Nice small downtown Mexican restaurant. The food is very good and comes in large portions portions. The waitstaff is very attentive with refills of water and chips. read more

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I am quickly falling in love with this place. Went for lunch and sat at the bar. All of the bar staff were very friendly!!! Second time to get the pozole verde, and it is literally soul warming. You can tell when something is from a can and something is REAL, and this is the real deal holy field lol. I also tried the sopa seca which I learned is a Mexican dish and it's only available for brunch on Saturdays. It's basically like a tomato spaghetti with a soft boiled egg on top and avocado and pico de gallo. It sounds like a weird combination, but it definitely worked. I can't wait to go back and try more menu items read more

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These are the lunch sized portions! Came across this spot on a roadtrip and it was some of the most unique and delicious Mexican food I've had. Not pictured was the salsa (very fresh), queso and chips. Great music and vibe; quick service. read more

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Hip joint downtown. Clean, friendly. I had the shrimp ceviche and while it wasn't bad it just was lacking the ceviche twang. It's with pineapple which I do love...but I did add lime. The proportions are smaller than we expected...so if you are super hungry, definitely get some appetizers. read more

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I love going to el Barrio! My all time favorite dish is their seasonal Chicken Escabeche. It is hands down the best chicken I've ever had. Pair it with their seasonal guacamole with strawberries, jalapeños, and candied bacon. Top notch meal. I also love their brunch menu and service has always been great. read more

El Barrio - Seasonal Chicken Escabeche - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Great service and great food! Lots of vegetarian options, all with unique flavor combinations. Try the corn bread, vegetarian taquitos, and jackfruit tacos! read more

I was pretty underwhelmed by the food here and it was kinda upsetting for the price. I ordered carnitas tacos and got deconstructed tacos. The tortillas were on the side , the carnitas were in a small bowl covered in onions , the meat chunks were the size of blueberries with very little pieces , got served with a small salad on the side that served no purpose, and all the hot sauce were sweet. The experience itself was all Pizzaz no flavor read more

Chips were the best I've had in my life, my god. Guac was great and the Elote was tasty. The Al Pastor tacos had chunks of pineapple that were just too large. Other than that was great. Restaurant has a fun, vibrant ambience inside. Good for families during the day. read more

This restaurant works well for casual dining. The menu includes a variety of simple dishes. My meal was served warm and looked appealing. Service was efficient and respectful. Overall, a balanced and positive experience. read more

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants anywhere! Barrio knows good Mexican food. Ambiance is comfortable with full bar and seating area. Colorful full wall art but is fun to take in. High ceiling and hard surfaces means that the volume here can sometimes be loud. This is a popular place so be prepared to wait to be seated. Service is good. Staff are friendly, attentive and will make good recommendations if you ask. From the appetizers to entrees I have not had a dish here I did not like. Even the salsa here is amazing. While there's a charge for chips and salsa, it's well worth it. Bottomless once you order, their salsa here is roasted and has fantastic vibrant flavor. Good offering of beers and mixed drinks. My two favorite entrees here are the chicken enchiladas or the chili relleno. Portions are large with an option for many entrees to make them even larger. Barrio focuses on amazing flavors and high quality ingredients to make the food here truly outstanding. The only thing I don't like here is the parking. There is a pay lot nearby and street parking otherwise. I usually need to park a block or two away. Small inconvenience for food this good! Highly recommend. read more

El Barrio - Chicken escabeche - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I was very very excited to try El Barrio after seeing so many great reviews but everything was just "ok". I ordered the chips and salsa, shrimp quesadilla and the El Barrio to drink. The salsa is loaded with cilantro which I didn't care for in this instance but the chips were very tasty. The shrimp quesadilla had no flavor. The only saving grace was the Monterey Jack cheese surprisingly. The sweet lime crema that came with it added nothing for me. It also came with a mixed greens salad with a less than desirable vinaigrette. The El Barrio was very refreshing but I felt nothing after two drinks and an extra shot. My partner got the beef barbocoa quesadilla which had no flavor as well but the sauce that came with that one was subtle but good. The atmosphere is very nice and we were seated quickly with good service but I will probably not be back. read more

El Barrio - Gulf Shrimp Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Barbacoa Quesadilla was soooo good! We stopped in for a work lunch and they were fast efficient and the food was great, def going back!

These tacos were packed with flavor. The tortillas were fresh, and the filling was perfectly seasoned. The meat was juicy, and the toppings added a nice crunch. The salsa had just the right amount of heat to balance everything out. Definitely a place I'd come back to. read more

El Barrio - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

We love this place! 3rd visit and we will be back. Small location, but quick turnaround. They offer food at the bar and "community" tables. read more

El Barrio - Plantain nachos - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Can't tell you about ambience because at work we got take out. But let me tell you , I can't wait to bring my husband here for dinner. If the half warm takeout can taste this good, it's got to be amazing right out of the kitchen! Everyone loved their dishes which included quesadillas: 1 shrimp, 1 chicken, 1 beef, 1 veggie, tasty guacamole, delicious salsa, plantain nachos. Everything was SO good and refreshingly just a bit different. I highly recommend this place and now they have opened a Homewood location that I am eager to try! read more

Had an amazing lunch here today. Our server, Mitchell, went above and beyond to make our experience great. Atmosphere was great and food was well worth the price. Will be back! read more

Tried their new seasonal soup, full of flavor and perfectly seasoned. The staff even offered extra bread for free. Small gesture, big impression. read more

El Barrio is simply one of the best restaurants in the entire Birmingham metro area for quality, creativity, variety and price! We love their Mexican-Inspired menu -- but don't be fooled, this is much more and considerably different than any Mexican restaurant you'll imagine. Their service is excellent and the prices are exceptional for the value they provide! read more

I wasn't blown away by El Barrio, but it was a nice lunch stop. Pros: Friendly service, and I was able to get a table at 1pm on a weekday with no issues They brought me a carafe with a refill for my Diet Coke without asking It wasn't overwhelmingly loud Hand sanitizer on the table! Reasonable prices IMO Cons: The chips were awesome, but the salsa had a weird sweet taste The carnitas were well prepared (but also weirdly sweet)...I really wish something "fresh" had come with them to cut the flavor--radish, raw onion, avocado, anything Overall, not much to complain about here--the food wasn't amazing but it was filling, plus I was in and out in no time. read more

Another great experience at el barrio. Got the chicken enchiladas and a classic margarita. The staff was lovely and the vibe is always bustling. read more

El Barrio - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This restaurant was. It far from our hotel, and we are all suckers for tacos. And funny enough we didn't even get them. On the Thursday we were here it was $7 mojitos and fish tacos were the special. But we split the beef quesadilla and the spicy chicken tostada. Both very fresh and amazing. My only complaint on the tostada was that wish there were some fresh onions on it. Scallions or red onion. We also got the guac and the queso fundido. Probably the best guac I've ever had. The grilled vegetables as a side are also super good. We sat at the bar due to how busy it was and had phenomenal service. They don't take reservations. There were people outside waiting for a table. We were lucky enough to snag seats. It's not a huge space. Dimly lit. Has two booths and some bench seating. read more

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I really enjoy the food. It always tastes good. I really like the environment but not great for big parties

Absolutely favorite restaurant in town. Some restaurants are SO overrated for their long wait times - but this one is worth it. The watermelon margarita is a must in the summer. The summer seasonal guac with strawberries and candied bacon is a nonnegotiable!! read more

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Staying in downtown Birmingham, we wanted something tasty and within a couple of miles of the Hilton. Yelp for the win! El Barrio popped up and we made the walk to quirky, industrial looking restaurant. Be sure to check out the amazing wall mural. To say the food is great is an understatement. Instead of a multiple page menu filled with tons of entrees, El Barrio sticks to a couple of dozen things that they do VERY well. I didn't get pictures of all eight of our party's dishes (how awkward would that have been?!) but every single person said their food was "excellent" from the Roasted Chile Relleno to the Pozole. I ordered the Barbacoa quesadillas made with brisket and a side of charro beans. I couldn't stop eating until my plate was empty and if I could have ordered a container of salsa to fly home with, I would have. It's the best I've ever had! Be sure to check El Barrio's out if you are ever in Birmingham and remember, if you have to wait, it's worth it! read more

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Last stop while visiting Birmingham, AL. Restaurant has a nice decor. Service was on point. Food was tasty and nicely presented. No reservations available. Highly recommend it. read more

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So after the chips and salsa was pretty much downhill for me. The chili Reno, although by reading the menu, it sounds so full of flavor, which is what I was expecting, but it was very one note, and very muddled in flavor so disappointed. The guacamole is way too mushy. There is no chunk in there, it's just mushy mushiness.. The trout was not the best, but the succotash was flavorful, but the trout had no flavor like zero... the ceviche was not amazing at all... served on chips that were soggy. Very little citrus notes or flavor in general, it was not good.. oh and the drinks suck too. I mean I got a spicy margarita. It was not good... my partner got the watermelon. Margarita also not good either.. most Mexican places have good drinks, but this one does not.... and overall the food was NOT GOOD. read more

Very cute and inviting interior and excellent service. Their food is excellent and fresh. I absolutely loved it. Also, the drinks were delicious and reasonably priced. I am so happy I came here. I'm very used to Mexican cuisine being from Arizona but I was absolutely shocked how good this food was. You have to try this place! P.S. The service was also excellent! read more

El Barrio - Picture on a wall - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Loved the food and atmosphere! The cocktails were really good too. It was super crowded when I went so we had to share a table with strangers but I had a great experience and definitely want to return soon! read more

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Mexican food that knows it's not authentic, yet embraces it? Yes please, sign me up. El barrio elevates tex mex in the best way possible. The enchiladas are yummy and filling and they serve a mean chunky guacamole! (ps. go early on the weekends, dining is first come first serve with no reservations) read more

El Barrio - Enchiladas Verdes Enchiladas Rojas - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

A friend and I were in Birmingham for the weekend and found El Barrio on Yelp. We are so glad we walked in. First, parking was close, easy and cheap. El Barrio was pretty busy since it was a Friday night. The hostess said the wait time for a table for two was over 60 minutes. Thankfully we were able to find seats at the bar within 10 minutes of arriving. The bartender was very attentive. She made recommendations and was quick to bring our drinks and food. The patrons around the bar were all friendly and the music was upbeat. The food was delicious. The drinks were good too. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, which came with a yummy salad on the side, and the grapefruit margarita. My friend ordered the tequila flight and the carne asada, I think. It was steak with a potato thing on top. She raved about how good her drinks and the meal were. We also had the seasonal guacamole, which had apples and bacon in it. It was so good! We were both happy with our experience there and would go back the next time we're in Birmingham. read more

Food was great. The service was great, I think our server was Micah. The place looks okay but wouldn't recommend for special occasions if you look for an aesthetic place. read more

El Barrio - Elote Asado - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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El pastor tacos are amazing. Great lunch spot. Parking can be a bit tricky but overall I would definitely return read more

El Barrio - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I can't even process all the flavors. I feel like I've been transported someplace else. There's no way we are still in Birmingham! Probably the best restaurant and flavors I've ever had. read more

Very impressed with El Barrio. Service was great and food was amazing! Come early so you can get a table. read more

El Barrio - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

If you want amazing authentic food, you must try this place. A friend of mine introduced me and I've been back several times without her! The guacamole is always super fresh and delicious. Cocktails are great too, freshly squeezed juices used daily. The entrees are simply amazing. read more

LOVED El Barrio! The atmosphere is beautiful, and the service is quick and attentive. The salsa has a perfect smoky flavor, and the quesadillas are packed with meat. Every dish at our table was thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend for a fantastic dining experience! read more

The food was delicious, fresh, and perfectly portioned. The service was wonderful! Perfect place for a girls brunch on a Saturday. Clean and tidy with a fun decor. Will be a repeat customer no doubt! read more

The newest El Barrio in Homewood was a huge disappointment. Because they have connected the Paramount with a hall of arcade games, the atmosphere in El Barrio was filled with screaming, unsupervised kids - going back and forth. Not only disruptive, but I was unable to have a conversation with anyone at my table as a result. I will NEVER return. A. Adams read more

Celiac alert: I have loved El Barrio for years now, but after recently being diagnosed with Celiac, they make eating out stress and risk free. As someone with celiac disease, eating out is tricky and often times I end up incredibly ill because of others who are negligent/ignorant. The staff at El Barrio is incredibly knowledgeable on the menu and takes my autoimmune disease seriously. Kudos to the staff for knowing what's in the food that they are serving to people. Great location, great food, and an amazing staff. read more

We got in quickly on a Wednesday night without a reservation, although if I were to go on a weekend I'd call ahead or make a reservation. The food was so good! I got the half portion of the trout and it was still very filling. My partner got the shirking quesadilla- which came with a crema sauce. The sauce was so good and slightly sweet. Food and salsa was fresh and very flavorful. Prices are a bit higher but are worth it for the quality of the food and restaurant environment/atmosphere. Our server was nice and made plenty of helpful recommendations. I'll most definitely be returning! read more

El Barrio - Barrio Salsa Masa roasted trout Gulf Shrimp Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama