El Vaquero

About

Mexican

Price Range : Under $10 ($)

  • star
    Yelp rating
    4 stars

Location

Adress: 330 E Center St, Alma, MI 48801

Phone: (989) 463-0781

Work Hours

Mon 11:00 am-9:00 pm
Tue 11:00 am-9:00 pm
Wed 11:00 am-9:00 pm
Thu 11:00 am-9:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am-10:00 pm
Sat 11:00 am-10:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am-9:00 pm

Business info

  • list_alt
    Takes Reservations
    No
  • directions_car
    Delivery
    No
  • move_to_inbox
    Take-out
    Yes
  • credit_card
    Accepts Credit Cards
    Yes
  • directions_bike
    Bike Parking
    Yes
  • accessibility
    Good for Kids
    Yes
  • group
    Good for Groups
    Yes
  • volume_up
    Noise Level
    Quiet
  • local_bar
    Alcohol
    No
  • transit_enterexit
    Outdoor Seating
    No
  • wifi
    Wi-Fi
    No
  • tv
    Has TV
    Yes
  • fastfood
    Caters
    No

Reviews

  • Kelly B.

    star star star star star_border 22 July 2026

    Great Mexican food! The restaurant is owned by a Mexican family and they are really great people. The food is fast and fresh and very good. They are also very reasonably priced.

    The crowd is mostly locals and professors because it's a bit of a walk from campus, but totally worth every step.

  • Torrey L.

    star star star star star 21 July 2026

    Best Mexican food in town. Exceptional service. Family-owned and it shows. It's so awesome to be able to support folks who do it the right way. I have been eating here since I was in high school, maybe before, and I've never had something that wasn't delicious. My go-to is the burrito California. Absolutely fantastic. If you want a guaranteed good thing, get absolutely anything with chorizo and enjoy!

  • Todd A.

    star star star star star 19 July 2026

    We stopped by El Vaquero on our way up to visit the Ziibiwing museum in Mt. Pleasant. It was easy enough to find and free parking was ample.

    The inside is pretty plain, with plenty of comfortable seating and a few Mexican decorations scattered about. We weren't there for the ambiance, so that was just fine with us. One interesting touch in the decor was the use of interesting black & white photographs. They were quite interesting and generated some good conversation.

    Service was excellent - quick, friendly, available but not intrusive. The waitress was particularly kind toward our child, which was much appreciated.

    There was a slow but steady stream of locals stopping by for lunch while we were there. I'd estimate that they have 60-70 seats all told, so they must have times that are pretty busy.

    Complementary chips and salsa were rapidly placed on the table. The chips were large, warm, and crisp. There was a generous portion of salsa with just enough spice to make it interesting. It was chunky and quite tasty.

    Our order included burritos and fajitas. All were served with the standard refried beans and dirty rice. It was all presented very nicely, freshly prepared and very tasty. Portions were generous, but not so much that we either left in pain or dragging doggy bags. The one thing I would add would be a couple of additional hot sauce options on the table beyond the one that was there (Tapatío salsa picante). Choice is nice to have.

    We were very satisfied and look forward to another visit when next we're in town!

  • Charles S.

    star star star star star 11 July 2026

    Nothing fancy, but nice wait staff and good food. Don't let the strip mall outside scare you off. I would definitely come back.

  • Sara J.

    star star_border star_border star_border star_border 26 June 2026

    If I could leave zero stars I would!  Absolutely terrible. Slash was canned tomatoes with garlic powder and cumin...ick. The server asked my daughter if she wanted another horchota then charged her another $2.00...if you like canned and pre fab Mexican food then you'll love it!! Big waste of $$!!

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