Alejandro

I figured out a new place in Palm Springs for Mexican food (Quality Food) El Patron in Palm Springs absolutely has great quality food & ambience went there last week & was blown away by this little treasure in the Desert 🏜️. I had the shrimp Ceviche & was fenomenal, no need for extra lime 🍋‍🟩 like other times, my partner had a chicken fajitas which were not only grilled but also came marinated in some type of sauce I don't recall (you may see in the photos) very good as well. They have Topo Chico at this spot which I enjoyed very much. When you sit inside you will have to order on your own don't expect a waiter service (we were thrown off at first but don't let it affect your dining experience it is totally worth it their service is excellent everyone is Highly Attentive. From the beverage to the food to the service this place shocked me & therefore on my book 📖 has 🤗 five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clean environment, professional staff, presentation I thought was excellent, prices aren't outrageous, (Palm Springs is full of that), clean restaurant 🧹📸 Outstanding Performance El Patron, very well Done ✅

+15

Really good food here. We had the chicken 🐔 tacos. Super tasty!! The chips and salsa were equally good. Service was decent. We also had their margaritas which were great! Highly recommend this place.

Jacob Peacock

Quesadillas with tofu were awesome: high-quality cheese, spiced fried smokey tofu and fresh veggies. The chips and salsa were crispy and spicy, respectively, and well enjoyed. Be forewarned, there is not table service; bussers ended up being nearby and got us water and our singular round of refills. Otherwise, you order at the counter and the food is delivered on trays.

Heather Ace

Fun and lovely spot in the middle of the action of Palm Springs. Such a good people watching spot. We sat in the little loveseat of the patio. They give u your table number and then you order inside and they bring it to you. We just came for drinks and chips and guacamole as break from shopping. Drink came out fast but the guacamole took 30 minutes! They apologized profusely, they had a huge catering order they were managing and things got tied up. Chips were great but guacamole and salsa were just aiight.

+5

Fred Lucci

Cute little place on the main downtown strip of Palm Springs. The food was delicious, authentic and quickly served. It seems a little pricey for the portion sizes, but probably competitive with the rest of the restaurants in this particular area of town. Regardless, we found it very satisfying. There’s outdoor seating on a patio right on the sidewalk as well as limited indoor seating. I would come back here again.

ECVF

Loved that they have so many vegan options! We tried the vegan nachos & they were good but i wouldnt say they are great! Felt like they were missing some sort of flavor to make it perfect. Really enjoyed the music and vibes in the indoor seating! Also there is no waitress assigned to you, you order at the front and they bring it out- pretty casual!

Mark Pitts

We stopped in here for a late lunch, and we definitely were not disappointed with the food. I gave it 4 stars, because it is pretty much a “self serve” style restaurant. You sit down, then have to go to a counter to order your food and drinks to be delivered to your table. Waiters will stop by to clear your table or bring you some water (if you ask), but don’t expect anything else in terms of service. The patio/outdoor seating is nice for relaxing and people watching. Some indoor seating is available, if you prefer. There is no bar seating area. Prices are reasonable, and the drinks are fairly good. We liked that the menu had many vegan choices, too. The vegan nachos and the cauliflower tacos were really good! We would definitely return here for a quick bite and a drink, but not for the ambiance or the service.

+4

We expected to pay more than average based on the location, but food and drink quality were just ok, so it felt like we definitely overpaid. The host was friendly, but the rest of the staff we interacted with were not very. Walk up ordering.

Joseph Gallo

We had the El Pastor Pork tacos which were good, not exceptional, but they were excellently spiced. The Margaritas were unremarkable. The atmosphere and service were excellent.

pro source

December 2025 Wait staff, bartenders are great and attentive. Unfortunately, we went again on a Thursday and to our disappointment the Carne Asada tacos tasted dry exactly like the meat been sitting under a heat lamp for 4 hours. These tacos tasted completely different from what we tasted last week and the weeks before. I couldnt help to ask the waiter if there was someone new in the kitchen, or if theyd change the recipe; he said no. When the manager was called over, he only offered to take note for future reference, and he seemed unmoved. When my partner asked how he he would be able to resolve the issue at that moment, he offered a happy hour margarita. I am saddened to say that after many visits over the years and 70 dollars spent for a round of tacos and one happy hour margarita, we don't feel like risking disappointment again. Inconsistency is not our thing, we are leaning towards not think visiting again. Unfortunately, I get alot of friends that visit from LA proper and they love this spot, I will have to share our bad experience with them. I am hoping Management is willing to really address this inconsistency; I mean when its good its insanely good but today the rating on the carne asada taco went from a perfect 10 to a sad subpar 1 to include corn tortillas that broke when folded. Until then we will need to get our happy hour taco fix at Rooftop 262 which is just across the way. They have an excellent happy hour, 3 delicious el pastor and carnitas tacos for $10. We were hoping to alternate taco spots but as of today, El Patron has lost loyal Local Patrons that know what a Patrons Carne Asada Taco at it's best is supposed to taste like.

don polo

This a great spot to watch the sidewalk theater and all those who pass. Cheap drinks during happy hour make for a pleasant afternoon cocktail. The food is ordered at a counter and is delivered by friendly staff. We had chicken fajitas and tacos. The beans were delicious, the chicken was bit dry and seemed to be prepared in advance. The tacos were tasty and were stuffed with meat. If you’re looking for a fast casual meal with a prime view, this place is worth a stop.

Michele Kerr

The outside was great. The inside was loud. Ordering required you to go to cashier and order. Once you have ordered you go back to your table that has your number on it. Make sure when you order, you know your table number.

+2

Tracy Foreman

Tacos sounded good to our group that is staying in Palm Springs for a conference. We stopped at El Patron for dinner and cocktails. The host sat us and explained you ordered and pay inside, give them your table number and then they bring you your food. This was great because we all needed separate receipts for work. The food came and it looked great! I was disappointed when I tried the red salsa. Absolutely no flavor at all. This was not just my option but that if the table. The chips were great but salsa was just tomato water. They need a new recipe. For 6.50 for chips and salsa, I’d recommend skipping it. First bite of my rice and beans and they were cold. Super bummer the beef rolled tacos were good. Crispy shell, plenty of meat, topped with guacamole cheese pico. Not sure I would come back. There are other Mexican places to try in Palm Springs that look better.

We were here several years ago for lunch and it was good enough to go back. That was a mistake. Host and staff taking orders were helpful and service-oriented. Food was not good across four different dishes. Carnitas tacos were bland and under seasoned. Flautas were dry and bland. Quesabirria was tiny and mediocre. Rice was ok, but about 4 bites. Beans tasted like they'd been made with rotten lard. Pozole and corn tortillas had the best flavor. All dishes were served barely above room temp. $15 margarita was supposed to be spicy, but it was sticky sweet, not spicy, and had little booze. I can get better Mexican at about 100 places in Minneapolis. I'd expect more in Cali.

The hosts gives you a menu then proceeds to tell you that you need to order inside. When inside had to wait a while to order. When it was my turn they wanted to charge not priced advertised outside for one of their specials. I decided then to leave the establishment.