I went to El Jinete for lunch with two friends. The server was unfriendly and didn't understand a lick of English. He didn't bring plates for the chips and dip, and the chips were overcooked, not salty, and didn't taste good. As for my chimichanga, the chicken was chewy and not tender at all, and the chimichanga was small. The server never checked to see if we needed our drinks topped off. To make matters worse, out booth was very uncomfortable. El Cerro Azul is an excellent alternative right down the road. They have great service, delicious food and comfortable seating. Anyone wanting tasty Mexican food in Powhatan should go to El Cerro Azul! read more

We made an order by phone and they didn't tell me what location I was calling to and I ordered to a Cumberland restaurant, so we decide to make another order but they want us to charge for both orders even when we only getting one. I've heard about their bad service but not in this situation. Wouldn't recommend it. read more

We honestly decided to try El Jinete because the other delicious Mexican restaurant in Powhatan had too long of a wait, and we were very satisfied at El Jinete and will definitely return. Underrated on Yelp in my opinion. Food and service were both excellent. Thankful for two delicious Mexican restaurants to choose from! read more

We visited the new Mexican restaurant in Powhatan, El Jinete for dinner. We were very pleased with our experience. The restaurant was a bit dated, but so are most in Powhatan. The restaurant is located on the left hand side of the Food Lion strip mall. There was plenty of free parking in front. Upon entering our host sat us with a smile.. (important to me). Our waiter, Alan introduced himself and was very friendly. Our group of five ordered the table side guacamole $8, chick n wings $5, Mexican soup $5, chix soft taco $3, chix hard taco $3, side of white rice, side of yellow rice and the Pollo Costeno $12. The table side guacamole was excellent, we added a little salt and pepper and we loved it. It gave us sometime to speak with Alan and learn some history about the restaurant and the owner. The food came out quickly, about 10-15 minutes after ordering which was very much appreciated! My dad raved about the soup. My son Cole who is the pickiest 8 year old on Earth loved yellow rice but not the white one. My older boy loved the two chicken tacos but not a fan of their chicken wings.. (only my mom orders chicken wing at a Mexican place) My mom and I split the Pollo Costeno and thought it was delicious. The Pollo Costeno was flat piece of chicken with 5 shrimp topped with a creamy sauce. It included soft tortillas, yellow rice and refried beans. . It was enough food to split between us especially after chowing down on chips, salsa and guacamole. To improve, consider offering the yellow rice as a side before the white one, 86 the chicken wings or spice em up Mexican style in some fashion (dried peppers in the batter add color and flavor) and possibly add some colorful decorations to the interior of the restaurant. Atmosphere: 3.0 Service: 4.0 Food: 4.2 Value: 4.5 read more

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Delicious food, friendly service. We frequently dine here and have always enjoyed a wonderful meal.

Stopped by tonight during happy hour. No one was at hostess station so we made our way to the bar. Good service, fast turn around on decent food. We had charro salad with chicken n enchiladas verde both were good. Someone dropped off chips n salsa but no refills. My waistline thanks you but my munchie side wanted more. Will We return ? Absolutely. read more

El Jinete Mexican Grill - a plate of salad - Mexican Near Me - Powhatan, Virginia

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#shouldagottenelcerro So my mom and I wanted to sit and have a margarita while waiting for my families large to go order. We sat down order our margarita and figured out what to get the family. Waiter came to get our order we explained we want to order everything to go. He seemed confused but what ever. We explained everything and he kept ignoring our questions like "does this come with rice?" No answer. So there were things we would of ordered but didn't because idk if he didn't understand us or blatantly ignored us. Regardless I had him repeat back everything cuz I know we gave him a lot and it sounded right. We hung out drank our rita and had to ask for a refill on chips cuz we were being ignored. Never got checked on again and when he came back with our to go order my mom asked for something they missed in the order and a to go of her sweet tea that she never got refilled. He said that'll be an extra $2.50 for the tea. She replied "I never even got a refil for the drink I paid for already?" And he didn't say anything and left to come back with a refil but not in a to go cup like she asked. She was frustrated and told him that wasn't what she ordered and he didn't give a single shit. We told the host we were disappointed in the service and thankfully he had the service skills to make the moment right, but his excuse for the guy was that he was busy which it really wasn't super busy but idk what goes on behind closed doors. As someone who does customer service and serving for a living nothing excuses service like that. Foods great but the service left a horrid taste in our mouths. read more

