El Tapatio is my new go-to for cheap Mexican food. Is it still Tex-Mex? Yes, but it's still really good comfort food. We've done take out here multiple times and during my actual birthday, we were limited on time due to so many activities, so I chose El Tapatio for a quick lunch. I'm obsessed with their fajita nachos and I'm always craving them. Never in my life have I been the type to get nachos as a meal (maybe to share), but this is the first place where I can get behind ordering nachos instead of my usual combination plates. The chicken is SO good here and pairs well with the other toppings and chips. My issue was ordering a Mangonada. I so badly wanted one for my birthday and our waitress ended up giving me some Bloody Mary type of drink. She offered to make a new one if I didn't like it but I always feel weird sending stuff back. My husband ended up drinking and loved it. I don't know what it was during my birthday week celebration but the world seemed to not want me to drink. Despite the drink issue, everything else was awesome and we will be back. read more

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I am super hesitant to add a review of this restaurant. My rational for this is very selfish. I don't want to share this great little secret. This is a lovely small restaurant that serves some really really good Mexican fair. The customer service is always on point. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The decor is also simplistically nice....especially the engraved chairs and booths. We used to frequent two other local restaurants on taco Tuesday. However, we have found a new home for our Taco and Tequila Tuesdays! The guacamole is probably the best that we have had in this area. It's so good, we have ordered some to take home so that we can have Guac-Toast the next day. The rice and beans are also a home run. If you were on the fence about visiting El Tapatio, I encourage you to jump on over. You won't be disappointed. Happy eating! read more

El Tapatio - Cheers! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Disgusting. ITS SO SALTY. it's not enjoyable at all. It's honestly dangerous how salty it is. It tastes like if you put your tongue in a cup of salt. Waste read more

Good good and large portions. Lunch for the next day. The waitress was very helpfull.

Tonight's service was not very good and the food was terrible. My chicken quesadilla was prepared using a sun dried tomato tortilla shell, that tasted like Italian? It was overcooked and burned. I removed the shell and the chicken had a lot of gristle. Spouse's chicken dish was cold. We have tried at least three times to make this our go-to Mexican restaurant. Each time, something's not right. This was the last time. read more

The lowdown: Good food, excellent drink specials, adequate service, Decent sanitation rating and having a coupon made it well worth it! Fun fact: They have a drive thru window! El Tapatio is Located at the end of a strip mall (next to Food Lion) with ample parking. There is uncovered outdoor seating (although it was rainy so we opted for inside). There were no empty tables inside (6:30 on a Tuesday) so we were seated at the bar. The bar is small, but seems like it doesn't get used that much other than people waiting for to-go orders. The barstools have backs but they sit kind of low to the counter(counter was just above my chest and made me feel short). Chips and salsa are brought out. Chips were decent, I was surprised that the salsa had a little kick to it. Ordered Pollo Loco(see picture). And Diablo Street Tacos. generous portions (I find this typical of Mexican comida) and it was served promptly. There was enough for the next days lunch! Overall a good experience and I would return if I had another coupon. For me personally, I'm not a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, I probably would not typically choose to eat here (or any Mexican) unless I had a coupon. read more

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Delicious Mexican food in welcoming restaurant. I had the pork tacos with pineapple. There were three generous tacos and they had great flavor. Refried beans with cheese were a yummy side as was rice. I loved my meal. I especially loved the flight of margaritas. My favorite was the mango followed by the strawberry. This is a fun restaurant with sweet wait staff and delicious food. We will certainly return. read more

El Tapatio - Flight of margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We are trying this place for take out. 1. Chicken quesadilla- ordered for our son, he loved it 2. Chicken and beef fajitas - a bit heavy on the onion , but decent overall 3. Fish tacos - looks a bit burnt but tasted ok. I don't think I will order it again though. Overall , a decent alternative for Mexican food in the area. read more

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Great lunch spot. Service fast, friendly and the food is very good. Chips are a little too thick for my liking but the salsa is great. ACP was yummy, hubby enjoyed his fajitas. Saturday lunch portions and prices were great. Friendly staff and a few of their regular customers came in, nice to see a neighborhood place succeeding! Plenty of parking and good food! read more

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Service horrible. We tried a few weeks in a row to support this neighborhood business. Soooo slow. Not a lot customers and we waited for 25 min for 5 tacos on Taco Tuesday! Not a lot of people to talk to who can understand what we are saying. I'm patient and even translated and it took another 10 min to communicate a To go order! So sad used to be a neighborhood favorite. read more

The food was yummy, my husband and I both got kids meals as we do not eat a lot, (bariatric and low calorie) and we were charged 2$ extra for a 7$ meal, and when the kids meal comes with a drink- I got a water and a sweet tea, and they charged us EXTRA for the tea... WEIRD. "We charge extra for sweet tea because we make it and it's a speciality drink." What?? When is a tea not considered not a "fountain drink". It did not say on the menu there was an up-charge for adult to eat a kids meal or the tea being a different drink.... First timers, they lost good customers (that would have come back!) for 5$. Absurd. Bad business practices. Hope they can keep the lights on with our few dollars they scammed from us. Otherwise they will probably shut down fast. The decor and lights are outdated and old. read more

