We saw a yummy post about this place on Instagram and thought we'd check it out when passing…read morethrough Guadalupe. So glad we did! Sparkling clean and full of light, we were greeted by a friendly smile and digital menu boards with photos of the food. Order at the counter with plenty of indoor seating (low tops and high tops). We had the #7 Mole plate (a large chicken leg and a thigh), $18.99, served with creamy refried beans, fluffy rice, and beautiful fresh corn tortillas. The mole sauce was earthy and very dark, not sweet at all -- which was a new version for me. This looks to be proper for the Oaxaca region, where chocolate and raisin are used sparingly for bitterness and savory depth, so I was glad to try a new region's mole. Tortillas were perfect, fresh and light. Beans and rice were excellent. We also ordered the #6 Quesabirria tacos plate ($14.59), with a bowl of dipping consomé big enough to have some left to eat with your spoon. Heaven. Crispy, cheese between the consume-soaked and grilled soft corn tortillas, and fall-off-tender beef with a sprinkling of onion and chopped cilantro. No notes! Dreamy. A half-liter bottle of Mexican (real cane sugar) Coke was a worthwhile splurge at $4.50. Fresh chilled salsas at the counter, you also got a basket of perfectly crisp miga chips (more dense and substantial than average tortilla chips - I usually see them with Chilaquiles) and house salsa roja free at the table. Several flavors of Aqua Fresca were on display as well as a dessert case (empty on the Monday afternoon we visited except for the "Chocoflan" in the refrigerator case), plus a counterside fridge with a big assortment of Mexican soft drinks. We bought a couple of chocoflans ($5 each) to go; they were more like cake than custardy flan but also excellent. Cannot wait to return!

Loved the salsa and carne asada taco. My husband had the carne asada tostada and enjoyed it with…read morethe spicy red sauce. Taco Tuesday special $8.99 for four small tacos.

This is without a doubt my breakfast and dinner spot I. ordered my usual and some caldo de rez. for…read moredinner later my outside dining is exactly what I need to start my day by the way it's the best coffee in Guad r

What a gem this delicious restaurant is. So fresh and tasty and very friendly service!read more

Absolutely charming place that was built in 1929 and became La Simpatia in 1944. Make sure to take…read morethe time to take in all the photos. Rosa, the owner has been here since 1977 and is a wealth of history as well as just fun to talk to. You can see why this place is a favorite with locals & tourists. The food is DELICIOUS and the same regular portions they've served since 1944. You'll leave pleasantly full with a smile on your face

Talk about homemade! Being able to watch and hear your food being meticulously prepared was a…read morebonus. The relleno was fantastic! The tamales were scrumptious! The taco was crispy and flavorful. Rice and beans - fantastic! Wish they were open more often. Service was slow but friendly. Bathroom was clean. This is a great place to have an authentic Mexican meal made with care. Well worth the wait. Keep it up please!

Authentic Mexican Experience (might blow a hole in your butt)…read more..... My wife and I went to El Tapatio for lunch in 2023, but hadn't returned until another couple said they'd like to try it. So we went back on a Thursday around noon. Ratings..... - Overall: 5 - Location: 4 - Exterior: 5 - Ambiance: 4 - Menu: 5 - Food Quality: 5 - Food Portion: 5 - Service: 5...unless you're stuck behind a large group - Price and Value: 5 - Parking: 4 - Bathroom: N/A Pros: - Location: Very good for people between Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria. On Highway 1...the main street in the small downtown of Guadalupe. Only 5 minutes from our house in Trilogy at the south end of Nipomo. - Menu: Large. Something for everyone with a bias toward authentic Mexican dishes. - Exterior: Colorful. The bright colors catch your eye from the street. - Ambiance: Casual and colorful. It's fairly small, but comfortable and homey. - Food: Everyone was happy. I and the husband in the other couple had a #44 - Spicy shrimp with rice and beans ($25.50). I like spicy, but it was a notch or 2 higher. My dish gave new meaning to the word "mouthwatering". Maybe I'm more of a "regular guy" these days. Our friend with the same entree literally cleaned his plate. Our server said "I've never seen anyone do that". He probably blew a hole in his butt. My wife had a Chile Relleno ($20) and really enjoyed it. I'm not sure about the order from the wife of the guy with a cast iron stomach. - Service: Great when it was our turn. We arrived a few minutes after a group of 15. Since the only person in the kitchen was the owner, he was naturally just able to make 1 or 2 dishes at a time. It took 45 minutes for the big table to be served...then we got our food during the next 10-15 minutes. The employees we met were friendly and helpful. While we waited, they did keep us well stocked with tortilla chips which were homemade and warm. - Price and Value: Good portions of tasty food at a fair price. - Parking: No problem. On the street either in front or around the corner. - Bathroom: We didn't try it. El Tapatio is a great choice for authentic Mexican food, but remember 2 things. It's only open 11 AM to 4 PM and they'll be a looooong wait for food if lots of people arrive just before you do.

