El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Williamstown

Date of visit: Dec 28, 2023 early afternoon. We were in town visiting the Ark Encounter and didn't want to wait the 1 hour to eat at their buffet. We decided to try out El Jalisco. Thank heavens we made that decision. We entered the restaurant and we're immediately seated. Some chips, salsa and a white dipping sauce were brought out. The star in this trio was the white sauce. I have no idea what it was made out of and the combo of flavors had me baffled because of how each flavor hits your taste buds. Once you get started dipping your chips, you can't stop. They seriously need to bottle this stuff and sell it all over the United States in stores. It would be a fabulous sauce over many things. I would put it's flavor in the top 4 sauces I have ever tried in my 52 years of life. Yes! It is that good. Even the wife who rarely likes anything outside of her choosy pool of foods, liked it quite a bit. The interior decor and furnishings of the restaurant, in my opinion, are absolutely stunning in its artistry. The entire restaurant has unique scenes of life in Mexico portrayed in vivid colors, and expression. The chairs, and benches do as well. None of these repeat and are all unique. The tile panels and pictures as well. I wish I had a few hours to go through the restaurant before it opened and take pictures of all of them. They are truly that beautiful and unique. The staff and servers were very nice and helpful. I ordered their non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri. It had some whipped cream and a cherry on top. Superb flavor, consistency. I rarely order more than one of something like these drinks, if I even have one at all. I finished it super quickly and ordered another.

While walking in going to our table, I looked to see what others already there are eating. While passing each table I immediately noticed one consistent pattern, each of the entrees had huge, and I mean absolutely huge portions of food on each plate. They all looked fantastic. I truly didn't realize how much I under estimated the portion size. One particular entree caught my attention on the way in. The server said it was called Parrillada. I ordered the single portion size. Let me stop here and clarify something. I am a big guy, 6'5 and can knock down a plate of food at 99% of restaurants like it's a tiny appetizer. I often order a couple entrees due to smaller portion sizes. They brought out the Parrillada and I then truly realized just how much was on the sizzling cast iron plate. I had 3 very large tortillas with meat and toppings and I had to call it quits. Now granted I had already had chips, the strawberry daiquiris, but I couldn't eat any more. I looked down at the plate and I hadn't even put a dent in the plate of meat and veggies. Not only did it look great, but it also tasted fantastic.

I boxed up our leftovers and brought them back to our hotel.

I truly wish I could transport this restaurant to our city or any major city. They were super busy already, but in a major city, I guarantee you this restaurant wood have a major wait time. Eventually you would need to reserve days ahead of time.

Do yourself one of the best things you can do for yourself if you are visiting this area, and get your butt to El Jalisco and have a meal here.

Thank you for a fantastic meal, great service, and some of the most unique and beautiful down to earth daily life art work I've viewed...

El Jalisco is a delightful Mexican restaurant that truly captures the essence of Mexico’s vibrant culinary culture. I was greeted by vibrant, colorful art from the moment I stepped inside! Savory smells, and a warm, inviting atmosphere sets the stage for an exceptional dining experience right after we visited the ARK Encounter!

The menu at El Jalisco is a testament to the rich flavors and traditions of Mexican cuisine. Each dish is crafted with fresh ingredients and a passion for authenticity. Whether you’re indulging in their hearty burritos, savoring the perfectly seasoned tacos, or enjoying the variety of traditional Mexican plates, the food is consistently delicious and satisfying.

One of the standout features of El Jalisco is the generous portion sizes. You can expect to leave feeling full and content, with possibly some tasty leftovers for later. The service complements the food wonderfully, with staff who are quick, attentive, and always ready to ensure your meal is enjoyable.

Moreover, the value for money at El Jalisco is exceptional. The prices are very fair, making it a great spot for both casual lunches and special dinners. It’s no wonder that guests often describe their experience at El Jalisco as excellent, with many eager to return.

In summary, El Jalisco is not just a restaurant; it’s a destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the delicious flavors of Mexican cuisine. With its delightful food, excellent service, and great value, El Jalisco is a gem in Kentucky's...

This restaurant was great FUN to visit!!

Located near the Ark Encounter, we stopped in after leaving the Ark.

First, the one who greeted us was just loads of fun and joking around. He loved to make us laugh!

Second we noticed that the artwork and decor is just unique and intriguing. No 2 paintings, chairs or tables alike. Full of color!

They offered indoor or outdoor seating, catered to our every preference on the menu, and the waiter caught a mistake in my order while he was serving it and immediately told me he'll be right back, and he was! With the proper correction to my order.

All the employees here seemed to be spontaneously fun and witty. 😉

Lots of food... we all ate too much and took home leftovers.

7 adults ate for just under $100. But if we wanted to, we probably could have brought that down by being a little more attentive to what we were ordering.

We will definitely make this a tradition to eat here whenever we visit the Ark!

CAUTION: on a hot, humid day, the floor tends to get quite slippery. I felt like I was walking on ice. They said they replaced the floor a couple years ago to fix that problem, but it didn't work. It still gets slippery, as though condensation were coming up from under the floor. But this would not detain me from visiting again! 😊

We LOVED...