nice everything margs are great heavy pours regulars are friendly Ilene is best bartender in the world read more

Finally got to Ponak's for dinner last Saturday and overall must say I was disappointed. We thought we were getting there on the early side (4:30) but it was already packed. Typically a very good sign. We out our names in (party of 5) and were told 40-45 minutes to a table. That was reasonable given the size of the crowd already waiting. Well 1 hour and 40 minutes later we got a table. That is nuts, as there were empty tables in the dining room. Wasn't sure if this was due to limited staffing or capacity of the small kitchen (those cooks were working their tails off. We did have a couple pitchers of margs and I will say that they met the reputation they have. They were good. The service was ok, but a little slow to finally take our orders. We had mostly al a carte items and I had the al pastor tacos. Have to say the food was rather meh. Not much flavor to it at all. Tacos not even close to most of the good Mexican restaurants in KC. Giving three stars for drinks and that it is a fun place. Enjoy the experience, but don't expect great TexMex. Just ok stuff. read more

I went out with a couple coworkers for a little birthday gathering! I want to say that parking is very limited and super confusing. Its located in the back of the restaurant but no one really knows which way they're going, including myself. Our waitress wasn't the most pleasant. I tried placing my order as well as a to-go order, in which she cut me off in the middle of my sentence and stated she'd take my to go order when she came back to deliver our food. Needless to say, she never asked me for my to go order, which worked out in the end as I wasn't the most impressed with their food. The salsa was very watery, almost tomato saucey. I ordered a tostada, which had beans, tomatoes, lettuce and I suppose Colby jack shredded cheese? As someone who's from California and and grew up on authentic street tacos and Mexican food my entire life, this definitely didn't hit the spot. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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BEST. MARGARITA. EVER. I found love in the form of tequila. From the very first sip, I knew I had found something special. I asked for a skinny marg, but was told that they don't use simple syrup in their margs, which honestly makes all the difference. The flavors were bright and fresh without being overly sweet, and I could definitely taste the tequila! Don't let the appearance fool you, this little glass packs a punch! If you are a true marg lover, you NEED to come here and experience this for yourself. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Margarita with salted rim - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Good food and drinks. Average service. I like the chili renello. Prices are fair. Great for late night "4th meal"!

This is the epitome of "sloppy tex-mex". I do not understand nor will I ever wrap my head around people that eat here. Ponak's is an ancient staple in Kansas City that will always blow my mind how they remain open. There is nothing upscale about this place. Plan to step on food on the floor when you are taken to your table. The entire place has a stench and the servers are rude. The menu remains unchanged. No matter what you order, it's floating in greasy beans and rice and 100% of the plates go through a microwave. Everything tastes the same. The meat is dry and obviously pre-cooked from Sysco. Just absolutely a disappointment all the way around. How they manage to keep their doors open is unbelievable. It isn't safe after dark to be around their building. Their parking lot is not well lit, full of potholes, and there's always a few odd people lurking around parked cars. read more

Ponak's is numero uno of Margaritas! Been coming here a long time and still the best. My favorite which I order every time is number 4, pork slow marinated in a red sauce served with refried beans and corn tortilla, 86 everything except the pork. No pictures as there are enuf on Yelp. Mmmmmmmm read more

Service was excellent! I really enjoy dining here. The chips and salsa are always kept full, which I love. The tacos were tasty and flavorful, though the burrito felt a bit too heavy for me. Overall, it's a classic Mexican restaurant worth visiting! read more

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Great vibes, but not the biggest fan of the food. I'm from San Antonio so I might be a harder critic when it comes to Tex-mex food. The waiter was so nice and friendly! Service was amazing. This is probably a spot I would just go to for some inexpensive margaritas and an app vs a full meal. A lot of our Kansas friends love this place, it is a historical spot. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - A Choice Pork Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

LOVED my pork burrito as part of their #5 Dinner Special. The tostada and enchilada that came with it were both lackluster. Will try a la carte next time. Tasted my wife's chicken flauta and it was above average as well. Solid refrieds, bland rice. Tasty and full-strength margs. Service was not the best yet not enough to overshadow all the positives. Will be back! read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - #5 Dinner Special (Our Pork Burrito, Enchilada And Tostada) - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Big US style Mexican food. Awesome food ! Packed during meal times, expect a wait on weekends

Tonight was my last visit to Ponak's - and, I'm a lifelong resident and former fan. I really want to like it, but the food and plates were room temp, the salsa was like a can of plain tomato sauce, the queso was chalky, the chips tasted like bagged ones, the staff seemed overextended, but worst of all was the sewer stench from the restrooms. I've noticed this on previous visits, and it always made me lose my appetite. Tonight, I smelled it at our table on the other side of the room. I couldn't wait to get out of there. $100+ later - really disgusting and disappointing. What was a KC tradition with a great reputation in my youth, needs a lot of improvements. Also, no music?? read more

Very good. Go the a La carte enchiladas. Got a pitcher of margs which was great and so was the guac. Bathroom had a really funky smell but besides that it was great. Will definitely come back. read more

This place is pretty darn good!! Several local friends told us to try it and that they loved it. We went on Father's Day, so there was a bit of a wait. But it was worth it. Our lovely server, Courtney, let us try both kinds of cheese dip, the white and the yellow. I liked the latter and my wife liked the former better. Both were good. The salsa was super mild and pretty bland (the red one) but the green one was dang hot. It let me know I was alive. WOW! Loved it! It was too spicy for my wife, but I thought it rocked. Courtney kept our water glasses full and my soda refilled. She was great. I had a cheese enchilada with onions. My wife and I shared a #2 with a pork burrito (she ate most of that) and I had the beef taco and the tostada. She ate the rice, which was a little bland. I ate the beans, which were a little bland. I added some salt and green salsa and then the beans kicked butt. I had asked for a flour taco with my #2, but got corn. Then I asked for an additional flour taco. I wanted a crunch flour, but got a soft one. So, next time I will ask for the Taco Sonora because I think that's what they call the crunchy flour taco. Ponak's is all right. I dig this place and so did my wife. We'll be back, just maybe not on a major holiday! :) read more

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Cool location and vibe. Service is good and friendly. HIGHLY RECOMMEND: pitcher of house margaritas!! Soooooo good! Trust me; if you love margaritas this will be your place to get them! We have been a few times and enjoy the white queso and regular tacos. Tried many items and the food is good but the drinks are amazing. read more

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Authentic (?), fun, and fast Tex-Mex hole-in-the-wall. I was taken here by a local, or else I probably never would've thought to come here! Service was great, as were the food options: all of which were wickedly cheap and handsomely portioned...just as one expects at a good TexMexy eatery! read more

Southwest Boulevard has a lot of Mexican restaurants and this was my first time trying Ponak's. It definitely delivered. Delicious Food and Amazing Guacamole. Restaurant is a decent size and our server was wonderful. I had the Number 4 which consisted Large chunks of chile pork in red sauce, served with flour tortillas. I also had a beef taco. It came with beans and rice. The pork was melt in your mouth tender and amazing. The tacos were stuffed with ground beef and ton of shredded cheese on top. Food is served on hot plates I recommend you trying it out and I will definitely be back. 5 Stars read more

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Ponak's has been a stable for many years. Took some friends after having not been here for quit a while. The food didn't disappoint and the margaritas were as delicious as ever. Food came out very quickly and was a large portion. I ended up with two meals out of it. Server was fast to refill waters and check up on table. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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This was recommended by a local for us to try. They said it was great food, a cool old building by the train tracks with the best sneaky margaritas! And boy was he right! This place was amazing. You can usually tell a how good a place is based on how long people are willing to wait and get a seat...but this crowded little place is like none other. While you wait to get your table you hang out in the crowded bar watching football and slamming some of the most delicious margaritas I have ever had. And not your typical margarita from a machine either. These are clear. Fresh tequila mixed with just the right amount of ingredients to give you a crisp, refreshing taste that definitely will sneak up on you. Now to the food. Chips and salsa were fresh and delicious while we waited for our entree. Our server kept them coming and the margaritas flowing! Once the main course came out it was spectacular, with fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and hearty portions. So much food we had to take some home with us for lunch tomorrow. Overall, it was a great stop, in a cool historic building, with great vibes, amazing service, good drinks and excellent food! I would highly recommend to locals or those traveling through looking for excellent Mexican food! Was unique enough that it didn't taste like every other Mexican restaurant I had been to, especially the drinks! Only draw back is parking, so get creative and don't be afraid to circle around until a spot opens up for you!!! read more

