Chips & salsa
Chili Relleno lunch special
outside with patio view
the menu
Medium margarita (on the rocks)
the menu
the menu
Intriguing decor with lots of plants, sun hats and chili pepper lights
Sunny parrot-themed dining room.
A decent, slightly hot sauce that's on the table.
Enchiladas poblanos & enchiladas taco combo.
drink, cupcakes
El patron, daquiri.
Chip Appetizer
outside
Fish Tacos
The "Don" Burrito.
Tostaguac and rice. Fresh but very bland all around.
food
Tostaguac and rice. Fresh but very bland all around.
El patron nachos
Fresh oysters
Burrito El Patron
Housemade sangria, enchiladas El Patron, chips and salsa out on the deck? Yes please!
Kristopher S.
Dec 2, 2023
The food was fantastic. . . Portions were good - I really enjoyed the salsa it was a nice blend of spicy and smoky . . . The carnitas were delicious and refried beans a smooth and cheesy blend.
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Dianne J.
Sep 8, 2021
This was our 3rd visit here and I'm changing my rating, so this is an update.While our service and food was great this time, I would still never order the oysters again. I stuck with traditional Mexican fare this time and was happy with my meal. Since COVID, we previously only dined outside but tried the dining room this time around. The ambiance was pleasant and appeared clean. I recommend The chili relleno lunch plate special. I was very tasty and the portion was generous as well. Of course there are plenty of options on the menu, including some vegetarian options.
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Sean L.
May 4, 2022
I'm still going here. A lot. Sun Prairie has really expanded its options for Mexican (with another place on the way!), but I've learned that I use the different restaurants for different things. Gloria's is my taco place (those cheesy tacos call to me). Primo is my burrito place.Guimo's is my pozole place (and occasionally my taco place, as their pastor tacos are outstanding).Burrachos is my quick-and-fast lunch place (usually for burrito bowls).El Patron is my everything else place. They have the biggest menu. They have great service. The food is always tasty. They do everything well enough to keep me happy and willing to return. I like the people. I like the variety. And there's usually some sort of soccer on the TVs.
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Loren H.
Jan 10, 2020
Nice looking place and pleasant staff. Food is well prepared but somewhat under seasoned. Lunch was around eight bucks for two enchiladas with rice and a salad. There was a very good bottled sauce on the table that added some real flavor two the sauces. One they should consider using in all their food. A decent lunch place.
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Danielle W.
Jul 23, 2019
We just moved to town and I don't know what I expected from a place that offered free food for kids on Sundays. It... was standard hardy Americanized portioned Mexican food. It wasn't anything I'd write home about. They brought a cool crema out with the chips, which I appreciated. I'm not saying I won't be back, as it was a good priced option to feed the kids fast....but ultimately, the ground beef was dry, the chile relleno SWIMMING in so much under seasoned sauce as to be hard to eat, and the cheese tasted... cheap queso-y. Eh, just eh. Next time I'll try the drinks. On the plus side, if you like LARGE portions of cheap americanized mexican food. And the service was really good. (And I know a lot of people that do.) Hey! This really is an exemplar of that category of dining.
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Tamara C.
May 14, 2018
I always try to go here for seafood plates, and my husband usually goes for chicken burrito suizo or something similar. I've enjoyed the Seafood "El Patron", Enchiladas Acapulco both of which are yummy but not much heat, or melding of flavors- but the Seafood Chimichanga is great. It's just a lot of food, so be careful on eating those chips. My husband has not found a bad tasting plate yet for chicken. We also order a side of guacamole and helps round out our plates.The price is right for us here, and it's close to home. It's worth a stop if you're looking for a good deal of food and great taste.
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Stacey L.
Apr 17, 2017
While tagging along with my boyfriend while he ran errands in Sun Prairie, he decided he was hungry and pulled in to El Patron for a late lunch. The outside of the building is kind of sad looking (my guess is it started as a family restaurant) but it improves when you enter. We were seated in the back parrot-themed room which was nice and bright (both in decor and natural light). Our server was friendly and patient as we perused the giant menu - usually I order the same thing every time I try a new Mexican place (chicken chimichanga), but I'd gorged myself on spicy cheese bread at the farmers' market that morning and was not nearly hungry enough to attempt it. I landed on a tostaguac from the a la carte menu with a side of rice. I had never ordered a tostaguac before, but a quick search told me it was beef, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and guacamole on a tostada shell (pretty much what I expected from the name). When my food arrived I had to laugh at my attempt to end up with a reasonable amount of food - my plate was full. The tostaguac was piled high with salad and rice took up half the platter. I've gotten so accustomed to Madison Mexican joints giving you about five bites of rice or beans that I didn't anticipate being able to make a meal of rice alone. The rice was fresh and not too greasy - I would order it again. El Patron's tostaguac didn't have beans but did have cheese. The toppings were fresh, but overall it just didn't do it for me. The beef was very juicy - I don't think it was given any opportunity to drain and it left a puddle on my plate. It also tasted like it was just straight up browned ground beef - no seasoning whatsoever, including salt. There was no spice or kick to be found anywhere in the dish - everything was very bland. I realize there is a segment of the population this would appeal to; I am just not one of those people. Long story short: good service, okay prices, fresh but bland food.
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Kevin S.
Aug 30, 2024
Sat at the bar and ordered a margarita, I looked up and saw the glasses hanging above me and they were dirty, dusty, and covered in cobwebs. These were the glasses deep into the rack, so hopefully my glass was more clean. The margarita was basically something you'd get at TGI Fridays. Nothing special, heavy and thick mix. The salsa was bland. I assume it's store bought and comes in a huge jug. I ordered 3 chicken tacos. I was surprised they didn't offer traditional cilantro and onion tacos. The tacos come with cheese and lettuce. I got mine without cheese and added tomatoes. They were okay, nothing compared to El Primo or Gloria's tacos. I assume the tacos were wrapped and microwaved. The server was nice. I think I was the only one there besides one other couple. I didn't finish my tacos or my margarita. The tacos were just too plain, the chicken was cheesy, and the margarita mix tasted sour, but not in a good way...like it might be past its prime.Def a quantity over quality situation. I'd recommend sticking to El Primo or Gloria's for your taco needs. I won't be returning.
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Lakyn H.
Jan 8, 2024
Staff and food were great! warm chips, good salsa, good margaritas and good food! wouldn't change one part of my meal! 10/10
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Robi L.
Jan 14, 2023
The chips were ok, served with a taco ranch dip. The saving grace was a Chile habanero hot sauce that when mixed in the ranch made it pretty decent. The red salsa tasted like stewed tomatoes. The quesadilla was low on cheese with more tomatoes, other veg, and inconsistently cut chicken. The beef chimichanga was like a shredded beef.
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