Mamacita’s Restaurant

Amazing Atmosphere, music videos that were from my childhood, oh ya… THE FOOD! Eveerything about this place made me thankful our drunken stooper led us in this direction! YOU CAN’T GO WRONG when you find Mamacita’s. This instantly became a regular stop, when

I had a terrible experience at this restaurant. I walked in and they took about 10 min to bring us the menu, I was then waiting for another 15 min and no one came to get our order so we had to walk away. There were only about four tables and plenty of staff to take care of us.
menu: large menu
services: Terrible!
prep time: unknown (I’m sure they take forever 2)
atmosphere: old looking decorations, thumbs down
Best Thing: Free chips and salsa
other comments: During the weekend they play Latin music, so If you feel like shaking your hips you can check this place out!

Horrible service!!. If I had known they were shut down by the health dept., wouldn’t have come here. Waited 15 min for the waitress and it wasn’t even busy. The table next to us waited forever and when they asked for more chips, they were charged for them. We had to get up and get our own refills. Stay away and find another place to eat! Didn’t even want to leave a 1 star but there’s no lower rating!

I went to Fremont Street hoping to finally try LeThai. But as is my luck with any Tony Hsieh supported business I had another bad experience as LeThai was closed. So I head back to the parking garage at the El Cortez hungry and wondering what to do. I step out of the elevator and see Mamacita’s. Or is it Mamita’s? Heck if I know, it’s Mexican food, my second most favorite thing except pizza. I punch the down button, a couple steps through the casino and across Fremont has me inside waiting on someone to help me.
Mamacita’s is s-​l-​o-​w. Like the polar ice caps will be melted by the time they get to you slow. I grabbed a seat and waited to get a menu. I waited to get salsa, which by the way they brought chips and a medium and a hot salsa, both of which were good. I waited to finally get someone to take my order. Meanwhile I’m sitting there facing Fremont St. watching ESPN on the flat screen on the wall and waiting some more. Finally I get my lunch special, a taco, enchilada, rice, and beans. They used regular beans, not dehydrated beans which was a surprise of sorts. The taco was crispy but had me relying heavily on the salsa to make it good. And everything else was just ho-​hum.
I also ordered ice tea, which was good but they brought out the sugar tray and all it had in it was artificial sweetners. I’m sorry but I only do real sugar when I’m out, or Xyla at home, I won’t use anything else. So not having real sugar on the table was something I didn’t like.
I got a phone call so I had to leave and it took forever to get someone’s attention and to get my check. I tried to hand my server my debit card but she ignored it, went up and printed my ticket then came back and got it. Seriously, I needed to go at that point, when I tell you to just run the damn card, run the damn card.
If I was on Fremont Street and hungry I might come back here again. But if you’re on a tight lunch hour this is NOT a place you even want to consider. They take slow to a whole other place and it’s not good. Also décor wise it’s kinda cool but the 80’s music and other crap gets old very quickly.
2 Stars: It’s just not all that.

DO NOT RECCOMEND!
Chimichangas were hard as a rock.
Chips & Salsa was free.
Service is eh & the décor is dreadful.
Also they have a DJ posted by the window?
Why? Not sure, I guess they want me to suffer through pit bull songs while I complain about my crap tacos. Downtown has some good spot, this is NOT one of them.

We definitely didn’t come in for the Bee Gees music but we definitely left because of it. Although my breaded steak was ok, my orange juice was straight from a bottle, and the music video with all your favorite easy listening bands just didn’t do it for me. In fact, they made things worse by turning up the music as we ate, even though there was only six people in the restaurant. We ended up running for our lives out of here.

I really want to like this place but…
The service really leaves something to be desired, I think we confused the server by ordering appetizers because our entrees came out before our appetizers. When we asked about them she seemed really confused that we actually wanted to have them before our meals. When our meals finally arrived, my friend got her meal plus they put the appetizer in front of her but I did not get my meal. So we just ate the appetizers. I finally got my meal after inquiry. Also, the waitresses are quite surly.
The food leaves something to be desired as well. The bread for the cuban sandwich was very dry and very flaky. Very peculiar and hard to eat.
Overpriced and it is a hassle to use their bathroom. You have to ask for a key and then walk down a sketchy outside hallway in the back of the restaurant. My advice: Try to hold it until the El Cortez across the street.

One time, we walked out of this place because the waitress never brought menus or acknowledged that we had entered the restaurant. She did seem very busy, so we came back another time and gave them another shot. This was a mistake. Please walk down to the Burrito Factory trailer parked across the street from Western Casino instead; those ladies seem much more appreciative of your business.
Hoping their Cuban selections wouldn’t disappoint, I ordered the Cuban-​style vegetable fajitas. It is very hard to screw up veggie fajitas, but the frozen vegetable medley was mushy and lacked any pizzazz. The rice and black beans were OK, and the greasy Cuban garlic bread was good, pretty standard.
I’m not sure how drunk they expect their average patron to be, but they serve this garbage without shame. Thinking about this place makes me crave a chile relleno burrito from the Burrito Factory down the street.

My friend Karen had seen this restaurant and had made mental note that she wanted to give it a shot.
We decided this is where we would do dinner last night, before hitting up the Western for $ 1 shots and beers and then to Dino’s for Karaōke.
Wow where do I start?
Waited about 15 minutes until we were finally approached for a drink order, let alone questions regarding the menu. I had never had Cuban food at a restaurant so I was a bit clueless on what certain things were.
I asked the waitress what the house specialty is or what is ordered the most and or popular, she then points out a few things on the menu and says this is OK, um that is OK. Well you know what lady, I am looking for more than just «OK».
Crappy service for starters, after finally coming to take our order it took another 15 minutes or so to get our drinks. The food took forever, and only two of four meals were brought. So I am sitting waiting until my friends food comes so I can eat. I said screw it, my fajitas are getting cold waiting so I dug in!
After the non helpful suggestions from the waitress, I decided to play it safe and ordered the beef and chicken fajitas which came with a side plate of rice and beans. The fajitas were a large portion of dry unseasoned chicken and beef. Not much flavor at all to speak of. I have had better fajitas at El Torito’s. Disappointment for me as even the rice and beans were bland, very bland!
Friend #1 ordered a bowl of menudo, she said the flavor was not the best and she is an old school menudo eater. She asked the waitress prior if it their menudo had a red or white base, the waitress pulled the menu and pointed to the picture and said that is what it looks like. Also her plate was a sloppy mess when it arrived, menudo juice all over the plate and running down the side of the bowl, the presentation was just bad. I know they were rushing to get orders out but there is just no excuse for that slop to be dropped at anyone’s table. I attached a picture, check it out.
Friend #2 got the Tequila pollo dish with a side order of chile releno. The chicken was one big slab on the plate, would have made a better eater friendly and a visually appealing meal had they sliced it. The portion was generous but did not matter as the taste once again was bland as the other dishes we tried.
Friend #3 got some sort of beef dish that was nothing but grizzle, all she was able to eat was the white rice and the black beans she spit up. Literally had a plate of wasted meat left. She probably should have sent it back as was basically inedible. The service was slow, and not very friendly, did not seem like a good outcome if a complaint was issued, I think that is the vibe we felt. Still I would have issued my complaint as they can not improve something if they are not aware or getting the complaint.
Service and food very disappointing.
The tab was $ 80.00 for four of us for bad service and plain, unflavored food. We will NOT be back.
Also the flat screen TV blasting the Michael Jackson videos, over and over and over and over and over was overkill. We could not hear each other so we had very little conversation between the four of us.
A hilarious moment, the waitress walked past our table and because the music video was soooooo freakin loud the waitress did not even hear my friend calling her! We just wanted to ask if they could turn it down. Several other patrons were talking about it as well. Ok they were not talking about it as I could not hear anyone, I mean I was lip reading along with watching people point to their ears so I am assuming they were thinking the same as we were that the music was way too loud. Don’t get me wrong… music is my life but when I dine I am not really down for a taped concert at the same time. It was ridiculous how loud it was.
This place sucks balls… and not the good kind!
This place just gave reason for a bitch fest that night from my friends, and they are not even Unilocalers! I never want to endure that again!
They should also train their employees on cuban food, not cool for a specialty restaurant to have staff that is clueless in regards to the menu.
Service sucks
Poor food
Pricey

Damn, what’s wrong with this place???
For those of you who know me, or at least have come to be more familiar with me as the years and reviews have wore on, you know that I greatly dislike giving one star reviews. In my opinion, there must be some seriously egregious offense that warrants a one-​star review — typically something that extends beyond the food, beyond the service, beyond the ambience, to turn your back on any establishment. My friends, Mamacita’s aka Mamita’s aka DO NOT COME HERE FOR ANY REASON, has done just that — and definitely threatened to take a weekend’s awesomeness and rough it up into a little bitch.
The tenets of good service are very plain and simple: take care of your customers. It is more important to do this AFTER your people get their food. Apparently Mamacita’s did not get this memo. Once you realize how badly you’ve been duped into hoping that you could get someone’s attention after you receive your food, take a look around the restaurant. You’ll notice the same thing — anyone who doesn’t yet have their orders is being intensely doted upon, while anyone else is being virtually ignored.
We received chips and drinks almost immediately, and put in our orders for Cuban plates and appetizers — I got a margarita, Bestie got a Coke, and we opted for plantains, croquetas, tequila chicken and fried pork platters. Unfortunately I did not read the Unilocal reviews prior to coming here — we were just so damned excited that it was walking distance from the hotel — so here we were.
We got our food and drinks and that was it.
I had planned to order another margarita but that desire quickly faded once I had to get up and get refills on our Coke and water myself.
I went to another table for their Tapatio bottle since they were done, sitting around and waiting for their check that never came.
Another Unilocaler had said she requested garlic sauce on the side because the dish was too dry? I never got that far.
We got our plantains (which I think everyone gets anyway) and no croquetas. No chance to ask about them either until the end.
There was a large party in at the same time we were and you could see their frustration mounting also (along with everyone else in the place).
The thing is, their food is decent. Bestie liked her tequila chicken sauce, and granted my pork pieces were dry, they were still nicely cooked and recovered with a bit of salt and hot sauce. Plantains were slightly too oily but still fried well, and my drink was not half bad. My black beans were a bit underseasoned, but the soft bread that went with it was divine.
But when you simply ignore your patrons after they get their food (or at least most of it), it only goes downhill from there. I kept looking back at their service stations and I just could NOT figure out where they kept going!
Just don’t bother coming here. I know for a fact that just down the street going back toward the Strip there are far better Mexican, Cuban, and just general food-​serving establishments that deserve your business more than Mamita’s does! Playing old school Mexican or Michael Jackson songs at the top of the place’s lungs doesn’t compensate either.

So is this place called Mamita’s or Mamacita’s!!!
When you walk into this dump it’s like Vegas and Mexico threw up on each other or something like that, it’s very interesting to say the least.
It’s right across the street from El Cortez hotel, so that alone should give you a clue of what kind of place this is going to be lol.
I noticed this place because I was outside on the curb of El Cortez waiting in line for my Punk Rock Bowling tickets in 90 degrees at 11am, drinking some hot Jack n coke in a plastic cup. My friend and I were debating whether to eat here or the café, and ended up here. I think at this point I would eaten anything lol.
Since I was in Vegas I started off with a strawberry margarita, because well, I really love margaritas. Also, it is completely acceptable to keep drinking all day, even before noon in Vegas, so why the hell not. I then ordered a chicken taco and enchilada combo plate with rice and beans. It was probably not the best Mexican food, but it really hit the spot and plus they gave me a decent amount of sour cream, so I devoured that plate, lol.
My friend ordered a Cuban sandwich and beer, but they were out of Cuban beer, so fail right there. Also, his sandwich came on some questionable bread, so yea overall fail on the Cuban menu. The bread in the picture looked way better. Overall, my food was pretty good, but my friend’s not so good.
The service was also pretty terrible, they take forever to take your order, get your order, and if you need anything else after your meal finally arrives, forget about it!!! They weren’t even that busy until maybe the end our meal. This place is cheap and convenient though if you happen to be in Downtown Vegas.
Apparently that Selena live in concert DVD is constantly playing, which is only awesome the first time through.

I was excited to get me one of them Cuban sandwiches. The bread was nothing to write home about, but it was ok.
They charged me $ 9 for a $ 5.95 Cuban sandwich. I asked the server if she charged me for 2 sandwiches cuz the menu indicates the price of $ 5.95. The lady then gave me $ 3.
I asked my buddy’s roommate about the place and he said, «F@#k that place. They charged me $ 20 for the food and drink. The actual price was $ 12.
I recommend that you add the bill yourself before you get over charged. Check your bill before paying.
Mamacita, either learn to add or stop ripping off customers. Unilocal is here to help.

Ok it’s true, it’s not on the best stretch of road in Vegas. However, the food makes it worth the trek. My wife and I were in Vegas for a few days and I think we ate breakfast here three times, that’s how good it was. Other than a fair price and good service. The breakfast was so filling I usually didn’t eat again until 4pm or 5pm. We would have the Cuban or Mexican breakfast consisting of rice, eggs, beans, bread, plantains or a similar variation. Believe it or not, the coffee was excellent. I hear the secret is a little cinnamon thrown in when they brew it. Next time we hit Vegas Mamacita’s will be on our list of places to eat. Hopefully by then they’ll stop running the same Selena live DVD.

Recently we were in Vegas for a little getaway. On our last night there we had a craving for Mexican food. I googled Mexican eateries downtown and Mamacita’s popped up. Of course I Unilocaled it and the reviews were generaly positive so we decided to go. It was a short walm from our hotel downtown. Even tough Mamacita’s is close to the heart of Freemont St., Mamacita’s is in a neighborhood filled with panhandlers. Even whe. We arrived at Mamacita’s, there was a guy sleelping in a booth which the waitress called security on. I guess she had warned him about sleeping but he didn’t heed her advice. However, security arrived quickly and whisked the sleepy guy away.
The fresh salsa at Mamacita’s is delicious. It has a wonderful flavor and is just the right amount of hot. They have a large menu filled with many Mexican as well as Cuban selections. The tortillas were cold and hard, but I enjoyed my meal anyway. Besides that, I was surprised by the lack of good Mexican eateries in Las Vegas. Living in San Diego they are a dime a dozen. I guess I’m spoiled. But if you’re in Vegas, hungry for Mexican (or Cuban) food, and have a sense of adventure, Mamacita’s might be the place for you!

It’s a cute place but I’ve had better food.
I walk in and the place is decorated with everything Vegas and Mexico. From Elvis, shot glasses to Chiuauas, etc.
I had a side order of their chile relleno. Meh… Nothing special. It wasn’t bad but I’d had WAY better at my Mexican friend’s house when she makes it herself.
The highlight of the night was the huge flat screen that was playing old school R&B music videos. As a big fans of eras past, we decided to stick around a little longer just to watch the vids.
Would we return? No, not really. But if we were in the area and were craving the cuisine, we’d stop in.

Like other reviews have noted, expect horrible service.
Located off Fremont street by a couple of blocks, in a seedy area. Expect crack heads and crazy homeless folks around here.
I had a Cuban sandwich that contained chicken instead of beef, but was still good. Hot salsa and chips. Sandwich cane with fries, but why have fries when you can have chips and salsa instead?
Overall, decent food in bad surroundings with bad service.
Bonus points for having Michael Jackson videos on to eat to.

My wife and I ate here over a year ago, and I was very disappointed in the meal. I agree that for the price, I’d expect a nicer place with better service and not an entrance from the parking lot that is like a service entrance.
The food was nothing special. It is an amalgam, and that’s not what we were looking for. We wanted good Cuban food. Not here. This is the one food area where Las Vegas is really lacking.

While staying at the El Cortez Hotel for the 2009 NASCAR races, my buddy mentioned that there was a little Mexican-​Cuban restaurant directly across the street that he wanted to try out. I am so thankful that he suggested Mamacita’s!
I ordered the #5 combo, a Chile Relleno so delicious that I couldn’t stop raving about the flavor in between each bite. Also included was a fried carnitas taco that was fatty & flavorful — a great combination at $ 10.95.
What also set this place apart was the large LCD TV playing a video of Elvis Presley bringing down the house. Great DVD, great sound! On my second visit alone, I ordered the same dinner, plus two ice cold Coronas, while watching a DVD of the greats from the disco era.
Probably the only reason that I would stay at the El Cortez Hotel again is that the hotel is so perfectly situated to this little restaurant — check it out!

Everyone has been raving about this place, and we couldn’t wait to try it. Located off off the strip on Fremont Street across the street from the El Cortez Hotel, (We parked there!) we were surprised to find it relatively empty at 9pm. (It was a FREEZING night!)
For this one, I’m going to go with listing the Pluses and Minuses:
(+)
+ Easy Parking, across the street at the El Cortez
+ Roomy, good for groups
+ Cheeeep eats! Huge portions!
(-)
— What was the *DEAL* with them BLASTING the Eagles DVD and then after that the BRITNEY DVD on HIGH VOLUME at 9:30PM on a Monday night? I was running low on energy at that point in the evening and the volume was reaaaaaaly too high for me, cranky ol’ lady. I hear they usually play salsa music, which is would have much preferred (not hatin’ on the Eagles, actually.)
— It was Freeeeezing in there– we sat near the window, perhaps that was why? Bring a sweater if you’re coming here for dinner in winter-​time.
— The meals arrived ~20 minutes after we sat down, which is fine, but the plates were SUPER COLD to the touch… for those of you who know how much I love my food PIPING DANGEROUSLY HOT, this was a minus for me.
Overall: a solid 3.75 stars, as the food was tasty tasty and it’s a great deal on some Quality food. Service was friendly, and they let us sit around a few minutes after they closed, as we were just engaged in catching up.

If this place were crack cocaine*, I’d snort it. In short, magical happiness in the form of a Mexican/​Cuban restaurant in downtown Vegas. Believe it.
*Also, crack is whack. See: