el Barrio tacos &amp; tequila

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in Athens, Tlaloc El Mexicano Restaurant should be at…read morethe top of your list. From the moment we walked in, it was clear this place is a local favorite. The restaurant has a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the menu offers a great selection of traditional Mexican dishes, along with a few Salvadoran influences that make it even more unique. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting the owner, Antonio Ramirez. Throughout the meal, he made his way around the restaurant, stopping at each table with a smile to ask how everything was and to make sure guests were enjoying themselves. That level of personal attention is becoming increasingly rare and speaks volumes about how much he cares about both the food and the customer experience. It's also obvious that the local college crowd has discovered this gem. There were plenty of students enjoying dinner, and it seemed like the margaritas were especially popular--particularly when Mom and Dad were picking up the tab! Fortunately, the margaritas are well worth it, with generous pours and plenty of options to choose from. The food was excellent, the portions were generous, and the prices were very reasonable. Most importantly, the flavors felt authentic and homemade rather than the typical chain restaurant version of Mexican food.

This place is BOMB!! Best fajitas I ever had and at a fantastic price. Made three tacos and have…read moresome leftover. Homemade corn tortillas. Delicious green homemade salsa that paired perfect. Their chimichanga was incredible and their plantains were the best I've had!! So crispy and hot and so much flavor. My new go to spot! Service was great too. Kind people and super quick!

The Cancun

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Frozen Mango & Strawberry Margarita! BABYYYY they were definitely strong we got the smallest one so I can imagine the 20oz.

Cali N Tito's

4.5(1k reviews)

0.3 mi

Very spacious place and decorated festively. Everyone must place their orders at the register where…read morethe drink bar is located, and then pick their own table. Foods and drinks are delivered to the table. We were there only a Saturday afternoon and there's always line at the register. Lots of available tables though. We throughly enjoyed our foods. The chipotle sauce (special request only) is

Cali N Tito's is an Athens classic, so while I was in town for the weekend, I had to stop by. It…read morehad been a couple of years since my last visit, and I was glad to see the service was still just as fast and friendly as I remembered. It's counter service--you order at the register, find a seat (there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating), and they'll bring your food out. I ordered the fish taco combo, which came with two fish tacos, yuca fries, and a canned drink. The tacos were good, but I wasn't a huge fan of the menu changes. Everything is a combo now, and I was told I couldn't order the tacos by themselves. I wish they'd bring back the à la carte option because I'd rather try a few different things than be locked into one meal. The yuca fry portion was also smaller than I expected--I only got about five fries. Overall, it's still a spot I'd recommend if you're visiting Athens since it's been a local favorite for so long. I just left a little less impressed than I remember being the last time I was here.

Highly suggest their tortas

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Taqueria La Parrilla

3.9(68 reviews)

2.9 mi

Hit the trifecta for everything you don't want in a dining experience:…read more Quality: Seriously would have been more satisfied if we had gone to the Taco Bell up the street. Quantity/portions: Embarrassingly puny (not that you'd really want more of it). Price/value: Outrageously overpriced, especially considering how the food tastes and how much of it you get. Clearly seems to be more of a sports bar / hangout (e.g., big TVs everywhere, dance club music) and a place to have Mexican cocktails than a serious "taqueria." To be fair, though, and this is why they get two stars and not just one: The service was friendly and attentive.

Came to Raffery's for dinner tonight with my family. Everything from the food to the service was…read morefantastic! Our table was wobbly and without any issues Chris, or server was kind and cleaned a round table for us. The manager assisted us and helped us move our drinks and plates to our new table. I ordered the Russtler's Roost salmon tonight with the lime green beans. My salmon was perfectly cooked and it had a fantastic char to it. The glaze that came on the salmon was delicious! My husband ordered the rib eye. Awesome piece of steak with perfect char marks. Chris, our server was sweet and attentive! Our drinks never ran dry and she always had a beautiful smile on her face! It was a great dinner!

Delicious cheese bean dip. Chips. Margarita to go!!!

Shrimp fajitas

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Tostada de ceviche (tilapia)--great value

Sr Sol

4.4(176 reviews)

3.1 mi

Bistek Ranchero with frijoles charros and the best Margarita I've had in years! My server was Nick,…read morewho was kind and helpful. I had been through a rough day, and he recognized it the minute I walked in. Many thanks to Nick and the chefs. It was the dinner and friendly service that I absolutely needed.

