Taqueria El Vecino is one of those places your parents take you when you're young. There's something for everyone including free chips and a wide variety of salsa. The noise is loud, mostly from the lively conversations happening at every table. It's a real family restaurant atmosphere. The food isn't highbrow, but great for variety and good flavor. Love the chips and salsa, love the refried beans and rice. FOOD: Like I said, the beans and rice alone are worth going back for. Just such a great flavor for both. The tortillas definitely are not handmade but they will do for what they fill them with. I love the variety of tacos and tamales (as well as the many entree dishes). Not all are a hit. The carnitas taco was excellent. Will order more of those for sure. Love the tamale ratio of filling to masa. So often places overfill the middle or overdo the masa. Was not a fan of the brisket taco (way too dry and not flavorful) and the Korean BBQ taco was only okay - needed more meat and less slaw. Tried the chocolate peanut butter bar and definitely unimpressed. SERVICE: Slow, but super friendly and nice. They are just SO busy but they do make sure to get out the chips and salsa quickly. Portions are really nice. The place just has such a nice homey feel to it. COST: For what you get? So worth it. A friendly place with good food. Sure not everything is a hit, but the menu is fun and there is something for everyone. read more

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Pretty busy on a Tuesday evening. Great Taco Tuesday specials, more than 15 tacos to choose from! Queso was delicious. Service was horrible hence the 4 star rating. In our section the staff seemed a bit more content to stand behind the counter vs checking on tables. We had to flag down multiple people to order, get refills, etc. read more

Have to give some kudos to a fav, local joint! Sitting in the vibrant, cute Oak Grove Neighborhood, Taqueria el Vecino is a reliable, go-to staple. They do what they do-- especially tacos-- well! I love that you know what you're going to get and you can almost always get in without waiting. Most notably, the service is awesome. They really hire GREAT, high-quality kids/ humans to work here. We love meeting our friends in the neighborhood here and supporting this local business. Note: Tuesday is Taco Tuesday, so $5 tacos and they have other fun nightly specials each night! read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Monday Night Special: Crunchy Queso Wrap - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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SOOO YUMMY IN MY TUMMY!!! If you are a vegetarian, let me just start by saying Plantain and Sweet Potato mole enchiladas. OMFG!!! Ok now that you know my fav thing ever, let's start with the chips and salsa which are so fresh PLUS the salsa bar so you have options!! Margaritas are delish and go perfect with your food. They have plenty of inside seating and some outdoor seating as well. So I just told you everything I eat there every time I go! read more

The serving size of sweet potato fries are no longer satisfactory to family member who has been ordering sweet potato fries for past 10 years from here.. We pointed it out to our waiter and he went to the kitchen who denied any change in portion size. This is the second time this year we noticed the decrease in size. Please do better. read more

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So, I've been here several times. I didn't think Taqueria el Vecino had a bad taco, until today. Well, I found it . The Korean taco is disappointing and disguising. I was here around 2:30/3 pm. The restaurant was pretty empty but service at the bar was very slow. I've been here before and they tacos today looked pretty crappy. At least, it was Taco and I only paid $3.50 per taco. read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Korean taco & Fried Shrimp Taco - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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i'm a huge fan. I happened up upon place while searching for Mexican places to eat. It's very unassuming. Lots of places to sit inside and outside if it's a nice day. The manager was very welcoming. The service was great. We came in around lunch and sat ourselves and picked up some menus and silverware. we began by ordering guacamole and the queso/bean dip. Both were delicious and they have unlimited chips. They have a serve yourself salsa bar with a lot of other stuff in it too, which is great. I did order a passionfruit margarita which was very strong and good. I got the enchiladas, chicken. My mother got the goat cheese, enchiladas, and my father got the burrito bowl. All were delicious. My toddler loved the bean and queso dip. They also have a wide selection of desserts in the front which you can see, which were pretty good as well. We got the marble cake, which was good. My mom liked the Keylime tart. Overall it's a great cute Mexican place. It's not fancy. The prices are reasonable. I would say it's not well decorated but the food is good. I would definitely be back here again. read more

