We had a large group head to El Mariachi to celebrate a friend's engagement and they absolutely handled it like pros! From the moment we sat down, the staff was incredibly attentive--our drinks arrived quickly and they were right there to take everyone's orders without missing a beat. What really impressed us was that all of the food came out at the same time and piping hot, which is no small feat with a big group! I ordered the chicken tostadas. I personally thought they could have used just a little more flavor, but they were still good and I definitely enjoyed them. If you're in the downtown Albany area and looking for a place that can handle a crowd while keeping service quick and friendly, I would absolutely recommend El Mariachi. Managing a large, celebratory group like ours isn't easy, but they did a fantastic job! read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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Had early dinner here on arrival in Albany. This is a traditional Mexican restaurant if you like "real" Mexican food as opposed to more modern versions we have in our home town. Colorfully decorated dining room. Service's good and ambience's nice. Portions were large although some of the entree dishes a bit pricy - my 3 fish tacos was $28 even though it did come with rice and beans so at least there was enough leftovers to take home. read more

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Stopped at El Mariachi before the MVP Arena show with my esposa, mi suegra, and a mutual friend who somehow knows everyone and no one at the same time. Weather was solid, so we sat outside -- big win. Sunshine, cold drinks, and a light breeze carrying the scent of sizzling carne asada. Chef's kiss. First off -- the drinks hit colder than your ex's last text. Margarita was so cold I think I saw it shiver. My wife said, "Is this lime fresh-squeezed?" I said, "Mi amor, I don't care if it was stomped by angels -- it's delicious." Food? Traditional Mexican, not that drive-thru Tex-Mex confusion. Real-deal tacos, cheesy enchiladas, fresh guac so creamy it had my suegra nodding silently like it was church. If she approves, it's legit. Service was quick, chill, and friendly. Our server hit us with the perfect combo of "do you need anything?" and "I'll leave you alone to vibe." Respect. She called my suegra "señora" with such grace I swear the tip doubled on impact. Pro tip: go early before a concert. Parking was a breeze, we were in and out, and still had time to people-watch all the chaos downtown. By the time we got to the arena, we were full, feeling muy bien, and ready to scream along to songs we only halfway know. Final thoughts: El Mariachi isn't just dinner -- it's a vibe. A pregame party with tamales instead of tailgates. Good prices, cold drinks, and tacos that'll haunt your dreams (in a good way). ¡Dale! Don't sleep on this place. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Quattro Amigos - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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I really enjoy the food and vibes here. I love that you get chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. Their menu has an entire vegetarian section and you can't go wrong with anything really but I particularly enjoy the bean and cheese burrito, chile relleno, and tamales. The rice and bean sides that come with every entree are always delicious as well. Sometimes we go there just to have some queso and margs, which are especially enjoyable on nights when the back patio is open. Service is always pleasant and quick, the space is clean and cozy -- all-in-all El Mariachi is one of my favorite nights out in Albany. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

If one wishes to have an authetic Mexican dining experience, look no further than the wonderful El Mariachi, located on Hamilton Street. Every dish we've had has been superb and the service is outstanding. On this trip, G/F had the Flautas and I had the Pozole Y Tostada. We started off with Papas con Chorizo and the Hongos. Everything was outstanding and Paco, our waitstaff, was especially helpful. We will definitely be returning. read more

We made a reservation for a relatively large group (9) pretty late but the restaurant was really accommodating and sat us promptly on arrival! The chips and salsa for the table were a delicious start and the food was also really great. I'll definitely be back to try the other options! We were also there to celebrate a friend's birthday and they came out with a hat and flan which was so nice and was a great celebration. The restaurant has a great ambiance and the decor and space is so cool. The servers were also really nice as well. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Enchiladas Suizas - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

Authentic Mexican Food! Service was good drinks yummy. Definitely going back. Me had the sampler and Enchilada Banera Was delicious. Guac was delicious. read more

