El Vaquero — Restaurant in Locust

We were in the mood for Mexican so we tried a Mexican restaurant in Locust, El Vaquero. The restaurant itself is not new, but it’s new to us. It was pretty busy when we got there and had to wait about 10-15 minutes, not too bad. We noticed that all of the restaurant staff were wearing masks, but the number of customers wearing them versus not, leaned more to the “not” side. The sanitation grade is a 98 which is excellent in my book!

The restaurant did a good job of social distancing customers by blocking off tables; however, we were like sardines in a can in the waiting space, which is a very small area at the door. As I mentioned, all the staff were wearing masks and gloves, and the bottle of salsa was covered with foil, which I appreciated.

We ordered the chicken fajitas for two. I didn’t like the chips, but the salsa was flavorful enough. When our fajitas arrived, it was a huge pile in a small pan, but they had a really good flavor. I had thought recently that I may be losing my sense of taste because I haven’t found anything in a very long time that tasted good, much less flavorful. These fajitas proved me wrong! The chicken, peppers, and onions were grilled perfectly with just the right amount of spices. I asked for a small plate to eat my fajitas on, but never got it, so I just used the aluminum foil that the tortillas came wrapped in. At every other Mexican restaurant where we order fajitas for two, we get three tortillas each, but here we only got two each. I was okay with that since I usually only eat two anyway.

I loved the rice, which was “sticky” and not all dried out like most places, but it did need a little help and the salsa provided that assistance. It gave a flavor and extra kick that the rice needed. The Pico de gallo had a wonderfully fresh flavor that I loved! The fresh cilantro opened up my taste buds and made them dance all around! Ohmigosh, I don’t think I’ve had cilantro that fresh anywhere!

Living in Charlotte it did take us a few minutes to get there, but it was well worth it. We will...

I really only like to leave positive reviews, but this experience was out if the ordinary.

Maybe it was just a bad day. All businesses have them, just like us.

I walked in just after 4 on the Friday afternoon after July 4th so maybe the regular chef was off.

The salsa wasn't very good but the chips were good.

I ordered soup and enchiladas to be safe.

The soup was lukewarm and not very tasty. I ate it quickly while it was a little warn.

They brought the enchiladas out with the soup instead of after but they were also lukewarm and I didn't care for the cheese. Oddly, the beef was regular roast beef with no Mexican seasoning. I took a few bites and left the rest. And they really weren't good tasting either.

Then I tried to pay the bill. I tried to give every indication that I was finished but while the servers kept stopping at the other tables, they didn't stop at mine. I eventually flagged one down and he brought me the check while he was on the phone. I quickly paid by cash, left a 20% tip, and left.

The server asked me how everything was about 1 minute after he brought the food. I nodded that it was okay because I never send food back. He didn't ask, though, when I asked for the check or when he brought it to me, which I thought was odd, but he was on the phone when he brought me the check.

Like I said, maybe a bad day. Other reviews seen positive. But this experience was out of the ordinary enough that I...

El Vaquero in Locust is hands down one of my favorite places to eat—I always come here, and it never disappoints. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The staff is consistently welcoming, attentive, and quick to serve, even during busy hours.

The food is absolutely fantastic. Everything I’ve tried has been fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The menu has a great variety of options, whether you’re in the mood for classic tacos, enchiladas, sizzling fajitas, or something a little different. Their chips and salsa come out fast and are always a great start to the meal. I especially love how generous the portions are—you definitely get your money’s worth here.

What really makes El Vaquero stand out, though, is the consistency. No matter what day or time I visit, I know I’m going to get great food and great service. It's clear that the team here takes pride in what they do, and it shows in every detail—from the way the food is presented to the way they treat their customers.

If you’re in Locust and looking for a place to enjoy delicious, authentic Mexican food in a relaxed and friendly setting, I can’t recommend El Vaquero enough. It’s a five-star experience every...