Excellent Mexican food. Salsas are made in house. It's a hole in the wall with great selections of Latin American food.

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in Athens, Tlaloc El Mexicano Restaurant should be at the top of your list. From the moment we walked in, it was clear this place is a local favorite. The restaurant has a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the menu offers a great selection of traditional Mexican dishes, along with a few Salvadoran influences that make it even more unique. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting the owner, Antonio Ramirez. Throughout the meal, he made his way around the restaurant, stopping at each table with a smile to ask how everything was and to make sure guests were enjoying themselves. That level of personal attention is becoming increasingly rare and speaks volumes about how much he cares about both the food and the customer experience. It's also obvious that the local college crowd has discovered this gem. There were plenty of students enjoying dinner, and it seemed like the margaritas were especially popular--particularly when Mom and Dad were picking up the tab! Fortunately, the margaritas are well worth it, with generous pours and plenty of options to choose from. The food was excellent, the portions were generous, and the prices were very reasonable. Most importantly, the flavors felt authentic and homemade rather than the typical chain restaurant version of Mexican food. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

There are several reasons I will continue to come here. The high quality food is a big reason but it's much more than that. I got the mixed pupusa, chicken tamale, and al pastor taco. Best pupusa and tamale I have had in athens. The pupusa is so fresh and well seasoned. The tamale is soft and chicken is juicy. Also most tender al pastor I have ever had. Best salsas in athens as well. This place goes beyond good food. I had gotten off work and wanted some dinner. Mind you it was 9:30 (30 min till this place closed). I ordered over the phone and when I had parked I noticed that the bottom of my car scrapping. I picked my food up and causally mentioned to the guy working the front my situation. Without hesitation three employees come and help me out. I have never experienced such genuine hospitality. Every time I come here I am greeted just like family. Go here and I assure you the food and people will make it worth your while. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Food is delicious I ordered Cancun! Grilled chicken, steak y shrimp w side of cactus y zucchini. Topped with a grilled jalapeño y onion! Several salsa's were available. It included a bowl of Chorizo Cheese dip y tortillas. The Mango Margarita was fabulous!!I opted for a taking a tajin rim. I will probably order one every time! Servers were attentive y gave excellent service. Overall great experience!! read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - The Cancun - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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This place is BOMB!! Best fajitas I ever had and at a fantastic price. Made three tacos and have some leftover. Homemade corn tortillas. Delicious green homemade salsa that paired perfect. Their chimichanga was incredible and their plantains were the best I've had!! So crispy and hot and so much flavor. My new go to spot! Service was great too. Kind people and super quick! read more

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I was craving some pupusas, which led me to this place. It is located a bit outside of downtown Athens, but not too far. I called in to place my order after looking at the menu on Yelp since they do not have a website. It was almost ready when I got there, so I looked around. The inside is decent size and there is a big bar area. Once I got my order, I took it back to my hotel and enjoyed in the lobby. Everything was still warm and tasted fresh. I had gotten the bean and pork, and just pork pupusas. The bean and pork was really good as was the sauce it came with. The pork only was a bit salty, but still very tasty. The price was great for all of this! read more

Came in with 13 middle schoolers, a band director, plus 4 other chaperones on a Thursday early evening around 5pm. The place was empty (perhaps 1-3 other patrons). We got the room in the back just for our large group. Our orders were swiftly taken, and the chips/salsa keeps flowing. I ordered the taco special: carnitas, lengua (tongue), and tripa (stomach). I never had tripa taco before so this was my first. It was surprisingly delicious!! I think that's my favorite out of the 3 I ordered. They are not stingy with their meats/proteins! read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

My son is starting his graduate degree at UGA. I came to Athens to drop him off. We were looking for a good Mexican restaurant since we both like Mexican food. We went to Tlaloc because it looked pretty good on Yelp. Man oh man. This place is fantastic. The food was incredible. The service was incredibly friendly, attentive, and fast. My son said he'll be coming back. When I visit, I'll definitely be back. Great food!!! read more

Had the number one combo of a shrimp sope, a jalapeno and cheese papusa, ground beef Gordita very good food, excellent service read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Authentic Mexican flavors. Never disappoints. Feels like family. Service is always fast. It's your hole in the wall kind of place. Everything on the menu is delicious, their salsas are flavorful with a punch. Even their Salvadoran food is delicious. When family visit they request this place. read more

Great papusas! It real the only place in Athens that has it. Don't let the industrial area discourage you is a gem.

Don't let the location or your first impression walking in fool you--Tlaloc El Mexicano screams nothing but home. This place is an absolute gem. From the moment you step inside, the welcoming atmosphere, great service, and lively music set the tone for a fantastic experience. Honestly, the playlist alone had me wanting to Shazam a few tracks for my own collection. The food? Phenomenal. I went all-in and ordered one of the showstoppers: a massive dish served in a volcanic stone molcajete, bubbling hot and loaded with a variety of meats in a rich, flavorful broth. It came out sizzling and steaming--pure presentation gold--and once it cooled down enough to eat, every bite delivered. As a bigger guy, I usually clean my plate, but this thing was a challenge in the best way possible. I ended up taking leftovers home, which still tasted amazing the next day. Everyone else at the table had dishes that looked and smelled incredible, and what little I managed to snag off their plates was equally delicious. This place isn't just a meal--it's an experience. I can't recommend Tlaloc El Mexicano enough. Do yourself a favor and check it out--you'll be glad you did. read more

This place was great! And I don't rate many places 5 stars, so you know it must be good. From the service to the food, I was very pleased. It's a little smaller place that you probably would easily miss. I'm not sure that I've ever paid attention to it when in Athens. The prices are pretty cheap too, which is always nice. We had one specific waitress, but we were checked on by every staff in our section of the restaurant. The food...oh the food! Was delicious! The pupusas we got were the mixed ones, definitely the best ones to go with. They were probably the best ones I've had, as far as in the US. I got the beef chimichanga that came with rice and refried beans. Delish! My friend got the combo that included 3 tacos, rice, and beans. She comes here all the time, which is how I found out about it and oh how glad I am! Can't wait to come back when I'm back in town. Overall, very very pleased! Mexican food is my favorite so just another one to add to the list. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Pupusas (mixed) - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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My friends and I enjoyed lunch there yesterday. I had a taco and a tamal, and both were delicious. The service was prompt and friendly.

Tlaloc is one of those Athens establishments that's so genuinely authentic that I almost feel guilty reviewing it. I don't have extensive experience with Mexican cuisine so can't grade on that criteria, but in my limited expertise I can assure you that it is tasty. Like, really tasty. Their menu can be intimidating (I read Spanish well, but 90% of the 6 page menu was totally foreign to me) but if you're handy with Google then it's pretty easy to navigate. The prices have definitely gone up since last time I went, but it's still reasonable. I got an absolutely delicious strawberry frozen marg that was 20oz, strong, and only $8. Not too shabby. I opted for four instead of five stars because the service was pretty disjointed during the entire experience. There were over five servers manning the floor and none of them seemed to be coordinating, leading to us being asked every other minute whether we needed anything and if we had ordered yet. Also the food and marg took forever to come out, but I chalked that down to a staff shortage back of house. Would recommend if you're looking for authentic Mexican in the Classic City. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - The #14 Combination - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Haven't updated this in a minute, but since my first visit 2 years ago I've come here COUNTLESS amount of times. I've started to order the veggie burrito and can't switch out of it. It's just such an intense craving that can only get fulfilled here. The salsa and chips are so so fresh and I know it's hard not to fill up on chips in general, but with their salsa OOF it's even harder to resist. The service is always top tier and everyone is super friendly. It's a hole in the wall that you'll never forget. Super authentic and hits every. single. time. I would call ahead to see if there's a wait as even though there is adequate seating, this place is always full. Already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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I walked in with high expectations because all of my friends raved about this place. Also, it was a special occasion with them too. There was a wait, but it wasn't too long so not too bad especially for a highly rated mexican restaurant. We got seated within around 20 minutes, and didn't get our drinks till around 5 minutes. We also didn't get to order for around 15 minutes after that. But once we ordered, getting a servers attention was very hard. We ran out of chips, needed checks, needed refills and we had to wave our hands or call out for them. So service isn't the best. Onto the food!! I got the combo 13, which comes with 3 mexican tacos with rice and beans. I have never been to a mexican restaurant that gave me cilantro and onions on the side which was interesting. The pastor tacos were mediocre, as in it wasn't the best compared to my usual place. There wasn't any pineapples which usually balance out the greasiness and saltiness of the meat, and they also gave me flour tortillas (I am a big corn tortilla person). They never asked which I preferred, and the experience wasn't that over the top either. This place has outdoor seating(ish), more like indoor with open windows, so wouldn't say it's outdoor seating really. But overall, I'm not sure if I would come back here. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Combination 13 with pastor - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Just returned from Tlaloc. Hard to breath- they give you so much food which was ALL excellent. Saw this place a few times driving by. Didn't really seem like anything special. Last time we came by the parking lot was full so I checked the reviews on line and SOOOO glad I did! My wife had the Torta. The biggest torta I have ever seen, including those in Mexico. I had the #3 combination- chile relleno, enchilada, rice and beans and also ordered the Pupusa- which I never had before. We had the chorizo dip for an appetizer. My wife is very selective on what she eats, but she loved it all. Service by all was excellent. When we were getting ready to leave, a man came up to us and hugged us and shook our hands- thanking us for coming. He was the owner- Antonio. He said he owns it with his wife, who works in the kitchen. Nicest man ever! We will definitely be back - with our kids and grand-kids! Thank you Antonio and staff. read more

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My dad and I drove almost 2 hrs for this restaurant. We remember it well, and had not been there since about 2017. So when he had been mentioning it for weeks, I knew we had to make the trip. This is is not the Tlaloc we remember. Don't get me wrong, the same woman who used to run the counter is still here, and still as friendly as ever. The chips and salsa taste the same. It's the food. It's not fresh, not seasoned as well as we remember, and something was off. The seafood wasn't seasoned well and besides the shrimp and the crab, it seemed as if they put scraps of random seafood on the plate? My dad said that the chicken and the steak in the dish had no flavor, and it was overcooked. We just didn't enjoy ourselves. Everyone there is still really nice, and they seem to be doing well with the big business in spite of all the things, but this is not the same restaurant that we remember. We were pretty disappointed read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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If you are looking for fresh, authentic Mexican food then this is your stop. It's the literal definition of hole in the wall good. The staff is friendly. My one and only complaint is they didn't know their drink menu and I waited through half my meal for a subpar cocktail. With that said, I'll go back a million times and just drink water! Enjoy! read more

My new favorite spot! I've been searching for authentic enchiladas in the Athens area & finally found them! I haven't tried their roja or mole sauces yet, but the verde sauce was awesome & reminded me of being in Mexico City. It was topped with fresh chunks of Mexican cheese - so good! And the pork & cheese pupusa was the perfect addition. The rice & beans were also delicious. If you like spicy, ask for the spicy salsas. I tried a red & a green & they were both amazing & very, very hot. The service was also great. It was a slower time, after lunch, so there wasn't much of a challenge for staff at this time, but everyone was cheery and attentive. The vibe is simple, like an authentic, family-owned place. I can't wait to try more. The menu is huge and has lots of seafood options. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Combo plate with 2 cheese enchiladas with verde sauce & a pork & cheese pupusa - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I've been homesick for quite a while and this place and the food there reminded me so much of home. The flavor is great I almost feel bad about finishing it because each bite I take I cherish very much and reminds me of home. I recommend this place to anyone who wants to try great food and to anyone who is also feeling homesick. You will feel just at home. Will definitely be back to try more items on the menu because wow this torta was just wow I'm speechless. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - I got the torta tinga but let me just say wow. - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Maybe best Mexican food ever had. Service always fast & friendly too. Open long hours is nice

I love this little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant! We started with plantains and then I had enchiladas verdes with a cheese and bean pupusa. Everything was delicious and the service was very friendly. The best part of this restaurant is that they keep the food simple and don't try to make a simple item like a taco some extravagant mess. If you want authentic, simple, delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere this is it. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Plantains - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Best restaurant in Athens and it's not really that close. The owners are precious people that take great pride in their product. The food is amazing and a higher quality than you'll get anywhere. You cannot go wrong. read more

Hands down, the best Mexican restaurant I've been to! I ordered to go for a doctors lunch and I knew it was going to be good as soon as I saw it was sort of a hole in the wall type place. Service was great, food was awesome, and the staff were hospitable. read more

A whole in the wall place that will satisfy your authentic Mexican food cravings. Prices are very reasonable and food is delicious read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Food bomb! Service bomb! We go once a week! Zero complaints! We love this place. Service is amazing and food is even better

Been coming here since a kid .. this place does not feel like a restaurant it feels like my moms kitchen !! This is going to be by far the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Athens ! Hands down ..if your hung over try the caldo de res it's a soup bring you right back to life .. read more

Excellent food. 3 tacos were delicious and fresh. Accidentally order flautes and began eating when u saw soft tacos nearby. The owners (woman ) ran by and put an order in for me ant no charge. Delicious and priced perfecto! read more

Incredible menu carrying the meat of Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine. Enjoyed the fun artwork everywhere and service was prompt and polite.

