The best Mexican restaurant in Ellicott city. The cozy atmosphere and great food makes for a very relaxing dining experience. The service was also top notch read more

This is your standard Mexican restaurant. Everything we had was good but not great. That is except the shredded chicken taquitos. 6 to a plate. I should've just made that my meal. They are a must try. We tried two different taco plates, birria and chicken. Service was good. The place is kind of boring. read more

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It was nice and cosy place! We see it by chance and we wanted to try it. All staff was very friendly, nice, helpful with smiling face... Only thing was smoke and smell when the fajitas come to saloon! But it's ok. Pretty busy place... One important thing is restrooms! It was veeerrryy clean! . Stuffed jalapeño was pretty good, tortillas also fresh warm and nice! read more

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I have been coming here for years, and I just love happy hour here so much! A lot of drink and food options to pick from, super attentive staff and the food always taste fresh and comes out quickly!!! my favorite tex mex in the area, I always make the 40-minute drive. read more

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Excellent food. Good variety. Well prepared. Great service inside or outside during good weather. My go-to choice for Mexican food!!

Food was good. Service was also good it was an empty Saturday. Would have liked to sit outside but too much of a breeze. Patio seemed a bit disorganized. Food was good and quick. Felt expensive for lack of sides that came with it. Pink sangria was excellent!. Nothing spectacular on the whole. Probably would try somewhere else just for diversity. read more

The atmosphere is warm and friendly. Dining room is well-maintained-no worn or damaged furniture. Both of our entrees were hot and delicious. Bathrooms are very clean. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Beef enchilada platter and fish tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

This is a great local spot for some authentic Mexican food. We loved everything we ordered so far from fajitas, tamales, guacamole, empanadas, margaritas, cakes and more. Wonderful service. Large selection on the menu. Authentic taste. Open atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend by @WineDinenVacay read more

Pachanga Cocina - This is how good the foods are here - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I have enjoyed food from this restaurant for years. Today the guacamole I paid $12.95 for was full of shredded lettuce to stretch it. Tasteless and very watery. Really disappointed. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Shredded lettuce that was stirred into the guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

A regular spot for us. Always friendly service, fresh flavorable food at reasonable prices.

Micheladas forever...I love micheladas. I don't know why but I do... same owners as LaPapas but for some reason the food and the service just seems better! Nice patio too!!! Stop by before the weather gets too cold! Texas Chimi just like Lapalapa...awesome. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Michelada, chips and salsa... - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

We ate here on a wet Sunday and enjoyed our three hot and fresh meals. The two sided menu is basic Mexican, not a lot of frills but the platters were ample and served very hot. We all started with black bean soup which was not overly spicy. They gave us the first bowl of chips free and even gave us a second freebie. Two diners had the hot sizzling shrimp fajita platters. The food was super hot and not greasy. Even the shells were soft and warm. The last diner had tilapia tacos and said they were very tasty.and he ate them all. We had excellent service and felt the food was priced appropriately for the size of the portion. We would return. read more

Date of visit: 2.5.22 The menu is similar to that of La Palapa Grill & Cantina as the restaurants are owned by the same family. We ordered the Chile Con Queso Dip with added ground beef and the Tres Leches. They tasted comparable at both locations. Nachos were fresh, queso was good, and Tres Leches was moist. We generally prefer extra milk on the side, but it was moist as it was. They also provided complimentary salsa with nachos, which was good. I also ordered the fish tacos, but liked it better at La Palapa. The fish tacos were bland at this location and a dressing could have made a difference. I asked for a side of sour cream, which was also bland and too airy. I like my sour cream to be creamy and thicker. My husband ordered the Asado de Puerco and enjoyed it. The flavor was good and the pork was tender. Our server was friendly and helpful. We made a few requests throughout our visit and he didn't seem annoyed. Service was good, but when we were done eating, we had to wait awhile before he came out from the kitchen. This location is separated with a bar to the left of the restaurant and a dining area to the right. It's considerably smaller than La Palapa. They have a few outdoor tables. They have a happy hour menu from 2-6pm on Monday-Friday and Sundays all day. They also offer weekly specials 3pm to closing. My husband preferred La Palapa just because of the ambience and vibe. Based on the fish tacos, I would be more inclined to go to La Palapa as well. read more

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Slipped in here on Cinco de Mayo thinking we'd have to wait a while but luckily we were seated right away. We got lucky. We started with frozen mango margaritas which were very good. And threw back some chips and salsa while waiting for our entrees. The spicy shrimp (camerones a la diabla) were really good with just the right amount of 'heat'. Accompanied with Mexican rice and salad made the meal feel balanced and not too heavy. My guy liked his tacos too. There were some small minor mishaps with our server forgetting things but we chalked it up to the large crowd. She was very good and really tried to stay on top of things. We both agreed we would come back again as overall it was a pleasant experience on an extremely busy day with solidly good food and drink. I have some good girlfriends to thank for the recommendation. read more

