Typical Mexican restaurant. I don't care for the salsa but other than that it's okay.
(4)
Dan C.
Wow! Columbus Indiana I did not expect this. Great meal. Great portions and their hot salsa was fantastic! I really enjoyed my meal that came within minutes of ordering. Great job! I will be back
(4)
Jimmy S.
Very good! I ordered the carnitas with a side order of chiles toreados. No different from what I get in California. All good and fresh.
(5)
Kiyoko M.
Lunch menus are available Price is very reasonable. The food is good and good customer service
(4)
Ronnie W.
Stopped in for lunch. The salsa with the chips is kinda bland, but the food came out hot and fast. I had a burrito carbone, filled with steak and sour cream topped with white queso cheese and it comes with rice and refried beans. Service was on point and the place was bright and very clean on the inside.
(3)
Fred S.
Stopped on a whim. Great salsa, great service, great fajita, great crab enchilada, fair prices. We'll be back.
(5)
Stephanie G.
Great food and good prices!! Love their free chips and salsa! :) their lunch chimichanga is perfect size for lunch and is cheap, and tastes amazing! Also have gotten their burrito al carbon and the burrito was huge!! Ate half and ate the rest for lunch the next day! It was delicious! ! Their service is also great! Never disappoints! Will be back soon!!
(5)
Tad S.
Out of this world good. Queso excellent, chips warm and amazing, and the chicken quesadilla was fantastic. I will definitely be back!!
(5)
Warren D.
This restaurant is always incredible and a regular feast for the family. The servers are extremely hospitable and quick to respond to ensure that we are satisfied. The management team is always on the restaurant floor ensuring the Customers are enjoying their dining experience. Thankfully, the cooks are always consistent in their preparation of the food. We strongly recommend the restaurant in Columbus. Great food. Great service. Great price.
(5)
Jennifer F.
Love it as always. We eat here consistently..at least twice a week. We usually dont even have to order. They usually just bring our order out to us! The fastest friendliest service ! Try the salsa macha.yum!!!!
(5)
Gregory C.
I have dined at El Nopal several times now and can't find anything negative about any of my visits. It has become one of my favorite Mexican comfort food dining establishments in this area. Everyone has different expectations and likes when it comes to Mexican food as the cuisine is so diverse. Having vacationed in Mexico many times and having lived in Texas for years - I got accustomed/addicted to eating the real deal latin cuisine. My expectations were not high prior to my fist visit to El Nopal. C'mon - good Mexican in Indiana? Not happening! I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by El Nopal. While not 5 star cuisine - it is good basic Mexican comfort food. For any first timers - you may wish to download the menu and have a look at it prior to going - as the length is fairly extensive. The service, the servers and wait staff all work hard and are attentive. The food is good and is relatively inexpensive. The portions are large. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can be busy - so be patient. They sometimes have a roving mariachi band on Thursday nights - I believe it is - quite loud but entertaining.
(5)
Jesse W.
I've never eaten here before and I'm a fan of Mexican food. But the service was horrible, the food was expensive, and it about made me sick. I got the bean burritos with rib tips in them. White cheese on top, with lettuce, guacamole, and a huge tomato that they didn't bother to cut up. By meaning the service was horrible, when the waiter came over to take our drink order he had 2 empty beer bottles in his hand and he spilled beer all over the other seat at our table where my girlfriend's mother would be sitting. Then after he cleaned it up. It took him about 12 minutes to get back to our table to take our order. Them the food wasn't that good when it got to our table. The food was more expensive than if we were to go to el jefe or another Mexican restaurant. And when we left I felt like I was gonna hurl my food all over the ground. It also felt like I was gonna keel over. So I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anybody I know. Or anybody for that matter
(1)
Martha H.
Stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was about half full with diners . The decor is nothing special. It had a diner feel to it. Reasonably priced at $6-$8 entrees. Very convenient to interstate and food was good. For a quick, casual lunch I'd recommend. Service was very prompt.
(4)
Luminor P.
Why would anyone go to Taco Bell when this place is cheaper, fresh, and just good?? The staff is super quick and friendly. You will never have an empty glass or basket of chips. The food is great for the price and this caliber of eatery. I would suggest to anyone wanting a quick fix of Mexican food at great prices and quick service.
(5)
Rawley F.
Coming from New Orleans, a place with plenty of great seafood options, I still rate the fish tacos here as the best. They give you a ton of fish in three foil wrapped tacos, dripping juice and peppers. Sloppy, yes, but I'd rather complain about too much than too little any day. The other options that I've tried here have been great, as well. Everything is always served piping hot and quick. The service is a mixed bag. One time, the waitress talked with a guy for about 30 minutes without even at glance at our table. However, the other 9-10 times I've visited, the service has been top quality. Overall, this is my favorite Mexican spot. It's nice to have a few spots that I crave when I return to Indiana. The menu is huge and varied, with plenty of vegetarian and seafood dishes to complement the traditional. Along with Roscoe's Tacos (Greenwood) and Donuts N Coffee (Columbus), this is on my "must" list each time I visit.
(5)
Steve W.
El Nopal is consistently good, but not special. Had lunch there today, it was freaky fast. Chips were on the table before my butt hit the seat. Food was promptly delivered, was prepared well, and was tasty. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Menu is a typical Mexican-American fare. Honestly I'm getting accustomed that most Mexican restaurants have speedy service and decent food. So again, my first line says it best - consistent good but average.
(3)
Sara C.
We eat here almost weekly. Most servers are great. The food is consistent. Love the guacamole and queso.
(3)
Kevin K.
Very fast, very good, and inexpensive -- and very tasty hot sauce with their chips. The only thing I didnt like was that on my to go bill when they wrote it up was the cost for a yummy burrito and then an unusual $0.50 charge. As the clerk read the bill back to me, she said "ok, you've got a burrito and chips/salsa" and when I said "oh, its 50 cents for the chips" her response was "chips & salsa are included with the burrito". As I was in a hurry and it was only 50 cents, I didnt bother with it but since I plan to go back in this week, I'm going to be more passionate about my 50 cents! But yes, the food was very good, packaged well for to go food, and the spicy salsa was well worth 50 cents!
(4)
Holly G.
Very good authentic Mexican food, moderately priced, good and fast service. The chile lime tilapia with mango salsa is exceptional! I would absolutely make a special trip to have this meal again! The reasons I'm not rating our visit a five star: 1) our basket of chips seemed to be the crumbs from the bottom of the bag and 2) the fresh salsa was not cold - it was room temperature (made me wonder how long it had been sitting out...) Other than those little details, it was a great experience and we would definitely return!
(4)
VM B.
Every time I go to a Mexican restaurant I order the Carne Asada as a base test for how well they cook their food. This restaurant serves a nice slice of flank steak and it is very juicy and flavorful. Beans and the flour tortillas are house made. I would give this restaurant 5 stars except they don't have Tapatio Sauce!
(4)
Amy W.
Every time I come here the food is wonderful and the best service by far. The place is very clean as well. Would recommend over and over again.
(5)
Smiley B.
My daughter and I ate dinner in El Nopal on May 25, 2012. We found the restaurant maybe half full with customers and we were seated right away. The chips and salsa were as expected, not great, just average. I ordered a Frozen Margarita and the server asked what flavor I wanted, I said "Margarita Flavored"...I wanted a regular Margarita, not a Strawberry Flavored one or any other flavor for that matter. She brought the drink within 2-3 minutes and I took one drink of it and it was clearly not a regular Margarita. So when she came back by the table, I asked her what flavor it was and she said Lime. I told her that it tasted like it was made with "dirty mop water" and then I told her she could have it back. She tried to sell me a more expensive Margarita that had better Tequila and I told her no thanks....I'll just drink water. I then ordered Chicken Fajitas and they were $13.50 for the dinner. And at that price, it didn't include any cheese. Wow. That is really expensive for a dish without cheese. So I ordered it and asked her to hold the guacamole. Of course, when the meal arrived at my table in 4 minutes, it was covered in guacamole. Wow. This was not going well at all. The chicken and onions barely had any flavor and it was just bland. I ate as much as I could stand, (which wasn't much) and waited for the non-english peaking server to bring my overpriced ticket so I could pay and get out of there. She finally noticed we were finished and brought the check. I can tell you that I will never be back to this Restaurant again. Over-priced food, horrible service and terrible drinks. The recipe for disaster.
(1)
Sanjeev m.
Excellent Mexican food in the middle of the heartland. authentic steaks and fajitas with especially fresh salsa. Their "green salsa" made of green tomatios and Jalapenos was out of this world. Very affordable pricing and good service. We were concerned that some of the previous patrons had not rated them so high but they must have improved a lot. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(4)
Troy Y.
Excellent food and a great value! I had the special plate which had a chalupa, taco, burrito, chile relleno, and also included beans and rice. I couldn't believe when it came out. It was so much food that it took three plates. This is for serious eaters only. I easily split it in to 2 meals. I highly recommend El Nopal.
The service was less than desirable, the food was average, but mostly the service was a disaster. We went on our lunch break on a week day and will never go back.
(1)
Rahul N.
Okie food, it's tex mex instead of real stuff.
(3)
Fred S.
Stopped on a whim. Great salsa, great service, great fajita, great crab enchilada, fair prices. We'll be back.
(5)
Jimmy S.
Very good! I ordered the carnitas with a side order of chiles toreados. No different from what I get in California. All good and fresh.
