El Pueblito
810 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO, 64108
El Pueblito Menu
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Address :
810 Southwest Boulevard
Kansas City, MO, 64108 - Phone (816) 471-5442
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Kiley S.
This place has the most affordable and authentic Mexican food menu we've found in KC.
(5)Guillermo V.
The food is mediocre. Nothing really too special. It is what you would find at most americanized mexican restaurants. You know some sort of tortilla, some sort of lightly seasoned meat and then drowned in cheese. Then see how many times they can change those three things. However, that is applicable to all of the mexican restaurants like that. The service is pretty good. They were attentive and when they got me the meet instead of chicken they didnt make me pay for it. However, what makes this 4 stars instead of 3 is that it is open pretty late for KC standards. There have been various times that I am looking for a late night bite on a week night and this is one of the only places I can find that is worth eating.
(4)D M.
Short version - Food was good, service was good until we got our check. Purchased a groupon for El Pueblito which stated, "Dinner for two: one appetizer, two entrees, and two drinks" Fine print does not state any limitations on what you can order as far as the drinks, appetizer, and two entrees. Just to make sure, I asked the waitress this very question - "Is there any limitation on what we can order as far as drinks, appetizer or entrée?" - No, order whatever you want. Even offered to bring use 2 margaritas, which we accepted. We ordered the nachos for the appetizer and our 2 entrees. Only thing that was odd was when I gave her the groupon when I first got there. She took it and brought it back with a line I had to sign saying I agreed to pay any tax along with a space for my email address. Not sure what that was all about. Meal was good and the service was fine - until the check arrived. It totaled $13.75, which seemed a little steep for tax. After further inspection I noticed I was charged for the nachos appetizer. When I called the waitress over, she said that she didn't know but that was not included as a choice of an appetizer. I argued a bit then asked to see the manager - she said the manager wasn't there. I ask to speak to the other person that was there and that person came over and said the same thing - 'sorry there is nothing we can do.' But you made the mistake - I specifically asked if there was a limitation - just because you didn't know does mean you get to now charge me for it! Now at least take off the $5 I shouldn't have been credited for the 'included' appetizer I was "allowed" to have. I tried to point out that the point of groupons is advertising for your business - get people (like me) that wouldn't normally come in to try your food. It was good food and my wife and I had already discussed coming back again, but told them that not only will that never happen, they will get a bad review posted on yelp and a complaint will be filed with the groupon people. Her response was a shoulder shrug and a "sorry there is nothing we can do."
(1)Terri D.
Bought the groupon deal for this place and it was great! Came in during happy hour and went ahead and took advantage of the 2 for 1 margaritas in addition to the margaritas that came with the groupon. After reading reviews, we tried the ceviche... which was delicious! Had a combo platter and burrito... all were very tasty and flavorful. Liked the spicy salsa, but the mild was a bit too tomato based. The best part was our waitress... she was super nice and very attentive. Definitely made the experience even better! Can't wait to go back! Made this Texan (who is used to good Mexican food) very happy.
(4)DJuan L.
The atmosphere and service at this place isn't great, but who cares at 1A.M?! I've been here a few times and the service has never really been great, but it good enough except for the time before last. All I got was queso dip and a beer and it took forever to get a refill of chips and water. The chips and salsa were pretty damn good. They give you a regular (mild) and a hot salsa. They pair great together and both are full of fllavor. The queso is pretty good. Maybe the best queso that I've had in queso. On my last visit I got a bean burrito and a cheese enchilada. They were both covered in melted cheese so you couldn't really distinguish the 2 until you dug into them. There was so much cheese on them that you could barely taste the flavor of the food. I loooove cheese, but it was almost too much. The rice and beans were both pretty good. They have different specials, including 75 cent tacos. The place is also open until 4am. which is a plus. Overall, the food is pretty decent, but the service could be better. Good place for chips and salsa and queso.
(3)Deana W.
Short version: Order the Ceviche and anything Shrimp! Ceviche is 5 stars Shrimp 4 Stars Variety of salsa 4 stars Ambiance 2 stars Service 4 stars Margarita 2 stars Rice and beans 4 stars. Averages out to 3 stars, A-OK Your dining experience really does change based on what you order. Many times I've thought a restaurant was just Ho Hum because I didn't know "the right" thing to order. You will enjoy the Ceviche! Tender pieces of fish, shrimp, onions, tomatoes, and chilies all bathed in a bright squeeze of lime juice. The seafood has perfect consistency with a very subtle heat from the chilies. It is served with creamy ripe slices of avacado and warm tortilla chips. Light, refreshing, a must do. We were using a Groupon which luckily included an appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 Margaritas. The servers were friendly and attentive. They start you off in the typical Mexican restaurant fashion, complimentary tortilla chips. Then they mix it up with, not 1, but 3 dipping sauces. Mild, hot, and tomatillo salsa. All of them were yummy. Since I read the Yelp reviews prior to eating, I knew that I was going to order seafood. So, Thank you Yelpers for the suggestions. The grilled Shrimp was succulent and juicey! Tucked into the warm corn tortilla with avacado, lettuce, and a squeeze of lime juice made me very happy. My date opted happily for the Shrimp Taquitos. I showed great restraint and didn't steal even one. Maybe next time! I'll lull him into a false sense of security, and then strike when he least expects it. I enjoyed the experience and will definitely be back to share the Ceviche with friends. The restaurant is on the North side of Southwest BLVD, across from Royal liquior. Minimal parking out front but worth a short walk.
(3)Neeca B.
Sandwiched in between other Hispanic eateries it can be difficult to set your self apart but they do ok. They are open late and have out door seating. The lighting is kept low inside, but i think it's to hide the holes in the seats, dirt on the floor and partially wiped tables. This probably should have bothered me but it was good enough. I saw kids here but i probably wouldnt encourage it. TV on but no sound, music on low. Started off with chips and salsa. Ceviche tasty as were the rice, beans and chicken enchiladas. Chicken mole was decent. Out of the 15 or so Hispanic/Latin inspired places to grab a bite on southwest blvd they rank about 5th for me.
(3)Tyler Z.
So good. This is the best food I've had in Kansas City. The taste is very authentic and has a complete flavor profile. You cannot go wrong with their tacos. Can't wait to go back. Seriously. It's really hard to find good of this quality in Kansas City. I've loved in the SW and had some great Mexican food there. This is the closest you'll get to the real thing here in KC.
(5)Sara D.
El Pueblito was the destination spot of choice on a Saturday night for a double date. We arrived with a Groupon in hand and scored a seat on the patio. The chips and salsa were delicious. They give you both a mild and hot salsa and I thought the mild was super hot! (Then again I'm a wimp when it comes to spice). The margaritas were tasty, as well. The service was a bit slow and spotty (she seemed kind of flighty). I thought that my combo meal was decent. I've definitely had better Mexican food but the burrito and enchiladas were alright. (They could be improved by size and spices). Overall, I enjoyed the experience because I was drinking a margarita on a patio with my favorite people.
(3)Joseph A.