It was the whitest "Mexican" food I've ever had. Taco Bell is more authentic. Try literally anywhere else and you'll have a better meal.

Great food and the margaritas are top notch! We had the tacos and tostada. The portions are huge so you definitely get your moneys worth! You'll want to have an early dinner here on the weekends because it gets very crowded fast! Also watch out for the margaritas...they'll sneak up on you! Enjoy! read more

The experience in the restaurant was very nice. There were decorations for the season! It gave off a bar and grill vibe. Though, parking is a bit limited and awkward, so make sure you get there a bit earlier to find a spot. Their food was delicious! I had the fresh fish tacos and they were not the typical battered fish tacos that many other restaurants serve. Along with the rice and beans, it was a very filling meal. For the price and the portion sizes of the food, it was an overall inexpensive meal. We came in right at opening and it got pretty busy during lunch time. Despite the rush, our server was consistent and checked in with us throughout our meal! The food also came out pretty quickly considering the rush. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Fresh Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

The food is always great and they give you big portions. I always have trouble finishing mine. The mini margarita picture are the best. read more

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Great good, great service, good vibes! The brisket burrito is amazing and the margaritas are mind altering. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Dining room fun - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Best margaritas on the block! Alex is working so hard and makes fire ass drinks! Please come check out! read more

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YUM my favorite Mexican in the area. The entrance is from the back of the parking lot and if busy, can be crowded up front/in bar area while waiting to be seated but once you're sitting it's perfect. Delicious food (I get the #8 special of the chicken chimichanga), good queso and guac, and highly recommend getting a pitcher of their house margaritas (strong but good)! Service is always great here and I always find myself craving Ponaks when I want Mexican. read more

Ok it's Saturday close to noon the place is busy. We asked the bartender about an open table in the bar and we're sassily told to check in over there they would know. However she then came over asked about it, it was someone's table but she sat us in the restaurant. Ok we waited 15 minutes before the bus boy came w chips and tomato sauce it was terrible! No taste! Then 15-20 later finally a man came took our order! No wonder why it's being sold! It used to be the place to go for Mexican food! Not so sure anymore! read more

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I've been going to place for years...ans for me...it's never disappoints. Starting off the picante, verde and chips. I'm a big fan of the green verde - as it has a certain brightness with a backend heat....that just flat out works! The entree components are good to very good. I'm (not) usually a yellow cheese fan in Mexican food. But with their red enchilada sauce and ground beef flavor, the coke together and work well. Whether you have the chips, a taco shell or tostada round - their tortilla products all have a good classic taste. Here's one thing, that is always a constant at this place: You're (not) gonna be lonely or feel alone - this place brings the people in every day...and there are a lot of Ponak fans in KC! read more

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Ponak's on a Friday or Saturday night is a poppin place...let me tell ya! I have taken friends and family there to celebrate birthdays or to have a lively night out. If your hyped up for a good night and want to laugh and enjoy the company of the party your with, Ponak's matches that. The servers are attentive and work very hard (much appreciated). I am the kind of person who avoids chain restaurants like the plague and I have had folks come into town who are pretty much addicted to cooperate America chain restaurants and they come to Ponak's with me they find it wonderful. (Shout out to local business in KC for the time, energy, effort, and passion for providing wonderful restaurants in the community to show that cooperate America cannot be the face of the American food culture.) Downside is the parking. Terrible set up...truly...and the regular red salsa is not even close to satisfying. There fajita quesadilla is BOMB, their mexican rice is some of the best I've had. I wouldn't say this is by any means tex-mex or authentic Mexican cuisine...I feel like its more like an American Mexican flavor (it has hints of both true Mexican cuisine but at the same time a bolder and heavier accent of American influence for sure.) REGARDLESS its DELICIOUS! If you like to drink, it seems as though Ponak's Margaritas are some of the best in KC. "Turnup" A true KC vibe restaurant read more

