I got the 12 inch burrito and it was really good. I though the burrito was gonna be 12 inches in length but it was probably closer to 8 or 9, I think the 12 inches is the diameter of the whole tortilla before it's rolled, so slightly misleading, but it was still good. The price also seemed fair, the service was good, and the ambiance was definitely on par with what the restaurant wants to be. I would recommend El Jefe, but with all the other options available in Charlestons this is probably a one and done for me. read more

Service was ok. Food was not what we expected for a King Street restaurant. Our party was 6 people and only 3 ordered food. It took an hour for a chicken quesadilla. read more

As chaotic as King Street, EJ is ready to party. Cold margs, quick service tacos, and music. The price point is high, similar to all other King Street restaurants. We ordered the family-style (10 total) taco board ($68) and plowed quickly through it. We enjoy either starting or ending our King Street strolls at EJ; we'll definitely try EJ again for happy hour. read more

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We "dined in" for a cause at El Jefe to support the SC Advocates for Epilepsy SAFE. We enjoyed playing team trivia that night and won 3rd place! We each had the Taco Salad which was a very large portion which was large enough to take home as leftovers. Chips and salsa was delicious too. Friendly and helpful staff! read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - El Jefe - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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This was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I've had from start to finish. I came to watch the U.S. FIFA World Cup match and left wishing I had gone somewhere else. The experience got off to a poor start at the door. The doorman handed out 21+ wristbands without even checking IDs, which didn't inspire much confidence. Once inside, the restaurant was uncomfortably hot because the air conditioning either wasn't working or wasn't keeping up. It made watching the game pretty miserable. We also had an issue with seating. The owner refused to seat us until at least 50% of our group had arrived, despite there being more than eight empty tables available throughout the restaurant. The policy seemed unnecessary given how many open tables there were. For a sports bar, the TV setup was surprisingly bad. None of the TVs were synchronized--one was live, another was about 20 seconds behind, another was nearly 45 seconds behind, and the audio didn't match any of them. Every big play was spoiled by people cheering from another part of the restaurant before we even saw it happen. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the steak, chicken, and shrimp tacos. The steak and chicken were both dry enough that I had to drench them in salsa just to make them enjoyable. Later, a friend arrived and pulled up an empty chair to join us. The owner immediately told us we had to move because the chair was supposedly blocking the aisle for his staff. Normally I'd understand that, but there were four empty tables surrounding us, so there were plenty of other options that could have been handled more professionally. I've been here before for Tuesday night trivia, but after this experience I can confidently say I won't be coming back. If you're on King Street, there are plenty of restaurants and bars that offer better food, better service, and a much better atmosphere. If you're visiting Charleston, I'd recommend skipping El Jefe and spending your time and money somewhere else. read more

LOVE the bartenders/staff, however for some weird reason their weird owner won't let the staff give WATER out for free past like 11pm? Weird AF. Weird owner, great staff. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Went to this place on Friday night. It was dead and I blame that solely on the owner. He was walking around making sure we were seated if we had a drink and just policing the entire scene. Not sure why he would have a place on King Street if he doesn't want anyone to have fun. read more

You can go ahead and skip this bar if you're out in Charleston! Bartenders are friendly but owner Roy was very rude towards our bachelorette group. My friend was on the bull for 2 seconds and was no where near falling off when he told her to get off. When we asked him what his reasoning was for making her get off, he told us we had to leave the establishment. When we asked him why we had to leave, he told us he was going to get the cops to forcefully remove us. From the other reviews, this is normal behavior from the owner and was nothing new. Wish we would've read the reviews beforehand! read more

I'm not going to lie, El Jefe was a backup plan after our original choice for lunch was unexpectedly closed. That being said, I was surprisingly impressed and would recommend consideration for lunch while in Charleston. They greet you with free chips and salsa. I personally loved the chips and thought the salsa was above average as well. You then get a decent sized menu to select typically tex-mex options. I appreciated being able to mix and match taco styles to try different things. The taco portion was fair and also tasty. I didn't get a drink but they had plenty of choices. I also saw they offer bull riding, which I'm sure is a hit in the evening. I wish I remembered our servers name, as he was very polite and was training a new server who was also excellent. Overall, a pleasant surprise. I don't expect to be in Charleston in the near term, but I'll keep this place in mind for lunch on any future visit. read more

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Awesome southern texmex bar and grill that features a mechanical bull. Stopped in here for some cocktails and apps and had a great time. Plenty of drink options and the quesadillas we got were fire. They have a mechanical bull which is free and they keep a daily record board. Service was very friendly and prompt. read more

The tacos here were horrible we had the rid eye tacos and the shrimp tacos. The rib eye had a lot of fat on it and the flavor was not there. The shrimp was dry and bland. The rice tasted like it was days old. I would never order food here again. read more

My colleagues and I were staying at the Hyatt, down the block and decided to stop because we were craving tacos. I had the avocado taco go, which I really enjoyed. Colleagues got the taco salad. Also thought this was pretty cool cause they had bull riding. Their margaritas were quite delicious as well. read more

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This is a weird review. The food here is pretty expensive. I was here at happy hour so tacos were "only" $5 but compared to any other taco place that is a LOT. My kid's burrito was $19. On the other hand the tacos were massive, to the point where I only had 2 and was feeling pretty full and I can't imagine having the full platter with rice and beans, and the burrito my kid had is 2-3 meals, which makes the price hurt a lot less. Food came out fast, service was friendly, and it's definitely a nice place to have some drinks with friends, they even have a mechanical bull. At the same time the food was way too "fancy" for me. Both my tacos and my kid's burrito were very sweet. Chicken and steak both tasted like they had been marinated in teriyaki sauce and the taco toppings were a lot of stuff. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I really just prefer a traditional taco, either TexMex or real deal Mexican. J.Ja read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Came in for a late-ish night bite (9pm on a Wednesday) and the place was pretty much dead; one other 6-top was finishing up. The service was good. Waters kept filled and all questions asked & well answered! The tacos were good, a teensy pricey for what you get but the quality (American style- naked Amy=ground beef) was solid. The soft corn taco shell wasn't dry, perfect temperature & cooked nicely. The Diablo Shrimp just meant grilled, nothing kicking in that recipe, so don't be deceived by the name. The chips and salsa were lacking-- a bit stale on the chips/watery for the salsa. The vibe of the place is NOLA after a Saturday night, with a mechanical bull as a main attraction. But, with music all over the place from 60% country, remastered to deep 80's cuts. Enjoyed the saddle seat design of the chairs. The decor is pretty lackluster otherwise. So, probably come for the drinks, bull & split a 3-tavo plate with a pal! read more

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Food was decent but we were asked to put a card down for a tab even though we were dining in. In addition, after an exchange with the manager, the owner Roy sticked his finger in my face, yelled at me and threatened to ban me from his restaurant. The servers were good, however management is on a power trip and there are subtle prejudice practices within the establishment. read more

Me and a small group of friends stopped by for an impromptu meal during our bar crawl. We were immediately seated (around 6pm on a Saturday) and had a basket of free chips and salsa come our way shortly after. Always a nice surprise when that happens. Our waiter was kind and our food came out pretty quickly after ordering. I ordered a burrito bowl with the chicken which is marinaded in soy sauce and pineapple juice so a little different than you might think but I thought it was tasty. The portion size was large so I left stuffed! It was my first time here and it was great - I would visit again. read more

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We hadn't been in a few years, and thought we'd try something different than our usual go-to spots. The prices had definitely gone up, which is understandable. The quality had definitely gone down. The steak in the tacos did not taste like they were cooked recently. They were chewy and dry at the same time, and probably had been kept in a deep well, which seems to defeat the purpose of using ribeye. The consistency was that of Taco Bell, which is fine if you're at Taco Bell. The service was subpar, with minimal attention during what appeared to not be a busy time. There was residue on the walls and we had to swat flies sitting nowhere near the door. Probably won't be back for at least another few years. read more

TERRIBLE!!! Went there last night for drinks. The old guy running the bull was the rudest person I've ever met. I understand dealing with people drinking can be frustrating but it's uncalled for to be so nasty to people that aren't acting the fool. He forcefully grabbed my Arm and kicked me out because I asked him why he was so rude. DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. He needs to be fired. read more

Reid was the best!!! Great service, great food what more can you ask for! We loved the tacos texican style. We had the ribeye and chicken. Both were tasty. A great stop on King St with a lot of seating and nice decor. They even have a mechanical bull. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Do not go here if you like fun. Management is unbearable. I've never been to a place with more rules than drink options.

This is your typical Mexican restaurant but more than 2x the price. You can go to any of the Mexican restaurants in Mount Pleasant or West Ashley and have a better meal for half the price. read more

We made a reservation here for my friend's bachelorette party for dinner specifically for their mechanical bull shenanigans after. Unfortunately for us, it was not running that whole weekend. As my friend said, "I'm not mad, just disappointed." Their Texas mule said it was served with Tito's vodka, but it tasted so much like tequila I was left very confused. The protein bowl was good, but very dry so I had to add the salsa that came with the chips on top. A side of guac was a steep $4 so not worth it. Overall, fun vibes, nice service (they gave a free tequila shot to our bride) but mediocre food. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Protein bowl - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great experience, food, service, ambiance. The drinks were delicious and so was the food.

Really this review is for the manager/owner. Food was good, waitress were awesome but Roy (the owner) was not pleasant. We came here for some last minute food before we head home for the night. We were visiting SC with a big group and simply put Roy ruined our night. He was extremely rude to our party and especially rude to our friend and repeatedly told him to sit down like he was a child or something. Our group is very respectful and polite at all times as we were raised right, but I can't say the same for Roy. Add on top of that he was very disrespectful to his staff and constantly micromanaged them. Just not the best atmosphere especially if your visiting. If your looking to get talked down to like a child and be disrespected this place is for you! If not, avoid it at all costs. read more

Service is terrible, the manager is very disrespectful and uncomfortable. If you can find a place for a quick bite anywhere else I strongly advise that you should! read more

Service was great, but the food was absolutely awful. Everything from salsa to cheese dip to beans and tacos tasted like it was sprinkled with sugar.even the taco salad was yucky. It had tasteless chunks chicken, no beans and tons of onion. Do not waste your money. It is simply a loud bar. read more

My daughter raved about this restaurant, she invited me during a summer break and it was nice. The food was great, hate I missed the opportunity to ride the bull. read more

It's a happening place on a Friday night when we went. Great and fun atmosphere where you can eat and drink and watch patrons ride the mechanical bull. Complimentary chips and salsa given. Cheese enchiladas reminded me of a quesadilla texture... thick cheese. Queso was good. Margs were delicious. Really liked the tropical storm one that I got. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Cheese enchiladas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Service was outstanding food was great, and my margarita was delicious! Looks like a great place for fun with the bull. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Full Burrito Bowl - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We enjoyed our meal at El Jefe. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the free salsa and chips although the salsa very very runny. The place is cute and colorful but the floors were filthy. The service was efficient. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Lone star ribeye sandwich - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We call ahead to make sure they allow dogs, they did, however we sat outside, right out on sidewalk. Didn't go inside, but they have sports on and bar. Nice and respectful customer service by waiter and host. Waiter gave recommendation their rib eye option for protein, describing its marination process and how good it is. We went for it and didn't disappoint. Great portions, great flavors. Overall, greatbfood experience. read more

