02/03/08

An excellent dining experience

by pjkwik

I have been going to El Zocalo for nearly 25 years! Yikes! In all that time, it has been an excellent dining experience. Whether I eat in or carry out, the food is excellent: the botanas, quesadillas, and the fajitas and exceptional. Everything on the menu is wonderful, however. And the food is always consistent. The salsa and chips are worth the drive.

There is never a line, never a crowd. Alway friendly service and usually good, too. Unusual for an eatery over decades. And, it is inexpensive. With no alcohol, $20 for two. Even with a couple of drinks $30. Cannot beat that.

I would highly recommend this as the best Mexican restaurant in Detroit; and one of the best overall restaurants.

• Pros: Excellent food, plentiful parking, no crowds
• Cons: No order ahead for carry out

08/29/07

not at all authentic

by yappie

The other two reviews are shocking to me...maybe they are outdated? We went the other night and couldn't believe how terrible all of the food was. Although the service was friendly and excellent, there was nothing exceptional about the food, and most of it was very bad. We started out with margaritas. When they first came out I was horrified by the color - neon green! And they tasted as though they had used gatorade as their lime juice base. Margaritas are made with tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice. The only thing I could taste was a tad bit of tequila and gatorade. They were really, really gross and we couldn't finish them. Then the complimentary chips and salsa came out. Although the chips were fine, the two kinds of salsa weren't. One was mild and tasted exactly like canned tomatoes - NO heat, NO cilantro, NO lime, etc. The spicy one was more edible, but that's only because the heat covered the lack of any other flavor. Moreover, the heat seemed to come from cayenne pepper, not fresh jalapenos. After that, we almost walked out but the service was so friendly we decided to stick it out. Unfortunately, our main courses weren't much better. I ordered cheese chimichangas to play it safe, but the tortillas were hard and chewy, and the cheese wasn't that great, either. Dining partner ordered a Mexican sandwich which was basically tortillas covered in beans, rice, and the old Midwestern giveaway - loads and loads of cheese. We couldn't finish our main courses. Where was the fresh lime juice, the jalapenos, and the cilantro that gives *real* Mexican food its authentic flavor? I am *never* going back.

• Pros: service, parking
• Cons: horrible, horrible, horrible food

The servers treat you like special guests and the margaritas are terrific.

by Contributor

In Short
El Zocalo's Tex-Mex menu will be familiar to anyone who's cruised Mexicantown looking for the perfect margaritas, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas, chilaquiles, tacos, quesadillas and burritos. The menu includes tasty chiles rellenos (mild chiles stuffed with cheese or meat), which not all menus do on the Bagley strip. The best dish at El Zocalo are the fajitas. The sopapillas drizzled with honey and cinnamon are a must.

10/22/03

Best Mexican Food in Detroit

by patricia_a_dancer

This place has the best Mexican food in S.E. Michigan, and we have been to them all. Their Enchilada's are better than any others on the strip in Mexican Town, much better than Mexican Village (accross the freeway on the other side of Bagley) or Mexican Fiesta (in Dearborn). What's with all the Mexican Restaurants using "yellow" cheese in their enghilada's? Best Margarita's by far, and Victor the owner is a sweetheart, his manager, Jackie, is the greatest, they seat you in your favorite spot and have your drinks and food ordered before you know it. Everyone is like a big family. Great place for a romantic dinner for two, great place to take family and friends and a wonderful banquet area is also available for large or holiday parties. I don't work for them!

• Pros: Inexpensive, parkg/seatg great, best food in MI
• Cons: sometimes a wait, freeway construction, It should be closer

03/28/03

Gold star for El Zocalo

by lcidonnie

I've been here a few of times, for both lunch and dinner. The food is amazing and very authentic, I haven't had margaritas that good in years, the chips and salsa were excellent and plentiful, and the prices are so reasonable. I can't eat all my food, so for $8, I can feed myself for two days. However, last time I was there, my waitress didn't speak English, which caused a few problems with the service. But the staff was quick to correct all arising issues. And with food and drinks that good, did it really matter?

• Pros: Don't all speak Engli, Margaritas, Inexpensive
• Cons: Don't all speak Engli