4. Restaurants

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

101 E Cleveland St, Lafayette, CO, 80026
  • (303) 666-7544
  • Store is closed

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina Menu

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  • Nina K.

    The chicken tacos at Efrains are great. Nothing fancy, but full of flavor and yummy goodness. Unfortunately it is tough to give Efrains anything but a nod for this as the atmosphere is lackluster and the service is terrible. That said being able to sit outside on a beautiful day and enjoy a great chicken taco and a strong margarita, for not a lot of coin is wonderful. For that reason I am sure folks will to flock to this downtown Lafayette staple.

    (2)

  • Eric J.

    "Meh, I've experienced better" pretty much covers it. The food here is the same thing you can get anywhere in America; from coast to coast. Nothing wrong with it; nothing good about it. I find the servers more interested in turning over the table that my "dining" experience ... if you could call the food dining ... I would cal lit "Mexican sustinence" for when we are too lazy to cook. Go 2 blocks down ad get Santiago's - the ambiance is non-existent, but the food is exponentially better than here ... at half the price.

    (2)

  • Chris B.

    I don't understand the praise for this place. First, the place is very small. Despite the large amount of outside decking for your 30-40 minute wait, it seems that in the past 25 years they haven't gotten around to adding more space. The parking lot is tiny and you should count yourself very luck if you don't have to park on the street the the business next door. The food is good (not great) and cheap. I had a the Verde Chili Plate and I think it was $6.50. My party also said the drinks were well priced. Those two attributes are the only positives I can say about this place. The biggest problem is the service. We went on a Friday night and between the 30 minute wait and the service, we were there for two hours. We didn't get a waitress until 20 minutes after we were seated. At that point we were ready to order our food, not just our drinks. The drinks took another 10 minutes to arrive. Our meal came reasonably quickly but after we ate, we had to hang out another 30 minutes waiting for a) our bill and b) the waitress to pick up and process it. The staff has a general aura of disinterest. I wouldn't have included the wait time but I feel it's valid if they're making customers stay at their tables longer than any other Restaurant I frequent. What's more, we had almost the exact same experience when we came here last time...5 years ago. Good and cheap does not trump bare minimum service in my book. Especially when "great" food and "very good" service are just down the road at Casa Alvarez. That said, probably I'd try this place on a non-weekend night but then again, there's Casa Alvarez right down the road.

    (2)

  • Chrash C.

    Order the Beef and Bean Burrito with red sauce or half and half (red and green). Then order the Flan. It's the BEST! Note: don't expect all items to be the same at Efrain's II and Efrain's III. Only the Lafayette restaurant gets 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Alannah B.

    I hadn't been to Efrain's in years (seriously, maybe 5?) when my parents asked my husband and me to go there with them last weekend. I have never been a fan of this restaurant, but I figured enough time had passed to give them another chance. We went there on a Friday night, around 6.30pm. We were ridiculously lucky to find a parking spot within the 10-car "parking lot" in front of the restaurant, so that was a good start. Well, that actually turned out to be the best part of the night for me. Once we passed the crowd waiting in front of the restaurant and put our name on the list, we were told the wait would be around 20-25 minutes. We smashed into the "waiting area" (which is a tiny room between the entrance and the bar that fits a handful of people) and waited for a good 30 minutes. We were finally seated in the room with the bar, at a table that is right inside the doorway, in the direct path of the bar and the back room/kitchen of the restaurant. The host tried to seat a party before us at that table, and they refused it, so I should've known how bad it would be. It was so loud in there that I could barely have a conversation with my party, and I had to put my purse in my lap because I didn't have anywhere out of the way to put it on the floor. Someone brought us chips and salsa immediately after we were seated, but no joke, we didn't see a waitress for a good 20-30 minutes. She finally came and took our order, and I don't recall her saying a thing about the long wait before she decided to acknowledge us. It didn't take me long to decide what to order, because they really had just a couple of options for vegetarians, and those options were completely boring (their bean burrito doesn't even come with cheese!). Our drinks didn't come for another 15 minutes or so, and the food came pretty quickly after that. I had a vegetarian taco and a light beer. The "taco" came open-faced, with so much lettuce on it that it was basically a salad. I think there might have been a flour tortilla under there somewhere, but I didn't see or taste it. It was nothing like any taco I've ever had, and the menu didn't say anything about it being served like that. There was no flavour to the food at all and the best part was the avocado slices on top (how can you ruin avocado?). My mom decided she wanted dessert, and after she ordered the sopapillas we waited a good 20 minutes or so (see a theme here?). The waitress brought the bill shortly after we got our dessert, and it sat there for another good 15-20 min. before she even processed it . The food is very inexpensive (you get what you pay for), but my bottle of light beer was $4.50, which was absurd. I would've ordered an import if I knew I'd be paying that much for a bottled beer. Overall, it was just over 2 hours for the whole ordeal from the moment we parked to the moment we were finally able to leave. I have to say, it absolutely boggles my mind that people will wait so long for food that mediocre/bland and service that terrible. Casa Alvarez is right down the street and their food is fantastic and their service is great. I feel like I was stupid to give Efrain's another chance, but now I know and you won't see me there again.

    (1)

  • Al L.

    Food is good and is not your typically chain-type. Service was friendly and good.

    (4)

  • Don W.

    4 stars for Mexican food as I haven't sampled the whole menu and my son reported the tacitos as to-be-avoided, but 5 out of 5 for the dishes I've ordered. We eat here constantly. Chicken enchiladas - WOW. Maybe not "traditional" - they are very large with a lot of chicken inside - but awesome! Great sauce. For those that like REALLY spicy food, try a bowl of the Chile Verde. For the big appetite get the Efrain's burrito, and if you want spice ask for chile verde on top of it. That's all I've eaten there in probably 80 visits (first dozen or so visits I ordered the chicken enchilada, every time). Wife & son have always gotten the chicken enchilada and not branched out. House margaritas are delicious and cheap.

    (4)

  • Josh C.

    This is the original Efrain's, and still going strong. The food is excellent, the prices are good, and I guarantee you won't leave hungry. On the food: the chips and salsa are great, so you'll be happy as soon as you sit down. Burritos are downright huge, though the taste isn't very complex: a beef and bean burrito has exactly beef and beans in it. (The red chile sauce smothering the outside makes it worth it, though.) And beware: they serve it *hot*, you better let it cool down for five minutes or you'll pay. The enchilada meals are tasty--I order the beef enchilada frequently. The fajitas are superb. And I love that when you order a soda, they serve it in a big-ass glass. On the service: here you've got a mixed bag. When they're not too busy, service is good and you'll have an altogether excellent meal. But when they're crowded... you better not be in a rush. Especially on nice days when they're seating both indoors and on the patio, they really don't have the staff to cover that many tables. You'll probably get your food in a reasonable amount of time, but wait half an hour after you're done to get your check. Overall, if you're into Mexican, you've got to check out Efrain's. I just suggest staying away on busy nights (Friday, Saturday) -- catch them on a mellow weeknight or lunch instead. One other note: they're closed Tuesdays!

    (4)

  • Ashley B.

    I find it weird when people say "this place is bad because it's small and you can't park". I'm going to assume you have never been to an actual city and that you think all restaurants have the benefit of suburban square footage. The only problem I have with this place is service- not enough waiters, ever, so they are quite slow. I know how that is- the waiters don't want to add waiters because then they make less money. And if you have 10 tables and are really busy, some may stiff you but most will be somewhere in the middle if you work hard. If you have 5 tables and give them great attention, it won't make up all the difference usually. Not at a cheap place like this. So, be ready to wait, and come before you're starving to death. The drinks are great- $4 for a strong mason jar margarita. I love! the green chile. It's the hottest thing on the menu and it's pretty hot but the flavor is wonderful. My parents say the beans aren't great, (my father claims they taste like lard, but I have yet to tell him that lard on its own doesn't really taste like anything). I also love the steak/all beef tostada. Great flavor with a medium spice.

    (4)

  • Heather F.

    On a normal night, Efrains is absolutely delicious! The best Mexican food around (and that says a lot because there are 6 other Mexican restaurants on Public Road!). Some nights, Efrains has an "off night" where the service and food just aren't that good. We love Efrains for those Great nights where the staff are fun and friendly and the food is just right! Your best chances for those just right nights are on the weekdays (closed on Tuesday), the weekends are PACKED!

    (4)

  • Dawn R.

    We started out going to the Efrain's in Boulder but it was closed. To bad for us!! I had called a head to see if they were opened and asked if they took reservations, they took my name and said they would put it on the list. When we got there our name was not on the list and the host just kind of looked at me and wrote my name down. It didn't take very long to be seated so that was nice. But when we were seated the server was apparently having a very bad night. He wasn't rude but very frazzled . My Husbands ordered the fajitas and the meat was very tough only received two tortillas and when he asked for some more he was told that it would be an extra 50 cents. Fine, so we ordered them and then he forgot them . We did finally get them after I had to remind him. At least he owned up to the mistake and said it was his fault. My kids had the Cheeseburgers, now I know what you might be thinking...burgers at a Mexican restaurant? Well the Efrain's in boulder have awesome burgers. Not so much here. They were over cooked and barely any cheese. At least the Margaritas were good. I think next time I'll do the longer drive and go to boulder and if it's a Sunday I'll go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Liz E.

