El Amigo Mexican Restaurant

Had an awesome meal here! We tried the Fish Tacos, El Mejor, Chicken & Shrimp Fajitas, and finished off with Coffee and Tres Leches for dessert. The margarita was also on spot. Everything was super tasty and well-prepared. The presentation was on point, and the service was friendly and quick. The whole place had a nice, relaxed vibe. Prices were really reasonable too for the quality. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! :)

I usually love this place so this is sad. I picked up my order, got about 5 mins away and my husband opened the sampler platter I ordered that came with “A sampler platter consisting of a chalupa, chile poblano, beef enchilada, crispy beef taco, pork tamale, rice and refried beans”. I got a beef enchilada? I think? Idk but there was a hole in the top of it that looked like it was poked with a fork. And a tamale plus the sides. I turned around at 10:21 and attempted to call the restaurant. I knew the kitchen was closed and didn’t want my food remade, I just wanted my money back. I got there before close, and the doors were locked and an employee looked right in my face and walked past me. Worked in food/ customer service all my life, this is simply just bad service and blatantly ignoring me is wild lol If they see this Hey! I just wanted my money back

Thank you MAC for best service and AMAZING delicious food!! It's the best Mexican restaurant on our road trip from Charleston, SC to Raleigh, NC. Neat & clean restaurant. Highly recommended to neighbors and around town people must try authentic Mexican food 🙏

I’m so annoyed. I ordered through DD and just got my food not even 10 minutes ago. Literally a SPOON FULL of rice if that. I got the Arroz Con, the food was rushed to cook, I ordered around 8:30. I don’t care if you’re about to close, you should never half do something just because it’s a delivery service. I bet if I came up there and caused a scene I’d be wrong! But how yall barely put food in this plate is RIDICULOUS!! And I ALWAYS order from here so this just really upsets me how restaurants will half do something just because it’s delivery. DO BETTER! I want what I paid for and this is not it!!

Okay so my husband and I have a problem. For over a year we have made our weekly visit to El amigo. We get the same dishes every time. We are never disappointed. I love my choripollo so much I have made an album full of pictures of it on my phone. We start getting antsy halfway through the week counting down the hours for our Friday El amigo visit. Always great, prompt service and consistent quality of food.

First time at this Mexican restaurant. Ordered enchiladas rancheras. Will be returning.

This is some of THEE BEST Mexican food I’ve ever had!!! The restaurant is big with plenty of seating & parking & the service was pretty good as well. I ordered the fish & it ended up being 2 huge pieces of grilled fish & it was DELICIOUS!!! I also tried the margarita flights which were also bigger than expected but were good as well. Food portions are definitely hefty & you’ll definitely be full afterwards 😋

Excellent service and great food. We had a party of about 30 people and everyone was well taken care of the whole time we were there. Our servers were very friendly!

Love, El Amigos!! My Hands Down, FAVE PLACE to Eat Mexican food! The Owner often comes over to each table, to check on your service & food, Himself! The food is Fresh & Delicious & the service is SUPERB! I moved & will Still Drive 45 mins to El Amigos!! Have been coming here for 20 yrs! Now I bring my Kids

I love this neighborhood go-to spot! The service is always friendly and the food never disappoints. I've had burritos and margaritas here but recently I tried their arroz con pollo and it is by far the best acp I've had! Can wait to go back

My husband and I stopped in here for a quick lunch during a busy day of errands. It was very busy but we expected that due to it being lunch on a Sunday. When we walked in we were greeted and promptly seated. Looking around the restaurant was clean and well kept. I ordered the pork carnitas and we also got the guacamole with pico de gallo. The service was great even with the crowd they had. Our food came out quickly and hot. It was delicious. The prices weren't bad either. The only complaint I have is that the restroom wasn't as clean as it could have been. Otherwise I would recommend.

Service was good and very nice people, the food was good, I got the jerk pork was pretty good 7.5 of 10 and con queso was a 8 of 10. The restaurant was nice and clean. The waiter was really nice. Prices was not to bad. I will be going back.

El Amigo was a weekly thing when I worked on this side of town! I would bet their nachos to go, I've had their tacos, I even dined in before & had their chicken fajitas. Their rice & beans are so good! Real authentic Mexican food. Some days I'd buy their guac and have it for a snack. It's prepared in house & it's so good. I lol the consistency. I'm love pico de Gallo, so I'd add fresh pico on top o the guac for the extra onions & cilantro. So good!

Food was good. The ambience was really good and the service made our needs. We didn't wait. We got it when we wanted it and we weren't rushed. Could you ask? For more

Super super friendly service but the food was not great. The host and waiters were great. The chips tasted stale and the menus needed to be wiped down...they had old queso and beans on them. Then refried beans were overly salty and the fajitas weren't great. Maybe it was just an off day...again super friendly service but we won't ever be back.

We eat here all the time and love it so much! Victor is the best! When we walked in, Carly had the brightest smile and checked on us multiple times even though she was not our server. Thank you El Amigo!!

I have been eating at El Amigo for probably 20 years or more and have seen the quality of food and service go down as the costs go up. Prior to Covid it was a great meal, great service and affordable. I know Covid was hard on all businesses, but still ordered carry-out often and started finding the prices increasing and they started adding charges for an extra salsa or chips that were all you wanted in the restaurant. Now that Covid is over and an almost new staff is in place the service for dine in is terrible. Stopped ordering carry-out since they charge for the extras. Stopped there with a friend to have a late lunch around 1 or 1:30 and it was not that busy, but the service was terrible. The order came out incorrect for mine with a $.79 charge for extra pico i ask for on my CA Burrito and a glob of guac on the plate that I did not order and do not like. Had to ask for additional salsa when I could get the waitresses attention since they pour it into a super small bowl that run out after a handful of chips. Finally we ended up with no chips and no salsa and the wait staff just walked by and ignored us. When she did finally return we just ask for a to go box and the check since most of the food had gotten cold waiting on salsa. When the check came and I found $30 for a 2 person lunch to be extremely expensive for what has become average food and poor service. Luckily there are additional Mexican restaurants around that have much better service, reasonable prices and the food is very tasty. This was my last meal at El Amigo or at least for a very long time.

I've only ever had this food as delivery but it is a great option if you're lazy or have people over, which is the reasons I ordered. If you're wondering if you get chips when getting takeout, I did the first time ordering but not the second. Both times I ordered queso dips, but the second time only received a small amount of chips. Everyone has loved their meals so far. I personally have tried the chorizo queso and the carnitas. This is my go to dish when exploring a menu at a Mexican restaurant. It's become quite a comfort meal for me! Theirs did not disappoint. I was loaded up on portion and flavor. Hopefully when I visit at the restaurant I can get tortillas alongside with some spicy sauce to amp up the experience.

The restaurant is in the same shopping center as the Food Lion grocery store. This makes for a convenient parking lot with ample spaces. We entered and were promptly seated by the hostess. We were handed a menu and our server took our drink order. Our drinks arrived quickly along with complimentary chips and salsa. You only get one kind of salsa and it is more like pureed tomatoes. Our orders were taken. When our food arrived it was hot. Our orders were correct. Most of all, our food was good. I got enchiladas topped with pork. It was something a little different. I would definitely order it again. The dining area looked clean. The entrance looked clean. However, they had a sanitation grade of only 93.0 posted. They need to do better than that. That score indicates something more than a few petty dings. The server and all of the employees were nice. This place has a welcoming atmosphere. I recommend it.

I have been here many many times and have never had bad service, bad food, or a bad experience. The food is always hot and tasty and the staff are always friendly! I love that they serve their ACP with or without vegetables. The chip baskets are kept full and it is never a long wait to receive your order!

We have been going to El amigo for over 6 years. Each time we go the portions are decreasing in size and of course the prices have gone up. ACP used to be a good portion, now barely any rice, cheese or vegetables.

The food is amazing! I've dined inside and ordered take out before. Lately I've done more takeout since I no longer live in the city but I've been here multiple times over the span of 12-15 years and I've never left disappointed. My go to is the chef special which comes with grilled chicken/shrimp, refried beans, and rice. I ordered two large plates for take out and took one to work the following day which turned out to be a great idea because it was still just as good even after being reheated. Definitely recommend going to eat here.

Average food, server does not know English, black beans are almost free for them so if you ask black beans you will get a ton of it in everything. Ambience is decent there was no noise as there were no people

Best mexican restaurant in Kannapolis! I go at least once a week because the service is quick, the staff is friendly, and the food is tasty!!

Good Mexican food at reasonable prices. Can always improve. Good location, easy to find. Good tacos.

Great service, food comes quickly, and is delicious! Always get seated quickly, bathrooms clean.

Average food. A bit hit and miss on taste and service. Employees walk by you and don't acknowledge you at times, while others conversations and language are not appropriate. More attention to detail and staff that know the menu would be nice as well. Looks to be a reflection of leadership, or lack thereof!

OMG!! Delicious and wonderfully authentic! I don't usually give 5 stars, but this restaurant deserves it. When you walk in, you get the relaxed feeling of walking into someone's home. The color scheme is bright but not gaudy, roomy & clean. We were seated almost immediately and taken through the main dining room to a table near the kitchen (because the place was packed!). It is much bigger than it seems from the outside. Our waitress was a very sweet girl named Elizabeth, who got our drinks right away and answered questions about the menu. We ordered a queso with chorizo mixed - very good! Lots of flavor & spice without burning your mouth off. For main course my husband got a 4 enchilada combination (Enchiladas Doloji...something!) with 2 chicken and 2 ground beef. All he could do was make yummy sounds the whole time! They were very well seasoned and tasted homemade. I ordered the Taquitos (I got chicken) and they were some of the best I have had! Rolled and fried crispy, they were so full of meat it was surprising. The seasoning is so delicious, everything is moist and just completely YUM! The other thing we noticed was that there was not a lot of crazy music blaring inside. All the patrons were talking and laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Sounds silly, but there was just such a relaxed atmosphere here. This will be our go-to for genuine Mexican food from now on!

The Al Pastor tacos were amazing and you've got to try the Mac and cheese with ground beef. They have great sweet tea too and the service was really nice.

I've been to a number of Mexican restaurants and have enjoyed most of them. However, this was the best Mexican food I've ever had! The service was quick. In fact, I wasn't sure it was my food, it came out so fast after ordering.

Service was bad. Ambiance was poor. Lightning was really dark. Food was subpar. Waited over 35 minutes for someone to take our drink order! Won't be back!!