Great food that comes out hot, fast and delicious Amazing drink specials Casual environment whether you come in as a couple, group or by yourself Well stocked bar that is totally chill Lunch and dinner specials A solid staff that works as a team to meet your needs Great local Mexican restaurant!!! read more

Super super delicious. My husband had the combo and loved every bite. The chicken and rice was so good! The cheese sauce had just the right amount of kick. As soon as we sat down I ordered my kid a meal and It came out within minutes! I was super appreciative of that. The drink deals are amazing. I had the pineapple juice and It was perfect! It was our first time in, but we will be back! Definitely found our new spot. read more

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The best margaritas and chips and salsa in the area! Great food consistently made well and arrives hot to your table. Tonight I had the ribeye with onions and mushrooms in cheese sauce with beans and rice and tortillas. Great, super tender and delicious. My wife had the chili relleño al la carte: three chili relleños. It was great too. They have great table-made guacamole too. read more

El Tapatio - Eating outdoors and a nice Sunday night at El Tapatio! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

One girl working the whole place. Atmosphere was abysmal. The bar is a complete afterthought. Lighting was terrible as there are broken fluorescent fixtures from the old drive through window section that was bleeding into the dinning and bar area. I'm questing the food might be ok as this place has a 3.8. The smell was too much for me to find out. read more

Came here on a Saturday for lunch. We literally was the only ones in the restaurant. I decided to get the 3.99 lime margarita and the lunch special which was pick two items and it came with rice and beans. Prices are really cheap as well. Food and drinks came out fast and everything tasted good. Only bad thing was we had to find the server to cash out and we was the only ones in there. read more

El Tapatio - Lunch special chicken burrito and chicken enchilada with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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They completely messed up my pick up order, but did say they would take my name and number down so that my next order would be free. I called back 2 weeks later and they said they didn't have my name down. That I had to wait an hour until the manager came in. I would stay away! read more

I was blown away by the service at this unassuming Mexican restaurant, located in a strip mall. It was a pleasure dining here and actually felt like the server and management went out of their way to ensure everything was taken care of! I ordered the fajita bowl with grilled shrimp and the food came out hot and fresh. Of course they offer the usual chips and salsa complimentary as most Mexican places do. I shared the lime margarita with hubby and it was freshly made and tasted great. He enjoyed his burrito as well and we are so glad we tried out this place. Won't put a big dent in your pocket either. Our bill came out to $26 for 2 delicious meals and margarita. They seem to offer daily drink and food specials. Kudos to management who know how to deliver fantastic service. read more

El Tapatio - Cheers! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Why why why, do I try to go back to this place expecting them to be better?? I guess it is the definition of insanity. The service is TERRIBLE. My husband and I were at a table before six on a Sunday evening. The restaurant only had a few tables with customers and there were plenty of servers. I ordered the chicken street tacos and he ordered a burrito. We waited for at least 45 minutes for our food. When the server finally came to check on our drinks, we asked what was taking so long. We got an "I don't know " shrug without an offer to even check on our food. After you receive your food, they don't check on you or offer drink refills, and then we waited next to forever for the check. We finally got out the calculator and left what we thought was correct. We won't be back, and it's a shame, because that spicy salsa that comes with the street tacos is read more

Love going to eat here, but it keeps getting harder and harder to get a table, which is a great thing as they are doing well, but a bad thing for me as I am selfish and hate waiting to eat. Come in and have a seat, warm chips and salsa are brought right over to you. Huge drinks, guacamole made table side, large portions and great service. Give his place a try I bet you like it. read more

My go-to Mexican spot around Wake Forest. Easy online ordering and drive thru for pick up.

Good food, good service, and very affordable lunch specials! The restaurant is clean and the staff quick and friendly.

Excellent food and generous portions. Takeout is available and timely. Staff is polite and professional.

Great neighborhood restaurant with friendly, helpful service, good food, and amazingly good salsa. Definitely a gem in the Wakefield area.

I've been here multiple times and have tried to like this place because Mexican is a family fav and El Tapatio is a convenient location for me. The drinks are fine, but the quality of the food is just not good. The shrimp cocktail style dish tasted like a can of tomato soup was the main ingredient. The chips are often stale and overcooked. Also, and this was the tipping point for me--I had pork tacos and there was a chunky piece of white fat the shape and size of my thumb that I bit into. Gross. No way or reason it could have been overlooked by the kitchen staff. Service can be very slow as well. I do like the decor and sitting outside on a summer night with friends and a margarita. Wish I could leave a better review. read more

I ordered flautas. It should have had 2 beef and 2 chicken. I only got one chicken and all 4 were burnt, so badly that I could only eat one. I'm highly disappointed and will never get food from here again. read more

It was great! Food arrived quickly and was beautifully plated. Generous portions and generous pours! Great Mexican venue!

This is an excellent Mexican restaurant in my opinion. The salsa is delicious and the Carnegie asada California burrito is one of the tastiest things I have ever had the pleasure to eat. Service was fast and friendly. All around fantastic experience. read more

El Tapatio - Delicious California burrito. Carne asada. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Very Good salsa and salsa picante. Food is very good and they have a large menu to choose from. The service is not as fast as other non-Mexican restaurants but that's to be expected. read more

Great Mexican restaurant! Food is excellent and staff is quick, efficient and friendly, I do once a month with a group of friends 8-12 people and always have a good meal and a good time. Highly recommend it read more

El Tapatio has a special place in my heart. Out of all the Mexican restaurants in Wake Forest, this place remains my favorite. Their tacos are heavenly and every week I look forward to going there for more. I've been going there for coming on 5 years and will remain a loyal customer for even longer. read more

Went for dinner last night wow a lot of changes in a year. The Long Island ice tea were weak and sweet served in a rocks glass- never had them like that before. The nachos were interesting not the best missing beans on them. Not a do again. The server was nice. read more

I feel like I am betraying my go-to, Las Margaritas by writing this review, but I really did love El Tapitio. When I happen to cross Capital Boulevard, which I really don't like to do, I really try to avoid the chain restaurants and have resorted recently to El Tapitio. This Mexican menu has the traditional Mexican fare, but is so fresh. First, they make the guacamole at the table in front of you. I sort of want to have a photographic memory and be able to do it at home, but it never works that well. The place is always SO CLEAN, which deserves an extra star in my book. The drinks are always made so well, not premixed margaritas like so many other places have. The staff is amazing. They are all tech-savvy with their ipads for taking orders, and then they take your payment at the table the same way. Niiiiiice!!!!! You can also dine al fresco with the patio seating, which is also a nice touch! Way to go, El Tapitio, way to go! read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

William is stellar! He made a business meeting cum casual meal into a memorable experience. I highly recommend las enchiladas banderas lunch special. ¡Viva William, dale un aumento! read more

How have I never written a review about this amazing place. Not only is the food mesmerizing but so is is the service. Our awesome waiter Alfredo, tentatively cares for our needs and has memorized our basic order. Yes we have been here that much. So then where does one began with such a review? Perhaps one shall start from the beginning. In the beginning when God created the havens and the earth and all that was in it He declared it was good. Then God said let there be El Tapito. Yea if one should go as far as to say a taste from heaven this place is truly delicious. From the table side guacamole to the salsa and chips our start to each meal is always a highlight. Then from the overly Hugh burritos to the tasty fajitas our entrees are always better than the competition. Step aside la fiesta because El Tapito is here to stay. Finally one must argue that the fried ice-cream is a must try. read more

El Tap is a good go to for someone craving that South of the Border quick fix. Thee are some pricier places in the area that have some creative dishes, but for good basic Mexican at a good price El Tap is hard to beat. Service is really attentive, even with take out. And they certainly give plenty. The rice can be hit or miss, though. I'm not a big fan gummy rice, but this time it was cooked just right, and tasty. But I am not a fan of the chips and salsa. Just personal preference, but I like a really light salty chip and a salsa that's more chunky than saucy. This usually misses the mark here. read more

Sooo yummy! We stopped in tonight for an impromptu date night. Service was excellent, and food was authentic and delicious. Loved the cute $1.50 lime margaritas on Saturdays and queso dip. Manager/owner was stopping by tables and checking in with everyone as he helped his staff, good to see! Portions were huuuge! Can not wait to go back!! read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I will drive from Durham for their Flaca salad or Ensalada fresca. Wow. Ingredients are super fresh and the queso fresco gives it a nice touch. Honestly my favorite salad. read more

My 3rd visit here at El Tapatio! The Fresh Guacamole is a must! The server makes the guacamole table side. I love this because you get to see what actually goes into your food. The restaurant is small and cozy, family friendly. The servers are very friendly and greet you in Spanish, very fun experience. Last visit I ordered a burrito, and to my surprise it was bigger than I expected- so I was able to split it with a friend. I ordered a California style burrito, suggested by the server, definitely wasn't authentic Mexican. However, delicious nonetheless! On Mon & Tues they have a special for $1.49 12oz drafts! That's when my friend and I always go! Pros: Family friendly Outdoor seating Servers are friendly Con: My server this visit was waiting for us while we scavenged through our purses to get our wallets and pay the check. I wish she'd just leave the check and pick it up once we paid, she was standing, watching us pay-- which was kind of burdensome and felt like we needed to tip her well or something. Other than that, Worth a visit! read more

El Tapatio - Table Side fresh guacamole! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Had an old review for this place with 3 stars, but have been back several times. Tonight was good food, but what stood out even more was fabulous service by our waitress, Yosa. Super energetic and friendly. Place was packed but she was very attentive. Thanks, Yosa! read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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