I love El Rods but you should know that they cater primarily to the college-aged drinking crowd. If you're looking for good, cheap Mexican food and huge margaritas this is the place for you! If you're concerned about quality, I would recommend you trying somewhere else. If you're coming here on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night during the school year after 7 or 8pm, expect a long wait for a table. They turn tables over relatively quickly but it's not uncommon to find the line out the door. The smaller your group, the better chance you have at getting seated quickly. Their margaritas are iconic to Virginia Tech students! They are huge and I would definitely beware if you drink too much more than 1.5 jumbos. The waiters are very friendly but the service can be spotty. The environment is fantastic before going downtown for a night of bar-hopping and drinking. I've missed this place since graduation and will definitely be making a stop back here next time I'm in town! One more note- if you tell them it's your birthday, you get a free shot lit on fire! read more

I love this place! I lived in the Bburg area for about 12 years and just recently moved to the Phoenix metro. Mexican food is my favorite! And I have yet to find a Mexican joint out here that beats El Rodeo. Both in quality of food, drinks, and service. If you go to El Rodeo you know you will get fast service, good food, strong drinks, and fresh salsa. Yes the margaritas are from a machine but they usually put a few shots of tequila on top, so they are fairly strong. This is definitely the best Mexican food in the area. (and apparently in the Tempe area too!) read more

I don't think I'm the main demographic that they're looking for at this Main Street Mexican restaurant. From what I've seen they tend to cater to the young drinking crowd who don't care too much what the food tastes like as long as the music is loud and the drinks keep coming. The food isn't bad, it's just not really that good either. It was too loud for me there, the benches are pushed way too close to the table in booth seating and I can't say I really enjoyed myself. The college kids seemed to be having a good time, though, so maybe give it a try if that's the scene you're looking to be in! One plus in their favor: Parking was super easy as they have a private lot. In that area, that's fairly rare so I have to give them some credit. read more

El rod is one of those classic restaurant that all Hokies know about and love. Their jumbo margaritas and food are just part of the Hokie tradition. For all the incoming freshmen and new transfers out there, definitely come try this out asap. read more

El Rodeo - Jumbo margarita plus shrimp, chicken and steak rice. Enough said! - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

Awesome Mexican food! Great meals and their margaritas are the bomb!

El Rods is an awesome place for college kids to enjoy a marg in a fun atmosphere! However, every time I get a margarita there's never any alcohol in it. I don't like paying 7 dollars for a virgin margarita. read more

Came here for dinner with a BumbleBizz colleague and had such a good time! Really great margaritas and fun easy-going atmosphere.

My husband, kiddo and I eat here pretty often. It's been one of our favorite spots for years now! If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, you will probably be a tad disappointed. That being said, it's still very legitimate in its own right! They found a great way to adapt Mexican dishes for American tongues. The portions are nicely sized and the prices are fair. The lunch specials definitely can't be beaten! I usually order arroz con pollo or carne asada; the food is always delicious. My husband and son have enjoyed every meal they've had as well. The waiters are so friendly and attentive, to boot. If you become a regular, they'll definitely notice you and talk to you when you visit. Hugo especially is a wonderful waiter; he's one of the many friendly faces in the restaurant. Great memories, great service, great food. I love it!! read more

Though the food is somewhat average, I have always enjoyed the atmosphere at El Rods until tonight. The service was horrible. Specifically, our waiter, Juanita, was disrespectful to my friends and I. I tried to order a drink, and after giving her my ID, she started to bend it and ask me questions such as when my birthday was, my address, etc. It is ridiculous, in my opinion, to give a server a valid drivers license who proceeds to "test" you with multiple questions on your own information/identity. She was moody, rude, and I never want her as my waiter again. If she is waitressing at the time you go, I would recommend you leave. read more

Not bad food, just not as good as the places on South Main, particularly El Mariachi's. The drinks here are not authentic, just pooring a bunch of margarita mix ice and tequila in a blender and serving it in a huge fancy cup does not make it good. Real margaritas are mostly tequila and triple sec and use real lime juice. I don't have any idea why people love the slurpies with liquor this place is famous for. read more

The worst Mexican food I've ever eaten. We were visiting Fairystone park & relied on the GPS to find a place to eat. What a mistake! I've never been unable to finish a meal from ANY Mexican restaurant - but I could only suffer through a couple of bites, which made me ill later in the evening. AVOID at all costs. read more

There was nothing special about this place. The food was iffy but drinks are cheap. I wouldn't come here for the food or the drinks either really. If you're not picky about your alcoholic drinks this could be the place for you. Otherwise, I'd pass. read more

This is about as College as you can make a Mexican restaurant. This El Rod's is located on North Main St. probably a 5 minute walk off campus. There is a "classier" El Rodeo on South Main that we won't talk about here. I love this place for so many reasons. I don't think I've ever left El Rod's unhappy. If you're looking for a good time, cheap food, and plentiful drinks - look no further. This place has it all. I rarely deviated from the arroz con pollo which was always top notch. They drowned it in queso which was perfect. I've had a few of the frozen margaritas but the king is the Jumbo Texas. If you aren't a huge fan of tequila for the love of God stay away from the Jumbo. It's pretty reasonably priced and will start your night off with a little buzz for sure. This is a great place to bring friends before a night out going downtown Blacksburg. The staff is also quick with the service and very friendly! read more

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Food was good and cheap, conveniently located, and service was decent. Not sure what else you could ask.

