Chips and salsa and horchata were good. Ribeye steak was not very good quality but there was a lot of food and it came with a lot of peppers and onions. One person had too many tables and they need to just keep a napkin dispenser on the table. It took too long to get napkins. Service was friendly. I prefer places that let you order single tacos so I was not able to try any of the tacos this time. Rice and beans were fine, nothing special. Overall, it was just ok. read more

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We were driving from Chicago towards Detroit when we got really hungry. We found El Rodeo and were deeply moved. So we composed a celebratory poem: Ode to El Rodeo   After Chicago our tummies do rumble We search on our phones but continue to fumble   I-94 offers very few options Just pizza and hot dogs and doughnuts with toxins   We're driving away towards Kalamzaoo Feeling so hungry, screwed up the wazoo   Then, our Fair Benton reveals a curio Mexican grub at a place called El Rodeo   Got us a booth made of wood....somewhat sticky The food looked ok, but not really that icky   Fajitas arrived, with extra cilantra Fiesta en boca, I'm Man of La Mancha   Now that we've found our oasis en route We race down the road, waving Cowboy Salute. read more

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Went for the first time yesterday. The margaritas tasted like they came from a mix and they were way overpriced! And the chile relleno didn't have a chile in it!! (only a gob of melted cheese and some ground beef). Not impressed - and not a good experience! read more

Just ate here. I suppose the food my friends got was ok. But mine was not good at all. Bland, flavorless steak tacos. Just weak AF. Avoid. Just awful. read more

Awesome lunch plate. Spot on service. Just an arbitrary lunch stop while traveling and it was so well managed I had to rate it. Great job! Only downside might be that they should finish the remodel upgrades. read more

El Rodeo - #7 lunch special. Wow! - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Today we tried the regular margarita but the larger size. I did not like it very well. I'm not sure if it's the mix that they use. We got the pork tamales, which were a bit dry. I always forget when I order a quesadilla at a Mexican establishment that it's not the quesadilla that I'm wanting. With that being said it was stuffed with chicken and peppers and cheese and tasted very good. It's just really hard to pick up. The beef enchilada plate was exceptional. They definitely do not skimp on meat as there was so much extra that we just couldn't eat it. Great service And always very friendly. read more

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Great food delivered quick. Not sure why it's 3.5 stars. One of the better ones I've had.

Always love these family run local Mexican Restaurants. Rodeo was no exception. The service was amazing, we had our drinks in no time flat. The food was famtastic, especially the Quesadilla Rodeo and the Tacos Carne Asasa. Overall, great experience for a quick meal or a family get together. Plenty of space, nice atmosphere, awesome food. On Saturday nights there is a live musician, he was fun as well. We would definitely eat here again. read more

El Rodeo - tables and chairs in a mexican restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

I give three stars for this review because the past service there deserved A+. I always order the Polo Jalisco, for decades! A couple of weeks ago the spinach and mushrooms in the dish were torched, black. It was as though they forgot to add, tossed on the grill and fried to a black crisp and added into chicken. I see it is torched upon arrival and state so to the waiter. He shakes his head no and says noo. I'm thinking one thing but say, "it really is burned." He (a newer young waiter ) walked away without saying anything. We can all agree I should have asked for the manager at that point but I really wanted to chill and complaining wasn't beneficial to my mind frame. The meal usually comes with tortillas, none arrived. I picked at the meal and decided to let this be my last visit at El Rodeo. If they won't admit food is burned who am I to attempt to prove it?! End of an era for me! At the end of my meal the waiter comes back and asks if I'm finished, I said " I am, I can't eat it, you know it IS burned and I feel you should have taken it back, please ask your manager to look at the plate." He carries it to the bus bin, then found a man who followed him back to the bin, the waiter dug it out while I paid (yes, I paid ?!), the man looked at the plate, then walked away. No offer to discount, no apology. There may have been a change in management at El Rodeo, this isn't the norm. In summary prices increased, service sucks and burnt food is now ok to serve. read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

I love Mexican food from El Rodeo, I would say this restaurant is the best Mexican restaurant in the area. I went here multiple times and the staff are always nice, always clean, and great food. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant. read more

El Rodeo - I recommend the enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

The atmosphere was very welcoming and was grateful for the bilingual experience (English and Spanish). The food was great! As well as price, they have vegetarian options! Can't wait to go back! Authentic Mexican restaurant. read more

El Rodeo - Vegetable Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Was driving through on a road trip and so glad we stopped here! I got a michelada to drink and it was one of the best I'd ever had! I also had their special 20oz lime marg for $9 and it was absolutely perfect. Both drinks were made and garnished excellently. I ordered a quesadilla that came with chicken, chorizo, onions, and of course the side of lettuce, tomato, and guac! It was really big and delicious, seasoned well and came out quick and hot!! The restaurant and bathroom were clean and our server was very friendly, quick, attentive! read more

