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    El Patron Mexican restaurant

    4.1 (129 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    El Patron Mexican restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    EL PATRON MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - El Patron Mexican restaurant

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    Queso
    Ashley T.

    I do not like Mexican food, when people ask if I wanna go get queso and margs my answer is almost always no but El Patron is delicious! Huge portions that don't break the bank. I ordered the quesadillas chicken supreme, I was stuffed with chicken and cheese. The side of rice was also delicious! The staff were very nice and our food came out incredibly fast. I would absolutely go back!

    Waiting area
    Kelly D.

    We stopped kn here while visiting our student at WCU and glad we finally did!! They are always busy and now I know why! Food and drinks are delicious and ambiance is spot on. Huge dining area with plenty of seating but not crowded. Chips and salsa brought to table right away, waitress took our drink order soon after as was there to take out food order as soon as we decided what to get!! Food came quickly and was delicious! Margaritas were fantastic! We will definitely be back here when in Sylva.

    Fajita Mix
    Kendall G.

    Very good food and friendly servers. I loved the fajitas. My friend got the flour tortilla cheese nachos and they looked great. the inside is very nicely decorated and spacious. there is good music playing and the price will probably be about $20 for a good meal

    Sam C.

    Giovanni was a great waiter. Always attentive. The food was delicious. I included photos of what we ordered, and I highly recommend!

    Burrito Jose

    Great service. Excellent margaritas and my favorite the Burrito Jose! So many tasty choices!

    Salsa bar
    Kellie D.

    Stopped in here for lunch with my husband and daughter. Busy before 11:30! We were seated quickly and brought chips and salsa. I was craving a soda but when I saw they were $3.99 so I went with water. The salsa they brought to the table was absolutely delicious. However, I was thrilled that they also had a salsa bar with multiple salsas and roasted jalapeños. Every one I tried was good but the one they brought to the table was my favorite. I ordered a new item on the lunch menu -- Huevos Ahogadas. It was scrambled or fried eggs in your choice of verde or Roja sauce. I chose scrambled and roja with beans for my side. It was good but not as good as huevos rancheros. Daughter ordered a vegetarian combo she loved and husband got a lunch combo he liked. Food came out quickly but no one ever checked on us again until we waved them down for more water. I ate dinner here a year or so and enjoyed my meal more. Overall a solid Mexican food spot.

    El Patron Loco margarita
    Dawn C.

    Can we agree that the Mexican food in the mountains is always good?! This huge restaurant was so yummy. It's more Tex-Mex than full-on Mexican, but I'm not complaining. The Flautas came with beef and chicken - both were very well prepared. We also tried the Fajitas with chorizo and chicken - yummy, yum, mmmm. The margaritas are good and robust. The restaurant is huge with lots of seating. There is a small covered patio area. The service was fast and friendly. We'd come back on our next time through town.

    They add 2 additional surcharges
    Anna L.

    Took a trip to the mountains visiting prominent universities for our son. So hesitant to try this place. I was not wrong. The food was horrible! Chips were stale, salsa was bland. My husband and I ordered the poblano ( not ever did have the canned white cheese in my poblano chile) every thing we had was very poor quality. The tortillas, chips, salsa, rice,beans and even the guacamole. The guacamole was dark brown. The poblanos were fried in old oil. You could see it and taste it. Don't be fooled! This place is not good. Fortunately for this establishment there is no competition in the area. We ended up going to a taco truck near by and absolutely had the best taco's there. Once we got the check we noticed two surcharges. They charge you for using a card. SMH plus another surcharge. $6 dollars extra ? For what. This establishment is lucky it's the only one out there, but don't be fooled by the reviews. This place has horrible food. I did notice on the counter ( we sat at the back to the right of the bar ) a can spray of fabreez and some kind of bug spray. I should have walked out when I saw that that.

    Guacamole salad and rice and beans that came with my Chimichanga Fajita.
    Mike S.

    Came to El Patron for my first time on Cinco De Mayo so let's just say I knew what were were getting into. We called for a table around 5 and were told it would be about 30 minutes. Once there we checked in. It felt like we waited more then 30 minutes more like 45 but I get it, it's Cinco and people stay at there tables longer then normal. Once seated our waiter quickly brought us out chips and salsa. We then asked if they had any specials and of course they had a bunch of drink specials. Makes since why it took a little longer for people to leave their tables. Once our drinks came we were already out of chips and salsa but our waiter almost immediately got us more. For my entrée I normally always get some kind of burrito but I changed it up... well just barely. I went with the Chimichanga Fajita with steak and am so glad I did. It was easily the best Chimichanga I have ever had. That fact that it was covered in queso made it even better. Will for sure be keeping El Patron and my go to for Mexican in Sylva.

