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    Mamarita's Border Cafe

    2.7 (70 reviews)
    InexpensiveTex-Mex, Bars, Mexican
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Mamarita's Border Cafe Photos

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    This looks "ok" but it's awful!
    Sara M.

    First.... there are no trash cans outside the place. I brought an empty beer van to throw away and was given a lecture about TBAC... I just didn't want to leave trash anywhere. There was a ton of trash left in a plant outside and a dirty diaper. The food itself is just subpar.. the rice was not cooked all the way it was crunchy and tasted like cumin was way over used. The beans had no flavor expect for SALT.. way to much salt. The crispy taco meat tasted as if the instant taco seasoning was used. There is nothing authentic Mexican about this place. The service was extremely subpar!

    Clean table - thanks!
    Kristin P.

    Your service has slid downward since the early 1990's. We will not be returning. The only people who are doing things correctly are your help who bus the tables.

    Pedro S. M.

    Well this is tex mex food which am not very fan of it. But the tacos i have tried even on flour tortilla are pretty good. The tacos callejeros or street tacos as they call it are good. I whish they ask you if you wanted onion and cilantro. Salsas are pretty good. Authentic recipes frim mexicothe fish tacos are pretty good. Much better than i expected So far i like it and the environment is very relax. Come to mamaritas and enjoy its quite time outside

    "Fish taco" plate. Stick with the bean burritos, guys. Goodness - how sad.
    Adix B.

    I have to give this place one star because of their total lack of perception. I'm Catholic. So are my wife and six (!) children, and so are our friends. We came here during Lent, on a Friday, and the special was carne guisada. I'm like - really? No fish? At a MEXICAN food place?? Well, they do have fish, or so they say. "Shrimp Tacos". We ordered some and they came with two shrimp. On a tortilla. Two. We asked the manager what was up with the dry, tiny shrimp, because we would be embarrassed to serve such morsels to anyone, and were told that's how they come. I asked if they could pull the meat out of my salad and replace it with beans. Y'know - replace the expensive stuff with cheap stuff. Sure, they said - for only a buck fifty. WTH??? Charge MORE for CHEAPER product? We will have to seriously consider whether the WASP owners are worth our money next time.

    Eclectic interior

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    15 years ago

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    8 years ago

    My husband & my kids LIVE this place! If you aren't counting calories...or gallons of grease...this place is awesome!

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Summary. So-so Tex-Mex. Apparently in the bar if you like to smoke this is the place to go. Meh. Wouldn't go back.

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    13 years ago

    Great Mexican food! Great prices! Ive been a frequent customer for years and I alway will be

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mamarita's Border Cafe

    Review Highlights - Mamarita's Border Cafe

    They have an item on the menu called a queso chicken bowl that is overlooked and it is awesome, also if you can still order one more thing....

    $2.99 Queso

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    People searched for Tex-Mex 377 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Chuy's - QUESO - Blend of melted cheese, Green Chile & Ranchero Sauces. Add seasoned ground beef, guacamole & pico de gallo.

    Chuy's

    3.5(281 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    As a Californian, we have better Mexican food and thats a no brainer (sorry Texans). I will say…read morethough, for Tex Mex, Chuy's is a pretty solid option. The jalapeño ranch dip is a 10/10, would come back just for that alone. The baja shrimp tacos were good, but a little heavy on the sauce. Personal preference, but I'd get the sauce on the side and put it myself next time.

    We went to Chuy's today for the first time. We decided to share their Appetizer Plate. It was a…read morelittle bit of everything. Queso, bean & cheese panchos, chicken quesadillas and chicken flautas. Served with guacamole, jalapeños and sour cream. What a great surprise and a great way to sample several items. The queso, bean and cheese ponchos were very good. 1/2 crispy tortilla covered with beans and cheese. There was sour cream and guacamole on the plate for whatever you want to add it to. Chicken quesadillas were delicious as well with a great flavor. The chicken flautas were perfectly cooked and tasted great. They were all freshly cooked. We can't eat the spices so we requested no jalapeño's. The queso was very good with only a mild bite of spice. Our only minor issue is that the chips brought to the table break too easily and it is difficult dipping without them breaking. The salsa was too hot for us but I'm sure it is great for most others ordering. The platter was enough for the 2 of us to share and even bring some home for a snack later! This may be our new go to Mexican restaurant!

    Photos
    Chuy's - GUACAMOLE - Fresh avocados & Salsa Fresca, all mashed up.

    GUACAMOLE - Fresh avocados & Salsa Fresca, all mashed up.

    Chuy's - PANCHOS - Tostada chips, refried beans, cheese and your choice of fajita chicken, fajita beef or seasoned ground beef.

    PANCHOS - Tostada chips, refried beans, cheese and your choice of fajita chicken, fajita beef or seasoned ground beef.

    Chuy's - QUESADILLAS  - Flour tortillas stuffed with cheese, green chiles & onion. Served with guacamole, sour cream & tomatoes.

