Paco’s

I went to Paco’s for dinner on a Friday night. They’re a small restaurant, but it wasn’t too crowded. It felt like going to a friend’s house for a home cooked meal. Warm chips and a nice but mild salsa were brought out in nostalgic plastic bowls that again felt like dinner at a friend’s.
The cheese dip was good — not overwhelming, nothing fancy — just solid, good food. I was thrilled to hear that they do not use animal products in their rice and beans since I do not eat beef, chicken, or pork.
I opted for the bean enchiladas with green enchilada sauce, rice, and beans. The food tasted homemade, fresh, and it wasn’t greasy. Unlike most Mexican restaurants, I didn’t feel ill after the meal.
My sister had the deep fried burrito with beans which was divine. Instead of the chili sauce, she got cheese dip on top which made for a delicious entrée.
We left the restaurant full, satisfied, and not sick — a new experience in Mexican cuisine.
This restaurant didn’t try to do anything fancy or over complicated — it’s just real, good food. I will return.

Their food is decent. There are days were I have left more content than other days. The food is certainly not Mexican nor is it really Tex-​Mex. However, it’s cheap and filling. I do like their rice and beans though. I must add they provide exceptional customer service.

ATTROCIOUS! My Mexican wife wanted to throw up when she saw the food. People claiming this place has good Mexican food clearly grew up on Old El Paso Mexican food because that’s what they serve here. The tacos have crap hard store-​bought shells, I don’t know what the chile relleno is, but it’s not chile relleno, the salsa is weak and tastes like it’s from a jar, their beans are canned, looks like dog food, and smells about the same. If you actually know what real Mexican food is supposed to look and taste like then avoid this place at all costs.

This place is a HOLE IN THE WALL and quite frankly a little intimidating from the outside, but truth be told Paco’s has some of the best Mexican food in town as far as I’m concerned.
I can’t remember my first visit here, or who took me, because I know I would never voluntarily pick this place myself (referencing the first paragraph), but once inside and getting past the dingy factor (yes, I realize I’ve given less ratings for other places for this very reason) it really is kinda kitchy and a fun neighborhood hangout. Located on Fairbanks Avenue near I-​4, this place is fairly tiny but really cute and kinda kitschy.
Every time I’ve ever been here to eat the staff has been incredibly friendly, with «darlin’s» and «sweeties» sometimes being quite abundant. That’s a big plus, in my opinion.
With regard to the food, the menu boasts the the average dishes like tacos, burritos, combo dinners, etc. There are a few salads thrown into the mix (like what I did there?) for those who are seeking something a little more «healthy» but still with the Mexican flair. During my last visit I had one of their mongo burritos – beef, if you’re interested – and without even coming with any sides it was more than enough to fill me up for the rest of the evening. My two dining companions (on the same visit) had never been there before, and while they said it was «different from any Mexican food they’d ever had» it was equally delicious. Bueno!
I’ve said it in a couple of my other reviews, but there’s really only a handful of quality Mexican restaurants located in the Central Florida area. I stand by my recommendation that Paco’s is one of them!

Absolute best place in Orlando for homemade tacos and an owner who knows every guest by name and order! You feel like you’re eating at a friend’s house, the only drawback is the lack of margaritas!

My first time here and certainly not my last! The service was prompt, food was delicious, and I love the ambiance. I love restaurants that «transport» you with eclectic décor and unexpected architecture. If you come, make sure you order the Chili Relleno (baked instead of fried)!

I feel compelled to review this restaurant because I cannot idly watch as others perpetuate the myth that this is a quality Tex-​Mex dive. WHYYYY!!!
I don’t have a particular bone to pick with Paco’s… it just isn’t good. This isn’t Mexican… or Tex Mex… it’s just the kind of melted-​cheese-​and-​Tostitos that any college kid could put together at 3 AM. I’m sorry — this is just a cult favorite that I don’t get.
If you are the kind of person who hates spice, is afraid of flavor, and doesn’t eat at great restaurants much… this may be up your alley?

I honestly don’t know how long Paco’s has been there, but we’ve been going for what seems like forever. This tiny place is no frills, basic big-​plate Mexican and it’s always good. Totally reliable and the casual, familial, welcoming vibe is thanks to the staff who are always friendly and fast. It’s simple but darn good.

This restaurant was a surprise for us! A delightful and very special service. Surely you will not regret going to Paccos. We were in a hurry, but we will return to enjoy better.

Simply the best Tex-​Mex restaurant in the Orlando area. A staple for over 35 years, this is the only place to really set the bar for this style of food in the area. Get the guac. Everything else is amazing, but get the guac.

Delicious chicken porch burrito. Very small space, no fancy Bullshit, fast service, great taste. I really loved this place. If I wanted atmosphere I might pick another place but if I wanted fast service with good food i come here.
We arrive right as they opened and we weren’t the only early birds. We got our drinks quickly and two orders of chips and salsa arrived before we could even order a main dish.
I ordered the chicken porch burrito and it was so good I can’t stop thinking about it. I usually eat Mexican because I love the thin tortilla chips and fresh salsa. In a usual Mexican restaurant the entre is a mix of blah. Paco’s however was so delicious.
Simple fresh taste with a large portion cut for two. I ate it all though because it was so delicious. I can not wait to go back and try more.

It’s good Mexican food! A small restaurant with an even smaller waiting area, which is relevant because there is always a wait. But it’s worth it.
The food has been consistently good. Service was great every time. Feels like a family kinda place.

I’ve heard this is one of Orlando’s best over and over and have been here a number of times now. Hands down, they deliver some of the best hospitality. No question. And the food’s always been really, really good.
Fresh delicious salsa. No problem tweaking up the menu or pushing out a veggie burrito my way just for me. Everybody, and I mean everybody, was very friendly.
My take, family friendly home style Tex Mex inspired fare with reasonable/​fair prices. You’ll especially remember the customer service. Keep up the good work. Parking’s tight but worth working around.

When I want a good solid Tex-​Mex lunch that doesn’t break the bank, I go to Paco’s. In fact, I used to go once a week when I worked in the area — precisely because of those qualities, and because it’s the kind of place where the staff will remember you. As many other reviewers have noted, Paco’s is a Fairbanks institution, and many of the staff have been there for decades. That’s starting to change now, but the core group is still there, especially at lunch. I really enjoy the beef tostada salad, the quesadillas, and the tacos, but it’s hard to go wrong. There’s a reason that so many people go back year after year: Paco’s keeps serving up a warm friendly environment and delicious affordable food.

Ive been here 3 times. By the third time I realized they weren’t having bad days or too busy, they were just generally rude and bossy to me every time. I asked for hot sauce and she rolled her eyes and sighed. I asked to modify a menu item to add/​subtract certain things like chicken and cheese, and they proudly told me I have to order from the menu as is.
Look I get it. Modifying the menu makes it taste not like your restaurant, and it complicates things in the kitchen. But i also get that I am the customer and if theres not a huge sign proclaiming you’ll refuse my modifications, you might not wanna be bossy knowitall about it. Just sayin. There are plenty of places to get different shapes of tortilla, meat and cheese and they will gladly change my order to provide personal service.
The plates, forks, silverware, chairs, tables, cups, you name it are all mix matched and look like they came out of an 80’s dishwasher. AKA the thrift store. Not unique or likeable in my opinion its more like lazy and cheap. But thats the vibe there so I don’t discount them wholly on that.
Lastly, when the bus boy/​cook/​waiter? tried to sell my girlfriend knock off purses and handbags table side I realized this place has been around for 30 yrs because the lot of the employees live in a compound behind the restaurant and do what they can to survive… not joking they live in the units behind the place. Charming little find that I wont be revisiting.

