I have been here many times and liked the food and service. Today it was awful. Our waitress was rude-i got the wrong food because I wasn't clear at all. My fault but there was no attempt to make me happy at all. My husband was changed extra for beans on his nacho but there were none. No one cared. Waitress was annoyed we questioned if. I ate food i did not want and did not like. Most was left on the plate. We paid and left and will not be back EVER read more

Food is typical texmex. Ambiance is good and comfortable. It's the service that is horrid. Walked in and it took a while to be seated. Seemed like we were ignored soon as we came in. When seated it took about 15 minutes to get drink order. Then another time of being ignored to place food order. I would not recommend this establishment. read more

Friendly service! Food was good as well! I always enjoy a good birria taco! The wait time was not long

Al Pastor tacos were very good. And so was the margarita!! One of the better authentic Mexican restaurants.

Food is delicious!! I recommend the guacamole with chips - it's made fresh! Fast service. Definitely our go to for Mexican food!

This is a real review from a real customer. I will never use the business again for the following reasons. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGEOUS!! 1. If you order food for pickup they will charge the customer for the containers that they use to provide the food! Can you imagine if you went to McDonalds and they charged you for the container they put the French Fries in? 2. They will charge the customer $2.34 for the use of a debit card. This is illegal according to the terms of the Merchants contract. Do a google search and check for yourselves. They cannot charge a surcharge on a debit card. 3. Lastly, they shorted our order of the Chimichangas ($9.99). When we called to let them know, they said "sorry" and hung up the phone. I called back to speak to a manager and of course no one is available, and the guy on the phone said there have been a lot of people complaining about their orders being short lately.....DUH. I spent a total of $60.88 and don't expect to be cheated. OUTRAGEOUS!! Don't be a sucker like me. Simply trying to do business with these guys cost me an unnecessary $13.58. I will dispute with the Bank. It is unfathomable that in this day with most small businesses struggling, they would have the gall to pull this on honest customers. Just unreal. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Proof is in the pudding - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This is my new joint!!! Hands down the best Mexican I've had since returning to Columbia. The service was prompt and the staff were friendly. I had the burrito California. It was filled with grilled chicken (not shredded) and plenty of onions. The rice is cooked with veggies, my fav! Kiddos enjoyed chicken fingers with fries at a whopping $3.99 per plate! Sounds good to me. They also have mesquite chocolate milk bottles which has won my 5 year old over!!! Score! Hubby had the fajitas and had plenty for leftovers. They were able to seat us promptly in a Friday after 7 pm. We had 6 in our group. Definitely will be back Update Nov 2018- Tonight was not very good. Bland food and they charge 4% if you use a credit card. This visit I ordered a combo, #18, and it just lacked flavor. The salsa seemed so watery. My 9 year old even commented on how the food wasn't as good this time. While the credit card fee may only amount to a few bucks I don't think it's worth it. Back to searching for our new go to Mexican spot read more

The food was ok but lunch prices are so cheap they match the quality level of the food. The wait staff while not friendly did make sure drinks were filled and if you asked for something they got it to you right away. One other issue is the menu has two different versions of what their version of a chalupa is and unfortunately my wife was hoping for the first picture. Will go back but only because it is fast and cheap. read more

We drive here from a good distance just for the fresh made Guacamole. Made to order you could almost make a meal out of it but you'd be passing up on the other great food options. Service is always great and staff is always friendly. read more

Best Mexican food I've had in a long time. Was going to my typical San Jose but they were closed Sunday. So I figure I would try them out instead. And I'm so glad I did. They have made an all the customer out of me. It was delicious read more

Terrible service 0/10. Food 3/10. I felt very unwelcomed. Wish I would have left when i was ignored the first time.

I love the food when you can get the phone to ring... There is no way to order take out so I have to drive to the San Jose's.. Dining in is an option but the service is hit or miss. So much potential. read more

Fantastic fresh guacamole! Nice environment with outside seating. Can handle larger groups.

