I always loved this place and enjoy a good burrito from time to time. However, lately their burritos are smaller and the steak meat has changed. The shells are smaller and the meat is dry and unflavorful. The service is almost non existent. This used to be a great place but .... read more

Great steak tacos, small and cozy very authentic. Stop in and say high great staff reminded me of salsa grill in Addison Illinois

If you want good, cheap Mexican food then go here. That's all there is to it. Everything on the menu is good. Service is good, quick. The place is small. Get in, eat and get out. Ive never had a bad experience here read more

Food for the brave of heart, and the drunk. Sober, I'd give it 1 or 2 stars, drunk, it might be a 5. So this is a compromise. Nowhere better in Valpo for mexican food after the bars. read more

This would have been five stars but the place smelled like an outhouse. Not a little bit but really bad. I don't know how people were eating in there; we had to order take out. This may have just been an unfortunate issue the day we were there but, as a first time visitor it gave me pause. However, the place was full so I figured it must be good. I ordered sopes, soft tacos and a gordita. The food came out quickly at a reasonable price. By the time we got home to eat, the gordita was unfortunately very soggy but I think it would have been good fresh from the kitchen. The tacos and sope were both excellent and I would definitely order those again. All in all, it was a great find. Hopefully the smell was a one time thing but if not, I'll hold my breath until the take out is ready! read more

I got the #12, quesadilla, enchilada, with rice & beans, all for $6. The portions were price appropriate, very small. Child's size, actually. I'm still hungry as I write this and I was thinking about a quick Taco Bell run after eating. I read these reviews before ordering; I was very disappointed. Extremely bland, I could not distinguish the different flavors in the enchilada. The chicken tasted like the tortilla, the sauce was practically flavorless. In fact, there was so little sauce, it hardly made it's way on to the bottom of the plate. The rice was one solid orange color and it tasted no better than it looked. I can't say anything more for the beans. This is not good Mexican food, I'm not sure what everyone is eating when they post these excellent reviews. I would like to know some recommendations since my first and only experience so far was definitely sub-par. I live close by so I would like to give it another chance. read more

Looks like we need to find a new spot. The menu has changed and the prices are up yet they charge for every extra thing.

We just moved to Valpo and have been looking for an authentic Mexican spot. My husband is Mexican and loves tacos. We have been spoiled with living in Vegas and being from San Diego originally. So with that said Mexican food we know. On my first visit I walked in not realizing that it's also a sit down restaurant. They serve beer here which we like so I do plan to bring my husband in. I ordered my food at the counter and they have two chairs that patrons use while waiting. The tacos took under ten minutes to make and when I got home our tacos were all steak and still hot. They come with salsa but we aren't impressed with it so we use our owe. Over all, we liked the tacos. We will return and try other items and update here when we do. read more

One of my favorite places to go. I love their queso and chorizo. Staff is always very friendly and food is cheap!

I'm from Texas and let me tell you, this is the furthest from Mexican food I have ever tasted. I was very disappointed with the flavor I will never go back read more

This is possibly the best Mexican food I have ever tasted if there was a rate yourself option this would get 1000 Stars. It really is that good. if you're in the mood for some Mexican food here is the place for you! read more

My favorite place for mexican food. The prices are great and my faves are the flautas....delicioso. The bistec con rajas are amazing too!!! It's a little hole in the wall place, not fancy at all, just great food!!! read more

El Amigo used to be one of my favorite places to eat in this area for many many years. Their steak burritos are under 5 dollars and were big and delicious. However it seems they have undergone a management change or something in the last couple years. The meat in the dishes is often greasy and gristly, the lettuce is wilted and bitter, and the sour cream is now "sour topping." Things finally came to an end for me with this place when i ordered a few steak burritos one night and mine contained both a long piece of red plastic (potentially the cut off end of a package of food?) and about a 1cm wide by about 2 inch long piece of STAINLESS STEEL from a scrubber i presume. This place used to be one of the best kept secrets in local late night food but it has gone down hill dramatically. The place is a dump (even after the remodeling), the bathrooms smell horribly even if nobody had just used them, the service is curt and sometimes rude. Nobody employed there speaks full proper english. As of my last visit they have a long standing rule of refusing to split the checks for a table. If you are in the area and you are drunk leaving the bars looking for a burrito or nachos that have a slight chance of rupturing your stomach lining with shrapnel then this is your place! If you dont want to run the risk, they opened a Qdoba on the other side of town that is more expensive but much better quality, more hygienic, and safer. read more

I'm still looking for a solid go to Mexican restaurant in town. I think I've found it! I've heard a lot about El Amigo so a friend and I went today. I ordered the chilaquiles and it was very good. My friend ordered the lingua tacos. Both were excellent and really close to Mexican food the way it's supposed to be cooked. Looking forward to going back again! read more

Like the other reviewer said, this is where you go to find good, cheap, authentic Mexican fare in Valparaiso--and I daresay in northwestern Indiana in general. Just about every student at Valpo can tell you a story of how they ended up here at 1am for a big tasty burrito. Come here sober or not-so-sober, the food's always great and won't cost you an arm and a leg. read more

I have been going to El Amigo since probably 2001, and it is my favorite place for late night food. The night waiter, Jorge, is beyond fantastic. Though I no longer live in NWI and only make it here a few times a year, he still remembers me and knows both my food and drink order (pina jarritos, guacamole, cheese enchilada and cheese quesadilla). He is super nice and is on the ball with drink and chip refills, even when they are completely swamped. The food is always excellent, and the guacamole here is some of the best I have ever had. I also highly recommend the avocado burrito, thought it's really big enough to share. They bring you two types of salsa - one is a spicy liquid, the other is full on pico. Both are delicious. The prices here are also reasonable, and within the past few years they have started accepting credit cards, which is a huge bonus. The last two times I have been here they have also been in the process of re-doing the dining room. Everything is newly painted and there is a flat screen on the wall (though it was thankfully off when we went there at midnight). read more

El Amigo Restaurant - Special #12! - Mexican Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I am rating at a 1 not because of the food, because it was really good. The customer service is horrible. I called about the burrito for a couple of my employees for lunch. I was told the burrito cost $5.65 with tax for any meat, but only if I wanted extra meat it will be a $1.oo fee. When the staff went to order and purchase the food she wasn't aware of what was told to me so she paid and brought back to the office. When I looked at the receipt I noticed the five dollar price difference and called the restaurant. I explained why I was calling and the young lady who answered implied that she did not say that the items were that price but had told me it was a whole almost $2.00 difference. And her attitude was very rude and nasty. I asked to speak to the manager and she told me the manager was busy. I asked when will I be able to speak with him/her and she implied the manager was busy so 4hours from now. I let her know that I will not suggest this restaurant to anyone and I will never eat here again especially since it is my first time. It is very sad how people can treat the ones who is spending their money at their establishment. My problem is not about the cost it is the wrong information given and the nasty attitude when simply asking about it. You have just lost a nice number of people who would have probably ordered from your restaurant regularly for lunch and meetings. read more

In Valpo this is my go-to place for Mexican food. There are not a lot of offerings in this cool town south of 1-80 but this taqueria offers all the standards and prepares them quite well. I am a fan of the tacos and the Mexican breakfasts are awesome! Cheap, fast, Mexican food! Way to go. read more

Running around late at night....starving! Refusing to give in to McDonalds, Burger King, etc. This place was a-glow and OPEN. I originally thought that it was kinda sketch, but hunger has low standards. I ordered a sope and it was DELISH! So why not a fiver star...well, their horchata was meeeh! Good, not great. And honestly, I was so hungry, I need to go back and make sure it was actually great tasting food and not depressed taste-buds. read more

Jorge is the best waiter ever. I have been coming here for years and he always remembers my drink and food! How many waiters remember that you and your friends are vegetarians? This place rocks! read more

I've been going to "El," as we affectionately call it, since high school. The food is always delicious and super cheap compared to other Mexican places. The wait staff is great and the restaurant has recently been renovated. They even serve alcohol now! My favorites are the steak tacos, giant burritos, guacamole, and Pepsi with no HFCS! They are open late and even serve breakfast. read more

Nice little place. Simple, nothing fancy, but a varied menu. Tasty tamales and tacos. Friendly staff and good service.

