Came here with my entire frisbee team after a tournament, and they sat all 20 of us on about 15 minutes notice, so shoutout them for that to start. As a whole, they handled the logistics of such a large group very well and got food out in time and on schedule. I got the arroz con Pollo, which was decent and a large portion. Also, regarding service, they kept the chips + salsa coming which was awesome. Never had the margaritas yet, but El Rods is pretty solid from what I've seen. read more

El Rodeo South Main - Arroz con pollo - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

As a true Mexican food lover, I highly recommend El Rodeo in Blacksburg, VA. If you enjoy bold, spicy flavors, you must try the Burritos Texanos with poblano sauce--absolutely delicious. The Tacos Poblanos (also with the poblano sauce) are another top pick and full of flavor. The restaurant is often packed, so expect a bit of a wait for your food. That said, don't hesitate--place your order as soon as you're seated. If you go with either of these dishes, you won't be disappointed and avoid the wait! read more

I'd only done the old location downtown, but tried this new one when I came back in town for a football game. Gotta say it was super duper good. I had the fajitas and couldn't believe how much meat and veg I got for the price. It was very flavorful and the service was outstanding too. Will certainly come back. read more

Let's start on a positive note- the birria tacos were "ok" at best but the pork was unseasoned. Unfortunately it's downhill from there... The chicken enchiladas were disgusting- soggy shells (entire dish was swimming in sauce?), too many peppers, & no flavor. Why did the black beans have green peppers? And how can you screw-up salsa & chips @ a Mexican restaurant. The salsa had both the flavor & consistency of can tomato sauce. Don't waste your money nor calories. read more

Food was fresh and yum ! Service was quick and fast. Ambiance was loud and mostly college crowd ! Broken glass table and taped up ! read more

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It was my first experience here but it was awful. I would never go back. They had Horrible service. The drinks tasted like pure water. It took forever for anyone to take our drink order and then took forever to bring the drinks. My queso I had was watered down seemingly, it was extremely soupy. We ordered food at the same time as ordering the drinks and the food took nearly 1.5 hrs which is ridiculous. I have no clue what was going on that day. read more

This place didn't disappoint. We went on a Saturday during college tours and surprisingly, the staff kept up with the demand. We were a party of three. We were seated quickly and our drinks were on the table in no time. We got a variety of dishes and all were SUPER good. Nothing to disappoint. We will definitely visit this place again. Nicely done folks. Keep up the great work, service and food. read more

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A Blacksburg staple! No one does no fuss no frills Mexican food like El Rods. So many memories over those jumbo margs....

Their service is SO FAST. How do they do that? The food was very good and I got it very quickly and I have zero complaints. read more

Solid fajitas, cant say I love them or they're better than Uncle Julios, but they taste pretty good with the flour tortillas. It comes with some free chips which was a bonus, didn't taste that great but who can complain with free chips and salsa? The burrito is more of a cheesy burrito and was a bit too salty, not that great, but for the price it was whatever. Overall a solid Mexican restaurant, would come again. read more

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Had to charge the truck and restaurant was convenient. Exceeded the 3 star average. Typical Mexican joint. Great location and enjoyed sitting in patio area. Decent not great value. Service was quick. No complaints. read more

I'm not from around here or else I'd be here every other day! This was hands down one of the best service I've ever received at a restaurant. Now let's talk about the food: *Chips were still somewhat warm, which is my favorite way to have them *Salsa had a little kick to it *Beef tips inside the chimichanga was perfectly cooked *Rice was seasoned well read more

El Rodeo South Main - Chips and Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

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We found a nice table outside for 7 that was nice and shaded. Everyone enjoyed their food. We got burritos, enchiladas and a few of the chicken dishes. Chips and salsa were good too. Food came out fast and hot. Also, be aware the hot water in the bathroom sink was steaming hot in a few seconds. A child could get scalded if they weren't paying attention. I've never seen hot water in a bathroom steam like that right away. Margarita was yummy too. read more

