Besito is one of those places we keep coming back to, and for good reason. The food is consistently great, the atmosphere is always lively and welcoming, and somehow every visit feels just as good as the last. But what really keeps us coming back is the people. We're never made to feel like we're simply customers walking through the door. Nos reciben como familia, and that makes all the difference. There's something special about having a place where you can sit down, order your favorites, have a margarita (obviamente), and immediately feel at home. Great food, great vibes, even better people. Siempre salimos felices, full, and already talking about when we're coming back. Besito, gracias por hacernos sentir como familia. Shout out to Frank! read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I made an OpenTable reservation for 7 pm thinking it would be busy on a Friday night, but the restaurant was basically empty. Despite the lack of a crowd the service was still slow! We were sat at a high top table and it took almost 20 minutes before our waiter came to the table. Another hostess actually came by with waters and apologized for the wait before our waiter came to take our order. My partner and I ordered the table side guac, 3 street tacos, and a steak enchilada. We also ordered a Pacifico beer and my partner got a passion fruit iced margarita (slushee). When the waiter brought the drinks it was a completely different margarita. My partner ordered the drink with tajin and the other margarita came out with salt. That was the first giveaway that this was about to be a bad experience. The table side guac was disappointing. I'd had it 4 years prior and was excited but it just didn't live up to how I remember it. He gave us the option for mild medium and spicy - we chose medium but it had no spice in it at all. We had to ask for more salt because it wasn't salty enough. The avocados were not ripe, and he didn't use any lime juice. And finally, towards the end of the meal I was chewing and part of the avocado peel was still in the guac. Quite an unpleasant surprise. The steak enchilada was okay. The steak was a little tough and I think the cheese on the enchilada was melted mozzarella - it was similar to pizza...as an enchilada... My partner thought the street tacos were okay but for the price point of $25, probably not worth the cost. All entrees come with beans and white rice - I needed to add salt to mine, but it was fine. The table seated behind us was very close to us and we could hear their entire conversation. The guy specifically said "I never eat the side of rice and beans here because it's not very good". The service was okay. Our waiter was very low energy and rather muted for an early Friday night. It's possible he had a long shift or a long day, so I'm willing to cut him some slack, but in the service industry, I think I'd appreciate a positive attitude. This dude clearly did not want to be on the clock. Finally, the restaurant didn't notify OpenTable that I arrived for my reservation so now I have to explain to OpenTable that I did actually attend and I wasn't a "no-show" for the reservation. Bit of a waste of my time. I came because I heard Westshore is closing and was hoping for a fun date night with my partner. I'm glad to know I'll never be going back and I probably shouldn't have tipped 20%. read more

I came here for lunch with a group of ladies. We got the table side guacamole and it was great!! It was national tequila day so we took advantage of the specials. I got an espresso martini with tequila and it was so good I got a 2nd one! read more

Customer service was great. Nice ambiance. Food was average. Not sure how they won best taco in Tampa. We order the carne asada tacos. Comes in 3 on a soft tortilla. The first set was soaked and wet in some m watery sauce. The texture of the tortilla is already weird, the sauce made it worse. They did them over because of the wetness. Unfortunately, the didn't taste any better. The steak was unseasoned, cut into little chunks with cilantro. The flavors just didn't come together. It's a No for me. read more

First visit to Besito and I came in excited... my friend loves this place and happy hour felt like the perfect occasion to finally try it! We started with chips and salsa which set a great tone, the tortilla chips were perfectly salty and the salsa was solid, no notes there. It was also Taco Tuesday which means one free drink with a taco order, so naturally I had a classic margarita (also solid!) and went with the al pastor tacos because the sweet plantains on top had my name written all over them. Full disclosure: our waitress actually recommended the chicken, carne asada, or birria... so I can't say I wasn't warned lol! The pork did run a little dry, but the flavors were genuinely enjoyable and the authentic corn tortillas were a highlight for me. The yucca fries were a touch dry as well but still decent with the accompanying sauce. My friend also let me try her octopus, not typically my thing, but the flavors were nicely done! Honestly this feels like one of those spots where I just ordered the wrong things for my first visit, which means I have to go back and do it right. The chicken, carne asada, or birria are calling my name next time. Would definitely recommend checking it out, especially if you can catch happy hour! read more

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The lunch menu. The table guacamole is a must. We devoured it. Order 2 orders for big parties, trust me. read more

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This place is all decked out for Easter! Super cute! I got the unsweetened passion fruit tea which came in a tequila bottle - so funny and great flavor! I tried a steak dish with this amazing mushroom sauce - the steak was a little overcooked but the sauce made up for it! The rice was also overdone or not fresh as it had crunchy pieces throughout. Our server Maria was lovely and very attentive. I would come back to try other things for sure ! read more

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Dines at Besito Friday and was very pleased with my first experience. The inside is warm and inviting yet open and spacious. A great ambiance for a meal with friends, family or date night. We started with queso for the complimentary chips and salsa and I liked the chips being warmed. The queso was good, not too rich and not spicy. Very creamy. My wife had the chicken enchiladas with red sauce, I had the Mixto enchiladas which had chicken, steak and pieces of chorizo in corn tortilla wraps and my son had the birria tacos made with short ribs. All were very tasty. If I had one complaint it would be that my chicken was a little overcooked, but the steak was tender and the chorizo was a great flavor compliment, so the slightly overcooked chicken in my enchiladas was not anything that ruined it. My son said the birria tacos were the best he has had. Service was impeccable, and overall I would definitely come again. read more

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This place is 12/10. HIGHLY recommended to anyone who fancies Mexican foods. Table side guac is a must. The Al Pastor tacos are killer - seasoning will knock your socks off, pineapple topping takes this dish to the next level. Vibes are great in this place. Complementary chips and salsa (chips warm & salted to perfection) complementary mini churros at end of meal (these are warm too). Gf got skinny marg and said it was bomb.com Jorge is a great waiter. read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Service by Jesus was so Great! He was always checking on us and making sure we didn't need anything. The food was suburb and good portions. I would definitely recommend eating there and would ask for Jesus to be your waiter! read more

Visited for a quick happy hour dinner and for how dead it was took forever. Food was ok but definitely used to be better. Food came out quickly but I think our server left mid shift and didn't even come tell us. Eventually someone else came to our table got us boxes and checked us out. Overall I really used to enjoy this happy hour but now that prices have gone up and menu has changed somewhat it's just ok. I definitely think it's overpriced now. I remember when the happy hour everything was $5 and quality was way better. read more

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Great lively location, perfect for catching up with family or friends. The food is great and so are the drinks! They also have TVs - games/news :) read more

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Been looking for good Mexican in tampa and we were a little disappointed. Service was sub par as the waitress felt in a hurry and wouldn't let us really speak. There were maybe 4 people there at the time so not sure the rush. On top of not really checking in on us. No tables were cleaned off. You would think after a table leaves they would want to clean off food or empty glasses but the whole time we were there they also stayed there as birds ate away to the leftovers. Food was good nothing special and margs were weak but priced well for happy hour. We got churros at the end of the meal that were not fresh I'm guessing made a few days prior since we had difficulty biting into them. I will say the space is beautiful and outdoor patio was lovely. That was my favorite part of the experience. read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Okay it's Mexican food in Tampa Bay, at a mall. Don't let that scare you away. With servers and bartenders were very nice so no problems there. I went with the ribeye burrito which has all the good stuff that you would like and then they top it with warm queso dip and scallions. This is such a decadent burrito. It is the bomb. Literally you will fall over into a coma after you eat it. But that's a good thing. The drinks were good. The prices seemed on point. No issues!!! read more

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Came in for a business lunch. We made reservations ahead of time however they weren't busy during the lunch time hour. Staff was friendly and attentive even with our large party of 8. We started off with the table side guacamole. The guac was delicious and even better were the chips! I ordered the chicken burrito as my entree. It was good but spicy which I didn't know until I took my first bite. Overall good food and experience. read more

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We had a reservation for a Saturday night date night. We got there a few minutes early and they seated us immediately. The food and the service were amazing. I ordered the fish tacos and my husband ordered the seafood enchiladas. We ordered the tableside guacamole and the tres leches for dessert. We had not been there in several years, but we will definitely go more often. read more

Great experience. This was our first visit. We had a group of 20 and our waiter Andres was fantastic. All orders came out at the same time and everyone enjoyed their meal. I had the fish tacos and corn elote. It was delicious. Oh and the house salsa was delicious with its smokey flavor. Thanks for a great dining experience Andres! read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We went to Besito on a work trip and walked in with a large group of more than 20 people. The restaurant is stunning with some really cool photo spots. The service was on point and the food was memorable. For appetizers, we ordered the table side guacamole, queso and chips, and three different quesadillas. We were stuffed already, but decided to order meals anyway. My husband ordered the ceviche trio (which he did not love) and I ordered the octopus appetizer which was outstanding. It was the most tender octopus I've ever had. read more

This is a review for future Christina so I remember what I like. We got a dinner for four in a silent auction so I ended up trying a lot more than I normally would. Here is what I got and what I thought. Mango margarita, delicious and normally would be my go to, but instead I also tried a call me an uber and fell in love. You can taste the smokiness of the chipotle simple syrup. 10/10 get this drink every time. We had the table side guacamole and it is definitely one of my favs. I absolutely want to get it every time. The indestructible nachos were good, but huge and not really my style. That could be someone's entire dinner. We also got the birria sliders, which everyone else at the table loved. I thought it was just ok. The yucca fries that it came with were delicious though. For my main I got the pescado. I wasn't a huge fan, I found it to be slathered in too much sauce that was too sweet. I also didn't like the sweet potatoes. My husband got the steak bourbon mezcal and that was delicious. We got a taste of every dessert and the flan was my favorite. I don't have a major sweet tooth though so I probably won't get dessert next time if I have a choice. This restaurant is huge so there's no problem getting a table. I love it and would highly recommend it. read more

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I was hesitant to check it out because I judged it being attached to the mall. Also because they don't take resv on cinco de mayo. But we got there early and glad we did. It was a whole vibe! The birria tacos were fire. The margaritas were bomb. The music was good and Jorge our server was attentive. We loved the vibe! read more

service was amazing! Ana, Bibi, and Jorge were great! Would skip on Al pastor taco but barbacoa and Baja fish were good. Since I was at an event we were in a back room and got served the dessert platter. Every single dessert was great! The room was a great dinner party vibe. read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - al pastor, barbacoa, and fish tacos - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Stopped by Besito Mexican Restaurant after dropping friends off at the airport for a quick lunch . We have had wonderful food here in the past but this time was unfortunately a major let down. First, the pricing was literally beyond high. We could have (should have) walked across the street to PF Changs, but decided to split 3 Birria Tacos, even though they charged an additional $5 over other tacos. Then I realized they used pork- I get it, goat is tough to get, beef is high priced right now, but up charging for the cheapest protein available???? From there it was downhill. The plate was smothered in cilantro and raw onion. The actual pork was flavorless and dry. Alone it tasted like a pulled pork sandwich without any BBQ sauce. The dip, always a dark rich flavorbomb had literally no color nor flavor. It was also filled with cilantro and raw onion. Where this consommé is always made with a variety of chilies (guajillo, ancho, and pasilla ) this stuff tasted like canned beef broth. With two sides of water , this disappointing meal set us back over $20 and no one bothered to ask why we only ate two of the three mini tacos. The only reason I gave this rating is from previous visits and atmosphere/decor. But the food ain't gonna bring us back. read more

The atmosphere is fabulous. The host greeted us and seated us promptly. Our server, Carmen, had a gentle spirit and did a great job. I ordered from the casual lunch menu - two carnitas tacos, tortilla soup with a soda. Delicious and filling. The surprise at the end was we received churros... WHAT!!! Delicious. read more

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We stopped into Besito while traveling home from a trip. The restaurant was really nice and had a great patio. We were seated near the fountain and had a great time. We ordered an enchilada and extra rice and beans. The flavors were delicious and so fresh. The only con I have is they don't give complementary chips and salsa. One neat thing they did do though was to provide churros at the end of the meal! Overall a good place to visit. read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Food was average. Prices outrageous. Service was awful - slow, absent and unhelpful. Party of two, after lunch rush, took nearly an hour. No refills on soft drinks. The guy that delivered our food had his unloved hands on the food side of our plates. Worse - Server charged my son for the "Taco Tuesday Special" $26.95. However, the Baja Tacos lunch is $17.95 add a soft drink for $4 and that's a better deal. Our server didn't get it. Never going back. read more

Overall: I went here on a Monday evening while on a work trip. Given the overall positive reviews I had read, I expected some delicious food, even if the place was quiet on a Monday. I don't know what other people were reviewing, but I don't think I got the same experience that they did. The restaurant is actually attached to a mall, which was quite empty. The food was cold and mediocre, which only looked good when compared to the service. I can't imagine I'll go back. Food: 2 Drink: 2 Service: 2 Value: 3 Atmosphere: 2 Food: I ordered the chicken flautas and the 'Mixto' fajitas. The flautas had good flavor but came out completely cold. If they had been fresh and warm it might have been a good dish, but overall it fell flat. The fajitas were also disappointing. They were hardly what I would consider traditional fajitas - several types of meat came out on a bed of sauce and a giant clump of partially melted cheese. It tasted ok, but the sauce and cheese overpowered everything. Plus the three soggy tortillas didn't help much. Drink: Unless you want tequila, everything is pretty limited. They have a couple of Mexican beers on draught and then a few cans. Otherwise, nothing spectacular. Service: I sat at the bar. The bartender serving me was generally distracted with her phone and other workers. She only asked me about my food right as it was being served (hadn't had a chance to even try it yet) and she refilled my water once when the check arrived. I also had to go and source my own place setting and napkins from a nearby table. Not a good experience. Value: I caught the end of happy hour for appetizers, so my flautas were ~30% off. Otherwise, everything here was overpriced given the quality. Atmosphere: I went here on a Monday night, so maybe I should have expected it to be empty. But it was completely dead. Most of the tables had chairs set up for close already. Maybe I should have taken it as a sign. read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - FLAUTAS DE POLLO - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We selected this restaurant looking for street tacos. They had them on the menu, but when we walked in the restaurant, I feared there'd be an attempt to elevate a street taco and end up with a mess. I was correct. My tacos were messy, served with "stewed" chicken, wilted or sautéed red cabbage, and cheese. I was so disappointed that I was only able to stomach one. The Arnold Palmer I ordered was also gross--- a first for me. On a positive note, the server was friendly, the food came out relatively quickly, and the bathrooms were clean. However, I was disappointed that, unlike most Mexican restaurants, they charge for chips and salsa. I won't return to the restaurant. read more

Was in town for work and met up with my BFF for dinner. The meal was amazing. I arrived at 3:45p on a Friday and was seated immediately. We left around 6p and noticed the restaurant starting to get busy. We started off with chips and a salsa & queso tray. The queso was delish. Nothing too spicy. I ordered the fish. It was a new item on the menu. Delish. The fish had some sauce on it that was divine. I ate the fish, sauce & salad in a perfect bite....**chefs kiss**. It was accompanied by black beans & a side salad. My friend ordered the barria tacos and inhaled them. We finished the meal with tea, coffee & the tres leches dessert. We shared the tres leches. It was smart but honestly, o should have ordered one to go. It was scrumptious! Well worth every calorie!! read more

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Awesome spot for a birthday dinner - we had a group for my girl friend's birthday dinner and we had the best service, best food, and the best time. We sat on the outside patio area, which was a first for me and it was so pretty with the lights and the nice weather as the sun went down. The margarita tower is so great - def recommend especially if you have a group and are celebrating! read more

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Stopped by for a quick lunch before heading to airport. Everyone was very friendly and provided excellent service. Restaurant was posh, clean and spacious. Food was very tasty, fresh and hot, and affordable. Portions were large and food was presented perfectly. Would definitely go back, and highly recommend. read more

Came here again for a girls night ! Once again, it didn't disappoint! We had an awesome waitress. I forgot her card but I think her name may have been Giselle. Very attentive and helpful with all the questions that we had. My drink called "Call an Uber" was delicious. I got a ribeye burrito with soup. The soup was delicious however i was full off of guac & chips to eat my burrito. I did take a bite. I didn't enjoy the first couple of bites but apparently it was good bc my husband demolished my leftovers . Even tho we stayed way past closing , no one bothered us to tell us to leave which I appreciated . Of course I'll be back soon read more

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WARNING! Watch out for yourself if you ever walk into this establishment. You will get a mean punishment. I got instant food poisoning and diarrhea from eating their most likely stale or old chicken. I ordered chicken enchiladas. I was so sick only about 3 hours after I ate that dreadful meal. I was running to the bathroom having pure liquid diarrhea at least 3 times within 30 mins and then I started to vomit. I puked so much that eventually I started to puke yellow bile! I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. This place sucks and deserves to be shut down. read more

Came in for some post-work drinks to be pleasantly greeted to a BOGO marg-of-the day deal. The Margarita was off menu and tasted perfectly like summer. It was a mango passionfruit slushy and it was just divine. I also got the tortilla soup which I saw great things about and it was fantastic! Really awesome presentation and flavors going on, and a generous amount of chicken. The tacos were good, but I want to come back to try the crispy barbacoa tacos. and the dessert sample platter was decadent, my personal favorite being the chocolate cake. read more

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Service was great and quick. Enchiladas needed a little more salt and flavor. Table side guac was amazing. The white sangria tasted like a screw driver. Gave tourist attraction read more

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Drinks and food were all very good. On top of that, our server, Brenda was outstanding. There were 6 of us and everything came out on time. read more

The food was outstanding! The table guacamole a must try. Great service great cocktails!

Visiting Tampa and decided that I wanted tacos on Taco Tuesday. Besito's great reviews spoke to me so I tried it. I started with the frozen pomegranate margarita and that drink was fantastic. They use a house tequila and the taste was on point. I ordered the Taco Tuesday special that included 3 tacos (must all be the same), a small bowl of rice and beans and a drink (house Margarita or small glass of wine).I ordered the fish tacos. Surprisingly they were bass and so very tasty. I didn't love the tortillas but the fish, slaw and sauce were very flavorful. The restaurant wasn't full but the staff were very attentive and accommodating. I'd recommend and will be back on my next visit. read more

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Everything about this restaurant is great for us. caution to those are sound sensitive as music is loud. They were very accommodating when my Ceviche was not to my liking. Guacamole and salsa and chips could be my last meal! read more

This is my go-to Mexican restaurant if I need tasty food, amazing service and incredible drinks. I love how fresh is everything I have tried, specially the Enchiladas Mixtas, the are 10/10 and my favorite drink: Call me an Uber. The place is super cozy and they always have good music. The bartender Marina was AMAZING, She recommended the best drinks and gave us top-notch service! read more

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Overall, fantastic! Our server Lili was so friendly and wonderful, made great recommendations, very attentive and sweet. I'd ask for her if she's available for sure! We got chips with the salsa, fresh table side guacamole and queso, all the best I've had anywhere. I got crispy barbacoa tacos and a tamale on the side, and my husband got barbacoa enchiladas. I don't necessarily have the authority to speak to authenticity but I think it was pretty authentic. In any case, everything was delicious! read more

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