El Rayo Taqueria
245 US Rte 1, Scarborough, ME, 04074
El Rayo Taqueria Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Scarborough for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Scarborough for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Scarborough for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
245 US Rte 1
Scarborough, ME, 04074 - Phone (207) 494-1000
- Website https://www.elrayotaqueria.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Dani C.
My party of four decided to eat here because it is close and we wanted Mexican food. Upon arrival, we loved the environment. However, no one in the party liked their meal. The shrimp was breaded in cornmeal leaving a gritty taste. The verduras rice bowl was cold and boring. The plantains were tasteless. The portions were small and everything was overpriced. Overall, the only good thing was the mojito and skinny margarita. No one in the party will return.
(2)Bill M.
What a great new addition to town! Like many of us I have been eagerly following the construction of this new establishment on my daily commute for what seems like a year. so of course we had to get in opening week. Well my wife and I were not disappointed. Great bright sunny location. moving out to the burbs means they have plenty of space. No need to cram tables in right next to each other like in the "big city". This helps to make the new location family friendly. That plus the finger friendly menu meant that their were plenty of tables with young children happily munching away on chips and tacos. Despite all this family joy, El Rayo S. has a large bar with comfy seats and a wide selection of tequila and mescal. Happy, happy! On this first of many planned visits we started with the chips, salsa and guacamole. The chips were different than most served in the area. Thicker and more of a dark yellow, compared to other locally made chips. I liked the crunchier texture and felt they had more flavor than most. The salsa was dark and nicely Smokey. The guacamole was fantastic, bright and creamy! Next I had the pescado rice and bean bowl. As you would expect this bowl had a mice pile of rice and beans. What was unusual was the awesome locally sourced Pollock. The bowl was topped with a zingy slaw and cilantro, which also added a lot to the dish. Despite being newly opened service was friendly and quick. They dont take reservations, but you can call ahead and have your name put on the list. I look forward to going back!
(4)Olivia W.
I'm obsessed with the fish burrito and the guacamole. I've also got an extremely soft spot for the pineapple margaritas. The staff is awesome, the atmosphere is great, and the food is amazing. Love it!
(5)J.D. R.
The smallest $4 tacos this side of El Paso!!! Everything here is obscenely overpriced...and bland. Mexican food is supposed to be cheap & tasty but El Rayo is neither. The restaurant looks so cool too. Our (2) person meal cost $60 with tip and was not worth $16 anywhere else. BTW-they charge for chips & salsa. Obscenely OVERPRICED...I repeat OVERPRICED to the point of gouging.
(2)Ali D.
One of the worst experiences at a restaurant that I have had. This place is absurd. And we had about 3 waitresses, yet almost no service. $2 for a small side of sour cream $1.25 for a side of Pico De Gallo (aka chopped tomato) $2 for mushrooms (which our waitress neglected to mention) No chips and salsa provided, no sides provided. Mexican food is known for being cheap, cheesy and delicious. $42 (not including tip) for an unseasoned burrito, quesdilla, and 2 margaritas. It was freezing and super bright. This is the only yelp review I have ever written, but this place is a SERIOUS rip off.
(1)Wendi S.
Really mixed feelings about our visit. Service was extremely poor. Our waitress had all the large parties and therefore could not provide us with adequate service. The food was ok. We had chips & pico de gallo which were good - fresh & crunchy. I had chilaquilles. Very smoky-chipotle flavored (which isn't my fav). Hubby enjoyed a great beer (Negra Modela) and the coconut cupcakes were amazing.
(3)Brooke A.
Loved it! Went with family (4 people) we got guacamole, house salsa, chips, the seasoned pumpkin seeds(I think), and the pineapple on the stick. All were very different flavors. The guacamole was more of like a puree not chunky. The pineapple had a spice on top, like the sweet and spicy idea. The seasoned seeds were okay, I wouldn't order them again but they weren't bad. And the salsa was very mild and delicious. For dinner I got the fish bowl (like a burrito bowl with fish). It had white rice, beans, coleslaw, fish, and avocado. So yummy and filling. The bowl wasn't that big but I wasn't able to finish it which is unusual for myself. Sister got the quesadilla with chicken, cnt really mess that up. She liked it. Staff was very helpful, service was moderately fast, and the atmosphere it awesome. Lots of good ideas were incorporated in the restaurant's design and vibe. I would reccomend this place if you're looking for a great Mexican meal.
(5)Steven K.