Hell to the yes! Coming from Texas it's been a struggle to find "good" Mexican food.... even decent Texmex. I was in town for work and happened on this place. Holy crap at the size of the "small" guacamole! He brought it and I laughed.. see photo! The salsa is decent, be sure to ask for the "hot salsa" from the back... wink... most of these good places will have a hotter one in the back. I got a carne pork taco and WOW... oh yes... and yes some more. For the love of all things holy I couldn't believe how much I ordered and didn't want to leave one morsel left behind. The tacos are served like street tacos and absolutely delicious. I can't wait to go back to Columbia so I can eat here again. Hell I live about 70 miles away and this is worth a trip! Service was fast for lunch, the place is nicely appointed and clean. All my lunch missed was a cold cerveza! read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Size comparison of small guacamole to salsa cup - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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The worst Mexican restaurant in Columbia/IRMO. It's a waste of your time and money. My cheese was watery and food had no seasoning. Worst mistake for taco Tuesday's. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Slop for pigs - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We went for lunch on a Friday afternoon. We sat outside by the fountain, as the weather was just wonderful. We didn't wait long to order and service was really good and friendly. The food was really good. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes Amera-Mex food. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is our first time while vacationing in SC. Our kids who love Mexican food, especially my son-in-law who is an excellent critique of Mexican food, was very happy his wife found this restaurant on our way back home to GA. After trying many Mexican restaurants here in the south and being unhappy, he found one he is willing to travel the 1 1/2 hrs to. The table side made guacamole was excellent. We had chicken tacos, rice and beans which were very good. The south uses white cheese not the orange. The refried beans are very, very mashed, but good. Enjoyed the rice with chopped tomatoes. Since I am from CA, I asked for a Cadillac Margarita with Grand Mariner and unfortunately they didn't know what that meant because they asked me two times what I asked for. Come to find out, at least according to our guacamole maker, they are called Texas Margaritas. This restaurant pre-makes a very large batch which includes the Grand Mariner. It was good, but weak which is fine with me. Our service was a bit slow, but everything else made up for it. Oh yes, the chips and salsa were warm and tasty. My daughter said her corn tortillas were good as was her fajitas. My son-in-law forgot to ask for cheese enchiladas forgetting in the south they default to ground beef. However he said they were pretty good and he doesn't care much for ground beef, that says quite a lot coming from him. I loved the Mexican music played. So if you find yourself in Columbia or passing through, try Chapalas in Irmo. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Guacamole made at your table. Very, very good. - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Ok welllllllll..... Wasn't As good as I thought it would be. I ordered an enchilada. And the sauce that was poured over it, was a little sweet. And not to much cheese on top. My hubby ordered volcan de fuego. He liked it very much. I tasted a shrimp. And OMG. It was very good. My daughter ordered special fajita nachos. They were ok. And the other daughter ordered steak fajitas. She said they were a little dry and tough. The tea was good. The atmosphere was ok. The prices weren't too bad. read more

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DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!! The food is mediocre. But, what makes me want to give them less than 1star is their lack of customer service. They didn't even hand me my order of over $60 worth of take out, they just pushed it toward me on the counter and waited on the gentleman behind me...who was more kind to me than they were, and handed me my bag. Then, they left out my Chimichanga, when we called back we were put on hold, and told because the kitchen and counter staff were vouching for each other, they could not give us what we paid for...WHAT!?!? To top it off they charge you $.25 for each disposable take out container!!! This is the very last time they get my business...I am running for the border to Taco Bell first. read more

2nd time here, best Mexican food since moving out this way from California last year. I had the enchiladas Mexico which were amazingly delicious, last time my wife and I shared the Vulcan which was amazing. The horchata is the best we've had. We live in Augusta and that should express how far we are willing to travel for great Mexican food. read more

I used to be a die hard Chapala fan but the quality of the food has been spiriting since king before Covid. I had stopped eating anything but the quest fundido, which I was addicted to. Sadly, last week I ordered one for takeout. As I was eating it, I fel something I. My mother that seemed weird and spit it out. Out comes a disgusting and dirty fingernail clipping! Needless to say I immediately threw up. I will NEVVER EVER step foot in Chapala again. Just effing gross! Next is a complaint to DHEC! read more

The pollo fundio is 5 stars! Best dish at this restaurant. Shredded chicken with queso poured all over it! This has become my new favorite Mexican spot. read more

Growing up and living in the West for most of my life, I ate a lot of different types of Mexican from California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. So far, I have yet to find a Mexican restaurant in Columbia worth repeating. I expected great things based on the reviews after searching for Tex Mex. First of all, the staff is very friendly and the appearance was fine. The menu looks great with a wide variety of offerings and an amazing selection of 35 combos. I was delighted to find my favorite, enchilada, taco, and poblano (chili) relleno. Alas, the taco meat was tasted like just hamburger and was not very 'loaded'. The thin, red enchilada sauce seemed little different than the stuff of out a can. The relleno was good though with some spice in the pepper. Personally, I like the brown enchilada sauce with melted cheese on it and some spice in the taco meat. Meal was served hot and was just enough to eat. The best part was the $6.99 Dos X pitcher - this was a huge pitcher. Much more than we expected and the waitress was kind enough to back The real killer to me is the credit card surcharge that exceeds the cost of the merchant fee. I thought this violated the merchant card agreements. At least it did when I ran a business. read more

Best chilaquiles I've had in sooooo long. 5 stars for taking me back through memory lane to my first and favorite chilaquiles experience at the now closed Mi Mexico in Duluth, Georgia. I always order this dish at Mexican restaurants hoping it'll be the same and it never measured up... til now! FYI (in case you don't know), chilaquiles is a dish usually comprised of tortilla chips & shredded chicken topped with a red or green sauce, fried eggs, and cheese. The dish is surprisingly served as a breakfast item, even though it's super heavy. This is because traditionally, it originated from a need to use up stale tortilla chips and leftover chicken from the previous night's dinner. The chips are at the bottom of the delicious mess, so they become soft and absorb all the flavor from the chicken and sauce. Queso fundido was also a great choice for appetizer (cheese with chorizo). A lotta queso for one gal, though. Which reminds me--PORTIONS ARE HUGE. Service has been attentive and quick. Acoustics are not the best as I can hear everyone's conversations but it's not a deal breaker. Wish I had pictures for y'all but ummm... I was hungry after a long day working in the hot sun, and I couldn't wait Definitely putting Chapala in my rotation of restaurants during this business trip! read more

Sat at the bar, excellent service. Ordered the California burrito with shredded chicken...it was amazing. Salsa and chips were awesome, as well as the margaritas. read more

We love Chapala! Close by and the Guacamole made at the table is awesome. I particularly like Chimichangas that are crisp, I ask and they are always crispy and great! Not to mention they taste very, very good! We often call in for a go order of Guacamole .... Awesome! read more

We also eat here as our go to place for Mexican food and it never disappoints. Everything always tastes fresh, hot and yummy. They have good salsa along with cheese dip. Outdoor seating is available. Plenty of parking. Kids menu available also. Several American dishes are also available such as steak along with cheeseburger and fries. read more

I had eaten at this restaurant years ago on Hwy 6 in Lexington SC. But the food changed the flavor and taste were not as good as before. So I decided to try the one in Irmo SC. And there was the familiar taste from years before I had missed so much. After speaking with a lady there I discovered the cook was original cook from hwy 6. I found home again the flavor and taste are amazing. The wait staff are great. Great location pleasant eating experience. One of Irmo SC hidden gems. I love to walk in and Immediately be seated without wait. So come on out and check this place out. I promise you it will be your favorite go to for Mexican food!!! The prices are reasonable. Plates are full. The steak is cooked so tender and the flavors taste so good. No need for a knife the steak falls apart yummy!!! read more

Chapala is a great, family-friendly neighborhood restaurant! We think their Mexican dishes are wonderful and we eat there regularly. You get a lot of food for your money, especially if you take advantage of the daily specials. There are plenty of inexpensive lunch choices on the back of the menu too. Some our our favorite dishes are the California Burrito, the Loaded Chicken Fajitas Nachos, and The Chicken Soup. read more

Great food. The staff is always friendly. Make sure to try out the specialty drinks, they come in a clay pot and are perfect for sipping on the patio. And now they have black beans too! I love coming here. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Did Equis mmmmmm! - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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This place was awesome! They had amazing chips and salsa! Their queso was great and so was their food! My boyfriend and I had the number 8 and 7 and they were both perfect! We will definitely be returning to here! The only thing negative I have to say is that the frozen margarita had a little too much mixer in it and which made it a little too sweet and juicy but my boyfriend had the 'on the rocks' margarita and he said it was perfect! read more

Took a long time to get seated which is just as well - gave us time to see the new surcharge of 4% if you don't pay in cash. Very sketchy. Food was good last time but not great. Won't be read more

Updated review. Service was excellent. Food was delicious. Seated very quickly. We were checked on quite a few times. Behind us sat a child who must have had some form of autism, the manager was amazing with him. Interacted with him, and made sure he was taken care of. I was very impressed. The waiter, once he knew my husband is legally blind was very careful to make sure he was aware of the extremely hot plates. All the food was delicious, too bad I had to eat it cold (I have little ones) next time I will just enjoy my chips, salsa and cheese dip. I will enjoy hot foods again in 10 years lol read more

Come here all the time. Love the food and atmosphere. It's much better than other Mexican joints in town. Great lunch specials and the food is always fresh. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - 32 oz Dos Equis - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

So I eat a lot of Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food. My favorite. I've been on the road for 6 of the last eight days and I was really craving Mexican food. This place hit the spot. I consider myself a fajitas expert. They are very very good here. I got the Texas Fajitas, beef, chicken, and shrimp. There was a good portion of each along with onions, red peppers, and green peppers. Well seasoned. Big tortillas. Very good white queso. The service was fast and friendly. The food is authentic and not run of the mill Mexican food. I recommend this place and I will be back. read more

I have been three times now and I can say I truly enjoy this restaurant. The food is fresh, standard tex-mex, but very well made. Tnere is a chicken with rich seasoning, mushrooms, Bell peppers, onions and other veggies that was so moist. The margaritas are far better than the sickly sweet junk at other chain Mexican spots in town. The staff shines above the rest. We came on a Saturday night with a Party of 12 and they were more than accommodating. They graciously moved us outside, it was a rare cool/early fall night, and attended to all of our needs. They surprised us all by putting a sombrero on my hubby's head, serenading him, and smooshing whip cream in his face! It was a perfect birthday. I highly recommend Chapala's in Irmo! read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - The staff is incredibly accommodating and the food is fresh and delicious. I truly enjoy this place and hope it stays! - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I enjoyed my meal-the volcan en fuego. However, to me it did not live up to my expectations based on other reviews. The flavor was good. The shrimp and meats were overcooked to my taste. The onions/leeks were all but overlooked...too much sauce as well. That being said, it was the best Mexican I have had in Irmo in recent memory. I would eat there again. The skinny margaritas are pretty good---not too sweet. read more

Super sweet staff, great prices and food is incredible. I recommend the table side guacamole and house margaritas. read more

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - Great prices, food and drinks! - Mexican Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food is fantastic, service was great. We had the fajitas with chicken, beef and shrimp, and the guacamole. All of it was delicious. Will definitely be returning! read more

Muchisimas gracias a Alicia, porque eres muy amable. The service was actually very attentive such that my drink never fell below half mast and I didn't have a chance to lack for any need I might have desired. Overall, the menu is slightly more tailored to the American palate that I might have cared to see, though my Torta Loca was reminiscent of the splendid fare served by the street vendors in several Mexican cities. It was exceptionally authentic and delicious in and of itself. I was not impressed with the Tacos De Camarones, but the Agua de Jamaica was bursting with the robust flavor I appreciate very much. read more