Came across this place by walking around & exploring the downtown area. The happy hour drinks is what got my attention..huge 24oz margarita for $6.75..can't beat that. I just wanted nachos but when i saw the menu i saw these chicken rolls that sounded great. It's basically like a spring roll u can get at a Chinese restaurant but with chicken & has some Mexican seasoning. The chicken rolls was sooooo good. I absolutely loved it . I ran out of the sauce that comes with it so i has ordered a side of guacamole & it went pretty well with it as well. The chicken nachos wasn't too bad but i definitely wasn't diggin the big unsliced tomato they just slapped on top. I would get it without tomatoes next time. I would definitely come back here again thou read more

See all

Great place. Great service. Great menu. The food here is delicious. The staff is courteous and quick. The prices are affordable. Nice place for lunch or for small groups. read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I went to El Rodeo with my family and we got our drinks and waited for our waitress for like 20 minutes and we looked in one of the drinks and found a baby cockroach in the drink don't recommend going their we will never go back again read more

My favorite Mexican restaurant in Raleigh! Wait staff checks up on customers constantly, the food is amazing and the prices are cheap! Everything I could want read more

Everything we ordered was very flavorful. 4 adults very happy with their meal choice. Fish tacos got rave reviews. read more

El Rodeo - Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Lunch combos for $6 bucks?? Heck yeah!! I can somewhat commiserate with other reviewers on the service as it was pretty slow in the beginning but they definitely picked up the pace in the end. The servings are very generous and the carnitas was plenty tasty. read more

See all

I never want to write a negative review for El Rodeo because the food is truly delicious and the staff is top notch, but they have recently changed their menu and no longer allow you to 'Build Your Own' combo meal. There's now only 12 combo meals you can choose from and no exceptions will be made. The menu is confusing because it lists the combos as "Some Favorites", almost indicating they would let you build your own, but when I asked nicely it was a hard no. We live right downtown and have been visiting this location consistently for over 2 years. Sadly, I won't be returning to this location anymore as that was my go-to, most favorite meal in the whole Mexican food world. El Rodeo - your 'Build Your Own' combos will be greatly missed! read more

The food here is just outstanding. Fresh ingredients, well prepared with great presentation. Huge portion sizes for low prices. The quality of the ingredients is phenomenal. Huge meaty tomatoes, large mushrooms, fresh spinach and avocados. The flour tortillas are the perfect texture. The chips and salsa hot and crisp. And the combination and recipes used trigger my taste buds perfectly. I like meat but find the awesome vegetarian dishes extremely satisfying, full of heft, protein, fat, carbs and wonderful flavors. Fills me up. I cannot attest to speed or quality of service, as I always order for pickup and takeout. read more

This is our go-to spot for authentic and fast Mexican food. They are excellent-teetering on 5 stars, for sure! We normally go with the Steak Tacos but the Steak Quesadillas are great as well. As an appetizer, the Chori Queso is always a must. Great match for the chips! Drink specials are good too. Do yourself a favor and come to this Downtown El Rodeo. read more

See all

Go big or go home shouldnne the model for this restaurant. starting from the pitcher of margarita to the plate of taco. everything was big! The shrimp taco was a delight but I wish they did combination of protein. other than that, service was okay. read more

Fancy? Nope. Cheap and delicious Mexican food? Yep. Places like this have slowly been fading away with the replacement of Karen-esque fast casual "trendy" Mexican food places. Go get yourself some good old school Mexican food and a margarita and support a local joint read more

I've been here for lunch 4 or 5 times while in Raleigh on business. The food is great, comes out fast, and is super affordable given the downtown location. The ground beef chili rellenos are my favorite thing on the menu. read more

In the mood for Mexican? This is a great little spot. Super friendly staff serving hot yummy food. They have dinner specials not just lunch. read more

