Tried this place for the first time while visiting friends. We were very excited to try this place after reading the reviews. All I can say is people who rave about this place have yet to have great authentic Mexican food. The food was eh, nothing to write home about. If you get a margarita make sure to get the frozen because that's the one that actually has some liquor in it. Our server was horrible we kept having to ask other servers for assistance. I ended up giving my tip to the young lady who actually was doing her job. read more

Mexican restaurant run by Mexican family. They have the best guacamole, rice and beans. It's nothing fancy and that's why I like this place so much. Great home cooking out. read more

This is the absolute worst mexican restaurant .. right from arrival we were completely ignored after being seated the wait was already 15 minutes and no one came so we eventually had to call them over from behind the counter where they were on their phones! Note the restaurant was almost empty only one other couple were there so it was not busy. When they took our order they didn't write it down even when asked because they tend to get it wrong and that's exactly what happened the food came out wrong we had to wait for them to switch it up and bring it back out causing more wait time. For refills we have to get up to find the waitress just like when we wanted to order and to top it off as we were paying they already charge a gratuity tip when they clearly don't deserve it for their service !!! If i could rate it a 0 i would .. sadly this was a terrible experience to go out to eat with family and we are never coming back we hope to spare other's time before they come and waste their money here. read more

Good service but food lacked flavor and presentation. I ordered the cheese enchiladas and my daughter the steak tacos, no sour cream or toppings were offered for her tacos. Wasn't terrible by any means but not what I expect out of "authentic" Mexican cuisine. read more

Definitely the best choice for Mexican food in the immediate area. Decent chips and fresh salsa (but it could be hotter). Husband had the green chili pork--very tasty. Son had enchiladas (5 different ones), He liked them all, I had a platter. Way too much food! The cheese was fresh. Decent guacamole. Pretty good tamales. It's easy to miss on busy 28th street. In a strip mall just west of Woodland mall on the south side of the street. It looks like it's all booths. Service was prompt and courteous. We used to go to La Cantina (which probably has better atmosphere) but the food is of much higher quality here--so it's our new "go to" place in the area. read more

Food was great! I got the burrito California and holy big! It fed me for 2 meals! It tasted amazing too!! Highly recommend!

Ordered takeout from Arriero and we were able to pick up in a decent amount of time, about 30 minutes. We ordered the Fajitas for Two - which came with 2 pans of rice, guacamole, lettuce, pico de gallo and sour cream. The portion sizes were huge, which is a plus. However, what we ordered was not as described and I thought it was kind of sloppy looking. The fajitas were described as having a combination of chicken, beef, shrimp and chorizo. What we got was chicken and beef, with the chorizo and shrimp missing. Also, the entire mixture was a mess with queso coating every bite. It definitely wasn't in the description that it would be covered in queso. Another thing is that it had a layer of tortilla chips on the bottom of the fajitas which was odd for fajitas and made it hard to actually get the fajita part out because it was sticking to chips and queso. It really ruined my dinner and it was an annoying experience. read more

El Arriero - Fajitas- grotesquely covered with queso - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Always a great experience. Great service. Great prices. Best fajitas in town. Extensive menu. Everything I love. Chorizo queso dip is amazing I did not love the carnitas but that is the only thing on the menu I would avoid. It's just a great place. The chips and salsa are fantastic too! read more

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This is a go to place for consistently good food. I love the carnitas and the beans. I typically order to go and they are always quick and accurate, the times I have eaten in the restaurant the service is great. read more

Best Mexican in the area!! Very authentic, quick, and seriously delicious. We get chicken chimichangas every time we come and they are awesome! read more

My go to Mexican place in Grand Rapids. Authentic food. Reasonable prices. My favorites are the Chicken and Rice or the taco plate. Have taken several friends. All have enjoyed the atmosphere and food. Great staff. Friendly servers. read more

Give it a 3 because the service was good albeit it took a long time to get our food. Also chips and rice were good. I ordered the Chile verde and wife ordered something fajita which was not good she said. As for me the verde was not a true stew but roasted pork with a fresh tomatillo sauce poured over it. Not that great. The beans were watery and the sangria tasted like cherry cough syrup. read more

My s/o and I came here for dinner on NYE to satisfy an enchilada craving I was harboring. I was hopeful it would be a new favorite spot, since there are mostly positive reviews on both Yelp and Google, but we left feeling pretty underwhelmed. Service was rather slow, but I can give that a pass since it was NYE and they probably didn't have a full staff. The salsa didn't have much flavor and the chips had a bit of a stale texture, though. When my enchiladas came, I could hardly cut through two of the three, as the tortilla shell had essentially turned to rubber. Not the most pleasant thing to chew on I also was not a fan of the actual sauce atop the enchiladas, as it was very pale, runny and overly salty. The Enchilada Rancheras is my go-to order at any Mexican restaurant of this nature, and this was probably my least favorite plate out of the 6+ restaurants I've ordered it from. All in all, we likely won't be coming back. There are other, similar establishments closer to home that I've enjoyed far more. read more

Great food and atmosphere! I got the Spicy Burrito and it was VERY hot! The margaritas are bigger than your head!

Nothing special here. Average food and service. You won't find cilantro or fancy foods here. Traditional Americanized Mexican food. Taco Bell with servers and alcohol. Salsa on table with stale chips. Tattered menu with free samples of leftover food from others. Mostly salsa that dripped. Edible hot food. Nothing special here. read more

This is m brother's favourite Mexican restaurant in the Grand Rapids area. Super good food and drinks at reasonable prices. The staff are friendly and helpful, and they make great drinks! You won't want to miss their margarita specials! read more

Amazing service and fantastic food. Also great portions for double shots of Tequila lol. The ambience as well stays true to the culture. It's a lovely place to enjoy a meal weather you're with someone or you even alone. read more

Above average Americanized Mexican food. The service is extremely friendly and the food arrives scary fast. The chips and salsa are just like any other generic Mexican spot. The menu is large and I usually choose a combo to get a lot of food for a quick buck. The combo #6 came with a taco, enchilada, beans, and rice. This was the perfect amount of food for my lunch and I left satisfied. This isn't a high end Mexican location but that's not their goal. This is a reasonably priced option with great service. read more

Great food and service. The chips and salsa that come with your order are very good. Also the restaurant is always clean.

The food was great. The service was amazing! A definite must try for any Mexican food lover!

Service isn't the best but the food was pretty amazing! Chips and salsa when we got there and food was delivered quick. Server didn't come up to us to ask how the food was or if we needed anything after, but I guess they were slightly busy for a Thursday night. I had a mango margarita and it was great, also my boyfriend tried the Flautas and those were great! I had the nachos & cheese from the appetizer menu and the cheese was amazing! Overall good experience for the food and price but not the greatest service. read more

El Arriero - Mango margarita & nachos with cheese - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The food and the service were both outstanding. Brought my picky mother with me and she loved it. Would recommend to everyone.

Came here for dinner and had a quesadilla, my friend had a burrito. Coming from California I have high expectations for Mexican food but I must say this place was great hands down. The food was tasty and our waiter Julio was attentive. The prices were very good and the Margaritas were on special. This place is worth every one of the 5 stars. I will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Grand Rapids. read more

El Arriero - Super chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Tried this place out with a large group and quite enjoyed it. They've got huge menu, and very reasonable pricing (a group of 6 adults and 2 kids was only ~$110). I liked the carnitas dinner that I ordered - the meat was crispy and tender and delicious, and the portions were huge. The "Special Dinner" says its a little bit of everything - it is, they bring out 3 full plates of food and it's only $11.99! The only negative was the service was a bit slow (getting drinks, getting chips refilled, taking our order), but once the order was in the food was out within 10 mins. read more

The food here is definitely very authentic and delicious. The staff is always very accommodating and friendly.

