El Tequila

This our first time here and I wasn’t impressed at first and almost ready to seek another option. The food made up for it. Great flavor, good portions, reasonable prices. Service was good but it would of been nice if our server spoke a little more English. I wouldn’t make a special trip to eat here again but if you like Mexican and in the area it’s worth a try. Really good food, and the chips and salsa are really good.

Their salsa is absolutely amazing! Hands down the best salsa I’ve ever had. I almost always order their fajitas which are great, they could add more fixings to them, but that’s a small compliant.
I highly recommend this restaurant.

Best mexican in the lower cities. I love the Coronita Margarita and Cheese Enchiladas.

Flav-​O-​Meter rating: 0 out of 10.
Go to El Tequila when you need spice-​free and flavorless food, along with bland drinks. Perhaps right after a major surgical procedure where the other doctor-​approved choice is chicken soup.
Otherwise…stay away! Take the time, get a cookbook and whip up your own «authentic Mexican food» at home. You can do way better on your own.
The rice had no flavor, just coloring. The margarita didn’t even have coloring! The salsa used tomato sauce as a base, and the fajitas were sprinkled with black pepper — the true Midwest spice for the faint of heart (and stomach).
I need to drown my sorrows with a blizzard at the local DQ.
Adiós!

As I’ll try not to mention in *every* review I write, I’m from Texas. Finding Mexican food that isn’t deplorable in Minnesota is a challenge. This place accepts that challenge and gives it the college try (get it? Northfield’s a college town)! While it’s still not quite as authentic as I’m used to, it’s great for the midwest. I’m probably giving it 5 stars more out of nostalgia. It likely deserves 4 stars, but I’m so fond of the super fast service, yummy fresh salsa and kind people that I splurged on that 5^th star.
I like the food, the lunch menu is reasonable, and the birthday party element is great. Who doesn’t like wearing a sombrero and having Flan for their 21^st birthday? I know I did! Sunday thru Thursday they offer buy one get one for Margaritas!!! They have a punch card for Lunch too, where you have lunch there often enough that eventually one is free. Not a bad deal if you live in town.
Bonus: They aren’t effing around when they offer a «large» margarita. Seriously. It’s like your own personal fish bowl.

An extremely popular with students at the colleges. Every birthday, every celebration, every day – «Let’s go to El Tequila.» I wish I was kidding. I probably ate here once a week or more when I was in college, so of course I had to stop by when I was in town recently. They recently got a new menu, but usually a Mexican restaurant of this type is just about eight ingredients slathered together about 100 different ways.
The salsa and chips are good, but not super hot. Actually, none of the meals have a ton of spice, but the salsa is a nice accompaniment to the meal. It’s simple, it’s good, it’s always super fast… what more could you ask for?

Best salsa around, possibly the best in Minnesota. Lots of cilantro, very fresh. Also food is always fast, hot and fresh. Service is good. I can even find something on the menu for my picky eater, so this restaurant is a family favorite.

A previous reviewer was right on with the salsa description and recommendation. It is thinner than most salsas I like, but the spice level and the generous amount of cilantro in it made it a winner in my book. I was in a hurry and ordered the two taco lunch special as soon as I sat down. Chips and salsa were brought promptly and my meal was right behind. The food was flavorful, not greasy, and well portioned, and reasonably priced.

A good friend of mine lives in Waseca, I live in Burnsville so once a month we meet half-​way and grab dinner and drinks in Northfield. Our usual haunt is Chapati for super tasty Indian food, but alas… we scheduled our monthly get together on a Monday and Chapati was closed, so in comes El Tequila. It was ok. I will say the chips & salsa were pretty tasty, but the actual entrees were quite underwhelming. I ordered the pollo en salsa verde because I’m a sucker for anything w/​green sauce, but it was pretty bland. Service was a little spotty too. Our waitress tipped over a ¼ full glass of sangria all over our table and didn’t replace or comp the drink, granted we didn’t really want another because the sangria was super watered down and somewhat off tasting, but still. Said waitress also dropped a massive plate of tortillas at our feet. I guess it was an off night for her. Overall, it’s just ok… I wouldn’t rush back.

A great place for original Mexican food, I brought a visiting coniseur of Mexican to this restaraunt and he was delighted. The atmosphere is quaint and original, service is excellent and the food is outstanding. Now coming from a person that loves Taco Bell, you know it’s gotta be good! Here again, being a transplant from Faribault, there is also another restaraunt there, enjoy!

Best Mexican in town. That said, it’s a pretty small town.

I love El Tequila! I started going to the first restaurant in Faribault when my sister found it when she started living in Northfield. Since they have added the restaurant in Northfield I have been going here ever since. I am sure that you can say the food is just like all other Mexican food but the one thing that is different about this place is the salsa. The salsa is the best part! It is like no other salsa I have had anywhere else. It is pretty liquidy but I like the hotness and taste of cilantro because they put a ton of it in there. I am not sure about Josh’s review stating that he once found glass? in his salsa. I have never had any problems and I have been going there since it opened. I usually purchase a cup of salsa to go on my way out so I can enjoy it at home. Menu is pretty standard. Location is in a strip mall off of Hwy 3 through Northfield.

El Tequila is pretty decent Mexican food. For Minnesota. Having lived in California for about a decade, I found it somewhat under-​whelming, but it was good enough to satisfy my Mexican cravings.
Be warned, however, that we once found glass in our rice.

El Tequila is my favorite place to eat in Northfield. They do their best to make good Mexican food in the middle of Minnesota, which is otherwise pretty hard to find! Service is nice, reliable and helpful.