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    3 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    We enjoy this restaurant in Sylva. Their food was good! A popular place here. Workers were nice!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Great food and excellent service. They've got a pretty good variety with their menu and I've never been disappointed. Burritos are the best

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    2 years ago

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    4 months ago

    One of the best authentic Mexican food I have ever had. The service and ambiance was amazing.

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    1 year ago

    Great lunch place to sit and warm up. Chips and salsa are amazing. Had chicken fajitas and the tortillas are handmade and great.

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    2 years ago

    Burrito Especial and shrimp tacos were great. Good food, good and quick service, nice decor and full bar. I will definitely come back.

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    1 year ago

    It's a great place. Service is friendly and efficient. Food is great and in generous portions. Decor is nice too.

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Jose L.

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    2 years ago

    Absolutely delicious meals! No matter what you order, you will not be disappointed. The restaurant is always full of people

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Deliciousness! We gladly make the drive from Asheville to sylva to eat here. A gem in the mountains.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - El Patron Mexican restaurant

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    Colima Mexican Restaurant - Chicken quesidillas

    Colima Mexican Restaurant

    3.9(42 reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    The food here is really good and nicely priced. The fajitas here taste great and are cheaper than…read moreother mexican restaurants around, even for them being 3 meat fajitas. Although we did not eat from it, there is a buffet that looks to have many delicious options for a really good price. At the table they serve your chips and salsa with a pitcher, which is great for refilling it yourself! The servers were friendly and quick. The inside was nicely decorated and the lights were not too bright. It was a little cold inside but other than that it was great.

    Ordered a vegetarian dish. They brought out a cheese and meat burrito. Said they brought out the…read morewrong food and they were gonna grab the correct one. 15 Minutes later they bring out my dish, with an allergen I asked for them to leave off when ordering. By the time they got my food correct, the table was done eating. When trying to eat my food quickly, I noticed the same allergen that was notified to them several times mixed into my side of black beans. I could not even take the food home, and had time to eat maybe two bites of the main dish. When I went to check out, I had a margarita on the rocks with flavor. Looking at their menu, this should be 7.99 plus 1.00 for flavor. My friends got the frozen ones, and theirs came out to 8.99 plus 1.00 for flavor (pricing on the menu). The cashier rung me up for 9.99, the price of a frozen one, after I told him multiple times it was on the rocks. At this point, I just wanted to leave the place ASAP. After telling him on the rocks again, he did not change the price and just asked for a tip. Left 10%. Will not be going back.

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    Foragers Canteen - Shrimp elote tacos

    Foragers Canteen

    4.4(328 reviews)
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    This was not what I was expecting -- in the best way possible. I came here with a friend who had…read morevisited the previous location before they moved, and I can confidently say this experience delivered exactly what I needed. First, let's address the only downside: my burger was slightly overcooked. The server was very kind and attentive, but by the time she came back around to check on us, it felt a little late to send it back. I decided to remove the meat and enjoy the rest of the burger -- and surprisingly, it was still very good. My only hope for next time is that everything comes out cooked exactly as intended. Now for the positives -- because there are plenty. The wait time was excellent. We didn't have to wait for a table, and the food came out in a timely manner. That level of efficiency definitely adds to the overall experience. This restaurant is clearly operating at a high level. The location is great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and everything feels well-managed. You can tell there's pride behind what they're doing. We ordered The Goat Burger with Crispy Buttered Taters and started with the Fried Deviled Eggs. The fried deviled eggs were a standout. They had a salty base with a slight kick of heat, and the pickled onions brought in a sweet, tangy balance that elevated the dish. The salty-sweet combination worked beautifully together. A strong appetizer choice. As for The Goat Burger -- aside from being slightly overcooked -- the flavor was impressive. The patty was well seasoned, and the fried goat cheese paired with bacon created a rich, savory profile that complemented the crispy buttered taters perfectly. Everything worked cohesively on the plate. Even after removing the meat, the toppings and structure still delivered strong flavor. The food was absolutely worth the money. I left feeling full and satisfied without feeling overly heavy, which is always a plus. This is a place I will go back to again and again. I would confidently recommend it to others -- great location, good food, good people, and solid service. They also offer wine and beer for those who want to enjoy a drink with their meal. Overall, a very strong experience. I'm looking forward to coming back -- and next time, I'm hoping everything comes out cooked perfectly.

