El Indio Mexican Restaurant 13th St

El Indio is hands down one of the best spots in Gainesville for authentic Mexican food. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a casual meal, this place never disappoints. Their street tacos are the real deal—simple, flavorful, and packed with quality ingredients. I highly recommend trying their beef tongue (lengua), carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas tacos. The beef tongue is incredibly tender and melts in your mouth, while the carne asada has that perfect char-grilled flavor. The al pastor is seasoned beautifully with just the right amount of spice and sweetness, and the carnitas are crispy on the edges yet juicy inside. Pair them with fresh cilantro, onions, and a squeeze of lime, and you’re in for an unbeatable taco experience. Beyond the food, the service is always fast and friendly, and their prices are more than reasonable for the quality you get. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Mexican food or trying street tacos for the first time, El Indio is a must-visit.

The city street view is ugly and smells but the patio itself is very nice and clean and very pleasant, this is hands down my favorite authentic restaurant..if I'm in the area I always stop by because the service is great and the food is amazing! And besides the patio I love the cultural art in the parking lot and the genuine care the staff has for your comfort and happiness. Highly recommend My uncle 💯 always has to have some every time he comes to town. Says it's the only food in Gainesville worth getting cause he said it's the realest he's ever had since he'd been to Mexico

First time I have tried this place and was not disappointed. I ordered the 2 traditional beef taco combo. The food came out hot and fast and for a pretty fair price. The tacos were great and same for the rice and beans. The seasonings were good but I could have added a little more salt for my taste. I’ll be back soon to try a burrito next. Came back and got the carne asada burrito and it was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

One of the best places in Gainesville for Mexican food. One of the best places for food period. It's quick, reliable, delicious, and utterly unique in this college town. The enchilada combo is my go to, a platter absolutely filled to the brim with food. You definitely get your bang for your buck, a rare thing to find, and even rarer when the food is just THAT GOOD.

We ordered catering for a graduation party for our UF senior and his friends this weekend. It was a HUGE hit - guests were so excited and the food was fabulous. And so much food - it was a terrific bargain. We did a Taco Bar for 15 people and a fajita bar for 15 people for about $450 total and it fed way more than 30! Thanks to everyone at El Indio for making our party a great success! Highly recommended!

El Indio Mexican Restaurant is a fantastic spot for anyone craving delicious Mexican food in a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. The menu is diverse, offering everything from classic burritos and tacos to vegan and vegetarian options, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The service is incredibly fast and efficient, making it perfect for a quick bite or a full meal with friends and family. The restaurant goes above and beyond in ensuring accessibility, with wheelchair-accessible entrances, restrooms, and seating. I was also impressed by the variety of service options, including outdoor seating, delivery, and a drive-through, making it incredibly convenient no matter your preference. Parking is hassle-free, with ample free parking available in the lot or nearby. The overall atmosphere is casual yet trendy, making it a great spot for college students, groups, tourists, and even solo diners. Families with children will appreciate the kids' menu and high chairs, along with the friendly service. I particularly enjoyed the late-night comfort food offerings and the selection of beer and coffee. If you’re in the mood for quality Mexican food with exceptional service and a welcoming environment, El Indio Mexican Restaurant is a must-visit. It’s a true gem!

5 star Mexican drive-thru, with some tables under shade to enjoy their delicious food. Shrimp tacos were so tasty with a generous amount of shrimp. Looked like an extensive menu that included shakes and ice cream. Definitely give it a try, worth the visit.

Food was delicious. we had chicken soft tacos and beef enchiladas. Tables were not clean but not a problem they were cleaned. My young son loved his chicken tacos.

Love this place and I'm quite sad to see so many bad reviews. Their food is wonderful, and their staff is even better. You just need to know what to order if you're coming here!! Their large cups are crazy big, so order a large drink if you're ready to have a drink that will last the entire day. This restaurant is perfectly placed, but unfortunately construction around town can be loud. That is not at fault of the business at all, and I will not deduct my precious stars because of some annoying unnecessary construction. El Indio is perfect food for a child day. Not expensive at all. The thought of their queso is making my stomach gurgle . Overall this is the greatest restaurant in Gainesville. They totally need to get an ice cream machine in there too because the other Gainesville location I'm sure is making bank from their machine... and the placement of this El Indio would have students coming for a chicken bowl and ice cream for years... they'll never get out of business. I love you El Indio.

The customer service there isn't really the best the workers aren't nice and they were rude to me both on the phone and in the drive through. As for the food it is decent but nothing special and their prices aren't too bad. In my opinion you get the most food for your money if you get a bowl I got one with chicken and it was pretty good I also like the refried beans Update: I got the chicken quesadilla and it is super good definitely the best thing I've tried off the menu. It was really big too. The workers are still rude tho. Their nachos are also really bad they have barely any toppings and I would not recommend

This place is a Gainesville legend. An institution of the city. It is everything you want from fast food: cheap, filling, tasty. No, it's not some luxury restaurant with beautiful decor and comfortable seats. Instead it appears dingy, slightly rundown, and can be classified as a dive. But these are the very qualities that make you want to dive in and get a meal here. Service is fast and efficient, which is what you want to see from a fast food joint. And I have to say, their chimichangas are my second favorite after La Tienda. Nice and crispy on the outside with a delicious chunky beef filling, it is a filling meal, especially with the side of beans and rice. Put this place on your list of must eats in Gainesville. And once you get your food, make sure you have a couple cold beers to throw back with your friends :)

Amazing mexican place that I think is overlooked. I've been recommended it for the longest and finally tried it! The food here is a little smaller on the portion sizes, but i feel that it reflects in the price. You can get a burrito for like $7, which I don't really know of anywhere else you can still do this in 2023. The burrito was absolutely delicious and everything inside was cooked well. Definitely recommend the carne asada. The taquitos are also absolutely delicious. They're really crispy, covered in cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. I definitely recommend these and el indio as a whole.

My new fav! El Indio offers a nice menu. The food was freshly prepared. Portions are large. My burrito was excellent. Service was courteous, efficient, and offered with a sincere smile. El Indio is a local favorite - you can't go wrong stopping by.

I love this place! The outdoor seating with a legit cover in fantastic rain or shine (I've been there for both.) The people behind the counter are very courteous and are bilingual English/Spanish. The food prep area looks clean from where I order and the dining area is always free of trash and debris with clean tables. Now for the food. The burritos are great, but the street tacos are legit fire! Not on the spicy end but delish! You need these tacos. I have had the chicken and the carne asada, both are out of this world as far as street tacos go. Marinated Meat, white onion, cilantro, and a lime wedge with little cups of salsa to add the spice. So simple, so perfect! Definitely worth returning for more street tacos.

El Indio has been a staple of my upbringing for the last 30 years. I was in town for an event and decided to get dinner one night and some breakfast a day or two later. I got an enchilada plate with asada and it was great! For breakfast I ordered a breakfast burrito and breakfast taco. Both were very good. I highly recommend El Indio if you haven't been before, everything is great. Except for the prices, I know prices go up but this used to be a budget place to get some really good food, now the prices are significantly more and seem like they go up every time I'm in town.

I used to LOVE El Indio but over the past few months, I don't know what it is, but they simply cannot get an order correct. I tried making a point to speak clearly (without sounding like a miserable arse) It's becoming not worth the aggravation and it makes me sad.

I'm from Houston, and I get really homesick sometimes for the food. I miss genuine Tex-Mex so much and it's basically impossible to get in Gainesville. El Indio is one of the best places to eat in general, and it's also the closest I can get to Tex-Mex comfort foo, just like from home, in Gainesville. So much of it is like the Mexican food from my hometown of Houston. The cheese enchiladas are on point. The queso is good and the guac may be better. The chicken fajita burritos.... GIRRRRL!!! The fajita nachos are wonderful. Oh, and the tacos-- fantastic! It's not exactly like home, but it's like a little restaurant that I could stumble upon in Houston, try for the first time, and think: a new Houston restaurant! El Indio would fit right in, and I mean that as a great compliment. Oh!!! The refried beans are wonderful. Very important. Did I mention that this is a drive-thru place, and the prices cannot be beaten? There are other Mexican restaurants in town charging so much more money for food that is nowhere near as good, in my opinion. in fact, some of it I don't like at all. El Indio is where you should be eating. Fantastic food, low prices, the staff is very friendly, and they will get you your food quickly. If you like, there is a place to sit outside. They have a couple of tables. And there are two locations in town. They are equally good. I love to get my food at the drive-through, go straight home, and watch a movie. It makes for a great Friday night.

Great fresh food made to order. Super friendly staff. Taco Tuesday and breakfast burrito Wednesday is a plus. This should not be considered a fast food restaurant.

the food is really good, service is great and fast, you should really try the horchata. The ambiance of the place is good and really good background music.

A tip was added to my bill without my consent! I requested a receipt, and the woman who handed my food out the window acted confused. Instead, she gave me silverware and then more sauces. Frustrated, I drove off, but I figured this is why they didn't give a receipt. When I got home, I logged into my account to see that I was charged more than what I was told my total was. How dishonest! If it happens again, I will report it to BBB.

Horchata goes crazy here. Chicken quesadilla is always packing heat. If you're a saucy gal ask for their salad dressing and dip literally anything in it and it makes the good food even mo gooder. 10/10 gvill classic, they also have good deals pretty regularly and have a solid website.

Took a quick trip up to Gainesville to drop off my son and stumbled upon this hidden gem. So close to campus on NW 13th street, this laid back, fast food Mexican restaurant serves authentic tacos, burritos and even breakfast. They offer takeout, pick up and drive thru and are open from 9am - 10pm Monday - Sunday. It was raining, so we went through the drive-thru. Service was fast and excellent. The girl behind the window was so helpful she pointed us in the right direction on what to order. Everything is prepared fresh and, on the spot, we were not disappointed. Tacos are offered in hard or soft taco with a choice of ground beef, chicken, veggie or bean. 2 large tacos were loaded with lettuce, slasa and cheese our order came with 3 and they were delicious. The Taco Salad was a large flour tortilla bowl stuffed with fajita chicken, black beans, lettuce, cheese salsa and guacamole with a side of dressing on the side. Don't skip the guacamole...it's one of the best and the homemade salsa is so fresh with lots of cilantro. Portions are large, which is perfect if you're driving home, you don't need to stop again on the turnpike. This was the best fast food, I've had in a long time. I know exactly where to go next time I'm in Gainesville. Can't wait to try the breakfast!

This place has a very unique design! They have two drive through lanes that make it super convenient to order from and also two windows for dine in orders. The food came out really fast and the workers were all super nice. The food was actually really good and tasty. The carne asada is well seasoned and the ingredients in the burrito go together very well! I will definitely come back and try more items from the menu! Also, I recommend trying the apple burrito. It was sweet, yet light.

Heard many good things about this place, and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to try it! There are 2 drive-in lanes and a small area to sit outside and eat as well. The service is quick, and the food is great. My friend and I both got the carne asada bowls. The food was extremely well seasoned. The only thing I wish was that there was less beans and more rice to balance out the rest of the contents in the bowl. Nevertheless, I can't wait to come again and try all of the other things on their extensive menu!

I used to love this place but the recent price change was too much. The portion sizes were already small and my usual order went from $20 to $27 after we already saw 2 price changes in the last year. Good food, ridiculous price for what it is

Papitas con queso por favor lol Love the staff the girls at the counter are busy busy always working hard. The kitchen crew is always on it busy busy and the Food is see u soon

poor customer service, unprofessional, food comes out wrong every time, great mural in the front tho

Very cheap and they'll try to mislead you for more money and less food. Definitely don't recomend

I wanted authentic street taco and I'm very disappointed. Their food isn't authentic and overpriced for a half assed portions. To be honest, their carne asada bowl is good but portion keeps getting smaller every time I ordered for 3 years.

