I appreciated the free chips for the table, and there were plenty of fajita toppings (lettuce, tomato, beans, etc), although the beans were a bit dry. The fajita meat was also a bit hard to chew through. Dinky, worn-down restaurant with peeling booth chairs. Not worth the trek from Harvard. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Beef fajita - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I am LOVING this place! My boyfriend and I were walking around Union Square for a date night, and kept passing other restaurants. We walked by Potro, and it looked cute and cozy, so we picked that spot. It did NOT disappoint! The house margaritas were delicious, and the portions are huge. Even the guacamole was incredible. Definitely a new favorite, and I will be coming back for sure. Ps: The staff is great also! One of the women working there, caught me taking a selfie and just smiled instead of teasing me - which she would have had every right to do :P read more

The food was so good and moderately price. I went during the week so it was slow. Great customer service

Have ordered food to-go from here a couple times, we love the fajita burritos and enchiladas.

I had the Best churro of my existence in this place. Passion fruit marg was also great! The vibe of the restaurant was so cute. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Churros with ice cream Tres leches - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Went here on a Tuesday night for a family members birthday, pretty busy, small place. Margaritas come in a small mason jar which I found unusual given it typically comes in the margarita glass but they were strong so I won't complain there. I got a margarita with patron no sugar, just lime. They were 10$ Food was good as well, I had read previous reviews before I came to get an idea of what I would order. I had my cousin order the adovada tacos (which I read a lot of good things about) and I got the chipotle tacos. I have to say I wish I had gotten the adovada tacos because they were amazing, the chipotle was a little too spicy for my liking even though I do enjoy spicy. I expected it to be somewhat mild but not as hot as it was. The serving size is big so you are sure to be full once you leave. I enjoyed that they played "Las Mananitas" for the birthday occasion and that they give you a big sombrero to wear. It is a nice gesture. I give this place 3 stars just because I would not put the food under the category of "phenomenal" the food is pretty average but still good. It is a comfortable place, not too over the top, but enough to make you feel like you are at a Mexican restaurant. I would come back again. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Adovada tacos (highly recommended) - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I came here to celebrate my abuela for her birthday. I came on the worst day possible without realizing it. There was market fair going on next door and this place was PACKED! I tried to make a reservation before arriving but they were so busy that they couldn't promise a table. I didn't want to change restaurants since they were going to have a live mariachi playing and I wanted to surprise my abuela. (Just be aware that the live mariachi is only on specific days. They announce these days on their Facebook page) I could tell the waitresses were so overwhelmed. It was packed and hot and they weren't expecting it to be so busy. Regardless of all that, they were so kind. We waited about 25 minutes for our table which was not bad considering how busy it was that day. Our waitress gave us the best customer service! She was such a sweetheart. The mariachi band also took requests for songs and sang happy birthday to my grandmother with the sombrero and a piece of cake. I got the carne asada and I thought it was delicious. My grandmother loves margaritas and she thought the ones from Potro were excellent. They really made her birthday special. She smiled the whole night! May I also add that everything we saw and heard around us made us feel so welcome. Hard working people, vibrant colors, delicious food, loud music, and laughter. It truly made us feel at home. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Intricate hand carved tables and a really cool sombrero. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I love this place. We frequent for taco Tuesday all the way from Charlestown. Great menu and portions. Don't even get me started on the margs. The woman who runs it is also super nice :) read more

Primera vez que visito este lugar y me encanto!! Ordené una enchilada de camarones con salsa rosada, arroz, beans, ensalada, chips y salsa. Y todo estaba delicioso, quedé enamorada! Los platos son súper grande y los precios muy cómodos. Sin duda que volveré. read more

Normally I don't get crazy excited about Mexican food, but El Potro changed my mind about that. This by far has been my best experience with Mexican food in Boston, and I'd recommend El Potro to anyone craving the Mexican comfort food and comfort vibes! Even the refried beans (I normally order all rice) were tasty and not mushy at all. What we ordered: Guacamole: solid guac, no complaints. They give a lot too Tamale: presented beautifully and was delicious, packed with pork and topped with a hot sauce. Chile Relleno: bell pepper stuffed with very juicy carnitas and topped with a nice portion of melted cheese, not skimpy but not too overwhelming. This was my boyfriend's and my favorite dish! Enchilada Trio: 3 shredded beef enchiladas with green, red, and mole sauce. Their mole uses a semisweet chocolate (rather than the bitter dark you find at most restaurants that I don't like), this was a surprising hit for me! The red sauce one was my favorite. We had Churros and Fried Ice Cream for dessert, and the fried ice cream was HUGE. I wouldn't have been able to finish it myself. read more

