El Azteca

I use to really enjoy going to the place. We went often and referred friends.The food was decent and fresh. Service was always so-so, but the food used to be worth it. But things have gone down hill in the last several months
The last 3 times we were in the place,(on a weeknight) one of the waitresses had her 2 yr old son in the dining room of the restaurant and she allows him to roam and play, jump in the booths with patrons, eat from their chip bowl, and the whole time, she just smiles at him. Friends & family have reported the same experience
This was the case the last time we were there and I couldnt wait to get out. Then came the clincher. Right before she brought our check, a COCKROACH climbed up the wall next to our table. That is enough for me – I am outta there

One fateful night, there was a 3-hour wait time at On the Border. We spotted El Azteca across the way and didn’t really think we’d like it as much, but wandered over since we were in the mood for Mexican food. We were told there would be a 25-minute wait, but were impressed at how quickly the wait staff were taking people in and the delicious aromas wafted by as dish after dish came out of the kitchen.

In total, we waited about 15-minutes and have never had to wait more than 5-minutes at El Azteca since that day (and I go there all the time now). The guacamole is great and definitely a better deal than the guacomole live at On the Border. I’ve tried their Fajitas (chicken and beef), Guadalajara Especial, Chicken Tostada, Chilaquiles, and Burritos and have never been disappointed. I even pick across the table at my spouse’s dishes and find them delectable.

Compared to On the Border, Mexican Food Factory and La Esperanza, both my spouse and I prefer El Azteca. La Esperanza runs a close second in both authenticity, service and flavor. On the Border may be better for their empanadas and their desserts.

I’ve never met a Mexican type of meal that didn’t appeal to me – so I may be a little biased. However, El Azteca is definitely not a cookie cutter chain type restaraunt. They food is prepared to order and not overdone with spice. It is a little surprising how different their food is than On the Border or Don Pablo’s… Don’t get me wrong, I love all of them – but El Azteca stands out. I have tried numerous things and have liked all of them. The presentation isn’t always the best – most times the meals are messy looking. They usually overfill the plate – but I’m sad to say, I’ve often cleaned my plate because it was so good. There is a nice subtlety to their food. Some of my favorites include their enchiladas and their chimichangas. I highly recommend eating there (although the decor is not much to look at)… Getting take out can be even messier than eating there. The food also gets soggy and they don’t label the containers – so when you order for several people it’s a guessing game. Their fried ice cream and fried banana desserts are wonderful. As is their homemade salsa and chips. The portions are large… And leftovers are good, even for breakfast. We don’t usually like to go in the dead of summer – because they keep it a little warmer than we prefer. Overall, I love the food, and can’t wait for my next visit.