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I've gone here a couple times, but both were years in between. I'm happy to say their food and drinks are still good. I came on a Saturday for a late lunch and they offer lunch specials. I opted for their combination platter which comes with rice and beans. They also offer free salsa and chips which is always a plus. I haven't been, but I hear they offer daily specials mon-thurs and all day happy hour on Sundays! Overall, I would love to come for their drink deals and margaritas. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Combo platter- chicken enchilada, beef burrito - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This is an update. After I pursued the added charge to my card after I left the restaurant, they told me that they added the charges because other parties in my group did not pay the correct amount so they put those charges on my card. I would not have believed it if it did not happen to me. I wonder how many others they add charges to and feel like they will not ever check their statement. read more

it's been years since I went to Pachanga's. This location is a little weird to get in to and the parking is tight but it's worth the inconvenience. The salsa served with the chips is nice and thick and chunky the way I like it. The cheese chili rellenos are the reason I come here. They are big and stuffed with queso. They are made without a batter coating. Overall a very nice restaurant. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Chips and salsa. No longer complimentary. Bummer. - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

No complaints on this dinner! I had the combination fajitas, hubby had tacos Al carbon, and kiddo had a quesadilla. The marinade on the steak was perfection. *chefs kiss* The chips were perfectly fresh and crispy, and I can't say enough good things about the food. Parking lot is precarious, and seating indoors is not distanced, but if they have room, I'm sure they would let you move if you asked. The restaurant was mostly empty, but they sat all parties tightly together in one corner. read more

They have an outdoor area for sitting. The side of the patio is covered. First chips and dip is free but refills you have to pay for. The spicy margarita is pretty spicy but it was yummy. I had the combo of Chile relleno and enchilada. They let me a meat to the Chile relleno for extra $2. The food was yummy and service was good albeit a bit slow. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

This is my go to place to unwind, enjoy a meal and have the best Margarita I have ever had

Food very tasty service is good I prefer the bar if I go alone. Also the bar seems to not have enough room. Dining room is nice and the newly added outdoor space is great! read more

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Ceviche app is legit: good sized shrimp, whole baby octopus, bay scallops, squid rings, chunks of tilapia , topped with fresh avocado slices. Next time, will ask for corn tortillas instead of chips. Seafood chowder, very goopy. Tres leches, better than average. Service very nice. Three different people came to check on me. Pleasant, shady outdoor seating. Easy parking. read more

I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD, AND I LOVE GREAT MEXICAN FOOD! What can I not say about this awesome restaurant! When I tell you this was authentic MEXICAN food it was, right down to the beautiful decor. I had the steak and chicken fajitas, mmmm, yummy. Chicken was juicy, steak was tender and the guacamole was so fresh and homemade I wanted more. The presentation was super cute. It looked as good as it tasted. The salsa was also fresh and homemade. I really liked the black beans with a sprinkle of cheese, very tasty. What I like most was the tortilla were folded neatly on the side and not in a holder which never keeps them soft or warm. The restaurant was clean and the staff was friendly. Food came quick and it was hot. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for authentic Mexican food with a great atmosphere. read more

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The Nacho's and Salsa that come with you sitting in the restaurant were both amazing. They were fresh, hot and flavorful. Not overly salty either. The salsa was just right. I would order more but want to enjoy my food and not fill up. My Wife ordered the combination fajitas (steak and chicken). The first plate they brought out contained the tortillas, salsa, rice, black beans and guacamole. Then the sizzling fish with the chicken, steak, onions and peppers came out. This was the hottest (temp) skillet plate we had ever experienced. It was still hot towards the end of our meal. The char on the chicken and steak were perfect along with the seasoning. The perfect ratio of onion to peppers. The Black beans were amazing. the rice seasoned well and my Wife raved about the freshness of the guac. She thoroughly enjoyed her meal. I can tell you from making sure all food was eaten, her meal was good. I finished off her last fajita. :-) I hit the jackpot with my choice. The combination plate. Normally you get to choose two items but our waitress said it was all you can eat combination night and I could order as much as I wanted. She shouldn't have said that, LOL. I had the Pork Enchilada, Pork hard shell taco, Beef Tostada. I ended up ordering another Tostada when I finished my intial serving. It comes with the amazing black beans, seasoned rice, salsa and sour cream. The pork was marinated well and flavorful, the beef was good, the tostada she'll was perfect, the enchilada hit the spot and the taco was huge and filled to the brim. All in all this was a great find! We enjoyed everything about our experience at Pachanga's. Truth be told I saw this place while we were driving and thought I gotta try this spot because of the name alone. One of my favorite movies (Carlito's Way) had a character named Pachanga, played by Luiz Guzmán. Treat yourself and satisfy your craving for good Mexican food by dining at Pachanga's! read more

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The food was good and the portions were generous. The service was pretty good too and there wasn't a wait either.

