Come here often for work lunches but came back form dinner with my wife. Happy hour 3-7pm and the taquitos are great! My wife loved the margaritas and her enchiladas.
(3)
Larry D.
I've been going to El Padrinos for years for the great food and drinks. I love the pork and avacado burritoes. The staff is very friendly and the owner is always their at night and mingles with the patrons. This is one of my favorite mexican restaurants in town. I like the fact they are big fans of Air Force! Bring your coins if in uniform because the owner always likes to coin check.
(5)
Jeff H.
I live in the El Padrinos neighborhood and have been there many times for lunch, dinner, or just cocktails. The negative reviews are way off. So much so that I quit putting off just reading the reviews and signed up to Yelp so I could post one about this place. This is a great neighborhood restaurant with good food and good service. The owner is always there which is always a good sign. I love the spicy pork and avacado burrittos and would recommend driving across town to come eat them--they are that good. This is also a great restaurant to host a party at. Have been to several there and they have a nice room and patio in the back that are perfect!
(4)
Chris M.
My wife and I love this place. The service is great, and the owner always makes it a point to come by our table and say hi whenever we come in. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for good Mexican food in the Springs.
(5)
Mark C.
I've never had a bad meal here!! I have noticed that Yelp has more single issue/single visit bad reviews than other review web pages ie: tripadvisor, urbanspoon, etc. I love the place and they have great HH and Great Margs! Have I ever had poor service, yes a couple of times, but they were always kind and apologetic! Any restaurant can have that happen!
(5)
Greg L.
Food is good if your in the North part of town and craving mexican food. I hate the people that say Oh I am from California and this isn't Mexican food, or I am from Texas and this isn't Mexican. But yet I haven't heard I am from Mexico and this isn't Mexican. Mexican food is as diverse as is California and Texas. The food here is actually considered Pueblo style, what that means is most of the food comes smothered in authentic Pork Green Chili. Yes I have had better Green chili, but the food is consistent and above average.
(3)
D A.
Decor is very nice when you walk in, but the rest is a major disappointment. Salsa lacks flavor, zest, or even heat (think El Paso brand mild salsa out of a jar). Bland entrees (visually as well as taste), served tepid/cold, and not all at once (kids' food arrived first - they didn't eat it, and they normally love Mexican food). I had to ask for the rest of our meal 10-15 minutes after kids' food arrived (once I was able to get the server's attention). It lacked spice or any depth of flavor (shredded beef enchiladas). Poor service (Paula), and it's obvious there is NO training of servers on meal timing/management and customer service... A server should NEVER lie to the customer; she said the delay in the adult entree was due to the kitchen not getting it out on time. Unfortunately for her, I'm a master chef and know sour cream doesn't immediately separate and curdle when plated next to hot food (dry, cracked surface with runny interior - it was obviously sitting under a heat source for quite a few minutes). She might as well have told me the food was delayed because they're so busy (the restaurant was virtually empty). The server withered under my look at her when she told me that and obviously knew she got caught lying - I really hate liars; just be honest (mistakes happen and are forgivable), apologize, and move on. Alternatives for this immediate area: for WAY better quality at the same price, go to 3 Margaritas in Monument. For the same quality at a much less price, drive down to the nearest Taco Bell. My family of six won't come back to this neighborhood disappointment, and we'll share the unfortunate news with our friends and neighbors. Owner(s), if you want better business, you need to invest in quality, fresh ingredients, get some authenticity (and add depth and breadth of flavor), and - please - train your servers to do more than memorize the menu (yeah, I know, they're college students). Quality and customer service count. For every one review you get on here, think of the dozens of folks/families that don't post on Yelp. Nothing personal (I really do want to support local business owners), but I think your restaurant's ratings on Yelp! are pretty accurate - even the patron who said he "loves meeting friends there for Happy Hour" was spot on about the lack of food quality. Good luck to you.
(1)
Kevin W.
My girlfriend & I had dinner here & enjoyed it. The queso app was great, & my pork & avocado burritos were great. My girlfriend really enjoyed her steak fajitas. We'll be back!
(4)
Don R.
Just finished dinner at El Padrinos Restaurant. I had the Flatiron Steak and it was cooked perfectly. The flavor of the steak along with the vegetables made this one of the best meals I have had in a long time. My wife absolutely loves there tacos. The best in town! My wife and I enjoyed the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The service was friendly and fun and the owner even stopped by to say hi. Due to our busy lifestyle we eat out a lot and El Padrinos has moved to the top of our list. The restaurant is on the North side of town but well worth the drive.
(5)
Eileen O.
Been here twice bc we can walk and ordered takeout for 7- not bad. Not great, but not bad. Nice interior, decent meals, slightly higher prices- but not altogether a bad place if youre craving Mexican. I'd go up to rodolphos any day tho. Cheaper better food, tho none of the ambiance.
(3)
Steve C.
El Padrinos is a popular neighborhood eatery in the Northgate area. My wife and I love meeting friends there for Happy Hour when beer and Margaritas are on special as are a select few menu items. Overall the food is good, not great. Best items are the Macho Tacos, the Pork and Avocado Burrito and the Drunken Tilapia. The atmosphere is fun, especially on the weekends and the staff is friendly. The owner, Darin, truly cares about his loyal customers and shows it every time we go. Because of that, I am tempted to rate it higher but I am very picky when it comes to Mexican food. I have simply had better food elsewhere but still enjoy this place a lot and recommend it all the time.
(3)
Dan A.
We were new to the neighborhood and excited to have what appeared to be a great Mexican place close by. We left hungry and disappointed. First we ordered some chips and queso which was runny and tasted horrible. The meals were at best mediocre and between the 6 of us none of our meals came at the same time. The margaritas were good, but that hardly makes up for the poor food quality and terrible service. I will try it again because I always give places a second chance, but they have a long way to go to even be chain Mexican like 3 margaritas.
(1)
Michael W.
Stopped here on my way through town. Food seemed about on par for an average Mexican place. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I'd probably return if I was on the northern end of town again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Scott B.
Come here often for work lunches but came back form dinner with my wife. Happy hour 3-7pm and the taquitos are great! My wife loved the margaritas and her enchiladas.
(3)Larry D.
I've been going to El Padrinos for years for the great food and drinks. I love the pork and avacado burritoes. The staff is very friendly and the owner is always their at night and mingles with the patrons. This is one of my favorite mexican restaurants in town. I like the fact they are big fans of Air Force! Bring your coins if in uniform because the owner always likes to coin check.
(5)Jeff H.
I live in the El Padrinos neighborhood and have been there many times for lunch, dinner, or just cocktails. The negative reviews are way off. So much so that I quit putting off just reading the reviews and signed up to Yelp so I could post one about this place. This is a great neighborhood restaurant with good food and good service. The owner is always there which is always a good sign. I love the spicy pork and avacado burrittos and would recommend driving across town to come eat them--they are that good. This is also a great restaurant to host a party at. Have been to several there and they have a nice room and patio in the back that are perfect!
(4)Chris M.
My wife and I love this place. The service is great, and the owner always makes it a point to come by our table and say hi whenever we come in. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for good Mexican food in the Springs.
(5)Mark C.
I've never had a bad meal here!! I have noticed that Yelp has more single issue/single visit bad reviews than other review web pages ie: tripadvisor, urbanspoon, etc. I love the place and they have great HH and Great Margs! Have I ever had poor service, yes a couple of times, but they were always kind and apologetic! Any restaurant can have that happen!
(5)Greg L.
Food is good if your in the North part of town and craving mexican food. I hate the people that say Oh I am from California and this isn't Mexican food, or I am from Texas and this isn't Mexican. But yet I haven't heard I am from Mexico and this isn't Mexican. Mexican food is as diverse as is California and Texas. The food here is actually considered Pueblo style, what that means is most of the food comes smothered in authentic Pork Green Chili. Yes I have had better Green chili, but the food is consistent and above average.
(3)D A.
