This is my new favorite Mexican spot in the triangle. No doubt Mezcalito is a MUST TRY! This new location opened up in Durham recently and I gotta say, it's the best! From the decor to the service to the food and to the drinks! You can't go wrong here. At first when we were walking to our table being seated by the hostess, I was thinking oh this is cute, it's a little small, but cute! I was wrong, there's a whole other side to the restaurant. So turning the corner near the bar there's a huge area of the restaurant! Very impressed. Right away we had a nice gentleman full of energy come up to our table and ask us how we were and "what are we drinking today guys!!" He was very welcoming and was ready to get the party started! We ordered one of their jumbo margaritas, Jolly Rancher. It was good, but my friend & I like our drinks a little stronger and with a little more alcohol taste, but we had an event later that night so we didn't want to go overboard. We ordered our food which didn't take long at all. We got chips & salsa and ordered the chorizo queso dip, YUM! I ordered the trip ACP & my friend ordered the Al pastor quesadillas (it comes with fries which was odd to me, but the fries were BOMB). Our "main waitress" Jessica was GREAT! She was very attentive and made sure we were always good. I said "main" because we had 3 different people come to our table to check on us and refill our water/chips. I really thought that was great customer service! The place was also very clean! It's a just try if you're in the area (though they do have multiple locations around NC) but I will be back to this location to try more food and drinks! read more

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Really love the vibe, environment, and atmosphere of Mezcalito. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a mix of reggaeton with a mix of hip hop, techno, and rnb thrown in just to keep you guessing and dancing of course! Drinks larger than life flow endlessly from the two bars in the restaurant as it was packed on Friday night. It took us over an hour to get a table and unfortunately they do not take reservations. While we waited we grabbed drinks and I got a blueberry mojito. It was beautiful, but sooo sweet! I had to add some water to it to be able to drink it. My friend experienced the same thing and ended up actually getting sick from hers. I think this may have been the same for a few others as well--they definitely need more than two stalls in their female idenified bathroom! When we finally got sat down all of us munched on their amazing chips and salsa. Salsa had tons of flavor and the chips just the right amount of salt and crispness! So yummy! Unfortunately my food was not. I got the chicken fajitas and they were coated in this super salty sauce that I could not even eat. The veggies were covered with thia sauce as well and they were super overcooked--some scorched. I told the waiter and he took it off my bill. What I kept which was very good was their beans, rice, and guacamole. I wish I could say the rest of it was good, but I can't. I also wish I could give more than 3 stars, but I can't. I hope in the future the drinks and food improve. read more

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This place is GORGEOUS. There is so much indoor and outside seating here. We all loved the food. I brought my in laws from Texas and they're used to really good Mexican food so I was nervous about coming here but everyone loved their orders! read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Our favorite Mexican spot in Durham hands down. The food is always a 5/5. The service however is almost always a hot mess. We literally watched five wait staff all circle around each other tonight not knowing where to go. Something is always either forgotten entirely or placed wrong. We are always patient though because I truly don't believe it is the waitstaff's fault. This is on MANAGEMENT and OWNERSHIP to care enough about their staff and establishment to figure out better systems for their staff to be able to provide cohesive and seamless service. The waiters are always so nice and are doing their best! read more

Great Mexican fare at this new Durham outlet of local chain Mezcalito. The main dining room is a large rectangle. About 20 tables around the perimeter and a 25-stool bar in the center. There's another dining room off to the side with a other 20 or so tables, plus a few outside on the patio. It's a former industrial building; a big open space with high ceilings. Decor is modern industrial chic. Music is loud and the place is noisy. Conversation is tough without raised voices. We were seated quickly. Service is quick, efficient and friendly. You wouldn't know that the place has only been open for 2 weeks.... Props to the mgt team for getting a strong crew in place - the team rocks. The menu features standard Mexican fare. Didn't spot anything unique. Which is OK! Salsa and chips served with the menus. Fresh warm chips and a beautiful chunky housemade salsa. Started with margaritas. Very well mixed... Not too strong, not too sweet, not too sour. Tried a couple of taco entrees. 3 to a serving, with sides of Spanish rice and black beans. Shrimp tacos are excellent. 3 good sized shrimp, perfectly prepared - crisp and flavorful, not overcooked or mushy. Served with crumbled Chorizo over lettuce and shredded cheese on soft tortillas. Delicious This is a cool place. Delicious food, strong service and a raucous party vibe. Will be back. read more

