El Conquistador

Mexican restaurant · Waco

El Conquistador

Mexican restaurant · Waco

1

4508 W Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710

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El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
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El Conquistador by null
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El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
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El Conquistador by null
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El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
El Conquistador by null
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Highlights

Rustic Mexican spot with cheerful booths, great food & drinks  

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4508 W Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710 Get directions

conquerthecraving.com

$10–20 · Menu

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4508 W Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710 Get directions

+1 254 772 4596
conquerthecraving.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Sep 6, 2025

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The Gonzalez family’s multi‑generation restaurant dating to 1969, known for house salsas, fajitas, and convivial service. Recent local news covered the brand’s continued investment and reopening efforts, underlining its active role in the community.

https://www.kwtx.com/2025/09/03/el-conquistador-restaurant-reopens-bellmead-location-after-undergoing-remodel/
Mexican Food in Waco (2025)
View Postcard for El Conquistador

Jessie -JJ Davis

Google
Food was amazing. I had the Burrito Dinner and it was really good. Everyone else said their food was good as well. Service was awesome for as packed as it was. Our server was very respectful and patient with us. Atmosphere was cool. I liked the decor. Had a knight and some awesome paintings. 4 stars just because the parking is too small for the amount of customers they had. We went during dinner rush. Overall great place to me and excellent food.

Brian Ahara

Google
Every time we come here we get excellent service and the food is absolutely delicious! The margaritas were good, on the rocks was better than the frozen. Our server Dillon was great, he went above and beyond. This is truly a family restaurant and they make you feel like part of the family. Great job El Conquistador!

Anna Samford

Google
We got a table easy. The problem we had was waiting 20 minutes to be waited on. Then the waitress was in such a hurry. She said she'd put a rush on our order! That was not a good thing! Food looked like it was just thrown on the plate. And it wasn't even hot food! 2 meals were barely warm and 1 plate the enchiladas were cold feeling in the center! First time we've had problem at this place. We certainly won't be going back any time soon!

Elizabeth Bryan

Google
Food quality is consistent. You don't get huge fluctuations. I've only been there twice, and the service is good. The very cute young lady with braces that waited for us this week was excellent.

Bacon Bandit

Google
I ordered the chili relleno. It was very delicious. The service was excellent and the price was unbeatable. I highly recommend this place.

Deborah Villanueva

Google
Haven't been here in over 5 years. The atmosphere was nice, quiet. Waitress was very nice, got our orders & the food was so good. It was very clean & everyone was so nice. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

MareBear O

Google
Such a family oriented restaurant! Everyone knows everyone

Victoria H

Google
If you want honest, down home, no frills southwestern American Mexican food… this is it! Looove the sopapillas! Chips and salsa are just yummy! Quality of food is always on par. The carnitas tacos are awesome and their combination plates are good! Service has pretty much always been good…but the attitude has always been the best-as in-come in, let’s feed you!
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Margaret M.

Yelp
I ate here today for the first time. They have amazing food! It was so good we had enchiladas, my niece was with me. The salsa was so good with a kick to it. The rice was fluffy and tender and the beans were amazing. I had Charro beans. You will not regret eating there. And they were friendly and fast.

Beverly D.

Yelp
The food...the cheese in the enchilada was like gum...almost impossible to chew. The hot sauce has no flavor and is weak. Redeeming factor... Great service

Susan H.

Yelp
Service was fantastic. No wait and everyone is very friendly!! The food is exactly what I want when I think of good Mexican food! You will feel like you are in Mexico with the flags that hang from the ceiling and the sombreros at the entrance. Great experience overall!

Michele H.

Yelp
Beans too salty. Restaurant clean and friendly service. All their food is on the salty side.

Traci M.

Yelp
El Con is dependably great. Love the chicken fajitas with large slices of chicken, the carnitas tacos... and nice, strong margaritas!
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Jose S.

Yelp
The food is not worth coming to this place if I could give zero stars I would . Don't waste your money and time coming here worst food ever don't recommend at all!!!

Jack H.

Yelp
There is better Mexican out there. On the plus side I did think their Margaritas were good and at a good price. The servers were hard working and efficient. For the most part the food was just Ok. However, the Queso was bad. It had a strong taste of flour. Decor was typical Mexican restaurant, nothing special. I also was not thrilled to find a "credit card fee" tacked on when I paid. Tell me upfront or better yet set your prices to account for it.
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Ausencio O.

Yelp
This place is so much better than Trujillos Mexican Restaurant; El Conquistador did more than make it up when I took my GF here after our visit to Trujillos some weeks ago. At El Conquistador, the staff are friendly, attentive, helpful with the menu, patient, and actually just pretty cool people. The food and drinks are stellar! I was actually very surprised by the speed, quality, and portions; very much worth it to dine here. Lastly, the restaurant is clean, well-lit, and actually looks presentable. In summary, I strongly recommend El Conquistador, and I urge you to not waste your time with a crummy establishment like Trujillos.
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Maggie H.

Yelp
Great little gem! The waitress was very sweet and attentive. Our orders were perfect without her writing anything down. Food was tasty and well presented. Con: unannounced fee for credit card use and having to go to cashier to pay.
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Laura M.

Yelp
I've probably eaten here 1000 times, and they never disappoint. My go-to meal is the satisfying Student Special. I love the rich, spicy gravy they serve over their gooey cheese enchilada, and the crisp, fresh tostada balanced the meal perfectly. I load it up with the table salsa, which also compliments their excellent tortilla chips. The family that owns this business has created a local gem that offers warm hospitality and great food. Don't miss it!
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Jon C.

Yelp
This place never disappoints! Great food, great service and always a destination spot when I'm passing through!!
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Catherine C.

Yelp
Really good fajitas!! Came on a locals recommendation and we had delicious beef and chicken fajitas!

Stephen C.

Yelp
Excellent service and enjoyed our meal. All of the food was good, although a bit bland for tex-mex. I took advise of another reviewer and asked for spicier salsa. Brought out a green salsa that did the trick. Guacamole was great; queso was so so; enjoyed a variety of enchiladas. Charro beans may have been the highlight of the meal. Loved our sweet waitress.
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Andria R.

Yelp
I thought being in Waco,Texas I could get some good Mexican food. Probably the worst I have ever had. Started off bad with heated bagged chips and jar salsa. We decided to order the large queso which was so thick I thought it was tomato soup. It seemed like it was jar queso that was mixed with salsa. Main dishes were bland, chicken was dry. Will never be back. Do yourself a favor and just get Taco Bell instead.
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Aj C.

Yelp
I don't even know where to start with this place. There was a twenty minute wait so I was sure it would be good. I. Was. So. Wrong. It's been thirty minutes and my stomach is doing things that I can't even begin to explain. I am very scared to see what happens in few hours. To start out, it took forever for the waitress to take our order and when she did it was subpar. My friend and I ordered beer and they automatically brought us a "large" it was definitely the same or less as a usual bottle. But honestly I can live with the poor service. What I can't live with is the GOD AWEFUL food. This is THE worst Mexican food I have ever had. I would eat taco bell for a year straight (and put up the consequences with it) willingly before I ever ate here again. They brought out chips and salsa first. The chips were dummy THICK and hard to eat and the salsa was that typical picante sauce from HEB. I'll just go over the meal I got. I got the El Con or something like that and I honestly think the name fits it because what they put on my plate was criminal. I'll start with the one gem, the rice. It was actually not bad, however I've never heard of somebody going to a restaurant because of their stellar rice. The first thing I tried was the guac and wow I'm not sure what that green paste was but it was not guac it tasted like chemicals. Next, the beans. Oh the beans... if I was rating them as though they were industrial concrete, I would give them a 5 out of 5. They were hard and crusty. Next, the tamales. They were very dry and no bueno. My meal also came with enchiladas these were definitely made early in the morning because they were cold and the cheese was hard. My theory is that they hoped the sauces would warm up the food on the plate but this did not work. This leads me to the sauces themselves. I had queso and Chile con carne. The quest was definitely out of a jar and the Chile con carne's only flavor was salt. Actually, the whole meal just tasted like salt. Why is this place so bad but so beloved? I'll never know. As a parting note, I'll give y'all my theory on the food. I noticed some army ranger patches on the wall, so my only explanation is that most of the food are MREs. Please don't go here if you value good food.
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Kimberly J.

