Once you get past the "reclaimed" fast-food restaurant exterior, you'll find pretty solid Mexican fare inside. I've had both enchiladas and the combination platters and found them to be okay. Nothing unique or adventurous in these meals. Actually reminiscent of the late and passable Chi-Chi's menu. I didn't have any problems with the staff like others here have said. Sure, for the money, there are better Mexican places, but El Charro is convenient and consistent. Side note: TVs all over the restaurant always tuned to Fox News. No political bias here, but when you show cable news in a restaurant, the chances of getting the details on a brutal murder while you're eating are increased, as they were while I was eating.
(3)
Rosie E.
El Charro? More like Chucky Cheese. My sister and I met for dinner last night at this location. I choose to sit in the bar expecting it to be an adult place to talk while we had dinner and a couple drinks. Not so much. Two families came in about 7:30pm with a combined child count of 6. The moms split and the dads stood back while 3 boys ages 3-5 years old ran rampant. They climbed all over the bar stools at a 3 top table by the fish tank and us. They screamed to their hearts content into our ears. 15 minutes into this performance I complained. The waitress, who was working hard to do a good job, told me that management would not allow her to say anything to the dads. Likewise, the manager advised that the owners would not allow her to say anything to the dads, but that she could move us mid-dinner to a table in the dining area. I had no such restriction and, the boys reaching the all-out-no-adult-in-play point, let the so-called dads know that we had enough. The food and drinks? Who knows?; it was chaos. The manager discounted the bill and we moved, but I don't want discounted food for a terrible experience. I can go plenty of places and spend $30-35 per drinking adult. This will not be one of them.
(1)
Kurt P.
I've driven by this place a million times and never even given it a second glance. One day as we were driving by a friend pointed it out and told me he loves the food here. I was finally able to give it a try. The service was excellent! Our waitress was very attentive and extremely kind. Checked on us multiple times and constantly refilled our chips and drinks. Granted; there was only about 4-5 other tables at the time we were eating, but regardless - we were treated great! They just recently got their liquor license, and specialize in Tequila (Whoda thought?!). The person I was eating with ordered a more rare Tequila, which triggered the Manager to come over and give us a sampling of some great Tequila's! Some of the ones we sampled I know to be quite expensive. He explained each drink, a history of the liquour, and even some extra information about how they differ from each other. It was like a live episode of 'Three Sheets'. Appetizer and Entree's were excellent! Dessert was pretty good as well. Overall I really want to go and try their Fraser location - as this is more geared towards Drive-Thru. Still highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
(4)
Tim K.
We do "Wacky Taco Wednesday" at work nearly every week and always order from El Charro. The food is usually always real good and the prices are decent for what you get. What sets them apart from other Mexican Restaurants are their Unique Soft Tacos. The shell is blown up and is puffy so it is light and airy yet still strong enough to hold all of the fillings. My personal favorite is the Bean and Guac Soft Taco. Recently this location implemented Online Ordering which made it super convenient for us. In the past we'd call in one massive order and pay separate and the guy designated to pick up the order would go with a mixture of cash and multiple credit cards. Now we can all order and pay separately on the spot if using cards. As this is a new process it is sure to have some minor bugs here and there and I was the lucky one to stumble upon one. I ordered my food and requested no Green Olives be on it and when I got it there they were. I checked my online receipt and compared it to the one on the bag and they didn't match which started up the troubleshooting processes in my head. It is what I do for a living so it is second nature to me to try and figure out the root cause of something. After a brief investigation the only thing that made sense was that the online ordering system they use was not coded properly when it came to "Minus Green Olives" option. I emailed the address listed on their site for that location not expecting much. I just wanted to point it out to them so they could correct it before it became a bigger issue. A few days later I get a phone call from the Owner thanking me for finding this and pointing it out. He genuinely appreciated that I took time out of my day to look in to an issue they were having and figure out the resolution for it. As a "Thank You" he offered to replace the Botana I purchased at no charge the next time we ordered. He didn't have to as it wasn't that big of a deal (the Olives were on top and easily removable), but it was a nice gesture and hey, I am not about to pass up free food.
(4)
Brandy A.
When I was a kid and we lived in St. Clair Shores, about 30 years ago, El Charro was the best Mexican restaurant in town. It was a little carry out place that you could dine in but it wasn't their specialty so most people carried out. After we moved I'd still make the 40 minute drive from Ferndale to get carry out, it was a little cold but it was always good. I've been going there for 30 years and I've never been disappointed. When we moved closer to the east side I was pleasantly surprised to see they have since added 3 locations, each about 10 minutes away with very nice dine in seating. I always get their "Unique soft shell tacos" and I don't even like soft shell tacos! The shells are made of corn and when they fry them up they are sort of puffy, light, crispy and delicious. I always get the ground beef but they also have shredded beef, shredded chicken and fish. Their cheese fondue appetizer is also very good, they use the same Unique Soft Shells and cut them into strips that you dip into a cheesy jalapeno sauce. Fantastic! They have a large selection and I've never tried anything that I didn't like. However, if you've never been to El Charro then I recommend you try their Unique Soft Shell Tacos first!
