El Mundo
2345 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY, 40206
El Mundo Menu
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Appetizers
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Salad
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Chips
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Entrees
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Sweet
Healthy Meal suggestions for El Mundo
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Appetizers
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Salad
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Chips
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Entrees
-
Sweet
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2345 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY, 40206 - Phone (502) 899-9930
- Website https://www.502elmundo.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
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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Chris C.
Absolutely wonderful place! The quality of food was extraordinary. My co-worker had the chicken fajitas, I had the Grand burrito with bison meat. Tender, juicy, wonderful! Their black beans and rice, best I have had in any Mexican/Latino restaurant in Louisville. Great customer service, wonderful margaritas! ! I will visit here again!!
(5)Colton W.
El Mundo is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Louisville. Mexican cuisine isn't my favorite, but the great atmosphere and amazing margaritas definitely keep me coming back. My usual go to dish here is the Carnitas. (LikeI said, not a big Mexican foody) There is just something about the texture of that slow roasted pork and a scoop of the onions do in your mouth that just leaves you craving more. Couple that with a top class margarita and you are just on could nine.
(5)Stephanie B.
I visited El Mundo with my coworkers for an early dinner. It was my first time here so my coworkers suggested we order the Dippity Do appetizer. This item came with chips, salsa, guacamole, a hotter green salsa, and a spicy bean dip. I was pleased to find that the bean dip had lots of flavorful spices without being overly hot. It was a nice sampler for our group of three. I ordered the Chile Relleno stuffed with bison. It exceeded my expectations. The dish had just the right amount of grease to allow the flavor of the bison to blend well with the golden brown cheese. The rice and black beans were very well seasoned and didn't taste like every other Mexican place in town. I greatly enjoyed a Victoria beer with my meal. The crispness of it as well as the slice of lime served with it complimented the Mexican flavors very well. If you are not a fan of close seating, you may want to get your food to go. The entire restaurant is quite extensive with dining downstairs, upstairs, and in an outdoor area in the rear. The tables were close together and at times felt a bit claustrophobic when the place become noisy with the mix of conversations. The atmosphere is very fun with vibrant colors and decor throughout this house turned restaurant. Furthermore, parking may be an issue as comes with being located on Frankfort Avenue. I had to park around the corner and walk a block. Car pooling is recommended!
(4)Stephanie S.
The patio is really what makes this place so great for me. I don't think I could come here if I couldn't eat outside (read: needs to be nice outside...) The food is better than your average Mexican restaurant. The prices are descent for what you get, and if you have a gluten allergy, this is a pretty safe place for you to go!! Try the chicken soup if you want a little something for a "pick me up" ... The margaritas are flavorful and big too!
(4)Amanda A.
Totally decent Mexican spot. I went here the other day for happy hour with a friend to try out their margaritas. Wednesdays and Thursdays are $4 house ritas all day, rocks or frozen. We sat in the small downstairs area, which was pretty dang warm. I had heard great things about the margaritas, and being a Texas girl, I've been trying to locate a quality rita here in Louisville. Sadly, I didn't love it. It was definitely strong but was more that kind of margarita that reminds me of spiked limeade. The frozen version, which I ordered second, masked that a bit, so I'd probably stick with that if I'm trying to keep my costs down next time. Otherwise, I'm gonna go for the top shelf or a mojito. We got the queso, and it was excellent. They include spinach in it, which was the first time I'd seen queso served that way, but it was very good. Also got the fish tacos and caesar salad. The tacos came with sizeable portions of fried fish fillets that weren't greasy at all. The mango salsa it was served with was fantastic, and I was glad to see they came on corn tortillas standard. I really loved the aioli it was served with, though my friend who hates aioli and didn't use it thought it was bland with just the mango. The caesar salad came with large shavings of fresh parmesan and had a perfect amount of dressing. I was expecting to see it with croutons, but it came with a crouton-style slice of bread instead that we had to break apart. Next time, I'll sit in the main dining area upstairs, and hopefully that will be cooler than the spot we were in. Will definitely be back to try more.
(3)Sarah R.
I have zero idea how I've not reviewed El Mundo yet, because it's one of my "go-to" places for those nights when I need consistently mouth-watering food and a good margarita. El Mundo is my catch-all, for lunches by myself, to dinner with the parents, to girls' night out. I've tried just about everything here, but I consistently return to the quesadilla with sauteed veggies and the mosquito. The selection of veggies is chef's choice, so no two quesadillas will be alike, and it keeps me guessing. Today's assortment had sweet potatoes, onions, and broccoli swimming in a sea of cheese, which was paired to perfection with the slightly-spicy kick of my mosquito (on the rocks, no salt, please!) El Mundo usually feels a little cramped, because the upstairs and downstairs spaces are usually packed to the gills with people...especially on weekends. The wait is worth it, and I feel like they usually overestimate the wait anyway. If you can, opt for the patio if the weather is decent, and especially if you have more than two or three people in your group. The price point is comparable to the neighborhood: I paid about $20 for my gigantic quesadilla and margarita today, and that's about typical. They have a decent selection of off-the-beaten-path mixed drinks, that I highly suggest, and don't overlook the locally-sourced meats. El Mundo is where it's at, and their staff is stellar to boot. I've never been less than pleased here!
(5)Sarah C.
I love mexican food...like i could literally eat it every single day. El Mundo is hands down the best mexican joint in Louisville. Fresh food, friendly service, cool decor and vibe. I always love when i get to have dinner here. We stopped in for a casual tuesday night dinner and it was yummy as usual. We shared the chips and queso, which is a nice creamy cheese dip that also has some spinach and other veggies in it. Their chips always taste nice and freshly made too. I ordered the quesadilla of the day for dinner. It was mushroom, potato and corn (and cheese of course). The flavors were great and it incorporated the potatoes nicely. Good choice. I did not partake in an alcoholic beverage this time however i do have to mention that their margaritas are phenomenal. They are way better than most in town. Oh, and they do not skimp on the tequila! Also, El Mundo has a pretty good happy hour during the week until 6pm and that is the perfect opportunity to soak up some margaritas because they are only $4! If you havent visited this gem on Frankfort Ave...do it now! And then once it gets warmer, go again. They have a lovely back patio that is the perfect place for a warm evening dinner al fresco!
(5)Chris P.
So, after my first visit, ( which was not good ) and a few more visits, I can now give a fair, 4 star review. This place is overall, really good. Last nights visit below... The house margarita is 4 bucks on Thursdays and it's legit. All blanco, 100% agave Tequila, house made mix, fresh lime. done deal. It's how they should be. Having many in Mexico, this is how I like them. The drink list is pretty solid. Single estate Mezcal is my jam, and they have it. Food: Very good. I tried the chips and salsa to start. Good, simple, no canned crap. chips were perfect. Then the beef cheek empenada came... Holy crap it was good. Such depth. The pork shank enchilada was freakin money. The relleno was on point too. Service: Rather quick and attentive for being fully booked. nice people. I'll be back for sure.
(4)Lauren H.
I absolutely love El Mundo. There is very limited seating (especially in the winter), but you can always sip Louisville's best margaritas while you wait. Seriously, they're some of the best margaritas in town. I recently tried the Basil Paloma, and I would recommend just sticking with a regular margarita (house is great). The food is of equal greatness. El Mundo gets extra bonus points for offering bison as a filling. I'm a huge bison eater, and I've ordered it every visit, so I can't really speak to the other options. I've tried the queso, the nachos, the bison quesadilla, and the chile relleno with bison. Their queso is some of the best I've had. The nachos are good, but a little light on toppings (we ended up with a large amount of naked chips). The quesadilla, which is perfectly crisp and melty, used to be my go-to until I tried the chile relleno. Wow, that dish is heaven on a plate. I devoured the whole thing for lunch, and it was totally worth not being able to move for the rest of the day. El Mundo is a Louisville staple that everyone should try. You won't be disappointed. Just make sure you arrive early or be prepared to wait.
(5)Lisa B.
Excellent service and food was outstanding! Would definitely recommend! Will visit again! Loved outdoor patio.
(5)Tommy O.
Have been wanting to take my wife for drinks and dinner here for a while. Was not disappointed. We had an app bean dip I think was great. House margaritas good to go. I had chicken tacos my wife had a daily special. Forget what it was but very good. Beef cooked over night very tender. The place itself is small and did not know how to get to outside seating at first. Had to wait maybe 20 minutes on a sat night but enjoyed drinks and app at outside bar. Will go back......
(4)Julie M.
