El Fuego
909 W Layton Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53221
El Fuego Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
909 W Layton Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53221 - Phone (414) 455-3534
- Website https://www.elfuegomke.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Natalie J.
Great food! Huge portions (unless you eat a lot, be prepared to take some home)! Friendly service! Excellent attention to food allergies! The staff and manager were VERY accomodating to my food allergies. This is the first Mexican restaurant I felt comfortable eating at with my allergies. I was assured over and over that my food would be prepared safely and the manager ever brought my food to my table and assured me he spoke to the chef regarding my allergies and supervised the preparation of my meal. I have NEVER recevied better service and accomodation for my allergies and I have eaten at some very high-end restuarants where I expected the accomodations to be top-notch. El Fuego set the bar at a new level! Kudos to their entire staff! I was very pleased with my experience and wish I lived closer so I can dine more often, however, I have recommended El Fuego to all my friends and family and I can't wait for my next trip to El Fuego!
(5)Kip G.
My parents stopped on their return trip from Texas recently, so I decided to bring them to El Fuego for dinner. This is the first Mexican restaurant in the Oak Creek area I've explored, so if you're reading this and have suggestions of other places to try, please share. Be expected to have a short wait during the week and a longer wait on the weekends. This place definitely appears to be a local favorite. Parking is sufficient (secondary lot across street if attached lot is full). Service has always been exceptional here. No complaints about the food either. Salsa and guacamole are both fairly decent. Horchata has way too much cinnamon for my liking, but if that's the only thing to complain about, you're in good shape. Friends swear by their margaritas. Outdoor patio with waterfall is a nice place for a romantic evening. Mariachi band annoys the shit out of me when trying to eat, but most find it thoroughly enjoyable.
(4)Maria B.
Love this place!!! Great service, bartenders are wonderful. Today went for dinner we ate carne asada, chile rellenos, calamari and the signature chocolate cake. It was the perfect experience at El Fuego. Can't wait to try there pastor tacos next time. I highly recommend it!
(5)Allyson U.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon for a quick lunch since we just happened to be driving by, but was very pleased with my meal. We sat at the bar, but if it wouldn't have been so hot we definitely would have sat outside on their lovely patio. Our bartender was super nice, but not too nice- he still joked around with us a bit. Margartias were tasty and strong. Food was quick and delicious. That's all that I ask for from a Mexican restaurant. Based on that one meal I would for sure come back.
(4)Dean H.
This place is awesome! I love the atmosphere and the food. The owner recently changed the salsa, if he changes it back I will give 5 stars. The old salsa was better. My wife and I love the happy hours here. The patio is beautiful! The kids love the food too! They love getting the smoothies. This is a great place to celebrate a birthday! They serve and excellent cake and take you picture with a Sombrero!
(4)Honest E.
Go to this place if you want to eat Americanized "Mexican" food and wait FOREVER to be sat. The drinks are great while you're waiting - but believe me, you'll be waiting a while. They tell everyone "20 minutes" no matter what, so they get you to say OK, then it takes about an HOUR to be sat. And the food is definitely NOT worth the wait. The rice and beans are straight from a box and can, my chicken was so tough I had to ask for a steak knife. If you just want chips & salsa and booze, then go here for drinks - but eat somewhere else. Not to mention the food being WAY overpriced!
(1)Natalie C.
Let me start off by saying that I usually do not rate any restaurant with a 1 star but my dining experience from this past Saturday deserves 1 star if any at all. Where to begin... My boyfriend and I went out to dinner here we have tried them in the past and they were descent so we decided to return. He ordered 3 steak tacos Mexican style with onions and cilantro only and I ordered the enchiladas verdes with chicken. Let me tell you what we got... he got 3 steak tacos with onions, cilantro and some white cheese that upon further inspection we agreed it was mozzarella. I got a huge plate with 4 enchiladas rice, beans and shredded lettuce. The enchiladas were chicken.. Maybe ... it was covered in some red salsa and was almost soupy. You would think that with so much red salsa there would be some favor, you would be wrong. Then they were covered it in a green salsa which again was very bland and to top off this "masterpiece" they covered it in maybe a 1/4" thick layer of cheese. The tortillas were soggy and were held together by the melted cheese which acted more as a concrete slab than a garnish. The food was luke warm and the margaritas were mediocre at best. At the end of the night my bill came up to $50.00 for 1/2 a pitcher of Margaritas, 3 steak tacos, 1 plate of enchiladas & a fried ice cream. All in all the best part of the meal was the desert. We will never return to this establishment again. If you want to eat luke warm food and canned beans with a side of soggy enchiladas well you have found your spot. I would rather prefer to eat at taco bell which doesn't say much since it's been years since I've eaten at taco bell then to eat at this restaurant.
(1)Larry V.
So, yes, I've had better, for cheaper.... but El F does make it look prettier, and the service is excellent. My Milwaukee Mexican experiences started with the Acapulco, then La Fuente (pre-expansion), then La Perla... these were my regular spots, and El Fuego never entered my mind, as its so far away from where I live. I probably will not be back, but not because it wasn't any good... just because it wasn't anything special to drive past Mitchell street for.
(3)Holmes R.
El Fuego has the most delicious steak tacos. I have yet to find a place that has better seasoned steak in their tacos. Service is always great but I'd agree with my friend Cole there and say it's inconsistent although I haven't been able to capture which gender is better/worse.....and the Fried Ice Cream...oh sweet Jesus--it's decadent and I often order it before my meal just so I can eat the whole thing and wrap the meal to go.
(5)Richard S.
I tried to come here two times for dinner, but both times, they were so busy we couldn't find a parking spot! This time we went at lunchtime on a Saturday and had no problem. The moment we walked in, we were greeted by the hostess. She was very friendly and welcoming. Even though it was our first visit, she treated us like old friends. They have a huge menu and just as big a drink list. We started with a couple of Margaritas and an order of house made Guacamole. Our drinks were good and the Guacamole was excellent. It was nice and chunky with lots of Cilantro. My friend ordered Shrimp and Chicken Fajitas and I ordered something called a "Huarache" with shredded beef. My friend must have liked his Fajitas because he ate them all and hardly said a word. My Huarache was very interesting. Sort of a Tostada, like an open-faced Taco with layers of nicely spiced shredded beef, beans,cheese, lettuce and tomato. Instead of a tortilla, the base was a thicker grilled masa cake. It made the dish much heartier and more interesting. It also came with sides of rice and beans. There was so much food that I was able to bring plenty home for lunch tomorrow. This place is huge (they even have a waterfall on their patio!)and very wheelchair accessible with ramps to all the different levels. Our server (Jessie) was friendly and quick. This place is a definite improvement over the previous tenant, Prime Quarter.
(4)Jeanne M.
I've always been hesitant to try this restaurant since their Sybaris-style badly produced local TV commercials. What I found was just the opposite. This isn't a place for a bad, embarrassing last ditch effort to save your marriage. El Fuego is for everyone! I went on a Saturday night, and the wait was 25 minutes. Of course, I elected to belly up to and eat at the bar which had no wait. Before I could even get my coat off, a chips and salsa appetizer was snuck right in front of me. Delicious warm crispy chips and fresh salsa delivered by an incredibly friendly employee who just looked like he loved his job and life whether or not it was true. Lots of bright, fun decor rounds out the feeling of being in an over-exaggerated Mexican marketplace; perfect for the ego centric American tourist expecting comfort and flash in a third world country. Food, service, quality. Two thumbs up!
(5)Dani K.
I've wanted to come to this place for-ev-er. My mom had a gift card, my friends had all come here, and...the hype I made during the wait was satisfactorily filled. The parking lot was crowded but we got seated right away. The noise level was very high, which was sort of strange but easy to get over because as you eat your huge meal, there's no talking anyway. The waitress was nice and continually brought us nachos all night. The salsa is moderately spicy, not mild by any means. Our margaritas were huge and strong but tasted perfect. Our meals were all huge with hefty portions of sides of rice and beans. We were all happy with what we ordered, which was a variety from enchilladas to tostadas to chimichangas to steak. After, we had fried ice cream, which was huge. Between us three, we barely finished it. It was amazing. Our experience was delightful and the long wait for me was soooo worth it.
(5)Andrew T.
