Summer weekends in Carolina Beach are no joke, and we should've known better than to expect a quick dinner. Everywhere we checked had hour-plus waits, so when El Cazador quoted us 50 minutes on a busy Saturday evening, we gladly took it. We grabbed seats at the bar, cooled off in the AC (which was working overtime in the sweltering heat), and enjoyed a couple of drinks while we waited. A cold Pacifico with lime definitely hit the spot. By the time our party of seven was finally seated, we'd already made a dent in the chips and salsa. Thankfully, the food didn't disappoint. Portions were generous, prices were very reasonable for a beach town, and everything came out fresh and flavorful. The biggest surprise was spotting lengua on the taco menu. That's not something you see everywhere, so of course I had to order it. The tongue was incredibly tender and well-cooked. My only suggestion would be to offer a salsa verde or salsa roja with the tacos--they deserve something with a little extra kick to bring all the flavors together. Overall, great food, fair prices, and a solid option when the rest of Carolina Beach is packed. I'd happily come back, especially for those lengua tacos. read more

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Came in on a Thursday night (right after Labor Day) and was able to be seated immediately. We sat upstairs to people watch. Music created good ambiance but not too loud. Server was super friendly - and on it without being intrusive. Great prices!! My husband and I both had a Choose Your Own Combo - $15.50 for 3 entrees and 2 sides. Everything was fresh and hot. Soooo much food! We will both have lunch tomorrow. Would definitely return! read more

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Late night meal, we arrived just before closing. Menu was pretty extensive. Waiter was quick about getting our orders in as well getting our drinks. The food was pretty good l, typical comfort Mexican food. We left satisfied with full bellies. read more

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We ordered delivery two times in a week bc it was that good! The fish tacos are something I'll dream about, I got both times. We tried burritos, quesadilla, enchilada, fried fish and taco salads and everything was delish!! Highly reccomend read more

We came for a late lunch, not a huge crowd and didn't have to wait long, since it was 4th of July weekend. We ordered the fajitas Texan style, we shared this dish, our food came out hot and fast. We were pleasantly surprised with the food, we've eaten here over the years but today's meal was truly delicious and flavorful. There was plenty of shrimp (normally most Mexican restaurants only put 4 shrimps) this dish was covered in shrimp, along beef & chicken. There were plenty of crunchy vegetables that were not overcooked. My grandson had the chicken tenders they were a bit small but he said they were good. Our server checked on us more than a few times to make sure we didn't need anything else. We had a nice meal and the food was plentiful. They had served us a large basket of warm chips and the salsa was spicy. We left feeling full and satisfied. read more

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Arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday. Place got packed around 7pm. Server was nice. Food servings are large, especially for the burritos, which could easily be shared. Friends had the Burrito de Camarones (shrimp) and her husband had the Burritos Deluxe. They both said they were fantastic and they had more than enough for leftovers. They could only each eat half. Told you they are big!! I had the Tacos Mexicanos, with chicken. Kind of bummed that all three tacos had to be one meat/vegetarian option. Couldn't mix, but they were delicious! The tortillas are advertised as homemade and they did not disappoint. I'm glad I went with this option because my friend did the combination plate of a chicken hard shell taco, chicken enchilada and beef flauta. It looked dry to me and she confirmed it was really dry. We had Shrimp Ceviche; extremely tasty but a bit more spicy than I would like, but still good. The house made sangria was ok. They emphasize it's made with real fruit but it felt like a can of fruit cocktail was just mixed in it. The restaurant is large, and plenty of space, so it seemed, but you can order pick up if you'd rather not eat there. Coming from the southwest and having travelled to Mexico, the place was decent enough for a Mexican restaurant in North Carolina. read more

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Great traditional American Mexican restaurant. Huge restaurant with lots of seating great speedy service

Go to on the island for Tex-Mex or anywhere in the surrounding area. After expanding they have a lot more seating and bar stools - along with our favorite seats with a view of the Lake Park BLVD action. In season it's like dinner with a show! Food is really good with large portions and reasonable prices. Service is always great as well. read more

Consistent and delicious. Great service! Fish tacos and Steak Picado con salsa verde are our go to entrees,

I don't usually leave a review for places but for this restaurant I had to!! Salsa was some of the best I ever had!! And from what you can see the Asada Tacos were definitely a favorite of mine. Service was great even though a lot of people came to the restaurant, I especially appreciated the choices the waitress gave us, letting us pick our own table. If I am back in town, I would definitely come again! read more

El Cazador - Asada Tacos* - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

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Fantastic food, drinks, and service! We have been here twice and everything has been top notch!

Outstanding meal. I had the combination chili relleno, tamale and burrito. My wife had the quesadilla. Great service.

We ordered for carry out. Our food wasn't ready on time and our kids didn't love their orders but the adults enjoyed their food just fine. It wasn't the best food I've ever eaten and dine in might be better but as a carry out spot I wouldn't recommend it. read more

The food was good - expected for a Mexican restaurant ! I feel like it was overpriced for what you get . The restaurant was in ok condition with some parts of the walls missing etc. I will say our waiter was very nice! read more

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We moved from out of state and decided to try it out. Sadly, I was very disappointed. Cheese on the chili relleno tasted like fake American cheese slices and the green chili had no flavor. Service was a bit mediocre. I had asked for a la carte tacos initially and was told "they don't do that." This place has such great potential in a great location but food was not appealing at all. read more

El Cazador is a solid option for Mexican food in the heart of Carolina Beach just a few blocks from the boardwalk. The interiors are spacious with plenty of seating in the main restaurant and the cantina off to the side. Menu prices are very reasonable and they have a lunch menu with plenty of options for a budget friendly lunch. Meals start with complimentary chips which is a great way to begin a meal. We went with an order of the chicken and veggie quesadillas. Neither was groundbreaking with regards to recipe, but both were fresh and flavorful, which made for a filling and satisfying lunch. Service was attentive and extremely friendly. I'd recommend El Cazador for a decent family-owned Mexican restaurant option when visiting the Carolina Beach area. read more

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My girlfriend and I stayed in Carolina Beach for a week and we stopped here once, it was a Saturday so it was very busy, we had a 35 minute wait, but it was very well worth it. The food came out surprisingly quick for just how busy they were, both parking lots were jam packed. Our server was very kind as well. I ordered the Asada Tacos with their house made Guacamole, my girlfriend had the Burrito Supreme. We both were taken aback at how amazingly everything tasted. The steak in my tacos had the perfect level of charring to them, they were not rubbery like most restaurants. And their Guac was enough to make us go back a second time on our trip. Overall, if I could rate this more than 5 stars, I would. If you plan on staying in Carolina Beach for an extended period of time, make room for 2 trips to this restaurant. read more

My wife, two teenage sons (18 yrs, 16 yrs), and I enjoyed an informal dinner here in late March 2024. The fajitas were quite delicious and service was attentive on a Sunday evening. The word "el Cazador" is "the hunter". The interior of the restaurant plays on this theme visually. Location was great - in the heart of Carolina Beach's downtown with its own dedicated parking lot. I'm guessing it's a place that is probably crowded during peak season with a long line but in March 2024 (off-season), we did not have a long wait for a table! read more

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This is one of our favorite spots! We live out here and have gotten to know some of the people that work here and they are amazing! The food is delicious. Anything I have ordered has been on point. There are tons of fun drinks to choose from. They added a roof top restaurant this summer. It has a limited menu but you should be able to find something you like on there. The burritos are HUGE. Francisco is a king. We love him. Kristina is killer too. They are usually working upstairs. This is a place where you will get fast and friendly service with delicious food at a fair price. read more

El Cazador - Visit Francisco at the rooftop bar - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

This review is based on the drinks and 1 appetizer. My friend and I each received the jumbo frozen margarita. She got peach and I got mango They were delicious!!! We also shared the tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole dip. The dip was so fresh and yummy with lots of lime...just how I like it. They had a nice enclosed rooftop seating area and excellent customer service. read more

It was an okay spot with ok food ok service and ok ambiance but if you like Mexican it'll do.

Based on local recommendations, we ate here for lunch. The prices were reasonable and they also have a lunch menu. I ordered the lunch shrimp quesadilla with rice. It was full of shrimp and very tasty. The pico was unexpectedly spicy, but went well when mixed with the mild salsa. Our waitress was nice, but it took a while to get drink refills or check. We walked to the restaurant, but they did have their own parking lot. read more

El Cazador - Shrimp Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Very very good fajitas. The service is fast and friendly, also traditional the Mexican food won't disappoint if you are looking for tacos rice beans, the corn taco is delicious and guacamole. The ambiance is of a traditional Mexican restaurant. There were people waiting to get in that's how popular it is. It's in a good central Carolina beach boardwalk location. Free parking for those who will eat there and prices are good! read more

El Cazador - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

I hadn't actually eaten in El Cazador in years but decided to go tonight and it was wonderful. Everything is better in a beach town during the off season. I got the Quesabirria Tacos along with a Cantarito and they were delicious. Our server was very nice and attentive and food came out quickly. Beer is .50 more expensive than soda so just drink beer read more

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Tried the quesabirria tacos and they did not disappoint. The tacos were super beefy, flavorful, and the sauce was the perfect match. I waited on the upstairs patio while my order was being prepared -great view of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk amusement park from the balcony. The servers were friendly and checked in to see if I needed anything. Would definitely recommend! read more