I have visited this business twice. The price point is good for the amount of food that you get. The first time I got a takeout order of a chicken chimichanga with no beans. I will say that my takeout order was huge! I had leftovers and could've even split my order with someone else. The second time I ate in. The interior is nice and has areas with pops of color. The table ordered the largest order of guacamole and it was delicious. I ordered a chicken chimichanga (no beans) again. I don't remember the service being remarkable or horrible. I'd say average. My review still stands. I included an image of both of my visits as well as the receipt for my dine in order. I did not try the fried ice cream, I purchased it for someone else and they enjoyed it. read more

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The moment I walk into this restaurant I knew from the decor it was going to be a great dining experience. I ordered the nachos el carbon which was a shareable portion chips, melted cheese, onions, steak, chicken, and shrimp. I asked for pickled jalapeños to kick up flavor. The service was quick and the crowd began to pour in around 6 pm on a Wednesday. I will return to try the fajitas and burritos. read more

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Amazing! Everything is delicious. Salsa is amazing.. Food is great. Chimis are great .

If you hate authentic Mexican food, and you hate yourself, eat at El Rodeo. I ordered combo #2. Instead of a chalupa, I got a meatless tostada. The taco was a crunchy taco, like an American taco. But much worse. The "enchilada" was nothing close to an enchilada, and filled with completely unseasoned ground beef. I mean there wasn't even salt in there. There was no trace of flavor. The waiter seemed annoyed to see us. Our food came out waaaay too fast. This isn't Mexican food. I had better at my grade school in central Wisconsin. That's right, my entirely white, completely un-traveled lunch lady made better "Mexican". This is an embarrassment to the good people of Mexico, and their cuisine. I will never, never ever eat there again. UPDATE: when I woke up at 2 am with heartburn, I also had a WICKED headache from the single margarita I drank. So there's that. read more

It is too bad this restaurant is located in a half-closed shopping mall off the beaten path because the food was authentic and delicious and the service second to none! The guacamole is a must, and if you ask for them to spice it up by adding jalapeños -- no problema -- it's made fresh to order anyway. Unlike the Bob Evans down the street where the employees are reported to "hide out in the kitchen near closing" to avoid having to cook and serve another meal, we arrived shortly before closing and turned to walk away and they opened the door and invited us in. This quaint warm Mexican restaurant with an authentic ambiance to go with great Mexican food is a true hidden gem! read more

Best mexician food I've found in Michigan so far. There's a lot of mediocre Mexican food here. Way too much, actually. This place stands out for using fresh ingredients, authentic flavors, and generous portions. It's kind of pricy, but the rest around here just don't do Mexican food justice. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Considering Benton Harbor and St. Joseph have upped their Mexican Restaurant amount in recent years, this place doesn't really deserve to be on the top of anyone's list of "favorite spots in the area for Mexican food" even for a seasonal or one time tourist. I will admit, over the years I have enjoyed this place, even having my birthday here once. They put a sombrero on your head, sing and sometimes even put whip cream on your face. It can be fun. Downsides include, not being up to par with cleanness, having mediocre food and the presentation of the food (especially the refried beans) is lacking. I came here regularly in the past because I never cared about presentation and I was ok with middle of the road Mexican food, but the sanitation issue has stopped me in my tracks. My possibly final visit here met me with a rodent and ungloved hands. You can see the kitchen from the front door. When I was in the restroom my husband swore up and down he saw a rodent, though I admit I didn't see it. I did however get many visuals of coughing kitchen workers with ungloved hands. No thanks. read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

I'm glad we went here. The service was fast and the food was delish. I ordered the Superlidad Steak and it was so good served on a sizzling plate. We will definitely come back here again. read more

El Rodeo - Superlidad Steak. - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Horrible lunch, I ordered the chili relleno plate for lunch and the chill itself was like 1 inch long and the rest of the plate was beans. Terrible food. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. read more

Great food and the portions are huge. Service is friendly and attentive. Good food & good people.

Been going to El Rodeo for 28 years always delicious authentic Mexican food and the best Margaritas I have ever had served by friendly staff. read more

Great food, clean, prompt service, good prices. The food was excellent. Was just a short distance from our hotel.

Great Mexican food and huge portions! Our server was very friendly and our food came out really fast. The burrito grande we ordered was huge! Delicious tacos and steak quesadillas.. Warm and inviting atmosphere with friendly staff. We definitely will be back. read more

This was our third visit. The food is great, service is friendly and fast. It's a bit expensive but not outrageous. The only complaint is the guy walking around with a guitar. Please learn a few more songs. Slapping the same two chords over and over for more than an hour isn't entertaining, it's sonic abuse. read more

Service was good, didn't have a wait. Had amazing food. Meat was seasoned perfectly, would recommend!

Seated quickly, and friendly waiter took our order for margaritas. Pro tip: do not order the large unless you have a designated driver! Delicious but deadly. No problem with a menu substitution, and our food arrived in no time. Really tasty rice, beans, and cheese enchiladas. read more

BATHROOM IS DISCUSTING. Food looks terrible , all food is COVERED in cheese. Service is great tho

I used to love this place, key word used to. I don't know about other people but, I feel like this place has honestly gotten worse. It's service kinda is meh now and the food is out pretty slow when it used to be out really fast. I think they changed management I mean that is really the only reason I can think of. If you are a regular and you know what dishes they do best I think this is a good choice. If not I would recommend going down to la perla for better and more consistent flavor as well as better prices. read more

After traveling from Maui to Chicago decided overnighting in Benton Harbor, to break up our drive north, was a good idea. Staying at a nearby motel we popped in to El Rodeo. All we wanted and more! Welcoming salsa with chips. The 5 enchiladas dinner was delicious; the carne asada platter with all its components were so perfectly traditional. Used my warm corn tortillas to combine all my flavors together...rice and beans, guacamole tomato salad. Steak was well done and nicely seasoned. Our dinners were delicious. Our server was thoughtful and attentive. Oh, we shared a great margarita too! read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

Great food and great service. They are very hospitable. I love the taco salad, fajitas, and tamales. Actually I like it all!

I don't really write bad reviews, but it's Labor Day and I just finished my 6th waiter shift in 4 days. So that's 45 or more hours of providing kick ass service to literally hundreds of guests. I'm tired and I don't have my normal filters of tact and the masculine equivalent of grace so sorry for this. I only write this because I have eaten at this restaurant for years and this is my first bad experience. What happened? The music is obnoxious. I love Latin music and culture. This hip hop is awful. I am not going to come back for a long time. What happened. WTF. Skip it. My steak was not good. I ate it cause I'm about to collapse. I asked for no rice extra beans I got no bean only rice. I'm leaving half a beer on the table. Whoever is in charge needs to keep a closer eye on your people. All I wanted was a steak and a beer instead I got... I don't know what I got. I'm going to the store to buy my own steak. Disappointing. read more

Always great food! Had an amazing server named Lucas! Very nice and polite, if I could review him alone he would get a 10/10! This restaurant is very welcoming and cozy! Overall very great experience and service! 5/5 stars! read more

We got takeout late one evening (around 8pm) while passing through town. The food was still hot and fresh when we got back to the hotel. The portions are a good size and I really liked the complimentary salsa. They also had the best veggie fajitas I've had from any similar type of Mexican restaurant. They had broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots, green pepper, onions and tomato. This is a lot more variety than most places include. For a typical traditional Mexican-American restaurant, this is a great choice. read more

This restaurant is good, but not great. I had the lunch enchilada plate which comes with one beef enchilada, beans and rice. My issue is that isn't alot of flavor to these dishes. Whether it's the enchilada plate or the taco plate the flavor is the same, at least to me. Its clean, and decorated with very endearing hand painted wall murals and if you're in a hurry they do get the food out quickly. I would go back but only because my husband does like the food, if I was by myself it would not be my first choice. However, with that being said the price is right and a family of four can eat well without killing their budget. read more

El Rodeo - Eating lunch with two of my favorite people - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

This is truly an authentic Mexican restaurant. The dinners we had tasted just like the food we have in Mexico. The prices are reasonable, the service superb and the restaurant decor is perfect. Saturday evening just before 5 pm, the place was busy- by the time we left there was a waiting line. I had the shrimp especial and my husband had chicken grilled " bien casita" which came with a small salad on the plate and rice. My dish had an abundance of grilled shrimp, slices of avocado, and prance pieces and lime slices situated on the edge of the plate. Additionally, chips and salsa are presented prior to placing your order. Situated very close to a cluster of hotels there were also many local families in the restaurant as we heard them chatting with the diners. This is a must eatery for folks traveling through Benton Harbor- abreal gem! read more

We happened to be staying down the street, and took a chance. We truly enjoyed our experience a lot. Service was efficient and thorough, yet not overbearing. Prices were reasonable, with options for any budget. Atmosphere is casual, but clean. And most importantly, the food was better than good. I've been to Mexico for business a lot of times, and this place is the real deal. If you want "Amercanized," you can get it. If you want real Mexican food, comida authentico, you will find that spirit here. Ingredients were definitely fresh, as well as freshly prepared. Flavors were bright and enticing. And a pitcher of house margaritas washed it down nicely for some, while others enjoyed familiar brands of cerveza read more

At El Rodeo right now with a party of 7 and they have us bunched up at a table with no room to even eat. Piss poor service tonight and honestly my 1st bad experience but just because yall are busy doesnt mean give terrible service. I'm never coming back read more

Undoubtedly the worst food ever. Got the #23 plate and my Chile relleno was literally a nondescript slice of something green. In a cheese ground beef nacho sauce-ish type of concoction. The "chalupa" was a tostada shell topped with bean and more cheese. Only the tamale was edible. We were going to order drinks but changed our minds as we didn't want to fork any more money over to them. read more

El Rodeo - Close-up of the chili in chili relleno. - Mexican Near Me - Benton Harbor, Michigan

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