Great traditional Mexican. You can get Americanized stuff, but why? So good Always a go to spot

Wow, so bad. So very bad. The service was almost as bad as the food. We went for lunch and the cost of our meals, which took forever to arrive even though there was only one other table of 3 people in the restaurant, was $70! An 18% tip was automatically added. We couldn't find our server when we needed her and had to get up twice to find her. The food quality was very poor. Definitely do not recommend. I'm surprised they're still in business. read more

Love the hot food I had a premium good meal and love the Mexico music and atmosphere . Quesadilla meal and Texas Expresso Burrito and cheese enchiladas read more

No wait to be seated. Just a few tables. Good food on a quick stop. Would repeat if in the area.

I ordered a wet burrito with ground beef. It was literally this small and only had ground beef inside, nothing else. I took two bites, couldn't eat any more. Will not be returning. read more

El Sol Azteca - Wet burrito - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Michigan

If you order ahead it's best, their veggie stuff is pretty good. from 12:00 to 12:30 you deal with all the workers from Basden Steel next door so might want to come in after that or before. read more

Food is decent, but way overpriced for what you actually get. My husband ordered the wet burrito, which was so small we actually asked if they gave us the wrong order. Came with literally 2 tablespoons of beans and rice. My husband was so hungry after that he had to make something else to eat at home. My chicken fajitas were also small and flavorless. I can't believe that meal cost $26. For carry out, take your money somewhere else. We will not order there again. read more

Great little Mexican restaurant where service was quick and the food was hot and delicious. The environment was fantastic. There was a small misunderstanding with my burrito order and the owner came out personally apologized. He responded by giving me the correct burrito in addition to the one which was slightly wrong. It was all handled very professionally and in the best interest of me as a customer. I would eat here again anytime. I would recommend.giving it a try. read more

Fuzz in my food and dirty from under washing plate. Food that I tasted was blend with no spices, and I mean NONE. Plenty of chips but salsa was plain and looked like tomato juice. Disgusting. read more

We tried the margaritas and had the nachos tequila. All of the food was good. The nachos had ground beef, shredded chicken, cheese (tasty white cheese), sour cream, refried beans, and tomatoes. The menu had a lot of choices and the prices were reasonable. Staff was nice and attentive. Everything looked clean. Overall, a positive experience. read more

I like all 3 or 4 different styles of Mexican food in the area, but this is my personal favorite, and several of my friends are obsessed with this place! They have a pretty strong menu (my favorite is the flautas), the salsa are very good (you can ask for the "extra spicy" salsa, just be careful!), and the service is unbelievable! As someone already mentioned, the jalapeno soup is very good, but is indeed not always available. If it's available, they'll offer to bring it with lunch or dinner. No extra cost for it either. I don't know which of the Mexican restaurants around here are more "authentic," but this place is great regardless! read more

Okay. The grilled veggie burrito, hands down, is so, so, so good. It comes with a side of rice (which I'm not a fan of), so I substitute refried beans - delicious. Their quesadillas are also good. In the winter months, you get a cup of jalepeno soup, which is delicious, included with your meal. The food is authentic Mexican, inexpensive, and worth your time. My boyfriend and his family go two to three times per month. read more

See all

I loved their corn tortilla ground beef tacos with cilantro onions and I added cheese. The cheese dip and guacamole is awesome and is served with fresh hot chips. Salsa is very good! Beans and rice are ok. You can't beat a $6 lunch specials with two tacos, rice and beans and free chips when you eat in. Definitely way better then Laperla Mexican Market/Restaurant in Benton Harbor read more

El Sol Azteca - Their amazing cheese dip with fresh chips. Half eating of course - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Michigan

See all

This is one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to. The meat as wonderfully flavored and it's hard to choose a bad dish. My favorites include their chili rellenos (yes, they use poblanos!) and their tacos. My wife loves their chimichangas and our kids (5 & 8) love their meal options but especially their chips and salsa! So bring the whole family. They also have nice lunch specials and I found and their all you care to eat tacos for Sunday lunch a perfect option after church! And for those of us that like adult drinks their drink specials are some of the best in town! Also text "ELSOL" to 36000 to get on their text club for addition discounts and specials! read more

El Sol Azteca - Inside view of El Sol Azteca's bar and register area. - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Michigan

See all

The tacos here are--hands down-- the best. I swing through during the week and pick up 3 and always Mexican style which means cilantro and onions. I don't know what they season it with but the pork is amazing, the steak tender and delicious and even the ground beef has a wonderful taste. The ground beef tacos are better American style with cheese. I don't have pictures because I eat them too fast. But this place is authentic. I highly highly recommend. read more

