Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant is located in a nicely designed but older restaurant building with…read morecolorful furniture off Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, Virginia. Many times my friend and I had driven by this restaurant wondering how it would look inside and how the food would be. From past experience Mexican restaurants were either amazingly good or unfortunately poor. So today we decided to go and try it out. No longer would it be a mystery to us. We had no idea of how the ambiance would be inside, nor the customer service, nor the quality of the food. We arrived around 4:45pm for an early dinner on a Tuesday late afternoon. The outside architectural design of the building was full of arches, hence the restaurant's name of "Los Arcos." It had a nice outdoor patio dining area surrounded by a low wall full of upside-down arches. Since it was a record high temperature day, there was no one dining outside, but the area looked nice with each round iron table having a large red umbrella to protect customers from the sun. When we entered the restaurant, we were greeted and immediately taken to our table and given copies of the menu. The menu was very well organized with subject tabs and color photographs of their most popular items. When our server came by to take our order, we both ordered iced water to drink and as our main meal my friend ordered the Enchiladas Mixtas and I ordered the Burrito Jalisco with grilled steak rirfrom the Specialties of the House page of the menu. As we waited for our server to arrive with our meals, we munched on the complimentary Chips and Salsa. The chips tasted good although they didn't look that fresh and the salsa looked nice but tended to be on the hot side, with no mild available. When our food arrived, my friend enjoyed his. Mine had missing the pico de gallo side. The chorizo was very tasty as it should be, but I question the steak quality. Not that it was hard or brittle, on the contrary, I felt that it was too soft and spongy. It was seasoned right with lots of lemon juice, but it's texture left a lot to be desired, especially to me who am a steak connoisseur and afictionado. The side of rice was a bit dry and lacked freshness. The dessert menu selection was a very good one, and their photographs made them look so good, yet they were the greatest disappointment of our meal and dining experience. We both ordered Churro Cups. By now the restaurant was almost half full, but this was no reason for the time to prepare and serve our dessert to have taken longer than to serve our food. Then the crust of the Churro Cup was overcooked and hard. By hard I mean I was not able to cut it nor eat it. Yet it looked so good that you would have never imagined that it was inedible. I even asked for a knife to cut it and was unsuccessful. I asked one of the servers for the manager and he told me there was no manager, that he was out until 6:00pm. So I was not able to complain about the dessert or have it comped. The menu of this Mexican restaurant is amazing but I find that the quality of the food and execution of cooking them is lacking from the part of the cooks there. And the absence of a manager on the premises is questionable. For this reason and for the problems I encountered with my meal there, I don't think I will return, especially with so many good Mexican restaurants around. It's a pity because otherwise this restaurant has the potential of being a great one.

Food: The best Tex-Mex in the Valley with great margaritas…read more Service: Good Ambiance: crowded, but worth the hassle Parking: Its bad. Small parking lot which fills up quickly.

This El Rodeo on Electric Road is part of the Arellano family's local chain of Mexican restaurants,…read morewhich introduced Tex-Mex to the Roanoke Valley in the late 1980s. The original El Rodeo opened on Williamson Road around that time and due to community demand, the family expanded and operated additional locations across Roanoke and Salem. Their newest and most beautiful of them all, Rodeo Chico, is located at the Daleville Town Center, in Daleville, Virginia. I've had an opportunity of dining and reviewing almost all of them except this one. Today I decided I would go and try this one out. Located at the Brambleton Center, an elevated development in Cave Spring, Virginia, that also includes the Virginia Co-Op Extension, a Recreation Center, and The Bridge Church Roanoke, it is by far their largest restaurant in this area if one includes its extensive outdoor dining area with a solid beautiful gazebo with an amazing view of the surrounding mountains. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place, its creative architectural design, its amazing views, and its high-quality food. After driving in my pearl white Lexus up the hill, I parked in their parking lot in the back and walked around the wraparound porch of their building until I found the entrance. But before I went inside I walked around their extensive outdoor dining area with beautiful views. Once inside a friendly gentleman at the Host's station greeted me and showed me to a comfortable booth next to a window in the bar dining area of the restaurant. The perfect location to be able to capture photographs of their food in natural light. Afterwards I visited their main dining room which was already almost full in the late afternoon / early evening. After I was seated, Freddy who had served as my host, would also be my server. I ordered a large Virgin Mango Margarita to drink, which looked wonderful and tasted marvelous. I enjoyed munching on their basket of Tortilla Chips after dipping them in their red and white salsa as well. Few Mexican restaurants serve the white salsa. For my main meal I ordered the Carnitas, which contained tender chunks of pork and their photo in the menu made them look so good. They came with rice, beans, guacamole salad, pico de gallo and flour tortillas. I drank my Mango Margarita and enjoyed my chips with salsas while I waited and it didn't take long for my main entrée to come out. It looked delicious: both in quality, quantity, the way they were cook and presentation. All of a sudden, after just taking a taste of these carnitas, this restaurant had become one of my favorites Mexican restaurants. My server did an excellent job checking on me to see if everything was all right and check if I needed anything. The amount of food was so generous that I asked for a container to take some home with me. For dessert I had a Flan and it was also large and delicious. The prices were so reasonable and the amount of food so generous and good, not to talk about the exceptional service, that I made sure to leave a good tip when I paid with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. In conclusion, I highly recommend this Mexican restaurant for such an extraordinary dining experience that I had today and look forward to returning many times more.

