This restaurant is closed. Too bad, it was a fun place with good food. Carlos was a great guy, fun to talk to.

A great change of pace from typical local food, friendly staff, great food, easy to get to. As a native Californian, I am accustomed to high quality, authentic Mexican food, and as such the typical cuisine in Mazatlan rapidly became a bit boring. Don't get me wrong; giant plates of fresh seafood and ceviche at fantastic prices is great, but variety is the spice of life. I thoroughly enjoyed the giant mojitos (tired of over sweet margaritas), the fried plantains (tired of corn chips), and the congri (tired of refried beans) When we walked up, we were immediately greeted by the proprietor Carlos, who was sitting out front. As we were the only customers there, he spent a lot of time chatting with us, and answered all the questions we had about which dishes were the "most cuban". He spoke great english, was very charming and friendly, and even accepted USD from us when we realized we didn't have enough pesos (they don't take credit). He also gave us a fair exchange rate, which we had not expected from our research about paying in USD. The food was quite delicious, with the high point surprisingly being the black bean soup. We also had the Ropa Vieja (as good as any I've had) and the Onioned Steak (super buttery). We liked the experience so much, we even went back a second time; we generally like to explore as much as possible, so repeat visits are very rare for us. Admittedly it was for lunch instead of dinner, during which we had the garlic soup (good, but lesser than the black bean soup), Tacos Carlos (refreshingly cleaner than the over-fried local tacos), and cuban sandwich (a lot less fatty than the ones I've had in the states, still tasty). Highly recommend this gem to anyone staying in Mazatlan! read more

My family and I were staying at a hotel a few blocks away and I came across Carlos and Lucia on Yelp! This place is run and owned by Carlos and Lucia themselves, which makes the ambiance very comforting. Service was great as well, and Carlos was working hard for sure. The roasted tomato salsa that comes out as you're seated was delicious with a deep flavor. We started off with the shrimp ceviche as an appetizer and it was unlike any other I've had. The acidity of the citrus balanced with the natural sweetness of the shrimp on top of a salty tortilla chip made for a truly scrumptious bite. I ordered the Cuban sandwich that was filled with ropa vieja, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions that came with fried plantains on the side. The sandwich was delicious and the ropa vieja was uniquely prepared with shredded pork. My family members at the table ordered a shrimp burger, Carlos and Lucia's special shrimp dish, and ropa vieja. We were very pleased with our whole experience and I highly recommend this joint to anyone living in/visiting Mazatlán! read more

Carlos and Lucia - Cuban sandwich with ropa vieja and plantains on the side!! - Cuban Near Me - Mazatlán, SIN

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What a great dinner! Carlos is very friendly and great to chat with while we had some very authentic Cuban food. Start with the grande Mojito and then try the garlic soup and cream of black bean soup. Highly recommended! read more

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Its like taking your taste buds on 2 vacations one to Cuba one to Mexico, love this place, love empanadas , and these were great. The wait staff is fun and lively and between the food and drinks, you just cant have a bad time. read more

We loved this restaurant so much! Can we give it 6 stars? Everything was fresh. Everything was delicious. They were very accommodating to​ my girlfriend's many food allergies. They can be accommodating​ since they make literally everything fresh. The food took a little longer than most places to come out, but when they're making everything fresh you kind of have to expect that. It was definitely worth the wait. Cheaper and tastier than the other restaurants we have been to in Mazatlán. For example, their shrimp fajitas are 135 pesos compared to about 200 pesos at most places we've been. For our margarita, ​he squeezed fresh limes. No Sprite or garbage margarita mix here! Carlos speaks excellent English since he has lived in the states, and he was a delight to chat with. read more

My boyfriend and I had the pleasure of eating at Carlos and Lucia's last night. We were served by the main man himself, Carlos. He made our margarita with fresh lime juice squeezed right into the glass and it tasted delicious--nothing like the Sprite and margarita mix-filled margs you commonly find in Mazatlan. Before our food arrived, Carlos brought out some freshly-made chips and salsa. I was delighted to be able to try it since it was onion-free and I have some food allergies, onion included. I got the shrimp fajitas and my boyfriend got the tacos Lucia. Both were absolutely overflowing with delicious flavor. We will definitely be back to eat at this restaurant again, if for nothing else to try the mojitos everyone raves about. Carlos explained that he crushes the fresh mint himself with a mortar and pestle and also cuts and squeezes fresh lime when you order the drink. (I'm getting thirsty already!) If you're in Mazatlan, this is a MUST TRY restaurant. read more

Carlos and Lucia - The best mojito I've ever had! A generous portion of fresh mint crushed with a wooden mortar and pestle + freshly-squeezed lime juice. Yum! - Cuban Near Me - Mazatlán, SIN

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Better late than never - we visited January 2019 due to reviews. Not impressed, the restaurant had run out of shrimp. WHAT - run out in the shrimp capital of the world. It wasn't busy but our meal seemed to think a looong time and when it came had a disappointing luke warm tortilla soup. The mojito however was the best I had. Don't think would give them a second chance. read more

Came here based on the reviews and ratings. Wanted to get some other cuisine besides all the tacos from the taquerias I've been eating at. After the beach, my friend and I decided to come try this place. There was no one there around dinner time. We sat Inside but realized there were quite a few mosquitos flying around so we sat outside. We both got the onion steak as it was recommended as the Cuban specialty. Besides the rice and beans which was really tasty, the steak and salad was nothing special. Steak was well done and seasoning didn't taste like Cuban. I think I could of made that steak. I think if I got the pork or other dishes I would have enjoyed it more. Overall food is good for the price and something different to satisfy your taste buds. read more

Carlos and Lucia - Cuban Near Me - Mazatlán, SIN

We went here after reading the Yelp reviews. It's a mile and a half walk from our place and well worth it. Based on the reviews we had the mojito, lime margarita, rope vieja, shrimp fajitas and the flambéd bananas for dessert. Everything we had was amazing. We enjoyed talking to Carlos, which was easy since we were the only customers. We will be back next time we are in mazatlan. read more

tl;dr: 1) cash only, but accepts USD at the actual exchange rate if you're in a pinch pesos-wise. 2) soup sounds weird on a hot day, but it's really good. 3) trust Carlos' suggestions. He designed the menu and won't lead you astray! 4) tasty drinks- large volume, good price. Full version: If you're in Mazatlan during a relatively quiet week (as we were), you might be baffled (as we were) to find this large restaurant, with delicious food, across the street from several large resorts, empty. We ignored the "follow the crowds" psychology plaguing many people's restaurant choices, and this place did not disappoint. It even looked closed because it was so empty-- save for Carlos himself alternately sitting, pacing or waving at pulmonia and taxi drivers he knew passing by. But he welcomed us inside, gave us English menus and asked us to sit wherever we pleased. We started with large mojitos, which appeared a few minutes later in goblets the size of our heads. We watched Carlos muddle the mint, lime and sugar while he explained this was the better way to make them-- indeed! If you come here for nothing else, the drinks were the best we had in Mazatlan. Then, the food. We wanted to try the Cuban menu, having access at home to lots of delicious authentic Mexican food. And that didn't disappoint. We had black bean soup, ropa vieja, onioned steak, and two desserts, because we'd been so impressed by everything else and couldn't decide between the "temptation bananas" (flambé plantains) and the housemade flan, which was quite denser than what we've had before. While our digestive systems regretted the significant caloric overload later that night, everything was so tasty we came back for (a lighter) lunch the next day. Carlos remembered us and although there were more customers he was still friendly and attentive. This time we ordered small tropical drinks ("small"= pint glass-sized, and he brought some extra from the blender), garlic soup (he'd mentioned this was a regulars' favorite), some fish and shrimp tacos, and a Cuban sandwich, which was basically the ropa vieja in sandwich form. All yummy, but the soups took the cake for me for their unique and impressive flavor. I'd say this is a hidden gem but Carlos disagrees-- he says the crowds always come: during school spring breaks, festivals and other holidays. Except September: he and his wife close the restaurant to travel, so maybe that's a bad time to come to Mazatlan ;) read more

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Good food with Cuban influence. Family of four with one appetizer one alcoholic drink and for entrees was under $40 for dinner. It is great to have this across from our hotel... read more

Great food! Great service! Met Carlos himself! Great service. He makes a mean Mojoto! Fresh! We had good Cuban sandwiches! read more

Carlos and Lucia - Cuban Near Me - Mazatlán, SIN

Great Cuban food! Very authentic. I also had Cuban coffee there. The owner, Carlos was fun to visit with and made it a very delightful experience! I will definitely return for the cuban cuisine and ambiance. read more

Wow what a great restaurant! Awesome mojitos a la Carlos. The chicken nachos were super fresh and combined with the jalapeño salsa to give it a nice kick. Followed up by a sish kabob (as spelt on the menu), a delicious combo of shrimp, chicken and marinated beef. The girlfriend had the Mexican platter which was a huge combo of quesadillas, marinated beef steak, beans and rice....could only finish half. Carlos is a friendly and gregarious host. When in Mazatlan you must have this restaurant on your to do list. read more

Best Margaritas and Mojitos in all of the Zona Dorada. We went on a suggestion from some friends we met in the hot top at a resort. Friendly Canadians. I grew up in Florida and can honestly say this was awesome Cuban food. They are so friendly and have such good food and service read more

Highly recommend Carlos y Luisas. Carlos speaks perfect English and is very knowledgable about their menu. Their wine is good, (unusual in Mexico) and the food was outstanding. They will prepare whichever meat or fish you prefer in a large variety of ways. I had sirloin ranchera style with rice and black beans and vegetables. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. Additionally they have PARKING, a rarity in the golden zone, behind the restaurant. The entrance to the parking is just a little before the restaurant but Carlos will show you if you stop outside and ask him. Will be making this a regular stop while we are here. read more

We had a mixed experience here. The famous mojitos were disappointing, tasted watered down. The food, when it finally came, was good. i ordered the garlic soup, and it was fantastic, but apparently made to order, as I waited about 15 minutes for it. Then another wait for the rest of the food, which was quite good. They were out of the smoked pork chops, so I ordered the "plain" ones, which were moist and delicious. Hubby had Cuban-style shrimp, which he really liked. The interior is colorful and fun. read more

Definitely worth a visit! Taste, portion size and price all combine to create a wonderful experience. Carlos is fun and professional. We come every time we visit Mazatlan. read more

Hard to say enough nice things about this place. Carlos was fantastically welcoming, and his (well deserved) pride in the food and drinks shines though. My favorite mojito by far! Will be craving them until my next time in Mazatlán. read more

Carlos was really welcoming and excited to meet us. We chatted for quite a bit about their family history which was pretty interesting. We had Cuban food which was a pretty large portion and delicious. We ate The Biste de Lomo and the Pork chops. We both had congris and sweet plantains. The food was very authentic. We recommend this place and will come again next time we are in the area. read more

Okay, so I spent a week in Mazatlan Mexico with my mother and we happened to stumble upon this restaurant a few blocks away from El Cid, the hotel we were staying at. Can I just say, not only was the food amazing, but the owner of the restaurant, Carlos was wonderful. We ate there for dinner and while we were eating he talked to us and told us stories about where he grew up and went to school and how he met his wife Lucia. It really felt like going to visit a friend's house and sitting around the table telling stories. All the ingredients were fresh. I ordered the best chicken fajita I have ever had the pleasure of eating. And even the margaritas tasted like heaven in a glass. I would have gone for breakfast too, but it was the off season so they didn't open until 12pm. Regardless if you ever have a chance to eat at this restaurant please make sure that you do. read more

Carlos is a really gracious host and makes a great mojito. I had the black bean soup and ropa and both were delicious. Really great spot to try when in Mazatlan read more

A must-try in Mazatlan. My favorite meal (so far) during our trip. Came for dinner on a Thursday night. Great atmosphere and the owner (Carlos) was our server/bartender and provided great conversation. Started with chips, salsa and guacamole. All were fresh and delicious. For dinner, my husband had the Shrimp Diablo and I had the Cuban Sandwich. Both were amazing. Side of fried plantains were also delicious, even though I'm not a big fan of bananas. Mojitos are also amazing! Very fresh and worth the wait. Definitely add this to your list of places to visit in Mazatlan! read more

Went to Carlos and Lucia for lunch and was pleasantly suprised with the cusine. Prices were reasonable and the cuban dishes we ordered were very authentic like homemade. We had split the onion steak, ropa viejo and a cuban sandwich all were very tasty. I will go again and recommend to anyone visiting Matzalan. read more

The food is a delicacy and I would go there every instance I get if I'm in Mazatlán. With the amazing food and great service. Every time I asked for chips or a drink he would drop everything and deliver for me and it was the greatest feeling I ever had when I saw the food read more

By far the best mojitos in Mazatlán! Actually...probably the best I've ever had. Great food and the owner is great and is a riot to talk to and hang out with! read more

I love Carlos and Lucia's. The food is so good, my favorite is the Cuban Asada with fried plantains. Carlos is a lovely person, he is both friendly and interesting. We make it a point to eat at Carlos & Lucia's multiple times each time we visit Mazatlán. read more

Highly recommend eating at Carlos and Lucias. Amazing food paired with equally amazing hospitality. If it's your first time at Mazatlan you NEED to stop by. Carlos has tons of info and advice if you have any questions on anything Mazatlan. He will even give you a brief history lesson on the place. Super friendly and will sit with you and just chat. I had the ribs and mojito which were to die for! read more

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I ate my first meal in Mazatlan at Carlos and Lucia's old restaurant many years ago and have returned every time I visit. I have never had a bad experience. Food is fantastic and people are very nice. Will continue to return as long as I come to Mazatlan. read more

I stopped in here for dinner last week while on vacation in Mazatlan. I found the restaurant via Yelp and was excited by the positive reviews. The experience did not disappoint. Carlos personally attends to every guest in the restaurant, and while the place was very busy, he came by often to check on us. We enjoyed delicious, well-prepared Mojitos on the patio accompanied by a fried plantain appetizer that was the perfect start to the meal. I make it my mission to try the Cuban sandwich in nearly restaurant I patronize if one is offered. This one had to rank at the top. It was so well executed and is prepared in Carlos' special way so that it's not your average Cuban. My date enjoyed the Asado Cubano that was a hearty portion of roasted pork and potatoes in perfectly balanced sauce served with fried plantain and rice. In sum, I would not hesitate to recommend this cozy spot to anyone looking for an authentic Cuban experience in Mazatlan. The menu also has a wide range of other entrees for those not in the mood for Cuban that I have no doubt are prepared as thoughtfully as those described above. I only wish that I had time to try more before departing. read more

On three separate occasions, I had a problem with my food. Carlos, the owner came to our table, and after telling him what the problem was, he said, "What do you want me to do about it?" Needless to say, we don't go back there. read more

Go here! Without a doubt, the best guacamole, margaritas, and genuine food in the golden zone. Carlos will greet you, mix your drinks, and serve you. He is a delight. The food is obviously home made with love. The prices cannot be beat for the quality. I cannot wait until I am able to go back. Do not miss this restaurant while you're in Mazatlan. read more

Food was delicious, owner is a great guy and everything is made fresh to order. Salsa, ceviche, sandwich, and mojito were all must tries. Do not come to Mazatlan without stopping here. read more

Great food cooked to order either Cuban style or Mexican style. Modest prices for nice portions of delicious food. Nice friendly ambiance with slightly eccentric but pleasant decor and terrific attentive service (and wonderful conversation) by Carlos the owner, who speaks perfect English. Family owned and operated. Definitely worth seeking out. Lunches and dinners. Limited but very adequate selection of liquor, beer and wine. Killer mojitos made from scratch. Comfy, delicious, fair prices and you won't leave hungry. (If it matters, reportedly a favorite haunt of Eric Burden of The Animals fame.) read more

Carlos is delightful!!! We stopped in for a bite to eat the mojito was so fresh and tasty better then I've had anywhere else! But for me I couldn't be happier then when we got our order of fried plantains! By far one of my favorite meals while in Mazatlán!!! read more

They have the best seafood!! And the mojitos are the best!! Not to mention the brunch menu!!! Absolutely will return when I go back to Mazatlan. This is a must eat place! read more

Stopped in for a mojito. Best ever!!!! Cuban sandwich - excellent!! Will return this trip for lunch/dinner. After chatting with Carlos, I know to want to try a bit of everything on the menu. read more