Food was over priced and the portions were very small. I had to order a burrito to go because I was still hungry after a taco and salad. The service was alright, the food did come out relatively quickly.
(2)Kate G.
We had heard there was a new restaurant to try. We were very disappointed. I had reviewed the menu and was excited. We ordered chicken nachos, ground beef quesadilla and taco. Also two glasses of wine and margarita. Waitress asked if we wanted stuff on side of nachos or on top. We said salsa and sour cream on the side. When it came to the bill, those were $4.00 extra! So the nachos were just chips, cheese and chicken...? Chips were greasy too. The quesadilla came with a small dap of pico gallo, nothing else, plus very small portion. We got the wrong taco, which was definitely not worth the money. The lighting was also horrible, strong light directed right at you. Not worth the trip.
(2)Eric S.
Decent Mexican but pricey for the small portions. As many other reviews have highlighted, you do feel a bit nickel and dimed with nothing included besides what's stated with your meal. It's good food but what bothers me most is if el Rayo would INCLUDE stuff like flavorful salsas with your meal it would make it a more above average flavorful experience. Only been once but service was attentive. Easy to park location and less busy than portland location is definitely a plus.
(3)David J.
Great experience. We went with 4 adults and 4 kids on a Monday night. It was fairly busy. Hostess was nice and made sure the manger gave us an appropriate table... Super nice guy. All the waitstaff were pleasant. Our waitress was great. Offered us the fresh watermelon martini..... Fantastic. We've gone to portland many times and always had good food and experiences. Scarborough was the same. The food is very good Mexican food. Portions are somewhat small, so get a couple. Grilled corn is a great app. Burritos are packed and yummy. Not sure what these other people are talking about and giving 1 star, etc. if you're a Mexican food person, you will def like this place.
(4)Kylie D.
So my friend asked if I wanted to grab a beer on a Sunday night. After a long weekend of manual labor, fundraising (harder than manual labor), and socializing, I was tempted to say no and have a salad at home but at the last minute, I decided to say, "Yes - if I can get some Mexican food to go with it." I've driven by El Rayo many times and I've always been curious. Since my friend and I both live in SoPo, I suggested the short trek to El Rayo. The Yelp reviews are mixed at best and some are downright harsh so I was a little nervous about suggesting it. Luckily, it all worked out splendidly and we had a really nice time. The space is fun and colorful. I'm not sure why there's a giant open space in front of the open kitchen (there is seating there too) but it does make for a nice feel/flow. We sat at a small table in the bar area and were greeted relatively quickly by the bartender. A beer, as you might imagine, turned into Margaritas. I ordered mine with 25% less simple syrup and it was spot on. I also liked the little plastic shark swimming around in my glass - cute touch! Yes, it's true that you do pay for chips and salsa. I wouldn't mind that except for the fact that the serving of salsa was tiny. Tasty, but miniscule. I ordered two tacos - the pescado and the al pastor with pulled pork. Both were delicious. Mind you, I'm not much of a Mexican food connoisseur, but I thought the food was really fresh and light -(I appreciated that the fish in the fish taco was grilled and not fried) especially compared to other Mexican food I've tried in the area. My friend had a bowl of some sort with fish, rice, beans and some avocado. It didn't look very interesting to me, but he liked it and it was super healthy. Service was decent and prices were reasonable. I really enjoyed my suburban Mexican food experience in Scarborough - I'll definitely be back!
(4)Andrew J.
I was a regular of the Portland location on York; as a Scarborough resident, I was elated to see El Rayo opening in my town. I will argue that their guacamole is the best in the area. Their tacos are amazing; a combination of plentiful fillings and fresh tortillas. The bar is adequate and "the game" id always playing; another nice addition is the counter seating by the open kitchen. The service is always prompt; the servers I've had have been a bit aloof, but that may be by management's design or just a product of personality. We'll be back; especially on $2 Taco Tuesdays.
(3)Alise K.
Much Easier to park here at the Scarborough location. Big roomy restaurant. We sat at the bar this time. My go to lunch here is the pescado rice and bean bowl. Fresh cilantro, avocado, jicama, seasoned fish. I asked for the cheese and the sour cream sauce on the side, to save on the calories. My other go to is the ear of corn, smothered in mayo , grilled then sprinkled with cheese. Sounds awful but it's so good
(4)John B.
Clare, our waitress, was excellent and the front house staff were all pleasant. But...this place is horrible!!! Worst mexican food I've ever had. Everything is ala carte, expensive and diminutive in portion. I will only bore you with a desription of my companion's "Yucatan Burrito" ($9.50): Yuck and best called a blah, rice burrito; rice being the only identifiable ingredient. It was served, sitting alone in the middle of the plate...a forlorn, white blob. Any cheese, salsa, guacamole, etc. you may want to comfort this lost soul of a burrito will cost you dearly for thimble sized "cups". The decor and industrial trappings lead me to believe they have franchising in mind. Good luck with that.
(1)Gladys S.
After the anticipation of a new Resteraunt opening in Scarborough I was very disappointed. The evening my guest & I went in we sat at a table in the bar area and did not get waited on. Apparently you have to squeeze in at the bar & order a drink & food with the bar tender. The drinks are over priced & the food was below average. For about 7.00 you can get a single taco. No rice or beans with it. It you want sulsa & chips you have to order them. It would be a nice touch to give them as a starter. I did give it a 2nd try & sat out on the patio and felt the same way. The good came like it was a to go order. Very disappointed
(2)Lisa I.
Excellent service, excellent drinks and yummy food! This establishment was kind enough to host a drop-in of 23 women from the Women's Social Meetup Group (base: Portland, ME). The service was very attentive (management kept checking in on us as well): they allowed separate checks and somehow the sweet wait person kept track of all of us. The food was very tasty, as were the margaritas that flowed for a good few hours. We stayed an hour past the Meetup, a testament to where we were truly having our happy hour!
(5)Michaela M.
The margarita was delicious. The salsa and chips and Mexican corn were tasty. All the flavor present in the cocktail and the apps were sadly missing in the tacos. They were bland and the tortillas soggy, not even grilled. The service was friendly, but the chefs forgot to add spices, even the most basic salt and pepper in their tacos. Bland food. Not worth the $.
(2)Marie D.
This was a bad experience from the moment we set foot in the door. I asked for a booster seat for my 5 year old granddaughter. They offered me a high chair; no booster seats. All the available tables were in the blinding sun (no window treatments installed). It was about 95 degrees in there and those in our party who had them wore sunglasses. The rest just kept their heads down. Drinks were watery, reminiscent of a 3 star all inclusive resort in Mexico. The food was served in small portions and generally was bland. Quesedillas barely had any filling in them. All 8 in our party (including the 5 year old) doctored up our food with the best we could with the hot sauce and sour cream. Even the salsa that came with the chips was totally without flavor I see the parking lot full to overflowing and lines extending out the door. People, what ARE you thinking?!
(1)Elise P.
Hands down was the worst Mexican restaurant I have ever been to. First of all, what kind of Mexican restaurant charges you for chips and salsa? Chips are $1.25 and salsa is $3.75, which came in small portions, and then you were charged again if you wanted more! For CHIPS AND SALSA! My friend and I split a Grande Nacho for $11, and the portion wouldn't have fed myself alone. The Grande Nachos were very bland, mediocre at best. We got guacamole on the side, which came in a very small dish, and they wanted to charge us again if we wanted a refill. This place is insanely stingy. The bartenders were not warm or welcoming, and they would frequently talk about drama going on between them and their co-workers behind the bar. The building itself is the only professional and enticing thing about that place. I would give this place 0 stars if yelp let me.
(1)Justine J.
I'm really surprised by the bad reviews of this location. I've been a fan of the Portland location since it opened, so I was excited to try out Scarborough's version. The ambiance is certainly not the same -- not nearly as cozy or comfortable inside, and the outside can't beat the feel of Portland's York Street location -- but I thought it was great to have the outdoor option. The service was friendly overall, our waitress seemed knowledgeable (though maybe a bit spacey/overwhelmed), the food came out SO QUICKLY (definitely an advantage over the Portland location), and it was delicious! We'll definitely be back!
(5)John K.
This is not good food people. Overpriced, small portions of food that hardly resembled Mexican food. I lived in Arizona for over 10 years and have had some great Mexican food. You are better off going to Chipotle than here. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. Maine is famous for seafood, not Mexican food and this place proves it.
(1)Stephanie P.
Inconsistent... We went twice. The first was a really great experience. Amazing attentive wait staff. Flavorful food. We left happy. Tonight- a waitress with an "I could care less that you are here attitude" we actually saw her roll her eyes. We overheard a couple of tables complaining about the service. Inattentive is a fair assessment. Super Bland over priced Tacos.. How do you make a taco bland? El rayo knows how. Greasy fundito. (Which was nothing like the fundito at our last meal) even greasier corn fritters. (Again different than last time) What happened. Did recipes change? New/bad cook? Did I enter the twilight zone? I was excited for my meal tonight. However I left disappointed, feeling like I payed way too much for what I got.