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I was in Durham for a Duke game and did a quick search for what looked good near my hotel. This place looked good so I thought I should try it out. As I'm pulling up I see that it's lit up, lots of cars are around and I see no place to park...instant worry. I need to be at the game by 7 and had no idea this place was so popular. Eventually I find a spot and take the short walk to the restaurant. We were seated immediately which surprised me because the place was pretty busy. This location is larger than I thought and had a pretty big outdoor area that they equipped with heaters. (You don't even notice you're outside) They have a nice vibrant menu and a lot of staff working. We were greeted quickly and our drinks came out much sooner than expected. The drinks were tasty and a good size. You could also tell there was tequila in there, but not an off putting way (I like sweet drinks). Oh, I almost forgot... salsa was hittin! It was the best free salsa I've ever had. Before I could finish up the salsa, our food arrived! This was great because we were hungry and on a time crunch. The food was good! My fiancé really loved the ACP. We can't wait to go back! I'm definitely looking forward to trying more drinks. read more

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OMFG what a happy accident! My friend and I were headed to another place that was closed for lunch, so we decided you can't go wrong with Mexican, and let me tell you: 10/10 would come back from Winston again! First: great service in a cute place. There are plants everywhere and it's LOVELY! The place is BIG and I can imagine it being super crowded at night: it was about 230pm and we were getting a late lunch, so pretty chill. Warm chips and salsa hit the table immediately, along with waters. The menu is BIG: lots of nice looking dishes, and tastefully done photos. (Usually photos look cheap or sketch) My friend ordered steak tacos and I got the shrimp chilaquiles. Her tacos were AMAZING! Lots of guac, the steak was tender and tasty, well seasoned, and the side of rice was very light but not a lot of flavor. When she bit into the taco she was like WHOA! The shrimp chilaquiles: OMG. First it was a well laid out dish: the thick chips were coated nicely with cheese, a salsa-ey sauce, crema. You didn't have a massive amount of toppings on the top that suddenly went dry half way through. The shrimp was PERFECTION: not fishy, well cooked and charred. Guac was fresh and well seasoned. I was slightly upset I couldn't eat it all (full) but definitely ate all of my shrimp. While I'm not a drinker, I gotta say, I'm curious if I can get some NA drinks because they look so fun! read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Grilled Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Mezcalito is the best Mexican restaurant in Durham! I think generally restaurant service has gone down since Covid but not here! As soon as we arrived, we had chips and salsa on our table. I never fully ran out of water, and they were quick, bringing our drinks and our food. Best service I've had in a long time!! In addition to the great service, they have a great set up inside to have dinner with friends and a fun outdoor area. They serve MASSIVE drinks and authentic Mexican food. What more could I ask for? read more

I was a frequent at the Mezcalito Goldsboro location, this place shares the same menu and great food and drink options. The spot is relatively new so the place is packed on weekends, expect a wait. Service has been THROUGH THE ROOF GOOD for the 4+ visits I've made on the past two months. Food comes out QUICK and people have just been over the top friendly and efficient. The only downside is finding parking, there is street parking that is often full, and a gravel parking lot that shares with the brewery across the street, it too can be full. Plan accordingly to need time to find a spot and you'll keep yourself from frustration. Love this place. read more

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Absolutely unacceptable experience -- charged and humiliated with no apology I had one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever encountered. After paying for my meal, I was publicly told by the manager that my card was declined -- despite my bank clearly showing the transaction went through. I calmly tried to explain and even showed proof on my banking app, but was dismissed and essentially called a liar. Things escalated to the point that the police had to be involved, all because the manager refused to believe the payment had gone through. Later, it was discovered that it was a software error on their end, and that I was charged as I had stated from the beginning. What makes this experience even worse is that I never received an apology -- not for the mistake, not for the public embarrassment, and not for the stress of being treated like a criminal over their own technical issue. Customer service and accountability clearly mean nothing here. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Mistakes can happen -- but how you handle them matters just as much, and this was handled terribly. read more

Messed up take out order of fajitas--provided no tortillas! And then tried to call them when I realized it. They have automated answering and you can't even leave a message because mailbox full. Guacamole also brown all the way through, not just oxidized top layer. When restaurants live and die by service for me even if food good, they made sure they lost my business with this approach. I had been wanting to try it but with this, I am done. Not going again. I will dispute the cost of my meal with credit card company as well. read more

