One word characterizes El Rodeo on Allisonville Road: FAST. Had it not been for the four people in front of us at the register, we would have been in and out in 20 minutes. But there is more to the restaurant than just speedy service.

The mood

There isn't anything particularly romantic about this hole-in-the-wall amid strip mall storefronts, but if your only requirements are a seat to plant your seat and a filling, fast meal, this is a good option.

The decor is Mexican kitsch; televisions were tuned to a Spanish-language soap and Spike TV's police chases.

The staff was extremely friendly. We had so many people checking in on us, I couldn't decipher which one was our server.

The food

The menu has some American, vegetarian and seafood selections, but offers mainly conventional Mexican cuisine. Tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos and the like make up the entrees, with sides of beans and rice. Traditional desserts of sopapillas and flan round out the meal . . . if you have room for them. We browsed the menu while chomping on warm tortilla chips and yummy, cilantro-filled salsa. My husband, Hayden, and I landed on the lunch specials page (ranging from $4.50-$5.50) and staked our claim quickly.

I chose a chicken quesadilla with refried beans and rice ($5.50). The main attraction was juicy pulled chicken with gooey cheese. He picked a triple-entree meal of a chicken enchilada, a beef tip burrito and a taco ($5.50). The burrito and enchilada came together in a delicious red sauce, and there were plenty of hot sauce choices right on the table.

Everything was very fresh, on our table within minutes and very filling. No time for an after-meal siesta, though.

The drinks

I chose a summery pink lemonade; Hayden had his standby: iced tea, each $1.55. I believe we were asked three or four times during our short visit about refills.

The damage: $15.22

Keep your eyes peeled for the scrolling marquee on the wall; during our visit the restaurant was offering lunch specials as low as $3.99. At that price, you may be able to squeeze three or four in for $20.