Considering I came with a a very large party (around 20), the staff were accommodating. When it was time to order desert they came around with a playe, displaying all the options. It was quite odd, fast paced, and stressful. The food came out realitivley quickly but wasn't the greatest thing I have ever tasted. The room was very small and it was hard to move anywhere read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Empanada Suez - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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Stopped by El Mariachi on a Sunday for a late lunch/early dinner. We sat by the bar at the entrance (the restaurant is an odd shape so we did not see much of the rest of the restaurant. It was a bit quiet when we dined but I think it was due to the time of day. Started with beverages and the complimentary chips and salsa- which was tasty and fresh! We ordered the flautas and tamales with chicken (both dishes come with rice and beans). Let me tell you there was soo much food! You will be so full when you leave (and/or will have plenty to take home for later!). Both dishes were quite tasty, but I just felt there could be a little more flavor in the sauces included in the dishes (like a spicier sauce perhaps). We ended the meal with tres leches, which was the real star of the show. The dessert was so delicious- I would come back time and time again for this tres leches! The service was also excellent, the perfect amount of interaction you'd want from your server. Also, it's street parking but when we arrived it was super easy to find a spot. Overall, I enjoyed the food from el mariachi, and would like to return either with a bigger crowd or during a more lively time to see the restaurant in its prime. Definitely check it out for yourself! read more

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Amazing service and great food! A go to spot in Albany, for some great mexican food! If we come back to Albany we will be coming back

Came here for my friends birthday dinner. We all had a great experience and the service was fast. The food was delicious. Good margaritas. I just would say that they don't include prices on their drink menu so just to let the people know the skinny margarita is $15. read more

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Great drinks, food and service. Cannot wait to return! Happy Cinco De mayo! Love it! read more

We came here as a family of 4 (toddler & baby) after a long drive. Looking around the area, seemed like a good restaurant--especially since we haven't had Mexican in a while. We got mushroom and spinach quesadillas for the kids, shrimp with verde sauce, pork in orange sauce, and then 4 tacos (marinated pork, tongue, steak, and goat). Shrimps were a winner but everything else was ok. I am unsure if this is probably catered to a more "america" taste but I definitely found the food a little blander than anticipated in Mexican cuisine. Service was solid but not out of this world. Restaurant itself was beautifully laid out and perfect for a quaint night out. read more

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The food was outstanding. The drinks were a little overprice. Overall experience was outstanding

Great food, inside is a bit small. service 5/5! I really enjoyed the traditional mexican music vibe! read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Cute cactus glass for margs - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

My first time and last . Do not order the tostadas you will be disappointed. I opened the container and ate a few bites when I couldn't take it anymore and decided to throw it away. read more

El Mariachi is offering both indoor and outdoor dining, now that the greater Capital Region has been in Phase 4 of reopening for some time. We were the first ones to be seated indoors for lunch on a recent weekday. The restaurant was air-conditioned and comfortable. I ordered sangria and a poblano & cheese tamale. Our server was very nice and the food was beautifully presented. My husband enjoyed his burrito, but my beautiful-looking tamale had a thin strip of poblano and no cheese. It was basically just cornmeal. I didn't complain about the problem. I just won't order a tamale there again, but I have to say, the staff made the dining experience nice. I consider what happened to be an aberration. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Comfortable setting. Nice wait staff. Very good sangria. - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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From the outside it's a cute little place and when you walk in you realize it's pretty big. The bar is right in front and then there's a beautiful sitting area and outdoor patio. The servers and bartender are soo soo kind. We just went to order food for takeout but they got us water and made us really comfortable. The food was out very quickly and it was delicious I got the chicken chimichanga and it is to die for! It's packed with cheese and chicken. The chicken was so tender and well seasoned. The salsa verde was so tasty and the rice and beans were amazing sides. This meal Was so delicious I cannot wait to go back! My friend got the chicken enchiladas and they LOVED IT! They were full of delicious sauce and there was a filled amount of meat. It was packed with chicken and flavor . We are about to be regulars here read more

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Amazing as always! We love coming here for the food, the drinks, the service and the atmosphere! Yesterday was our first time sitting outside and it was so nice! I tried the taquitos for the first time and they were delicious. We brought my mom for her first time at the restaurant itself and she absolutely loved it! read more

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Had a delightful meal on their patio: guacamole crema, which was loaded with thinly sliced onion, followed by mole poblano y pollo (that's chicken mole, folks). That was great mole! The pictures will give you a sense of proportion, aka HUGE. Nice service, nice food, I'll definitely return. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Mole poblano y pollo (chicken mole). Check out that fork for scale!! - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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Illegal business practices. El Mariachi has a credit card fee. They post a sign stating a credit card surcharge as if that allows them to legally charge it. Surcharges for using credit cards are illegal under Consolidated Laws of NY, General Business (GBS) CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE 29-A, §518. This law was upheld at the US Supreme Court in their decision on Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman, 581 U.S. ___ (2017). The food was... fine. There is no AC inside, which was not great on a 90+ degree day. I have other thoughts but I don't want to detract from the message that, at best, El Mariachi management neglected their due diligence. I expected much more from a long standing establishment. read more

