The fact that this passes as Mexican food is quite sad. The quality of the food is poor. The chewy, stringy, boiled chicken is inedible. The canned guacamole, flavorless salsa, and bright orange cheese all add up to what I like to call "glippedy-glop". Go wait on line at Nuevo Laredo, let the other folks settle for this slop. Also of note: The margaritas are not made with real tequila. Many cheap Mex joints including El Azteca are using a poor quality "Agave Wine" product that is basically tequila flavored liquer. Don't believe me? Ask the bartender to show you the bottle.
(1)
Kate C.
Okay Mexican, decent prices, pretty good service. I usually get to Rosita special at lunch. When the weather is nice, I enjoy the outdoor seating. The margaritas, however, are anything but weak. They always have a real kick to puts me to sleep later. This is a decent place to go to if you have a craving for Mexican.
(3)
Andrew L.
Is it great mexican...no. Do I go there every month...yes. Wife loves it and it is fast and easy. Also, I dont have to run to the bathroom on most nights. Plain, simple, and easy
(4)
Teresa S.
This place is awesome. The service is always solid, the food is fresh and the $5 margarita specials on Thursdays are the best. This is our new Mexican joint. Love this place.
(5)
Ginger W.
I have eaten here hundreds of times. I think I was on a once a week kick for 2 years straight. The servers at this place are great. They take your order quickly, they attend to your needs, and your order is always correct. If you are in a hurry and want a sit down lunch, come here. They can get you in and out fast. This is your typical mexican food for Atlanta. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either. If their is a wait at lunch, the hostess can usually seat you withing a few minutes. Making left turns on Peachtree can be difficult, El Azteca has a police officer on-site for lunch to help you get in and out of the restaurant. They also have a huge parking lot with free parking. We also use this place for work gatherings. Give them a call if you are going to bring a large group of drinkers with you. Sometimes they only have one bartender on weeknights.
(4)
Margo R.
Not a fan. The food here is edible and moderately priced. I recommend it to the starving who may be driving along Ponce and craving a burrito with partially melted cheese and chewy chicken. Keep in mind there are plenty of superior places to eat Mexican cuisine, including my kitchen, or our own. El Azteca is nothing special.
(2)
Amy L.
My FAVORITE mexican restaurant. I don't care what others say, the food was great and so was the price. My boyfriend and I have lived in Chicago for a year now and we still can't find a place that compares. The fajitas are the best, the chips and salsa are great (with free refills too!), and the cheese dip is delicious! When we visited Atlanta in December we made sure to visit this restaurant!!
(5)
Mr B.
F----G GROSS! Awful! The salsa is ketchup and chilli, the chips are OK. The vegetarian enchiladas are nasty, the cheese was stale and the "secret sauce" was a pile of secret bull shit. What a turd Then, I tasted the cheese enchiladas, those sucked too. Waaaaay to much salt, and the sauce was sucky sucky blow blow. Beans- GROSS! Not even canned, probably powdered. I can't believe this place was slammed! It was dirty, waitstaff is nearly brain dead and the parking lot is dangerous and needs to be reconfigured. FU-K YOU GUYS! Peace!
(1)
Brad B.
Guilty pleasure. I grew up going to Americanized Mexican restaurants, in fact me, my Mom and my dad used to go to Monterrey every Saturday for lunch when I was younger. We would do the crossword puzzle together at lunch, so places like this are nostalgic for me. There is never a reason to get crazy at place like this. Stick to the basics, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and chile rellenos. This is the ultimate comfort food to me. With an unassuming exterior, the restaurant has a surprising amount of space inside. For a Mexican restaurant like this, it has a decent bar too. Kelly does not necessarily love this food, so we don't eat it too often. However, I'm a big fan. That's my word and I'm sticking to it.
(4)
Tori H.
I've definitely had far better Mexican food, but this place is convenient with good parking and ample patio sitting. And for those reasons, and only those reasons, I will probably keep coming back. If you want better than average food and/or margaritas, I would go elsewhere. I most recently came on a Saturday evening and they were slammed! The hostess who seated us warned us that they were very busy and it would be a while before a waiter could take our order. We said it was no problem as long as we could have chips and salsa and order drinks. She obliged, and very quickly someone took our drink order and brought us chips. It was easily 30 minutes before we got a chance to order food, which wasn't the worst part. We were pretty much ignored once our food arrived at our table. We practically had to flag someone down to get our check, which then took forever to arrive back to the table. It wasn't the most terrible experience of my life, but I wouldn't go here on a weekend evening when they are too busy to handle the rush, which happens often.
(2)
GD M.
Good food! This was actually a consolation to Neighborhood Eats that everyone raved about on Yelp. I couldn't find it and it seemed closed for Labor Day. This was close and I didn't want breakfast. The staff was very pleasant and polite and the lunch menu was a wonderful price. The chicken enchilada want what I was expecting but was pleasantly surprised. I'm used to cheesy style and this was more saucy. I actually enjoyed it once I got over the different flavor. Great spot, glad I stopped in here.
(4)
Susie H.
3 stars. Yes. The Sunday brunch buffet is good at best. The food gets cold and sits under heat lamps. Their patio gets 4 stars though. Lots of tables that you can rearrange as needed. It's cheap. Easy. Parking isn't always ideal. Margaritas are good but noting great. I'd be willing to try fajita night on Mondays. The one plus is everyone gets their own salsa dish - so no worries on double dipping. My friends adore this place. But I've been for the buffet several times and am just not convinced it's that good. If you're going there, try a regular time or just not the Sunday brunch buffet. Not worth the $15.
(3)
Bahn Mi A.
Got to know what you are getting here. This is not quite an Americanized Mexican place. Service is a little abrupt and not like a chain, but solid food and a nice front patio.
(4)
Thi T.
There's an entrance to parking that is north of the restaurant. I was pleased to find so many available spots. You have to stroll past the patio to get to the restaurant. There were plenty of seats available during one weekday at lunch. The servers were prompt to provide chips, salsa, and ask for a beverage order. The menu is extensive but I asked for a fish recommendation. The server directed me to the grilled tilapia with rice. The fish is tender and there is a hint of the smell of the grill as I bit into the crispy outer edge. It was decently marinated. Rice was soft and fluffy but I would like mine more fluffy and flavorful. Salsa is good. It has a bit of a spicy kick to it.
(3)
Julio G.
I really don't know if it was just me but probably the best thing here was the valet parking , the hosts has an attitude with my guest and the service sucked! it was our first time and nobody would explain of it was buffet style or we had to order. they took like an hour and a half to get our drinks and food.
(2)
Tarkenton T.
I've been a fan of El Azteca for years. The menu is very different from the past and the prices have increased dramatically. ($31.00 for a lunch that would have cost 1/3 less elsewhere). The food was way below average and the service was very poor. I will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Daniel B.
El Azteca is a small chain of Mexican restaurants with four locations in metro Atlanta. This location, just north of the Brookwood Interchange, has been popular with folks in the neighborhood for years. It's a good place to come for reasonably priced Mexican food and drink specials. This place is slightly nicer than the typical casual Mexican eatery. I'd say it's on par with La Parrilla, another Atlanta Mexican chain. Because the restaurant is often busy, the atmosphere is energetic, lively, and sometimes loud. A lot of Tech students like to come here. There's an outdoor patio which is a good place to eat when the weather is nice. I like it because it's tucked away in the back, away from noise of Peachtree Rd. I've been for dinner on a few different occasions. At dinnertime, you can expect to spend about $10-15 each for most entrees. Lunch specials (Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm) are no more than $8.50 apiece and there's a Sunday brunch buffet that starts at 11am and lasts well into the afternoon (4pm). The restaurant always seems to be running various specials, such as $8.99 fajita night (normally $13+). I've tried a handful of items including some dips (cheese, beef & cheese, and guacamole), fajitas, Tampiquena steak, and some of the combos involving tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and tamales. In general, everything is decent. I do like the chips and salsa. The chips seem fresh, aren't too oily, and the salsa isn't runny. The cheese dips are flavorful and rather thick. I probably like the guac dip the best. It seems freshly made from ripe avocados. The fajitas are very filling. I like to get the steak fajitas. Chicken and shrimp are available as well. The steak strips are served still sizzling with onions and green bell pepper. Sides include shredded lettuce, guac, sour cream, salsa, rice, beans, and corn or flour tortillas. I prefer flour tortillas for both taste and texture (smoother and softer). The quality is the steak is OK and isn't rubbery nor old. The same can be said for the Tampiquena steak, which is an 8-ounce ribeye. The steak is marinated well so it's quite savory and sufficiently tender. I ordered it cooked medium. It'd be nice if the portion size for the steak was bigger, but only because it tastes good. The combos are par for the course when it comes to Mexican food. The combo plates come out super fast and are loaded with melted cheese. While not bad, I'd steer clear of the combos menu and order one of El Azteca's specials instead. You'll probably be happier as the combos tend to be pretty generic. Service is fine. It can get slow on busier nights. Free parking is available in the rear.
(3)
Danae G.
Not bad. Not great...but decent. The food & drinks are relatively cheap for the area. I've had better Mexican food but I'm not saying I wouldn't come back. If you're looking for cheap and quick Mexican food...this is your place. I usually order a chicken quesadilla with a side of cheese dip. I like it. I hear it gets loud on the weekend. I went on a weekday so I can't speak on that. They have different specials throughout the week. So double check the website. Parking is free which is a plus. I went on a weekday so I was able to park myself. I went a while ago and they had valet on the weekends but I'm not sure if they still do that.
(3)
Svetlana O.
How can you go wrong with Mexican food. In a nutshell - queso dip, chimichanga, and a few Bob Marley's and you are set!
(5)
Kate M.
Coming here was the best decision I could have made on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautiful and this place is nestled away on Peachtree - blink and you might miss it! We decided to sit on the patio to enjoy the cool breeze and a margarita. They are huge! Tons of options and reasonably priced to boot. I got the carne asada tacos and they were so good, I'm salivating just thinking about them. The meat is cooked to order so it's super fresh and hot when it reaches your table. Luckily I wasn't too full from all of the warm chips and salsa I was wolfing down. You have the option to get the tacos with diced onions and cilantro and I highly recommend it. It was the perfect bite - grilled meat with a margarita while sitting outside. Plus it didn't send you into a food coma afterward. Our waiter was a little slow and I was waiting for water now and then but it wasn't a big issue. It was slow (maybe around 2 in the afternoon) so I thought he could have paid a little better attention. I'll definitely be back again when I'm craving Mexican!
(4)
Edith S.
This review is based on the sunday buffet. I flew in from california the day before so with that said looking at thiz place made me think it was going to be canned Mexican food but i waz so wrong everything i got tasted home made. The horchata was really good service was fine. Moving out there this month and will for sure bring my family from cali to eat here on sunday.
(5)
Mary Locke M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Seriously how had I lived in Atlanta for six years before experiencing El Azteca? I plan on making up for lost time with many Mexican brunches here in my future. I learned about their lunch buffet from Yelp and dragged a friend along for this culinary adventure. We got here at 12:30 (gotta love Sunday liquor laws) and were promptly seated. It's a good thing we got there when we did because I am pretty sure every Hispanic family in Atlanta comes here after church. Our server took our drink order and delivered some serious margaritas while we were hitting up buffet. The amount of amazing Mexican food you can eat here for $13 is no joke! Three plates and four hours later and I was ready to admit I liked El Azteca as much as Nuevo Laredo. In hindsight, that might have been the deliciously potent margaritas talking. Seriously though, they have all of the traditional Mexican fare, raw oysters (avoid), an omelette station, and dozens of desserts to choose from. Chile rellenos, chicken enchiladas, ceviche, beef brisket, rice and beans, oh my! I will be back to El Azteca on a regular basis.
