Hubby felt like getting mexican and so here we are!! We were greeted the moment we came in. And told to pick our own seat. Love that we have the freedom to choose. Our server was laidback and chill. Beautiful mural on one wall and a combination of booths and tables. They have a full bar and offer a variety of alcoholic drinks, beer, hard liquor and cocktails. We chose to go non alcoholic. Hubby had a diet coke and i had a glass of unsweetened iced tea. Drinks arrived quickly. My iced tea was very light almost like water. Salsa was not spicy enough but chips were crispy. Our food came within 10 minutes. I ordered grilled mahi tacos. The mini soft shell tacos came in a metal taco holder. Soft shells were soft and moist. And the grilled fish was fresh. It was not over filled and had a good balance. The sauce that came was delicious pinepple habanero sauce was to die for. I wished they would be like some other mexican reataurants that provided two options for salsa- a less spicy and one that kicked up a notch. However, that said- we did enjoy our food. We will be back. read more

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First time in today. We stopped for a mexican lunch. I ordered two beef tacos with a side of rice. One crispy corn and one soft flour shell. They were served with beef, lettuce, Pico de gallo and cheese. I added some pin apple habenero salsa (came with my wife meal) that was delicious. The chips and salsa were average. The restaurant was in a nice location and looked very nice. Our waiter was a friendly young man and did a good job read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - Beef tacos with rice - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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It was great!! Quick service and good food! Loved our experience and we will be back soon!

This place is a step above your average Mexican restaurant. We have been trying out several things on the menu over the last few months and they never fail to impress. Our family loves this place. We will keep coming back. Chimichanga and Chile Riano are epic The Carne Asada plate as well is very good. The meat is super tender. Everything is always so well prepared. read more

I loved the environment, it was super clean and the service was INCREDIBLE! My husband and I split the ground beef sopas and the asada sopas. I definitely preferred the ground beef and would 100% order it again. Plus, the complimentary chips and salsa were such a nice touch! read more

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I am looking for a Mexican restaurant at which I must wait an hour for a table. I haven't found one in Lincoln. This one is the best I've run across here even though it is not rated on Yelp as one of the very best. The ambiance is pleasant, slightly upscale pleasant. Our dinners were excellent. Kathy had a creamed chicken that she described as excellent. I had a sampler that included a chorizo patty, carne asada and a chili relleno. It was presented with a brush of elegance with the sides spooned into a three-divide serving dish. The flavor of everything was excellent. Of particular note is that the chorizo was outstanding, with a powerful, flavorful sauce, so powerful that I could not finish it. It wasn't hot, just intense. Damn, it was good. My only complaint is that the asada was tough, very tough; and thin, very thin. Otherwise I would probably have given Copal five stars. Onward in search of the one-hour wait...and return here. read more

Great Mexican food. Definitely more culinary with twist style. Started off the chicken nachos with the chicken tinga nachos. They had a good amount of chicken and toppings! Next I had the birria tacos with the consome, delicious and nice and heavy on the beef. My friend had the shrimp and fish tacos, which she said were delicious. We did have margaritas, cant go wrong any of them. read more

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Happy hour at Copal is where it's at. Best margaritas in town by a long shot - and amazing food too. I LOVE their chips and salsa. read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - Happy Hour Menu - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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Came here for dinner with some friends my fiance and brother after suddenly changing plans to get Mexican instead of classic American. The chips and Salsa they brought at the beginning was so fresh! I really love that Salsa and it was hard to stop myself from reaching for that bowl over an over. I ordered the Fish and Shrimp tacos, but with only the grilled Mahi Mahi. I loved the fish by itself and that pineapple mango pico de gallo on top was really good too. I wasn't too big a fan of the whole taco as a whole though. The tortilla probably put things off for me. I also opted for some vegetables and mix of guacamole and some extra salsas on the side instead of the rice and beans that came with. I tried the beans from my fiance's bowl and they were actually really good. Fiancé got the Pastor tacos and those were freaking amazing! Perfectly cooked meat and everything went amazing together. Tortillas were definitely great there. My brother got the Mole Enchiladas and really loved them. That depth of flavor actually came through. Not pretty to look at but very good to eat! The rest of the table got some fajitas and carne asada and everyone enjoyed their food. There was also some Passionfruit Margarita and Strawberry Margarita ordered. I tried the strawberry and the flavor was really good as well. Not too strong and I could have totally sipped on it all myself. Cut off a point because I felt sick after going home and actually threw up too. read more

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Tried this place for the first time. The food was good. We had the sopes and the huarache. Not things you can find at a lot of Mexican restaurants. We asked for them with no meat. Both were tasty. We also had the churros for dessert and the were very tasty. Only drawback was what appeared to be a new person who was not familiar with the menu and hard time answering questions. Even so, we will be coming back here. read more

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Yummy! Service person was fun, food was delicious!!! I tried the chicken corn soup and I could just swim in that broth!

We live close to Copal so we've been in quite a bit. It is hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant on the South side of town. Whether it's to grab a to go order, a quick lunch, date night, or book club... Copal has never disappointed me The Birria tacos are my usual order, but I've also had the Al pastor tacos and they were great as well. The chips and salsa are also tasty. read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - Birria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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A really satisfying meal for everyone in our family. That includes our little kids and my parents, one of whom isn't crazy about Mexican food. We did carry out due to the Pandemic, and thought everything tasted just about as good as could have been expected. Each dish had a little extra something added to their standard Mexican fare. As an example, their salsa was delightfully complex - savory and smokey, with a touch of sweetness. Also, they sent us home with a generous serving of salsa and chips for each entree, so we enjoyed Copal for several days afterwards! Copal was a little optimistic on how quickly their food would be ready. Their email said 20 minutes, but it was a little more than 30. But this did not detract from a great dining experience. Strongly recommend! read more

We started using Copal during Covid in 2020 and continue to use them on a regular basis. We really feel it is tops when you consider the three main things that make a restaurant unforgettable. The service, ambiance and food are second to none. So we highly recommend this place and will continue to go back over and over again. read more

The guac/queso/salsa triple dip with still-crackling pork rinds instead of chips Tasty margs. Love the carnitas burrito. Great service. read more

Skip this place! First off the menu they have online is not at all the menu in person. Went in excited about the duck tamales only to find they changed the menu but didn't update it online. We were already there so we stayed, big mistake. 2 out of the 4 diners ordered soup. One ordered the creamy corn soup, which is on the menu and the other ordered the chicken and rice soup. Soup came to the table with entrees and wasn't even warm and both soups seemed to be something different than the creamy corn or rice and chicken soups we ordered. The rest of the food tasted like they had heated up frozen Mexican food. It was plated nicely if that is your thing. Never got chips, salsa or water refills until after we asked for the check. Had to ask 3 times for the check and besides our table there was one other person sitting at the bar, so not busy at all. We asked the waiter twice about the menu change and he acted like he didn't know anything about it and at first said it was the same and when we pulled it up and asked him he said laughed and said he knew but didn't know why. Honestly, go to Taco Bell for cheaper food that's pretty much the same quality. read more

Don't read those 4 star or less reviews....great food and great service! I ordered the steak tacos, and my husband had the fish + shrimp tacos. Both were delicious and not greasy!! The margaritas were also really good. Our waitress was very sweet, and very attentive. We don't live anywhere near Lincoln Nebraska, but if we ever come back, we'll be sure to visit this restaurant again! read more

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My favorite Mexican restaurant in Lincoln. I've tried most things on the menu. The only entree that was not to my liking, but I have friends who love it, is the fish tacos. Enjoy!! read more

Visited Copal with a party of five on a Sunday afternoon. We made reservations but probably didn't need to. We were seated in a cozy corner booth. Server took our drink order which was a pitcher of margaritas. Menu was right sized and didn't have too many unnecessary options. I ordered chicken fajitas. Service was slow, but it wasn't the servers fault. Like most restaurants, they didn't have enough servers. (You all need to pay your servers more.) This is where I insert my only negative comment. We ordered Guacamole and it was absolutely tasteless. It was weird how tasteless it was. Our dinners were brought to the table hot and fresh. And mine was delicious!! Absolutely fabulous. It came with beans and rice in a lovely presentation. The prices were quite reasonable. On par with other Mexican restaurants. But, the food was best in town. I encourage the owners to get more staff. Give the chef whatever he wants to keep him. BUT, you have got to do something with the Guacamole and Salsa. Both need more flavor. Much more. I look forward to coming back and trying new menu items. I recommend this restaurant for everyone. read more

Our server, Jasmine, was really friendly and helpful when we had questions about our Happy Hour bill - she patiently worked with us until all was resolved. Copal's Happy Hour is well worth the visit! Fantastic margs and food! read more

If you're looking for a nicer style Mexican meal that still has some traditional roots, this is a great spot for you. They've got lots of parking in the lot, and a menu that covers a lot more than local texmex counterparts. We did a pick up order thru the yelp app using grubhub. It was easy to use and the order pushed through very quickly (I called after placing it just to check). Our order was a mix of tacos and enchiladas. I could tell the food was homemade, and I particularly liked the Mole on the enchiladas. Overall, they did everything well. I would say, this restaurant is probably just not my style. I love the hole in the wall salt-acid-fat of street mexican, something like what you might find at El Ray. I do recommend Copal though, and they are a good addition to the neighborhood. read more

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There isn't anything that missed during our visit here. The service was incredible, our drinks were refreshing and perfectly mixed. The food was spectacular. The shining star was absolutely the chile relleno, however, the other dishes we had were equally as delicious. Lastly, the decor and vibes in this restaurant were great. This will be our new go-to Mexican spot, in Lincoln! read more

Some of the best Mexican food in town! They also have the coldest beer in around, get a draft and you'll understand!

My first time here and it was really good. We went right when they were opening for dinner, and the service was attentive. We were both very happy with what we ordered and will come back to try other options again. read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - Hearty salad with beef - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

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Amazing steak at breakfast! Layers of flavor. Fantastic salsas. I need to eat here more.

Tried this restaurant for the first time last Saturday. Food was fantastic. The Birria tacos were amazing and great salsa too. Highly recommend. The ambience was nice and service was excellent. We were even greeted at the door. read more

Absolutely wonderful experience!! When we arrived it was obvious that the service staff was ready to go! Edsen was our server and he explained everything so well and made the best recommendation EVER! The other wait staff didn't hesitate to assist where needed. It was obvious that this was a family owned establishment and they take a lot of pride in both the food and the service!!! Great great job! We will be back!! read more

Not even one star. First, they were not busy, but it took forever to get waited on . I tried to ask the wait staff and owner, I presume, about items on the menu, but the wait staff did not know and the older man was hard to communicate with. My mom and I had been waiting for awhile to order and we were hungry so we went ahead and ordered. The meals were the worst we have ever had. The tamales were like breaded corn dogs. The carnita was greasy, unflavorful chunks of fatty pork. I told the man who I presumed was the owner and he just mumbled, shrugged and offered to give me something off my next meal. I told him we didn't like the food and would not be coming back. He still did not offer anything back to me or my 92 year old mom for the terrible food. I usually would not take the time to write a bad review, but if I can spare anyone else from our experience it is worth my time. read more

We were really looking forward to this, but it was so bad. To begin with, the menus were crumpled and stained with food (see photo). They brought chips and salsa (chips were cold), then took our drink and appetizers order. I mentioned I have a gluten allergy but the server wasn't sure what I meant. We order the cheese dip and two margaritas to start. In a few minutes, we received another basket of cold chips and a room temperature bowl of liquid cheese. When I pointed out that the menu says the cheese dip comes with jalapeños and chorizo, the server replied that "most people don't like chorizo" and offered to bring us a side of it. When it arrived, it wasn't fully cooked. We were too disappointed in the experience to order entrees as we'd planned. read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - Food stained menu - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

Went for the first time tonight after wanting to for quite some time. I had las Verdes carnita enchiladas, the wife had mole enchiladas, the kid a burrito off of the kids menu, and we had a queso dip appetizer. Everything was very good with the exception of the queso, which had broken and was very runny, and nearly impossible to dip...was more like a thin soup. Kid's burrito said it was bean and cheese but there was also rice in it. Kids rejected. Kids are picky, no big deal, but the menu (or kitchen) should be accurate. Service was friendly, competent, and not too much or two little. If I was her, however, I wouldn't have served that queso. I liked the atmosphere...casual, not loud...nice to able to have a conversation... seems like so many new restaurants feel like they have to crank music to manufacture "fun" for some reason. We'll be back. Attention to detail was off tonight but as I said, most everything was very tasty. I also liked read more

A little pricey but always great quality. Recommend for a great date night or special occasion

Bland, cold food. It use to be so good when it first opened but has really gone downhill............

I've been thinking about my steak entree from Copal since I ate here a couple of weeks ago. It was really THAT delicious and I've had to fight the urge to return at least 4 times! I had heard wonderful things about Copal but what held me back was the fear that it was going to be super expensive with small plates. That wasn't the case at all! A large group of co-workers showed up for drinks and dinner on a Tuesday evening. Service was great and the waiter took the time to answer our questions. I wasn't drinking but my coworkers polished off a few sangrias and the most delicious looking Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila. For entrees, I've already raved about my meal, which was the Steak Tampiquineo (Arrachera beef steak covered with green salsa and refried beans, accompanied by a side of potato-ham casserole, rice and olla beans). Wow, it has so many layers of flavor, a little spicy, the steak was juicy and the side of potatoes were wonderful. The accompanying rice and beans were just ok. There were three people at our table who had creamy tomato enchiladas. They each had different meats but it comes with an option for braised stuffed chicken, ground beef or veggies, and is topped with creamy special sauce, sour cream and mozzarella - parmesan gratin on a corn tortillas. One of my co-workers is pretty picky about eating out and trying new dishes and she said this is a great choice for someone with her tastes. Simple and delicious. My boss, who is also a foodie and has tasted some very high end foods, settled on the Las De Mole. Enchilads are topped with Copal's homemade mole sauce, prepared with over 15 ingredients resulting in a truly Mexican dish, served with cotija Cheese, sour cream and onion on corn tortillas. She loved it! She said mole is very hard to do well and she was impressed. I did sample her dish and it reminded me of the mole I had years ago when one of my Mexican ESL students prepared it for me. It was very authentic. I've never really had a taste for chipotle so I'm not a huge fan of mole in general. The meal would have been perfect except for one entree - ordered by my dear friend who raves about Copal and decided to stray from her usual. She took a chance and tried the duck tamales (fried corn masa filled with duck carnitas, adorned with red Salsa, green salsa and sour cream). Considered a customer favorite (according to the menu), my friend said it was a complete let down. Very little meat, too bready, she didn't eat even a 1/4 of it. I have a hard time finding the Copal website/menu so here it is: https://www.copallnk.com/menu read more

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Food is average. Trying to be more of a trendy/upscale Mexican restaurant. I appreciate the concept of different ingredients incorporated into the dishes, if the entrees were exceptional. They aren't. I prefer my tried and true Mexican restaurants. The ones I frequently crave and could eat almost daily. Doubt I'll return. read more

I recently had a fantastic takeout experience here. We ordered food for a small birthday and everything was delicious. The food traveled well and everything tasted fresh! I've heard such good things, but it was very satisfying to have myself.I highly recommend ordering the queso and being extra and getting the quac. I went with a traditional taco order, it was fantastic. Everyone dug in before I could get pics, but I highly recommend, especially if you're in the area, they're not many good mexican restaurants near by. read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants in Lincoln. We got the nachos and guacamole for take out. It was great. Wish there was a bit more queso on the chips. The quac tasted great, and was a nice sized portion. Nothing was too spicy even though there were jalapeños. We will go back and enjoy eating in the nice atmosphere, and have drinks. read more

Super disappointed. We had a group of six; when we arrived there were only two other tables occupied. The entire restaurant didn't even fill up to half capacity yet our drink orders were messed up, the first person served their meal was finished before the last person was served their meal. The food was extremely subpar and they charged us a 22%auto-gratuity After adding the tax. that was on top of not entering in any of our happy hour drinks until we went to leave there for not giving us the happy hour price. Will not be back. read more

Copal Progressive Mexican Cuisine - The duck tamales were so over fried I could even eat them. It was basically just fried corn meal and no duck. - Mexican Near Me - Lincoln, Nebraska

One word: Amazing! This is our go to place for Mexican food in Lincoln. We ordered Arepas (carne asada, carnitas, and chorizo) and Huaraches with chicken tinga. My favorite was the carne asada and carnitas arepas. The guac salsa is a great compliment to the flavors. All are winners. The complimentary chips and salsa are very good. I like the chips are nice and crispy. There is little spice to the salsa, I wish it had a little more heat to it. We will be back to try more items! read more

My husband and I stopped here on a Sunday afternoon. We are from Ohio, taking a road trip that will eventually lead us to MT. we looked at restaurants in the proximity of our drive, found this restaurant, then based on previous reviews we stopped. our food was delicious! We each had tacos, i had fish and my husband had beef. we also tried a thick corn tortilla covered in slaw, shrimp and spicy guacamole that was fantastic. Don't remember the name, we ordered it based on recommendation of our waiter who was very knowledgeable. Food made from scratch with fresh ingredients. if we drive through Lincoln again we would definitely stop. Highly recommend! read more

We checked out this place a few weeks ago and while it wasn't bad, nothing really amazed us. We came in for a late lunch on a weekend and there was only one other table, so we were able to get a table and were greeted by our server right away. There seemed to be a little confusion about the whole gluten allergy, our server had to keep going back and checking with the kitchen, but eventually I figured out what I could have. We got a little tiny plate of chips and salsa, which the salsa was very good but just a very small portion. Everything you order is a la carte, so again, portions felt a bit smaller than we were used to. I had the special which were duck tamales and they were pretty good. I also got a side of black beans. My guy had the enchiladas rojas and said they were okay. Price is pretty reasonable so if you didn't get enough food with their smaller portions and no sides you could order a couple of different things and treat it tapas style. Service was overall pretty average. It's worth checking out if you're in the area, it's just not one of my fav digs in Lincoln. read more

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