Espinos Mexican Bar & Grill Menu

  • En Salada
  • De Comienso
  • Especiales De Pollo
  • Especiales De Carne
  • Especiales De Mariscos
  • Fajitas
  • Enchiladas
  • Especiales De La Casa
  • Sides
  • Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Espinos Mexican Bar & Grill

  • En Salada
  • De Comienso
  • Especiales De Pollo
  • Especiales De Carne
  • Especiales De Mariscos
  • Fajitas
  • Enchiladas
  • Especiales De La Casa
  • Sides
  • Dessert

Visit below restaurant in Chesterfield for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Chesterfield for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Jennifer M.

    Overpriced, slow service, and not special-request/vegetarian friendly. First of all, I didn't even know about this place had been on DDD until I saw the memorabilia near the register/reception area. I live in St. Charles County, but I'm from St. Louis. That said, the service was slow. To get seated at 2 in the afternoon, we had to wait for the hostess to clear off a table for us. There were several dirty tables, the restaurant side was about 75% full, but they had no one bussing tables. While she was clearing our table, a line formed at the hostess stand. Once seated, our server was all-business. Not especially friendly, but I don't go out to eat to make friends. After getting our drinks and looking at the menu for a little bit, I asked if they do ala carte. As a vegetarian, I don't eat refried beans (traditionally made with lard), and rice doesn't really interest me. However, I like creating an entree (and probably spending a little more) on food I will actually eat. I was told this was not an option. But I was directed to a few "vegetarian" entree options that conveniently come with non-vegetarian beans. My point was completely missed. That's ok. I have a special dietary circumstance that I'm totally used to dealing with, so no biggie. I ordered an appetizer cheese quesadilla. It was ok. Nothing spectacular. It wasn't until we ordered that we were served chips and salsa. The salsa was pleasantly spicy, but the chips were really dark and greasy. One rave is for the flaming cheese appetizer. Served with tortillas, it was the highlight of our meal! Very tasty and reminded me of Saganaki in a Greek restaurant....but with a Mexican flair. Tequila makes a great flame-starter! :) Overall, with having access to really awesome, authentic Mexican cuisine near where I live, this place seemed overpriced and riding on it's TV fame. Ironically, Espino's has another location near where I live in O'Fallon, MO. I won't be going there, as a mile from there is one of the best Mexican places with inexpensive prices, friendly staff, and willingness to accommodate the customer.

    (2)
  • Bill C.

    Last night I was up late and saw an older episode of Triple D. When I saw that this place was in Chesterfield, about a 45 min. drive from our house, I knew where we were going for lunch on Saturday! Before I give my review, let me say that I'm incredibly amazed at the disparity of the reviews! My food was so awesome, I was shocked that it had a 3 star average but more shocked at the number of 1 star reviews. Seems like most of the bad reviews involved bad service - if I was the owner, I'd really listen because this seems to be a common thread among the disgruntled. Senor Espinos are you listening? Chips were subpar but salsa was very unique and fresh. Usually, I'd deduct 1 star for the chips (hello - it is the first thing you eat at a Mexican restaurant - make a good impression!) But the food was so over the top amazing and delicious I'm giving them a free pass and going for a 5 star review. Guy was right, the chile verde with pork was the best I've ever had! The rice was good, the beans were good, and my wife loved her burrito! This place is much better than your run of the mill Mexican clone restaurants. If they could solve their apparent service inconsistencies and serve all food like we experienced, you'd never get a seat here. Hope your experience is as good as ours. Caveat: We went at 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was not busy.

    (5)
  • Joan K.

    I called the restaurant to get information because I wanted to possibly host a party there. They handed the phone to whoever was in charge and she was possibly the rudest person I have ever talked to! I hope no one does business with these people. I was yelled at on the phone for nothing and said nothing to upset her, I just wanted to know about the place before I booked a party. They will go out of business if they continue to treat people this way! Terribly rude people .

    (1)
  • Doug M.

    As usual, I'm conflicted on my restaurant rating. My meal was more than A-OK, but I can't quite give it a 4-star Yay! I'm a fan. So I'll have to go with 3 stars. A quick take on the service. No problems here. We were seated quickly, and were personally treated well, but the girl at the entrance seemed kind of rude to they guy she turned to and told to seat us (telling him to pick the table). Our waiter, a young guy, was pretty good, though. Friendly, attentive, and quick to fill requests. I happened to order one of the specials, Jalapeno BBQ rib rack. I asked about the heat of the peppers, and the waiter told me it wasn't very hot - more for flavoring. And he was right. It wasn't hot at all! But I could actually taste some of the flavor. Overall, the ribs were well-prepared: tender enough to cut easily with a knife, but not falling off like they had been over-boiled or the like. A good meat flavor and a semi-sweet (and greasy, yum!) BBQ basted sauce made them mighty tasty. The sides included a cheesy potato casserole, which was good; and a mix of hot veggies, which was interesting but nothing special. It also came with tortillas. I guess you need a bread side, but it just didn't seem to go together. Their flour tortillas are okay, but more suited for fajitas and the like. I really want fluffier, softer tortillas if I'm going to be eating them solo as a side. One gripe I have with specials is that they usually aren't listed with a price. And I've only been to a couple of places that told you the prices when giving descriptions. I suppose I could ask, but generally know about what to expect based on the place. The ribs I got were $31 - double or more what the normal entrees are. I suppose I shouldn't complain. After all, it was a full rack and I was stuffed after eating only half (plus i wanted room for dessert). I should have thought beforehand about the fact that it was a rack of meat, rather than just another Mexican entree. The wife's meal was chicken fajitas. Chicken was tender, and a good size portion. Spanish rice was good. Refried beans were 'meh.' So really, it was like I get at any other Mexican restaurant around town. Oh, almost forgot - I liked the starter chips, which were warm, crispy and thickish. But the wife prefers thin chips. So a split decision. Salsa was not the greatest. Not bad, just not enough flavor for me. Now the dessert...I'd been here once before years back, and ordered the Bolsa de Regalo (gift bag) - Lightly fried tortilla filled with ice cream and strawberries. If you get nothing else here, get this! So rich, so decadent, so good. I can't really describe it other than that. Just try it.

    (3)
  • Steve E.

    I asked for a cup of queso for the complimentary nachos, he looked at me like I was crazy to even suggest it. Their queso is like a casserole and it costs $12. I asked for two enchiladas as a side. He said he could only give me one. If you can give me one, then bring me two ones... It's that easy. I had a burrito, it was the lest blended burrito I have ever seen in my life. There was a pocket of cilantro bigger than a ping pong ball, luckily I was using a fork and didn't eat that whole piece. My friend ordered carnitas and was given three small tortillas. Over stuffing them, he didn't even fit half his meal in the first three. When he asked for more tortillas, the waiter said he wasn't supposed to, but then brought us some and acted like it was a drug deal. Overall the waiter offered decent service and my ONE enchilada was tasty, which is the only reason for a second star. Oh, and no ground beef, on anything.

    (2)
  • Paul H.

    Its a place for a quick bite.

    (3)
  • Suzy D.

    Dont go food mediocre staff rude especially manager will never go there again. If you want good Mexican food in this area i suggest Matadors its right down the road

    (1)
  • Ninja P.

    If they tell you 45-60 min wait it's worth it. Get a drink at the bar and chill. Great vegetarian food and guac. The poppers are great too!

    (5)
  • Lynn B.

    At one time this was my family's favorite place to eat. First bad service happened, hey no ones perfect. Second time bad service, waitress seemed overwhelmed, food came out, mine was good as usual. But my daughter's chicken was undercooked. She came back w the plate to tell me the "chef" said the chicken was cooked. Also no refills on water, check took so long to come out we almost left w/o paying. We miss the old Espinos. Bummer

    (3)
  • Scott C.

    I've only been there once, but later read much more in reviews that emphasized what I experienced as well. It seemed to take forever to get the two meals and for me to simply order a steak fajita, it neither arrive sizzling, but didn't even have a lime slice to complement the sad plate and experience. I'd never go back. Like I said, with others I know having visited there with the same complaints overall, especially extremely slow service...never again!

    (1)
  • Dewayne N.

    Best Mexican in the STL area. This is no overlooked, cheese-laden bad Tex-Mex... This is actual GOOD Mexican. Their tacos are amazing and the margarita? Holy hell they're amazing. Go there. Go now.

    (5)
  • Rich K.

