Like Martha's, El Coronel is one of the more upscale Mexican restaurants in town. While Martha's is a bit more conservative, El Coronel aims to be more exciting and manages to distinguish themselves by offering a greater variety of traditional Mexican cuisine. For example, they offer a greater variety of meats such as lengua (beef tongue) or cabeza (beef cheek). It is right on the outskirts of downtown Sebastopol, so whether you are coming in or going out along 116, you won't miss this restaurant. There is a decent sized parking area behind the building which is nice because street parking along such a busy street is a hassle. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had similarly decorated chairs in there as they had at Martha's. The chairs depict traditional Mexicans images and add color/life to the restaurant. The tabletops are similarly decorated and covered with a sheet of glass. Both times I've been here, I've sat inside, though they also have outdoor seating which I'm sure would be nice on a clear sunny day. We started with an order of the Guacamole which was quite delicious. I really didn't think it would be all that special (I mean come on, its just guacamole), but I was wrong. Our waitress brought out six or seven large ripe avocados and mashed them all up in a large basalt mortar and pestle. We got all the usual aromatics (tomato, onions, jalapeño, cilantro and cotija cheese) which provided a great amount of flavor. I found the Guacamole to be rich and creamy, with the aromatics providing a sharp contrast and preventing the avocado from being too overwhelming. They also have an excellent margarita menu with many combinations to choose from. We ordered a pitcher and my girlfriend ordered a Cantarito (citrus, tequila, squirt, grapefruit, lime, lemon, pineapple and orange juice). It was a very fruity and citrusy drink, but what was interesting was that it was served in a clay jar that kept cool for a very long time. I would recommend getting this if you aren't a real big drinker but still looking for something a little alcoholic. For me, the Molcajete is really what sets El Coronel apart from the other Mexican restaurants in town. A molcajete is basically a round bowl with three stumpy legs carved from basalt. Basalt as you know is a volcanic rock and stays hot for a very long time, making it the ideal vessel for serving some dishes. El Coronel claims the Molcajete is enough to share for 2-3 people, so my girlfriend and I split one. It comes with grilled skirt steak, grilled chicken breast, shrimps and grilled nopales (the pads of a cacti). This dish was also served with rice, your choice of beans and tortillas, salsa and sour cream. The best part of this dish was the grilled nopales. They have a unique texture, it is kind of slimy, but not in a bad way. The nopales had a light and tart flavor, which was refreshing after eating all the savory meats in the dish. I didn't really find anything good about the grilled meats. The steak and chicken were tough and chewy and didn't have much flavor besides the sauce it came in. The shrimp was decent though, it was crisp and flavorful, which is more than can be said about the other meats. All in all, even though El Coronel is one of the more upscale Mexican restaurants in town, I didn't really find anything too compelling for me to give up the more down to earth El Tarasco. That being said, they do offer a greater variety of choices when it comes to drinks and dishes and they manage to remain unique (which is becoming increasingly hard to do). read more

El Coronel Mexican Restaurant - margarita - Mexican Near Me - Sebastopol, California

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To begin, I would like to say that my rating is a 2.5. The food here is fantastic very full in flavor. The main problem the problem I've had is service. I had a server drop Salsa and not give me anything to clean myself with. Also they can forget completely about someone's order. They didn't give me a fork or knife or even a napkin until I asked for one after waiting for 10 minutes with food on the table. read more

Nice people, bland food, slow service, Can't we get some spice??? Need better beans too. lots of potential here but just doesn't float my boat. read more

I am beyond blessed and satisfied with this fine establishment. We had an event planned before Covid and Armando and his staff came through tremendously even though all of the surrounding circumstances. We had them booked for their Food Truck from 5:30-7, and they showed up early and stayed late and cooked the entire time. Everybody was 100% satisfied and I am extremely happy to a found this gem of a food truck for future parties and festivities. Thumbs up 100% if anybody is wondering!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Grate food good prices. can't beet the tacos on this truck. Would highly recommend trying them out.