(5)
D L.
It's El Charo so you should come in expecting mid level Mexican food. For the price and convenience, you won't be disappointed. We like the enchiladas. The meat can be considered a little dry, but still good. They do a lot with a little at this location.
(3)
Maureen M.
El Charro's has a very special place in my heart. The original location is in my hometown. I remember when it was a big deal to go to the 1st location in the 80's. The soft (or fried...whatever they're called) tacos have always been a staple. El Charro's is obviously a big deal in Fraser. So, when I saw that it was in Troy, I knew we'd go some day. We finally made it a point to dine there. I don't remember what was in the original location, but it has made for an interesting layout. They definitely maximized the interior as much as possible, plus a little cheese. ha! The food was on par with the original location, so take that for what it is. I ordered the famous tacos. They are so greasy and filling. I ordered 2 and should have only eaten 1. This is not something that would be good as leftovers. If you've read my reviews, you know that beer is important to me. Their beer selection sucks. I shouldn't expect much, but Bell's would be nice! Sam Adams is the closest you'll get to a craft beer selection. Even the Mexican beer selection is not that good. I like that they have a carry out window. I'd like to get a Margarita to go!
(3)
Maria A.
Many people rave about this place and I am definitely not one of those people, The meat is always dry and nothing tastes spectacular. The last time we decided to give this place another try, there was hair in our food. GROSS!! The only thing that is safe is the puffy tacos but again the meat is always dry. Whenever I leave this place, I say to myself, "I should've gone to taco bell".
(1)
Kat R.
Very good and filling tacos. Beer selection sucks only a few good Mexican beers and cheap domestic beers. Burritos are good too but the tacos are best in area. Worth the drive out here. The margaritas that I have tried were very sugary. Try asking for half sugar if you don't like to drink pure sugar.
(4)
William W.
Nothing terribly special. Service was poor about replacing drinks, chips, and salsa. Food was decent and prices were a smidge high. The one in Fraser is worth the drive. Also the mint dish was empty :(
(3)
Brandi F.
I finally decided to try this place and I am so glad I did. The inside of the restaurant was very nice. We were greeted and seated right away. The chips were hot and fresh and they brought 2 different kinds of salsa with it. We ordered nachos and tacos. Both were excellent. Prices were very reasonable and service was good & food came out fast. My lesson here: NEVER judge a book by its cover! I thought it would be an over priced drive through but it was much better than that!
(5)
Victoria V.
I was there yesterday and I got the Mexican pizza. It's so good. I like the hot salsa. And the chips. I have yet to try the tacos. I will tho lol.. they do need a tacos Tuesday or something tho. I also like the Spanish rice.
(5)
Mary C.
This place has awesome food, great staff and a good atmosphere! Really enjoyed it. Just recently found out about this restaurant but have already been back twice. If you like Mexican give it a try.
(5)
B J.
El Charro is fantastic. For a long time, Oakland County had no decent Mexican food whatsoever. Thankfully, that has been fixed in the past couple years by El Charro (and Imperial). The unique soft shell tacos are the best tacos in Michigan, if I do say so myself. The chips and salsa are delicious and bountiful. The service is excellent and attentive. The margaritas are better than most. Atmosphere-wise, it has more of a family diner feel to it than a date spot, but it's great for any occasion. Two people can eat a humongous meal and have a couple margaritas for $55, and you'll probably have enough food leftover for two lunches the next day. It doesn't get any better than that.
(5)
Chris N.
After posting on El Charro's Facebook page, I was contacted by a representative of the company who addressed my issue. This was an example of great customer service. They definitely took care of their customer and we will definately continue to visit. The food is great. Given the chance you should definitely try them and you will love it like we do.
(5)
Autumn W.
I don't like to speak negative but BEWARE we were there last night and it was not good at all it was rather disgusting to be completely honest I've never had anything taste so bad in my entire life. THE MEAT WAS completely dry the,,, I'm sorry I had to stop myself it is not good place to eat beware.
(1)
Johnny S.
We drive by at least three other Mexican places to eat at El Charro. The service in my opinion (and i'm picky) has never been anything other than excellent. The prices are around average, but on Sundays kids eat free, which makes for a pretty good deal for families. As many have said, the soft shell tacos are tremendous. The rest of the food is good, but not spectacular. Clean, well run, I'm a fan.
(4)
Heather H.
I didn't expect a full size restaurant at the Troy location. I thought it was more of a fast food place. Nope regular Mexican restaurant with yummy margaritas. The food is decent. Had a burrito supreme type lunch and a blended berry margarita. Yum.
(3)
Andrea C.
Awesome dinner! I had the burritos and my wife had the the "special" soft tacos which were both great. We used the coupon in the paper to get one dinner half off.- which was also awesome. Salsa was also great. We will be back!! Best Mexican outside Detroit!
(5)
Dana S.