    We stopped in after a long day of shopping. At 8pm on Sunday evening the place wasn't terrible packed, and we were seated quickly. Server was very friendly and kept up with our food and drink needs. Food was really good, and portion sizes were generous. The jalapeno poppers in strawberry sauce were an interesting twist. I had the Tacos De Espino, with the selection of meats, and my vegetarian girlfriend had the Veggie Burrito. The only complaint she had was that you couldn't omit certain vegetables from the mix(She's not an onion lover). The drinks were a little pricey, but not overpriced. We had a top shelf and a house margarita. Overall a great value.

    (4)
  • Julie B.

    Best Mexican in Chesterfield and great service.

    (4)
  • Betty B.

    The fish tacos are the best in StLouis!!! Rice and beans! Dos Equis on tap perfect meal!

    (5)
  • John Q.

    It was my brother-in-law's birthday, early on a Tuesday evening. Our server (with the neon highlights in her hair) got his order wrong. After waiting over 25 minutes for our order, his favorite beef chimichanga came out as a shrimp burrito!! We are glad he is not allergic. The server said he could either accept it or wait some more for the correct dinner. After asking our server twice to speak to a manager, one finally appeared and did offer to remove the price of his dinner from the total. Then, imagine our surprise when we learned there was a $1.50 fee PER PERSON to use small plates to serve a cake that we brought. WHAT?!? And, don't even get me started on running out of drinks, chips and salsa, etc. First AND last time. Back to Ruiz Mexican Restaurant in Florissant for us. John Q

    (1)
  • Ken H.

    Excellent food and Christina was great as our server. Wife loved the Taco Ensalada and I had the steak Chimichanga for lunch. Fresh Salsa and chips are addicting.

    (5)
  • Anne H.

    The food was delicious! The servers were great and very friendly. The hostess was extremely and surprisingly rude/ unprofessional...Enough to make us want to leave...but we stayed and were pleasantly surprised.

    (3)
  • Laurel S.

    This was just bad. The quac was mediocre, my daughter got the seafood enchilada and it was barely edible, my mother-in-law and I shared a steak enchilada and the meat was so tough. I know St. Louis isn't exactly known for their great mexican food but its got to have better options than this.

    (1)
  • Patt C.

    Met my college chum for lunch at 11:30 a.m., and were seated right away. We got beverages quickly, and service was attentive. The chips were warm, crunchy and tasty. The salsa was runny and not-so-tasty. We both got a two-enchilada platter ordered from the lunch menu. She chose one steak and one chicken. I chose one steak and one cheese. Pork was also available. The platter comes with rice, beans and a wacky cold green bean salad the likes of which I've never seen. The cold salad was green beans, tomatoes, onion, black olives, lettuce and cubes of white cheese. The dressing was light, vinegar-based. It was delicious and had a little heat to it. I would have liked more. The beans had a sprinkle of white cheese. They were A-OK. The rice was rice. The steak enchilada was absolutely full of nice pieces of tender, tasty steak, but not much else. I thought there was supposed to be something else in there. The cheese enchilada was full of smooth and lucious cheese. I had a hefty to-go vessel for another meal.

    (3)
  • Jean P.

    You'll have to excuse me. My memory is a bit rusty as I'm just reviewing a place I visited in October (oops...). What I do remember won't really have me running back to Espinos. We dined here on a Saturday afternoon with 4 adults, 2 Kindergarten aged kids, and a baby. I do have to give credit to the waitress who was very friendly and didn't seem at all put off by our motley crew like many would. I ordered the Taco Ensalata, no olives, with chicken and the cilantro vinaigrette. It was good enough but nothing special. I didn't feel like the cilantro vinaigrette was giving me enough flavor punch, and I'm not one for salsa which is the other "dressing" option. We also ordered a Queso Fundido for the table. It's not your stock runny, super salted cheese dip you get from most Mexican spots around town. My husband hated it. I didn't think it was that bad. You just have to get over it being the non-standard, which I guess he couldn't. I do have to give mad momma props to the restaurant for having a great diaper changing station - an actual changing pad on top of a changing table.....what?!? This is practically unheard of, and it's appreciated.

    (2)
  • LaVonne T.

    Horrible food...horrible service. Ordered the shrimp and scallop enchilada. Only took 2 bites of it and told the waiter it was not good and he just said "I'll let them know" Didn't even offer to take it off our bill!!

    (1)
  • Jennifer A.

    I fell into the DDD trap! This place is a typical Mexican restaurant. There is no drive-in, it is not a dive, nor a diner. It is very over priced. Beware of the special!!! The salsa brought out with the chips was tomato water. There were no flavors, there was no kick. My date had the seafood trio: 3 shrimp, 3 scallops, and 2 tiny squares of bass, served with over cheesed mashed potatoes (just because you melt chihuahua cheese on potatoes does not make them mexican). The bass was awful, very fishy tasting, the shrimp and scallops were fine. They were served in a white mushroom cream sauce. I am not well versed on different regional cuisine of Mexico. This dish did not seem mexican at all. I had the puerco mexicana and it was not as spicy as I am used to but still a good dish. The rice was salty but paired well when combined with the under flavored refried beans. The house margarita was not good, tasted comparable to a bad bottle of premixed margarita. The best part was when the check came $30 for the seafood trio, what a joke! I will take some blame for not asking the price of the special, but $30 in this kind of mexican restaurant was pricey, especially since the dish was not good!

    (1)
  • Patrick M.

    Without question, this is the best authentic Mexican restaurant in St Louis. All of the specials are incredible and their margaritas are second to none. Get the steak nachos as an appetizer for your table and buy a bottle of their tequila to share with your friends at home! The Murphy's really cannot brag enough about Espinos!!!!

    (5)
  • Puja B.

    It was just okay. Nothing unique. The chips and salsa were okay. I have had better! Had the queso which was warm and pretty tasty! The waitress was not very friendly but the service was fast!

    (3)
  • ALEJANDRA S.

    While visiting friends in St. Louis, we went to this place. The food is below average, , their signature pork dish is well prepared but everything else is just mediocre. Salsas are runny and tasteless, the tacos are simply bad. The service, from the untrained hostess to the bartender and waitress, was extremely rude. They look at you like "it's your problem If you don't like our crappy food". When talking to a manager I got a "that's the way we do it here" Don't waste your time and money, plus you'll get out of there smelling like burnt oil! Not coming again ever !

    (2)
  • Lauren C.

    OLE! My lunch at Espinos this week was awesome! Ordered the pork carnitas and it was as if the meat had fallen off the bone and then melted in my mouth. The waitress was nice and attentive, not too in your face, which was good. And the margaritas were top notch - if it hadn't been a working lunch I may have indulged a bit more!

    (5)
  • Emily M.

    I grew up eating authentic Mexican food and have been constantly searching the St. Louis area for something comparable. I saw this restaurant on DDD, and even though I was not impressed with my first dining experience there, I decided to give it another shot. Suffice it to say that I will NOT return. The chips were overcooked in old oil, and that should've been my sign to leave right then. The guacamole was whipped, brown, and had way too much tomatoes, onions, etc. and there was no indication that they used actual avocados and not some prepackaged mix. I had the pollo alla mexicana. Never before have I had a chicken dish with shredded cheese melted over it at a Mexican restaurant. I was anticipating cheese sauce as per the norm. I couldn't even find the chicken under all the cheese. The flavor was decent but the meal itself was not enjoyable. The beans are canned and the rice was cold. My boyfriend had the carne asada. The steak was run through a meat tenderizer and then so overly seasoned with minced garlic and parsley that you couldn't even taste the steak. The service was mediocre at best. When we were finished eating, the server walked past or near our table numerous times, glancing over, but never stopping even though we made it extremely obvious that we were finished. I'm a former server and have a tendency to tip very well. Our server received the standard 15% and no more. My boyfriend and I were absolutely not impressed and will not be back.

    (2)
  • Jon T.

