My husband loved his food, mine was meh. To each his own At…read morefirst the server wasn't sure about our service dogs- which is never a good sign. But our waiter set her straight- and was a consummate professional. Overall, I'm not sure I would return.

Ever since the first day it opened and I dined there for the very first time, this restaurant has…read morebeen one of my favorites for Mexican cuisine. Its delicious food, welcoming ambiance, and excellent customer service, have won me over, and make me keep coming back. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I also was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to return to those special ones, that have made a difference in my life and highlight them, for the benefit of the public, so they too can have an opportunity to appreciate the qualities of a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience. And Pancho Mexican Restaurant in Towers Shopping Center, in Southwest Roanoke, is a perfect example. As soon as I entered its door today, I was greeted by the Host with appreciation and taken to one of the comfortable booths of the restaurant. Soon after I was seated with the menu, another friendly employee brought me a basket filled with a generous portion of fresh tortilla chips and a bowl with a small glass bottle filled with their amazing sauce. Not long after, my server came by with a smile to see what I wanted to drink. She tried her best to talk to me in English, but when I switched to Spanish, that made her more comfortable and she appreciated my noble gesture. I ordered a Virgen Jumbo Frozen Mango Margarita to drink. While I was enjoying my chips with salsa, and studying the menu to see what I ordered today, they brought the order to the booth next to mine and I was very impressed with the "Steak con Camaron" served on a sizzling skillet. It was a T-bone steak grilled to perfection with plumpy, nice size shrimps. So when my server brought me my drink, I order this dish as my main entrée. I think I've had almost all of the most exclusive entrées on the menu. I invite you to view all of my photographs and videos on the Yelp site to get a better sense of its fresh and delicious food, as well as the photographs and videos I took today, accompanying this review. Just so the steak doesn't overcook and become tough, I would advice you to place it on the plate they give you with rice and refried beans, soon after it arrives on your table. The flavor was delicious, and the melted cheese on top of the plumpy shrimps also gave them this amazing taste. While I was enjoying my dinner, the restaurant manager came by to say hello. As a regular here, it was nice to be acknowledged and appreciated by the manager, and I believe this is an important aspect of an extraordinary dining experience. For dessert I had their Churro Cup. It is a cup made with the churro dough, filled with vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and a cherry. It was amazingly delicious and the perfect ending to an exemplary dining experience.

Out of all family-owned Mexican restaurants mini-local-chains with more than two restaurants in the…read morearea, Alejandro's Mexican Grill is one of them. The others being El Rodeo, Tacos Rojas, and Pancho Mexican Restaurant. Besides this Alejandro's Mexican Grill in Salem, Virginia, there are two more locations in Roanoke, Virginia. One is on Campbell Ave in the Historic Roanoke City Market area, and the other is in the Hollins area at the corner of Peters Creek and Williamson Rd. Established in Downtown Roanoke, in November of 2007, by co-owners Moises and Lisa Nucamendi. Their second location in the Hollins area was then opened in December of 2008. And finally this, their third location, located in the Mill Lane Commons Shopping Center, in Salem, Virginia, was opened in June of 2019. I have already dined and reviewed the other two restaurants and invite you to read those reviews and view my photographs accompanying them. The restaurants are known for their authentic California-style Mexican Food, their popular salsa bar, and award-winning margaritas. Their menu includes traditional and authentic Mexican items such as Mexican Sopes, Tacos, Enchiladas, Tortas, Chiles Rellenos, and Flautas, among others. Their dessert Flan is made in-house by their head cook, and have the reputation of being delicious. When I arrived, their restaurant's front did not look at all very fancy. And from what my server told me, the restaurant used to be twice the size, but they gave up the extra space due to the poor economy caused in part by the Covid years. Their interior decor and furniture is outdated yet in good condition, clean and very comfortable. Mexican artworks decorate the walls of the place and is what gives it an air of distinction. The ceiling lamps and lighting treatment also help give the restaurant some class. As soon as I entered the restaurant, a gentleman Host greeted me and took me to one of the booths of the restaurant. It was early for dinner but since I hadn't had lunch so I didn't seen to mind, and there was a large party dining there at the moment as well. My server, a friendly young gentleman from Honduras, gave me a warm greeting and took my order. To drink I had a Virgen Mango Margarita and a glass of iced water. For appetizer I just enjoyed their wonderful chips and the salsa from the Salsa Bar. As my main entrée I had 4 Flautas (2 pork carnitas and 2 shredded beef). They came accompanied with Mexican rice and refried beans. And topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese. The salsa bar was very clean and the salsa looked very fresh. The tortilla chips were also freshly made and one of the best tortilla chips I've ever had. However the flautas had much to be desired. The tortillas that they were wrapped in were not fried crunchy as they should have been, and the shredded beef was overly seasoned and too spicy. Yet the pork from the carnitas was seasoned and cook to perfection, and the rice and refried beans were good as well. My servered came to check on me at the appropriate times and in time for me to order dessert for the Grand Finale of my dining experience. Of course I ordered their in-house made Flan dessert. And I can assure you it was delicious and wonderfully presented. In conclusion I found the ambiance of the place to be pleasant and friendly, even though the decor was not too modern. Most of the food was good, and the customer service was excellent, so I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I'm around the area. I particularly enjoyed the Virgen Mango Margarita, their Chips and Salsa, and their in-house made Flan.

We enjoyed a fabulous meal in June 2026 at Alejandro's restaurant in Salem, VA. The prices were a…read moregreat value with large portions of terrific tasting food! Our order was not quite right (they brought 3 floats instead of 4), although eating just two of them with beans and rice was more than enough after snacking on delicious chips and the MANY choices of salsa. They then over compensated by giving us even more floats that we had to take home afterwards. The server was very competent, attentive, professional, courteous, and quite helpful. We are eagerly planning our next visit to this restaurant we very highly recommend you enjoy!!

Always our go-to restaurant! The staff is always friendly…read moreand efficient, going out of their way to make sure your dinner is enjoyable. Food service is very fast and always great! When we are hungry, we know we can count on El Bronco's to provide quick seating, fast service and a great meal which is consistently good!

If you're anywhere near Christiansburg or Blacksburg, you need to get to El Bronco! It's easily my…read more#1 local favorite and a solid Top 5 Mexican grill for me overall. The vibe is incredible from the second you step through the door. The staff is so genuinely cheerful, and the rustic, country-bar aesthetic--complete with cozy wooden booths--makes you feel right at home. Plus, they've actually mastered the music volume! It's high enough to keep the energy up, but you can still totally hear your friends across the table. But let's talk about the food, because it is next level. Whether you're starving and need the Arroz Con Pollo or craving something lighter like their amazing grilled salads, the portions are always perfection. You'll leave feeling exactly how you want to: satisfied, happy, and already planning your next visit. Delicious food, great prices, and a killer atmosphere--what's not to love?!

This Mexican family-owned restaurant opened its doors a couple of weeks ago in exactly the same…read morelocation where El Rio Mexican Grill had once been. I never had the opportunity to visit the prior establishment, but as soon as I found out that this one was open, I went to try it out. El Sinaloense Mexican Restaurant is located in the Hunting Hills Shopping Center, in Roanoke, Virginia. It is in the same Plaza where Kohl's is located on Franklin Road. After I went to Kohl's to return an item that I had bought in Amazon, I saw its temporary restaurant's sign made from vinyl (a budget friendly material that is used while the permanent sign is being made) on the building, on the space high above the entrance to the building where this establishment is now located. The colorful sign read: "EL SINALOENSE MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA." Afterwards when I got home I searched for and discovered an advertisement online that read: "Available Retaill Space & Restaurant Space for Lease Hunting Hills." With the convenience of having a Strip Mall large parking lot and a fenced in, covered outside patio, up front for outdoor dining, which was reflected on the large glass window and door entrance, I entered the restaurant. It had large tile floors and a simple decor with gigantic framed old yellowish black & white photographs of Mexican history. The furniture consisted of some booths and some comfortable tables and chairs made of wood which looked a little run down but one didn't know if it was of age or just built in the interior design to make it look like this and give character to the place. The wife of the owner of the restaurant served as its host and warmly greeted me at the Host's station and asked me what seating arrangements did I prefer. After I told her that a booth would be fine, she allowed me to pick the booth of my choice and have a seat there with the menu. Not long afterwards a server assistant brought me Tortilla Chips with Salsa and my server came up to my table to take my order. I ordered a lemonade to drink. And for my main course, Burritos Roqueta, which were two pork burritos served with cheese on top and pico de gallo and a side of rice. Their prices were very reasonable. This dish only cost me $14.00, but I ordered it because I love pork, which Mexican call carnitas in their menus. When the food arrived, it looked wonderful, and tasted even better. The well marinated small pieces of pork inside the burritos were extremely tasty, and the thick tortilla held them together, while the melted cheese on top gave this dish even more flavor. The rice had just the right color, consistency, and flavor, and the pico de gallo was made to perfection. For dessert I had the Chorro Cup, and it was like no other that I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant. Inside a nest made of Churros, it had cream vanilla ice-cream, topped with cinnamon, sugar, honey, whipped cream, and to top it off, colorful sprinkles and a special type of cherry. I invite the readers of my review to look at my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves, since a picture is worth a thousand words. Before I paid the bill and left, I visited the restroom and walked through the bar, which was called "Cantina," and was in a separate room with a dining area as well. In conclusion, I highly recommend this family-owned Mexican Restaurant. What at first may seem to have been a typical Mexican restaurant located at a Shopping Center, turned out to be a delightful Mexican restaurant, with amazing food and extraordinary customer service.

