Denizens of Fraser have two choices for Mexican eats, El Charro and Grand Azteca III. El Charro is usually packed, even though the food is only average. Not far down the road you have... GA III. Place has immediate seating available and better food. Style or Substance... The choice is yours.
(4)
Sarah K.
One of our favorite Mexican places! Great for lunch or dinner. Prices are right and there are always coupons on their website. The Margaritas are Delicious!!! And the food couldn't be better.
(4)
Jay S.
My recent visit was about a terrible as it could be. To start, the place is filthy, the carpet is disgustingly gross. My wife and I entered to several groups waiting to be seated (not unexpected on a Saturday evening); however, they had no system in place to identify the "next in line" and since different people were doing the seating, folks got seated before us that came in after (even though we mentioned that we had been waiting longer). After they finally seated us, it took 10 minutes before the waitress showed up (she apologized for the wait), she took out drink order and quickly disappeared (we were ready to order our food but she gave us no chance), 10 minutes later she arrived with our drinks (again she apologized for the wait), she dropped off our drinks and started to leave but we loudly called her back and told her we were ready to order. Food arrives 30 minutes later, but after she leaves we realize that there are no utensils on the table. Not seeing her anywhere, my wife goes and retrieves utensils for herself. My food is fine but my wife's is cold. We tried to find the waitress to have her warm it up but nowhere to be found. We finish our drinks and would like another but she never shows up. So, overall terrible experience and I will never go back. The food, by the way, was acceptable, but nothing fantastic.
(1)
Ryan M.
Decent Mexican food... Flavor were kinda bland but the server was polite and prompt!
(2)
Walter K.
Food was good and cheep, but....... The chips and salsa were very good and fresh. They have a white cheesy looking salsa they bring with the chips, which was good and different. I liked the menu. A bit much, but there were a lot of choices. I like to sample, and found around 30 combination plates. Finally the food. It was good, fresh, and hot. However, it was very bland. I had a taco, a burrito, and a chimichonga. All 3 were JUST meat and cheese. VERY bland. They needed some tomatoes, lettuce, onions, sour cream, ANYTHING! I would have ordered this stuff on the side if I had known, but with the meat and cheese only, the taste was very bland. I do plan on returning, and finding out if I can add these items to my meal without adding a ton of cost. With the added items, the food would probably be very good. As it is, I can only give them 2 stars at this time. I will try again soon.
(2)
Katelyn M.
Food was good and that's it. Service was absolutely horrible. Apps without napkins or plates etc. drinks without straws. Service was not good. Then we proceeded to get two orders of fajitas without (no beans, tortillas and most importantly our guests' orders not served for another FIVE MINUTES) when I complained the manager just said sorry. No comps or sit and talk with us --NOTHING!!! Yes, the service was bad but the lack of management was worse. Will not go here again. Then to top it off the bathrooms had underwear on floor and an obvious lack of cleaning. Disgusting.
(1)
Gary U.
They are discriminatory in who they serve. If you have a seeing eye dog you will be asked to leave. Although this is against the law it happened and apparently they have no regrets. If you are in any way disabled I would suggest eating elsewhere. They don't want your business.
(1)
I D.
This place is decent..not the best Mexican I've ever had but, it'll do in a pinch. Their chips are nice and flaky and their white dipping sauce for them is good and something I haven't seen elsewhere. Their food is ok (small serving size), I've had better and they aren't exactly cheap for a quick bite to eat. Also, I like my burritos with a lot of stuff and more like a stuffed..burrito...they basically roll a soft taco and pour a sauce over it. It's our 2nd or 3rd option for Mexican places in this area.
(3)
Rachel M.
I live right by this place and never thought to come in. It didn't look like a place I would like, but I found myself getting repair work done on my car and needed to offset another repair bill with some tasty alcoholic beverage... so I walked here. It was about 3 or 4pm on a weekday and I came with my son. We both enjoyed our meal we split. Service was friendly and fast. The white sauce they serve with the chips is epic (I have actually had discussions with others who swear they order large amounts of it via carry-out cuz it's so awesome). Drink specials are amazing. I know nothing about whether this place is authentic - but I DO know that it's good. Family dining with great drinks, friendly service, and good food. The other Mexican place in my area always has horrible service and costs more - so this was a nice surprise that now I don't have to travel out of my area for good Mexican food! I *will* be back. I know they used to send me cupons that said they had Dora and Diego there on certain days. I can't find any of that info on my website. That'd be nice to know if they still do that because it'd be nice to bring my son up there on days they do (and I'm sure others would opt to visit on hours that's NOT going on).
(4)
Brett B.
What can be said about this place? Great food, nice big drinks with frosted mugs, great prices and wonderful service. It's our one stop for good Mexican food. Depending on which waiter/waitress you get, you may have trouble understanding what the person is saying, but if you have any communication skills at all this won't be a problem. The white sauce that comes with the chips is just straight from the heavens! Absolutely delicious.
(5)
Amy B.
I've had my share of Mexican food over the years, and this place isn't so bad. It's not the best, but it's not terrible either. After a day of shopping, my friend suggested this place for lunch so we gave it a try. It's a small little independent place, so I went in with an open mind. The menu has tons of stuff to choose from, including lunch specials, all different combinations of food, and enough that there should be something for everyone. We were seated and brought out chips and salsa immediately. We were given two types of dip, one was a white based dip that no one liked and tasted pretty gross, and the other was actual salsa. It was mild, but still good. We took a while to review the menu and we placed our order with the server. Our food came out and it was actually pretty good. Nothing overly impressive but good none the less. I went with one of the lunch specials as did my friends, and everyone seemed to walk away satisfied. The service here was unremarkable, but I got weird vibes from the lady and male that waited on us. I don't know if it's family owned, but they seemed to be from the vibe I got. Service wasn't awesome but decent none the less. Beverages were filled often and we were really happy with the portion sizes and prices that were offered here. Nothing overly remarkable to state, but nothing that would drag me back either. I gave an extra star for it being small and independent, but nothing more since I wasn't blown away either. I would eat here again if I was on this side of town and someone wanted to go here, but not on my own accord.
(3)
Meredith E.
We were on this side of town on taco Tuesday and decided to partake in this local chain. The chips and salsa were accompanied with a cup of spicy ranch dressing for dipping. Strange ... I'm pretty sure it is not authentic. The server was very friendly, but we rarely saw him. Our meal took almost an hour to arrive. Then it was cold. The tacos were decent, but I could still taste the raw onions in my mouth for the next 12 hours. On our way out of the restaurant, I visited the ladies room. There was no toilet paper in the entire room. Gross.
(2)
David M.
Agreed with other reviewers: the WORST service ever. The food is delicious, but the restaurant itself is a dump. Even the salsa bowl had a huge chip in it. Get carryout and save yourself a disappointing dining experience in the restaurant. Repeat: the food is delicious.
(1)
Donald L.
I am being over generous on one star. The food was ok but the service was the worse I have ever witnessed. From no silverware to the food being served without it and then waiting four plus minutes and my daughter picking up the food to give it the manager. This place needs a freaking overall and WE WILL NEVER SET FOOT BACK In HERE! Then the fajita's are served and no tortillas, let's wait another 3-4 minutes. By the way, complaining about it to the management goes nowhere. Well, I will go somewhere just not here to eat.
(1)
Andy K.
Just ate their with my two sons. They love this place. The service was excellent. Never had to wait for a refill. The food was hot and the portions were perfect. The chips were good, which my kids love, and we did not have to wait to get more. Another excellent visit. Thanks.
(5)
James T.
For a nice Mexican meal, you can do a lot worse than here. It looks like a classic Mexican hole in the wall, it has live music and a broad menu of freshly cooked classics that you won't find even in Mexican village (such as the mocajete, which is awesome), plus generous portions and a nice beer selection. The chips are fresh, the salsa tastes fresh made with a great taste of fresh cilantro, and the tortillas are hot and buttery, wrapped in foil and resembling naan in flavor. Get the fajitas with chicken and chorizo or the chile relleno, both were also superb. It's a great joint, nothing fancy but sometimes that is a GOOD thing.
(4)
Jessie M.
Best Mexican food in town. Though the place always seems close to empty every time we're there, the food and service are great. The staff is friendly no matter which location we're at.
(5)
Keith B.
So they asked a man with a service dog to leave his dog in the car last night because they said " other customers were not comfortable with the dog in there. " Really?? Ever hear of the Americans with Disabilities act? You won't get my business when we come to that side of town. Disgusting.
(1)
Paul G.
I used to be a customer of yours. No longer. You have refused food to a human being. Who has no sight. And uses a brilliant life saving animal to help him though life. Because other customers did not like it. Well that's too bad. I would rather lose a few idiots and gain one respectable human who is hungry. I truly hope humanity grows up. Adios GA
(1)
Kelly R.
Too bad they kick out service dogs of paying customers who are blind. This was a good restaurant however, I will never set foot in this place, order take out or use their catering service again. They need to educate themselves & their staff about service animals & disability acts. Asking who complained about the service animal to leave would have been the correct thing to do. This restaurant needs to be banned if they don't do right by the people that they discriminated against! When an establishment discriminates against 1 disabled person they really discriminate against ALL disabled people. Shame on them!
(1)
Dan C.
Apparently you were concerned about losing a few customers because they didn't like dining with a leader dog, well guess what, you are going to lose a lot more for asking them to put his dog in the car. What you did is against the law.
(1)
Devon T.
Never disappointed! Always great food & great service! My BF loves the white dip that yhe chips comes with, I tend to stick with the salsa
(5)
Scott S.
It's like this. Out of town on business... Not even hungry and bored... Pull out the yelp app... Search Mexican... Another 4 star place meh I'll give it a shot. Pull up outside, there is hope, place looks authentic. Get the chips and salsa... Ok, you have my attention... Order the two shredded need burritos beans and rice platter which I have had a million times from other places.... The food comes out, in like 4 minutes... First bite and I think I heard the Angels rejoicing from the heavens. Holy cow, I swear this is THE best Mexican I have ever had in my 37 years of life. I'm. Not. Kidding. Seriously if you are ever in the area and want amazing food this is the place!!
(5)
Kimberly D.
The food here is consistently good. They have a white queso sauce that is excellent. They also have a ranch dipping sauce that comes with the chips and salsa which is also very good. I've been coming here for years and the staff is always super friendly and goes out of their way to make you happy. You can't beat the prices either.
(4)
Gil K.
Eat here on a semi regular basis, the food is usually quite tasty, the service is quick and friendly. I love the fajitas, the queso, and guacamole. If there is a complaint it's sometimes difficult getting an order in for pickup quickly, but the last two times they were better
(4)
Ken L.
This is a must have for us every couple weeks! Love the steak fajitas! We "Amigos" as we're referred to lol usually get great service as well. If you get the waitress that looks and talks like she's just been paroled, you might not have a great experience. Forgetful, not friendly and just weird.
(5)
Das S.
That place it's ok. I can't give more than 3 stars because the cleaning wasn't how should be. They have to CLEAN that place better.
(3)
Aimee B.
I was in this establishment for the first time yesterday having lunch with my Grandma. She has come to enjoy this restaurant. I on the other hand was very disappointed. Our server was less than attentive and my fajitas were burnt. We had to ask for our bill 3 times and then finally went to the counter to obtain it and pay. I was looking forward to the fajitas but ended up with quite a bit of char on my plate and half of the veggies were burnt as well. I will not be back.
(1)
Vicki H.
Saw the great reviews on yelp here so we had to try this place! We came here last night for dinner. Sat at the bar. I ordered a mango margarita. It was very good! Then chips and salsa came along with this white creamy ranch sweet sauce! Also very good! I also ordered guacamole! Again very good! Then I ordered the El grande sampler! My friend ordered number 18 just a simple taco with rice and beans. The food came out within 10 minutes after ordering! Very fast and very good food! Me gusta! Lol the prices were actually great and u got a lot of food! Definitely will come here again! I will tell everyone about this place too! Very satisfied with this restaurant!
(5)
Mondo R.
Service was great and friendly! The food was nothing short of great, everything was fresh and authentic best Mexican I have had in a while. I will be a regular here when I need my Mexican fix!
(5)
Kent M.
I have been visiting this great Mexican restaurant for years. They have an extensive menu of Mexican dishes - appetizers, entrees, desserts and ala-cart items. They also have a full bar for your imbibing pleasure. Stopped in with 10 family and friends for a birthday dinner celebration tonight. Everything that was ordered was presented to our dining party exactly as requested. Service was prompt and efficient. Food was excellent.
(5)
Anthony S.
Would have given 5 stars but no horchata. Moved from California and have been missing my mexican food this place hits the spot lot more expensive than cali. Although they have the ingredients it seem that some courses lack the authentic preparation overall great place to eat
(4)
M S.
Refused service for a couple with a LEGAL SEEING EYE DOG. Please Boycott this place!!!
(1)
Kayla C.
Didn't like it at all. I got Chicken fajitas, they brought me steak. Had to wait for them to bring me what I got. My beans got cold. I ask them if they could warm it up, they took them, but brought them back cold. We finely got down & ate are food. The fajitas where horrible, they tortilla bead was flat, & the chicken was mostly dry. I only ate 1. They where also small. We where done & didn't want anymore, then they bring us someone else food. I could see one time, but twice? In conclusion, I think the food was horrible. I don't recommend it to anyone. Not even someone I hate.
(1)
Karl G.
Very good. I'm not a Mexican food aficionado, but had a pleasant dining experience here. The inside is neat, clean, colorful and the background music was playing at an appropriate/enjoyable level. The food was as good as any I've had (tacos, burritos, taquito, refried beans & rice) and the wait staff was attentive & courteous. Yeah, I'm a fan, :).
(3)
Nick M.
A hidden gem in Fraser. Great food at a reasonable price, good drinks and pretty solid service. It's not fancy inside but the food is solid. Oh, and their chip dip (queso) is maybe the best dip I have ever had.
(4)
Santo H.
Waiter was not attentive. There were 4 of us . We all ordered something different. Mine came out in a giant black bowl I forget the name, but then two more came out. 3 giant bowls. I said only I ordered this. He looked bewildered . So my nephew was nice to take the other one. By the time the rest of our party received Thier food we were done. Totally not into this place
(1)
Teal B.
A pleasant surprise! We've been eating at El Charros for years not realizing that more flavorful food (and no waiting for a table) was just as close to our home. I usually don't eat rice at Mexican restaurants, but ate all of their lighter, fluffier flavorful rice. We thought the Enchilatas burritos and tacos tasted amazing - everything tasted great including the margarita. We will be back!
(5)
Kim L.
This place was just sad. I don't know if the expectations of the other reviewers are just so low because they've never been to a decent restaurant before or if they just like crappy food & bad service, but I can't figure out how this place has positive reviews or ratings. I went for dinner with 3 friends. We had a disinterested waitress with slow service even though there were about 3 other tables with people at them.The food was mediocre, the drinks were large but not that good. The waitress only brought one water. (why?) Even paying for our bill was a struggle - had to track down the waitress just to pay. One of my friends asked for a chardonnay, after she drank her glass of wine she asked for another, the waitress tells her it was the last one. What - they only stock one glass of wine and don't have any new bottles! She asked if there were any other whites - the waitress answered - we have a chablis. She brings her the glass - we could tell right away the color was off. My friend sips it and starts laughing and says I think it's vermouth. I take a sip and it tastes like sherry. We can only conclude the bottle was so old that the wine has turned. She tells the waitress who seems baffled by it. I have no idea whether it was taken off the bill because my friend paid for dinner. The decor was tacky and somehow the whole place just felt unclean to me. We were on our way to a concert - so didn't have the time to ditch the place and head somewhere else. Obviously won't be back to this dump.
