Plaza Mexican Grill isn't outstanding food or drink wise, BUT their daily specials are honestly a great deal. For $6 jumbo margs and $2 tacos, my partner and I came here for our weekly date almost every week this past summer. The al pastor and carnitas are our fav tacos, although the carnitas is sometimes a bit dry. The only one I recommend steering clear of is the shredded chicken, because it is VERY dry and flavorless. The daily specials are only listed on their website rather than the physical menu, so be sure to check that out before ordering. These daily specials are all day, not just the 4-7 happy hour. I personally don't think the food is worth getting without a discount. But the street taco, quesadilla, and marg deals are ones I come back for. Their home made sauces are great too. As mentioned in other reviews, they sometimes don't bring you chips and salsa without you asking, which I find weird. But if you ask, they shouldn't charge you. Plaza is right off OSU's south campus and easily accessible by the COTA bus line. In my opinion, it's a much much nicer place to drink margs and hang out than Cazuela's, DEFINITELY better quality food, and just as strict/lax in checking IDs. read more

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the food is eh and the smell is honestly really bad, like intense pee mixed with corn. the menu's smell especially bad and are old, laminated pieces of paper that surely have been in thousands of people's hands. people always say that the margaritas are good but I don't drink alcohol so if you're just trying to get some tried and true mexican food, this isn't really the place for you. their chicken tacos (what I ate) are really dry and their spicy fries are just a bucket of fries with this weird sauce draped all over them. service was cool tho, the waiter I had was pretty cool read more

food is great, service is beyond awful. takes you 3 tries to ask for water and they eventually ask you to ask for it at the bar. food takes forever to come out even when service is slow. could be a great place if they figure it out. read more

It's okay, has good sized margs but is kinda expensive and the food is eh. I got carne asada tacos

Perfect lunch spot for me and my teenage boys pregame on a football Saturday! Cold beer, authentic tacos, quick service!

Grreat food, service and drinks! Got the nachos loaded with beef and chicken super tasty. read more

Plaza looks pretty crappy inside. It kind of smells too but they still have good margaritas. That's the main reason people go there. It also has a small food menu. The service is really annoying but get a drink and you will be okay. I like Mexican food a lot. It's hard to mess it up but they manage to do that. This is why you should get the margaritas and not even worry. It has a huge selection of flavors. They are $5 for a 21 ounce regular. It's a little more for a specialty flavor. The food looks like shit so don't get that. It has very few vegetarian options. The chips and guacamole is kind of bland other than being salty. Chips are about $3 when they should be free. It has such an annoying service process for a restaurant. They make you pay for drinks at the bar, then you have to order food at the checkout and pay for it separate. If you can get past the annoying service process you can have fun. If you can avoid the mediocre food you will be much more satisfied. The margaritas are cheap and you can't go wrong. read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Blue Raspberry Margarita With Chips And Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Ever since coming to Ohio State 3 years ago, I have been going frequently to Plaza Mexican Grill! Plaza is great for college students because they always have deals, discounts, and low prices. When I'm in the mood for a taco or queso, I always grab my friends and head to plaza. It is also a short walk from campus! All the employees remember me when my friends and I stop by, and its always a great experience! These chicken tacos were delicious and really surprised me with the flavor! Definitely worth checking out read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Good food. Slow service if you're trying to get somewhere fast. Watched three other tables get their food who came in after us. read more

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Good tacos, but a bit slow. We had to wait for one of our dishes, but good overall. Tacos pastor and de carne both solid.

Not just a bar! Plaza has delicious burrito bowls for $5 on Wednesdays and lots of drink deals. The waiters are very nice and fast. Great vibes on their outdoor patio! A classic place we love to go and that should be better known! read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - #15. Make Your Own Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Husband had the worst Grubhub of his life. $18 burrito with no black beans, more than half rice, Lima beans, carrots, and dried out breaded chicken. DO NOT ORDER unless you're a fan of wasting money on shitty food. They also forgot his spinach dip. If 0 stars were an option... read more

This is the best drunk food and I imagine just as good sober.... The margs are huge and delicious with so multiple flavors. The service is quick, easy to order. Chips and queso were in front of me within 3 minutes of sitting down and food was out within 10 minutes. Chicken quesadilla was delicious, burrito was replenishing, really not a single complaint. We visited after an OSU game and it was the perfect pick me up before a nap! I loved the queso and could eat an entire bowl myself. The crunchy chip bowl it comes in is edible and perfect to dip the access. Quick drinks and food. Happy drunk people. Plaza will always have a place in my heart. read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Pina colada Margarita and #14. Chicken Burrito with Chips and Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I've passed this place a million times but never actually visited. Went there on Wednesday for food and their happy hour special. Their happy hour is 4-7 and had $7 20oz margaritas along with a few other specials. However my friend and I decided to go with their Wednesday special which was the $9 mini margarita pitcher. Which was anything but mini. The first few sips were pretty strong but all of the alcohol must have been at the bottom because the strength went away about halfway through. I also ordered 2 chicken and 1 barbacoa street tacos. They chicken was tasty but I've definitely had better barbacoa. Their entire menu seemed pretty cheap though. Overall I'd probably return to this place but if you're looking for top notch Mexican this probably isn't your place. read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Street Taco - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

0 stars my boyfriend got violently sick with food poisoning after having the steak fries and shrimp here. The place was filthy and disgusting would never recommend. read more

Plaza is the ideal environment for college students looking to get food and drinks with great deals. The atmosphere is so fun!! Their outdoor patio is perfect since it is right on the corner of high street and Chitt, which makes it one of the best spot to feel the energy of Columbus. The chips and queso are absolutely delicious. I ordered the chicken street tacos (pictured) and it beat my expectations!! The staff is super friendly, which is so nice to see when dealing with so many college students drinking! It sure is an experience- great deals with great food & drinks and a high-energy atmosphere? Can't get much better than that! Whenever I look back at my time as a college student at OSU, Plaza will forever be included in those memories read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Chicken Street Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I placed an order here through Uber East. It was late and I needed a late night snack. This place was GOOD! I ordered a chicken quesadilla so there aren't many ways to mess this up. I'm not sure if it was the chicken or toppings they use but man it was tasty! I'll definitely be ordering again the next time I'm craving Mexican! read more

Plaza use to be one of my favorite bars in the campus area. Staff was always lots of fun and accommodating and drinks were good. Now I guess they have some new staff because they're much snippier now and not as understanding. They have a new girl, younger, dark hair, a little bigger, who is pretty unpleasant to guests and just all round looks like she doesn't want to be there. Makes me sad:( read more

Service was slow to take order for food but drinks were quick but they were really watered down in the pitchers Would not be coming back read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - a drink and a menu - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Eduardo was our server and he was absolutely terrible. Disrespectful to our entire table, kept rolling his eyes every time we tried to order anything (each of us ordered a drink and a meal). Continued to give us attitude throughout our entire dinner. We were missing three entrees, after asking a food runner to grab the plates we finally received our food. When it came time for our checks, there were extra items we never ordered on our tabs. He then continued to argue with us about those items. We will never be returning to this establishment. Extremely unprofessional and disappointing. read more

Great street tacos, had 4 of 6 choices. Favorite was the pastor. Nice people, decent alcohol prices and the atmosphere is open and comfortable. read more

Based on the prior reviews, it sounds like the first mistake I made was coming here for food instead of drinks. We had planned to eat at another location but it was too crowded, so we decided to check out this place. Once I looked at the menu, I was a little wary but tried to remain hopeful. It's cheap and fairly simple - quesadillas, burritos, and street tacos with your choice of meat. I love a good street taco AND how cheap they are, but when I saw the meat choices I knew this would be the 'gringo' version. Where is the lengua? The tripe? I live on the Westside where authentic tacos are plentiful, so I was disappointed to receive a bland Americanized version of what tacos could be. The chimichanga with barbacoa was a dried out tube of tough meat, and came with a pile of iceberg and orange rice on the side. The salsa was ok, but the chips had no salt. Vegetarians beware - I saw a side of black beans on the menu, but nothing overtly veggie. They have a ton of space in here, a nice patio, and what appears to be a cool bar. The margaritas looked tasty, and they had some decent drink specials. Come here for a drink, but skip the food! read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Front door - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I ordered Mexican tacos through ubereats, my tacos had nothing on them. And the dips they charge $7 for was a tiny amount of dip and a large amount of chips. I would not recommend them. read more

I've gotta tell you, Plaza is my heart and my home. This place is where I am the happiest, it is a sweet euphoric escape from the pain that is existence. The fact that this establishment exists is the reason many people here at OSU are able to get through college. I love you Plaza. I truly do. read more

Plaza is a great spot on campus. Now, you have to realize what you're getting yourself into: this is a campus bar. It's not going to be like bars in the suburbs or Short North. However, the staff at plaza has always been kind to me. Their queso is good and the music is fun. If you're looking for a good place to kill some time near campus, Plaza is a great option. It does get very busy during sunny afternoons/evenings or in the prime late night hours of the weekend, just as a warning! read more

After making 3 visits, I figured El Gerente would finally get a review from me. I've been to a number of Mexican places here in Columbus that aim to bring authentic fresh taste & a good atmosphere at a great price. Some have come up short to where they have compromised flavor & made a chain restaurant of themselves (i.e. El Vaquero). Plaza is the newest one on the scene right along the campus High St. strip in what used to be New York Pizza Department. As I walked in, I really liked the set up and spacing with a full bar on the left that sells mainly margaritas. The ambient lighting adds to a chill atmosphere, and the margarita specials are definitely a plus. The drinks are mixed well and have a powerful punch, yet not to the point of the icky well tequila taste that can plague a margarita. Hopefully the bar staff will continue to mix quality drinks and compete for the title of best margarita on campus with the likes of Cazuela's & Mad Mex. My biggest suggestion is market happy hour & lunch margarita specials as your staple...it will build clientele as a new business. The guys working the kitchen & the burrito bar (similar to Chipotle) are trying their best to bring out fresh ingredients and are very helpful. The guacamole is fresh, pico de gallo has fresh cilantro, and the hot sauce has an awesome kick to it. I could taste the rice that was well-seasoned w/ cumin, it's just my only sticking point was the lukewarm tortilla. The prices rival Chipotle, and I'm definitely for the small business guy if I had to choose between the two. In essence, there is definitely potential for Plaza so as long as they maintain the quality and don't Gringo the flavor. One of the times I visited, there was a doorman checking ID's. While I understand this place is new, it appeared as if a lot of the customers made Plaza their warmup bar before they went downtown or to the South Campus Gateway. With all the seating and bar atmosphere comes a natural need for some sort of entertainment. My big suggestion would to have a DJ come in with the decks and spin minimal, tech, or house music that would create an ambient lounge environment. In turn, this would encourage customers to stay and spend more money at the bar. Overall, this place has potential to create it's own identity in a premier campus location. Great drinks, food, and entertainment are critical elements to run a business people like & will recommend to their friends. To anyone that visits, bienvenidos y salud! read more

My second home. Bartenders are great and personable, Rafa and David will mess with you and paco gets you drunk, that will have conversations with you and joke around any day of the week! (Except Sundays) margaritas are cheap and strong with power hour now you can't beat it! Meals are pretty good but the real treasure is their queso and/or guacamole which comes in a tortilla bowl... That's right a queso soaked tortilla bowl you can eat after! it's always clean and had plenty of tv's! read more

Plaza is a somewhat dingy Mexican bar joint across from the OSU union. They offer a small bar area with TVs and a limited choice of beers (mostly bottles) and a take-out style counter for food. I tried their chicken burrito ($7.5) and, well, it was fine but far from spectacular. The chicken was decent, though there wasn't much of it, and the vegetables were reasonably fresh. read more

What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have chips and salsa. read more

This is literally the best spot for tacos and margs on campus. I eat here every week and have never had a bad meal. Great prices on marg flavors and crazy big menu. This place fucks. Will 100% be the spot I miss the most when I graduate. read more

The burrito bowl was very filling and good. Chicken was tender and the ingredients were plentiful. They were out a lot of things when I went through the line to get food though. read more

