Best flan. I don't even like that kind of dessert and it was amazing! I also love going for lunch. Their fajitas and bowls are wonderful. I always come back, for take out or sit down. read more

The service and Food is so hot or miss it is unreal. The service was so rushed, they literally before we sat down​ we were asked what we would like. Also the chips where cold and stale. Ii ordered chimichanga... given not "authentic" but it was not fried it was a rolled soft taco. Just overall bad experience. The skirt steak was so over cooked it was sore leather. We paid $61 for this, if food or service good would have happily paid. Just to hit or miss, unbelievable. read more

This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant!! My fiancé brought me here because he's biased and loves it but it surpassed my expectations! I got fajitas, rice and beans and a margarita flight, the flight literally came on a huge airplane which I've never seen before!! I've never had a margarita flight before either and I really liked the variety of flavors. It was also only 15!! The food came out hot and fresh, the service was attentive even though it was busy and for some reason I didn't get a picture but they have really good queso dip too! 10/10 definitely recommend read more

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The food was amazing, reasonably priced, and served promptly. My family will definitely be back soon. All four of us had different meals and were all very happy with what we chose. (I don't understand why the rating isn't higher for this restaurant.) read more

Good food. I had the birria tacos and they were delicious. I look forward to my next visit to try a few more of their dishes.

It was a great experience. Service and food were awesome. I would definitely recommend. Drinks were strong and food was delicious. read more

El Maguey - Margarita flight! - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

I am totally amazed that I cannot even say much. I ordered a carne asada burrito. Absolutely the biggest rip off of all time. When I got home I looked in the container and there was a flour tortilla with no more than 2 oz of carne asada.... No beans, no rice, 1/2 a teaspoon of pico de gallo, a couple of teaspoons of guacamole and a 1/2 dollop of sour cream with a bag of chips and salsa. $15 wtf. In will NEVER go back. read more

El Maguey - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

So this place was good but not amazing. They have an outdoor patio which was nice. But the food was okay. Your typical "fake Mexican food" as I call it lol. I'm from Southern California so finding authentic yummy Mexican food around here is hard to come by. They have a good deal on margarita pitchers, and they were solid. - Burrito Rio Grande (3/5): I had higher expectations for a yummy burrito. It was pretty good. But just not super flavorful. read more

El Maguey - Burrito Rio Grande - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Food was ok. Service was not what you would expect. Atmosphere was pretty nice. Wife doesn't want to return for a retry.

We get takeout from El Maguey a lot since it's close to home in the south side of Columbia. They're always very quick and provide a TON of food. They even provide chips and salsa in takeout orders, which is a great addition. Sometimes when we call their restaurant, they don't pick up because they're on the other line so we have to call multiple times. Our favorite is the El Toriado - queso, shrimp, bacon, and chicken over rice. It's a huge portion and so good! We also often get a marg to go - they have two sizes and do frozen or over the rocks. Great patio and indoor dining as well. Can't speak for social distancing during COVID since we've only gotten takeout, but every time I pick up my order the parking lot if packed. read more

I hadn't eaten at this restaurant since I moved away from Columbia 10+ years ago & it was the same delicious quality & awesome service that they had then. Always worth it to eat here! read more

El Maguey was the first Mexican spot I tried after moving to Columbia, so I definitely have a soft spot! I was glad to have at least 1 spot in town that had decent Mexican food. I've had the Carne Asada Quesadilla with a side of Mexican rice, and it hits the spot every time! Their margaritas are also pretty tasty! I will say it's not the BEST Mexican food in town, but there's usually always a spot to eat right away. read more

Honestly, fairly reviewed. Not amazing not terrible. Service is super solid, however good portions were whatever. Just the arroz con pollo and got three little pieces of chicken. Queso was decent. Lettuce tasted a little spoiled but otherwise everything else was just average when it comes to Mexican restaurants. read more

I just made my first trip to El Maguey, and it will not be my last. The food was outstanding and service great. There was plenty to eat. I have been looking for a Mexican Restuarant since I moved here to Columbia. Gladd, I found this establishment. If you hanker for Mexican cuisine, do yourself a favor and try it out. I am sure you will be as surprised as I was! read more

Food was average and service was good. The problem was with the bill. I got a notification from my credit card after coming home, asking if I had intended to leave a 36% tip!! I had not! The amount that I wrote in was $2 less than what they charged my card. I was there with two others, one of whom was also overch by $1. The 3rd person was charged correctly. Needless to say, I will not be going back. read more

