I don't even know where to start... this place is awful, no wonder it was the only restaurant in town with no wait when we walked in at 7pm on a Saturday. We did get a table for 6 right away, which looking back was...already suspicious. We quickly learned that the restaurant was understaffed and the kitchen seriously backed up. We ordered drinks while we waited for the rest of our party. Not sure about the beer selection but they had no wine because, and I QUOTE, "this is Mexican restaurant". Whatever that means. I ordered a margarita and it was okay even if served in a very small glass. Chips were decent and salsa okay, guacamole a little better than everything else. The menu was boring and we all had a hard time deciding what to order. To play it safe, most of us went with simple dishes like quesadillas or burritos. Well, that did not work out. The burrito was served on a white plastic plate, just a lumpy rolled up tortilla with no color or garnish whatsoever. The quesadillas were bland (only options being cheese with onions or chicken), again served on a plastic plate with no other sides. I has asked for cheese and onion, got only cheese. Another guest ordered a tostada with no beans; it arrived with beans. By the time we sent these items back and while we waited for the correct order, the rest of our party finished their bland, ugly and tasteless dinners. We then called our (brave) waitress and told her to cancel our re-orders, we just needed the checks that we could leave. She then advised that the manager was angry because they were making our food. So we spoke with the manager whose first words to us were "so I hear you ordered food and now you don't want it?' Trying to remain calm, we explained the delay and dislike for the entire experience, and even though there was no apology, he removed the two items we never ate from our check. Would never, ever, ever go back to this place. Maybe they were just having a bad night, but certainly not worth trying again.More

This place use to be great. It was a part of every college student's diet and a cornerstone/relic of East Lansing history. It was affordable, wildly popular, and delicious! Then one day, Arturo Santa Cruz, the original owner, sold the place to a family that...owns a bunch of bars in the area, and now the place is not anywhere in the ballpark of affordable, wildly unpopular, and the food tastes awful, straight trash. The problem is the owners focus - it's not about the food anymore, it's focus is now about booze and getting MSU students piss hammered. The quality of their food has completely deteriorated. If you are one of those nostalgic types that consider your holiday visit back to town incomplete without eating here, think again. This is NOT the El Azteco from your past. Ever since Art sold the place, it's steadily turned to complete sh*t. Art won't even eat here. The closest you'll come to the El Azteco you remember from the past might be found at El Azteco West, in Lansing. That's where people these days go when they want decent food and decent atmosphere, including Art Santa Cruz. El Azteco East is nothing more than a bar with super sh*tty food now. Both El Azteco's have become rediculously priced, but at least you won't feel completely ripped off at El Az West, which is owned by a completely different family, one who has a history with the place and original owner. El Azteco East should seriously consider changing their name to something else.More

Ordered the taco plate. You get one chicken and two beef tacos with rice and beans. Th food was bland. The outdoor seating on the roof was nice, but that’s about it. There are better restaurants to eat in EL. Pass on this one.

I have been coming here for TWENTY years! I love it. The topopo salad, blue corn enchiladas, and De Jocoque enchiladas, and chips & salsa are my favorites. The salsa is spicy, so be warned. Even though I no longer live in the area I...make sure to stop by every time I am in town. The patio is amazing in the summer too.More

This is the only restaurant that my large family all loves and drive 110 miles each way to enjoy for dinner. We ate here in college in the 80's, waiting for an hour on the basement stairs - even in the winter - with people...shoving past the line the other way on their way out. The food was cheap and so good! Many of their recipes are unique and its crazy to see some reviews where people order a taco and say it's "just okay" when their are dishes at El Azteco that are found nowhere else! We all love the Blue Corn Enchiladas, Cheese Dip and Nachos. In fact one brother moved to Arizona and asked me to find a way to FedEx him those dishes because that is what he missed most about Michigan! We visited a few weeks ago to East Lansing August 2020 and the food and service were excellent. If I had a question it is the salsa - the original was textured, you can see the jalapenos, super hot and tasted like they just made it. This year it was liquidy like it had been boiled or more likely from a jar like Pace Salsa. I hope the new owners are not listening to the babies who cry that everything is too spicy for them!! Their original salsa is hot and amazing - don't change it!! Give your crybaby customers the Pace....or just some ketchup - they belong at Taco Bell!More

I moved to East Lansing after many years in Mexico, so I was naturally excited to see El Atzeco. I had mixed and matched some things on the menu, and it came out to around $15 for one person, drinks not included. This seemed high...but I was excited enough to try a few different things that I was willing to pay. I am not a terribly overweight guy, nor a particularly big eater, and I thought maybe I wouldn't finish, so I figured I could always take home what I did not eat. However, in the end it wasn't worth it. The tortillas had an awful, sour taste to them and tasted nothing like real tortillas. (I should say sour strickly in the taste sense, not that they were spoiled.) There was little meat in either the tacos or burritos. The food was not served particularly hot, and yet the ends of the burritos were burnt and hard to chew. And the "salsa" was good, old USA "salsa" straight out of the can. (And quite tasteless.) Overall, I did not take anything left over, since it was such low-quality food. I strongly recommend trying some of the better Mexican restaurants in East Lansing like Pablo's , Oasis or Mexico to go. They are all more authentic and cheaper options in the area.More

This is for the Downtown Lansing El AZ. The Topopo used to be great. Tonight I got cold chips, frejoles and chicken piled with lettuce. No green onions, no peas, no dressing. They used to serve if with hot frejoles and cheese on chips with...hot chicken and piled with a generous amount of green onions and peas in the lettuce and glistening with dressing. No more. The salsa was not as spicy as lemonade and the jalepenos were about as spicy as cucumbers. All this for $18 without a drink. This used to be the best Mex around. Now it just sucks.More

Don't bother with dinner - not much of a selection for vegetarians (all cheese, no fish or seafood). Stay for the patio, drinks, and chip & salsa.

Stopped in towards end of Sunday evening which might have colored experience. Margaritas were decent. Service was prompt. Food was... Not great. I'm not certain the menu or food has evolved that much since they opened in 1978. Kitchen staff didn't really want to be...there are noise drove off two other tables. Based on reviews I'd say food and experience are highly variable.More

El Azteco East Lansing has been going down hill for some time now. The wait staff is unbearably untrained, the food is not made well but what did me in was last weekend when my dinner mate and i both ordered the topopo salad and...spent the next few days seriously ill to the point of missing work. I am done with this place!!More

The food was great! The service was great! I ordered the carne asada and it was wonderful. Even for a very busy Friday night, we had very prompt service. Looking forward to going there again some time.

We love this place! Friendly and the owners are great! My in laws have been coming here for the better part of 30 years. Great food and drinks in a relaxed family environment.