El Giro

If you’re looking for a sanitized Tex-Mex restaurant, this isn’t what you’re looking for. Seat yourself, order at the counter from a big confusing overhead menu full of photos of their scrumptious offerings. This is solid fill-your-belly fare, like Mexican mothers made you growing up. The salsa bar is a nice touch but when they say “spicy” they mean it. I enjoyed the combinacion plata with my choice of two meats (lengua was a choice but I went with green chile pork and spicy pork.) sopped my homemade flour tortillas with this comfort food. I’ll be back.

I cannot recommend this place enough, staff is friendly and food comes out super quick. My go to here is the #26 Quesabarria tacos!! These things are amazing!!! Meat is so juicy and melt in your mouth and the flavor, oh the flavor. Sorry I ate one before the photo but it does come with three. My wife gets the menudo every time. I do like the broth but can’t get past what menudo is to actually eat it. More power to you that do. I haven’t ever had anything bad here, tacos, mulitas, sopas and more. Cabeza meat, asada, and even the lengua is amazing. Can’t go wrong with this place.

I had the birria plate, which was delicious. In my opinion, it is a big portion, I wasn't even able to finish it all. My husband had the menudo and it was also good. They both come with tortillas.

When I first moved to Amarillo I would eat here all the time. The food tasted similar to what I was use to growing up in Ca. Over the years, the food started going down hill. I don't mind having a miss every now and then as long as the majority of time the food is great. Here recently the food has been a miss more than it's been a hit, to the point that I'd rather not waste my money on it anymore. The last time I went I ordered the chili Verde plate with flour tortillas. The tortillas were so hard I couldn't eat them and the burrito my husband ordered had old dried out chicken in it.

The asada fries are so good. The the order is huge. Not sure if they have half orders but they should. Great place to eat.

Very delicious and authentic Mexican food. It's one of those "hole in the wall" restaurants, where it may look questionable, but serves some good dishes! I always like to ask for the favorite or most purchased food item on the menu. The lady that took my order was real knowledgeable about the food, and gave me a ranking based on what people come in and usually order. So I wanted the first on her list, which was (I believe it was the Quesabirria tacos) menu item #26. They were very delicious, the meat was cooked perfectly, and it wasn't overly greasy which happens often in establishments. It came with a red sauce to dip the tacos in, and it didn't have any strong flavors, but it complimented the meat by making it juicier! Now for the cons (going back to my "hole in the wall" remark). Walking in I immediately noticed that it was kind of dark, and several of the light fixtures were completely broken. There were many cameras that were pretty obvious and a couple tv's that were not turned on. I couldn't see into the kitchen area, but just looking up at the menu there were several flies, that I also encountered while eating my tacos. The paint job in this establishment is pretty odd, theres an orange stripe that circles the ceiling in one room and then yellow walls everywhere else. Restroom was clean, but the paint was cracked and the toilet handle did not work. I would definitely come back to eat here as my tacos were superb! However the lack of cleanliness made me a little nervous about what I was consuming.

Good food. Looks a little run down and could do better with their touch ups. Also, the room is dark. Like not enough lighting and the walls are not welcoming. Staff are busy but not longer then ten mins to order and sit down

First time there and really enjoyed their food. The service was good, the menu is on the wall behind the counter and really easy to read. Prices are good, the restroom was clean, it was a good first time experience. It's located on Bell right by I-40 so traffic can be a bit busy most of the day but don't let that stop you from pulling in and trying their food.

I never ended up eating the food, but I ordered breakfast tacos. One, the tacos were very expensive ($3 each). Two, the restaurant charge for extra salsa, and I only got two little cups for three tacos. Three, and the reason I returned them without even touching them, is they used cheap store bought tortillas that reeked of chemical preservatives. After just smelling the tacos I immediately went back for a refund. To charge that much for tacos, to nickel and dime over salsa, and then to use the cheapest, most awful smelling tortillas, I can't imagine why they have such good reviews. The other food may be great, but I wouldn't come back to try.

Pleasant service, great atmosphere for a quick meal. The menu has great photos of the food.

The carnie asada was very good. The beans and rice were true Mexican. We liked the street tacos which also made with carnie asada.

Great find in the most unlikely of places. Just a normal mom and pop shop with amazing service and even better food. Tried the birria plate and 3 tacos. The birria was good but definitely not the best I've ever had. The tacos were great. The meat was seasoned well and they were quite filling. All and all. Great find. I will return next time I'm in town.

This is a great spot for a quick meal! I called from the road as we wanted to grab our food and head to our hotel. They didn't have my order ready, but I didn't mind waiting a few minutes for fresh-cooked food. We ordered asada & pollo tacos (3 tacos with beans and rice and 2 additional tacos) and a quesadilla with fries for our son. The restaurant is pretty small and simple. I loved the quick service (there's even a drive-through option) and the salsa bar! Our favorite was the bright green spicier salsa. Our food was good--I didn't catch a picture because we ate it before I could!

One of the best Mexican foods in town! Gluten free options thanks for bringing the authentic experience

Awful! Beans taste like watered down crap, I asked for extra sour cream and they gave me none, rice is so unflavored. Over all I wish I could give a negative review so a 1 will do

Place was really good had a carne asada burrito and it was very authentic Mexican food I got 2 burritos for me and my mom and it was only 17 dollars all together the prices were really cheap for good quality food compared to Oregon which is 17 dollars for 1 meal I'm definitely returning whenever I'm in the area and I high recommend it

Great tasting Mexican food that has a lot to offer with menudo, pozole, tacos and everything else! Reasonably priced and friendly fast service.

Everything we've tried here has been great! Great authentic Mexican food - one of our favorite places! Very reasonable prices!!! Just go!!! You won't be sorry!!

We eat here about once a week and have never had a bad experience. The asada tostada is amazing and fresh. The al pastor tacos are always delicious. My kids love the asada fries. Everything is always wonderful and the ladies are so nice and so fast. If you go for breakfast, the burritos are good sized and delicious and I love the chorizo breakfast tacos. Their horchata is also my fav.

Very good and price is on point recommend this place great food and the party taco tray is a great price just awesome

My husband and I love El Giro! It's a secret little treasure in Amarillo. Fair prices and amazing food. The menu has over 30 options and they have a salsa/topping bar fully stocked. Will be back soon!

Wonderful authentic Mexican food prepared quickly and made with true flavor! Ordered carne asada platter and cheese enchiladas - everything arrived to our table quickly! Beans and rice were full of flavor not to mention that the carne asada was thinly sliced with a wonderful char! Highly recommend this small restaurant for an economical and authentic Mexican meal!

Muy buen servicio amables las muchachas y la comida de buen sabor y rápido. Recomendado.

Their food is so good esp the barrias tacos but they're very rude what needs to be fixed.. and expect you to tip them after being rude.

While in the wall. But wow the food and the prices. So worth it. Get anytime we drive through Amarillo.

Beat mexican food I have ever eaten. Prices were so reasonable. Customer service excellent!!

This local joint provides authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex breakfast and lunch. I discovered it several years ago while in town visiting family. Our favorite is the breakfast burrito. It's chock full of greatness: eggs, beans, potatoes and cheese-you pick the protein. Their salsa is tops, Rojo and verde, both have a little heat and are full of layers of flavor. If you make Amarillo by morning grab a burrito from El Giro and your stomach will thank you!

EG---Always very Good!!! All of the staff was pleasant and the extra condiments you add at your own discretion always fresh!!! Give a try soon and let everyone know what you think!!!

I wasn't ending my vacation without trying some birria tacos. I sat in the parking lot googling locations and found this gem less than 15 mins away. The restaurant was deserted when we arrived although I can't imagine why because our food was incredible. We ordered it to go and being the fatties we are, pulled into a shady spot and went to town. Definitely worth it. You owe it to yourself to stop here if you ever find yourself in Amarillo. 10/10 would go again

Probably the best true "mexican" restaurant in town. The party box, birria tacos, and asada fries are killer. The staff are always very nice and ordering is always super fast.

Best place ever the asadas fries are the best !!! I haven't tried anything else the service very good

DELICIOUS!! My wife and I came here for lunch after church and had the most amazing and delicious meal. I had the carne asada and she had the cheese enchiladas. Food is made fresh! People were so friendly too!

Barbacoa tacos are the best I've had. We were passing through Amarillo and just stopped by to get some tacos. We ended up coming back on our way back because they were so good.

Boy, I would eat at this place practically every day at lunch if I worked in this town (ok, city). I spent a year trying every taco joint, taqueria, taco truck, taco fast food, and taco restaurant in the town I work in. This would easily rank among the best and I'm not kidding. The menu is really straight forward and easy. You go to the counter, look up, and go for it. Cashier was very helpful. This place is small and doesn't have a lot of staff. Go ahead, put your adult pants on and drop some money in that tip jar that consists of a bill and not just loose change. They will appreciate it and it is worth the extra care. I had the three taco platter. Corn tortillas of course. They were small but two per taco. If you wanted to, at $1.35 you could add more. That's cheaper than those trashy chain taco spots. And MUCH better. I tried the barbacoa (just awe-some pleasuring of the palate), the al pastor (my favorite which was hard among these three) and a carne asade (which deserves all the fame it receives). Came with light and fluffy rice (very well cooked) and the standard savory beans. My wife had the agua fresca (melon flavored) and I lost my mind with envy. She always does that to me! No matter what I order, she always out orders me. Place was clean and relatively open on a Sunday night. I would definitely recommend anyone try this place out. If you don't like it: marry a Hispanic woman, move to a central American country and beg her mother to feed you for the rest of your life. Otherwise, this is as good as it gets as a corrupted tex-mex version of authentic food. Pro tip: Get the agua fresca! (and let me know how the other flavors work).

After a long day driving the food was so good. I just found it on yelp. I would definitely go again.

We are traveling across the country as we move from Louisiana back to Arizona. In 6 years, we could not find authentic Mexican food in Louisiana. Found this place tonight using Yelp and were so happy. Birria tacos were great. Carne Asada tacos were great. Beans were perfect. Thin and you could just taste the lard! Pickled carrots were the perfect addition. Highly recommend!

Locally owned and quality food for a fair price. I've yet to have a plate I didn't enjoy. Some of my favorites are the quesadillas, street tacos, asada fries, and for breakfast the combo burrito. They have a drive thru and a small seating area inside.

Update: They clearly got rid of the nephew who was standing in. The Pastor is excellent! I will head there again soon. Always enjoyed the great effort they made to please my tastebuds. Tonight it sucked. Beyond bad. Ordered a burrito that was 40 % rice, 35% potatoes and the rest looked like meat but I was not sure. It was supposed to be chile verde but it tasted like chile dog crap. The chicken tacos were way below acceptable. Even the damn french fries ordered w a burger for a child were inedible. Blah. I did notice the usual cooks were not there. Nephew "whoever" needs to stay out of the kitchen

Great hole in the wall taco spot Constantly great, quick and excellent salsas. I recommend if you want street style tacos give this place a try

Great food, good prices, and staff are nice. They have a few different salsa options but I believe that the green is by far superior. They have a great breakfast and lunch/dinner. Food comes out very quickly. They also have catering option, by this I mean you can order a lot of tacos at once they may have others that I'm not aware of. As low as traffic is on Bell at 5 pm you have time to get out your car run and get a couple of tacos and be back before the light turns.

Got 7 of their tacos... I could only finish 5 but they were excellent. Clean salsa bar with fresh veggies and toppings and friendly service as well. It was a nice find. Will definitely come back next time I pass through

Very short with us. The lady behind us ordered 5 meals (most dishes have rice and beans) after the lady said they were out.When we went to pull off my husband checked our order and it wasn't even our order. She charged me almost 20 for 3 street tacos so I'm not sure if I was even charged correctly. I got my order back and my husband said they can't put chicken in what I order which makes 0 sense so. I left with no food and charged money. It just makes me think the food is

Latino food!! Place is clean. Go check it out :) my husband and I love the asada plate. Delicious!

I highly recommend this hole in the wall Mexican spot. Authentic. Fair prices. Driving across the country and happy to find this gem. Highly recommended.

We were so pleasantly surprised by this little place! I'm usually very picky by how restaurants appear from the outside-but we just needed quick tacos as we were passing through on a camping trip. I'm so glad did! These were some of the best tacos we've ever had-we even stopped back in on our way back through. I don't remember what they called it-but it was the one with bacon, egg, potatoes (loved the way they cooked these like hash and separate), and cheese-and then topped with their two hot sauces... omg drool worthy.

I got the birria tacos and they were so amazing. Highly recommend. I sought this place out just for those and I am so impressed. Also this is exactly what I think about when I want Mexican food. A little whole in the wall and it was the bomb definitely coming back tomorrow.

Work ordered street tacos for lunch. These were so good. I had to go over to their location and get plate for dinner. Dinner plate was as good as lunch meal. Gave 3 stars b/c they didn't have chips or salsa on any of visits, and my 3rd visit for a breakfast burrito was a salty/queasy mess. They didn't offer/have pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños but offered red sauce that added nothing to burrito's favor. Their chicken street tacos(cilantro,cheese,meat,green and red sauce on side), beans/rice are delicious. The lettuce and tomato is an up charge. Definitely try the street tacos.

The best breakfast burrito you will ever eat! I get the combination burrito. Also chorizo is great.

Hurry! It's good. Fresh food. Kind staff. You'll be back for more. I like their chicken and beef and their rice and beans. Quality ingredients.

What do you mean your out of chicken? Don't know how the food tastes because they didn't have any.

Awesome and authentic! We were passing through for the night and were craving Mexican food. The restaurant did not disappoint I had the flautas and the chicken was really moist, well-seasoned, and was actually chopped up - not long strings of chicken breasts. My husband had the El Giro chicken plate and loved that too. The restaurant was close to our hotel and easy to find. They have a drive through but we chose to call in a take out order and pick up inside which was a good call because the drive through was crowded. The staff were very helpful and nice. I'd absolutely eat here again!

Omg! I arrived here based on reviews!! And it is Da Bomb! Fresh food! Prepare to order! Grate taste and amazing ! Portions are good size ! And grate prices! Absolutly you have to come to eat here! It's not a chain place - it's family owner !!! Support locals ! It a YES ! ( nothing fancy in this place - but you come for food )!

Living in the neighborhood close by is great because the drive thru is so convienent when you want to grab some tacos and horchata. Always friendly and quick service!

Worst customer experience ever! Came in to try the tacos on Halloween night (my birthday!) and they were not bad. So I ordered 40 carne asada tacos and a large Menudo to go to feed the troops. The option to order 20 taco fiesta packs is not on the menu hanging on the wall. The young and obviously inexperienced cashier did not make me aware of this deal and gleefully charged me for 40 individual tacos. When the food was ready and packed, it was not pre-packed with vital Salsa's, apparently even if your ordering to go, you have to spoon out your own salsa ounce by ounce in little ounce plastic bottles. The thought of filling 40 mini ounce Salsa's for 40 tacos was very daunting. I asked the cashier for a cup to fill up, she informed me that the salsa was actually 25 cents extra an ounce. "Just to be clear, the Tacos dont come with a Salsa?" I asked "The Party Pack (20 tacos) only comes with 9 Salsa's" she responded. "The Party Pack?" I asked, dumbfounded. That is when she revealed the existence of the party pack and the fact that she had in fact charged me for 40 individual tacos instead of 2 party packs. Since I had paid for 40 individual tacos I should have been given 40 individual Salsa's. I didnt feel like getting into an argument on my birthday, especially over salsa, the stuff Taco Bell literally gives away. So I asked how much for a cup (6 ounces) of salsa, then. She tapped away at her computer and came up with $6.00 dollar answer. I did the math in my head, at .25 an ounce I should have been charged $1.50 for 6 ounces of salsa. That's when I realized I'm dealing with thieves. They must have paid for all those awards on the walls because this place just lies and cheats you out of money. Will be reporting to BBB too. Never coming back here again. Smh.

Real good food, authentic and good prices. The pictures on here are A complete depiction of what you get. Just know that some of the stuff is already premade so for example that to Quito's are chicken and you can't get them and steak. The street tacos are $1.35 each and include cilantro and onion. They also have a great little salsa bar with jalapeño carrots that I love. Probably will enjoy this place on the way back home to Colorado

My favorite taco place in the entire world. Simple, flavorful, affordable. The asada is delicious. The polo is perfect. The carnitas are phenomenal.

I was surprised I hadn't left a review for this place yet. I've been here four or five times now. I highly recommend their chicken plate. The first time I didn't specify which one so I got salad and fries when I was expecting rice and beans. The second time I made sure to get the rice and beans and I liked it better. I've also gotten the combination plate a couple of times. Be aware it includes chopped meat not large whole pieces. Very good flavor though. The last time I was there I got taquitos and I can't say I was really impressed. It's a good price but I got a fairly small amount of rice and beans with it. I know most places give you a good size serving of rice and beans since they are so cheap to make. But, I was looking for an inexpensive meal and not necessarily a huge amount of food so it worked out. Probably the thing I like best about this place is there Aguas Frescas. They have horchata, pineapple, and melon. I'm not a big horchata fan but I bet they're good. I usually get the cantaloupe which is absolutely delicious. Once I got the pineapple and it was wonderful also. The place always looks real clean. It's a nice go to place if I don't want to travel far since it's close to where I'm staying and not expensive.