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Awesome first experience. Sat at the small bar, bartenders we're very welcoming on a packed Friday night. Chips are not greasy at all. Would definitely recommend the Camarones El Mariachi, that came with 8 decent sized shrimp and no need for the tortillas! Quesadilla was also twice the size you typically find with as much chicken as there was cheese, for once. Also cheap drinks! Kudos to the staff here, who are non-stop! read more

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

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Yum! Just had the fajita salad. Subbed black beans for the tortilla shell. Best fajitas I have had since my first trip to Cabo San Lucas many many years ago, where I had dined and dubbed my fish at the time, the best fajitas I had ever eaten. Well these reminded me of that meal in Mexico. They add a sauce that makes these get the rave I am giving it. read more

Fast paced restaurant with attentive friendly staff. The food comes out faster than you expect and taste like it should have took longer, meaning it's tasty. Open late with a diverse crowd but never too crowded. The burrito fajita is one of my favorites with shredded beef but it's tasty with any of the meat they have. Super tasty steak that they will prepare the way request and tres leche is never a miss. If you're in union square especially after drinking, give them a go. I'll be back read more

The food was good. Got the carne asada and it was cooked beautifully. Just wish they gave us more rice and refried beans (about only 1/2 cup each spread really thin) so you kinda leave hungry. They give you chips and salsa which was nice. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Carne asada, 4.5 stars flavors were great but they barely give you any rice or beans it's very thin - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This place wouldn't let us in at 12:20, and it is at least open until 2.... I would love to try it but they didn't give me the chance. However, red house across the street was open and had great food if you're looking for late night food. read more

Great authentic Mexican cuisine. I had the steak burrito which was delicious and extremely filling. The steak was charred, yet tender and flavorful. The chips and salsa that are served when you sit were also good, the chip tasted like they had been made that day, not store bought. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Steak Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I got the Chicken Flautas and loved it. Good portions, everything was hot, proper 50/50 bean-to-rice ratio. Boyfriend got the beef enchilada verde that I had a bite of and that was great too. I would describe what we got as typical traditional Mexican food. Which is to say that it was delicious. There wasn't anything unexpected, but there's nothing wrong with that, and I will definitely be back. I didn't experience any of the surly service mentioned in other reviews. The waitress wasn't overly friendly, but she was quick and professional. I'm very interested in the mariachi night. I gotta check that out sometime. Who wouldn't want tasty mexican food while listening to delightful mariachi music? read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Enchiladas verde with beef - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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The service was beyond fast--and accurate. The portions were generous and the menu had nice possibilities and combinations. Not bland food but not overly spiced either. Best Mexican I've had in quite a while. read more

Not so good Mexican food... Definitely would not go out of my way to eat here, especially at this price tag. Pretty pricey for subpar food--I mean it's large portions but c'mon rice and beans are not expensive. I had the carne asada that came with rice, beans, tortillas, and a salad. Nothing special and the scallions were a weird addition... was I not supposed to eat them? They were super stringy and hard to deal with. The cut of meat seemed really cheap. The waitress was nice but seemed like she would like nothing better than to be anywhere but there. The mariachi band was a fun touch but if you want a place for conversation I would not recommend it. Overall blah feelings towards this place and I'll stick to my cheap and flavorful Mexican food in Winter Hill. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I'm sad. In almost all of the photos I have uploaded for businesses, you can see an arm. Sometimes a watch or keys. That is my cousin John, my Saturday buddy. John in moving to Albuquerque for a new job and we decided to go to El Potro with some other friends to say goodbye. We have been there a few times before and it has always been pleasant. Not as good as CA Mexican, but decent. Things have changed. A lot. They did get their liquor license and now they have tables on the sidewalk, but when we asked to sit there we were told they weren't set up yet. I'm guessing they only had one server, but that is what they should have said. But inside, there are more booths than there used to be and it feels like they are crammed in there, like they want to have as many seats as possible. The end of our booth faced the back of another, it was a little weird. Then I asked for a Jarritos, a Mexican soda. They don't have them anymore. That was one of the things that made them authentic, one of the reasons I kept coming back. When you get some street tacos in Mexico, you get a Jarritos. I got an horchata instead, which was still pretty authentic. The chips come out, soggy with grease and kind of stale with no salt. In past experiences they have run out of chips then brought them out a little delayed, but perfectly fresh. We ordered the mixed pupusas for an app and they were outstanding as usual with that awesome crispy cheese taste. Dinner was unremarkable. I got the Tacos al Pastor, which should be carnitas (roasted pork), onions and cilantro in corn torillas. Pretty close, except they put a bunch of cabbage in my taco and the carnitas was a little greasy. Other issues: A frozen Diet Coke that that exploded all over the table. A burger that was supposed to be med. rare but came out like a hockey puck. I think that burger was one of those frozen ones that comes in the big stack.... My message for El Potro- please don't lose sight of your roots just because you have a liquor license and want to get more people in. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Tacos al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Dark and bright at the same time - string lights with hanging cactuses. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the cantina near Chichan Itza - at least the one we went to - when my college friend tied the knot. Excellent, simple, quick and delicious. Beef and pork tacos ordered individually are enough for a meal. Warm and soft tacos brimming with chicken, another with pork, radish, onions, cilantro and parsley. Tender chunks of meat, a bit of saizon and nice charring. Pollo a la crema, normally something I would not consider ordering, this Central American delight simply warranted the following: "bring it to me." Tender chicken chunks, pan fried, arrive dripping in a thick and savory cream sauce. Accompaniments include rice, pico de gallo, avocado and lettuce. The portion is large. Cadillac margaritas help lighten the affair. Warm and crispy tortilla chips along with fresh salsa are chopped into little strips. An excellent little joint, unpretentious. read more

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I will not be back. I came here this evening and ordered a steak chimichanga for take out. The texture of the rice was off and was not good. The chimichanga consisted of a fried flour tortilla filled with nothing but incredibly dry hunks of shredded beef--like shoe leather dry. If was, frankly, disgusting. Oh, and all of this cost $14 and change. I should have known to walk away when the waitress handed me a menu that had clumps of salsa on it (some of which dripped onto my slacks). All I can say is gross--never again! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Not what I was looking for in a $14 dollar chimichanga this evening. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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This is my second time coming - the salsa keeps bringing me back haha. But seriously I would buy their salsa in bulk, it's so good (and complimentary)! Their portions are very large and the servers here are very kind. I got some kind of steak meal (I forget the name) and I could only finish about 3/4. Wasn't a huge fan of the green onion in the dish but other than that I can't complain. The decor inside is beautiful as well. It's a great spot to grab food with friends! read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Some kind of steak dish (in the background) and not sure what is in the front (my boyfriends dish) - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My wife stopped in to pick up a togo order, Date 3/15/22 @ 7:01 PM 1 Polio asado 1 chicken enchilada mole. Not sure what happened but my meal (Mole) was COLD. Not just cold because it took time to get it home, less then 5 minutes, but below room temp. there was almost no chicken in it, it was thrown together with NO care, and the amount 2 very small enchilada's for $18 was just crazy, My wifes was no better. We dined in at the malden site and it was good, This expirance was very poor, read more

Right in the heart of Union Square in Somerville, come for the outdoor seating, live mariachi music, and standard Mexican fare. Large menu, why not try something a little different from a burrito? Fresh salsa with crispy tortilla chips to start. Sauce is this reviewer's primary focus. When a dish has a standout sauce, it makes the meal and can otherwise elevate often mundane dishes. Camerones el mariachi does just that. This shrimp dish could be your basic rice and refried beans dish you get at every other Mexican restaurant in the US, BUT this spicy tomato sauce with jalapeños, tomatoes, and onions is so delicious that it takes the dish, and overall meal experience, to another level. Somewhat spicy and leaves that pleasant heat lingering after many bites. Also dishes like the standard carne asada - strip steak that is perfectly fine, although a little tough, and satisfying with the yellow rice and refried beans. Nice char on the beef. [Note, this review is a 3.5, but I round up :)] read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Camarones al Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Really nice spot. Big portions. Their homemade salsa is super good. Drinks are big. Great place to grab a good meal before going to all the fun bars around Union read more

I went on a Monday night and the restaurant was extremely busy. The food was excellent and very tasty. I ordered the Fajitas Carnitas and my girlfriend had an enchilada. However, the food took over an hour to come out because they had forgotten our order in the chaos. While the food was great and the server acknowledged their mistake, I just can't give them 5 stars because of this mistake. Would recommend you order pick up so they are less likely to forget your order when it's busy and you dine in read more

I come to El Potro all the time for a cheese quesadilla. I have also had a chicken quesadilla that was also very delicious. I have brought multiple family members and have gotten them hooked on the authentic dishes that this restaurant serves. Definitely a favorite. read more

