I'm still going here. A lot. Sun Prairie has really expanded its options for Mexican (with another place on the way!), but I've learned that I use the different restaurants for different things. Gloria's is my taco place (those cheesy tacos call to me). Primo is my burrito place. Guimo's is my pozole place (and occasionally my taco place, as their pastor tacos are outstanding). Burrachos is my quick-and-fast lunch place (usually for burrito bowls). El Patron is my everything else place. They have the biggest menu. They have great service. The food is always tasty. They do everything well enough to keep me happy and willing to return. I like the people. I like the variety. And there's usually some sort of soccer on the TVs. read more

I would give -2 stars if I could. Slowest service ever. Food had no flavor Like nursing homes have more seasoning than this place. Stay far away Sorry but you guys suck read more

Very large servings, good chips & salsa, combination plates are a good value. Friendly service. Nice to sit by a window otherwise it's pretty dark inside. read more

Sat at the bar and ordered a margarita, I looked up and saw the glasses hanging above me and they were dirty, dusty, and covered in cobwebs. These were the glasses deep into the rack, so hopefully my glass was more clean. The margarita was basically something you'd get at TGI Fridays. Nothing special, heavy and thick mix. The salsa was bland. I assume it's store bought and comes in a huge jug. I ordered 3 chicken tacos. I was surprised they didn't offer traditional cilantro and onion tacos. The tacos come with cheese and lettuce. I got mine without cheese and added tomatoes. They were okay, nothing compared to El Primo or Gloria's tacos. I assume the tacos were wrapped and microwaved. The server was nice. I think I was the only one there besides one other couple. I didn't finish my tacos or my margarita. The tacos were just too plain, the chicken was cheesy, and the margarita mix tasted sour, but not in a good way...like it might be past its prime. Def a quantity over quality situation. I'd recommend sticking to El Primo or Gloria's for your taco needs. I won't be returning. read more

This was our 3rd visit here and I'm changing my rating, so this is an update. While our service and food was great this time, I would still never order the oysters again. I stuck with traditional Mexican fare this time and was happy with my meal. Since COVID, we previously only dined outside but tried the dining room this time around. The ambiance was pleasant and appeared clean. I recommend The chili relleno lunch plate special. I was very tasty and the portion was generous as well. Of course there are plenty of options on the menu, including some vegetarian options. read more

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The food was fantastic. . . Portions were good - I really enjoyed the salsa it was a nice blend of spicy and smoky . . . The carnitas were delicious and refried beans a smooth and cheesy blend. read more

The food was terrible. My plate had the appearance of slop. The beans were watery. The chiles were by far the worst. My friend had the chicken enchiladas and said the sauce tasted like spaghetti sauce. Save your money and go to Woodmans and buy off the self. It will taste better !!!! read more

Best meal I could have had before getting my wisdom teeth out today. I had the El Patron which included shrimp, chicken, and steak fajitas and it came with a cheese quesadilla. Soooooo good the margarita was strong can't wait to come back at a later date. Definitely need to have an adventure with other flavors of margaritas. Summer is coming!! read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Nice looking place and pleasant staff. Food is well prepared but somewhat under seasoned. Lunch was around eight bucks for two enchiladas with rice and a salad. There was a very good bottled sauce on the table that added some real flavor two the sauces. One they should consider using in all their food. A decent lunch place. read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - A decent, slightly hot sauce that's on the table. - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

We just moved to town and I don't know what I expected from a place that offered free food for kids on Sundays. It... was standard hardy Americanized portioned Mexican food. It wasn't anything I'd write home about. They brought a cool crema out with the chips, which I appreciated. I'm not saying I won't be back, as it was a good priced option to feed the kids fast....but ultimately, the ground beef was dry, the chile relleno SWIMMING in so much under seasoned sauce as to be hard to eat, and the cheese tasted... cheap queso-y. Eh, just eh. Next time I'll try the drinks. On the plus side, if you like LARGE portions of cheap americanized mexican food. And the service was really good. (And I know a lot of people that do.) Hey! This really is an exemplar of that category of dining. read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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Staff and food were great! warm chips, good salsa, good margaritas and good food! wouldn't change one part of my meal! 10/10

I always try to go here for seafood plates, and my husband usually goes for chicken burrito suizo or something similar. I've enjoyed the Seafood "El Patron", Enchiladas Acapulco both of which are yummy but not much heat, or melding of flavors- but the Seafood Chimichanga is great. It's just a lot of food, so be careful on eating those chips. My husband has not found a bad tasting plate yet for chicken. We also order a side of guacamole and helps round out our plates. The price is right for us here, and it's close to home. It's worth a stop if you're looking for a good deal of food and great taste. read more