Plaza Mexican Grill - Chicken bowl - Mexican Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I would not even give this place one star. My friends and I ordered a flavored margarita pitcher, and I took a sip of it realizing it was the wrong flavor. I explained to him it was the wrong flavor and he gave us the correct one. He told me he was going to save it or throw it away and I I didn't understand why. I saw another employee give the exact same pitcher with the straw I drank out of to another man. I told the guy who got the pitcher and he was confused what was going on. But I explained to 2 employees and a manager what had gone on and they did not care. They were all lying and said that's protocol. Not only did they serve a customer an already drank out of pitcher but all the employees, including the manager, were used to this. That is not only disgusting but against so many health codes. If you choose to go here know that your margarita may have been used already. read more

Fun spot to hangout during OSU game day - was not crowded at all and they had cheap buckets of beer! They have plenty of TVs and the staff is very kind. read more

Tastes worse than Taco Bell and takes longer. Stay away. Our chips and cheese couldn't even come out before the rest of our meal. Meat looked and tasted fake. read more

i LOVE plaza. It is absolutely the best place that I have ever been. Plaza brings me so much joy, from the margs to the workers to the food- EVERYTHING is awesome. I would definitely recommend going to plaza while on OSU campus. I go at least once a week and do not regret one thing about it! The workers are SO nice & SO friendly. 10/10 recommended!! read more

It was the first visit when my friends took me here to enjoy some beverages and foods, and it was the great time and experience which I have ever expected! I think one of the strong points is that this restuarant open until late night! I remember it was about 11:00 PM to 12:00 PM when we arrived there. I thought there might be few people because it was late night. However, there were so many people who enjoyed the music around them, some alcoholic beverages, and some kinds of Mexican food! I ate burrito with grilled chicken and added guacamole. In addition, I drank a glass of magarita with the burrito and the mix of them was really fantastic! Usually I love to eat Mexican food, especially burrito because it is easy and handy to eat at anywhere. Also, one of my favorite liquors is magarita because it tastes sweety and fruit-flavored. I could try both ot them here, Plaza Mexican Grill, and I will never forget the taste. It was fresh and felt like home-made food, but the one bad thing was the sticky floor because of the spelt alcohols. If the floor was clean, it would be the best place around the campus! You guys have to try the burrito and some glasses of magarita! You can experience what is the heaven! read more

This is hands down the worst establishment on OSU's campus. Not a single educated worker, let alone any that speak serviceable English. The food is overwhelmingly poor and the service is a nightmare. A complete disgrace to the food industry as a whole and needs a change of management. read more

Plaza is truly a campus gem. Unlike the vast majority of campus restaurant-bars, Plaza has managed to provide delicious, authentic food, great service, and consistent beverages for several years. Their chips are crispy and delicious, and they serve their mouth-watering salsas, guacamole and queso in little tortilla bowls. They are the perfect accompaniment to their frozen margaritas, which are still as frozen and tangy as they were when they first opened. They also have Coronaritas and several Mexican beers (not just Dos Equis). If you're in the mood for a meal, their burritos are a whirlwind of spices and flavors. I always go for the burrito bowls, as I can't imagine the avalanche of food inside their gigantic bowls fitting inside a tortilla. The staff is always friendly and conversational, and it's refreshing to see an emphasis on great service in the sea of shitty and rude wait and bar staff that is the University District. They just finished building a new patio out front that should be open soon. read more

Bueno! This place is awesome. The bartenders are great and David the owner is a blast. The drinks are strong and the place gets packed at night. This hands down one of the best estbablishments on the OSU Campus (Sorry Sarunas). I woulnd't go here for the food necessairly but the drinks and atmosphere make it one of the nicer places on campus for sure. read more

A small place that offers great, cheap food. 2 of us had combo meals and ordered a 3rd as an app and it was under $20. The chimichanga's were small, but well flavored and the perfect lunch portion size. This isn't a nice sit down and have your order taken place, you order at the food bar and eat with plastic forks. It isn't fancy, but it is delicious, quick, and cheap. Parking is a challenge, but worth a little walk. read more