Coming from a concert and looking for a place to grab a late night bite to eat on a Saturday night, we were turned away from Precinct when we asked if their kitchen was still open. Turns out 11 PM is too late for dinner. Psh. Whatev. Fortunately the door dude recommended El Potro just a few steps down the block, and we were on our way to tacotown. Cutting to the chase, the food was fine, the service was fine, and the restaurant interior was fine. Nothing memorable, but otherwise passable. I went in hungry, and left not as hungry. Most of us had burritos, and most of us had beers. Point is, this place is open late and has food. Once again, back to Precinct. Oh yeah, our group was serenaded by a mariachi band. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Small man, large guitar. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I decided this is the perfect place for an awkward date! No one around you speaks English, so you don't need to worry about people eavesdropping. For those long, uncomfortable pauses, there is plenty to look at, such as odd maps, flora/fauna, animals, chili peppers, rodeo pictures, two TV's -- rather than the person you are with. And to top it off, they have Sunday Night Karaoke in SPANISH! The restaurant was all men in black leather coats, so the ratio is great for women!! And, this explains the coed restroom. Why I have a ladies room when there are no ladies? As for the food, the salsa is nice and spicy. The spinach is fresh. The meat looks nice. Pupusas are good. However, they are always out of avocados??? Margaritas are tasty -- Patron, Grand Marnier and a slice of orange - yummm! This is definitely not fabulous Mexican food. But, I adore the waitress, they open early, it is quirky, and pretty tasty. read more

First of all, we spend a serious amount of time in Mexico, mostly in DF and nearby. We not only know the difference between real Mexican food and TexMex, we're familiar with the regional differences between DF, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Yucatan, and so on, Now, the review: This is a good, friendly, and very pleasant place to have dinner. The portions are good, the food quality is great, and the Mole (Puebla style), my personal test of any Mexican restaurant, is delicious. The style is generally DF/Morelos/Michoacan. My favorites: chilaquiles (yes, I know it's a breakfast dish), chiles rellenos, enchiladas con mole. The waitstaff are all very nice and efficient. The music is good without being too loud, except someone put bachata on the jukebox (me choca la bachata!). The salsa tasted fresh, a bit picante, but not too too much. The chips are addictive. The only consistent weakness is the margaritas. Yes, I know that very few traditional Mexican restaurants in DF have good margaritas, but we have some expectations for Americanized Mex restaurants. :-( In any case, it's not Papagayos or Border Cafe. It's a REAL Mexican restaurant. read more

Best Mexican in Union Square! Fajitas are good in takeout form, just ask for extra tortillas.

Loved their food! The taste was different and by that, I mean good different. Their bean and cheese pupusas are must-have! Taking a point out as they mistakenly served chicken in the vegetarian enchiladas (but the quality of food compensated for it) read more

Service was good. Restaurant was clean. Waters provided. Music was a little loud while we talked at our booth. Dos XX Lager was cold. The tacos chipotle were absolutely delicious. I would order this again because they were so flavorful and simple. Quesadilla (chicken) that my husband got was a big portion, and he said it was "alright". Chips and salsa were good to munch on before dinner was served. Would totally dine here again. We dined in at about 6pm. read more

El Potro Mexican Grill - Tacos chipotle... With guacamole and sour cream... Heavenly. I absolutely recommend these if you like a little spice. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Best steak fajitas and chicken flautas!!! Excellent service. A must when in the neighborhood. I am from Miami and visited on Easter.

First time try at this restaurant and will go back again. Equally impressive is the fact that the manager actually cares enough to respond to these reviews. Keep up the good work on dining experience and oversight of the customers experiences too ! read more

Average place food-wise, but the staff is friendly and the decor is beautiful. There is no parking directly out front, but metered spots down the street, not too far away. - absolute best guacamole around - I recommend the pollo a la crema read more

My go to place if you don't feel like spending too much money at a gastropub. Definitely not the cheapest either but you get a lot and delish food! Love the salsa that you get for free with the chips. Guac is really good, too. If I take left overs I always ask if I can take some salsa as well :D My go to plate, which is sometimes not on the menu so you need to just request it, is the Plato Montañero, which is in the photos. It's a big plate with everything! My friend got the Tacos de Adobada, which looks amazing and she liked it a lot. Probably another safe plate to order. I was adventurous and tried the Mojarra Frita, which is an entire tilapia fried. Taste-wise it was ok, not salty, but I don't have much to compare it. I like fish so I was happy with it. I think the fries with the rice is over doing on carbs but maybe it's to attract more Americans since we love fries. There were some Hunts ketchup packs which I thought was kinda funny. read more

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Es hermoso ssentirse como en casa con la atención ​que brindan en este lugar ... Comida deliciosa...

Wonderful authentic food and atmosphere! Really great drinks, super kind servers, Spanish music and the food is so so good!! Highly recommend!!! read more