First time here - great experience! It was easy to get a table for 7 for a 5:30ish Friday dinner. The staff were quick, attentive, and friendly. Food was really good and different. The burrito relleno was a unique vegetarian option - definitely recommend! I also had the house pineapple margarita. Great kids menu options too - my son had the taco and burrito combo. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Burrito Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I will always recommend this place! Listen, this is my go to spot, when I want some good queso with chorizo and a good margarita! The food is always good, fresh, and the service is always on point. The mood is right if you have a significant other, it no pressure if you don't. It is still a good vibe! Enjoy! read more

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I absolutely love this place! The decor is beautiful, the staff members are super nice, and the food and drinks are amazing. Our server tonight was the sweetest most genuine lady. I really enjoyed my pineapple jalapeño margarita and the presentation of it was extra special. It was lit up and had a beautiful flower and little rubber ducky floating in it. Love it! I ordered the chicken and ground beef nachos and they were super delicious! My husband had a steak burrito that was served with a bacon wrapped jalapeño popper on top. He absolutely loved it! We both brought home boxes of leftovers. I'm so glad we were able to visit this restaurant again. It's amazing and never disappoints! read more

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They've gone downhill after years of going there , stopped going in like 2023 but it's was good at that time , now it's so so , just depends honestly . Good food , not really much complaints . It's just a hit or miss now really read more

Food is always fresh and service is fast and friendly! My go to Mexican restaurant in the area read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped by here on a whim while visiting a friend and was not disappointed. Even though he was busy, our server Jesus, was so amazing and attentive. The energy was fun and lively, our food and drinks came out quickly, and we had an awesome time. I liked that the vegetarian menu had some additional options and wasn't just the usual "vegetarian e" Mexican food vibe (which they also had, but I appreciated the chance to switch it up). I ordered the house pineapple margarita (it was huge and I loved it!) and the relleno burrito which was so delicious! 10/10 would return read more

| Overview + Shrimp & steak tacos are fantastic. + Fajita choices for 1 or 2 are good. + Fast customer service + Nachos & salsa are crispy fresh. + Inviting & spacious ambiance with bar - Queso dip was too thick. - Lacks flexibility to customize order | Full Review My girl & I have been to all 3 Monterrey Mexican restaurant locations (Carrboro, Chapel Hill & Durham) multiple times, and this Durham location is the best but not by a mile. As always, the complimentary nachos here were well-seasoned and crispy fresh, and the mild salsa was fine. We ordered $5 queso dip - fair amount but it was quite thick as if it wasn't heated enough for it to melt to the ideal texture for dipping. Both of us ordered the Tacos Mar y Tierra but instead of black beans, we got pinto beans. Each order came with 3 tacos with our She chose steak as the protein and I chose shrimp. She wanted to mix them up with 2 steak & 1shrimp tacos but the waitress said we're not allowed to do that, so what we did was I traded 1 of my Shrimp tacos for 1 of her steak tacos. My girl thought the tacos came with red onions because the Chapel Hill Monterrey served us the same order but with the red onions just a few weeks ago, so she asked the waitress why that's missing, and she even showed a photo on her phone of the tacos with the red onions. The waitress called the manager about this, and the manager said the red onions were not supposed to be included and that was probably a mistake. But gave us a small cup of red onions anyway for us to add - we appreciated that despite the inconsistency. We enjoyed the shrimp tacos more than the steak but both were spiced-well, loaded with fresh ingredients, and the tortillas' texture was perfect. The shrimps were pretty large, and every bite was full of flavor. The waitress provided good customer service, and the vibe inside the restaurant was welcoming. We didn't have to wait for long for our tacos to arrive to our table, and when we asked for salsa verde, refills for our glasses of water, and take out boxes, they arrived fast. Monterrey Durham's ambiance -like the ambiance of the 2 other Monterrey locations- is ideal for Mexican dine-in experience, thanks to its fiesta-friendly atmosphere and spacious dining area and casual bar. The restaurant serves various cocktails, tequilas, beer & other alcoholic drinks, so it's fun to eat and drink here with a group of friends and/or family. Every time we're craving for authentic Mexican food with fresh ingredients, Monterrey Durham is currently our top choice in the Triangle NC. It used to be Mi Cancun in Morrisville but our last experience there was well...just read my review for that restaurant. All 3 Monterrey locations pretty much have the same menu, but from our experience, this Durham location provided the best dining experience. | Overall Score: 4.4/5 read more

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I love this place! It's only my second time here, but the food is great, and the more people there are, the better it feels. I usually sit at the bar, but it was being used for a birthday party. I sat to the side, and it was almost like being there. Such fun and good food. read more

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Stop the presses, hold the phone and listen up...... Monterrey Mexican Grill is the Don Mega of Mexican restaurants. This is a super cool sit down restaurant with cool decor to look at everywhere. A good place for date night or large groups.......seriously.....bring the whole family. The staff is super friendly, our server was a delight. The menu is crazy, so hard to make a decision as there are so many good and unique options. Ever been to a Mexican restaurant that offers burgers......how about barria pizza, or sushi...yes you read that right. All this along side classic Mexican staples, burritos, enchiladas ect. I had the Monterrey burrito, the most tender steak, beans and cheese wrapped in a large tortilla topped with even more delicious steak, Pico, avocado slices and get this.....are you even ready? A whole bacon wrapped jalapeno popper. Who even does that? Monterrey Mexican Grill, that's who. Oh and the pineapple jalapeno margarita was straight up visual delight that tastes oh so good. The real charm of this drink is the super fun little duck that comes floating in this glass of mixed drink glory. Do the right thing and get yourself down to Monterrey Mexican Grill. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Pineapple jalapeno margarita - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Service was excellent--food was not. We ordered six different kinds of enchiladas, all of which were uniformly bland---and served nearly at room temperature. We could not distinguish a difference in the three sauces. If you're looking for tasty and memorable Mexican food, recommend you keep searching. We will not be back. read more

We live close by and this place is always busy so we gave it a try. They were packed but we didn't have a wait . The service was fast and friendly. Plenty of seating inside for multiple different sized crowds. Very large menu definitely has something for everyone. Our food was okay, not bad by any means but pretty average in terms of flavor. If you want somewhere in the same area that's cheaper and more authentic I recommend El Cuscatleco. Local, much smaller, and very different vibe but very authentic and flavorful dishes. Probably wouldn't go here again just since our preference is authentic but definitely understand why they stay busy. It's a cute and convenient spot! read more

Generous portions. Deliciously prepared food. The meats are delicious. Chips are crispy and love the homemade salsa.

Second time coming here and it was just as good as the first! Started with shredded chicken house nachos that were absolutely delicious. Chicken was perfectly cooked. And we had Carne Asada tacos, chicken, smothered, and pineapple, veggies, and cheese, and the seafood soup. Kitchen made an hour with my soup and brought me the shrimp soup instead, but they rectify the issue and took care of us. We will be back a third time! read more

Went by here due to none of the places I wanted to take a friend out for Father's Day were available. I was not disappointed. The Mexican Mac and cheese was very flavorful. The salsa is trash though. but I would come here again! read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Mexican Mac and Cheese . - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Monterey Mexican grill is as the name suggests a Mexican eatery located in chapel hill North Carolina. My buddy and I was on a small road trip through various small towns in North Carolina when we stopped in the chapel hill/Durham area for the night and devised to grab some Mexican for dinner. The atmosphere and decor here was very nice and fun with authentic Mexican decor along with some really cool murals. The service here was also pretty strong. Our waiter was polite, quick and kept our cups full. You do get started with complimentary chips and salsa which is always appreciated. They had a good favor with a solid kick even on the mild salsa. For entrees I personally went with a Arroz con Pollo which is grilled chicken on a bed of rice and queso. It was just ok. The chicken was a little bland for my liking and it could of used more queso to help with that. My buddy got the Burrito de Nopales and agreed with was solid to ok. Overall it was a good trip and quality dinner with an awesome vibe, good service and solid food. read more

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FINALLY! A GOOD, COMFORTABLE BAR--AND FABULOUS TOP-SHELF FRESH MARGARITAS ( not from mix)!!! We'revtransplants from (natives of) San Francisco and Carmel, California and like to think we know good from bad Mexican food. We've lived in SW Durham for 2 years now--yet last night was our 1st visit to this restaurant. SO GLAD WE'VE FOUND IT! It's a big, comfortable restaurant with a bar at 1 end. 5:30 pm --early on Mon. before Thanksgiving, so very quiet--which gave us the chance to get to know Jenny, who tends bar two nights a week and makes a GREAT margarita. So disappointing when you order one and it has that awful powdery bottled mix tadte. Drinks were $15 each and large and a "good pour"-- and pretty--garnished with a fresh purple Vanda orchid, pineapple--welcome to the tropics! BTW: the selection of "specialty" drinks is HUGE. I rarely even look because they're usually sickly sweet and--dare I say it? --stupid if you're over 30 and not drinking to get drunk (and sick!) But the drinks sounded really interesting--made with fresh juices and things like mango puter--next time! The dining menu is also extensive and has a lot mote than the standard "gringo" Mexican fare. We really just came to try a margarita--but it was so good, we ordered dinner at the bar. Jenny recommended a couple of dishes and I had what I think was Burrito CalifornII (?) IT was delicious and HUGE--I hadn't eaten since breakfast but could barely finish it. My husband loves mole sauce--he's also an EXCELLENT chef himself. He took one bite and said "oh yeah--this is good!" extra points: the uiung manager came over to say hello and see if we were happy. We've been looking for a friendly place with a real bar that's comfortable, and music at a level that makes conversation possible. THIS IS IT! It also has banquettes and by the time we left, there were a couple of families dining so--Id say it's also "family friendly." See you again soon, Jenny! read more

The food here was really good. The atmosphere here was really good. The service here was pretty good too. We had a great time. Chips and salsa were a nice touch and my burrito was awesome. I do enjoy this place and I would go back. read more

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I enjoyed this restaurant so much after dining with a friend that I returned the next day by myself! This restaurant is a chain but still feels authentic and welcoming. Light music played in the background. Chips and salsa were offered complimentary upon being seated. The wait staff served the salsa from the type of pitcher generally used with maple syrup. Very clever. Be sure to ask for a Mexican Coke made with cane sugar! Very friendly and attentive service at both visits. Ordered chicken fajitas ($16) both times. On my return visit, I revised my order slightly to request extra chicken and less of the peppers and onions, which on the first visit made the sizzling skillet look like a vegetarian delight. If you love cheese and sour cream like me, you'd better ask for sides. The interior is quite pretty with a very nice upholstered banquettes. This restaurant is very large and could accommodate many people during peak dining hours. While I was there, they were serving a large party. There is a large covered section for outdoor dining, which would be perfect for nice weather, and for people still cautious during Covid. Menu prices are for cash payments with the customer absorbing an extra % of the cost to utilize a credit card. I understand it but, haven't seen this outside of gas stations. I'm sure it's harder than ever to run a restaurant with inflation; I'm okay with it. It appears there is a full bar and fruity cocktails offered on a drink menu. I look forward to returning with my spouse and ordering a drink with dinner If you're looking for decent Mexican in a comfortable setting, give Monterrey Mexican Grill a try. Several locations across the triangle region. read more

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The restaurant is vast and the seating is comfortable. There are no old cush-dented seats. Kudos for that! It is the best dressed Mexican restaurant I have ever visited! Service was prompt and consistent through out stay. The menu is varied and I finally opted for a Margarita, of course, and the Pollo Chipotle Chicken dish. It was not bad and I finished it all but it won't become a favorite. I look forward to trying other options when I next visit. Let me add that the menu options are large portions to fit big appetities. Those with lesser appetites will want to take some home for lunch the next day. read more

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The BEST Mexican restaurant I've had a pleasure of eating in! 10 out of 10 in everything! From the glassware to the booths in black tufted leather, the art work, to the presentation of food..and the food omg, delicious! Bartender was the bomb! If you are in Durham and love Mexican it's a must try! Seriously!!! read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Hands down some of the best Mexican food (outside of Mexico) that I've ever had. I ordered the elote, carnitas dinner and a side of grilled zucchini. My friend ordered a monster burrito that had steak, shrimp, rice, beans, and french fries inside of it with jalapeño bacon. My Carnitas meal was so delicious. The meat was tender, very juicy. The rice had the best flavor, and so did the refried beans. I also love is the meat had that slight crisp on it to show that it has been roasted, but it was not dried out at all. It also came smothered in onions, which is something that I absolutely love. The corn was delicious. It was a squeeze lime juice and that's exactly what I did. The zucchini was just zucchini. Lol. I ordered the fried cheesecake. I can't remember the name of it but it was good. It comes with a side of ice cream as well the coding on the outside has cinnamon and sugar. The dough is crispy. The cheesecake on the inside is still a bit frozen, but it was very good. The service was very quick, literally as soon as we walked in we were greeted within one minute we had complementary chips and salsa on our table. Everyone was very nice and the food was piping hot. 5/5 stars!! read more

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This has been our "go to" place since we moved to Durham from Phoenix over a year ago. We come once a week with another couple who also loves it. All dishes are excellent but my favorites are the Burrito con Camarones, Burrito Norteno and Arroz con Pollo. Margarita's are also excellent. The servers are always very nice and aim to please. We either sit in the bar area or outside. Love this place!! read more

One of the best Mexican sports in the RDU! This lace never disappoints and it even gets better with time each visit. The bartenders are amazing, the staff is delightful and the food is out of this world. At this point, I really should be an ambassador for this place. Highly recommend EVERYTHING on the menu, great atmosphere, great people and even greater food. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Burrito Con Camaron - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My wife and I were pleasantly surprised by Monterrey Mexican Grill in Durham. We've driven past this restaurant numerous times while going back and forth on 15-501 between Chapel Hill and Durham. My wife heard from some of her co-residents that the Monterrey Mexican Grill in Chapel Hill - coincidentally, also on 15-501, but on the part that's named Fordham Blvd - is good. There's also a location in Carrboro. This Durham location is the newest location of the three. I think it opened right after the new year in 2021. It replaced the old, more colorful Torero's Authentic Mexican Cuisine Bar & Grill, also known later as Fiesta Ole Mexican Restaurant: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fiesta-ole-mexican-restaurant-durham. We visited on an ordinary Wednesday night after 8pm. We like that the Monterrey restaurants are open later than most restaurants (in the area) on weeknights. This location is open until 10pm, Monday-Thursday. We left around 9:45 and this place was still hoppin' with multiple groups including several families. We witnessed three birthday parties in the span of about 1.5 hours. The staff started each birthday celebration with a loud pop (like a bag popping) and then a song. I saw the staff put a bright blue sombrero on one of the birthday people. In addition to being open late, this place is great for groups. They have plenty of space for large parties, both inside the dining room and out on the covered patio. Combined, the dining room, bar, and patio space is sizable. Like a lot of Mexican restaurants, the atmosphere is casual and festive. Inside, there are TVs spread throughout the space, giving this place a sort of sports bar feel. I think they've had live sports watch parties here. Despite being only a couple years old, this restaurant appears broken-in and well-worn. It's not the cleanest place - our table was sticky, our booth had crumbs on one of the seats, and our menus didn't feel clean - but it wasn't a big deal. What I like about the ambiance is this is a more down-to-earth, genuine, "authentic" Mexican restaurant. It's not an American chain with a more contrived, "corporate" appearance, like Uncle Julio's at Southpoint mall: https://www.yelp.com/biz/uncle-julios-durham-2. I'm not saying Uncle Julio's is bad; it's not, we like it too. It's just a different experience. That said, we do prefer Monterrey over Uncle Julio's. Here's what we had: * Complimentary chips and salsa * Skinny Fresh Margarita ($13.99) - tequila and Gran Gala with fresh squeezed lime, orange juice, and agave nectar * Tacos (3 for $12) - corn tortillas, cilantro, onion; carne asada, al pastor (marinated pork), and carnitas; also comes with rice and frijoles charros * Molcajete ($24) - carne asada, pollo asado, chorizo, nopales, chile relleno, grilled spring onions, jalapenos, queso fresco, refried beans, guacamole, and tortillas (corn) We enjoyed everything. The chips and salsa hit our table as soon as we sat down. One bowl of salsa for each of us. The chips were the thicker, harder, crunchier kind. They tasted fresh. Not too salty nor greasy. The salsa was very mild, quickly poured out of a salsa dispensing bottle. I appreciated the efficiency of the chips and salsa lady. The "Skinny" Fresh Margarita wasn't skinny. It was the opposite. The presentation wowed us because of the drink's bright, vivid, almost artificial, yellow color. It was made even brighter by a small light bulb in the drink (see my pictures for both the drink and the bulb). The margarita was delicious and refreshing. I recommend it. Monterrey's tacos are the "authentic" Mexican kind: tortilla and meat topped with cilantro and onion. Yum. I will say the carne asada steak and the pork carnitas were a little too well-done. They were tough, chewy, and dry. So, that can be improved upon, along with perhaps the seasonings. The al pastor pork was very good though; tender and flavorful. The plate of rice and frijoles charros that came with the tacos were terrific. Mexican comfort food. Monterrey's frijoles charros had pieces of hot dog in it, which I liked. Savory and tasty. The carne asada and pollo asado chicken in the Molcajete was overcooked too, but the sauce helped a lot. If you like meat, the Molcajete is the way to go. It has nice presentation and is a real feast with a variety of meats and sides. If you're not big eaters, one Molcajete can be split among two people. Our server, Thomas, was great. He was a very nice guy. The other staff we interacted with were polite and efficient too. This is a well-run local chain. Monterrey does a good job of keeping their social media accounts up-to-date. In March 2022, they merged the three Instagram accounts for the different locations into one. The Facebook pages are unique to each location. The Facebook pages have more information (e.g., business hours) than the restaurant's official website. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonterreyDurham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monterrey_mexgrill/ read more

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Delicious and inspiring dishes with friendly, consistent service. A great place for Mexican in Durham.

Had a great lunch there today, 1/9/2025 (Thurs). Ordered the Enchilada Carnitas lunch plate. The cooks on duty for the lunch shift today were in excellent form. Not every crew is always so spot on. The shredded pork filling was tender and fat-free. The tomatillo sauce was very well flavored - lemony, cuminy, not too salty. The black beans were tender but not mushy. The spanish rice was well seasoned with just the right texture. Table service was attentive and requests were fulfilled promptly. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Enchiladas Carnitas (pork with salsa verde) - lunch serving - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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the food was incredible, service was fast, the music and ambiance was great. I enjoy coming here and enjoying great food and a good atmosphere read more

It was ... ok. Not great. Not terrible. The free chips and salsa was good. Felt like I spent a decent amount of money for a mid experience.

For the weary traveler, this is a great late dinner option. The portions are big and the pricing is just right. Don't expect a wait after 9pm, but do expect good food and speedy service. The posole is a meal. Don't think you can order this soup and have room for another dish. You won't! The fiesta nachos are good. It's a mix of chicken and beef and also very filling. The enchilada sampler is another winner. The options were shredded beef, chicken and spinach. The chicken was a little dry but the other two made up for it. Lots of tvs around the restaurant, this is good if you're a soccer fan. Score... read more

Great flavors, big menu, and great ambiance Very surprised to found a good place to eat Mexican food in my visit in North Carolina I tried mix fajitas and shrimp Will definitely visit this place again if I'm in NC again read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Mix fajita - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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"Tasty chain-Mexican near South Square in Durham" My son and I ordered this via GrubHub on a Saturday for dinner, and we LOVED the food we got. He ordered the "carne asada fries", and I ordered the "large burrito mexicano". The carne asada fries was basically like a Mexican version of poutine-- no gravy, though, and cilantro added. My son DEVOURED it. I almost asked for a bite, but I think he may have bitten off my hand if I tried. He loved it. I was also VERY happy with the large burrito mexicano-- filled with big pieces of steak, chicken, and shrimp as well as rice and beans. The green sauce on it was flavorful, and there was a light bit of white queso sauce mixed in. SO tasty, and it was BIG. Other aside that I liked-- it came with two individual small paper bags of chips and two small helpings of salsa, so we didn't have to reach over each other or wait to dip. Very very tasty, good quantity, good value. Overall, great. I'm eager to order from here again, or once the COVID nightmare subsides further, maybe even go in person. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Exterior - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My boyfriend and I had an awesome experience dining here!! We went on a Friday evening and we're seated right away on the patio. It was very pretty and relaxing with the lights. This is the perfect place to go go for an elevated Mexican food experience. Our drinks were incredible, as was the food. I got a margarita flight for only 7.99, which I thought was a great deal. The Monterrey burrito was out of this world, and I had to take the rest home to enjoy! The service was amazing as well. This is going to be our go to spot when we are craving Mexican from now on! read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Margarita flight - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great place!! Typical Mexican atmosphere, with outdoor seating. But the food was exceptional. Dishes you don't see everyday at the typical Mexican restaurant. For example the Burrito con Cameron. The shrimp were actually wrapped in bacon and in the burrito, so good. And the prices were about average. We did not try their specialties, but the cost also seemed to be a bit higher. I would recommend it! read more

Where to start . . . Look, the drinks were good. They have a huge drink menu. However, if I'm paying $30 for a big margarita, it'd like it not to just be 75% ice. The chips and salsa were good. Birria tacos smelled like a barn. They were weirdly gamey. The chicken fajitas . . . c'mon. They came out whiter than me. Not a lick of seasoning to be found. Bland bland bland. Service was meh. We were quick to be seated and the food came out really fast. read more

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I got food poisoning. Service was good and the portions were plentiful. A tad bit salty though. Great drinks and ambiance. read more

Monterrey Mexican Grill - Chipotle Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Meh. Uninspired bland food, no heat or flavor complexity whatsoever. The salsa was basically tomato sauce with seemingly no seasoning. The sauce on the enchiladas seemed to also be unseasoned tomato sauce. The refried beans were runny, mushy brown tasteless stuff. The only thing that had any flavor was the mushroom quesadilla. We won't be back. There are many, many, many Mexican restaurants in the area that actually know how to season food. read more

The people at Monterey are outstanding as is the food. The company website ordering link is broken, don't waste your time. That is the only reason this isn't a 5 star. To be blunt, the online order experience sucks/and is broken forcing you to order pickup through DoorDash. In fact, the folks working there were surprised when we showed up for a pickup order through DoorDash. Example: the menu on the website online order ilsystem is different than the menu on DoorDash. The website order system acts completely functional until you try to pay. We love this place and usually pickup takeout or eat there every time we visit from Arizona. Management-please fix this. It is an unnecessary reason to frustrate your customers. read more

Stopped in while in the area on a Thursday night and it wasn't very busy. The restaurant was fairly empty but the server put us at a bar booth which was odd. The men at the bar next to us were quite loud and obnoxious, so much that it was hard to hear each other. The waiter stopped by the table almost too many times and we felt rushed. But the food was very good and the margarita as well. Overall good place but turned off by the service and how loud it was. There were at least 25 tables empty in the dining room, it was odd they couldn't seat us there... read more

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Fabio is excellent . place is great . 5 big booms . . Fabio es excelente, el restaurante es muy bueno. Cinco bombas grande.

Super consistent, great prices, amazing service, incredible food. This place does not miss.