ive been to El Tapatio many times and always loved the place. I took my wife and father there Sunday evening for his birthda. for the first time since I've been goin, they had a mariachi band playing around the tables and a photographer also going to the tables. let me be perfectly clea, playing a trumpet mere feet from our table was basically assault! my ears were st ringing hours late, and two days prior I was front row of a Gear concert. this was louder! they played to the table across from u, then the table next to u, then tried to play to our table. despite repeatedly saying no thank you, the singer was ver pushy and put his tip jar on the table , put his hands on my dad' shoulder and finally left to go bother another table. We didn't come there for that and i think it'll be a long time before I go back. I love the food, but allowing these peddlers to annoy and abuse me customers is not okay. The food is grea, the service is goo-- what a sham. read more

the food was okay but the draft beer was flat. they need to check the freshness of their draft beers before serving.

A packed parking lot on a Friday parking lot inspires confidence for a restaurant because it signals to me that people are choosing it as a destination for their Friday night. Let's just say it make sense why the lot is full. The service was beyond reproach. Our server was attentive and detail oriented and never felt us feeling ignored. I couldn't see the bottom of the complimentary chips and salsa and the food came out hot and delicious. The three meat molcajete with traditional salsa verde (a family recipe according to the menu), pinto beans, radish, freshly roasted jalapeño, green onions, and sautéed cactus. Topped with Monterey Jack, Cotija, and Panela cheese was the star of the show. You assemble everything in a nice flour tortilla and you are in for a delectable and savory treat. The portion sizes are generous and the price point given the amount of food is also very attractive. We shared the molcajete and had plenty leftover for lunch the next day. I always wondered why the parking lot was so full but I longer have to wonder and I'll be contributing to the busy traffic in the parking lot because I'll be back for another round of molcajete. read more

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I've been hearing about this place all throughout social media and was excited to get the chance to go. We came as soon as they opened for their brunch buffet because that's apparently when the food would be fresh and wouldn't have a wait. We were seated immediately and our server was great, he was very attentive and seemed to be a favorite amongst the guests. Coming in, I was really excited to see the options and try every dish available. However, for the price, there wasn't much options to choose from. I feel as if some of the food lacked flavor or it was cold. Same went for the drinks. I'm willing to give it another try some other time though read more

This place is legit! I'm from SoCal and I've lived up here about a year now and I have been trying to hit up Mexican restaurants to see what could be comparable. This place did not disappoint. The steak. Tacos were amazing. Apparently they marinate them for three days and you can tell. We sat in the bar area and had service from Amanda which she was amazing. Talk about top-notch friendly on top of it made the whole experience pleasant. We got chips, salsa, and a bean dip. I ended up ordering their bean dip with green and red sauce with cheese... so good! Also the rolled potato tacos and quesadilla. Another thing we found out is that they do happy hour seven days a week! We will definitely be back. read more

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Ample parking. Massive restaurant, I mean these owners had to have put hundreds of thousands into the decor and design! It's beautiful inside. Seated immediately, zero wait time. Very low key so massive inside. Ordered the potato tacos and my fiancé ordered a burrito. He said it was delicious. I tried a bit of the green sauce, so good! The potato tacos were delicious!! As were the rice and beans and small scoop of sweet corn maza.. what a great combo. The only thing I wasn't feeling, was the gentleman who was going around asking to take pictures. That's a weird thing.. maybe leave out of the restaurant- it's like solicitation while eating!?? Otherwise, great customer service, great food.. 5/5 read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

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Yum, Yum Yum! Seriously, come with a big appetite! I love coming here for dinner on the weekends, brunch on Sundays and on Father's/Mother's Day. Sometimes the place has a huge waitlist and people are standing around outside waiting to be called. PSA. get there early on those holidays they are having the buffets. There is a whole array of dishes to select from. I would have to say my favorite is the steak fajitas for 2 . The beef was so tender and it came with grilled veggies and sides to throw into your tortilla plus rice and beans. Staff are very attentive and are always checking to see that your water, chips, salsa & beans for dipping are always restocked. The restaurant is always packed. I have yet to see it empty. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Food and ambience are great but the in-house mariachi band is extremely pushy and loud. Prepared to be harassed by their lead singer. I've seen him try to shame and bully people in tipping even when people say no thank you to their very loud music. Good luck if you are on a first date! I hope the owners realize that the band is hurting not helping the business. read more

El Tapatio - This man is a menace. He will hound you for tips. Borderline harassment. - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

El Tapatio was the lively meal that our group needed after a long week. The mariachi band was a nice touch. The service was quick and friendly. I had a passion fruit blended margarita along with a chimichanga and enchilada. We had tons of left over for sure. read more

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I came here Saturday afternoon for lunch with two friends. I will say that I'm giving this place three stars because the food and my drink were great. The service was not on point and this is before it got busy. Our server Eddy seemed like he wanted to rush our party of three while he was super attentive to the patrons next to us, which was a party of two. I would say that the people who were busing tables were more attentive than our main server. However, the food was great. I had the chicken flautas and a cucumber and margarita. The chips and salsa were on point as well. I might give this place another try in the future just for the food alone. read more

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I love this place. It's my mom's favorite spot for brunch although it's very very busy on Sundays. If you can snag a table in the bar, the waitress there is amazing as well as the bartender. They have both been there for years. The food is yummy, the tortillas are fresh, and on Sundays they have live music and even photo ops. I took a beautiful picture with my mom on Mother's Day that they framed in a gorgeous glass frame for only 20 bucks... It's a great restaurant that I've been frequenting ever since I've moved to Sacramento. read more

Delicious food and quick service when we go at lunchtime. We went once for the Sunday brunch and there was SO MUCH FOOD! When we dine on weekdays, I always order my favorite -- Enchiladas Suiza which are meaty enchiladas with their sweet tomatillo sauce and their tasty cilantro rice and their refried beans which I add some hot sauce to. Yum!!! read more

El Tapatio - Tom, the Birthday Boy! - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

Parking- There is plenty of parking in their private lot. If you can't find any parking out front look out back. Ambiance- There is lots of ambiance. It's a very Mexican restaurant and decorated accordingly. Very bright and festive. Last time and this time they had live music, both times there was a mariachi group playing in the room we were at. With out the live music it's a very loud restaurant as the sound really carries through the various rooms. The restaurant is made up of smaller rooms divided by arches. Next time we're going to pick a quieter restaurant as it was really hard to hear as we were trying to catch up with friends. Service- Service was spot on. The servers came back several times to check on us before we ordered. They got us drinks and waited till we were ready to order. They were also very attentive during our meal. Food- Not so good. I ordered the quesa Birrias. I pointed to the menu when I placed my order. Three corn tortillas filled with beef birria, melted Oaxaca cheese onions and cilantro served with rice, pinto beans, spicy salsa and consume on the side $19.99 was the description. The picture in the menu showed them all laying flat oozing with melted cheese. When brought out it they were in a taco stand. No melted cheese, just birria tacos. It was nothing like the description and the picture. I was so disappointed. I don't recommend this dish and wouldn't order it again. My husband ordered the tilapia. It was a bit on the overcooked side, way to crispy and not meaty enough. Our friends ordered the shrimp tacos which were done really well and he liked them. His wife ordered another dish with simmered meat in a sauce with bell peppers. She gobbled hers up and is the only one at our table that finished her plate. To our disappointment we will not be returning. read more

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Excellent Mexican food. The atmosphere is bright and lively! Customer service is excellent. All the staff that I came in contact with while I entered, while I was seated and as I was leaving were all so friendly and personable. Excellent place for groups, families and even solo diners. The food is great! I ordered the carnitas plate. My order arrived in about 15 minutes. In the meantime I started filling up on the warm chips, salsa and creamy bean dip. The portions of food are very abundant (enough for a second meal). The hand made corn and flour tortillas are hot and so delicious! Overall, everything was delicious! It is my understanding they also have an excellent Sunday brunch! I will be returning again. read more

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The Sunday breakfast buffet is the ticket! You can't go wrong, there's even prime rib! I'm in love with the chile rellenos, tamales, chilaquiles, and menudo! There's sooo much variety. read more

We came here for brunch which includes UNLIMITED mimosas for $30 ! The bar was showing 3 football games on the big screens so there was a 20 minute wait which was well worth it. The buffet was fresh + hot. The omelette(s) were made to order. The place has a warm hacienda feel to it. I recommend this place to visitors & locals. read more

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Great selection of food and their buffet also includes all you can drink mimosas. The servers constantly come to your table to check up on you and refill your flute. I wish I was able to try more of the dishes out but the dishes I had were good. I will definitely need to come back next time. Recommend coming here when they open because they will get packed later on during the day for their AYCE. read more

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I heard a lot of great things about ET, so since we were in the area, we decided to stop in. This use to be El Torino's back in the day. It still has all the same decor and rustic Mexican ambiance. Us and our friends came here for lunch. We all decided on the lunch special which was Enchilada plate w/your choice of meat. My hubby got the carnitas enchilada and I had one chicken, one cheese enchilada plate. Our server was great and we enjoyed the complimentary chips n salsa. Our food came out quickly. Now, we all agreed that this was the most unusual enchiladas we have ever had! It was corn tortilla folded over like a taco lol. No sauce but topped with Cotija cheese and pickled onions? We really wanted to like our dishes but we didn't. We didn't even want the leftovers. So maybe it was an off day and cook was new? read more

El Tapatio - Complimentary chips, salsa and beans - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

Very genuine friendly and immediate service. Restaurant is spotless as well as their serving dishes. The food is delicious. They offer a large variety of fresh Mexican dishes. We have been going to El Tapatio for many years and have always had a pleasant experience due to their excellent food. We always go back for more. They also have a large assortment of wine, mixed drinks and beer. I highly recommend their Margaritas. They are fantastic. read more

We went in during the holidays and it was super busy. I got a salad and my son got a kids enchilada. I ordered a strawberry margarita on the rocks and it came blended so I was a little bummed. The chips and salsa were amazing! They had a lady taking pictures in front of the Christmas tree for $20 with a frame so that was neat! Definitely try this place out if you like basic Mexican foods. read more

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Let me say out waiter Felipe was exceptional. He was so nice and attentive. Felipe recommended I get the Shrimp Enchilada Mazatlan. The restaurants has the town Mexico feel I really like it. It's a really big restaurant, it's average noise level as to be expected. My food was delicious I give it a 10 out of a 10. The salsa was very good. The guacamole was good. You have to make sure that you tell them if you like hot salsa, to being you some hot verde salsa which is spicy and it's delicious and also they have some amazing bean dip. read more

El Tapatio - Poblano Mitzalan it has shrimp in it. - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

I ordered the fish tacos at El Tapatio and was satisfied with the amount of food that came with the meal -- three generously sized tacos, rice, beans, and a side of sweet corn. Everything was tasty and filling. The service stood out, too. The staff was super attentive and constantly checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. On top of that, there was a mariachi band walking around taking song requests from each table, which made the whole experience even more fun and lively. Overall, great food, great vibes -- I had a really enjoyable time here and would definitely come back! read more

El Tapatio - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

Everyone was very hospitable, we were asked at least 8 times if we were doing okay, it was polite and warm. The food was incredible, I had the Birria tacos, I enjoyed watching everyone work together and if I asked for something it wasn't a bother to them, thank you . read more

This was a go to spot for my family and I for a while especially for the all you can eat brunch on Sundays. The all you can eat brunch is a really good deal because they have a ton of options to choose from. Beans, rice, fish, chicken, tamales, sweet corn, menudo, pozole, omelets, fruit, dessert etc. and different drinks too. A good salsa bar with chips. I don't have any pictures but the restaurant is beautiful and spacious. Outside of the Sunday brunch the menu is extensive and has lots of options. I love that they bring you free chips, salsa, and bean dip. I've always had good meals here and the drinks are also very tasty! A great margarita menu. Friendly staff and they are attentive even when they are busy which they do get busy a lot! Will definitely be coming back in the future and hopefully take some pictures to share. This was a go to spot for my family and I for a while especially for the all you can eat brunch on Sundays. The all you can eat brunch is a really good deal because they have a ton of options to choose from. Beans, rice, fish, chicken, tamales, sweet corn, menudo, pozole, omelets, fruit, dessert etc. and different drinks too. A good salsa bar with chips. I don't have any pictures but the restaurant is beautiful and spacious. Outside of the Sunday brunch the menu is extensive and has lots of options. I love that they bring you free chips, salsa, and bean dip. I've always had good meals here and the drinks are also very tasty! A great margarita menu. Friendly staff and they are attentive even when they are busy which they do get busy a lot! Will definitely be coming back in the future and hopefully take some pictures to share. read more

