It was a dark and stormy night…read more... After a long Dad-related day, I wandered in (from the downpour) for a well-deserved Margarita, with mole chicken enchiladas on the side. The place wasn't very busy on this mid-week January evening, as I was seated quickly with the chips not far behind. The Margarita was refreshing and strong, the chips were fresh, and the enchilada came out hot and tasty. Service was friendly and fun, making my evening most pleasant.

El Azteca is a must when I'm back in Ames. The food is somewhat of a Tex-mex vibe and always hits…read morethe spot. They serve complimentary fresh tortilla chips with salsa - the salsa is mild and refreshing with a nice burst of cilantro. My typical picks for entree are any of the chicken meals - arroz con pollo, poncho's lemon lime chicken or chori-pollo. My dad likes the burritos - a common go to is the burrito California. My sister swears by the burrito ruleta and she gets it every time. This occasion I also got a raspberry margarita on the rocks which was scrumptious. Food is always fast and service is always friendly.

Food: Everything we've ever ordered has been astounding! All of the food is fresh, hot, and full of…read moreflavor. Portion size is great as well! I love the bread options their store offers also. The quesabirrias tacos are a favorite go to! They also provide lime wedges, radish slices, roasted peppers, and roasted onion with the tacos. The fresh, crisp cilantro is the "cherry" on top lol. Service: Every time we go in there, we're greeted with a smile! All of the employees are really friendly, patient, and helpful. They do their best to explain something on the menu if you're not fluent in Spanish/don't know what something is or consists of. They're very quick and efficient. Ambiance: A quaint, quiet store/restaurant full of delicious options and amazing smells. It's kept clean and tidy with medium noise pollution: there's typically a TV playing in the dining area or music playing throughout the space. The seating is cozy; more for 2-4 people at a table/booth, as opposed to large parties.

Incredible! We ordered a burrito and tacos. The burrito was huge -- enough for a dinner and a meal…read morethe next day. Took a little while for the food to come out but there was a line ahead of us. We perused the store in the meantime making note of the bakery items we'd be buying our next trip. All in all -- Large portions, fresh flavors, and a salsa bar!! Can't wait to go back!

a restaurant run by one guy who is the chef/server/cashier etc. The food is Very Good and the…read moreportion sizes are solid. When I walked in he said the soup they had today was lentil soup. Very flavorful with a good variety of vegetables in there. Guava juice was in a large cup, and this wasn't one of those situations where the cup is 80% ice. Chicken arepas are great. Keep in mind that all this is made by One Guy and food may take a bit to come out depending on how many people are in your group.

It is, for sure, just one dude holding down this whole joint all by himself: cook, waiter,…read morebartender, all. Very basic dining room for sure, but it's really all about the food. The food is good and authentic. Took a friend who knows Colombian food well and this guy is doing it just like they do down there. I've never had arepas so good. We had the reinas pepiadas: really really tasty. I could see how some people are a little alienated by him, but also remember that he's there alone. You can go a little off the rails at places that have more people on staff to manage those kinds of patrons. When you walk in, you know that you can't push beyond what's offered and make special requests. This place is one of the more interesting places to eat around here; let's appreciate his/its strengths and not dwell on what this place isn't.

Yelp reviews are spot on. I got lazy. It was across the street from the hotel. I think one time…read moreweary travelers are the only people that eat here? The restaurant is clean. The service is OK I'll give it. Both the steak and the shrimp were overcooked not to mention fajitas should come out sizzling if they're made fresh It's almost like this was pre-cooked and heated to order I wish I would've driven the extra eight minutes to find the meal yelp recommended so a victim of my own laziness I post this for you to keep going move on find better food. Don't waste your money.

Very efficient serving staff. Food was very good and delivered to the table quickly while the…read morerestaurant was busy

Abelardo's Mexican Fresh is one of my favorite places to eat in Ames. You receive homemade Mexican…read morefood--made from scratch! Even the condiments are homemade. The tostadas (sandwiches) are warm and full of flavor. If you like something spicy hot, choose the chili sauce (red). The green sauce is mild but still tasty. Treat yourself to a Mexican soda (I like Mango). And the homemade churros with Bavarian crime are cinnamon sugary goodness! The young women who run this place really know how to cook. Their food inspires you to be a better person. Always clean, the food actually makes you feel better and the portion sizes are generous (enough to put in the fridge for a snack later). Abelardo's Mexican Fresh in Ames is one of the few places, perhaps the only place, you can order genuine homemade food with a drive-thru!

This is a review of ONLY the cheesecake chimichanga. It's best to try this while out with one or…read moretwo friends. Oh, SOOOOOO. GOOOOOOOD! I would have taken a picture, but I got it in the drive through and by the time I got home, it wasn't as pretty. Share it, if you can. It doesn't look that big, but the taste is huge and half of one is enough for anyone. It's $6 plus tax and very worth it. There's carry out, dine in or drive through at this location and delivery, if you have DoorDash. Friendly staff. Lot parking. Good prices. It's not really fast food, more of eat in food, delivered fast. Clean. MarcyDiner'sTantrumScale 5/5- NoScreamingKids. This desert has chocolate on it. Two thumbs up. Next time, I'll stop and take pictures.

All of the food was SO good!!! Everything was hot and fresh with very large portions. The prices…read moreare great as well, considering how much food you receive. The Texas dip is definitely a new found fav lol. Staff were wonderful! Everyone was so friendly and very quick. They made sure to check on you periodically so you are not ignored. All of the staff members were very efficient, knowledgeable, and polite. The overall decor of the interior is very vibrant and quite enjoyable. It's not too loud in there and it's pretty upbeat. There is quite a bit of room inside, so even when they're busy, you don't feel crowded while you're eating. They also do a really good job of keeping everything clean and organized. We can't wait to go back!!!

What a great place with friendly staff and ambiance. I loved the food and will be back again.read more

Not coming back, food subpar poor customer service…read more Once the guy gave me my food, he did not give me my drink when I came back to ask for it. He told me to go look in the cooler when I bent down and search in the cooler for an orange Mexican soda I hit my head and asked him if he even knows if there's any in there?? He told me I had to go look for it. This was right when they open, and there was nobody in line.

O M G, is this place delicious. This is the kind of place where you would want to come again the…read morenext day and then the next. Though it is a food truck in the middle of a parking lot, the burratas are crazy good. I highly highly recommend the burratas ramen. The owner loads it with meat so it won't disappoint.