When passing through Kingsville on our way home from Padre Island we were looking for a spot to eat and stretch our legs. With a variety of options, and a few we've tried before (Korean BBQ and Spice Station are other must-visits for the area), I took to Yelp to find something familiar, comforting, and options our 8 and 3 year olds will eat. So, we found El Tapatio and so glad we did! The parking lot was full, which is always a good sign - especially for lunchtime on a Thursday. We entered and were seated right away. Our waitress was quick with our drink and food order and we were all so happy with our meals. There is quite a bit to choose from on the menu, but we all found various options that were so satisfying. I went fajitas with their El Patron (which is a large portion and easily shared). Sizzling hot with a variety of beef, chorizo, grilled onions and packed with flavor. My husband had their flautas plate and our cousin went with some street tacos. For the kiddos we had them share a kids cheese quesadilla which comes with rice and beans. Overall, service was top notch and very attentive, the restaurant was clean and very welcoming, and above all the food did not disappoint. So, if you're finding yourself coming or going through town you must add El Tapatio to your list of must-try places! read more

The #13 chicken flautas came with burned ends and dry in the middle. The rice tasted like it came from a can. The guacamole probably was made last week. There were 6 in the party. We were served our meals at 4 separate times instead of together, making us wait and wait to eat. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Delicious salsas! I ordered the beef fajita tacos, which were a little dry, and the beef was ground. My mom had the fish tacos which came with a mango pico de gallo, and we also ordered the peach margaritas, which are wine based. There is cute decor with lots of paintings and Mexican art on the booths. Really enjoyed this restaurant. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Beef fajitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Quick service, the food was really good. The prices were even better! Great margaritas as well. My daughter loved the refried beans and my son gave the charro beans an 8.7 and he is quite the critic! read more

This is definitely one of the best restaurants to eat in Kingsville. The very first thing that catches your eye is the environment. The restaurant is clean and spotless. Their menudo is the best in town and the waitresses are amazing. We I'll definitely be coming back to try everything in the menu. read more

The service was horrible waitress brought out wrong order and tried to blame it on me when actually she just did not hear me correctly. The staff argued with me because they did not want to replace my order with the correct order and wanted me to pay for the wrong order and wanted me to pay to replace the order. I also order the nachos with fajita beef and they gave me ground beef I did not complain about the nachos but when they gave me ground beef instead of carne guisada and I told my waitress and she tried to blame me for the mistake stating I pronounce carne guisada incorrectly and did not want to replace my order without me paying. This establishment has went down over the years and I no longer trust their ingredients or staff. My friends and I used to love eating here but it is just not the same. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Ground beef but should have been Carne Guisada beware as they will give you ground beef instead of steak fajita beef as well - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

We ate at the El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant. We had the special which was four tacos in corn tortillas. The chips were very good! They were homemade. The salsa was a little thin. The service was average. I wish waitstaff would let you know about the 3% up charge for using a credit card. I could have paid cash! read more

We stopped by on our way to McAllen. Very interesting decor as everything is Frida even in the bathroom. We ordered the fajitas and wow they were different. Served on a sizzling platter, the meat is all mixed together with beef, chicken, shrimp and sausage. It's very thinly cut, unlike other tex mex places. The seasoning was amazing and very tender. Comes with a huge side of rice, refried beans and lettuce and guac. Great food and lots of locals eating there. Don't miss it, if you're in Kingsville. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Small town restaurant. Big time Mexican food, located across from the popular Young's Pizza, 2 minutes from Texas A&M University - Kingsville. At 9:30am on a Sunday, every table was occupied and for good reason. Despite the restaurant being full, we were seated in less than 5 minutes, service was prompt, and the food was on our table within 7 minutes of ordering. Tortillas were thick, fluffy and homemade. Barbacoa was perfect.. not too greasy but not too lean. The al pastor will grilled to perfection and carne guisada had great flavor and the meat was very tender. The limoada was fresh and homemade. El Tapatio also serves traditional, American breakfast foods such as pancakes, waffles, french toast and biscuits with gravy, and which appear to be popular items based on the large number of people ordering those foods throughout the restaurant. read more

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Great service but food was lacking flavor.. Big burrito shell hardly any meat or lettuce

Recommends by a college student...Place was jammed packed! However, they seated us quickly and were able to accommodated a wheel chair. Service was fast and food came out as it was made. Nice and hot. Taste was good and we loved the lemonade! We'd love to go again. read more

5 stars, but it should be 10 stars! The best Mexican Restaurant I have ever dined at. Delicioso!

