Not a fan of this spot, my friends from Payson took me here and it was just ok. The service and food took a while, the chips and salsa were the best part of the meal. They messed up on my order but we waited so long for our food I didn't want to complain and send it back, everything was pretty basic. Not a spot I would visit again. read more

Fajitas in a pineapple?! Yes!! More than enough food to share. Staff is always friendly

Not the best service but the food was worth the wait. The pineapple fajitas are the bomb! read more

El Tapatio - Pineapple Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah

Best Mexican south of Provo. I highly recommend it. Everything I have tried has been good, though it could be a little spicier.

This was a fine Mexican food resaurant, much better than I've found in a long time. Most of them serve the same food - an entree, beans and rice. This one put a twist on the steak ranchero I ordered, the food tasted very nice, there was enough sauce to cover the beans and rice, and I would come back again. It might not be as good as some of the Mexican food I've had in Chicago, but I was very happy with the restaurant in the center of Utah read more

Highly recommend. Our waitress was so sweet and even though she got slammed with people she just kept smiling. Food was so good! We got the asada stuffed in a pineapple. Definitely a shareable dish. read more

They have the best grilled pineapple I've ever had. The tacos are unbelievable. This is one spot you should try out.

My new go to place in Payson. Their pineapple fajitas are so good. You only buy one and share with two people. Yummy.

The best Mexican food in Utah. Period. Pineapple fajitas, carnitas tacos, lettuce wrapped fish tacos, cheese crisp, and chips with salsa. Everything is incredible. The chefs, Lalo and Aaron, are the best. New things are added all the time, and we love everything. Really couldn't give a more positive review of a restaurant. You will not be disappointed! read more

We had a local send us this way and suggested the pineapple fajita... I know sounds crazy, but you won't regret it! For $20 we fed all 3 of us and I'm generally I big eater so that's really saying something. I promise you won't regret this place! We got the chicken, but you can try other types of meats as well! We might even do the long drive back to Payson for this place! read more

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Absolutely delicious!!!! We got the Pina Tres Carnes which is a grilled pineapple with chicken, beef, ad shrimp fajitas inside. AMAZING!!!!! Three of us shared it and couldn't even finish it! read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah

I ran into this place randomly driving by and my kids were hungry. Service is as great. Some of the best salsa I've had in the state. Carne Asada was on point. Definitely coming back. read more

They have delicious salsa! I've that they serve their chips warm. Their fajitas are the best ever!

My only complaint about this restaurant is: they ran out of carnitas one time; and I understand why. The food is amazing and I've never been disappointed read more

The food was really good. Good size portions. Service was reasonably fast. The pineapple fajita was very unique and tasted really good. It is enough for two people. I returned. I had the chili relleno and tamale. The food was fabulous. The beans and rice were among the best I have ever had. The price was good. The service was confusing. The staff was disorganized and slow. read more

This place doesn't have the greatest service but is a ma and pop shop ran by a family, so pretend you're a part of their family. Their piña the pineapple fajita for you white people, is fantastic. Order this and their beans and you won't be disappointed. read more

Stopped in for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Food was great, service was exceptional.

We went down to Payson to attend the Scottish festival. I used Yelp to get recommendations for food in the area, El Tapatio looked good based on the reviews. I ordered a combo plate with a Chile Verde burrito, beef tamale with rice and beans. The tamale had a lot of meat, unfortunately it was rather dry and did not have much flavor, additionally, it was smothered in a bland red sauce. The red sauce tasted more like tomato soup than an enchilada sauce. The Chile Verde sauce didn't have much more flavor, the tomatillo added some flavor and the small pieces of pork added some texture. The rice and beans weren't very notable, the same with the chips and salsa. The chips were chewy (probably because of the swap cooler) and the salsa was bland. The restaurant was clean and appealing, the service was very good. Prices were high for what we got and as noted above the food wasn't the best. read more

El Tapatio - Front to back view - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah

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We stopped in today for a late lunch and we're so surprised by the amazing food! We had the chicken and carne asado stuffed grilled pineapple. Amazing! I'm excited to have leftovers for dinner! We'll be back next time we're driving south through Utah! read more

Great, authentic Mexican restaurant. Their signature pineapple dish is to die for! - my mother wrote this, but it's true. I'd drive to Payson to go again. read more

El Tapatio - Signature Pineapple dish - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah

We like to find Hole in the wall places on Yelp. You can discover some great places. I don't feel like this fit that category like the other reviews have stated. When you walk in there is no one to greet you or a sign that says you should seat yourself. After setting by the door awkwardly for a bit the cook looked up and told us to sit wherever. The seating numbs right up to the door so during the winter it makes it really uncomfortable every time someone opens the door. A server approached us quickly and got our drink order. She brought the drinks one at a time. We ordered quickly. I ordered the fajitas. It was at that point she mentioned the pineapple fajitas. They are not on the menu. After that it was about 15 mins and I noticed everyone had chips and salsa and so figured we were suppose to have ordered them. We got ours about 5 mins later. It is just ok salsa. At the bottom of one of the chip bowls was a random pile of ketchup. It grossed us out. After the server returned a couple times to ask us questions like what kind of meats/ tortillas we wanted we received our food one plate at a time. Most the food was not great. The pineapple fajita was a fun novelty and pretty good, but didn't in anyway outweigh the rest of the experience. read more

Short version: if you eat here and you DON'T order a pineapple fajita, you're doing it wrong. Long version: El Tapatio feels like a hole-in-the-wall sort of place. It's very small, the location was converted for restaurant use from who knows what, and it's not really on your way to anywhere. I have to drive over 30 miles to get here. Why on Earth would I drive so far, passing literally hundreds of other Mexican restaurants on the way, just to come eat at this dive? Two words: pineapple fajita. They aren't on the menu any more, but the place is famous for them and they still serve them. Hollow out a pineapple half, then fill it with the grilled fajita mixture (including chunks of grilled pineapple, of course), top it with lots of gooey cheese, and serve with a side of beans and rice. It's unique, and it's downright delicious. It is also a HUGE amount of food, easily serving two adults (or providing lots of leftovers). I have ordered other items here, and they've also been large portions of good food. Still, you owe it to yourself to try the fajita. As I mentioned, the place is small. There are only 46 chairs in the entire place, and it can easily fill up during a Friday dinner rush. (They do take reservations, which is nice when you're bringing a group of friends from an hour away.) This isn't the newest building, nor is it the cleanest place you've ever eaten. For those reasons, it would be easy for some folks to look down their noses at El Tapatio. Not me. I just wish I were down this way more often. read more

I like to say I'm a none- foodie foodie I love food and I'll give everything a try, when we were invited to Mexican food in Payson,Ut I have to admit I was a bit negative, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. This place was packed by the time we got done. We tried the signature dish Pineapple Fajitas mixed chicken,steak and shrimp!! It was great! Came with a side of beans and rice and will feed two very well. The chips were good - the salsa was a bit runny (I prefer a thicker salsa and a bit more kick) Service was Good. I can tell the hidden little isn't so hidden anymore. In other words give this place a try. The other plates looked good. Posting some pics. read more

El Tapatio - This is the pineapple fajita - way good !! Great flavor. - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah

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Pineapple Fajitas. Holy Balls!!! Get them and nothing else. Good rice and beans and meats. So Good!

We come here for their pineapple fajita all the time!! It's our favorite and worth the drive!! We get steak and chicken together! Yum!!

Great chips & salsa! I've only ever gotten the 3 meat piña because it's what they do best. It's shrimp, chicken, and steak grilled with pineapple and put back into half of a gutted pineapple, served with your choice of white or corn tortillas. I like to get a mix of both. This can EASILY feed 2 people, comfortably 3. Also, the chefs who cook out front and the waiters are SO NICE! read more

Placed an order for the first time at this restaurant last night and when I walked into this place it was so clean and smelled amazing. The cashier was unbelievably friendly, helpful and had this awesome smile that just made me feel good. We ordered the baked pineapple steak fajita, it was so good. The only problem we had with this place is that we didn't order a second baked pineapple steak fajita to eat for breakfast or something, it's that good. We'll totally be back!!! read more

Great food and service. Food comes fast and everything tastes great. The pineapple fajita is amazing and can feed two people.

