El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant
3400 Bagley St, Detroit, MI, 48216
El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Mexican Appetizers
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Eggs And Omelettes
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Mexican Dinners
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant
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Mexican Appetizers
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Eggs And Omelettes
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Mexican Dinners
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Detroit for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3400 Bagley St
Detroit, MI, 48216 - Phone (313) 841-3700
- Website https://elzocalo-detroit.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Kevin M.
I've seen my share of overrated reviews on yelp, but it's rare to find one that I believe i underrated like El Zocalo. The 3 star rating this place received isn't terrible, but it almost prevented me from going in and opting instead for the old standy, Xochiomilco's, but sometimes it's better not to listen to your fellow yelpers and this was one of those cases. It seems like because this place is being compared to 10 other Mexican restaurants within walking distance, it's supposed to somehow "out do" the rest of them. And I guess technically, if they want to remain in business, that's true... but I'm going to rate it in it's own right, and not on whether or not if it has a gimmick or a signature dish that makes them stand out. Though it was not super busy, the service was absolutely outstanding. 5 different staff probably had a hand in waiting on us. We were really impressed with the team work. The salsa was ok, but the chips were on the run of the mill side... Mexican places tend to get graded pretty hard when there chips and salsa, but I have had better in both categories. Not bad, just not exciting. Thankfully, that was the only lackluster part of the meal. The Queso Flameco was great. For an entree, we split a combo plate with chimichaungas, flautas, a bean and cheese burrito, and something else that escapes me at the moment.. but everything was delicious. 5.50 for 24 oz Dos Equis Amber? Yes please. And keep em coming. Also, the blue margarita the size of a 10 gallon aquarium for 6.75.... whoever wrote the view I read that said the drinks were expensive needs to have their head examined. I also saw about 20 other foo foo drinks making their way out of the bar area that looked pretty interesting and tasty. I didn't really know what to make of the interior of the place. Part old, part cheesy, part cliche... but I think it may have added to it's charm. Think I saw a big patio upstairs, looking forward to trying that out when it warms up. I haven't been to enough Mexican Town restaurants recently to tell you how this stacks up in the grand scheme of things, but I enjoyed my visit here and plan on returning.
(4)Samir N.
I decided to stop in here after the fireworks so I would not have to wait in the traffic to get home. The top shelf blanco margarita is pretty potent. I got halfway through before I decided the ability to drive home in one piece superceded my need to catch a buzz. It was really smooth and tasted delicious. We also split a flan - they dress it up with chocolate and whip cream (which I scraped off). It was not bad, but the texture was a little less springy than I would have liked. The chips were really tasty, and really good chips are such a rarity. The salsa is also not bad.
(3)Courtney H.
Friendly and fast service. Good food and margaritas!
(5)Tania S.
I went with few friends from work yesterday to el zocalo. we were 5 girls, 3 liked it and 2 didnt that is why i am giving it 3 stars...i liked the atmosphere, the service was great, the nachos were really excellent. 2 of my friends didnt like their order of burritos . thought the chicken wasnt the best. 1 ordered tacos and loved it. i would recommend this place for first timers in mexican town.
(3)Rachel C.
I remember liking this place a lot more the last time I went. Next time I think I'll try another place in Mexican Town that I've never been to, but it wasn't totally horrible. Portions are really good, you probably won't leave hungry. Prices are average also, in the $8-12 range I think. I think what ticked me off was that on the menu it stated just below all of the dinner selections: Cheese $1.10. Since when does a Mexican restaurant NOT put cheese on their shiz?! And loads of it?!? So basically my $8 taco plate was now $9 if I wanted cheese. A minor whine, but still. I guess this is good news for the lactose intolerant or otherwise non-cheese-eating patrons. Then to add fuel to the fire, I know my grandma didn't see that part of the menu and she ordered her tacos and the waiter says casually, "Do you want cheese on your tacos?" Of course she said yes. My eyes narrowed when he looked at me for my order and I had to call them out on it. I am often a pretty easy-going restaurant guest, but I thought it kind of scuzzy to just casually ask guests if they wanted cheese as if it's a free option, when really it's an extra charge. In the end though, it's a buck...but a dollar is a dollar! I had the flour tacos, Gramz had the regular tacos. They're tacos. They came with rice and beans. Not much can be done to mess these up...they arrived hot and fairly quickly. Besides the cheese scandal, service was otherwise good. Oh I am not a big fan of their mild salsa...it was like a glorified ketchup. I mixed some of it in to the hot for a good balance.
