Wendy was fast and attentive. The food was good but her service was better . Great for a date or friend group. Good vibes!!!!

7.14.25 met a friend in Fountain Square to enjoy some Mexican food. It's street parking, but, on a Monday night at 5:30, I was able to find a space close to the entrance, and they were not busy yet. Interior is causal and yes, the store does seems a bit older, but we had been here before (albeit a couple years ago already) but so I knew the atmosphere. They serve chips and salsa right away, and we got a side of queso. I also got a house margarita on the rocks, which was tasty. I ended up ordering the same thing I did the last time: the Donkley XL burrito with chicken. The thing is monstrous (see pics), so I had plenty for lunch the next day. Our server was pleasant and attentive. #yum #ReviewsByRL read more

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Date night at El Arado was a vibe! Very inviting and comfortable with quick and amazing service. To top it all off my date had the entertainer there sing to me lol i had no clue what he was saying because it was in spanish but it sounded good lol. He translated some things for me. The food was hot and fresh. I got the Texas fajitas and my date got the special for that night, birria tacos. The birria tacos were the best I've had in the city. Not overly seasoned and had a slight sweetness to the sauce, mmm mmm good! Dessert was flan which I hadnt had in years. It wasnt the best but definitely not the worst. I expectes it to be a little sweeter and have more caramel sauce but it was still good. Definitely will be visiting again. read more

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Decided to stop in before a show on a Friday. We were seated quickly and our server was very attentive about checking on us. House margarita and mango margarita were both tasty. Chips were plentiful and refilled as necessary. I prefer a thicker chip but that's just a personal choice. Still tasted good. The salsa had a good flavor. We also went with the guacamole which we really enjoyed. I had the Cocktail de Camarona as a meal. Large shrimp and plenty of avocado was perfect. I would try El Arado again. read more

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We were going out for tacos and margs and found this place in Fountain Square. I would say the service was great, but there was a party of about 6 people toward the front of the restaurant that was so loud we had to periodically pause our conversation. They were never asked to quiet down. Other than that, the margs were reasonably priced and pretty good. Steak tacos on the menu are always a plus and they were really good. Their salsa is sweet rather than spicy which is not my favorite but it was flavorful. They do have a small patio which looks really nice. It was a little chilly for us but there were people out there. It is facing the square so I think it would be a blast. read more

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Stopped by for a weekend lunch with my daughter and had a wonderful meal. We both love Mexican food but we are kind of snobs. Very picky about our Mexican food. We both had fajitas. She had the shrimp and I had chicken and steak fajitas with cheese melted on it. It was sizzling hot temperature and really, quite surprisingly delicious. Great service and good price. We will go back! read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Fajitas under there somewhere!!! - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Outstanding Mexican food at El Arado! The massive burritos packed with flavor, creamy queso dip, and fresh chips with zesty salsa were absolute perfection. Huge portions at great prices, super friendly service, and we'll be back for more fabulous margaritas soon! read more

My family and I have been to El Arado twice, and we had a positive experience each time! Staff is pleasant and attentive. Food is delicious, especially the salsa that comes with the chips and the guacamole! Wish I had gotten a photo of the guacamole, but perhaps next time. Plenty of TVs for sports fans. Kid menu available if you have young ones with you. The neighborhood is cute, if you have time to take a walk before/after dining. There is limited street parking, and then a paid parking lot right across the street from the restaurant. This restaurant is about a half-hour drive from our home, and well worth it to my family and me! read more

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Food was below average. Did not enjoy the tacos or quesadilla. My quesadilla was dripping water and the chicken was cold. Not worth the price. Way better places to eat else where. read more

We always eat all our food or at least take left overs home when we eat out... not here. We were very hungry and were happy to be seated immediately on a Friday night ... which was foreshadowing that this place just isn't the move! The food was bland and soggy, I only got down a few bites before I was completely over it. The margarita was also very watery. Cheese and salsa dip was pretty good which is how we justified giving 2 stars instead of 1. The ambiance was just not it! It felt very hot the thermostat read 77 degrees! It was not very clean, we noticed an extreme amount of dust in the ceiling fans, it smelled like cleaning chemicals and there were giant trash cans in the dinning room area. They had music playing very loudly and one of the waiters kept skipping songs which was annoying. The service was okay but nothing special to report. Overall not a great dinning experience. ... We both feel sick to our stomachs after eating here. read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Great food for the price! Every time I door dash it the food is correct and it's a great value.

