I was surprised by some of the reviews on here because I have had some good food at Maria's. You're not going to get authentic Mexican tacos on corn tortillas here, but that doesn't mean you won't get great food. I went there with a local, and she told me they were known for their fried tacos. Calling it a fried taco made me think of the greasy Jack in the Box tacos (the amazing hangover food that they are), but these tacos are not greasy. They fry only the shell, and it is delish. I wanted to try a little of everything, so I got three fried tacos -- seafood, pork, and shredded beef. I was a little hesitant about the seafood one but it was my favorite. I was seriously tasty. I also really enjoyed the pork and shredded beef, but I wish they had the white cheese that was on the seafood one (just because I'm not a huge yellow cheese fan). The beans were good, but I didn't really eat the rice. The chips and salsa was great, but the salsa was sweet. I think they put sugar in it, which I believe is a Springfield thing. The waitress did forget about our appetizer, but we were stuffed without it so neither one of us really had a problem with that. I also like the atmosphere. They've remodeled and expanded, but it still has that fun, unpretentious, downtown feeling. They also have a couple tables outside. I've been there twice and really enjoyed myself both times. It's by far the best Mexican food I've had in Springfield (even if it isn't authentic).
(4)
Breanna C.
This was a pretty underwhelming experience. The hostess told us it would be a 10 minute wait when we got there, 20 minutes later we checked on our table and were told it would be very soon. If we had known that 10 minutes really meant 40 we would have gone elsewhere. The salsa is lacking, it's mostly tomato without any pep or extra ingredients. The green chili queso was probably the best thing we ordered. It's got some kick and is a white queso. The guacamole was chunky and needed some cilantro, lime juice, and garlic salt to make it better. I ordered the chicken fajitas, they were standard chicken fajitas, nothing special. If you're seated in the back room expect to be forgotten for long stints of time. It's just wrong that the best part of this dining experience was the cool sinks in the bathrooms.
(2)
Dayna B.
I was visiting Springfield for work and a colleague from the area took my to Maria's for a late lunch. The chips are good, but the salsa tastes like marinara sauce. i asked the waitress for "hot" and she brought me something slightly spicier. I had the Sergio, which comes with rice and beans for $8.95. I thought it was pretty delish. Sergio: We take a large Flour Tortilla and stuff it with Shredded Beef & Cheese, fry it crispy, then cover it with our Queso Con Chile Verde. Served with Rice & Beans. I would like to come back and try a margarita when I don't have to drive back to KC.
(3)
Jess W.
Allow tequila to light the way... Maria's takes Mexican and makes it marvelous. Sweet as the agave that warms our hearts, so does the fish taco illuminate the senses-- lovely as liquor and hot as the warmest Mexican evening.
(5)
Alex W.
Stopped by for a late lunch. Place was deserted but that worked out to our benefit. We each had a variety of margarita and two "puffy" tacos (tacos Fritas). Everything was delicious, served quickly and pretty cheap. A win in my book. Not mind blowing but certainly good.
(4)
Brandon R.
It's not Perches but the margaritas are killer! Woohoo!! The fish tacos are also good.
(4)
Jacob C.
Okay atmosphere, great waiter. Chips were burnt, guacamole was subpar Fajitas weren't hot, only came with 3 tortillas too. I ordered chicken and shrimp and got about 3 pieces of each with 1 pound of peppers. Hardly any sour cream or pico as well, and about a quarter cup of rice with no real flavor. My girlfriend got fish tacos that were just dreadful. Definitely not going back!
(2)
Shanta J.
The atmosphere was okay our server was really nice. The fried tacos were good but the rice taste and looked like couscous. The chicken was a little dry. It seems like a good place to grab a drink at the bar. Overall an ok place to eat!
(3)
Paige W.
I have been here a few times in the last few years after people told me it had gotten better. Every single time the food was appalling to say the least. I have left hungry after every single visit and can say the drinks I have had there are the only good thing. The service is mediocre at best and my suggestion is to conserve the drink you do get because chances are your waitress will not come back to check on you or if she does come back she will not be bothered to refill your drink or sometimes to even look at the table to see if you need anything. My warning is this. If you are going to a restaurant to eat, go somewhere else. Anywhere will have better food than this place, including McDonalds, and you will more than likely get better service there.
(1)
Chuck P.
Best Mexican food I have ever had. Loads of food for a good price. Great service. We want to go again when we are in town.
(5)
Ashley M.
Several other reviewers have already gone over (in great detail) most of the negatives about Maria's, so I won't harp on those; instead, I will go over some specifics and highlight some of the positives. In no particular order: THE SALSA - The salsa here IS different, and I believe the key ingredient that seems to make people either love it or hate it is OREGANO - it is the most predominant flavor, next to tomato. Kind of unexpected for salsa. THE RICE & BEANS - The rice makes me think it might be of an instant variety - the grains seems smaller than normal. The beans are only slightly mashed...it's like they took out the "refried" part of "refried beans." So if you like pinto beans a lot and aren't a fan of the traditional kind that's full of lard, you might enjoy these beans. THE MARGARITA - I am very picky when it comes to margaritas. I refuse to drink one that is made from a pre-made mix; I prefer a margarita that is made with REAL lime juice, agave nectar, and premium tequila. Fortunately, all those things are available at Maria's...if you know how to order. The one on the menu that comes closest to what I like is the "Skinny" margarita...but I recommend upgrading the standard mix to a better kind of tequila. THE ENTREES - You just can't go into Maria's expecting authentic Mexican food. If you put that out of your mind to begin with, you can usually have a very enjoyable, meal. The Sergio is my favorite entree for a big, American-style shredded beef & cheese fried number, and I think the fish tacos are all right (the fish taco sauce is strongly chipotle flavor, and I don't really like chipotle, but that is just a personal complaint). I really like the queso dip they make with goat cheese and chorizo, and I like their guacamole. THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE - This is where Maria's shines. They've got the downtown location with a lively bar and big bay windows. They have cute, young servers. They have a SYSTEM that works - the management runs a tight ship. You can usually be in and out pretty quickly. You may not like the food if you are used to authentic Mexican food, but if you're used to Midwestern Mexican food (lots of meat and cheese and fried stuff - basically Tex-Mex), Maria's is one of the best of that variety in town. Overall, Maria's adds life to Springfield's downtown that makes me hope it will stick around.
(3)
Anne W.
The tacos are awesome! The guacamole dip is the BEST and I'm not a fan of guacamole, but I'll eat theirs. They mix the avocado with pico...the servers are not very friendly, like you owe them something, otherwise I would have rated it 5 stars. Parking is always a challenge, but the food makes up for it.
(4)
Harper Z.
After being rudely ignored at another restaurant down the block, my friend and I decided to try Maria's expecting to wait since the restaurant was very busy. We were pleasantly surprised to only have a ten minute wait in what was a PACKED restaurant. Kudos to the waitstaff and hostess station for their management. Our waitress was very helpful and attentive. Didn't rush us out even though the restaurant was getting even more packed by the minute. Drinks, entrees, and chips and salsa were fine. Hit the spot but not anything I was knocked out over. If you want good service and consistent tex-mex this is the place to go.
(3)
Michael B.
If you are looking for some solid Mexican food at a fair price, this is the place for you. I walked in and was seated and served quickly. I was also surprised by how fast the food came out after we ordered. All the food was prepared well and tasted delicious. There isn't anything flashy about this restaurant, but I would definitely recommend checking it out if you need a place to go for lunch or maybe a casual dinner date in the Springfield area. I know I will definitely be going back again sometime soon.
(4)
Jessica G.
I recently visited Maria's, and couldn't get over how unfriendly our waitress was. The food was decent, though luke warm (delicious when reheated later). My lunch partner and I both just felt very unwelcome, both by the hostess and our server. Maybe it was because we came post-lunch rush? Who knows...Although, I will say that Maria's salsa is my favorite in town; so much tasty celantro! And I like that their beans are plain pinto and not refried. But yeesh, for the price and the service, I don't know that I'll be back for a while.
(2)
Natalie L.
Let me just say, Maria's is not a place I would normally choose to patronize if it were totally up to me. Tried it once and that was one time too many. But it was Mother's Day yesterday and this is where the MIL chose to eat so there I was. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, the salsa at this place is seriously lacking. Sure it's complimentary with a basket of chips to go along, and good thing because I would be pretty mad if I paid for it. You can tell it's made with stewed tomatoes, probably canned at that. Who makes salsa WITH STEWED TOMATOES?! It has absolutely no flavor to it. Yuck! I ordered the fish tacos. A dish that if done right can be amazing. The chipotle dressing on the slaw was good but the fish was seriously over seasoned and very salty. It tasted like it was seasoned with Old Bay. Not what I was expecting at a Mexican restaurant. I can overlook less than great service if the food is good but our server seemed annoyed that she was there to serve us. Maybe she had a late Saturday night out was just not feeling work that day. Either way, I can't understand why this place is so highly rated by some. I think it got "Best Mexican" by 417 magazine this year. This town does not know what good Mexican is. Maria's is certainly NOT it!
(2)
Joe D.
I have eaten here many times. I have always enjoyed it. I typically eat here for lunch and get their fajitas. Good portions and great taste. It is sometimes difficult to find a parking space or the wait staff, but for the most part, it's a great environment and nice experience.
(4)
Ken T.
Had a great lunch on Monday with my wife. I love the fried tacos. Service was excellent and the food was even better.
(5)
Mildred C.
This is not authentic Mexican food. If that's what you're looking for, then don't eat here. I have tried it again and again because I want to find SOMETHING there that I like because it's such a cute little place, downtown, I love their mango margaritas... But for food, I've always been disappointed. And I've been there ATLEAST five or six times.. Probably not going back and not going to suggest this as a place to go eat with friends either.
(1)
Myranda F.
The salsa was horrible. It tasted like spaghetti sauce. I ordered the Taco salad and that was pretty delicious. The meat wasn't greasy, perfect amount of lettuce and it was a huge bowl; I couldn't finish it. The waitress, Anni, was pretty MIA and took forever to bring us anything. The Goat cheese queso was disgusting as it was VERY flavor less. The atmosphere was nice except the 2 drunk ladies at the bar. There is only 1 bathroom for men and 1 bathroom for women for the entire restaurant, so I had to wait about 10 minutes to go. They offer cherry coke which is my favorite soda to splurge on. As far as authentic mexican food, I am from Texas so this is equivalent to Taco Bueno for me. Just a tad pricier. I spent about $100 for 4 adults, 3 of which had 2 margaritas each.
(2)
Melissa T.
I wouldn't necessarily expect a mexican restaurant named Maria's to have overly authentic food, so this is not a "OMG, I can't believe this place isn't authentic" type of review. Frankly, anyone shocked by the lack of authenticity at this place should be kicked in the shin for being, well, absurd. My problem comes from the fact that they either used stewed or some form of stewed tomatoes (from a CAN) in their salsa or they grind up to a tomato can to a form that's edible (now that would be impressive) and mix it into their salsa. Their salsa is inedible because I couldn't get past the metallic taste in it. My enchilada (mushroom and spinach) was ok, but I just can't get past the salsa. What's the point of giving something for free if it sucks. There isn't any. So, yeah.
(2)
Molly R.
I wish this review could just be a video of me performing one dramatic, ongoing shrug. I don't turn down coming here, but I don't get excited about it, either. Maria's is a local favorite, and while I will be cool with eating here over Mexican Villa, I have to agree with Melissa T. that there's nothing really authentic or even remarkable about it. The salsa is not anywhere near mind-blowing and neither are any of the dishes I've had - it's all just obligatory, snoozy pseudo-Mexican food. A dime a dozen, just like Springfield Chinese joints, except Maria's wears a half untucked button-up shirt while all the others wear colorless polos. Did that analogy make sense? The point is that Maria's is a slightly more polished version of the same old stuff. I normally get the fried ground beef tacos (one of my favorite foods for no real reason: GROUND BEEF TACOS), and these get the job done. However, though they're spot-on texturally (that fried shell really is nice) they just don't pack a lot of flavor. That being said, I've never craved them again. Also, the rice and beans companions are so blah that it makes me want to shout from the rooftops (while donning a sombrero, naturally): "WHERE CAN I GET FLAVORFUL BEANS AND RICE?" That's it. It's fine, but Perches is superior *and* cheaper. Plus, both times I've been here recently, I've gotten bad vibes from our grumpy waitresses. Off nights definitely happen, but I know I can always go where every single facet of dining out Mexican style is perfection.
(2)
Jonathan P.
The food is as authentic as you'll find in Springfield. The servers were very friendly. Had chicken fajitas, and they were the best I've had around here. All in all, I'll go back. I just really got spoiled in Southern California and truly authentic Mexican.
(4)
James C.
Nice atmosphere, cheap prices. Then again, what isn't cheap in Springfield Missouri? Food was ok to average - nothing special. What mexican place doesnt have shrimp fajitas? I mean you can buy those frozen like you do half the stuff on the menu. Margaritas are made from pre-made mixes in squeeze bottles. Cmon you are a Mex restaurant and you cant make them fresh to order? The bartender doesn't even mix or shake them up. That's just lazy. Management or bartenders fault? The world may never know. Maria's - Out!
(2)
Manda P.
First off, this isn't mexican food. This stuff is closer to California style "mexican" food. If you're looking for flat tortillas, actual red or green chile pod made sauces, or even queso fresco, you're gonna have a bad time. So, the salsa. Oh salsa, salsa, salsa. You may have heard/read that it's bad. Well, it is. It's not worth eating and that, my friends, is a damned travesty. Salsa, when made correctly is supposed to be a delicious, social indulgence.. Sadly, the salsa at Maria's is not very tasty at all. It's waaay too much tomato not enough (or any?) of everything else that makes the gods of salsa happy. So skip the salsa--even free, it's just a waste. The rice and beans that come with most dishes are unremarkable. My husband really liked his fried seafood tacos. I ordered the shredded beef tacos and found them loaded with far too much cheddar cheese, fairly easy fix, just dusted them off. The seasoning on the beef was good. I liked them. All in all, the actual orders were pretty good, though i thought that the price point was a tad high for what amounted to fairly average eats.
(3)
Karen W.
This is, without a doubt, the sorriest excuse for Mexican food I've ever tasted. First let me say our server was great. I'm from Corpus Christi Tx and grew up on great Mex both north and south of the border. The salsa was marinara with a little cilantro. Our waitress saw us cringing and brought us some spicy. Hot but zero flavor. Everything in our meals was strangely sweet. What is it with Mid-westerners and sugar in everything? For some reason the frijoles were seasoned with nutmeg! Canned beans are better. The rice was gelatinous. I picked up the entire serving with my fork in one big blob. What passed for a chimi needed a steak knife to cut. And those famous fried tacos...rubber! If you value your stomach...and your wallet...don't eat here. Thank heavens for cold Negro Modelo.
(1)
Jimmi H.
Maria's Mexican is a local favorite of some friends of mine. I can understand why too! Maria does not mess around when "she" is making a margarita! Whew! They. Are. Good. Of course there are some other strong points too. I love that they give each person there own salsa for both pre-gaming with chips and for your meal. Speaking of, the chips are nothing to write home about, but are still more than satisfactory. During my visit here I only tried the spinach quesadilla, which was really quite good. The location is great for those who live or are visiting down town, and space is open and very "mexican restaurant." Speaking of the decor (and now also moving on to the staff), I would usually never mention this because it seems disrespectful, but sorry I have to, Maria has some very attractive servers. Yes I'm happily married, but I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful staff here (I totally realize that this is very subjective). Eh em, moving on... the staff is quick, courteous and really much better than I would normally expect on a Saturday afternoon in a college town. So ya, good food, excellent margaritas, comfortable surroundings and a great staff! There you go!
(4)
Kelly D.
FANTASTIC Mexican food. The fried tacos are to die for! I only wish I had more stomach room for their food, because it was SO good. I had tried to go here several times, but kept finding it closed, and when I finally got to go, I was not disappointed!!!
(5)
Jean P.
I recently visited Maria's on my birthday weekend in Springfield (currently residing in STL). We had a huge group (see also: 25ish) and due to the new expansion (I graduated from MSU in 2007...when did the new section open?!?), they were very happy to accommodate us with a reservation. We were seated quickly, salsa and chips waiting. We ordered margaritas and they arrived at the table without haste to sip on while waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. + 10 cool points - free margarita for my birthday Queso is good with a bit of a kick, though not too spicy for the weinie that I am. I ordered the Ultimate Sergio which is my standard for a trip to Maria's. It was very yummy, though I was also quite drunk at the time of me eating it. Maria's has a great atmosphere, and though it's not my favorite Mexican in Springfield (Los Portales RULES though is much less "fancy"), it's downtown, which we wanted for after dinner, and it's still good. Everyone seem pleased, as was I.
(3)
Jett A.
Crap! Crap! Once upon a time this place was great! Is sad when the owners think money is more important than customers. Sad!
(1)
Brad K.
Maria's is always a good spot. Service is always good. Chips and salsa come to the table quick. The salsa is not the best in town. It is very simple tomato salsa. The chips are always warm and waiting for a shake of salt. However the queso is the best in town. Full of flavor and spicy too. I got the Sergio my favorite. Shredded beef chimichanga covered in the queso. (you might get the impression that I like the queso) The beans are slightly dry but mix in a bit of sour cream and they are great. The rice is flavorless and I leave it alone. If you like fried taco's Maria's is the place for you too. They have recently expanded so there isn't much of a wait even for a quick lunch.
(4)
Dante L.
Mexican? more like Mexi-can't ! I'm thinking of blacklisting this place permanently. bad cheese, goat cheese i think, food is not mexican-no i mean no seasoning. i usually ask for extra salsa (which is amazing maybe the only great thing there besides the tequila selection) and put the salsa on my food for flavor. A few go to pulls though, tacos are OK. Services is usually spot on, never had a bad waiter. Ive been going off and on to Maria's for about 10yrs, usually with groups of people that are going there and i go to socialize more than eat. i think Ive given this place enough chances that i can be a dick to my friends and bail on that part of the evening next time they go! Sorry guys, put effort in the food if your a restaurant, you can have good Tequila and good service but that doesn't make you a "Mexican Restaurant".
(1)
Cory H.
Ha! Yeah. Well. Food sucks. The food DOES suck. Suck on the food, cause you'll hate it. Granted, the fried seafood taco kicks so much ass that you'll forget the crap you're gonna pass either through vomiting or, frankly, vomiting from drinking too much tequila. What keeps me coming back is that wall of tequila. I hate the stuff, but so much booze is luring! Margaritas are good shit and all, but straight tequila is for sorority girls and rednecks. I had a $30 happy graduation shot of super-premium, brand-name IMPORTED (psh) reposado that tasted like cheap, unfiltered whiskey.See what I'm talking about? I could have gotten that same gagging taste from Brown Derby-brand bourbon. Okay, okay. Seriously. Food sucks. I've been to "authentic" Mexican restaurants before that passed off better than this place. Firstly, where are all the Mexicans? I feel awkward eating at a Chinese place and seeing no Asians behind the counter, why should Mexican food be any different? Yeah, yeah, whatever--before any of you hypocrites label me as a racist, ask yourselves this: is authentic ethnic food authentic when someone other than that ethnicity prepares it? "Yeah, you racist! Its all in the ingredients, style, and preparation!" No. It isn't. Doctors in Anthropology can't do brain surgery, but they're still doctors, right? Okay. That said... All Mexican food is the same...just like Italian food... There are probably a total of six custom ingredients, but the only thing that changes is the appearance. Seriously. If you eat ONE taco, you've just tasted ALL that Mexican food has to offer. In essence, you can't screw it up. I don't know if there is a general lack of caring, but I feel that Maria's adopted the concept of Mexican food's lazy preparation and became lazy around it. Just because everything requires only lettuce, meat, sour cream, and cheese, doesn't mean that you can't make it good. Essentially, there is no difference in taste between a hard taco and a burrito (big surprise)--MORE SO THAN ANYWHERE ELSE EVER! You won't spend too much here, which is all right, but I suggest that you get drunk and find yourself here, if it is still open. You know, this place is the first place to close on a Friday night, so you better be drunk and hungry by 8 or you won't get anything! I just rambled about nothing. I wasted my time here.
(2)
Kassidy P.
They bring you chips and salsa while you wait. The salsa was fresh but also very bland. There was no spice at all and basically tasted like pureed tomatoes. Michael got the the Sergio. It actually wasn't bad. There was a verde sauce, melty cheese and chunks of chicken. My meal on the other hand, BLAH! I got the combo plate w/ rice and beans (very tasteless even after I added quite a bit of salt AND some of the already bland salsa) and you had two choices to go with it. I chose a soft chicken taco (wasn't HORRIBLE but Taco Bell woulda been just as good...) and a beef enchilada (which idk how they thought THAT was an enchilada but... ok.) Then we had to wait for the check for what seemed like forever while the waitress was talking w/ her buddies over in the corner for like, 10 minutes even though we were CLEARLY ready to leave. I can honestly say that I have no idea why this place is so popular... wow. A BIG N-O from me!
(2)
S L.
The salsa, if you want to call it that, is pretty terrible in my tastes. Way to much oregano in it, almost tasted like pizza sauce to me. The food on the other hand was decent, but still nothing to rave about. I've had way better Mexican food. All mexican restaurants in Missouri seem to all be roughly the same. Maybe that's the way people like it out here, I don't know. As the star rating says, I've had better...
(2)
Paul K.
Oh why did I cheat on you Mexican Villa? Maria's, you have sex appeal and an old school charm! But, once you get pass those nice looks, there isn't much else. Your salsa lacks spice and is too tomato-ey! My friends and family agree also. Great service, nice atmosphere, and the food sounds great conceptually but misses on execution and details (not enough flavor). I'm not a fan of freshly fried corn tortillas, but this one was the best that I've had as far as taco shells alone. The food is plentiful.
(3)
Shannon O.
Yummy yummy yummy! The margarita wasnt terrible, which im usually concerned about in a "bar type" atmosphere. The chips and salsa were good, the salsa wasnt spicy at all and thick how i like it!! I got the fried flour shell tacos...and they were delicious!!! I'll definitly be making dinner plans there again!
(4)
Dane S.
This gets three stars almost exclusively on the basis of the queso green chile dip, which makes dining here worthwhile. The salsa was just so-so, and the enchiladas were kind of tasteless. The atmosphere seems fine, if a bit on the dull side.
(3)
Aaron C.
Went here with my cousin for the first time and the atmosphere is great. I have had great mexican food before and this is close but not quite. Not to say its bad just that its not the best ever. Priced well and you can get a good plate of food and a drink for about 12$. Worth the stop.
(4)
Casia J.
This is the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had. It's clear that there is no authentic Mexican food in Springfield, MO. That being said, authentic and tasty don't always have to go together. The food was awful. Margs were almost as bad. As a general rule: When I walk in a restaurant and see blond, deer-in-the-headlights type of people serving any sort of food that attempts to be ethnic, it's gonna be bad. And it was.
(1)
Joann T.
Maria's had a noisy crowd for lunch and that looked like a good sign. Chips and salsa came promptly; chips were good, salsa was not. The enchiladas were flat and blah....the beans had waaay too much cumin. The best part of the meal came last....hubby and I both thought the sopapillas were A-OK, hot and puffy. We're still searching for that great Mexican restaurant in the Ozarks!
(2)
Tiffany B.
I LOVE Maria's!! I eat a lot of Mexican food and it is my favorite! The chicken fried taco is like no other taco you have had. Don't try and order it somewhere else because no one can do it like Maria's! GOOD STUFF! :)
(5)
Jeff E.
As someone who grew up in Texas and lived in Los Angeles I can truly say that I know good Mexican food. This ain't it. Terrible salsa. Horrible enchiladas. Inferior ingredients. It's an absolute shame that this place exists. I pity the people who eat here.
(1)
FRED N.
Always a must stop when I am home and need a great taco fix. Great place to get together with friends for dinner. Personally I love sitting at the bar mid afternoon and enjoy a cold XX with a couple amazing fried tacos Best tequila selection north of the boarder. The owner Chris really knows his stuff and talked us through a few great tequilas. See you when we are back in town. Mr Fred
(5)
C M.
Good chips and salsa. Decent service. Burritos are ho-hum, but the place is clean and reasonably priced.
(4)
Selena B.
Not great. I had enchiladas that were pretty boring. My roommate had nachos that were covered with a lot of lettuce and a tiny bit of cheese--a bit awkward for something to be called nachos. The salsa was really bland, too. On a positive note, there was a large selection of tequila, and the margarita was good.
(2)
Luke M.
I've only been here a couple of times for lunch but I was pretty impressed. I agree with Christopher on the salsa and chips. One of the times I was there was with a group of around ten people. It was very busy and it's a small restaurant so I was apprehensive about how long the wait would be. I was impressed by how quickly they fit us in and with the service throughout the meal. I also like the casual, fun atmosphere.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No 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 : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Amy D.
I was surprised by some of the reviews on here because I have had some good food at Maria's. You're not going to get authentic Mexican tacos on corn tortillas here, but that doesn't mean you won't get great food. I went there with a local, and she told me they were known for their fried tacos. Calling it a fried taco made me think of the greasy Jack in the Box tacos (the amazing hangover food that they are), but these tacos are not greasy. They fry only the shell, and it is delish. I wanted to try a little of everything, so I got three fried tacos -- seafood, pork, and shredded beef. I was a little hesitant about the seafood one but it was my favorite. I was seriously tasty. I also really enjoyed the pork and shredded beef, but I wish they had the white cheese that was on the seafood one (just because I'm not a huge yellow cheese fan). The beans were good, but I didn't really eat the rice. The chips and salsa was great, but the salsa was sweet. I think they put sugar in it, which I believe is a Springfield thing. The waitress did forget about our appetizer, but we were stuffed without it so neither one of us really had a problem with that. I also like the atmosphere. They've remodeled and expanded, but it still has that fun, unpretentious, downtown feeling. They also have a couple tables outside. I've been there twice and really enjoyed myself both times. It's by far the best Mexican food I've had in Springfield (even if it isn't authentic).
(4)Breanna C.
This was a pretty underwhelming experience. The hostess told us it would be a 10 minute wait when we got there, 20 minutes later we checked on our table and were told it would be very soon. If we had known that 10 minutes really meant 40 we would have gone elsewhere. The salsa is lacking, it's mostly tomato without any pep or extra ingredients. The green chili queso was probably the best thing we ordered. It's got some kick and is a white queso. The guacamole was chunky and needed some cilantro, lime juice, and garlic salt to make it better. I ordered the chicken fajitas, they were standard chicken fajitas, nothing special. If you're seated in the back room expect to be forgotten for long stints of time. It's just wrong that the best part of this dining experience was the cool sinks in the bathrooms.
(2)Dayna B.
I was visiting Springfield for work and a colleague from the area took my to Maria's for a late lunch. The chips are good, but the salsa tastes like marinara sauce. i asked the waitress for "hot" and she brought me something slightly spicier. I had the Sergio, which comes with rice and beans for $8.95. I thought it was pretty delish. Sergio: We take a large Flour Tortilla and stuff it with Shredded Beef & Cheese, fry it crispy, then cover it with our Queso Con Chile Verde. Served with Rice & Beans. I would like to come back and try a margarita when I don't have to drive back to KC.
(3)Jess W.
Allow tequila to light the way... Maria's takes Mexican and makes it marvelous. Sweet as the agave that warms our hearts, so does the fish taco illuminate the senses-- lovely as liquor and hot as the warmest Mexican evening.
(5)Alex W.
Stopped by for a late lunch. Place was deserted but that worked out to our benefit. We each had a variety of margarita and two "puffy" tacos (tacos Fritas). Everything was delicious, served quickly and pretty cheap. A win in my book. Not mind blowing but certainly good.
(4)Brandon R.
It's not Perches but the margaritas are killer! Woohoo!! The fish tacos are also good.
(4)Jacob C.
Okay atmosphere, great waiter. Chips were burnt, guacamole was subpar Fajitas weren't hot, only came with 3 tortillas too. I ordered chicken and shrimp and got about 3 pieces of each with 1 pound of peppers. Hardly any sour cream or pico as well, and about a quarter cup of rice with no real flavor. My girlfriend got fish tacos that were just dreadful. Definitely not going back!
(2)Shanta J.
The atmosphere was okay our server was really nice. The fried tacos were good but the rice taste and looked like couscous. The chicken was a little dry. It seems like a good place to grab a drink at the bar. Overall an ok place to eat!
(3)Paige W.
I have been here a few times in the last few years after people told me it had gotten better. Every single time the food was appalling to say the least. I have left hungry after every single visit and can say the drinks I have had there are the only good thing. The service is mediocre at best and my suggestion is to conserve the drink you do get because chances are your waitress will not come back to check on you or if she does come back she will not be bothered to refill your drink or sometimes to even look at the table to see if you need anything. My warning is this. If you are going to a restaurant to eat, go somewhere else. Anywhere will have better food than this place, including McDonalds, and you will more than likely get better service there.
(1)Chuck P.
Best Mexican food I have ever had. Loads of food for a good price. Great service. We want to go again when we are in town.
(5)Ashley M.
Several other reviewers have already gone over (in great detail) most of the negatives about Maria's, so I won't harp on those; instead, I will go over some specifics and highlight some of the positives. In no particular order: THE SALSA - The salsa here IS different, and I believe the key ingredient that seems to make people either love it or hate it is OREGANO - it is the most predominant flavor, next to tomato. Kind of unexpected for salsa. THE RICE & BEANS - The rice makes me think it might be of an instant variety - the grains seems smaller than normal. The beans are only slightly mashed...it's like they took out the "refried" part of "refried beans." So if you like pinto beans a lot and aren't a fan of the traditional kind that's full of lard, you might enjoy these beans. THE MARGARITA - I am very picky when it comes to margaritas. I refuse to drink one that is made from a pre-made mix; I prefer a margarita that is made with REAL lime juice, agave nectar, and premium tequila. Fortunately, all those things are available at Maria's...if you know how to order. The one on the menu that comes closest to what I like is the "Skinny" margarita...but I recommend upgrading the standard mix to a better kind of tequila. THE ENTREES - You just can't go into Maria's expecting authentic Mexican food. If you put that out of your mind to begin with, you can usually have a very enjoyable, meal. The Sergio is my favorite entree for a big, American-style shredded beef & cheese fried number, and I think the fish tacos are all right (the fish taco sauce is strongly chipotle flavor, and I don't really like chipotle, but that is just a personal complaint). I really like the queso dip they make with goat cheese and chorizo, and I like their guacamole. THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE - This is where Maria's shines. They've got the downtown location with a lively bar and big bay windows. They have cute, young servers. They have a SYSTEM that works - the management runs a tight ship. You can usually be in and out pretty quickly. You may not like the food if you are used to authentic Mexican food, but if you're used to Midwestern Mexican food (lots of meat and cheese and fried stuff - basically Tex-Mex), Maria's is one of the best of that variety in town. Overall, Maria's adds life to Springfield's downtown that makes me hope it will stick around.
(3)Anne W.
The tacos are awesome! The guacamole dip is the BEST and I'm not a fan of guacamole, but I'll eat theirs. They mix the avocado with pico...the servers are not very friendly, like you owe them something, otherwise I would have rated it 5 stars. Parking is always a challenge, but the food makes up for it.
(4)Harper Z.
After being rudely ignored at another restaurant down the block, my friend and I decided to try Maria's expecting to wait since the restaurant was very busy. We were pleasantly surprised to only have a ten minute wait in what was a PACKED restaurant. Kudos to the waitstaff and hostess station for their management. Our waitress was very helpful and attentive. Didn't rush us out even though the restaurant was getting even more packed by the minute. Drinks, entrees, and chips and salsa were fine. Hit the spot but not anything I was knocked out over. If you want good service and consistent tex-mex this is the place to go.
(3)Michael B.
If you are looking for some solid Mexican food at a fair price, this is the place for you. I walked in and was seated and served quickly. I was also surprised by how fast the food came out after we ordered. All the food was prepared well and tasted delicious. There isn't anything flashy about this restaurant, but I would definitely recommend checking it out if you need a place to go for lunch or maybe a casual dinner date in the Springfield area. I know I will definitely be going back again sometime soon.
(4)Jessica G.
I recently visited Maria's, and couldn't get over how unfriendly our waitress was. The food was decent, though luke warm (delicious when reheated later). My lunch partner and I both just felt very unwelcome, both by the hostess and our server. Maybe it was because we came post-lunch rush? Who knows...Although, I will say that Maria's salsa is my favorite in town; so much tasty celantro! And I like that their beans are plain pinto and not refried. But yeesh, for the price and the service, I don't know that I'll be back for a while.
(2)Natalie L.
Let me just say, Maria's is not a place I would normally choose to patronize if it were totally up to me. Tried it once and that was one time too many. But it was Mother's Day yesterday and this is where the MIL chose to eat so there I was. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, the salsa at this place is seriously lacking. Sure it's complimentary with a basket of chips to go along, and good thing because I would be pretty mad if I paid for it. You can tell it's made with stewed tomatoes, probably canned at that. Who makes salsa WITH STEWED TOMATOES?! It has absolutely no flavor to it. Yuck! I ordered the fish tacos. A dish that if done right can be amazing. The chipotle dressing on the slaw was good but the fish was seriously over seasoned and very salty. It tasted like it was seasoned with Old Bay. Not what I was expecting at a Mexican restaurant. I can overlook less than great service if the food is good but our server seemed annoyed that she was there to serve us. Maybe she had a late Saturday night out was just not feeling work that day. Either way, I can't understand why this place is so highly rated by some. I think it got "Best Mexican" by 417 magazine this year. This town does not know what good Mexican is. Maria's is certainly NOT it!
(2)Joe D.
I have eaten here many times. I have always enjoyed it. I typically eat here for lunch and get their fajitas. Good portions and great taste. It is sometimes difficult to find a parking space or the wait staff, but for the most part, it's a great environment and nice experience.
(4)Ken T.
Had a great lunch on Monday with my wife. I love the fried tacos. Service was excellent and the food was even better.
(5)Mildred C.
This is not authentic Mexican food. If that's what you're looking for, then don't eat here. I have tried it again and again because I want to find SOMETHING there that I like because it's such a cute little place, downtown, I love their mango margaritas... But for food, I've always been disappointed. And I've been there ATLEAST five or six times.. Probably not going back and not going to suggest this as a place to go eat with friends either.
(1)Myranda F.
The salsa was horrible. It tasted like spaghetti sauce. I ordered the Taco salad and that was pretty delicious. The meat wasn't greasy, perfect amount of lettuce and it was a huge bowl; I couldn't finish it. The waitress, Anni, was pretty MIA and took forever to bring us anything. The Goat cheese queso was disgusting as it was VERY flavor less. The atmosphere was nice except the 2 drunk ladies at the bar. There is only 1 bathroom for men and 1 bathroom for women for the entire restaurant, so I had to wait about 10 minutes to go. They offer cherry coke which is my favorite soda to splurge on. As far as authentic mexican food, I am from Texas so this is equivalent to Taco Bueno for me. Just a tad pricier. I spent about $100 for 4 adults, 3 of which had 2 margaritas each.
(2)Melissa T.
I wouldn't necessarily expect a mexican restaurant named Maria's to have overly authentic food, so this is not a "OMG, I can't believe this place isn't authentic" type of review. Frankly, anyone shocked by the lack of authenticity at this place should be kicked in the shin for being, well, absurd. My problem comes from the fact that they either used stewed or some form of stewed tomatoes (from a CAN) in their salsa or they grind up to a tomato can to a form that's edible (now that would be impressive) and mix it into their salsa. Their salsa is inedible because I couldn't get past the metallic taste in it. My enchilada (mushroom and spinach) was ok, but I just can't get past the salsa. What's the point of giving something for free if it sucks. There isn't any. So, yeah.
(2)Molly R.
I wish this review could just be a video of me performing one dramatic, ongoing shrug. I don't turn down coming here, but I don't get excited about it, either. Maria's is a local favorite, and while I will be cool with eating here over Mexican Villa, I have to agree with Melissa T. that there's nothing really authentic or even remarkable about it. The salsa is not anywhere near mind-blowing and neither are any of the dishes I've had - it's all just obligatory, snoozy pseudo-Mexican food. A dime a dozen, just like Springfield Chinese joints, except Maria's wears a half untucked button-up shirt while all the others wear colorless polos. Did that analogy make sense? The point is that Maria's is a slightly more polished version of the same old stuff. I normally get the fried ground beef tacos (one of my favorite foods for no real reason: GROUND BEEF TACOS), and these get the job done. However, though they're spot-on texturally (that fried shell really is nice) they just don't pack a lot of flavor. That being said, I've never craved them again. Also, the rice and beans companions are so blah that it makes me want to shout from the rooftops (while donning a sombrero, naturally): "WHERE CAN I GET FLAVORFUL BEANS AND RICE?" That's it. It's fine, but Perches is superior *and* cheaper. Plus, both times I've been here recently, I've gotten bad vibes from our grumpy waitresses. Off nights definitely happen, but I know I can always go where every single facet of dining out Mexican style is perfection.
(2)Jonathan P.
The food is as authentic as you'll find in Springfield. The servers were very friendly. Had chicken fajitas, and they were the best I've had around here. All in all, I'll go back. I just really got spoiled in Southern California and truly authentic Mexican.
(4)James C.
Nice atmosphere, cheap prices. Then again, what isn't cheap in Springfield Missouri? Food was ok to average - nothing special. What mexican place doesnt have shrimp fajitas? I mean you can buy those frozen like you do half the stuff on the menu. Margaritas are made from pre-made mixes in squeeze bottles. Cmon you are a Mex restaurant and you cant make them fresh to order? The bartender doesn't even mix or shake them up. That's just lazy. Management or bartenders fault? The world may never know. Maria's - Out!
(2)Manda P.
First off, this isn't mexican food. This stuff is closer to California style "mexican" food. If you're looking for flat tortillas, actual red or green chile pod made sauces, or even queso fresco, you're gonna have a bad time. So, the salsa. Oh salsa, salsa, salsa. You may have heard/read that it's bad. Well, it is. It's not worth eating and that, my friends, is a damned travesty. Salsa, when made correctly is supposed to be a delicious, social indulgence.. Sadly, the salsa at Maria's is not very tasty at all. It's waaay too much tomato not enough (or any?) of everything else that makes the gods of salsa happy. So skip the salsa--even free, it's just a waste. The rice and beans that come with most dishes are unremarkable. My husband really liked his fried seafood tacos. I ordered the shredded beef tacos and found them loaded with far too much cheddar cheese, fairly easy fix, just dusted them off. The seasoning on the beef was good. I liked them. All in all, the actual orders were pretty good, though i thought that the price point was a tad high for what amounted to fairly average eats.
(3)Karen W.
This is, without a doubt, the sorriest excuse for Mexican food I've ever tasted. First let me say our server was great. I'm from Corpus Christi Tx and grew up on great Mex both north and south of the border. The salsa was marinara with a little cilantro. Our waitress saw us cringing and brought us some spicy. Hot but zero flavor. Everything in our meals was strangely sweet. What is it with Mid-westerners and sugar in everything? For some reason the frijoles were seasoned with nutmeg! Canned beans are better. The rice was gelatinous. I picked up the entire serving with my fork in one big blob. What passed for a chimi needed a steak knife to cut. And those famous fried tacos...rubber! If you value your stomach...and your wallet...don't eat here. Thank heavens for cold Negro Modelo.
(1)Jimmi H.
Maria's Mexican is a local favorite of some friends of mine. I can understand why too! Maria does not mess around when "she" is making a margarita! Whew! They. Are. Good. Of course there are some other strong points too. I love that they give each person there own salsa for both pre-gaming with chips and for your meal. Speaking of, the chips are nothing to write home about, but are still more than satisfactory. During my visit here I only tried the spinach quesadilla, which was really quite good. The location is great for those who live or are visiting down town, and space is open and very "mexican restaurant." Speaking of the decor (and now also moving on to the staff), I would usually never mention this because it seems disrespectful, but sorry I have to, Maria has some very attractive servers. Yes I'm happily married, but I thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful staff here (I totally realize that this is very subjective). Eh em, moving on... the staff is quick, courteous and really much better than I would normally expect on a Saturday afternoon in a college town. So ya, good food, excellent margaritas, comfortable surroundings and a great staff! There you go!
(4)Kelly D.
FANTASTIC Mexican food. The fried tacos are to die for! I only wish I had more stomach room for their food, because it was SO good. I had tried to go here several times, but kept finding it closed, and when I finally got to go, I was not disappointed!!!
(5)Jean P.
I recently visited Maria's on my birthday weekend in Springfield (currently residing in STL). We had a huge group (see also: 25ish) and due to the new expansion (I graduated from MSU in 2007...when did the new section open?!?), they were very happy to accommodate us with a reservation. We were seated quickly, salsa and chips waiting. We ordered margaritas and they arrived at the table without haste to sip on while waiting for the rest of the party to arrive. + 10 cool points - free margarita for my birthday Queso is good with a bit of a kick, though not too spicy for the weinie that I am. I ordered the Ultimate Sergio which is my standard for a trip to Maria's. It was very yummy, though I was also quite drunk at the time of me eating it. Maria's has a great atmosphere, and though it's not my favorite Mexican in Springfield (Los Portales RULES though is much less "fancy"), it's downtown, which we wanted for after dinner, and it's still good. Everyone seem pleased, as was I.
(3)Jett A.
Crap! Crap! Once upon a time this place was great! Is sad when the owners think money is more important than customers. Sad!
(1)Brad K.
Maria's is always a good spot. Service is always good. Chips and salsa come to the table quick. The salsa is not the best in town. It is very simple tomato salsa. The chips are always warm and waiting for a shake of salt. However the queso is the best in town. Full of flavor and spicy too. I got the Sergio my favorite. Shredded beef chimichanga covered in the queso. (you might get the impression that I like the queso) The beans are slightly dry but mix in a bit of sour cream and they are great. The rice is flavorless and I leave it alone. If you like fried taco's Maria's is the place for you too. They have recently expanded so there isn't much of a wait even for a quick lunch.
(4)Dante L.
Mexican? more like Mexi-can't ! I'm thinking of blacklisting this place permanently. bad cheese, goat cheese i think, food is not mexican-no i mean no seasoning. i usually ask for extra salsa (which is amazing maybe the only great thing there besides the tequila selection) and put the salsa on my food for flavor. A few go to pulls though, tacos are OK. Services is usually spot on, never had a bad waiter. Ive been going off and on to Maria's for about 10yrs, usually with groups of people that are going there and i go to socialize more than eat. i think Ive given this place enough chances that i can be a dick to my friends and bail on that part of the evening next time they go! Sorry guys, put effort in the food if your a restaurant, you can have good Tequila and good service but that doesn't make you a "Mexican Restaurant".
(1)Cory H.
Ha! Yeah. Well. Food sucks. The food DOES suck. Suck on the food, cause you'll hate it. Granted, the fried seafood taco kicks so much ass that you'll forget the crap you're gonna pass either through vomiting or, frankly, vomiting from drinking too much tequila. What keeps me coming back is that wall of tequila. I hate the stuff, but so much booze is luring! Margaritas are good shit and all, but straight tequila is for sorority girls and rednecks. I had a $30 happy graduation shot of super-premium, brand-name IMPORTED (psh) reposado that tasted like cheap, unfiltered whiskey.See what I'm talking about? I could have gotten that same gagging taste from Brown Derby-brand bourbon. Okay, okay. Seriously. Food sucks. I've been to "authentic" Mexican restaurants before that passed off better than this place. Firstly, where are all the Mexicans? I feel awkward eating at a Chinese place and seeing no Asians behind the counter, why should Mexican food be any different? Yeah, yeah, whatever--before any of you hypocrites label me as a racist, ask yourselves this: is authentic ethnic food authentic when someone other than that ethnicity prepares it? "Yeah, you racist! Its all in the ingredients, style, and preparation!" No. It isn't. Doctors in Anthropology can't do brain surgery, but they're still doctors, right? Okay. That said... All Mexican food is the same...just like Italian food... There are probably a total of six custom ingredients, but the only thing that changes is the appearance. Seriously. If you eat ONE taco, you've just tasted ALL that Mexican food has to offer. In essence, you can't screw it up. I don't know if there is a general lack of caring, but I feel that Maria's adopted the concept of Mexican food's lazy preparation and became lazy around it. Just because everything requires only lettuce, meat, sour cream, and cheese, doesn't mean that you can't make it good. Essentially, there is no difference in taste between a hard taco and a burrito (big surprise)--MORE SO THAN ANYWHERE ELSE EVER! You won't spend too much here, which is all right, but I suggest that you get drunk and find yourself here, if it is still open. You know, this place is the first place to close on a Friday night, so you better be drunk and hungry by 8 or you won't get anything! I just rambled about nothing. I wasted my time here.
(2)Kassidy P.
They bring you chips and salsa while you wait. The salsa was fresh but also very bland. There was no spice at all and basically tasted like pureed tomatoes. Michael got the the Sergio. It actually wasn't bad. There was a verde sauce, melty cheese and chunks of chicken. My meal on the other hand, BLAH! I got the combo plate w/ rice and beans (very tasteless even after I added quite a bit of salt AND some of the already bland salsa) and you had two choices to go with it. I chose a soft chicken taco (wasn't HORRIBLE but Taco Bell woulda been just as good...) and a beef enchilada (which idk how they thought THAT was an enchilada but... ok.) Then we had to wait for the check for what seemed like forever while the waitress was talking w/ her buddies over in the corner for like, 10 minutes even though we were CLEARLY ready to leave. I can honestly say that I have no idea why this place is so popular... wow. A BIG N-O from me!
(2)S L.
The salsa, if you want to call it that, is pretty terrible in my tastes. Way to much oregano in it, almost tasted like pizza sauce to me. The food on the other hand was decent, but still nothing to rave about. I've had way better Mexican food. All mexican restaurants in Missouri seem to all be roughly the same. Maybe that's the way people like it out here, I don't know. As the star rating says, I've had better...
(2)Paul K.
Oh why did I cheat on you Mexican Villa? Maria's, you have sex appeal and an old school charm! But, once you get pass those nice looks, there isn't much else. Your salsa lacks spice and is too tomato-ey! My friends and family agree also. Great service, nice atmosphere, and the food sounds great conceptually but misses on execution and details (not enough flavor). I'm not a fan of freshly fried corn tortillas, but this one was the best that I've had as far as taco shells alone. The food is plentiful.
(3)Shannon O.
Yummy yummy yummy! The margarita wasnt terrible, which im usually concerned about in a "bar type" atmosphere. The chips and salsa were good, the salsa wasnt spicy at all and thick how i like it!! I got the fried flour shell tacos...and they were delicious!!! I'll definitly be making dinner plans there again!
(4)Dane S.
This gets three stars almost exclusively on the basis of the queso green chile dip, which makes dining here worthwhile. The salsa was just so-so, and the enchiladas were kind of tasteless. The atmosphere seems fine, if a bit on the dull side.
(3)Aaron C.
Went here with my cousin for the first time and the atmosphere is great. I have had great mexican food before and this is close but not quite. Not to say its bad just that its not the best ever. Priced well and you can get a good plate of food and a drink for about 12$. Worth the stop.
(4)Casia J.
This is the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had. It's clear that there is no authentic Mexican food in Springfield, MO. That being said, authentic and tasty don't always have to go together. The food was awful. Margs were almost as bad. As a general rule: When I walk in a restaurant and see blond, deer-in-the-headlights type of people serving any sort of food that attempts to be ethnic, it's gonna be bad. And it was.
(1)Joann T.
Maria's had a noisy crowd for lunch and that looked like a good sign. Chips and salsa came promptly; chips were good, salsa was not. The enchiladas were flat and blah....the beans had waaay too much cumin. The best part of the meal came last....hubby and I both thought the sopapillas were A-OK, hot and puffy. We're still searching for that great Mexican restaurant in the Ozarks!
(2)Tiffany B.
I LOVE Maria's!! I eat a lot of Mexican food and it is my favorite! The chicken fried taco is like no other taco you have had. Don't try and order it somewhere else because no one can do it like Maria's! GOOD STUFF! :)
(5)Jeff E.
As someone who grew up in Texas and lived in Los Angeles I can truly say that I know good Mexican food. This ain't it. Terrible salsa. Horrible enchiladas. Inferior ingredients. It's an absolute shame that this place exists. I pity the people who eat here.
(1)FRED N.
Always a must stop when I am home and need a great taco fix. Great place to get together with friends for dinner. Personally I love sitting at the bar mid afternoon and enjoy a cold XX with a couple amazing fried tacos Best tequila selection north of the boarder. The owner Chris really knows his stuff and talked us through a few great tequilas. See you when we are back in town. Mr Fred
(5)C M.
Good chips and salsa. Decent service. Burritos are ho-hum, but the place is clean and reasonably priced.
(4)Selena B.
Not great. I had enchiladas that were pretty boring. My roommate had nachos that were covered with a lot of lettuce and a tiny bit of cheese--a bit awkward for something to be called nachos. The salsa was really bland, too. On a positive note, there was a large selection of tequila, and the margarita was good.
(2)Luke M.
I've only been here a couple of times for lunch but I was pretty impressed. I agree with Christopher on the salsa and chips. One of the times I was there was with a group of around ten people. It was very busy and it's a small restaurant so I was apprehensive about how long the wait would be. I was impressed by how quickly they fit us in and with the service throughout the meal. I also like the casual, fun atmosphere.
(4)