I've been driving past the corner of Ramseur and Fayetteville for MONTHS watching the progress being made on Mezcalito. Each delay (due to the ever-present supply chain issues) would make my heart a little heavier. But, after months of waiting, MEZCALITO IS FINALLY OPEN!! And oh my goodness, it was definitely worth the wait! We'll start with the margaritas-- the one pictured is a SMALL. I realize it's hard to see the scale with just my hand in the picture, but know that my hands are big enough to palm a women's regulation basketball. Served in a beautiful hand-blown glass, this marg was a bicep workout to enjoy each sip of the fresh fruit juices, fresh fruit and jalapeños, and homemade syrups. The tajín on the rim took it to a whole 'nother level. Had I not gone on a Sunday night with early work the following morning, I would have loved to try a few different options--the flavors all looked so good! The shrimp ceviche was also huge! I loved the addition of the avocado and the pickled red onions, which really gave this appetizer a fun flavor profile. Shrimp was fresh and plentiful. The dish was served with a few packets of saltine crackers, but I recommend just using the warm chips they bring to your table! I rate every Mexican restaurant based on their enchiladas Suizas, and these were great! The chicken was moist and flavorful, the salad was fresh, and I absolutely loved the addition of fresh beets. Another super important quality: the leftovers reheated fantastically for lunch the next day! And just when we thought we couldn't possibly eat another bite, the Tres Leches cake came out. FANTASTIC! Honestly, my first choice was originally the flan, but after trying this, I'm so glad I was outvoted by my friends! This cake was the stuff of dreams and I had serious regrets about only having space for a few bites. I would absolutely recommend this! read more

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Be prepared for a Saturday night! We came here after attending the MJ Experience at DPAC because it was close and they close at 2am. I was seated quickly. Then as the tables filled around me I realized that others were getting their drinks and food....I hadn't even gotten water. After some time past we had to flag down a waiter / Abraham. He was super nice and took ownership of the mistake and took care of us. I asked to speak to the manager. He came over and said they would take care of us. I got the bill and NO DISCOUNT!! I guess they figure the food is good and the people will come. We might try another establishment next time that won't overlook us. THANK YOU ABRAHAM! read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Jolly rancher margarita 40oz - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Got invited here to lunch today - I rarely go out for lunch but so glad I did! Wonderful decorations for the holidays and I have to imagine the day to day ones are also just right. Perfectly attentive service, great chips, and really good food - parking was even easy! read more

Atmosphere: There's a nice bar and lots of seating at Mezcalito, both inside and on the back patio. It's a warm and vibrant atmosphere, appropriate for a gathering with friends. Service: Every time we've visited Mezcalito, there has been an issue with the service. On one visit, they charged us for a drink that we didn't order. On another visit, they served us an incorrect dish, but they kindly put it on the house. Food: We've tried their King Burrito, ACP with steak, and Mezcalita Enchiladas. None of their food has wowed us. The King Burrito was big in quantity, not so much in flavor. The ACP was quite heavy and mainly tasted like sauce. The Mezcalita Enchiladas weren't filled with much meat and were essentially just drenched in sauce. Their drinks are fun, though definitely pricey. We've tried the Strawberry Margarita, which was pretty standard. Overall: While the fun and celebratory atmosphere of Mezcalito is nice, the food has not impressed us. The flavors are either boring or very one note (i.e. just salty or saucy). Overall, we think that Mezcalito is a bit overrated and overpriced. read more

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LOVE their chips here. Food is good and the vibe is awesome. Good food, but I haven't tried much besides the quesadillas and guac

Service was excellent and the food was delicious. Drinks were 10/10 and the environment was beautifully decorated for the Fall. read more

Mezcalito - Durham - El Regio Bto - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I really wanted to love this place because I hear a lot of people rave about it but the food was only ok for me. The flavor was a little overpowering and the it felt a little overpriced. The draw of this restaurant is the atmosphere and the drinks, so if I came back I would stick to coming for drinks. We got a margarita tower and if you can finish it before the ice melts, then your group will have a good time. read more

Mezcalito - Durham - ultimate acp - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We liked this place! The portions are absolutely massive and they have a lot of seating space both inside and on the patio. The service was fairly average and the drinks were pretty sweet, but the food was good. I got a quesadilla bowl which was a cross over between a burrito bowl and quesadilla. They had a lot of creative food items that I had never heard of before read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is our regular Durham Mexican take-out spot. Love the triple dipper, fajitas are always flavorful, and the other dishes tried have all been great. Highly recommend the quesabirria...yummm read more

Every-time I go to mezcalito each experience is just as good if not better than the first. The staff is amazing and friendly. Very informative on the menu options and really make an experience out of eating at their restaurant. They have some of the most unique and creative drink options , and they are not light handed on the liquor if you know what I mean. I love mezcalito and I will be returning with family and friends for the years to come. Great vibes. read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Burrito Alpastor - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The rice and beans are very good probably some of the best I've had in North Carolina. My taco fell apart when I picked it up. I think it's been sitting in the window for a while. The service is slow so if you hear for your lunch break, don't be in a rush. The ambience is pretty very well decorated.. overall the food taste great just a little slow on the service read more

Had this in Durham last week the people and staff are super nice. I absolutely enjoyed my ACP and the ambience.

I've been here 2 or 5 times and the food is always good!!! And the drinks are HITTING!!!

I came in on Dec 10,2025 at 9ish pm and a lady at bar name started with an L so amazing with service ! First time ever trying their 40 ounce mango berry mojito and it's my new spot so impressed food and drinks 100 percent i wish I could rate more then 5 read more

My Lines Sisters had to celebrate #7! My good sis chose this restaurant and it did not disappoint! It was packed but our wait was only like 20 minutes so that was great! We sat in the screened in patio in the back. Our party was 10 people and we were accommodated without a hassle. The food does taste more Americanized than other restaurants I've visited but it was good. The only thing was that the music, raggaeton, was loud. I could barely hear my sis sitting across from me. Buuuuut the music kept me dancing in my seat I only had a beer, but the ladies said they were delicious with just the right amount of alcohol. read more

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Very yumm and super fast. Staff was so nice and enjoyed the experience. Will definitely be back! There was so much that looked fab on the menu, it was hard to choose only one thing. Salsa was also awesome! The steak in the fajitas was super quality and the top shelf margarita was another level! Thanks!!! It was a little loud but to be expected as part of the ambience. Looking forward to the next trip. read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Nachos, fajitas and top shelf margarita, yumm. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Came in for lunch and we got lucky with a parking spot and no wait. We were seated directly across from kitchen and asked to move to bar area. No problem. Chips and salsa came immediately. Nice touch! Our server was Nicole and only her 3rd day on the job and she rocked it out of the park. Always there when we needed her and very happy upbeat five star service! Kudos to management for creating great customer service! My fajitas were terrific, loads of shrimp and the peppers and onions were plentiful as well. I got a Long Island iced tea and it was strong, just the way I like it. The chips were fresh and the salsa thick and good. The only thing that kept it from being 5 star for me is the music is just too loud for a restaurant. Hard to hear yourself talk. Turn it down a few notches and it would've been perfect. The outdoor seating looked very inviting but hubby doesn't like outdoor seats. Would definitely return! read more

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I came here for lunch on a weekday afternoon. I got a margarita and chicken tacos with a side of chicken tortilla soup. The salsa was flavorless and the consistency was off. It was on the thick side. The soup was super salty and no other flavor to it besides salt. The tacos were completed doused in cream which was a huge put off for me. Not a fan. read more

This spot was open late and I was hungry. The drink was well made but the tacos were surprisingly really good. People were dancing, and a very friendly environment. read more

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My partner and I have gone to Mezcalito a few times now and each time we have a blast. Their food, drinks, and service always pleases us! Just FYI, it's a loud and upbeat atmosphere, which is what we like, but may not be everyone's cup of tea. Now for the experience: The longest we had to wait was (30 minutes) and that was due to it being Cinco De Mayo, so it was understandable but worth the wait. Any other time it was no longer than 5 minutes. Their drinks are top tier and their food is delicious. The staff astounds us every time at how attentive they are to everyone. I highly recommend this establishment! (Also, this is not the restaurants fault, but parking is a nightmare! I blame the City of Durham for that.) read more

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I cannot say enough good things about this place! The service was top notch, with our waitress Nicole continually stopping by to check on us and often bringing us refills on chips/drinks without us asking. There are so many employees working so hard, I was immensely impressed! The decor is beautiful with a mix of greens and florals with neon/pops of color mixed in. There is indoor and outdoor seating available, perfect for small or large parties. The food was so delicious and worth every penny. The complimentary chips are warm and perfectly salted and the salsa is just the right consistency where it isn't too runny or chunky. The steak con queso appetizer was PHENOMENAL cannot wait to come back to try more of the menu. The tacos Al pastor were fresh, delicious, and was the perfect serving size. The mango and pineapple mojitos were delicious, not too sweet and not too strong! 10/10 recommend. One of my new favorite restaurants in all of durham! read more

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I think I've found the one place in the Triangle that isn't under-staffed. The moment you walk into this place, you will be taken care of by their army of servers. They have huge portions here, so you can easily share a plate + appetizers (and chips are free). I'd love to try the patio once its a little warmer! I had a salad this time, which was really good, but next time I want to try one of their signature dishes and drinks. read more

My family and I enjoyed this spot on March 22! We had a great meal along with an outstanding waitress. Shot outs to Mary! She gave good suggestions and was on point with everything! The weather was great and we enjoyed eating outside. The only thing that went crazy was the umbrella blew away from the table but after we took it off the table the vibe was amazing! Mi familia y yo disfrutamos mucho de este lugar el 22 de marzo. Disfrutamos de una comida estupenda con una camarera excepcional. ¡Un aplauso para Mary! Nos dio buenas sugerencias y estuvo a la altura de todo. El clima estuvo estupendo y disfrutamos comiendo al aire libre. Lo único que falló fue que la sombrilla se desprendió de la mesa, pero después de quitarla, ¡el ambiente era increíble! read more

This place gets the HYPEEE on Offline, so a couple of friends and I decided to try it out. Food was good but nothing spectacular. Drinks was huge and pretty good again nothing to die for. Definitely a cute spot and the atmosphere is great for large groups but again I feel like there are better spots in the Raleigh/ Durham area. Also those "instagram worthy" drinks are 30-40$ so be prepared for spending that when there. I definitely got sticker shocked when I went to go looking at their drink menu read more

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Worst experience I have had in a long time on all fronts. Wait staff. Food. Ambiance. I'll break them up. Wait staff. We went on a sat at noon. We always sit at the bar because it's more social and quicker service usually. We were greeted after 10 minutes just sitting there with no less than 5 people behind the bar at anytime. They were more concerned about prepping the fruit for garnish than anyone being there. In the 45 min we were there (normally we would have been there for a few hours) we never knew who was serving us. Horrible experience. At the end he even said "next time tell me sooner if you are not happy, really??? How no one was ever checking on us. Food: I ordered a salad. $10 salad that had nothing but brown iceberg lettuce. None of what was on the menu was in the salad. No dressing and horrible. I can eat anything but this made me feel nauseous. I quickly pushed that aside as we waiting for street tacos with beans and rice. Everything was ice cold. You know it's cold when the cheese doesn't even melt on top. I asked for cilantro and onion which I never got. I pushed that aside and even after 20 minutes not one person asked if something was wrong. And remember the snarky comment from above. Tell me sooner next time. Really?? I asked for a to go box and we quickly got the hell outa there. Drinks were terrible. The top shelf margarita was premixed marg and all juice no alcohol. Huge glass so not good. The second drink my husband ordered was a vodka soda with lime. It should be crystal clear but nope. It was yellow and cloudy and terrible. They must have put bottled lime juice in it versus a side of lime to squeeze. Gross. Ambiance: once again. It could be a nice place. Bar is separate from main dining and is the front of the restaurant so should be a hundred percent the focus as it is the first impression. Two tvs are there but clouded by all the other things that you can barely see them from any angle. The bar was a disaster with all the food prep and things that should be done in the back not in front of people especially when you are ignoring them. This isn't the zoo. I didn't come to watch people cut fruit. I came to be served a good time. Your eyes are overloaded. On the left all you see is bathroom area with towers of to go boxes. Again should be in the back. On the right all you see is a prep kitchen. No doors and it's an eye sore. We will not be back unless we see lots of new reviews with great stars. Way too many options in RDU to come back. read more

food is great and very delicious. Was very full after the great dinner. however the reason for 2 star is because of the inappropriate behavior of the waiter. bills are settled and i personally paid for our dinner and told the server not to mention to my friends about it however as I left the counter and went to toilet, the server went over to our table and ask for more tip aside from the one I gave him. He showed them that I paid for it. This behavior is very unprofessional and unacceptable. It is like he is forcing my friends to tip more than what I already gave him. Tip is not mandatory. it is a courtesy for the servers and staff and doing things like this is very un-called for. I hope the management do something about this. server name is Sergio. read more

Wow what a pleasant surprise! Huge portions, fresh delicious food, and unlimited free chips and salsa. Got the chicken fajitas and was not disappointed. The regular size marg was MASSIVE too. Highly recommend! Service was good, and the ambiance was fun but not too loud where you couldn't hold a conversation. We came around 5:30 on a Sunday and our party of 6 was able to be seated right away but it was definitely busy. Parking can be tricky in the area. read more

Great place, excellent service, food and drinks. I suggest this place to anyone that likes good Mexican food. They have indoor & two different outdoor areas for seating. I had the steak chimichanga and boy was it great, I can't wait to back & try something else. read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My god- has to be the BEST Mexican meal I have ever had... after being given a gift card, my family has now been three times. Every time is better than before. The wait staff is quick, friendly, welcoming... the rooms are big and fun- we love the garden area, the globes outdoors are gorgeous... everything here is worth every penny read more

Mezcalito - Durham - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina