El Azteco
Average rating from 26 votes: 3.3 stars
East Lansing, MI
Fax: 517-485-2420
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Hours:
Sun 12pm - 11pm
Mon 11am - 11pm
Tue-Sat 11am - 12am - Cuisine: Mexican
- Table service: Yes
- Delivery: Yes
- Takeout: Yes
Reviews
First reviewed by Sparty
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Memorable restaurant
I remember going to this restaurant about 20 yrs ago! It was great, and I still remember the cheese dip. Does anyone out there know what kind of cheese they use in it? Any other ingredients? I know this is a "secret recipe," but if anyone has any info about the ingredients, I'd appreciate it. I live on the west coast now and probably won't be going back there again. : (
Thank you,
Liz,
zilpha99@yahoo.com -
anonymous
Oct 22, 2009Nostalgic
Im a Michigander. There is no other salsa as great as El Az. Now I live in DC and can't get the salsa and i'm going through
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anonymous
Sep 15, 2009Good for East Lansing
I'm from Arizona, where great Mexican food can be found on more corners than a Detroit hooker. El Az was East Lansing good, but is average to someone like me.
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Grr
Service is pretty terrible but the food is awesome. It's almost worth being ignored because you're under the age of 40.
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anonymous
Jul 13, 20091 of 1 users did not find the following review helpful:
Love This Place
I've been going there for 23 years and it will forever be my fave place!
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Best food ever
The people who gave el az bad reviews are evil minions of Satan. If I was on death row, I would order blue corn enchiladas as my last meal. Superb!!!
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It used to be good.
I think El Az is riding out is repuation on what it used to be. Was there on July 9th to celebrate a birthday and bring back some college memories. While they were not busy they were clearly understaffed. Drink refills did not exsist! Food was average at best and cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired. Server was not well trained on menu and could have sold a lot more simply by offering another drink. Several menu items were not available and several items on the menu were crossed off by a black sharpy....So sad.....it used to be the ebst....LSJ-time to revisit and update your ratings.
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Don't waste your time.
My girlfriend and I went there tonight to eat dinner. The server took forever to get to us, the food was not tasty, and they overcharged us. Do not order guacamole as a dip for the chips because they will charge you over $7.25 for a small dish. Not worth the money. You are better off eating at Los Tres Amigo's down the street. Save your money. We will NEVER eat there again.
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anonymous
May 21, 2009I LOVE IT
As a MSU alumni, thru the years I would always stop by El Ez for chips, salsa and their cheese dip when in town. So the place needs a bit of dusting. Ever really looked around at a Fridays!? Their Chimi's rock and so do their Margarita's. Live a little folk's!!!
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So disgusted
I came in on a recent night for dinner at the East Lansing location. I ordered the famous Topopo Salad and is was nasty!!! The dressing was on way to heavily and that was all you could taste. My boyfriend ordered Enchiladas with the red sauce and I was sooo disgusted because the beans were all hardened to the plate, the cheese was in one big lump and then they were not even hot in the middle!!! Seriously people you need to get your shit together.
I seriously think management needs to do some new hiring and firing. I seen like 4 servers when we were there and they were talking about going to the bar and talking about other customers all in front of the others. I asked to speak to a manager after I heard my waiter talking about me complaining about my food. I was told the manager was unable to see anybody at the present time. When asked for something with the number so I could call I was given a togo bag, what is this????
I WILL NEVER BE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
El Azteco ROCKS!!!
El Azteco is great place for you and some friends it isn't super fancy but has the best mexican food in the city. If you go there you must order the chese dip it's really good. If you like simple get the nachos or get a Topo Salad it's the best there is Nacho's with your choice of chicken or beef Guca. anad a mountain of lettuce and peas with a viniger and oil dressing. It might sound gross but it is really great. The service isn't what it could be but it's mostly college kids with there first try so i'm ok. Yes there are bugs but not a lot of them. It's nice for a date or to take your childern maybe not babies maybe a business lunch. Try it, it's pretty good.
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anonymous
Nov 05, 2008You have been warned!
My bf and I had never had the cuisine here, we had only come in for their Margaritas which are AWESOME!!!
We each ordered the Enchilada's w/ red sauce.
As I am no chef, I can only provide my opinion of what went wrong.
The food had to have been cooked and left sitting under lights to remain heated because by the time it reached the plate the beans were hard and crusted over on top, the red sauce was all but cooked onto the plate and the cheese had begun to gel into a greasy glob.
I asked the waiter what the deal was with the beans been practically ROCK HARD and he just shrugged and then asked me if I wanted him to bring me out more.... umm, more ROCK BEANS?!?!?!
When he did return, he did so with a swarm of what he affectionately referred to as "Fruit flies". They immediately attacked the Margaritas in a disgusting display. There were about 10 gnattish flies flitting about.
Between swatting the flies and trying not to PUKE, my friend and I decided we had had enough.
Maybe it was a bad night, maybe every night is bad.
Take it for what it is, but don't be disappointed if the bugs enjoy your meal more than you do!! -
anonymous
May 08, 2008Very Yummy!!!!
There Sangria is lovely!!! Chips and salsa could be better. I had the enchiladas with sour cream and they were fabulous!!! I have been there twice and the first time the service was not great, but the second time we had a different waiter and he was a lot better.