Cold, soggy food. Driver not given apt number for delivery! Will not use GrubHub again; nor order from El Rodeo. read more

Loved the atmosphere and food! The margaritas were excellent and pretty strong. The soft tacos, cheese enchiladas and churros were our favorites. The chimichanga wasn't deep-fried so that was disappointing. Service was excellent. read more

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Ordered take out. Was told it would be ready in 15 mins got there 25 mins later to pickup and still wasn't ready so I waited another 15 mins before I ask if they had even started on it was told that was a arrogant question. Got the food and it has to be the worst Mexican we had ever eat definitely won't be back to this place ever ! read more

Usually good place to eat and hang out a bit. On a chilly night (28F, -2C) weather, they didn't have heat on. Inside thermostat showed 55F! We really have to cut the dinner short. read more

Food is good. Their chicken soup is my go to when I am feeling sick...I will usually grab two quarts to keep in my fridge.

This was a great stop in if you are traveling through or frequent the Blacksburg, VA area and happen to be looking for a happy hour! Service is very quick and friendly; but set up and payment is a little on the awkward dysfunctional side. It is your standard "mexi" place complete with cheesy decor and dishes. Staff is friendly, but a little absent. Food was okay for American-Mexican fare and the drinks are delicious and worth coming in for. Can't beat the quality margs for such little cost! read more

El Rodeo South Main - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

El Rodeo fast service. Good food. Clean restaurant. I will be back! Chips and salsa arrived to the table a few minutes after sitting. read more

El Rodeo South Main - Enchiladas Verdes delicious! Fast service. - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

I ordered a stuffed steak and cheese chili relleno I got a raw yellow bell pepper with cold over cooked steak and a sprinkle of cheese. Cold beans and rice. This restaurant used to be good. This was the worst food I've ever eaten there. I think it will be sometime before I go back, which is a shame. read more

First time we got takeout from here it was amazing. For the Hokie Special, the chicken was grilled to perfection and had a nice chargrilled/smoky flavor to it, and there was a nice helping of onions and mushrooms on top. The chicken wrap was also perfect--a nice blend of chicken, "mexican mayonnaise" and other fillings. The second time, we ordered the exact same thing and were disappointed. The chicken for the hokie special was fine but not as perfect as before, and there were barely any veggies on the dish. The chicken wrap was 50+% lettuce and pico de gallo with very little chicken or mayo. The fries tasted oily. We'll be back because it's still the best mexican food we've found in the area, but hopefully the second time was just a rare miss and isn't a sign of inconsistency in quality. For what it's worth, we picked it up ourselves the first time and the second time was delivered via DoorDash. read more

If you order cheese dip to go you have to pay $2.50 for a small bag of chips even though you get some for free when dining in.

I have been coming here for the last 3 years. Always been patient with the ridiculous wait times for food since I typically enjoy it. However, the lack of customer service and communication is the last straw for me. Placed an order online after having confirmed the restaurant was open...fast forward to an hour later with no food only to receive a notification that my order has been cancelled. No call from the restaurant during that hour window of my "food being prepared" to let me know there had been a mistake. I called to find out what was happening only to be told I was "wrong." What? Okaaaayyy...So, no apology for the lack of communication or misinformation received nor did I get any reassurance that I'll get my money back. Anyway....SEE YA NEVER EL RODS! read more

Over priced food and drinks for the quality. Mediocre customer service. Better places to eat in the area.

- Great food (specifically their fajita nachos) - Friendly service (always have friendly waiters/waitresses) - Solid drinks (specifically frozen margaritas) - Fun environment - Good place for a large group of people read more

If I could give zero stars I would. My friend and I ate at this restaurant last week, and both of us had the tip amount that we put on our receipts increased without our permission. We both contacted this restaurant, and the same person who answered the phone was incredibly rude. She went so far as to say (when I challenged her about her attitude) "I'm about to get an attitude." She would not let me speak with a manager and she wouldn't give her name. What I can tell you is that the waiter's name is Mario. Whether he's the one that gouged us or not, I would absolutely avoid going to this establishment and if you do: Watch your credit card statement. Also expect ZERO customer service. When I told her I was going to contact the police about being defrauded, she just started yelling about "oh go ahead and call them." I'm not sure what else she said after that because I hung up. Avoid like the plague. And also - the Blacksburg police are aware of this situation so if it happens to you, call them. read more

There are two El Rodeo restaurants fairly close to each other; one is "on" campus, and the other is in the shopping plaza a few miles down the road. This is the one in the shopping plaza and I think the distance from campus does it a great service. The ambiance here is much more what I'm looking for: laid-back, music playing (that you can actually hear), and comfortable seating where you don't feel like you're sitting on the person in the booth behind you. The food is good, the service excellent. The next time I have a craving for Mexican food I will come back here with a bunch of friends and we will all enjoy ourselves. This El Rodeo is also much more family-friendly. It's not so noisy that it hurts my daughter's ears and we can talk without shouting over one another. read more

The El Rods downtown is a staple for Virginia Tech students. Years later, now that I'm back, I assume it's still a huge deal. My fiance and I decided to come to this location today because we figured it would be less rage-y and we were right. The interior is definitely a step up from it's downtown counterpart. I don't remember El Rods having very good food, but the food we had today was made very well. Also new is the white sauce they now serve with the chips. I don't think they had that before. The white sauce is SO good! I ordered a second round - good thing I was wearing stretchy pants. The mains were good. They weren't spectacular or anything - just very standard Mexican fare. It tasted like anything else I've ever ordered from any Mexican restaurant so I didn't have any complaints. If you're looking to avoid the college crowd, but still get their famous margaritas - come to this location! It's not very far away from their downtown location and it's a LOT nicer! The service, as usual, was excellent! read more

My drink was wrong. My food order was wrong, which was not a huge deal. BUT: at least two servers were wearing masks on their mouth only; leaving their noses exposed. They should know that this is not a safe practice and under no circumstances should they be serving food without a properly worn mask! read more

Their taco salad is crispy shell and fresh ingredients. Order it mostly but have tried other options on the menu and was very satisfied during my lunch hour and their fast service too read more

Standard Americanized Mexican slop with points for a nicely decorated interior and fast service. Chips come with watery salsa and Sysco ranch dressing. The standard "Mexican" options are available on the menu. The food arrives fast and is acceptable as long as you don't pay too much attention to the excess salt and cheese, gooey tortillas, and limp meat and vegetables. On the plus side, someone put some thought and care into the interior; it's the nicest looking "Mexican" restaurant you will find around here. The tables consist of glass over a wooden, flower-shaped support, and there are enormous ceramic vessels throughout, along with the standard barrel roof tiles on faux eaves. Despite the negative tone of my review, I will go again as there are no other options around--other than getting on a plane and flying west--when I'm in the mood for an enchilada. read more

Well, just had dinner with Mary at El Rodeo on south main and was very pleased with the meal we received (caveat: I am very critical of Mexican food having grown up 45 minutes from the US/Mexico border in Tucson, AZ - so here would be a good time to explain my ratings of Mexican Food: 5 Stars - "Wow! I'm in Mexico", 4 Stars - "Wow! I feel like I'm back home", 3 Stars - "Standard Americanized Mexican Food", 2 Stars - "Taco Bell would have been just as good", and 1 Star - "I think I'm gonna have food poisoning".) Anyway, I would say El Rodeo is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. Not quite like being home but not completely Americanized. Point in case, Mary ordered the Flautas with mushrooms, onions and queso fresco and they were out of this world! the tortilla was cripy and delicious and the mushrooms and onions were soft and covered with cheese! I ordered the Tacos de Asada, which are basically tacos de carne asada, and a small Tortilla Soup. The tacos were standard. They came with pico de gallo and a ranchero salsa that was lacking. The tortilla soup was tomato based and pretty good but not like anything I had before. This soup seemed like tomato soup with chunks of avocado, corn, chicken, queso fresco and thin strips of fried tortilla. Definitely not what I am used to but like it for what it was. The table salsa was quite different. It had a strong chile flavor that I couldn't put my finger on and it reminded me of a buffalo wing for some reason. But, I enjoyed it and there was none left when I left. The service was quick. I think we were in and out within 20 minutes, so no qualms with the servers or the kitchen in the field of efficiency. Also, they don't break the bank, I ordered two entree items that were barely over $10. I think we spent a little over $20 for our meal. Overall, not bad. I will eat there again if the opportunity is presented. read more

This might be a biased review because I don't like mexican food to be honest. I don't like tortilla which seems to be a part of mexican delicacy. The music kind of gets to my nerve. Servers are good but one lady is a bit moody. Food is okay. Interior is good. Again, Mexican food is something I try to avoid every time I go outside. Many of my friends like their food. The price is as it should be. Also, not a big fan of alcohol which is another reason why I don't prefer to come here. 3 stars for me. read more

The service was horrible. We would try to talk to our server and explain we needed a straw or more napkins he would just walk away as we were in mid sentence and acted like he was bothered to wait on us. I've been here before and usually the food is delivered in a timely manner. We waited 30 minutes for our entrees. The onions and green peppers in our meals were all burnt so everything tasted burnt. They never delivered one entree and finally I had to get up ask when could we expect his meal.since the rest of us were almost done. When it finally arrived the chicken was like rubber and was missing components of the dish. He just threw his napkin on the plate in disgust. No one seemed to care that we were unhappy and there did not appear to be any management of any sort in the restaurant. Food used to be good but it was a C if that but the service was an F! read more

do not listen to single bad review. I am so genuinely passionate about el rods. They more you come in, the stronger they make your margs. Lupé is my favorite server. He's like a second dad to me. He always post games at TOTS and some of the others hit the bar at bdubs on week nights of you ever want to chill with them out of their work environment. Such sweet people. And they seem even sweeter once they start serving you tequila. -Xoxo el rods sweetheart read more

A small place on the main drag. Actually just stopped here because it was game day and the other 2 places we tried had a 45 min-1 hour wait. We walked right in and were promptly greeted, were seated right away (there were tables available outside but we chose to eat in), and after selecting from the large menu had our food with 10 minutes. On top of that the food was good. Free chips and salsa (warm chips, yum). Kept our glasses with soft drinks filled. Pleasant service. Would definitely go here again. read more

El Rods never disappoints my family and I. The daiquiris are amazing and all the food is pretty good! Overall, I'm never disappointed with El Rods!! read more

Do not eat here. I have gotten food poisoning twice from this place and have heard the same from numerous people. Not sure why I even went back a second time but decided to give them a second chance because I understand mistakes can happen sometimes. However, the workers are careless and don't seem to care enough about their business. Terrible customer service and it always seems the workers are too busy flirting with the younger girls who come in instead of focusing on working. They give you one single receipt for the entire table which you have to split at the front. Both times I have been here the guy at the register has messed up while splitting our bill and accused us of not paying for certain things after everyone had already paid. You ask to see all of the receipts that everyone paid and he claims he can't pull them up anymore when you can see them on the screen. I have had to argue with the guy on both occasions about him incorrectly charging us. Total waste of money and will never be eating here or supporting this business again. Save your money and your well-being and go somewhere else! read more

I've always been a fan of the El Rodeo right by campus. The food isn't the most amazing thing in the world, but its cheap and comes out super quick. The music is fun and its a great atmosphere. However, for Cinco de Mayo this year, I went to the new El Rodeo on S. Main. While the place looks fancy and new, the food made me and all my friends throw up afterwards. We didn't order drinks, just the food. It took a while to get out, and when it did, we got sick. I'm scared to eat Mexican food now - so scared! read more