El Gallo Blanco
2838 Portage Rd, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
El Gallo Blanco Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Kalamazoo for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2838 Portage Rd
Kalamazoo, MI, 49001 - Phone (269) 382-7020
- Website https://www.elgalloblanco.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Stefanie N.
Finally got around to trying this place for lunch after several recommendations from friends. Why have I waited so long to try this place? Perhaps it was because I thought there wasn't any decent greasy Mexican food in Kazoo area. It's a good place if you're hankering for some authentic tacos. The service can be spotty at times but hey, its not a fine-dining establishment so don't come in expecting class A service. The al pastor tacos (has canned pineapple in it) here is a hit or miss and I've learned not to order it anymore. Last couple of times, the al pastor tacos were extremely oily and greasy which made it very unappetizing. The chorizo and steak tacos are decent for the area.
(3)Molly C.
I'd love to try it, but the multiple times I've been there, I've waited 30 minutes or more and never been so much as acknowledged by a staff member. Pretty pathetic.
(1)Jim S.
UPDATE: Returned for the 3rd time. It seems the food is becoming more consistently good. The service was good. But now you have to pay $3 for chips and salsa after the initial 1st amount provided. I think this pricing system is very flawed because it is NOT based on one additional order of chips and salsa OR the size of the dining group. I always get unlimited chips and salsa at every mexican restaurant that I frequent. This is ridiculous to me especially considering the prices that are already high in my opinion. Will return on weekends, but still 3 stars from me... PREVIOUS REVIEW: The carnitas was great on sopes and gordita. Gordita was my favorite item. 4/5 Also got the cheese enchiladas which were just okay, and I would say the rice and beans are right around average or slightly above for an authentic mexican restaurant. 3/5 Guacamole was very good. 4/5. Staff was friendly. 4/5 The red and green sauce in the bottles was a very nice pairing with the food. 4/5. But the wait is what really hurts this place. Waited 30-45 minutes in a half empty restaurant. They did not have enough workers. You should at least have adequate staffing to serve half a restaurant on a Sunday at lunchtime. They are lucky they have chips and salsa (4/5) or I would have gone insane. 2/5
(3)Roxana G.
I love El Gallo Blanco! The service is usually friendly or at least competent (depends on the day), the horchata is good, and the tacos are great/authentic. The other food is also good, although I've by no means tried most the menu. The decor is pleasingly colorful and--as other reviewers have mentioned--the chips are served warm. Yum!
(5)Matthew G.
El Gallo Blanco, the Mexican paradise that once was. The inside joke is that the name translates to the big white cock, and that is what it has turned into. I have been going here for years. Mostly take out which has never disappointed. Sadly when I came to grab a quick bite and sample a couple of their tacos my quick visit turned into an hour and a half ordeal. I was given the usual bowl of tortilla chips and salsa. After the salsa was gone four girls came into the resturant and sat at the booth next to me. My order was taken and then theirs followed. For the next forty-five minutes I waited. I watched a handful of take out people come in and out. I wasn't offered anymore salsa. During the last twenty minutes of my wait I was told three times my five tacos were on their way. All I ordered was five tacos. I even ordered them Mexican style. The only other topping besides the meat are onions and cilantro. How hard is that? The four girls received their meals ten minutes before me. I was still waiting. In an act of desperation I pushed up my pecks and fluffed my beard hoping that somebody would notice me. Finally my tacos arrived and it was then the waiter asked if I wanted more salsa or water. An hour to ask for shit that could have kept me calm. I don't know what has happened to this place. I worked in food service. I spent god knows how many hours in a kitchen pumping out orders and trying not to be cut by the servers because they were looking at losing their tip. At olga's we had a seven minute waiting limit. SEVEN MINUTES! Now I'm not expecting everybody to uphold those kinds of standards but come on an hour to get five tacos on a plate... It's sad that it has come to this. The tacos were great, still some of the best in town. But when my time and money are treated like some fling that you have grown tired of its time for me to go. It was fun El Gallo Blanco, you were once my big white cock. We had good times, but now that is all you are, just a big cock!
(2)Josh B.
My go-to restaurant in Kalamazoo! Best Mexican food for MILES! I'm a big fan of the Carnitas or the Barbacoa, but I've never had a bad meal and their specials are always tasty. The service is usually great but it can get busy. The food makes up for anything lacking in service (which isn't often).
(5)Anita L.
Oh my god, a real Mexican place in Michigan? Awesome. Just a perfectly, semi-dingy, loudly colored Mexican restaurant. Homemade chips, tortillas, salsa, and Mexican tacos, yes!! Menudo on the weekends, double yes!! They also had aqua fresca, served in very generously sized cups. I love my Mexican tacos (that's cilantro and onions on top). They also offered tortas, sopes, seafood, burritos. I usually don't care for refried beans, but theirs was very good here! Just ate there today, already planning to head back this weekend.