I was having major torta cravings, however I live in Hartwell. Nuff said. I knew I was going to…read moreAthens so I thought I would see what was out there. Sr Sol was only a mile from where I was, so I thought I would give it a try. I moved to Georgia a few years ago from Denver. I ate tortas quite often. So I have high expectations. Walked into Sr Sol and was immediately shown to my table. Looked at the menu and found the tortas section. I used to get carnitas but that wasn't offered so I ordered the pastor. The condiments were slightly different than what I am used to but what the heck. I have to say the torta was delicious. I don't judge food by what I am familiar with. I judge it for what it is, and this was great. I will definitely add this place to my goto torta place.

A bug in my Quesadilla

Sr. Sol leftovers

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Bistek Ranchero Frijoles Charroz

Tacos Los Plebes

4.8(93 reviews)

3.3 mi

The service is good, the food quality is the best in athens, don't come to the classic city without…read moreexperiencing a true staple for tacos, the nachos have quickly become a family favorite ! They will soon open another location in US 441

I finally tried this place and it absolutely lives up to the hype. This place is the real deal when…read moreit comes to authentic Mexican food. There's almost always a line, but don't let that scare you--it moves quickly and is 100% worth the wait. The burritos are massive and hands down some of the best I've ever had. Everything tastes fresh, flavorful, and made with care. If you're looking for authentic, no-frills, incredible Mexican food, this spot is a must-try.

More current menu and prices. Great food and excellent service.

2 chicken tacos side fries

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Poquitos Athens

4.6(12 reviews)

1.5 mi

We had the quesadilla and a burrito and those were pretty good. The downfall of this place is the…read moreguacamole is not really guacamole. It's very liquidy and a lot of onion. It's a bit more like guacamole sauce.

Delicious tacos with great vegan options. The tofu al pastor and jackfruit tacos were delicious…read morewith fresh made tortillas and delicious flavor. The sauces were spicy, and the chips and salsa were good.

Interior of restaurant

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Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant

3.8(53 reviews)

6.9 mi

Great food , waitstaff fabulous , ambience lovely Also they gave me a beautiful birthday surprise…read moresong and my family and I enjoyed it tremendously.

The food service and ambience were all really great. They've moved the lights in front of the TV so…read morenow you can watch TV as your dinner or lunch.

Look at the third light fixture blocking the TV? Don't come here to watch any sporting events.

Fajitas lunch plate

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Tienda Mexicana Los Amigos

4.8(16 reviews)

2.4 mi

I was really craving authentic tacos early in the morning. Luckily they were open really early and…read morehad a really good selection of meat and great prices. They greeted me as soon as I came in and were really quick with my order. It's a grocery store connected which looked like it had a really good selection of foods as well. They leave the tacos with just meat so you can customize it yourself right beside the register. Definitely going back since it's in my city and priced amazing!

Food was good. The roaches on the wall beside my chair was not good. Employee was friendly but that…read moreconcerns me as far as a safety hazard goes

Great prices!

Plenty of Condiments

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Don't remember what the red one is (maybe chicha morada), cantaloupe, and horchata (mmm..)

Taqueria La Parrilla

3.9(105 reviews)

3.0 mi

I did a togo order. So I will not be posting pics to be fair. This was my first time getting food…read morefrom the restaurant. The flavors were very good. The chorizo cheese dip had a little spice to it on the back end. It was a little too watery but with a good mix up it got better. The portion size ( got the small) was a bit disappointing. I chose the Texas fajitas. The meats ( chic steak and shrimp ) were seasoned and tender. The shrimp was just 4 pieces. Again the portion size. Under the proteins were the seasoned onions. I elected not to get bell peppers. The juice that formed with the onions was very good. They provide rice and refried beans on the side as well as lettuce and chopped tomatoes. The portion of rice beans and the melted cheese was small. They only give you three tortillas and I feel it should be 4. You have to think about the " stuff " to tortilla ratio. They give you a big bag of plain nacho chips. Plain. Not salted. We also got an order of the flan. Kind of small but good taste. The whipped cream and chocolate sauce was in a little plastic ramican the size of a papa John sauce so again one bite and you have used it up and the flan to whipped cream " ratio" is not there. I would definitely try them again for a meal on premises to get the sizzle and presentation. Once I do I will update the score if it is necessary.

