Everything about this place rocks! Best Mexican food near Yosemite National Park! The burritos and margs are amazing.

Phenomenal service and food! Our waitress was very helpful and nice. The food was served fast and was the best Mexican food in town! If we lived here, we’d be here quite often!

This place is way better than 4•3 stars! Is it authentic? I`m not sure. Is it delicious? Definitely. Food was great and they have happy hour during lunch. Chile verde chimichanga is pictued. It was great and way more than I could eat!

Amazing food. Very good service. Pretty busy place but it's not crowded to be in waiting. Loved the atmosphere.

Great options at reasonable price and friendly staff. Food was great as well. Would recommend their enchiladas and tacos. Also the chips and salsa had a nice kick to it. Would definitely try it again.

Had a very large party on somewhat short notice. They went above and beyond to have our tables set up with water, chips, and salsa when we got there. Service was quick, accurate, and friendly. Food was amazing. Could not have asked for anything to be better or different. COME HERE!!!

Great service, no wait, good portions, and the food was enjoyed by all four of us.

+4

Great food, expensive, and good portions size

+3

We got the bistek alla Mexicans and the super nachos and both were so well prepared and seasoned staff was very friendly and food was fresh

We loved the fajitas here. Great food, great service

This is an excellent restaurant. The servers were very dedicated, the food was delicious. I've had a lot of Mexican food, but this place is the most authentic and flavorful I've tried. The view was pretty and the restroom was spotless. Im so glad I ate here.

I've been a customer at El Cid for 25ish years and it's a great place. Prices have doubled like everywhere else in CA. Had 1 Margarita to honor Jimmy Buffet. ~

In Oakhurst, if you want to eat Mexican Food..... I would normally recommend Plazuelas!!!! BUT THEY ARE EVIDENTLY CLOSED ON SUNDAYS!!!! That being said..... we found El Cid!!!!! Remember.... YOU NEVER WANT TO EAT AT AN EMPTY RESTAURANT!!!!!!! This place was close to full and by the time we left..... probably completely full....... They were very busy..... and to be honest... I was worried... knowing that we were eating at 6:00pm on a Sunday....with a drive back to LA ahead of me...... But the time to be seated...... nothing...... the time to be greeted by our server..... less than 5 minutes........ the time for our appetizers/salads to arrive 5 minutes...... the time for our food to arrive.....10-15 minutes......... For such a busy restaurant...... this is BASICALLY UNHEARD OFF!!!!!! The service was incredible... we were always.....attended to exactly when needed.... offered refills of drinks, chips and salsa..... and our waitress..... managed to check in with us "just the right amount of times!!!" The food itself..... well I had read the reviews.... and thus personally sought out the Chile Relleno...... but the fact that their incredibly complete menu didn't contain the specific combo of a "Chile Verde Burrito and a Chile Relleno"... but I was accomaded as requested...... well that simply should suffice anyone to visit the restaurant. The portions were ample.... the service PERFECT... the Price..... well to be honest a bit expensive..... but everything else made up for it 10 out of 5 stars for: Time of Service, Quality of Food, Quality of Service, Variety of Menu

Manuel and Marie took amazing care of us and the food was delicious! Our cups and chip basket were never empty. The food suggestions were excellent choices. All staff including owner were kind, attentive. Service was impeccable.

A wonderful mexican restaurant with a beautiful view of the mountains. Be sure to grab the table by the window. Had a veggie burrito on my first night (to go) and I liked it so much that I came back the next day to have the veggie enchiladas

ONE OF MY FAVORITE restaurants to stop by and dine after a long day in Yosemite. I feel very welcomed. Family style environment. Super friendly staff. Food is delicious. Always excited to return.

+5

Came with my family for a quick bite while visiting Yosemite and had a great meal! Service was fast and friendly, food was excellent! Got some chips and green salsa to take back to our cabin!

Customer service was great, too much food for me, it was very busy

+4

The best marguerite ever. Smooth as silk! Food was absolutely delicious and a great value. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. The owner also comes around to be sure your visit meets your expectations.

I was very happy with both the service and quality of food here! We ordered Beef Fajitas and #44 combo which included 2 burritos (Chile Verde or Chile Colorado), chicken taco and accompaniments. I also had a mini albondagas soup (meatball) 3hich for me was very flavorful. Excellent place to stop! Was a little pricy but I felt like I got plenty of food for the price.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This Mexican restaurant is absolutely outstanding! The service was quick, attentive, and so friendly—it really made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The staff went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. To top it all off, the view of the mountains is breathtaking—it made the whole experience unforgettable. Highly recommend to anyone looking for great food, wonderful people, and an incredible setting!

The place is well kept. Seated right away. Prompt service and food came out in a reasonable time. Food was flavorful and enjoyable. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Chili Verde was delightful and the refried beans were delicious. Nice stop if your heading in or out of the park.

Great Mexican food not far from Yosemite. The food tasted very fresh and good. The salsa was freshly made, the portions were big and everything was delicious. The service was exceptional. Lots of space inside in a rustic atmosphere.

This place was some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in awhile. They chips and salsa was super good and the enchilada plate was so good! E ought to share for sure! I had the flan and would order it again for sure! The staff was friendly and attentive. The manager / owner came by to check on us and that was nice!

Best authentic Mexican restaurant East of Fresno. This place is a family run diner with the friendliest staff and excellent chef. Tony Sr. was the chef for a while and now him and Tony Jr. Run the place. Mindy, one of the nicest server attended to us anf Tony stopped by to check on things. The food is so so fresh anf tasty . The portions are pretty sizable and the attention you get is unmached. Stop by and judge for yourself!

+6

Oakhurst is so lucky to have such good restaurants. I would not call this the most authentic Mexican food I've ever had, but it is definitely delicious food. Such a great destination for a drive in the mountains and great food. Be sure to ask for a window with a view.

+4

Stopped in for dinner after hiking away the afternoon in Yosemite. The staff were friendly and attentive, making sure we were happy with food and drinks. The food here is fantastic. Starting with the Botana El Cid (Nachos with everything but beef) was a large plate full of so many flavours and textures. Moving on to the main, the Number 38 was a beef taco, chille relleno, and beef enchilada. This was served with frijoles and rice. This, combined with the baskets of complimentary tortilla chips and pico de gallo, was a very satisfying and fulfilling meal.

Great food, friendly staff. It is a very large restaurant inside. Do not get discouraged if you see 30 to 40 cars outside. They are that good at what they do. Highly recommend this place if you’re in town.

After a birthday adventure the day before, we were looking for an easy day as we transitioned from Yosemite valley to Kings Canyon and Sequoia national Park. Before leaving, we tried a local spot serving up authentic Mexican cuisine and it turned out to be exactly what we needed and wanted! El Cid offers a weekday lunch special until about 230pm where you can choose 1 (12.50) or 2 (15.50) entrees with rice and beans and a complimentary bowl of chips and salsa (additional bowls come at an additional charge). I ordered a chili rellanio and a shredded beef burrito while my wife had a shredded beef tostada and a chicken enchilada. All turned out to be fabulous choices! The shredded beef and chicken were both fresh, moist, and flavorful, the chili rellanio packed a great punch to compliment the rest of the food! I would also be amiss in not acknowledging how excellently done the rice and beans are. Very surprising for a restaurant in a mountain town we went in without much expectations!

Michael Lickver

Fantastic food in huge portions for a great price. Nice restaurant with gorgeous custom made one-of-a-kind wooden dining tables. Nice view out the back windows. The staff are so kind, friendly, and attentive. The restaurant decorates for the holidays out back. Great atmosphere.

Eydin Hansen

Best Mexican food in the mountains! I dont have to say anything else.

559 Car Stereo & Alarm

We went to El Cid in Oakhurst today and everything was absolutely delicious! I ordered two enchiladas with rice and beans, topped with chile verde sauce, and it was packed with flavor. I also had a shrimp cocktail that tasted incredibly fresh and refreshing. The food was hot, well-seasoned, and came out fast. Definitely one of the best meals I’ve had in Oakhurst. We’ll for sure be back!

Pio M

The Mrs & I took a quick trip up to Yosemite for the weekend and heard from all the locals that this was the place to go have dinner, the recommendations were spot on! The food was delicious. The service was top-notch with a personal touch. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner such a nice gentleman. We very much enjoyed our visit overall and when we come back, we will definitely stop here for some more delicious food.

ESQ Fresno

This place was convenient. I had a few margaritas And they were great. The food was ok. I expected a little better. The flan was absolutely delicious.

LeAnne Williams

The food was excellent! Huge portions -my husband and I shared the beef fajita meal and were both stuffed. The service was great. Loved how down to Earth the atmosphere was but the place was still very well taken care of.

Tim Jameson

Terrific food. Everything seems hand made and cooked, not assembled from piles of pre-prepared ingredients like mini Mexican restaurants. We were in Oakhurst for six days and ate here twice since we enjoyed our first visit so much. Very friendly and attentive wait staff. Very fast service. Highly recommended.

Paul L

We've had lunch here 100+ times over the years. About twice a month. The food is great! The only downfall is, once you've had their margaritas 🍹 you'll never fully enjoy any other margaritas, anywhere. They're the best. And, if you have 2, don't drive. I was bummed to see they have a few negative reviews. I don't get that. Jessica is a great server with a great personality.

Jerry Dumblauskas

Awesome place. We're from Chicago and the food was authentic and service was impeccable. Great margaritas as well!

Teresa Gross

This was the first time my husband and I visited, and it did not disappoint. We were greeted and shown to a booth as soon as we walked in. Our server, Celena, was incredibly kind, knowledgeable about the menu, and helpful. The entire staff was excellent. We ordered a chicken chimichanga and three tacos: one with shrimp, one with cabeza, and one with lengua. Everything was outstanding and fresh, including the salsa, chips, and guacamole. The portion sizes were also very generous. Parking was convenient, and they also offer items for kids and vegetarian options. I would highly recommend El Cid, as it has been the best Mexican food I have had in a long time.

M Zahidul Islam

During our trip to Yosemite National Park, we had the pleasure of visiting this wonderful place. I cannot speak highly enough of the top-notch service we received, and the server, in particular, was truly extraordinary. The food was not only delicious but also exceeded our expectations, and the atmosphere was simply mind-blowing. I am absolutely certain that I will make a point to visit this place again in the future.

+6

Nezam Newman

Extremely impressed by this restaurant!! We stopped here on our way back from Bass Lake, and wow, the food was excellent! As far as Mexican food goes, this did not feel authentic, HOWEVER, it is very tasty and hits the spot when you need it! The beef in beef fajitas was seasoned well and I enjoyed it. Botana El Cid, which is the fancier and tastier nachos, was excellent. The meatball soup was… okay. Personally, I do not recommend it, but my taste buds are different. Overall, really enjoyed our experience.

Jim Jensen

El Cid is authentic Mexican and very good. I'm giving it 5 stars because of the service. Our waters were filled regularly, our chips never ran out, and when one of our party accidentally knocked over their water glass, staff was there within seconds to help clean it up. They cook their meats with vegetables adding a robust, delicious flavor. Mexican meats are typically rather bland, relying on the flavor of the accompanying ingredients. I had the chicken enchiladas and was very happy. The cheese was good. The rest of our party was also happy with their choices. We ordered the side of guac as an appetizer and it was huge. It seemed to be flavored with their pico-style salsa which made it a little more runny, which we weren't fans of. Other than that, I'd highly recommend it.

Very fast and friendly service, but food was ok. Definitely not 5 stars.

Food tasted great and fresh. Friendly environment. Enjoyed it!

+4

Better than average Mexican food. Enjoyed the vegetarian burrito.

+6

Amazing fresh salsa and chips! Really enjoyed our summer dinner in this Oakhurst restaurant. Guacamole tostada was delectable. Would recommend if you’re in the Yosemite area!

Really lovely Mexican restaurant! Food is very tasty would highly recommend it!

Food was really good. Chicken chimichanga and the chicken flautas were bomb. Especially with their salsa verde sauce. Service was excellent. Our food came out fast.

I really liked their tacos. They have shredded beef tacos and I love that and it was so delicious and they had some pepper in. It were really small. That’s the only thing we need to really get a better cup. It was like a baby margarita but other than that, everything was fine this is OK but I love tacos And it’s a reasonable price for everything

Great food, warm service, and a cozy atmosphere. Definitely worth coming back.

I had the Chile Colorado Burrito which is made with pork. It was flavorful and I enjoyed it. It was served with rice and refried beans. My husband had the top sirloin Rico Taco a la carte which he really enjoyed. We also liked their chips and salsa, and the strawberry marguerita. Our server Lenora was very friendly and very helpful with recommendations for dinner, as it was our first visit. We enjoyed our overall experience at El Cid. December 2022 (late post)

Service was excellent. Food quality is mostly good. Could just be my taste but not great.

Pretty good Mexican restaurant. It would have been 5 stars if they had had queso available. We enjoyed it after a long day of hiking in Yosemite.

+5

We were seated quickly. Water, chips, and salsa were placed promptly on our table. Food is decent and the service was good. We'll be back again.

I have 3 kids and they all enjoy their visit here. Good service. Good food. Great Christmas decorations and bird feeder in the patio area.

+6

Roadside eatery on the outskirts of Oakhurst, CA. The place does not evoke any great emotions, but the food was really nice and the server was pleasant and very obliging. Nice experience.

+3

A 3.8/5 from me, I'm rounding up in this case. It's a sit down restaurant, and the menu is pretty big. I ordered a taco with carnitas and a burrito with asada, if it were dinner maybe I would have a combination but the sides and rice and beans are just filler. I like the extensiveness of the menu. The Pico de Gallo that came with the chips indicated their tomatoes are pretty generic low quality mealy out of season tomatoes, not too surprising. The basket of chips wasn't evenly seasoned some very very seasoned and others hardly. The carnitas taco came with shredded cabbage and cilantro and a bit of green salsa on top. Not bad but oh so close to the golden authentic combo of onions and cilantro. The meat was a tad dry... that could be different depending on time of day and day of the week. 2.5/5 stars on the taco The asada burrito was good. 4/5 stars. The ingredients were the meat, rice, refried beans, guacamole... great mouth feel and flavor. My main dislike about it is that if I ordered a combo it'd be rice and beans on the plate and rice and beans on the burrito. I would have happily settled for a smaller burrito with a little bit more meat and no beans. Hard to get a good taste of the meat the guac and beans were a little stronger. Besides the Pico no hot sauce... I didn't ask as if they had one I would have thought it'd be presented. Did use a tapatio from a nearby table. Can't rate 5 stars without authentic house made hot sauce/salsa besides the pico *shrug* The patio view is nice and the furniture/ ambience pretty good quality... take those away and it's a 3.2 stars. House made salsa and a few adjustments and it's a 4.5 star

We thought we'd try El CiD. We were sepetical at 1st. There were not as many Hispanics working as we thought. (Our Mexican restaurants back home are mostly rum by Hispanics). The salsa was fantastic very chunky with alot of spice. Our meals were good. My wife's meal appeared much better than mine she ordered the Chile Verde. I was suprised my sons kids meal had actual steak. The meals was good. The water glasses were kind of small and the service wasn't as attentive as we normally like. And like everything in California. Expensive.

SWARM 18

Small combo was good but beef taco shell fell apart upon first bite like it was sitting to long in the juices. Cheese enchilada was delicious with the mole sauce they serve. Chips and salsa were good as always. Indoor patio seating has great views of the sierras.

jeffcp1

I am a little confused about my experience. I have been here before, many, many years ago, and it has changed. The restaurant was nice, and the servers were great, I did not like the fact that there were very large flies buzzing around our window. Not just one or two, we killed about 4 of them. Grossed us out a little bit. Our food, on the other hand, was mixed with different feelings. I can honestly say that the chili relleno was very good. The albondigas were also very good, too, the shredded beef tacos were not that good, I'll give them a 4.5 out of 10. The shells were not crispy, but soggy and meat had an artificial taste to it. I would say and try it if you are in the area and judge for yourself.

Zach

As a guy raised in South Texas, I usually treat Mexican food north of Austin—and especially out-of-state—with extreme suspicion. But after a long day of hiking and limited options, I took a chance… and I’m glad I did. This place was unexpectedly incredible. Do yourself a favor: stop in and grab a burrito. You won’t regret it.

Dr. Ravikiran Barigala

Nice restaurant on the way to Yosemite National Park. Food is decent but probably more americanized to suit local visitors. I liked the chips and salsa, and it was hard to stop eating them. Burritos were very large and I couldn't even finish the whole thing. Some of the tables are right next to the window from where you can get a great view of the mountains and forest.

+6

A decent place for Mexican food. Average taste and little higher in price. Service was ok. One of our order was not made as requested and have to cancel it at the end.

Clean place, server was kind but slow. Wide selection of Mexican food, the food was very bland, they filled the plate with grilled vegetables and the main course looked more like a side. Extremely overpriced, every plate was at least $20. They did include sides but the sides weren’t good. Paid $70 with tip for 2 people. Two main courses and one soda. Don’t recommend.

The communication between the wait staff and the kitchen is bad. I order the same thing every time I go to this establishment. #38 ranch on the salad substitute ground beef instead of shredded beef on the taco and the enchilada. It is never right.

Great service and the place was packed, so clearly a popular spot. The food wasn’t all that spectacular though. We ordered the #44 with one Chile verde and one Chile Colorado burrito, a taco, and rice and beans. Everything tasted pretty bland and there was a lot of fat in the burritos. If it were just judged off of the beers and chips and salsa with the soup of the day then it would be a 5. They do have a small but cute patio and that was nice. Our server was very attentive and the prices were reasonable.

Well…at least the food was served warm. The waitresses were friendly and kind but our table was initially dirty and hadn’t been wiped down when we were first seated. Pros: There was no wait and there was free parking. The chips and salsa were my favorite part of the meal.

The food was overall disappointing, especially for the price. I had to fight through whole bites of 4 inch long slices of bell peppers and onions in my burrito in order to get to the steak. Would have preferred a smaller burrito than a giant one over stuffed with too many undercooked veggies. Total was $60 for my burrito and my husband's order. Not worth it for the price. The wait staff was especially friendly, though. I liked the atmosphere and the servers were very helpful.

The food would be considered ok. Nothing fancy but acceptable. We were seated on what was called the patio but was just an annex of the restaurant. Unfortunately it was quite noisy. There were a few vegetarian options to choose from.

Meh, just Mexican food American-ized Portions are substantial. Didn’t hate it but wasn’t jumping for joy either. The server was great but again just ok food

+3

If you're looking for Mexican food near Yosemite that's open before 5 PM, this place is basically your only option. The food was decent but, nothing special. The service was ok. There wasn't any music playing in the restaurant which was strange. The dining room on the enclosed patio was nice. I would say it was the highlight of the dining experience. Not the food. Or the service. The chips were incredibly salty.

Food is just okay, margaritas are good. I got the veggie nachos and asked for guacamole, salsa, & tomatoes to be added. None of which were, unfortunately. The olives should be sliced in my opinion. It just seems like they are trying to get through as many orders as possible without any attention to detail. I know busy restaurants who are meticulous about getting their orders correct. Overall this place is meh; I would have rather had Taco Bell for what it was. The prices were reasonable at $15 for the margarita & nachos.

Not authentic mexican food. Food is flavourless, more like mexican food adapted to us market. Also a little bit pricey per person. I mean, You walk out full, portions are big but not delicious. Service is ok.

Great service, nice atmosphere. I had the vegetarian burrito that was pretty tasteless, with a side of dry pinto beans. My husband had chili Verde burrito, it was dry and not real flavorful.

The portion of the food is huge!! Like one plate 3 meals size. The flavor is mediocre, I guess the quantity is what you are paying for. Guacamole was not as we expected, tasted the guacamole I buy at Safeway, creamy without avocado.

El Cids is an ok place to eat when your in Oakhurst. The food isn’t bad and it’s got a cool vibe to it. If your looking for authentic Mexican food then you might want to loook somewhere else haha but never the less the food isn’t bad at all. Parking is always good and the service is always friendly and fast. The do get a little busy sometimes but the wait has never been to long. Go check ‘em out

+6

Brown guac and free chunks of wood with your order! Still, the waitstaff is wonderful and this place has great views. Do NOT visit if you’re used to fresh coastal Mexican fare - you’ll be gravely disappointed. Want to catch up with some friends over a beer, chips, and salsa? Here you go.

CK Cheong

Nice ambience at this Mexican restaurant. Ordered the chicken burrito. The portion was large and with the sides, it was a sizable meal. The burrito tasted good but I am not a Mexican food connoisseur and might rate it higher if I were. Ok service

Not very good. Overpriced and the food is questionable. Service was also bad. Focused on making sure they maximize your bill. The cheese dip was disgusting. Just keep driving….

Staffs were extremely friendly and so was the vibe. But most of the dishes were bland and tasteless. They really should learn how to make proper salsa at the very least. They made the food too much Americanized so it lost the Mexican touch.

Quality of the food is ok. Taste is ordinary. Portions are very small. Not many choices. No taco no burritos options. There are only two burritos priced at $23 and $24 dollars. There is small lunch menu. Two items $20 and one item $15. I ordered two one item, but she brought us one dish with two items. She was not listening and wanted to take our order speedy fast and made us to swallow our questions. It’s alright. But then the plate! Two burritos the size of taco and with ONLY meat it them. Rice and beans on the side. Oh, the beef burrito was ground beef! Each burrito for me was 8 bites; for a male is probably 4 bites the most. For the food, the place is very overrated and overpriced. Make me not to trust google reviews any more. Alas!

jerry mcbride

Good service, big portions of generic bland food. I felt priced way too high for the quality of food they served. Not terrible but not great either

Well, we went to El Cid pretty hungry. We ordered our fajitas, our margaritas, and expected a good quality food. It was as bad as it can get. The plate was ready-made and just reheated, even the olives and the salad were hot out of the microwave! The tortigias tasted like rubber. I don't know how people can eat this food. I am sorry, I pass!

Chorizo burnt potatoes soggy more onions and watery than potatoes.... beans were dried omelette was just a folded over egg with tomato sauce over the top and melted cheese very soggy. They did take my plate off the bill. And apologized and offered to get me another plate

Please save ur money and time and drive 5 min down to Oakhurst for some decent food and ambiance. Stale food, frozen meat and salad was sitting out too long. Worst meal in yosemite yet!

This is no longer El Cids. The prices are out of control and the quality is dropping. I go to Casa Velasco at Bass Lake and pay half the price of this crap to a deserving business that has delicious Mexican food. Never again EL Cid. Catering to visitors that are only here for a months is self destructive. It's the locals that keep you in business during the winter. You're no longer the "Lord" and "Master".

This place is anything but Mexican food. I don’t even know what you’d call it. The guacamole looked like pudding and the rest of it was white washed. The margaritas were alright but one size and almost $20 a piece 😭

This was awful, I am so sick to my stomach. There was so much grease you could bathe in it. The staff was nice and the margarita was good, but that is about it. The food that we got had the same seasoning and grease throughout. My fiancé didn’t even eat his food. Use your money wisely and do not waste it here.

Why why why did I go here. Such remorse omg it was disgusting you can't call this food it all comes from a can or a tub from the store processed and ready to go. 2 bites was too much for me. I feel sorry for the people who live here and have this as an option. Burn this place down collect the insurance money

Synodix

El Cid, while providing great service, was very disappointing. My family and I stopped by after visiting Yosemite National Park in hopes of eating simplistic, easy Mexican food. Unfortunately, we were met with chunky, lukewarm cheese dip; bland, flavorless margaritas; and greasy, lazily constructed tacos and quesadillas. Do not waste your money on this almost disrespectful attempt at Mexican food that is priced like it’s Nobu (We paid 90$ after tip for a beer, margarita, quesadilla, and cheese dip; imagine what a full family would cost)