El Asadero Mexican Bar & Grill - Union — Restaurant in Union

I know this will sound so cliche', but it needs to be said in this case. If I could give this zero stars, I absolutely would. Our daughter and SIL came over yesterday to watch the Bengals game, and we decided just after halftime to place a food order, and have DoorDash deliver it. Order placed at 2:39 with an estimated arrival between 35-50 minutes later. Order was confirmed right away, and the first DoorDash driver showed up to wait for the food to be ready.

First red flag was when the first driver bailed, I'm assuming because it was taking so long to get the food. Second driver showed up, and waited another long time before being able to get the food from the restaurant. Finally the driver was on their way, and since they had to wait, you'd think the food would have been freshly made and at least warm on arrival (we live less than 5 miles away).

Driver drove straight to our house, and from what we could tell following along with the tracking through the app, didn't even have to stop at either light on the way. Sit down to eat, and start distributing each person's meal to them, and right away start seeing problems.

My wife ordered Texas fajitas, and chose corn tortillas. There were no tortillas provided at all, corn or flour. The chicken was all dried out and way overseasoned (straight to the garbage). Luckily we had some tortillas at home, although they were flour.

Our daughter had Birria Quesadillas. The meal was supposed to come with a cup of consomme, plus beans and rice. It came with none of that. Within an hour of eating, she started to feel nauseous. Today, let's just say she is spending some quality time in the restroom (think Taco Bell, LOL).

SIL ordered a Grilled Burrito, and chose shrimp for the protein. Asked to have pico and guac on the side. Did not get those at all.

I had the Asada Nachos, and asked to have them deluxe which is supposed to add lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Guess what? I also got none of those, but was definitely charged extra. The nacho chips were flavorless, and inferior to any brand you could pick up at your local grocery store. Only thing positive I could say about mine, was that it had a decent amount of steak, although it was also on the dry side and overseasoned.

There was consistency however across the board though. Every single meal was wrong in some way, and all were stone cold. How was it so cold when the driver literally had to wait to be given the food? It had to have been sitting somewhere for a while before being handed over. And it wasn't like three of them got cold waiting on the last meal to be ready. All four were equally cold.

I don't think this was a DoorDash problem, this was a El Asadero issue plain and simple. The first driver bailed after like 20 minutes of waiting, so clearly he had probably seen enough to know he should cut his losses and move on to another order. See the attached copy of the order. It was ordered properly, they just didn't fill the order properly. Order was received 70 minutes after having been placed.

I wished I'd seen the review that was left yesterday afternoon, probably not long before we ordered. They were at the restaurant, and bailed due to not getting their food after a lengthy wait.

This establishment has replied to a few 5-star reviews, but I don't see a single reply to any of lower rated reviews, which there are many. Must be they just DGAF....

We were excited to try this new restaurant and happened to stop in around 1pm on a Taco Tuesday. We thought the place would be packed but it wasn’t. The inside and outside are very big and inviting and the menu had a TON of delicious looking food to choose from. Whenever we eat at a new restaurant, we always start with our favorite dishes for that restaurant’s cuisine. If it’s a sandwich shop, I’ll always start with an Italian sub. For Mexican cuisine, it’s birria tacos for me and huevo rancheros for my wife. We were happy to see both on El Asadeto’s menu so we ordered them.

The customary chips and salsa showed up and after biting into the first chip, my excitement level dropped two notches - the chips tasted like they were poured from a bag and not freshly fried and salted to order. I ate two chips and left the rest. The salsa was ok and looked like it was scratch made. Bummer.

Our dishes arrived and looked decent but one of my pet peeves is the way some restaurants serve birria tacos (or quesadillas as El Asadero calls them) - lying flat on their side where the backside gets so soggy that they’re hard to pick up. The birria meat was tender but lacked any real flavor punch. The cheese seemed a bit heavy handed and made it hard for the meat to be front and center. The consume and sauces were good but not a substitute for the lack of stewed flavor in the meat itself. The beans and rice were good but overall, this dish fell short of my hopes and expectations.

The huevos rancheros looked good but it too was a bit of a mixed bag. First up, corn tortillas would have been a better choice as a foundation and the eggs were cooked hard and lacked a runny yoke. The green and red sauces were much too hot for my wife’s taste and she doesn’t normally shy away from heat. They simply overpowered the dish. The skirt steak was cooked nicely but lacked seasoning and the black beans were just black beans with little to no flavor. The beans that came with my birria dish would have been a better choice here.

Not a great first impression and one that gives us pause but I think we’ll give them a second chance since there are so many unique dishes to...

Review for El Asadero – Union, KY

Union just got a new gem – El Asadero, and let me tell you, this place is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you walk in, the upscale atmosphere sets the tone. The interior is stylish, modern, and inviting, giving you the feel of a high-end dining experience without the high-end price tag.

What really stands out is how affordable everything is for the quality you get. The food is fresh, authentic, and beautifully presented, making it perfect for both a casual family dinner or a night out with friends. The menu offers a wide variety, and each dish feels crafted with care.

The atmosphere is electric yet comfortable—the music is lively, creating the perfect backdrop to enjoy your meal without ever feeling overwhelming. Families will love how welcoming it is, but it still has that touch of elegance that makes you want to linger a little longer.

And then there’s the highlight everyone talks about: the Terminator. Yes, every day this larger-than-life character makes an appearance, adding a fun and unforgettable twist to the dining experience. It’s the kind of detail that makes you want to come back again just for the vibe.

In short: El Asadero is amazing. Upscale yet inexpensive, family-friendly but still stylish, with a unique atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re in Union—or even nearby—this is a spot you need...