Clean, bright, located in the Waverly Place open mall, takes reservations through Open Table (goid, because it can be very busy on weekends), outside and inside seating. The food has always been really good, and continues to be so. They have a sizable bar, and good for meeting for drinks. On this trip we started with chips and a trio of salsa, guacamole, and queso: all a bit on the spicy side, but all disappeared quickly. Their signature Mexican Flag was delicious; the fajitas sizzling good and too big to fit in the 3 tortillas, and the barbacoa quesadilla was the hit of the night. The only drawback is that, according to the waitress, they don't own a blender and so no frozen Margs... the only long standing disappointment. read more

See all

Got takeout and clearly told them about a gluten and dairy allergy, but unfortunately the fajitas still had pieces of melted cheese on them, making the dish unsafe to eat. Very disappointing lack of care with cross-contamination. Also paid $6 for a side of beans and the portion was extremely small for the price. Chips were good, and the other food we tried had good flavor, but overall the experience was disappointing. read more

3 weeks ago we go in an hour before closing, knowing we won't keep the staff late, and it's mostly empty. We ask for one of the booths, all are open, and we're told no b/c they're reserved for big parties. 10 min later a party of 3 comes and ask the booth and get one. 5 min later another party of 2 comes in and same happens....guess they didn't like the way we looked. Now we're ordering online, show up at designated time and it's not ready, they're about half busy. 30 minutes later still nothing, just told the kitchen is backed up but by now 1/2 the tables have left the restaurant...looks like they never even started our food. We use to come here at least twice a month but this isnt the first time we've been lied to. It's just getting ridiculous, management is ruining this place. Food finally came 39 minutes after it was supposed to and restaurant started emptying out, which means even though we order it over 1hr 15 min they just started it over an hour after it was ordered or 30 min after it was supposed to be ready. Since our order is already cooked and just needs prepping/put together it doesn't take read more

Ordered online for take out. Everything was ready for me upon arrival and order was correct. Food was great and very authentic. The Mexican flag was delish! read more

What happened to Gonzas? I used to go to Gonzas every Friday. I loved it. My family did too. My kids loved the ice cream after their meals and I was always ordering the Mexican flag. Like....amazing food. The owner was always walking around talking to everyone, it was our favorite way to spend Friday nights. (That was the LeadMine location). Fast forward a few years, now I live in apex. I have tried the Cary location twice. Man, what a bummer. It's hard to put my finger on it but something isn't the same. Cold food, HORRIBLE SERVICE...The salsa tastes like ketchup. Bro I'm sooo bummed. But we have decided as a family, we really never need to go back there if that's how it is now. Maybe I'll try the OG lead mine location again to see if it's just a location issue. Real bummed. read more

Meh. I now remember why I usually prefer good ol' hole in the wall local Mexican chains. I get the feeling this place is living off it's location and ability for parents to knock back a few margarita's whilst the kids play on the Waverly Place Playground. We shared the corn (ok but an odd seasoning) Ceviche (shrimp with another odd creamy seasoning) and the Pastor Tacos (looked like something that came out of a crock-pot). In a word, uninspiring. Manager/Host/Owner? at front desk couldn't smile if you paid him and looked all night like somebody had defecated in his corn flakes. read more

I love Gonzas and this particular location is one of my favorites When you go you are going to get unlimited chips that are awesome to the point that you have to pace yourself Even so, start with the queso and or guacamole From there the menu takes you in a lot of directions but mine is usually steak oriented read more

See all

This is my second time coming here and found it to be decently good. We ordered the vegetarian nachos, Mexican flag enchiladas (made vegetarian), plantains, and the rice. Overall, I thought the food was decently good. The nachos did not seem like it was worth it but loved the enchiladas. The plantains were also great. My friend got one of their cocktails and mentioned that it was well made. Definitely a strong drink! Atmosphere is pretty great and our waiter was awesome. We did have to wait 20 minutes to get seated with a reservation made so just plan accordingly. Overall, I think this place is good for drinks, but if you want vegetarian Mexican food, it could use a little bit more work. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Mexican flag enchiladas (vegetarian) - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