While tagging along with my boyfriend while he ran errands in Sun Prairie, he decided he was hungry and pulled in to El Patron for a late lunch. The outside of the building is kind of sad looking (my guess is it started as a family restaurant) but it improves when you enter. We were seated in the back parrot-themed room which was nice and bright (both in decor and natural light). Our server was friendly and patient as we perused the giant menu - usually I order the same thing every time I try a new Mexican place (chicken chimichanga), but I'd gorged myself on spicy cheese bread at the farmers' market that morning and was not nearly hungry enough to attempt it. I landed on a tostaguac from the a la carte menu with a side of rice. I had never ordered a tostaguac before, but a quick search told me it was beef, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and guacamole on a tostada shell (pretty much what I expected from the name). When my food arrived I had to laugh at my attempt to end up with a reasonable amount of food - my plate was full. The tostaguac was piled high with salad and rice took up half the platter. I've gotten so accustomed to Madison Mexican joints giving you about five bites of rice or beans that I didn't anticipate being able to make a meal of rice alone. The rice was fresh and not too greasy - I would order it again. El Patron's tostaguac didn't have beans but did have cheese. The toppings were fresh, but overall it just didn't do it for me. The beef was very juicy - I don't think it was given any opportunity to drain and it left a puddle on my plate. It also tasted like it was just straight up browned ground beef - no seasoning whatsoever, including salt. There was no spice or kick to be found anywhere in the dish - everything was very bland. I realize there is a segment of the population this would appeal to; I am just not one of those people. Long story short: good service, okay prices, fresh but bland food. read more

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I hate only giving three star reviews, but it really was mediocre at best. We came here for lunch along with a few sporadic customers. When I can park next to the disabled parking that should have been my first clue, but we are determined to keep trying new places in the area and plan A was closed for lunch. The decor was cute, but the tables and booths have seen a lot of wear and tear. On the plus side it was very clean. The bathroom smelled like cleaner rather than a bathroom. Service was immediate with a piping hot bowl of tortilla chips a bowl of white dip and some mild salsa. I'm not a jalapeño lover, but even I like a little heat with my salsa. The white stuff-it was questionable. It was cold, not spicy nor did it taste like ranch or cheese sauce...a mystery we didn't bother to solve as the taste wasn't worth it. Prices are affordable at least-under ten dollars per meal and the portions were large. I ordered a burrito fajita with chicken. The chicken and vegetables were hot and slightly seasoned, the shell tasted like a tortilla shell, but the rest was a meh. Yeah it's refried beans and fried rice, but I was hoping for a little heat or seasoning? While the table service was pleasant I went to pay for my bill and wasn't acknowledged by the hostess until she finished charging the bill before mine, printed out my receipt and said a quick "thank you have a great day" as she was walking away. I'm sorry she didn't care enough to listen to me say a kind reply. Perhaps she was too busy with her other customers? read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Chip Appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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This place is okay. Just okay. The food was edible but nothing special. It did suffice my Mexican craving but overall I'm going to keep looking for a go to Mexican restaurant, but if I was in a pinch. I suppose I would go back read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Burrito El Patron - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Lots of outdoor patio seating, spaced out nicely, likely because of strong wind there weren't any umbrellas up. While on Main Street the volume was fine minus a few mufflers. Complimentary chips were a tasty yellow corn served with a side salsa and ranch with something of a taco seasoning in it, a cool refreshing dip with the sun out. Apparently East Texas isn't the only place to think ranch goes with everything. My order of chili rellenos was good, but short of great, with a breading on the thinner side, and a sauce which while tasty was water and soggied up the breading. The cheese filling was also good but nothing special. The rice was on point, fluffy and flavorful. The refried beans were full of flavor. My wife's chimichanga was very good, tasty and fried right. I have been craving sopapillas, let's just say we had a difference of opinion on the definition of a sopapilla. I think light somewhere between fluffy and flakey with a big air pocket, served with honey on on the side, whipped cream if you insist. What we got was thicker dough fried crisp with barely a pocket to speak of. Smothered in a chocolate sauce, honey, and a whipped topping. Let's say I'm still craving sopapillas. Service was friendly and better than average, but not yet amazing, our food came hot and quickly. I'd rather give 3.5 stars but alas am rounding up, hoping they earn a true 4-5 star review whenever we return. read more

