El Caporal

Love this place! Food and service awesome! Oscar is our favorite! My family always enjoys the dining experience we have!

When here a couple nights ago. There was nothing that stood out to me. The atmosphere is very upbeat and very decorative. Their wait staff was extremely helpful, and kind. Their food was about average to me. Personally I’ve had better, the fish tacos were like breaded fish sticks wrapped in a tortilla. Their fajitas where not out of this world, very average. Their price was pretty average, but for the quality of food the price is a little high. I would recommend this to people out and about for a quick meal, if I am out and about again. I might stop here again.

Came in for lunch, service was good but there was a big chunk of an eggshell in my chile relleno. I won’t be back.

I’ve been going here since I was a kid, family funtions, and easy dinner out. A couple months ago they served my son raw hamburger in his enchilada and didn’t even apologize for possibly giving him food poisoning or take his meal off since after a couple bites he realized it and grossed out. So tonight we tried it again and they seated us next to a large party. After quite some time the manager came over and said that the waiter was busy, what do we want. We placed our order, from there we where ignored, she slammed our plates down on the table. I had put an empty salsa dish out to be refilled and a young helper came over asked if she could get us anything, didn’t wait for an answer or take the empty dish
By this time I’m just irritated. The manager came over and said anything else and I said salsa and water. She spilled water all over the table and didn’t apologize or say I will be right back to clean that up.
Then she flicked a hand written Bill in my face said computers down ok. By this time I just wanted to leave. $ 35 for a completely rushed unfriendly and horrible customer service. To think I’m a retail food manager with over 50 employees who serve food to over 10 000 people per day, work long hours and sit 2 hrs in traffic to go to a local restaurant and relax and have a good meal. Hmmmm guess not…
I can spend my $ else where…

Friendly service, decent prices, awesome happy hour. Oh yeah, food is always great as well.

Every family needs their middle of the road Mexican restaurant, El C is it for the maple valley area.
Usually a quick wait for larger (5+) groups and food is consistent. Most times our group gets chicken fajitas which are fine, a few get burritos which have «satisfactory» reviews. This time I got the Pollo Asado which was grilled chicken with grilled onions, beans and rice. Good enough!
Chips are the classic Azteca style, salsa was pretty bland. Not much flavor but did have some heat.
We’ll be back as it’s a family regular haunt!

Small portions for the price. Food and service were satisfactory. Nothing out of this world. Can get same taste and half the price at Taco Del Mar.

Amazing fresh hot salsa! Love the authentic Mexican décor and food. We had a lunch fajitas and enchilada plate. Great Seahawks Margarita s people!!! Get over here and drink one of these.

I was at El Caporal with my family for dinner tonight, and the experience was a reminder about why I have such a soft spot for this place.
The restaurant and bar were crowded with people gathering to watch Thursday night football. There was a large party in the main dining area celebrating a birthday. Despite the big crowd and large party, the food came out timely and all done right, and the service was very kind and attentive.
I decided to try the carne asada burrito tonight. The steak inside was excellent, very tender but with a good char. The many other ingredients were equally good and the burrito comes smothered with big «schmears» of good guacamole and sour cream. The burrito is huge, I hit the wall about ²⁄₃ of the way through. Delicious and a very good value.
El Caporal remains the best Mexican restaurant in MV. Don’t miss the happy hour half-​priced appetizers (and the happy hour resumes at 8 pm) as well as their «Taco Tuesdays.»

We used to go to El Caporal regularly because they have very hood food. Our kids liked it too, and we had a birthday party there for our daughter. had a fingernail in my food. The waiter asked if I had cut my nails and tried to say it was mine. Will never go back and discourage anyone else from eating there.
I found a fingernail in my food. First the waiter said it wasn’t a fingernail. Then he said maybe it was mine. It was gross and disgusting enough to find a fingernail in my food, and then to be blamed for it was not my idea if customer service. It a restaurant screws up admit it and try and make it right. Don’t try to blame the customer.
Have never been back and never will go back.

I’ve been going to this restaurant regularly for the past 8 years, so the fact that I keep going back over the better part of a decade must say something. By now, I’ve tried most of the entrees on their menu and everything is very good except for the deserts, which aren’t so great. I’m particularly fond of the enchiladas and the fajitas. The staff are friendly and the service is good — most of the staff have been there for years, so it must be a good place to work, too.
I find myself occasionally trying other Mexican style restaurants in and around town just to try something different, but none are good enough to keep me from coming back to El Caporal.

Very similar to other Mexican restaurants out there. Although, I will say that I felt the food had a little more of an authentic touch to it than similar establishments. The chips and salsa were fresh (warning: the salsa is a bit hot, I was the only one in my family who enjoyed it. My kids and wife couldn’t take it).
The wait staff was friendly and prompt. We received plenty of help for a weeknight dinner and they refilled our chips a few times.
The waitress recommended the Macho Pork Carnitas Burrito (An El Caporal Specialty). It was huge. The flavor was savory and even. I would certainly order it again.
I haven’t had a chance to try the other Mexican food places in Maple Valley, but this one seems to be a good standby for when the craving hits.

Pretty standard mexican food, nothing that really WOWs me to come back. Great servers. Quick service.

Typical Mexican restaurant as far as food and décor. Sorry but nothing really more to say. Except I do love the dive bar feel and the bartender was wonderfully pleasant.

This was our first visit here and possible or last. We moved to the Maple Valley area about a year ago and have been working or way through the restaurants in the area. This place is average at best. Staff was very nice, place was very clean. Food was so so, not bad just not good. I judge a Mexican joint by it’s carny asada and theirs is not so good. Maybe we will go back for a second chance. But until then our search continues.

You know what you’re going to get when you come here. Nothing was a surprise. Service was great. Food was ok. Prices were ok. Atmosphere was mediocre.
I would rather hit up hacienda del sol or whatever it is down the road…
3 stars because I didn’t want to see the news on/​volume on during my dinner out. that’s okay for the bar but the dining room should be a place to escape the terrible local news report.

Friendly from the moment I walked in.
Thurs night, not too crowded, sat in the lounge.
Ordered their Jumbo Margarita special, excellent. I was not too hungry, ordered a single crispy taco, hold the meat, they added fresh avocado, fresh pinto beans, lettuce & cheese. Taco was crisp, flavorful, excellent!
Service was friendly, cheerful even though I only ordered a taco & drink. Chips are worth coming back for, I will be back!

Great Mexican food. Bigger restaurant with a personal touch. This where we go for Mexican food and drinks.

Dont let my 3 stars scare you, this is one of the better mexican places in the area. The food is solid: good flavors, large plates, no surprises.
I highly recomend El Caporal if you are in the mood for some typical Mexican cooking.
The chips and salsa went fast, in fact we ate so many of those (because they kept on bringing them out-​thank you) that we were moderatly filled when the meals arrived.
Their chicken is soft and good. The carne asada not so much. The sides were fine… nothing to write home about, but good.
Come hungry

Food is great. We always get seated quickly and order.
The chips and salsa is so yummy!
Our food always arrives quickly and hot.
YUM!