Came in for lunch and the place was packed, but I just sat up at the bar. I had the Paloma cocktail which was decent well-made and ordered the nachos as my main dish. The nachos were very good not a huge plate but very well-made and the brisket I had them add on top of it was excellent. Would like to come back and maybe try some other options too. read more

We showed up at 8:30p (30 min before closing) after a day of traveling, they were very hesitant to let us eat. They let us know the kitchen would close at 9:00p, so we needed to order quickly. That was fair enough, but we ordered at 8:45p and didn't get our food for over 30 min. One of our party of 7 didn't get his food for 45 min. Our waitress never refilled any of our drinks the entire meal. We all ordered the 2 taco plate. All the tacos were dry and below average. It felt like an upscale attempt at Mexican food that missed the mark slightly. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful inside with great vibes, that was a standout plus. I really wanted to like this place, but I just can't recommend it. read more

Service was fantastic! We were seated immediately on a Saturday night which was impressive. Food was so good & came out quick! I also loved the interior & vibes! We will be back! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Burrito & Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

First time at this location. The food and service were good. Spacious dining area and nice bar area. The habanero salsa is a perfect 10! I'll be back. read more

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Amazing location! Great parking! Very clean and newly renovated! Best salsa I've ever had. Very fresh and chunky! I got the medium and verde and they were both great! Salsa Verde a little spicy! That smoked chicken, to DIE FOR! Something about the flavor just feels like that chicken melts in your mouth! Best burrito I've ever had. For $13 and you get chips and salsa! Honestly can't get better than that considering the location and how upscale the restaurant is. Very reasonably priced food items! Service was great! Very kind and frequently came to check on us! Food was served quickly and I had no complaints! 10/10! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Smoked chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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We had a nice meal at Little Donkey! Tried the fajitas and tacos -- both were really good, especially with the brisket, which was outstanding and worked perfectly in either dish. Definitely the highlight of the meal. We ordered chips and salsa (extra charge), and honestly, we'll skip them next time -- they just weren't that great. On the other hand, the margaritas were very good -- we tried both the classic and the frozen, and enjoyed them. It's not exactly a bargain, but the food quality is solid, and overall it's a good spot if you're craving Tex-Mex with some standout brisket and good drinks. read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Chips, salsa and the classic margarita. - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great happy hour specials and some of the best fried chicken in Birmingham! I got the whole chicken family meal which came with 2 pint sized sides. I also chose all white meat chicken and surprisingly there wasn't an up charge. I got pinto beans and rice as my sides. The beans were very well seasoned and definitely didn't taste like they came from a can. The meal also came with some pickled onions mixed with carrots that was yummy with the beans. One of my favorites with the fried chicken is the vinegar that has a little bit of a kick to it! The fries chicken is cooked to order so that's a great time to try one of their refreshing cocktails. We had the orange margarita which was amazing. read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Little Donkey, under new ownership, is fabulous. Great margaritas and very tasty vegan burrito bowl!