This was actually my first time eating at a Gonza Tacos y Tequila! Which is crazy because they're all over the place here. We came in on a Saturday night and of course it was super busy. The wait was only 25 mins but instead we decided to sit at the bar and just eat there, the food got there within 5 minutes of us ordering, so it was a great idea for us to sit there instead of wait for a table or booth. The bartender was so nice and chatted with us a lot. The food was really good! Loved their queso and guacamole. My shrimp quesadillas were very spicy for me though. read more

See all

I really wish I could give a 2.5. The food does taste good here and has good flavor. But the service was so terrible and the prices are very high for Mexican food. I got the carne tacos which cost $18 dollars for three really small tacos. But don't worry it came with a side of rice and beans big enough to feed a cricket. I mean it's rice and beans, it's cheap, just give me more haha. I will say the the orange burrito in the Mexican flag burritos had fantastic flavor which earned this a three star. A perfect amount of spice. Overall I wouldn't recommend because of the price but at least the food tastes good. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Carne asada taco - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

One of our faves in our neighborhood. Portions are plenty and delicious. Love the music and decor. We celebrate many of our birthdays in the fam there. read more

I love this place they are consistent and are alway spot on. I love the margaritas and the menu. The service is always good. Also if you are over 21 and it's your birthday they will give you a birthday shot!! Chips and salsa are always on point. The food has a good variety with vegetarian options. The atmosphere is really cool. I love all the star lanterns! Overall just a great place to go to. The only complaint I have is that they revamped the menu and got rid of my favorite dish the tacos with scallops and pork belly. Other than that it's a good spot to bring friends for some good food and drinks. read more

See all

Excellent service and great for large groups with kids. There is a playground right outside the restaurant that the kids can play on. Our large group sat outside and the staff was very accommodating and friendly. We had a lot of special requests and they took very good care of us. I had the salmon and it was delicious. read more

Gonza was pretty good. My favorite was the salad that came with my shrimp quesadilla. That salad was amazing. My quesadilla was a little greasy, so much cheese-maybe more veggies in the quesadilla would be delicious. We might try another Mexican place in the area next time. read more

See all

A slightly elevated take on Mexican. Great food and excellent service. A bit pricey but worth it.

Pricey for tacos but the food and service were excellent. Good location - indoor and outdoor seating.

Bottom line: Gonza was a great meal experience. Tasty choices, even though this type of food is not my usual go-to, I enjoyed my meal here. The Deets: I have been to the Gonza location in downtown Raleigh (near Aloft hotel) but got a chance to experience their location at Waverly Place in Cary recently for a work dinner. We had a nice table outside, and service was good in getting drink orders. We did have a hiccup where a round of wheat beers was ordered but a round of IPA was delivered...this one was solved once pointed out. Chips and salsa was plentiful during drinks. They had an interesting variety of choices on the menu but I went with a fairly common choice of steak quesadilla (served with sour cream and guac) and a side of cilantro rice. This entree choice was very tasty, not spicy (which is a bonus for me as I am not into spicy food), and prepared just right with flavors that worked well together. The cilantro rice side choice was a good one as well (this one was recommended to me by a friend in the group), and I was pleased with my order. I have to admit that Mexican/Colombian food is not my go-to food choice most of the time but I enjoyed my meal with Gonza and would go there again. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

1st time there, recommended by a friend ... wow what a disappointment. No service for the first min and finally served by the Manager. When the server finally arrived, seemed that working was an inconvenience. Two incorrect orders brought to our table, our order was delivered to the wrong table also. Food was cold and awful, server never checked in. Left them a note about the poor service. Left a minimum tip and that was too much. Never again. read more

Pretty hectic! I know it was a Friday evening, but there's absolutely no waiting area. There was a crowd of probably 15 people standing in the doorway and nowhere to go once you checked in. Decor is fun and the little doo dads they give you when you check in are interesting. We had a reservation for 3 people, arrived 15 minutes early, and were seated right on time. Definitely recommend a reservation, if you're considering! The food is delicious, but do wish you could mix and match the choices. So instead we all got different orders, switched up ourselves, and asked for coconut rice on the side. Again, not a ton of wiggle room for mixing up off the menu! However, we enjoyed the food. Chicken and steak tacos on corn and flour tortillas, and enchiladas. The green rice that comes with the enchiladas was way more delicious than the coconut rice! I don't know how I missed on the menus that the rice had raisins in it.....hmmm, not my fave. read more

See all

Bar review- I have been to the other locations for food but enjoy this location since it's less busy. Location Hot summer day which calls for margaritas! Ginger Tamarindo is my favorite- looks a little weird but has a good taste. Tequila, ginger, tamarin, orange liqueur and lime. Strawberry blended margaritas are my fav but I usually get on the rocks here. I love their chips and salsa. Casual ambiance, I always enjoy the decorations and trendy vibe. read more

See all

Food is actually great. The Mexican flag surprised me with the taste. Service is nice. read more

There were four of us meeting here on a Friday night. There was a bit of a wait - the place was packed inside and out. The decorations in the restaurant are awesome. Colorful star lanterns hang throughout the restaurant. The walls, even in the bathrooms, have plenty to read and view. The food portion are not large and are overpriced. $6 for a ramekin of guacamole and $15 for a steak quesadilla that had more tortilla than anything else- and $12 for 3 very small tacos- seems a little pricey for not a lot of very basic food. It was a hot night in NC when we were there and it didn't seem like there was any air flowing in the place. It got to the point where we were uncomfortably hot- not the best way to enjoy a night out. Our server was great until he got our checks wrong. Then he was annoyed that we asked him to fix them. Not the best ending to the evening. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Steak quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Brisket tacos were not tender as promised by the waiter, pepper in the Chili Relleno was fresh and didn't seem to be cooked, but the BIGGEST problem was the bill. I asked for light cheese in my Chili relleno, and hot sauce and was given habanero sauce in a small plastic container. We didn't notice the up charges until we left. +1.00 for light cheese + 0.50 for hot sauce. Sadly, they didn't give me light cheese. I told the waiter that they missed that part. She said " Maybe that's light to them". She didn't inform us of the charge or remove it even when she saw the 1/2 cup of melted cheese removed from my meal sitting congealed on the edge of my plate. read more

Two stars for friendly service, reasonable COVID precautions, and my husband liked his food. This is Mexican food for people who hate Mexican food. The salsa tastes like tomato sauce. It's fresh, but jarred from the supermarket would taste better. Points for warm chips, though. My chili relleno was just plain bad. The serving was very large but completely flavorless. If you closed your eyes there's no way you could identify what you were eating. The so-called carnitas that if was filled with was a soaking wet gob of tasteless shredded meat pouring liquid over the plate. The animal was unidentifiable. There was an almost melted slab of equally flavorless cheese perched on top. How they managed to find a tasteless poblano is beyond me but they managed. The beans were a little better but just marginally. I left over more than half because it just wasn't worth eating. No need to go back. read more

This place is really great. I like the atmosphere and the location is really relaxing and great for kids (playground literally outside the front door). Again, I am a nachos guy and this place has fantastic nachos. They're not your typical Mexican nachos but they're good in their own right. They come with a chicken tinga but I hate that stuff lol. So I always get their Carne asada and it is soooo good. My only complaint and because of the 4 instead of 5 stars is their to go packaging isn't that great. Maybe it is better for the other dishes but when it comes to Nachos - you definitely get less for your money than if you had eaten there. The cheese is much less in volume, and less meat. Because of Covid i just have stopped going. But once I feel good about eating indoors again, I definitely plan on going back. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Nachos with steak - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Food was absolutely amazing. Chris M was awesome and all his recommendations were on point. So slay. Will definitely be asking for him again. Definitely made up for the awkward hostess experience. read more

Flavorless and low effort. Cold store bought tortillas, nothing was seasoned, the shrimp appetizer was 4 small shrimp for 10$. Fajitas came with a minimal amount of typical fixings, no rice and beans, the tiny sccop of pico de gallo seemed like it'd been in the fridge for a long time. Bottom tier experience of mexican food...maybe ever. read more

So, I am totally into trying new things, and what is better that tequila and tacos? It was really far from me (35 minutes), so in my head I was saying that it better be good... or else, hmph. I am so glad that I didn't bring my middle son with me, as patience is not his suit. The parking lot was in a yuppyish area of Cary, next to a CineBistro (at Waverly Place la la) and an Esteem Me Montessori Creative Play, which with the terrible parking lot should have been the big clue. The place was interesting, and had a ton of kids playing on the playground just outside of Gonza, which had ample outdoor seating as well. We walked in, it was loud, like ear piercingly loud and pretty busy, but we were still seated right away. The seats, though, were uncomfortably close, like European share my table close, and the decor was very amusement park head on wreck with a daycare. The server was quick, but anxious, she had been by like 3 times in less than five minutes to take our order, and we like taking our time. She asked us if we wanted some guacamole and salsa while we looked at the menu, so we said yes (sigh). It was bland and tasteless, both. The guac had no seasoning, and the salsa was pretty much just canned tomatoes. We had a margarita, which was ok, kind of small, though... we were told that the tequila menu was the price of a shot, and that for the margarita, it would be the same, just 2 bucks more for the fixins, so our margaritas were 12 bucks each. We had tacos, carnitas (the boy), carne (me), and scallops (wife). For me, they were strange, and the tortilla was too floury tasting. Also, it was pretty much just meat with a piece of avocado on top. We had to ask for some hot sauce and the only one that they had was the habanero sauce (made in house and pretty decent). So I added some to my tortilla soup, and on top of my tacos. They were Ok. The one take away from this dining experience was that their model seemed to be table turnover. I looked at my watch when we ordered until we got the check back from the server, and it was less than 30 minutes. I totally noticed that the table next to us turned over twice while we were there. Maybe the loud music was designed to shorten conversation and speed up the meal process. Not really for me, but they seemed to be a cohesive unit. I enjoy taking my time at lunch or dinner. Also, me and my taste bugs (little girl) demand flavor for our party, and were left wondering if we should go party somewhere else.. We bought tequila for home-made margaritas :). read more

See all

I have dined at Gonza a number of times, and each time I left feeling like I had a meal -- indeed, an experience -- that was just OK. Everything seems to have just gotten weaker over the years. The flavors are almost bland, the quantities have shrunk, and the prices have risen. If I am going to ingest a whopping amount of calories, I need to at least have whopping-good flavors. The masks are an interesting decorative feature but they mask a so-so dining experience. I honestly do not see how so many people can review this restaurant in strongly-favorable terms. Go figure. read more

I'll be honest in saying that I kept my expectations low based on the reviews I read. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised - if I could, I would give 3.5 stars. So I made reservations for Friday night based on reviews, and I'm glad so many Yelpers emphasized this. The place was packed with a long line, and we waited 15-20 minutes for a table, so I'm glad I made a reservation. The music, while definitely on the loud side, wasn't like being at a concert, which is what I was afraid of. We were definitely able to have a conversation. We ordered guacamole, nachos, the carnitas tacos w/rice and pinto beans, and callo de hacha tacos with a side of chicken tortilla soup. The nachos were huge! Definitely enough for a 10 year old boy, and he liked them. The tacos, otoh, are teeny tiny! They do give you 3 and they are stuffed, to be fair. Hub loved the carnitas tacos, but didn't like the rice because it had corn and coming from the midwest never wants to look at corn ever again in his life, so YMMV. The callo de hacha tacos were just ok. They were heavily salted and didn't carry much nuance beyond that, but the tortilla soup was delicious! I would definitely order just that in the future. So, while I didn't feel like families are unwelcome by any means, it felt more like a bar with a restaurant than the other way around. That didn't bother me, just a data point. read more

See all

A meal at Gonza is always good. This time we decided to check out their location in Waverly Place. We sat at the bar and service was great. I started off with a glass of sangria followed by a passion fruit margarita. The sangria was average but I liked the margarita. For our meals we ordered the burrito el guapo and chile relleno. Both were good. It does get slammed so make a reservation if you want to avoid a wait. read more

See all

My sister and I had lunch here on a Friday at around noon. The place was packed ! We were seated at one of the last available tables. The decor is very colorful. We may return one evening and try a margarita. Our waiter was friendly and helpful. We told him it was our first time there and he explained the layout of the menu. My sister already knew she wanted the stuffed poblano pepper with black beans. I got the "special" tacos which were shredded pork with grated carrots and pickled onions. I chose a side salad which was pretty tasty. The food was fresh. I didn't think it was big on flavor. We ask for something "spicy" to put on our food and the waiter brought us each a small amount of sauce (which we were charged .50 for !!). The Chef came out and introduced himself to us since it was our first time dining here. He was nice and obviously passionate about his food. Will maybe return for a margarita but I'm not sure about the food. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Chips and Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Aside from being a little bit too loud to easily hear across the table, this was a super fun place to meet friends after work. Our server was cheerful and very helpful with our questions. Carnitas tacos were delicious! Great selection of tequilas. read more

Great restaurant! They have the best salsa. Like I wish I can just have a gallon for it at home. My fav dish is the El Platano! So yummy and unique. I been going here for years and always have a great time. read more

Came here with a friend on a Tuesday evening and seated right away even though it was busy. Very clean restaurant and trendy decor. Server was attentive. Prices were reasonable. They have Mexican and Puerto Rican cuisine. I ordered the pollo tacos with avocado on top. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Food came out hot which is a big plus for me. You can exchange the rice and beans for soup or salad. The rice was fresh and the beans had a smokey flavor to them. Chips and salsa were good too. read more

See all

Good food served in a dazzling dining area. Ordered: vegetariano, burrito el guapo, and a side of plantains Pros: -convenient location right in Waverly place -beautiful, dramatic decor -nice atmosphere. Seems to be a good location for catching up with friends - although I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon when it was not busy and quiet. -flavorful food -reasonably priced (a little pricier than similar restaurants) -reasonable portions (medium) -accurate orders -chips and salsa were included in the order -takeout orders packaged well Cons: -ordering by phone was tricky. You have to go through several prompts first. Then no one picked up the first time I called so I had to call back and go through the prompts again. Then when I was connected with someone she had a difficult time understanding me. Not a big issue but know that it takes extra time to call for takeout. -customer service is not the best. As told by the employee I placed the order through, I went straight to the bar to pick up my order. Although 2 employees were standing there near me behind the bar and saw me, they did not acknowledge me and continued to talk. After waiting for a while I thought I was in the wrong place and went to the hostess stand. She sent me back to the bar and said that someone would help me. After waiting there again for a while, one of the employees behind the bar came over to give me my check and order. They were not busy, however, I understand that they may have had someone important to discuss. It would have been nice if they had said that they would be right with me so that I know at least I was going to be helped or if there was a particular area (or side of the bar) to go to to pick up takeout orders. Other than that, the checkout process was quick and easy. Thank you Gonza for the gift card provided at a previous Waverly Place yelp event. I used it on this purchase. I would recommend this restaurant to others and want to return soon to eat inside since the interior is absolutely dazzling with all of the glittery decorations and colorful paintings. read more

See all

We loooove gonza! Consistently delicious food and pretty quick and friendly service. The ambiance also sets it apart, very trendy and fun spot. Best part is the drinks, not sure what made it so special, but we had some of the greatest margaritas ever here. The queso dip is also one of the best, definitely worth it. Only complaint is portions are small and prices are... not. read more

Gonza Tacos Y Tequila - Queso - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Thanks for being on the Kay Yow Wine Walk! We came back to eat. Chips, queso, and guacamole at the bar was a good choice while waiting for our table. Service and food was fine. Burrito was okay, side salad instead of plantains was great! Love the lanterns and atmosphere. Bobble heads rock! read more

See all

First time here at Gonza and boy it will not be my last. I walked in hungry and walked out looking stuff like this burrito. I love the decor and atmosphere of this location. They also have limited and outside sitting during COVID. They serve chips and salsa with the food. My shrimp burrito was yummy with some kick, it's either from the shrimp or the rice. Either way it was bearable, trust me I don't do spicy. I can't wait to try something else on my next visit! read more

See all

Decent drinks and good food. The service is somewhat slow and they mixed my order up, but besides that it was delicious. You can't go wrong with the fajitas. There is a nice dining area outside. read more