A hidden gem - try this place out! The food was very good, salsa and sauces they provide with the dishes were very tasty. The chips and salsa bright to the table - excellent. I had tacos, my daughter had a burrito - very satisfying. We both had the house margarita which was a great value - Huge, delicious and strong for a very reasonable price. Try this place out! read more

Small restaurant, simple and clean. Well made Mexican food with good sauces. Felt authentic in style, ingredients, and preparation

I met Don Omar! Yes Don Omar! Don Omar was such a nice guy I would've never imagined I'd run into him here. I spent about 30 minutes chatting with him. Told me all about his childhood growing up. How much he loved Mexican food since he was a kid and how it inspired him to write his music. Who doesn't love Don Omar's music. I mean it's famous! His love songs to the mid west winter and tales of corn and horses are inspiring coming from a Mexican American folk singer. He says he eats here regularly. If you'd like to run into a banjo playing legend! Come here read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Good church services from El Pastor and we give blessings to our Lord in thanks for the healthy food that El Pastor serves in the name of the Lord. Amen read more

The food is very high quality Mexican. The owners couldn't be more friendly and the decor is welcoming. The service has always been excellent. read more

My meal was good and service was very good. It's a quaint little spot, not fancy but not a hole in the wall either.

Wonderful catering experience. Worked with the catering manager to get the right amount of food for a small get together . They provided everything for the fajita bar- the steak and chicken were so flavorful. Rice and Beans and a generous amount of pico de gallo. They also supply the sour cream, chips & salsa. Serving Utensils, plates & utensils to make your party perfect. A great way to support a local business vs going to a chain. Will be back again. read more

Great food. Great ambience. Even better service. Our server Izak was so warm and personable.

Excellent service and great food at a reasonable price. Authentic Mexican (not "madison Mexican"). If you know you know. Will definitely be back. read more

Friendly staff and authentic Mexican food. Just like Grandma made. I love the Pozole!! I will be back again and again

I always order my caldos from here. The menudo is so good and so is the pazole. My dad use to bring me here as a kid all the time. He would always get the taste of Mexico. The place is well managed. Small but cozy and the owners are always very nice. I would definitely recommend and I will definitely go back! Thanks El Pastor. read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - Pazole - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I ordered fajitas de res and carne asada and totally was disappointed. The steak was so chewy. Granted this is not a fancy restaurant so they won't have good cut of meats. But the steak had minimal flavor. I have had good and tasty meats at similar restaurants like this before. The portion size was small as well. We also got chips as well. The chips were whatever. Their sauces were ok. There was not really anything special about this place. read more

My office recently had El Pastor cater for an event, and I think we found our new favorite! Everything was delicious, and the chafing dishes were still hot hours later. The guacamole is hands down the best I have ever had, and the meat was seasoned SO well. Rice isn't usually a dish to write home about, however, El Pastor's rice is definitely something I could eat every day! I'm looking forward to trying many more dishes from this Mexican restaurant. read more

I thought I remembered liking El Pastor. My last experience there was not the best. I ordered from EatStreet. They had forgotten a taco in the order. (It was a medium-large order for multiple people.) What was disappointing about the tacos was the integrity of the tortillas, or lack thereof. The tortilla did not hold the contents of the tacos well. The chicken in the chicken taco was not good. It was not well-seasoned and it was mushy. It was not appetizing. I enjoyed the avocado taco a lot though. It was surprisingly good for vegetarian taco. The hot sauce could have been better. It seemed to be missing some flavor. read more

Wow never heard heavy metal Spanish music bEfore then followed by poor sad guy singing a ballad... I think.... anyway.. had lunch chicken enchiladas which were 1 out of 10. Poor flavor.. service was ok.. won't come back. No need to eexplore here any longer.. Has crunchy hard Chips... cold salsa appetizer. Blaaa..they stole my lunch money. read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - Front counter - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We were headed out of Madison and and needed some sustenance for our trip. Shown is our Taco Dinner & Bistec Ranchero. We were not disappointed. LARGE portions. The chipotle sauce on the Bistec Ranchero was perfectly spicy and the beef was cooked to perfection...tender. The Taco Dinner was delicious. Chorizo was my favorite with a tangy, spicy, salty burst to the buds. read more

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Found this restaurant because most places in Madison close at 9pm and I'm a late eater. Decided to grab it to go since the dining room was empty. Ordered the chilaquiles with green sauce and swapped the fried eggs for steak, with some side chips, guacamole and salsa. The food was delicious, the green sauce perfectly tangy and I could tell the chips were not store bought. The guacamole was classic, not too salty or plain. The rice and beans that come with the dishes were great, especially the beans. I don't typically like refried beans because I find them too thick but these were a bit thinner and had pieces of whole bean in them, and they had just enough heat and spice, I loved them. The only downside was by the time I got back to my hotel the chips in the chilaquiles had almost congealed and became very thick and bready. I mostly just ate the top layer that had the most meat and sauce. I think less chips and more sauce next time would be better. The guys working there were great, very friendly and made sure we had utensils and extra hot sauce read more

