Unfortunately this place is not an authentic Mexican restaurant. We get seated and our waitress takes our drink order and brings out the coffees within 30 seconds. When she brings us our coffee she has chips, salsa and this white queso. At first I was excited because most places now make you pay for chips and salsa. First bite of the chip with salsa gave me instant disappointment. The salsa had ZERO flavor... The queso was watery and that also had no flavor. My husband ordered the chilaquiles and I order Machacado. The chilaquiles they put on his plate looked extremely soggy and turns out they were, he's plate also had no flavor. My plate looked good but had no flavor also LOL. The potatoes were so dry I almost choked. I had to pour the flavorless salsa on them to try and make them less dry. The only 2 things that were fresh and had some flavor was 1. The coffee and 2. The chips. We did not finish our food. Another disappointing restaurant in Norman OK. read more

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Food is ok. Service minimal. Felt a little rushed. Was told a sopapilla would be an hour wait bc they "were cleaning the fryers." Whatever... read more

I walked into the restaurant and it was clean and they have a clean bathroom. However, once I sat down, they only had Pepsi products and the salsa was pretty good. Queso was not great but free. Tacos were awesome. The beef was well seasoned and the rice and beans were great. Service was pretty good aswell. Would recommend read more

El Sombrero - Tacos al Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Norman, Oklahoma

The food was outstanding The service was quick efficient and friendly. I was instantly drawn to my childhood when the family would eat this type of food after church on Sundays. From the first sip to the last bite, I was in pure heaven This is what I aspire to cook in my kitchen, great food with lots of flavor. My compliments to the CHEF and OWNER!!!!! BTW I'm coming in to eat tonight, yummy!!!!!! read more

This is our first time here and so far we are impressed. It's like a Mexican diner and our waitress was friendly and prices were very reasonable. It is hard to find good salsa in Norman but there's is awesome. Has a little afterburner kick and really good. I ordered my favorite Huevos rancheros and my wife had the 3 egg bacon omelette. Food was delicious. It is hard to find good Mexican food here in Norman but we totally enjoyed El Sombrero and would highly recommend. Can't wait to come back for lunch/dinner. read more

Food was excellent. Atmosphere is a little more diner than restaurant but was acceptable. Service was a little slow at first but got better as we were there. We'll be going back again! read more

This family Cocina has been in business for over 30 years now. Starting with Dad and boys as niños, now full grown and still running it as a family, still full of love and just as delicious. Not to mention, old school chips and queso set up with your meal read more

Great local spot for any meal of the day, reasonably priced and great service with high-quality food.

I was greeted with nice staff and was told to sit anywhere I would like. All of the air vents seem relatively clean which is a good sign. The salsa is really good so far. The food is purely authentic when it comes to Mexican breakfast, unfortunately i ate my food before I could snap a picture, but that describes how great the food is. read more

Great Tex/Mex food and wonderful breakfast as well. Friendly and efficient service from attentive staff. Good lunch menu along with daily specials. read more

First time eating here. The restaurant is clean and the staff are very attentive. The food was pretty good and the prices are excellent. Note to criminals: popular lunch spot for the local police department! Overall I'll try it again before making a final judgment read more

If I could leave a 10 star review I could. We come here every Sunday and the staff is phenomenal. our food is always out within minutes since we order the same thing, to the point they get our orders started the minute we walk through the door. The TVs are always showing something great and the decor is amazing along with the food. We love this place and the people! read more

Took my husband here for authentic Mexican food. Unfortunately my husband said the beef was salty and chewy and my chicken was just ok. Pretty expensive for the quality. You do get a lot of food. Food came out so fast it's concerning that it could be microwaved. Not made to order or fresh. Just ok. Wouldn't go back read more

Food is great. And it comes out so quickly. We also really like the waiters/waitresses.

