El Lago Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Branson West

Having just moved to the area from KC, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find many authentic Mexican restaurants- and maybe I won't be able to... but at least I found one.

El Lago is legit. Seriously great food that's authentic, beautifully prepared, and priced perfectly (the pretentious, overblown prices found in American-ized Mexican restaurants are nowhere to be found).

First test of any Mexican restaurant worth their margarita salt - the chips and salsa -- light chips, perfectly done and a really solid table salsa. Ask for the hot and mix with the og for the best possible experience.

I had the Yucatan burrito entree on my first visit and it made me weak in the knees. It may seem an odd pairing - a burrito with a side of grilled onions? But once you combine the sweetish, creamy burrito sauce, the savory burrito innards, and one of those carmelized onions -- holy mother of pearl, get ready to transcend your banal, flavorless existence outside El Lago's four walls forever. It may well ruin you for anything else in this life. One bite and an unbeliever will see the light and leave speaking in tongues.

The staff was polite, fast, and even while running a million miles a minute to keep up with a packed dining room, attentive and accurate. Solid staff and amazing food. What more could you people possibly want out of a hole-in-the-wall paradise of culinary delights?

Daily specials and cheap, strong margaritas? Well wouldn't you know it, they've got those too. What's the catch? Once I find it I'll let you know, but for now El Lago towers so far above any other offerings in the area that they could all turn out to be homocidal maniacs and I'd still convince people to separate the artists from the art and support them without hesitation.

Oh! I guess I should mention - I really enjoyed my visit and I think El Lago makes good...

Went to El Lago tonight and got 2 kids cheese enchilada meals, carnitas plate and fajita plate. On the carnitas and enchilada plates they come with beans and rice, they did not have enough rice on them, it was a very small amount, might have been like 6 bites worth. Rice is cheap to buy it should have been more there than compared to the beans. On the fajita it states on the website it is supposed to come with sautéed peppers and onions and be served with rice and beans clearly no rice or beans, or sautéed peppers or onions and the chicken and tortilla were overcooked and chicken was dry. While waiting many people came in to be seated or pick up food, there is no line for those to be seated or waiting for pick up. I saw people who had been waiting for 5 minutes get over passed by someone else who had walked in after them,, they are not very well organized, they have gone down hill. For the price you pay you except it to be great and with enough food to fill you up. The ladies at the desk were not paying very well attention and were playing cards!! They were really busy. This is not great customer service. Been here in the past and was exceptional food and great service. I'm sorry but you guys need to figure your stuff out and either get more people or hire better workers. I feel sorry for the people who were seated having to wait for a while and you don't get tipped because of the...

First of all its all lit up with a cement floor, kinda like eating in a warehouse. I was waiting for a forklift to drive by.

Second, we are from Southern California, just moved here a couple years ago, we were raised eating Mexican food. Ive even traveled by car down into Mexico. I do not know what to say lol it was so disgusting it was funny! I ordered pork fajitas and the plate was so hot it burned the pork. Rice was bland. Tortillas were slimy. My Wife ordered fish tacos lol!!! I dont know what kind of fish they threw in there but it was like herring or something!! My wife took one bite and spit it into a napkin!! Fish tacos to us is grilled Sea Bass. Cilantro and lime juice in a corn Tortilla!!! Now that is good!

The server was impolite and unhelpful it was like everyone working there had an attitude. The only good thing was the cocktails.

We left there and went to Sonic and got hamburgers. We live 5 minutes away and will NEVER return! We still laugh about it! When we want Mexican food we drive down to Springfield and hit up Jose Locos!!! Now that place is pretty dang good 👍

You hillbillies around here have no idea what Mexican food is! THIS AIN'T IT FOLKS!!!! You need to...