El Tequila Mexican Restaurant Auburn — Restaurant in Auburn

Update: it's honestly our favorite restaurant in the area. They are super accommodating, highly affordable, and they have really good food once you learn what to order. Their Al pastor is freaking delicious, just had it for the first time today.

Pros: Rick really liked his fajitas. I tried some of his veggies and the flavor and textures were great. My chile relleno was honestly one of the best I've ever had (minus the red sauce) with a delicious, perfect breading, tender, juice pepper, and the perfect amount of gooey cheese. The chicken enchilada was pretty good (again, except for the sauce). The guacamole was good, the queso was pretty okay, and the salsa was delicious. I prefer blended, garlicky salsa and this was perfect. We were seated right away with no wait, and the food was out within a few minutes of ordering.

Cons: My taco meat tasted odd, not bad but also not good, and the "red sauce" was an orange, goopy, strange mess that was not good. I had to fix it with salsa and queso to salvage the meal. The refried beans and Spanish rice were both bland. Again, fixable with the salsa and queso, though. The service was not good. They seated us and then did not return at all, not to take drink orders or bring chips and salsa, for fifteen minutes. I had to ask 3 times for salsa before he brought it. He never refilled our drinks. I finally had to get up and go ask someone for water... That they never brought. He came and asked, "did you want more water?" about 10 minutes later, at which point we simply wanted the check. He did not ask if we wanted to go drinks, boxes, anything. He wasn't rude, but highly innatentive and/or untrained. There were about 4 to 5 other occupied tables and at least 3 waiters, so not an overwhelming ratio. They all 3 appeared to be very young men, teens to early twenties. Maybe they were new.

Had we actually been on a lunch break rather than having a rare early day off, we would've had to leave without even ordering or been late back to work.

If I were home, or traveling in an area where the food was overall better, this would be a 2-3 star review. However, this is Maine. Sadly, this was probably the 3rd to 4th best Mexican food we've had in 6 months here.

I forgot to take pics of the menu but will if we go back (and we probably will, as it's close to the jobsite), since there aren't updated ones on Google. The fajitas were $21 (he got the dinner size, not the lunch), my choose 3 combo was $15.50 (you could also choose 2 for $14.50), and the queso was $6. There were several lunch options from $10-16, we just elected to choose from the dinner menu. For Maine, those are pretty average prices.

2nd visit update:

Sooooo much better the second visit, knowing what to order vs what to avoid per my tastes.

He got the fajitas again, still very good.

I got the build your own pick 3, with the chile relleno, cheese sauce instead of red, and a beef and a chicken enchilada, sub chipotle sauce in place of the red sauce.

Everything was scrumptious, although I'm still not a fan of their ground beef and will get only chicken or chicken and cheese next time.

The service was great, much improved from the last visit, overall this was absolutely a 5-star meal, and I know we will...

1st time here: Sunday Lunch, since Lotus closed for vacation. Read reviews, drawn to reference to "authentic" Mexican menu that I seek and would enjoy. Very quick meal delivery once order placed - a nice surprise. Menu is Extensive, moderately priced, entrees well detailed in what specific items they contain. I selected the Burrito California: a large size soft tortilla with combination of Spanish rice, my choice of black or refried beans, tomatoes, green pepper, onion, shrimp, & steak - covered in white cheese sauce. Tortilla Chips & simple dipping sauce served first. Anyway, veggies were nicely roasted, meats were also nicely done - steak tender and juicy, shrimp tender as well, NOT overcooked. Since this selection was replacing 2 meals for me, I was able to finish without feeling stuffed, otherwise I would have requested a doggie bag. Unsweetened tea: $2.75 $$ I thought for watered down - will skip next time. And NO dessert options ???? / none offered - just wondering - did not study the menu beforehand - meal arrive that quickly.

Restaurant itself clean, very colorful table tops and chairs as well - did not have the opportunity to check out the bathroom. Order for pick up option - 2 parties during my Lunch. Staff must be new or perhaps inexperienced ? - no place settings in place, 1 did not understand (? Language barrier) my question, but did seek guidance from my wait person who was seated way in the back around a corner. Staff of 3 seemed bored?

So, this is a place to (I would/will) explore further and become acquainted...

The food tasted amazing! *The best authentic Mexican food I have found in the Lewiston Auburn area the rice and bean portions should be larger for the $14 meal

*The service woman do not receive a tip from us she didn't come check in to see if we needed or wanted anything else. After our meal was served. My meal was wrong even though it was ALL repeated 3 separate times to 2 different people! And they still made it wrong.

• I asked if my $9 drink could be taken off our ticket since my glass was cracked half way down one side and when I brought it back to the bar there was no acknowledgment of the clearly broken glass. My drink was remade with half the ingredients and placed in a smaller glass

*As we were taking photos for my reviews our server woman and the bartenders were clearly talking about us staring at us laughing very uncool and unethical.

• when it was time to leave I kindly asked in Spanish if they could remove the $9 drink. They said no and started to debate with me the bartender told the cashier $8 . I said no I stated again my glass was broken then it was incorrectly made as well as my meal and I want to take it off my bill they charged me $4 for the drink. In my opinion they should have discounted half the price of our check.

to me it seemed like they didn't care if the customers were happy they didn't try to understand what I was saying. I had to wait till a lady who spoke English came to the register to...