El Niagara Mexican Restaurant

Went here with some colleagues from work. This place is alright basic Mexican fare with decent lunch specials. I ordered the Chicken fajitas lunch special it was rather small but tasted pretty good. I would like to try the dinner menu sometime. They only serve cans of domestic soda and bottles of Mexican soda as an FYI.

I really like this place — very good Americanized Mexican food but their skirt steak is something special. I have had it several times in different dishes and it is really excellent. My wife always tries things like Tamales, etc. but after our last time she asked me to stop her from ordering them again. The skirt steak is awesome and the price difference is not a significant impediment.
I like everything about this place — one of the better meals in Woodstock.

I been to 1000s of restaurants probably in my whole life. We reached the pinnacle, my favorite restaurant I ever been too.
Food: The chips and salsa is fantastic. The salsa is a dark red purée of pain. It’s spicy and smooth. A very nice pepper after taste! I wish I could get it shipped to Oklahoma where I go to school now. The Chicken fajitas are different than typical places. The boil the chicken which gives it a rubbery consistency you have to like. I sure do. The chicken is juicy and mixing that with the sour cream, tortilla ect is one of life’s great pleasures. The nachos Deluxe is to die for. So much favor.
Price: Very average compared to other places.
Décor: Nice paintings on the wall with good booths. You can tell this place has history.
Service: Prompt and friendly. Never had a bad experience.
Overall: This is my favorite mexican place and restaurant I ever been too.

Absolutely scrumptious food for an awesome price! I moved from Illinois in 1999 to Kentucky and while I’ve found some real good Mexican food; nothing compares to the awesome food we had tonight! I’ve forgotten how scrumptious Mexican food is in Northern Illinois! So glad we found El Niagara!

A couple of friends took us here last week, it was our first trip to this restaurant. The service was good except for the waiter screwing up one of our parties order, it took 20 mins to get his food the rest of us were done eating by time he was served. The food was ok, but nothing special, the chips and salsa which so many people rave about were not very good. The mild salsa was basically tomato sauce, the Hot (which was pretty mild) was better, but just doctored up tomato sauce. Not sure why people like this place other than the fact the place is huge so you can always get a seat. Doubt we will ever be back, maybe not sure yet. Three stars is a gift!

Every time we have eaten here, the food has been perfect. The margaritas are excellent. We no longer live in the Woodstock area, but come back to El Niagara whenever we get the chance. Delicious!

Great Mexican food. Love the chips and salsa. Friendly staff. Prompt service. Nice neighborhood restaurant.

Everytime I go to Woodstock to see my in-​laws we go to Niagra. This place is amazing! The restaurant is decorated as one would expect with all the Mexican flare. The chips are fresh and crunchy and the salsa is hot so I order the mild. The iced tea comes in a carafe which I appreciate. I usually order the combination especial. Be prepared to leave full and happy! The food is always good here and the servers are all nice and very attentive. The prices are reasonable… Table of 5 was $ 50 without alcohol. I wish this place was closer to home…

When I moved to Woodstock, someone told me that people choose either El Niagara or Mixteca for Mexican food. You won’t be a fan of both. After finally trying El Niagara, I have to agree.
The positives for El Niagara are the size of the restaurant and the size of the menu. I went with a group and there was something for everyone. The negative aspect is the food. I had enchiladas that tasted ok but had only small amounts of filling. The refried beans were super smooth and seemed very processed, like they came out of a can. It just wasn’t a great meal and we found ourselves wishing we had gone to Mixteca.
So, yeah, now I know: I’m a «Mixteca» person.

El Niagara is your run-​of-​the-​mill Americanized Mexican restaurant.
I ordered the 2 Enchiladas lunch special, served with rice and beans and a side of sour cream for $ 6.99. Considering the complimentary chips and salsa, $ 7 is a very reasonable price. The enchiladas were pretty tasty, but the dollop of sauce did not cut it for me. Unfortunately, they do not offer black beans as an alternative to refried. Their rice was mildly-​seasoned and tasty.
Where this restaurant really gets it right is with their salsa. My table’s batch was spicy and flavorful; with chips, this really took the edge off my hunger before lunch was served.
Our server was attentive and helpful when needed, as we had two children in our party. The ambiance is festive but dark. No outdoor dining options, but plenty of seating inside for larger parties.