(5)
Kiyoko M.
Lunch menus are available Price is very reasonable. The food is good and good customer service
(4)
Ronnie W.
Stopped in for lunch. The salsa with the chips is kinda bland, but the food came out hot and fast. I had a burrito carbone, filled with steak and sour cream topped with white queso cheese and it comes with rice and refried beans. Service was on point and the place was bright and very clean on the inside.
(3)
Stephanie G.
Great food and good prices!! Love their free chips and salsa! :) their lunch chimichanga is perfect size for lunch and is cheap, and tastes amazing! Also have gotten their burrito al carbon and the burrito was huge!! Ate half and ate the rest for lunch the next day! It was delicious! ! Their service is also great! Never disappoints! Will be back soon!!
(5)
Tad S.
Out of this world good. Queso excellent, chips warm and amazing, and the chicken quesadilla was fantastic. I will definitely be back!!
(5)
Warren D.
This restaurant is always incredible and a regular feast for the family. The servers are extremely hospitable and quick to respond to ensure that we are satisfied. The management team is always on the restaurant floor ensuring the Customers are enjoying their dining experience. Thankfully, the cooks are always consistent in their preparation of the food. We strongly recommend the restaurant in Columbus. Great food. Great service. Great price.
(5)
Jennifer F.
Love it as always. We eat here consistently..at least twice a week. We usually dont even have to order. They usually just bring our order out to us! The fastest friendliest service ! Try the salsa macha.yum!!!!
(5)
Gregory C.
I have dined at El Nopal several times now and can't find anything negative about any of my visits. It has become one of my favorite Mexican comfort food dining establishments in this area. Everyone has different expectations and likes when it comes to Mexican food as the cuisine is so diverse. Having vacationed in Mexico many times and having lived in Texas for years - I got accustomed/addicted to eating the real deal latin cuisine. My expectations were not high prior to my fist visit to El Nopal. C'mon - good Mexican in Indiana? Not happening! I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by El Nopal. While not 5 star cuisine - it is good basic Mexican comfort food. For any first timers - you may wish to download the menu and have a look at it prior to going - as the length is fairly extensive. The service, the servers and wait staff all work hard and are attentive. The food is good and is relatively inexpensive. The portions are large. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can be busy - so be patient. They sometimes have a roving mariachi band on Thursday nights - I believe it is - quite loud but entertaining.
(5)
Jesse W.
I've never eaten here before and I'm a fan of Mexican food. But the service was horrible, the food was expensive, and it about made me sick. I got the bean burritos with rib tips in them. White cheese on top, with lettuce, guacamole, and a huge tomato that they didn't bother to cut up. By meaning the service was horrible, when the waiter came over to take our drink order he had 2 empty beer bottles in his hand and he spilled beer all over the other seat at our table where my girlfriend's mother would be sitting. Then after he cleaned it up. It took him about 12 minutes to get back to our table to take our order. Them the food wasn't that good when it got to our table. The food was more expensive than if we were to go to el jefe or another Mexican restaurant. And when we left I felt like I was gonna hurl my food all over the ground. It also felt like I was gonna keel over. So I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anybody I know. Or anybody for that matter
(1)
Jennifer G.
Typical Mexican restaurant. I don't care for the salsa but other than that it's okay.
(4)
Dan C.
Wow! Columbus Indiana I did not expect this. Great meal. Great portions and their hot salsa was fantastic! I really enjoyed my meal that came within minutes of ordering. Great job! I will be back
(4)
Rawley F.
Coming from New Orleans, a place with plenty of great seafood options, I still rate the fish tacos here as the best. They give you a ton of fish in three foil wrapped tacos, dripping juice and peppers. Sloppy, yes, but I'd rather complain about too much than too little any day. The other options that I've tried here have been great, as well. Everything is always served piping hot and quick. The service is a mixed bag. One time, the waitress talked with a guy for about 30 minutes without even at glance at our table. However, the other 9-10 times I've visited, the service has been top quality. Overall, this is my favorite Mexican spot. It's nice to have a few spots that I crave when I return to Indiana. The menu is huge and varied, with plenty of vegetarian and seafood dishes to complement the traditional. Along with Roscoe's Tacos (Greenwood) and Donuts N Coffee (Columbus), this is on my "must" list each time I visit.
(5)
Steve W.
El Nopal is consistently good, but not special. Had lunch there today, it was freaky fast. Chips were on the table before my butt hit the seat. Food was promptly delivered, was prepared well, and was tasty. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Menu is a typical Mexican-American fare. Honestly I'm getting accustomed that most Mexican restaurants have speedy service and decent food. So again, my first line says it best - consistent good but average.
(3)
Sara C.
We eat here almost weekly. Most servers are great. The food is consistent. Love the guacamole and queso.
(3)
Kevin K.