Came here on a Saturday night, and it was in a very convenient location near the beach. We were seated right away in the upstairs section which was cozy. I ordered the shrimp fajitas , which came sizzling and very plentiful with shrimp. Staff was attentive and restaurant was very clean. Good prices too! read more

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Amazing service. Great food. Everyone is always friendly. Never disappointed. A go to

Service was awesome! Food was pretty good but not great. We came back for a second time though

Food was great and so were the margaritas. The mole enchiladas were wonderful. Wish the salsa was spicier but everything was great. read more

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Pros: Good location, decent prices, sizable portions Cons: Service was so-so, same with the food, and we were seated upstairs where the AC struggles. Based on other reviews, this is the place for drinks, not quality food and we found this to be true. Probably wouldn't go again since there's better options in the area. read more

Even though it was a 30-minute wait the time went by super quick. We requested for outdoor seating ...a great view of the main strip in Carolina Beach. Chips & Salsa is always a starter but when paired with Queso...it's a Hit!! Our food didn't come out super quick however, it when it did....we devoured it and fast too. I ordered ACP and added zucchini. Compliments to the chef. I was lightly disappointed they didn't have additional veggies like squash / broccoli. My meal was still fine (I could've licked the plate). My family loved their food as well. Steak Quesadilla & Shrimp Quesadilla Pollo el Chipotle 2- kids meals. We all enjoyed our meal!!! Thank You For the Great Service , our drinks remained full ! read more

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Really good tacos chicken tacos was on the menu for me tonight and the chicken tacos were delicious . Being from Chicago we know our Mexican food . And for me these tacos were delicious read more

El Cazador - Chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Four of us had dinner here on a Sunday in November. It was OK, but I wouldn't go back. Food was mixed; service was neither exceptional nor bad. I had the mashed potato chili relleno, which I can only describe as mushy and bland. Black beans were also bland. SO had a burrito, which he customized; said it was good. Others got shrimp tacos, which they liked, and pollo something, which they didn't. Margaritas were ok. Overall, I'd call the whole experience bland. read more

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We got seated right away. This restaurant is in Susanville we ordered margaritas it was delicious very strong. I ordered chili Rihanna It was good. I love the rice and beans and tortillas gotta be my favorite So when we travel through Susanville this is one of our places we'd like to stop if you're traveling through Susanville it's a nice place to stop and get some Great drinks and Mexican food. read more

Good Mexican restaurant in Carolina Beach. Right off the main drag, close to the boardwalk. The food and drinks here are solid. Nice margarita selection with different tequilas. Cheese dip and complementary salsa are above average. Chicken Tortilla Soup was very good. My entree, Mole Poblano, was not my favorite. I would not order this again. This is a mole chicken dish (shredded chicken). The mole sauce was sweet and I felt like I was eating a dessert. I will consider this bad luck in my selection. I'll try something else next time. Despite the mole issue, I would not hesitate in recommending this place. read more

El Cazador - Lunch # 1 - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Food taste very white. There's no seasoning at all, the pictures are very deceiving. The drinks were good but that's about it. And the salsa was frozen and tasted like ice tomato water and the chips were super stale. Service was good, if only the food matched the service read more

This was the best meal we had while on vacation at Carolina Beach and possibly the best Mexican food we've ever eaten.

The service was great, the food was good but the salsa tasted like a can of tomato sauce with a little cilantro added. The margarita was very good. read more

My sister just moved to Carolina Beach and invited my family and I down for a visit. She checked out the reviews from El Cazador and decided we'd give it a try because we all love Mexican food. I'm happy to say we were not disappointed! I love that we got to sit upstairs because my son was fascinated with the balcony overlooking the patrons below and he was occupied, which is such a relief for a parent of a busy 5 year old lol. The Mexican rice was fluffy and well seasoned. The chicken chimichanga was juicy and delicious! I almost forgot to take a pic because I gobbled it down so quickly! The salsa and chips were also yummy. And for the little boy who could live off grilled cheese sandwiches he said that theirs were the best! read more

El Cazador - What was left of my chicken 1/2 Chimichanga and rice! - Mexican Near Me - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

I visited this location last weekend on 03/19/202, while visiting the local area for a beach getaway. After a long day of driving it was nice to enjoy a dining indoor experience, and to have some adult beverages to unwind. They where enforcing the COVID-19 pandemic precautions for their staff and customers safety. They are also operating on limited capacity and enforcing social distance between customers. The food was seasoned very well and both my spouse and I truly enjoyed everything we ordered. The first mixed drink was watered down, so we had to send it back. But our waiter quickly resolved this issue within a few minutes, and didn't charge us extra. I'd probably will return for another visit and tried them again maybe for lunch time...especially since they do honor a military discount to military members with identification. read more