Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    4.5 (524 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    LAS CARRETAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Chicken Rice Bowl
    Lauren T.

    We were craving Mexican and decided to give Las Carretas one more try. We were mistaken. The water tastes like they retrieved it from the toiled bowl. They've adjusted their salsa recipes and they no longer have much of anything with a real kick. They removed the alambre de lengua from their menu, which was a fave. The quesabirria I ordered thinking I could not go wrong... $18 for what looked like a kids meal portion. Service was fine. Food below average, just stereotypical Mexican. Welp. Definitely a hard no on going back.

    Patio
    Chris B.

    From the moment we walked in you could feel the energy. There was a live DJ playing Spanish music that really set the vibe for the whole night. The staff were super friendly and the service was incredibly fast. They have a large menu with pretty much every Mexican dish you can think of. We started with the queso and table-side guacamole, both of which were perfect for sharing. Of course we visited the salsa bar which everyone tells about. For the main course, we had the chicken flautas, steak quesadilla, arroz con pollo, and shrimp fajitas. I have to say, the food came out in UNDER 10 minutes, which was so impressive considering how busy they were. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and just hit the spot. A manager came out to check on us shortly after our food arrived, which was a nice touch. It really showed that they care about the customer experience here. The combination of delicious food, great music, and fast service made this place a winner. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fun night out with amazing food and good vibes! Will definitely be coming back.

    Outside
    GiGi G.

    This place does not do well when busy. Orders are missed, food arrives cold, and reservations are not kept. Inside and outside seating available. Reservations recommended (but you're lucky if they adhere to them).

    Enchiladas Blancas
    Helen N.

    I've been to Las Carretas a few times with friends, usually on weekends, but this time I went on a weekday night. The parking lot was packed and the restaurant was busy, but since it was just two of us we got seated pretty quickly. Service was friendly and quick even though it was busy. I don't know if it was where we were sitting but I could barely hear my friend talk. They start you off with free chips and bean dip. The bean dip was watery and not really my thing, and while the chips were classic Mexican restaurant style, some were too hard and oily. What I really love here is the salsa buffet. They have a ton of different salsas and spice levels. I always go for the Carretas dressing (the white sauce) and the table salsa since I don't handle spicy stuff well. For my meal, I ordered the Blancas Enchiladas which come with char-grilled chicken enchiladas topped with queso fresco and queso dip, plus beans, rice, lettuce, pico, guac, and sour cream. The portion was good, and while the chicken was soft, it was a bit bland. The tortilla edges that didn't have sauce were dry. Rice was solid, veggies were fine, and the guacamole could have been fresher. My friend got the queso blanco with chips and flautas. She liked both and said the flavor was good. I tried the queso myself. I was a little watery but had a nice kick.

    Ceviche
    Vishal J.

    I thought the food was decent for the amount of hype this place gets. When I arrived, there were a ton of people waiting and the whole establishment was filled, so I came in with high expectations. Starting with what was good, the table side guacamole and ceviche were great starters, both with good flavor. The salsa bar was also a great addition to the place and a nice differentiator from other restaurants. I enjoyed the variety of spicy salsas offered. The service was also great throughout the night as well. For the entrees, the birria tacos were the one dish I thought was tasty. The meat was very juicy and tender, but I wish they provide a little bit more consume with the dish. The other entrees we ordered weren't too great. The steak for the fajitas and mar y Tierra dish was bland and didn't have a nice texture to it. Furthermore, the vegetables had no flavor. The shrimp was tasty though. The fish that came with the tacos was also firm and not very crispy. Overall the food was ok but didn't find anything special about this place.

    chicken soup
    Crystal B.

    valentina was so attentive and sweet. we loved the vibe here as well- very relaxed yet modern. they have a salsa bar with house salsa, pico, verde etc. we enjoyed the queso app and i really loved the chicken soup.

    Gregg P.

    Wevhad Alejandra as our server she was awwesome explaining items for me and tried some mew items. Food was awesome as usial, and service was 2nd to none!always authentic mexican music playing over speakers addingbthe atmosphere.

    Meghan T.

    Las Carretas had some great reviews online so we decided to try it on a trip to Gainesville. The restaurant is modern and clean. We were seated immediately when we walked in and the waiter quickly took our order. We ordered the Texas fajitas, which had shrimp, chicken, and steak. It also came with beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, and three tortillas. The portion size was decently large and the food came out very quickly. I really enjoyed the steak, but otherwise the dish was nothing special. They also provided a complimentary basket of chips and had a salsa bar, which unfortunately no one mentioned. Overall, it was okay Mexican food in Gainesville.

    Sister's cake.
    Carolyn H.

    Everything was wonderful. We celebrated my sister's birthday. The food, the service everything was wonderful. We will be back.

    Birria (shredded beef) Burrito very generous portion and thick! We had leftovers.
    Jeisa T.

    They were voted best Mexican restaurant 2025, and I agree. Chips with a whole salsa bar - free! Their drink sizes are generous and if you purchase during happy hour, amazing value. The chicken tortilla soup will cure any cold, period.

    Our waitress card
    Alexa A.

    Really good! Fresh Guac made at our table, I had steak quesadillas which was super good. Service was great and food was fantastic. Really great experience, we'll be back again. Horchata was really good tooo

    Bar Area
    Jacques M.

    The food is amazing, and the service is just as great! However, the only issue is with the utensils -- they're quite rough and have sharp edges on the handles, which actually hurt your hands when using them. My wife insists we can't come back unless this is addressed. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the salsa bar is fantastic, but I might need a few aspirins afterward because of those sharp utensils!

    Fajitas

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dawn F.
    466
    390
    2149

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Gri M.
    31
    66
    15

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    The food was great the Salsa bar puts it over the top. The table side Guacamole was incredible. The service outstanding.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Frank A.
    3
    164
    395

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 2
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay H.
    1
    20
    5

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Las Carretas M.

    Las Carretas M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    10/10 every time. Love the guacamole being made in front of me. And the salsa bar is another 10/10

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 1,275 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Cantina Añejo

    Cantina Añejo

    3.9
    (45 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    We sat at the outside bar as reservations were needed for anything inside. Our bartenders were…read morevery friendly, polite and did the best they could do, but were completely overwhelmed on this Graduation Friday. Place was clean, food was OK, yes just OK and wasn't even close to being served all together. The third plate was served after we finished all the other dishes. As I said, the bartenders were working hard but the overall service was terrible. No silverware was given, no drink refills were offered, no follow up on the missing food. Service just sucked! Especially for the prices ! Too many options to go back and have another bad experience. Today's busyness is not a surprise as I go through this every year, yet we're unable to take care of their guests.

    We came to Cantina Añejo for a sorority moms & daughters event, and the vibe was definitely fun and…read morelively--it's right across the street from UF, so it's clearly a popular scene! Drinks were included with the event, and I ordered a Tito's with club soda and lime, but something was off. Not sure what they mixed in, but it tasted unusually sweet, almost like it had added sugar or syrup--which was unexpected for such a simple cocktail. On the plus side, we tried the chips and guacamole, and they were really good--fresh, flavorful, and a great snack to share. Overall, it's a good spot if you're looking for a social, energetic atmosphere, but the drinks didn't quite hit the mark for me. Might give it another try for the food or a different cocktail.

    Photos
    Cantina Añejo
    Birria tacos
    Birria tacos
    Queso and Chips $9 (5/5)

    See all

    Queso and Chips $9 (5/5)
    Nopal

    Nopal

    4.2
    (141 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Our favorite Mexican!…read more We continue to be impressed over and over as the food here is amazing. Everything is so fresh and delicious and not greasy like a lot of Mexican restaurants. Every taco is fabulous, especially the pork belly. The entrees are great. Highly recommend the salmon or blackened mahi. Gluten free options are marked on the menu. The drinks are also incredible and I highly recommend the prickly pear margarita.

    After trying a few other Mexican restaurants I chose this one because the Pork belly tacos. Upon…read morearriving we were told to pick our table. We chose to sit inside. Our server was Brandon, who was an absolute delight! He was so energetic, so friendly, and gave great suggestions. We started with drinks. I had a skinny margarita and my husband had a Frida (top shelf margarita) and our son had a Coke. First thing we ordered was the chips and salsa. The chips were perfect, not too thin and not too thick. They came with two salsas. Both were tasty. Not sure if there is a spicier option but we will check next time. I ordered the Birria tacos. They were so delicious! So much flavor! The avocado tomatillo salsa was perfect with it. My husband ordered the Al Pastor tacos. It was very traditional Al pastor. He loved the black beans. His words were " these are the best black beans I have ever had!" Our son ordered the chorizo tacos. First, I have never seen chorizo tacos offered in a Mexican restaurant. Secondly, they were amazing! To finish, I ordered the banana pudding and our son ordered the churro sundae. Both desserts were delicious. The portions were huge! All in all I say Nopal is quite the gem. Perfect portions and dishes that are packed with flavor. And service that goes above and beyond. We can't wait to go back. We will ask for Brandon!!!

    Photos
    Inside Bar
    Inside Bar
    Avocado Mexican street corn
    Avocado Mexican street corn
    Lanai porch

    See all

    Lanai porch
    Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant

    Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant

    3.1
    (355 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    I went here again for dinner at it wasn't too far from my hotel. I came around 7:30 on a Saturday,…read moreand was seated immediately. I had the Jose Cuervo margarita, which was fine for 8 dollars. Not as strong as some other restaurants in Orlando, but not going to complain for 8 bucks. The scallop quesadilla was decently sized for one person. It had a fair amount of bay scallops, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The sauce was pretty good too, and adding hot sauce helped with the heat. The guacamole salad was enjoyable too, but the as sour cream tasted standard. For 15 dollars, the scallop quesadilla was worth it! For dessert, the chocolate cake flan was alright for 8 dollars. It was a bit rich and I couldn't finish it all, but it was a sweet enough to enjoy. The service was pretty fast. My food and drink came pretty quickly. My server was friendly and very good. She checked up on me a couple times. The atmosphere is the same as last time, but a lot less crowded. It was pretty quiet for a Saturday, but at least there was some music in the background. Of course, if you saw the photos from last time, you knew what I did before I left. For the price paid, I still think it's a good Mexican restaurant. I know there are better ones nearby, but the atmosphere is still enjoyable. I will try some other Mexican restaurants next time, but I can still recommend Las Margaritas for decent Mexican food in Gainesville. Overall: B

    I'll be honest I'm not sure why this place is still open. It's not really the most authentic…read moreMexican place but good if you want quick food. Lunch prices can't be beat & are fast with it so I'll also give them that. I got a taco salad and it was pretty generic honestly I could make better ground beef. It lacked flavor and needed seasoning it was so bland. I added onions and cilantro which I'm glad I did because it truly was tasteless ground beef. The bowl itself tho was crunchy. I am not sure why they have a no drinks policy , I get the food but drinks? I had to down my iced coffee just to be sat down. I suggest going to La hacienda in Ocala if you can it's worth a drive trust me.

    Photos
    Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant
    Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant
    Las Margarita's Mexican Restaurant

    See all

    Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...