(3)Mike W.
We went to El Zocalo for dinner the other night. I wanted to go back to one of the places in Mexicantown that I thoroughly enjoyed but decided we wanted to try something new instead. I expected average food at a decent price with a pitcher of alcohol that cost the same as 2 meals combined. El Zocalo delivered. I guess the advantage to El Zocalo over some of the other places around is that they do indeed have a liquor license. So if you're interested in margaritas to give you that "Mexican" experience, just be aware that the carafe of booze comes with a premium price tag. $20 pitchers of anything in a place where the average dinner price is close to $8 seems wild to me but I guess I'm on board if it keeps the business alive. The interesting thing about El Zocalo is that the restaurant part was super quiet and lit like an old dentist office but somewhere in the background they have huge get togethers with loud music and clapping. Seeing what was going on in the banquet hall type area and all it's excitement made me wish the restaurant part had a little more to offer. Needless to say, people should check this place out only after checking out the higher rated places on Yelp first.
(3)Kate H.
I've only been once and it was just pretty good. I certainly wasn't blown away, but it wasn't really disappointing or anything either. The tacos were tasty and fresh, as was the queso flameado, and the service was fine. The chips and salsa were totally blah. I'm guessing like most places, they probably have something that they're awesome at that I didn't know to try. It wasn't expensive necessarily, but with all the other less expensive and superior tasting options in the area, I'll probably never bother going to El Zocalo again.
(2)Anthony B.
We had lunch there on a Saturday, but they do not offer a lunch menu at lunch prices then, only M-F. Fair enough. The chicken they prepare there was excellent, my wife had it on her tostadas, I had it in my enchiladas and my father-in-law had it in his burritos. We also had the ground beef in a dish which was really good as well. Our waitress was great with keeping the refills coming on our soft drinks and our chips and salsa full as well. Then as we were walking outm the owner came up to the door and thanked us for coming, asking how everything was. He was really kind with my kids, then he gave all 6 of us a tour of the kitchen! i couldn't believe it, the place was spotlees, very clean. That right there is more than enough reason to go back. Everyone in the back of the house was really nice. It looked like he has a lot of new equipment back there. He took us through the whole place, then out back to the patio which I did not know they had. I kept checking the floors and I couldn't find a grain of rice on them. The dining room is very clean and well lit as well, unlike Xolimilcos which looks like a dive, even though their food is good as well. I have no interest in going to their kitchen. If you want good food and nice and clean, well lit dining room, then this is your place. The owner takes a ot of pride in his place as he should. You can tell by the new landscaping on the side of the building as well.
(5)S. E.
This place has the most standard of standard mexican fare. Think beans, rice, and chopped iceberg lettuce topped with tomatoes with every main - whether it be tacos, or enchiladas. I firmly believe tamales are a good signifier of how good a mexican restaurant is, and these weren't very good. Square-ish, likely because of how they are stacked together, that barely came wrapped. Poor quality, and nearly tasteless. Oh! But they give you a bowl of 'mexican sauce' to mask the blandness. The service was great though. Very friendly staff and very quick. If you want huge portions of low quality mexican, go for it. If you want great mexican food that explores the flavours and scents and textures of true Mexico, go elsewhere. The margaritas were flourescent green - bad mix, and not fresh! Isn't mexican food known for its freshness??
(2)Pat M.
Comfort authentic Mexican. Good quality ingredients fair price.
(4)Brittany S.
My husband and I went to El Zocalo yesterday mid afternoon. At first, we were a little put off because we came in through the back and it smelled like mop water. The salsa they brought out was really good. I got the chicken enchiladas and he got the chimichangas. Probably some of the best enchiladas I've had. Just the right amount of pablano sauce and cheese. I was really sad when I left my leftovers in the to-go box on the table! He said his chimis were good enough 7/10. Our waiter wasn't very attentive, considering we were the only people in the place. Had the service been better, I would have given this place a solid 4. We'll definitely be back though!
(3)Phillip K.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Detroit. I have been going here for 26 years. The chips and salsa are so good, you are tempted to fill up on them. The botana is my personal favorite, excellent and huge, enough for dinner and tomorrow's lunch. Staff is efficient and fast. Always space available. I would recommend this over Xochi's in a heartbeat.