Great Mexican restaurant! When first eating here a year or so ago, I had dish with strips of grilled steak. I recall the steak being rather dry and tough. On a more recent visit, the Pollo Ranchero platter was chosen. The chicken was tender and full of flavor. Served with refried beans and rice, everything with the dish was delicious. While not the fanciest place that Fountain Square has to offer, El Arado has great staff, style and eats! read more

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Was in the neighborhood leaving a hair appointment and was so hungry, stopped here for a quick lunch without looking at the reviews (which I usually do lol) this place was kind of dirty and the bathroom was atrocious. I sat at a booth solo and waited for my server to stop by. The table had a piece of hair on it that didn't belong to be so the cleaning here is clearly just bad. However I still stayed, and after checking out the menu I opted for a classic margarita which was nothing special, definitely a premix and not made from scratch. I ordered the Burrito Rico which sounded intriguing with the bacon and rice and 50/50 mixup of the sauces. The burrito arrived and I dug right in, it wasn't hot but the flavor profile was amazing, it looked like a deconstructed burrito I ate almost half of it and took the rest home. I asked for my check and it took about 10 minutes for the server to bring it, she was the only server there and was in the weeds a bit. I read a review on here that said they don't understand how this place has a 3-star rating, but honestly more than good food goes into the rating, you have to take into consideration service as well as ambiance. I'd come back because the food was good and inexpensive, but that doesn't make it a 5-star place and that's okay! read more

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Sorry to say but this experience was pretty bland. I love going to Mexican restaurants but this one just missed the mark. Went here with some friends bc the place we were originally going to goto was closed due to covid and this was open. Bad choice, the food was bad the service was slow and my drink was awful. I ordered A piña colada and it tasted like tanning lotion and was so thick I had to keep adding water to it to drink it. It also came out way later than everyone else's drinks at my table for some reason. My food was bland and not very good I didn't finish it nor took any home which I usually always do. Overall not impressed and wouldn't return, felt like I wasted my money and made my stomach hurt a few days after. read more

Okay--you can get a whole ass PITCHER of frozen margs for a mere $20. That AND the fact that you get the chips and salsa for free is what gives this place four stars for me. I'm not a fancy lady, I don't need fancy margs--so this place is right up my alley. The Tex-Mex American dream. We were seated within five minutes on a busy Saturday night (for a group of 8 if you can believe it--it was a 90 minute wait down the street at the other Mexican place). They have indoor and outdoor seating--great for people watching! We were also serenaded by a mariachi man during dinner--que magico. The bathrooms are a little scuzzy, don't look up at the ceiling since that's also a little water-damaged and questionable, but again I'm standing by my solid review! Buen provecho! read more

My husband picked out this spot for us last night. I had been to this location another time when it was another Mexican restaurant. The decor seemed almost the same but it's been a few years. The entrance is a bit small to the restaurant and hard to find the host. Once seated- we ordered our drinks. The menus are a little awkwardly laid out. I honestly was not hungry so all I had were the chips and queso/salsa. He ordered the Rico burrito. He really enjoyed the food. The queso and the salsa were a little watery but tasted good. The service was not the best as we never got drink refills and had to ask for the check. read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Unbelievable atmosphere in Fountain Square!!! Food was authentic and OUTSTANDING!! Our server Genesis took great care of us- made awesome food recommendations and it could not have gone any better!! Highly recommend!! read more

The pro-s are we got right in on a friday night and had a decent table on the patio with a good people watching view. I asked for a margarita and the server suggested i try a paloma--- not really sure why this suggestion was made but i declined / no biggie but a bit puzzling - maybe if he said it was their speciality or on special -- it would have made sense at least. The marg ended ip just being okay tasted like premade mix nothing special. Hubby ordered carne asada tacos and they were beyond salty - like 10xs more salt than needed. We won't be running back read more

Checked out this spot while out walking in the Fountain Square area and it's definitely in a great location. Right on the corner in the heart of everything allows you to see plenty while eating. I ordered the fajita quesadilla which was amazingly put together. The only thing missing (for me) was the spiciness but I had fresh jalapeños on the side. I say fresh because they gave me the option which was fantastic, most restaurants do not and only have pickled (aka jar). The flavors blended together phenomenally and the tortilla had the perfect crispness to it. Mi Amor ordered a fajita taco salad and he loved every bite of it. The only reason he didn't eat the shell was for his calorie intake. I found it perfectly crisped and broke off easily to eat. My margarita was ok, a little sweeter than I liked but decent. I'm giving the place 4 starts because they had Herradura advertised (which I love) but it wasn't something they actually carried; or at least they were out at the time. I would definitely come here again, the staff is friendly and food comes out hot and decently quick. read more

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We got seated pretty fast and we got our drinks pretty fast but nothing else was fast. Everybody was friendly but it took a long time. Their salsa was good. The queso is the usual. The beef in the tacos was nothing special. They had a guy with a guitar roaming around. The place looks like your typical Mexican restaurant in Indy. There is a great view of Fountain Square. We came on First Friday and there was lots to see and watch. This place isn't busy and it doesn't surprise me. read more

I don't typically leave bad reviews, the food taste mediocre along with tasting old. The service was bad as well.

Surprised this place has a 3/5! Margs were really good, food was 9/10, and eating outside on a nice day, it was great atmosphere. Been a couple times but definitely will come back! read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Terrible- they are lazy do not try slip the meat in the tortilla it's crap and tasted as bad as it looked. It arrived cold. Last time I order anything from here. read more

I love coming here. Great service, amazing food, and good salsa (not as consistent as I like it but hey, no one's perfect). Queso is top notch as well. read more

This is a busy location in the heart of Fountain Square. We were seated immediately despite it being a Saturday afternoon. The service was good, the food came out quickly and fresh, and the prices were reasonable and comparable to other similar restaurants in the area. The flan was also delicious. read more

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I recently ate here outside on the patio, and would rate my experience as very average. They opened at 11AM and we arrived there around 11:30. There was one other couple there to eat, also sitting out on the patio. The service was very slow, and our waiter wasn't very kind most of the time, but I can look past that - we all have our days. Before our meal, we ordered queso to go with our chips and salsa, and it was very tasty. I ordered the fajita cheese fries and they were pretty good! Exactly what it sounds like - fajita toppings on French fries. I upgraded the tomatoes for pico, and I'm glad I did that. While the service and food were very average, I would eat here again if someone else wanted to go. Their patio is also dog friendly, which is a huge bonus! read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Fajita cheese fries - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

prettyyyy annoying when you pay for a medium chips and salsa and your salsa isn't even half way filled up read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - prettyyy annoying when you pay for a medium salsa and they give you yours not even half way filled up - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I'm not sure El Arado is only rated three stars right now because it is a total five-star restaurant. Every time I go the portions are incredible the food is amazing and the service is great. I love their lunch & drink specials. Also the servers are amazing and always practice my Spanish with me when I'm there. This is somewhere I always take people when they're in town just because I love it so much. Also you cannot go wrong with a margarita pitcher here. 10 out of 10, will always recommend. read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Hawaiian fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Located in the heart of Fountain Square, this is a great location! I was looking for a place to grab a quick bite before a concert the other night and found great patio seating with no wait. The margaritas were good, and a pretty good price for the amount you got. I got the choriqueso and a cheese quesadilla, and the food was good and came out quickly. read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Margaritas with a view - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

My sister and I wanted to grab a quick bite to eat while exploring the First Friday events in Fountain Square and stumbled upon this restaurant. I really enjoyed this place because the food was soooo good! I ordered fish tacos which came with a side of rice. The rice was seasoned perfectly. I ordered the lemonade to go with my dinner and it was the BEST lemonade I've ever had a restaurant. I'm not kidding, the lemonade is the reason why I gave this restaurant 5 stars. I know it's a Mexican grill, but this simple drink impressed me so much that I will be coming back just for the lemonade! read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Worst Mexican food I ever had. Flavorless no seasoning. The salsa was the best part and charging for chips and salsa is pretty rediculous.

El arado has seriously been slept on. I've been coming here since I've been a kid.The torta milanesa with fries and queso has always been my go to here. The super donkey always hits if your really hungry. Their margaritas which always hits is the best combo. Service is always friendly and great. Really good artwork on the booths that gives a cozy vibe and family friendly. Honestly hands down the best mexican spot in fountain square. read more

LOVED this Mexican restaurant!! I've lived in Indy for the last 4 years and I eat mexican food A LOT. This restaurant definitely made my top 5! The food was really good, the service was great and very friendly. We sat outside (which I was a little nervous about just because usually you're forgotten) and we were checked on pretty much every 5 minutes. The salsa was the perfect amount of spicy and sweet and the queso was very good! Sitting outside was really nice because it's right in the middle of fountain square. If you're there on a nice night, I would definitely sit out there! On another note, my sister got the "super donkey" and omg it's a giant burrito filled with queso smothered all over it. ITS HUGE, if you're feeling very hungry please try it, you won't regret it! read more

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Street tacos were legit! Definitely better than the joint down the street. Service was super quick. Thanks! read more

Seriously some good Mexican food. PLEASE GO. Run- don't walk. Authentic, affordable, and delicious as always with a huge selection. Always have drink specials and entrees of the month read more

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It's a run of the mill mediocre Mexican restaurant. If it wasn't for the Super Donkey, I would probably give one or two less stars. But this burrito makes everything here worth it. The entrance is awkward, the AC was lacking (and I am usually too cold) and the music situation was unusually obnoxious on my most recent visit. But the chips and salsa are flowing and my boyfriend and I can usually split the delicious (and massive) Super Donkey and both leave totally satisfied. We also did takeout several times throughout the pandemic by calling in and our order was always ready in good time. If you have one night in the area I certainly wouldn't recommend going out of your way to stop in, but if you are a FSQ regular it could be worth a visit. read more

Food is average it's nothing special I've had better. I got the tacos asada they were good but the meat was kinda tough. I also don't enjoy their salsa as much as others I've had. Service was good and the people were nice but it was loud and it seems like every time we go we can't sit where we want we always have to sit in the middle of the room where I feel like I'm being watched and they never have booths available. Overall it's an ok place just not the best. Was kinda disappointed since it was date night. Probably won't go back read more

I really do appreciate the reviewers standing up for this place, but this food is BLAND. The side of rice and the enchiladas in my entree were pretty much indistinguishable in taste and it doesn't stand out compared to the 4 other Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. The nice thing is that the chips and salsa are free here, but the salsa was super watery. Service was fine though! read more

El Arado Mexican Grill - Enchilada Rancheras - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Food was room temperature and never saw the server after she dropped off the food and left. The ground beef in the enchiladas had no flavor but I could not tell the server since she disappeared after leaving the food. Waited too long for check. No soda refill as I ate. No wonder the place was empty as usual. I won't be back. read more

Overall service was average and food was bland. Ordered a steak burrito that didn't have much seasoning or taste.