The chili relleno combination plate had generous portions and the price was reasonable! It's hard these days (after the pandemic and with high inflation) to find places that still give good portions for a decent price. read more

El Sombrero - Chili Relleno combination plate - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Our bowling group has been going after league and we really enjoy it there. We're able to fit our entire group together. We're always able to get seated all together. Parking is not an issue. Food and Service is always top rate. Our orders are always served right away. The señor that keeps things running smoothly with chips and salsa, water and drinks, he's always right there for us and I appreciate him so much he's a great asset to the server. He works so hard too. Our server, he is always so gracious and never far away should we need anything. I'm sorry I don't know your names but you both know who you are... Thank you for making our visits to your restaurant so incredible. read more

I came here for a late lunch on a weekday afternoon. I had been wanting to dine here for the lunch buffet for what feels like eons now! Unfortunately, they are currently not offering the lunch buffet due to COVID, but they still do have a pretty solid menu. That being said, I really hope that one day they will bring back the lunch buffet! I go gaga for buffets! Inside/Outside: 3.5 out of 5 The restaurant is located inside a plaza, so there is a large parking lot shared with other businesses. I don't think there will ever be a time that parking will be difficult to find. The restaurant itself is huge, with multiple rooms (e.g., dining room, bar area), and even what appears like a banquet hall. The restaurant was pretty empty. We chose to dine in he bar area and they had fun music playing in the background. Food and Drinks: 4 out of 5 I got the shrimp salad with balsamic vinaigrette and the portion was huge! It came with lemon wedges; perfect to squeeze it on to the shrimp and salad. They was generous with the shrimp and avocado, which I truly appreciated. I also got a margarita and they did not skimp on the tequila. I could definitely taste the liquor. Service: 4 out of 5 When we arrived, the front was not staffed, so we had to wait 5 minutes to be seated. The remaining of the service while we dined was attentive and welcoming. The server periodically checked on us, which was really nice. read more

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16 years ago my husband proposed to me at this very restaurant so this place holds a special place in my heart just for that. Today was the first time we have returned since that day so we didn't have much of a recollection about the food itself. I had the Chile verde plate and my husband the beef enchiladas. We also ordered the guacamole. Everything was good. Not absolutely fantastic best food we'd ever had good, but decent good. The service was exceptional and the speed of service was as well. read more

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This place has been a favorite for decades! I've been to parties here. I've been here for Mothers Day brunch. We stop in to watch sports and have a few drinks. There's rarely a wait. The restaurant is big with plenty of seating. The food is always hot and tasty. Check it out! read more

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Known this place since the early 90s. El Sombrero always have a great environment. Food and drinks are always top of the game . Staff is always friendly and EZ going. read more

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While visiting El Monte we decided on visiting El Sombrero. What a good idea it was. Authentic Mexican food and great drinks. I love that the table chips and salsa come with chunky salsa and regular salsa. Thank you Maddison for great service! read more

El Sombrero - Enchiladas Rancheras - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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I came here for lunch and tried the buffet out. There were fruit, salsa, ceviche, tostada and more for dessert. For the main dishes there was menudo, enchilada, tripe, rice, fajita meat, beans and a lot more. A couple of their dishes were spicy, but thankfully on a good spice level. There are also chips on the side of the buffet. Also, if you ask them they can give you tortillas as well. The buffet itself wasn't bad, but price is reasonable. Staff was very friendly and want you to be welcomed in the restaurant. read more

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Portions for food are HUGE! I ordered the special quesadilla with shredded chicken, and it came with guac and sour cream on the side. The quesadilla was delicious, especially with the guac I didn't finish because there was so much food! I think the order is enough to feed two people (unless you're really really hungry). We had to get 3 boxes because none of us finished! Staff sanitized the menus and table before we sat down, and there was a bottle of hand sanitizer on the table. Everyone was really nice, and it was easy to find someone to ask for extra napkins, more water, etc. Parking is easy to find because El Sombrero is located in a plaza with a ton of parking! read more

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Love this place. My friends and I come here often. It's our go to place for birthdays, and just cause

Oh brother... It's been years since I've walked in this restaurant. Well today being the 1 year anniversary of my moms passing, a group of family members got together to eat brunch. Several vote El Sombrero because it's so close to us. I bite my lip and agree. We walk into an empty restaurant with about 3 people in their large dining area and 4 in their separate bar area. We say to the man (with dark hair and dark beard) standing behind cashier table "Group of 15". He responds by telling us that any group over 6 can only have 3 checks. Really? In a world of Apple Pay, card etc?? My sister goes on to explain our celebration and asked if an exception could be made. The answer was a no. This EMPTY, SUBPAR FOOD, BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE RESTAURANT continues to make us all wonder how much longer can you stay in business? read more

Second time coming here. Food is not authentic Mexican food. My chilli rellino was half a chili and not the full one. The nachos hardly had any meat. Like 1/2 a cup. Lots of sour cream and guacamole. Oh lots of chips. Both times service takes so long to come and see if we needed anything. The chips both times talked like they were sitting for a while. The second time they charged us double on an item, good thing we caught it and let them know so they did remove it. read more

