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Acapulco - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for Acapulco
Review Highlights
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"What really impressed me was the deep fried ice cream." In 3 reviews -
"Can't forget the chips and salsa." In 6 reviews -
"...and I will be going to the lunch buffet sometime soon." In 5 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Marissa G.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/11/2011
Awesome happy hour! We always come here for Margarita Mondays! Their cantina is much larger than the location in Pasadena. Margaritas are $2.50 from 4-7PM. Fruit margaritas are $2.75. All appetizers are 50% off and you can get $1 tacos. It's pretty loud and crowded even if there isn't some sort of sports game, but the servers are quick and friendly.
The regular dining room is great. Not too loud, but not too quiet either. Their food comes in huge portions and everything tastes amazing. -
Review from Manny P.
Monrovia, CA
3/8/2012
It's out of business.
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Review from Sylvia N.
Monrovia, CA
9/21/2011
I like that this restaurant is spacious, has a lot of seating. I've eaten here about 5 times in the last 2 months. I enjoy the food most of the time, as long as I order from the combo menu. It seems to be the only part of their menu worth noting. I've tried a few other items outside of the combos and it was disappointing, lack of spices, maybe flavor?
Anyhow, the service is good, the food is average, the prices are descent. I just want to be wow'd by a Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood and so far, no luck.
However, if I could rate this place on it's drinks only, I'd give it a 5 star, best Cadillac Margarita ever! -
Review from Novy D.
Updated - 5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fish lips. That's me, after having the buffet. Puckering because they can't seem to keep their hands off the salt shaker.
Lunch buffet didn't provide a great selection of items to choose from. The entrées in the steam pans only had a once over and the freshly hand rolled, home-made tortillas had been sitting on the heat pan for the length of our visit. Only when we were getting ready to leave did we finally see some being made. Too bad since I would've like to try one.Listed in: Mexi-can/can't
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/10/2009
Dining here on someone else's expense I can't complain...too much.
Sunday brunch includes the usual… Read more »
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Review from LEA A.
5/4/2011
It was our co-workers bday yesterday, so we dropped in for a quick bite and all went for the buffet. First of all, you can't really complain for the quality of food for $9. It's quantity vs quality here..so if you're starving, I say go for it. Here's what I hAd:
-pork adobo...4
-carnitas...2 very salty and dry
-BBQ chicken..3 good flavor but dry
-potatoes...3
-fried plantains...4
Service was great, food was so-so. -
Review from Jim T.
Duarte, CA
2/13/2012
This establishment has closed its doors for good. Others in the chain are still around.
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Review from Emily R.
12/26/2010 3 Check-ins Here
More of a 3 1/2, but I felt like rounding up.
Big fan of the coupons that this place sends out regularly. The staff is friendly and welcoming as well.
I enjoy the pineapple margaritas and the chips and salsa are good. I always judge a Mexican restaurant on their chips and salsa. I won't go if the salsa is wonky. They are also very accommodating with orders. If they have the ingredients, they'll make just about anything you ask for, within reason. I have a lot of favorites that were taken off the menu in the past, but they will still make them for me when I ask.
It's a chain, so keep in mind. It's not gourmet or the best food ever... I like the environment and it's a great place for big groups/parties. Enough said. -
Review from MissusBugatti J.
Garden Grove, CA
3/6/2011
Maragarita on the rocks....too much lime, not enough tequila. Shared one of those combo plates for two with tacos, enchiladas, taquitos, rice and beans......it was huge and a good portion of it was actually quite good. The tacos, chicken enchiladas, and what i think were beef taquitos were delish, but the cheese enchilada, cheese taquito thing, and sides were bland. I brought the rice home to my dogs....they of course loved it, but that doesn't count. Lol. The platter was huge.....its prob more of a dish for 4! I think its a good plate to share over drinks for a little girls' happy hour stop, but like i said, def not a plate just for two!
In terms of service....it was just ok...not as great as the service in Long beach. Our server checked up on us once after we flagged someone else for to go boxes cos she went MIA. Tut tut. -
Review from Aimee S.
Whittier, CA
12/29/2007
The parents and little sister were going to spend the holidays in Mexico and I wasn't going to be able to join them because of work. My brother was also going to miss out on the trip because of finals. To add insult to injury, my parents were having their kitchen remodeled and so it was unavailable for a home cooked meal.
