Just tried to eat here again for cinco de mayo. Have been excited all week. Called about a reservation but said it wasn't necessary and they don't take reservations for less than 5. Show up at 6:45 and are told they're all booked because a table of 32 made a reservation and is coming at 7 which takes up the whole restaurant. That could not be less fair. Just because we're a party of two we were unable to eat here. I will not be returning. So disappointing after a previous great experience. read more

My Madre is Mexican, so I grew up in Texas eating Mexican food. This is hands down the closest to it and most authentic Mexican place in Media. I really do love it, reminds me of home. They don't serve liquor but they have BYOB. Please give them an honest try, compared to the other places in Media, it is really really good. Viva la Mexico! read more

This was an amazing experience. We were celebrating my son's birthday and Hildago's made made the night extra special. Despite people saying the food wasn't spicy enough, I asked Momma for more heat and she brought out homemade hot sauce which took great high quality food to excellence. We had over stuffed burritos while my son enjoyed an excellent shrimp dish When I let Momma know we were celebrating my son's birthday she said she would bring out his desser and sing. What happened stopped everyone in a packed dining room. Momma serenaded my son in Spanish with a voice of an angel. This is a restaurant I look forward to returning to again and again. read more

First time at Hidalgo and did take-out with my sister. Specifically came because of the stellar reviews. Frankly, was very underwhelmed. Chopped steak taco was kind of chewy. Chicken taco very bland. Taco shell, even tho soft & moist, broke apart while eating - had to finish with a fork. Sorry, but true for us. read more

This is authentic Mexican cuisine in a simple atmosphere. People expecting a 'trendy' American Mexican eatery may not be prepared for this but that also adds to the vibe.....its about the FOOD. The wait staff may not be the most polished but the owners work very hard to make you feel welcome. These haters on YELP should probably just go to Chi-Chi's because they don't appreciate authentic Mexican food. Our food was excellent. The food is extremely fresh and served to order; so be patient, have a drink and enjoy your company......its not fast food! BYOT (tequila) read more

Moving my review here under the current location... I affectionately refer to the owner/server/singer/do-­it-all woman as "Mama". "Mama's" tortilla soup will cure what ails you. Seriously, try it, it's wonderful! She doesn't quite understand my vegetarianism, but will happily make up a veggie fajita platter for me. When indulging, I'll order the cheese filled chile rellenos - so delicious. Things can move slowly here, but that's because everything is made to order. Be sure to ask for hot sauce if you like things spicy; it's homemade and amazing. Also, if you eat in don't forget your tequila. "Mama" makes a killer, and HUGE, margarita! read more

There is some manner of arcane magic being performed here. The meal that my dinner companion and I absolutely ravaged was a kneejerk, split-second decision based on our mutual frustration with choosing the perfect dinner. "Screw it, we'll just go through the drive-thru at Taco Bell and then you can get whatever you want!" "I wonder if that place that serves child cows is still open..." "Let's just make something at home; they'll have anything at the grocery store that we could get in any restaurant!" "No, my friends rule! Your friends are the worst and that's why they like YOU!" We were getting nowhere fast, so my companion said, "fine, Hidalgo!" Usually, I'll come up with some manner of lie, or escalate my level of indecision to the degree that I forget how to use my human words, and then we pass up Hidalgo only to finally give up and just get something from Wawa. Again. This time, I just said, "OK," and the best thing in the world happened. Sometimes, you just have to say "OK." When we stepped in, the whole restaurant stopped and it felt like we were some amazing foreign dignitaries or something, all eyes upon us with obvious lustful intent. We were given the corner booth, my absolute favorite seat in any restaurant, and we immediately felt at home, even if we were being sized up by staff and clientele alike. The one and only mistake: we ordered the Pepsi's. They came in a can, as all the bevs do (or a bottle, but not from a fountain), but the amount poured over my glass of ice tasted like cola-dyed water, and I rationed the rest since refills would not be free. Should've had the Mexican Coke, or one of the many Mexican fruit sodas that they had... ...but we weren't in a Mexican restaurant for Pepsi, and thankfully everything else we had was so good that we briefly lost tether with our human identities and became the bits of cosmic dust at the cores of our being. The waitress, who I took to calling "Mama" before I realized that many people also call her this, bulldozed me into my meal, which was the Burro Ranchero. It wasn't going to be; I'd chosen the chicken enchiladas. But Mama used some Jedi mind-trickery to whip me into a Burro frenzy, and she was nice enough to coach me through the removal of items I don't like, such as onions and sour cream. Yeah, so I don't like onions or sour cream! We ordered a Burro each, and though both were bigger than our heads, we beat those asses into submission and cleaned the dish. We were completely stuffed, steak and beans and rice to the eyeballs, but when Mama came back she pulverized our iron wills and gave us hope for a future filled with a delicious Tres Leches cake. Orgasms might or might not have been had. The place was twice as full when we left as when we arrived, but we never felt abandoned for new service frontiers, and the whole experience was really comfortable and relaxed. We feasted like despot rulers in a third-world nation and were treated like kings and queens. I've read in other reviews that Mama sings, but while she didn't on our trip, I feel that's a blessing in disguise. After all, I can't very well give Hidalgo 6 stars... ...so, when we go again, or when others go, there are a few guidelines that will make the trip better. The parking kinda sucks, so keep that in mind. Don't get the Pepsi. And yeah, it's a little pricier than one might expect if the most one knows of Mexican food is Qdoba or Baja Fresh. The food is killer, though, and there's no possible way to leave hungry. And of course, there's Mama. We went on Friday and I've been walking around the house, pretending to be sheepish while saying "Si, Mama" and "Gracias, Mama" for no good reason at all ever since. Arcane magic...and awesome Mexican food. read more

This place is not quite ready to be a restaurant. We arrived on Friday night and expected to wait. We were told it would be 30-45 minutes. An hour and twenty minutes later, the very confused hostess told us yet again that we were next - as soon as she could find seating for the party of six that was waiting for their (delayed) reservation. We finally left and told the hostess that her estimate was a bit off. Her response was "Oh, has it been that long??" I asked how she intended to make things right, and she replied "I'll give you a free margarita next time you come" - ironic, since the restaurant is BYOB. We ate elsewhere and had a great meal. If you want to try one of Media's great restaurants an hour and a half after you arrive downtown, then definitely start at Hidalgo's. read more

I have done business with Hidalgo at least 3 times, and when I say business, I mean dining and catering business. Hidalgo is run by a family who knows their Mexican food; they are passionate about what they make and they are passionate about their customers. Its very common for people to become regulars here because the food is good and the waitstaff are so personable. Its BYOT and bring a big bottle of tequila because they don't mess around with their margaritas. I've tried their quesadillas, tacos, and burritos which are all huge and delicious. But the one thing I would say that stands out the most is their tres leche; the older woman makes it herself and it is divine. In fact, I ordered an entire cake for a friend's birthday and let's just say, everyone at the party had it for the first time and were fighting for seconds. Last time I was at Hidalgo, I went with a friend's family who are Puerto Rican, and when the owner found out they spoke Spanish, she sang for us after our meal. How many places do you know are like that? read more

This was such a wonderful experience, they surprised us with birthday desserts! The food was wonderful and the service was great! Would love to come again read more

Mexican Places are growing in Media, between Dos Gringos, Diego's Cantina, and Ariano Cafe (Mondays Only), there are a lot of options. Hidalgo's throws down with their food into the ring and like a champion bullfighter, comes out on top as one of the best. My experience was better than average, and only a few minor misses prevented this from being a five star review. Atmosphere - Cozy is a good way to explain, but on a busy lunch/dinner rush, seating is very close together and has limited navigation lanes for servers to maneuver. Working with limited room however, Hidalgo's finds a way to decorate with traditional art and old photographs from Mexico and Mexican culture. Add to that a vibrant and lively dining experience with colorful servers, and the places coziness fades away into its charm. Waitstaff - Our waitress was extremely lively, and used traditional phrases and words in Spanish to convey her experience. Even someone like me who understands and speaks a little was able to get by with my Spanglish and make for a lively engagement. Her knowledge of the menu and bubbly personality really enhanced our visit. Food - The food we had was very good. I went with the Burro Ranchero for my entree which was fantastic! Pulled chicken with adobo sauce and cheese, in a warm flour tortilla stuffed with green onions and peppers, really had a lot of flavor and added to the authenticity of the food. My wife had the Chicken Quesadilla which was good and the flautas, which I was able to split and were also very warm and came with a great sauce. Her final order was some tostones, which had a crispy tortilla shell with a mix of beans, rice, and cheese on top. Overall, we were very impressed with the food and drinks (beverages come in a 22 oz glass, so prepare ahead of time). Intangibles - Off state street, Hidalgo's stands out with it's warm black awning and double doors to keep the cold out on a windy day. Add to that great location near the downtown parking garage and window watching if desired, and Hidalgo's can allow for good dining. One thing I would say is that if you have strollers/car seats, leave them in the car. Hidalgo's is VERY limited on foot space, and these items will take up too much space. Overall - Hidalgo's is a very solid addition to the Media dining scene, and allows for some great Mexican authenticity into a competitive market. Prepare ahead of time for the limited floor space, but this is one location who's tastes are bigger then its restaurant. read more

I came back to Hidalgo with a group of eight -- four kids and four adults -- and we had a terrific time. Two ordered chicken fajitas, two ordered pork tenderloin with chorizo sauce. The tenderloin was wrapped in bacon and was juicy and quite flavorful. We all enjoyed large margaritas (bring your own tequila). The tres leches cake was moist and a perfect ending to a great meal. The kids enjoyed quesadillas, and their food came out quickly (faster than the adults), which we highly appreciated given their limited attention span. We would certainly come back, what a great spot in a neighborhood where you might not expect such a good find. read more

I don't give 5 stars often but this little place deserves them. We have been going here since Mission Burrito closed and we're happy that we found a good Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. Here are the good things: * It's a BYOB * the food is authentic, fresh and made to order * they make killer margaritas - just bring plenty of tequila, she makes them big and strong * if you have Comcast then you can pickup the wifi * live music if Solidad sings * parking behind or across the street There are some minor things that are worth mentioning: * very small dining room compared to their Providence Rd place * if crowded you may have to wait a long time for your food (see 2nd item in good things list) * it's a BYOB but if you bring in anything that looks like a premixed margarita drink like Bud-rita they won't let you drink it * they never tell you the price for the specials which are always around $25 Ok, those aren't really 'show stoppers' but I thought I should 'mention' them. Overall, we have been going there for over 5 years and haven't had a bad or so-so meal! Can you think of any place you can say the same? read more

I was a fan when they were at their former location and have been looking forward to the new place. The pros: Food is quite good. Others have complained about price and yes, it will cost more than Chipotle, but it's a better meal, too. The owner is so friendly; she comes out every night to thank her patrons and sing Mexican love songs (OK, she's a bit pitchy at times but it's really charming.) Only complaint was service and, even then, only when it got busy. When we walked in, the place was 3/4 empty and there was no issue. It got crowded quickly, as it tends to do, and it was tough to get the check. You'd think they'd be anxious to turn the table. They could have used an extra waitress. I'll look forward to a return visit! read more

This may be the best Mexican food I've ever had...real Mexican (not Tex Mex) made with incredibly fresh ingredients and not overly spicy (unless you want more spice, which they will do). The place is nice and clean, and the service is outstanding...they may even sing for you, which believe me, is a real treat. On top of that, it's a BYO. What more could you want? read more

I know this is a long review. Please read it. I entered this restaurant with high spirits. With the great Yelp reviews at my back and and an atmosphere of home, I was sure this would be a place of repeat experience. Unfortunately my authentic Mexican dreams were crushed. Let me break it down: The place is run by an elderly Spanish lady who is personable and kind. Nachos were ordered for the appetizer and no complaints. Went into the entree with high expectations. Main course comes out. It is chicken with tomato/peppers/rice/refried beans and potato. The chicken was over cooked, the rice was undercooked, the refried beans were too dry. I wasn't too upset about this. But listen, gather round and listen to this. I KID YOU NOT, instead of potatoes, they used OREA-IDA French fries. I swear. This is not a joke. I initially was in denial and tried to think of justification. The train continued to crash. Now the nice lady described earlier started singing for tables(granted she has a nice voice). But the music is turned up so loud that you cannot hear the person across from you speaking. Melded in with the singing and music was yelling and angry words from the kitchen. If you don't believe this, I encourage you to check it out for yourself. Seeing is believing. read more

I went to Hidalgo with my daughter........ the food was delicious! My order -- the vegetarian version of Chile Rellenos (one with cheese and one with potato filling) --was extremely good! Service is wonderful and the owner/server (Mama?) broke into song partway through our dinner. Her voice is powerful and emotive, and it was such a treat. My daughter's Chicken with Mole was also thumbs up. We tried the homemade ice cream with cinnamon crispy tortillas for dessert and were very happy with that as well. My only criticism is that despite the fact that it's billed as a BYOB, we were charged $6 apiece for our margaritta's....even tho we brought our own taquilla. Usually BYOB is at most a "corkage fee". And this charge did not appear anywhere on the menu. So that was a bit of a downer. Next time (and we will definitely go back) we'll bring beer! read more

P. And I finally tried Hildalgo's for the first time with another couple. We walked in without reservations, but the place wasn't very crowded so we were able to get a table for 4. However the table for 4 was really a table for 2 that they just added 2 more chairs to, making it really cramped. We were PITAs and asked to move to a better table which thankfully fit us a little better. For appetizers we got the ceviche and the guacamole. The guacamole was fine, but I had a big issue with the ceviche because it came out warm as if the fish had been cooked and then tossed with lime juice. Any time ive ever had a ceviche it was chilled and the fish was definitely not cooked. That's the whole point of Ceviche: that the fish is marinated it lime "cooking" it in the juices. I opted out of that appetizer. I tried the enchilada for my entree and it really lacked flavor so I ended up not eating much of it. Our sever did seem nice though and I appreciated that but as I didn't really enjoy the food, I don't think I'll be returning. read more

We went to Hildagos in February. We new it was BYO and brought some wine what we did not know is that if you bring some tequila, they will mix a drink for you. The food was great and was the most authentic we have tasted since our trip to Merida. Highly recommended. read more

Superb! Fresh subtle and authentic Mexican food. Definitely our new favorite restaurant! GO! read more

Good and service are excellent! Authentic Mexican. We loved supporting a family runner business. We will be back.

Great food! Only one waitress working at the time which made me nervous cuz I was in a hurry but the food still came out fast and hot. Will definitely be coming back. Had the mole enchiladas and the 3 steak tacos read more

Food is good. (I've only had one dish so far, "The Burrito") Space is cozy (small). Décor is simple. Service is friendly. Here is what you should expect to pay on average for food. Dinner plate will average: $15 Appetizer: $7 Non-alcoholic drink: $3 If you are bringing your girly on a date cause she likes Mexican food, expect to pay between $45 to $50 for both of you. My only complaint is that I wish they had affordable options in their menu. For example, it needs to have lower priced items like tacos, burritos, etc. A $15 burrito to go is too expensive for most people. read more

Some of the most authentic Mexican food you'll find outside the city. Everything delicious, reasonably priced, and well portioned. Service was very friendly. Tres leches is to die for. Family owned so it feels great to not eat at a chain. read more

Hidalgo Restaurant - Appetizers are meal sized. - Mexican Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

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What the heck are the hours of this place? I drive by here all the time and it never seems to be on a consistent schedule and the hours definitely do not coincide with what's listed on the internet. There were a couple times we drove here to eat and they were closed when they should have been open. Eventually we did make it here during open hours (we called first). Finally! Honestly I was a little disappointed with my Hidalgo experience, most likely due to all the hype surrounding this place. The interior is really beautiful and not at all what you would expect from what you see in passing. My guest and I started with the guacamole. It was good but nothing about it stood out. My entrée was the chicken enchiladas. I found the chicken to be a little dry and the sauce a bit one-note. My guest, in an effort to observe Lent (obviously this was a poor choice in timing to go out for Mexican) ordered what I believe were enchiladas stuffed with potatoes. She said it was ok. Neither of us bothered to box our leftovers. The shining star of Hidalgo is their margaritas and I'm tempted to bump the review up to 4 stars in honor of these divine concoctions. We came prepared with a new bottle of 1800 for the occasion. The owner took our bottle to the kitchen and emerged with 2 huge glasses full of the BEST house margarita I have ever had. It was so delicious - perfectly sweet and citrusy, packing a punch without being overbearing. My guest and I were definitely a little tipsy after finishing those... and weren't surprised when our tequila was returned to us. Nearly half the bottle was gone! Holy crap! No wonder we were buzzed... but how did our drinks not taste like they were 50% alcohol? It's a mystery. The owner did sing while we were there - LOUDLY - for a larger group celebrating a middle aged gentleman's birthday. He looked uncomfortable. We probably would have been uncomfortable as well if we hadn't just downed half a bottle of tequila. That said, the owner is very kind and really takes pride in this establishment and her food... which did lead to her being slightly pushy. We had to say no to dessert 3 separate times... though I wouldn't mind returning for some tres leches cake at a later date (and another margarita or two). read more

Fantastic Mexican food! The staff is always super nice and the food is always awesome. They seem to always have open tables, which is great for when you want to go. But I hope they're staying busy! read more

Erik G on 8/5/14 has no clue about food but he is right on about the margaritas and tres leches cake, they're amazing. Was my first time at Hidalgo tonight and all four meals were excellent. We've been to many great Mexican restaurants and some not so good. Hidalgo definitely landed in the great category, not just for food and #1 margaritas,but also the fabulous service, friendly servers and the obvious pride this family takes in serving their guests. The red snapper with avocado sauce was best we ever had, enchiladas con mole were great and the chile relleno was classic. Ended the meal with crepes de caramel and the homemade ice cream with churros, delicious! Highly recommend this restaurant with one caveat . . leave all of your "normal" expectations of what Mexican food and servers should be at the door. With a truly open mind you will have a truly positive dining experience to remember for a long time. You will certainly return again. Be sure to bring a designated driver if you plan to have a 2nd or 3rd margarita. Lol read more

Sigh.... We wanted to love it here. Really, we did. We lived on the US Border with Mexico (in Hidalgo county, no less) for over three years and fell in love with real Mexican food. Unfortunately, we've never been able to find a restaurant that comes close since we drove away from the Rio Grande Valley a few years ago. One of our daughters was craving Mexican, so after reading yelp reviews on this plane several times, we decided to give it a try. The parking is awful, but once we got settled in a spot, we were seated in an teeny table by the only server in the restaurant. The tables set for 4 really should only sit 2. Our 2 adults/2 kids didn't fit comfortably at all! They brought out a tiny basket of chips and a small bowl of delicious pico de gallo to start. It was great. The chips were definitely home made. We decided to order my most favorite Mexican appetizer - queso fundido which is basically broiled melted cheese with chorizo in it. There was very very little chorizo in it and they served it with 3 corn tortillas (for our 4 guests). We wound up eating up the remaining cheese with what little amount of chips we were given and wound up asking for extra chips. They brought out a new basket with the amount of chips that we should've been given in the first place - and were eventually charged $2 for the extra chips on the bill. It took an extremely long time to get our entrees. My husband and I both ordered carne a la tampenqenia (I'm used to it being skirt steak with a cheese enchilada) but it was a leathery thin cut of meat that had decent flavor but was just a crappy cut and over cooked, even though they did ask our cooking temperature and we requested medium. It was accompanied by a tamale that was super dry and a chicken enchilada which was probably the best thing on the plate. The black beans were good too. It was most definitely not a good dish overall. My daughters had cheese enchiladas and they were good. Not necessarily worth the price, but good. The restaurant is very small, and got cramped and busy while we were in there. We were hoping for it to be much better per previous yelp reviews but we were very underwhelmed. I think this restaurants reviews are inflated because if the byob/byot aspect. I'm solely basing my review on the food and service. and I was not impressed. read more

I've been wanting to try this place since it was in Secane. I was not disappointed. We went on a Sunday night, we sat right down. We waited a normal amount of time for the waitress to come for drinks which to me was an okay wait there is only two servers and there were 5 tables that had just been sat. We ordered the Nachos and they were delicious, not over topped which I enjoyed. We both got enchiladas I order the green, he the red. They were extremely tasty. Mine were very hot (heat)he said his could have been hotter. The best part of the night was the Serenade from our waitress, it was something special. I very much enjoyed it here and will go back again. read more

I enjoyed opening night at their new site in Media. The homemade salsa was terrific with freshly diced tomatoes and onions. I ordered chicken and cheese enchiladas and it was the best I ever had. There were some opening night jitters , credit card acceptance was down. Service was very slow, seemed like waitresses/staff were unsure of their roles. Nobody was bussing empty tables nor hosting walk-ins, this made it awkward as you saw people wait to be seated in this tiny room. So many people asked for take out menus , they had none. I am sure that they will work out the service aspect because the food was very good... But stay on your toes Hidalgo.... There's a lot of competition in your new home! Good luck! read more

absolutely love this place. the staff are the kindest people you will ever meet. if you're lucky you'll get to hear some singing. the food is excellent. the seafood soup (can't remember the name of it) was out of this world. loaded with shrimp, scallops, muscles, octopus, calamari,all kinds of vegetables in a delicious broth. the red snapper dish (again can't remember the name) was cooked to perfection with an amazing garlic taste. it's byob, but skip the wine and bring some tequila.... they will make the margaritas for you. this place is an experience just as much as it is an authentic mexican restaurant read more

2 important things- 1. Order something with the mole sauce. I am from South Texas and grew up on Mexican food and that is the best mole sauce I have ever had. I prefer it with the enchiladas. 2. Ask the woman there to sing. read more

Major hidden gem!! Great BYOB. Soledad's homemade Tres' leches cake Fridays and Saturdays is not to be missed. Food is amazing. Seriously, best meal of my life level..... Yes, if you want water, you have to buy it... Oh well. 2 can eat here with app/2entree/2desert easily for $50. Please check it out, worth it. read more

The food was delicious, the service was too notch, and there was entertainment as well! Can't wait to return!

Fresh, authentic Mexican food!!!! BYOB or bring tequila for a perfectly made margarita by Soledad! This is not Tex/Mex food! Enrique (the chef) expertly makes every dish with absolutely delicious flavors!! You also must try Soledad's tres leche cake. It is to die for! Support your local family restaurants! read more

Great, authentic Mexican food. Family business with excellent, personable service. Absolutely worth a visit if you like Mexican!

I grew up on the border of Mexico and have lived in Texas almost all of my life. I moved to the area only about 2 months ago. I thought there was no way I was going to get good, authentic, Mexican food after I moved - I was wrong. I've come a few times and always order WAY too much (I want to try a bit of everything) and everything is delicious. Super fresh, super tasty. The ceviche is one of the best I have ever had. The queso flameado is awesome and so hard to find (at a lot of places it's more of a cheese dip, but here is the legit melted, stringy cheese you have to pull away with a tortilla), and every entree (enchiladas, red snapper, steak fajitas etc) are equally good. I also love the familial environment and family-run nature of the restaurant. The husband and a daughter cook, another daughter helps serve, and the mother is the front of house. She is so lovely and so proud of the food they serve - as she should be. I'll definitely continue to be a regular here going forward. read more

Terrific food, green sauce enchilada was delicious. Live performance and beautiful singing by the waitress!

This is a nice small family run business. The main courses (red snapper and burrito) were good but the appetizer ceviche was disappointing. Ceviche is typically made from raw fish cured in citrus juices. This restaurant served cooked hot fish with salsa. Will give this restaurant another try but will not order ceviche again. read more

There were two women manning the entire restaurant. Took 40 minutes for someone to even acknowledge our table. And then over an hour for the food to come out. I wish we had just gotten up and gone somewhere else. Other restaurants on State street have better food and service. read more