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    Pancho & Willie's Cantina

    3.8 (360 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Pancho & Willie's Cantina Photos

    PANCHO & WILLIE'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Pancho & Willie's Cantina

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    My mom's no cheese  taco plate done perfectly
    Kathe B.

    Another fabulous date night out at this Sparks institution for 40 years. I remember coming here with my Gram after church when I was a kid, and its still just as delish as it was then. That's something that not many restaurants can say! Great margaritas, friendly service & platters the size of hub caps make for memorable meals! Never had a bad meal here, service is consistent & the portions are massive. Plus, that sweet corn pudding is THE BEST thing to happen to garnishes. Prove me wrong. Gambling, great big plates of good Mexican fusion, and the scenic Marina to walk it off afterwards, what not to like about this E Sparks classic!

    Jordan F.

    What a local gem. I keep coming back to try something new from the menu!!! The complimentary chips and salsa from this restaurant are my favorite. Staff is always pleasant, and drinks are delicious here! Portions are huge, so I always recommend sharing if you don't want to take a bunch of leftovers home. As always, I love the sampler platter because it comes with a little bit of everything!

    Ribeye
    Brittany H.

    Came in on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner for 1. I was seated right away which was nice because sometimes there's a wait. Staff were friendly and extremely attentive and constantly walking around checking on everyone. I ordered the ribeye because I know they have one of if not the best fajitas in the whole city. The ribeye did not disappoint at all. It was cooked perfect, and it was very juicy. It came with a chipotle butter on top that I could've done with out (I like my steak to taste like steak) it wasn't bad, just added a flavor that wasn't needed for a great steak. I chose Spanish rice for my carb and it was good, nothing special. If you know western village you know that majority of their entrees come with seasonal veggies and this time I had squash that was cooked well, not mushy at all. I definitely enjoyed my food. They used to be hit and miss, but whoever they've replaced in the kitchen is doing a great job. I haven't had a ribeye that good in a while, especially an inexpensive one.

    Torta sandwich w steak
    Rob B.

    Five of us went here for dinner on a Thursday night. The place was packed. However, we were promptly seated, and our server arrived shortly thereafter, and took our drink order. He was really pleasant and very nice. I had the torta sandwich with steak. It was huge and delicious. It also came with a hefty serving of rice and beans. I actually took half of it home for another meal. And the chips and salsa were always promptly refilled. We were celebrating a retirement and the server brought over a complementary piece of cheesecake with a candle. The ambience is really nice for a Mexican restaurant. Everything was clean and the service was fabulous. I will definitely go back!

    Guacamole - large
    Alexa K.

    Those of us long-time locals know that sometimes the best restaurants are those hidden in casinos. This restaurant is a staple for Mexican cuisine - and as it currently stands, is one of the best in the area as so many others have gone downhill. We arrived around 5:30 on New Years Day and we were seated at a booth right away with no wait. The restaurant was fairly busy but it is deceiving how large it is inside. The restaurant does not have a smokey smell and is clean. There were Christmas decorations set up and the ambiance was nice. We started off with the chips and salsa with some guacamole as well. Really enjoyed the flavors of both! My husband got the chicken and steak fajitas and I got the combo plate with the chicken enchilada and the pork tamale. The fajitas come out smoking hot and sizzling and my husband couldn't rave enough about them. They come with many sides and the portion really is large enough for two people. I enjoyed my dish as well - the tamale really stood out to me as my favorite. I loved the dough on it - sometimes it's not thick enough when ordered at a restaurant and this was great. We ordered the Sopapillas for dessert and they hit the spot. They are served with a scoop of gelato from the shop next door. It took a while to arrive to our table as compared to how quickly everything else arrived, but it was worth the wait. We enjoyed the experience overall and will be back!

    Gordito platter
    Amy M.

    Poncho and Willie's is always a favorite place for us. Free chips and salsa is always a good start but be careful they are addicting and when your food comes, we always say we shouldn't have eaten so many. The Gordito is my husband's favorite menu item. It comes with 5 different items and rice and beans. Burrito, taco, enchilada, tamale and a Chile Rellano. I really love the steak and shrimp fajitas. Such great portion sizes for the price. The only complaint i had last night was the delay in taking our order. To be fair the server had a lot of tables to attend to but it took almost 20 minutes after we had our drinks for him to come take our order. After that though we had no issues. Drinks were refilled quickly, our food came out in a decent amount of time and the manager comes around and checks on you as well. I always love the ambiance and appreciate that the smoke in the Casino doesn't usually come into the restaurant.

    Inside
    Lisa G.

    We went on a Friday night for some dinner here...I read the portions are really big, so hub and I decided to split a three item combo; ground beef taco, chili verdi, and ground beef enchilada. We ordered two cold beers and they brought a huge basket of chips and a big bowl of salsa. Our waiter was wonderful... our food was ok. The enchilada sauce on the enchilada did not work for me...it would have been better dry...the taco was over stuffed with meat, but was also missing something spice wise...the chili Verdi was very good and very spicy...best part of the meal. The inside area is so beautiful...but the food is just not matching...I really hope it gets better in the future, however I am pretty certain I will not return. Will just go to the Steakhouse instead.

    Tacos al Pastor
    Kirby D.

    Located inside Western Village Casino in Sparks, I was told Pancho and Willies was the place for good Mexican. I will say, I was a bit concerned when we got to the casino, the exterior is a bit weathered but once inside the restaurant, that was another story. Pancho and Willie's is easily the nicest Mexican restaurant, in terms of decor and ambiance, in Reno. I don't know when it was renovated but the place felt clean, new and refreshed. Being from Los Angeles, I judge Mexican Restaurants by the quality of the chips and salsa on offer. Unfortunately the chips were of the mass produced variety and not the freshest, although the salsa was another story. Rich with flavor and all sorts of goodies, the salsa was delicious with just the right amount of kick. Our Latina wait staff added a level of authenticity to the experience. Don't worry, they all spoke perfect english ! But a nice touch none the less. My wife and one other split the Beef and Chicken Fajitas. A beautiful presentation, rich with peppers and onions, the plate looked amazing. I tried the steak, absolutely delicious and flavorful. The chicken was a bit on the dry side, perhaps a bit too long under the warming lights. Now I normally don't rave about the side dishes but the black beans were prepared and presented beautifully. An incredible blend of black beans, corn, onions and tomatoes, then topped with Queso Fresca. A chef's kiss. Our friend ordered the Tacos al Pastor. Five street taco sized tacos, filled with tender pork. The meat was tender and flavorful. Also served with rice and beans. Not feeling overly peckish, I ordered a simple plate of Ground Beef Enchiladas (a la carte). It is often said that if you can't do the simple things well you will never do the special things great. This was definitely true for the Enchiladas. The meat was flavored in a way that was just magic. I can't put my finger on it but the taste was amazing. Wrapped with soft corn tortillas then topped with Enchilada Sauce, then finished with melted cheese. Perfection. If you are looking for good Mexican, Pancho and Willies is definitely work a peek.

    Wow!..
    David O O.

    6/2/2025- We were in the area- and decided to pop in.. Wife and I weren't too hungry- so we split the seafood salad and French fries! Wow! Even the couple across the way commented how large the salad was.. Tons of big shrimp and crab- Although the crab was a little salty- Plenty of veggies with the salad and avocado.. My wife has a love for hot fresh fries and this hit the spot! Plenty to share!..

    Gena M.

    Very delicious. Had the fajita burger and sweet potato fries on the visit. Service was great, no wait, atmosphere was good, no smoke smell for being in a casino.

    Salmon dinner..
    Amy O.

    1/2/24- When I'm offered to not have to cook, I'll take it.. Hubby's choice today. I like how they are open at 4pm.. Best time to dine. Was craving a burger- so I got the fajita burger- Dh went with the salmon.. ( he was eyeballing my burger).. Delish! Service was great and staff was attentive. Glad I got the fajita burger..

    Blackberry Margarita
    Raquel F.

    I love Pancho and Willies for date night. They have the BEST fajitas with a ton of meat . Their blackberry margaritas are to die for!

    Panchorita
    Sandy Y.

    After hearing good things about Panchos & Willies at the Western Village Casino, we decided to stop in on our way home one evening to check it out. Right away, we were seated and quickly brought chips, salsa, and water--a good start! The staff was friendly and efficient. Their menu is on iPads, so you have to scroll through to see all the options. We kicked things off with two Panchorita margaritas, which were a solid choice and a great way to start the meal. For dinner, I ordered the Chicken Nogales Enchiladas, which sounded promising with chicken breast, mushrooms, roasted garlic cream sauce, and cilantro. My husband went for the pork carnitas, ordering them crispy, thinking they'd be crisped on a flat-top--but instead, they were deep-fried. Thankfully, he still enjoyed them, saying they were light and tasty with all the usual toppings. Unfortunately, my enchiladas were a letdown. The dish was mostly cream sauce, with barely any chicken or mushrooms, and the tortillas were limp and soggy. I ended up just picking out the chicken and leaving the rest. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing, but with so many other places to try, I'm not in a hurry to come back. One evening, after hearing great things about Panchos & Willies in the Western Village Casino, we stopped there on our way home

    Carnitas

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    Nice ambiance and service was good. Nice selection on menu. Quality of food was average. There was nothing that made it "special ".

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    4 months ago

    Love coming here. Great prices, massive portions, yummy margs. The decor is so pretty too. We always bring family here when in town!

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    Ask the Community - Pancho & Willie's Cantina

    Mi Pueblo

    Mi Pueblo

    4.8
    (92 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Guess who's back! We…read moreare so happy that they reopened. I missed the amazing appetizers. The seafodd cevice, and those Gadzilla sized burritos and Chimichungas! Excellent tortas! Also great margaritas after a long day at work!