Two things that always cheer me up are tacos and nice people. I was in a bit of a funk and stumbled upon this place while I was out running errands. I've been to the butcher shop located in the same plaza before, but never noticed Taqueria El Vecino. They have a small patio and dining area, but I opted to sit at the bar. Luckily I came on a Tuesday when all tacos are $3.50. I ordered a Texas margarita that was good. I also got an assortment of tacos including carne asada, al pastor and Baja fish. All of the tacos were delicious. I also got a side of rice and it was light and fluffy. They have salsa bar that includes a variety of sauces and condiments. The staff was so amazing and checked on me frequently. I enjoyed my meal and look forward to returning. read more

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Came here with a group of classmates to celebrate a milestone over cheap margaritas on a Monday at 6 pm. Since we were a large group, it was a relief to know they could accommodate for a party of about 15 people or so. Margarita Monday came in clutch and was only $6 per! They have other specials throughout the week including taco Tuesday (of course) for $3.50 as opposed to full price $6.50 per. The drinks were strong so air on the side of caution if you are driving here or going for a few rounds. There's an entire salsa bar for the complementary chips we get, ranging from mild, spicy, and even chipotle dip. Food took some time to come out but then again, we were a large crowd to feed with all of us ordering as well. I split a Pick 3 Tacos or tamales plate (birria quesotaco, pork and steak tamale) with my friend while others got a variety of other items including Carne Molido burrito, quesadillas, and more. Everything was well prepared and seasoned. Overall, we walked out full and happy. Our waitress was wonderful and really tried her best to make the orders right. Would I say the food is authentic? No, but it was good and for very fair prices. It was a casual and comfortable establishment with staff who care about how they carry themselves. I would definitely like to come again and recommend others to check them out too! read more

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Great choice for a family outing. Service fast and friendly. We all had tacos, a range of flavors, and all raved about the taste: carnitas, birria, bajo fish, shrimp, carne asada. Staff was super kind to the kids. Definitely recommend. read more

We've been here multiple times and highly recommend it to anyone craving Mexican food!! They have a great mix of authentic and Tex-mex food. The staff is always pleasant. My favorite part is that they have a salsa bar, lovely touch!! read more

Great neighborhood spot for tacos and margs. The grilled shrimp and the fried fish tacos are the best!

Great pozole, best chicken tacos I've ever had (if smoked chicken is selected), great salsa bar, interesting desserts, good service, nice decor. read more

My go to kitchen. Neighborhood restaurant, great service and great food. I've never had any trouble getting a menu item tweaked to my taste. Lots to choose from if you have to eat gluten free. read more

Rob's tacos has been a favorite for many years. The restaurant gets swamped sometimes so service is a bit of a challenge some nights. We taught or children to walk up and down the sidewalk out front. I think they have a gringo taco or two but it's really a Mexican Style taqueria with barbacoa, el pastor, chorizo tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, etc. Good selection of US, Mexican and other beers. Good selection of tequilas, bourbons, etc. This shop was always a solid restaurant for food, drinks and service. read more

My son and I met a friend over there that had a great meal. Although my bill was one price, I saw in my bank account something that was more than the amount. We left a cash tip. I called and a lady was going to call me back, never heard from her. That was over a week and a half ago. Sure I'm coming back read more

A dream is a wish your heart makes and I dreamed about returning here for years. I was just never in the area... Until! Last summer, my husband and I took our daughter to Fernbank and I was like "We're close enough!!!" It must've been late afternoon because there wasn't a Saturday lunch rush when we got there and we were able to sit inside and enjoy the AC... I was so relieved that the salmon quesadillas were still on the menu, you have no idea! I had been hyping them up to my husband the whole way there. We both got those and our daughter got a cheese quesadilla (she's nothing if not consistent!) While I would get it without the black beans next time, everything else was perfect. The salmon was perfect, the tortillas were crispy & brown, and the sauce... It was as good as I had told myself it was, if not better. Hubby and I enjoyed some margs and we all had fun with the salsa bar. I'd love to go back some weekend soon when it cools down a little and have dinner outside again. Maybe other places nearby have something similar to offer, but I don't know about them and this place does it perfectly so why look elsewhere? read more

