El Rodeo Restaurant — Restaurant in Moses Lake

I have been coming to this place for YEARS! I grew up in Moses lake. There’s 2 places I look forward to eating when I come to town. This place and Chicos pizza. I will NEVER come to this place again. I understand the place was packed and it could be overwhelming. We waited patiently and got our seat. The waiter came after a few minutes which is absolutely understandable considering it wa balls to the wall busy. He was rude to start. Not what would you like to drink are you guys ready to order… nothing. What do you want to eat he says… we order chicken fajitas. As he’s grabbing the menus… oh do you want something to drink. Yup a beer…. Literally 45 seconds later we got our beans and rice I was surprised with how busy they were…. Another 49 seconds or so goes by and we got our chicken skillets. I was very surprised. My wife kinda smug looks at me and says I’m not eating this. The vegetables aren’t done and the chickens way too done… I’m not as picky so I make my food beans good… rice good… vegetables absolutely crunchy like I just ate them off the produce floor! My wife grabs not our waiter because he’s busy and explains hey our food is not to par with what we know we have gotten before in the past. And the waiter asks us rudely what do you want me to do about it… he says we won’t spit in it would you like us to make you more? My wife says no I’m good he then looks at me and asks what would you like sir? I said don’t worry about it we’re going to leave because of the way he had talked to my wife. On the way out the door the same guy that’s the host put his hand on my back and basically herds me out of the door like I’m a cow I f some sort after I’m trying to explain my displeasure to a long time friend from high school. I now have 1 place I will visit in Moses lake when I come back. And I sure hope I don’t get treated...

Generous Portions, Bold Flavors — A Solid Spot with Room to Improve

We recently visited El Rodeo for a Sunday dinner, and while there were some ups and downs, the food definitely delivered on flavor and portion size. The shrimp fajitas were the standout dish of the evening — well-seasoned, sizzling hot, and served in a hearty portion that could easily feed two. The shrimp was slightly overcooked, but still enjoyable, and the flavors of the sautéed veggies and spices came through nicely. That said, there was a bit too much oil in the skillet for my preference. I had a half-shrimp, half-beef fajita, and while the shrimp side was decent, the beef strips were overly seasoned for their size and tougher than expected, making that half less enjoyable.

On the bright side, the meat in Carne Asada was excellent. I am unsure about the ingredient quality, but the way the meat was cooked and seasoned left a lasting impression. The spice blend and char on the carne asada made it one of the most flavorful bites of the night.

One thing worth noting is the generous portion sizes. We definitely could’ve shared a single entrée between two people—something we’ll plan for next time.

As for the service, while the staff was generally courteous, we did feel a bit rushed while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive. There were also a few service hiccups, like needing to ask multiple times for napkins and utensils arriving only after our food was served. That said, it was a busy Sunday evening, and I understand things can get hectic during peak hours.

Overall, El Rodeo is a great place for bold, flavorful food in generous portions, with a few areas for improvement in service pacing and consistency. I’d return again—especially for the shrimp fajitas and hoped carne asada served on a hot skillet...

Came to a local restaurant to try our luck as a big group , We recently visited this restaurant with a party of 15, and our experience was mostly amazing. When we walked in, a blonde-haired lady greeted us with a loud 'hellooo.' We were initially seated in the back, which wasn't ideal, but things took a turn for the better when Manuel, a wonderful server, stepped in and rearranged our seating to accommodate our entire party.

The service was top-notch, especially from Melinda, who had a beautiful smile and exceptional customer service skills. She kept our drinks full, brought out chips and salsa, and even took the time to have small conversations with us. Manuel was also very attentive, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

The food was delicious, with some highlights being the Horchata and the fajitas (though the veggies were slightly overcooked). My husband food presentation of his Molcajete didn’t look to appealing but overall, the flavors were great. The portions were generous, and the prices were reasonable.

One thing that stood out was the restaurant's regulars – it felt like a place with a lot of heart. Although the decor could use a bit of a touch-up (the rug was a bit dingy), the atmosphere was welcoming.

As we were leaving, a young man explained why we couldn't sit in the front dining area on weekends, which made sense. Melinda also made a point to say goodbye to our little one, which was a nice touch. The icing on the cake was when Manuel brought out sopapillas before we left.

Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant. Despite some minor issues, the service and food were amazing, and we'd...