Had a wonderful dinner with my daughter. When we arrived we were seated immediately. I admired the murals on the walls. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. The food and drinks were delicious. The chips and salsa were delicious. We ordered mango margaritas which were good also. We ordered the samplers platter, tamal de elote and beef enchilada. Everything was delicious and flavorful read more

See all

Went to El Tio's over the weekend and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is very spacious & the serve was great. She kept coming to ask us if we were doing okay & every time we requested something she would bring it immediately. The food was so delicious. We tried the Mexican parrillada and it was SO GOOD. I think it definitely feeds 3 very hungry people. The cheese dip with chorizo y queso blanco was very delicious. I was very impressed & would love to come back read more

See all

Great food and service for a fair price. This is definitely a 4 star restaurant or better. Most reviews are 4 or 5 stars. The poor reviews complained about prices or cold food when the people got home. The prices are not a bargain, but they are fair compared to other good Mexican restaurants. The interior is nice and clean and pretty typically for a Mexican restaurant. read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - Combo steak and chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

We use to come here all the time. It's July 2025 and it's been a year since we have been here. We wanted some lunch and had queso as an appetizer. First time it came out, it was cold on top and warm in middle (like they microwaved). Next one came out like water. We sent back and the next one was like water too. We decided to leave and have lunch somewhere else. Very disappointed. Lost some long time customers. Only reason we gave 2 stars is the $26 margaritas were good (but expensive). read more

If you want to participate in HH you have to sit outside or at the bar. The prices were 50% off classic or frozen margs. Overall the service was quick and the food was good. I enjoyed our time here. read more

See all

Had enchiladas for lunch ordered the beef and the seafood both were tasty Rice and beans were good also Services was quick with several drink refills, and they were pleasant In-N-Out in about 40 minutes Willing to recommend if you're in the mood for Mexican food at lunch read more

The Chimichanga was great!!! The yellow queso sauce ( bought separately) was yucky Is there another option for queso? The queso's why I went in to pick up a to go order The staff was helpful Love the authentic look of El Tio! Gainesville read more

My girlfriend who has lived in Haymarket for over 20 years has never been to this restaurant chain. We started out going to El Vaquero way back when (on 55) but that restaurant has earned my disfavor and I suggested El Tio although it is a solid 3.5 for food and 2.5 for pricing (uber expensive). This visit, on a rainy Friday mid-day was just what we needed. I had the steak enchiladas and one of their upscale margaritas (with house tequila). I had a great time, the queso was good, and the food was pretty good. Still $$$$, but it's an acceptable option for city folk who like "Mexican" food. read more

Wow, this is a review on a specific item only but save your money and don't order the Chicken Tortilla soup. $14, barely any chicken , a couple token fresh tomatoes chunks thrown in. For that price I expect a hearty soup, lots of chicken, some veggies, maybe some sliced avocado (like most places at this price point. Will not repeat. read more

Good food and good service. Went there with my Son and his family with my two grandchildren. The kids are 1 and 3 1/2. We were seated immediately, and the hostesses immediately brought a highchair without request. They also have a children's menu here. Margaritas were good and strong but pricey as they are at most Mexican restaurants, but to be expected for large size, which was immediately recommended by the server!! All of the food was prepared well, although my Pecado Cancun salmon was a bit over cooked and dry. Everyone enjoyed their food and refills of chips and salsa. I recommend this place for your Mexican fix in Gainesville. read more

Great food, great service! The chimichanga was delicious and I really liked their maduros. If you're craving Mexican, I'd come here any day over uncle Julio's. The margaritas were good, but I'd maybe get a nicer tequila next time to make them even better. They were also kind enough to hold onto my credit card for a few days because I accidentally left it behind. Great people. read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - Shredded Beef Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

I have dined in El Tio multiple times over the last 15 years and have always enjoyed the food and ambiance of the restaurant. The restaurant is clean, well lit, brightly colored especially the bar area. A quick glance at the bar and I saw some high end tequilas and bourbons so if that is something you look for they have them. Today I ordered the Lomo Saltado for lunch, it came out in a large plate with the rice and beans on the side. The meal was good but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. The fries are a bit thin for it so they soaked up the sauce quickly so I dumped the rice in and mixed it up to help. The steak was cooked as I asked but the sauce is where the meal fell flat, it wasn't spicy enough for me when it comes to Lomo Saltado but I understand not everyone is looking for a spicy meal and I am not saying it needs to be so spicy your mouth is on fire but I do like a little heat in my Lomo Saltado. The beans were good as always with the seasonings and the chips and salsa were great, I do love restaurants that have a thinner chip to serve with their salsa. I also took a carryout order for one of my guys on a project and he got the Pollo Saltado and really liked it as it was the same lunch I brought him the week before, so I take that as a solid meal review from him. The service was great also, my waitress was attentive, respectful, engaging, and chatty. She gave me some recommendations and went from there, she would check in from to time to time also to make sure everything is fine. I would definitely recommend eating at El Tio and will return even though my meal didn't live up to my expectations on this visit but it was still a good dining experience and I have had other meals that were great! read more

See all

Who would have thought a Tex-Mex restaurant has the best chicken wings in the DMV? Plump, crispy, and juicy! They've also catered all of my son's Birthday parties. No surprise that the wings are the hit of the party every year. read more

Thanks to a friend who lives in Gainesville, VA, I was introduced to a new Tex-Mex grill, El Tio. It was nice to find another restaurant open for lunch in Gaineville. I ordered the Quesitacos with steak (i.e., a cheese taco but with steak added) which also came with rice and beans. At $11.95, this seems to be reasonable price for a large lunch entree. The price of lemonade at $3.95 each let me know that the restaurant is making a lot of profit from the non-alcoholic drinks. The service was great and we were in and out within one hour. There are three other locations in Norther Virginia: Falls Church, Great Falls and McLean. With four locations, clearly, they are doing a lot right! read more

Folks, I moved to NOVA twenty years ago. I discovered this place be shear accident I a small business plaza shortly after. The old location was across the tracks from present location. The only changes that have occurred were ALL positive. Bigger, better ambiance, easier access and PLENTY of parking. In all that time I have never had a bad meal or had bad service. Love...this...place. If the Tex Mex feeling hits you do not hesitate. Drive here. Enjoy. read more

Good food, moderately pricey compared to the massive amounts of Mexican restaurants in the area. Server was nice, but overall the service was slow. Also I didn't appreciate the extra charge on the bill because I used a credit card. Seeing this more and more at local restaurants. You have tax, you have meals tax and now penalized for using a credit card too. So now you are paying like 13% on eating out which is a bit ridiculous. read more

Yet another restaurant that thinks it is OK to charge for a credit card. Max score is 1 star. The food was pretty darn good. Had a pork burrito. Super tasty. Hot chips. Would be 4 stars if they did not charge a surcharge. read more

Some of the best Mexican food! You can't go wrong with the fajitas wrapped in the best warm flour tortillas!

We have been eating here for years and the food is always delicious and the service is always excellent.

What you see first is welcoming with great service! The prices are very reasonable. The al pastor steak tacos were great. Great bar area and will make pretty much any drink you can think of!! read more

My family and I have just started coming here over the past year and we LOVE the food, they never disappoint us. We can't say enough about the service, all wait staff is attentive and they all work together. Always clean, even the bathroom. Ambiance is nice as well. Wow, what a difference from other restaurants, maybe they should come and learn what it is to be a team member. read more

My family and I absolutely love this place! Food is tasty, good amounts, quality and presentation. Service is top notch and it's nice seeing most of the staff that's worked here since they opened! Our server is always super nice, helpful and kind. Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Haymarket-Gainesville area! read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - Tostada Salad - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Too expensive for mediocre quality. Service was good though but I would never go back.

Hands-down, the best Tex-Mex in Northern Virginia! We ordered chicken fajitas, which were absolute perfection.

This place is literally 5 minutes from me. I was hungry and decided to stop by. It's in a huge shopping center, with tons of parking. I sat down at the bar on Saturday afternoon. I wasn't greeted right away, but the salsa came before the server. That kept me occupied at least. The salsa is little too chunky of me. I was somewhat bland as well. Once my server came he was awesome. He made sure I was taken care throughout my entire experience. The menu is somewhat over priced. I would expect these prices at a restaurant that serves locally sourced meats and produce. After debating, I decided to get the steak quesadilla. IT WAS AMAZING. The steak was juicy, seasoned perfectly and a nice medium temp! It comes with homemade guac, pico de gallo and sour cream. I ordered a side of refried beans with it. Honestly, I would pass on the beans. They were a bit too runny for me. The steak quesadilla was superb and I will definitely return for their daily happy hour. read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - Steak quesadilla and retried beans - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

I will start off that I have been patronizing this restaurant for several years. The food is good and reminds me of my late grandmother's cooking. However, this last time, I will patronize the restaurant. I was in a wheelchair as I just was discharged from the hospital and wanted some good tasting food as my taste buds temporarily changed from chemotherapy. This time the wait staff for the area my family and I was seated were ignored by the wait staff. Another server from the other side of the restaurant served us. The ladies serving drinks ignored us. They would come and look at the table from behind us and walk away. They made every effort to ignore us that they would start walking faster as I would even call out in Spanish for them. I was so irritated I asked to speak with the manager and he at first refused to come out because he was cooking. He finally came and and demanded to know what I wanted him to do. Since he claimed he was sending the wait staff home. Which, in my opinion, was the server wanted anyway. I'm still debating on complaining to the Prince William county human rights commission because this if this is the way they treat someone in a wheelchair that has been a long time customer, what about others with disabilities. Thinking my was only temporary what if they have a permanent disability. Sorry but I can't patronize there again knowing the way the server, staff and management treated me that day while I was in a wheel chair. read more

I do love their chicken quesadillas, but their carne asada is bizarre. It's like a full New York strip doused with some kind of sauce - that's not how traditional carne asada works. It should be thin, flavorful, dusted with the right blend of spices and grilled to perfection. The worst part is, my husband had one bite before finding a long hair. The manager came and looked at the plate like he couldn't see the hair, and kind of questioned my husband before taking the plate back. The waiter was attentive until we got our food - he went from stopping by every 4 minutes to stopping by every 15 minutes once the food came. Last, the chairs on the floor are slippery as heck, and I spent most of my meal with my foot on the chair my toddler was slipping -- I mean... sitting... -- in so she didn't slide around the floor and fall. I don't think we'll be back. read more

We wanted a unchained restaurant for a concert at Jiffy Lube and went to LTL, which is clearly the favorite spot of all the locals. The food was excellent service great and we highly recommended. read more

What has happened to my favorite restaurant in the Gainesville/Bristow/Haymarket/Manassas area for over a decade? We decided to order El Tio for takeout tonight. The food was bland, and the beans were watery. Our favorite fish tacos dish had no seasoning. The re-fried beans are now watered down, just like all the other Tex-Mex establishments. El Tio, your establishment, use to serve thick, re-fried beans. What happened? Chicken wings, no flavor. Steak burrito basic. Shredded beef taco shells didn't survive the ride home. Tell me it was the cook's fault or something. El Tio, after all these years of good food and joy your establishment brought to my family, it's time for a long break. We may not come back! read more

We stopped in during a wait for a doctor's appointment, and are glad to discover El Tio Tex Mex as the go-to place when we have doctor appointments in the future! Our waitress was amazing. She knew the menu, made recommendations, and explained the reasons for her suggestions. She also kept our drinks filled and checked back regularly. The food was delicious and filling. Can't recommend El Tio highly enough read more

Ordered take out through door dash. Darn, was I impressed. I finally found an amazing Mexican place! Food was delicious. Really amazing. Felt like I was back in NYC. 100% will order again. Hit the spot. Enchiladas. Tacos. Quesadilla. Queso. Guacamole. Pico. read more

Good food, good service! Crowded but service was good considering how full this place always is. Food is really good!

I love the food, service, and atmosphere at El Tio. The reason I'm leaving a 2 star review is because of a new policy. They have started charging a fee for paying with a credit card. Restaurants reduce their taxable income by writing off those fees. To make your customers pay your credit card fees and then take the tax break is unethical. As long as that fee is in place I will not be eating at El Tio. Passing the 'cost of doing business' onto your unsuspecting guests is no way to do business. read more

The tacos al carbón are the best tacos I've had in Virginia, and the horchata is amazing too. This place is very authentic.

Def not worth talking about. Service was slow. Food was mediocre. Drinks were okay. Not the best. It's definitely catered to non seasoned people. You know it's not good when there are no pics and drinks of the food. It just wasn't worth it!! read more

Realmente me encantó el taco de carne y mi gran grupo de amigos y yo tuvimos un servicio rápido. Compré el burrito de carne y mi gran grupo de amigos comió las enchiladas, fajitas y quesadillas. read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - steak burrito - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Great food, excellent service. My definite go-to place when I want something yummy! ..

Love there food fresh and true to Tex Mex.This is my go to spot for birthdays or family outing. Service is on point and margaritas are best in town. read more

The Parrillada Mexicana came out sizzling & each meat was seasoned well. I'd definitely recommend this meal just bring someone to share with. read more

El Tio Tex-Mex Grill - Parrillada Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Virginia

Today was our first time here and I'll definitely be back! My husband and I both ordered the chicken taco platters and had the taquito's for an appetizer. The taquito's were amazing and the tacos were on point! The service was a bit slow, and they are slow on refilling the chips and salsa, otherwise I would have given them a 5 star. Great tex-mex! read more

See all