El Amigo Restaurant
3032 Calumet Ave, Valparaiso, IN, 46383
El Amigo Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Valparaiso for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Valparaiso for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Valparaiso for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3032 Calumet Ave
Valparaiso, IN, 46383 - Phone (219) 531-5606
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
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 : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Melissa D.
This place is amazing. It has the second-best horchata I've ever had (second only to a Spanish farmer's market stand in Chicago), and the food is great. Each time I've been here, I've tried something different to get a good feel for their menu, and I've never been disappointed. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions about anything they have.
(5)Kathy R.
The food is awesome and the service was good. There was a very odd smell in the restaurant and the handicap parking spot was only half a spot. I couldn't even park in it. If the smell doesn't go away I would not eat here again.
(4)Axl G.
Horrible service, took 5 minutes before he even came out to attend us when there was only two other tables full besides us. Extremely greasy tacos that are not tasty. Aged food and microwaved instead of freshly made. Avoid this place, horrible mexican restaurant compared to others I have been. They don't even carry any authentic mexican hot sauces.
(1)Athena E.
My husband and I eat here at least once a month. Good food and great portions. Not the best service in town but you can't beat their prices. I try something new every time but I adore their taco salad which is amazing and has avocado in it. I also love their tacos and quesadilas. If you are looking for a great place to eat, try El amigo.
(4)Sharon S.
Good food, sometimes good staff. They have good prices for what you get, i usually order to go for lunch the swiss steak burrito, it is great. Haven't had anything that wasn't good here.
(4)Kyle C.
Oh baby, horchata and queso, that's all I have to say. Stopped in late night for something wholesome that wasn't fast food, got a breakfast burrito and it rocked my world. The tortilla was fresh and the horchata was pretty phenomenal.
(4)Stephannie M.
My fiance and I love this place! We find ourselves here at least once a week or every 2 weeks. The first time we went, we thought it was pretty sketchy and almost drove away, but I'm glad we didn't! It's our favorite Valpo Mexican food place! So authentic! I'd recommend it to anyone!
(5)Maja B.
Authentic Mexican restaurant, with no frills, just good food. This is not a nice date type of restaurant - it's basically a neon-lit dining room with cafeteria tables, but if you just want good Mexican food in Valpo, this is the place. I've not met a dish there that I didn't like.
(5)Stu H.
My wife and I love the food here. We go in there for a quick lunch when we can and we've gone there for dinner with the kids. The food is always excellent and the service is top-notch. The prices are great and you get a good amount of food for the price. This is one of my favorite places in Valpo.
(5)Tonia O.
Running around late at night....starving! Refusing to give in to McDonalds, Burger King, etc. This place was a-glow and OPEN. I originally thought that it was kinda sketch, but hunger has low standards. I ordered a sope and it was DELISH! So why not a fiver star...well, their horchata was meeeh! Good, not great. And honestly, I was so hungry, I need to go back and make sure it was actually great tasting food and not depressed taste-buds.
(4)Vegan S.
Authentic. Open late. Great chips served with two different kinds of salsa. Good horchata. The first time I went I ordered the Avocado Burrito. It's so phenomenal that all these years later, I still haven't tried anything else on the menu. Get the Avocado Burrito! If only they would deliver. I'm not sure I'd eat anywhere else!
(5)Sara B.
Great, cheap Mexican food. The best guacamole I've had in awhile.
(5)Bea J.
This is also my favorite place for Mexican food, drunk or sober.
(5)Jason B.
El Amigo is exactly how it sounds. It's your friend. It's delicious, inexpensive mexican food. I can only speak for the night as i've never been there when the sun was up. but the staff is awesome. Jorge ha been working there as long as I've been going there. He both knows that we're vegetarian, but also knows what we eat most of the times we go there. It's pretty much the place we go after a night out or if we can't sleep and need some place to go. Highly recommended if you want some good, basic mexican food. Their cheese enchiladas are awesome with a Pina Jarritos.
(4)Aaron M.
Steak tacos A++ "GRILLED CHICKEN" was shredded chicken crisped on the grill. Chips were at least a week old. But the steak and salsa made up for it. Good service and if you order the steak and don't like chips, enjoy!!
(3)Cory P.
This place is great for family outings or if you just wanna grab something quick to eat. The service is great and the food is better. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a great Mexican experience.
(5)Lauren J.
I really like the food here. However, you need to check the bill before you pay! They tend to over charge you/charge you for something you didn't buy, so you need to ask questions! I ordered a couple tamales and they charged me for the meal instead. Also, if you get water to-go they charge you a dollar. Little charges all over the place, including extra chips and salsa.
