El Mariachi
765 Rockville Pike,Ste C, Rockville, MD, 20852
El Mariachi Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
765 Rockville Pike,Ste C
Rockville, MD, 20852 - Phone (301) 738-7177
- Website https://www.elmariachirockville.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
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 : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Joe A.
Just visited their online menu. $20 for a chimichanga? me thinks not!
(1)David M.
Really good Mexican food and value
(5)Kenny W.
Awesome! Fantastic staff, service, and food! The decor is nice, and it did not take long at all for my order to arrive! Will definitely be back!
(5)G M.
In an area with surprisingly few good Mexican restaurants (either of the greasy spoon or gourmet variety), this one is worth returning too. Primarily Mexican food, but menu items stretch from Louisiana (Cajun) to Peru. We only had a chance to try the staples tonight, but Chimichangas were flavorful, and without an excess of grease, while the enchiladas and tacos also left no one disappointed. Service was excellent (never had to ask a for a refill on water), although I agree with those who say the prices are a tad high. However, it seems that there are plenty of 10-15 percent off coupons available, which make the pricing perfectly reasonable.
(4)S. B.
Love this restaurant. It's our family go to for Mexican. Salmon Pacifico, the grilled Fajitas, enchiladas are some of our favorites. Oh yes, we love their salsa and chips. It's always crowded on the weekends but they take reservations and remember us with smiles. The service is attentive and friendly and we don't feel they are pushing us out.
(5)Abegail A.
El Mariachi is your standard Tex Mex restaurant. It's tucked all the way in the back of the same shopping center as IHop. There's a Peruvian restaurant next door, so don't confuse it with that one...are maybe you might want to. Once seated, our waiter took our drink orders promptly. Chips and salsa soon followed. The tortilla chips were fresh, but needed to be salted. The salsa...yikes! It was completely watery with chunks of tomato thrown in the mix. I'd definitely avoid it. The menu, in addition to your standard menu options, had two lunch sections and a "light menu" that didn't even seem to over any healthier alternatives. There were only a few other patrons dining at the same time, but they all seemed to have fajitas on their tables. So, I decided on the steak fajitas. Food came out in a timely manner. However, instead of steak fajitas, I got chicken. Since I was there for a work meeting and in a time crunch, I didn't make a fuss about not getting the steak. The chicken was moist and had good flavoring to it. The dish came with tons of onions, but only a couple of bell pepper pieces. Tortillas were hot, but not freshly made and were store bought. I could care less for the rice and beans, which were standard. The gaucamole and pico de gallo made up for the watery salsa. Overall, the food here was just okay. With other Tex Mex options along the Pike and in MoCo in general, not sure El Mariachi will be on the top of my radar.
(3)Sakeeeennnnaaa H.
I came here on the recommendation of my employers. The food was pretty good. I thought the guacamole was overpriced though at $8.99 the Tamale Elote was amazing. I got a beef chimichanga and for dessert had Sopapillas. The Sopapillas could have been a bit crisper and would have been perfect with Vanilla ice cream imo. Service was amazing. They were spot on with service. I haven't had service that good in a long time. They were friendly, fast, and efficient. We never felt rushed and our waitress was incredibly friendly.
(4)Angela J.
I've been coming to El Mariachi for years, for lunch and dinner and it is consistently good. The service can be slow, and the drinks are small--but they are strong--and the food never disappoints. They have a nice selection of vegetarian options (my favorite is the Plato Verde) and though the guacamole is expensive, they don't fill it with lettuce the way some places do. The tamale elote and the salads are some of my favorites. The place is clean, and so are the restrooms. My only major complaint is that the salsa they serve is mostly large chunks of raw onions. Not enough tomatoes, not enough anything else. And yes, I realize it's fairly subjective to judge what makes a salsa delicious or not. Regardless--I'll be back again soon.
(4)Kim E.
Had the crab enchilada tonight. Mariachi consistently delivers best Mex food in Rockville. Decor is comfortable, clientele upscale, very nice looking crowds. Will someone tell me how Trump plans to put a million Mexicans on a bus and deliver them to ??? How do you even do that? Open refugee camps in Tijuana and Nogales? My idea is to simply declare everyone legal and forget there is s problem which I don't even see that there is. One way or the other Mariachi is terrific and if some of these haters would try the fajitas here, they might think differently. Only other Mex joint at this level of delicious around here. is Tia Queta in Bethesda. Toss up between the two. Mariachi's fajita a bit juicier . They also have some slow cooked ribs that are very good . Like this place very much.
(4)Olivia C.
I was excited for the lunch special here but found it a little overpriced for what it was. The service started off a bit off but seemed to get a little better because we had commented on how salty the beef was. I got the cheese enchilada/beef taco/chicken taco plate with rice and beans. The chicken was dry, the beef was super salty, taco shells soaked through, and the cheese enchilada had congealed after my first bite. The yellow rice was also overcooked and beans were pretty standard. My dining companion got the beef burrito and only got a quarter through before calling it quits. The manager(?) must have overheard us talking about the meal and sent out a dulce de leche on the house and when we got our bill, they had knocked off 15% off. Super nice of them. I really wanted to like this place but I'll have to give it a go later on after working on my sodium intake and drinking lots more water.
(3)Cynthia C.
Food delicious ... The ceviche very fresh, the Service very nice ... The only thing I didnt like was that the Manager treat poorly to One employee. I hope These doesn't happen anymore...
(3)Nishat K.
When you're craving kickass Latin/Mexican food El Mariachi is the place to go. It's a cute little restaurant in maybe not the greatest location, I think its overlooked a lot and people are definitely missing out! The service is great, the servers are so polite and the host (I think) was really nice and stopped by to check if everything was good atleast twice. The food oh my god the food, it's AMAZING. The bf got lomo saltado, I got carne asada, and we shared the queso fundido con chorizo. The queso was good, a bit bland but the chorizo helped a lot. The carne asada was delicious and tender (served with Spanish rice and guac), the lomo saltado was probably the star of the night though. It's so so delicious and flavorful and the peppers and onions were cooked just right along it (served with white rice). If you're in the neighborhood or just looking for a great meal, this is your place!
(4)M. P.
Solid 3 stars. Came for lunch today for the first time. Had the Don Pablo platter lunch special. Good food, VERY good and nice service. I personally think Plaza Azteca next to the Home Depot off Westlake Dr is a bit better food but I would definitely come back here and try other food. BTW, very fresh - my dining companion had the spinach quesadilla. Super fresh, right out of the ground spinach. No frozen stuff here.
(3)J M.
I enjoy this restaurant and go here almost every week. The staff are friendly and bring out the food in a timely manner. While waiting for food, I enjoy my salsa with chips. I usually order the Marisco salad as an appetizer which comes with nice shrimp and ceviche. For the main course, I have mixed beef and chicken fajitas which come with beans, rice, Guacamole and sour cream. The chicken and beef come on one of those sizzling hot plates along with onions and peppers. For desserts, you have options of chocolate mousse, flan and vanilla ice cream among other options. This is a very nice Tex-Mex restaurant located in a Rockville shopping center with various international restaurants. It's definitely worth checking out.
(4)Anne D.
The food was good, Staff was friendly and it's a cute place. I had the platter with chicken enchilada and tamale. Yummy also the tres leche was so delicious. Great place
(4)Rich K.
We arrived there around 6:30 pm Thursday night.My wife was hungry for Tex-Mex food and I haven't been up to Rockville in quite awhile.So we ended up eating a small dinner here. The typical chips and salsa were placed on the table.The homemade salsa tasted of the can and Italian seasonings?The chips were very thin and greasy. My spouse ordered a margarita and I a coke. She said her drink was fine but small and my coke had a metal pipe taste.I suspect dirty soda nozzles or dirty ice machine.Looking around the place seemed a bit dirty as well. We ordered some cheese enchiladas and pork tamales.Both lacked sauce,flavor and presentation.$35.00 inclusive of the tip. Oh yeah another tip: don't waste your time.
(1)Benjamin M.
After an afternoon of brief shopping, we all wanted Mexican and the Yelp app led us here, hidden in a strip mall of multiple ethnic restaurants. It's not much too look at from the outside, but the inside actually has a really nice layout with plenty of tables. I usually always resort to some sort of combination plate and stayed true this time, going for an enchilada and chiles relleno. I was a little surprised it was only a duo platter instead of a trio, which I'm used to. While waiting, we devoured a whole basket of chips and salsa (awesome), prompting our waiter for offer another. Nah. Once the meals arrived, I had no issue taking care of the entire plate. Yeah, it was really good. Really, no complaints with this place minus the pricing, which seemed a bit elevated for my liking. A fuller stomach equals a lighter wallet, but it's delicious, thankfully.
(4)Lance S.
I wish I could turn back time and go to another restaurant with my wife to celebrate our anniversary. The staff was cordial, that's true. But the Sangria was terrible, watery, weak, no flavor. I complained, they smiled and left it on our tab. Then came our dinner -- two vegetarian meals, one a stack of cut veggies on a plate, the other an enchilada with no taste at all. What a complete disappointment for $50. Our experience was this: "Hello. Sit Down. Shut Up. Eat Our Slop. Pay Full Retail. Goodbye, Come Again." Very Disappointing.
(1)April S.
El Mariachi is a quaint little gem not too far from Rockville Town Square. It is nestled in a strip plaza off of Rockville Pike. The predominant food place in this strip plaza is IHOP. Upon entering the establishment you are instantly whisked away to what is reminiscent of a large family dining room. You are not reminded of the hustle and bustle outside the doors until you leave. The service is great and the food is even better. Their spinach quesadilla is delicious. The spinach is so fresh. It also comes with rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream. My taste buds are still having a party.. I got a frozen margarita. It was so-so. I could not taste the alcohol, but that's okay. My food was delcious. I would definitely go back.
(5)Kristen H.
Got takeout here for lunch today. When I went to pick it up the man who greeted me was very friendly. I ordered the chimichanga which was pretty satisfying. The portion was rather big and I could not finish the whole thing but who am I to complain about that. The chimichanga itself was good, the beef was a little diffucult to cut. The downfall was the side of beans with it. The flavor was just way off what typical beans should be and runnier than I would like. I'd give them another try but order something different.
(3)Nandini M.
I love this place. Yes it's not in the prettiest location and the decor inside could use some help. But if you're in the mood for some solid Tex-Mex this place always delivers. My family and I have been coming here for years and food is consistent and quick. I love that they don't charge extra for things like sour cream or extra salsa. The margaritas are nice and strong and a big favorite is the tres leches cake. It's not a place you go to when you are dressed in your finest but if you want a quiet night in the burbs where you can find a parking space with ease come here!
(4)Jon R.
I love this place, it always hits the spot. I appreciate their willingness to change things up ( vegetarian, switch out ingredients, more or less spicy). I also love their chips and salsa. I think the staff are friendly, too. I ordered the wrong dish once and they took it back and didn't charge me extra....I would normally have just accepted it was my mistake but they insisted. Good people.