So they have a burrito, and it really is massive, but the only beef option you can get is ground bison. Which is good, don't get me wrong, but I do wish they offered some kind of a steak option. Also: -nachos are a tad disappointing - why are beans on the bottom? It made the bottom of the plate watery. -fish tacos - nice and flavorful, but the beans and rice that came with it were meh. -any alcoholic drink you will get will be awesome. Highly recommend.
(4)Sabrina G.
Been hitting this place up off and on for years. Great food and atmosphere plus 4 dollar margaritas on Thursday FTW
(4)Melissa B.
This is hands down one of the best restaurants in Louisville. I would attempt to get there as early as possible to avoid the crowds. The wait time can be pretty long. The margaritas are to die for! There isn't one single bad thing on the menu. I could probably eat here everyday if I lived in Louisville. This restaurant is worth planning a road trip around. The next time I'm near here I will somehow get my fix!
(5)Treva E.
Love love love the food and atmosphere! The waitresses are the bomb highly recommend this restaurant!!
(5)Clare B.
Really good Mexican / Tex-mex style food and strong, yummy margaritas. We had four people in our party and everyone really liked what they ordered -- chile rellenos, burritos, enchilada and tacos. The place was packed downstairs but an employee discreetly pointed us to a recently vacated table, which we really appreciated. Downstairs you order from the counter and eat, upstairs is full-service (but typically a longer wait I'm told). I recently moved to Louisville from a major U.S. city, so I've been exploring as much as possible. Sadly, so far, most of the local options simply don't stack up. El Mundo is an exception. Solid option when you feel like Tex-Mexican. I'll be visiting again.
(4)Diane R.
I had the fish taco lunch and it was really good. The sauce and pineapple salsa was really good. The fish was moist and flaky. It was a large piece too. The salsa was really good and fresh. The margarita was descent but had an artificial sweetener taste.
(4)Kelly P.
This place is fantastic. Great food. Great drinks! My favorite margaritas in the city. It's a great place for happy hours, dinner, meeting up with a friend, you name it.
(5)Lena H.
One of my co-workers kept badgering me to go here, so I just had to taste for myself. We got there twenty minutes before the back patio opened. We grabbed some drinks and waited for a table. I'm not a big fan of margaritas, but at a Mexican restaurant, it's a must order. I was disappointed that they took the Sir William pear margarita off the menu since pear is my favorite fruit. I got a peach margarita instead. I LOVE their margaritas! The mix was wonderful and the tequila was not overpowering. The margarita was so good, I had to order another, but in strawberry flavor. Their margaritas converted me! I ordered the entree size nachos with shredded chicken. The chicken had a great flavor and wasn't dry. I liked the nachos, but I have had better. My husband ordered the chile relleno special. It was ropa veija chile relleno. I wish I had ordered that instead! The pork was cooked to perfection. It came with a ghost pepper sauce, which my husband ordered on the side. It had enough spice, but it wasn't unbearable to eat. I thought my jalapenos were spicer than the ghost pepper sauce. Love the atmosphere, just a small space. Would definitely go back for their food and margaritas!
(5)Brett S.
I've been dining at El Mundo for over a decade and their fish tacos are still my favorite in town despite some great competition. Margaritas are strong and the ambiance is quirky. People tend to complain about the wait to be seated upstairs which I feel is completely unnecessary. You can order from the counter downstairs and usually grab some open seating as people are cognizant of the fact that others are waiting their turn. Dippity Do is always a nice way to start things off! El Mundo is a pillar of the Frankfort Ave dining corridor
(5)Dixon M.
El Mundo is a tiny place, and it is very popular, so it can get crowded at peak times. It's a small place, set up more like a taqueria than a full-service restaurant. You order at the counter and pick up your own food when it is ready. My sister ordered a chicken quesadilla which was a very generous portion but did not wow her. She and I grew up in California, and have been to Mexico many times, so we can be sticklers when it comes to Mexican food. I ordered a chili relleno stuffed with ground bison. It was fantastic. The bison was flavorful, and the poblano chili was baked, not fried. The beans and rice sides were also flavorful. I would eat another one of these any day of the week! Service was fast and friendly, and prices, while not cheap, were fair for what was presented.
(4)Emory G.
Not really sure how to rate this place. I guess to start the food was delicious and no complaints there. Queso great and quesadilla grilled perfectly. My complaints are entirely on the service. It was a Tuesday afternoon and we waited 20 min before we we're even acknowledged. Our server then came up to us and didn't say a word and just started writing down our order. They did give us our chips and queso free of charge since that took another 20 min. First word I heard out of our server the whole time was a "sure" after I said thank you. All in all the server was very rude and didn't even apologize for our wait or let alone say a word. I would return because of the food but would probably choose the self serve option downstairs.
(3)Joseph T.
Really neat place. The atmosphere is the best part. If you're looking to take a date out to eat on a Friday or Saturday evening, there aren't many places better. I recommend the back patio, especially if it is a warm, summer evening. Really nice. The food is good. Not incredible, but good. I do like that they have bison on the menu. That was different. I ordered bison enchiladas, but the waiter brought me bison quesadilla. I ate it and it was fine. Enjoyed it. Nothing to run home about.
(4)Evan J.
My margarita was the only enjoyable part. The building was neat. My burrito was sub par, the only flavor was the pork. My girlfriends quesadilla had pureed squash. So baby food. Was not impressed.
(2)Jeff P.
Louisville has a myriad of Mexican Restaurants that all look, taste, and feel the same. El Mundo is truly one of a kind, a perfect example of a "keep Louisville weird" establishment. I prefer lunch here because it can be so busy for dinner. The food is different and so much better than the other Mexican competitors. The shredded chicken is delicious and I really like the sauce used on the burritos. It is small and old but don't let that scare you off. It's a great stop on Frankfort Ave.
(5)Kristie T.
Great queso! Friendly staff. Wonderful selection. Perfect location.
(4)Kevin W.
I love this place. Can i say that twice? I love this place. You'll hear about El Mundo long before you actually go, people just love it once going. The decor is a mix of a Day of the Dead festival and your favorite dive bar. The drinks, and by this I'm saying get drunk on the margaritas, and the food are great. Stop in and let the friendly staff take care of you.
(5)Rachel R.
I really enjoy El Mundo's food! I usually order the enchilada (2) plate and choose the bison as my protein. Actually, it was the first entree I tried and I've ordered it ever since. What can I say? I know a good thing when I eat it. :) Let's get down to brass tacks Pros: - good food!! - their beans are black beans! No canned mush for us! Hooray! (I can't stand sloppy refried mystery beans.) - drinks are pretty good - 3 seating options: A. Outside under umbrellas: gravel floor, lit by white Christmas lights (hello, casual date) B. Upstairs: loud, warmly lit, packed seating area (but worth it b/c of the food) C. Downstairs entrance: first come first serve seating. No servers. Cons: - loooooong wait! - packed seating on warm weekend nights - food takes a long time! This is a great place for when you aren't starving. You'll have to wait a good bit before your food comes out. Apps and beverages are your friends!
(5)Tiffany A.
I received a take out order from Lexeatin.com and overall I was very pleased with my chicken burrito. It wasn't what I was expecting, which isn't the fault the restaurant. My husband was not please that his burrito was ground bison instead of steak, if they had a steak option I'm certain he would have enjoyed it.
(4)Jerry W.
Saturday night date at El Mundo, first the good. While waiting for a table upstairs we scored one on the sidewalk downstairs, so we got to enjoy the comings and goings of Frankfort Avenue while waiting for our food. My wife had a frozen margarita, a drink she's well versed in... Her opinion was meh, it was a little on the strong side and had a slightly bitter taste. It was pre mixed in one of those bar top freezer mixer things which might be good for ensuring consistency but if you're consistently turning out something that is (in her words) "not particularly good" then why bother. For appetizers she had the corn chowder and we shared queso. The chips were a little on the stale side, the queso had a smoky chipotle taste which I like but it was really nothing special that I couldn't replicate at home. The corn chowder was on the thin side but did have a nice creamed corn flavor. We split steak fajitas for our entree. The steak was tender and flavorful, the black beans were tasty, the rice was plain. Our fajitas were served with two small tortillas, which was really not enough so I walked to the counter and asked for a couple more.... They obliged me and said " they're 37 cents each".... Seriously ?? Ok whatever. All in all not a very memorable meal.
(2)Leslie M.