Very fast, very good, and inexpensive -- and very tasty hot sauce with their chips. The only thing I didnt like was that on my to go bill when they wrote it up was the cost for a yummy burrito and then an unusual $0.50 charge. As the clerk read the bill back to me, she said "ok, you've got a burrito and chips/salsa" and when I said "oh, its 50 cents for the chips" her response was "chips & salsa are included with the burrito". As I was in a hurry and it was only 50 cents, I didnt bother with it but since I plan to go back in this week, I'm going to be more passionate about my 50 cents! But yes, the food was very good, packaged well for to go food, and the spicy salsa was well worth 50 cents!
(4)
Holly G.
Very good authentic Mexican food, moderately priced, good and fast service. The chile lime tilapia with mango salsa is exceptional! I would absolutely make a special trip to have this meal again! The reasons I'm not rating our visit a five star: 1) our basket of chips seemed to be the crumbs from the bottom of the bag and 2) the fresh salsa was not cold - it was room temperature (made me wonder how long it had been sitting out...) Other than those little details, it was a great experience and we would definitely return!
(4)
VM B.
Every time I go to a Mexican restaurant I order the Carne Asada as a base test for how well they cook their food. This restaurant serves a nice slice of flank steak and it is very juicy and flavorful. Beans and the flour tortillas are house made. I would give this restaurant 5 stars except they don't have Tapatio Sauce!
(4)
Amy W.
Every time I come here the food is wonderful and the best service by far. The place is very clean as well. Would recommend over and over again.
(5)
Martha H.
Stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was about half full with diners . The decor is nothing special. It had a diner feel to it. Reasonably priced at $6-$8 entrees. Very convenient to interstate and food was good. For a quick, casual lunch I'd recommend. Service was very prompt.
(4)
Luminor P.
Why would anyone go to Taco Bell when this place is cheaper, fresh, and just good?? The staff is super quick and friendly. You will never have an empty glass or basket of chips. The food is great for the price and this caliber of eatery. I would suggest to anyone wanting a quick fix of Mexican food at great prices and quick service.
(5)
Smiley B.
My daughter and I ate dinner in El Nopal on May 25, 2012. We found the restaurant maybe half full with customers and we were seated right away. The chips and salsa were as expected, not great, just average. I ordered a Frozen Margarita and the server asked what flavor I wanted, I said "Margarita Flavored"...I wanted a regular Margarita, not a Strawberry Flavored one or any other flavor for that matter. She brought the drink within 2-3 minutes and I took one drink of it and it was clearly not a regular Margarita. So when she came back by the table, I asked her what flavor it was and she said Lime. I told her that it tasted like it was made with "dirty mop water" and then I told her she could have it back. She tried to sell me a more expensive Margarita that had better Tequila and I told her no thanks....I'll just drink water. I then ordered Chicken Fajitas and they were $13.50 for the dinner. And at that price, it didn't include any cheese. Wow. That is really expensive for a dish without cheese. So I ordered it and asked her to hold the guacamole. Of course, when the meal arrived at my table in 4 minutes, it was covered in guacamole. Wow. This was not going well at all. The chicken and onions barely had any flavor and it was just bland. I ate as much as I could stand, (which wasn't much) and waited for the non-english peaking server to bring my overpriced ticket so I could pay and get out of there. She finally noticed we were finished and brought the check. I can tell you that I will never be back to this Restaurant again. Over-priced food, horrible service and terrible drinks. The recipe for disaster.
(1)
Sanjeev m.
Excellent Mexican food in the middle of the heartland. authentic steaks and fajitas with especially fresh salsa. Their "green salsa" made of green tomatios and Jalapenos was out of this world. Very affordable pricing and good service. We were concerned that some of the previous patrons had not rated them so high but they must have improved a lot. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(4)
Troy Y.
Excellent food and a great value! I had the special plate which had a chalupa, taco, burrito, chile relleno, and also included beans and rice. I couldn't believe when it came out. It was so much food that it took three plates. This is for serious eaters only. I easily split it in to 2 meals. I highly recommend El Nopal.
The service was less than desirable, the food was average, but mostly the service was a disaster. We went on our lunch break on a week day and will never go back.
(1)
Rahul N.
Okie food, it's tex mex instead of real stuff.
(3)
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Address :3330 W Jonathan Moore Pike
Columbus, IN, 47201
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
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.
Jennifer G.
Typical Mexican restaurant. I don't care for the salsa but other than that it's okay.
(4)Dan C.
Wow! Columbus Indiana I did not expect this. Great meal. Great portions and their hot salsa was fantastic! I really enjoyed my meal that came within minutes of ordering. Great job! I will be back
(4)Jimmy S.
Very good! I ordered the carnitas with a side order of chiles toreados. No different from what I get in California. All good and fresh.
(5)Kiyoko M.
Lunch menus are available Price is very reasonable. The food is good and good customer service
(4)Ronnie W.
Stopped in for lunch. The salsa with the chips is kinda bland, but the food came out hot and fast. I had a burrito carbone, filled with steak and sour cream topped with white queso cheese and it comes with rice and refried beans. Service was on point and the place was bright and very clean on the inside.
(3)Fred S.
Stopped on a whim. Great salsa, great service, great fajita, great crab enchilada, fair prices. We'll be back.
(5)Stephanie G.
Great food and good prices!! Love their free chips and salsa! :) their lunch chimichanga is perfect size for lunch and is cheap, and tastes amazing! Also have gotten their burrito al carbon and the burrito was huge!! Ate half and ate the rest for lunch the next day! It was delicious! ! Their service is also great! Never disappoints! Will be back soon!!
(5)Tad S.
Out of this world good. Queso excellent, chips warm and amazing, and the chicken quesadilla was fantastic. I will definitely be back!!
(5)Warren D.
This restaurant is always incredible and a regular feast for the family. The servers are extremely hospitable and quick to respond to ensure that we are satisfied. The management team is always on the restaurant floor ensuring the Customers are enjoying their dining experience. Thankfully, the cooks are always consistent in their preparation of the food. We strongly recommend the restaurant in Columbus. Great food. Great service. Great price.
(5)Jennifer F.
Love it as always. We eat here consistently..at least twice a week. We usually dont even have to order. They usually just bring our order out to us! The fastest friendliest service ! Try the salsa macha.yum!!!!
(5)Gregory C.
I have dined at El Nopal several times now and can't find anything negative about any of my visits. It has become one of my favorite Mexican comfort food dining establishments in this area. Everyone has different expectations and likes when it comes to Mexican food as the cuisine is so diverse. Having vacationed in Mexico many times and having lived in Texas for years - I got accustomed/addicted to eating the real deal latin cuisine. My expectations were not high prior to my fist visit to El Nopal. C'mon - good Mexican in Indiana? Not happening! I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by El Nopal. While not 5 star cuisine - it is good basic Mexican comfort food. For any first timers - you may wish to download the menu and have a look at it prior to going - as the length is fairly extensive. The service, the servers and wait staff all work hard and are attentive. The food is good and is relatively inexpensive. The portions are large. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can be busy - so be patient. They sometimes have a roving mariachi band on Thursday nights - I believe it is - quite loud but entertaining.
(5)Jesse W.
I've never eaten here before and I'm a fan of Mexican food. But the service was horrible, the food was expensive, and it about made me sick. I got the bean burritos with rib tips in them. White cheese on top, with lettuce, guacamole, and a huge tomato that they didn't bother to cut up. By meaning the service was horrible, when the waiter came over to take our drink order he had 2 empty beer bottles in his hand and he spilled beer all over the other seat at our table where my girlfriend's mother would be sitting. Then after he cleaned it up. It took him about 12 minutes to get back to our table to take our order. Them the food wasn't that good when it got to our table. The food was more expensive than if we were to go to el jefe or another Mexican restaurant. And when we left I felt like I was gonna hurl my food all over the ground. It also felt like I was gonna keel over. So I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anybody I know. Or anybody for that matter
(1)Martha H.
Stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was about half full with diners . The decor is nothing special. It had a diner feel to it. Reasonably priced at $6-$8 entrees. Very convenient to interstate and food was good. For a quick, casual lunch I'd recommend. Service was very prompt.
(4)Luminor P.
Why would anyone go to Taco Bell when this place is cheaper, fresh, and just good?? The staff is super quick and friendly. You will never have an empty glass or basket of chips. The food is great for the price and this caliber of eatery. I would suggest to anyone wanting a quick fix of Mexican food at great prices and quick service.
(5)Rawley F.
Coming from New Orleans, a place with plenty of great seafood options, I still rate the fish tacos here as the best. They give you a ton of fish in three foil wrapped tacos, dripping juice and peppers. Sloppy, yes, but I'd rather complain about too much than too little any day. The other options that I've tried here have been great, as well. Everything is always served piping hot and quick. The service is a mixed bag. One time, the waitress talked with a guy for about 30 minutes without even at glance at our table. However, the other 9-10 times I've visited, the service has been top quality. Overall, this is my favorite Mexican spot. It's nice to have a few spots that I crave when I return to Indiana. The menu is huge and varied, with plenty of vegetarian and seafood dishes to complement the traditional. Along with Roscoe's Tacos (Greenwood) and Donuts N Coffee (Columbus), this is on my "must" list each time I visit.
(5)Steve W.