    Came to town for my older daughter's college tour at WCU and looked up foragers on a previous visit…read moreand looked up the reviews so decided to bring the whole family +1 and give it a try. The layout of the restaurant is very homey with the Green velvet love seat by the door in the waiting area. It seems very casual with mostly family's and a few couples at the bar. When we arrived there was a short wait so we walked out to admire the Jackson County Courthouse on the hill across the street. After our brief walk our table was ready. We had my wife, son 2 daughters and the oldest one's boyfriend who goes to WCU. We started with the fried deviled egg and cheesy prosciutto croquettes for an appetizer. Big fan of the tomato jam and croquettes so much that I saved the remaining portion for my Gouda grits. They have a wide variety on the menu so everyone found a meal they would enjoy. My wife got the motherclucker chicken sammich with a salad, my youngest daughter got pasta Alfredo, my son got the Rueben, I ordered the fish tacos with Gouda grits and Karlea and Tristan got a basic burger and fries. Other than being messy, my fish tacos were tasty with the slaw and blueberry composite. My wife liked her chicken sammich even though it was at the edge of her threshold for spicy. Brody enjoyed his Rueben but the seasoned veggies were a bit bland. Forager seems like a Sylva staple that will stay on my shortlist. Cheers!

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    Cafe '64 - Cafe '64 Menu

    Cafe '64

    5.0(1 review)
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    I took part in the soft opening today for Cafe '64 for both breakfast and lunch, and it was…read moredelicious! I had a Southwest Burrito, which is a tortilla stuffed with scrambled eggs, grilled onions and red bell peppers, bacon, sausage and cheese, and it was HUGE! The price was fantastic at $3.25 - definitely a terrific value. For lunch, I had a Grilled Cheese Medley panini grilled on sourdough with garlic butter, a cup of tomato bisque and a side of macaroni and cheese (because cheese) - the total was $8.01. The sandwich was perfectly grilled - golden, crunchy and crusty on the outside and warm and gooey on the inside with cheddar, provolone and pepper jack cheeses. Beautiful cheese pull and mouth feel. The bisque was thick and creamy, and had diced pieces of fresh tomato. The mac and cheese tasted like homemade real (not boxed) mac and cheese, not too dry and not too gooey - just right. Ther service was quick and friendly, and the chefs are more than willing to make prepare your food to your specifications. This is a cafeteria style restaurant, not full-service with wait staff. The dining area was bright and airy with lots of windows and natural light. The dining area has both large booths that could seat six and tables and chairs. On the walls are old photos of the college from its earlier years interspersed with photos of the current college. The food was delicious, the chefs talented and accommodating and the atmosphere cheerful and interesting. I highly recommend Cafe '64 and will be a regular!

    The Rivers And Rails Tavern - Carnitas

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    4.3(89 reviews)
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    I was there on a Friday and sat at the bar. They have a $3 PBR cans special on Fridays so I had…read moresome a couple of those. I ordered the pickle brined chicken sandwich. It normally comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and special sauce. I didn't want a mayonnaise based sauce....trying to cut some calories since I'm already having a deep fried sandwich! I instead got a smear of buffalo hot sauce which was a really good substitute. The sandwich was super crisp and spicy. Very good! My only gripe is that when I get a sandwich at a restaurant, I expect some type of side dish. It could be a small amount of fries or some potato chips but something. R&R has lots of good sides so they could offer some free fries but then encourage up charge sides for one of their delicious options like their truffle fries. Ive eaten there a few times and each time, very consistent, good food!! Bartender Chynna was very nice. Bar was getting busy but she handled everyone efficiently and friendly.

    Stopped in for lunch and we were seated promptly and greeted by our waitress. We had iced tea and…read moreour waitress suggested several favorites for lunch. I had the burger and fries and my wife had the Korean Steak Bowl. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed the meal. The crowd was minimal and the restaurant was fairly quiet everything was clean and we will go back in the future.

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    Apparently this is a river otter that's been taxidermy and is in the corner of the bar.

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    Boots Steakhouse - 16 oz ribeye with creamed spinach and fully loaded backed potato. Plenty for two!

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    4.3(348 reviews)
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    This spot was worth driving out of Cherokee (where we were staying) for dinner. The staff and our…read moreserver were very kind and quick. The restaurant is very cute and rustic, giving a nice classy feel. We got the French onion soup and fried mushrooms. The soup was a solid classic and the mushrooms were crispy on the outside and juicy and soft on the inside. I don't think that the boots sauce was the right combo with the mushrooms, only because even a small amount of the sauce overpowered all of the flavor. We split the country fried steak with a loaded baked potato and the creamed spinach. All three things were absolutely excellent and tasted home cooked. We got an Apple baked crisp with ice cream on it for dessert. It was baked to order, but was a little too overpowering with the cinnamon. Kind of felt like we were eating a straight up cinnamon sticks, it was almost bitter. The apple slices in it were nice and soft though.

    This is an unapologetic steakhouse in the best way possible. Ambience is old school steakhouse in…read morean old charming house(?). Service was amazing- thanks to our sever Lacey. We both had a couple of Southern Old Fashioned's that were great but I gotta tell ya' that ribeye steak is out of this world. Simply prepared to let the quality of the meat shine through. Massive cut/ took at least half of it home with me along with half of the baked fully loaded backed potato. Not cheap, but the value of the meal is absolutely there. Check it out and enjoy!

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    El Patron Mexican restaurant - mexican - Updated May 2026

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