(3)Alicia T.
The place was so busy and there was only one guy seating people, waiting tables, answering the phone for to go orders, running food, boxing up the to go orders and ringing people up at the register. So needless to say I was worried that we were going to be forgotten and it was going to take forever. But that was far from the case. He did an excellent job and managed to check back on us multiple times. I'm impressed! The food is pretty good. The guacamole is great which everyone gets! I ordered the beef chimichanga dinner which was awesome but very filling.
(4)Steph B.
Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Everyone is always friendly, and the prices are pretty good for the amount of food you get. El Salto is one of my favorite restaurants in Valparaiso.
(4)Jeff W.
First time eating here. It was very good. Queso was delicious. Tacos and chimichanga were tasty, hot and full of meat. Will eat here again when in the area
(4)Bob B.
Great place, good service and great food.
(5)David N.
Stand-alone taqueria stationed in the midst of a shopping mall parking lot...not the most welcoming location ever. Luckily, what it lacked in appearance it more than made up for in quality food and value. And beer. They have beer. After chips, salsa, beans and rice, my Veggie Burrito Dinner was more than enough to satisfy the hungriest appetite. House salsas were solid; chips could've used salt, but were fresh, can't complain. Burrito came out piping hot, and had a consistent mix of integral veggie components. Service time was above average; the solo waiter could've used a hand as the tables filled up. Complimentary chips and salsa, big burrito = quality taqueria.
(4)Andrea T.
We were craving some Mexican food while traveling from Eastern Indiana to Iowa and wanted to eat lunch before reaching the Chicago area. We searched Yelp and found this location. Upon pulling into the parking lot, we were not sure if it was open. We could see some people inside so we parked and went in. The salsa had a nice kick to it as did the pico. I really enjoyed my chicken Enchilada and Quesadilla (Special #12) with double rice. My boyfriend liked his shredded beef burrito (which was LARGE). By the time we left, the place had almost every booth full, including a couple of local cops (always a good sign cuz they know where good food is). If we are craving Mexican again and in the Valpo area, we will be sure to stop in again!
(4)Jon N.
I'm still looking for a solid go to Mexican restaurant in town. I think I've found it! I've heard a lot about El Amigo so a friend and I went today. I ordered the chilaquiles and it was very good. My friend ordered the lingua tacos. Both were excellent and really close to Mexican food the way it's supposed to be cooked. Looking forward to going back again!
(4)Steven V.
I thoroughly enjoyed El Amigo. It is very tasty and authentic mexican food at a good price. I had a steak burrito, my fiance had the steak tacos, and my soon-to-be stepson had the tongue tacos. Everything was delicious (I sampled from the other meals). The service was also good. I hope to return soon!
(4)Chucky S.
Ordered tacos which were ok nut a little overpriced. Waited a whole 20 for 3 tacos on a Friday night. The place only has one cashier and one chef. Would not eat in or walk in again. Order by phone ahead of time.
(2)Reed H.
A great place for some late night food. Real Mexican food that is delicious and cheap. Burritos and tongue tacos are great. Portions are large as well. Never dissappoints
(4)Roland S.
Nice little place. Simple, nothing fancy, but a varied menu. Tasty tamales and tacos. Friendly staff and good service.
(4)Marc R.
In Valpo this is my go-to place for Mexican food. There are not a lot of offerings in this cool town south of 1-80 but this taqueria offers all the standards and prepares them quite well. I am a fan of the tacos and the Mexican breakfasts are awesome! Cheap, fast, Mexican food! Way to go.
(4)Heather H.
I have been going to El Amigo since probably 2001, and it is my favorite place for late night food. The night waiter, Jorge, is beyond fantastic. Though I no longer live in NWI and only make it here a few times a year, he still remembers me and knows both my food and drink order (pina jarritos, guacamole, cheese enchilada and cheese quesadilla). He is super nice and is on the ball with drink and chip refills, even when they are completely swamped. The food is always excellent, and the guacamole here is some of the best I have ever had. I also highly recommend the avocado burrito, thought it's really big enough to share. They bring you two types of salsa - one is a spicy liquid, the other is full on pico. Both are delicious. The prices here are also reasonable, and within the past few years they have started accepting credit cards, which is a huge bonus. The last two times I have been here they have also been in the process of re-doing the dining room. Everything is newly painted and there is a flat screen on the wall (though it was thankfully off when we went there at midnight).
(5)Britnee B.
This place has FANTASTIC tacos and burritos. They also have some really good horchata even though I'm convinced it's made with a mix. The best part is that they are open late (about 2am or so depending on the day).
(4)Beth M.
