Estela's Fresh Mex - Coralville

Good food, good service. Meat cooked while you wait.

Today was my last visit to Estelas. I have been a frequent customer over the past few years, always looking for good seasoning and quality! But this last time I ordered al pastor tacos, and they only came with rice—which I didn’t order—beans, cilantro, and peppers; the meat was much less than on previous visits. I made the comment politely, but they simply didn’t care. The customer service was terrible. It was an unpleasant experience.

I have been a loyal customer of Estela’s for a long time, but unfortunately my recent experiences have been extremely disappointing.

Every time I visit, it seems like they serve less and less meat. They always claim it’s the same portion because they use “one scoop,” but that simply isn’t true. During my most recent visit, each taco had only 3 to 4 pieces of meat, which is an incredibly small amount. I asked if they could add a little more because the portion was minimal, and they were extremely rude. They made me feel as though I was trying to take advantage of them or get free food, when all I was asking for was a reasonable portion. I don’t believe anyone would consider 3 or 4 pieces of meat enough for a taco they’re paying for.

The customer service has also become terrible. On multiple occasions, I’ve seen them cook the same type of meat for two different customers together, yet when it’s time to serve it, the portions are clearly not equal. One customer ends up getting noticeably more than the other, which is simply unfair.

I’ve also noticed that whenever they’re busy, the quality of the food drops significantly. More than once I’ve been served meat that was overcooked or burned.

The most disappointing part of my last visit was how they responded to my concerns. I told them that I probably wouldn’t be coming back because every time I return, the portions get smaller and there seems to be no quality control. Their response was simply, “Okay, have a good day.”

Is that really how you treat a loyal customer? It’s unfortunate because the food used to be excellent, but the inconsistent portions, poor customer service, and lack of quality control have completely changed my opinion of this place. I can no longer recommend it.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

One of my favorite places to grab a quick bite in the Iowa City area. Fresh Mexican food done right, it’s top tier around here.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food

If you're hungry, Estela's is the place to go! The burritos are the size of a Buick, packed with flavor, and worth every bite. The food was excellent, the service was friendly and fast, and you definitely won't leave hungry. Great portions, great people, and a great meal. I'll definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First stop at Estela's for our group of five. It was cool to see the tortillas rolled and warmed right in front of you. Great options for tacos, burritos, and bowls. The servers were helpful and generous when preparing your food right in front of you. We all had different menu items and we were all impressed with the taste and size of our food. We will return!!

Great place for burritos and tacos. We've been there several times. It's fresh and authentic. Very courteous staff too.

The food was excellent the service fine, but the floor was so sticky my sandal stuck to the floor. Not very appetizing. Would be a solid 5 stars if not for the floor.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food, good service, nice environment!!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing food! Enough for two meals if you get the bowl! So yummy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Stopped by after hearing about it. Worth the stop. Food is super fresh. Best queso out of the places similar to this type of restaurant.

Definitely will eat at again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

It is incredibly loud at this location. I couldn't hear the people taking my order and they couldn't hear me. Talk about disorienting for both parties, but especially the employees who have to stay there for 8 hour shifts, let's say. The metal furniture scraping against the floors, the loud ventilation system, the scraping noises from the kitchen, and the loud music playing in the background. Could hardly hear myself talking while ordering or eating my food while conversing with my husband. I feel bad for the employees.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 4

The best Mexican place to go. Food is amazing. Quesadillas with Al pastor and grilled onions is amazing. Chips and queso so good. Service is 10/10

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Quesadilla, Al Pastor

Very similar set up to Chipoltle. Very clean. 10/10 customer service. The one thing they are missing is a vegetarian protein option.

Food: 5

Service: 5