Fantastic!!! This was the best Mexican food I've had in North Carolina! I got the steak rodeo tacos and devoured every bite including the rice and beans. My hubby got the quesabirria tacos and those were delicious too. My friend got the carne asada tacos and her hubby it the chimichanga. We all loved every bite! read more

Generous staff with welcoming personalities. Staff treats customers like family and ensure one is comfortable and enjoying their dining experience. Food is typical for Mexican restaurants and very good. Prices are reasonable for beverages and food. Honestly, would not recommend any other Mexican restaurant in DTR other than this one. Oh and you never know when a celebrity will be spotted at this restaurant we have seen Adam Levine here and Mexican celebrity Pato Machete. read more

Hankerin' for some TexMex, hombre? Then sally on down to El Rodeo. Sorry, amigo, but this food ain't for impressing your best gal - it's for getting a belly full of Mexican grub. Aye dios mio! There are beer posters and ancient wood paneling that make this lunchtime joint feel comfy and delightfully casual. I just wish that Sabado Gigante was on the television. [Update: Jan 2018 - wood paneling is gone. Fresh coat of paint. Still hang promotional material- but at least they are new] You will receive a basket of hot chips before you can say "just ice water please" and get un plato of your favorite dishes shortly thereafter. You will also escape for less than $10 at lunchtime- which includes a generous tip and not much more at dinner. Nothing fantastic about this place, but if you're looking for cheap/fast/decent/filling lunch downtown, then this is a joint to keep in mind. The lunchtime crowds seem to agree as you'll have to come earlier than 12:30 to guarantee a seat. read more

El rodeo is my go to mexican restaurant in downtown Raleigh. It's delicious, authentic, and they give you a large quantity of food. I usually order the burrito Jalisco and it is delicious. The queso sauce on top pulls all the flavors together. I love that they throw in a big bag of chips and salsa. It makes two meals! Takeout it painless and the guys up front are always super friendly. read more

Great mexican restaurant. Excellent shrimp dishes, my favorite is Quesadillas de Cameron.

Good ole real Mexican food. People being picky are rating this 2 or 3 but this is the quickest and cheapest Mexican food you can get around town. And it's also some of the best I've had so these bougie complaints about being quick but not authentic can suck a fat one. read more

Came in for a drink and a snack on a rainy Wednesday afternoon and we were not disappointed. I had a simple Corona and my girlfriend had a margarita. The margarita was sweet and on the weak side, which was fine as we were not looking to get drunk. What was outstanding was the nacho platter with shredded chicken! The plate was overflowing with lettuce, chips, a generous pile of shredded chicken, cheese and cheese sauce. We devoured the entire thing and actually needed the extra chips that we had been given to snack on to finish off all of the toppings. If we are ever back in Raleigh we'd love to stop by for dinner. read more

Visiting Raleigh for the first time and wanted to get some classic Mexican food. Really delicious queso, fresh chips, and the ACP I ordered was delicious. Only reason I didn't give five stars was because the service was a little slow. Definitely would recommend stopping into this restaurant if you're trying to get some wonderful food! read more

El Rodeo - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is the perfect place for small group dinners! My friends and I took our Bumble dates here and had the best time! The food and drinks are amazing and very affordable for college students like me! read more

The margaritas were good. The food was decent but the Barbacoa tacos were pretty greasy.

Tried the Texas ACP whistle is "Hearty" loads of beef, chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, onions and tomatoes topped with cheese over a bed of rice. A fajita lovers dream! read more

Don't use your card here they charge what they want on it I paid with a card 2 days later a new charge was on my card from this same place save yourself some trouble don't come here read more

My wife got shrimp tacos and said they were cold, came with no lime (they were supposed to) and they simply just weren't good. The flavors didn't favor each other and the beans were canned caliber. She took what she didn't finish home and only took the shrimp out. I had the chicken acp and it was lackluster. I also ordered a shot of whiskey and they didn't fill the shot glass up. The service was SO SLOW it was ridiculous. A friend got a 24 oz beer just to avoid waiting on ordering a second beer. Everyone with mixed drinks complained that they tasted bad. I really don't understand why the place gets as crowded as it was it's just not good. read more

This is a great lunch place if you are downtown and looking for a good and fast sit down meal. I have never had to wait for a table and the service is always super fast. As soon as you are seated, chips and salsa are served. They have a fairly typical Mexican menu - tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas but also offer a few house specialties. I usually get the el rodeo lunch which is grilled chicken with rice and beans and soft tortillas. It is always good and I eat here a couple of times per month during the week. I have not been here for dinner but I have heard that they do a good business at night and on the weekends as well. They have a bar area as well as dining areas. As it is located downtown, parking may be a little difficult and they do not have a designated parking lot. read more

Food is good and portions are big for a decent price! Really cheap margaritas on Saturdays!

If you're looking for "authentic Mexican" (not that TexMex stuff), then this is your place. My wife and I typically order to-go from here, and they are quick... we can call in and have it ready in 10-15 minutes. Love their chips & salsa (and added queso on the side), and I usually get their ACP. read more

The fact this place has anything but 5 stars baffles me. I grew up right outside Mexican town in Detroit and was spoiled with authentic good Mexican food and i can say this place is as good or better than many of those. It's about the only good place to get Mexican food in Raleigh. So damn good. read more

I visited on a Wednesday night, pretty chill and not crowded that much. I had been looking for a good Mexican cuisine spot since I absolutely love Mexican food. I decided to try the Burrito Azteca with steak and it was delicious. Service was great, promptly took my order and food was quickly served. I am going to be a regular at this place read more

El Rodeo - Decided to try the Burrito Azteca w/ Steak - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is awesome! Got a top shelf margarita and the chicken mole plate. It was delicious. Great value, not expensive considering the downtown location. Staff was super friendly and the drinks were strong. Highly recommend. read more

El Rodeo - Chicken mole - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First time I was impressed with the taste of the food. Yet, even after asking for sour cream three times, I never received it. So I overlooked it and then order a 2nd time for a to-go meal. Walked home and all the condiments were missing. No Pico, No Sour Cream.. nothing. The 3rd and last time ordering, I specifically asked that all condiments be in the bag. I named them individually and the staff verified. Quesadilla did not have cheese, meat was touch and absolutely no condiments were in the bag. I am sure this is due to a language barrier but I would like to have a complete meal. read more

I came her with some friends on Cinco de Mayo. We just beat the dinner rush, so we did not have to wait for our 6-member party to be seated which was great. We started with the margaritas on special. We were very unhappy with the quality and taste of our drinks and we consulted our waiter regarding our options for having them replaced. He became upset and complained that if he brought them back, that he would have to pay for them out of his own pocket and it took several back and forths for us to finally get new drinks. We ordered our meals and when they arrived, one of my friends received the wrong order. It took two waiters to send that plate back and when they brought out a new one, that one wasn't what she ordered either! Even after all that, the food wasn't anything to right home about and the chicken was very dry. I'm glad that I can now chuckle about the hot mess of a meal we had. But, I'm really hoping my experience here was due to the hubbub of Cinco de Mayo and not a representation of the restaurant's every day performance. read more

Great food for a great price. Chimichanga was really good. Fast service and good workers.

Never disappoints! Food is amazing and juicy! Best Carne Asada in Raleigh !! Best believe it! And Margaritas are so deliciously!!!

Always consistent food at any El Rodeo. Fast, great service and you get what you order--even when delivered

Worst margarita I've ever had. Tastes like lemonade with no tequila, not even margarita mix was used. Fajita quesadilla is amazing though.

This place is so horrible that even after I wrote a review on this shitty place neither the owner or anybody tried to contact me and apologize (smart business and owners follow reviews every day). I will make sure to tell friends to avoid this place by any means read more

The best Mexican food ever and margaritas! The service is also very fast and friendly.