I came here with a friend I hadn't seen in some time - He and his family are very strict vegetarians, so I was a little surprised at his recommendation of a Mexican place, but then again, he's always displayed incredible ability to find something to eat no matter where he went. We skipped straight to dinner, but I do want to mention that they had a really good, really hot green salsa. Great flavor, and a surprising amount of heat for a pretty family friendly looking restaurant. My entree was just steak tacos, which were average. They also included a bunch of cheese, which...just isn't right. Not even a little bit. But the steak tasted fine, wasn't too chewy, and there wasn't tons of onion, so I'll go with it. The beans were really good - very creamy, with plenty of fat, and the rice was good, but with the veg all that I'm just not a fan of. My dinner partners enjoyed bean/cheese chimichangas, which actually looked really good. Service was quick and friendly. Basically, if I needed American Mexican, this would be a good place to go. They did have a few more adventurous items on the menu, one mole dish and chile rellenos, and it would be interesting to try those. But I'm seeing claims that this could be "the best in Milwaukee" according to some other reviews. Hopefully that's hyperbole - it's hard to believe there isn't a little family restaurant somewhere that could serve up some dynamite stuff.
(3)Chris H.
I don't know....this place is not overly friendly. Bans legally carried firearms. The food is below average. Almost something like I would get at the grocery store freezer section just larger portions. Save your money and go to Botanas. Oh, what's with their chihuahua cheese? It's like white American cheese. Nasty. I will say the atmosphere and decor is pretty cool...check out the outside seating.
(2)Jeff W.
Food is good, service is fast. Just a bit expensive compared to similar Mexican restaurants.
(3)Angie O.
Went to El Fuego for the first time a couple weeks ago, and it was awsome. I love the other popular Mexican restaurants around Milwaukee (such as La Perla), but El Fuego impressed me the most by having a larger outdoor patio with a beautiful fountain, great food, and great margaritas! The inside of the restaurant looks classier than the majority of Mexican restaurants I've eaten at. They have a large menu, drink specials, and efficient wait staff. Complimentary chips and salsa - great salsa! I will definitely be going back to El Fuego soon :)
(5)Joe G.
Finally, something went in to replace the all-too-forgettable ... ah, what was it... Prime Quarter, ah yeah. El Fuego has apparently taken the old PQ and has trasformed it into a very large Mexican restaurant, with a neat patio and waterfall outside, and highly decorated interior. Somebody went all out on this. It's very pleasant. The food has been good, and I plan to go back to try more. The El Fuego Burrito is quite tasty. The rice was very good, the beans less so. Strange one-refill soda policy, or so I'm told (I didn't find out myself). Prices are average. Service was reasonably good. Because we didn't come as a single group,. we had to keep chasing the waitress away, not really her fault as she was clearly trying to do the right thing. Fast, friendly, festive, all good qualities in a Mexican restaurant.
(4)Scott V.
Fantastic food and very reasonable prices. I came here for lunch with my GF and the food was very good, the chips and salsa is as good as I've had at a Mexican restaurant. I can't wait to go back and sit on the outdoor patio when the weather warms up a bit.
(5)Cory T.
Okay, the atmosphere at El Fuego is certainly more aesthetically pleasing than similar restaurants in the Latin Quarter. The bathrooms in this place are filthy dirty--not just untidy--but stinking filthy. The food is a collaboration of high sodium, vegetable grease, lard, and canned or packaged calamities. What really sucks about El Fuego is that their house margaritas are genuinely the worst I've had. They use some cheap rail tequila that is of such poor quality that neither myself or my friends were able to finish them. We've tried this restaurant twice now (you've got to love "gift" certificates), and both times we've found ourselves with severe headaches from the above mentioned cheap rail tequila--I don't know what brand they use. The prices are not fantastic for assembly line americanized mexican food. If you love the savory flavors of salt and fat, you'll love El Fuego. No, we will not be going back--even if given a gift certificate.
(2)Kyle H.
Love this place!!! The margarita's are amazing and the bar staff is great. Every time I'm in town I come here for a bite to eat. Happy Hour starts at 7pm, great tacos for $1 and margarita's for $3. If your in town check out El Feugo!!
(5)Mara B.
Going away for coworker Carrie. Actually was here the week before for another group party from work. Had steak tacos - ok as expected. Overall Tex-Mex, very popular for the margaritas and happy hour specials on beer too. I think I like it better than the sister restaurant El Beso. Would not return for "non event, group" dining.
(2)Brad K.
This is by far one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Food is always fast and good. Also very large portions. Had a few birthdays here and they have you put on a sombrero and take a picture. Then give it to you in a frame. Food is good, always get the same couple dishes. Stuffed poblano peppers are awesome. Margaritas are a little pricey.
(4)Thomas G.
Sometimes a place opens up, and it seems like it's been there for years. El Fuego is absolutely one of those places. The vibe, and the pace, and the friendliness of the staff, seem to suggest they've been in the game for awhile. I've dined there three times now, and each time the food was great, and the service was exceptional. The location is kind of odd, which makes their immediate success all the more interesting. I would put this place on par with La Fuenta. Maybe not as classy, but certainly as good. It's a welcome addition to the south side restaurant options.
(4)T la D.
Service was great. The food came in huge portions of disappointment. Salsa, bland, tacos need salt and flavor.... Wanted it to be good ...little pricy
(2)Kathy G.
Early on a Friday, finding a place to park here was pretty tough. Once we got inside we understood why - it was happy hour and the bar was hopping. The atmosphere was high energy, which was good for the mood in the bar yet the hosts and wait staff seemed high-strung and stressed...since it was 4 in the afternoon I can't imagine their mood after a busy Friday night. We got to our table where we were offered the happy hour prices, which was cool since some places only allow that at the bar. A look at the menu meant it would take a while to order, there were more pages to go through that I really wanted. I was turned off by the number of American offerings on the menu. The building itself was beautiful, the fountain out on the back patio was gorgeous. There was plenty of room between the different levels of the dining area. In fact, it felt a little cold with the loud echo from the bar. I ordered a margarita on the rocks and my husband got a Negra Modelo. While waiting for drinks, we watched the wait staff practically run back and forth. I don't know if they were disorganized from being pretty new yet, or just not every experienced at the job. The high-strung feel just wasn't getting better. We ordered our dinners while munching on the free salsa and chips. These were average, nothing great about either the chips or the salsa and considering the variety of Mexican food in the area, I wouldn't call anything about this better than any other place. I thought the prices were a little high for Mexican food. When the food came, the plates were loaded with generous portions. We both ordered items that had a variety of tacos, enchiladas, and other standard Mexican fare. Everything tasted good, but there was nothing outstanding about these dinners. We ate enough of them to get a good sampling of what they had to offer. There was nothing that stood out to make me want to choose this place over others. So it wasn't bad, but it wasn't worth a second trip either. I felt like I was at one of those icky Omega-like restaurants where there are hundreds of items on the menu that all taste the same.
(3)hillary m.
I love El Fuego and it's where I take my family for family dinners, my girlfriends for GNO, and where I take out-of-town guests, too. Their food is always excellent. They make their complimentary chips and salsa in house, and I highly recommend getting their made-to-order guacamole. It's delicious, and the portion is large enough that you can take home whatever you don't eat and enjoy it later. The prices are reasonable. My husband favors the El Fuego steak tacos, and I am a fan of their tilapia fish tacos. They have a complete kids menu for our little ones, which I appreciate. The atmosphere is great, too. I honeymooned in Mexico, and it feels like I'm back whenever I go there. The outdoor patio is awesome, with its waterfall and tiki bar. The inside atmosphere is great, too. The waitstaff is always friendly and accommodating. I'm sure it's annoying to occasionally have a group of women hog a table and chat all night over margaritas-- but no one has ever been pushy with us, and we leave a great tip. Highly recommend this place-- I know we'll be back!
(4)Eva C.
I guess is I were to compare it to what's in the neighborhood I'd have to give it 3, but if there were more options it wouldn't shine through. The mole enchiladas were pretty decent, but not great. Margarita was way too sweet for me and pretty sure they're using a generic mix rather than something home made. Chips seemed slightly stale and were cold, but the salsa had good flavor. Service was good - very fast and attentive. The chips were brought before I had time to open the menu.
(2)Jessica C.
