Looks can be deceiving. El Nopal doesn't look like much from the outside, but on a whim we opted out of Wendy's next door and gave it a try. Oh boy, we made the right choice. The restaurant is clean and vibrantly decorated. We also go to take in part of a World Cup game. Our server was so friendly, like an old friend. The menu has a great selection old favorites and specialties. My huevos con chorizo was tasty and there was enough to take home for later. Their salsa was fresh and their chips were really good. Better than most restaurant chips I've had. My son had the Carne Asada. I tasted the meat and it was very flavorful. He was actually full at the end of his meal. Quite a fit for a 17 year-old. Whether you're traveling on the road or local, I would definitely recommend El Nopal. read more

See all

There aren't many restaurants in this area of the Avenue of Saints. El Nopal looked a little suspicious on the outside. When we opened the door we were greeted by a vibrant, colorful, friendly restaurant filled with families enjoying their Sunday afternoon meal. The menu is similar to many other Mexican restaurants and the meals are well executed. A big basket of warm chips and a cruet of salsa came with the meal. El Nopal is a clean and pleasant stop on your trip from St. Louis to St. Paul. read more

Small town Mexican can sometimes be the best. Traveling on business and stumbled into El Nopal thanks to Yelp when the other restaurant in Palmyra was closed on Mondays. Friendly service, $6.99 margaritas on Monday, and super delicious shrimp tacos. Ask for the extra hot salsa and the side of cheese and lettuce to stuff the tacos. Returned a second time for the exact same dish it was so good. Very friendly. Even the people in Hannibal MO say it's the best Mexican in the area and I agree. read more

Very clean place. Food was great! Excellent service. Wasn't sure they were open, glad we took a chance. We will be back!

We were very happy with our meals tonight! We drove all afternoon on our way to Florida and arrived around 8:00pm tonight for a meal. The food order came out quick and it was delicious! Chips and salsa were great. I ordered the mixed fajitas that come with chicken, steak and shrimp...I prefer bigger pieces of meat, but the flavor was very good. Excellent shrimp, too. My husband had shredded chicken enchiladas with a cheese sauce-he said it was very good! Prices are reasonable and portions are quite large! We were pleased with our choice! read more

El Nopal is a Tex-Mex restaurant located next to the truck stop in Palmyra on Hwy 24. In a nut shell: great service, friendly staff, and an extensive menu, all in one of the cutest over-the-top Mexican decors we have ever seen. The interior was so colorful and unique that it is almost tongue in cheek, but we enjoyed it anyway. El Nopal is a family restaurant with a full service bar, so you know they will have the usual menu of margaritas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos and fajita dinners, and they do all of them well. They aren't over the top on spicy, nor on heat, so almost everyone can enjoy their fare. The chips were crispy (though not warmed), and the salsa had good flavor, although it could have used more cilantro. We also added a touch of hot sauce to kick it up just a bit. We ordered queso, and were surprised that we got a bowl of a runny processed white cheese sauce that was served at room temperature! We won't order that again! We expected the traditional melted nacho cheese dip, and so, should have asked more before ordering the queso. Their menu is very extensive, and based on other reviewer's comments, everything is consistently tasty. The food we were served was delicious, fresh, and well prepared. Portions were large, and prices are reasonable. We arrived a few minutes before noon, and the restaurant started filling up just a few minutes later. Still, the service was quick and the staff was friendly. We saw several chili rellenos plates go out, so may have to try that next time! Thumbs up for El Nopal! read more

See all

Had the food here a few times, and it's the best you're going to get around here. They have a wide selection of food but not authentic enough for my liking. They get pretty busy over the weekends and have lots of parking. They also have lots of seating. They have a full bar and make really good margaritas for a decent price in my opinion. I will be coming back to try more things on their menu but will 100% be back for another margarita. read more

I think it's comical to read some of the other reviews claiming this place is "authentic". This place is authentically American Mexican food and is not dissimilar to every other "Mexican" restaurant in the area. They're literally all the exact same serving the same plates of retried beams and rice with these little pieces of chicken that are mysteriously all the same little shapes. The highlight to my visit to El Nopal today was when I asked the bartender what he puts in the margaritas. He turned the menu over and pointed at the pixelated image of a margarita glass. I said "yes, I see that...what do you put in them?" He then stated the price, "$5.49". I again said yes, I see that but how do you make them?" He nervously shook his head as he obviously didn't know. He probably didn't know because they, just like all the other shitty Mexican places around here, don't actually make the margaritas - they simply pour from a pre purchased plastic jug of bright yellow colored sugar water. They have two 10 gallon jugs of the piss water behind the bar. How so many of these places open and remain open is a complete mystery to me. Now to the food...it was about what you would expect. read more

I usually eat here once a week it's so good. Owned and operated by very friendly people. Highly recommend the mixed burrito.

