El Maguey Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Hillsboro

This was our first time in, and it was an unimpressive initial experience. This is a large, open location with a decent bar that would probably be good for large groups. The location seemed clean with the exception of a few unpatched holes in the walls (possibly from previous A/V installations) and a strong acrylate smell that hit us in the face as soon as we walked in. I actually went back out the door and looked up and down the strip mall to see if there might be a nail salon next door. There wasn't, but yes...the smell was that strong. We were apparently the only ones dining that night - but it was right after the new year, and we ate fairly early as far as "dinner" goes. We were given chips, salsa and bean dip which we enjoyed (salsa/pico seemed very fresh and well balanced), but then the meal came.

My wife ordered the ground beef tostada plate, and I ordered a 3-item combo plate with a shredded beef chimichanga, chicken chalupa, and a chili relleno. The first impression was "Oh wow...brown guacamole. That's not good." (see pics), so we already knew how that would taste. I tried to start with the chalupa, but the shell was so fragile that it shattered as soon as I touched it - there was absolutely no way to pick it up, so I reverted to a fork. The chicken seemed like it could have been seasoned well, but it was so dry I didn't want to eat it. The chimi was okay, and I actually enjoyed the relleno, but both really lacked a proper fry-job and were too soggy. The pinto beans on my plate had absolutely no seasoning whatsoever, and were absolutely bland. Finally, the ground beef on my wife's tostada was unnervingly sweet, and represented more of a sloppy joe mix than anything that should have been served in a Mexican dish.

Overall, the food was warm, the portions were decent, the location was clean, and the server was attentive...but nearly every aspect of the food served to us was a disappointment. Hoping it was just an off-night for them. We're locals and plan on giving them another try at a later date, so we will update this post...

Been a while since I've been to a place with such terrible customer service. I walked out and will not be coming back.

I walked in and greeted the lady standing behind the counter looking confused and told her i'm here to place a to go order and ask for a menu. A few minutes later a man comes out and I tell him i want the #4 burrito special; one asada and one chicken. I told him I wanted the chicken one to be a wet burrito plate with rice and beans, but the asada to be just a burrito. He then pointed at a $15 asada burrito menu option which i was fine with. The waiter walks away saying "ok." as if he understood what I wanted, but I had a feeling he did not.

A few minutes later a waitress comes out and hands me a receipt and walks away. $43 for an asada and chicken burrito, and they charged more for the asada one which was supposed to be the cheaper one so clearly there was a misunderstanding!

I brought this up to the waitress a few minutes later and she tells me that he definitely showed me on the menu and she saw it, so i just told her to cancel my order and i no longer want to eat here.

A restaurant that can't make a simple order like that, and wants to argue with you isn't worth my business or yours. You...

1st time eating here it was super empty then it made me wonder also super dark . Clean bathroom tho I was impressed probably from lack of customers so stays clean. As I ordered the server taking order didn’t smile one time like she hated her job or mayb her family made her work there she was probably in her early 30’s if I could guess idk but anyway . I ordered the shredded beef burrito had side of beans and rice and let me tell you no flavor at all I had to add salt ask for a whole lot of limes and was still not good . I would not recommend this place I was expecting authentic Mexican food and this place was not it . not sure how this place gets a 4.2 star It needs a 2.1 . Maybe have cooks watch some videos train them how to season meat properly because the cooks need some help asap! Have a good day! Hope they can learn to season the Mexican way😊 but I definitely won’t be coming back...