The food was good, served hot, arrived fast. The beer was very cold and also served speedily. We sat downstairs but the upstairs looked great overlooking the park and the lake. The server had a fun style. He or the cook got my order wrong but I just ate the other choices in my meal. read more

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Amazing customer service, food came out genuinely right after we ordered, tasted absolutely amazing, I reccomend the queso, also super warm ambiance and setting. Definitely recommend. read more

Cancun by the Lake - Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Clear Lake, Iowa

My dinner was really good. The service was also great as they were really busy. We sat outside because we had our dog with us so a dog friendly patio was a plus. read more

Cancun by the Lake - I don't remember the name of this but it was chicken over cheesey rice. - Mexican Near Me - Clear Lake, Iowa

Always great food, kid friendly. Staff is alway helpful and accommodating. Can't say anything negative. Never have had a bad experience.

The food was exceptional with that authentic Mexican flavor. Service was cheerful and accommodating. Great Ambience. Distant view of the lake. Clean restaurant in a quaint, well decorated two story house. Very Special! read more

great margaritas, wonderful service and food. highly recommend it!! Salsa had just a little bite to it, was perfect!!

stumbled upon cancun by the lake going through iowa on a trip to minnesota. at first was not impressed by the outside appearance, but very glad we chose to go in. the food was spectacular (minus the radioactive looking green hot sauce). the inside was neat and the servers were friendly. food was reasonably priced, and in all would 100% recommend. GET DESSERT IF YOU GO! read more

Great food, great service. I just wish it were closer to the water but very good place to grab some food.

Good and fast for lunch. I was impressed with all aspects, but the ambiance or service was a bit off, not sure what it was. I don't think we got refilled on our water. I'd go back again! read more

My husband and I stayed in Clear Lake on our way home from the Great Lakes, and we decided we hadn't seen QUITE enough water, so we wanted to eat at a restaurant on the lake. Based on reviews, we chose Cancun by the Lake, and we're so glad we did! Even though it was a Friday evening, Chris (our waiter and bartender) was very welcoming and found us a table downstairs right by the window, where we could look out on the park that led down to the lake. The restaurant is two-level, and there are many more tables upstairs; we noticed families with children were up there. The downstairs feels like a swell little bistro, with high-top tables and an intimate vibe. I ordered the Enchiladas Vegi-Rancheras and my husband had the Enchiladas Jalisco combo; both dinners were absolutely DELICIOUS (as we shared plates) and had ample portions. The flavors in my enchiladas were exceptionally well-blended, and the accompanying guacamole, sour cream, Pico de Gallo and lettuce were a lovely complement. My husband ordered a side of refried beans, which were also quite tasty. Chris was marvelous; he was always in motion, but no matter how busy he was he found time to stop by our table several times to check on us and make sure we were enjoying our meals. He offered free refills of the fountain drinks, chips and salsa and of course we accepted his offer. As dwellers in the Southwest, we're pretty picky about our Mexican food, and we're glad to say that Cancun by the Lake makes the cut! It's a place we are happy to recommend, and will be more than happy to return to on our next visit to Clear Lake. read more

Decided to try the place since we wanted Mexican and also wanted to walk around town. While the food was good (not great), the service was terrible. The wine they served (pinot grigio) came in what looked like a bathroom water glass and was not drinkable. Must have been the cheapest box they could find. They were out of chile rellanos, but did not inform us until at least 5 minutes after we had placed our order. The waitress was not attentive at all. Seemed like she did not want to be there. When we complained to the manager about the wine glass and the quality of the wine, he took it off the bill, but not after making us feel like jerks for bringing it up. I understand the staffing situation, but if you can't provide your customers with a pleasant dining experience, staffing will be the least of the worries. read more

Delicious food and lovely spot. Got to have a beach day and eat here after and it was perfect!

I would give them 5.5 stars but I didn't order enough tacos! They were absolutely TO DIE FOR! Great chips and salsa, great drinks, and love the atmosphere. Overall very pleased with this local spot and hope to return for another taco! read more

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We had a nice lunch break here on our drive from Des Moines! Small dining room downstairs but ample space as it was not super crowded just before noon. Ordered the 2 soft tacos and hubby got two hard tacos. Both were great, with good flavor. The salsa was fantastic with good flavor as plenty of onion punch!! Addictive!! Waiter gladly brought us a second cup of salsa along with free refills on our draft diet Pepsis! We liked the place and will definitely add this to our list of favorite stops! Took a walk around the town square and park across from the lake to stretch our legs. Great place! I'm sure their other food is good too!! read more

This is hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. I'm from Phoenix. AZ and it has the most authentic tasting food I have experienced in Northern Iowa. Great location and nice ambiance. Prices are reasonable and staff is friendly. Definitely going back anytime I visit the area. read more

Very, very good food. They have been swamped this summer (good food will do that). As a result one must be patient as they have been understaffed. 2 or the 5 time we have been in this summer, the owner is bussing tables, taking orders and serving tables. No availability of workers is hitting them like many other places. The service times are very good when we go at non-peak times. read more

Haven't been here in a long time and now I remember why. Not friendly to special diets. Previous management would willingly do a simple substitute for items I am unable to eat but current charge extra - a lot extra. read more

Don't bother. Tried two times to eat there, we love Mexican food. Service is extremely slow...refills are few and far between. Both times we didn't get the correct order. The first time, they were out of chili rellenos, which is fine, but didn't tell us until they brought the food! Our other order they didn't get right either. This time we sat and waited 10 minutes before we were offered anything. We ordered queso for an appetizer, never came. Order came out wrong...again...was supposed to be a chimichanga, was not. There were actually raw, VERY hot jalapeños in Pico, didn't mention anywhere it would be spicy. Asked for salt before appetizer arrived, I asked again when meal arrived, and literally got it after I finished my meal. Very shoddy, go to Las Palmas in Mason City, 10 minutes away they do a GREAT job. I love local, but they are making it nearly impossible to go back. BTW, had to get up and go downstairs for 5 minutes waiting for check at the end. read more

Great authentic Mexican food and lots of it. Beautiful 2 story restaurant. We had a great waiter who was full of smiles and was so polite.

Food was great. We questioned how the service was going to be after waiting at our table with no service for 5-10 minutes. However, Chris definitely made up for it. Highly recommend for Mexican in Clear Lake. read more