Los Caballeros

What happened? I am crossing fingers the usual chef is simply on vacation because our meal tonight…read morewas terrible. Carnitas Guacamole special is always my go-to. Tonight, the meat was sparse, dry (yet fatty), and bones were left in. There was undercooked rice and underseasoned beans (which are usually amazing). Probably the worst part of the meal? The guacamole had literally no avocado in it. They instead chopped tomato, cilantro, and onion and tried to pass it off as guacamole. My husband was also missing avocado that was supposed to come with his meal, so they must have been out. If so, we would have loved a phone call to let us choose an alternative or give a discount, given that guac was a main part of my meal. My husband ordered the beef rib plate and said it was perhaps the worst meal he's had all year. It was served with tortillas but the meat was so incredibly chewy and inedible, served as a long strip with bones intact. He felt the same as me about the rice and beans. We DID like the cojita cheese with the beans, the homemade tortillas, and the tortilla chips with salsa verde. We normally love the queso with its tasty, somewhat runny consistency, but today, it was congealed with a hard film covering the top. We microwaved it thinking it would help, but it was still so chunky that we couldn't dribble it over our meals. It got tossed. Because of previously amazing experiences, we will try it again (and hopefully update review) but if it is the same lacking quality, we will probably find a new spot.

I just ran in to get some tamales to go. They had a warmer right by the cash register full of…read moretamales!! I got 2 packs of 4 each (2 pork snd 2 chicken) and was thrilled!! I've just now heated them up and they were delicious!! My grandparents lived in South Texas so I grew up having authentic Mexican food at times and I'm very partial to tamales!! Glad to find my go to tamale place!!

Inside

Eggs and chorizo

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Rancho Nuevo Mexican Store And Restaurant

5.0(1 review)

2.2 mi

Owner and her daughter are gracious and kind. They provided authentic Mexican that gave us a…read morelasting impression. Please , please go by and try it out. They both work so hard in the quality of their food. I have hunted for tasty Mexican because I am from Texas. I finally found it here in Tennessee.

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Zandunga Mexican Restaurant

4.3(63 reviews)

1.1 mi

If you are in oak ridge and your craving Mexican food Zandunga is the place to choose. The dining…read morearea is ample bright and very clean. The service is fantastic, super friendly staff with happy smiles and a perfect level of hospitality. The menu is excellent filled with great choices and absolutely fair prices. This place is a strong choice in town.

First time here and we had great times. Service was fast. We had Flautas, fajitas, margaritas,…read moretacos.. they were all delicious. We also like the spicy smokey sauce comes with steak fajitas, such unique flavor. It was happy hour on a Saturday. Their cocktails are highly recommended. This restaurant has a small Mexican apparel store in it. They sell traditional bags, slippers, dresses etc. with great prices.

Baja Fish Tacos (3)

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Margarita

Gallo Loco

4.0(93 reviews)

0.8 mi

I have previously ordered from here and liked the food which makes me shiver thinking about it…read morenow... I walked in to pick up my order and as I was briefly waiting for an employee to cash me out, I saw a roach crawling on a stool to the left of the door. I walked over to the employee and tapped him to tell him I would be canceling my order and that he has a roach crawling in his restaurant in the middle of the day (usually German roaches only come out at night to feed, but this one was big and makes me wonder how bad the issue really is) . He looked at it and FLICKED IT off the chair. I kindly told him that I was going to have to find somewhere else to eat. walked out and he opened the door behind me and asked if I still wanted my food. I politely declined. I hate putting bad reviews on restaurants and especially small businesses, but this is unacceptable and unsanitary. The way the employee handled it tells me that it isn't of concern to them.

Very inviting atmosphere with kind and helpful staff. We were seated immediately but I bet this…read moreplace can be quite busy. The food was excellent. We all enjoyed the beans that they served with the chips, a nice surprise. All the meat was cooked expertly and everyone liked their meals. We will be back.

Interior

Tacos Locos

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Interior

El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant

4.2(101 reviews)

0.6 mi

What a nostalgic experience! Dan and I are visiting family in Knoxville. Today, we drove to Oak…read moreRidge where we used to live and had lunch at our favorite restaurant when Oak Ridge was home. I would love to move back to our Oak Ridge house. If we could move back, we would once again be regulars at El Cantarito and I will tell you why. I'm the frugal yelper. I love a good deal and I recognize value. That doesn't mean I like cheap food or don't enjoy fine dining. I just like value. That's what you get at El Cantarito. Their prices are fabulous and their food must be good quality because it tastes great. Dan and I each got a tostada lunch for just under $5. Dan got the tostaquac which included ground beef and sour cream. I got one with everything besides the ground beef and sour cream. Both had refried beans, lettuce, tomato, and guacamole. Delicious. That came with rice and beans. The salsa was delicious, just the right amount of kick. I made the mistake of ordering the large beer without asking how large it was. It was 32 Oz. Dan got one, too. That was way too much for either of us, so we left much of it. The large draft beer was $4.99. During happy hour domestics are $1.99 for a small and $3.99 large. Modelo is a dollar more. It has a Mexican diner feel to it. It looks authentic and very much is authentic. During lunch hour it is very busy and a little noisy. We recognized our server but she didn't remember us. The check just said she's #2. She didn't recognize us. #2 gave us excellent service. We couldn't have asked for any better service. Oak Ridge is so lucky to have this wonderful Mexican restaurant. I hope they appreciate it.

When we lived in Oak Ridge we were regulars here for lunch. First time back in 5 years and were…read morequite pleasantly surprised to find the same good food and very reasonable prices. They have lunches as low as $4.75. Most of the staff is the same. Our server even remembered us. Walls decorated with Mexican art among the TVs showing sports and news. Very large menu with many selections from which to choose.

Fajitas

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El Jinete Mexican

4.1(39 reviews)

1.0 mi

Outstanding service - very friendly, attentive team. I…read moreordered the California burrito. I misunderstood - this is not a burrito with sides - every dang thing listed is inside the burrito. None of the many things inside have any seasoning, the meat was overcooked, and it was simply not good. Quite disappointing :( Margarita ok. Chips great. Salsa completely forgettable. BUT - if you go, ask for the Spicy salsa - it is bonkers good! But I won't be returning.

I highly recommend El Jinete. The menu is thick with incredible options. The service is friendly,…read moreefficient and non-intrusive. The restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere with ample seating. They had a nice bar with many cocktail options. We are going to frequent this place.

Bar area

Birria Plate

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Outside entrance

Cancun Mexican Grill & Bar

4.4(26 reviews)

1.3 mi

I love this place. The food is excellent. The service is on point and the prices are very…read morereasonable. Toughest part for me??? I can't stop ordering the barria tacos. I REALLY want to try something else. But when I get in there and open the menu...it just happens. "Barria tacos and an unsweetened iced tea"... Over and over again. I just can't help myself. Trust me. They are worth the trip. Go give them a try.

Cancun, Mexican Grill and bar is the best Mexican food around. Reminds me of being back in…read moreCalifornia. Great service great food !

The bar area

Perfect custamized taco. Best ever, ground beef, chirizo cheese, lettuce, tomatoe, real Verde sauce. Highly addictive.

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Restaurant front door

Barrios Mexican Cantina

4.3(60 reviews)

0.7 mi

We were coming home from a long day of driving and found this place along the way. To say it is…read morethe best Mexican restaurant food I've ever had would be an understatement. Everything was epic. We started with chips and salsa and beer. I wish I could remember the name of the young man who served us because he was a very good bartender and server. I ordered three different tacos and man, oh man! The cauliflower taco was hands down the best taco I've ever eaten. The lengua taco was just as good. The seasoning and accompanying veggies were the perfect ingredients for these tacos. The Baja shrimp tacos were good too, but not off the charts like the other two. The street corn was seasoned nicely and I enjoyed each and every bite My husband, who doesn't really like or eat Mexican food ordered the Philly Steak and Cheese burrito with rice and beans. He ate all of it, so I know it had to be good. We are already making plans to return, although it's over an hour away from our house. I'm excited to try other items. Barrios, thank you for the great food, the clean bar, and the excellent food. We look forward to seeing you again! And, we were aware of the upcharge for using a credit card, so there were no surprises as mentioned in other reviews.

It's time to update my review from 2 years ago! Yes, Barrios, you have a dedicated fan now! Since…read moremy last review, lots has changed about this place and only in a good way! They added an outdoor, dog-friendly patio and a new bar inside. Each time I've come now, that place has been clean and inviting! The service has been great - prompt, attentive, and friendly. But as a taco-loving Texan who now resides in TN, I have to say this is the BEST Mexican food in town. They have the best salsa, margaritas, and everything I've ordered, from tacos to brunch items to green chili has been yummy! While the salsa has been toned down for the 'can't handle the heat' locals - just ask your server for something else with more spice. They will accommodate you. There's some salsa Verde and tomatillo salsa that has a bit more kick and is my go-to! And they have corn tortillas too - you can just ask them to swap them out for the flour if that is your preference. I promise, my partner and I have hit just about every Mexican place in OR - and he even agrees, Barrios is where it's at!

The Loaded Carnitas Steak Loaded Burrito

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New seasonal cocktails

El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant

4.4(49 reviews)

17.4 mi

Great authentic Mexican food! First time here service was good and our server was friendly !read more

I am amazed at this restaurant. large portions...many selections and great drinks. I live in…read moreAtlanta and this is equal to many of the best Tex-Mex here!

Carnitas dinner

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Fiesta Charra Mexican Restaurant & Grill

4.6(11 reviews)

3.5 mi

I ate there with my cousin and his partner a couple of years ago. I loved the food. I have a…read morecraving for their food now. I am looking for an online menu.