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    QUESADILLAS - Flour tortillas stuffed with cheese, green chiles & onion. Served with guacamole, sour cream & tomatoes.

    Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant

    Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant

    3.5(258 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Sometimes you just want classic Tex-Mex done right--and Abuelo's delivers exactly that kind of…read morecomforting, crowd-pleasing experience. We started with the house chips and salsa trio, which is always a win here. The chips were warm and crisp, and the variety of salsas--from bright and fresh to deeper and more roasted--made it easy to keep reaching for "just one more." A solid way to kick things off. For my main, I went the veggie route, and honestly, this was the standout of the meal. The sizzling vegetable fajitas arrived steaming hot and loaded with broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, and squash--perfectly cooked, well-seasoned, and served on a cast-iron skillet that kept everything hot down to the last bite. Colorful, hearty, and surprisingly satisfying, even without meat. The rest of the table went more traditional with enchiladas, rice, beans, guacamole, and queso, and everything looked generous and comforting in that familiar, crave-worthy Tex-Mex way. Portions are filling, flavors are approachable, and it's easy to find something for everyone at the table. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with a lively bar area and cozy booths that make it a great spot for a casual dinner, family outing, or low-key night out. Service was friendly and efficient, and everything came out exactly as expected. Abuelo's may be a familiar name, but when you're in the mood for reliable Tex-Mex, solid vegetarian options, and a relaxed, welcoming vibe, it absolutely hits the mark.

    Good food, great margaritas and appetizers, hit or miss service. The ambiance is fine. This is one…read moreof my favorite Tex-Mex restaurants in town.

    Photos
    Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
    Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
    Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant

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    The Plaza Restaurant - Tortilla soup

    The Plaza Restaurant

    3.8(303 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    The plaza is a really great sit down Tex mex option. It's kinda on the upper side of price ($20-25…read moreper) but consistently delivers pretty great quality. I got the steak fajita combo which was very well prepared, came with 4 tortillas and a few sides, and of course a massive plume of steam which blinded me (8/10). I also tried some of the shrimp nachos from my friend which were quite good, but they were like... just nachos... so kinda overpriced (6/10). Complementary Chips were alright, salsa was eh, they had a bowl of choco mints which was a nice gesture. Service was quite standard, indoor decore was also standard. They had an entire garlic bunch near where I sat which, I presume, was there to ward off vampires??? So the establishment probably has had an issue with a coven in the past so that's mildly concerning. 10/15 Pretty good Tex mex, kinda mixed value for the price though, standard ambiance, standard service. Saved by the decent quality and the vampire protection.

    The service was good. The food is not all that good. The refried beans taste like rositas canned…read morebeans. I ordered the fried diced potatoes, they were out. I was offered "Mexican papas" aka mashed potatoes, no thank you. The fries were good though. The taco tasted off, taco bell tastes better. The stuffed sopapilla was okay. This is the third time I've been there and the food gets worse each time. I don't recommend, overpriced for what you get, quality wise. You're better off going to Picantes, at least the food is good and authentic.

    Photos
    The Plaza Restaurant - Empty Meeting Room that was h Le for party of 40

    Empty Meeting Room that was h Le for party of 40

    The Plaza Restaurant
    The Plaza Restaurant

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    Chimy's Cerveceria - Green chili pork taco and a crispy chicken taco

    Chimy's Cerveceria

    3.4(145 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $

    Service was fast but our food that we ordered was not good at all…read more We ordered the burger and the chicken quesadilla. The burger was SUPER salty, and comparable to school cafeteria food. It came only with a patty and cheese. The quesadilla came cold and was missing beans I had ordered with it. I can see why this place is known for its bar and not its food.

    When Jesus comes back, I hope one of the places he checks out is Chimy's in Lubbock. Not the one in…read moreFort Worth. Not the one in San Marcos. DEFINITELY NOT THE ONE IN COLLEGE STATION. One of the more relaxed college bars in Lubbock. Great to watch a game at on their TVs, but Chimy's to the people around me is known for their chiltons, their margaritas, and their great food from their cheese fries to their hamburgers. I don't know when they ID for the night, but I have never been and not been IDed, so expect it to be 21+ most hours. Like most bars, it can get a little rowdy and loud in the evening so be careful. On a cool summer night, their patio is a great time, but inside is always a cute vibe. Personally, when I go, I get some cheese fries and a Silver King margarita and it's PEAK. The cheese fries are usually served with a side of ranch in a tortilla bowl. I ALWAYS EAT THE BOWL. SUE ME. The staff here can be decently friendly on nights, but they will throw you out immediately if you're being an idiot, and security will flip out if you walk out through the emergency exit. Don't do that. They close up shop around midnight, so it's not a bar that rolls to the end of the night, but still it's worth going to get the night started at the bars, especially because they're one of the best bars with food in Lubbock. RIYL: CHEESE FRIES

    Photos
    Chimy's Cerveceria - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Chimy's Cerveceria - Fish taco

    Fish taco

    Chimy's Cerveceria

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    Mamarita's Border Cafe - tex-mex - Updated September 2026

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