Eat here! El Charro is so amazing. Their salsa is something you will crave once you eat it. It's SO good you can buy it by the quart too! My husband and I agree it's the best salsa we have ever had. The Unique soft shell taco is amazing. Everything always tastes super fresh and the waitstaff is always really friendly. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!!!!! It's one of my favorites. No complaints ever.
(5)
Cheryl C.
We went here for dinner on a Sunday. We were escorted to a table by a corner window and given wam tortilla chips with salsa. 25 minutes later the chips were eaten and we were ignored. This place will be selling their liquor license soon as they do not even try.
(1)
Joe B.
Chicken chimichangas were pretty good. Chips and salsa were good also.
(4)
Mark H.
Good Selection and Food Overall.
(4)
Matt R.
The taco combo platter is HUGE. Two meals for sure. Liked the puffy taco shells, otherwise pretty average Mexican food. A step up from Taco Bell.
(3)
Carrie M.
awesome food, awesome prices, awesome service! They even have coupons for during the week for buy one entree, get one free. Our waitress tonight, Kelly J, was exceptionally friendly and attentive. Their tacos are out of this world and I live for their enchiladas!
(5)
Tony B.
Outstanding food and service. Our servers name was Samantha. She was very pleasant and helpful. As soon as we sat we had a bus boy bringing us chips and salsa and the server took our drink order. Before the last chip in the basket was gone we had another fresh basket of chips. Our food chicken enchiladas and beef burritos were in front of us within 6 minutes. Very impressed with our experience.
(5)
Bones W.
I visit El Charro's every couple of weeks. I like the lunch combo's. The food is good, especially the big special taco's. They fry a tortilla shell, then fold it into a taco shells. Yum! Taco's, burrito's, enchilada's, they're all good. The salsa is really good - they give you a hot (not too hot) and a mild. Nice atmosphere suited for everyone from lunch crowds to families. Clean and reasonably priced. Service is always friendly and they have all you can eat salsa and chips.
(4)
Dano R.
I love their soft tacos. Can't find them around anywhere else. Can't beat there happy hour $ margaritas. This location works for me as I find myself on Rochester Rd. heading home from some event either downtown or from the south. This is not my favorite Mexican restaurant but it's not bad and semi-authentic IMO. Service is usually good and they do offer drive thru which can be a god send when your not looking for a dine in experience.
(3)
Julie C.
Sooo pleasantly surprised by this place! We pulled in and I actually did not want to even go in. Have not been crazy about Mexican food.choices in the area & was preparing for the worst. I mean, the old taco bell building had me a little spooked. But it was great! I mean start to.finish. Our server was awesome! Anticipated needs & food service was fast & tasty.We will definetly be back for thier "unique" tacos and probably.on Sundays. As my daughter noticed ,kids eat free!
(5)
Brooke B.
This was the worse best Mexican restaurant I have ever eaten at it was so disgusting the meat was so dry I literally vomited right afterwards,,, the friend that I was with literally will eat anything he's not picky at all; Even he couldn't eat the meal
(1)
Dick E.
If anyone wants to complain about the prices, they should go eat at Taco Bell. There's a reason this place costs more than TB, they use quality ingredients. You can actually taste the meats you're getting. I like that they have alcohol also, and I wi definitely come back.
(5)
Melissa O.
Love this place!!! The food is great!! Definitely worth a try! The service is fast and friendly. We will return
(5)
Jason U.
A little pricey but very fast. Try the puffy taco its pretty good. No idea what people are talking about with mayo on the taco because there wasn't any on mine.
(2)
Todd J.
Chicken fajita - meat at least looks like chicken. Fewer veggies than I prefer. Not delivered to the table sizzling so that was a bit of a let down. Service has been slow at first both times I arrived. After that it's great. I liked watching the TVs and getting 2 bowls of salsa. Hot chips would be better. All in all, no perfect but I'll be back to try the tamales!
(3)
Cameron A.
Been eating at many of the locations for years, love the food and have never had a problem with the service!
(5)
Amy W.
Just visiting for one night in business and read a good review on this place. When I came in alone, I was greeted so friendly. I told them I drove a half hour to eat here because of their reviews. I am a Mexican food junkie. This place was the bomb. Awesome Andrea's margarita and they gave me the cheese fondue as a first time guest. It was so delicious. They make their own tortillas. I had the fish tacos and the refried beans are really good. Great homemade salsa as well. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Dave G.
Go here for lunch quite a bit. The chicken enchiladas are really good, and the service is amazingly fast.
(4)
Jess B.
This place was TERRIBLE. Very overpriced. The ground beef, which was the meat in all of our items, was burnt black and crunchy. El Char-ro, indeed. The server didn't care. Horrible.
(1)
Holly S.
Came here the other day with a friend for lunch and had great service from our waitress Kelly! She was very knowledgeable about their menu and brought out different salsas to try! I had a lunch special with a botana (pretty much a veggie mexi pizza) and a beef enchilada! Both were very good but not all that filling. Next time I'll spend the few extra dollars for the dinner size :) The fondue you get when you check in was....interesting. Kinda smelly... I would recommend this place! I love that they have a drive thru! Bye Taco Bell, hello el charros!
