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 Their interior decor and furniture is outdated yet in good condition, clean and very comfortable.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!

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

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.

I thought this was a cute elevated spot with a great menu and bar area. Nice casual patio area too…read more Our food and service was great. I would love to come back here to try their brunch. Ngl, I thought this was waterfront based on skimming through Yelp old photos - it's not. But it is close to the public ramp and has ample parking which made it a great pitstop after pulling our boat out of the water. Crab cake was not jumbo lump. But overall, a good dish. The sauce was fantastic.

The service is slow and the server seemed to be going though the motions. It got busier as we were…read morethere. It was hot outside and the interior of the restaurant was stuffy and warm. The baked Brie appetizer was good. The house salad was fresh and crispy. The airline chicken was too salty and overcooked. The prime rib special was $39 but they charge extra for sides and salads. Not worth the price at all. Too much money for meh food and lazy service. Go to Blackwater Cafe instead.

This is a lovely family-owned restaurant located in Keagy Village, a relatively new and modern…read morestrip mall in Cave Spring, Virginia. Even though there are several Tacos Rojas around, each one is owned and operated by a different family member, with the same menu, but slightly different ambience and decor. What I liked about this restaurant was the modern yet simple exterior architectural design, and small but warm and cozy interior. Its location is also very beautiful, where from the back window you can see a beautiful landscape surrounded by mountains. A friend and I decided to go visit this restaurant for an early dinner the day after 5 de mayo and overall we weren't disappointed. We were fortunate enough to have been greeted and welcomed by the owner himself who was very friendly and kind. We sat at a table near the back of the restaurant and at the time were the only customers there. A basket of Tortilla Chips and Salsa was brought to our table and they were very fresh and delicious. My friend ordered a dish with two Chimichangas, one beef and one chicken, and I ordered the Carnitas Burrito. The food was very good and my burrito was humongous, although its temperature was somewhat lukewarm and this detracted from its flavor and rating for this restaurant. There is no reason for an empty restaurant to be be serving lukewarm food. For dessert we both had a slice of their Flan, which had the right consistency, flavor, and temperature. Overall this was a very clean and cozy restaurant, with a small bar, in a beautiful location, with an appropriate decor, serving quality Mexican food. If the manager listens to my constructive feedback and takes action, I would no hesitate in returning and highly recommending the restaurant for its food and great service.

My wife and I visited Taco Rojas for an early dinner. It was our first time there, and we were…read morethoroughly impressed. We ordered the Big Quesadillas, which were incredibly generous in size and bursting with flavor. The service was exceptional, and we left feeling grateful for the delicious meal and the friendly staff.

Word of mouth is still the best way to find out about new restaurants that have opened in the area…read more Just yesterday a friend of mine told me about this new Mexican restaurant that had just opened last Thursday. So this evening, I headed towards the restaurant to be one of the first ones to try it out and review it. After being awarded the NC Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, 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 Santa Lucia Mexican Restaurant, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. The previous restaurant sign "El Toreo Mexican Restaurant" was still up. The new owners didn't even bother to cover it up. They just put a small vinyl banner sign under it that read "Santa Lucia Mexican Restaurant OPEN NOW!!!" Not too professional you would think, but the most important thing in a new restaurant is it's ambiance, its food, and its customer service. So I arrived to its parking lot in my Lexus and parked my car. The place was empty and I could see the employees looking out the glass door to see who just parked and was approaching the restaurant. It was me. When I walked in the Host gave me a warm greeting and asked me if I would prefer a booth or a table. I chose a booth. As he went away to call my sever while I looked at the menu, I also was observing the interior of the restaurant. It was clean and comfortable, with a minimalist decor. My server, Jasmin, a friendly Puerto Rican young lady, greeted me with a smile and asked me what I wanted to drink. I asked her if the bartender could make me a Virgen Mango Margarita. When it arrived it looked nice but tasted like water with mango flavor so I was not too impressed with their drinks. To eat I ordered a Fajitas Santa Lucia for one. While I waited I ate their chips with salsa. The chips were fresh and crispy and the salsa was just the right texture with the right ingredients. When the Fajitas Santa Lucia came out, they were sizzling hot, served on a sizzling hot skillet. They had grilled chicken strips, steak, chorizo and carnitas, along with green peppers and onions. On a separate plate, it had rice, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and refried beans. I missed the pico de gallo that this dish is mostly served with in top of the line Mexican restaurants and the scoop of guacamole. But the Fajitas were made with quality meats, and with a green salsa that they brought me, everything tasted very good. For dessert I ordered a Xango with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream. It looked somewhat good, but the batter was soggy. It tasted like it was pre-fried or cooked ahead of time. When I asked for a glass of iced water, the water tasted bad, just from having a sip. This is something I can't stand in a restaurant, and I sincerely recommended that they get a water filter. This new Mexican restaurant has potential of becoming a very good one. If the owner pays attention to my informal recommendations in this review and takes action to implement my suggestions. I truly wish he / she does, because one of its best assets are its friendly and hospitable employees.

My wife and I live nearby and were sad to see the old El Toreo close. So we were excited to see the…read morelocation being revived. Today was our first opportunity to visit, and Santa Lucia did not disappoint. The building exterior is much the same, although the Christmas figures out front were a homey touch. The interior layout remains the same (which is good) but has been significantly refreshed and updated. It's much brighter now and extremely clean, but still maintains a fun Mexican restaurant vibe. It feels very family-friendly. Kudos to the new owners! Our servers were very friendly and efficient. Complementary chips and salsa arrived shortly after we sat down. Our drink orders soon thereafter. My margarita was on point, not to strong, not too weak and nicely presented. Santa Lucia's menu offers the same standards as most Mexican places, but the dishes we had were extremely well-executed: flavorful and nicely presented. We ordered from the lunch menu, which is very reasonably priced. My Enchiladas Marias (chicken and beef enchiladas) were delicious. The beef was especially well-seasoned. I sampled the Arroz Camarones (rice and shrimp) my wife ordered. They were also quite good. The only downside of all the good food was that we gorged and did not leave room for dessert. We'll plan better next time. We will definitely be back, and are looking forward to bringing the grandkids. I can easily imagine Santa Lucia becoming our go-to for Mexican food. Thanks for the nice afternoon!