You want real tacos, I'm talking about real mexican tacos, this is it right here. Waitress was very friendly. Margaritas are made right there in front of you and it is the good stuff. This place is delicious
(5)Fahad K.
Honestly, gringo prices, gringo food, Nothing authentic whatsoever... also very over priced for this quality. Bad night out, much better places here in KC
(2)Cindy R.
I've had the food truck at First Friday's and thought that the nachos were pretty good so trying the actual restaurant out last night thinking it was "Taco Tuesday" seemed like a good idea. I got 3 different types of tacos and a side of rice. My friend ordered the fish tacos and rice and beans platter. I thought my tacos were good and the prices weren't expensive (we got out of there paying $32 for meals plus a margarita and beer). Was it the best Mexican food in KC? No. But it wasn't horrible. They were very attentive and I liked that they seemed very "family run" and caring towards service but they didn't offer specials AT ALL last night. Seemed a little odd. Plus, there's no beer on tap. Just bottles. Not my favorite or least favorite but I just felt "eh" with it at the end of the night. It wasn't busy either, I'd assume this is because the "no especiales" on Taco Tuesday. It's just so-so.
(3)derek w.
On the plus side, the salsas are respectably good. Unfortunately, everything is largely downhill after the free salsa. Beef tacos are fair as was the rice. Beans were horrible. Taco Bell brand canned beans are much better. Why in the year 2015 Mexican restaurants still can't do a proper re-fried bean, or even better, a good broth based bean is beyond me. Shrimp tacos are a couple steps below On The Border's. Shrimp quesadilla was a reasonable value and not too bad. Unlike the shrimp tacos, the shrimp on the quesadilla were reasonably large, maybe a 25-30 count. Kid's chicken nugget plate was nothing more than store-bought dino-nuggets. While I can't count kid's chicken nugget dinner quality too much in the overall score, its like they weren't even trying. Service was pleasant and but a bit slow. However, I only saw one waitress for about 7 tables, so overall, she was making a good effort. 3 adult entrees, 2 kid meals (all with water to drink) = $43 after tax before tip. Definitely not a good value. Summary: Just another bland to mediocre Mexian restaurant on the Boulevard in KC. Probably not the worst place you'll ever eat, but far from the best. At half the price, it would be a decent value (although, still not a very tasty one). If you get dragged here by a group, you will survive. But I'd put some effort into finding someplace else to eat if you have a choice.
(2)Matt E.
So i'm definitely a fan of their food truck. But that might also just be that I'm a fan of burritos at 3 AM when I'm a bit hamskeyed. Regardless, when I moved to the neighborhood and found out that I was within spitting distance of their brick and mortar location, I figured I'd hit them up. The quick and dirty: It's alright, but just alright. A group of four went in for dinner the other night, and the place was dead. I was worried they were closing up shop, but they insisted we sit and took great care of us. Service was definitely the strong point of our visit. Our server was prompt and entertaining, and he twisted our (easily twistable) arms into having 2 for 1 Patron margaritas - the Wednesday night special. I don't know how strong they were, but they were pretty tasty. The other three in my party opted for tacos, and the verdict was a not-overly-enthusiastic "these are pretty good." I mean, that's better than saying they are bad, right? I had a chimichanga, the most glorious of all foods. They do theirs a bit wonky, as it's actually two little chimmis, which means more tortilla, and more crunchy ends. I thought it was fine, but again didn't blow me away. What WAS awesome? Their queso dip. Maybe it's because I had a touch of a buzz going on, but man that was some good cheesy goo. We devoured that shiz, and the staff probably thought we were either stoned or just released from fat camp. Neither were true, but regardless it didn't last long. I'd go back without much concern, but not until after I satisfy my urge to check out the rest of the restaurants on the street. Maybe I just need to find the one thing they do better than anybody else, and then I'll be in more of a rush to return.
(3)Jessica L.
I am always in the mood for Mexican food - good Mexican food regardless what the place looks like - fancy, not fancy - the ambiance doesn't really sway my perception of the food. Had dinner on a Saturday evening with a group of friends and it wasn't very busy but the waitress was clearly overwhelmed. One of my friends tried to order several entrees and was informed they were out - out of mole? Really? That is just crazy to me. The guacamole and rice were wonderful - some of the best we've ever had. However, the a la carte tacos came on brittle hard shells - thought we had been momentarily transported to a Taco John's. The meat was good but it would have been better in light soft corn tortillas. I ordered the chilequiles and I was pleased with the dish but the seasoning on the steak could have been a bit more exciting. Another thing to note about the food - one of the salsas tasted more like spaghetti sauce than anything that should be served at a Mexican restaurant. The waitress was a disaster - after telling her several times - including before we had even ordered any food - that we wanted separate checks, she brought 1 check for the table. She said she couldn't split the checks. When I went up to pay, I asked the cashier about it and she said they only split checks when it isn't busy. That is just crazy. If it is a rule then she should have told us that initially. The food was decent but I don't know it if was good enough to get a return visit anytime soon.
(3)Chris M.
El Pueblito will meet your expectations. As it's location on the strip some refer to as "Little Mexico" would suggest, this venue is not banking on glitz and glam. But then again, it shouldn't. Instead El Pueblito focuses on traditional, quality food at a reasonable price. The dining room is comfortable, detached from the kitchen by a bar with room for about 10 people. Our server was efficient, with excellent recommendations, and attention to detail not typically found in a joint of this type. We started with the shrimp ceviche, which was excellent, as was the guacamole appetizer. For entrees, our table selected the Enchiladas Michoacanas, Chimichangas, a steak plate, and Chicken Mole. Everyone was very happy with their selections, and apparently the mole sauce was worthy of any behavior just short of actually licking the plate. The only things I thought could use some improvement would be the beans (which were too runny), and the margaritas (mediocre at best). I was also a little disappointed that they didn't have chile verde.
(4)Erin W.
This was my first time at this restaurant (I had a groupon) and I was pleasantly surprised. There were some in my group that were a little concerned by the looks of the outside, but I was so impressed by the service. Our waitress was attentive and very polite. I had the El Pueblito burrito that had guac on the inside. It was amazing. My husband ordered the fish and shrimp tacos and they had carrots in it, but it was really good! If you are looking for great Mexican food, this is a perfect place to get it!
(5)Layla M.
it was pretty good. for a quick inexpensive meal, it gets an A+. We went down to that end of Southwest in order to have Mexican and decided to just go with FATE. We were pleased with our choice. We arrived a few minutes before noon and definitely beat the crowd. We both ordered off the lunch menu- He had the tamale/enchilada and i had the burrito. we were both pleased.
(3)Julie S.
I used to think this place was okay - until the last time I went there. (Also the last time I will ever go there). A few work friends and I went and waited and waited for service. Once the waitress came we ordered a margarita which we waited about 15 minutes for. In the mean time she came back and we ordered some cheese sauce. We waiting another 10 minutes and she came back to out table telling us Food Inspection showed up and they had to dump all of the queso. Fucking yuck. After that the inspector came out and was wiping the table he was sitting at to type his report. When he pulled up the cloth it was a dark brown like the table hasn't been washed in a long time. Our food finally came out cold and we decided to just leave. I'm all for second chances but I can't say I'll ever return.
