Joshua K.
Yelp
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.
