I'm sorry guys but the food at Los Potrillos is just not good. In fact, the tacos I had were probably the worst I have ever had in my entire life. Dried out, mealy meats with no flavor at all. I could barely bite through my steak taco. There was no moisture or flavor in the meat what-so-ever. We also order the super quesadilla. It was a GIANT platter with nothing of quality for $10.99. Sure it will fill you up, but again no flavor, quality of ingredients is not fresh. Food - 0 stars. It's expensive, and mostly inedible. With that being said that is not the reason people come here. People come here to get wasted off cheap margaritas and hey -- there's nothing wrong with that. Happy Hour runs from 2-7pm Margaritas: 16oz $3.15 27oz $5.99 32oz $7.99 Beer: 12oz $1.99 20oz $2.50 24oz $2.99 Also note that the margaritas taste like a gallon of fake lime syrup dumped in a bucket with a salted rim. Again, not my cup of tea, but I know plenty of people (and tons of college kids for sure) who would love nothing more than to drink themselves silly at this place and not mind the quality what-so-ever. If this is you you've won the jack pot. Side note: Mario our server was extremely charming and even gave me change for the meter outside. I love him, but that is where the love affair ended. read more

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I ordered the chili Colorado, and enchiladas verdes. There was no chili in the sauce for the chili Colorado( it was just tomato sauce. ) The salsa verde was salty, and obviously made from canned tomatillos. It was incredibly mediocre. I won't be returning. read more

Tonight is a date night and we were craving Mexican. To our surprise, this place is right next to Esquire Theater! You will have to park across the street or I. The parking lot on the other side. They don't have a parking lot in the back. If you're early enough or get lucky, you might be able to find a spot on the street. The location is much larger than expected. From the outside the restraint front looks small but upon entering it appears to be endless going to the back of the building. The menu is vast and has something for everyone. Even if you're not in the mood for Mexican. They also have several kids meals to select from as well. I ordered chicken soup, peach margarita and my husband ordered chicken quesadilla, an iced tea and for desert, fried ice cream! Everything was great! The food was normal, average portions. I love the soup so much I ordered another bowl while my husband ate his dessert. Also the margarita was perfect!!! This is definitely a place we will be frequenting when coming to Clifton for date night. read more

We had a great experience at Los Potrillos. Food was excellent and wait staff god and friendly!

Had to check out the new place on the block. While Cincinnati has become a land of gourmet tacos, I was always surprised that there was not a mexican place near UC-you know, the kind with a list of numbered specials, burritos smothered with cheese sauce and every plate having rice and beans. This place fits the bill for that...and cheap margs. If you're looking for fancy tacos and craft beer, head to Northside. In an epic post-work drink turned dinner turned how many margaritas has it been ?? sorta night, I had the chance to try this place out, and I'd say it met my expectations, but I wouldn't recommend it for a quiet, intimate dinner. There are a lot of tvs, which is nice, but ratchets up the noise. I had an item from the pork menu-the meat was served with salsa verde, rice, beans, and tortillas. The pork was good quality and the flavor was good (maybe a little salty) and the portion was hearty. It doesn't seem like the kind of place that uses the highest quality ingredients for its dishes (the other plate on the table was topped with pineapple rings, clearly from a can) so the price point seems a little high, but it seems what's lacking in quality they provide in quantity. The star of our night was the $2.50 16oz margarita special that was happening all day. I couldn't tell you if this was every day, Mondays, or just the day we were there, but we took advantage. Not the best marg I've ever had, and every one tasted different and didn't seem well mixed, but the competition for margaritas in walking distance is pretty slim. I'm told the frozen margaritas were pretty good and more consistent (which makes sense). The real kicker of the evening was the ambiance of the place. When we showed up, there were maybe 2 other tables with customers. As we sat enjoying our evening, the room filled up and got loud...and I mean LOUD, like yelling across the table at each other. I guess a cheap marg special does that; but the crowd was pretty diverse. The service was good-ish. They get credit because we were honestly there for at least 3 hours and weren't pushy (except with the alcohol). However, it almost crossed the line to the other end of the spectrum. We clearly communicated that we were finished drinking, and yet the check never came...it took probably 20 minutes for it to show up, then another 10 for us to get our cards back, and then another 5 to track down a pen. I'd say it's a good edition to the international food scene on Ludlow, and at least offers something different from what's already available in Clifton/CUF. With all of the other options nearby (Cactus Pear, Northside, Bakersfield), it's hard to make a strong case. read more