WOW! MY LIFE IS 4EVER CHANGED !! From the moment you walk in and are met with a claw machine, group…read morephoto opportunities, and a diligent and friendly staff, you know you're in for a great experience. The walk from the waiting room to our table felt like a magical stroll through the heart of MEXICO !! Better than that, though, was the quick and intentional care of the wait staff! WOW! SO FAST! UNBELIEVABLE CHIPS AND DRINKS ARE THERE RIGHT AWAY! The lighting and music AGAIN made me feel just like I was in MEXICO. We ordered ACP (of course) and midway through our next breath our food was there! So quick, again!! At the sight of our food, we were SO overjoyed that tears couldn't help but flow. I've been to many Mexican restaurants, but can confidently say THIS is the best, most authentic, IN. THE. WORLD. (Even better than Ethiopia!) Would come back! Tengas in bein día

The loud Mexican music was annoying, the waiter (who refused to speak up over the loud kitchen…read morenoise and music) was really hard to understand, the food was some of the worst Mexican food we have had in a long time, the overcooked chips came with a skimpy amount of salsa, no condiments on the table, and the prices were the same as much better restaurants. Other plus side, the place was clean and had clean rest rooms.

Medium review because usually service is mediocre, however, we went yesterday and it was terrible…read more There were like 3 other tables seated max, but all the tables were unclean and the manager had to call someone over to clean in front of us and then didn't even finish cleaning before walking away. The server didn't even talk to us, he just walked over and stared until we said something. The food tasted absolutely amazing but it gave me horrible food poisoning, and I KNOW that it was this restaurant because I had only eaten some light snacks throughout the day, and I only felt sick until after I felt the food hit my stomach. I got so sick that I had to literally run out of the restaurant to go lay in my car while my fiance paid.

A few months ago I had the privilege to have discovered el Rodeo Chico Mexican Restaurant located…read morein the Daleville Town Center in Daleville, Virginia, and write a Five Star review on this majestic yet colorful Mexican Restaurant that opened in February of 2018 by the Arellano Family. The father of this local family opened his first restaurant, El Rodeo, on Williamson Road, Roanoke, Virginia (this restaurant), along with his brother in law, in 1988. Since then, I have been wanting to visit this Arellano Family's first Mexican Restaurant that started it all, and has become a family legacy. From the outside, El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, on Williamson Road, doesn't look that fancy, nor is it located in a wealthy location as El Rodeo Chico is. But what makes it so unique is that it's "The Original El Rodeo," and this is the one I set out to explore today. As I walked in on a late afternoon for an early dinner, the first thing that impressed me was that even with its age, the restaurant was neatly decorated and extremely clean and inviting with a very pleasant lighting treatment and elegant atmosphere. The host warmly greeted me and had me take a seat in one of the booths of the main dining area and handed me the menu. It was clean and very well designed with some color photos of some of its popular items. My server arrived with a friendly smile and a basket of tortilla chips and little bowl with salsa, shortly after. He took my order. I ordered a lemonade to drink and from the Pork section of the Specialties of the House page, the Burrito California as the main entrée. As I waited enjoying my chips and salsa, I noticed that even though it was early, customers were already starting to arrive to the dining room and cozy bar area. I also noticed that there was a very clean room with a set-up for a Lunch Buffet they have daily. On the other side of the restaurant, beyond the bar, they also have a large room with pool tables for enjoyment. The chips and salsa tasted very fresh, crispy, and appetizing. The main entrée was a nice size portion Burrito with melted cheese on top and around bowl with green sause inside. The Burrito was filled with carnitas and other exquisite ingredients, all amazingly delicious, but what captured my attention the most were the carnitas themselves. It was the best carnitas I've ever had. You could tell they were fresh pork meat very well marinated, and shredded. They also included the outside of the roasted pork, which is always the tastiest part of the pork meat. You can say I was able to experience first hand the flavor of the Arellano Family Mexican Cuisine that is like none other I have ever had. My server provided me with excellent customer service, coming by at the appropriate times. For dessert, I ordered a Churro Cup, one of my recent popular Mexican desserts. When it arrived, I noticed that it was missing the cherry on top, and mentioned it to my server. He apologized that they had ran out of them. I was somewhat disappointed but from the view of the Churro Cup itself, I decided to dig in the dessert and to my surprise, the crust of the freshly fried Churro Cup, was the best that I have ever had. It was crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. This is achieved by promptly deep frying it and serving it right away so it doesn't turn stale and hard to cut and taste. It was clearly a Masterpiece of a dessert, even without the cherry. I highly recommend this restaurant for its authentic Mexican cuisine, comfortable and pleasant ambiance, excellent customer service, and an extraordinary dining experience.

Thursday night and completely empty! This place deserves more hype and attention, hidden gem for…read moresure. Great service and delicious food.

Atmosphere, everything was fantastic. I got the fajita steak and the shrimp chicken and it was…read moredelicious and it was just right because it was my birthday to top it off. They bought me some Mexican ice cream and some happy birthday and I wore a sombrero and it was all unplanned They are very accommodating atmosphere is great. Service was wonderful. Mixed drinks were delicious.

2 yrs ago we loved each experience at this location of MI Patron…read more The 2 visits we've had in 2925 the foid was rather disappointing. The shrimp itself was great but the rest of the meal was almost like rewarded leftovers. It will be a lo g while b4 we ever try it again.

Local Mexican restaurant that is a hidden gem. It's located in the corner of a strip mall but is…read morequite the find with a salsa bar! You're served chips with a bunch of plastic cups to use at the salsa bar for your toppings. It's not explained to you but I figured it out. I ordered tacos with shredded chicken and corn shells. Service was lacking. I walked in and waited to be acknowledged but I stayed based on recommendations. My waitress seemed sidetracked and was more in the back but luckily I was independent. The horchata was 100% out of this world delicious. I'd go back for that! My tacos were good, pretty on par with everywhere else. Between the horchata and salsa bar I'd go back!

Their food is *outstanding* and the staff is professional. The overall ambience is somewhat…read morelacking, but I think if it as a 'hidden gem'. I'm not one to drink alcohol but the one drink I tried there was good on a warm day. Most of all, they have some low-carb offerings. I can attest to the yumminess of both the chicken fajita over sautéed spinach, and the absolute deliciousness of the lettuce Wrapped taco

The food is ok but it's very greasy and one time my grandpa was almost hit in the face by a hot pan…read more( it was on accident but the waisted was in a kinda bad mood

Horrible experience! 1. Dirty environment…read more2. Understaffed ( the ones working their had attitude) 3. Poor service We left because the waited on another table before us. We will never return, I found the corporate office number but it's disconnected. It speaks to the low quality of this food chain.

Tucked away in a quaint and charming little house in Salem, Virginia, I stumbled upon a true gem: a…read morefamily-run, hole-in-the-wall, Mexican spot serving up flavors so genuine, they transported me back to a little Tijuana taqueria I had visited years ago. This small and unassuming Mexican restaurant, Diablos Tacos & Tamales, is located on East 4th Street, Salem, in a small strip mall next to a laundromat. At first it was hard find. I actually passed by it and had to turn around, but when I did, its restaurant front beckoned me with its charming facade. I parked my Lexus in a parking space in front of the restaurant, who's parking lot accommodated a fairly decent amount of cars. The restaurant's front comprised of a bay window and a glass door, with a pine swag along the top of the bay window and a red bow underneath of their simple, yet effective, name with logo sign above the bay window. Humble decorations for the Holiday Season, nevertheless, clearly cheering things up. As I entered the restaurant, I immediately found it quaint, with only five tables. It was very clean and had a warm, friendly environment. Its colorful furniture seemed to give it character and transport you to another place in time. A friendly young lady greeted and welcomed me and had me seat at the table of my choice. I sat at the table next to the bay window, which provided exceptional lighting for my cellphone camera to capture the food served here. I already had a feeling that it would be a genuine Mexican Cuisine, one that tasted as home-cooking as possible. My server handed me a copy of the menu and took my drink order. I ordered an Horchata drink. She then brought me a basket with freshly made tortilla chips and a little bowl of salsa. The chips were thin, crispy, and so tasty that they easily melted in your mouth giving you a joyous sensation. One of the best, if not the best tortilla chips that I have ever had. The salsa was also very unique. It was not thick but rather very liquidy, yet tasty. When my server brought me my drink, I complimented her on the chips and she confirmed that they were made in-house daily. Chatting with my server, I found out that the owners and cooks of this family restaurant were from Mexico City, and that they had opened this restaurant around two years ago. The word "Diablos," in the restaurant's name comes from the owners love of one of their soccer team: "Deportivo Toluca Futbol Club," one of the most iconic and winning teams of Mexican futbol. Also known as "Los Diablos Rojos." The team was founded in 1917 and received this name by the inspiration of one of its best players nicknamed "El Diablo." To dine, I started with 3 Street Tacos Al Pastor (made with marinated pork, chorizo, and pineapple). They were absolutely mouthwatering, starting from their in-house made tortilla, to their filling, and cilantro, onion, and salsa. Then I was going to have a Pork Tamale, but since it was Monday, and they are closed Sundays, at 2 o'clock they were still making the tamales, in order to have them fresh for dinner. So, instead I had a Burrito Al Pastor. You have to see it to believe it. I invite you to view my photographs and video clips to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. For dessert, they were out of Flan, so I ordered their other alternative dessert, Tres Leches, also made in-house. It was the most delicious Tres Leches that I have ever had. By its texture and flavor, one could tell it was home made. For in this restaurant one felt like being at home. I highly recommend it for its quality and genuine Mexican Cuisine, it relaxing ambiance, and its amazing service. All contributing to an extraordinary dining experience.

Nice people! Our order was taken quickly, fresh chips and salsa were delicious and our meal was…read morefantastic! Try the chicken soup adding crushed tortillas. The bomb! It's a hidden gem. Small, but clean and welcoming.