El Zocalo — Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre

El Zocalo is an unassuming downtown restaurant conveniently located on public square. Don't let its lack of the typically overwrought "Mexican" trappings fool you--the food is fantastic and thankfully more Mexican than the often heavily watered down Tex-Mex that passes for "Mexican food" the further you get from larger urban centers with viable Mexican-American communities. The tacos are real tacos. None of that Taco Bell nonsense. Fresh cilantro, white onion, lime wedge, and hot salsa can compliment your lightly and perfectly toasted tortillas when opting for something like the al pastor, lengua, tripas or carnitas. The price point is perfect as well. The menu features a 3-for-$8.50 taco deal or you can mix and match a la carte. The only downside might be the effect their takeout volume has on the dine-in experience, as the sole employee handles both the takeout/delivery and sit-down services. Nonetheless: convenient, authentic, and...

Always amazing, beginning to end. Great food, and authentic Mexican. Friendly, attentive service. A clean restaurant with a cheerful, casual atmosphere - I love the murals. They're easily able to get customers in, fed, and back to work before lunch break is over, if that's the objective... But they also let diners with more time linger without pressure. This is probably my favorite place to meet a visiting friend for a casual weekday lunch, and not only because they've easily handled my food allergy every time without a problem. It's BYOB for alcoholic drinks, which I've never done there, and they apparently have a great breakfast I haven't tried yet as well. Oh - and they deliver, via a third-party service.

Give them a try; you'll be...

The worst Mexican food experience in my lif.. I know Mexican food and that was the most horrible ever We ordered seafood and shrimp soup.... What we got was water with and orange color. No taste at all whatsoever. I see these high reviews for this place. I guess their clientele are not Spanish or Mexican. We complained and as other restaurants would do, they said we still had to pay for i.. With just a 3% discoun.. WHAT AN OUTRAGE... THE NASTIEST SUPPOSED MEXICAN...