    So after two siblings called us and asked about Espino's since they saw it on DDD, we decided we needed to give it yet another chance. Our first visit had been for Sunday breakfast and was OK. Our second visit was for lunch that was not up to the lofty status of OK. We had not seen the DDD, but understood the signature dish to be pork chile verde, so were determined to let them show off their best. We returned for breakfast, knowing that had been our best experience previously. We immediately were run out of the outdoor dining area by the smoking pigs who are determined to make outside dining an exclusive of smokers. We retreated out of the beautiful morning and into the darkness of the restaurant. One order of Huevos Rancheros and one order of Chilaquiles and Eggs with Pork Chile Verde later we were able to pronounce our third and final opinion of Espino's. I applaud Espino's for being locally owned, homemade, etc. I understand there are regional style differences in Mexico but I just cannot warm up to the style of Espino's cooking, whatever it is. I am open to different styles having eaten a wide variety across Mexico. It lacks richness, depth and the gut warming flavors that I associate with this cuisine in general. It's a little hard to explain. It is really not what I would call creative and is certainly not fru-fru Mexican. It is also not what I would call comida casera. Ms T's Huevos Rancheros were unlike any I have ever seen. Well OK, they don't all have to be the same. The eggs, (she ordered fried over-easy) were just fried over onions and chiles jalapenos. They were not flipped over. That is basically it. There was a tiny cup of mediocre salsa ranchero on the side. The tortillas, served on the side, were flour. In my experience huevos rancheros are served over lightly fried corn tortillas with salsa ranchero over the top. It's too bad that La Especial farther west on Airport Road did not survive, La Senora there made wonderful huevos rancheros. My Chilaquiles were not as good as I recalled from the first visit. I actually asked the server if they were made from flour tortillas. She assured me they use only white corn tortillas. I believe her, but I'm telling you that they were tasteless and had the texture of fried flour tortillas. The salsa verde on them was a harsh, perhaps uncooked tomatillo version. I found it bitter and unpleasant. The best thing is that they do use a good textured queso Chihuahua over the top. I did not eat half of the chilaquiles. The DDD promoted pork chile verde was OK, probably better than average. The meat was well cooked and not dried out as is so often the case. There is not much chile in evidence; the liquid is brothy with tomatillos, some oregano and a hint of cumin. As I said, it is OK, but needed a little salt and I really would have liked it to be based in green chile. Calling this chile verde is a stretch. It is greenish but not from chile. The proprietor needs to visit Santa Fe. Both of us had frijoles refritos which were exactly like previous visits, thick and pasty. I really am looking for the creamy, lardy ones. The appearance of Espino's on DDD is a mystery only explained when you understand that it has become more difficult for them find places to go and that the previously initiated to the DDD inner circle, nominate their restaurateur buddies. This is an example of a place that really does not belong. It really is not a diner. It is certainly not a drive-in and it is not a dive. It is a local, family run Mexican restaurant that is trying to make a go. I take no pleasure in not liking their food very much. I keep saying we need a place for a decent Mexican breakfast in West County, but I am personally closing the file on Espino's.

    (2)
  • Kristy W.

    This was our second visit and BOY has Espinos improved!! I can't say enough about the outstanding service at this restaurant. She guided us to the very best items on the menu and we were bowled over by the house-prepared pork dishes and the amazing Mexican-prepared fish entrees. If you've been here before but were underwhelmed.....come back! To be fair, the chips and salsa won't wow you but the entrees and service will. The quest is amazing but please share so you'll have room for more interesting fare. Try any pork dish or their heavenly steak dishes for a Mexican slice of heaven. Enchiladas are delish as we'll. Skiddish about driving all the way out to the valley? The joy ice us worth the squeeze!

    (4)
  • Kenny C.

    SERVICE IS BLAH! BUT, FOOD IS AMAZING!!! Fajitas, Chimichanga's, Burritos, and on and on...you MUST add on an "add on Cheese Enchilada"!! 5 stars isn't enough for this place!!

    (5)
  • Paula G.

    Guy Fieri, we need to talk my fellow chef! So full disclosure here I am a classically trained chef and also spent most of my life in California and was once married to a Mexican-American man. So, I know what good Mexican food should taste like. I worked as a chef in Northern California in the same region that Guy Fieri of DDD works so I trusted his judgment when I went to Espinos after seeing them mentioned on DDD. After living in St. Louis, MO for a year and a half and trying sooooo many mediocre Mexican restaurants I was so excited to hear about Espinos on DDD. I thought FINALLY I will have a decent Mexican restaurant in this area. Sadly, it was yet another mediocre St. Louis Mexican restaurant. :-( The salsa tasted like pureed fresh tomatoes with maybe a little onion? No chile or fresh cilantro, it was just a runny puree. I ordered the steak enchiladas. The steak tasted like pot roast - no grill carmelization. The "red" sauce on the enchiladas tasted like PIZZA SAUCE. I mean classic Italian herbs on there, no hint of chile!!! Rice was bland, I didn't even see any hint of herbs or chile in the rice...just tasted like chicken stock. Beans were missing that hint of lard. Disappointed. So, sadly I won't be returning. Though nothing tasted BAD, there is no reason for me to return to this mediocre Mexican restaurant. I can find one on every corner in St. Louis.

    (2)
  • Marsha G.

    I'm giving 3 stars only because the mole sauce was delicious. I ordered the Pollo con Mole and the chicken was very dry, but I asked for extra mole which more than made up for the dryness of the chicken. The service was very slow and servers stood around talking to each other more than assisting customers. I waited 10 minutes before I was greeted by my server - after she greeted a table seated after me. Overall, the restaurant did not meet the expectation set by DDD.

    (3)
  • Melissa G.

    My only problem with Espino's is that they make you wear pants, and by the end of every meal there, I always feel the extreme need to take mine off. I could stop eating so much when I go there, but there would probably be no point in going there then. Get ready for the best queso dip of your life. Burnt cheese on top, to say the least. Then the decisions start, torta or chimichanga? That's like saying french fries or onion rings. Everyone knows the answer, BOTH. It's a tough choice, but there is no wrong one. You wont have room for the make your own s'mores but get them anyway. I promise you will be wanting some more of everything! Get it? Corny, you get the point.

    (5)
  • Steve W.

    Really good food. We loved the free chips. The house margaritas are the best in town. We had steak fajitas and steak tacos. Seasoned well. Tender. Flavorful. We will be back.

    (4)
  • Victoria L.

    I visited Espinos when it first opened years ago, and decided to try it again last month. It was Friday night and extremely busy, but we didn't have much of a wait. Ordered margaritas with Pollo ala Mexicana. I liked the food but it wasn't outstanding. Chicken was dry but was good dipped in Tabasco sauce. Our server was friendly and gave us a lot of information over the menu; she clearly was very experienced. We finished our dinner off with a order of flan which was really yummy. I would recommend the place for a casual night out but not for any special occasion.

    (3)
  • Brenda G.

    Party of 5 on a Friday night. Arrived around 6:20 p.m. told 30 minute wait. At 6:45 told 30 minute wait. At 7:00 told 30 more minutes. At 7:30 we left and will never be back. Hostess was rude with no explanation why she could not seat us.

    (1)
  • Rhonda S.

    We have weekly guests at Espinos for the last several years. The staff (especially Patty and Michelle) are fabulous. The food is consistently great and is our "go to" place. Fresh made salsa, great marinated and grilled chicken salad is wonderful. Three unexpected gems I recommend everyone try is the house made soup, pancakes and the ribs (yes, I said pancakes and ribs). Espino has a new soup creation every day and each one is great! The weekend brunch pancakes are better than any Ihop or Pancake house. They have a hint of vanilla and orange, my kids LOVE them. The ribs, the ribs, the ribs! Served in a great presentation and as a crown, they are "wet" and best in town! Of course, one can't visit a Mexican restaurant and not try a Margarita. I recommend the Lamborghini. I have even had Espinos cater. Amazing job. They set up the party, brought their own serving dishes and chip bowls, etc and allowed me return them at my convenience. Very reasonable priced and was a hit with our party guests. I can't say enough good things about Espinos!!

    (5)
  • Carol M.

    The first night we stopped for margaritas, chips and salsa. The salsa was good with enough heat got us. The gringo beside us said it was hot that day. Other days it is milder. The food was good. I had the carnitas; lots of meat. Good place to try.

    (4)
  • Scott S.

    Way below our expectations, the other reviews were accurate when they say the food lacks flavor and spice, we will not return. Waiter was not the most pleasant person either. The chips n salsa are probably the best part of the meal.

    (2)
  • T B.

    I had the beef burritos. The beef that they used was stringy and the taste resembles what I would imagine zombie flesh would taste like. One bite of the burrito and I was done. They replaced it with the chicken fajitas, and the chicken was dry and cold.

    (1)
  • Michelle A.

    We decided to take family from out of town here for dinner this weekend since we've eaten here before and enjoyed the food. I was so disappointed- not only was the food gross, we had to wait for 45 minutes for it. Our waiter told us that the reason our food was taking so long was that the special of the day- fish- was extremely think and took a long time to cook. After we finally got our food, it was obvious that this was not the case. The manager informed us that the kitchen lost our order and apologized by taking off the one meal. Overall, the experience left a bad impression and I have no intention of returning- especially with out of town guests!

    (2)
  • Dave F.

