Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Machaca

    4.2 (68 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    Machaca Photos

    MACHACA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Machaca

    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

    Espresso Martini and Old Elk Bourbon. Delish!!

    Stopped in for some cocktails and tacos. Excellent Al Pastor!!! Very nice staff, Miha is a fabulous bartender!!! Very friendly place!!

    Kim D.

    Family operated & the service reflects they are truly happy that you came by. Traveling from California, we've been sampling all the local Cuisine but definitely started craving Mexican food. This was an awesome option! Filled with locals, everybody was having a great time. Started with guacamole and shredded chicken queso dip. Then tried a variety of entrees. Loved the Chipotle Caesar, Atun tacos (grilled tuna), shrimp tacos and bean and cheese burrito. Splurged on a dessert which was delicious! Their beers were cold and the Margaritas were creative. This is a wonderful find whether your local or traveling. Highly recommend!

    I couldn't wait to take a bite...before I took the picture.  That good!! Carnitas Tacos...oh yeah!
    Debra T.

    I can't believe it took a trip to Gloucester, MA to find the best Mexican food I have found on the entire east coast!!! Handmade corn tortillas, tender flavor filled carnitas, delicious black beans and rice... salsa?? Shut the front door! Yummmy yum salsa and chips. Delicious ceviche! Great ambiance, perfect sized menu and we had the best server ever. Ask for Joe. Great personality, and knows this food. I know next time we are anywhere near it....we will be back!! Yeeehaw!

    Chips n salsa. August 2018.
    Katherine O.

    Let me start by saying that I lived in Texas for a year, where original Mexican recipes are utilized, so I would say that I know a thing or two about this type of cuisine. While different than Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican food down south, Machaca has managed to create a delectable experience, indeed. I'd like to start my review by talking about the service. A crucial part of any dining experience, the wait staff can make or break your evening. I am happy to report that I had excellent service. I wish I remember our waitress' name. She was super friendly, fast and knowledgeable. The expediters were also attentive and efficient. Machaca provides free chips and salsa at the table, and I tend to rate a Mexican establishment by them. The chips were not homemade, but they were fresh. The salsa was unlike any I've ever tried, both chunky and juicy too. The tomatoes were very sweet and there were ample onions and fresh cilantro. I do wish it was a little spicier, but overall, it was unique and tasty. Now, most importantly, the menu items: the menu boasts of various antojitos (appetizers) and a chowder/ salad menu for starters. For the entrees, Machaca had the clever idea of creating a menu primarily made of different styled tacos, which can also be turned into a chimichanga, burrito or burrito bowl. We first ordered drinks (I got the El Jimador/ Anejo margarita and hubby got a Lagunitas). Then we ordered the queso. Again, down south, good queso is the marks of a good restaurant, and Machaca got it REAL right. It had the perfect amount of "kick" and tender shredded pieces of chicken and even some bits of corn were deeply embedded. For dinner I ordered the Barbacoa burrito bowl and my husband got the brisket chimichanga. My barbacoa meat was scrumptious and tender, and was served over a bed of rice and lettuce with black beans and pico de gallo (chopped tomatoes and onions). However, I felt like it was missing something. Though the table provides a bottle of spicy avocado sauce, I wanted a cool texture, like a dressing, so I asked for a chipotle ranch or a lime avocado. Unfortunately, they didn't have any, so I opted for the sour cream instead. It was a great accompaniment that enriched the dish for me. My other critique would be the proportions. There was a lot of brisket, but just a little bit of rice and lettuce. I prefer to have my burrito bowls more equally balanced. My husband's brisket chimichanga was served with black beans and rice. The brisket meat was also tender. However, the chimichanga, which is supposed to have a crispy fried outer crust, was a bit soggy/ doughy/ under cooked. Though I am unable to score with half marks, I would truly give Machaca a 4.5 if I could. The soggy chimichanga, disproportional burrito bowl and embarrassing spelling mistakes on the menu took the star rating down a few points for me. But it wasn't enough to drop their score completely to a 4. If you love Mexican food, and are looking for good service, and a new, cool, trendy, funky place to enjoy it in the heart of downtown Gloucester, I would recommend Machaca for sure.

    a plate of mexican food

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The food is authentic, and the drinks are good too. Great Service, and atmosphere. Live music too!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jill D.
    146
    77
    8

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alison S.
    174
    28
    19

    7 years ago

    Fabulous tequila bar. Lots of delicious margaritas, best salsa in MA, great bartenders, and low-key, fun crowd

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna S.
    52
    36
    4

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C B.
    0
    2
    0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    What a hidden gem! Fantastic service and food. I will definitely return on my next trip to Gloucester.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J D.
    0
    3
    0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Machaca

    Review Highlights - Machaca

    They have the best queso I've ever had and their caldo soup (which you can get with or without spice) is amazing.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    DRIFT - Pig & Fig Flatbread

    DRIFT

    3.6(63 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    My mom and I stopped in at Drift for an afternoon drink when we spent the day in Gloucester a week…read moreor so ago. The day got a little rainy, and we had some time before our dinner reservation. We saw Drift and their Harbor views and their TVs playing the third place game of the World Cup. The service was really friendly, and my mom and I enjoyed a glass of wine and a beer, the view, and the game. (They have food, but we were just having some drinks before our dinner reservation.) It was a nice place to relax for a bit after touristing around Gloucester all day!

    Disappointing Experience…read more We were really looking forward to ending the night at Drift after my daughter's elopement. We had a group of about 20 people who wanted to come celebrate together.(August 2) I checked the website and calendar ahead of time, which showed that Drift was open until 11:00 PM and advertised a piano sing-along that evening. Since you don't take reservations, I emailed and sent a Facebook message letting you know we were planning to come with a large group around 8:00 PM, but unfortunately never received a response. I also called about a week ahead just to give a heads-up, and was told our group would be written down. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found that Drift had closed early and the evening we had planned for wasn't happening. I completely understand that businesses sometimes have to change their hours or plans, but when your website and calendar say you're open until 11 and you've specifically been contacted about a group of 20 coming in, it would have been nice to have been notified of the early closing. This was a special night for our family, and we were disappointed that something we had planned and tried to communicate about ahead of time didn't work out. I hope the website/calendar and communication with larger groups can be improved so others don't have the same experience.

    Photos
    DRIFT - View from our table

    View from our table

    DRIFT - Firefly Roll and Pacific Breeze Roll

    Firefly Roll and Pacific Breeze Roll

    DRIFT - View

    See all

    View

    Seaport Grille - FIRECRACKER SHRIMP

    Seaport Grille

    4.0(691 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$

    When you see a line of people waiting to be seated in the middle of a weekday, you know it's gotta…read morebe a great restaurant! And. It is .from the staff, the service, and . OMG...the food! The servings are plentiful and the drinks were delicious. The experience was phenomenal and we will go back again and again. Oh and I want to give a shout out to welcome back the manager, Carla...she will make sure you leave full & happy along with our favorite server Adam!

    The Seaport Grille is our new favorite restaurant! We went there for my husband's 58th birthday…read moreafter a friend recommended, and Seaport delivered a perfect celebratory dining experience. To start, the atmosphere is ideal for a beautiful summer night. It was airy, clean, lively and so inviting with twinkling ceiling lights. My family of 5 loved the overall decor. We also loved the view, ocean air and beautiful breeze as we ate the delicious food. We felt like we were on a Cape vacation. The food was just as satisfying. My husband said the baked haddock was the very best he's ever had. My Mediterranean salmon was also outstanding. My mother and sister raved about their appetizers, including jumbo shrimp, clams and steamers. Everything we ordered was excellent. I was especially pleased with the serving size. Some restaurants have a nice presentation, yet small serving size, but not Seaport, it had both. To top it off, the Sherry Berry is a dessert everyone must try! Perfect finish to a perfect meal. In addition to the restaurant itself and amazing food, the service was excellent. We were greeted by the extremely friendly manager, Carter, and were well taken care of by our personable waitress Kristina. She was so attentive and pleasant throughout our whole meal. Kristina was so busy, but she made us feel like we were her only party! By the end of our meal, we felt we made a friend during dinner and we will be back to see her requesting her table! Can't wait to return!

    Photos
    Seaport Grille - Ambience

    Ambience

    Seaport Grille - Best of North Shore Lobster Roll

    Best of North Shore Lobster Roll

    Seaport Grille - Coconut Margarita

    See all

    Coconut Margarita

    Franklin Cape Ann - Organic Statler Chicken

    Franklin Cape Ann

    4.2(165 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I'm fairly new to the area and after trying out a few local restaurants that were just "blah" I…read morestumbled across this quaint little gem. We did not have a reservation as it was a Wednesday night and I figured we didn't need one but lucky for us the young girl who greeted us quickly found us a table. Shortly after we were greeted by our waitress Cathy, or Christy? I don't normally do restaurant reviews because I find it a bit tacky but our experience here was something I will never forget. I have food allergies and our waitress took the time to go through the entire menu with us without making us feel like a burden. She was wonderful attentive, and made us feel like family. We got the Salmon dish, it was cooked to perfection and the filet mignon, which was equally as great. Our waitress recommended Key Lime pie for dessert and it was delicious. Everything about this restaurant is spot on. We will be back.

    Well having a pleasant time at the Franklin in Gloucester after a day of rediscovery of Rockport…read moreand Gloucester! The restaurant was remodeled and the food was the same as I remember it from years ago. Blue greay walls and bar redone and lightning redone and booths redone! The upstairs is being redone as well. Its a pleasure to have a great meal... And it was quiet and slow! Votive candles on bar as well. Bathroom redone as well. Food comes out quickly and ..the Slade was huge! Such a pleasure to stop by again!

    Photos
    Franklin Cape Ann
    Franklin Cape Ann - Lobster dumplings

    Lobster dumplings

    Franklin Cape Ann - Love the lights and the entire vibe!

    See all

    Love the lights and the entire vibe!

    1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar

    1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar

    3.7(205 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    1606 is spectacular! Located in the magnificent Beauport…read moreHotel.. the bar is large with special views of the harbor. Cocktails created by gracious bartenders.. indoors or out on the immense sea view terrace. The food is amazing-- delicious raw bar options plus an extensive menu with options for everyone. We were in a private area surrounded by windows to the water.. but the main dining room is lovely., Highly recommend!

    If you find your way to the amazing fishing town of Gloucester, you need to go ahead and get…read moreyourself a meal at 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar. This place is an absolutely elevated location in the Beauport Hotel right there overlooking the harbour. You have unbelievable views, food, and service. From local catch cooked just right or served the way it's supposed to, fresh or raw, this place has it all. It has delicious drinks. An amazing presence and atmosphere between the raw bar, the main bar, dining room, outside seating, and private room. I've done lunch or dinner at each dining spot and it's never disappointed. Do not miss this spot if you are in town. This place is fantastic. Make sure to try and catch Andrea and Arwen at the bar. They are fantastic and provide amazing service! Ocho Tequila on Ice - Perfect/10 Raw Oysters from Canada - 9.3/10 Raw Oysters from Massachusetts - 8.3/10 Conserva with Tuna Filets - 8.8/10 Quahogs - 8.7/10 Brussels Sprouts - 8.1/10 Only thing not good about this place is that they aren't closer to me in Florida!

    Photos
    1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar
    1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar - Crispu Calamari

    Crispu Calamari

    1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar

    See all

    The Cut

    The Cut

    3.6(37 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    A Spectacular Evening of Music at The Cut in Gloucester!…read more The Cut in Gloucester is an exceptional venue that beautifully combines live entertainment, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it one of the North Shore's most enjoyable destinations. My husband and I recently attended a truly unforgettable event there as guests of our daughter and son-in-law, and we left thoroughly impressed by both the venue and the outstanding performance we were fortunate enough to experience. On August 19, we attended the Gloucester Student Band's tour kickoff concert, and it exceeded every expectation. One of the highlights for us was watching our granddaughter perform on clarinet alongside an impressive ensemble of talented young musicians from local schools in Grades 5 through 12. The band's rich sound came from a remarkable combination of flutes, trumpets, alto and tenor saxophones, clarinets, trombones, baritone saxophones, French horn, and percussion, creating a professional-quality performance that filled the venue with energy and excitement. The students brilliantly performed 15 selections, including crowd-pleasing favorites such as Ghostbusters, Mamma Mia, Bohemian Rhapsody, Copacabana, and YMCA. Every piece showcased the dedication, skill, and enthusiasm of these young performers. A special round of applause goes to the band's talented and passionate director, Jamie Green Klopotoski, whose love of music and genuine connection with her students was evident throughout the evening. Her leadership inspired an outstanding performance and created an atmosphere of joy that was contagious. The Cut provided the perfect setting for this dazzling concert. The lighting, sound quality, seating, and overall ambiance enhanced every moment of the performance. We especially enjoyed seeing the outdoor marquee on one of Gloucester's main streets proudly announcing the Gloucester Student Band and the evening's follow-up concert featuring the Reset Button Brass Band, which included Director Jamie Green Klopotoski on saxophone. Adding to the experience was the scenic drive through Gloucester, with its beautiful coastal views and quintessential New England architecture. The venue itself also offers delicious food and even a fun basketball-toss arcade game, making it a wonderful place to spend an evening with family and friends. We highly recommend The Cut to anyone looking for outstanding live entertainment, a comfortable and vibrant venue, and an opportunity to support local talent. This magical evening was filled with music, community spirit, and unforgettable memories that our family will be talking about for years to come. Bravo to The Cut and to the incredible Gloucester Student Band!

    Smaller venue to enjoy some live music and food. Street parking available or small parking lot…read morejust up the street. Not too busy in April, but can imagine summer may be a bit packed. QR codes at rail and high tops for service to your location which saves heading to the bar to get your drinks or food. Staff very friendly and efficient to get in to the concert area which is towards the back of the restaurant game area separated. Acoustics not bad, but with smaller area it is pretty loud so if you have sensitive ears you may want to bring plugs.

    Photos
    The Cut - Private Rentals / Weddings

    Private Rentals / Weddings

    The Cut
    The Cut - Craft Cocktails

    See all

    Craft Cocktails

    Machaca - tacos - Updated August 2026

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