El Patron - Manhattan: Authentic Mexican Flavors & Vibrant Dining in Downtown Kansas

El Patron is where you need to eat Mexican food in Manhattan, period. Located in downtown Manhattan, El patron has a cool exterior with outdoor seating available. It was 90+ degrees when my party went for dinner so we sat inside. The interior is cool and the bar is a visual focal point. We were seated promptly and our server was with us very quickly. Complementary chips & salsa came to our table after just a minute or so after being seated. We ordered the house margarita on the rocks, which I definitely recommend. I ordered the Bandera plate which was wonderful. A three enchilada plate with a beef with mole enchilada, a cheese enchilada with white queso, and a chicken tinga enchilada with a ever so slightly salsa verde. All three were outstanding. The rice and beans were good. My adult son had the chicken tinga plate which he said was excellent. The amount of food was more than we both expected. As good as the entree was, the highlight was the elote appetizer. Four small cob corns served with the requisite cheese, onions, fresh cilantro and tajin toppings. It was one of the better elotes I've ever had, and I eat a lot of it at home in Texas. Although we were never rushed, we were in and out in 45 minutes and had a really wonderful dinner.

It’s hard being from Texas to eat Mexican food and at BBQ places and then give a review of the food. Sometimes it is just that hard to be fair! The place is nice, the people are so friendly, the food is okay. My Mexican shrimp cocktail was very similar to what I can get here in Texas and nearer to the Gulf coast. Could have been a tad spicier but that is just a personal preference. I don’t think most Midwesterner’s could handle what I call normal spicy levels. The portions are pretty massive. My wife ordered the nachos and was blown away at the portions. Would we go back? Probably so!

I really enjoyed eating here. My friends and I loved our drinks and food, I don’t think anyone didn’t enjoy their food. I asked for extra queso for my chimichanga, but they already provide plenty on the plate. For any cheese lover, you know how much that matters. 10/10 would recommend. Best Mexican food thus far in the little apple.

It's a really nice Mexican restaurant. There are a lot of traditional Mexican dishes and they do them quite well. The bar area is very neat and the bar staff is very knowledgeable in whatever drink you wish to have. The dishes are well portion and the only critique I have is that everything is a little too spicy. If you have an option to go with mild choices unless you really like hot dishes.

This place was fantastic! Crowded because it was a Friday evening but we were able to get a seat at the bar. I would recommend the Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita. Perfect combination of sweet & spice.The bartender was awesome - he made our experience at El Patron fun. We will definitely be back!

This place was awesome. The food was delicious. Chips and water served immediately upon sitting. Each person got their own little bowl of salsa. They even had a man going around and filling the salsa bowls! The drinks were refreshing and yummy. And the service was a symphony of people working together like a well oiled machine. We enjoyed our blue margarita, Our shrimp quesadillas and another shrimp dish whose name I forgot. Service was efficient and attentive. We pulled into town a little late and this place was hopping. Some people ate on the outdoor patio, but we chose the well Cooled interior. The food was served piping hot and the AC did not mess with the temp of our food. We took our leftovers to the hotel and they were as delicious the next morning. This place is a true gem in this adorable college downtown area. No problems parking on the street.

I picked up dinner to-go on Third Thursday and despite it being so incredibly busy, the service was amazing. The young lady working at the host stand was very sweet and helpful. The wait for my food was a little longer than expected, but being so busy, it was fine. And boy was the food worth the wait!! I got the flautas with shredded beef, my husband got the nachos and Manhattan burrito. If you think the prices might be a bit high, it’s so worth it for the amount and quality of food you get. Everything was so fresh and delicious, the chips and salsa were absolutely amazing (I sat and ate the entire bag in one go, seriously so good), and it is just as good for lunch the next day. We will absolutely be back and recommend it to everyone I know, I can’t wait to eat my way through the menu.

We came for the lunch special and wanted to try this location compared to junction city, we personally prefer junction to this location. It’s very hipster and small, but the drink special was good. Only real big complaint was how hot my plate was when it came out which makes me feel like it was microwaved food. Overall good lunch place for a quick bite.