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    Don Carlos Restaurant

    3.8 (51 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Don Carlos Restaurant Photos

    DON CARLOS RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Don Carlos Restaurant

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    Tacos
    Chris O.

    Don Carlos provides fantastic service and mouthwatering food. The traditional setting brings back memories of my recent trip to Mexico. The lengua and al pastor tacos were especially delicious. Can't wait to return soon!

    Tacos
    Yesenia M.

    Visiting from out of town and I cannot believe I found this gem of a restaurant. I am Mexican and I'm always searching for a good authentic taco stand. This is a small taco restaurant that serves tacos like they do in Mexico (if you know you know.) I ordered 2 asada tacos and 1 carnitas. Service was fast and the tacos were 10/10. My favorite part of my tacos was the meat and the spicy red salsa cannot wait to come back already.

    2 Al Pastor (right) and 1 Asada (left)
    Eric N.

    Don Carlos recently re-opened after being closed. They have true Pastor from a vertical spit with a pineapple on top. Sweet and savory. I tried tacos Al pastor and asada. Both were great. The orange salsa is a great medium- not too spicy, not too mild. $3-4 per taco and great service from a waitress and friendly staff overall. They are located inside a covered patio next to a general store. Looks like the patio would be more open in the summer. Current hours: Sat-Sun only, 1030am - 8pm. Supposed to move to full hours in spring. I usually get tacos across the street from the restaurant connected to the grocery store but these were just as good if not better. They sell beers, unsure if they have liquor or margaritas. They said to spread the word they are back open, so here is the word: go give them a try!

    Tripa tacos and a margarita
    Selena S.

    I absolutely love the tacos from here! Always delicious! Super authentic, however the margarita was very sour I was not a fan.

    Margarita -Small
    Steven B.

    Been there and ate there, now I can mark Don Carlos Restaurant off my Cherokee Street Bucket List. Like Christian K. I am going to meet Don half way on a good rating. Rarely do I forget what I ate at a restaurant, but this visit I had to review my pictures to refresh my memory. So glad I am a true Yelper and photograph all the food I eat out. I remembered the Margarita, Chips & Salsa, Guacamole and Flan, but could not recall my entree. Guess I wasn't that impressed. We started out with regular Margarita's that did not skimp on the booze. I enjoyed the extremely coarse salt on the rim of my, "no salt" request. Seriously, I did like how they salted their rim. It was not the typical bar salt. The chips here are not impressive, but the two salsas they serve with them makes up their lackluster. I favored the Smokey Chipolte over the Chili Arbol Salsa. We also had a side order of Guacamole which was huge. It had a unusual flavor that I could not pinpoint, but I think that may have been its winning vice. The entree that I blocked out of my mind, was two tacos and a side of refried beans. I enjoyed a Chicken and Barbacoa Taco. Unlike George O., the Barbacoa did not blow my knickers off. It was good, but I favored my Chicken and wished I had tried the fish when I realized they grilled their fish. Grilled is so much better then fried. We shared a slice of Flan for dessert and it would have their Abuelita rolling over in her grave knowing how they butchered an old family recipe. The service was a tad on the slow side, but the Señorita was working the entire sidewalk cafe alone and was doing The Hustle the best she could. We shop at Carniceria Latinos Americana, so I know we'll be back to enjoy another Margarita and something else on their menu.

    Jackie W.

    Where do you go when America shuts down to remember its soldiers, past and present.. little Mexico of course! One of the few areas in town that restaurants (besides fast food) stay open on this day is Cherokee Street, and to celebrate I went there and ate tacos for America. We sat in the shade underneath that black awning covered patio, as there is little room to sit inside, and after peering in there I didn't get the sense I wanted to enter any way. Other people celebrating around us included a blond threesome of girls with giant margaritas for America, a couple eating Fajitas for America, and a table of thugs, just representin' for America. As is natural in little Mexico, the tacos were authentic. Just like I've had them when I lived in Chicago. It's a nice change of pace after sticking to Chimi's and the like for so long. Finally a real taco, right? The price was also right, only like $1.40 or something for a taco..cheap enough to tempt me into trying la lengua tacos..but I chickened out literally, and got two pollo tacos. The salsa was also nice and fresh, much better than at other places in town. My friend got the combination fajitas..with rice, beans and lettuce for something like 5 bucks. I don't know if I'd get the combo since some of the meat looked and tasted like it could be tripe or lengua, but maybe that was just my authentic mexican meat fear influencing me. The margaritas were also better tasting than Chimi's. These ritas had a little more lime taste to them, less sour mixer. If you ever find yourself searching for food on a random warm holiday, try Don Carlos for some real tacos for America. I can't say this is the best taco joint on Cherokee since it was my first one, but it didn't disappoint.

    Chips and salsa!
    Christian K.

    I'm going to meet this place half way to a good rating. I hate to admit this, but I don't like Cherokee Street. I know what some of you might be thinking, but it's just not my cup of tea. Send me your hate mail. Drop me as a Facebook/Yelp friend, but I just can't spend more than a little while wandering this street. Last night was our first time trying out some Mexican food on Cherokee Street. My pop gave me a gift certificate for Don Carlos, and we didn't waste any time using it. My wife loves Mexican, but I'm just not a beans and rice kind of guy. We were both pretty weak on our orders: a couple of Modelos and three soft tacos each. For me, the true measure of a Mexican restaurant is how they prepare the meat. The ground beef and chicken definitely had some quality flavor, well seasoned, and the pork and onions were super spicey, so much so that I couldn't finish it. I can be a little light on the spicey side. Still they had me pretty satisfied. Therefore, the food is not the problem. And the price for that matter. Also, up until the end, we dug the patio. However, about halfway through our meal, a truck with three shirtless Hispanic guys pulled up just on the other side of the gating, blasting their music for several minutes before getting out. Then they put on some wifebeaters and sat at the table next to us and continued to play their music loudly on a cellphone. The waitress said nothing, and we were left in silence for the great remainder of our meal. I'm all about a little culture and experiencing new things, but more than anything, I just want to relax when I'm having a few drinks and a good meal. Is that too much to ask?

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    3 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Great patio, great tacos! Heated during the winter. Great to go option for street tacos and kind employees. Priced very reasonably!

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    10 months ago

    Great food at affordable prices. Simple menu but the flavor is great! It has a great patio for warmer weather but is insulated when colder.

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    5 years ago

    Staff was very kind. Offered me hot sauce and a bag. And the hot sauce and food was phenomenal.

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    Carreta's Mexican Restaurant - Kids meal

    Carreta's Mexican Restaurant

    4.4(321 reviews)
    12.9 mi
    $$

    Carreta's is the closest thing I have to a "local"--the place where I go after my shift at the post…read moreoffice to drink watery, domestic beer and make slightly inappropriate remarks to the waitstaff. My parents eat there on the reg, though not so much the past couple of years, after they implemented their controversial policy of shrinking portion sizes and increasing prices at the same time. Uh, whose idea was that? I have an idea. Let's just say he's not very good at riding a bicycle. I've eaten there literally a million times since it opened up 10 or 15 years ago. Before that, we used to eat at the place in Olivette that was once a Ponderosa, El Paisano or whatever. I don't think they're related, but when that place closed, a handful of employees came over to Carreta's. That was years ago, and they're now long gone. Hopefully, they weren't shipped off to El Salvador. I hear it's not safe there. More recently, we've been eating at a place a bit further west on Olive that was once a Houlihan's. Noticing a trend? Carreta's must be feeling the effects, because they've remodeled and added a few new menu items, some of which will be familiar to Barrel House patrons. The remodel seems to mostly have been a matter of applying a fresh coat of paint and turning the dim switch up to its absolute brightest. It used to be dark in there, like at a fancy restaurant. Now it's like Kmart circa 1986. I didn't check to see if a blue light had been installed in the ceiling, nor did I make it back to near the restrooms to see if they've still got that influencer wall. The menu has been reprinted, and I'm sure they took advantage of the opportunity to jack up prices even further. Many of the old favorites remain, and I'm not sure what, if anything, they removed to make room for the small handful of new items. I saw that they still have the carnitas, my old go-to. It's the only pork item on the menu. If you're familiar with the area, you can probably do the math on that one. Most importantly, they've added Birria, only about 10 years after it became trendy. What's next, a smashburger? A pumpkin spice latte? I've had Birria at a number of places, here in the STL and elsewhere, and in a few different preparations, and it's never not been good. It kinda is the Mexican food equivalent of the smashburger, in that regard. An order of three will run you $16, and it doesn't come with anything other than the consommé and a ramekin of tomatillo salsa. Just the three tacos wasn't the most filling meal I've ever had, but it wasn't half bad, for there not being any sides or anything. They stuff those tacos full with mostly just meat (along with cheese, onions and cilantro), and I'd imagine it's roughly as caloric as eating half the produce aisle at the grocery store. It's so good. I figured it would be kinda mediocre but nevertheless enjoyable, because I thought I had this place pegged, but credit where credit is due. They've exceeded expectations. This was one of the best things I've ever had in a Mexican restaurant. If they don't let the quality slip or try to charge literally $1,000 for it, I could honestly see it becoming a huge hit. What do you know? This place might manage to stay in business just yet, despite the newer, fancier place down the street.

