Taqueria El Mexicano — Restaurant in Waco

Today August, 2022 I should have stayed with my original review and not come back. To go, I ordered 2 fajita meals, small queso, guacamole live, and a small Pico da Gallo. I specifically said REFRIED BEANS NOT CHARRO.

1. This meal with no alcohol was $62 before tip. It would not have been that high had we eaten there.

2. They said 20 minutes. I actually didn't get there until 40 minutes. It wasn't ready and I waited 10-15 minutes and then was told they don't get that ready until after it was paid. Had I known, I would have paid over the phone.

3. It was delivered in a large brown paper bag with handles. I was very pleased. I put it on the floor behind the driver seat so it wouldn't move. When I got home, the bag broke because the lids to the CHARRO beans I did not order were completely cracked and had leaked everywhere. Only, I didn't know until I was walking to the house when the bottom broke out and almost everything landed on the floor.

I have included pictures on this one. I really am done this time.

4years ago..... This used to be our #1 place to go. Food was great and service was great. Since they added the new tables, the service has gone down considerably. I'm assuming that because they added more tables with the change out, they don't know how to handle the additional customers. We have come here a handleful of times since the new tables and have never had the service we had before. Sadly, today will be our last visit. We waited and waited.... finally the chips and salsa came, bhut we couldn't actually eat the salsa because it was too hot and without drinks was impossible to eat. So we ate the green sauce while we waited for them to take our drinks...... and then bring them to us. we went through 2 bowls of green sauce before they took our drink order. Then we had to wait to place the order until our drinks and 2 other tables received their drinks. It's been 45 minutes and we still ha r not received our food. the restaurant is only about 50% full. I'm not sure what happened, but this place went downhill overnight. ...

Terrible service the waitress had a attitude the minute she came to the table and was rushing us to order when we were finally ready to order she took are order like this “what do you want”

I ordered a veggie quesadilla like I have many times before and when I opened it to look inside and make sure they didn’t put mushrooms like I requested I was shocked to see that they had brought me a tortilla with cheese broccoli and carrots inside I was confused and upset that they would even serve that to someone never in my life have I ever seen a quesadilla that consisted of broccoli and carrots inside

When I asked the waitress why is there broccoli and carrots inside my quesadilla she said she didn’t know and looked like she didn’t care so I asked to speak to a manager

The manager rudely walked up to our table with a mad look on his face and said if I don’t want it it’s ok and kept trying to walk off from the table I stated I wanted a quesadilla but one cooked correctly cus I’ve never been served one from this restaurant that had broccoli and carrots he said he was the manager and he doesn’t know what goes in it and the cooks put whatever they want in it I stated when I’ve ordered it in the past it had onions and bell peppers and cheese but he didn’t seem to care or want to have it remade correctly He just said once again “if you don’t want it you don’t have to have it”

We decided to leave after they wouldn’t remake the quesadilla and as we were walking out 3 waitresses stood by the door mad and insisting we needed to pay for the food that we didn’t even touch when I said “why would I pay for food and we didn’t eat any of it” they continued to say that we needed to take it to go and pay for it

Extremely upset with this experience and for that man to be the manager he handled the situation poorly and should learn the menu and the waitress need to work on customer service skills and not be standing in the corner of the host stand talking

We ended up going to the other Mexican grill and ordered are food again so it would be...

“No Love on the Plate: A Disappointing Fajita Taco Salad at Taqueria #9”

Walking into Taqueria #9, I wanted to believe I was in for a satisfying, authentic meal. But from the moment the food hit the table, it was clear—this wasn’t a dish made with care.

The fajita taco salad was a letdown. The beef, billed as fajita meat, was burnt, dry, and tasted like it had been reheated in a microwave—far from fresh and even further from flavorful. The bottom of the taco shell was dark, hard, and stale, as though it had been sitting around far too long. And the vegetables? They felt like an afterthought—limp and lifeless, offering no vibrance or freshness to save the dish. There was no passion, no soul in that salad.

What little redemption I found came in the form of a watermelon margarita. For $8.99, it was flavorful, refreshing, and the one thing that hinted at potential. If they could put the same level of care into their food as they do their cocktails, this might be a different review.

Then there’s the service. Watching my server mop floors, eat behind the bar, and then deliver my food was unsettling. It’s not just a matter of professionalism—it’s basic food safety. A separation of duties is critical, and seeing that kind of multitasking left me uneasy.

The atmosphere mirrored the food—cluttered and chaotic. The 13-page menu felt excessive and overwhelming, raising a red flag that quality might be sacrificed for quantity. And sadly, that suspicion proved accurate.

I left Taqueria #9 feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed. There’s potential here, but until they learn to cook with a little love, focus their menu, and polish their service, I won’t be returning.

Final Verdict:...