Restaurante Pancho Villa — Restaurant in Estepona

We stumbled across Pancho Villa in Saladillo Benamara, Málaga, and what an incredible find it turned out to be. When we first passed during the day it was closed, but the Google and TripAdvisor reviews were flawless – all 5/5s and 10/10s – so we decided to book through The Fork app. It turned out to be one of the best dining decisions we’ve made.

We came as a family of six, with an eight-week-old baby in tow, and were welcomed with warmth and genuine smiles. The team took the time to explain the menu clearly, making sure everyone felt at ease.

We chose to start with sharing plates and appetisers, and from the very first bite we knew we were in for something special. The food was truly out of this world – vibrant, fresh, and bursting with authentic flavour. Every dish that came out looked like a work of art, and you could feel the pride from the chefs who personally brought them to the table. It was clear they loved what they were creating.

The mains were just as impressive – generous, beautifully presented, and cooked with real care. Drinks flowed easily, the cocktails were spot on (so good, in fact, that our server even shared how to recreate one of them at home!), and there was genuinely something for everyone at the table.

As if the food and service weren’t enough, the live music added an amazing atmosphere, making the evening feel vibrant and celebratory. It wasn’t just a meal, it was an experience – happy people, fantastic food, brilliant drinks, and a warm, lively vibe that made the whole night unforgettable.

Pancho Villa is the perfect example of why dining out should be about more than just eating – it’s about connection, atmosphere, and memories. We’ll be back again without hesitation, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Mexican...

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Wednesday: day was great, sun was shining, we were wondering where to go for dinner… While on the search for Mexican restaurants, we happened upon this place (oh how I wish I could turn back the clocks) We arrive and first impressions were nothing short of abysmal—firstly, the place looked like a derelict drug farm, or some sort of nursery-inspired-backrooms abomination. And as of it couldn’t get worse, upon entering, the atmosphere felt like I had barged into a particularly dreary funeral. The chairs looked like something stolen from a mental asylum, and the few customers that were there looked every bit as perplexed as us. Once we had sat down and began to recover from the initial shock, our server gave us the menus. Everything on it was absolutely extortionate. For some ready-made nachos with sub-standard store-bought sauce? 20 euros. Would not recommend as all our meals were either disappointing or entirely beige, and the only thing memorable about the food was the price. To conclude we were left unamused by our tasteless dish served in the sweltering bike shed of a “restaurant”. Will be getting a restraining order...

A very tasty and reasonably priced authentic meal. Colourful from the outside, the ambience continues in the - thankfully - airconditioned, rustic-style interior. The menu was available online, so we had an idea of what we wanted beforehand. The Huitlacoche (Mexican truffle) quesadilla was delicious and not something I'd had in Europe before. The slices of homegrown jalapeño added just enough spice. The ribs were requested without spice and they were absolutely melt-in-the-mouth (cooked slow and low for 12-14 hours), while the Texan potatoes (4 x new potato halves smothered in shredded chicken and spicy tomato sauce, and spicy ground beef all smothered in cheese with a large slice of homegrown jalapeño on each) as a side were really tasty. Wines were interesting - the house rioja by the glass was light yet not so anonymous that it was overpowered by the spice. There was a great looking bottle of 15% Patricia Benitez's Ribera de Duero on the table and an awe-inspiring selection of Tequila (for another time!). Diego has a great story and is a local who has trained in London and Mexico DF - a real pleasure to make his...