My wife had a vegetarian meal and I had steak fajitas. Both were excellent and portions more than adequate as it was enough for a take out box. Steak fajita came to the table on a hot sizzling plate. Waitress indicated flour tortillas had just been fresh made earlier that day. A day later the take out was still good. Friendly waitresses. Food served promptly. Late Saturday night there is a band. Was not able to stay for music, but I presume it was Tex-Mex since the license plate on band's van was from Texas. read more

I do not understand all the rave reviews. Went here three times in desperate hopes it would be good. No such luck. Every single time we go we have to ask for silverware and it always takes them a good 15 to 20 minutes to get our initial drink order!? The second time we went I ordered the special after waiting almost a half hour for them to take our order and drinks. We had to ask for them to take our order. Instead of telling me there wasn't any of the special left they served it to me anyway. All that was left was the pork fat, almost no meat! So frustrated. I overheard them telling another table there was none left. They could have broke me the news too when they looked in the pot. We went back again this week. Food was good but the service was just so so poor. So very disappointed. read more

This is the best Mexican restaurant in Berrien county hands down. The guacamole is out of this world and their burritos are perfectly seasoned. The only bad experience is that I once ordered their fish and actually received a.... fish, head and all. It was very tasty, but something I'm not used to. The dishes are authentic and the owner is always there and willing to explain the menu. Prices are very low and definitely worth a visit. read more

I'm torn about this place. I liked the salsa, my husband didn't. He was hoping for an authentic margarita but it was just the usual mix. I loved my verde chicken but his tamales were dry so he had to steal some of my sauce. Service was good. Overall, the experience was not as we had hoped and I'm not sure we will return. read more

I went tonight to El Sol expecting to get authentic lantino food and what I got was disappointment. The menu was an indication of a lack of attention to detail here. It was riddled with multiple spelling errors - however if the food was good I could look past the menu easily. The salsa that came with the chips tasted like a canned tomato sauce with some spices thrown in. This is also true for the so called adobo sauce. I've had better adobo out of a can. There also seems to be some quality control issues here as well. My rice was seasoned perfectly while my wifes rice was like licking a salt block. Very little of the food seemed to be fresh. While the decor and menu were less than satisfactory I am perfectly willing to look past all that with good food. Just seems like there is no passion in the cooking and a lack of attention of detail and very little of it is fresh. read more

Simple and delicious. Salsa, guacamole and Pico were all spot on. Lunch portions are perfect size and service was friendly. ... kind of a weird setup inside and a bit dark and gloomy but, don't let that change the decision to go, much better than the other mexican options in the immediate area! read more

So I normally go to a different Mexican restaurant in town. I was on the other side of town and had to pick up lunch so I thought..why not try El Sol...NEVER AGAIN. Had a burrito or what was supposed to be a burrito. I've had better frozen. Nothing inside but dry meat. No sour cream..meat in a tortilla... THAT'S IT! I would give 0 stars if there was an option. read more

I went to this restaurant after seeing an advertisement in a local publication. The food was horrible. Steak had un-chewable fat all over it. My wife's dish was flavorless, and the salsa was equivalent to water with red food coloring in it. Our server had the " I dont want to be here" attitude. There are at least 4 other Mexican restaurants in the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area that are much much better than El Sol. read more

Oh my... delicious food today at our fav Mexican Restaurant. Always greeted with a smile. Today laughter among the 7 tables filled the room. We had the specials of the day prepared their particular way. One of us had the Barbacoa and the other had the Camarones Al Mojo Deajo. The slow cooked beef in the Barbacoa was excellent and well seasoned. The shrimp, sauce, tomatoes, onions and Jalapeno in the Camarones dish were wonderful. Wow. We love the care they put in the recipes. It shows! We were delighted to hear that next Daturday and Sunday (Feb 16 & 17) they will have a breakfast buffet starting at 8:00 AM. We'll be there one morning. read more

Authentic! Amazing every time and the restaurant is also perfect for familes with hungry kids.

This place has changed ownership as of my last review and the menu has changed as well. The fish tacos are great but everything else seems to be like other Mexican places in town now. read more

A family favorite. The service is excellent, the prices are great, and the food is always good. The guacamole is always made fresh; some of the best we've ever had. My favorite is the Milanesa! read more

The best guacamole I have ever had! Made fresh to order. Great vegetarian burrito. I love the complimentary soup that comes with your meal. Unfortunately it isn't always available. The staff are very nice people. read more

What a delightful experience we had with Anna as our server and Juan as the awesome chef. Guacamole was THE BEST!!!

By far the best Mexican food in the area, or even in Berrien County. This place doesn't have the location of El Rodeo or El Cozumel, but despite those places being fine, El Sol Azteca blows them away. The place is small and the prices are beyond fair. The staff is informative along with being friendly, and are happy to suggest dishes if you're in the mood for something different. The jalapeno soup is incredible, as is the guacamole. Food tastes fresh. This joint's a winner. read more

This is my favorite Mexican style restaurant. Food is always wonderful and the service is great. On our last visit the young lady who served us was very helpful in picking out a dish for my indecisive and slack-jawed friend. Despite his social awkwardness and tragic behavioral ineptitude, she was able to pry his preferences and apprehensions out of his unintelligible menu-pointing and incoherent blather. Then, forming it into a rational thought, she made an informed decision and put his withered mind at ease. He ate every bite, even the napkin. read more

This is a real nice spot to eat some real authentic Mexican food. They offer various specials that are budget friendly. The portion sizes are satisfying. They have deals on pitchers of alcohol and margaritas. Try the Wet Burrito! read more

I don't know what these other reviewers were smoking, or maybe they had a cheap pre-mixed margarita or three before the ridiculously slow server made it over to the completely bare table that you sat at in the dark dungeon-like atmosphere of El Sol Azteca despite it being the middle of the day. I've come here with coworkers many times in hopes that the food quality and poor service was just a fluke. It was NOT! The food never has a quality or authentic flavor. The steak tacos were ice cold. The salsa is terrible. The chips are old and sit out waiting for the next customer to stroll through. During the day a fairly incompetent server works the entire seating area, bussing, and cashiering herself. Not to mention the awkwardness of dealing with her inability to interact with people. It generally takes about 30+ minutes to get food as long as you're the only person dining and then you might get your drink order which is taken with your food order. Oh, and you get a menu eventually... When El Rodeo is only a couple miles away, there's NEVER an excuse to come here instead. When you're done eating and have to wait for your check for an additional 30 minutes, unless, or course, there's another customer, then you'll wait for their order to be taken and served and they still might get their check before you... Then you'll understand. Be warned! read more

El Sol Azteca - Impressive storefront... - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Michigan

If I could have given zero stars, I would have. Salsa- bland. Chips-greasy. Cheese dip appetizer-bland. Refried beans-microwaved until hard and dry. Seasoned beef on Nacho Supreme-flavorless. Chicken Taquitos-needed a chainsaw to cut through the corn tortillia. Chicken inside so dry it needed to be lubricated by the bland salsa. Cheese topping-cold and unmelted. Jalapenos-pickled from a jar. Will never return and warn others to stay away. Service was slow and inattentive despite having few other patrons and several servers. The best part of the meal was the bottle of Dos Equis and Corona Light. read more

This was a great surprise. I just moved to the area and haven't found a Mexican restaurant that I enjoy. I came here and not only were the prices great, the drinks were good and my meal was very tasty. I will be coming back here. The cons: the salsa is just a plain, thin salsa but the guac is very fresh and worth getting. Good menu and they have TV's as well. read more

I loved the chicken tamales, and the service is great.

Really good refried beans! The service was excellent! They allowed you to try different combos and sauces in one order. The food was at the table in less than 10 min. It was very tasty! read more

Chips and salsa plentiful and good, especially the hotter of the two salsas. We both had steak tacos, they were very good but small. The beans and rice were tasty but not hot enough temperature-wise. Service was very good. We would go back and give it another try, but will mention, when ordering to be sure the food is served at a warmer temperature. read more

The service is wonderful, but the food is........THE PORTIONS ARE EXTREMELY SKIMPY, ($1.75 for two tablespoons of rice is ridiculous) and the burritos are small, (think Taco Bell Grilled Stuffed Burrito). Also there were more beans in the burrito than actual meat, and $3.50 for chips and salsa is crazy when you only get about a tablespoon worth of "salsa" (flavorless tomato sauce) and a big bag of chips. To the owners/operators, the service is awesome, but please don't skimp on portions, I feel cheated after spending $20 for maybe $12 worth of food......I should've gone to La Perla...... read more

It's easier to count the good things than bad. Good: chips, fries, and service when she's with you. Bad: steak burned and undercooked at the same time, steak also grizzly, rice undercooked, mild salsa is runny and bland, spicy salsa tastes like battery acid, service was inconsistent (waitress doesn't look around to see if someone is waving to get her attention), we got the wrong kind of tortillas, and torta was dry. It's hard to believe some of these other reviews are for the same restaurant, but I notice the more recent ones are bad, so maybe a change in chef/management. There are a lot of better choices in the area; pick those. read more