Los Potrillos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We tried Los Portrillos for the first time recently since we had a gift certificate. I'm glad we did because, I would've been upset had we paid full price. Many items on the menu sounded really good so, we decided to try a few different things. We started with the Trio Shrimp, which sounded awesome. It came with 4 each of the breaded shrimp and coconut shrimp, fried calamari and french fries, served with chipotle mayo, which did NOT pair well. It was basically some prepackaged frozen stuff on a plate. Plus, the coconut shrimp were burnt. We also tried the Mex Sampler Platter. It included stuffed jalapenos, a quesadilla, nachos, panchitos (which they never did give us), chicken wings and chicken tenders. The quesadilla was a flavorless blob of cheese inside a tortilla. The nachos were a soggy pile of, what tasted like, unseasoned beef with cheese sauce. The chicken wings, in and of themselves, weren't bad. They were just plain, fried wings. No sauce. The jalapenos, which were a tad burnt, and chicken tenders tasted like run of the mill frozen food. Not bad but, not what I was expecting. This was also served with chipotle mayo. Again, didn't pair well. For my entree, I ordered the Steak & Shrimp San Jose. It's a grilled T-Bone topped with grilled shrimp, onions and mushrooms. It comes with a tossed salad and baked potato. It sounded good but, came out absolutely encased in cheese. I love cheese but, it was way too much. It over powered the steak, onions, and mushrooms. Which, by themselves were good. The shrimp, on the other hand, was quite salty. My salad came with absolutely no dressing. I did enjoy the fact that my baked potato was peeled for me. My husband went with the Shrimp and Scallops. It's topped with cheese and ranchero sauces and served with beans and rice. Presentation was definitely sub par. The shrimp were salty and the ranchero was overwhelming. Maybe someone else will have a better experience. But, personally, there were too many dishes lacking for us to go back. We ended up taking home more than half of what we ordered. read more

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Pretty good Mexican place. I had dinner with a group of about 15 on a Wednesday and it was about 80% filled with customers. The service was quick. Some order mistakes were made but were quickly resolved. I appreciated that they rushed the orders of friends who arrived late so they didn't wait while others ate. The food was good and cooked in an authentic manner. I only had a beer but friends said the margaritas were a great size and tasted good. read more

Los Potrillos - Combo 4 - enchiladas, tacos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I frequent Los Potrillos as it is in my neighborhood. When you are seated, the waiters bring out baskets of chips and cups of salsa to get you started. You can also get queso or guacamole which comes at an additional cost. They have an expansive menu with plenty of options to choose from. Most entrees come with a combination of beans, rice, and pico. They also feature deals on their margarita pitchers. The ambiance is pretty lively and colorful and the staff is typically pretty helpful. The food itself is usually pretty decent and VERY fast. I always get the fajita quesadilla which reminds me of a Mexican Philly Cheese steak. It is always easy to get a table too which is nice. I am surprised with some of their prices as Mexican food is usually rather inexpensive. Other than that - I would say this place is a safe bet for a quick bite. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. read more

Craved Mexican food one night and since Los potrillos was very close to my place, thought to give it a try. Ordered the chicken quesadillas and shrimp fajitas. Quesadillas were amazing, great cheese pull and flavorful meat. Fajitas were decent as well, good ratio of shrimps. Portions were huge for both entrees. I'd go for quesadillas again. Staff was very courteous, confused me for being Mexican... had a great laugh when I stopped after saying Hola. Refilled our drinks quickly, answered all my queries with patience and our food was on our table in a jiffy. Well priced, in my favorite neighborhood, alive during holidays. read more

This place is...meh. Service is impersonal. Food is so-so. Interesting approach to seasoned beef however, maybe curry added? We ordered chicken panchitos, fried beef burritos and beef taco platter. The salad on the platter had a sad medley of shredded iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato and a smattering of guacamole sauce. It was difficult to obtain a refill on sodas. Nice interior design which almost makes it feel as though you are outdoors. For the price and location, I expected flavorful bites and an attentive server. I really wish they had some more interesting dishes, a true chef would liven up the place! read more

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It's 1am in the morning and you guys are doing construction I'm getting ready to file a noise complaint with the city. This isn't the first time, this is ridiculous. read more