This restaurant is in a strip mall. There is not much to the ambience. A large room with tables and booths with a long bar in the back. The bathrooms are a bit dated and a bit dirty. Service was ok. The food was the highlight. It was very good and they were large portions. I got the build your own "salad". It had lettuce, pinto beans, spanish rice, grilled shrimp(nice size), sour cream and tortilla strips. My spouse ordered the Quesadilla fajita, and he devoured it. Our son ordered the Chicken and rice, refried beans and queso. They bring chips to the table accompanied with salsa (slight heat) and a ranch type sauce that was kind of sweet. We will return but I think I'll avoid the bathroom! read more

We have been eating at Mexican restaurants less these days. Partly because I have no self control when they set the chips and salsa in front of me. But I must say the service here has been consistently great every time we have come here. Today was no exception. Add to that the specials and reasonably priced meals. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good Mexican food experience. read more

Awesome Mexican food and super delicious margaritas!!! I had a veggie chimichanga and it was perfect. Service was prompt, food hot, and everyone was friendly! Definitely our new favorite Powhatan spot! read more

El Jinete Mexican Grill - a woman drinking a margarita - Mexican Near Me - Powhatan, Virginia

I went for a margarita and a quesadilla and had the worst experience. I go out for Mexican food all the time. I asked for no peppers, my chicken quesadilla came with peppers. I asked for a new one. They brought me plain boiled chicken in a tortilla, no seasoning what so ever. When I said I didn't want it the manager got an attitude with me and said she's already taken one back for me. Which was their mistake to begin with. I've never seen a quesadilla look so nasty. And I've had ALOT. I didn't know cheese and meat in a tortilla was so difficult. They still charged me. They took $3 off my bill and lied and said that's how much a quesadilla cost. Which wasn't true. Do not recommend. The staff was not helpful whatsoever. Wasted my time and money. read more

The food is always fresh and tansy and the staff friendly. Prices are great and the portions substantive. Couldn't ask for better.

Never going back. They remembered me from another time I ate there and didnt tip. This last time I got 0 service sitting at the bar when the place was dead. Lemonade was watered down, also, and couldn't get a replacement. Food was good. My total ended up being 17 dollar. Wtf. Where did this 5 dollars on my bill come from? Woman tells me its Virginia tax, and the 80 cents is also tax. I am confused at this point, but trust the lie. I pay for my meal, but the total comes out to $11, so she removed it. On my receipt it had tax 1 0.80, and tax 2 0.00. That's how I know for sure they tried to steal from me. All because I dont conform to this is backwards system. read more

Love the choices they have and the fact I don't have to wait 30 mins any given night to eat dinner. Their bowls are awesome! And The staff are always so friendly. read more

The best Mexican food in Powhatan. Dined in several times, carried out even more times than I can count. Always GREAT food, good service, friendly folks. If you are expecting plaza azteca type of atmosphere....then you probably haven't been to too many Mexican restaurants. I will absolutely keep coming back here, never had a bad dish...and no one in my family has either. LOVE! read more

Fantastic restaurant! Just tried it (my family loves Mexican food). They were busy on a Thursday night but we got in & out quickly, the service was great. Very good salsa & the dinner portions were really big for a great price. My husband tried the street tacos, which he loved. Everything was fresh & tasty, it will definitely be a regular for us. read more

