10/22/09

YUM!

by Julietate

I started going to "The Hat" as my family calls it, when I was young and single in the early 80's. My late husband also was a regular. We made it a tradition at least once a week to go get our fix of the best Mexican food anywhere. He has passed away but, our son and I try to get over to Claycomo when ever we can. It is just the best food. The burrito with Mexican chili spread is so good and it is exactly the same as it was in 1983 when I first ate there. The wait staff have all been there for years and the family ownership makes it a very homey, friendly place to visit. Nothing bad on the menu! EAT THERE. You deserve it.

• Pros: The food

08/01/08

El Sombrero Rocks

by thordoggy

When I was a kid I played on the El Sombrero girls softball team and that is when I fell in love with El Sombrero. I am 33 now and I considered myself a foodie and I think E S is the BEST tex-mex I have ever had. I have traveled a considerable amount and I have never eaten anything quite like it. If you have a heart condition you might only want to eat here once a year but man it is worth it! The atmosphere is fast and 2 minutes after you get your margarita to die for your food is ready. The frozen margaritas are the best-god only knows what is in them but they are the best like many things on the menu!

04/15/08

This place is habit forming...

by frankmex

OK, I'm spoiled.

Been coming here since 1970. While I was single, I came with a friend and every Tuesday and Friday night. We had to stand outside and wait for a table, foyer will hold 4, entrance area will hold 10 to 12. Wait was about 30 minutes. The Boerra family have owned this through 4 generations. I don't like flour tortillas. So I don't eat the burritos. Have eaten all the other foods though. There Mexican sauce is to die for. The only place (Kansas City) that serve HOT (with heat) chips and warm or hot dip. Yes it is a dip not a salsa. There other free table sauce is a salsa not a dip. It's cold with chunks of tomato and, I think, chilantro. Don't care for it, but will eat it.

There cheese sauce is a yellow chedder and quite warm to taste and flavor. When I get my meal, usually 2 meat enchiladas with Mexican Spread, (there Mexican chili), I put the table dip and cheese all over my enchiladas.

First time my wife came here, (35 years ago) she would pick at her food and swear that it set her on fire... That lasted two weeks. Now, she pulls up to the table as though she hasn't eaten in a month and never talk to her while eating.

Someone wrote on here that the chips were soggy with grease, yes I have had those chips here also, but I think that these are the "end of the barrel" so to speak... Most chips come cooked with oil and are easily salted. Not out of the bag like some I have seen. I have seen customers sat at the table with sweat running down their cheeks and never not stop eating and will scrape the plate for more. Making me hungry just writing this.

• Pros: Just good food, prompt service, ,
• Cons: Not big enough for good service, crowded. lot of quick movement on the waitress'

01/31/08

best mexican I've had since last trip to Phoenix & better customer service than any!

by foree

tis is without a doubt the best Mexican food I've had in years. will recomend to everyone. If you want great food and superior service, this is the place to go.

09/26/07

a mixed review

by carapclark

After reading the other reviews and wanting authentic Mexican, I had to try this place! Some things were VERY good: the Mexican chile sauce, the enchiladas and tamales (top-notch!). The beans were very good too. Now for the bad: the service (waitress kept zipping around the room, asking us a question and leaving the table before we had a chance to answer), atmosphere (like a truck stop! and not one actual Mexican person, in my opinion this is a very bad sign), the chips were oily and shiny, cheese choices decidedly not Mexican (cheddar-like yellow Longhorn or parmesan?). I was expecting the cheese dip to be the traditional white queso with jalepenos, but it turned out to be orange, like cheese whiz or melted velveeta, and very over-priced at $5. The hot "salsa" they brought us was, and I'm not kidding, warmed up tomato sauce from a can with cayenne pepper added. The mild salsa was better, actually had SOME texture. Based on how mediocre the food is, I was surprised about how busy this place was. I would probably never return here, unless I was trapped in the neighborhood and had nowhere else to go. Or unless I start craving those tamales!

• Pros: tamales, Mexican chile sauce
• Cons: cheese

Editorial Review by Christy Buena

by Contributor

Authentic Mexican cuisine is served in ample portions at the restaurant that offers seafood, chicken, salads and vegetarian options.

01/20/07

Best mexican food around

by zmysterygirl

A place with no pretensions - just good filling food. If you're hungry for breakfast - go here. They have the best breakfast burritos. Not the little things you can pick up but large ones covered in the best cheese sauce. For lunch or dinner I would reccommend anything on the menu. I've been going here for almost 40 years and have tried most everything at one time or another. I adore the mexican chili spread if you like things spicy. Cheese sauce is so good that I used to buy it to take to my sister whenever I would visit her in Oregon.

• Pros: great food, good value for your money

01/07/07

Worth the drive!!!

by brendajtorres

The chicken enchilada's are the very best! Some additional favorites include: spanish rice, best combo breakfast burrito I have ever had in my life! My husband LOVES the tacos! We drive a distance just to get our El Sombrero fix! It is great Mexican food! Fast, friendly, service! Affordable! Our only complaint would be that they aren't open 24x7!!!!

09/02/06

Casual Mexican Food Dining

by tuffsubject

Just ate here last night -- I used to eat here often as a kid, was our favorite (or maybe even our ONLY) Mexican restaurant! The chips come out wet-greasy, straight from the fryer. Good for holding salt but it seemed to exacerbate the unhealthy connotations of this food. The cheese enchiladas were made with longhorn cheese filling, not fully melted. The ground beef enchiladas are much better. The tostada was crisp and sturdy and easy to pick up and eat. Fast service. Main entrees were less salty and less greasy than Rancho Grande and Margaritata's competing restaurants. Parking is limited, had to park in the back on the gravel. The atmosphere is very, well, let's just say "blue collar" for lack of a better description!

• Pros: Fast service
• Cons: Seems cheap

01/15/05

El Sombrero

by kmkerr28

My father and mother have gone to this restaurant since they were born.They have passed it down to my brother and I. Anytime we are in Kansas City we make sure not to miss the great Mexican food.This isn't Tex Mex this is true Mexican food that will leave you breathless.If you don't like it then you are a fan of Tex Mex and don't know the real thing.I Love this place with all my heart and I will pass the tradition on to my kids.