Good music and margarita deals but the food is disappointing. I already knew going in that this place might be lacking in the food department. A good friend was originally not impressed with the food until she tried the seafood fajitas. She has ordered it now the times so it's good enough. I figured eating here was worth a shot just in case. I opted for the Yucatan Shrimp in the Garden (~$12) because it was supposed to be "grilled" shrimp with lots of veggies (peppers, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, etc.) It came with a large helping of rice and some lettuce, a little bit of guacamole, a tablespoon of cheese and some crema or sour cream. (After I was well into eating, the waiter offered to bring tortillas but I said no.) The shrimp and veggies were not grilled, more like stir fried and with too much oil still on them. They also had no seasoning. I had to add pepper, lime and hot sauce for flavor. The rice was way too salty for me. Surprisingly the table chips had almost no salt. The margarita was good at least and strong. I like the renovations to the decor. Also the place was packed (on a Friday night around 6/6:30). If I go again, I'll have to try something else. Worse case scenario, I'll get another margarita to wash it down. read more

Los Potrillos - Yucatan Shrimp in the Garden. - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I have been here dozens of times because for 3 years I lived within a short walk. I have never been dissatisfied. This is a popular spot off campus to grab some margs, and I highly recommend the arroz con pollo. Next time I go back to visit and I'm on Ludlow this will be my first stop along with skyline! read more

Not good, not terrible, just pedestrian. Do yourself a favor and hit Django in Northside instead; if the people who ran this place did the kind of innovative stuff Django does, you'd need reservations a week in advance! read more

I went for lunch on August 15th. I had to wait like an HOUR for my food. One worker apologized to me but I didn't get any explanation whatsoever. Very poor service. read more

Totally decent. Despite the otherwise expected crush of traffic on a busy thoroughfare on a busy night (Sat, April 1, 2017), they were prompt, seated us sharpish, didn't miss a beat on the orders, drinks, or otherwise. The employees are nothing if not diligent. Had a Molcajete (steak) and it was a solid if not very filling choice. You will need a go-box. G/f had some sort of fajita and a mixed drink they call a "Blue Moon" that was worth every penny, heavy on the pineapple. One of the many +'s on Ludlow. Definitely going back read more

Great location for a group of friends to get quick seating, service, marg refills, and good food. Clean tables and area, and extremely friendly waiters! Their clientele consists mainly of college students, but there are definitely families that frequent the place as well. Not to compare restaurants (but to totally compare restaurants) this place reminds me of a Cancun, but less busy and a bit cleaner. This is my go-to for Marg Monday with the girl friends. read more

Los Potrillos - Taco salad with pulled chicken SO GOOD - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Haven't been here since covid. Went today to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Big mistake! Standing only at bar. Manager would not let us pull up stools not being used by window. Cannot even sit on stool unless you can fill the small table. Ridiculous! A $9 margarita had no alcohol in it. Totally not worth it. I will not be back. read more

Los Potrillos is a great place to go for some tex-mex food and cheap margaritas, just like we did back in college. Los Potrillos is in the heart of Clifton's Gaslight District and a quick walk to any of the side streets which provide safe parking, as long as you lock your car and take your purse with you. We really like their weekly specials, all on display on the menu board right inside, mostly consisting of margs at different sizes and prices. I highly recommend the house marg, on the rocks... it packs a punch! If you are someone looking for specialty drinks and margs, this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a fun, cheap night out with some friends and margs, come on down! As far as food goes, it is not authentic Mexican cuisine that has been prepared by a 5 star chef but is good for something to go with your drinks. I like to get their quesadillas, any flavor, or their diner specials which have anything you might want along with rice and beans (which I like for my chips!). The Three Horses (Los Potrillos) is a fun place to grab a bite before a show or for a casual night out but I would not recomend going for a first date or aniversary. read more

Working in Clifton, Los Potrillos has become a staple spot for lunching. I am a huge Mexican food fan. I could eat it everyday and not get sick of it. That being said, Los Potrillos is everything you would expect from the local mexican restaurant. They are reliable for good food and average drinks, but sometimes that is all you need. They have so many options and a pretty good lunch menu. I would recommend if you are craving that American Mexican experience in the area. Service can sometimes be on the slow side so I wouldn't make this your quick lunch spot. read more

Lunch was good, service was good. They must be having some financial issues, as the chips and salsa for our table of 16 seemed to be sactioned read more

