El Ausente

Reviews

• Maria M.

  star star star star star 18 July 2026

  Great home made food.  The Mole enchiladas de pollo are BEST!!  Great customer service.

• George T.

  star star star star star_border 9 July 2026

  It's not in the nicest place, but the food is great.  We come here for lunch when there is daylight.  Otherwise, neighborhood a bit sketchy.  Make great mole enchiladas and excellent chilaquiles.  The staff is friendly.   Most everyone I've been here with enjoy the more authentic Mexican food.  The beans, rice and salsa are all wonderful too.

• Norm K.

  star star star star_border star_border 4 July 2026

  After the Las Vegas Lights soccer match, I came here for dinner.  I had this place bookmarked for some time and it was close to Cashman Field where the game was played.
  
  I knew about where the place was and had no trouble going right there.  If you're unsure, open the maps app through Yelp and let the GPS guide you.  It's on Fremont Street just past Charleston.  Parking is on the west side of the building and the entrance is in the middle of the small space.
  
  I entered and waited for a while.  The woman came from the kitchen, got a menu, and told me to sit anywhere I wanted.  She followed me and gave me the menu when I sat down.  
  
  I ordered the carne a la tampiqueña which the menu describes as:  tampiqueña meat, served with rice, beans, cheese enchilada, and guacamole.  The woman also noted I wanted iced tea and she brought me a large glass.  She refilled it once and asked later if I wanted more.
  
  The dinner was good--hearty food with beans, rice and I ate three tortillas with the meal.  It was as I was putting some meat in a tortilla that I noted they had forgotten the guacamole.  Oh well, too late as I was almost done.  Another time.
  
  I was not asked about dessert and I saw no dessert listing on the menu but I really didn't look for any.  I was full at that point.
  
  Service was quick and pleasant.  I don't know how the restaurant got its name but I won't be absent in the future.

• Selene N.

  star star star star star 1 July 2026

  My favorite thing to get here is there mole chicken enchiladas! The sauce is home made and the chicken is always well done ! I love it !

• Wendi T.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 27 June 2026

  The decor is typical, tacky, fake Mexican theme, complete with torn seat cushions.  3 out of 5 stars.
  
  The atmosphere is quiet and laid back, but waitstaff and management  either allow or just ignore panhandlers walking thru the restaurant pestering patrons for change while they eat. I won't dock them much for that because I appreciate their kindness but it does hurt the atmosphere.   4 out of five stars.
  
  The food was incredible.  The complimentary appetizer of chips and salsa was fresh and delicious with just the right amount of spice.   I had chilis rellenos, and my friend had hicken enchiladas.  Both were served with rice and beans.  The rice was light, not sticky, and the seasoning highlighted the texture and flavor of the rice without overpowering it.  The refried beans were similarly well executed, with a perfect texture and just the right amount of authentic flavor.  My friend thoroughly enjoyed his chicken enchiladas as well.
  
  I really want to give them 5 out of five stars for the food, but three issues prevent me from doing so.
  
  First, none of the beer listed on the menue was actually available, and none of the available brews were listed on the menue.  
  
  Second, while the chili rellenos were quite tasty, the batter was soggy and chewy - likely the result of being prepared ahead of time and kept under a heat lamp.  It is obvious that this is what they do, because the food was served less than 5 minutes after ordering, and a chili relleno simply cannot be prepared that quickly.  
  
  Third, the corn tortillas they served with the food were dried out, rubbery, and inedible.  They were clearly store bought and microwaved.  I ended up giving them to the guy that was panhandling in the restaurant.  
  
  So, 3 out of five stars for the food.
  
  Then we get to the service.  First, we were ignored for five minutes or so upon entering an almost empty restaurant.  Then we were only given one menue.  The server said she would bring us another, but the next time we saw her was to give us chips and take drink and food orders.  All at once.  
  
  When the food arrived, she plunked our silverware down in a pile in the middle of the table and vanished.  We had to go up to the counter ten minutes after we finished eating to pay and leave.
  
  1 out of five stars for lousy service. Pathetic service.  Service that acted like it was an imposition to have a customer.