(3)
Sonya S.
I went there tonight and ordered Nachos from the drive thru....MUCH better tonight. Nothing that I didn't want was on there and everything that I did want was on there. I was also really impressed how quickly they prepared my order and how large it was. The super nacho could easily feed three or four people. Next time, I think that I'll skip the online ordering and just call my order in or order from the drive up.
Expensive for what they offer. A simple taco is $5 dollars. Not worthy. The food is no quality. Chicken soup is very good. I won't come back
(2)
Marc J.
short and to the point... food great..service great.......prices.... a lil bit high for Mexican..
(4)
Matthew P.
I wanted to put a note in the 'meh' box for this place. I was treated to this on my lunch hour by another co-worker, and I was not impressed at all. It wasn't bad, but for the price it wasn't good either. I thought my portions were awfully small. Service was very poor as well. I have a hard time being more specific because the place was so forgettable. I would dine at taco bell before this in all honesty. In reality,. i'll stick with Salsa Ritas 4 miles up Rochester, or Azteca 2 miles up the road.
(2)
Lisa W.
Love this place when I am in the area. I have been to all 4 ElCharros and I like this location best. The servers are very attentive and always refill my soft drink, chips, and salsa. My favorites to order are the cheese fondue, botana, taco, and enchilada. The super wet burritto is excellent too. I generally order 2 items ala carte and leave very full.
(5)
Matt R.
great food great service highly recommended. one of a kind tacos!! great service beans and rice very good.
(5)
Cynthia A.
I have been here several times lately. My love for their fish tacos served with lime wedges. MMMMmmm Also pretty good guacamole. Great for a quick drive through when running errands. Pretty fresh every time I have been there. Never had a bad meal yet. Prefer this to a McD's or TBell, not as greasy and much more appetizing. Chicken tacos are also pretty good as is the Mexican Pizza (Botanas) Ask for them to be made with the vegetarian beans and ask for a side of fresh cut jalapenos to place on top of the botanas...get them with shredded chicken those are the absolute best. Okay I'm done. hahaha
(4)
Patrick N.
I had high expectations for this restaurant as it was suggested by a co-worker. My girlfriend and I went there for Cinco De Mayo and we both left feeling this place was about a 2.5-3. Our server was really nice and helpful, always paying attention to our drinks and needs. The food however left something to be desired. We ordered tacos and chimichangas, beer and margaritas, and finished with fried ice cream. Like many others have said, the meat was a bit dry. My girlfriend did not really like her chimi's and said the sauce was bland, tasting more like a gravy. The rice and beans were similar to what you'd find in a high school cafeteria. I would not say the food was horrible, but for the price I'd expect it to be much better and in larger portions. The decor was pleasant and appropriate for a mexican establishment. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to eat here again.
(3)
Tom D.
Ok - I'm going to recommend Taco Tuesday and I'm going to recommend getting the Taco dinner as these are the best darn tacos I've ever had - super fantastic. I also received a free of charge for "checking in" cheese fondu - it wasn't huge, but it was good and it was free - no complaints at all. The place was clean, plenty of free parking, service was good - shout out to Justin and prices were great as well - something for everyone is everyone wants Mexican and if you don't want Mexican what are you there for?
(5)
Terry K.
I like El Charro, they have unique puffy soft shell corn taco's that are extremely filling. We dine here a few times a month and I order the Chef's choice taco dinner. For $13, you get three tacos (1 shredded chicken, 1 pulled beef and 1 ground beef) and trust me, they are not your average mexican fare. These are gargantuan monster tacos and by the time you finish the second one, your eyes will be darting around the place in hopes of a carryout box to save your life from being so full. The rice and beans are as good as they should be. The chips are a little captain obvious but their salsa's are wonderful. In terms of interior design, the build out is a pleasant surprise considering it used to be an Arby's. The interior is very clean, comfortable, spacious and colorful. The massive aquarium with vibrant exotic fish is mesmerizing if you take the time to look. They even have a drive through but I've yet to take that test. Service wise, the wait staff is typically solid although not the friendliest in the world. The chef's have no problem accommodating alterations to your order and the managers make it a point to say hi and goodbye on every visit. I literally have no complaints about El Charro except that they don't serve sizzling fajitas. Even so, I feel they are worth the extra cash in comparison to cheaper nearby Mexican restaurants. Just a note, if you check in here you'll get a free coupon for cheese fondue. Can't wait to try that next time.
(4)
Katie W.
Husband and I go here frequently; one of the best Mexican places in the area. The staff is always friendly, fast, and helpful. I highly recommend the taco salad or the unique tacos (the shells are amazing!). My husband loves the Connie Supreme.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Dan B.
Once you get past the "reclaimed" fast-food restaurant exterior, you'll find pretty solid Mexican fare inside. I've had both enchiladas and the combination platters and found them to be okay. Nothing unique or adventurous in these meals. Actually reminiscent of the late and passable Chi-Chi's menu. I didn't have any problems with the staff like others here have said. Sure, for the money, there are better Mexican places, but El Charro is convenient and consistent. Side note: TVs all over the restaurant always tuned to Fox News. No political bias here, but when you show cable news in a restaurant, the chances of getting the details on a brutal murder while you're eating are increased, as they were while I was eating.
(3)Rosie E.
El Charro? More like Chucky Cheese. My sister and I met for dinner last night at this location. I choose to sit in the bar expecting it to be an adult place to talk while we had dinner and a couple drinks. Not so much. Two families came in about 7:30pm with a combined child count of 6. The moms split and the dads stood back while 3 boys ages 3-5 years old ran rampant. They climbed all over the bar stools at a 3 top table by the fish tank and us. They screamed to their hearts content into our ears. 15 minutes into this performance I complained. The waitress, who was working hard to do a good job, told me that management would not allow her to say anything to the dads. Likewise, the manager advised that the owners would not allow her to say anything to the dads, but that she could move us mid-dinner to a table in the dining area. I had no such restriction and, the boys reaching the all-out-no-adult-in-play point, let the so-called dads know that we had enough. The food and drinks? Who knows?; it was chaos. The manager discounted the bill and we moved, but I don't want discounted food for a terrible experience. I can go plenty of places and spend $30-35 per drinking adult. This will not be one of them.
(1)Kurt P.
I've driven by this place a million times and never even given it a second glance. One day as we were driving by a friend pointed it out and told me he loves the food here. I was finally able to give it a try. The service was excellent! Our waitress was very attentive and extremely kind. Checked on us multiple times and constantly refilled our chips and drinks. Granted; there was only about 4-5 other tables at the time we were eating, but regardless - we were treated great! They just recently got their liquor license, and specialize in Tequila (Whoda thought?!). The person I was eating with ordered a more rare Tequila, which triggered the Manager to come over and give us a sampling of some great Tequila's! Some of the ones we sampled I know to be quite expensive. He explained each drink, a history of the liquour, and even some extra information about how they differ from each other. It was like a live episode of 'Three Sheets'. Appetizer and Entree's were excellent! Dessert was pretty good as well. Overall I really want to go and try their Fraser location - as this is more geared towards Drive-Thru. Still highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
(4)Tim K.
We do "Wacky Taco Wednesday" at work nearly every week and always order from El Charro. The food is usually always real good and the prices are decent for what you get. What sets them apart from other Mexican Restaurants are their Unique Soft Tacos. The shell is blown up and is puffy so it is light and airy yet still strong enough to hold all of the fillings. My personal favorite is the Bean and Guac Soft Taco. Recently this location implemented Online Ordering which made it super convenient for us. In the past we'd call in one massive order and pay separate and the guy designated to pick up the order would go with a mixture of cash and multiple credit cards. Now we can all order and pay separately on the spot if using cards. As this is a new process it is sure to have some minor bugs here and there and I was the lucky one to stumble upon one. I ordered my food and requested no Green Olives be on it and when I got it there they were. I checked my online receipt and compared it to the one on the bag and they didn't match which started up the troubleshooting processes in my head. It is what I do for a living so it is second nature to me to try and figure out the root cause of something. After a brief investigation the only thing that made sense was that the online ordering system they use was not coded properly when it came to "Minus Green Olives" option. I emailed the address listed on their site for that location not expecting much. I just wanted to point it out to them so they could correct it before it became a bigger issue. A few days later I get a phone call from the Owner thanking me for finding this and pointing it out. He genuinely appreciated that I took time out of my day to look in to an issue they were having and figure out the resolution for it. As a "Thank You" he offered to replace the Botana I purchased at no charge the next time we ordered. He didn't have to as it wasn't that big of a deal (the Olives were on top and easily removable), but it was a nice gesture and hey, I am not about to pass up free food.
(4)Brandy A.
When I was a kid and we lived in St. Clair Shores, about 30 years ago, El Charro was the best Mexican restaurant in town. It was a little carry out place that you could dine in but it wasn't their specialty so most people carried out. After we moved I'd still make the 40 minute drive from Ferndale to get carry out, it was a little cold but it was always good. I've been going there for 30 years and I've never been disappointed. When we moved closer to the east side I was pleasantly surprised to see they have since added 3 locations, each about 10 minutes away with very nice dine in seating. I always get their "Unique soft shell tacos" and I don't even like soft shell tacos! The shells are made of corn and when they fry them up they are sort of puffy, light, crispy and delicious. I always get the ground beef but they also have shredded beef, shredded chicken and fish. Their cheese fondue appetizer is also very good, they use the same Unique Soft Shells and cut them into strips that you dip into a cheesy jalapeno sauce. Fantastic! They have a large selection and I've never tried anything that I didn't like. However, if you've never been to El Charro then I recommend you try their Unique Soft Shell Tacos first!
(5)D L.
