A friend of mine recommended El Catrin and I cannot be more thankful that they did. The place screams authentic Mexican/American dining from the parking lot although the door and the entire interior. The place plus large and busy but you can still hold a conversation. Our server was attentive and respectful at the same time. When we asked for more time deciding what to get, as the menu has so many choices, she was happy to give us time. She also explained the menu, offered us options like guacamole or queso for our chips, and happily refilled them. The street tacos and burritos were delicious. Large portions and worth every penny of the price. Plenty of parking as well. Good food, good prices, good service makes this a place to try, or as I will be doing going back again. read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Went there few times and it's one my favorite restaurant. Bloody Mary and other foods are very delicious! read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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Food was amazing! Service was mediocre. Hard to get the waitress attention and lots of waiting. On to a better note... the food and drinks were great! 10/10 for food. Ambiance was nice good music and nice decor. read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Carnitas - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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Very mixed feelings. Mrs. Margarita was a fantastic wonderful amazing kind sincere waitress and highly recommended her to anyone and everyone to ask for her when they go in. Unfortunately that same customer service isn't the same for the rest of the team. The birria tacos were good very deep marinade. The Carne asada was very tender and good too. read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Birria tacos - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Service was nice and welcoming. The food was pretty good as well but not 5 star worthy read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Supreme burrito steak - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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We ate there and I got a steak ACP and I always order that and it's really good. When it came to the table the steak was super chewy and just not good I complained to them saying "it was super chewy and I just couldn't eat it like that" the server had an attitude and then took the meat off my plate and tried it and said it was fine. After that I just told them to refund me & we left and haven't been back since.. read more

El catrin is THE spot to go for mexican food in the area. It eats up all the other mexican spots, right when you walk in everyone is so extremely friendly. The ambiance is amazing for a mexican restaurant, it is so nicely decorated and extremely clean. The drinks are very authentic and if you miss REAL mexican food from places like California, you will not regret coming here. The food is always consistent and packed with delicious flavors. I have ordered a lot off the menu and everything has been delicious. Try this spot if you're craving delicious mexican food! read more

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Our food was Absolutley delicious. Best burrito I have ever had. I had the burrito crazy and subbed chorizo for shredded chicken and highly recommend it. Unreal. read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Burrito crazy - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Pretty standard fare for the area and the prices were a tad higher than others. Service was just OK and inattentive. Better options close by. read more

My family has lived here for years now and when we saw the OPENING SOON sign, we couldn't be more excited! It's a running joke in my family that we only go out to eat at Mexican restaurants (we're Mexican) and El Catrin quickly became our go to! All of our birthdays, dates, celebrations, and other milestones have been celebrated here! They know my dad by name, and we have never had a bad experience here in the dozens and dozens of times we have come to eat! The food is amazing, the servers are all so lovely and sweet, the environment is welcoming, they happily accommodate our large crowd for birthdays (16-23 usually) and even when there's a big group of us, we always get our food quickly and it's always wonderful! My favorite is the Cammorones Chipotle, Enchiladas Blancas or Tacos Diabla! They also have fantastic churros!! My favorite place to eat in all of Onslow County!! read more

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El Catrin is some of the best Mexican food we've eaten in the area. Their fajita's are simply delicious, as are the chimichangas. Portions are generous. The customer service is awesome. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Had the same thing I got last time and it was very good. My friends got the Molcajete but it was too spicy for her. All the meals looked good and everyone seemed happy. Our server was excellent and paid attention to our needs. Inside was colorful with the Day of the Dead theme. read more

We've been here several times, and it's quickly becoming our favorite place to eat in Swansboro. Wonderful welcoming atmosphere, greeted in Spanish by the kindly owner each time, and they are starting to learn our names and are super accommodating and friendly. The complimentary chips aren't too greasy, and have a pleasant crunch which is essential, and the salsa is full of flavor but mild enough to let the kids eat their hearts out. Every dish we've had has been superb! Normally rice and beans are nothing to speak of, but they are tasty. The homemade pico has a flavor kick but it's not too spicy which is nice. My husband got some chilaquiles that were almost too spicy, and he loooves spicy things and he said they were to die for. We've had some of the egg dishes, carnitas, fajitas, chili relleno, sopapillas, and several of the desserts and everything has been very tasty. Our kids know it as the purple restaurant because it's painted purple inside. The music is nice but not too loud, and the ambience is relaxed, fun, and family friendly. When we have friends or family in town, we bring them here now! read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Mexican chocolate lava cake! Not a true lava cake, but soooo delicious. Real vanilla bean ice cream too! - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Very average food. No atmosphere. Granted, there are multiple Mexican. Restaurants in almost every town and some are just super average. This is one. Nothing wrong with it, but it certainly wouldn't be on my list of favorite places to go. read more

