El Jefe has really good food and every time we go eat there the staff is very friendly always with…read morea smile. The inside has good seating with heavy furniture and a country or cowboy/vaquero style which I love. You won't regret eating here if you're on a budget.

Stopped in to order food to go. While waiting the woman manager or owner decides to meet with all…read morethe wait and kitchen staff about ten feet away from me. I am on my phone watching Facebook reels. She started to talk loudly to them about things she was not happy about and got louder and louder and got more and more descriptive of things she was not happy about. She spoke Spanish to them and I think she assumed I did not understand Spanish. It got to the point that I felt embarrassed for the employees and I raised the volume on my phone so that I did not have to hear what was being said. It did not work! That made me very upset and I began to get a tight knot in my stomach. She was very loud and talked to them in a very condescending and mean manner. I lost my appetite!!! I could only take so much. I got up from my chair, walked over, interrupted the meeting to motion my waiter to me and told him to please cancel my order because I did not like what was happening in front of customers. I said it was not right. And, I made sure to look at her when I said that. I also said I will never return and walked out. I feel sorry for the employees. I really hope she did not take it out on them. But, I had to say something. This happened exactly as I have written it. The woman did not respond to me in any way. I think she was shocked.

If you're in Port Isabel, you have to stop by Isabel Cafe. It's one of those long-standing…read morehole-in-the-wall spots that locals clearly love--and now I see why. We ordered the small breakfast tacos on flour tortillas, and they were way bigger than expected (always a win!). We had the ham and egg, and the "con todo," and both were seriously delicious--fresh, flavorful, and super satisfying. The place itself is simple and unassuming, but that's part of the charm. What really stood out was the staff--so friendly and welcoming, they made the whole experience even better. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to!

Stopped by a little small-town restaurant in Isabel and loved the experience. Family workers, full…read moreof locals, and some of the best tacos around. They definitely didn't short change the bacon and bean tacos -- packed with flavor and worth every bite. If you're passing through Isabel, give this place a try next time!

A true hidden gem in an unassuming restaurant. Words cannot describe how fantastic the breakfast…read moreburritos are here, easily the best we've ever had and our mouths are watering typing this out. From the sheer size of the breakfast burritos to the flavors, everything is fantastic and beyond what we ever could've hoped for stopping by here. The parking situation is not great as there's not many spots around the side, but figure out how to get in here if you can. The staff is extremely friendly and the interior is clean. We ordered a sausage and cheese burrito; chorizo, egg, and cheese burrito; and a cheese quesadilla. Every single thing was out of this world. We could write again how great the breakfast burritos are, but we recommend you just go and try it. By far one of the best hidden gems we have found in the state of Texas. Make the trip, it's worth it.

Trying new places in the area around SPI - 2 of 2…read more I haven't been to SPI and the Rio Grande Valley that often, but I've eaten at several of the casual eateries on the island and in Port Isabel. If wanting a reasonably priced and filling Mexican breakfast, it used to be Isabel's and Manuel's. Isabel's was much to my liking but I wanted to try somewhere new. Manuel's closed and it has supposedly reopened somewhere else. I'm not going to ask, "Mexiquito ... where have you been all my life?" I thought it was new(er), but was assured it had been there a long time. I didn't make it in for breakfast, but I did make it in for lunch. Inside, it is very different from Isabel's, where they have plainer walls, a lower ceiling, and fluorescent lighting. Mexiquito has the darker woodwork, the green and red colors found on the flag of Mexico, and dimmer illumination that some Mexican locales have. Mexiquito is right on the main drag, so I've obviously driven past it on previous visits to the area. I had one of the combination platters with rice and refried beans. I asked for chicken as the filling for my items inside tortillas. Remember that, if you don't specify the filling, it may default to ground beef. The platter was plentiful and it was fairly tasty. They also bring on the chips and salsa. I had a cup of coffee and a glass of ice water. It's good that I asked for the ice water. Normally, it's to cool down from the coffee. Here, they only feature one type of salsa and it was too hot for my taste. Another reviewer mentions it, so I think I'm on track. I was not going to go with 5 stars to begin with, but only offering that one type of salsa with that much kick doesn't make me a fan. Dial it down a little to something more "middle of the road." Otherwise, if you like spicier salsa, Mexiquito is a reliable eatery with friendly personnel and fair prices.

