El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Rowley

We visited the Topsfield food and craft fair today; and decided to head to Rowley to try out "El Tapatio" a local Mexican restaurant in Rowley for lunch.

The atmosphere was fantastic; everything I expect when going to a mexican table restaurant, from the mariachi music to themed decorations, prompt seating and friendly staff, all around excellent experience.

Wait staff was attentive, although they messed up one of my parties orders; bringing out fish tacos instead of pork enchiladas. When they realized the mistake the waiter must have come to the table 3 times to apologize for the wait and top off the salsa and chips as we waited, then had the correct order out within 5 minutes of realizing the mixup. Phenomenal.

The food, was fantastic. We couldn't stop talking about it. Fresh warm tortilla chips with salsa with fresh scallions, pork enchiladas and spinach enchiladas oozing with mexican farmers cheese with plenty of beans and rice with an excellent cole slaw of some sort on the side. But the crown winner of todays visit wasn't mexican food at all; but the side of french fries shared at the table.

I am going to start ordering sides of fries at mexican joints from now on; as their fries were the best either of us have ever tasted (and we're foodies/home cooks). Perfectly double fried, possibly coated in something to give them a crispy almost ... battered outer shell but mashed potato like interior; you have to try them for yourself to appreciate this gem on the side of route 1.

Looking forward to my next...

As someone who’s originally from California, I can confidently say that El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant brings a taste of home right here. The food is fresh, authentic, and full of flavor—just like the Mexican food I’m used to back West. Their salsa is absolutely delicious, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of heat and freshness. It’s a great start to the meal and really sets the tone.

The margarita selection is solid, and while you can tell they use sour mix, the drinks are still tasty and hit the spot. The food, however, is the real star. Everything I’ve tried so far has been on point, from the tacos to the burritos. The flavors are fresh and vibrant, making it clear they prioritize quality ingredients and authenticity.

The only downside is the service—it can be a bit slow at times, likely due to a shortage of staff. But honestly, the quality of the food and drinks more than makes up for it. Despite the wait, I’ll definitely be coming back for more delicious meals at El Tapatio. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food and great vibes, this place is...

Typical Mexican restaurant. Take all the menus from most or all of the Mexican restaurants in New England 90% of the dishes will be the same, the rest a few unique variations on a theme. The only way to distinguish one from the other is by quality of the food preparation. El Tapatio in Rowley sets a good table. Smaller appetizer list than others, but good. We had the standard Chile con Queso, Taquitos, and something different, Nachos Idaho, a nacho-like dish using potato skins. The Nachos Idaho is large enough for two people unless you’re a big eater. All very good. For mains we had Chicken Flautas, Chimichanga con Queso, and Enchiladas Tapatio. All very good and, unlike some other places, the 3 kinds of enchiladas had the different sauces on each that they should have (some places just pour one sauce over the differently filled enchiladas). Good beer list but, unfortunately, there was no draft available that night due to a ‘pump failure’. Usual margarita list. Booths and tables, Mexican music, no blaring TVs in sight, good service. Worth...