Excellent food. My wife and I both had the flautas and they were crispy as we both like them. We both enjoy salsa and chips and consider them an important part of the meal and Mexican restaurant dining experience. While we both liked the salsa and chips here we were very disappointed at the TINY bowl of salsa provided. Sure, you could ask for more but each additional TINY bowl was $1.50. Did I mention that the bowl was TINY? Good chips that were made in the restaurant but if you wanted more you pay $1.50 Decor was okay and even the torn seats added to the Mexican "hole in the wall" ambiance. Service was okay but could of been better. There was only 1 waiter and he was busy with walk in and drive up customers. It was hard to get his attention sometimes. read more

The recent update to the building really helps boost the restaurant. Fast service. Decent food. Low prices make it a good choice for lunch. El Amigo is never going to be a high end store. It makes no pretense to be one and that is just fine. read more

This place is great for family outings or if you just wanna grab something quick to eat. The service is great and the food is better. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants a great Mexican experience. read more

Honestly I made a yelp to make this review first of all I'm not sure what happened but I paid $21 for 2 el pastor tacos and 2 tamales.. I think well maybe this is a dinner kind of place so I pay the girl and then I walk to my car and my rice is all over my tacos and my beans are pouring into one of them. It looked like they shook my whole carry out box if I wasn't at work I would've most certainly went in and asked for my money back read more

Delicious tacos and the service is great. Friendly staff and food is ready fast. I love this place!

El Amigo pleasantly surprised me. I guess don't judge a place by it's outside because this place never appealed to me based on looks alone, and upon entering I just knew I was in for a bad experience. However once my food arrived I found myself pleased with my food. It was delicious, probably not the best Mexican I've had but good and the staff and service were wonderful. Will totally go back again. read more

This place has FANTASTIC tacos and burritos. They also have some really good horchata even though I'm convinced it's made with a mix. The best part is that they are open late (about 2am or so depending on the day). read more

This is also my favorite place for Mexican food, drunk or sober.

Excellent food. I'd suggest the taco dinner! Its a little dumpy inside and it smells like they're having sewer issues in the bathroom, but don't all the good place!? Open from 10 am to 3 am. Great for after the bars or for take out dinner. read more

Oh baby, horchata and queso, that's all I have to say. Stopped in late night for something wholesome that wasn't fast food, got a breakfast burrito and it rocked my world. The tortilla was fresh and the horchata was pretty phenomenal. read more

Fast, easy, cheap, and open late. I've got no special support or complaint for this place, I just like it!

I've tried all of the Mexican food in the area and this is by far my favorite and the most authentic Mexican food in town. The food is fairly priced, the staff is friendly and attentive. A great place for take-out or eat-in. read more

My husband and I eat here at least once a month. Good food and great portions. Not the best service in town but you can't beat their prices. I try something new every time but I adore their taco salad which is amazing and has avocado in it. I also love their tacos and quesadilas. If you are looking for a great place to eat, try El amigo. read more

The place was so busy and there was only one guy seating people, waiting tables, answering the phone for to go orders, running food, boxing up the to go orders and ringing people up at the register. So needless to say I was worried that we were going to be forgotten and it was going to take forever. But that was far from the case. He did an excellent job and managed to check back on us multiple times. I'm impressed! The food is pretty good. The guacamole is great which everyone gets! I ordered the beef chimichanga dinner which was awesome but very filling. read more

El Amigo Restaurant - Beef chimichanga dinner. The guacamole is great! - Mexican Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

My wife and I love the food here. We go in there for a quick lunch when we can and we've gone there for dinner with the kids. The food is always excellent and the service is top-notch. The prices are great and you get a good amount of food for the price. This is one of my favorite places in Valpo. read more

The food is awesome and the service was good. There was a very odd smell in the restaurant and the handicap parking spot was only half a spot. I couldn't even park in it. If the smell doesn't go away I would not eat here again. read more

Food is awesome. Service not so good. We came in when only 3 tables. We were table 4 . The police party, came in, then 2 more tables. The waiter took care of them including their order before he came to us. I let him know of my displeasure. No, I am sorry or anything. Just stood there, lips pursed, pen waiting to take our order read more

Its not good, but its cheap and always good after a night of drinking...when you sober up you realize the food isn't all that good...The smell of sewer gas also is a turnoff read more