(2)Piper P.
This location is WONDERFUL! I'm A regular at the Portland location and thought we would shake it up for happy hour in Scarborough today. You can breathe in here. They actually have a bar. The seating is fun and comfortable (you'll have to visit to understand what I mean). Let's face it: the Portland location, while not lacking in service or great food, is a dive. The food and drinks in Scarborough are great. Kudos to the owner for kicking it up a giant notch!
(5)Kim E.
This was my second time trying el rayo and it was just okay. The food isn't bad, but it's over priced for a Mexican joint. (I love Mexican food). Pro's- the bartender was awesome and knew her stuff. She had a great memorization skills as well. I had three tacos. 2 out of the 3 weren't bad, but the shrimp taco was amazing. I wish I got 3 of those. Plus all the food is local, which is nice to know. Cons- very overpriced. Somehow for a party of 2, (1 of us did the $2 tacos) our bill came to $65! For lunch. I got 2 house margaritas figuring they would be a dollar or 2 cheaper than the speciality drinks with patron, they were $8 a piece for house! You also have to pay for salsa. I've never been to a Mexican place where salsa was $2 for a 2 oz ramekin. The nachos were very bland and tasted like something from applebees. Overall if you want to pay for overpriced Mexican food than this is a great place.
(3)Ron M.
Very good food! Fast service! Margaritas were delicious!!!!
(4)Todd D.
Small portions kind of expensive I'll give a mixed review there are better Mexican places in the area not that bad not that good waitress was nice
(3)maria r.
For starters I wouldn't bother with the guac. It seemed kinda off-color, like it had been sitting around. The chips and salsa (which you pay for) were tasty. The pulled pork and roast pork (w/ pineapple) tacos were outrageously good. None of us loved the mixed rice/beans that comes with the taco plate. The mushroom, rajas, and corn taco was to-die. The fish taco was...well, fishy. But I dont really like fish, so... Maybe That's a good thing for those who do. We didn't do dessert. Oh, there were some nice draft beers. Overall, an hour later I am already craving that mushroom taco. Oh, and the corn tortillas were really corn-y & good.
(3)Chris H.
Happy to see this addition to Scarborough's restaurant selection. Sautéed Swiss chard, rice and beans, and some gf corn jalapeño fritters...
(4)Peter A.
I have eaten at their Portland location many times and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to trying the Scarborough location. Sadly I was disappointed. I took my wife for Sunday brunch. The waitress and other staff where inatentive and detached. There was no attempt on their part to be friendly. We both ordered breakfast dishes. My wife had fresh squeezed orange juice and the breakfast burrito. She enjoyed both. I had a snakebite and an egg plate. I found my meal bland and undersized. The drink was good, I would have ordered another but the only time the waitress came back was to give us the check. I would have loved to like this place its convenient and has good parking. I may give it another chance.
(2)Karen J.
I have been to both of the El Rayo locations. We tried Portland a year or so ago and were not impressed so we never went back. For some reason we thought Scarborough might be different. Wrong. I truly don't understand why this place is always busy - unless it's for the drinking-which may well be the case. It's absolutely not for the food. The new space in Scarborough is very nice. It's big, love the decoration and it's comfortable. The outdoor patio is great. The owners definitely have a knack for creating an inviting space. The food however-where to start? Chips and salsa. It drives me crazy when a Mexican restaurant can't even take the time to make their own chips! The chips are out of a bag and tasteless. The salsa is OK but nothing special. I had a shrimp taco and a pork taco with a side of white rice and black beans. My husband had a steak burrito. Let's talk tortillas. The white flour tortillas are terrible! Tasteless-with a strange texture. A plain white tortilla that is well done can be a snack all on its own. I tried to eat a bite of this alone and it was awful! My shrimp taco was 'ok' although the shrimp were breaded in cornmeal which had a strange texture and flavor. All very bland...the kitchen has no salt shaker? The "cooks" need to taste some of this food before they serve it. The pork taco was so spicy I had to stop after one bite. I think the spice is attempt to hide the zero flavor? The white rice was terrible-not salted! Many hard rice kernels that I almost broke a tooth on. Come on-make an effort! Maybe a little cilantro and lime in the rice? The black beans were mushy and overcooked and flavorless. My husband ate about half of his steak burrito-he said it was ok but much prefers Bruce's Burrito in Yarmouth. If you want a few beers or margaritas and don't care about the food-you'll like El Rayo. If you want authentic and fresh Mexican feed you'll be better off at Chipotle!