I've always had great food at El Coronel. The food is fresh and the margaritas are awesome! I love their burritos and quesadillas. Lots of food, usually plenty to share. Great appetizers and happy hour. Can't pick a favorite dish, I've liked everything I've had there! read more

It's been quite a while since we've been here. The outside has been spruced up and the menu has changed somewhat, for the better. Menu is smaller and prices are higher. However, the food quality was good before, it is over the top better now. I ordered the steak ranchero and the beef was cooked perfectly served in a red chili sauce with sauteed onions. My wife had shrimp tacos and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. As I said the prices are a bit higher but in line with other restaurants in the area, but still an exceptional value. Service as always is very good and attentive. With nicer weather on the way I'll look forward to dining on their patio. This is definitely some of the best Mexican food in the west county. Do yourself a favor and visit! read more

I ordered the Chili Relleno. It came lukewarm and covered with cheese rather than sauce. It appeared that it had been cooked originally at least in the morning or several days before. No puff egg coating. Flat and had to use a fork to determine if there was any cheese inside. I had to get up from my table to find a service person to deliver more water to the table. I could never recommend this restaurant based on my experience. read more

Love the food at this restaurant but man they never ever seem to get the order right! Always Always Always double check your order when picking up food! Tastes amazing but they lack in following directions! read more

Today I ordered the deluxe taco salad that i saw on their website listed at $14.50. I arrived, and the two girls told me my total was $18.01. I asked them how that could be when the taco salad was only $14.50. One of the girls said it is tax. I paused and told them there was no way it was that much tax and they then responded saying it was $16.50 for the salad. I said no, it is listed as $14.50. They said they didn't know, and didn't know what to tell me or how to explain why their website is listing a much different price. One of the girls trieed to say it must be because its the "deluxe" salad. I said no, it says $14.50 next to the deluxe. I paid for the salad reluctantly as I was on my lunch break and hungry. I am defiantly not only disappointed with the false advertizing i am also disappointed with the lack of customer service. The girls were not prepared to handle a situation like that, and did not offer a solution other than, "uhhh i dont know." and false explinations/excuses. I ate a few bites of the salad and the chicken was disappointing. Not worth $16.50. Very disappointing. read more

What a great place we discovered. Possibly my new favorite Mexican restaurant. Great food, great service abs a really nice classy atmosphere and reasonably priced. It was too hot to sit out there, but it looked like they had great outdoor seating. Great find for me. I was impressed that the guacamole was made fresh in front of us, and chips were fresh. Everything was great. read more

Excellent chicken Mole and delicious salsa. Great meal anytime.

We came to El Cornel on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at 1pm. There was no one sitting inside. And we sat outside with one other couple. I ordered a drink since they had a full bar. Except, no Jammeson :-( That's okay......I ordered Jack instead. Our waitress came back after an eternity with my drink. After drinking alcohol, I needed to balance with a water. I go inside to look for her. And order a water from the bar. She said, "I will bring it to you". Then brings be out a child size glass of water that was full to the top with ice. 3 sips and it was gone. (sigh) My adult beverage was also gone by the time she came back to take our order. She was gone at least 10-15 mins....NO JOKE!!!! So i moved onto a beer....... We were finally able to place our order. And the food came out very quickly. Maybe that is why it was cold? The mole sauce was not sauce. It was more of a gelatin form. Even the mole sauce was cold. (Another sigh) I went on a waitress hunt again for hot salsa. I asked if there was any special habenero or diabla sauce in the back because I like to add a little fire to my food. She said, "no....but there is tapatio and a green sauce in the table." The green salsa was a radioactive neon green that looked like the Hulk in a bottle. And wasn't hot :-( (Another sigh) Our waitress eventually went completely MIA and someone else took over. We had to go hunt for our bill and boxes. There was no one inside eating. So I'm completely perplexed. I've eaten here prior..... But today was just all wrong in all kinds of ways...... read more

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This place is horrible! The food which was not from prepackaged cans or plastic bags was not edible. The waitress seemed to understand and comped my uneaten food. Recommend avoid unless you're looking for abdominal problems. read more