Decor is very nice when you walk in, but the rest is a major disappointment. Salsa lacks flavor, zest, or even heat (think El Paso brand mild salsa out of a jar). Bland entrees (visually as well as taste), served tepid/cold, and not all at once (kids' food arrived first - they didn't eat it, and they normally love Mexican food). I had to ask for the rest of our meal 10-15 minutes after kids' food arrived (once I was able to get the server's attention). It lacked spice or any depth of flavor (shredded beef enchiladas). Poor service (Paula), and it's obvious there is NO training of servers on meal timing/management and customer service... A server should NEVER lie to the customer; she said the delay in the adult entree was due to the kitchen not getting it out on time. Unfortunately for her, I'm a master chef and know sour cream doesn't immediately separate and curdle when plated next to hot food (dry, cracked surface with runny interior - it was obviously sitting under a heat source for quite a few minutes). She might as well have told me the food was delayed because they're so busy (the restaurant was virtually empty). The server withered under my look at her when she told me that and obviously knew she got caught lying - I really hate liars; just be honest (mistakes happen and are forgivable), apologize, and move on. Alternatives for this immediate area: for WAY better quality at the same price, go to 3 Margaritas in Monument. For the same quality at a much less price, drive down to the nearest Taco Bell. My family of six won't come back to this neighborhood disappointment, and we'll share the unfortunate news with our friends and neighbors. Owner(s), if you want better business, you need to invest in quality, fresh ingredients, get some authenticity (and add depth and breadth of flavor), and - please - train your servers to do more than memorize the menu (yeah, I know, they're college students). Quality and customer service count. For every one review you get on here, think of the dozens of folks/families that don't post on Yelp. Nothing personal (I really do want to support local business owners), but I think your restaurant's ratings on Yelp! are pretty accurate - even the patron who said he "loves meeting friends there for Happy Hour" was spot on about the lack of food quality. Good luck to you.
(1)Kevin W.
My girlfriend & I had dinner here & enjoyed it. The queso app was great, & my pork & avocado burritos were great. My girlfriend really enjoyed her steak fajitas. We'll be back!
(4)Don R.
Just finished dinner at El Padrinos Restaurant. I had the Flatiron Steak and it was cooked perfectly. The flavor of the steak along with the vegetables made this one of the best meals I have had in a long time. My wife absolutely loves there tacos. The best in town! My wife and I enjoyed the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The service was friendly and fun and the owner even stopped by to say hi. Due to our busy lifestyle we eat out a lot and El Padrinos has moved to the top of our list. The restaurant is on the North side of town but well worth the drive.
(5)Eileen O.
Been here twice bc we can walk and ordered takeout for 7- not bad. Not great, but not bad. Nice interior, decent meals, slightly higher prices- but not altogether a bad place if youre craving Mexican. I'd go up to rodolphos any day tho. Cheaper better food, tho none of the ambiance.
(3)Steve C.
El Padrinos is a popular neighborhood eatery in the Northgate area. My wife and I love meeting friends there for Happy Hour when beer and Margaritas are on special as are a select few menu items. Overall the food is good, not great. Best items are the Macho Tacos, the Pork and Avocado Burrito and the Drunken Tilapia. The atmosphere is fun, especially on the weekends and the staff is friendly. The owner, Darin, truly cares about his loyal customers and shows it every time we go. Because of that, I am tempted to rate it higher but I am very picky when it comes to Mexican food. I have simply had better food elsewhere but still enjoy this place a lot and recommend it all the time.
(3)Dan A.
We were new to the neighborhood and excited to have what appeared to be a great Mexican place close by. We left hungry and disappointed. First we ordered some chips and queso which was runny and tasted horrible. The meals were at best mediocre and between the 6 of us none of our meals came at the same time. The margaritas were good, but that hardly makes up for the poor food quality and terrible service. I will try it again because I always give places a second chance, but they have a long way to go to even be chain Mexican like 3 margaritas.
(1)Michael W.
Stopped here on my way through town. Food seemed about on par for an average Mexican place. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. I'd probably return if I was on the northern end of town again.
(3)Desiree R.
Ok people- I know Colorado Springs doesn't boast much in the way of Mexican Food- but this place is a joke and shouldn't even call itself that. People of El Padrino just because you serve refried beans and Jose Cuervo- does not make you a Mexican restaurant. The only thing this place has going for it is the décor and furnishing and that is what the one star is for. The menu is so small- I think for entrée's there were maybe 6 options- which is not the problem. The problem is with such a small menu/limited choice shouldn't they at least make it good? Nope. Moving on to the service- well good luck finding anybody around! When I went there the place had a decent dinner crowd and our waitress was also the bartender. It took forever to get a drink and the food- when brought out- was cold. How these people are still in business is beyond me. I can only assume that the families that live around are to lazy to travel for good stuff or don't know any better. Take my advice and visit the Pizza Hut or Carl's Jr next door- your guaranteed to get better food at a fast food place then here.
(1)