2nd visit during lunch break and definitely one of my more enjoyable lunch experiences in the area…read more They are friendly and diligent with the time. I haven't had to rush thru my meal to return to work. So much food! Carne Asada Tacos so far my go-to.. 3 in the order and soooo much meat! Seasoned deliciously! Have to add cheese, guacamole and sour cream, but it's more than worth the upcharge for guacamole. Comes with a plate of refried beans. No way can I get thru the full meal, so always at least 1 taco to go and 1/2 the beans. Such a satisfying lunch!

We were quickly greeted by Miguel with chips and salsa. We started with their fresh guacamole with…read morejalapeños on the side. The ingredients were fresh. The avocado were in small pieces and not blended into a smooth guacamole. It came with two slices of lime. It needed about 3 more to give the guacamole that lime flavor. I ordered the chicken fajitas with all rice and no beans. Most of the chicken were small pieces versus regular slices of chicken. The chicken was seasoned nicely. Nice grilled peppers and onions. The tomatoes were way overcooked and were too mushy. We received excellent service from Miguel. He was smiling and hustling. The vibe of the restaurant was subdued.

The food and service was really good. Must try! Was just visiting the area but will be going back…read moreat my next visit.

Malinche is a hidden gem in West St. Louis County!…read more Stepping through the door, you'd think you've transported to a trendy city with bustling nightlife. The low lighting, neon signs, and colorful interior design create a vibrant and upscale dining environment. Their drinks are all served in fun glassware and mixed with intention. Choose from an array of classics like Margarita, Mojito, and Paloma; or try one of their original crafted cocktails. The service is always friendly and professional. Their servers are prepared to answer any questions you have. I've never had food like I've enjoyed at Malinche! Every menu item has so much traditional flavor with a modern spin. Not only is the food delicious but it is plated with culinary vision like art on a plate. Menu items are designed to be shared which we love we can try multiple things. Monday and Tuesday are the only days of the week they serve tacos but you will not be disappointed by their other menu items! The name choice Malinche pays homage to a historically significant and often misunderstood female figure in Mexican history who after being sold in slavery to the Spaniards acted as a key translator and advisor during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. By naming the restaurant Malinche, it is the family's ode to their mother and head chef Doña María Gutiérrez Molina. Once your dining experience is over and you step back outside, you'll have forgotten you were eating in Ellisville and not Mexico City!

Carreta's is the closest thing I have to a "local"--the place where I go after my shift at the post…read moreoffice to drink watery, domestic beer and make slightly inappropriate remarks to the waitstaff. My parents eat there on the reg, though not so much the past couple of years, after they implemented their controversial policy of shrinking portion sizes and increasing prices at the same time. Uh, whose idea was that? I have an idea. Let's just say he's not very good at riding a bicycle. I've eaten there literally a million times since it opened up 10 or 15 years ago. Before that, we used to eat at the place in Olivette that was once a Ponderosa, El Paisano or whatever. I don't think they're related, but when that place closed, a handful of employees came over to Carreta's. That was years ago, and they're now long gone. Hopefully, they weren't shipped off to El Salvador. I hear it's not safe there. More recently, we've been eating at a place a bit further west on Olive that was once a Houlihan's. Noticing a trend? Carreta's must be feeling the effects, because they've remodeled and added a few new menu items, some of which will be familiar to Barrel House patrons. The remodel seems to mostly have been a matter of applying a fresh coat of paint and turning the dim switch up to its absolute brightest. It used to be dark in there, like at a fancy restaurant. Now it's like Kmart circa 1986. I didn't check to see if a blue light had been installed in the ceiling, nor did I make it back to near the restrooms to see if they've still got that influencer wall. The menu has been reprinted, and I'm sure they took advantage of the opportunity to jack up prices even further. Many of the old favorites remain, and I'm not sure what, if anything, they removed to make room for the small handful of new items. I saw that they still have the carnitas, my old go-to. It's the only pork item on the menu. If you're familiar with the area, you can probably do the math on that one. Most importantly, they've added Birria, only about 10 years after it became trendy. What's next, a smashburger? A pumpkin spice latte? I've had Birria at a number of places, here in the STL and elsewhere, and in a few different preparations, and it's never not been good. It kinda is the Mexican food equivalent of the smashburger, in that regard. An order of three will run you $16, and it doesn't come with anything other than the consommé and a ramekin of tomatillo salsa. Just the three tacos wasn't the most filling meal I've ever had, but it wasn't half bad, for there not being any sides or anything. They stuff those tacos full with mostly just meat (along with cheese, onions and cilantro), and I'd imagine it's roughly as caloric as eating half the produce aisle at the grocery store. It's so good. I figured it would be kinda mediocre but nevertheless enjoyable, because I thought I had this place pegged, but credit where credit is due. They've exceeded expectations. This was one of the best things I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant. If they don't let the quality slip or try to charge literally $1,000 for it, I could honestly see it becoming a huge hit. What do you know? This place might manage to stay in business just yet, despite the newer, fancier place down the street.

Very clean, well appointed and great Mexican vibe. Would easily work for large groups and the…read moreservice is OUTSTANDING!! Excellent margs and big draft beers! Super FAST!! Had the California Burrito and wifey had the "Pick 2" Combo (Tostada/Tamale). I'd rate the food a 3.5 (at least for what for we had, it wasn't an off the hook 5 or above average at a 4...just pretty average). Chips and salsa are average as well. In all fairness, need to give some other items a try....so I'm going to come back for sure & see if this place can get to a solid 5!

We dropped in Espinos in Chesterfield for a late lunch/early dinner last week. Its long been a…read morefavorite Mexican restaurant in the area and I hadn't been there in a while. We had the option of both dinner menu or lunch menu which was nice. Basically, smaller portions/prices for lunch. And they always have specials so we had plenty of choices. What a great experience. It was pretty empty because of the time of day. Maybe 5 tables of folks. We were greeted with a smile and welcome by a hostess. Our service and server wwere terrific. I apologize for not remembering your name (tall, thin, blonde hair, big smile). thanks for a great experience. :) Chips and salsa were brought to the table. Homemade chips and one of the best salsas around. The right amount of heat and sweet with a nice texture. We munched while we considered our options,' My daughter ordered the Enchiladas Espinaca y Hongos mushroom & spinach , my future son-in-law ordered the Blackened Salmon with jalapeno butter and cheesey potatoes and salad, while I had the Burrito de Pescado Special and chose the optional roasted pablano cream sauce, All the dishes were right on. Flavors popped and inviting. I had the dinner portion of the burrito Pescado. It was enormous. A complete lunch to take home or two people could easily share. The salmon with jalapeno sauce was cooked absolutely perfect. Sauce amazing. The spinach mushroom enchiladas sweet and earthy with chipotle mushroom cream sauce and Chihuahua cheese rocked the house. Our server was on the spot checking in on us and taking care of everything constantly. This visit was a reminder how great Espinos is. And a reminder I need to come back for the duck tacos and duck enchiladas!

Another Espinos review! Never had the carnitas before and they were outstanding. Delicious pork…read morewith carrots, onions, Pico, guac, Jalapeños, refried beans and rice. Incredible

All that and no guac?…read more Went to this location to celebrate a colleague's birthday. Prior to coming here, I came to the realization that not only am I a brussel sprouts and chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, but I can now add fajitas to the list as well. We'll start with the positive: -decent chips and salsa. Chips were sturdy but the salsa had little flavor. I'd give them a 2.5/5. -they were decent with the refills of water but due to it being so hot outside AND inside, the ice melted quickly. -we got a few pitchers of the wild berry margarita and surprisingly, it was really good. Unfortunately, due to the heat and us getting it over the rocks, it melted quickly. Room for improvement: -better circulation of air in the restaurant. I'm amazed at how hot it was and there wasn't one person in that place that wasn't sweating. AC in the Stl summer is a necessity, so beware if you choose to go. - this is the first time EVER that I've gotten fajitas and it didn't come with guac. Not even the little scoop that you usually get on the salad! NOTHING. The fajitas were pretty good; they had a decent amount of seasoning but the rice was relatively bland. Overall, I'd give it a 3 out of 5. Not the best but it could certainly be better.

excellent service and wonderful server very friendly and fast service. Food was delicious and hot…read morewhen it came. Ask for Will to be your server when you come he's the best!

The service is always great and the food very delicious. Of…read morecourse, can't forget the margaritas. I'm actually a fan of the flight margaritas. The only one that I'm not a fan of is the jalapeño margarita, but they have no problem exchanging it out for me for one that I would like, so don't be shy if you need to do the same. I love the atmosphere as well. Oh, and yes, the bathrooms are clean.

We stopped in on a beautiful night for the patio…read more Service was excellent. Our server was attentive. I ordered the Sangria Margarita for Happy Hour. Yum! My meal was the Pollo Cancun. Enough for 2 meals and delicious.

