El Chapala - Asheville

This restaurant may not be trendy or extravagant, but the staff are genuinely good people who have been part of the Candler community for a long time, and they truly want to make you happy. The interior has a classic American/Mexican cantina vibe, with some fun details to keep things interesting. The food is affordable and hearty enough to satisfy your appetite. However, the standout feature of this place is the service—always friendly and incredibly fast. Olé!

The atmosphere is typical of an American Mexican restaurant: very clean with plenty of tables and booths. They've recently added an extra room featuring a well-lit bar, which is a nice touch. Prices and portion sizes are excellent for this area, and the beer prices are also very reasonable. The staff is consistently friendly and efficient; you never have to wait more than a few minutes, even on extremely busy days like Cinco De Mayo. My wife always orders the shredded chicken chimichangas and can't imagine getting them anywhere else. I usually go for the Mexican-style tacos, and I highly recommend adding the slightly deep-fried jalapeño to your dish. We dine here at least once a week—you'll definitely enjoy it!

The food here is excellent, and the staff is even better. I'm really going to miss this place when I move.

Stopped in for dinner last night and had a great experience. The service was great, it was clean, and the food was delicious! The margaritas could've been stronger. We will definitely be back!

Delicious! My husband and I just tried this restaurant for the first time today and it did not disappoint. At every Mexican restaurant We always get Fajitas for 2 and finish it because they aren't always very big portions but here it was massive! We did not finish it! Very reasonably priced as well!