El Rio

About the best Mexican food your going to find in Granville county. The staff is excellent and they enjoy children. We have been going for 10 years and they always make you feel welcomed. The fajita nachos are the best. Go on Monday for 99 cent tacos and makes a great quick lunch.

Stopped by and my wife got the tacos. I got number 13 combo. Fantastic! Also great place to eat. Tony and crew are the best. You got to try Taco Monday! A party in my tummy!

Found this place half way to our destination and wanted a good place to stop for lunch. Only complaint was that our server forgot to put in our order so we were there way longer than expected. The manager kindly discounted our tab due to the oversight. Other than that, the food was delicious. Would definitely return if ever back in the area… even with the little oversight.

It’s a rarity to find classic Mexican dishes for short dinero in a small town but El Rio manages to dominate the market with their affordable lunch specials, fresh chips and salsa and a chicken soup that is overflowing with meat. My favorite is the Vegetarian #7.

Absolutely awesome restaurant. Food was fantastic, served fast and fresh. Service was spot-​on and the price was the best we’ve seen in a long time. $ 20 for two people with drinks. Having just moved to the Creedmoor area — we are thrilled to have found a local Mexican restaurant we can be local to. Love everything about it!

We go to El Rio all the time. The food is authentic,
as well as consistently good. Moises (the manager)
and the rest of the staff are prompt and courteous.
When I read the few poor reviews, I have to laugh to myself and say I guess you can’t please everyone.
It’s a small town Mexican restaurant that treats you like family. I think El Rio is the best addition to Central
Avenue since we got ANOTHER gas station.

Good family restaurant, the price is cheaper than you get in raleigh. The food is traditional mexican. Good place to take the kids. Or young couple on a budget. They have good wait staff. Food is quick and flavorful

There’s nothing my family and I have gotten from the menu that we disliked! Great people and food!

Good solid Mexican restaurant. Pretty much the same quality as any other similar place. What makes this place is the staff. The management knows (or tries to know) everyone in there. They shake hands, greet you personally and it trickles down to the wait staff. One of their waiters is a huge cut up! And who can beat 99¢ tacos and margaritas on monday night?

Decent Mexican fare in a very sketchy looking part of Creedmoor. Food tasted good and drinks were fine. When we arrived the person seating us disappeared even when there was a table open. Someone else came and seated us. We were brought chips and given drinks but then server disappeared for 15 minutes… that is quite a long time to not take an order (at least at Mexican restaurant). After they finally appeared, service picked up. The waiter was excellent dealing with my friend’s special drink requests. He didn’t skip a beat. So I guess this review is very mixed. Overall ok to visit but I’m gonna stick with other Mexican places far away.

Wow, amazing chicken! Quesadillas to die for! The tortillas are well done and perfectly cooked. The salsa and chips are very good and not too hot, but just an excellent lunch!

Great food, I call in our order about once a week. It’s always hot and fresh and ready in 15 minutes. We get the carnitas dinner, chips and white cheese dip (amazing) and salsa. I have had some combo platters as well and have never been disappointed but the carnitas is the home run. Don’t forget to get an order of churros for dessert.

The service goes down, the rating goes down.
My wife and I went back, and being vegan, this time we remembered to inquire about the ingredients of their rice.
We went in, and were seated. We took our menus and we soon had an experience with 3 waiters that shall from here on be referred to as 1,2 and 3.
First, waiter: 1, a woman whose language barrier was not an obstacle approached us and she was very courteous. We asked her if the rice had any meat based ingredients in it. She said she did not know and would check. Awesome response! But terrible execution.
We soon witnessed waiter 1 go into the kitchen area but then come back out to many other tables, but not ours. Quite a while went by and we figured she had forgotten her mission with us. I understand the multitasking efforts that waiters go through so I empathize.
Then, waiter: 2 approaches. There is a noticable language barrier with waiter 2. He is also the reason that women should feel uncomfortable at El Rio and is most of the reason for my first review’s complaints.
We ask him is there any meat based ingredients in the rice? He answered immediately and without thought. That prompted suspicion in us… It seemed that he answered the question without thinking about it or understanding it. He said, «No, no meat.»
He had his pad out, eager to take our order and just finish his job. We said, we’ll think more about the menu as we didn’t trust his response.
Finally, Waiter: 3 approaches. This man is clearly bilingual but fluent. He is also our favorite waiter there, kind, courteous and friendly. We asked him, and he admitted he did not know so he turned quickly to Waiter: 2 who was behind him, and in spanish asked him our question.
Ah ha, we realized that we were lied to by waiter: 2 as he answered waiter: 3 with an «I don’t know» expression. In english, to us, he knew as a matter of fact there was no meat in the rice. But now, in spanish, he does not know.
Soon waiter: 3 came from the kitchen with the true answer, written on paper, the exact ingredient was «Chicken Boullion.» So we ordered our delicious food with no rice. And we were happy with it.
I know my updated rating may be harsh, but a waiter that makes women uncomfortable and lies to customers just to make a sale ruins my mood more than anything. El Rio makes good food, but again, the service is terrible.

My husband and I were on a road trip recently and were looking for a quick place to eat that wasn’t fast food. I hopped on Unilocal and this is one of the places I found. It was a wise decision. We were immediately seated when we walked in by a very friendly man. A lady stopped by within a minute to deposit chips and take our drink order. Within another minute another waiter stopped to make sure someone had taken our drink order. The dining room looks like it was recently remodeled– standard Mexican restaurant décor. The menu had variety of choices and included a la carte items and a kid’s menu. I went with the flautas (see photo) and the hubby got an enormous burrito! The food was flavorful, but not spicy. I noticed that they have drink and dinner specials during the week. If we were locals, I imagine we would be regulars at this place.

Monday night is .99 tacos and margaritas. The service is friendly and fast no matter how busy it is. I prefer the Texas margaritas because I like to taste my tequila. My husband loves the simmered pork meal with rice, beans, flour tortillas, and side salad. I mix it up with different combo platters and haven’t come across one I dislike. Their homemade chile sauces are super flavorful and they’re more than happy to make one special for you. Prices are more than reasonable. Our last meal included two 32oz Texas margaritas, carnitas dinner, chicken soft taco, beef chile rellenos, chicken tamale, and a side of chile sauces for $ 40.

Okay, so the ambiance needs an upgrade — could use new carpet and paint. But tonight, the food was terrific. The service was better than mediocre.
To celebrate the day after sinking the mayo (have you ever tried to do that?) I asked my bride to join me for dinner here.
I had the Especial Dinner — a chalupa, a taco, a tamale, an enchilada and something else with guacamole, spanish rice and refried beans… There was so much food for just under $ 10 I had to loosen my belt. My bride thought I could’ve burst because it looked like my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
Two thumbs up for the cooking crew!