(1)
Katie H.
Very friendly, prompt service. The food is good, but the restaurant could use some updating.
(5)
Irwin F.
Great Mexican chow! Take out is super fast. Only gripe is that it leans towards being over salty. Service is great, prices on target and the place is clean. Great fit on the East Side.
(4)
Donald K.
Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but the best I've had on this side of town. Try the molcajete. Bangin son. A lot of people on here rave about the white sauce served with the chips, but I'm not a fan. Tastes like ranch made from miracle whip.
(4)
Bob N.
Good thing G.A. isn't down in mexican town, it would put them all out of business. After going to Xochis last week and being disgusted I still had a craving for some decent mexican fare. Yelpers, you didn't let me down. We were seated promptly and brought chips and 2 dips,yummm. I ordered a margarita and lo and behold Icould taste the tequila and it was super good. Ihad a combo of chili rellano, enchilada and a burrito All good but not a fan of the burrito. My cousin ordered the sampler plate. Holy Moley enough food for a party of 4 and all of it good. Solid food and solid service.
(5)
Adam S.
I love Grand Azteca. Don't let the loudly painted exterior turn you off like it did for me for so long. I freely admit that I thought that this place, being painted the way that it is (tacky bright pastels; yellow, orange, green and purple) kept me away for quite some time, but since my first visit, I've not looked back! I can't vouch for how authentic their food is, but damn, is it good, plentiful and inexpensive. I've sampled just about the whole menu, and the everything has been prepared well, the food is always hot, and the service is always good. The menu consists of a TON of different and inexpensive combinations (two tacos and a burrito, two burritos and a tostada etc), burrito and enchilada platters, many different types of fajitas, various Mexican entrees, and a la carte offerings. Honestly, the menu can be a little overwhelming because there is so much to choose from, and it all looks/sounds so good. Not a detraction at all, but you may just have a difficult time making up your mind. At any Mexican joint, I'm a sucker for shredded beef , and my favorite here is the Burrito Jalisco, which is two flour tortillas stuffed with shredded beef, covered in a cheese sauce and sour cream with a heaping portion of Spanish rice and re-fried beans. Authentic? I have no idea. Is it good? Damn skippy! The white cool-ranch type dip that is provided along side the salsa and complimentary chips is also quite good and unique; I've not had anything like it before. Beer selection for me is a huge factor in deciding where to go for dinner. Grand Azteca really lacks in this department as far as variety goes, but I really can't imagine eating their food with anything but the beer that IS offered. In all honesty, the light bodied lagers that they serve go *perfectly* with the food and the Dos Equis Amber on draft is my drink of choice here. While not a complex beer (really, its' no different than any BMC product), you can get a 25oz mug for around $3, and it really does pair well with just about everything on the menu. The prices are low, the food and service are both very good, but what I really love about this place is their consistency. In the past two years, the wife and I have probably been here more than two dozen times and there has not been one flub. I trust that each visit will at least be as good as the last, and I've not been disappointed.
(5)
Shirley T.
I love this Aztecas location! The food is always excellent and the staff is super friendly! I always get the grande sampler and I am never disappointed! I highly recommend coming here if you're craving good Mexican for a good price!
(5)
Maman B.
The most unauthentic Mexican food I've had since trying out El Charro in Macomb. The grandmothers and great-grandmothers would come back to life just to kick someone's ass for serving this horrible food. Everything tastes packaged or out of a can. There is no hint of real spices. And guess what? They serve Ranch Dressing with their packaged tortilla chips along with the packaged salsa. Real authentic, huh? If you have active taste buds, and know actual authentic Mexican food, stay away from this place.
(1)
Martan A.
We have been here many times. I usually get the Azteca Special. The food here is good and the portions are good size. Looking at the menu today it appears that there may have been a slight increase in some prices. That will not keep us from coming here. You will not be disappointed whem you come here.
(4)
Tim K.
I am really getting sick of writing all of these negative reviews as of late, but alas my streak is broken! Hallelujah for Grand Azteca! My in-laws had suggested this place before to us and while we were out visiting them we decided to go there for dinner. Upon entering we were greeted and promptly seated. Our waiter Alex, whom my in-laws have had the pleasure of having as their waiter before quickly came over and introduced himself. I have worked as a server before in the past and have seen my fair share of the good ones and the bad ones. All I can say for Alex is that every waiter should aspire to be half as good as he is. Very professional, funny, friendly and polite. He even offered to drive my wife and I home all the way from Fraser to Redford if we were to have another round of drinks. I could go on and on about how awesome the service was, but it's on to the real star of this place; the food and drinks. Hands down the Molcajete is the way to go here. You get a bit of everything from Steak to Chicken, Shrimp and Chorizo (Mexican Sausage) served up in a giant stone Mortar with Onions, Tomatoes and Bell Peppers simmered in a creamy cheesy Ranchero sauce. This decadent feast is simply to die for and is by far the best thing I have ever eaten at an authentic Mexican restaurant. As for the drink specials they cannot be beat. Where else can you get a giant ice cold (literally ice cold as the mug is kept in the freezer) 34 ounce Dos Equis draft for only $5.29 during the week? A good craft or imported beer usually costs that and you hardly get as much. The Margaritas are insanely good as one would hope as this restaurant is dubbed "The Margarita Place" and the prices are out of this world to boot. The "Jumbo" is around $6.00 and is roughly the size of an average human head. This thing is seriously HUGE! Take it from a fat kid here. If you are in the mood for good authentic Mexican food in a relaxing environment with top notch service then head to Grand Azteca. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Charles J.
This is a regular destination for us. The fajitas are great and so are the nachos. Friendly, fast service and reasonable prices. We also love the Chori-pollo and the Chile Verde. Full bar too! Kids love nachos and quesadillas.
(5)
Amy D.
Great food and service. The only Mexican place we go to. We have been coming for 10 years.
(5)
Rob H.
This place is awesome. Finally some real Mexican food around here. Much better than El Charo's. Great service too. Yummy margaritas.
(5)
Sandra C.
Grand Azteca III is located on Groesbeck north of 14 Mile. I like this location better than the others because they serve the best sauces. The other locations don't have the white sauce that comes with the still warm chips. Awesome. I always order enchiladas and the ones I got here were very good. I've been here several times and I'll keep coming back for more. The restaurant was recently redecorated and I liked the new look. The servers are very friendly and professional. They called me amiga and I liked that. Matter of fact there's nothing I don't like about Grand Azteca III.
(4)
Paul C.
Ordered takeout. Tacos, nachos, chicken quesadilla with rice and beans. Got home to eat it and realized it was microwaved. All of it. I understand a lot of restaurants microwave their food but come on..my hard shelled tacos and nachos were flimsy. I think it would all have tasted better if it was prepared fresh. I give it only 2 stars because the food was just average and did not meet my expectations.
(2)
Ashley K.
We went to Azteca, and they served us tacos that we had to put together ourselves. Strike one. The chips came with salsa and some white sauce. The white sauce had a hair in it. Strike two. The food was flavorless, the steak was tough, and there were fruit flies buzzing around our food. Strike three. I told the waiter about the hair and the flies. He said "Oh" about the hair, and he said, "Oh we know" about the flies. That was it. Never going back.
