I've been there several times and love the friendly atmosphere along with the different foods. Plus now and then I learn Spanish by using Translate. Fried bananas are awesome.. read more

Whenever I travel across Alberta for work, I try to have my lunches somewhere off the beaten path. When I saw that Red Deer had a taco buffet, I knew I had to try it. When we arrived just before noon there was only one other occupied table in the small restaurant. The owner asked if we'd ever been there before and when we said no, he gave us the full rundown of the buffet. When I told him I was vegetarian, he walked me past the buffet and showed me everything I could eat (which was all but two things!) I started off with their tortilla soup and loaded it up with chips and sour cream. It was incredibly flavourful and I honestly could have just kept eating that. Afterward, I filled up two tacos full of potatoes, black beans, salsa, and more. They even had homemade jalapenos which were delicious. My only complaint is that they didn't seem to have guacamole on the buffet. I understand it could be a cost thing, but I'm always willing to pay extra for guac! The price was fairly reasonable considering it was all you could eat ($15 for lunch). The owner joked that you have to pay double if you eat more than 60 tacos but I didn't get anywhere near that. This buffet is a hidden gem. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Red Deer. read more

Appear to be permanently out of business. Phone number is disconnected and the premises are under construction when visited January 2022.

We went to red deer for the evening and stopped at this place for dinner. Walk in and it was pretty busy. We hadn't been there before and waitress says its buffet. No menus or no price given. Didn't say if it came with any drink or dessert. Kinda just went with the flo. Authentic I guess means no cheese or guacamole. Chips were authentic but just plain. The soup had good reviews but this tortilla soup didn't have any tortillas in it so I didn't take it. The sautéed onions were delicious. Didn't realize those were authentic to tacos. I wanted to love this place but it just wasn't complete as I know Mexican. 2 buffets and 2 drinks - $36. read more

Our family loves Mexican food and we thought we were in luck finding this place. Unfortunately we were all sorely disappointed. I would have been better off spending my money at Taco Time! I had to ask for a cleaner glass for my water. There was a unknown film floating in my water cup. The food was rather bland. No amount of hot sauce could liven it up. We travel a lot and could confidently say what good Mexican food is. This does not make the cut. Service wise....well...it is a buffet. Having the waitress hover over us telling us not to waste any food was strange since we didn't even eat yet. My husband didn't like a dish so he didn't eat it. Let's just say we got a little scolded for that. When paying, the waitress assumed our kids ages and over charged us. It was not a good experience. read more

Great little gem for all you can eat tacos. The buffet gives you everything you need to make taco salad, soup and fresh tacos and comes with the daily aguas frescas and ice cream for dessert, all for $16. They also have lots of different options. Vegetarians and vegans, foodies searching for authentic tacos de cazuela, and kids wanting something slathered in sour cream can all leave happy. The owner is friendly and helpful, especially if you look confused about what to do when you first arrive. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - Buffet - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

I've been here a couple times and have enjoyed each visit. It's not a huge spread, but for $15 at dinner that includes the agua of the day (I've had Jamica and lemonade, for example) and ice cream for dessert, it's a tasty meal. The service is incredibly friendly and though a bit dark inside, the restaurant feels welcoming. Colourful plates sit next to the food that is comforting home style cooking. Try the tortilla soup broth and add chicken, pico de gallo, sour cream and plenty of chips. It's my favourite way to eat it, and it's fantastic. I also really love the spicy salsa - it's actually spicy and has a great flavour! One of my favourite places in Red Deer and highly recommended. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - a plate of mexican food - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

The best place to eat anytime in red deer! Friendly service, fresh food, and cold beer! Authentic Mexican food! read more

This is the second time I have been there and I have been happy both times. The food is very flavorful and since it's a buffet you can really eat as many ch as you like. They have a really good tortilla soup that you can customize to your liking. To top it all off they have all u can eat ice cream. It's not the cheapest place but it's still a fair value for the price. The restaurant is clean and the staff is really friendly. Honestly the only way it could go up from here would be the addition of another protein for the tacos and maybe a few different salsa. I will probably go again as it is good food! read more

We came here because the Yelp reviews for so positive! The food is delicious. So fresh and home made tasting. The tortilla soup was my favourite. The salsas and quac were perfect! I would drive from Calgary just to eat here. When we drove up my husband was doubting my choice. But after the meal he said he only agreed to go in because he trusted my "YELPINESS". We brought three children aged 5-14 and everyone found plenty to eat that they liked. Ice cream is included in the price and a perfect way to finish this delicious meal. read more

Over priced. The serving spoons are all mismatched, and some are even old wooden spoons. The serving water pitcher for the table was old, and partially broken plastic. The food was so so. Should have gone to Mucho Burrito. read more

Me and my wife dropped in here a couple weeks ago. The food is served buffet style and it is really good Mex. We both left stuffed and happy from the experience. The best part I thought had to be the tortilla soup. So damn good that I craved it back at home again the other day. We tried making our own here at home, but we couldn't nail that great soup dish even close to as good as they can. We decided that we'll just have to leave it to the pros here at Old Mexico Taco Buffet and just come back again and again instead lol. Once again great food here. read more

So the owner asks if I've ever been there. No Asks if I've had real Mexican food before. I say yes, thinking Dona Marias in Vegas a couple of holes in the wall in California. Maybe even Tres Carnales. He shakes his head. Tells me I've never had Mexican food unless I've sat with a Mexican Family in there home and shared a meal. Well I haven't done that. It's buffet, which I now realize the absolute best way to make tacos. Tortilla Soup (with instructions on the wall) is amazing, probably could've had a few bowls and went away happy. The selection of taco fixings/toppings is perfect. Chicken or ground pork. Salsas, veggies, salads, beans. All super fresh and home made. Don't expect any cheese, there is none. You will never miss it. I'll never eat at another restaurant in Red Deer again. This is the first restaurant that I have ever felt compelled to review on here. Sooo good. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - The owner offered to make me a special taco the way he would eat it. Pretty amazing. - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

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Love this place. Best Mexican food I've had outside of Mexico. The man who runs it is super friendly and you can tell his goal is to make sure you enjoy your experience there. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - The end of my meal usually involves a little bit of everything! - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

It's like taco night at your home, but a thousand times better. Based on the name, I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Tortillas are made seconds before you eat them. The fillings tend to lend themselves well to a buffet as the flavour tends to improve with more time to simmer. The chicken tinga was fantastic, and so was the longaniza (essentially a spicier chorizo). For vegetarians, they had beans, corn, and mushrooms for fillings. They also make their salsas and guacamole in house and all were fresh and perfectly spiced. As a native Californian, I know my tacos and I was impressed. Score one for Red Deer. And you should also enjoy the free ice cream and sorbet after the meal. read more

Came to Red Deer spur of the moment and came here based on the reviews. Good decision! Very good, authentic food. I have a lot of food sensitivities and I felt fine afterwards. Tortilla soup was amazing. Guacamole was awesome. Everything was awesome. And the owner was very nice and fun. Definitely will be back. read more

I've been here a few times and it's safe to say I crave it! Authentic food and atmosphere with great family hospitality. I've never had a bad experience! This is a MUST visit in Red Deer. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - Taco Soup is my favourite bit! - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

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It was so gross but service was ok I do not recommend this place so ya I wanted nachos with cheese she said he can't do that then we just got nachos that were cold and we paid 3.00 and we got like 20 small chips I asked for a quadzilla with only cheese it had lettuce Mayo and NO cheese read more

Holy. This place is awesome. Food is really tasty and everything is made from scratch. Only thing I would like to see is slotted spoons in the serving trays, as it would eliminate some of the meat grease on your taco. read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - Taco #6 - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

After discussing for over an hour what we wanted to eat for dinner we finally decided on this little Mexican joint. We decided that we would take a drive-by first, as we were going to dine later in the evening than normal and didn't want to get stuck with what was left over. Upon entry, when we were taken back by how few tables they had and how many people could fit into their small space. We received the last available table. To be perfectly honest, my first impression was not a very good one. We sat down tried to go to the buffet but there were no available plates. So we waited for a few minutes and then more plates were brought out. Then they ran out of tortillas. A couple of minutes later more were brought out. Neither of these "issues" were a very big deal to us but it seemed to be to the owner. By the time those tortillas have been brought out there was a lineup outside the doors waiting to get in. These guys were getting slammed. I was very impressed with the owner, as he ran around with a smile on his face trying to make everything perfect and make everyone happy. Enough about the ambience. Onto the food! This is a buffet with authentic Mexican food and the menu changes frequently. We started with a great tortilla soup that we had to build ourselves. The broth is a very basic one but once you add in their homemade pico and tortilla chips and it becomes amazing. Both the Chicken Tinga and the Longaniza were fantastic. Ice cream even comes with every meal (we didn't have any though). In the end, I have absolutely no complaints with this quaint little Mexican joint. Fantastic food, extremely nice owners and very reasonably priced. read more

The flavors here are great, and the service is always wonderful. However, if you are looking for variety this is not your place. The tortilla soup is a favorite of mine and you can dress it up as much or as little as you like taco bar is well stocked and the ingredients are fresh and well prepared. Great place for lunch great place for a quick stop in. As for authenticity I can't speak to that to any degree however I like to think that it's authentic. read more

It's not a complicated restaurant. Ten dishes including tortilla soup. But everything is authentic and fresh. The owner is a great guy working hard to make a living in downtown Red Deer. It's not heavy on ambience but I love the food! read more

Old Mexico Traditional Cuisine - Simple but delicious - Mexican Near Me - Red Deer, Alberta

A hidden gem - authentic, cheap and delicious Mexican in the heart of Alberta. All-you-can-eat build-your-own tacos and soups, with ice cream bar and lemonade to boot. Homemade corn tortillas and jalapenos, plus all the trimmings. Only way this place could be better is with a liquor license. Thanks to Yelp for giving us an incredible road trip stopover option by showing us that Red Deer actually has a warm and delicious heart hidden under a tough, fast-food exterior. read more

Wow! Real Mexican food! Passed through here on the way to Calgary. Well worth it! Owner is so nice and chatted with us a bit. $15 for all you can eat real home style Mexican food. There is ice cream too! read more

The atmosphere and food is great! Amazing lemonade included with the buffet. The food was great authentic Mexican food and the owner/staff were very helpful and definitely added to the charm of this place. I wish it was closer to home but anytime we are in Red Deer it will be one of our must stop places!! read more

This place it's overrated, well to be honest I'm Mexican and is not really good I know that a lot of people like it but they don't have a lot of variety on meat for the tacos just 2 diferent types and the rest is veggies, and the flavor it's ok, to be honest anyone can make that food at home with no science on it, and the thing that I really didn't like is that the owner comes and tell u that if you don't eat everything in your plate they will charge u more, for some reason he has a price if they don't want wasted food he should charge by taco instead of a buffet price, I will never go back to that place read more

Great food, good prices, exceptional service and a nice environment are some of the factors that make this restaurant a truly great experience. I've been to Mexico twice and I can personally vouch for the authenticity of this food. Bon appetite everybody!!! read more

My husband and I were looking for a bite to eat for dinner on our drive from Canmore to Edmonton. We found the Old Mexico Taco Buffet on the map and since we love Mexican food, we were very excited to try this place. We were not disappointed. The location is not directly off the highway, but it was only about 6 minutes away. At first glance, it did not seem like a great place but I quickly discovered how wrong my first impressions were. The food quality was excellent. The variety wasn't extensive but it didn't need to be. Every dish I tried was delicious and full of flavour. The owner was very welcoming and provided spectacular service. My husband and I have been to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico and tried authentic tacos in town and they tasted very similar to the tacos at this buffet. The buffet was $15 per person which was such a great price considering the quality of the food! We will be sure to make the drive to Red Deer whenever we are out west again (we unfortunately live in Hamilton, Ontario). I highly recommend giving this buffet a try! read more

Went to this awesome place during a quiet Thursday lunch hour. Everything was delicious, and as authentic as is advertised. The hot salsa was fantastic. Worth the 90 minute drive from Calgary. I noticed a few other Yelpers mentioning about free lemonade included with the buffet price, and this wasn't the case for us. It was still very cheap (less than $2 each, I think - and they gave us refills) and we were happy to pay for it. I just wanted to mention it in the interest of accurate information. Gracias OMTB! Will be back soon! read more

Wow, I don't even know where to start. So fresh and so amazing. The food was a 10/10, I wish I could give this place 6 stars. We drove up here from Calgary for a lacrosse tournament and I can tell you every time we stop in Red Deer we will come to this place, in fact we will go out of our way to come here. The staff was also very friendly and the restaurant was very clean. I wish this place was in Calgary! The value was also amazing. I would have paid quite a bit more. For a family of four including soup, appetizer, dinner, ice cream and lemonade it was $57 including tip! read more

I really enjoyed the owner and his hospitality shown, but I was disappointed in the quality of the offerings on the taco bar. Both the pork and beef offered, seemed to me as having no seasoning in them, other than a bit of salt. read more

Awesome doors, awesome people and great taste - I love the soup! The way the tortilla chips sit in the broth and the flavour of great pico de galla was exquisite. I love it and the beautiful ambiance. read more

The guy didn't do anything. His wife did all of the work. They ran out of salsa. The food that was there was good though.

A friend of mine noticed this restaurant last week while he was in Red Deer for an interview and texted me to tell me I should check it out and report back. I happen to be in Red Deer on business this week so I wen there Tuesday evening. The place was not busy, so I was a bit skeptical, and it's not really fancy. I walked in and was greeted by the super friendly "waiter" I believe he was the owner's son (maybe). He asked if I'd been there before, I said no, so he explaind the entire buffet to me, how it worked, that it was all-you-can eat, and it includes ice cream and lemonade (mmm!). There was a good selection, and fresh warm corn tortillas. There were several types of meat and meat/potato concoctions, some really good corn, and some rice that was so-so (the rice was the only thing I wasn't really big on, it could have been less mushy and more flavorful.) The toppings bar was also awesome with FRESH ingredients, Pico, lettuce, this lovely marinated jalapeno and veggie mixture, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, etc. Overall it was a great expreience. I was dining alone, and the owner (I assume) came over and chatted with me a bit. I didn't get any pop or anything like that I just drank the lemonade that was provided to me, the meal in total was about 15.75 I beleive which was well worth it. The food tasted good and was obviously fresh. And the staff was awesome and friendly. read more

I was thoroughly impressed with my visits to Old Mexico. I've never seen buffet Mexico before and thought I was dreaming when I found it in Red Deer of all places. All forms of meat were flavorful and perfectly spiced. I think I may have had one bowl too many of the tortilla soup though (if having 4 bowls is wrong I don't want to be right). read more

A Mexican friend of mine once told me about a Taco restaurant in Red Deer. This was because I had just been to a new Mexican restaurant in Edmonton and it was over $100 for two adults and two children. He was astounded and he's been talking about opening his own Taco Buffet place ever since. Whether or not that happens, he also mentioned Old Mexico Taco Buffet for comparison. Well...today I was heading to Red Deer for the day and I asked him where it was. I was so glad I did. This place is awesome. First of all, Wil, the owner/manager, is one of the most friendly people you will ever meet. He runs the front all by himself and is constantly moving to the till, the back, and table to table cleaning and chatting with his customers. He treats everyone as if they are old friends just hanging out. The buffet is fairly simple, but it had plenty of options. I sampled everything, so I'll just list it here and offer ratings on everything. I don't know if the items change day to day. Tortilla soup broth - Brilliant. The best thing I had here. If this was just a tortilla soup restaurant, I'd still come. 5/5 Add tortilla chips and hot salsa 8/5 Fried corn tortilla - Perfect for the soup. Not enough of a connoisseur to tell if they were made fresh, but tasty and perfectly salted. 4/5 Fresh tortilla shells - Pretty basic flour shells. I would have loved the option of corn. 3/5 Chicken tinga - Classic puebla dish and just the thing for making your own tacos. Missing chipotle or any heat. A family restaurant, so I can add my own, but it's never as good cooking it in. 4/5 Pork calabaza - I had a hard time finding any calabaza in this dish. It was primarily lightly spiced shredded pork. 3/5 Plain beans - Gooey and liquidy pinto beans. I found these very bland. 1/5 Mexican rice - Called mexican rice here, but I'd say this is arroz rojo. A favorite dish for my sister in-law to make. This was a pretty classic version although, light on the spice. 3//5 Boiled potatoes (patatas bravas) - No...not my thing. 2/5 Zucchini calabazas - There's the calabazas that I was looking for and the zucchini was perfectly cooked. I came back for seconds of this. Probably my second favorite dish of the buffet. 5/5 Mushrooms - Old fashioned mushrooms! I don't think button mushrooms when I think of Mexico. Still, they were sauted nicely and tasty. 3/5 Extras (hot salsa, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, homemade jalapeno and jalapeno carrots, onion and cilantro) - The onion in the onion and cilantro was not cooked and was not a good type of onion to eat raw. This was okay mixed with a lot of other things. I would have liked the cilantro and onions separate. Everything else here was great. The homemade jalapeno's were amazing. 5/5 Ice cream - Along with the buffet, there was 4 different types of ice cream. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mango. The only thing I didn't try. Lemonade - Finally, each table is give a huge amount of lemonade. 4/5 The decor is plain, kind of rustic; there's music playing; plus on the tv, there was Mexican rodeo. This gave an interesting ambiance. Obviously this is not why you would go, but it's okay. All this for $15pp. read more