(1)Ankita T.
It was a groupon disaster... More to say was expecting some good authentic mexican cuisine but seemed more like a roadside stall. Although the guac was ok but the main course had lots of red food color n a horrible taste. Even the food in low rated mexican restaurants or fastfood takeouts taste better than what was served here.
(1)Meghan T.
This place was ok, nothing special at all. I was looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant and this place was very authentic, but highly over priced. I just got the cheese enchilada meal which came with beans and rice. I could have gone without the enchiladas, they didn't have much sauce and really weren't that good. The beans were pretty good though and so was the rice. My friend got the shrimp and beef fajita which he really liked and it was a very large portion. There was a language barrier, the waitress was nice but had a hard time understanding what we wanted and it was kind of annoying because by the end of our dinner she had an attitude towards us and I could tell she was irritated, just like us. We had to wait about 20 minutes to get an extra tortilla to go for his left over fajitas, the waitress thought he wanted 2 soft tacos!! I ordered the 1.99 margarita and the owner asked if I got the patron margarita and insisted he would make sure I got the margarita with patron. I thought he was just being nice, until I got the bill!!! The patron margarita, which didn't even taste like it had much alcohol in it and I ordered a strawberry and they gave me the nasty lime one, ended up being $9!! So obviously the owner is going to insist I get the $9 margarita and not the cheap one, which I ordered in the first place. Right when we sat down the waitress asked if we wanted chips, which at most every other place chips and salsa are complimentary, not here they ended up being $2.99. Had I known they were going to charge me for the chips and salsa I would have said no. I think I had 3 chips tops, the salsa was insanely hot and the chips just didn't seem fresh. In all our meal ended up being $41 for two people!!!! The owner did give my friend 2 free street tacos... that were ok. The best part about this place was they had outdoor seating and we didn't have to sit inside their sketchy building!! I don't think I will return to this odd place. Good Luck if you go here!
(2)Scott T.
Curious what some of my Yelp friends said about this little joint among many decent restaurants on this street and come away pretty much agreeing with them. The menu right off strikes me as having way too many options. Hell, I couldn't find the tacos so I asked if they had traditional style tacos and not the half moon fried shell types. I think my server was taken back and assured me they did. So I ordered four: pastor, lengua, chorizo and carne, with a side of rice. The rice comes with corn and peas, a nice touch. Single shell soft tacos, not double wrapped as they often are but certainly packed with plenty of meat, nicely cooked. Maybe a shade greasy but it sure tasted good. Plenty of onions and cilantro and limes to squeeze over. My lunch companion had a plate off the lunch special and it was heavily Americanized ala half moon fried taco shell with iceberg lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese. Quite the contrast between the two plates. Two sauces: one heavily tomato with little seasoning (but still pleasant), the other a little more heat and more acidity. I typically like the heat but the mild sauce seemed to have a better flavor. Not exactly a happy kind of place. Sort of dark and dreary but guessing that picks up with a few margaritas. With two coffees (pretty decent, actually) and a 20% tip we were over $30 so not cheap by KC standards. I think they may be trying to do too much here is my opinion. Pare it down, do it well, don't worry about who is walking in the door. You can never please them all. Still, I'd return here for lunch again without hesitation. A solidly nice option for Mexican.
(3)Lynn W.
I was looking all over town for good ceviche, and I found it at El Pueblito. I ordered the ceviche plate, and they let me mix the whitefish and shrimp. The portion was large and all I could have hoped for. I also ordered the white cheese dip and drizzled it over the ceviche which was a great combination with the acid of the lime juice. This small restaurant on the Boulevard will be my go to place for ceviche, and I look forward to trying the other seafood plates on the menu.
(5)Joe G.
When it comes to tacos, I come here! I've been going to this place for years and I've befriended the owner and his son. Both are really nice guys. You'll always find somethg on the menu. It's all pretty good. My personal favorites are the huaraches, tacos & tortas.
(4)Sweet L.
Worst Mexican restaurant ever I will never go back again. I've been there 3 times and nothing changed please don't go there.
(1)Jheri B.
I'm still iffy about this place. I've been twice and food was just okay. They really need to change the fryer grease for the chips. Did that stop me from eating more baskets than willing to admit to? No. The guacamole and queso were equally underwhelming and yet again I won't share how much I ate. It's like some weird Mexi-voodoo comes over me and I can't stop munching. I had fajitas last time. They were good. I've had a combo platter before and it wasn't particularly memorable. The real appeal here is the happy hour which I'm sure will be bringing me back at least one more time to this place. Seriously, change the grease and i could probably get to 4 stars due to to the Mexi-voodoo here.
(3)Billie H.
In the mood for Mexican food before the firework show down at Union Station, SW Blvd was the place to stop. My friend suggested El Pueblito. When we walked in there was no one there. This was a little concerning, but after looking on Yelp, the recent stars seemed to support that this is a good choice. I ordered the shrimp chimichanga dinner. The dinner came with two chimis covered in queso, beans, rice, and lettuce. Overall the dinner was good. The chimis were full of shrimp, good flavor that was not completely lost under the queso. The rice and beans was standard that you would find in most Mexican restaurants, nothing special, but good. The salsas that came with the chip were good. The mild had a nice tomato, onion, cilantro taste. The hot was more of a chili (as in the soup) taste and had a bite that would sneak up on you. I preferred the taste of the mild and the heat of the hot. The chips were standard, nothing special there either. Based on the food, I would have probably edged up to the forth star, but the service was severely lacking. Our waitress was more interested in watching some low rider cars going by than taking our order. We waited at least ten minutes after sitting our menus down for her to come take our order. She did not check on us at all during the meal. My dining buddy got the wrong tortillas with her meal and had to wave down the waitress, which took a few times along with appropriately hollaring out to her. Our bill did not come detailed, just a total. The drinks cost almost as much as the dinners from my best guess. The margaritas were small and filled with ice. Unless we were charged for the chips, they had to cost almost $8 each. They were not $8 margaritas at all! With the service and possible drink costs, I think I know why the place was empty on a Sunday evening. Looking through the other reviews, it appears this may be a place to hit for happy hour. The food is worth a visit, the rest is not.
(3)Sara J.
Groupon fail. Salsa was similar to spaghetti sauce, hot sauce lacked spice, they were out of cheddar cheese, entrées and margaritas were bland. We were there at 7:30 on Wednesday night and were the only people there the entire time. I guess I can see why. Our waitress was rolling silverware and talking to a friend and we had to wait for our check.
(1)Brianne O.
I've lived in the Midwest for almost 4 years, not KC specifically. This is the best Mexican food I've had since I've lived here (it's the real stuff!). The $1 tacos during happy hour are great, as are the Patron margaritas! I would highly recommend this place if you like traditional Mexican food with flavor! I'm only here for a few more weeks, and this will be a place I eat at least once a week until I leave!!