We went for a quick bite hoping happy hour would be good. The waiter seemed put off by questions and us asking for clarification. The food was subpar. We both ordered margaritas. My friend could not stomach her drink but I finished mine thinking maybe it was just strong. Nope. It tasted like there was no alcohol and extremely sour. My friend forgot to ask to split the bill and they chided her as if she were a dimwit. It was offensive and I interjected she simply forgot. There's no reason to be so impatient. It was a very unpleasant visit. read more

El Sombrero - Combo plate watery and sour drink - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Let me just say you get what you pay for? Yea this place is affordable for events but the catering is awful. My daughter was going away to college so we had her a dinner.. they were so unattractive we had to ask for drinks for our guests multiple times they took plates from our guest when they weren't done eating ... they turned off the air conditioning on us an hour before we had to leave kicking out my guest so quick to collect money there was no bar tender attendant knowing they had a function... No apologies.... Never again read more

Best authentic Mexican food around. Great service and fast service. They have a lot of spaces for private events too.

My boyfriend took me to this spot that looked really delicious and it was! The portions were great! Nachos can feed 2 people. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to order because everything looked so good! I can't wait to go back & try different plates they offer. I appreciate the workers they are all so nice. They do get busy sometimes so always be patient but it was worth the wait. read more

El Sombrero - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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I hadn't been here in over a year and during lunch hour my coworker and I stopped here for some warm soup on a rainy day. I ordered the Albondigas soup, and she ordered the Cocido soup. Sadly we were both disappointed in the lack of flavor of both soups. The broth was very bland and seemed to be the same broth for both soups. The side of rice that comes with the Albondigas was very bland. I'm not sure what's happened to this place, we used to love the authentic flavors from this place before. So sad I won't be returning. read more

I came here recently for lunch with my buddy. The parking lot looked very familiar, and the facade looks like a hacienda or rancho from the Mexican Revolution era. Maybe it was the heat, but I expected to see a few horses tied to a post, drinking water from a well but the closest thing to a horse was an older Mustang parked in front. I left my "sombrero" in my car and walked in. The large wooden doors, wooden furniture, and floor tile confirmed you time-traveled to Mexico. Don't get me wrong, this was a cool thing and I enjoyed it. My friend and I took our seats, and I ordered a Modelo beer on draft and a Cocido plate. I remembered that my friend and I had previously visited El Sombrero about 20 years ago and attended some fun events here---so this recent visit was a reunion of sorts. The place is very spacious, the ambiance is nice and it's still a great place to meet for food and drinks. The chips and salsa were served quickly, and they tasted great. My cocido was served with a traditional side cup of rice and corn tortillas. The cocido broth was served medium hot, flavorful, and there were a lot of beef chunks and vegetables to enjoy slowly with my cold beer. My friend and I reminisced about some work fundraising events held here years ago and it was nostalgic to revisit El Sombrero. The customer service was great and friendly. Plenty of free parking in front and all around. read more

We tried this place for the first time for a party. They catered it in their banquet room and served everyone. The area was spacious. The service was excellent too. The bartender made amazing drinks. I can see why my friend has had many family parties here in the past. If in El Monte, definitely a great option. read more

I love this place. My favorite burrito ever is their Mom's burrito, shredded beef but all their food is delicious and has that authentic Mexican flavor. read more

First time for me @ this Restaurant & my boyfriend been here few times we had great service & food was good & prices were decent.

Great service amazing food !! I've gone here for years and I enjoy it! Great for company parties too!

Hadn't been here since late 90's early 2000s and the food is just as good as I remember!! The food is so authentic, great taste and good portion sizes on the plates. Chips and salsa are great and the salsa has great flavor, although not too spicy. The chips taste good and are not greasy. The service is good as well, even for being short staffed they are on top of it and check back regularly for refills or if you need anything else. We will definitely be coming back more often even if it is a 20-30 min drive, it's well worth it when craving delicious, authentic Mexican food! Highly recommend this place! read more

The Tacos Here are not really that Good...I ordered a 2 chicken tacos And was disappointed the Girl Behind Me asked me if I wanted Pico de Gallo I asked if it was hot or mild She said it's not that hot... I took one bite and my Mouth was on Fire...Obviously This employee has No idea of what Pico de Gallo tastes like I couldn't eat the tacos because they were to spicy there was Hardly any Chicken. What a Waste of Money Never going back There... The atmosphere was family Friendly The Prices you pay are not Worth it The Food is Not That Good This Restaurant Serves Mainly Shrimp Not Much on The Menu other Then Shrimp to Choose From ...Very Few Options To Choose From... read more

This rating is for the lunch buffet which is served Monday - Friday 10:30am - 2pm. I don't know what took me so long to come here and try their lunch buffet cause now I am fan. This place has been a part of El Monte for a little while now. The lunch buffet is $9.99. There was a decent variety of food options. There were chicken and cheese enchiladas , Chile relleno , Chile Colorado , menudo, grilled chicken, ceviche ,roasted jalapeño potatoes and a small salad bar. The salad bar had salad, some fruit, and a few desserts. They bring warm tortillas to your table. The food itself is decent. The chicken in the chicken enchiladas was a bit dry. The beef was also not that tender. Service was good. The servers were friendly and were always around. There is plenty of parking. It's not the best food but for what you pay it's a pretty good deal. We Will be coming back soon. read more

Like everyone one says, we driven by this place for years looks so small. Then to find out that it's the oldest Mexican food restaurant here in El Monte. So we had to try . Wife had the beef taco and enchilada combo, I had chili Verde plate. Have to say all was great. The service is outstanding. Service with a smile . They made us feel at home and we highly recommend El Sombrero read more

We frequently visit for family breakfast. Very big inside and accommodating. You are able to make reservations which is wonderful. They're good is great also, our favorite is the green (super spicy) chilaquiles. read more

Great Mexican American food. Great bar. It's Taco Tuesday! They make tacos like my mom. Food is great. The staff are great. I really like the place. read more

I came with my family here after rushing from downtown to El Monte Googled a place with Mexican food and I got directed to this place. The waiter, Karen was really nice Even though we came at closing time she acomodated us really well and made us feel really welcomed. The appetizer sampler was great and the mojarra frita is a must try on their menu. My son was curious about one of their bar drinks and the bartender made us a mojito-looking lemonade Overall the experience was great and no doubt we will visit again if we are in the area. read more

El Sombrero - Mojarra Frita con arroz y frijoles - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Arrived early (9:30am) on a Saturday for breakfast. Was seated at a table and given a dinner menu. Had to hunt someone down for a breakfast menu. Ordered chorizo and eggs breakfast. It was ok. Beans were a little too runny for me. Rice was OK. Table was a little sticky and old. Overall, an OK place. Don't know if I'd come back and try dinner. The friend I went with and Huevos Rancheros and liked them. Big chunks of pork meat. read more

Food was good/decent. But terrible service. We were waiting for over an hour for our check and someone to check up on us at our table. Our waitress rarely stopped by at our table I felt like she was avoiding us. Overall I wouldn't go if you are in a hurry read more

I've been to this place a few times in the past. Today, I went for brunch and ordered Caldo de Pollo, my BF the shrimp salad and my husband enchiladas verdes. The food is great, the flavor reminds me of my grandma's food. The employees working there were very attentive even though they were busy and having a private party in the other room. read more

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If I could give it zero stars I would . Service was awful , waited so long to get our drinks . My friend had an event for her daughter and was treated unfairly. Had the air conditioning turned off so the guest could get the hint to leave but they failed to up hold their contract . They had an hour left for their event and air conditioning and cleaning started an hour before the even was agreed upon . Very unprofessional and one of the waitress was being really rude . Never again anyone thinking hosting future parties don't !!! read more

First of all, I'd like to say," thank you to Erica. And her staff, I rented the banquet room to have a dinner for my brother last night 8/10/2025. The food was great, the service was awesome, the bathrooms were cleansed and smelled good all paper towels were filled we did not have to ask them. Erica,handled all of us in that room very well as she served. The workers at the end were very great full as we helped pick up & not that we needed to but, I am sure they all wanted to get home to their family as well. Do I recommend this place.? Yes Thank you El Sombrero read more

Awesome buffet. Came here a couple times to celebrate a coworker leaving for greener pastures. I like the way they would grill the tortilla right in front of you. read more

A real disappointment! I ordered the Fiesta salad and the Taquito salad for a Birthday lunch the food was not fresh the chicken was tough in the Fiesta salad the, the taquitos were not fresh at ALL they were very hard to bite the meat was so hard and dry on the ends the taquitos were not edible. we have had these salads before and it was just not what we expected. I ordered by phone they said come inside to pick up in 20 minutes I went in and still waited about 10 minutes,the restaurant was not busy at all. $30 for 2 salads.... this is not okay. Very very very disappointed! I've been patronizing this restaurant for years never had a complaint the atmosphere,customer service and food has always been great but today was a real disappointment for a Birthday Girl who looks forward to her Fiesta Salad from your establishment every year. read more

The Carnitas Soft Taco Combination is very good. It has a lot of tasty meat and I like the soft creamy beans which are not too salty. So now I have another place to go to when I want just beans, tortillas and salsa to snack on. My other favorite place for frijoles is Tia Gladys in San Gabriel. They have the best beans in the SG area. read more

El Sombrero - Carnitas Soft Taco Combination is very good. $12.95 - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Mellow, chill place to have a beer, eat some great food and watch a game on one of their many TV sets. Just killing time, saw this place so I decided to drop by. Great staff, great food, good, fast service. What more could you ask for? read more

El Sombrero - Cool, chill place to have a, munch on some food and watch a game. - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

My favorite Mexican restaurant for the past 30 plus years! Great food and great service!

This has always been my go to for Mexican good! After moving from this area, I haven't been in a long time. This restaurant is family owned so we have known the family for quite some time now. Everyone is always friendly and always greeting us when we stop for a bite. The food is amazing and anything I have ever tried was delicious. The margaritas are also amazing. I prefer the house margarita on the rocks. We celebrated my grandmas birthday and were in the cantina area but you can also reserve the other side where they have somewhat of a banquet seating area. read more