As far as Mexican food goes in Jacksonville I feel like you think of 2 things, hole in the wall establishments or the fancy - not really authentic restaurants. I love El Potro for many reasons, it is a hole in the wall place (but bigger than you would expect once you're inside) the food is delicious, the place is clean (!!!) and the service is great! And like I said in my first review....the MARGARITAS ARE ON POINT!
(5)
Michael L.
Salsa is REALLY good, one bowl is not enough if you like fresh homemade salsa. The tacos and rice were decent. I had the regular margarita and the top shelf margarita, pay the extra money for the top shelf, it's a lot better. The service was great, no complaints. No , this is not an upscale Mexican eatery, it's the place around the corner that you can go to and have a good meal without breaking the bank. Personally I prefer this much more relaxed atmosphere over the high priced places around. Keep it up!
(4)
David S.
Everything was bland. The sauce was bland. The ground beef had no seasoning. The shredded beef had no flavor, and the shredded chicken was also without flavor.
(2)
Jennifer S.
This place far exceeds my expectations. I live really close so happened to walk to it one day for dinner and drinks and have been back at least once a week since! Everything is very reasonably priced and tastes like much better quality than LaNop. The margaritas are delicious (too delicious!) and the service has always been excellent. I always sit at a table in the bar area and when you sit in there, the server is also the bartender. Very nice! The guys that work there are SO friendly and on point with service. They also have a HUGE screen in the bar area that's great for watching sports. I will definitely be frequenting them even more during football season! Highly recommend!
(5)
Ryan F.
Great to have real Mexican food again!! Fort Lauderdale is seriously lacking. Loved the environment and the "appropriate" music!! Lunch specials were great sized. Prices were great. Food was very flavorful!!
(5)
Ape L.
We would have been serious regulars if it wasn't for the wait staff attitude. We love authentic food & it's pretty good authentic-like food. When we finally got service we ordered off the al la carte menu & obviously the waiter and her side kick did not like that. The attitude we got after that was so bad that I was very mad by the end of the meal because we were paying for an uncomfortable experience. We went back one more time but could not stand the wait staff. Why go somewhere when you end up seething at your waiters attitude? There is one male waiter that is outstanding there. Everyone else ruined the experience.
(3)
Crystal D.
The food, drinks and service was great!! Really enjoyed the shrimp quesadilla! The salsa is fresh also.
(5)
John L.
Took my lady friend out to dinner. The food was (at best) okay. The magarita She ordered was room temperature and tasted like crap. We addressed the margarita. The server (Jorge) was like, "what do you want me to do about it". The he had another server finish (take plates and payment). Jorge, like me tell you what I did about it. I only tipped you 8%. I WILL NEVER BE BACK!!!!
(1)
Jeff B.
When you go to a Mexican restaurant and the highlight of the meal is the chips and salsa you know you are in trouble. Ordered the enchilada, taco, burrito combo. I have never had a Mexican meal so void of flavor. I tried smothering the meal with salsa and sour cream but that still did not help. On the plus side, the waiter was very attentive and was there if I needed something. If you want a cheap meal but don't care about flavor this is the place for you. Otherwise bypass this place and look for something else.
(2)
Brian A.
¡Muy decepcionado! This was my first restaurant in the year 2014 and boy did it fizzle out like the dud sparklers from the night before. I've never sat a restaurant so long without service. Ever. Twenty minutes went by and we still didn't have a drink order. We sat ourselves, notified the staff that we sat, and waited. Eventually someone came by with chips and salsa. Didn't take the drink order or bat another eye our way for another fifteen minutes. The worst part was that the salsa was actually really good! I'll say it again, I've never gone so long without service to point where I get up and leave. It's just unacceptable. The only reason El Potro is getting 2 stars is because of the salsa. HAte to say it, but I'll probably never come back.
(2)
Angie P.
Still searching for decent Mexican food in Jax beach, I dropped in for lunch. Waited at the front door for about 5 minutes, but was finally seated. Chips, salsa and drink were all brought out promptly, as was my entree. I didn't have any of the service issues others have mentioned. The salsa was obviously homemade, and very tasty. I had a beef taco, beef enchilada and chicken enchilada. Menu said it came with rice and beans, but I only got rice. The rice was good, but everything else was pretty bland. Taco came on a store bought taco shell. Lettuce and cheese were fresh, just not much taste. The beef in the enchilada tasted like it had been simmering in plane water. The chicken just tasted like boiled chicken. The sauce was pretty forgettable, other than the fact it was a little on the sweet side. Not horrible, but nothing I would come back for.
(3)
Carolyn M.
Food- I wasnt too impressed I ordered Tacos de Asada, i have had better in other places. Service- was great! Had two guys keep coming by my table to make sure everything was good.
(3)
Dani V.
BEYOND annoyed at this place. Keep in mind, *Mark B.* La Nop was closed so I wasn't "really" cheating After sitting at a table for 10 minutes with no menus, I got up and got some for the table. About another 10 minutes after that we got some chips and salsa. No one asked if we wanted drinks though? I think we must have been here, a table of 6, for almost 35-40 minutes before we just had to stand up and leave. I don't know if I've ever done that before? The best part is they weren't busy at all. It was a really rainy afternoon and totally dead so there was no excuse for it. They get 2 stars because this isn't my first time here. Before La Nop this was the only other option besides Casa Maria for Mexican margs, but I've never eaten here. Get it together, guys!
(2)
David H.
This place has been around for over 15 years for a reason. Nothing fancy, but excellent Mexican food and very friendly service. Be sure to take advantage of the unlimited chips and salsa as well. You can't beat the $4.99 "speedy gonzales" lunch, beef taco, beef enchilada, and your choice of rice or beans. I have probably eaten here 50+ times over the years and never had a bad meal.
(4)
Cathy B.
If you really want cheap, poorly prepared food this is the place. I'd rather eat at Taco Bell, really. If the food wasnt bad enough they bring unasked for crap Marguerita and want you to pay for it. Not Mexican food. Lousy service.
(1)
Melanie F.
Good food and super fast service. We were tired from a long day of driving and this was exactly what we needed.
(5)
Rachel P.
Just your basic Mexican restaurant , nothing so "wow" about it ! Nothing id really wanna come back for , I mean the chips and salsa were fine & but my friends food was good but then again nothing so great about this restaurant!
(4)
Bill K.
A really good Mexican restaurant located in Jax Beach. Our server was Jorge and he took great care of us. Our new favorite Mexican Restaurant on the east side of Jacksonville.
(4)
Ronald D.
Coming from SoCal and having alot of mexican food I was skeptical of this place but previous reviews led me here sadly. The chips and salsa are brought to the table but the salsa tasted like spaghetti sauce and needed lots of salt to make it edible. The Carne Asada burrito which I get everywhere was a dissapointment, the "carne asada" which is suppose to be a seasoned meat was just plain steak strips. The also typically dont include the beans and extras in the burrito but since I wanted peppers and everything in their they did but didnt bother wrapping it. The combo of 1 burrito, 1 taco, and enchilada was TERRIBLE, it couldnt be eaten, it tasted like dog food or soy meat the grounded beef they used was garbage and that was the meal, the meat just wrapped differently. Basically it appears that since the population around here don't enjoy all the seasoning and spices they don't make it like that but continue to call it mexican food. Be warned if you enjoy Mexican food this isn't the place for you.
(1)
T B.
Love El Pot!!! Jorge is the BEST!! Awesome Margaritas! Great food, excellent service, and consistently fabulous! Just wish they delivered. (hint hint)
(5)
Denny S.
Just moved back to Jacksonville from Los Angeles, so, I am a bit spoiled when it comes to my mexican food and margaritas. I went to the place based on the good reviews. I ordered a margarita with 1800 Silver. One guy told me he had it, and another guy told me they did not have it. Clearly a language barrer. I followed the server to see what he was going to use. He ended up using Jose Cuervo Silver. Not bad, but not a premium tequila. Plus, I had to ask for ice because it was so warm. It was not a great margarita. Anyway, he basically got every bit of our order wrong. My burrito came out wrong. My daughter's burrito came out wrong. The food was okay but nothing special. I don't think I will be going back.
(2)
Jackie M.
This is my family's favorite Mexican restaurant. My husband loves that they have horchata, which La Nopalera does not. We also used to be fans of the University Blvd and Beach Blvd locations, so until they closed down, we didn't know where else to find an El Potro restaurant. I'm glad we found this one because the food is consistently delicious, and the service is much better than the other locations that closed. I usually get the burrito, fajitas or carne asada, but my husband loves the shrimp cocktail, too. Never had a complaint about the food. Always hot, always yummy, and the prices are reasonable. The only critique I have is that they have this huge creepy clown/joker/jester painting right at the entrance of the women's bathroom, which scares the bejeezus out of my 3 year old daughter.
(5)
Michael Hosto H.
I have only been here once but I found it Kinda average. If you can tolerate blase Mexican food you might be okay here. Try burrito gallery for better food and cheaper price.
(2)
Jim M.
Excellent house margarita and great steak
(5)
Matt M.
Okay, the wait for Tacolu was monumental, so my son chose El "Meh". The service was spotty, the food unoriginal and the location non-descript. I would opt for Tacolu and wait or go to Chic-fil-a, either one is a vast improvement.
(2)
Dave S.
First, I've been coming to Jax Beach for about 15 years for work and have never stopped here since it looked like a typical chain Mexican restaurant. This restaurant has horchata! And it was muy bueno. I typically get the camarones a la diabla when I first visit a Mexican restaurant. I was very pleased with the taste. I don't know whether it is because I'm a gringo, but the dish didn't have the heat that I'm used to. If it wasn't for the good taste, I would have blasted this review. On a side note, they had a musician playing this evening who wasn't too bad. Family friendly, clean, with quick and friendly service.
(4)
Azure T.
Good solid Mexican food, which we didn't expect to find in Jacksonville Beach. We were staying down the street so we ate here two nights in a row. I had the nachos both nights, they were that good. Between that and the cheap beer...what else can you ask for? Oh yeah, great service too.
(5)
Jennifer N David L.
The food is fresh and flavorful. The wait staff is awesome too! We are beaches locals and eat here all the time. The consistently deliver and we are always pleased with the experience. Maybe partly due to the excellent top shelf margaritas. I don't really know what "authentic Mexican" is but if you are looking for an affordable, "American Mexican" place to dine with the kids that is no frills but tasty, you not be disappointed.
(5)
Surya V.
Visited this restaurant on the 21st of July for lunch. Ordered beef chimichanga, chicken enchilada. The kid's food came in very quickly. Food was good. Will visit again during next Jacksonville trip.
(5)
John Y.
Best Mexican food around. I love all of it. Very friendly people and amazing food.
(5)
B M.
they stepped up since LaNop moved in down the street wait staff great and funny
(4)
David C.
I had excellent service tonight. The mahi mahi fish tacos on special were delicious. I really enjoyed the salsa. The food was good. Beans were authentic. Salsa authentic. Mahi mahi tacos sabrosos. I enjoyed the dining experience despite the fact that the tacos fell apart--they were delicious nonetheless.
(4)
Donald W.
Went last night with family and everything was great. We have been going here for 10 plus years. We have seen Mexican restaurants come and go at the Beaches but they keep putting out great food and service.
(4)
Sam S.
El Potro is very fast, has $0.99 tacos all day, every day and is delicious. It is not gourmet Mexican but simple and good. My favorite joint.
(5)
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Address :1553 3rd St N
Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : 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.
Morgan H.
As far as Mexican food goes in Jacksonville I feel like you think of 2 things, hole in the wall establishments or the fancy - not really authentic restaurants. I love El Potro for many reasons, it is a hole in the wall place (but bigger than you would expect once you're inside) the food is delicious, the place is clean (!!!) and the service is great! And like I said in my first review....the MARGARITAS ARE ON POINT!
(5)Michael L.
Salsa is REALLY good, one bowl is not enough if you like fresh homemade salsa. The tacos and rice were decent. I had the regular margarita and the top shelf margarita, pay the extra money for the top shelf, it's a lot better. The service was great, no complaints. No , this is not an upscale Mexican eatery, it's the place around the corner that you can go to and have a good meal without breaking the bank. Personally I prefer this much more relaxed atmosphere over the high priced places around. Keep it up!
(4)David S.
Everything was bland. The sauce was bland. The ground beef had no seasoning. The shredded beef had no flavor, and the shredded chicken was also without flavor.
(2)Jennifer S.
This place far exceeds my expectations. I live really close so happened to walk to it one day for dinner and drinks and have been back at least once a week since! Everything is very reasonably priced and tastes like much better quality than LaNop. The margaritas are delicious (too delicious!) and the service has always been excellent. I always sit at a table in the bar area and when you sit in there, the server is also the bartender. Very nice! The guys that work there are SO friendly and on point with service. They also have a HUGE screen in the bar area that's great for watching sports. I will definitely be frequenting them even more during football season! Highly recommend!
(5)Ryan F.
Great to have real Mexican food again!! Fort Lauderdale is seriously lacking. Loved the environment and the "appropriate" music!! Lunch specials were great sized. Prices were great. Food was very flavorful!!
(5)Ape L.
We would have been serious regulars if it wasn't for the wait staff attitude. We love authentic food & it's pretty good authentic-like food. When we finally got service we ordered off the al la carte menu & obviously the waiter and her side kick did not like that. The attitude we got after that was so bad that I was very mad by the end of the meal because we were paying for an uncomfortable experience. We went back one more time but could not stand the wait staff. Why go somewhere when you end up seething at your waiters attitude? There is one male waiter that is outstanding there. Everyone else ruined the experience.
(3)Crystal D.
The food, drinks and service was great!! Really enjoyed the shrimp quesadilla! The salsa is fresh also.
(5)John L.
Took my lady friend out to dinner. The food was (at best) okay. The magarita She ordered was room temperature and tasted like crap. We addressed the margarita. The server (Jorge) was like, "what do you want me to do about it". The he had another server finish (take plates and payment). Jorge, like me tell you what I did about it. I only tipped you 8%. I WILL NEVER BE BACK!!!!
(1)Jeff B.
When you go to a Mexican restaurant and the highlight of the meal is the chips and salsa you know you are in trouble. Ordered the enchilada, taco, burrito combo. I have never had a Mexican meal so void of flavor. I tried smothering the meal with salsa and sour cream but that still did not help. On the plus side, the waiter was very attentive and was there if I needed something. If you want a cheap meal but don't care about flavor this is the place for you. Otherwise bypass this place and look for something else.
(2)Brian A.
¡Muy decepcionado! This was my first restaurant in the year 2014 and boy did it fizzle out like the dud sparklers from the night before. I've never sat a restaurant so long without service. Ever. Twenty minutes went by and we still didn't have a drink order. We sat ourselves, notified the staff that we sat, and waited. Eventually someone came by with chips and salsa. Didn't take the drink order or bat another eye our way for another fifteen minutes. The worst part was that the salsa was actually really good! I'll say it again, I've never gone so long without service to point where I get up and leave. It's just unacceptable. The only reason El Potro is getting 2 stars is because of the salsa. HAte to say it, but I'll probably never come back.
(2)Angie P.
Still searching for decent Mexican food in Jax beach, I dropped in for lunch. Waited at the front door for about 5 minutes, but was finally seated. Chips, salsa and drink were all brought out promptly, as was my entree. I didn't have any of the service issues others have mentioned. The salsa was obviously homemade, and very tasty. I had a beef taco, beef enchilada and chicken enchilada. Menu said it came with rice and beans, but I only got rice. The rice was good, but everything else was pretty bland. Taco came on a store bought taco shell. Lettuce and cheese were fresh, just not much taste. The beef in the enchilada tasted like it had been simmering in plane water. The chicken just tasted like boiled chicken. The sauce was pretty forgettable, other than the fact it was a little on the sweet side. Not horrible, but nothing I would come back for.
(3)Carolyn M.
Food- I wasnt too impressed I ordered Tacos de Asada, i have had better in other places. Service- was great! Had two guys keep coming by my table to make sure everything was good.
(3)Dani V.
BEYOND annoyed at this place. Keep in mind, *Mark B.* La Nop was closed so I wasn't "really" cheating After sitting at a table for 10 minutes with no menus, I got up and got some for the table. About another 10 minutes after that we got some chips and salsa. No one asked if we wanted drinks though? I think we must have been here, a table of 6, for almost 35-40 minutes before we just had to stand up and leave. I don't know if I've ever done that before? The best part is they weren't busy at all. It was a really rainy afternoon and totally dead so there was no excuse for it. They get 2 stars because this isn't my first time here. Before La Nop this was the only other option besides Casa Maria for Mexican margs, but I've never eaten here. Get it together, guys!
(2)David H.
This place has been around for over 15 years for a reason. Nothing fancy, but excellent Mexican food and very friendly service. Be sure to take advantage of the unlimited chips and salsa as well. You can't beat the $4.99 "speedy gonzales" lunch, beef taco, beef enchilada, and your choice of rice or beans. I have probably eaten here 50+ times over the years and never had a bad meal.
(4)Cathy B.
If you really want cheap, poorly prepared food this is the place. I'd rather eat at Taco Bell, really. If the food wasnt bad enough they bring unasked for crap Marguerita and want you to pay for it. Not Mexican food. Lousy service.
(1)Melanie F.
Good food and super fast service. We were tired from a long day of driving and this was exactly what we needed.
(5)Rachel P.
Just your basic Mexican restaurant , nothing so "wow" about it ! Nothing id really wanna come back for , I mean the chips and salsa were fine & but my friends food was good but then again nothing so great about this restaurant!
(4)Bill K.
A really good Mexican restaurant located in Jax Beach. Our server was Jorge and he took great care of us. Our new favorite Mexican Restaurant on the east side of Jacksonville.
(4)Ronald D.
Coming from SoCal and having alot of mexican food I was skeptical of this place but previous reviews led me here sadly. The chips and salsa are brought to the table but the salsa tasted like spaghetti sauce and needed lots of salt to make it edible. The Carne Asada burrito which I get everywhere was a dissapointment, the "carne asada" which is suppose to be a seasoned meat was just plain steak strips. The also typically dont include the beans and extras in the burrito but since I wanted peppers and everything in their they did but didnt bother wrapping it. The combo of 1 burrito, 1 taco, and enchilada was TERRIBLE, it couldnt be eaten, it tasted like dog food or soy meat the grounded beef they used was garbage and that was the meal, the meat just wrapped differently. Basically it appears that since the population around here don't enjoy all the seasoning and spices they don't make it like that but continue to call it mexican food. Be warned if you enjoy Mexican food this isn't the place for you.
(1)T B.
Love El Pot!!! Jorge is the BEST!! Awesome Margaritas! Great food, excellent service, and consistently fabulous! Just wish they delivered. (hint hint)
(5)Denny S.
Just moved back to Jacksonville from Los Angeles, so, I am a bit spoiled when it comes to my mexican food and margaritas. I went to the place based on the good reviews. I ordered a margarita with 1800 Silver. One guy told me he had it, and another guy told me they did not have it. Clearly a language barrer. I followed the server to see what he was going to use. He ended up using Jose Cuervo Silver. Not bad, but not a premium tequila. Plus, I had to ask for ice because it was so warm. It was not a great margarita. Anyway, he basically got every bit of our order wrong. My burrito came out wrong. My daughter's burrito came out wrong. The food was okay but nothing special. I don't think I will be going back.
(2)Jackie M.
This is my family's favorite Mexican restaurant. My husband loves that they have horchata, which La Nopalera does not. We also used to be fans of the University Blvd and Beach Blvd locations, so until they closed down, we didn't know where else to find an El Potro restaurant. I'm glad we found this one because the food is consistently delicious, and the service is much better than the other locations that closed. I usually get the burrito, fajitas or carne asada, but my husband loves the shrimp cocktail, too. Never had a complaint about the food. Always hot, always yummy, and the prices are reasonable. The only critique I have is that they have this huge creepy clown/joker/jester painting right at the entrance of the women's bathroom, which scares the bejeezus out of my 3 year old daughter.
(5)Michael Hosto H.
I have only been here once but I found it Kinda average. If you can tolerate blase Mexican food you might be okay here. Try burrito gallery for better food and cheaper price.
(2)Jim M.
Excellent house margarita and great steak
(5)Matt M.
Okay, the wait for Tacolu was monumental, so my son chose El "Meh". The service was spotty, the food unoriginal and the location non-descript. I would opt for Tacolu and wait or go to Chic-fil-a, either one is a vast improvement.
(2)Dave S.
First, I've been coming to Jax Beach for about 15 years for work and have never stopped here since it looked like a typical chain Mexican restaurant. This restaurant has horchata! And it was muy bueno. I typically get the camarones a la diabla when I first visit a Mexican restaurant. I was very pleased with the taste. I don't know whether it is because I'm a gringo, but the dish didn't have the heat that I'm used to. If it wasn't for the good taste, I would have blasted this review. On a side note, they had a musician playing this evening who wasn't too bad. Family friendly, clean, with quick and friendly service.
(4)Azure T.
Good solid Mexican food, which we didn't expect to find in Jacksonville Beach. We were staying down the street so we ate here two nights in a row. I had the nachos both nights, they were that good. Between that and the cheap beer...what else can you ask for? Oh yeah, great service too.
(5)Jennifer N David L.
The food is fresh and flavorful. The wait staff is awesome too! We are beaches locals and eat here all the time. The consistently deliver and we are always pleased with the experience. Maybe partly due to the excellent top shelf margaritas. I don't really know what "authentic Mexican" is but if you are looking for an affordable, "American Mexican" place to dine with the kids that is no frills but tasty, you not be disappointed.
(5)Surya V.
Visited this restaurant on the 21st of July for lunch. Ordered beef chimichanga, chicken enchilada. The kid's food came in very quickly. Food was good. Will visit again during next Jacksonville trip.
(5)John Y.
Best Mexican food around. I love all of it. Very friendly people and amazing food.
(5)B M.
they stepped up since LaNop moved in down the street wait staff great and funny
(4)David C.
I had excellent service tonight. The mahi mahi fish tacos on special were delicious. I really enjoyed the salsa. The food was good. Beans were authentic. Salsa authentic. Mahi mahi tacos sabrosos. I enjoyed the dining experience despite the fact that the tacos fell apart--they were delicious nonetheless.
(4)Donald W.
Went last night with family and everything was great. We have been going here for 10 plus years. We have seen Mexican restaurants come and go at the Beaches but they keep putting out great food and service.
(4)Sam S.
El Potro is very fast, has $0.99 tacos all day, every day and is delicious. It is not gourmet Mexican but simple and good. My favorite joint.
(5)