El Tapatio

Mexican restaurant · Radnor

El Tapatio

Mexican restaurant · Radnor

3

3611 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211

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Highlights

Authentic Mexican eats, known for flavorful tacos and great salsas  

Featured in Eater
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3611 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211 Get directions

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$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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3611 Nolensville Pk, Nashville, TN 37211 Get directions

+1 615 445 7781
google.com

$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 16, 2025

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@eater

Where to Eat the Best Tacos in Nashville | Eater Nashville

"Just to get this out of the way: El Tapatio has three locations on Nolensville Pike. One is a bit farther south at 4801 Nolensville Pike, and is essentially a permanently parked food truck with a small dining room right next door. Across the street from the truck is a market called El Tapatio Super Mercado. And this one, sometimes called El Tapatio 2, is a more fully realized brick-and-mortar just north of the Nashville Zoo. They all offer similarly simple, straightforward tacos. No frills, just good food, and always a solid takeout option." - Ellen Fort

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/best-tacos-in-nashville
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@eater

A Running List of Restaurants Offering Takeout and Delivery Along Nolensville Pike | Eater Nashville

"Yes, there are two El Tapatios. El Tapatio #1 is located a bit farther south at 4801 Nolensville Pike, and is essentially a permanently parked food truck with a small dining room right next door. El Tapatio #2 is a more fully realized brick and mortar just north of the Nashville Zoo. Both offer the same simple, straightforward tacos. No frills, just good food." - Delia Jo Ramsey

https://nashville.eater.com/maps/nolensville-pike-nashville-restaurants-takeout-delivery-open-covid19
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@baconkisses

Chicken combo plate is the best. Great salsas too

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Jaclyn Haddock

Google
Very clean inside and out, comfortable seating, fresh food cooked to perfection, & they may not speak great English- but they get the job done & are very was & friendly. Highly recommend taco plates** Sauces were 🔥

Lorena Martinez

Google
Traveled 11 hour to Tennessee, when we arrived we were excited to try one of the many Mexican Restaurants close to the zoo. This was the first restaurant that caught my attention. As we walked in the ladies sitting in the entrance eating sandwiches gave us the worst customer service possible. We were being looked at like we were homeless or we had no money to pay for service, when they finally sat us down we ordered micheladas, they were honestly the worst micheladas I’ve ever had, the glass looked like it was half full of tajin and salt, then we proceeded to order lunch and I ordered enchiladas with chicken, enchiladas were so freaking salty you could not eat them, sauce was from a can and the tinga chicken in them was extremely salty. My friend ordered a beef soup (caldo de res) and it was also not edible. We paid well over $65 for terrible service and the worst food out of our entire trip. When I went to the check out I told the lady at the cash register that the food and micheladas were extremely salty and all she said was oh really?! Our server never came back after brining our food to check on us, I got up and asked the lady at the check out for our check; very disappointed!

jacqueline montero

Google
my family and i came here tuesday around 11 for lunch. the service was good and our food came quick! i got the quesabirrias tacos; they had good flavor and were spicy. the horchata was good, a bit too much cinnamon for my taste.

Dustin

Google
Are you in search of some of the best food in Nashville? Of course you are. Do you like tacos, tortas, and burritos? Of course you do. Why else would you be here reading this review? Well dear reader, I bring you good news. You do not need to look any further than El Tapatio. Marinated meats, grilled onions, perfectly warmed tortillas, served with a side chile toreados. There is not a dish on this menu you could go wrong with. I wish I could provide pictures but the food is devoured before I have a chance to think about it. You will never be disappointed by the food that comes from here.

Shivam Ishanpara

Google
This is definitely a Mexican dive with no frills to speak of, which isn't really a bad thing. The staff isn't fluent in English but will grab someone if there is a big confusion. The menu is also primarily in Spanish with some English translations. We ordered tacos, burritos and a tostada and enjoyed everything. The tacos are the small street style tacos some places serve and only cost $1.25 each so you can easily eat 5 or 6 without worries. The burritos and tostada were large and appropriately priced. The service, as I mentioned, was alright. The language barrier wasn't really a big issue for ordering food. NOTE: The problem I did have was when I tried to order a drink. My drivers license has a red bar indicating the date I turned 21, and despite me being 25 and the ID still being valid until 2025, they refused to sell me a drink stating legal concerns. This make no since to me or my friends but I didn't feel like arguing when our server could barely speak English. Overall the food is really good and cheaply priced, easily making up for the mediocre service. While not being able to get a drink was annoying, its my only real complaint.

Angela Diaz

Google
Food is always hot, fresh, and tasty! It's my new favorite to go place! The workers are very kind and helpful. The food portions are big and worth your buck.

Tennessee Loon

Google
I was looking for a quick and affordable taco lunch, so I decided to try a local taco place. I ordered the steak tacos, which were $3 each. The tacos were served on corn tortillas and were filled with grilled steak, onions, cilantro, and a bit of flavor The steak was cooked well and was flavorful, but the tacos were a bit dry. The overall flavor was good, but I would have liked the tacos to be a bit more moist. Overall, I would give this taco place 3 stars. The steak tacos were good, but they weren't amazing. If you're looking for a quick and affordable taco, this place is a good option, but don't expect to be blown away. Pros: The steak was cooked well and was flavorful. The prices were affordable. Cons: The tacos were a bit dry. The service was slow. Would I recommend it? Yes, I would recommend this taco place if you're looking for a quick and affordable taco. Just don't expect to be blown away. Recommendation: If you're ordering the steak tacos, I would recommend adding some extra sauce or salsa. This will help to moisten the taco and add some extra flavor. I would also recommend asking for your taco to be made with a fresh corn tortilla. This will make the taco more flavorful and authentic. I hope this helps!

O

Google
Good food love the micheladas. Great variety of Mexican food, also good choices of meat for tacos, sopes, tortas, gorritos, y mulitas. Also 4 different hot sauces to choice from.
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Lady C.

Yelp
Authentic Mexican in Nashville Mood: real Mexican This place is my GO TO now. Further out the way and really authentically the best. There was a mariachi band playing and you can't beat that. Amazingly delicious food and service to match. Place was clean, bright, and full of culture. Food: Carna Asada tacos Carnitas tacos Rice & Beans All 10/10: the flavor of the tacos was u matched in a while looking for great Mexican food. I will go again and again while in Nashville.
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Musie Y.

Yelp
El Tapatio is one of my favorite taco places that is very authentic, cheap, and flavorful! The street tacos are very simple with meat, onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, but they are so good. The tortillas are thin and light so it makes the taco even better. Carne Asada: The steak tacos are the best in my opinion. Very meaty and loaded with flavors. Al Pastor: Marinated pork tacos are my second top choice of tacos as it is very well-seasoned. Chorizo: another flavorful and marinated meat option, but I liked the marination of the Al pastor type better Shrimp: I wasn't too impressed by the shrimp as it was a little plain. My friends and I love their tacos so much that we catered a bunch of these tacos for a party.
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Nate M.

Yelp
Finally some decent Mexican food in Nashville. Right off the bat, the main difference is how the meat is prepared. All of the proteins; chicken, steak, and pork are cooked on a grill outside in the parking lot. This gives everything a smokey flavor. We ordered the "Mexican burrito" yup that's the name on menu, a chicken quesadilla, and a carne asada burrito. The Mexican burrito was loaded with a ton of pork, rice, beans, and salsa. This burrito is huge and a little greasy, but that's what makes pork burritos taste sooo good! I tried both the red and green salsa, and the green was by far the best. Citrus and spice flavors all in one, rain on me! The chicken quesadilla was good, but not my fave. It needed more flavor and maybe some salt? This is a great option for a kid or a picky eater. By the way, it comes with rice and beans. Another huge portion! From what it looked like, they are taking full precautions here. All servers and cooks were wearing masks, gloves and seats in the waiting area spaced apart. There are accepting dine in patrons, but we ordered our food to go just to be on the safe side. I would definitely try this place again if I'm in the area!
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Anita M.