(5)Sweetie P.
Solid Tex Mex AND South American comfort food. A little pricey for what it is, but yummy. In the Richie shopping center on Rockville Pike. El Mariachi hits the spot when I crave Chille Relleno! Been here twice. Service is friendly and attentive. This is not fast food. They offer refills on the "just ok" chips and salsa. Server brought a second beer before the entrees came. $14 for Chile Relleno. (Green peppers stuffed, breaded, and lightly fried). I actually get the vegetarian (2 cheese stuffed peppers) version which is called something else entirely. Playa? something. It's also listed on a different section of the menu. I asked the server and she confirmed it IS the same dish except the one titled "Chile Relleno" comes with one beef stuffed pepper and one cheese. Comes with rice and beans. My friend got marinated pork w/ mayan spices called Poc Chuc Yucateco for $15. Comes with Rice, Beans and Fried Plantains. Raved the first bite and mmm'ed throughout the meal.
(4)R Q.
Not bad but not really good either. The chips are meh, the queso is revolting and I wasn't a fan of the salsa either. The actual entrees were decent; they were reasonably priced and provided ample food. I wouldn't recommend this place to people, but if I am in the mood for Mexican and near the area, I'd not be opposed to it.
(3)Kelsey C.
Best HOMEMADE tex-mex food I love there food it fells nice it is kinda small but it stays busy! I love to eat there I have been with family a few times and we all love it and can't get enough of it!! It's hard to find a place that taste like the food is home made and not from a a can or pr-made
(5)Steven W.
3.5 Stars--Mexican comfort food (with a few Latin American dishes to mix it up)--From the decor to the service everything feels like your eating at a relative or neighbor's house...Other than the mob scene of people you don't recognize. El Mariachi is pretty popular and seems to have quite a following. The food is tasty, and satisfying, but not mind-blowing. I would go again if I was in the mood for this type of fare and were in the neighborhood, but wouldn't travel out of my way to eat here.
(3)U W.
Service was very slow. When i asked for hot salsa, guy brought same salsa with cut jalapenos in it. Every dish is very expensive compared to the quality of the food. Margarita was just mango shake.. Would not recommend and will not go again myself.
(1)Stephen M.
Pretty standard Mexican food place. Can't rave about anything in particular. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, it'll be an OK place to go. Not a destination restaurant and should not be on top of any list of places to try. Expensive drinks serve as another reason to steer clear, but at least they are generous with pours.
(3)John S.
Came here on a Friday night. Even though its listed as Ste C, the entrance is actually listed under Ste D. While there were many patrons in the restaurant service was pretty good. I got seated pretty quickly (I even had my chair pulled out for me). The busboy instantly poured my water. He would also come back later to fill my glass again once I finished it so very attentive. After I placed my order, the food came pretty fast. I forgot the name of what I ordered but it was basically chicken and cheese ensilada plus rice and beans. Check my picture. I didn't like how they labelled the chicken ensilada as a burrito under this entree description. Now I don't pretend to know whether the food here is authentic or not but I just know it tasted good overall. I would have preferred if the cheese in the cheese ensilada was much softer. Despite it being busy, my server was able to refill my chips and salsa 2 times in a very timely manner. The salsa is not as thick as other places but it tasted fresh. I would come back to this place again.
(4)Katie D.
I have been desperate to find some edible TexMex up here. It has been much more difficult than anticipated! For National Margarita Day, we decided to give El Mariachi a chance. We came early because it was a Friday and we have a small child. The chips and salsa were okay. I would have preferred the chips to come out hot and the salsa to be less chunky and spicier. Our appetizer was tamales and they were great! The masa mixture was super flavorful. My husband got the carne asada and said it was fabulous. I got the Chihuahua platter and it was to die for! The chile relleno was done well and the cheese enchiladas hit the spot. Seriously the best TexMex I've had up here. Wonderful. Oh and the margaritas: a bit sweet, but it didn't overpower that wonderful tequila flavor.
(4)Jeff S.
Hands Down Best Tex-Mex in Rockville maybe even in the DC area. I notice everyone from the west coast puts this place down. We'll you're on the east cost now everything is relative.
(5)Jen S.
Yelpers, you have led me and my husband astray with your 4 and 5 star reviews. This is NOT good Mexican food. Since moving from the Bay Area which serves up some of the best Mexican food around and moving away from my in-laws who make some of the best Mexican rice and beans, we have been trying to find some decent spots in the DC area. The chicken in my chicken enchiladas were dry, with not much sauce, refried beans that tasted like they came from the can and Mexican rice that was not red in color but yellow like rice pilaf. The prices are pretty high for some of the dishes - $14 for 2 chicken tacos? I only ordered the enchiladas because it was 2 bucks less. Overall, a very, very disappointing experience. I'm just going to wait til I get back to CA in August to get my Mexican food fix.
(2)Julio E. G.
El Mariachi is mostly dedicated to your typical Mexico-American type food. However, they have other items from Latin America on the menu. The place is always full, even on Sunday nights and this is all about their reputation as a mom and pop restaurant that is better than the local chain counterparts. I have visited this place for many years and in the old days it was much smaller and they had open microphone night of Fridays to attract clientele. Nowadays there is no need for music as the place is always full. The quality remains the same! They have prompt service and the people are always friendly. Last night I had Pacifico salmon and it was delicious. The rice and beans resembles what you get in Cuban restaurants, quite nice. My wife had a nice "carne asada" for 14.99, not bad at all. If you are looking for Mexican American food and want to avoid the chain restaurants this is the place to go. They must be doing something right as they always have more clientele than anyone else in the small strip.