This place has the most amazing food! I also appreciate that they are gluten free so that my whole family is able to enjoy a night out! I totally recommend this place! read more

I found this place on Yelp and I'm glad I came. It's a great spot for a good meal that really feels home cooked. The food was tasty and fresh, I just wish there was a few more options for toppings for the tacos ( there was chicken and pork but no beef )The tortilla soup was so simple but so delish! I would go again. read more

A small group of us stopped here while passing through Red Deer and were totally surprised of how cute and quaint this place was. It's a small buffet (ALL Gluten Free!) and was delicious. The owner takes obvious pride in his little business and was very helpful in serving us and chatting a little too. Will definitely go back! read more

My kids and I used to LOVE going to the Old Mexico Taco buffet, on the regular. The tortilla soup is ahhhhmAzing! Especially in the winter months. It warms you from the inside out. The kids love making their own tacos. Eating here is a real experience! I'm sorry to have to report, this place falls short, and it's breaking our hearts. I understand the lack of shredded cheese, as maybe that is more of a westernized taco addition. And sure, the lemonade is a little weak and watery, and it used to be free, and now they charge too much for it. Still, I'll pay, because it's a part of the experience. But the consistent absence, of such an integral part of a Mexican feast, my beloved guacamole, with no reduction in price, for when it's not available, which is more often than not... ?!? This I cannot accept. I went so far as to bring my own, store bought guacamole, in a sealed container, to satisfy my yearning for this essential aspect of my enjoyment of this delicious authentic Mexican meal. The first time I did it, the owner, who's always been friendly and engaging, came over and told me, "that's not made with real avocados. It's from a powder. It's garbage. I only use real avocados"... My response: "Hmm, it says right here, made with fresh avocados, and I can see avocado pieces in it." He says "Mine is much better." And I reply: "I agree, wholeheartedly! But you're not providing any". His claim: "It's so hard to get good avocados". Yet he & I both know, Super Store is just across the street, and they have an abundance of avocados, so this is a hard pill for me to swallow. Over the next few months, I call a number of times, to inquire, "Is there guacamole today?" The consistent answer: "Sorry, no." Our taco dreams are crushed. The kids don't understand my strong feelings over the lack of guacamole. They can live without it. Sadly, I, cannot. The next time I go to the Old Mexico buffet, it's with a couple of girl friends. Both have Celiac disease, and this restaurant is one of the only 'safe' places for them to eat, which is so appreciated! Again, I bring a sealed container of store bought guacamole. Only this time, when I am in the washroom, the owner approaches my friend, and tells her, he feels really bad, as my kids & I are regulars to his restaurant, but asks her to please let me know, I cannot bring food from outside, into his restaurant. It's against the rules. Hmph. What am I to do?? We haven't returned for many months, but lastnight, we had a hankering for an old favourite. We decided to pop in, with fingers and toes crossed, in the hopes there would be guacamole. But NO. Once again, there was no guacamole. This wasn't a case of "it was SO busy we ran out". This was before the supper hour. So, hopes dashed, AGAIN, we walk away, for what I decide will be the last time. We will not return to the Old Mexico Buffet. Sad story, but true. read more