(5)Kevin S.
Food was great. They didn't have a liquor license, which may be of concern to others. Had the Carne asada. Entire experience makes me wish I had learned more spanish.
(5)Diane V.
Today I saw a review for El Gallo Blanco in Smash Magazine and it sounded so very good and I made a mental note to try it soon. I also received a picture from someone else soon after on Yelp. Then I went to Yelp reviews, that were good, and thought Ok you can't wait until next week, you have to go right now. My husband and I did. And it was a WOW. We both had Mexican style chicken tacos with avocado with sides of rice. Everything was fresh. The sauce, the cilantro, the chicken, the soft corn tortillas amazingly great! The chips and salsa very good. At 3:00 there was only 1 table available. I have driven by several times. It definitely doesn't look like it would be good based on the outside. A little tacky but part of the charm. I thought service was fine, not fine dining, but this is a Mexican restaurant. The tacos were amazing, but I already have my next meal planned.
(5)Alicia S.
El Gallo Blanco, While out and about, you were there when I needed you. The past week, I've been craving Mexican, real hard... Sure, I could have thrown my store bought tortilla and cheese in the oven and had an at home fiesta of my own, but it would have been a sad sad fiesta... Stopped in for dinner having precisely 1 hour before I had to be somewhere else- game on man! Fear not, you won El Gallo Blanco; I was in and out with a satisfied stomach in no time. Pros: -Seat yourself -Serves complimentary chips right off the bat -Chips served WARM! -Salsa options are tasty -Very comprehensive menu, well designed -House-made tortillas are an option -Quick friendly service -Quality meats Cons: -House-made tortilla is delicious, but it may or may not fall apart on you! Prepare to get messy. -The bench seats share their backs with other tables. This is pretty common, but mine was so loose that it seemed the person sitting on the other side and I were partaking in push wars. Bring it on legs of steel! Anywho, Pros definitely out weigh the cons here my friends.
(4)Emily K.
Authentic mexican food. I always enjoy getting tacos that have duel corn tortillas. The chipotle cream chicken tacos are delicious. My boyfriend always gets something different and he enjoys it. I usually stick to my tried and true favorites. The downfall is the restaurant is small and sometimes there is a long wait for a table. Usually 15 minutes for a carry out order so I tend to do that more often.
(4)Daryl M.
Soooooo good! I don't generally eat Hispanic/Mexican food, but I will always eat here! Great food, they give you tons of it, and the price is just right.
(5)Reid R.
200 thumbs up! I am 11 years old and the service was outstanding! The food here is epic!
(5)Lidi E.
My second visit to El Gallo Blanco yesterday leads me to confirm its overall awesomeness - great and flavorful, and rather authentic Mexican food! I ordered two sopes, one "creamy chicken chilpotle" and the other "nopales". The texture of the sopes was excellent and again, all was really flavorful. I ordered the "elotes" appetizer - in a cup rather than on a stick, so be warned, the dollop of mayo is quite large! Also, they carry Sidral and horchata - can't beat it! So close off I-94 during a road trip - wish they open a Detroit location!
(4)Colette N.
Very yummy. Very authentic. I loved our visit, salsa was great and so was the quac. My family likes crappy Americanized Mexican food and they thought this place was too authentic (omg how are we related?). I was surprised our bill was higher than I anticipated, as was the wait for food - but I'd certainly recommend this place.
(4)Jennifer B.
Mediocre food. Non-existent service. Not a single person at the table received a refill.
(1)David V.
Step Out The Box this is definitely not your pseudo, dare I even call it... But first, a message from our sponsor - "HEY MICHIGAN! What do you call a person that can speak 3 languages? Trilingual (don't be down if you missed it, that was for the college kids) What about 2 languages? Bilingual. Finally, what do you call a person that only speaks one? GRINGO! And that is what the majority of Americans confuse with real Mexican food. Gringo food. ===== back to my review ==== El Gallo Blanco is ... authentic, flavorful, reasonable, personable and Above All else - consistent. This is as close as it gets to the Restaurante de el Pueblo, the town's restaurant, you would find in Mexico. Well except for the water :-) Today I had some tacos de lengua with guacamole. The meat was tender and layered with flavors. The guacamole was homemade, not some blender batched, soupy concoction. Lots of chunks of avocado. And to drink, an ice cold horachata, or rice milk with cinnamon and a hint of vanilla. And as orgasmic as this was, to put it really over the top, hand made tortillas. Bottom line, this is as good as it gets in Kzoo
(5)Hayley G.
