El Maguey

I was disappointed in my recent visit to Los Potrillos. This was one of my favorite spots to stop…read moreon road trips... but it's gone downhill and fast. For starters, the bathroom had 1.5/2 broken toilets and the floor was flooded with mystery liquid... I could barely make it to the sink without almost slipping. It also smelt horrible and the bathroom was legitimately falling apart. Now onto the service... it took them 30 minutes to take our order (and it wasn't that crowded). The server was not friendly either. However, since they were out of guac she did give us free queso which was very nice. The chips and salsa were excellent, as was the Mexican rice. My $15 grilled chicken quesadilla on the other hand... was sub par and small (see photos). The grilled chicken itself was somewhat stiff. Some pieces had only chicken... others only cheese. This was discomforting. Where is the fusion of flavors? Anyways, this is not the restaurant that I remember.

Went in for Sunday lunch and our party of 4 was seated right away. Hot chips and a spicy salsa was…read moreserved and drinks were ordered and brought rather quickly along with our ordered cheese dip. We placed our lunch order and enjoyed our conversation until the meal arrived with drink refills and chips coming, the food was delicious! They did a great job getting the particulars of the orders correct (everyone had something special). We enjoyed the meal and stayed at our table for a while talking and never felt rushed. The service and the meal was amazing! Will definitely want to be back!

S&P

Arroz con camarón- Mexican rice with grilled shrimp, veggies, and pineapple

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Rancho Nuevo

3.8(115 reviews)

1.5 mi

CLOSED. This place used to be our favorite Mexican food…read morespot. Then they closed for "remodeling," but it's been almost a year and they're still closed. We really miss it!

This is the 3rd and last of the 3 sit down Mexican restaurants in Front Royal that we have tried…read more We started with chips and salsa and a surprisingly tasty coleslaw. They had a $5.50 lime margarita special....did not need the 2nd one but yummy. I ordered the Rancho Nuevo Fajitas - there was plenty for two people to fully enjoy and still bring some home. Wonderful flavors, the char added an extra yumm factor She had the Asada plate and enjoyed every bite. A nice thin steak cooked perfectly with the perfect amount of sides to stuff the tortillas. To top it off we had a tasty flan. I would have preferred a warm sauce over the top but it was still enjoyable. Out of the 3 Mexican restaurants this has become our new #1, the salsa bar has won us over.

Salsa bar.

Burrito

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Exterior. Lots of free parking.

Sol y Luna Cal Mex Food

4.8(12 reviews)

1.9 mi

My family was staving when we left Shenandoah National Park but since we're just visiting here, we…read moredid not know where to go. So glad we stopped and ate here. The food was authentic, fresh and absolutely delicious. Also, the portions were huge!

We were in the mood for something different than our usual & came across Sol y Luna with high…read moreratings. We drove to the location, didn't see it at first, then saw the food trailer in the back corner of the parking lot. At first I thought, nah... I want a sit down restaurant, but decided to take a look at the menu. Do NOT do what I almost did ...and drive away! We studied the menu, ordered, and WOW! what a surprise!!! 1-The containers of food were HEAVY! My eyes popped when I saw the generous portion size 2-The food had a LOT of flavor! Although we had the option of adding sauce, the food had a lot of flavor on its own 3-Very friendly couple making & serving the food 4-I admit I don't usually seek out food trucks/trailers, but this one IS WORTH STOPPING AT. 5-It left an impression... we don't live in the area, but the next time we drive thru, we WILL RETURN to order again! So glad we stopped by for our lunch & highly recommend it to others!!! You can tell the dish was made with love.

Our fresh carne asada

Chicken quesadilla

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Shrimp for the shrimp tacos

Element

4.1(286 reviews)

0.6 mi

Hard to think of anything but nice things to say about this fine establishment…read more The libations menu was extraordinary and the old fashion spinoff with elements of chocolate (with a fanciful name which I cannot recall) was smoky and delicious. The mussels were generously portioned, and paired well with the complimentary freshly baked bread. The bread also came with olive oil, but we wound up dipping it in the mussel butter juice because we couldn't get enough. For entrees, we ordered the Grilled Beef Bistro Tenders Bowl & the House Salad topped with salmon - each artisanly crafted and mouthwateringly delicious. On top of it all, the service was outstanding. A kind young lady whom I believe was the owner of the restaurant was personally attentive to all the tables. Although I'm sure the dessert would have been indulgent, we decided to go to the similarly charming C&C Frozen Treats a few doors down for a scoop of Front Royal's best ice cream!

Did not even acknowledge my existence in line. Hostess (owner) helped the couple in front of me,…read morethen promptly turned her back and walked away. I will never ever set foot in this establishment again.

Bar

House made bread

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Strawberry Cheesecake

Mama Chave

4.3(23 reviews)

0.3 mi

Great food! They are quick and courteous to customers…read more We go once or twice a month! Highly recommended

Food is authentic, excellent, generously portioned and VERY reasonably priced. Ambiance is cozy and…read morecolorful.

Horchata, chips and salsa.

