El Tropico Bar Restaurant

This was the best Mexican food we have had in a very long time. This is not America Mexican food this is good like down in Rocky point. It's like being in Mexico and we love it. The service was great quick and attentive. They speak Spanish but they try to understand. We will be back soon, highly recommend!!!!

Nobody would mistake El Tropico for the actual tropics, especially in January, but it does seem to be an oasis of sorts in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a. Okolona).It was hard not to over-order. El Tropico is listed as "Mexican" food on Yelp, but I think I saw the flag of El Salvador in there, which makes sense, since the menu features both pupusas as well as tamales wrapped in banana leaves. The menu is actually pretty extensive and eclectic, but as it was my first visit, I stuck with sampling tacos and other a la carte options.Long story short, we were very happy. The tamale masa was a highlight, as were all the sauces, which are clearly house-made. The pupusa sauce was unusually thick, but straight-ahead on flavor and good. My carne asada was tender, if a little bland, but the sauce served alongside put hair on my chest. The salsa served with chips was fruity and had nice chunks of avocado. They even had agua fresca options. We will be back.

I really liked this place!It's got character. It's a bit worn around the edges, and a bit run down. It's seen better days. Kind of like me. :)But, everything about this experience was great. The service was exceptional, and the food was great. I especially liked the salsa--it had a wonderfully smoky flavor that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was a bit unlike anything I've ever tasted, and I really liked it. If you're a bit adventurous about your salsa, you'll likely really like it.The downside was that they were out of a few items on the menu, which means to me those items are very popular. I finally settled on a burrito, and it was great. The location isn't great, the decor is a bit of a mish mosh of different things, but it's got great food and character, and we'll certainly return next time we're in the area.

This is your pretty much run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurants here in the Okolona Okolona only has about 5 million Mexican restaurants ever since I moved away in about 2002 I saw the explosion of the Mexican culture the Hispanic people that have moved in and all these different Mexican restaurants are popping up all around my little town that I grew up in. And there's nothing wrong with that changes fine I have nothing to do with it however when you can go to El Nopal or somewhere else in Okolona this place just doesn't cut it compared to the rest it's a little more expensive in my opinion in the quality of the food is not as good I'd stick to el Nepal I stick the Tumbleweed I go some places like that instead of here

If I could give them a zero I would. Below is my experience with this restaurant. Never go to. El Tropico Restaurant on Preston Hwy they are crooks. My husband took his sister and her husband there for lunch in February. The food was find but when he went to pay the bill they ran our credit card and said it was declined so we gave them our debt card again they said was declined so my sister inlaw ended up paying in cash. We looked at our account a couple days later it appeared they did charge us once on our debt and on our credit card twice. I tried to call them but they wouldn't answer. So I disputed the charges and they were removed. I figured after they closed out that night they would see they over charged but I guess not because when I looked at my credit card statement today they took one of 2 charges off my credit card but left the other on. So I drove up their to talk with them about this I asked for a manager the guy at the front counter acted as if he was that. When I explained what happened he started screaming at me. He accused me of wait 3 months to complain (mind you this was last month) he said this was like eating food and waiting 3 months and trying to get my money back, all the while still yelling at me. I asked him to stop yelling at me and he told me he wasn't that this was the way he talked. The manager came out spoke to him in Spanish which translated to me in English and asked for a statement I told her/him I had the one from the credit card but not one for cash because my sister inlaw paid for it. He yelled again asking why she (my sister inlaw) didn't come in and I said she was a over the road truck driver and was currently in Canada. The man then rolled his eyes at me. The restaurant was half full and staring at me I was angry and embarrassed and I finally gave up and walked out before I ended up in jail. Called the credit card company and let's just say the charge has been removed permanently!***Updated the name...this is the restaurant across from Cox's Smoke Shop

El Tropico is one of those places that trick and I have stumbled upon in our travels. The salsa served with the chips is a little different than your average. It is heavily pureed and has a hint of a smoky flavor. I ordered the tacos de carnitas and had no problems with our server understanding my order. It came out exactly as requested and was delicious. The dining room was clean and the staff is super friendly. If you are looking for Americanized Mexican food, don't come here.

You should steer clear of this restaurant unless you are Mexican or at least fluent in Spanish . The wait staff is pleasant enough but they don't understand enough English to be effective . This review was written after 2 visits .------ This restaurant was clean . I didn't get sick . & The steak in the 2 entrees that I tried was good , other than that I can't say much else that is positive.

I went to this place, that sits right behind Cox's Smokers and Liquor Shop, on Preston Hgwy on 1/14/2022 at 6pm and just awhile ago today at 3pm. Although it states on the ad that it is open, IT was NOT both times, no lights or electricity on and deadbolted door. I wasn't going to state anything out of fear of retribution but telling customers their open and whatever to come anyways is wrong.