El Tapatio - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

My friend and I stopped in for a quick lunch and we're seated immediately. The decor in the restaurant is beautiful. From the paintings sculptures everything. It really feels like you stepped into a fiesta. The menu is reasonably priced and the food was delicious. The chips taste so fresh and the bean dip and salsa were excellent. My chimichanga was smaller than expected but that's ok it was still good. Would definitely go back again. read more

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It's been a while, so I wanted to do an update here. Happy to share that this place is still great. Once again, atmosphere cannot be beat. I was born in the 70s and I miss the days when restaurants had legitimate themes. Almost every place looks generic and bland these days. Not the case here. Inside and out, you know you are in a Mexican restaurant. We went with the combo meals (1-three item and 2-two items) and a few drinks this trip. The prices are incredible. Before tip we were still under $100. That just doesn't happen much anymore. Service is great and they check up often. One of the nice things here are the chips and salsa also come with a warm bean dip. It's nice but you just got to be careful to not eat too much before the meal arrives. Meal presentation is standard, but plenty of food and delicious. Same with the drinks. Wonderfully priced and plenty to boot. This is our favorite Mexican restaurant and the only reason we don't visit more often is it's about a 40-minute drive for us. It's well worth it though and I strongly recommend a visit if you've never been to this location. read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

Delicious let me start by that! The food was authentic. Our server Eddy was awesome! He made the guacamole from scratch which was amazing! His personality and welcoming was five star. The food was fulfilling could not finish it in entirely. The balloon artist went to each table that had a child and created original balloon art characters! I was say 10 out of 10. The server was very responsive and courteous! We will back! Ambiance was family friendly and a great place to dine! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Fair Oaks/Citrus Heights. Consistent quality, friendly staff, and fun exciting surroundings. So friendly! Special parking for vets . read more

I get why El Tapatio is popular and consistently busy. Their happy hour is one of the best in the area, especially with the salsa bar available. Service is consistently excellent every time I've visited, which makes the experience smooth and enjoyable overall. That said, for me the food just lacks authentic Mexican flavors. Dishes like the carnitas, arroz con pollo, chile verde, and the molcajete all feel a bit watered down for mass appeal instead of offering the depth and richness I look for in traditional Mexican cuisine. Even the margaritas, while decent, lack that layered, bold flavor that really elevates a meal. Most people will more than likely have a good meal here, and I can see why it draws a crowd. That happy hour alone makes it worth checking out. But with so many authentic Mexican options in the area, when I'm in the mood for true Mexican food I'll usually choose one of those other places instead. read more

Excellent food good service will come back me and my roommate came for lunch. My first time here read more

El Tapatio - Me and my roommate - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

As always , the food was amazing! I really love to come to this location due to the ambiance, I feel so welcomed and at home with the decor. Great lighting and I love the plants and all the decorations. The service is amazing and everybody is so nice there. Very attentive. Brought my best friend here for the first time and she loved it as well. Also got a nice house margarita where I was able to pick my fav two flavors which were blueberry and pomegranate yum. Will be back again very soon. read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

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Ordered fajitas chicken and ground beef taco. Homemade tortillas. 7 others ate with us. Service was fast and attentive. The place is beautiful inside. So colorful and lots to look at. My ground beef taco was not good. Fake taco shell. Did t kike that especially when they have homemade corn tortillas. The chicken fajitas were good could have used a bit more seasoning. But good. The floor tortillas were really good and corn so good. The mocajete was really good. Would definitely come back but won't order a taco. read more

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I love the food but can you please clean your plants. If anyone sneeze that dust on the leaves will just fly.

This place has been a place to eat at for a while now so we decided to stop in for lunch. The interior was really decorative and colorful. We tried the steak fries and quesa birria. Food was pretty mediocre and lacked some flavor. Also the service was a bit slow. However the chips, salsa and bean dip were delicious. Would recommend if you're in the area looking for okay Mexican food. read more

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Have eaten here for years Tonight ordered Door Dash Special BOGO for Taco Salad. BOTH of our tortilla shells were burnt beyond being edible. And barely any lettuce today. Not sure what happened but horrible. read more

El Tapatio - Burned taco salad shells. A waste of $30. - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

We usually work on Sundays. Can't make it in for a Sunday brunch that often. We are on vacation! So happy we decided to stop by today for brunch. Every thing tasted so yummy very flavorful! Can't wait to go back..we stuffed our shelves. But wanted to eat more. The omelet station was amazing. He did a great job did not over cook the omelets. They had different options to add to your omelet. He has a tip jar. Their homemade tortillas are amazing also corn or flour. I got two of each to try. They also have a tip jar. Glad I had cash I forgot about the tip jars from the last time we were there. They also made street tacos by the tortilla lady station. My husband had the prime rib. Then we needed to go looking for a knife to cut it. I wasn't sure if it was supplied near the caving station. The prime rib was near the omelet station. They were busy by the time we realized we needed a knife. They had many other items to choose from. They even had different soups. Then realized we didn't get a spoon. They were displayed by the soups. Even the chips were very tasty, so happy I tried them on another round. So many more things I wanted to try. But I was so full. The key lime pie was good my husband said. I had the churros, cinnamon pastry, chocolate chip cookie and caramel sauce. Last time they had homemade whipped cream. But I did not see it this time. I was sad but everything was so good it didn't need it. We hope to go back another Sunday hopefully while we are still on vacation. They are happy to take lager groups. Nice to see a place thats Happy to take larger groups. All the servers seem to work together. Making sure our empty plates are cleared and making sure we had drink refills. read more

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El Tapatio, the best place for birthdays. They have live music, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. When coming you can enjoy yourself for longer than normal American time at a restaurant and watch a football game. They have a chips and salsa bar in the bar, lots of drink, beverages, and Several TVs. I ordered the combo meal with a chicken burrito, black beans, and cilantro rice for $14.99. It was very yummy and filling. Can get a couple meals from it. They have every flavor of margarita if you're looking to celebrate your day in that way. Overall, a great experience every time. read more

El Tapatio - Birthday hat - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

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I really enjoyed my experience from the service to the fantastic food! The space felt very welcoming and lively. My family and I dined in at 3 pm on Saturday, which was perfect because it got busy right around 5 pm! I wasn't surprised by how much foot traffic showered this restaurant since everything was so great! Kudos to the chefs and staff for such a great experience! My family and I can't wait to return. read more

El Tapatio - Carnitas plate - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

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We came here on the recommendation of our best friend and I'm so happy we did! Milly Lopes was our waitress and she was so kind and funny. Her suggestion for Chile Verde was perfect. She continuously checked on our table and did not judge me inhaling their chips and salsa. The food was great but the service was even better. We also loved the culture and vibe of the overall restaurant. Beautiful! We will come back for the delicious food and I hope Milly Lopes is our waitress again! read more

El Tapatio - Combo platter & Chile Verde - Mexican Near Me - Citrus Heights, California

I've driven by El Tapatio countless times and finally stopped in for dinner. I love that they serve beans with the chips and salsa! The food was great. The chile verde was flavorful and the carnitas were nice and moist. The raspberry margarita was huge and only $9. Prices were reasonable for legit Mexican food. I'm glad I finally stopped in. Everyone here loves their job!! They were so attentive and friendly-- not the typical restaurant service! We got there there a little before 5, and by the time we left at 6 there were lots of people waiting. Would recommend going early. The bar area is lively. A huge restaurant with lots of seating. Stop in if you're in the area! read more

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