El Carambas
1503 12th Street SE, Rochester, MN, 55904
El Carambas Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rochester for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1503 12th Street SE
Rochester, MN, 55904 - Phone (507) 281-3104
- Website https://elcarambas.com/index.htm
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
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 : Beer & Wine Only
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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Jene L.
They have really excellent service, the guacamole is amazing, tastes fresh. They use pap2 plates however and some of the food burnt into it. Otherwise the taquitos were yummy and the horchata was great as well.
(4)Alyssa C.
Great place to eat good Mexican! Chips and salsa are awesome... Very warm and friendly environment!
(5)Zeb G.
I love proper tacos. Lengua, chicharones, chorizo... This is the only restaurant I've found in Rochester that serves the delicious bits of the animals, and that deserves 5 stars on its own. Ordered; episole, civiche, lengua taco, chicharones taco, chorizo taco, cactus taco, tripa taco and buche taco. Everything was spot on! Served with lime, no nasty yellow cheese, just as it should be.
(5)Sean E.
Like some of the other posts, we were also surprised to go back after not being there for a while to see the prices increased drastically. It seemed like about a 50% increase in general. Food is still really good, but nobody wants to put up a $25-30+ bill for lunch for 2. My wife even stopped in just for a drink and chips/salsa and it was (I think) something like $16. With cheaper taco trucks popping up in town with some really good tacos, its hard to justify coming back here too often or at all.
(3)Jake V.
This is the most authentic Mexican tasting food in Southeast Minnesota. I'm from Texas and all the "Mexican" restaurants around here don't have that authentic sabor. The food here tastes just like mom's cooking! The staff were very friendly and attentive. Help yourself to all the different types of salsa in the front counter. The only thing I didn't like was the manner in which they served the food. They brought it out on super cheap and thin paper plates with plastic ware. Have you ever tried cutting through a burrito with a flimsy plastic fork? Not very easy.
(4)Cassy R.
Amazing food and better service. Luis is a great people person, as is the owner, Eddie Sr.
(5)Michelle L.
My family wanted to come to this restaurant because we had heard good things about it, but the place has completely changed. Wait time was short, but the service was non existent. We had to go back up to the counter and ask for chips each time we wanted more even though we were the only ones in the place at the time. Chips were average and salsa was thin. The food was fresh but the lady at the front visited our table only once to deliver our food. She was not friendly toward us and almost acted as though we were not welcome and were an inconvenience. Also the facilities were dirty and the bathrooms were very dirty.
(1)Rick S.
The staff are really nice people so I feel bad leaving a poor review. However, this is really nothing special. It's not particularly authentic or fresh. El Carambas doesn't really warrant a full review because it matches the profile for pretty much every other "so-so" Mexican restaurant out there. The good points are the prices, staff, and really quick service. The bad is the bland food... and this pretty much outweighs the rest.
(2)Hannah W.
Best Mexican food I've had it n a long time! Got the recommendation to eat here from a friend, and I will definitely be back again soon! Menu had lots of options, there was a great salsa bar, and the service was superb! Menu- so many authentic dishes, it was so hard to choose! I had the Mexican tacos, one was Al Pastor (Mexican BBQ pork-- my new favorite!!), one was Carnitas (chopped pork-- also amazing!), and one was pork rind in green chili sauce, can't remember the exact name, (this option was also good, not my favorite of the three, but flavor was great and would still order it again!) Salsa Bar- the salsa bar had so many options, I tried a few, but my favorites were the Burn Salsa (spicy and super delicious) and the Salsa Verde (green salsa, pretty mild with fresh flavor)! Service- the service here was just as great as the food! We were greeted warmly upon entering the establishment, staff was happy to have us there, food got to our table quickly, and after we had finished our meal, our group was just hanging out, talking, and the manager (I'm assuming manager, but am sad I didn't catch his name) brought us the most delicious dessert I've ever had, it was dessert nachos pretty much, crispy sweet triangles with rosettes of ice cream and whip cream, and a drizzle of chocolate and caramel syrup-- superb!! Absolutely everything about this place was wonderful, I can't say enough good things and will be back as soon as possible!
(5)Trout B.
Overpriced for what you get. Yelp listed this is a $ restaurant, however it is easily $$. The food was good but portions were small in comparison to the price. Food was served on disposable plates with plastic silverware. Service was excellent. I would not go back. For $$ I expect real plates, cups and silverware, more food and a better ambiance.
(2)Bo W.
Great Tacos. The chips and salsa are their selling points. Hot, fresh, and fried up at the store. Lower rating because unlike most reviews, we did not think the prices were cheep. For a place that only had 1-2 waitresses and serves everything on paper plates with really cheap cutlery (two of my forks broke), we felt that El Carambas was overpriced. Our meal was $45 with tip and we normally pay about half that for similar meals at many Tex-Mex restaurants across the states (in MX the same meal would have probably been $10). The service was hectic. One of the waitresses was attentive and professional. We felt that the other waitress didn't want to be there. The second waitress didn't take drink orders, forgot to bring chips that we asked for twice, and basically threw our orders at us and ran away. We'll probably go back if we crave Mexican food, but we'll keep looking for another establishment in Rochester to fill that niche too.
(3)Alex K.
Been coming here for years and have always enjoyed myself. Eddie - the owner - knows us, and so does Luis, the manager. We have always been happy with the service, the casual atmosphere, and the food. However, the last time we went we discovered the HUGE increase in prices. My regular order which was $7.99 is now $11.99. Our lunch bill came to over $30 for two people. They're simply charging too much money for counter service and food served on styrofoam plates with plastic utensils. What used to be our favorite once-a-week Mexican place will no longer be for us.
(3)Andrew M.
OK... Update time. Sorry, but there's been some changes at El Carambas that, I feel, are not for the better. First, the prices went up. I always thought things were a little pricey but I was OK with it because I figured the cost went toward the salsa bar that was basically free. But now plate prices went up AND you are only allowed TWO cups for your choice of salsa and have to pay 65 cents each additional cup. Rip-off! My plate was just under ten bucks for rice & beans (dirt cheap), an enchilada about the size of a Twinkie and a half filled hard shell taco. Not happy. Second, hey changed their chips. They now taste like they came out of a bag and they didn't pick a very good brand. They seem to taste like a healthier version that are, I don't know, gluten free or low fat or something that i don't find particularly enjoyable. Sorry El Carambas, you had your reign at the top but now you may only see me once or twice a year to see if things have improved.
(2)Jude L.
Half decent service with server near clueless about the menu. Ordered combo fajitas and was less than impressed served on paper plates at a resturant, even Old Country Buffet gives you actual plates! My combo fajitas should have been labeled chicken fajitas with super small chopped beef. If anything come and the salsa selection and chips!
(1)Alden C.
El Carambas was surprisingly good! Of course it is not the same kind of Mexican food that you get in the Southwestern states but the food was fresh, unique and tasty! I got a nice, big burrito stuffed full of asada, beans and rice. El Carambas also has a nice salsa bar with a wide and varied selection. The service is friendly and eager to please. The atmosphere is fun, especially with the Mexican wrestling masks and boots that are on display when you come through the front door. Nice place!
(4)Tasha L.
The only negative thing I have to say about El Carambas is their wait/host staff. There has been many times when I walked up to the counter and there have been 1-3 girls speaking Spanish among themselves several minutes before they acknowledge me. They seem to lack customer service. However, I'm not sure if it's the owner or manager, but a young gentleman is always extremely friendly and sociable. He is what keeps me coming back to El Carambas...and their vegetarian enchiladas! Please find friendlier wait staff!
(3)Kevin F.
They increased their prices dramatically and didn't update the menu online. When we ordered food for four people for pick up (nothing special - tacos, etc), the bill was $62+. When I asked the girl at the counter how the prices for tacos soared by over 50%, she ignored me and pointed to the menu above her - repeatedly. I will never go back to this restaurant. However, the food is decent. It's just not worth the price and the rude service.
(2)Sabrina E.
Best Mexican in Rochester...period. I would highly consider writing a request that it be featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I am not sure why the favorite in this town is Fiesta or why people are still going to Carlos O'Kelly's (GROSS!). I would assume the appeal of these places is the quantity over quality effect that attract many Rochesterites. First off, the complementary chips they give you here taste exactly like the ones found in Mexico! They're thick cut and are clearly deep fried corn tortillas which they should be, none of this thin over salted crap the other restaurants give you. These go very well with the wonderful salsa bar. My favorite being the "burnt" salsa. It's great getting to try different all the various types. There were many menu items to choose from, half the menu was in Spanish and didn't offer an English translation, but I love it when restaurants do this because it shows the authenticity. I played it safe and ordered the fish tacos. It came three tacos with a side of rice and beans. Our entire table agreed that you could tell the beans were made in house and not dumped out of a can. They were not overly salted and had a fresher taste. The fish tacos were also delicious, well seasoned and not over cooked. The staff were more than friendly and made sure that we were happy with our food. There were a few quirks to this place like the food being served on Styrofoam and having plastic utensils, but then again, who cares, as long as the food is good I'll keep coming back. All in all, this is now my go to Mexican place in Rochester.
(5)G G.
This is pretty much the gold standard. I grew up on this stuff. The food is great and the decor makes me smile. Fast and easy.
(5)Mika B.
Great place for happy hours, reasonably priced food and good margaritas!
(3)Tom T.
We were passing through Rochester at lunch time and decided Mexican food sounded good. El Carambas came up on google and had 4.6 stars so we decided to go. There was a line when we walked in the door so we thought we had struck gold. Boy were we wrong! The salsa bar looked impressive and we wound up trying 6 of the sauces...all were watered down and needed salt and flavor! The chips were unsalted and greasy and yucky. I knew just by tasting the salsa and chips the 4 meals we ordered might not be that great. I called that one. The nachos, chimichanga plate and tamale/enchilada plate had a watery, flavorless and likely made from a powder cheese sauce on them. I've never eaten at a Mexican restaurant that had cheese sauce on anything! My husband's fish tacos were filled with chopped up greasy fried fish that tasted like it had been cooked in old oil. Everything needed salt and lots of it. But there was only one salt shaker to be found and it was at someone else's table!!! Just extremely disappointed we had even stopped there when there were so many other restaurant choices to be had. Even fast food would have been preferable to that meal. Not sure why everyone else thought this place was so great unless things have drastically changed in the past 6 months or so!
(2)Soly Z.
The owner is a great guy and he really makes this place special. The food, however, wasn't amazing. I'm from Los Angeles, so I've had my fair share of good Mexican food, and this place is underwhelming. I prefer La Perla Poblana, whereas El Carambas is my husband's favorite.
(3)Kerry D.
Definitely the best available Mexican food in town! It's always welcoming to have the owner provide us with service, which my husband and I have had our fair share of dining in and ordering takeout, as he is super friendly and sets the tone for a great local business. The inside decor is of ecletic Mexican memorobilia and reminds me of an Applebees feel but with a Southwest influence. It's a great establishment to bring kids with the decor, fast service, and good food. Especially with the yummy chips and variety in their salsa bar, this is one of my favorite places. And it's super affordable- you just can't beat it in town.
(5)Katie S.
Food was great. I have never tried fish tacos, this place promised they had the best. He gave me one free, just to prove they were good. If every place made them like El Carambas I would be eating them a lot more. My daughter had a burrito and loved it, she is not easy to please by the way. My mom had fajitas and raved about them. The only thing I will mention is this is more of a fast food place, you really don't have a waiter. But please don't let this detour you, you will be missing the best place!
(5)Cualeng V.
Maybe being from Texas has skewed my perception of what Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food is, but I do not understand how this place has so many 5-star ratings... The positives include the cheap prices, friendly staff, and free salsa bar. That's about it. The menu consists of basically every Mexican dish you might ever conceivably order in your lifetime, all without any sort of description. For a sit-down, dine-in restaurant staffed with servers, that's not necessarily a bad thing. For a restaurant where you order at the counter, it can mean insanely long wait times as the person ahead of you (or even yourself) asks question after question about what each dish is. The salsa bar is stocked with at least 4 different types of salsa and other assorted condiments to include fresh pico de gallo. Unfortunately, most of the salsas (except the verde) taste similar and there was no difference between the "hot" salsa and the "mild" salsa to my palette. The dishes themselves, of which my wife and I ordered the ground beef enchiladas with Ranchero sauce and a chili rellano and ground beef taco were nothing to write home about. They weren't bad, but they weren't anything special. The Mexican rice and refried beans also needed a tad bit more salt. Last, but certainly not least, the "chips and salsa" we received prior to our meal was fried pita bread with the salsa we got ourselves from the salsa bar...oh yeah, did I forget to mention they sell Gyros here as well? I mean, if you're going to pretend to be a Mexican restaurant, don't hand out pita chips instead of tortilla chips - especially cold, hard, fried pita chips.
(2)Derek J.
Very very good staff! They'll make you feel like family. Everything is very cheesy, and the horchata is really tasty.
(5)Kathy M.
Wonderful, fresh Mexican food. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch and will definitely head there again the next time we are in town.
(4)Carlyn R.
Best Mexican restaurant in town. Funky decor, low overhead reflected in the very low prices. The staff is super friendly. The owner is terrific. (Check out their Cinqo de Mayo celebrations they are FANTASTIC!) Very good energy in the place, and real diversity in their customers - a rarity in Rochester. Everyone is welcome, check it out.
(5)Trinity A.
If you like authentic Mexican food this place is not for you. We had 3 different plates and all 3 tasted like a Mexican style frozen TV dinner. Yuck. Don't waste your time.
(1)Megan L.
Ok this place is so freaking amazing that I had to sign up for Yelp just to write a review! If you're ever in Rochester, Minnesota....you definitely must visit. The owner is amazing and does everything from sweep the floor to suggest his favorite dishes and bring you your food. My husband and I were driving cross-country and happened to find this place on Yelp when we were looking for a place for dinner. Amazing tacos, enchiladas, rellenos, and a great salsa bar. The owner is spirited, attentive, and a fantastic host. This is truly authentic, very affordable Mexican food with very amicable staff who want you to enjoy and come back again. I will definitely be back again when driving home!
(5)Doug W.
Unbelievable. Freshness, flavor & personality!
(4)Bill K.
This place is a hole-in-the-wall across from Cub Foods. The food is extremely authentic and rather inexpensive. I've thought it was the best Mexican food in Rochester for several years, although there are some nice fancier places. All the standard items are available. I classified it as also Greek as the owner was the chef at the formerly best Greek Restaurant in Rochester (Zorba's) and he offers Gyros here. I tend to classify a Mexican restaurant as authentic if they have lengua (tongue) tacos. The proprietor always seems to be there, and he and the staff are very congenial. You order at the counter, and half the dishes on the board are unknown to me; there is no translation nor glossary, but they are happy to explain. I've been making it a project to leave my favorites and eat my way through the unknowns. I haven't tried the octopus yet. They serve you at your table. There is an array of about 10 salsas; you can take your pick and fill up plastic cups. A lot of the service is for takeout. Beer is available but no Margaritas. Soccer is on the television more often than not. They deliver via Waiter Express. Here is their current (Nov 2010) Waiter Express menu: menus.deliverycheckout.c… ------------------------------------------------ The owner has recently opened Opa! Opa!, a Greek sit-down across the small parking lot. I love Greek food, and I like the place, but I'm not ready to review it. I didn't check to see if they are still offering gyros on the El Carambas menu.
(5)Bill K.
Reasonably good Mexican. Marginal neighborhood.
(4)Billy N.
For us, the best Mexican restaurant in town. We head over regularly for tacos al pastor, burritos and so on. Great prices, nice decor and friendly staff. Very authentic.
(5)Anthony B.
In town for the clinic. Decided to try this Mexican restaurant. Do Not let the exterior fool you. The food here is out of this world. Our server Luis went over and above, even bring us complimentary cheese dip and Mexican style tacos. Definitely recommend making the trek if you like true Mexican food.
(5)Anders N.
Great little place for Mexican food. It is good and cheap. Initial look may not please, but trust the good reviews.
(4)Stephanie P.
Pros... Love the food, never disappointed. Looking for a gluten-free menu? They have one! Huge quanities, low price. Best takeout. Great service, friendly employees. Can order beer & wine. Cons... Decor, styrofoam plates, no patio, no margaritas.
(4)Tommy C.
Authentic Mexican food for cheap. Great staff. Fantastic atmosphere. Favorite restaurant in Rochester by far. I recommend it to anyone who is in the area. And yes, they offer vegetarian options.
(5)