    You don't come here for the atmosphere or the service, but the food is absolutely amazing - I am a cult follower of Efrain's Bean Burrito, half red sauce, half green sauce (NOT the green chile because it has pork). PLUS, it's cheap!

    (5)

  • Annie B.

    I have been eating at Efrain's for many years. My boyfriend of over 5 years now used to live two blocks from Efrain's. Before we moved in together, we used to walk down there for dinner and margaritas just about every weekend. Now that we live all the way out in Aurora, we still talk about how much we miss it. After Christmas, we were on our way back to Denver from our families in northern Colorado and took a detour to Lafayette just to have lunch. It was worth every extra minute we drove, every dollar spent and every extra bite we stuffed in our mouths just because we couldn't bear to leave anything on our plates! My boyfriend always gets the chili verde burrito, which is a dish I dare not tread on. I love spicy food, but this one is painfully spicy. I had a chicken chimichanga. Still spicy, however well balanced by juicy chicken, cheese, sour cream, guac and the lettuce with vinaigrette they serve with it. Unfortunately, we had a long drive ahead of us and it was the middle of the day so we didn't have any margaritas. Efrain's has branches open in Boulder & Longmont as well. I have eaten at both. While all 3 are very consistent with each other, the Lafayette location just seems a little better. The only drawback is the horrible, slow service. I have gone ignored with an empty glass of water (and a burning mouth) more times than I can count. We have sat for long periods of time waiting for the check or even waiting to just place an order. This is the only reason I gave Efrain's 4 stars out of 5. The price, value, food, flavors & drinks are all marvelous! Regardless of the crappy service, I can't wait until I get to go back!

    (4)

  • Shawn R.

    wasnt my idea to go here but it turned out better than i expected....their margaritas are good but contain little alcohol....chips are okay...salsa is more like a hot sauce meaning its real liquidy....tortillas are store bought...refried beans look weird but taste fine...the rice is flavorless....the steak san lorenzo which is smothered with tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms was decent....probably wont ever return but im glad it wasnt as horrible as i feared it would be from reading these reviews

    (2)

  • Kalasara L.

    Efrains has long been overrated. They serve "gringo" mexican food which is not authentic. Their beans and rice are nothing special, and their entrees are overly greasy. I'm not sure how they keep winning "Best of Boulder". I've tried this place 3 different times with an open mind and each time was very disappointed. Will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Shannon B.

    Unfortunately, this is the worst Mexican food I've eaten in Colorado. But, I'm from Texas. If you're FROM Colorado, you might like this place. If you're from Texas and love tex-mex, then this is NOT the place for you. The outside of the restaurant was nice, but the inside ambiance was less than average, and the service was average. As far as the food goes, nothing tasted homemade. The chips were hard and salsa wasn't good. Their flour tortillas tasted average and store bought. My husband ordered the beef fajitas, and he wasn't impressed at all. They didn't even come out sizzling on a fajita platter, the beef was less than average quality with no fajita flavoring, and the onions were raw, instead of cooked. He said the best thing on his plate was the sour cream, (if that tells you the story). I ordered the appetizer chicken taquitos as my entree. It was very bland tasting and only comes with sour cream. I got a side of guacamole, and sadly, it was the best thing on my plate. Again, we prefer tex-mex, so if tex-mex isn't your thing, you may like the food here. Our favorite Mexican restaurants here are Hacienda Colorado and Jose O'Sheas (in Lakewood)...and Efrain's didn't measure up to either...not even close. However, if you're on a budget, the prices were on the low side.

    (1)

  • Brian L.

    I really really really want this place to be better. I'm a Lafayette residence, and I want to support my community and the small businesses. But this place is crap. Crap food. Crap service. Crap decor. Even the outside seating literally smells like crap. And yet people continue to file in. I'm baffled.

    (1)

  • Chrystal T.

    Wow, Efrains has really gone down hill. Food has been woefully inconsistent and now very bland since my previous visits and everything I walk in the place I feel like it needs a good scrubbing, the remain busy but service is slow, unless they take some time to update and clean, I will likely not return

    (1)

  • Steven H.

    Margaritas are delicious. The food was great, slightly more spicy than a typical Mexican restaurant in the USA but great flavor. The menu has a nice "heat guide" that will help you make a choice fitting your taste. The service is excellent but the kitchen is a bit slow. I understood that there was a big party on the night we visited but our orders were nothing special and should have come out faster than the 45 minutes it took. So, with that one low point, this place is worth a shot, just let Yelper's know if that slow kitchen has speeded up at all. I ordered the Numero Uno which is a platter with three entre selections: tamale, cheese enchilada and chile relleno--all were flavorful and perfectly spiced.

    (4)

  • Stephanie S.

    It amazes me this place gets good reviews. The restaurant is completely run down. The flies in the summer are everywhere inside. Sure they give you a lot of food for the money and maybe thats the draw. Cheap Margarita's (good). You get lots of beans, rice and cheese with you food but whatever you do don't use the restrooms. Why? As you approach the restrooms you will notice the big plastic tub of chips near the hallway leading to the bathrooms. Totally gross and surprising. One has to wonder what goes on in the kitchen. The wait staff is not very friendly and has that placid tolerance type vibe. Bland food at best, unsanitary conditions and indifferent service.

    (2)

  • Phil G.

    Not sure how the ratings fall below 3 stars. I see this location for what it is. A simple place with great food - many many choices. I judge Mexican on the quality of the rellenos. Rellenos were killer good. Chips are OK. Salsa is addictive. The margaritas are served in mason jars - big for the price. Decor is divey. Service is OK. It's about the food.

    (4)

  • Jess C.

    We had reservations last night for a friend's birthday. My husband and i have never heard of this restaurant and were pleasantly surprised at how busy it was. Always a good sign when the restaurant isn't empty. Our party was sat and as we were taken to our seats the smell of sweat, food, and something funky hit my nose. It was extremely hot where we were sat and crowded. After about 10 minutes we still had not seen a server. We could visibly see the restaurant was busy. We hadn't received waters or chips either. Once we finally saw our server we ordered right away and it took forever to get our drinks and my husband waited an extra 5 minutes for his corona. Food arrived all at different times. . . The food was ok, nothing to brag about.. The margaritas were from a mix. Service was rough from all aspects. This was definitely the first and last time we will be trying this restaurant. Not to mention my husband and i got sicker than ever, we suspect food poisoning since we shared both items we ordered. Very unhappy customers

    (1)

  • Craig I.

    Smells like sewage. The septic scent was really something! The food was ok. Beverages were ok. Service was slow and friendly.

    (1)

  • Kieran C.

    I have no idea why this place is popular. The food is bland and the service is abominable. Ate there with my family of 4 and we all got different dishes each which were about what we could make at home, except less seasoned. If your idea of Mexican food includes chopped iceberg lettuce, chopped plain tomatoes and shredded cheddar cheese, you'll love it. Sort of like the county fair. I prefer actual flavor and heat or even some spices. On a Saturday at around 3pm there was a 20 min wait and our waitress (typical "Flo") was less than interested in taking our order and then we didn't see her again til the bill came. One of those places where they dont care about you and are trying to get you in and out. Atmosphere is not close to modern and neither is waistaff or clientele. Probably hasnt changed or evolved in 25 years or so. Come to think of it....this place reminds me of Casa Bonita. But without the entertainment. Do yourself a favor: in a state with really great Mexican to be found everywhere, go autentico somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Lori H.

    I had heard a lot about Efrain's from friends and so my boyfriend and I decided to go there this weekend for lunch. I am not sure why it receives such good reviews. The first thing I noticed when we were sat at our table was the fact that most of the tables were full and there seemed to be only one server handling the main room of the restaurant. As I looked around, people seemed to be waiting quite a while for service. I ordered a house margarita and it took about 10 minutes for it to arrive from the bar. Food service was also very slow. I had to use the bathroom during lunch and noticed that the large bucket of chips used to serve tables as they are seated was literally right on the way to the bathrooms on a corner outside the kitchen. It did not make me feel very good about eating something that was so close to lots of traffic going to and from the bathroom. Who is to say that someone sneezed on their way to use the bathroom and it landed in the bucket of chips!? The food was lackluster. I got the bean burrito and it felt like it was just a can of re-fried beans put in a tortilla with some kind of red sauce poured over the top. Garnish, two black olives. The restaurant itself could also use a bit of a clean and revamp. Random printer in the women's bathroom and the main dining area just did not seem to be very clean. It also took quite a while for us to get our check paid. We were unsure if we were supposed to take it up to the front door, which really didn't have a hostess stand or if we were to wait for our server to come back and take it. We had to wave down the host who looked like he was about 14 and ask him to run the check. Overall, I was not impressed with the food, service, cleanliness or atmosphere of the restaurant and probably will not be going back anytime soon.