(4)
Carrie Neal W.
So now that I work down the street, I've had occasion to stop in after work, several times recently. A few new things....they do a $3 margarita (regular size so not skimping on that) which is pretty decent! Certainly it's a deal. They've also started doing happy hour food specials from 5-7pm (I think they are competing with us....hmm!) and a fajita special on Mondays. Victor at the bar/those booths next to it is great, and Alex is practically an institution there. Just the other night I tried the carne asade taco with added cilantro and it was delicious- definitely a new fave. Generous amount of good meat and a deal at $2.95. I still dig their queso for sure, and when you want a good ole quesadilla (love ours but they're definitely a little more on the fancy side like with BBQ chicken etc), their fajita chicken is my fave. I might just have my leftovers for breakfast today....
(4)
Kristen W.
Is this a strip club or a family friendly restaurant? It's the latter, but we needed so many singles that at the end of the night, I still left the restaurant feeling kind of sad and dirty. It was a Friday night in the 'burbs and we came out with my husband's family to enjoy some delicious Mexican food. We were a large party that included several children, which I felt made us extremely vulnerable to a series of unsolicited vendors that performed services for us that later required tips. First the balloon animal man. Then the mariachis. Then the balloon man again... and again. It added to a fun and festive atmosphere but also made me feel really uncomfortable, as I have no idea how to tip appropriately for a "free" service that we didn't ask for to begin with. The food was pretty good. Generic Atlanta Mexican food. Cheese, guac, fried bowls - you know the drill. The weather was nice and they have a nice patio, although our group was too large for outdoor seating. I'd come back, but I'll be better prepared next time so I don't break into a cold sweat when I don't have any dollar bills to spare.
(3)
Ada N.
Ate here for the first time on Friday during my lunch break and was pleasantly surprised at the selection and pricing for it to be a Mexican restaurant in Midtown (most have bland, over priced selections in my opinion). I had a super burrito with Mexican rice, loved the burrito, the rice not so much. The staff was super friendly and the venue was nice with a relaxed ambiance. I'll definitely dine here again.
(4)
Meredith M.
My boyfriend and I eat here several times a month, and we love it. It's your typical Mexican restaurant, with excellent prices. We've never had a bad time, and we will continue to go!
(5)
Chamstar C.
It's ok! Salsa is not good and taste not fresh. Not super cheap so go somewhere else unless you're desperate and then it's fine. Also, avoid the ground beef - terrible seasoning.
(2)
Troy D.
The fish tacos are the best. Drink specials are perfect for margarita lovers. The staff is the best. The restaurant has a great atmosphere. Usually plays 80's music. Follow on twitter for daily specials.
(5)
Joshua M.
I frequent this location a couple times a month and after dining last evening with a group of friends decided it was time to submit a review. I love the food - it is always consistent. My issue with this location is the awful wait staff. They have to be some of the laziest and often rudest bunch of people. I would rather order from Grub Hub or done at other and often better Mexican establishments in the area like Mi Cocina or Uncle Julio's.
(2)
Carla D.
Okay, i have to be honest... i don't remember what I got... I am behind on writing reviews. I remember it being pretty good though. Not enough to bring me back since that visit but there are so many options for Mexican food around. Price was good, its just nothing memorable
(3)
Kristal C.
Where do I start with this delicious restaurant!!! My husband and I moved to Atlanta in January of this year and I had been searching for a good, authentic, Mexican restaurant. I actually found this one by accident and have been coming here every since. One day leaving work I could not deal with the traffic anymore. I got off on the nearest most familiar sounding exit with was Peachtree. At the time I was aware there were multiple Peachtree streets (good thing I was on this one). I drove a few miles, saw this restaurant, and immediately turned in and parked. I was not in yelp at the time so I had no idea what I was about to uncover! I walked into a very friendly staff that seated me immediately. That day I had the El Azteca dip which was great!!! Aside of the food, the margaritas are PERFECT!! The environment is family friendly and during the summer months the patio is nice! They have several happy hour specials daily (except Fridays). I've now been coming here for almost a year. I know everyone has their on personal preferences for Mexican restaurants, but hands down this one is the best! You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Oliver A.
The best Mexican restaurant in the area, of those I visited. Very good food, prices and service. It can get pretty loud at times, so if you are looking for a nice environment this is the right one !!! enjoy the Latin music as Salsa,and Mix. Love the place. Thanks to Victor Fernandez and the Team !!!!
(5)
Lisseth A.
Excellent Place,service, food great frozen Margaritas. its the perfect spot to enjoy with a great salsa,bachata and ranchera music. Thanks to Victor Fernandez,Bulmaro,Juan,Misael,Eleazar,Nadia,ÂAntonio and all of you for such a great job !!!!
(5)
Diedre R.
Wow, has it really been 3 years since I visited this El Azteca. Well, it was the location for my 2nd breast cancer dinner party and all was well. Well, kinda. I made reservations for ten and ended up with 15 and they had no problems with accommodating us. Normally with a party that size, its a given that someones order is going to be wrong, but no so this occasion. I cant tell you how happy that made me. I also got addicted to the cheese dip and our table ended up ordering at least five of the cheese dip with jalapeno peppers. I went with whichever of the combos is two tacos and rice and bean and got a chicken enchilada on the side. All were prepared and tasted fresh. Everyone's food was brought out timely and they even gave everyone the correct meals when they brought them out. The BIGGEST issue was one person had a huge piece of plastic wrap in her taco salad. they apologized profusely several times, brought out a new salad for her, and COMPED her entire meal. We started out with two pitchers of margaritas, and yes HALF of my party was carded, and I'll say that of the 15 of us that were there, we had only 4 people that were non-drinkers and those two pitchers lasted us the entire meal with everyone feeling right. Of course, me being me, I talked everyone into ordering another pitcher, and this is where I think I made a grave mistake. We could obviously tell that it was more of the HOUSE brand of liquor than the premium we had been drinking up to this point and everyone that was drinking noticed it too. Hardworking, and eager to please staff. Gave us separate checks(gratuity included), and all except the incident with the taco salad, no one had any complaints about the food.
(3)
Joanne L.
We all have bad days and whiny customers, but never have I seen a waitress pour our margaritas that a few of us had already sipped on back into the pitcher to demonstrate how to get five margaritas out of it when we were only able to get three. Unsanitary and unprofessional at best. Won't be going back.
(2)
Addy C.
Our server complimented my friend and me b/c we both ordered $14.95 steak dishes for lunch - haha, I wonder if he even suspected we might be Scoutmob'ers :) Came here twice thanks to Scoutmob. Food is pretty good, prices are reasonable - they do have lunch specials, and service is friendly. Nice patio in the back, too. The outside doesn't look like your typical Mexican joint ... my friend thinks this might've been a Caribou. CARNE ASADA - $14.95 12 oz. grilled skirt steak w/ grilled onions. Pretty good, and steak was chewy but that was expected. Portion was huge - I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. FIESTA MEXICANA - $13.95 Grilled steak AND chicken AND all kind of veggies (mushrooms, onions, peppers, zucchini), queso fresco, and nopales (cactus) covered w/ guajillo & ancho sauce. My friend got this and it looked really good - I liked that it had so many things going on. I had just a bite and it tasted good, too. My friend had enough leftovers for another meal, too. GRILLED CHICKEN FAJITA QUESADILLA - $7.25 Ordered this during my 1st visit. Pretty good and A LOT of cheese ... a little on the salty side though. I'd probably come again if I had a Mexican food craving during the week since it's close to work.
(3)
Cat H.
El Azteca never fails me. I've been more times than I can count and the cheese dip, salsa, margaritas and fajita quesadillas never disappoint. The service is reliable and I've never left with a group that was any less than satisfied.
(5)
Carter B.
Love this place! The enchiladas are kind of hit or miss, but overall great food for a great price!
(4)
Catherine J.
NOT Recommended at all. The food is mediocre - nothing memorable, prices are rather high for what you get. The staff is not professional at all. I've been to this place with work just because it's nearby and it's big and empty enough to seat all of us. The staff.... on a work lunch singled me out and said "konichiwah" which is Japanese just because I was Asian. It was really embarrassing and I do not expect to be treated differently just because of the way I look. I simply looked at him and said, "no." I didn't want to talk back to him in front of my boss and colleagues. I told the manager about it and he was clueless and unhelpful. Mediocre food and ignorant staff - why go?? No thanks.
(1)
Joan S.
service near the bar can be kind of slow, but the delicious food more than makes up for it!
(5)
Shon B.
Say hi to Victor! The best bartender!! El Aztec dip all day and Texas Margaritas! Nice lunch specials. Super packed for brunch on Sundays. By far best Mexican in town!
(5)
Felicia W.
I made plans for 11 of us to celebrate Cinco De Mayo at El Azteca. When I first arrived I put my name on the waiting list and stood around enjoying the music. After 30 minutes I realized I did not see my favorite manager Victor. I asked and was told he no longer works for the company. I've never seen a manager make his guest feel more welcome. Losing Victor is truly a major negative. After pondering to actually leave, I decided to go ahead and stick it out. Outcome Pros: *Food was great (as usual) *Great Music (DJ was on site) *Valet parking ( I was worried about parking and was pleased to know valet was offered for $5 on Cinco De Mayo *Excellent waiter by the name of Jovan (excellent customer service) Cons: *NO GUAVA MARGARITA (WHY????????????) *VICTOR was always so police and he no longer works for this establishment *The bartender with the mohawk is rude as hell!
(3)
Tiffany S.
My husband and I have eaten at another El Azteca location many times before. We stopped by this location for an early dinner this evening. I ordered the deep fried chili relleno and my husband ordered the spinach and mushroom enchiladas. These dishes were horrible. My chili was soggy and I couldn't even cut it with a knife. It was oozing water which the only explanation could be the chili was originally frozen. My husband's enchiladas were not enchiladas- they did not even come with enchilada sauce. It was obvious a microwave was used during preparation. We both left hungry which is disappointing when our bill was close to $40. Even though it was five o'clock and the restaurant was practically empty, it was dirty. The entire hour we sat there surrounded by dirty dishes and food all over the floor. My husband and I eat out often and we are usually very happy. It takes a very bad experience to prompt me to write a yelp review. Only redeeming quality was our server was nice.
(1)
Sam B.
Over-priced, mediocre Mexican food. This El Azteca is way over-priced. Combinations are $10.50, and margarita pitchers are 28 bucks. I regretfully chose to eat at the brunch buffet last Sunday, and it was terrible. Cold food, dry meat, poor options, etc. Stay away from this El Azteca location.
(2)
Damien B.
The tacos were just not good at all. They were dry and tasteless. Now the burritos were good. The night I went the service was scattered. The place was empty but the servers just seemed to be hanging out. The other locations of this chain have been exceptable but this one I have no plans on going back to.
(2)
Gary H.