El Mundo is excellent! I love their queso and chips. The tacos with bison or quesadillas are equally delicious. And the margaritas....definitely compliment your dinner. The disadvantages is this restaurant is small. I have never been able to get a table upstairs and there has always been a wait. They also won't seat you if your whole party is not present. I hope they expand at some point. I would love to be able to enjoy the full dining experience upstairs some day.
(4)Nicole W.
I spent less than 5 minutes in El Mundo, picking up my food order, and I'm still doling out four fabulous stars. First of all, the eats are legit. Leeeeeeeeeeeegit. So delicious and nicely portioned. I ordered the fish tacos: two grilled white fish tacos filled with hunks of perfectly marinated fish, the typical accoutrements (slaw, pico, tortilla) and a bangin' spicy aioli of sorts. It was delicious, halfway nutritious and just what I was looking for. I also shared some chips and guac: nicely seasoned with a bit of a kick. The chips themselves were warm, salty and none too greasy. El Mundo rocked my world.
(4)Geoff S.
Amazing place with great atmosphere. We had the chiles rellenos and they were so good we couldn't stop eating them, then had to order more. Great location, too. This would be a wonderful place to take a date or to just chill out after work. Don't forget about the back patio!
(5)Kat E.
I like this place because it is very different. It's really cute downstairs and upstairs. The man who took my order was pleasant and patient even when it was super busy and loud. The food came out quickly and it was delicious!!!!!!!!
(5)Scott M.
This was our first time...The staff...UBER Friendly, very helpful! We sat out back, very cozy...Loved the vibe. The BEST Queso we have had, you can tell it's made with REAL cheese! The food was very good and look forward to returning again and trying more things on the menu! P.S. The front section is self-serve, the back and upstairs offers service.
(4)Joseluis A.
mexicanish food. good stuff. swear i was the only brown person in here including the kitchen. talk about assimilation. no frills. come as you are. great menu and friendly service. my meal was great so i came back a couple of times and i was only in louisville for 3 days. i ordered from their daily special menu...
(4)Ann H.
Okay, I love this restaurant. I always want to go there when we're going with a group. I love the back patio and the margaritas. The front room is really small so I don't sit there and less it's just me and one other person. I love the tamales. I have tried a couple other things that I didn't like as much so I always go back to the tamales. My friend said the enchiladas are great and that is what they are known for here.
(4)Mike B.
Great meal. Definitely a local place. Not a lot of seating so be flexible or patient. Food was fresh. No premix in the drinks and the guacamole was ridiculously good. We arrived around 6 PM on a Thursday and it was packed. We were fortunate to get a table for five it appeared that there was seating upstairs as well but I didn't get an opportunity to check it out. Order at the counter and the gentleman taking our order was knowledgeable friendly and patient as we navigated at the menu. All amount of seating outside and definitely a local hipster crowd. very unique and fresh food
(4)Nicole D.
Food was okay; service was good, overall. The reason for taking the time to write this review: I ordered the fish tacos, which came with aioli sauce. Mind you, these tacos would have been pretty bland without the aioli. I finished one fish taco, using all of the aioli, and asked my server for a side of aioli sauce for the other fish taco (maybe 4 oz. of fish)...gentleman brings an entire bowl of aioli sauce. Okay, no biggie. Get the bill and have a $2 upcharge for the extra aioli. A) server could have glanced at the plate and noticed the small portion of fish would not require an entire bowl of sauce; b) would have been nice to have been informed by server of the $2 upcharge ahead of time. That is quite steep, especially when the customer is halfway through the meal and clearly needs just a little extra to finish the meal. On a similar note, a friend asked for a side of lettuce for her nachos; a very small serving was delivered, and a $1 upcharge was added to her bill. As a former server, I understand this is not a chain-type of restaurant and all of the circumstances that come along with that, but c'mon!
(3)Aaron B.
The food is very good, but it doesn't seem to stand out as much as other reviews make it seem. The decor is interesting and the staff is fine, but nothing mind-blowing.
(3)Sara T.
This was one of the first restaurants I ate at in Louisville and it's always been a favorite. Their blood orange margarita is unforgettable. I really like sharing their dippity do appetizer with friends as we sip on our drinks. The rest of the menu is just as excellent. The crowd there can get kind of frustrating but for nights that we don't mind waiting for a table, this is such a great place!
(4)Carmyn H.
Great service, decent drinks--then the owner/manager whom we had heard had an awful reputation came and told us to leave like it was the 4th time she had told us. We had no idea the restaurant was closing....All you had to do was ask? She did the same thing to 4 other guests...all of us stood outside & discussed how we won't be back. Nice move, crazy lady?
(1)Rachel M.
So I wanted to LOVE this place. And I just can't do it. The hostess was so rude to us. (We are nice, and we are all chefs so we try to be very understanding, we get it.) But she literally rolled her eyes at me when I told her we had a group of 9. (!!!) but after we finally got seated and had decent service and some good food, I was a little happier. But come in guys, if you don't like people, you probably should work at a place where dealing with them is your job.
(2)Francesca H.
This has to be some of the best Mexican good and not to mention there Margaritas are amazing. If you're looking for a cool place to hang out,eat, and drink this is the place to be. I have been to this resturant /bar many times. I enjoy the environment so if you're close by stop and check this place out.
(4)John H.
Yes 5 stars. I couldn't say enough about this place. My wife had the chicken enchiladas and I had the pork burrito. (I wanted to try the menu before the specials). The taste was authentic and immediately you could tell it was prepared the right way. I should've known it would be legit when we started with their margarita. We were very pleased with the whole dining experience.
(5)Mitch M.
It's a cool little place with friendly staff. I ate there for lunch on 6/3/15 and was blown away when I asked if they had steak to put in a burrito they said it was a $7 up charge on an already pricey burrito, $9.50 with no sides. The food was good but when I left still hungry I wasn't to happy. They said that was their largest burrito, no bueno.
(3)William S.
Wide selection of margaritas and cool outside seating in the rear. Pear margarita was delicious. The burrito I had was ok. Friendly service.
(4)Erin K.
El Mundo is one of those "blink and you'll miss it" places on Frankfort Ave. It is set inside of a refurbished old home and you can really tell as inside seating is quite limited, although they do have a nice patio out back. The first floor of the restuarant is a first-come-first-serve area so head around the alley to the patio or up the stairs for the indoor seating and waiter service. Now that I have thoroughly bored you with the logistics of the place, let's get down to business: THE FOOD IS WONDERFUL! It is definitely not your typical Mexican food - it is a bit lighter with much more distinct flavors. I have been here a few times but my SO and I came here last Saturday evening around 5:00 to eat before seeing a movie. We ordered the chips and queso which has garlic and spinach in a cheesy sauce. Paired with their housemade tortilla chips, it's different and delicious. For our entrees I had the chile relleno which is baked, not breaded and fried, which allows for the flavors of the peppers and cheese to shine. My SO had the carnitas (his old standby) and ate every bit of it. I will return to El Mundo soon. The service, the food, and the atmosphere make this a perfect date or fun get-together locale!
(4)Seema K.
El Mundo is a solid part of the Louisville food scene. The food is consistently good and the margaritas are delicious (and there's a $4 house margarita special on Wednesdays and Thursdays!). Some of my favorite starters are the queso (warm and garlicy), the salsa verde and the black bean/chipotle dip -- or you can get the "dippity do" which has a little of everything: salsas fresca and verde, guacamole and the black bean/chipotle dip. The sopa azteca is also a good choice. Try some of their flavored margaritas as well -- guava, prickly pear and blood orange are all good. For entrees, the southwest green chile enchiladas are tasty. There's a fourth ingredient in the enchiladas that changes each night -- sometimes it's a protein, sometimes it's squash -- that's part of the fun! Their regular enchiladas with a great mole sauce are also good. Other items I've heard are good are the burrito and chicken enchiladas. Plus there are a number of specials each night. I haven't had a bad meal here. The food is a little pricier than other Mexican restaurants (and the portions are a little smaller but more than sufficient) but I think it's understandable given the quality of the food. The restaurant itself is small so be prepared to wait -- and maybe have a margarita to tide you over.
(4)Charles J.
It must be something in the water or the margaritas but the mexican fusion is worth every penny. The Chile Rellana is to die for. There is always a wait but the bar has amazing maragaritas. try the pear margarita
(5)Lej U.
Best nachos in town. Seriously, don't look any further. Their delicious semi-refried black beans on the bottom, crispy tortilla chips, covered with any filling you choose (trust me-go with the pork it'll blow your mind), topped w/ cheese and jalapeños... And then BAKED! Makes the meat crispy and delicious, melts the cheese and a good serving of sour cream, guacamole and salsa tops it off. Literally I've never had nachos that even compare. Pair it with a top shelf margarita. Never had I had a margarita that fresh and delicious.