Go elsewhere! Whatever you do, do not order the fried ice cream! Had lunch with my mother here on a Sunday afternoon. The service was okay, fairly attentive but our waiter seemed rushed although from what I could tell he was only serving 2 other tables. I went without anything to drink for about 15 minutes and a mistake was made in the order placed. Even worse was the food. The guacamole came with a HUGE portion of very bland guacamole...literally was mashed avocado and tomatoes. My steak taco had very thinly cut, dry pieces of steak. The flour tortilla was okay but clearly store bought (just having moved from Houston, I've been told it doesn't take a lot to make fresh tortillas and it makes a big difference). My mom had a beef taco on a hard shell and thought it was good. The chimichanga was greasy with too much cheese less meat (so good if prefer that sort of thing). The most devastating part of the meal was when my mom decided to finish with some fried ice cream that it seemed they forgot to fry or they fried two days before and then put back into the freezer. It was caked with soggy cold dough and too hard to get your spoon into then surrounded with an abnormal amount of cinnamon tortilla chips. If you eat here, just get the check and go down the street for dessert.
(1)Jimmy L.
Food was good. Service was good. A little pricey for Mexican food.
(4)Brian L.
I'm really surprised to see so many complaints. We came on a very busy Saturday night, were told it would be 20 minutes but we still were seated in 10. Tables are pretty close together, almost uncomfortably but that's the only bad thing I have to say on our visit. They had a pretty good kids menu for our little guy to choose from the the portions were good for any child 3-6. He had the quesadilla and enjoyed it a lot. We got an appetizer of 6 chicken flautas and they were really good. The four adults enjoyed sharing them and reminiscing about having them for the first time in the early 80's in Acapulco. We had a pitcher of mango margaritas ($24) which disappeared pretty quickly. It could serve 4-5 people and they offer Coke products (always a winner for me) For dinner, my Mom & Dad had one very large chicken burrito which massive and a carne asada that actually had a rojo sauce on it (surprised to see that) but made it incredibly tasty. They are the only ones in our group who like guacamole and said that it was one of the best they've ever had (and they eat a lot of avocados/guac). I had the carne in salsa verde. It wasn't a salsa verde that I had had before and had too many raw onions, but the flavors were there and it was very filling. My wife had the chicken tacos and enjoyed them as well. Even though we were too full for dessert, the waiter still brought my son his choice of Popsicle which we didn't see as part of his meal on the menu. Really really nice meal and night out. Sure we were a little crowded but it was a Saturday night during the summer.
(4)Lacey B.
A very typical, yet very beautiful, Mexican restaurant. I went to El Fuego with a group of 8 people for an early dinner. It was hard to keep track of what everyone ordered for review purposes, but there were definitely no complaints from anyone at the table. Everyone loved their food, so there you go... they have at least 8 good dishes. Personally, I ordered the mole. This is pretty typical of me as I have always believed you can tell a lot about a Mexican restaurant by the quality of their mole. What I got was a entire half of a chicken, bones and all, covered in a delicious mole sauce. The mole sauce itself was really good. It had a nutty quality about it and several layers of flavor. Delicious. What I didn't like, but I am not faulting them for it, is that the mole came with half a chicken. I hate having to "work" with my food, i.e. pull meat off the bone. If it came with boneless chicken like most other places, I would have been in 7th heaven. But again, this is just my personal preference, and I'm not allowing it to sway my rating. I also got a margarita. And let me tell you... DAMN. It was strong. Like you-need-to-drive-cause-I-can't strong. It surely wasn't top shelf tequila, but big deal. As I mentioned earlier, the restaurant is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. We ate indoors because it was a bit hot outside, but their patio area was gorgeous. I've stayed in my fair share of hotel resorts, and that's what it reminded me of. A restaurant in some Mexican resort.
(4)Dan S.
This past Monday I ate at El Fuego and ordered the 3 taco combination. One steak, chicken, and shrimp. What was brought to me was 1 steak, 1 shrimp, and 1 fish. I explained to the waiter that I ordered chicken and not fish, but he promptly told me I was wrong. I guess I was expecting him to apologize and would put in a chicken taco right away, but no such luck. This one bad experience will not stop me from going back to El Fuego, but I will make sure not to have the same waiter.
(4)Dirk S.
Great restaurant for the mexican food experience. Food is excellent; margaritas are solid. Many varieties and options with the margaritas. Waiter offered less expensive options rather than hammering us for upsells, which was refreshing. He also clarified the rating of 'hotness' on some of the items, which I overlooked. Saved me some payback the next day. Also, heard they are adding another El Fuego by Southridge Mall. Like Scott V., I look forward to checking out the outdoor patio this summer.
(4)Stephen K.
12/29/11 I wanted to celebrate my girlfriend 28th surprise birthday gathering with family and friends. This was my first time to ever plan someone's birthday party. I can't describe to you how pleasant, polite and professional the staff at El Fuego were to our family and friends. The manager Andy was continuously checking up on the party to make sure we had everything we needed from the temperature in the room and to just see how was the food. I encourage anyone to attend this beautiful restaurant. My girlfriend truly enjoyed her surprise birthday party. Thank you El Fuego!!!
(5)Cassie D.
I am not gonna lie...the food isn't great. I come for the happy hour pitchers of margaritas. Then again, I am a fan of this style of Americanized Mexican food. Sometimes I just want tacos and a crappy house margarita. Something about that bottomless bowl of chips and salsa is comforting. El Fuego is good that those things. If you go there for the right reasons, it's a good place. The service is good and it's big enough that I've never had to wait. And of course my usual disclaimer on all of my Mexican place reviews...I only ever order tacos, so I can only speak on the finer points of the Tacos al Pastor. Don't expect five star Mexican cuisine and if you're a margarita snob, be sure to order top shelf and you'll be fine.
(3)Karin S.
So my husband ate here before flying out of MKE. He has never had Mexican food he didn't like, so this is a 1st. To start with, the chips were cold, stale & generally tasteless, and the salsa tasted like it was from a can "from New York City!" He ordered the #4 lunch special - 2 enchiladas with rice & beans. He wanted shredded beef but apparently it costs $2 more to shred it. The meal tasted like a reheated 1977 Swansons Mexican Fiesta TV dinner. On the plus side Ismael provided excellent service and there was a lovely waterfall complete with Koi to distract you from the terrible & pricey food ($7.49 for the lunch special).
(1)Nicole W.
Inside or outside dining, and both are decorated as if you are in Mexico! They even have a waterfall outside. It is a large restaurant, so the waiting is never long if there is a wait. The service is quick and the food is tasty! I have been here a few times with family and friends and it never disappoints. The margaritas are a little too sweet, but flavorful. Salsa and guacamole easily disappear off the table, so good!
(4)Stephen R.
ok, but not great. the shredded chicken burrito is the only good thing if you ask me. plus if you ask for extra sour cream, they bring it but don't tell you there is an extra charge and it's a dollar for a small amount. cilantro too. Seriously ridiculous. It's fine if you tell someone but to not say and then add four dollars for some extra sour cream and extra cilantro. too pricey for what you get.
(2)Duke F.
Dollar tacos we rather good. Not as much ice berg lettuce as I imagined. So there you go kids...dollar tacos on Mondays in the bar. Cheap drinks as well. Still doesn't earn more than a two stars in my book. Pretty snappy strolling musicians as well.
(2)Cole W.
Fun atmosphere, good decor, and great drinks. The food is pretty darn tasty too. For the money, ordering off the a la carte menu is more cost effective because the portions are still good but the prices work out better. I think they no do math too good there, because item for item the a la carte menu is cheaper. The rainbow margarita is awesome, but bring taxi money because it'll put you on your a$$. The downside is that it is often busy and it can take a while to get seated and the service is spotty. Sometimes good, sometimes SUPER Rude. (not to be sexist, but the male servers are way nicer and more competent than the female servers that I've had there). Well worth the trip to the boonies for a good meal and a good time.
(4)Rach K.
Yum! Came here after work on a business trip with two of my work colleagues. We saw signs for it on the way to our hotel a few days prior to the visit and decided to give it a go. We got there a little late (the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes) so the waiter tried to rush us a little, knowing we were starving, to make sure he could get our order in before it was too late. I ordered the fish tacos (made with tilapia) and they were amazing. They came with rice and beans; the rice was fluffy and perfect and not too flavorful, which I liked because I don't like my side dishes stealing the show from the main part of my entrée, and the beans were good, but nothing too special. The tacos were incredible. I ordered soft flour tortillas (because I prefer them to crunchy corn ones, they're just easier to eat) and they were filled with the perfect amount of fish, onions, chihuahua cheese, and cilantro (OMG). My one colleague ordered chicken tacos and commented that he thought there was too much cilantro, but I love cilantro so I thought it was perfect. The fish was tender and moist and flaky, not dry and crumbly like previous fish tacos I've had. Yum!!!! We were seated outside (by request) and I highly recommend sitting outside. There's plenty of indoor seating, but outside there's a waterfall and mood lighting, and it's just a cute place to eat. Plus, there's a little tiki bar, which I found really cute. The staff was super friendly and nice and brought us a free dessert! I think our waiter did it because we were forced to rush to order. I'm not sure what it was, I think it was a Latin ice cream sundae (it had ice cream, whipped cream, sweet cinnamon-sugar coated tortilla chips, and chocolate). And they brought us flan. We rushed to eat it because they were closing soon and we felt bad. We didn't want to linger TOO long. Overall, a really pleasant dining experience. If you live in Milwaukee, I'd definitely recommend it!
