We went to El Patio and all I can say is wow, wow, wow -- absolutely amazing experience. First off, the service is top-tier. The staff truly makes you feel important, welcomed, and like part of the family. That kind of hospitality is rare and it really stood out. The food? Excellent across the board. We ordered the chicken burrito, shredded beef burrito, an assortment of enchiladas, and the chicken fajitas -- every single dish was on point. Fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. And the new patio... beautiful. It's extended with plenty of space, making the whole dining experience even more enjoyable and comfortable. We absolutely love El Patio. If you're craving great Mexican food and you're in Simi Valley, do yourself a favor and give this place a try -- you won't regret it. To the entire crew at El Patio, thank you for a fantastic experience. We'll definitely be back soon. -- Jerome read more

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The fish tacos were so good! We've come to the restaurant several times and this was the first time I tried the popular fish tacos, and now I see why. I had the tartar sauce on the side, and only needed a little because the flavor of the fish was so delicious, I could have easily eaten only the fish... but the corn tortillas, rice and beans easily fill out this meal. Their patio space is very large, and they had ample room during a Sunday lunch even with the popular buffet. I'm not sure why, but it does get loud on the patio, and I noticed it was much more quiet inside when I visited the restroom. Our waitress was so casual and kind, she felt like a friend. Good food combined with the laid back scene makes this a favorite when visiting Simi Valley. read more

Large parking lot so you can always find parking. When we arrived we were seated and menus passed around. The margaritas are served in pint glasses, and they do have a kick. The salsa is always fresh and not much heat. I had menudo. It was served piping hot, hominy and tripe in a tasty red broth. Unfortunately no pigs feet so it was kind of a let down. Onions cilantro and lemon wedges served on the side along with corn tortillas. The rest of the family was happy with their meals. Service can be a little slow but treat it like Europe and ask for what you need and you'll be happy. It's called El Patio so yes it's a giant patio with a few tables inside. read more

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Had the best dinner here. We went to the one on Township. Taquitos and tacos were great. Salsa and chips were fresh. Nice atmosphere, good dinner. read more

I love going here and sitting outside. They have a nice big patio with an outside bar. I just wish the food was better. It's just mediocre to me. I don't ever go here because I crave the food. I only ever go when I'm in Simi and just want a nice place to sit outside and get a margarita. Especially if it's a beautiful day out. I do enjoy the salsa and chips. The last time I came here I did ask for a recommendation on what burrito was the best. Since I have never really loved anything I've ordered. But again it was just mediocre. I've definitely had better burritos. The staff is always nice and friendly but sometimes I do find that I've had to wait a while for someone to come check in. read more

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Food is still good chips fresh drinks strong but no Taco Tuesday or lunch specials. Been coming here for 30 years don't feel like the new owner(son) cares about us. There's lots of Mexican restaurants in simi now need to do better competing for my business read more

El Patio Restaurant - Empty on taco Tuesday - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Great food. I call it Mexican comfort food. Enchiladas, burritos, hard shell and street tacos, steak picado, carne asada, chile Colorado, carnitas, all of it pretty dang good. The service was great, drinks and salsa kept coming. The staff was very friendly too. El Patio is a local treasure. read more

I recommend this place reminds me of the typical siete mares or sea food places in the valley the chips and salsa are really good the salsa is the typical Mexican yummy salsa you get at restaurants. My son and husband really liked it and they usually are picky. It was a bit pricey though about $84 for 3 ppl and one kids menu, 2 pineapple drinks n hortchata. I got shrimp cocktail which was so tasty at 1st but then It started tasting more sweet it had a lot more ketchup than anything but I was still enjoying it. The lil ones got some steak along with their quesadilla they liked it too. The location was pretty nice and fancy and customer service was top service from the start very friendly read more

El Patio Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

I feel like this is the place you come to have drinks on the patio and don't really care how the food is. I came here for a birthday but we weren't drinking. I've lived in Simi for 40 years and have only been once many many years ago. After tonight i know i won't be back again. Too many other great Mexican places in town. The service was really great, but that's about it. The food wasn't very tasty. The chips were cold, salsa was similar to chilis, the taco was placed in my enchilada sauce so was soggy and fell apart immediately, the enchilada didn't have sauce or cheese on top and the melted cheese on the beans had a weird burnt propane taste. I was starving when the food came and it still was mediocre. Plan on drinking if you come here and maybe stick to happy hour so you don't end up spending $60 on 2 meals and 2 sodas. read more

