El Campesino
4771 McKnight Rd, Pittsburgh, PA, 15237
El Campesino Menu
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Address :
4771 McKnight Rd
Pittsburgh, PA, 15237 - Phone (412) 366-8730
- Website https://www.elcampesino.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : 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.
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Quay M.
Oh, El Camp. I know that this place really isn't that authentic when it comes to its food, but I love it. One of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. The service here for awhile was really slow if sitting at the tables in the bar area, depending on who your server is. Sitting at the actual bar, things always seemed to move much faster. They have a decent beer selection, better liquor selection, and reasonable prices. Actually, their prices in general are quite low. Our last visit saw us order 3 plates of food, chips & salsa, one beer, and two sangrias for under $30 (sangrias were a tad pricey at $7.50 apiece). We always seem to be in here when there's a game going on and they definitely have a good setup in the bar area for watching. The decor in this place also cracks me. Sort of feed the stereotypes, if you know what I mean, but it's all tongue-in-cheek, good humor. The one thing I always get is a side order chicken enchilada. Always. Doesn't matter what else I'm ordering. I love that thing, yummy. The tostadas are ok, burritos and tamales are pretty good, tacos are bad (stay away from those). If you're in the North Hills area and looking for something quick, cheap, but still pretty good to eat, I recommend this over something like Applebee's.
(5)Rebecca G.
Holy bejebus this place was better than expected. Went there last night with Sarah S. I got the Chiles Poblanos, which I have had before other places, but the waiter said was his fav. AMAZING. Hands down the best I have ever had, and I lived in the Hispanic section of Columbia, SC for 6 years. Sarah S. had the veggie fajita, it had tomatoes and cauliflower and broccoli, which is not my cup of tea, but she was excited about it. The salsa was also pretty good, and spicy. Two thumbs up.
(4)James S.
I'm not sure why some people on here dislike this place. One guy complained that they didn't offer fish tacos. So what? Not every restaurant has what you want. They offer pretty good Mexican style food at reasonable prices. The service is not great but not as bad as some people have said. The chips are always warm and tasty, not half taco shells as another poster wrote. Go try it out for yourself!
(4)Eric B.
See the picture posted of their supposed chile relleno. Just gross, and they didn't apologize or take it back.
(1)Maria M.
We have just moved from CA to PA and were looking for a good Mexican restaurant. We tried a few other places since we got here and they weren't very good. El Campesino isn't quite to the level of the really good Mexican restaurants in LA, but it is pretty darn good. The service was great and the food was tasty. Portions are fine and all in all, we were very pleased with our visit. When we want Mexican food in PA, this will be the place.
(4)Jim M.
Service was extremely slow. It was polite though. Food was just so-so, not bad but not worth saying that I have to come back.
(3)Maureen K.
The food was decent. I had the steak and cheese quesadilla. The service on the other hand was horrible. We sat for about 20 mins with empty plates before they came over to ask us if we were done and wanted our check. I didn't even see a waiter for that length of time. It was if they were all hiding in the back room. Don't think I will be back
(3)Alex W.
El campesino is a pretty solid Mexican option for the North Hills. The food came out shockingly fast, it was good, not great, and very well priced. Our bartender/server was very friendly and quick with a drink. We used a restaurant.com gift card and they were very accomodating. Our server even offered to split the check in half and evenly apply the gift card code my friend and I.
(4)James B.
I absolutely LOVED this place. Wait staff was fantastic! Love it!
(5)Jaime J.
4.5 stars!? Are you kidding me!? This place was just plain bad. They lost tons of points with me for not offering fish or pork tacos. So already feeling like I wanted to leave, I just ordered something small. I got one of the vegetarian combos with a cheese enchilada, bean tostada, and rice. The enchilada sauce was bland and the enchilada had little filling. The tostada was stale and didn't come with sour cream. The rice was also bland and their was about a half pound of it. As an aside, i think I've been in cleaner restrooms at gas stations. Ugh, foul. I won't be going back. I went home and ate cereal.
(1)Devin W.
I crave mexican food about once a week maybe twice. This place is pretty spot on, Mcknight Road is a good spot for (another) Campies. As is every El Campesino, the margaritas are delish, the service is without fault, and the food ALWAYS comes out in a jiffy! I always do a combo platter. It's the best deal for your money (I feel). But they do sell Tacos A La Carte and all the sides a la carte. The salsa is good, not overly spiced or flavorful, but decent.
(4)melanie s.
Quick, friendly, tasty, and inexpensive with a festive atmosphere to boot. There aren't a lot of non-chain restaurants in this area, and this one is worth a visit. They also have a full bar where you can have a margarita while you watch the game!
(4)Stephen B.
The food is fast-food unauthentic Mexican. Sometimes you can sit down and order and then receive your food in 5 minutes. The food is usually sloppy and not too tasteful. The staff is somewhat friendly at times. Not the best choice if you are looking for Mexican flavors or even atmosphere.
(2)Jennifer D.
Upfront: I'm a total jerk about Mexican food, in spite of the fact that I've never lived in Mexico, or even CA or AZ or really anywhere that gives me any cred at all. That said, my idea of decent gringo-ized Mexican food was formed in areas with large Mexican populations, and maybe Christmas tamales from kitchen coworkers. As much as I love Pittsburgh, we've got a serious shortage of edible Mexican/Mexamerican/Tex-Mex going on. El Campesino is decent, and probably one of the better options if you're looking for fajitas or a combo plate in the Steel City. For starters, they have the ubiquitous chips and salsa; the chips are almost always fresh, and the salsa's decent though made with canned tomatoes every time I've gone, even in late summer. Not a lot of kick, but at least there's cilantro involved. Queso dip is OK, too, and yes -- it's white cheese, heaven forfend, so not quite the same as Velveeta + salsa in the crockpot or Chi-Chi's queso. Their mole is decent. Nothing to write home about, but good for a fix if you don't feel like spending twelve hours with your stock pot and blender. Enchiladas are also decent, as are the burritos, fajitas, etc. The refritos are fairly generic, and as far as I'm concerned the rice isn't worth eating, but I might be picky. Chile verde is probably the best thing I've eaten there; tart, savory, pork-fatty and corn tortillas? Yes, please. Guacamole is pretty seriously meh; it tastes a bit like citric acid and nothing at all like someone smashed it up fresh in the back. Still, it's avocado, and with the Iggle charging 2.50 per for Haas, it'll do. They do have horchata if you ask, which scores a lot of bonus points in my book. I just wish the flour tortillas didn't taste like they came from a plastic bag. Maybe I'm ordering the wrong things, but I think on the whole that the bar for Mexican, "Mexican," whatever, is pretty low in the 'burgh. So clearing said bar by a good margin doesn't mean a whole lot, right? Then again, it's unfair of me to wish it were a 24-hour taqueria. Service is fast and friendly. The atmosphere (on McKnight) is standard for this type of Mexican restaurant: A bit dark, lots of booths, reasonably quiet until someone has too much tequila.
(3)B B.
Had dinner here last night. Great waitstaff. The tortillas with my fajitas were so delicate they almost melted as I ate them. Other people in my party liked the mole sauce. Another was able to order according to some food allergies so there was enough choice for everyone. Love the decor!
(4)Jill G.
A solid 3 star "A-OK" Mexican restaurant. I was craving Mexican food after shopping at Robinson Mall, and the Yelp App led me right to El Campesino. Much like everything else on McKnight Rd, it's nestled in a strip mall, and has ample parking. The decor is pretty standard kitschy Mexican restaurant but nothing that turned me off. The service was helpful, prompt and attentive. I ordered the Hornitos 16oz margarita ($9), and the carnitas dinner ($14). The margarita was tasty: perfect amount of tequila so you don't feel ripped off, and you could tell it wasn't made from bottled margarita mix. The carnitas dinner came with rice, beans, guacamole salad, and tender pork chunks with grilled onions. For me, the carnitas could have been more strongly seasoned and the beans were a little too thick, but the guac had a nice citrus brightness. I mean, it was good, but it didn't wow me. The chips seemed... not stale, but just not light and crispy and fresh. While I loathe chunky salsa, theirs was a little too runny (though the flavor was passable). I was left with the impression that they were maybe gringo-ing everything down a little too much. Looked like they had some pretty decent drink specials for happy hour and when Pittsburgh teams are playing. If I'm in the area, I would stop by again, but I won't be making a special trip from Sq Hill. They accept AMEX.
(3)Peg K.
First time here, food okay. I would comment on service but we didn't get any. I don't think our waiter said 2 words to us, except no to a question. We wouldn't go back to many other places to try. No wonder it was empty?
(1)Sara C.
Maybe I'm a Mexican food snob because I lived in the South for a while, but I can't really get into this place. I've eaten here several times over the years and I can't say I've had an experience that I could consider great. I can still remember the first time that my friend and I ate there...She ordered a salad and the server brought out a saucer covered in shredded lettuce (like the stuff you put in the tacos) and white shredded cheese. That's it. I'd consider that a salad fail. What I do like about the place is that it is very affordable, but really in order for them to have been open as long as they have, they have to be cheap.
(3)Steve M.
Best salsa on planet earth...purée! Honestly, just like every other Mexican joint with great food but we had an amazing experience with very friendly staff...highly recommend!
(5)Nick H.
UGHHH!!! This place was soo bad, I've become angry all over again while writing this review. My girlfriend and I both got sick from our combination platters. The food tasted old, decrepit, and mundane. The crappy Mexican music they play in the background of every Mexican restaurant kept skipping, and skipping, and skipping, over and over again. If this wasn't the seventh layer of hell, I don't know what was. I couldn't wait to get out of there as soon as I sat down. The booths are so uncomfortable, my back hurts just thinking about sitting in that awkward, wooden bench. Our server never ever showed up to see how our food was. He didn't suggest anything, he just took our order, disappeared, then brought out our food. Our food was served to us probably 5 minutes after we ordered it. How is food supposed to be fresh if it doesn't take longer than 5 minutes for the order to go in and the food to come out? I will NEVER go back.
(1)Ashlynn R.
Another great visit at El Camp! Seriously, a lot of restaurants need to be trained by their staff. We were greeted genuinely and then seated promptly. Our chips and salsa arrived as soon as we had our coats off and got comfortable. Our waiter then arrived and got our drinks - which he never let go empty! We were taken care of so well! We didn't have to ask for boxes for our food, they were just brought to us. There was also no waiting around for a check. Service at this place was top notch again! Every bite of our food - even the chips, salsa and queso - was absolutely delicious. The salsa had a nice bite to it, the guacamole was perfect and my chimichangas, ughhh, just please go get me more! The chicken was cooked perfectly and I don't know what they do to make their re fried beans so good but I eat every last bit of them. Their rice is great too! We even grabbed fried ice cream this time! It came out to us in a margarita glass which made me smile. My boyfriend said he would only have a bite of it - yeah, he lied. We demolished it and he couldn't stop saying how good it was. My recommendations/regular meals (if you don't have a clue what to order, read the descriptions, I think their menu even gives you definitions of a lot of items): Drink Margaritas - they usually have different flavors, try them all! :D Sol - beer similar to Corona, heck, have one of each Appetizer Queso dip (ask for this when you order your drinks so you can enjoy it with your chips - it is ~$5 though) Dinner Enchiladas Super Rancheras Fajita Quesadilla Fried Chimichanga The No. 4 Vegetarian E Dessert Fried ice cream (cinnamon and honey, ugh, yum!) Churros with ice cream Alright, I'm ready to go back for dinner tomorrow night.........
(5)Therese N.
stopped here for lunch a few months ago. complimentary chips and salsa! staff was wonderful but the food was VERY BLAND!! should've known there was only 2 other parties at the time.
(2)Misty P.
Great service and atmosphere but the food is not that great. The restaurant is in a plaza and doesn't look like much on the outside. Inside it appears you walked into a sterotypical Mexican restaurant. It has alot of bright colors around with Mexican type decor. The tables are very private. The service was great, polite waiters and things were served timely. The waiter also kept my drink full, which is about all you half to do to make me happy! They do provide chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. For me, this was the best part of the meal. They have great salsa and the chips are light and crunchy! I got 2 enchiladas and a taco. They were all beef and there was no spice to the beef at all. It tasted just like fried ground meat. I could have made them better at home. I realize that not all Mexican food is meant to be spicy but it should have some type of flavor to it. My meal came with rice which was pretty good. The rice was soft but not chewy! The price is pretty good as well, $8 for lunch. If you want a quick edible meal this is the place. i probably will not go back anytime soon. They do have Happy Hour specials - maybe they make better margaritas!
(2)Gordon G.
Went to the one in "The Point". It was horrible. The one in Monroville was good way back, but let me tell you this is BAD. How about serving a chiles rellenos with a green bell pepper? Are you kidding me? The salsa had an old chip in it. Did it come from another table? People are out of their minds thinking this is good. Dirty, run down and horrible. Can't believe anyone would rate it high!
(1)Adam C.
It's inauthentic, campy, unimaginative....but, you could do a lot worse. This is leagues better than Don Pablo, Chi-Chi's (Hepatitis A, anyone?), Baja Fresh, Qdoba, and even Chipolte. As noted by fellow reviewers the service is a strong suit - friendly, attentive, and seemingly always in a good mood. The lunch specials are a good deal as well. So with the right approach - i.e. don't go buck-wild ordering the enchiladas de mole and expect Rick Bayless to magically appear on your plate - this isn't a bad option. Just relax with a Dos Equis, some nacho cheese over a burrito, and a couple of churros and everything will be ok.
(3)Laura M.
Moved to San Francisco 2 years ago. Live within walking distance to the Mission. Still miss this place. 'Nuff said. FYI: I was addicted to their chips/salsa and always ordered the #11 or #14 combo with a big ol' frosty Dos Equis. Yum.
(4)Alisha A.
HORRIBLE FOOD AND EVEN WORSE SERVICE! Lets start with the fact that when I walked in I was told that the specials were half off appetizers margaritas. I decided to order a margarita, which I have to say was great. I also got cheese dip, which although runny, did not taste bad. I ordered from the vegetarian menu for my main course, which I guess means I only eat cheese wrapped up different ways and drowned in bland, most likely canned sauce. My friend ordered the chicken taco salad, which was basically boiled chicken over lettuce. However, her tortilla bowl the salad was in was nice and crispy. Lets note that the booth behind us started raining from the ceiling. I watched several servers walk by and do nothing. I finally told my server and he put buckets around without even mopping up the existing puddle. Apon receiving the check I was told, unapologetically, that the server was mistaken and nachos were actually what was half off and I received no discount. I also had a coupon, which after much arguing I noticed that THE COUPON WAS PRINTED OFF AFTER IT SUPPOSEDLY EXPIRED, therefore it was never possible to redeem it. My check was $32 and when split between me and my friend we got our statements to sign back as $20 each...do the math (we were charged extra from the check). I asked to speak with a manager based on everything. it took 35 minutes to finally get a manager, who wanted to argue and refuse to be reasonable. After $40 minutes of ridiculousness. I decided not to sign and refuse to pay. The restaurant ended up charging me $20, without my authorization (more than I even ordered). I plan on desputing this.
(1)Stacey B.
My favorite dinner option is the Rancheros Enchiladas sampler that arrives dressed w/ tomato, lettuce, sour cream, melted cheese, and very fresh enchilada red sauce. You get one each of ground beef, shredded beef, shredded chicken, cheese, and bean enchiladas. Yum! These are best eaten w/ either a house margarita on the rocks (they use Hornitos Tequila which is just okay or you can "buy up" to premium Tequilas) or a frosted mug filled w/ amber Dos Equis draft beer. Their food is not very fancy nor spicy - it's very plain homestyle Mexican. Their salsa is good but a little on the bland side - it could use more layers of flavor. The most disappointing thing was the STRONG disinfectant smell wafting past our table situated near the foyer/lavatories. Blech! Hate that! It's a great place for families and large groups w plenty of free parking and enough menu options to please everyone.
(3)Lucretiz C.
Not the most creative Mexican menu, but hey it's Mexican food in Pittsburgh. I had a shrimp and cheese appetizer that was delicious. The name of escapes me now, all I remember is that it was tasty lol.
(3)Jake Z.
This was by far my favorite place to get Mexican in Robinson. The prices were dirt cheap and the service was always fast. The food was ALWAYS really good. El Campesino has the best salsa I've ever had. Maybe it's just my preference, maybe I have no idea what a good salsa is but I absolutely love it. I disagree with the rice comments and think all of their food has always been consistent and delicious. I've been to El Campesino almost weekly for a while; I like Mexican food that much. The chips are always warm, too, which is a simple gesture but makes all the difference. Honestly, the place is pretty gringo-friendly but it has its charm. You probably wouldn't find anything on their menu in a restaurant on the other side of the US nor would you find it south of the border but you get what you can out of Pittsburgh...
(4)Vince C.
many people said that this was the best place in pittsburgh for mexican food. halves of taco shells as chips? A chile relleno that had more cheese than chile? A taco with taco bell type meat? jesus. the mexicans who work here are laughing at us, i assure you.
(1)Kavi D.
I'll say upfront that I'm picky about Mexican food having lived in Texas for sometime. I full well understand that real Mexican food is tough to come by up north. With that being said, I think El Campesino suffices as a serviceable Mexican restaurant in the North HIlls region. When you walk in, you definitely feel a change as the decor screams Mexican. The bar region, where I sat during my visit, was nicely appointed. Plenty of Mexican beers on tap for those who are so inclined. The bar service outside the immediate stools facing the bar-tender was a tad bit slow, especially with regards to food. Speaking of the food: it's good, but nothing to write-home about. Just your standard gringo corn-flake chips with watery salsa. I had the cheese enchiladas which were full of goodness, but didn't necessarily pack the desired punch that I was looking for. Despite its shortcomings, having decent Mexican food at basement prices is a fantastic thing. And for that, I'm grateful.
(3)Rick T.
I love El Campesino. My favorite location is the one on McKnight Road, but they are all good. My favorite dish is the Chili Rellano (on the "Sides and a la Carte" portion of the menu) - do yourself a favor and order 3 as an entree. The chile verde is also wonderful.
(4)Daryle G.
I *love* El Campesino. My fiance and I go there as often as we can because the food is amazing. I highly recommend the chicken fajita quesadilla. I get it each and every time.
(5)Dean J.
Overwhelmed with how spot-on this place was, another win for the strip mall hell of the North Hills. It's a further drive than Mexico City downtown, but absolute worth eating here as well. We walked out both fat and happy, as everything they served was perfect and delicious. I would call this Mexican, not so much Tex-Mex; they have chips and salsa for an appetizer, but they don't have chili, and we had a large selection of items without a fajita or any beef in sight. Great service, great portions, great food, great variety. A+++.
(5)Tony V.
THE Best Mexican restaurant in town. I used to live in Denver. Denver is full of authentic Mexican cuisine, so I acquired a more discerning taste for Mexican food. Pittsburgh is decidedly less "ethnic" so I was concerned that I would not be able to get one of my favorite things in the world, mexican food. El Camp came through. It reminds me of the best places in Denver and is every bit as good. Its making my mouth water right now just thinking about it.
(5)F P.
Upon hearing how awful Mexican food is in Pittsburgh, a coworker suggested this place to me. Since its on the exact other side of the city than me, I usually assumed that I'd never check this place out (and that he was probably wrong to begin with). Well, we were up on the North Side and decided to go a little further north. We checked this place out and, to be honest with you, I was happy that I was wrong. This place is pretty good, at least from what we sampled. The food was great. The decor was pretty cool. They have a couple chairs with Frida's head on them. Our only complaint was the table they sat us at. It was about six feet from the kitchen, kinda just out in the open. Whenever the front door would open, we'd get a blast of cold air. Plus the table was wobbly. I don't want to sound like I'm finding fault, but there were like three other tables taken, they could have given us plenty of tables other than that one. We ordered 2 lunch platters and an extra side of rice. Altogether, we got a quesadilla, a tostada, a burrito, a tamale and an enchilada. Everything was pretty tasty. My only gripe on the food was they poured enchilada sauce on the burrito. While it didn't ruin it for me, it would have been nice to say so on the menu. Both the enchilada and burrito were made with ground beef. Again, it didn't ruin it for me, but it would be nice to know on the menu. The quesadilla and the enchilada were both stuffed with cheese. I won't lie, but the quesadilla was the best I've had in Pennsylvania, barring my own kitchen. Creamy cheese, a nice little crust on the bottom, it was perfect. The chips and salsa were the friggan bomb. Honestly, I could have drank the salsa. And to be honest, I literally did (just so I could say I did it). Its a medium-consistancy tomato paste. It has a bite to it. A nice little bite. I personally like spicy, my girlfriend does not. I loved the salsa and she didn't really have any. I do think they should have a mild salsa....just in case people don't like hot ones. Finally, the real show stopper. The rice. Simple. Fluffy. Orange rice. Some lima beans and corn in it. Its amazing. I ate all the rice and the chips and salsa pretty much to myself and I let her eat the items. I did go nuts on the tamale, though. All this for $18...which is about what I'd have paid at California Taco Shop. Its not authentic, but it doesn't always need to be. The food is good, tasty and affordable. The salsa and the rice were exellent. If this place wasn't so far out of the way for me, I'd go back again.
(4)Carrie L.
The best & most authentic food around! The staff is great and the $ is right! Try the Chimichangas and wash it down with an imported bottle of "Sol" beer! Yum!! Quite simply HAS TO BE the best Mexican place around!! The staff is very friendly; The food is amazing; The portions are huuuge; The menu is insanely large! Overall, A-W-E-S-O-M-E! :) Menu Suggestions: Queso Blanco ("White Cheese Dip", they'll know what you mean) order this when they give you your chips/salsa ;) Chicken or Beef Chimichangas Flautas (chicken or beef) Shredded Beef Quesadillas Fajitas Campesinas Beer: Sol (very good)
(4)Juice M.
Love El Camp! The new Wexford location is fantastic. They have a huge outdoor patio. Everything from their chips and salsa to margaritas are great. Recommend it to anyone.
(5)Dave P.
This is the best tex mex chain in the area. The food is awesome and the prices are very reasonable. The waitstaff at this location are prompt and have never messed up an order. Seldom, if ever crowded. I just love the burritos.
(5)Bob D.
For being a chain Mexican joint, I expected more. I'm really surprised to see and hear that it is normally a pretty full guest list being that there was nothing too appeasing. It's authentic staff hardly speaks English, hardly shows up at your table, and is hardly complimentary in any way. The food was terribly bland for a Mexican joint and the margaritas were a little mix heavy. If you have never eaten authentic Mexican, then this place may be just tame enough for the shy. I was really let down that they only had one dish with chorizo and I didn't see nor taste a bit of cilantro on anything. I'm not sure if they're lack of effort is due to the fact that Pittsburgh does not have a very heavy Mexican culture or I'm still caught up of having the excellent service and food from my old neighborhood in Chicago, but I won't be returning here.
(1)James L.
A chile relleno is a stuffed pepper, a stuffed chile pepper. Hence the name. Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex, Yucatan, Mexico City, everywhere - it's a stuffed pepper. But El Campesino thinks that it's a clump of tasteless ground meat with a 1/4 inch slice of a green pepper in it somewheres, topped with white cheese. This was about as horrid as Mexico City's so-called 'carnitas.' If you're going to deviate from a standard dish, it would be wise to explain that on the menu.
(2)Gina K.
I was hesitant to try this place as so much of the Mexican food in Pittsburgh is a HUGE disappointment. But I have to say that El Campesino is the only Mexican restaurant in Pittsburgh that I will go to at all now. The food is good, the prices are completely reasonable, the menu is expansive, and the waitstaff is great. I know that they have a few locations around the city and I would happily go to any of them as I believe it is family owned. Love it, don't be hesitant to try it.
(4)Vanessa W.
Went here with a friend I was visiting. I would call this more of a tex-mex place than truly mexican. That said my dish was delish, some sort of cheesey sauce and a TON of food. Guac was only ok, but my VERY large (and cheap for happy hour) magherita was yummy.
(4)Christopher H.
Best Mexican food in Pittsburgh... hands down! Anytime me and my girlfriend want to get Mexican we go to El Campesino. It's really hard to go anywhere else. When you go to El Campesino you know you're going to get really good food at a really good price.
(5)Damon V.
took my mother here at her request one day. i'm not big into the cookie cutter feel of the north hills so i usually avoid heading in that direction. she had been here before so i capitulated and was not disappointed in the least. very great atmosphere. the view from the top dining area down into the fountain is very nice. very authentic flavor too. i grew up in san diego so i am very familiar with mexican food. i cant remember what mom had but i had the enchiladas with the tomitillo sauce. we both loved our dishes. the service was well above par. our waiter was very courteous and patient as my mother is hard of hearing. he kept our iced teas constantly full during a mediocre early dinner rush. two of us, just dinner, no dessert and with tip it was about $30. acceptable.
(5)A M.
This is the real deal IF you like authentic mexican food. Now, if you are part of the taco bell army (of which I have been known to be a soldier) you are in for something very different when you enter "El Camp". I've recommended this place to many a friend only to hear how disappointed they were with the food. This is a normal response if you are used to eating a Bacon Club Chalupa and considering it Mexican gourmet. If you like authentic Mexican or want to try authentic Mexican I've been told by many "authentic mexicans" this is the place to go. This review is for the Monroeville location, located beautifully next to a paper mart and another strip mall staple (your token chinese joint), however between these two common stores lies a delicious oasis of Mole sauce and Poblanos. They have multiple locations all over the city, but I believe this is the original. The other locations are a bit more upscale with a bar and happy hour scene. I go here about once a month or so usually with staff. The meal starts with their delicious home made chips and salsa. They have a couple varieties for those of us who like spicier foods. Some of the more adventorous dishes I've tried were "Chile Poblanos, Two whole poblano peppers stuffed with white Mexican cheese, topped with egg white, rice, refried beans, three tortillas (corn or flour) and ranchero sauce on top." and "Mole Ranchero, Brown sauce made with Mexican spices with shredded chicken, served with rice and choice of guacamole salad or tossed salad.". Both were delicious and unfortunately not having tried these at other spots don't have the background to compare. I can tell you they tasted great and the portions were good. I usually stick to the more basic offerings such as fagitas, tacos, and burritos. They are always cooked perfectly with a generous portion of meats and cheeses and plenty of mexican condiments. I suggest going to this place multiple times and hopefully being a litte more adventorous than me.
(4)Carly S.
If you like authentic Mexican food, don't go there. If, however, your idea of Mexican food is a cheesy enchilada, a large margarita and possibly french fries, well, then this is right up your alley. The service is always friendly and we've very seldom had to wait long for our food. The prices are a little steep for what it is and the offerings are your typical very Americanized fare with a Mexican twist. If, however, you're missing the west coast and just really want comida autentica, well, look elsewhere.
(2)Liz S.
Fastest service I have ever had at a restaurant!! I ate a few chips and salsa and then bam there was my food, bubbling hot. This is our go to place when we need a quick meal. We each usually get one of the vegetarian combinations which are all great. Just right portions for me, nothing too huge that I have to worry about taking home.
(5)Joe A.
Service is on point and friendly. Food is tasty and portions are large. Prices aren't bad, fairly reasonable. It is at the level of your typical Mexican restaurant, free chips and salsa, food comes out ridiculously fast and with a large portion of beans and rice, and menu is endless. I definitely plan to return, my wife and I were craving Mexican food and it hit the spot. Defintely more flavorful than Mad Mex and more food for the price too.
(5)Andrew E.
Had to update in response to someone comparing this place to Mad Mex.. This is the most absurd thing I have ever seen on yelp. That's like comparing McDonalds to Burgatory. I worked at M.M. and frankly I don't like the corporate/upper management and would never go back there and STILL have to say that the food is on a completely different level than El Crappasino. If someone truly thinks that place beats Mad Mex they shouldn't be writing reviews and confusing people.
(1)Kathy B.
We had the dinner for 2 fajita style. Husband wasn't fond of, I thought it was very good. The service is always average, never great We continue to go back. One of the best, reasonably priced, Mexican food Oh yeah. Do not order a ______ and tonic. They arrive in a glass not much bigger than a sampler
(4)David K.
Went to this place with my wife and friend for the first time. We got seated right away and before I even had my jacket off a guy brought over fresh tortilla chips and some amazing salsa. Sadly, that's as good as our night got. We waited roughly 15 minutes before the waitress came to take our drink orders and then another 15 minutes before she took our food orders. By this time we were out of Chips so I asked for more chips and salsa. She came back 15 minutes later with chips only so we waited approximately 40 minutes to get our food as we sat there and watched the table next to us receive and finish their meals before we got ours even though they arrived 10-15 minutes after us. We asked for salsa at this time as well. Finally the meal itself was nothing to brag about. Not bad, but not really good either. My wife got the California burrito which had tomatoes even though she asked for no tomato. My friend got the chicken quesadilla which was very small and didn't even come with lettuce, tomato, sour cream or salsa and I got the enchiladas super rancheras It was supposed to be 1 cheese, 1 chicken, 1 beef, 1 shredded beef, and 1 other kind of enchilada. I only received 3 of them but instead of complaining I just ate it instead of having to wait another 30 minutes for a new dish. We did ask to speak to a manager and we were told there was no manager so the shift leader came over and we explained how long we had to wait in which she took off 50 percent. We never had our drinks refilled either until the very end when we had to ask. Overall, the chips and salsa were great, the food was so/so , but the service was atrocious. We got there at 6:00 and were there well after 8. We were an abandoned table just sitting there and the orders were prepared with little effort and incorrectly. We will probably go back and give it another chance maybe for lunch, but it was just a really bad experience tonight. If you go here I recommend going around 4 or for lunch and to be very specific as to what you are ordering.
(1)Matt G.
I have been there twice now and am not going to go into all the details as to why this experience is poor. I'll sum it up by stating that I can make better Mexican food at home for half the price. I can see the bar area as fun if you take it over with a bunch of friends, but the place is otherwise off my list.
(1)Jason D.
I was here for the first time in years not long ago and had a poor experience. The service was really slow and the food was relatively bland. We had gone through 2 rounds of drinks and ALOT of chips and salsa as we waited. When I got my tacos the meat was poorly seasoned and bland....and it's MEXICAN food, don't be afraid to use some flavor in it. In fact the Qdoba and Chipolte up the street are even better as fast food options for Mexican. The Emiliano's up the street is no longer open at the McKnight location but their other locations are also fantastic.
(3)