Noodle Express

I stopped by El Patio Mexican Restaurant while passing through Fresno, and let me tell you, if you've ever dreamed of taking a quick detour to a colorful little town in Mexico for lunch, El Patio makes that dream possible, minus the airfare. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by vibrant decors that feel more like a warm hug than interior design. The menu is impressively diverse. A full spread of authentic Mexican dishes that cater to both the adventurous eater and the “I’ll have the enchiladas, again” crowd. They have a good selection of drinks and their happy hour is from 4-6pm. Service was friendly, quick, and genuinely welcoming. Definitely recommend.

My husband and I came off the star reference & DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Absolutely amazing, amazing service. The owner/manager was so helpful with seating & serving. Amazing with giving recommendations! His attitude was great! 10/10 will definitely love coming back here & music is on point!

Very pleased with our dinner. We had the chicken fajitas (came out sizzling!) and taco salad with steak. Both flavorful and delicious. Plenty of food for each serving. Churros for dessert. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Ambience was colorful and inviting. There was a singer there this night and he set the upbeat mood. Will be returning.

+1

Gilbert was our server and he was great! Very attentive and brought everything we needed. Food and drinks were delicious.

Casa Birrias were amazing, came with rice and beans, chips and salsa brought to the table no charge, outside is very nice, Cassie was very nice and fast. Love this place and sister restaurant (Aromas) next door

The food was delicious the service was fantastic and I loved the atmosphere. It is a cute little place private accommodating. They have though of everything lol to a stand for your purse to a little fan that keeps the fly from bothering you. What I learned today this exactly like the name a restaurant outside on the patio. But the owner told me that they have a place next door to accommodate you inside. They really have thought of everything. My new favorite spot. Oh and the margaritas are great! You gotta check it out.

This is our 2nd time here, never disappoints! Food, always on point! Service, always beyond out expectations! Gilbert so welcoming and loving! Cassie, our server the best ever! She's so lovely and very attentive! My kids love it here! PS Birria Sliders on point kid approved!

Had such a great time here thanks to Cassie and Gilbert. The food was really good and everything came out fresh and flavorful. The atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. The service was the highlight though. Friendly, attentive, and never over the top. Everyone made us feel welcome and taken care of from start to finish. It’s one of those places you leave already talking about when you’re coming back. Definitely recommend and will for sure be back again.

Been here several times, always been great! Both the food and drinks are delicious! Gilbert was an amazing server tonight and made the night more enjoyable!

Enjoyed our lunch at this cute place in the Tower District today. Simple cheese quesadilla the grandson approved. Husband got the pork chili verde enchilada plate which came with three enchiladas, rice and beans. I got the starter beef taquitos serving of five and a really good Cadillac margarita that packed a pretty good punch! Prices were reasonable, the food tasted fresh, service was attentive and we were kept supplied with complimentary chips and salsa. Oh, and they have an all day breakfast menu too. We’ll come back for sure!

+2

5 stars all around! Savannah was our waitress. She was so sweet and accommodating. My friend and I came in to try their Micheladas and were so pleasantly satisfied.

Came here with my family, was sat quickly! Food was great and the drinks kept coming! We had michelada flights and a few of the other things they were so delicious!! Our server Yadi was so nice and friendly! She catered to all our needs and made our drinks so good! 10/10 service and food.

Had my wife’s birthday party last night and it was amazing. The service., The atmosphere the food Was phenomenal. Gilbert, the waiter and the rest of the team just chatted to all of our needs and always make sure that we were comfortable and happy. I booked a birthday two weeks ago with the manager Michelle and she was right at front greeting us letting us know that she had everything taken care of. Can’t wait to set up our next celebration there they make you feel like You’re at home, Just stay fantastic culture. Thank you guys

Great good, great drinks, great time! Michele the manager is so kind and amazing at making sure the group has a blast!

Had an amazing experience The food was delicious, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and everything came out perfectly. Our server, Kevin, truly made it great he was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed. Service like his really makes a difference and elevates the whole experience. We’ll definitely be back and hope to have Kevin as our server again. Highly recommend!

