Very much reminds me of California Mexican cuisine. Light and full of flavor! Queso is yum, yum, yum! read more

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Caution: Hit or miss on takeout orders. Today was a big miss and I probably won't waste my money here again. Ordered nachos with modifications because the website allows it. I got a bag of chips and random cups of toppings to make my own nachos. Black beans were missing. For the price of this, I could have gone to the grocery store and bought the same ingredients. Fix the ordering website to allow to "no modifications" since it's apparently too hard for your kitchen staff. read more

Definitely not a TexMex. Original Mexican items. Daily specials, great drinks, fair prices. Service was outstanding! Will definitely return

The atmosphere here is absolutely amazing and the food is great. We had amazing service and were well taken care of. The blood orange Palomas were amazing. The only issue I had was that I arrived earlier than the rest of my party and I could see a lot of the staff staring at us almost like they wanted us to leave early. I get it it's a busy Saturday but if there is going to be an issue with people taking up tables then make a policy saying that people can't be sat till the full party arrives. Other than my 1 complaint everything else was perfect. read more

Mediocre food that's not worth the price tag (not sure what everyone is raving about). I was in Brighton for the first time so I did a yelp restaurant search. El Arbol popped up first and had the highest ratings (4.5 stars). The rating swayed my decision to give it a try and I was super excited to go because of all the great reviews! Man was I disappointed.... I went on a week day and didn't realize they opened at 3 so I waited around a bit and was starving because I hadn't had lunch and was waiting from noon to 3p to eat! We're seated on the main floor at a high top by the window overlooking Main St. Waitress is alright, service is average. We order Chips & Trio ($9), food is average or below average, not at all impressed. Guac isn't that flavorful, neither is the salsa and queso is awful. I'm a big taco person so I look at taco section on menu, prices range from $3.5-6 which I expect is for 2 tacos but instead I'm informed prices are per 1 taco. $5 for ONE taco? Nuh uh I'm starving and still wanna give this place a fair chance so I order Chicken Tinga ($4 for 1), Gringo ($3.5), & the Shrimp Tacos ($5.5 for 1). As can be expected, after reading the raving reviews and seeing the high prices, my expectations WERE pretty high. My tacos arrive and the beef in Gringo is WAAAY too salty. Unnecessarily salty. The Chicken Tinga is the best out of the 3 (in my opinion) but it's still doesn't stand out compared to your average good Michigan Mexican restaurant. The Shrimp Tacos were very bizarre. Habanero-mango sauce was a weird tasting flavor especially combined with unripe mangos and peeled raw cucumbers and bland tasting shrimp. I couldn't even finish my Shrimp Taco, it was a big disappointment especially it being the priciest singular taco I ordered. My friend got the Gringo and Chicken Tinga and was unimpressed and totally shocked at how bad it was. My total for half the Chips & Trio + 3 tacos was $18 plus tip. Would NOT go back. For superior mexican food (esp tacos), try O.W.L. in Royal Oak, Condado Tacos chain restaurant, or support a different local business, heck even Chipotle is better. read more

Best Mexican food in Brighton. The staff is extremely nice and quick. Take out is always fast and fresh. Highly recommend if you haven't been before. read more

Loved that we timed it just right to get a seat right away. Tried Nashville pork belly tacos. So amazing! Definitely has the Nashville heat in a good way. Chorizo tacos delicious. Very fast and fresh! Definitely would recommend to a friend. read more

We have found fresh, creative, and one of the few Brighton restaurants we will return to. The flavors were to savor. The best tamale that I have ever tried. We were in Mexico a few years ago, and I asked what the ingredients were in their Lima Soup, so instead of telling me, they took me back to the kitchen to see. I now make this at home. Fresh is the key, and El Arbol knows. Unpretentious, friendly, and helpful in describing items on the menu. read more

What a great find! Sad to hear it came as a result of The Wooden Spoon closing, but happy Steve Pilon found a place to land. The food I had was the best Mexican I've ever had. Not overcooked, fresh flavors, tender, juicy, flavorful. The hibiscus margarita was the perfect combo of tart & sweet. So refreshing and not syrupy. I ordered chip & salsa. It was a big platter of chips. We had to ask for extra salsa but not more chips. And I was scarfing-the salsa was perfect. The balance of flavors and freshness you can taste. I had the al pastor taco with pork, onions, cilantro & pineapple. I was a little worried about pineapple & "taco", but got passed it quick after one bite. Wow. That is good. I did not hold out hope for the the fish taco since the al pastor was so good. Expectations set to low. Then I bite into what I can only describe as manna from Heaven. The swordfish was not over cooked. It was not "fishy", but did taste of the ocean. The texture had not been destroyed by overcooking. And yet, it was cooked & seasoned to perfection. The cabbage & radish gave it great crunch that complimented & held its own with the swordfish. All of this held together by fresh corn tortillas. So fresh they don't break when you're eating them. Wow. I also had a friend recommend the elote. I had it once in Mexico & I loved it, but every time I tried to eat in the U.S. it's waaaay too salty. It's like the more toppings we add, the saltier the food. But not here. The elote is the best I've had since Mexico. I almost cried like I found an old friend. (Lol) Lastly, I ordered charro beans in broth. I ate every last drop. Even used the chips to scoop some out. I didn't leave a crumb on any plate. And drained my drink dry, even eating the dried hibiscus flowers in my drink (Delish! And high in Vitamin C ). The staff was lovely & very accommodating. The atmosphere is jovial. Would I go back? I'm currently looking to rent an apartment above the place. Yeah, it was that good. read more

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Great price, great food. Also very clear in the menu about gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, or vegan options (if someone in your party has a dietary restriction). 10/10 will be back! read more

Never a disappointment! Love they switch up their specials so you can always try something new. Of all the places you can get tacos at, this is the best in the county. read more

The food is great but I went in the restaurant recently and was treated so rudely my daughter and I walked out. I asked if we could sit at a different table then the one the waitress brought us to and she threw down the menu's and said talk to your hostess and walked away. We walked out. That kind of treatment is ridiculous. Normally I order from the takeout window and they are always so very nice. I did not appreciate this kind of treatment at all! read more

First time visit. If you can make reservations, I would recommend it. We waited every minute of the hour they said we would wait. Meanwhile we watched at least 25 people go ahead of us (most walking in after us). The cactus taco was actually good-especially with the toppings added to it. The wet burrito was huge and very good (chicken). read more

This was the hero we needed. I cannot stress enough how good their tacos and Pazole are. Grab an horchata and your good to go. They need menudo on the menu read more

Thank god El Àrbol is back! Best taqueria around, bar none. Lauren is an absolute rockstar. Let's continue to support these amazing folks! Don't miss out on their "almost there" margarita mix! It's a quarantine must have... read more

This little place is one not to miss. I wouldn't call it altogether traditional Mexican cuisine, however the food we did receive was tasty. Not over seasoned, not over sauced, but a lot of flavor. Will go back and of course recommend!! read more

Thrilled this place exists in Brighton, but just wish it were more than it is. Wet burrito had a sliver of chicken, way too heavy on the rice and beans, and not enough cheese (which is the sauce that makes it a wet one). It was actually kind of... cold.. assuming they pre-make certain items and warm them up for convenience, mine just wasn't in long enough. Got the margaritas and they were delish- so much so that I took a four pack home. Whoops. You have to drink them right away because they are canned without the right carbonation (my guess) and they are flat .. very flat in the cans. read more

An excellent addition to downtown Brighton. The tacos are authentic and freshly made. It seems as though everything is made from scratch, no processed dressing or premade items in the tacos. We ordered the trio and enjoyed the spicy salsa, guacamole and queso. The house margarita was delicious with just the right amount of sour and salt. Slightly disappointed by the chocolate churros, but might just be because we were full. Overall, a great date night spot that we will return to! read more

So fun! The food is great and everyone is super friendly. My dad and I go here for drinks and tacos all the time. Truly authentic and the margs I have to say if you haven't had one get one!!!! They are soooooo good! read more

I have two food allergies, (dairy and gluten). Dining out is always super scary for me. After a quick call to El Arbol, I was reassured that I would be just fine and only needed to inform my wait staff of my needs. Great experience here today. I had the Baja fish tacos and a side of Spanish rice. My husband had carne asada tacos and grilled corn. All of it was very very tasty. The decor is adorable, beautifully constructed and a great addition to our little town. Love the walk up window too! Attentive staff, high quality food, great drinks. Recommend! read more

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Favorite restaurant in the area. Great atmosphere and even better food. You have to get the brussel sprout tacos!

Tacos were delicious. 2-3 per person is enough. We got 5 and shared them along with a side of rice. Nothing was a disappointment, we ate them all. For desert we had the sopapillas which may be only on the seasonal menu. Will definitely be back for a margarita and some more yummy tacos! read more

El Arbol - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Brighton, Michigan

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This was the fourth time I've visited El Arbol. Previous visits were all very good. Had only the elote -- which was delicious -- and a drink tonight as I had just come from another event. Met seven other women who all enjoyed a full dinner. The service is traditionally very good, but our server tonight, Samantha, was bad. She literally rushed us from the get go and practically scooted us out. No pleasantries. No smile. She made us feel apologetic for showing up. Almost no one else was in the restaurant, so clearly she just wanted to wrap it up and go home. What a turn off. Our group of eight meets regularly. Guess where we won't be meeting again? read more

Great tacos! The chorizo was the best! We sat at the bar as there was a wait - now we know why! Simple margarita was on point. Bartender was attentive and brought us a small dish of the hot salsa! Yum!! read more

Amazing service and the food was beyond spectacular! So flavorful! Best Mexican food we have had in a really long time!

The food is hit or miss. The steak tacos are really not good. The quality is there but the flavor is not. Unless you like sweetened steak on your steak tacos. The chicken and the carnitas were good. The one thing I really liked was the pazole, though I would't call it traditional pazole. The guacamole was good, but the salsas are weak and ordinary. Nothing to write home about. They really need to ditch the "family style" serving. That combined with the extra small tables and elbow room make for a stressful unpleasant experience. read more

First time at Al Arbor on 11-20-21. Downtown Brighton was hopping so it only took us 30 minutes to get in. It was well worth the wait. The chorizo burrito was fabulous along with the few different tacos that we also tried. Definitely not a chain restaurant which I don't like anyways. Nice selection of margaritas. I had the spicy which was very satisfying. The atmosphere is fun with a Mexican vibe to eat. The service was top notch. You don't find that anymore. I highly recommend Al Arbor. You won't be disappointed. read more

Overall enjoyed our tacos. El pastor were our favorite. Great atmosphere and service. Fairly priced, will try again.

Great food, great environment, great staff. The owner is very friendly as well. I wish we would have been informed about the rewards program a long time ago, we have been coming here weekly for months, so ask about that! It's very beneficial. Drinks are great! The food is extremely authentic and fresh. I give the food 9 out of 10. The tacos are incredible. The only negative I have to say about this place is that the guacamole isn't my favorite and I would prefer that they would play some Hispanic music. GO TO THIS RESTAURANT. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!! read more

El Arbol - Mexican Near Me - Brighton, Michigan

El Arbol is such a great addition to the Brighton food portfolio. The Hibiscus Margarita taste as good as it looks! Seriously, the best Margarita I have ever had! We had the trio app, that was delicious and fresh! The Mahi taco very good, and the steak taco also very good...but a bit on the super hot side(and we like hot). I think for the average person, it would be far too spicy. Definitely do yourself a favor and check this place out! Looking forward to coming again very soon. read more

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This is my favorite local restaurant! The ingredients are fresh and there are lots of creative options. The brussel sprout tacos are amazing! Everyone is very friendly! read more

Stopped in while out shopping the farmers market and little shops downtown. We were greeted and seated in a great 2nd floor table overlooking the street. The inside was nicely decorated, plus with that mural outside it has plenty of visual appeal. Waitress was friendly and professional. Drinks, apps and food all came out quickly. Portions for some items, especially the nachos, were very generous. Salsa and chips were delicious. The only thing I noticed was that on my fish taco the fish itself wasn't seasoned terribly well. Which left it a little dry. But the other items we had, like the Chorizo and Cactus tacos, were very tasty and well put together. I would definitely stop by again. read more

Yum! It's hard to find authentic Mexican (especially with tacos al pastor) in the area. Everyone was really happy with their meal, from tacos to tostadas to salads. The portion sizes were very generous, which was a bonus! Great addition to Brighton. read more

This place is fantastic! The fresh made tacos rival any 5 star restaurant. The shrimp taco is amazing! Spicy shrimp, mango, cucumber, onion....EXCELLENT! You have to try this place!! read more

Food was delicious, burritos and tacos very tasty even for picky kids. Service was great, loved the location across the park kids played waiting for food. Only thing no umbrellas so not for very hot day read more

Food is simply the best Mexican in the area. Brussel sprout tacos are awesome. Chips and salsa fresh and delicious. We usually eat at the bar and really enjoy are "date night" excursions to el Arbol. I find the food to be a step above the traditional mexican food such as burritos/chimichangas etc ... Not what you typically find at the local Mexican restaurant. Will continue to go, usually twice a month read more

AMAZING - Igloo dining at its best! The service was awesome and the food was delicious. The flash fried honey brussel sprout taco is one of the best things I've ever tasted. Highly recommend! read more

Okay. Well first of all. I was highly disappointed. The nachos were okay and honestly the only decent part of our experience. The tacos were meh. Full of extra garnish and lacked seasoning. The meat (carne asada) was dry. The tortillas were chewy and leathery. The torta was flavorless with way too much cabbage and cold beans smeared on the inside. Bread was soggy in parts and too hard in others. The chicken was also dry and bland. I felt bad about the entire situation. The food wasn't the worst but it definitely was not good. I would not recommend it. read more

Wow! The street tacos were incredible. We got the gringo and the spicy shrimp. Super fresh and tasty! High quality ingredients, all tasted amazing. Quick service too. read more

I have eaten here before but love the cute outdoor space they added. Will be perfect when the weather gets warmer. I had sangria which was perfect and a shrimp, Baja fish and gringo taco. All were prepared with fresh toppings and were great. Excellent service and wonderful staff. I left my purse and when I went back the next day the young lady refused a tip even when I tried to insist She said "it is just part of my job". I am so thankful to her! read more