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anonymous
Apr 10, 2008Poor service and less than clean
I have tried this a few times and service has been consistently poor. I get the impression that they are doing me a favor by taking my order. Foods pretty good, but the place does seem quite dirty and unkept in my opinion. It seems like it's surviving on its past reputation?
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Unique menu items and great people watching
I have been frequenting El Az since 1979, when we formed a single file line into a dimly lit basement. Sunday dinner was always at El Az when the dorm cafe was closed. The present location is a little easier to negotiate and the roof top dining is great in the summer. Favorites include the salsa/chips and cheese dip. We often share a Topopo Salad with a side of Chili Verde sauce. Our kids love it too. Sure, it is sometimes a little dirty looking, sure the wait staff is a little quirky, but it is all part of the package.
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Great
The atmosphere was exactly what I expected. Who cares if it's dirty. You want real Mexican food, this is where you go. Everyone's used to all these clean restaurants with fake food that just tastes good. This stuff is amazing, and tastes really good. I've tasted a lot of Mexican food, but I guess I really didn't till I went here.
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1 of 1 users did not find the following review helpful:
I would not go if I were you
We went on a weekday night (hoping for it not to be busy) and it sucked. We saw our waiter 3 times (if that) and it took them 45 minutes to bring our food (we ordered tacos). I have had better food from my own kitchen and my kitchen is cleaner. It was dirty, the service sucked, and the food was not anything to brag about. Maybe if you are drunk this is a good place to go, otherwise it just is not a good idea.
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1 of 1 users did not find the following review helpful:
Dirty, Smelly.
I keep trying to like this place because so many people talk about it, but, not a fan of the food. Some of the wait staff is dirty looking, and the whole place has a VERY funky smell. The last time I ate there, I had the cottage cheese dip (they are famous for this), and I was so sick the entire night from it. They have GREAT sangria though. If only going for drinks, you are probably safe, but don't eat. Every time I have eaten at this location, it has made me sick. I try to avoid this place at all costs.
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anonymous
May 05, 20071 of 1 users found the following review helpful:
I agree with the person before me
If you want bland, normal, boring food with drinks that look cute and tons of atmosphere, then Ci Ci's if for you. If you want great food, really great food then El Az, or Famous Taco is it. I have lived near MSU for 46 years. I started eating at El Az in 1977. When it was in the basement, now that was good eating and good beer. Nachos and a pitcher was $3.95.
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anonymous
Mar 25, 2007Fools, all of you.
As a frequenter of both the East Lansing and West Lansing El Az locations, I would like to say that the other reviewers are wrong. Dead wrong. These restaurants have wonderful, flavorful, supposedly authentic Mexican food. The condition of the restaurant would generally be considered dingy (especially the West Lansing Location), but this only serves to prevent the faint-hearted from enjoying the wonderful food. Besides, what do you expect to find in a college town, another Rio Bravo ripoff?
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Not much better than eating off the floor
Ok, I'm an MSU alumni and had never eaten at El Azteco. Recently, took my wife and kid there. Got to say it was a big disappointment. They really need to loose the "voted best mexican food" slogan. The place was filthy. I really try to avoid these places because if you see it's bad in the resturant seating area, what do you think it's like in the kitchen? I was even afraid to put my kid in the high chair because it was so dirty (I had to wipe it down myself).
Food- to me did not taste any different than opening a can of beans at home. I am always disappointed when the food tastes no better than I can make. I am not a very good cook.
Sorry El Azteco, but you need to clean up your act. -
El Azz
Thats right, the old El Azz...
the food is below average for Mexican. The drinks are overpriced. The only thing alright is the salsa.
The upper deck is nice in the summer nights, but most of the seats and tables are sticky from prior guests. Margaritas are really expensive and the food tastes like Taco Bell (sometimes worse).
Please don't go. -
Fun Outside Deck
The deck outside upstairs is the BEST! I love to go there in the summer and I think it's the best Mexican food I've had. I usually go with a margarita, some chips and salsa, and chicken enchiladas. The downstairs restaurant does not have as great of an atmosphere but the food is still amazing.
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1 of 1 users did not find the following review helpful:
Not Vegitarian Friendly -Sub Par
Most mediocre Mexican food we've had. We went because we say it was "voted Best Mexican Food" in EL. Give me a break. Nice decor, but rock music was loud. Our server, "Emily" was impatient... but, we all have bad days. I attempted to order a Chimichanga with beans instead of meat - she rudely said no, it couldn't be done. “The owner says we can't", I asked why, "No substitutions", but I am a Vegetarian I pleaded, "Can't do it." I tried to order a burrito platter - same thing. I asked to see the manager and was told he can't do anything - it's the owner’s rule. Ready to leave, she suggested I could order off the "a la cart", which I did. Like The food was not that great, it was difficult to order anything vegetarian except the bean burrito. I'll never be back. Todd G.
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2 of 2 users did not find the following review helpful:
Good food
Gone are the days of the single file lines leading down into the dungeon roach motel.
Gone is the fast (for the most part) friendly freak show that called themselves waiters.
Still has good food at good prices.
And the name is El AzTECO not El EzTACO.
"THE AZTEC" , get it!
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Other Online Reviews
" We went here during our vacation with 3 kids... "
Read full review from dine.com
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