We have dined here and gotten pick up orders quite often the past year or so and each experience has been extremely positive. We have a problem because we are stuck on a couple of food items. In the past we have had the Cheese Poblano and it is fantastic but would rather it served with a plain enchilada sauce versus the chipotle taste. Next time will order it plain and use their wonderful pico de gallo from the salsa bar. Yes they have a salsa bar and it is quite the show. You name it, they have it...whole roasted jalapeños, char grilled corn, cilantro, onions, pico, and so very many different salsas. Our two items that we are really enjoying are the Carne Asada Tacos and the Cilantro Corn Cakes. The Carne Asada Tacos come as full as they can with grilled meat, onions and cilantro. The carne is perfectly seasoned. The corn cakes are like no others we have had. They come warm and the taste is perfect. None of the ingredients over take the other...they meld perfectly together. And we always order a bit too much so that we can have left overs!!! Service is really good. Highly recommend. And will definitely return. read more

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Angelica was very awesome ! Excellent food and great customer service! She was attentive and kind

Did a low key valentines taco Tuesday on their patio for lunch and they did not disappoint! As all good dates start.. we both did a shot of tequila (6$ on Tuesdays) any off their huge list of tequilas they offer. Even the bartending bf approved that it was a solid deal. Quarts of tecate for 3.50$ too BUT THE TACOS, YALL! The tacos were something else. The twist of bbq and smokiness with tacos WORKS. They were all well balanced and delicious . We tried 8 cause gotta maximize on variety and trying the menu! His favorite was the pork belly, pastor, and smoked chicken. Perfect mixture of textures and the savory goodness. I really enjoyed the grilled grouper and quesobirria. The fish was so delicate and the mango and jicama slaw was perfect. Lamb quesobirria was also phenomenally tender. I would've paid extra for consume tbh. Free chips and salsa! Salsa was self serve at a little bar with other taco fixings like onions, cilantro, radish, and roasted peppers. Tacos were roughly $5-6 each and $3.50 on Tuesday! Service was friendly and prompt. read more

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I came here with my mom one Saturday and overall we really enjoyed it! Our server Natasha was so kind and very helpful! We got the clementine spicy marg small pitcher $28 then both did the three taco plate with rice and beans ($18) i loved my al pastor tacos! They give free chips and have a whole section of salsas to choose from! Which i lovee when they have that! The only reason its 4 stars and not 5 is i felt like $6 per taco was a little steep for price and the margarita pitcher had a lot of ice in it but dont get me wrong they were strong just overall a bit more pricey than we thought it would be read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Big patio - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Wow! I mean you think Mexican food.. basic tacos, bland rice and beans... But not this place-- excellent QUALITY food! The salsa bar was a very nice touch. Very cute dining room that gives a communal feel inside. Let's get back to food-- we ordered queso to starts with taco/tamale combo with lamb quesotaco, brisket taco, and cheeseburger taco, chicken tamales with rice and charro/black beans. AMAZING! Oh, and Aspen is an amazing server! Very attentive, friendly, and had excellent customer service! read more

They fell off big time. It's no longer in my rotation for Mexican food. I had the worst tamales ever there . And the margs were mid. read more

Best tacos Iv had in a long time! Friendly service, amazing food, great atmosphere! So glad we stumbled upon it!