Not a true Mexican restaurant. We all agreed it was some of the worst food we've ever eaten. The red salsa tasted like straight tomato sauce. The Flauta with chicken had no flavor. Fajita quesadilla was HUGE, but barely any cheese with a ton of peppers and onions to which my daughter had to scoop out. Another dish was a burrito that was suppose to be beans and meat but was described as tasting like a terrible sloppy joe. Overall, the server was a bit rude, never brought us silverware had to find them ourselves, didn't check when drinks needed refilled and had to ask for water when paying the check. Normally we would take our leftovers but we all decided we didn't enjoy it to take home. read more

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Food was excellent and quick to our table after we ordered it! This restaurant is so popular but you may have to wait a minute to be seated. We went on a Saturday at 3pm and had a 20ish minute wait. Luckily the bar is right next to the entrance so you can treat yourself to a great quick marg before your take your seat. Food was delicious. Margs we're east ti drink. Queso was good and creamy read more

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Place is bigger than I thought, clean from what I could see tho bathrooms could use some TLC. Everything from service to food to drinks were just okay. It's not a place I'd choose to go but if someone else suggested it I wouldn't say no. The portions are a decent amount so the prices are reasonable. Recommend the #1 read more

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We usually come here before concerts and did last weekend before before seeing Blake Shelton. We got there around 5:45 on a Saturday and there was about a 45 minute wait. There was a big crowd, there was basketball on so it was not bad at all. We ordered a mini pitcher of margaritas. They didn't seem as strong as they have been in the past, but they were still good. We had the white queso for an appetizer and really liked it. Their main salsa is a little plain and the spicy was too spicy for me, but it tasted amazing mixed. My husband had the taco salad with ground beef and put it on chips. I had beef enchiladas. We are both ready to go back for lunch this weekend. That says a lot because we have a usual favorite Mexican lunch spot for weekends. Maybe this will replace it. read more

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This excellent Mexican restaurant on Southwest Blvd has become a Kansas City tradition since 1975. The style of Mexican food is Sonoran, best known in this country in Arizona. The Sonora region of Mexico is on Mexico's northwester border, so the food style is similar to other border Mex styles, rather than the more diverse interior Mex styles. But there are distinctions between the Sonora style and the more familiar Tex Mex style. For example, Sonora uses more wheat and less corn than Tex Mex and the Sonora flour tortillas are especially good. The restaurant and parking lot tend to become crowded by 5 pm. We arrived at 4 pm, when parking, seating, and serving were easy. Since the parking lot tends to get crowded and tight, it is best to drive from the entrance through the lot to near the end of the lot by the exit before parking your car. Also the entrance is from the back of the restaurant, so you not only will be able to leave the parking lot easily from that location but will be closer to the entrance to the restaurant than if you park near the entrance to the lot. We ordered a la carte. We got the Chili Relleno and the Guacamole Enchilada. Both were excellent. We also got classes of Chardonnay and Red wine, which were priced very reasonably. The restaurant is known for its Margaritas, but we have not tried them (yet). Since we ordered a la carte instead of dinners, we were not provided with rice and beans. If you order the rice and beans, they will provide refried beans and Mexican rice containing chicken stock. They unfortunately do not have black beans. But if you are a vegetarian, you can request plain white rice and pinto beans instead. We did that with takeout food for lunch the next day. The dining room and the bar have no booths and are not upscale in style, but entirely adequate. Because of the negative reviews on Yelp, our expectations were not high. In fact this restaurant considerably exceeded our expectations. Our only suggestion for improvement would be to make available black beans as an option. We will be back. read more