(5)RE A.
Watch what you ear here because the food can be greasy. Baby roach crawled across table and server was not bothered. Smashed it. We left immediately thereafter.
(1)Kasey M.
I've been going to El Zocalo for years and I'm never disappointed. Good food in generous proportions, tasty cocktails and nice servers. If you're looking for fancy this isn't your place. But if you have a craving for popular Mexican food- tacos el carbone, burritos, fajitas, tacos, chicken fried steak, etc. and yummy margaritas or a beer- this is your place. Great with kids as the food comes out quickly and the kids menu is value priced. Another bonus is the dedicated parking lot out back.
(4)Barbara K.
We have been coming here for years, LOVE .. LOVE the food, best in Mexican Town, great Margaritas, the service is great and the owner comes to your table and is very friendly. I recomend this restaruant to all my friends. Never to busy and can not understand why? Come on all you people you do not know what you are missing.
(5)Heather F.
This place was recommended to me by a friend of mine and I'm so glad we took her up on it. FANTASIC! For starters we munched on chips and salsa nothing over the top. Then for an appitiezer we ordered the nachos. Yummy to my tummy...chips and white cheese piled high. I had sangria for the first time and I'm sad...that I didn't try it sooner. :) On to the main course.....chicken fajitas for me and tacos for my husband. The fajitas were the best I've ever had, my husband agrees, he started eatting them after his tacos. He said his tacos were OK, nothing to fave about but the fajitas were the best. The chicken was moist and broke apart easily and it was served in this really tastey sauce. I really enjoyed the whole experience at El Zocalo's and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Onur U.
For brunch before the Lions game we decided to go to Mexican Town in Detroit. I hadn't been to Mexican town in probably 10 years so I was looking forward to seeing what Mexican food in Detroit was like. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. We went to El Zocalo which was completely empty on a Sunday morning. All the parking lots in the area were barren so I guess Mexican brunch isn't a big draw in Detroit. The chilaquiles that I ordered were overcooked and drowning in thin salsa. The beans, rice, and iceberg lettuce on the side of the plate were just bad. Soggy beans, reheated rice, and the lettuce looked like it had frozen in the refrigerator. There may be good spots in Mexican town, but I don't think I'll be going back without a specific recommendation, and I'm guessing brunch isn't the best time to visit either.
(1)kelly k.
haven't been to Mexican town in a long time so took the family down last night. We walked into El Zocalo (because there wasn't a line... first mistake!) Everything was lousy! Service was slow, the margs were poor and the color of neon green (always a bad sign), the lighting was horrible, and the eggs ranchero looked like something my 5 year old made. Will never return!!
(1)Adam P.
Aside from the idiot in the parking lot that almost ran my date over and paying for parking being a guest. The restaurant was EXTREMELY welcoming. I was very surprised how dead they were for a Friday night. Kinda made me wonder until I sat down. The Mexican waiter was very attentive although with the little english he spoke he was right on que with every thing. I ordered a Sangria and my date ordered a Blue Margarita. Let me tell you!!! The taste of this sangria, although more on the sweeter side, was outta this world!! What a concoction of orange, melon, cherry, lemon, lime flavors and a sissy glass to boot, but I had no shame, The taste was well worth it. Her Blue Margarita was fantastic and seconds were ordered of course. We Just stopped in for appetizers, so of course the queso flameado was ordered, Mmmm The dripping cheeses and sausage mixture was eaten till the last tiny bite.. Very happy with my partner being a picky eater, LOVED it!! I will for sure be back!!! Why people don't go here more often is confusing to me. Some of the other places in Mexican town can be so crowded, this is a great change of pace... For Good service, tex-mex of appetizers and drinks 5 outta 5 stars. I'm yet to try the entrees but I promise, I will be back..
(5)Hitesh C.
Hmm, not sure what to say as i want to like it but didn't enjoy it even though it had a nice real mexican feel to it. We were originally heading for Xochimilco Restaurant as it was recommended but the queue was from outside and looked like a good 45min wait.. oppersite was El Zocalo which had no queue so we decided to go there, i'm guessing this is where we made the mistake. The service was excellent and looked family run, the food just tasted like taco bell's very normal taste and common.. i just didn't get the Mexican experience i was expecting? Its hard to explain. The prices were reasonable, maybe i just picked the wrong item. I may give this another go..
(3)Vic L.