    (1)

  • Adam M.

    This place was fresh out an episode out of Restaurant impossible. My wife and I wanted to check it out because Boulder weekly rated it the best Mexican in Boulder County. Big ups to Boulder Weekly for the recommendation. In Efrains defense I read their ratings on yelp before I went in, which put them under my microscope. We walked in and the first red flag for me was seeing two employees eating on the floor. They jammed us into this four top which was also neat. We got chips and salsa which were good. Waited about 15 minutes for the same guy I just saw eating on the floor to come up and take our order. My wife ordered the Chili Verde burrito which looked like slop on a plate. But it's a smothered burrito so whatever and it was way too spicy for her but they had a "scale" on the menu which we were supposed to understand upon our first visit. Her fault. lol I got the 3 beef taco combo meal which was ok. 7/10. I wanted to order 2 chili rellenos but they were out. The employees seems like they were really trying and were nice enough. They do a four dollar marg which is cool. And the prices are fair. I think the only reason they pack em in is because of the lack of choices in the area. My wife's last word as we walked to my car. "Ew I do smell sewage."

    (2)

  • Annie M.

    The food was decently good, but my goodness, the service was terrible! We waited for about 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged that we were there, then it took about 15 minutes for them to bring us our drinks after we ordered them. We were seated right next to the bar, and at times thought maybe we should get our own drinks! The chips and salsa are ok, nothing super special. I ordered cheese enchiladas and when they first arrived, the cheese inside of the enchiladas wasn't melted so I sent it back for another quick zap. Our waiter seemed annoyed with any requests we had... including simply ordering our meals and he was confused as to who ordered what and told us to look inside the enchiladas to make sure we got the right ones. They don't have the option of a crispy chile relleno which is a bummer, but it's hard to mess up a cheese enchilada so they did a good job on that at least (after sending it back). It was an enjoyable meal because of the company I was with, but I would by no means go out of my way to come back. I prefer 3 Margaritas any day.

    (2)

  • Rick R.

    Enjoyed a quick lunch during the Layafette Peach Festival. Despite the place being packed, the service was quick, the food hot and flavorful. The lunch for two was under $15 total. One thing I'd change would be the chips and salsa. They were very pedestrian and lacked flavor. Otherwise, this was a meal in line with the price.

    (4)

  • Dorothy J.

    On 10/16/14 at 7:30pm, we decided not to eat dinner here because we found both the chips and the salsa to be remarkably unimpressive, as was the man who dropped them off at our table without a smile or a greeting. We were further convinced that we would not eat here when we continued to wait for a server for several minutes, during which time we noticed that the couple sitting across from us had two full plates of food and did not seem to be very happy, since they weren't eating or talking, but instead also seemed to be waiting on a server. We found the menu to be a bit limited compared to past experiences at other Mexican restaurants. We will not be returning to Efrain's in Lafayette or any of the other nearby locations. ***I should qualify this by saying that we have had SO many remarkably bad experiences at Mexican restaurants (though we love Mexican food and have had some awesome experiences as well), that we have a rating system that we employed to decide to spare ourselves the bad experience that we knew that we would have based on the above details. Bad chips, bad salsa, failure to greet or acknowledge us at the table, full plates and unhappy customers who have already received their meals...too many red flags to follow through with our plan of eating there. ...So, we went across the street to Miller's Bar and Grille (see next review if interested).

    (1)

  • Kimberly G.

    Absolutely horrible. I managed to travel around Central and South America without food poisoning, but got horrible food provisioning from one meal at Efrain's. I will never go back.

    (1)

  • Mary W.

    Worst place to go. When we got there after the lunch rush, we waited and waited and waited.. Finally went inside to let them know we were here. They seemed bothered.that we even told them we were here. Margaritas were good the rest of the food was terrible. Save your money and go to Santiagos you will be a lot happier.

    (1)

  • Kristin S.

    We walked out when waiter finally came over after 20 minutes - not even water yet -and when my husband mentioned the long wait the waiter rolled his eyes and walked away. Have high hopes for Santiago's next door!

    (1)

  • Hilary N.

    Great food! We have been going here for a few years. Don't pay attention to the reviews that say or two stars. Welcoming staff, family owned. Awesome green chile!

    (4)

  • Jenny P.

    Had some pretty darn good margaritas, hot green chile and tasty guacamole. Nice deck on a warm evening.

    (4)

  • Rene D.

    This place is the best. The green chile is the best in town, excepting mine! The atmosphere is super friendly, warm and accommodating especially to families and large groups and it is affordable to all. Did I mention they have the best margarita's too?! You might need to UBER or walk home though! This is a neighborhood staple....

    (5)

  • Ray T.

    They should rename this place Refrain as in please refrain from eating here. Smells like sewage, food tastes like dog food and the Margs are mediocre. The whole chain is the same from Boulder to Lafayette.

    (2)

  • John W.

    The service was worse than the food and that's really saying something. Total lack of service and totally rude and inattentive staff and management. I had a burrito that was drowning in disgusting red sauce. Flour tortilla was soggy, limp and disgusting. The garbage burrito had little beef and no rice and was overpriced to add insult to injury. Don't bother going to this place as there are many other good Mexican restaurants in the area.

    (1)

  • Michael P.

    We visit this location the most, but eat at all 3. What to say. Efrain's frequently gets a lot of Favorite Mexican voting, but I think that's likely a nod to their nice size portions at good prices. You can eat better at a few Mex restaurants, but Efrain's is a solid mid-line performer, and we have probably eaten there more than any single Boulder area place. Don't love the guacamole, and the green chile is just ok. For newcomers and visitors, positively delicious green chile is the best single measuring stick of all kinds of restaurants in Colorado, and Efrain's is not going to be in the upper echelon in that category. Margaritas (rocks) are ok, service is good if sometimes more than a little "harried", atmosphere is family and groups. Try it, see if you like it.

    (4)

  • Kyle W.

    I grew up eating Mexican food at home and so I'm rather picky about it. This place has AWSOME FOOD!!! It came out fast and hot! Don't know my severs name but he was very nice and attentive! The portion to price ratio is great too! You get more food than you pay for so you won't leave hungry or with a huge tab. Thanks you guys rock!

    (5)

  • B M.

    Is there a way to leave zero stars? Ugh. Double ugh. The bourgeoise iceberg lettuce that is a staple of all dishes may be the worst part. If a establishment cannot purchase quality greens, how do you imagine they purchase meat? This food was only consumed due to extreme disappointment over the tequila being put away and denied another margarita. If you are eating this food you are gross. If you look at the menu and still order, you are likely gross. I still carry a large shameful gross mark on my inner being from being so weak and orderin and eating this trash. Lunadas down the road at least tries, though not great. Go to the store get some Avos and Ozuke kimchi, head home and do it yourself

    (1)

  • C S.

    Grungy, very slow service, kind of surly waiter, food only fair. We were seated in this afterthought of a room near the bar with nothing on the walls except a stuffed antelope head. Don't waste your time. Tres Margaritas is ten times better.

    (1)

  • Krystal L.

    Terrible. I decided not to eat here, and watched my friend become highly unsatisfied with his meal very quickly. I don't know why this place seems so busy often. The quacamolé I ordered was mostly large chunks of Tomatoe, it was not good...

    (1)

  • Elaine Z.

    We managed to get a table on our second try by showing up around 4 pm. (The previous time the line was out the door.) There is a parking lot, but it's TINY and some of the alleged slots are taken up by trees. Items on the menu are all illustrated with graphics rating the spiciness of the food. I was surprised that such a tiny restaurant would have such high prices, but when my fajitas came out, I understood. I had enough fajita fixings for four meals! They only give you two tortillas, and charge extra for the rest. Granted, they're big tortillas, but it's still not enough. First round of chips and salsa are free. Nothing exciting to talk about there. I got one drink from the drinks menu, not a margarita, in a regular glass, and a little greenish. It was good, but I was so ridiculously dizzy by the time I left that I likely won't drink there again. I'm too much of a lightweight!

    (3)

  • Kirsten A.

    Went in tonight as I recall going years ago and thought I had remembered it to be good. Mistake! A young man seated us who wasn't wearing any type of a uniform and didn't seem like he liked his job. Should have been the first clue. We waited for just water for a long while and almost had to beg just for a refill. Then watched the table next to us get their order taken and delivered before us. Agree with the post re: chips & salsa. My husband noticed they are kept in a bin on the way to the restroom. The food, decor and waitstaff was totally unseasoned and unimpressive. Would not return no matter how good people say the margs are!

    (1)

  • Scott C.

    Efrain's would never be said to have the best Mexican, but you always know what to expect. I like the steak San Lorenzo. Not the best cut of meat, but a lot great sides and a great price. Always happy with it. Drinks are good and it's a nice casual place to go.

    (3)

  • Terry G.

    My girlfriend and I had dinner here about a week ago with a group of friends. I soon discovered why anyone would rate this place with more than 2 stars - it's the prices. They are definitely low. And so is the quality of the food and establishment. My first impression was not good. We were waiting out front on the deck for our table and I noticed how run down and dilapidated everything was. Light fixtures missing, broken statue on the stairs, wood needing paint, etc. Inside is not much better. The food was ordinary at best. The menu says that the tamales were steamed in corn husks implying that they would be served that way. However, when I got mine there were no corn husks and you could tell they were not house made but bought from food service companies. The menu has a "heat bar" for each dish to let you know up front how hot your meal was going to be. A good idea if it actually was accurate. My 2 level tamales were more like 5. Some had the Mondongo bowl which is rated 3 but it was almost inedible. Service was okay until we were trying to leave and then we had to get up and head for the front door "cashier" to get our bill paid. Definitely skip this place if you have other alternatives.

    (1)

  • Jim T.

    My wife and I have been to Efrain's several times over the years and most of our experiences have been generally positive. However, our latest visit was truly exceptional, but not in a good way. The waitress seemed put out by having to wait on us. By the time she showed up to take our order we had consumed our chips and were ready to order our entrees as well as our drinks. Our son was with us as we and we ordered a beef and bean tostada, beef burrito with red sauce and a combination plate of relleno, bean tostado & taco. The food arrived warm at best and was bland. When our waitress brought the food she noticed that our drinks were low so she brought more iced team. She haphazardly filled the glasses but either didn't notice or didn't care that there was no ice left. The next time we saw the waitress she quickly stopped by to grab my wife's plate and ask if we wanted dessert. Are you kidding me ??? We wanted TO dessert. I waited patiently for the check. My wife and son got tired of waiting and went outside. The hostess finally noticed me sitting alone with a pile of dirty plates and asked if I was waiting for my bill. She let the waitress know and I settled up and quickly abandoned the place so we could get to Chick Fil A for some IceDream to try and wipe that bland taste from our pallets. One more thing is that the bathroom smells like an open sewer.

    (1)

  • Kathryn H.

    This place doesn't even deserve a star awful food and service my husband and I went there for dinner it was hard to find parking than i asked the wait about some defferent food on the menu and he could not explain how the food was prepared it take over 30 min after we order and was every low qual food I should have stayed home and cooked myself it would have been better beware stay away

    (1)

  • Ginni T.

    I have lived in Lafayette for 18 years, and avoid Efrain's like the plague. It is beyond my comprehension why they are so busy. A friend talked me into going for her birthday ( I hadn't eaten there in years). Horrible, slow service. The server acted like our party of five was annoying him by being there. We were all adults over 40. Each of us ordered a margarita. The table was filthy, decor nonexistent. Margs were OK but the chips were stale and the salsa was watery. Entrees were either cold or greasy or both. The restroom smells to high heaven, and not in a good way. We had to wait for at least 20 minutes for the server to run the card. Strangely, the Efrain's in Boulder is no-frills but much cleaner and the food is much, much better!

    (1)

  • Aaron L.

    Decent food, above average quality and taste. Prices are very reasonable... and a bit on the low side actually for much of the items ... this is why they are always busy. Don't go here thinking the food will wow you, it will not. the food will be average to good but better that the price suggests. the service is always very good too!

    (3)

  • Rick H.

    Like the lyrics of Natile Imbruglia's one hit wonder "Torn," I'm Torn about this little mexican restaurant found in Lafayette. This place is the quintessential Clint Eastwood of mexican restaurants, It has the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The Good: Without a doubt, one of the best House Margarita's served in a 16oz canning jar, like a bootleg of moonshine for $5.75. Great deal, great flavor, great size. One of the friendliest bartenders we have encountered. Very busy, but very attentive. Flame thrower powered roasted jalapeños. The Bad: One of the smallest parking lots to navigate. I ordered the Efrain's Famous Chili Verde Bowl, not quite Princess Diana famous, and not as hot as they lead you to believe. The Ugly: The old carpet, wobbly bars stools, the uncomfortable seating arrangements and uneven floors, is it character, charm or just a lack of attention to details? The bathroom...better to leave that to your imagination. So you see, as Natalie sings, "My inspiration has run dry...That's what's going on, nothings right, Im torn." Go there without great expectations, disregard the "heat level" charts on the menu, ignore the bizarre decor and small, tight spaces and the Good will outweigh the Ugly.

    (4)

  • Michael F.

    As far as Mexican food goes in Boulder county, there simply isn't anything better than the original Efrain's. The food is authentic Mexican and the Chili Verde is hands down one of the best I've had at any Mexican restaurant anywhere (and I've eaten at a ton of Mexican joints). If you're a fan of real Mexican food, try the following: 1. Chili Verde Bowl 2. Mondongo Bowl (although this is made with sirloin instead of tripe) 3. The Efrain Burrito The servers are always extremely pleasant and friendly, the food is consistently good and the prices are extremely affordable. The place could use a makeover (as it does look dated and the bathroom needs work), but purely from a food standpoint you won't find anything better in Boulder.

    (5)

  • Josh V.

    Awful. For all of the authentic Mexican restaurants around here, I expected to at least receive something edible at Efrain's. Perhaps I got a bad impression because I ordered my meal for take out, which they apparently don't usually do, but they accommodated nonetheless. Having specifically ordered an item marked as vegetarian, I got home to discover undercooked pork in my chile relleno. I went back and had them replace it, but not without them implying that I wasn't clear enough with what I wanted. Ok.. Fine. I ordered chips and salsa for my 20 minute wait while the proper meal was prepared, and they charged me for those, which I didn't like. And then, when I got home, the dish they gave me was so inedible, so slimy and soggy, that I had to throw the entire thing out. I don't know if the slippery, wiggly texture was normal texture and I'm just out of my mind, or if the staff got mad and did this on purpose, or if it just wasn't supposed to be placed in a to-go container.. Either way, the food they sold me was utterly disgusting. The side items and compliments (lettuce, sour cream, etc.) were all plainly sub-par, and frankly embarrassing for a restaurant that tries to call itself authentic. I'm far too turned off to give this place another shot.

    (1)

  • Chris W.

    My family and I resorted to Efrain's on a Saturday afternoon after our first choices were found to be closed. We walked through the patrons dining on the patio to get into the main entrance of the restaurant. The interior of the restaurant looked dated, and felt like a sub tropical environment. I assume that the building is probably hot, and the only thing cooling the building is some evaporative coolers. We chose to sit outside because it was an overcast day, and there was a nice breeze. The host told us to "seat yourselves". We looked, and found a table with seating for 4, but there were not enough chairs. The host seemed reluctant to help us locate a fourth chair. We sat for what seemed like 7 to 10 minutes waiting for the obligatory chips and salsa and waters for the table. We were able to consume the majority of the chips, and the majority of our waters before the server acknowledged us. After placing our drink orders, the drinks seemed to be delivered to the table rather quickly. However, the same could not be said for the food. We had enough time to consume another bowl of chips and salsa and make it through two drink refills. The food was 'okay' at best. I ordered the 'Efrain Burrito', which was more than enough food, and packed plenty of heat. But, the large chunks of meat on the top of the burrito were dry and were borderline burnt. The cost of the food wasn't bad - $35 for 4 of us, but I would have been happier eating at one of the burrito chains. The one thing that this place has going for it is its patio! Although awkwardly located at the front of the restaurant, it has a ton of tree cover (which also drops leaves into your food and drink), and is a nice atmosphere. The furniture on the patio is mix-matched, but I wasn't there to buy a patio set, so I paid no attention. On a side note: My wife used the restrooms here, and she said they were located "inside the kitchen" and were "gross". I'd suggest finding somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Jenny L.

    12/26/13 - Service was horrible, took 10 mins to even get greeted by waiter. They were obviously understaffed. Food took over 35 mins to arrive. Bathroom smells like a sewer, my 7 yr old niece had to hold her breath. Food was lukewarm & not even crispy (it was like it had been sitting there all day). We had to ask for the check & waited a while before getting up to just pay for it ourselves. This place USE to be great but has gradually been declining horribly. I would not recommend this place anymore. Not worth the wait. NO BUENO!

    (1)

  • Tom H.

    Dishes did not include rice, beans or side salid like traditional Mexican meals. But entres were very tasty and good portions.

    (3)

  • Daniel P.

    I grew up on the street this restaurant is located on, and have been coming here for almost two decades now. This review is based on countless visits, but please note, focuses primarily on the food, and drinks offered, rather then the service. The service is not included as a detriment to the review, its more something you should just be aware of and prepared for when eating here. For example, if you are any in any sort of hurry, or have a concept of time and care when you leave, ask for your check when you get your food, you will probably get it by the time you are done eating, maybe. To everyone who gave negative reivews: Do you have that restaurant you love that makes the one dish you think is absolutely amazing? You eat it and nothing else, but don't stray off onto other menu items? That is how Efrains is, you have to learn what they do well, and GET THAT. Complaining about a taco here is like complaining about getting a salad at a steak restaurant. Yes a taco is traditionally Mexican, but Green Chili is just as Mexican, and it is evident that their focus is clearly on menu items other then your absolute most basic taco or enchilada or burrito. Food/What to Get: GREEN CHILI. The Costillas (pork ribs simmered/cooked in green chili, served with potatoes and beans), are amazing. Ranked 10 out of 10 on their spice scale, I'd advise using your tortillas to mitigate the spice, or have a drink ready to help kill the burn. Ribs are practically ruinined for me now, because no other restaurant can match their tenderness. You can touch them with a fork, and they fall right off the bone, every time. The only thing that changes is their spice level, mostly because they cook the ribs in the chili verde, the later in the evening you go, the hotter they are. If you don't want to deal with the bones in the ribs, you can get the slightly smaller Chili Verde Plate as essentially the same dish, but be sure to substitute the rice for potatoes, the rice is definitely mediocre. Costillas are highly recommended, and something anyone should have before making a final judgement about this restaurant. On that note, some of the negative reviewers might want to go read some reviews about mexican restaurants in the Boulder area, they might be surprised to find Efrains has been winning the past several years for best Mexican (according to Boulder Weekly at least, offhand). The chili Colorado is an excellent alternative for those who don't want to get Chili Verde, as are the blue corn enchiladas. Unfortunately, one area this restaurant is kind of lacking in is vegetarian options, but if you are familiar with Mexican cuisine, almost all of it has PORK, so you are fighting an uphill battle already. The Efrain is always an intriguing option. Billed as the "chef's choice, NO EXCEPTIONS", this is, well, whatever the chef feels like giving you! Personally I am and have been sold on the Costillas, but several friends always try this, and are never disappointed. Drinks: It's pretty surpising so few people have discovered the margaritas here! For $4 you get a heavy handed, 2-drink limit house margarita. There is also the ridiculously underpriced white lightning, which offers Herradura Silver (usually priced at $55-$60 per 750ml), for $5.50. It is a bit sweet so you are better off just ordering the white lightning with just lime juice, or less of whatever ridiculously sweet mixture they use, unless you like sweet things. As far as quality of alchol goes though it is an absolute steal for the price. The absolute best margarita to order though is the Silver Coin, made with Don Julio Silver (usually retails for $60+ per 750ml). It is a bit more expensive at $8 a pop, but as someone who prides themselves on tequila and has made it their mission to try margaritas everywhere they go, Efrains Silver Coin still compares to any of the best ones I have ever tried. Service: Efrains has been around practially since I can remember, and is always busy whenever I go by (except on Tuesdays, when they are closed, the one in Boulder is closed Sunday but open Tuesday) . It is an institution of Old-Town Lafayette, and for that reason, the service is its own special situation. By that, I mean, it is like Sherpas in Boulder, the food will keep you coming back, the service you tolerate because you know the food is just so damn good. Like I said, ask for your check when you get your food if you are in a hurry, or simply order to go if you don't want to deal with the experience that is service at Efrains. The simple fact is this: they are busy always. If you want excellent service, this is probably not your place. If you want excellent Green Chili, then, by all means. If anyone would like to recommend a place in the Lafayette/Boulder area they have found with better (that isn't the little Food Cart outside of the Tienda Mexicana on Emma and Public), please, let me know.

    (4)

  • Pat R.

    Whenever we get to Boulder, Efrain's is on our list of places to go. We like to sit on the patio and sip margaritas! The food is good, when they say hot, they mean it!! There is usually a wait, and if you have to sit inside, it's a little crowded.

    (4)

  • Tessa A.

    The food was great but I'm giving only 2 stars because of the service. We went on a Saturday around 3 and the restaurant was practically empty. Our waiter came immediately and got our food and drink order. Over 45 min later our food arrived, and during the 45 min wait our waiter didn't come by once to refill drinks or bring us more chips...all of which we needed. Someone from the kitchen brought out our food and our waiter was still missing. We all got the tacos which were delicious and you get a lot of food for the price, but considering tacos are like half lettuce and tomatoes I still have no idea how they took so long to make. When we were done eating our waiter magically appeared to drop off the check. He still didn't offer to refill drinks. After the bill was paid we sat talking for about 5 min and the waiter came back to pick up the receipt to check out his tip...it's so rude when waiters do that. The food was good but because of the service I'd never go back.

    (2)

  • Cheryl R.

    After reading the Yelp reviews, we truly expected better food. We should have left after starting with the chips and salsa...it is never a good sign when the salsa is watery and lacks flavor. Not sure if it was a bad day or if the food is mediocre every day, but between three of us, none of us would return for their bland Mexican. Perhaps if the place didn't feel so drab and dirty, it may have gotten another star. If you do decide to give the place a try, don't sit by the windows along the back. The sun comes in at funky angles. All the patrons that were near us were constantly moving their chairs to get out of the sun so they weren't baking or blinded.

    (2)

  • Diane M.

    Really bad Mexican food. Really bad. Dirty restaurant, slow service. This is not a dive- just a dirty place. The ladies sitting next to us wanted to have there food taken back it was so bad. Then we got ours and I wanted to do the same. I've tried this place a few times and will never be back. The beans are tasteless, the rice is like instant white rice. The salsa is so watered down it might as well be red water.

    (1)

  • Dawn H.

    This is hands down the worst Mexican food I have eaten. The salsa is quite literally tomato sauce. They load the plates with shredded lettuce to take up space. The service is slow and inaccurate. We will not be back.

    (1)

  • John G.

    Horrible place to go eat. But I will say the chips and salsa are good. But that is where the good part of the restaurant ends. Very dirty floors, tables, and booths. The booths and carpet ate also ripped all over the place. The food has almost no flavor and it is just swimming in their sauce. The sauce too has no flavor and no heat. Service was very slow and didn't care even before the big dinner rush. Skip this place and eat somewhere else. You won't miss anything.

    (1)

  • Shirley P.

    I always get the Efrain special and have never been disappointed! Have enjoyed both the Boulder and Lafayette locations!

    (4)

  • Kayla H.

    Worst service I have EVER experienced!!! Had to find someone to take our drink order, which was clearly putting them out. Waited 30 minutes to order. 35 minutes after that we got our food and shocking... They only got half of it correct. Rude a holes work there if you consider what they do as working. One person I our party stayed behind an additional 15 minutes just to have someone take her credit card payment. The payment hit her account FOUR months later. Seems they lost her signature slip in their disgusting and unorganized sh*t hole in the wall. Will never return regardless of the food because the whole Lafayette experience sucked!!!!

    (1)

  • Jane F.

    Lafayette location. So dirty that honestly was afraid to eat any food. And the bathrooms smelled of sewer. Avoid this place

    (1)

  • Lindy L.

    I had the chile verde platter, and it was tasty, but not particularly hot. When I ordered the platter, I was forewarned that it would be very hot. I really like spicy food, so I was excited. The platter was only moderately hot, which was a little disappointing because I was expecting more heat. The beans that accompanied the chili verde were just fine, but the rice wasn't--the rice was almost flavorless. The salsa is alright. Friendly service.

    (3)

  • Nick B.

    Cool little place. Was not expecting the food to be as good as it was.the #10 is smoking hot, Very spicy! Wow!

    (4)

  • Jane Z.

    Service was great, food was outstanding, will definitely drive from Parker to eat here again!

    (5)

  • Meg M.

    Efrain's seems to be a Lafayette institution. It is somehow always packed. I go here occasionally because it's nearby and some friends love it. The food isn't great in my opinion, but I find it somewhat charming anyhow. The threadbare carpet, uneven flooring, sensation of sitting in a stranger's family room, and the surly demeanor of 3/4 the waitstaff is somehow moderately endearing. The tamales are okay if you can get them when they've *just* been made. The rellenos aren't half bad. The chili verde will melt your face off and cause problems the following day. (Note: heat does not equal flavor.) But the food is a FAR, FAR cry from authenticity. Refried beans covered with shredded yellow cheese is standard for every dish. Most dishes are also covered with what tastes like canned sauce and, yes, more shredded yellow cheese. Bland, super-sized, and americanized. The redeeming factor? The margaritas! The bartender IS friendly and the margs are delicious, authentic, and will knock your socks off. Don't even consider driving if you've had 2. They really are that strong. And delicious.

    (3)

  • Kevin B.

    One word: Authentic. Big flavors, Big Proportions. A great little family Mexican joint. Grab a margarita or a XX's while you wait for a table.

    (4)

  • Zach W.

    Get the Tampiqueña; steak with sautéed veggies. Staff can be somewhat sinister but overall good authentic experience. Make sure to ask for the salsa verdé!

    (4)

  • aubrey b.