Clean, fast, friendly service. Food has really good flavor! Would recommend, would definitely come and eat again. We are here to watch beach volleyball and not sure how this place was going to be. Pleasantly surprised! Good food! read more

We stopped here for lunch on the way to South Padre Island and we were very disappointed in the food. The service was good. I ordered beef enchiladas and they had grizzle and never in my 80 years had I have that in my enchiladas. I never leave food in my plate but this time I did. The chips were good but that was it. My wife had the green chicken enchiladas and she left two of them in the plate . I will never stop here again no stars read more

The food was excellent, great price and you are given a lot of food! The service was good and the food came out quick only reason for the three stars is because once we were done with our meal the waitress never came back around to see if we needed any Togo container or to let us know we were supposed to pay at the register. We didn't get the check either so never knew what we were supposed to do. I was searching for a sign but never saw one. This is definitely something that is fixable. Other than that we will visit again, the food was excellent! read more

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TLDR; GREAT QUESADILLAS & PRICES El Tap has been a Kingsville must stop for me for 14 years. Anytime I find myself in the Kingsville area I make it a priority to go out of my way to stop. I will say that I am a creature of habit and El Tap has absolutely mastered the quesadilla! Whether it's steak, chicken, or shrimp it is phenomenal! Although, I will say that the shrimp quesadilla on a homemade large flour tortilla is a game changer. Don't believe me, order it and when the butter is dripping out of it you'll thank me later. El Tap has mastered the quesadilla and Im forever sold! read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - large shrimp quesadilla | lime margarita - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Food was delicious- we came from breakfast. Service was nice, fast and efficient The restaurant had a good amount of people, the decor was nice and the restaurant was clean. Prices were fair. read more

The atmosphere was amazing! The decor was amazing! But I must have picked the wrong entree bc the chalupas were basic. I think that maybe I just didn't pick the right entree for me. Willing to try again. The service was fast but we didn't see our server after she dropped our food off to ask for limes. read more

Rude service from the start. Food was terrible. Waitress never came back to check on us. No ticket, just had to walk up to the register to pay where they just start adding up prices so fast that you don't even know what you're paying for. I will never return to this place or recommend it to anyone. As far as ambiance, none of the workers were smiling or happy, we were not greeted and had to wait a while for the waitress to finally walk up and throw our menus on the table ask for our drink order which she forgot and had to return to ask again. read more

I've come here a couple of times to eat their breakfast tacos and it was my first time, getting to eat inside and seeing the full menu. I never really knew what they had and I was surprised to find out they had barbacoa. I was curious so I tried it out. I've eaten barbacoa all my life and not once have I tried barbacoa as tasty as this one. I definitely recommend their breakfast menu, since it's the only thing I've had so far. I'll have to go back for more soon. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Potato and Egg Breakfast Taco - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Really decent Mexican food and very close to where I live, so it's my favorite. Service can only be described as outstanding. They actually make you feel part of their family, always with a smile. read more

It was almost good until I moved my food around and found my chicken was raw. Come on, man. Y'all gotta be better. read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Raw Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

The food and service is great! We eat there two or three times a week. Our favorite margaritas in Kingsville. read more

The food was delicious!! My mom and I got #10 and the tortillas looked homemade lol! Definitely a place we will stop again when passing through! The waitress was super nice and polite! Cheese Enchilada read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - Number 10 on the menu .. sooo good! - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

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Cute little place in a desolate town. I was greeted with homemade chips, warm salsa and beans. All were fantastic. I ordered an Horchatarita and OMG, was fantastic. I have never had that cocktail but it was so yummy. I also ordered the stuffed poblano, it came out cold the first time but the second time, was also very yummy with so much cheese. Great value! read more

Great service, inexpensive food. The menus has a wide variety of Mexican food. Very nice ambiance.

the food was fresh & hot like i like , the fries were crunchy & tasteful :) with the gravy it made it 10x better chicken strips were juicy & full of flavor read more

El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant - it was really delicious! got the number 6 chicken strip plate - Mexican Near Me - Kingsville, Texas

Classic Tex-Mex in a great environment. My favorites are the chilies rellenos and the Barbacoa tacos.

So I decided to go to El Tapatio I tried some of the food. And I was so surprised that El Tapatio Owns Young's pizza. So thats all I have to say. Like that's all Bye. read more

Terrible CUSTOMER SERVICE. There was miscommunication when I ordered my food over the phone. When I called them and let them after I got home to let them know the food that I received was not what I wanted. Over the phone, they told me to come back to the store and they would fix it. Well when I got there, the girl who took my phone order met me at the window with an attitude about the order she took. I gave her the food, she asked me if I touched it. I said yes, she then returned with another person to tell me that I have to pay for the corrected plate instead of taking ownership and displaying customer service. I returned the food with no replacement and no refund. read more

Ordered menudo and was given red pozole with tripe. Nasty. No flavor. Disappointed. Place looked nice with the new decor. Mind you, last time I was there was over two years ago. And while we were eating, the server was mopping next to our table. All you could smell was Fabuloso. . Should of gone to Young's across the street. read more

Mexican place, close to the school so perfect for college students. All times I visit had no problem with my food or the service.

Delicious! We stop by every time we're passing through. The service always great, the food is consistently delicious, and it's aesthetically appealing. White queso & guacamole to start is a must! Enjoy read more