmosphere. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city.

Everything was horrible.. food, decor & service! I have never been to a Mexican restaurant and my fajitas come out cold. There wasn't even a sizzle. Never again. read more

This is a typical Mexican restaurant, with decent food and prices. It's family oriented, and the Margaritas are good.

Great food and good portions. The Nachos El Patron are my personal favorite. Highly recommended.

Really good Mezzican restaurant. Went with PD and the Boy and his wife and we enjoyed it. Food was good plates were huge. Selection of beer was small but OK. Pretty extensive menu with quite a bit of seafood. I found the prices a smidge high. Service was quick and friendly. read more

This is possibly the worst Mexican food I've ever had. Ordered an enchilada and taco combo with rice and beans. The enchilada tasted like a corn tortilla rolled up and microwaved with cheese inside. The sauce on it was definitely from a can. Taco shell wasn't even homemade. The beans were so disgusting I couldn't even stomach them. My husband had the carnitas and they seemed to have been in the warmer for about 3 days! So dry. The flour tortillas were also clearly store bought. Also, there was maybe two or three tables of people in the whole place and they put us upstairs all alone. Pretty sure it's because we have a toddler. What a disappointment! Will NEVER go back there. read more

The good was horrible! Our server was great. I would not go back. The prices are ok. I eat out often and love sweet tea...even that was horrible read more

This is my very favorite Mexican restaurant to eat at!!! Been coming here for years! They always have fast service and the food is great! Lots of meat on the tacos. It has 2 things most restaurants don't, a nice patio to eat on and a train that goes by often! My son loves that! It's right by the railroad tracks in Bartlett. Also one inside that goes around the restaurant at the top of the wall. read more

Fair. Went because I had a coupon. Lunch fajitas were awful! Never had fajitas that weren't served from a hot skillet. other lunch special was delicious. And possible language barrier! Ordered avocado slices 3 times (waiter said ok) but never got them. Would return...with a coupon! read more

Food is ok, but nothing to write home about... Meats tasted a little under-seasoned and overcooked. Place is starting to get dingy and needs a good steam clean from stem to stern in my book. The menus are just ridiculous with the tall/thin layout and difficult to read. read more

Great 'ritas, queso, and place (actual edifice is pretty cool). Not expensive, but also not the fastest service ever. Love it and frequent it anyway, so obviously not bad! One pretty bad incident: bit into a chicken bone in a burrito and broke a tooth in half... read more

The BEST mexican in the Memphis area!!! Love it! We are diehard Mexican lover's. This place stole us away from our former favorite - of 20+ years! read more

Bland rice, bland beans, no flavor at all, ordered 2 steak tacos with the combo Nice surprise to get chips and salsa with my meal that I order to go for free however the salsa came out of a can so that's an automatic fail to me the tacos were hard shell tacos not even Mexican style more like a fancy Taco Bell version and they weren't even that good this is not authentic Mexican only thing Mexican about it is they have Mexicans working there Won't come back here for the food ever read more

Quick seating. Slow inattentive service. Fair food. Quacamole just mashed avocado. Ambiance absent.

Went there on a Saturday afternoon. The service was slow even though there were a few customers and a lot of staff. We sat in a booth. The seats are old and you sink about 5 inches. The menu is poorly designed and not easy to follow. Didn't get the food I had ordered. In any case after tasting what I got, I was ok. The chicken burrito was terrible. It was just chicken breast boiled in water and wrapped in the tortilla. The presentation was bad and by the time the food came to me-the tortilla was soaking in salty water I guess the chicken was in. I am not going back. read more

Great food for great prices. The chicken nachos were six bucks yet filled me up and a to go box. The salsa was not too hot but not bland either. Chips were fresh and hot. The only down side was the waiter was kind of slow but for the most part was a great experience read more

Fantastic meals. Excellent service. Loved the pollo adobe. Frequent customer. Near train tracks so occasional train passing by.

I've gone to this restaurant on several occasions and each time I've been impressed. The servers are friendly and patient and the food is delicious. Great place. read more

The place to go! The food is always wonderful. The service is wonderful. I've been going here quite frequently for years and never have I had a bad experience. I love it here! The fajitas I highly recommend. The salsa is always so good! Waiters and waitresses have always been excellent! Honestly my favorite. Oh, and the restaurant is beautiful ! Sitting outside is great. read more

The food is good and the people are friendly. Not my favorite Mexican food in Memphis, but certainly far from the worst.

Food was awful. Came to table barely warm. Not much better than El Porton. Will not be back. Waiter was good.

My husband and I just left with the sickest of all feelings after lunch. I ordered the combo enchilada's and he ordered the tamales. I noticed a pungent taste while taking a bite of the beef. He also noticed the same thing. We took another bite just to be sure an addressed this with the waitress. She took my plate to the cook and he confirmed that the meat was bad. To be exact she said " HE SAID MEAT NO GOOD!" I asked just to be sure did he taste it and she confirmed. I wanted to vomit right then and there as well as my husband. I live and work in Bartlett and I try to patronize local business in my community. Will not go back. I have a good mind to call the health dept. also. We also were asked to pay for our bill. This is not a problem but you would think after admittedly serving food that could make someone sick they would have compensated the meal especially when only few bites were taken and there was still 2 plates of food left. read more