SUNDAY BRUNCH: Always good and consistent in quality for 11.99. Besides lots of good Mexican food, Tapatio has one of the largest cut up fresh food bars anywhere. Today we had bbq basted pork ribs, omelets and for desert a huge waffle. Btw, Tapatio has really good chips and salsa.
(4)
Dale H.
The complementary chips and salsa were delicious. Nice spicy blend. Their super burrito was nicely balanced, with all the fillings complimenting each other. Love their rice and refried beans. Portions were very generous and prices were more than reasonable.
(5)
Sue G.
Dinner was very good ,well proportions - yummy margarita . We obviously liked it
(4)
Mark S.
If you are looking for an awesome place to eat Mexican food, look no further. Tucked in a convenient location, this place screams authenticity. Food was great, margaritas are generous and the staff are very helpful.
(5)
Tom M.
My wife was hungry for Mexican food last night, I wasn't but I went with her to keep her company. As we live on the top of the western end of Cooper Mountain, El Tapatio is the closest Mexican restaurant to us since Amigos has gone out of business. Upon arrival, she ordered a Cadillac margarita and a shrimp dish. When her margarita arrived she noticed that the red straw looked funny on the end and when she touched it with her fingers it felt sticky. She took it out of the drink and wiped the end with her napkin to find that it had lipstick on it. How could this happen? She laid the straw aside and asked for another. The waitress delivered another straw but failed to make any apology for the straw with the lipstick. The food was then delivered and it was average. When the bill arrived we were taken back by the price - the margarita was $12. OMG - did we eat in El Tapatio or in the Ritz. A Cadillac margarita at El Tapatio costs $12. What happened? Are they trying to make up for a poor economy with outrageously priced drinks? The combination of a lipstick covered straw, average food and an overpriced but average drink really put us off. Looks like we will have to go further from home to find a decent Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Ariel S.
I ordered food to go. The portions were large but instead of chicken fajitas they were shrimp. They also forgot the tortillas even after I specifically mentioned I wanted flour. They made my burrito with rice after requesting no rice as well. I called back the next morning to let them know and the lady that answered kept telling me they don't do refunds. I DIDN'T request a refund or want anything free, I simply wanted to inform them about the mix up. I explained this and was answered with "sorry we don't refund or give food. You have to bring it back the same night". She kept repeating it. Definitely not coming here again.
(1)
Troy F.
Food quality continues to slide. The appetizer beans and salsa have become more bland and the chips even closer to fried corn meal. Their "special" on a $10 margarita was good. No paper or crayons for the kids anymore. What got us to come back was a buy-on-get-one "free" dinner entree coupon from the local mailer. Turned out to be a complete bait and switch. After looking through the menu, I noticed the fine print covering 3/4 of the menu items - no coupons. The maximum coupon value ($8) was less than any of the dinner entrees it was supposed to cover. We had a moment where we considered leaving, but we had ordered a margarita and didn't want to be rude. Possibly not the best choice. The steak fajitas were decent, but not covered by the coupon. My coupon-relegated selection was just warmed up Sysco food with uniquely bland mexican rice. If you love alcohol and want to play the Oregon lottery, this is probably a really good fit. If you want good mexican food, there are far better options than this. But this is certainly a step up from Taco Bell.
(1)
Stephanie C.
There's a new manager since the older reviews. I come from so cal where the Mexican food, as you might expect, is pretty amazing. We've been here three times, take out twice, on location once. Just had a chevo special drink and it's amazing. Pretty good buzz off of one. The food has always been delicious too, especially the burritos.
(5)
Matt D.
Not that great. Luckily we had a coupon, since prices seemed high for dinner. Chile relleno was not of my liking...had mole sauce and pepper still had seeds (different from what I'm used to). Verde sauce tasted like wine. Also, our waitress only took our order and then we never saw her again...just the chip server. Overall, just okay.
(2)
Dave L.
Made mistake with my order... Came back and staff and manager was totally friendly and helpful and replaced my order ... Don't know how it taste yet but the service is a1 will definitely come back again!!
(4)
William W.
Was visiting a good friend in Portland, and was looking for a good mexican restaurant that participated in restaurant.com certificates as I had received a promotional credit there. Tapatio looked like a good choice, and I couldn't have been happier. The service was great, very friendly, and even funny, as well as attentive without being overly so. Food was served quickly, as were drinks. The food portions were great, and the quality was very good. The booths were very comfortable, and the atmosphere just felt good and positive. Tried 4 different flavors of their margaritas, and all of them were good. Highly recommend the Kiwi and the Mango! Good thing we weren't driving home! If I lived here locally, I'd be a regular here.
(5)
Andrea E.
Always delicious! Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Beaverton area. Their Margarita Tapatio is splendid!
(5)
Colleen G.
Tasty food, nice atmosphere. The staff is really wonderful. Ordered the enchiladas de mole, and they were good but not the best. Everyone at our table was happy with their meal. Best aspect for us was that it is great for kids. Really good kids' menu and the booths make it very comfy for families with young kids.
(4)
Greg L.
Tapatio is the best kept secret of the area. The bar area is small and generally low key, but every time I've been there I've always met good people. The food is very good and filling. Chips/salsa/beans while you enjoy a Chevo Special, or get a fantastic chile relleno and just have laughs with old friends (and possibly new friends you meet).
(5)
Michael B.
Great food, great service, great 3-G's margaritas. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants around. You'll never leave hungry. I've never ordered anything I didn't like. The Carne Asada is awesome. Want a good drink? Try the 3 G's margarita or a Mexican flag. You won't be disappointed. The owners and staff are wonderful, very personable. They know their customers by name. I will be taking all my friends here. They have a customer for life.
(5)
Rebecca C.
If you love Mexican food this place is perfect. It's family friendly, the service is wonderful, and the food is delicious. Portions were perfect, and they give you a starter with chips and in house salsa which is to die for. Love this place.
(4)
Stacey D.
Went here the other night for dinner thinking it would be a good new place for dinner. Couldn't have been more disappointed with the whole experience. I asked for flautas the waitress proceeded to tell me they are the same as taquitos. Not exactly one is made with corn tortillas the other is flour. Anyway I know that sounds petty but it made me mad that she was arguing with me the customer. The food is pretty bland which isn't what we expected for Mexican food. We will not be returning here ever.
(1)
Sue H.
We went in to order food "to go" one night about 45 min before closing. They were extremely rude - passing our order from one person to another. Finally the manager took the order and all of the waitresses left. The manager came back about 30 min later and seemed to have forgotten the order. He said he'd be right back and left, finally returning about 20-30 minutes later with an order. When we got home it looked like they'd wrapped up their garbage - orange grease with onion peels and scraps of vegetables. The beef fajitas has no meat; the arroz con pollo was unrecognizable. They should NOT be in the food business!
(1)
Lori F.
If your food is going to blow harder than a high priced whore, at least make your drinks strong so that I can swallow the garbage. I do not expect a place with cheesy Mexican decor to be authentic. But once in a while, fake cuisine hits the spot. Just like a 3am trip through the Taco Bell drive through after 89 shots of Makers hits the spot. So we gave it a shot and I was actually a little excited when I saw the extensive menu. Luscious looking combos, mouth watering margaritas. Sadly, pictures are deceiving and I would have literally preferred to eat a polaroid picture over the poor excuse for caldo de pollo they served. It was as if someone panicked, boiled up some water, threw a frozen vegetable medley in there and then poured 8 lbs of salt in to the mix. It was so salty that I was sure my face was shriveling as I tried to get through it. I couldn't. I tried washing the taste out of my mouth with their weak, watered down margarita but it just wasn't happening. I only busted out the extra star because the waitress was sweet, comped my soup and was overall attentive. If this place blew this hard in making a soup that is easier than preparing a bag of .39 cent top ramen, I am afraid to know what other disasters they are cooking up in the kitchen. Fat Americans in the burbs are calling this "fine Mexican dining?" This isn't authentic, this isn't even Americanized authentic. It's a shit show, and it puts my people to shame! Excuse me while I go eat a Polaroid.
(2)
Jason L.
The bar is fantastic, and a little local secret. Great bartenders with personality, chips to munch on while you drink your very strong margarita specials, and great food (if filling and unhealthy). The only thing it is missing is a good local crowd, but in aloha what can you do. Also, Chevo is the best.
(5)
Bob M.
