Mario's Mexican Restaurant

If you’re looking for a cozy spot with a magical holiday atmosphere, you must visit Mario’s. This restaurant perfectly blends authentic Mexican tradition with festive seasonal charm. From the moment you step in, you’re greeted by vibrant colors, warm lights, and carefully curated decorations, including garlands, poinsettias, and holiday accents that create a truly enchanting ambiance. The beautifully tiled arches and stained-glass-style lamps add an authentic and welcoming touch, making every corner feel special. The food is simply outstanding, offering rich, authentic Mexican flavors that are perfect for sharing with family and friends. On top of that, the restaurant is impeccably clean, which is always appreciated. The customer service is exceptional. The staff is attentive and goes out of their way to make sure your experience is unforgettable. The owner, Grace, is a wonderful host, always paying attention to every detail to make you feel right at home. During this holiday season, Mario’s is the perfect place to enjoy delicious food in a warm and festive setting. Highly recommended!

Great food and okay service. Had to request drinks twice and remind about the kids ice cream for their meals. Basics like drink refills and napkins were hard to receive. Tipped 10% rather than the suggested default of 18%. I used to eat here routinely with the family, but subpar service normally makes me regret the decision.

Their service is fast and their food is delicious. The chips are served warm 😭 I love it

We checked out Mario's after spending the day out and about. Mario's didn't disappoint. Located in a strip mall type complex, Mario's has plenty of parking. The inside has very festive decorations and Mexican music playing. You are greeted by a friendly hostess and immediately receive chips and salsa when you are seated. The chips were very good and the salsa was even better. Not too mild and not too spicy.....the perfect amount of heat. Our waiter was very good. He was attentive and prompt and helped guide us through the massive menu. We ordered chips with cheese and beans for an appetizer. We had wanted queso but they didn't serve that. This appetizer did not disappoint! It was loaded (and I mean loaded) with cheese! The best way I could describe this was it was basically like eating a thin crust cheese sandwich. I ordered the two taco combo for my entree. The carnitas taco is served with pico on the side. The grilled fish taco is served with chipotle mayo on the side. Both are wrapped in tinfoil to keep them warm. They were very good, especially the fish taco. You get a generous portion of fish grilled perfectly. The refried beans were delicious as well. We also ordered a burrito. It was massive and the flavor of the sauce complimented the carne asada nicely. Our daughter ordered the kids cheese enchilada combo. She really liked it. If we're ever in the area again we wouldn't hesitate to return to Mario's.

A little known secret.. they have the BEST CHILI WINGS you'll ever taste! Delicious sauce, crunchy outside, just amazing. If you love Hot Wings, go give these a try. They take 20 minutes to make, so order ahead of time. We've been going to this restaurant for the CHILI WINGS for many years. Trust me. Go! Springdale St. location only. The wings are different at other locations.

Good, solid, West coast Mexican food. $ friendly IMHO. Traditional not trendy. Updated my Stars to 5, because I eat here so often; for like 40 years ( no, seriously, probably over multiple owners). Today slid in for lunch at the bar on a day off. A favorite 2 taco #10 was served up fast. Margarita and service solid from Omar. As a "chunky salsa" guy, Mario's has one of my favorite smooth salsas. I also prefer their rice and beans. I find the staff friendly and responsive. Read a few of the critical reviews. Their experiences have not been mine. Hope the restaurant registers their concerns and ensure similar things don't occur.

They charged me for my two margaritas plus the bill I paid for for a veteran that was only $12 and something. Then they added a 40 fee also. I will not go anywhere to eat that charges me for what I get plus an auto fee

We called in dinner for families. Nothing was labeled. The tortillas were hard and looked old and very dense about a teaspoon of meat in the assortment that we got I ordered a flower tostada salad and all I got was a flat tortilla with 90% lettuce very unhappy to tacos missing no sour cream no guacamole with my salad just was not a good takeout. We did not want to drive back and to get to tacos not worth the gas we have dined in and had very good meals. Takeout was a complete disaster not looking for any compensation not looking for any free tacos. It was what it was. It is what it is Probably won’t do that again.

The special football menu is awesome! Chimichanga special, small nacho plate... all YUM! Need these all year!

