El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
About This Spot
Stepping into El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant feels like entering a vibrant corner of Mexico right in the heart of Citrus Heights. The moment you walk through the doors, the warm glow of colorful artwork and textured walls invites you to slow down and take in the richness of tradition woven throughout the space. There’s a gentle hum of conversation, punctuated by the occasional clink of glasses and the comforting rhythm of lively music that sets a steady, welcoming pace. This is a place where the everyday rush fades away, replaced by a relaxed environment where families, friends, and neighbors gather around tables to share stories and good food.
El Tapatio is the kind of neighborhood restaurant where you can feel the care in every detail—from the freshly made flour tortillas to the sparkle of a perfectly crafted margarita. Whether you’re settling in on a quieter weekday evening or joining the spirited buzz of Taco Tuesday, the mood remains inviting and unpretentious. The space balances its lively energy with cozy seating and thoughtful touches, making it easy to lose track of time in good company.
As the kitchen hums in the background, the menu comes alive with flavors that reflect a deep respect for family recipes and regional Mexican cooking. You might find comfort in the layers of a richly sauced mole or delight in the bright freshness of guacamole paired with crunching chips. Each dish feels connected to both heritage and celebration—a reason to toast with a cucumber pear margarita or savor a cool horchata as the perfect counterpoint to spicy notes. Portions feel generous, encouraging shared plates and the kind of casual feasting that brings out laughter and conversation.
The service here carries its own warmth, marked by attentive servers who move with effortless friendliness. Whether recommending a favorite plate or ensuring drinks stay topped up, the staff creates an atmosphere where guests feel both welcomed and cared for. It’s clear this place thrives on more than just food; it’s about the experiences formed around the table.
For those drawn to a local spot that honors tradition while offering genuine, unhurried moments, El Tapatio presents a joyful discovery—one where the heart of Mexican hospitality beats strongly and the flavors invite you to keep coming back.
What’s Available Here
-
Delivery - Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Fast service
- Fireplace
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great dessert
- Live music
- Serves local specialty
- Sport
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Happy-hour drinks
- Happy-hour food
- Late-night food
- Organic dishes
- Private dining room
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Spirits
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Bar on site
- Toilet
- Casual
- Cosy
- Lively
- Trendy
- Family friendly
- Groups
- Tourists
- University students
- Accepts reservations
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
- Free of charge street parking
- Free parking lot
- Parking
- Dogs allowed outside
Location & Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM | |
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM | |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM | |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM | |
| Friday | 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM | |
| Sunday | 09:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
Guest Reviews
Share Your Experience
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Antone D. 06 Jan 2026
The Real Deal is El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant which delivers on every single level…. Let’s kick it off with atmosphere which looks like an amazing masterpiece of Mexican culture, high-end building material, paintings that are carefully crafted, I could go on and on about the authentic atmosphere. Must see must see! The service was outstanding. From walking-in to dining in to walking-out. We were greeted and seated very quickly on a holiday lunch. The server was fun guy, full of life, funny, and kept all the drinks full!! I don’t know if all the servers do it the guy was singing when delivering the alcohol drinks, cheers! Now to the Main Event: the Food! The food was outstanding, they start you off with chips, salsa and bean dip for free. Salsa was chunky and full of flavors (8.5/10), chips (9/10), bean dip (8.5/10). The kids pizza looked homemade surprisingly (9/10). The Steak and Shrimp fajitas were amazing, the steak was cooked perfectly with a ton of flavor (9.5-10), the shrimp no fish smell seasoned to perfection (9-10), the sides rice was delicious (9-10), corn mill blend (9-10), overall these fajitas were some of the best 9.5! The alcoholic drinks not too strong but fresh ingredients made up for it (8.5-10). The taco and enchilada was very very complete dish lots of delicious going on (9-10). They make celebrating a birthdays really fun too! Can’t wait to go back, cheers!!
Christa Bowlin 31 Dec 2025
Parking is a little difficult but it's not the restaurant's fault. Overall, the food was good. The servers were quick and attentive. I do like that they give you refried beans and salsa with the complimentary chips. Their refried beans are on point and the carne asada is delicious.
