The quesadillas. I can eat them forever. They are sooooo good. The only reason I took one star off is because the portion sizes are small. I have to make 2-3 orders of them before I actually get full and I get full pretty quickly. I'm not sure if the portion sizes are bigger during hours outside of Happy Hour but those are the only times that I've been. The drinks are nice and they give you complementary chips and salsa!
Charles T.
The food here is delicious!!!!! The prices are reasonable as well. Their happy hour prices are unbeatable, I recommend this place, one of the best Tex-Mex places in the city.
Gabrielle Dujour
Quick bite. You have to be hungry cause portions are huge. Good food
Starsha Hodge
Good food great happy hour spot to chill an watch a game
VyVy V.
If you're driving, parking can be a nightmare during peak times. My coworkers and I were carpooling and had to do multiple rounds while the rest of our group was waiting on us to join them for lunch. They have lunch specials along with drink specials during the day! We all got a variety of dishes and everything came out around the same time. While you wait, they bring unlimited chips and salsa!
Kate H.
I hate to be harsh when I didn't have an outright bad experience here, but there's nothing too special or enticing about El Tio. It's an overpriced Tex-Mex chain with halfway decent food. Pluses include the convenient location on 14th St in Columbia Heights and the huge amount of seating, including outdoors under umbrellas. Also, if you like to watch sports in a dark bar, there are plenty of TVs on the walk inside for just that. The staff is friendly, too. And every table gets free chips. However, when I say overpriced, I mean seriously. Fresh guacamole alone will set you back $12, so we opted for the pre-made side, which was $8. I'd say it was a little less than half a cup, and not the best guac I've ever had. f you're going to go, do it during their happy hours (they have them during weekdays and on weekends). Worth nothing that there are a handful of vegetarian options, but none marked vegan. With so many other good spots for meals or drinks right nearby, we probably won't be stopping in again.
Eva Siu
The food was amazing. The guacamole was to die for. A little pricey but it was fresh and had great flavor. The service wad good, bathrooms were clean. Highly recommend. Great atmosphere.
Susan B.
We had delivery, the food was great. Chips were fresh cantina style, sooooo good! Guacamole was very fresh and yummy, it came with deep fried tortilla chips that were the bomb! Great fajitas, steak was seasoned PERFECTLY, and came with guac and sour cream but no lettuce or cheese. Great cheesey nacho dip, my kids LOVED it (which means it was yellow not white, and it wasn't too spicy!). The taco shell did not travel well, but the meat was yummy. Quesidillas were pretty good. All meals came with rice and beans and salsa which was a nice surprise. The rice was bland but good. I did not like the beans, but no one in my family eats them. The meal was great, we would eat here again for sure. Those chips, yum!
Faith P.
Came from Lou's bar and didn't get any service from there. My friend introduced me to this restaurant and I MUST say!!! The service was attentive and on point. I ordered the steak burrito and it was delicious! I also ordered me a Long Island and I am leaving satisfied! I will definitely be back! I looked at the happy hour menu and they got me! SHOUTOUT TO EL TIO
Jesse Benavidez
My wife and I r from San Antonio Texas. We stopped over to have some refreshing alcohol drinks and then decided 2 have dinner here. I am so glad Because the food was very very good and the drink were awesome. Great staff and great atmosphere.
Would not recommend this place. The service was good but the food was tasteless. It had no seasoning. The salsa is very thin and liquidy. I asked for jalepeno peppers to spice up the salsa and they brought me jalapenos from a jar or can, not fresh ones. The chips are very thin and break when trying to eat the guacamole and they didn't have any salt on them at all. The strawberry margarita was good.
Ricky Manzanares
It took a little over 10 minutes for someone to come greet us at our table. Ordered a steak burrito and the steak itself was so overcooked it was crunchy. I would recommend going to the Chipotle next door to satisfy your "south of the border"cravings.
Danny A.
When I lived in Columbia Heights, El Tio was probably the restaurant I dined at the most. Solid spot for tex-mex food. They have a bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and TVs that usually feature the day's top sports matches. I most recently ordered their sampler platter which includes wings, quesadillas, nachos, and taquitos, and can be shared amongst 2 people. If you're a margarita lover like myself, El Tio's frozen swirl margarita is a must! Grab one during happy hour (everyday from 3pm-7pm) for under $6!
Christopher C.
First time with group of three for brunch on Saturday on a beautiful day and no wait. Great food, attentive service, bottomless $15 Bloody Mary and Mimosas.