I agree the salsa here is pretty good; I like that it is spiked with a good amount of garlic. As for the rest of our to-go order--meh! We had the steak fajita and carnita fajita (huh?) burritos, adding rice & beans in the burritos for an extra $1.25--this is one of a couple that I have come across that charge extra for ingredients that should make for a cheaper product to put out, yet a more expensive product to buy. The standard red sauce, boring beans and rice to the side and as some places add, lettuce and tomatoes on top of the whole thing, which I have never cared for. The meat was bit dry and tough, the pork a bit grizzly, and the taste of both very, very standard Ameri-Mexi. We also had the nachos which was disappointing and some guacamole on the side that was forgettable. My usual rant about the tortilla chips--not-so-good at all. Total for all of this: a little over $35 and not worth it. It's a skip in my book. One can do much, much better.
(2)
Aisha B.
This place has great Mexican food and much better value than the chain places....like Chevy's. The staff is so nice and prompt!
(5)
Anka T.
I've got this Living Social deal and decided to drive all the way to Aloha from Vancouver to check this place out. It was a very bad choice I've made. Customer service was nonexistent. Had three servers come to talk to me before one was able to speak English. I asked the manager if it was ok to take food to-go since the coupon didn't mention anything about dine-in only. He completely refused. I told me I could sit at a table and order my food and then get some boxes to go and I really don't see how that is better than just taking my food to go to begin with. Wasted time, trying to logic it out. Decided to sit down, order my food and take it to go as planned. Guess that was ok. I ordered Fajita and another dish. Fajita came totally burned. Couldn't even taste it. What respectful restaurant serves burned food?! The other dish was lame as well. Something was not right. Both me and my husband had diarrhea the next day from that dish. Worst experience, not just from the customer point of view, but from a food point of view to. Stay away from this place! Not worth your health over any coupon!
(1)
Amy S.
Well, since we live right around the corner, and a coupon arrived in the mail, making us aware of the existence of this little strip-mall Mexican restaurant, I waited until the next Mexican food craving arrived, and suggested to the hubby that we go check out Tapatio. We went on a Saturday night. the place was quiet. There were diners occupying two booths of the 20 (I'm guessing) lining each side of the restaurant. It's not a big place, but it's clean and the decor is kitchy, Americanized mexi style. The painted murals are colorful, as is the festive music. We were seated. I noted a sign stating "Present Coupon When Ordering", so I prepared to do that. One nice thing to note - they do bring you a free basket of chips and sides of salsa and bean dip. Good thing, though, because we might have starved while waiting for someone to come take our order. As I scanned the menu, I noticed that just about every section of the menu stated (in RED) coupon exclusions. One of the coupons I held in my possession was for 'Fajitas for Two". Even the Fajitas segment of the menu showed the red 'Coupon Exclusion' notice. I brought this up with our waiter, who waved it off, saying "it's ok." Another thing: The drink menu... Someone had made the poor decision of using a marker to re-write the drink prices in at about $2 more per drink. We customers don't particularly like seeing this, AND it looks sloppy and unprofessional. Also, some of the drinks - particularly the margaritas - did not show a price. I didn't want to ask, because doing so makes me feel like I'm being cheap. So I just didn't order a drink. IMPORTANT NOTE: The red coupon exclusions on the menu and the prominent sign made me feel awkward and patronized. Sure, I brought in a coupon. That means that your incentivized direct marketing is WORKING! I know you pay a lot of money for this type of advertising, so you should be thrilled when someone comes in with a coupon, NOT make them feel like a cheapskate. Also, about 80% of those people coming in and presenting a coupon are FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS - like me. We want you to show us a good time and feed us good food, so that we'll come back and also tell our friends. (Sorry - this is more a note to the shop management). The service was also very slow for such a quiet night. At one point before we'd ordered food (but were noshing on the free basket of chips with bean dip and salsa). When the food did arrive, I must say, I was happy. Standard Fare fajitas, with all the fixings - beans, rice, lettuce, pico, sour cream and guacamole (though only about a rounded tablespoon of each of the latter). The meat (chicken and steak) was rather good and tender, but lacking in spice. The peppers and onions were cooked perfectly. We left feeling full and satisfied. Due to using the coupon, our total bill was surprisingly low. We'll probably be back another time to see if the slow service was a fluke... and maybe I'll work up the nerve to talk to the manager about the menu faux pas.
(3)
Brianne C.
The best service ever , so nice and fast . Food is very good . Ask for extra enchilada sauce
(5)
Christina R.
Very friendly waiting staff. Food was great. There seem to be quiet a bit of "regulars" here. Definitely a place to come back too
(4)
Sasha O.
My family and I were looking for a good Mexican restaurant near my home in Hillsboro. There are plenty, but we decided to try Tapatio **They've changed their name, dropped the El** The wait-staff is very friendly, cracking jokes with us the entire time, which is very heart-warming and I think important in the overall dining experience. One thing I noticed and will make me return to this restaurant: they have daily cocktail/drink specials and food specials. My sister ordered the special drink of the day (Long Island Iced Tea) and she thought it was the strongest she'd ever ordered (and she's qualified to make that statement, trust me folks!) Next, our chips and salsa were plentiful and included an excellent bean dip, I liked the combo of beans and salsa. Our food came out quickly, but not too quickly, which is best: this means they took time to prepare our meals. I ordered a basic meal, the special of the day 3 Tacos with Rice/Beans for $3.99 and wasn't expecting what I got: A LARGE plate full of delicious-ness! Trust me, I didn't leave hungry, which you could expect from the price of my meal. My sister is a vegetarian/vegan and really enjoyed her vegetarian burrito, along with my dad who ordered spinach enchiladas. The menu is so plentiful and it looks like they have a good lunch selection too! I highly recommend this restaurant and I know I will be returning. Thanks guys!
(5)
Yvette M.
My husband and I decided to use a coupon and try this place out. The food was good, but not worth the value without the coupon. There are a few things to be aware of: most of the menu selections are excluded from using the coupon, only your first basket of chips are free, and the service is slow. On the bright side...the Cazuela was great!
(3)
Sarah R.
I had El Tapatio cater my wedding on January 22, 2011 and was delighted with everything! We requested tacos, beans and rice for the meal. Fabian (the owner) arrived right on time in a professional catering van and he and his helpers quickly set up everything and began to serve. Fabian's servers were members of his family, I believe. They were all very helpful, attentive and hardworking. The price of El Tapatio's catering cannot be beat and I would recommend their services to anyone looking for great quality, fresh Mexican food. Also, I've gotten so many compliments about the great food from all our guests. Thank you El Tapatio!
(5)
Christine R.
Really bad service. and my food tasted of chemicals and they didn't even say anything about it. just took my plate and returned with the bill. Don't go find some other place to go too.
(1)
Andy C.
We go here fairly often because it's the closest Mexican restaurant from our house, but that's not the only reason: 1) Their chips seem homemade and are delicious, but the salsa is what really makes it worthwhile. 2) Their Spanish rice is my favorite side dish. Not fancy, just nice and tasty. Everything else is pretty standard and nothing to be truly excited about. The food is tasty, just not oh-my-god-I-want-to-eat-here-every-day tasty. We'll continue visiting as it fits the bill and we really haven't found anything better.
(3)
Eric L.
Very good Mexican food! El Tapatio is in the same plaza where I have a PO box so I decided to give it a shot one night. The outside looks a little rundown but the interior was suprsising nice. Very cozy atmosphere. I order the chimichanga's and while waiting, I munched on the fabulous chips and salsa. The salsa was very good with a lot of ingredients. This place sure beats Taco Bell, but then again, what doesn't?! The shredded beef chiminchang was cooked just right. The outside was very crispy and the meat was tender. One of the better chimichanga's I've eaten as of late. El Tapatio is actually good authentic grub, not some tex mex style restaurant. The prices are pretty decent too. A party of three will run about $35 with sodas.
(4)
serina t.
The food is average, however we come here just for the chips and salsa. The salsa is really good, and sometimes we just order it to go. However the price of the salsa is gold, you have to pay 5$ for a tiny cup. We love the salsa but the price is ridiculous in my opinion. It has deterred me from going to this place. You may think otherwise.
(1)
Paul C.
Not sure of where else to go for lunch we tried El Tapatio which from the outside appears to be just another restaurant shoe horned into an old strip mall. We were pleasantly surprised by our dining experience. A few weeks later we were looking for some place that was open after 9:00 on a Sunday and found that they were still open, so we came back. Their chips and salsa are delicious and plentiful. If you like hot salsa they have one that will burn in a good way with taste that won't quit. They make a proper Chile Relleno that is much better than the standard fare at most "Mexican" restaurants. We have also tried their enchiladas, burritos and arroz con pollo. My girl friend asked for whole beans instead of refried and we got some of the most delicious beans we have tried. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Special requests were handled without error, and as long as we kept them within reason did not affect the bill. We will be back to try more of their menu in the future. No need to look further for my favorite Mexican place in Aloha.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free 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.
