El Charro Mexican Dining
| Address: | 3339 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549, USA |
| Phone: | +1 925-283-2345 |
| Site: | elcharro1947.com |
| Rating: | 3.9 |
| Working: | 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 20
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Tom Miller
Not awesome, not innovative, but good. Ive been a customer for decades. Little hole-in-the-wall places open up that are run by mom and pop and are excellent, but they dont last. The Mexican food in this area doesnt wow me, but this place is my favorite. I like the pork flautas appetizer (plenty for a meal and, okay, awesome) and the tacos de asada. The chips, garlic cheese dip and hot salsa are excellent. The mild salsa is total gringo BS that has hardly been in the same zip code with a hot pepper, but people seem to eat it up. The drinks generally have a worthwhile amount of alcohol in them and the service is usually excellent. I rarely order drinks in restaurants, because I hate being ripped off, but Ive only been disappointed once at El Charro. As others have said, it can be very loud, though. In my opinion, definitely worth a look.
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Davis Photo
Has a nice patio. Ive come here all of my life. Patio has the best outdoor dining in Contra Costa County with very colorful umbrellas. Service is friendly. When I was a child, El Charro was a shack, and the wind would blow through it. It is of course a modern restaurant today. Prices are easy on your pocketbook. You can enjoy yourself for an afternoon for a modest price. Plenty of free parking and easy to get to off of highway 24. The authenticity of the food is fine. Nothing comes out of a can or a prepackaged bag. The cuisine is all high end in its preparation and service.
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Lindsay Tower
I went here once several years ago and didnt care for the food very much, but we decided to give it a second try today as we were driving by and it was delicious. The rice, beans, cheese enchiladas, chips, and salsa were all excellent. Ive always been disappointed with the Mexican food in this area but am happy to feel like we have found a place we will come back to over and over again. The service from our waiter was great. The only down side was that it took quite a while for the food to come out. The ambience was excellent as well. Cant wait to go back soon!
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A Private User
The first time we went there the albondiga soup was pretty good, but the rest of the items, especially the rice and beans, were sub-par.The next time, in a foursome, I tried the vegetable fajitas and they consisted of a pile of sauteed onions and a few slices of squash and nothing more, other than the rice and beans. No salad, no guacamole, and o homemade tortillas. I phoned back the next day to complain, but they never called me back. Service and atmosphere were ok but food was basic, at best.
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A Private User
I eat Mexican food all the time for decades and somehow I missed El Charro while living in Walnut Creek for the last few years; this is it folks; I had a great chicken chimichanga which was mouth watering good, but the chips and salsa and blue cheese/garlic dip are addictive. The only problem with good Mexican food is restraining yourself because it can be fattening. So if you can restrain yourself, this is an ideal spot. Generous prices and portions too.
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Mark T
I recently re-discovered this local restaurant after decades of driving to our families favorite Mexican restaurant in Alameda. I am thrilled to find a new go to place. The staff is great even under crowd pressure and the food has been consistently good all 3 times. I only wish they had my favorite style of Chili Rellenos that are flatter and silky smooth with a delicate spongy egg batter served wet. I can dream right?
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Ilja Prins
Went here for a friends party. I completely understand that we had a large party (19), but we had multiple items come out wrong. Their drinks are really expensive and they dont use the liquor specified on the menu. Food was mediocre at best. Best part about the meal was the chips and salsa with their cheese spread. I do not think I will be returning anytime in the near future.
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Brent Phillips
Decent food but theres many others with better, more authentic choices. I go for the outdoor seating and the drinks. Order the skinny margarita even if youre not concerned about the calories. Its a better drink with plenty of tequila. Kids menu is a good deal because it includes a drink and an ice cream Sunday, always a hit with the kids and keeps us coming back over and over.
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Brian Johnson
Yeah its a heat wave, but no excuse to serve dinner in a sauna with no AC! Party of 7 begged and pleaded to move outside (which was roughly 85 degrees and at least 90 inside) to the several open tables wouldnt do it, Manager could care less. Worst experience ever never sweated so much as we tried to enjoy an evening!
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Audrey Lee Ren-Willoughby
Lame, unsatisfying, Americanized Mexican food with the longest waiting times Ive ever come across (Seriously...painful. Unforgivable amounts of time passed waiting not only for our meals, but each thing...cutlery, then serviette, then water...when we arrived only minutes after our guests. Staff was friendly, though!
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ernesto torres
This is easly one of the worst Mexican dinner experience I have ever had. I was born in Mexico and grew up in L. A. So I have had my fair share of Mexican food. The food is so bland here. I only gave it one star because the garlic cheese dip is the best thing they offer
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Babie Doll
Unripe yellowish limes that taste like lemons are used for the Marqueritas ...recipe for.acid indigestion! Stale chips sauce overkill. What has happened here? It seems the employees are clueless and no speaka da English, so you never get what you ask for .
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Steph Staker
This restaurant has been in business for over 30 years and they have always served delicious authentic Mexican food. You get good service and the prices are reasonable. The food portions are more than adequate. There is always food left over to take home.
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Radka Morrisova
Skvělé jídlo i koktejly. Příjemná atmosféra a přátelský personál. Chodíme sem často a vždy jsme spokojeni.
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Heath Owensby
The ultimate margarita is the way to go and the shredded chicken is fantastic. Other great dishes are the tacos de asada and the camerones al la diabla. If you get it spicy, youll love it today and hate yourself tomorrow, but its worth it.
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cynthia harper
spotty. generally crazy yummy, but you may show up up on the one day in a blue moon where service is slow and the food is subpar. ill still go back every time i am in town, and hope for the best because when it is good, it is crazy good
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Gary Silva
Make sure you pull your order out of the bag when picking up a to go order. They leave stuff out, which is extremely inconvenient when you live in another city. Then you call and they say you never ordered the missing item.
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Emily Howard
The back door takeout service sucks. Totally unorganized, orders backing up, and long wait time to get your takeout food. The white cheese chip dip is the only thing giving this place 2 stars. The food isnt the best.
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Preston Countryman
I ordered a salad that was pretty banal, and looking at the dishes around me that seemed to be the overall trend. Inoffensive dishes for bashful palates. I would take my Grandmother here, but thats about it.
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Richard Harris
Blue cheese dip? PLEASE. That stuff is great! remember to get extra. Modelo on draft? Fantastic. but the prices? a little steep for what youre getting. this is a once-in-a-while type establishment.
