Nando's Mexican Cafe — Restaurant in Maricopa

If I could rate it a zero, then I would. I went there in May of 2024 around noon on a Monday. Upon arriving and after being seated I noticed all of the dozens of flies in the windows and flying around the restaurant. I definitely did not like seeing this. If there are this many out here in the dining area, then there are probably just as many or more in the kitchen. A woman brought us out chips and salsa, which were very sub-par for a Mexican food restaurant. The salsa tasted like a variation of Pace Picante sauce. Soon after the waitress came to welcome us and was nice. I had no issues with her. She kindly took our order, and the food came out soon after. Once the food arrived, I immediately noticed this food was not authentic Mexican food. My son ordered a kids meal burger, which was a previously frozen soy burger. Definitely not much if any real beef in there. My other son had chimis, which were again not freshly made and previously frozen. The rice and beans were so bland and awful. I ordered the burro, taco, and tostada combo lunch special. I believe it was the letter G. It was so bland and without any real flavor. The tostada shell was completely soggy and soaked. I had no option but to eat it with a fork. The red beef burro did actually contain real pieces of beef, which is about the only good thing I can say about it. The flavor was bland and very bad. The taco was very bland as well without much flavor. Definitely did not taste anything like real authentic Mexican food. I had no idea food could be this bland and flavorless. I've lived in Arizona my entire life, and have eaten at dozens of Mexican food restaurants; and this was by far the worst tasting Mexican food ever. My mom had the H lunch special, which consisted of a chimi with rice and beans. She agreed how horrible the food was. Even drenching the food with both types of salsa, it did not help. We left feeling very unsatisfied. For drinking water and spending $55 on the worst meal I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant, we were all dissatisfied to say the least. If I was offered to eat there again for free, then I would decline. This is how bad it was. If they want to stay in business, then they might want to get control of their fly situation. Also, they might want to get real authentic Mexican recipes to prepare and serve. The food we had today was absolutely gross and terrible. I very rarely leave reviews, but I had to let people know of this horrible experience. There are plenty of other better places to go in Maricopa. Even Taco Bell is 100 times better than this place. I can't imagine them staying in business very long serving this type of food in a fly ridden...

Food definetly hit the spot. I was hungry and did not wanna cook at home, I still give people the benefit of the doubt, being that I spent 20+ years in the food service industry, I learned a lot. One of the things is if you enjoy eating somewhere, don’t work there, Experience has really screwed me up with education about the Do’s and Dont’s around food. One of my rules is to never face the kitchen when I eat out anywhere because I will find something that will upset my stomach. Today I experienced just that, exept I was sitting at the bar, and enjoying my food and here comes a young lady pulling floor mats off the floor getting ready to close I’m sure, and that is fine, but then she proceeds to grab some pitchers full of beverage and then clean glasses and storing them on the racks above the bar for use, and than back to the floor mats, but she’s wearing gloves right? …. Well if you don’t know by now what I’m getting at, you’re either unaware of the issue and will probably be ok, until you’re not. A lot of the times its just lack of training and knowledge. Not knowing that you’re doing something wrong can hurt someone, and knowing too much will screw you bad. If you are cleaning, clean and if you get back to service, clean your self up. Wash your hands, Change your gloves, and have an alternate apron for cleaning and serving there are disposable alternatives. Contamination happens fast and it hurts everyone, customers, employees, and its not good for busines either. I hope this helps, not doing this review for the wrong reasons, just be aware, today it was just me seing this, or maybe not, but Im one of the few that know whats wrong when you see it, as others will be unfaced by what they see because they din’t know any better untill they start wondering why they feel ill all of a sudden,and then just keep...

The Maricopa restaurant is average at best.

I’ve been dining at the Chandler location for years and it never disappoints. The food is always fantastic!…- the presentation (whether dine-in or takeout, the food always looks great!); taste/flavor/consistency, all great!; the ambience of the restaurant is inviting.; the staff is fantastic. I was thrilled to learn there was going to be a Maricopa restaurant…. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t hit the mark. I visited yesterday afternoon, sat at the bar and ordered takeout, 2 entrees and 1 a-la carte burro. I enjoyed a tasty margarita while I waited. The food arrived plated rather than packaged for takeout. It was returned to the kitchen to be packed up. I was told chips and salsa were in the bag. I arrived home, unbagged everything, no chips and salsa :(. Not a huge deal but disappointing none the less. I ordered the regular Pollo Rico entree but received the lunch special , or is it the same size just on a special?, I don’t know, but the portion seemed much smaller than when I order it at the Chandler location. The El Jefe Chimi, my FAV!, was overfried, the tortilla was browned all over, it looked as if it sat and was reheated ; the onions were so overdone they were black, again as if they had been sautéed, then sat, then sautéed again; the chicken was dark, definitely overcooked, dried out; the guac was already browning in color. All-in-all , pretty disappointing experience. I really hope the Maricopa location can make some much needed improvements with their quality of food. In the meantime, the Chandler location continues to be my first choice, well...