Great food and service. Love the downtown location. El Arroyo is one of Sonora's best!

El Arroyo surprised me with wonderful food and out-of-this-world cocktails! We were a group of 12-15 people, and there was a bit of wait time, even at 6:15, but it was worth the wait after a long day on the ski slopes. Sonora has this cozy and charming downtown; El Arroyo is a not-so-hidden gem. They were short of staff on a Sunday evening, but we met Noel, who greeted and treated us nicely and patiently. The menu contains many traditional Mexican dishes, including Tacos, Burritos, and Fajitas. Each dish is carefully crafted and has flavor. The portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable, making it an excellent value for your money. The service is exceptional, with the friendly and attentive staff going above and beyond to ensure every guest is well cared for. They are happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions about the menu. They entertained our request to make vegetarian Molcajete, and boy was it worth it! And before I end my review, COCKTAILS! Do not come out of the restaurant without trying their blended mango margaritas! All in all, we had a very good experience despite being a large group with 5-6 kids read more

Great food, awesome waitstaff, yummy margaritas! Hubs had the molcajete and said it was incredible. We also had guacamole. Super fresh!! I had the crispy al pastor tacos. You get 3, but they're small, so I was able to finish them! read more

El Arroyo - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Great authentic mexican food. Great ambience staff was friendly. Small town recommend to try

The service is good, the pace is clean and remodeled. The food was good. I highly recommend this for Mexican food and a good margarita. read more

El Arroyo - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Was with a large group, and they did split checks. Pretty sure we were a nightmare for the server. The food was amazing. Mine was outstanding, and neighbors food also looked really good. Drinks were alright (good flavor, not too strong), but reflected in price. I would definitely return and have a hard time choosing between what I got & all the other things that looked amazing. Tile floor = loud read more

I eat here at least once a week, everything I eat I love. Staff is friendly and cares about ur experience, guacamole is the best around Beer is cold and they have a strong tequila game. Go in and order something you have never tried. You will love it. read more

El Arroyo - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Good food, good ambiance, nice server. My son had the house burrito and thought it was a little too smothered in sauce, but he thought the burrito was good overall. My steak fajitas were very good. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by El Arroyo. My family went here because we drove by one evening and noticed the outdoor seating along the creek. So the next night we went back for dinner. There are a number of vegetarian items on the menu which was nice. I ordered the veggie fajitas with corn tortillas which were great. I sampled some of each of my kids' plates which were nachos and a quesadilla with carnitas. Both were excellent. The salsas here are very good and have a nice spiciness. My wife and I asked for hot sauce and we were brought the house's "diabla" (pretty sure they pronounced it with the A and not O). I was worried when they brought a small cup for two people, but it really was that hot and I appreciate that! It made my fajitas extremely good. With all of the above, one might ask why I am not giving this place 5 stars. It's because it misses a little refinement. I didn't like the "nickel and dime" aspect. Chips and salsa are $2. That's fine, but give me a big bowl or refill a small bowl often. That's what I get for free at most other places. The bowl of chips was so small here that my family didn't even have enough to finish the salsa...and we use a lot of salsa. The hot sauce that I asked for...50 cents. I also found the menu odd. I like a "combo plate" with rice and beans and I choose the main course(s). That was kinda-sorta here, but not really. Lastly, and this was corrected when I pointed it out, but there were two bar drinks which a server (not ours) tried to deliver to our table. They ended up being for another table. But the drinks still ended up on our check. It should have been caught by our server before delivering the check. We had no alcohol at our table the whole time. But don't let my fringe comments deter you. This is still a great place for great food and with a great view. read more

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Lovely outdoor patio setting, great service, we had the chicken fajitas with whole beans and rice- nicely seasoned fajitas and enjoyed how the onions and peppers caramelized on the cast iron skillet. Whole beans were just right! I prefer them over the offered refried beans. Guacamole was very fresh and chips were nice and warm. Highly recommend you stop in and try this culinary gem. read more

El Arroyo - Patio seating - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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I am not a Mexican food Liver. But this place has gourmet high! And the BEST Margaritas! Mark is a very nice bartender and server read more

if I could give zero stars, I would. Just had a TERRIBLE experience at El Arroyo downtown Sonora. I put in an order for some tacos and a burrito bowl and was told 30mins. No problem. So I came back and was told another 10 minutes. That was fine. Mind you, there were only 2 maybe 3 tables and some people at the bar. So I waited the 10 minutes and as I was waiting, they were turning away new to-go orders and seating new tables. As I was waiting, other people with to-go orders came asking if there order was ready, one of them was 2 small cups of tortilla soup and the woman told me she put her order in an hour ago as well, and nobody called her to tell her it was ready. It sat there for at least 20 minutes getting cold. I missed half the parade with my children. I should have just left but, they kept telling me 10 minutes, just 10 minutes, and 10 minutes turned into 30 minutes. Altogether an hour. I know I'll get gaslit by toxic people saying "give them a chance, it was a busy time during the parade". If a restaurant cannot fill a small order and even the example of 2 small cups of tortilla soup, then tell the poor people who paid money. I will NEVER eat there again. And yes, for how long I was standing there and the waiters kept looking and pointing at me asking each other if I had been helped, I was waiting TOO long for a few street tacos and a burrito bowl. I hope other people got their money back. read more

Been coming here for years. The food is good, and the bartender is great. A little salty for my taste on a couple of the dishes, I've adjusted and asked for no salt to fix. The presentation is always wonderful, like a higher end restaurant, the owners seem to take pride in their establishment. The bar and tender are always on, I've never had a bad margarita, they made a homemade watermelon margarita a couple years ago, never made the menu, but they were wonderful. read more

We almost missed this place just based on a quick yelp search but were charmed by the outside dining area along the creek when we were walking down the street. Hailey was our server and she was wonderful. We have two people with gluten allergies and she was extremely helpful in verifying our choices did not contain gluten. She even came running out once to reassure us that the chips that came with the guacamole were in fact corn. Service was prompt - drinks came out quickly. Thanks Hailey for always bringing your smile to the table! The food was good (2 kids meals) and garlic shrimp but the best by far was the Two Tacos estilo Asadero; I almost went with regular street tacos and so glad I changed my mind. Don't hesitate to try them! Super bueño! read more

El Arroyo - Two tacos estilo asadero (only one pictured!) - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

My husband and I lived in the Bay Area for 60 years and have eaten at many, MANY Mexican restaurants from S.F., Oakland and even San Jose. So, on to this place....in looking at the menu, I noticed that "Chips and Salsa" was listed under "Appetizers", and YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM ! So, when our server offered Ch.and Salsa we declined. On to the food, I ordered Poblano Relleno,the carnitas were so dry and inedible that I took one bite and decided to bring it home to add some broth and flavor , flanked by the saddest looking and equally inedible shriveled up chili. On to the bill !!!! I had NO IDEA that when I placed my order which stated "choose meat, ,,rice and beans or salad" Dave got the RnBs I asked for the salad. THEY CHARGED ME $7.00!!, Dave was also charged for rice and beans !! .There's more...but , make up your own mind..... read more

Food was great! Atmosphere was great! Portions were great! But... I've NEVER ordered fajitas from anywhere and been charged extra for more tortillas, sour cream, lettuce etc... Service was also lacking. read more

Whenever my husband and I go to or pass through Sonora, this is our spot to stop and eat. I love the outdoor seating next to the little waterway, it's doggie friendly with bowls of water for our pup which is perfect. It was incredibly hot on this Friday afternoon and I welcomed the shady seating with a draft beer. We had these yummy appetizers called mulitas which was kinda like a quesadilla with grilled chicken and these homemade corn tortillas that were the bomb. Also had the shrimp ceviche which was so fresh and incredibly refreshing. Great service as well. I will definitely continue to frequent this restaurant! read more

El Arroyo - Shrimp ceviche, so fresh and yummy! - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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Being from the 209 Valley, I wasn't expecting this restaurant to be so good. But the food was absolutely delicious! Only complaint was the wait time. I thought by getting there by 11:45 AM on a Sunday, we could be done by 12:45 PM to get to our 1 PM appointment. But the ordering process, getting the food and payment process took forever. Unfortunately wasn't able to enjoy the food as much as I would have liked. We Were rushed, and didn't have enough time to finish. But will definitely be back when I'm up in that area again, and allocate more time for lunch, lol! read more

This place was super friendly and our waitress was attentive and helpful. She really tried to make sure everything was tasting good and checked on us often. Thank you so much, Haley! You're a great server and made our lunch nice! read more

Bast Michelada in California! Great service. Always very clean. Highly recommend for food and drinks. read more

So the food is still stellar for Mexican fare in Sonora but man, has the staff gone downhill!!!! When I first moved to the region, el arroyo was our favorite restaurant and the staff was great but nowadays.... Not so much. The staff has completely changed over and lately, super rude and negligent. I've had some pretty awful experiences the last few arroyo trips. We aren't greeted for a long time and when we finally are the server has a major attitude and acts like they're doing us a favor by speaking to us. I think I'll not be coming back, I'd rather spend my money at an establishment where the staff acts like they care for my business. read more