Today was our first time here since changing to El Sinaloense and it was amazing! The ambiance is…read moregreat, our server was a so sweet, and the food was incredible. The Quesadilla de Crema is the ultimate cheesy comfort food and my husband raved about the Burrito Chipotle. Everything was just outstanding and we will be eating here again and again!

Our waitress was very helpful and attentive and made great suggestions. The red is not your typical…read moreMexican place but the food was a pleasant surprise for Roanoke. It was spirit just the right extent and had great flavors. The restaurant was clean and had the normal noise level for a place this size. It could easily accommodate 25-30 people and not feel crowded. I would definitely recommend a stop in if you are looking for authentic Mexican food with good flavors and spice.

There is a new Mexican restaurant on the block: "Tacos Los Toros." Housed in a small, bright yellow…read morebuilding on Hershberger Rd, we must not let its size fool us; for its menu, quality of food, attention to detail, and extraordinary customer service are nothing but amazing. After I found out from a Mexican friend of mine that it just had opened a few days ago, I immediately made plans to go visit and try it out. And what I discovered by doing so far exceeded my highest expectations of the restaurant. I arrived at the restaurant on a late afternoon, after quickly finding it with the help of its exterior bright yellow color and colorful restaurant signs: one in front of its front patio dining area, and another high above on the building itself. The restaurant has a parking lot for the convenience of its customers, and the main entrance is through a door on the right side of the building. As one enters its door, one can't help but notice the cleanliness of the place, which its interior design is in the minimalist decor, with walls painted golden-yellow, black ceiling, with black furniture, and imitation cherry wood hardwood floors. No wall nor other decorations. Its elegance is reflected in its simplicity of decor and in the beautiful bar glassware with thick quality glass and blue highlights, displayed on the bar shelves with mirror background. Next to the bar located in back of the restaurant are a pair of rotating doors that lead to the kitchen. As soon as I entered the door of the restaurant, I was immediately greeted by the host who gave me a warm welcome, asked me to pick the table of my choice, and handed me a copy of the menu and took my drink order of a glass of Iced Orchata non-alcoholic drink. Then my server, Ruth came by, warmly greeted me, answered some questions of the menu I had, and took my order. By the way, the menu had a great selection of familiar Mexican food items and some unique ones as well. As appetizer I ordered Tortilla Chips with Guacamole dip. As the main entrée I ordered the Molcajete. I invite the readers of this review to view my photographs of the menu and of the food enjoyed for a more detailed picture of my food. After all, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The food was amazingly delicious. In presentation, quality of items, seasoning, and cooked to perfection. Simply, a Mexican culinary delight. For dessert, I ordered the house Tiramisu. Amazing, from a Mexican restaurant. In conclusion, I highly recommend this one of a kind Mexican restaurant. This family-owned business has it all to receive a Five Star review. Entrepreneurial owners with very creative imagination and wonderful personalities. I was able to chat with them before leaving. A distinguished yet relaxing ambiance. Wonderful menu. And excellent customer service. All together contributing to an extraordinary dining experience.

