The food was delicious and it came out fast. Although it came out fast, it was still fresh and hot! Fortunately it wasn't too crowded that time of day and the restaurant wasn't busy at all. read more

I ate there tonight. The fish tacos were terrific! They were 1 inch x 1 inch or so pieces of grilled fish with onions, tomatoes and cilantro. I requested mine in a flour tortilla. Without my asking, they brought chips and salsa which were delicious. I added some of the salsa to my tacos but they really didn't need any. The waiter was unobtrusive, there when I needed him and not there when I didn't. The restaurant was clean and quiet and I'd go there again! read more

Love everything about El Palenque !!! The food is delicious -- consistent! Best chicken soup in town !! But the real winner is the fish tacos !! read more

It's just stays OLE! Haven't been in a minute and came back. SO consistent with their dishes. Pork carnitas for the win and of course the chicken soup. ALL the enchilada not forgetting the avocado enchilada. It's hard to stay a nashville institution for decades but this is how you do it. Muy Muy Bueno read more

Fresh hot Mexican food! Also, this is a GreenHills original! It's been there for years! read more

El Palenque - a plate of mexican food - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I'm not sure how this place has only 3 stars... My wife and her mother used to eat here when she was young. She brought it up while we were in the area so I looked at the reviews. DO NOT BELIEVE THE BAD ONES. I get everyone has different experiences but we could not tell if we were at Chick-fil-A or El Palenque. Also, the food is AMAZING! That's all you need to know . read more

El Palenque is the best Mexican that I have had in Nashville. I have been going here for 10+ years. I am shocked at their low rating! As a Texan, I am very picky about Mexican food. I will say, the service is a little hit or miss. I think a lot of these bad reviews are from people who got their feelings hurt by the people that work here. The first few times I went here I thought the wait staff did not like me for whatever reason. They are not very talkative or friendly but they are just like that with everyone. it's a family run business and they all kind of have the same nonchalant, minimal conversation attitude. Don't get offended! Just enjoy the food! read more

Meh. Food was passable, service mediocre, prices high. Best thing I can say is their iceberg lettuce was fresh. Don't waste your time trying to find this place. read more

Ordered to go. Had the burrito asada as usual. It was tasty. I don't usually give out 5 stars but the food at this place was good! read more

See all

The food is great the quesadilla chicken Rihanna is delicious if you like spice add the salsa on top off it. We had to wait 30 minutes for our food. The tables and booths are clean, but sometimes there are chips under the table read more

Average service, bland overpriced food. A mediocre meal that would have cost $15 anywhere else was over $40. I'm struggling to find positive things to say about this place. Nashville fails hard when it comes to Mexican food. This is just another name on that list. read more

As a Texas native/Nashville transplant, I'm a little picky about my Tex-Mex and Mexican food. Maybe more than a little picky? I was really underwhelmed by El Palenque's food, drinks, and value. We started the evening with their chips and salsa. The salsa tasted like Pace straight out of the jar, so I pushed that away pretty quickly. For my entree, I got the chicken taquitos, because it's usually something that is neither great nor bad. These chicken taquitos were among the worst I've had - they were way too thick, so the wet filling was making the taquito shell soggy. They were tearing from the soggy shell and the weight of the overstuffed taquito, so I ate them with a fork and knife, because they just couldn't hold up. We ordered a pitcher of their "Texas margarita" on the rocks, which was about $35. (There is a cheaper Margarita, but my friend told me that that kind is made from a margarita blend rather than from lime juice and fresh ingredients.) It was not a memorable pitcher. The meal was also a lot pricier than if we'd eaten much better Mexican food on Nolensville Road. So, thanks Green Hills, but you keep yours, and I'll continuing getting authentic, great value Mexican food on Nolensville Road. read more

El Palenque - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

See all

I had no idea this place existed until some friends suggested it for dinner. I generally try to avoid Green Hills like the plague during the holidays, but El Palenque was easy to get in/out of without facing the crowds. I went with my Tex-Mex go-to: the chicken fajita quesadilla. I've been looking for one of these that's similar to the style I grew up with in Memphis, and I finally found it! The flour tortilla is stuffed with grilled chicken, gooey cheese and a generous portion of green peppers and onions (I wasn't thrilled about the $2 surcharge for those, but I have to say it was worth it). The chips and salsa were relatively standard as was the queso. Considering how good my entree was, the precursor didn't need to be groundbreaking. The service was pretty good - fast and friendly (for the most part). Whenever I'm in the Green Hills area and in search of dependable Mexican food, I'm definitely going to El Palenque. read more

El Palenque - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Amazing straight up authentic! We come from ELA and it all good come down and enjoy the best Mexican meals ....

No Bueno all the Way-No Food was OK. Maybe even good. Service was horrendous start to finish. Hadn't been to El Palenque in a few years and, desperate for some good, honest Tenn-Mex, thought we'd give this Nashville staple another try Friday night. Walked in at 6:00 on a Friday and sat immediately. That was red flag #1. There was a sign that said "please wait to be seated" but the staff person/possibly manager behind the register indicated with an unaffected flap of his hand that we could just seat ourselves. Though the restaurant was at 50% capacity...maybe....the service was slow and our waitress would have rather been anywhere else, doing literally anything else. Just seemed thoroughly bothered by our presence. My go-to dish comes smothered in whatever that basic red sauce is so I always ask if I can get an alternative. My favorite is the green salsa, a.k.a., "verde." When I ordered, I asked, "could I get verde instead of the red sauce?" She replied and I quote, "you want green instead of red?" "Yes," I replied. Imagine my surprise when the bill came and there was a $2.00 charge for my sauce. It was good but not 15% of my entree good. I was bothered by this enough that I thought when we stopped to pay and the man behind the register asked "how was everything?" that I would share. Well, he didn't ask. In fact, he said nothing. Not. One. Word. No "how was everything?" or "thanks for coming in" or "get the hell out of here." Nothing. It went from rude to just bizarre. Not in a hurry to go back and it will get pushed to the back of the virtual food Rolodex until, a few years from now, we're desperate for good (or just different) Mexican and wind up there again. But, for now, let me save you a trip. read more

Folks...listen. You will always have the naysayers when it comes to restaurants or life. El Palenque is a crown jewel of Nashville. Wait staff works their tails off to meet your needs. Food is delicious. I'm a big fan of their "Chicken Soup" that is so delightful to eat. Check it out... read more

El Palenque - Dynamo-Hum of Chicken Soup! - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Went in for a lunch this week. Inedible. The beef stank of fish. Then asked for just simple chips with beef and the beef must have been two weeks or more old. Nauseating. First the beef in a dish was rank and stank , like the two meats had been mixed together and old and then the beef was disgusting. And, since they also didn't put any tomatoes or any other garnishes on it was overpowering to see and smell how rank the meats were. Metro should condemn them . We walked by a storage room and it was filthy. Left and paid only for flat , cokes. Never eat here, or do at your own risk of getting food poisoning. Though I will add the poor waitress was very nice and seemed to be absolutely as frustrated as we were . read more

We discovered this restaurant several years ago. It has become our go-to Saturday lunch spot. For us the owner, Jesus, has been nothing but helpful and gracious. Service has always been excellent. My favorite dish is the fajitas. All are good, but the mixed fajitas (shrimp, beef, & chicken) are outstanding. My wife usually gets the chicken Burrito Panchas. She says they are also delicious. Chips & salsa is always fresh and flavorful. Great iced tea, and the several times we've had dinner there the Texas Margaritas exceeded our expectations. Prices are reasonable. Highly recommend, We'll be back, and often. read more

This my favorite restaurant in Nashville. This is what you wish every Mexican restaurant would be. The food is fantastic! And it is prepared and served by a family that has prepared these dishes from their home land for generations. read more

Cheap cheesy Americanized Mexican food. Yup. A friend and I stopped in for a lateish dinner and we got we asked for. A run of the mill Mexican place. We had to ask for salsa a few times, and it wasn't my favorite, but it did the trick ok. For entrees, I had a combo dinner (bean burrito and chicken enchilada with rice and beans) and it was good. A good amount of delicious cheese on top, so just what the doctor ordered. My friend had the green enchiladas and they were good as well. Really liked the green verde sauce that they used. Good food but not great. I have definitely had better run of the mill Mexican places but I've had far worse as well. Overall, not bad. Don't see any reason to rush back but would stop in if the time was right and I needed another cheap option in Green Hills! read more

See all

I had not been here in quite awhile. And to be fair maybe the current pandemic had some unknown affect on things. But the food is just blah. The salsa was awful. I can't understand serving bad salsa. That's half the joy of going to a Mexican restaurant - endless chips and salsa! It was thick and tasted of nothing but bitter tomatoes. I had my niece with me, she didn't like it either and we have very different palates. And the meal itself was bland. Guacamole had no flavor, chicken had no flavor, beans were so so. We both left nearly half our meal. It's close to home and I had hoped it would be a new place to frequent,but it will again be awhile before I go back. read more

Amazing food and drinks !! Some of my favorite food items are the fish tacos, steak fajitas, chicken shredded quesadilla. Great spot for a first date or next birthday party! Their patio great for some beautiful sunsets ! read more

This is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. Great chips, queso and salsa. We especially like the tacos de carne asada. Reasonable prices. Good service....what more can you ask!? read more

Food was weak, but that would have been forgivable. Service was real bad. In fact, it was so poor, my guest and I felt like the staff didn't want us there at all. We were "greeted" at the door by this old man who said not one word ... yet looked at us like we were stupid. I'm guessing his son was the waiter, because he was about as friendly. I've been here a few times (always because someone seems to want to go there for a birthday or something else), and it's always the same... as far as the cold reception goes. This isn't an isolated event either. Scroll on down, and you'll find others with the same story. Not very nice people. They won't be in business much longer... when you consider the economy and all that. People don't wanna pay for sub par anymore. read more

Been going here consistently for a few months. The staff are attentive, & the food is consistently good. Nothing but good things to say. Enjoy read more

Excellent quality. The chicken soup is superb. I also had the shrimp quesadilla and the cheese dip with chorizo. So yummy!