Our waitress Sandra was so sweet & kept checking up on us. And also the manager Michelle was super attentive and nice to Us too, we will definitely be back the food was amazing.

Even V. Was a very professional and kind server. He was quick and hospitable. Very on top of it. I was impressed, we had a party of 13 and 7 of them were children!! we will definitely come back again and would love to enjoy Evan as our server! The music was great and Poppin but loud enough we can still enjoy ourselves and our conversations.

Amazing service from start to finish! Our waiter Gilbert was attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience feel special. Truly top-notch service—can’t wait to come back!

had a great dinner tonight at El patio! Gilbert is amazing, super funny. He's Definitely one of a kind and he took excellent care of us! And the food was delicious. We ordered an asada quesadilla, la diabla shrimp, and fish and shrimp tacos with a bucket of beers and a sexy Mexican coke for me A good time with top-notch customer service and yummy food! And super cute and comfortable place. All around, everything was great! Thank you, Gilbert!

Great place for all types of life me and my girlfriends went on a Saturday when they open at 11am food and drinks was on point and live music was even better. We will definitely will be back there again

The food was delicious and tasted fresh, not old or dry. All of the staff was so friendly and attentive. Our server Liz was the sweetest waitress ever! My friend and I loved her. The atmosphere is so cute and cheerful the decor is beautiful. Lots to look at and talk about. We will definitely come back again in the future!

We came for an early dinner. We got a table right away. Evan V. our server provided an excellent dining experience. The food was amazing !!! And they had live music by the vibrations. Highly recommend!!

My grandfather and I decided to come to El Patio for lunch and we were served by Savannah, who is by the way a sweetheart and great waitress. I ordered some taquitos with horchata, while my grandpa ordered cheese enchiladas with a Modelo and we were both pleased. The food was fair, we had complimentary chips and salsa, the weather was pretty nice, so we enjoyed eating out. They have pretty, multicolored flag banners above for decoration. Our food came out pretty fast. A man, whom I believe is An/the owner, said "hello" and seemed really friendly and nice. Overall we had a pleasant experience! Parking in their parking lot is very limited, as they only have like 4 or 5 parking spaces and i do not believe that there is indoor seating here.

I've been here a couple of times and both times were fantastic. Coincidentally, Moises waited on our table both times and he was super friendly and efficient. We usually opt for the Bistec Ranchero, El Patio Torta, or the chorizo tacos. This restaurant is very consistent with the quality of all three and I'm sure it's the same for their other dishes. To drink, we always go for the agua fresca of the day. All in all this is a very good restaurant that I would recommend to anyone.

This was my first time and I’m sure not my. I got the molcajete omelette and it was so good! And the cafe de olla was amazing!! And Cassie went above and beyond for us! Amazing food and service!!

Melissa Muxlow

Even V. Was a very professional and kind server. He was quick and hospitable. Very on top of it. I was impressed, we had a party of 13 and 7 of them were children!! we will definitely come back again and would love to enjoy Evan as our server! The music was great and Poppin but loud enough we can still enjoy ourselves and our conversations.

Melissa R

Our waitress Sandra was so sweet & kept checking up on us. And also the manager Michelle was super attentive and nice to Us too, we will definitely be back the food was amazing.

Jennifer Branscumb

had a great dinner tonight at El patio! Gilbert is amazing, super funny. He's Definitely one of a kind and he took excellent care of us! And the food was delicious. We ordered an asada quesadilla, la diabla shrimp, and fish and shrimp tacos with a bucket of beers and a sexy Mexican coke for me A good time with top-notch customer service and yummy food! And super cute and comfortable place. All around, everything was great! Thank you, Gilbert!

Freddy Valdez

We came for an early dinner. We got a table right away. Evan V. our server provided an excellent dining experience. The food was amazing !!! And they had live music by the vibrations. Highly recommend!!

Tina G

Amazing service from start to finish! Our waiter Gilbert was attentive, friendly, and made the entire experience feel special. Truly top-notch service—can’t wait to come back!

Jairo Medina

This was my first time and I’m sure not my. I got the molcajete omelette and it was so good! And the cafe de olla was amazing!! And Cassie went above and beyond for us! Amazing food and service!!

Vashana Safford

Great place for all types of life me and my girlfriends went on a Saturday when they open at 11am food and drinks was on point and live music was even better. We will definitely will be back there again

Jocelyn Sky

The food was delicious and tasted fresh, not old or dry. All of the staff was so friendly and attentive. Our server Liz was the sweetest waitress ever! My friend and I loved her. The atmosphere is so cute and cheerful the decor is beautiful. Lots to look at and talk about. We will definitely come back again in the future!

Aaron

I've been here a couple of times and both times were fantastic. Coincidentally, Moises waited on our table both times and he was super friendly and efficient. We usually opt for the Bistec Ranchero, El Patio Torta, or the chorizo tacos. This restaurant is very consistent with the quality of all three and I'm sure it's the same for their other dishes. To drink, we always go for the agua fresca of the day. All in all this is a very good restaurant that I would recommend to anyone.

tamim alshaif

Great place to eat, the food the atmosphere, and the service. All were above my expectations. I ordered the breakfast molcajete awesome 👌. My wife ordered the chilaquiles omelet, she loved it. Too bad we dont live near by or we would most definitely make it a weekly thing. Highly recommended.

S D

I stopped by El Patio Mexican Restaurant while passing through Fresno, and let me tell you, if you've ever dreamed of taking a quick detour to a colorful little town in Mexico for lunch, El Patio makes that dream possible, minus the airfare. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by vibrant decors that feel more like a warm hug than interior design. The menu is impressively diverse. A full spread of authentic Mexican dishes that cater to both the adventurous eater and the “I’ll have the enchiladas, again” crowd. They have a good selection of drinks and their happy hour is from 4-6pm. Service was friendly, quick, and genuinely welcoming. Definitely recommend.

I celebrated my birthday here and honestly, Liz and Lea made the whole night unforgettable. From the moment we sat down, they were kind, attentive, and so genuinely sweet. They made me feel special on my birthday without being over the top, and her energy was just perfect. The service was smooth, the food came out great, and they checked in at all the right moments. You can tell they truly care about their guests. Because of them my birthday dinner felt extra special and memorable. Thank you, Liz and Lea for making my birthday such a great experience — I’ll definitely be coming back! 🎉💐

This was our first time at El Patio, and we were genuinely impressed. The food was fresh, flavorful, and made with so much care. Cassie, our waitress, was absolutely awesome—so kind, attentive, and welcoming. The whole atmosphere felt inviting, and we left already talking about what we want to try next time. We’ll definitely be coming back!

Liz was a great server. She was super friendly and stayed on top of anything we needed whether it was refills on drinks or more chips and salsa. The food is always good and we love coming here on weekdays after work when it’s not busy.

I had such a great experience during my first visit this morning! Our server, Cassie, was honestly the highlight of the whole meal. She was super friendly, really attentive, and made us feel welcome right away. Cassie gave us amazing recommendations—every food item she suggested was spot-on, and the flavors did not disappoint. She also recommended the mimosas, and wow… they were delicious. Definitely the perfect touch to our meal. Great service can make or break a restaurant visit, and Cassie absolutely made ours. I’ll definitely be coming back because of her!

Damianna Palacio

I celebrated my birthday here and honestly, Liz and Lea made the whole night unforgettable. From the moment we sat down, they were kind, attentive, and so genuinely sweet. They made me feel special on my birthday without being over the top, and her energy was just perfect. The service was smooth, the food came out great, and they checked in at all the right moments. You can tell they truly care about their guests. Because of them my birthday dinner felt extra special and memorable. Thank you, Liz and Lea for making my birthday such a great experience — I’ll definitely be coming back! 🎉💐

Alva Marina Riojas

This is our 2nd time here, never disappoints! Food, always on point! Service, always beyond out expectations! Gilbert so welcoming and loving! Cassie, our server the best ever! She's so lovely and very attentive! My kids love it here! PS Birria Sliders on point kid approved!

Cute spot: We picked up food for the office I work for here in Fresno. Three of my colleagues ordered pozole which was about $14-17 per bowl depending on the size. It came with the toppings, salsa and chili oil(I liked the chili oil). Between the four of us, we agreed the pozole had good flavor. The queso fundido was good(not pictured). Personally, I ordered beef fajitas which I was looking forward in having but I was really disappointed especially after paying $19 plus tax. It was seriously about less than two tacos worth of meat. The meat was sliced really tiny like taco meat which was over cooked, bland/no flavor with like a pound of bell peppers and onions as pictured. I went to the extent of picking MOST of them out to see how much meat was in there-mind you I’ve never had to do this. I would return for the pozole or to try other soups but would not order fajitas again.

The cheese enchiladas were very small more like the size of a taquito. The taco was good size but shell was rubbery. The pork tasted good though. My biggest complaint was the chairs were cold hard metal. Great service though. I’ll try it again. Other dishes being served looked good and worth trying

I highly recommend this restaurant for its wonderful ambiance and exceptional service. Our server, Adriana, was incredibly kind and attentive throughout our meal. I also appreciated how the manager and other staff members frequently checked in to ensure everything at our table was satisfactory. Their dedication to providing excellent service truly enhanced our dining experience. If you're looking for a place with great food and an inviting atmosphere, this is the spot!

Wonderful little place. The service was excellent. Michelle the manager was delightful. We had the beef taquitos and the surf and turf taco plate. Both beautifully presented and delicious! We will back the next time we are in town.

Excellent service. Great atmosphere. Big portions. Had the enchiladas with green sauce, red sauce and mole sauce. The green sauce was very good, the red sauce I couldn't taste because it was overwhelmed by the green sauce and mole sauce. The mole sauce was off. Can't describe it but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Overall a good experience.

We got chips and salsa upon our arrival. Food took a long time considering we were the first party of 4 for lunch. They weren't busy but it took over 30 mins to get our food. The server was friendly.

Great atmosphere, Mexican music, vibrant colors, it’s a genuine Mexican Restaurant. Great food, the guacamole is the best, very tasty. Great customer service, Gilbert was very friendly and quick. I will definitely come again. My only issue were the flies, since it’s outside.

Larry Rosen

Wonderful little place. The service was excellent. Michelle the manager was delightful. We had the beef taquitos and the surf and turf taco plate. Both beautifully presented and delicious! We will back the next time we are in town.

Angela Her

We got chips and salsa upon our arrival. Food took a long time considering we were the first party of 4 for lunch. They weren't busy but it took over 30 mins to get our food. The server was friendly.

Gilda Ponce

Great atmosphere, Mexican music, vibrant colors, it’s a genuine Mexican Restaurant. Great food, the guacamole is the best, very tasty. Great customer service, Gilbert was very friendly and quick. I will definitely come again. My only issue were the flies, since it’s outside.

Cindy Sanchez

Cute spot: We picked up food for the office I work for here in Fresno. Three of my colleagues ordered pozole which was about $14-17 per bowl depending on the size. It came with the toppings, salsa and chili oil(I liked the chili oil). Between the four of us, we agreed the pozole had good flavor. The queso fundido was good(not pictured). Personally, I ordered beef fajitas which I was looking forward in having but I was really disappointed especially after paying $19 plus tax. It was seriously about less than two tacos worth of meat. The meat was sliced really tiny like taco meat which was over cooked, bland/no flavor with like a pound of bell peppers and onions as pictured. I went to the extent of picking MOST of them out to see how much meat was in there-mind you I’ve never had to do this. I would return for the pozole or to try other soups but would not order fajitas again.

Joe Lugo

The cheese enchiladas were very small more like the size of a taquito. The taco was good size but shell was rubbery. The pork tasted good though. My biggest complaint was the chairs were cold hard metal. Great service though. I’ll try it again. Other dishes being served looked good and worth trying

Overall, it’s a good place to eat, and the food was okay. We tried a little bit of everything. The molcajete wasn’t what we expected; the chicken was dry and overcooked. Our server took our drinks and never returned, so we had to flag down another waitress to bring them back (lol). The appetizers we chose the sliders and the bean dip were good. The fried fish, however, was overcooked, making it really hard to get the meat off the bones.

Guillermo Santillan

Overall, it’s a good place to eat, and the food was okay. We tried a little bit of everything. The molcajete wasn’t what we expected; the chicken was dry and overcooked. Our server took our drinks and never returned, so we had to flag down another waitress to bring them back (lol). The appetizers we chose the sliders and the bean dip were good. The fried fish, however, was overcooked, making it really hard to get the meat off the bones.

The service by Hugo was good and the atmosphere was nice, but the food was not so much. I got shrimp tacos with literally 2 shrimp in each taco and refried beans loaded with cheese after I requested no dairy on/in anything. My friend ordered taquatillos that were still cold from being previously frozen instead of freshly made. She returned her food and was not willing to order anything else.

Fresno isn’t the food capital of anything, and El Patio doesn’t pretend otherwise. It’s one step above Taco Bell, served al fresco because there’s literally nowhere else to sit. ‘Patio’ isn’t branding—it’s a warning. If sweating through triple-digit heat while flies circle your lunch sounds appealing, pull up a chair. The chilaquiles? A crime scene. Dry, lifeless chips, beans that crunched like they missed the memo on being cooked, and rice fused into a single sad clump. The kind of plate that makes you question life choices. Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the Gobernador shrimp tacos actually hit the mark. Cheesy, flavorful, exactly what they should be. But then came the salsa—more like tomato purée with an identity crisis. Not a whisper of heat. Calling it salsa is generous. Service, though, was a bright spot. The waitress worked the place like a one-woman army, fast, attentive, unshaken. And the margarita? Cold, balanced, the only thing that felt like a small mercy. The décor tries for Rosarito flea market chic—trinkets you could buy in Mexico for a tenth of the price. Cute, if you’re into that. Would I come back? No. But if those Gobernador tacos magically showed up in front of me, I’d eat them again. The rest of it? Hard pass.

I do not understand how this restaurant has so many good reviews. First of all- the vibe was off and terrible. There was a girl singing that sounded good, but the speaker was up so loud I could not hear myself think (1pm in afternoon). Then, we waited for 20 minutes before someone came by and took our order. If you like margaritas, I hope you don’t like good ones because they don’t have anything other than ‘well’ tequila. Also, I ordered a skinny margarita and the waiter did not know what that was. How do you serve margaritas and not know what a skinny margarita is???? My husband got a michelada that was the size of his head. He said it tasted terrible and hardly had any beer in it. Was filled with tomato juice. He barely drank it at all. Now we get to the food… we got chicken nachos and 2 chicken tacos.. gross. Chicken was barely edible and the nachos were luke warm. The tacos also had like nothing on them but raw onion and old looking cilantro. The saving grace was the corn tortillas that seemed homemade but hard to tell? It just wasn’t good. Like not at all. We did not finish any of it. Now to top it all off, I’ve been having aggressive diarrhea for the last 4 hours that I’m going to attribute to this restaurant because I haven’t eaten anything else. Do not go here.

Cassie L

I do not understand how this restaurant has so many good reviews. First of all- the vibe was off and terrible. There was a girl singing that sounded good, but the speaker was up so loud I could not hear myself think (1pm in afternoon). Then, we waited for 20 minutes before someone came by and took our order. If you like margaritas, I hope you don’t like good ones because they don’t have anything other than ‘well’ tequila. Also, I ordered a skinny margarita and the waiter did not know what that was. How do you serve margaritas and not know what a skinny margarita is???? My husband got a michelada that was the size of his head. He said it tasted terrible and hardly had any beer in it. Was filled with tomato juice. He barely drank it at all. Now we get to the food… we got chicken nachos and 2 chicken tacos.. gross. Chicken was barely edible and the nachos were luke warm. The tacos also had like nothing on them but raw onion and old looking cilantro. The saving grace was the corn tortillas that seemed homemade but hard to tell? It just wasn’t good. Like not at all. We did not finish any of it. Now to top it all off, I’ve been having aggressive diarrhea for the last 4 hours that I’m going to attribute to this restaurant because I haven’t eaten anything else. Do not go here.