If you are looking for a nice family restaurant this is the spot to go to!! The food is absolutely delicious, they have a great variety. Service is amazing, hostess and waitresses are all attentive and very quick! The dining area is very well kept, overall the best experience! read more

Pachanga Cocina - Horchata - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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I had lunch here the other day for the first time - and WOW am I glad I did! My friend has always told me that this is his absolute favorite Mexican restaurant and so we went for lunch - I had a Mexican salad w/grilled shrimp and it was fabulous! The chips w/queso are to die for! I was so involved with my yummy food that I don't even remember what everyone else ordered, but I know they were extremely happy! There was a slight confusion w/one of the orders, but our server (who was fantastic) happily and speedily rectified that situation to everyone's satisfaction. Just a heads up - they do charge for the chips and salsa refills (many restaurants do this as a freebie) so do expect a slight upcharge for this - but it's soooo worth it! All in all, I loved this restaurant and I will definitely be back! read more

Decent, but in my opinion, not authentic tasting. It could be better. I tried their chicken tacos with a side of rice and their beans. They gave too much rice and overall the tacos could've used better seasoning and more flavor. I also got a piña colada there; I wish it had more coconut flavor present since I could only taste the pineapple. A balance of the flavors or more coconut would've been nice. I'm harshly judging since I've been to super authentic Mexican places, this is decent Mexican-American food, but not true Mexican. read more

If you love chipotle stop reading this review. This place is an authentic Mexican place. The rice and beans are amazing and the burrito has very tender pork and cheese. Nothing else. Nothing needed. It's authentic. No need for lettuce or quinoa. The taste is amazing and this is coming from someone who doesn't really crave Mexican food. This is a place you'll love and keep coming to! Con? I didn't go in for the full experience because I've become a crazy introvert during the pandemic. Not their fault. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Pork Burrito Grande - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Ugh. Save yourself the $25 for an entree and the most "mid" dining experience ever and go to the grocery store instead . Even if you can't cook it will be better than this read more

We went with friends for dinner. It's a lot bigger than it looks. There's a dining room and a separate bar. We chose the bar. The staff were incredible. Very friendly and knowledgeable of the dishes. I had the Texas Chimichanga platter. It has beef and chicken in it. Awesome!!!! Generous portions. I also had a frozen peach daiquiri. Really good on hot night! read more

Parking for this restaurant is a little weird. Like at an angle. Small little restaurant. Food was really good. Chips and salsa was ok. I got the chimichanga, It was good. A little soft for a chimichanga. Overall everything was good. Also the raspberry margarita was yummy! read more

Pachanga Cocina - Raspberry Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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I absolutely hate how slow the waiters were. The salsa had some sort of disgusting substance in it. Unacceptable.

This place is always great. We normally sit in the bar if it's 6 people or less. But the Texas Chimichanga it the go to. Queso is so different than any other place you will love it! read more

I feel bad for people in this area who come here, and are led to believe this an example of delicious Mexican food. I came during lunch on a weekend and should have known to leave because it was all gringos inside. Don't get me wrong, the building and restaurant itself is nice. The inside is clean, pretty, the waitresses are all friendly... But the food. Dear God, the food. This is so sad, such a sad excuse for Mexican food. I got the California burrito and was so underwhelmed by it. Through and through. If you know anything about Mexican food, you can tell by the photos this food lacks soul. Maybe, just maybe, I thought to myself, I would finally have a go to, AND close by Mexican place! Nope! Don't waste your time here, Chipotle is like a half mile down the road. read more

Pachanga Cocina - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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We came back for a 14th anniversary lunch and both the steak and shrimp fajitas are very good and so is the coffee. The service was excellent as expected. They offer a lot of choices, few with fish however the server asked on his own after we ordered if they would make fish fajita. He returned and asked if we'd like it instead of shrimp fajita. The server gets an extra star for initiative. The chips are crispy. The music is at a comfortable volume. They have a lot of desserts which I'm mentioning since we likely to be full and might try one at a later date. The fajita is very good and they offered to include the shrimp since they come together though it's absent on the menu. You can also get it with salmon rather than talapia, also absent on the menu. The beef enchilada is good. I'd meant to order steak rather than ground beef, my miss. The fajita is enough for two meals. read more

The food is good but don't order for pick up because they will ALWAYS mess it up. I have ordered food to go three times and each time items have been missing or they screw up the order. Dining in is probably a better option. read more

Like most Mexican in Howard County, the food is pretty bland. I'm not even a fan of spicy food, but I do like flavor. Atmosphere is nice but small. read more

Really good black beans soup, happy hour drinks specials, and too good guac and salsa. Perhaps a bit of a hidden gem. Question for owners- does the shell of the guacamole have lard in it? It was too delicious. Thanks read more

Pachanga is an excellent option for local Mexican food in Ellicott City. They offer happy hour in the bar area until 7PM, which includes $8 appetizers and discounted drinks. I generally opt for tacos on the a la carte menu to avoid the beans and rice. Two of these will fill you up and will cost you less than $10. Check this place out! read more

Pachanga Cocina - Beef Taco & Seasoned Shredded Chicken Taco - Mexican Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland