Cantina El Dorado

Excellent food & service in a vibrant atmosphere! Even when they’re busy the quality of the meal and service remains top notch. Unique & flavorful dishes made with high quality ingredients and prepared with care and skill. They have a great chile relleno and I’m a believer that not all chile relleno are created equal! Try the pineapple paradise if you’re both hungry and adventurous. Bring your appetite!

We had reservations for 12 people on a Friday evening and only waited 10 minutes for our table. They provide complementary chips and salsa. They have an expansive menu of Mexican and American food, but no puffy tacos! I ordered the Chicken/steak fajitas. They came out sizzling, with about a 25-minute turnaround time from order to eating. The fajitas were very good, but I would have liked the chicken and steak cut smaller. High/low and booth seating. Uninspired atmosphere. Hostess stand/check-in is at the side entrance. Clean restrooms. Good service. 3% credit card fee. 18% automatic gratuity for tables of 6 or more if you put it on one bill. Pricey.

Well after a fight with the manager about cold food and then him admitting that he microwaved it... the excitement of this place went downhill for sure. Not once in my life has a manager sat next to me at dinner to argue with me on the quality of food.

Overall okay experience. Called ahead for a reservation and arrived on time to be told we still have to wait despite the restaurant being half only full. Food was okay. Seemed like it was lacking a lot in spices compared to other Mexican restaurants in my experience. Prices were about what I expect for a downtown location. Waitress was fairly inattentative and was often either eating or chatting with other staff within our view. I did not receive a single refill of water during my 90 minutes there. The flies constantly buzzing around both my face and the food was a major turnoff. I understand they have big windows that they open during warm weather for you to enjoy, but I was sat next to the bar far away from the windows.

Very delicious food, wonderful atmosphere! $10 dollar Margaritas, I had the black cherry , very delicious. Fajitas were fire and the combo platter were very good! Definitely worth the money! Tiffany our waitress was awesome! Will be returning here!

The mocktails were AMAZING. I absolutely enjoyed the virgin Piña colada. The drink was so sweet and cold, perfect for a hot day. The chips were also great. The appetizer was also very flavorful. The tacos, on the other hand, were a little dry (especially the meat) but were still decent. I personally dont reccomend the Cartina taco dinner for that reason (mainly because I do prefer to meat that is juicy or just covered in some type of sauce) but it is still a decent pick. You will definitely not regret it if you want to try it. The choco flan was definitely a great highlight from this trip. It was the perfect balance of sweetness. It was also not too filling, and overall, a great way to end the dinner. Additionally, our server, Aisha, was great. She was super friendly and gave excellent service. Overall, this was a great trip.

Love that it’s open so late. Hard to find that around the area! We got the chicken fajitas for two and it was decent. The chips and salsa are delicious and the chips come out hot! The server was so kind despite us coming at 10 PM on a Tuesday night.

I can not say ANYTHING bad about this restaurant. Very clean will spacious seating. So much on the menu to choose from. Came with a party of 5 and everyone's food looked fabulous and we all we happy with our meals. Our waiter was very nice and prompt. Definitely recommend this place and will be back.

I cannot begin to express the experience i had at cantina el dorado. Coming from European decent (white) i've been force fed boiled and unsalted chicken my whole life. I was passing through auburn hills and i see this nice establishment. I walk in, greeted by the most kind and generous employees i've ever seen and i order the carne asada burrito. Review: A Life-Changing Carne Asada Burrito I never thought a burrito could change my life, but here I am, humbled and forever grateful. As a white person, I grew up with a very basic understanding of Mexican food--tacos on Tuesdays, burritos from fast-food chains--but this carne asada burrito was something entirely different. It was a revelation. From the first bite, I could tell this was real. The carne asada was smoky, tender, and seasoned with so much depth that I felt like I was tasting something I had been missing my whole life. The fresh pico de gallo, creamy guacamole, and perfectly melted cheese all blended together in a way that made me pause and truly appreciate every flavor. It wasn't just delicious--it was an experience that opened my eyes to the richness of authentic Mexican cuisine. I left that meal not just full, but changed. I felt a deeper respect for the culture behind the food and a renewed appreciation for the hands that prepared it. This burrito didn't just satisfy my hunger--it gave me perspective, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Cantina El Dorado is easily one of my favorite spots in Auburn Hills! This was my third visit, and it never disappoints. I usually stop by on the weekends, and the atmosphere is always fun and inviting. The interior has a really cool décor that adds to the experience. The margaritas here are absolutely delicious--some of the best I've had! I ordered the California Burrito with rice and beans, and it was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. My buddy got a BLT and said it was decent, but I'd definitely recommend going for the Mexican dishes--they are amazing! On top of the great food and drinks, the service was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. If you're looking for a great place to enjoy delicious margaritas, tasty food, and great service, Cantina El Dorado is the place to go. Highly recommend!

