El Puente Mexican Restaurant and Cantina — Restaurant in Ozark

A Gastronomic Gem in Ozark: El Puente Mexican Food

Nestled in the heart of Ozark, Missouri, lies a culinary treasure that beckons with the vibrant aromas of authentic Mexican cuisine. Los Puentes Mexican Food is not just a restaurant; it’s a portal to the soul of Mexico, where every dish tells a story of tradition and flavor.

As you step into El Puente, the warm, inviting atmosphere wraps around you like a comfortable serape. The walls, adorned with colorful murals, transport you to a festive street in Guadalajara, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

Kimberly’s favorite, the Cheese Enchiladas, arrives at the table smothered in a rich, velvety red sauce that promises to be as comforting as it is delicious. The refried beans, a humble side, are transformed here into a flavorful masterpiece, their creamy texture and depth of flavor elevating the humble legume to new heights.

For those who dare to venture beyond the classics, the Chile Rellenos and Tamales stand as testaments to El Puentes’ culinary prowess. The rellenos, with their perfect balance of heat and cheese, are a dance of flavors in your mouth, while the tamales, steamed to perfection, reveal a heart of tender, seasoned meat that is both hearty and heartwarming.

But the pièce de résistance, the secret that only the locals whisper about, is the extra hot salsa. A fiery concoction that ignites the senses and sends a delightful shiver down your spine, this salsa is not for the faint of heart. It’s the kind of heat that doesn’t just kick—it catapults your meal into the stratosphere of spice.

In a world where authenticity is often sacrificed at the altar of convenience, El Puente stands firm, a bastion of true Mexican flavors. It’s a place where every bite is a journey, every meal a celebration, and every visit a cherished memory in the making.

So, if you find yourself in Ozark, do yourself a favor: stop by El Puente Mexican Food. It’s not just a meal; it’s an adventure that your taste buds will thank you for....

Finally! We are delighted to see this location finally open in Ozark. This is the third restaurant of the same name in the 417 area, with sister locations in Nixa and Springfield, with the Nixa location amassing a long-time loyal following.

We were greeted and served by a pleasant and attentive gentleman named Rueben. We sat in the cozy bar section, where the seating is unassigned, and you can sit where you please. For those who remember the bar from Buckingham's, they did an excellent job of preserving it while adding their unique theme to this section of the restaurant.

For starters, they served us complimentary chips and cantina-style salsa. The Chips were crispy, not soggy, and the salsa was freshly made with a good balance of heat. The 16oz frozen strawberry margarita was exceptional value at $6.50, and it was perfectly blended with a generous but not overpowering amount of tequila.

We ordered a couple of crunchy taco shells with a combination of beef and shredded chicken, which came with rice and beans. The tacos had a nice crunch, and the shredded chicken was cooked to perfection, with a nice balance of cheese and lettuce. The beef version was equally as good. We also ordered a taco salad bowl with shredded chicken, fresh pico, lettuce, guacamole, and cheese. All the food was well balanced, with generous portions that went down easy. The rice was light and fluffy, and the main dishes were not oversaturated or soggy from drowning in oils or sauces.

What makes this location stand out? I always appreciated this venue when it was a Buckingham's. Thankfully, it is now occupied by an established local Mexican chain that offers friendly, attentive service at a fair price in a clean and pleasant atmosphere.

In case you are wondering. The restaurant's opening was delayed because they could not find enough quality workers. Most of their staff rotate between the other locations, so you may see some...

Long story short: Super fast! great food, especially fajitas! and pretty good customer service! highly recommend

The nitty gritty: me and my family got there around 11:45, we got seated inside around 11:50, we were immediately given salsa and chips, and asked what to drink, we said what we wanted and we took a while to decide what we wanted like 15 minutes worth of deciding. but as soon as we did decide at 12:05 or so, our food came out not even 5 minutes later!! so i'm super impressed with how fast it was!

now, the food. it was really good! i personally got a chimichanga with beans, rice, and a taco, nothing too fancy. but overall? pretty damn good! on par with higher priced Mexican restaurants so nothing too special, but still really good! rice needed a hair bit more seasoning, but nothing a little salt cant fix after. my sister had the fajitas, which she offered for me to try some, and it was some of the best fajita's i have ever had!! seriously it was really good! meat and vegetable's were nice and soft but still had a nice crunch, meat wasn't over cooked and perfectly seasoned, only thing to complain about is the corn tortillas were already falling apart when you unwrapped them from the tin foil, but corn tortillas fall apart pretty easy anyways, so i'm not docking them for it. and you get a pretty decent amount for 11.99 too!! overall i think the fajitas were better than what i got XD my mom got the "speedy Gonzales" which i didn't have a chance to try hers before she finished it, so i assume that was pretty good too!! the waitress was super nice, albeit not outstanding service, but not bad by any means! overall? HIGHLY recommend and will be...