Endless chips and salsa? Count me in! Huge portion and great price. Kinda hesitant to check this place out after reading so many bad reviews. But I am glad I went. The place was busy on a Thursday night at 6:00pm ! Food was pretty standard. Service was great. A lot of bad reviews on the parking situation. We didn't have any trouble. I am not a huge tex-max fan, but I wouldn't mind coming back here to try other items on the menu read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Fajitas Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We've eaten an Ponak's many times over the years and never left a review. Now that I'm retired, we dine at non-peak times so parking is easy, there is no wait,and the staff has time to engage with you. This joint is a KC institution so those people who complain about parking and wait time are really just saying how popular it is and how loyal the customers remain. I agree with others that the margaritas are good, you can taste the tequila and lime without the sticky sweetness you get at other places. Be sure to get some of the green salsa. Mix it with your red sauce to spice it up. Eat it with your food. The tacos are full of seasoned ground beef. Very filling. The tamales and burritos are full of very lean and tender pork. (Add green salsa). Their cheese and onion enchiladas are my favorite. Lots of shredded and melted cheese and most of us like that. (Old timers with think of Patricio's.). The rice has small amounts of tiny corn, peas, and carrots which I enjoy. That and the lettuce are the only veggies on my plate. There are lots of good Mexican restaurants in KC and Ponak's is definitely in our rotation. We enjoyed our food and the service was good. read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - This is the #2 dinner, no pun intended. It has a burrito, taco, tostada, rice, and refried beans. - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Many'O Mexican When you're bombarded with so many bomb Mexican restaurant on the boulevard it's hard to fall head over heels for tex-mex such as Ponak's. Often overly crowded for no apparent reason, other than decent prices of pitchers and half pitchers of margaritas, the overtly colorful outside of Ponak's must draw the customers in. But, once seated inside or on the almost never in use patio, you are greeted with a little unique treat of jalapeño salsa that is super spicy and a great addition to any meal since most dishes tend to be on the mild side. My tried and true order is usually the number 14 which consists of two shredded lean mostly white meat chicken burritos covered in melty savory white cheese sauce alongside rice and beans. It's a go to meal that is super filling, the portion size is huge and the large flour tortillas are stiffed generously with chicken tinga. The enchiladas are also a satisfying meal and the quacamole has always been fresh and in season. Really, no real complaints go to Ponak's, it's just not the most authentic or original Mexican restaurant. read more

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Arguably one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in Kansas City...let's hear a major shoutout to Ponak's! This restaurant is one of the best spots for margaritas that pack a PUNCH! One of my favorite parts of experiencing dinner at Ponak's is the complimentary salsa, because you get to enjoy two kinds of salsa with unbelievably fresh ingredients. This is a great spot for happy hour too! Other top favorites: housemaid queso, guacamole, fajitas, enchiladas, & more! You must add this spot to your KC bucket list! read more

Ponak's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

The atmosphere was nice and the staff were great but the food was sub par. Everything I tried was bland. The food came out hot and fresh but really lacked flavor. read more

Came here unexpectedly on a Saturday day date. We came around 330 or 4, and it was pretty busy, but no wait to be sat. Our server, who I think might also be the manager, convinced us to get a pitcher of skinny margaritas, and we got a side of jalapeños with it. I forgot to get a Pic of the pitcher, but this was one of the BEST skinny margaritas I have ever had!! The flavor was perfect, and it really had a bang to it cause I was definitely tipsy after only like 2 little glasses. Chips and salsa were complementary, which is nice, and I liked the salsa. Our food didn't take too long to come out, and when it did, it was hot and fresh. My date got chicken fajitas minus the peppers, and they made it exactly how he wanted. I got the#1, which comes with a tostada, a taco, 2 enchiladas, and beans and rice. This was a lot of food, and I could have split with someone else, but I definitely had leftovers to bring home. I really enjoyed this place but I will say that where we were sat was pretty crowded, the people at the table behind us were so close it seemed like I could hear their entire conversation. Also I didn't think the bathroom was the cleanest. Other than those 2 things, I had an enjoyable and will come back! read more

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