Yelp
The food very tasty & fresh. The tortilla soup was excellent and great presentation. The service was efficient and speedy. The only concern was the way they all wore their masks under their noses. We did not see one waitress wear a mask correctly.

Steven G.

Yelp
This is one of our favorite Tex-Mex Mexican restaurants in Waco. They've been around for years and have awesome chips and salsa, and there's not anything on the menu that's not awesome. I would highly recommend them for authentic Tex-Mex food.
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Penny J.

Yelp
I gave it middle of the road as I honestly can not review all of the food. For this reason alone I should give it just 2 stars and actually that's what I started to do but everyone else seemed to enjoy their food! What we did not enjoy was the service. Our waiter was inattentive and inconsistent. While I was 5 minutes late he was 5 minutes after that taking my order and acting very put out about it. I did not get a tea refill. We were a party of 9. While one of the ladies were leaving, the waiter came around to my other side where I was facing away and took away my plate of food. Since it was only half eaten he should have asked if I was finished (no) or wanted a box (yes). I was so fed up by then I just wanted to go. Which thinking about it, they can do 3 stars and I am going back to my original 2 and the server who expressed impatience at having to take my order like an inconvenience then took my plate a goose egg
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Keanna H.

Yelp
The food and service is really good. They have the best salsa that I have ever tasted. In my opinion, this is the best Mexican restaurant that I have ever been to
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Shelton H.

Yelp
We've been here many times over the years when visiting family in Waco and this place is consistently good! I like the Chile rellenos, tacos and cheese enchiladas. The kids are happy with their menu as well. Service is fast and friendly and this is top notch Tex mex. I leave full and satisfied every time!
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Cal C.

Yelp
This place is worth all 5 stars! Eat the fajitas! The vegetables are worth eating alone! The onions bell peppers were sweet and delicious! I had the burger. It was deeeeeelicious! Our waiter, James, was great and checked on us regularly. When I'm in Waco I'm coming here again!

Alan D.

Yelp
Negligently bad food. Salty, flavorless, poor quality processed food. "Queso" appeared to be canned cheese soup diluted with their watery salsa. The flavor palate was so bland I can't even call it Tex-Mex, let alone Mexican. Not for me.
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Hannah K.

Yelp
I love this place. Has the best Mexican food in Waco. The Coca Cola there hits different it is the perfect carbonation. I would really recommend this place. When you first walk in you are welcomed by staff that show you to your table. Then, once you sit down at your table another employee put chips and salsa. If you don't like spicy stuff, I would recommend the mild hot sauce.
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James G.

Yelp
First, the dust in the back dining room needs to be addressed. It is hanging over the edges of all the decorations, fixtures, and ledges on the wall. One good draft and it's attack of the dust bunnies. The service was great despite a seemingly slow kitchen. Our server was on top of every request and she never let our glasses go empty. It was a Monday at lunchtime, the back dining room was less than half seated, yet the food took over ten minutes to come out. Both the salsa and queso are very good. Generally, that is a good sign of things to come. The shrimp tacos are good. They have a nice mild seasoning and the cabbage supports the overall flavor. The Cajun fish taco tastes like it was caught at the wrong end of the river. Leave it in the kitchen, full stop. Can't say much about the actual tacos. They were a little tricky to handle since they had been placed on top of the beans and rice; leaving the tortillas caked or damp. The tacos need to be plated separately from the beans and rice. The bathroom is in good shape. No worries there.
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David D.

Yelp
On Saturday, I stopped by El Conquistador's Tex Mex and had 3 fer taco's. One pork with pineapple N sweet/sour sauce, one shrimp and one fish. Served with beans, rice and Guacamole....Very Good Tex Mex
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Jessica P.

Yelp
This place is awful. Only local people who've lived here forever like this place. They don't even make their tortillas, they come from a package. The queso is gross and made with really cheap quality cheese. We ordered flour tortillas, they charged us $5.19 for 5 tortillas. CRAZY. DONT GO HERE!
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Patricia M.

Yelp
My mother's nursing home went here today (2/18/19) The food was delicious as usual. Our waitress went above and beyond, I was so impressed with her. She never lost her friendliness, or was late on getting us what we needed. She worked extremely hard to make sure we were all taken care of and with a smile on her face. There were around 14 of us most with separate checks, still she was smiling and friendly. I wish I would have gotten her name, because she deserves a medal for maintaining her sweetness through the nearly 2 hours that we took up in her section. Thank you for making our eating out excursion so pleasant today, it was delightful.
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Belinda H.

Yelp
Just moved here to Waco so we are eating out a lot. Came with my new co workers for lunch. I have food allergies and discovered that I am able to eat the refried beans as they are not made with lard or salt pork. Was able to also eat the rice as not made with chicken broth or chicken stock. Has cheese enchiladas with poblano sauce. Hubby had cheese enchiladas with meat sauce. The food was very good and got in and out for lunch. We will be back, it was very good.
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Casey M.

Yelp
The only thing better then the food is the family environment, service there was topnotch.
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L B.

Yelp
Great service and food. TexMex food at it's best. Very busy so you may have a little wait.
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Rye C.

Yelp
This is what I miss about Waco. Enchilada dinner: one chicken, one cheese. If I'm really hungry I might even add a taco rico. Every time I'm home, this is my first stop... it is that good.
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Chase E.

Yelp
I've lived in Waco for 3 years during graduate school and I have not found a really good Mexican restaurant. After visiting El Conquistador--the search continues... A Wacoan recommended this place to me, but it must be the kind of place where locals go because "everybody knows your name." But, I'm not a local. It wasn't a bad place or unclean, but it wasn't great either. The prices weren't spectacular nor were the cuisines. As far as the ambiance, inside reminded me of a Mexican-style Furrs Cafeteria. I probably won't go back--unless I am with a local, then perhaps the magic of the place will manifest.
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Juan F.

Yelp
My friends and I stopped here on the road from Houston to California (one of our group was hoping for some quality Texas Mexican food). We ordered from their lunch special menu (fair prices, 7-9 dollars a piece). Two of us had a beef burrito, which turned out to consist of ground beef (rather than fajita style beef). Maybe this is a central Texas thing, but I know everywhere I go in the Houston area, we are given quality beef with our burritos. Overall the restaurant was fine, our only qualm being the lack of quality meat in the dishes. The service was excellent (very friendly and helpful maitre'd and waitress) and the prices average. Next time I'd make sure to ask about the specifics of the dish prior to ordering.
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Joseph G.

Yelp
This is a pretty average Mexican restaurant that is also quite pricey. It has a very nice dining area and interesting Conquistador decorations. I've tried multiple dishes there including the carne guisada and skirt steak sliders which were both average and pricey. This is more of a one time just to try kind of place. You can find better for a much better price.
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Camryn A.

Yelp
This is a local favorite! You will always be greeted by a friendly face and something delicious on the special board. The margaritas are great and they have ice cold beer. The salsa and queso are always consistent and delicious. Their chicken enchiladas are a personal favorite too! Catch a seat on the patio and enjoy!
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Bob G.

Yelp
When you walk in the door you are welcomed by friendly staff. The service is quick and good. Food was some of the best we have found in Waco. The lunch specials are good and the price is great. Give it a try.
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Jim H.

Yelp
Looking over the reviews I can see you can't please everyone... Mr. Ted and family has a very good " Family Restaurant". This is NOT a chain and is local family owned. The food is good , service also good, and very friendly ... prices are in line with others and their drinks are very good. Keep up the good work guys.

Mark S.

Yelp
I called in my order. The person who took my order said my tacos would be ready for pick up in 5 minutes. I rushed to the Waco Dr. location and as I walked in the door my order was waiting on me. There was no wait and my tacos were delicious and pipping hot. I am recommending El Conquistador to all my friends.
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Jen H.

Yelp
El Con is a family staple. We go every year. This year was a bummer when it came to waitstaff. Our waiter came and took our drink order and there was a smiling trainee behind him. The rest of the night we were left with the poor trainee who didn't seem to understand basic table waiting. We order an appetizer that was brought out with our dinners. It sat in the middle of the table and got cold. We all agreed that if she had brought it prior to the meal, it would have licked clean. She left the bulky menus on our table and we kept shoving them off on each other. We had two small children and got no children's menus. We asked twice. As far as food goes, it's just fine for Tex Mex. My favorite, and the reason we go back is the Taco Rico. It's two small burritos smothered in thick chicken stock and melty cheese. Inside, the ground beef is flavorful and moist. I'm always surprised at the crunchy freshness of the iceberg that they slip in the beef. It's a pleasant addition. Also, ask for the salsa verde from the kitchen to accompany your chips.

Miss J.

Yelp
El Conquistador is one of my favorite restaurants in Waco! I've had their super nachos, enchiladas, taco salad, tortilla soup, carne guisada and a few other dishes. Their chips are good and the salsa is addictive! It's family owned and operated. They're so friendly! They do accept credit cards.

Rebecca M.

Yelp
Very disappointed- we started with the Chile con queso- it was literally velveeta cheese with salsa. We then had fajitas- no flavor and the cheese that they had accompanying it was cheddar. I have never had cheddar cheese at an authentic Mexican Restaurant. It is usually chihuahua or Oaxaca cheese. Definitely not worth the money and not true Mexican food
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David L.

Yelp
Garbage ass food had no flavor or seasoning hardly and the chips were hard and the salsa was cold as hell also had store bought flower tortillas and my plate all looked like things bought from a damn store like the beans and the chicken like they just warmed it up or something don't go here it is not a real traditional Mexican restaurant.
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Abbey W.

Yelp
We went to El Con on a Thursday night and even though the parking lot was pretty full, it wasn't too crowded inside. Our waiter was very friendly and didn't seem annoyed that it took us quite a while to order. The minute we sat down at our table, he was there to take our drink orders and brought our drinks immediately after the chips and salsa. The fajitas were huge and delicious. They bring you a plate of beans and rice on the side. My favorite was the chicken tortilla soup. It was a bit pricey (hence only 4 stars), but it was big bowl and it was the best tortilla soup I've ever had. The food came out pretty quickly. Our waiter was also amazing at making Pina Colada Daiquiris. The coconut flavor wasn't too strong and they weren't overly sweet. I will go back just for our waiter and the soup.

Carol S.

Yelp
Our first time there was with a group of friends. We were having fun, the food was decent, and staff were attentive but then the biggest roach I ever saw was crawling up the wall behind me. Sorry but I won't be able to go back.

Ken C.

Yelp
The best place in Waco for traditional Tex Mex. I love the Carna Asada (flank steak) and an order of bean and cheese nachos. Sounds simple but somehow they do this better than anyone else.
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Crystal P.

Yelp
Fast friendly service. Food was good. Probably the best guacamole I've had in a while. No waiting and was seated right away. Seems like a big enough restaurant for large groups as well.
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Shane E.

Yelp
The building is pretty neat and the bar area is cool. Our waitress was the sweetest little lady ever, but unfortunately, this is the end of the positivity.. The prices are outrageous! My wife and I ended up sharing a meal, which was average, not great. Much better places to get Mexican food around for better quality and lower prices... Chips and salsa were terrible. And as native Texans, you just can't have terrible chips and salsa!!
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Hefe C.

Yelp
Don't waste your time. Inconsistent service and management handling customer questions and concerns. Take it or leave attitude. Better options elsewhere in Waco.
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Crystal R.

Yelp
This location is alright. Food is good, as well as service. Prefer the Bellmead location as my favorite thing to get is the taco salad with the hot sour cream but this location doesn't do it that way. It's a personal preference I guess but it's the main reason I go there. Chips and hot sauce are always good.