Originally I rated as a four star, but over time it has just gotten better. Food and service are both very good. This is also one of the few restaurants in Atlanta with high quality mole. read more

I ordered a burrito with extra shrimp for $8 and received a burrito with 0 shrimp. It was a take-out order I drove 20 minutes both ways to pick up so going back to get the correct order is not an option. I suppose eating in is not so bad since you can get the correct order while you wait. I hesitated to post a similar review a while back, but this is the second time they've screwed up an order so not holding back. They did refund the order after the fact so I give them credit for making it more than right. The food is OK, and a great neighborhood place, but take out service can be spotty in my experience. read more

This was a few months ago Brie ( suggested this entree and was pleased she is attentive and helpful) was waitress. Food is awesome, fresh, and flavorful. Have been a few times since. Margaritas are a hit or miss sometimes but good. Steak nachos, were very good. Sat at bar, Joey was bartender. Plesant guy. read more

Taqueria El Vecino - 3 taco entree, fried shrimp, smoke brisket, and korean bbq beef. Very good & fresh. Black beans and Mexican rice moist. - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Found this local gem while itching a Mexican craving. This place has not only smoked food (think barbecue, always a good sign), but delicious and flavorful tacos that are UNIQUE and not cookie cutter. I hate when Mexican food tastes bland and loses its authenticity. This place definitely stays true to its roots! The smoked chicken taco is to die for, and I love that they have a salsa bar! I'm excited to try all their fun tacos when we go back. The only reason for four stars is the service was pretty slow (although it was a busy Sunday afternoon) and there is no where to wait when the service is busy like it was. You have to literally stand in the parking lot and hope to hear your name. All and all, I can't wait to go back! read more

Americanised trash Mexican food. Don't eat here unless you like bland food. Major disappointment, if you love Mexican food go to "El Jinete Mexican Restaurant" far better. Also if they mess something up, you pay no matter what. Terrible way to do business. Would have given it zero stars. read more

4.5 stars for a really good Mexican restaurant. My wife and I decided to go to Taqueria El Vecino one evening to celebrate one of her recent accomplishments with some margaritas and tacos. Located on Lavista in the Oak Ridge plaza, Taqueria El Vecino has both a nice interior and some really great outside seating. Since this venue is dog-friendly (woo!), we decided to sit outside. Fortunately we called ahead to put our name on the list on a Taco Tuesday because the wait times for walk ups were pretty long. We arrived at the location and, after a brief wait, were seated outside at one of the tables on the wood patio. The tables were well spaced apart for COVID safety purposes, which was great. We had a server come by to take our order for drinks who seemed really overwhelmed, but fortunately she was just helping out and our actual waiter came out and provided us with really good service and recommendations. Since it was Taco Tuesday ($3 each!), we decided to order like 10 or so tacos. Some of my favorites included the fish taco and shrimp taco, and a shoutout to the interesting cheeseburger taco (although I think the kitchen forgot the mayo that would have made it even crazier). We also ordered a large pitcher of margaritas that were both super tasty and super strong. After finishing our meal, the waiter recommended we try something called the moonquake cake. I was pretty full, but decided to give it a try. The reason this review is a 5 star rating rather than a 4 is that moonquake cake was out of this world! It was a dark chocolate cake that was super moist and had lots of fun things with it (pecans, cream cheese, coke, etc). Our waiter came back when we were eating the cake and asked "Was I right?" about the cake being awesome and we enthusiastically agreed. Overall, Taqueria El Vecino provided us with an excellent Mexican food experience. The nice venue, solid service, and great drink and food makes this spot worth checking out . . . especially on Taco Tuesday. read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Taco tuesday tray - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Five stars for a great local Mexican food spot with exceptional margaritas! My husband and I came for Taco Tuesday. It was pretty crowded and we waited about a half hour for a table outside. I would plan to arrive early in order to find parking! The outside patio is large and the tables are at least six feet apart. I didn't go inside the restaurant but it looked clean. The servers all wore masks. On Taco Tuesday, all tacos are $3! We made our own taco flight and tried eight different tacos: carne asada taco (good), fish taco (very good), smoked pork taco (very tasty), pork belly taco (good), fried shrimp taco (good), beef tenderloin taco (good), pastor taco (very good) and cheeseburger taco (fun). We also had the chips and salsa which were fine (nothing special). The tacos were larger than expected and very filling. We definitely did not need to order eight but we had fun trying the different flavors. The real standout were the margaritas - they were strong and delicious! We ordered a pitcher of their basic (house) margaritas. They have tequila, combier and lime juice. Pleasantly tart and not overly sweet; highly recommended. Overall, Taqueria El Vecino has a great patio and great margaritas. We will definitely return. read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Taco flight - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Smoked salmon was very flavorful. Service was friendly with a cool jazz selection playing . I'd definitely come back

First visit today.....overall very good. Not at all crowded, I guess I arrived after the lunch rush..... Service - great! Natasha (I think it was her name) - every restaurant needs someone of her caliber. I started with a texas margarita - good, some guacamole and chips. Chips were just as I love them - thin, warm and crispy and the guac was very good...a smallish portion for the price. There is a salsa bar....not my preference because of cleanliness concerns but, the choices were very good. So refreshing to have true spicy options! A carnitas taco and a pork belly taco. Loved the carnitas, lots of juicy pork, pork belly not my favorite. The health rating is a bit concerning but, I will definitely return. Photo for context. read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Pork belly taco and carnitas taco - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Visiting Decatur and this place was recommended to us for Taco Tuesday! We were seated quickly despite a busy parking lot, and had a great server who explained the specials and recommendations. Tacos are $3.50 on Taco Tuesday which was a great deal! read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Outdoors seating was perfect because we brought our pup with us - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Had dinner with my son last night and was blown away by the flavors that hit my tongue!!! The al pastor taco was melt in your mouth awesome, tamales were seasoned to perfection, refried beans sit on!! Oh, and the fried avocado wedges were epic! Love the self serve salsa bar with all the choices. Our server, Natalie was prompt, friendly and extremely helpful. Love the casual atmosphere and the choice of in or outside dining. I understand why my son said it's his favorite place. read more

Literally the best Mexican food I've had in my life!!! Has indoor and outdoor seating but we opted for the bar. Loved the salsa bar with all the fixings! Ordered a skinny margarita which had the perfect proportions of tequila, lime, salt and frothy goodness. Had lunch and ordered a taco plate with 1 vegetable taco and 1 carne asada taco. Also, had tres leches cake which was okay (denser and less liquidity than I prefer), would like to try flan next time. Service was hospitable and amazing. Five Stars read more

Taqueria El Vecino - View into the kitchen from the bar - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Excellent service and food! We were sat quickly even on a busy night and the staff are all so nice engaging and helpful. The smoked meats are great. Also great weekly specials read more

Taqueria El Vecino - Korean BBQ taco, Smoked Chicken Taco, queso - Mexican Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

I wrote a review of El Vecino eight months ago and have probably visited more than a dozen times since then (okay, maybe 20 times). This update is to implore diners to not miss this place! The carnitas on hatch chile grits has only gotten better. Mole enchiladas - awesome... and the range of margaritas is enviable. (Shoutout to spicy ones.) I'll addicted. You will be, too. read more

The good part; service was very good. Food quality also very good. The portion size of the New Baja Fish taco was super small. The taste was good but it was sooooo small I had to open up the tortilla and look under the toppings to make sure there was something in there besides toppings. Very disappointing. read more

I hate that I have to give only 3 stars for this place because my goodness the carne asada tacos were soooo good. But my waiter(Danny- looks like an old Limp Biscuit ) legit tried to finesse me tonight. He literally only brought out the receipts that had the sign line, no itemized receipt! So I asked for it and sure enough he tipped himself 25%. I was so flabbergasted because I was already happy with my service and food and wanted to tip him well , but I feel that it's common courtesy to tell the entire table that there is an automatic gratuity or not. You shouldn't assume people aren't going to tip and just add gratuity without notifying the party. It high key felt like he racially profiled my table but I'll leave it at that. ASK FOR AN ITEMIZED RECEIPT PEOPLE!! read more

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