It's El Charo so you should come in expecting mid level Mexican food. For the price and convenience, you won't be disappointed. We like the enchiladas. The meat can be considered a little dry, but still good. They do a lot with a little at this location.
(3)Maureen M.
El Charro's has a very special place in my heart. The original location is in my hometown. I remember when it was a big deal to go to the 1st location in the 80's. The soft (or fried...whatever they're called) tacos have always been a staple. El Charro's is obviously a big deal in Fraser. So, when I saw that it was in Troy, I knew we'd go some day. We finally made it a point to dine there. I don't remember what was in the original location, but it has made for an interesting layout. They definitely maximized the interior as much as possible, plus a little cheese. ha! The food was on par with the original location, so take that for what it is. I ordered the famous tacos. They are so greasy and filling. I ordered 2 and should have only eaten 1. This is not something that would be good as leftovers. If you've read my reviews, you know that beer is important to me. Their beer selection sucks. I shouldn't expect much, but Bell's would be nice! Sam Adams is the closest you'll get to a craft beer selection. Even the Mexican beer selection is not that good. I like that they have a carry out window. I'd like to get a Margarita to go!
(3)Maria A.
Many people rave about this place and I am definitely not one of those people, The meat is always dry and nothing tastes spectacular. The last time we decided to give this place another try, there was hair in our food. GROSS!! The only thing that is safe is the puffy tacos but again the meat is always dry. Whenever I leave this place, I say to myself, "I should've gone to taco bell".
(1)Kat R.
Very good and filling tacos. Beer selection sucks only a few good Mexican beers and cheap domestic beers. Burritos are good too but the tacos are best in area. Worth the drive out here. The margaritas that I have tried were very sugary. Try asking for half sugar if you don't like to drink pure sugar.
(4)William W.
Nothing terribly special. Service was poor about replacing drinks, chips, and salsa. Food was decent and prices were a smidge high. The one in Fraser is worth the drive. Also the mint dish was empty :(
(3)Brandi F.
I finally decided to try this place and I am so glad I did. The inside of the restaurant was very nice. We were greeted and seated right away. The chips were hot and fresh and they brought 2 different kinds of salsa with it. We ordered nachos and tacos. Both were excellent. Prices were very reasonable and service was good & food came out fast. My lesson here: NEVER judge a book by its cover! I thought it would be an over priced drive through but it was much better than that!
(5)Victoria V.
I was there yesterday and I got the Mexican pizza. It's so good. I like the hot salsa. And the chips. I have yet to try the tacos. I will tho lol.. they do need a tacos Tuesday or something tho. I also like the Spanish rice.
(5)Mary C.
This place has awesome food, great staff and a good atmosphere! Really enjoyed it. Just recently found out about this restaurant but have already been back twice. If you like Mexican give it a try.
(5)B J.
El Charro is fantastic. For a long time, Oakland County had no decent Mexican food whatsoever. Thankfully, that has been fixed in the past couple years by El Charro (and Imperial). The unique soft shell tacos are the best tacos in Michigan, if I do say so myself. The chips and salsa are delicious and bountiful. The service is excellent and attentive. The margaritas are better than most. Atmosphere-wise, it has more of a family diner feel to it than a date spot, but it's great for any occasion. Two people can eat a humongous meal and have a couple margaritas for $55, and you'll probably have enough food leftover for two lunches the next day. It doesn't get any better than that.
(5)Chris N.
After posting on El Charro's Facebook page, I was contacted by a representative of the company who addressed my issue. This was an example of great customer service. They definitely took care of their customer and we will definately continue to visit. The food is great. Given the chance you should definitely try them and you will love it like we do.
(5)Autumn W.
I don't like to speak negative but BEWARE we were there last night and it was not good at all it was rather disgusting to be completely honest I've never had anything taste so bad in my entire life. THE MEAT WAS completely dry the,,, I'm sorry I had to stop myself it is not good place to eat beware.
(1)Johnny S.
We drive by at least three other Mexican places to eat at El Charro. The service in my opinion (and i'm picky) has never been anything other than excellent. The prices are around average, but on Sundays kids eat free, which makes for a pretty good deal for families. As many have said, the soft shell tacos are tremendous. The rest of the food is good, but not spectacular. Clean, well run, I'm a fan.
(4)Heather H.
I didn't expect a full size restaurant at the Troy location. I thought it was more of a fast food place. Nope regular Mexican restaurant with yummy margaritas. The food is decent. Had a burrito supreme type lunch and a blended berry margarita. Yum.
(3)Andrea C.
Awesome dinner! I had the burritos and my wife had the the "special" soft tacos which were both great. We used the coupon in the paper to get one dinner half off.- which was also awesome. Salsa was also great. We will be back!! Best Mexican outside Detroit!
(5)Dana S.
Eat here! El Charro is so amazing. Their salsa is something you will crave once you eat it. It's SO good you can buy it by the quart too! My husband and I agree it's the best salsa we have ever had. The Unique soft shell taco is amazing. Everything always tastes super fresh and the waitstaff is always really friendly. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!!!!! It's one of my favorites. No complaints ever.
(5)Cheryl C.
We went here for dinner on a Sunday. We were escorted to a table by a corner window and given wam tortilla chips with salsa. 25 minutes later the chips were eaten and we were ignored. This place will be selling their liquor license soon as they do not even try.
(1)Joe B.
Chicken chimichangas were pretty good. Chips and salsa were good also.
(4)Mark H.
Good Selection and Food Overall.
(4)Matt R.
The taco combo platter is HUGE. Two meals for sure. Liked the puffy taco shells, otherwise pretty average Mexican food. A step up from Taco Bell.
(3)Carrie M.
awesome food, awesome prices, awesome service! They even have coupons for during the week for buy one entree, get one free. Our waitress tonight, Kelly J, was exceptionally friendly and attentive. Their tacos are out of this world and I live for their enchiladas!
(5)Tony B.
Outstanding food and service. Our servers name was Samantha. She was very pleasant and helpful. As soon as we sat we had a bus boy bringing us chips and salsa and the server took our drink order. Before the last chip in the basket was gone we had another fresh basket of chips. Our food chicken enchiladas and beef burritos were in front of us within 6 minutes. Very impressed with our experience.
(5)Bones W.
I visit El Charro's every couple of weeks. I like the lunch combo's. The food is good, especially the big special taco's. They fry a tortilla shell, then fold it into a taco shells. Yum! Taco's, burrito's, enchilada's, they're all good. The salsa is really good - they give you a hot (not too hot) and a mild. Nice atmosphere suited for everyone from lunch crowds to families. Clean and reasonably priced. Service is always friendly and they have all you can eat salsa and chips.
(4)Dano R.
I love their soft tacos. Can't find them around anywhere else. Can't beat there happy hour $ margaritas. This location works for me as I find myself on Rochester Rd. heading home from some event either downtown or from the south. This is not my favorite Mexican restaurant but it's not bad and semi-authentic IMO. Service is usually good and they do offer drive thru which can be a god send when your not looking for a dine in experience.
(3)Julie C.
Sooo pleasantly surprised by this place! We pulled in and I actually did not want to even go in. Have not been crazy about Mexican food.choices in the area & was preparing for the worst. I mean, the old taco bell building had me a little spooked. But it was great! I mean start to.finish. Our server was awesome! Anticipated needs & food service was fast & tasty.We will definetly be back for thier "unique" tacos and probably.on Sundays. As my daughter noticed ,kids eat free!
(5)Brooke B.
This was the worse best Mexican restaurant I have ever eaten at it was so disgusting the meat was so dry I literally vomited right afterwards,,, the friend that I was with literally will eat anything he's not picky at all; Even he couldn't eat the meal
(1)Dick E.
If anyone wants to complain about the prices, they should go eat at Taco Bell. There's a reason this place costs more than TB, they use quality ingredients. You can actually taste the meats you're getting. I like that they have alcohol also, and I wi definitely come back.
(5)Melissa O.
Love this place!!! The food is great!! Definitely worth a try! The service is fast and friendly. We will return
(5)Jason U.
A little pricey but very fast. Try the puffy taco its pretty good. No idea what people are talking about with mayo on the taco because there wasn't any on mine.
(2)Todd J.
Chicken fajita - meat at least looks like chicken. Fewer veggies than I prefer. Not delivered to the table sizzling so that was a bit of a let down. Service has been slow at first both times I arrived. After that it's great. I liked watching the TVs and getting 2 bowls of salsa. Hot chips would be better. All in all, no perfect but I'll be back to try the tamales!
(3)Cameron A.
Been eating at many of the locations for years, love the food and have never had a problem with the service!
(5)Amy W.
Just visiting for one night in business and read a good review on this place. When I came in alone, I was greeted so friendly. I told them I drove a half hour to eat here because of their reviews. I am a Mexican food junkie. This place was the bomb. Awesome Andrea's margarita and they gave me the cheese fondue as a first time guest. It was so delicious. They make their own tortillas. I had the fish tacos and the refried beans are really good. Great homemade salsa as well. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Dave G.
Go here for lunch quite a bit. The chicken enchiladas are really good, and the service is amazingly fast.
(4)Jess B.
This place was TERRIBLE. Very overpriced. The ground beef, which was the meat in all of our items, was burnt black and crunchy. El Char-ro, indeed. The server didn't care. Horrible.
(1)Holly S.
Came here the other day with a friend for lunch and had great service from our waitress Kelly! She was very knowledgeable about their menu and brought out different salsas to try! I had a lunch special with a botana (pretty much a veggie mexi pizza) and a beef enchilada! Both were very good but not all that filling. Next time I'll spend the few extra dollars for the dinner size :) The fondue you get when you check in was....interesting. Kinda smelly... I would recommend this place! I love that they have a drive thru! Bye Taco Bell, hello el charros!
(3)Sonya S.
I went there tonight and ordered Nachos from the drive thru....MUCH better tonight. Nothing that I didn't want was on there and everything that I did want was on there. I was also really impressed how quickly they prepared my order and how large it was. The super nacho could easily feed three or four people. Next time, I think that I'll skip the online ordering and just call my order in or order from the drive up.