(1)Becki D.
We love el rayo in portland and are happy that we can visit them in scarborough now. Stopped in for a quick lunch on a rainy day. The service was great (we were in a hurry). I had the fish bean and rice bowl and my husband had a burrito. Both were great. The chips are wonderful to start but we wish they didn't charge for chips and salsa.
(4)John H.
Awful food that is way overpriced. Spend your time and money somewhere else! However, the wait staff were very friendly and provided efficient service.
(1)James K.
Service is mediocre. Well intentioned but obviously untrained. Food is poor for the price at best. Nachos had unmelted cheese and quesadilla was over cooked with no flavor. We have tried to give them the benefit of the doubt four times but no more. Will not return. Needs new management or something
(1)Taryn S.
This place is pretty good. I think the food itself is yummy--we have gotten fish and mushroom tacos on all three occasions we have visited (we got other tacos as well but I don't remember exactly what they were, still they were pretty good). They were also pretty inexpensive ($2 a piece). The first stop here we each ordered three tacos and it was waaaaay too much food. On our next two visits we each only got two tacos a piece. The drinks are also pretty tasty. I got the margarita that was made with soda (I don't remember the name) and that was pretty tasty for not being the real thing! The problem here is that if you don't get only the $2 tacos it is going to be slightly expensive. Drinks were pricey and they charge for chips and salsa, which is a total bummer considering most places throw that in. I thought the wait staff were all great and very helpful. When we visited with our children they were more than happy to accommodate our requests for meal changes and substitutions.
(3)Ashley C.
Mondays are 5$ burritos, cheap drinks with unlimited salsa and chips during happy hour. Pretty good deal. Burritos were good. Will definitely be coming back for this! Service was great, very attentive, and speedy service.
(5)Lynn F.
Best guacamole I've ever had! And the first place in Maine that I found delicious plantains. This will definitely be a weekly visit.
(5)Jim S.
Stopped in for a quick dinner. Thought they did a nice job. Restaurant is laid out well and hip. Parking is a bust but can use public parking at municipal offices. Wait staff was friendly and service good. Enjoyed the food. A little on the pricy side but still a god experience.
(4)Natalie P.
After hearing positive experiences at the Portland location, a friend and I decided to give this one a try (more accessible in terms of parking, and the building itself is much bigger). We went on a Friday night not long after they had opened, so it was pretty busy, but the 15 minute wait didn't seem unreasonable. Our server was very friendly and seated us at one of the small pub tables close to the bar. I was in the midst of a pretty bad cold, so I ordered one of the available soups--some kind of spicy corn chowder. I also got some nachos with chicken. The server asked if I wanted to "upgrade" my nachos so it would come with lettuce, sour cream, salsa, etc., but for 5 extra dollars, I decided to pass, just getting some sour cream on the side. My friend ordered a carnitas rice & bean bowl. Since it didn't come with salsa, she ordered some as a side. (A side of house salsa was $3--most Mexican restaurants I've been to don't charge for salsa...) Our food came relatively quickly, with my soup first. Perhaps I can blame it on being sick, but I thought the chowder was very bland. It was like someone had just thrown spicy peppers and corn into warm milk. Not terrible, but not great, either. The rest of the food was pretty uninspiring, too. The chicken was dry and had an overpowering taste of lime. There was very little cheese on my nachos. My friend also wasn't raving about her meal, having the same opinion about the tastelessness. She did order a drink and enjoyed it, though. Overall, food was bland and overpriced. Service was great, but is not enough for either of us to return.
(2)Diane P.
Went there on the 4th day open. Waited for a table at the bar--was not asked for outside or inside preference so decided to wait for an inside table. They have a patio with umbrellas but no lighting or insect protection--4 days after opening. That was a huge oversight by the owner. While still waiting in the bar, a table became available and we were promised it as soon as cleaned. A waitress then proceeded to bring a couple who had arrived after we did to the table from outside. We asked the manager why we lost our table and were informed it was the owner. The owner was very conspicuous in his bright pink pants. The food is lackluster, overly spicy. Ordered chicken nachos and got a plate of chips with cheese and lettuce/tomato---supposedly they were chicken but we only found a few chucks of brownish gray meat on the whole plate. The serving plates are small and you are not given separate plates. The bar requires staff to crawl under it---very poorly thought out. Overall, a huge disappointment. The owner decided to critique with the manager before leaving. He stated "you need to fix this or that" to the manager. Ps....it should have been fixed and ironed out BEFORE you opened. I will definitely not be back. $40.00 before tip with no alcohol for chicken nachos, a microscpic fundito not worth the money, and 3 tacos with rice and beans. There are better places in the next town.