    Came here with my dad, husband, and father in law after a long day of painting our new house. I was…read moreHUNGRY and we each got a burrito with all the fixings. These things are definitely two-meal burritos - which is the whole goal of ordering a massive burrito. The meat in all options was tender and flavorful. My dad is a huge mexican food fan and was asking about specific options. The owner came over and was speaking to him and offered us a free plate of tacos with his newest meat creation! How could we say no?! I really hope he adds this to the menu because it was the most tender, juicy, saucy, flavorful shredded beef I have ever had. 10/10 on the taco scale. My dad even said that it's the best he has ever had and he has travelled all over Mexico! My father in law is also vegan and they were careful to offer him options that matched his medical dietary restrictions. The place is cute with an adorable bar stacked with all the tequilas you could ask for and included an amazing mix of handcrafted cocktails. The habanero margarita is my favorite. This place will definitely do well and welcome to the Reno scene!

    Photos
    Best Torta with Asada. Made my eyes pop like the trucks in Stockton!
    Best Torta with Asada. Made my eyes pop like the trucks in Stockton!
    Asada Torta, immaculate!
    Asada Torta, immaculate!
    Chimichunga, as nigh as three of my fists. Packed with flavor.

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    Chimichunga, as nigh as three of my fists. Packed with flavor.
    Los 4 Vientos Carniceria

    Los 4 Vientos Carniceria

    4.9
    (8 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Team lunch today was provided by the fine folks at Carniceria Cuatro Vientos. I ordered a taco…read moreheart platter for 20 tacos (4 chorizo, 4 carnitas, 4 al pastor, 4 steak, and 4 chicken). The platter came with toppings and salsas. At $70 with tax it was about $3.50 a taco. The carniceria itself is fantastic and had all your basic needs! When I walked in they were already prepared with my taco platter. The staff were friendly and efficient. I am excited to come back to pick up some meat!!

    $2 tacos?! Heck yeah!. This little neighborhood mexican meat market that has an array of…read morepre-marinated meats and a small selection of fresh produce. They do have a large selection of Mexican drinks and snacks. I came here for the advertised $2 tacos that's posted on the window. The tacos are on the smaller size than most are used to, but don't let that fool you. They pack it with meat that falls out with every bite. I tried the asada, pastor, chorizo and the taco Guadalajara. As Guy Fieri would say "flavor town" in every bite, I was not disappointed. They also give you sauces in small containers which is much more sanitary than the ones that sit out with a ladle. I came in early on a Tuesday and sadly a lot of the tacos meats we wanted to try, they ran out. But Tues and Thursday is when they get shipments in so usually later on in the day they are able to offer all the meats. This also tells you they keep things freshly stocked often. I'm a fan and I'll be back.

    Photos
    Los 4 Vientos Carniceria
    ToGo Chorizo Taco, Sudadero Taco, Cabeza Taco
    ToGo Chorizo Taco, Sudadero Taco, Cabeza Taco
    2 dollar tacos!!!!

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    2 dollar tacos!!!!
    Taqueria El Taconazo

    Taqueria El Taconazo

    3.8
    (196 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    My friend recommended this place since she works next door and I was pleasantly surprised with how…read moreamazing the food is! I got 4 street tacos at $2.50 each they were $10 of the fastest and well prepared tacos I've found anywhere outside of Tijuana! I got buche, carnitas, asada, and al pastor. Each one was amazing, so juicy. I also had the piña agua fresca in a large and that was also yummy. Not too sweet. The couple things I'd recommend is; a better salsa bar. They give you squeeze bottles of green, dark red and light red salsas but I like picking my own along with limes and they didn't have pickled jalapeño, onions or carrots. They recently added outdoor seating with cement and tile tables/chairs but in the summer it's too hot. So I Highly recommend getting umbrellas or shade sails for people to enjoy it outside. Also some music, it was pretty dead inside at 3p on a Friday and they had the Latino news on. Overall, great experience and the staff were friendly but closed off behind the agua fresca machines and empty salsa bar.

    This is definitely my favorite burrito joint! Unfortunately, I was a bit bummed on my visit today…read more Before covid, burritos were about $6. Since then they have gone up to about $10. I completely understand inflation. However, it went up and got way smaller. I went by today and the burrito was so small and had no avocado. I was there on Sunday and the burrito was small but today it was crazy small! I don't know if it has to do with who is making them. The gentlemen that work there tend to be very nice and have great aguas frescas. I just wish the quantity was still the same...

    Photos
    Taqueria El Taconazo
    3 carne asada and 1 tripas tacos
    3 carne asada and 1 tripas tacos
    Taqueria El Taconazo

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    Pancho & Willie's Cantina - mexican - Updated July 2026

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