I rarely leave negative reviews, but our recent dining experience was disappointing enough that I feel it should be shared. Our server, Esthela, started off well with a friendly greeting and took our drink orders promptly. Unfortunately, everything seemed to go downhill after that. After placing our drink order, we noticed her spending a significant amount of time on her phone while we waited. It took nearly 20 minutes for our drinks to arrive, which felt excessive considering the restaurant was not overwhelmingly busy. Throughout the meal, service continued to be slow and inattentive. Instead of checking on us herself, Esthela frequently had a helper handle our table. Drink refills took a long time, and getting additional chips and salsa required multiple requests and more waiting than expected. We often felt forgotten. When it came time to order our meals, Esthela recommended the Molcajete and the Carne Asada. While the flavors were decent, the tortillas served with the meal were unusually thick and unenjoyable. The food itself was not terrible, but it certainly did not make up for the service issues. What bothered us most, however, was overhearing comments that made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. At one point, we heard Esthela tell another server, "Freakin' Mexicans... not going to get a good tip from them anyway." As Mexican customers ourselves, we found hearing a comment like that upsetting and disappointing. Whether the remark was directed at us or not, it created the impression that assumptions were being made about customers based on their ethnicity. We also overheard her telling a neighboring table that she and her husband own several restaurants in town. If that is the case, it makes the lack of attention and professionalism we experienced even more surprising. Restaurant ownership should come with an understanding of the importance of hospitality, attentiveness, and making every guest feel valued. The most positive interaction we had all evening came from a gentleman who stopped by our table and genuinely asked how our experience was going. At the time, we told him everything was okay because we didn't want to make a scene or complain. Looking back, we wish we had been more honest. His warmth, professionalism, and concern for our experience made us feel far more welcome than our actual server did during the entire meal. Overall, we left feeling that we were treated differently and not given the same level of service and attention that every customer deserves. Good food can bring people in, but respectful, attentive service is what brings them back. Unfortunately, our experience missed the mark in that regard. read more

We placed a to-go order, and they forgot half of it. They handed my husband one bag and never called us to let us know the rest of the order had been left behind. We only discovered the mistake after getting home. When I called, the employee was apologetic, but an apology was the only resolution offered. There was no effort made to compensate for the inconvenience or acknowledge that we now had to make another trip. With sky-high gas prices and the extra time spent driving back and forth, we were left with soggy nachos and a disappointing experience overall. Mistakes happen, but customer service is how a business recovers from them, and unfortunately, that fell short here. I hope they improve their communication and take better care of customers when errors occur in the future. read more

Food was nice . Street tacos and Quesabirria was great . Service is fine . Will be back for sure .

Been going to the one in citrus heights , and just so yall know, just keep going there. This location is so soulless. The hostess here just waddles around. Our server Karen reminded me that she had a big table in the other side was the reason why we waited 30 mins for the check - That I had to go and get from the server booth. I got Aguachiles. The shrimp was very tough and chewy. Service just took forever, we had to ask 2 different servers for our drinks. But that time the food was coming. Other than that it was pretty good. Just sucks I was so excited to have one closer to home. read more

Tried the famous weekend brunch today which is served from 9am to 2pm $30. We arrived at 10am to a near empty restaurant however by 11am it was full with a lot if people waiting. The buffet includes an omelette station using real eggs, mimosas, agua frescas, horchata, coffee, soups, desserts, enchiladas, fresh made tortillas, seafood, tamales and more. The food was average to tasty but really five stars based on selection alone. If your coming later in the day I would suggest making reservations. read more

See all

This is my second time coming. Sundays are a live crowd and tons of excitement at the bar for the football games. Great energy from guest and staff bring a very welcoming , pleasant every to this dining experience. There's a lot of great options on the menu that make it hard to choose. I chose the dinner combo plate, the taco and chimichanga were both amazing. The beans and rice were solid as well. My partner chose the fried fish and grilled shrimp taco and he was very pleased as well. I think I will make this place apart of my Sunday tradition atleast once a month. So good! read more

