El Mazatlan
105 Gardner Ln, Cave City, KY, 42127
El Mazatlan Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Cave City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cave City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cave City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
105 Gardner Ln
Cave City, KY, 42127 - Phone (270) 773-7448
- Website https://elmazatlan.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
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
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.
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Sara T.
Our family group of 10 plus a baby had a great time here last night after a long day in Mammoth Cave. The service was quick and friendly, and they had an easy time putting together a large table for us. The food was wonderful. I loved my chicken chimichanga and it came with great rice, beans and guacamole. My husband liked his burrito. In addition to all of the typical Mexican dishes, they had some more unusual offerings. One of my brothers in law had an enchilada that included shrimp, broccoli and pineapple. He loved it. I would highly recommend coming here if you're in the area.
(4)Michael T.
This place was great! the portions were huge and all the entrees were around 10-15 dollars. the beer....omg we had a 16 oz. dos equis from tap at 1.50 dollars each during happy hour. I challenge you to find a place with cheaper beer. had a great time here
(5)Matthew B.
In a word, amazing! From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out, we were nothing but impressed. Delicious, authentic food and margaritas, for a really good price. We ordered the nachos la casa, con bistec, and a chimichanga. If we lived any closer (we live in Madison, WI) we would be regulars here.
(5)Joyce X.
For a Mexican restaurant located in almost literally the middle of nowhere, El Mazatlan was pretty good! My friends and I stopped here for dinner after visiting Mammoth Cave earlier in the day. The restaurant has very big portions for affordable prices, very similar to El Vaquero (a chain Mexican restaurant, if you are unfamiliar). The mango margarita was good, though I feel like it could use more tequila. The complimentary chips and salsa weren't the best I had, but still quite tasty and addictive. I ordered the Chilaquiles Mexicanos (chicken in ranchero sauce, with Mexican rice and guacamole salad). The chicken was a bit dry and tough, but everything else on the plate was good. My friends and I also shared a flan, which was good and not overly-sweet. Our waitress was very, very friendly! She's very attentive and happy, and joked around with us. I think overall, the experience was great, and if I was ever in the area again, I would return to eat here.
(3)J M.
Edible but nothing special at all. Cold food.... the cheese wasn't even melted on my tiny burrito. Smallest chimichanga I've ever seen and just overall bland food. I'm baffled how people accept such horrible Mexican food. If it was actually good it would be exploding with taste and flavor. This is an all too common problem and finding something authentic is like finding a needle in a haystack.
(1)Kelcie G.
We had fairly low expectations for the food but were pleasantly proven wrong. Tacos were delicious! The chips and salsa were also fabulous. Would definitely recommend and would go back. Took off a star because the margaritas, though cheap, were so weak that I wouldn't be surprised if we were given virgins. Would not recommend.
(4)Necii M.
Love this place, if I go to visit the Cave again next time, will definitely choose this one again. I love the Especial El Mazatlán and recommend you guys try it if u got a chance!
(5)Bernie O.
El Mazatlan served the most horrendous meal that has ever been set in front of me. Even Taco Bell makes better food than them. I would barely consider the meat to be real meat. The retried beans were watery and the rice had so much salt that it was not fit for human consumption. I was chewing on literal grains of salt. Service was poor, and the manager expected us to pay for the non palatable meal, saying that they had served the same food all day and received no complaints. He even had the audacity to say that he sampled the food and said it tasted fine. We offered him some of ours and he refused. It was the absolute worst food I have ever tasted. Life lessons: NEVER eat Mexican food in Kentucky.
(1)Vincent T.
The food was definitely good and the speed of the food to the table was lightning. I didn't expect to find such good Mexican food in a little town outside mammoth cave but it was delicious. My only issue was the salsa. Although it was good, it was a bit juicy and mild for my taste. Definitely recommend it.
(4)Hans C.
The service and atmosphere were great, the portions were large, and the prices were right. But the actual food was like two degrees above mediocre. And despite the vast menu of offerings, they didn't have horchata, the most glorious beverage known to mankind. I guess that's to be expected from a Mexican restaurant in the middle of Kentucky. Cave City is not exactly a town known for it's authentic south-of-the-border cuisine, but I guess El Mazatlan represents okay from within a nest of 2-star motels, interstate truck stops, and campy tourist attractions.
(3)R B.
Margarita from a mix, guac from a mix...but after an evening cave tour and hiking back uphill in a raging thunderstorm, all the food was good and satisfying. The service was fantastic.
(4)Zack F.
It's a step above the normal chain Mexican restaurants that have the same dishes made from canned food. Also, there aren't many options in the area. The salsa is not very good. However, request the hot verde salsa. It's much better. I think they charged us $0.50 for it. The chips were decent and the margarita was good but not great. They have a number of vegetarian options and were flexible to make substitutions. I was a little concerned they didn't understand my request at first, but they came through with no problems. I will say the potato enchilada is not good. Just flavorless cold potato in a tortilla with some sauce on top.
(3)Bill C.
Service was very good here... portions were generous. Basically run of the mill Mexican food... it wasn't outstanding but it was good. Beers and drinks are very cheap, so if you like to have a drink that's a plus.
(3)Robert R.
Good mex food. But remember your straw is raped in with your fork lol . Low cost good food and service . A+
(5)Kimberly E.
We really enjoyed this place. The waiter humored the 2 teens we had and helped them place their order and try to speak mostly exclusively Spanish with him since they are learning. Even helping them with a couple of words. Food was good, nothing overly fantastic about it. Margarita pitcher on the rocks was descent, maybe a little too light on the tequila. We each had something different, only one wasn't that pleased with the steak nachos. Otherwise good. Good value given we had 2 adults and 2 hungry teen boys. Coupon right on table for 10% off. Drinks, main dishes and desserts for all and we walked out at $75 including tip. That's a good deal in my books. 4 stars only because it wasn't out of this world best Mexican I've ever had.
(4)Daniel B.
We ate here based on the recommendations on yelp and were actually pleasantly surprised. The service was very good, the food came fast and hot and the portions were generous. We would go there again though we are just passing through for the evening. It's a little pricier than it would appear so plan on an average of $10 per person without desert or alcohol. I have it a solid three stars and was happy my family and I enjoyed a good meal that wasn't fast good on our road trip.
(3)Teresa L.
We stopped here for dinner after visiting Mammoth Cave. Food was great, drinks were great. I was actually pretty surprised to find a decent Mexican place in the middle of tourist nowhere. The menu is pretty large with a lot of variety. My sister had some kind of pork stew that came in a bowl and which she loved. I had the vegetarian enchiladas, which were stuffed with every good thing and covered with a lovely sauce and cheese. The margaritas were classic and on the rocks and were not too sweet. Had a bit of a kick to them too. If you find yourself down that way and need a place to eat this is a good option.
(4)J S.
I really enjoyed this place. I ordered the chicken fajitas, which were good, but there weren't many green peppers or tomatoes with it. My husband got Steve's special, which is chicken, cheese and rice. The portion was huge and he said it was very good. All in all, a typical Mexican restaurant, but still very good,
(4)Cathy S.
Absolutely amazing!!! The food, service and price was excellent. The service was out of this world from start to finish. Seating was immediate and server was professional and got us our drinks quickly. Returned quickly for order and literally went to kiosk and punched order in and within 5 minutes our hot delicious food was there. Truly a wonderful experience. We are out of state and will definitely return!