This was good basic food. I had the steak tacos with cilantro and onions, good flavor. I was disappointed after ordering to see the daily specials included pozole which I would have ordered in a second if I had seen the sign! Saw some others eating it, looks good. Lots of character here, people seem to come here to drink beer. I was over at Terrapin first so I just had some iced tea. I would give this another try but will go for something else next time. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

We had a party of 6 at 6:30 on a Saturday night. We called ahead to make reservations. We still had to wait a little bit, but they accommodated us. It's a pretty small restaurant with limited seating, especially for the crowds they bring. We got a large guacamole and large queso. The queso was a huge hit. The guacamole wasn't as chunky as we would've liked. Some person got a margarita, which she said had too much ice and not enough tequila. For dinner, we got fajitas, pupusa (cheese-stuffed tortilla), quesadilla, veggie burrito, and tacos. Originally, they brought out a fish burrito instead of the veggie burrito. The waitress simply brought out the wrong dish. Even though they made a mistake, this wasn't taken off the check. The person who ordered the veggie burrito is a vegetarian, so the fact that they took a bite out of a dish burrito is upsetting. However, when they brought out the actual veggie burrito, he said it was good. The steak in the steak fajita was very overdone and dry. Otherwise, everyone enjoyed their dishes. read more

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If you're looking for an exceptional Mexican dining experience, Tlaloc is the place. The food is good--they never miss. Every dish comes out with authentic flavors, perfectly prepared, and consistent quality that keeps you coming back. But what truly sets Tlaloc apart is the customer service. It's simply the best. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warmth and attentiveness that makes you feel like family. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure every detail is perfect, whether you're a first-timer or a regular. They anticipate your needs, offer great recommendations, and serve with genuine smiles. The ambiance completes the experience. It's the best Mexican restaurant atmosphere you'll find--vibrant, welcoming, and full of energy, yet relaxed enough to enjoy every moment. If you're craving amazing food, impeccable service, and a memorable dining experience, Tlaloc delivers on all fronts. A true gem worth visiting again and again. read more

While the building itself is lacking, the food 100% makes up for it. My son devoured the chicken taquitos, the steak tacos were full of flavor, the pupusas were perfection, and the rice was nice and fluffy. When looking around the room everyone's food looked great and nobody seemed unsatisfied. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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This place is legit. So good. The guacamole is light and citrusy. The Pupupusas were delightful. I had a plate with wings, shrimp and ribs. The flavor was fantastic, but everything was a bit overcooked. Otherwise it would have been 5 stars!! read more

Wednesday night, I visited Tlaloc to grab some dinner when I noticed I was referred to as "Chintia Mishelle" on my receipt. From taking Spanish courses throughout high school and college, my hunch was telling me that they were calling me "Asian Michelle." In the heat of the moment, I was shocked with disbelief and reassured myself that it was better to give the restaurant establishment the benefit of the doubt. I took a picture and showed it to my friends from the Latinx community, and what was to my surmise became a reality. My friends told me they were actually calling me "Chinese Michelle." I do not believe this is how you should treat guests who voluntarily come to support your livelihood. Just like how it is inappropriate to call someone "Fat dude Fred", "Gay guy Gary", "Black boy Bob" or "Flat-chested Laura", I think it was wrong of Tlaloc's servers to belittle me as "Chinese Michelle." I would love to take this opportunity to rectify the situation and in order to do that, I need Tlaloc to reach out and respond. I believe businesses should be held accountable for their actions, but still be given a chance to make amends, learn and become better from their faux pas. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Not a professional way to address your customers - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Really great salsa! We got the beef burrito with rice and beans, Hawaiiana torta, and three tacos (tongue, steak and chorizo). We loved everything! Service was great, food came quick and was made right. We will absolutely be back again! read more

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Good food and fast service. Atmosphere was great snd it felt relaxed and laid back at the same time.

The spicy mango Margacorona is what dreams are made of. It is picture-worthy as well. Get this drink if you are treating yourself. Service was decent. Fajitas had great flavor and it was super filling. The portions are huge here! Unless you are starving, you will probably have leftovers for tomorrow which is awesome. I got the mixed fajitas with chicken, steak, and veggies. The sides of rice, tortilla, refried beans, and salad are also really good as well. Some places have sides that are lacking, but not here. Small place, but this is a satisfying meal and would be a great place for a casual date or a hangout with friends. Try this place out! Especially if you are really hungry. read more

Tlaloc El Mexicano - Spicy Mango Margacorona - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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