One of the better Mexican spots in Clayton. I frequent this establishment since it was in its old location off 70. The employees are great especially Javier,Pablo,George and "El tio" (I think hes the big wig) The frozen texana Margarita is to die for. I love the Pollo loco off the menu with extra grilled onions. The new place is bigger and better for me lots of space at the bar and the Bartender Pablo is on point. Im very well taken care of the ambience is nice and if you dont like crowds stay away between 6 and 8 pm it gets very crowded. All in all its a great place.for drinks.or family dinner.I highly suggest it read more

Great food, quick service, strong drinks, and a fun atmosphere. My coworkers and I come here at least once a month on Fridays for dinner and pitchers of margaritas. The wait staff recognizes us each week, knows one of my corworker's children by name, and often sends over free dishes of queso for him. This restaurant honors 10% off each person's bill with our teachers IDs, which is wonderful. read more

We've eaten there a couple of times and it's always good. Fast service and hot food. Never had to wait for a table since opening the new place. Price is average. read more

We ordered take out. Got all the way home and the order was wrong. We called to see what could be done. We were told to BRING THE ORDER BACK and they would exchange for the correct order. I told the manager that they got the order wrong, the food has been opened and they want us to bring it back??? Yup. Bring it back. I've already driven out there, driven home and now have to drive back out there to exchange food? They got the order wrong - isn't it "normal" for a restaurant to make it right? Nope. They wouldn't listen or have anything to do with it. Very disappointing. We won't eat there again after how we were treated on the call. read more

We always drive by and it's always packed so we figured it must be pretty good ... Went One Saturday for early dinner and it was obviously be for the dinner rush we got straight in . Service was ok , the wait staff didn't act like they wanted to be there, the food was ok , we've had better . But for a quick dinner it did is fine . The reason for the 3 stars mainly because of the wait staff . Maybe they drank to much Friday night ...oh and the menu was very hard to read so I ordered something I thought what I wanted but it was wrong read more

Typical NC-Mexi...which I love. Seated with chips, salsa and a beer in less than 60 seconds. Ordered and served in about 5 minutes. Fajitas were very good, as well as the chili releno. read more

Typical American "Mexican" menu. Greasy, cheesy... I gave it 3 chances and each time they got my order wrong, and it came back when everyone else was almost done. Will never go back. read more

My friend and I went here for dessert one night and got some of the worst service in such a short time. We weren't greeted and sat for 15 minutes before our drink orders were even taken. No this was not a busy night, only a few tables aside from us. When we placed our orders, we ordered burrito cheesecake which is pictured with ice cream. The menu doesn't state that you have to order ice cream separately or we would've. When it was brought to us with none, I simply asked, without attitude, "Doesn't it come with ice cream?" The waitress rolled her eyes, without saying anything and went back to the kitchen. Another woman came back and said it comes two ways, with and without ice cream and you have to specify that when you order. I told her that the menu doesn't make that clear and suggested that waitresses should explain that when you order to avoid confusion. The second woman cut me off while I was talking and said rudely, "you want ice cream??" She walked away and the other lady came back and placed two bowls on our table and walked away. Neither of them ever came back. My friend and I were shocked, because we never had an attitude and weren't even complaining in the first place, I was simply asking a question! A random man brought us the check and the two ladies avoided us the rest of the visit. :-( read more

La Cocina - Menu clearly depicts the dish (burrito cheesecake) with ice cream, but when they brought it to me without they claim it doesn't! - Mexican Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

The service is good, the drinks are strong, and the food is delicious. It's a Clayton favorite of ours.

Just found out they don't recycle and when asked I was told they throw away a lot of plastic and glass from the bar. Really? Today when more so than ever he service is available by the county. I will think twice about going there anytime soon. What does this have to do with their food? Although delicious, it's a full package for me. Sustainability for the community they provide a service to is just as important as the food! read more

MAN.....I really dont understand the negative reviews. I grabbed lunch at the new location. It was fantastic! Fresh and delicious. Service was good. I do agree that the menu is a bit hard to read, in particular the lunch and combinations with the green background. Working outside all day and coming in from the bright sun makes it extra hard to read. But...I loved the food. I'll be back read more

Lunch today at new location. Good service but the food was just meh, nothing special, not bad but not particularly good. I tried several times at old location and was hoping the new would be better. It isn't. Nice looking bar though, looks like a good place to come for margaritas and drinks. read more

Had my son bday dinner here tonight and it was disgusting food had no taste at all very busy place so server are not as attentive as should be for 160$ I would think the food would be a hell of a lot better used to be back in the days tho but no it sucks want be going back read more

Excellent food, atmosphere, and our waiter Fernando was very helpful, friendly and a great server!

Have tried this place twice. Both times service was terrible. Once tableside service the other to go. Food is not even mediocre. Bland. Chicken taste like it has been boiled hours previously. Tuff. Had pollo con creama and acp. Worst acp ever! read more

The meat is of very poor quality, the chicken is always dry. Very disappointing. Very poor quality and highest prices of all the Mexican restaurants in our area. read more

This is your average Tex Mex restaurant. They are in a strip mall with nothing to set them apart from all the other shops. If you aren't looking for it you may not see it. The inside is just as undecorated and lack luster as the outside. The waitstaff show up quickly but didn't give us time to really examine the huge menu. We felt rushed and kind of picked meals without fully reading the menu. The food was good. It is why it is getting 2 stars. The chimichangas looked more like long taquitos than a full sized fried burrito. They were completely covered in lettuce, sour cream , and guacamole. I had the for sight to order the queso blanco instead of the nacho cheese for the chimmis because I KNEW it was going to be canned cheese sauce (Read Cheeze Wiz). All in all it is OK if you are taking some people that don't know or expect authentic Mexican food but don't expect much more from them. read more

Best Mexican place around !!!! Delicious food & great service. Margaritas are delicious

This place is WonDerFul...we have had Mexican in many, many areas and this is by far the best. Better than affordable and everything from the Chile relleno to the warm chips is fresh, fast, and delicious. And, they know our faces and greet us like family :). I felt the need to set up a Yelp account to make sure they know how much we enjoy it. read more

La Cocina - Black Bean Soup - Mexican Near Me - Clayton, North Carolina

Eaten here many times before they moved and this is the second time in the new place. Ordered deep fried chicken chimichanga and although crispy in the outside and "cooked" on the inside the entire dish was cold to Luke warm. Didn't see the waitress until after we had finished our meal so wouldn't have done any good to wait and let them know. Just disappointed. It happens. read more

Lunch at the new location today... very nice! Food great as always. Pollo chipotle is my favorite.

God Mexican food with quick service. We've been here several times and the service is always fairly quick unlike the other local Mexican restaurant in town. Today our server was very accommodating which was great and allowed us to order exactly what we wanted and all for a great price. read more

The new location is wonderful!! We were so happy when they opened the new location near Just Tires. We went on a Sunday for lunch with a large party and actually had a brand new waitress and she was wonderful. Food came out right on time and was excellent. Our favorite has always been Fiesta Mexicana however this new location is a match. My husband and I prefer Fiesta but our kids prefer La Cocina. Will definitely be back read more

Just moved to the area a few months ago. This is my new fav spot. Great service, portions aren't skimpy. The drinks are awesome. In a time where customer service lacks in most places. It was a pleasure to see that they put effort in providing all around good business. read more

Great food, great service, friendly staff and one of the cleanest restaurants I've seen. Possibly the BEST chicken soup in the WORLD!!

Had dinner at the new location. We had a reservation, but we were seated in the normal rotation. The food was good, but it was very LOUD, you had to yell across the table to carry on a conversation, (definitely need some sound proofing). One member of our party ordered a Modelo, he had to ask the server 3 times for his beer. It will be a while before I go back. read more

We ate here last night and loved it as usual! This is the spot we go to when I'm craving a margarita. The pitchers are delicious and the best value! They always make them nice and strong, light on the ice, so perfect! The service has always been great, the food never has disappointed us, and the restaurant is very clean. We love the free chips and salsa they give you while you wait for your meal! I am in love with the fact that they have an entire section of vegetarian options! I always get mine with no cheese and they easily accommodate me. My boyfriend got a combination platter, and for once he couldn't finish his meal! The portions here are huge! I would highly recommend trying La Cocina of you are in the mood for good Mexican food and great drinks. read more

Stopped into La Cocina for some dinner and left satisfied. Everything from the drinks to the food were great. The service was very friendly.

Went there last night for dinner and sat outside. I had taco salad and hubby had ACP we have had both before at this location pre-covid and were very good Both of our meals were horrible all mine was chunks of chicken ( I asked for shredded) lettuce sour cream and guacamole. That is all nothing. Husband had some chicken and rice very little caso. We weren't even finished and waiter brought check and turned around and left. We have been to this location several times and it has been great. Not sure what is happening but we won't be rushing back. read more

Would have given 4 stars, but the wait staff has serious attitude issues. That's too bad... Three of us went for lunch. We had no alcohol, just food and unsweetened teas. Bill was $60 plus $10 tip. Just to let you know I did not stiff them. The food was very good with lots of it. No complaints, with the exception of heard to read menu. We were promptly seated. We were addressed by a member of the waitstaff who brought us our drinks and salsa/chips and menu Then the waitress arrived. We asked for more time to read the menu. I have to tell you with the lighting and the dark green menu print it's hard to read. She returned about a minute later for our order. We asked for a minute more. That's when she started reading the menu too us, and gave us the impression that we were taking to long in her estimation. Yes it was lunch time, but there were lots of empty tab,,les. So, after five minutes since setting down, we gave her our order. read more

Great food and service here. We used to prefer a competitor down the road near Walmart but the last several times we went there, the food had gone downhill and the service too. The difference at La Cocino's was very evident with the food being much tastier (the beef was seasoned just right) and the service much faster, and this was when the place was packed on a Friday that was Cinco De Mayo. We will definitely be back and if we like them as much on the next visit, I'll raise them to 5 stars read more

This is a very good, clean, Mexican Restaurant. Great Special Plates, fun atmosphere, festive music playing, Great Service. The Bar is separate from the Restaurant so that is a nice option too, so there is something for everyone! read more

I'll never go back. Worse service not friendly. They acted like they were doing us the favor of serving-not worth it

Mediocre food with lousy service. Wait staff sits on back booth more than they do their job. Won't be returning.

I've been to this place 3 times with the family and this place never disappoints with the zombie like waiters and sorry service. I wanted to give this place a chance, maybe though that it was just a fluke. But nope it's real the service is horrible and the waiters never smile, I wasn't even done telling the waiter my order and he was already walking away! Had to call him back two times. Then to top it off myself and my daughter needed refills, but behold no one came to ask us I had to stop someone just to ask them for refills. And don't get me started about those $8.50 really small sorry excuse margaritas, such a rip off! If your looking for a better Mexican restaurant experience definitely go somewhere else. If you want some authentic better service Mexican restaurant go to California Tacos on hwy 70, it's 100 times much better. read more

Good place to go for lunch as a break from work. Great staff! Food is pretty good. Not my favorite ever, but pretty good. Very reasonably priced, especially compared to other Clayton Mexican places. read more

Delicious Mexican Food, quick service, friendly atmosphere and very affordable, for the whole fam!

My favorite go-to restaurant. Service is always outstanding! Food is always consistently great!

Decent food and decent service. It's pretty standard Mexican fare, and not the best in Clayton. I'd recommend Fiesta Mexicana instead of La Cocina, though LC isn't a bad joint. read more

Wish I could post zero stars! This has been a favorite till recently and now we will never be back. 3rd visit in row that staff would not wait on us. The first 2 times we literally flagged down someone and asked them to take our order ... REALLY??? Today we waited more than 10 min for anyone to acknowledge us. They were not busy at all, we finally just walked out. While leaving there were 2 hostess and 4 wait staff hanging out by the door chit chatting. When I called, the manger hung up on me. Never ever will we be back. read more