For Mexican food at best it was mediocre. Chips look like they came straight out of a bag salsa out of a jar and the rest of the food bland and really didn't have that much flavor read more

El Patio Restaurant - Some bland Mexican food. - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Eaten here often. Food is consistently good, but service continues to get worse. Went at 2p on a Tuesday, sat outside. Not busy at all. Waiter took order for drinks, returned with drinks, chips and salsa in a timely manner. Took our food order, didn't write anything down. Returned 5 minutes later, forgot order and of course hadn't turned it in. Chips gone, drinks half gone. Brought food, chips gone, drinks gone. We finished eating then waited 15 minutes for the check. Guy's gone. I finally went inside to find him in kitchen doing food prep. Asked for check. Brought check, I started to hand him my card, poof, he disappeared. Waited another 5 minutes for him to return to take card. Closest I've ever been to a DINE and DASH. My lady's on crutches so dashing wasn't an option. Although he probably wouldn't have noticed as he's too busy doing anything except take care of his customers. NO TIP!!!!! read more

Best joint in town! Not just the food but the management /ownership and staff! Wow! When you see same staff there for 30 years you know this is a real deal - the whole package not just the food! Simi's treasure. read more

We returned again for Mother's Day Brunch on 5/12/24. The buffet is back, after a hiatus during and after COVID. Last year, brunch was available, but you ordered off the menu. This year, they presented the full buffet again. I'm not an eat-all-you-want kinda person anymore. Those years are past. I enjoyed some green salad, a spot of rice & beans, fresh melon pieces, some scrambled eggs, and a couple pieces of bacon. That left room for a small pancake and more fruit for the second run. They serve mimosas, horchata, and other beverages as part of the brunch menu. Our family group enjoyed it all, plus mini churros, pozole, breakfast potatoes, and more. We didn't make a reservation, so we couldn't be served on the patio, unless we promised to stay for only an hour. They were very busy the whole time we were there, but no one was standing waiting in the parking lot. We sat at a booth in the front room of the interior dining area. The main door was open, so we hade an indoor-outdoor vibe going on, and the outside temperature was perfect for that kind of scenario. Like last year, they had wrapped carnations with an accent of baby's breath for each of the ladies. That's a nice touch for Mother's Day. Our server checked on us multiple times to see what else we might need. Mainly refills on drinks were requested. The price has gone up, but it's still a solid value for the availability of food and beverages with a good variety of dishes touching on both Mexican and American tastes. read more

El Patio Restaurant - Interior design. - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Unfortunately El Patio in Simi Valley leaves much to be desired, even with its two locations in town. While there are plenty of great options for Mexican food in the area, this one unfortunately ranks near the bottom. The restaurant always seems a bit dirty, which is off-putting before you even get to the food. Speaking of the food, it's pretty pedestrian and unimaginative and nothing that stands out or makes you want to come back. There are far better choices nearby that offer a cleaner environment and more flavorful dishes. This place just doesn't make the cut. Two stars, on a good day! read more

I am pretty strict in Mexican food. Service was worth two stars. Great service very friendly. My wife ordered the taco salad it was unseasoned and a lot of food. Salsa helped the table salsa is good but it was needed to facilitate flavor. I ordered the chili verde burrito. Wow they had celery in it. First time I've had celery in Mexican food. Did not exude confidence in the prep of the dish. Again no flavor for real. It needed a lot of help. I wanted it to be good but needed something else to help. read more

El Patio Restaurant - Taco salad - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Honestly not the greatest, it was an awkward seating situation and the environment was very dead there wasn't even music playing. We did get to buy lovely flowers though!!! Probably best to find another Mexican spot, but this place was great for proximity and can seat large parties! read more