All of their food is incredible. If you are looking for a good breakfast option, get the Breakfast Quesadilla with sausage! It comes with fried potatoes and a side of refried beans. read more

Had a late breakfast/early lunch at El Sombrero on a Wednesday. The place was not crowded, only 1 other table was seated, but more people trickled in throughout the meal. We were served immediately with gratis chips, queso, and salsa. The queso and salsa were above average for Tex Mex joints. The salsa was not as watery as it is at some places and had good flavor. Mixed with the queso it was very good. The homemade flour tortillas were also strong. The relish was not as good, it was a very small portion and had maybe 1 or 2 slivers of onion, it was 95% jalapenos and carrots. The good thing about El Sombrero that a lot of Tex Mex places don't offer is all day breakfast. I went with the sausage, egg, and cheese chimichanga. It was a great portion, very large. Next time I will get the queso on the side. It was on top and kind of overpowered the dish. But, it was a very good chimichanga, I'd not had a breakfast one before. It is served with potatoes and beans. The potatoes could have used more time on the grill and some seasoning. But, when eaten with the chimichanga and some salsa they were better. Just didn't land on their own. Will definitely be back, servers were quick with drink refills and our meal was very reasonable. Good addition to Lindsey Street, hope it lasts. read more

I wanted to try this restaurant as it had good reviews, actually 5-star reviews. The service was fine, the food not the best. The steak for my carne asada was sub-par and "chewy". Canned bay shrimp used for seafood enchilada. We were very hungry so we just went ahead and ate. All night both husband and I had diarrhea. Still have it in the morning. Not sure if it was lack of cleanliness of place or the food. Anyhow, this was my honest review. read more

I've been patronizing the family for almost 20 years. I've recommended family , friends and business associates and all were pleased with the service and quality of food. We've had Christmas parties for our employees and overall, it's a great place to eat. read more

I come here often. Their food is delicious and fresh. The staff are so nice and make you feel welcome. Getting to eat here is the highlight of my weekend. read more

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Service was excellent, fast and friendly!! The food was very very good! We were welcomed the minute we came in. I also noticed how well all of the employees worked together. If someone walked by our table, they would ask if we needed anything. We never ran out of drinks or food. Everything we ordered was hot, fresh and tasty. Salsa was yummy, tamales, enchiladas all really good!! We will definitely be back! read more

First time to eat there. We were greeted immediately and seated, server fantastic and friendly. Husband ordered Deluxe nachos and I got El Sombrero deluxe combo plate. Chips, salsa and queso were wonderful, great flavors. Flour tortillas and relish were perfect. Our meals came and they were huge! Beans are to die for. Really suprised me, the food was excellent. Staff was so friendly and food came fast, hot, and wonderful! Going back for dinner tonight. Highly recommended!! read more

The food is amazing. Price is even better. Service is also top tier. We go back every week and they always know our exact order. Cant recommend enough. We take everyone we know. read more

We drove across town to try this restaurant because they were participating in "Eat Norman" Restaurant Week. Holy cow that was a mistake. We were motioned to sit next to a dirty table and served a plate of chips that tasted like they had been almost burned. (They we're too cooked.) The waitress was so rude, that I literally said "wow, what a..." after she left our table. I've never seen someone so rude working in the food industry. "What are you drinking?" In a very rude tone was the fullest sentence I received during the meal and my dining companion got one word responses. It was embarrassing that I had recommended we try this restaurant out. I won't ever go back here again. read more

This was one of the worst meals I've had in a long time. We ordered the fajitas and the meat was bland and tasted like bagged fajita mixes that you could buy at the store. The chicken was rubbery and tasted almost fake.The refried beans tasted awful and probably were left out for days. The service was also not great. We asked for silverware and queso multiple times and they also never refilled our drinks. Overall, I will not be back. Do not waste your money here. read more

The breakfast menu which is served all day is the best. We go every weekend for breakfast. The service is always good. Our order- Chorizo plate w/ the papas extra crisp and some flower tortillas. Next order is just the big burrito with SEC add Ham. read more

The food was pretty decent nothing that was great or terrible. Service was horrible. When we got there we asked for silverware multiple times. Never came to check on us or refill drinks. Asked for two checks and he did not do that. After we finally got our checks we had to go bring them up after waiting for some time. It was only us in a small booth and a older couple. No reason for service that bad. If you're gonna get food get it for pickup/delivery. read more

We were greeted quickly They have great menu options, fabulous margaritas! And were very mindful of blocking off tables for appropriate distancing. read more

We have had the best service and food, every item, when we have eaten at El Sombrero.

First time having them. Read the yelp reviews and they were right. This place is amazing! My daughter who is picky loved it, and because of dietary restrictions I had lots of substitutions and they were very accommodating. And yes the staff was friendly. Just had it, can't wait to try the breakfast. We ordered the burrito deluxe, fajita steak, and the chicken quesadilla with breakfast potatoes. There is enough for leftovers, I didn't want to stop eating. read more

Small, casual restaurant with friendly staff. They serve their lunch specials 7 days a week and breakfast all day. The food was delicious. Service was a little slow because they were very busy and only had 2 servers, but everything else was great! read more

I had driven by this place about a thousand times and tonight I finally decided to check it out. Wow!!! What a pleasant surprise. The salsa and queso were great. I highly recommend the cheese enchiladas and their refried beans are the best I've ever had. I can't wait to go back! read more

Great food fast and friendly service. It was nice to find a local spot Mexican food that wasn't a chain. The waitress was super nice and kept our cups filled and fresh salsa without asking . The manager came by and was very friendly! Would highly recommend. read more

Although the manager said they had been there for about a year, I didn't notice EL SOMBRERO Mexican Restaurant until a few days after Thanksgiving. It surprises me since I live in the area and drive down Lindsey Street in Norman almost daily. I guess I just turned my head in the right direction that day. At any rate, I'm certainly glad I did. My family and I decided to have dinner tonight (take-out) and found that all of the selections were spot on. My husband had the Shrimp Cocktail which was full of large shrimp and accompanied by a solid, not-too-sweet cocktail sauce. The Tacos au Barbacoa was the choice for our daughter. The brisket used for the taco filling was tender and flavorful. As for me, I selected a container of Chicken Tortilla Soup for my lunch this week as well as the Bistek Ranchero which is a traditional Mexican beef steak recipe, pan-seared and cooked with potatoes, chiles, onions & a tomato base sauce. The dish was a first for me since I had never heard of it. It was delicious and I will definitely order it again. Plenty left for another meal. Also included were chips, soft tortillas, spicy red salsa, and a creamy white cheese sauce. We will definitely choose El Sombrero when we're in the mood for Mexican food. According to their website, they also serve breakfast. EL SOMBRERO Mexican Restaurant is situated on the south side of Lindsey and set back from the road a bit. There is only one sign over the store's front, no other shining beacon shows. Guess that's why I hadn't noticed it until I noticed lit at night. read more

Great complimentary setup, the salsa is incredible, and the chicken in my burrito was tender and delicious. Will be back. Classic small town mexi restaurant vibes with good music playing. Service was fast too. read more

We have been here 4 or 5 times since they opened. We have had both take out and dine in. Everything has been great! The beans have a great flavor unlike some other places in norman. Our son loves the queso here and they are just so friendly! read more

El Sombrero - Fish soup! I forgot to take the pic before he started eating! Full of fish and flavor! Huge bowl of soup served with a side of rice! Yummy - Mexican Near Me - Norman, Oklahoma

Good salsa, white queso, and amazing fajitas. The only thing that would make this place better is homemade tortillas. My family loved it and the service was wonderful. read more

Ate here for the first time for dinner tonight. Service was great and food was even better! Waitstaff was attentive and friendly. Chimichanga was chock full of delicious steak and cheese. Piñata dinner is the way to go for a newbie, you get to try several things. We'll be back! read more

We have been here twice now and they are consistantly good. We have had the cheese enchiladas, fajita taco salad and the tacos de asada. We were seated immediately and service was great. If I had to complain, the queso was a little thin and the relish needs crisper carrots. All in all a great alternative to the usual spots. They deserve 4.5 stars. read more

my boyfriend and i try a lot of mexican restaurants - this place has some of the best salsa that's actually spicy, even if the queso is a little low tier. the staff are all really friendly and personable while also staying professional; cups were always filled and all needs were met. overall, a very good spot to eat. read more

Ordered a single taco meal, tipped as well and confirmed Twice they had single taco meals - i drove to my new apartment sat down on my softest couch and soon as i open my meal i saw 3 tacos that i paid almost $14.00 for! I've gotten One meal here that was made correctly and i frequent their place regularly! I dont think their real Mexicans!! read more