The food was excellent as always. We came here for my wife's birthday. She ordered the steak fajitas and I ordered the nachos Supreme. Both were delicious and came to our table quickly. The staff is very friendly and prompt. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

We had a carry out order to celebrate birthdays of three of our grown kids and grandkids We had three orders of fajitas mixed Enchiladas rice and beans for the kids They put in extra chips/ tortillas It was great and more than enough ! This sure made a effortless meal for our bunch! read more

El Maguey - a table full of mexican food - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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This establishment is deserving of so much more than a 3 star. Attentive staff, great food, and traditional honey drizzled sopapias to die for. I travel coast to coast and this place was a joy. read more

My last visit, like most to El Maguey, was underwhelming. A group of friends like to Go there. I try to give them another chance but my Meals remind me of a TV dinner. read more

Never again. Service was always poor but this last time not only was the service worse but the food was horrid, horrid, horrid. I mean gross. Oh and it smelled like a urinal cake in there. Waited ten minutes at register just to pay. Never again. Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me. read more

Food was very good and prices fair. Best I have had in Columbia. Seem like nice people.

This place is literally trash. I visited about a week ago for the second time and it was as equally terrible as the first visit. The waiters are rude and not attentive at all. They overprice for the food and charge for every little thing (i.e lettuce, tomatoes). I was served nachos that were not appealing in the least bit possible and was told that there was nothing anyone could do about it. Needless to say I will not be visiting this establishment again. read more

El Maguey - Worst "nachos" I've ever been served. - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Great Mexican food and service! Nice to come here and sit on the patio on nice days, definitely not as long of waits here as other mexican places. Love the location. Really really good prices here too. I always get the chicken chimichanga or mixed fajitas. The double fajitas are actually more than double the portion of other Mexican restaurants in the area for the same price, so this is an awesome deal! read more

Good food! Best Mexican restaurant on the south side! Nice location as well! Loved their marg and tacos! Staff was super friendly! Would score higher but their health score is a little low read more

I hate to hold any Mexican place to my standard, since I've lived in Austin and Houston the past 10 years. But El Maguey was just really, truly bad. I went in pretty hungover, which is normally customary for me. Come in feeling like hell, eat spicy Mexican, come back to life, go about my day. In this case though, El Maguey made me feel pretty lousy the whole day. The meat was truly bad. So we all know Taco Bell is gross, but at least they put enough salt and crap into their beef to fool you momentarily into thinking its tolerable. El Maguey is Taco Bell quality, but stripped of any flavor. Being the hungry type I usually am, I got two entrees. My second was the worst stuffed poblano I've ever had. It was nothing but a thick layer of fried batter with scarcely a trace of any pepper within. Inside of that was no meat as I had been let to believe, just runny, bland cheese. One thing I'll give them is that its mega cheap. Entrees were $4. I just can't do it. I care about my Mexican and this place sucked. read more

El Maguey is my go-to Mexican restaurant in Columbia. The cheese dip is so good, it's almost indescribable. It's made with that awesome white cheese, that's also on their tacos & anything else with cheese. The tacos are awesome. The taco salad fajita is awesome. The combo platters and lunch specials are great deals. The chips & salsa are finger-licking good. Don't be afraid to ask for another round before your food comes out. They make excellent margaritas, which come in about 7 different sizes. If you're planning on drinking a few, try the small pitcher, or even the regular-size pitcher. The jumbo and monster are served in fishbowl-style glasses. Try a mix of 1/2 pina colada and 1/2 strawberry margarita. It's the bomb. read more

I am not a very patient person. So when I realized that a book I needed was at MU's library, I promptly decided to drive up there this weekend to retrieve it. No waiting 4-21 days for an interlibrary loan for this lady. No way. My cousin also goes to Mizzou (much to the chagrin of this Manhattan-born, KU educated lady), so I am not that crazy. It was a nice day for a drive, a visit, and to watch selection Sunday together. We were both starving and decided to go to lunch. Mexican it was. A quick scan of Yelp suggested El Rodeo, but it's strip mall location sort of put off my cousin. At least, that's what I think. Luckily El Maguey and it's attractive stand-alone store front is right across the way. The chips and salsa were pretty bland. Bonus for hot chips, though. The food was alright, although suspiciously reminiscent of El Mezcal in Lawrence, KS. What came first, I wonder? What is it about college towns that makes enchilada sauce taste like cinnamon? I am so confused. Service was nice, although when my cousin asked for a recommendation the server just sort of looked dumbfounded. Too bad, he could have opened up that young college kid's food horizons. I have a feeling that this place is much better after drinking a margarita. It was 2 in the afternoon on a Sunday and we were the only two people there not drinking. Very strange. Overall, a nice looking place with non-surprising food. read more