(1)
S L.
Have never had a bad meal here! The servers are all really nice and welcoming. The combination platters are a great deal and filling. Fajitas are delicious also. The chips are great, too! They always give me back my coupon so that I can use it again.
(5)
Jason N.
Love this place, great food and great service! Also every other Friday they have a live music and my son loves it!
(5)
Duncan H.
Cant beat the quality and service for the price. Authentic mexican food done right. We go there about twice a month and always leave satisfied. Highly recommend the Enchiladas Super Rancheros. This is so much better than bland ol El Charros. Give them a try, you will be glad you did.
(4)
Suzzette M.
Finally tried this place after friends kept telling me to give it a shot. It was great!! There is something for everyone here! I had a chimichanga with chicken, and it was juicy, seasoned, and smothered in a white cheese sauce. (How can you go wrong with deep fried and smothered in cheese sauce?!?!) The Hubs had Beef enchiladas, and we were both pleasantly surprised that it had a green chili sauce on it, not the red stuff from taco bell. Again the beef was juicy and well seasoned, and very good. Alex, our waiter, was wonderful and made some great suggestions! The only bad thing is the menu is TOO big. There is so much on the menu it is almost overwhelming. Otherwise it is an amazing meal that will not break the bank!! Enjoy Amigos!!
(4)
Rick M.
Excellent AUTHENTIC Mexican food on the Eastside. Now I am not a Mexican food snob at all, I enjoy Taco Bell, Del Taco, and you can also check out my positive review for On The Border. That being said I do enjoy more authentic Mexican cuisine as well. This place is super close to my house but I never stopped in because when New York Deli Restaurant was in that building it was pretty gross. But today I was feeling a craving for some Mexican and basically the only options seemed to be Azteca or El Charo. Now I really do like El Charo but thought I'd turn to Yelp and read some reviews of Azteca and overall they were positive, and I trust my Yelpers not to steer me wrong. I ordered the carnitas base on Nicole T's review and they were very good. My wife got a combination with a tacos and rice and beans and my mom got some kind of queso's and both were pleased with their order. The chips and salsa were also good. The two types of salsa was cool. When we asked the young kid what the white salsa was he could o ly answer "blanco" because he seemed to barely speak English; again very authentic. Our Waiter was very nice and friendly and called us "amigos" a lot. I was the only one who opted for a drink and had the 25oz Dos Equis in a super frosted mug. It was ice cold and so refreshing. There was even a hint of slushing happening in the beer but just a hint. For dessert we split a xango or something like that. It was deep fried cheesecake and again it was DEE-LISH! It seemed like a family owned restaurant but I can't be sure about that. It was just a vibe I got. So for 3 dinner entrees, Two sodas, a large draft beer, and a shared dessert our bill was $42. So super inexpensive. The decor is pretty charming in a fun kind of way. I am really glad I finally dropped in and gave these guys a shot.
(4)
Abigail H.
Authentic Mexican deliciousness! The first time I came to this place I was let down, because I was hoping for an American-style Mexican restaurant: lots of cheese. basic Mexican food. I'd never really had a more authentic Mexican meal before. I have grown to love this place. When we want a weekend treat, we come here! They start out with complimentary chips and salsa. Their mild salsa is my favorite, pretty heavy on the cilantro. Also they have a white sauce that's called Mexican ranch. It's so good! As for drinks, their Dos Equis on tap is never a letdown. They frost their mugs which is a big plus. I've never had one of their mixed drinks before, but I always see lots of people ordering margaritas. The menu is huge! I'm an enchilada person, so my favorite dish is the Super Enchiladas Rancheros. That's all you need to fill you up. Delcious! Their servers are always helpful and fast. Great place. Even if you don't think you'll like authentic Mexican, give it a try!
(5)
Tony S.
There is a dude from the kitchen as I walk in that is staring straight at me like he wants to kill me, that or he can't wait to get outside for a cigarette. Our waiter was the polar opposite. The guy was a saint, addressing us as amigos all the time. I've been here before a few years back, it was ok. I keep reading good reviews so I'm giving it another whirl. They seem to be doing something right because the place was near full on a weekday. Chips ok, salsa and a white ranch like sauce as well for the chips, (that's different). Pepper got some mexican standards, taco, enchiladas or something, I tasted hers and it was just ok. I ordered a Azteka Steak which was thin, tender and juicy and cooked only one way, I liked it, very tasty. Pros: Good Service. Huge menu. Tasty steak. Cons: Pepper's taco and stuff were just ok.
(3)
Jessica M.
I have been coming here since it opened about 2 years ago. Before that I used to go to the Azteca in Madison Hts, which was by where I was working. I was so excited when they opened a location on the East side. A few of the past reviews mentioned some things, and actually they have been improved upon. They now have a liquor license. I had not been in a few months and in December we stopped in and I was able to have a beer with dinner. Also, they revamped the menu. The food is still the same as it always was, the recipes and common dishes are the same, but they simplified the menu. Not so many crazy combo choices, etc. Much easier to read and navigate now. As far as the decor, they seem to slowly make progress. The bar is not ply-wood anymore, they finished it and it looks decent. They have changed something pretty much each time I have been there. Whether its the paint on the walls, something being built, a wall being taken down...they are making efforts toward a really nice establishment. The food is always A+ . The Queso Fundito with Chorizo is heavenly. I have ordered this at almost every Mexican joint on the East side and no one gets it like this place. Another favorite of mine is the Chimichongas. The beef ones are awesome. I love the chips, salsa, and the guacamole. The only other Mexican place around that even compares (besides the ones that are ran by the same people..there are a few other locations) is Xochimilco in Detroit.
(5)
JC C.
Great food, nice people, clean place! It deserves 5 stars!
(5)
Barry S.
Went in here the other day and was glad i did. Interior was clean, staff was excellent and very friendly and the food was great, better than any other mexican place that i've been to in the immediately surrounding area. Good happy hour and a large, extensive menu.
(4)
Linda E.
I just happened to be on the Eastside the other evening and used the Yelp app on my iPhone to find a new place to eat. The Grand Azteca seemed like a good choice, with 4.5 stars from other Yelpers... We walked in and were immediately seated by a nice waiter. The place was pretty shabby looking; bare plywood booth dividers, dirty ceiling tiles, old fake brick wall coverings... but I don't really hold that against a place. Some of the best places I've eaten have been little hole-in-the-wall types. Menu was pretty extensive... but I didn't like the way it was organized. Not like a typical mexican place; an overwhelming amount of combination plates with brief descriptions. They brought out chips (which were warm and very good) with a red salsa (good, not too much cilantro) and a white sauce (which tasted like a sweet Cool Ranch Dorito spiced salad dressing). I settled on the Burritos Jalisco - which were shredded beef (I'd have preferred ground beef). I'm not a fan of spanish rice so I ordered all refried beans instead. I also asked for melted cheese on the burritos. When my plate arrived, the first thing I noticed was this white sauce (different from the Cool Ranch sauce above) all over the plate; my burritos were basically floating in it. There was lettuce and sour cream on top of the burritos and unmelted cheese on top of that. All in all, it just didn't look that appetizing. I plied my knife and fork to the burrito and could barely cut though it. Maybe it was the knife, maybe the burrito itself - it doesn't really matter. The white sauce tasted like nacho cheese milk; runny with barely any flavor. The shredded beef had no taste (at least when I make tacos at home the Old El Paso taco seasoning has a kick to it!) The beans were good so basically I ate the beans with the chips and salsa and pushed the rest of the plate away. My friend's dinner wasn't much better; he tried one of the many combination plates and wasn't all that impressed either. $20 for the two of us and we left disappointed with the entire experience. I won't be back and don't think I'll try their 3 other locations either.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Guy D.
Denizens of Fraser have two choices for Mexican eats, El Charro and Grand Azteca III. El Charro is usually packed, even though the food is only average. Not far down the road you have... GA III. Place has immediate seating available and better food. Style or Substance... The choice is yours.
(4)Sarah K.
One of our favorite Mexican places! Great for lunch or dinner. Prices are right and there are always coupons on their website. The Margaritas are Delicious!!! And the food couldn't be better.
(4)Jay S.
My recent visit was about a terrible as it could be. To start, the place is filthy, the carpet is disgustingly gross. My wife and I entered to several groups waiting to be seated (not unexpected on a Saturday evening); however, they had no system in place to identify the "next in line" and since different people were doing the seating, folks got seated before us that came in after (even though we mentioned that we had been waiting longer). After they finally seated us, it took 10 minutes before the waitress showed up (she apologized for the wait), she took out drink order and quickly disappeared (we were ready to order our food but she gave us no chance), 10 minutes later she arrived with our drinks (again she apologized for the wait), she dropped off our drinks and started to leave but we loudly called her back and told her we were ready to order. Food arrives 30 minutes later, but after she leaves we realize that there are no utensils on the table. Not seeing her anywhere, my wife goes and retrieves utensils for herself. My food is fine but my wife's is cold. We tried to find the waitress to have her warm it up but nowhere to be found. We finish our drinks and would like another but she never shows up. So, overall terrible experience and I will never go back. The food, by the way, was acceptable, but nothing fantastic.
(1)Ryan M.
Decent Mexican food... Flavor were kinda bland but the server was polite and prompt!
(2)Walter K.
Food was good and cheep, but....... The chips and salsa were very good and fresh. They have a white cheesy looking salsa they bring with the chips, which was good and different. I liked the menu. A bit much, but there were a lot of choices. I like to sample, and found around 30 combination plates. Finally the food. It was good, fresh, and hot. However, it was very bland. I had a taco, a burrito, and a chimichonga. All 3 were JUST meat and cheese. VERY bland. They needed some tomatoes, lettuce, onions, sour cream, ANYTHING! I would have ordered this stuff on the side if I had known, but with the meat and cheese only, the taste was very bland. I do plan on returning, and finding out if I can add these items to my meal without adding a ton of cost. With the added items, the food would probably be very good. As it is, I can only give them 2 stars at this time. I will try again soon.
(2)Katelyn M.
Food was good and that's it. Service was absolutely horrible. Apps without napkins or plates etc. drinks without straws. Service was not good. Then we proceeded to get two orders of fajitas without (no beans, tortillas and most importantly our guests' orders not served for another FIVE MINUTES) when I complained the manager just said sorry. No comps or sit and talk with us --NOTHING!!! Yes, the service was bad but the lack of management was worse. Will not go here again. Then to top it off the bathrooms had underwear on floor and an obvious lack of cleaning. Disgusting.
(1)Gary U.
They are discriminatory in who they serve. If you have a seeing eye dog you will be asked to leave. Although this is against the law it happened and apparently they have no regrets. If you are in any way disabled I would suggest eating elsewhere. They don't want your business.
(1)I D.
This place is decent..not the best Mexican I've ever had but, it'll do in a pinch. Their chips are nice and flaky and their white dipping sauce for them is good and something I haven't seen elsewhere. Their food is ok (small serving size), I've had better and they aren't exactly cheap for a quick bite to eat. Also, I like my burritos with a lot of stuff and more like a stuffed..burrito...they basically roll a soft taco and pour a sauce over it. It's our 2nd or 3rd option for Mexican places in this area.
(3)Rachel M.
I live right by this place and never thought to come in. It didn't look like a place I would like, but I found myself getting repair work done on my car and needed to offset another repair bill with some tasty alcoholic beverage... so I walked here. It was about 3 or 4pm on a weekday and I came with my son. We both enjoyed our meal we split. Service was friendly and fast. The white sauce they serve with the chips is epic (I have actually had discussions with others who swear they order large amounts of it via carry-out cuz it's so awesome). Drink specials are amazing. I know nothing about whether this place is authentic - but I DO know that it's good. Family dining with great drinks, friendly service, and good food. The other Mexican place in my area always has horrible service and costs more - so this was a nice surprise that now I don't have to travel out of my area for good Mexican food! I *will* be back. I know they used to send me cupons that said they had Dora and Diego there on certain days. I can't find any of that info on my website. That'd be nice to know if they still do that because it'd be nice to bring my son up there on days they do (and I'm sure others would opt to visit on hours that's NOT going on).
(4)Brett B.
What can be said about this place? Great food, nice big drinks with frosted mugs, great prices and wonderful service. It's our one stop for good Mexican food. Depending on which waiter/waitress you get, you may have trouble understanding what the person is saying, but if you have any communication skills at all this won't be a problem. The white sauce that comes with the chips is just straight from the heavens! Absolutely delicious.
(5)Amy B.
I've had my share of Mexican food over the years, and this place isn't so bad. It's not the best, but it's not terrible either. After a day of shopping, my friend suggested this place for lunch so we gave it a try. It's a small little independent place, so I went in with an open mind. The menu has tons of stuff to choose from, including lunch specials, all different combinations of food, and enough that there should be something for everyone. We were seated and brought out chips and salsa immediately. We were given two types of dip, one was a white based dip that no one liked and tasted pretty gross, and the other was actual salsa. It was mild, but still good. We took a while to review the menu and we placed our order with the server. Our food came out and it was actually pretty good. Nothing overly impressive but good none the less. I went with one of the lunch specials as did my friends, and everyone seemed to walk away satisfied. The service here was unremarkable, but I got weird vibes from the lady and male that waited on us. I don't know if it's family owned, but they seemed to be from the vibe I got. Service wasn't awesome but decent none the less. Beverages were filled often and we were really happy with the portion sizes and prices that were offered here. Nothing overly remarkable to state, but nothing that would drag me back either. I gave an extra star for it being small and independent, but nothing more since I wasn't blown away either. I would eat here again if I was on this side of town and someone wanted to go here, but not on my own accord.
(3)Meredith E.
We were on this side of town on taco Tuesday and decided to partake in this local chain. The chips and salsa were accompanied with a cup of spicy ranch dressing for dipping. Strange ... I'm pretty sure it is not authentic. The server was very friendly, but we rarely saw him. Our meal took almost an hour to arrive. Then it was cold. The tacos were decent, but I could still taste the raw onions in my mouth for the next 12 hours. On our way out of the restaurant, I visited the ladies room. There was no toilet paper in the entire room. Gross.
(2)David M.
Agreed with other reviewers: the WORST service ever. The food is delicious, but the restaurant itself is a dump. Even the salsa bowl had a huge chip in it. Get carryout and save yourself a disappointing dining experience in the restaurant. Repeat: the food is delicious.
(1)Donald L.
I am being over generous on one star. The food was ok but the service was the worse I have ever witnessed. From no silverware to the food being served without it and then waiting four plus minutes and my daughter picking up the food to give it the manager. This place needs a freaking overall and WE WILL NEVER SET FOOT BACK In HERE! Then the fajita's are served and no tortillas, let's wait another 3-4 minutes. By the way, complaining about it to the management goes nowhere. Well, I will go somewhere just not here to eat.
(1)Andy K.
Just ate their with my two sons. They love this place. The service was excellent. Never had to wait for a refill. The food was hot and the portions were perfect. The chips were good, which my kids love, and we did not have to wait to get more. Another excellent visit. Thanks.
(5)James T.
For a nice Mexican meal, you can do a lot worse than here. It looks like a classic Mexican hole in the wall, it has live music and a broad menu of freshly cooked classics that you won't find even in Mexican village (such as the mocajete, which is awesome), plus generous portions and a nice beer selection. The chips are fresh, the salsa tastes fresh made with a great taste of fresh cilantro, and the tortillas are hot and buttery, wrapped in foil and resembling naan in flavor. Get the fajitas with chicken and chorizo or the chile relleno, both were also superb. It's a great joint, nothing fancy but sometimes that is a GOOD thing.
(4)Jessie M.
Best Mexican food in town. Though the place always seems close to empty every time we're there, the food and service are great. The staff is friendly no matter which location we're at.
(5)Keith B.
So they asked a man with a service dog to leave his dog in the car last night because they said " other customers were not comfortable with the dog in there. " Really?? Ever hear of the Americans with Disabilities act? You won't get my business when we come to that side of town. Disgusting.
(1)Paul G.
I used to be a customer of yours. No longer. You have refused food to a human being. Who has no sight. And uses a brilliant life saving animal to help him though life. Because other customers did not like it. Well that's too bad. I would rather lose a few idiots and gain one respectable human who is hungry. I truly hope humanity grows up. Adios GA
(1)Kelly R.
Too bad they kick out service dogs of paying customers who are blind. This was a good restaurant however, I will never set foot in this place, order take out or use their catering service again. They need to educate themselves & their staff about service animals & disability acts. Asking who complained about the service animal to leave would have been the correct thing to do. This restaurant needs to be banned if they don't do right by the people that they discriminated against! When an establishment discriminates against 1 disabled person they really discriminate against ALL disabled people. Shame on them!
(1)Dan C.
Apparently you were concerned about losing a few customers because they didn't like dining with a leader dog, well guess what, you are going to lose a lot more for asking them to put his dog in the car. What you did is against the law.
(1)Devon T.
Never disappointed! Always great food & great service! My BF loves the white dip that yhe chips comes with, I tend to stick with the salsa
(5)Scott S.
It's like this. Out of town on business... Not even hungry and bored... Pull out the yelp app... Search Mexican... Another 4 star place meh I'll give it a shot. Pull up outside, there is hope, place looks authentic. Get the chips and salsa... Ok, you have my attention... Order the two shredded need burritos beans and rice platter which I have had a million times from other places.... The food comes out, in like 4 minutes... First bite and I think I heard the Angels rejoicing from the heavens. Holy cow, I swear this is THE best Mexican I have ever had in my 37 years of life. I'm. Not. Kidding. Seriously if you are ever in the area and want amazing food this is the place!!
(5)Kimberly D.
The food here is consistently good. They have a white queso sauce that is excellent. They also have a ranch dipping sauce that comes with the chips and salsa which is also very good. I've been coming here for years and the staff is always super friendly and goes out of their way to make you happy. You can't beat the prices either.
(4)Gil K.
Eat here on a semi regular basis, the food is usually quite tasty, the service is quick and friendly. I love the fajitas, the queso, and guacamole. If there is a complaint it's sometimes difficult getting an order in for pickup quickly, but the last two times they were better
(4)Ken L.
This is a must have for us every couple weeks! Love the steak fajitas! We "Amigos" as we're referred to lol usually get great service as well. If you get the waitress that looks and talks like she's just been paroled, you might not have a great experience. Forgetful, not friendly and just weird.
(5)Das S.
That place it's ok. I can't give more than 3 stars because the cleaning wasn't how should be. They have to CLEAN that place better.
(3)Aimee B.
I was in this establishment for the first time yesterday having lunch with my Grandma. She has come to enjoy this restaurant. I on the other hand was very disappointed. Our server was less than attentive and my fajitas were burnt. We had to ask for our bill 3 times and then finally went to the counter to obtain it and pay. I was looking forward to the fajitas but ended up with quite a bit of char on my plate and half of the veggies were burnt as well. I will not be back.
(1)Vicki H.
Saw the great reviews on yelp here so we had to try this place! We came here last night for dinner. Sat at the bar. I ordered a mango margarita. It was very good! Then chips and salsa came along with this white creamy ranch sweet sauce! Also very good! I also ordered guacamole! Again very good! Then I ordered the El grande sampler! My friend ordered number 18 just a simple taco with rice and beans. The food came out within 10 minutes after ordering! Very fast and very good food! Me gusta! Lol the prices were actually great and u got a lot of food! Definitely will come here again! I will tell everyone about this place too! Very satisfied with this restaurant!
(5)Mondo R.
Service was great and friendly! The food was nothing short of great, everything was fresh and authentic best Mexican I have had in a while. I will be a regular here when I need my Mexican fix!
(5)Kent M.
I have been visiting this great Mexican restaurant for years. They have an extensive menu of Mexican dishes - appetizers, entrees, desserts and ala-cart items. They also have a full bar for your imbibing pleasure. Stopped in with 10 family and friends for a birthday dinner celebration tonight. Everything that was ordered was presented to our dining party exactly as requested. Service was prompt and efficient. Food was excellent.
(5)Anthony S.
Would have given 5 stars but no horchata. Moved from California and have been missing my mexican food this place hits the spot lot more expensive than cali. Although they have the ingredients it seem that some courses lack the authentic preparation overall great place to eat
(4)M S.
Refused service for a couple with a LEGAL SEEING EYE DOG. Please Boycott this place!!!
(1)Kayla C.
Didn't like it at all. I got Chicken fajitas, they brought me steak. Had to wait for them to bring me what I got. My beans got cold. I ask them if they could warm it up, they took them, but brought them back cold. We finely got down & ate are food. The fajitas where horrible, they tortilla bead was flat, & the chicken was mostly dry. I only ate 1. They where also small. We where done & didn't want anymore, then they bring us someone else food. I could see one time, but twice? In conclusion, I think the food was horrible. I don't recommend it to anyone. Not even someone I hate.
(1)Karl G.
Very good. I'm not a Mexican food aficionado, but had a pleasant dining experience here. The inside is neat, clean, colorful and the background music was playing at an appropriate/enjoyable level. The food was as good as any I've had (tacos, burritos, taquito, refried beans & rice) and the wait staff was attentive & courteous. Yeah, I'm a fan, :).
(3)Nick M.
A hidden gem in Fraser. Great food at a reasonable price, good drinks and pretty solid service. It's not fancy inside but the food is solid. Oh, and their chip dip (queso) is maybe the best dip I have ever had.
(4)Santo H.
Waiter was not attentive. There were 4 of us . We all ordered something different. Mine came out in a giant black bowl I forget the name, but then two more came out. 3 giant bowls. I said only I ordered this. He looked bewildered . So my nephew was nice to take the other one. By the time the rest of our party received Thier food we were done. Totally not into this place
(1)Teal B.
A pleasant surprise! We've been eating at El Charros for years not realizing that more flavorful food (and no waiting for a table) was just as close to our home. I usually don't eat rice at Mexican restaurants, but ate all of their lighter, fluffier flavorful rice. We thought the Enchilatas burritos and tacos tasted amazing - everything tasted great including the margarita. We will be back!
(5)Kim L.
This place was just sad. I don't know if the expectations of the other reviewers are just so low because they've never been to a decent restaurant before or if they just like crappy food & bad service, but I can't figure out how this place has positive reviews or ratings. I went for dinner with 3 friends. We had a disinterested waitress with slow service even though there were about 3 other tables with people at them.The food was mediocre, the drinks were large but not that good. The waitress only brought one water. (why?) Even paying for our bill was a struggle - had to track down the waitress just to pay. One of my friends asked for a chardonnay, after she drank her glass of wine she asked for another, the waitress tells her it was the last one. What - they only stock one glass of wine and don't have any new bottles! She asked if there were any other whites - the waitress answered - we have a chablis. She brings her the glass - we could tell right away the color was off. My friend sips it and starts laughing and says I think it's vermouth. I take a sip and it tastes like sherry. We can only conclude the bottle was so old that the wine has turned. She tells the waitress who seems baffled by it. I have no idea whether it was taken off the bill because my friend paid for dinner. The decor was tacky and somehow the whole place just felt unclean to me. We were on our way to a concert - so didn't have the time to ditch the place and head somewhere else. Obviously won't be back to this dump.
