Food
RESTAURANT
Andele! Grab Fast and Fresh Mexican Fare at El Monte STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO • PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO
The Dish RESTAURANT:
El Monte Fresh Mexican Food LOCATIONS:
2089 Lascassas Pk., Suite A, Murfreesboro 112 E Main St., Woodbury PHONE:
615-624-7458 HOURS:
Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
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F YOU ARE PRESSED FOR TIME in the Lascassas Pike or the Woodbury areas and need a quick lunch option or a full dinner to bring home to the family, El Monte Fresh Mexican Food aims to combine the food of the standard Mexican/ American restaurant with the speed of a fast-food establishment. This express eatery even offers a pick-up window where customers can place an order on the spot and soon be on their way with fajitas, enchiladas or burritos to go. “Great fresh food! And they have drivethrough,” Kalyn Catlett said. “Give it a try.” 16 * NOVEMBER 2020 * BOROPULSE.COM
sour cream, guacamole, rice, beans and tortillas). The Real Burrito PRICES: Burrito California contains either shredded with grilled chicken, chicken or ground beef, but steak or mixed: $7.99 for that grilled flavor, the Ground beef or pastor quesadilla: $4.49 California Burrito offers Fajitas with grilled the choice of either grilled chicken, steak or chicken or steak. mixed: $8.49; Ground Need more cheese? Grab beef taco: $1.55 Two enchiladas, rice a small queso dip and chips and beans: $7.99 for only $3.39. Choripollo: $10.99 “The food is very, very good. Service is spectacular. It’s also very Customers also report that, in addition fast,” Tyson Leslie said following a visit to to quick, quality items, the value is there as El Monte (which translates as “The Mounwell and the prices reasonable. tain”). Drive through for some tacos, only $1.55 After 3 p.m. El Monte offers an exfor ground beef or $2.75 for steak or grilled panded dinner menu, with dishes such as chicken. Or try some nachos, topped with the Choripollo, which includes chicken, pastor, beef, chorizo or carnitas. chorizo, cheese, rice and beans. “Great food and value,” Bill Eakes said. The establishment also serves some deliThe fajitas taste just as good as those at many of the area sit-down restaurants, with cious, juicy, salty carnitas. “The food is on point. Perfect! The a wonderful char and seasoning on the carnitas are made to perfection,” said Carla grilled chicken and steak. Jacobsen-Fox. “Will be a regular customer! The lunch portion of fajitas is generous These guys are real nice, too.” for $8.49, with full set-up (lettuce, pico,
And while the drive-through is ready to quickly serve to-go customers, El Monte also has a small, clean dining room available. “We took a group of 15 here to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious and the staff were so incredibly accommodating of our large party,” Megan Hamby said. “They went over and beyond to take care of our group. We will definitely be back.” While the tasty food has satisfied many local customers, some point out that the spice level probably wouldn’t be considered authentically Mexican, as most of the dishes are fairly mild. “Very good, pleasing taste, but not real spicy. Guess one could spice it up,” Charles Wiley said. “The quesadilla pastor was really good,” he added. As the El Monte slogan says, the restaurant, with locations in both Murfreesboro and Woodbury, is fast, fresh and friendly. “You get your food super-fast, and it’s great. It’s nice that it has a drive-thru as well. They’re always super-nice,” a Yelper, Luke, said of El Monte. “Such a good place to go if you need your food fast, and don’t want to eat the normal fast food.”