I've been a regular at this El Azteca for several years because it's near my office, and I often go there twice a week for lunch. The managers have been nothing but wonderful, the wait staff is extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable, and the food... The food is top-notch. Nothing I've tried on the menu--and I've tried a LOT of it--has been bad. My three favorite menu items are the Jose's Grilled Chicken, Garcia's Special, and the Monterrey Special. The portions are ample, the taste is great, the temperature is piping hot, and the price is good for the portions. (Have I mentioned 'ample'?) Recently, I sent them a message on Facebook asking if they had any nutrition information available, and they are bending over backwards to provide me what I need. I could not be happier with this location (I've never tried any of the others, actually).
(5)
David K.
There are some days where I can't think of anything better than chips and salsa, cheese dip, and maybe a few tacos. Add cheap draft beer and I'm there! Actually, it's not all nachos and tacos. Sometimes there are variations of both... many times there are also fajitas. Oh, the fajitas! Soooo good. As are the margaritas. I've always liked El Azteca and this location is a lot nicer than the one on Ponce (plus they haven't had a food poisoning scare... yet). #Yelp365 - 59/365
(4)
Monika D.
I have had a much better time at the Hwy 9 location, but once I moved in town I have to have my fix. I give them 5 stars on the quality of service, the atmosphere, and taste of the food. The drinks here are amazing.
(5)
Helena W.
Did you know they have Sunday brunch? Neither did I. When we realized this we had already order our apps and entrees. *Darn it!* We were a little bummed that the waiter did not mention it to us. He later told us that he assumed we knew it was there and opted for the menu. Oh, well! gives a reason to come back. During brunch they have nice woman who makes fresh corn tortillas. I asked if fresh corn tortillas could be used rather than flour when they rolled my entree, the kitchen happily obliged. Everything was and is always great. The service was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. Been here dozens of times and have yet to sit inside. Parking can be annoying at times but for the most part you can usually find a space.
(4)
Felix C.
About why you expect as one outpost in a local Mexican food chain. I used the ScoutMob discount. The menu was more extensive than expected. It had the usual burritos, etc. We ordered a shrimp dish that was fairly bland and mushy from being frozen. I had the carnitas and they were a little over-cooked - I have the feeling they may have been pre-fried in advance. As ex-football coach Dennis Green said in a beer commercial: "They are who we thought they are!" In this case, it is a Mexican chain restaurant. I can't say I was surprised at the food as I knew what it should be like going in.
(3)
Mere C.
Definitely a regular here! This is the type of Mexican food that I grew up with and cannot get enough. It is authentic and isn't trying to slap on a high price tag like other chain Mexican restaurants in Atlanta (I won't name names ;)). I love that I go in, sit down, and immediately I have a glass of water and chips and salsa delivered to me. The service is phenomenal. When we go, we usually split a half pitcher (possibly a full if I've had a bad day or we just want to go ham). Their house margaritas are excellent. Great flavor, and they definitely don't jip you on tequila. Now as for the food, by far the best I have ever had from any Mexican restaurant, anywhere. We tend to alternate from Jose's chicken to the chimichanga, to the El Azteca dip (with chorizo added), and sometimes we get the grilled chicken from the kids meal with queso and chorizo added. It is in my opinion the greatest thing ever, but I sometimes get embarassed about ordering it. Nonetheless, the staff are so accomodating and will whip up anything you want. It is great service, amazing food, and a fun atmosphere especially the patio in the summer time. It is my bf and my spot, but we took friends here recently, and they can't wait to come back! Highly recommend!
(5)
DirtyMoRed W.
This place is pretty cool located on a busy street. The food is alright but my margaritas are always strong. When I go here I usually sit out on their patio and enjoy Atlantas beautiful weather and people. One thing I like about this place is location after you leave here there are many bars and some nightclubs you can follow up with.
(4)
Alexandra M.
I don't think I have ever found a more accommodating and friendly Mexican restaurant anywhere! I pretty much see the same staff every time I am there and they never disappoint. My favorite part: they are CONSISTENT! Always fast and the food is always great! I always get the taco salad with chicken but even the couple times I have mixed it up the food was still wonderful. I will continue to come here as often I crave Mexican (aka forev)
(5)
Rachelle C.
The Sunday brunch buffet is amazing !! I really love this place and can't get enough of the fresh authentic mexican food on Sundays. We have brought visiting family from NYC and they love it too. Even when it is crazy busy, you will never wait more then 10 mins for a table. The place has lots of space inside and a patio outside. The adult drinkys are huge and cheap. Everyone should try this place.
(5)
Ashanti B.
The food I'd authentic, fresh, and extremely delicious
(4)
Rohan S.
Solid Mexican with good food specials. Not better or worse than your average place. Ample seating and quick service. I recommend if you're in the mood for nothing too fancy.
(4)
Will T.
El Azteca remains a middle of the road Mexican restaurant in terms of food and service. The food is consistently good, but nothing special, although soups are a bright spot on the menu. Service can be up and down and on my most recent visit, entrees were delivered incomplete and one person's soup was brought as an appetizer, but the other person had to ask for theirs. Prices have risen noticeably and consequently value is down. You won't go wrong choosing El Azteca, but you'll get a pretty average meal.
(3)
Kevin K.
Loved it. My first time but went with buddy who is a regular. The former Caribou Coffee shop has patio in front and one in back to escape Peachtree Street noise. Awesome margaritas. Mondays was fajita special and were great. Tons of chicken (or beef, pork, shrimp). Great, friendly service - manager came by and super friendly. A great casual place with big portions - will definitely return. Only negative - was first day of baseball and no Braves game on TV's
(5)
Marie M.
Go for the Sunday brunch! A Mexican friend took me for brunch on Sunday. Turns out the buffet is much more authentic Mexican than the rest of the menu. I love authentic Mexican food and this was well-worth it! They have everything from chilaquiles to ceviche and even chicken with mole. Those dishes will usually cost you about $15+ individually when done at a fine Mexican place. Here, you get to sample everyone of them in one sitting. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Amanda H.
The staff is awesome and the specials are amazing. Definitely a place to come and hangout with friends. The best
(5)
Khryss M.
Excellent place!! We received very good service by victor and eleazar, they made us feel very welcome and I had a wonderful birthday!!! Good food, great service, what else can I ask for on my special day?
(5)
Robert F.
Spinach enchiladas were terrible. Beans were close to liquid. I have no idea how this place has been around so long. Gross food, gross place.
(1)
Tom B.
Good time for some rainy day mexican food. ships salsa, cheese dip and the best fish tacos ever. Yep I said it. If you know of a place that is better please share but this is best I have found in the Atl, love the tomotilla salsa. Luisa the bartender was is so sweet,very attentive and she makes a mean margarita as well. Love to sit at her bar.
(4)
Diaz A.
El Azteca's current sanitation grade is a B (89)! That is disgusting! The server rudely told us the kitchen closed in 45 minutes, so we left. Thank God my family doesn't tolerate rudeness or nasty food. They saved me from a night of bubble guts!
(1)
Mamie D.
GREAT mariachi band! Makes the whole evening. Food is pretty good. More healthy options an your typical Mexican place.
(3)
Scott M.
I have consistently passed this restaurant for the last year. It looked to dingy, too "chainy", too fake azz "mexicany". Then one day, I just decided to try it and discovered they have some of the best damn bbq pork tacos that I have ever had. The patio is an incredible option for the summer. Great view of the "franticness" that is Peachtree street. But you forget about all that business with a taste of one of their sweet azz margaritas. $5.99 for a house margarita, but they will give you the texas margarita for a buck or two more. I really, really like this place. Service has been friendly, effiicient, and over accommodating. Slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite mexican spots in the city.
(4)
Joe M.
Horrible experience!! I was embarrassed and will never patronize any El Azteca ever again. My sister bought me a gift certificate for Xmas from El Azteca for $30. I tried to use it today and they refused to accept it because even though it was the same paper, same design, and signed with the name of one of their employees, it was not stamped with "El Azteca". They said they believe My sister bought it, but that without the stamp the employee could have scammed her. So honor the damn certificate!! I was completely embarrassed in front of my guest and had to pay full price for the meal. This place is a SCAM!!!!!!!! Terrible customer service! I will never go here again.
(1)
Darren H.
Pretty large restaurant with an over crowded parking lot. I have a few types of cuisine that I love with Mexican coming in at about 2nd. or 3rd. I've been to a few El Azteca locations around town but this is the first time that I've been to this one. Now if for nothing else this location will go down as the first place I tried the Greyhound (drink: 1 part gin, 2 parts grapefruit juice), quite yummy if I say so myself. 2nd thing that was memorable is this place for a Wednesday night had quite a few good looking ladies that seem to frequent this location (probably due to the location). Now I will agree with Scott M that the place had the standard Mexican Chain feel to it (is there only one person that decorates every Mexican restaurant?). Now I was totally planning on going with my tried and true order (Enchiladas, 1 cheese, 1 beef with some rice and beans). But it's a Wednesday the middle of a hard week at work why not mix it up with something different. Now I asked our waiter for some suggestions and he basically suggested everything short of what was listed under the kids menu. So with that no-help I decided to try something but not go too far off the reservation since I was hungry after all. Decided to go with the Carne Asada medium well. pretty good I must say and that bodes well for me venturing out from my menu norms. If I could give 1/2 stars I would in this case and move my rating from a 3 to a 3 1/2. I'll have to try out the brunch (Mexican for brunch?, interesting concept) & with margaritas free on Thursdays (see pic) j/k I doubt they are free. I'll be adding this place to my list of Mexican spots.
(3)
David F.
Only real negative is the parking. Can be scarce at times. But margaritas are satisfactory and food is typical for a Mexican restaurant.
(3)
Ashley M.
Went here because of the Scoutmob discount, will definitely go back. Cons First: 1) Parking. No problems for us on a Wednesday night, but I can see this being a big problem on the weekends. 2) Hubs ordered the taco salad and he said the shell was stale. Bummer. 3) Queso a little bland - probably our fault for ordering it without jalapenos. Damn you Hubs and your sensitive palate! 4) Chips are just so-so. Chips are hard to screw up, but I'm not a fan of theirs. I'd rather have Tostitos. Pros: This is no La Parilla but its damn close. I know, I know - there's nothing authentic about La Parilla but if it tastes good, I don't give a damn. 1) Great house sangria - had a definite kick to it, I was a feeling a buzz after the first one. 2) HUGE draft beers which Hubs certainly appreciated. 3) Nice food selection. They have your typical combos and "super burritos" but there were some unique variations, including the wild mushroom quesadilla on a spinach tortilla - probably the best quesadilaa I've had in a long time! 4) Great service..sure she forgot our apps at first, but she was very apologetic and brought them right out, so all was quickly forgiven. 5) It was pouring down rain when we arrived, but the patios looked promising! 6) Had no problems using the Scoutmob discount. At a lot of places, using a daily deal starts immediately gets the servers/management rolling the eyes. Not here. Our server was more than happy to apply our discount. 7) A very affordable place to eat in the heart of Midtown/Buckhead that Hubs and I can both enjoy. A rare thing indeed.
(3)
Shelley H.
I recently became gluten free which can be a bit of a challenge but it really isn't too hard at El Azteca. Between the corn chips and the corn tortillas it was quite easy. We had the Guacamole Appetizer which was great once it made it to the table (the fajitas made it first). The service could have been a little more on point but over all it was a pretty good experience.
