El Paisano Mexicano Grill — Restaurant in Lakeside

I was in Richmond this weekend for business and had two unforgettable highlights: visiting the beautiful Maymont…and discovering El Paisano Mexican Grill. On my way out of Maymont, I asked a young man where to find the best Mexican food in town. Without hesitation he said, “¡Manos abajo! You have to try El Paisano Mexican Grill. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s auténtico and will not disappoint.”

So we drove the 10 miles, and OMG, he was right!

I started with the taquitos he recommended. ¡Deliciosos! Crispy, golden, and stuffed with juicy shredded beef. Nothing like the bland, dry taquitos you often get elsewhere. I could have eaten a dozen, easy. The fresh guacamole alongside was pura perfección.

But the dish that truly touched my corazón was the Caldo de Res. My abuela used to make it for me on cold nights, and one spoonful at El Paisano literally brought tears to my eyes. Rich, flavorful broth, tender beef, served with arroz, limón, cebolla, and cilantro, it was just like home. I practically licked the bowl clean, and the portion was so generous I wasn’t even hungry the next day.

Several of my employees joined me, and they were equally blown away. From the quesadilla de bistec to the tacos de birria, everything was spot on. You could taste the tradition and passion in every bite.

One detail that really stood out: the owner personally checked each plate before it left the kitchen. That’s something you expect in a fine dining restaurant, but here it came from a place of genuine pride and cariño for the food and his guests.

If I could give 100 stars, I would. Since I can’t, 5 will have to do. And let me say this: I live over 2,600 miles away, a 5½-hour flight each way, but I will absolutely be back. That’s how memorable and auténtico...

We had a late lunch here over the weekend and it was very quiet. Music playing was mariachi music, so we listened to that at just the right volume. Food was great and the fresh salsa was so good with just a hint of lime and not spicy at all. I had the birria tacos and I enjoyed every bite; the birria had been cooked with some sweet spices (maybe star anise? cinnamon) and just a bit of heat - enough to shine and not hurt. Such a good blend of flavors. My partner had a burrito (forgot what it was) but liked it a lot. Service was good and our waitress was friendly and checked on us multiple times throughout our meal. We'll definitely be back. Sorry no pictures,...

I live very close to this place, so I was especially excited to try this place out, knowing that I love Mexican food very much. Finally, after a month of it being open, I decided today was the day to try it out! Very friendly lady employee/server that took care of us, she did excellent service and refilled cups in a timely manner too! The food was fantastic (I had a Fajita Burrito) and of course before the food, the complimentary salsa and white sauce with chips, they even come in a pretty big portion too which I enjoyed. Atmosphere was amazing and enjoyed the Mexican music. What a wonderful place! Highly satisfied and will be coming...