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Simple food with a great happy hour. They have a really nice heated outdoor space that is decorated for holidays with an outdoor bar with a TV. Indoor is a bit cramped with a slightly awkward layout but nicely decorated in adobe style. Food is really tasty. For happy hour food, they have a limited menu of 4 items - two types of burritos, cheese enchiladas, and crispy tacos (beef only). Burritos are large and stuffed! Crispy tacos are plain with beef, lettuce and cheese, and definitely needed the salsa. The house chips and salsa are really good, the salsa is a standard restaurant ranchera but it has a bite. For drinks, they have house margaritas, pina coladas, beers and tequila shots. Margaritas were strong and we left very happy! They also have a drink special on the blackboard as you enter the restaurant so check that too! Ours was $3 special shots. I had previously ordered that special on another visit and it was a bartender's choice of a cocktail shot. Great happy hour! Great for groups! Always wonderful service! read more

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When I visit Simi Valley, I have to stop by El Patio. Their number 6 is my favorite of all time. It's 2 cheese enchiladas with rice and beans but something about the sauce that's so rich and flavorful. They play great music and the staff is kind, attentive, and friendly. If you want an intimate dinner with someone or celebrate an occasion with a larger party, that's the place to go! read more

Terrible rude service! I went Saturday night for my friend's birthday. When we arrived, I told the girl who showed us to our table that we were there for a birthday celebration. She said she'd take care of it. We were not give any menus when we were seated. They sat us at a terrible cramped booth in the back corner that is not comfortable for 4 adults. Then the waiter showed up to take our drink order and was upset because we said we wanted a menu before deciding on our drinks. When we ordered our food he was very rude and said he could not customize a taco for my food allergy! I've been going to El Patio for more than 20 years. They used to be so great. And could always accommodate my food allergy. Unfortunately that is no longer the case. And the waiter was super rude and said all the Tacos were pre-made!! What kind of Mexican restaurant pre-makes a taco? No one offer to refill our chips when the basket was empty for 1/2 hr. We had to go find someone to do it. Last they never accommodated our birthday request or even asked if we wanted dessert. Just brought our bill. They totally ruined our birthday celebration. The last few times I've been there, our dining experience was not very good but this was terrible! I'm done with this restaurant ... I won't be back. read more

Really great Mexican spot. Our server Balta was amazing and helped adjust menu items to cater to our vegetarian needs. The portions were great and the food was really good. read more

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Great food great service and a good place to hang out with friends and family on the patio on the cool Sunday afternoons

We just had to he most amazing shrimp fajitas. We got no bell peppers and asked for the onions to be well done. It was PERFECT! The service from Diego was fast and friendly, and we loved catching up with Jessica and Kevin. This is a Simi Valley gem. read more

Remodeled patio is awesome. Twice the size. This is our go to spot after a mtn bike ride. Good food, awesome staff and cold beer. See ya next week read more

We have eaten at El Patio Cantina several times and have really liked it and we wanted to try El Patio Restaurant but sadly that was a BIG mistake! The food is the same as El Patio Cantina which is fine but the service at El Patio Restaurant was and is so incredibly bad. While we struggled to get help from staff during our dinner, we witnessed a husband, wife, and kids get up and leave the restaurant due to not being served. Like how horrible and embarrassing on your part El Patio Restaurant. We are never eating at that location ever again and highly recommend the folks in Simi do the same. P.S. The tip was $0 as one could anticipate with experiencing really bad service. read more

We used to come here for years but over time the food quality became very inconsistent to the point we stopped going after several visits in a row where the food was just terrible. Today, against my better judgment, the little league game was over next door so it's close and we're trying it again. We ordered tostada salads that were inedible. The beef was in some sort of a gravy, and nothing says tostada salad like gravy. The beans were gross and flavorless. The shell was just barely okay. I do not recommend wasting your money on this place. read more