Every time we order to go or eat in person we receive the same great experience!

Great atmosphere Great location Great place Awesome food Great costumer service Very pleased read more

How many times have I driven past El Palenque and not noticed this wallflower of a spot? Too many to count. The location is nestled near the Mall of Green Hills parking lot but due to to unremarkable signage and bland exterior, I have a feeling that I am not the only person who hasn't taken notice. However, you can't always judge a book but it's cover, right? Food was not on the agenda for our little happy happy excursion but the pitcher of margaritas most certainly was! At a budget-friendly $17, my cronies and I were able to indulge without any guilt. The basket after basket of chips and salsa are a whole other story.... no willpower whatsoever. Totally worth an extra trip to the gym. My only real gripe is that service was exactly doting or friendly for that matter. When we walked in at around 5pm on a Saturday afternoon, it was fairly empty and the host/server seemed to be in an annoyed mood throughout our visit. We had to constantly ask for refills of soda and chips/salsa as well. I am curious to come back to try a meal but just hope that the staff will be awake and in good spirits on the next go-round. read more

El Palenque - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Good basic Mexican food. Has all the typical options you would want. Bonus points for a separate vegetarian section! They accommodated some minor substitutions which was nice. I had the avocado enchilada. Good beer selection. We sat outside. Service was exemplary. Waiter came by multiple times to ask us if we needed anything. Chips and salsa were very tasty. Portions are very good. We probably over-ate and should've boxed up some stuff. read more

I've been a customer of this restaurant for many years. In the past, the customer service has been A+. Recently, the customer service has been marginal at best for call ahead take out service. The few times I been my order is never ready and I have to wait even though I have given plenty of time for it to be prepared. I also go ahead of the evening dining hour to avoid the crowd, I.e., before 6 pm. The staff is disinterested in the fact that I am a customer and never even says thank you for your business. When I ask about my orders not being ready, I'm told that they are very busy, which is not true. I will note that Jesus the owner never seems to be around which I think has contributed to poor service. I am very disappointed and I know Jesus would be too. That is why I am posting this review. Please do better. read more

Finally a place in Nashville with shredded beef chimichanga!! And they didn't disappoint, the 5 dollar Monday margaritas sure helped too!! Friendly service and nice atmosphere. read more

I called in an order to go to pick up... got there and was told they didn't get my order. So I had to order again, wait 20 minutes to get,home and find out it was incorrect, really? Very disorganized, the menu online is pathetic. Never again read more

I can't visit Nashville without coming to this spot. The service is great, the margaritas are wonderful and strong, the food is out of this world. Best true Mexican food I've ever had. 11/10 would recommend. read more

We stopped in on a Thursday around 6:45pm. I get my haircut right below at Salon YaYa & we decided to eat here since it was so close. We parked in the lot below the restaurant & walked up the steps on the side. There is a door on the west side, on the second floor to enter. Having never been here, we walked in a stood at the door. Two older servers looked at us & I said "is this the correct door to enter?". They looked at us & walked off. I then saw that the front counter & host stand was across the restaurant, where the main entrance is on the first floor. We went to the host stand & a high school age boy asked how many & walked us to a booth. He slapped down the two menus & walked off. Service here isn't great. The guy that brought the chips over wasn't too friendly either. Everyone seemed like they didn't want to be at work. I picked the super shrimp quesadilla $10.95. It comes with melted cheese, shrimp in a quesadilla with pico, lettuce & sour cream on the side. Phillip got the tamale, enchilada, rice & beans combo. The food didn't take too long to come out. I liked the chips as they were warm. The salsa tasted like it was from a jar & not my favorite. My shrimp quesadilla was loaded with shrimp & cheese. I enjoyed it. The quesadilla had a nice flavor on the outside & a crunch to the tortilla. The tamale and enchilada were another story. They were flavorless & very forgettable. I wouldn't order it. The bill came & the total ended being up a dollar less that when the credit card receipt came out. I guess the server didn't have the right tax calculated in. With the good quesadilla, lackluster tamale, enchilada, & service, I'm not sure we will be back. read more

See all

I have been there a few times...the food is pretty good, but the owner is extremely rude. Save your money and go to one of the more authentic places on Nolensville Road. I would give it no star if I could. Avoid this place. read more

Spent 95 minutes here. Received one of our two meals. Took 45 minutes to receive our beer. Never saw the waiter again after the beer. We had to go looking for our food. The place wasn't even that busy. Would not recommend unless you want to be late and hungry. read more

Consistently delicious food! You must try their Chicken Soup, add some fresh lime and a little hot sauce and you'll be a happy camper.

The food here is special. As a patron of many years, the food is what keeps me coming back. Their enchiladas (especially the red sauce) are a must order. Salsa has some heat to it and is very flavorful. Soft tacos, refrained beans, and rice are all excellent. The quest is worth ordering in my opinion, although it is relatively plain. Fajitas are good, burritos are good. The service could be better. But don't let that stop you from coming! read more

We come for the tacos And queso, and are always happy with our meal. Staff is friendly and always busy, which makes me happy after everything they dealt with Covid. Food is fast to come out. We take our friends here for Mexican food. read more