Came here on a Saturday night and we were the only table at 6:30. Chips and salsas was good. Food was fine, I got the chicken fajita and thought everything was good besides refried beans and rice that came with my fajita were both really bad. Men's bathroom didn't have a working light. My friend had to use his phone flashlight. Women's bathroom had no toilet paper in one of the stalls. Service was ok. It took a while to get the check and at times our waitress seemed a little confused but it wasn't too bad. read more

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We have loved Padrinos in the past, but we weren't as wowed this last visit. They have made some changes since we had been in and some of those things were great! New booths were much more comfortable and nicer looking. Our biggest disappointment though was that they redid the menu and no longer serve a plate of Carnitas which is my husbands go to order at any Mexican restaurant. The food we did order was tasty but we were left disappointed by the lack of a carnitas plate. They do have great specials throughout the week, so may have to check out $3 marg day! Service felt a little shaky but everyone was very kind and the food came out quickly! read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Burro Padrinos - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Love Padrino's! The food is tasty and they have a great happy hour! They also are open late on the weekends so if you are looking for somewhere n grand that doesn't close by 10pm, go here! I think they close at 1:30am. They also do karaoke and have other fun events during the week and weekend so check it out. The margaritas are big and yummy, perfect with their diverse Mexican menu. Check out the mango chili wings which are great! The service is great, never had a bad server here. They also give good recommendations. The server suggested the shrimp fajita quesadilla and it was yummy! read more

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Absolutely disgusting would never recommend 0/10!! Birria was soggy and meat was fatty and shrimp tacos came with 2 shrimp heavy loaded with tomatoes. I'd rather eat McDonald than this read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - By far the NASTIEST Mexican I've ever had. Birria served on regular tortilla bread & just soggy. I'd rather ate Arby's! - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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The service was good. The salsa was mid at best The tortillas were not better than mission from the grocery store The vegetarian tacos were HORRIBLE. Plancha warmed frozen veggies that were rancid. The cauliflower had to be spit out. The pineapple was rancid as well. Beyond the fact it wasn't sweet - it is dec after all - it tasted spoiled. And they weren't knowledgeable about whether the rice (which must come from a bag or frozen) had butter in it or not. Like ... clearly nothing is scratch made in this place. HOWEVER the people behind us were grubbing. They loved it. So maybe they never make veggies and the meat is fresher? So not pass go. Find somewhere else read more

Came for dinner on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was half full when I arrived. When I left, almost every table was taken. It was a lively atmosphere and people were enjoying their meals. One downside is that it gets very loud and hard to have a conversation with the people at your table. For having only two servers that also bartended, they did a great job attending to our table. The complimentary chips and salsa were outstanding! Thin crispy tortilla chips and tasty salsa with a little kick. We devoured it quiet quickly and the waitress was happy to replenish our supply. House Margarita Jalapeño (on the rocks) $6 - Refreshing, served in a cute thick margarita glass with slices of fresh jalapeños. Draft beer Modelo Especial (large) $6.50 - Served in a huge mug. I can skip bicep day at the gym after one round of beer here. Great deal for the price! El Padrino $15 - Taco (choice of ground beef or chicken), enchilada, and chile relleno with a side of rice and refried beans. The sauce on the enchilada reminded me of chef boyardee sauce, in a good way. I like that not everything was drowning in sauce and cheese. When we got the check, I appreciated the clearly stated discount offer for paying by cash vs 3.5% surcharge if using a credit card. Street parking was easy. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2024 read more

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Their chips are incredibly thick and the refried beans have been on the stove for so long that they are dried out and chunky. If you want real Mexican food just up the street is a much better Mexican restaurant. read more

Taco Tuesday special $2 tacos. The restaurant offers outdoor seating. Upon entry we were greeted with our waiter Karla who provided Incredible service along with other staff members. Shortly after sitting the chips and house salsa arrived followed by the incredible queso dip. The chips were nice and crunchy..we added a bit more salt. My lime margarita was tasty and I would get a large next time. We ordered Pollo Ranchero which is chicken, queso, & rice with side offering. Incredible way to build your own taco with 3 tortillas of your choice.We also ordered Tacos de Asada (pork tacos) w/ rice and beans. Wow...the flavor on the pork was immaculate! Followed with two Al pastor tacos. The amount of pineapple inside was incredible! Definitely a must have in my opinion!!!! read more

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This is a delicious Hispanic restaurant that is sure to not disappoint, especially for the great price. Large place, great feel, impeccable decor, and will be sure to leave you full and happy for everyone in the family. The staff is also delightful and sincere! read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Located on South Grand in Tower Grove, is Padrinos in case you're craving some authentic Mexican cuisine with a kick. In Spanish, Padrinos means "godparents" which signifies love, passion, and commitment. The ambiance is bright and colorful and the menu boasts many classics! If you're a fan of heat, the Shrimp Al Diabla is a must-try. Be prepared for that spicy explosion of flavor though. Here is your 2nd warning: the portions here are no joke, so bring your appetite. Behind the scenes, these chef artists are led by Christina Robles, Enrique Robles, and Ciro Trapala. They have roots spanning from Veracruz to Mexico City thereby providing us with diverse authentic Mexican flavors. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Last night was a disaster... we waited 1 hour for our food this never happens to us when we go inside but that night was just not the night for them . The food was coming out brunt and getting sent back multiple times , while all the big tables got there food first and we were still waiting for ours & on top of that the cook in the back was drunk and messing up orders which took more time to get out food. The servers were amazing , but the female owner was drinking on the clock and not helping the employees who needed help running orders out and greeting guest. I will not go back if my favorite employee widow isnt working there because she was holding it together the best she could that night. read more

The restaurant is very casual and clean. Our server was very nice. They were playing great music when we came in. Food: Guacamole - not good at all. Tacos - really good, we all ended up ordering tacos. Chile relleno - usually good but they were out of that. Tamal - usually good but they were out of that too. read more

My experience last night was atrocious. We waited for our food for over an hour. The chef was drunk and constantly messing up orders. The female owner was also drinking on the job and not being much help to the rest of the staff. Our servers at the bar were excellent and were the only ones trying to get us our food and holding the place together. The owner's lack of urgency and care was apparent and we were incredibly disappointed. We ended up leaving with empty stomachs. read more

What happened?!!!! This was our favorite Mexican restaurant! The portions shrunk and the quality of the food is below standards at best. Even my grandkids (not exactly "foodies") thought this was so awful to be almost funny. We got a good laugh out of it. read more

I heard about Padrinos from a Yelp event. Since I couldn't go, wanted to give it a try on my own at least. I walked in on a Friday evening just before 6pm. It was rather empty. The person at the hostess stand just looked at me, no greeting, so I said "just me for dinner". She asked if I wanted the bar then, so I complied. I don't mind the bar most of the time when I'm eating alone. Being my first visit, I took a few moments to review the drink and food menus. The bartender was more friendly than the hostess/greeter, but also more interested in her phone than patrons or orders. Granted, there was only one guest at the bar and one table in service. She did bring me salsa and chips. The chips are store bought thick corn tortilla chips and plain (no salt and not even heated). They don't have a great flavor- edging on a stale taste. I ordered a medium house margarita with no salt and a chicken chimichanga. The margarita was made to my request, but was just mix and I make better at home in all honesty. The plate came out quickly. I cut into the middle of the chimichanga to take my Yelp photo and let steam out. Beef and no steam so it wasn't even hot. It was ground beef lime taco meat repurposed. I'm allergic to beef. I had to flag the bartender and she started speaking in another language to another staff member and they argued in front of me while the bartender was pouting at the computer screen (presumably my order ‍). The bartender took the plate away, and apologized. I asked for another set of cutlery and mentioned being allergic to beef. She did bring me new cutlery. The new chimichanga came out faster than the first. Plate and chimichanga hot, shredded chicken. I ate it all, not finishing the margarita as it wasn't good. The chimichanga was decent- the saving grace for this review. Will I return? No read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Went for dinner on a weekday night. We've been here before but for the South Grand bar hop last year and only had the chips and salsa but remember really liking them. The food was generally good. The chips and salsa were as I remembered, very good . The spinach enchiladas were a little salty. The service was okay. BF ordered Chardonnay which is irregular at a Mexican spot but it was on the drink menu. They didn't have any. We asked for extra napkins when the food was brought to the table and finally got them after we were done eating. However, my biggest issue was more the kids running around, who I believe were children of servers. I'm not ignorant to costs of childcare but they shouldn't be allowed to run around. There was a guy playing live music, he was good. read more

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Occupying 1/2 of the former Mangia space, Padrinos has really become a nice addition to the S. Grand strip. They have good happy hour specials and a limited but still very welcome late night menu on the weekend. It's the only Mexican restaurant around that you can still get any kind of food so late and it's nice to have the option. On Friday and Saturday nights, they host karaoke and DJs , so depending on the band or event, it can be very loud. I love that I can stop in and get a mug of beer along with my chips and salsa too!! Thanks for being pretty great, Padrinos! read more

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Evenings are okay, but I don't recommend daytime. I feel really bad that it's busy and there is just one person who is having to be hostess, bartender and server all at once. This led to orders not being correct, long periods of dryness between drinks and us feeling like we were being a bother by asking for drinks and boxes and our bill. Our previous two times here in early evening went much better. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I stopped in and enjoyed a very nice lunch. The space gives a traditional Mexican restaurant vibe. The staff were friendly and helpful with the menu. My go-to is always tacos Al pastor. The meat was tender and flavorful with sweet chunks of pineapple. The corn tortilla had a nice crisp bite and held up well with the ingredients. The Mexican rice was exactly how I remember from the taco shops I frequented when I lived in So-Cal. I prefer a very thin tortilla chip so these were just ok in my opinion. The salsa was nice and had the perfect balance of flavor and heat. The margarita was my favorite part of the meal. I went with a watermelon and jalapeño. The perfect balance of sweet and spicy!! If you're in the area this is a great spot for lunch. It looks like they host a very nice happy hour Monday-Thursday. I will have to stop back by to check it out!! read more

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Service was great, everyone was really nice. Food was also very good but expensive compared to some Mexican restaurants around. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Came here with trade last night and had an eh time. That's trades fault not this place, I got two chicken enchiladas with rice and beans like a #realbitch. I also ordered a Paloma but like most places they don't have "an ingredient" what's wrong with grapefruit juice :/ anywayssss I got a cucumber marg and that was soy good! They also have women working here so you know service it better, thank you for keeping the men in the back! This place is def not queer but still rec read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Girl read my review - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Taco Tuesday was LIT! food fire, music on point, & service great!! Come with your friends for a great time!!

I used to come here all the time in 2023 great affordable Mexican. I will say over the the years food quality has gone down, servers are always nice, but there seems to be staffing issues. This restaraunt isn't quite the same as it used to be. read more

Update: The owner personally checked in on us and made sure we got our correct orders. The attentiveness is so important and I really appreciate her making store we have a good experience. Our entrees came out as expected, and the black beans are delicious! Came here for a Yelp event. Was initially excited to explore a new restaurant. Unfortunately we met by relatively disinterested waitress. She was overall quite slow and refilling, our salsa and chips, and was overall not pleased with us being part of the Yelp event. There was also a hair in our salsa that had to be sent back. read more

The food was SOOO GOOD I give the food a 14/10 The service is so nice I went at a REALLY busy time but I still got my food on time and my waitress was the best waitress I have ever had This was an amazing experience and I'm glad going back soon read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Taco Salad - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Amazing food, amazing service. Such a family feel here and GREAT drinks. The Paloma was one of the best I've ever had. The fajita was such a great portion size - took home leftovers and got 2 more portions of of it. The taco fajita bowl had the addition of extra veggies, well seasoned, and the fluffy taco. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Fajita platter - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Very disappointing, was there for my daughters 34th day party. The food was not good, the drinks tasted watered down. It took forever to get our food and for what we were charged for extras was outrageous. We made the best of it, but never again. A hundred and twenty bucks for nothing, I did give the waitress a tip, she looked over worked and didn't have much help. The guy in the back was on his phone while she was hustling and bustling. read more

First time visiting Padrinos and what a treat. A nice causal Mexican restaurant close to downtown St. Louis. Padrinos offers the usual dishes you expect to find but we heard about the margaritas, which brought us today. Margaritas come in various sizes and flavors and you'll be surprised at how delicious Padrinos makes them. Chips and salsa were fresh and spicy, which is a positive. We ordered the birria tacos and a combination plate. Service didn't take long and both dishes were very good. Only drawback was no consommé for the tacos (Au jus), bit tacos were delicious without it. Restaurant was clean and tables were serviced promptly when needed. Padrinos had a excellent playlist of Latin music, which added to a great experience. read more

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The margs are huge!! I got a small strawberry margarita and my boyfriend got a medium lime. Complimentary chips and salsa and amazing service. We ordered a Shrimp Quesadilla and burrito and both were so filling, we left full and with leftovers. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - strawberry and lime margarita - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Just moved down the street from this place and have visited it three times now. The chicken nachos are some of the best I've ever had. Margaritas are very yummy and all the food I've had so far has been really delicious. I've had some enchiladas and some tacos and some quesadillas and all of them. I've been really good. Definitely a good place to bring friends for a dinner out or even a date night on a taco Tuesday. You got a check this place out on South grand right next to Steve 's hot dogs. read more

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holy mackerel that burrito is bigger than my head. great flavors, but it's so big it's hard to eat. I had to cut it up to all hell to just get a well portioned bite. not mad at it though. tasted great. would eat again read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Shrimp Burrito - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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As an online entertainment and food critic I try to be as honest and fair as possible. I will tell the bad with the good. We were at Padrinos Mexican Restaurant for the first time. The Margaritas were quite good and not overly alcohol tasting. We had a Peach, a Lime, and a Strawberry Margarita. They were flavorful, fruity, refreshing, and perfect in my taste. The obligatory "tortilla chips and dip" were, I'm sorry to say, very weak. Had the consistency and taste of a store bought or institutional chip. Their queso dip was runny and again, very institutional "out of a can" taste and consistency. While many Mexican restaurants do house make their own chips and dips, I feel they could have been better. The chicken chimichanga was good. Plenty of pulled chicken, good cheese dip that wasn't drenched in it. Plenty of lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, and refried beans on the side that had a nice explosion of flavor. The marinated pork with pineapple tacos on the corn tortilla was very weak. Nothing about it was good. The pork seemed over cooked, maybe a little dry. The corn tortilla had a grainy consistency to it. Look, restaurants are very expensive today. The bar keeps getting raised. Padrinos is certainly NOT a destination restaurant. It's nothing more than a little neighborhood storefront restaurant offering fair Mexican food. The service was good, the ambience is what it is, just a quick in and out neighborhood restaurant. Certainly not a place I would think about going again. Not with much better Mexican restaurants spread all over St Louis. read more

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South Grand stop for a standard selection of Mexican fare. Enjoyed lunchtime tacos. Chips and salsa served at the table. Will say the salsa was some of the best ever! Service friendly and helpful. Very casual dining but you won't be disappointed with a visit read more

My bf and I love this place and come often!!! I've had several things on the menu and everything has been very good. This time, I tried the raspberry margarita and it is my new favorite! The service is always great and food and drink comes out fairly quickly. We will always recommend Padrinos! read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Raspberry margarita - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Good food, good service and generous portions. The birria tacos and salad bowls are my favorites. read more

In preparation of leaving Saint Louis, I've made it a point to try every restaurant on South Grand. Padrinos was my first stop. First and foremost, the staff was amazing! Warm, attentive, and accommodating. The house chips and salsa were on point...nice flavor and just chunky enough. I had the enchiladas verdes (two enchiladas with shredded chicken topped with green sauce and sour cream. Rice and refried beans served on the side.) The sauce was a little too sweet for my taste and chicken was overcooked and dry. The refried beans were a little bland (would have loved if it was creamier.) All in all, the dish was great, but it wasn't terrible at all. Since I have several restaurants to try, I'm not sure that this encounter would entice me to come back and try Padrinos again. read more

Padrinos Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas verdes - Mexican Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Great food, drinks, and exceptional service! They have lots of delicious vegetarian options! Their house margaritas are strong and cold. They also have specials & elevated premium margaritas and drinks. There's bottled and tap beer. On Thursdays, they have open mic night / karaoke Fridays, it's karaoke. Saturdays - live music / DJ. They have happy hour specials as well as daily deals! Why not stop by for a bite or a beverage (or more!) read more

Overall, with the take on the menu, I would say yo expect normal fare at a standard American Mexican restaurant - just better in every way. The chips are always fresh, the salsa actually has spice, the corn tortillas are soft. Everything you could want. The reason I keep going back is because they have the best carnitas plate I've ever had. Seriously, that pork is killer. They also have nightly drink specials and live music often. read more

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Sunday Margs were great! The house salsa is excellent, a bit more green than red, not spicy but full of flavor. We had the chicken fajita nachos and they were the best! Served super hot grilled veggies with the cheese and chips. Service was impeccable. read more

A friend and I decided to eat here pre Muny. Was sat immediately at the bar. For some odd reason they had live music at six pm it was a bit loud as there were less ten people in the whole place. The decor was fun and friendly. Think more family friendly. The menu was the generic Mexican fare you find anywhere. Our server was less than enthusiastic about offering suggestion on anything. The food came quickly and was lukewarm and lacking any seasoning. So if you are into flavorless food or your doctor has you on a bland diet, go for it. read more