El Gran Charro — Restaurant in Virginia

So let’s address the elephant in the room at this establishment. I went in to place a to-go order for my family as a treat. The server took my order. He was very shy but sweet. He read me back my order then stated that it would come with a small chips and salsa. I asked if it was only one for all three orders I placed. He said yes. I was shocked but then asked to add on two additional large orders so everyone could have their own. He told me it’ll take about 15 mins so I sat down and waited. Two orders came out and then my order was ready. He came up and gave me my bags. I inspected the bags and asked where the salsa was for the two large orders I placed. He stated that I did have a salsa that was “given” to me “free”. I corrected him and said, you gave ma a small chips and salsa but I ordered two large ones so where was the salsa to go with it. I asked to please have some salsa to go with the chips. He did oblige and got me one large salsa, to which I inquired why one if I had two large orders of chips? He reluctantly went in the back and took his sweet old time as he consulted with everyone I suppose in the back. While I waited the other guy at the front must have heard about my inquiry and then decided to intervene. He then began to tell me that the salsa for the chips I got has to be paid for at a price of $4 or $4.50 he said. I was shocked. I told him under no circumstances was I paying additionally for “salsa” that comes with the meal when I sit down in their establishment I get served CHIPS AND SALSA. So another nosy server decided she’d jump in to save the day and tell me how it works at their restaurant. So now there are three servers defending the “salsa” pot because it’s a paid item that needs to be protected. I guess things are real tight at this restaurant that “salsa” is NO longer an item that goes with chips UNLESS you fork over $5. more dollars. I politely asked to speak to the manager. I’m not sure if this lady was a manger or their buddy but she came over, not a smile on that face, only attitude. As she started and wouldn’t let me get a word in edge-wise, I asked her what was the purpose was for charging for an item that I literally get while I sit down vs to-go. She said and I quote, “What would happen if we stared GIVING away salsa for FREE then everyone would want to just order chips and salsa”! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I was a trying to think before I responded if she was really serious. Unfortunately, she was actually serous and believed that garbage. So that she’s informed IF she reads this review. Ma’am, when you make an order for a PAID meal, it comes with the chips AND salsa! No one in their right mind would walk up to a Spanish restaurant and expect w/o ordering a meal to get chips and salsa. That’s pretty ludicrous that you think that way!! 🤣🥴. So, with all that said and done, I’d caution anyone who’s willing to fork over monies for the “chips and salsa” vs a Walmart run that’ll be cheaper, expect to pay $9.00 for chips, which is what I ordered AND an additional $4.00 / $4.50 for EACH order of salsa, about $20.00. I opted to have her refund the chips since I didn’t want to choke on just naked chips. It’s unimaginable that in an industry that is customer oriented this establishment has NO clue how to address it’s customers. Word to the wise at EL GRAN CHARRO’s, no customers=no money=no employees=no business.

Hope this helps anyone else making an informed decision about places in Stafford VA that nickel and dime you over “salsa”. I will rate this experience a 1 as the customer service is shoddy and unwelcoming. It didn’t require 4 people to address 1 customer about “salsa”. “Salsagedeon” is my least favorite thing about this place.

On another note, the people who packed my to-go order must be very careless as it spilled everywhere in the bag. I will not return as this experience made the decision VERY easy for me.

Adios EL Gran...

El Gran Charro: Where Flavor Explodes and the Salsa is Holy Water

If you have not eaten at El Gran Charro in Stafford, VA, what are you even doing with your life? Go ahead—text your boss, cancel your plans, fake a flat tire—just get here before someone eats all the chips and salsa.

Atmosphere: I walked in and immediately felt like I’d been adopted by a new Mexican family—one with a full mariachi band playing in their souls at all times. The colors, the laughter, the sound of sizzling fajitas zooming past your face—it’s not a restaurant, it’s a festival where every table is VIP.

The Chips & Salsa: Don’t even get me started. They hit the table before you even blink, still warm, so fresh you can practically hear them say “te quiero.” The salsa is so addictive, it should come with a warning label. I’m convinced there are ancient Aztec gods in the kitchen, blessing every bowl.

The Food: I ordered the fajitas and—honest to guacamole—my plate came out hotter than the surface of the sun, loaded with so much steak, shrimp, and peppers, NASA had to issue a “flavor advisory.” The cheese? Melty. The beans? Creamy. The rice? It deserves its own national anthem. And the quesadilla? A tortilla-wrapped miracle.

Margaritas: Let’s talk about the margaritas. These things are so good, I considered writing them into my will. They are icy, tangy, and as big as your hopes and dreams. One sip and you’ll start speaking fluent Spanish. Dos sips and you’ll believe you invented salsa dancing.

Staff: Friendly? They treat you like you just made the winning goal in the World Cup. My server had the timing of a ninja and the smile of a telenovela star. She anticipated our every need—extra guac, more chips, a fourth margarita (don’t judge me).

Conclusion: If you leave El Gran Charro hungry, that’s on you, compadre. This place is a flavor rodeo, a party you’ll never forget, a restaurant so good you’ll want to write it poetry. I left with a full stomach, a happy heart, and a deep, spiritual bond with their queso dip.

Come for the food, stay for the fiesta, leave with a new lease on life. 10/10. Viva El...

’ve been living in Stafford for 20 years and I’ve gone to El Gran Charros so many times. I have never been treated so poorly as we were this afternoon. Since the pandemic we have gone there weekly for a carry out dinner. Today was a nice day and we decided to go to dine in for lunch. First thing I noticed with plenty of seating they sat us right next to the bathroom. When I asked for a different seat she said she couldn’t because of social distancing even though there were open tables available& ones marked closed for social distancing. The food was mediocre as usual but the price was significantly higher than our carry out orders had been, even though we always order the same meals. First time for a kids meal though, blew my mind it was a very small bland cheese quesadilla with a small rice, $6.25. Yet a beef empanada that’s the same size only will cost $3. Including the extremely high kids meal our bill with two soft drinks should’ve come to $37. But instead our bill was $50. When I inquired about it, The waitress said they got a new menu when I spoke to the manager he gave me the same lame excuse the menu is exactly the same the problem is they upscaled us $13 for sour cream and cheese dip which came with the meals. They charged us for cheese dip, $2 each, & sour cream $1 each, 3 times, which came with the taco salad and with the empanadas it says it right on the menu. She brought the empanada out before the cheese dip so when I asked her for the cheese dip she went ahead and charged us another $4 for queso. When I explained it to the manager that I come there all the time and this isn’t the right amount & not right to do to a customer, he simply didn’t care if he lost me as a customer. Once we left my son who was in the bathroom said there were roaches in the men’s. I will never be back and I wanna encourage you all to take your families to a welcoming, clean restaurant that you won’t be taken...