Yelp
El Tapatio #2 (or El Tap, as we lovingly call it) is the number one Nashville taco spot in our hearts and minds--authentic or otherwise. By the power of Los Altos, even when the chicken is dry, it's good. A little "yellow sauce" seals the deal. If you order to go, make sure to ask for it--and don't be too proud to beg. I've never had to beg though, so don't worry. Did you eat a meal at Bartaco 12 South last weekend and are now suddenly in danger of having your car repossessed? Four tacos is a solid serving of food for the most tapped of tíos, so bring your cheap uncle and make him pay. You must order at least one asada, one al pastor, and one chicken taco (don't come for me if it's dry--reach for your yellow sauce). Arrive with your tappetite and a few bucks, and you can't go wrong. You won't even need to look at a menu. As soon as you walk in, a nice woman will gaze warmly at you as she reaches into your soul and scans it for your coveted cravings without speaking a word. Well, sort of. ...Thanks to me, you won't even need to look at a menu. If you're too embarrassed to speak Spanish to the server, no te preocupes! She knows what you want, even if you aren't using hand gestures to order. Silly gringo. If you're really hungry or if you just prefer burritos, try a burrito. And eat the pickled carrots that come on the side. Even my vinegar-detesting boyfriend doesn't hate them. At El Tapatio #2, they've got you covered (and smothered, sort of). Because I dunno about the first one, but second is best. And third is the one with the hairy chest? Open late!
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Emi M.

Yelp
Quite frankly, this places serves the BEST tacos in Nashville!!! No second guessing. They have two locations and I have been to both. One of the great things about this place is they are open until 3am- perfect snack after a night out on weekends! Secondly, they are all reasonably priced. I ate 4 tacos and it was like $5 altogether. You can't find so many places where you can get full with $5. I highly recommend steak tacos and taco el pastor they are equally great. So flavorful, I suggest you eat them with "everything" on it meaning cilantro and onions. This place probably could do better in the cleanliness department and do some updates in the building but their food is so great that those things don't even matter !!!
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Julie F.

Yelp
OMG where do I start. This place is AMAZING !!! Let start with the Birria Tacos. They are made to perfection, meat to cheese ratio is just *chefs kiss* The consomé has a slight spicy kick but not to the point where it winds you if you have a low tolerance like me. Their carne asap and Alpastor is just WOW WOW WOW. If you're craving real street Mexican food, this is the place to go
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Adriann P.

Yelp
Their pineapple juice is freshly made and affordable for a huge foam cup! Which translates to: Ah-wah deh-Pey-nha Agua de piña Thank me later
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Embrace T.

Yelp
Usually this place is really good but I just waited like 15 mins for a combo pollo and my chicken is cold and scarce. Looks dried out and like it was from someone else's plate. And I always tip. Wtf gives?

Savanna B.

Yelp
Ordered on Uber Eats & honestly just disappointed. There is no flavor to the food. Just bland. Not sure they know how to use seasonings. Even some salt would've helped. Price is decent but that's about it, wouldn't waste the money again.
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Anj B.

Yelp
ago We liked this restaurant. Authentic food, great service. All the tacos were excellent, and there was no line waiting for table or food. We ordered the grilled chicken and that was a bit under cooked on the dark meat pieces. The rest was good. Dinner for 4 with avocado side was 36$. So very affordable too. Highly recommended.
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Liz F.

Yelp
Absolutely the best tacos in town, I drive out of my way and past other taco trucks just to get my dinner here. Delicious and affordable.
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Anna M.

Yelp
Great food. Waitress didn't really understand English but she was very sweet and we made it work. Would go again. True authentic Mexican. We got the chicken tacos.

Rudy M.

Yelp
Never come to this place as you are better of going to the taco stand across the street. This place is inconsistent and when you complain the owner tells the customer to stop buying chicken from them. Not even worth 1 star. Never come here.
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Danny N.

Yelp
I had been eying El Tapatio #2 since I drove by eat on the way to the zoo. The restaurant had two important visuals from the outside. A big black smoker in action near the road and full parking lot. It was difficult to choose what to order as everything looked pretty awesome. I went with the Mojarra Frita. The food was great. You also get chips with 3 types of salsas. El Tapatio holds its ground with the other best authentic Mexican on Nolensville. It definitely ranks in the top 3.
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Katie U.

Yelp
I go out of my way to stop here. The food has great flavor, portions are large, and the price is right. My happiness starts with the fresh lime slice in my water, and continues as I watch the cooks make everything fresh - chopping limes, slicing meat, frying chips... I dream of this good - the guacamole, salsas, warm tortillas, flavorful rice & beans (I usually pass on those), flavorful meats and veggies... They say the sign of a good ethnic restaurant is people of that nationality eating there. You will most definitely find that here. And don't panic if you end up with a menu on Spanish. Just ask for (or use hand signals to request) an English version
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Rebekah S.

Yelp
This place came recommended by a coworker & I'm so glad I tried it. Service was fast. Food was tasty. Prices are affordable. Parking became crowded during lunch time but otherwise there's plenty of spaces. I used the menu that was posted by another yelpler & called the order in for pick up. The lady on the phone was very nice & thorough in taking my order. She stated the order would be ready in 5 minutes!! That's super fast for any sit down restaurant. It was about a 10min drive from my work and the food was ready to go! Item ordered: Chargrilled half chicken with rice, pico de gallo, beans, & 5 tortillas (corn or flour) for a little over $8!!! Chicken was perfectly chargrilled, lightly seasoned, and super moist. Rice was topped with dilled veggies & pico de gallo. Melted queso covered the lightly seasoned beans. Everything was fresh, authentic, perfectly seasoned (not too salty), and delicious!! Huge portion leftover too. Will definintly return!
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Vincent C.

Yelp
El Tapatio #2 is a local authentic Mexican restaurant located on Nolensville Pike. They serve authentic Mexican cuisine and even "Mexican" Cokes. I ordered 3 tripe tacos and 3 Al Pastor tacos ($1.50 each). Each was lightly sprinkled with a pinch of fresh cilantro, diced onions, roughly chopped carrots and a slice of lime. Unfortunately, the Al Pastor taco was lacking in flavor. The upside is that the edges of the sliced pork have that yummy burnt crunch. However, beyond the exaggerated salt, onion juice bursts, and minty cilantro, there wasn't much flavor. The Al Pastor taco didn't have the spiced pork accent that I expected. It was just a bunch of salty pork served on top of two warm tortillas. I ordered three crunchy tripe tacos they were delectable. Although it's not as crunchy as a fried chicken wing, it still rings that crunchy "pleasure bell" in your brain. This concoction of textures and flavors in the tripe tacos easily makes it on my favorite list at El Tapatio #2. If you're looking for authentic Mexican tacos then I would recommend this place. There's no wait time and your food is ready quickly. Tacos here are affordable ($1.50 each) and you can easily get full with five tacos.
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Chris A.

Yelp
I was in Woodbine and was feeling hungry. It was past 21h and La Hacienda was closed. So I checked yelp and El Tapatio was open. It was great. Nelsey greeted me with a wonderful smile and it seems like I had personal service. I decided on Carne Asada tacos and ceviche. The ceviche had mayonnaise, which was different. If I could do it over again, I'd opt for no mayo. I really loved their green salsa. Just what the doctor ordered. Tacos 'with everything' onion, cilantro. It was so welcoming. Nelsey spoke to me en Español. Great little place.
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Renee W.

Yelp
Portions are huge food is great, The sopes are must try, located on Nolensville pike just before Thompson Lane. Our new lunch place!
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Hart P.

Yelp
Native Mexican food. A definite contender for best in Nashville. My daughter knows I want to avoid chains and she searched for something new to try, a great find. The grilled chicken is fabulous and the sides are authentic, made in house. Try the pickled vegetables. Great price, friendly servers, and abundant food. This is a total hit!
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Alexis B.

Yelp
My fiance and I are so excited to have bought a house so close to Nolensville! Having so many good, authentic Mexican restaurants and food trucks makes me feel like I'm back home in Texas! We went to El Tapatio for a late breakfast/early lunch. I had Huevos a la Mexicana - eggs scrambled with tomatoes, jalapeno, and onion. It came with a side of rice, beans, and guacamole, sour cream, and lettuce. And FOUR tortillas (choice of corn or flour, not made in house). The food was pretty good, but not as good as some other places on Nolensville, so I don't think we'll head to El Tapatio too often. The coffee was instant (yuck), but the service was great. All in all, it was an okay, but not great Mexican spot on Nolensville, but it has so much competition!
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CeCe G.

Yelp
Fast and friendly service. Fresh and tasty food. Very reasonable price. A gem on Nolensville Pike!
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Marty M.

Yelp
If you want some food that seems very much like what I've had in Mexico, save yourself a plane ticket and give this place a try. The tacos on corn tortillas are fantastic and the chicken has a wonderful "off the grill flavor". When you order chips they make them - right then. And if you want something to go with your chips the freshly made pico is great as is the guacamole. Now serving 3 house made salsas at the table (as well as Valentina) in big squeeze bottles - each one is fabulous but the chipotle is my favorite. Beans and rice are very good and the lime for your beer comes dipped in Tajin powder. They have menus in Spanish and English so be sure to get the version you find easier to read. They aren't open the same hours as Waffle House, but it's close. To sum it all up "authentic" might be the best word!

Amber S.

Yelp
One of my favorite taco stops, right here in Woodbine. Ofcourse, they also offer many other options to eat other than tacos. Food is prepared promptly and never
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Janet Y.

Yelp
Though located off the beaten path, this place is fantastic!! The food is delicious, authentic and inexpensive! Does it get any better than that? I even got a chance to practice my Spanish to communicate with our server! And for those without too much Spanish knowledge... no worries.. pointing on the menu will work just fine! My husband and I ordered the tacos. We tried several different meats. Our favorite was probably the spicy pork. YUM!!! I loved how simple but tasty the tacos were, much like we saw in California. The tacos basically consisted of meat, cilantro, and some chopped onions on a fresh corn tortilla! The sauces that came with the meal = delicious! We did get a little lost trying to locate this place, because as others have said it's a bit of a hole in the wall. Plus, it's on the side of town I rarely go. But I would say it was definitely worth the trip!
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Shub N.

Yelp
This place was great! I was cravvvvviiiinnnngggg some Mexican food late one night and the "regular" Mexican spots were all closed...I stopped by El Tapatio and got a chicken burrito with a side of rice and beans and OMG! I crushed my cravings with the quickness! It is family owned and all staff were so nice...the burrito could supply a meal for two...not to mention the prices are affordable!! I will definitely frequent his place when I need my authentic Mexican fix...
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Peter K.

Yelp
The 3611 Nolesnville location is closer to Antioch Pike & McCall by the zoo, it's not further south as the below reviewer has mentioned. This location is inside of an actual building and not a taco stand. First suggestion, go with someone that can read Spanish because you will not find English on the menu. The servers, however, do speak English and I'm sure wouldn't mind helping. Tacos are $1.25 here and are served with lots of cilantro and onions. You'll find the usual suspects, asada, pastor, carnitas, and some of the more adventurous cuts like tongue, tripe, and head. The carnitas really shine here, super tender and flavorful. On the table are two bottles of sauces; one is a green chile sauce, and the other a red chile sauce. Both are outstanding with the green being slightly spicier. $3 Corona's and they take cash & cards.
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Annie P.

Yelp
I was ravenous one day and was craving some Mexican food on the way back from somewhere. Checking out my [almost] always reliable Yelp, this restaurant was close by and people were just raving about the food. Needless to say, I was very excited and was imagining ordering a plethora of foods to endlessly gorge on. The place looks a tiny bit like a hole in the wall but it is situated right beside a busy road so there is visibility there. The place is not terribly big but it's not minuscule either. The layout and the decor was fairly reminiscent of a Mexican diner - which was promising because diners usually have good, whole, and hearty foods. We ordered the vegetarian quesadillas, nachos, and shrimp tacos. The nachos were almost soup like - the beans were like runny refried beans variety. Combine that with the cheese made the nachos VERY soggy. Nachos can get soggy but this was just breaking apart. In terms of the taste - it tasted a bit off and I quickly found out why. After a while of digging through the nachos, I accidentally ate some ground beef. Urgh. The downfalls of not eating meat for a long time is, when you do actually end up eating meat, your body doesn't know how to react which results in you getting sick. So, I got nauseous and sick the next day. Strangely enough, I really don't blame them. It seemed like a genuine accident. I didn't taste my husband's vegetarian quesadillas but he seemed rather underwhelmed by them. Out of the three dishes, I think my shrimp tacos were the best - still not as amazing as I was expecting. By the end of the meal, I was chastising myself for setting high expectations when I learned many times not to! It looked like for meat lovers, it might be a better establishment. The service was nice - the waitress we had didn't speak much English so communication was a bit of a problem but we all managed. The restaurant looked clean and the people work hard there - always with smiles on their faces. The whole bill was so cheap - I believe it was under $20. What a deal. In terms of coming back here - well the jury is still out on that decision.
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Raquelle S.

Yelp
This was actually very good authentic tasting food. Finally. We all Had the carnitas, fryer tilapia, and Ala hombre. All was delicious and SO filling. Bring your appetite!!
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Ong L.

Yelp
I got the spicy pork + pineapple taco, steak taco, and chicken taco. I got it to-go, so I'm not sure how it's like to dine-in. Anyway, they were a bit frugal on the lime. I like at least 1/4 lime per taco minimum. Unfortunately, I had to use that one slice of lime for four tacos (I ordered one steak, one chicken, and two spicy pork - which I'm glad I did because it was the only one that was worth raving about.) Prices are decent. I asked for the pickled radishes & carrots. But they were raw cuts or not fully pickled. Really bummed me out. The salsas included were okay. I'll go back for the spicy pork tacos. They were flavorful. It's Nashville, you don't really have that much options.
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Natasha G.

Yelp
Wish I could write negative ten stars...the chick gave me dirty looks the whole time the order was taken and asked us twice in her native tongue if we wanted our food with sour cream on the side or on the food. we said on the food and still ended up dipping soggy food onto a tiny plate that didn't suffice. We even gave the unfriendly woman a tip. Smh , bad vibes mediocre food.
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Marcy S.

Yelp
My pick for the best authentic Mexican food in Nashville! The menu is a bit more eclectic than the usual Mexican restaurant, which is appreciated. The portions are filling and the prices are more than reasonable. I'd recommend any type of their Tortas, they are all excellent. The fact that it's open late is a great plus as well.
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Dessy P.

Yelp
Never disappointed me!! My favorite place to have tacos, beer, tostadas, ceviche, quesadillas.. all of it. So delicious!
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Carly B.

Yelp
Shot threw the window, but they're to blame // Lack of guacamole prevents a perfect grade. So much LOVE for this place! Super cheap street style tacos and excellent guacamole... when available. Sadly, I don't think they make their guac in house. For several visits I was told they were sold out of guac, but yet my meal still contained large slices of avocado. They serve their beer with a lime slice dipped in spice. Sounds weird, but it so GOOD. Food flavor varies depending on daily cook and ingredient selection. My pork tacos usually include avocado, cilantro and onion, but on good days they toss in pineapple. Not knowing exactly what you're going to get makes the experience that much more enjoyable. You can always count on Spanish soap operas playing on their TVs. Don't forget to check out the bullet hole in the window. Gives the atmosphere just little something extra. Overall: good, authentic tacos at a great price.
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Ashley D.

Yelp
BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN NASHVILLE. Don't let the exterior fool you - this restaurant is fantastic. We walked in and were greeted by the friendly, attentive staff. They answered all of our questions and steered us on the menu to their favorite items. We ordered carnitas and el Plato loco (chopped pork, bacon, cactus, mushrooms, onion, cheese), which both came with rice and beans and piping hot, delicious corn tortillas. The fresh homemade salsas they brought to the table were fantastic. Already can't wait to go back.

Sarah N.

Yelp
One of my favorite places to grab some good tacos & they take cards. The real winner? The half chicken. It's amazing. Holy smokes. But we also love their chorizo & carnitas tacos. The carne asada quesadilla is the bomb. If you go in and sit - it's divey as hell, but worth it. The michelada is huge and delicious.
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Mike K.

Yelp
This place is amazing! We got a tip that the chicken here was good, but i never imagined it would be that good. We ordered the Charcoal Grill Chicken Combo. It is juicy, smokey and delicious! The service was friendly and great. If I lived here, I'd be eating at El Tapatio all the time.
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Tracy T.

Yelp
All of your taco Tuesdays should be spent here. So your Instagram caption can say "Taco Tuesdays at el Tapatio". Taco bout alliteration! Anyway, a group of friends and I came on a Monday night and we were immediately greeted with very friendly staff! She was quick to get us drinks and grab our orders. Unfortunately, because we came in around 9pm, a lot of the meat options weren't available :( I DIDN'T GET TO TRY THE AL PASTOR. I was so upset!! But I ended up getting beef tacos and oh my gosh they were SO good. It makes me want to come back and try the pastor tacos because I KNOW they have to be good if the beef tacos were that good!! Rumor has it they smoke the pork right outside of the restaurant, which I think is hella cool. My single and only complaint is that I wish their green salsa was spicier :-( Don't let the exterior of this little hole in the wall defer you. Go in, pop a squat, and fill your tummy with delicious street tacos!
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Kristin Marie S.

Yelp
I love Saturday road trips, even if they are just down to Nolensville. We packed ourselves into the car and headed towards the land of Essex and tacos. We attempted to hit up Don Juan's but they were closed for the day. With a wrench thrown into the plan we drove and stopped at El Tapatio since it was close to Essex. The place was inviting and we were the only non-Spanish speakers inside of the establishment. Once inside we were promptly seated. I choose to go with a spicy pork street taco and a carnitas combo plate. The spicy pork wasn't spicy but it was spiced well. The carnitas pork was okay, kind of bland actually but that was okay, I added some homemade salsa. Beer was surprisingly pricey. $3.50 for a Sol but it did come with a lime that had spices on it. I've never seen it before but it smelled yummy. The food came relatively fast and I wished I had ordered the spicy pork on my combo plate. Overall the place was good, not great. I would probably come back for a taco but only after I try the other Mexican restaurants/trucks on Nolensville.
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Tim G.

Yelp
5 tacos..2 steak, 3 chorizo and a Negro Modelo for $11? Hard to beat anywhere in Nashville. Absolutely delicious.

Benjamin B.

Yelp
This place has great food at great prices. We had the chicken and some tacos and all were outstanding.
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Fifi L.

Yelp
Asada burrito was so flavorful!! Tastes just like East L.A. The salsas - especially the red - should be bottled and sold. The service is also top-notch!
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Nic P.

Yelp
Nashville, dang. What is up with you? Y'all have everything! This restaurant is amazing. The food is authentic, tasty and reasonably priced. I had the carne asada tacos that were just the right salty, with rice and beans and this pico de gallo (I think) that was the freshest taste I've ever tasted pretty much in my whole life. I'd like to have this place next door to my house in NYC so I could never eat another place again. The girl who waited on us was SO nice. It's a Nashville thing, right? I am loving it, keep it up. So, go here and eat your heart out if you want authentic Mexican food. It's delicious so much.
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DW G.

Yelp
A hidden jewel. Love this place! Put some sand in the parking lot and call it Puerto Vallarta. Very authentic Mexican cuisine.
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Johnny J.

Yelp
Sorry to be so impressed, but this has been my best yelp experience in 2 years. Went at 11pm on a weekday. Everything is Spanish, menu, tv, etc. Tacos are small, but at $1.25 each - Amazing. Red salsa is spicy with a hint of bean flavor. Can't believe I almost went to applebees tonight.
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Elliot E.

Yelp
If you're not looking for it you could very easily drive right past. It's a divey-looking place with little street-side parking, which is probably a good thing. Otherwise too many people will find it and we'll have to wait longer to eat. The food is seriously good. I've eaten at Mexican restaurants from Boston to Fort Lauderdale and this is the first one where I've been the ethnic minority. The table gets the obligatory chips and salsa, and the salsas put all others to shame. I will warn that the red is a lot hotter than you would get at a Moe's or Chipotle; just a drop or two on a chip is sufficient. The menu is a little tricky to navigate at first, but once you've figured it out you'll be pleased at the prices, and even moreso at the portions. As Trump would say, "they're yuuuuge!" Both times we have been, our table needed 2-3 boxes to take home what we couldn't finish. There is a limited beer selection, and if you enjoy Mexican sodas you'll be very happy. There is not a kid's menu, but our girls split the cheese quesadilla plate and loved it.
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Ashley G.

Yelp
I love just about everything on the menu. The charcoal chicken is always fresh and flavorful. They didn't give me enough rice and beans though. The Steak Tostadas are great too and come piled high with toppings. This is my go to for Mexican food. Reasonable prices too!
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Ryan O.

Yelp
this is not your average mexican restaurant clone. you know what i am talking about... where the menus are all exactly the same and even worse the food always tastes the same, like it just rolled off the sysco truck. meh. before you even walk into the building you'll be greeted by the wonderful scent of charred meat emanating from the shabby unkempt rust bucket smoker which resides in the parking lot. sometimes i like to linger in the turn lane in front of this place with the windows down way longer than i should just to bathe in that intoxicating aroma. the servers are incredible friendly, always smiling, and while they speak english, their accent is a little thick. i've never had a hard time communicating. when in doubt i do the tried and true menu point and grunt. if asked a question, just point and grunt again, on a third query, just shake your head yes. whatever, it works for me. the first time i ordered guacamole here, i was a little confused because the guac came out immediately with no chips. i waited a while... no chips. i thought maybe i missed something. perhaps my point, grunt, point, grunt, head shake yes failed me. little did i know that my man behind the grill was back their frying my chips on the spot. talk about fresh... scorching hot when i received them. the guac itself? probably my favorite in nashville. it seems to be an incredibly simple recipe but i believe the edge here is that they add lots of jalapeno peppers. i'm not really trying to figure it out, i just know i can't come here without ordering it. another favorite thing about this place is the hot pepper they serve with limes for your beer. there is something immensely satisfying about the hot burn of the pepper mixed with the ice cold beer. i am not even lime beer drinker but i never pass up the opportunity here. don't have time to sit down, or need a late night mexican feast? head a little further south and visit their second location which is open into the wee hours of the night where a plate of 4 tacos will cost you about $5. skip the clones, come here and get real about your mexican food.
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Sucett M.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite Authentic Mexican restaurants to go to!! They have amazing mexican dishes and Mexican drinks. If you want the taste of Mexico you should definitely come here!