(5)Carolyn B.
I would give this place zero stars, but that isnt an option. This may have been the WORST meal I've ever eaten. Ever. Let's start with the salsa...im pretty sure they just poured a can of Hunts tomatos into a dish and put it on the table. Pass on the Salsa. Next was the appatizer..we ordered the chiroqueso. Should have been chorizo, queso fundido and spices...this was some hamburger meat covered in half unmelted queso, barely edible. Next was entrees, delivered to the table about 30 seconds after the appatizer. ..I had no room to eat at this point. I had the California burrito, which should have been chicken, lettuce, rice, beans covered in a ranchero sauce. It was just chicken wrapped in a soggy tortilla with some sort of sauce on it. It tasted a lot like chicken chow mein. Not good. Bad service, horrible food, uncomfortable seating. Stay away, go to A&W instead.
(1)Crystal T.
Honestly, I was not expecting much, but this place was great! They offer a wide variety of menu items in addition to typical Mexican fare. We tried the carnitas and the house dish. Both were good.
(4)Margaret G.
We found this Mexican Resturant some years ago and we always come back when we are camping in the area. Great Food and service!! Today was Mothers Day and they were very busy, but still got great good and service !! We will be back!!
(4)Elayne D.
Enjoyed our dinners very much I had shrimp quesadilla and my husband had tamales and enchiladas tacos the margaritas were on special and very tasty
(5)Jon M.
Great mexcain food. Excellent flavor. We had the Asada plate and the Fajita plate. Both out of this world. The tamales were good but not authentic. Great place we will be back.
(5)Leo Y.
I had a hard time deciding on what to rate this establishment. The service that I received was excellent, alcohol prices were very cheap, and they had free chips and salsa. My issue is that the food was not very good. It reminded me of when I tried cooking in middle school. It was all edible, however, it did not have the wonderful flavor that Mexican food has. I would recommend this place if looking for a drink/snack, but not if you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal.
(2)L F.
We came here based off of yelp reviews and suggestion from our hotel. The chips and salsa were fair but bland. The margaritas we clearly made from a mix however the queso was amazing and the best thing we ordered. Based on another yelp review raving about the beef both my husband and I ordered it. I had the beef fajitas and he had the California burrito, we would agree with the review stating the beef was tender. But it was strange because the beef tasted like Chinese food so it was just such an odd taste in a burrito or fajitas. The portions were large and service was great. Our food arrived so quickly too. We sat outside in the outdoor seating and the locals were so kind and friendly. It was nice to chat with them. One thing to note is they do allow outdoor smoking which we aren't used to.
(3)Tim W.
OK food. Not very spicy, my burrito had just plain ground beef. This is the only Mexican restaurant that we tried in the area. I would advise looking for others if you want spicy.
(3)Kathy J.
Staying in the area for a few weeks when we started craving Mexican. Thought we would give El Mazatlan a try. Not that there are a lot of options here. Boy, were we pleasantly surprised! My husband ordered the Enchiladas Ranchero and I ordered the California Style Burrito with steak. Service was good and fast. Food was excellent! The beef in my burrito was the most tender beef I have ever had in a Mexican restaurant. On our second visit, my husband ordered the same thing. I tried the steak fajitas. Again the beef was incredibly tender. Will probably be back one more time before we continue on our journeys.
(5)Mallory V.
We came here because... well... There aren't many options in Cave City! Thankfully it's not a bad option. The place was packed (by reviews it looks like it's the most visited restaurant) but we were still seated right away. The service was great, despite the number of other parties. The food was good as well and decently priced. I will say the chips and salsa were a bit disappointing but everything else was good. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but I would go back or recommend to anyone staying in the Cave City area.
(4)Steven L.
Great Mexican restaurant located beside Days Inn. It's so close, I just walked over to it. I got out of my car and started walking in the direction of this restaurant. A kid said to me " are you going to the Mexican restaurant"? I said "yes". He said I should try their beef burrito because they "taste great". I said ok. When I got inside I ordered a sweet tea and combination dinner number 19. Combo dinner 19 includes a chalupa, an enchilada and of course a beef burrito recommended by a 5 year old outside my hotel playing ball with a bunch of other kids. I was happy. I would order this again. As a matter of fact just thinking about it, makes me want to go here like -right now-. But in reality, it's way too far. I also got a margarita on the rocks with salt on top for desert, The service was great if not the best because not only did I have a waiter but the manager also took care of me. So, I highly recommend this Mexican Restaurant. In summary, I took advice from a kid that I didn't know, ordered combo dinner 19 and a margarita and went back to hotel to plan my trip to Lexington, Kentucky to see Kentucky Horse Park.
(5)Ted R.
Went here for dinner tonight and enjoyed it especially for being in Kentucky. I had the fajitas and my wife had the combination plate with a taco enchilada and Chile Rellano. We had a couple of margaritas that were very tasty and enjoyed the entire experience
(4)Jim J.
I had the special, shrimp, chicken, ribs, beef, absolutely delicious. The quesadillas were great. The amount of food and quality was fabulous. Best place to eat in cave city. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Thom L.
On our drive back from Nashville, we needed some lunch. We chose El Mazatlan despite its up and down reviews. The place was clean and the staff was attentive and friendly. The food was good. I had the tacos and my wife had the enchaladas which were both very good. We liked the chips but were both disappointed with the homemade salsa which may be due to it not being tomato season. I was also very disappointed in the rice that they served. Overall, it was an inexpensive ok meal and was better than us having to eat at a fast food joint. Since it was lunch, we didn't have any of their drinks.
(3)Frank C.
What the heck is a Mexican restaurant this good doing off the highway and across from a Comfort Inn? A long day of driving from Gatlinburg and checking out Mammoth Cave had the family famished when we saw the good reviews for El Mazatlan on Yelp. The place looked fun from the get-go. The outside area looked like the kind of place you could sit all night and drink Dos Equis but I was with kids who wanted the inside. It was dinnertime on a Saturday night and it was packed, but we were seated right away. The waitstaff were well dressed with a shirt and tie and buzzing around like crazy taking care of folks. My Dos Equis came in frosted mug and was awesome. They brought us warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa while we looked over the menu. I ordered the Alan Especial and loved it. My son got the quesadilla supreme and said it was the best he had ever had. Whole experience was shockingly good. I wish this place was where I live in Michigan. Eat here.
(5)E E.
This was a great choice for us. We loved the presentation of everything. The salsa (with chips) was a pleasant surprise, reminded me of gazpacho. I had Veggie Fajitas and it was great, came out on a sizzling plate and everything. My guy had steak burritos and thoroughly enjoyed them. (And he's a steak snob) We were too full for dessert. I have to say one highlight was the frosty cold mugs of beer, so frosty a bit of ice met your tongue on the first sip. XX never tasted so good! We sat near the bar and they have some intriguing very large serving containers for their drafts. Worth coming back with friends to check that out! The happy hour and special prices were posted and looked fantastic. We hope to visit again and take advantage of the specials! The place was fairly busy for a wintery Saturday. But there's a huge outside dining area and endless parking so, I imagine the tourist season finds that place packed!
(5)Jill S.
A little off 65; a good place for a break. Outdoor dining, but the seating is high bar stools with no backs. Many kinds of margaritas; the guava is excellent; tastes just like guava. Not too sweet. Absolutely the best carnitas I have ever had; the pork is unbelievably tender. I want to stop here on every time we drive to New Orleans!
