El Charrito

This place is a real gem in the city. If you’re looking for a great Mexican restaurant in the local area and not a chain, this place is for you. The wait staff was very friendly and the food was hot and received in a timely manner. They took the time as a restaurant to meet our needs and never wavered in their attitude about it. I highly recommend coming to this place and this place is a staple for us as a family. Also doesn’t hurt that the owner is a very attractive blonde woman who has a great smile. If not for the food, come for the smile. You won’t be disappointed with either.

We had very good Mexican food in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, then on the way home to Las Vegas, Nevada, we had GREAT Mexican food in Gallup at El Charrito. Their enchilada sauce (red) and green chile sauce are the best we've found throughout the Southwest in decades. (One quibble: since a change in ownership, they no longer do flat (stacked) enchiladas, only the rolled ones. But our friendly, efficient server assured me I would love them, and she was right. They were delicious.) Hubby said their Chile Relleno is still the best anywhere. Not ridiculously puffy and deep-fried Poblano, dripping with grease like you get in most restaurants, but a proper New Mexico long Chile, with a stem, stuffed with just the right amount of cheese, coated in an egg batter and pan fried. Perfect. Sopapaipillas were just right, not as heavy as Navajo Fry Bread but not the brittle things we've encountered at some places lately. We bought 4 quarts of Green Chile and Red Chile Sauces also from these nice folks.

This restaurant was terrible. Only people in there and still no service. Main portion of food was good the sides were terrible. If I wanted canned beans and box rice I’d have made that at home. Not to mention the service was terrible and they charged us a automatic gratuity of 13$ for 5 people. Won’t be going back here again. I’d advise anyone to avoid this place. Usually the ghetto looking Mexican restaurants are the best. This is not the case it’s just flat out bad.

If I could rate this restaurant with less than a 1 star I would! Do not eat here! Our food had human hair in it and when we attempted to call to speak to the owner/manager because it was a pick up order, not 1 but 2 ladies by the name of Nikki and Niali (spelling?) argued with me and said the hair was not human hair and didnt even offer to remake the order and Niali talked over me and raised her voice at me and said that there is no way that the owner would refund me. They hung up on me twice. Its not about the $30 that I spent on 2 large menudo’s and leaving a tip at pick up, its about wanting good food with good customer service which they do not have at all. Do not eat here. Food had human hair in it and customer service was unbelievably horrible.

Excellent food and service! The cosmetics could use some work, but that didn't detract from my rating. The place is a family run business dishing out authentic Mexican food. It appeared that the dad was the cook, mom was serving, grandma took care of payments, and the little girl was brightening up the place with her smile. We had chicken and beef enchiladas and everything was delicious. The salsa is very good and just the right amount of spiciness. Definitely recommend!