Love this place. Simple design, decorating in the dining room but the food is delicious. I enjoyed steak & it was just spicy enough. The guacamole app is great (but it's enough for 3-4 ) & fun to watch them make it at your table. We have been there for lunch only & have not tried any cocktails yet. Chips & salsa are yummy. The staff is friendly & responsive. It's a casual dining experience & the menu is so large we can't wait to go back to try more dishes. It's fun, it's easy, relaxed & delicious! read more

This place has great potential- but falls way short. Margarita's are very watery with no flavor. We always order a chicken dish and a beef / port dish - in case one is not good. In this case none of the meats were good I will not be back read more

I've always been a huge fan of this restaurant! Exceptional waitress , Friendly staff !! BUT Tonight was the blown away with this huge marketing greeting. Not only is this message a complete waste of time and letting me know that they are properly using gloves and masks! (Obviously) so even tho I love this place dearly and always look forward to some tasty food!! I was in a rush and had no time to wait!!! Management I would suggest that double think about this before have no more calling customers, this would be a great idea for when we are able to dine in , but to sit on a phone for what feels like 10 min to order my food is unacceptable. read more

I've eaten here a few times now and feel like I can finally write a review. This place is great! I've had a variety of things on the menu including a selection of tacos ala carte last time and a Carnitas super burrito yesterday. The prices are more than fair, actually lower than the Taqueria we usually go to, and I'd say the food is higher quality than our usual spot. We have eaten there for dinner on weekends and lunch on weekdays, the food is consistently good and the service has been good as well. What this place is for us is a good standard eatery, inexpensive, great quality food, real plates and silverware, and a hostess that brings menus, chips and salsa, and a real bar that makes real drinks to boot! I'm so used to ordering off a board, opening my own Mexican Coke and carrying my chips back to a table...well, I'm beside myself. Don't miss this place. read more

Stopped in here last night for some fresh mex. Had the trio fajaitas - carnitas, steak and veggies - the carnitas was a little dry, the steak was amazing and so were the veggies. love love love the green salsa. The red and the bean dip are amazing too. Service was decent, even at almost 9pm flan super yummy. what is up with keeping the place as cold as a freezer tho? It had to be 60 in the dining room. Thankfully although it was still 70 ourside, I had brought a jacket. Makes you wonder if it's their way of getting you to leave if you are a late diner. read more

I don't know why so many people are giving this place 5 stars. It's overpriced for what it is. It looks a little sketchy from outside, so for years I didn't go in, but after reading reviews decided to try it. $36 for 2 margaritas and 2 just OK burritos. The "mole burrito" had some mole sauce on the outside, but none on the inside and the chicken in it wasn't cooked in mole. The "Super Burrito" with carnitas: rice and beans with dry pork in a tortilla. A little cheese, a small ball of guac on top and a "squirt" of sour cream on top. For $8. Cheapest thing on the menu. Can't imagine what the $14 dishes were like, but everything was just basic, generic Mexican Food so I don't imagine it would be worth it. The service was good, they were pretty dead though. The margaritas were good, but again, expensive and not even a half shot of tequila in them. The staff talks loudly amongst themselves in Spanish constantly. Very colorful furniture, nice interior. read more

I've had a few fumbles with El Coronel over the years - gave it a good 18 months away to try it again - and, unfortunately, nothing's changed. Nothing. There's always been a really strange feeling about this restaurant - I'm not sure if it's just the overall disinterested, laaaaazy "hillbilly" effect Sebastopol seems to consistently steep its citizens in or it's actually how the owner comes off as if business will always be plentiful and service can just be as mediocre as he intends... Probably both. And today was my last meal @ this place. I walked in the door @ exactly 429 pm and asked if the patio was open for seating. "Yes," the woman said. "Go on out and I'll bring you a menu." I proceeded to the patio and sat down. The next time I was acknowledged was 506 pm. Yep. Fish stinks from the head down. read more

I must start of by saying that I love the food here, but am considering NEVER going back because of the AWFUL SERVICE. The last four times that I have been there....I live in Sebastopol and would go way more....the service has been horrendous. Specifically, yesterday we went to eat around 5 PM. The restaurant was mostly empty, a few tables inside filled and a few outside. We chose to sit outside. The hostess told us to pick a seat and she would bring us menus. We waited at the hostess desk at least 5 minutes before we were acknowledged. We waited at our table at least 5 minutes before we received menus. We waited more than 10 minutes and never saw a waitress, were not given water or chips, not acknowledged at all. There were plenty of people cleaning tables outside near where we were sitting, but no one ever came by to serve us. After waiting about 15 minutes, we got up and left. The last few times we have gone it has taken forever to get served and even longer to get a check, and our waitress never checking on us during our meal. I love the food here, but will probably not be going back. The food is not cheap here and I know that there are lots of other restaurants in the nearby area that would love to have the customers and actually acknowledge and treat them well. read more

Excellent chips and salsa, my favorite is the salsa verde but I think you have to ask for it. Lots of vegetarian options and never disappointing (one time my burrito was so small I could actually finish it, I think that hardly counts as disappointing though). Happy hour deals on food AND margaritas and beer! Lots of good choices on the booze menu, so many that I haven't tried the Horchata yet (I don't even know if they offer it but usually I like to review it). Amazing huge patio for the warm sunny days. EXCELLENT service. Easy parking. Yep, this is pretty much as good as it gets. 5 stars. They'll get 6 stars when they extend their happy hour out to 6pm, I'm lucky I get to enjoy it. I would also like to know where they park their roach coaches... read more

Awesome food! Great atmosphere. Carne Asada was amazing! The drinks were great, the atmosphere was awesome as well. Great decor. But im serious about the Carne Asada! read more

This is an amazing discovery for me. Their carne asada, in any dish, is cooked to perfection, and very tender for the cut of meat it is. The seafood is always cooked perfectly as well, the prawns and fish flakey and perfectly-seasoned. They have a very diverse menu, not your standard Mexican restaraunt. All kinds of customizable options and things you might not have even heard of. They approach fast to seat you, and the beandip and chips are awesome when you are starving and waiting. Food comes pretty fast, always hot and very nicely presented. It has a nice ambiance as well; light music and a huge window in the main room to space out through when conversation lulls. Interesting paintings and other decor that don't take away from what a clean, hospitable place this is. I highly recommend this place for any occasion. read more

Visiting the area again and gave this another try. Great experience! Our party of four enjoyed fabulous margarita's and delicious meals. Staff was friendly, service prompt and efficient. Glad we gave this another shot. read more

The food at El Coronel is tasty indeed - but I have to advise everyone to stay away. My friends and I all got nasty food poisoning from this place a bit back, and it was the only meal we had in common for a couple of days. It's about the sickest I've ever been from food. I tried very hard to get a hold of the manager and complain, but s/he managed to avoid me until I gave up. So I'll miss the chile relleno burrito - but I'll never go back read more

When you want a step up from the standard taqueria or food as good as the legendary Martha's, but with a full bar, the bright and festive El Coronel is the spot in S'pol. An exceptionally large menu with plenty of seafood, vegetable and meat dishes, the food I've sampled is quite good. Steak Ranchero is a nicely grilled New York cut served with jalapenos, onions and bell peppers. Juicy and tasty and maybe the best $13 steak in Sonoma County. Enchiladas, tamals, tacos and tostadas are all quite fine, enhanced by the terrific sides and appetizers that come with any meal. Healthily-portioned Margaritas are a little on the sweet side for my taste, but still go down mighty easy. The staff is usually very competent and always friendly and it is personally reassuring to see a Mexican restaurant where Mexican families are dining and having fun. For a restaurant as boldly and warmly designed as El Coronel, it might be easy to think of it as some kind of blanded out Chevy's knock off. Far from it! Great music on the jukebox, television en espanol on the screens, and excellent food make for a pretty wonderful experience. read more

My husband was looking for the lunch truck one day.. I called the restaurant and they were able to give to me the phone number to BOTH trucks. I called one and they asked where he was working and told me I needed the other truck. I called them and they told me they were going to be by kohl's. Shortly after they TEXTED me saying we ARE going up mark west I told them THANK YOU my husband is working by lambert drive (at the beginning of markwest) and they drove the truck to him!!! It was very awesome!!! And very nice of them to stop just for him. And text me before they did also. He was leaving the jobsite about to go searching for them! They ROCK!! Thank you el coronel!!! read more

Everybody liked their food except me. I hated the salad I got. I ordered shredded beef on it. Shredded beef, you think brown, moist shredded beef, right? How was I to know it came in a sickly sweet tomato sauce, spotted with what looked like half chewed pieces of corn. The sauce was reminiscent of Chef Boyardee ravioli. It was inedible. I told the waitress I didn't like it, she sort of shrugged, oh well. Everybody else liked their burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, my meal was repulsive and I left it on the plate, uneaten, and paid for it. read more

We decided to try El Coronel after I saw the great reviews here on Yelp. Went for weekend lunch and sat on the newly-renovated patio. The hostess and the server were both incredibly attentive and polite. I ordered the bbq chicken burrito and my boyfriend got the veggie omelet from the brunch menu. The chips and salsa were fresh - we both loved the green salsa and bean dip. Our food was delicious, our service good. It was a beautiful day to sit on the patio and I can't wait to go back and try them again! read more

We use to go to El Coronel all the time. Last time we ordered our food my chiliriano burrito I started to eat it and bit in to something sharp a tooth pick .We talked to the waitress she said it should have been taken out before it we cooked. The answer from them was to give 1% off my bill. What a joke. Someone could have been hurt. read more

Very good Mexican, not the best ever anywhere I have been but still very nice. I totally agree with the other reviewers, the two kinds of salsa that come with the chips are both very good. Strong margaritas. I had the Mexican coffee, it was fine. I like the decor, very bright and inviting. Friendly staff, they were there when we needed them though they weren't overly solicitous. I wouldn't make this the centerpoint of my dining experience in Sebastopol but it works. read more

My mom and I were craving soft tacos the other day and headed out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. That's when it dawned on me that this place happens to have .99 cent taco days and it was a Tuesday the day they have the special. I had driven by the sign advertising for it but have never stopped it. So we pulled into the parking lot just in time. We decided to sit outdoors which is beautiful. You have a nice view of a grassy hill area, an awesome bar and heating lamps if its in the evening. Ill be coming back for the outdoor area alone Now to the tacos. My mom and I got 7 tacos between the two of us, so we tried each type of meat. The food took awhile to come, the service here is general was quite slow. Thankfully, we were not in any rush and enjoyed the leisurely lunch. Now to the meat! Yum. The hands down favorite was carnitas. It was the only taco that didnt come with salsa, which is perhaps why the meat stood out so much. The rest were good but the carnitas was great! Next time ill probably just get that. Overall, we left happy and stuffed. Oh and did I mention the meal was only 11 dollars?? Crazy! read more

Looking to try a new Mexican restaurant here in Sebastopol, we came here last night. It was fairly busy when we arrived, but it relaxed a bit by the time we were finished. When we first got seated, it took awhile just to get our water. What was unusual was there was no silverware or napkins present until we had to ask for them. Not a dealbreaker, but it seemed like the quieter the restaurant, the longer it took for service. Fiance had the quesadilla which had mushrooms, and he loved it, and I ordered the steak fajitas. The main courses were good, but it wasn't until I received the bill did I notice that the server "upgraded - aka upsold" my margarita from House to Elegante- which was a few dollars more. I wanted a basic margarita, and yes, it was a miscommunication, but the upgraded drink was fairly weak- something that shouldn't happen if you're paying for a higher quality tequila! Our server, along with other servers, were very nice, but as we were the last people to leave the main dining room (not the room with the bar) it took awhile to get anyone's attention to get to-go boxes and the check. The food was good, but the service could definitely improve. I'd probably come back since we live within walking distance, but I will be mindful of my drink order, and what I'm actually charged for. read more

Very nice Mexican restaurant with a nice atmosphere. Service was good and so was the food. Prices were reasonable, we were here for lunch. Place was almost empty but we were here on a Wednesday after lunch. read more