I've been going to "El," as we affectionately call it, since high school. The food is always delicious and super cheap compared to other Mexican places. The wait staff is great and the restaurant has recently been renovated. They even serve alcohol now! My favorites are the steak tacos, giant burritos, guacamole, and Pepsi with no HFCS! They are open late and even serve breakfast.
(4)S D.
I've never been drunk here and I still really like it. It reminds me of Austin. Good Mexican food, nice staff, fast service, delicious salsa, low prices. It's a keeper
(4)C B.
The Schereville location is better, but hey I was in the Valpo area and I needed my Mexican fix...
(3)Samantha P.
El Amigo pleasantly surprised me. I guess don't judge a place by it's outside because this place never appealed to me based on looks alone, and upon entering I just knew I was in for a bad experience. However once my food arrived I found myself pleased with my food. It was delicious, probably not the best Mexican I've had but good and the staff and service were wonderful. Will totally go back again.
(4)Brian J.
Way above average Mexican food! It is nice to have a late night alternative other than the dominant fast food places. The burritos are huge and the prices are about the same as you will find at national Mexican food chains. The only complaint is the very loud music blaring from the ipod near the counter.
(4)Carlton G.
Jorge is the best waiter ever. I have been coming here for years and he always remembers my drink and food! How many waiters remember that you and your friends are vegetarians? This place rocks!
(5)Caden G.
Great tacos, and cheese quesadillas. Great price. Good service, and has awesome Mexican coke with no high fructose corn syrup,
(5)John C.
The recent update to the building really helps boost the restaurant. Fast service. Decent food. Low prices make it a good choice for lunch. El Amigo is never going to be a high end store. It makes no pretense to be one and that is just fine.
(3)Maria B.
Like the other reviewer said, this is where you go to find good, cheap, authentic Mexican fare in Valparaiso--and I daresay in northwestern Indiana in general. Just about every student at Valpo can tell you a story of how they ended up here at 1am for a big tasty burrito. Come here sober or not-so-sober, the food's always great and won't cost you an arm and a leg.
(5)Gani U.
If you want good, authentic, cheap Mexican food in Valparaiso, IN, this is the only option even worth mentioning. It is one of the few places that is open late night (open till 3am and 4am weekends) in Valpo. Chips and salsa are solid, but you can't go wrong with a taco or a burrito. The pork is incredible, but chorizo with egg or melanesa (breaded steak) is money as well. If you want great, authentic, cheap, quick, Mexican food this is the place to be.
(5)Bryan S.
Great food at an inexpensive price and they're open late. It looks like they just remodeled and I haven't been in to check out the new place.
(3)John H.
Great Mexican food at reasonable prices. This is nothing fancy mind you...just fast (yet very good) tacos, burritos, sopas, tortas, etc. I love coming here for lunch on my day off....for a couple of great tacos and a beer. It's not the cleanest place around (bit of a sewer smell in there sometimes), but the food is always excellent.
(4)Ryan G.
Here is a classic example of taking a restaurant for what you want it to be instead of what it is. El Amigo is a great place for dirt cheap mexican food that is about one step above Taco Bell. That's all. But for the price it's ten steps above. If you are holding this place up to some standard of fine dining, then you miss the whole point of what they are trying to do here. To properly take it in, I'd recommend eating in the dingy dining area as opposed to taking it to go. The chips and salsa and general decor are as disagreeable as they are an experience to savor. Heavy intoxication is preferable but not required. Try the chorizo tacos.
(4)Mary B.
My favorite place for mexican food. The prices are great and my faves are the flautas....delicioso. The bistec con rajas are amazing too!!! It's a little hole in the wall place, not fancy at all, just great food!!!
(5)Kris A.
Food for the brave of heart, and the drunk. Sober, I'd give it 1 or 2 stars, drunk, it might be a 5. So this is a compromise. Nowhere better in Valpo for mexican food after the bars.
(3)Amy S.
Fast, easy, cheap, and open late. I've got no special support or complaint for this place, I just like it!
(3)Tom V.
Excellent food. My wife and I both had the flautas and they were crispy as we both like them. We both enjoy salsa and chips and consider them an important part of the meal and Mexican restaurant dining experience. While we both liked the salsa and chips here we were very disappointed at the TINY bowl of salsa provided. Sure, you could ask for more but each additional TINY bowl was $1.50. Did I mention that the bowl was TINY? Good chips that were made in the restaurant but if you wanted more you pay $1.50 Decor was okay and even the torn seats added to the Mexican "hole in the wall" ambiance. Service was okay but could of been better. There was only 1 waiter and he was busy with walk in and drive up customers. It was hard to get his attention sometimes.
(4)