My favorite spot for Mexican food in Athens. The food is always excellent, service fast and…read morefriendly, and the price is on point. They have all your usual Mexican food options and I haven't found a bad item on the menu yet.

Menu August 2023

Menu 10/19/24

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Menu 10/19/24

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Hannah J.

105

19

26

7 years ago

I had a very fun time at el Barrio. Parking here is an absolute nightmare however, so make sure you have a plan for that. The service was definitely good, and the tacos were tasty. The queso dip was just okay, so if you're picky about that, I would skip it. The atmosphere is great and on point more than anything, and I imagine that this will be a very popular spot come football season. When you're in the heart of Five Points and eating delicious tacos, there's not much more you could want! read more

John W.

0

7

0

5 years ago

Barely edible tacos - why would you put a honey sauce on fish tacos? Margarita far too sweet. Attractive and clean but no bueno.

el Barrio tacos & tequila - mexican - Updated September 2026

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We ordered takeout through DoorDash and tried the Three Amigos appetizer -- it was delicious and a…read moresurprisingly large portion. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and packed well for a to-go order. The only thing that really surprised me was that they don't include free chips and salsa with to-go orders. This is the first Mexican restaurant I've ever ordered from that doesn't offer them, so it definitely stood out. Overall, the food was great, but it would've been even better with the chips and salsa included.

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At first I was a tad annoyed at the cost, but hey...picking up a kid from UGA and we were splitting…read moreit - she's worth it. But oh man, we have at least 4 meals off of this plate of nachos, so they can have my $24 anytime. This is one of the best plates of nachos I have ever had, and I eat mexican a lot if you look at my reviews. I think they make their chips as they are thicker than most, but have an amazing actual flavor, and the toppings are ABUNDANT. This was carne asada and it was absolutely delish. The bartender greeted us when we walked in, showed us where to order and to pick a seat inside or on the cute little patio. They brought the food out within 10 minutes and we chowed. Others around us had margarita buckets and pitchers of beer, so plenty of options. Someone was raving about a pickle margarita...next trip that is on my list. Super clean, very friendly, great food, and it is labeled vegetarian and gluten free on the menu for those of us who need that info. I will most definitely be back.

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We approached the restaurant and noticed a small parking lot. After stepping through the main doors…read moreand into the foyer, we turned left to enter the actual restaurant. The dining room was pretty empty, and there wasn't anyone at the host counter. We found a table and settled in. Our server came over quickly, greeted us with menus, and complimentary chips and salsa. We reviewed the menu. The beer list was short, including many of the usual suspects. I asked for a Creature Comforts Tropicalia, but they didn't have it, so I ended up ordering a Modelo Negro. Wifey kept it simple with a lemonade. For food, I ordered the Chicken Chimichanga meal and asked to substitute refried beans with black beans, but our server said they couldn't make that change. Wifey went with the Chicken Quesadilla meal and added a side of sweet plantains. The plantains came out first, and she started digging in. She said they were just OK, not bad, but nothing special. Our server checked in on us and replenished our chips. It seemed like he was handling the whole floor by himself. We waited and waited, the food definitely took awhile to come out, which was confusing since the place was basically empty. At one point, we were the only people in the dining room. When the food finally arrived, it hit the mark. Everything was well seasoned, hot, and flavorful. There were a few hiccups during our visit to Pancho's, but the entrees were definitely the highlight.

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I was having major torta cravings, however I live in Hartwell. Nuff said. I knew I was going to…read moreAthens so I thought I would see what was out there. Sr Sol was only a mile from where I was, so I thought I would give it a try. I moved to Georgia a few years ago from Denver. I ate tortas quite often. So I have high expectations. Walked into Sr Sol and was immediately shown to my table. Looked at the menu and found the tortas section. I used to get carnitas but that wasn't offered so I ordered the pastor. The condiments were slightly different than what I am used to but what the heck. I have to say the torta was delicious. I don't judge food by what I am familiar with. I judge it for what it is, and this was great. I will definitely add this place to my goto torta place.

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