My friend and I stopped in here on Sunday afternoon to grab a bite to eat for lunch. This restaurant is close to downtown Hillsborough but is a little off the main thoroughfare. It has a decent amount of street parking, as well as a large green area with toys where kids can and do play. They have plenty of outdoor seating so this is a great spot to come and relax on a spring or summer afternoon/evening. I didn't feel like it was too busy when we got there, but it did take them a little bit to take our orders, get our drinks, and get our food out, so maybe it was. That being said, the ladies handling orders were MOVING. The menu does not list prices. You have to go to their website to see what the current price of food is. I got an order of the chips and guac and the fish tacos (grilled). The fish tacos were huge, which was delightful and it came with three. The guac was okay - I think it needed more cilantro, lime, or salt. My friend got the aguachile and an order of chilaquiles rojo. The aguachile was in this delightfully spicy green sauce - I took some and drenched my taco in it. The perfect combo! The aguachile is huge so my friend sent me home with some, along with my one remaining fish taco. Both were delicious as leftovers. read more

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Just popping back to share some pictures from our recent visits. Since moving to the area this is 100% my favorite spot so far. 10/10 service every time I go I have such great conversations with the staff. They are so incredibly helpful and kind. The food is just so fresh and tasty and everything seems homemade. I love the outdoor umbrella seating on a nice day especially when you're holding a coconut in your hand. Just WOW can't say enough great things. This local spot is a must try! read more

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Very good good- delightfully surprised . Seems simple but the taste is amazing . Worth the trip

Love this Mexican restaurant. It's my new favorite in the Hillsborough area and I will return with my friends and family! Indoor and outdoor seating options, quick service and amazing food. read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Barbacoa Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

10/10 authentic as it gets when it comes to Mexican food really nice people amazing service great prices amazing food read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

Really really good seafood! We were quite surprised at the quality and quantity. I had blackened redfish with a baked potato and C had a medium fried shrimp plate. There were 18 shrimp on that plate, beautifully breaded and fried. It's quite casual inside and good lord, work on your menu, man. Our poor (very busy) waitress had to answer numerous questions that should be answered on the menu: how many shrimp are on the small/medium/large plate for example. Our waitress was very good considering how busy she was. All in all we had a good experience and will return. read more

So I have mixed feeling about leaving a review, especially with a restaurant that is off the beaten path. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. The service was also mediocre. I was so hopeful coming here, but won't be back. read more

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What's not to love about a Mexican restaurant? I mean the culture, the food, etc nothing is boring but instead fun. Hillsborough is an old town but very comfortable so this small, old, but comfortable restaurant is more than amazing. The people, the environment, the food & many more I love it here. read more

Best cultural food I have ever had. My husband is a huge fan of Mexican food, but we have never had success finding a restaurant that truly serves regional fare until we came to Ixtapa. My sister and her family told us that they come to this restaurant regularly, so we decided to try it while we were in town. When we arrive, we had just missed the lunch rush, so we were able to sit at the outdoor tables. We immediately ordered two horchata for ourselves and I got the flautas platter while my husband had the Bistec en salsa rojo. While waiting for our food, I went inside to get a feel for the ambiance. The staff was friendly and cheerful and we had a fun conversation in Spanish. I appreciated that the staff didn't automatically speak to me in English and they were very curious as to where I had learned Spanish. The experience definitely made me feel welcome. Inside there was an assortment of paletas, bonbons and to go sodas from different regions. If I weren't flying back home, I would have grabbed a few to go. When I returned to the table, our food was just being brought out. Even though my flautas were covered in lettuce and tomato, they were perfectly crispy and hot. The bean were better than any frijoles refritos I have ever had in California. I never finish my plate in a restaurant, but I did here. The horchata was perfectly cool, full of cinnamon flavor and an excellent accompaniment to the meal. This place rates a 10/5 in my book. When I come back to North Carolina, this will be one of my first stops! read more

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A friend and I happened upon El Restaurante Ixtapa on a weekend afternoon after walking from Gold Park downtown and heading back toward the trail. Everything made it a great afternoon for catching up with a friend: the clean and well-maintained picnic tables with umbrellas providing adequate shade (which we preferred to indoor seating), the friendly attention of waitstaff, and, of course, the delicious and authentic Mexican food. We shared a side of house-made chips and guacamole, which surpassed my hopes for flavor and texture, and we each had two tacos, which were delicious and filling. The prices are exceedingly reasonable, and we highly recommend Ixtapa for its food and a pleasant experience. read more

Hidden gem. Dont let the exterior fool you. Very authentic menu. Food felt very fresh and portions were quite large. Service attentive. I felt very reasonable priced. We will be back read more

I feel like Hillsborough is the hidden town of the best Mexican food in the triangle. First time coming to Ixtapa and had to try their torta. One of the best tortas I've had in a long time with a great flavor combination with the mushrooms. Definitely would get some hot sauce for an extra kick as well. The beans and rice were also great. Love the location of this place. Literally a house turned into a restaurant. Good outdoor area as well. The food did take forever (45 minutes) and we ordered there. Only 2 other people in the restaurant but seems like a lot of to go orders. Would definitely recommend ordering ahead of time and picking it up. Was surprised we didn't get any chips for the table either but maybe that's going out of style. Overall loved the food but wish it was slightly faster if you dine in. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu on a nice spring day! read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Mushroom torta - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

Perfect spot to enjoy some food outside especially during covid times. There's a bunch of outdoor seating and a lot of play-sets, toys, and space for kids to run around and enjoy. Service was great and food was yummy! I had a Don Burrito with chicken. We also had chips and salsa and the chips were awesome! read more

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What a great little restaurant !! Out first time here but definitely not our last. Most of the seating is outdoor. We sat in the porch area that has a few small heaters. There is also some seating inside. We were not sure if they had a liquor license so we didn't order anything. We did see a few Corona beers go by. Started with chips and guac. The guac was freshly made and I believe the chips were also freshly fried. Not greasy at all and super crunchy. I had the "tinga" quesadilla. Fresh and delicious. It even had sliced avocado on it. Hubby had the enchiladas and he agreed that it was something he would come back and have again. Give them a try. It's not the "usual" Mexican food menu. Can't wait to come by again. read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Chips and Guac - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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I was on an early weekend trip with three others and after walking around a large part of Hillsborough, we decided on Mexican for lunch and ERI was an easy bet to try based on the reviews of fellow Yelpers. Believe me, this place lives up to its ratings! There is a lot of outside seating available, but we preferred sitting inside so we could cool off. You seat yourself wherever there is space and the waitresses are quick to take drink and entree orders. I got a bottle of Modelo and the rest Coronas with lime. My entree was mixed fajitas and everyone else got tacos and enchiladas. Nobody was disappointed with their food and everything had such a fresh flavor to it. The ratings here are well deserved and the food exceeded our expectations. Nice job and keep up the great work and service! read more

This place has the best Mexican food in the area. I always go here when I visit my parents that live nearby.

Excellent Mexican food. Homemade and fresh. Friendly service. Lots of outdoor seating and it can get busy when it's nice outside. Check the specials. read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Mole - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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This is a cute place super close to downtown Hillsborough. We had taken the littles Trick-or-Treating at the business and decided this would be a good place to stop since they have a play area for the kids to run off all that sugar (and traffic was pretty horrible since it was also Last Friday!) Us adults got a table outside and were able to enjoy a beer while the kids played. There was a QR code at the table where you could order online but a waitress came out to take our order. I got the Don Burrito and some cheese dip (just FYI, you must order chips/salsa separately here). The food was quite tasty, especially for the price. Their homemade chips were my favorite part. There were MANY options and everyone enjoyed their food. At the end of the meal you need to go in to pay which wasn't conveyed to us but we eventually figured it out. All in all a very nice evening and I look forward to coming back especially if we've got all the kids with us. read more

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I went here with my friend and would recommend it. Large portions, good prices, and friendly service. My favorite restaurant back home is Pollo Tropical and I saw they had an option on the menu for it so I had to try it and it was fantastic! Very flavorful, generous sizes, and really good! A lot of people were eating here which shows how great it is! read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Pollo tropical and tamarind juice - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

My lovely wife and I love coming here for some authentic Latin food. When we have a craving for some queso and tacos, this is our go-to! I ordered what I always order: fish tacos deep fried to perfection with slaw and corn. My wife ordered the same. She was feeling wild and ordered a Corõna Mexican beer as well read more

Fresh, fast, and delicious! I ordered Chile Rellenos, it came with rice, beans and lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole combo. .... Oooo and house made corn tortillas. Fresh coconut water au naturale was quite the treat too! read more

Super busy Restaurant! Stopped in during lunch, this restaurant has been recommend a couple of times and was in the area so I figured it was time to check it out. The exterior was confusing as the restaurant sits alone along a road. The decor is quite busy, looks unkept, inside the floors wobble and the place creeks. I decided to move past the looks and give the food a try. I was craving a burrito but they said the wait would be long. I opted for green sauce enchiladas with shredded chicken. The food was ok, not as authentic as I had hoped. They plate comes with 5 enchiladas, topped with lettuce, cheese, cream, tomato and a few slices of avocado. I can cross this off my list, quite far for me and the food wasn't THE best. read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Chicken Enchiladas- green sauce - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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Delicious and authentic. Wonderful wait staff and unique setting. We enjoyed our outside dining

Very good and affordable foood, it's very cozy' and the customer service is great! I got the tinga tostadas and it was very filling and flavorful read more

Great food and great friendly service! The tamales are absolutely amazing except they are only available certain days.

I was quite impressed with my Torta Al Pastor from El Restaurante Ixtapa! The bread was soft and fluffy, but not too thick compared to the meat. I do however like more of a crisp on the outside of my bread usually. The meat was juicy, tender and seasoned delightfully. Paired with the typical toppings, this torta was a hit. The fries were crispy, seasoned and came along with the torta, making it a quite reasonable price. Service was friendly and despite ordering at prime lunch time, everything was ready in about 20 mins for me to pick up. I noticed they had ample seating both inside and out. I'll be back to try some other things next time! read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Torta Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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We really enjoy El Restaurante Ixtapa, having eaten here multiple times now. The staff is really kind to everyone and the outdoor eating area is nice. The spot is located off the main road, but easy to find with cars parked right outside and along the street. My favorite order is their guacamole and chips (love their homemade chips) and the fish tacos. Fish tacos come as an order of 3 and are full of fish, cilantro, and sprinkled with corn. I'm always really full after eating! The fajitas also looked good. We will certainly keep coming back here! read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

The food was fresh, filling, authentic and delicious. The service was quick and friendly. The dining experience was cozy.

Great home style Mexican food. Friendly. Wonderful outdoor area with occasional live music events

Delicious breakfast burritos! I got chorizo in mine and it was a great balance of flavors. Wonderful staff as well! :) read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

We had heard many good things about this place so decided to give it a go. I read that service was slow so we ordered everything at once. We started of with a couple of beers, they have a wide range of bottled sodas...you can't beat Mexican coke! We then ordered queso with jalapeños and chorizo...not spicy at all. We also ordered the shrimp taco, mushroom quesadilla, and chicken fajitas ( they brought out the mixed grill with shrimp and beef on mistake). The ingredients were all very fresh, homemade tortillas and overall a great place for authentic food. Our service was actually normal and not slow. I can see though when busy it could get tough. We enjoyed it! read more

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Very good, family-owned restaurant with good food, decent prices, and great outdoor seating. Parking situation isn't great, indoor dining situation isn't great, but these are not a very big deal. read more

Food was authentic, very authentic. Sat outside, staff was pleasant. No free refills, can or bottle only. It's authentic enough that it may be off putting to some, as it was to me. read more

Been there a couple of times. It was okay, it was hot in the summertime. It was okay, nowhere I would seek out to go.

This is a great place for ambience. Close to the river, lots of trees. And just has a good feel about it. If I was in Austin or San Antonio I would think that I found the spot. But the service wasn't impressive and the milanesa de res was really greasy and way overcooked. If you just want somewhere to sit outside and drink beer this is a spot. But beer is all you're going to get to drink because they don't have a liquor license. I would avoid the food though read more

Trash. They will serve you ice cold food that is clearly frozen food then play in your face and deny they ever did that. They will also refuse to comp your meal for their mistake. They will argue with you even though they know they just served you an inedible, stone cold piece of meat. If I could leave 0 stars I would. read more

I discovered this restaurant on Yelp. (Thanks Yelpers!) And I am so glad I did. I came here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in November. The weather was absolutely PERFECT. I ordered shrimp tacos and rice and beans. Everything was pretty delicious. My friend ordered guac and salsa. The best guac I've had in a while. Servers were friendly and accommodating. Outdoor seating and ambience was pretty warm and inviting. I can't wait to come here again! read more

Bottom line: Will I come back? I've thought about this a lot and I think I would give this place one more chance, because the food is exceptional. If you're here on a date/ super hungry/need to eat quickly don't come here but if you can block out a few hours to eat, not starving or with a big group of friends then check it out. Read more for a thorough review! Service: To summarize they have terrible service here. My SO and I arrived around 615 pm on a Sunday evening. We weren't given menus or water for almost 15 minutes. It took them another 10 minutes to get our food orders. We then waited for almost an hour before we got our food. Yes they were swamped, it's a popular place. However exceptional eating experiences do not allow the customer to just sit there for an extended period of time without acknowledging them. Also I think the waiters should let the customer know how long the food will take, I assume the kitchen is small but giving us an expectation of wait time alleviates uncertainty to fester more "hangry" thoughts. Food: We both ordered the veggie burritos. Damn it was good. The cheese was amazing and I probably finished it in 5 minutes. I ordered a liter of coke as well. The food is phenomenal. Price: great prices, I think we paid just under 20 bucks for two burritos and a glass coke. read more

El Restaurante Ixtapa - Veggie burrito - Mexican Near Me - Hillsborough, North Carolina

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What a great little restaurant. We've ordered several times from here and are always pleased with what we've ordered. I love their tamales which is either pork or chicken. I can only review the chicken tamale which is the best I've had anywhere. Beans & rice are good too. For a Xmas family gathering, we ordered pork and chicken tamales that everyone loved. There is outside dining with an area for kids to play. read more

It was okay but in my mind when a restaurant says they're a "Mexican" food restaurant they shouldn't be a Honduran or Nicaraguan or any other country's food type except for Mexican as its deceiving. I wouldn't say this was authentic Mexican food. "Mexican food" shouldn't be a catch all for this type of food. read more