"When the cacao hits the tort, its e-Mole!" The search for the perfect Mexican takeaway in Madison continues, tortillas will be tried, tacos tested and enchiladas evaluated. I ordered the chorizo taco and the enchiladas de mole served with refried beans, rice, lettuce, and a solitary tomato slice. I got fresh nachos and salsa complimentary! The taco was well-filled, spicy, tangy, salty, and greasy, all the things you want a street like a taco to be. The enchiladas had a delightful sauce, chicken stuffing that wasn't dry and well seasoned, and well-melted cheese. The beans were decent and goopy, the rice was rice, individual grains not lumpy. The mole sauce made the meal with its hearty, sweet savoriness. The nachos were crisp and fresh and the salsa was what you'd call mild. All in all, this is one of the better affordable, Mexican options around. It is not the epitome of authenticity but seems to be closer than others in Mad town in a similar price range. Other dishes will be tried, variance in quality tested. Until then, thumbs up. read more

Quesadillas had too much poorly melted cheese. The steak was tough and many pieces were gristle and fat. Won't eat there again.

Thank you so much!! We had you cater the Taco bar last night for 60 people and it couldn't have been better. All the guests were raving about how good the food was! From ordering the food to having them pick up the equipment it could not have been an easier process. The man delivering the food set it all up and made sure all my questions were answered before he left. Would definitely use El Pastor again for any of my catering needs. Bonnie. 7/31/22 read more

I've visited El Pastor for lunch and dinner. Both visits were delicious, efficient, and reasonably priced. The decor is simple and clean. The menu is what I would expect from this type of restaurant. The service is fast and friendly. I've tried the fajitas and enchiladas. Both were delicious. read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - two plates of food - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was looking for Mexican and decided to try El Pastor. My favorite thing to order is Al pastor tacos so I got some. They don't marinate the pork in pineapple juice and cook it on a vertical spit like it is traditionally done (due to a health department inspection stating that was against guidelines). She offered they could cook the pork on the flat top with pineapple if I wanted them to. The final product was very tasty. The beans were delicious and not like typical "refried beans" served at most restaurants. There were whole beans and they had just the right amount of cumin to bring the authenticity! The rice was tasty and a nice accompaniment to the beans. The amount of food for the price was exceptional. My server was very pleasant and service was excellent! All in all, an enjoyable experience during my time in Madison. read more

I got the Cubano Torta Size - muy Grande Flavor- OK Meat- one piece pork plus hot dogs Veggies- one slice tomato looked very lonely Maybe I'll go back to try other items The server recommended the Cubano as best Torta It was a disappointment read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - One lonely tomato slice- plenty of bread! Hot dogs on a Cubano??? - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food came as ordered, but there was next to no flavor in the food. Got Enchiladas Rojas and chips/salsa and both were not good. Very disappointed read more

We just had delivery through Ubereats. The soup was packaged really poorly, leaked all over inside the bag. BUT, the Pozole was EXCELLENT! Just as good as what I make from scratch (which takes ALL DAY), and oh so much easier for me! The Horchata is also FREAKING PERFECT. We will very definitely be ordering it again! Our compliments to the Chef!! read more

I ordered Enchiladas Suizas. (Chicken enchiladas smothered in a creamy, green poblano sauce) The presentation was exactly what I would expect when I order Mexican food for takeout. The quality of the food slightly exceeded my expectations. It was cool upon arrival (but that's to be expected when ordering Mexican for delivery). Some food items travel better than others. I absolutely destroyed the enchilada--well done. It was dank and it hit all the flavors I was expecting it to hit. The chicken was still steaming upon digging into it and it was very flavorful. The green, cheese sauce over it was exactly what I wanted. The sole reason I am even docking a star is because of the Spanish rice. Its flavor left much to be desired in terms of...well, flavor. I would order this again and I would recommend this place. read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Suizas - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I have ordered food from El Pastor a number of times, usually the Caldo De Borrego - Stew made with lamb in a spicy red chili broth, with carrot and potatoes, with warm tortillas, and burritos, and I always order online and for delivery. This time I ordered, it was still online, but since I was passing by I went in to pick it up. When I entered, I was greeted almost immediately, the place was spacious and clean, no clutter that I could see. Music was playing at a conversational level, people could still enjoy each other and talk and enjoy the music. I informed them I ordered online, they said its coming right out. When it came out the server asked for my name and handed over the piping hot food. I had the taco dinner with rice and beans, the meat I chose was ground beef and omg. It was so tasty and full of flavor. I am not a corn tortilla type of guy but i'd eat these on corn tortillas all day. I also ordered tamales, and they too were full of flavor, not mushy or falling apart. I loved it! I am definitely coming back! read more

This used to be my go to spot when I lived down the street. They used to be open late every night and I'd get a chicken chimichanga with guac and sour cream. They're not open late every night any more, but the chimichanga is the same! I'm not going to say it's the best, but there are definitely lot worse ones to be had, and the size is huge. I tried enchiladas this time as well, they were ok but nothing I would likely get again. No frills dining room with an adjacent bar. Decent menu selection, good prices, quick service. Authentic enough that most of the time if you speak English you will be the the only one there. Decent prices. Probably one of the better options for Mexican in Madison. read more

Literally the only reliable, consistent, actually good Mexican food in Madison. Yeah yeah you heard Taqueria Guadalajara was good - only by Wisconsin standards. I'm from LA and have no problem telling you I have cried over Madison's Mexican food. Tacos should be $1 and taste like heaven. Burritos should be $5 and change your life. Onions should be carmelized in meat fat and grabbed by the tongful to put over beans, rice, and directly in my mouth. Pastor is sliced off of a spit, or it's garbage not worth messing with. If you haven't gone to El Pastor and you think you're getting good Mexican food - you have been misled. I'm so sorry. read more

dont get this soup!! i asked them nicely multiple times and now it feels personal! there is so many other hispanic restaurants that are so much better than this crap!!! read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - do not get this soup! it is not worth the 17 dollars charged for this crap.This restaurant is a joke. - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've eating here a few times with mixed results - anywhere from "meh" to "excellent". My last visit here brought a lunch burrito to my table. I went with the steak because it sounded good and I was feeling beefy. No ground beef option, so steak was it. I'd say it was just "okay". Not a great flavor like I'm used to from El Pastor. I expected it to pop more, but it was pretty bland. My lunchmate had a quesadilla and she didn't finish it, so I'm assuming it wasn't great either. Past visits provided me with better food - more of the authentic Mexican food that I was expecting this time around. I'll eat here again, but I won't be as excited as I was before this last visit. read more

Just ordered the Deep Fried Tilapia and Dinner combo that has Pork Taco, Tamale and Chile relleno. Also a side of Guacamole. I swear this is the worst Mexican food we ever tasted, and we had quite some bad ones in the past. It was so bad that we had to throw off the food and cook dinner !! Food was bland, tasteless and worst of all 'salt-less'. Never ordering again from this place. read more

I've only been here for dinner. Not sure what they offer for lunch. The menu is the perfect size, but I miss the menus with a bunch of combinations listed. Both times I have ventured here I ordered Enchiladas. The first time Green...the second time...Red. DELICIOUS Enchiladas. The chicken is perfect and the cheese is the right amount. The chips and homemade salsa are also good. You have to ask for refills though... The best thing ever though..FLAN. Get the FLAN. Every single bite was so good. I didn't want the flan to disappear, but I shared it with two friends. We should have each ordered our own. GET THE FLAN. I am shouting it out loud now--- best FLAN I have had in a long time. Service is great-- attentive. Food is hot. I'm definitely coming here again. read more

Ordered a chimichanga and Chile relleno with a sprite. The Sprite was flat, the Chile relleno was terrible, the cheese tasted like it had freezer burn and the chimichanga was the only okay thing. Probably wouldn't order from here again. read more

I haven't been to town in many years and was trying to remember the Mexican restaurant that I used to love so much. When we arrived here, I realized this wasn't the one I was looking for, but I'll glad we found it. Great food and a good price. Next time I'm in town and looking for a quick meal, this will be the place again. read more

Have driven past this place a few times now. Figured today was be the day I try it out. Have a bunch of work to do, so I got it to go. Menu looks pretty standard. Service was nice and prompt. Food looks great. Pretty hearty portions. read more

We have ordered takeout here a couple times and the food is good. We decided to get drinks and appetizers at the actual restaurant the other night but it was not great. The service was good, and again the food was good. But there is nothing really special about the food to put it over the top. I will say that the house made salsa was very good! Also, while you get a lot for your money with the drinks, we were disappointed to find that they use store bought mixers for their margaritas and pina coladas. While I do hate blended drinks at bars, the pina colada was pretty good. We got the margaritas on the rocks but I think blending them would've been a better option to help the mixer blend with the tequila. We really just wished that they made a house margarita mix because it would've been a lot better! read more

El Pastor has consistently good food. Comfort food for me. I've had their tacos, quesadilla, salad, beans, rice, enchiladas, torta and many other items on their menu. Chicken or beef is my favorite. Mix and match for a custom plate. They have 5-10 lunch time specials too. Try the horchata. It is delicious. I keep saying that I want to try their flan, but usually I'm stuffed after the chips and salsa (3 kinds available) and then the meal. I should stop in one day for the flan and a horchata. read more

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant - Naked taco salad with chicken lunch special - Mexican Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food was awful. We order tacos and burritos. There were three of us. None of us enjoyed our meal. Yelp wants 85 words and I really don't have 80 words to say so I don't know how the heck they get the good rating unless friends and family are are populating the website. read more

HUITLACOHE!!! HUITLACOCHE!! THEY HAVE HUITLACOHE and it's delicioso. Otherwise known as corn-fungus, this is a delicacy I have only learned about in my foodways courses and read about in the pretentious Gourmet magazine. It's damn delicious in quesadilla form. Subtle mushroom-like base w/ a slight touch of acidity and an even slighter touch of garlic. Their melt-tender lamb barbacoa was rich and satisfying. The orange cake my friend ordered was much the same -- it had fresh rind and icing layers so thick and fluffy. that I had to do everything in my power not to stick my fingers into it. read more