(5)Mario G.
My mom, my girlfriend, and I came from Chicago to visit the Mammoth Cave and after our 1st cave tour went to eat at this awesome restaurant. There are a lot of items to choose from on the menu and we were so impressed by the freshness, flavor, and presentation of the food that we came back for dinner the following evening. We especially enjoyed the fajitas de mar, and the ceviche. This meal is delicious with a beer margarita, or a regular margarita on the rocks. Not only was the food very good, but all the employees were friendly and greeted us with smiles. The servers were very attentive both nights, making sure that we had everything we needed. Furthermore, the restaurant is very clean and looks inviting. Lastly, the prices were more than fair for the quantity and quality of the food served. We WILL be back!
(5)T S.
Our group of four adults and three children came here after seeing the caves, and the service was so bad. Let's start with drinks. First he forgot mine. No problem, I can wait a few minutes. Then after he walked away, we realized he hadn't brought straws. The kids cups had lids that we really didn't want to remove, so straws were necessary. And he was supposed to be right back with my drink anyway. So we waited. And waited. Grabbed a busboy and asked for straws, but I don't think he understood me. Server came back without my drink. We asked for straws and he said they were wrapped in a napkin. We found them under the chips basket... I reminded him that I still needed my drink and we went ahead and ordered. Kids then tasted their drinks and said there was something wrong with the Sprite. It was just carbonated water. He finally came out with my soda, and we explained the problem with the kids drinks. He stared at us blankly. We said "the soda is bad". He still didn't understand. We finally ordered the kids lemonade instead. Then there was the food. Child number 1 ordered a cheeseburger. They brought him chicken nuggets. He rejected the nuggets, and 10 minutes later they came back with fried shrimp. He rejected the shrimp, and finally, when the rest of us were done eating, he got his cheeseburger. Child number 2 ordered a chicken taco. He got a beef taco. Fortunately, we were able to talk him into just eating it. A four-year-old couldn't wait that long for a new order. One adult ordered fajitas. They brought the meat and veggies, but not tortillas. When he brought the check, I fully expected the Sprites and cheeseburger to be comped. Nope. No problem, I deducted those items from his tip.
(1)K C.
Wow. Surprised after reading that this place has an average of four stars. Ordered two combos and a kids Mexican pizza meal. The pizza was just a pile of mush. Everything was watered down. The red sauces tasted like pizza sauce. I asked the server if the combos come with rice and beans (had to ask three times..she said yes)...there was a tiny spoonful of beans and that's it. No rice. The chile rellenos was decent. The tiny amount of guacamole that came with the combos was actually very good quality Everything else including the tacos and enchiladas was as if we ordered from Taco Bell. Very unimpressed. Of course I am used to quality Mexican food in my area (visiting from Chicago). If this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, I am sorry for the people that live here. And how can a Mexican restaurant NOT have orchata or mole sauce?? Go to Taco Bell instead because you will know what to expect
(1)Lyndsey B.
Ate here in June. Maybe we had a bad experience for some reason I cannot understand why so many amazing reviews? What we liked the chips were great the black beans side order was really good ( huge serving) Margaritas were really good, especially in a dryish area. What we didnt like: Like everyone else we did not like the salsa ( just tasted like the canned tomatoes to me) Partner ordered the steak rice etc. steak was bad. really really bad. Rice was cold. Chile relleno was cold, uber greasy. My rice was cold. I had a enchilada and the chicken tasted strange and very soft and spongy. We left almost everything as we thought it was awful. Sorry.
(1)Maria H.
On a recent trip to Mammoth Cave, I checked this site to see what restaurants passed the test. This was the only one in Cave City to get good reviews, so we gave it a try and we were not disappointed. Along with other reviewers, the house salsa is not that great. It is obviously made from canned tomatoes, and while they seasoned it well, it still is a little strange to eat. I tried the medium roasted salsa and honestly it reminded me more of a Chinese sauce of some sort with chopped up green onion in it. Don't judge this only by the salsa. The food (steak fajitas) was good and lots of it. The pico de gallo is wonderful and I could have eaten that alone and been fine. The wait staff was fast and efficient, the restaurant was clean and smoking and non-smoking sections were apart enough so that we didn't smell anything. I would definitely eat there again if I were in the area. I can't say the same for any other restaurant in Cave City.
(5)Mitch D.
If I was in the south side of Chicago I might be giving this place two and a half or three stars...but we're in Cave City, KY and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The salsa is inexcusably bad, but the frozen 'rita was delicious, the sopapillas hit the spot, and the service was very good. All things considered, we would go back.
(4)Shana K.
If this restaurant were in a large city among great cuisine it probably wouldn't stand out as being amazing, but the truth is that it is located in Cave City where the restaurant pickings are fairly slim, and so after a couple of meals of "southern cooking gone wrong" this place is great. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that they have a poorly ventilated smoking section which might as well be the whole restaurant because they entire place smells like cigarettes. There's nothing like enjoying someone else's smoke with your mexican cuisine. I ordered a chicken chimichanga which came with beans, rice, and pico de gallo. My boyfriend ordered a combination meal that had a chimichanga, cheese quesadilla, and a taco salad. My chimi was good but my beans were so salty they were inedible. The best thing on my plate was actually the pico de gallo but there just wasn't enough of it. I wish they would ditch the mediocre salsa that they are currently serving with their chips and serve that amazing pico de galla instead. My boyfriend did enjoy all of the items on his plate, especially the friend flour tortilla bowl that his taco salad came in. This meal was "A-OK" but that's about it.
(3)Tim E.
Asked for a patio table on arrival. The host said there wasn't one available, so I said we would wait at the bar until one was available. Also letting a female host know, and the bar tender, and a waiter that was getting our drinks. After 2 margaritas, and 2 other mixed drinks and an hour wait at the bar. Also in that time frame see 2 other couples seated outside. Asked if they had reservations, no. When I asked when a table was going to be ready on the patio they said, we have someone leaving now. 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back in and nothing, no table, didn't even stop to let me know. I had to ask about the patio table again. This is now 1 hour and 15 minutes. Asked the host that originally sat us and he said he didn't know anything about a patio table and asked who did we tell we wanted a patio table. I said we asked you and 3 others. His reply was we should have told someone else. Got our tab, went to counter to pay and the female at the counter was the one we asked about the patio table, she replied she doesn't remember, and she can't keep track of everyone's needs. I asked to speak to the manager, filled him in on the situation, and he said we have a patio table available right now. I said ok, 5 minutes later, still no table. Paid tab, and left the building. So, after 1.5 hours of waiting and confirming with 4 employees, and the manager no patio table. I will not be back. Very bad communication and service.
(1)History G.
After the disaster of Sahara at Cave City we decided to try El Mazatlan. Another mistake. Very nice atmosphere with good Mexican decor. The first sign of trouble was the salsa and chips, the salsa was only highly diced tomatoes. No spice or seasoning at all, we asked our waiter for some cheese sauce instead, the cheese sauce was average. Husband ordered the Enchiladas which, as it turned out, were only lightly stuffed Burritos. The big mistake they made was bringing my husband's meal a full 15 minutes before mine. Yes, I ordered steak and it takes longer, but my husband's enchilada-burritos should have been held back until the steak was done. The bathroom had toilet tissue all over the floor and I'm not sure when it was cleaned last. Wish I'd just gone to the Cracker Barrel.
(2)Lorraine H.
Delicious, Oh! So wonderful. My friend and I split the Nachos Rodeo, and I wished I had my own plate of it so I would not have to share. The restaurant was chilly, air conditioning cranked to max. There was an annoying fly but he went away. Service was fast and efficient. Very fresh food, crispy fresh chips, good salsa - a little watery but good flavor. The place is right off I-65, very easy to find. The fried ice cream was BANGIN!
(4)Pat D.
The restaurant has an extensive menu. I had the chicken fajitas and my husband had the combination fajitas. Nothing was very spicy, but it was tasty and satisfying. The service was excellent. The food came within a few minutes of ordering.
(3)Emily H.
Good service, chunky salsa, lots of food. Overall a good experience. Not bad for Cave City, KY.
(4)Morgan J.
Might look a little dicey nestled behind the gas station, but this is a quality Mexican restaurant. Clean, bright with a broad menu and good beer list. The use of zucchini in my pork dish was both surprising and delicious.
(4)Tony D.
Wow, never have the reviews been so spot on! The salsa was unforgivable! Might have been some canned tomatoes pulped up with some cayenne and vinegar. Fortunately we did not have to linger over the chips and salsa because the kitchen is crazy fast. The place was 90 percent full and we gave a drink order within a minute of sitting down. Margarita was fine and I enjoyed the draft beer special. Food was no longer than four minutes after ordering. The eight-top across from us was served within six minutes. Menu selection was huge with many seafood selections. We went the standard route; seasoned beef for the taco salad was over-salted, wife's quesadilla met all expectations. Was surprised by the "smoking or non-" question at the door, but thankfully there was no "alcohol or non-" question in this slightly moist but mostly dry county of kentucky.
(3)David K.
Beer was served in an ice cold mug, server was very attentive and brought drink refills before glass was empty. As noted from Stacy S., the salsa tasted like it was straight out of a can. The cheese dip was runny and bland. Our meals were tasty, but the steak in my Burrito Mazatlan was dry, tough, and gristly. Overall, our experience could have been better. Service definately gets a A+.
(2)Cara R.
Others have said the salsa was meh but honestly, it tasted like authentic Mexican salsa to me. It is mostly tomato based with just enough flavor and kick. It was percfect. Everyone who mentions the service is fast is right on it! It is VERY kid friendly. And very very reasonably priced. I had a margarita (2 actually) and they were perfect!
(4)Leila B.
Delicious meal. I had the chicken fajitas in a pineapple and my hubby had the Marranitas, which was amazing. Very authentic. Great attentive staff.
(5)Jessica I.
So surprised to find such a good mexican restaurant in CC! Delicious food and margaritas! There's a go cart track across the street that is really fun too!
(5)James S.
This is the best place to eat in the Neighborhood. Food is good, clean with great service.
(4)anthony c.
Looks are deceiving. Not much to look at but real good grub.
(3)kerry k.
The service was good, quesadilla was awesome as was the chips and salsa. It was a little loud but no louder than one would expect from a full house. Wished I lived closer but will definitely visit next time I am in the area.
(5)Paul J.
Fantastic service, excellent food great atmosphere do I need to say more. This place is really a great place to take the family. We have eight kids and their large menu satisfied all of them.
(5)Nikhil N.
Super fast service - we got our food in 3 minutes or less. Good food. Opens at 11 am.
(4)Marc B.
Four words: decent, fresh, gringo food. Looking to avoid the chain restaurants around here? This place will do nicely. Friendly service and reasonably priced. Bring your kids.
(3)Arthaey A.
Very good food! We ordered beef tamales and a piña fajita, which is actually served *in* a pineapple! This place is definitely on par which decent Mexican restaurants in California (where I'm from). I'd be happy to go back here.
(4)Peggy R.
Places to eat are limited in this area and we visited here relying on Yelp reviews to lead us to a pretty good place and were not disappointed. Some things could have been better, our waiter had a very hard time with English... I had a shrimp dish that was very good but hubby's combo plate was just okay. We went a month ago so I can't remember exactly what we had. Do remember that the salsa was pretty meh and we ordered the hot which was hot. Mixed them together and that was better. Margarita was good!
(3)Stacy S.
Everything is still awesome - just wanted to add - that my dining companion, the mister, and I have gone all-veg, vegan, plant-based and we still have a great meal here. You can mix & match the ala cart items - or have veggie fajitas with no dairy. yum!
(4)Mel R.
Walked in 20 minutes before they closed . Were very friendly and excellent service . Huge portions and delicious food . If anyone gave this place a bad review they are a pain in the butt cause this place rocked all the way around . Highly recommend .
(5)Red E.
This is as good as Mexican food gets! They also have a great selection of seafood dishes. Try the fajitas Jalisco!
(5)Amy B.
To the reviewer that said this was the best place to eat in this hell hole of a town, you inspired us to visit and we agreed! This place is packed every night and is staffed and probably owned by Mexican people. I wouldn't mention that except we were pleasantly surprised to find any diversity at all in Cave City, Kentucky. I spied a place on the patio on our way in and asked right away to sit on the patio and mentioned that I saw an open table too. We were seated right away. Food and drinks came at the expected pace. They bring mild salsa by default so you'll need to ask for the hot or green. Both were good. This restaurant reminded me of tex mex really. Everything is heavily sauced and covered in melted cheese and heavy on the meat entrees. It fit in well with our semi-camping trip to visit the caves.
(3)Chad b.
So first... The place was pretty good. However it's obvious that then owners nor management read these reviews... Otherwise they would have changed the salsa everyone agrees is terrible. The people are nice and the meal I ordered was good. I had the burrito something... It had steak shrimp chorizo pineapple and jalapeños in it. It also came with broccoli but I asked for that to be left out as that seemed like a horrible idea. It was quite good! They reaaallllllyyy should change the salsa... And it's not the best food I've had.... But the people were super nice and overall a winner
(4)D W.
Good as I remember - had fajitas... Wish there were more veggies in it... Drinks cold & good! Tacos good!
(4)Becky H.
We ate here last weekend while visiting Mammoth Cave. The food was great and very reasonably priced. Service was great. The restaurant is very nicely decorated. Would recommend this highly.
(4)Ken P.
Great menu selection and lunch specials. Nice decor provides just the right ambiance.
(4)Pete H.
32 frosty draft dos xx for 3.99! Good quality, tasty food. I had enchiladas suisas, really good tomatillo sauce. Fantastic service, these guys are sprinting around the restaurant, great work ethic. A gem of a restaurant for a small town in central Kentucky.
(5)Nick S.
We were in town for one night to visit caves and wanted a decent non-chain eatery. This one fit the bill. We were greeted by festive decor and friendly, attentive staff. While not the best Mexican I have had, the portions were large and the food came fast. Chips and Salsa were on the table before I took my coat off. Decent selection of Mexican beers. Also a nice place for kids with a nice selection of deserts.
(4)Todd F.
Facility: Good, clean. Two large open rooms filled with tables. Murals painted on all the walks, looked nice. Only issue was music was too loud and felt I had to talk over it. Service: Good though felt like they wanted to take my order too fast. Value: good prices Food: very good especially for small town but good even for most Mexican restaurants I've been to. Salsa however was pretty lame given quality of the rest of the food. Overall: pleasantly surprised. I would go back.
(4)Maria H.
On a recent trip to Mammoth Cave, I checked this site to see what restaurants passed the test. This was the only one in Cave City to get good reviews, so we gave it a try and we were not disappointed. Along with other reviewers, the house salsa is not that great. It is obviously made from canned tomatoes, and while they seasoned it well, it still is a little strange to eat. I tried the medium roasted salsa and honestly it reminded me more of a Chinese sauce of some sort with chopped up green onion in it. Don't judge this only by the salsa. The food (steak fajitas) was good and lots of it. The pico de gallo is wonderful and I could have eaten that alone and been fine. The wait staff was fast and efficient, the restaurant was clean and smoking and non-smoking sections were apart enough so that we didn't smell anything. I would definitely eat there again if I were in the area. I can't say the same for any other restaurant in Cave City.
(5)Mitch D.
If I was in the south side of Chicago I might be giving this place two and a half or three stars...but we're in Cave City, KY and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The salsa is inexcusably bad, but the frozen 'rita was delicious, the sopapillas hit the spot, and the service was very good. All things considered, we would go back.
(4)Cara R.
Others have said the salsa was meh but honestly, it tasted like authentic Mexican salsa to me. It is mostly tomato based with just enough flavor and kick. It was percfect. Everyone who mentions the service is fast is right on it! It is VERY kid friendly. And very very reasonably priced. I had a margarita (2 actually) and they were perfect!
(4)Leila B.
Delicious meal. I had the chicken fajitas in a pineapple and my hubby had the Marranitas, which was amazing. Very authentic. Great attentive staff.
(5)Jessica I.
So surprised to find such a good mexican restaurant in CC! Delicious food and margaritas! There's a go cart track across the street that is really fun too!
(5)Chad b.
So first... The place was pretty good. However it's obvious that then owners nor management read these reviews... Otherwise they would have changed the salsa everyone agrees is terrible. The people are nice and the meal I ordered was good. I had the burrito something... It had steak shrimp chorizo pineapple and jalapeños in it. It also came with broccoli but I asked for that to be left out as that seemed like a horrible idea. It was quite good! They reaaallllllyyy should change the salsa... And it's not the best food I've had.... But the people were super nice and overall a winner
(4)D W.
Good as I remember - had fajitas... Wish there were more veggies in it... Drinks cold & good! Tacos good!
(4)Becky H.
We ate here last weekend while visiting Mammoth Cave. The food was great and very reasonably priced. Service was great. The restaurant is very nicely decorated. Would recommend this highly.
(4)Ken P.
Great menu selection and lunch specials. Nice decor provides just the right ambiance.
(4)Pete H.
32 frosty draft dos xx for 3.99! Good quality, tasty food. I had enchiladas suisas, really good tomatillo sauce. Fantastic service, these guys are sprinting around the restaurant, great work ethic. A gem of a restaurant for a small town in central Kentucky.
(5)Red E.
This is as good as Mexican food gets! They also have a great selection of seafood dishes. Try the fajitas Jalisco!
(5)Nick S.
We were in town for one night to visit caves and wanted a decent non-chain eatery. This one fit the bill. We were greeted by festive decor and friendly, attentive staff. While not the best Mexican I have had, the portions were large and the food came fast. Chips and Salsa were on the table before I took my coat off. Decent selection of Mexican beers. Also a nice place for kids with a nice selection of deserts.
(4)Todd F.
Facility: Good, clean. Two large open rooms filled with tables. Murals painted on all the walks, looked nice. Only issue was music was too loud and felt I had to talk over it. Service: Good though felt like they wanted to take my order too fast. Value: good prices Food: very good especially for small town but good even for most Mexican restaurants I've been to. Salsa however was pretty lame given quality of the rest of the food. Overall: pleasantly surprised. I would go back.
(4)Lyndsey B.
Ate here in June. Maybe we had a bad experience for some reason I cannot understand why so many amazing reviews? What we liked the chips were great the black beans side order was really good ( huge serving) Margaritas were really good, especially in a dryish area. What we didnt like: Like everyone else we did not like the salsa ( just tasted like the canned tomatoes to me) Partner ordered the steak rice etc. steak was bad. really really bad. Rice was cold. Chile relleno was cold, uber greasy. My rice was cold. I had a enchilada and the chicken tasted strange and very soft and spongy. We left almost everything as we thought it was awful. Sorry.
(1)Shana K.
If this restaurant were in a large city among great cuisine it probably wouldn't stand out as being amazing, but the truth is that it is located in Cave City where the restaurant pickings are fairly slim, and so after a couple of meals of "southern cooking gone wrong" this place is great. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that they have a poorly ventilated smoking section which might as well be the whole restaurant because they entire place smells like cigarettes. There's nothing like enjoying someone else's smoke with your mexican cuisine. I ordered a chicken chimichanga which came with beans, rice, and pico de gallo. My boyfriend ordered a combination meal that had a chimichanga, cheese quesadilla, and a taco salad. My chimi was good but my beans were so salty they were inedible. The best thing on my plate was actually the pico de gallo but there just wasn't enough of it. I wish they would ditch the mediocre salsa that they are currently serving with their chips and serve that amazing pico de galla instead. My boyfriend did enjoy all of the items on his plate, especially the friend flour tortilla bowl that his taco salad came in. This meal was "A-OK" but that's about it.
(3)Tim E.
Asked for a patio table on arrival. The host said there wasn't one available, so I said we would wait at the bar until one was available. Also letting a female host know, and the bar tender, and a waiter that was getting our drinks. After 2 margaritas, and 2 other mixed drinks and an hour wait at the bar. Also in that time frame see 2 other couples seated outside. Asked if they had reservations, no. When I asked when a table was going to be ready on the patio they said, we have someone leaving now. 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back in and nothing, no table, didn't even stop to let me know. I had to ask about the patio table again. This is now 1 hour and 15 minutes. Asked the host that originally sat us and he said he didn't know anything about a patio table and asked who did we tell we wanted a patio table. I said we asked you and 3 others. His reply was we should have told someone else. Got our tab, went to counter to pay and the female at the counter was the one we asked about the patio table, she replied she doesn't remember, and she can't keep track of everyone's needs. I asked to speak to the manager, filled him in on the situation, and he said we have a patio table available right now. I said ok, 5 minutes later, still no table. Paid tab, and left the building. So, after 1.5 hours of waiting and confirming with 4 employees, and the manager no patio table. I will not be back. Very bad communication and service.
(1)History G.
After the disaster of Sahara at Cave City we decided to try El Mazatlan. Another mistake. Very nice atmosphere with good Mexican decor. The first sign of trouble was the salsa and chips, the salsa was only highly diced tomatoes. No spice or seasoning at all, we asked our waiter for some cheese sauce instead, the cheese sauce was average. Husband ordered the Enchiladas which, as it turned out, were only lightly stuffed Burritos. The big mistake they made was bringing my husband's meal a full 15 minutes before mine. Yes, I ordered steak and it takes longer, but my husband's enchilada-burritos should have been held back until the steak was done. The bathroom had toilet tissue all over the floor and I'm not sure when it was cleaned last. Wish I'd just gone to the Cracker Barrel.
(2)Marc B.
Four words: decent, fresh, gringo food. Looking to avoid the chain restaurants around here? This place will do nicely. Friendly service and reasonably priced. Bring your kids.
(3)Lorraine H.
Delicious, Oh! So wonderful. My friend and I split the Nachos Rodeo, and I wished I had my own plate of it so I would not have to share. The restaurant was chilly, air conditioning cranked to max. There was an annoying fly but he went away. Service was fast and efficient. Very fresh food, crispy fresh chips, good salsa - a little watery but good flavor. The place is right off I-65, very easy to find. The fried ice cream was BANGIN!
(4)Pat D.
The restaurant has an extensive menu. I had the chicken fajitas and my husband had the combination fajitas. Nothing was very spicy, but it was tasty and satisfying. The service was excellent. The food came within a few minutes of ordering.
(3)Emily H.
Good service, chunky salsa, lots of food. Overall a good experience. Not bad for Cave City, KY.
(4)Frank C.
What the heck is a Mexican restaurant this good doing off the highway and across from a Comfort Inn? A long day of driving from Gatlinburg and checking out Mammoth Cave had the family famished when we saw the good reviews for El Mazatlan on Yelp. The place looked fun from the get-go. The outside area looked like the kind of place you could sit all night and drink Dos Equis but I was with kids who wanted the inside. It was dinnertime on a Saturday night and it was packed, but we were seated right away. The waitstaff were well dressed with a shirt and tie and buzzing around like crazy taking care of folks. My Dos Equis came in frosted mug and was awesome. They brought us warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa while we looked over the menu. I ordered the Alan Especial and loved it. My son got the quesadilla supreme and said it was the best he had ever had. Whole experience was shockingly good. I wish this place was where I live in Michigan. Eat here.
(5)E E.
This was a great choice for us. We loved the presentation of everything. The salsa (with chips) was a pleasant surprise, reminded me of gazpacho. I had Veggie Fajitas and it was great, came out on a sizzling plate and everything. My guy had steak burritos and thoroughly enjoyed them. (And he's a steak snob) We were too full for dessert. I have to say one highlight was the frosty cold mugs of beer, so frosty a bit of ice met your tongue on the first sip. XX never tasted so good! We sat near the bar and they have some intriguing very large serving containers for their drafts. Worth coming back with friends to check that out! The happy hour and special prices were posted and looked fantastic. We hope to visit again and take advantage of the specials! The place was fairly busy for a wintery Saturday. But there's a huge outside dining area and endless parking so, I imagine the tourist season finds that place packed!
(5)Jill S.
A little off 65; a good place for a break. Outdoor dining, but the seating is high bar stools with no backs. Many kinds of margaritas; the guava is excellent; tastes just like guava. Not too sweet. Absolutely the best carnitas I have ever had; the pork is unbelievably tender. I want to stop here on every time we drive to New Orleans!
(5)Mario G.
My mom, my girlfriend, and I came from Chicago to visit the Mammoth Cave and after our 1st cave tour went to eat at this awesome restaurant. There are a lot of items to choose from on the menu and we were so impressed by the freshness, flavor, and presentation of the food that we came back for dinner the following evening. We especially enjoyed the fajitas de mar, and the ceviche. This meal is delicious with a beer margarita, or a regular margarita on the rocks. Not only was the food very good, but all the employees were friendly and greeted us with smiles. The servers were very attentive both nights, making sure that we had everything we needed. Furthermore, the restaurant is very clean and looks inviting. Lastly, the prices were more than fair for the quantity and quality of the food served. We WILL be back!
(5)Morgan J.
Might look a little dicey nestled behind the gas station, but this is a quality Mexican restaurant. Clean, bright with a broad menu and good beer list. The use of zucchini in my pork dish was both surprising and delicious.
(4)Tony D.
Wow, never have the reviews been so spot on! The salsa was unforgivable! Might have been some canned tomatoes pulped up with some cayenne and vinegar. Fortunately we did not have to linger over the chips and salsa because the kitchen is crazy fast. The place was 90 percent full and we gave a drink order within a minute of sitting down. Margarita was fine and I enjoyed the draft beer special. Food was no longer than four minutes after ordering. The eight-top across from us was served within six minutes. Menu selection was huge with many seafood selections. We went the standard route; seasoned beef for the taco salad was over-salted, wife's quesadilla met all expectations. Was surprised by the "smoking or non-" question at the door, but thankfully there was no "alcohol or non-" question in this slightly moist but mostly dry county of kentucky.
(3)David K.
Beer was served in an ice cold mug, server was very attentive and brought drink refills before glass was empty. As noted from Stacy S., the salsa tasted like it was straight out of a can. The cheese dip was runny and bland. Our meals were tasty, but the steak in my Burrito Mazatlan was dry, tough, and gristly. Overall, our experience could have been better. Service definately gets a A+.
(2)kerry k.
The service was good, quesadilla was awesome as was the chips and salsa. It was a little loud but no louder than one would expect from a full house. Wished I lived closer but will definitely visit next time I am in the area.
(5)Paul J.
Fantastic service, excellent food great atmosphere do I need to say more. This place is really a great place to take the family. We have eight kids and their large menu satisfied all of them.
(5)Nikhil N.
Super fast service - we got our food in 3 minutes or less. Good food. Opens at 11 am.
(4)Amy B.
To the reviewer that said this was the best place to eat in this hell hole of a town, you inspired us to visit and we agreed! This place is packed every night and is staffed and probably owned by Mexican people. I wouldn't mention that except we were pleasantly surprised to find any diversity at all in Cave City, Kentucky. I spied a place on the patio on our way in and asked right away to sit on the patio and mentioned that I saw an open table too. We were seated right away. Food and drinks came at the expected pace. They bring mild salsa by default so you'll need to ask for the hot or green. Both were good. This restaurant reminded me of tex mex really. Everything is heavily sauced and covered in melted cheese and heavy on the meat entrees. It fit in well with our semi-camping trip to visit the caves.
(3)Mallory V.
We came here because... well... There aren't many options in Cave City! Thankfully it's not a bad option. The place was packed (by reviews it looks like it's the most visited restaurant) but we were still seated right away. The service was great, despite the number of other parties. The food was good as well and decently priced. I will say the chips and salsa were a bit disappointing but everything else was good. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but I would go back or recommend to anyone staying in the Cave City area.
(4)Jon M.
Great mexcain food. Excellent flavor. We had the Asada plate and the Fajita plate. Both out of this world. The tamales were good but not authentic. Great place we will be back.
(5)Steven L.
Great Mexican restaurant located beside Days Inn. It's so close, I just walked over to it. I got out of my car and started walking in the direction of this restaurant. A kid said to me " are you going to the Mexican restaurant"? I said "yes". He said I should try their beef burrito because they "taste great". I said ok. When I got inside I ordered a sweet tea and combination dinner number 19. Combo dinner 19 includes a chalupa, an enchilada and of course a beef burrito recommended by a 5 year old outside my hotel playing ball with a bunch of other kids. I was happy. I would order this again. As a matter of fact just thinking about it, makes me want to go here like -right now-. But in reality, it's way too far. I also got a margarita on the rocks with salt on top for desert, The service was great if not the best because not only did I have a waiter but the manager also took care of me. So, I highly recommend this Mexican Restaurant. In summary, I took advice from a kid that I didn't know, ordered combo dinner 19 and a margarita and went back to hotel to plan my trip to Lexington, Kentucky to see Kentucky Horse Park.
(5)Ted R.
Went here for dinner tonight and enjoyed it especially for being in Kentucky. I had the fajitas and my wife had the combination plate with a taco enchilada and Chile Rellano. We had a couple of margaritas that were very tasty and enjoyed the entire experience
(4)Jim J.
I had the special, shrimp, chicken, ribs, beef, absolutely delicious. The quesadillas were great. The amount of food and quality was fabulous. Best place to eat in cave city. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Leo Y.
I had a hard time deciding on what to rate this establishment. The service that I received was excellent, alcohol prices were very cheap, and they had free chips and salsa. My issue is that the food was not very good. It reminded me of when I tried cooking in middle school. It was all edible, however, it did not have the wonderful flavor that Mexican food has. I would recommend this place if looking for a drink/snack, but not if you're looking for an authentic Mexican meal.
(2)L F.
We came here based off of yelp reviews and suggestion from our hotel. The chips and salsa were fair but bland. The margaritas we clearly made from a mix however the queso was amazing and the best thing we ordered. Based on another yelp review raving about the beef both my husband and I ordered it. I had the beef fajitas and he had the California burrito, we would agree with the review stating the beef was tender. But it was strange because the beef tasted like Chinese food so it was just such an odd taste in a burrito or fajitas. The portions were large and service was great. Our food arrived so quickly too. We sat outside in the outdoor seating and the locals were so kind and friendly. It was nice to chat with them. One thing to note is they do allow outdoor smoking which we aren't used to.
(3)Tim W.
OK food. Not very spicy, my burrito had just plain ground beef. This is the only Mexican restaurant that we tried in the area. I would advise looking for others if you want spicy.
(3)Kathy J.
Staying in the area for a few weeks when we started craving Mexican. Thought we would give El Mazatlan a try. Not that there are a lot of options here. Boy, were we pleasantly surprised! My husband ordered the Enchiladas Ranchero and I ordered the California Style Burrito with steak. Service was good and fast. Food was excellent! The beef in my burrito was the most tender beef I have ever had in a Mexican restaurant. On our second visit, my husband ordered the same thing. I tried the steak fajitas. Again the beef was incredibly tender. Will probably be back one more time before we continue on our journeys.
(5)Sara T.
Our family group of 10 plus a baby had a great time here last night after a long day in Mammoth Cave. The service was quick and friendly, and they had an easy time putting together a large table for us. The food was wonderful. I loved my chicken chimichanga and it came with great rice, beans and guacamole. My husband liked his burrito. In addition to all of the typical Mexican dishes, they had some more unusual offerings. One of my brothers in law had an enchilada that included shrimp, broccoli and pineapple. He loved it. I would highly recommend coming here if you're in the area.
(4)Michael T.
This place was great! the portions were huge and all the entrees were around 10-15 dollars. the beer....omg we had a 16 oz. dos equis from tap at 1.50 dollars each during happy hour. I challenge you to find a place with cheaper beer. had a great time here
(5)Matthew B.
In a word, amazing! From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out, we were nothing but impressed. Delicious, authentic food and margaritas, for a really good price. We ordered the nachos la casa, con bistec, and a chimichanga. If we lived any closer (we live in Madison, WI) we would be regulars here.
(5)Joyce X.
For a Mexican restaurant located in almost literally the middle of nowhere, El Mazatlan was pretty good! My friends and I stopped here for dinner after visiting Mammoth Cave earlier in the day. The restaurant has very big portions for affordable prices, very similar to El Vaquero (a chain Mexican restaurant, if you are unfamiliar). The mango margarita was good, though I feel like it could use more tequila. The complimentary chips and salsa weren't the best I had, but still quite tasty and addictive. I ordered the Chilaquiles Mexicanos (chicken in ranchero sauce, with Mexican rice and guacamole salad). The chicken was a bit dry and tough, but everything else on the plate was good. My friends and I also shared a flan, which was good and not overly-sweet. Our waitress was very, very friendly! She's very attentive and happy, and joked around with us. I think overall, the experience was great, and if I was ever in the area again, I would return to eat here.
(3)J M.
Edible but nothing special at all. Cold food.... the cheese wasn't even melted on my tiny burrito. Smallest chimichanga I've ever seen and just overall bland food. I'm baffled how people accept such horrible Mexican food. If it was actually good it would be exploding with taste and flavor. This is an all too common problem and finding something authentic is like finding a needle in a haystack.
(1)Kelcie G.
We had fairly low expectations for the food but were pleasantly proven wrong. Tacos were delicious! The chips and salsa were also fabulous. Would definitely recommend and would go back. Took off a star because the margaritas, though cheap, were so weak that I wouldn't be surprised if we were given virgins. Would not recommend.
(4)Necii M.
Love this place, if I go to visit the Cave again next time, will definitely choose this one again. I love the Especial El Mazatlán and recommend you guys try it if u got a chance!
(5)anthony c.
Looks are deceiving. Not much to look at but real good grub.
(3)Vincent T.
The food was definitely good and the speed of the food to the table was lightning. I didn't expect to find such good Mexican food in a little town outside mammoth cave but it was delicious. My only issue was the salsa. Although it was good, it was a bit juicy and mild for my taste. Definitely recommend it.
(4)Hans C.
The service and atmosphere were great, the portions were large, and the prices were right. But the actual food was like two degrees above mediocre. And despite the vast menu of offerings, they didn't have horchata, the most glorious beverage known to mankind. I guess that's to be expected from a Mexican restaurant in the middle of Kentucky. Cave City is not exactly a town known for it's authentic south-of-the-border cuisine, but I guess El Mazatlan represents okay from within a nest of 2-star motels, interstate truck stops, and campy tourist attractions.
(3)R B.
Margarita from a mix, guac from a mix...but after an evening cave tour and hiking back uphill in a raging thunderstorm, all the food was good and satisfying. The service was fantastic.
(4)T S.
Our group of four adults and three children came here after seeing the caves, and the service was so bad. Let's start with drinks. First he forgot mine. No problem, I can wait a few minutes. Then after he walked away, we realized he hadn't brought straws. The kids cups had lids that we really didn't want to remove, so straws were necessary. And he was supposed to be right back with my drink anyway. So we waited. And waited. Grabbed a busboy and asked for straws, but I don't think he understood me. Server came back without my drink. We asked for straws and he said they were wrapped in a napkin. We found them under the chips basket... I reminded him that I still needed my drink and we went ahead and ordered. Kids then tasted their drinks and said there was something wrong with the Sprite. It was just carbonated water. He finally came out with my soda, and we explained the problem with the kids drinks. He stared at us blankly. We said "the soda is bad". He still didn't understand. We finally ordered the kids lemonade instead. Then there was the food. Child number 1 ordered a cheeseburger. They brought him chicken nuggets. He rejected the nuggets, and 10 minutes later they came back with fried shrimp. He rejected the shrimp, and finally, when the rest of us were done eating, he got his cheeseburger. Child number 2 ordered a chicken taco. He got a beef taco. Fortunately, we were able to talk him into just eating it. A four-year-old couldn't wait that long for a new order. One adult ordered fajitas. They brought the meat and veggies, but not tortillas. When he brought the check, I fully expected the Sprites and cheeseburger to be comped. Nope. No problem, I deducted those items from his tip.
(1)K C.
Wow. Surprised after reading that this place has an average of four stars. Ordered two combos and a kids Mexican pizza meal. The pizza was just a pile of mush. Everything was watered down. The red sauces tasted like pizza sauce. I asked the server if the combos come with rice and beans (had to ask three times..she said yes)...there was a tiny spoonful of beans and that's it. No rice. The chile rellenos was decent. The tiny amount of guacamole that came with the combos was actually very good quality Everything else including the tacos and enchiladas was as if we ordered from Taco Bell. Very unimpressed. Of course I am used to quality Mexican food in my area (visiting from Chicago). If this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, I am sorry for the people that live here. And how can a Mexican restaurant NOT have orchata or mole sauce?? Go to Taco Bell instead because you will know what to expect
(1)Bernie O.
El Mazatlan served the most horrendous meal that has ever been set in front of me. Even Taco Bell makes better food than them. I would barely consider the meat to be real meat. The retried beans were watery and the rice had so much salt that it was not fit for human consumption. I was chewing on literal grains of salt. Service was poor, and the manager expected us to pay for the non palatable meal, saying that they had served the same food all day and received no complaints. He even had the audacity to say that he sampled the food and said it tasted fine. We offered him some of ours and he refused. It was the absolute worst food I have ever tasted. Life lessons: NEVER eat Mexican food in Kentucky.
(1)Zack F.
It's a step above the normal chain Mexican restaurants that have the same dishes made from canned food. Also, there aren't many options in the area. The salsa is not very good. However, request the hot verde salsa. It's much better. I think they charged us $0.50 for it. The chips were decent and the margarita was good but not great. They have a number of vegetarian options and were flexible to make substitutions. I was a little concerned they didn't understand my request at first, but they came through with no problems. I will say the potato enchilada is not good. Just flavorless cold potato in a tortilla with some sauce on top.
(3)Bill C.
Service was very good here... portions were generous. Basically run of the mill Mexican food... it wasn't outstanding but it was good. Beers and drinks are very cheap, so if you like to have a drink that's a plus.
(3)Robert R.
Good mex food. But remember your straw is raped in with your fork lol . Low cost good food and service . A+
(5)Kimberly E.
We really enjoyed this place. The waiter humored the 2 teens we had and helped them place their order and try to speak mostly exclusively Spanish with him since they are learning. Even helping them with a couple of words. Food was good, nothing overly fantastic about it. Margarita pitcher on the rocks was descent, maybe a little too light on the tequila. We each had something different, only one wasn't that pleased with the steak nachos. Otherwise good. Good value given we had 2 adults and 2 hungry teen boys. Coupon right on table for 10% off. Drinks, main dishes and desserts for all and we walked out at $75 including tip. That's a good deal in my books. 4 stars only because it wasn't out of this world best Mexican I've ever had.
(4)Daniel B.
We ate here based on the recommendations on yelp and were actually pleasantly surprised. The service was very good, the food came fast and hot and the portions were generous. We would go there again though we are just passing through for the evening. It's a little pricier than it would appear so plan on an average of $10 per person without desert or alcohol. I have it a solid three stars and was happy my family and I enjoyed a good meal that wasn't fast good on our road trip.
(3)Teresa L.
We stopped here for dinner after visiting Mammoth Cave. Food was great, drinks were great. I was actually pretty surprised to find a decent Mexican place in the middle of tourist nowhere. The menu is pretty large with a lot of variety. My sister had some kind of pork stew that came in a bowl and which she loved. I had the vegetarian enchiladas, which were stuffed with every good thing and covered with a lovely sauce and cheese. The margaritas were classic and on the rocks and were not too sweet. Had a bit of a kick to them too. If you find yourself down that way and need a place to eat this is a good option.
(4)J S.
I really enjoyed this place. I ordered the chicken fajitas, which were good, but there weren't many green peppers or tomatoes with it. My husband got Steve's special, which is chicken, cheese and rice. The portion was huge and he said it was very good. All in all, a typical Mexican restaurant, but still very good,
(4)Margaret G.
We found this Mexican Resturant some years ago and we always come back when we are camping in the area. Great Food and service!! Today was Mothers Day and they were very busy, but still got great good and service !! We will be back!!
(4)Elayne D.
Enjoyed our dinners very much I had shrimp quesadilla and my husband had tamales and enchiladas tacos the margaritas were on special and very tasty
(5)Cathy S.
Absolutely amazing!!! The food, service and price was excellent. The service was out of this world from start to finish. Seating was immediate and server was professional and got us our drinks quickly. Returned quickly for order and literally went to kiosk and punched order in and within 5 minutes our hot delicious food was there. Truly a wonderful experience. We are out of state and will definitely return!
(5)Carolyn B.
I would give this place zero stars, but that isnt an option. This may have been the WORST meal I've ever eaten. Ever. Let's start with the salsa...im pretty sure they just poured a can of Hunts tomatos into a dish and put it on the table. Pass on the Salsa. Next was the appatizer..we ordered the chiroqueso. Should have been chorizo, queso fundido and spices...this was some hamburger meat covered in half unmelted queso, barely edible. Next was entrees, delivered to the table about 30 seconds after the appatizer. ..I had no room to eat at this point. I had the California burrito, which should have been chicken, lettuce, rice, beans covered in a ranchero sauce. It was just chicken wrapped in a soggy tortilla with some sort of sauce on it. It tasted a lot like chicken chow mein. Not good. Bad service, horrible food, uncomfortable seating. Stay away, go to A&W instead.
(1)Crystal T.
Honestly, I was not expecting much, but this place was great! They offer a wide variety of menu items in addition to typical Mexican fare. We tried the carnitas and the house dish. Both were good.
(4)James S.
This is the best place to eat in the Neighborhood. Food is good, clean with great service.
(4)Thom L.
On our drive back from Nashville, we needed some lunch. We chose El Mazatlan despite its up and down reviews. The place was clean and the staff was attentive and friendly. The food was good. I had the tacos and my wife had the enchaladas which were both very good. We liked the chips but were both disappointed with the homemade salsa which may be due to it not being tomato season. I was also very disappointed in the rice that they served. Overall, it was an inexpensive ok meal and was better than us having to eat at a fast food joint. Since it was lunch, we didn't have any of their drinks.
(3)Arthaey A.
Very good food! We ordered beef tamales and a piña fajita, which is actually served *in* a pineapple! This place is definitely on par which decent Mexican restaurants in California (where I'm from). I'd be happy to go back here.
(4)Peggy R.
Places to eat are limited in this area and we visited here relying on Yelp reviews to lead us to a pretty good place and were not disappointed. Some things could have been better, our waiter had a very hard time with English... I had a shrimp dish that was very good but hubby's combo plate was just okay. We went a month ago so I can't remember exactly what we had. Do remember that the salsa was pretty meh and we ordered the hot which was hot. Mixed them together and that was better. Margarita was good!
(3)Stacy S.
Everything is still awesome - just wanted to add - that my dining companion, the mister, and I have gone all-veg, vegan, plant-based and we still have a great meal here. You can mix & match the ala cart items - or have veggie fajitas with no dairy. yum!
(4)Mel R.
Walked in 20 minutes before they closed . Were very friendly and excellent service . Huge portions and delicious food . If anyone gave this place a bad review they are a pain in the butt cause this place rocked all the way around . Highly recommend .
(5)