I’ve always heard this place is a hidden gem so we decided to give it a shot. $ 30 later I’ve found out that Taco Bell would have been a better option. The people were nice but the food had zero flavor. At least mix in a few packets of taco seasoning or something. This was well beyond bland except for the salsa which actually proved to be the star of the meal. Serious disappointment.

I have been going to Paco’s for years, 13 years to be exact. I have always loved the food, and I love the servers who work there. I used to work around the corner from this place, so this was our go to for Mexican on our lunch break. It got that I was there so often, the servers knew my order before I even got the menu!
I don’t get there as often as I did when I worked in the vicinity, but we usually went there at least once every 3 months. Over the last few years, I have noticed that the service is getting less and less stellar. The food is still on point, but the service has been lacking. Maybe it’s because I am in there at a different time than I used to go (I always went at lunch, and now I go at dinner), but things are just not as good as they used to be (slower, not as friendly).
The most recent experience I had (and regrettably maybe my last) was about 3 months ago. My husband, my 2 kids and I arrived and had one group in front of us. They had already seated and were serving a pretty large table, and apparently had used the majority of their chairs to do this. So let me reiterate: they had tables open, but no chairs.
They seated the group in front of us, and we waited for chairs to open up. Here is where it gets ridiculous. Whenever a group smaller than us walked in the door (party of 2 and 3), they would seat them and make us wait. I understand that under normal conditions (i.e. they were short tables, not chairs) this would be the right thing to do. But how in the world are you supposed to gather up 4 chairs if you’re constantly giving those chairs away to smaller parties? Simple answer: you can’t.
As I have sentimental attachment to this place, I was patient and waited. We waited for 40 minutes with everyone who had come in behind us being seated while we just sat there with no table. They must have seated 10 people 2 to 3 at a time while we were waiting for just 4 chairs. We finally gave up and went to a barbecue joint. It was ridiculous. It made me sad to see it because I love this place. I love their food. I always loved the wait staff. Now I’m not sure if I plan to go back, not because of this one incident but because of a steady decline that culminated into the final incident that made me rethink my choices of ever selecting this restaurant for my dining needs again.

There is nothing really special about this place. The food is pseudo-​Mexican– like a white American’s version of Mexican food. It’s not bad– everything tasted decent, but nothing– and I mean nothing– wowed me, or even stood out as actual tex-​mex food. Their salsa tastes like Pace brand (I’m 99% sure it’s not homemade), they use pickled jalapeños instead of fresh ones, and the chicken has no flavor– I think they poach it, shred it, and call it good. Where’s the seasoning? Where’s the flavor? How about some cilantro or cumin or lime juice or something!
BUT, this place is an institution, been around for over 30 years now, and the parking lot is always packed… so maybe I’m missing something? But I’ve been to Mexico, and lived in Texas, and I am not impressed in the least. I have found that there are tons of other better tex-​mex places to eat in the Orlando area.

The service is amazing, the staff has been there for decades each and they knew literally everyone else in our section.
Unfortunately, the food is not as good as the service. It’s okay, not the tastiest, not the cheapest, but acceptable across the board. They do COVER everything in cheese, like they literally could have used half the amount of cheese and I would have been okay with that. This was much better on my wife’s nachos where you could scrape some off, as opposed to my burrito where it overwhelmed everything else.
One other thing of note, I personally liked the hot salsa much better than the mild, the mild was way to watery for my tastes. Also, they don’t have any traditional Hispanic hot sauces, they have franks red hot… which is okay, but not what I was expecting.
All in all, would I go back? Sure, but only if someone else set it up and it wasn’t too far out of the way.

Pacos is a decent little Mexican place. The ambiance is like your mother’s house for dinner. There is usually a line (which is a good thing) The Back-​porch burrito is a good deal. The cheese sauce lives up to its name. The margaritas are not very good. The owner is a character. Overall, a fun, yummy place for home cooked Mexican.