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Arrived in Charleston late Thursday and only two places were open on long street with this being one of them! Checked out the menu and gave it a go. Never had Texan pho before and it was soooo yummy! Even the drinks were delicious. I traveled with two friends who don't normally drink and they took a sip of mine and ordered one each for themselves! It wasn't crowded Thursday night. Service was alright as I had to ask twice for a water and we also had to ask for napkins and utensils (this was even after they brought out the food). But that being said the crowd and music was fine and the food was yummy. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Texan Texican Pho Bowls - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Stopped in for Taco Tuesday/Happy Hour and grabbed an early dinner. The free chips and salsa, plus $5 margaritas are an immediate plus, making this a great spot if you're just looking for a quick stop or somewhere to hang. Our server was pleasant, greeted us quickly and knew all of the specials. We both ordered quesadillas, which were very minimal and left a little to be desired. There's a lot of other offerings though, tacos are more their thing. If you're coming at night there's definitely a bar vibe with the mechanical bull, and spacious bar area! Plus some outdoor seating options when it's nice. read more

El Jefe Texican Cantina - Happy hour rocks and frozen margaritas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

El Jefe King st. Downtown Charleston SC is packed with restaurants catering to every appetite. We chose Tex-mex on this Thursday night around 8:30 pm. The place wasn't crowded or playing music so loud it's impossible to carry on a conversation or do some close-up magic. Unfortunately, as good as the he location or ambience was the place didn't have one porter or stout to drink. The darkest beer they served was a modello negro with slice of lime. Matty our bartender was distractingly beautiful which was a good thing. I ordered the 3 tacos platter and the Texican wrap and fries. The wrap was definitely something I would order again, but I will have to pass on the tacos. The Street style Rib eye taco had good sauce but the meat was dry and hard. The American and Texican were edible for sure but nothing special. I chose to skip the sides of rice and beans that come with the 3 tacos though on second thought I probably should have tried them. The Texican wrap came with a good portion of waffle cut fries. My friend ordered the quesadilla plate that looked good but had to ask for sour cream and optional spicy sauce. My meal didn't arrive until after my friend had actually finished his large quesadilla. Irregardless we both took the time to entertain the staff and patrons with some sleight of hand which was highly appreciated. If you are looking for Tex mex cuisine in the heart of the south, one could find better and worse for sure. But few have mechanical bulls. read more

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Came in for a quick drink as we were making our way down the street. The bull drew us in. Roy, the GM/owner, made the whole experience horrible. The ID checkers at the door warned us their boss was in tonight but we didn't understand what that really meant. Roy came out of the back and immediately started yelling at us. The tone and delivery was off the bat loud, demeaning, and disrespectful. He came in HOT! There are crazy rules of where you can hold your drink, drinks must be on the table at all times, where you can stand, etc.. You're not able to stand and watch your friends on the bull. You essentially need to be in the bar area by the front door. All workers voiced their opinions on their boss. I would stay away. read more

Don't eat here. The food was very mid. Seafood tacos don't order them. Manager was very rude about seating us even though the place was empty. 3 stars only because of the mechanical bull and seems like a fun drinking spot. read more

I can truly say that El Jefe was one of the worst experiences of my life. The owner Roy threatened me physically and I have never felt more scared. He took my phone out of my hands and hovered over me while his hands were on my shoulders as I feared for my life. I cried in the street while waiting for my friends as threatened to physically remove me. Please never come here if you care for your own or anyone else's safety. His staff told us that if the owner is here it would not be a good night. read more

The owner was extremely rude and disrespectful to my friend, forcefully touching her and her property while she was only being respectful. DO NOT RECOMMEND if you want to be respected and feel safe. read more

They have a bull to ride, chip and salsa. Fun vibes but not the best food. Great location. Good service

I'm a native Texan. To be honest the food at this place is pretty bad. Tasteless, no spice, and "cheap". It is nowhere close to the type of good Texmex you would find in Texas. I had the chili con queso which was low on the chili and high on the bland fake cheese sauce. I also had the enchiladas which were very bland. The "ranchero sauce" was just melted cheese on top and overall they very dry and bland. The beans were good. It is basically a cheap "college" bar with food looking like Texmex. On a positive, the service was good, the music was good, and the canned beer was very cold. Overall the poor food quality would keep me from ever coming back. read more