The joint was deserted when we walked in, and situated in an unassuming little strip mall next to a gas station, but we swung by due to its convenient location off the freeway and decent reviews. It was nice and cool inside, which was appreciated as we were breaking heat records today. The waitress was super nice and attentive without being obtrusive. The booths were a bit uncomfortable, I'ld try a table next time unless they get the booths restuffed. I wanted to try the Chile Verde but it wasn't going to be read for another hour, so I went with the Chile Colorado instead, the flavor of the sauce was pretty good. A bit zippy without too much heat to ruin the meal. The beans were about average, as was the rice. I also get the impression that the tortillas are straight out of a grocery store. However after being on the road for six hours, it was a pleasant enough stop. The food wasn't great, nor was it terrible. It was priced just right and the portions are substantial. If I were passing through I would stop here again just due to its being a nice atmosphere to relax in for a bit after being on the road. It's not spectacular, but it beats fast food any day. read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - Chile Colorado burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

Food was good. I had cheese and beef enchiladas rice and beans Service was good and also staff very good and attentive read more

The food is outstanding, the family who runs it are so nice and pleasant. Had an enchilada and chimichanga and it was wonderful. Highly recommend the Tres Leches too. read more

We read the reviews on this place and though this place was going to be great. They were wrong, very wrong. From the time you walk in and the smell hits you. To the grumpy waitress and the CRAPPY FOOD! I have a 17 year old son that eats me out of house and home, he got the beef fajitas and did t even finish his plate. That is a big deal. To the queso made out of what can assume in melted Velveeta cheese. Just don't go. read more

Really good food, very kind staff, wonderful food. The atmosphere is light and the temperature is perfect for eating.

This place was really good and the people were very nice and attentive. The food was outstanding. Quite fresh and served piping hot. The chile relleno was to-die-for. Taco salad was quite generous. Convenient, right off I-29. Tucked in a non-descript strip mall by a gas station. We'll be back. read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

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We went here for the second time last Sunday. This is a rather hidden spot in St. Joseph for Mexican Food. They start you with chips and salsa. The salsa is delicious, just the right amount of spice! My complaint is the bowl of salsa is way, way too small, had to keep asking for more. I had the chicken tacos, they were loaded with cilantro and onion, like street tacos only a little bigger. They were quite tasty! I thought I had only ordered the tacos, but I got a platter that included rice and beans, and although the beans were great it cost me an additional $6. read more

Stopped in here last night for dinner Place is very clean Clean restrooms Right down the hill from the Loves truck stop so plenty of truck an trailer parking / large vehicle parking Owner very nice Food was served quick hot and seasoned very good Nice portion size However a lot of the menu items don't come with rice and beans Fried ice cream left a lot to be desired But all in all good food cold beer and friendly service Would return if in the area again and wanting Mexican read more

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Where do I start!? Loved this little cute Mexican Restaurant. Was nice and clean. Service was fast and staff was very friendly. Had the lunch burrito. Great portions. Great Prices. Left, full and happy! Will be making the drive back to eat here again! read more

Man, am I overdue on reviews?! I ate here on the day of the eclipse this summer. It was packed, as the highway was not moving and people were bailing out to wait out the jam. The food came out slow because they were so busy, but all of our food was excellent. I had carnitas... and no complaints at all. Unfortunately, the traffic never cleared. So we had another beer and relaxed a while. It was a good day to be stuck at Nelly's! read more

Coworker and I stopped in here for a casual lunch on a business trip and really enjoyed our meal. The place is pretty unassuming from the outside - it's in a plaza with a smoke shop and a sketchy looking massage parlor, pretty much in a gas station parking lot, but it's worth a visit (though, ya know, maybe not on a first date that you're trying to impress). We hit it right at lunchtime and it wasn't busy. The service was fast and friendly and both the enchiladas and the fajita were really tasty. We both left stuffed and spent less than $20 before tip. We'll be back on future trips to St. Joe! read more

We're car haulers and we're parked at the Loves Truck Stop and wanted something besides truck stop food on my husbands BD. We walked down the little path that leads straight to their restaurant. We ordered the fajitas and steak street tacos and a loaded burrito for later. Great family owned restaurant and excellent service, and food. Will definitely stop here again. They brought my husband out fried tortilla and honey for his special day. Everything was only $40 ;-) read more

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This wasn't the best Mexican restaurant I've ever eaten at but it certainly wasn't the worst either. I had some of their queso and chips which was very good and for my meal I had the chicken burrito. It was very flavorful and the server was quite attentive. The only problem that I had with the whole experience, was the several trips to the restroom after the fact. read more