Kitty Ann Monahan-Sewell
Super friendly & great staff. Yummy eats. We'll def be back!
The quesadillas. I can eat them forever. They are sooooo good. The only reason I took one star off is because the portion sizes are small. I have to make 2-3 orders of them before I actually get full and I get full pretty quickly. I'm not sure if the portion sizes are bigger during hours outside of Happy Hour but those are the only times that I've been. The drinks are nice and they give you complementary chips and salsa!
The food here is delicious!!!!! The prices are reasonable as well. Their happy hour prices are unbeatable, I recommend this place, one of the best Tex-Mex places in the city.
Quick bite. You have to be hungry cause portions are huge. Good food
Good food great happy hour spot to chill an watch a game
If you're driving, parking can be a nightmare during peak times. My coworkers and I were carpooling and had to do multiple rounds while the rest of our group was waiting on us to join them for lunch. They have lunch specials along with drink specials during the day! We all got a variety of dishes and everything came out around the same time. While you wait, they bring unlimited chips and salsa!
I hate to be harsh when I didn't have an outright bad experience here, but there's nothing too special or enticing about El Tio. It's an overpriced Tex-Mex chain with halfway decent food. Pluses include the convenient location on 14th St in Columbia Heights and the huge amount of seating, including outdoors under umbrellas. Also, if you like to watch sports in a dark bar, there are plenty of TVs on the walk inside for just that. The staff is friendly, too. And every table gets free chips. However, when I say overpriced, I mean seriously. Fresh guacamole alone will set you back $12, so we opted for the pre-made side, which was $8. I'd say it was a little less than half a cup, and not the best guac I've ever had. f you're going to go, do it during their happy hours (they have them during weekdays and on weekends). Worth nothing that there are a handful of vegetarian options, but none marked vegan. With so many other good spots for meals or drinks right nearby, we probably won't be stopping in again.
The food was amazing. The guacamole was to die for. A little pricey but it was fresh and had great flavor. The service wad good, bathrooms were clean. Highly recommend. Great atmosphere.
We had delivery, the food was great. Chips were fresh cantina style, sooooo good! Guacamole was very fresh and yummy, it came with deep fried tortilla chips that were the bomb! Great fajitas, steak was seasoned PERFECTLY, and came with guac and sour cream but no lettuce or cheese. Great cheesey nacho dip, my kids LOVED it (which means it was yellow not white, and it wasn't too spicy!). The taco shell did not travel well, but the meat was yummy. Quesidillas were pretty good. All meals came with rice and beans and salsa which was a nice surprise. The rice was bland but good. I did not like the beans, but no one in my family eats them. The meal was great, we would eat here again for sure. Those chips, yum!
Came from Lou's bar and didn't get any service from there. My friend introduced me to this restaurant and I MUST say!!! The service was attentive and on point. I ordered the steak burrito and it was delicious! I also ordered me a Long Island and I am leaving satisfied! I will definitely be back! I looked at the happy hour menu and they got me! SHOUTOUT TO EL TIO
My wife and I r from San Antonio Texas. We stopped over to have some refreshing alcohol drinks and then decided 2 have dinner here. I am so glad Because the food was very very good and the drink were awesome. Great staff and great atmosphere.
Restaurantji Recommends
Would not recommend this place. The service was good but the food was tasteless. It had no seasoning. The salsa is very thin and liquidy. I asked for jalepeno peppers to spice up the salsa and they brought me jalapenos from a jar or can, not fresh ones. The chips are very thin and break when trying to eat the guacamole and they didn't have any salt on them at all. The strawberry margarita was good.
It took a little over 10 minutes for someone to come greet us at our table. Ordered a steak burrito and the steak itself was so overcooked it was crunchy. I would recommend going to the Chipotle next door to satisfy your "south of the border"cravings.
When I lived in Columbia Heights, El Tio was probably the restaurant I dined at the most. Solid spot for tex-mex food. They have a bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and TVs that usually feature the day's top sports matches. I most recently ordered their sampler platter which includes wings, quesadillas, nachos, and taquitos, and can be shared amongst 2 people. If you're a margarita lover like myself, El Tio's frozen swirl margarita is a must! Grab one during happy hour (everyday from 3pm-7pm) for under $6!
First time with group of three for brunch on Saturday on a beautiful day and no wait. Great food, attentive service, bottomless $15 Bloody Mary and Mimosas.
Super friendly & great staff. Yummy eats. We'll def be back!