Good food and good service. Would recommend and go again. It was so great. Got the guacamole and shrimp chimichangas

Loved their cheesy Gorditas! I love that they make fresh corn tortillas for everything. Definitely hits different when they add that homey authentic touch to their food as well as around the restaurant! Loved the different levels and rooms to sit and eat in, and also having the option to sit outside. The waiter was accommodating to our needs and helpful with all our questions. read more

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Sorry, like I've said before, I've lived in Mexican and Tex Mex country, and know real Mexican and Tex Mex food. This place just doesn't cut it. The theme of this review is "canned" and "pre-made". We had to send two dishes back, because they were horrible and not even what the dish is supposed to be. We ordered the Hongos appetizer, which was called "Hongos El Mariachi" probably because it was their version, to have an excuse for why it is so bad. The menu description, (Mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, chopped onions, garlic & sautéed in balsamic vinegar) was more like canned mushrooms mixed with canned jalapenos, plus some onions and peppers with some balsamic vinegar, nuked in a microwave (the plate was hot). It was not sautéed. As a result, it was way too salty. It tasted like they added the Jalapeno juice from the can which made it more like salty mushroom soup then real Mexican Hongos appetizer. We also asked for fresh Chile relleno cooked without the breading. They said they could not. My wife asked, "Why? All other good Mexican restaurants make various versions of Chile relleno no problem." The waiter finally admitted that the Chile relleno was purchased pre-made. This is pretty sad for an establishment that many claim great Mexican food. On to the Margaritas. No! They are not Margaritas. They use a Tequila blend. In Mexico, it is practically illegal to call something a Margarita unless it uses 100% pure agave Tequila. The stuff that they use, Giro, is cheap, and yet they still charge $10 for it. Sorry, I could go on and on, but really is one of the most frustrating things I've had to endure moving up here to Albany... so so Mexican food. Not to be mean, but the Yelp reviewers that give this place more than 3 stars, probably have never ever had real decent Mexican food. And please stop using the word, "authentic" when describing this place. It gives "Real Authentic" Mexican food restaurants a bad name. This place is far from authentic Mexican food. Until you've actually tried authentic, maybe wait before using the term. It's like me trying an Oscar Meyer sausage for the first time, and calling it a real authentic brautwurst. Just not right. There were some good things. Their salsa was not bad, but too mild. When our dish came out they asked if we wanted hot sauce. "Of course," I said, expecting them to bring a hotter version of their salsa. Nope... more pre-made stuff. See photo. I would say the only highlight of the day was the free flan they gave me for my birthday, but I could tell that was the same as the one in Price Choppers frozen section. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Flan from a can. - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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I heard this place was ranked as the best Mexican restaurant in the capital region so wanted to finally give it a try. The margarita I had was fantastic. The bartender was super nice. I ordered the chicken burrito. Pretty solid overall and definitely filling. Would need to visit again and try something else but definitely worth another visit. Going to need to wow me with the next plate to put them up against El Charro in my book. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Chicken Burrito with Meat - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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very friendly, capable staff. delicious food and quick service. clean and good food. Would highly recommend

Went there on a busy night (July 4th, Empire State Plaza Fireworks night) last minute because the food trucks on the plaza had lines that didn't seem to end. We sat outside in the patio area. They were clearly hustling to keep up with the demand. Service was very friendly, and understandably a little slow. Considering they were packed solid. Food came out quickly nonetheless. I had the Shrimp in red sauce with rice and black beans. The dish was delicious, had a touch of heat and was very flavorful. The rest of my party had the sirloin with rice and black beans which was also delicious. I haven't been here in quiet a while but I was glad I went back...made some very hungry teenagers in my party very happy to get good food without waiting on those long lines at the plaza! read more

