My friend and I met here tonight for the first time and we had a wonderful time. The restaurant was busy, but we were still seated right away. The restaurant was clean and the staff were friendly. The margaritas were very well made and not overpowering. I ordered the shrimp tacos and they were so good! I was unsure about the broccoli slaw, but it paired well with the shrimp. I would definitely order this again. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I don't leave bad reviews, but this place really deserves one!! All I wanted was three crunchy shell beef tacos and what I got was a sloppy, soggy mess of the worst tacos I have ever had in my life. If a Mexican restaurant can't put out a decent crunchy beef taco I'm sure they can't do anything right so I will never step foot in this restaurant again!! Minus 5 stars!!! read more

I ordered a very large catering order for my wedding rehearsal dinner. El Vaquero was absolutely amazing and made everything go so smoothly! The food was perfect and all of our guests raved about it. Customer service was so great and the people who gave us our order were unbelievable kind and so appreciative that we chose them. They also included warmers for all the food which allowed everyone to enjoy it for hours! I will absolutely be picking El Vaquero moving forward for all my events. Price was also really good as we got sooooo much food! read more

This is the best El Vaquero in Columbus. Staff is always friendly, food always tastes amazing, & the margaritas are on point!

Solid takeout experience. I worried a little bit about it being as good in a bag brought home, but I was happily surprised! The chips and salsa held up well. The quesadillas were excellent! read more

Amazing food and service. Cool bar in two rooms. Tons of TVs Had taco salad, and some other Mex stuff with shrimp and chicken and rice and refried beans Stuffed read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Ordered from here twice - both times disappointed. Ordered the pollo margarita to go and the food was cold - even the full cheese slice placed on the chicken wouldn't melt. We ordered tacos to go the most recent time and paid extra $4.49 for an additional taco only to drive home and find that they never gave us the extra taco we paid for. And no, they weren't busy and no it wasn't before closing. Am open to trying again but am not expecting much improvement. read more

Service - awesome. Our bartender thought we were crazy but provided us drinks and food as we wanted. She was nice and made an enjoyable trip. Ambiance - we sat at tcorner of a large bar. Everyone at the bar just wanted to have fun, and we did. It was a good tume Food - it has been at least 10 years since I visited. The food was very good. I really enjoyed the meal and vibe. I will be back. read more

See all

I'm visiting Columbus from the east cost and was in the mood for Mexican! I was skeptical given the over all reviews. But, I was not disappointed! We were seated immediately, sever swept in, took our orders promptly, seating was casual and clean. I ordered the Quesabirria Tacos, fresh, crispy and overall pleased with the flavors through and through. Rice and beans were also a great addition, not overly salted, just right. Overall, I would highly recommend and will come again. read more

I was raised on Mexican food and I have never heard of a chicken lettuce wraps so flavorful and fresh. we were presented with homemade red salsa in a little wine crafts. How cute is that with some green sauce on the side for our heated warm basket of chips. we ordered chicken quesadillas and steak fajitas. Meat with seasoned well. Presentation was beautiful service was knowledgeable always wanting to accommodate removing different things off the table to give us space music was a right volume. The atmosphere was joyful. read more

See all

Great ambiance at a great location, with cozy indoor seating. As a huge fan of Mexican food, I would rate this place among my top 10. My chimichanga was tasty but disappointingly small. My wife's steak fajitas were slightly overcooked, even though we requested medium rare. Despite these minor issues, we had a great experience overall, and the service was prompt and friendly. read more

See all

Everytime I'm back in Cbus, I insist on an El Vaquero's visit. I usually go to the one on Olentangy River Rd. I'll go to this one if I'm in the area, but I'm not crazy about it. It always smells a little weird in here, the food is just ok, the margaritas are kinda watered down, and the service is hit or miss. But this location gets a bonus star from me for nostalgia. I used to eat here all the time when I used to at a radio station & TV station nearby. But if I still lived in Cbus, I would probably skip coming to this location. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - A la carte Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Came here for a quick business lunch. Generally this chain is a solid choice for a variety of good foods and cocktails. This time was my first visit to this location, and I left disappointed. Again, this was a lunch, so not able to make use of the alcohol choices, so that's my own fault. The soft drink dispenser was broken, so the only non-alcoholic drink options offered to us were iced tea or water. Not a great start. Now that I think about it, why weren't we offered some of the bottled sodas they have? Rather than ordering off the lunch menu, I opted for a relatively common dish off of the main menu - tacos - but I got the feeling that opting for the non-special menu was not appreciated. After we finished eating and the check was delivered to the table, they started clearing the plates. My colleague had to mention she was still eating, and rather than stay, she just asked for the remains of her meal in a to-go box. Our waters, that we were obviously still drinking, were whisked away on the dish cart. I would understand this if there had been a lunch rush or if people were waiting for tables, but that was not the case. Just trying to hurry us along. Good food, and overall friendly staff, but the rush to get us out the door before we had finished our business lunch meeting basically ensure we won't return to this location. read more

The wait staff is great at making you wait I had to go track down a server to get my bill The amount of attention they pay to customers is NIL Worst dinning experience EVER The margarita I was served was NOT the margarita I ordered NO ORANGE AND LIME CUBES no blue agave syrup and no dehydrated orange This is NOT Mexican food this is a few and I mean FEW ingredients all with cheese dripping over it or some sauce that is flavorless 30 years ago they had something here. They trashed it Staff is basically there to get paid not to serve anyone Food is a joke same 4 ingredients just reworded on menu and red or green sauce all BLAND Flavorless read more

If you're craving unlimited chips and salsa and a huge plate of delicious Mexican food this is your spot. Their rice and refried beans are spot on and do not even get me started on the the chimichangas. Some of the best I've ever had. Always friendly and great service and a comforting atmosphere. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Chicken chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Ok, I'm going to be fair because after eating El V probably 50 times I'm going to be generous and call the food in my previous review a fluke. They are typically pretty good and I've been getting their shredded chicken taco salad frequently and I love their green salsa enchiladas. Granted that one meal wasn't good, but they're usually tasty and so I feel the need to update my review. read more

See all

Surprising good for a chain restaurant. With all the high prices Mexican restaurants around West Columbus El Vaquero stands out Reasonably priced and quality food. The Carne Asada tacos were big and flavorful .The chicken torta with fries and was delicious and big enough for two people. I wish I had discovered this place before read more

Yum! Cant go wrong at this mexican restaurant. I know myself I order the same thing each time. Definitely authentic food!

El Vaquero is a Columbus chain of Mexican restaurants that operates 10 or so locations. Their Riverside Drive location is one of the better ones, with ample parking and easy access. The building is also new and spotless. You'll be greeted by an ample bowl of free chips and salsa! The chips are crisp and fresh as is the salsa. I tried the pork enchiladas and they were excellent. Service was fast and friendly and I look forward to coming back. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Who knew takeout was their specialty? We recently ordered dinner (and margaritas) online and for pickup and it was the best El Vaquero meal I have ever had! They were running a tight ship when we arrived. Staff was hustling, had the orders all lined up and ready to go, and everything was so organized. Really good experience. We enjoyed the salsa trio, the mexican bowl, and the chicken enchiladas suizas. All were tasty, and enough food to have lunch leftovers the next day. I found out "to-go" margaritas are not as good as "sitting at the bar"margaritas, but it gives me something to look forward to when we can all go to restaurants again. As always, the best part was not having to cook or clean up on a weeknight! read more

We used to frequent this location, for years, so I don't know why I have not reviewed. I remember they did a renovation several years ago. The service used to be better, but I know times are tough and it's hard to keep good staff. We sat at the bar in the front room that used to be the patio. My boyfriend went to the restroom towards the back and noticed the original bar was still there, but did not have taps. We did have weird service and had to flag someone to take our food order. The food was good, as always, and the draft was fine. read more

My daughter wanted to dine at El Vaquero while I was visiting her in Columbus, Ohio. She would sometimes come here for lunch while attending The Ohio State University. It was a bit of a nostalgic experience for her. I do not mind Mexican cuisine sometimes, so off we went. El Vaquero like so many Mexican restaurants has an adobe look on the outside and colorful tiles on the inside of the restaurant. I personally like the uplifting feeling you get with vibrant colors. Employees were all wearing PPE attire. As far as the food is concerned, it seemed authentic, in that, I experienced a similar style of preparation when visiting Mexico but I am far from an authority on Mexican cuisine. They were playing Mexican music which I can listen to once in awhile. You have a choice of either patio or indoor dining. The menu is extensive and can be scan from a table bar code. Complimentary chips and salsa are set on the table before you order but I must say according to my taste, I have had better. I eventually ordered a Tilapia dish and she had a burrito. Each was about $10 and inline with other Mexican restaurants, I have been to. The portion size was large. Both of us enjoyed our meals and I have to say that the watermelon Margaritas during the discounted Happy Hour sure did help. Besides the Margaritas, the churrios were spectacular. All things considered it was a solid choice. read more

See all

I haven't been to this chain or location in a few years but I have always thought their food was good. I met some friends for lunch and had just an okay experience. The server told us they only had water or iced tea and nothing else, I only drink water but I thought that was odd. Right after we got our drinks we were asked if we were ready, it had been maybe only 1 min and it felt so rushed. The food was just okay, I like a lot of other Mexican restaurants I have been to much better. The food did come out fast but I felt so rushed to get out of there from the staff which I hated. Overall I will not be back, I will visit my favorite neighborhood joint next time. read more

We were there for a late lunch and the service was wonderful. The chips came out hot and the salsa had great flavor. We order queso dip that was a good size for almost $5. It's taco week so we ordered the Al Pastor, el pollo, and steak tacos each for $2. The steak taco had the least flavor for both my husband and I. We absolutely loved the Al pastor tacos. They had amazing flavor and I wish I would have just order 3 of them. Overall it was very good and the perfect lunch spot read more

See all

Absolutely the worst mexican food I've ever had. Chile rellano wasn't even traditional they didn't even dip it egg batter! The poblano pepper was hard as a rock. The chicken burrito was tasteless along with everything else on my plate. I left there and had to rush to the bathroom and vomit the food, made me that sick. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Most expensive burrito in history - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Tastes were great. Service was excellent. Prices were reasonable and they let us sit and talk with our friends.