Pretty good little Mexican restaurant just walk down the hill from Loves.. The first good sign was no Minute Rice... Everything tasted good like it was made from scratch..... I would give it a 5 but they're release skimpy on the rice in the beans .. Rice and beans are really cheap they should load u up especially if they want those truckers to come back... The pork in the Verdi has no flavor but the Verde sauce very good.... And the owner comes out to ask how your are and how your food is... All in all I like the place. I'll be back I would have spent the same amount at Arbys... Still a little hungry more rice and beans please.. read more

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Excellent food! Wonderful presentation. Warm atmosphere! One of my newest Hidden Gems! read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

Not bad. A little pricey. I think serving Coke out of a bottle upped the price. Pleasant staff and clearly a family run business. Hamburger meet appeared to have no spice in it. Taco shells were fresh but appears to be from a box. I don't like rice but I tasted it, not bad but again, no spice. The food was just OK but I'm not huge lover of authentic Mxican. This is clearly an authentic Mexican joint. If you like authentic, this may be a good fit for you. read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - Taco enchilada combo and a cole - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

Update 10/17/17 Stopped today and had the lunch menu chicken fajitas, they were delicious, you won't find better or more authentic Mexican food in this town! read more

very nice place to eat. The food is very good and service is fantastic also. What a surprise. read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - the dining room - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

It was fabulous. We ordered the la fiesta special. I haven't had a meal this wonderful in many years. I strongly recommend NELLY'S. MUY BIEN. read more

Nelly's Mexican Food - Mexican Near Me - Saint Joseph, Missouri

Passed through St. Joe while traveling and the family and I popped into Nelly's. The portions were good for the price, but the food was rather bland for our liking. Maybe it worked well for the target community, but we were hoping for more spice and flavor. That being said, the customer service was impeccable; all of the servers came off as kind and attentive and the food was cooked and plated quickly. If we find ourselves in St. Joe ever again, we might be willing to drop in again, asking for extra seasoning. read more

I was coming from KC Airport noonish driving north through St Joseph. I checked Yelp before my flight looking for a quick lunch on my way to a 4pm destination outside of Omaha. Nelly's was what I expected. I has a great Mexican lunch at a great price. Just a small store front next door to Love's truck stop. Only knocked it to a 4 on a little slow service on start and close, but once I ordered it was out fast, fresh, hot and selfish. Host and server both very pleasant. read more

Visiting from San Antonio, Texas... I know good Mexican food and this place was delicious! Authentic Mexican enchiladas suzias. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. Service was very friendly and our food was brought out quickly. read more

I left a great tip, check it out! Try Nelly's, you won't be disappointed! Clean restaurant. Great food. Friendly staff. Huge menu. Home cooking, no prepackaged stuff. read more

Really good Yelp find! We were on our way thru...boom! Authentic and awesome! These ladies know what they are doing when it comes to food. The price wasn't bad either... worth the try! read more

I don't know where the other reviewers were eating but there is nothing authentically Mexican about this place. This is your typical Tex-Mex place that is a dime a dozen all over the state of Missouri. Very little difference between this menu and any other. I stopped in for lunch. Stereotypical Mexican decor. Service was really good. I'll give them that. However, the food was just not that good. I had a tamale and taco lunch special. First off, crunchy tacos are an American thing. Most Mexican tacos are street food served with onions and cilantro in a soft corn tortilla. You won't find that here. You will find lettuce, tomato and a sprinkling of cheddar blended cheese. Just like you'd make at home. The chicken for both the taco and tamale, while fresh, was just bland. No flavor or spice to it at all. Like eating a plain chicken breast. The masa was just so flavorless also. No hint of salt or lime or anything. The tamale filling had no flavor either and the tamale itself was topped with a smattering of the retried beans that were one of the sides. I've never seen that at all. Not a green sauce, nor a red sauce., but beans. It was bizarre. The rice had no flavor either. Not a hint of onion nor tomato nor pepper nor cilantro. So I guess if you want to eat the most non-offensive, flavorless "Mexican" food ever, this is the place to go. They are friendly and such, but that cannot make up for the fact that the food just doesn't cut it. read more

Let me start off by saying that the alcoholic beverages were good, that being said it kinda went downhill from there. The salsa was runny and lacked spice of any kind, hellloooooo pace picante in a damn jar. Chips were not homemade they were courtesy of frito lay and kinda stale buy went well with the no flavor salsa quite well. I ordered the Fiesta fajitas and once again i should have known because the fajitas were so lacking in flavor that I asked for some damn tapatio just to add something to them. All that being said the service was top notch just no spice, no flavor and definitely not some place that I would ever return to again. Happy eating my fellow foodies read more

Fabulous seasoned vegetable fajitas...carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, green pepper. Didn't have to ask for more tortillas. Super spicy salsa, but other than that great service, yummy food, good price. read more

My absolute favorite Mexican food in town. Food is authentic and always served HOT. Salsa has just the right amount of kick with a good cilantro flavoring. Always get the Chile rellano and it's by far the best in town. Decently sized restaurant with a homey feel. Can easily get your food in 15 minutes. I called in carry out and it was 10 minutes! Within walking distance from loves truck stop and located not even half a mile from i29 it's the perfect place to pull off the highway and grab a quick bite to eat. read more

Yummy. We ate all our food. Rice and beans very good, chicken was a little bland not much flavor. Tamales not bad, tacos pretty good. If near there again would like to try something different. Small place with very good service. read more

I am from Arizona but lived in Saint Joseph for one year. Being in AZ, I have tasted some awesome Mexican food. I couldn't find anything near *real* Mexican food until I found Nelly's! It was farther south from my house but it was always worth the drive. The only Mexican food place I acknowledge in St. Joe. Can't wait to visit so I can stop in again!! read more

First time here. Was passing through St. Joe and pulled this up on Yelp. Had the #12 which had four items. Relleno was good. Bean tostadas was crispy and good. Beef taco was a little weak. Beef enchilada good. Salsa was just ok. Overall the experience was good. Nothing exceptional. read more

Stopped in based on Yelp review. A good, authentic, restaurant. Salsa was very tasty, anout medium spice. Had the taco and enchilada combo. Included rice and beans. Had a ground beef taco shredded beef and chicken enchilada. All were very tasty. Service was prompt and polite. Recommend if you are passing through town. read more

This place is HORRIBLE! Cheap asses!! Nelly needs to go to Mexico and learn how to cook. The people walk like sloths that work there. I felt bad for the customers walking in while I was eating because I know they too will be disappointed. Sloppy beans dried out tortillas and weakest beer ....cheap queso with cold spots and lots of chunks. Prisoners eat better mexican food than that. Only nice was it was clean. read more

WARNING!!! WARNING!!! You are in grave danger if you eat here, starting with the lack of service even though the place was almost empty. (That's because they don't want to eat here either). The margarita tasted like watered down fruit punch with no hint of tequila in it. Hot sauce had frozen chunks of ice in it, which melted into a watery bland cold weak mess. Cold chips, nasty chalupa with tasteless, loose refried beans. Chili Relleno was not at all fresh. The batter was like a wet spongy glue like material and the Poblano pepper itself was so limp and wet that when you cut into it, it dissolved into a green blob. The taco fell apart because it was very soggy. I turned everything away as I ate 3 bites and had to give up. I passed the owner, who by the way propped himself up on a table with his arms crossed watching his meager audience consume his deplorable offerings, and I apologized to him, saying that I just couldn't eat this crap. Looking back on it, he should be the one apologizing to me. This guy had the nerve to follow me out the back door as I was walking back up the hill to my truck, yes, this place sits at the bottom of the hill from the Love's truck stop, and kept yelling at me that I had to pay. I ignored him and kept climbing...climbing my way to freedom and the Arbys inside Love's so I could get something to eat worth paying for. I will pay for what I eat, if it's good, but if I won't even insult my dogs by trying to pass this junk off on them, then you won't get my hard earned cash. read more

Food was hot and good. The service was ok. When you order a plate that comes with rice and beans, you get very little beans, however they are very good. read more

Fajitas with chicken and shrimp for two, had 3 shrimps and dry/bland chicken pieces. Salsa is runny, not much taste, chips are low quality. The appetizer combo wasn't worth the money and everything was way over cooked. The food is a step above frozen microwave meals, but the place is clean and the wait staff are pleasant and attentive. read more

Not from St Joe. Needed a quick lunch. Chips were crispy, food was hot and server polite and attentive. Not fancy but met our needs. I would go back read more

Stopped by for take-out on my way past- it is in a strip of shops off off 169 just east of Highway 36. I was actually quite impressed! The salsa was very good and their entree was still hot and quite good when I got home. I'll make this spot a regular place for good mexican food! The prices are especially affordable for the amount you get. read more

We have been several times now and like this place. This chips are great, food is above par for this area. All in all, I recommend it.

Ehh...chips and salsa appear store bought. I had a lunch combo with a chile relleno and a chicken enchilada. The enchilada was fair. The relleno was completely flavorless. Hubby had the chicken chimichanga. The chicken was bland and unlike every chimichanga we've ever had, it has no sauce of any kind. It was served with a guacamole "salad". Not sure 10 shreds of lettuce constitutes a salad. Overall, very disappointing. Would not return. read more