    In my search for the best birria I stumbled upon Carrera's…read more Fried corn tortilla, juicy but can't say my #1 Very beautiful space in small shopping center off Olive. Could be hard to locate. Best for a quiet date night

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    Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas - Steak Fajitas

    Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas

    4.6(353 reviews)
    0.8 miBenton Park
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    The first thing you notice when you walk into Arzola's is how welcoming and upbeat the staff is - I…read morehad always felt it at Benton Park but was delighted to find that same energy is in St. Charles (shout out to the general manager Selina for transferring the good vibes)! Best fajitas in town! Both the steak and chicken are succulent - they melt in your mouth. Charro beans and queso are delicious. The chips are light and crisp, and the salsas are fresh and flavorful. The ambience is fabulous at both locations and you can even bring your pup to dine with you on the patio. Such a fantastic spot!

    We still love this place! I'm not sure how many times we've been here over the past few years, but…read morewe've never had a negative experience here. My husband and I have been here a number of times, we've brought our (adult) daughters and their partners, out of town visitors, and we've recommended it to friends. Some of our friends went on our recommendation and enjoyed it. Again, I have to say that we love the vibe, the staff, and the food - probably equally! We sat out on the covered patio last night. It was pretty hot out, but the cover and the fans made it feel okay out there. We ran into neighbors as we were leaving. It's about 35 minutes from our house and we have never seen anyone we know there. They were enjoying it as well! The only negative I can think of is the restroom situation. There is one restroom with one toilet - plan ahead! There's usually a line. We'll definitely be back!

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    Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas - Inside artwork

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    Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas - Quesabirria Quesadilla (a special)

    Quesabirria Quesadilla (a special)

    Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas - Cadillac Margaritas are the bomb

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    Cadillac Margaritas are the bomb

    El Milagro Azteca - Veggie Quesadillas

    El Milagro Azteca

    4.4(345 reviews)
    2.4 miSouthwest Garden
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    First visit, wow!!! how did I not know about this place. Incredible food, incredible atmosphere and…read moreincredible service. We made reservations since it was Father's Day. Seated upon arrival. Finally, a restaurant that doesn't try to shove 5 people at a table for 4, they put 2 tables together. We so appreciated that. Waited on immediately. Love the atmosphere of this restaurant, beautiful, quiet, and very colourful design style. The food is another level. Chips warm and tasty, 2 salsas both flavourful and with a kick! Everyone ordered something different. 3 of us took food home the portions are so large. Every plate was beautiful in preparation and as we sampled each other's we discovered amazing and unique flavours. I can't wait to return here, this is an absolute dining pleasure.

    We ordered our food and picked it and the restaurant was packed! Really nicely laid out and seemed…read morelike a popular place. We ordered the chicharron tacos on corn tortillas (this was my favorite), carne asada tacos on flour tortillas, carne asada salad, Azteca Quesadilla - Chicken and the tress leches. We loved the chicharron tacos with cheese and avocado and pickled onion to cut the fattiness. The portion size of everything was great. We enjoyed everything else but only really loved the chicharron tacos. The tres leches was on the sweeter end as well. Overall, a solid option close by!

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    El Milagro Azteca - Dining area

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    Mezcaleria Las Chupacabras - Exterior

    Mezcaleria Las Chupacabras

    3.4(192 reviews)
    6.8 mi
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    From the inside and out, every inch of this place was covered in vibrant, bold, colors. The mexican…read morePapel Picado decorations and designs created such a festive, lively, celebratory feel. The music in the background and terracotta designs highlighted the threads of Mexican culture but made the Homer statue appear to be a little out of place! Definitely a fun dining experience. The outdoor seating felt super spacious. It was a beautiful day and temperate weather to be able eat outside. It did have numerous umbrellas and a covered portion which kept most of the seating shaded. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was good. I was a little disappointed with the bread used for the Torta. I was expecting a bolillo type bread where it the outside is a crisp crust but the inside is airy, chewy and sweet. Instead it was a Telera Bread that was like a very crumbly messy french roll. The pieces of chicken were very thin and cut into strips instead of one patty. It was very dry and not much flavor. The fries were potato-y but not seasoned or salty. Very bland. The aroma of all the food was phenomenal. But tasting the flavors and eating the dishes didn't quite live up to the hype of my super smeller.

    I came here for a late dinner after a play and I was happy their hrs kept them open late on a…read moreSunday evening. Parking garage available . Upon walking in, well lit , spacious and plenty of colors . Very cosmic theme and alot of conversation pieces . I really enjoyed browsing around and taking in the designs. Kudos to my friend for recommending this hidden gem . Seating was plentiful. Staff were friendly and service was speedy and hot. I ordered a banana /papaya margarita on the rocks. Strong and delicious! I ordered the arroz con with shrimp. My mom ordered the parilada and my sister a steak fajita. All dishes were hot , plentiful and fulfilling. Prices were reasonable.

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    Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Shrimp Tacos Fish Tacos

    Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen

    4.2(139 reviews)
    4.5 miLindenwood Park
    $$

    I have been here twice but this is about my most recent visit (08/2026). I am not the margarita…read moreimbibing guy I used to be, so I'm not the best authority on that part. My friend and I stopped here for a last minute drinks and dinner. We each had the house special, I think it was called the Cadillac margarita with salted rim, iced not frozen, and we got the jumbo. OMG I couldn't even finish the jumbo. It was very strong and big, had to take it home to try and finish it. A wait staff dropped off chips and salsa and the chips were just not that good. I asked my friend what she thought and she said the same thing I did. The salsa did help but if I opened my own Mexican place I would serve the best chips I could find. I know they're free but many places offer some kind of free snack (Helen's has popcorn, some places still offer salted peanuts...) and I think it should make one think the chips are good the food will be better. As I was drinking I wanted some food and we got two chicken burritos, they were large and very good!! They were 2 for $14 if that gives an idea on cost. While I live just a few minutes from here, I haven't seen enough in 2 visits to say I'll keep coming here for Mexican, there are many other places in South St Louis to try. Oh and I swear the bar "stools" are big enough for two people. I probably look comical on one as my friend and I may have been able to fit into one stool.

    I like this place a lot! I hope it finds success here. We were sat very quickly, they have indoor…read moreand outdoor seating. The staff was very kind and attentive. The menu was vast and they had a large drink menu and full bar. We got a margarita pitcher, peach flavored, which was very good. We got tacos, a chicken quesadilla, and fajitas. All were excellent, we will definitely be coming back!

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    Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Seating with beautiful artwork

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    Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Mixed fajitas

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    Chilanguita Mexican Kitchen - Dining room

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    Dining room

    El Potro Restaurant - Chorizo cheese dip.

    El Potro Restaurant

    4.6(106 reviews)
    4.5 miEllendale, Franz Park
    $$

    Wow!!! Do not hesitate - go here!…read more So happy to have a new neighborhood staple. What can I say besides excellent food, wonderful people. The margaritas are potentially Huge so be warned. Such incredible bang for buck with the lovely grocery store right next door. The operation here is tight, the service is wicked fast, and everyone here is obviously a pro. Excellent for large or small parties. Dogtown/Maplewood is so very lucky to have this spot!

    Was looking to try a New Mexican place and found this one via Yelp reviews. The service was ok,…read morewent at 3PM on a Saturday so it was not busy. My main issue was the dish I ordered was quite different than described by the menu. It didn't taste bad per se, but I would have ordered something else if it was described accurately. When I asked the waiter if I received the correct dish because it didn't seem like what the menu described they said it was correct. Felt a little bit like I was being gas lit, so just won't be back. I wish I had taken a picture of the dish, but here is the menu description and then I'll describe what I was served. Pollo El Potro Menu description: Two grilled chicken breasts topped with cheese dip sauce and served with salad, rice and tortillas Actual dish: One grilled chicken breast topped with cheese dip sauce served on a bed of tortilla chips, grilled onions, and grilled peppers. Served with a small pico de gallo salad, guacamole, rice, beans, and tortillas. The one chicken breast I got was very dry, even with the cheese sauce and the onions/peppers/tortilla chips made it super awkward to eat. The flavor was ok, but more than anything my issue is that it was way different than what was described on the menu and when specifically asked about it I was told it is what I ordered. Overall, a disappointing experience.

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    El Potro Restaurant - Main dining area

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    El Potro Restaurant
    El Potro Restaurant - Cadillac margarita!

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    Cadillac margarita!

    Don Carlos Restaurant - mexican - Updated September 2026

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