Under-whelming. With all the great reviews and hype on local social media, we had positive expectations. Tried to get a table on a Friday night and didn't want to wait 45-minutes (a positive endorsement) so we came back on a Thursday evening and got right in. The environment is a lively Mexican-themed sports bar. New, clean and colorful. Our server was kind and responsive. We had several complaints and she was patient and helpful each time. I ordered beans, no rice and my order came with rice, no beans. When it was returned, the relleno was cold. The menu came with many choices. We are from Southern California and know our Mexican food. A restaurant with a good chili relleno is bound to be authentic. Sad to say that this relleno was hardly warm and flavorless. Possibly premade and sitting around to be warmed up. Our tacos were OK but nothing special. We tried a chicken enchilada with green sauce. Again, just alright. The flavors were lacking. The temperature of the food wasn't warm enough. Sauces seemed thin and bland. The chips were equivalent of average store bought. I imagine if you want to drink, this is the place to come. If you like great Mexican food, skip it.

My second day in Auburn Hills for a work trip, I took the recommendation of a coworker to try this place. The staff that greeted me was very friendly. Since I was alone, the bar was the perfect spot. There are four large TV's over the bar, any sports you wanted to watch was on. My bartenders name was Juan. He along with the other bartender, who's name I didn't get, were great. Juan was ready to answer any questions I had about the menu but after seeing what someone else ordered I went with the Quesabirria Quesadillas. It was amazing and messy so get extra napkins. The vibe and food of this place were great. Looking forward to my next work trip to go back.

I have been eating to try this place! I LOVE tacos. My taco was excellent! My margarita was strong and delicious. The place was packed on Wednesday night for dinner but tge service was excellent. Rico was our server and he was attentive and helpful. I am always surprised to see American food on Mexican menus but its definitely a common Michigan thing (I am from California) My friend ordered the queso with chorizo app and shared with me, it was amazing! But the surprise was the fried ice cream dessert. I am not a sweets fan but it was DELICIOUS. Will definitely be back.

Food was served quickly and has good quality ingredients. Bright open area to eat and you don't feel jammed in. Sports bar vibe with many TV's. Service was very good with various people asking if everything was okay. A+ for service!!

This place a jumpin hot spot and I see why. My experience was good. There's a wait so call ahead and get on the guest list then check in when you get there. They give you the old fashion buzzer to let you now when your table is ready. I much prefer it when restaurants have the text system implemented. When we decided to go back in after waiting in the car, they said they had call my name several times. Please implement texting. Anyhow, they were able to get us seated right way though so I was happy abut that. I ordered the fajita platter and man, was I happy. Those were the best fajita I've ever had. The flavor was so good, the portion size was just right. I would definitely come back just for that. The chips were good, the salsa was okay. They have a ton of options that I'd like to come back try but man, I would love to have the fajitas again. I highly recommend those. The restaurant has plenty of seating including a nice bar with TVs. I can't wait to come back.

Packed on Wednesday night. Downtown Auburn has serious parking issues. There's no where to park! Enchilada and taco combo was ok. $15. Beef was seasoned well. I'll likely pass on the enchilada. The red sauce seemed pasty and not fresh. Chips and salsa are average. Service was good. Basic ambiance - like a diner.

Always on the quest to find a good Tex-Mex/Mexican restaurant. Cantina El Dorado is not authentic Mexican but a welcomed restaurant that downtown Auburn Hills desperately needs. Since you are downtown, parking is not great and we had to park across the street at the park. Inside is colorful with high ceilings. 3 ways to enter the building but the hostess stand is the west entrance off the street. No signage if you are walking in from the other entrances - so some people were confused on where to go to get a table. We came in from the north entrance and were one of those confused people. The staff then start waving us down to the hostess stand. Our waiter was attentive and friendly. Menu wise, lots of options! We started with the queso dip and it was delicious. Chips and salsa were complimentary. We were told they have a hotter salsa we could try. Little did I know this was a 2 oz plastic cup that came with our meals and were charged $1.00 for it. I thought they were going to bring a salsa cup with the chips to try? This hot salsa did have a good kick. Went with the taco combo dinners which includes whatever type of taco of your choice along with rice/beans. Food came out fresh and hot. My husband got the chorizo tacos and I went with the shrimp tacos. Good portion size and the flavors were all great! Snuck in a 4% "discount" if you pay with cash...kind of gross,. Food and environment is welcoming but the little sneaky charges are a bit annoying.

