Just be aware that the chef in this restaurant is saying that their beef is a new type of beef that is pink when fully cooked. There is no such thing. In all of my years as a cook, the only pink beef is undercooked meat. This particular chef was just too lazy to finish cooking the dish. read more

El Potro is the tastiest Mexican food in the area. The entire staff is nice and attentive. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting a great meal for lunch, dinner, bringing friends out , family anything ! read more

We tried this for the first time and loved it ! Service was excellent and fast. Very good margaritas! Would recommend ! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Not family!!!! Walked in with my kid for some diner and the did not seat us. They had 4 tables open so we hung out and waited. Then a party of six comes in and they get one of the 4 open tables before us. We just did a color run and had chalk all over us I guess they didn't like that. Last time I visit one of el Porto's locations. read more

My new favorite Mexican restaurant!!!! Food is amazing! Came here with work and everyone at the table finished every drop. They have the best chips and salsa !! My favorite salsa is when they have a lot of onions which it did! I'm a very picky eater so I ordered something that wasn't on the menu. Tacos with ground beef. The tacos come with 2 tortillas because they break very easy. I love that they do that but it maxes you fill up fast! There sour mix for the margaritas are the best I've ever had :) read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Always seem a scandal inside the place, costumer arguer with eachother and they don't do nothing to stop it

I had a take out from these mexican joint,the polo a crema was delicious and the ingredients were fresh with perfect spices. We didn't have to wait long for our wait,thankful for that.The ambience was great and so was the people in service. Next time would love to dine in and taste other delicacies. :) read more

First time here Sunday.best Mexican food we've had for a long time .great drinks also and very friendly staff ..can't wait to return..

I regularly come to El Potro. The food is great, the ambiance too. The staff is super friendly. The burritos are big and you will have to work your way to finish it. The music fills the atmosphere and on certains days you can even hear mariachis. I also recomend the chicken carne fajitas. And the flan! Don't forget to try it. They do have a nice drink selection at the bar too. One more thing, even if you show up close to closing time, something I do often, they gladly serve you, no "the kitchen is about to close" speech. Good for El Potro. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Excellent Margaritas and Fajita Burrito was very good. Staff extremely friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

I moved to Lowell three years ago from California. I left behind my beloved authentic Mexican food. Since I've moved, I've been looking for recommendations for good Mexican food. Sadly, people's idea of authentic Mexican food are Chipotle or Border Cafe, yikes! Other places threw on chopped up lettuce and shredded cheese on a tortilla and called it a day. My heart was broken. I ran into El Potro often through Yelp, but I did not want another heart break. I ended up biting the bullet and dragged my poor unsuspecting boyfriend with me. As I approached the restaurant on this warm afternoon, I noticed how busy it was compared to other restaurants in the area. I was met with a familiar feel of Mexican decorations. That was a good sign. I continued holding my guard up! El Potro: 1 - Michelle: 0 Our waiter was very friendly even though it was just him and one other woman in the busy lunch crowd. I ordered the tacos de adobada while my boyfriend had the fish tacos. Salsa and chips were complimentary. Salsa was flavorful and slightly chunky. Another good sign. I ordered a side of guacamole. I was amazed because it tasted FRESH! Like it was just made. There were beautiful chunks of avocado. My guard was collapsing. El Potro: 2 - Michelle: 0 When our food was delivered, I was met with an amazing view. My tacos were topped with cilantro and onions over a corn tortilla with a side of a lime wedge and radishes. A sign of authenticity. No prepackaged lettuce or artificial shredded cheese in sight. The food was seasoned beautifully and I caught a bit of delicious fat pieces on my pork. (That's where all the flavor is at!) El Potro: 3 - Michelle: 0 It is a little more expensive than my usual fare in California, but it is completely understandable especially since there is no other decent Mexican place in this darn state. (Also avocado's are hella expensive here.) I'll let you have your win, El Potro. Thank you for a great experience and bringing authenticity to this city. Now, if you start putting in beef lengua tacos on your menu, you'll have me as a customer forever. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Tacos de Adobada - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Great chips and salsa and the fajitas are phenomenal. Service was a little slow but as for a person who also works in the restaurant industry it wasn't enough to get pissy about. read more

We arrived at 4:30pm on the first sunny weekend in months! The house is full and the server is literally running around. We have finally found good Mexican food! It's been 9 yrs since we left ATL and we had given up. They will give you mild salsa if you don't ask for hot. The mild is okay, has too much onion but the flavor is there. The hot salsa is so addictive good, definitely order it. The guacamole is perfect. Our entrees were executed very well. The food is full of flavor but not too salty. We will come back for sure! read more

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Great restaurant for the following reasons: - Great good with an authentic vibe - A mariachi band on tap certain nights of the week - A strong management team that looks to keep their patrons happy Overall, a great addition to downtown Lowell. read more

I called to make reservations and they do not take reservations, its first come first serve. We showed up around 7pm on a weeknight, it was poppin but we managed to get a table right away. PARKING: there is street parking. Depending on the time of the day, you might have to pay. SEATING: There is indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to sit indoors, its decorated in bright colors with booths on the side against the walls, and tables in the middle. Once we were seated, they brought out the salsa and chips. They also had El Yucateco Mexican hot sauce that is from Mexico and is really good. DRINKS: Get the margarita. The normal house margarita is $9, and for an extra dollar, you can get it with Patron. So def go for the good stuff! We started off with the ceviche de macarones (ceviche with seafood). It was pretty good, it came with avocado and 3 tostadas. My main course was blah, I had the chile rellenos and could not even see the chile... I thought I was going to see the peppers but it had kinda been cut up and was hiding below the gooey cheese. I couldn't see the seeds on the peppers becuase it was covered in cheese, so I ate the seeds and my tongue was on fire. Overall, a decent place for Mexican food in Lowell, make sure you get the margaritas! They are stronger than you think! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Chile relleno - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Been waiting for this place to open! We visited on a Saturday afternoon and there were a fair amount of customers which was encouraging. Chips and salsa started us off. Chips were good not great but the salsa was excellent! Drinks came fast and the margaritas are very tasty. Ordered Mole Enchiladas and they were as good as advertised by our waiter. Beans were great but the rice could have been better. That said, I ate every bite and I've never went to a restaurant for their rice anyway. All in all, I left feeling very satisfied (and full) and will definitely be back again! Great service! read more

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Very intimate seating area, a bit drafty near the door. Fast seating, got chips and salsa right away. Drink order was fast too. Only 4 servers made the wait for our food a bit long as the place was full (15 min wait). Overall the food was very tasty, good portion size. I recommend the Chicken Burrito and the Chicken Quesadilla with a Dos XX Amber. As residents of Lowell, we love when local places do well and we will be back! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Chicken Burrito. YUM! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

El Potro is great. The food is fantastic it always tastes fresh. The salsa is incredible and the burritos are huge! I always have leftovers. The margaritas are also a great size and you definitely get your moneys worth. The staff is always polite and kind. Plus, the artwork is fun and exciting. All the chairs and booths have lively colorful paintings on them. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Food was great! Went on Saturday night so it was too busy. Served and seated immediately. Everything was prompt and waitress was attentive. Ordered chicken chimi and the fish taco all worth ordering again. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Chips and salsa to start - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

First time at El Potro. The Booths seemed a little small. The table felt a little too low to the ground but I easily adjusted to it. I ordered Combo #2, which consists of a beef tamale, a chicken enchilada, and two chicken chimichangas. The Chimichangas were food perfection, 10/10 amazing. The breading on the outside was soft and there was not too much of it. They were filled with plenty of well cooked chicken also. The enchilada was good I liked the cheese drizzled all over the top. The beef tamale was a little dry and there seemed to be more bread than beef but I enjoyed it. I also had fish tacos. The fish was perfectly cooked and the flavor was well enhanced by their sour crème. Both dished came with rice and beans which were also awesome. They baked beans in particular were seasoned beautifully. I also had their chicken quesadilla. Best quesadilla I have ever had. It was not flat at all it was tall and packed full of chicken and cheese. Very, very good. It came with guacamole as well which blew me away at how delicious it was. I finished the quesadilla and then proceeded to eat the guacamole straight of the plate it was so yummy. Finally I had the flan which is a custard covered in caramel sauce. It is similar to cheesecake but softer without a crust and better. It was so so good. The staff was also super friendly, accommodating, and service was quick. A terrific experience. If you want good Mexican food, El Potro has you covered. Check out El Potro in this Cheat Day Video: https://youtu.be/eW72mOQn9KE read more

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It is always such a joy to come to El Potro. We were greeted by a manager who sat us right away.The waitress was fast and gave recommendations and attentive service. We were also given refills and a box by another staff member. The staff worked as a team and were extremely friendly. I got the taco salad (a favorite of mine!) while my boyfriend got the chimi. Everything was hot, fresh, and very good. It's not often you find restaurants like El Potro. It's an experience worth any wait and they truly appreciate their patrons. Love, love, LOVE this place!!! Thank you El Potro!! read more

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Number 1, they get huge points for serving Horchata, which is one of my fave drinks ever. Its like desert as a drink! YUM. This place is right in downtown Lowell, less than 5 minutes from our house and we like it for late night snacks and general hangout spot. We also came here when it was Mr. Jalapeno some years ago, but El Potro has definitely upped the market. I am Puerto Rican so I am picky about any Spanish or Hispanic food I eat, but this place is pretty good, fresh, hot, and service is typically always good. Even when we have gotten there right at 1020 or 1030. The have a groupon that we keep forgetting to purchase and use. But the portions are always HUGE and the food stuffs us. Love this little Downtown spot! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Horchata! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Being a native Californian this made me glad to be In the cold as long as I can have traditional food! And if you are walking or being driven please indulge yourself and have the "House Special Margarita" I share mine with my husband then we order a second one and before you know it the third one comes up free! Chips taste better with a well made margarita! Everything including Dos De Leche Cakes as long as they last! read more

amazing service! delicious and fresh food! wonderful ambiance!! We don't live close but would come back for this spot! A real gem!

Wow!!! We've wanted to try this location for a while and both had the day for lunch so here we ended up. Service was great, guacamole was delicious cook, chips warm & food was prompt and flavored so well! More authentic then if you go to a bigger Mexican restaurant chain. Our only complaint, me and my husband are tall, the booths were very smooshed and tables low. We had to crouch to take bites. Besides that, try this and enjoy! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Guacamole was on point w the warm chips! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

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Went to eat here last Friday night. It is very small and I do not know if they do call ahead. We waited at the bar for about a half hour for a table, which was fine, because the band played throughout making this anything but boring. I had a Herradura Margarita (10 dollars) which was a generous pour. For dinner, I ordered Fajita Tacos and my company had shrimp Tacos. We waited only a short time for our food. The second drink was a bit slower due to the crowd they had. The food was delicious and authetic. My only negative feedback would be that the sides were very small..like barely a spoonful of refried beans. Not much for 14 dollars but the chips and salsa were free. We plan on coming back here as often as possible. I left in a better mood than i was when i went in. It was fun! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - The entertainment at El Potro - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Great food, nice music good prices!!! One of the best Mexican restaurants around A must place to visit! Now i know where to get a great Mexican food read more

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I've been a huge fan of el.potro for years , my first date with my husband was there 4 years ago , but my oponion has changed , especially after my.last visit , the prices have steadily increased , but the quality and portion sizes have gone way downhill, last time I visited I paid over 65 dollars for two enchilada dishes one cocktail and one soda , the serving size went way down and the plate came out 2 minutes after ordering so you know they're not cooking anything fresh , the food was almost cold , the rice was dried out and a tiny portion , the tiny portion of refried beans was so watery and runny it was inedible, and the enchiladas tasted stale but the price went way up , won't be coming back and this is after over 40 times coming there read more

Get here early...small dining room, but the door hasn't stopped opening since we sat down at 4:20pm! The food is amazing and SO fresh! We are visiting from out of town and would certainly come back if our travels brought us back to Lowell, MA! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - We are visiting from out of town but would come back if our travels brought us back to Lowell, MA! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

This place is my favorite Mexican restaurant. Service is always amazing even when it's busy! Margaritas are delicious, I always have one too many. My favorite side dish is their chicharrones! Tacos are magnificent. Definitely a great spot to try when you're in Lowell. read more

I just arrived from Houston Tx and being Hispanic I have tasted great traditional Mexican food but looks like here in Massachusetts is different. The food doesn't seem like they try to make it the best . I order the Chillaquiles and I wasn't satisfied with it . read more

I've had a couple meals here now. I like the location and staff is great. The food is a little bland and I was disappointed to see that while they have a great selection of tequilas, they go the easy route on the margaritas. They use Cuervo mix for the margaritas. Would get a star for better flavor in the food and another for house made margarita mix. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Wall of tequilas - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

Decent Mexican food for New England. We came for lunch and we both ordered a combination plate: one each chile relleno, hard shell taco, and enchilada. Served with refried beans and rice. A large plate for $14; slightly too much to finish but we came close. My only complaint is the filling: both the chile and enchilada came with shredded chicken and cheese, while the taco came with seasoned ground beef. For a combination plate I would prefer 3 different fillings - and in fact this is how it was advertised: chiles with cheese, taco with beef, and enchilada with chicken. That would have been better in my opinion. Actually, ground beef is a bit ordinary; spicy chorizo would have earned another 1/2 star for instance. All three items were good. And the relleno deserves special mention. I'm tired of flattened soggy chile rellenos with limp overcooked chiles. This was not. It was cooked just until done, not breaded (as far as I know), and you could actually taste the chiles; medium hot. But as I said above, I think the shredded chicken stuffing wasn't needed in them. Ok tortilla chips and fresh medium salsa are complimentary. And there are several varieties of hot sauce at the table which I appreciated and used liberally. However, the contents obviously didn't match the labels on the bottles; that tells me that they were poured from other bottles, which I consider deceptive and would have preferred that they didn't do that. Beverages include Mexican-made soft drinks and Coca Cola; being Mexican they use Real Sugar and no disgusting high fructose corn syrup. Very nice. The interior was bright, cheery, and colorful. Most of the furniture was hand painted in colorful scenes of Mexican village life. Authentic? I don't know but far from generic. "Real" Mexican music added an authentic feel. (Sorry I'm not well-versed; was it Mariachi? Something else? Whatever; it was fun to listen to.) Waiter and staff were all speaking Spanish among themselves. Service was friendly and efficient. And waiter was able to translate "Potro" for me (it means "colt"). Like too many establishments they can't seem to do without televisions, predictably tuned to sporting events. I'm compelled to deduct 1/2 star for that, but even so it's solid 3 stars and worth another visit for sure. read more

The restaurant was happening on a Friday night. All the patio seats were taken and the indoor seating was nearly full. After a short wait, we were able to grab a table outside. Complimentary hot tortilla chips and homemade salsa was brought to our table. The diced jalapenos in the salsa gave it a nice kick. My husband and I started with a glass of Pino Grigio and tequila on the rocks before we ordered. The weather was perfect for people watching. After all it was a busy night in Downtown Lowell with the Music Concert Series, the Midsummer Night Dream Food and Wine Festival and another event going on at the JFK Plaza. It was time for another drink and we switched it up a bit. You can't really go to a Mexican restaurant and not get the margarita. I'm not a huge fan of sour mix so I got the specialty margarita with Patron, Grand Marnier and splash of OJ, light on the sour mix. My husband got a frozen mango margarita and it was also very tasty. Inside the restaurant there was a live 6 person mariachi band. We could also hear the the music faintly from outside. What a great lively atmosphere! We decided to order an app to share before dinner. The Picada Mixta dish looked intriguing which the description reading, "Sliced pupusas, sliced grileld steak, chicken wings, french fries, fried pork rinds, served with freshly cut cheese and shrimp." There was a choice between the large and small and we went with the earlier since there was only two of us. I'm sure glad we did because when the dish came out, all eyes were on us. Other diners were fascinated by our dish and wished they had ordered it. People kept asking us what that was and how amazing it looked. I had no idea what "pupusas" were but the thick cormeal tortilla stuffed with refried beans was absolutely delicious. I imagined the fried pork rinds to be the ones bought in the store like chips but they were actually the hearty pork bell fat like Chicharron. I felt a little guilty eating it but it was great! The french fries and wings were typical of a fast food restaurant and didn't offer any excitement but it was still nice to pick on. The grilled shrimp and skirt steal was perfectly marinated and delicious. The cucumbers, tomato and romaine lettuce added a nice balance to some of the salty treats. With the huge appetizer and complimentary chips and dips, we didn't' really have room for entrees or dessert. The fried ice cream on the dessert menu looked promising. Prices were reasonable. For 2 margaritas, 1 wine, 1 tequila on the rock, chips and salsa and a large appetizer that was plenty enough for us to share as dinner was about $ 60.00 with tax included. We'll just have to wait until next time! We will definitely be back for more margaritas and food! Service was a bit sub par and we didn't get any napkins and our server didn't check on us. Anytime we needed drinks or wanted to order, we would have to call her. For food and margarita pics, visit: http://www.mami-eggroll.com/2014/08/margaritas-and-mexican-sampler-at-el.html read more

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Vegatable enchiladas were filled with zucchini, carrot and yellow squash chunks that were almost raw. :( lemonade was very watered down and not drinkable to my daughter . Kinda bummed as it was our first time there. read more

I would have given it 4 stars except for the service. It wasn't that server did anything wrong but that I was made to feel like I was 'bothering' the staff in asking to see the menu. When I ordered just nachos I wasn't asked if I needed side dishes of condiments but had to ask once it came out. Like guacamole. The tomato medley seemed sad, pale and had no real taste, but was not asked the whole time I was sitting at the bar how my food was. I did keep getting a look of 'are you done yet?' From staff. It was strange. I made more of effort with take-out customers who were willing to speak to me about the food there and how often they do take out. It seemed to be a fairly popular place, old school, 'typical' Mexican decor seems outdated. Other then that, I would try again but I'm not often in the area so next time I might try a different Mexican place. Lowell has plenty to offer. read more

I looovee it here. I went here a couple years ago and have been coming ever since. It seems to have only gotten better. Last time I went I think it was the best, I don't know why but it was just amazing. The salsa, the chips, my enchiladas. The only thing I'd critique is that the service isn't the best. Otherwise amazing. I think it has to be my favorite Mexican restaurant. I was devastated when I got home and realized I forgot my leftovers there. I'm still upset about it :( read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

This downtown Mexican Restaurant is a "must try" if in the area. Great authentic interior and outstanding quality of food. Being very picky with Mexican I tried the Veggie Enchilada with added Spinach and it was without a doubt... One of the Best Dishes I've had at any Mexican Restaurant. Great Service, Great Atmosphere & Great Food! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Inside of Restaurant! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

The food here is delicious and very filling! It's only my second time eating here and I love it. Definitely recommend. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Steak carnitas and combo #2 w/ chips and guacamole. It was delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Lowell, Massachusetts

I really like this place. I usually go to the Malden location. Always have great food, and everyone who works at both locations are awesome.