Gave this place a try based on reviews of n different platforms and I feel misguided…read more Everything we ordered tasted deep fried and oily. Not much flavor, just oily. Service was friendly, but slow, and we were prepared, hoping the wait would be worth it, but we were disappointed. Not a place I would return to or recommend to others. A block or so away will lead you to a more pleasant experience. (LS) The bathroom is spacious and clean, so thanks for that.

PLEASE READ MY LAST REVIEW. My sentiments remain the same…read more AUTHENTIC Mexican Food. Absolutely delicious! I still travel 30 mins to purchase my Liquid Gold. It's pure lard from the carnitas. It's what goes into my maza for tamales. ITS ALL WORTH IT!!!

Ordered carnitas to go. Came with 2 lbs of meat, beans, rice, and tortillas. Paid a little over…read more$60, but It was worth every penny. Delicious meal for a family of four or five.

Visited for a few packs of tortillas! They were absolutely amazing--perfect for dinner or family…read moreparties. If you're in the area, make sure to grab a pack to go and savor the deliciousness at home! Friendly service!

I wish I had taken photos to share. (A testament to how…read moregood a pizza is... is how quickly it's gone!) we ate it FAST! Ordering and pickup was easy! The owner makes everything fresh and supports local businesses! I ordered their marg and west coast honey pizzas, and yea... PHENOMENAL! 12 outta 10

The food here is unreal! All incredibly fresh ingredients that you can taste and made to order. The…read moretacos are some of the absolute best in our area and that says a lot given the many options near us. Marcos is super friendly and easy to deal with. This place is an absolute must try, the pizza and tacos are both insanely good. The surf and turf tacos are killer!

we ordered great shrimp cocktails, Seafood salad, and a surf n turf Burrito. Very reasonably priced…read moreand modern looking. Will be back

The best Santa Maria BBQ in Santa Maria? It very well may be…read more The Filipino Community Center opens its doors during the weekends and serves mouthwatering, tender, smoky, and delicious barbecue. If someone visited me, and asked me where to go for signature Santa Maria style barbecue, I'd tell them to go here. Get the tri tip. Get the chicken. Get napkins, because you may cry. This place is like a local secret. We only heard about it through friends and neighbors we know. They have plenty of bench style seating in the community center. Many people just do takeaway. Is it the best? It's a tough call. But if there was a competition, Filipino community center bbq may be best of 3

Very tasty, delicious BBQ…read more I've been a customer for decades. Just wanted to jump on here and spread the word that the BBQ is at the center. Super delicious flavoring, seasoning and the meat was juicy (I ordered the chicken). You can ask for all salad (no rice) or all rice (no salad). The lumpia takes them about 5 minutes to deep fry on the spot to order. The outer wrapping is nice and lightly crspy; very satisfying with an insanely delicious aroma. Soooo good. Inside was corn kernels, carrot, peas, and ground meat. A little hard to find but not really. Just drive on Preisker and it's the driveway entrance after Boomers nextdoor. Directly across from the firestation. Go inside the center to order and get food. Nice friendly staff. Love it! My favorite. I send my my fam that visits from out of town here and they rave about it too.