(3)
Julien S.
Good food, fast service! If I am going for good cheap Americanized Mexican food this is where I go. I've been here about ten times- usually for lunch. Never a wait to be seated. Almost always end up with a booth. Service has been fast except for once. Sit down they take your drink orders come back shortly with drinks and take food orders. They bring chips and salsa the minute you sit down. I always order the cheese dip and the shredded chix salad with salsa as the dressing. Their salsa is good. A little bit of a bite to clear your nose up but definitely no tears. Chips could be fresher. The salad is yummy! Perfect amount of cheese, chix, lettuce and sour cream. I almost finished mine completely which is rare for me. During the summer they have a decent little patio. Margaritas are typical rita mix. I wasn't able to finish mine last time too sickeningly sweet. Go here instead of the hell hole El Azteca on ponce - you'll be glad you did!
(4)
MaryHelen H.
I love this place. Food is delicious, service is fast, restaurant is well lit and clean. Two tips: first, if you are coming with lots of people, try to carpool, parking is limited. second, ask for Alex! He is the best!
(5)
Reinaldo F.
The food is good but not great. Its a nice restaurant to eat at with friends.
(3)
Dustin B.
On Monday of this week I couldn't convince any of my usual suspects to go out after work to our usual spot of El Azteca, so I thought I would fly solo and sit at the bar. This was my first time sitting on the bar. I had a few margaritas, which were tasty. Sometimes the margaritas at El Azteca can rub me the wrong way but there was none of this on Monday. I had my usual of salsa, cheese dip (no jalapeño), and a side of ground beef-- I like to mix them together. I had no complaints with my food. As usual, the cheese dip was great, which is one of the reasons why I keep going back to El Azteca. It also doesn't hurt that they participate in the Delta's Skymiles Dining program, which costs absolutely nothing! I was disappointed with the bartender. The bar wasn't very busy and I felt a bit under serviced. I'll chalk it up to the fact that it was Halloween.
(3)
Liz F.
So far in GA, I haven't been overly impressed with the Mexican food, and El Azteca was no exception. We had to waited longer than the time estimated by the host. When we finally got our table our waitress was not very quick at serving us. The food was nothing exciting. The refried beans were kinda plain, the salsa was ok, but the guac was also plain. The "enchilada sauce" tasted more like marinara - just a plain tomato sauce. For the price, I'd go somewhere else.
(2)
lee y.
The brunch buffet is the jam! There were too many delicious items to mention. But the stand outs were the chicken mole. Possibly the best I've had out side of Mexico. The soups. Everyone was better than the last! And the chocolate fountain. Holy moly! That's good shit! The omelet bar and hand made tortillas were beyond awesome. The service was personal and extremely friendly. I like it. It was too windy on our last visit to sit outside. But I do foresee a lot of bloated belly patio time here this summer. Everything that I consumed was excellent. However the Veghead order garlic shrimp and got shrimp covered in Italian dressing. WTF? is that? That loses a star. But the quality of everything else kinda cancels it out.
(4)
Tressi J.
I had brunch here today, and IMO this was a refreshing change from your run of the mill Americanized Mexican joints in this city. There were unusual and more authentic items on the brunch buffet, and everything was tasty and fresh. Seafood soup stood out, as it had a depth that made me have a second bowl for dessert. It was a little strange to have an omelet and a waffle station next to mole and enchiladas, but in a good way! Definitely a great brunch -- and I'll be back to try their regular menu as well. BTW-- this is not a part of the other crappy El Aztecas that are scattered throughout the city!
(4)
Davy N.
This was one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Atlanta. Unfortunately, on our last visit to the restaurant, our waitress, Laura, apparently decided to add to the tip that we gave her. As I was reconciling my credit card statement I realized that my receipt didn't match the statement. After a little research, I realized that my total of $33 gained a couple new curves and became $38. I hope it was worth it because we will not be going back.
(1)
Darrell B.
This is my Friday after work spot. They are usually overstaffed which may be bad for them but great for the customer. Chips and Salsa comes pretty quickly. Service is always great. Socorro was our waitress of choice but she recently left. Eleazar is the go to guy now. Margaritas are great and not full of ice like some other places. Combo's are normal fare but the fajitas are wonderful. Fajitas one for is actually enough to split with someone else. On Fridays they have a taco bar which is free. Not the best but if you're short on cash it worth get some margaritas and munch on the taco bar. As a whole great restaurant and staff.
(4)
Alicia W.
Oooo how I do love some mexican!! I originally wanted to give this place 3 stars but then I thought about..... Quick and very friendly server (well atleast until it was about time for shift change. Then he started to do his side work, and he spent alot of time, no seriously it seemed like a really long time, making tea. I bet that was some good tea! lol), the salsa was fresh and tastey and we received 2 bowls so we could have our own salsa dishes which I thought was really cool because you dont have to worry about bumping hands when reaching for the salsa or doing the "No, you go first" spiel, the restaurant was very pretty and looked failry new; clean, great lighting, sectioned nicely (lol) and one thing I noticed which is just my thing is that I saw they are extremely organized. Its just an A.D.D thing I suppose but it was something I noticed and made me go Hmmm. Ive worked in the service industry and I can't stand it when things are in aray and you don't know where something is or should be, especially if you've got 10 tables all needing your attention. I can't say anything ridiculosuly spectacular about this place because both my roommate and I ordered combo plates, you know 2 tacos and rice and beans, etc., but I can say its a nice place to grab a bite, take your friends or family to, the menu is quite large so you do have options, the prices are very affordable, they have a full bar, the salsa is fresh, the servers are very nice, and the food isn't bad. I only have 2 issues. My first being that we were using GPS to find them and some how being that we both are very familiar with Atlanta and Peachtree Street we some how passed them....twice...before turning around and going "There's the EL Azteca sign", and my other issue would be that I probably would never order another Strawberry Margarita from this place. Yuck!!! It tasted too much like syrup and not really strawberry syrup but like cough medicine you dreaded your mother would make you take when you'd get sick as a child. Yuck!!
(4)
Johnny R.
El Azteca has great, reasonably priced Mexican food and quality service. I have eaten Mexican food all over Atlanta, and for the money, El Azteca is as good as it gets. I plan on becoming a regular.
(5)
Heather I.
Ok seriously? Why are there only like FOUR chips-and-salsa-as-soon-as-you-sit-down Messican restaurants in the city?! I mean you have El Azteca on Ponce, Las Margaritas on Cheshire Bridge, and this El Azteca on Peachtree...OH and Las Margaritas which I've heard is WAY too expensive for some tacos and beans...but anyway...this is all we get? Overall this place is ok...my favorite is their Mexican Guacamole Dip (not to be confused with the regular guacamole) - this is authentic with chunks of avocado, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice...top shelf guac bb. Everything else is just your standard meat, tortilla, beans, & cheese... The service isn't always with a smile. Their director of first impressions never smiles and hardly responds to you when you tell her how many. She just grabs the menus and starts walking away from you...so I guess that means follow her. I usually judge the servcie at a Mexican restuarant by how long it takes for our chip bowl to be refreshed and we waited an AGONIZING five minutes OMG. Usually that refresh should be seamless. I should be removing the last chip from basket #1 as you're sliding in basket #2. So service is ehhh... But since the selection is so limited, we'll keep going here...week after week...
(3)
Michel T.
This was one of our haunts when I was enjoying my teenage years growing up in Atlanta and I miss it very much. I don't know why, but out here in Colorado none of the Mexican restaurants use white cheese for their nachos and dip. I don't know why but this stuff is like crack for me and I crave it. Every time I come back to visit I come here and enjoy the beef nachos with a couple cold ones. It's not gourmet cuisine but I can get down here big time, I am going to have to stop thinking about it or I will have to go and book a flight to the ATL so I can go here and then the Varsity.
(3)
Kelly O.
Please take into consideration that my first visit to this El Azteca location was on Cinco de Mayo, so I am probably rating them higher than I normally would. Of course we arrived with a party of 6 with the rest of the after-work-crowd at 6 o'clock and proceeded to wait over an hour for a table. Granted we insisted on sitting outside, and it was well worth the wait. We managed with a few trips to the bar and snagged some chips and salsa from a gracious waiter. Despite the enormous crowd, once we sat down, our server was excellent and attentive, even as we were shouting out our various orders at different times. My chicken fajita quesadilla was delish and I would get it again, the cheese dip wasn't the best I've ever had and the margaritas were definitely not worth the money, stick to beer if you want to drink. Overall it was a good place to hang out for the Mexican holiday, and I will definitely go back!
(4)
Angela M.
El Azteca has decent Mexican food at reasonable prices. The service is fast and friendly, the margaritas are strong, and the guacamole is actually pretty good. It's not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it's a great place to take groups.
(3)
J H.
The brunch buffet on Sunday rocks !!! They have a omelet station, fresh hand made tortillas cooked in front of you. The Ceviche is awesome, the best ever for a buffet , Pozole great !! Chicken Mole , Seafood soup , roast pork w/ tomatillo sauce.... killer sides / condiments Yum !!! All you can eat $10.95 the Sunday Siesta is free.....
(4)
Adam W.
This review is biased because I love Buffets! Sunday morning brunch!!! Keep in mind El Aztecas are independently owned. This one seems to be the best!
(4)
Kimberly K.
I've been here for lunch a couple times on various trips to Atlanta for work. I wasn't expecting much since I'm used to California Mexican food, so it was pretty much what I expected....blah. Nothing stood out in my mind, it was all very plain to me without any spice. All of the options on the vegetarian menu were various forms of tortilla, cheesy cheesy cheese, and blah beans. The beans are made with vegetable oil, not lard, which is good for vegetarians. However, FYI their vegetarian plates come with non-vegetarian rice. My coworker asked and they said they use chicken stock!
(2)
David Z.
El Azteca is basically like every other generic Mexican joint in Atlanta. Free addictive chips and salsa, and a menu with all the usual Am-Mex fare. I got the Rosita Especial (which wasn't especially good), but some coworkers of mine got the quesadilla appetizer with steak and chicken, which looked very good.
(3)
Paul T.
Great patio. Great salsa. Good experience.
(4)
jane s.
Not. impressed. Went out to lunch today with about 15 people from school. One of which was a guest speaker at our school for seminar today, an illustrator from New York, and I'm sorry that he had to witness this. There weren't many other patrons in the restaurant - most were outside, and granted there was a large number of us, so I understood ominous things were on their way. The waiter only would do one ticket for the whole group, and towards the end refused to let us split it, and have our names next to what we ordered and give credit cards. How ridiculous. It only leaves you short changed and with minimal tip, and takes longer to figure out that way, so he shot his own foot on that one. The food here is the same as Monterrey's and everywhere else. I will not be going again.
(2)
Vincent V.
I lived in the neighborhood across the street from this location on Peachtree for several years. I can't remember enjoying a meal here for any other reason than the company or the relative cheapness. The Mexican food here is only slightly better than when this location was a Caribou Coffee.... Let that sink in.... There ya go.
(2)
Rebecca O.