(5)Faith B.
I'm a little on the fence on this place. The service when I went there was verging on rude. They argued with me over a restaurant.com certificate, trying to add additional rules that were not printed there. They over charge for drinks something fierce. The standard Mexican food here is decent, but nothing magical. BUT... The ceviche is fabulous. Fresh, tasty, tangy with a little spice and cilantro, perfectly done. So, despite myself I might be back to get carryouts of that alone.
(3)Matt P.
Found the perfect Mexican restaurant! The margaritas are excellent and strong, the service is great, and the food is all good (especially the ceviche). My goal is to try every item on the menu...I'm about half way through it, and they're all delicious so far.
(5)Veronica M.
It is one of the many Latino owned businesses on southwest boulevard, El Pueblito offers great (no amazing!) lunch specials!! Cheap and Yummy! No one beats their lunch deals! They also have happy hour specials. (El Pueblito has a bar) I invite you to try the cheese dip and chips, also the shredded beef taco salad. Whoa child!! You'll be full for days! You have the option to eat inside,or outside on the wide sidewalk of southwest boulevard, where El Pueblito has some tables and chairs, and you can enjoy latin music through the speakers above the entrance. Even on lunch after hours, their prices are more than fair. The waitresses are overall nice and helpful with the exception of one young lady that I'm hoping was just having a bad day. Parking is not the best, only a few in front of the establishment, however, there is parkin avalible about 1 1/2 block down the street right under the bridge. That is the only down side, although you may need that walk to your car after all that food!!
(3)Jennifer S.
I was subtly surprised by this place on the Blvd and quite happy with it! We ate outside on the patio which was great and perfectly comfortable. I absolutley judge Mexican places based on certain aspects, but definitely by the quac and the tacos... I feel like that's adequate judgement... anyway, they had THE BEST STREET TACOS EVER! Sorry, Cancun Fiesta Fresh, they beat you fair and square! They are not on the menu so you have to ask for them. They are fried corn tortillas (fried just enough, not crispy), fresh onion, cilantro, and you have your choice of meat or veggie. SO good! I will be going back again and again just for those. The margaritas were great also and you get a huge pitcher! Our waitress was very attentive and friendly she was also quick to point out how awesome the happy hour is during the week and on Saturdays! GO get relish in the taco goodness! Cheers friends!
(5)Saul K.
Food truck- 5 stars. I only went here because this is the place with the little kid that mans the food truck at 3am at Westport and is the son of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. -1 star for the kid not being in the restaurant. First time I had the food sober. It is pretty disappointing. The quesadillas in the restaurant do not have that amazing red sauce that they do from the food truck -2 stars for crappy food. The entrance looks like a strip club! The velvet ropes, the curtains when you walk in...Gangster rap blasting the whole time. +1 star for replicating a strip club
(3)Layla M.
it was pretty good. for a quick inexpensive meal, it gets an A+. We went down to that end of Southwest in order to have Mexican and decided to just go with FATE. We were pleased with our choice. We arrived a few minutes before noon and definitely beat the crowd. We both ordered off the lunch menu- He had the tamale/enchilada and i had the burrito. we were both pleased.
(3)Hannah J.
I am full mexican, born and raised. This place has the most authentic mexican food around, hands down best mexican restaurant in kc area. Service is great and so is the food. Definitely coming back.
(5)Nicole B.
El Pueblito is my go to place on the Boulevard. It's that perfect little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant where the service is friendly, the food authentic, and the drinks potent. There's also a little patio out front that is perfect for people watching. Now the service isn't always quick, but it's friendly. Contrary to another review, the food is fresh and if you look at my reviews, I'm big on farm to table restaurants. While this isn't a farm to table restaurant, the food always seems fresh to me. I like their spicy salsa....the jalapenos add a smokiness to it. Their regular salsa is just ok. I like their chimichangas with steak. My go to drink is the giant Patron margarita. You can't go wrong with that. The best thing about El Pueblito is the shrimp ceviche. On my most recent visit, my friends and I wanted to start with the shrimp ceviche to share. Our server informed us that they didn't have any pico de gallo so they couldn't do the ceviche. He saw how disappointed we were so he went into the kitchen himself and cut up the tomatoes, and cilantro, and onions, and jalapenos and came out with the ceviche. I thought that was so awesome of him and if that's not good service, then I don't know what is!
(4)R B.
NOTE - this is a review of the El Pueblito food truck, found on Westport Road late nights. Just do yourself a favor. Sidle up to the window and order yourself at least 4 tacos al pastor from the awesome little kid inside. When they are served, squeeze a bunch of salsa verde on them. Your drunken night of poor decisions just got turned on it's head. You're welcome. The restaurant is great too, with fantastic lunch specials and a delicious hot salsa, but they don't have the Al Pastor at the restaurant for some reason.
(5)Will B.
Well, the burrito was above average. It sure did lay me out afterwards though. My only two concerns were the interior and the red salsa that I had a strong suspicion was marinara sauce.
(3)Beth B.
This is for the food truck experience I had at First Friday's in June. I was actually looking for a different truck and found this one. I was checking out what everyone was getting and I saw the "street" tacos. i ordered a steak and a pork taco. It looked like the grandpa was cooking, the dad was prepping and the son was taking money and handing out orders. Definitely a family business. The food took a bit of time, but this place is POPULAR. The tacos were $2 each and are the small "street" tacos style with two made-right-in-front-of-you soft shells. They piled on the lettuce, onions and cilantro. Two tacos actually filled me up. They have a green sauce and a red spicy sauce. I will definitely search out this truck again - and might head by their restaurant if I am in the neighborhood.
(4)Yuri S.
One of my favorite Mex. places... Salsa here is the best that I've had in K.C. to date. It is the perfect balance between tartness and saltiness, and very fresh tasting. My "litmus" test is usually the taco. I've had the chopped pork tacos here and it's very flavorful. You can taste the salt, sour and all the other flavors. The "scent" of the food, onions, spices and cheeses moving through the back of your nasal senses as your chewing are awesome. Complex flavors indeed! Decor is expected from a small restaurant, nothing special. The waitresses are usually average, sometimes better, but the food is really something. Try the chopped pork tacos... It's definitely authentic.
(4)Jimmi H.
Mmmmm, more delicious mexican food in my neighborhood! I'm clearly ok with this! I have to be totally up front though, the food is delicious, but perhaps only par for a district known for their authentic cuisine. So why the forth star? Well, let's see... The service was great. Sure not perfect, but I would be a touch freaked out if I got five star service at what is clearly a neighborhood haunt. Our server was attentive and very personable; he made great suggestions about what we should try and offered us some pretty nice deals with our margaritas. I also enjoyed the fact that they labeled something exotic. It made me feel like I was really trying something new, even if I was getting intestines...ok, I suppose those are a bit exotic for tacos. My mate eating with us wasn't sure where he landed on the exotic meat, I landed squarely in the "more for me please!" area. My Pastor tacos were excellent (all of this was part of their taco platter deal, 3 tacos and fix'ns for 8 or 9 dollars), the rice was good, but the beans were not so good. Overall, I was very happy with my meal (I don't like beans and never eat them so they really have no weight in my assessment. I only noted them because it was a table consensus that none of the bean's eaters liked them...but I digress). The price is right here too. Nothing seemed to be overpriced and there were some good drink deals. I wouldn't say that it was cheap over all, but certainly more on that side. I also liked that as we were leaving at 9:30, others were just getting there and ordering dinner. I love living in places where it is perfectly acceptable (and normal) to eat a meal after 8pm during the week. I will definitely be returning!
(4)Jordan B.
So apparently I had been here before and didn't remember which, if we're connecting the dots here, means that it's not all that memorable. Anyway. I had my heart set on trying Ricos Tacos Lupe, so we ventured down Southwest Blvd. Alas, it was New Year's Day, and RTL wasn't open. El Pueblito was. That's 1 star just because everyone knows the cure to the year's worst hangover is Mexican food. The service was slow due to the place being pretty busy with only 1 waitress/bartender. We didn't get our waters for probably 20 minutes, but she took our orders in the meantime. Another larger group of 7 or 8 people came and went after they sat without service for 5-10 minutes. Anyway we weren't rushed and the house margaritas were tasty. I didn't see the price difference, but if you're looking for a nice strong margarita, I would definitely order the Patron one because the house ones didn't taste strong at all. One person at our table had the Patron margarita, and it was kickin'. I had the huarache, which was an extra thick homemade corn tortilla topped with beans, meat, cilantro, onions, and mozzarella and served with beans and rice. For meat I opted for the Al Pastor (shredded pork with pineapples and onions). I don't know if that's what I got or not because I didn't taste the pineapple or onion at all. But overall it was tasty, nothing special, and the beans and rice were pretty standard. The chips and salsa tasted fresh and the queso is where it's at. Perfect creamy texture and delicious, not too spicy. This place is worth a try, but I expect I'll be testing out several others nearby before heading back.
(3)Jordan S.
Our favorite Mexican food in the city, truly authentic, amazing street tacos. Great prices and daily specials. We go all the time. We can't tell enough people about it A+
(4)Robert J.
I pick new Mexican places every week from Yelp reviews and this place had pretty good reviews so it was next in line. Mexican is one of my favorite food group next to Reeces Peanut Butter Cups so I enjoy finding a good new location. Chips and Salsa are always a staple, the mild sauce was really mild but the hot sauce is actually hot so mix it with the mild and you have a pretty good combination. The hot sauce seemed to have a smoked Jalapeno flavor which tastes great but was too hot to eat straight. I was craving enchiladas so I ordered chicken and shredded beef trio with rice and beans from the back page of the menu. The food was good, it was covered in cheese and well cooked, I enjoyed the meal. It's always nice to dine with friends so I brought one and she ordered the shrimp tacos which she said were 'ok' because there were carrots and strange veggies in them. Service was friendly but slow, the waitress was nice but we were out of drinks several times waiting and it took 10 minutes to bring change after we paid. I would go back, the food was good and prices were great for the large portions and quality of food.
(4)Bill B.
You can do remarkably well at the prices here, especially if you like seafood. They have the largest number of seafood choices of any Mexican restaurant in KC , and their ceviche is usually rated as the best in the city. The other fish choices are either fried or grilled. The fried tilapia is much more expensive than the grilled fish, since the fried tilapia is an entire fish. The grilled fish are filets. All of the appetizers are half price during happy hour. They have only two wines, but both are good, served in large glasses, and at low prices. One is a Mondavi merlot and the other is a Chilean chardonnay. Despite the limited selection of wines, these are among the best wine buys in the city. The sauces they offer are healthy preparations, but you might want to avoid the refried beans, which are never a healthy choice anywhere. Although not mentioned on the menu, you can request whole pinto beans, which I like better anyway. They usually bring out the bill written in Spanish with only the total price displayed. But you can request a printed bill, listing the individual prices. You won't be disappointed by the value per dollar here.
(4)Amanda S.
Solid high 3 stars. It's one of the local Mexican restaurants I have been to more than once. As most places, there is the standard chips and salsa. I'm not terribly impressed with either salsa choice. One is very tomato-y and bland. The other is very garlic-y and has more flavor than the other one. But neither has any heat. My favorite dish is the Tampiqueña. It's skirt steak (well done) with a side of green peppers and onions in a cream sauce, beans and guacamole. The entire dish is full of flavor but the cream sauce makes the dish a winner. It's awesome. Our service is usually mediocre. There has been a couple of stand out servers but the last few times we're waving them down for service. A plus, they have added seating outside. It's a great addition since the restaurant itself is dark and can get crowded. El Pueblito is worth trying even with the possibility of not so great service.
(3)Mary M.
Awesome lunch service and super cheap! 4bucks for two tacos, rice and beans. Really well seasoned ground beef tacos. I also eyed their happy hour offerings, and will be back!!
(5)T T.
horrible, horrible, horrible....went here on a Tuesday night and they would not serve beer because the manager wasn't there and they were under age. food was at best average. the manager finally arrived as we were leaving and promised 75 cent tacos next week. avoid at all costs
(1)Lauren C.
Let's get first things straight - you are not coming here for delightful decor and ambiance, nor are you coming here because of the fantastic service. If anything, you should come here because you love good, authentic Mexican food. This has been one of my fiance and I's go-to's for Mexican for quite awhile now. And we love Mexican! This is a great place if you just want some good Mexican. Portions are large, the food is cheesy and delicious. In traditional style, the beans are made with lard. For many this would definitely qualify as a "hole in the wall" - personally I just call it divey. Its not the cleanest place in the world, and the decor inside is black with mirrors, and could use some help. But, man their food sure hits the spot! Some great things to order - Chilaquiles!! Get them with the red sauce. Delicious dish, you won't be disappointed. All enchiladas are good, the guacamole is good. We took my mother there last weekend - she ordered the fish tacos, which came with fish in a tortilla with this delicious tapenade on the side. She liked the fish in the tortilla so much that she didn't even eat the tapenade, and I agree, it was so good! The other best part about this place is that most nights its open until 4am, so you get done with a late concert, what have you, and Pueblio is always open.
(4)Dave O.
My wife and I always talk about the quaint little restaurants along the Blvd while we are heading to eat at one of the 3 more well known places and how we should make a point to try some of those. Thanks to El Pueblito and Groupon we did just that on Saturday night. We were both very please, and we will make a point to go back. The Rojo pork is excellent. I will echo all the other good reviews here, and add one more point. It was great being able to select whatever meat you wanted, no matter the dish. If you are like me, and love to find a diamond in the rough, this place is for you.
(4)Christian H.
Good authentic Mexican restaurant in the crossroads of Kansas City. It is in a cool little location that fits perfect for the restaurants. It will meet your expectations for what you are looking for if you want some Mexican food.
(3)Brent K.
I really love this place, they have a huge variety of seafood dishes on their menu, which I will never order. On any given night you will find this place full of date-night couples and families on siesta. their happy hour goes til 7 I believe and margaritas are about average. the food that I have had has been pretty tasty and very cheap, which is good because I'm cheap. the service is not great, so that may deter you, and also parking is near impossible most nights, since there are a limited number of spaces on this block for 3 other restauraunts. It's well worth trying, and it's on the boulevard so you know it's pretty authentic. maybe i'll trying the seafood once. maybe.
(3)Chino C.
there is the restaurant.. but there is the food truck in wesport!!!!!! hands down the best street taco in KC!!! friday and saturday nights.. off of pennsylvania and wesport rd. next to the theatre. i crave these tacos and is the highlight of the night every time!!! tell them "chino" sent ya!!!
(5)Samantha A.
I never took Spanish, but if I had to guess I'd say El Pueblito translated is "mediocre, overpriced crap." OK so that's probably not the literal translation, but it's certainly mine. I was really looking forward to eating here, because my friend raves about the place. Granted, he never mentioned the service or drinks. But he recommended we go there because I'm a pescatarian and they have a huge seafood menu. I braved I35 from OP during rush hour to get there, but I really thought it would be worth the trip. The first thing I noticed was cleanliness--as in lack of it. I sat at the bar, which was sticky and cluttered. Hey my cats live on my kitchen counters, but I'm not asking people to come to my house and pay me handsomely for feeding them! And btw I always clean them off before I start cooking. I don't think that bar top has seen soap and water in a long time. When the waitress -- and I use that term very loosely -- finally got around to talking to me, it was several more minutes before she actually took my order. During that time I noticed the empty Patron bottles refilled with premade margaritas lined up against the back of the bar. "Is that even legal?" I thought to myself. Never mind though, by the time I finally got a drink I was ready to go back there, throw my head back and just start guzzling. Which I could have without endangering myself or others, because the margaritas were so weak I could have downed an entire bottle and still recited my ABCs backwards on one foot while patting my head and rubbing my stomach. OK, so the ambiance, service and drinks suck. But what about the food? My seafood flautas were $14.99, and they were edible but nothing special. Jose Peppers may be a JoCo chain restaurant, but their seafood enchiladas are $11.99 and they're to die for. I get it that people would rather pay more for authenticity than get Americanized Mexican food on the cheap, but that authentic experience shouldn't feel like you're being robbed at gunpoint in Tijuana. Want an authentic Mexican food experience? There are only about a hundred other restaurants along SW Boulevard to try. Steer clear of El Pueblito and save your pesos for somewhere that doesn't think "authentic" is synonymous with "bare minimum."
(1)Nancy K.
Most interesting meal I've shared with my SIL, ever. The poor girl is getting her annual spring cold so I suggested we knock it out with some spicy food. I frequently use Southwest BLVD as my mainline in KC. My goal is to go to every eating place on it this year. I'll definitely come back here again. We started with the chips and queso (along with their delicious salsas, one hot, one regular.) Nothing better for a cold than cheese, I always say. As we perused the menu we both saw a dish that had all of our favorite ingredients...oranges, avocados, chilpolte, a light fish and potato salad. Excitedly, we asked if this was a meal we should share or if it was for one person. The waitress wasn't sure but went back to ask. In the meantime, we must have begun to look like we just stopped our starvation diet because the answer was, we're not sure. (After they looked us over.) We decided to go for it. Soon, our food came out. It was a WHOLE fish, with the head on and everything, accompanied by a plate of lettuce, rice, avocado, oranges, lemons and the afore mentioned potato salad. After we stopped laughing we dug in. This was a real fish, with real bones drenched in that spicy chipolte sauce. No leftovers for us. If you're looking for something different, this place has it. If you don't speak much Spanish go with an exuberant appetite.
(4)Alicia R.
This small space is packed with favor. I have only been here once, but my visit was very positive. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating of our 10 person party. My dinner, the Hurache (corn masa covered in beans and cheese and pork and all sorts of deliciousness), was delicious and everyone else in the party enjoyed their meal as well. The only drawback is that, since the space is so small, you have to walk through the food staging area to get to the bathroom, so when the waitresses are all bustling to get you the hot and delicious food, the trip to the bathroom (thanks to those frosty bottles of imported beer) can be fraught with near-collisions and awkward apologies.
(3)Dana A.
So, I took Latin when I was in school, which means I know virtually no Spanish, and nothing of Hispanic culture except for what other people told me. As a result, El Pueblito seems really weird to me, but I think it's just I don't really understand it. I've been a few times now, once with a friend and once with my beau. Both times the food has been really good, but both times I have felt like it's a little weird. There is the oldish man in a suit who seated my beau and I at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and the young guy who leaned over from the table next to us (apparently he works there) to tell us about their happy hour. Which, was actually a good thing, because cheap margaritas and half price appetizers are something I can get into. Oh, and the loud family doing shots and arguing about politics in the corner. All the while, Mexican pop videos played on the TVs, which kept me entertained. Yeah it was quite a scene. Oh, so I mentioned 12:30 a.m. On Friday and Saturday this place is open until 4 a.m. That alone is a reason to go if you are like me and occasionally want real food after a night of cocktails, or a concert as was the case with me and my beau. So, on this night, I got shrimp soft tacos. Two flour tortillas filled with perfectly cooked shrimp with some diced tomato and maybe a little salsa. They were served with a side of Mexican rice. The perfect sized late meal and beats the hell out of Taco Bell. My beau ordered tacos, two pastor (marinated pork) and one langua (that's tongue). I tried the pastor, which was almost as good as El Camino Real in KCK, and not too far off from the best pastor I've had, which was out of a taco trailer in Austin, TX. Great flavor, and served with the traditional onion and cilantro. Yum, yum. El Pueblito is sort of known for their seafood, and with good reason. Not only do they offer a lot of it, but they are good at cooking it. The other time I've eaten there, I also had shrimp, but I ordered off the back page which is where the more elaborate seafood can be found. I had shrimp that are sautéed in a spicy chile sauce, served on a bed of rice, with shredded lettuce, avocado slices, warm flour tortillas, potato salad and orange slices. I have no idea where the potato salad comes into Mexican cuisine, but it was a nice foil to the spicy shrimp, and it was actually good potato salad! So, I accept the weirdness, and will continue to eat at El Pueblito because it's great food, and it's open late.
(3)Selin S.
Previous reviewer Lauren is right. This place is tucked in between a money exchange place and another business. Not there for the decor or ambiance. Cute wall mural though. Furnishings are dark but the bar adds a spark of color. And, it is full service. We decided to go for lunch armed with our livingsocial deal. Two deals per table is more than other places allow so yippeee. We walked in and there was only one couple. I had already looked them up on Yelp so was a little worried. I looked at the couple and asked how was the food. They started raving about how good. They said it was their first time. It turns out they hadn't even had their entrees yet! :) We were greeted and seated, water with lime & chips with salsa were brought in. Chips do cost 1.99. I won't let that bother me though. I read they make their own horchatas so I ordered that too. YUMMMMY! Even my mother-in-law liked it. There were two servers and we were certainly a demanding group. More chips, more salsa, more lime... I ordered fish tacos, my husband the chimichanga platter and my mother-in-law the filet of fish. Pretty fast out of the kitchen. Food came in square and oval dishes and as far as presentation goes I liked it because of the symmetry - yes, I am a bit of a freak about that! However, the chipped corners of the plates did not go unnoticed. Mother-in-law's plate was the largest. Large fillet of fish in the middle, potato salad, rice, beans, and shredded lettuce enriched by slices of avacado, orange, and lime. There was a sauce over the fish, I think it is the Veracuz sauce or something. Tomato based with onions and some vegetables. She loved it. My husband's platter wasn't so fancy. Two fist size chimichangas dressed in cheese sauce with rice and beans. One was chicken and the other beef. He couldn't finish it. He ate the chicken one and of course...I tried some. Absolutely awesome chicken. It was so moist and didn't have the overcooked smell. An A+! I had fish tacos. I had fish tacos before and this was a little different. 3 rolled SOFT tacos with rice, beans, shredded lettuce. I had to ask for lime slices myself. I had expected the corn tortilla with the shredded cabbabe and lime aoli or something but no...these were soft tacos with a healthy portion of fish in them. Even better with some lime. I took some home. Salsa....hot and mild. We weren't too fixed on the hot one. It had a kick but not with a salsa taste. Maybe they just added red pepper flakes.. Mild was good. Not great... Rice - I am picky about my rice and I really liked it. Flaky, good tomato taste but not overwhelming. Beans - say hello to lard! But, it tasted awesome! We even ordered to go in order to use the whole deal we had purchased. The service was great. And, as we were eating their business started picking up too. Tables were filling up. My husband asked me to go get another livingsocial deal so we can go back but bummer..it already expired. In closing - YES! I'd go back for sure...
(4)R G.
Beware- Ordered the $4.99 lunch special only. Bill was $8.72. Explanation- chicken is extra $1. (This burrito has no beans etc, only meat -which is ok for me). And they charged me for chips which they bring to every table before you order! Disgraceful rip off. I will not eat here again.
(2)Justin G.
What once was great is now not so much. Both me and my girlfriend once loved this restaurant, but during a few recent visits the food really underwhelmed...and on the last occasion actually made us both sick. We think it was the ceviche, but we've never gotten sick like that at after eating at any other Mexican restaurant in KC where I or her eat the ceviche. Regardless, my entree was really bad, way too salty and even when I sent it back because the cheese was nowhere nearly melted, it came back half melted. Listen, I want to give these folks a good review b/c they're so local, but they need to fix things quick, b/c if they don't they'll be out of business soon. I think this place could rebound, but whoever's in the kitchen needs to go.
(1)Brenda D.
We tried this place because we had a Groupon. I had the Chicken Enchilada's. First let me say, I love mexican food but I don't eat it often because, let's face it - it's not that healthy. However, when I do eat it, I'm picky about where I eat. This place is very authenic and has moved to the top of my list of Mexican Restaurants in Kansas City. The rice was the best I've had anywhere - moist and cooked perfectly. The chicken had an excellent flavor. My husband had the beef burrito and it to did not disapoint. I prefer black beans to refried but that won't keep me away. Your typical chips and salsa - one was extremely hot - we mixed them. The A/C wasn't working that afternoon and although it was extremely hot outside, it was comfortable inside. The gentleman waiting all of the tables was working very hard to make sure everyone had what they needed.
(3)Garbaggio S.
I'm pretty sure that the manager of this place tried to overcharge us. We ordered a bunch of food that we never received, and then it was a hassle to get everything figured out in the end, and I know we paid more than we should have. Also, the food gave "rumble-gut" to a lot of folks in my party.
(1)Shelia G.
Homemade Horchata! Which if you don't know is a lovely milky cinnamon drink. Once you taste it here, you will never want anyone elses powdered version. If you like Malibu Rum, ask for the alcoholic version which is so yummy you will be hooked! Mole sauce made with 19 ingredients! Right there in their kitchen. Sangria! No time is spared in making their sangria. It is very very good. This place has been family owned for over 20 years and they take pride in their authentic mexican food.
(5)Danny L.
My favorite authentic Mexican place on the Blvd. hands down. Stiff margaritas and cheap tacos for a quick nosh (Al Pastor tacos for .75 a piece. Get four of them!) They have alot of fish entrees which is a break from the typical enchiladas and tacos (although they serve those standards as well). Its dark and open super late because most of the cooks from other places come when their shifts are over. They have a habanero salsa that is tasty and HOT and not your typical tomato based version. They have fantastic shrimp ceviche too. Cant say enough good things about this place.
(4)Sarah S.
I do enjoy some good Mexican food and often find that 'little Mexico' in KCMO is the place to go find some great 'hole in the wall' food. I walked in at a prompt 3pm on Friday afternoon hoping the Happy Hour Banner was accurate (1/2 price apps and cheap margaritas). I was completely alone in the place and sat down at a nice window booth and was greeted immediately. My waitress didn't speak much English but she was prompt, kind and very helpful. The Margarita was strong, the Guac was creamy and salty and the chips were free; great start. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas and they came out within 5 minutes sizzling and popping. Just as you'd expect, I had the plate of 'fixins' only this location does not include cheese as you'd usually expect but a cheesy-greasy rice instead (it was good). The hot sauce is made fresh and with some spicy jalapenos and though it's a bit runny, the flavor has some liquid smoke that goes well with whatever you're having. For two people to eat a Happy Hour lunch, we paid 32.00.... not sure if that was totally worth it but I didn't have instant bathroom issues and the place was clean and tasty. :)
(3)Jennifer M.
Okay I'm sorry, but this is an amazing little Mexican joint. You know a place is authentic when you walk in and everyone eating at that establishment is the same nationality as the cuisine being served. I was so surprised to find a place with such delicious food and a HUGE tequila selection. I found this place one day while considering a stop into La Bodega for some sangria, and then we decided to try the place where everyone was sitting outside. We walked in, had a couple of Tecates and ordered food. I looked around and everyone had these caramel colored drinks in huge mugs and I knew it wasn't alcoholic because there were kids imbibing too. Apparently it's a traditional rice milk flavored with cinnamon. Hm. Cool. I've yet to try it as I was knee deep in my delicious Mexican beer, but the next time I'm there I will definitely give it a go. Onto food - it was yummmmmmmmmy. I had a thick corn tortilla coverd in stewed beef, beans, and cheese. I also had some guacamole. Everything was really great. I will be back here for sure.
(4)Fred L.
El Pueblito is a great place, the gentleman is the suits, is a very nice gentleman who always takes care of us and gets us a seat, especially when they are busy. I usually go late at night after bars close, He is the nicest and best host/owner in town. They have the best pork with "rojo" red sauce/ Chile Colorado sauce in the City. Its the only place I have ever had it where it tastes like the place I was taken by a friend of mine from Malibu, who took me to his place in Santa Montica, where the stars go for mexican cuisine. This dish is outstanding and should be tried by everyone who is looking for something outstanding. I have tried it and similar things other places and no one else comes even close. The burrito amerciano is another standout. It reminds me of the old Alcapulco Resturant that was in Downtown Kansas City, for many years and then moved up north. The sauce that comes with this, is the only thing I have had that is close to his bean juice sauce that Mr. Rafel was famous for. This is the closest place to that old wonderful place that their is in Kansas City, and the food here is very outstanding, much, much better, then other places around.
