The entrance to this unassuming spot feels almost deliberately off-putting at first--plain facade,…read morea sign directing you to a side door that leads straight through an attached market. It's a clever (or perhaps just pragmatic) setup; that market itself is a gem, stocked with an impressive array of authentic Spanish and Mexican goods. We'll definitely return for provisions alone. Inside the dining room, the space is spotless if somewhat dated--simple, no-frills decor that prioritizes function over flair. Our server was cheerful and energetic, a bright presence, though service proved inconsistent; she largely vanished after taking our order, leaving us to wait an inexplicable 30-plus minutes for food despite only two other tables occupied. When plates finally arrived, the portions were strikingly generous, almost comically so for the price point. We began with the complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa carried decent freshness and a mild kick, but it wanted for seasoning--more salt, a bolder hit of garlic and cumin would have elevated it from passable to memorable. No refills appeared, which felt stingy given the "free" promise. The horchata, however, shone: creamy, deeply flavored with cinnamon and vanilla notes, refreshingly cool and well-balanced--one of the better versions I've encountered recently. The carnitas dinner plate delivered on volume: a mountain of moist, crisped pork that had all the textural appeal one hopes for--tender interior, satisfying crunch on the edges--yet it arrived curiously underseasoned, lacking the salty, savory depth that should define the dish. Homemade refried beans were a highlight: smooth, flavorful, clearly made in-house with real care. The Mexican rice held good seasoning too, though it verged on dry. Steak fajitas followed the same pattern--giant heaps tender strips of beef and soft, well-cooked vegetables in generous heaps, but again, flavor felt muted, as if the seasoning hand had been unusually light. It's puzzling: everything executed competently, meats tender, produce fresh, yet the palate kept searching for that missing punch of spice, acid, or salt. No where else in COLGA gives this much steak, so very grateful. The shrimp cocktail appetizer (small portion) justified its price through quality ingredients--clean, plump shrimp in a classic tomato-based sauce--but it was straightforward, nothing transcendent. The queso fundido with chorizo fared far better: authentic, house-made chorizo with real spice and depth, melded into creamy, stretchy queso that felt genuinely homemade and deeply satisfying. Desserts redeemed much of the meal. The tres leches cake was textbook--moist without being soggy, richly soaked in the three milks, properly sweet and authentic in texture. The chocoflan, though, was the standout: flawless layering, silky flan with just the right caramel note, dense chocolate cake beneath, executed with evident skill and genuine flavor. In the end, this place offers undeniable value through abundance and some authentic touches (those beans, the queso, the desserts), alongside a market worth the trip alone. But the persistent lack of seasoning across the savory dishes left the experience feeling curiously flat. It's hard to muster enthusiasm for a return meal when so much potential goes unseasoned. Still, another visit to explore different menu items isn't out of the question--perhaps the kitchen's bolder preparations will hit the mark. For now, it's a solid neighborhood option for quantity and certain homemade elements, but one that needs more confidence behind the seasoning to truly impress.

Amazing service, authentic mexican food, everyone loved their food!! Also connected to their market…read morewith all kinds of stuff to take home!

This restaurant is a long-time favorite. The food is some of the best Tex-Mex in Columbus, and the…read morestaff is always super-friendly. An additional plus is that the restaurant has more seating than many places so there's never a long wait for a table. Prices are also very reasonable. I recommend the Luncheon Rapido (aka Speedy Gonzales at many restaurants) special, which includes my favorite things at a great price.

Monday noon. Four of us were able to get a table easily. Maybe less than half of booth/table were…read morefull. Got the Coco's Salad with chicken - $15.25. I was expecting more vegetables than meat as it is a salad dish but it was more of a meat dish and side of vegetables. Seasoned/marinated chicken was good and went well with the vegetables. Nothing outstanding but nothing that made the taste bad either.

I recently visited El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant and had an okay experience overall. Being from…read moreCalifornia, I'm used to really fresh, authentic Mexican food, so this felt more like a typical Americanized version. A lot of the dishes were covered in heavy sauces, which kind of took away from the freshness and simplicity that I personally love in Mexican cuisine. It wasn't bad by any means, just not quite what I'm used to. That said, I'm not complaining too much because the margaritas were great (as they usually are at places like this). If you're looking for a casual spot with good drinks, it still does the job.

Service was amazing. Waiter greeted us very quickly and had our waters out almost immediately and…read morehe kept them refilled. The strawberry margarita was delicious. The food was decent but definitely missing that authentic Mexican spice. The guacamole was a little disappointing. It tasted ok but was more of a paste and I just prefer a chunkier guacamole. We have eaten here several times and never left disappointed. We wish we lived closer so we could visit more.

Pupusas were on point and a great size. I have been wondering where to get them and now I found my…read morespot. Good stuff.

The bread is good, however, I got a burrito that seemed to be frozen from a month ago! That gave me…read morestomach issues for two days. Not fresh Hispanic food is the worst possible experience. (And the smallest burrito in town too) The bread is good, but I will never eat there.

The food was really good here the service was wonderful. The ladies kept coming back to ask if we…read morewere doing fine. Definitely going back to visit soon!!

This was my first time back in quiet a while. I used to love it…read more The service was great. The food was OK, partly that was on me for coming in the evening. There weren't enough customers to keep things fresh. The big disappointment was that it is no longer AYCE or a buffet. It's a pay by the pound and served cafeteria style. I'm glad I went but I won't be back.

The food was amazing. We got the lunch birria tacos . The staff were very nice. Clean bathrooms.read more

Would not know restaurant unless I looked it up there's hardly any sign or any sort of…read moreidentification on the outside little awkward to get seated, even though it wasn't busy there was only one other table the downfall of this was the salsa was absolutely horrible tasted like tomato soup for some reason it did not taste like salsa at all. The chips were cold and not salted now to the best part ordered the birria tacos with order of rice and beans the best burrito in town had amazing flavor had depth and good filling. The rice and beans were typical rice and beans nothing ecstatic about them. The Brea burrito was perfection. Good filling good flavor all in all would come back here for the barria the salsa that came out in the squirt bottles were absolutely to die for 100% amazing. They should bottle and sell that the guacamole was missing some salt.

If you're looking for good food and big portions, this is the place for you! I had the taco plate…read moreand my friend had the carne asada plate (not sure what it was called, maybe churasco?). It was delicious. Service was friendly and it was filled with customers.

Went in for takeout recently the food was decent but an order was wrong. The servers were friendly.read more

We decided to try out this location. We were seated right away during dinner hour which was great!…read more Waitress was friendly and attentive. We already knew what we were getting so the ordering was quick and easy. Standard chips and salsa while you wait. The salsa could be better and a bit more spicy but they do have a spicy version if that's more your taste. We both ordered the carne asada dinner. I don't do the beans so I got a double serving of rice. The portions are decent so always enough to fill you up. Place is big and the noise level is normal. Nothing crazy. Overall I like this place and location.

We love the other El Carrizo location in town, but this one is closer to us so we have tried it…read moretwice. Food is just as good and the service/seating is fast. The location is much smaller and tucked away and far less crowded. If you are looking for a quieter setting I would highly suggest El Carrizo on Macon! Wait staff can be spotty. We have had friendly servers and not so friendly servers on our last visit. Other than that no complaints! Great food!