Taqueria el Poblano

Decent restaurant, not authentic Mexican. Total of 30 for food shown. Asked for medium, was given well done. Salsa was bland, colorless. Steak was soft. For the price would eat somewhere else. No lunch menu as well.

Beyond disappointed in my experience here. This was my mom and I’d first time here and we were very excited. My mom initially asked for the grilled fish of the day, but after finding out it was salmon, changed her mind and decided to go with the fish tacos instead. When the food came out, they brought the salmon AND the fish tacos. I told the waiter, Josue, it was a misunderstanding but he didn’t seem receptive. He was rather rude and didn’t offer up any solutions. I thought this was very unprofessional given he was the one who made the mistake. The food was mediocre and the service was disappointing. I wouldn’t recommend or come back.

First people need to get over the word "Authentic." You're at a run down strip mall in Arlington VA... Not a botulism filled street cart in Zeewatinejo. Anyway! The inside of this restaurant is nice. Good bar set up if that's your thing. The food: well, I've tried a few different items on 3 occasions. the food just isn't very good. Based on flavour....not "authenticity" Everything feels mushy, and tastes kinda blah.

I got tacos and taquitos catered for a party. Everyone enjoyed the food! I initially submitted the online catering form, but called to place my order when I didn't get a response. I was initially nervous about the lack of email confirmation, but they called me the day before my event to confirm the order. When I picked up the food at the designated time, everything was ready (and hot!) and nicely packed up. I'd get catering from here again!

We went here during lunch today, this is our first date spot. Unfortunately the service incredibly lacked. The food was absolutely horrible like no effort at all went into it. The tacos were oily and smothered in Lettuce or guacamole,.no protein just all the sides. I ordered the Tostadas and they should be picked up and eaten, it was a mountain of Lettuce. This place is definitely not the same. The chips and salsa were the best part of the meal, and the margaritas were pretty good, but again not like they used to be.

Really enjoyed this restaurant. We came in just for margaritas and appetizers while we waited for our appointment across the street. Everything we got was good, the margaritas were well done, and the customer service was outstanding. Vegetarian and kid options available, good prices. It has a nice atmosphere as well. We ubered on vacation so I can't speak to parking.

I’m hesitant to leave a review because this is my spot and I don’t want to share it, but tbh they deserve it. The best - margaritas, tacos, chips, salsa, and service. I highly recommend you get Mayra or Renee as your server. Many of the ppl working here have been there for a decade or more, and they are off the charts amazing.

On a Friday, we got our food in came out in less than ten minutes. My husband and I were shocked. Well seasoned food and not overwhelming with spice. The tacos are the right amount of meat with other toppings. The staff also is nice and well attentive.

4 stars for a solid neighborhood Mexican restaurant. My wife and I were looking to grab margaritas one evening and decided to stop by Taqueria El Poblano. Located in the Lee Harrison Shopping Center, the venue (which had some outside seating) was absolutely packed on this weekday evening with some seating in the front (which was separated out for some reason), a bar off to the left, and more seating towards the back. The waitress sat us down and handed us some menus. We also looked around and noticed there were specials written up on a menu on the wall. One of those specials was a lobster taco, which seemed like a fun tasty idea and was part of my order. After getting our water and chips (with some really good homemade salsa) and seeing the waitress be absolutely slammed with work, we grabbed her and put in our entire order at once. We both started with some award winning (according to a sign on the wall) margaritas. I got the double, which was only $5 more and was pretty large and strong. While ordering our margs, we placed our food orders, with me getting the lobster taco and duck taco, and my wife getting the chile relleno. We thought that we would have to wait a while for our food due to the number of people, but our food was out in something like 5 minutes. Despite the speed, everything was hot and fresh. While I only thought the lobster taco was ok, the duck taco was quite excellent (those pickled onions went perfect with it) and my wife's chile relleno was one of the better ones in the Arlington area. The bill came soon after and, aside from the upgrades I did, the prices were extremely reasonable considering the area. In other words, we found our new monthly Arlington Mexican restaurant. Overall, Taqueria El Poblano generally delivered. Although it was not my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in the DMV (which is tough competition), the solid food, service, and prices make this a great place to grab some Mexican food if you live in or are visiting the area.