This place is really hit or miss. We held off going for awhile because the reviews were not great. Finally we decided to give it a try. The first time we went we were pleasantly surprised. We ordered the tableside guacamole. They came with a cart and you could customize it to your liking. It was wonderful! We asked for a recommendation for a Margarita and was suggested to try the Presidente margarita. It was equally delicious. Our meals arrived well prepared and tasty. We were eager to try El Jinete again. We came back 2 weeks later and my husband ordered the Presidente Margarita. Our waiter was detached and non attentive. He soon returned with a drink that was clearly not what we ordered. Fine, mistakes happen and when pointed out he rolled his eyes and then proceeded to get the drink we ordered. Next we were eager to experience the delicious fresh guacamole so we ordered the tableside customizable guacamole once again. Shortly thereafter a bowl of guacamole was tossed on our table. No cart, no customization, I thought perhaps the waiter was confused so I questioned him thinking maybe he misunderstood us. No, he understood and stated the guacamole was made in a cart somewhere over his shoulder. I pointed out that the menu description mentions that it's tableside and customizable. He asked if we wanted him to take it back and bring the cart over. At this point we were so frustrated we said no and then just decided to skip dinner. So, as I said, hit or miss. read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the country! Everything is seasoned perfectly and the sauces on everything are amazing. The owners are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. Once you try their food you will spoiled! The Cumberland location is also fantastic! read more

Wow I'm so happy they opened a second location here in POWHATAN. I love Mexican food and this place rocks. I have visited this location several times and they always have great food, good prices and excellent service. Can't wait till they expand and add live music and lunch buffet read more

Best value best food!!! Must go to if you're passing by or a local. The owners are on site making sure everything is on point. Great experience will visit often. Dollar taco night & is a bonus certainly more than you expected chad v read more

Food is okay, service was poor. Not a place I would visit again. Hostess was not welcoming at all, never smiled. My toddler never received his drink, good thing I always bring him something just in case this happens. My husband asked several times for white sauce, it was never brought. read more

Great vegetarian food and great margaritas! Reasonably priced and the staff is very friendly They also have really good non-vegetarian food, too! read more

Horrible service, rude waitress and mediocre food. My boyfriend and I visited this place for the first time as regulars at El Cerro Azul. Our waitress, a woman in her late 30s, takes our order and we ask for a drink menu. She brings out a smaller menu but says they don't have a drink menu ready (in small print on the menu she has it specifically says to ask your waitress for our margarita menu) which I find odd. I order a 9 oz. Margarita and she informs me they are "out of" the 9 oz. and I have to order a more expensive size (12 oz.) I reluctantly do so, as this sounds like a completely made up thing to make me spend more money. She then asks for me and my boyfriends ID's and holds his for over 5 minutes and laughs and doesn't want to serve us and begins to ask for manager when he speaks up to say it's a state issued license and it's insulting of her to do so. We are 23 and 25 and both from Powhatan. She is the one who prepares our drinks and it's obvious she didn't believe our licenses were real as there was little to no alcohol in either drink. We then receive our food. My fajitas are burnt and you could smell and see the thick black pieces of vegetables all over and my boyfriends meal was supposed to come with multiple sauces poured overtop was only covered in plain cheese. My fajitas were incredibly underwhelming for the price and I only received two small tortillas for all the food to be wrapped in. My boyfriend's steak was dry and flavorless. I normally can cut any waiter/waitress slack as I've worked in the business and I know how busy and stressful a job can be. Although, after the completely rude interaction over our IDs she then never once checked on us, did not refill our drinks, ask if we need anything or communicate at all. She did however check on the table directly across from us a total of four times from the moment they ordered food which I found very unprofessional, rude and insulting. We ask for the checks and she then finally asks if we want dessert or more drinks after we've sat finished for over 15 minutes and I ask for a to go box. I then wait another 10 minutes (it was not busy!!) for the check and she never brings me a to go box but another male employee notices and brings me one. The food was expensive and mediocre at best and the service completely unprofessional and shitty. I don't recommend unless you look 30+ and are looking for some bland overpriced Mexican. Save your money and go to El Cerro Azul where they treat you like family and you get your money's worth for drinks and food. read more