Poblano soup, carnitas empanadas and a friendly staff Makes for a enjoyable meal out!read more

I visited for lunch on a weekend and they have a huge outdoor covered patio as well as air…read moreconditioned dining room. My finance and I were welcomed as soon as we walked in. Their regular menu is huge and they had a specials menu as well. I ordered the shrimp quesadilla with a side of guacamole and my fiance got the carne asada burrito from their specials menu. We were served complimentary chips and salsa, which were delicious. Both of our entrees were good as well. My fiance raved about his burrito too. We'll definitely be back to try more things!

We came in 58 minutes before closing and it was empty. I was sure I'd be turned away, but no. I was…read moregreeted with a warm smile and amazing service. We couldn't decide from the awesome choices but I finally decided on Carne Al carbon tacos and beef nachos and my husband got the chicken fajita quesadilla. OMG we haven't eaten here since we first started dating in 2021 and it was mid. This time it was absolutely amazing. So amazing that everything looked so good and we forgot to take a picture. But trust me when I say every flavor was on point. We argued about who's driving home so the other can sleep. Thank you for an amazing date night filled with good food, good vibes, great service and amazing food.

One of the best authentic Mexican restaurants in the capitol region. The food was flavorful, spicy,…read moreand delicious in all the right ways. Upon arrival you'll receive complimentary chips and salsa. It was fresh as the chips were warm and I could taste the fresh ingredients in the salsa. We ordered the carne asada and the Baja tacos (and the enchiladas verdes to go based on hot good the food was). The carne asada was fantastic, and it came with rice, beans, and tortillas. The Baja tacos were delicious and came with a super spicy sauce (they did have a lot of onions which was my only drawback). We ended the night with a special strawberry tres leches for Valentine's Day. It's not something I would have typically ordered but I do love tres leches and this did not disappoint - it was amazing. All in all excellent food you'll be glad you came for the food! A few other notes- the inside of the restaurant is pretty and draws on what I've seen in other Mexican restaurants. Staff were so friendly and had the perfect balance of checking in with us to letting us eat our meal. There is a small bar area that is separate from the dining area. Street parking only but there seemed to be plenty of spots. However, I would try to park as close as possible to the restaurant as the neighborhood itself didn't seem like the greatest. We had no issues during our experience but just something to consider. Overall I really liked this place and will definitely return!

I think I know what real Mexican food is. Nothing else compares to it. My favorite dish is pollo en…read morechipotle; that creamy chipotle sauce is simply delicious. Also delicious are the chicken tinga tacos and chicken tinga burritos. Absolutely delicious for Mexican food lovers.

They have moved to a spacious new location. Such nice people, beautiful ambiance and excellent…read moretacos. The corn tortillas are perfect!

So was in Albany on a work Confrence. And we came to this spot. There didn't appear to be a ton of…read moreoptions open during an evening weeknight in downtown Albany. We got close and there was a Dj playing music which gave a high energy vibe. We were seated quickly and our server was nice and patient with us. We got their 8 taco deal for 25 and guac and queso dip. The food overall was pretty good. I would definitely come again when I'm back in Albany

Well, well I came here based on the menu as I walked by, and then I checked on Yelp (9 reviews and…read morefood pics were not-authentic); I decided to give it the benefit of doubt. Let's start with the pros nice place service was excellent. Food though is so-so, the street corn was the star of the show. My 3 Taco combo was less than basic, they look so bare and unappetizing. My choices were the carnitas, barbacoa, and the chorizo. If you're visiting Albany this place can be skipped, and you would be ok. My corn tortilla for taco seemed to be warmed up in the microwave; and I say that because it got cold fast and tore when it cooled down. There 3 salsa offerings and those seem to rebottled to look like they're homemade. I had high hopes, but there wasn't much to enjoy here.

We were in town helping our daughter move into off campus housing nearby and the woman at the…read morecoffee shop next door recommended Viva Cinco de Mayo. My expectations weren't too high because I didn't know if Albany had a thriving Mexican community. Viva Cinco de Mayo blew me away! We sat in a comfortable outdoor dining section. Our waitress was extremely helpful! The menu was extensive and felt authentic to me. My daughter ordered chips and queso, clearly house made chips were outstanding! Her chicken and cheese quesadilla was also delicious. My wife and I shared some of the best tamales we've ever had! So fresh and vibrant, chicken with green salsa. My wife enjoyed three tacos and the sangria. I absolutely loved their pozole with mole sauce! The hominy was perfectly cooked. Their fresh Tamarindo juice was also delicious! Truly an awesome lunch!

Nice restaurant to get Mexican food. Not very busy on a weeknight, many to-go orders. Excellent…read morefood, big portion and perfectly seasoned. I like my huge plate of chilaquiles, big portion of steak and chips. They know how to cook rice and beans here. Rice is not too mushy and soft, just the right texture. I wish I had room to try their tres leche or flan for dessert. Next time Service could be more attentive. I think if you know some Spanish that would be ideal, because they got my order wrong. Parking, just street parking. you should able to find some parking on the street nearby

Amazing service and incredible food! The place is super cute, great Tex-Mex food. Make sure to try…read morethe selection of salsas!

El Loco is one of my all-time favorites. I hadn't been here in a little while and I was visiting a…read moreloved one at AlbanyMed and on my way home. I stopped in. The food is still fantastic. My cranberry frozen margarita was awesome. The gentleman that sat me at my table and took my order and delivered the food, was supremely nice. The Shrimp fajitas were so tasty and had great spices in it. But what you don't know is that El Loco has a hidden gem. Her name is Maria. She's a bartender there and not only was she warm and inviting and had very nice things to say when we struck up a conversation, she wrapped up my meal and gave me extra chips and extra salsa. Her kindness went a long way for me as I had had such a long day before I got there. Thank you, El Loco for a great experience!

We had a large group head to El Mariachi to celebrate a friend's engagement and they absolutely…read morehandled it like pros! From the moment we sat down, the staff was incredibly attentive--our drinks arrived quickly and they were right there to take everyone's orders without missing a beat. What really impressed us was that all of the food came out at the same time and piping hot, which is no small feat with a big group! I ordered the chicken tostadas. I personally thought they could have used just a little more flavor, but they were still good and I definitely enjoyed them. If you're in the downtown Albany area and looking for a place that can handle a crowd while keeping service quick and friendly, I would absolutely recommend El Mariachi. Managing a large, celebratory group like ours isn't easy, but they did a fantastic job!

Stopped at El Mariachi before the MVP Arena show with my esposa, mi suegra, and a mutual friend who…read moresomehow knows everyone and no one at the same time. Weather was solid, so we sat outside -- big win. Sunshine, cold drinks, and a light breeze carrying the scent of sizzling carne asada. Chef's kiss. First off -- the drinks hit colder than your ex's last text. Margarita was so cold I think I saw it shiver. My wife said, "Is this lime fresh-squeezed?" I said, "Mi amor, I don't care if it was stomped by angels -- it's delicious." Food? Traditional Mexican, not that drive-thru Tex-Mex confusion. Real-deal tacos, cheesy enchiladas, fresh guac so creamy it had my suegra nodding silently like it was church. If she approves, it's legit. Service was quick, chill, and friendly. Our server hit us with the perfect combo of "do you need anything?" and "I'll leave you alone to vibe." Respect. She called my suegra "señora" with such grace I swear the tip doubled on impact. Pro tip: go early before a concert. Parking was a breeze, we were in and out, and still had time to people-watch all the chaos downtown. By the time we got to the arena, we were full, feeling muy bien, and ready to scream along to songs we only halfway know. Final thoughts: El Mariachi isn't just dinner -- it's a vibe. A pregame party with tamales instead of tailgates. Good prices, cold drinks, and tacos that'll haunt your dreams (in a good way). ¡Dale! Don't sleep on this place.