    The main dishes I have had there have been pretty good to ok. Ok they have improved on their chips. In the past their chips where always way to salty, but they seemed to rectified that on my last 5 visits. STILL The chips over all are sub par. I still feel their salsa is uncreative and lacks flavor like most St. Louis's Mex food places. I have to say their salsa is in my top five for most bland. I only go there for lunch. The speed for lunch service has been acceptable. Back when they where painfully slow the employes sucked too, so I avoided Espinos due to slowness and staff for awhile. (I normally don't mention the staff in my reviews, but in this case it needs mention.) I'm going to them again and I find the current staff to be much more enjoyable. If this place would fix their chips and salsa I would bump them to 4 star.

    (3)
  • Alexis J.

    You know what I love about Espino's? Nothing. Let's start from the start. The salsa was flavorless, so much so that we were constantly dumping salt and pepper into it. It doesn't have enough flavor to cover up the worthless chips. The chips tasted like over cooked cardboard that no amount of salt could recover them. The portions were large but the menu is whack. Do you want 3 enchiladas? Sure! Fine but you have to get 1 steak, 1 chicken and the third is a you-call-it. You want all pork? Sorry! The steak was decent - chewy, but decent. The pork was good and the chicken rather tasteless. Oh and don't expect to get a refill on your salsa, ever. 2 stars because my patron 'Rita was great. 1 star because of the huge chunk of food on the inside of the water glass. Enjoy!

    (2)
  • Valerie L.

    Enchiladas de Espinaca y LLongos Three flour tortillas stuffed with spinach and mushrooms. Topped with chipotle mushroom cream sauce and Chihuahua cheese. This is the amazing meal I had at a reasonable price. It was followed by a short wait well worth it because of the margarita that was served. An open kitchen will make you feel right at home too.

    (4)
  • Gregory P.

    We decided to try the restaurant after we heard that Guy Fieri filmed Espinos for his Triple D show. The chips were amazing. Not your standard fare. four stars for those. My dining partner had a chicken quesadilla. It was good. Standard Mexican fare. three stars. I had the seafood trio with a wonderful sauce. It tasted exquisite. I gave it five stars until it was time to pay the bill and realized that two chunks of fish, two shrimp and two scallops cost $30 dollars. Suddenly, the five stars dropped to three. So overall three stars. But I will go back and eat there again.

    (3)
  • Pauo M.

    97.1 Talk... lavishing praises one would assume are based on actual, taste-tested experiences by Glover and Loesch. I don't know what a 20-second advertisement bit costs Espinos, but "live endorsements" by on air personalities using "we" and "us" as though they had some hand in this luke-warm eatery sounds contrite and highly suspect. The food promoted and the food served to everyday non-celeb patrons, having very little in common and apparently that's fine with the proprietor and well compensated repeat personalities. They get the best food and stellar service. We get what we get. Espinos gains more patrons than it loses, and THAT's what keeps the lights on. All restaurants must win at this up/down game of numbers. Attract hungry newbie diners using names and raves of local radio personalities, and menu offerings that entice with authentic sounding titles and descriptions. Then hope your bi-polar preparation is good enough more often than "not-good". The DDD-thing? Oh my. How did THAT fortunate bit of fate happen for this little Mexican misfit? Increasingly more about Food Channel markets that generate Food Channel viewers DDD no longer has the believability it once had. I know it's not the Michelin measure for Mexican, but if Guy were to arrived, without the fan fare he too would taste unpredictable platefuls of blah. Exciting, inspired menu depictions with a twists, when plated and tasted, sink to over promoted, same-old, plain-old, one time crispy, next time soggy - grub. Local celebrity association does little to make the food taste CONSISTANTLYgood - good to a level where you just can't wait to tell your real-people friends and family - "you gotta go here". The paid endorsers have hitched a ride on the Espino money-truck, fueled by those of us that keep giving them another try. This sorta Mexican magnet pulls in newbies who listen to the radio ads; tempted and fooled in great enough numbers, to float the Espino boat. Thanks to DDD, St. Louisans and the thousands of visitors to our region now come with the expectation of Good Mexican. Red-faced, we send our out of town guests home with the same after-meal experience: "What's the big deal?" and "what was that?". All too frequent grumbles at 17409 Chesterfield Airport Rd. Espinos food prep staff, wait staff and ownership ALL need to go on one more foodie-field trip; revisit a dozen REAL regional, authentic Mexican kitchens. Watch. Taste. Learn how this food is meant to be done. "Authentic" is more than just an adjective to lend legitimacy to your dishes. Be creative - yes. But be consistently hot, fresh-made. Espino plate concepts, I'm sure, were once inspiring at first draft; then were taught to regular grill guys. But then, the reputation and vision of this restaurant is entrusted in the hands of a revolving door of back of the house staff who were bussing tables last month, now this month's budding Espino Mexican chefs. From this come the inevitable short cuts - Precook batches. Stockpiled fajita fixins. What looked killer in a Google image search does not always translate to the customer's plate. Espinos is a formula joint with high ideas, not ideals. That formula it seems, is about advertising and location, first and foremost trying to generate enough revenue to pay the rent-rates at Boones Crossing. It certainly is no longer about hot appealing cuisine. From it's beginnings I've wanted to see this place find it's sea-legs, eventually sprout wings and soar because west county is indeed lacking good Mexican food options. It has so much going for it - location, hungry shoppers and a thousand neighbors living nearby. But if after almost 10 years you can't treat all of those customers who pay the freight, make YOUR rent, employ YOUR staff as if we really matter; if you can't even prepare (and properly HOLD) a decent, hot, tasty side dish of rice, or legitimate frijoles with taste, color and texture; if you can't consistently manage real chiles, fresh herbs, in traditional preparations and fresh accoutrement that complete the plate, connect a recipe with the culture... you know, THE LITTLE THINGS... then how can we expect the rest to be the food of the gods that high-paid pipers rave about. This is not the 1970s. Today's clientele have elevated palates, expectations. Colorful websites. Striking food photography of never-gonna-happen-on-my-plate entrees aren't enough. For now. Espinos is really just okay, barely okay. And considering the price, the far too often "could-care-less" attitude and service of it's wait-ladies - who, no matter the mixed up orders, long waits, food temperature, arm wrestling over simple requested changes to an ordered menu selection - they indeed fully expect at least that 20% gratuity or greater for troubling them for an hour of their lives. It is about the customers. Not the other way around. OKAY just ain't good en

    (2)
  • Richard S.

    Here's the best kept Sunday morning breakfast secret in the chesterfield valley. Fresh ingredients and great taste. Stay away from the "skillets" and try the huevos rancheros.

    (5)
  • Becky M.

    Sorry U Man but this place is not authentic. My boyfriend and I heard about this place before we moved out this way. Though he used to live in the area, it was a first time for me. Now I grew up in Southern California, so authentic Mexican food is not uncommon for me. First of all, this place was over priced for what you received. Then when you ate it, it pretty bland. It did not have a lot of flavor for me. I have to say that the thing I enjoyed the most was the green "spicier" salsa. Of course even that needed some more heat to it. So we split the U Man special, I mean I love ahi tuna even if it was found in a Mexican restaurant. Wait, Asian fusion in a Mexican place, boy that will throw you for a loop. Well it was bland and too small of a portion for what they were charging you. Which was $9.95. My chicken mole which I was happy to see on the menu. Just no. There was no chile or spice in the mole and I am a huge fan of mole as well. Then when they served you your food, the amount of rice, beans and especially lettuce was laughable. There was almost nothing on the plate other then two large chicken breasts smothered in not so exciting mole sauce. Finally to top it off, they served $3 Margaritas in small plastic cups. And I am talking small plastic cups, not even red solo cups. The only thing I found remotely good about this place was the service by our one server. Though he did have his hands full with one table that was having some issues, but once that was over he was much more attentive.

    (1)
  • Tim H.

    Recommended by friends. I won't take their advice anymore. Had the seafood trio. There's lots of sauce, tasteless fish, shrimp covered in so much sauce I didn't see the shell on the tail and a scallop that tasted like some kind of chemical. Awful and then to find out it was $30. Awfuler. The quesedea my wife had was heavy on the cheese, light on flavor. Won't be back anytime soon - if ever.

    (1)
  • Stuart K.

    Find the spices guys! For St. Louis Mexican it may be acceptable, but cilantro, jalapeno, cream, garlic, onion, cominos are all spices used in Mexican cooking but not much if at all at Espinos. Service is attentive, and they move food out of the kitchen pretty quickly, too bad it is not temperature hot or spicy. The restaurant is busy, clean and nice enough for west county but south of Missouri they would be out of business. Sorry guys your food just doesn't cut it, no matter how good the service.