The place was very dirty. The food was terrible. One star for being open past 8 o'clock

Came for a good time, was super disappointed. Server was a cool women tho shoutout to her. But the dilla? Saaaad man. $10?!! And I could make a better one at home. They are lucky their beer was cold. **addition. Did this review live and we just found a hair in our chips!!:(*

I have been here a few times in the past - long enough ago that I remembered liking it. I went again with my family this weekend and was very disappointed. I liked the chips and salsa and that was about it. We had a few different tacos, tacos Al carbon, and enchiladas among us. My wife enjoyed the enchiladas (why 2 stars), but thought the beans and rice were subpar. I didn't really like anything I ate. I thought my tacos were pretty terrible, especially compared to other places in the area that I find to be far superior, including La Union, Taco Bamba, Bar Taco, Uncle Julios, and maybe even Taco Bell (maybe not, but I honestly would have taken a taco supreme over the food I got here, especially at the lower price point). Specifically, they were each overfilled with wet and largely flavorless ingredients that caused each to crumble after the first bite (not that I wanted to eat more than that anyway). The tacos al carbon were the best of the bunch, but a low bar and worse than similar things I've had at the places above - it was not cold, but not hot either, and was not very flavorful. Also, some of the meat was very fatty. Service was fine.

Spontaneously stopped in on a Friday afternoon. Loved the chill vibe and great music. Food was okay, mango margarita was great, and the server could not have been better. Clean restroom, easy parking.

Incredible brunch with the best margaritas in town. I look forward to my Sunday ritual every week!!! Recently I brought colleagues here for a team dinner and everyone is still raving about the food and drinks.

Some of the reviews are so harsh. Not sure why.. This is a favorite neighborhood spot! So family friendly. Good service. Great margaritas. And good food too. Usually very quick. Have done both dine in and take away.

Margaritas are worth the hype ! Loved the jalepeno marg. Ambiance is great too, the staff is so kind. Food was decent too, got tacos, I think the duck taco was the best.

Decided to try another local Mexican restaurant in Arlington. The atmosphere was great and the service was awesome. Quick service and a homey vibe. We ordered their queso first, and it was great! The chips were warm and delicious as well. Definitely would go back for their queso. However, their beef burrito was just average. I'd probably not order it again if I were to return. Overall, it was not bad, but it didn't leave me thinking "damn I gotta try everything on this menu."

Hands down best margaritas in town. This place is great. The food is amazing and the family feel is so welcoming. I highly recommend everything on the Sunday brunch menu paired with a jalapeño margarita.

Meh. The margaritas are good but otherwise this is a very run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant. It's in the neighborhood so I think that's why we all keep going back. There aren't that many cool bar atmospheres close by, so the Taqueria wins. If they had a lot of competition, however, I don't think they'd be around for very long. Pros - the margaritas are good and they have a lot of different options. The staff is super nice! It's local. Ambience is super cute. Love sitting at the bar. Cons- food is very basic. When you order fajitas, they don't come out sizzling; they come on a plate with a blob of rice and a blob of beans. Tortillas are boring packaged tortillas. The meat is dry, bland, and boring. The more traditional things like burritos and enchiladas probably rank a little higher, but fajitas and tacos are just boring. Overall, I think it's expensive for what it is. There are better Mexican restaurants in the Arlington/Falls Church area! The Taqueria is closeby, and has great atmosphere so when I crave a margarita, they'll still get my business. I'll just roll my eyes at the food.

Not bad. Not sure what all the noise is about the margarita. It was fine. My preference is for frozen, not on the rocks. Chicken Mole Verde was acceptable. Nice friendly place.

The service and drinks were amazing but the food, not so much. Not good. I had the guacamole (hard pass), the fish taco, shrimp taco and nibbled on my wife's lobster taco plate. The quality of food was that of a food truck or a "walk up spot." Definitely not what I'd expect from a sit down restaurant in a cute lil town. Good thing the pricing was good cause the quality of food isn't worth more than a few bucks. The rum punch was amazing though! Our table tried various drinks but at the end of the night we were all ordering the rum punch. A must try for sure.

Fabulous. I have eaten at the one in Arlington for years - with friends for dinners and weekend brunches. Super-glad the restaurant survived covid, in part through innovative steps like creating an outdoor dining area. Glad to be able to eat inside again, especially as wather is getting colder. Great for families, couples, friends. I like all of their dishes that I've tried - and love most of them. I always order too much - so I have left-overs to take for another meal the next day. Super wait staff.

Poor service and mediocre food. Changes to entrees is not allowed. Be careful what you order.

This is a perfect family-friendly spot. Atmosphere is cozy with several booths and long tables. They can accommodate groups if you need to - especially later in the evening. The star here is the margarita. Perfectly tart with a salt rim. One of the best I've had anywhere. Also love the fish tacos and the enchiladas. Chips and salsa are free and plentiful. Also addictive!

Really fast service, super nice hostess and waitress... food tastes great and would return

Food was not tasty enough. Weak on the spices and the onions and peppers were not sautéed for long enough to caramelize the veges, plus the rice was missing typical Spanish / Mexican flavors - definitely not worth the $20 price for the entree. As for the margaritas, it was more like a limeade with no hint of alcohol.

Chips and salsa were tasty and the margaritas were very nicely done - my wife had a pomegranate margarita - and if you can get through the preliminaries as well as Pobano did, we're definitely coming back! Tacos el Carbon had a wonderful charcoal grill flavor - I got the pollo. My son had the green chili pork burrito and devoured it in nothing flat. My wife had the relleno (nice and cheese-filled). Zero complaints, service attentive, not quiet but not too loud. What's not to like?

Wow, what a crappy restaurant. The fish taco was overly breaded, heavily fried, and used frozen fish. The beef taco was incredibly dry and tough to chew. The shrimp taco was just okay; and, the pork was the best of the bunch--which was also just okay. The nicest thing I can write is that the food is bland, and that I didn't get food poisoning. If anyone has a recommendation for Tex-Mex or Mexican food, please inbox me. I lived 7 years in Austin and 4 years in San Diego, so perhaps my expectations are set too high for what is available in the area.

Amazing margs and food. Love this spot. Great service and quaint accommodations. I like the enchiladas, burritos and tamales.

Great place. Food is awesome and comes out quickly.The staff is always friendly. 10/10 can't believe the low rating.

Just not very good mexican food. Requests are ignored. Asked for corn tortilla, received flour. The "meats" in the LA Tacos are an unidentifiable mash. Not good. Not LA. Shellfish allergy exclusion request was met with: "If I was allergic to shrimp, I would never risk eating in a restaurant" Worrisome. Antihistamine was necessary following the meal. There are MUCH better dining choices.

We shared 4 dishes among 4 people, and had a very tasty and hearty lunch with leftivers for dinner for me. We started with crispy fish and duck carnitas tacos. Not really designed to share, but you can do it if you try. The duck was particularly good, but to me the texture was more like chiccharones than carnitas. Then we shared pork in green chile and chiles rellenos. The pork was great although I'd have liked more of the delicious sauce. Chiles rellenos are best eaten immediately after preparation and these, while good, definitely were less successful for their journey from restaurant to home. Portion size was large, and price very reasonable. The to-go packing was flimsy, and some leakage resulted.

I visited for lunch with some friends and our kids, and it was a great time. We all ordered burritos, which are really large. They were extremely tasty--whether you get chicken, veggie, or chili beef, we were all wow'd by them. All of us overate as a result lol. The service was incredibly fast and attentive. They were super great about sitting us quickly and helping with high chairs and kids stuff. Our drinks were always refreshed. And we received our food very quickly. It's not mexican gourmet food so I'm not judging it on that basis. It's just a good restaurant that feels like it's run by hard working people who care about how you feel as a guest. The only negative for me was the parking lot was very full and busy. Everyone got a spot within a minute or so, but it was worrying that we would have to wait to park. It's the burbs, we gotta be able to park our minivans! The strip mall that this restaurant is located in has a lot of good retail establishments, making our visit to the Taq all the more fun. But I'll save that story for another review :)

This is absolutely the highlight of the Lee Harrison center. Best drinks in the neighborhood, food is consistent and fulfilling, but the staff and management and above and beyond. I don't live in the neighborhood anymore, otherwise I would be there more often...

My son just brought home a taco platter and I was so disappointed. The food is amazingly bland I think they need to buy some salt. They use chicken breast which is the driest cut of meat that you could use for a taco so again you have a dry ass taco, the rice has no flavor it tastes like mush from the high school cafeteria. As a Latina woman I was highly disappointed because I thought with all of the positive reviews that I would give it a day in court but guilty on all counts bland boring and Bleh.

I came by for a weekday lunch, and I was not disappointed. The tacos were among the best I've had in the DC/NOVA area. I got a crispy beef taco and a soft veggie taco, and both were really good, not too heavy, and not soggy at all. Two were a good size for a meal, and I like that you can order a la carte. The chips and salsa were decent, but I especially liked the secret habanero sauce that the server brought out for us. As a person who killed most of my spicy taste buds during an ill-advised ghost chili phase I went through a few years ago, I could still taste a little kick in the habanero sause. The margarita was great, not too sweet and not too sour. Service was excellent, definitely the best I've experienced in quite some time. I'll definitely be back, and I consider this to be a good alternative to Taco Bamba if you want to sit down for your meal and relax a bit.

Not a big fan of Mexican food, just a warning. Came here with a big group. The decor was kind of tacky to be honest, but the prices here are very good. The complimentary chips were gone quickly :), and the queso that we ordered to go along with it was a bit strange in texture but nice and cheesy, topped with savory and smoky chorizo. As an entree I got the Chile relleno, or stuffed poblano pepper. The insides oozed with cheese, but sadly not much else. The breading on the pepper was limp and wet. The rice was quite good and had actual flavor, but I would've preferred it inside the pepper. The refried beans served no purpose. Some others got the chocolate fritters for dessert, and they said it was good, with a fried chocolate shell and molten innards. Would order something lighter next time.

Awesome food and service. Outstanding margs! The bar is great only challenge is it gets crowded as it's so popular!

Everything here was OK not bad not great. The taste seemed as if it was missing something We ordered a bit of everything and it just didn't excite the taste buds like some of the other Latin places in Arlington It was crowded and most look like regulars. So it definitely appeals to some

Still good! About 78th time here. We go once a week at least. Great beef tacos and margaritas.

Walked in here today and was seated immediately that was the only good thing about this visit. Sat for 9 minutes waiting for service. we knew what we wanted when we walked in the door, but no one ever came by to take our order or even acknowledge us. There was one other table who told us they had to wait forever too and two couples at the bar. We got up and left. No idea how the food is but the ladies next to is said the margaritas were mediocre. Too bad I was hoping to find good Mexican food, the search continues.

I ordered the quesadilla and it honestly tasted like cat food. It was just so so bad and so small. I love all Mexican food, but this was so gross. I managed to get down part of it, but couldn't finish it at all. I told the waitress that it did not taste right and she did nothing and I still had to pay for it. I had part of a burrito, and that was good, but the quesadilla was the worst thing ever.

Great place. Server was with us within 30 seconds of walking in, gave us chips within 2 minutes, and we had our margaritas within 5 minutes. Great chips, great service, great drinks, and great price! 5/5. I'll be back.

I'm happy with this place. I remember wandering in here out of curiousity one day and came back a few times. Wish I found it sooner! I've lived out West, and it really is hard to find decent Mexican food in the area. Usually, it's bland Tex-Mex covered in cheese or food from another Latin country pretending to make some Mexican dishes. If you're looking for a fancy, pretentious sit down restaurant to take Insta pics on a Friday night, there are plenty of those places in Arlington. This ain't it. This is the kind of casual, sit-down Mexican you find in NM, AZ, and CA. It's not street food-style tacos and it's not gourmet. It's somewhere in the middle and just solid all around. I saw some locals sitting at the bar having some drinks and lunch, which his exactly how this type of local Mexican place should be during lunch. A good sign! On to the food.... Taquitos - These were really good. It's a simple dish, so execution is everything. At most places they come with an extra thick tortilla, are over fried, and under filled. These were thin rolled, packed with fresh and flavorful chicken, and super fresh cooked. Comes with a scoop of guac and a scoop of pico on the side. Yep, yep, they get it right. -Tamales - Just a bit too salty for me, but I'm picky about tamales. Mexican style, though, so I was happy enough. I've tried one pork and one chicken, I think. Good flavors, large size. A bit salty but it was a flavorsome salt so I can't complain too much. Enchiladas - nice! Order comes with one chicken, one pork, one beef. All good, filling, fresh. Enchiladas are an easy dish to turn cheap n' greasy, and Poblano doesn't go that route. It's hearty but light and fresh. Rice and beans - good rice, good beans. Not too salty, greasy, or over done. Rice was fluffy and cooked properly. Chili Relleno - Oh, thank heavens! The ONLY place I've found in the entire state of Virginia that does a proper Mexican chili relleno. Usually, around here they give you the variety of another country or simply have no clue how to make it properly and serve you a kind of flavorless corn dog. Large peppers filled with cheese are lightly battered lightly fried before served in a spicy tomato salsa. Supposed to be a light yet filling treat. They nailed it! They also throw in plenty of green and red salsas with a take-out order without having to ask. A nice touch in a part of the country known for its poor service. Prices were reasonable, food was fresh, service was friendly and efficient. Just a solid 4 star local place. In, say, NM, Phoenix, LA, it might be a 3 star place, but out here its a 4 star place worth your time for sure.

Poor service. Small portions. Odd flavors. Every single time we needed something we had to flag down the waiter. We're still waiting for the bill.

Food is very bland and the sauces and salsa all appear to come out of a can. Definitely not worth the price.

The food is just not very good. Everything was bland, at the minimum, salt was needed. The chips and salsa were the only good part of the meal. Service was okay, but my order was wrong. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

A couple of times while waiting to get into another restaurant on the same strip (Peter Chang), friends of mine and I decided to stop in here and get a margarita and a quick appetizer while we were waiting. It was also an opportunity to try two different cuisines for the same meal. Like so many reviews I have read, this place really isn't that remarkable. Years ago people were talking a lot about the Taqueria El Poblano in Del Ray, but I can't find any more reason to recommend this small chain. The salsa that comes with the free chips has almost no flavor whatsoever. The duck carnitas, unremarkable. The Baja fish taco should not be battered as it now tastes like corn tortilla wrapped bread. The adobo season pork, meh in the truest sense of the word. Probably the only item that really stood out that we sampled was the tacos el pastor, but then comparing so-so to worse, isn't really a ringing endorsement. The food is very bland and to some that might be exactly what they are looking for. I see many families here with young children and its quite possible Taqueria El Poblano would prefer to cater to the regular families that go here rather than potentially lose these customers and return back to their roots that once made them great. Basically this chain has dumbed down their food on a level and taste quality that you would find at Chipotle or California Tortilla. To put it mildly, one group of friends said, "we didn't need to stop there before we went to Peter Chang's."

I didn't really liked the food but customer service was great. The reason to why I don't think I would be going back is simple because, the food didn't have that Spanish flavor some of us want when we go to Spanish restaurants.

I went with my friend to eat for mothers' day but the food was bad service was good but no the food

Best Margaritas anywhere -- thanks Berto! Been coming here for years and the place is full of regulars (good sign) and the staff have been consistent, also a good sign.

One of the only restaurants nearby that was open until 9pm on Sunday. Service was friendly. Food was a-ok. The duck carnitas was especially good. The al pastuer taco was alright. BF's cumin chicken burrito needed a little more flavor. The chips and salsa were ok. The best thing was probably the special habenaro hot sauce the waiter brought out!

Local "Mexican" joint. If you don't know great Mexican food and ambience you might not be disappointed. If you love Mexican food, this local spot will certainly disappoint. I believe in supporting local establishments, but the beans (an absolute must for any credible Mexican joint) were a pasty, bland, canned version. The pop American music should have been another sign. Rice was dry and clumpy. Seriously!? This is a first in worst for me. Otherwise, friendly staff and ok margaritas. If you want quick and local, support away. But don't expect much from the Mexican cuisine. I believe that restaurant owners should take more pride in serving a fantastic experience and wonderful food that match the name and decor. This one has lost its way. Tell the Manager!

This place sucks harrrdddd. I don't know why I went back. It had been several years since my last visit and my party wanted to eat their. We had the steak tenderloin tacos (15$ for 2), a pork burrito (10$), a salmon salad (15$), a chicken quesadilla for kids and 2 beef tacos for $11. After dessert, my bill was 80$. This place sucked. The burrito tasted like old socks. The quesadilla was just like you make at home, the beef tacos were burnts and the tenderloin tacos were ok BUT for $15 you better give me more than 2 tacos. The flavor was so bland on all of the food. Because of the prices my entire party ate all the food but no one liked any of it. The coconut flan was the best part of the show. I'd go back just to order the flan. If you're going to eat here ONLY order bar drinks and dessert. Everything else here sucks.

Living here since 2009 and never tried this place. It's always crowded and hey let me try something different. I will never go back. Guacamole is drowned in lime juice. I suspect it's made in the morning and the lime juice is used to preserve it all day in the fridge. It's too much lime!!! Refried beans were bland and awful. Chips were thin and had no flavor. I got a veggie burrito and had one bite. It was terrible. The only thing good was the grilled onions on the fajitas. The shrimp was tasteless and the rice was old. It was 50 dollars and 30 minutes of my life I will never get back. I don't understand how this place is still in business. Go up the street to district taco. It's the best!!!!

NOT KID FRIENDLY! Don't let the high chairs, laminated kids menu and plastic table cloths fool you; unless your kids are mutable robots, steer clear! I ate here for the first time with my 1 and 3 year old at 11:30 on a Sunday and was horrified by the way my family was treated. My kids were laughing and chatting with each other and making happy noises when my 3 yr old got a little too loud singing for about 10 seconds. My husband and I quickly made him speak softer but immediately after the owner came over and asked me to quiet my children because they were disturbing her guests. WHAT?! My kids are far from perfect but they seriously weren't out of line here. It rubbed me the wrong way, but I said I would. As we were leaving, I stopped by the same woman to better understand the situation and literally asked her name and role when she immediately started yelling at me (while I'm holding my 14 month old) about how she had the power to say whatever she wanted as the owner. I was shocked that the woman who had moments ago asked me to quiet my children because she felt they were making a scene wasn't afraid to make one by yelling at a customer and her baby... Needless to say, I won't be back, but share my story as a cautionary tale to other parents out there. There are plenty of other places where you can get forgettably fine tex-mex without the side of unwarranted judgement.

The food here is not great. It's OK at best. Recently, I also think that their margaritas are starting to taste cheaper and cheaper. The sauces that they provided on the table are honestly just colored water. Gross. Do yourself a favor and just use the bottled Cholula sauce. I had the 'special,' crispy crab tacos... there was nothing special about them, and they would have tasted much better on a soft corn tortilla. Do the Chefs even taste their own food? Service is also sub-par, as the waiters clearly didn't care on any level. Overall, there is nothing special about this place, and I don't know how it has lasted in Arlington so long. -- Please make room for something better.