(3)Scott J.
Like others I remember the building being the Prime Quarter steak house. Craving a good crunchy taco, I decided to pop in for lunch as I was on Layton. Upon entering I was continually surprised at the bright, vibrant and quality update to the interior. From the clear sandy plaster color themes of Mexico to the tasteful fiesta colors, every part of the restaurant was done with class. I especially liked the beautiful murals which seemed to adorn every wall that could feature them. I sat at the bar for a quick lunch on a Monday. The restaurant was surprisingly busy and cheerful. Service: From the greeting at the front door to the service at the bar and from the bussers, service was friendly, happy and well informed. Speed: I waited no more than 10 minutes for my dish to be server to me after ordering. Quality: Starting with the chips and salsa I was impressed at the great tomato and pepper tastes in their salsa. Just the Right blend of flavors and just the right amount of heat. My rice, beans and Baja Chicken taco were fantastic. The right creaminess of the beans, the right consistency of the rice was a plus. My Chicken tacos were made from obviously well marinated and slow cooked pulled chicken, highlighted by fresh onion, cilantro and queso fresca. It was a perfect size meal that hit the spot. Price: A Dos Equus and my tacos came out to $11 and change. For an environment so well updated, service so good and tastes so well prepared, I felt it was a value. There is a place to get a good american/mexican food away from Walkers point and El Fuego is it.
(5)Clint E.
Absolutely one of the best restaurants to eat at in the city of Milwaukee. Not just Mexican restaurants, but any restaurant. I have been there with my family at least a dozen times since they opened and have never been disappointed. The food is always hot and fresh when it is served to you. There is lots of flavor in everything. Whether you are eating the fresh guacamole or the complimentary chips and salsa, or any of the 'El Fuego' specials, it is all good. The service is not only fast but friendly as well. The hostess, servers, wait staff, bus boys all have smiles on their faces and make the place feel like home. This is the restaurant that we take out of town family to when we go out. It is that good.
(5)andrew m.
I really like this place. I have been to El Fuego at least 5 times and will continue to go back. It can get loud in the dining room at times. I really really love the food and the service. When I go there I never run out of chips and salsa. EVER!! They are so fast and keep you fully stocked. I have never had a bad dish here. I absolutely love their steak. The fuego steak tacos are very good. They are very spicy also so enjoy with caution.
(4)Jimmy R.
Nice decor good service. ..
(4)J. Paul A.
Extremely busy on Valentine's day. Food was good and the fajitas were plentiful and excellent. Service was below average but may have been a function of the crowd and an inexperienced waiter.
(4)Katie R.
Mexican food. Their chips are probably the best part, very thin and well-salted.
(3)Dave J.
Recently, we visited El Fuego. It's been one of our favorite restaurants for years and was the standard to which we held the other Mexican restaurants we'd visit, always returning because it came out on top. We would have continued to do si if it were not for our latest experience, which I now consider the single most offensive customer service experience I've ever had. We stopped by for a few happy hour drinks and dinner in the bar. Everything went well until we received our check, which featured one more margarita than we'd ordered. Not all that upset about the additional charge (it was only $3), we called the waiter over and explained what happened. Dave and I had been carefully monitoring our order because we were on a limited budget, so we knew exactly what had been ordered, in what order, and by whom. We thought we were being reasonable when we told the waiter his mistake was not a big deal and he could bring the extra drink we had not ordered or adjust the check with the $3 credit - whichever was easier for him. There was a lengthy discussion about it not being a mistake, but the waiter was pleasant, so it wasn't a problem. He then told us he'd go get the manager. Assuming the manager was on his way to apologize, we were content to sit there for 10 minutes waiting. When the manager arrived, he squatted down next to the table with the check and announced that he had to explain something. He went on to tell us there was no way a mistake could have been made and we were wrong. I asked if he was accusing us of lying about it because we'd been keeping track of our drink order. He said he didn't say we were lying, but we were wrong and his restaurant never makes mistakes because of their fail-proof system. On at least one occasion, this system included the waiter taking drink orders without writing them down. By memory, he then delivered our order to the bar, where we assume it was entered into the computer. Furthermore, during the 10 minute gap after we informed the waiter of the issue, several tally marks had been scribbled on the back of our receipt. So I can only assume their fail-proof system in which a customer is always wrong includes the eidetic memory by every member of their wait staff and a back-up system of written tallies? Never mind the soda that had been left off the bill. Unfortunately, the conversation escalated from here. The manager told us he'd bring the drink over, but we needed to understand that we were wrong. I decided it was time to stop interacting with him and I focused my attention on my fellow diners, stating, "He's ruining this restaurant for us. We're never going to be able to come here again because of what he's doing." The manager responded, "I really don't care if you come here or not. Do you want the drink or not?" I responded something along the lines of, "I can't believe you're behaving this way over a $3 drink on a $98 tab. We're your customers and we weren't even upset, we just wanted to make this right." His response? "There's just no pleasing you." Funny, because if he was so willing to deliver the drink, we would have been perfectly pleased and continued to return. Insisting we were wrong and insulting us was the displeasing portion of the experience. Obviously, $3 is not a major amount of money. The money was never the point. When you order a specific collection of items from a menu, you expect to be charged only for those items, regardless how inexpensive they may be. Furthermore, when there is a problem, you expect it to be resolved with grace and respect. We were belittled, told our business was meaningless, and personally attacked as being someone who is "un-pleasable." The situation could have been easily remedied and we would have returned to this restaurant again and again, continuing to sing its praises. Unfortunately, instead, we are in the market for a new place we can call our "usual Mexican restaurant."
(1)Christopher H.
I was just there for a private party and even though I had a fun time I wasn't blown away by the restaurant and it's offerings. First of all the place is cool. Very big. Nice atmosphere. Service was quick and friendly. The food however ranged from "Eh" to pretty good. I will consider that it might not have been up to the level that it's normal plates are at so I will go back for sure to see. Steak enchiladas were a little bland. Rice was okay. Chimichangas were not the best I've had but they were pretty darn good. Potatoes were different but in a good way. I could taste a lime flavor that was surprising and pleasing. Overall it was nice. I'm hoping to stop back soon.
(3)Kristin G.
I must say we went back during the week (the other times were on a Saturday) and the salsa was completely different. Thinner. No cilantro. No chunks of onion. How on earth can the salsa be so different on varying nights? I got the fish tacos this time and they were pretty meh. Our kid spilled his drink AGAIN (we are working on his coordination), and this time, they didn't bring him a second drink, and didn't help us clean it up, despite knowing he did it. So we had a puddle of ice and soggy napkins under our table. I am hoping this difference was an anomaly. I still give it 4 stars, though.
(4)D S.
Food was mostly below average. Enchiladas were very salty and tamales had ,let's say... "undesirable" meat pieces and I'm not talking about fat or anything you would generally expect. In a city with SO MANY Mexican restaurants this is way at the bottom of the list.
(1)Monica B.
Great little find! On my trip to Milwaukee I was looking for a place open later. My husband and I stumbled on El Fuego. It didnt look like much from the outside, but the inside I could've sworn I was in Mexico! The Oysters were fresh, the margaritas were delish! I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. If I'm back in Milwaukee anytime soon, I'm coming back for sure!
(4)Terry B.