    Good standard mexican but the service is always slow and for such a great location they could definitely spruce up the patio and keep it cleaner, more appealing. For food quality, Santiago's down the street is better just no table service there.

    (3)

  • Jo G.

    It's funny how many low ratings there are, because this place is always packed. Have been coming here since it opened 15-20 years ago. It is the tackiest, semi-scuzziest restaurant around. But their food is yummy and we always see people we know there which is fun. It used to be a "fern" bar in the 80's which is why the decor is so strange for a Mexican restaurant. Why spend money upgrading when you have a full house every night? Their green chili is very tasty. Varies from extremely hot to mild/medium depending on the chili's that season. Definitely homemade. I usually have the green chili plate or the chicken tostada with a taste of green chili. Their refrieds are spectacular, and DO NOT contain lard. The chicken supreme is out of this world. Order half red/hard green. Yeah! If you love a good dive (one where you can ignore the fact that the restaurant needs a good power-washing), come to Efrains and enjoy! No snobs allowed. Oh -- and depending on who is waiting on you the service will be somewhere between way too fast and really really terrible. Just be forewarned.

    (4)

  • Natasha M.

    Efrain's was highly recommended by several of our friends. We're particular about our Mexican food, and we found Efrain's great. We like most of the items on their menu: fajitas, tacos, enchiladas. I do find myself wishing for ground beef (vs. shredded beef) in some of their dishes, but that's just my preference. Price is right. Service is great. Come at non-peak hours - they get packed on weekend nights.

    (5)

  • Lynette K.

    Yuckity Yuck! I love Mexican food and usually let alot of things slide when enjoying such food. However, Efrains was disgusting, first the place smelled and looked like an old Florida restaurant. Why would a place in CO smell like it has been through several hurricanes and be assaulted with green and white decor, really green carpeting, ugh. Plus, the place was invested with flies, really, flies in colorado. The chips and salsa sucked unless you like stale chips with no salt and a bowl of tomato sauce. Apparently, salsa here means tomato sauce from a can with some veggies, gross. And I am not sure what rock the waitress crawled out from under, but she made it wait my table. I have never given such a bad review. I love food and usually with good company enjoy myself. I was with the best company, but the nastiest place.

    (1)

  • A P.

    I really wish you could leave a "half star" rating. went there because it had good reviews and their menu allows you to cater your spiciness to your liking. Upon arrival I asked the server about their spicy dishes, they could not alter their dishes in any way. If I wanted something spicier or milder or a different ingredient. He commented on their best dish, their chili verde plate. I asked to have it made with chicken, again I was told they could not alter their dishes at all. Despite that I ordered the dish with pork. The dish arrived and it resembled pork soup. Visually unappealing, but I tasted it anyways. Horrible. Was not made as I had requested the level of spiciness. Instead of adding fresh ingredients they threw on more sauce. My husbands dish also looked less than desirable and he ate a few bites. The server never returned to check in on us and when we complained about the level of spiciness he replied, "that's the spiciest we can make it." Overall there was zero flavor in the their food and it was not fresh. It was beyond washed out American food.

    (1)

  • BJ S.

    This spot is always busy and we assumed it was the food. However we were disappointed. There is much better mexican in the Lafayette area.

    (2)

  • Steve P.

    Efrains is an outstanding example of authentic Mexican food that probably came out of some guy's family. The food is rich, spicy and extremely flavorful- and also REALLY hot. I order cheese and onion enchiladas with a fried egg on top, and a little sour cream. Awesome. The tacos are also very good, but if you get it in any kind of combo, ask them to put it on the side. The flautitas with guacamole are a nice appetizer treat. This place is utterly packed to the gills on nights and weekends.

    (4)

  • Keith B.

    I go back to Efrain's whenever I can. In fact, it's one of the reasons we moved to our current neighborhood. The heat of the chili verde is variable, but the flavor is always good. That is what keeps me coming back...the flavor. The red sauce is terrific as well. I must admit that the service can be slow when they are busy, but after accepting that fact I know what to expect. Anything else will just be a surprising improvement.

    (4)

  • Joel D.

    Marginal food and terrible service. Our waitress came by twice the whole evening and the food was just... well, very mediocre. Additionally, some woman was walking by the table behind us, recognized someone she knew, and felt it necessary to sit at another nearby table and shout her conversation to her friend for a half hour. I noticed many of the other patrons looking at her but she was oblivious and so was the staff. All in all a pretty wasted evening. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Randy D.

    I wish I could give this place zero stars. I for the life of me can not figure out why everyone in Boulder says this is the best Mexican in town. I almost feel like it's an elaborate hoax to mess with people. The place gave up on cleaning or updating anything inside about 20 years ago by the look of it. It's really dirty. Even the walls are dirty. Our server looked like she hated her job and her life. My girlfriend got a "taco" that was more like a tostada. I was covered in about a pound of iceberg lettuce and had a sick canned black olive on the top. I had some dish that contained stewed tenderloin in mushrooms and spices. Spices? All I could taste was musty gross meat. It was like a plate of Dinty Moore Stew from a can. Dry white rice, with what looked like cheese powder on it. Salsa was sick and watery. More like a picante sauce, and even the chips were horrible. Light and a bit stale. Overall this may actually have been the worst meal I have ever had out. So sick. Couldn't even be passed off for a school lunch or hospital food. The green chili had zero flavor because it was horridly hot. Listen I LOVE hot food, but all this did was make you sweat. No flavor came through at all. Avoid this place and thank me later.

    (1)

  • Mike H.

    C'mon you don't come to a place like this for the creative fare or an elegant atmosphere; you probably know whats on the menu already. But hey, I think the food here is great, especially when you consider the prices. Service has always been good too. Some of these Yelpers are down on this place because they pay $7 for a burrito and expect the friggin Mesa Grill.

    (5)

  • Rosabelle W.

    Always a kind server and people who know us all by name. Our children have gone to school or played baseball with George's nephews.

    (3)

  • Craig P.

    Stopped in for drinks and a bite during Lafayette's Artfest. WIll NOT be going back. Service was impersonnal and not very helpful. Drinks were okay, but food was horrible. Stale chips and watery over spicy "salsa" Everything we had seemed to come out of a can like the refried beans. The chicken and beef on the dishes was shredded, but looked old, was rubbery and bland with no seasoning. The cheese on everything was rubbery and appeared to be have been microwaved a bit too long. Overall very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Sarah P.

    Killer patio, pretty good food but very small portions. An enchilada dinner should have more than one enchilada, awesome strawberry margarita, would recommend!

    (3)

  • Shawn R.

    When we sat down for dinner this evening I remembered that I had yet to review Efrain's. I've eaten here probably a dozen times and I have to admit that while the decor isn't great and the place is kinda disorganized the food has always been pretty decent. My wife loves the Green Chili Plate with Mexican Ribs. I'm more of an enchilada guy. We both really like the Margaritas. Anyway once seated I figured tonight's meal would be my opportunity to Yelp about the restaurant. Unfortunately for them it was. Wow what a terrible meal. The beef fajitas were terrible and tough probably the worst meal I've had in several years. The service matched the meal, cranky waiter, slow service and the restaurant set a new low for messy and unkept. The cheeseburgers normally a favorite of my kids were overcooked and had so little cheese on them we had to look twice to confirm it was there. The topper of the night was when I requested additional tortillas (Only 2 came with the fajitas) I was told that I'd have to pay extra. What a joke, a $50 dollar meal and they nicked me for something as simple as tortillas.

    (2)

  • Nichole F.

    I've been here twice and both times were a huge disappointment. Slow service and bad food. We drive to Louisville if we want mexican food.

    (1)

  • Drew A.

    Went down to Efrain's II in Boulder on a Sunday after a nice hike, and found they are closed on the sabbath! Well, we wouldn't give up that easily, and headed down to Lafayette, knowing the original restaurant might be even better than it's Boulder counterpart! Oh no. We were mistaken. You see, after some research it appears the founder of Efrain's expanded and focused his efforts on the Boulder and Longmont locations. Sadly, this shows greatly if you compare and contrast. I will preface this review by stating my bias for the Boulder location. I went there first, and find it to be far superior. I ordered one of my favorites, the Beef Chimichanga with beans and rice, and was not too pleased when it arrived. Nevermind the flies in the dining room, the food is what I came for. Bland beans and strange rice (are those carrots or peppers?), both quite different from the seasoned rice and tasty refried beans you receive in Boulder. The chimichanga had no real crisp too it, just a soggy mess. It was also smaller then what you receive in Boulder. The green chili was decent, probably the best part. However, it still doesn't hold up to it's Boulder counterpart. I passed on a margarita, so can't vouch for how those compare. Service was ok, but I expect poor service at Efrain's. It's the price you pay for such incredible value (drinks and food). I will never go back to Efrain's I. It is a sad excuse for one of my favorite restaurants, and brought me back to my days in California, where crappy Mexican restaurants are a dime a dozen. It may be the original, but do yourself a favor and drive the extra 15-20 minutes to Boulder.