El Nopal is consistently good, but not special. Had lunch there today, it was freaky fast. Chips were on the table before my butt hit the seat. Food was promptly delivered, was prepared well, and was tasty. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Menu is a typical Mexican-American fare. Honestly I'm getting accustomed that most Mexican restaurants have speedy service and decent food. So again, my first line says it best - consistent good but average.
(3)Sara C.
We eat here almost weekly. Most servers are great. The food is consistent. Love the guacamole and queso.
(3)Kevin K.
Very fast, very good, and inexpensive -- and very tasty hot sauce with their chips. The only thing I didnt like was that on my to go bill when they wrote it up was the cost for a yummy burrito and then an unusual $0.50 charge. As the clerk read the bill back to me, she said "ok, you've got a burrito and chips/salsa" and when I said "oh, its 50 cents for the chips" her response was "chips & salsa are included with the burrito". As I was in a hurry and it was only 50 cents, I didnt bother with it but since I plan to go back in this week, I'm going to be more passionate about my 50 cents! But yes, the food was very good, packaged well for to go food, and the spicy salsa was well worth 50 cents!
(4)Holly G.
Very good authentic Mexican food, moderately priced, good and fast service. The chile lime tilapia with mango salsa is exceptional! I would absolutely make a special trip to have this meal again! The reasons I'm not rating our visit a five star: 1) our basket of chips seemed to be the crumbs from the bottom of the bag and 2) the fresh salsa was not cold - it was room temperature (made me wonder how long it had been sitting out...) Other than those little details, it was a great experience and we would definitely return!
(4)VM B.
Every time I go to a Mexican restaurant I order the Carne Asada as a base test for how well they cook their food. This restaurant serves a nice slice of flank steak and it is very juicy and flavorful. Beans and the flour tortillas are house made. I would give this restaurant 5 stars except they don't have Tapatio Sauce!
(4)Amy W.
Every time I come here the food is wonderful and the best service by far. The place is very clean as well. Would recommend over and over again.
(5)Smiley B.
My daughter and I ate dinner in El Nopal on May 25, 2012. We found the restaurant maybe half full with customers and we were seated right away. The chips and salsa were as expected, not great, just average. I ordered a Frozen Margarita and the server asked what flavor I wanted, I said "Margarita Flavored"...I wanted a regular Margarita, not a Strawberry Flavored one or any other flavor for that matter. She brought the drink within 2-3 minutes and I took one drink of it and it was clearly not a regular Margarita. So when she came back by the table, I asked her what flavor it was and she said Lime. I told her that it tasted like it was made with "dirty mop water" and then I told her she could have it back. She tried to sell me a more expensive Margarita that had better Tequila and I told her no thanks....I'll just drink water. I then ordered Chicken Fajitas and they were $13.50 for the dinner. And at that price, it didn't include any cheese. Wow. That is really expensive for a dish without cheese. So I ordered it and asked her to hold the guacamole. Of course, when the meal arrived at my table in 4 minutes, it was covered in guacamole. Wow. This was not going well at all. The chicken and onions barely had any flavor and it was just bland. I ate as much as I could stand, (which wasn't much) and waited for the non-english peaking server to bring my overpriced ticket so I could pay and get out of there. She finally noticed we were finished and brought the check. I can tell you that I will never be back to this Restaurant again. Over-priced food, horrible service and terrible drinks. The recipe for disaster.
(1)Sanjeev m.
Excellent Mexican food in the middle of the heartland. authentic steaks and fajitas with especially fresh salsa. Their "green salsa" made of green tomatios and Jalapenos was out of this world. Very affordable pricing and good service. We were concerned that some of the previous patrons had not rated them so high but they must have improved a lot. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(4)Troy Y.
Excellent food and a great value! I had the special plate which had a chalupa, taco, burrito, chile relleno, and also included beans and rice. I couldn't believe when it came out. It was so much food that it took three plates. This is for serious eaters only. I easily split it in to 2 meals. I highly recommend El Nopal.
(5)Abby D.
We LOVE El Nopal! We're almost (dare I say?) weekly patrons. :-) Great service; they practically know us by name. A few great things (although everything we've had is great) - the mango tilapia, chimichanga, their ground beef hard shell tacos are amazing, and oddly enough even their American food is GREAT. My fiancé loves their rack of ribs, and we've both had their cheeseburger (which comes loaded with bacon, mushrooms and all the fresh veggies). We love their hot salsa and warm tortilla chips. Can't get enough of El Nopal!
(5)Tina D.
The service was less than desirable, the food was average, but mostly the service was a disaster. We went on our lunch break on a week day and will never go back.
(1)Rahul N.
Okie food, it's tex mex instead of real stuff.
(3)Fred S.
Stopped on a whim. Great salsa, great service, great fajita, great crab enchilada, fair prices. We'll be back.
(5)Jimmy S.
Very good! I ordered the carnitas with a side order of chiles toreados. No different from what I get in California. All good and fresh.
(5)Kiyoko M.
Lunch menus are available Price is very reasonable. The food is good and good customer service
(4)Ronnie W.
Stopped in for lunch. The salsa with the chips is kinda bland, but the food came out hot and fast. I had a burrito carbone, filled with steak and sour cream topped with white queso cheese and it comes with rice and refried beans. Service was on point and the place was bright and very clean on the inside.
(3)Stephanie G.
Great food and good prices!! Love their free chips and salsa! :) their lunch chimichanga is perfect size for lunch and is cheap, and tastes amazing! Also have gotten their burrito al carbon and the burrito was huge!! Ate half and ate the rest for lunch the next day! It was delicious! ! Their service is also great! Never disappoints! Will be back soon!!
(5)Tad S.
Out of this world good. Queso excellent, chips warm and amazing, and the chicken quesadilla was fantastic. I will definitely be back!!
(5)Warren D.
This restaurant is always incredible and a regular feast for the family. The servers are extremely hospitable and quick to respond to ensure that we are satisfied. The management team is always on the restaurant floor ensuring the Customers are enjoying their dining experience. Thankfully, the cooks are always consistent in their preparation of the food. We strongly recommend the restaurant in Columbus. Great food. Great service. Great price.
(5)Jennifer F.
Love it as always. We eat here consistently..at least twice a week. We usually dont even have to order. They usually just bring our order out to us! The fastest friendliest service ! Try the salsa macha.yum!!!!
(5)Gregory C.
I have dined at El Nopal several times now and can't find anything negative about any of my visits. It has become one of my favorite Mexican comfort food dining establishments in this area. Everyone has different expectations and likes when it comes to Mexican food as the cuisine is so diverse. Having vacationed in Mexico many times and having lived in Texas for years - I got accustomed/addicted to eating the real deal latin cuisine. My expectations were not high prior to my fist visit to El Nopal. C'mon - good Mexican in Indiana? Not happening! I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by El Nopal. While not 5 star cuisine - it is good basic Mexican comfort food. For any first timers - you may wish to download the menu and have a look at it prior to going - as the length is fairly extensive. The service, the servers and wait staff all work hard and are attentive. The food is good and is relatively inexpensive. The portions are large. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights can be busy - so be patient. They sometimes have a roving mariachi band on Thursday nights - I believe it is - quite loud but entertaining.
(5)Jesse W.
I've never eaten here before and I'm a fan of Mexican food. But the service was horrible, the food was expensive, and it about made me sick. I got the bean burritos with rib tips in them. White cheese on top, with lettuce, guacamole, and a huge tomato that they didn't bother to cut up. By meaning the service was horrible, when the waiter came over to take our drink order he had 2 empty beer bottles in his hand and he spilled beer all over the other seat at our table where my girlfriend's mother would be sitting. Then after he cleaned it up. It took him about 12 minutes to get back to our table to take our order. Them the food wasn't that good when it got to our table. The food was more expensive than if we were to go to el jefe or another Mexican restaurant. And when we left I felt like I was gonna hurl my food all over the ground. It also felt like I was gonna keel over. So I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anybody I know. Or anybody for that matter
(1)Jennifer G.
Typical Mexican restaurant. I don't care for the salsa but other than that it's okay.
(4)Dan C.
Wow! Columbus Indiana I did not expect this. Great meal. Great portions and their hot salsa was fantastic! I really enjoyed my meal that came within minutes of ordering. Great job! I will be back
(4)Rawley F.
Coming from New Orleans, a place with plenty of great seafood options, I still rate the fish tacos here as the best. They give you a ton of fish in three foil wrapped tacos, dripping juice and peppers. Sloppy, yes, but I'd rather complain about too much than too little any day. The other options that I've tried here have been great, as well. Everything is always served piping hot and quick. The service is a mixed bag. One time, the waitress talked with a guy for about 30 minutes without even at glance at our table. However, the other 9-10 times I've visited, the service has been top quality. Overall, this is my favorite Mexican spot. It's nice to have a few spots that I crave when I return to Indiana. The menu is huge and varied, with plenty of vegetarian and seafood dishes to complement the traditional. Along with Roscoe's Tacos (Greenwood) and Donuts N Coffee (Columbus), this is on my "must" list each time I visit.
(5)Steve W.
El Nopal is consistently good, but not special. Had lunch there today, it was freaky fast. Chips were on the table before my butt hit the seat. Food was promptly delivered, was prepared well, and was tasty. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Menu is a typical Mexican-American fare. Honestly I'm getting accustomed that most Mexican restaurants have speedy service and decent food. So again, my first line says it best - consistent good but average.
(3)Sara C.
We eat here almost weekly. Most servers are great. The food is consistent. Love the guacamole and queso.
(3)Kevin K.
Very fast, very good, and inexpensive -- and very tasty hot sauce with their chips. The only thing I didnt like was that on my to go bill when they wrote it up was the cost for a yummy burrito and then an unusual $0.50 charge. As the clerk read the bill back to me, she said "ok, you've got a burrito and chips/salsa" and when I said "oh, its 50 cents for the chips" her response was "chips & salsa are included with the burrito". As I was in a hurry and it was only 50 cents, I didnt bother with it but since I plan to go back in this week, I'm going to be more passionate about my 50 cents! But yes, the food was very good, packaged well for to go food, and the spicy salsa was well worth 50 cents!
(4)Holly G.
Very good authentic Mexican food, moderately priced, good and fast service. The chile lime tilapia with mango salsa is exceptional! I would absolutely make a special trip to have this meal again! The reasons I'm not rating our visit a five star: 1) our basket of chips seemed to be the crumbs from the bottom of the bag and 2) the fresh salsa was not cold - it was room temperature (made me wonder how long it had been sitting out...) Other than those little details, it was a great experience and we would definitely return!
(4)VM B.
Every time I go to a Mexican restaurant I order the Carne Asada as a base test for how well they cook their food. This restaurant serves a nice slice of flank steak and it is very juicy and flavorful. Beans and the flour tortillas are house made. I would give this restaurant 5 stars except they don't have Tapatio Sauce!
(4)Amy W.
Every time I come here the food is wonderful and the best service by far. The place is very clean as well. Would recommend over and over again.
(5)Martha H.
Stopped for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was about half full with diners . The decor is nothing special. It had a diner feel to it. Reasonably priced at $6-$8 entrees. Very convenient to interstate and food was good. For a quick, casual lunch I'd recommend. Service was very prompt.
(4)Luminor P.
Why would anyone go to Taco Bell when this place is cheaper, fresh, and just good?? The staff is super quick and friendly. You will never have an empty glass or basket of chips. The food is great for the price and this caliber of eatery. I would suggest to anyone wanting a quick fix of Mexican food at great prices and quick service.
(5)Smiley B.
My daughter and I ate dinner in El Nopal on May 25, 2012. We found the restaurant maybe half full with customers and we were seated right away. The chips and salsa were as expected, not great, just average. I ordered a Frozen Margarita and the server asked what flavor I wanted, I said "Margarita Flavored"...I wanted a regular Margarita, not a Strawberry Flavored one or any other flavor for that matter. She brought the drink within 2-3 minutes and I took one drink of it and it was clearly not a regular Margarita. So when she came back by the table, I asked her what flavor it was and she said Lime. I told her that it tasted like it was made with "dirty mop water" and then I told her she could have it back. She tried to sell me a more expensive Margarita that had better Tequila and I told her no thanks....I'll just drink water. I then ordered Chicken Fajitas and they were $13.50 for the dinner. And at that price, it didn't include any cheese. Wow. That is really expensive for a dish without cheese. So I ordered it and asked her to hold the guacamole. Of course, when the meal arrived at my table in 4 minutes, it was covered in guacamole. Wow. This was not going well at all. The chicken and onions barely had any flavor and it was just bland. I ate as much as I could stand, (which wasn't much) and waited for the non-english peaking server to bring my overpriced ticket so I could pay and get out of there. She finally noticed we were finished and brought the check. I can tell you that I will never be back to this Restaurant again. Over-priced food, horrible service and terrible drinks. The recipe for disaster.
(1)Sanjeev m.
Excellent Mexican food in the middle of the heartland. authentic steaks and fajitas with especially fresh salsa. Their "green salsa" made of green tomatios and Jalapenos was out of this world. Very affordable pricing and good service. We were concerned that some of the previous patrons had not rated them so high but they must have improved a lot. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(4)Troy Y.
Excellent food and a great value! I had the special plate which had a chalupa, taco, burrito, chile relleno, and also included beans and rice. I couldn't believe when it came out. It was so much food that it took three plates. This is for serious eaters only. I easily split it in to 2 meals. I highly recommend El Nopal.
(5)Abby D.
We LOVE El Nopal! We're almost (dare I say?) weekly patrons. :-) Great service; they practically know us by name. A few great things (although everything we've had is great) - the mango tilapia, chimichanga, their ground beef hard shell tacos are amazing, and oddly enough even their American food is GREAT. My fiancé loves their rack of ribs, and we've both had their cheeseburger (which comes loaded with bacon, mushrooms and all the fresh veggies). We love their hot salsa and warm tortilla chips. Can't get enough of El Nopal!
(5)Tina D.
The service was less than desirable, the food was average, but mostly the service was a disaster. We went on our lunch break on a week day and will never go back.
(1)Rahul N.
Okie food, it's tex mex instead of real stuff.
(3)