(1)John M.
I went for an early dinner around 5pm on a Monday. The service was great. Really nice atmosphere. Their normally $8-9 burritos were $5 each (happy hour, I assume). I started with the Papas Fritas. Slightly disappointed that it was presented as a plate of home fries, but that is just me nitpicking aesthetics. How one cuts a potato shouldn't really matter, it just looked like a breakfast side. But it was cooked to perfection, nicely salted with super delicious aioli. I decided to go for the Pollo burrito. Also cooked perfectly, the chicken was great and the ingredients fresh. I wasn't blown away, but it was very good. I will return for sure.
(3)Cynthia C.
Worst Mexican food ever! If you can't make a taco, you can't cook Mexican food. I'm from CA, so I know what real Mexican food tastes like, this restaurant is not even close! Threw away twenty dollars worth of food, burnt with no flavor. Yuk is all I can say. Don't waste your money in my opinion.
(1)Keith B.
The third time is not always a charm. On our first visit they screwed up the order and then the bill, but we thought the service was good. It was their first week so we understood because we always had four star experiences at the Portland location. On our second visit my wife had a steak ( beef) taco and the meat was served more rare than tartare. It wasn't cooked. How does that happen? The manager apologized , removed it from the bill and said " I'm sure you didn't order this tartare and I'll have to discuss with the kitchen". Thank you, good idea. I had a chicken rice bowl and it was fine , no complaints this time. Tonight , our third visit, it just gets worse. The service has come down a notch or two ( slow ). I had the chicken rice bowl again, but this time it came with a huge piece of fatty uncooked chicken skin. Really gross and unappetizing . It ruined it. They have a kitchen problem. My wife thought her taco lacked the usual spices. It was bland. The margarita's are good . I really hope this place gets better. Right now they're enjoying a packed house, but unless they improve it won't last. A lack of parking at peak times is also a problem , but we parked next door and it worked . We're seasonal residents., so maybe I'll try again next year , but not until then
(1)Jess S.
Little wait time to be seated, longer wait time to be greeted, but she was pleasant and attentive after the greeting. The corn/jalapeno fritters are DELICIOUS!! The chef sent out some complimentary chile fritas, which were good, too! For dinner, we got six different tacos and shared them - they were all tasty and filling!! A little overpriced ($4/taco with no side), so we fed three adults (with beers) and a toddler for $70...not cheap, but it was fun! Give them a try...their happy hour looks like a deal!
(4)M G.
Loud,loud,loud. We went on a busy Friday night and got seated at a small table in bar. We had guacamole, salsa and chips as an app, chicken enchilada special and Key Lime pie for dessert. Our service was excellent. We could barely hear each other speak, a trip to the bathroom was a nice respite from the noise. There was excellent Mexican music playing in there. The skinny Margarita made with Fresca is my favorite and I'll just go to the York Street location instead. It appears this is a family orientated spot, kids and seniors alike. It cool to look at but needs something to absorb the noise.
(3)Kathleen M.
Absolutely delicious!!! I had a fish taco and a mushroom taco and some chips and salsa. The service was friendly and the tacos were out of this world. I will be back!!
(5)Johnny C.
Ate here for lunch a couple weeks after they opened, expecting the fury of grand opening snafus and patron demand to have reached its zenith and dissipated by now. And I wasn't disappointed in that regard. Even at noon, my party and I did not have to wait for a large table for two. One negative, the parking lot - too damn small for the number of seating they expect to accommodate. Unlike in the Old Port, there is no off street parking nearby unless you want to risk residential street parking and hopping across a 4 lane road! I had to wait (a few min.) for a space to open up. Interior. It has A/C, it's bright, colorful, funky, and clean. Really nothing not to like here. The food: I had the grilled steak quesadilla, and ginger smack refresco, and shared a nacho plate. My buddy had the yucatan burrito. Maybe I had great expectations for a 9.25 quesadilla but the menu said it came with steak and cheese, nothing more. And that's exactly what I got. The steak did not taste seasoned at all, the cheese really didn't complement or detract, it was just rather.... boring. :'( Ginger Smack refresco? again, eh.. What makes it "smack"? I can't tell you, nor could our waitress. Did it come in a medium size glass with 60% ice cubes? YES. Did it taste fizzy? YES. Was I impressed? NO. My friends Yucatan burrito had more taste to it, but did it blow me away? NO. I hate to sound like a wet blanket, but my experience is not unique to a one time visit. I've eaten at the Old Port El Rayo more than once prior, and sure, they talk a big game, and the atmosphere is always fun and light, however those positive things a delicious, lustful meal experience does not make. I believe El Rayo is over-hyped, and underwhelming when it comes to affordable, unforgettable food, and there are better places in town to go eat in my opinion.
(2)Eileen G.
Perhaps I went on a bad day based on the other reviews. Friendly staff, nice outdoor seating, and a tasty margarita gave it the 2 stars. Food was bland, taco falling apart it was so soggy. Quesadilla very plain. I wanted to love it. Dissatisfied and disappointed.
(2)Than P.
I go back to the mayflower, so that makes me a.... 12th generation Yankee, right? For some reason, I grew up without even salt and pepper, and poor little thanny didn't know what he was missing. Enter El Rayo. $5 Margaritas (happy hour)- delicious and large. Tacos- all delicious and flavorful. But here's the thing. El Rayo seems to have a little bit of an identity crisis. It's not a fancy spot, but costs like it wants to be, or plans to be, or something? No, it's not ridiculous, but you don't add $2 to a dish for no reason, right? I think El Rayo in Scarborough may get away with it because it doesn't have much competition nearby. And things do taste decent but...why add a couple dollars to everything, El Rayo? Other Mexican restaurants are cheaper. A decent happy hour spot if you're not in the old port.
(3)Shane L.
Oh man what a difference from the first time that I sat down for some apps in my last review. I was so excited to take my family here for lunch and sit on the back patio and I was not impressed at all with the service, the food or pretty much anything on this day. Maybe it was a bad day but as I am reading other reviews it seems that the service has dipped from day one. Here is how our experience went. As we were waiting for someone to greet us in a empty restaurant, the person that was in front of us stated that she had one more friend coming to join her efor lunch and the girl at the greet station yelled back .. "Well we are not allowed to seat anyone unless the entire party is here sorry so take a seat" .. pointed to the waiting area then asked us how many in our party ... woah. We sat outside and when we asked our waitress what the specials were, she had no idea and then described it as "tamales with goat meat in them I think ... or something" my wife looked horrified and was turned off. She was unattentive and left us hanging for about 20 minutes then took our order. The food was entirely sub par. My burrito was cold in the middle, my wife got the carne asada and she did not like it at all .. said it was bland and dry. My son got the cheese quesodilla and it was burnt on the bottom and very dry. Then we heard another waitress ask a table next to us if they wanted some free food because the kitchen has been messing up orders all day. I dont think I will be coming back here with the family seeing as to how my wife was mortified and a little angry lol. I might still stop in for a dos equis after work at the bar but other than that it is such a shame seeing as to how this place is brand spanking new. Oh Well.
(2)Allan B.
The best word to describe El Rayo is "disappointment". We ordered two Taco Plates. The tacos were very small and filled with 90% greens. The small amount of meat at the bottom could best be described as suffering from "Steam Table Fatigue". The chicken was just tasteless; the chopped beef had some flavor but there was little meat in the taco. The tacos were accompanied with a small quantity of bland white rice; and refried beans that just tasted tired. The one high point was the service. Excellent, professional, friendly. This was the only reason I didn't give El Rayo one star.
(2)Barbara O.
We were dying to eat here and on a rainy, dank Saturday, we decided to stop in. The decor was retro/hipster and the open kitchen added a Big City element to the atmosphere. Excited to try some fresh and updated Mexican we approached the host station with excitement - the server that greeted (glared at) us killed that buzz real fast (she may want to rethink her career-we watched her wait tables, as well. Yikes!). However, once seated we were greeted by our attentive and friendly server who took our drink order and returned it in pretty short fashion. It was National Taco Day so we ordered two tacos each as well as chips with salsa/guacamole and the Golden Jet Pineapple. Salsa and guacamole were fresh and bright but that pineapple? Off the rails-I fell in love. The juxtaposition of the sweet, salt and heat? Seductive and addicting! The tacos were excellent - the fish was fresh, the BBQ pork was sweet with a subtle kick to finish. My husband enjoyed the chicken and didn't want the steak taco to end. The corn tortillas were soft, had just the right balance of cornmeal which wasn't masked by oil. And the crunchy, veggie slaw was crisp and provided the perfect complement to the tender proteins. The service was slow due to understaffing in the kitchen but our server kept checking in and the atmosphere was light so, we barely (I, barely - my husband was extremely hangry) noticed. We will absolutely visit again but I may survey the host station first. It will have to be a day where my desire for fresh and interesting Mexican outweighs my need to be greeted with baseline manners. No need for a red carpet-hello and welcome would suffice.