See all

The restaurant is set up very cutely. Great artwork all over the place. Performers throughout the restaurant and live TV for sports. Food was very tasty and flavorful. Waitress was attentive and didn't disappoint. Great place for dinner! read more

See all

Amazing food and service! Came here for brunch with family and were welcomes with smiles from everyone working. It was super busy but we were able to find a table in the bar. It's a great place to come watch a game. The decor is fun with every chair representing a different sports team and every tv showing a game. I ordered the Molcajete which was big enough to feed 2-3 people easy. The others ordered the brunch buffet. The buffet is a great deal with tons of options and bottomless mimosas. We were all so full at the end. Will definitely be coming back again. read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

I gave El Tapatio 4 stars because while seated at the bar table, I was starting to feel hangry due to lack of service, but Tony, our server, saved us. We ordered the spicy pineapple margarita, steak fajitas, and the taco enchilada combo plate. The food arrived and was very fresh. The steak was perfectly cooked and sizzling. read more

See all

I recently visited during a Friday night and it was packed! To me, that's a sign of a good restaurant! We waited a bit to be seated but not much. The service was good, we had multiple people check in on us. The food came out piping hot. We got the steak fajitas and enchiladas. My toddler had the pizza. Everything was delicious. We also tried their horchata and it was very good! They had live music the day we went that stopped at each table. This would be a nice place for a birthday celebration. We saw multiple parties celebrating their birthdays there. read more

I visited El Tapatio on a weekday for lunch, and my group was easily able to get a table. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I ordered the enchilada plate and a salmon dish, and both were fresh, hot, and absolutely delicious. Loved the salsa and chips provided as a starter. The portion sizes were generous for the price, which I really appreciated. El Tapatio is located in a busy shopping center with In-N-Out, Walmart, and other stores, so getting in can be a bit hectic. However, there's plenty of parking available in the lot. Overall, I highly recommend El Tapatio if you're looking for good a good Mexican spot in the Natomas area. read more

El Tapatio - Enchilada Plate - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I went to a women's event with my church and we ate at this restaurant. It was super busy and crowded, but the staff did a great job accommodating everyone. I ordered the steak fries. It was a very big portion and I was full within minutes! The steak was delicious and easy to chew, all the toppings were tasty too! The restaurant itself was so cute and I loved that "feed me tacos and tell me I'm pretty" sign! Made me chuckle! read more

El Tapatio - Steak Fries - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

This place was slammed on a weekday. The restaurant was very large and almost every seat was taken. I liked the decor and the vibe of the restaurant. The server was very nice and took our order quite fast. However, it took about 1 hour to get our food. 1 whole hour! My son and I just continued to eat the free chips and salsa. We just drank our water and watched the NBA game on their TV. I checked in with the server for our food 2 times and she mentioned that they had a large birthday gathering so they were backed up. It was my first time eating a Molcajete and I did not know what to expect. I couldn't finish it all because the portion was huge. However, the taste wasn't good for me. The jamaica drink was also not good at all. It was probably the worst jamaica I've ever had. I would def not come back here again. read more

Went on a weekday for early dinner. Restaurant was bustling but since it's large, we were seated immediately without reservations for two. Staff were very friendly. Chips with bean dip and salsa were provided immediately (free). However, the food is mid (ordered arroz con pollo $23 and taco/tamale combo plate $17) and we waited way too long for average food - 40 minutes. We could see other tables had long wait times too. I won't return as there are better (and faster) Mexican food options in Northgate but can see the appeal of it for large parties with average palates. read more

El Tapatio - Grande combo plate (taco and tamale), $17 - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I had higher expectations and unfortunately the food and drinks didn't match the hype. My margarita (not pictured) was not good. I asked for a Tajin rim and they forgot that. Service took a long time , from getting seated on a Tuesday night , to getting our orders and food being served. The inside decor is nice however. The food itself was very basic, nothing that I can rave about. Don't think I'd be back read more