Ratestuff J.
SUNDAY BRUNCH: Always good and consistent in quality for 11.99. Besides lots of good Mexican food, Tapatio has one of the largest cut up fresh food bars anywhere. Today we had bbq basted pork ribs, omelets and for desert a huge waffle. Btw, Tapatio has really good chips and salsa.
(4)Dale H.
The complementary chips and salsa were delicious. Nice spicy blend. Their super burrito was nicely balanced, with all the fillings complimenting each other. Love their rice and refried beans. Portions were very generous and prices were more than reasonable.
(5)Sue G.
Dinner was very good ,well proportions - yummy margarita . We obviously liked it
(4)Mark S.
If you are looking for an awesome place to eat Mexican food, look no further. Tucked in a convenient location, this place screams authenticity. Food was great, margaritas are generous and the staff are very helpful.
(5)Tom M.
My wife was hungry for Mexican food last night, I wasn't but I went with her to keep her company. As we live on the top of the western end of Cooper Mountain, El Tapatio is the closest Mexican restaurant to us since Amigos has gone out of business. Upon arrival, she ordered a Cadillac margarita and a shrimp dish. When her margarita arrived she noticed that the red straw looked funny on the end and when she touched it with her fingers it felt sticky. She took it out of the drink and wiped the end with her napkin to find that it had lipstick on it. How could this happen? She laid the straw aside and asked for another. The waitress delivered another straw but failed to make any apology for the straw with the lipstick. The food was then delivered and it was average. When the bill arrived we were taken back by the price - the margarita was $12. OMG - did we eat in El Tapatio or in the Ritz. A Cadillac margarita at El Tapatio costs $12. What happened? Are they trying to make up for a poor economy with outrageously priced drinks? The combination of a lipstick covered straw, average food and an overpriced but average drink really put us off. Looks like we will have to go further from home to find a decent Mexican restaurant.
(2)Ariel S.
I ordered food to go. The portions were large but instead of chicken fajitas they were shrimp. They also forgot the tortillas even after I specifically mentioned I wanted flour. They made my burrito with rice after requesting no rice as well. I called back the next morning to let them know and the lady that answered kept telling me they don't do refunds. I DIDN'T request a refund or want anything free, I simply wanted to inform them about the mix up. I explained this and was answered with "sorry we don't refund or give food. You have to bring it back the same night". She kept repeating it. Definitely not coming here again.
(1)Troy F.
Food quality continues to slide. The appetizer beans and salsa have become more bland and the chips even closer to fried corn meal. Their "special" on a $10 margarita was good. No paper or crayons for the kids anymore. What got us to come back was a buy-on-get-one "free" dinner entree coupon from the local mailer. Turned out to be a complete bait and switch. After looking through the menu, I noticed the fine print covering 3/4 of the menu items - no coupons. The maximum coupon value ($8) was less than any of the dinner entrees it was supposed to cover. We had a moment where we considered leaving, but we had ordered a margarita and didn't want to be rude. Possibly not the best choice. The steak fajitas were decent, but not covered by the coupon. My coupon-relegated selection was just warmed up Sysco food with uniquely bland mexican rice. If you love alcohol and want to play the Oregon lottery, this is probably a really good fit. If you want good mexican food, there are far better options than this. But this is certainly a step up from Taco Bell.
(1)Stephanie C.
There's a new manager since the older reviews. I come from so cal where the Mexican food, as you might expect, is pretty amazing. We've been here three times, take out twice, on location once. Just had a chevo special drink and it's amazing. Pretty good buzz off of one. The food has always been delicious too, especially the burritos.
(5)Matt D.
Not that great. Luckily we had a coupon, since prices seemed high for dinner. Chile relleno was not of my liking...had mole sauce and pepper still had seeds (different from what I'm used to). Verde sauce tasted like wine. Also, our waitress only took our order and then we never saw her again...just the chip server. Overall, just okay.
(2)Dave L.
Made mistake with my order... Came back and staff and manager was totally friendly and helpful and replaced my order ... Don't know how it taste yet but the service is a1 will definitely come back again!!
(4)William W.
Was visiting a good friend in Portland, and was looking for a good mexican restaurant that participated in restaurant.com certificates as I had received a promotional credit there. Tapatio looked like a good choice, and I couldn't have been happier. The service was great, very friendly, and even funny, as well as attentive without being overly so. Food was served quickly, as were drinks. The food portions were great, and the quality was very good. The booths were very comfortable, and the atmosphere just felt good and positive. Tried 4 different flavors of their margaritas, and all of them were good. Highly recommend the Kiwi and the Mango! Good thing we weren't driving home! If I lived here locally, I'd be a regular here.
(5)Andrea E.
Always delicious! Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Beaverton area. Their Margarita Tapatio is splendid!
(5)Colleen G.
Tasty food, nice atmosphere. The staff is really wonderful. Ordered the enchiladas de mole, and they were good but not the best. Everyone at our table was happy with their meal. Best aspect for us was that it is great for kids. Really good kids' menu and the booths make it very comfy for families with young kids.
(4)Greg L.
Tapatio is the best kept secret of the area. The bar area is small and generally low key, but every time I've been there I've always met good people. The food is very good and filling. Chips/salsa/beans while you enjoy a Chevo Special, or get a fantastic chile relleno and just have laughs with old friends (and possibly new friends you meet).
(5)Michael B.
Great food, great service, great 3-G's margaritas. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants around. You'll never leave hungry. I've never ordered anything I didn't like. The Carne Asada is awesome. Want a good drink? Try the 3 G's margarita or a Mexican flag. You won't be disappointed. The owners and staff are wonderful, very personable. They know their customers by name. I will be taking all my friends here. They have a customer for life.
(5)Rebecca C.
If you love Mexican food this place is perfect. It's family friendly, the service is wonderful, and the food is delicious. Portions were perfect, and they give you a starter with chips and in house salsa which is to die for. Love this place.
(4)Stacey D.
Went here the other night for dinner thinking it would be a good new place for dinner. Couldn't have been more disappointed with the whole experience. I asked for flautas the waitress proceeded to tell me they are the same as taquitos. Not exactly one is made with corn tortillas the other is flour. Anyway I know that sounds petty but it made me mad that she was arguing with me the customer. The food is pretty bland which isn't what we expected for Mexican food. We will not be returning here ever.
(1)Sue H.
We went in to order food "to go" one night about 45 min before closing. They were extremely rude - passing our order from one person to another. Finally the manager took the order and all of the waitresses left. The manager came back about 30 min later and seemed to have forgotten the order. He said he'd be right back and left, finally returning about 20-30 minutes later with an order. When we got home it looked like they'd wrapped up their garbage - orange grease with onion peels and scraps of vegetables. The beef fajitas has no meat; the arroz con pollo was unrecognizable. They should NOT be in the food business!
(1)Lori F.
If your food is going to blow harder than a high priced whore, at least make your drinks strong so that I can swallow the garbage. I do not expect a place with cheesy Mexican decor to be authentic. But once in a while, fake cuisine hits the spot. Just like a 3am trip through the Taco Bell drive through after 89 shots of Makers hits the spot. So we gave it a shot and I was actually a little excited when I saw the extensive menu. Luscious looking combos, mouth watering margaritas. Sadly, pictures are deceiving and I would have literally preferred to eat a polaroid picture over the poor excuse for caldo de pollo they served. It was as if someone panicked, boiled up some water, threw a frozen vegetable medley in there and then poured 8 lbs of salt in to the mix. It was so salty that I was sure my face was shriveling as I tried to get through it. I couldn't. I tried washing the taste out of my mouth with their weak, watered down margarita but it just wasn't happening. I only busted out the extra star because the waitress was sweet, comped my soup and was overall attentive. If this place blew this hard in making a soup that is easier than preparing a bag of .39 cent top ramen, I am afraid to know what other disasters they are cooking up in the kitchen. Fat Americans in the burbs are calling this "fine Mexican dining?" This isn't authentic, this isn't even Americanized authentic. It's a shit show, and it puts my people to shame! Excuse me while I go eat a Polaroid.
(2)Jason L.
The bar is fantastic, and a little local secret. Great bartenders with personality, chips to munch on while you drink your very strong margarita specials, and great food (if filling and unhealthy). The only thing it is missing is a good local crowd, but in aloha what can you do. Also, Chevo is the best.
(5)Bob M.
I agree the salsa here is pretty good; I like that it is spiked with a good amount of garlic. As for the rest of our to-go order--meh! We had the steak fajita and carnita fajita (huh?) burritos, adding rice & beans in the burritos for an extra $1.25--this is one of a couple that I have come across that charge extra for ingredients that should make for a cheaper product to put out, yet a more expensive product to buy. The standard red sauce, boring beans and rice to the side and as some places add, lettuce and tomatoes on top of the whole thing, which I have never cared for. The meat was bit dry and tough, the pork a bit grizzly, and the taste of both very, very standard Ameri-Mexi. We also had the nachos which was disappointing and some guacamole on the side that was forgettable. My usual rant about the tortilla chips--not-so-good at all. Total for all of this: a little over $35 and not worth it. It's a skip in my book. One can do much, much better.
(2)Aisha B.
This place has great Mexican food and much better value than the chain places....like Chevy's. The staff is so nice and prompt!
(5)Anka T.
I've got this Living Social deal and decided to drive all the way to Aloha from Vancouver to check this place out. It was a very bad choice I've made. Customer service was nonexistent. Had three servers come to talk to me before one was able to speak English. I asked the manager if it was ok to take food to-go since the coupon didn't mention anything about dine-in only. He completely refused. I told me I could sit at a table and order my food and then get some boxes to go and I really don't see how that is better than just taking my food to go to begin with. Wasted time, trying to logic it out. Decided to sit down, order my food and take it to go as planned. Guess that was ok. I ordered Fajita and another dish. Fajita came totally burned. Couldn't even taste it. What respectful restaurant serves burned food?! The other dish was lame as well. Something was not right. Both me and my husband had diarrhea the next day from that dish. Worst experience, not just from the customer point of view, but from a food point of view to. Stay away from this place! Not worth your health over any coupon!
(1)Amy S.
Well, since we live right around the corner, and a coupon arrived in the mail, making us aware of the existence of this little strip-mall Mexican restaurant, I waited until the next Mexican food craving arrived, and suggested to the hubby that we go check out Tapatio. We went on a Saturday night. the place was quiet. There were diners occupying two booths of the 20 (I'm guessing) lining each side of the restaurant. It's not a big place, but it's clean and the decor is kitchy, Americanized mexi style. The painted murals are colorful, as is the festive music. We were seated. I noted a sign stating "Present Coupon When Ordering", so I prepared to do that. One nice thing to note - they do bring you a free basket of chips and sides of salsa and bean dip. Good thing, though, because we might have starved while waiting for someone to come take our order. As I scanned the menu, I noticed that just about every section of the menu stated (in RED) coupon exclusions. One of the coupons I held in my possession was for 'Fajitas for Two". Even the Fajitas segment of the menu showed the red 'Coupon Exclusion' notice. I brought this up with our waiter, who waved it off, saying "it's ok." Another thing: The drink menu... Someone had made the poor decision of using a marker to re-write the drink prices in at about $2 more per drink. We customers don't particularly like seeing this, AND it looks sloppy and unprofessional. Also, some of the drinks - particularly the margaritas - did not show a price. I didn't want to ask, because doing so makes me feel like I'm being cheap. So I just didn't order a drink. IMPORTANT NOTE: The red coupon exclusions on the menu and the prominent sign made me feel awkward and patronized. Sure, I brought in a coupon. That means that your incentivized direct marketing is WORKING! I know you pay a lot of money for this type of advertising, so you should be thrilled when someone comes in with a coupon, NOT make them feel like a cheapskate. Also, about 80% of those people coming in and presenting a coupon are FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS - like me. We want you to show us a good time and feed us good food, so that we'll come back and also tell our friends. (Sorry - this is more a note to the shop management). The service was also very slow for such a quiet night. At one point before we'd ordered food (but were noshing on the free basket of chips with bean dip and salsa). When the food did arrive, I must say, I was happy. Standard Fare fajitas, with all the fixings - beans, rice, lettuce, pico, sour cream and guacamole (though only about a rounded tablespoon of each of the latter). The meat (chicken and steak) was rather good and tender, but lacking in spice. The peppers and onions were cooked perfectly. We left feeling full and satisfied. Due to using the coupon, our total bill was surprisingly low. We'll probably be back another time to see if the slow service was a fluke... and maybe I'll work up the nerve to talk to the manager about the menu faux pas.
(3)Brianne C.
The best service ever , so nice and fast . Food is very good . Ask for extra enchilada sauce
(5)Christina R.
Very friendly waiting staff. Food was great. There seem to be quiet a bit of "regulars" here. Definitely a place to come back too
(4)Sasha O.
My family and I were looking for a good Mexican restaurant near my home in Hillsboro. There are plenty, but we decided to try Tapatio **They've changed their name, dropped the El** The wait-staff is very friendly, cracking jokes with us the entire time, which is very heart-warming and I think important in the overall dining experience. One thing I noticed and will make me return to this restaurant: they have daily cocktail/drink specials and food specials. My sister ordered the special drink of the day (Long Island Iced Tea) and she thought it was the strongest she'd ever ordered (and she's qualified to make that statement, trust me folks!) Next, our chips and salsa were plentiful and included an excellent bean dip, I liked the combo of beans and salsa. Our food came out quickly, but not too quickly, which is best: this means they took time to prepare our meals. I ordered a basic meal, the special of the day 3 Tacos with Rice/Beans for $3.99 and wasn't expecting what I got: A LARGE plate full of delicious-ness! Trust me, I didn't leave hungry, which you could expect from the price of my meal. My sister is a vegetarian/vegan and really enjoyed her vegetarian burrito, along with my dad who ordered spinach enchiladas. The menu is so plentiful and it looks like they have a good lunch selection too! I highly recommend this restaurant and I know I will be returning. Thanks guys!
(5)Yvette M.
My husband and I decided to use a coupon and try this place out. The food was good, but not worth the value without the coupon. There are a few things to be aware of: most of the menu selections are excluded from using the coupon, only your first basket of chips are free, and the service is slow. On the bright side...the Cazuela was great!
(3)Sarah R.
I had El Tapatio cater my wedding on January 22, 2011 and was delighted with everything! We requested tacos, beans and rice for the meal. Fabian (the owner) arrived right on time in a professional catering van and he and his helpers quickly set up everything and began to serve. Fabian's servers were members of his family, I believe. They were all very helpful, attentive and hardworking. The price of El Tapatio's catering cannot be beat and I would recommend their services to anyone looking for great quality, fresh Mexican food. Also, I've gotten so many compliments about the great food from all our guests. Thank you El Tapatio!
(5)Christine R.
Really bad service. and my food tasted of chemicals and they didn't even say anything about it. just took my plate and returned with the bill. Don't go find some other place to go too.
(1)Andy C.
We go here fairly often because it's the closest Mexican restaurant from our house, but that's not the only reason: 1) Their chips seem homemade and are delicious, but the salsa is what really makes it worthwhile. 2) Their Spanish rice is my favorite side dish. Not fancy, just nice and tasty. Everything else is pretty standard and nothing to be truly excited about. The food is tasty, just not oh-my-god-I-want-to-eat-here-every-day tasty. We'll continue visiting as it fits the bill and we really haven't found anything better.
(3)Eric L.
Very good Mexican food! El Tapatio is in the same plaza where I have a PO box so I decided to give it a shot one night. The outside looks a little rundown but the interior was suprsising nice. Very cozy atmosphere. I order the chimichanga's and while waiting, I munched on the fabulous chips and salsa. The salsa was very good with a lot of ingredients. This place sure beats Taco Bell, but then again, what doesn't?! The shredded beef chiminchang was cooked just right. The outside was very crispy and the meat was tender. One of the better chimichanga's I've eaten as of late. El Tapatio is actually good authentic grub, not some tex mex style restaurant. The prices are pretty decent too. A party of three will run about $35 with sodas.
(4)serina t.
The food is average, however we come here just for the chips and salsa. The salsa is really good, and sometimes we just order it to go. However the price of the salsa is gold, you have to pay 5$ for a tiny cup. We love the salsa but the price is ridiculous in my opinion. It has deterred me from going to this place. You may think otherwise.
(1)Paul C.
Not sure of where else to go for lunch we tried El Tapatio which from the outside appears to be just another restaurant shoe horned into an old strip mall. We were pleasantly surprised by our dining experience. A few weeks later we were looking for some place that was open after 9:00 on a Sunday and found that they were still open, so we came back. Their chips and salsa are delicious and plentiful. If you like hot salsa they have one that will burn in a good way with taste that won't quit. They make a proper Chile Relleno that is much better than the standard fare at most "Mexican" restaurants. We have also tried their enchiladas, burritos and arroz con pollo. My girl friend asked for whole beans instead of refried and we got some of the most delicious beans we have tried. The staff was friendly and service was fast. Special requests were handled without error, and as long as we kept them within reason did not affect the bill. We will be back to try more of their menu in the future. No need to look further for my favorite Mexican place in Aloha.
(4)