El Tapatio - Auburn

This Mexican restaurant has multiple locations. I found out while coming across it in Auburn, CA. It is on the more expensive side, but the portions are plentiful, and at this season in my life, I will make up another meal. It has an extensive menuselection that I look forward to sampling later.

My husband and I were in town for a mid-week getaway, and happened upon this restaurant?s name while searching for a place to eat for dinner. The reviews all mentioned terrific food and great service, so we decided to test it out for ourselves. We are soHAPPY we did!!! The place was fairly busy for a Wednesday evening, but we were still seated within a few minutes of comingthrough the doors. The decor of the place was very appealing, and the staff was absolutely fabulous?very attentive, friendly,and accommodating. There are a lot of options on the menu, and we had a hard time deciding on what to order. Ultimately, myhusband decided on the Pina Loca, which was shrimp, pineapple, onions, peppers, squash, a cream sauce and queso blanco, servedon a hot platter inside of a hollowed out pineapple half. It smelled incredible, and for a moment, I felt sad I hadn?t selectedthat, too. My husband was very delighted with his choice, and I tasted it, too, and it was delicious! I decided on the Chickenand Steak molcajete. It, too, was so incredible, and smelled like heaven when it arrived at the table. The heated mortar theyserved it in kept it hot through the whole time we were there. It had the most tender chicken and beef pieces, with grilledchiles, a roasted jalapeño, a green sauce that was to die for, beans, and queso on top. Throughout our meal, the staff checkedin with us to see if we needed anything. Our server Brooke was so wonderful. The only thing bad about our meal was not beingable to eat every bite! But then, that means I get to have leftovers for tomorrow. ??

I had a wonderful experience at the restaurant! Caitlyn provided fantastic service, and the food was excellent. The live music on Friday night added to the fun atmosphere. I recommend starting with a delicious Cadillac Margarita. I really enjoyed the Chili Relleno and cheese enchiladas. The only thing I wish for is that they offered vegetarian refried beans. Overall, it was a great night!

**Parking:** There's plenty of parking available since it's near a CVS. **Kid-friendliness:** The bar is located at the back of the establishment, so most of the seating is away from alcohol. There are many TVs showing sports, but the only aspect that might not be suitable for kids is the commercials. **Wheelchair accessibility:** The entrance has a nicely sized ramp, making it easy to access.

El Tapatío is my top choice for Mexican cuisine. I believe it’s the best Mexican restaurant in Auburn, and I might even argue that it's better than Maria's in Grass Valley. The food is outstanding and authentic. Having grown up in a Hispanic family, I can truly appreciate the flavors. I've met the owner a few times, and he clearly cares about his customers, which is reflected in the excellent service. The restaurant is conveniently located just five minutes from Highway 80, and even on their busiest days, there’s ample seating available. You won't be disappointed!