My Mom and I dine outside at Cantina 18 anytime I'm on her side of town as she lives super close to the Village District. We absolutely love their margaritas and their braised beef tacos. The service is always great and we enjoy their outdoor seating area. My Mom and I dine outside at Cantina 18 anytime I'm on her side of town as she lives super close to the Village District. We absolutely love their margaritas and their braised beef tacos. The service is always great and we enjoy their outdoor seating area. read more

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Cute Mexican-fare venue you can count on, run by former Seaboard 18 owner. Located in Village District, and perched between Bailey's Jewelry and Ballard Design, so you can nosh and shop like respectable Carolinians. Also popular as date and dance night destination for Broughton kids, as they have an upstairs dining option and are close to St. Mary's Street. Pro tip: order the triple taco platter with mixed beans & rice, and *share.* The tacos are filling enough, especially with a side. The most unique one is the buffalo cauliflower with bleu cheese - YUM. We always order the queso, and the low viscosity is a bit of a challenge to eat without dripping all over yourself, but a worthy one. I sometimes pick up the locally-made cinnamon rolls from their cooler at the front for holiday or housewarming gifts, which are always well-received. read more

We ate here a couple nights ago with family. The tables are crammed in so tightly that there's no way they would allow for a wheelchair. It was uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The food was good. I had the salmon with the adobada glaze. It was very good. Cooked to perfection. The service was very attentive and patient with our indecision. Parking is plentiful. read more

Food, Service and Ambiance! Such a great place. They also have wi-fi so it's great for a meeting or to catch up on work. They have large portions so you could share. Got the calamari and it's more lightly battered and flash fired with peppers. a salad and pickled onions! It was incredible!! I Got the chicken quesadilla and my son got the short rib quesadilla. Both were very tender. Tip, you can each order a different Sid and ask them to split them. So you get to perfect size sides with your meal. Also the short rib comes with this lime sauce on top, so if you aren't big on sauce, ask to leave it off. It's in a shopping center so you can walk around to other shops as well. read more

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Stopped in this cute cantina for lunch with co-workers. They offered both indoor and outdoor seating. Based on the menu I got SoCal Mexican vibes, light, fresh and unique dishes. Let's start with the chips and salsa because for me the salsa makes the first impression and yes, I was impressed! I ordered a mushroom and corn enchilada which was just ok. I wanted to love this dish because I am always looking for more vegetarian options, I enjoyed it, but I wasn't WOW'd. One coworker got a burrito and said it was great. The other ordered fajitas with no peppers. Our server seemed annoyed by this request and said he'd see what he could do. Unfortunately, her fajitas arrived with ONLY peppers, she expressed her confusion and a gentleman whom I assume was the manager overheard and quickly stepped in to correct her order. On top of the order mix up, our service was also just ok. Our server seemed off his game and rushed us to order and then out the door. This would be understandable if it was busy, but the restaurant was pretty empty at that time. This was a convenient lunch spot so there is a chance I will return but I'm in no hurry. read more

Cantina 18 was recommended by a friend. So glad to have the opportunity to try them out. Great experience, great staff, wonderful service. Clean space. Stop by for a nice relaxing meal. The Nachos and Queso Rolls are highly recommended! read more

Cantina 18 - Cantina 18 menu back - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We tried four different tacos and all were terrific. The chips and queso was warm and tasty on a cold day. The owner came to our table and checked on us, which is a very nice touch. Overall a really great experience. But the winner was the Emily Martin cinnamon rolls!!! read more

Cantina 18 - Emily Martins Cinnamon Rolls - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We enjoyed a nice dinner with friends sitting outside. The food was good, though the menu is very streamlined. That's different than most Tex-Mex joints with hundreds of choices. Our server may have been stretched a bit thin as it drink orders and food delivery took a while. read more

Cantina18, Village District - Your Passport to Taco Bliss From the instant you step inside Cantina18, the relaxed, lively atmosphere sets the stage for a great time. The team greets you with genuine warmth and keeps the service friendly yet efficient, striking the perfect balance between laid‑back and attentive. The food steals the show. One bite of the chicken taco or the standout swordfish taco sends a wave of layered flavors--bright citrus, subtle spice, and perfectly fresh toppings--that burst to life with every chew. Each taco feels thoughtfully composed, proving that simple ingredients, handled well, can be extraordinary. Pair those tacos with a crisp house margarita, and you've got an effortless escape: whether you're meeting friends, taking a quick lunch break, or just craving tacos for dinner, Cantina18 is the spot. Consistently welcoming staff, a vibrant vibe, and food that keeps you reaching for the next bite--this place deserves a permanent slot in your rotation. read more

Cantina 18 - Swordfish Taco - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I had such a bad experience here that I can't shake it. Unrelated to the food, I witnessed a parent behaving very inappropriately toward a child given the restaurant setting. The owner of the restaurant expressed awareness of the behavior, seemed to blame the child and indicated his belief that the parent behavior was appropriate read more

Great spot for Mexican food with awesome indoor and outdoor dining in the Village. Fresh chips and salsas and the main dishes are delicious. Love the ambiance! Highly recommend. read more

Cantina 18 - Chicken Tinga enchiladas and quesadilla with wonderful chips & salsa - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We stopped in for dinner with friends and had a fun time. I started off with a beer followed by the top shelf margarita. Our table started off with a few small orders of guacamole, we tried the goat cheese, pineapple-habanero and cantina 18. The pineapple-habanero was my favorite. For our meals it was the veggie burrito with black beans for my husband and the she crab soup and a spicy braised short rib taco with black beans for me. The soup is on a special limited menu that features a few of the favorite dishes that were served at 18 Seaboard. We both enjoyed our food and drinks. This is a good dining option in The Village District. read more

Nice setting in an outdoor mall but I wasn't impressed by the welcome or the food. I was curious who was in the kitchen making this "Mexican" food since it was so bland. Our server, James, was fantastic and made my experience at least tolerable. Then we ordered 2 slices of cheesecake. One came out quickly and the next slice took close to 15 minutes to come out and it was partially frozen. NO BUENO! read more

Such a cute spot in Cameron Village for some healthy Mexican food. Love the variety of options for tacos and quesadillas (was really eyeing the black bean quesadilla)! They have daily specials and, if you can drink, a tequila flight if you want to try different tequila types! The catfish tacos were okay. The fish itself was only the drier side and not very flavorful. The slaw was supposed to be spicy, according to the menu, but I did not taste any spice. And honestly, all the spice was in the salsa they provide you when you're seated. The cilantro crema was pretty tasty though! My hubby had the limited time birria tacos, and were disappointed when it did not come with the birria sauce. The tacos themselves were full of the flavor, but then the tacos became too soggy to hold together. Maybe another layer of taco to help? 7/10 - a good spot if you're in the mood for Mexican! read more

Cantina 18 - Catfish Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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One of my better ratings! Service was on point. Brought out chips and salsa unlimited without even asking for it. Food was delicious and great quality and there were great choices for vegetarians. read more

The food was made quick & we just got take out. Everything tasted good but was nothing too special. Good for quick Mexican! Did not get full vibe since we just got takeout. The outside area looks nice to enjoy the meal & get a margarita! read more

Cantina 18 - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Last night we held a 70th birthday party for my husband at Cantina 18. The food and service was outstanding! A special shout out to our servers James and Isabell- so responsive and helpful to our needs! Shout out to Ashley, event coordinator for her help as well in putting it all together! Fantastic group of people to work with! read more

Full disclosure, this review is for an event held upstairs and not a regular dining experience (although we have eaten here before). Stopped in for a professional event on a weekday night and was pleasantly surprised to see the chef/owner welcoming people at the door. I was walked upstairs to their event space for our event. The restaurant provided apps and we went in the next room for drinks. The atmosphere was energetic and fun, and the apps were delicious. I remembered that they had a map in the downstairs dining room showing some of the local farms and purveyors that they get their food from, and on my way out I saw it was still there. Good stuff. read more

Got the calamari and quesadillas. Calamari was just okay but the quesadillas were amazing - well portioned, well priced, and unique. Service was great and the spot wasn't too crowded on a weekday dinner. read more

Cantina 18 - Crispy Calamari - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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"Mexican-inspired food not far from NCSU" Came here on a Friday evening to give my son a break from on-campus dining. We arrived at around 5;15pm, and the place was already hopping-- I will note there was a group of people waiting for a table by the time we finished just after 6pm. We were keen to eat here given there are outdoor tables-- the interior area looked rather dark (in part since painted black even though quite open-air), but the outdoor tables were fully covered (good for sun or rain) and airy, even though a bit close to the cars parked in the parking lot. Our server was very friendly and SUPER attentive-- she checked on us many times even though the place was HOPPING by the end. I ordered the 2 Carolina catfish tacos with a side of purple southwest slaw. After eating dinner, we ordered and split bread pudding and one other cake-like dessert (I forget what it was since I didn't have any). The food came out pretty quickly, and it was delicious. The catfish tacos was many small battered pieces of catfish, slaw, a couple radish slices, and what looked like a creamy avocado salsa, all in soft flour tortillas. They were "appropriately" filled for eating-- not overfull such that they fell apart from biting, but not underfilled with just a bit of food. That was great. The southwest slaw had a little bit of a kick to it, which was lovely. And the bread pudding reminded me of a tasty cinnamon roll. It wasn't the cheapest Tex-Mex food by any means, but it was tasty, and a fair price for the quality and quantity of food we got. I'd happily go back. read more

Cantina 18 - Catfish tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Rarely do I give a 5 Star Rating but the waitress won us over and the acknowledgment twice from the Chef or owner made it a win! Today heading home from church my daughters commented again on the cheese dip and it was so good! We are cheese dip lovers and this one is the best I have had in NC! My taco was Devine and the rosemary fries perfection. I'd like to go again, today! The price was even on point! read more

Cantina 18 - Fries with Rosemary - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Staff was great, our waiter was very helpful! The food was great. We ordered soup and it never came out but we weren't charged for it so obviously we didn't mind. Will be coming again soon! read more

Cantina 18 - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food: good every time. Chips and salsa are first rate. Service: they recognize regular customers. Never f'd an order. Ambience: nice outdoor seating and in the afternoon shade. A bit pricey for tacos but everything is too exptin Cameron Village. read more

Food was awful and undercooked. Could not even eat it. Service was fine. Would not return.

Went here for lunch with coworkers. There were 8 of us and we were trickling in one by one because we're nurses and can't leave for lunch until our patients are gone. At first the waiter didn't pay us much attention, probably because he was waiting for the whole party to arrive, but after we explained to him that we were on a time crunch and needed to order and that we would go ahead and order for the people not there he quickly took our orders. One side of the table received their food several minutes before the other side. The waiter apologized, said he didn't know how the order got split. However we all received our food in time to get back to work. I ordered the ACC. Delicious. We also ordered a side of queso which was really good as was their salsa. read more

Cantina 18 - ACC - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Always an amazing experience at Cantina 18. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Hats off to this management team for having this restaurant dialed in. Love it read more

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The ONLY reason I am giving them 2 stars is for the excellent service from our waitress Christin. Other than that. The food, the drinks-LACKED big time. Stopped in with my brother for a catch up lunch. I was really hopeful for an amazing experience because I've been here before but this time was a major let down. I ordered the Peach Sangria. Tasted like water. Let our server know and she insisted to switch it out for something else so I did the Margarita which was much better. For lunch I ordered the Chicken Tinga Quesadilla. Yall, it tasted like someone took some bland chicken. Pulled it apart. Got a tortilla with some cheese and sprinkled a FEW pieces of the chicken in the tortilla, toasted it and sent it out with the Red Rice that was tasteless as well. I am still disappointed by this experience. I reached out to management but no response just yet. Hopefully others will have a better experience than we did... read more

Cantina 18 - Chicken Tinga Quesadilla - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I enjoyed the salsa and chips. I loved the she crab soup. I was also happy to learn that the owner of the restaurant used to own 18 Seaboard. That was exciting news. The restaurant was packed. From the plates of food that other customers ordered, the food appeared to be authentic Tex-Mex food. The servers were friendly. I will return again. read more

I've been here a few times and this place is always fine but not spectacular. It's a good location in the Village District and parking is usually not bad, so it's got that going for it. If you order food, they do bring you free warm chips and salsa which is nice. The time I got drinks at the bar they did not give us those. They have daily drink specials during the week that are solid depending on your preferences. I got the chicken tinga quesadilla on my most recent visit and for $14 I was a little underwhelmed. Based on the name I thought it'd be flavorful but it was kinda bland. Just tasted like chicken and cheese. It also wasn't a huge portion but I was fine since we had the chips. It comes with a side, such as refried beans, black beans, fries, rice, or salad. read more

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Cantina 18 is part of the 18 restaurant group chain that own Harvest 18 & 18 Seaboard. I always end up getting the same thing at Cantina because it is so good. I'm talking about their Spicy Braised Short Rib tacos. The short rib is moist and has a little kick to it. Just enough to kickstart your flavor pallet. The tacos come with a pickled corn relish and chipotle crema. I usually get their southwestern slaw as the side. It's made from red cabbage and has a sour ting to it. The best thing I like about Cantina is that you are always surprised with a sample of an appetizer or a dessert or both almost every time. It's not a lot but the gesture makes a difference! read more

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Cantina 18 is awesome. Great Food Great Service. Always a good experience every visit!

Fun place! The service was really friendly. I sat at the bar and had the shrimp tacos. So flavorful! The bartender was attentive even though he was pretty busy for it being lunchtime. Highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Cantina 18 - Shrimp tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is not Mexican food. This was better before Covid, like everything else. I had a small beef burrito with a half cooked tortilla. Not very tasty. There was not one Latino person in the front of the restaurant. Staff was friendly though. If you go to THE Village on Saturday, get there at 11am for good parking. Check out the wine store in back. Good prices. read more

Chips are good, salsa is just OK. I did enjoy the avocado and black bean nachos for lunch. Lots of avocado on them, and the cheese was melted perfectly on the chips. We were hanging out for awhile, and our server brought over a small sample of complimentary blueberry pancake dessert. Thought that was a very nice touch! Service was great! This is a kid-friendly spot. We went for lunch on the weekend and there were lots of little kids and babies. read more

Cantina 18 - Avocado and black bean nachos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Tacos are always a win! The art in the restaurant was so cute! The food was hot and fresh. The drinks were as great as pictured service was sufficient. Order: Hibiscus Marg, Fish tacos (grilled/fried) Rating: 8.5/10 read more

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It's definitely a smaller menu than I like at a Mexican restaurant. I'm certainly not authentic but if you like American Mexican, the quality was decent in the atmosphere is great. read more

Had a great quick lunch. I ate inside near the bar, service was spot on. The food came quickly and I was looking to just have a relaxing lunch out and read my book a little. It was delicious and delightful. I had the short rib nachos and I have to tell you, you can't go wrong with those. A lot of nachos for one person so I took the rest home for lunch the next day! read more

Cantina 18 - Special Menu - Tex-Mex Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Tis place has no clue howcto make acdecent fajita. The beef was like rubber. The flavor blah. No rice, no refried beans. , trendy is no substitute for good food. But then i am used to great tex mex fajitas from la hacienda in dallas. I recommend that the owner go try those fajitas to learn about real fajitas. The service was prompt so no issues there. read more

Came here looking for Mexican so maybe my review will be a little bias bc it's Tex-mex. But started off good with the chips and salsa and the pineapple jaelpeno pitcher. Then our food came out and I was very surprised, the ground beef tacos weren't even seasoned and the cheese looks like plastic. The short rib burrito was okay...still not worth it. All in all this place had a decent atmosphere but was not worth the price whatsoever. If your looking for a good margarita and Mexican GO SOMEWHERE ESLE read more

By far the BEST short rib burrito!! Would recommend this restaurant for a little twist on Mexican read more