EL MARIACHI

Johnston, IA · Mexican restaurant

Rating
4.5/5
★★★★★ 4.5
Reviews
20
Rank in Johnston
#10
of 51 restaurants
City Percentile
60%
rating percentile
Address
EL MARIACHI, 5825 Merle Hay Rd, Johnston, IA 50131
Phone
(515) 276-3887
Website
mariachijohnston.com
Status
Closed · Opens 11 AM

EL MARIACHI is a restaurant located in Johnston, IA. It is one of 51 restaurants listed in Johnston. Its 4.5-star rating is above the Johnston city average of 4.2 stars. It ranks #10 of 51 restaurants in Johnston. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

About EL MARIACHI

Family Restaurant Locally owned and operated Open since 2001 First and best Mexican Restaurant in Johnston IA Authentic Mexican Cuisine Fresh, fast & affordable Dine-in. Take out. Catering. Patio

Hours

Saturday11 AM–10 PM

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 Jim and Judi Coppock · Mar 2026

My friend and I meet every few weeks here for lunch. Service is always friendly and quick, the restaurant is always clean and the decor fun and the food...the food is simply amazing. I always get the lunch Chimichanga special with seafood. The tortilla is FILLED with seafood, fried perfectly and topped with queso. The beans and rice are always tasty, along with fresh sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes. The price for my meal with a generous tip is under $15. No wonder we go here every time!!

★☆☆☆☆ 1.0 Molly Hansen · Nov 2025

Came for take out! Got there 10 minutes after I ordered and I live in Johnston so by the time I got home…… 4 minutes later my bag of chips were stale and saturated with grease. My food was ice cold. And I paid $12 for the smallest container of queso i have ever seen. I usually love this place but for $30 it was disgustingly disappointing! Will not ever go back.

★★★★★ 5.0 Scott Nuckolls · Jul 2025

Showed up during a big rain storm. Lobby was packed and was not in the mood to wait. Hostess said only 20 minutes. Okay, sure. Waiting and watching all the food and Rita's going by Torture. 14 minutes later, table ready !! I had the steak chimi and wife a combo plate. Chips and salsa were delivered fast and Ritas were too. Overall great service from Alexa L. and fun atmosphere. Food good but nothing exciting. Bland actually. Overall a good time and will give it another try, maybe not in a storm and crowded.

★★★★★ 5.0 Zachary Freedom · Nov 2025

This place is fantastic. The menu is extensive, the service is always fast, accommodating, and they treat you with dignity. I ordered the beef enchiladas with rice and beans- they kept bringing fresh chips and salsa without having to be asked. They are attentive, and food is GREAT!!!! You’re never rushed, and it’s an all-around really nice dining experience.

★★★☆☆ 3.0 L D · Jul 2023

We ordered a salad (it was good although there was more sour cream than lettuce - still a 4.5 star salad) and I asked for rolled tacos with guacamole for a child... this is what they brought (see pic). Child wouldn't touch them so we took them home uneaten. Reheated and someone else went to have them for lunch the next day because we don't waste food - and the "rolled taco" was empty 😆😄 service wasn't great, waiter never came back until he was dropping off our check and our cups had been empty since we got our food :( I've heard great things, so maybe it was an off day for the waiter... and if they don't make rolled tacos, just say so? 🤷🏼‍♀️ we could have ordered something else, it's just want the child recently decided he liked.

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Services

Mexican restaurant

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This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.