Tapatio's Mexican Restaurant

Not only is the food delicious, but also drinks are amazing too. The staff brings separate chips and salsa for GF people and the food is over the top amazing. Definitely my new spot.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for lunch
• Offers outdoor seating

Well, I ate here yesterday I ordered three chicken tacos and rice to go and I asked if everything was gluten-free and they said yes. I told him I had celiac. And now it feels like my body‘s trying to turn itself inside out.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Not as much gluten free options as I would have hoped to have but it was good enough. I got the tacos Al pastor and it was sooo delicious! Their salsa was also super delicious! I did not have a reaction eating here so it is safe - reaction free food!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

We ate there for dinner a little over a month ago. It was a great restaurant. They were very accommodating for our child with celiac and she had no issues with her meal, which was delicious!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Offers outdoor seating

I experienced a first in the almost five years I've, been diagnosed Celiac. We went to Tapatio this evening after 15 years of driving by saying "we should try that place." I was craving Mexican food (restaurant refried beans) and decided to try the place out. I had seen mostly positive reviews on Find Me GF, but was a little hesitant based on a couple of the less than stellar reviews.

First off, everything on the menu is clearly marked - GF, allergens, etc. The bottom of the menu specifically mentions Celiac ("Celiac or GF customers should let their server know, and we'll take care of you" or something to that extent). Not once did a server roll their eyes at me. In fact, the opposite happened.

I ordered the Mole Poblano, which was labeled GF. A few minutes later, the server came out after talking to the cook and let me know that the dish wasn't safe today, offering several alternatives. That made me super comfortable that they were watching out for cross contamination, and would serve me a safe dish. Sure, the menu said it was GF, but the waiter checked to be certain it was safe.

The chips they serve aren't GF, so make sure to ask for a GF basket. The GF chips were a different color so I am assuming the normal chips are fried on site and the GF ones are bagged.

Overall, a good experience.We'll be back.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dinner
• Good for kids
• Good for takeout
• Good with other allergies

My husband (is a celiac) and I eat here frequently. Husband has never had a reaction after eating here. The food is absolutely delicious and they provide a great eating experience. Food is clearly marked GF on the menu, and they mark for a few other allergens as well. All of our servers have been able to answer our questions. They offer corn tortillas for nearly all their dishes and have GF chips, as well.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions
• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for kids
• Good for lunch
• Good for takeout
• Offers online ordering
• Offers outdoor seating

We were told they had gluten free tacos when ordering food to go, but when asking another person afterwards , we were told (after she checked with the kitchen) that they were not at all gluten free...

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor

I’ve eaten here at least once a week for a few months and have never once gotten sick as an extremely sensitive celiac.

Other reviewers seem to be unaware that there is no GF menu separate from the regular menu - and that’s because GF options are very clearly marked on the menu, so no alternate menus are needed.

One reviewer mentioned getting non-GF chips; yes, because of how they do things at Tapatio the bussers are the ones bringing chips, and informing your server of your GF needs may not be communicated all the way to the busser in time. The bussing staff is constantly looking to make sure each seated table gets chips, and this is even more evident when they will bring you more chips within minutes of your table running out.

Every time a busser comes to deliver chips that aren’t GF (by default, basically) I simply ask for the GF chips instead. They’re quite easy to tell apart if you’ve been a few times. You’ll want the circular white corn tortilla chips, not the triangle-shaped yellow corn ones.

Other than that, I have never once had an issue with the food. It is consistently excellent and I’ve never not liked something I had here.

I feel that this restaurant’s rating is slightly uncalled for, they are perfectly safe for celiacs in my honest opinion.

If you’re the type to dock points because they can’t tell you if gluten is in their margaritas (of which, the skinny margarita uses only fresh lime juice, no mix) then perhaps you’ll be better served elsewhere. It is not difficult at all to eat safely at this restaurant as a celiac, and I appreciate the lengths they’ve gone to in order to make it so.

A note for those ordering on sites like GrubHub, Caviar, etc. - it’s been my experience that while Tapatio does read and accommodate notes for orders (where I write “allergy - gluten free”) the portion sizes for to-go orders can be considerably smaller than what one would be served in the restaurant; at times, approximately 30-40% smaller. Something to keep in mind for some, as I order lunch from Tapatio regularly.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Staff is knowledgeable and everything on the menu is labeled with a variety of allergens (GF, EF, NF, DF, etc.). They also offered a tester gluten free menu upon request. IMPORTANT NOTE: this is the Tapatio Mexican Grill in Newcastle on Coal Creek Parkway, NOT Restaurant El Tapatio in Factoria across from the mall.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Not impressed. Person who seated us didn’t know about Gf menu. We waited about 10 minutes to get chips and water then had to tell the server, after we had told the person who seated us we needed gf menu and chips. After another delay we finally were able to order. Food was good but celiac hubby did have a reaction to the food. Also the menu is not the same as is posted here and the staff was not in tune with gf dining.

Delicious and inexpensive gluten free menu! If you notify the waiter they will make sure to take extra precautios to ensure you have a celiac friendly meal.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

This review is for the Coal Creek location. (The Factoria location doesn’t have gluten free last I checked about a year ago). Our family goes to this restaurant all of the time! One of the owners has Celiac so they are great at being careful. They have gluten free tortilla chips which they bring separately in a different type of bowl so that bussers know that bowl is for GF chips. (They also bring a separate salsa with it so no one else is dipping regular chips in the salsa). They also have gluten free tortillas and many other dishes. My son usually just gets chips, guacamole, carne Asada, rice, and refried beans so we haven't tested other dishes with his Celiac. He always feels fine after eating here though which is why we go so often!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Celiac friendly?

Yes

We went here because of all the positive reviews but were incredibly disappointed. My dad, who is a celiac, got sick, the menu was very limited and when I asked for a gluten free margarita they told me they don't offer one because their mixes can't be verified gluten free. It was incredibly disappointing and I DO NOT recommend this place to anyone who is really celiac.

Celiac friendly?

No

Dedicated GF menu and they can customize most of their dishes to be GF. They'll even bring you GF chips/salsa. I've heard 2 different stories that either the husband of the owner has celiac, or the owners daughter has celiac so they try and cater to celiacs. They can also make a scratch margarita that is GF and quite good!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Yummy food lots of options and gf chips and salsa !

Dedicated gf menu, very knowledge ask for gf chips

Celiac friendly?

Yes

The server was honest and said they do not have a separate prep area and they use all same cooking tools for GF menu. My celiac daughter insisted on taking the risk and she did fine. I don't plan to go back due to the shared kitchen prep.

Celiac friendly?

No

Terrible experience. We ordered for our daughter who has Celiac disease a gluten free cheese quesadilla and they brought out a flour tortilla for her. She ate a portion of it before we stopped her to ask the staff if the tortilla was corn or flour. First time our daughter encountered gluten in two years- threw up all night.

Celiac friendly?

No

Mexican food is my favorite! have not been ablet to find one that had a dedicated GF Menu, until now. Ask for their menu when walk in is huge! and absoutely delicious been back several more times and have has amazing food.