First time coming went on a Friday afternoon and this place was packed. The chips and salsa were about delicious perfectly salted (very salty) for me! The salsa was very good to not too much cilantro which I don't like so it was perfect for me. I ordered the quesadilla with light onion was cooked to perfection. It was absolutely delicious and plentiful I even had some for lunch the next day and still was amazing. Will have to come back you can tell this place has regulars.

Great New Mexican Restaurant in Auburn Hills. Interior is modern with plenty of TVs for the sports fan. Service is outstanding! Ana was the best!!! The food and drink amazing. The only issue I have is looking at the other food coming out of the kitchen I don't know what to try next. I will return for sure!

I forgot this place was even opening until a friend reminded me, and after a long day of working at home, I had to get out. I decided to wander in and see what this place was about. I was happy to see that the place was packed on a Friday night. there was a slight wait for a table, but the host informed me that I could sit at the bar immediately since there was open seats. The bartender was really super friendly and checked in on me regularly and often. Being that I'd scoured the menu beforehand, I know what I'd already sort of wanted. I went with the Quesabirria quesadilla and was super excited when the food came out. It's three tacos with rice and unfortunately no beans, but does come with an aus jus sauce. Holy hell was it good. I couldn't get enough of it! I don't know what kind of soft taco shells it came in, but between the sauce and the brisket, the food was fantastic. Granted, the food here's decently priced for what you get, but I think some of the bigger dinners run about $30. Mine was $15 which wasn't bad considering the amount of food I got. Decor here is great with plenty of seating, and the staff's super nice without being uppity, which makes for a nicer dining experience. My only thing was I walked in through the main entrance but had I wanted a table in the dining area, I would've had to have gone to the other door. Not sure why that is, but okay. Overall I'll be back as I really enjoyed the environment and overall experience, and the food was excellent. (not all Mexican food in the area's created equal, let me tell you.)

Awesome Mexican pizza! Server was awesome. Nice atmosphere!will definitely be back. Prices are reasonable And they are close to where I'm at

Way over rated. It's the same Mexican food you can get anywhere else around town, except with more hassle. You gotta park in a parking structure down the street on the 3rd floor with no elevator and walk through a dangerous construction zone. I called the day before to see if they take reservations for dinner, she said no but we do call ahead seating. The hostess told me to call 30 minutes before I arrive and put my name in. That's exactly what I did, first call I got hung up on. Second call the hostess tells me we don't do call ahead seating, you have to come here and wait until your buzzer goes off. We went anyway, got there at 6:30 on a Friday and waited 45 min. I sent back my skinny margarita, was nothing but acid in a glass. Way too much sour mix. The fajitas for two was a scam. They give you the same portion as fajita for one, but just bring out 2 plates of beans and rice. Which i didn't care about eating beans and rice to begin with. Then our table ordered the fried ice cream dessert. It came with a gigantic black long hair in it. The waitress replaced it but then still charged for it on the bill. The positives were the fast service and food delivery and the guacamole. Also......there must have been 50 birthdays being celebrated. I've never seen so many birthdays at once. I think people basically go there and lie to get a free dessert and song.

Very nice restaurant. The service was impeccable and our food and drinks were amazing. First we started with, of course margaritas and they were perfectly poured. Then we had the cheese queso that I loved n brought the rest home. We both ordered the steak chimichangas that was so filling I brought half home. I'd definitely go back again. Please go try them out, I'm betting you'll love them.

We have been waiting patiently for Cantina El Dorado to open, and the wait was worth it! Went in on a Thursday around 6 was busy, but was able to get 2 seats at the bar. We were greeted immediately by the friendly bartender. The ambiance is nice, I would say felt a scale above your typical Mexican restaurant. They give you chips and salsa on the house to start. Their salsa is really good! We ordered chicken fajitas and a burrito bowl. They seem to use fresh ingredients, which is nice to see. One of the first things I noticed too, is how clean they are. They have full staff so for being newly open, things ran pretty smoothly. Was very impressed and look forward to going back!

A beautiful place, overall good experience. Group event...kind of pricey, but I wasn't paying, so no worries.

Ok, I'm gonna leave a review here but you all have to promise not to come.. Cantina El Dorado has just claimed top spot for our family Mexican food place. Food? So good.. and fast! Ceviche rivals anything on the gulf coast. Shrimp was large and well cooked- veggies spicy but not overpowering. Quesibirra quesadillas easily best dish on the table- beef was well cooked and perfectly seasoned. Enchiladas were fantastic! Service was fast - Francisco attentive and helpful with suggestions, speed of the kitchen amazing for Saturday night! It's loud- not obnoxiously so but it's not "first date" intimate. :). Margaritas (mango) was delicious! We'll absolutely be back- the rest of you go to that place in Lake Orion please.

We don't get over to Auburn Hills often, even though it's not a drive. The downtown area looks nice but I wouldn't call it a "hot spot" yet. The building that it's in is very nice and the space looks great. A friend's recommendation brought us here and we even braved it on Cinco De Mayo. Wait was an hour for two, but we ended up sitting at the bar I half the time. I believe they allow call ahead, so definitely take advantage! I wouldn't call it authentic in the truest sense, but it's solid American Mexican food! No Cojita or corn tortillas noticed on the menu. Service was attentive! We had a couple Marg's, chips were good & warm / salsa was mild(but they have sides of hot), Baja fish tacos & the Cantina burrito. Entrees come with rice & beans, burritos don't on the side but they are HUGE! We will be back!

Great chips and salsa. The Hot is perfect. Asada steak burrito is massive!. Great atmosphere. Going to have to come back and try the margaritas!

Finally was able to check out Cantina El Dorado and I was not disappointed! The staff were super friendly and we were seated right away. Ordered the spicy pineapple jalapeño margarita and enjoyed the sweet heat. The menu has something for everyone and great vegetarian options. Can't wait to come back when the weather is warmer to enjoy the more of the margarita options.

Had a nice evening out with the ladies. We got enchiladas, combo platters and fried icecream! Everything was super yummy. The Margie's were perfect and the service was great. This was my first time here and we will be back very soon!

My husband and I had the pleasure of having dinner there for the first time. we both agreed it was the best Mexican we had ever had. My husband is especially picky and he gave both the Ceviche and beef and shrimp fajitas a 10. I agree! We are definitely looking forward to returning! Service was all very pleasant and efficient.

Awesome experience and food! Many others have posted longer accurate reviews of the ambience and great waitstaff. We were surprised by how fast our app and entrees came out on a packed Friday night at 7:30. Appreciated that we could call ahead to get on the waitlist. We will definitely be back!

CHECK YOUR DRINKS! Fruit flys in the margarita pitcher was not the best was to start. I pointed it out to the waitress and she was so apologetic and took the pitcher and the glasses we poured it in back. I saw them checking the bottles and poured out the rest of one of the bottles. They came back with a new pitcher after making it. However, I was disappointed in the management as they didn't offer any discount or no one came up after to apologize.

First time eating here. The atmosphere was great. Restaurant seemed clean and updated. Lots of tvs to watch. I ordered the enchiladas supremas and it was outstanding. My partner ordered the double combo, enchiladas and tamales. She loved it also. Beans and rice came with the combo and those were good but not outstanding. We also ordered the queso which was very good but we would not get it again as 12 dollars seemed a little high. The service was wonderful and outstanding. Our main waitress was kind and efficient and another waitress helped also and she was kind also. Definitely will eat here again

Fresh authentic Mexican food! Great service and convenient late-night hours kitchen closes at midnight 7 days a week!

Food is tex mex and my beef tacos was pretty good Folks are friendly and the restaurant is clean and warm!

We tried Cantina after my husband saw it driving through Auburn Hills. We went on a Friday late afternoon right before dinner hour & they had quite a few tables. Interior is fresh, with beautiful color accents. Our server was delightful, answering any questions about the menu & brought us delicious chips & house salsa! Husband had fajitas with/2 meats. Steak & shrimp. He really enjoyed them & the scents wafting off were mouthwatering. I ordered the fish tacos made with fried cod. They were delightfully crispy & NOT greasy. I eliminated some of the toppings to the cabbage, mango salsa & chipotle crema(?), simple is better. The mango salsa was fresh & delicious! One of the best I've had. The layout of tables needs some work. We sat at a high top near Auburn Rd side. There is a large entrance there that they don't utilize for reception, instead sending everyone through restaurant to back , (smaller entrance) to be seated. For servers to get to tables around us, they had to "squeeze" past us, getting knocked occasionally. Please rethink. This is a winner in my book & can't wait to go back

Our family enjoyed our dinner here on a wintry Tuesday evening. The service was excellent and the food we ordered was made very quickly. Everything tasted homemade, including the salsa that was delicious. My son raved about his shrimp tacos and my chicken fajitas were tasty. A nice local spot to support!

Ignore the nitpickers and negative reviews from individuals that seem to love to complain and need to "speak to a manager". This place is amazing! The food is delicious, fresh, and fast! The portions are very generous. It's so good, that my husband and I went two days in a row and then ordered takeout six days later. For take out we had nachos and fish tacos which were packaged very neatly and in aluminum containers to keep everything warm. I'm thrilled that this place is literally around the corner from us as it is now our "spot "!

The service was so fast! We ordered our food and it seemed to appear instantly! The host and waitress were super friendly, quick and efficient but didn't make us feel rushed. Good margarita, food, and atmosphere. I'll be back!

I went to this place with my brother-in-law Fish tacos are perfectly seasoned and cooked to golden crisp. Each bite was perfect blend. Other items ordered were also good. The staff was attentive without being instructive. The loved the ambiance of the place good restaurant in auburn hills to spend some time.

Terrible service! We did call ahead seating for 10 at 7. Waited an hour and then we asked w about seating and we're told we would get the next table because they were checking out. I went back to wait and then after about 20 more minutes I checked and they seated another party in our table. Their response was oops- Oh they were here first. We left and went to another restaurant with way better service. You lost 10 customers.

This place has great food and drinks. Unfortunately they don't have a happy hour and things are a little on the pricey side, but I was still happy with everything they served. Would definitely go back!

Awesome experience! A busy Friday night, but we didn't have to wait too long. A hip spot with great music, service, and food. We opted for an appetizer, the queso with chorizo, which was delicious! My husband and I then shared the queso birrra quesadilla....so yummy! I had a skinny margarita which was also good. We will be back! Grateful for another quality Mexican restaurant close to home since we love Snap Taco in Lake Orion.

Nice place to eat out. We arrived around seven, were seated by 7:20 pm on a Saturday night is pretty good! The food was good the atmosphere was great! And the decor was on point, not overdone and gaudy. We split fajitas for two and a couple of margaritas and beers. Service was very attentive and pleasant! Can't wait to come back and try another dish!

Food is always awesome! Even when it's busy, the servers and staff are always on their best game and go out of their way to help

Our second visit ended after we were seated with a bowl of chips and then ignored for quite a while. We watched servers mill around and chat, see us with our menus on the table ready to order a drink and some food, then they all roundly ignored us. We left, disappointed and unhappy. Our first visit had been nice. Food was good! Drinks not bad. Server pleasant. Sadly, we probably won't go back since our favorite Mexican place, Azteca in Utica on Mound Rd, is close to one of us, and is a super, family owned place with food that's always great and service that's always friendly and we are never ignored. So long, Cantina el Dorado. We had high hopes. They were dashed.

So happy they are in the area. Everything was great. We had fish tacos and veggie nachos, delicious. Oh, the fried cheesecake..so good. I had to make myself stop eating I was so stuffed. Great portion sizes, excellent service and the place looks very nice. Love that they open the windows. We will definitely make this a regular spot for date nights.

Great food service and easy parking in Auburn Hills, awesome chimichanga and margaritas

Huge spot in downtown auburn hills! Parking was tough but when you get inside it's such a fun vibe. Enjoyed the margaritas and the birria quesadillas!

Super delicious menu options & great service! It is also a nice chill spot to hangout!

The food was delicious! We had ceviche as an appetizer and then split the Quesabirria Quesadillas! Excellent dishes and the service was perfect! The atmosphere was fun and casual! I think this is my new favorite Mexican restaurant!

Really nice place. Lots of TVs, nice bar. All the food we had was really good. The birria quesadillas were excellent. Wife made her own combo of flautas and enchiladas and liked them too. Chips and salsa were very good. Margaritas were very good but a bit pricey. Super happy to have this place nearby as we lack really good Mexican food in Troy it seems like.

Good food and service. Highly recommend both the chili and chicken tortilla soup. Restaurant can be a bit loud.

Our new neighborhood favorite! Beautiful Spotless. Tasty. Great staff!! I'm from southern California and love Mexican cuisine. This place is the real deal!!!

Went here for my Mother's Day dinner and service and food was outstanding! Servers and staff all very attentive to our needs!! Even gave all the moms a long stem rose for the day! we had the Baha tacos, Birria quesadillas, and the enchiladas all they were delicious! Some of the best Mexican food we have had in awhile! Margaritas were OUTSTANDING!!! Definitely will be back and highly recommend!!!

Good Tacos and solid service. Come during they day because they get packed in the evening