I've been to El Patron a few times since moving to Sun Prairie in January. The first time was with my husband and it was fantastic! Food portions were hearty, service was prompt, and the chips kept coming (something that can be rare in smaller Mexican chains). It was, I believe, a Weekend dinner, which made this even more impressive. It was busy, but not overwhelming in sound or space (it wasn't stuffy). We were happy! I got the fajitas while my husband opted for a chimmy. He was happy, too. We had leftovers! So, why the mediocre review? Well, the second time I visited El Patron was with my best friend, and there were a few things that bothered me. The first was that their food portions were off. I got a different dish, but my friend ordered what I had gotten the first time. I might be overthinking it, but it looked like a quarter of what I had gotten before. She said it was bland. She didn't take any leftovers home mainly because they didn't give her enough to warrant a box! My vegetarian burrito was yummy, but very tiny and the rice that came with it was hardly noticeable. The side salad? I must have missed it because I was given shredded lettuce with three slices of green peppers. Also, no dressing. The second thing was how our drinks didn't appear until halfway through our meal. Third was that my meal wasn't exactly cold, but barely hot. I was unimpressed and embarrassed that I had suggested a place that turned out to be so bad. Especially since it was a Wednesday evening dinner. I want to give this place another shot, but I find it hard to think of going back. Especially since I didn't think my meal was worth what I paid. read more

One of my favorite places in Sun Prairie. Yummy food and friendly service. Very chill. Not super fancy which I love.

I'm not sure why this place has more recent bad reviews than good reviews as our experience was a good one. They remind me of Laredo's in Madison. The unending combinations, specialty Mexican entrees and "Gringo" dinners for the non-adventurous. Food came out real quick, was good and generous. Chips & salsa were included and we got a white dipping sauce as well. Best we can tell it's a ranch concoction. I wasn't a fan simply because I don't care for ranch but I'm sure it will appeal to others. Of particular note was the mole poblano enchiladas which will appeal to a sweet tooth. Great flavor. Spanish rice was fine but not spectacular. A coupon from the 2016-17 Bucky Book brought here & we wouldn't hesitate to return. read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Enchiladas poblanos & enchiladas taco combo. - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

The chips were ok, served with a taco ranch dip. The saving grace was a Chile habanero hot sauce that when mixed in the ranch made it pretty decent. The red salsa tasted like stewed tomatoes. The quesadilla was low on cheese with more tomatoes, other veg, and inconsistently cut chicken. The beef chimichanga was like a shredded beef. read more

Stopped in on a Saturday night for dinner with the family. It was good, but I have had much better at other Mexican restaurants. It appeared that they were busy, but we were seated right away at a table rear the back of the restaurant. The restaurant could use a little repair. Many of the booth seats had cracked seats that exposed the foam cushion. The decor was your normal Mexican-American theme, nothing amazing but nothing dreadful. When we got there chips, salsa and an odd white sauce were on the table already. The chips were ok and the salsa was pretty good (although it could have used a little salt and more heat). I ordered the "Don" burrito with steak and a chile relleno It was a large burrito with steak, rice and beans. It also has a cheese sauce and tomato sauce over the top. Served with guacamole, lettuce and tomato. The burrito had good flavor, but could have used more sauce on top. The chile relleno was the saddest, greasiest mess I have ever seen. It had no flavor and spewed grease when I cut into it.....definately not worth $3.95! I also ordered the regular margarita on the rocks. Good flavor, good amount of booze and it was cold. My wife ordered the fish tacos. She said they were "alright" but had that distinctive fishy smell and taste that comes with either low quality or not fresh fish. I didn't hear her order otherwise I would have steered her away from them. My 4 year old daughter got a quesadilla with rice. She loved it and ate everything on her plate. All in all, if you are careful on what you order and your expectations aren't super high, you should be ok at El Patron. read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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It's Mexican food. Tried the chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. For my review, I would say, it's Mexican food. The menu is massive, reminded me of the cheesecake factory menu. read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Mediocre food. Happened to be in town Christmas shopping and wanted Mexican food. Weird white "spicy ranch" served with chips and salsa. Never seen this at a Mexican restaurant before. Wasn't impressed with it. Salsa wasn't great. Chips are not homemade. Guac had no flavor. Ordered Burritos Mexicanos and Fajitas. Food was alright but nothing special. read more

The serving sizes are messed the F up. I ordered double rice and after two scoops of a spoon it was half gone???? Like what? For how expensive it is I want more food. read more

It's with a heavy heart to say I won't be coming back to this place. I've always preferred eating here even when La Tolteca was still in Sun Prairie. As a regular, I have seen this restaurant going completely downhill over the past year. Both with food and service. Today was the worst. Right away we were greeted by a tall handsome but very unwelcoming man who happened to be our server. During the entire time we were there, he was cold and extremely annoyed like he didn't want us to be there. He was so rude and agitated when we had questions about the dishes on the menu that I almost walked out before I ordered but didn't because I was so hungry. The food has been mediocre and barely warm enough to eat lately as was the case today. Since the server was so unfriendly tonight, we were not about to ask if it could be reheated. We were honestly too afraid. When I say "we", I mean myself and my sweet 70 year mom. We just wanted out of there fast after that. Too bad because their salsa rocks and I'm really going to miss those awesome shrimp fajitas. read more

This has been my favorite restaurant for 5 years straight. Every time we come back the staff is friendly and memorable, and the food comes out quick. It's well priced for the quality. My only complaint is that more often than not the soda tastes very funky. Almost like they water it down or it is off brand. Overall it is a great restaurant that I will continue to support. read more

I have no clue whatsoever what the bad reviews are for on this place. Taco Bell is better? Poor food? Did those reviewers and I eat at the same restaurant? I'm a huge fan of anything with mole sauce. I ordered the Enchiladas Poblanas. They were on par with some of the best I've ever had... warm, a hint of spice, lots of chocolatey goodness. The rice was fantastic, the beans were smooth and delicious. My wife really enjoyed the #6 lunch special, which was two chicken enchiladas, rice and a salad. This was our first time here and based upon the food quality, we'll definitely be back. The price is typical, perhaps a smidge higher than what you'd find on the west side of Madison. We are in the process of moving to the area and are thrilled we've found a fantastic Mexican restaurant. Cheers! read more

Nice food, quick service, the chips and salsa they bring out is yum. Inexpensive for what you get. Nice atmosphere...

When we arrived in the parking lot we thought it was closed since the lot was empty. We arrived at about 5 on a Thursday for dinner, besides us there was one other family eating. All the tables had chairs on the tables like when they're closed. The food was mediocre, the beans were from a can the flour tortillas were soggy everything lacked flavor and worst of all my two toddlers chocolate milk had gone rotten! It was so sour and disgusting. Never returning, not even sure how they're still in business. Only giving one star because our waiter was polite and checked up on us. read more

This would have been an awesome experience, great food, great Drink but then a smoker lit up outside and it blew in our face read more

Ordered takeout today and the food was amazing and fresh! We ordered chicken chimichangas and enchilada Rojo. It was just as good as if I was there in person. My family is very picky as well with their orders and they delivered exactly what we asked for each meal including substitutes and sides. The order was also ready right on time! I give 5 stars for everything! read more

Had tacos. Were tasty but they served corn tortillas even though I specifically asked for flour tortillas. No one came to refill our water glasses. They brought more chips but not more salsa, even though the salsa dish was empty. Who does that except someone who doesn't care about customers, consequently tip was reduced accordingly. They were not busy. TV was too loud. I might return but there are so many Mexican restaurants around that this one needs to improve service to get my return business. read more

Do not let the rough exterior of the building fool you. We received excellent food and service when we went there. The menu was quite extensive and even included a vegetarian section. I ordered one of the vegi combos which included a quesadilla , tostada, and enchilada. The quesadilla was good (although thats pretty hard to screw up), the tostada was especially yummy with super fresh and green lettuce, a delightful guacamole, cheese and beans. The sauce over the enchilada was tasty and not too over powering the beans inside which were perfect. I always judge a mexican restaurant by the beans and salsa and this place gets a 5 star on both those fronts. Yum Yum!!! My husband ordered the veggie Fajitas and it was so huge that we really could have shared it and plan to do that next time. The seasoning was spot on and the veggies were cooked to perfection. Carrots, bell peppers, brocoli, onions, potatoes and more were included in the mix. There was a ton of onions and green peppers but their was also a ton of all the rest of the veggies so that made up for it. My boys split a kids menu item of a quesadilla and fries and were very happy with it. The wait staff was all extremely attentive, friendly, and informative. We were going to order just two meals and share with the boys (they are only 1 and 3 years old) but the waiter informed us that kids meals were free on Sundays and urges us to take advantage of the deal. The refilled our drinks and checked several times to make sure we were doing good and had everything we needed. I generally felt that they appreciated the business and worked hard to please us, Im a happy customer and cant wait to go back and try out the Lunch Menu!!! I'm really puzzled as to why the other reviews are so poor for this place, maybe the meat options aren't as good but the veggie ones are great!! read more

