If 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 drive-through,” Kalyn Catlett said. “Give it a try.”
Customers also report that, in addition to quick, quality items, the value is there as well and the prices reasonable.
Drive through for some tacos, only $1.55 for ground beef or $2.75 for steak or grilled chicken. Or try some nachos, topped with pastor, beef, chorizo or carnitas.
“Great food and value,” Bill Eakes said.
The fajitas taste just as good as those at many of the area sit-down restaurants, with a wonderful char and seasoning on the grilled chicken and steak.
The lunch portion of fajitas is generous for $8.49, with full set-up (lettuce, pico, sour cream, guacamole, rice, beans and tortillas).
The Real Burrito contains either shredded chicken or ground beef, but for that grilled flavor, the California Burrito offers the choice of either grilled chicken or steak.
Need more cheese? Grab a small queso dip and chips for only $3.39.
“The food is very, very good. Service is spectacular. It’s also very fast,” Tyson Leslie said following a visit to El Monte (which translates as “The Mountain”).
After 3 p.m. El Monte offers an expanded dinner menu, with dishes such as the Choripollo, which includes chicken, chorizo, cheese, rice and beans.
The establishment also serves some delicious, juicy, salty carnitas.
“The food is on point. Perfect! The carnitas are made to perfection,” said Carla Jacobsen-Fox. “Will be a regular customer! These guys are real nice, too.”
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.”
El Monte Fresh Mexican Food
2089 Lascassas Pk., Suite A, Murfreesboro
112 E Main St., Woodbury
Monday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
615-624-7458
Burrito California with grilled chicken, steak or mixed: $7.99; Ground beef or pastor quesadilla: $4.49; Fajitas with grilled chicken, steak or mixed: $8.49; Ground beef taco: $1.55; Two enchiladas, rice and beans: $7.99; Choripollo: $10.99
