Came here on a whim because we usually go to the place next store but this place was amazing!! My wife is from San Diego so she knows Mexican food and this place was on point! California burrito for the win!! Thank you guys!! read more

Came here while getting my window tinted. Tacos are excellent, staff super friendly. Will definitely be back

My husband's office is down the block from this place, so whenever he gets a hankering for tacos, this is his go-to spot. He's always sending me pictures of his delicious lunches and raving about how authentic and "psychotic" his midday meals are. Last Saturday eve, we decided to make it our dinner. I concur. After ordering guacamole and chips to start, we each decided on two tacos plus a chicken quesadilla to share. The taco's come with onion and cilantro, the quesadilla, tomato, lettuce, and onion. I asked for a side of crema, but it looked and tasted like mayo, so I left it be. I had a frosty Modelo, and my husband had a chilled Coke in a bottle. While waiting for our food, I noticed how immaculate this place was. Sparkling clean. I can write a glowing review on the fillings (chorizo, carnitas, beef/chorizo mix, and chicken) but what sets this restaurant over the top and above so many other Mexican establishments are their homemade tortillas (definitely made with lard, although I am not positively sure) freshly warmed on their flattop which lends a subtle char that elevates any/all the fillings inside. Another unbelievable standout was the guac and chips. The guac was made to order, studded with jalapeño, tomato, and onion. I could have licked the individual mortar it came in after devouring their freshly made, thicker-than-normal chips. Holy guacamole! And I mean, holy. The number 1 standout, and the reason I would drive 25 minutes next time to get here, is the... wait for it... their homemade oreo cheesecake! Our waiter told us everything here is homemade, and so instead of schlepping a mile or two to Celeste's Italian Ice joint, we said, ok, we'll take one of those. I noticed (because we were the only customers besides one single and two elderly ladies) that the ladies came in strictly for dessert. I noticed how happy they were listening to Juan Acuna ( a Latin musician) laughing, enjoying, and mmming and ahhhhing over their cheesecakes. I understand why. This little cheesecake is Junior's brand contender for sure. Thick, rich, and studded with crumbled Oreos on the top and bottom, it was sensational. Our meal left us full and beyond satisfied. Is it a fancy place? No. But who cares? It is "psychotic"! read more

See all

Nice place to enjoy a few tacos, tostada and sope. We got barbacoa, stark and al pastor. All items had great flavor, the salsa verde well balanced with spice. read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Tostadas al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

See all

Food was very good. Knew what I wanted when I stumbled in so I asked whether it was served before studying their menu. Was told "yes." Server did not immediately come over. Several minutes later the server appeared timidly asking "are you ready?" I said "Yes, are you ready?" Ordered everything- including beer- all at once. The beer was delicious Modela which comes w/ 2 options: canned or bottled. The non- descript storefront is a little charming w/ Mexican Art on the walls. Some time later the Cashier or manager brought out some beautiful, tasty Birria Quesadilla (pictured) and those are three pieces to an order. Maybe true Mexicans eat it w/ their hands but I soon realized I, at least, needed utensils. I went to the Cashier/Manager to get utensils then was able to dig in. So delicious and well-prepared. The dipping Birria Sauce is exquisite but a word of caution is it tends to get everywhere. Good thing there were plentiful Napkins and utensils. Sadly, the Server never came back after started eating. That is, she never asked how it was or brought the check. After waiting long enough in hopes of getting the check (bill), I returned to the Cashier to collect the check and pay. 4 stars today. read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

Delicious!!! Some of the best chips and guac I've ever had. I got barbacoa tacos and a carne asada quesadilla which were both amazing, and Miguel introduced me to Sol, a great beer I'd never had before. Hopefully with enough attempts I'll increase my spice tolerance enough to eat one of those spicy chili peppers without my mouth catching on fire. I can't wait to come back and try everything else on the menu! read more

Very small hidden gem off of Wiles. One of my husband and I's favorite spots to have a quick lunch or grab takeout. Authentic!!! This is not American Mexican food. This is legit Mexican guacamole is handmade when you order and amazing full of vegetables. Chips are home made, tortillas are homemade, beans taste slow cooked to perfection! I tried the Cameron de Diablo but garlic style today - and it was incredible!!! Very small place but feels cozy like you in a tiny cantina having a home cooked meal made for you by order. read more

See all

Holy Guacamole those were some good tacos! When it comes authentic Mexican, Chinese, Italian or what have you. A good rule of thumb to follow is to go where the locals go. Such is the case of Antojitos Esmeralda. The whole while I was here I saw that 90% os patrons were Mexican, and if that in itself is not a glowing review, I don't know what is! This hole in the wall, is located on Wiles road on a very unassuming shopping strip. The restaurant itself is very small, it a lot of tables. While we were there every table was occupied, but they are well spaced out. The menu isn't huge, but there is a little bit of everything. I, of course had the tacos. Barbacoa, pollo, carnitas and pork. So good. This food really feels authentic. Service was good. And friendly. Cheap too! Give them a go. Great for lunch or a quick bite. I most definitely come back. read more

See all

I am so excited to say that after constantly being on the hunt for authentic Mexican tacos I have finally found the best ones in Miami and Broward counties! I'm only sorry that it took me so long to find them. I had the carne asada and carnitas tacos and I ordered a carne asada sope to share with my husband. My husband and son also got tacos, trying the carne asada and the chicken and cachete ( cow cheek, a super tender meat which isn't served in many restaurants). The tortillas are homemade and I could have just eaten those and been happy, they were that good. The meats were all so flavorful and they really pile on the filings. The green sauce that they make just took these tacos to another level. The sope was a flat corn tortilla, thicker than the ones they use for tacos and then loaded up with the filing of your choice, lettuce, queso fresco and crema. If you've never had one of these I highly recommend you come here and try one as it was seriously one of the best things I've eaten. All the flavors just blended together to create a flavor explosion in your mouth! The place is very small with only a few tables available but don't let that deter you from ordering from here. The staff was wonderfully warm and kind. Please go support this amazing local restaurant you'll be glad you did. read more

Very authentic and delicious. They received us like family even though this was our first time. Menudos was spot on!

Very authentic Mexican street tacos! I ordered Pastor, Birria, and Barbacoa tacos with a side of consomé. The tacos were STUFFED with meat! The Pastor taco was seasoned/cooked great with a little hint of spice. The consomé with the Birria and Barbacoa taco made it so juicy. I ordered online and picked up and they were very friendly and helpful from the start. The restaurant ambience seemed very authentic and similar to a Taqueria/Tienda. They also sold random Mexican snacks and candies. I will definitely be coming back to try more of their food!! read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Pastor Taco, Birria Taco, Barbacoa Taco - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

I really enjoy the tortas and tacos at this spot. I got the Al Pastor, it didn't have that sweet pineapple flavor I was looking for, but it was very delicious meat. My son got the filet de pescado and he ate it right up. The portions are good as well. read more

Nice small authentic spot in Cora Springs. Would highly recommend for a casual lunch or takeout. The place was clean and service was very attentive in my visit. Will be coming back to check out more items in the menu read more

See all

Family owned location for authentic Mexican food. I was obsessed with this location but stopped going for one main reason. They hired a couple of waiters that would always get my order wrong. I would retry this place so many other times and I would always have the same problem so I stopped going. The family that owns the establishment are extremely nice and get to know you on a personal level. Pros: the guac and chips are out of this world. This restaurant has some amazing condiments, not only spicy but excellent tasting. The barbacoa tacos are the most flavorful tacos I've tasted. Cons: customer service/ order taking, their Carne Asada is different from other Mexican restaurant locations. The carne asad is minced instead of the pieces read more

See all

Creative style for Mexican food dining, authentic to the flavors with beverages and seasons. The serving quantity was wonderful and very fulfilling, the location was busy and had a lot of movement of people coming in and out and enjoying their meal. They also had a built in bodega shop to pick up any need within the store towards the back. The only feedback I would share was more of a surprise. When I asked for cheese, I got Parmesan which.. isn't authentic to Mexican cuisine. I didn't realize it wasn't fresh until after I served it on my tacos and I could smell it. It took away the pleasing satisfaction I was looking forward to. Also the rice and beans weren't to par, just okay. Fun spot, really nice service by those who were there. I would just be more considerate to staying to the traditions of how food is served and clarifying what would be offered when it is ordered. read more

See all

Few weeks back ordered from here for a Taco Tuesday. Everything was fresh I just thought the meat & chicken in the tacos had an odd texture. The rest of everything seemed great. I think I have to try more menu items like a burrito and some deserts and and give this place another shot. read more

A sign of an actual taco place, a taqueria, is where real Mexicans eat. That means the working class: construction and landscaping workers, people who pull up to these places on the weekend in their flatbed trucks after a morning of labor in the hot sun, getting their big bowls of menudo soup and bottles of cold beer. You won't find margaritas here, and certainly not mariachi music played by musicians in ridiculous outfits. Instead, you'll hear the popular banda and norteña, and current Mexican vocalists played on a radio or Bluetooth speaker. Esmeralda, named after the tiny restaurant's equally diminutive and entrepreneurial owner, opened up to minimal fanfare in February 2019. It's located in an unassuming small storefront in a strip shopping plaza, with a generic sign that simply says "Mexican Restaurant." Inside, it has perhaps four tables, with seating for maybe 16-24 if you include the small counter area. It's tight, with an open kitchen and grill area, and it looks exactly like the kind of place you might find in any city in Mexico. But cleaner. I almost always get tacos here, and they are $2 each. They are made fresh, from cornmeal and manteca, and griddled to order. You can also get this as sopes, the same griddled cornmeal but at pancake thickness and with grated white cheese on top. If you order them at the default setting, they will come topped with your desired protein, such as carne asada (steak), cachete (beef cheek), pollo (chicken), chorizo (spicy pork sausage), al pastor (marinated and roasted pork shoulder), carnitas (braised pork shoulder), and campechana (shredded beef and pork mixture), along with chopped up cilantro and raw onion. But that is taco basico. If you want to be more adventurous -- you can ask for a grilled serrano pepper on the side, which you can cut up and use at your discretion. Serranos may look a lot like Jalapenos, but they are way hotter -- about five or eight times hotter. If that is isn't enough to satisfy your need for an endorphin rush, there is also a selection of other condiments up at the front you can load up on, including a red onion and habanero salad which will blow your head off if you're not careful. Combine these with the place's freshly made red and green chile condiments at the table, and you can have a Mayan sacrifice in your mouth. If you need to put out the fire, I suggest one of the many varieties of Mexican and South American beers Esmeralda keeps in the fridge. If you're not up for cerveza, try the Mexican soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, made with natural cane sugar in the original bottle. read more

Amazing tacos!!! It seems like an authentic Mexican restaurant in south Florida which is hard to find.

Very nice local place, tasty food and friendly service. Chips and salsas are good, Gordita was hot and fresh, tacos delicious and a variety of hot sauces to choose from on the table. Reasonable prices. Family place. I'm definitely going back. read more

Best Authentic Mexican food in South Florida! If you're in the area you need to go here! Adorable atmosphere, great service, best food! I got the Tostadas Al pastor and the portions are very generous I was soo full! Definitely coming back! Thank you to Miguel, Andy, and Fatima for such a great experience read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Tostadas Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

The ambiance and service was truly Mexican, wonderful people and muy amables. They even gave us a cochinita pibil taco to taste and we end up ordering one to go. The food was really really good too. We had Birria tacos (amazing), taco de tripa, very yummy, taco de barbacoa and taco de carnitas, all good. We also had nachos and they were good but not tipical, it had frejoles and chorizo and some sort of cream, which was ok and then tortillas were good too. La michelada was delish as well. Overall good price, good food and good service! Must try!! read more

One of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in South Florida, period. Don't delay! read more

Stopped for breakfast and ordered the Huevos a la Mexicanos. Fluffy scrambled eggs with just the right amount of spice, onion and garlic. The pinto beans (not fried) were perfect, tomatillo sauce was tasty and the queso was just the right offset to the jalapeño pepper. Ordered a side of tortillas de harina--best I've had in So. Florida (not the waxy, thin or translucent kind). Have had the menudo on a different date--also very well done. The only thing missing, at least for me is the hominy; so, I went to Publix to add. Definitely recommend. No doubt that this is authentic Mexican fare. read more

Doesn't look like a spot you'd want to dine at because it's super small and in an odd location but the food is very good and it's authentic- not to mention it was not expensive at all. We ordered 3 tacos each and shared the Tacos Dorados (this plate is apart of the appetizer but it does come with rice and beans) you can choose to remove it but we ordered it with them. The tacos dorados are basically deep fried roll up tacos with chicken inside of them. They are topped also with cream cheese and salad. read more

See all

Pretty authentic tacos I admit I don't remember which is which on the pics, but a must is to remember the chile you can bite on the side and you also can ask for some hot sauce. Great tortillas and great seasoned filling. read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

So pleased to have found an authentic Mexican gem in Coral Springs. When you walk in, you can tell the local Mexican community already knew this place pretty well. They had regulars and it felt like a store I could find in highly dense Mexican cities like LA or Texas. Every other taco place I go to always charges at least $4 per taco but I was so pleased to find that this place is only $2-2.50 per soft taco. Between my friend and I we shared six tacos: campechano, chorizo, carne asada x 2, pastor, cachete (this one is $0.50 extra). Our standouts were the chorizo (not too salty like other places), campechano, and the cachete (had a deep braised flavor but flavors can get too much by the end of it). We also each tried a pork and chicken tamale. The chicken one was a bit bland but the pulled pork one was more flavorful. Tasted like ropa vieja in a tamale. These were $2 each but they're a bit small... Service was great and food came out pretty quickly. I would definitely come back again and get more tacos with this price point. read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Pastor, carne asada, campechano - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

Perfect for a quick lunch stop. The menu is pretty large and they serve up the food on small plastic trays within minutes. Everything seems to be cooked fresh and piping hot. Each tray of tacos has a blistered hot pepper and a lime wedge and a small container of a green hot sauce. Very good tacos and the corn tortillas were homemade. My husband and I ordered the barbacoa, pollo, and pastor variety and a green tamale with chicken which was steaming hot and full of shredded chicken.. The beverages are kept in a cold fridge case and they are self service. Good variety of sodas, both American and Mexican with a few Mexican beers to choose from as well. The very friendly staff greeted us as we walked in and showed us to a table by the window and wiped it down in front of us. She also wiped down the table condiments. On the table was some napkins and a few mexican hot sauces in glass or plastic squeeze bottles. The dark green was definitely homemade and not super hot. I put it on everything I ate. The service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean. Busy but not super crowded during the lunch hour and you could definitely get in and out in under 30 minutes, but we never felt rushed. read more

See all

I was very lucky to learn about this authentic, family owned and operated spot from my Yelp friend Andrea B., which amuses me because she lives all the way at the other end of the county and this place is right down the street from me! I never knew it existed, but after her glowing review we went and found it. This is an unpretentious, casual, order at the counter and either take a seat at one of the few tables, or get your food to go, which is our norm. It's very clean and you can see the chef preparing your food. Every time we've gone, it's been a female who we understand to be the owner, cooking her family's traditional recipes. We've tried some dishes we were not previously familiar with, like sopas, which is a tasty fried soft corn base with your choice of meat and beans. Delicious. But our go to is the soft tacos. We've had them with steak, pork, and chicken and we take them exactly as they serve them, which is with onions and cilantro. I'm sure you could change that up, but to me they are perfect as served. The sauces provided are delicious too. I'd never consider sharing my order of freshly fried tortilla chips and guacamole with anybody. Get your own! The guac is chunky and fresh and I'm convinced she makes it per order because it's just that good. I'm pretty sure anything you'd order would be fantastic. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because 2 out of the 3 times we have gone, they have forgotten to include at least one item. The first time we didn't get our tamales, this past time we didn't get 2 orders of grilled onions. We try to check but it's difficult to do without unwrapping packages. As you can tell, it's not been enough to stop me from craving those tacos and guacamole! read more

See all

My son saw this ok TikTok and we looked it up and checked it out. It is so amazing. They have $2 tacos. It's very clean and reasonably priced! We ordered 3 chicken and 3 steak tacos. They were delicious and very filling. The hot sauce they put into our bag was pale green and red and was adequately spicy. I am a spice lover so it might be very hot for other people. Go here! read more

Antojitos Esmeralda - Tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Coral Springs, Florida

Amazing Mexican food at a great price. Usually I'm a fajita guy but I tried other things here and it was all amazing. I came back a few days later for lunch because it was that good. Whenever I'm in town from Michigan you can bet I'll be back here for sure. Service was great too. read more

Antojitos Esmeralda is a mexican restaurant, and by the look of it an authentic one at that. A large ratio of customers and employees appeared to be Mexican or of Mexican decent. That's a great complement for any restaurant and we knew we were going to get the real deal. They have a nice selection of entries and prices very reasonable. We had some tacos, a Carne Asada with rice and refries beans, and two refreshments for about $24. The food was very good. The grilled meat had good seasoning, and we were able to enhance it with the Salsa Verse (they provided a mild green sauce, and a spicy red sauce) which was spicy enough for our taste. Service was fast and friendly. The venue decor is very basic but it was clean and offered a good view of the kitchen. It is a decent size place so they could do a bit better. Overall, with good prices, great mexican food, and fast and friendly service, Antojitos Esmeralda is a winner in my book and a great place to grab lunch if you're in the area or looking for great tacos. read more

See all

very good i like this better than la union !! the service over the phone was great and very speedy it's a cute little place read more

This place is definitely catered to the regulars. We could see the sopes being hand formed in the back, but nothing made the food or experience stand out. read more