I see I have 17 check-ins at El Nopal and I'm sure there were times when my data service prevented checking in. I am thinking that I might have to add a star. I think it is worth rounding up. El Nopal is a better than average family-type Mexican restaurant. It always seems to have a good business, which is good to see. I am pretty partial to their carnitas. They are consistently flavorful, tender and juicy. They also do a good job with huevos con chorizo, but I have difficulty explaining to them that I want fresh chiles jalapenos cooked with the eggs. Once I got pickled chiles on top and once I got raw chiles on top. Ms T suggested that I order chiles torreados and that pretty much accomplishes what I need. I can chop them up and mix them in. Anyway, they make good eggs and chorizo. I have also enjoyed an enormous bowl of caldo de pollo on a cold day as well as tacos de carne asada. Portions here are large and prices are reasonable. The service is always very friendly and attentive. As I said, it is what I call a family restaurant, not a taqueria so you know they will have the usual enchiladas, burritos and fajita dinners. The menu is extensive but they are not going to have lengua or cabeza or tacos al pastor. I am not fond of the cheese they use and avoid it. It is processed white cheese and reminds me of Provel in St Louis. When we get on the road for Iowa in the mid-morning, this is where we are going to stop for lunch. It is probably not quite four stars, but with 17 check-ins, I think they have earned it. read more

See all

Five stars because it is obviously the best in the area! We placed a to go order, and had fantastic food and fantastic service. Perspective: my spouse and I are well traveled, have visited Mexico outside of the tourist zone, and have spent extensive time in the Southwest. We had between the two of us: chips and salsa, 3 tacos (carne asada, carnitas, and huevos con chorizo), bistec y camarones (steak and shrimp dinner), guacamole, and flan. All were delicious. They offered hot sauce twice. I highly suggest you take them up on it. I would describe it as medium heat for a palette that likes hot food...it tingles on the tongue but doesn't burn and goes down VERY deliciously, and has maybe a pinch of oregano. One of the most flavorful hot salsas I have had, especially in the US. They have multiple types of jarritos, a chill ambiance, happy vibes, and they had La Pinta pomegranate tequila, which you need to try if you haven't. Give this place a shot if you are in the area and craving Mexican, or if you are close by and want to know what Mexican food can taste like that is not deep fried (they probably do that well, too though). read more

On a road trip with the family, I often have a hankering for Mexican food. The service was friendly and speedy, and the portions were generous. The restaurant was clean and the decorations made the whole outing feel very festive. We had a late lunch so I'm not sure how busy it is right at noon. We had the place mostly to ourselves! read more

I am an OTR trucker and have pasted this place several times. Decided to stay at the truck stop for my 10 hour break. Asked a few people where's the place to eat. Everyone said here. Damn the food was good! Service was outstanding too. I will be back every time I pass here if they are open. read more

Fantastic, very authentic Mexican restaurant on 24/61. Great service, wonderful staff, and an incredibly comprehensive menu means you can get any favorite you'd like. The food is delicious, fresh, and well prepared, and the prices can't be beat. An absolute must visit every time in NE Missouri. read more

Huge menu. Excellent drinks the food is authentic and tasty. Service can't be beat . What else can you say ??

Great place, fresh food, lots of chicken in my burritos, refried beans, lacking rice rhough. Homemade spicy sauce left my lips and tongue hot just the way i like it. Everything was fresh. read more

El Nopal Mexican Restaurant - There were two chicken burritos smothered under that pile of goodness. Lots ofchicken and beans. - Mexican Near Me - Palmyra, Missouri

Stopped for lunch with about a dozen motorcyclists from Quad Cities. As the local, I needed to find a place either in Hannibal or Palmyra that was good food, but wouldn't create a train wreck getting there. I had met my son here a few months ago and loved the food. Sure hoped these folks would too. We ordered a wide variety of meals and everybody was more than pleased. It was decided that they would make this a regular stop on future trips here. One favorite dish was the chili rellenos meal...they were huge-a-licious! Our server was efficient, pleasant and accurate, plus a sense of humor. Decor was pretty standard, but very clean and attractive. Parking was ample and accessible. read more

