El Jalapeños Authentic Mexican Restaurant

Food was pretty average. Service was nice and the interiors transport you to across you’re Southern Border. Margaritas were worth their $ and really strong.

I hate to write this but I ate dinner here tonight and there was a German Cockroach in my food. The server and manager were both attentive and the manager said he didn’t even know what to say about it. I’ve already reported to the Board of Health. Soo disappointed as this used to be my favorite place but needless to say I will not be coming back.

when I got there, they were not too busy. I asked for a menu at the host stand, and the guy wouldn’t give me one. So I’m like OK whatever so then I make my order. I live literally five minutes from the place. All of my food was stone cold! I only ordered $30 worth of food, including the queso fundido and the decembrados??? I had to warm both of them up for a total of five minutes. That’s how stone cold theywere. I had a really bad day and I am so sorry but I do not deserve to spend $30 for food that is stone cold. I am so upset right now. I can’t even tell you.. Don’t go here if you wanna get food that’s hot because I guarantee you it’s gonna be cold

I have been here a couple of times now. The food is always good. The service is quick and always nice. Food comes out very quickly. Very decent prices and a good size menu. Pretty quiet place. Tables are available for larger parties if needed. There is a bar inside and authentic decorations. They also have homemade salsa & chips! I will continue to dine here.

Stopped at this fine establishment with my partner and loved everything about it. The food was fresh and the service was great. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Definitely visiting again.

We order a tacos and fajitas, No Flavor at all, no season I have to request lime to have some flavor the carnitas in the taco and the shrimp in the fajita dry, when I eat Mexican food I order horchata the don’t have natural juices the first time I go to a Mexican place and they don’t have the traditional Horchata, the meat in my fajitas was so tiny and the salsas are not spicy at all sorry but I came for vacation and I wouldn’t come here again, I pay $86 for a dry and not tasty food. The place is nice good music

I eat here often. My BFF and I went to have dinner. The margaritas are strong and so much food we took our leftovers home. Great customer service and speedy food arrival not to mention it's a chill vibe there.

Always a win at el Jalapeños. Went with a part of four, food was served fast and fresh. Got a pitcher of blackberry margaritas and it was excellent! Been there many times over the years and have never disappointed

It's not bad about the shredded or pulled chicken has absolute zero flavor. Everything else is good, but if you're looking for chicken, I would order something else. Service is always good and the ambience is your typical Mexican restaurant. Be careful pulling in and out, though it can be a little dodgy.

The food is always great. Above standard for the traditional Americanized Mexican Restaurant. The service is always good with a laid back approach. The decor is somewhere between exactly what you'd expect and mildly tacky. The hot sauces offered on the table are great! Chips and salsa excellent. Every food item I've had hits the spot!

Everything was okay. Not the best Mexican restaurant I've been to but not the worst. I got a steak quesadilla and it was pretty good. The steak had a really nice flavor to it, well seasoned. I could've done without the lettuce because it seemed wilted but everything else was fine. I wish I would have gotten a plain lime margarita and upgraded the tequila. 3/5

I have been here a couple times now. The food is always good. The service is quick and always nice. Food comes out very quickly. Very decent prices and a good size menu. Pretty quiet place. Tables available for larger parties if needed. There is a bar inside and authentic decorations. Homemade salsa and chips too! I will continue to dine here.

We have gone here a few times since moving to the area. It's been fairly consistent and enjoyable. The Azteca platter is perfect for sharing and it's my favorite thing there. But, everything we have had has been quite good. The decor is nice and comfortable. Service and the music volume tend to be a little more unpredictable. They're usually fairly attentive with occasional bumps in the road and we have asked to have the music turned down one time when we couldn't hear each other in a nearly empty dining room. But, all in all, we're happy to keep this place in the regular rotation.

Great wait time, go in and out withing 15 minutes. Fun environment as well. I ordered two shredded chicken tacos, and one beef.3 tacos for $11, pretty good deal, however the quality was sub par. Chicken was dry, beef over seasoned, crumbly hard shell. Not to mention the chipped dishes. Best part was cheese on tacos, the salsa also bumps it up. -Taco and Tink From The Hungry Hungry Hippos

This is an authentic Mexican restaurant. The service is excellent and the food is very good.. Everything about the place remind you of being in Mexico... including the owners kids doing their homework in a booth! I visit a Mexican friend who lives in Cleveland regularly, and she always insist that we go here. It really is worth a visit.

if you're not eating here you're missing out; the food is incredibly delicious, & consistently good. Is it "authentic" ? I don't actually know, but, i can say this; the food is freshly made, the chips are warm & crispy , the vegetables are charred perfectly & the beans & meats are absolutely delicious... i recommend the Fajita Salad in particular, not like any other "salad" i've had & VERY filling. The ambiance is "authentic" enough (the music alone is excellent! ) and, the gracious staff provides excellent service & makes you feel right at home ... highly recommended

Service was great. Food was excellent. Loved the home made salsa and chips. We had the lunch specials and they delicious and affordable.

Stupendous and amazing Mexican restaurant with incredible food and delicious margaritas! Came here on a busy night but still sat extremely quickly at the bar. It was a very festive atmosphere and took part in the holiday cheer! The margs were giant and quite delicious - dangerously delicious. The steak nachos were absolutely stunning. Hard to get the construction correctly but the layers of meat, cheese, veggies and sauces were divine. My go to is a shrimp quesadilla and I was SO over the moon. First, the quesadilla was massive and the portions of rice and beans were enough for army. The shrimp and cheese inside were so tender and tasty - though I was stuffed to the gills by the time I left, I was so satisfied and very happy to reheat my leftovers the next day. Awesome place and some of the best Mexican I've had in the Great Lakes!

Food is delicious and always fresh and hot. Speedy service with a smile and drinks are huge. Even on a busy cinco de mayo we were seated within minutes and served right away

El Jalapeno quality and food have struggled for a couple of years, but they have returned to normal, and it is better than ever. They redid the inside a few years ago. The food was absolutely amazing and fresh.

I've never been disappointed. Food is always fresh, hot and generous portions. Drinks are always strong. Customer service is great.

Good restaurant that serves heaps of food, make sure you come hungry, service was friendly, convenient location.

Multiple Health Code violations plague El Jalapenos. The kitchen and it's cooks are what makes a restaurant. Apparently, El Jalapenos fails on both. Dirty, bug infested, moldy food lying around, trash bins next to the food prep counters covered with flies. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING! THIS PLACE IS FOOD POISIONING WAITING TO HAPPEN.

An all time favorite here. Lakewood and Niles locations have been 10/10 very damn time

The food is ok. Pretty bland....very Americanized. I had the taco/enchiladas combo which was underwhelming. Salsa has zero heat.

Some of the best Mexican (Tex mex) in the area!!! The building is very beautiful inside and out. Our service was fast and friendly! The food was absolutely delicious!!! We got amazing portions and great value. Boyfriend and I both ordered the El Jalapeños Special which includes pork tamale, beef taco, beef enchilada, chalupa, and a Chile relleno, and a side of rice and refried beans. It was sooooo good! The pulled pork inside the tamale has a great flavor and texture, and the tamale breading is perfect! the beef taco was nice and crispy, the ground beef is perfectly seasoned and has that nice fine texture. The Chile relleno is FULL of cheese and not too spicy (just how I want it). I was too full to take a bite of the enchilada, and I had two boxes for my leftovers since I just nibbled on a bit of everything! It was lunchtime so I don't know how their margaritas are, but I would love to come back and find out!!! This place exceeded all my expectations! Thank you!

YUM! What's not to love about El Jalapeños?? The location is ideal, right off 117th in Lakewood, so it's easy to get to. This family run restaurant is wonderful. The staff are friendly, attention to detail is always on point and the food is amazing. I love the salsa, great amount of heat and it's not too chunky. Today we opted for lunch, the portions are still huge but at a price perfect for midday. I had the huevos rancheros and the eggs were perfect, three yolks that were just runny enough for the fresh tortillas that are always in abundance and hot. My Mother ordered the Speedy Gonzalez, one burrito and one taco with rice and beans and it was huge! Best part, don't forget your coupons! I love the service snd the food is authentic and always delicious.

Good food, nice warm chips with salsa and tasty margaritas. Bathrooms were ok but soap dispenser didn't work. Service is very slow, slow from start to finish. Can I get my check please....

The experience was a amazing. The moment you walk in you are greeted with Latino decor giving it an authentic feel. The meals were all affordable. Their queso was banging . Our waiter was really nice. Good drinks as well. Definitely adding to my restaurant go-tos.

El Jalapeños has the fastest service! I've been here a handful of times over the years and its consistent every single time. You can't miss the orange exterior on West 117th! When you're craving good Mexican food, El Jalapeños is a solid option to get your fix for all things delicious. You know a menu is big when the entrees have numbers assigned to them. Seriously, peep that takeout menu online. It's literally gigantic! On my last trip pre-pandemic, I ordered the Flautas, which is four fried flautas: two shredded beef, two chicken, and served with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and rice. I'm always a sucker for a frozen house margarita, and this one hit the spot. This is always a good combo! It's not necessarily a vibe or a romantic spot ambiance-wise but it's great for grabbing a quick bite with co-workers or friends! The food is authentic, the parking is easy and you'll have a great time with good food. El Jalapeños is located conveniently on West 117th and is a short drive off 2 West. You can't go wrong here.

I love it there the food so fabulous and delicious and the service is amazing like better than other restaurants Spanish food.SpanishEl Jalapeno 's Special is the best and the dessert is the bomb like Yay so good

Best huge margaritas around! Really cool hand painted booths. Authentic vibe. Chill spot we love going to on date nights or with the kids.

Who wants a fly in their drink? Or a hair in their appetizer? And seriously not even a sorry?

Stopped in at El Jalapenos for lunch on a whim, since I have driven by it so many times; I am so happy I did. Located in a standalone building, brightly painted, you enter on the side from the parking lot. The inside is old school knotty pine with plenty of Mexican accents which results in a warm comfortable atmosphere with a welcoming feel. Warm fresh chips and a zippy salsa hit the table quickly and are very well done. The menu is extensive, mainly classic Mexican dishes. I went for the Chili Relleno lunch with beans and rice. The dish came out in about 5 minutes on a colorful plate. Chili Relleno is my go to item to try a new Mexican place and El Jalapenos delivered as few places have. The dish came out with one perfectly cooked nice sized pepper stuffed with cheese, dipped in batter and fried. The pepper was just the right level of spicy heat, tongue tingling without burning out my taste buds, covered in a nice eggy batter and nicely fried. The cheese was just enough to provide a nice mild contrast to the pepper, without overwhelming it. The pablano sauce gave a nice tang, if anything I would have wanted more. The refried beans and rice were both very good; the beans smooth and flavorful with the rice being just moist enough. Service started very good and went downhill as the lunch proceeded; water was not refilled quickly, then I had to wait far too long and make as specific request to get my bill. I am hoping this was not usual. El Jalapenos is a great place for classic Mexican dishes, they do excellent renditions and the Chili Relleno was one of the best I have had. Prices are slightly higher then some other restaurants around town, but the quality is worth it.

Margaritas taste like peroxide. Frozen or on the rocks. And the staff refused to take it off the bill. Don't waste your time.

Beautiful classic Mexican restaurant with fantastic food! Each booth is a work of art in this family owned restaurant. Carne asada is awesome!

Stopped by before the snow storm hit. We arrived alittle late but they still took us anyways! Ordered some fajitas and a quesadilla! chicken, steak and shrimp allll absolutely fantastic. The service was okay, Not as attentive as id hoped but all around a good experience! This is your typical mexican food spot, nothing super special but exactly what you'd expect.

The staff is super friendly and food comes out quick. Perfect place for unwinding at the end of a long week. Texana Margarita is bomb so be careful.

I have been here 4xs. Good food all 4xs. No other Mex restaurant I go to is 4-0. They're doing something right here.

El Jalapeños is 'all-up-en-yo' face with its deliciousness... and if you missed that amazing pun, it's possible that the tastiness of El Jalapeños' eatery might be lost on you as well... and that my friends, would be a shame. The ambiance was a super authentic Mexican vibe with fun lights, great decor and robust colors. The air was filled with the sweet sweet smell of steaming meats and veggies, ayyyeeee - sizzling fajitas! The first thing (naturally) that caught my eye as I entered was the Specials board where a 42 oz. Margarita was proudly displayed. $11.99 you say? Was there ever such a bargain more worthy of my time? The answer is no, my amigos & amigas! What more pleasant way to spend one's Sunday than sipping on a fine blend of citrus and tequila (which can be shared, but definitely doesn't have to be ;) - turn down for what?) After ordering a taco, it was pointed out that they had a lil' taco bar toppings station, which for a lover of pickled jalapeños and endless sour cream, I was one happy chica. The tacos were a steal of a deal - $2.99, and definitely provided a strong serving of meat! I saved the very best part of this review for last, because for a senorita who sticks to beef enchiladas and shredded chicken tacos on the reg, a new dish swept in and stole my Mexi-heart. The El Tapatio did me in, ya'll. The perfectly seasoned grilled chicken breast cut into fine pieces with a mildly spicy sausage, topped with a melted cheese that is LITERALLY making my mouth water, came out of left field and hit me by surprise. Good heavens! I am not one to typically order the "build your own" scenario - but this would be something I would TOTALLY get in the future. I was lucky that my dinner companion, the real MVP of this story, shared! Seriously I am salivating right now thinking about that chicken. Send help; I need an El Jalapeños support group! Too bad my face is plastered all over this page and I'm not anonymous at all! I guess there's just no shame in my EJ game!

After living over 4 years in Lakewood, I'm ashamed that I didn't make it to El Jalapeños sooner! When you walk in, it really seems like a standard traditional Mexican restaurant. It is a deceptively large restaurant, and there's a decent separation between the bar and the dining room We were sat quickly, and the waitress was very attentive and fast. We waiting maybe 10-15 minutes for our food. My typical qualm with Mexican restaurants is that the food can be very bland (especially at chains). However, this is where El Jalapeños sets themselves apart. Every piece of meat, vegetable, and rice that I had was bursting with flavor and I couldn't stop myself from finishing the whole plate. The prices are fair considering the amount of food you get. This place has turned from a random find to possibly becoming our next go-to restaurant!

This is so not good. We got carry out from here today decided to deviate from our favorite Mexican restaurants locally. We read recent reviews on Yelp and Google and saw that someone had posted a review with a roach in her food. Make mine the second time to find bugs in the food. So grossed out!. We called the restaurant and am waiting for the owner to call us back to refund our money. Shame on them.

!!!!ROACHES!!!!! I'm really saddened to have to write this review because I've been to El Jalepeno several times now and always enjoyed their food. Last night was the first time I ordered their food for delivery. I was really craving their Sopa De Mariscos (seafood soup) so I ordered 2- one for dinner and one I could have at work the next day (today). It was well packaged- each soup container came with a second container filled with rice, onions, cilantro and limes. The 2nd helping of soup and rice I left completely unopened until just a while ago I removed to lid and put the rice in a bowl planning to pour the broth over it and heat it up in the microwave...That's when I saw the roach peeking out of the rice....My boss use to be an exterminator and told me it's a German roach, which almost always implies an infestation. The roach isn't cooked, but obviously the rice is, so I doubt it hitched a ride from the company that supplies the rice. I'm incredibly disappointed I won't be going back here because the folks that worked their provided great service along with tasty food.:(

I'm always on the hunt for good Mexican food and this place certainly delivers! Walking in, you're greeted with an interior that is fun and colorful. Our food was as good as you can get in Cleveland - I found their mole to be excellent (more sweet than salty), especially with the addition of their spicy sauce. The only thing lacking was the salsa as it had pretty much no heat or kick to it. The service was also good. We did have to flag the server down for anything after we got our food but honestly that didn't bother us - my wife joked it was part of the authentic experience since that's what she's used to in Mexico!

This place is so delicious! they had amazing and nice servers! they were all polite and always coming out with iced water every about 7-10 minutes i got chicken quesadillas which was amazing. literally my favorite food place now, the quesadillas came out a little soggy but it was okay! i like how they out everything on the side so if you order it automatically comes with tomatoes sour cream lettuce, extra that you put on yourself just they way you like it! the decor is wonderful no flys no bugs nothin'! i really do suggest this place and i will try to come atleast once every two weeks. try it you wind regret:)

DELICIOUS DELICIOUS!! Great food, nice warm atmosphere. Its noticable that it is a family restaurant. Food was fresh! Nothing in this place comes out of a can, very nice flavors. Large portions, we brought a lot home, for later. Our server was polite and attentive, he didn't mind going the extra mile, during the dinner rush! I will definitely be back!!!

I was in Cleveland visiting from Los Angeles. Was in the mood for Mexican food & I stumbled upon El Jalapeno's. After looking at pictures & reviews, I decided to try it. This is the BEST Mexican food I've ever had & this is coming from someone from L.A. Chicken is tender & flavorful. Steak is seasoned perfectly. Shrimp is wow. I can go on & on. But, if you're ever in Cleveland, definitely try this place out.

The food here definitely satisfied. I went with my friend and his 6 year old daughter. They have a kid's menu, which is a good thing. My friend's kid kept asking why the waiter kept filling up my glass of water. I explained that this is good service. She also told me this story: "I was in Amish today, and saw a horse that had 5 legs." I told her of the time that I saw a cow before with 6 legs while on a trip through Kansas (See review for Prarie Dog Town, Oakley, KS. Or check this link: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11444). My friend then explained that she was referring to the horse's you know what! I will never forget this hilarious dining experience.

I always get the fajitas and I'm rarely disappointed service is quick and efficient. Overall a pretty good value

The service here has been slipping a little bit. It's been an enjoyable experience for the last 10 years, generally a super reliable and decent Mexican restaurant in Lakewood. The original waiters and staff know what service is supposed to look like. They got the whole family living in the restaurant now. I have had experiences inside and outside the restaurant that were not exactly comforting. People bordering on loitering in the restaurant. It's disappointing because the family seems so decent and honest, but too much has changed and not for the best. The service, the ambience, food, the comfort has always been great. That's why I have come here for 10+ years. Things have changed, it's a shame. You could go there any random time and it's the same old, lovable El Jalapenos. You also could go there now and have a bad experience which was never the case before, never. The people that have been there forever still treat you with the same great service. All these new people though, need to go to church from the OG El Jalapenos staff and learn how to take care of their customers and give a F.

This is a really solid spot for Mexican food. It has a really big menu, and everything we ordered tasted really good. Serving sizes are huge so you'll have plenty to take home as leftovers. I thought the service was pretty good. One person in our group got their order mixed up, and our waitress was very quick to correct the issue. The service was also pretty quick. There was hardly any wait for our drinks and our food. The restrooms could have been maintained a bit better, but they weren't dirty. I would definitely come back here again.

The food is decent and dish sizes are large. Not super flavorful but basic and quickly made Mexican food.

My husband and I celebrated his birthday dinner at El Jalapeños Authentic Mexican restaurant on Saturday. Our meal was very good but there were issues. A large group of abt 25+ were so obnoxious, their disrespectful behavior for the others in the room was disgraceful. They we're literally yelling at each other to be heard, and they got even louder after their drinks were served. We were shocked when 4 ppl in the group were smoking pot using a cannabis cartridge pen. Not one employee approached them at any time. Thats when we had enough, leaving our half eaten dinner and drinks. We won't be returning anytime soon if at all.

Always great service and food. I brought my nephew for lunch for his 10th birthday. We've eaten here before. I had Chile Rellenos, it was delicious. The HUGE bowl of guacamole was enough for both of us and I brought a big scoop home. He was so surprised by getting a song a sombrero and a delicious dessert. Thanks so much as always. The salsa was the best I've had anywhere else in a long

Very good food and service. Good value for your money . Nice atmosphere and very clean. Very friendly staff, too!

Ordered the camarones del Pacifico which was recommended by a friend and I was very disappointed. The shrimp wrapped in bacon was deep fried not grilled and there was NO cheese inside. The cheese probably ended up in the fryer.

This place is a lovely place , i really like it it was my first time trying Mexican food and I like it . The little problème was the rice was salty a little bit , but I like it .