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We were impressed with the prices; everything on the lunch menu was less than $10. We both ordered something in the $7 range and enjoyed the large meals. When the bill came, it was only $11.
It turns out they have a Tuesday/Thursday deal that chicken dishes on the lunch menu are $4.75 and beef dishes are $4.20, with a few exceptions. Even without the deal, the lunch menu is pretty cheap.
Lunch is served weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We went at about 1 p.m., and it was busy. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated and another 15 or 20 minutes to order. There are several tables, and the booths are in little alcoves. The brightly colored tables are carved into shapes of animals with a piece of glass on top, and the entire restaurant shines with vibrant colors from the paint
We sat at one of the tables in the sunroom. We polished off the large basket of fresh and crisp chips and salsa before we even placed our order.
Our waiter was friendly, filling our drinks frequently and offering more chips after seeing the bottom of the first basket.
For my meal, I chose the Lunch Chicken Chimichanga ($6.95), and my fellow cheap eater picked special lunch No. 2 ($6.60), which is a beef burrito with rice and beans.
After waiting to sit and order, the food didn't take long at all. On my plate, the shredded chicken was wrapped tightly in a soft tortilla and topped with an opaque glaze.
Traditionally, the dish is fried, but after all the chips I ate, I decided to take a lighter approach and went with the soft tortilla. A mound of lettuce, tomato, sour cream and guacamole flanked one side of the chimichanga, and a soupy puddle of beans and a serving of rice was on the other. The guacamole was my favorite. It added a cool twist to the warm mess I made on my plate by mixing everything together.
Upon seeing my empty plate, the waiter tried to persuade me to try flan custard, sopapillas or churros, but after all the chips and my heavy lunch, there was just no where to put it.
I drank a water with lemon, but if you have the luxury of not having to go back to work after lunch, enjoy a margarita. From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, margaritas are $2.99 (reduced from $4.99) and flavored margaritas are only $3.15.
Take a peek at the menu; visit http://www.carryoutcourier.com and click on “York Delivery.”
Cheap Eats is a biweekly column on local restaurants' meals under $10. Reach Nicki Lefever at 771-2101 or nlefever@ydr.com.
If you go
EL RODEO
LOCATION: 724 Loucks Road in York
CUISINE: Mexican
NICKI'S PICK: Lunch Chicken Chimichanga (originally $6.95, but as a special for $4.75)
PARKING: Ample available in lot
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
PRICE RANGE: Most meals are less than $10, a few dinners are between $10 and $15
ALCOHOL: Beer and margaritas
SMOKING: Smoking and nonsmoking sections for dinner, but the entire restaurant is nonsmoking at lunch.
ACCEPTS: Cash and major credit cards
TAKEOUT: Yes. Delivery is also available through Carryout Courier (http://www.carryoutcourier.com or 846-8828.)
KID'S MENU: Mexican and American meals available for $5.50
DETAILS: 845-1341