El Patio Mexican Restaurant has an outdoor patio w/ full bar when in operation which is right for the Pandemic in providing fresh air to dilute & dissipate microbes in the air. Our friendly waitress was good at slinging out food from the kitchen.  Standard thin, crispy, possibly store bought Totopos/fried corn tortilla chips. Salsa is ok....canned, stewed tomatos & mildly sweet tomato sauce puréed w/ bit of garlic, onion, oregano, vinegar, whisper of red chiles.  1) Bean Dip: Seems like a pleasant American invention of whipped Frijoles de Pinto, Chorizo/spiced Mexican sausage. Slight porky fattiness w/ possibly cumin & possibly a warm spice like cinnamon. Goes well w/ Totopos although there is also fried, crispy Tortilla de Trigo/wheat.  2) Guacamole was ultra puréed to point of pasty starchiness. Couldn't sense that buttery, faintly aguacate woody freshness. In fact, the color was an oxidized brownish green as though it had been frozen or left in the cold fridge a long time. Bland almost tasteless. Swirl of sour cream garnish seems to make it even more leaden.  3) Chile Verde: Green Chile Verde Salsa is overly goopy w/ possibly too much corn starch. Lacks a good fond de cuisine/broth base so it tastes flat as well as not having a bit of gastrique to brighten the flavours. Green chiles lack a touch of piquancy to activate the taste buds. Pork meat feels fibrous, moist yet mealy,  without that sweet porkiness.    Rice is soft, touched w/ light tomato sauce. Pedestrian at best.  Frijoles are dark reddish brown, comfortingly heavy as though enriched w/ manteca. Topped w/ hackneyed yellow American cheddar & Monterey Jack. Cotija would have been way better. 1-3a)  Margarita Cadillac: OK standard Tequila lime combo w/ small, side shot of Grand Marnier, sweet French Cognac infused w/ bitter orange   4) Flan: Nice, smooth mellow sweetness, aromatic vanilla, egg yolky, sulfur undertone. Texture is a bit gummy, pasty. Good toasty, caramelized sugar sauce. To me, the chocolate drizzle disrupts the more delicate nuances of the caramel sauce. But overall a-ok.  Mexican food at El Patio is not outstanding, nor is it the worst. Food that will not offend but is certainly not memorable. Mediocre would describe the food here to a tee. Bordering on 2 stars, our affable waitress tipped it to 3- stars. read more

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Whenever in town to visit mom & sister, we come here. The outside patio is perfect. The chips & salsa are great compliments to the 'perfect margarita' pitchers as appetizers. We've never been disappointed in our food selections. I really love authentic Mexican food. Especially chili relleno. Last time we enjoyed the combo fajitas with steak, chicken and shrimp. Wow!Service is always superb. There's no debating where we'll go for lunch. It's an automatic. Can't wait to go back!! read more

El Patio Restaurant - El Patio outside dining. Pitcher of 'perfect margaritas'. Combo fajitas and tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

I have been coming here since I was a little kid. My family loves to come here around Christmas time, it's a tradition we have. We went there yesterday for a late lunch! We ordered the "perfect" margaritas. They were delicious! I ordered the Albondigas soup and it was really good as well. I love how they have a new bar in the patio area and the people who work here are always so sweet and nice. My family knows most of them by name! This place is such a great place to go to if you're looking for some great Mexican food! read more

El Patio Restaurant - Perfect Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Food was just okay, and service was horrible. Had to get up three times to find our waiter. Avoid this place until they can get it together. So embarrassing, for the people I brought with me. read more

The service at this restaurant leaves a lot to be desired. It's like you are inconveniencing them by simply placing your order or asking for a drink. Food is ok, nothing special. Been there several times because a family member sees something in this place I don't. Maria's next to Beeps is magnitudes better. read more

The food was great and service was nice great one it is nice place to lunch and dinner

This restaurant is a popular institution in Simi Valley. It is a wonderful place for large groups to gather and dine together. If youth sports families want to have a post-practice or competition meal together, this is an excellent restaurant for that. We hadn't been back here in quite a few years. Back in the day when my children were young and playing sports, we dined here. Tonight, well, um yeah... This was our experience. The parking lot was packed, but we easily found a place to park. The patio area was filled with guests who were happily dining, drinking, and enjoying their time with family and or friends. The hostess noticed us as soon as we walked in and offered us a choice between indoor or patio seating. There were a few open tables around the perimeter of the patio, so we chose the patio. Not sure what was going on, but to say she was extremely apathetic doesn't do her detached mood justice. She led us to a partially shaded table which was fine, the thing that bugged me was that it was covered with a fine film of dusty dirt and the dried evidence of a bird fly over, if you know what I mean. She slid the table away from the wall, shoved a third chair up to the table, plopped the menus down, and before I could say much she was gone. In her place was our waiter and chips and salsa had already been placed right in the center of that filthy table. The waiter said he would take care of it, but I knew that in the time that was going to take the mood of my dinner companions would sour and make Miss Apathy's mood seem like a pleasant walk in the park. So I jumped into "mom mode" found a nearby clean table bussing cloth and wiped down the table myself. Our waiter was very attentive and considerate. He promptly took our drink order, then gave us time to look at the menu, delivered our drinks, and took our food order. He was great. The chips and salsa were refilled, our dinner was delivered hot, and our beverages were never empty. The bussing crew removed the empty dishes quickly. Two of us ordered combos, and my hubby had the Chili Colorado which he enjoyed. The combos included tacos, enchilada, rice, and beans. They weren't bad but were the type of plain Mexican food that is perfect for those who don't like anything out of the ordinary, picky eaters, and kids. So if you dine here expecting anything remotely related to "Fine Mexican Cuisine" keep in mind that they do NOT serve that here. The meals were nothing memorable or special, but they were hot and we pretty much cleaned our plates. Will I return? Maybe in a few years when I have forgotten all about this lackluster experience and the question "Why don't we ever go to El Patio?" comes up again. There's a reason why I have stayed away for so many years. read more

If there was an option to give this place zero stars I would. Haven't been here in years decided to come and try it again since I was craving a margarita and some good Mexican food. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and it was the worst margarita I've ever had. It tasted like pulp at the bottom of a blender. I could see the separation between the pulp and the watered down drink. The server remade it and it was even worse than the first one; very bitter and tasteless. He asked to remake it again, I just ordered a soda and it had zero syrup and tasted awful but I drank it anyways. The chips and salsa were good until I found a hair in my salsa and couldn't eat any more of it. I got the enchilada suizas which looked good but were so bland. The buss boys tried to clear my plate as I was still eating multiple times and didn't ask before taking anything off the table. Our server never checked in on us. I asked him for a straw, he said he would be back with some and never came. I had to go to the bar and get a straw myself. Very disappointing, would recommend going elsewhere. read more

El Patio Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

We decided to stop here for a drink and it was a good choice. The service was friendly and very welcoming. The chips and salsa were not my favorite; however the chili con queso was very good. Even though today is a chilly day we very much enjoyed the time here. We will definitely come back and try the rest of the menu especially in the summer time. read more

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The food is good. The servers are great and the management is very well organized. Would recommend if looking for good Mexican food. read more

We love going to both El Patio's in Simi Valley. Very friendly staff and service is always excellent. The food is always delicious. I love the atmosphere and enjoy going to both restaurants. Also very clean. Marilyn Kinman read more

We've been coming here for years, the food is good but the service is absolutely horrible. The doubled the size of their patio but not their staff. They bring you chips and your first drink then forget about you. read more

anslate text with your camera It is the first time that I have bought food at this restaurant and I was totally disappointed with the burritos I ordered. They did not follow my instructions on how I wanted them to prepare my food. The burritos only had beans and I ordered them with roast beef. They didn't put what I asked for, and it was too expensive for them to only put beans, they didn't put rice, onion, cilantro either. The micheladas were very expensive and they gave them to me in small glasses of beer. They prepared the two micheladas and then I asked them for sauce for the burritos and they didn't know what sauce to use for a burrito. They gave me a hot and horrible sauce. I do not recommend this place read more

There are 2 El Patio's in Simi, North and South both on Tapo Street. Have been going to both for several years (approximately 35+ years). Never really had any issues until today. Birthday dinner for my spouse at the "south" restaurant. I can't say exactly that the service was bad but after expressing concerns about a few things that were not good I got such an attitude of disrespect and not caring like I have never seen before. After expressing some dissatisfaction about what was going on you would normally see an attempt to fix the situation but like I said there was genuinely no concern to remedy the situation. Never will return after this. read more

Food was good. Came out hot and each person at my table was happy with their food. I got a taco with rice and beans and bowl of tortilla soup. Daughter got fajitas, her bf a burrito and my mom a pollo burrito. Live their chips and salsa! One of our favorite places to eat! read more

El Patio Restaurant - Taco plate (I had already ate a few bites of rice) - Mexican Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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