Certain things are great and others not so great. I frequent El Rayo for their pulled pork burritos. I am a very picky eater and my burrito has like 6 substitutions and they always make it perfect. Some of their other items that my friends have got were not as good though (taquitos, tacos, bowls). There margaritas taste good but are a little weak. Would definitely recommend for a burrito. You order food at the counter which is nice as there is no wait time for a server. Food always comes out very quick, even when busy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork
owen
food and service were great! Great for my 3 child/picky eater family!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Mongiardo
Venturing through Maine on our way to Sebago Lake, we made a delicious stop at El Rayo in Scarborough, and it did not disappoint!
We started with the Loaded Tot Nachos—crispy tots topped with crema, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and plenty of jalapeños ??️. I just love a good cheese pull and a great take on classic nachos. 7/10
For tacos, we tried a trio:
Sweet Potato Taco: Chipotle mayo, corn salsa, veggie slaw, and cotija cheese—sweet meets spicy. 7/10 ? BBQ Pulled Pork Taco: This was the standout of the night! ? The pork was perfectly tender and flavorful, topped with veggie slaw, cotija, and red onion escabeche. 9/10 ? Pescado Taco: Grilled achiote fish, avocado, chipotle mayo, and veggie slaw—a fresh and tasty option!7/10 ? We also dug into the Steak California Burrito ?—loaded with papas fritas, Monterey Jack, crema fresca, guac, and house pickled jalapeños. A full, flavorful burrito, perfect if you like it a little saucy! 8/10 ??
We also tried the Surf & Turf Special (shrimp and steak) and they did not skimp out on the meat here 8/10. ?
For dessert, we enjoyed:
Coconut Muffin Cake: Packed with coconut flakes—so good! ? 8/10 Housemade Flan: Rich and creamy. 8/10 Key Lime Pie: Tangy, refreshing, and just what we needed to finish. ? 8/10 I also appreciated the pineapple salsa (unique and I wish more mexican spots made salsa like this? maybe a salsa flight??), and guacamole paired with the chips for the table—so flavorful! ? They have another location in Portland too, so definitely worth a visit wherever you are in Maine.
? Overall: A solid 8/10—definitely worth the stop if you’re heading through the area! ? Ambiance: 6/10—with some outdoor seating at the Scarborough location. ? Affordability: 7/10—good prices ($4.95 per taco, $16 for burrito).
Perfect for a taco fix on your way to Sebago Lake! ?
I’m leaving this criticism with five stars, and with love, because El Rayo is genuinely my favorite burrito place in Maine.
So here’s the deal: we LOVED the yucca burrito for years. It recently changed to the plantain burrito and I am NOT mad about it. It’s a great idea. The seasoning is superb. I think both burritos could coexist on the menu but fine, it’s a change. Change can be good.
The first plantain burrito I ordered a month ago was ok, but a bit heavy on the plantain. The last burritos that my wife and I ordered for takeout tonight were just over the top. The ratio of plantain to everything else is like 60/40. I like plantain, but not this much. It’s like whole big 2” chunks of plantain, so often I get a bite that’s literally just plantain and tortilla. It’s too much. Please chop it up smaller and homogenize it. It would be SO much better! Or maybe cut the plantain in half lengthwise and just lay it in the burrito as the yucca was?
Secondly, there’s pineapple in this thing, so now we are talking more than 60% fruit inside this burrito. Guys, that’s weird. It’s still delicious but it could be better.
Okay and last thing is we ordered guacamole and paid extra for it and there was none. (It should come standard, it makes it twice as good).
Love you, please consider this constructive criticism. We will be back many many more times.
Vegetarian options: Vegan burrito
Marie Helene Viau
Best Mexican food the portions are amazing and the taste so flavorful
Kid-friendliness: Yes
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carnitas Burrito
Ian Byrnes
Went in for a snack and a drink. You order at a point of sale and seat yourself and they bring what you ordered. My snack and drink both came wrong. As anywhere would, they fixed those issues. Chips, queso and salsa had no flavor at all. Bummer, I want to like this place but just paid a lot to be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Brooke L-J
Really disappointed about my last meal here. Got fish tacos and the fish was cold.
Everything came out so quickly! Delicious margarita, good food, and helpful staff. Would love to come back and try more!
Kid-friendliness: Had high chairs, kids menu food options, and picnic tables/outside patio are great for our messy toddlers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Washington
Always a great stop if your in Scarborough good food good booze great Mexican food never disappoints the pork burrito is really great if you need an idea
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork
Barbara Landon
We love El Rayo, have been coming to both locations for years whenever we are nearby. Good food, nice people, clean and very consistent. Margaritas are excellent, and I love the bowls. Huevos rancheros for brunch also highly recommended.
Great Mexican food. Service is friendly and efficient.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris
Been to this location a dozen plus times since they opened. Loved the food, outdoor seating and cool bar area, but Covid really messed them up and its never was the same again. This week I went for a late lunch and drinks with my wife. I’m use to having to order my food and drinks at a counter or bar, because they have a lean staff. But this week we walked in and found 8 tables still with dirty plates on them. Most tables didn’t looked wiped down properly. We sat near the bar and our high top was sticky even though we looked for the cleanest one. Every drink you get you have to pay and tip before you even tasted or they made it. The only bar tender left for 15 minutes at one point. Two cheap margaritas were $30+ before tip. Bathrooms were very dirty. Also why is there a mirror at toilet level on the bathroom stall door? Creepy.
Without clean tables and adequate service it’s not worth it anymore. Sad times.
Certain things are great and others not so great. I frequent El Rayo for their pulled pork burritos. I am a very picky eater and my burrito has like 6 substitutions and they always make it perfect. Some of their other items that my friends have got were not as good though (taquitos, tacos, bowls). There margaritas taste good but are a little weak. Would definitely recommend for a burrito. You order food at the counter which is nice as there is no wait time for a server. Food always comes out very quick, even when busy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork
food and service were great! Great for my 3 child/picky eater family!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Venturing through Maine on our way to Sebago Lake, we made a delicious stop at El Rayo in Scarborough, and it did not disappoint!
We started with the Loaded Tot Nachos—crispy tots topped with crema, melted Monterey Jack cheese, and plenty of jalapeños ??️. I just love a good cheese pull and a great take on classic nachos. 7/10
For tacos, we tried a trio:
Sweet Potato Taco: Chipotle mayo, corn salsa, veggie slaw, and cotija cheese—sweet meets spicy. 7/10 ?
BBQ Pulled Pork Taco: This was the standout of the night! ? The pork was perfectly tender and flavorful, topped with veggie slaw, cotija, and red onion escabeche. 9/10 ?
Pescado Taco: Grilled achiote fish, avocado, chipotle mayo, and veggie slaw—a fresh and tasty option!7/10 ?
We also dug into the Steak California Burrito ?—loaded with papas fritas, Monterey Jack, crema fresca, guac, and house pickled jalapeños. A full, flavorful burrito, perfect if you like it a little saucy! 8/10 ??
We also tried the Surf & Turf Special (shrimp and steak) and they did not skimp out on the meat here 8/10. ?
For dessert, we enjoyed:
Coconut Muffin Cake: Packed with coconut flakes—so good! ? 8/10
Housemade Flan: Rich and creamy. 8/10
Key Lime Pie: Tangy, refreshing, and just what we needed to finish. ? 8/10
I also appreciated the pineapple salsa (unique and I wish more mexican spots made salsa like this? maybe a salsa flight??), and guacamole paired with the chips for the table—so flavorful! ? They have another location in Portland too, so definitely worth a visit wherever you are in Maine.
? Overall: A solid 8/10—definitely worth the stop if you’re heading through the area!
? Ambiance: 6/10—with some outdoor seating at the Scarborough location.
? Affordability: 7/10—good prices ($4.95 per taco, $16 for burrito).
Perfect for a taco fix on your way to Sebago Lake! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ Pulled Pork, BBQ Pork, Chips, Guacamole
I’m leaving this criticism with five stars, and with love, because El Rayo is genuinely my favorite burrito place in Maine.
So here’s the deal: we LOVED the yucca burrito for years. It recently changed to the plantain burrito and I am NOT mad about it. It’s a great idea. The seasoning is superb. I think both burritos could coexist on the menu but fine, it’s a change. Change can be good.
The first plantain burrito I ordered a month ago was ok, but a bit heavy on the plantain. The last burritos that my wife and I ordered for takeout tonight were just over the top. The ratio of plantain to everything else is like 60/40. I like plantain, but not this much. It’s like whole big 2” chunks of plantain, so often I get a bite that’s literally just plantain and tortilla. It’s too much. Please chop it up smaller and homogenize it. It would be SO much better! Or maybe cut the plantain in half lengthwise and just lay it in the burrito as the yucca was?
Secondly, there’s pineapple in this thing, so now we are talking more than 60% fruit inside this burrito. Guys, that’s weird. It’s still delicious but it could be better.
Okay and last thing is we ordered guacamole and paid extra for it and there was none. (It should come standard, it makes it twice as good).
Love you, please consider this constructive criticism. We will be back many many more times.
Vegetarian options: Vegan burrito
Best Mexican food the portions are amazing and the taste so flavorful
Kid-friendliness: Yes
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carnitas Burrito
Went in for a snack and a drink. You order at a point of sale and seat yourself and they bring what you ordered. My snack and drink both came wrong. As anywhere would, they fixed those issues. Chips, queso and salsa had no flavor at all. Bummer, I want to like this place but just paid a lot to be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Really disappointed about my last meal here. Got fish tacos and the fish was cold.
Vegetarian options: Sweet potato tacos. Bean burritos.
Food: 3
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos
Everything came out so quickly! Delicious margarita, good food, and helpful staff. Would love to come back and try more!
Kid-friendliness: Had high chairs, kids menu food options, and picnic tables/outside patio are great for our messy toddlers
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always a great stop if your in Scarborough good food good booze great Mexican food never disappoints the pork burrito is really great if you need an idea
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork
We love El Rayo, have been coming to both locations for years whenever we are nearby. Good food, nice people, clean and very consistent. Margaritas are excellent, and I love the bowls. Huevos rancheros for brunch also highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Great Mexican food. Service is friendly and efficient.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been to this location a dozen plus times since they opened. Loved the food, outdoor seating and cool bar area, but Covid really messed them up and its never was the same again. This week I went for a late lunch and drinks with my wife. I’m use to having to order my food and drinks at a counter or bar, because they have a lean staff. But this week we walked in and found 8 tables still with dirty plates on them. Most tables didn’t looked wiped down properly. We sat near the bar and our high top was sticky even though we looked for the cleanest one. Every drink you get you have to pay and tip before you even tasted or they made it. The only bar tender left for 15 minutes at one point. Two cheap margaritas were $30+ before tip. Bathrooms were very dirty. Also why is there a mirror at toilet level on the bathroom stall door? Creepy.
Without clean tables and adequate service it’s not worth it anymore. Sad times.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Guacamole, Carnitas Burrito, Nachos
Really outstanding margaritas and food is better than average. Recommend!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos
Food is great! We have never been disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yummy vegan bowl!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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