Our favorite Mexican! We continue to be impressed over and over as the food here is amazing. Everything is so fresh and delicious and not greasy like a lot of Mexican restaurants. Every taco is fabulous, especially the pork belly. The entrees are great. Highly recommend the salmon or blackened mahi. Gluten free options are marked on the menu. The drinks are also incredible and I highly recommend the prickly pear margarita. read more

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After trying a few other Mexican restaurants I chose this one because the Pork belly tacos. Upon arriving we were told to pick our table. We chose to sit inside. Our server was Brandon, who was an absolute delight! He was so energetic, so friendly, and gave great suggestions. We started with drinks. I had a skinny margarita and my husband had a Frida (top shelf margarita) and our son had a Coke. First thing we ordered was the chips and salsa. The chips were perfect, not too thin and not too thick. They came with two salsas. Both were tasty. Not sure if there is a spicier option but we will check next time. I ordered the Birria tacos. They were so delicious! So much flavor! The avocado tomatillo salsa was perfect with it. My husband ordered the Al Pastor tacos. It was very traditional Al pastor. He loved the black beans. His words were " these are the best black beans I have ever had!" Our son ordered the chorizo tacos. First, I have never seen chorizo tacos offered in a Mexican restaurant. Secondly, they were amazing! To finish, I ordered the banana pudding and our son ordered the churro sundae. Both desserts were delicious. The portions were huge! All in all I say Nopal is quite the gem. Perfect portions and dishes that are packed with flavor. And service that goes above and beyond. We can't wait to go back. We will ask for Brandon!!! read more

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I arrived with 3 friends on a Wednesday night 7:20pm and we sat on the patio. There was not a single table occupied inside the restaurant. There were 4-5 other tables seated outside. Our server mentioned he was busy but would come by as soon as he could. No problem! Well....he silently dropped waters off about five minutes later and zoomed away. We flagged him down a few minutes later to order bar drinks. Two of us ordered beers and two ordered margaritas. The margaritas took forever and when they finally came out, they both tasted terrible. One tasted like pure sugar (all sour mix) and the other tasted like rubbing alcohol but not a tequila taste. My friend took them inside to the bar to swap them out since the server was too busy. The bartender said there was too much agave in their sour mix today. They ended up with beers. Finally by almost 8pm we flagged the server down and asked to order food. He was apologetic that he was inattentive. We ordered and the food came out quickly. Everyone enjoyed their food. The server asked us if we wanted dessert and made a recommendation. Two of us had a check together and the other two separate. The server struggled to separate the checks and was confused. Suddenly by 9pm the kitchen was closed, he had dropped off our checks, and quickly picked them up. As soon as the checks were signed he was picking up the signed receipts and bussing the table around us although 3 out of 4 of us had full beers from a second round. The server was very kind but I can only hope that it was his first week because he was in the weeds the whole time and there was another server on the patio, so at most they had 3 tables each. I don't know if the solution is to add another server for that shift or if he needs a smaller section but it was hard to watch and honestly I don't think I will return. Maybe the manager could have helped take drink orders or run drinks on the table. read more

Nopal - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Me and my friend we love Mexican food and we tried a bunch of different Mexican restaurants, this one definitely is one of our favorite. Tried out the Carne asada plate and it was amazing! Huge portion enough for two girls. Chips and salsa are delicious too. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place has a patio making me wanna come back.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Forgot our waitress's name but she's super super friendly:) read more

Nopal - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We love Cintron, so we thought we'd give this place a try given Cintrons good reputation. The first time we went, it was ok. I honestly wasn't a huge fan. The food and the drinks were just ok. However, this last time we went, everything was spot on. I was pleasantly surprised with the difference. The food and the drinks were great, our waitress was really cool and made good suggestions. I noticed that they also have brunch. We will definitely be going back to try that. Glad our last visit was such a good experience. We are happy to find a good restaurant on our side of town. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice bar area, as well as outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Salsa verde alone was worth the trip. Tried the birria hash for brunch, and it was amazing. Also of note, the chorizo is made in house. Service was very good as well. read more

Really good restaurant! It might not be the easiest to find since it's on the outskirts of Gainesville, tucked away in the back of a small plaza. But they do serve some delicious food. Service was decent, with friendly servers. I have to say, their pork belly tacos were delicious and very filling. Generous portion sizes, with 3 large tacos, rice, and refried beans. The pork belly was tender and succulent, and the addition of the mango salsa helps to cut through the richness. In short, this is definitely a hidden gem of a Mexican restaurant that more people should check out :) read more

Nopal - Pork Belly Tacos! :D - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

What a great find! Stop for lunch on a Sunday which was during their brunch special. Excellent variety of selections from vegetarian to delicious meats. My group ordered the baby back ribs, birria hash (brunch menu), and items from the Nopal kids menu quesadillas and chicken fingers. So flavorful! Great drink options too. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the ambiance (painted murals & music), there is indoor & outdoor seating, with lots of parking.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was great, super welcoming and attentive. Love the experience! read more

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Our search for good Mexican food is over. We found Awesome Mexican food! I can't wait to come back and try another dish. The Al Pastor, Birria, and Chorizo were wonderful. What's next? Brandon, our waiter, was great. Plenty of chip refills, full drinks and a wonderfully relaxing time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Finished the evening out on their patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] An amazing evening. Enjoy. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food and atmosphere exceeded my expectations![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the steak tacos and a spicy margarita. The margarita could have been better, it was really sweet and hardly tasted any tequila which was unfortunate bc I have not had a good spicy marg in gainesville yet read more

Nopal - Carne Asada Taco - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Overall: I absolutely love this place. It is a drive for me though but so worth it! Great food, love the outdoor patio, but service can be a hit or miss. Ambience: It is a little off the beaten path for me. And I do mean beaten bc there always seems to be construction around. There is a parking lot, but it can get pretty full so make sure you plan accordingly. Once you are inside, there is a lot of space. It's a great place to bring a large group. The patio is my favorite place to sit, but that is where I feel the service isn't the best. Service: It's not crowded or busy during lunch time. I find that if you are seated outside in the patio - they tend to forget about you when it's not crowded (ironic I know). When it's crowded, the service is actually great! Food comes out fast. Food: AMAZING. I've tried so many things here over the years and nothing disappoints me. Drinks and desserts included! Come check it out! read more

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Went to Nopal on Sunday for brunch. Bill for two, incl tip, was $78. That's too much for my wallet. We each ordered the special and had one drink. High prices aside, the meal, a hash plate on short rib pieces, was pretty good. The beef was tender, juicy and delicious. The hash was a miss. It was composed of tater tots and what looked like fajita veggies. It just didn't taste or look like hash. Also, I ordered a Bloody Mary and was served a Bloody Maria. There's a difference. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Atmosphere is OK there weren't too many people there and we were seated next to a birthday celebration.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I live nearby, so I'll try Nopal again, but I'll stick to happy hour and bar plates. Nearly $80 for lunch is too much for me. read more

Excellent service, price (lunch) and food. Too many good things to rave about from the free salsa (made in house) to the lunch entrees that include beverage. Two thumbs up and would happily return. read more

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Sharing another great review , a customer of mine recommended this restaurant to us. And it was amazing!!The atmosphere, the friendly staff, who took care of us better than we had been treated at similar restaurants in the area at that time. The food was fresh, hot and amazing they did not disappoint. Very authentic cuisine. Place is packed daily. I can't remember honestly if we called ahead or not but it is worth a try. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Decided to check this new place out per coworker's recommendation. Located near north side of Gainesville, it may be hard to spot as this restaurant is located in the corner end of the small plaza. Just as many others have commented, the servers were very friendly and checked on us frequently. We got pork belly and shrimp tacos with sampler. The price point is bit little bit high for Gainesville average but the ingredients were very fresh. Also, their margaritas is really good that it is a must. Overall, good restaurant to consider checking out when you crave Mexican food. read more

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We stopped in around 4 o'clock in the afternoon to have a late lunch set on the outside patio with our dog. We ordered avocado eggrolls, pork belly appetizer, as well as the riblets. Everything was absolutely delicious. The outdoor patio was spacious and secluded. Our server was fantastic. She brought everything right on time kept us moving, and was very pleasant to deal with. Priced right and very enjoyable due, of course come here for a fabulous dining experience Plenty of parking read more

Nopal - Avocado Egg Rolls - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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I have been seeing this place all over Instagram and Yelp, decided to finally dive in! Since I had the Sunday off and had been yearning for brunch, I remember seeing that they had updated their brunch menu for 2023. First off, when walking in immediately I was greeted with the friendliest smile from the servers and staff. I requested to sit on the patio, being that it was such a nice day out - and I like that the patio area is screened in which is great and protects you from all the flies and mosquitoes. I asked for the brunch menu, and I immediately ordered the veggie omelet with a side of crispy tater tots and a bellini de Nopal. The bellini de Nopal was a tasty take on the classic mimosa which had a prickly pear puree instead of OJ. It wasn't sweet or too tart, honestly it was a great pairing to the bubbly and I would order this again. For the veggie omelet - talk about veggie OVERLOAD...wow! I can not complain about how filling this was, as it was great alternative to ordering sausage or bacon. It was filled with spinach, zucchini, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and oaxaca cheese. That cheese was everything, the creamy flavor it added to the omelet and had an amazing cheese pull. What I also liked about the dish was how fresh all the veggies were, even the baby green salad that was tossed in some type of vinaigrette. The crispy tots were exactly that...crispy and nice. Nothing too special about them but they were good. Overall, service was very prompt and polite. Everyone continuously checked on me which I really liked especially being that I was solo. I didn't feel like they forgot about me or neglected me at all. I can't wait to bring my sister here for a chill brunch when she's in town or even my girlfriends for Sunday Funday! read more

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This place is super cute and was not crowded at all when I came! The service was super quick and the servers were very friendly. I loved the salsas that come with the chips, both were super good and unique! Everyone in my party ordered fajitas and we were all very pleased with them. They come with a lot of vegetables and a really good portion! They weren't the best fajitas I've ever had, but they were definitely good. They have some more unique offerings on the menu as well that I'd love to try next time! read more

Nopal - Chicken Fajita - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've heard great things about Nopal as well as enjoyed Cintrón in the past. So naturally I didn't mind joining my sister for a quick dinner here before heading to work. I had been eager to try nopales (aka cactus) for the first time, so I ordered the Guarache Nopal. I could never imagine what cactus tasted like, but after trying it, I believe it has a cucumber/zucchini kind of flavor. The texture of it grilled wasn't my favorite, but I still thought it tasted pretty good. I think I'd like to try it prepared differently to determine my preference. My sister ordered the Chicken milanesa and let me try a bite. It tasted great and was also recommended by our server. The food came out pretty quickly and everyone was very attentive. I'd definitely like to try some of their drinks on my next visit! read more

Nopal - Guarache Nopal and Chicken Milanese - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Food. 10,000 stars Service. Solid 9 (depends on how busy the place is and where you sit) [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance. It's a Mexican restaurant 10/10 duh[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Recommend siting at the bar for lunch on a Saturday and ordering the special, (whatever it may be) not matter what I've gotten as the special it's been good. (I'm allergic to Chorizo and I still get it and suffer the consequences) read more

Food was delicious, [[HIGHLIGHT]]atmosphere is cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], drinks are amazing! Server was very attentive and extremely helpful in picking out great dishes that matched our taste buds read more

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There is nothing better than a fantastic, relaxed and delicious dinner while catching up with family! We arrived a little before 6pm on Saturday but had no problem getting a parking spot or table. I think it's because there was a Gators football game so most people in town were glued to their TV? Not us! Our waitress, Tina, was very gracious and patient with us, making suggestions and helping us make the best drink and food choices. The menu is very creative and definitely not the traditional Americanized Mexican fair. The owner, Jesus, is from Vera Cruz and he brings a totally fun style and creativity to Nopal! How do we know this? Well, he came by to chat with us before we ordered and told us about his favorite dishes. He makes new specials every night and is clearly passionate, friendly, talented and great to speak with. My wonderful wife ordered the marinated pork chop which Jesus explained that he carved himself from an entire pork loin and marinated in tequila and spices for more than 24 hours. I got a simple 8oz piece of affordable salmon (only $12) with vegetarian risotto that was a special side dish for the night. Our companions made their selections. We started with street corn and avocado for an appetizer. I'm here to tell you, every dish was perfecto! My salmon was the ultimate medium rare, not over cooked at all, just the way I like it! My wife shared a little of her huge marinated pork portion with all of us and enjoyed the entire meal! We stayed for hours because we had a lot of catching up to do. Never were we hurried the entire time. The entire meal was quite affordable and surely the highlight of our stay! I do caution that the exterior and interior of the building are not 5 stars but please do not let this discourage you. The drinks, food, Jesus and the staff are the stars! Life is good with food from Vera Cruz! read more

I went to Nopal on a Tuesday evening after work with some colleagues. Taco Tuesday was in full effect and I got four tacos for $3.50 each: pork belly, pescado (breaded white fish), carne asada, and barbacoa. The pork belly was the best of the four. It was tough to choose from their menu, which was an eclectic mix of classic tacos, enchalas, and tortas, but also out of the box items such as the birria noodle bowl and Nopal shrimp scampi plato. The restaurant had a rustic, laid back atmosphere, and our server was very attentive to our large party. I am looking forward to going back soon. read more

Nopal - Taco Tuesday: pork belly, pescado (breaded white fish), carne asada, and barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

If you can, eat out on the patio. This fully screened area is surrounded by palm trees you'd swear you we're having dinner in the tropics. The food and service were excellent. In addition to the chips and salsa we had the Brussel Sprouts appetizer both were quite delicious. For the main course I had the shrimp enchiladas with rice and beans. The rice was perfect and was presented timbale style. This would be a regular stop for me if I lived in Gainesville. read more

Nopal - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Brunch review Pros: locally owned business with high quality ingredients and made-to-order menu items. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. Vegetarian friendly. Cons: None! 10/10 would recommend and will be back Came in for the first time to support a local restaurant for brunch on Small Business Saturday and it exceeded expectations on all dimensions. Our server Anahi was amazing. Friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and very helpful. I am a vegetarian and they made a vegetarian breakfast burrito that was great! Exactly what I wanted and there was no crankiness about making it! The chef or owner checked on us several times, which showed they really cared about our experience. The patio is very peaceful with views of nature. A great place to come for good food and drinks! read more

Nopal - Mimosa, Chips and Salsa, Bloody Mary (with tequila instead of vodka) - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Food is overrated and iver priced. . Service is okay. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience is ok.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would I go back, NO!

Easily my favorite restaurant in Gainesville! The food is delicious, staff are welcoming, and I always leave happy with our choice to drive all the way out here for a meal. If you like margaritas, the prickly pear is delicious. The queso fundito with chorizo is delicious and their homemade tortilla chips are perfectly crispy. My favorite meal is the carnitas tacos on corn tortillas that they serve with rice and beans. The tacos are so yummy! The soft plantains are also a great side dish. We come almost twice a month (if not more) and our meals have always been delicious. Oh and for chocolate lovers, don't miss the Mexican Chocolate mousse that's served with Oreo crumbles and a cute mint leaf on top! read more

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Tried this restaurant for the first time, and it was hit and miss on some items. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Enjoyed the large screened patio by a creek![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall the food was tasty, but wasn't adequately advised about some of the spicier items (sauces). Sent the Brussels sprouts back as they were too oily. When the check was presented, there were extra charges for sauce sides we did not receive, and they would not credit the full amount for the returned Brussels sprouts... The manager did not seem to care, and after some adjustments were made to the check, the service became non-existent. I went outside to get family into car, and had to go back into the main restaurant to find the manager to process payment. Was hopeful for a new eating establishment, but won't be back. read more

What a hidden gem! The outdoor seating is gorgeous and so tucked away with an elevated patio, heat lamps, fans, and lighting. I came during happy hour ($3 house margs!). There is plenty of parking and easy access. There are plenty of meat/sea food options - and even vegan options! Great food with everyone happy with their meals. Our server was wonderful with a great sense of humor. This may be new favorite local spot! As an FYI they do take reservations (recommended for outdoor seating) and pets aren't allowed on the patio. read more

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Our boys know this place so we had to have it and so glad we did! I prefer a thinner chip but that's my only change I would request. Everything is as fresh as fresh can be and the portions are HUGE! Spacious layout so not too loud like some places get so that another plus! Taco Salad was delish and my fish and chips (waitress told us how good this was and believe her and me!) read more

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This is a must do for me, the staff make this place so much more than just great Mexican food but a place that you feel appreciated, we have come here multiple times and many times with a very big party of 15-20 people and their attention and care same with 4 people as 20. read more

Food was a 6 out of 10. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Bathroom was disgusting with a dead roach in it, made me wonder what the back of the house looks like.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Something was off with the server. She seemed nice but she would take really long pauses and she messed up the order. What was really worse she tried to constantly upsell everything in an awkward way. if you said no, she would still ask you three more times. read more

I heard about Nopal by Cintrón in Gainesville, FL, and wanted to try it for date night. We asked first available since it was a Friday. Outdoor seating looking great, but they sat us inside. The interior is a last-minute thought. The mural on one of the walls was being covered by a large party and missed. The Bar was cute and framed by a wooden homestyle shelve. The drinks, however, are well poured and well crafted. We tried both the "Paloma" and the "Pequeño Diablo." As our appetizer, we had the Masa-crusted calamari, fresh and fried in a tasty cornmeal batter. I dipped in the Cilantro aioli much more than the Spicy tomato sauce, but both were good combinations. For Dinner, I had to try their Tacos and enjoyed the Pork Belly Tacos. The salty pork with the mango relish makes this a burst of palatable flavors. We also had the Enchiladas Camaron, full of shrimp and smothered in the green tomatillo sauce and Mexican cheese. The Enchiladas were also delicious. DESERVED CONS: I was not particularly a fan of Mexican rice and frijoles; it was bland. You would expect the next level in "Tex-Mex/Mexican," these tasted less thought out and plate-filler. The potential in this place is there, the details for the current price, however, I am not sure. I will have to go back in a few months to see if any updates. read more

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Server was very friendly and our orders arrived promptly good and hot. I can't wait to go back !!!!

Very very good! Everything was fresh and hot. The service was excellent- the waiters were kind and attentive. It's a shame this place isn't full. Not sure if we came on a slow day but the place was very clean and tidy. The food was a good portion size too and we ate EVERYTHING. So good! read more

Nopal - Barbacoa Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Upon arriving at the restaurant an hour before closing, we were greeted warmly and seated at a table of our choosing. We were served water immediately, which was a nice touch. We ordered the chicken wings, Street corn, and Quesada enchiladas, which were all very flavorful and arrived promptly after we placed our order. The portion sizes were generous and perfect for sharing. The restaurant was well-maintained and had a peaceful ambiance with very little noise. Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience before Thanksgiving Day. read more

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We went for Mother's Day. That is where my daughter-in-law wanted to go & I was pleased to say that was fine with me. My family is VEGAN and restaurant menus are sometimes hard to manage for us. We each had exactly what we wanted & everyone's order came out GREAT. My picky 12 yr old granddaughter actually liked hers, because they made it how she asked. My plate looked like a chef's picture. I still eat fish, occasionally & ignore my family. I had grilled Mahi-Mahi over a tabouli salad with a mango salsa total topping. OMG, it was so fresh, nicely made, & served beautifully. The dessert menu looks wonderful, but I haven't tried one , yet! I hope to VERY SOON! read more

Gives me authentic vibes, we got extremely lucky at 3pm on a Wednesday. I would trust to get the tacos al pastor, as well. Extremadamente satisfecha con la comida y el servicio. El edificio aparenta antiguo pero decorado bonito. read more

Nopal - In booth facing towards main dining area. Entrance (not visible in photo) is right-side with booths along the wall. - Mexican Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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The bread pudding was terrific!! Service not so great, our booth unfortunately was located near a swinging door and servers came blasting out with no warning several times in the hour and a half we were there. Beans were super salty, inedible. We mentioned it to the server who said he'd tell someone. Nothing came of that, however. Beans were uneaten and unreimbursed. This was my first visit and I was with friends who'd been there 3 years ago and longed to return before leaving Gainesville. We were all disappointed. read more

This is surely a hidden gem. Nopal is a cute Mexican restaurant with a lot of flare! I went on a Friday night around 6 PM and I was seated right away. For drinks, I had a strawberry margarita which was great as well as a bandida which was a rum-based drink, very light and refreshing. As for food, I had the barbacoa tacos and instead of refried beans and rice I substituted for sweet potato fries, both the tacos and fries were good! The barbacoa was super flavorful and tender. I ended with a tres leches for dessert which was super moist and very rich! Definitely recommend. The portions of the food are large so go hungry or plan to take home leftovers! The service was phenomenal! My server and other staff members checked in several times throughout my meal to ask how everything was going. Definitely, a must-try, and I will be back to try other menu items. read more

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