I rarely eat food after 9pm, but you make exceptions for places like this. My top-tier chum who…read moreliterally went to the school of hospitality (down the street at VA Tech!) and I came by here this past Tuesday night after a few other potential dinner spots fell through - the week after graduation is not the best for college town restaurant reliability. This was one of the few businesses with a kitchen still open, and had the distinction of being the only restaurant she'd actually been to when she was in college here over 20 years ago. Certainly a testament to the power of Mexican food and the young pups who will eat it any hour of the day and night. Unlike her last visit, El Rodeo apparently isn't as dark and divey as it used to be. A shame in my view, but it is what it is. The walls are painted a bright white, and if you didn't have the menus and margaritas roaming around, it could have hosted any genre of cuisine. There was an outdoor dining area that was pretty hopping but we opted for indoors and were immediately seated in a spacious booth with views of giant TVs showing a wild Cavs/Knicks playoff game. I wasn't obscenely hungry so I avoided eye contact with the burritos and instead went for a chicken/cheese quesadilla and a large glass of water. The quesadilla showed up within a few minutes and honestly really hit the spot. It was SUPER cheesy (in terms of flavor, not quantity, which I liked - I'm all about an ingredient equilibrium with my food), and I loved the crispness of the tortilla. The chicken was nicely shredded and seasoned, and it was generous portion to the point where I was only able to eat about half of it. The rest came back to the hotel with us to be consumed at a later time. The service was excellent. The turnaround time of the food was insanely quick, and the only noticeable delay was when our waiter understandably needed to attend to a wild 21st birthday celebration at a nearby table. Happy Birthday to her, and I hope the margaritas treated her well. College town restaurants kind of are what they are - it's not really the land of bougie gastropubs but rather affordable tasty shizzle that you might impulsively eat in the middle of the night. Solid recommend.

I got the Arroz Con Pollo, along with a Jumbo Pina Colada Margarita…read more This dish isn't a traditional Mexican dish - it's actually more Caribbean - but due to the massive demand for it in the South, it's a staple of menus here but not really found anywhere else in the US - that's why I had to make sure to get it while I was here as I hadn't had it before and I know this place is known for it This food was absolutely fantastic The dish came with a TON of grilled chicken pieces on rice, along with a lot of vegetables, and a cheese-like dip Starting with the chicken, it was really good, and as I mentioned, there was a lot of it it was also soft and not quite juicy - but definitely not overcooked/dry either. it was really satisfying to bite into it wasn't super well seasoned - but there was enough that it was detectable the rice itself was pretty nice and well-flavored. it wasn't anything too special but it served as a solid base for the rest of the toppings the vegetables were pretty fantastic - and served as a great complement to the chicken. I was especially a big fan of the grilled onions and the peppers, as these were cooked really well. however, the tomatoes weren't great. charging extra for these was a little strange, but I didn't mind it what really brings the dish overall together and takes it to another level is the cheese dip that mixes throughout everything if this was too cheesy - it would ruin the entire dish by making it practically inedible if it didn't have a strong flavor, the entire dish would basically feel plain however, this was just perfect. It had a hint of cheese, but most surprisingly, it had a bunch of other flavors in there too that created a sauce that coated every part of the dish and significantly increased the flavor of everything it touched this resulted in the overall meal having a comforting, deep flavor profile that was really, really good The margarita was also decent - it was super sugary and you couldn't taste the alcohol that much, but it was enjoyable to drink For the price, this was a pretty great deal. When adding the vegetables onto the ACP, it came out to around 15 dollars, and this was a really nice portion size given that price. The jumbo margarita was also a really large drink for around 9 dollars

Established in 2007, this family-owned Mexican restaurant located at Westlake Corner in Hardy,…read moreVirginia (near Smith Mountain Lake) is a very popular spot for serving fresh authentic Mexican food in this area. It has a large menu including favorites like fajitas, burritos, seafood, and steaks, plus vegetarian options. It is also well known for its great cocktails, including margaritas, and a good beer selection. It offers the option of dining-in in one of its colorful dining rooms, at its full-bar with a large screen TV, or dining outdoors in its enclosed back patio seating area. You also have the option of ordering on-line or over the phone for pick-up, as well as ordering on the premises for take-out. It also offers catering for special events. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and important landmarks, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Grill, located in the in Hardy, Virginia is a perfect example. I had the opportunity of dining at the restaurant for lunch last Wednesday when I was in the area. After arriving in my pearl white Lexus and parking in their parking lot the first thing that caught my attention was Carlos, their new Cancun rooster, a colorful statue that stood in front of the restaurant. The architectural design of its building with its restaurant's sign on a tower high above was also very impressive. As I entered the restaurant I was particularly surprised by its fun, festive, and colorful environment. The restaurant was very clean and decorated with some one-of-a-kind items that gave the place a very unique character. A gentleman whom later I found out was the manager gracefully greeted me and gave me a warm welcome to their restaurant. He then took me to my table. Shortly afterwards my server arrived with some chips and both red and white salsas. Only very exclusive Mexican restaurants serve the white salsa. He took my drink order of a large Virgin Mango Margarita. As he went to have it made I browsed through their extensive menu and saw some very unique items which I would like return another day to have for dinner. But since it was lunchtime I ordered their Quesadilla Rellena with shredded beef. They were served with pico de gallo and sour cream and I asked for Guacamole extra. While I waited for the food order to be made I enjoyed my delicious Virgin Mango Margarita which was amazing, while also having my chips and salsa. The Quesadilla arrived fresh and hot and filled cheese and a well seasoned shredded beef. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality food served here. When I was finished eating my server brought me the bill without first asking me if I wanted dessert. Since it was late I decided to have it at the movie theater I was going later on. But next time I come for dinner I will definitely have their Mexican Fried Ice Cream. As I was leaving the manager showed me around the restaurant as well as the outside seating area in the back patio, and again thanked me for dining at their restaurant. In conclusion I highly recommend this Mexican restaurant for its exquisite, genuine Mexican cuisine, its amazing margaritas, its festive, welcoming, and relaxed environment, together with wonderful customer service.

Hands-down, my favorite Mexican food ever the white cheese that they put on the burritos is…read morefreaking amazing. And every time I go, they were so friendly. I even got my mom hooked on this place when she visit the only other place that was ever this good that I used to eat it was Anita's back home in nova Virginia.

We were longtime fans and frequented the previous restaurant at this spot lots and lots. It is very…read moredifferent so I think you just have to go in knowing that. It must be fairly popular, as they have an extensive menu, but for me it's a solid three stars. The photos speak for themselves in a lot of ways. I can't help but think with a little more attention to detail, and possibly being able to do that with a smaller menu, things would improve. The waitress told us they make everything in house and while that may be true for some things like dressings etc. I think that's a stretch. The fish with the fish and chips is certainly not fresh fish prepared on site, The portions for the meatloaf and barbecue plate were small in my opinion for a dinner portion, and the sauce I received with the chicken gnocchi special was not a cream sauce. I realize it sounds like I'm having a go at the restaurant, but I'm not. I would equate our meal with a diner type experience and there is certainly a place for that in the restaurant world. I miss the farm to table vibe though so while we probably will get back there at some point to try some other things but perhaps not rushing to do so.

I had never driven so high up a mountain before as I did driving my new Lexus up Bent Mountain,…read moreVirginia, in search of what I had heard was a hidden gem of a restaurant in this area and The Roanoker Magazine's 2025 Dining Award Winner of the Platinum Award for the Best Roanoke County Restaurant, the Gold Award for the Best Family-friendly Restaurant, Best Outdoor Dining, as well as for Best Chili and for Best Hidden Gem Restaurant, and the Silver Award for the Best Takeout / Curbside Service and for the Best Bar Where Everyone Knows Your Name, as voted by the people. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Treehouse Tavern in Bent Mountain, Virginia, is the perfect example. Only a 23 minute drive from Roanoke City, up curvy one lane roads, leading high up the mountain, one can literally feel the high elevation in your ears as you would during a airplane ride. But once you're there, and take a look at the place, you definitely feel it was worth it. The Treehouse Tavern is housed in a lovely and cozy, wide, one story building painted white with a mural of plants painted by a local artist, that gives it an interesting flair. There are no formal parking spaces. You park in front of the building and on the side. I parked on the side when I got there. The entrance however is decorated with stone bricks and has two large windows and a glass door. A red truck with two customers were parked in front of the entrance waiting, like me, for the doors to open at 12noon, for lunch. Our server, Rochelle, a very friendly lady with a wonderful personality, came out to greet and welcome us, a bit before they officially opened their door. Inside, they had a small foyer with Treehouse decorations, right before you entered the restaurant itself. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its food. It has a full bar, a brick oven where pizzas are made, a kitchen, a spacious dining room, and an outdoor dining area with a bar and a place for musical artists to put on a show. Since it was a Wednesday lunchtime, the two customers from the red truck ate at the bar, a customer came with a to go order, a group of ladies ate at a table in the dining room, as well a couple, and I ate at a table next to a window. My server Rochelle took my order. I ordered a Root Beer to drink, a cup of Kenny's Chili with a cornbread as appetizer, and their famous Bacon & Brie Burger with Onion Rings as my main entrée. Everything was fresh, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. The hamburger bun was so soft and the burger so tasty with the brie cheese and bacon. For dessert I had their Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. Pure Chocolate satisfaction. Before I left I got an opportunity to meat their chef at the brick oven pizza station, as well as meeting the owner. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, that they made me feel at home. I definitely highly recommend this very unique restaurant. They have all it takes for providing an extraordinary dining experience and more. A friendly staff, an efficient service, amazingly delicious food, a pleasant ambiance, with both indoor and outdoor seating; and on the evenings and weekends, live music and fun events.