Eva's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Marion

I only go to Eva’s every now and then because it’s so far from my house and there are a hundred Mexican restaurants from here to there, but going back today reminded me how amazing the food was. Really, driving the distance is more than worth it. Yesterday, I happened to be on the right side of town and went back to Eva’s.

It’s a small building but that’s one of the things I like the most about it. It’s comfortable and friendly. The server’s name was Marili and she was great. She anticipated when I needed anything and never made me feel like I was asking too much. There was a high school(?) aged kid that was very attentive and courteous and helped the servers fill drinks, take plates, and check up on tables. I ended up tipping him as well because he definitely deserved it. The owner was a consistent presence, also making sure everyone was happy and everything was in order. This is a small, family owned business and it definitely feels like it by the way they treat and know their customers. If that wasn’t enough of a reason to support this place, the food was probably the best Mexican food I’ve had.

As soon as I sat down, I ordered a cherry coke and a small queso to go with the chips. The chips were thick (but not overly so) and had a really good crunch to them, and the queso was definitely worth the buy. Their menu is very extensive and there are so many different dishes that I haven’t seen at other restaurants. I don’t usually get appetizers at Mexican restaurants for some reason, but I wanted to try something new.

To start, I ordered the Mini Chimis (Two fried chimis stuffed with chicken, beans, and cheese and served with a homemade dressing.) The dressing was something like a coleslaw, sweet and tangy, and I could have probably drank the stuff it was so good. The chimis were cut in half and served over a shredded lettuce bed and were cooked perfectly. had to move the plate to the back of the table so I would not just eat all of it right then and there and not be able to eat any of the chicken fajitas I had ordered for an entree.

The chicken fajitas came out sizzling and had more and better flavor than other fajitas I’ve had. The tortillas were so fluffy and tasty as well I actually ordered another side of them to go! The fajitas are served with the usual rice, beans, and lettuce mix and topped with a fresh homemade guacamole. When the owner stopped by, I asked him if they made the guacamole in house and he said that yes, they actually made everything fresh there. You can definitely taste the quality and care put into everything.

At the end, the total was $42.80, and I will still probably get 4-5 more meals out of the leftovers because of the generous amount they serve. This is the kind of place that once you go once, you’ll probably have a hard time staying away from so keep that in mind before you make that decision. I couldn’t think of one bad thing to say even if I...

Eva's Mexican Restaurant

835 Seventh Ave Marion, IA 52302 United States

•Restaurant Layout/Vibe Rating - 5 Stars•

Many times people judge a book by its cover. Heck, I know I have many a time. Evas may not look the most pleasant on the outside, but most gems I find don't. Once you enter the location, you find it has ample seating with a lighter solid wood table to dine upon. It has a nice sized bar and the drink, well, ill talk about them below.

•Customer Service Rating - 5 Stars•

We have been to this location, I think 5 times now. I try to make it a point to visit most locations multiple times before reviewing for many reasons, but I think that's just fair. Evas has blown me away every time. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to live in Mexica for a while. About 2.5 days journey in from the Texas Border. I love Evas because it does offer little gems that are so close to the village life I experienced. It's always amazing. The owners are fantastic. Thanks to our SUPER AWESOME waiter this time, Maria. Always had a smile on her face; she was so patient with our children and just a joy.

•Food Rating - 5 Stars•

For me, it's always been fresh and exemplary. The kid's chicken meal (shown in pictures) is large enough for me to have at least 2 meals, maybe 3! During this last visit, I just had I decided to get the whole fried Tilapia. I was so excited to take my first bite and see it was lightly seasoned to perfection! (Those who know, know). I put some lemon, lime, and salsa on it and dug in. DELICIOUS! I'm pretty sure my own would never turn out this way. I also like to ask for the spicier, darker sauce they have in the back. For our children, we like to mix that with the regular salsa in with it, and man is it good!

Drinks - 5 Stars

If your gonna get a Marg on the rocks, hold onto your seat! (My wife is chilling in bed after slamming hers ;P). They are amazing and potent.

•To sum this all up•

I have eaten at most Mexican locations in CR and Marion. Evas has made me so very happy they opened and, as of now, is my go-to location for an experience that, may I say, at times, can bring a tear to my eye.

Barria is so awesome, and they offer the stew-like version that I had grown so fond of. Grab that, sprinkle some Lemon and the other sides they give in, take that tortilla, and let the good times roll.

Delivery - If you want your food delivered, they also offer door dash, but you have to forgo the Margarita in that case 🙂! Better to stop in!

Thanks, Evas! #mexicanfood #birriatacos #birria #tilapia...

Very disappointed. My in-laws have talked about this place many times. We thought we would try on a Monday afternoon with our kids as were were off on a vacation day. We walked in and was seated. Our waitress came back and took our drink order and brought chips and salsa. She claimed to be right back. After waiting 10 minutes a table came in and was seated. They were promptly served drinks chips and order placed. We still have not placed our order as we patiently waited. The waitress walked by us 3 times but still failed to come back to place our order. We finally left after waiting over 20 minutes. I even waited at the register to let them know we were leaving. Waitress walked passed me twice and another waiter walked by me once. After 3 minutes he comes from the back to a shocking look of surprise. I explained exactly the above comment. He then stated that the food was coming out. I said we never even placedd our order but a table that was seated 10 minutes after us was.

I understand being busy, but no acknowledgements were made to us. We will not be going back. I am sure my in-laws will not be back either even though they have had many great experiences and...