Definitely going back. I had the Enchiladas Tapatio and it was absolutely delicious. Our server Jorge was so attentive and charming. I was very happy that he made sure that I didn't run out of unsweetened iced tea without having to ask or get his attention. My friend really enjoyed her burrito. The vibe was fun and mellow. Went there on a Sunday afternoon. It really feels like a family business (pretty sure it is). It wasn't super busy so we could just relax and take our time. Highly recommend El Tapatio! read more

El Tapatio - Las Enchiladas Tapatio estaban muy deliciosas! - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give this Mexican restaurant a -10. I've gone there a few times and never been happy with the food but they out did themselves on the poor quality of my meal. I had beef tacos and to tell you the worst Mexican food I have ever had. read more

We've got three visits under our belt here and are very pleased. Food is pretty darn good, California in style and flavor. Portions are extremely generous compared to some other restaurants. Pricing is reasonable for portions and the insane, overpriced world we live in. Service is very good, friendly and timely. The atmosphere is fine. Nothing to take note of, but nothing to discourage dining. The chili relleno is very good. On my last visit I got beef Colorado. Very good. And, it's close to home, so that's a plus. read more

Don't pass this place by...stopped in for a quick margarita and an app! Best margarita around, great apps even better service. Lots of Mexican around me, this place is a hidden gem! read more

Food, atmosohere and service were all excellent. I highly recommend this spot for its authentic Mexican cuisine!

Was told be careful plates are hot but alot if the food was cold!! Everyone didn't feel well the next day and had diarrhea... The wait staff was at least decent read more

Nice little place in Rowly where the service is very excellent and friendly the people who run this place are very friendly and nice the food is excellent and the cheeseburger sub with bacon has to be one of the best they don't skimp on the meat or the bacon truly a great burger and fries all around this place is a really nice restaurant read more

El Tapatio - Cadillac Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

Delicious food and drinks. Very attentive service. I'll come here again. Would definitely recommend.

This is our go-to spot whenever one of my siblings comes home from college. The staff is always warm and welcoming--they even remember my parents and try to put on the Colombian soccer game for my mom whenever it's available. I ALWAYS start with margaritas and queso as the flavors are consistently fresh and delicious. The carne asada is a standout, and the chimichangas (my brothers' favorite) never disappoint. The service is consistently attentive and accommodating, making every visit feel memorable. Just a really happy place overall. read more

Very nice staff, huge portions, food arrives quickly, and great drinks! A local must go to spot for Mexican food!

High quality authentic Mexican food. Burrito with Chile Colorado is amazing. The staff could not be nicer. Service is good , drinks are cold! We have been here numerous times and have never been disappointed. read more

The roadside cafe I planned to have lunch at closed early, so I decided to give this place a chance. Wow! Felt like I struck gold. I got the chicken stir fry. Very generous portion, very fresh vegetables and just delicious. The staff were attentive and friendly. Price is good for what you get. Will definitely return. read more

Our go to spot for Mexican food! Always great food and great service! Chips are served fresh and warm and not greasy.... Salsa is fresh and wonderful... read more

El Tapatio - Mariscos Jarochos - delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

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I love this restaurant! No matter what time of day I come in, they are always welcoming. The food is terrific, including the warm chips to accompany the excellent salsa. Whether I come in alone or with other friends, I know I will always have a great meal and a really relaxing time at El Tapatio! read more

I love this place. It's a simple old-school style Mexican place. It's clean and comfortable and the tables are spaced out so you're not on top of other diners. This is a family friendly place so the dining room can get a little loud at times. Service is always fantastic. The food arrives quickly and as-ordered. The Margaritas are nice, but they may be a little stronger than you'd expect. The food is good. It's on-par from what I'd expect from an old-school chain Mexican restaurant. The queso is tasty, chips are fresh and crispy. The meats are well-seasoned and the rice and beans are cooked just right. Salads are a little basic by today's standards but you really should be eating something wrapped in a tortilla here. There is also a cannabis dispensary in the same shopping plaza if you'd care to stop in before your meal. read more

El Tapatio is a great family restaurant with great service and friendly waitstaff. The homemade tortilla chips are warm, fresh and very good whether plain, with their fresh salsa or delicious guacamole! I tend to order any of the burritos on the menu, but have also enjoyed the enchiladas, tacos, salads and amazing fajitas! The portions are generous and we never leave hungry. If you're a margarita fan you will love the ones they make at El Tapatio complete with salted rim or plain...frozen or on the rocks! If you haven't been to El Tapatio for delicious Mexican cuisine you must stop in with the family and try them out. read more

El Tapatio has become our 'go-to' place. The food is unpretentious, tasty and fresh. The portions are generous. Those chips and that salsa are addictive. Always good service. Always clean and welcoming. Yes, it can get a little noisy, but that's because they always have a good crowd of people having a good time. read more

Best Chips, best house made salsa , best house pure habanero salsa, best Queso and the Best Carnitas this side of Mexico City...And did I mention the best Refried Beans..! I am a Mexican food aficionado and this place is what I compare all others too.. From the Caribbean to California.... Guillermo.. read more

Best Mexican food I've found in New England. The portions are huge & the prices are good. I had a spinach quesadilla & it was outstanding!

I had the spinach enchilada which came with a boatload of rice and a boatload of beans. I ended up with two full meals out of it. However the enchilada was a bit of a let down as it was literally just spinach inside of a tortilla. Could have used some seasoning. The beans were fantastic though. I had the pomegranate margarita and a blackberry margarita. The pomegranate one was fantastic and a perfect balance while the blackberry one was overly sweet. read more

I stopped in here to grab some takeout before my mountain bike ride the other day. Plenty of parking. I walked in and was given a menu. I ordered the Fajita Quesadilla. You can choose steak, chicken or shrimp. I chose steak. I walked around and used to bathroom while waiting. The place was very clean. Nice atmosphere with music. There was a good sized bar with a few tvs to watch. My food came out within 5-6 minutes. Very fast. The guy who took my order was very polite and friendly. I drove to my destination and stared to dig in. The guacamole was delicious and fresh. It also came with sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. The meat was disappointing. It's was tough, dry and not very flavorful. Such a shame. It also came with warm tortilla chips and salsa. Unfortunately the tortilla chips didn't have any real flavor. The salsa was spot on. Didn't get any utensils or napkins in the bag. I wouldn't be opposed to going here again but it's definitely not on a list to run back to. read more

El Tapatio - Fajita quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

Love the food, ambiance is great, I really love the Mexican vibe and the service is great people are really friendly and the food gets there quick. read more

Stopped here after a day after the beach and will definitely be back. Great service and good food and drinks! Large portion sizes and a sizable menu. read more

I stopped by to purchase take out. I sat at the bar to an attentive bar staff. Very busy, organized and professional. The take out was great but could have been warmer. read more

Went with my husband the other day because I was craving Mexican food. They felt safe with their Covid protocols which was important because I'm currently pregnant. The service was quick - we had chips and salsa on our table as soon as we sat down. Their salsa was delicious. They made me a virgin peach margarita which was great. We had the bartender and server asking us if we had everything we need (we were seated at a high top) which was great and didn't feel like too much. The menu is large and it was hard to decide but I got a steak fajitas (my go-to) and my husband got a burrito. The burrito was reasonably portioned. As always the fajitas were enough for 2-3 portions, so we walked away with leftovers. The steak was cooked in thin strips which was easy to put in the tortilla and tasted great. Overall, good experience! The food didn't blow me away (that's why I gave a 4), but I'd definitely go back. read more

Mexican food is my favorite. The food at El Tapatio is okay for Massachusetts, but not up to the standards set by the Mexican restaurants in California, where I lived (and ate) for 30 years. The service is fine, but I usually only order what is on the standard menu - no special requests. read more

Completely mixup in orders. Never put in my husband's order. The server repeated the order but ended up bringing out my 2 alacarte enchiladas in 2 separate plates and never put in the other order. Therefore we ate at 2 different times. Also 3 tables that were seated after us got taken care of before us. Food not as good as it use to be and looked like they just tossed the forgotten order in the plate. Most places after messing up like that would comp the meal or send a desert over. Will not be back. read more

This is the greatest restaurant ever. Best staff. Very nice. Great music playing throughout the restaurant and great decor, which gives great immersion. The food is great they give you chips and salsa to start with a wide variety of foods and drinks for all types of people. Overall one of the best restaurants. read more

First time I went in the other day.. in a plaza. Limited parking out front ample out back. Plenty of seats restaurant or bar area. We chose the bar. Service was prompt and friendly. It was very clean. Salsa was very very good. Really one thing and it's a pet peeve of mine. When making a margarita I don't wanna see it poured out of a giant metal cooler that sits on top of the bar. So when you order a fancy one you get the house basic blend and then they add to it. Just take the 2 minutes make it fresh and I'm in. read more

El Tapatio - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

Back again last night with a party of 4. I'd phone earlier to ask if we needed a reservation.... No, they said to just come in. I decided to get there a bit earlier and chill before the others arrived. For seating I chose high tops in the bar area due to loud noise coming from the main dining room. . a family with a few children had basically taken over the entire dining room with their kids way out of control, and screaming. No thanks.... So the bar area was much quieter and worked out well. As soon as I sat down a server arrived with fresh & warm tortilla chips, salsa and asked for my drink order. Being that there are several interesting margaritas to choose from it was a difficult choice. I opted for the Blue Moonlight one..it arrived within minutes and looked delicious ... Off to a great start! So I sipped and noshed thinking - why don't I do this more often? Before long my dining companions arrived.. ordered drinks & again the server was prompt. She took our food orders. I chose enchiladas with cheese. Another chose a pork dish, chicken fajitas and the 4th a combo. Again, I don't think of Mexican food & Coleslaw? And have never had it anywhere else.. but here it works. Theirs is shredded cabbage with a light tangy dressing - not a creamy one and it's really good. My dish also came with refried beans which is not my favorite at any Mexican restaurant ...I've just never liked the texture of mashed beans, redone fried... There's nothing wrong with them. It's " me" and I should think next time and ask for a substitution instead of being wasteful. The portions were large enough for just about everyone to take home another good portion. My bill was quite reasonable for what I had. My beverage, chips & salsa - my meal were all excellent. This place is not a chain... Again, they have their place. Here what you order is made in- house, fresh and delicious. It's not a pre- frozen, one size fits all kind of place. We are already planning to return! read more

this place is so bad. Microwaved frozen food. Poor service. Garbage drinks. I cannot believe it has these good reviews. It can only be that because it is smack dab in towns that have a 100% non-spice population (Rowley, Newburyport, West Newbury, Amesbury, Salisbury) that the customers have 0 taste buds. Call Gordon Ramsay, this place is a kitchen nightmare read more

Always our go to for good local Mexican food. Also very good for takeout, large portions and good drinks

The Chicken Taquitos here are outstanding! There is nothing else on the menu as good as their Taquitos. The bartender was super nice but inattentive and so slow she almost moves backwards. Had to wait 15 minutes for her to take my order when the place was mostly empty. I will return but not much I could say that would mitigate the awful service at the bar. read more

One of my FAVORITE authentic Mexican restaurants around! CLEAN, PERSONABLE and Efficient! I love the bartender (the mom), always introducing me to new tequilas and food! A pleasure every time I walk in and that's quite OFTEN! read more

I wish I could say I enjoyed the food here, but after visiting twice I have decided I won't be back. Both times I have been very unhappy with my food. My review has nothing to do with the service, and cleanliness. I was surprised at how large the restaurant actually is. The staff were friendly and prompt. I watched wait staff sanitize tables and chairs, and use hand sanitizer. They are really really good with all of that... but where do I start with the food? The husband and I got fajitas and they were just covered in oil. Fajitas are not supposed to be greasy and these were just dripping in grease. The guacamole was not fresh. It was brown and slimy. My husband was equally unhappy with his. We figured it was an off night and didn't complain (because how does a Mexican place screw up fajitas?) so we returned the other night. I ordered fish tacos and the Mr. got a burrito. My fish tacos were inedible. They were soggy and the fish was in tiny little chunks swimming in a strange grey sauce. You could not pick up a taco with your hands because when I tried, the soggy shell melted and fell apart spilling a wet mess onto the plate. I sent them back (they apologized and did not charge us for them) I ordered two tamales to replace my meal, and they were frozen. They were hot on the outside and literally frozen with ice crystals in the middle. I didn't want to complain again. We paid our bill and tipped our waitress well because she really did try to please. I drive by this restaurant every Friday night and really wanted to Love them and make them a regular stop. I won't be going back. read more

My family and I love coming here! Even now in the age of social distancing we felt that the staff were all careful. We did see lots of people picking up take out, too! We sat outside on the patio and we were the only ones outside. If you prefer indoor seating they have ample space. The service is always great and the food is delicious. Also, prices are very reasonable. If you like margaritas made with real lime then this place is for you. Not only are their drinks yummy they're also a great price! We bring our two young children and they always love to see them. I'd say they've always been accommodating. read more

Ughhh.... My stomach already hurts. Food was bad... Like real bad. The drinks saved you guys from a 1 star review. Menu states that the chimichanga is "deep fried til golden brown"... My girl's looked like it was thrown through a washer and threatened with some hot oil... Soggy oily mess on a plate... My fajitas were made yesterday apparently... The shrimp were cooked till cremation... Jesus... Bad, bad, bad... read more

El Tapatio - Second best part of my prison meal... - Mexican Near Me - Rowley, Massachusetts

Weirdest fish tacos ever. Grilled fish then nixed with some saucy goo. Impossible to pick up. Almost impossible to eat with a fork. It was like fishy queso dip on a tiny tortilla read more

Not a fan. Tried it twice when it opened. Food was mediocre at best, and margaritas were so sweet. Terrible. Won't go back or recommend however when I drive by it , the place looks busy frequently, go figure. Some people like it. read more

We used to eat in, however, since Covid, we have been doing take out every Monday night. The staff is always friendly and super accommodating! The food is absolutely the best around and the portions are huge. I don't know how they do it, however, even with take-out, the chimichangas are still crispy when you open the huge container...and we live over 10 miles away. Just give it a minute to breathe. My mouth is watering just typing this. read more