Unsuspecting taco joint and Mexican grocery store hidden in a strip mall. Super sweet people…read moreworking here. Aside from the al pastor, tacos were honestly a little unremarkable given how tasty they looked. Carne asada was on the drier side, chorizo too salty, and I've definitely had more flavorful and tender lengua elsewhere. The star of the show was by far the quesabirria tho. Super cheesy and flavorful without being too oily. Actually so delicious. Cheap, casual spot definitely worth checking out. Favorite dishes: Quesabirria

Great breakfast burrito! Best red sauce I've had in St Louis. Very filling and good price - you…read morewon't go away hungry!

As an Arizona native, finding Salina's felt like stepping into a time capsule of my youth. If you…read moregrew up in the Valley of the Sun, you'll recognize the cues immediately--from the painted Arizona landscapes on the walls to the complimentary bean dip served alongside the chips. The "Serrano" Connection For those in the know, the original owner was part of the legendary Serrano family (of the Phoenix-area Serrano's Mexican Restaurants). That heritage shines through in the food, specifically that addicting bean dip. The chips are exactly how they should be: plentiful, thin, and warm. The salsa is mild and tomato-forward--a classic AZ style that hits the spot. The "Patti" Experience The heart of this restaurant is the service. We were served by Patti, who is truly one of the most gracious and welcoming people you'll meet in STL. She goes out of her way to make you feel like a regular, even if it's your first visit. She is a gem! The Food & Drink * The Siete (4.25/5): This combo features a crunchy taco, cheese enchilada, and pork tamale. The enchilada sauce is that specific, authentic Arizona red sauce I've missed. Also, finding a properly executed crunchy taco in St. Louis is nearly impossible, but Salina's nails it. * Chicken Fajitas (4.25/5): These are excellently executed. The chicken was actually marinated and seasoned before hitting the grill, and the dish is naturally easy to navigate for those with dairy or carb concerns. * Cadillac Margaritas (4.25/5): We upgraded to Cabo Wabo tequila, and at two for under $20, it's arguably the best value in Chesterfield. Strong, fresh, and high-quality. Insider Tips (Ask for Patti!) If you want the true Arizona experience, you have to go "off-menu." Ask Patti for these specific items: 1. The Cheese Crisp: A classic Arizona-only appetizer. Get it with Hatch green chilis on top. 2. Chili Colorado Chimichanga: The Chili Colorado is excellent on its own, but asking for it inside a chimichanga is the ultimate pro move. The Verdict We don't go out for Mexican often, but Salina's is our exception. The menu is versatile enough to accommodate various dietary needs without sacrificing that authentic "touch of home" flavor. Whether you're a Southwest transplant or just looking for a family-run joint with incredible service, this is the place. I'll be back for the Chili Colorado and, of course, for Patti!

Great local place. We love their salsa. We get tacos and enchiladas and all is terrific.read more

I'm really sad to have to do this but I think people should be warned. La Tapatía has been my…read morefavorite in the area for quite a while. I love their food. However, an incident happened recently that has now complicated my love for them. I ordered two burritos for delivery recently and one ended up being wrong. It was supposed to be a Burrito Americano with shredded chicken, something I've had before. What came had ground beef and no red sauce, so I figured it was an entirely different burrito and called to let them know mine might have been swapped with someone else's. I understood that there was a good chance it wasn't getting replaced because I couldn't drive up to get another one, and yes that ended up being the case, but what got me was the guy on the phone said "oh sorry, on our tablets where we receive orders, we couldn't see that you made a meat selection so we just chose one." I confirmed that wasn't the case on my end. So one, that's crazy. Two, we've ordered from them before and that hasn't been a problem. Three, if that's true, how am I supposed to trust that I'll ever get what I ordered? So I don't know if they're not taking responsibility for their mix up for if they have a new system that's going to cause a lot of issues. But either way, I'm not thrilled and I'm probably done with them.

Went there for breakfast. Yes breakfast and it was delicious. It's new for them so I hope…read morecustomers find them for a delicious breakfast burrito or waffles or almost anything you could want. Service is exceptional and it's just so festive. Give this place a try if you haven't already. So good

The truck driver !…read more This is a more moderate Mexican restaurant with all the cuisine classics. The restaurant is large so great for large parties. The servers work in tandem so you may have multiple folks assisting you during your dining experience. This place will fill your plate so come hungry. This place is extremely accessible for mobility concerns.

I'm actually pretty sad to write this, because typically this restaurant is our go-to spot! Last…read morenight changed our minds for sure. Coming from someone in the restaurant industry, the food was not good and the service was bad. More so, for what they charge, it's unreasonable for the food to be bad. I've never had a bad meal there before, but the price has always been crazy high. Also, it's so temperature hot in there? I promise I'm typically the El Troquero hype-man, but I don't think I'll be back.