Kris Hulsing 08 Dec 2025
Nice ambiance with comfortable seating and lighting. We came on a Monday so it wasn't extremely busy or loud. No Mariachi band on Monday nights. The hostess sat us without wait, and our waiter Saul was quick to help, upbeat and friendly. He told us about the specials and refilled the drinks without asking. I had the Quesa Birrias which were not the best I've had, but I would order them again. The salsa is great and the menu is huge.
alexis prenatt 29 Nov 2025
Outstanding Food and Unforgettable Service! El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant is hands down one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had! The moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm smiles, the sound of lively music, and the mouthwatering aroma of authentic Mexican dishes being made fresh. The atmosphere is colorful, welcoming, and full of energy, you can instantly tell this place takes pride in every detail. The food was absolutely phenomenal! Every dish was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The carne asada was tender and juicy, the enchiladas were rich and cheesy, and the fresh salsa and chips were addicting. You can tell everything is made with love and authenticity. The portions were generous, and every bite felt like a taste of home-cooked comfort. The service was just as impressive, friendly, fast, and genuinely caring. Our server made sure we had everything we needed and checked on us often without being intrusive. The drinks were perfectly mixed, especially the margaritas, definitely a must-try! El Tapatio isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience. You leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. I can’t recommend this place enough, it’s a true gem that makes you feel like family every single time!
Lauren Elswick 27 Nov 2025
Fantastic, 10/10. This was my husband and i’s first time coming here after many recommendations. Even on a busy night, we were seated fast! The customer service is out of this world. Management even came out and introduced himself and thanked us for coming in. Will continue coming back over and over again! And if you get Adrian as your server just know you will be taken care of, he really is an asset here!
Amy Hagberg 10 Nov 2025
We usually work on Sundays. We can not make it in for a Sunday brunch that often. We are on vacation! So happy we decided to stop by today for brunch. Every thing tasted so yummy very flavorful! Can't wait to go back..we stuffed our shelves. But wanted to eat more. The omelet station was amazing. He did a great job did not over cook the omelets. They had different options to add to your omelet. He has a tip jar. Their homemade tortillas are amazing also corn or flour. I got two of each to try. They also have a tip jar. Glad I had cash I forgot about the tip jars from the last time we were there. They also made street tacos by the tortilla lady station. My husband had the prime rib. Then we needed to go looking for a knife to cut it. I wasn't sure if it was supplied near the caving station. The prime rib was near the omelet station. They were busy by the time we realized we needed a knife. They had many other items to choose from. They even had different soups. Then realized we didn't get a spoon. They were displayed by the soups. Even the chips were very tasty, so happy I tried them on another round. So many more things I wanted to try. But I was so full. The key lime pie was good my husband said. I had the churros, cinnamon pastry, chocolate chip cookie and caramel sauce. Last time they had homemade whipped cream. But I did not see it this time. I was sad but everything was so good it didn't need it. We hope to go back another Sunday hopefully while we are still on vacation. They are happy to take lager groups. Nice to see a place thats Happy to take larger groups. All the servers seem to work together. Making sure our empty plates are cleared and making sure we had drink refills. They also have a large bar area. The bar always seems to be very busy..looks like they have a lot of seating in there also.
Rory Benedict 27 Oct 2025
Enjoyed dinner with friends at El Tapatio in Citrus Heights recently. The atmosphere was very nice, a bit too noisy at times, but overall, great decor. For drinks, I ordered a 16oz Corona and the waitress, Mirna, brought waters for the four of us. My wife and friend ordered a large container of Tortilla Soup to share. We were also served chips and salsa, but what I found unique was that we were also brought cups of refried beans for chip dipping. Great idea! I ordered the Burrito Colorado and my wife ordered the Veggie Enchiladas. I haven't found a Burrito Colorado at any restaurant for 30+ years. Definitely brought back great memories. The burrito was filled with beef sirloin and topped with red sauce and melted cheese. I opted to pair the burrito with Spanish rice and refried beans. Very good and I'm happy to have found the Burrito Colorado again. My wife's Veggie Enchiladas were stuffed with zucchini, carrots, broccoli, onions, bell peppers and onions, and topped with a green sauce and avocado. She opted to pair her enchiladas with cilantro rice and black beans. Our friends ordered the Burrito Verde and Hector's Platter. We all enjoyed the atmosphere and our meals. Recommended for really tasty Mexican fare.
Kinjo 29 Sep 2025
I'm from out of town. Came here with my family for their Sunday brunch. The brunch is buffet style. The food is pretty good, but the place was just too packed and the layout was not efficient for people to get around without running into bottlenecks. The place is packed for a reason though, so it's worth the inconvenience for the food.