If you're looking for a place to get the night started, Los Potrillos is the place for you! If you're looking for a tasty, filling Mexican meal, this is also the place to go. If you're looking to get hammered off margaritas at 3:00pm...well, this is also the place for you! The goods: The food is delicious! I can't be the only one who has gone through a Mexican-food-for-ever-meal phase. Not too expensive, a menu packed with options, and large portions. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat. I have yet to have any unpleasant experiences with the staff, they always seem to be happy to help. There always seems to be great deals going on with drinks, which is awesome because the margaritas are addicting (and gigantic)! the bads: The trying to find parking down in Ludlow can be a pain in the neck. Often, street parking a mile away will be the only option. The food, while filling and tasty, is not what I'd consider worthy of 5 stars. This is NOT the place to come for a meal in peace anytime after 8:00pm because it gets NOISY! Definitely a great find so close to campus! read more

So glad for Los Potrillos. Their food is very good with big portion sizes, but their margaritas steal the show... boy are they strong and good. I can't even drink overly sweet and sour margaritas and usually i don't even get one at most "regular" Mexican restaurants because they are almost always too sweet. Well I am happy to report that i have been twice and Los Potrillos has not disappointed either time! Not to mention that the Happy hour includes beer and Margaritas. A 32oz margarita for $7.99, 27oz for $5.99 and a 16oz for $3.15. You will be satisfied with any of these, but be warned, the 32 oz margarita is no joke! Don't drive home after you have one of these babies! Their chips come out hot, which is great! Have fun and enjoy the best mexican place in Clifton! read more

Great food! I ordered the tilapia salad and oh boy was it full of flavor. It was grilled to perfection, not overcooked and dry, just delicious. I asked for a side of salsa verde and you could tell they made it fresh. It was tasty with a slight kick. Our server was nice and our overall experience was a good one. This is a great dinner spot when you're on your way to see a movie next door. read more

Just wanted some quick food to grab for dinner. This place was great. Food was hot and was ready when I got there. The nachos were loaded up and tacos were just as good. Will be my regular spot from now on read more

I like to consider myself a bit of a margarita connoisseur, so when I heard there was a new Mexican place in Clifton, I had to check it out. While the margaritas weren't the absolute best I've had, Los Postrillos more than made up for in quantity and price. I got a 32 oz mango margarita for $6. And it was strong. The food was what you'd expect from a tex-mex place, lots of it and cheesy. I'm a fan of that kind of Mexican food so overall it was a great experience. The cherry on top was how friendly and attentive our server was. Everything came quickly, was hot and he had no problem splitting items between me and my boyfriends checks. If you're looking for gourmet Mexican with fancy cocktails, this is not your place, but if you are looking for a fun place to grab cheap drinks and good food, definitely check Los Postrillos out! read more

Los Potrillos - Steak fajita quesadilla and a 32oz margarita! - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Most authentic Mexican food in Cincinnati! This is right up the street and nown they deliver through Order up. read more

Los Potrillos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great food, very tasty. I'm sure we've all had Mexican food that is just so so and filling enough that we don't really care about the taste. Well Los Potrillos (Sp. for Colt or young horse), delivers very delicious food for a great price in a convenient location. Service was fast and friendly. The decorations were Mexican themed and one did not see much leftover from when this place was Thai Cafe, save for the unique revolving door (use it to keep the cold out please). I had the #29 from the vegetarian section of the menu and it was a Chalupa, been burrito and cheese quesadilla. Excellent flavor including fresh guacamole, which was a bit lemony but great. Ask for a side of salsa verde as it will add a small punch to the flavor. read more

It's great to have a Mexican restaurant on Ludlow! We ordered a pitcher of their strawberry margaritas - strong and delicious! Their bean dip was a huge portion, too much for our party of 3 to handle, but still delicious. I ordered the chicken molé. It was good, but maybe too much sauce and not enough sides. My friends both ordered salads and said they were really good. Our service left much to be desired. We were up front near the window, so she maybe forgot about us. At one point we walked up to the bar with us chip basket to ask for a refill. I'm sure as this business continues, they will work out the kinks and be a fabulous, thriving restaurant! Can't wait to go back for more margaritas! read more

Great place. Medium margy is a bit expensive, but very good. Staff is very friendly and fast. Had the nachos and they were great. Also tried the veggie Quesodilla with wrice and beans. Very good and inexpensive. I've been coming in here for happy hour the last couple of weeks and decided it is my new "spot." Manager is a very nice guy and very cosiderate. read more