(1)Katie H.
Very friendly, prompt service. The food is good, but the restaurant could use some updating.
(5)Irwin F.
Great Mexican chow! Take out is super fast. Only gripe is that it leans towards being over salty. Service is great, prices on target and the place is clean. Great fit on the East Side.
(4)Donald K.
Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but the best I've had on this side of town. Try the molcajete. Bangin son. A lot of people on here rave about the white sauce served with the chips, but I'm not a fan. Tastes like ranch made from miracle whip.
(4)Bob N.
Good thing G.A. isn't down in mexican town, it would put them all out of business. After going to Xochis last week and being disgusted I still had a craving for some decent mexican fare. Yelpers, you didn't let me down. We were seated promptly and brought chips and 2 dips,yummm. I ordered a margarita and lo and behold Icould taste the tequila and it was super good. Ihad a combo of chili rellano, enchilada and a burrito All good but not a fan of the burrito. My cousin ordered the sampler plate. Holy Moley enough food for a party of 4 and all of it good. Solid food and solid service.
(5)Adam S.
I love Grand Azteca. Don't let the loudly painted exterior turn you off like it did for me for so long. I freely admit that I thought that this place, being painted the way that it is (tacky bright pastels; yellow, orange, green and purple) kept me away for quite some time, but since my first visit, I've not looked back! I can't vouch for how authentic their food is, but damn, is it good, plentiful and inexpensive. I've sampled just about the whole menu, and the everything has been prepared well, the food is always hot, and the service is always good. The menu consists of a TON of different and inexpensive combinations (two tacos and a burrito, two burritos and a tostada etc), burrito and enchilada platters, many different types of fajitas, various Mexican entrees, and a la carte offerings. Honestly, the menu can be a little overwhelming because there is so much to choose from, and it all looks/sounds so good. Not a detraction at all, but you may just have a difficult time making up your mind. At any Mexican joint, I'm a sucker for shredded beef , and my favorite here is the Burrito Jalisco, which is two flour tortillas stuffed with shredded beef, covered in a cheese sauce and sour cream with a heaping portion of Spanish rice and re-fried beans. Authentic? I have no idea. Is it good? Damn skippy! The white cool-ranch type dip that is provided along side the salsa and complimentary chips is also quite good and unique; I've not had anything like it before. Beer selection for me is a huge factor in deciding where to go for dinner. Grand Azteca really lacks in this department as far as variety goes, but I really can't imagine eating their food with anything but the beer that IS offered. In all honesty, the light bodied lagers that they serve go *perfectly* with the food and the Dos Equis Amber on draft is my drink of choice here. While not a complex beer (really, its' no different than any BMC product), you can get a 25oz mug for around $3, and it really does pair well with just about everything on the menu. The prices are low, the food and service are both very good, but what I really love about this place is their consistency. In the past two years, the wife and I have probably been here more than two dozen times and there has not been one flub. I trust that each visit will at least be as good as the last, and I've not been disappointed.
(5)Shirley T.
I love this Aztecas location! The food is always excellent and the staff is super friendly! I always get the grande sampler and I am never disappointed! I highly recommend coming here if you're craving good Mexican for a good price!
(5)Maman B.
The most unauthentic Mexican food I've had since trying out El Charro in Macomb. The grandmothers and great-grandmothers would come back to life just to kick someone's ass for serving this horrible food. Everything tastes packaged or out of a can. There is no hint of real spices. And guess what? They serve Ranch Dressing with their packaged tortilla chips along with the packaged salsa. Real authentic, huh? If you have active taste buds, and know actual authentic Mexican food, stay away from this place.
(1)Martan A.
We have been here many times. I usually get the Azteca Special. The food here is good and the portions are good size. Looking at the menu today it appears that there may have been a slight increase in some prices. That will not keep us from coming here. You will not be disappointed whem you come here.
(4)Tim K.
I am really getting sick of writing all of these negative reviews as of late, but alas my streak is broken! Hallelujah for Grand Azteca! My in-laws had suggested this place before to us and while we were out visiting them we decided to go there for dinner. Upon entering we were greeted and promptly seated. Our waiter Alex, whom my in-laws have had the pleasure of having as their waiter before quickly came over and introduced himself. I have worked as a server before in the past and have seen my fair share of the good ones and the bad ones. All I can say for Alex is that every waiter should aspire to be half as good as he is. Very professional, funny, friendly and polite. He even offered to drive my wife and I home all the way from Fraser to Redford if we were to have another round of drinks. I could go on and on about how awesome the service was, but it's on to the real star of this place; the food and drinks. Hands down the Molcajete is the way to go here. You get a bit of everything from Steak to Chicken, Shrimp and Chorizo (Mexican Sausage) served up in a giant stone Mortar with Onions, Tomatoes and Bell Peppers simmered in a creamy cheesy Ranchero sauce. This decadent feast is simply to die for and is by far the best thing I have ever eaten at an authentic Mexican restaurant. As for the drink specials they cannot be beat. Where else can you get a giant ice cold (literally ice cold as the mug is kept in the freezer) 34 ounce Dos Equis draft for only $5.29 during the week? A good craft or imported beer usually costs that and you hardly get as much. The Margaritas are insanely good as one would hope as this restaurant is dubbed "The Margarita Place" and the prices are out of this world to boot. The "Jumbo" is around $6.00 and is roughly the size of an average human head. This thing is seriously HUGE! Take it from a fat kid here. If you are in the mood for good authentic Mexican food in a relaxing environment with top notch service then head to Grand Azteca. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Charles J.
This is a regular destination for us. The fajitas are great and so are the nachos. Friendly, fast service and reasonable prices. We also love the Chori-pollo and the Chile Verde. Full bar too! Kids love nachos and quesadillas.
(5)Amy D.
Great food and service. The only Mexican place we go to. We have been coming for 10 years.
(5)Rob H.
This place is awesome. Finally some real Mexican food around here. Much better than El Charo's. Great service too. Yummy margaritas.
(5)Sandra C.
Grand Azteca III is located on Groesbeck north of 14 Mile. I like this location better than the others because they serve the best sauces. The other locations don't have the white sauce that comes with the still warm chips. Awesome. I always order enchiladas and the ones I got here were very good. I've been here several times and I'll keep coming back for more. The restaurant was recently redecorated and I liked the new look. The servers are very friendly and professional. They called me amiga and I liked that. Matter of fact there's nothing I don't like about Grand Azteca III.
(4)Paul C.
Ordered takeout. Tacos, nachos, chicken quesadilla with rice and beans. Got home to eat it and realized it was microwaved. All of it. I understand a lot of restaurants microwave their food but come on..my hard shelled tacos and nachos were flimsy. I think it would all have tasted better if it was prepared fresh. I give it only 2 stars because the food was just average and did not meet my expectations.
(2)Ashley K.
We went to Azteca, and they served us tacos that we had to put together ourselves. Strike one. The chips came with salsa and some white sauce. The white sauce had a hair in it. Strike two. The food was flavorless, the steak was tough, and there were fruit flies buzzing around our food. Strike three. I told the waiter about the hair and the flies. He said "Oh" about the hair, and he said, "Oh we know" about the flies. That was it. Never going back.
(1)S L.
Have never had a bad meal here! The servers are all really nice and welcoming. The combination platters are a great deal and filling. Fajitas are delicious also. The chips are great, too! They always give me back my coupon so that I can use it again.
(5)Jason N.
Love this place, great food and great service! Also every other Friday they have a live music and my son loves it!
(5)Duncan H.
Cant beat the quality and service for the price. Authentic mexican food done right. We go there about twice a month and always leave satisfied. Highly recommend the Enchiladas Super Rancheros. This is so much better than bland ol El Charros. Give them a try, you will be glad you did.
(4)Suzzette M.
Finally tried this place after friends kept telling me to give it a shot. It was great!! There is something for everyone here! I had a chimichanga with chicken, and it was juicy, seasoned, and smothered in a white cheese sauce. (How can you go wrong with deep fried and smothered in cheese sauce?!?!) The Hubs had Beef enchiladas, and we were both pleasantly surprised that it had a green chili sauce on it, not the red stuff from taco bell. Again the beef was juicy and well seasoned, and very good. Alex, our waiter, was wonderful and made some great suggestions! The only bad thing is the menu is TOO big. There is so much on the menu it is almost overwhelming. Otherwise it is an amazing meal that will not break the bank!! Enjoy Amigos!!
(4)Rick M.
Excellent AUTHENTIC Mexican food on the Eastside. Now I am not a Mexican food snob at all, I enjoy Taco Bell, Del Taco, and you can also check out my positive review for On The Border. That being said I do enjoy more authentic Mexican cuisine as well. This place is super close to my house but I never stopped in because when New York Deli Restaurant was in that building it was pretty gross. But today I was feeling a craving for some Mexican and basically the only options seemed to be Azteca or El Charo. Now I really do like El Charo but thought I'd turn to Yelp and read some reviews of Azteca and overall they were positive, and I trust my Yelpers not to steer me wrong. I ordered the carnitas base on Nicole T's review and they were very good. My wife got a combination with a tacos and rice and beans and my mom got some kind of queso's and both were pleased with their order. The chips and salsa were also good. The two types of salsa was cool. When we asked the young kid what the white salsa was he could o ly answer "blanco" because he seemed to barely speak English; again very authentic. Our Waiter was very nice and friendly and called us "amigos" a lot. I was the only one who opted for a drink and had the 25oz Dos Equis in a super frosted mug. It was ice cold and so refreshing. There was even a hint of slushing happening in the beer but just a hint. For dessert we split a xango or something like that. It was deep fried cheesecake and again it was DEE-LISH! It seemed like a family owned restaurant but I can't be sure about that. It was just a vibe I got. So for 3 dinner entrees, Two sodas, a large draft beer, and a shared dessert our bill was $42. So super inexpensive. The decor is pretty charming in a fun kind of way. I am really glad I finally dropped in and gave these guys a shot.
(4)Abigail H.
Authentic Mexican deliciousness! The first time I came to this place I was let down, because I was hoping for an American-style Mexican restaurant: lots of cheese. basic Mexican food. I'd never really had a more authentic Mexican meal before. I have grown to love this place. When we want a weekend treat, we come here! They start out with complimentary chips and salsa. Their mild salsa is my favorite, pretty heavy on the cilantro. Also they have a white sauce that's called Mexican ranch. It's so good! As for drinks, their Dos Equis on tap is never a letdown. They frost their mugs which is a big plus. I've never had one of their mixed drinks before, but I always see lots of people ordering margaritas. The menu is huge! I'm an enchilada person, so my favorite dish is the Super Enchiladas Rancheros. That's all you need to fill you up. Delcious! Their servers are always helpful and fast. Great place. Even if you don't think you'll like authentic Mexican, give it a try!
(5)Tony S.
There is a dude from the kitchen as I walk in that is staring straight at me like he wants to kill me, that or he can't wait to get outside for a cigarette. Our waiter was the polar opposite. The guy was a saint, addressing us as amigos all the time. I've been here before a few years back, it was ok. I keep reading good reviews so I'm giving it another whirl. They seem to be doing something right because the place was near full on a weekday. Chips ok, salsa and a white ranch like sauce as well for the chips, (that's different). Pepper got some mexican standards, taco, enchiladas or something, I tasted hers and it was just ok. I ordered a Azteka Steak which was thin, tender and juicy and cooked only one way, I liked it, very tasty. Pros: Good Service. Huge menu. Tasty steak. Cons: Pepper's taco and stuff were just ok.
(3)Jessica M.
I have been coming here since it opened about 2 years ago. Before that I used to go to the Azteca in Madison Hts, which was by where I was working. I was so excited when they opened a location on the East side. A few of the past reviews mentioned some things, and actually they have been improved upon. They now have a liquor license. I had not been in a few months and in December we stopped in and I was able to have a beer with dinner. Also, they revamped the menu. The food is still the same as it always was, the recipes and common dishes are the same, but they simplified the menu. Not so many crazy combo choices, etc. Much easier to read and navigate now. As far as the decor, they seem to slowly make progress. The bar is not ply-wood anymore, they finished it and it looks decent. They have changed something pretty much each time I have been there. Whether its the paint on the walls, something being built, a wall being taken down...they are making efforts toward a really nice establishment. The food is always A+ . The Queso Fundito with Chorizo is heavenly. I have ordered this at almost every Mexican joint on the East side and no one gets it like this place. Another favorite of mine is the Chimichongas. The beef ones are awesome. I love the chips, salsa, and the guacamole. The only other Mexican place around that even compares (besides the ones that are ran by the same people..there are a few other locations) is Xochimilco in Detroit.
(5)JC C.
Great food, nice people, clean place! It deserves 5 stars!
(5)Barry S.
Went in here the other day and was glad i did. Interior was clean, staff was excellent and very friendly and the food was great, better than any other mexican place that i've been to in the immediately surrounding area. Good happy hour and a large, extensive menu.
(4)Linda E.
I just happened to be on the Eastside the other evening and used the Yelp app on my iPhone to find a new place to eat. The Grand Azteca seemed like a good choice, with 4.5 stars from other Yelpers... We walked in and were immediately seated by a nice waiter. The place was pretty shabby looking; bare plywood booth dividers, dirty ceiling tiles, old fake brick wall coverings... but I don't really hold that against a place. Some of the best places I've eaten have been little hole-in-the-wall types. Menu was pretty extensive... but I didn't like the way it was organized. Not like a typical mexican place; an overwhelming amount of combination plates with brief descriptions. They brought out chips (which were warm and very good) with a red salsa (good, not too much cilantro) and a white sauce (which tasted like a sweet Cool Ranch Dorito spiced salad dressing). I settled on the Burritos Jalisco - which were shredded beef (I'd have preferred ground beef). I'm not a fan of spanish rice so I ordered all refried beans instead. I also asked for melted cheese on the burritos. When my plate arrived, the first thing I noticed was this white sauce (different from the Cool Ranch sauce above) all over the plate; my burritos were basically floating in it. There was lettuce and sour cream on top of the burritos and unmelted cheese on top of that. All in all, it just didn't look that appetizing. I plied my knife and fork to the burrito and could barely cut though it. Maybe it was the knife, maybe the burrito itself - it doesn't really matter. The white sauce tasted like nacho cheese milk; runny with barely any flavor. The shredded beef had no taste (at least when I make tacos at home the Old El Paso taco seasoning has a kick to it!) The beans were good so basically I ate the beans with the chips and salsa and pushed the rest of the plate away. My friend's dinner wasn't much better; he tried one of the many combination plates and wasn't all that impressed either. $20 for the two of us and we left disappointed with the entire experience. I won't be back and don't think I'll try their 3 other locations either.
(2)