Don't be fooled - not all El Azteca restaurants are created equal. In fact, they're not even part of the same chain. This particular one gets by on a strong lunch crowd and dedicated fan base during dinner hours. However, the food is mediocre at best. But I still eat here due to convenience. Do not order a margarita here. Heed my warning. You WILL be disappointed. Very watery and untasty.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
J. D.
The fact that this passes as Mexican food is quite sad. The quality of the food is poor. The chewy, stringy, boiled chicken is inedible. The canned guacamole, flavorless salsa, and bright orange cheese all add up to what I like to call "glippedy-glop". Go wait on line at Nuevo Laredo, let the other folks settle for this slop. Also of note: The margaritas are not made with real tequila. Many cheap Mex joints including El Azteca are using a poor quality "Agave Wine" product that is basically tequila flavored liquer. Don't believe me? Ask the bartender to show you the bottle.
(1)Kate C.
Okay Mexican, decent prices, pretty good service. I usually get to Rosita special at lunch. When the weather is nice, I enjoy the outdoor seating. The margaritas, however, are anything but weak. They always have a real kick to puts me to sleep later. This is a decent place to go to if you have a craving for Mexican.
(3)Andrew L.
Is it great mexican...no. Do I go there every month...yes. Wife loves it and it is fast and easy. Also, I dont have to run to the bathroom on most nights. Plain, simple, and easy
(4)Teresa S.
This place is awesome. The service is always solid, the food is fresh and the $5 margarita specials on Thursdays are the best. This is our new Mexican joint. Love this place.
(5)Ginger W.
I have eaten here hundreds of times. I think I was on a once a week kick for 2 years straight. The servers at this place are great. They take your order quickly, they attend to your needs, and your order is always correct. If you are in a hurry and want a sit down lunch, come here. They can get you in and out fast. This is your typical mexican food for Atlanta. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either. If their is a wait at lunch, the hostess can usually seat you withing a few minutes. Making left turns on Peachtree can be difficult, El Azteca has a police officer on-site for lunch to help you get in and out of the restaurant. They also have a huge parking lot with free parking. We also use this place for work gatherings. Give them a call if you are going to bring a large group of drinkers with you. Sometimes they only have one bartender on weeknights.
(4)Margo R.
Not a fan. The food here is edible and moderately priced. I recommend it to the starving who may be driving along Ponce and craving a burrito with partially melted cheese and chewy chicken. Keep in mind there are plenty of superior places to eat Mexican cuisine, including my kitchen, or our own. El Azteca is nothing special.
(2)Amy L.
My FAVORITE mexican restaurant. I don't care what others say, the food was great and so was the price. My boyfriend and I have lived in Chicago for a year now and we still can't find a place that compares. The fajitas are the best, the chips and salsa are great (with free refills too!), and the cheese dip is delicious! When we visited Atlanta in December we made sure to visit this restaurant!!
(5)Mr B.
F----G GROSS! Awful! The salsa is ketchup and chilli, the chips are OK. The vegetarian enchiladas are nasty, the cheese was stale and the "secret sauce" was a pile of secret bull shit. What a turd Then, I tasted the cheese enchiladas, those sucked too. Waaaaay to much salt, and the sauce was sucky sucky blow blow. Beans- GROSS! Not even canned, probably powdered. I can't believe this place was slammed! It was dirty, waitstaff is nearly brain dead and the parking lot is dangerous and needs to be reconfigured. FU-K YOU GUYS! Peace!
(1)Brad B.
Guilty pleasure. I grew up going to Americanized Mexican restaurants, in fact me, my Mom and my dad used to go to Monterrey every Saturday for lunch when I was younger. We would do the crossword puzzle together at lunch, so places like this are nostalgic for me. There is never a reason to get crazy at place like this. Stick to the basics, tacos, burritos, enchiladas and chile rellenos. This is the ultimate comfort food to me. With an unassuming exterior, the restaurant has a surprising amount of space inside. For a Mexican restaurant like this, it has a decent bar too. Kelly does not necessarily love this food, so we don't eat it too often. However, I'm a big fan. That's my word and I'm sticking to it.
(4)Tori H.
I've definitely had far better Mexican food, but this place is convenient with good parking and ample patio sitting. And for those reasons, and only those reasons, I will probably keep coming back. If you want better than average food and/or margaritas, I would go elsewhere. I most recently came on a Saturday evening and they were slammed! The hostess who seated us warned us that they were very busy and it would be a while before a waiter could take our order. We said it was no problem as long as we could have chips and salsa and order drinks. She obliged, and very quickly someone took our drink order and brought us chips. It was easily 30 minutes before we got a chance to order food, which wasn't the worst part. We were pretty much ignored once our food arrived at our table. We practically had to flag someone down to get our check, which then took forever to arrive back to the table. It wasn't the most terrible experience of my life, but I wouldn't go here on a weekend evening when they are too busy to handle the rush, which happens often.
(2)GD M.
Good food! This was actually a consolation to Neighborhood Eats that everyone raved about on Yelp. I couldn't find it and it seemed closed for Labor Day. This was close and I didn't want breakfast. The staff was very pleasant and polite and the lunch menu was a wonderful price. The chicken enchilada want what I was expecting but was pleasantly surprised. I'm used to cheesy style and this was more saucy. I actually enjoyed it once I got over the different flavor. Great spot, glad I stopped in here.
(4)Susie H.
3 stars. Yes. The Sunday brunch buffet is good at best. The food gets cold and sits under heat lamps. Their patio gets 4 stars though. Lots of tables that you can rearrange as needed. It's cheap. Easy. Parking isn't always ideal. Margaritas are good but noting great. I'd be willing to try fajita night on Mondays. The one plus is everyone gets their own salsa dish - so no worries on double dipping. My friends adore this place. But I've been for the buffet several times and am just not convinced it's that good. If you're going there, try a regular time or just not the Sunday brunch buffet. Not worth the $15.
(3)Bahn Mi A.
Got to know what you are getting here. This is not quite an Americanized Mexican place. Service is a little abrupt and not like a chain, but solid food and a nice front patio.
(4)Thi T.
There's an entrance to parking that is north of the restaurant. I was pleased to find so many available spots. You have to stroll past the patio to get to the restaurant. There were plenty of seats available during one weekday at lunch. The servers were prompt to provide chips, salsa, and ask for a beverage order. The menu is extensive but I asked for a fish recommendation. The server directed me to the grilled tilapia with rice. The fish is tender and there is a hint of the smell of the grill as I bit into the crispy outer edge. It was decently marinated. Rice was soft and fluffy but I would like mine more fluffy and flavorful. Salsa is good. It has a bit of a spicy kick to it.
(3)Julio G.
I really don't know if it was just me but probably the best thing here was the valet parking , the hosts has an attitude with my guest and the service sucked! it was our first time and nobody would explain of it was buffet style or we had to order. they took like an hour and a half to get our drinks and food.
(2)Tarkenton T.
I've been a fan of El Azteca for years. The menu is very different from the past and the prices have increased dramatically. ($31.00 for a lunch that would have cost 1/3 less elsewhere). The food was way below average and the service was very poor. I will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)Daniel B.
El Azteca is a small chain of Mexican restaurants with four locations in metro Atlanta. This location, just north of the Brookwood Interchange, has been popular with folks in the neighborhood for years. It's a good place to come for reasonably priced Mexican food and drink specials. This place is slightly nicer than the typical casual Mexican eatery. I'd say it's on par with La Parrilla, another Atlanta Mexican chain. Because the restaurant is often busy, the atmosphere is energetic, lively, and sometimes loud. A lot of Tech students like to come here. There's an outdoor patio which is a good place to eat when the weather is nice. I like it because it's tucked away in the back, away from noise of Peachtree Rd. I've been for dinner on a few different occasions. At dinnertime, you can expect to spend about $10-15 each for most entrees. Lunch specials (Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm) are no more than $8.50 apiece and there's a Sunday brunch buffet that starts at 11am and lasts well into the afternoon (4pm). The restaurant always seems to be running various specials, such as $8.99 fajita night (normally $13+). I've tried a handful of items including some dips (cheese, beef & cheese, and guacamole), fajitas, Tampiquena steak, and some of the combos involving tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and tamales. In general, everything is decent. I do like the chips and salsa. The chips seem fresh, aren't too oily, and the salsa isn't runny. The cheese dips are flavorful and rather thick. I probably like the guac dip the best. It seems freshly made from ripe avocados. The fajitas are very filling. I like to get the steak fajitas. Chicken and shrimp are available as well. The steak strips are served still sizzling with onions and green bell pepper. Sides include shredded lettuce, guac, sour cream, salsa, rice, beans, and corn or flour tortillas. I prefer flour tortillas for both taste and texture (smoother and softer). The quality is the steak is OK and isn't rubbery nor old. The same can be said for the Tampiquena steak, which is an 8-ounce ribeye. The steak is marinated well so it's quite savory and sufficiently tender. I ordered it cooked medium. It'd be nice if the portion size for the steak was bigger, but only because it tastes good. The combos are par for the course when it comes to Mexican food. The combo plates come out super fast and are loaded with melted cheese. While not bad, I'd steer clear of the combos menu and order one of El Azteca's specials instead. You'll probably be happier as the combos tend to be pretty generic. Service is fine. It can get slow on busier nights. Free parking is available in the rear.
(3)Danae G.
Not bad. Not great...but decent. The food & drinks are relatively cheap for the area. I've had better Mexican food but I'm not saying I wouldn't come back. If you're looking for cheap and quick Mexican food...this is your place. I usually order a chicken quesadilla with a side of cheese dip. I like it. I hear it gets loud on the weekend. I went on a weekday so I can't speak on that. They have different specials throughout the week. So double check the website. Parking is free which is a plus. I went on a weekday so I was able to park myself. I went a while ago and they had valet on the weekends but I'm not sure if they still do that.
(3)Svetlana O.
How can you go wrong with Mexican food. In a nutshell - queso dip, chimichanga, and a few Bob Marley's and you are set!
(5)Kate M.
Coming here was the best decision I could have made on a Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautiful and this place is nestled away on Peachtree - blink and you might miss it! We decided to sit on the patio to enjoy the cool breeze and a margarita. They are huge! Tons of options and reasonably priced to boot. I got the carne asada tacos and they were so good, I'm salivating just thinking about them. The meat is cooked to order so it's super fresh and hot when it reaches your table. Luckily I wasn't too full from all of the warm chips and salsa I was wolfing down. You have the option to get the tacos with diced onions and cilantro and I highly recommend it. It was the perfect bite - grilled meat with a margarita while sitting outside. Plus it didn't send you into a food coma afterward. Our waiter was a little slow and I was waiting for water now and then but it wasn't a big issue. It was slow (maybe around 2 in the afternoon) so I thought he could have paid a little better attention. I'll definitely be back again when I'm craving Mexican!
(4)Edith S.
This review is based on the sunday buffet. I flew in from california the day before so with that said looking at thiz place made me think it was going to be canned Mexican food but i waz so wrong everything i got tasted home made. The horchata was really good service was fine. Moving out there this month and will for sure bring my family from cali to eat here on sunday.
