El Manantial Restaurant

This place is legit. A must stop for quality food. I've been wanting to try torta ahogada for years and this was masterfully prepared. Crispy pork drowned in a flavorful sauce with a nice Árbol sauce. I'm in love with this dish and they set the bar high. The Birria tacos were on point with excellent flavor. Service was fantastic. This is a popular place that the locals go to and for good reason.

Amazing food, beautiful interior design, Jalisco style fresh, delicious, and authentic cuisine. Impeccable service, beans and extra chips free of charge. Great cumbia music. Great prices too!! Can’t say enough good things about this restaurant, so good! Hands down best restaurant I’ve been to in the state of Texas. Highly highly recommend!!!

Voted best Mexican food in Amarillo many times. I always go back for the Birria plate and the bisteak.

Authentic Mexican at its finest. It’s the hole in the wall restaurants that give you the best food that feels like it was made with love. I had the Birria Taco’s which were delicious and full of flavor. I will make a stop here once a week while I’m working here.

The service was swift and attentive. We were met with an accommodating smile and seated promptly. The restaurant and bathrooms were clean. The menudo tasted pretty good and was substantial. Their enchiladas were fair for the price. The real stand out was the corn tortillas; there was just something unique about them. The staff there was great the chefs even lightly seared the enchilada tortillas giving them a very home made feel.

Amazing and authentic Mexican flavors! A little pricier than expected and first appearance doesn't look great but the flavors inside are super yummy. Spice and kick and meaty flavors. Got the quesadilla, burrito and torta. A little salty after eating it all but worth getting for that yumminess. They take credit card but there's a fee. Highly recommended!

Very friendly food very good and the service was excellent we are from out of town recommend this restaurant if you come through this way.

Definitely a local watering hole with amazing food and friendly service! It was buy even at 3 pm, and I imagine it would be busier during regular meal hours. Service is quick (took about 10 min for our three plates to come out), and they give you complimentary chips, salsa, and beans to eat while you wait for your food. Vegetarian tacos: Awesome use of seasoning on the vegetables and a perfect amount of grilling on them as well. Mexican rice and beans were fantastic. Fish tacos: Very tender and moist and flavorful fish meat with perfect tortillas. The rice was very rich and buttery...it was a white rice and didn’t look/taste like the typical reddish Mexican rice, but still good! Pairs very well with the Chile de arbol salsa. Beef birriria tacos: Delicious shredded beef with perfect tortillas that can bee dipped in a beef stew to make it even juicier! 10/10 would recommend

So this place is the best authentic restaurant in town! It's not for everyone, you have to have a true taste for REAL AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD! So to those who don't agree, Taco Bell is up the street every thing I've ever tried here is on point and absolutely full of flavor!!! I highly recommend every single item on the menu!

Absolutely perfect hole in the wall Mexican place. Great food. Good salsas. Phenomenal Michelada. Friendly. Quick. Clean.

Sadly, the food didn't live up to the hype. I ordered the cheese, chicken, and beef enchiladas -- the cheese was watery, the chicken overly salty, and the beef was the only one I really enjoyed. The rice and refried beans lacked flavor. On the bright side, the service was excellent, and the food came out quickly. The decor is colorful and festive, creating a fun atmosphere. I was honestly surprised (and disappointed) given the high ratings this place has. I really wanted to like it, but the food just wasn't there for me.

Authentic food, house made refreshers, and the kindest staff you'll find make this my "Go To" Mexican food stop when in Amarillo. It may be a bit of the beaten path, but don't let the area dissuade you, or miss out on well made dishes just as your Abuela would make.

Had the two burritos dinner beef. Great service. Great food. Great atmosphere. Loved it! Would recommend as great experience. Also had live entertainment tableside.

We were on a long road trip to Houston and I was craving some Mexican food so I of course hopped on Yelp and as usual they didn't disappoint. It's a small atmosphere but decorated with so many colors and Mexican culture all over the walls. We were immediately sat and had the most friendliest waitress you could get. We got our chips and two different salsa, man o man there is nothing like Texas Mexican food especially the chips and salsa. They also have a full bar, I got a house margarita and it was also good. Not to sour nor sweet. Just right! For my dinner I got three carne asada street tacos, they were so full of flavor with rice and beans. They were good also but the tacos were the number one thing I wanted so bad along with queso. We did get some queso and it was the white queso w some meat in it and omg it was phenomenal! Overall this place definitely didn't disappoint with the food and service! If I'm ever in the area again I will 1000"% stop to eat.

Well. The exterior scared me a little. I'm not usually one to try hole in the walls. I've been burned a few too many times. But y'all, inside this place is very cute, decorated authentically, and appealing. We were created immediately and given our choice of tables. Tables were unique and colorful. We ordered the quacomole appetizer and two orders of Tacos de birria con queso which is a house specialty. Flavor bursting is the only description of the tacos. I got a side of dipping queso cause I forget queso is just cheese! lol. But man, this place has the best tacos I've ever had. Only place that comes close is a place in El Paso called Julios! And this was better!

We love this place. The food is delicious and the staff are very welcoming. We always get the Birro tacos. Guacamole great as well. Give them a try.

Off of N Dallas Street and Amarillo Blvd around the corner from the soybean/corn silos loading yard. Fantastic little restaurant in the working side of town. Best corn tortillas I've probably ever had. Extensive authentic cocktail menu including Prickly Pear Margaritas and Cielo Rojos. Margaritas are poured heavy, and the food is awesome. Husband had the marinated pork tacos and I had the Pesco Diablo with white rice and orange slices. We're driving across country (road trip time) and getting our fix of Tex-Mex before we head to the East Coast where they really don't have an ideal understanding of it. Great service, super clean, really good food, chill vibe, off the beaten path for some, what more could you want? Not a lot. Thank you El Manantial!

This place was recommended by the front desk at our hotel. It was fantastic. It's authentic Mexican food and dang tasty. From the tacos to the salsa everything was good. It is now in the list to visit every time we are in Amarillo for work. Service was good and the prices are reasonable.

This is a diamond in the rough for sure. As other Yelpers have pointed out the neighborhood is a bit sketchy and the area is sparse but don't let that keep you from coming here to eat, it's completely worth the trip. The ambiance is perfect and the staff is wonderfully friendly. The musica is authentic. All great positives, but of course what we all want to know is, what about the food? The food is really good. It's no frills so don't expect fancy but honestly, this place doesn't exude fancy it exudes authentic, which is exactly what you get. I had the combo with the chili poblano a taco and a chicken burrito. It came with beans and rice. They were all wonderful, hot and flavorful. A word of advice. If you're going to get the chili poblano don't get it to go eat it at the restaurant. It definitely loses a little bit during transportation. But that was my fault not the restaurants's. Highly recommended.

Had carnitas, barbacoa, and chicharon tacos with a Mexican coke and shared queso and chips. Also got the pastel de tres leches for dessert. Service was great and staff were friendly and quick. Cute decor and Mexican music playing and just fantastic food. If you're coming through Amarillo for any reason you gotta come in.

My friends and I came here for lunch. My friend has been living in Amarillo and is Mexican and says the Tex-Mex/Mex food here isn't the best but she loves this spot. I was excited to try it bc I'm a huge Tex-Mex/Mex food fan. I got a mango frozen margarita and the chicken enchiladas with salsa verde. The food was very affordable and tasted great. The service wasn't the best though. We never got water refills or chip refills and had to flag down the waitress a few times for both.

We are passing through Amarillo following Route 66 and wanted some great Mexican food. I found the Yelp reviews for this restaurant and we decided to give it a try. As others have indicated, it is not a fancy looking location. However, our food and drinks were outstanding. The menu, including the drink menu, is quite extensive and reasonably priced. Our servers were friendly and attentive. They were warm and gracious even though we finished our meals several minutes after the posted closing time. If we were locals, We would be frequent customers.

Service was great. The food was seriously lacking. Beans should have been cooked longer. Relleno had barely any cheese and the skin had not been taken off so it was tough to even cut. Birria de Jalisco soup tasted off as if it was a few days old. Tacos were decent, but not something that I'd come back for.

Really good Mexican food. Probably the best I've had in Amarillo. Friendly staff and a nice quaint dining room. I will definitely come back!

Friendly, great service. Food was exceptional! The Birra con queso were great, as well as the Plato jalisco! Highly recommend El Manantial!

We found this gem on Yelp and we were so excited when we pulled in the parking lot and saw it was full. If the locals love it, it must be good! We went on Saturday, July 18th and Saturday, July 25th. I ordered a small ceviche both times. It was great and fresh on the 18th but not so much on the 25th. Hubs ordered enchiladas on the 18th and said they were good but the 25th he ordered the chilies rellenos with fajita meat and a carne sauce. He didn't eat very much of it and said he wouldnt order it again. Service on the 18th was great, service on the 25th was slow. Chips and hot sauce with white beans is the bomb. The have good looking drinks and beer but we didn't partake. Ask questions before ordering like is the ceviche fresh and what other sauces do you have. Altogether a great place just not consistent.

Duuuuude this food is SO GOOD! I actually need to thank Yelp for this one - we used the app to find a well rated place to eat and this was a little ways away from I-40 so we would never have known it was there if Yelp hadn't suggested it. The restaurant lives up to the hype. Super friendly staff, really exciting menu, absolutely BANGIN' food. The seating area is small but they smartly didn't try to over stuff it with chairs and tables so it feels cozy rather than cramped. Love the art showcased on the wall for sale. I added some pics of the food and it was just as good to eat as it was to look at. The chef definitely knows what they are doing. Next time I pass through Amarillo, I'll make sure to do a follow up stop for another round of this amazing food!

The food came out fast and hot. Something smelled off. The waitress was cautious yet optimistic. The rice was wet. The spice was missing. Which is odd given the authentic ambience The tres leches was dry but really delicious. Best thing on the menu

So glad we checked Yelp as we pulled off Hwy 40 for a break in cross/country Road Trip returning to CA fr VA!! We were traveling w/ our 2 French Bulldogs and we're hesitant to leave them in the car while we ate. My husband noticed 2 tables in their foyer and received OK for us to be served there. Both the servers and customers were friendly & welcoming. We started by sharing a generous-sized frozen margarita and then ordered several specialty meal items, including a chicken enchilada w/ green sauce and a taco w/ carne asada. Everything was freshly prepared & exceptional. Prices were very reasonable as well. What a hidden gem!!! I never would have tried this spot w/out help from Yelpers. HIGHLY recommend for authentic meal.

Authentic Mexican restaurant off Rt 66. I thought we were lost before we arrived. The service was quick and efficient. We had a combo plate--the enchilada and relleno were unremarkable as was the plain street taco. The sopes were solid and filling. I had a house margarita which was way too sweet. We were disappointed in the food for a place listed as the top Mexican restaurant in town. It was fine but not extraordinary, but you'll get a great taste of authenticity.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. If you're looking for a small, locally owned restaurant that has authentic Mexican food, this is the place to go! Down to the decor- very "little Mexico". I love it. Their breakfast is sooooo good. Go with some chilaquiles or huevos rancheros and you can't go wrong. Their birria is the bomb too! Honestly, there's nothing you order than you're not gonna like. The servers are always super helpful and food is made to order, so you may wait a few minutes, but always worth it. I just learned they have happy hour specials on food and drinks too!

Stopped here on the way home (Texas) from Wyoming. This eatery was seriously poppin for a weekday. Seems like a hotspot for local workers/laborers. Lots of vibrant energy in the dining area. I got the taco plate and unfortunately the serving size was tiny. I know street tacos are smaller, but these didn't have much filling. Rice and beans sides were decent. Ceviche appetizer was good. Fresh fish and shrimp with lots of chopped veggies to give great taste and texture. My guys carne asada plate looked great! Service was excellent. Knocked off a star for portion size. Taste and service were great, however

El Manantial has wonderful home cooked authentic Mexican food. The complementary chips with 2 salsa (mild & spicy) and Mexican white beans, all 3 were very tasty. Hubby and I ordered 4 beef Birrieria tacos served with chopped onions, cilantro, beef broth, refried beans and rice. I was disappointed they did not use the consommé (broth drippings from the beef). The beef in the tacos was tender, very flavorful. We also ordered the Chili Relleno plate. The chili Relleno- Poblano peppers was stuffed with mozzarella cheese, lightly batter and fried golden brown and topped with a delicious tomato sauce. The refried beans were creamy and flavorful. The rice was mildly flavored and delicious. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

It was busy when we got there, musicians were playing, it's a small place so the music was extra loud but overall the atmosphere was nice. One of our plates was brought out six minutes later than the other two, that's the one thing I didn't like. Food was good especially the beans and rice- perfectly seasoned with authenticity just like we cook at home. They are bi-lingual so don't worry if you don't know Spanish it's a nice little out of the way place to enjoy a drink and authentic Mexican food.

This is the real deal Mexican. Grandma's in the back of the house cooking some great authentic dishes. Also, Flaun, just like we had in Mexican. Service was good as well.

We've been here multiple times food is just ok it's really nothing special. Small little restaurant but they do have pretty decent drinks and the waitresses everytime we go have been really nice

Hands down one of the most authentic and amazing Mexican restaurants we have ever been to. The food here was cheap and delicious!!! I saw the amazing my reviews this place had and I knew I had to try it out!! We ordered a couple of margaritas, the chips and guacamole, and some ceviche and it was just amazing!!! I 100 percent recommend this place if you are stopping by Amarillo. It was perfect!!!

People seem to love the place and after several tries I just don't. Ordered chilaquiles w red salsa. It was just so watered down it was basically red water over tortilla strips. Just yuck. Beans taste too much like pork lard with zero salt. Just no. If your craving delicious Mexican w/ REAL chile Colorado go to El Tejavan.

Fresh fresh fresh! It was a little discerning driving to with the kids but once we got there, we weren't disappointed. The frozen Mano margarita was super! Kids plate was a little small but we had plenty to go around and the service was great! Well done!

Incredible food. Homemade corn tortillas, pinto beans served with the chips and salsa, sizzling hot skillet beef--wonderful. However, it's a tiny space which tonight was filled with the loudest accordion duo I've heard that filled my head with sound and prevented any conversation, including between us and our party. My head is splitting!!

Best Mexican food in the area. They always provide excellent service even on busy days. Family friendly and it's the best part of my weekend when I get to go.

My husband and I visited El Manantial on a Friday afternoon during lunch in large part because of their phenomenal reviews and yelp deal ($10 for $20 of food). The place was PACKED! One thing that stuck out to me almost immediately about the menu was that there weren't any lunch specials. Most of the menu items were between $9-$11. I ordered the pollo a la plancha and my husband got their Jalisco special. We waited for nearly 25 minutes to receive our food. My dish was just ok and I think my husband's was as well. The food wasn't as well seasoned as I was expecting, based on the reviews. So, I walked away feeling a bit disappointed. I probably wouldn't go back there if we were to pass through Amarillo again.

Man the Yelp folks are all spot on about this place!!! We stopped when our usual spot was closed based on the reviews we saw. I had birria coma lads and hubby had their taco de birria. We were both in love immediately. We loved the cilantro added to everything and the beef bullion was phenomenal. We also had the queso and we're not disappointed. I switched corn tortillas for the flour tortilla and they were hand made and delicious. Our server was excellent!

Found such a good restaurant! It's definitely a dive but really good food! I had the Birriea Estilo Jalisco (basically 3 mini tacos) that were soooo tender! The queso was really good as was the chips and salsa. Very good enchilada too!

I am from California & if you've ever had Mexican food from California you know it's different from Texas. THIS WAS SOO FREAKING GOOD! I've been living in TX for 9 months and have not found anything that's really satisfied that craving but this restaurant was recommended to us by some locals . SO good. I got the shredded beef enchiladas, portion was perfect, service was prompt. Food came out fast & salsa was delish ! Highly recommend

My fiance and I were bound for home in NYC, and part of our week-long cross country drive was going through Texas (with a planned couple nights stay in Dallas). We decided as part of our trip, to stop in Amarillo to eat and gas up. I was craving authentic Mexican food, and after going through several Yelp suggestions/reviews, we decided on this grand find! Let me just say that we had some of the best tasting Mexican food to date; it was as if I was having a meal at my abuelita's house! Fresh and delicious food all around! Their margaritas were tasty and very refreshing! Their service was great, loved the decor, and the restrooms were very clean. Should we find ourselves in Amarillo again, we'll be sure to stop by, say hello and grab a bite to eat too!

Amazing, amazing, amazing! This place is a hidden gem in Amarillo, TX. The wait staff is awesome and the food is delicious. It is off the beaten path, but it is worth the extra few minutes of drive time to get there.

Thanks Yelpers! We usually drive through Amarillo, at least twice per year. Since it's our 1/2 way point, we tend to stop and grab a bite on the way back home... So finding this place was a real treat! Their customer service was much better than most! My daughter had their shrimp cocktail w/ octopus. She loved everything but the octopus, so I had to try it. It was just a bit harder than it should be, basically overcooked. When we mentioned it to our server, said don't worry. She will go back and make her some fresh octopus! When it arrived, it was cooked perfectly! My hats off to this server for her excellent customer service... All of the food we tried was really tasty. Not just the average Tex-Mex. From their Shrimp Stuffed Avocado, to their We will definitely be making the effort to come back, the next time we are passing through...

So yummy - just a little pit stop in Amarillo!!! Highly recommend it - the Huevos Con Guisado was awesome - super tender w great flavor! The breakfast burritos were also a huge hit! Chicken quesadilla were also great! Red salsa and pinto beans for appetizer were tasty!! The queso was good but a little runny! Highly recommend and we will come back on our next time through!

Food is AMAZING!!! Nice and clean service is great and they serve "pot beans" with the chips and salsa, they are DELICIOUS!! Gonna need another one for yourself cuz sharing is not an option for me!!

Good food! A little pricey but overall great. Service lacks and can be better. Need to stay open a little later for others that work late.

Wow! This place in the middle of no where in Amarillo was amazing! Food reminded me of a small villa in Tullum. Everything was so fresh and the portions were huge. They also have the best hand rolled corn tortillas I've probably ever had in the states. Not to mention, where else have you been that's fully seated at 4:30pm?

Best hole in the wall Mexican food in Amarillo! Street tacos are really good as well as the enchilada plates. Fast service and they sometimes have a couple of mariachi singers to serenade your meal!

Was in a taste for some Mexican food, and stopped by this place. It was nice and affordable. I was in the area so it was right on

The food is phenomenal. Love the vibes of the restaurant and the service is always great. You have to try the Birria tacos and the michelada omg best I've ever had!

We stopped here on the way back to Colorado for take out. It was a neat place, lots of patrons inside watching the Mexico/Argentina World Cup game. While lacking in presentation (it's hard to make to-go food look good), the food was excellent. I had the Birria Estillo Jalisco, which ended up being a soup (I thought it was a plate), but the beef was tender and the soup was very savory. If I had it to do over again, I probably would have ordered what my wife did, the Camarones a la Diabla. She didn't share them, but she confirmed it was very good. The tortillas were excellent (both flour and corn).

So we stop every year at this place on our way to Santa Fe NM. We even make sure and leave from Houston in time for them to be open when we drive in. Ambience is nice and they serve full menu from the get go. They have been great only issue was this last time. There was 5 adults and 3 kids so good size table but not outrageous. All was great until food came out, we were missing steak on a plate, my caldo(soup) was small not large, I'll get to that one in a sec. The other plates pretty all except one were mismatched. Now we let them know and they brought out the missing pieces and all set. Now my caldo oh man she was polite and said don't worry I'll bring out the right one you can just keep that one, so I was like cool ok even my wife took my corn from my small caldo cause she said it looked delicious. A few min later she brings out this tiny cup with more caldo and beef in it, and basically like if you added the cup to the bowl it would make it a large we all just busted laughing and man I didn't get another corn. oh well i guess she corrected the problem just not the way we had heard. We laughed and food was good. We will stop by again next December