While the name is a little misleading, as in, no Mariachi bands in sight or within earshot, this place is still worth the stop. Nestled right on the corner of South Swan/Hamilton Streets and the stoic Empire State Plaza, El Mariachi is the perfect stop for some festive pre-show chow before a night at The Egg, a casual happy hour when you're really feeling a house marg, drinks on the patio in warmer weather, or just whenever you need to satisfy your craving for authentic Spanish/Mexican eats. Not incredibly famished and on a timeline, my partner in crime and I perched at the bar and ordered a couple house margs and a queso dip, and they both hit the pre-show spot. In queso didn't know, the dip is large and in charge, exactly how you'd want a queso dip to be -- not puny. It's thick and creamy, and packs a little bit of heat. We also had a side of delicious, chunky, fresh salsa, so that was a nice combo. This dip experience was a unicorn: we ran out of chips *before* the dip, and those are problems you want in life. The bartender was cool about refilling our basket of chips (unsure if there was a charge for that), so no need to really worry about proper chip/dip ratio, you can just go nuts with the cheese, because as I said, it's the closest thing to a never ending bowl of queso. The chips were homemade, and all that TLC yields A much hardier chip; it's thicker and has a grainier texture. They also have a stronger corn flavor and less of an oily finish. It would have been cool/useful to have been given a small dinner set up at the bar -- utensils, a small plate, heck, even some napkins -- to accompany our munchies, as it proved to be rather annoying/awkward to share the dip with my buddy, praying cheese wouldn't spill off my hearty chip and land on my sleeve in between bites, while also shoveling chips dripping with queso into my mouth with reckless abandon, but we made do. Your margarita deserves an upgrade, and only the best ingredients --top-shelf tequila, fresh lime, and Grand Marnier -- will do in a Cadillac-level marg. Luckily behind this bar, that recipe is standard practice for the house marg. read more

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I came here when they first moved into this place was formerly Yono's. I have eaten here a number of times and the food has been always been great! The atmosphere is genuine and the staff are very friendly. And the one time I needed a change in the dish, Senor Eduardo rectified it. Prices are reasonable and the is great! read more

My friends and I went here last night and sat on the back patio where the weather was warm and spirits were high. Also, the patio was decorated nicely and the tables were distanced. The staff was very nice. I enjoyed the drinks -- especially the chambord margarita and the DELICIOUS coffee! For dinner I had the queso fundido and salad. Yes, I kept my food selection low-carbs, lol. I also tasted some of my friend's guacamole, which was fresh and tasty. I like the new paper menus! Again, it was very nice sitting on the patio, laughing and dining with friends. Oh and I found a great parking spot on the same block! I look forward to returning. :-) read more

The staff was really friendly from the point we walked in until when we left. Fantastic margaritas!!! I ordered the chicken burrito with 2 sauces and the accommodated. Both sauces where great. Would recommend this place for sure! read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - Pollo San Marco Lunch - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York

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Excellent service and delicious food. Plenty to take home. They have a varied menu, so hard to choose just one main course. We started with house made guacamole, flavored with just the right amount of lime and served with crispy chips. We chose sizzling Fahitas, one with steak and the other with chicken. Both were served with grilled peppers and onions along with a side each of beans and rice. Sour cream, salsa, and guacamole topped it off and 3 fresh tortillas to wrap it all up. Everything was fresh and flavorful. So full I could burst! read more

Unfortunately this restaurant did not come through for us this past weekend. We ordered drinks after waiting for about 20 mins. And when the drinks finally showed, we ordered 1 app and our 4 meals. The server was nowhere to be found, and we were just looking to order another round of drinks, maybe a replenishment of chips too. After 2 hours of waiting for the appetizer and trying to get the servers attention, it finally showed, with the entrees. Then we finally were able to get that 2nd round of drinks when the food was dropped at the table. Had there been more attentiveness, it probably would have been a 4th or 5th reorder of the drinks given the amount of time we waited. 2 stars given because the sangria is really good and the restaurant is doing the QR scan codes for paperless menus. read more

Meh...adequate Mexican food. Nothing really above average. Run of the mill margaritas coming in at $40 a pitcher. Service wasn't overly friendly but nonetheless a place to duck into on a rainy day for lunch close to downtown. read more

This place is fun. It's loud. It's busy. It's conveniently located. It's "American-Mexican" with many gloppy cheese-laden dishes to choose from. But they do have grilled fish tacos. Score. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly not the worst. A bit of unnecessary grease on the corn tortillas and the fish did have a slightly fishy smell (which it shouldn't). The black beans and rice were good and I really liked the margarita on the rocks (with salt). Our table of 6 shared guacamole and chips...the guac was a winner. I would go back just for that and adult beverages. Others at the table had a variety of items that I didn't get the names of...but they enjoyed their choices. Service was very attentive and friendly. Just set your expectations regarding the food if you've ever had "real" Mexican. But you'll have a good time here....especially after one or two of those 'ritas. read more

Meh. I loved the outside seating but the drinks weren't made well and the food was satisfactory. The service was good. Ordered queso and it was super thick and hard. I got a frozen blackberry margarita and it was all ice then runny from the flavor. The frozen mango margarita was runny and pretty much only tasted like tequila. Compared to la fiesta in Clifton park, this place makes it worth the drive out there. The chicken burrito was good and BIG but there was no rice and beans that came with it. The avocado salad was huge but they didn't cut the lettuce so it was hard to eat without lettuce falling off the plate all over the table. The avocado salad was good though. It overall was ok but I wouldn't go back there again unless I was starving and not too hungry, wanting to sit outside. read more

There are times when I could not disagree more with a yelp rating of a restaurant and El Mariachi 100% falls into the category. This place is super authentic, bomb.com food not to mention ginormous portions + tasty sangria, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere and an overall fun vibe. With outdoor patio in the back...it kinda seals the deal. Granted I am an out of towner but living in Manhattan there is no shortage of Mexican places. I've been to my fare share - El Mariachi is spot on. I scarfed down my sizzling steak fajitas and my husband and his brother got the Pollo el mariachi which was super creamy and delicious. A repeat favorite for his girlfriend is the enchiladas bandera. If that's not enough, idk what is (insert mic drop:) read more

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Food: 3, barely. Service: 1 Atmosphere: 3.5-4 Price: 3 - moderate This one is a tough one to write. El mariachi used to be a favorite of mine, and I used to visit frequently. I hadn't been in over a year or more, since the fire. Went for lunch with some co-workers. We took different cars to go and some walked and so we all arrived for our reservation at the restaurant and table at different times within 10 minutes. The server never came over as each person arrived nor when we were all sat. We did have water and menus on the table. I was never asked for a drink order. We were given the chips and salsa but no plates. We asked for small plates and only 4 were brought to the table and dropped off instead of enough for all people at the table. Odd. after a short time, the chip baskets sat empty and again we were not asked if we wanted any drinks or had any menu questions. We were asked if we were ready to order and so placed our order. Food was delivered to the table by a gentlemen that wasn't our server. Not talking to us. Not asking if anything else was needed. Just dropped food and left. All the water glasses on the table were empty and at least 3 people at the table wanted hot sauce, but we had no waitress or never saw her. There was a table near us of a group of lunch time workers. They were closer to the entrance to the small side dining room and each time "our server" entered the room, she was stopped by them for something and so for over 10 minutes after us getting our food delivered and us trying to get her attention for drinks, water fills, hot sauce, it just wasn't happening. I think they had 2 waitresses (or took ours) and we had none. I got up, walked into the bar area and the other server was just standing & talking at the end of the bar and not busy and no one in there. Kind've frustrating and inexcusable. I let her know we needed drinks, water and hot sauce. Food was okay, but kind've lacked flavor and the portions seemed to have gotten smaller than I recall. A few at the table ordered burritos and a some ordered tacos. Others went with pollo San Marco, Chilaquiles, and something else. We also started with an order of Guac and queso. When the Guac and queso were brought out, it was with no plates, and again our waters sat empty. (I was busy talking or would've notified server and asked politely) before she left. Overall, the food was passable but mostly ho-hum. Reminded me of frozen meals I can make at home. Rice and beans sides lacked flavor. Due to the lack of service, and the overall lack of satisfaction with the meal, I probably won't be in a rush to return soon, especially with places like El Patron and Ama Cocina in the area. read more

very good place to eat foood Is number 1 . The place is very nice to go to and have a good eat with friends or family. read more

Took my wife to dinner for her birthday. I ordered the Bistec Ranchero ($26.95). It's a 12oz steak topped with tomatoes, onions, and poblano peppers. Sounded great. Ordered it cooked medium. It came almost raw. I almost never send anything back. I shows the waitress and she said "oh, that's not even cooked, I'm so sorry." She took it away. They brought it back to me (same steak) the sauce charred and now it tasted burnt. It was awful. No attempt was made to solve the issue. I even paid for it (why- Did not want to make it a "thing" for my wife's birthday dinner with my kids). Very disappointed. read more

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant II - My bill - Mexican Near Me - Albany, New York