(5)Mary Locke M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Seriously how had I lived in Atlanta for six years before experiencing El Azteca? I plan on making up for lost time with many Mexican brunches here in my future. I learned about their lunch buffet from Yelp and dragged a friend along for this culinary adventure. We got here at 12:30 (gotta love Sunday liquor laws) and were promptly seated. It's a good thing we got there when we did because I am pretty sure every Hispanic family in Atlanta comes here after church. Our server took our drink order and delivered some serious margaritas while we were hitting up buffet. The amount of amazing Mexican food you can eat here for $13 is no joke! Three plates and four hours later and I was ready to admit I liked El Azteca as much as Nuevo Laredo. In hindsight, that might have been the deliciously potent margaritas talking. Seriously though, they have all of the traditional Mexican fare, raw oysters (avoid), an omelette station, and dozens of desserts to choose from. Chile rellenos, chicken enchiladas, ceviche, beef brisket, rice and beans, oh my! I will be back to El Azteca on a regular basis.
(4)Carrie Neal W.
So now that I work down the street, I've had occasion to stop in after work, several times recently. A few new things....they do a $3 margarita (regular size so not skimping on that) which is pretty decent! Certainly it's a deal. They've also started doing happy hour food specials from 5-7pm (I think they are competing with us....hmm!) and a fajita special on Mondays. Victor at the bar/those booths next to it is great, and Alex is practically an institution there. Just the other night I tried the carne asade taco with added cilantro and it was delicious- definitely a new fave. Generous amount of good meat and a deal at $2.95. I still dig their queso for sure, and when you want a good ole quesadilla (love ours but they're definitely a little more on the fancy side like with BBQ chicken etc), their fajita chicken is my fave. I might just have my leftovers for breakfast today....
(4)Kristen W.
Is this a strip club or a family friendly restaurant? It's the latter, but we needed so many singles that at the end of the night, I still left the restaurant feeling kind of sad and dirty. It was a Friday night in the 'burbs and we came out with my husband's family to enjoy some delicious Mexican food. We were a large party that included several children, which I felt made us extremely vulnerable to a series of unsolicited vendors that performed services for us that later required tips. First the balloon animal man. Then the mariachis. Then the balloon man again... and again. It added to a fun and festive atmosphere but also made me feel really uncomfortable, as I have no idea how to tip appropriately for a "free" service that we didn't ask for to begin with. The food was pretty good. Generic Atlanta Mexican food. Cheese, guac, fried bowls - you know the drill. The weather was nice and they have a nice patio, although our group was too large for outdoor seating. I'd come back, but I'll be better prepared next time so I don't break into a cold sweat when I don't have any dollar bills to spare.
(3)Ada N.
Ate here for the first time on Friday during my lunch break and was pleasantly surprised at the selection and pricing for it to be a Mexican restaurant in Midtown (most have bland, over priced selections in my opinion). I had a super burrito with Mexican rice, loved the burrito, the rice not so much. The staff was super friendly and the venue was nice with a relaxed ambiance. I'll definitely dine here again.
(4)Meredith M.
My boyfriend and I eat here several times a month, and we love it. It's your typical Mexican restaurant, with excellent prices. We've never had a bad time, and we will continue to go!
(5)Chamstar C.
It's ok! Salsa is not good and taste not fresh. Not super cheap so go somewhere else unless you're desperate and then it's fine. Also, avoid the ground beef - terrible seasoning.
(2)Troy D.
The fish tacos are the best. Drink specials are perfect for margarita lovers. The staff is the best. The restaurant has a great atmosphere. Usually plays 80's music. Follow on twitter for daily specials.
(5)Joshua M.
I frequent this location a couple times a month and after dining last evening with a group of friends decided it was time to submit a review. I love the food - it is always consistent. My issue with this location is the awful wait staff. They have to be some of the laziest and often rudest bunch of people. I would rather order from Grub Hub or done at other and often better Mexican establishments in the area like Mi Cocina or Uncle Julio's.
(2)Carla D.
Okay, i have to be honest... i don't remember what I got... I am behind on writing reviews. I remember it being pretty good though. Not enough to bring me back since that visit but there are so many options for Mexican food around. Price was good, its just nothing memorable
(3)Kristal C.
Where do I start with this delicious restaurant!!! My husband and I moved to Atlanta in January of this year and I had been searching for a good, authentic, Mexican restaurant. I actually found this one by accident and have been coming here every since. One day leaving work I could not deal with the traffic anymore. I got off on the nearest most familiar sounding exit with was Peachtree. At the time I was aware there were multiple Peachtree streets (good thing I was on this one). I drove a few miles, saw this restaurant, and immediately turned in and parked. I was not in yelp at the time so I had no idea what I was about to uncover! I walked into a very friendly staff that seated me immediately. That day I had the El Azteca dip which was great!!! Aside of the food, the margaritas are PERFECT!! The environment is family friendly and during the summer months the patio is nice! They have several happy hour specials daily (except Fridays). I've now been coming here for almost a year. I know everyone has their on personal preferences for Mexican restaurants, but hands down this one is the best! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Oliver A.
The best Mexican restaurant in the area, of those I visited. Very good food, prices and service. It can get pretty loud at times, so if you are looking for a nice environment this is the right one !!! enjoy the Latin music as Salsa,and Mix. Love the place. Thanks to Victor Fernandez and the Team !!!!
(5)Lisseth A.
Excellent Place,service, food great frozen Margaritas. its the perfect spot to enjoy with a great salsa,bachata and ranchera music. Thanks to Victor Fernandez,Bulmaro,Juan,Misael,Eleazar,Nadia,ÂAntonio and all of you for such a great job !!!!
(5)Diedre R.
Wow, has it really been 3 years since I visited this El Azteca. Well, it was the location for my 2nd breast cancer dinner party and all was well. Well, kinda. I made reservations for ten and ended up with 15 and they had no problems with accommodating us. Normally with a party that size, its a given that someones order is going to be wrong, but no so this occasion. I cant tell you how happy that made me. I also got addicted to the cheese dip and our table ended up ordering at least five of the cheese dip with jalapeno peppers. I went with whichever of the combos is two tacos and rice and bean and got a chicken enchilada on the side. All were prepared and tasted fresh. Everyone's food was brought out timely and they even gave everyone the correct meals when they brought them out. The BIGGEST issue was one person had a huge piece of plastic wrap in her taco salad. they apologized profusely several times, brought out a new salad for her, and COMPED her entire meal. We started out with two pitchers of margaritas, and yes HALF of my party was carded, and I'll say that of the 15 of us that were there, we had only 4 people that were non-drinkers and those two pitchers lasted us the entire meal with everyone feeling right. Of course, me being me, I talked everyone into ordering another pitcher, and this is where I think I made a grave mistake. We could obviously tell that it was more of the HOUSE brand of liquor than the premium we had been drinking up to this point and everyone that was drinking noticed it too. Hardworking, and eager to please staff. Gave us separate checks(gratuity included), and all except the incident with the taco salad, no one had any complaints about the food.
(3)Joanne L.
We all have bad days and whiny customers, but never have I seen a waitress pour our margaritas that a few of us had already sipped on back into the pitcher to demonstrate how to get five margaritas out of it when we were only able to get three. Unsanitary and unprofessional at best. Won't be going back.
(2)Addy C.
Our server complimented my friend and me b/c we both ordered $14.95 steak dishes for lunch - haha, I wonder if he even suspected we might be Scoutmob'ers :) Came here twice thanks to Scoutmob. Food is pretty good, prices are reasonable - they do have lunch specials, and service is friendly. Nice patio in the back, too. The outside doesn't look like your typical Mexican joint ... my friend thinks this might've been a Caribou. CARNE ASADA - $14.95 12 oz. grilled skirt steak w/ grilled onions. Pretty good, and steak was chewy but that was expected. Portion was huge - I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. FIESTA MEXICANA - $13.95 Grilled steak AND chicken AND all kind of veggies (mushrooms, onions, peppers, zucchini), queso fresco, and nopales (cactus) covered w/ guajillo & ancho sauce. My friend got this and it looked really good - I liked that it had so many things going on. I had just a bite and it tasted good, too. My friend had enough leftovers for another meal, too. GRILLED CHICKEN FAJITA QUESADILLA - $7.25 Ordered this during my 1st visit. Pretty good and A LOT of cheese ... a little on the salty side though. I'd probably come again if I had a Mexican food craving during the week since it's close to work.
(3)Cat H.
El Azteca never fails me. I've been more times than I can count and the cheese dip, salsa, margaritas and fajita quesadillas never disappoint. The service is reliable and I've never left with a group that was any less than satisfied.
(5)Carter B.
Love this place! The enchiladas are kind of hit or miss, but overall great food for a great price!
(4)Catherine J.
NOT Recommended at all. The food is mediocre - nothing memorable, prices are rather high for what you get. The staff is not professional at all. I've been to this place with work just because it's nearby and it's big and empty enough to seat all of us. The staff.... on a work lunch singled me out and said "konichiwah" which is Japanese just because I was Asian. It was really embarrassing and I do not expect to be treated differently just because of the way I look. I simply looked at him and said, "no." I didn't want to talk back to him in front of my boss and colleagues. I told the manager about it and he was clueless and unhelpful. Mediocre food and ignorant staff - why go?? No thanks.
(1)Joan S.
service near the bar can be kind of slow, but the delicious food more than makes up for it!
(5)Shon B.
Say hi to Victor! The best bartender!! El Aztec dip all day and Texas Margaritas! Nice lunch specials. Super packed for brunch on Sundays. By far best Mexican in town!
(5)Felicia W.
I made plans for 11 of us to celebrate Cinco De Mayo at El Azteca. When I first arrived I put my name on the waiting list and stood around enjoying the music. After 30 minutes I realized I did not see my favorite manager Victor. I asked and was told he no longer works for the company. I've never seen a manager make his guest feel more welcome. Losing Victor is truly a major negative. After pondering to actually leave, I decided to go ahead and stick it out. Outcome Pros: *Food was great (as usual) *Great Music (DJ was on site) *Valet parking ( I was worried about parking and was pleased to know valet was offered for $5 on Cinco De Mayo *Excellent waiter by the name of Jovan (excellent customer service) Cons: *NO GUAVA MARGARITA (WHY????????????) *VICTOR was always so police and he no longer works for this establishment *The bartender with the mohawk is rude as hell!
(3)Tiffany S.
My husband and I have eaten at another El Azteca location many times before. We stopped by this location for an early dinner this evening. I ordered the deep fried chili relleno and my husband ordered the spinach and mushroom enchiladas. These dishes were horrible. My chili was soggy and I couldn't even cut it with a knife. It was oozing water which the only explanation could be the chili was originally frozen. My husband's enchiladas were not enchiladas- they did not even come with enchilada sauce. It was obvious a microwave was used during preparation. We both left hungry which is disappointing when our bill was close to $40. Even though it was five o'clock and the restaurant was practically empty, it was dirty. The entire hour we sat there surrounded by dirty dishes and food all over the floor. My husband and I eat out often and we are usually very happy. It takes a very bad experience to prompt me to write a yelp review. Only redeeming quality was our server was nice.
(1)Sam B.
Over-priced, mediocre Mexican food. This El Azteca is way over-priced. Combinations are $10.50, and margarita pitchers are 28 bucks. I regretfully chose to eat at the brunch buffet last Sunday, and it was terrible. Cold food, dry meat, poor options, etc. Stay away from this El Azteca location.
(2)Damien B.
The tacos were just not good at all. They were dry and tasteless. Now the burritos were good. The night I went the service was scattered. The place was empty but the servers just seemed to be hanging out. The other locations of this chain have been exceptable but this one I have no plans on going back to.
(2)Gary H.