    (2)
  • Paul B.

    In all honesty, I would give this place a 10 if it was solely based on their food. My family and I went here tonight and ordered the burrito bandito (huge and delicious), shrimp and steak fajitas, a pork taco, and a chicken/beef/pork enchilada combo. It was all delicious, but unfortunately, there happened to be THREE (yes...THREE) separate bones in the chicken enchilada. These weren't small bones either...I'm 99% sure that if these had gone unnoticed, we would have choked on them. When we mentioned this to our waitress, she simply took them away and did not return. No apology. Not even a comment that she had taken them to the manager. Which also reminds me I should note that the service was pretty bad. We weren't asked for refills once, weren't asked how our food tasted, and for the most part, we were basically ignored. As much as it pains me to write a poor review (because the food was incredible), having three large bones in our food and receiving such sub-par service forced me into doing it.

    (1)
  • Elizabeth L.

    I had lunch there recently on a trip to St. Louis. Great service. Teriffic guacamole and great margaritas. This will be on my list of "go-to" places on other trips.

    (4)
  • Max M.

    Staff not so happy. Server not so nice. Kitchen not so fast. Food not so good. Meh. Bummer.

    (2)
  • Vernon E.

    This was not what i expected. The food was not good worst. Salsa and chips very bland food was below standard cold rice and cold beans. My. Food. Was comparible to a tv dinner but didnt taste as good as a tv dinner taco bell has better mexican food than this place. Very disappointed.

    (1)
  • Angela M.

    So we finally got around to checking out Espino's. We were looking for a nearby, no hassle date night and this fit the bill. We came in on a Friday night around 7 and had a small wait. We had the house magaritas which hot the spot. The salsa was just okay. Service was good and our food came out quickly. We both ordered the chimichangas with steak and it was a big portion. We were not expecting Rick Bayless authentic Mexican here so for the price, we would definitely return.

    (4)
  • Eric W.

    Giving this one star only because I have to. Service was extremely poor at a bar table. The trio of waitresses that we had mixed up our order and drinks went unattended. The guacamole was gross and the two chicken dinners we ordered we dry and tasteless. Strait up gross.

    (1)
  • Sam G.

    DON"T EAT HERE Tonight my wife and six friends decided to go to aspinos for one of our friend's birthday parties. We used yelp to locate the restaurant and were a little concerned when we saw it received 2 and a half stars. We decided to go anyways as this is where our friends had chosen. We were seated after waiting about half an hour. My wife and I decided we would split the fajitas since neither of us were very hungry. The waitress told us they could not order fajitas for two but we could order double meet for an additional four dollars and we could pay 70 cents for extra wraps. We said ok and order the fajitas. When the fajitas came.....after 45 minutes, the plates with the sides, lettuce tomatoes, sour cream, and guacamole came out with the fajitas. This plate had about five shreds of lettuce (the shredded lettuce, and this is not an exaggeration) and a teaspoon of (pico de gallo), I asked my waitress if I could have some more lettuce and pico de gallo as what they had given me was not enough to fill one fajita. This is when the problems started. The waitress told me that I had ordered one order, for two people and that was all of the lettuce and tomatoes that came with the order. I pointed to the five shreds of lettuce and teaspoon of pico de gallo and said, "this isn't even enough for one fajita for one person". She said if I wanted more lettuce I would have to pay for a whole other plate of pico de gallo, sour cream lettuce, and guacamole. I explained to her I did not want all of that I just wanted a little more lettuce and tomato, since they had not given me enough to put in one fajita. Again, the waitress said she could charge me for it if I wanted it, and then told me she could get the manager if "there is a problem". I told her to get the manager. The manager came to the table after about five minutes and said, "what is the problem". I explained to her that I would like some more lettuce and tomato, because what I was given was not enough for one fajita. The manager told me, "that is the amount you get with the fajitas, you order one order for two people and we have a wait tonight, you are taking up a six top". I looked at her in disbelief that she was insinuating I was a waste of her time. I again told her I wanted a little more lettuce and tomato. She stated, "we can't just let sour cream walk out of the kitchen, we are running a business here". I again could not believe what was coming out of her mouth. At this point I was about to lose it over a little bit of lettuce and tomato so I told her I no longer wanted to eat and wanted her to take the food back, she continued to stand at the table arguing with me about how it was somehow my fault that I got five shreds of lettuce. She said, "each plate gets one scoop of tomato, lettuce, sour cream, and guacamole". At this point my friends watching in disbelief told her she should just leave the table. She continued to stand at the table and argue until they repeatedly told her to leave the table. This argument occurred in the middle of the restaurant and lasted at least three minutes. Eventually someone brought me some more lettuce, but by this point I had lost my appetite. The waitress was nice enough to add her 18% gratuity to the bill before we left. It is amazing anyone eats at this place. The food was subpar and the service was probably the worst I have ever encountered in a restaurant. The manager should try to find new employment in a non-service oriented profession where she does not have contact with other people. There is a reason this place has gotten two and a half stars. Awful fajitas, $31 bill, and being treated like garbage by the staff.....save your money, time and most of all dignity. DON'T EAT THERE.

    (1)
  • Rebekah B.

    I have been disappointed in this place 2/3 times, I won't be returning. Tonight I had a Chili Relleno that was covered in red sauce that tasted like marinara, plus it made the dish soggy. My Mom tried to order a la carte and was told she couldn't. They would not sell her a taco and an enchilada??? This was after we were seated at a table that was three feet from the kitchen and serving station. We should have left after they proved they have no interest in making the customer happy by refusing to let her order a la carte. By the way, we were drinking margarita's, they were making a profit. Terrible food and poor service, go elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Amy B.

    Me and my girlfriends love to come out here for dinners! The chips are yummy and everything I've ordered has been delicious. The quesadillas, chimichanga, and enchiladas are all great! Make sure to save room for the Smores dessert! They bring out a little fire for you to roast your marshmallows.

    (4)
  • Ashley R.

    My family and I visited this place over the weekend and I wasn't very impressed. Their chips and salsa were decent but not outstanding. Their guacamole had a lot of onion and tomato in it...and being the picky eater that I am, it didn't sit well. I ordered carnitas and was a little bit surprised to see that they didn't come with tortillas. I just had to eat the meat plain. Their rice was really good but nothing convinced me enough to make me want to come back.

    (3)
  • Brittany B.

    First time dining here, unfortunately I didn't listen to the other reviews. Chips are hard with extremely hot salsa. Food was alright definitely to expensive for the quality. ILL stick to my regulars Mexican favorites for now.

    (2)
  • Karl W.

    First indicator of how an experience at a Mexican restaurant is going to go is the salsa-the indication was that at least it could not get any worse. That salsa is so plain and boring that it's the Katy Perry of salsas. The chips were at least interesting, not good, but at least interesting. The chips were freshly made and crispy, but way too salty. The service was pretty good and the presentation of the food was good, unfortunately you then taste the food. I had the steak tacos de espino, let me first say that you can find the same "steak" at taco bell. Those tacos were mediocre at best. The refried beans were just a big disappointment. However the rice was pretty good. The ambiance is very quaint and inviting and it has a really nice patio area. I think this restaurant believes that nice presentation makes up for lackluster food, unfortunately for them it doesn't.

    (2)
  • Brad M.

    The best burritos I have ever had. Great margarita selection as well. Definitely ask lots of questions, the servers and bartenders can be very helpful.

    (5)
  • Robert M.

    So close to being more than average. Upon arriving my wife and I requested a table for 4 as we were meeting another couple. We were politely informed they don't seat incomplete parties, come on now. I understand not seating large groups till all arrive, but 4 people, that's silly. We sat outside at a table and were greeted immediately by a server. Ordered drinks and entrees when our friends arrived. Tried to get the burrito with steak and chicken but was informed they would not make with both, one or the other. Why refuse a simple request which could of been easily accommodated? I would of paid extra but not an option. Food arrived and tasted delicious, everyone enjoyed their meals. Two burritos, one chicken grilled and a quesadilla were hot and very flavorful. Server was very polite but had tables inside of restaurant as well as on front patio. I believe this made her a little less attentive as my drink was completely empty twice before being refilled. A huge service error IMO, as I only was drinking soda. I probably wont go back with better Mexican options available such as El Mezon in St. Peters and Matador just down the street from Espinos.

    (3)
  • Ray G.