I am not a fan of Mexican food. I feel like it's always rice beans and meat. This place however, is absolutely amazing! Their tortilla soup and barbacoa birria tacos on the weekend are so flavorful! The burrito bowls are sooo good too. This is the only Mexican place we ever go to. Staff is super friendly and the place is always clean. 10/10. read more

El Arroyo - Updated Menu 3/2022 - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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We were in town today to do a little shopping. We all decided we were ready for some dinner. We decided to eat here. We entered into the place a hostess came up and went to prepare our table. She returned and we were seated promptly and were given menus. Of course they brought us out chips and salsa too. I ordered guacamole appetizers and chile relleno with mild green sauce rice and beans. My husband ordered 3 enchiladas rice and beans. I loved the guacamole and the chile relleno was good. The enchiladas did appear to be a little small but my husband enjoyed the. The place was well decorated. So everything was to our liking. So this might be something you might want to try out when your in the area. read more

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I don't understand how El Arroyo isn't more busy. This food is the most fresh and delicious Mexican food you can find around. They were shut down for awhile (I think there was a fire?) but my husband and I were thrilled to see them open again last night. Fantastic service and bar tending by Whitney, and the food is so authentic and fresh, I really can't say enough. The mojito was perfect and the salsa chips and guacamole were the best I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant. My husband had the Sopesitos and I had the chimichanga and both were excellent and presented perfectly. This restaurant is tucked away in downtown sonora but actually has a ton of space inside (great side room for events). We will absolutely continue to visit El Arroyo and try more of their delicious menu! read more

El Arroyo - Mojito - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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Gross! I gave it another try after 7 years and the food is STILL nasty! The hostess and the waitress were rude as well!?

Stopped in for lunch second time trying this place. Food was excellent. Mexican food with someone making who clearly has some culinary knowledge. It's a a bit different then what most people may be used to Mexican food wise. But different in a good way. Tacos where excellent, and so was the enchiladas in a chipotle cream sauce. Everything tasted fresh and I wouldn't hesitate to come back again. Eat here it is worth it. read more

El Arroyo - Asada tacos especial - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

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Checked this place out on a Monday night and pretty good crowd considering the day. Seated within a few minutes and greeted by the waitress shortly after. We were told food was made fresh and boy....they weren't lying. Everything was awesome! The owner of the place even came over to cheek on us and asked if everything was ok and if we needed anything else. Great food, great service and the restaurant was clean with Latin decor. Street parkIng which could be a problem when the town is packed but it would be worth having to park and walk a distance to this place. We will be back. read more

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The staff was polite. The food was pretty good. But charging extra for salsa and the chips and salsa aren't free? No thank you. A hard pass.

I called in a to go order at about 7:30pm on a Thursday. They said 10 minutes. It took about 5 min longer but it all worked out. Andres answered the phone. There was a definite language barrier there. I was ordering their biggest Carne asada burrito with green sauce. He had a hard time comprehending that. With the help of a translator I was able to get my order in, or so I thought. When I picked up the order I met Andres. I repeated back to him what I wanted and he just kind of agreed. He brought me a nice looking burrito he called "fajita style." Note that I never ordered anything fajita style and actually very much dislike bell peppers lol. I didn't want to make a stink so I just took it and left with my to go order. It wasn't terrible, but was by no means great and definitely not what I ordered or was expecting. Their salsa was pretty good though. I hear great things about this place. I just need to find a way to actually get what I'm looking for. read more

El Arroyo - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

The salsa is fantastic! The tacos are wonderful. We had the fish and shrimp tacos. We loved the live Mariachi music. read more

Great flavorful Mexican food. I had the chicken sopas. Flavor and presentation was great! Tacos del agua was fresh and flavorful. Definitely will stop by next time we come through the area! read more

We love coming here every time we are in Sonora! The staff is always so friendly! Our last visit here was this past Sunday. The gentleman that sat us was very nice and he was super accommodating! Our server was great too. We have always received such amazing customer service here. You can tell they pride themselves on that. Ok now the food...BOMB!!!! We started off with salsa, bean dip, guacamole with chips. So good! Then we ordered some tortilla soup. This is my favorite soup and I have to get it every time I come here! Trust me, it's so good! I ordered the 3 steak tacos and shared with my daughter and my fiancé ordered a burrito with chipotle sauce. He was unsure if his stomach could handle the sauce because he has GI issues and our server was so great and brought him a small sample of the sauce to make sure it would work for him, which it did! The sauce on his burrito was really delicious! My sister and her girlfriend shared the carnitas..also bomb! And my mom and dad also shared the tacos! Everything was delicious as always! read more

I wasn't impressed with the chimichanga there was nothing but that and two small bowls of sauces on the plate. There was hardly any flavor and mostly rice, very little meat. $10.00 for a small bowl of guacamole. Service wasn't that speedy either. read more

