El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant

Reviews 4

LE

Leo Marrero

I was one of the biggest supporters of El Tenampa and had been visiting, either for takeout or eating in, at least 3 times a month for the past 4 years+. But the quality of the food and the service itself has been sliding recently, and Ive eaten here for the last time. Lately, my lady and I have had to wait longer and longer for service once we are sat, even to order water to drink. I can count at least 3 times where we werent even served chips and salsa once we were seated, either because they never brought us some and in some cases because they had simply run out. This doesnt count the four times that we were given cold stale chips. I have order the same thing, chicken breast special with extra refried beans, no rice or potato and stir fried vegetables for the past four years. Unfortunately, the quality of the food is not the same. Ive been given cold beans, salty beans, and burnt beans. The chicken has been bland, cold, burnt or old more than once. My lady gets the same order with potato and rice and on several occasions the rice has tasted old and the potato on two occasions has been MOLDY. My main complaint of this place, even though I liked the food enough in the past to look past it, is the unbelievably small dining room and that almost every night from 6-8 there seems to be a crowd of 20 or more people standing by the door literally watching people eat while they wait because there is no waiting area. This is incredibly frustrating and like I told the waitress who took my takeout order last night (which is my last time ever eating here), this is not fair to people having to wait that long, standing for a table because there is no waiting area whatsoever. The last straw for me was last night in my takeout order of the usual. I would order an extra chicken breast that previously cost 3 dollars with extra vegetables. Now, they apparently charge 5 dollars for just the breast with no extra veggies. I told the person who rung me up it was a shame because I was once this restaurants biggest fan and they just lost me as a costumer. Once I got home I found less veggies than usual and both chicken breasts were bland, I had to add salt. And by the way, as far as takeout orders go, if you plan on ordering the complimentary chips and salsa they give at the table as a takeout order instead, youll have to pay $3 or $4 for them. Also, if you do eat here do not look up at the ceiling that has the house lights usually turned off for ambiance. Youll be shocked at the mold in the ceiling tiles. Once again, I doubt there was a bigger supporter of this place for the past four years than I. But the quality of the food, service and atmosphere is just not there anymore.

BE

Benjamin Fraser

Best hole in the wall mexican restaurant ever! I will return! Ill be honest it is a true hole in the wall kind of place, from the outside I would never have gone if I didnt look it up. I have lived in FL for 3 years and coming from NC I have been trying to find something that would compare for a long time. Well today I found it! This place is very reasonable prices are not bad at all. Also when busy dont go there if you are in a hurry because a lot of large families that come in especially on a Sunday afternoon like today after the churches let out. I mainly say this because I hate when people rate a restaurant as poor just based on the "service" they were expecting. As a server, when you have 2 parties of 8 that seat first fore a party of 2 it isnt easy getting right to that table and that is clearly what was happening here a lot with the large families, please remember service is based on more than just that, this place is busy, dont rate it low because you just demand to much from a small wait staff, relax and enjoy yourself. Overall the food was the best I have had since moving to FL, definitely compares to what I have had in TX, CA, and NC. They also have a great selection of very fresh fruit juices and one of the best margaritas I have had on the rocks in a while, PS dont expect a classy full bar this is not one of those places, a beer is a beer and with mexican food it doesnt have to be draft lol This is the kind of place you would go on vacation in mexico and remember because it was so good food wise and you will also remember trying to understand spanish, so be prepared english is one of the first languages here but I would advise know at least basic spanish! ;) Hope this helps!

ES

Esteban Burke

Visiting Kissimmee in February of 2015 we were keen to try lots of restaurants, specifically looking for Cuban and Mexican food. We were in the area for a 2 week Disney family vacation and were staying at a rented house outside Disney, no Disney meal plans, too much corn syrup! In the three visits we tried a variety of dishes. Excuse me if my spelling on the names is off but their menu isnt online and its been several months since our visit, but my fave dish was probably the Huaraches that is found in the appetizers section of the menu - HUGE APP, definitely works as a standalone dish. My wife really enjoyed the Huaraches, I also fell in love with, from the mains, Alambre chorizo y queso fundido - loads of toppings and meats served fajita style, build your wrap each time. So good. On the final night I tried the chicken mole, the mole tasted very good and the dish overall was excellent but not in the same league as the Huaraches and Alambre, Im salivating just thinking about them. We visited twice just our family, then a final night we took the clan that was with us on the trip and they accomodated us with no issues - 8 adults, two babies and three kids. Their fresh juice was loved by the kids, I also loved the Guava juice, great margaritas if you get them traditional style not all the frozen crushed ice rubbish, nice selection of beer and tequila, friendly staff, friendly management too, we visited once around lunch and twice at dinner. This place is busy but worth waiting to be sat. I hope we get back someday - 5-stars all round. Excellent value too.

DA

David Rodriguez

I stumbled across this place on Google maps and gave it a go because of the 4.5star/60+ ratings... bigtime dissapointment. All Ive gotta say is watch Chef Ramseys Kitchen Nightmares and consider the idea that "if this is what is in plain sight - if this is what theyre showing you...imagine whats behind the scenes". Im not a stickler for amazingly well kept places - but damn...this joint was ghetto. I liked the authentic look until i started looking closer and noticed some disconcerting things. Down to the food: I ordered the steak fajitas- extremely greasy, low grade meat and Im guessin the veggies werent too far ahead. My fajita fixins seemed to have been slopped onto my plate and nuked...for like 5 minutes. Nothing. on. that. plate. shouldve been hot/warm aside from the frijoles (especially the soaking wet brown lettuce and sour cream). To top it off...my tortillas were served traditionally in a basket covered and warmed in a towel... that had short grain hair (most likely animal hair) and it smelled bombou--in english...like it was the same dirty @ss /rag/ used to clean the tables and kitchen. My girl ordered the tilapia: she didnt eat anything at all. Tasted it. And almost threw up in her mouth. All she said to me was that it tasted like flash fried cardboard that bathed in dirty grease. Final summation: tried to give it a shot.. tried to even chuck it up to it was later in the evening...but nah. I didnt die But Id never eat here again.