(5)Scott W.
El Mundo!! El Mundo!! YES YES YES!! What a great place to eat. The neighborhood was a lot of fun with folks walking about, lots of restaurants open with outdoor seating....nice vibe. The guy at the first floor front counter was super friendly and did a great job explaining the layout of the restaurant. Serve yourself downstairs at the front entrance, servers around back and upstairs. I didn't venture out to check out the other areas of the restaurant but I bet there were fun like the front. They have drink and happy hour specials, I decided to take advantage of their $4 house margarita on the rocks (w/salt). Delicious, great flavor, and packed a nice punch. They have a great bar menu, tons of tequila choices, local and Mexican beers, tequila samplers, etc. One could get into a lot of trouble with this drink menu. I picked my starter and main per a Yelp review, thank you Yelp reviewer!! I started with the chips and queso. You might think...chips and cheese. Let me tell you, it was the best queso I have ever had. Usually you get a white melted cheese, nothing in it, kind of bland but edible. This was "magic queso"!. It was piping hot and infused with roasted garlic, tomato, chipotle, and spinach. Man, it was spot on! For my main I had the chile relleno stuffed with pulled pork. The poblano pepper was the largest I have ever seen or been served for this dish. The pork was juicy, tender, and rolled into the pepper with jack cheese that melted it's way all over the pork. WOW!! Black beans, rice, salsa fresca, and sour cream on the side. The sides were fantastic and I used some of my leftover chips to scoop up all the goodness along the way. What a cool place, I snagged a sticker. I would eat here over and over....it is a great place to get lost for a few hours devouring some fine food, indulging in the many phenomenal drink options, and hanging with friends in a super casual atmosphere. Bravo El Mundo!!
(5)Ashlee K.
El Mundo is a great little place on Frankfurt that has some "so-called" competition on the same block, but honestly, don't bother with it. The food here is great, it's no frills, small on the inside. No waiter service at lunch, so a quick in and out. Skip the guac, it's laden with lime so it won't brown all day and just generally meh. Go for the queso if you're going to get anything to start. The burritos are as big as your head, and the take out boxes are the kind that you can put right back in the oven when you're ready to heat it up later. Definitely a plus. They serve Kentucky Bison as a filling, so that was definitely a new twist on Mexican inspired flavors. Be prepared for what felt like an entire bag of cheese on the dish, if you're watching those colories. Fish tacos are the rage here. We didn't try them, but they definitely looked and smelled good. Beef tacos were excellent as well. Overall, a good experience in a good location. And better than the standard El Nopal, El Torasco, Senor Iguana fare around town.
(4)Matt S.
Was our favorite place for margs and nachos until the server told us we needed to leave because we were taking too long at our table even though our group of 4 dropped $30+ per person. I'm sorry, who does that?
(1)Sailé D.
I'd like to start by saying that this is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville; to say the least, I am a regular. The food is ALWAYS DELICIOUS and cooked right. Unfortunately, last week I made a comment on Yelp that I would like to take back and clarify for all of you out there. I judged too quickly and decided that one of the guys making my food presented signs of pink eye. NOT THE CASE!! the poor guy had an injury to his eye. Perhaps I should have asked him, rather than to assume he had the cooties. So, here is my public APOLOGY to the guy and to the rest of the staff for assuming the worst.
(5)Raquelle Z.
I ordered the Quesadilla with chicken which was pretty decent but nothing special. For a true Mexican food lover, this place was just so so. I am still on a quest to find a restaurant that can measure up to my high expectations for authentic Mexican food in Kentucky.
(3)Stacey N.
The food and drinks are wonderful!! Wish you didn't have to walk past the dumpster to get in the back patio. The food is so yummy and service is good!
(4)Claire B.
El Mundo has the most amazing and inventive Mexican in the city. They take classic "tex-mex" favorites like enchiladas and burritos, then spice them up with goat cheese, fruit sauces, and other unexpected delights. Their mole is to die for, rivaling just about anywhere I've had the sauce. And if you like margaritas? This is the place to go. Do not even THINK about getting another watered-down El Nopal special. Yeah, they're half the price of the ones at El Mundo, but the ones at El Mundo are tangy and sweet and exactly what you have always wanted a margarita to taste like. Please, heed the warning on the menu to only have two. You may taste the first one and say, "That's not very strong," but I have tried to do three of them with disastrous results. Even my husband, who has about 50 lbs on me, has trouble with three of them. The only negative is that the restaurant is teeny tiny and they do not take reservations AND you can't be seated until your entire party is there. That leaves no way to ensure a table. When they have the outdoor patio open, it's not too bad, but during winter the wait can be downright painful (and believe me, there's only a couple of seats at the bar and they WILL be taken). If you've never been, go try El Mundo (but pick a night I'm not there so I don't have to wait as long)!
(4)Carissa G.
Fail, Fail, Fail. Chips and quac, BAD, margaritas, BAD, food, BAD, dessert , BAD. I was told this was the best mexican food in Louisvile. DISAPPOINTING TO THE EXTREME!!!!! Never going here again.
(1)Steve H.
Food was delicious and they have a playful little menu to choose from. Digs are hole in the wall caliber and friendly. Food presentation is impressive. I got the carnitas and was blown away. The variety and strength of their margaritas are known far and wide although I didn't partake this time. Stop in for lunch. Will def revisit in the warm months and sit at the sidewalk tables.
(4)Shelia D.
I like El Mundo, I really do. Love salsa. Love the drinks. And they have one of the best chile rellenos in town. We tend not to eat here much, because it's so small and crowded, even for an early dinner. Also, there isn't exactly anywhere to wait. But I have two issues with El Mundo, which is why I'm gave it three stars. 1. Handicap access. I went here with my friends, one of whom is in a wheel chair. There was no way for her to access the upstairs. It was freezing outside and the pea gravel is hard for to wheel across, so outside wasn't going to happen. We called ahead and explained the situation, hoping there was something they would do. They refused to take a reservation for downstairs seating. Now, I understand that you don't do reservations and that you're in an old building where access is difficult. But, you would think they would take reservations for handicapped customers to simply mitigate the lack of access. Then, once we finally got a place downstairs and found the only space my friend could fit in, we were told we were going to have to move because her chair was sticking out too far. We had no choice but to sit outside and freeze. We almost left, but my friend really wanted to eat there, so we stuck it out for her. It makes me so sad that they are not handicapped friendly. 2. A much more minor issue-- the tortillas. El Mundo isn't cheap and you are going to serve me an under-cooked package flour tortilla that tasted like it came from Kroger??? Come on El Mundo, you are better than that!
(3)Jason M.
I haven't been here in several months, but this is definitely a must-visit locale on Frankfort Avenue if you are in the mood for good Mexican fair and a great variety of margaritas and straight tequilas. It is a tad on the small side, and the outside can be a bit noisy when that annoying CSX track entertains the (often passing) train, but sometimes you have to take a little bad with the good. I wouldn't necessarily say the staff will treat you like royalty, but most of them usually seem to have a friendly attitude...if I worked there when it got busy, I'd be a total crank. One time, I was posing for a shot holding my fried soft shell crab (like an idiot with a few too many shots in me), and dropped it. They were nice enough to hook me up with another one. :-) All-in-all, the food here is great. Maybe not what some would call "authentic", but great otherwise. Try it...you'll like it. If you don't like it, there's a Taco Bell close enough.
(4)Victoria T.
We stopped in after a friend raved about the food. I was disappointed. There was nothing special about it and I didn't like the cramped atmosphere. There service was okay, cordial and prompt.
(2)Kasey C.
I don't quite understand the hype? It's totally divey downstairs. We found out about the restaurant in the back after we ordered and couldn't change our seating after our order was placed. We sat out front. My husbands nachos were meh and my burrito was okay. The sauce was good but there wasn't enough and the pico was tasty but there wasn't enough. Maybe I had a bad time based on all the cigarette smoke and street noise? Next time we'll head for the back lot.
(3)Caroline D.
A mess. Won't seat you if your whole party isn't there. Way too small of a space. Place fills up by 6:15. Thank goodness for Ramiro's Cantina across the way. Same great food, much bigger place, and much nicer staff.
(1)N M.