Mixed fajitas! YUUUUMMMMM

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Facade

Chipotle Mexican Grill

2.0(34 reviews)

3.9 mi

My favorite restaurant in all the world - Chipotle. This particular location is very fine. Easy…read moreordering and nice table layout. Free parking - very reasonable prices -

Ate here for lunch today. Service was quick, friendly, and food was tasty! I got my food to go but…read moreinside looked clean.

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Talk Of The Mountain Seafood

4.9(7 reviews)

0.6 mi

Love Talk of the Mountain. For great crab cakes best in the area. Picked up 5 crab cakes for dinner…read moreuncooked and cooked at home in the broiler they were great.

Very pleasant staff, consistently good food, worth the drive. Interior is simple & plain, but your…read moretaste buds won't care about the dining room not being fancy... definitely consider Talk of the Mountain if nearby!

Hush puppies and Ma's potato salad

Menu of items

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Jumbo lump crab cake

Main Street Daily Grind

3.9(129 reviews)

0.6 mi

I really enjoyed their Mac n cheese.. I'm not a huge fan of Mac n cheese and rarely orders it, but…read moretheirs taste so good..

Stopped in on a cool and cloudy Monday morning in May, and enjoyed my latte. Nice space, only a few…read morepatrons at the nice, soothing folk music playing. The thing that put me off was the aggressive signage everywhere prohibiting this and that. No pets, restrooms for customers only, tables reserved for 2 or more customers, no outside food, etc. I'm sympathetic to business owners trying to prevent customers from taking advantage in various ways, but these kinds of things set an unwelcoming tone that annoys me. If you don't show a little confidence that your customers are good people, they will feel your judgment.

Inside

Caprese Salad

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Mom's Country Kitchen

4.1(105 reviews)

0.3 mi

My boyfriend and I decided to stop here while passing through Front Royal after Skyline Drive, and…read morewe couldn't have picked a better place to satisfy our cravings for homestyle comfort food! Service was fairly quick, and my salisbury steak was the best I've ever had. The sides of coleslaw and (super buttery) mashed potatoes were also flavorful and filling and balanced the meal out perfectly. We found the peach cobbler to be a tad sweet for our taste, but it was such a hearty meal overall.

Quaint mom and pop shop, with fast service & very reasonable price. You get a lot of food for how…read morecheap it is and food actually tastes great. We came with a little child; they had super clean high chair, a legit changing table and disposable liners for the changing table!! The place felt well kept and clean. Overall, very pleased with our visit. If you're looking for a home-cooked style meal, you want to visit Mom's Country Kitchen!

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Taco Bell

2.0(22 reviews)

1.3 mi

Seriously I've been a regular customer here for almost 5 years, but I rarely come here now ever…read moresince they started shrinking the portion size of the meat. Less than half of what they used to give. I miss Taco Bell but i get more for my money elsewhere.

I ordered a Beefy-5 layer burrito and got a half ass burrito!!! I called the store and stated…read more what I had received, I was told that is there Beefy 5-layer burrito, WHAT A RIP OFF. I WILL NOT GO TO THIS TACO BELL AGAIN!!!

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Manuel G.

0

2

0

2 years ago

So today, july 14 this place i stop by with my family, and their first question was how manny ppl, and is 20 their answer was ya can't bcus tables is up to 4 ppl x table he suggested not been polite u guys can go to the other restaurant where all ya family can seat all together bcus here you guys cant.. 1-the service or whoever is incharge at this time wasn't polite and disrespectful 2- i have never get this type of service on any of the restaurants i have visited in the DMV 3- this place need to work on the way the treat the ppl In my opinion i not recommend this place and the management will need take actions, of it and replace the person who was or who said that.. this is unprofessional,disrespectful. And clearly if u work for costumer service he don't deserve to be placed on taking care of costumers. Management should contact me in order to explained details of this whole situation but my coment and my opinion should be taken action read more

Amy D.

0

1

0

10 years ago

Delicious, affordable, authentic Mexican food!! So happy to have found this little Mexican jewel. Food was hot, plates even hotter. We are fairly new to the area, I'm from TX and a little hard-to-please when it comes to Mexican, not just anything will do! But, this is the place we will return to for great Mexican food, so happy I nearly cried! read more

Larry C.

0

1

0

9 years ago

My wife and I enjoyed friendly service and excellent food. We had the fajita for two and it came quickly and was delicious. We certainly highly recommend their Mexican food. read more

Marigrace D.

0

1

0

10 years ago

The atmosphere was friendly, the food came out very fast,the food was excellent and well priced, the service was perfect and management was more then welcoming. read more

bonnie p.

85

8

4

8 years ago

Great dinner, great service, great prices, great atmosphere. One of our favorite family restaurants

El Maguey - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Los Potrillos

3.9

(174 reviews)

I was disappointed in my recent visit to Los Potrillos. This was one of my favorite spots to stop…read moreon road trips... but it's gone downhill and fast. For starters, the bathroom had 1.5/2 broken toilets and the floor was flooded with mystery liquid... I could barely make it to the sink without almost slipping. It also smelt horrible and the bathroom was legitimately falling apart. Now onto the service... it took them 30 minutes to take our order (and it wasn't that crowded). The server was not friendly either. However, since they were out of guac she did give us free queso which was very nice. The chips and salsa were excellent, as was the Mexican rice. My $15 grilled chicken quesadilla on the other hand... was sub par and small (see photos). The grilled chicken itself was somewhat stiff. Some pieces had only chicken... others only cheese. This was discomforting. Where is the fusion of flavors? Anyways, this is not the restaurant that I remember.

Went in for Sunday lunch and our party of 4 was seated right away. Hot chips and a spicy salsa was…read moreserved and drinks were ordered and brought rather quickly along with our ordered cheese dip. We placed our lunch order and enjoyed our conversation until the meal arrived with drink refills and chips coming, the food was delicious! They did a great job getting the particulars of the orders correct (everyone had something special). We enjoyed the meal and stayed at our table for a while talking and never felt rushed. The service and the meal was amazing! Will definitely want to be back!

Mi Ranchito

4.4

(7 reviews)

WHAT A FIND! Tucked next to a gas station on Route 11 in Stephens City, this little gem ("since…read more2019") has a pleasant interior with nice murals and both tables and booths. We had tostados -- an appetizer that makes a nice light lunch -- and a "chicken salad" that is really a generous wreath of chicken strips (unbreaded) glazed with taste sauce and sprinkled with queso fresco. A bargain! Can't wait to go back...

While it's often talked about like a Mexican restaurant, it didn't really feel like one once there…read morethe menu and focus seemed much more centered around pupusas than traditional Mexican. I ended up getting a burrito. The food itself was okay, but nothing that really stood out. The burrito came with rice and beans, which honestly were probably the best part of the meal. Everything else was definitely edible, just lacking that flavor punch you usually expect when you're craving Mexican food. Cleanliness was another downside. The space didn't feel very well kept, which made the overall experience less enjoyable. The biggest issue, though, was the service. The woman working there was nice, but we barely saw her at all. On top of that, the wait time was rough it took over 50 minutes for our food to come out, which felt excessive for what we ordered. Overall, it wasn't terrible, but between the long wait, cleanliness issues, and the food not really living up to expectations, it's hard to say I'd go out of my way to come back.

Taqueria Guadalajara

4.5

(574 reviews)

Returned for the first time in a while, and it was the most crowded I've ever seen the place…read more Strongly recommend they consider some pads on the ceiling to absorb the sound, or maybe a carpet, but our table of three was shouting to hear each other on a Tuesday night. Salsa continues to be delicious (albeit punishing the next day), and of my three tacos, carnitas was the only one to write home about. Pescado was fishy (not in the good way), and the al pastor was, again, just okay. Pointed out my chipped water glass to the server, who was apologetic and promptly replaced it. Best tacos in the area continue to be Los Altos de Jalisco in Winchester. I said what I said.

Our second time here and we love it! Came with 4 both times, and everything was just right. We felt…read morelike we were in a friend's house with homemade delicious south-of-the-border food to eat and share. Great service, atmosphere and food! We'll be back!

El Ranchero Mexican Restaurant

3.8

(152 reviews)

Came in for dinner and once again left completely satisfied. My dish was the grilled chicken,…read moreperfectly seasoned, tender, and topped with a creamy sauce that had just the right richness. The mashed potatoes on the side were smooth and loaded with flavor, and the Spanish rice was spot on as always, fluffy, well-seasoned, and the perfect complement to the whole plate. My dining partner went with the enchiladas, and honestly they were a showstopper. One smothered in green salsa, one in red mole sauce, both drizzled with crema and crumbled cotija cheese, the presentation alone was beautiful, almost like the Mexican flag on a plate! The flavor combination was incredible, with each sauce bringing something totally different to the table. The portions are generous, the food comes out hot, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Whether you're in the mood for something classic or want to try something a little more traditional, El Ranchero has you covered. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a solid, satisfying Mexican meal. We'll definitely be back!

Consistently good food, service and traditional Mexican decor make this a staple in the Winchester…read morearea. My wife and I have been coming here for years and have never one time had a bad experience. The staff know you as soon as you walk in and greet you warmly. The margaritas as tasty, perfectly filled with alcohol and the food is as solid as it gets. If you want down to earth traditional Mexican food at a good price, this is the spot to be.

Las 3 Maria’s

4.5

(13 reviews)

The food is simply the best Mexican food for many miles around! A friend recently recommended it,…read moresaying it was the best Mexican food he's ever had. I'm from San Antonio and this place is as good as many places there. Service was attentive and friendly. The ambiance is plain and casual, but we hope they succeed and stick around for a long time.

My wife and I were traveling through so we stopped for a quick dinner. We hesitated to go in this…read morelittle restaurant because there were no customer cars and the outside appearance was not particularly inviting. We were pleasantly surprised! The food was absolutely delicious and better than the usual local Mexican restaurants food we are familiar with. I had shrimp tacos which were cooked crispy and the cheese was also a bit crispy. Many times such dishes are mushy. Several customers came in after us. We definitely recommend this little gem.

Taqueria El Pueblito

4.0

(23 reviews)