El Tapatio — Restaurant in Stroud

Whether you are headed east or west on the Turner turnpike, here is the Mexican food break you need to take. It is located on the north side of the pike, approximately mid-way at the Stroud exit, in what used to be the Ranch House Restaurant, part of the Cattle Country Lodge. It is easy to access from the turnpike. The interior is large and pleasantly decorated to match the theme “ranch house” and “cattle country.” El Tapatio adds a Mexican spin to the furnishings with the typical carved back chairs. Each chair back painted with bright colorful Mexican scenes and the restaurant’s name, so you will remember where you were in that drunken birthday picture posted on Facebook. And there are a few sombreros hanging on the wall here and there. Overall, a very nice large clean restaurant. El Tapatio is in no way like the small town dumpy Mexican restaurants, that I frequent. The food is excellent, as is the friendly attentive service. Big Menu! Great chips and salsas start the meal. For me the Fajita Jalisco: beef steak strips, chicken and shrimp cooked with onions bell peppers and tomatoes served with Pico de Gallo, guacamole beans and rice. Delicious and fresh with a perfect side of creamy smooth refried beans. My wife had the Burrito Ranchero. A large pork filled flour tortilla, covered in red, green, and queso sauces. Rice and beans on the side. The pork in the burrito was wonderful tender shredded pork. Some of the pieces of pork had a delicious crisp finish; think carnitas. Both meals flavorfully seasoned. Nothing bland. Both of these meals are highly recommended. This was a big surprise for me to find such a quality Mexican restaurant in small town Oklahoma.

If you are looking for other Mexican restaurants in the area, check out my reviews in my collection "Jalapeno Highway" by Spike S. on Yelp. I've...

Have to tell you.... the first time I was somewhat impressed....I ordered the mixed fajitas but the shrimp wasn't all deveined and the beef was chewy...but the staff seemed friendly.... second time I visited I ordered chicken fajitas only. They were excellent but the staff was downright RUDE and although I had ordered eat in ahead of time, and told the waitress I was eating in when I sat at the table a few minutes later, they made my order to go and basically acted like they suddenly didn't understand English and I wasn't good enough to eat in their restaurant... definitely will not return here....Going to try the other Mexican restaurant in town next time and will...

I grabbed carryout on a night I arrived a bit late to my hotel. Thankfully this was close by and still open. Place has nice decor and details inside. They were very busy. I went to the counter to order, staff member was a little curt, not smiling. I don't know ,everyone has a bad day sometimes but maybe this guy shouldn't be interacting with the public. He is doing the restaurant no favors. Despite that the food was good, prices on par with most. Portions very good. I didn't have to wait very long for my order even though they were busy. Looks like a good place for a large group. They have a whole second floor. I...