El Cortez Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar
LOCATED JUST OFF WHYTE AVENUE, EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR IS A CREATIVE COMBINATION OF ARRESTING DÉCOR, CULINARY ARTS, FINE TEQUILA AND CRAFT COCKTAILS.
El Cortez specializes in traditional Latin food with a modern twist, tantalizing tequilas and delicious cocktails. Our thoughtfully curated menu encompasses everything from tapas, to entrees, to gourmet street food & tacos, to nuevo latino fusion dishes.
We are one of only 9 establishments in the world certified by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (The Tequila Regulatory Council).
Popular dishes
Half Price Tacos
12 reviews
Smoked Queso Cauliflower Fundido
Chipotle, smoked cheese, roasted cauliflower, pico de gallo, charred cauliflower florets, tortilla rounds, pinwheel crisps
3 reviews
Churros
2 reviews
The foods are freaking amazing!!! Definitely worth a visit!!!
Food was alright: revised menu led to mixed feelings. Brussel sprouts were a hit with everyone though. Cocktails were great, but as it got busy service got slower and slower. We were told as soon as we walked in that we had to leave in 2h because of another reservation; it came across as very poor service to a planned reservation.
Every time we go up to Edmonton from Calgary we pass this restaurant and it has intrigued me with its very bright sign. This time I did make reservations for my sons birthday. Food was amazing, the service was just fine. The only thing was the music was a little on the loud side and we really had to talk very loud to one another to be heard. Other than that will definitely go again.
Our waitress was amazing! We went in to check out the new menu. Everything we tried was delicious! Can’t wait to go back!
No comments. Not enjoyable. Will not return again.
Lack of service.
The new menu items were a disappointment and not appropriately priced
Excellent service! Delicious eats!
Great food. Friendly service.except didnt like the part where hostess told us our table was booked after us and and we had 90 minutes to enjoy our appetizer and dinner.seemed rushed on a Saturday night where we wanted to go out and enjoy the evening.
Other than that great place.
Great food. Will be back. Pricey, but awesome.
Tacos were amazing and the margaritas were even better! Our server was attentive, pleasant and quick...even though the place was packed and she was super busy.
Food and service was great! We look forward to returning when the patio is open!!!
Great place for food and drinks. Had the tacos as recommended by locals. Tacos look small, but are actually quite filling. Service was a little bit slow and disorganized at times, but food and drinks came promptly once ordered. They have daily specials which is always nice as well.
If you want incredible Mexican food with a variety of options, El Cortez is your place! Not only is the food fantastic and well prepared, but the ambiance is unique and vibrant! If you go to El Cortez, you’re sure to have a great evening.
We both were a little disappointed in the quantity or our order. The taste was great, I liked the beer you served and the waiter was honest and polite way to go there
Service was poor per usual. They need more staff and she seemed disinterested in general. Plus the tequila menu was all faded and split on. Food is very average
Loved the Margarita served, and the aesthetics of the tequila water jug. The table reserved ended up being right by the door and a large window which was pretty cold but thoughtful of them to provide a heat lamp in one corner. The tacos were okay - but I wouldn't order again as there were only three small tacos for $15. The flour tortillas were tough in a not so good way, and mushroom chorizo didn't have much flavor to them at a price of $15 (no mix and match).
Super loud
Food was great but smaller portion than expected
One meal cake after everyone else’s by about 15 min
Had the tacos and there were smaller then expected for the price. Everything else was great.
Buddy’s birthday. Wanted tacos and margaritas.
The service was absolutely incredible! I made the reservation as part of a birthday surprise for my boyfriend, and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate my plans to ensure the surprise was next level. And the food and drinks were incredible, as always!
Great ambiance, good food, and fantastic service! El Cortez is one of our favourite places to go for a meal out with family and friends.
Another great experience at El Cortez! The restaurant is one of our favorites as it offers wonderful food, a funky ambiance. HIGHLY recommended!
This was an average food experience with a pricy menu. A $15/$18 plate is worth ~$8-$12. I had the carnita tacos - the pork was tough and the tacos were appetizer size (3 for $15); we had a few dip appetizers of guacamole and salsa - $15 for a small dish of dip and small bucket of chips. The service was slow and the noise level is high.
The service was a little slow, but overall it was a great experience.
Service was slow, took a long time to order drinks, server came around ever so often. Food was great. By the end of the dinner our server could not be found. Had to find someone to ask for our bill. At the end would not recommend going on a Saturday night, during the week most likely a better time?
We’ve been here a few times and we make sure when we are in town we go. The margueritas are excellent and the food is wicked good. The decor is amazing - really eclectic mix. We love this place
Made a reservation a week in advance for a group of 4. Ended up getting seated right next to the door in -40 degree weather. One member of our group was extremely cold the entire time. Staff were not able to accommodate us moving to a different table. I expect this service as a walk in customer, but being given the worst table in house after booking a week ahead of time was unacceptable. Food was good and service passable.
The decor of the bar was very cool to look at observe. The drinks were decent (had the same margarita for the night) but did take a long time to receive the drinks. The waitress was very nice in apologizing for the long wait, but it did take 15 minutes for the first drink. The food was okay. Very spicy tacos to the point of not being able to finish the last one of the three. Guacamole was okay but didn't have much flavour. But their chips were tasty! They have good drinks but be prepared to wait awhile for them.
First time going, it was an amazing experience! We enjoyed our drinks and food. This is now my favorite restaurant.
Taco Tuesday is the best thing ever! Food is excellent, service was great and friendly!
Great service, and a very large selection of tequila.
Great ambience, food was OK. Fish taco’s were nothing special, very minimal in flavour, filling & portion size. Was hoping for something a little more creative. Some cauliflower bites had a bit of uncooked batter in some of the larger pieces, but were super crispy & yum on the outside! Chile’s rellenos batter coating tasted a bit of burnt egg and a bit soggy, however the actual pepper stuffed with cheese inside was delicious and had a bit of a kick to it. Redneck poutine was really good. The server was very friendly and attentive.
The lady that served us was the best!! Short Blond hair around 30. First time there and so much enjoyed everything
Our server was wonderful ! I want to say her name was Kylee . She had short white hair and wore a red top. She was attentive, knowledgeable and funny ! Thanks for a wonderful evening !
Everything about this place was great! The food was delicious, staff was friendly, prices were great, and the atmosphere and decor was deadly!!! Absolutely loved it!
Our server was very slow and disappeared for extended periods of time ... food was great, ambience is fun
Delicious food! We shared the cauliflower which was very tasty! We also had fish tacos and shrimp tacos which were both delicious! Attentive service. The food arrived quickly. Will definitely return.
My only critique would be that if you are open for brunch, maybe have a brunch menu option as the dinner food can be quite heavy first thing on a Sunday morning. It tastes great, but maybe a bit too early in the day for it.
The guacamole also tasted store bought. I think it would be harder in the winter to get the ripe avocados to make it in house, so it makes sense but a heads up would have been nice as my guest and I didn’t really eat it since it tasted right out of the bag.
Great service and awesome atmosphere!
Awesome food and staff
Food was good, but not filling. Very small portions for the price. Suggest a side dish to go with it, be it rice, fries, salad. Very loud, and disappointed the churros was not available. Was looking forward to trying them out.
FAQs
El Cortez Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar is rated 4.2 stars by 460 OpenTable diners.
Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable. Due to local restrictions, this restaurant may not be accepting reservations at the moment.