The wife and I tried this place out and were taken to our table immediately. The staff was friendly but very busy. The very first thing we noticed was that some effort was made to decorate the place and make it feel like a little patch of Mexico. The flat screens were tuned into Futbol (a must for diehard fans). We didn't get drinks but their tequila selection will best most places out there. So I can imagine that their margaritas are good. The drinks were brought out quickly and the orders were taken soon thereafter. The menus were right on the money and are the prettiest I have seen at a Mexican place. We didn't wait long before I heard sizzle of my Trio Fajitas and was blown away when I saw the adjacent table got them first!!! Arggg! I heard the sizzle once more and here it came!!! The presentation was great! The steak was done just right (tender), the shrimp were not over-seasoned and the chicken was OK (a little dry). The griddle sizzled for a few minutes after it was brought to the table. The sides were also right on. The onions and bell peppers were caramelized and made this dish heavenly. The beans had a small spritz of fresh cheese for flavoring and it was right on. The salsas were pretty good. The ONLY reason this place didn't get 5 stars, I had to get up and ask for the famed green salsa and more drinks!!! They didn't check on us once after serving the food!!! The food was so good, the waitress still got her full tip. In the end, we were brought these thick flaky pastries with strawberry marmalade and whip cream as our desert. This was the right touch to finish off a wonderful meal at no extra charge!! Ambiance = 4 stars Price = 5 stars Quality of food = 5 stars Service = 4 stars read more

We hired El Coronel to cater dinner at our wedding and they were AMAZING! The owner, Armando, was very accessible by email and phone and helped put together a great plan for us at reasonable rate and provided great vegetarian options. The truck staff were friendly, professional, arrived on time, and accommodated our slightly complicated parking request. The food was DELICIOUS! Everyone loved having a truck at the wedding and many people felt it was some of the best taco truck food they'd ever had. If you're looking for an easy way to make your event or party unforgettable, I give El Coronel's my strongest recommendation. While they may have a poor review from many years ago, it's clear that they're on top of their game now! read more

We are from NJ vacationing in the area. Stayed at the Residence inn just up the street. From an area heavily populated with Mexicans and as a global traveler Ive had my fair share of their food. This is hands down the best that I've had. My father is the pickiest eater to walk the planet, and my mother is a strict vegetarian and dietitian who is equally as hard to please. They both also said it was outstanding, that's how I validate my review. Arrived at restaurant 7 pm on a Friday after bypassing two places down the road. We saw this one was crowded (a good sign to anyone with a situational awareness). The place was packed, Waited ten minutes. We enjoyed homemade chips, two salsas (red & green), beans, and ice waters at the table. Tabletop had some traces of the last guests still on it so (-1) for cleanliness. Between the three of us we ordered BBQ chicken burrito, mushroom fajitas, and green chili. Portions were large. Food quality was superb, from ingredients and aromas to presentation. Food was prepared as described. Taste was unique to any Mexican food I've had. Authenticity was 5 stars as the restaurant had Mexico vs panama futbol game playing and even a few flies buzzed through the airspace above our table. 4 out of 5, only losing one star for the cleanliness of the restaurant and because my jacket stinks like peppers and onions for the remaining few days of my trip. *change to secondary clothing before dining here especially If traveling with limited luggage read more

El Coronel Mexican Restaurant - BBQ chicken burrito. Chipotle sauce on left, BBQ on right. - Mexican Near Me - Sebastopol, California

Seriously the BEST most flavorful Mexican restaurant we've been to in Sonoma county!! Large portions and reasonably priced. I got the super burrito with shredded chicken....explosion of flavor and very juicy! I could only eat half. My fiancé ordered the combo...enchiladas and hard taco...he's very picky and was happy to hear him say this was his favorite Mexican place so far!! He devoured all of his...lol. We've lived here almost 7 years and tried numerous restaurants...this is an amazing place! The staff is very friendly and attentive ...nice warm covered patio. Will definitely be returning and bringing peeps with us to share this gem of a place! read more