Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen

Worst service ever! Bob our server totally ignored us when he finally came over he was so rude. It’s too bad because the margaritas are best and the street tacos are wonderful. We have been here twice and both times the servers were rudest in Kansas city

I quit coming here about 15 years ago because it had become an obnoxious place with a lot of surly drunks at the bar as you come in and the food quality had declined. My first trip here was with my first partner almost 30 years ago and it was so much fun and soooo delicious. I was so deeply disappointed at my trip 15 years ago. So, as I always do, I give a place a second chance and I’m glad I did. My dining companion and I had lunch and basically, I just had a cheese and onion enchilada and chile relleno. Both were prepared correctly, served piping hot and absolutely delicious. We enjoyed the chips and salsa. Our server was rather brusque and not really very friendly but he wasn’t rude. I know it was busy but a little friendliness goes a long way when someone is helping to pay your salary. Just saying. The bar still has a few of the regulars here and there but nothing like what it was years ago but I suppose that could be different at different times of the day. We have a lot of other favorite Mexican food places frankly that we prefer over this place but I wanted to be fair and give them a second chance and I would come back if I were in the area.

Went for lunch on a Wednesday at 1130. Seated immediately. Good service throughout meal.
I highly recommend the Sonora Tacos. They are light and flavorful. Rice and beans were good as well.
The salsa wasn’t the greatest. It was very similar to a tomato paste. Seems to be a little pricey as my meal was 10.25 during lunch. We will be back for happy hour to try the margaritas.

I’ll just keep this place at 3 stars for food only. Bar doesn’t do happy hour and if you ask like I did the bartender will think your crazy and she seemed sort of a snob. Lots of old regulars in the bar so that’s that. Food served is abundant and that’s where quantity over quality far exceeds along with prices are pretty cheap for the amount your getting. Flavorless but enough to hold you over.

What happened ?! This place use to be amazing. We stopped in here today around 2pm for a late lunch. Wow no lunch menu offers at 2pm?
The salsa was just spicy tomato sauce. I can’t wait for that to complete its journey through my digestive track.
We had a party of 4. We are 4 people who admittedly don’t have a sophisticated palate nor are we hard to please. Nobody enjoyed their plate. It was mostly rice and beans. The food was on the table within5 mins of ordering. It was bland and tasteless. I actually dumped some of that disgusting salsa on my plate to give it some sort of flavor.
The margarita was just blah …
Never again!

Big portions, fair prices, attentive staff (though not friendly but also not mean) and the mole, oh man, the mole took it over the top. The next time I’m in KC I will definitely go again. Great place, great food, great hot sauce, overall a great experience.

Only been once.
Looks like a great community spot. Good seating, welcoming bar. Lots of people who appear to be regulars.
Service was prompt and nice. Liked the staff.
But then came the food. Salsa wasn’t my favorite… a bit tomato paste-​y, but they had some nice spice to it. I asked for the best or more popular menu item, and they suggested the burrito. Most people order that.
Burrito was very cheesy. Meat was… off. Maybe it’s something others may like, but I couldn’t do it. First time I’ve left something half-​eaten in a long while.
I like the community here. Seems like a nice spot with great history to it. But as it stands, I won’t be back for the food.

The first time I ever had Ponaks my life was forever changed… from the addictive queso, to their refreshing yet strong margaritas, chile burritos, sonoran tacos, the list goes on and on… Ponaks is a staple in the community and all of the newbie mexi places won’t ever have was what Ponaks does, passion. #seeyouthisafternoon #liquidattitude

Portions good. Margaritas powerful. Great atmosphere. When we walked in on a rainy, World Series — watching night, we were seated immediately. Water, chips and salsa were placed on the table immediately. After the server took our order, our food arrived quickly. I was impressed and will definitely return.

Ponak’s has very inexpensive, good Mexican food and really, really strong margaritas. The people who come here are very friendly (see strong margaritas comment above). Sometimes that’s all you need.

I love Mexican food.
AMBIENCE– dark. Can we get some lighting?
I really like to see my food. Décor is about 40 yrs overdue. But I wouldn’t mind it with delicious food.
THE SERVICE — it was our first visit here. We stood waiting to be seated. After a minute or so, we were told to just find a seat. Huh? Finally someone was kind enough to seat us.
FOOD-​My nachos were delicious. I love good queso cheese. It all went down from here. My fried taco was just ok. Bland without any other flavor. Our chicken and beef tacos were not good. They were filled ¾th with lettuce and cheese. The little meat we could taste was just not seasoned nicely.
Next time, I’ll try one of the other neighborhood Mexican places. Ponaks will never get my business again.

I love me some Ponak’s but in all honesty, I only go here on Sundays when Manny’s is closed. They seem to have a great following and are always full which is why I’m surprised at how understaffed they seem to be. I’ve been a server so I don’t want to bash ours but she was not capable at all. She seemed to be stretched pretty thin and we had to wait 20 minutes to even put our order in. We also had empty plates in front of us for at least 15 minutes. So, the service needs some work but the food is aways great. The Sonoran Tacos are awesome. I just wish we could’ve been paid attention to. If they really want to turn tables, they shouldn’t make patrons sit there for 2 hours while people wait (and leave).

I’ve become a regular. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. The margaritas are great here. I love the food as well. However, I wasn’t impressed with the fajitas. Ponak’s was very busy and my food may have been sitting for a while because the thinly cut steak strips were very tough!
If you’ve never been to Ponak’s, please try it. You will not be disappointed.

We will never return. No flavor in anything. Margarita was the only good thing. Service was yucky. Table was awful. Food was without taste. Do not go here there are so many other choices near by.

Ponak’s is… hard to understand for a lot of people. Sometimes I wonder if it’s one of those places that’s unexplainable as to why people love it so much, so it must be a KC nostalgia thing? Tradition? It’s not THE best Mexican… it’s neighborhood, greasy, sorta bland, nothing to write home about. Severs are always rushing around while the visible from the bar kitchen is throwing orders out the window at record speed. I’ve never not enjoyed it. Burrito with egg and cheese dip, please. I almost feel a twinge of guilt giving it only 3 stars… but I’ll continue to go back as I have since my first visit at 5 years old.

If you like bland crappy food this is your place!
I have no clue what the hype is about!
Bland salsa, flavorless food…
But at least they were decent enough to carry a variety of beverages.
My Bud Light did live up to its quality pledge, 5 stars for anheuser busch!
NEVER AGAIN.
(But I will give credit where it is due, our service was good)

Living in Washington, D.C., we never get good, authentic Mexican food, so we were really looking forward to coming to Kansas City and eating at one of the several «been here for generations» places. We were overwhelmed by our choices but finally picked Ponak’s. We’re so glad we did.
We went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was PACKED with, but our table of 6 got seated right away. Many of the tables looked like ours: multigenerational, kids to grandparents, and it was nice seeing what a dependable family place this is.
The food was EVERYTHING we’d been craving for months. Crispy chips with a nice picante salsa, and a tomatillo salsa on the side for those wanting a little heat. I always judge a Mexican restaurant by the quality of its rice, and the «sopa» was moist and flavorful and soft and inhalable. Huge platters of food, moist pork tamales full of flavor, my son had a fajita quesadilla that was more fajita meat — charred and tender pieces beef — than cheese or tortilla. When have you seen that before? My father-​in-​law said his burrito was the best he’d ever had.
Warning: The margaritas pack a WALLOP! They don’t skimp on the tequila. I’m no wimp when it comes to drinking, but I had to pause and get some food into me before I said something silly in front of my in laws. And let me make it clear, this is a complement.
We were miserable after the meal. Miserable in the absolute best «I couldn’t stop eating» kind of way.

I have been to Ponak’s twice now and I will not be back. The first visit, I was with a group of 10 – 15 in the middle of the afternoon. The service was terrible! The waiter was openly hostile to our group. I always give a place a second chance people have bad days. The next visit was no different.
The margaritas were good, but not worth the bad service. The food was okay; NOT the best Mexican food in KC!

5 stars for Ponak’s you’re probably wondering? Well let me indulge you on why I feel the way I do about this beloved Mexican restaurant with the worst parking lot in the world.
First of all the margaritas. Yes that’s right, the delicious, puckertastic, tequilla saturated, Ponak’s margaritas. It’s so damn good they bottle it and sell it in stores. Oh and did I mention it’s ON TAP!!!
Second, red sauce. In Kansas City it’s like being Nicholas Cage searching for a National Treasure to find red sauce Mexican in KC. I think I know about something like 3. I simply cannot walk out of Ponak’s without ordering something that has red sauce on it.
Finally, the service. No matter how busy the staff is, they are always happy, the food comes quickly, and they are always awesome anytime I’ve been to a party there. The place is just that good. So good that it’s my son’s favorite and my girlfriend’s son’s favorite. I suggest you get there now and make it your favorite as well.

I love Ponaks! If you’re looking for super authentic Mexican this is not your place unless you order thle street tacos. If you are looking for some delicious cheesy americanized texmex this is your spot. Don’t forget to have a margarita. They serve the best margaritas in KC!
Always busy, always pretty quick service. Guacamole is awesome. Go try Ponaks!