This place has a great wait staff and is perfect for when you want American Mexican food smothered in processed cheese. read more

El Maguey - Love this! - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

This place got best Mexican restaurant of Columbia 2013 and half way there I checked yelp and almost went somewhere else. Not sure if it has been revamped but we came on a Thursday at five pm and service was prompt and food was delicious for a great price will definitely come here again and recommend to friends and family. My wife ordered the burrito Jalisco, I ordered the Quesadilla Mexicana and we also ordered a chicken quesadilla for our one year old daughter and quite frankly it was all great. This has to be the best Mexican restaurant in Columbia. read more

Food tastes very bland for Mexican food. Although the food sucks, the $1 are a bargain just don't expect to get a good buzz off one. They seem very watered down. Be ready to wait for a while to pay your check on a Thursday night. I went there a couple of nights ago and when my friend and I went to pay our check, the line was at least 10 people long... Also, the place feels a bit congested, not a lot of personal space. read more

We had really excellent service. The food was pretty bland and after a 32 oz margarita I didn't even have the beginnings of a buzz. Pretty disappointing. Prices are cheap, so a decent option for anyone on a tight budget. I actually like Mexican food, however, so I would rather spend my money at several other establishments in town. read more

El Maguey - Large margarita. All mix, no tequila :( - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Since they re-opened the south-side El Maguey, it is visually stunning. I normally order the cheese enchiladas with cheese sauce, and the cheese sauce has a jalapeño kick to it. The chips are normally fresh, and the cooks do a great job getting the food out quickly. read more

El Maguey - Happy Hour Specials - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Went to dinner here tonight. The service was average and we had to wait for long periods of time before we saw a waiter. The food was average and cost was reasonable. read more

El Maguey - Chicken, shrimp, and beef fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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El Maguey is the most popular of all mexican restaurants in Columbia to my family yet to me it's remarkably unremarkable. It's good, don't get me wrong, but it isn't great. In plain english, there are no dishes on the menu that make me salivate when I arrive -- even though mexican food is my real passion in life if I ever had one. It does have a relatively cheap price and has a good atmosphere, however, with short wait time and plenty of spacious comfortable seats. I've never noticed the service from waiters, with no real gaffs nor any super friendly servers. I've just accepted the restaurant as a place I'll go to every now and again to have a bite with my family. -CD read more

Nice prices, nice patio, nice servers. But Margaritas are weak AF and portions are TINY. Also hate that you have to stand in line when you're done eating to pay. Guess you get what you pay for here.. Doubt I'll ever go back to this location. read more

I lived off this food for years when I lived down the road. It was hands down my favorite Mexican food! Life hack- order the fajita taco salad, and two orders of tortillas, crunch it up and wrap it in a tilla and BAM- fajita dinner for two for $8. And it's the best. read more

I read the reviews to my friends and warned them and they didn't believe me. I tried to give it a chance but it was actually worse than I expected. The service was HORRIBLE. We all got our food at different times and also incomplete. My food was cold before any of my friends had theirs brought out. I never received any of my sides after I even asked twice. My friends order was supposed to be without sour cream or onions and she rolled her eyes. Then the food came with those things on it. Yes, It was really busy but that doesn't excuse the poor service. Food was bland like everyone says. The margarita was sugary and had almost no alcohol, all marg mix. I didn't have high expectations but omg. I do not recommend. Just go somewhere else. read more

I usually get take out once or twice a week. Always great food and plenty left over. I'm from Texas and this is as close as I've found to the Tex-Mex I'm used to. When I've dined in, the food has always come out hot and fresh and the servers are very attentive. Ask for the spicy salsa, they will bring it at no extra charge. read more

The fodd actually tasted really good, we had fajitas, nachos and enchiladas. After asking for a spicy salsa, we got a good and flavorful option. The service was friendly but slow and they brought out the wrong food. The atmosphere was lacking but it was an okay place to go. read more

I have gotten American chicken and steak tacos with added guacamole....so good!! I would recommend this place...