    After all I have heard from Dana and Glover on 97.1 I had to try this place. I am a huge Mexican food fan and could not wait to try. The margaritas were good, the chips and salsa was just ok. I ask the waiter what the DDD Guy liked and he turned me on to some pork dish. I have as good at Cracker Barrel... it wasn't bad but not at all as good as i was expecting. The two boys had tacos and didn't like them but i cant hold that against the restaurant, they are picky. My wife got some burrito or something wrapped chicken. She complained there was hardly any chicken to be found and it wasn't all that good. We have a Mexican restaurant here in Washington Mo that it much better than that place. We will not return. I will say that the staff was very friendly even though I didnt care for our waiter. The host, manager and 2 of the other waitresses I talked to were very nice. Again this place wasn't bad but after all the hype I was expecting excellent. And the place was very clean.

    (2)
  • Mark H.

    Fish Tacos are really good and the Top Shelf Margaritas are great but pricey. This is an awesome Mexican restaurant but the prices reflect the Chesterfield location.

    (3)
  • Frank R.

    Tender carnitas and attentive service. The waitress was very knowledgable about the menu and helped my mom pick out a dish she'd never tried before. Next time I'm in town, I definitely want to check out their Chile Rellenos. The table next to us ordered them and they looked bomb.

    (4)
  • Neil K.

    fish burrito ok, watery salsa very cold, service was good

    (3)
  • Ann C.

    I'll just say we were having a good night until it came down to the desert. there were about 11 that went to Espinos to celebrate a b-day. It was a pretty busy Friday night so I understand when the drinks are not served right away or the food takes just a bit longer. It actually tasted pretty good. We were all drinking top-self alcohol for starters. After dinner was complete, we brought out the Chocolate cake that someone purchased at the grocery store. the waitress came over to us and pronounced that we were not allowed to cut and eat the cake at the restaurant. If we did, we would be charged $1.25 per person who ate the cake. Really? Never heard of this one! We called the manager over. We proceeded to tell him that we could either not pay the $1.25 pp for the cake and we would continue to drink at his establishment, possible racking up another $500 total. OR we could eat the cake and leave. Basically it was his choice. $13.75 in sales or $500 in sales. He choose $13.75 in sales. REALLY? Was he stupid? Not only did he loose the sales he also lost 11 customers who will not eat at that restaurant ever again! NO CELEBRATING AT ESPINOS!

    (3)
  • Patty B.

    Since it was on DDD and a local recommended it, we had to try - although we also read the many negative reviews. We walked in and were seated immediately on a Sunday at lunchtime. The patio looked nice. Inside is really dark. We had to ask for chips and salsa after waiting quite awhile. They were very good and served warm. I liked that they are very salty. The menu is pricey, but although they don't have ala carte on the menu, they suggested I could order that way if my husband ordered an entree. I wasn't that hungry, so it was appreciated. The house margaritas are very good and food is served on hot plates, which I really liked. The food was just average. Not DDD-worthy, to me.

    (3)
  • Jacqui C.

    Did not plan to have dinner here, so had no idea what to expect. The Friday night music was surprisingly entertaining. The one man band did his job well and made for an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere. I wanted a quesadilla, so decided on the spinach, mushroom and chicken. It was decent. Not the best, nor the worst. My friend ordered the biggest burrito I've ever seen in my life. I tried it and it was also decent. Huge! Smothered in cheese and just about as pretty as a burrito could possibly be. I was impressed with her approach to the monster burrito. Cut in half and then cut bites from there. No way to pick that monster up and take a bite. I had heard the margaritas were really good and I was not disappointed. I had 3 and did not want to stop there. The server was attentive and friendly. I did not have any complaints and she noticed right away that I had been given guacamole instead of sour creme when she delivered our dinner. All in all, an enjoyable evening.

    (3)
  • Paul M.

    Three word review: Theme park quality. Okay, some details. Drinks fast. Chips and salsa--chips semi-stale. As in, my molars hurt a little. Salsa--bland, as in not even Pace or El Paso quality. My wife commented that the chips would be good for cheese sauce because they were so sturdy...so we ordered some queso because of course this being a non-authentic restaurant they didn't have just plain old cheese dip. Queso--five cheeses, chorizo, other meat, other strange sauce. OMG! Not so good. In fact, by the time I'd have several dips I had pretty much lost my appetite for the entree. So...How do you frig up a chimichanga? Answer...you put beans in it and lots of squash (yellow) and lots of big pieces of mushrooms. Okay, sue me for not reading the menu. Maybe those ingredients were listed, but please, don't give me your veggie burrito with a few chunks of meat and deep fry it and call it a chimi. Anyone who loves a chimi knows the difference between a chimi and a fried burrito. Beans don't belong, especially the mush that was inside mine. As far as it being a "steak" chimi...there were little dog food sized chunks of meat, possibly steak, most likely canned. Because I did not choose to pay the extra dollar to have it smothered in "ranchero and white cheese" I got a little scoop of sour cream, guac and pico de gallo. No beans on the side...hmmm...then of course I found them inside. Oh yeah...no rice either, but I predict it would have sucked. Overall size of $9.75 chimi, especially considering that it was stuffed with beans and squash...unsatisfactory. No thanks. Never again. Second entree was chicken fajitas. My friend had it. What is that red effluent that the fixin's are soaking in? First time ever that he or I or my wife had experienced such a mix. You know the charm of fajitas is to be presented with a sizzling pan of hot stuff, right. No...this came in a murky pool of blech! Not so good. My large friend couldn't/didn't come close to finishing. Bad sign! Wife had fish tacos. She liked them. Bottomline, I screwed up by taking our trio on a fireworks buying expedition out into the county, thought Chesterfield might be a good thing to try, settled on Mexican because we were starved, and picked the wrong joint. Should have gone with my gut and picked Matador. They may have had some authentic employees there.

    (1)
  • C R.

    I'll admit I don't expect a lot from Mexican places in Chesterfield, but I still tried to represent my experiences here fairly. If you want a torta and margarita, you can't do much better than Espinos. Torta are Mexican sandwiches one rarely sees on restaurant menus, which is too bad because when done right, as they are here, they are just excellent. Ask for it with stewed pork. It's not on the menu but the kitchen will put it together for you and it's dynamite. Going elsewhere on the menu I've encountered some stumbling blocks, but a mexican restaurant with a great sandwich and tasty rocks margarita gets a good review in my book any day.

    (3)
  • Janet E.

    I have always given Espinos great reviews and have recommended it many times BUT after our service the other night I will agree with others who have said that the service has gone a little downhill. Let me explain, We were ending our day with a small get together for a friends bday at Espinos and there were approximately 12 people who surprised our guest. I called ahead to give them a heads up that we were coming the day before our event just in case they wouldn't anticipate 15 people in the bar area on a Monday, but that didn't seem to warrant any extra planning on their part. So we get there at 4:00 and we have a very pleasant server and it wasn't very crowded at the time and he is getting our drinks and then we start to order dinner and then it just went downhill from there. We got our drinks one at a time and at one point I went up to the bar to ask if he had forgotten mine. The dinner came in waves and he forgot to bring one persons meal and we had to point that out to him and the best was when he came and told us that the manager said there was a 1.25 cake cutting fee for the cake we brought. We thought it was a little pricey but went along with it however we had to ask for plates, we had to ask for a knife, and then we had to share plates b/c there were not enough and to get his attention again took sooooo long, he kept disappearing. So we cut our own cake and passed it out and shared our plates and then we get our bill, one at a time, had to ask for the ones he never brought and then we see the cake cutting fee that was charged per person was 1.50. As we were leaving we noticed our very friendly waiter had tables assigned on the restaurant side in addition to ours. I think it was pathetic that he had to deliver the news on the cake cutting fee and that he was assigned such a heavy load of tables so I blame this situation on the management. And, while I'm here I will tell you that Espinos in O'Fallon was not good. The food and the service need work...

    (2)
  • Ben M.

    Chips were good, that was about it. The rest of the food was ok, but I have been to better places in Ballwin/Chesterfield. Disappointed with this one since it was on DDD and I have had success with others on the show in the past.

    (2)
  • Breanna G.

    Salsa and chips were spot on; just as you'd expect. The puerco con chile verde was delicious. Tender, juicy and flavorful. Dad's carnitas were dry and sister's beef enchilada was so-so. The specials sounded yummy but be sure to ask the price!

    (3)
  • Steven O.

    Not good at all! Average at best.

    (2)
  • Michael E.

    Good food, excellent Margaritas, decent price. Not a very deep menu, though. On weekends, you'll probably have to wait as the restaurant is pretty small. We've waited as long as 45 minutes. If going early, get used to the idea of kids running around the tables. Why some people cannot control their children is beyond me - it has happened the last three times we went to Espinos. Staff is very pleasant and service is quick. Bartenders tend to be a bit grumpy, but the small bar area gets pretty crowded and noisy, so I'll cut them some slack. There is often a singer/guitar player on Fri/Sat night.