(4)Edgardo G.
Poor service poor staff. I went to pick up food the girl behind the counter didn't give me a bag for my food. She was rude and it looked like she was working for her tip. Why should I tip if I'm picking up my own food and for her to do her job. Food was cold and poorly thrown around.
(1)Sarah H.
I am happy to write an update to this review, having returned to El Rayo Scarborough for lunch. I had a delicious rice and bean bowl with seasoned fish and fresh avocado, which came garnished with chips. It was really fresh and tasty, and very filling. We also tried the Maine potatoes and aioli appetizer, and it wasn't what we expected but VERY yummy. This was definitely an improved experience over our last visit. Keep it up, El Rayo!
(4)Evan L.
I have been to the Portland location several times, and I rated that one a "3" overall. This one was not as good. The atmosphere is significantly tackier (waaaay too much non-ironic neon pink, for starters), and it feels overly large, kind of like a smaller version of that Clambake place down by Pine Point, or a highway rest stop food court. There is alsoschwag being sold (as if this place is that culturally important) and overall it felt like one of the touristy, ethnic-themed cafes at EPCOT. The highway in the background of the outdoor seating was not that great, either. We started with a plate of the fried peppers, which were not batter dipped but just a bunch of greasy, not-spicy green peppers covered in large salt flakes -- blech, especially for $8 -- and a coffee. It looked like they'd saddled our waitress with about a dozen tables, so the service was slow. When my partner tried to sub guac for some of the dairy items on the burrito she wanted to order, she was told there was a $4.50 upcharge. We immediately got the check and left, intending never to return.
(2)Diane H.
Agreeing with another yelper, 3.5 stars is the overall rating Walked in on a quiet Monday night and the host was ready to seat us in a large comfortable booth. The ambience is open, bright and nice. Maggie our server was solicitous, and we started with chips and salsa. Really-- charging for this? Definitely resulted in a lower rating. Raise the other prices $0.25 and give them for free. 2 orders of tacos and 1 chicken BBQ quesadilla. The tacos were enjoyed, the quesadilla was bland with too much cheese. I've had the quesadilla in carry out before and it was much more flavorful. One diner is gluten free, and liked the menu highlights. Dinner for three $48, with no alcohol, a little pricey for Mexican. We will be back.
(3)Lynne L.
Excellent fast Mexican food! I had the pescado bowl. The fish was plentiful and flaky, over perfect black beans and rice, and topped with tangy coleslaw. Portion sizes are reasonable and prices are low, which allows for the opportunity to enjoy an appetizer or dessert. We went for the mushroom fondito, very good. The hot sauce on the table appears to be homemade and was delicious. Highly recommended.
(5)Don N.
Met some friends here for a New Year's Eve meal and I couldn't have been more pleased. First, let me say that I have been an El Rayo fan for a long time. When I first started eating in Portland I had no less than three friends in the first month take me to their surprise "favorite place" and it was El Rayo each time - and these are people with wildly different tastes: one was a vegetarian, one a confirmed carnivore, and one is a friend with a number of food allergies (gluten, dairy, soy) and very picky about the places she chooses. Atmosphere, food, drink, and service all excellent, all unique. The new restaurant in Scarborough is different, but all the essentials are there. It has the same great food and drinks, yet the atmosphere, maybe because there is more space than the Old Port site, feels more varied: it feels like a place I could come with the kids, or with a bunch of buddies. So we met our friends who were already seated and ordered almost immediately. The waitress was the perfect blend of friendly, attentive, and respectful - she engaged the banter but didn't interrupt our conversations: she accommodated the weird requests my friend had for the drink with humor and quick assurance. Without becoming too long winded, let me just say the food was everything I have come to expect from El Rayo, the drinks too. I love the spaciousness of the new place, it is open without losing its warmth. Service is exemplary and parking is so easy. In short: two El Rayo's; two different experiences; both excellent.
(5)