El Mariachi

Absolutely awful food. Beef was below Taco Bell quality and guacamole clearly came out of a can. Don’t come here, please don’t…

Came to this resturant with high hopes based off the 4 star rating. It, however, was hardly capable of being called «mexican food.»
The guacamole was a tasteless green paste that came out 10 seconds after ordering it. I got the Dinner Combo 11 to sample their enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. They were all equally disappointing. The «cheese sauce» on the «fajita burrito» tasted like melted mozzarella sticks.
On top of that, the entirety of the staff was very unenthused to be serving us.
The positive parts about the resturant were its atmosphere and the free breath mints offered on the way out.

Went here for a weekday lunch. Service was excellent. Host and Waiter checked to see If I was satisfied. Food was delicious and very reasonably priced. Definitely will come back.

Had my iPhone stolen by the restaurant staff during lunch hour. Manager was absolutely no help and less than courteous. All staffed denied it. Blacksburg police recovered it 2 months later in the restaurant kitchen with staff. They claimed they had bought my phone at a local gas station the day before and just powered it up that day.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn next door (which is also really great). We had been driving all day and were starving, so this was super convenient. We were worried because it was 7:00 on a Saturday night and the place was nearly empty, but we decided to give it a try. It was great!
Their selection of vegetarian choices were some of the best I’ve seen. The service was super fast. We were seated fast, food came out fast, they were on top of refills. And the food was great. Both my husband and I got burritos and they were huge. The only downside was the lighting was really dark. If we lived in the area, we would definitely be back!

Best Mexican and Latin American food in the NRV. Their menu is extensive and the food is tasty. Staff is friendly and service is prompt. Their fajitas, arroz con pollo and chimichangas are delicious and consistent. Don’t be thrown off by the building’s exterior, they have good food.

Stopped in for lunch on Saturday. Only a few customers were seated. The menu was very familiar much like most «Tex Mex» Mexican restaurants which included lunch specials. Drink orders came first as expected and the food came out swiftly as well. I ordered the Fajitas «El Mariachi», which was essentially steak fajitas minus the tortillas. The steak and veggies were served on the plate along with refried beads and rice. All orders were piping hot, and my dish was very tasty. All in all a good quick stop for lunch. A full bar is also included.

This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Montgomery County, if not the New River Valley. Some of their food really reminds me of true Mexican cuisine, you just have to know what to get. As I was eating I could actually close my eyes, and it reminded me of all the times I’ve went to Mexico.

Well I am so impressed with the quality of food. I am a vegetarian and often the selection is scarce and quite pathetic. That was NOT the case here.
I ordered the Vegetarian burrito and it was absolutely the best I have ever had. The vegetables and spices were scrumptious and perfectly cooked. The creamy cheese that was melted over it blended into the delicate flavors. The pico de gallo salad was fresh and had a hint of jalapeño which balanced the dish. The Mexican rice was extremely flavorful.
I owned and operated a Mexican take out shop and this measured up to what I made! Kudos and I give it a 5 star rating!

Good food and services! Like the Chimichanga and Margarita!

Great food and atmosphere. Service was good and pricing was very reasonable. We go the every time we come up to VA Tech. You need to check it out.

Pretty good. Not authentic but pretty good Mexican. Reasonable prices, nice people, and low prices. Do the Mexican hat dance and go.

Really good Tex-​Mex for this part of the world. Dishes are fairly authentic and prices are reasonable. They have a kids’ menu and the complimentary chips and salsa were delicious. Would definitely recommend.

Delicious, good, and impeccable service. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgable. My son had quite a few food allergies and the waiter was able to point out exactly what my little guy could have. The dishes we ordered were full of flavor as well. Couldn’t ask for a better dining experience, especially with the low cost.
:) happy customer

The service was terrible. They didn’t give us enough menus or silverware (they gave us 2 for 3 people). It took at least 20 minutes for a waiter to come. My lime margarita was watery, but my friend’s raspberry one was good. All 3 of us we’re disappointed with the taste and prices of our meals. Overall, it was terrible.

We chose to dine here based on the 4.5 star rating. Appalling.
I knew immediately what to expect when I grasped the odd and well beaten «towel rack» door handle.
Enchiladas supreme… Only 2 of my 4 enchiladas had remotely warm fillings (Where is the health department when you need them?) «Special» enchilada sauce had zero spice and tasted somewhat like macaroni box cheese packet with chicken stock thrown in for good measure.
Chips and salsa were hot and great!
Sure, I’m not sick but definitely beyond disappointed by having to pay money for this.
It seems like this place was once a decent establishment but has been beaten down over the years from swarms of college kids looking for free chips.

I ate here on the way back to Florida from
Canada. Excellent food and very family friendly. We had a pretty good time here, considering that we were traveling and yearning to get home.

El Mariachi is the first place we consider when we want Mexican. The NRV is loaded with Mexican restaurants, but this one is actually not loaded with college students. The servers get to know you (and if you visit enough, you will be put up on the wall of fame as you come in the door).
They are family-​owned, so the same servers are there any day of the week– they get to know your name, joke with you, and it ends up being a blast. If you drink here, they will love you even more. The drinks are POTENT– so well worth the money. One time, my friend and I wanted jäger bombs and they didn’t have any redbull. Not even kidding– they went down the street, bought the red bull, brought it back, and made what had to be the largest jäger bomb I have ever seen (and only for like three bucks). THIS is service.
The food is great. I actually prefer this place over any other Mexican in the area. The Enchiladas Supreme is great, as well as the Roast Con Pollo. Make sure to have a drink with dinner. :) Also get the Fried Ice Cream– they aren’t joking with their version!
Friendly, never too crowded, and a great place to hang out after you eat.

I was up in SW VA for just about 3 hours the other weekend with my dad. We had just gone by an awesome beer shop and were heading back to the ATL when we realized that we needed to stop and eat. This place appeared like a mirage in the dessert and so we stopped in before heading back to georgia.
First off, we were a little nervous. We we the only people in here except for the folks running the joint but the chips were warm and the salsa was spicey so our fears quickly faded.
I had the enchiladas supreme and was very surprised. It was excellent. Spicey and flavorful, cheesy and perfect. Everything was very fresh tasting and the service was excellent. I can’t recall what pops had but he didn’t complain so it must not have been bad.
The resturant was very clean and the service was fast. We made good time and got back on the road with no stomach issues. So nesxt time in the area i’ll be sure to visit again. Hopefully i’ll be able to stay longer next time and see the rest of a town that i hear is really nice.

El Mariachi. This is Spanish for The Mariachi. (Actually «the mexican street band»)
This wouldn’t be in my top 5 in Denver, but its definitely my #1 in the New River Valley. Maybe rivaled by Abuelos in Roanoke. They have good flavor, even if the spice is slightly lacking.
Some favorites are the chile rellenos (which aren’t deep fried), the chimichangas, the fajita quesadillas, and the carne asada. Don’t be fooled, there are some poor choices on the menu like the pollo mexicano, but overall, the best in (or near) town. Also, the jumbo margs are a little sweet, but you can order the Texas marg and share with a friend and still need to call a DD. Also, imports are cheap and domestics are expensive comparatively — so that’s a nice flip-​flop.
The family that runs the place is always kind and if you come enough they start to recognize you and know what you’d like to drink. I admire the restaurant for staying open year-​round and not having summer hours. Tienes hambre? Bienvenido al Mariachi!