Yeah, came here a few years ago for a drink and some appetizers with a buddy of mine before COVID hit; about 6 years later, things REALLY took a tumble. I'm really surprised that they don't even have a Taco Tuesday special, and we gotta pay everything full price. So, I bit the bullet, and went for the Uno-Dos-Tres platter with two tacos and an enchilada. The enchilada was okay, but the tacos, I was really surprised that they actually put on enchilada sauce, lettuce and cheese on a hard-shell. Nope. Just nope. I just ate about ¾ of my plate and just left the rest on the table. Oh, and who the heck would charge an extra $1.00-$2.00 for cilantro and onions?? I couldn't even find any room on the tacos to put my cilantro and onions on it since they were put on with a hefty amount of lettuce (same goes with the plate). Like, come on, guys! Oh, and how's that rat/vermin infestation thing coming along?? SMH ‍

The location is nicely decorated, but small overall. My first impression with the food was the salsa was thin, but not watery and had a good kick to it. The food itself was great. The service was well paced and friendly. As to the price, it was reasonable and valuable to for portions and quality.

Federico nachos with chips on the side, I have been going to Mario's for years good quality food and friendly environment

Always the best margaritas and the prices are very reasonable too! We have been coming here for years and are never disappointed. Friendly staff. Casual and welcoming environment not too modern but always clean.

We were immediately greeted and seated. Our waiter was very prompt in making sure we had drinks and gave us time to look over our menu. Someone dropped off some chips and salsa. The ambiance was cozy with enough Spanish and Mexican decor to remind you where you are. Husband ordered the Chile Colorado and I got the chicken enchilada plate. We were both very happy with our meals. Our waiter and everyone else was very pleasant, always stopping by our table to see how we are doing, if we need refills, etc. We will be back because husband liked this Mario's better than the one across town.

Our most recent to go order just did not taste as good as our prior orders. I used to love their chile Colorado burritos.

Quality of the food is very disappointing. Ingredients are not fresh and prices are very elevated. The inside of the restaurant has become very rundown. The service was very slow and our server never asked us how we like the food until very late. I'm afraid we might have gotten food poisoning. I don't recommend the food nor the restaurant unfortunately I don't think people should eat here. Given how bad the food has become.

This is the local mexican place around the corner that we often order to go from. Lately, their service has gone from fair to much worse. This time we had a string in my chicken flautas and a chunk of an avocado seed in the guacamole. Prices are high and the customer service is just lacking. Before this experience, they completely '"lost" my to go order and I waited 25 minutes from calling it in, and then another 20 minutes once there for them to make it for me because of losing it.

We have been coming here for nearly 50 years and were surprised how much the prices have gone up in the last couple months Today we had the exact same items as we had less than two months ago and our bill was $42 then and $55 today Hardly anyone there at 12 noon and service was very poor May we have silverware a straw a refill... Hate having to ask for the basics... I guess they have had the last of our $$$

Mario's was recommended by some friends for some family vibes and good Mexican American food. The service was super pleasant and a clean bathroom.

Good food, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. The food we had was good. It's just a fun casual Mexican restaurant with good and fair pricing. Our server was nice but busy because the restaurant was full. The place is a bit older but the inside has a good theme and is welcoming but casual.

Came in for a softball tournament so not familiar with the area, a buddy referred this spot! Amazing food,service, and prices!!! I recommend this spot to everyone if you're craving some authentic Mexican food!

A warm place with tasty food, service is okay. The restaurant has a Television ( sports channel )

I love this spot! The Mexican pizza with shredded beef or the chicken tacos are my favs. Love the old school look of this place...it's been in business since the 70's i believe. The service is always good. The chips and salsa are addicting!!

Excellent service, very pleasant, helpful staff. I was very happy to see they offer enchilada suiza, as is my all time favorite.​​

This location has gone downhill. Got food to go and it was terrible. Red sauce is awful. Going to 5 point location instead.

Just had a lunch. Classic Tostada. I have them add tomatoes & onions. A little extra cost but well worth it. Ice cold Modelo Negra.

Two Marrios restaurants in Huntington Beach. One on Springdale and One on Main. You would think they would both be the same but they're not. The one on Main Street is much better when it comes to foo taste and presentation. I wish the Marios on Springdale was more like the one on Main. depending on the time of day will depend on service and the ambience are pretty much the same.

Another Mario's Mexican Restaurant?...yes, this one was a surprise as we know of the one at 5 Points HB. A pleasant surprise as we were quickly greeted and seated by a friendly host and server. The restaurant was pretty busy for an early evening and we see the reason is a big party singing the birthday song. The lovely missus orders the number 20 on the menu, which is a huge serving of rice and Olla beans and Chile Relleno. My choice is the Carnitas Plate with flour tortillas and rice and refried beans with a scoop of Quacamole and a bed of lettuce and salsa for the heaping chunks of salty porky protein. On top of the order, we had a cup of their Albondigas soup that was warm with a round meatball. While waiting, we had a basket of chips and salsa... not big fans of the salsa. We like the chunky tomato kind. The house blended lime Margarita comes in a tall drinking glass. I actually liked that I didn't get a brain freeze from the frothy ice cold blend. This Mario's Mexican Restaurant was already nicely decorated for the upcoming dia de Muertos day. It was a pleasant dining experience.

BEST MARGARITAS IN TOWN!!!! Hands down, their drinks are strong and well priced. I love the Chicken Mole Enchiladas with rice and beans. Their music is very festive and the service is good.

Had dinner there with my Family last night!! After we ordered , it was over 45minutes before we received our food and although the food was hot, it was sooo bland in taste!! I would never go there again! A complete waste of over $200.00 dollar!!

Dark and busy A tad bit pricey but I guess you pay for location and brand Over all it's a good place for families to enjoy a sit down meal

Wish they still served enchilada rancheros. Love their Mexican pizza. Margaritas and guacamole

Favorite restaurant on earth. My family has been eating here for over fifty years! Best chips and salsa in earth

First and last time. Bartender Ramon is amazing. Cadillac Margarita was good. Cold chips and the salsa tastes (and looks) like someone opened a can of tomato sauce, poured it in a bowl and thought it was acceptable. Fresh salsa is so inexpensive to make. This place should be embarrassed. I won't even order dinner. Bummer. I was looking for a new place, this is NOT it. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere.

Sad! Been coming here for over 30 years..last time was about 5 years ago and didn't return. Until now..now I know why I stopped..food is all processed/ can water is sink water. Service wasn't any better..this is my first review on any place.will not be coming back.

We've been coming here for 20 plus years and it's always been really enjoyable. So, I retired and we've not been here for approx. one year, returning tonight as we were in Huntington Beach. The relatively empty parking lot, which never happened before should have been a warning, but we trekked onwards. My wife's enchilada plate was covered in an honestly quite nasty, really dark sauce, which they've never had in previous years. It wasn't mole, just really concentrated chili powder and tasted terrible. The taco was OK, thankfully that didn't change much. She didn't finish her meal, it was just plain disgusting. As for me, I ordered the steak ranchero. Approx. 20.00. Most of the so-called steak was, in fact, large pieces of fat and the pieces that were actually definable as steak, has large hunks of fat attached to them. No one bothered to the trim the beef. The ranchero sauce was very dark, the same overpowering chili flavor with small, random pieces of bell pepper, and for some unknown reason, jalapeno rings. The same japapeno rings you get on 7-11 nachos. I couldn't help but wonder if Beavis and Butthead were in the back cooking, preparing nachos for their walk home. Honestly, I've never ordered steak ranchero and found canned jalapeno rings . Normally the beans are piping hot and the original cooks would place the plates under the salamander broiler to somewhat melt/brown the cheese, making it almost crispy, just a slight char. Not tonight. The cheese was barely melted, the beans were actually luke warm but thankfully the rice was still decent. Not as good as before, but edible. I'm not sure if Marios has changed hands, as the wait staff was very polite, always super courteous and never hesitated to bring more salsa and chips, which by the way are amazing! Thankfully. :) So, besides the terrific wait staff and floor manager, something in the kitchen has definitely changed and not for the better. Will we be back? Sadly, I doubt it. I would have been better off to take the $50.00 we spent and chuck it into a fire pit along the coast, at least we could have enjoyed the warmth and a romantic setting along the sea shore, under a crescent moon. For the owner of Marios, please get in there and monitor what's going on, as this is not the same restaurant we've enjoyed for over 20 years.

Don't know why there's all these poor reviews. Came here last Saturday there were 8 of us out on the patio. A reunion after 50 years and the staff didn't know this. We were just another large party. The service was excellent . And the food came out delicious and hot . The chips were fresh and crisp. Didn't have a problem with someone coming around for refills. Unfortunately I did not remember to get our server's name so I could mention her. She and the other staff were great!!! Gonna keep coming back.

Damn, I really wanted to like this place. Old school mom and pop with parking lot! The chips were stale. That was not a good start. They were old and too thick. The salsa was good in a thick, red with a spicy kick way. The food was no bueno. The shells were stale/ hard instead of crispy. The shredded beef was that creepy gray bland mystery meat. The refried beans were alright. I will not be back.

Been coming here 40+ years. The food is good, but they have not improved the look of the place in years leaving it looking run down. Tiles missing on steps as walk in looks bad and an accident waiting to happen. Tiles missing inside too for years by where put dirty dishes. Understand the price increase with inflation, but have not reinstated the senior discount and the Main St. Mario's has. Have asked several times and it is NOT being considered. Last couple times the service was not very good, but the bus boys were attentive. Got a pitcher for 3 of us and asked for shots of grand marnier on the side and brought out one little larger shot thing not even full. We insisted on 3 separate shots as asked for and then the cost was $41 for pitcher which was more than if had ordered 3 of them separately. Considering going to Main St. after all these faithful years!

This restaurant has gone downhill fast. My family and I used to enjoy going here but we will no longer go this location. They have a limit on the salsa that they give but rather than let you know that, they just walk away when you ask/ignore your request. Then, they'll speak poorly about you in the kitchen that's visible from the dining room. What Mexican restaurant refuses to give you more than 1 salsa for a four party table? Sad to say but this place is not deserving of your time or your money. Support other businesses that actually care about their guests.

garbage i believe this is a front to launder money or sling dope. how do you explain the del taco style food at these prices? or how about the margarita with extra shot $18.95. spoke spanish and the bartender acted offended what planet am i on?

We were seated across from the server window. The noise from the hood in the kitchen made it difficult to converse across a 36-in table. Adding insult to injury, two food servers we're sitting in the booth next to us, watching an iPad with the volume cranked way up. They would go tend to their tables and then sit back down to watch whatever was playing. When we told our server we wanted to move, she just laughed. Eventually she got the message, and we were moved to a table around the corner. My wife asked to have her Mexican pizza cheese well done. It was basically cold cheese soup. Towards the end of dinner, the server asked if I was done with my still half full margarita. Horrible experience. Never going back again.

We love coming here and know everyone by name. We even have nicknames for everyone. Cindy and Omar take care of us often and are super friendly. We love the patio as it gets great airflow and is perfect on a nice day. The inside has been redone and is super comfy. They still have the old school stained glass, which is really beautiful. The HOT WINGS are the best anywhere I've ever eaten. Sounds funny, but I promise you I've had wings all over the country. The spice or sauce they use along with how they cook em is unmatched. Amazing!!

We were greeted by the guy with a pony tail on the side of his head like a dirty tassel then sat us next to the only 5 other families in the restaurant so it was loud as hell. The food was horrible. Carnitas taco that had a bone bigger than a Hershey kiss and even more fat. Chile Rilleno was terrible. Clearly reheated based on the lump of cold cheese inside.

Ordered 2 beef tacos small amt of beef that had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Seemed like to many workers in the kitchen just doing nothing

Great ambiance, good food, worst drinks. Worst Bloody Mary I've ever had in my life. Pure vodka with a splash of tomato. I told the waiter it was awful and too strong and he brought me extra tomato juice. My husband and I just left them on the table, untouched. They should have been comped, they were not Bloody Marys, they were crappy drinks made by a inexperienced bar tender. Didn't care for the guy walking up and asking my kids if they wanted balloon animals either. Trying to work us for tips. Don't hustle me while I'm trying to eat.

Good food but forgot my tortillas and guacamole with my order. But still good food Great price

Something here has changed for the better with the food. Had a very bad experience a few years back and stopped ordering food here. But there has been some kind of change, and it's positive. Zero complaints, and I've ordered food here 3x in the last few weeks. Very happy with the grub. Crunchy shredded beef tacos and the Chile relleno are my faves.

Took my family to Mario's for dinner to get out of the house. My son had ACL surgery last week and is still unable to bend his leg and is on crutches. We asked if we could have a larger table for the 4 of us so he could put his leg up. The host gave us a little bit of an attitude but agreed to give if us a larger booth. Ordered a Cadillac margarita to start with! Yummy! Just what I needed. Chips and salsa are the bomb here! I think we "drank" 5 bowls of it waiting for our food to arrive. No, the service definitely is not slow! We just love the salsa. 3 of us got the 2 shredded beef taco plate. Holy yum! 1 order was a 3 item combo plate with enchilada, taco and beef tamale. Tons of food but it's so good we licked the plates clean. We've also had their chile colorado which is my absolute favorite. I'm picky about red chile and I love theirs! Fajita platter is great, too! So why the 3 star review? The reason we went to this Mario's was because it is closer to our home than the 5 points location. Same name, same food. So I gave them my gift card I had received and they told me they could not accept it. It was only for the 5 points location. Can't they link them up? I mean really!?! So there you have it!

We used to eat here a couple of times a year in the 90s - 2000s when we lived in HB. We found it to be consistently good--never great--but tasty and a good value. Stopped in yesterday for a late lunch. Our server was nice and efficient but the food was very disappointing. The salsa had the smooth texture of tomato sauce so we ordered some pico de gallo to mix in with it. The pico de gallo had the expected diced tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. I didn't taste any jalapenos or serrano chiles in there, which was OK, however, it was sprinkled with something which looked like black pepper and it had a green-grass taste. (Not cilantro; I like cilantro and know what it tastes like, LOL.) Very odd. My $12.99 crispy beef taco/cheese enchilada plate was not very good. The enchilada had a rubbery texture. The shredded beef on the taco was grey and didn't have much flavor. I think the shredded cheese on the taco and rest of the plate may have been imitation cheese. It had a plastic-y, stretchy texture and didn't seem to melt. My friend had the 2 chicken taquitos, rice, & beans combo. She had some of the same observations. So while the prices may not have changed over the last 10 years, the quality of the food seems to have really declined.

Best mexican Food Ever. I love this place, Chili relleno, tequila lime mahi mahi, tacos and mexican pizzas are to die for. Great drinks. If I could I would eat and drink here every night.

1st time diner. Stopped for lunch on a errand-filled Saturday. Restaurant busy at both bar and tables but were seated immediately. Server expressed disappointment we were not drinking Alcohol. Chips room temp and tasted of grease. Salsa tasted like thinned tomato paste. I ordered beef green chili, What I got was beef chunks floating in a greasy broth. Ate 2 bites and quit. My partner had a regular plate of beans, taco, and enchilada that were nothing special but again room temp. not sure what happened for a long term neighborhood restaurant but will not be back.

It's been a long time since I've been to either Mario's location and I won't be rushing back. My friend and I decided to come in for dinner and drinks in the bar area. We liked the bar, the drinks were strong and inexpensive. Chips and salsa were good, our dinners were mediocre. The food temperature was lukewarm and it did not taste fresh. We both ordered combination dinners. I wanted a Chile Relleno and Beef Tamale which wasn't listed in the combinations, they did it for me at an extra $6.29 upcharge! The Chile Relleno was good, the Beef Tamale and rice were very dry. My friend liked his Cheese Enchilado but didn't care for his taco. We would come back for drinks and possibly appetizers only.

Un.be.lie.va.ble!! Worst waitress and manager! - Threatened to take cocktail drink BUT still charge it to our bill. Back Story: 2 grown adults having dinner, while 1 had a sip of (weak) Pina Colada because soda had not been refilled, waitress gives a stern warning not to share -(I had not shown DL) "Fine." we say.. Still, she reaches OVER the table and tries to grab drink while I am still holding it. We stop sharing but manager quickly comes over and again reaches OVER the table trying to grab the drink, this time from the person who in fact had ordered it (and shown DL)!! Would not hear an explanation, she was so concerned in taking it. Took her 3-5min to realize she was hustling the wrong person. Keep doing that ladies, the wrong customer will end up making you wear your drink.

I used to go here while our vehicles were being washed across the parking lot. Over the years, it has gone downhill. While the servers are pleasant, the place is dirty and the food well below standard. I will not de going there again.

Worst service I've ever had. Came to this Mario's my entire childhood and always had amazing service. Brought my kids and family today for their first time and we were treated like we were an inconvenience. Came well after the lunch rush, maybe three other tables in the entire restaurant, and our server, Maria A, kept taking an over dramatic deep breath every time we asked her for anything. We didn't ask for any refills or anything out of the ordinary (only extra salsa before the meal and togo boxes at the end). Will never come back to this Mario's again even though it's only a block from our house. Do yourself a favor and go to the Mario's at Five Points Plaza on Main Street-wish we would have today-much more welcoming and friendlier. Incredibly disappointed as well as embarrassed for recommending the restaurant to my family.

Love this place. Highly recommend! Edgar A. Was a great server! Jose was cool too. I told Edgar he's a good guy prolly on and off the job. We sat in a booth next to the window. Really sweet times for the lady and I. Thank u Mario's and Edgar!