Awesome food and margaritas!!! By far the best mexican food around! I love the tacos al pastor. The chips in salsa is the best I’ve had as well and I have been to many mexican resturaunts

Really, people rate this place so highly? About once a year my wife and I decide to do Mexican but don’t feel like trucking to Crystal Lake and Mixteca on 47 can be a little crowded and pricey. So we end up here –shame on us for being lazy our cheap, because this place is only slightly better than Taco Hell. You get a small basket of chips, refills are extra declares the grungy little placard on the table, sodas are cans and on several visits have been past their expiration dates (yes diet soda expires) and is then begrudgingly replaced with a new one — if they have them.
But lets face it you go for the food right? Well this stuff is overcooked, heavily sauced and not very authentic. The rice? Bland. Beans? Gray and flavorless. All in all, just not worth the lack of effort on our part, so shame on us.

I agree with J.R. This restaurant does in a pinch. It’s like eating at a diner which serves Mexican food. I live in Chicago and I only visit Woodstock about once every other week. Chicago knows Mexican food! That’s harsh to say because everyone knows a major city is going to have better restaurants mainly due the competition. There is no atmosphere here, so you expect the food to stand out.
I don’t feel like I am going to be sick once I eat here. I just wish there was more soul put into the food. Hard to explain, but the food isn’t seasoned to a multi-​dimensional level where it satiates my inner emotional eater. I didn’t think their side dishes were warm enough. The enchilada that came with my Carne Asada a la Tampequeña wasn’t hitting the spot. I wanted more sauce and tastier cheese. Perhaps I just wanted more cheese. Mexican food is my comfort food. Somehow this wasn’t hitting the spot. I should have asked to see if there was a selection of hot sauces. My carne asada (skirt steak) itself was cooked very well, but I swear this is something all Mexican restaurants are going to prepare the right way every time. Which is why I order it.
Overall, the staff is so polite and accommodating. They work very hard to maintain order and cleanliness. I read a controversial review from a Unilocaler, claiming that the place wasn’t clean. I strongly disagree and I think this person should update their review. When I arrived with my family, there were a couple of guys working at chipping surplus ice away from the pavement which wouldn’t melt from the salt they were spreading. This is nice, but I would almost rather the entire team shift their focus toward the kinds of food they are serving. Perhaps Woodstock locals aren’t as diverse with their taste buds. Maybe I didn’t order the right dish?

Awesome Chicken Enchildas Suaza, Nachos, and Chicken Soft Shell Corn Tacos. Best Mexican food in Northern Illinois.

It does in a pinch. Good salsa but otherwise pretty bland. If it lays still, it will get smothered in cheese here.
Hit up Mixteca instead for fresh fabulous Mexican food when in Woodstock. It’s also a hell of a lot easier to find

Definitely a four star Tex/​Mex place. Recommended by a friend this was a first visit to El Niagara. It’s off the beaten path a bit. Atmosphere isn’t great and some of the seating is odd but we had a great experience.
Chips and salsa roja were pretty good but step it up and ask them for their pico de gallo. It’s daisy fresh and really good.
All up dinner for four was $ 130 or so. A $ 60 dinner bill and the rest was from the bar. Solid service, real good food.

Great Food, Great Service, Easy Parking, Serve Drinks
Took our business from Tacos El Norte to El Niagra. Not as convenient but well worth the drive. The food is amazing and more options available and the service is very attentive and appreciative. I also love that you can order drinks… the Sangria is wonderful! Highly recommend and will keep coming.

Yum!

This is the first time Unilocal reviews have steered me wrong. My husband ordered Milenesa and it came out burnt looking and tasting. It was like bland breaded beef jerky and tasted weird. He didn’t eat it.
I ordered cheese enchiladas and they were, eh. They were very bland so I put the salsa/​taco sauce that came with the chips when we sat down which made them much better.
We won’t be back — we usually go elsewhere in Woodstock but they are closed on Mondays…

Of all the cuisines that I like, Mexican is usually my last choice for dinner out. I like it, but I rarely LOVE it. But my Mom and sister love this place, so the whole family went out to grab a bite.
I split the enchiladas platter (#39, I think) with the wife. 1 chicken and two cheese with rice and refried beans.
I’ve never had rice or refried beans that have wowed me. I usually eat them because I don’t hate them and they’re there. And these were more of the same. Orange rice that’s not good or bad … and refried beans that are gritty and bland like everywhere else.
Enchiladas were fine, too. Good chicken and good, melted processed cheese. Sauce was good. A spicy, warm red sauce covering the enchiladas.
Worth the $ 8+ for our plate? Eh.
Friendly service and good atmosphere. Definitely a lot of customers inside keeping them busy.
Just more of a reason why Mexican is always my last choice for dinner out.