(4)Christopher J.
Seated immediately and server arrive promptly. Chips tasted old and stale but Salsa was very good and tasted fresh. Fajitas were very flavorful and cooked well, arrived literally within 5 minutes of arriving. Very friendly service and had an enjoyable overall experience. Not the best Mexican food in the area, but pretty tasty. Not sure if I will return.
(3)kevin c.
Had dinner with some family friends here. The margaritas were pretty good. We had a couple pitchers. Ample chips and salsa which is always good. Food is more tex-mex than real mexican, but it was very good. Had a platter with a chilie relleno and an enchilada. Both were very good and we had some mussels as well that were surprising good. Service was great and it is not an expensive place. Overall, a great experience and one worth repeating.
(4)Ryan B.
Pretty nice place. I've been here with the family a few times and enjoyed it. Nothing out of the ordinary though to differentiate itself from other like restaurants.
(3)Amani A.
There are so many better options for Tex-Mex cuisine and this is not one of them. The food is mediocre nothing to rave about. I ordered the chicken fajita and fried plantains I wasn't impressed at all.. The place is in a corner of a shopping center, and the decor is boring. It could use some color considering its a Mexican restaurant....
(2)Zachary L.
Amazing 2 experiences here!
(5)Scott E.
My son was in the mood for Mexican for Friday night, and so I checked here and put out a call on Twitter to friends, two of whom recommended El Mariachi. So we headed over to a an extremely international strip mall -- there were Indian and Peruvian restaurants, as well as a bubble tea joint and a Persian bakery. So there's plenty to bring you to the neighborhood, even if Mexican isn't your thing, though I can't vouch for the other restaurants. For the appetizer, I chose the Tostones, that is, "green fried plantains," and they were moist, with a good flavor and nice (slight) char to them. They were my favorite part of the meal, because the the Poc Chuc Yucateco I ordered -- which is described as "charcoal broiled pork tenderloin, marinated in imported Mayan spices, served with pork and black beans" -- was much drier than I would have liked. Not so dry as to be inedible, but ... definitely on the dry side. I found the flavor interesting, though, which is what I was hoping for, as I don't think I've ever had Mayan spices before. I'd probably give the place one more shot, just to see whether my issue with the entree was a peculiarity of that dish -- meaning, it's _meant_ to be very dry -- or an issue with the cooking overall. Too soon for me to tell. Since the restaurant was packed, the place was clean, and the servers were friendly and attentive, I don't want to write it off too quickly.
(2)Northern L.
Fantastic food that at a reasonable price. If you are looking for quality eats, this is a great place. Their Flan is smooth and to die for. The macitas de puerco is simply amazing. Their tacos and burritos are made from fresh, shredded meats. Beef or chicken. The mussels are cooked properly in garlic and red wine and you should never find a closed (bad) mussel. Can't wait to try their place at Rehobath Beach.
(4)Taylor F.
can't believe I'm just posting a review for this place. this is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. love coming here even though I don't come too often. very well managed, impeccable service, and very friendly staff. never have had a bad meal here. enchiladas are great. chimichangas are delicious despite how fattening they are. reasonable prices too. don't skip out on the fried ice cream for dessert. so yummy! I should also say that they have been zagat rated for several years straight!
(4)Beth L.
I love to go to El Mariachi for lunch. They have delicious lunch specials which include a soda. The service is fast and the staff is friendly. I highly recommend a visit here.
(5)Sina E.
I wanted to like this place, but I was a little disappointed. The service was fine, the decor was nice, but I just wasn't impressed by the dishes. I had the Lomo Saltado, which I believe was $16. The rice portion was lacking. I was also disappointed by the lack of the tomatoes in the dish. The prime sirloin was good, but I have definitely had better. Overall, for the price, I just think you could do better. One of my buddies got the masitas de puerco. The pork was tender, but he said the dish was just okay, it wasn't that flavorful. It seemed like it could have had some more spices to give it something more. Overall, it was a okay experience, but I was expecting a little more.
(3)Eve G.
I don't know why the restaurant next door, La Limena, is taking business away from this place. El Mariachi's food is delicious! (I like it better.) I had the seafood soup with a side dish of yellow rice today. The seafood was plentiful, the broth was very tasty and just right with the rice. The waitress was polite and helpful; dishes were brought out warm and on time. The experience was delightful.
(4)John H.
Nice place and the food is good. OK, nothing more to say.
(3)Shachi B.
I came here for a birthday lunch and while it's nothing like San Francisco or LA authentic Mexican food, it definitely serves its purpose in good 'ol Rockville. It's clean, reasonably priced and tasty! Plus, it satisfied lots of different palates, which was an added bonus. The service is what I really enjoyed - after taking our orders they came out and announced, "The guacamole isn't well made today, so we won't be serving it." To compensate, they threw in two GIGANTIC desserts. Not that we were expecting compensation, but it was certainly a very nice customer service move. Well played El Mariachi, well played. Overall, I'm a fan and I'll definitely be back soon!
(3)Ryan S.
I've been looking for a good Mexican restaurant since I moved to DC, and decided to try El Mariachi based on the favorable Yelp reviews. Unfortunately, the food is grossly overpriced and mediocre at best. The beans tasted like they came from a can and the rice was reminiscent of really bland rice pilaf. I ordered the carne asada, my wife the chicken enchiladas and my friend a quesidilla. None of us was impressed and each entree was about $15. Considering the price and the quality of the food, I'd pick Chipotle over El Mariachi any time.
(2)Tu-van L.
***2.25 stars*** Want to enjoy lomo saltada-flavored salt lick and salsa soup? Come here. The beef may be perfectly cooked, but the saltiness can't make up for it. On the pricier side for what you get, too.
(2)Lisa M.
I was disappointed after reading the reviews. I ordered the Fiesta Salad thinking it was the healthier choice, however when it arrived I had never seen anything like it before. It was served in the usual crispy bowl but inside was a soupy mess, although the chicken was very flavorful. There was a chicken, bean, cheese soupy mess at the bottom of the fried bowl and a very small helping of lettuce on top with some sourcream and gaucomole. Usually taco salads are all lettuce and the lettuce is on the bottom with the other items on top. I also had a large chunk of beef in the bottom of my salad which I do not like, however my husband ate that and found it tasty. I would never order this again it was dreadful.........
(2)William B.
The food was surprisingly good. My wife and I both had fajita steak diners, and the meat was very tender and well prepared. I also ordered the Tamal de elote which was moist and flavorful. I did think the prices were a little steep, but the food I we ordered was good keeping in mind that t we live in Maryland not Texas or California.
(4)Michael H.
The seafood burrito is NOT on the menu. I repeat the seafood burrito is NOT on the menu. I have been coming here for a long time and asking them to make me a seafood burrito. It's so good it will make you feel funny in your bathing suit area. The seafood sauce the chef covers it with is outrageous and the huge shrimp and scallops melt in your mouth. Elsewhere the chips and salsa are well above average. Always get the guac with them as its excellent. Pitcher of sangria never hurt anyone either. The service here deserves special mention as well. It's simply top notch no nonsense get you what you need right when you need it, consistently check on you service. Helped greatly by the fact that most of the staff are long timers having put in many years at ELM. Did i mention the seafood burrito is NOT on the menu?
(5)Rodolfo S.
This is in no way Mexican food. The dishes dont have the spices and ingredients of a good mexican dish. Broccoli? Really?
(1)Christy G.
Been going to El Mariachi's for over a decade maybe even 2. Has vegetarian options for those who don't eat meat and never had anything bad there yet. Going again tonight with a group. Best Mexican restaurant this side of the continental divide. My only criticism is the sopapillas are not fluffy and light like the ones in New Mexico.
(4)Eric E.
I'm a bit reluctant to post this review because the place is crowded enough already in the evenings. But this is consistently good food served by friendly staff in pleasant setting. Mexican food is nicely spiced but perhaps a bit mild. We like the menu variations. If you're not up for classic Mexican (I always am, but my wife and friends less so) , try the pato (duck) or the fresh fish.
(4)Lindsey G.
Ok, I've been here once. I wanted Mexican in that no-ifs-ands-or-buts kind of way. Luckily, with my husband, Mexican isn't a controversial dinner choice like sushi and Indian, so I win. It's practically empty on a Tuesday at 5, so our service was enormously attentive with immediate water refills and check-ins. What I want to talk about is the Chimichanga de Mariscos. I pull open the crispy, wrapped tortilla with my fork and out plops a steaming hot scallop. I pop it into my mouth and revel in utter satisfaction of its juicy, flavorful flesh. I dig inside and find the shrimp. It's perfect - plump and pink and the sauce it's paired with is creamy and delicious. I don't even need the stop light accompaniment of pico de gallo and guacamole. There's so much flavor packed in this chimichanga, it rightfully stands on it's own. Granted, the beans and rice it comes with was okay, but by no means outstanding. Still, the seafood packed chimichanga will undoubtedly be means to return.
(4)T G.
2.50 stars. El Mariachi was a mixed experience. We went on Sunday for brunch. The brunch meals are good value. I had a meal with steak, egg, rich/beans, and plantains. Taste was ok--not alot of flavor. The salsa is canned and the beans are canned as well. The service was pretty good.
(3)Irena N.
El Mariachi is family owned and has been around for quite a few years. It's well hidden (behind the IHOP in Richie Plaza), but you'll never find it less than packed at dinnertime. The food is tasty; nothing spectacular, but consistently fresh and of good quality. I always get their steak fajitas, and the meat is always tender and full of flavor. They get 4 stars from me for their (made from scratch) margaritas. They are to die for, in my opinion. There's no bar, but they have a good selection of beer and tequila if you're thusly inclined. Must be noted: the Tres Leches cake is absolutely perfect - moist and sweet and delicious.
(4)lauren p.
This is where my ex's family would gather for family dinners. The Fitzpatricks should have there own wing of the restaurant by now. When I lived in MD we went frequently and the food was always consistently fresh and satisfying. Ive ordered numerous things on the menu and have never been disappointed. My favorite hands down is the TRES LECHES cake for dessert. This where my love affair started, and since then Ive been on the hunt to find a tres leches comparable. You'd be a FOOL not to try it! Worth the trip to the restaurant in itself. Enjoy and airmail me a piece to Los Angeles! Ive lived in California for 7 years and with all the Mexican food out here nothing comes close. Thought I'd share...
(5)dave h.
totally great local Mexican place. always busy, and great quality food. I don't think this place is amazing but it a step above average tex mex food. I am not a fan of going to big tex mex places like Chi-Chi's or Don Pablo's, so the wife and I like this place b/c it is not a big place and is homely as well as good quality. I recommend a pitcher of sangria.
(4)Barry L.
Not disgusting. But you get what you pay for and two of us ate dinner for less than $40. This is not real Mexican food, but it tastes okay. Just not what I was expecting. That meeting at the menu says "TexMex and South American" but it's really South American. The portions were hearty. The guacamole was not the best and the sour cream tasted bad. Over all, my review is probably tainted by my disappointment. I was hoping that we, as Californians, would finally have found a Mexican restaurant that we could go to on a regular basis. I guess we'll have to keep on searching.
(2)Russell S.
Having lived in CA, TX and now AZ, I've had my share of excellent Mexican/South American cuisine. I wasn't sure how a place in MD would be. After my lunch today, El Mariachi stacks up to several other places I've eaten. The inside and decor was nice and much better than many other establishments I've gone to. The pico/salsa was very good. Not too spicy and very fresh. I enjoyed my platter plate with a cheese enchilada and a chicken and shredded beef taco with rice and beans. I sampled my wife's chicken and was impressed. The tortillas served with her platter were good, but not great. I've had better tortillas. The guacamole on the side was pretty good. Service was very good. When I'm back in the area, I would go back without hesitation. 4.5 stars
(4)Gina G.
It was okay, I like the environment, good service and staff was friendly but I was not impressed by the food. The chips were greasy, the salsa was so bland we had to add salt to it. The fajitas were okay. I've had better.
(3)Aaron W.
Three and a half stars. I've been coming here for years, so I've had just about everything on the menu. This is about as good as "sloppy Mexican" gets (i. e. not a place like Oyamel downtown). The highlights are really the specialities of the house; some of them you'll not have seen, like the Porc Yucateco; the pollo asado's excellent, the real deal. The margaritas are fine. I wouldn't travel from out of town to come here, but I'd definitely eat here if you're as close as, say, Gaithersburg or North Bethesda.
(4)Alex H.
I have been to El Mariachi about a dozen or so times. It is always on point. Their chips and salsa are delicious!. The fajitas are fantastic!
(4)Pete D.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, couldn't decide where to go and eat, we ended up at El Mariachi. We've heard from others this place is a good goto spot. I wanted to like this place more, but I can't. It was only par. Service was good, couldn't complain, but the food was just mediocre. We started off with the ceviche which decent. I do recall it being a good amount though. The main attractions were lacking in quantity for the prices you pay. The lady ordered the seafood enchilada which was pretty good. The creaminess of the sauce and cheese were enjoyable and something I'd go back for. Otherwise, this spot was as mentioned, only OK.
(3)Sarah O.
I've been going to El Mariachi for years now and I always love it. Went the other night with the kids. The staff can't be any more friendly than they are and the food is great. Most often the owner is there and welcomes his guests with open arms. I always love their crispy chicken tacos. Their El Mariachi salad is wonderful and fresh. BUT, what I crave is their salsa and chips. I think it's the best fresh salsa of all the Tex Mex Restaurants in the Metro Area! You will love El Mariachi!
(4)Dennis S.
While I haven't been to El Mar in a while, I must say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in Montgomery County, Maryland (which is saying something if you've ever come here). The cuisine is El Salvadorean / Central American with an emphasis on seafood. Don't be afraid to order seafood. It's really very good. Enjoy endless chips and salsa and a half-pitcher of margaritas while you're waiting on your dinner. My two favorite dishes are the Seafood Enchiladas and the Carne Asada. The restaurant serves great lunches too. I can't recommend this place highly enough. The only complaint I've ever heard from diners, is that when the place gets packed (it's very popular) the wait-staff do not keep a list. If there's lots of people waiting for a table, make sure the wait-staff know you're there so that you're not waiting too long.
(5)choad x.
Super good food for dinner. We had the mariscos saltados, pescado a la veracruzana, and the masitas de puerco. Don't bother going for breakfast. It sucked a$$ and was embarrassing for our out of town guests. Go to First Watch instead up the road for brunch.
(4)Alpha J.
Good for a nice bite to eat. For Latin food lovers this place is ideal. However for novices on Latin Food try your luck some place else. Staff is friendly and service is prompt. Ill eat here again one day soon.
(3)Derryk A.
After reading a good review by Maya I thought this to be a good place to give a try and see. Hidden behind the Ihop on Rockville Pike near the Marlo furniture building is this little place all tucked away. Blink and you could miss it and don't confuse it with the Cuban restaurant next door. On the inside first thing wife and I notice was that it must have just had the whole "Leisure World" community up there for an early bird special cause there be some geezers filling up the seats here. We were seated quickly..... out came chips and salsa. The chips were standard generic restaurant chips that you would buy from a generic supplier, see my review for "Restaurant Depot". The Salsa well if you call it that was watery but not quite as ketchup water that "Guapos" is now serving up but it is still the same generic brand. I rather get Pace Picante sauce from the store than this stuff. On to drinks... wife's margarita was good had alcohol in it and tasted right. My sangria however was not, it was definitely made from one of those brand x generic premixed bottle sangri that had a milky cloudy appearance and a horrible taste to it. Real sangria should look like a rose wine transparent with lots of real fruit. This did not taste like sangria at all. I love a good sangria especially one that is made on the spot with real fruit. So I sent it back which by the way is something that I have never done before ever, I got a Corona instead. The waitress gal was nice and understanding only pausing to ask what was wrong with the drink and removed it off the bill. The food arrived in short order... actually real real fast, before you could say "Andale Arriba!" it was there in front of us. My flank steak was good nicely grilled and not tough a little chewy which wife noted but that's to be expected from this cut of meat. The beans that accompany it was not that great pretty much meh in flavor and substance. Wife's burritos were good about average again nothing to go overly ga ga over but filled the spot. The tres leche was very good I highly recommend that for desert, but make sure the coffee they give you is strong cause mine was on the week side. Then again I always compare other peoples coffee with the stuff I make. Should not do that I know but can't help it. Bottom line we are not going to go out of our way to dine here we'll stick to eating outdoors at Guapos for the atmosphere food and a decent sangria. This is a good stop over for a quick bite and I mean quick cause the staff will make sure your stay is but a brief one. Remember DO NOT ORDER a sangria from here.
(3)Maya C.
It's been a few weeks since my family and I (all 6 of us) went to El Mariachi, and I'm still thinking about the Fish Acapulco! We were quickly seated for dinner, water and a weak salsa with chips to munch on. Our orders came without much wait, I ordered vegetable fajitas, my father had the Fish Acapulco. He initially was going for the lomo saltado, but after confirming with the waiter it wasn't Peruvian style he passed. I suggested to him what I should had ordered! The Fish Acapulco was a trout fillet with scallops and shrimp covered with a yellow sauce with steamed rice. It was deliciousssss. I kept picking off my dad's plate hoping I had ordered it for myself. My fajitas were good too, plenty of vegetables. Guacamole on the side was a huge plus! All of us liked our food! I should plan to stop by and get the Fish Acapulco soon!
(4)Kristi E.
Fantastic. My husband is in the Air Force and currently TDY (temporary tour of duty... ) in Washington DC for the month of February. It just so happens that that means he misses HIS birthday, MY birthday, Valentines day AND weeks 32-36 of pregnancy for baby #3! Despite it being rather inconvenient... I wanted his birthday to be special. He was traveling that day between bases - so I researched a spot on the way for his favorite birthday treat - Tres Leches. It was an odd time when he was going to be going and I had a colleague take him there... not knowing what or why or where they were going. I called ahead and they were so nice. Despite it being 3pm - they were open and ready. They served them salsa and chips - and brought out the cake without ordering... complete with candles and singing with a nice presentation. They were so kind and my husband said it was superb!! I can't comment on anything else OTHER than the staff was so nice as to serve both my husband and his colleague and then pick up the tab!! Seriously. They knew we were separated and they wanted to help make it fun and special. (Probably helps that he was in uniform...) -- it was a super kind gesture and we really appreciate it! THANKS GUYS!!! My husband said it was the best long-distance birthday ever!
(5)Claude B.
Great service and freshly prepared food. Not your average run-of-the-mill Mexican place. Even though it was full when we arrived, at around 7:30PM on a Sunday evening, we were seated promptly and our drink order was taken shortly thereafter. The freshly baked chips and salsa were just right. For appetizers we shared some Nachos and Queso Fundido, both were really good. For entrees we had Lomo Saltado, Camarones de Cancun and the kids had chicken Quesadillas. Lomo Saltado (Salted Tenderloin) was a deliciously marinated steak cut in long slices, cooked with cilantro, red and green peppers and onions. Served au-jus with a side of rice. The Camarones de Cancun were nicely seasoned butterflied grilled shrimps, flavorful with a slight kick, served with the typical fajita sides, rice, red beans, guacamole and a tortilla. I met the owner on the way out and told him about Yelp, with which he was not familiar. Overall our experience was great and so was the food. We highly recommend it if you're in the Rockville, MD area.
(5)Prali D.
I love this place. Most say that the salsa is a bit watered down but, I would take El Mariachi over a few of the more common Mexican restaurants in the area. I am a vegetarian and there are a lot of options. Its usually packed, even on a Monday night though I have never had to wait to be seated or wait that long for my food. Good food, good service, good margaritas and no loud annoying crowd.
(4)Jenn M.
I've had two things on the menu and both have been delicious! (Salmon with capers and cream sauce and fajitas)
(4)Mary S.
I hesitated at first to write a review of El Mariachi, lest my fellow Yelpers find out about this little hidden gem and make it even more crowded. We lived in Texas for a few years and have missed real Mexican food when we came back to DC. El Mariachi has your typical Tex-Mex favs, as well as some authentic South American specialities. The only reason it got 4 stars instead of five is that the tables are somewhat small-after a few Margaritas, this won't matter. The Margaritas (on the rocks with salt) are killer, as are the chips and salsa. The chips are fresh and crisp. The salsa is very good and fresh, though we prefer a bit more kick, but still-very tasty. I usually get the cheese enchiladas which come with a red and green sauce. You have a choice of pinto or black beans (which I always get). The enchiladas are delish. My husband gets the Poc Chuc-a pork dish which is pork marinated in Mayan spices and according to him is out of this world. He has also tried the Masitas de Puerco-another pork dish with Seville oranges and a Criollo ( creole garlic) sauce which he enjoyed. You can find unusual and very authentic things you won't normally find on the typical "chain" Mexican restaurant. The service is always outstanding and the water glasses are filled promptly. We gladly drive from Virginia for the food at El Mariachi-it is that good. Note: On weekends-go early, as it does get crowded.
(4)Marc H.
Solid neighborhood tex mex food. The chips are good but not great.... I wish they came out hotter. The salsa has a nice kick to it but can be a little runny sometimes. I had the Pork Chop Yucoteca and it was solid. The rice leaves a bit to be desired but the black beans were really good as was the pork. My friends had some margs but I was still hungover from the night before so I decided to pass. They said they were pretty tasty.
(3)Dell P.
Like insects in your food? Try El Mariachi. Very sorry to write this as we always liked this restaurant. Tonight, however, my daughter found a bug in her chicken fajitas. While we did not pay, the manager never even came over. The waiter, who was trying to keep the conversation quiet, said that the manager "did not want to come to the table". When I indicated we came here once a month on average and that I planned never to return, the waiter said "that's fine". Seems they wanted us out fast without attention. Well, here's some attention. Needless to say, they'll never see us again.
(1)Amanda F.
This is one of my favorite resutrants in Rockville. We go there at least once a month. They have a great vegetarian menu. Everything is always great and the quality is fantastic. They give you chips and salsa at the table. The salsa is chunky and the chips are hot. Sometimes this resturant gets busy though.
(5)Chris C.
This is a local favorite that competes if not surpasses the popular national chains that specialize in Mex food. The food quality is definitely above average and the portions generous. What keeps this local fav from "boomn" is the lack of upbeat atmosphere. Its an authentic feel with fresh white table cloths best suited for a sit down dinner. You wont experience the modern happy hour crowd w/ friends and martinis. The chips and salsa are tasty and plentiful, and the seafood dishes are fresh. This is a great spot if your looking to stay local and enjoy a fairly inexpensive good meal.
(4)Arturo G.
Authentic my Mexican a$$. On the recommendation of a few people, I tried El Mariachi for lunch and was sorely disappointed with El Mariachi. It was a shame because I had high hopes this place would serve authentic Mexican food. The restaurant even claimed a Zagat rating on it's door--a good sign you would think. The first warning sign was the fact that the waitstaff was not Mexican. But I let that slide since it may be hard to find Mexicans in this area to work for you. But there were other problems. First, the salsa is not a real Mexican salsa but instead is some tomato-based sauce that no Mexican would serve even to his worst enemy. An authentic salsa usually is made with tomatillos and some pepper (jalapeño, serrano etc). It's a shame cause the chips were actually good--but what a waste with such bad "salsa." Also, the restaurant doesn't have horchata, which is a sweet rice drink that is perfect when you're having spicy foods as it cuts the spicyness. I ordered the Azteca Platter consisting of a chile relleno, beef enchilada and a crispy shell taco. Oy--where to begin? The chile relleno is from the can, not homemade. I know this because the batter had a thick and spongy texture, which are the tell-tale signs of mass manufactured and canned chile rellenos. A homemade chile relleno has a totally different consistency. Next, the enchilada also wasn't made properly. Instead, it seemed like the salsa was merely poured over the beef-filled tortilla and baked. Forget about the crispy taco. Taco Bell rocks compared to what I tasted. Beans and rice were included on the side, but they didn't help matters. The beans didn't taste very good and the neon-yellow colored rice didn't look very appetizing (supposed to be made with a tomato sauce). When I asked the waitress where in Mexico the owner was from, she said from El Salvador. Nuff said. Stay away. Unless you like your food out of a can.
(1)Donna C.
Just came back from having dinner here about 2 hours ago. We will definitely be back! The service was great...I actually think the waitress never took her eyes off of us. When we put our menus down, she came and took our order, when my bf pushed his plate to the side, she came by and got it and same with mine. She was very attentive and not in an annoying way. Now to the food. If I could give it 5.5 stars I would. My bf got the steak fajitas and I got the chimichanga de mariscos. First, the fajitas...most noticeably, you get a LOT. There was definitely enough for 3+ heaping fajitas which is way more than with many other restaurants. They were very tasty and possibly the best that my bf said he's had. My chimichango was sooo good as well. I was most impressed by how much shrimp and scallop was in it. From end to end there was either a huge sea scallop or shrimp or a combo of both. It was excellent and not just filled with cheese and sauce. My mango margarita was creamy with mango puree and I swear I could've sucked down 2 more. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The only funny thing is that this place is FILLED with some old folks...not that there's anything wrong with that, but in our dining room (there are 2) we were the only full table under 35 years of age. The atmosphere is also slightly lacking with cream walls, a few paintings and white table cloths, but it's clean, so not so bad. We'll definitely be back for the food, drinks and service and that's what it's all about here. Thank you previous yelpers for the recommendation!
(5)Jeff L.
clean. fast. Delicious. Reasonably priced. I took a chance on a restaurant that had a bland facade with windows that were hard to look through. When i walked in i saw a busy place (always a good sign!) that was trying more than its exterior would suggest. The food was far better than anything in the area. Id eagerly try this place again the next time i have a hankering for mexican. good job dudes.
(5)Andy P.
Great Place!!! My in laws took for dinner, and had one of thier main dishes. Wow, the pork was awesome!!! I am going to make this my regular place on my visits to see them!
(5)Chae Y.
When you wan't good mexican food forget the big chain restaurants like Rio Grande Cafe, and give this place a try. Steak Quesedilla is the bomb. Chips and Salsa are one of the best i've had in the area.
(5)Lily B.
Read the yelp reviews and had hopes of something a bit more authentic. Service was good and fast, that was positive. Food was just ok. We both had pork, I had masitas and friend had grilled pork with mayan spices. Just average. I would not go back, some of the chains do better am sad to say. And I am 1/2 Latina so that is really sad, and hard, to say.
(3)Juhi D.
Been going there for years. Moved out of state and now back- still the best in the area. 1 star off for the janky strip mall. Chips and salsa fresh as ever.
(4)