El Paisano
Mexican restaurant · Montgomery Village ·

El Paisano

Mexican restaurant · Montgomery Village ·

Massive chicken sandwiches, tasty pupusas, beef fajitas

El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null
El Paisano by null

Information

9112 Rothbury Dr, Montgomery Village, MD 20886 Get directions

$

See Menu

Information

Static Map

9112 Rothbury Dr, Montgomery Village, MD 20886 Get directions

+1 301 519 3559
thepaisanorestaurant.com

$ · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Dec 14, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater
391,113 Postcards · 10,988 Cities

Seattle Food Writers Pick Their Favorite Dining Neighborhoods of 2023 | Eater Seattle

"I had the tamales at El Paisano; you have to have them." - Eater Staff

https://seattle.eater.com/2023/12/28/24015406/seattle-food-writers-pick-their-favorite-dining-neighborhoods-of-2023
El Paisano

Melanie B.

Google
Got a chicken sandwich and a bean and cheese pupusa. The sandwich was massive and covered in slaw sooo good! Pupusa came with slaw and red sauce and was tasty. Total was $13. I’ll definitely Be coming back

Shahrokh D.

Google
Its a dangerous place one customer the bother me a lot and it’s not safe at all. Specially if you are not Spanish. I’m not coming there anymore. Only a Milagro Morales is very friendly and nice and good customer service.

Chris F.

Google
I usually would never leave a bad review and rather just not leave a review at all, but I have to say that the Sopa De Mariscos I Had to endure from this place was horrendously terrible! It had imitation lobster moosh meat, No crab, No real lobster, etc. I’m not sure about the rest of the food at this place nor will I ever find out because of the experience I’ve had there. It’s a hard pass for life from this place for me, my family, and friends!!

Stray K.

Google
Really nice cozy place, super friendly staff and owner. Food was reasonable priced. It is geared to gringos (they put lettuce and cheese on tacos) but of course you can get them without. I got the fish tacos and didn’t take a picture but they were awesome.

Lid Garcia (.

Google
The food is very delicious and the attention they provide makes you feel in the family. And everything is very clean, recommended for the family because the atmosphere is very good.

Amy

Google
Surprise.. Everything we ate was really good. Ceviche, tacos, and quesadillas. Food came out looking like the pictures. Picture of the ceviche. Tasted great.

Khaia K.

Google
This is a late review since my disappointing visit to this location. I remember to submit a review after a friend asked if I had eaten there since moving to my new home near by. I am new to the area and decided to search restaurants near me to be able to frequent. Checking out the menu on Google and seeing the fajitas had me excited to try. I drove over to the location and walked in to a huge disappointment. No one greeted me. The waitress totally disregarded my presence and continued their task as I stood there waiting for some assistance. I also noticed a person I assumed to be the manager with due to the dress clothes and tie he was wearing and clip board he was writing on while not standing too far away from me. HE also looked at me and continued his task. I felt embarrassed and just turned around and walked out after the horrible treatment I received and I felt very much UNWELCOMED. I hate say that I wondered if my African American race played a part in them not servicing me also due to the fact that no one was busy and the place only had maybe 3 patrons sitting in to eat. I will NEVER go back again to EVER be treated in that manner again.

jo S.

Google
We had the beef Fajitas, and they were wonderful. The beef was cooked perfect and the Tortillas were just right. My Margarita was quite strong, which is good. The owner came over to thank us for coming in. Such a nice friendly hombre.

Vanessa C.

Yelp
Food was incredibly delicious. Highly recommend trying it. The service was amazing and quick.
google avatar

Nikki P.

Yelp
There isn't anything Cesar about this salad. The menu makes it sound really good! A puddle of water in the bottom. Make sure to Drain water out before eating. Added cheese No onions Mostly iceberg lettuce
google avatar

Green O.

Yelp
I loved your wings. They were perfectly seasoned and crispy. I live 5 minutes away and would pay the delivery fee because they were so good. I ordered them tonight and you changed the recipe. They are now Buffalo wings with sauce. Why did you change the recipe?

Cristina R.

Yelp
Recently moved to the area so I was looking for a low key restaurant to check out. We asked for water and for water bottles. We had strawberry margaritas since they only had that and the original flavor and it was only on the rocks not frozen, no problem so we got a strawberry margarita which was warm and we did not taste the tequila. We expected chips and salsa but they never came. We ordered a picadia to share and as we sat to wait for food other customers came in. They received chips and salsa and we didn't know if they ordered or what but we asked for está shots on the side to put in our margarita. Overall food was not its best tasted as if it was left over and sitting all day. I would never go back. Food, drinks and service was a 1 not what I expected after spending $130
google avatar

Mari F.

Yelp
Good food. But the place is definitely not a familiar type of restaurant. There were mainly drunk man and the servers were drinking with the already drunk clientele. Not a place to take your family. Trust me, we learned the hard way.
google avatar

Terry B.

Yelp
This El Salvadoran restaurant is the real deal. The varias dishes they offer are a variety of El Sal traditional, Columbian regulars (Bandeja Paisa), a mix of Tex mex and some of the best salsa. The food is worth the wait. We definitely will be back!

Marbely M.

Yelp
First time at EL PAISANO and I will definitely visit again soon. Everything was delicious. From the sizzling fajitas to having cheese melt coming out of the pupusa. I'm daydreaming about it now lol. The plate portions were perfect and price is very reasonable.
google avatar

Big P.

Yelp
Great food fresh and the choices are perfect and plenty. Four stars will be going back soon
google avatar

Sharon G.

Yelp
How was it? This was my second time eating lunch here. Both times there weren't any customers when we arrived. That should have given us a clue. On this visit, I ordered the sampler platter. It was horrible. The chicken wings were dry and over cooked. Most of the platter was nacho chips, with little meat or cheese. The sour cream, usually one of my favorite parts of nachos, was liquidy and runny. Yuck! Not once did the waitress stop by to refill our drinks. When I finally asked for a refill, the waitress brought me a lukewarm can of soda and plopped it on the table in front of me. My sister used the restroom and said there was no toilet paper and no papertowels. That's just plain disgusting. The health department should be notified! Get us the heck out of here!!

Sarah K.

Yelp
Joined my mom and brother here for his birthday. They've been a few times before and report that the quality of the food has been consistent -- and man, was it good. Being a picky eater and a vegetarian, I just had a quesadilla and some chips and salsa. The quesadilla was a quesadilla. They're hard to get mess up and this one was good.The salsa was a little spicy but had a lot of good flavor. The salsa does apparently vary in spiciness. My mom and brother had a plate of grilled meats as an appetizer, and my brother had beef and chicken fajitas. All was more than good. Mom got a chile relleno (stuffed with grilled beef, dipped in egg batter, unfortunately too much cheese on top) and got an order of ceviche to go because it was stellar on previous occasions. Mom, who lived in Mexico for a year, says the food is almost entirely authentic, with a couple minor changes to account for "yankee taste." All in all, the food was excellent. The only reason this isn't a five star review is that the service is slow, if otherwise good. A couple minor notes: - There were tvs on, but not loudly enough to be annoying. - Decor is nothing fancy, but likewise non-offensive
google avatar

Ric P.

Yelp
Awful. Can't even begin to explain but I will try. Ordered the enchiladas, the portions were small and they were bland with very little flavor, and very cheap ingredients compared to other enchiladas have eaten. The rice was literally white plain rice, and the beans where kidney beans that tasted like they came out of a can. For $14.95 I expected a lot better. The horchata tasted old. And like one reviewer noted, there were no customers, which should have been a clue. I should have checked yelp first.
google avatar

David R.

Yelp
When value of the lunch is considered, definite five stars. For under eight dollars, they provided hot corn chips, salsa, steak, tomato, onion, rice, salad too! All in a sitdown environment. There's nothing fancy about it, it's a very small restaurant situated in a little strip mall. On the outside, there's big pictures of the food one can order. El Salvadorian is the cuisine here. On the inside, a simple rectangular space with tables and a spot for karaoke. The waitress told me on the weekend it is full of crazy people dancing and having fun! Given the value of that lunch special, I'll be back.
google avatar

Scott S.

Yelp
My review is technically a 3.5 star review. I am holding out on giving a 4 star review until we visit again, which we will. My wife, son, MIL, and I actually ended up at Paisano because Athens Grill was closed (owners on vacation), and I don't regret it. While there was a language barrier, English was partially understood, service was tolerant and quite friendly. While my wife and MIL had fairly safe fare, cheese enchiladas and a chicken quesadilla, these were still quite good and spiced in a way that you could tell they were not standard Mexican food. I ordered off of the House Specialties, getting a dish of braised beef over french fries. The beef was quite tender and the sauce was flavorful without being overpowering. All of us enjoyed the food we ate, and we will certainly return again. The only reason I gave 3(.5) stars is that while I liked the food and the service, it did not wow me. However, I'll give it a chance to wow me again, and even if it doesn't wow me, it was solid enough that I'm sure we'll eat there plenty more times in the future. One thing that stood out is that while it was empty for sit down customers (it was a Monday, so not a complete surprise), it does appear that they do a pretty decent take out, and their clientele is definitely Central American. As when you go to an Indian restaurant that is full of Indians, so too an El Salvadoran restaurant that is full of folks from Central America.
google avatar

Rachel B.

Yelp
Overall this place was delightful. My daughter and I split the Bandera Paisa and it was still too much food for us. She also tried the pupusas. My son had a quesadilla. All very good. Standout item: the yucca. So crisp! So melting soft inside! Bizarre item: a hideous bastardization of slaw. No. That should not have salsa in it. Could have been better: the pork chicharrones were on the dry and tough side. Service was rapid and friendly. We will surely return and it will be all about the yucca.
google avatar

Yael M.

Yelp
What do you get when you're the only white people in a restaurant full of Central Americans? Damn good food that's what. Yucca was delicious - crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and not too greasy. Fajitas were well seasoned and the steak on them was so tender and juicy! The atmosphere is very simple and the service not amazing, but I'm glad I live nearby. Oh yeah and loved the guacamole too.
google avatar

E W.

Yelp
This is the second time I've eaten here and it is the most amazing yummy delicious food ever. I lived in Argentina several years ago and the food reminds me of the sauces and salsa they made there. I got the "special burrito" and the sauce they use for the enchilada topping was so amazing I just wanted to lick my plate. Plus they give you rice and beans with it so I was so full!! I had planned on saving some to take home to the husband but instead I stuffed myself silly. Sorry hubby maybe next time. I will add that their chips and salsa are so delicious and worth staying for. I should also mention that I ate here during the Covid time and they are so clean and they offered me hand sanitizer and I brought a straw with my soda it was so awesome. Everyone needs to come and support this place! Same as family owned and the staff is so so so nice!!! I should have taken a picture of my food but instead you would see an empty licked plate.... so sorry about that.
google avatar

Dixon M.

Yelp
Delicious Salvadorean, Guatemalan and Mexican food! I had a T-bone steak, and it was served over a bed of grilled onions and peppers. It was very tasty, but the steak was thin and a little tough.
google avatar

Benjamin M.

Yelp
Higher than 3 stars? Even after two visits, I just can't do it. I've been to too many great Mexican/Latin restaurants both locally and nationally and at the end of the day El Paisano falls right in the middle of the pack. Chicken enchiladas: decent Rice: eh, it's more like rice with mixed vegetables. Beans: nothing spectacular. Service: Be patient, as English is a distant second language. Price: Not horrible for lunch, but still more than what I like to pay what you get. It's better than going to the McDonald's next door, but not worth going out of the way for. 3 stars...and that's me just being nice.

Anita P.

Yelp
A small restaurant in Goshen Plaza that serves fresh, delicious fare. A whole fried fish was excellently seasoned and prepared and tacos al carbon had wonderfully made slices of tenderloin with homemade soft tacos and delicious sides. The rice and beans here are made fresh - no gloppy refried beans. The fried plaintain appetizers and desserts were also first rate. The flan and sopapilla were generous portions and homemade. The flan came floating in a delicious caramel sauce. There is a bar in the restaurant and the margaritas were quite good. The food, though, is the standout. This place should be packed every night.
google avatar

Nicola S.

Yelp
Not expensive; free and ample parking. I went there alone one day and it was good food, good price and decent service. If you want to gamble, give it a try but you could leave irritated and disappointed. The second time I went there the food was not good and the service was very bad. The waitress seemed annoyed at first, seating us. Brought some of our food first, leaving out one person's food. After about 10 minutes, she brought the last person's food. One of our order's had avocado in it, but it was brought without avocado. Then when we requested avocado they didn't have any. We had to beg the waitress to have something substituted, which caused her to be visibly annoyed. She never asked if we wanted more water. When we requested more water, we had to do so twice before she brought it. My friend left her take-out food there and we went back and the waitress had thrown it away. I had just been there and the waitress greeted me with a stone face, although I had tipped her $8 on the $45 order a few minutes earlier. The waitress had waited and stared at me while I was counting out my dollar bills for her tip. I very much regret wasting the time, money and calories. I was embarrassed to have taken my 2 friends there. In all honesty, McDonalds in the same parking lot has excellent service and of course is much cheaper (same free and ample parking). Probably the same quality but you get what they promise on the menu, unlike at El Paisano. I had gone there at another time and the food was good and the service was better.
google avatar

Hunter W.

Yelp
Honestly this is the BEST Latino food joint around. Good price, AMAZING authentic food, and service is on point. If you don't eat here and you want some real food, your wrong!

Sophia M.

Yelp
I love this restaurant! I love the food. Very respectful. They have a lil bit of everything and it's not expensive at all.

Jackie P.

Yelp
We really liked the fresh, delicious homemade food and the generous portions we received here. The decor is plain and we would have preferred to not hear the tv during our meal, but our goal was to enjoy an excellent meal, and that we did. We plan to return again.