Dive Mexican with great food and ok house margaritas. Seating can be a bit insane (don't bother calling either), but this is probably the best mexican place I have found in Louisville. They have traditional fare, but you will also find some intersting experiements in mexican food. As an example the last time I was here I had fired Oyster tacos ... amazing. Reasonably priced, with great food, which means it is always hectic. Don't break down and go accross the street to the typical tex mex place ... wait it out, it is worth it.
(4)Jane H.
Why I love this place: 1) Huge portions. 2) Delicious (and relatively authentic!) Mexican food. 3) Its hole-in-the-wall appeal. I can never find a place to sit in here, which means business is booming. 4) It's cheap. Get anything here. It will be delicious. The only negative thing about El Mundo is that parking is difficult to find, but if you don't mind parking off Frankfort a few blocks away, you're set for a great meal.
(5)Chad K.
I have some old school love for El Mundo, I used to eat there before I found greater temptations down the street, but on the occasion I stop in, I still find the specials hit the spot and the menu holds some true comfort favorites. Chicken Tacos here are about the bets I've ever had and taste like no one else's in the city, the queso is legitimate cheese and once you've had it, it's difficult to not order it every time you go. A respectable fish taco highlights the menu and keep your eye on the SPecials board. I love eating downstairs next to the kitchen, and often it is the easiest spot to procure a seat, as El Mundo fans will wait a solid hour for a seating well into the coldest Louisville months. And with good reason, the unique atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of the hip crowd while still holding an intimate atmosphere around most of the individual tables makes this one of my highest recommended first date restaurants. Eat at El Mundo, you may get lucky!
(4)Quiet R.
Awesome! This was such a great and fun experience, I wish it was here instead of in Louisville. After a fun salsa lesson, we figured we had better have some Latin flavor in our dining, too. We drove past El Mundo and saw that it was hopping. Our original plan was to have the Mayan Cafe, but when we got there, it was dead. We decided to head back to El Mundo and I don't regret it for a second. I was glad I had Yelp to rely on, because when we walked in I didn't see the attic and backyard seating, so I asked the "odd dude behind the cash register" (as Stephen H. said in his review) about it. He told me to go around the side of the restaurant and it would become clear. It was perfect! The backyard had great tables, fences and a tent to make it private with nice lighting and an all around cool atmosphere. Our server was a very happy young man who would skip and hop as he left our table. He was sooooo friendly! We asked him what to order and he said to order the fish tacos (as did other yelpers). They were amazing! They were so good I wish I could have one right now! The house margaritas were tasty, too. Loved this place and highly recommend it!
(5)Bridget B.
El Mundo has become the place I crave when not in Louisville, and mainly because I love those Mango Stangers. But the food is good, their salsas are good, and I enjoy the funky, bustling atmosphere. I've had pork nachos and the Southwest Green Chile enchiladas, and both are quite tasty. I'm living in the West, and have access to lots of cheap, good Mexican food, but El Mundo puts such a fun twist on things that I find myself missing it when I'm not in Louisville. I'll be back - and I'm getting that grilled chicken burrito one of these times! So good!
(4)Stephen H.
I don't get the layout of the place at all, nor the odd dude behind the cash register. But that's what quickly lowers my expectations enough so that the food and tequila blow my mind away. Hailing from California, I've had my fair share of Mexican food, so when I moved to the South, I was dismayed to discover a dearth of at least decent places. In fact, I asked a Mexican acquaintance for good places to try in Atlanta, and you know what he said? ON THE BORDER. Yes. The restaurant chain. But I digress. El Mundo is delicious. We started out with the mussels, which were a bit small but nonetheless juicy and soaked in delicious soupy sauce. We ordered a couple of margaritas (the House is good, but NOT the blue world...more like blue poo water with sugar in it), as well as a couple flights of tequila (Flight #12). We also all got enchiladas and they were all delicious. I ordered the dinner special: Seafood enchilada. I'm not normally an enchilada guy, but I have to say this was the best enchilada I've ever had so I might have to eat more enchiladas now just to be sure there was a reason I never ate them in the first place. Anyway, this place is good, even though it's a pain in the ass to figure out which part of the restaurant you want to sit at - the back yard, the attic upstairs, or the self-serve entrance location. What the heck.
(4)Shelley M.
The food was fine but.... Very tex-mex and I wasn't impressed with the quality of beef. My standard is a burrito with carne asada; the counter guy looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for carne asada and when I changed that to-- What kind of meat do you have? I got "Chicken, beef, or pork." Doesn't impress me when a Mexican place doesn't have carne asada, chorizo, barbacoa or something along those lines. Second issue-- temperature inside. Maybe it was an off day. It was chilly outside but inside it was very very hot. Like, I was in a tee-shirt and I could barely finish my lunch because the the heat was making me sick. (And I'm from Florida....). Probably they were surprised at the outside temp and didn't adjust the heat right, but yikes, they could at least prop the door for a little while or something. Don't get me wrong, I liked what I ate there, all the flavors were good and the serving size and the price were right. The whole beans are nice and the tortillas were tasty. But I just wasn't impressed.
(3)JD W.
Hip, casual american-mexican restaurant. BEST margaritas in town. One, you're buzzin, two, you're tipsy, three, you're hammered! Food is B+. 3 different areas to dine - the hot, seat yourself front section, the rear patio, or the upstairs dining room. Be ready for a wait during peak times.
(3)Cinimod S.
The best mexican in the city and their margaritas are STRONG! The portions are generous too. They have veggie options and local meats. They run drink specials on Wednesday and maybe Thursday. Great tequila selection, and they offer tequila flights.
(5)Stacy A.
Aside from the long wait for a table upstairs (though it was a beautiful night the back patio was closed), my second El Mundo experience was a great one. Hands down this place has the best queso I've ever had. It was a little bit smokey and we wondered if there was some sort of animal fat in there?!?! My Chicken Burrito was terrific and big enough that I ate the leftovers for lunch again today.
(4)Lisa H.
Perhaps my conversations with others that had been there before prepared me for some of the quirkier aspects of this place. So I wasn't bothered by the whole seating thing (I went as a party of 2). What I was excited about from looking at the menu online, was how customizable they made their food sound. My favorite memory from a restaurant in Chicago (where I grew up) was a chile relleno with cheese and corn in it, then battered and fried. While El Mundo does not fry theirs, they accommodated my request for cheese and corn even though it was not an option on the menu. We settled in with a couple of their Real Margaritas (gonna try the pricier one too next time) and waited. Lovely way to people watch from bar or outside tables. OMG, the food was way better than I even hoped and I relived that food memory as an improved experience! It had a fresher taste with the corn off the cob and being baked vs. fried. Loved the beans and even ate the rice (which I consider a throw-away at most Mex places). I will be going back to try more food and margaritas!
(5)alan b.
Love el mundo. Always great!
(5)Mary P.
Popped in around 10 pm closing time. Street level is kitchen, carryout, few tables and self-serve. Upstairs is main restaurant with wait staff. Had fish tacos and my husband had the main course salad with chicken. Counter help was extremely attentive and informative about the menu. I was amazed at what I got. 2 6 0z. fillets of fresh cod grilled to perfection on white corn tortillas. Sides were fresh tomato salsa, black beans refried, and Spanish rice that was not tomatoey and blah. Rice was dry and flavored with chilies. Amazing garlic cream sauce served on the side. Salad was fresh, fresh greens, large planks of roasted veggies, sweet corn, grilled spicy chicken, and garlic bread that was crunchy good. Who knew?
(4)Pam C.
The pomegranate margarita was tasty and their guacamole had a good flavor, however, the chips were disappointing: they're round tortilla chips that you could buy from any store. I ordered fish tacos since that seemed to be what I hear most about and they were just OK. I would go back for another margarita but the food, in my opinion, wasn't worth the wait. :-/
(2)Meghan B.
Stopped here for a quick bite after arriving in Louavull. Burritos were delicious and had generous heapings of jalapenos and guacamole. Didn't have time to enjoy the encyclopedia that is their tequila menu, but it looked like fun. It has lots of funky decor inside and tables on the sidewalk outside for dining al fresco which I highly recommend.
(3)Johnny L.
Great food. Not overpriced. Something interesting for those who don't like classic tex-mex joints, but lots for those who do. Great margaritas. Sit upstairs- tip- get there at 5 when they open for dinner or for lunch.
(5)William B.
Horrible experience at this low class restaurant. While seated outside in the patio are while having an appetizer a mouse ran by us then proceeded to stop every few feet and eat chips. We decided to stay since we had already ordered our entrees, then at the end of our meal a rat, yes a rat, about 5" long ran under and around our table. We spoke with a co-owner who blamed it on a garage across the street and he seemed very unimpressed that it was a big deal. Maybe the Board of Health will impress him after they were notified this morning.