    (4)
  • Susan L.

    We have eaten at Espino's often and usually sit at the bar. I have always been impressed with the quality of the food. The jalepeno ribs and the pollo rostisado are my favorites. Last summer we sat outside and the busboy decided to water the hanging plants that were next to our table by throwing a pitcher of water on them while we were still eating. Needless to say we got wet. When he came back a second time with another pitcher (and threw it again) my husaband lost his cool and swore at him. Who trained this guy to do that? Last week we were in the dining room and while enjoying the ribs I opened the wetnap for use and while I still had food in my mouth, the server came up to the table, tossed the wetnap and wrapper onto my plate and picked up my plate. I exclaimed "I am still eating!" With that he removed the garbage and put my plate back down. Do you really think I want it now???? A simple "May I take your plate?" must have been too much trouble for this server. Bottom line is, the food is very good but more attention has to be paid when training your waitstaff!!

    (3)
  • Ryan V.

    I though I'd check this place out after hearing Dave Glover's incessant, fawning radio ads. "It's the only great Mexican restaurant in town." ahaha. The disappointment was tremendous. They served the standard, cheese-laden unauthentic Mexican-American. Price was average; atmosphere was tacky, service was mediocre. The best part was the greasy chips. I won't be back.

    (2)
  • Mike E.

    Goumet Mexican!!! Great food, perfect patron margarita and Carne asada. Outstanding.

    (4)
  • Angie W.

    I like this place because it is not of the "cookie cutter" Mexican restaurant where the menus have the same food and taste even if the restaurant's names differ. The presentation is neat and the food is flavorful. They roast their own chicken on site. It looks like they put effort into making their food, rather than mass producing a lot of items and serving it out. It costs a little more than the Mexican restaurants in the area, but it tastes good. They are a little stingy with the salsa, which isn't the best-you get a dipping bowl per basket of chips and have to specifically ask for 2-3 bowls because they do not offer, even if the bowl is empty). The bathrooms are well-lit and clean. All in all, I'd go back. Oh, and the kid's menu is reasonably priced!

    (4)
  • Scott S.

    My favorite Mexican place in the Chesterfield Valley. OK I realize that's like saying this is my favorite parachute while jumping out of a plane, but it's good on many levels. My wife loves the Mango Margarita's I'm a huge fan of the cheese skillet "melted cheese and chorizo on a scalding hot skillet" I like it for lunch and the bar is usually filled later in the evening occasionally they have live music on the weekends. I recommend this place and go when I'm in the area.

    (4)
  • david n.

    Have you ever had a restaurant experience that leaves you stunned for far too long after it's over? This was it. Let's just start with the seating area. There was a table open outside that was pretty dirty so I alerted someone inside and they said they'd be right now. The waitress came out after about 10 minutes and I asked if she could get a rag to wipe down the table. When she returned with the rag she started to tell me she had brought me the rag but then decided she should wipe down the table herself (crazy right?). She wiped a couple areas of the table and I wouldn't have labeled it "clean" but whatever. We were with another couple and they asked if we could have some silverware. They asked this twice and it never came so I eventually had to go inside and steal some off another table. We sat down in our seats at 12:35 and did not get our food until 1:35. For a lunch spot this was by far the slowest mexican food I've ever had. One could assume that if food took an hour it would be amazing when it showed up right? errr.... The beans looked crusty, the fish tacos were pretty gross, the taco salad was a greek salad inside of a taco shell. The only highlight was the kids chicken quesadilla. The margarita tasted non-alcoholic and our water stayed empty until we were about to leave and some guy came over to fill them up at that point. When we actually got our food (laughter ensued at this point) the waitress asked if we needed anything else and I told her to just bring a box. Everyone chimed in to bring boxes because we didn't realize lunch would take two hours and there were places to go. We kind of laughed about taking some of the food because it looked so gross it wasn't as if it would be eaten when we got home. When the waitress brought back the to go boxes she actually almost gave the other couple a used dirty box. When she noticed it was already used she said "I think something's been in this so you probably don't want it do you?" Honestly!? I feel disappointed in myself for not telling them that we wouldn't pay for what amounted to the second worst dining experience I have ever been privvy to. I will be making a phone call to try and get a manager or someone on the phone this evening but I still sit here stumped about what happened. In the waitresses defense, I only saw 3 employees (including her) the entire time I was there. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like she had ever waited on tables before so this made it pretty challenging. $40 for a lunch that was awful seems steep but at least it's over and I'm no longer there. You may want to check this place out just to see if you think it's as bad. I'm pretty certain it can't get much worse =).

    (1)
  • Pierre L.

    Espinos is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the St. Louis area. The menu is fairly small but the chef is fairly creative with the flavors. I am absolutely in love with their steak enchiladas. They are not what I would classify as authentic but they taste great. The service can some times be marginal but the food has always more than made up for it. Give it a try!

    (4)
  • Alex V.

    My favorite Mexican place in St. Louis. Always high quality ingredients and the chef/owner has creativity in his dishes. Not the place to go if you want the combo plate #43 with 1 of every mexican dish you have ever heard of done mediocre. The carnitas are excellent and there are always a few good specials. If you actually want to eat high quality ingredients prepared well Espino's is a great place. Also, their tequila selection and knowledge is very good.

    (5)
  • Jeff F.

    Espino's is kinda gourmet Mexican (if Mexican can ever be gourmet). High quality food and great drinks. They put on events like Tequilla dinners with tequilla flights. All their dishes are expertly prepared--this is no hole-in-the-wall, boarder-town-type joint. I went their with a bunch of friends a couple years ago for my birthday. I had a great meal but the icing on the cake (yeah, pun) was getting a letter in the mail from them with a voucher for 30% off the next time I went.

    (5)
  • Zachary S.

    Best pico de gallo in chesterfield! And I have to agree with the reviews - pretty decent for St. Louis.

    (3)
  • Ali R.

    Wonderful guacamole, good salsas, but I find their chips way overfried and pretty mediocre. I've only ever had the grilled chicken tacos, which are pretty tasty. Ask for the spicy green salsa, both for your chips and to put on your entree. Yum.

    (4)
  • A D.

    Oaky but not great. I visited Espinos on 4-13-09 while in the St. Louis area on business. I'm from Texas and have spent a life time dining on Mexican and TexMex cuisine so it's easy for me to be sceptical about Mexican food so far from the border. However, the service was good, the beer was cold, and while the hot sauce/salsa and chips were lacking, the food was pretty good. If I find myself in the area again and wanting some Mexican food I would consider visiting Espinos again.

    (3)
  • Randy D.

    Espino's has always been a place where I could rely on quality meal. Authentic Mexican cuisine with slightly more upscale slant. My most recent trip there deserves special mention. One of the specials was a chorizo and mushroom stuffed pork loin. I'm always a little hesitant to order pork loin or pork chops in a restaurant because I know it can be difficult to get them cooked just right. However, I have every confidence in chef Artemio Espino and his kitchen staff, so I went ahead and ordered it. It turned out to be a great decision! The main entrée was perfectly cook with a browned crust on the outside but very tender and juicy on the inside. The chorizo was spicy but not overpowering, so the grilled flavor of the pork was prevalent. The vegetable medley was done to perfection as were the rosemary potatoes. Throw in a top-shelf margarita and you have the makings of a tremendous meal. Chef Espino, I'm begging you but this on your regular menu!

    (5)
  • Chris M.

    Great food, great price. Great margarita. Small and can get crowded and busy on weekends. We eat here all the time.

    (4)
  • TY Y.

    One of my favorite Chesterfield places, I've been a regular here for years, and it's even on the 3D list with GF. Always check on their specials, today was a Pablano Chile Relleno stuffed with cheese, steak, chorizo and pico with a mushroom cream sauce, yum! Some of my other favorites include their Carnitas, Ribs with jalapeño BBQ sauce, and for lunch the Pork Verde rice bowl. And margaritas are decent too! Service is friendly and efficient, so stop in if you have a taste for creative, fun Mexican food.

    (4)
  • Jim B.

    Our favorite Mexican place recently closed so we went back to Espino's for the first time in 4 or 5 years. The chips are a bit thick for our taste but a good salsa would have compensated. Alas... The shrimp tacos were instead "limp" tacos. The Chicken "Especial" was anything but "especial". Frankly, we won't be back. Prices were a little high for good food much less what we got. Service was slow and inattentive so the whole experience was memorably poor. Jim

    (1)
  • Aaron M.