I waited a while before posting this review because I wanted to make sure I wasn't writing out of frustration alone. Unfortunately, after reflecting on our experience, I feel obligated to warn others. My husband's birthday was on 07/03, and we decided to celebrate on 07/04 so our kids could enjoy the fireworks after dinner. We drove over 80 miles in our six-cylinder SUV while gas prices were at an all-time high because we thought the experience would be worth it. We met up with family and had an 8:15 PM reservation for a party of 12. We arrived at 8:05 PM and were seated immediately. I was actually surprised to see the restaurant so busy on the Fourth of July, but we were excited to celebrate together. From the moment we sat down, things went downhill. It took about 20 minutes before anyone came to take our drink order, and half of our table didn't even have napkins or silverware. After our drinks finally arrived, we placed our food order around 8:30 PM and patiently waited. An hour passed with no appetizers or food. During that time, I watched smaller parties come in after us, get seated, order, receive their drinks, eat their meals, and leave while our table still hadn't been served. My children had finished their drinks with no refills offered. I was able to get them chips and salsa (from another waiter) just to have something while we waited. When the Homewood fireworks began, nearly all of the restaurant's patrons--and more than half of the staff--went out onto the patio to watch the show. At that point, I asked to speak with a manager because I was beyond frustrated. I spoke with a manager named Phillip, who was incredibly apologetic and genuinely seemed to care. He assured me he would speak with the General Manager and do everything he could to make things right. Phillip was professional, compassionate, and the only bright spot in an otherwise terrible experience. The General Manager eventually came to our table, apologized, and promised she would make things right. However, once her shift ended, she left the restaurant--and we still had not received the food we ordered nearly an hour and a half earlier. Around 9:50 PM--almost two hours after placing our order--our food finally arrived. We were told our order had apparently never been put into the system. By then, the restaurant was about to close at 10:00 PM, and we still had our 4- and 6-year-old children out waiting to eat. My husband was so disappointed that he didn't even eat his meal. His birthday celebration was completely ruined. To make matters worse, after finally receiving our food, we were immediately handed our checks to pay for a meal we'd waited nearly two hours to receive. Phillip is the only reason I'm giving this restaurant one star. Without his professionalism and sincere effort to help, this would have been an easy zero-star experience if that were possible. I would never recommend this location to anyone. The food was okay, but it was nowhere near worth the terrible customer service and complete lack of organization. We wasted our time, money, and Fourth of July sitting in a restaurant waiting for food that should have never taken two hours to reach our table. There are far better places to enjoy Tex-Mex or Mexican food. Save yourself the disappointment and choose somewhere else. I genuinely hate that my husband's birthday celebration turned into such a miserable experience, and I would not recommend this Little Donkey location--or honestly any Little Donkey restaurant--based on how we were treated. read more

The food was delicious! It's much quieter outside than inside. The service was great! And the wait wasn't too long for the food either!

I have had Little Donkey on my list of try for years. I moved away from Birmingham so that is a big reason why it has been years but I had an opportunity on a Sunday passing through. Little Donkey's slogan is "Mexican Food with Southern Soul." Your Mexican favorites are on the menu but so is Fried Chicken and BBQ. If you are wanting a cheap Mexican place where you can eat your fill of salsa and chips with a few dollars to spend on tacos and such, this isn't the place. It costs $4 for salsa and chips but they even that out with having 4 different types to choose from. We chose the 2 mildest ones - Rojo and Verde. Both salsas were phenomenal! The Verde I liked a little more as it had a more rich taste to it. We also ordered the Queso and it was good, but nothing special especially for the price tag on it. My wife and I game-planned to get the most we could out of Little Donkey. I chose the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Mexican Corn while my wife ordered the Brisket Quesadilla. My wife enjoyed her Brisket Quesadilla. The BBQ sauce on the side was unique as it was more like a jam. There was a lot of hoopla to Little Donkey's Fried Chicken. The manager told me I was going to enjoy it and the menu gave it a lot of praise. However, mine was too tough to chew, inedible, and almost flavorless except for the Wickles Pickles. I asked my server if she could help me out and told her what my dilemma was. She got me another sandwich and the 2nd one was a lot more juicy and easy to chew. Little Donkey went the extra mile after the chicken sandwich flop as they not only fixed the chicken sandwich, but gave us churros! My wife, stepson, and I agreed these were the best churros we've ever had! The manager knew it was my first time and he didn't want it to be my last time! Sweet tea was refreshingly sweet! The service I received at Little Donkey helped it out a lot. They fixed my food when I asked for their help and threw in the best part of the meal - churros! The salsas and churros were the best part! Everything else was all right but I would come back to Little Donkey because of the helpfulness of the service. read more

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We finally made it back to Little Donkey! We tried 2 other times but 3 is the charm. We were sat down immediately. It's early date night. Our server is Kyle. Thanks for your attentiveness and service. Now on to this food. For Apps we had chips and salsa, Rojo and Verde, great choices. Yum! Bae got the Picado salad with grilled chicken. He loved it. I got the La Cocina with the carnita and fried chicken tacos, rice and beans with a side of street corn. Delish. I could only eat the carnitas taco, so good. Yall already know, when I'm happy, I'll be back. read more

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Somewhere between 3-4 stars. Maybe I'd be more confident the 4 stars if I ate there rather than getting our order to-go. The interior appeared to be lovely, and the workers I met were all very pleasant. Our order was prompt and fresh. We got the "Queso Con Carne," and I was not a fan. The amount of oil on top was unappealing. I tried pouring some off and then mixing it to help. Sadly, it didn't. It lacked any spice or real flavor. The occasional piece of brisket was delicious though. But I would not get this again. We also got 2 of the salsas, and I did enjoy these! The chips were good...occasionally too salty...but good. We got 3 tacos. I ate the fish one. It was okay. I appreciate the homemade tortillas. That's always a win in my book (and maybe why I'm rounding up my stars). Overall it lacked some depth in flavor. Needed more seasoning. The slaw on top was heavy and somewhat sweet. I wish it had some brightness to it to balance out the fried fish and of course would love some spice. We also got a side of the corn, which comes still on the cob. Seemed like a small amount for $5, but it was yummy! All in all, I won't come out of our way to order from here again. Maybe we will give them another try whenever we can dine in. Giving them the benefit of the doubt and rounding up! read more

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Nice ambiance with ample indoor and outdoor seating and attentive service. The smoked beef brisket burrito had good flavor but was mostly rice and beans and lacked enough meat. The adobada and el pastor tacos were pretty average because they could have had more flavor. The queso con carne was our favorite. read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Adobada (top) and el pastor (bottom) tacos - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I had the fajitas and they were seasoned perfectly--very tasty! The portions were huge, honestly enough for 3 people. Definitely worth it and I would come back again!" read more

My experience at Little Donkey was really positive. I loved the decor! The fish taco was amazing. The coleslaw had a great flavor and I really liked the pickled onions with it. The adobada taco was good too, it was just way spicier than I thought it was going to be. Definitely be prepared for a kick if you get that one! The rice and beans were not the best. They really needed some flavor. I looked for salt but couldn't find any. Our waiter was super nice! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Fish taco & adobada taco with rice and pinto beans. - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I'll pay good money for good food, no questions asked...I'm floored by the positive comments on the food for this place. 3x, not a fan. I don't even like Chipotle, but I'd eat there first as the food is the same and less cost. Things that should have spice don't, things that shouldn't have spice burn the roof of your mouth. The place is clean, the service is decent, but it's nothing special. I don't know what I am missing, or why we keep trying, but I need to disagree with the majority here. read more

Had a big meeting here. Drove 90 minutes from Huntsville's to meet here. And the food did not disappoint. Great service. Forgot the lady's name but she was quick and always serving us. I like recommend the famous chicken sandwich. My favorite thing on the menu. Also chips and 2 salsas was good. Good vibe inside! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Overall, the food here is solid, and I especially love the queso con carne (if I'm remembering the name correctly). It's an appetizer that's absolutely delicious -- rich, cheesy, creamy, and served with brisket and chips. At around $10, it's definitely worth it for the flavor and portion. One suggestion I have: offer sauce options. I've never been to a Mexican restaurant that doesn't include or offer a dipping sauce for tacos. I usually order the brisket tacos, but without any kind of sauce, they tend to be dry. It would make a big difference. Also, the beans could use some improvement -- they seem undercooked and lack flavor, unless that's intentional, which seems unlikely. Ambiance is too dark on the inside but super nice outdoor seating that is shaded and full of greenery. Customer Service: The service has consistently felt a bit off. We often get servers who seem awkward or inattentive, with minimal check-ins during the meal. Water refills usually don't happen until the end, if at all. On our last visit, we had a reservation, missed the confirmation text by just four minutes, and they gave our table to another party -- even though we had already waited an hour. We ended up waiting another 15-20 minutes, and it wasn't even that busy. Once we were seated, it took about 15 minutes just to get water and initial service. It really highlighted a need for better reservation management and more attentive staff. Lastly, food consistency can be an issue. Occasionally, the brisket has a very strong, almost gamey taste -- like you're really tasting the cow, if you know what I mean -- which can be off-putting, but again, overall the food is good and you have to try the queso con carne. read more

Little donkey was a decent little spot. I had been many years ago to the original one but had a large group and they recommended this one as it had more space. Service wise, staff was excellent. We had a party of 9 and they were able to get tables together and seat us with no reservation quite quickly. We went on a Saturday at around 12:30 but it wasn't too busy. The server was quite attentive and the food and drink came out pretty fast. The food and drink quality was not bad. The drink was tasty and the tacos were good. The portions and quantity were nothing extraordinary for the price but it was filling and got the job done. I think if you're anti taco mama and want some more options then Little Donkey is great to add to the rotation. read more

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My $12 watermelon margarita was SO refreshing. I ate before I came so I didn't try any food out but it smelled so good in there that I definitely want to come back during their happy hour and see what it's talking about. Service was good and the ambiance of the place is so welcoming and comfortable! read more

We had Oscar as our server & he was completely amazing! The food was yummy and great drink specials even at lunch. I had a rosemary infused drink that was the bomb. Awesome beer too. The food was delicious but I will say Oscar made the difference in our lovely girls day out! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - The drink! Rosemary & sage Paloma! - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The food was pretty good, but the rice could definitely use some more seasoning as it was really bland. The steak taco was my favorite with really tender and well seasoned meat. The prices are steeper than other local Mexican restaurants in the area without having free chips and salsa. However, service was great, and the atmosphere was nice. read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great ambiance!! Server was new but did great. It was a packed house which was a good sign. Excellent margaritas and I loved the queso! I am a plain Jane when it comes to Mexican food / tacos, so I was sad to hear they did not have a "traditional" (texmex) ground beef taco every day (Only Thursdays - the "Old School Tacos"). I opted for the 2 taco platter with the Gulf Fish and the Steak tacos. Rice and beans were great! Fish taco was excellent! I found the steak pieces to be a bit large so it was difficult to chew but the flavor was good. Would return - a fun, social feel that could be dressed up or down, and a great menu! read more

Yooooooo! This place is amazing. First of all, the stainless fixtures in the restrooms are polished to an industrial shine, they're super clean and smell great. The staff are A- maaaaaazing too- special shout out to my main man, Sam- mixologist extraordinaire, with made crazy conversational skills. Lastly, anything you order to eat is to die for. This is the south and this is a Latin themed joint but don't sleep on the fried chicken. read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Jennifer is the best! Happy hour is such a good deal. It's from 3:30-6 on weekdays. They are very attentive.

I really prefer visiting this location. Jennifer is excellent, is always happy to see us, and even remembers our orders! Sending a thank you out to her, the Manager, and the kitchen staff for always a pleasant experience! read more

Great food, I just wish salsa and chips came gratis. Service was pretty good and the inside was well lit and clean. We will definitely be back. read more

Go here regularly - it's always delicious and great service! We had Jennifer last time and she was wonderful.

Great food! Great Service! The delicious smell Of fresh food hits you when you get out of your car in the back parking lot. I'm sure the restaurant next door is contributing to that appeal as well! Go check it out! read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Chicken fajitas were awesome and so was the tamale and guac! Drue was our server and he was the best!! We will be back- we miss LD in Greystone read more

If you're like me, you're here on Yelp looking for a good place to eat in your current location. If you're in Homewood (Birmingham area), you must check out the original Little Donkey in Homewood. This restaurant is a hidden gem. The food is phenomenal and the service is top notch. The menu offers Mexican dishes with a Southern flare. Our server Ella recommended several dishes which were thoroughly enjoyed. Recommendations from Ella included Smoked Brisket Quesadilla (this was huge - great if you're hungry), and Fish Tacos with Corn Tortillas (delicious). Our group also enjoyed Chips and Queso, Smoked Chicken Quesadilla, Mexican Street Corn (get it on the cob - amazing!) and a Chicken Tender Kid's Meal. The manager, Cedric, came over and checked on us several times along with our server Ella. Our drinks were kept full, which was much appreciated. At the end of our meal, Cedric had our leftovers boxed up and bagged so we could take it with us. Lovely ambiance with chill vibes! We'll be back!! read more

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Love coming here. I got the smoked chicken quesadilla, Mexican street corn, and queso cup. There are plenty of seats. You could sit in a booth or an open table. There is also plenty of street parking and parking behind the building read more

Little Donkey - Homewood - Smoked chicken quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Little donkey is one of those staple restaurants you can go in and guarantee that the food is always gonna be exactly right. The margaritas are always too perfection and the service is always polite and fast always a 10 out of 10 even on crowded days. read more

I've been trying to get to little donkey because they seemed to be tailor made just for my pallet. A Mexican spot with award winning fried chicken! Me and couple of my girls stopped in for happy hour around 5. It was a Friday and we were able to get a seat on the patio with no wait. One thing that threw me is there is no complimentary chips and salsa, ugh! We ordered queso and the frozen margarita! The queso was good but the chips were really thick with a heavy corn taste... almost tasting like Fritos. The margarita came in a tall glass which excited me and it was delicious, however it was weak and underwhelming... ugh again. The food came out we all ordered a little bit of everything so I got the opportunity to taste test. Deliciously flavored - The street corn, the fried chicken, the carnitas taco was top notch! Different but tasty - smashed potatoes, the wings, catfish taco (the sauces are a little spicy) The worst rice and beans I've ever had. The service was ok. The lady that brought the drinks, spilled a whole frozen margarita on my friend. She was very apologetic and they comped her drinks but I wish the manager had come out to address it. This would probably not be my mexican spot of choice but I'll probably go back... at least to get carnitas to go! They were very memorable, possibly the best carnitas I've had! It's worth a try if you've not been... go early. It gets pretty crowded after 630. read more

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Little Donkey has been around for some time, but this was my first time trying it. I was pretty disappointed! Given all the buzz I had heard about it, I was sad to find the food bland and the restaurant forgettable. I had a little donkey burrito and chose to have it smothered with green sauce, quezon, and cream. The burrito was large but it wasn't anything special. The elote was overcooked. My friend had the fried chicken, and it was dry and flavorless. I enjoyed my drink, a spin on a margarita that was smoky and complex. All in all, there are other places in town that I'd rather spend my money at. read more

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As soon as the doors opened I was here for an early lunch! It wasn't crowded so I was seated immediately inside. I love a good patio experience but it was already SO hot at a little after 11 am. Bree , my server took really good care of me during my visit . She kept the cokes flowing. Although, something stronger to drink would have been nice ; I opted for a coke / water instead. For my meal I had the 2 piece white fried chicken. They have some of the best fried chicken and it's very unassuming! Hands down , it's the best thing on their menu in my opinion. I was semi disappointed by the size of the chicken breast but the flavor and crispiness made up for it! Whatever you do , do not skip out on the malt vinegar to go with the fried chicken. You're tastebuds may just slap you if you do! Have I convinced you to try the fried chicken yet? Good! You won't regret it. read more

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Had to eat after medical procedure and had this place bookmarked so why not today? The staff was warm and friendly. I had the sweet tea while reviewing the menu. I decided to go with the chicken sandwich and corn off the cob. I don't know why I didn't try the fried chicken and regret it even today. Anyway my sandwich was great. Hot, crispy and ranch dressing didn't alter the texture of the chicken. The corn tasted like summer. I could make a meal of their corn and tomato slices. It was a wonderful southern, fried chicken sandwich, fresh corn and sweet tea! I was parked right outside in the private rear lot. It was convenient, clean and shared by another business connected to the building. It wasn't crowded when I arrived but there wasn't many empty spaces when I left 45 minutes later. I enjoyed my lunch very much. read more

Food was very good! I got the burrito bowl, perfect portion to make you full. My wife got the Adobada burrito. Ambiance was a bit cool for late winter and the music, although very nice was a bit loud...too loud to converse. Price is okay. House Margs were very good. Service was very attentive. Overall experience was very nice. read more

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Highly recommend Jennifer as a waitress! Great experience. The burrito was great as was the queso.