El Don Mexican Bar and Grill

For a Southern Californian used to baja-​style Mexican food, this was mostly a disappointment (like nearly all Mexican restaurants in Georgia). The asada tacos were pretty good and I liked their smoky salsa (they have regular salsa too). Bathrooms were a mess and no paper products, so that part did remind me of Mexico. Wish they had a normal burrito with more than just meat in it. Rice was good but beans were odd tasting. Chile Relleno was horrible and straight out of the freezer.

5 stars is for the FOOD !

The best management, staff, and food. Kind, courteous, and professional is how I would describe the wait staff! I meet with friends on Tuesday nights and Saturday nights most every week. This food is always cooked properly and delivered in a timely manner. I would recommend this restaurant to all of my family and friends! Did I mention that Friday and Saturday nights include live music? They do and the bands are good. For price and entertainment value you can’t really beat El Don restaurant.

Good atmosphere. Don’t recommend take out ever from Mexican joints. Kid friendly with video games on wall for free

The food is o-​kay nothing to rave or get disappointed about just plain average. The server was attentive when she would check on us otherwise on her phone most of the time. The décor is mixed between a typical restaurant in Mexico and street art in downtown Atlanta. How do these mix I don’t know. Margarita was strong to get drunk off a couple not enjoyable. Had fajitas good. Will give this place another try.

I’m visiting from SF, California. My sister is a regular here and we’ve eaten here before. I’ve had their tacos and margaritas. Today I decided to go with a burrito since I’m starving. We ordered over the phone, I asked what a burrito came with. The young lady stated only meat comes in the burrito. I asked for rice, beans and cheese to be added inside it. I come to get my order and receive the a soft shell taco. What the h? I mean really, basics of a burrito is closed ends. Correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve NEVER ordered a burrito that looked like that. I’m not satisfied at all, quite disappointed in what I received. I paid $ 11.50 for a super soft taco! H to the No!!! I’ll ask for a refund and decline the charge on my card. Can’t wait to get back to Cali for some real Mexican food. This ish is for the birds.

Good atmosphere, very clean and polite staff. Not sure about food being ‘authentic Mexican’, as having eaten in Houston several weeks ago, with most authentic restaurants making their own tortillas and some chips. However living OTP in the Atl this is as good as cheap American Mexican gets. Organic marquirta was too sugary and wife sent back but food was good enough and openness of restaurant, and high quality atmosphere, including 6 or more X boxes for kids make it a definite stop for Mexican food for north Fulton/​south Forsyth dwellers.

Great time with friends and amazing margaritas, listening to some good live music, I love the play area where kids can go play video games I just love that idea lol get to have some quiet time and you can view your kids from your table, nice and safe.

Came here with a group of friends for the trivia night and it was a perfect setting – not too loud, but still fun.
Chips and salsa to start off were okay. We had a very sweet waitress who helped us get our clicker for the trivia and even brought us out a spicier salsa to try when we asked. I ordered fish tacos and had absolutely no complaints.
The décor is very fun. I’d eat here again.

The food is okay, the atmosphere is great! Love the live music and events for the kids.
Would love to see them add upscale margaritas to the menu! Fresh lime juice, silver tequila, agave…

They have updated the place somewhat. We now go there with friends and don’t feel that it is too much like a warehouse. The margaritas can now be enhanced with Gran Gala by ordering a «Randy.»

Dined here on a Friday night. Probably not a good idea if you don’t want a bunch of kids running around your table while you eat. This place is good however if you do have kids as they do offer a game area for them. we asked to change tables away from the game area. It was to rowdy and it amazes me that parents allow their children to jump on furniture and run throughout the restaurant. It was very crowded and mostly families and large groups. It was a bit chaotic with the children running around and the staff too. Twice they wizzed by our table a little too close with those fajita skillets. The food was ok. I did enjoy the seasoning on the grilled steak. They did have a house band as well that played blues which started around 7 pm. Staff were very friendly. Ladies they have cute purse hangers they bring to your table.

My favorite Mexican place in Atlanta (and the surrounding areas)!!!
The décor is different in a good way. There are traditional Mexican elements mixed with unique colorful skull artwork. There was cheerful Mexican music. One song sounded just like «America» from the West Side Story. I didn’t check out the kid zone but heard it was pretty neat. There was no wait.
The food was delicious. Upon being seated, we were immediately served chips and two types of salsa (one cold and one hot). We requested a large queso with jalapeños as an app. For entrées, I ordered the Texas nachos and Andrew ordered the two taco special.
The BEST part El Don was my margarita. The pineapple habanero was insanely good. A close second is the service. Raphael, server, was genuinely friendly. He’s the type of guy you want to be friends with. Midway through dinner, the half eaten queso dip congealed as it cooled. Raphael asked if we wanted it re-​heated. Now that’s good service!

We just moved Milton and have been to El Don twice. The meal starts with crisp chips and a couple of choices of fresh salsa. Off to a great start. On our first trip my wife and I shared fajitas for two. The steak was tender and juicy, vegetables well grilled but not rubbery. On my second trip I had the chicken burrito plate. It was a great mix of tastes and the verde sauce was a nice addition.
The restaurant has a fun atmosphere and plenty of seating. They have live music some night. Enjoy the margaritas!

Writing this as i wait for my check. .
my order was wrong
Plastic found in my food
Wobbly table
Incredibly warm inside the restaurant
Addressed all the issues with the wait staff.. but no one from management came to address my concerns.
We’ve been going here for a while but until leadership addresses my concerns… no more!
… glad that la luguna opened a location nearby!

We discovered El Don after looking on Unilocal for another option for Mexican in Alpharetta. The atmosphere is festive and casual, with brightly colored linens and décor. The food we had was flavorful, plentiful in portion, and fresh. We ordered an item from the «special» menu after being advised by a regular customer… it’s similar to fajitas, but included a sampling of shrimp, chicken, steak, Mexican fried cheese, peppers, onions, and chorizo… all in a cast iron bowl on a stand. Beans, rice, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce accompanied it, along with tortillas (corn or flour). We enjoyed that a pitcher of Texas Margaritas on the rocks, too. They serve fresh chips and salsa when you’re first seated… and there was no line on a Friday at 6:30! They have a band on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a good number of XBoxes set up with games for the kids who are looking for something else to do besides eat.
It was date night for us, but it is definitely a family friendly place — all ages. Service was great… and what more can I say? We will definitely be back!

Great atmosphere. very festive… excellent margaritas… attractive and attentive waiter Julian who was very knowledgeable and did I say attractive… great salsa… large open space and beautiful décor. great for large groups and parties. live music.we will be back!

Great Mexican food and awesome atmosphere… They have got live music, video games for your kids… Great bar. It’s a bit on the pricey side… It’s a place where you would like to go back multiple times.
Love Carne Asada, Tacos which you can mix n match, but my favorite is MOJARRA FRITA…

This is for my experience in mid-​Feb 2015. My first impression after walking in was the storefront belies the interior. El Don feels like a huge space… like walking into a mall food-​court. To my right, far right, there was a band playing on a stage. To my left, and not so near left, there was a wall-​sized TV of football. There were booths along the perimeter and tables in the open-​space. There was a bar in the corner decorated in polished, steel diamond-​plate. The hallway to the RRs were decorated with florescent paint /​artwork and illuminated with blacklights.
The food was okay, the service and mgmt attentiveness get four-​stars. However the overall theme of the space is over my head. Obviously I was expecting something different. But pay me no mind, go have your own experience. El Don might just be your cup ‘o tea.

«Roses are red, violets are blue. I’m a schizophrenic… and so am I!»
Bill Murray as Bob, What About Bob
El Don seems equally schizophrenic. When you walk in your amygdala will immediately try to determine the correct fight/​flight/​freeze response as you face a stage and dance floor on one side, a giant sports screen on the other, an enormous mural in front of you, and an odd group of booths in the middle.
I have seen the stage used for Mexican karaōke as well as live music by a solo performer playing The Beatles and Zeppelin. The crowd has fluctuated from 90% Hispanic one evening, to endless kids tables on the weekend. The big screen is surrounded by football helmets which seem to have absolutely no place in a Mexican restaurant. The mural is awesome and I was told the artist has done some work for The Walking Dead. The bathroom on the other hand has pictures of elephants and Giraffes, which I don’t ever remember seeing in my trips to Mexico. Confused.
If it is not full fledged schizophrenia, El Don at least borders on a personality disorder as it tries to figure out if it is a sports bar, a Mexican club, or a family restaurant.
As eclectic as the décor are the employees. Some young, some older, some Hispanic, some gringos. All the employees are friendly and stay busy. The manager is involved in the operation and it shows all the way through service.
What requires no radical therapy at El Don however is the food. I have had the Chiles Poblanos, enchiladas, and burritos. All terrific.
I am sure El Don will eventually figure out its direction and customer base, and if the service and food remain consistent I will always remain a fan!
El Don has great food, Good flavor, good quality and quantity, and fair prices. Something both sides of my brain can agree on!