El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant - Cody, Wyoming

Katherine K.

We looked at the online menu thinking it might be a less expensive option for dinner, but it wasn’t. It opened at 5pm, we weren’t expecting it to park in what seemed like a furniture making shop. Small place. It was cold, February, but we didn’t feel any heat. We read a review about the margaritas being delicious, but no one mentioned the $12.50 price for a regular sized margarita, so 2…wow. The iced tea was undrinkable and I had to exchange it for a $4 Diet Pepsi and was lucky enough to flag down the one and only waiter/greeter/cashier/food runner to get a single refill. Other reviews said the homemade chips were amazing, they were actually quite hard and not even warm and considering we were the FIRST 2 customers in the door at 5pm, I was shocked. The salsa was decent but when we asked for a refill we were told there’s a charge but not how much, we were charged $4 for it, and we didn’t even get a refill of chips with the salsa. We ordered 2 entrees, carne asada and fajitas without bell peppers, just onions (I’m allergic) served with rice and beans, I asked for sour cream (not told $1.50 extra) the rice really had no flavor, my boyfriend put the salsa on his rice and I asked for some pico, small was $7 and large was $15 I think. I said no I just wanted a little to put on my rice, so a small amount was $1.50. The fajitas came out on a cold plate, I have never been served fajitas that weren’t served on a sizzling cast iron platter with all the “fixings” like cheese, sour cream, pico and guacamole on the side…especially for $20…I ordered the “for two” for $34 so I could feed the chicken, steak and rice to my dog. The meat was very dry. The carne asada tasted good to my boyfriend but his stomach was upset within 30 minutes and he was on the toilet the rest of the evening. The meal prices looked reasonable but the shock of the $94 bill about made us lose the dinner immediately. Only 2 couples came in after us and a single gentleman. At the bottom of every page of the menu it stated to be patient because they cooked each meal to order, definitely be prepared to wait for your food and service with only 1 person waiting on the entire restaurant. They don’t give you a check either, they just have you go to a cash register, where they have no lights, and ring everything up and ask if you want a receipt, of course we did, then we had to figure out what each charge was for. I personally will not ever go back, but it was not the worst meal, just dry fajitas and rice and extremely expensive if you want ANY drinks or sides

Tracy

Chips and salsa were great. Our meal took a very long time to arrive and was only a little warm when it did arrive. The flautas were decent, but the beans and rice were very bland.

Missy M.

This is a great little Mexican restaurant! Food is cooked after you order it so leave plenty of time when you visit. Food was good yet salty. Would return again tho!

Lani D.

We love the complimentary chips and salsa and I’ve eaten here twice and both times were amazing. I ordered tamales both times

Staci H.

Don’t waste your money or your time -
Ordered takeout and didn’t bother to check it until I get back to the room because it took so long for the food although we were the only ones in there. Looked like slop. Boiled shrimp and overcooked vegetables. Nothing was grilled. Looks like a child made it for another child. $20!

Jerod S.

The owners are hard working, good people. Food is excellent and the place, even though small is clean. I don't like Mexican refried beans usually, but they were awesome. I had ribeye fajitas. This is the #1 Mexican restaurant in Cody

Salvador H.

Amazing service, tasty food.

Elena C. M.

Being from Houston, I’m pretty spoiled when it comes to Mexican food. This is no TexMex. It’s the real thing. The food was amazing and the place was very clean!!

Don’t let the old building fool you. Also,
we didn’t know after 8:00 pm is take out only but the staff let us dine in anyways. Highly recommend this place.