I've eaten here more times than I'd like to admit lol but there's a reason I keep coming back. El Indio is the perfect restaurant for those nights that you're craving Mexican food. They have street tacos (cilantro and onion), American style tacos (lettuce, pico, and cheese, the best enchiladas around, and every other guilty pleasure you can think of from a restaurant like this. Their queso is amazing. Their salsas pair well with the tacos. The rice and refried beans are consistently delicious. The ingredients always taste fresh and El Indio always satisfies my cravings. A little hack that I do is to order grilled chicken instead of shredded chicken. The grilled chicken is just more flavorful in my opinion. The drive thru is a bit clunky, but it gets the job done.

Tonight my visit to El Indio was fantastic. I cannot recommend this place enough if you're looking for cheap yet delicious Mexican food. Cherry on top, they have excellent service. 5 Stars.

I went here after a doctors appointment and the food I must must say was delicious. It was quick, easy, and the service was friendly. I will definitely be back there!

Not sure how I have never been to El Indio until now, but I will definitely be a regular from here on out. Not only do they have a convenient drive thru, their staff was the friendliest I have encountered in a long time. They were so kind and helpful. They are vegan friendly and we're well-informed on which options were also GF. That plus the $4.99 kids meals makes it really hard for anywhere else to beat. Highly recommend.

Quick, cheap and authentic Mexican, AND I can stay in my car if I want to? Sign me up! My bestie had been raving about this place for months and I didn't even realize that I had eaten El Indio before but never experienced the drive-through and location on my own. Since realizing that, I've been back countless times. Service is always quick and the food is always delicious! I love grabbing a few tacos, (usually Chicken or Steak), chips & salsa and can't get enough of them!! They don't skimp on the filling either, so expect to be full! The only item that I've tried from El Indio that I wasn't a major fan of, was their Guacamole. The first time I tried it, it tasted very "pre-packaged" but the 2nd try seemed much better, but we'll see. A great place to simply grab some food and hang with your friends, El Indio is always a good choice!

Pretty tasty. I saw an old review on this place I did and wanted to update. Still friendly service. Food is pretty tasty! They can get slammed around 7pm so if you're in a hurry better to go a little before or wait a little afterwards. I'm still a sucker for the Taco salad (Carne asada). The shell can be hot or miss sometimes. Miss when it is a either too oily, over cooked, or seems kind of stale. But when it is a hit, nom nom nom!! Get the Horchata too. Yum NW 34th

This place is a Gainesville classic!! It is centrally located, has an easy drive-up/take-out place, or you can eat at tables outside. It is a little cold today, (55 degrees) but sunny, and still people bundle up to come get these tacos and more! A couple is seated outside, close to the order window, and a napkin blows off the table, but the guy gets up and snags the moving target like an eagle on its prey. A few tables over, friends, bundled in their FLA winter gear, laugh amd pass salsas and hot sauce. One reaches for his drink, as they entertain themselves, delving in the tasty goodness of this place. I ordered the three street tacos al pastor style, (cilantro, onion and lime wedges with a delicious marinated pork with pineapple chunks, wrapped in a corn tortilla) and the lady smiles at me as if to say that would be her choice too. I almost winked at her, but smiled back instead. This place has really gotten a facelift! It now has a nice eating area along a wall with a Southwest-themed mural on it that adds a nice touch. There is a fresh paint job and the other eating area has tv's and a beautiful stained wood ceiling. They seeem to be working on a double drive-up window as well! The cooks and workers here are always busy, always taking orders, closing the window, going to the drive-up window, talking to the cooks. Everyone is well-trained! The food here is amazing, and that is the basic reason why they are growing!

El Indio is Authentic Mexican. Fairly priced under $10. Close by the Hub on 3rd in Gainesville UF. Big Menu vs Chain Restaurants. Parking. Outside seating. Busy Drive-Thru.

Gas. Boy lemme tell you dis stuff was solid mayneee. I wish I would have gone to dis place sooner ain't no cap.

Ever since my trip to Austin and San Antonio in May, I've been obsessed with breakfast tacos. I've driven past El Indio too many times to count and only recently have I found out that they sell breakfast tacos! After a little wait in the convenient drive thru, I was so thrilled to have three piping hot breakfast tacos in hand. I decided to get two plain (eggs, potato, and cheese) and one with added chorizo. At $2-3 each they are reasonably priced for the size. I was pleased to see the tacos are lightly grilled, so the tortilla has a slight crisp to it and the cheese was melted. The plain tacos were very good; they could have used more seasoning, but adding a little salsa made them super delicious. The chorizo ones were very flavorful and delightfully greasy. They weren't as good as some of the better ones I've had in Texas, but they were very good! I've been back 3-4 times since my initial visit and I continue to be pleased with the tacos. However, sometimes it takes a while for the food to come out (sometimes waiting 10 minutes at the drive thru window) and the staff is only sometimes friendly. Regardless, I really enjoy the food here and look forward to many more breakfast tacos and trying their full menu in the future!

I really enjoyed stopping here! It was recommended by a friend as a great spot to get fast Mexican food and it truly did not disappoint. The selection is primo with options for anything you're craving. I had the carne asada tacos, which were pretty awesome, and my buddy got the al pastor, which made me quite the jealous attendee. I'd love to come back and try some of their options for burritos. The best and worst thing about this spot is their drive thru--great because you literally don't even need to get out of your car if you're trying to get something quick, but not so great because their only seating is covered and out doors, so coming on a bad weather day may not be your best option. Even still, I would stop by because it's cheap, it's great tasty food, and it feels a little different than your average Spanish fare. Give it a shot if you havent already!

El Indio has some of the most authentic mexican food in Gainesville. It is always quick and convenient as it is a drive through restaurant. The tacos are truly the star here - the carne asada tacos with onion and cilantro are killer. The onion and cilantro are always fresh, and topping it with their Al Pastor sauce is necessary. The chips and queso are also amazing but I have to say I don't love their guacamole. Order some Jarritos to drink too!

El Indio is my favorite casual Mexican restaurant in Gainesville. With its only options being outdoor seating and drive-thru, El Indio has a completely relaxed vibe. This is a perfect place for a chill meal on a cooler night. Service is almost always super speedy and I've never waited too long for my food. The food is incredible for the super affordable price point. There's a wide variety of menu options, including plenty of vegetarian options. I've yet to leave El Indio unhappy with my choice. With their generous portion sizes, I always leave full, sometimes with leftovers. The horchata is refreshing and flavorful, something I have to order every time.

It has been far too long El Indio. I ate here ALOT as a junior and senior at UF. Went today on a day trip to Gainesville and it's still the same awesome place. Back in the day it was a little more grungy. I liked it that way. It's pretty hi tech now. Lots of workers. Food was out in a hurry. Still the same great food though. They now have a beautiful covered seating area. Was only a couple of picnic tables when they opened many years ago. This is a walk up / drive thrust only. No inside seating. I had the carnitas burrito with chips and guac. My son had the carne asada burrito with chips and salsa. My wife had a big bowl. Very cheap. Very good. Very fast. I will not wait so long to go back next time.

Everything seemed stale. The chips weren't good the salsa was watered down the steak was chewy and cold and the chicken seemed like it was reheated or something. The whole bag of food just wasn't good. Maybe it was some freak visit but it definitely wasn't good.

Good Mexican food and the service was very nice. The seating is outside, on a day with good weather, it has a very nice atmosphere.

First of all, let me say that me and my sister only paid $13.80 total for a combo meal, 2 tacos, AND chips and salsa! Also, we paid and got our meal in less than 10 minutes during rush hour on a Friday night. If that doesn't tell you a great business strategy then I don't know what is. Parking: relatively easy since there is also a drive thru so people get in and out quick. Dine in: there are tables scattered in front of the order in window and then around the establishment, so there was no issue! Also, there were fans and a TV underneath a covering so it was nice eating outside. Service: like I said before, they are super efficient in handling the dine ins and the drive thru orders. Taste: overall pretty dang good for fast Mexican food. This isn't any Taco Bell for sure, they make sure to provide authentic food for their customers. Overall, if you want a cheap and pretty authentic Mexican food in Gainesville definitely stop by here!