    I will never go here based on an experience a group had here concerning a server Christina. Christina was horribly rude because a table did not tip her what she felt she deserved. To make matters worse, management did not make any effort to make the situation better after being informed of what was happening. What are you people doing over there trying to ruin your business? Wow.

    (1)
  • Ben S.

    Yep, this is a one-star review about an experience where nothing was actually consumed. Wait, make that two experiences where nothing was actually consumed. Think I will give them a third shot? Not even on a dare... Service is pure crap. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. No third chance will be afforded for these people to piss me off again.

    (1)
  • Mykia O.

    Hmmm. I just didn't care for the food or the service. I ordered a CHICKEN QUESADILLA, how in Gods name do you mess up a CHICKEN QUESADILLA? It was awful, like someone just put chicken and cheese on a tortilla and popped it in the microwave. Oh and the service was subpar at best, there was maybe one other couple in the entire restaurant and the food took forever. Just no bueno.

    (2)
  • Mark P.

    Great gourmet Mexican food. One of my favorite place to take business visitors to. A great place for families too.

    (4)
  • Kristen S.

    I never want to try new Mexican Restaurants because they are usually polar opposites for me. I either love you or hate you. Food was nothing to write home about, decorations leave a lot to be desired, and the place is very small. One person in my party asked to leave green pepper out of dish and got a run around from the waitress. I asked for no onion, and was told that was not possible. Chimichanga was large enough to share.

    (1)
  • Deva C.

    Ate here on 9/6/15. VERY slow food preparation time. AVOID the "pizza mexicana" at all costs! "Carnitas" are good. Little dry and lacked a bit of seasoning. Kids menu was good. Our kids liked the chicken enchilada and cheese quesadilla. Server was friendly. Manager does not have control of the restaurant. She floats around apologizing for wait times but doesn't do anything with your bill... Expect better service.

    (2)
  • Bill K.

    Not totally unfortunate but nothing to write home to mom about. We came here because of Guy from the food network. I need to write Guy a letter and ask for an hour and a half of my life back! 1 hour for the time it took to get our food and 30 minutes for watching his show where he show cases this west county singles bar! Don't let them sit you at the bar tables, it doubles as their waiting room. If you do get seated in the lounge get ready to have a side of ass with your meal and listen to someone else's loud drunk conversation. If you you are craving Mexican food, go to Taco Bell. This place is a fusion of Mexican and grandpas attempt at cooking dinner.

    (2)
  • Brandon A.

    Not for the claustrophobic. It seems like this place could benefit from expanding a bit, considering how crowded it typically is. The tables in the main dining area are practically on top of each other, unless you're lucky enough to get a booth. There is no waiting area either, just a hodgepodge of people huddled around the front door, which I'm sure is fine until it's 15 degrees outside. Anyway on to the food. The food was ok, Nothing to write home about. I like many people came here because of DDD. The drink my wife got (something with grapefruit and tequila) took so long to get to the table, half the ice melted by the time we got it. The food does come out quickly and it's pretty good, but not worth waiting 40 minutes in a cramped space and having to sit in a tiny space for

    (3)
  • Jim W.

    My 2nd time here, and I'll be back again. The wife got the carnitas, and it was some of the best flavored we've had. The one meal I like better than Mexican food is bbq, so when the chefs special of the day was ribs with a jalapeño sauce I had to try. Presentation was great. The ribs themselves were also very good, though a little pricey. While very good, next time I'll stick with traditional mexican fare. Service was very good.

    (4)
  • Ethan A.

    My dad loves this place so we went here for my birthday. The restaurant is in a strip mall and was about 40% full while we were there. The chips and salsa were just okay, they were fresh, but the chips seemed oily and the salsa not very flavorful. The drinks were quite expensive and nothing special. The entrees took a very long time to arrive given the amount of patrons. I had a pork burrito and it was pretty good, but again nothing I'd remember a few days later. All in all not bad, but if I lived in St Louis I'd probably be looking for alternative Mexican joints.

    (3)
  • Jackinthehood Y.

    Terrible service. Ended up walking out after waiting 15 minutes without any service except to grab Previous Bill. Owner was worthless.

    (1)
  • Amara H.

    I was eager to try this spot out as it was approved by Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The decor is festive and welcoming. The staff was friendly. But, despite all this, I was very underwhelmed by the food. I ordered salmon tacos. The food was bland to say the least. Simply put, it tasted like unseasoned fish with some vegetables. I would deem this as basic Tex-Mex food, a step-up from your standard fast food Tex-Mex options. Accidentally, but maybe more ironically, I forgot my boxed-up leftovers at the table. I will say, though, the salsas had a nice kick.

    (2)
  • Carmel M.

    Fun place, sub-standard food. We visited on a Friday night and were able to sit outside, thankfully, as there was live music that was pretty loud inside. It was a cover band, and it was fun and good atmosphere, but a bit loud. The waitress we had was sweet and eager to please. Definitely added a star for that. The food was pretty awful, though. Between us we ordered a quesadilla (very salty), shrimp fajitas (tasted okay but swimming in a lot of salsa for some reason), tamales (dry although swimming in sauce), and a guarache (that's how they spelled it! I would've spelled it "huarache"). It was rather disappointing--very small and clumsily put together. It looked like someone spent about ten seconds on this plate (for $10.50!?!). Very little steak (although what there was tasted delicious), mostly lettuce on that, and some other toppings. It was vaguely passable and I was underwhelmed. Luckily, I don't live nearby and I don't have to go here again but save your cash and calories and calories if this type of Mexican isn't your thing.

    (3)
  • O W.

    One of my favorite Mexican restaurant tire single city. Try the Mexican chicken it's wonderful. Just had the pork tamales they were as good as it gets. Not to mention their homemade taco chips are always warm and salty

    (5)
  • Pat R.

    Excellent pork chili verde, excellent for breakfast with my eggs. My wife had the chicken tacos and they were amazing. The kids had a 1/4 chicken and really liked the refried beans. Their salsa was very good, chips were a bit thick and didn't seem very fresh. Skip the chips and eat the salsa with a spoon and/or on your food. We will certainly be back.

    (5)
  • Not A.

    Look damnit, if I decide to eat out on a Friday night, I expect to be catered to. I had to transfer my bar appetizer and drinks from the bar to the table; our table was ready at the same time that we were served our drinks at the bar. The bartender, female, stated that we needed to cash out. When asked if wait staff would carry our belongings, she said, "No, you do and I would appreciate it because it helps me. All I do is throw it all away." When questioning our server about the policy, she said, "No, you all do it because we're too busy and may spill it on someone as we walk to the table!" Well, should I go and cook my food too and carry it out to my table since you all are too busy and afraid? Regarding the food, my friend described her plate as excellent. She had the blackened grouper with the jalapeño sauce. My food, however, was average. I had the carnitas which were dry and over cooked which meant they either sat too long or were reheated. We shared the nachos and salsa along with guacamole which were not pleasing because ingredients were missing. Also, I love ceviche and wanted to try it, but it was disappointing. The presentation was nice, but it was drowning with butter on the plate which ruined the taco shell. Further, if you expect a lime flavor it's MIA. For dessert, I tried the flan which I had to take off of the plate due to it being drowned in butter at the bottom. However, it tasted like it should, nothing special. My friend had the fried ice cream and liked it, but mind you, it is very hot and huge. In retrospect, would I patronize this place again, yes but I will do so on a less busy day. This will be to determine if my experience is the nature of the place, or if improved service and food quality occurs when they are not as busy.

    (3)
  • Jennifer Y.

    We like Espinos!. Located in a strip mall off Chesterfield Pkwy, we enjoyed a late 1:30 lunch outside and our staff was efficient and attentive. We tried 2 of their daily special dishes - stuffed poblano and soft tacos. Yum!

    (4)
  • Joshua H.

    This is by far the worst mexican food restaurant I have been to! There food is mediocre, but their service is so terrible I cannot describe it in words. I have allergies and the waitress was not willing to modify their food on their menu to fit my dietary needs. In fact, she suggested I eat lettuce. Yes, lettuce! While the rest of my family eats tacos and enchiladas! If you really want good service and good food I would suggest looking elsewhere. The waitress who served us here couldn't care less about the quality of her service.

    (1)
  • Noah H.

    Somethings were good others not so much. We stopped by based off the episode of DDD. The chile verde was good but not great. Also had the fajitas and burrito. The fajitas had a nice flavor and burrito was the best part of the meal, despite the fact they waiter mixed up the meat. Guacamole was great. Was not outstanding food and service could have been better.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Espinos Mexican Bar & Grill

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