This place was amazing. Great service, the food even better. I would much rather spend money here than on the border down the road!! read more

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Really not impressed. I'd tried this place to go before and was disappointed, but I figured they'd been having a bad night. Not so, sadly. Today's lunch had even a cheese quesadilla disappoint. That takes talent to screw up. (Though the plate was hot, the middle of the cheese was cold and not melted. ) Service was so-so. At least the place was clean! read more

El Arriero - #10 lunch special - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Food is excellent; never had bad service. We love their salsa, and the fajitas for 2 is a huge platter. My only comment is to keep an eye out if you pay with a credit card. We took my MIL there in December, and when we said her meal was on us, she offered to leave the tip (cash). When I received my credit card statement, I noticed the charge was $2 more than the receipt (yes, I keep all my receipts). It's only $2, but it's also wrong for a server to take it upon themselves and add an additional tip. read more

I was looking for authentic Mexican restaurant in GR; this place passed the test. Located on busy 28th street, the location is ideal for post shopping break. The service was outstanding as the food was ready within minutes. Chips & salsa were served during the brief wait. Margarita was excellent. I had the VEGETARIAN FAJITAS $8.99 (as described on the menu): A fiesta on a plate! Your favorite fajita is sizzled up with a colorful mix of tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and mushrooms. Served with lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo and sour cream. Served with warm flour or corn tortillas, rice and beans. Plenty to eat; good flavor 'tho the mushrooms were canned, not fresh. All in all, I will visit again when in Grand Rapids. read more

I've been to El Arriero several times and have never been disappointed. It's in a strip mall, the menu is huge, and the margarita glasses are even huger. So if you know what kind of thing to expect, you won't be disappointed. There is nothing earth-shattering about El Arriero's menu or food preparation, but it's the good, comforting, simply delicious, very American take on Mexican food that I grew up loving. I did go there with a friend from Mexico and she was pleased with her off-the-menu order (Sopes). I usually opt for one of the vegetarian combos -- bean burritos, cheese quesadillas, avocado tostadas, etc. The ingredients are always fresh, the portions are ridiculously large, and the service is FAST. My husband often gets one of the burritos, which are nearly a foot long and almost as wide. We would probably share a dish if we had similar tastes :-) They have a full bar and a decent selection of Mexican-themed cocktails and beer, plus wine, about 7 or 8 bottled Jarritos soft drink varieties, and regular fountain "pop" (or what I continue to call "soda"). Will going here change your life? No. Is it reliable, quick, and delicious? For sure. I'll be going back again soon, I'm sure. read more

Absolutely love bringing my family and friends here. Came her for a Spanish class field trip with my son 5 years ago and have been a fan ever since. It is located in a strip mall and family run with authentic food, ingredients and preparation. You are greeted with a friendly face and servers drinks quickly and given chips and salsa. The salsa has a good mix of heat and taste but, not too hot to enjoy. Their is not a bad dish in this place and they will adjust the heat if needed. read more

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One of our favorite places for takeout especially. Prices are reasonable and food is great.

Service was great! Food was lacking in flavor. Ordered the Bistek a La Tampiquena. Absolutely no flavor and mostly composed of fat and grizzle. Beans were average. Cheese enchilada was ok. Ribeye had to be one of the worst pieces of meat I've ever had. Still amazed there was zero flavor with it. Recommend going elsewhere if you're looking for a good Mexican dish. read more

Been going here as long as I can remember. Amazing food, friendly and quick service, ans a great bar selection!

Like my fellow yelp friends, I dub this spot slightly above average American Mexican food'. We were seated right away and the place was pretty busy for a Wednesday evening. Service was as quick with drinks, ordering, food delivery, check, etc. The menu is almost too big. Difficult to chose though many of the selections are super similar. I had then read more

Chips and salsa here are so good. Food is an A+. I am never disappointed. I usually like the get the "real burrito" that's covered in queso and comes with rice and beans. It's got streak, chicken and chorizo inside. I like it with just the steak and chicken. Such a great choice. Salads are delicious here (taco salad) and the vegetarian options are great as well. Totally recommend. read more

Tons of food! The menu has so many combo options! I liked everything and having a variety is key for me with eating out. Highly suggested!!

shout out to them mexicans man they food never get old no cap. get that spicy brown salsa too it's fuego

I've never had a bad experience here. The food and drinks are excellent, the wait staff is exceptional. Very attentive and friendly. Could not recommend this place more. read more

Darn good fajitas! Service was quick, place is clean and the manager walked around greeting guests. A great Mexican option in Grand Rapids! read more