(5)Craig K.
It was a Sunday night. Normally, my little neighborhood is one of the few bustling places in Kansas City. Lot's of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, but unfortunately on a Sunday night, it becomes another sleepy block in this, the "Paris of the Midwest". Now, generally in these situations we'll go to Hayes or Waffle House but on this night I didn't want to drive, and i wanted something new. We started down the Boulevard (SW, that is) to look for anything with it's lights on. We passed what appeared to be a mexican rave and discussed crashing it, but when our stomachs started growling we continued on our journey. Then when we saw wonderful outdoor seating, cowboy hats, and a bar, right across from the Royal Liquors sign, we knew we found the right spot. Open till 4 am most nights, this is the place for any night owl with an appetite. The Huevos e Chorizo is probably the best late night breakfast dish I've ever had. Jalapenos on top with a cinnamon coffee, and a dream come true. Heaven. simply heaven, but do yourself a favor and ask for Eva. She's always there.
(5)Lisa C.
In a Word: REVOLTING. Disgusting food: the type of place where god knows how old the food is. The salsa looked like Ketchup. I got the shrimp ceviche app- came out chopped up like penny-sized, and had no taste (which in hindsight is a godsend i think!) : was obviously frozen, microwaved, cut up and put on a platter w/ some springs of cilantro - i shudder to think how old the food was. A place like this with OLD processed food shouldn't even offer this dish. Though I was dumb enough to order it. I think i ordered that cause i was scared to order like tacos or something I wouldn't be able to tell if what was in it and if it was "safe" to eat. Big mistake. Only good thing you can sit outside, but it's one of those places you do NOT want to see the kitchen, let alone Think about it. Those who eat cheap processed foods probably think it's fine. Even thinking about the shrimp makes me gag. I'm glad I didn't order like a burrito -god knows how old the meat would have been, or what kind of meat it was, and what would be in it. if you have watched Chef Ramsey's show - reminded me of that. He would have closed the kitchen down. This is the type of place where it seems like they recycle the days food over-n-over: what's left at the end of the night, simply goes in a big pot the next day to fill-up the burritos with, then the next night again, what is left is dumped into a pot, to go into tacos the next day, and so-on-and-so-on. Really foul food. I mean my god if the salsa is horrific( and like ketchup (how hard and cheap is it really to make a basic, decent salsa!) then you know the other stuff w/ multiple ingredients must be even worse. The prices are ridiculous given this is not fresh, homemade food: I would expect a taco to be 50cents for ingredients they put into it. You can't just charge "higher' prices cause you are in a little area perused by yuppies. You actually have to have fresh, decent food. I'll never be back.
(1)John F.
The location, the prices, and the hours of El Pueblito are wonderfully convenient. When you finish with band practice, yoga, or whatever after 10:00PM, it's mind-numbing to try and find food to appease your internal gnawing. This kind of hunger causes confusion, I know. Don't be afraid. Odds are good Pueblito is going to be open. I mean, I'm sure they close some time, but I've never seen it. The food and service have always been above average, but the crown jewel of this place is the host/not-host who wanders the front of house sharing stories with the guests. He's usually dressed in a nice suit and will happily join you in conversation for as long as you like. He's charming and comforting. I only mention this for some of the Westside-fearing occupants of a certain county who may need a little hand-holding through their post-first-Friday taco. Get down to Pueblito. It's awesome.
(3)Brian C.
Ever loving being hated. El Pueblito may be the place for you. Most nights the majority of the clientele is english challenged to say the least. For me that is a good sign. If you show up dressy then be prepared to be stared down by the regulars. They are harmless, but probably will not seem friendly if you show up loud and or flashy. If you are looking cutting edge decor and or over the top service then this is probably not the place for you. If on the other hand the food is your only concern then head on over. What is coming out of the kitchen is yummy and authentic, but not crazy over the top spicy, unless you order it that way. Be sure to note the authentic part. If you are a Tacobell regular then this is not the place for you. The bar has a full assortment of liquors but there is frequently not a dedicated bar tender so if a really good high end drink is what you are looking for you may want to head down the street to El Patron Cocina & Bar
(4)Dayna B.
The shrimp ceviche is fabulous! The service can sometimes be slow, but the food is always worth it. Great little patio out front is the perfect location to sip on a Patron margarita or Mexcian beer while watching all the happenings on SW Blvd.
(4)Blake C.
This place had mediocre service but the chimichangas were awesome. The place was completely dead when we went, so I was a tad worried, but it didn't matter at all.
(4)N G.
Do not go here....if you do, BEWARE! As someone else mentioned on here, they try to overcharge and are a bit of a scam. We had heard good things and got a Groupon to try it out. Went there tonight, and they did all they could to get the groupon money back. There was more than one thing, but the worst offense: Their menu clearly states on the top of the first page "All appetizers 1/2 off Happy Hour Mon-Thurs 5-7pm". We were there at 6:45, so we ordered one appt. for 1/2 off, except when we got the bill we were charged the full price. When I mentioned it to the person in charge (head waitress), she said "it was only with the purchase of liquor" -- even though it was no where mentioned on the menu. I got a menu and showed her it wasn't presented that way and that there was no mention of a liquor purchase as part of the 1/2 off, and that even our server hadn't mentioned it when we asked about the happy hour and placed our order. Her reply was that she knew "but our boss says that's how it is". I told her I knew it was only a few dollars, but that would be the kind of thing that could keep me from coming back -- really, it was only $3, but it's the principle....plus the other couple things they did. Her reply was something along the lines of "I'll mention it to my boss tomorrow. Sorry." If my wife hadn't already given her the credit card, and I wasn't with my kids, I would have made a much bigger issue of it. As it is, they are committing fraud and not running an honest business. BEWARE! They are dishonest! And to top it all off, the food was just very, very so-so, and the service (independent of the scamming aspect) was poor.
(1)Anne M.
Finally....i found a decent mexican restaurant. El Pueblito's chips and salsa was yummy. The tacos were ok....didn't like the thin taco shell. My bf got the pork with green sauce and he liked it. Staff service is so-so. They should be a little more attentive. Had to get up and ask for sour cream and more salsa. Anyways, bottom line it's a good place for mexican food at least in Kansas City. Enjoy!!!!
(3)Beth L.
I'd say El Pueblito gets 3 and a half stars. Very prompt and friendly staff, the food is good but can't claim greatness. Still, it is an umpretentious restaurant and the food is tasty and filling. I often see families from the surrounding neighborhood dining together here; a good sign for authenticity. The hot salsa is quite good- You can taste the fresh herbs and veggies it's made with. Yum.
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