If you're looking for authentic, cheap, delicious Mexican food, this place is your joint! When you first take a seat, you're given fresh chips and homemade salsa. The salsa is great- the perfect amount of spicy! If you order the guacamole, it's fresh and has lots of chunks of avocado, which is really much more satisfying than when it is perfectly smooth and almost saucy. The fajitas were great, and the homemade tortillas were a great touch. Would recommend! The only downside I noticed when visiting, was the booth benches are connected or too close to the other benches behind you, and when the other person moves, it feels similar to when a kid is kicking your chair in an airplane. Not the biggest deal, just an observation!
(4)Danielle P.
The food was good - great, even - but the service was lacking. The place was packed at 7 pm on a Saturday night, which is a great sign, but it looked like there were only 2 waiters working. Not enough. We waited awhile for water and menus, and then had to wait awhile again to place our order. The food came quickly though, and the free table salsa was really good. My boyfriend loved his guacamole, but said his steak tacos were dry. My shredded chicken was nothing to write home about, and I didn't like the cactus taco (personal preference), but I was happy to be able to try cactus!
(3)Jarred D.
Delicious, authentic Mexican food. The service can be slow, but the friendly staff and delicious food make up for it.
(4)R A.
Death-by-Cilantro. I like cilantro as well as the next gringo but this was definitely overkill.
(2)Paul W.
I am not Mexican but the good seems very authentic and is very delicious. I have yet to order anything I did not like. Don't let the modest surroundings dissuade in trying this gem in the rough. The price are about average while the variety and tastes are well above average.
(5)Jessica L.
My boyfriend and I love coming here! The servers are always really friendly and attentive (and sometimes laugh at my gringa Spanish)! The food is spicy and warm and exactly what I expect when I order it! We are pleased with the service and food and we will keep coming back!!
(5)Jon-Paul B.
Ok so this review is strictly about the service and the lack of professionalism in this restaurant. Regarding the food, it's good standard Mexican food that you could find in Chicago, LA, Minneapolis or Madison, Wisconsin. I have eaten here on at least 15 occasions and have a few observations: The wait staff is not trained to divide and/or handle the tables on the floor. It's a clown car out there. As recently as tonight, it was apparent that neither of the two waiters had a plan to handle it as evidenced by the fact that we waited a good 10 minutes to get asked if we wanted water much less getting chips and salsa. The really eager chatty waiter is god awful. What's funny is that he is turfy about taking as many tables as possible so he can get more confused and provide truly dreadful and incompetent service. There was a new waiter working I did not know. Let's call him guy in blue shirt. He eventually came over and asked what we wanted to drink. Since it had been a good ten minutes of temporary invisibility, I suggested that we just order. He looked hesitant but reluctantly took the order. Then the other (god awful) waiter immediately came over to the table and asked if we wanted anything to drink. We informed him that we already ordered food and he shot the other waiter a look of death. I felt bad for guy in blue shirt because he was trying to be accommodating and obviously had felt the wrath of his incompetent counterpart before. (Sidebar- a beautiful blonde woman on a date came in during the time we were waiting for the invisibility to wear off. Guess who got chips and salsa and drinks and their order in before us?-lol) I will say that this time the food came out quickly relative to the time we ordered. This is marked improvement over several other visits where our order was lost in the travails of a candy crush playing wait staff crouching behind the counter. "Oh. I'm sorry. I forgot to put that in"... 30 minutes after we ordered and we asked for an update on the epically complex dish that is fajitas. Yes. They were playing candy crush and hiding behind the counter. Here is what makes you understand that they know they are awful and just can't seem to find a good training program for staff: my girlfriend got up to go to the bathroom and on the way the (god awful) waiter ran up to her and asked if "everything was ok" and if she "needed anything". She explained that the trip was routine. Yep. Only under the perceived threat of us actually going to the counter to get drinks, more chips, water, our food, the check so we can actually pay etc does the wait staff spring into action. Ok last thing: after waiting a good 15 minutes with napkins in plates post meal, I asked for the check from the guy in blue shirt. He came back to our area 4 times in the span of 5 minutes after I asked him and nary a bill to be found. I think he was fearful that god-awful waiter would take him out back for a "chat" after closing. We ultimately paid at the front and the check was quickly produced. The cashier asked how the service was and I made a couple comments. He said that they would work on it. That's nice.
(1)Seriously D.
This place is so good I signed up to review places on Yelp. The tortillas are fresh, the salsa is great, the owner is a genuinely caring individual... And the outcome is the best Mexican food in Kalamazoo... Hands down. Great food, great place. Try the Michoacan enchiladas. Thank you El Gallo Blanco for saving Kalamazoo from microwaved BS. ---///// Recent visit was a surprise that quality had really gone down. Seemed too busy for their own good. October 2014
(5)C W.
Good cheep eats. The parking lot is tiny and its lunch rushes are large. You need to get here by 11:30 to get a parking spot. Do everyone a favor and carpool. I recommend the poblano gordita hold the sour cream, add avocado, and finalize with verde sauce.
(5)Will F.
Such excellent food! Get your tacos Mexican style with the house-made tortillas. Try the huaraches. The servers were friendly and helpful, and we didn't have to wait.
(5)Fer M.
Good service, good food but if you pay your bill with credit card they will charge an additional and unexpected 4% as "convenience fee" The waiter explained that last year the owner paid over $50,000 of fees. This means that they billed about $1.3M in 2014. If that's true ain't bad for a small place. So far I'm not going there anymore.
(1)Thom P.
I took my wife here for the first time and she was super impressed! I've been here 3 yikes so far and each time the food was exceptional. True real Mexican cooking, not a Tex-Mex interpretation found around Kalamazoo. We had the two fajitas meal with beans and rice. We chose the mixed chicken and steak. It was excellent, the meat was tender and flavorful. The two meals were priced very cheaply and we had plenty leftover for another full meal the next night! I'd recommend it any day over and other so called Mexican or Tex-Mex place in Kalamazoo!
(5)Gabe S.
This place is unreal! By far the BEST Mexican place around. The gorditas with beef tongue are legit and their tamales are out of this world. Their homemade horchata will change your life. I would live here if I could. The service is always great and the food is consistently top notch.
(5)Beth H.
I have found the restaurant that will satisfy my Mexican food craving! It's 2 hours from us, but I don't really care, it's that good. I was ready to make the drive again the next day. Our poor college kid is going to have his parents visiting much more often now that we found this place, but he says he won't complain if we take him with us to eat at El Gallo Blanco. The exterior is a clean, nondescript single level building with the typical fiesta orangish yellow paint outside, which makes it stand out from the drab surroundings; but make no mistake, this restaurant is the Mexican food GEM of Kalamazoo. Simple interior and a simple menu but I couldn't find anything missing. Even had my favorite, Chile Rellenos, on special for $6.99. I haven't seen sopes, menudo, and barbacoa all on any other menus outside of Phoenix and Mexico. I was in heaven when the waiter brought me a huge glass of horchata (for $2!) and my compadres had cokes in tall glass bottles. The salsa was smoky and medium spicy - not loaded with tomatoes. The good stuff! Meals came and everyone couldn't believe what they were tasting. We were passing our plates around to each other. Beef and cheese enchiladas - which had a beautful slow roasted shredded beef. Very flavorful. Alabre was an amazing mix of meats covered with cheese, served with your choice of torillas. Chile Rellenos were de-seeded (most important prep) the cheese was perfect and the egg coating was soft but cooked thoroughly. I don't know the orange sauce that covered it but it completed the dish. Also served with tortillas. I couldn't believe that the four of us ate all that food on a Saturday night, for under $10 each! If you are anywhere along the I94 cooridor - find this place. You won't be sorry.
(5)Bob N.
The kitchen does great things. Only negative on the food, there is no reason to get a combo or dinner plate the refried beans and rice are just filler. I go a la carte. Taco's stand up against anything you'll see between Chicago and Detroit. (Best I've had since I lived in Denver) Al Pastor is my standard, they have an interesting and tasty take on chicken. Explore the menu from there. The wait staff is easily stressed during the lunch rush and tend to fold under the pressure. But they are very helpful and friendly when it's slow. I won't eat Mexican else ware in Kzoo/Portage.
(4)Lea B.
My go to taco joint. love this place!
(5)Allison D.
Great place with great authentic mexican, not just tex-mex. My husband ordered a dinner platter & didn't end up caring for it (nothing wrong with it, just not his preference). They told us to take the food home & brought a different meal for him free of charge. The food is always great & comes out so fast. Definitely a place you need to eat at. Can get a little hectic when busy, but it's a small place with a small staff
(5)Andrew M.
We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed the Carnitas Burritos. The staff were friendly, the location is small but orderly. The food was prepared surprisingly quickly and the quality was excellent. The menu prices are ridiculously affordable. We're so happy with this experience that five stars is obvious! I can heartily recommend this restaurant to everyone I know, especially families trying to stretch their dining out budget.
(5)Michael H.
I lived near Buford Highway in Atlanta for years before I moved back to my home town. Quality-wise, this place is average and I wish things like Sope's weren't just from a bag and heated up. Second, yeah, the service is really not up to snuff here. They are hoping that everybody just blindly says "oh El Gallo Blanco has such good mexican food" so people just come in off the word of mouth. Do everybody a favor and hold this place accountable for the truly mediocre dining experience accompanied by not a mediocre bill. The comments about lazy waiters and ambivalent service are accurate.
(3)Joel W.
My wife and I visited after reading the reviews and loved it. My wife got the chicken tacos and they were great, she says they were the best tacos she ever had. I got the barbacoa and it was so tender and melts in your mouth and the portion was huge. Service was good, not overbearing and took care of us. Prices are great and I understand why they charge for extra chips because I'm sure a lot of chips are wasted. Glad we went here for lunch!
(5)Lisa S.
SO good and GREAT price. Only authentic Mexican place I've good around here. My Arizona roommate approves
(5)Daniel D.
Great authentic Mexican place. Prices are fantastic with lots of options and big portions. Tacos can be ordered American or Mexican style. I had the Mexican style tacos chicken, steak, and pork and it was the truth! I sampled the tamales as well and it was also excellent. My new favorite place for lunch.
(5)Don G.
Great authentic Mexican meals and American style tacos if you like. The prices are alright and the staff is friendly and attentive. We had the gorditas; chicken, beef and pork with sides of rice and beans and they were all great. There was also an order of tacos in our party. They were reportedly very good also. The restaurant is in an old fast food type building and the decor is nothing special, if that is what you are after. The small parking lot is crammed between two other businesses and was nearly full, but that is a sign they are doing something right.
(4)Brittany G.
Fantastic! Authentic (nary a ground beef taco in sight), cheap, and delicious! I had two gorditas with beans & rice, fiance had a taco & burrito, bill came out to less than $20 including drinks. Recommend the house made corn taco with pork "Mexican style" and the aqua fresca (pineapple when we were there) - so good.
(5)Melissa J.
My husband and I were so excited that this amazing Mexican place has come to our neighborhood! Everything they have has been delicious and fresh! The pork tacos are our favorite... They even offer home made tortillas! Such a good change from the lame taco place down the street!
(5)Asa D.
I guess I just don't get it - everyone seems to love this restaurant. All my Milwood friends live here and rave about it, but I have never been blown away. Is it because I love Big Burrito so much? I have had their tacos - pretty good, but no better than Taco Bob's. I am no fan of wet burritos/enchiladas/anything else that is pretty much the same as these items. I am a hard shell tacos and guacamole guy, or maybe a standard burrito. I was less than blown away by the tacos, although they were serviceable. They do have the best guacamole in town, except maybe El Jimador. Both places go mild on the guac, so you can really taste the avocado and are not overwhelmed with flavor (Big Burrito, for instance, has a particularly limey guac that is overpowering, but still decent). I have been known to go to El Gallo Blanco just for the guac, so there's that. The salsa is a bit runny, so boo on that. What am I missing, people?
(3)steve h.
I selected El Gallo Blanco based on strong YELP reviews. Ordered Carry-out Tuesday 22 April 2014. Full order of Flautas. Had the impression the register was being run by the owner, very friendly, quick, and courtious. Order was ready promptly and was affordable, about $9. Carry out, so no opinion on service. Ate at my hotel (I travel to the area frequently on business) with a beer. The tortillas could have been slightly crisper but they were very good. The meat fillings were flavorful but not spicy, and the generous sprinkle of cheese (cojita, I think) was a great addition, melting slightly on the hot fried tortillas and contrasting with the shredded letuce. I didn't use the salsa to avoid spilling. I really enjoyed the food, and at the end of the meal I definately would have given 4 stars. So why 1 star? I woke up 7 hours after the meal and had lower G.I. problems for 3 hours despite multiple doses of Imodium AD. Could it have been my lunch, or was it my dinner? My coworker ate the same restaurant lunch and did NOT get sick. So I think Montezuma's Revenge was from El Gallo Blanco, probably unclean hands on the shredded lettuce. Don't really care how it happened, I will never eat there again. Dine at your own risk.
(1)The D.
Love this place. Kind of a whole in the wall good luck finding parking at lunch time. Seems pretty authentic and pretty cheap. For Lent they had smoked fish.... Like fins, gills and I am pretty sure it was looking at me. I manned up and ate it. I was amazed it was actually really good!
(5)Caleb C.
Great service, very clean and also has a very authentic taste! Def worth it. My grandpa is very picky with mexican food and he loved the tamales. You can get any hotness level that you like. Also seems like a pretty reasonably priced place.
(4)Paul B.
I'm a traveler and have tried a number of Mexican places in Kalamazoo. I am very impressed with the food and service. While there are menu items you would traditionally find at Mexican places, they also have some bold, unusual choices. I had the Pollo Adobado. Chicken in a rich sauce served with grilled cactus, beans and rice. Homemade corn tortillas. Really different and great. A simple family restaurant venu, reasonably priced and a friendly staff who work to make sure you enjoy your experience.
(5)Kiana F.
It was awesome. Our server was super friendly and helpful. He recommended the fajitas for two which was plenty of food for all three of us. Service was quick and we were brought some rice water to try also. Recommend!
(5)Ryan F.
I write this review for any other California transplants to Kalamazoo who are snobby about their Mexican food. Locals will will tell you this place is fantastic. It is not. The meat is more salty than flavorful. The salsa is watery. The chips were not house made when I was there. The beans are a tasteless and paste-like. For my money, I'd rather go to Chipotle. And just gorge on Mexican food when I'm back in California visiting family.
(2)Dorcas Giles S.
If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in Kalamazoo, this is the place to go! Good service, good prices and great food!
(5)Jeffrey M.
Took my wife and parents here for the first time. Pass it every day while driving to work and keep hearing how good the food is. I was a little suprised at how run down the inside is and seems kinda dirty. Needless to say, after eating guacamole and burritos, I became violently ill hours after leaving. I subsequently was ill for 3 days and lost 2 days if work because of it. The only people that came down with this nasty illness were people who ate the guacamole. I will never go back.
(1)KC S.
Four stars. Great semi authentic food, but since the place added servers to take your order it have doubled the wait time for food 20-30 mins for lunch. Still very good food if you have time to wait.
(4)Stewart N.
The $5.99 steak burrito was excellent. Lots of meat, good flavor, and fresh ingredients. This same burrito would cost $10 at Qdoba and not be half as flavorful. Loved having the full line of Jarritos and imported Coke and Pepsi. Quick service and restaurant was clean--though the outside and furnishings inside aren't much to look at. We will definitely return.
(5)Peter Z.
El Gallo Blanco is one of the few places in town where you can find authentic Mexican (not Tex-Mex) fare. It took me a few visits to figure it out, but this place is special. During my last visit I and my dining companion had jalapeño and cheese tamales, a torta de queso panela, guacamole, beans and rice, and a grilled nopal. Everything was delicious. The bread for the torta was perfectly crisp. The nopal was savory and wonderful. I could eat those tamales all day. On previous visits I've enjoyed their carnitas (tender, juicy, and they give you a ton of it) and menudo con pata (a big flavorful bowl of chewy magic). Ordering isn't what I expected -- you place your order at the counter and then the bring it to you (EDIT: they've changed to standard table service), but the service is friendly, the prices are very reasonable, and the food is delicious. I hope this restaurant continues their success -- the food scene in Kalamazoo would be poorer for its loss.
(5)Michael J.
This place leans more toward Authentic Mexican vs typical Americanized Mexican restaurants. I have a hard time not ordering the Mixed Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas but everything I have tried has been good to very good. I am also a fan of their Chorizo Gorditas. The atmosphere is nothing noteworthy, but the food makes it all worth while.
(4)Erin L.
Best Mexican restaurant in Kalamazoo. Friendly and knowledgable staff, great menu and cheap prices. They don't serve alcohol so this is more of a go-to lunch place. I'm vegetarian so I usually order their cheese and jalepeno tamales - they sell out quickly! If you want to order on the cheap, I recommend buying ala cart rather than a special. This restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall - don't expect much from the ambiance. The food is why you should really check it out.
(5)Brian S.
The only place in Kalamazoo that even comes close to having good Mexican food. Their burritos are excellent. The salsa is spicy, but could use more flavor. Overall it's great!
(4)Pissy P.
This has been my favorite place since it opened. I was willing to wait an hour when I was told a carryout order would take 15 minutes. I was willing to deal with EVERY carryout order ever being wrong in some way . I loved it. Last week the Gallo was so bad, I couldn't even eat it. The guacamole was borderline rotten and they forgot chips. My Panela cheese was replaced with fundo. The pastor was hard and had the taste of sitting on a grill for hours. The chorizo quesadilla was inedible. I don't know what happened but I'm really sad. Come back my Gallo.
(1)Matt D.
I am a major fan of El Gallo Blanco. Mexican food is my absolute favorite among international cuisine. El Gallo Blanco doesn't try to over do it with fancy bells and whistles...it simply delivers fast, tasty, and authentic Mexican cuisine. I have been here several times and each time I try something new. There are so many items to explore on the menu, ranging from typical enchilada or burrito dishes to carnitas to Alambre. The menu is simple and across the board, the food is cheap. The authentic cilantro seasoning has never been over done, however there is quite a bit in their house salsa. I happen to love cilantro, but I know some are sensitive to its unique taste. Overall, this place provides hot, tasty, authentic Mexican food. The authentic beverages like their house Horchata are also very good. I highly recommend El Gallo Blanco if you are looking for great food and a casual sit down atmosphere.
(5)Nathan T.
The posole on Fridays is excellent and it seems there are a host of regulars that show up just for this delicacy. Just moved here from Texas and now I've got a little piece of San Antone in West Michigan. Order it with avocado, and the homemade tortillas. You won't ever be disappointed.
(4)Joe L.
I grew up in and sometimes visit Mexico. While there we always eat the street food and at local restaurants so I know my Mexican food. El Gallo Blanco is as close as it gets in Michigan. They have real tacos (onions, cilantro and lime-no more) and homemade salsas. The Torta with Al Pastor (marinated pork) is my favorite. Second place are their Tacos with Carnitas (fried pork). You must get Mexican pop too (Jarritos, Fanta, Coca, etc) not the gringo stuff. Don't get the burrito or chicken anything! Don't get the tacos with lettuce, sour cream and stuff. That's American, not Mexican.
(4)Paul G.
I first discovered this jewel last winter after a morning XC skiing. I was visiting town and when my friend picked me up after I was hungry and in the mood for something warm and hearty. I had noticed the restaurant before but never gone to eat. We drove by and I noticed a full parking lot-generally a sign of good and reasonably priced eats. Following the conventional wisdom I knew I was in for a great meal when I tasted their delicious salsa (lots of cilantro) and chips (warm, crunchy, and not oversalted). Being a lover of simple good authenticity,I grabbed a tongue taco to start. It was just like the ones I've so enjoyed in the yucatan on a couple of trips. After that, I opted for Alambre. Plenty of food for the price and so good! Many of pork's best incarnations cooked with onions and mushrooms, great beans and rice, and my choice of tortilla. After walking in starving and with icicles in my beard, I fealt warm and full. After paying I realizes that I wanted to try their horchata and the yam candies up at the front. Splendid as well. I went back last week and even though I just wanted to get Alambre again, I knew I had to try somethinh else. Tompiqueno was great as well. Nicely seasoned skirt steak and flavorful whole onions.with stems attached. Knowing I'd want more and that I was heading back to metro Detroit later that day, I got 6 chicken tamales to go. I've had 3 for lunch each of the last 2 days. As hoped, they warm up easily in the microwave and taste great. Not grainy but still clinging to tge husks they were packaged in. If the microbreweries aren't enough to get you to Kalamazoo, this place should. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Judy M.
Oh my gosh! The best authentic mexican food restaurant that I have ever been to. It is so good. I had gorditas and a side of beans and rice. It was the best I've ever had! The horchata (a sweet rice drink) was also very good. Husband had the enchiladas and he said those were very tasty. The service was fast, friendly and attentive. The decor isn't great but the restaurant was very clean. I can't wait to go back. I only wish I lived closer.
(5)R S.
Simply fantastic, authentic Mexican food that touches one's palate, which one will never forget. Love their homemade corn tortillas. Don't go for the flour version! Their tacos were sublime (with the right proportion of ingredients), sandwiches loved by the kids, and the steak combo platter was good. The only reason I gave them 4 stars is b/c the washroom was disgusting.
(4)Kristen J.
The food was not entirely authentic but it was enjoyable for Mexican. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. He knew the menu very well and made suggestions based on an obvious knowledge of both the menu and Mexican food. The restaurant itself was smaller and definitely laid back in style. The only drawback was the door opening often and letting all the cold air in often. Nothing could have really been done about that though on their part. They did do well to try and keep it above freezing though.
(4)Kari C.
I stopped in and got take out and have found the best Mexican in a long time- they even have pambazo which I haven't been able to find since living in southwest Florida. I ordered the pambazo and a chicken burrito- both were amazingly delicious and a great price. Chips and salsa are also great! Will definitely be back to try many other things!
(5)Rob H.
Went weds night at 615. Took 1 and 20 mins to get meal. Wife liked tamale jalapeños cheese but not the died out chicken version. My three takes were good. Kids did not like the chick burritos. I'd go back for the tacos but will be hard to get rest o family to go.
(2)Ken H.
My favorite Mexican food in Kalamazoo! The food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. I can't comment on many of the menu items since I almost always get the chicken and cheese enchiladas. The guacamole is great! The tamales are great! Go here!
(5)Josh B.
Excellent veggie tacos with homemade tortillas. I also highly recommend the gorditas.
(5)Sheryle D.
Dined here for the first time today! The 1st Mexican Restaurant we went to was closed, so I pulled out my phone and saw that this one had the best ratings on Yelp. They weren't wrong! Don't be put off by curb appeal, the food and service more than makes up for any hesitations you might have. Actually it was a pretty peaceful place to eat! Clean interior and perhaps most importantly NO blaring music like a lot of Mexican Restaurants play. On to the food. I had the steak (small) burrito and my husband had the (full order) chicken flautas. We also ordered a side of pico de gallo. It was excellent! Did I say EXCELLENT? Let me say that even ordering the "small" burrito, I could eat only half of it! But I like leftovers for that midnight snack, lol! My husband was able to eat his whole meal, barely. The table salsa was some of the best I have ever had, real flavor unlike many who use tomato sauce, maybe an onion, maybe a hot pepper and maybe, just maybe cilantro! It was so good we got some to go! The staff greeted us when we entered and service was almost instant. Our waiter was a nice young man who took the time to talk to us, which was pleasant. And he didn't forget a thing (I usually order a side of sour cream, most forget it, but he didn't!) I didn't use the restroom but my husband did and he said it was clean and didn't smell. I've been to Mexico many times and lived for 10 years in TN where there was decent Mexican food (based on the food I had eaten in Mexico). Since being back in MI for the last ten years, I have driven miles/to many different cities looking for that authentic flavor. After ten years, I have finally found the place and it's El Gallo Blanco! Even though it takes me more than an hour to get there, I can't imagine going anywhere else now! I've been to their FB page and made a case as to why they should open up a restaurant in the city closest to me, El Gallo Blanco, "East"! I urge you all to give this place a try. I think those that give the lower ratings here only have experience with Mexican food at Taco Bell, or even Don Pueblos(terrible food!). If you want Taco Bell Flavor (and I don't hate Taco Bell, it's OK in a pinch), go to Taco Bell. But if you want authentic Mexican food go to El Gallo Blanco! I'm already plotting how I can go there for dinner or take-out (how can I fit that 2 hour round trip into my schedule!) again in the next few days! It's also a very good omen when a good portion of the clientele are of Mexican descent! Their mommas cooked for them and they liked it!. And now they prefer to eat here, a very good omen indeed. Just like mama used to make! They also serve Breakfast. Open 7 days a week.
(5)Sdlabs D.
I was visiting Kalamazoo from Atlanta. I was looking for some good Mexican food and I found the place! It's not a fancy building but the chicken fajitas were one of the best I've ever had, the salsa had a delicious unique flavor. The staff was great, food came quick and prices fare.
(5)Meg K.
This really is as good as it gets (in my opinion) for traditional Mexican fare in Kalamazoo. My favorites here are the chicken tacos (Mexican style on corn tortillas), the elotes (with all the fixin's) and the horchata. I have some friends that really love the carnitas, too. A bonus is the chips and salsa (when dining in) and their speedy service if you call an order in. Don't be surprised if you have to wait to order (if you don't call ahead) - but know that it is VERY worth the wait!
(5)Joshua V.
Didn't care for it, but I may just be used to the Americanized Mexican food.
(2)Jim B.
Eat here soon. Excellent authentic Mexican food.
(5)Jenna C.
This place is amazing and cheap. Get the Mexican style corn on the cob.
(5)Marnie P.
I don't know why it took us so long to try El Gallo Blanco, but once we did, we were hooked. Everything is always delicious, but our favorites are the tamales, steak tacos (Mexican style, with onions, cilantro and lime), and the guacamole. The service, both dine-in and carry-out, is always friendly and helpful. The prices are more than reasonable. And I can't stress enough how delicious and fresh the food is.
(5)April E.
Haven't had better Mexican food in a long, long time. I am so glad we found this place! Very authentic, everything was fresh with big homemade taste. We had chicken enchiladas, pork tamales and a pork burrito - all delicious! Sadly, we didn't have room for dessert, but we will save room next time.
(5)Kari W.
Best Mexican restaurant! Staff are always so welcoming, the atmosphere is relaxed and causal, and the food is amazing and affordable! I recommend the burrito or the Alambre.
(5)Phil L.
This is the best Mexican food I've had anywhere. It is fresh and delicious. The service was fast and friendly. Don't be put off by appearances. When you're in the mood for authentic Mexican food...this is the place.
(5)Kelly S.
Mmmmmmmm good stuff!! FINALLY I have discovered authentic mexican food in the kalamazoo area. They served us generous portions at cheap prices. Not to mention, the food was the real deal. Tons of fresh cilantro and great flavors!
(4)Johnny D.
I stopped in on a whim a few weeks ago and I've already been back three times. Needless to say, the food is on the money. I highly suggest the enchiladas or the carne asada burrito. Can't go wrong with either. The service was above average as well. While the food took a little long to get to our table, it was still there in a reasonable amount of time and it was still very fresh. One tip - call in your order during the lunch rush. They tend to be very busy during the week.
(5)Silvia P.
Good local Mexican food. Excellent prices.
(4)Robbie M.
Great authentic fresh food.
(4)Jilian K.
I have been to all of the Mexican restaurants in Kalamazoo and this is by far the best! They have awesome vegetarian options - like their amazing jalopeno and cheese tamales - are my favorite.
(5)Paul G.
I'm won't lie, this is probably some of the best and most authentic mexican food I have ever had. I've only been to El Gallo Blanco twice, I honestly cannot stop thinking about the glorious beef tongue tacos and shredded beef enchiladas. I'll be honest, I didn't really even want to write this review, I feel like a greedy little child that doesn't want to share his toys.
(5)Sue S.
Great food, big portions, reasonable prices! The 1/2 order of cheese enchiladas lasts 2 meals.
(4)