Holy crap it was delicious... I ordered enchiladas I thought but ended up with this GIANT plate of tacos... best Mexican food I've ever had in my life Manager (I assume) was fantastic read more

Nothing but good things to report about Swansboro's newest Mexican restaurant, El Catrin Mexican Kitchen. After a half dozen visits since their opening, the food continues to impress us each and every time. Start off with one of their boozy margaritas, featuring your choice of top-shelf tequilas. The Jalapeno Margarita is a crowd favorite. The Coctel de Camarones is one of the best shrimp cocktails I've ever tried - a spicy blend of tomato juice with cilantro, onions, tomatoes and loads of shrimp, topped off with creamy slices of avocado. Our hands down favorite entree is the massive Molcajete El Catrin ($24) that arrives table side in a huge stone mortar, overflowing with charred delights including skirt steak, pounded chicken, bacon-wrapped shrimp, lots of chorizo sausage and plenty of grilled zucchini, squash, cactus, green onions and plantains. This huge caldron is topped off with a plank of cotija cheese and is big enough for two people to share. The Chicken Mole is as authentic as it gets - the meat, typically three chicken legs and/or thighs, comes bone-in for extra flavor and is offered up with a side of rice, guacamole salad and homemade corn tortillas. The mole is very, very flavorful, with a perfect hint of bitter chocolate and warm spices. Their classic Street Tacos come three to a serving and you can order everything from birria (meat stew) to lengua (beef tongue) Breaded or grilled shrimp and fish are also options. The tortillas are house made and sturdy enough for the proteins and all the fixings. End your evening with the classic Fried Ice Cream, served up in a sweet and crunchy tortilla bowl and topped with chocolate and a cherry. read more

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Fantastic food volcan fajitas are the bomb!!!! My family and I love coming here. Prices are decent as well.

Great food and good portions Service was great and attentive Ambiance was good with a new crisp look read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Our drink bloody Maria with Modelo - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

I had the combination plate. First time we came here we were so impressed by the food and wait staff. Really nice inside. Today the food tasted canned, premade and warmed up. No real flavor to speak of. I let my waitress know one of the items tasted really off and had a poor super thick consistency. I felt maybe she might offer to bring me something else but she did not. It wouldn't have really cost them anything to make that effort. We won't be back. read more

Excellent service! Margaritas are a mix and meh. The food was plentiful and delicious. Our table of 4 had seviche, mole, tacos and a combo meal. All delicious! Highly recommend! read more

My search for the perfect chicken mole is over! Just had their chicken mole and all my mole dreams have been fulfilled. El Catrin has mastered this complex sauce perfectly. I've lusted after this spicy, chocolately sauce since we visited Mexico years ago but never found it here in the states--always disappointed. Not anymore! Cannot comment on any other dishes but the place was jumping and everyone was making happy noises...for me it's chicken mole now and forever. This is how Ai describes that special mole sauce: "Traditional Ingredients: Common mole ingredients include chilies (ancho, pasilla, chipotle), sesame seeds, garlic, cinnamon, raisins, cloves, and nuts like almonds. Chocolate is often included, adding a unique sweet and savory note." Yum. read more

After relocating to ENC from California, we've been disappointed by the dearth of Mexican restaurants. Sorry, Burrito Shak and El Cerro Tacos don't count -- major disappointments. We thought we were doomed to fried chicken 'til death. We lost hope ... until we discovered El Catrin. Our party of six was seated right away. The purple-themed interior was bright and festive. Once seated, two large baskets of warm and crispy chips with salsa appeared, with individual double-dipping bowls. I split the "Molcajete El Catrin" with my daughter -- simply fantastic! From its bacon-wrapped prawns to its ground chorizo to its slabs of thinly-sliced chicken and carne asada, everything in the cauldron was hot, moist, tender, and well-seasoned (and not TOO spicy!). The rest of my family raved over their selections, from street tacos to chimi's. Roberto, our waiter, worked overtime keeping our glasses full, tending to our every need. El Catrin easily beats most of the wonderful Mexican restaurants we left behind in California. Great food, great service -- we will be back again ... soon! read more

I don't understand why this restaurant has such a high rating. This is probably the worst burrito I have ever been served at a restaurant and did not match the menu description. No sliced avocado, pico de gallo, or beans, just a dry sad wrap with a side of fries. read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Burrito California - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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There was a 35 minute wait on a Friday night which was totally fine with us. Being a new restaurant that's been gaining a lot of popularity, we expected to have a little bit of a wait. Once we were seated the service was prompt and our server was so very kind. Food also arrived quickly after ordering (probably around 8 minutes) and was fresh and delicious! My husband is a plain Jane and he really loved his steak quesadillas. He said they were a 10/10. My burrito and enchilada were also delicious and the sauces in them were amazing. The restaurant is very clean and very beautifully decorated. Even the menus are inside of leather bound books. There is a stunning mural painted as soon as you enter. Additionally, there were 2 men (managers I assume) walking around making conversation with customers and verifying that customers were satisfied with their experience. It was good to see their care about the business! read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Steak Quesadillas - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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Absolutely amazing!! Fantastic and authentic Mexican food, excellent customer service, elegant and classy decor - 5 stars! read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Taco salad & House margaritas made by the one & only "Margarita" - she provides excellent service & delicious craft cocktails! - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

The best carnita street tacos. I love this place. So glad they opened. If you want a delicious meal in a beautiful setting with attentive servers, this is the place read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Carnitas tacos. - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Ordered takeout for cinco de mayo - the food was fresh and delicious and they hooked me up on the hot sauce !

I ordered the steak fajitas and what was brought to me was a bunch of onions and bell peppers. The Spanish rice is nasty and I didn't get any refried beans with my order If you like ordering food off a food truck then that's the place to go. I will NEVER eat there again. I will leave that place for the tourists that visit read more

The food was excellent--delicious, large portions, and very reasonably priced. Same for the margaritas! Restaurant has a fun, lively atmosphere, and the wait staff were friendly & attentive. Definitely recommend on all levels! read more

El Catrin Mexican Kitchen - Carnitas dinner & medium margarita! - Tacos Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Tonight we went in, hoping for a nice time to complete our day. We were met with mediocre food, poor service and a Sangria that looked more like a fruit salad than a wine drink. Our server was obviously not wanting to be waiting on us, ignored for over 10 min when ready to order, started taking the table next to us, takibg their order prior to us although vmcane in after us..., had to speak up and state we were ready to order... to which she audibly sighed, then took our order.... the rest of her service was lackluster and felt like we were bothering her by just existing. It was not pleasant. When drinks came to table the Sangria had over half a glass full of diced fruit and little wine...probably less than 4 Oz. This was strike 2 for me. Been trying to give them the benefit of being a new establishment but not going to waste time or money on them again. read more

Service was bad. Waitress was rude, we had to ask for drink menu. She acted like it was a bother to wait on us then. Then the waitress acted like we were not there, started waiting on the next table next to us, had to let her know after about 10 minutes that we were ready to order. She acted like it was an inconvenience to wait on us. Food was not very good, taco was burnt. Just wanted a good time after having a long day. read more

Food and service has been great every time I've been. It's our new local go to Mexican spot.

The food here is the best I have tasted since moving to NC! I got the fajitas volcan, incredibly flavorful, well-prepared, and good on the eyes, too. Make sure to ask for their hot salsa. Both the host and the server greeted us with a smile and were very friendly and attentive. Food came out fairly fast and was very much worth the wait. The place is clean and inviting. I will be coming back here very frequently, I think! read more

The food is really good but the margaritas are really bad. All of them are made from a very sugary mix. Even the skinny margarita was made with a ton of juices. Bummed about the drinks, but the food is really good. Also, please put prices on your drink menu! read more

Good food and great service! El carton special is great! Their drink are very good as well!

Excellent dishes of authentic Mexican food. Very generous portions. I've been here twice and have not been disappointed. Waitstaff are very nice and efficient getting food out fast. The inside of restaurant has been tastefully redone with modern touches of lighting and neon pastel colored lights. The place packs a crowd with little wait time on weekends due to the large dining areas. The music is very nice but may be too loud in different areas to hold a conversation with your dining companion. These owners are new and definitely know how to run a restaurant. Hope it stays this way because I plan to make this one of my favorites. read more

Great menu, great food excellent service. New restaurant worth your time to try. Nice to have back entrance if you have to park in back

This is such a cute restaurant!! The presentation of everything was top tier. Amazing service & kind people the second you walk in the door. Will definitely be my family's new spot! read more

My husband and I ate here and it is the best Mexican food around! We will be back a lot more!

Wow! Wow! Wow! If you're looking to support an authentic local Mexican restaurant that makes amazing food, this is it! We moved here from Ohio and we had a Mexican restaurant there that we thought could never be surpassed. Well, they are both equally amazing! The chicken and beef nachos is a HUGE portion! The chimichangas are some of the best I've had. My wife loves the tacos. I also tried a 5-item plate once and it was fantastic. I highly recommend this wonderful local gem! read more