I recommend this place all the time! We love the pineapple fajitas! Customer service isn't great but we keep going back for the food.

Three of us stopped in after a long day of hiking. We had read a couple of reviews but had not heard of the pineapple fajitas. When our server suggested them, we all 3 ordered them. We were in NO WAY disappointed. The dish was a bit spicy but nicely balanced with the sweetness of the grilled pineapple. Most Mexican restaurants phone it in on the rice and beans because they're just a side dish. I actually finished all my rice and beans before eating the fajitas - this is a sign of top notch recipes and cooking to me! Stop reading reviews and get to this restaurant! You won't regret it! read more

I've never met a food I didn't like... tonight all of that changed. To begin, we were gestured to our seats without a word and sat in confusion for 5 minutes before the server offered to take our order, "You ready? Or do you need a menu?" Apparently menus aren't common practice here. We were then offered a drink, but if you ask for Pepsi products, that's too bad. They're out, Water it is. Stale chips and salsa from a 5 gallon bucket were tossed in front of us, mediocre at best. Gauc you ask? They're out of that too. After a long while of waiting we placed our orders and the food arrived. Soupy messes of beans and cheese were presented. I had the pork carnitas... imagine this, you're stumbling through the dark at 2 am, searching for a snack after a night out. You dig through the fridge and in the back corner are the pork leftovers from that awkward family dinner 2 weeks ago. You pop it in the microwave, still groggy, 2 minutes seems right. The timer rings, you open it to find a terrible mistake. A plate of dry, crunchy, leftover pork sits in front of you. That, that is what I was given. TLDR: All in all, I wouldn't go back. Even the risk-free enchiladas my family chose left something to be desired. Sub par service, and even worse food. read more

I went for one reason and one reason only. That giant pineapple fajita that every single person has taken a picture of... so I might not be including a hi res photo but... I feel like this might be the only item on the menu that they're known for and really try to sell. Based on the 50 pineapples I saw transferred from the back to the front this place might be a one trick pony. I never really got what that meant... why are ponies doing tricks? Is this a dressage term? Anyway... I asked for some mole (on the menu) they didn't have any. The good news for el tapatio the one thing they shell out like mad... is REALLY REALLY GOOD! The cheese is melty and a little crispy... the meat is perfectly cooked. The tortillas are warm and give your mouth the sweetest french kiss you could ever want. THE VERDICT: Go try the pineapple fajita... sooooooo reasonably priced. I made four meals out of it and it cost 16$. Now if you are over eating this might be a one sitting thing... but that is way america is so obese delicious meals like this! If you are in the area go and get your pina on. Tell them Alex sent you... read more

Let me start by saying that I really try to support local business in our small town and I don't think I've ever left a bad review in my life. However, tonight's experience was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. It's spring break and I didn't feel like cooking or cleaning, so I decided to take them out for Mexican food. We have tried this restaurant three or more times and each time we go, the food and service just gets worse. Tonight, the waiter walked up to the table and asked if we wanted drinks. After my son said he wanted root beer, he told us that they were out of soda. So, the kids settled for water and pink lemonade. We then waited several more minutes for chips and salsa to show up one at a time. After he had finished slowly bringing drinks and salsa, he came to the table and asked, "do you want menus?" Huh?! I was taken aback, but said yes. He then brought three menus to share between the five of us at the table - all of my kids are clearly old enough to read a menu. We ordered our entrees and asked for a side of guacamole. He said okay and took the menus. A couple of minutes later, he walks by the table and, without stopping, says "we're out of guacamole". At this point, we just laughed - of course they were. When our dinner got there, it was awful. My daughter's pork carnitas tasted like it had literally just come out of the microwave. My kids, who are by no means food snobs, wouldn't eat anything except chips and salsa. The final straw was the weird atmosphere in the place. There was no music being played. It was just the VERY loud sounds of dishes being banged around right next to us, the staff speaking loudly in Spanish, and occasional awkward silence - like, too awkward to have much of a conversation. Add that to the creepy old dude on the chair who stared at my young adult daughter the whole visit and the creep in the kitchen craning his neck to look her, and you have a very uncomfortable situation. Bottom line, this was a terrible waste of $80. We should've just gotten fast food. We will never be going back. read more

This is why you go out to eat. When we visited last week to try their "meat pineapple," I was most impressed with the owners' and employees' passion for their food and service. You could just see it in their eyes--they were genuinely, truly proud of the food they were serving. And why shouldn't they be? The combination of flavors was wonderful: sweet pineapple, smokey steak, mild onion, tangy cheese (Monterey jack?), earthy peppers. It was great. The salsa was great too, albeit a little overpowered by cilantro. The beans weren't overly "larded" and the rice wasn't too dry. I didn't try the desserts or drinks. I did try the chile relleno, which had a nice bite to it and just the right amount of cheese. We'll for sure be back. read more

California burrito for the win! Everyone is super nice here and the prices are killer.

Was very disappointed. The food wasn't great, the seating system was chaotic (the waitress walked off after asking how many were in our party, and came back about 5 minutes later after several other parties who came in after us were sat, and got our phone number to call us). We ordered two dishes and an appetizer. We never got the appetizer, and even though we were one of only three tables still eating (our food came out after people who were sat after us) nobody ever checked on us to give us refills or ask if we needed anything. We sat for about 10 minutes waiting for our check and finally just went back to where the wait staff were talking and on their phones, and paid there, even though everyone else had their check brought to the table. While we were there, we noticed the salsa bucket (just a regular huge bucket full of salsa) with a ladle in it, and no lid, in a dirty refrigerator. Within 20 minutes we both felt sick, and were glad we got to our accommodations in time. We wish we had tried one of the other restaurants in the area, as we have never stayed in Payson before. This place came highly recommended but the service and food were lacking. read more

Amazing food, the service was amazing. We came in half an hour before closing but they attended to us very well and quickly. Quality of the food was 10/10 I could eat it every day of my life. We didn't feel like a burden read more

Hands down, El Tapatio is my favorite Mexican Place in Utah (so far). I've been twice and both times the service has been friendly and timely. I've been both on a busy Friday night and a quiet Monday evening and both times had the same level of attention and care. And if you're a parent to a child who struggles with the straws being way too long for a kids cup, you'll be pleased to know that El Tapatio servers pre-cut the straws! That extra touch really sold me on this place. El Tapatio is great for date night and family dinner. Both times I've been here Ive ordered the carne asada Piña fajitas. It is AMAZING. The grilled pineapple is perfect, the meat is well seasoned and in bite-sized pieces, the onion and green peppers are tender but not too soft. They add mushrooms to this dish which is different but I think really good. It comes with your choice of flour or corn tortillas and a side of rice, beans, sour cream and guacamole. My mother got the chicken piña and her meat was delicious as well. The portion is more than generous so if you do not have a big appetite I suggest planning to take some home for later or splitting with someone else and ordering extra tortillas. Their complimentary chips come with a really tasty (I believe house made) salsa that has just the right amount of heat. My husband got the carne Asada platter and it looked amazing too. I don't think you can go wrong at El Tapatio but I highly, HIGHLY recommend the Piñas. read more

probably some of the worst food/experience ever. the waiter could not hear us and we repeated our order twice. food took 30-40 mins and we had tacos. they got our order wrong and we waited another 10-15 min for them to get our tacos that were then awful. the fish was so dry and the beef tacos made us sick. never go here. read more

Great, authentic Mexican food made to order. Made from scratch this food is delicious and very reasonably priced. read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Payson, Utah