I hate to do this. I really wanted to like this place hearing what I heard from my family, (my dad claimed it's the best Mexican food in Milwaukee) but I'm afraid I can't. We ordered takeout from here, but I highly doubt takeout had anything to do with the reasons for me rating the restaurant so low. First of all, the restaurant is huge, and has a beautiful patio. The bar appears to have a decent tequila selection, but this was a to go order, so I couldn't test that out. (they had a number of tequilas in a case which I checked out while waiting for our food) I ordered the tilapia w/ mojo de ajo and corn tortillas. The tilapia was cooked fairly well, slightly overcooked, the mojo de ajo was decent, but the corn tortillas were miserably dry and crusty. I've not seen a corn tortilla that dry and crusty in all my years of eating Mexican food. Overall, my meal was a 3 star meal. (rice and beans were quite nice) My mother ordered the chile rellenos plate. She complained about the spiciness of the rellenos. At first, I thought she was imagining things, but then I traded my dish for hers. I normally order my food extra hot and don't flinch. Her chile rellenos were the hottest I've ever had, and I love to order chile rellenos. I was shocked at the spicy level which didn't bother me, but did detract from the relleno. On top of that, it had far too much of a masa "crust" which was about a 1/4 inch thick. Mom and the Mrs. liked their food, and the shrimp ceviche was very good, but overall based on mine and my mom's food, I have to give a take caution. There are far better Mexican joints between Mitchell and National, and you're better off hitting the smaller joints.
(2)Natalie P.
One of the best Mexican restaurants in Milwaukee. The staff is friendly, the food is delicious. I love their combo platters; you receive so much food! Not to mention chips and salsa. The margarita's are soooo yummy! The atmosphere is beautiful. A outside patio/bar was recently built with a gorgeous water fountain. I cannot wait until the summer to sit outside and enjoy!
(5)Vicky B.
This summer visit El Fuego and enjoy the outside patio, you won't be disappointed!! Either enjoy a seat at the open bar or a table along the beautiful water fountain with exotic live fish. Cooler evenings can be warmed up with outside propane heaters. I have a couple favorite dishes - coconut shrimp and chicken enchilladas. A friend of mine loves their chicken enchiladas in mole' sauce. Salsa is typically good, but this past summer was not as good as it had been earlier. Unsure if they were using canned tomatoes? Drinks are wonderful, the bar staff expecially Victor are friendly and accomodating. My husband and I regular patrons and are met with warmth by the staff and management.
(4)Annemarie D.
El Fuego has the same owners as Paul's Omega on 27th and Morgan. If you like Omega you will love El Fuego. I had very high hopes for this place. Unlike most of Milwaukee's Mexican restaurants it is in a safe neighborhood and has loads of free parking. Whoever designed it did an amazing job. It easily has the best atmosphere of any Mexican place in the area. Now on to the food. The salsa seemed like it was just diced tomatoes. I ordered tamales. They were so bland I probably only ate half. I tried spicing the tamales up by adding the salsa but of course that didn't help. It was so mediocre it is not worth going back.
(2)H C.
Not a bad choice if you are craving Mexican. It has your typical mexican fare. Everything I have had (tamales, chimichangas, enchiladas) has been pretty good. Got there today and I thought I was gonna have to wait forever for a seat. The connected parking lot was full and the lot across the street had cars in it. Surprisingly, we were seated immediately. Waitress was very friendly. And they have Happy Hour every day, so how can you complain about that!!
(3)Mariah M.
yummy chips and salsa were average but the guac was amazing and made to order. chunky and delicious. My husband had a chimichanga and I had steak fajitas. Really good. Little pricey. Would go back.
(4)J B.
Not a bad place - worthy of a 3.5 actually. Chips n salsa were good but not great. Pina colada and fajitas were excellent. The clientele includes a variety of people with all sorts of persuasions/lifestyles. Prices were accurate. A couple of the bus boys were cute. I'm not usually into Mexican guys but I'd bang 'em!
(3)navdeesh g.
This place a copy of Chevy's fancier and a bit better than Chevy's. The last 2 times I went I threw up after wards! The ambiance is nice and upbeat which is why I give it 1 extra star. Our waiter did not even know what Horchata was.
(2)Andrew B.
I went here a couple months ago when I was in Milwaukee on business. This place is mediocre at best.
(2)Jer R.
Friendly staff, decent happy hour price on beer,T ex Mex decor, full bar. The grilled chicken breast was wonderful. The chicken tacos, not the best.
(3)Elizabeth S.
Went to dinner here with my mom after a hard days work. The food was surprisingly good, with a relaxed atmosphere. We're from California and are disappointed with nearly all Mexican restaurants here (with the exception of Riviera Maya). Started with the $8 1800 Blanco margarita, on the rocks, light salt - not too sweet, not too sour, just right! The salsa has a really zippy kick, enough heat to keep you craving more without removing the taste buds, with fresh cilantro, chilies, and onion. I had the chicken enchiladas verde. Not much to look at but was really flavorful. We split a side of guacamole - smooth but chunky, just the way to should be. Mom had the chili rellenos - good, a bit heavy on the masa in the batter, but would still have again. The beans and rice were salty and delicious - I bought extra for my leftovers. Mom had a second "house" margarita. We found it a bit sweet and kinda cloying. Worth the extra couple buck for the special, but it depends on what you like. The decor was fun, they definitely put in a lot of effort. If you don't mind the wait, eat on the patio. Even if you can't see the fountain it drowns out most of the noise from Layton. Overall, a surprisingly great dining experience, I will go back again. 2 margaritas (at the bar) $16 1 margarita, complimentary chips and salsa, 2 entrees, a side of guacamole, an extra side of beans and rice - $33.47 (without tip)
(4)Crazy Curls C.
Had the chicken chimichanga. Fried to perfection. (Often times at other establishments it gets rock hard and cannot be cut easily). Rice was absolutely delicious. Salsa is a bit on the spicy side. Guacamole is good, has a relatively oniony flavor. Nachos were adequate, tortilla chips with chihuahua cheese on them. Strawberry and Mango margarita's had an odd limey flavor to them...could be due to the tequila. Decorations are beautiful. Outdoor waterfall. All-in-all, absolutely delicious and a fabulous atmosphere. Will be going back many times!
(4)Ashley D.
hands down the best mexican food i have ever had!!!!!!! awesome chips too:)
(5)Meredith E.
On my latest trip to Milwaukee, my coworker suggested dining at El Fuego. This place is birthday party central. Every table had a birthday, including ours (the suggesting coworker). At the end of our meal, the birthday boy was serenaded, forced to wear an obnoxious sombrero, and given a huge slice of cake and a t-shirt. Our amazing server suggested we try a double margarita on special. For a dollar or two more, the margarita was twice the size (and with at least twice the booze). The first few sips were ok, then a couple of minutes later I realized I was hammered. Excellent. I ordered the mole enchilada with mushrooms, the vegetarian option. The mole sauce was pretty damn good and the portions were huge. The only complaint was the initial salsa cup was extremely small. 3 chips in, we were done. If another coworker has a birthday while in Milwaukee, we will be back to El Fuego.
(4)Adam C.
Maybe the tax evasion investigators have not been so kind... ( fbi.gov/milwaukee/press-… ) Seriously though...learning about the charges against Bouraxis made me want to visit here again. Now, I'd been quite a few times in the past. A ladyfriend of mine really digs this place, even though I live within walking distance of a handful of great Mexican joints. We decided to check this place out again. There have been some changes. A few points: 1. Service has gone down hill. Substantially. I thought it might have just been the server I had, but everyone I encountered was just a little...off. In any case, it was weird. Our server sorta mumbled while she talked. At one point she had been explaining something on the menu; we were ready to order and were just about to start and she just...sorta disappeared. 2. They've changed the menu. I don't know that any items have actually disappeared, and it's actually better organized, but the prices seem higher. I don't think there's anything on the menu that is worth the ~$17.50 that they're asking for so many dishes. 3. The food is...just not as good. I had the pollo gordo. It was decent enough and had a healthy portion, but it was just SO salty. And this is coming from someone who tends to like my food saltier than most. The room temperature salsa was also a little unsettling. I reserve my single stars for the worst of the worst and well...this ain't that. It's still time for a downgrade, though. Two stars.
(2)Lard Belly E.
Service was great and the food was filling. I would say it's not the highest quality tex mex, but the prices were pretty cheap so you get what you paid for. I really liked the chips and salsa. You can buy chips for like $4 a bag so you can enjoy them at home. FYI, the salsa served is mild and you have to request the hot.
(3)Omar A.
New menu!!! DELICIOUS! Is an understatement. Service is great as always food is A++++. There are some people that are made for certain things and who ever is running this restaurant was born to do this. Great job guys as always.
(5)Nancy G.
Oh, El Fuego, you had me and then....... I had been here 2 times previously; once with a group and once with my parents when they were in town. The food was delicious! In fact, I preferred this restaurant over El Beso because it was so much quieter. There's actually room to walk between tables! This fall, I finally, FINALLY, convinced my husband to try it. Things were great. The margaritas...delicious! The food...healthy portions and also yummy! We left and continued about our day. The following day, we both woke up with "that" feeling. Thankfully, our house has two stocked bathrooms! All day, the two of us were in and out. I have never had food poisoning before and I can take a lot of pain, but the stomach cramps were so bad that at times, I was unable to sit up and at others, I was unable to lie down. We asked our dining companion how she was feeling and she said that she was fine. We then put two and two together and realized that we had both eaten from my plate and I had had the chicken mole. My husband swore that he would never go there again and I, unfortunately, agree. Adios, El Fuego! 3/2015/97
(2)Heather P.
The most delicious Mexican cuisine I have ever had! I always get a combo platter with chicken and it has never failed me. Best chicken I've ever had! The service is also phenomenal with meals coming out in record time, you don't even get a few bites of chips and salsa. Definitely a favorite.
(5)Barbara S.
I have been there a couple of times now, and I really enjoyed both visits. Staff is friendly and speedy, I think we were in and out in less than 1 hour. Food and drinks was always delicious and they came right the way. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone! Very tasty!! A little on the pricey side though.
(4)Katie B.
Maria was a very nice server, but the tilapia tacos were gross. I tried to pawn them off on my younger brother, but even HE wouldn't eat them. Good thing I had beans and rice to fill me up.
(3)Cynthia F.
You food comes out in 5 mins after you order. That should say something right there. The drinks are fair at best. Come at happy hr if you want a good price. The staff barley knows English. And this place was on dirty dinning. Gross...
(1)Shaun E.
My new favorite Mexican restaurant! The service was amazing. The food was delicious and plenty. Lunch time was spectacular as well as dinner. The vibrant colors it just hit the spot. Awesome!
(4)Ph G.
Just an overall terrible experience... My fiancé and I tried this restaurant for the first time. It was a busy evening and they said the wait would be about 15-20 mins. I was surprised at their estimated short wait time and rightfully so. After 35 minutes, we were seated... Not terrible, but not a good way to start your experience. We sat down and ordered a pitcher of margaritas right away - regular, on the rocks with salt on the rim. We were served peach, blended, with sugar on the rim. Once again, not the end of the world, but at this point, they are 0 for 2. Here's the real kicker... We order and receive our food and right after we have both taken our 3rd or 4th bite, the manager comes over and "asks" if we can move from our table to a booth so that they can seat a large party. I put "asks" in quotes because she didn't offer us an alternative; she basically told us to move in the form of a question. THEN, with no help from the manager my fiancé and I had to take OUR OWN PLATES AND MOVE THEM TO THE BOOTH! Our server saw this and ran over to help, but the damage had already been done. The server apologized a bunch, but there was not even a hint of apology from the manager. We clearly were not happy and the manager did absolutely nothing to mend the situation. With so many other (better) Mexican restaurants in Milwaukee, we will not be going back to El Fuego and recommend others not to go either.
(1)Casey R.
The food was very good! Came out very quick. I got the Enchilada verde they were huge; tons of food for your money. It was going so good! I was so happy with it, but then right after we got the check my stomach started rumbling and I had to run to the bathroom.... Yeah you know the rest! So unfortunately I will not be going back there :/
(2)Kim F.
I have always had a good experience here, but recently my order had hair in it. They never offered to take the food off the bill which was fine. When the bill came there was a discrepancy and my friend was charged extra. Instead of being apologetic, an employee, who had nothing to do with the situation was extremely rude and heckling my friend. I know it is against health code to have hair floating in someone's food. That makes me question their other health code practices. Bad service and health code violations... I'll pass.
(1)Gabriel C.
So I am staying down the street and decided to waltz into this lovely establishment for dinner. It's 8pm on a Sunday after the Packers won the division so it's a bit empty. I don't care about decor in a restaurant, so I won't rate on that. I came for the food. The wait staff is very attentive and the chips and salsa aren't bad. I think the chips are homemade actually which impresses me. I ordered a combination plate with the following: Pastor enchilada Shredded beef chimichanga Chicken tamale The pastor pork is not pastor. It was a pork chop cut up in some sauce. Al Pastor is served in a red sauce with pineapples. The shredded beer chimi was really good. The beef was salty and meshed well with the cheese inside. I got salsa and sour cream to to my chimi. The tamale was moist and the chicken was smooth and flavorful. The only items I felt were under par was the pork interpretation and the rice & beans. The rice didn't have flavor and the beans honestly needed Valentina (hot sauce). Overall I think the prices are a bit high, but that is comparing to Tex-Mex in Austin where I'm from.
(3)Chris B.
I dare you to find a better Mexican restaurant. I just dare you. Don't take that dare. Why? Because there is not one.
(5)George G.
Was there with a group of 5. They told us there would be a 30min wait. No problem, It's a Saturday night after all. This place looks like it gets heavy traffic so I expected more seating for people as they waited. Servers were polite and friendly. Very personable. Food came out hot and cooked pretty good. I've had better steak fajitas. Margaritas were pretty tasty as well as their non alcoholic smoothies. The chips they give when you're seated were darn good. Not overly salty. Kudos there. I was disappointed that I never got my diet coke refilled, even after asking our server for another. Everyone in my party seemed to really enjoy the food and all said they would go back. For being in the area, Its pretty good. Call me spoiled for living in Chicago and being around delicious Mexican spots. But if I'm ever back in Milwaukee, I would go back.
(4)Dottie C.
My husband and I ate there last night and spent $50 on 2 chicken hirachi dinners and a pitcher of happy hour margaritas. The so-called hirachi that I had was basically a $14 tostada. The avocado was ONE slice. My husband ordered the hirachi supreme and there was no avocado on his. My chicken was shredded, his was diced (both were supposed to be shredded). There were no refried beans on mine. Lettuce and tomato were lacking as well. This dish was totally out of balance and tasted like it. So .. missing ingredients, changed ingredients, lack of ingredients, and overall, PATHETIC. Don't bother eating there unless you're on an expense account because the food is nothing but disappointing.
(2)Denis M.
I would have given it 3.5 stars. So I ve eaten there 4-5 times already and pretty much order the same thing everytime pan fried fish with garlic(mojo de ajo). Always came out fresh and delicious and my wife always enjoying her chimichangas. Well we went to eat there this past April and must say they disappointed big time. My fish was extremely salty and garlicy. The rice wad bad. My wife dif not care for her chimichanga. The waitresses were pretty rude. No patience with my kids. The place is clean but i hope you don't have as bad as a experience. It will be hard for me to go back and try it again. Just very disappointing.
(3)Leah D.
Friendly staff. Super fast. Good food, not the very best. Expensive though. Very good salsa.
(4)V M.
We're not from the area but needed a place for lunch while driving home from the Milwaukee Zoo. We spotted this place and it looked a little over top from the street but we decided to give it a try. Everything we ate was wonderful! The homemade chips, salsa, guacamole, steak fajitas, baja tacos, and french fries (part of my daughter's kid's meal) were all the best I've ever had. It wasn't busy at all but it was during the lunch happy hour so there was a decent crowd. I would definitely go back if I were ever in the area again.
(5)Racco S.
Horrible food and experience . I'm truly baffled at people whom write good reviews for this place . The ambiance is somewhat decent . My girlfriend and I were there around 8pm on a weekday . The place was fairly empty , we were greeted by the host and were sat within minutes. Our waitress was decent . We ordered our drinks and food together . We received our food before our drinks 2 beers . The food was horrible you can tell it was sitting on a food warmer all day . The reason I know this I was a cook for many years . I didn't finish my enchiladas and complained to the manager on duty . Nothing was done . The manager went back to chat with her co workers . Now I understand why that place was horrible . The owners cheat on taxes and hire and exploit poor immigrants . If there was a food shortage and el fuego was the only place that serves food id choose starvation
(1)Bruce K.
Sure, let's have Mexican food in Milwaukee because hey, this is a town that's well known for Mexican food. Nice entrance and looking very modern and clean. And that's always a good sign. A nice sunny day, so we got a table outside in the courtyard, near the fountain. Yes, there's a fountain. Guacamole made to order to start (not tableside but that's okay) was fresh and only mildly spicy. Chips were excellent and we had to get a second basket because they were so good. I had the fish tacos while my friend ordered something chicken. I think mine was better. An interesting take on the "fish taco" thing, with sauteed pieces of fish topped with a lot of finely chopped onion and parsley. I'd return.
(4)Chris C.
Went here on a Monday 730, nice interior, waterfall and decent service. However, my pollo burrito taste like they threw in left over chicken , beans (not enough ) in a tortilla , put some cheese on top and put it in the microwave , but not long enough to heat the meat. The chicken was also bland and needed some cumin, onions and peppers. If I were to go back maybe I would stick with the house specials.
(2)Rich W.
Great service. I don't know Mexican food, server helped me pick a great meal. Awesome food. Great atmosphere and the pricier menu (at least in my opinion) is worth every penny. Great margaritas too!
(5)Tanya M.
Great fast service. The fish tacos, steak quesadilla and seafood soup are absolutely delicious.
(5)Seaeun K.
I love the painted chalk-faced Mexican(?) man and his Burro next to the entrance. Burro has a western saddle (because what donkey doesn't?) for a goofy photo op but that makes for quite the chilly booty in subzero temps. All in all, I'll go back to give El Fuego another try just in case the whole restaurant and the staff were having a less-than-stellar day when we were there. The food was pretty mediocre but I did not have any of the steak dishes other reviews raved about. The soft taco was meh, the Poblanos runny, the tamales were dry. I felt a little bad that we seemed to be inconveniencing our server by sitting at his table. I don't know. Maybe we won't go back. I already got my pic with the Burro.
(2)Wendy K.
I'm from California and the Mexican food in MKE was bumming me out UNTIL I had El Fuego. Solid chips and salsa, good service, and a yummy chimichanga. They also do takeout, so if you want to eat at home, you are welcome to it.
(4)Brian M.
Slightly better than average suburban gringo-Mexican food. If you enjoyed Chi-Chi's, this place will blow you away. If you prefer to eat at actual Mexican restaurants, such as GTO, El Senioral, or even Riviera Maya, you will be bored here. They definitely have their demographic nailed here, mostly southsiders of the Western European extraction who's knowledge of Mexican cuisine hardly eclipses Tacos, Tortas, Burritos, or Chimichangas. We were a party of six, I was the only one who ordered corn tortillas. My coworkers only order flour because that's what Taco Bell serves. They push the booze, which I normally appreciate, but since we were all of the business type, we could not partake. They also pushed overpriced $20 entrees instead of overpriced $10-12 lunch specials. In the end, everyone seemed to enjoy their lunches so I guess it's "OK", I just thought the menu was overpriced. I suppose the normal clientele is willing to pay a little more more Mexican food just as long as they don't have to eat with Mexicans. If it's Gringo Mexican fare and sugary Margaritas you are looking for, you won't be disappointed here. Very good service and lots of parking. If you're looking for something that people in Mexico would actually eat, try something on 16th street instead.
(3)Stephanie Q.
I came here because they were open late- didn't have that many food options when it was late. The food here is terrible. Its old, stale, and was not hot. Obviously nothing I ate was fresh. The waiter brought out chips and salsa, more like semi-stale chips. I had the chicken tacos... the chicken was not warm, felt like it was some leftover chicken from a few days ago. My friend had the chicken enchiladas, she had the same chicken as me, just in a tortilla instead of a taco shell. Our food took only about 10min to arrive- why was it so quick? Cuz its more like a bunch of stale leftovers put together. They should have spent a few more minutes microwaving the food so it would be hot at least. The portions are huge, you will be full. I'd rather go hungry than come here for dinner.
(1)Jessica S.
Every time I am forced to go here because of a group dinner, I get sick to my stomach. As in - having to jot the bathroom before I leave. I'm thinking the food has loads of MSG in it, because that usually does it to me. And I hate how they always try to up sell the top shelf margaritas. Annoying. if I want a top shelf margarita, I will certainly order it.
(1)Ree K.
We have been here twice now. We celebrated our grandson's birthday. From entering the door to leaving the employees make you feel like family. The food is awesome. Bathrooms are spotless, decor is pleasant.
(5)Brook A.
On dirty dining for a good reason. Got my food and there was dirt on the lettuce. Walked right out!
(1)Kristy D.
I've dined in a million times at El Fuego but we decided to take away last night since we had our pup along. Pros: -Food is ready incredibly fast! -Dedicated parking spot for those only picking food up -Food is presented and shown so you know you're getting what you've ordered -Staff manning the pick up desk is friendly and helpful -With their packaging, our food was still HOT and crispy (we got the vegetable quesadillas) when driving 15 minutes home Cons: -Food is ready incredibly fast! Make sure to call when you're about 10 minutes away or your food could be waiting for you for awhile -You have to weave your way through the crowd waiting for tables to get to the pick up desk All-in-all, amazing experience once again at El Fuego. I will definitely do the take away option again after this experience.
(5)Angel V.
I never had Mexican food before or even been to a Mexican restaurant, but wow this is without a doubt the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been too. The atmosphere is so lively. The inside looks amazing. I've never been to Mexico or a mexican party but I imagine it would look like this place. The food is super amazing. You order and within 5-10 minutes your food is ready. Everything in the menu taste delicious. I loved the hot wings, the steak tacos and margaritas. Tortilla chips and the salsa are homemade and tastes way different then the generic brand salsa and chips you get at stores like El Rey. I never seen such helpful and caring staff like I seen here in El Fuego. The staff were kind and friendly. I'm wasn't use to such wonderful treatment. I almost had forgotten that humans are capable of such hospitality. I will defiantly be coming back to this place. Food is made quick and ready to eat and I didn't know you can pick it up to go so I might give that a try. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a Mexican restaurant.
(5)Paul S.
Great service and real good food, I had steak taco's and they tasted fantastic, Real good original Margaritas. Waiter checked in on us often and was very friendly. My Wife had the Chicken Fajitas they were great, We will be back !!
(5)Rob M.
This is my go to place for tacos. The El Fuego steak tacos are insane, I have yet to find a better steak taco in Milwaukee. The patio is large and sheltered from the street and parking lot which makes for a nice outside dining experience. The food always comes out fast and hot and the staff is always friendly. The only reason they didn't get 5 stars is because their prices have climbed to a point higher than I think is acceptable for (3) tacos, rice & beans ($18). It still might be worth the money, just not as often as I might like.
(4)cedro t.
Don't bother with the fish taco but the Fuego steak is hot and good. Great waiter and all my favorite Latin tunes cranking :-)
(4)Gina B.
Conveniently located straight down Layton Ave, El Fuego offers a large menu selection of Mexican and American food. I don't get to this location often because their brother restaurant El Beso is so much closer to me. The couple of times I have been at EF, I have enjoyed my food and the atmosphere. The margaritas are awesome, especially when you upgrade. Little sad they don't offer the t-shirts for the upgraded tequila pitchers though. I could have added to my collection. Staff is friendly and attentive. I have enjoyed their American food too. Very good chicken sandwich. Chips and salsa are always good. Great for big groups too.
(4)G S.
I had the chicken mole and it was great, service was ok, server was not interested in being there, everyone else had combination plates they seem to like. Had pitcher of margaritas, bill for 6 people was $180. Regular tacos, etc. a bit expensive.
(2)Amin A.
Really quick service and the food is awesome! Haven't had anything I didn't enjoy yet.
(5)Nick B.
Great Mexican right around the corner from our house isn't always easy to find. We love El Fuego especially when we can sit on the patio and enjoy the waterfall. It's got to be one of the best patios in town. The food is delicious from chips to dessert. We always have a good time in the energetic atmosphere and love the margaritas. Just a fantastic experience for my entire family when we're there. We love it.
(5)Scott C.
Very cool atmosphere. Awesome outdoor patio with fireplaces and huge waterfall pond. Lunch prices are 7-11 bucks. Had the Beef Barbacoa Torta (HUGE shreadded beef sandwich with lettuce, avocado tomato, jalapeños, & a creamy sauce. Excellent!
(4)Randy E.
Clean, great service and food....what more could you possibly want. I LOVE this place. It's a breath of fresh air to get something as authentic as this around here.
(5)J. M.
I visited Milwaukee from 3/14 to 3/21 and ate at El Fuego twice. The staff is friendly and efficient. The Margaritas were excellent and inexpensive. I have never seen food delivered to your table so quickly! It was literally only a few minutes from the time we placed our order. The food was hot! Do you know how difficult it is to keep refried beans warm, much less hot? The first time, my daughter and I ate lunch there. The second time, we ate dinner and brought my two year old granddaughter. They were wonderful with her. She spilled her glass of water and they cleaned up the floor in seconds. She was thrilled with the Popsicle they gave her for dessert. The only thing that kept this review from being 5 stars was the over abundance of food. The refried beans were nearly an inch thick on my tostada. It overwhelmed to tortilla and the lettuce etc. I ordered the taco salad for dinner and had the same experience, there was way too much ground beef (that again overwhelmed the salad.) Would I go back again? You betcha! I'd like to sample everything on their menu. The food is fresh, hot and good.
(4)Paul B.
Great food and plenty of it. Will go back. Server excellent had a great time. Plan on going soon with friends
(5)Kristen H.
I have been dying to go here for a few months now, and I was so happy that I wasn't disappointed. It is a beautiful restaurant and the staff are super friendly. I was thrilled to finally find a Mexican restaurant that had grilled fish tacos instead of fried fish tacos. Luckily, they exceeded my expectations. The guacamole was phenomenal, and I loved the fact that they actually had a variety of margaritas, unlike some other restaurants that only have the standard and the strawberry. I can't wait to return! Just, beware, it is on the expensive side compared to most Mexican restaurants.
(5)Pam C.
Great guacamole. Great chicken quesadillas, they don't come onions ...which I love! just meat and cheese! very tasty. It was my second and last time ordering Queso Fundido...I'm not a fan! It's too greasy. I would come back here.
(3)Nick I.
Wow!!! Me and my girlfriend went to El Fuego tonight and we had the most amazing food and service. Hector is a keeper. That guy made our night complete. We started out with a 1/2 lb of mussels suggested by Hector for only $5. We killed those so fast that we ordered another pound. We got a spicy guacamole that was just perfect also. We saw the lady making our order in there market area. I ordered steak tacos and let me say they were the best steak tacos I've ever had. I added a little of the green salsa they give you for chips and it was complete. I forgot to mention that they have modelo for $3 a bottle every Friday night. It's was a perfect night.
(5)Kristi H.
I really liked this place. I had driven past it several times and had been meaning to try it out. When my boyfriends parents came to town it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. The restaruant itself was quite large and very lively. I really liked the waterfall outside but we had to stay indoors on this particular visit because it was raining at the time. The waiter was very nice and attentive to our table, bringing us multiple refills on the chips we were munching on. We all ordered something different and when our meals finally arrived I couldn't believe how big the portion sizes were! Huge! You get a lot of food for your money! I ordered the chicken tacos with two sides of rice. The only complaint I have is that I ordered the tacos without chives and they were put on the tacos anyway, but it was not so bad, I still ate them! We had to get a few boxes because there was quite a bit of food left. So I suppose my word of advice, make sure to bring your appetite if you are headed here! You really get a good amount of food! I am sure we will be back, there were several options on the menu I would like to try!
(4)Jessica O.
How do you not love El Fuego? I admit, I avoided this place for a long time because the commercial made it look a little too kitschy, but this place is everything you could ask for in standard Mexican fare, with a great atmosphere. I've been three times, and the service has always blown me away. Water and salsa are NEVER empty, thanks to ninja busboys who repel down from the ceiling (not really) and replace half empty containers, the food is comes out hot, fresh, and consistently delicious, and the servers are great. The patio is the PERFECT place to spend a sunny afternoon - with the waterfall, spanish music, and a margarita, it's easy to pretend you're in paradise for your lunch break!
(5)Rebecca S.
El Fuego is exactly the type of restaurant one would expect near a large-ish airport hub. And it's exactly the type of restaurant the airport corridor needs more of. The interior is great; and in summertime the patio is awesome. I love sitting out there in the afternoon enjoying a margarita and an appetizer. In addition to the great interior, the live mariachi music they have on the weekends is really fun (some of the bands even take requests). The food is solidly "good". It's not the greatest Mexican, or the most authentic, but you never leave feeling disapointed either. El Fuego is a great place for family dinners, celebrations and it's very kid friendly (my daughter loves the ice pops she gets at the end of her meal). All and all? There are a heck of a lot worse food choices on Layton Ave.
(3)Damon R.
Oh OK here we go with another typical Mexican eatery......... But it actually does a good job of pulling it off. With the cloud of la Perla and the other Mexican places off of national El Fuego makes its name known. The interior is excellent from the colors to the full produce arrangement in the middle of the restaurant it is excellent. Often i have seen a mariachi band playing outside the patio. Oh yea it is a patio for eating along with a outdoor bar and waterfall/grotto. Excellence! It is also placed were the competition is minimal in your choice as you drive by or near. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas and they were great. The atmosphere is great the music is festive and the prices are not outrageous. The staff were very polite and accommodating. The pitchers of drinks are worth a try. I took my cousin here for her birthday and they sang to here with the Mariachi band gave here a huge sombrero and took a picture for here to take home......Priceless! Take a trip!...not fall but a appearance in the restaurant.
(4)Steve W.
I love mole. so i'm sure whatever i ordered and ate here involved mole. in fact, i know it did. and i liked it. it was good. the chips were good, but even better when you dipped them into the salsa. the salsa was really really good. i want to go back and experience the patio, it looked nice.
(3)Melissa G.
The food is ok and overpriced.. We have never paid over $25 for Mexican food and we ended up paying over $40.. Last time we went the waitress was extremely slow and tried to rip us off on the corona special.. The chicken tasted like BBQ chicken which isn't good in an enchilada also I found bones in it which I have never had bones in an enchilada.. We waited a while for our food and mine was a tad cold.. But I usually Dont complain.. If you want authentic Mexican food go to a smaller cozy restaurant
(2)Emily T.
Came here with a large group (about 15 of us) and heres the breakdown: The Good: The food, spicy and delicious... a little bit Tex-Mex, but thats pretty par for the area. The service: fast and friendly The margarita list: MANY options, all were good (and strong) The ambience of the place The enormous menu The Not-So Good: The price was quite high The waiter tried getting us to try a special that would come with a T-shirt? Tacky.
(4)Sam T.
After reading all of the reviews here, I wasn't expecting to be blown away. But for the first 15 minutes, I was absolutely in heaven. The atmosphere and service couldn't have been any better. The food dampened my enthusiasm a tad. Atmosphere: Incredible!! It is a little noisy, but in a great way. Fabulous modern-ish Mexican music plays at a good volume in the bar area, and then-get this-a live Mexican band (not Mariachi... something... classier; guitar and violin) plays in the main dining room. And this was a Sunday night. The decor is beautiful - great color everywhere, fantastic attention to detail on every surface, and yet the place also managed to be beautifully decorated for Christmas. The booth we sat in was very comfortable in every way. Service: Wow! I'm not exaggerating a bit when I say that our chip bowl was refilled not once, but twice, at the exact moment when we reached for the second-to-last chip. All before the meal came. The waitress checked in the exact right amount to fill all of our needs without being intrusive. The food came out quickly. Great all around. Food: The chips were hot and fresh, the salsa was flavorful and spicy but not too much so. The portions were exactly right for the price. Rice and beans were both great. I got a combo plate - steak taco, bean tostada, chicken enchilada. I first tried the taco and was impressed! Juicy and flavorful. The bean tostada was a little disappointing, just really bland. The enchalada was even worse, just chicken and tomato sauce, really. The flour tortillas we had were just not very good, that didn't help. My companion got the chicken fajitas. They were quite good! The chicken was again, just a little bland, however. Value: For the above entrees, one soda and one flan, our bill was $38.33. A tiny bit steep, but overall satisfying, and a WONDERFUL dining experience. I would be surprised if we didn't go back - El Fuego definitely beats any other Mexican place in the area that I've seen.
(4)Scott D.
There are better Mexican places, but this is good if you're looking for a quick fix. I tried the Tacos Tradicional, which allowed me to choose three different kinds; mine were barbacoa, tilapia and shrimp. The latter two were fairly pedestrian, but the barbacoa was full of flavor, moist and terrific. I also enjoyed the salsa, which follows the Nuevo Mexicano trend of using garden fresh ingredients. It was delicious. I also appreciated the iced green tea served with a mint sprig and lemon wedge. It did not contain added sugar and didn't need it. I would eat here again. It is not the most "authentic" restaurant you will find, but it worth a return trip.
(3)Katie S.
I've heard that El Fuego was pretty good. When we arrived around 7 on a Friday night, the enormous parking lots (yes, that's plural) and the enormous restaurant were packed. It has to good if the crowds literally flock to it. We were seated quickly and the service was impeccable. If I didn't know better, I would have thought our waiter only had our table and really wanted a big tip. He, and the kitchen, actually got my picky fiancee's order right! However, the food was just ok. You've got all your classic Mexican dining options prepared in a the most authentic American mass produced way possible. The portions were large and filling. It was fine.....but it wasn't great. I'll chalk it up to underseasoning. I'd definitely eat here again, but there isn't much to rave about.
(3)