The food I ordered did not match the description on the menu, in fact it looked like a totally…read moredifferent menu item. When I asked my server she said it was what I ordered. Then I got a to go order and it was totally wrong. The food took forever to come out and the restaurant only had 3 other tables with people. I usually am very pleased with this restaurant but my experience tonight will take a long time before I return

Booths and decorations

Vegetarian Quesadilla

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Ribeye Americano

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Emilee P.

0

1

0

8 years ago

This is honestlymy favorite restaurant by far. The service is amazing and since icons sonuch they have memorized my order and i can just walk in they direct me to my seat and they ask me if i want my normal order or something different. One of the best things us that the chips and salsa are free, no matter how much you eat you will never have to pay for it. The salsa is mild so those who like spicy stuff ask for some hot sause or hot salsa. They also give you a large amount of your drink. This place is a family buisness so they are always sincere to their customers. read more

Linux O.

0

1

0

8 years ago

I went to this restaurant last night and it was great. The staff was friendly and the food was fresh and hot. I had the enchiladas and my wife had the quesadilla grande. This is a family owned and the family are actually Mexican, which means something to me when eating at a Mexican restaurant. The cheese dip is 100% Mexican white cheese. It's delicious. The salsa was the best I've ever had. I don't normally like salsa. I would definitely visit this business again. read more

Los Caballeros - mexican - Updated October 2026

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Los Amigos

3.9

(158 reviews)

Posting Menus as of September 2026 Hope this is helpful to…read moreeveryone Love the chips salsa

Hate to leave my once go-to spot for Mexican food a bad review but after today? They earned it. We…read morewere very disappointed how how we were treated by thecashier, who either is the owner or the manager or both. We noticed added fees on our bill so we very politely asked her to explain them. Before she even looked at the bill? She started to break down the fees, leaving me thinking that many others must have been asking about them too! Anyway......she now charges $1.29 for two small slices of lemon for iced tea if you dare ask for more than the tiny 1 slice that now comes with the $3.49 glass of tea! Note* They used to give you a few small slices on a tall glass of tea. Now? They intentionally offer only one, forcing most tea drinkers to have to ask for more, then they charge you extra for what used to be part of a basic ice tea order and they do it without even telling you. Also? They only give you two very tiny tortillas for a huge/adult dinner portion steak fajita meal where you would need at least 4-6 of their tiny tortillas just to eat this particular meal (AS IT IS INTENDED to be eaten!). Need another tortilla or two? No problem if you ask but they are now $1.49 extra, EACH. Nobody tells you about that up charge either until the bill comes so we spoke to the manager when checking out to ask her about it. As longtime & loyal customers, she knows us pretty well. We were polite and expected nothing less than the same in return, along with a reasonable explanation. Nope! As soon as I said "I just have a question about some charges on here that I am unfamiliar with, since I always get the exact same things." She started off with "yes, more tortillas are usually needed for a meal that big and that's why we sell you extras!". So then we asked her: "why do you offer a meal that requires a few more tortillas due to the very tiny size that you use and shortchange the meal but only giving two? Why not provide enough as part of the actual meal, just like other restaurants do?" That question went right over her head and she went straight to a "rising costs" excuse. As for the lemon pieces? She said how expensive they are too so if you want more than just a tiny piece! "We will bring them to you but it's $1.29 extra". For two small pieces, I asked? I told her that NOBODY in this area ever charges paying customers for extra lemons, not even El Jimador, the competing Mexican Restaurant in town. She didn't like hearing that so she just waved her hand in a goodbye gesture and said "thank you and have a nice day". Wow, how surprisingly rude and very dismissive she suddenly became! We paid the extra $4.29 plus tax because that wasn't the issue for us. The principle behind WHY she added those those fees and nobody disclosed them until I spotted them on the bill and asked? That WAS the issue for us. Her bait and switch game is not hurting our feelings one bit but it will cost her business at least $150 a month in further income because that's the least that we spent there each month and after her attitude today? We won't be back. THERE ARE OTHER MEXICAN RESTAURANTS that we can enjoy without feeling like we're now being ripped off. I wonder how many other overcharged customers will dine elsewhere now too? She'd be wise to remind herself of that. So we're now sticking with El Jimador, where their service is always good, their food is always fresh and they aren't trying to rip customers off with that kind of nickel & diming of their customers. I don't care to hear her whining about rising costs as if she is the only one paying any. We ALL are! I do care about having b/s fees quietly added to our bill by greedy and cheap owners who clearly disrespect their loyal customers. Customers who always tip their servers as well as we do. 30-40% every time. Now? I'm just hoping that our favorite server will quit this place and start working at El Jimador so we can keep supporting him. We are going to miss their salsa and our favorite server, but that's how it goes! We're done with supporting this place.

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