El Molcajete

(28 reviews)

1.0 mi

Popped in Friday for a late lunch at 1 p.m. No wait and a few customers doing the same. Nice to…read morefind a Guatemalan option here while out at Curry Hammock. We got the chicken/potato empanadas, breakfast quesadilla, the tacos suave de carne, and the garnachas (larger order of 5 to share). The empanadas are thin shelled and a treat to enjoy the filling inside. Don't forget to use the green sauce in a bottle provided. Same tortillas from the empanadas are also served soft in the tender steak tacos of the suave de carne. Staff were helpful to suggest enjoying the tacos without delay when they arrived at the table to not let tortillas get soggy. Restaurant has big windows letting in plenty of light while awning keeps out the direct sun.

No flavor. I threw away most or fed to my dog. No flavor, no flavor, NO FLAVOR. I live on Marathon…read moreand will NOT do this again.

The sitting area, and the cashier booth. The treats' rack.

Interior

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Takeria la palapa

4.9

(68 reviews)

4.3 mi

Updating my review from yesterday after our family had lunch there today. My husband and son both…read morehad chicken burritos and I had carnitas tacos. We also had chips and guacamole. Everything was delicious! One of our best meals in the keys. Food was fast and outdoor seating pleasant. -- Our second food truck in a row that was closed when they were supposed to be open. Their own website says they are open until 7pm and they were closed at 5:45pm today (Wed).

Taqueria La Palapa is a no-frills food truck in Marathon that does exactly what it's supposed to…read moredo--and does it well. Located in a container yard parking lot across from Home Depot, it's been operating here for several years and clearly has a steady following. The setup is simple but functional, with a shaded palapa area for seating. The menu sticks to the basics: tacos, quesadillas, tortas, and burritos. No gimmicks, no overcomplication--just straightforward Mexican street food. We tried a mix of tacos, and everything was well executed. Fresh tortillas, properly seasoned meats, good balance of toppings. Service was quick and efficient. Pricing is fair, especially for the Keys, and the overall experience is exactly what you want from a place like this--fast, simple, and satisfying. If you're in Marathon and looking for casual Mexican without the sit-down commitment, this is a solid option.

Chicken quesadilla. So much flavor and seasoned just right.

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La Isla Taco Grill

4.4

(116 reviews)

3.3 mi

Stopped by this taco truck for some lunch. They are next to a tiki bar if you want drinks and have…read moreshaded seating. Service was prompt and friendly. I got the mahi taco. It was basically a fish stick in a taco which was different than I was expecting but still pretty good. Affordable lunch so no complaints!

Still 5*. Had the steak burrito. The guacamole inside is really good. Limeonaid drink tasted…read morefresh made.

Stake

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EL Rinconcito Mexican

4.4

(34 reviews)

48.6 mi

El Rinconcito Mexican is a small restaurant that offers big flavors. The service is friendly and…read morethe food is solid. I like that it is away from the tourist madness in a shopping plaza. This is a great choice if you are in Key West and craving Mexican

Pretty tasty Mexican food a little outside of downtown Key West…read more The homemade chips with guacamole were great - not too much salt and a delicious crunch. The chicken quesadilla was also pretty good - I really like that there were also onions and peppers mixed in, in addition to the cheese and chicken. Would've loved a little more guacamole on the side with it, but glad it came with some!

It was really good we ate everything before we could get a photo

Chips and guac

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Trianos Taco Company

(47 reviews)

21.3 mi

Very good and affordable. Fed 5 for $65. Highly recommend! Definitely great little stop.read more

Great service and great food! Really tasty tacos on the way down to key west. Made pit stop with…read morefamily- everyone crushed the delish tacos!

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Tacos Jalisco

The tacos here are great!…read more Had some of the fish tacos and some of the meat tacos and all of them were fresh, light and tasty. Come check this place out, highly recommended!

Out here visiting friends in key largo. This was towards the end of the week long trip so got to…read moretry food around the keys. We're from Southern California. Mexican food and Mexican food trucks everywhere especially where I live Coachella valley. Honestly wasn't really too pleased with most of the food offerings in the keys. So when we decided on this I was fine with it because it seemed simple and hard to mess up. And yeah it was what I expected and I was happy with it . Service was somewhat quick. Prices can't remember but probably your typical prices for Mexican food truck food. I've eaten a lot of Mexican food and this was nothing amazing but I'm sure most people will like it when trying it. I did.

Veggie burrito

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Amigos

We got hooked on this place, it has a great view of the crowds near Duval Street and mixing people…read morewatching with delicious food made the evening fly by. Wife says the vegan tacos were the best she's ever had and my carne asada quesadillas were delicious and monsterous!

Reliable, affordable, friendly and delicious. This Mexican restaurant was just what we were…read morelooking for and did not disappoint. We asked a few folks who were eating, while we debated about going in, if they'd recommend it and unanimously they all said yes and were right. I wouldn't say it was the best Mexican food but it was very good and I'd eat there again.

Corn. Delicious

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Margarita

Julie’s Kitchen

4.0

(24 reviews)

27.7 mi

Excellent! Went twice…read more Absolutely loved it! We shared the meal and it was perfect! Service was nice. Cute little eatery. Can't wait to come back! Go here!

Great hole-in-the-wall Mexican/Latin food spot. This location is much better than the location that…read moreclosed in Winn-Dixie lot in Key West. The build your own Breakfast is great. The quesadilla is perfect. They sell Mexican sodas as well. The lady taking my order was so friendly and kind. Plenty of outside bench seating with umbrellas.

Outside patio with tables to sit down

Gordita de Chicharrón

Outside

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Puerto Vallarta Mexican Bar & Grill

This restaurant is a gem!!! I kinda don't want to write this review selfishly because everything is…read moreso amazing!!! Drinks are amazingly fresh, food is like grandma made it with love. We ate a little bit of most of the menu and everything was spectacular!!! Excellent service, super friendly! Chill vibes love it here!

The food was great and the atmosphere was nice. The prices were good as well. The waitress and…read morewaiters were very friendly and had super quick turnaround with our food.

Outside of the restaurant

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Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

our bartender, Mallory, was amazing. care of accommodating…read more we loved the restaurant! great wings!

Herbie's Bar & Chowder House in Marathon has been operating under that name since 1963, with roots…read moregoing back to the 1940s as Maggie's Chowder House and later Fishnet's. It's legitimately one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the Florida Keys, which gives it a lot of built-in credibility before you even sit down. Walking up to it, you feel that history. The exterior, the gravel lot, the signage--it's pure roadside Keys. Inside, it leans into that "local bar meets tourist stop" vibe: long wooden bar, TVs, stickers everywhere, taps lined up. Then you open the menu and it pivots in every direction--New England chowder house, BBQ joint, burger shack, seafood spot. It's not clear what it wants to be, and that lack of focus carries straight through to the food. We started with both chowders. The clam chowder looks right at first glance, but the texture tells you everything--thick, almost gluey, clearly roux-heavy. The flavor leans aggressively fatty, closer to margarine than butter, with very little clam presence. No briny backbone, no pepper, no lift. We ended up dumping in black pepper and hot sauce just to make it remotely acceptable--but even then, that heavy fat note kept pushing through. Nothing about it reads as New England. The conch chowder fares a bit better. You can actually see a decent amount of conch, and there's a peppery edge that helps. But the broth is thin and lacks the chunky, stewed tomato depth you expect from a proper Keys-style conch chowder. After having it done right earlier at Key Largo Fisheries, the difference was obvious. Then there are the Texas Twinkies--and the photo really says it all. On paper, this should work: jalapeños wrapped in bacon, stuffed with brisket, pulled pork, cheeses, and sauce. In execution, it's just too much. Too much cream cheese, too many competing sauces, meats chopped into a soft, indistinct filling. It collapses into a heavy, muddy bite that feels more overwhelming than satisfying. Looking back at the menu, the simpler move--burger, ribs, even wings--probably would have been the right call. Instead, we ordered straight into the identity crisis. And that theory held up. We went back and grabbed a burger later--cooked a proper medium rare, with well-done, crispy fries--and it was easily the best thing we had from them. I wanted to like Herbie's. There's history, personality, and clearly a loyal following. But between the confused concept and uneven execution, the move here is simple: stick to the basics.

Screened porch area. Two inside rooms also.

Burnt ends

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Mussels

Dockside Bar and Grill

4.2

(108 reviews)

4.2 mi

Excellent food - I recommend the conch fritters and the ahi tuna. If you only have room for 1, go…read morewith the ahi! It's an appetizer, so it's not massively filling, but it is super delicious. Margarita was great, too! Ambience gives off loud, locals mixed with cool tourists. Great dock location. Highly recommend.

Yessir this is where you want to go to relax and have some great food and drink! The 4 of us went…read moreon 12/29/2025 and were so happy to be there again - we've patronized this joint several times over the years and keep coming back. The drinks are made perfectly and there's a large menu to choose from. In addition, the prices are very reasonable. When you first walk in, there's a large wrap-around bar that is usually full to the brim with happy patrons. But don't worry - walk to the other side of the bar and there's a large patio chock full of additional seating. Thankfully, the view from any angle is beautiful because you are... dockside! You are right on the water! Check their social media accounts to see the who and what - because the place is always offering some type of live music act. If you need a low-key, super casual, and relaxing environment - but also want great drinks and fare - then go to Dockside Bar and Grill.

Thinnest piece of Mahi on the cheapest hamburger bun for 16.95... charge me 22 and get me more than 3.5oz of meat

The outside bar.

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Inside

Sparky's Landing Fish and Cocktails

We were able to get seated right away for a party of 6 at peak dinner time…read more Our server was a fun guy. Very care free. Loved that he called us teams instead of couples. I ordered the seafood gumbo and bacon wrapped scallops. My husband had the two lobster tails sparky's style. (Market price was $46) He enjoyed the lobster tails. The gumbo was good especially with the crusty bread that came with it. The scallops had perfect crunchy bacon on it and the sauce that was over the rice with them was delicious. My friends all enjoyed their food as well. I also tried the coconut tree leches cake which wasn't as good as I had hoped. It wasnThe only issue we would say we had was with the flies that swarmed our table as soon as the food was carried out. It was crazy. Our server did a great job trying to help us with the flies. He even sprayed near our table. We were seated outside towards the back by the parking lot but still had some water views.

This was our very favorite restaurant during our week in the Keys. Palm-thatch roof over the…read morerestaurant is really cool. Outside seating area offers great views, but we took an inside table and the vibe was still awesome. Live music was great. Our server Zach was on the mark; checked on us frequently and took care of any requests quickly, and a very friendly dude. We tried: Sparky's Sunset and Coconut Margarita - both very good. Tuna tartare - the sesame sauce wasn't my favorite, but the tuna was fresh and tender. Coconut Shrimp - HUGE shrimp, nice toasty coconut crust, and the sweet chili sauce was a great compliment. 1/2 lb Peel and Eat Shrimp - these were served with butter, cocktail sauce, lemon, and a little cup of add-it-if-you-want cajun seasoning. I tried them all and loved the options. Bacon-wrapped Scallops - these were fantastic!! Super crunchy bacon on the outside, perfectly cooked scallops on the inside. Buffalo Chicken Wings - these had really good flavor, but the skins were a bit tough. Sparky's will be our very first stop on our next stay in the Keys.

Tanteo Chipotle Margarita

Sparky Burger

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Marty R.

4 years ago

Great food. We ordered three meals and all were excellent. We were happy to find them open this year and we will be back.

Carri R.

2 years ago

I would leave 0 stars if I could! Worst Mexican food I've ever ate in my life!! Hands down!! Run don't walk!!!

Amy H.

5 years ago

The chips were stale, the queso was nacho cheese out of a can and the margarita had no alcohol in it at all.

El Molcajete - mexican - Updated August 2026

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