Elena's Mexican - Reviews

As someone from CDMX, I can say that the food here is not tasty. However, Elena's food is gratifyingly accurate and excellently achieved.

My experience at this restaurant was just okay regarding the food quality. I had the chili verde, but honestly, I can't recall what others had, which shows it wasn't particularly memorable. However, the atmosphere and service were better than the food, earning a 4 out of 5 for both. I'd consider returning for a casual date night because the ambiance and service made it a good spot for that purpose.

My experience at the restaurant was fantastic. The food was excellent, and you could really feel the freshness of the ingredients. The service was also top-notch. The atmosphere was cheerful and jovial without being overwhelming.

My experience with the food delivered from this restaurant was amazing. I particularly loved the shredded chicken enchiladas with rice and beans 🫘, which were unbelievably delicious. While I didn't dine in, the ambiance of the place looked amazing based on what I saw, and other reviews mentioned very friendly service. I highly recommend this restaurant if you’re in San Francisco. I give them 5 stars.

I went for brunch and ordered the pork tamale Benedict! I wasn't sure what to expect as there was no hollandaise, but it was essentially pork tamales with sauce, beans, and perfectly cooked eggs on top. IT WAS BOMB! So full of flavor and delicious! I highly recommend. The chips and salsa were also great, and the cheesy tater tots were soooo cheesy and good!

This restaurant has all the makings for a great experience, with a great cocktail menu and other offerings that any foodie would love. However, the food itself was disappointing – bland and flavorless, lacking any apparent care. It's a shame because the atmosphere and service were excellent (rated 5/5). I'm hopeful this can be turned around, so I'll return in a few months to give it another try.

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The food and service were excellent, with the chicken tinga empanadas starter being a particular highlight. However, the waiting time was a significant issue. It's not worth a 3-hour wait, a 4-week reservation in advance, or even a 30-minute wait after a 4-week reservation. The space seems detrimentally small, contributing to the extensive waits. It truly takes a master's degree in patience to get to the point of enjoying the excellent food and service.

It's hard to get a reservation here for a reason! My experience was fantastic, enjoying great authentic Mexican food in an awesome environment. The food was a perfect 5/5, the service was impeccable at 5/5, and the atmosphere was also rated a perfect 5/5. The noise level was moderate, which contributed to a lively yet comfortable dining experience for our group of 3-4 people during dinner. The price per person was between $50–100.

Wow! My experience at this restaurant was incredible. Sitting in Natasha's section was like winning the lottery, highlighting the amazing staff. The best dish we had was the Crab Enchilada – it is rich and delicious. We also enjoyed the Elena Margarita, which was the best. The stunning atmosphere with perfect details added to the overall experience. Thank you all for an incredible evening. I am really looking forward to going back.

I was really excited to take my family to Elena's, a restaurant in the West Portal area. My previous visit to the bar was decent, though we did wait for tortillas with our fajitas. This time, the receptionist and hostess were great, very communicative and helpful with reservations. However, the positive experience ended once we were seated. Our server seemed to lack training. A busser dropped off chips and salsa and took one of our menus, which led to an awkward moment when the waiter returned and assumed we had taken it. Despite this, we tried to enjoy our evening. Our appetizers were taken away prematurely as the server announced our meals were almost ready, even though we weren't finished. Then, only three of the four meals arrived, with the last one taking nearly 15 minutes. This meant our family couldn't eat together, and our food sat getting cold, ruining my appetite. When we asked for the manager, he focused on getting staff names and discussing the issue immediately, rather than apologizing or resolving it, which worsened the situation. While some items were comped, the overall dinner was uncomfortable and frustrating. Elena's presents itself as fine dining, but it felt more like a dressed-up fast-food establishment with worse service. The "American Mexican" food was unremarkable and overpriced for the quality and service. I've heard from others that this rushed and dismissive treatment is common. I truly wanted to like Elena's, but the service was absolutely terrible, the food underwhelming, and the overall experience one of the worst I've had. Our neighborhood could benefit from a well-run restaurant like this, but as it stands, it's a missed opportunity.