(5)Kevin L.
I am pleased that El Charro Restaurante Mexicano has opened in Troy. It is nice to know I can get a Unique Soft Shell Taco regardless of what part of town I am in. I am glad they changed this location from its original fast-food format (a'la St. Clair Shores) to a full sit down restaurant with a bar. This location does not give you nachos or a side salad when you order an entree like the other full service locations. Their portions seem smaller, too. However, you can still fill up on their delicious chips and salsa. Overall, the food is great. The service is average. Inside, the décor is modern and tasteful. The aquarium is a nice touch.
(3)Ana P.
Expensive for what they offer. A simple taco is $5 dollars. Not worthy. The food is no quality. Chicken soup is very good. I won't come back
(2)Marc J.
short and to the point... food great..service great.......prices.... a lil bit high for Mexican..
(4)Matthew P.
I wanted to put a note in the 'meh' box for this place. I was treated to this on my lunch hour by another co-worker, and I was not impressed at all. It wasn't bad, but for the price it wasn't good either. I thought my portions were awfully small. Service was very poor as well. I have a hard time being more specific because the place was so forgettable. I would dine at taco bell before this in all honesty. In reality,. i'll stick with Salsa Ritas 4 miles up Rochester, or Azteca 2 miles up the road.
(2)Lisa W.
Love this place when I am in the area. I have been to all 4 ElCharros and I like this location best. The servers are very attentive and always refill my soft drink, chips, and salsa. My favorites to order are the cheese fondue, botana, taco, and enchilada. The super wet burritto is excellent too. I generally order 2 items ala carte and leave very full.
(5)Matt R.
great food great service highly recommended. one of a kind tacos!! great service beans and rice very good.
(5)Cynthia A.
I have been here several times lately. My love for their fish tacos served with lime wedges. MMMMmmm Also pretty good guacamole. Great for a quick drive through when running errands. Pretty fresh every time I have been there. Never had a bad meal yet. Prefer this to a McD's or TBell, not as greasy and much more appetizing. Chicken tacos are also pretty good as is the Mexican Pizza (Botanas) Ask for them to be made with the vegetarian beans and ask for a side of fresh cut jalapenos to place on top of the botanas...get them with shredded chicken those are the absolute best. Okay I'm done. hahaha
(4)Patrick N.
I had high expectations for this restaurant as it was suggested by a co-worker. My girlfriend and I went there for Cinco De Mayo and we both left feeling this place was about a 2.5-3. Our server was really nice and helpful, always paying attention to our drinks and needs. The food however left something to be desired. We ordered tacos and chimichangas, beer and margaritas, and finished with fried ice cream. Like many others have said, the meat was a bit dry. My girlfriend did not really like her chimi's and said the sauce was bland, tasting more like a gravy. The rice and beans were similar to what you'd find in a high school cafeteria. I would not say the food was horrible, but for the price I'd expect it to be much better and in larger portions. The decor was pleasant and appropriate for a mexican establishment. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to eat here again.
(3)Tom D.
Ok - I'm going to recommend Taco Tuesday and I'm going to recommend getting the Taco dinner as these are the best darn tacos I've ever had - super fantastic. I also received a free of charge for "checking in" cheese fondu - it wasn't huge, but it was good and it was free - no complaints at all. The place was clean, plenty of free parking, service was good - shout out to Justin and prices were great as well - something for everyone is everyone wants Mexican and if you don't want Mexican what are you there for?
(5)Terry K.
I like El Charro, they have unique puffy soft shell corn taco's that are extremely filling. We dine here a few times a month and I order the Chef's choice taco dinner. For $13, you get three tacos (1 shredded chicken, 1 pulled beef and 1 ground beef) and trust me, they are not your average mexican fare. These are gargantuan monster tacos and by the time you finish the second one, your eyes will be darting around the place in hopes of a carryout box to save your life from being so full. The rice and beans are as good as they should be. The chips are a little captain obvious but their salsa's are wonderful. In terms of interior design, the build out is a pleasant surprise considering it used to be an Arby's. The interior is very clean, comfortable, spacious and colorful. The massive aquarium with vibrant exotic fish is mesmerizing if you take the time to look. They even have a drive through but I've yet to take that test. Service wise, the wait staff is typically solid although not the friendliest in the world. The chef's have no problem accommodating alterations to your order and the managers make it a point to say hi and goodbye on every visit. I literally have no complaints about El Charro except that they don't serve sizzling fajitas. Even so, I feel they are worth the extra cash in comparison to cheaper nearby Mexican restaurants. Just a note, if you check in here you'll get a free coupon for cheese fondue. Can't wait to try that next time.
(4)Katie W.
Husband and I go here frequently; one of the best Mexican places in the area. The staff is always friendly, fast, and helpful. I highly recommend the taco salad or the unique tacos (the shells are amazing!). My husband loves the Connie Supreme.
(5)