The full name of this wonderful restaurant is El Arroyo Cantina and Mexican Kitchen - we'll mostly use El Arroyo - and it's located on South Washington Street, in downtown Sonora. El Arroyo is one of the newer Mexican restaurants in town, and when you're in the mood for fine Mexican cuisine, and fine outside dining overlooking Woods Creek, El Arroyo Cantina and Mexican Kitchen should be your choice of restaurant. The restaurant is actually located below the street level, and to enter the restaurant, you walk down a flight of stairs. The restaurant, and the shady patio, overlook the creek, which certainly makes for attractive dining. The red, double doors are the main entrance to the restaurant, and I ended up sitting at the small table next to the door. There is a small parking lot at the rear of the restaurant, if you don't care to walk down a flight of stairs, and it also offers access for those with mobility issues. I walked in the restaurant, told them I was dining outdoors, picked a table, and almost immediately, my server, Natalie," brought a bowl of chips, a small bowl of salsa, and a menu. The chips and salsa were absolutely delicious, and were a great "munchie" appetizer to enjoy while looking over the dinner menu. From the "Traditional Plates" section of the "Dinner Menu," I chose #39, with "Carne Asada" as the main entree. This menu describes this fine dish as, "Two grilled carne asada steaks, grilled onions, and a grilled jalapeno pepper. Served with a side of rancheria sauce." Like all the dinners from this section of the menu, it came with rice, beans, tortillas and a salad. You get two thin pieces of carne asada steak, perfectly grilled, and sporting attractive grill marks. The meat may be quite thin, but the pieces are large, as El Arroyo doesn't skimp on the meat. Each piece of meat was seasoned, tender and juicy, and you really didn't a knife to cut into the meat, as it was very tender. Grilled onion and a grilled jalapeno pepper accompanied the meat, which made for a very attractive presentation. I've never seen beans like these before, as they were slightly runny, reddish in color, and arrived in a little square bowl, with a small dollop of sour cream, and a sprig of cilantro. Despite the unusual presentation, the beans were absolutely amazing! I ended up dipping my tortillas into the beans, and using them for a dip, and I scooped the last little of beans in the bowl with a tortilla. I enjoyed the rice as well, but I can't really say anything about the rice that would make it stand out in a crowd. I poured the small bowl of rancheria sauce over the rice, which really worked out well. The small side salad was super fresh, and added a nice touch to the meal. This was a delicious dinner! El Arroyo has only been open for a few months, and for being such a new restaurant, they seem to be on the right track, as my dinner was simply perfect. I welcome them to Sonora, and I wish them a bright future. El Arroyo offers delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine, on a lovely patio, overlooking Woods Creek. When you're in the mood for fine Mexican food, romantic dining outside on the patio, or inside in their spacious dining room, say "hola" to El Arroyo Cantina and Mexican Kitchen, located in downtown Sonora, CA. read more

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Great spot! Excellent service, food and outdoor shady tables by the creek. Burrito Bowls, enchiladas and shrimp fajitas read more

El Arroyo - Creek dining - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Literally sat there for over 15 minutes after waiting to be seated AFTER I checked in with the hostess, only to have others who got there later than myself be seated. Hostess was kind of rude and acted like she couldn't be bothered. If I could give them a score it would be 1 and that's only because of the scenery! read more

We like the food but not the lack of chips & salsa. I want chips & salsa to be served when I sit down. read more

El Arroyo - We like their food but not their lack of chips & salsa. THIS is what good Mexican restaurants serve! - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Had dinner here last week, I will say it was probably the best meal I have had in a Mexican restaurant in my entire adult life! I had the special which was the shrimp enchiladas with the chipotle, cream sauce, a week later I'm still talking about it! It was excellent! My dining partner had the pork Carnitas in which he said they were the best he's ever had as well. We also ordered flour chips and an order of guacamole. The chips were freshly fried and crispy. Can't wait to go back in a couple weeks! read more

El Arroyo - The special that night, shrimp, enchiladas, with chipotle, cream sauce was off the charts delicious!! - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

We absolutely love this place. It's a hidden gem in downtown Sonora. I had a Burrito bowl which was super delicious. My husband had Carnitas street tacos and loved them. It's a very authentic Mexican restaurant. The restaurant has both in-door and outdoor seating, with a full bar. The facility is very clean. Service n food was excellent. read more

El Arroyo - My Chicken Burrito Bowl. - Mexican Near Me - Sonora, California

Food was amazing...authentic Mexican food. Service was awesome from the hostess to the waiter. My Margarita was delicious. Loved the ambiance especially outdoor seating with a touch of Italy feel. My favorite spot in Sonora! Highly recommend. Love this place! read more