El Corral

This is my go-​to Mexican restaurant. Great prices, service, and food! Love the enchiladas and fajitas.

I just went to eat there. My boyfriend and I been there a few times. The service was great. The food is good. But today after a very rough day at work went there to eat (I was starving) and I always get veggie enchiladas. I took my own cheese and sour cream (soy base) since Im don’t consume dairy. I have done it before and never got a problem with it at any restaurant including this one. And the (what I believe is the manager) came over to our table to ask me what did I put in my food. And I explain to him he said that the smell was very bad, that it’s smell like someone go bathroom in the dining roon and smell all over the restaurant, that the people was complaining about it. I didn’t really saw anyone complaining but I just smile and ask for to go boxes. I was in tears b/​c I already had a bad day. And this guy could be a lil more polite to me and adress the ‘issue’ some other way than comparing MY FOOD to bathroom smells and making faces. Making me feel embarrassed and horrible. I definitely will not come again. Thanks for the awful experience.

My sister had a horrible service from this restaurant, she is vegan and usually brings her own vegan cheese and sour cream for her meal everywhere she goes and never has a problem, as most restaurants don’t offer those options. My sister told me a member of the staff rudely critized her for using her products stating that they smelled nasty like bathroom, she told me he made her cry, so I decided to call them to let them know that wasn’t acceptable (i called calmly asking for the owner). The owner Rafael responded and said what did I want and I told him politely about the situation, he raised his tone of voice and said he didn’t have time for this and if we had a problem to go to the restaurant and hung up the phone. Disrespectful service to the customer!!! We both are servers at other restaurants and know the importance of treating a customer respectfully. The worst part is that is coming from the owner. Will never return there and will make sure to spread the word to all my friends about this situation!

Since I began a quest to eat healthier, my eating habits have changed dramatically, leading to much less eating out.
I don’t always eat out, but when I do…
El Corral seems to be one of the first places I look to. First time at this location (Love the Creedmoor location), and it more than met expectations. Heat and grilled shrimp with Mexican fixin’s and flour tortillas — all good.
Unfortunately, despite going for what looked like one of the healthiest options on the menu, It took a week to get back on my weight loss track after that one visit. All is good though — I know where I want to go when I want to indulge… err… «cheat on my health plan.»

I really like this restaurant their service is as courtesy as it gets and extremely quick. Especially at lunch. Kind of the standard Mexican fare. I can recommend the Pollo fundito I believe it was called. The ACP is also very good. Fajita Burrito is definitely a winner. You get a great amount of food. I almost always have left overs. Sometimes their sweet tea is a little too sweet but I just ask them to cut it with unsweet if that happens. You rarely ever have to ask for a refill on anything including chips. The margaritas are also a delight. You can also count on a quick turn around for to-​go orders as well. Just a really good restaurant. We go at least 2 or 3 times a month. Parking can be a challenge as their are two other really popular restaurants, Meelos and Bleu Olive. So at peak times park across the street at the hotel.

A solid meal. Really like the queso dip and the ACC. Not the real deal– Americanized but solid.

Good place for Mexican food clean food is pretty good staff is very nice. Salsa sometimes has a tomato paste taste to it

Really good for a standard Mexican restaurant when you’re craving one. The chorizo queso dip is great. Yummy guacamole. Margaritas are not watered down. Carnitas are tender and delicious. Fajitas are standard but good. I even like the rice and beans.
Service can be slow. One time we had difficulty getting a special order but they worked with us in the end.
Great place to go for margaritas and munchies!!!

Food prices were excellent but the price for the pitcher of margaritas was high, the Texas gold pitcher.

The best thing I’ve had here is a chicken burrito. Everything else was bland. I had high hopes of a good tostada but what I got was bland beans on bland meat topped with heavy lettuce and a tomato that wasn’t ripe and kind of hard.

Probably the worst chile relleno peppers I’ve ever had! Chips seemed stale and the dining area had a cafeteria feel to it. Not impressed at all

Last year, I was in Durham for a long weekend to attend a wedding. I stayed at the Marriott directly across the street from El Corral.
I made my way to El Corral for several reasons. I was hungover, hungry, and didn’t want to cab it to another restaurant in either Durham or Raleigh.
I’m not going to lie, I was pleasantly surprised. Super judgmental of me, but I didn’t exactly have high expectations for Mexican restaurant located in a small college town in the bible belt. I will never make that judgement again!
Great food and prices. Huge portion. Lots of cheese. Some of the best Mexican food I ever had.

Nothing fancy, but very good tacos, and friendly staff. They were surrounded by other open restaurants, but they were the only one with customers at a ‘late dinner’ hour, so I picked them. I am very happy with my choice.

The only reason they for 2 stars was because like other reviewers said the chorizo cheese dip was very good. Sadly that was all that was good here. Started out with a shy waiter who nearly said two words and spoke so light I had to ask him again. Our meals where awful I ordered a chicken quesadilla the outside was burned and awful. All they did was throw the shell on the grill with cheese then at the last min put chicken in the middle. However it was stewed shredded meat so it made it soggy. Seemed out of place. My bf got the combo with an enchilada that was gross, the sauce on it was not typical, and a steak quesadilla equally as bad. He did comment that the tea was great tho. Great dip and tea but still will not be returning

I came one evening for take-​out. I ordered three (3) chicken tacos to go.
Food: The tacos were okay but not too memorable. The chicken in the tacos was basic and did not taste hand-​pulled off the bone like i prefer. Tasted like bones grilled breast meat. It came w/​lime wedges too which added a little zing in flavor.
Service: Staff was friendly.
Overall: If you are in the area and have limited choices El Corral will suffice for your Mexican food fix.

Food is very good here, the sweet tea is some of the best around. Server was still training so a few mistakes but she corrected them and it was fine.
Location is really convenient.

Good Mexican food at a reasonable price. Friendly staff and a clean restaurant make it better.

This place had the best Mexican we’ve had in a long time! Went there with the entire family and everyone left fat & happy. Cannot wait to go again.

Great place for the family! Food is great comes out fast and yummy. But the people make it; the staff is so friendly they make you feel like family. This is our kids first choice of dinner out and the margaritas for moms… wooohooo!

Slow service, I ordered the burrito deluxe the chicken was tasteless and had a huge piece of fat in it. The salsa was nothing special just like other Mexican restaurants.