I've driven by this place several times since it opened, and tonight I finally stopped in to give it a whirl. This place is located in the old Pancake Cafe building, which was a dine-in Pizza Hut before that. The ambiance is pretty ok, and someone is definitely a talented painter when it comes to the murals. The staff is comprised of some young people who seem very friendly and are working hard. The prices are average, nothing too outrageous. However, none of these simple pleasantries make up for the incredibly mediocre food. Our dinner was VERY underwhelming, and VERY small portioned. They used melted Monterrey jack on all the dishes, which was oh so creamy and disgusting! Yay! Sun Prairie has yet to acquire a really good Mexican restaurant. The sad thing is, I didn't even really care all that much for Taqueria Guadalajara down on Park St in Madison, however, in terms of flavor and presentation Taqueria blows El Patron away big time. read more

El Patron has become a frequent hang out for my family and friends, from Ladies night out, birthdays, or just a night out for a fantastic dinner. Their drinks are amazing and extra large in size, if it is your birthday, they will put you in a sombrero, serenade you, and provide you with a tequila shot, if over 21 of course. During warmer weather, they have live music on their outdoor patio. Chips and salsa, served along with a unique spicy ranch type dipping sauce is something different. Specific wait staff are designated just for keeping the chip basket full with warm crisp chips. We always order a side of con queso, which is authentic Mexican melted white cheese, not the Velveeta and rotel dip served at most other Mexican restaurants. The menu selections are vast, providing a wide range of choices, including chicken, beef, and seafood meals. My favorite are the many varieties of fajitas, sizzling hot when served at the table, and with loads of vegetables that are still crisp and flavorful. They also have a great variety of deserts to finish off your meal, if your stomach still has room, I recommend the fried ice cream, or flan. read more

We went here earlier this month for my mother's birthday. Service was great, very attentive servers. My mother had the enchiladas and she really liked them. My wife had chicken fajitas and the chicken to veggie ratio was way off. The veggies (onions and peppers) were cut in large chunks instead of strips, which was kind of a turn off. She said it had good flavor, just wanted more chicken. I had the saddest chimichanga ever made. I was looking forward to a crunchy delicious dinner and this soggy, greasy mess was placed before me. I don't know if the fryers weren't hot enough, or if the oil needed changing, or it wasn't cooked long enough, but it was pretty gross. We also ordered a chili relleno as I've never had one and my friends always recommend it from other places. I figured we'd split it amongst ourselves. It was a soggy, gloopy, greasy mess. My understanding is chili rellenos are supposed to be crispy and crunchy on the outside but this was gross. I had 1 bite and sent it back. We had high hopes after hearing other people rave about the place, but I can't recommend it. Save your money, make the trip to Madison and go to Taqueria Guadalajara. read more

I came here for the cheap margaritas and tasty Mexican food. I feel like I got one out of two. Cheap margaritas in an assortment of flavors, not so tasty Mexican food. I got enchiladas with mole sauce and the sauce was VERY sweet and did not mesh well with the enchiladas. The hot salsa was incredibly spicy, but lacked flavor. It was like chili oil. Service was decent. I would be willing to give it another try though. Maybe try the fajitas, one of the people I was with got them and they looked pretty awesome. read more

They messed my order up and refused to change it or give my money back. The food was terrible and I had to throw it out.

We ate here a week ago last Thursday night and it was great. I ordered the Alambre. It's sort of the meat lover's version of mexican food....maybe more tex-mex? My girlfriend had enchiladas and my son had....uhhhh......hmmmm.....I can't remember. I think it was chicken enchiladas....and he liked it! I do remember that. I had a dos equis. They have it on tap, and Marcia enjoyed her margarita. ;D read more

El Patron Mexican Grill - Alambre with a beer. :D - Mexican Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

I dreaded having to do this someday, but I feel it's my duty to warn others that the food here is pretty disappointing. Won't go into detail about my subjective opinion of the quality, just avoid it. If the owners read this, I'd be happy to give fair, honest feedback on how they missed the mark. I give 5 stars to the style/color and the addition of a deck. Speaking Spanish was helpful when ordering and helping convey that my brother is allergic to dairy. The waiter appreciated it and my brother initially felt at ease. I'll probably go back for margs and modelo on tap cuz they do have pretty good prices on them. read more