
When you think Mexican, I always seem to head over to Jibarra, Los Cuates or Chubby’s as my go-to but for many people, El Rodeo is their Mexican crave fave of choice. And I can see why, they’ve got multiple locations in Raleigh and the downtown restaurant on Blount Street is perfect for a First Friday crawl. We stopped in given the line over at Calavera and this place is your basic Mexican-American type eatery. Bare bones and a bit busy with a broad menu spanning tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas and more. They whisk out a batch of chips really quickly along with a small bottle of salsa, extra baskets are $1.25 each. A side bowl of queso cheese is VERY good: rich, smooth and even a bit buttery, addictive dipping stuff.

I order up some enchiladas suiza which come out as shredded chicken stuffed in three rolls and covered with a light green sauce and sprinkled with cheese. Not bad but a bit bland and probably not the best dish on the large menu. But no complaints for $8.75, the prices here are really decent. My friend’s fajitas also looks pretty darn good.

Service is quick and efficient so if you’re looking to eat quickly, I’ve got the Mexican place for you! My beer is on special so my whole meal comes out to under $15 with tax and tip, a great deal given El Rodeo’s downtown location and decent food. While El Rodeo may not be my Mexican food joint of choice I can see how families and young adults may really like the place. Think decent quality Mexican favorites at value prices and you’ve got yourself a semi-winner in my book!