We decided to try breakfast burritos here. I was hoping to find some good Mexican food in Florida. The burritos were good size and fresh. Flavor was honestly meh. The red salsa was good, the green tasted like more of a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavor. I wish I could say it was better but it really wasn't. The horchata was watered down and perfumey. Too bad more places don't make breakfast burritos here.

I ordered in person and everything went fine. I got the enchilada combo with two of them cheese and one tempeh. They could definitely use more red sauce on them as they were a little dry but everything else was great in the bowl. The tempeh was pretty good too but could use some seasoning.

Our son took us for a quick lunch and we all devoured our delicious food! They have horchata!!! Love that drink Next time in Gainesville, I'm gonna have some tacos al pastor!, que rico!

A favorite of ours, easy and fast. Only annoying part is they can never properly hear us through the drive through speaker, even if we shout. We always have to pull up to the windows. We are a vegetarian family and we appreciate all the vegetarian options they have. Even the rice and beans are packed with flavor. I recommend the tempeh street tacos and the taco salad. My husband loves the burritos, yum yum yum

I've always past this place many times when I started going to UF but wow I've missing out for the longest because they have great fish tacos, tempeh taco, and carnitas platter. There was an incident when I ordered 3 fish tacos and got 2 frozen fish. Like I under stand yall need to throw out orders asap but frozen fish in a taco is really meh. But, in most incidents, its good. I've tried a lot of things on this menu. The quesadillas come out a little too juicy and its just a mess for me. The chimichanga platter is sometimes amazing but sometimes okay. I think its because the ratio of cheese and meat is just off. Burrito sometimes has the same issue of too much salsa. But, overall I love coming here. The tacos and carnitas platter are the best.

Yah know a cute spot with a LOT of options here. My friend raves about this spot, so I stopped in for a quick lunch on a Friday. It is a quick service location and has a drive thru, always convenient! It probably took them about two minutes to get my order out which was great. I had ordered one veggie taco, with a side of rice and black beans. Simple but $6. Not a terrible price, but $2.85 for one taco? My taco was sadder than when your ice cream falls off your perfect sugar cone. It contained no veggies. I guess I ordered a salsa, black beans, and a few sprinkles of cheddar chè taco. The refried black beans (assuming they only have refried?), and rice weren't bad and it was a fairly big portion. Overall, very MEH, likely wouldn't bop here again sadly.

The food is cheap and comes out insanely quick but that's about all that is good about this place. I had a chicken burrito combo which was just ok. Also had a carne asada taco which was awful (who knows what type of meat it actually was) Also ordered chips and queso. The queso had good taste with a slight spice, but was pretty liquid like, I prefer a thicker queso. The chips were the final nail in the coffin. One chip had what appeared to be green mold on the outside. It was only one that I found like it but that is one too many. Absolutely disgusting. 2 stars only because of good, quick service. Definitely will not return.

heaven! authentic, fresh, flavorful. I just moved to Gainesville and love Mexican food. I was referred to El Indio near my work and fell in love. then to find their 2 nd location near home made me smile. I highly recommend this restaurant to all.

The windows are all covered so you have minimal contact. They had signs everywhere to remind everyone to social distance. I got fish tacos, Asado carne, and el pastor! It hit the spot perfectly. My food came out quickly and it was piping hot. I highly recommend you trying out all of their sauces too! I didn't even get a chance to take a picture I ate them so fast

Wow this food is good. And the staff wear masks and have stayed careful during COVID. Our favorites include al pastor tacos, fish tacos, the black beans and veggie nachos! And the salsa verde is so bright.

This place is such a gem! Great Mexican food for great prices, honestly a local staple.

If you're looking for a good and cheap taco then you've found your place! I'm a vegetarian and I always get one hard veggie taco and one soft veggie taco. They are generous with the toppings and usually the filling spills out of the taco because it is so packed. The tacos are flavorful and even better with the sauce they give you. The drive through is quick and you really can't beat the price.