El Patron East Ave. — Restaurant in Chico

I tried...I really tried with this place. I was alone for a few hours, and I drove past this establishment on my way to another one...I should've kept driving!! I ordered the 4 Street Taco special, chicken, with everything (cilantro, onions, and sauce), and The 2 ground beef tacos, beans, and rice special and the Strawberry Jarrito. Where to start!? The tortillas were cold and greasy, the 3 toppings were spaced haphazardly, and the chicken was BLAND and unflavored, almost full-on white, and dry. I tried to eat them but just couldn't. Not even the bottled hot sauce could rescue the meal. I switched to the 2 tacos, beans, and rice... hoping to salvage my dinner. WRONG! Again, cold tortillas, greasy ground beef, cheese that couldn't melt, and again... complete lack of ANY flavor. I couldn't, in good faith, even choke it down. Even the 3 CFD personnel sitting next to me made comments about the lack of flavor. I finished my soda and left unfulfilled. While the business was brisk with customers, I feel they only come here because it's the only Mexican restaurant on this side of Chico. This is the most lackadaisical Mexican restaurant in town. Avoid it like the plague, and visit any other restaurant in town...Please!? Your wallet and stomach...

Went in and received good service and their portions are large, however the food while it looks good, has no flavor. Their nachos were made with canned nacho cheese, what looked and tasted like packaged guacamole, chopped up potatoes as filler and their chicken had no seasoning. Beans and parmasan cheese also came on it but I could hardly taste either. We also ordered 2 carne asada soft tacos both of witch had no flavor to the asada, it tasted like plain meat. Letuce and parmasan cheese on top, again tasted like nothing. No authentic Mexican flavors at all. They are also a bit pricy for using nothing but fillers. There was a sign on the counter that said their prices raised 5% as of January 17th. We paid 10 dollars for a plate of nachos and 4 dollars per taco. Again the portions were large and pretty but the food was bland...

This is my second time eating from El Patron. The first time fell flat; no add ins on my burrito that I paid for, blandish flavors, just disappointing but it was a HUGE portion.

This time I’m thoroughly impressed. We got two orders of the 4 for $6 street tacos, chicken and pork. Super good, large portions of meat, well seasoned, hot, fresh and tasty. There’s enough left over for lunch and maybe even dinner tomorrow. If it survives the midnight munchies.

The only down side was the “mild” salsa. It would be considered medium hot in most restaurants. It’s definitely not kid friendly mild salsa.

Will definitely be back for another...