El Mariachi at Wiles Road — Restaurant in Coral Springs

Long story short... we won't be back. Back Story I don't think I have enough space in this box to type all that happened on our date night 3/14/25 around 8 pm. At least once a week, we grab Pizza Carousel to Go for dinner, and my wife and I always willing to try this place for our date night. We never find the time because we have a solid rotation lol and our favorite Mexican place is Aztec. But last night I had to grab something at GNC before they close at 8 pm. Afterwards, I told my wife let's just do our date night here instead since we're already in the shopping Plaza and have always wanted to try that mexican place and she agreed. Story Time We got sat down and my wife ordered a margarita and I got a coke for myself. The margarita wasn't good, it feels like it was made with cheap liquor and my coke was flat and probably was a diet coke 🤷. But still we kept a positive attitude. Waitress took our entrées and I had to ask her for salsa and chips. We always had to hunt her down for some reason even though they were not busy at all. My wife had a chimichanga and she loved it... I had the fajita trio (combo plus shrimp) they call it and I was not impressed. I had about 2 strips of steaks 2 strips of chicken and no more than 4 shrimps with the shell still at the tail 😐. The fajitas come with rice and refried bean at most mexican place, so I had to hunt her down just to ask for my rice and bean, which she told me that was extra. Before she vanished again, we placed an order for fried ice cream and it wasn't good. The ice cream was old and there was ice chunks in it (freezer burn). At this point we wanted to leave so we asked for the check... bruh!!! this waitress brought the wrong check twice 😒. Our tab was over $70 and we left her a 22% tip. So the waitress brought over the card reader device and we had points that we could redeem and I told my wife to go ahead and redeem them points because we won't be coming back. So something happened after we paid because we received a text from our bank that we only got charged $15. If you were thinking that the waitress somehow gave us somebody else's tab.... you would be right ✅️ 😏. Now the manager had to get involved. At this point my 3 year old had to pee so I took him to the restroom and on my way back to the table I see both the manager and the waitress towering over my wife, and I can see my wife's face and she wasn't happy. So apparently the manager is very unprofessional and came out somewhat aggressive and did not know all the facts. My wife had a sense that he thought we were trying to leave without paying 😒 and my wife had to set him straight. So when I got to the table, all I'm hearing is them apologizing repeatedly and I didn't find out all the details until we got to our car. So yeah.. How was...

El Mariachi Restaurant is a family owned and operated restaurant that began in Coral Springs in 1993 serving Mexican and Spanish food. They were so popular that they expanded to this second location in Coral Springs on Wiles. I previously enjoyed dinner at their restaurant located in the Coral Palm Plaza on University Drive.

My girlfriend and I met up for a mid week dinner at El Mariachi. I had previously spotted it tucked into the corner during one of many shopping trips to the plaza and I always wanted to try it.

This location is smaller than the first one but I think it just makes it cozier. They have booths and tables running down the center and a few more tables out front. There is a small bar area in the rear of the restaurant. I really like the painted murals on the wall.

Our server and bartender was Otto. We started out meal with the yummy complimentary chips and mild and hot salsa. Fortunately we made it in time for the happy hour $5 house margarita. Have Otto make your margarita and you will not be disappointed. Best $5 margarita I ever had. For dinner I ordered the beef chimichanga. They serve them here with rice, beans, sour cream, and guac. After filling up on chips it was more than I could finish. My friend and I both really enjoyed everything at El Mariachi. If you love Mexican food as much as we do, you won't want to pass up...

Couple of people I work with go here and clearly haven't experienced how a decent Mexican restaurant treats you. I'm not talking about the people who seemed fine it was the fact that melted cheese on top of the chimichanga was extra and no Salsas are included in the to-go order?!?! I grew up in San Diego, California where hundreds of Mexican restaurants are operating and not one of them I ever patronized did not include Salsas to go. I asked for some Salsas to go both mild and spicy and without telling me beforehand she brings out these two large sides of Salsas and wants to charge me over $9 for them! I asked if I could just have a little bit to go please and she said we don't do that here! I will not return to this restaurant and I suggest others go somewhere Salsa and some melted cheese isn't EXTRA money. I eat lunch in the area a lot. El Paso is Much Much better. Update: read the response from this obviously uncaring and Business is always right proprietor. I make great money AND I DID BUY THE SALSA because that is how I eat Latin food. I look for great lunch places in Coral Springs every week and I am a Level 6 Google guide here...so do yourselves a favor and avoid this place. I have posted this review on Facebook and Instagram as well as Trip Advisor just because this operator was so...