I honestly feel a little bad having not written this review yet. We discovered this place about six months ago and now my family and I probably stop in for lunch about twice a month. It was an instant hit with everyone and if you try it for yourself you'll see exactly why. It's because the food here is delicious! An unassuming storefront in a Food Lion anchored shopping center, El Amigo isn't anything special from the outside. The old brick exterior just kind of looks like any generic restaurant in a strip mall, but don't judge the book by its cover. Instead, judge them on the crowds of people eagerly waiting to get in most hours of the day. Everyone has their own opinions, but if the locals think its worth waiting outside in the southern heat there is probably something tasty inside. (Hint: There is!) The inside is a cozy blend of warm brick walls interspersed with bright Hispanic art pieces throughout. There are a few TV's hanging up which are usually playing soccer, but I have seen them switch to the local NFL game on Sundays. The tables are spacious and comfy and I have never had to wait for a waiter or waitress to take our drink orders. The staff here is really on top of things most of the time. They won't make you wait around, they're super friendly and always happy to answer any questions. Like a lot of other Mexican restaurants they do complimentary chips and salsa here and El Amigos are pretty good. Nice spice to the salsa without really burning and the chips are always fresh and crisp (I think I would prefer a wee bit more salt on them but that's a minor complaint). Once you've decided what you want and they take your order don't expect to be sitting there hungry for long. The service here is FAST. I'm talking "I haven't even finished my first glass of water and the food is already on the table" fast. Typical wait time is about ten minutes in my experience but there have been two separate occasions where our entire tables meals were served in nearly five minutes after the order went in. I don't know if its just because they have extra staff during busy lunch hours or these folks are just so good at what they do but regardless I'm not complaining. As far as the actual food itself goes my order of choice is the Grilled Chicken Quesadilla with a side of Mexican Rice. There was a long stretch of time where my favorite Mexican restaurant was, regrettably, a national chain restaurant. It wasn't because it was particularly authentic, they just had a really yummy quesadilla and, for a while at least, they were very consistent. That chain has in my opinion gone downhill, but the quesadilla here at El Amigo on an average day blows the competition out of the water on their best day. A big flour tortilla crisped up on both sides and stuffed to the point of overflowing with chunks of juicy grilled chicken and that delicious white cheese. You certainly get your moneys worth here when it comes to portion sizes. The rice stands on its one just as well as the quesadilla does. Soft, flavorful, just a hint of spice. It's honestly hard to describe the flavors of this stuff it all just blends together so well. Try if for yourself, you'll see what I mean. I'm kind of a simple man when it comes to certain foods. When a dish I like I tend to stick with it, so I can't speak to too many other offerings personally, but my family has also enjoyed and recommended the steak quesadilla, both the chicken and beef enchiladas, the beef tacos as well as their margaritas. I can't say enough good things about this place and I hope they keep up the wonderful service I've now come to know and love. If you feel a craving for Mexican food, skip the chains (or god forbid the fast food) and get a real, delicious, filling meal made by folks who care.

The food is great and my to go orders and correct 95% of the time. Very friendly and definitely recommend!

Very good Mexican fare. El Amigo checks off all of the boxes for what I look for in a Mexican restaurant. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated, that's a good sign. Salsa, salsa picante, cheese dip and guacamole were very good. I didn't see pollo con chorizo on the menu but the chef made it for me anyway. Chorizo had that great crisp from the grill, a nice touch. Tortillas, rice, beans todo bien. Check, check and check. Cold Dos Equis on draft, yes please. Try this place out if you're in the area, you will not be disappointed.

Been here 3 times already. Love the atmosphere and the friendly staff. Chips and white cheese dip are great. We always come with at least 6 of us and we all have always liked everything we have ordered. Last time my brother and wife had fejtas and I couldn't believe how much meat came with it. Rice and beans are both tasty.

i've been here a couple times it's usually busy but this past time i went service was so slow went to every table but mine over and over. waiting over 10 mins for her to even take my card to go pay?? food hardly had any flavor to my meat as well. kinda of upsetting being i used to be a huge fan of this place.

Our absolute favorite place! We have been coming here for a long time. The food is fantastic... everything is wonderful! We haven't had a bad meal yet. Service is always awesome....Alonzo is our favorite!

El Amigo is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in the Concord/Salisbury area combined. There is almost always a wait on the weekends, but it is totally worth it. The service is always great, as well as the food. The fajitas are super delicious, and they actually load it up with lots of meat and veggies.. no skimping here! Start off with the delicious bean dip and salsa. And don't leave without a margarita, which are some of the best I've ever had!

I have always loved this restaurant. I am a regular here. I always get the steak fajitas. The food is usually good no matter what you try. I wished the salsa was a tad spicier. The servers and wait staff are excellent.

Best Mexican restaurant in town. My family and I eat here frequently. Prices are very fair, food is fantastic, service is great, everything is clean. We love it.

Very nice service and the food was amazing definitely try the table side guacamole! We were able to customize a vegan option for my cousin that is vegetarian. The California burrito is a must have !! Our server was really nice and she helped us customize our orders to perfection. Not expensive at all and very good food portions we were able to take leftovers home !

My new favorite Mexican restaurant! Our server was attentive and kind. Great prices for the quality of food. We both ordered the ACP, grilled tender chicken with zucchini, broccoli, and onion on top a bed of rice (I switched mine for beans) covered in white cheese sauce. The chicken cut it the perfect size. Larger than your typical ACP. I cannot wait to come back! (It's also a plus when the restaurant has Pepsi products, I can't get enough of it)

The service and the food are outstanding. WARNING do not order online because the prices are all wrong. The management blames the company that does the online menu but doesn't want to take responsibility for the wrong prices. We have eaten there for years and will not return.

I love this place !! Service is always on point and food is delicious! I love the slim choices as well! I watch what I eat and they have many slim choices.

Stay away. Loud screaming kids everywhere. Terrible food and service. Carnitas like fried shoe leather. Staff speak no English. They can't understand anything you say. Save your time money and calories.

I'm very disappointed in our visit. This is our second time eating here and both times we had issues, they overcharged us on our margarita pitcher and when we questioned it the server said it was because of covid. There is no signage whatsoever stating this. We also got overcharged on my entree. Our last visit we asked for top shelf margarita and received cheap house. We still gave them another chance. Like this is ridiculous. This will be our last visit.

This is our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Sometimes service can be hot or miss. If Ulysses is there, ask for him. I usually get the chicken ACP. Cheese sauce everywhere!! Love it!! Monterrey tacos minus the cilantro are also excellent. Little spicy though! Child always gets the cheese dip and rice and beans. She can eat her weight in the cheese dip. Sweet tea is always on point.

This is my favorite place- the food is consistently great and the service can't be beat!!

This places is amazing, new in the area and took a chance and I'm glad we did. Great food and we'll definitely order again.

I honestly don't understand how this place stays open.The chicken was pure white so ether boiled or microwaved.The shrimp same way never seen a pan ,and the steak rainbow colored grey unbelievable they would serve this.Don't waste your money

My absolute favorite Mexican restaurant. The service is always fast and the servers are always friendly and right on point. My tea glass was never empty, which is one of my biggest peeves at any restaurant. The prices here are great and the food is ALWAYS delicious. I would recommend El Amigos to all

Amazing service amazing food great prices and the portions are big probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in concord

Not impressed. Been here about 4 times over the past year and service is not good. Fajita meat seems like it was boiled. I felt like I was an inconvenience to our waiter. There are 3 mexican restaurants on this street Acapulco is still hands the best food in the area and the wait staff appreciates your business

Definitely my favorite place to go for Mexican cuisine. El Amigo's menu has a great selection that is sure to please the entire family. The servers are very attentive. I can definitely see why this is a favorite with the locals. Plenty of parking in front.

Best Mexican cuisine in Kannapolis! Arroz con pollo is delicious! Margaritas are second to none!

This must be THE go to place after church in Kannapolis on Sunday's lol. It was packed. The restaurant is rather small. Although it was busy, our wait wasn't too terribly long. I got the California burrito. One of the things I really liked was the option of a small or large burrito size. The burrito had pico, rice, beans, guac, and chicken. That was all inside the burrito which was covered in cheese sauce. I didn't love the chicken. It didn't really taste like much. Seasoned meat is essential for me and this chicken didn't do it for me. The positive about the chicken was that it wasn't shredded.

We were staying in the area due to the evacuation of hurricane Florence. We are originally from Chicago and are accustomed to fantastic Mexican food. I have to give this restaurant at five star because the food was wonderful, authentic, and the price point was an excellent value. They have icy cold beer on draft too!