(1)Mari G.
This place is delicious. The fish tacos are the best in town. Their food is just generally made with a lot of soul. Only downside is the limited seating during the winter. It is a lot more spacious when they open up the outdoor seating when it gets warmer. Either way, the food is totally worth it.
(4)Tobias B.
They serve one of the best and strongest margaritas I've ever had...and I've tried a lot! LOL They are amazing! I like their back patio too and the service is great!
(5)Megan P.
Tiny little mexican dive- complete with wonderful, eclectic mexican art, and a quirky service staff. Very good selection of authentic-ish options. AND Everything is reasonably priced. The outdoor back area and front tables are great for a nice day. Another great aspect of the restaurant is the choice between ordering at a counter (downstairs) or with service upstairs. I love this place!
(5)James M.
Deelish. I was fond of the dip selection plate. Good luck finding somewhere to sit in prime time. Come at an off hour to really be able to enjoy yourself.
(4)Bob S.
First time in Louisville and was in the mood for Mexican. Yelp reviews were good, and the placed lived up to the reviews. Margueritas were good, and the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Did not know about the "upstairs" area until we asked. However, we did not wait too long in the very small downstairs area (first come first served). Would definitely go back.
(4)Sharon L.
A truly magnificent & even heavenly taste sensation! The degree of LOVE that goes into the dishes & the attention & intimacy of the service is EXTRAORDINARY. If you want a "taste of Heaven" GO THERE! Sharon Lyon - New Zealand
(5)Michael B.
Very fun place to eat with lots of great menu items. Love the Carnitas and dippity do for a table of friends to start with. The fish tacos are not too bad at all either if you want something lighter. The wait staff is always colorful and really friendly. Back patio is the place to be with the upstairs bar a good second option. It can be Extremely hard to get in Thur - Sat evening. And I am not a huge fan of the upstairs dining area because you are jammed in pretty close to other tables.
(4)Dave J.
This place is a Quedoba for people who want to feel like they are supporting the local quy. I have eaten here ofter (only close mexican place, but new place opened accross the street) and the words that come to mind are slow, rude, OVERPRICED, and OK food. A lot of the people who providing ratings appear to be typical groupies for anyplace that looks counter culture. El Mundo is mediocity at its best.
(4)Katie Y.
If I lived in Louisville (and after visiting it I *almost* wish I did), I would be a regular at El Mundo, no doubt. The fish tacos are where it's at - divine with an amazing chipotle ailoti and super fresh fish served in big chunks. Additionally, you get a side of rice and beans on the same plate - you'll leave full undoubtedly. We also got the green enchilada that has a different ingredient each day according to the chef's whim. That day it was roasted red peppers, and it was de-lish. I got a blood orange margarita - tangy and refreshing; my companion opted for a regular margarita on the rocks, but it was made of too heavy of a pour so that she had to wait for ice to melt to settle the tequila down a bit. I'm not quite sure about the note on the menu that suggests you order two margaritas... is that because it takes two tries to make it right? Are they pushing you to have a second drink to bring in the money? Or are they saying that it might be too strong to drink more than two? Whatever it is, I found the note on the menu both tacky and confusing. The space is a bit tiny despite two floors (and back and front patios) and the wait can be really long without much of a bar to sidle up to and wait for a table to free up, so you're kind of stuck doing the awkward hover near diners that are unfortunate enough to have been seated near any type of standing area. The service was friendly enough if not short on proper descriptions for the dishes, but for a busy and packed Saturday night they could have definitely used another server on the floor (or one that is slightly more competent to handle the crowd). Also, the full dinner menu - which includes any drinks beyond a standard margarita or a beer - does not start until 5. So getting there early to stake out a good seat (and there are a few great seats in the house) is a little tough. However, it's worth the wait for the tasty food, satisfying for both the gut and the wallet.
(4)Zach E.
Good tacos and a quirk decor (an aspect many Louisville restaurants ignore) make El Mundo a fun restaurant for delicious Mexican food.
(4)Jim G.
Taqueria style with indie-alternative attitude. Only place in town for whole bean Mexican other than the Qdoba chain (at least so far).
(4)Jay W.
Hardly ever disappointed at El Mundo. My fav Mex. restaurant in River City, by far. The Q Plate, all veggy, is healthy, flavorful vegetarian entree. I'll keep coming back checking for specials that fall within my diet buy yet satisfy. The service was accomodating and speedy, and not as crowded upstairs since all the peeps were trying to be seated outside which is quite pleasant this time of year.
(4)Clint S.
One of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to( I lived in Texas, too and have beento Mexico). Great atmosphere, loved the fresh ingredients, and fantastic service. Will definitely go back!
(5)Jackie C.
Really great, solid Mexican food. Their chile relleno with pork (and their pork in general) is INCREDIBLE - I have dreams about the thing. Love that they have so many seating/dining options. Their basic frozen margarita is fantastic - not too sickly sweet which is a plus. Guacamole and chips are solid as well. Nothing better than sitting out in their back patio on a nice day sipping on a $3 margarita.
(5)Maya T.
I dig it! I love the spicy mussels. The super spicy sauce will hurt going in and coming out, if you know what I mean!! But I'm addicted! I could eat it everyday! Wish I knew the recipe so I can make it at home. The margaritas are also mighty fine. I liked to sit upstairs or out in the patio if weather permitted. Sometimes the staff have a bit of attitude, but I don't mind - just gimme what I came for! This place is quite a gem in that podunk town (no offense!).
(4)Ann A.
This is my 'go to' place to take out of town visitors and where I take care of my own Mexican food cravings. The food and margaritas are great and the atmosphere is pure Frankfort Avenue. Lots of great choices on the menu and with the specials - if I could ever force myself to order anything but the fish tacos which are, quite simply, the best I've had anywhere.
(5)Emily Y.
Not sure what all the hype is about. Yes--big portion, but the food is average. On the dishes we order, the plates came out a bit messy looking with sauce slathered on everything. We'll probably give it another try, but we've had much better.
(3)Jesse W.
This place is always a safe bet for delicious Mexican food.
(4)Jay R.
The food was awesome. The atmosphere is as hippie casual as you can get, but it doesn't keep the yuppies or the bikers out. They have $3 margaritas that will grow hair on your chest and a bunch of foo foo margarita flavors as well. Seating is very tight. Try to get outside as some of the inside tables have people standing around waiting in line for the $3 margaritas.
(4)Ernie S.
I really think it's a little bit above a 4 star place. Definitely a great value for lunch--I had a lunch special with a burrito and tamale with rice and beans for six bucks. I enjoyed all the political (lefty) stickers and the cool maps on the wall. The place seems to be run by hip 20-somethings but the food is mostly authentically southwestern and the vibe is casual (fetch your own iced tea). I really liked the enchilada sauce. It was an enjoyable lunch and I'd definitely go back.
(4)Jessica B.
The portions are huge (and delicious) and you seriously cannot find a better margarita. The location is perfect, right on Frankfort Ave. If you're eating downstairs, just order at the counter and hop on the first open seat you find. Don't be tempted by the other Mexican restaurant across the street because it doesn't have as long of a wait--I promise you won't be sorry if you just stick around for the 15 extra minutes.
(4)Dave D.
I do believe this is my favorite restaurant in town. I moved here from San Diego, where Mexican food was part of my daily diet. When I arrived here, there were not to many choices available to me to get my fix. I finally stumbled upon El Mundo, and I was in heaven. I'm a sucker for their chicken burrito. Tastes great with their super hot sauce (the hottest I've had in town- hands down). If you like Mexican food, and you are tired of Qdoba - El Mundo is the place to go. When family comes to town- I make sure to take them here. My only complaint is that there is simply not enough seating in their upstairs dining area. If you go on the weekend you will be waiting awhile for a seat. However, if it is summer, they open up some seating on the back patio. Expect conversation to pause occasionally though, because you are going to be sitting right next to a train track. Totally worth it though. Fantastic.
(5)Cassandra B.
This restaurant came up on a top 10 restaurant list and it did not disappoint! Food was absolutely delicious! If you are expecting Taco Bell or some other mutation of Mexican food - go somewhere else. This Mexican gives El Mundo two thumbs up! Muy bueno!
(5)Anthony A.
I had high expectations for this place after reading the Yelp reviews and I came away disappointed. I live in Columbus, which definitely has Mexican restaurants but none that were reviewed as highly as this place on Yelp. This place was OK, at best. The food was OK and the portions were very small. Same goes for the drinks.
(2)Doug M.
El Mundo is small, cramped , crowded and really hot inside. You order at a counter and get your own water, silverware and napkins. The people working here aren't Mexican so I would call the food Mexican inspired. The appearance of the cooks did not instill confidence. I ordered carnitas and they were pretty good. They came with beans, rice and salad without dressing.
(2)Ian G.
The atmosphere here is the best thing. I love the fact you can choose to eat several different ways: head up to the bar at the front and order quick, head out back to an awesome outdoor area (heated in winter), or go upstairs and hang out inside. It's a great idea! My wife and I chose outside during a sixty degree night, and it was more than comfortable. The food itself wasn't totally impressive. I chose the carnitas and my wife picked the quesadilla app. I've had much better carnitas from Mexican markets, but it wasn't bad. Just didn't blow me away. But I still haven't tried the burritos. And though I've had better, I'm intrigued enough to go back!
(4)Hank K.
The patio when open is always the way to go. The food is excellent and the shredded chicken enchiladas are always delicious. Once a week stop minimum.
(5)Meg H.
We eat at El Mundo almost weekly. The top shelf margaritas are great (albeit a little pricey). Get the dippity doo appetizer to sample guac, salsa verde, salsa fresca, and the bean dip! Bison enchiladas are tasty! Fish tacos are best in the city. If you want something on the lighter side, try the zicatella salad. If patio is not open, be prepared for a wait! If patio is open... Bring bug spray and an air purifier-- they allow smokers!
(4)ML G.
This is the best Mexican inspired food I've had anywhere. The fish tacos are to die for! The street level part of the restaurant is deceptive; it's great for take out and fine weather dining on the sidewalk (very casual), but the real gem is the unmarked dining room up the metal stairs outside. Arty and funky (although tiny) they make some of the best drinks in town there too. The place isn't always open though, so check the hours before you make the trip!
(5)A. Jaden J.
One of my absolute favorite places to lunch or dine in the city. Not only is a neighborhood gem, but the food is like no other. Hands down 'WAS' the best Margarita in the city, however I was disappointed to discover the making or ingredients of the famous local Margarita has recently been changed. We went for lunch on Saturday, I ordered the usual frozen no salt, just as I have for the twelve years that I have been going there. Upon it's arrival I couldn't help but notice that the coloration differed from past times. It was white rather than the usual yellowish color. I took a sip and immediately noticed that the flavor was entirely different. It tasted much like blended ice and your typical sour mix used at other mexican eateries. I asked the server for one on the rocks to see if it were any better, first asking him if there had been a change in the mixology. He indicated to me that yes, they had in fact changed sour mixes. That was the first I even knew of them using sour mix, I had always assumed they were freshly made based upon how good they were. I do not usually partake in Margarita's, especially those containing the horrible sour mixes, so this was to my surprise. The newly revised one containing such is low on the scale of 1-10, the old was definitely a 10! The point of this review is to let them know how much the other Marg was adored and how it is often best to leave well enough alone, especially when the Margarita is a huge staple to this establishment. Please consider taking it back to the old method and ingredients!
(4)Tricia D.
Things I wish: - to have margaritas on tap at home like they have here - that all of the pork I consume in the future is as tender and slightly crisped as was served in my carnitas entree! Delicious! - that there were an El Mundo in the Chicagoland area I enjoy every minute of my annual visit here!
(5)Andrew G.
Mhmmmmm. The place where I first tasted bison. Delicious, creative, Mexican food. Don't make the mistake of trying to go on Sunday, or Monday for lunch.
(5)James B.
I love this mexican food place!
(5)Trent B.
This gem of a restaurant is in a great location along Louisville's spirited Frankfort Avenue corridor. The guac is good, the hot sauces are great, the salsa is nice. They have plenty of options for vegetarians. My favorite is the spicy crispy black bean tacos. They might sound like something you would order at Taco Bell, but they are in a league of their own. Most of the dishes have really large portions, a to-go box is often needed. The Huevos is great too. The Margaritas are strong and tasty.
(4)Ruah F.
It is bit cramped but the service is good, we usually sit upstairs. The margaritas, chicken burrito and fish tacos are great. The sauce they put on the fish tacos and burrito are amazing.
(4)Jasmine A.
I have a love hate relationship with El Mundo. Yes, their $4 margarita special on Wednesday and Thursday nights is pretty awesome. Yes, I love their Patio. Yes the food is pretty good, especially the steamed mussels. So why do I only give them 3 stars, you ask? Here it is ladies and gents: Of the dozen or so times that I have attempted to eat at this establishment, I have been successful only three of them. Here's why I think it is near impossible to get a table at this joint. 1. like many Louisville hot spots, they refuse to take reservations 2. There are THREE different hosting stands that refuse to communicate with one another 3. They close at 10pm any day of the week and also shut down randomly. Eating at El Mundo can be quite the stressful experience. But the few times that I have actually made it to a table, I have had few complaints. Decent service, delicious food, and an awesome margarita.
(3)Molly S.
I love El Mundo. It has a large but not overwhelming menu. Tons of vegetarian options and a blood orange margarita. It is funky and cool in all three seating options. My only complaint is that they seem to have outgrown their small location, there is almost always a wait and it is almost always packed (like so packed you will likely touch your neighbor). That being said I would brush into 100 strangers to get a blood orange margarita, but I'm just that kind of girl.
(4)Kristi M.
The best margaritas in town! Everything is amazing, but my faves are the spicy black bean and chipotle dip, and the sauce that comes with the fish tacos. You could add those two items to anything and it would be awesome!
(5)Melinda A.
It's as if a tree huggin' hippie and a Mexican got together and started cooking up some really delicious vittles just how I like it. I most recently had the veggie enchiladas. Wonderful. Variety of seasonal veggies not over cooked. My husband had the lamb. Said he liked it. I'll take his word for it. The prices are fine. I do not know why people complain about prices.
(5)Michael P.
Hey yo, remember that episode of The Simpsons where like Homer eats that fuckin' pandimensional atomic chili that sends him into an alternate universe where he befriends the wolf voiced by Johnny Cash? That's El Mundo's margaritas. Food is amazing as well. If their Steamed Atlantic Mussels were on eBay, I would write the review "A+++++++ WILL BUY AGAIN!!1!" Truly all of their dishes (or all that I've had, which is most of the menu) are exquisite. El Mundo offers a mix of cuisine that includes both authentic faire (chile relleno, tamales), as well as creative fusion dishes, like the aforementioned mussels, soaked in a spicy chipotle cream sauce and comes with a hunk of fresh Blue Dog Bakery bread. Be prepared to wait, as El Mundo is, um, "cozy"... and quite popular. That's what the margaritas are there for, so have one while you wait, ya big dummy! Oh, and I have to mention that El Mundo might be the only restaurant that explicitly states on their menu that you shouldn't have more than two. Much like when I took out my earplugs during the My Bloody Valentine reunion show in 2008, I decided I like self-punishment and went for a third sometime back in Q2 of 2011. Yes, I did meet the Cash Wolf.
(5)Ian P.
I really don't get what all the hype is about in this place. After reading the reviews, I never knew the full restaurant was upstairs. I always wondered where the dumb waiter went to. Anywho... finally came here a while back after passing it many times on my way to work. I was thinking it was going to be a trendy little hole in the wall Mexican place, but it turned out to be none other than your run of the mill, over spiced Mexican restaurant. For my personal tastes, everything was too hot/spicy and I was not a fan of drinking water from plastic cups that were left out to the masses to drink from. The street level dining room could have used the space better as to not knock the table next to mine and to not have tables that are not balanced in the small dining area. This is one of those places you can say you went to because everyone has been there at least once and you can move on. Louisville needs help if they thinks this is authentic.
(2)Natalie B.
The only 5-star fish tacos I've had...I order them everywhere I go, and these are THE BEST! Request extra aioli...the chile rellenos are superb too. Small, loud, and often chaotic--I love the energy of this place! Be ready for it...it is delicious, but not a place for timetables, reservations, or tranquility. Go for the full night experience...enjoy the great service and food!
(5)Emily R.
You can't go wrong with El Mundo. Only complaint is having to pay for chips and salsa, that's kind of a bummer at a mexican restaurant. We've been here twice and both times it was great. The first time I had fish tacos and there were light and fresh. This last time I had the southwest enchiladas and added chicken. I liked them because they were hearty and filling without being heavy. They were fresh and filled with corn. The beans were real beans and not from a can, you could tell they were black beans made from actual dry beans. Definitely a Louisville staple and must go.