Need to be able to give this place 10 stars. 5 is not enough. I've been in four or five times now and everything has been good. Great service, and the #41 Marias on the menu was incredibly good, I think this is the best Mole I've had in the US. read more

Pregamed at this vibey rodeo ranch with margs, Palomas, chxn tinga tacos, and tequila shots oh my! My chicken taco trio dish slayed like SZA on her SOS tour! Speaking of sos, go easy on their green hot sauce. Love the vibes. Good service. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Margaritas, 166. Spinach Enchiladas,Salsas Tres Amigos, Soda Water, Taco, Mexican Rice and Beans Meal - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Love this place. Great service and food. You cannot go wrong eating here also best salsa anywhere

Food was good! You're not allowed to order different tacos, so mixing and matching is out. Super unfortunate. I got three of the same taco and they are really good. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

El Vaq on 33/Riverside Dr is the perfect neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Sergio, Fernando, Chelino and staff are always focused on your comfort and satisfaction. Let's get to the important item, the margaritas are outstanding- ample lime juice and plenty of tequila. The Texas is my staple and has a robust kick. For starters the table salsa is always fresh and flavorful- you can ask for the hot salsa but be prepared for a firey batch- have cold libation on stand by. Queso is always spot on- I prefer w grilled and salted jalepenos. The standards like fajitas and buritto are well portioned and just as you'd expect. read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - The Texas Margarita is a must. - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

The food is always good. the only new thing is they have hand held units to take your order and pay at the table. After you add in the tip, the machine then adds in a 3% service charge if you use a credit card. read more

I've been going to El Vaquero around Columbus for 20+ years. This location, mainly for the past 15. I always order Pollo Ranchero or #141 with shredded chicken and corn tortillas. This is my all time, absolute favorite dish. I am so disappointed tho because about one year ago I noticed the portion was smaller (same price!). And now the last two times I've gotten carry out, not only is the portion still smaller than it used to be, there was hardly any chicken in the sauce! The dish is almost $14. This is my go to. Please make sure you correct this. I'm taking a break from my beloved El Vaq in the meantime. read more

For your run of the mill Midwestern "Mexican" food this place is way over priced. If there were other options it would go out of business. Unfortunately for the consumer, it's here and Don Tequila for UA if you want Mexican. Be prepared to spend $20 a person. Whenever we think: "man... Mexican sounds good" we are deterred by the price. Find another option that costs $10 less for 2 people. read more

Went for dinner last night 2/24. It was crazy busy and we did have to wait a while for drinks and food, no big deal. I had the $8 off $50 ValPak coupon which I provided at the end. They took the coupon, and our card, and brought back the cc receipt (but suspiciously, no itemized bill) with the coupon stapled to the receipt... But it had the same $67 total, the pre-coupon total. I could not get the server's attention to help me resolve. I emailed but no response as yet. Apparently they think people are stupid and cannot see that the coupon has not been applied. Crooked or incompetent? Jury is out. read more

The food was wonderful. I invited my cousins to join me and they said this location had better tasting food then the eastside location. I recommend this location not only for the great food but because the staff is so friendly. read more

Ordered takeout, quick!! Veggie quesadilla yummy , good portions for chips and salsa and guacamole. However the salsa could have more spice and flavor , guac as well (add more lime and salt :)) highly recommend this place!! Great for the family!!! Flan.... Could be more firm , texture weird, mushy, my boyfriend made fun of my baking because I described the flan wrong. Portions are good , you get what you paid for! read more

The WORST. We spent over $90 here (which included an $11 tip) for pickup. Not a single thing in our order was correct. We were charged extra for toppings and sides that we did not receive, one order was missing half of the items and another order was the wrong filings. I contacted them to get a refund of my tip and for the items that were clearly wrong. I've now given them several weeks to respond and nothing. This place is total shit and has terrible management and customer service. Don't go to El Crap. read more

Came in for lunch on a Saturday. We got seated and served immediately. They were quick with the chips and salsa but a little slow at taking our order. They looked a little short staffed so that was totally understandable. After we ordered the food came out very quickly and was delicious so overall this was a great experience. Aye my food too quickly for a picture :/. read more

This place has stepped up their game BIGTIME and I am impressed. Came in alone tonight. The service from everyone was GREAT and the carnitas tacos were phenomenal. Perfect honestly. Love the mango pineapple salsa on top. And LOVE how they slightly grill their corn tortillas. Small details like this make all the difference. Also ordered a skinny margarita on happy hour. It was fantastic. So happy this place is so close and so delicious these days. Will be back soon!!! read more

El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - The amazing carnitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio