Whenever I would come into NC to visit family I would always want to hit up Mambos. It was a great Cuban and Caribbean place to try in a small town, and it was actually very good. I think that when they went from their smaller, more intimate restaurant to the larger restaurant they lost something. It was still tasty, but something was missing. One thing that was an improvement was the beer taps list. They have 20 beers on tap with many different varieties. At the old, smaller Mambos they made their own flavorful hot sauces, and now they just have Texas Pete or Siracha, it's not the same. Also the wait staff was very friendly, but the food took a while to come out. It took about 1 hour for us to get our food, go hungry, but not too hungry. read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

For some reason I was prepared to hate this place But it is really authentic Cuban food and delicious Bartender is super cool and friendly even though he looks like he could crush you with one of his gigantic paws. Pretty impressed at all the creative combinations as well like the stuffed plantains. I had the pressed grilled pork called something like Lechon de Vaca ( pig in cow style)....am still dreaming about it. Soft citrusy marinated braised pork, slightly shredded and pressed till the outside has a sizzling crispy crust on it.....it was heaven. Good homemade ceaser dressing, could use a tad fresh lemon and less vinegar but good and anchovy'ish! read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

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Great So good Much taste Very wow Spicy food on point. The only way I could think about the food was if you had to go through a whole chicken and it was diet time I'd choose the chicken. read more

Finally tried Mambo our after all the rave reviews. I think that our visit could've possibly been 5 star but our waiter Eamon S was pretty below average. He was just really dry and unenthused from the jump. Not very helpful when we asked for suggestions or had questions. overall he did his job but in a bare bones type of way if that makes sense. Besides that the food was pretty good. My mojito could've been a bit stronger but was spot on as far as taste goes. The empanadas were good. I could've done without the chicken one. Kinda dry. We asked if there was any sauce that could accompany them. He said no. Then a friend asked another staff member and he brought us the garlic cilantro sauce and the mango habanero sauce. Both were really good. Until we got our bill and were all charged .75¢ each. It would've been nice if we were told it was extra but they did end up taking off our bills. My entree was pretty good. Vaca frita de lechon - crispy pork with rice/beans and plantains which were prepared perfectly. We finished with the tres leches cake that I kept hearing was soooo good. I kinda wish I had tried the flan though. Oh well, next time! read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Tres leches was ok - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

It hasn't been easy finding good Latin food, but I never give up! Based on their reviews we were in for a treat and my fellow Yelpers didn't let us down. It's in the most unlikeliest of places and you could easily drive right by it. They offer a large parking lot and the restaurant itself is very large and nicely decorated. DO NOT be discouraged by the white folks at the front of the restaurant, rest assured the food that comes out of the kitchen is the real deal ( with one minor exception that I'll touch on later) Our server Stephen was excellent! Very friendly and polite! He was helpful and very informative, providing us with details on their FOOD TRUCK. We started off with the Tostones Appetizer topped with succulent roasted pork and mozzarella cheese which was AMAZING! I could have easily eaten the whole thing, but I had to demonstrate will power, especially since my entree was soon to come. As entrees we ordered the Ropa Vieja and the Lechon Asado and they were both extremely delicious! With just one problem..... the rice was not your authentic "POT" cooked rice and more like "Uncle Ben's" instant rice. That definitely needs to be corrected, because you can't have authentic ANYTHING if the rice isn't made in a pot! Ok! For dessert we had the flan which was meh ok and a Cortadito which was sweet and strong! Overall we enjoyed our meal and the service and I would absolutely return. I hope they take my advice and start serving some REAL rice. read more

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Amazing food and setting...service was awesome. My only reason for the 3 stars: portion size vs price. The Masitas dinner should be double the size. The floor of the restaurant is sticky, seems the wrong paint was used. The menus are worn and difficult to read more

This is my first visit to their new location and it did not disappoint. Mambo Tapas is our go-to restaurant when we are in Salisbury. They have excellent service and the food is amazing. We have the appetizer sampler and really enjoyed it. The empanadas were a huge hit as well as the ham croquettes. I had a shrimp dish and really enjoyed it. We were stuffed so we took dessert to go. The tres leches cake is very good but the peanut butter flan was amazing. Next time I go I will order that flan. The new location has a lot next to the building which is nice. read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

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Best Cuban restaurant in the area. I'm Cuban myself so I'm picky. Portions are a little small but everything is cooked perfectly.

Good food. Excellent service. Very noisy environment. Most dishes would benefit from reducing added salt.

This restaurant is finally reopened after close to 4 years of takeout only. The food has not missed a beat and is just as tasty and delightful as it was the very first time I ate there. Brava, Mambo. You are the only Cuban fare that I know of in the Triad and worth the drive. read more

Food was great. This is mainly management & server. If you are going to add 20% automatically to bill then your customers should know ahead of time. There should be a sign at door or with hostess. If you are going to push that we order appetizers then don't be pushy about placing dinner order asap. We like to enjoy the appetizers and appreciate the opportunity to enjoy them and not be given an attitude when we stated we weren't ready yet. We weren't rude, we simply said we weren't ready yet. I get if it was busy but there was 1 party of 2 waiting to be seated & we were a bigger party. If you don't want people to order appetizers then don't add them to menu. We eat out a lot and this left a bad taste in our mouth for the establishment. read more

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to downtown Salisbury, North Carolina, and to Mambo Grill & Tapas, a restaurant serving Cuban cuisine. Living in Tampa, FL for most of my life, I have had the opportunity to taste and enjoy both Spanish and Cuban food since I was a little guy, and this place ranks right up there with the best. Dora here. We discovered this place shortly after we moved to North Carolina. It started in a tiny spot in a strip store, moved to a larger space on Fulton Street, and now they've expanded into this beautiful two-story historic building in downtown Salisbury. With so many businesses downsizing or disappearing entirely over the last few years, it's heartening to see a restaurant flourish. For an appetizer, we ordered Yuca Frita served with a garlic and cilantro dipping sauce. The Yuca, a starchy tubular root, was cubed and fried to perfection. Outstanding! Crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside, kind of like a fried potato. I chose my favorite Cuban dish, Masitas. Large pork chunks flash fried, topped with garlic and onions, and served with yellow rice, black beans, and plantains. This dish was great! The pork so flavorful and tender that you could cut it with a fork and the rice and beans cooked flawlessly, just like I remembered them from Tampa. Dora here. Y'all, this was such a hard choice! We love, love, LOVE, Cuban cuisine and rarely get a chance to head thirty minutes up the road to Salisbury, so I couldn't make up my mind between the Piccadillo, Ropa Vieja, and Palomilla Steak. I finally decided on the Piccadillo. Piccadillo is ground beef with tiny chunks of potatoes and bits of olives in a light tomato base. So subtle, if you're not an olive fan, you might not even know they're in there. But, oh my, so warm and comforting and exactly as I remembered! YUM! And the veggies? Al dente and screaming with flavor! Where were these when I was growing up? lol. Note to self: MUST make it a priority to come here more often! What about you? How do you like your veggies? What's your favorite veggie? We'd love to know! Ernie & Dora Hiers, Fiction Faith & Foodies Blog http://bit.ly/2pkqj5A read more

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Very authentic high quality cuban cuisine in the heart of NC. If youre ever in Salisbury, stop by and have aa meal or drink here. The flavor and taste of the dish brought me back to 1992 living in Miami FL. The dishes ate made with fine ingredients like mahi mahi instead of tilapia or cod. They bring cuban dishes to the next level. What a great way to learn about the culture. The resfaurant atmosphere is also wonderful and staff very friendly. If you see their food truck make sure you stop and try their dishes. read more

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Top notch! I try something different almost every time and they never disappoint! Quality and Customer Service is above and beyond!

The empanadas are wonderful! The crust is flaky and flavorful. The fillings are tender and tasty. Give them a try... you won't regret it! read more

I love this restaurant! The food is so good and the drinks are too. The bartender, Michael, makes a perfect Mojito! The only thing I would like to see are more choices on their menu, especially their appetizers, but what they do offer is really flavorful and we have never had a bad experience. read more

I'd be giving 5stars if it weren't for inconsistency in the kitchen. Plates are often dry ( not nearly enough of the sauces) and any cook knows that's where the flavor is....why keep it from the paying customer? Can't help but think their shrinking hours of service aren't completely Covid related as most places are hiding behind. read more

5 star yep 5 star I've had Cuban from Chicago, NY and Miami this place rates with all of them in Salisbury NC read more

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Menu has changed significantly, use to be my favorite Cuban restaurant in NC, not now! Small portions, previous Churrasco steak not available, disappointed for sure! read more

Wonderful restaurant. Great food and atmosphere. Had the Cuban sandwich and pork tenderloin for lunch. Botha 5. Can't wait to go back for dinner. read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Cuban sandwich and port tenderloin - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

I used to absolutely love this place, but the changes since Covid have been less than desirable. They did some menu changes, ok as long as they still have the plantation temptation, well.. they have it but the portions are a lot smaller. My husband was upset about the trio being removed. Staff issues I can understand, nobody wants to work anymore. I wanted to check a carry out order, because they had left things out previously, a man came over very rudely as if I was wasting his time. When I stated something was missing he snatched all the bags and took them to the back, he then came back and said it was in there, umm really? I will say the food is good, but..... for us it's not really worth it. read more

Great food! We've been here a few times over the years and always been satisfied with the food & service. Unfortunately in recent months the building has come into disrepair. The floors are damaged in multiple spots, and the bathrooms are in poor condition. STILL, assuming that this will be fixed asap, I would always give them a shot if you're in Salisbury. The food is that good! read more

Awesome job, you guys! My husband and I had come here earlier in the day to have an early dinner. Initially we were going to try an Italian restaurant in Spencer, but my husband suggested trying Mambo since we were close to Salisbury and had heard about the relocation and revamping. And hell yes, I was all for it... I am a half-Cuban Miami Floridian, after all! We had gone once together with a friend when it was at its original location, and liked it well enough. Our visit today was a serious, SERIOUS upgrade. The place is incredibly gorgeous, really calling to mind Cuba before the revolution, and spacious enough for salsa nights and music. (It has two floors, the top floor adorned with old-fashioned balconies.) The service was top-notch... our waiter handled our requests like a true pro, and always with a smile. What topped it off for me, however, was the food. It was truly kick-ass, and just like your abuelita used to make. I didn't see certain things on the menu and asked our waiter, and he assured me that while they weren't listed on the menu, they were available, so always ask, especially if you're a Cuban food aficionado or if, like myself, it's the kind of cuisine you grew up with, as well as your comfort food. Give this place a try and save room for dessert -- the homestyle flans here are the perfect way to close out your visit. As for me and my hubby, we will be back! read more

Sadly still under renovation, I was there just before they closed, loved the ambiance and the food. Really enjoyed the place

This place is quite amazing and I'm glad I went back for a second visit in the same week - it's what turned the place from a 2 star to a 4 star and I will surely be back when in town the next time! The selection is great, the pricing is good, the service was fantastic and the quality of the food is worth a second try! I look forward to my return and upping this place to a 5 star! IF you haven't been - GO - if you've went and were not pleased - give them a second try - they are worth it! read more

Wow!!! Everything about this place is fantastic the food, the staff, the ambiance, and the fact that it is now Ruby approved. Loved the new location!! I had the Churrosco and it was fabulous. My friend who is a picky eater tried everything new and loved it all. Plantains you have to try them they are delicious. Enjoy your experience it will be like none you have ever had before, culinary delight!! read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Our waiter and the nice scenery of the restaurant!!! Great place to eat you should try it!!! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

Great authentic Cuban food. I ordered the Masitas which are Fried pork chunks that are crispy on the outside and very succulent on the inside. The Masitas has an onion and garlic sauce(two of my faves). I also ordered the vegetables which were squash that was perfection, yellow rice and Maduros. My beverage was sweet tea. The flavors were on point and I loved the hints of garlic even in the veggies. The pork was cooked excellent as well as the rice. Only critique was that maybe some pickled onions would have added a little more freshness to the meal (I watch too much Food Network) and the tea could have been sweeter. I would return and tell others. My server,Tim, was very attentive and did a great job. read more

So after waiting for 30 minutes like asked (Note: WEVE BEEN HERE QUIET A FEW TIMES) they asked we leave. Once we asked why they said they refused to serve us! Very professional considering WE'VE NEVER DONE anything to them. Just wanted a simple explanation as to what we did anyways.. They offered to "walked us out" so polite or the cops were going to be called. read more

Best Plantains in all the land!!!! Downtown Salisbury has another great restaurant. Maybe the best... I went here almost by accident. I tried to find another restaurant that was closed, so went here because I didn't want to move my car. I walked into the nondescript front door, and was surprised by the well decorated interior. The staff was nice, and I ordered the Cuban BBQ. It came with Plantains and rice. The BBQ was really tender... Super good. The rice was good. I asked for a suggestion on a type of sauce, and the waiter recommended the Mango Jalapeno sauce. That put it all over the top. So good. This accidental find was one of the best meals I've ever eaten in Salisbury. read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Cuban Pork BBQ with Plantains - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

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I'm here to brag on your food truck, Mambo on Ruedas. Both the food and operators are terrific, and the truck is by far a favorite at the offices. Thanks to Ariella and Jack for being so great and bringing such great food to us on a regular basis! read more

Mambo Grill & Tapas - Spinach and cheese empanadas from the food truck, Mambo on Ruedas! So good! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salisbury, North Carolina

The food is authentic flavor Cuban island The best food in town and the atmosphere was amazing in special the service was amazing,fantastic and very friendly. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who wants to try authentic food Cuban island . read more

It was our first time visiting Mambo Grill and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Firstly, the place is very nicely decorated. It is made to look like the balconies in Havana. Second, the food was excellent!!! Everything, I mean everything, was delicious. The portions were great and abundant. Even dessert was good. My only suggestion would be that the coconut flan would have more coconut but it still was delicious. read more

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Amazing atmosphere, food & drinks!!! The service was beyond excellent and the menu had so many different things to pick from! We will definitely return!! read more

Currently closed ! Came here on 1/31/20, signs in the window said they were closed for renovations. Many other restaurants on the same street (Sweet Meadow, Good Fellas, City Tavern). read more

Although I've never visited the actual restaurant in Downtown Salisbury, the food truck is amazing! The tapas are delicious and the staff are very friendly! read more

The only time I had ever stopped in Salisbury was to get gas and drive trough chick Fil-a. What a wonderful surprise in the highly walkable downtown area away from all the little shopping centers and fast food options! Took my 12 year old son who I had to work on to not default to the pizza joint on same block. Excellent meal and My Son has thought he had a real Cuban experience. Very reasonably priced craft beers, both on tap and bottles. Our waiter Tim was highly attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. Almost worth a return trip from Greensboro! read more

Probably the best restaurant in Salisbury. A must try. Wish it was open more often. Top notch service, food, and drinks.

Wow. I'm so surprised. My aunt has been looking for a Cuban restaurant for the longest time & I think we found our favorite. Living in Miami we used to always get the best Cuban food. So I was so happy to try this place out. First of all it feels like you're transported to Cuba with the music that they play and the pictures on the walls. My aunt and I started with the sampler, which I think is perfect if you want to try a little bit of everything. It comes with two empanadas (you can pick which kind of meat you want) plantain temptation (maduros with picadillo and cheese on top) croquettes and yuca with this amazing green sauce. Everything was amazing to be honest and it's so flavorful. For my main dish I was really craving ropa vieja, which is basically shredded beef with some red sauce. It came with rice (you can pick white or congri) and a side (I picked maduros). When they brought the food it looked so delicious I couldn't wait to try it. The beef was so delicious and tender and the maduros were perfect. For dessert we decided to get the coconut flan and boy was it delicious!!! Flans are usually a hit or miss there's no in between. But this was a hit for sure. I would definitely come back again, even though it's almost a 2 hour drive, the food is worth it. read more

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Everything on the menu is amazing. I have never been disappointed. Vegetarian items on the menu so there is somthing for everyone. The craft beers and mixed drinks are great as well. read more

This is one of our favorite spots! Our usual is to start out with Ropa Vieja empanadas (which btw are amazing) and then we get the Masitas with rice and tostones. I want to add that these are the best masitas i have had in NC. The staff is great and the place is always packed. I suggest calling like 30min before and reserving a table so that you don't have to wait long once you get there (there are always people waiting for tables) I have nothing bad to say about this place. Like I said before, it's one of our faves! read more