If you’re looking for a restaurant that is affordable, family-friendly, and a place to just kick back and enjoy a meal after a long day, El Vaquero is a good place to consider. “I think most of their food is really good, along with the service,” said senior Nolan Farrar. 

The small, locally-owned Mexican restaurant is located in the CVS shopping center next to Cuppa Joe. Open daily, its hours are Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 am to 10 pm, Fridays 11 am to 11 pm, and Sundays 11 am to 9 pm.

Their menu offers appetizers, entrees, dessert, and a selection of drinks. Their top dishes are the Nacho Tejanos ($11.99), Enchilada Supreme ($8.99), Chicken or Beef Fajitas ($13.75), Tres Tacos Supreme ($7.99) and the Burritos Mexicanos ($10.50). “My favorite dish is the fajitas, because I like the meat they use. It is tender and juicy. Also, I normally don’t eat peppers, but the ones they use are worth eating,” said Farrar. 

El Vaquero is also very affordable. For example, Nacho Supreme features cheese nachos topped with ground beef, shredded chicken, and beans covered in shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, onions, and peppers. At only $8, it is a lot of food and good for leftovers.

El Vaquero, or “El Vac” as locals call it, is a great hangout spot for a date or just to chat with friends that you haven’t seen in a while. It’s also a popular spot for birthdays since they honor “birthday boys or girls” with a free fried ice cream dessert served with a mariachi song and a huge sombrero, perfect for a photo opportunity.

“The restaurant has a great environment and staff,” said senior Maddy Eubank. The setting is fun to be in, and the waiters often make conversation with you to keep the surroundings happy. “They will always come around and talk to you and they will always joke around. I don’t think I’ve had a bad experience there, except when they were super busy,” said Eubank. 

At times, El Vaquero has its downfalls. “It is a hit or miss sometimes. Either you go and it is really great, or other times you go in and it isn’t any good,” said senior MacKenzie Morris. Occasionally, I’ve had to wait a long time for the food, but you can take advantage of their free bowl of chips and salsa to hold you over until your food arrives. 

Overall, El Vac deserves an 8.5 out of 10 stars.