Mazatlan Restaurant — Restaurant in Aberdeen

*Updated January 2024 Have been back a few times for lunch and dinner since previous reviews. Flavors of the different foods has continued to improve. Can't find any food here to say something isn't right about. Have had many chats with the owner and learned a bit about cooking different foods from him. More frequently the owner seems to spend time with many customers tolerance more about what they liked, didn't like, help everyone be a little adventurous and try something they hadn't tried before. More and more I would recommend Mazatlan near the Aberdeen Fire Department for great service and excellent food.

*Updated December 2022 Some items are still being made and called "mini" or "half size" for carry out and yet still being charged full price. Certain employees are still doing no free refills on soda, and other employees are doing the correct thing and doing free refills on soda. I'm not sure what they've changed, but the meats seem to be seasoned better so it has a better overall flavor.

*Updated August 17, 2022 Mazatlan used to be a favorite establishment for Mexican food; however, more and more I'm losing all faith in the business and do not believe I'll return after this. The prices have increased again, which I understand with inflation, but the portions have gotten substantially smaller, both dining in and to go. Employees have even gone so far to call items for to go orders as "half size", yet you still are expected to pay full price. While dining in non-alcoholic drinks that have never been limited on refills in the past, nor has there been any mention of it on the menu, are now one and done, meaning you will pay for each refill. This review, on top of the previous review is why I will no longer support Mazatlan in its business, nor will I recommend it to anyone anymore. And not that the owner or management cares or will see this, but I still haven't received my tortillas.

*Updated February 24, 2021 Unfortunately I feel I need to update the review. I ordered the chicken fajitas for carry out tonight for the first time. When I got home there were no tortillas. When I called and asked for a partial refund as I wasn't going to drive back tonight I was told that they do not do that and that next time to tell them to give me extra tortillas to make up for tonight's mistake. Unfortunately neither a refund or extra tortillas in the future fixes the problem. Unfortunately this is a poor introduction to the first time ordering this dish. May never order it again just based upon this experience. Because of this I'm lowering the star rating at this time. Now that they've opened some seating inside I'm hopeful that if and when I return mistakes like this will not happen again.

Original Review: Even with the governor's restrictions to take out only, everyone continues to be a great service with excellent food. And though I only go once a month, everyone still remembers me and what I order. Hot delicious food and a smile regardless of dine in or take out are good enough reasons for me to continue to support this business...

It was somewhere near my minimum qualification cut-off for "just okay."

You walk in the door and almost fall on your ass. The floor is so soapy and slimy that it is just begging a slip-n-fall con artist to cash in...or maybe a legitimate injury. If that is how they take care of the lobby, how poorly do the clean the back of the house?

Service was speedy and our waiter was friendly, attentive, and professional.

The food was mediocre, at best. $15 bought us two chicken flautas and a scoop of beans and rice at lunch. It came with a small dollop of sour cream, guacamole, and shredded lettuce topped with a quarter inch half-moon slice of tomato.

There was no flavor except a weird "fryer oil needs changed" after-taste. The chips had the same weird flavor. The salsa was also unusual. Not completely objectionable, but more smoky than spicy or flavorful.

The rice and beans were bland and worse than generic.

The lunch menu had very few options and there was no description of each dish, just what side they came with. For example, they had a couple different named burritos and I could tell which had protein options and/or sides of guacamole and sour cream, but I don't know what distinguishes the names.

The bathrooms were no cleaner than the lobby.

There is ample parking. One weird transient wandering the lot, but he didn't tamper with anything and just kind of hung out without being confronted by staff.

Easy in-out for larger vehicles.

I won't return unless they do a major renovation and reopen under...

A great place to meet with friends! Mazatlan is a personal favorite when it comes to a place that can accommodate groups. A fabulous spot to meet after the theater, or to celebrate a special occasion. On this particular visit i enjoyed a Chicken Chalupa (soft shell) it was Fabulous! It can be found on the Appetizer page of the menu, under soups and salads....not where i would have looked for it, so I'm glad i found it. I wasn't in the mood for a meal with beans and rice, so this was perfect. Just a heads up, the first serving of chips are still free, but if you want refills there is now a charge. This would tell me that people have abused the free refill policy. I don't blame Mazatlan at all, if customers are taking advantage, sometimes you need to change how you do things. This is more of a heads up so you don't see this on the menu. I don't want anyone to get an unexpected surprise when the bill comes! I wish i would have taken a picture. The Chalupa was delicious and i was hungry...and it was gone before i knew...