Ludlow needed a sit-down Mexican restaurant and I am glad that Los Potrillos finally opened up in 2014. The first time I visited the restaurant, I ordered a combination plate and I was underwhelmed by the fried items on the plate but I decided to give this place another chance and I am so glad I did! If you go at the right time (during happy hour) the margaritas are dirt cheap and they are surprisingly good for the price. I highly recommend the seafood fajitas. My significant other ordered Mexican burritos and he surely enjoyed it. The staff is very friendly and prompt. This place is also kid-friendly. The restaurant is quite big and comfortable. It is worth giving a try! I will most certainly be returning soon. read more

My boyfriend and I decided to have a spontaneous date night on Ludlow and picked Los Potrillos because we're always in the mood for cheap Mexican. Unfortunately, this was one of our worst meals. The margaritas were weak and lacked the flavor that others have, and my boyfriend's burrito was "not good" -- which says something coming from the #1 Mexican food fan. The best part of the meal (and the only reason I'm not giving them a 1-star review) was getting the burrito taken off our bill after the waiter realized it was barely eaten. Next time, we'll stick to Cancun or El Toro. read more

Service honestly was terrible. Waiter seemed like he did not want to be there, or thought that my table wouldn't tip well due to us being college students and didn't care about our table. If it was a weekend during rush hour I would've understood due to my personal experience being a waiter but it was not busy. read more

I ordered the grilled chicken los potrillos. The food was good. The only thing is by the time I picked the food up and got home it was room temperature. I live 7 minutes away and I was waiting outside until it was ready to pickup. So, I don't know what happened there. The flavors were all there for the food though. Maybe I'll have a better experience with dining in. read more

We have grabbed dinner at Los Potrillos before or after a movie at the Esquire several times. We may have been cutting it close on our last visit, but the restaurant was not busy (it was an early dinner for us) and service was really fast! I ordered a margarita which was a standard margarita - good, but nothing special. We tried not to fill up on chips and salsa, but I still had a hard time finishing my spinach quesadilla because it was big and really, really stuffed full of spinach and sautéed veggies and cheese. I only wish there had been more guacamole on the side because it was very good. Our server was friendly and prompt and we made it to our movie with full and happy bellies! read more

Let me start off this review by saying Los Potrillos would be a 5-star if only it stood out amongst other small-time Mexican restaurants. In terms of variety, style, and presentation, it's just like the other Mexican restaurants I've reviewed in the past. Is this a bad thing? Not at all. On every other note, Los Potrillos knocks it out of the park (5-star worthy). Service, deliciousness, price, etc. I loved every minute of my dining experience here with my friends. From the endless chips and salsa to my ordered entree, everything came out perfectly and on time. All I can say about the food, delicious. Hits the spot. Bang for your buck. That's all I got, seriously it was just plain good. Random things that stood out that I wanna point out before ending this review are: table was a little too small for a party of 3 (or maybe the menus just took up a lot of space), each person got their own sauce cup with the shared chips (to prevent double dipping), and parking was kind of a pain. Other than these things, Los Potrillos is like your standard local Mexican fare but at its optimal point! read more

I was sad at first to see that my favorite Thai place had become a Mexican joint. This was very brief however because I love Mexican food! The margaritas are absolutely amazing. It's literally like drinking a liter of tequila for 7.50 ( on Fridays, 8.00 on other nights) these remind me of the margaritas we get when we are in Texas. No sweet and sour mix!!!! So not only are they very large, they are also very legit!!!!! They are, in my opinion, worth the trip to Clifton!!! The carne asada tacos left something to be desired, but, this was our first time there and I always give someplace more than one chance. My fiancé loved his shrimp tacos and our friends seemed to really enjoy their dinners, so I think I was a lone wolf with my dish! I would definitely tell you to head ehere for a margarita, and shrimp tacos! :) read more

I have had several positive experiences here. Each time I have gone I have had exceptional service and the food is really good! Amazing fajitas, margs, chips, salsa, and guacamole. read more

Horrible customer service. We ordered delivery, they forgot half the order and then wouldn't help us when we called to see where the rest of the order was. Then called us back saying they were from Uber Eats. UNACCEPTABLE. read more

So it was a bittersweet visit to Los Portillos. I loved the Thai Cafe, and may have shed a tear when I saw it was closed. However, I will say the transformation is beautiful. It's now an authentic and clean looking Mexican restaurant. The food like most have said, is nothing extraordinary. If you're looking for a cheap Mexican food/margarita fix this is it! I will say that compared to a few other Cincinnati Mexican restaurants, the food can actually be distinguished from each other rather it all being a cheesy, greasy liquid mess. It isn't quality Mexican food but it's better than the other imitations I've had. read more

Los Potrillos - "Speedy Gonzales Plate" - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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