I've been a regular at this El Azteca for several years because it's near my office, and I often go there twice a week for lunch. The managers have been nothing but wonderful, the wait staff is extremely helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable, and the food... The food is top-notch. Nothing I've tried on the menu--and I've tried a LOT of it--has been bad. My three favorite menu items are the Jose's Grilled Chicken, Garcia's Special, and the Monterrey Special. The portions are ample, the taste is great, the temperature is piping hot, and the price is good for the portions. (Have I mentioned 'ample'?) Recently, I sent them a message on Facebook asking if they had any nutrition information available, and they are bending over backwards to provide me what I need. I could not be happier with this location (I've never tried any of the others, actually).
(5)David K.
There are some days where I can't think of anything better than chips and salsa, cheese dip, and maybe a few tacos. Add cheap draft beer and I'm there! Actually, it's not all nachos and tacos. Sometimes there are variations of both... many times there are also fajitas. Oh, the fajitas! Soooo good. As are the margaritas. I've always liked El Azteca and this location is a lot nicer than the one on Ponce (plus they haven't had a food poisoning scare... yet). #Yelp365 - 59/365
(4)Monika D.
I have had a much better time at the Hwy 9 location, but once I moved in town I have to have my fix. I give them 5 stars on the quality of service, the atmosphere, and taste of the food. The drinks here are amazing.
(5)Helena W.
Did you know they have Sunday brunch? Neither did I. When we realized this we had already order our apps and entrees. *Darn it!* We were a little bummed that the waiter did not mention it to us. He later told us that he assumed we knew it was there and opted for the menu. Oh, well! gives a reason to come back. During brunch they have nice woman who makes fresh corn tortillas. I asked if fresh corn tortillas could be used rather than flour when they rolled my entree, the kitchen happily obliged. Everything was and is always great. The service was great and the atmosphere was wonderful. Been here dozens of times and have yet to sit inside. Parking can be annoying at times but for the most part you can usually find a space.
(4)Felix C.
About why you expect as one outpost in a local Mexican food chain. I used the ScoutMob discount. The menu was more extensive than expected. It had the usual burritos, etc. We ordered a shrimp dish that was fairly bland and mushy from being frozen. I had the carnitas and they were a little over-cooked - I have the feeling they may have been pre-fried in advance. As ex-football coach Dennis Green said in a beer commercial: "They are who we thought they are!" In this case, it is a Mexican chain restaurant. I can't say I was surprised at the food as I knew what it should be like going in.
(3)Mere C.
Definitely a regular here! This is the type of Mexican food that I grew up with and cannot get enough. It is authentic and isn't trying to slap on a high price tag like other chain Mexican restaurants in Atlanta (I won't name names ;)). I love that I go in, sit down, and immediately I have a glass of water and chips and salsa delivered to me. The service is phenomenal. When we go, we usually split a half pitcher (possibly a full if I've had a bad day or we just want to go ham). Their house margaritas are excellent. Great flavor, and they definitely don't jip you on tequila. Now as for the food, by far the best I have ever had from any Mexican restaurant, anywhere. We tend to alternate from Jose's chicken to the chimichanga, to the El Azteca dip (with chorizo added), and sometimes we get the grilled chicken from the kids meal with queso and chorizo added. It is in my opinion the greatest thing ever, but I sometimes get embarassed about ordering it. Nonetheless, the staff are so accomodating and will whip up anything you want. It is great service, amazing food, and a fun atmosphere especially the patio in the summer time. It is my bf and my spot, but we took friends here recently, and they can't wait to come back! Highly recommend!
(5)DirtyMoRed W.
This place is pretty cool located on a busy street. The food is alright but my margaritas are always strong. When I go here I usually sit out on their patio and enjoy Atlantas beautiful weather and people. One thing I like about this place is location after you leave here there are many bars and some nightclubs you can follow up with.
(4)Alexandra M.
I don't think I have ever found a more accommodating and friendly Mexican restaurant anywhere! I pretty much see the same staff every time I am there and they never disappoint. My favorite part: they are CONSISTENT! Always fast and the food is always great! I always get the taco salad with chicken but even the couple times I have mixed it up the food was still wonderful. I will continue to come here as often I crave Mexican (aka forev)
(5)Rachelle C.
The Sunday brunch buffet is amazing !! I really love this place and can't get enough of the fresh authentic mexican food on Sundays. We have brought visiting family from NYC and they love it too. Even when it is crazy busy, you will never wait more then 10 mins for a table. The place has lots of space inside and a patio outside. The adult drinkys are huge and cheap. Everyone should try this place.
(5)Ashanti B.
The food I'd authentic, fresh, and extremely delicious
(4)Rohan S.
Solid Mexican with good food specials. Not better or worse than your average place. Ample seating and quick service. I recommend if you're in the mood for nothing too fancy.
(4)Will T.
El Azteca remains a middle of the road Mexican restaurant in terms of food and service. The food is consistently good, but nothing special, although soups are a bright spot on the menu. Service can be up and down and on my most recent visit, entrees were delivered incomplete and one person's soup was brought as an appetizer, but the other person had to ask for theirs. Prices have risen noticeably and consequently value is down. You won't go wrong choosing El Azteca, but you'll get a pretty average meal.
(3)Kevin K.
Loved it. My first time but went with buddy who is a regular. The former Caribou Coffee shop has patio in front and one in back to escape Peachtree Street noise. Awesome margaritas. Mondays was fajita special and were great. Tons of chicken (or beef, pork, shrimp). Great, friendly service - manager came by and super friendly. A great casual place with big portions - will definitely return. Only negative - was first day of baseball and no Braves game on TV's
(5)Marie M.
Go for the Sunday brunch! A Mexican friend took me for brunch on Sunday. Turns out the buffet is much more authentic Mexican than the rest of the menu. I love authentic Mexican food and this was well-worth it! They have everything from chilaquiles to ceviche and even chicken with mole. Those dishes will usually cost you about $15+ individually when done at a fine Mexican place. Here, you get to sample everyone of them in one sitting. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Amanda H.
The staff is awesome and the specials are amazing. Definitely a place to come and hangout with friends. The best
(5)Khryss M.
Excellent place!! We received very good service by victor and eleazar, they made us feel very welcome and I had a wonderful birthday!!! Good food, great service, what else can I ask for on my special day?
(5)Robert F.
Spinach enchiladas were terrible. Beans were close to liquid. I have no idea how this place has been around so long. Gross food, gross place.
(1)Tom B.
Good time for some rainy day mexican food. ships salsa, cheese dip and the best fish tacos ever. Yep I said it. If you know of a place that is better please share but this is best I have found in the Atl, love the tomotilla salsa. Luisa the bartender was is so sweet,very attentive and she makes a mean margarita as well. Love to sit at her bar.
(4)Diaz A.
El Azteca's current sanitation grade is a B (89)! That is disgusting! The server rudely told us the kitchen closed in 45 minutes, so we left. Thank God my family doesn't tolerate rudeness or nasty food. They saved me from a night of bubble guts!
(1)Mamie D.
GREAT mariachi band! Makes the whole evening. Food is pretty good. More healthy options an your typical Mexican place.
(3)Scott M.
I have consistently passed this restaurant for the last year. It looked to dingy, too "chainy", too fake azz "mexicany". Then one day, I just decided to try it and discovered they have some of the best damn bbq pork tacos that I have ever had. The patio is an incredible option for the summer. Great view of the "franticness" that is Peachtree street. But you forget about all that business with a taste of one of their sweet azz margaritas. $5.99 for a house margarita, but they will give you the texas margarita for a buck or two more. I really, really like this place. Service has been friendly, effiicient, and over accommodating. Slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite mexican spots in the city.
(4)Joe M.
Horrible experience!! I was embarrassed and will never patronize any El Azteca ever again. My sister bought me a gift certificate for Xmas from El Azteca for $30. I tried to use it today and they refused to accept it because even though it was the same paper, same design, and signed with the name of one of their employees, it was not stamped with "El Azteca". They said they believe My sister bought it, but that without the stamp the employee could have scammed her. So honor the damn certificate!! I was completely embarrassed in front of my guest and had to pay full price for the meal. This place is a SCAM!!!!!!!! Terrible customer service! I will never go here again.
(1)Darren H.
Pretty large restaurant with an over crowded parking lot. I have a few types of cuisine that I love with Mexican coming in at about 2nd. or 3rd. I've been to a few El Azteca locations around town but this is the first time that I've been to this one. Now if for nothing else this location will go down as the first place I tried the Greyhound (drink: 1 part gin, 2 parts grapefruit juice), quite yummy if I say so myself. 2nd thing that was memorable is this place for a Wednesday night had quite a few good looking ladies that seem to frequent this location (probably due to the location). Now I will agree with Scott M that the place had the standard Mexican Chain feel to it (is there only one person that decorates every Mexican restaurant?). Now I was totally planning on going with my tried and true order (Enchiladas, 1 cheese, 1 beef with some rice and beans). But it's a Wednesday the middle of a hard week at work why not mix it up with something different. Now I asked our waiter for some suggestions and he basically suggested everything short of what was listed under the kids menu. So with that no-help I decided to try something but not go too far off the reservation since I was hungry after all. Decided to go with the Carne Asada medium well. pretty good I must say and that bodes well for me venturing out from my menu norms. If I could give 1/2 stars I would in this case and move my rating from a 3 to a 3 1/2. I'll have to try out the brunch (Mexican for brunch?, interesting concept) & with margaritas free on Thursdays (see pic) j/k I doubt they are free. I'll be adding this place to my list of Mexican spots.
(3)David F.
Only real negative is the parking. Can be scarce at times. But margaritas are satisfactory and food is typical for a Mexican restaurant.
(3)Ashley M.
Went here because of the Scoutmob discount, will definitely go back. Cons First: 1) Parking. No problems for us on a Wednesday night, but I can see this being a big problem on the weekends. 2) Hubs ordered the taco salad and he said the shell was stale. Bummer. 3) Queso a little bland - probably our fault for ordering it without jalapenos. Damn you Hubs and your sensitive palate! 4) Chips are just so-so. Chips are hard to screw up, but I'm not a fan of theirs. I'd rather have Tostitos. Pros: This is no La Parilla but its damn close. I know, I know - there's nothing authentic about La Parilla but if it tastes good, I don't give a damn. 1) Great house sangria - had a definite kick to it, I was a feeling a buzz after the first one. 2) HUGE draft beers which Hubs certainly appreciated. 3) Nice food selection. They have your typical combos and "super burritos" but there were some unique variations, including the wild mushroom quesadilla on a spinach tortilla - probably the best quesadilaa I've had in a long time! 4) Great service..sure she forgot our apps at first, but she was very apologetic and brought them right out, so all was quickly forgiven. 5) It was pouring down rain when we arrived, but the patios looked promising! 6) Had no problems using the Scoutmob discount. At a lot of places, using a daily deal starts immediately gets the servers/management rolling the eyes. Not here. Our server was more than happy to apply our discount. 7) A very affordable place to eat in the heart of Midtown/Buckhead that Hubs and I can both enjoy. A rare thing indeed.
(3)Shelley H.
I recently became gluten free which can be a bit of a challenge but it really isn't too hard at El Azteca. Between the corn chips and the corn tortillas it was quite easy. We had the Guacamole Appetizer which was great once it made it to the table (the fajitas made it first). The service could have been a little more on point but over all it was a pretty good experience.
(3)Julien S.
Good food, fast service! If I am going for good cheap Americanized Mexican food this is where I go. I've been here about ten times- usually for lunch. Never a wait to be seated. Almost always end up with a booth. Service has been fast except for once. Sit down they take your drink orders come back shortly with drinks and take food orders. They bring chips and salsa the minute you sit down. I always order the cheese dip and the shredded chix salad with salsa as the dressing. Their salsa is good. A little bit of a bite to clear your nose up but definitely no tears. Chips could be fresher. The salad is yummy! Perfect amount of cheese, chix, lettuce and sour cream. I almost finished mine completely which is rare for me. During the summer they have a decent little patio. Margaritas are typical rita mix. I wasn't able to finish mine last time too sickeningly sweet. Go here instead of the hell hole El Azteca on ponce - you'll be glad you did!
(4)MaryHelen H.
I love this place. Food is delicious, service is fast, restaurant is well lit and clean. Two tips: first, if you are coming with lots of people, try to carpool, parking is limited. second, ask for Alex! He is the best!
(5)Reinaldo F.
The food is good but not great. Its a nice restaurant to eat at with friends.
(3)Dustin B.
On Monday of this week I couldn't convince any of my usual suspects to go out after work to our usual spot of El Azteca, so I thought I would fly solo and sit at the bar. This was my first time sitting on the bar. I had a few margaritas, which were tasty. Sometimes the margaritas at El Azteca can rub me the wrong way but there was none of this on Monday. I had my usual of salsa, cheese dip (no jalapeño), and a side of ground beef-- I like to mix them together. I had no complaints with my food. As usual, the cheese dip was great, which is one of the reasons why I keep going back to El Azteca. It also doesn't hurt that they participate in the Delta's Skymiles Dining program, which costs absolutely nothing! I was disappointed with the bartender. The bar wasn't very busy and I felt a bit under serviced. I'll chalk it up to the fact that it was Halloween.
(3)Liz F.
So far in GA, I haven't been overly impressed with the Mexican food, and El Azteca was no exception. We had to waited longer than the time estimated by the host. When we finally got our table our waitress was not very quick at serving us. The food was nothing exciting. The refried beans were kinda plain, the salsa was ok, but the guac was also plain. The "enchilada sauce" tasted more like marinara - just a plain tomato sauce. For the price, I'd go somewhere else.
(2)lee y.
The brunch buffet is the jam! There were too many delicious items to mention. But the stand outs were the chicken mole. Possibly the best I've had out side of Mexico. The soups. Everyone was better than the last! And the chocolate fountain. Holy moly! That's good shit! The omelet bar and hand made tortillas were beyond awesome. The service was personal and extremely friendly. I like it. It was too windy on our last visit to sit outside. But I do foresee a lot of bloated belly patio time here this summer. Everything that I consumed was excellent. However the Veghead order garlic shrimp and got shrimp covered in Italian dressing. WTF? is that? That loses a star. But the quality of everything else kinda cancels it out.
(4)Tressi J.
I had brunch here today, and IMO this was a refreshing change from your run of the mill Americanized Mexican joints in this city. There were unusual and more authentic items on the brunch buffet, and everything was tasty and fresh. Seafood soup stood out, as it had a depth that made me have a second bowl for dessert. It was a little strange to have an omelet and a waffle station next to mole and enchiladas, but in a good way! Definitely a great brunch -- and I'll be back to try their regular menu as well. BTW-- this is not a part of the other crappy El Aztecas that are scattered throughout the city!
(4)Davy N.
This was one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Atlanta. Unfortunately, on our last visit to the restaurant, our waitress, Laura, apparently decided to add to the tip that we gave her. As I was reconciling my credit card statement I realized that my receipt didn't match the statement. After a little research, I realized that my total of $33 gained a couple new curves and became $38. I hope it was worth it because we will not be going back.
(1)Darrell B.
This is my Friday after work spot. They are usually overstaffed which may be bad for them but great for the customer. Chips and Salsa comes pretty quickly. Service is always great. Socorro was our waitress of choice but she recently left. Eleazar is the go to guy now. Margaritas are great and not full of ice like some other places. Combo's are normal fare but the fajitas are wonderful. Fajitas one for is actually enough to split with someone else. On Fridays they have a taco bar which is free. Not the best but if you're short on cash it worth get some margaritas and munch on the taco bar. As a whole great restaurant and staff.
(4)Alicia W.
Oooo how I do love some mexican!! I originally wanted to give this place 3 stars but then I thought about..... Quick and very friendly server (well atleast until it was about time for shift change. Then he started to do his side work, and he spent alot of time, no seriously it seemed like a really long time, making tea. I bet that was some good tea! lol), the salsa was fresh and tastey and we received 2 bowls so we could have our own salsa dishes which I thought was really cool because you dont have to worry about bumping hands when reaching for the salsa or doing the "No, you go first" spiel, the restaurant was very pretty and looked failry new; clean, great lighting, sectioned nicely (lol) and one thing I noticed which is just my thing is that I saw they are extremely organized. Its just an A.D.D thing I suppose but it was something I noticed and made me go Hmmm. Ive worked in the service industry and I can't stand it when things are in aray and you don't know where something is or should be, especially if you've got 10 tables all needing your attention. I can't say anything ridiculosuly spectacular about this place because both my roommate and I ordered combo plates, you know 2 tacos and rice and beans, etc., but I can say its a nice place to grab a bite, take your friends or family to, the menu is quite large so you do have options, the prices are very affordable, they have a full bar, the salsa is fresh, the servers are very nice, and the food isn't bad. I only have 2 issues. My first being that we were using GPS to find them and some how being that we both are very familiar with Atlanta and Peachtree Street we some how passed them....twice...before turning around and going "There's the EL Azteca sign", and my other issue would be that I probably would never order another Strawberry Margarita from this place. Yuck!!! It tasted too much like syrup and not really strawberry syrup but like cough medicine you dreaded your mother would make you take when you'd get sick as a child. Yuck!!
(4)Johnny R.
El Azteca has great, reasonably priced Mexican food and quality service. I have eaten Mexican food all over Atlanta, and for the money, El Azteca is as good as it gets. I plan on becoming a regular.
(5)Heather I.
Ok seriously? Why are there only like FOUR chips-and-salsa-as-soon-as-you-sit-down Messican restaurants in the city?! I mean you have El Azteca on Ponce, Las Margaritas on Cheshire Bridge, and this El Azteca on Peachtree...OH and Las Margaritas which I've heard is WAY too expensive for some tacos and beans...but anyway...this is all we get? Overall this place is ok...my favorite is their Mexican Guacamole Dip (not to be confused with the regular guacamole) - this is authentic with chunks of avocado, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice...top shelf guac bb. Everything else is just your standard meat, tortilla, beans, & cheese... The service isn't always with a smile. Their director of first impressions never smiles and hardly responds to you when you tell her how many. She just grabs the menus and starts walking away from you...so I guess that means follow her. I usually judge the servcie at a Mexican restuarant by how long it takes for our chip bowl to be refreshed and we waited an AGONIZING five minutes OMG. Usually that refresh should be seamless. I should be removing the last chip from basket #1 as you're sliding in basket #2. So service is ehhh... But since the selection is so limited, we'll keep going here...week after week...
(3)Michel T.
This was one of our haunts when I was enjoying my teenage years growing up in Atlanta and I miss it very much. I don't know why, but out here in Colorado none of the Mexican restaurants use white cheese for their nachos and dip. I don't know why but this stuff is like crack for me and I crave it. Every time I come back to visit I come here and enjoy the beef nachos with a couple cold ones. It's not gourmet cuisine but I can get down here big time, I am going to have to stop thinking about it or I will have to go and book a flight to the ATL so I can go here and then the Varsity.
(3)Kelly O.
Please take into consideration that my first visit to this El Azteca location was on Cinco de Mayo, so I am probably rating them higher than I normally would. Of course we arrived with a party of 6 with the rest of the after-work-crowd at 6 o'clock and proceeded to wait over an hour for a table. Granted we insisted on sitting outside, and it was well worth the wait. We managed with a few trips to the bar and snagged some chips and salsa from a gracious waiter. Despite the enormous crowd, once we sat down, our server was excellent and attentive, even as we were shouting out our various orders at different times. My chicken fajita quesadilla was delish and I would get it again, the cheese dip wasn't the best I've ever had and the margaritas were definitely not worth the money, stick to beer if you want to drink. Overall it was a good place to hang out for the Mexican holiday, and I will definitely go back!
(4)Angela M.
El Azteca has decent Mexican food at reasonable prices. The service is fast and friendly, the margaritas are strong, and the guacamole is actually pretty good. It's not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it's a great place to take groups.
(3)J H.
The brunch buffet on Sunday rocks !!! They have a omelet station, fresh hand made tortillas cooked in front of you. The Ceviche is awesome, the best ever for a buffet , Pozole great !! Chicken Mole , Seafood soup , roast pork w/ tomatillo sauce.... killer sides / condiments Yum !!! All you can eat $10.95 the Sunday Siesta is free.....
(4)Adam W.
This review is biased because I love Buffets! Sunday morning brunch!!! Keep in mind El Aztecas are independently owned. This one seems to be the best!
(4)Kimberly K.
I've been here for lunch a couple times on various trips to Atlanta for work. I wasn't expecting much since I'm used to California Mexican food, so it was pretty much what I expected....blah. Nothing stood out in my mind, it was all very plain to me without any spice. All of the options on the vegetarian menu were various forms of tortilla, cheesy cheesy cheese, and blah beans. The beans are made with vegetable oil, not lard, which is good for vegetarians. However, FYI their vegetarian plates come with non-vegetarian rice. My coworker asked and they said they use chicken stock!
(2)David Z.
El Azteca is basically like every other generic Mexican joint in Atlanta. Free addictive chips and salsa, and a menu with all the usual Am-Mex fare. I got the Rosita Especial (which wasn't especially good), but some coworkers of mine got the quesadilla appetizer with steak and chicken, which looked very good.
(3)Paul T.
Great patio. Great salsa. Good experience.
(4)jane s.
Not. impressed. Went out to lunch today with about 15 people from school. One of which was a guest speaker at our school for seminar today, an illustrator from New York, and I'm sorry that he had to witness this. There weren't many other patrons in the restaurant - most were outside, and granted there was a large number of us, so I understood ominous things were on their way. The waiter only would do one ticket for the whole group, and towards the end refused to let us split it, and have our names next to what we ordered and give credit cards. How ridiculous. It only leaves you short changed and with minimal tip, and takes longer to figure out that way, so he shot his own foot on that one. The food here is the same as Monterrey's and everywhere else. I will not be going again.
(2)Vincent V.
I lived in the neighborhood across the street from this location on Peachtree for several years. I can't remember enjoying a meal here for any other reason than the company or the relative cheapness. The Mexican food here is only slightly better than when this location was a Caribou Coffee.... Let that sink in.... There ya go.
(2)Rebecca O.
Don't be fooled - not all El Azteca restaurants are created equal. In fact, they're not even part of the same chain. This particular one gets by on a strong lunch crowd and dedicated fan base during dinner hours. However, the food is mediocre at best. But I still eat here due to convenience. Do not order a margarita here. Heed my warning. You WILL be disappointed. Very watery and untasty.
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