El Tapatio - combination plate - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Even on a Wednesday night this place was packed! And I totally understand why! The decor was fun and inviting. The service and hospitality was on point and the food was delicious. Not gonna lie my hubby and I were starving so we killed the chips and salsa with bean dip (yes they gave refried beans along with salsa-a genius touch in my opinion). But it didn't stop us from order two entrees! I had the taquitos and hubby got chile verde. Honestly no complaints! Looking forward to bringing my inlaws! read more

Great spot to get tacos or Mexican food they're good. The ambience is it's loud great for big groups or dates or not very intimate. I want to go for an intimate date, but I would go to for a fun date you can go and break the kids and everything they do seem happy birthday and all of the things the service was great. read more

The food was amazing! Our server was attentive but not overly pushy. The ambiance reminded me of authentic Mexican restaurants I went to as a kid. They also have an amazing deal on house margs--$11 for a HUGE glass. We will be back! read more

El Tapatio - Food - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Walking in the ambiance was great, decor was vibrant and colorful. We were greeted right away by friendly staff and sat quickly. We had a few staff come by everyone was so friendly and attentive to everyone. We were given fresh chips, salsa and a little side of bean w/ cheese. Service was pretty quick and everything we got was amazing. Although I will say if you can't handle spice don't get the A La kora, super spicy but the flavor was definitely one point wish there was a little less heat. The prices were very reasonable and the portions were really good, plenty of left overs. We will definitely be going back to try more menu items. If you haven't stopped by, what are you waiting for? read more

See all

Estela tried to bribe us for a review. Well, no bribe needed. You got one. She must be a troubled soul...you can just feel evil when she comes to the table. I got the worst vibe when she was at the table. She treated us differently, a family of four. Yes, we were African American, but it should not matter the skin color we are when we are patrons at a restaurant. All we want is good service and good food. We don't need a discount or a handout. We love Authentic food, and we love El Tapatio. I guess we will just have to settle on going across town to the Citrus Heights Location. It looks like Lee W. took the bribe...because she is anything less than amazing. read more

We came here on their second day.Soft opening. I waited this visit four stars because I knew that there were bound to be some missteps.Since the place is so new. August first visit, we had an up and down experience. The hostess, whose sat us was very nice and very welcoming. The nice lady who brought us chips and salsa was also very nice.She checked on us several times before a waiter had come by, she offered to get us drinks and continue to ask if there's anything we needed.And apologize for the delay. When are server arrived finally? He asked us if we were ready to order. And we were, he took our order while seemingly in a rush. It was like this the entire night for him.My guess is that they were a little shorthanded though it didn't work that way. The nice lady who brought us our water did check on us several times during our meal also as well as another gentleman who seemed to know more what he was doing. Also someone dressed, unlike the rest of the waitstaff, checked in on us.I'm assuming he was the manager.He was very nice also. The place was walt decorated and they did a good job in removing traces of the old on the border restaurant and converting it into this space. The food that came looked very good. Taste wise, however. The food lack flavor and flair. Are we always quite bland. Food wise there is nothing special about this output.However, I feel natomas has been starving for this restaurant to open and everyone in the neighborhood is going to give this place a chance to thrive. I have heard lots of talk about this. Prior to opening about the soft opening And optimism for the future. I hope they fine tine and make this place a booming success. read more

See all

I have eaten at the location in Auburn and Citrus Heights also. Food and service are always good and consistent. Lots of choices, and I mean a lot of choices. Never had a bad meal. read more

Restaurant just opened. It was a good experience since they just opened but they had things in order. We sat in the bar area for happy hour. The food and drinks were tasty. Lizette was our server she was attentive and on top of it. The restaurant was clean and had great decorations. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

My sister and I came for brunch but we were a bit too late. Glad we got the molcajete!!! It was soooo good!! My first one with green salsa. I wish it had more cheese though...but AWSOME!! Tony and Joseph were amazing!! Joseph is only there on Sundays and he made the experience even better!! And they had good music read more

El Tapatio - Molcajete with 3 meats - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

The restaurant itself is beautiful--easily more inviting than similar spots--and the decor creates a warm, authentic atmosphere that really sets the tone. The food was genuinely impressive, especially the steak, which was cooked perfectly and full of flavor, and the street tacos, which were fresh, authentic, and among the best I've had. Every dish showed clear attention to quality, and it's obvious the kitchen takes pride in what they serve. We also ordered margaritas, and they stood out as some of the best we've had compared to other Mexican restaurants in the Sacramento area. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the food. Our server, Esthela, was often inattentive and slow to check in, and as a table of four, we felt somewhat overlooked throughout the meal. At one point, we overheard a conversation between staff that made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome, as it included remarks about customers and tipping that didn't sit right with us. The most frustrating part came at the end, when we received the bill and saw a 20% gratuity automatically added for a table of four, which felt unexpected given the level of service. Overall, while the food and atmosphere make this place worth visiting, the service left us with mixed feelings by the end of the night. read more

This was the absolute worst food & service- I'm not blaming the wait staff, the management and process of seating large groups of 6 or more before parties of 2 & 4, in addition not having a timeframe for those who order the buffet on Sunday- one of the wait staff told us that 2 different groups had been at their table for almost 3 hours. - there were only 4 of us & we wanted to order from menu, over an hour wait- but after ordering it was 25 minutes- normally chili verde is served with tortillas- the waiter promised they would be right out- I guess 15 minutes is considered right out. Ordered chicken taquitos & instead served Taquitos ranchero- the waiter took it back- 10 minutes later I received the chicken taquitoes & they were cold, the beans were cold & obviously been sitting- I chose not to even eat- shrimp quesadilla was ok, tortilla soup overpriced. Chilaquiles- were so so. We do not recommend this place- too many other Mexican restaurant that are better read more

See all

We went in with low expectations and achieved slightly higher results. We did not have to wait to be seated and the service was upbeat and quick. The margarita was good and the food and pricing was fair for what it is. I just moved here from Texas and have been craving queso and I was happy to find white queso here that was just as good as any tex-mex chain, so we will be back to satiate my margs and queso cravings! read more

This is hands down our favorite Mexican restaurant! We've been regulars at the Sunrise location, so when we heard they were opening in Natomas, even better! The inside is gorgeous. The first thing you see when you walk in is this tree that makes the whole place feel magical. The walls are covered in beautiful artwork, and there are tons of cozy booths and tables. Super warm, super inviting, and honestly just a vibe. The service? Top-notch. The FOOD? SOOOO GOOD. The MOLCAJETE is top notch! And don't even get me started on the margaritas. If you are craving Mexican food this restaurant is the place to go. read more

See all

We went for Sunday brunch, and while the layout and food selection were excellent, the service from our server was extremely disappointing. After sitting in the bar area, we told our server we would be doing the buffet/brunch. He acknowledged us and brought two mimosas. When we went to get our food, we realized we had no cutlery and had to get it ourselves from the server station near the entrance. The food was great and the carne asada is the best. After we returned for a second trip to the buffet, we found that our table had been completely cleared. Staff apologized and said they thought we had left. Not sure why they thought that since we haven't paid our bill. We sat back down, but our server never returned to check on us or offer additional drinks. A staff member passing by kindly asked if we wanted water. I requested one water, as I was still hoping to order another mimosa, but our server never came back. Toward the end of our meal, a gentleman who I believe was the manager noticed us and brought water to the table. Our server eventually reappeared only to ask if we wanted the bill. Although we still left a 20% tip, the service from our server did not merit it. However, the other staff members the woman who brought us water, the manager, and the hostess were all excellent. Unfortunately, our server's lack of attention and basic service significantly impacted our overall experience. read more

Service was excellent, I mean top notch there were 7 of us for a birthday, they were always hustling, never needed to ask for another soda, got a table pretty easy for 8 on sat., they take pictures and sell them in frames for $20 - we ended up with $180 worth of photos the whole experience was awesome BUT the food was just 0k/good, the beans salsa guacamole amazing but I had chicken fajita burrito it was so dry I took a few bites and left it alone, my sons chicken tenders and fries were def lacking as well but what do you expect from a Mexican restaurant all in all it was pretty good and I would go again read more

Food is below average. But the service given by SHAW was so horrid. I feel disgusted giving money to this place. I will never return. She is rude and just cuts you off when talking. Always question when ordering like it's a bother she is even talking to you. I will never be returning here. I hope other people do the same. read more

Sunday Brunch 9am-2:30p is amazing! Menudo soup is delicious and they even have pancakes, waffles and sausages. You can have someone make you an omelette as well. Good selections. We sat at the bar. Had four TVs to watch sports. Atmosphere and ambience is nice. read more

Honestly, El Tapatio was a huge letdown. Almost everything was bland, overcooked, or just plain sad. The meats were dry, the rice tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours, and the beans were watery and flavorless. Even the tortillas were disappointing--stale and chewy instead of warm and soft. The seasoning was non-existent, and it felt like they forgot what "Mexican food" is supposed to taste like. To make matters worse, our server was unbelievably slow. It took forever just to get our order taken, and even longer for the food to arrive--despite the restaurant being fairly empty. By the time anything came out, we were already frustrated and starving. The only thing that saved the experience was the corn cake that came on each plate--it actually had some flavor and texture, and I would maybe order it by its self if i ever got stuck going here again. Everything else? Soggy, boring, and forgettable. Definitely not worth the hype or the price. Sticking to Mezcal up the street read more

Lissett was absolutely amazing! Such great service super nice and always checked in on us super beautiful place with good music read more

El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Delicious!!!! We love coming here. It's just as good as the other restaurant in Carmichael. read more

El Tapatio - Steak fajitas for 2. - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

Great food and excellent service. I heavily recommend the "Shaw's Plate of Three (3) Tacos" (Beef Birria Taco, Steak Taco, Shrimp Taco). You will not be disappointed. In fact, go all out and don't hesitate to ask for Shaw as your server! - CM read more

Thee BEST mexican restaurant in Sacramento! Everyone on the menu is so good and not to mention their brunch they have on Sunday mornings!!!

The customer service was great here. The host was very welcoming. The server was helpful, great, and full of joy. The food is really good. Once you sit down, they give you tortilla chips with bean dip and salsa. So good! And the ambiance of El Tapatio was great as well! Can't wait to go back and glad it's finally in Natomas. read more

El Tapatio - Sampler platter - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

This is my wife's and my favorite Mexican restaurant to frequent. The only time I did not care for the food was when I got the barbecue fajitas, and that was merely preference. I simply avoid those and have been impressed ever since. My go to is regular steak fajitas, but have had other items which I've thoroughly enjoyed. They don't typically bring it to the table with chips, but if you haven't asked for their salsa Verde, you are missing out. It is the best I've ever had. The service is always good. Sometimes there is a mariachi band, which is fun. All in all, this place is a winner! read more

Misleading Drink Pricing & Inaccurate Menus -- Be Careful What You're Served This was our first visit to El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant (2721 Del Paso Rd, Sacramento). We'd been following their reopening on Instagram and were excited to support a locally owned business so close to home. During Happy Hour we ordered two House Margaritas from the posted menu showing $6 (12 oz). Our check listed two margaritas for $15. When we questioned it, our server, Marie, said, "Those are the 20-oz margaritas for $7.50 each," even though the menu makes no mention of a larger size or price. She said she assumed we wanted the larger ones and argued when we pointed out the error. After we asked for a manager, Mario came out--professional, polite, and presentable. He admitted that the menu is inaccurate and that the prices printed aren't what they're currently serving. I even suggested they simply black out or remove the incorrect page until they reprint menus; he agreed that would be reasonable and adjusted our bill, leaving only the two well drinks ($10.86). While I appreciated Mario's professionalism, the practice remains dishonest and unsafe. Customers think they're ordering a $6 / 12-oz margarita but are poured 20 oz for $7.50 without knowing it. Someone could easily consume nearly double the alcohol they intended and drive home unaware. For transparency and safety, this restaurant must fix its menus immediately. read more

El Tapatio - Deceptive pricing - Mexican Near Me - Sacramento, California