El Mex-Kal Family Mexican — Restaurant in Estes Park

Best Mexican food I’ve had outside New Mexico/Arizona. To be clear, we are spoiled by many visits to New Mexico, so can be hard to please when it comes to Mexican food.

I got two Enchiladas (one with red sauce, one with green) and one Chili Relleno, and they were all very good, especially the Chili Relleno. Next time I’d order two Chili Relleno and one Enchilada with red sauce.

My wife got two chicken enchiladas with red sauce and a bean tostada, and she rated the meal 3.5 out of 5.

It’s worth noting that the refried beans were very good. Seems most restaurants don’t try very hard on the beans, and they tend to be bland. These beans were very nicely spiced and were quite tasty with the rice.

The complimentary chips and salsa were a high point. I’ve never had salsa as heavily spiced as this. You can taste the cumin in the salsa. Very unique.

Service was very good. We were eating less than five minutes after ordering, and our waiter was friendly and attentive.

We both agreed it was really good for Colorado Mexican. Not as good as New Mexico standards, but much better than anything we can...

It was July 4th and we were hungry! We were staying at a hotel across the street and didn't want to be stuck in a wait line so did our best Frogger imitation and ran across the street to El Mex Kal. My first impression when I walked it was "this is small" and then "it smells so good". The employees were either taking orders, delivering orders or cleaning after the last customer. There was not true "host" so the first available person came over to seat us. The usual chips and salsa (two kinds) were brought over and that salsa was delicious! Our order was taken and although we waited a bit longer than we though we might it was worth it. My go to when I am at a new place is the chicken chimi. No beans, no rice. Just the way I am, simple - si? =) Anyway, it was excellent! The 10 year old picky eater had two hard shell tacos and loved them. Apologies but it's been a week and I can't recall what the 15yr old had nor my BF. The 15yr old had a burrito of some type and my BF had some fashion of steak. It really doesn't matter as all the food was very tasty! We...

I so wanted my visit to El Mex Kal to be a good one. I specifically searched online reviews to find a good Mexican restaurant in Estes Park and thought this would be it. I was wrong.

Considering it took an hour and a half to get 2 cheese enchiladas and a taco for lunch service you'd hope they were worth the wait. I was wrong again. The bottom of the taco actually fell out from the shell being so soggy with meat grease. On top of that the taco was cold, not room temperature but cold as if put on a cold plate or kept in the fridge. The shredded beef was substandard and had an unpleasant seasoning.

Cheese enchiladas were mediocre and the cheese on top was a bit burnt.

Wait staff was nearly non-existent. Waited 20 min before waiter actually came to my table and another 10 to get a drink. This should have been my clue to get out.

I honestly believe this restaurant would not be in business in a decent size town. I cannot reconcile the excellent reviews posted here with my experience but I would never...