El Ahorro Mexican Restaurant & Tienda Hispana — Restaurant in Elkin

You might be surprised that one of the best Mexican places you've ever eaten at is in Elkin, NC, but so goes my developing theory that the best Mexican restaurants are not always in the big cities, but actually in rural small towns.

I am from Greensboro, where the Mexican cuisine is... lacking, to say the least (I'm being nice here). El Ahorro, much like a Mexican place I went to in Fayetteville, WV near New River Gorge National Park, is the real deal.

I have never seen gourmet Mexican food like this, nor such a large and impressive menu... and in ELKIN?!! (No offense). While the classics, like tacos and my personal favorite, Durango, may on the surface look like something you'd get at any Mexican place, there are little touches like the cotija cheese that make them stand out. Then there's the real gourmet stuff - a friend of mine got some shellfish dish and the display was like something out of a magazine! The shells looked nicer than most you'd find at the beach.

So, yes, Triad-area travelers, El Ahorro is the real deal and a must if travelling through Elkin. Coming here after a day at Stone Mountain or Doughton Preserve is a tradition I have kept going with my Meetup group and perhaps one of the best parts, a wonderful way to end a day in the outdoors. Plus, the margaritas are extremely generously priced and sized, the "second smallest one" is quite large and only $5!

There was a time when the service was quite slow, but after the last time we visited I noticed that the employees literally have a Bluetooth walkie-talkie system that they use to make things go extremely fast; my group was at least twice as large as the time we went when service was slow but the food came out extremely fast!

The restaurant is technically called "The Mango Peel", which could be confusing, but there is also a Hispanic/Mexican grocery store attached (what 'tienda hispana' means).

It's not just my recommendation... other Triad-area people I've brought of all different backgrounds, walks of life, and heritage were skeptical that the place would be as good as I claim but then they try it and they really agree that it's one of the best! You'll have a much better time here after Stone Mountain than you would at a winery; that's actually how the tradition accidentally started. A friend and I intended to go to a winery post-Stone Mountain, but a problem with part of the group getting separated at Stone Mountain put us up against the time the winery would have closed, so we searched restaurants nearby and discovered El Ahorro... best decision we've ever made!

Guacamole is excellent, everything is. Maybe it's even better after being out on long hikes, but I really think it's one of the best I've ever had! You also know that it's the real deal because I notice that quite a lot of Mexican people eat at and frequent the place and, if they like it and are loyal customers, you...

They opened another part last week. They now have a full bar!!! Not many of those in this sleepy little town. The food is good. We went last night. They could improve the salsa. Maybe add some fire roasted tomatoes and peppers. Not sure if they have a grill for that. Fresh herbs would be good too. The Crema chipotle sauce is the bomb! My daughter had it over some chicken. I ordered the pazoli (spelling) soup it was really good. The tres Leche cake, and the chocolate cake (I forget the name) are yummy, so save room for dessert!!!!!! I think that they're going to pick up and the lines will start getting long to get in after people discovere the place. Parking is limited. We had to park across the street. Staff is super friendly and eager to please. I love that, I will always go back to a...

Very authentic Mexican restaurant, unlike the one up the street. Appetizer chips and salsa were good, and burrito with rice and black beans was delicious. If you go in from the front, there's a dining room on the left and one straight ahead, the one on the left is where I was. It was very nice in quiet in there, with only a couple other families. The dining room straight ahead seemed more Americanized, with a bar playing country music. Last of all, when we were paying and about to leave I accidentally left my to go box at my seat. When I went back to get it, it was gone. The woman at the register gave me someone else's whole to go order because they hadn't come to pick it up. I find that very...