El Rodeo is a staple at Virginia Tech. Any present student or alumni know. Their food is average, at best. It is your typical Americanized Mexican restaurant. Low prices, hearty portions. But the real reason people come here are the Jumbo Texas Margaritas. I suggest adding an extra shot of Tequila for a much needed punch. read more

Fajitas are not served on a sizzling griddle. That fact on its own merits a 1-star rating at any other mexican restaurant but I'll keep my rating at an apathetic 3 just because of a good location and, if memory serves me, good drinks. Good deals for lunch and the steak chili verde, or similarly named dish, is excellent. Food is nowhere near on par with El Guadalupe's, however. read more

Ordered the grand burrito with steak and a large draft of Modelo Negro, which was huge (32 oz?). Burrito was definitely grande, but the strips of steak were all tough. Server forgot our waters and never checked back. I had to find another server after I got tired of waiting for the check. Customer service doesn't seem to be a priority. read more

Average Mexican food, but not too expensive, and the jumbo margaritas are excellent. Go on your birthday (or just say it's your birthday) and you'll get free flan for dessert. read more

This restaurant is as average as you get for mexican food. A ton of people each night, mariachi music blaring, cheap ambiance, and disappointing food. The chips needed salt desperately and the salsa didn't taste right- it had a funky after-taste. The enchiladas verdes were so average- corn tortillas, dark meat, and the verde sauce wasn't very good. The rice and beans on the side needed so much salt to bring them to an edible eating level. The virgin pina colada was good and the service was quick and efficient. Our waiter didn't visit us much, but he did his job and got our order right and on time. The plus: it was super cheap. My pina colada, 3 enchiladas with rice and beans, and unlimited salsa and chips was $13. They need to up their seasonings and I will return for a cheap Mexican meal. Just don't expect some wonderful experience! read more

Cheap, good Mexican. If you don't want cheap don't get here. Jumbo margarita. Watch out. The frozen ones are delicious. The tacos are good and so is the rice. The refried beans are growing on me. Jumbo Texas margarita Wednesday is where it's at. read more

Usually my son doesn't like Mexican food, but we gave it a shot yesterday. My son loves it. We love their salsa sauce, we also love their bean ,because it's very juice and not too dry to swallow, very good for my 6 years son.My son could not stop eating.. ha...ha... read more

Pretty good experience. Food was excellent, in the way that Chef Boyardee is excellent. Bad, but good because it's warm and within crawling distance of your bed. Margarita scored a 7/10; it tasted pretty good, but lacked a lime and orange garnish. Planning and execution scored highly, but presentation stopped it from truly shining. 10/10 would recommend to a friend I like kind of. read more

Great place to enjoy a margarita or beer with friends. The atmosphere is young and vibrant with an excellent wait staff. Prepare to have a GREAT time if you go in when it is busy. The wait is never that bad and the waiters are FAST! The food is pretty good but nothing incredible. The great service, great prices and great drinks are the reasons to visit El Rodeo. read more

Not a bad place there are cheap food and beer specials. The food was run of the mill Mexican chain. Easy and fast but nothing that really stood out besides cheap beer and mucho grande margaritas. read more

Fast, simple, cheap. Incredibly fast service. The Jumbo Texas margarita is no joke.

In reading the other reviews i don't disagree but if you just order the basic tex-mex dishes such as beef tacos with guacamole or cheese enchiladas and an icy brew you will get a decent meal and the price is great. I agree i would not order the fajitas or the more fancy menu items but stick with basics and you can't go wrong. I have eaten here on and off for 10 years while visiting my daughter and son-in-law for a quick cheap sit down meal with good service and it works. read more

My favorite Mexican restaurant ever. The California Burrito is really good, and the service never fails. Usually they fill up your water before you get half-way through the glass. read more

First time to this place. Went on Friday night & was packed with college students. Atmosphere is loud with music & conversations. Service was remarkably fast & friendly, unfortunately the food was bland in taste. I had enchiladas supreme & hubby had grilled chicken taco salad. Salsa was spicy, it was the best part of the meal. My search for good Mexican food continues! read more

This place is decent if you're a college student looking for some average Mexican food and cheap drinks but it's far inferior to any good Mexican restaurant. I consider Mexican my specialty both food and drink wise and have dined at many across the country. Unfortunately the Mexican food around here is too "Americanized" and lacks any flavor or spice. I know it's not the restaurant's fault as they serve the bland food that the majority of the customers want but as far as I'm concerned they could do a better job. The food isn't bad but the drinks are almost undrinkable. As with my food I prefer a little more flavor out of a margarita, not just a kool-aid wannabe. It would be OK if they had some good Anejo's to sip on but most of the tequila served would be better suited to start bon fires with. If you're looking for Mexican food it's definitely better than the Taco Bell across the street (which isn't Mexican food) but at least one Mexican restaurant around here could step up the authenticity a little bit. read more

Food is good...margs are fantastic, but like with most mexican resaurants, service is sub par. Don't let it keep you from coming though, it is definitely worth your time and money. read more

El Rodeo - jumbo texas margaritas. huge marg with a shot of bourbon gracing the top. delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Blacksburg, Virginia

This part is for the one on North Main. This place is the epitome of college Mexican restaurant, and once you get over that, you can enjoy it. You don't come here because it looks nice, you come here because the food is good (your standard non-authentic mexican food) and for the jumbo margaritas! The go to item here for me has always been Arroz con Pollo aka Rice with Chicken. It's basically some yellow rice and chicken is this amazing cheese sauce that tastes like heaven, it's also super cheap. They also have some killer nachos with shredded chicken that is equally cheap and tasty. They even have fajitas if you want to go big, along with the standard Mexican fare (quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos etc.). Seriously though, the margaritas here are so good and so cheap, especially on Tuesday and Thursday, $5.50 for a jumbo. They are a great way to kick off the night, and one or more may have you feeling tipsy with all the booze they put in. It's cheap, easy access to downtown, and great value! Regarding the one on South Main. It's basically Gucci El Rods. It's a nice restaurant with a similar menu, but it's also pricier. That being said, I got the Arroz con Pollo and it came with onions and peppers etc. Food may be slightly better than North Main, depending on what you like. Drink specials are good too, but the ones on North Main seemed better. Basically if you're tying to splurge or out for a fancier night, this is the El Rods for you. read more

Let me say this first: I'm a Latino visiting Blacksburg and I've tried a ton of Mexican food in my life. This wasn't necessarily the best authentic Mexican food, but it was pretty up there. Would definitely come here again. Also, the alcohol is pretty cheap! read more

Great food, delicious margaritas, and excellent location. My only qualm however is the chips. They taste like soap. Sometimes hand, sometimes bar. It varies. My guess is they may (or may not) be taking the old chips that customers did not finish, ran 'em through the dishwasher, and then cooked 'em up once again, so as to be economically efficient. I'm am all for economic efficiency, but the soapy taste of the chips reminds me of how my mother handled the first time I swore in the house. Once again, soapy chips. Do 'sum bou dat. Oh, and they totally bought my fake ID. Much appreciated. Vive El Rod's! read more

three words. Texas jumbo margarita. Great strong drinks and alright food. Not the best, but what more can you ask for in virginia?

Food is horrible. My chicken enchiladas had almost no chicken and came out covered in so much lettuce I could hardly see my plate while the actually enchiladas were the size of a pencil. Only go for the drinks. read more

It's El Rods! You get what you pay for, nothing is outstanding but always a great experience. Jumbo Margs, decent Mexican food, always a good time. read more

If you want to get drunk, this is the place to go. Otherwise, it is not good. They make really, really strong margarita's for girls, I guess they're just trying to help guys out. Their food is not good. I went with a bunch of friends; for enchiladas it looked like they wrapped a piece of velveeta in a tortilla and melted some more on top of it. My friend ordered chips and queso and got a tortilla on a plate with the melted velveeta poured on it. I'd recommend skipping this and going down the road to El Mariachi, it's way better and less expensive too. read more

For the price, it's fantastic. Much better than taco hell, for sure. Met a girlfriend for lunch. We're both on budgets, so perfect for us. Fast, friendly service. I ordered lunch #7 (2 chicken enchiladas & rice) & drank water-- bill was under $5. Food was not gournet, but still pretty good-- quality was a step above fast food, but quite comparible to most the Mexican restaurants in the NRV. I'm not a college kid, have a FT job & presently don't drink on my lunch breaks, so can't tell you about their mixed beverages or night life. Private parking lot was busy, but still could find parking just fine. It's too bad there are negative reviews about this (& any other place for that matter) based on gripes tailored to 'entertain' others. I appreciate the negative reviews that are substantiated with a real opinion, not just bashing for the sake of bashing. Hopefully this review is helpful to others. read more

Went on a Saturday night, super crowded. Staff was very friendly and helpful, food was good. Booths didn't have much room in them so moved to the bar, which was fine. Good Mexican food. read more

not alot to choose from and the drink selection is terrible they dont even have jaritos what mexican restaurant doesnt have does!