(4)Elizabeth B.
There is a reason that Louisville Magazine gave El Mundo the honor of having the best margaritas in Louisville....they are! Combine a great frozen (or on the rocks) Margarita with a lovely price and you have yourself a winner. The food here is great too. I have now sampled several menu items and I have to say the salads are amazing. I know it is strange to order a salad at a Mexican restaurant, but the dressing is just so tasty and there is still a great Mexican kick. If you are heading here be prepared to wait. Even on a Tuesday night I had to wait for a table. There are two (or three in the summer) choices of seating. inside, upstairs where there is table service, downstairs where it is go to the counter and order and outside (seasonal) table service. All the food is the same, just depends on what kind of experience you want to have. This is a definite Louisville food staple.
(5)Adam C.
Heard good things about this place, even heard it was the best Mexican food in town, well not in my opinion. We got a combo plate and fish tacos, both were ok but nothing special. I was hoping to be wowed, but instead realized I would never go back. It goes on my list of disappointing Mexican places right next to Chuy's. I would be more likely to try the place across the street next time than a return visit. Oh just visit their website to see how frustrating this place is, they may have something here but it's done all wrong.
(2)Winston W.
I used to love this place. The specials (especially margarita specials) are where it is at as they are well-conceived and crafted. The service is usually good but that being said I became annoyed by the standard response at the hostess station that the wait would be 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. The place (especially the bar) is too small and the wait is too long to save $2 on a margarita (hence the 3 estrellas)
(3)Tracy S.
Old favorite... you never fail to please me. Always fun for my young auntie and me to take my mom out to one of my favorite haunts for drinks. To start: the Dippity Do - a chips and dip plate with the renowned guac and salsa fresca, as well as spicy black bean dip and tomatillo salsa. Mom and I had awesome blood orange margaritas on the rocks... Without a doubt the best in town. We decided to split two entrees between the three of us as the appetizer was so generous. Last night's special was delish - : Shrimp fajitas marinated in Mojo de Ajo and then grilled... Yum! And the Spicy Bean Crispy Tacos are always super tasty. Served with homemade salsa, creme fraiche, super fresh salad greens and rice. Easily enough for the three of us, although I could have eaten the heavenly fajitas and been satisfied without sharing! The service was quick and attentive... and arriving earlier (6ish) than my norm prevented a wait for a table in the upstairs seating area. ***Two margaritas and I was done for the evening... take the advice on the menu to heart! ***Also note: plenty of vegetarian options here.
(5)Jori G.
Every time I come here it is dark, slightly damp and smells like a old, wet rag, but my GOD is their food delicious.
(4)Ka-Lin H.
Delish fish tacos and the Atlantic mussels. Sooo good. This place is usually always crowded during the weekends. The prices are a little high for Mexican food I think, but I haven't had any better Mexican in Louisville, so I keep coming back.
(4)Amy G.
El Mundo...how I love thee. The food is always good. It's nice to have a restaurant in town that is...wait for it....CONSISTENT! Oh, and affordable. and creative. and tasty tasty tasty! In a time where over-priced, lackluster food is the norm...El Mundo weathers the storm. They will be here after all the trendy spots have packed up and moved on. Sure, it's tiny. Sure, it's packed. But, it's fun! I always enjoy the food and drink and company when at El Mundo. Plus, I don't gasp when I get the bill. Brilliant.
(5)Kristen W.
I had such high expectations for this place, and I'm so glad it did not disappoint. The place is pretty tiny. We sat outside in the fenced-in gravel patio. Two trains came by during the course of the dinner that drowned out any other noise, but otherwise, we were glad to be outside in the breezy shade. Our waitress was sweet and attentive. We ordered margaritas, I got the Top Shelf, which was excellent, the hubs got a Blood Orange, which was very good as well. My sis-in-law ordered a House frozen marg, but when she got it, she thought it was too sweet and it tasted like it was made with bad water. We let our waitress know, and she ordered a Top Shelf marg instead and enjoyed it much better. We got the chips and guacamole as a starter, and gobbled it down almost immediately. The chips are better than they look (they look like stadium nacho chips) and the guac was really tasty. I looked at every dish on the menu and considered ordering it - nothing sounds bad, which made it a really tough decision what to get. I decided on the southwest green chile enchilladas, with the ingredient of the day being local asparagus. They were the best enchilladas I've ever eaten. Stuffed full of veggies and cheese, the tortillas still crispy and not drowning in bland sauce.The hubs got the grilled chicken burrito, which he seemed to enjoy. SIL got the chile rellano with ground bison, which she declared the best one she's had outside of Mexico. It was baked, not fried, and was the kind that just oozed out on your plate... the best kind in my opinion. Neither of us really touched our beans and rice, not because they were bad, but just because our entrees filled us up perfectly. I wish I had leftovers, but I just couldn't stop eating! I can't wait to go back here many, many times.
(5)Elizabeth D.
The not sitting without a complete party is absolutely absurd to me, and then to sit a 6 person party with 5 ppl bc they had been "waiting a while" is inconsistent. It was my first time here and had it not been for the rest of my "complete" party -one who had to park- I would left. It's hard to even have a positive outlook when the experience to even sit down is utter chaos.
(1)Elizabeth S.
El Mundo is like one of those friends you have that is really fun to be around, but super shady and flaky. Sometimes you show up and they're closed for no reason. I enjoy the food, but the quality and service is sporadic. The mussels here are a MUST. Margaritas are hands down the best I've had, but beware. One or two and you probably can't drive home unless you eat a large meal. This is a great place during the summer. Usually pretty packed, but nice for drinks and salsa.
(3)Chinelle T.
Tried this quirky little restaurant for the first time recently. The inside area is *very* small and seating is limited. Luckily we got there right as another group left so we didn't have to wait for a table. When sitting inside you order your food at the counter. The woman at the counter said they also have patio seating outdoors, but I didn't see that area. My husband had the fish tacos and really enjoyed them. I had the spicy bean tacos and they were great! The portions are huge! Mine came with three tacos, beans and rice. I could only finish 1 1/2 tacos. We also had the queso which was great. You could tell it was made from real cheese. It didn't have that processed cheese look/taste that I am used to from a Mexican restaurant. As a vegetarian, I was happy to see so many options on the menu. The menu also lets you know that their rice and beans are vegan, which is great b/c many Mexican places have lard in their beans. We didn't have any Margaritas, but since they are supposed to be the best in the city I'll definitely try them next time!
(4)S H.
When I got home with my takeout , I was surprised by the small portions. The fish tacos were good but not worth the money. Nice staff.
(3)Ashley R.
I was driving through Kentucky on my way to Nashville and decided to stop in for lunch based on the yelp reviews. I'm glad I did. The queso was delish. The added garlic and spinach really gave it a great taste. On the otherhand, the chips that came with it were less than steller. I felt as if they came from a big bag from Costco. For my entree I had the chile relleno. Another winner. The flavors, again, were spot on. The rice, very tasty. After the great reviews on the margaritas, I wanted to try one, but since I still had 3 hours to drive, I opted not to. :( Hopefully I will had a chance to try El Mundo again and enjoy a margarita at this fun dive.
(4)Alex K.
I went here once, will never return. At least not for food. I came for lunch. The lack of wait service made it very confusing. The food was very bad. I got some sort of pork filled burrito, my friends all got something similar. Everything was very bland and sloppy, as well as overpriced. Whenever I talk to someone who loves this place they either talk about the margaritas or the vegetarian fare. It is my opinion that the people who like the food are so intoxicated by the margaritas by the the time the food arrives, anything put in front of them is going to taste awesome. I shouldn't have trusted a Mexican restaurant run by a bunch of dirty looking highland kids. I have not been to the back patio area, but it is supposed to be awesome. I doubt I will ever see it. Also, no free chips and salsa? Not even one basket? Really?
(2)Lynn L.
The food here is really good! Some interesting takes on standards like using bison for the fajitas, making the carnitas into a hashbrown like cake on the griddle, and using tasty habenero sour cream on the chimichanga. The rice and beans are also really tasty, which is an added plus. But the margaritas? Meh. I thought I would love the margs, but they were weak sauce! Ordered on the rocks with salt, and they served 'em up out of an automatic dispenser. They tasted mostly of sour mix...not fresh, mind you. The best margs are when they squeeze the limes into the glass. Fresh. Good thing that the food is tasty. I can choose a tasty beer and still enjoy. :)
(4)