I've been going here for 25 years. My first date with my wife was here. It wasn't an accident, I wanted to impress her with great food. I've called this my favorite resturant for most of my life. This is where I went for most of my celebrations, like birthdays, even though its an hour's drive away. I don't feel that way anymore. For the past year the food has been average at best, and sometimes not even that. For example, they used to serve fresh tortilla chips, but lately they're obviously from a bag, and sometimes stale at that. There's a picture here of their nacho appetizer. That's how it *used* to look, and yes I ordered it every visit. The last time the toppings were sparse and the jalapenos looked like cheap GFS pickled jalapeno rings. Last month we ate here and our bill came to $150 but 5 of 6 people said the food was so bad they'd never go back. So I talked to a manager, and he said "they'd take care of everything if we came back." Three of us came back. They only comped my meal, I guess since I was the one who originally complained. I tried explaining that the other two had also had issues. I told them the above and they said, "Well then, don't worry, we'll take care of everything today." Again, the food was decent. But to our surprise, they handed the other 2 a bill at the end. Oh well. I tried. There's better places 10 minutes from home. I have many fond memories of the resturant this used to be. To be fair, I still think the "queso flameado" appetizer is better here than anywhere else. Also, the people I was with said the sangrias were the best they'd had.
(2)Casey O.
I had lunch at El Zocalo today during quite a busy visit to Detroit - boy did it hit the spot. First up was the house Margarita, absolutely delicious. We dined on chips and salsa (I stuck to the mild salsa - the spicy had a real kick to it!) My colleague and I both enjoyed the beef enchiladas - just so tasty. The portions were generous and even the sides (rice, beans) were on point. The real highlight of the meal however was the queso flameido appetizer. Fresh flour tortillas dipped in rich cheesey goodness. My colleague is gluten free and the friendly staff were able to accommodate her as well. This was a real highlight of our visit to Detroit!
(5)Christina G.
Pretty good most of the time. We like to come here after a baseball game or red wings. This last experience was good. Food was good. Service was great!! Up charge of $1.75 for cheese on a $2 taco seems like a lot. Piña colada is excellent!!!!!
(4)Christiana Y.
The food is freaking fantastic! I had the messy burrito. The server was awful, but the manager came over and smoothed things out. Manager was wonderful. Did I mention I loved the food?
(4)Ana L.
If you are looking for boring, same as any commercial Mexican restaurant then this is the place for you. This place is catered to safe eaters, suburban people or visitors from Canada. If you want to explore Yelp and venture out to other Mexican restaurants in southwest Detroit. You won't be disappointed. This place has severed the same thing for 20 years. BLAH!
(1)Josh B.
So here is some back story. I am from Chicago and was hoping to get some awesome Mexican food in Detroit. El Zocalo had the best reviews and was fairly priced so we'd figure we would check it out. Pros: The ambiance in the restaurant is quite nice (3.5/5) and our waitress was awesome (5/5). The chips and salsa were also very good (5/5). You can also ask for hotter salsa. Cons: The food was rather inauthentic. It was not like Taco Bell, but I ordered tacos with traditional cilantro and onions on top. I was charged extra for the onions and she thought they may have run out of cilantro, which was kind of surprising. The food came and my tacos were deep fried. Which was very unexpected. Typically tacos are not deep fired. If I wanted something that was deep fried id get a chimichanga. I got shredded beef as a filling and it was rather bland to the point where I needed salsa. Verdict: I really didn't care for this restaurant. There seem to be better restaurants down the street, like the one know for its tamales. I'm going to try to eat there next time. The good news is that everything was edible and fairly priced.
(2)Melissa M.
Can't speak on the food, just came here for margaritas which were wonderful. This place is very colorful and bright which was nice, and our server was awesome! The salsa was really good, I liked the spicy kind. The chips were obviously store bought though:( I was also super confused about why they had office chairs at their bar..
(3)Shreepal C.
Nice food, nice place... Worth the visit for some authentic food!! Ask for hot sauce and hot salsa!! Worth it if you like spicy food!!
(5)Richard B.
I got the combo plate. The food was average to me. Service was very fast and the prices are very reasonable. Overall I thought it was an average experience. For that reason I give them three stars.
(3)Charity F.
Im guessing everyone is happy with this dirty establishment. I was hoping for a great experience because our waiter was super nice, but of course that doesnt make up for the fact all my dishes were dirty. Everything had some crap on it, i went through 5 glass before i gave up on receiving a clean glass. Even the water pitcher had a piece of food stuck on it.I was just beyond grossed out by my experience that i will not be returning ever again. Hopefully this was just a one time thing and other experience a cleaner environment. I would give 5 stars to our waitress because she was friendly and super fast with other people in my party who weren't as grossed out as me and continued to order food.
(1)Gerald C.
The food was boring and bland. Their idea of guacamole was just smashed avacados, nothing else.
(1)Blaise B.
Probably my least favorite restaurant in Mexican Town. If you enter from the parking lot you have to walk through the kitchen to get to your table, which seems unsanitary and weird to me. It was a poor start to the evening. The sangria was good. The salsa was on the bland side- even the spicy salsa. What really blew it for me, though, was that I ordered the ground beef enchiladas and they had bits of peppers mixed in with the ground beef. Needless to say, it is extremely hard to pick around peppers when they're inside an enchilada. I ended up filling up on chips and salsa and rice and beans. They need to put stuff like that in the menu... I would have ordered something else. The patio does look awesome for summertime, though. I may return just for some outdoor sangria after dinner at Xochimilco's :)
(2)Brittiany R.
El Zocalo has SO much potential! I wanted patio seating and El Zocalo was calling my name. They have a nice raised patio that was playing salsa which reminded me of being in Miami. El Zocalo has another outdoor patio area that is connected to the restaurant and bit more shaded but for some reason, it was not in use. With all of the space available for outdoor seating, El Zocalo could be an amazing outdoor venue! I'm thinking a small sand area with a pool and outdoor bar to really take Mexican Town to the next level. They have the space for it... with a slight investment, El Zocalo would be the go-to Mexican restaurant without a doubt. Even with a slight renovation of their outdoor space and a vamped up menu, this place has potential to be a top contender. Their menu is a bit more limited than nearby Mexican American restaurants but offers the typical fare most would expect. My food tasted typical... if that's a taste :) The staff was quick and attentive and my experience was about as typical as their menu.
(3)Bam B.
I love this place. The dishes are authentic and hardy. They have tequila tasting once a month that ate really a lot of fun and very informative about how its made and the different types of tequilas.
(4)Jonas G.
Walked through the kitchen to be seated. It was incredibly confusing, but I suppose it shows confidence in their cleanliness. The environment was quiet and there were few people there. This was a Tuesday night. Waiting staff was attentive and quick on the refills. The food came out within ten minutes. The wet burrito was very large and delicious. It is presented very beautifully for all the instagrammers out there.
(4)Steven L.
Great décor, friendly staff, clean kitchen and good food. Nothing spectacular but very good. We will definitely be back. In addition, the pineapple margaritas was sublime. However, the search continues for great Mexican food in Detroit. Any suggestions.
(3)Kristy P.
Xochimilco's was busy so we tried El Zocalo for lunch. Our waitress ignored us/forgot us for quite a while and other tables seated after us had all received their food. We asked another waiter what happened to our waitress. She came out shortly after that. She brought us our food which was NOT all the correct order but we just ate it anyway. The food was mediocre. Not bad but nothing to really remember. Water was not refilled. We were a group of 7 and the gratuity was added (20%) to our bill. When we asked about it we were told we "should have made a reservation and our food would have been prepared faster." Really really rude waitress who did not deserve a 20% tip and very blah food. Next time we will try another place.
(2)Betty B.
This place was ok. WE love going to Mexicantown and we always go to Xochimilco, but thought wewould try something different. The food isnt as good and is more expensive.
(2)Mark R.
Absolutely horrible!! We both had the fajitas. I had beef and my gal had chicken. Where do I begin? From the start, the chips were greasy and the salsa was bland. The margaritas were on the extreme sweet side (yes I know, how do you screw up a drink)!! The beef was course and stringy but doable. The chicken was as if it was a precooked frozen chix breast that was reheated. Precooked would be giving them the benefit of the doubt bc if they actually destroyed a perfectly good piece of raw fresh chicken, then shame on them! They could have at least cut the chicken into strips to make it look like fresh cooked chicken, as opposed to three large pieces! Garbage!! Stay away!!!
(1)Allison F.
My sister-in-law held her wedding reception in El Zocalo's banquet room last year. My husband and I remember the food being fresh, spicy and satisfying. Eating here is like walking back in time. Think wood-grain walls, cushioned chairs on wheels, carved wooden spool room dividers. The glasses are also set back in the 80s. We ordered two Cokes and they were served in what I'd estimate to be 8oz. drinking glasses. Let's be real, the average American drinks more than 8oz. of anything at a meal. We got three refills apiece at dinner! I felt bad for the server. She was excellent, by the way. Super-friendly, and she kept the tiny refills coming. We went back for dinner recently and were sorely disappointed. We both ordered chicken enchiladas then smashed some chips and salsa while we waited. Except we couldn't tell the difference between the regular and spicy salsa! I am notoriously boring when it comes to foods, especially spicy stuff. But their salsa was tame! I asked a busboy for something to make the salsa spicier such as a chili paste or pepper seeds, but he didn't understand me and walked away. When our enchiladas arrived, Jacob and I instantly noticed all the cheese piled on top. There was half a bag of cheese on these things. They also weren't very full of chicken. It's obvious they rely on cheese rather than actual substance. The chicken was fine, but again, not spicy or bold at all. It's like American-Mexican further whitewashed to fit the tastes of some of those who visit Mexicantown twice a year for "culture". Totally safe, nothing spicy, nothing extraordinary. I wouldn't dine here again. Their enchiladas can't touch Mi Pueblo and they really need to kick up the seasoning and spices on their food.
(2)Alan B.
I love this place! It is my go to Mexican restaurant. The el zocolo combo has a little bit of everything and is a good value for what you get.
(5)Meredith E.
Lesson learned. If every restaurant in the area has a wait, and one does not... don't go there. The restaurant was Florida hot. The air was very moist and not comfortable for enjoying a meal. The only saving grace was the variety of Mexican beer. The pork burrito was ok and my guacamole never showed up. The waitress was MIA from when she sat our food on the table until we requested the bill. I would have liked a drink refill, more salsa and find the whereabouts of my guac. From when we were done eating until we cashed out was over an hour. In my view I could see the waitress had tables at every corner of the restaurant. I understand why she was never around. Still unacceptable.
(2)Carmen V.
Love Love Love this place! Excellent portions of food, not too pricey, wait staff is GREAT and the restaurant is clean! We especially enjoy sitting out on the patio! Food is typical, in that it is "safe" Mexican dishes. Nothing like tongue tacos or even taquitos . Was a bit surprised, however the staff were very attentive and food service was quick!
(4)Mylo R.
The food was ok i've been a couple of times nothing special kinda bland food. I went because my brother loved it there and the prices arent bad.
(2)Tony P.
The best Mexican food in the entire state of Michigan. Super quick service, nice and knowledgable staff, and the food is just amazing. If you're in the Detroit area, El Zocalo should be your first choice restaurant for any Mexican food or food in general. So delicious.
(5)Debbie Z.
The day after Cinco de Mayo me and one of my friends decided to go to El Zocalo after work - around 5:30ish. Got there and they were still cleaning up the parking lot from the day before. You would have thought this would've been done already. Oh well. Ordered a Chimichanga and the waitress asked me if I wanted cheese on it. I told her I never had one, should I and she said yes. My friend ordered a quasadilla and we had chips and salsa in front of us and ordered a glass of wine. The food came, nothing special, quite bland. The salsa was also bland. Nothing bad, but nothing exceptional. El Zocalo is A-ok only. Received the bill and noticed that the cheese was extra - you would have thought the waitress would have said something especially since I had never had a Chimichanga. Will I go back, probably not - there are too many Mexican restaurants in this area that I have to try!!!!
(3)Danny W.
I came specifically for and only ordered the fried ice cream, so this rating is just for that single menu item. I will say that irrespective of the remainder of your dining experience, the fried ice cream ought to more than make the trip a valuable use of your time. . . . So make sure to save room for dessert!!
(5)Barbie M.
Now there are about a million other mexican places to eat in the city and around Metro Detroit. I do like El, it's one of my go to places when I have a hankering for someting south of the border. Over the years it has changed a bit and it's not as GREAT as I recall. Maybe my tastes are a bit more refined now who knows. I love the service here though. I mean you drink they are filling your glass, you eat a chip they are putting a fresh one in the bowl. And who doesn't love a nice cold Margarita! They have some good ones here! I think most older places like El if it ain't broke what's to fix. I'll be back, I'll be back many mnay times I'm sure of it.
(3)juston m.
el zocalo was a last ditch effort when we realized lupitas doesn't accept cards and other restaurants had longer lines. the food was just alright. the salsas where sorely missing anything besides tomatoes. the food, although covered in cheese, was missing flavor. there wasn't any use of chiles or really anything i would call mexican. the service was really slow, although it could have been affected by the corktown race. fortunatley they did have many a mexican beer on draft, which made the stale chips go down easier. love, juston
(2)Christine S.
Meh at best. The room was so humid, I felt wet when I left there...yuk! I had the Shrimp Fajitas. I would say about 8 pieces of shrimp and the rest was mounds of peppers and onions, total disappointment. The salsa was not that great, the chips were stale and the waitress wandered in and out like the fog. Would I come back? No.
(2)Amy H.
Consistently good and never had bad service here. Sangria...yum!
(3)Shante M.
I love this place!!! The only reason why i didn't give five stars is because the restaurant charges extra for EVERYTHING! Want onions one dollar, want green pepper one dollar, but with that being said I love the fried steak aka the Melanesia its huge and tasty! I don't eat here as much as I could but if they stop all the ridiculous fees I would eat here more often.
(4)Jack M.
Went to an event downtown yesterday and ended up in at El Zocalo for dinner. This is the second time I have been there and I am a fan. The place is very clean, the staff are friendly.. fast and helpful, and of course you just can`t beat the prices. Four people, four dinners, a pitcher of beer and a pitcher of margaritas for around 60.00 before tip. And we all took doggy bags home. Here is a tip..don`t wait across the street for a name. The food was fresh and flavorful. I shall return!!!
(4)Tim G.
Slow service and cheap food. Clearly we weren't impressed at all. If you are looking for average, plain uninspired mexican food, this is your place. There are much better places within walking distance that we would recomend.
(2)Donna P.
A much brighter, nicer atmosphere than Xocimilco across the street, but the food isn't quite as good. If you're taking friends from the suburbs who are leery of Detroit to Mexican Town, I think this is probably a better option. I ordered the chicken wet burrito and the sauce and chicken were nice. The only odd thing about it was it had a lot of beans in the burrito itself. I'm used to having them on the side. Still tasty, though!
(4)Dil F.
Middle-of-the-road everything, though a little cozier than most restaurants in the area. I've been known to slander the Mexiantown-proper restaurants, but in the end I'm a bleeding heart. This place has a little charm. The food isn't stellar, but it is warm, filling, served in big portions, and good enough when you're hungry. They have cheap beer cans available, which is a plus. And while there's nothing to particularly recommend on the menu (it's all just good and filling), the SPACE is very unique. Where most of the restaurants in this trendy vicinity have more of a mess hall feel to them (tall ceilings, big open spaces packed with tables), El Zocalo is much smaller, carpeted, almost feels like a mix between an office lobby and someone's living room. Their chips and salsa are standard. So is their rice and beans. Nothing fancy, but tons of it. I tried their pork tacos, and the chiles rellanos, and both were satisfying without grabbing your attention any. The music is cheesy, the staff are really fast and friendly, it's a good place to get a ton of protein and carbs, slug back a beer, and have a decent conversation with a date. (I also like the fact that you can walk through the kitchen, more or less, when you park in the lot and you're heading upstairs. Feels like those scenes in Hollywood movie where some action star is racing through the pots and pans, waving a gun, and bowling the working class over in all directions).
(3)Seoung L.
It's not a terrible place but it isn't that great either. I have to say I do like their Bontanas little better then some other places in that area. However, El Zocalo could do better in many ways. It has nothing special here to entice people to come here. Xochi has the hype, Los Galanos does the buffet, outdoor patio, & homemade tortillas, and Mexican Town Restaurant has the huge portions. El Zocalo has the.......??? It's just average and maybe they should be cheesy and do the Man v. Food thing and have a 6lb Burrito Challenge or something to catch people's attention. Well this isn't a business advice review so I will just say that it needs to step it up somehow. Good - Botanas Bad - Bland eveything. slightly below average service
(2)Mac C.
Made the mistake of reading the google review summary instead of Yelp reviews on this one (was in a hurry). Uninspired staff, menu, atmosphere, and food. Service was terrible, and the food bland. The fish tacos were a warm pool of overcooked, unseasoned ingredients. Ample parking, however.
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