Lots of locals eat here so you know it's good!! Not fancy by any means but the breakfast burritos…read moreare huge and delish!!!

Love this restaurant food doesn't just look good, it tastes amazing…read more Tortillas and everything home made.

P A I N F U L It…read morepains me to even recall our brief encounter here. We ordered an appetizer & a side of French Fries as just a snack to tide us over till dinner. What a joke. To start with, there weren't many tables with customers, and sufficient staff was on the floor. We were greeted with scowls and crappy attitudes. Not very welcoming if you know what I mean. So after ordering, we got our mozzarella stick that were hot and tasty, but, a BIG But...... We were served an oval plate, not platter with about 10 french fries that didn't even cover the plate! Are you kidding me? Plus they were not even hot. We expected a huge heap of fries, most restaurants serve!! And I think it was $6.99! We were speechless. Never again. WHAT A J O K E !!!!!

For it being Saturday and 1:30pm I love that we were seated rather quickly! Looked clean but…read morebathrooms needed a lock that worked. The food was decent, we had fried shrimp and it was tasty. The tartar sauce was too much Mayo more than anything. Fries didn't taste fresh but were alright for a last minute lunch spot. Our waiter was kind and patient, somewhat attentive. Idk if I would go again but if you're looking for something quick and decently priced for the island area, this will be your spot.

Out of tamales by 1:00!! Get there early because they're…read moregood! Speaking Spanish helps.

Have been coming here for years!!! It's the one local spot that gets everything right for real…read moreauthentic tortillas and cooked meats , super friendly service and always clean place.

Ok. Checked in here during visit to SPI. There 2 pics but we got 4 different meals. Everything…read morewe ate was awesome! Beef and chicken enchiladas with verde and rojas, and Tacos were amazing. This is not a big place. It's kinda dicey looking on the outside and inside but the service was awesome as well. Do yourself a favor. Eat here and enjoy life!! Update alert : we bought a dozen tamales home with us yesterday and they are bomb AF. U don't want to miss these. They are awesome! TY! YUM!

We visited the new Los Fresnos locations in search of a new restaurant. It was early on a Friday…read moreevening so there weren't too many people there, so that's good because we didn't have to wait to long for our orders. The ambiance and vibe inside was relaxing and comforting. It's not a big place, it only has a few tables. We ordered iced tea to drink and got some chips and salsa as appetizers. The salsa tasted homemade and not too spicy, which is good. As main entrees, I ordered the quesadillas. The menu has them as either shrimp or chicken quesadillas, but the owner was gracious enough to make them just with cheese, since I don't eat meat. They came with a side of salad and rice. My husband got the fried shrimp and it came with fries and coleslaw. Both dishes tasted fresh and tasty. It is advertised as a seafood restaurant, but their breakfast menu is more extensive, so we might come back to try their breakfast items. Everything we ordered was good, I'm glad we gave this new restaurant a try. The original location was in Port Isabel and have since moved to Los Fresnos. I'm glad they did. We will certainly be back again and recommend it to friends and family.

Went in for to go grilled fish and rice and were blown away by how good it was!! HUGE portions!!!…read more 1 order was 4 large filets! Couldn't be more pleased!!! Located in little strip center in front of Walmart with NO sign but it's right next to Subway so definitely go in and give it a try!! Tres leches cake was great as well! Highly recommend!!!

Everything! The food is great, the staff friendly, the ambience... comfortable... their red salsa…read moreis delicious!!

We had a to go order during lunch time. Elote and nacho were pretty good. Husband had various…read moretacos. My son devoured Pancho nacho and elote. Will definitely return next time we are in the area.

Food and service was outstanding. Awesome vibe with lots of bright murals. Will make it a staple…read morewhen we come back.