And nothing says Christmas like margaritas and Coronas at Acapulco.
We were seated pretty quickly and service was pretty good. Our waitress was pretty sweet and attentive.
The peach margarita was delicious! Not much alcohol, but that's expected from a place like Acapulco.
I ordered the "Mex-and-Match". Yeah, they're clever here at Acapulco. I had the enchilada, chile relleno and taquitos. All were just okay. I could have much better of all 3 at a hole in the wall.
What really impressed me was the deep fried ice cream. "French vanilla ice cream rolled in a crispy cinnamon coating with a hint of coconut and deep-fried. Served with cinnamon-sugar dusted tortillas, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, pecans, chipotle-chocolate sauce and honey" is exactly how they described it on their menu. Are you freakin' kidding me? I wanted to order two! It earned this place 2 more stars.
It wasn't your tradtional Christmas dinner, but it was spent with family and was lots of fun. And of course, that's what really counts. -
Review from Donna S.
7/24/2007
They lost a star for removing the free appetizers for Happy Hour. Boo on you Acapulco. But I will give a star for the Margarita Mondays. $2.25 for a margarita on the rocks? Oh yea. But I am not happy that I pranced up to the food bar and grabbed a plate, which they pried out of my fingers and then asked for my receipt to prove I had purchased some dollar tacos. It was a little embarrasing, and yea, I kinda felt like an asshole. Luckily, the margarita's helped numb the embarrassment and I had a meal of wonderful warm, crisp chips and salsa.
Monday- Margaritas $2.25, all other days they are $4
Taco Tuesdays has dollar tacos.
Well drinks/domestic beer $3
Import beer $4.
Appetizers 1/2 off.
All in all, still a pretty good Happy Hour.
Conversations must pause while that damn blender is constantly turned off for the lame-o's who get blended margaritas. Annoying. Get em on the rocks like they are supposed to be so I can talk in peace!
Food is average. If I ever go for dinner I get the fajitas with corn tortillas. -
Review from Lisa L.
Monrovia, CA
10/6/2011
I like to go to Acapulco when there is a coupon, otherwise it is pricey. I love their chips and salsa. Nothing beats Acapulco'os chips and salsa. I really like their soft tacos and their tamales. My husband likes their fajitas and their nachos. Their rice is good too. I also like their burritos. They have the best, best, best deep fried ice cream in the world. My mom loves everything on the menu. I also loveeeeeeeeeeee their cherry pepsi. It is made with real cherry syrup. It is the best. Plus they put cherries in it.
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Review from Gerald S.
Chino Hills, CA
1/10/2010
Blech... don't go here. The lunch buffet is not worth the $9 you pay for it. The taco bar was desserted. The other stuff tasted strange. The only thing I enjoyed was the chile colorado and the free chips & salsa. HUH?
Oh yeah, why was the waiter wearing a referee jersey? Was he officiating a soccer game outside? Maybe that's why the service sucked. -
Review from Kayte H.
Pasadena, CA
4/2/2009
I am a lightweight when it comes to spicy food (I have acid reflux! I can't take it) so I do not mind Acapulco because it's tasty and watered-down for people like me who cannot take the heat.
In general, this particular Acapulco is my favorite because even on a Friday/Saturday night, we never have to wait for a table, and the service is generally pretty quick. The staff is super friendly and funny, and I appreciate that more than anything else. Nothing ruins my appetite and generosity more than people acting like I have committed a grave offense by walking into a restaurant to order food from them. I have never had a rude waiter at this Acapulco! To me, this place is like a little haven of yummy, not-too-spicy food and people who will make me laugh and put an extra cherry in my cherry coke.
My usual dinner date likes to try the special/seasonal items they have because he is much more of an adventurous eater than I. He often really likes the things they have on special. I most often order some configuration of one or two things from the basic combo menu, because those are really consistently good (and not eating beef or shrimp or pork or whatever else makes it difficult sometimes, but I have had great success with their basics).
I love the weekend karaoke. I sing along and serenade my friend at our table, which is much more convenient than actually going in there and putting myself in the queue for public friend-embarrassment. Efficiency! -
Review from Tim Z.
Arcadia, CA
6/4/2010
The staff here was pretty friendly and actually kind of funny, I guess that's a rare occurance apparently
It was pretty cool when they used the tequila to create the fire on our sizzling plates
The portions weren't all that small too
Oh, and the complimentary chips and salsa were delicious
Since my date and I used coupons, this place was actually reasonably priced. -
Review from Ben Q.
Rosemead, CA
12/13/2009
I'm never coming back! The manager is a racist!
After having a decent lunch with good service, the waitress comes by with our bill. We decided to use a coupon to lower the price for one of the entrees (yeah I know it's cheap, but we're trying to save!). Anyways, one of the bus boys/servers come by to pick up the check. He sees the coupon so he calls over the waitress. The manager was near by as well, so he came over to see what the big deal was. After flipping open the check book, he sees our coupon and laughs as he turns towards the waitress. He then says, what my friend and I believe, "chinos" to the waitress and walks off. Apparently the ignorant prick assumed we were deaf or thought he said it discreetly enough.
I'm thinking about making a complaint to their corporate head quarters, but i'll see. -
Review from Alice K.
Irvine, CA
8/14/2008
I don't usually write reviews on chain restaurants, but since Acapulco is one of the best Mexican chain restaurants I have dined at, I'm going to write about it.
Their plates are GINORMOUS! We ordered the Nachos Ultimo which is probably the largest nacho I have ever had in my entire life. It came with the usual everything - shredded chicken, melted jack cheese, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, refried beans on huge chips. mmm tastes sooo good but it's sooooo bad for you. :(
My friend got the Combo Ultimo, which includes a taco, an enchilada, tamale and chile relleno, rice and refried beans. Just from looking at her HUMONGOUS plate, I got full. I tried some of her food and it was delicious. I ordered the Enchilada Suiza entree, and that was really good too. Most Mexican chain restaurants have nasty rice and beans, but this place makes it really good!! I was very satisfied.
They gave me so much food, I had to take 75% of my entree home.
Acapulco hooks it up!! Overly generous portions, great tasting Mexican food to go with family and friends.
I heard they have lunch buffets and Sunday brunches as well. My coworkers and I will be going to the lunch buffet sometime soon. -
Review from Tracy C.
Los Angeles, CA
8/8/2007
I ate like a pig here today! I came here for lunch with my friend who works at Carmax down the street. I had just gotten my car serviced and I had the munchies so we decided to chow down with some Mexican food. I had the shrimp fajita platter and it came out sizzling. My shrimp was nice and juicy, the onions were perfectly sauteed, and their sour cream is full-fat, thick, and delicious. I really like Acapulco's beans; they have a flavorful kick to them. I also had their strawberry margarita. It came out a little overblended but it was still good. Can't forget the chips and salsa! I think we had about 3 servings of that. The salsa is not too saucy or spicy.
This place was so empty today at lunch. It's really more of a dinner restaurant I think. I'm not the biggest fan of Mexican food but I still like Acapulco once in a while! -
Review from Calvin L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2007
I don't like the chain restaurants, but when you get a buy one, get one for almost free coupon, it's hard to resist. And, my wife agrees to eat Mexican once a blue moon, so I have to take advantage of that blue moon.
Service is very friendly. Staff seems to really enjoy having you there. The fajitas are the show here. They bring out a candle burner, then a sizzling plate of steak and chicken, all with a nice Mexican flourish, almost like a bullfighter! The shrimp plate was tasty and the chips were light and crunchy. My wife's virgin mojito was refreshing. The place is clean and efficient.
What's not to like? Well, I felt really heavy and not so great after eating. The food was okay, but kind of well sterile--pretty much prerequisite for any chain, I guess. There just wasn't too much to get excited about. Everything was just pretty good, pretty standard one dimensional taste. I just couldn't quite part with that 4 stars. -
Review from S S.
Monrovia, CA
1/23/2007
There's a lot of outstanding independent Mexican food in the humble foothills city of Monrovia, so why give Acapulco 4 stars, effectively putting it on par with the other eateries? Because the food and drinks are majorly tasty. duh.
Acapulco is a nice, clean informal Mexican restaurant with good food, rotating seasonal food and drink items, friendly service and an all around good atmosphere.
The only reason this review isn't five stars is because for a Mexican restaurant, there seems to be an inordinate amount of security there on karaoke nights. I guess cheap margaritas and an open microphone can be a deadly mix. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Monrovia, CA
8/25/2011
Great service and great food and coupons...
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Review from John H.
Azusa, CA
8/27/2008
Went in on a weeknight and the restaurant portion seemed a bit crowded. Went into the bar to watch the Laker game. The actual Bar seating was empty so I took a seat there. I sat there while the 'bartender' walked by me a total of six times without even acknowledging my presence. I started checking my watch and waited there 5 more whole minutes without a word being said. Again I say, the bar was empty. You have 1 customer, you can at least say something to them. I got up and walked out. I won't be back. Neither should you.
Pros: The place was open.
Cons: They didn't seem to want any customers in the bar area. -
Review from Justus F.
Anaheim, CA
12/7/2006
Pasadena used to have two Alcapulco's. One was ok. The other AMAZING. Then the AMAZING one closed. WTF? Yep...I don't get it either Lil' Timmy. Anyways, this Acapulco is decent. About average when compared to other Acapulcos. I just had the bar set too high for me by that first Acapulco I used to enjoy.
The food is pretty good here and the drinks as well - they have one of my favorite salsas. The menu changes yearly and they have fun seasonal items. Their chefs are creative...so you have combo favorites, but then also things like halibut and corn tacos. All good stuff...just not as good as I know they can be.
Psst...Rudy's is better. -
Review from Alexandra B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2009
So I went in here with some friends on a Saturday night - it was around 9PM, I guess. Acapulco makes a point of never letting you know how late they are open, no signs or anything, so we wandered in to see what the deal was. In the bar area there was a smallish group of people having a weird little dance party. There was a weird little spinning disco ball on the ceiling and like, KC and the Sunshine Band or some shit was playing. All the women had big neon-colored margaritas in plastic glasses.
Avoiding that scene entirely, we asked to be seated at a table. The restaurant was basically empty so we asked if they were still open - oh yes, they said. OK. So we were then treated to very slow, unfriendly service (the waiter said "all the women at this table need to show me their IDs"?? what about the guys, we're all the same age?), WEAK, tasteless margaritas, terrible, TERRIBLE food (frozen Mexican TV dinner anyone?), and an overall huge drag of an atmosphere. Oh, and it was overpriced too! What a shock!
Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything better from this place, but I thought I'd let you all know how it is, anyway. -
Review from Cindy S.
Azusa, CA
7/31/2009
This is one of my all time favorite places. Maybe I'm biased though since my hubby (then boyfriend) brought me here all the time.The servers know us by name since we have been going there for like 10 years. My favs are the chips, salsa and when we get the buffet I love the sweet corn tamales. I also like that coupons are often available so you can always save a buck.
Some people I know say it's not "authentic" enough but compared to what? The taste is great ( I am mexican by the way) and tastes pretty authentic to me. Or is it because it's a chain? Or the food placement is too "pretty"? I don't know but other places people find "authentic" I think hole in the wall , and the food looks like gramma made it. No offense to holes in the wall or gramma because I love those as well, but we can still give some love to acapulco -
Review from Monica G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/15/2009
I used to go here for Happy Hour after work on payday when I worked in Arcadia and it was fun. They had free appetizers (which were soon replaced by free crudites, then by $1 tacos) and cheap margaritas. Being the ambitious amateur bartender that I am I wasn't satisfied by the tasteless (but strong) margaritas that they served, and so I would give the bartender the recipes for much better, and stronger, drinks from my repertoire...they were game, and churned out all the drinks that I would ask for! (3 stars for that alone!).
My co-workers became regulars for Happy Hour and the Karaoke was fun too. We would stay until the late hours when it would turn into a quasi-club...which was fun too.
The food (if you go there for food) is ok...greasy, if you order anything fried, but hey, they never claimed to be a health food joint! The fried ice cream is good, and so is the flan. The fajitas are pretty good, but they tend to fill the platter with onions and peppers and are pretty stingy with the actual MEAT. The carnitas are ok as well...and don't have too much fat on them (which is a big plus).
The waitstaff is fine, but tend to be a little standoff-ish but we were able to get them to open up and soon knew us by face since we became regulars.
Over all, the place is fine (better on the bar side) for average USA style Mexican food, but better for Happy Hour. -
Review from Danny R.
Los Angeles County, CA
6/21/2011
new hostess at lunch time is GREAT! Name's Brittany or some such. Polite, efficient and cute!
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Review from Irma B.
La Puente, CA
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just went to the Bar and ordered Long Island Ice Tea I did not like yuck. But there was karaoke very nice place to have fun
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Review from Jenny R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/27/2011
Sunday Champagne Brunch! Left Stuffed. Enough said!! YUMMY!!!!
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Review from Greg P.
Covina, CA
10/23/2006
Margarita Monday Happy Hour from like 3-10 pm! The Margaritas were a lil too salty. Free appetizers till 6 every day for happy hour, so get some drinks and eat dinner for free there! If you don't mind all fried food and a few celery sticks!
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Review from Eileen T.
Aliso Viejo, CA
8/30/2008 3 photos
The Grande Shrimp Platter was great. Shrimp Fajitas, Shrimp and Avocado Taco and Shrimp Enchilada were all delicious. Quesadilla Suizas Platter was too salty. I ordered the same dish in the Pasadena location before, and it was way better over there.
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Review from Cat T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2007
I don't come here for anything other than the free nachos and salsa. They're my favorite.... so light, think and crispy! Well I also get the shrimp cocktail they have as a summer special and a bowl of guacamole. There's the perfect Acapulco meal right there. Everything else is just average.
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Review from Kim C.
Arcadia, CA
7/15/2009
The food was fairly cheap and good the last time I came here. The portions are HUGE. I had their quesadilla while my date had their combo platter with their enchiladas. Very good for a chain restaurant I must say. Will come again.
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Review from Mini C.
Beverly Hills, CA
6/22/2010
I just got back from Acapulco's weekday lunch buffet. Feeling very stuff to capacity right now. Their lunch buffet is a pretty good deal. For 8.95, we had all the mexican food we can devour. In addition to "fake" gringo mexican food, there were also some authentic dishes such as chili verde, carnitas, pollo asada. It was not bad for a buffet. My favorite would have to be the carnitas and the chili verde. Seasoned just right. They also had a guy making fresh tortillas on a griddle. Can't be that! Overall, for $9 and all you can eat mexican food. I'm fully satisfied and my wallet does not have a big hole in it.
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Review from Felicia M.
Monrovia, CA
8/9/2007
Gross! I've been in the area for a while but I swear I will never go back to this place. The chips were greasy, the service was slow. the waiter just kept pushing guacamole and margaritas (I was there with a 6 year old) and forgot to bring us silverware and water.
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Review from Lisa I.
Hillside, NJ
7/2/2009
Against my better judgement, I went here for lunch today. I remember this restaurant being very busy and... well, good. Times have changed, apparently, and I should have known based on the almost-empty parking lot... at 1 pm. The hostess and what appeared to be the Manager greeted us promptly and almost pushed the lunch buffet on us, but that seemed suspicious, so I asked for the regular menu. The Manager walked us by the buffet, to further push it, and then sat us in a booth about 5 feet from the buffet (and kitchen). After ordering, extremely greasy looking chips were brought to the table--we did not eat them, but watched as the lining paper of the chips basket developed grease marks. It took a very long time for our meals to arrive, which was odd since the restaurant wasn't busy at all. We saw a couple servers help themselves to the buffet. A nutritional guide was at the table, along with the cocktail drinks menu, and we made the mistake of looking to see how many calories/fat/sodium were in the food that we just ordered. When our meals arrived, our server warned us that the plates were very hot (from being under the heatlamp for a long time, most likely), and the food was very salty and greasy. It's a shame that the restaurant has gone downhill because it used to be a somewhat nice place. The Manager and server tried many times to sell us things (buffet, margarita, appetizer, soup/salad, dessert, coffee) and after the 2nd attempt, it was like they were desperate. I won't ever be going back there again, not when there are many other better restaurants in the area. Food quality and value is terrible.