Nice, clean, colorful Mexican place. The chips and tortillas are good, the portions are good, and the service is excellent. I haven't been enough to recommend anything in particular, but the menu is extensive. The salsa has a bit of a BBQ sauce taste to it, but I still ate a bucketful. If you are in Palmyra and feel like Mexican food, this is the joint. read more

I stopped today for lunch at El Nopal and had the best huevos rancheros I have had outside of Mexico. I asked for corn tortillas and they appear to be handmade and were delicious. The salsa on the eggs was great. The beans were delightful and the rice was excellent. I have traveled all over Mexico from Quintana Roo to the frontier in the north. This is good food. It is worth a stop. read more

The waiter was very nice but the cook(s) were horrible. I ordered chicken strips with Mexican rice, my rice was still frozen and my chicken strips came out as a burger. Service was good but the place in general was nasty. Napkins, food, salt, and other stuff just pushed under the tables and my table was just used before me NOT CLEANED AT ALL. Salsa and chips all over the table. Nasty place and don't suggest going here to eat. read more

Mediocre food, good service, not expensive. Ordered the fajitas and they were served very quickly. Mildly seasoned, with no sizzle. Second time we've eaten there and been unimpressed. read more

Great place to go and have supper and a cold beer!! Waiters are very friendly and the food comes fast!!

I CANT GIVE THEM ENOUGH STARS!!! We try to stop here on our way home from the lake everytime. It's amazing, best chips and salsa ever! Very fast service, not once were we like "uhmmm are they going to come ask us of we're ready or need anything Ect.." Great beer and beer prices. I always get the same thing at every Mexican restaurant: 3 steak tacos w. Rice and beans and let me tell ya, they have THE BEST. Very tender, flavourful steak. I will continue to come here as much as possible. read more

I have driven by this restaurant many times, but never stopped. I usually continue to Hannibal about 10 miles south, but have never had anything good to eat there....always fast food. Tonight though I stopped and had a great meal. I highly recommend this Mexican restaurant if you are driving "The Ave of the Saints" between Iowa and Hannibal. I had a carne asada burrito with beans and rice and it was fresh...also had an ample dollup of fresh guacamole. I will stop here again. read more

Would be 4 1/2 stars, but not an option. Great American Mexican. Good amount of light spice, huge variety. Everything was fresh and tasty.

Good mexican food. Easy to find off highway 61. Specials every day. Black margaritas as drink specials some nights, other nights are beer. I usually order a lunch combination and take half of it for lunch the next day. The staff if friendly and there is ample parking. read more

Excellent food. Easy to miss if you don't know where it is. Travelling through Palmyra? Stop here to eat, the food is worth it!

Great meal, hot and quick. Food was very good but typical american Mexican. Will stop again while travelling through Marion, Mo.

Very cool people and great food. I stopped in and was able to catch the Longhorns game. I'm a otr truck driver and appreciate restaurants that are within walking distance. Although they close at 10 pm on Sunday's, they allowed me to stay and served me until the game was over. read more

This restaurant was great, we just stopped in of the road and stumbled onto it, the food was top notch and the interior was so colorful and unique that we loved it. read more

Very good food and extremely good waiters, Definitely recommended this over the Rebel Pig Bar.

Food is great. Fellowship is great. Love the place. Always friendly. If it's not on the menu just ask. Flavors are excellent with fantastic spice mix. read more

Their food is always delicious! They're super fast; we rarely wait over 10 minutes for our food. They are also always very friendly and absolutely wonderful with children! We love this place! read more

This place is outstanding. All the plates are good. The prices are very reasonable. We are transplants to the Hannibal area from the Seattle area. This food is as good or better than any in the Pacific Northwest. The staff is fast and friendly. You will not be disappointed. read more

The staff is superb! The food is delicious. The best plate I recommend is the quesadilla nopal. The red sauce there is highly addictive. You can get it on some of the enchiladas. read more

we keep going back for carry out even though we live in hannibal. the food is good but ... could you please get the damn order correct??!!!!!!!!!! seriously!!!! read more

The staff is so friendly! They talk and play with my kids and that takes the experience up several notches. That in itself is enough to make it a great place to go but the food is SO good and the prices are very finance-friendly! Fantastic addition to pur little town! read more

Great food. Great service and priced well. Love it. So glad we have it near Palmyra. Atmosphere is fun. Well worth it to stop by and try it. I bet you will be back. read more

This restaurant is amazing the food is amazing and the staff goes above and beyond I highly recommend

Me and my wife stopped for a quick lunch amazing food love it when you stumble on these little gems doesn't happen very often