    (2)

  • Matthew B.

    I have been eating here for over 5 years and have always enjoyed it. Yeah, there can be a wait, and the service can be slow, but I enjoy everything else. Salsa is good, chips are decent. Margaritas are excellent, if you get the Gold Rush. Chili Colorado, Mondango, Hot Green Chili, the burritos all get a thumbs up. Sopaipillas are excellent as well.

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Efrain's gets one star for being... well, Efrain's. But the food is awful compared to the one in Boulder. Terrible, terrible service. We were seated fairly quickly and chips/salsa were delivered shortly after. Then begins the wait. We watched a guy who we thought was our waiter walk by about 10 times (no joke) to the people at arguably the worst table in the place (hidden in a far back corner). He clearly looked us and our empty-of-food-and-drink table and practically ran the other way. When he finally graced us with his presence, he threw menus (not that we needed them) on the table without asking if we wanted anything to drink. I practically had to beg for a margarita (thank goodness I knew I wanted a pink cadillac). When it finally came it was really watery - ew. Our food took forever to come out and we were sorely disappointed. The chicken in my enchilada was dry and tough and the whole plate was really greasy. BF's plate was not much better. We didn't even bother ordering sopapillas because we wanted to get to bed at a reasonable time. Our waiter never checked up on us - not even for more chips or water. When the check came, it took our waiter another 20 minutes to run the credit card. By that time we were ready to leave the card and just make a run for it. Long story short, don't go to this Efrain's. Drive north on 287, turn left at Arapahoe, and drive to 63rd Street. There you will find outstanding food, real drinks, and happier people.

    (1)

  • E M.

    Excellent green chile Good service (good, but not great since many staff walked by when I was waiting to be helped when I first walked in) Salsa is tasty Enchiladas are excellent Atmosphere is blah and they must use bleach to clean the tables because the whole place smells of it Ladies restroom was clean Prices very fair I wish we had an Efrain's in Denver!

    (4)

  • Eeva D.

    You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by its chips and salsa. Store bought chips and bland salsa from a jar. DH had the chile verde- super hot, but the chiles were frozen (as the server told us). My mondongo bowl was tasty, could use some limes. Just blaaaaaah.

    (2)

  • Dave W.

    had high hopes for this place. the service was very poor. the waitress brought us our food and then never showed up again. their food was mediocre at best. it was hot, but not flavorful. very bland. the chips seemed stale and the red sauce for dipping had no flavor. would not eat there again.

    (2)

  • Cori C.

    Third time around. Just gross. Stood up front while many of the employees walked past us several times without greeting or seating us. The chicken in my enchilada wasn't drained at all, and was dripping with water, which made everything on my plate soggy. Oh, well.

    (1)

  • Chris C.

    This place just gets worse and worse. I've had better Mexican food in a hospital cafeteria and friendlier service at the DMV. How this place stays in business I don't understand. Hopefully they will close and a REAL Mexican restaurant will open in its place.

    (1)

  • Michelle P.

    Yup, this is AS GOOD AS IT GETS (in Colorado anyway). Having been to Efrain's in Boulder, my hubby and I wanted to check this place out and we really enjoyed it (or at least I did). He wasn't too convinced about his plate. I ordered their #8 "Costillas" plate which is one of the hottest dishes on the menu. Yummy! Taste is all there and then some - garlic, chilies, oregano, etc. They serve the plate with triangle sliced potatoes (OMG love them) and refried beans. Writing this review makes me want to visit right now. Only low point: service on a Friday night at 9pm. Granted we walked in late but, customer is always right. Why skimp on the service regardless of the time? Location is cute and so is the building. You'll love this place as much as I do!

    (5)

  • Troubleshooter B.

    It used to be good. Arrived 6PM on a Saturday night, and even though there were lots of empty tables- it took 15 minutes to get seated. No water, chips salsa or silver for 15 minutes after being seated, either. Waiter came then and asked if we were ready to order. Ordered drinks, they came out in about 5 minutes, but still no water, chips or salsa. The waiter got them, finally. Then waited for 35 minutes to get our food, which was lukewarm and tasteless. With - the exception of the green chil salsa, which was the only thing that was still good. We used to like this place- unlikely we'll go again.

    (1)

  • Jackie V.

    The green chili is hands down some of the best I've had. Way better food than Santiago's. The only knock on this place would be they are not always consistent with the food. It's good but if you loved what you ordered last time it might not be the same of you order it again. Great margaritas!

    (4)

  • Hungry B.

    We have come here a dozen times because of the food. This is also one of the only places I've found dessert sopapillas, a crispy powered sugar and honey covered treat. The food is good. Can't speak for the entire menu but we have 2 or 3 favorites here. The current favorite is the Smothered Burrito... a cheesy, saucy treat for a ridiculous $5.75. We also like the Steak San Lorenzo which comes with beans and rice and a nice scoop of guac but the cooks never get the steak cooked right. We have finally figured out to ask for it medium rare for it to come out medium well. The chimichanga is also very good but kind of on the small side. I don't know about you, but I like my food sprawling out over my entire plate, not just hiding in the corner. Now for the worse thing about this place... service is really shoddy. We've had good service once and bad to abysmal service all the other times. Maybe it's because Efrain's is so understaffed, the current workers hate their lives. Once we ordered to-go because the wait for a table was about 30 minutes but then we ended up waiting almost 1 hour to get two dishes. I felt bad for badgering the poor kid who was waiting tables, clearing tables, juggling the wait list, and trying not to trip over the hordes of people waiting by the door. Overall: Go outside of busy hour and don't expect them to get your steak right. Go to Texas Roadhouse if you're really craving the steak.

    (3)

  • Murpheezzz X.

    Horrible ambiance, bad service and the food is NOT good. Entirely non-authentic mexican food, stay away unless you like bad Tex-Mex.

    (1)

  • Dave J.

    Seems folks either love it or hate it. I wish more people hated it...at least that way I might have a shot at getting a table in a reasonable timeframe. Efrains is, in short, my favorite restaurant on earth. I have been known to get off a 22 hour airline trip, get picked up by my wife at the airport, and go straight to Efrains without even going home. My brother and his wife drive all the way from Lakewood every couple of weeks to meet us just to get their Efrains fix. Best dishes are the Chili Verde Burrito (the chili is in-f'ing-credible), the Costillas (baby back ribs smothered in chili verde), and the Tamales (made in the traditional way and smothered in the most flavorful enchilada sauce I've ever had). Love the house margaritas and the flan is superb for dessert. If you look for a Chili's restaurant when you travel because you like to know exactly what you're getting, or expect to have your every need catered to by smiling 20 year olds, or get bent out of shape if the restaurant is busy and you don't get your check within the 3 minute window you expect, please take your delicate sensibilities and go someplace else so the rest of us can get a table! Have any of the people sniveling about the spotty service stopped to think about why throngs of people are willing to put up with it year after year??? Hint: it rhymes with Billy Birdy.

    (5)

  • Yen T.

    This is ok for mexican food in CO. My friends bought me here to try it out... I got the chimicangas. Chicken. Ehh.. I had better, but it was decent being in the middle of no where. Minus 1 star for having so much bugs! Ugh, I got a bug bite. Minus 1 star for having 2 odd toilet in a one-woman bathroom.

    (3)

  • Pashley C.

    I always order the chicken chimichanga and a silver margarita and have never been disappointed... (apart from the deep-fried ice-cream, yuk). Indoor and outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    4 for food 2 for service and marg. I will start with the good the Efrain burrito this is top notch Tex Mex food with pork, chicken ,rice and there homemade re fried beans this dish is different every time according to the menu. Wonderful with the pork green chili on top! The service is friendly if around and for the most part very slow I sat on the patio and it was perfect for this fall Saturday afternoon lunch.

    (3)

  • Gina A.

    I don't even want to give this place one star! They are rude rude rude. I've eaten here once before after having a ton of people rave about and experienced horrible service and food that was not that great. better than Taco Bell (which is not mexican) but I'd rather go there because they at least are really friendly. We went for the second time on a rainy friday night around dinner time which we knew would guarantee a little bit of a wait. their front room had people waiting in it for tables and the wait was 15-20 minutes. Not horrible. There was a guy standing at the front talking with a couple when we first got there but then he walked off without even acknowledging us! It took 15 minutes of standing there to get someone's attention. Not fun considering i was literally 40 weeks pregnant! then a server came up and after I asked the wait time she gave me a really pissed off sassy look and said I don't know, I'm not seating people regularly. I just wanted to know if I'd be waiting much longer or not. Once I realized they were complete idiots and have no customer service skills at all I was super turned off. Finally one of the hosts came back and said 30- 40 minutes and we just left. Average food HORRIBLE STAFF!!! Don't bother. I would rather drive to Boulder to go to the RIO and at least get an amazing Margarita (for when I'm not pregnant) and the same quality of food. The place looks like a shack as well! Doesn't exactly make you feel good about eating there DOn't bother!!!

    (1)

  • Aaron G.

    It looks cool from the outside and is always packed but really it's just another place that serves Sysco Mexican except here you get to wait in line!. Seriously, Sysco could put half the restaurants on main street out of business if they would cut out the middle man and open their own generic Mexican restaurant. Check out that photo: mhmm,mhmm, bland! Feel free to copy and paste this review into a Casa Alvarez review. Well, except about it always being packed.

    (2)

  • M M.

    The food was bad! I ordered their vegetarian taco. The refried beans in the taco were liquid and disgusting and the veggies were soaked in this bean slop. I ate about a quarter and was afraid I would get sick if I ate the rest. The chips and salsa were ok and the outdoor seating was nice. But because of the food, I will never go back.

    (1)

  • N C.

    Don't miss Efrain's shredded chicken enchiladas! Yum! We live an hour away in Parker and this is the ONLY Mexican restaurant that I will eat at! I don't like enchiladas with anything green in it so this is the best! Red chile, shredded juicy chicken, cheese, and it is filling! Their runny yummy salsa is amazing too! When our family walks in, the senior chip guy knows to bring us the 'big' bowl of salsa because we eat it all! Definitely my all time favorite Mexican restaurant in the country! My second favorite is in Puerto Vallarta so this is definitely closer and better tasting! The only thing is that they don't have a website! Drives me crazy. I tried to sell them one for a great price but they haven't called me yet (Natalie - Internet Media Consultants (720) 989-1462 for a beautiful $500 website to grow your business.) Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Kirsten M.

    I'm astounded by the bad reviews of this place because we've been obsessed by the enchiladas here for years now. We have been known to drive 30 minutes to get here - just for a plate of enchilada sauce deliciousness. Mmm... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I like this location much better than the Boulder location because you can sit out on the patio, order a marg and enjoy a nice breeze while digging in. Also, this is one of the few places around that serve a decent sopapilla (a rare thing in Denver/Boulder). This is one of those not-so-authentic, cheesy border-style places that have more to do with US border cuisine than anything you will ever find in Mexico. Don't come here expecting 'authentic' cuisine. Also, the service here is hot and cold. We've had great service here and indifferent service here. It's best to come here when you aren't in a hurry.

    (4)

  • Rajagopal K.

    If you are a vegetarian, I'd advise you to steer clear of this one- the menu is a throwback to 80s Mex food- only cooked veggie options are w/ cheese, lceberg lettuce and tomatoes. Lovely choices like veggie burritos, cheese enchiladas, chili rellenos and yup- that's it! Waitstaff seemed to be willing to accommodate making a veggie chimi, but it turned out that was a cruel deception- when waiter came back, he said "Nope just chicken & beef- both premade". Waited ages for the check, no offer of a drinks menu, and a new trend- rounding off the change owed to only give you bills, no coins. So if you're owed $7.75 in change, and you only get $7 back, whether the waiter deserves it or not, you're forced to tip him in bills. Probably best left to people seeking authentic Mexican food- and I'm NOT talking Rick Bayless. I've eaten better at Qdoba & Chipotle.

    (1)

  • Tiffanie M.

    Went to Efrain's tonight with some family. I'd heard it was really spicy so I've stayed away until now. I'm a wuss. :) The food was pretty good, the margarita was AWESOME. The sopapillas were only ok- not very fluffy and kind of overcooked. The service however, was VERY slow. The waitress was nice, and everyone else seemed to be as well but the whole restaurant moved very slowly. If you allow for it, it's fine, but don't go there expecting to be in and out in a hurry. We'll probably return, but not on a regular basis.

    (2)

  • Mike E.

    Debates on Mexican food can get just as heated as discussions of politics and religion. My bias - I lived in New Mexico and San Diego, my wife grew up in Tucson, I like to roast and peel my own green chili, and we both expect our mexican food to be spicy and hot. If you want hamburgers, or American-ized mexican food, don't go here. I judge a place by it's green chili first, then by it's beans and tortillas, then by everything else. Efrains has the best green chili around, if you want real green chili. Yes, service is occasionally off, but more times than not it is good to very good. If you like family-owned restaurants, and good to great mexican food at reasonable prices, there is no place around that I would recommend higher.

    (5)

  • Andee H.

    I really wanted to like this place. We met some dear friends who were celebrating a birthday here. We had our own private dining area which was nice. The chips and salsa were good. The menu I have to say, just looked unappetizing. The waitress seemed to be playing games with a few peeps in our group when she came in and heard them being sassy and asking where the heck she was. I was wondering too, I just didn't say it aloud. She would be there and then she would disappear before anyone could order anything. I thought the games were quite lame. I ordered a beef and bean burrito smothered in green chili. Now the burrito is like 6 bucks, but if you want it smothered it's 3 bucks more....Yikes! Let me tell you folks it's not worth it. The chili while hot was not tasty and mine was extremely greasy. There is nothing more gross to look at then your food covered in grease. Ick.

    (2)

  • J B.

    I got to say there's two place's in colorado I will never eat mexican food at, and this would be the second one. (The first one is in fort collins and they use ketchup instead of salsa). I'm for business to succeed, but this place just sucks.

    (1)

  • Fae F.

    Yay for Efrain's! I know it might take a while because it's going to be busy. I know they want to bring me margs. I know they want me to enjoy whatever I order. I know I will be back. I love the vegetarian fajitas with corn tortillas and extra cheese chile con queso. Muah.

    (4)

  • Debbie A.

    Every time I've been to Efrains it's been packed and there's a line out the door. The fact that people will hang around outside during the winter in Colorado just to get a table should tell you something - the food, the service and the margaritas (especially!) are worth the wait! The staff is friendly, the food (I highly recommend the huevos rancheros) is wonderful and the price can't be beat. My date and I have had drinks and dinner with a tab that's barely $20. How can you complain about that?! Yes, it's true, the decor is a little tacky but I think it adds to the charm of this hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant. Try it out. It's good!

    (5)

  • Emmy C.

    On occasion it is a nice place to eat. The atmosphere is... interesting. There is a wide array of random things in that restaurant, Things like bull corns and blow up corona bottles and bla bla bla you get the idea. The las time I was there I ordered taquitos. They we're decent, classic really. No complaints, but no praise. And now for the cons: Every time I'm there it is more noisy that a New York subway station. The waiters are always way to busy to actually care about you, and it is unimaginably packed so good luck getting a seat.

    (3)

  • Ashton D.

    This is the original Efrain's and sadly the best of them all. I've heard great things from friends about the food here, but my experience was just ok. Driving up to Efrain's I was excited! The outside of the building was very cute. The ambiance inside however was very bland. The table we were sat at had food stuck on it. I was expecting to hear the sounds of a mariachi band in the background, but that was replaced with a dull roar and the clacking of dishes. Something, anything, would have been better than nothing! The food was average. The chips and salsa were not good at all. The chips were very hard and the salsa had very little flavor. I ordered a chicken chimi and it was good, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. To finish things off we ordered a basket of sopaipillas and they were great! However, I can't say that I've ever had a bad sopaipilla... not even at Casa Bonita, so that's not saying much. The service was below average. We sat at our table with the water and chips and salsa the bus boy dropped off for over 10 minutes before being greeted by anyone! Finally someone asked what we wanted to drink. Over half of the tables were open on a Saturday night so I just don't understand what kept our server. I won't be eighty sixing Efrain's from my places to eat, they have potential. Why they couldn't get there ducks in a row on a slow night I don't know, but I'm choosing to believe they were having an off night. Efrian's is receiving three stars for yummy margaritas, good prices, and potential. I do not return to two star establishments and I think these guys deserve a second chance.

    (3)

  • Zichelle B.

    I think their green chili is gross. The staff is rude. The food is okay. Salsa is pretty watered down and tasteless. The food is pretty tasteless in general. BUT you all need to know that I know good Mexican/Southwestern food, because my family cooks it!!! So my opinion may be a bit bias. Great and strong margarita's though. I've definately had better and would way rather go to Santiago's.

    (2)

  • Phillip B.

    The food here was pretty good and same with the service

    (4)

  • John C.

    My were coming back from Denver one night and we decided to go into Lafayette to find a place to eat. After driving up and down Cleveland St., we noticed that the only restaurant that seemed busy was Efrain's. So, we decided to try it. We sat on a very pleasant patio and had a couple of delicious Margaritas. What a nice setting for a warm summer evening. The staff was very friendly and attentive and the food was excellent. We were happy that we've finally, after 15 years in Colorado, found a good Mexican restaurant (so far, thee has only been a couple and one of them is in Kremling). We've since been back with friends and we were not disappointed. Everything was great.

    (4)

  • John A.

    I think the other reviews may not have ordered the right things. The enchiladas are Great! The Ribs are Very Spicy, but great. The Burritos are great, come to think of it, I can't think of a dish I've had that I didn't like! The staff could be a bit more friendly & less rushed & it would be nice if Efrain's website had a menu posted online.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Divey
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

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.

Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

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