Suggested for lunch with four of my friends. Everyone loved their food. It's delicious. Price point…read moreis very good. It has a huge menu. Typical Mex. Third time back.

A great choice for Mexican. The inside is nice and more spacious than I expected. They do have…read morehappy hour specials. The food is seasoned well and the portions are great. The margaritas were pretty decent too. The service was good and efficient. Overall, a really good experience and I would definitely return.

Stopped in for a quick bite & was pleasantly surprised! Service was quick & friendly, our server…read morewas so sweet. I'm a bit picky with my salsa & think it could've been just a touch hotter, but the flavor was still soooo good! And our food was delicious! I got an enchilada & burrito combo with beans & rice. The rice was a bit plain but still good, the beans and burrito were both awesome, and the enchilada was aaaamaaaaazing! We're only in town for a few days to visit family, but this place is definitely on our list to return to when we're in the area again!

This is the best Mexican you're going to find around Elgin, seriously dont waste time anywhere…read moreelse. This is NOT a chain, so you're getting some of the best home-cooked food. The staff and owners are AWSOME!! Super friendly, pleasantly attentive, and people who will remember you with a smile the next time you come in. Chavelas has it's own private parking along the side of their building. They offer limited seating outdoor (which is covered) and ample seating indoor with both booth, tabletop, and Bartop options. It's football season, but dont worry as Chavelas has several T.V.'s for your viewing pleasure throughout the restaraunt and at the bar. The restaraunt is always clean which is one thing I always admire about here, they truly care at Chavella's. Lets talk food!! Today I ordered the Chavella's Special which is "a little bit of everything"; absolutely hit the spot!! The menu has all your favorites and some new ones you didn't know about, but be sure to look at the "Specials board" at the front as you walk in. Chavella's offers your normal fountain drinks, Jarritos (my favorite), Horchata, and many others. The full bar can bring a smile as well whether it's a beer, Michelangelo, or their own Sangria!!! If you are loving the fall weather and are looking for soup try their Carne En Su Jugo, it's one of their specials and for a great reason. Ask for their "House hot sauce" if you want a bit more Ying; it's soooooooo goooooooooood and not overbearing. If you make it into South Carolina, and find yourself close to Elgin, be sure to make Chavella's one of your planned stops.

We were concerned about this place being authentic but I assure you it was. Our waitress spoke very…read morelittle English and couldn't tell us the soda options which I found endearing. The actual inside of this place is well lit and quite at lunch time. I can see this place being a hot spot for drinks since there are margarita flight options. I had a Bueno salad add chicken and it was great. So flavorful I didn't need dressing which is good because it doesn't come with any. The tortilla strips and the tortilla chips with the salsa were very fresh and warm. I feel like tortilla chips at a Mexican restaurant is so important and vital to the overall experience of the food you get. My bestie got the pork carnitas and he loved it. He even ate his leftovers cold, and it was delicious according to him. The tortillas came warm, however they did bring him flour tortillas after asking for corn but again the waitress doesn't speak very much. I'm not really sure why she would be waiting tables but needless to say it was a great experience and certainly was authentic.

Had the pleasure of sitting at the bar and meeting Joe. Super down to earth and cool guy! Attentive…read moreto his customers and ensuring everything is perfect! The food was amazing and speaks for itself!! My first time ever trying queso with pico de gallo in it and it was amazing! The strawberry pitcher margarita was delicious!! Will be coming back soon! Gracias joe

This restaurant wasn't far from my hotel, so I stopped in for a late lunch. Enjoyed the chips and…read moresalsa and queso. The chicken chimichanga was good, too. Service was great. Never felt rushed. Food was served quickly and was well presented and prepared. You can tell this place has some wear and tear, but isn't that also a sign of a well loved spot?

The woman that seated us was not pleasant. Our server Manuel was awesome. The food was very good…read moreand portions were large. I love a good seafood cocktail. Sangria was good not great..

Best Mexican restaurant in the Columbia area!! 10/10 will go here again. Service is fast, food is…read moredelicious and well priced. The ambiance is great! Would give 6 stars if I could.

Visited the San Jose restaurant on Sparkleberry Lane in Columbia, SC and it was an awesome…read moreexperience. Food was excellent, chips and salsa was tasty (could have had more spice/heat), staff was super including a very young man who seated us (son of manager/owner I think). This young man's sincere manners and professionalism was unexpected and it was delightful. We are new to Columbia and this is the BEST restaurant we have found so far when we are craving mexican food.

Stopped in and ordered 3 tacos I was the only customer in the store at 8pm I counted 6 employees …read more After 15 minutes I was so mad I walked out without my food and money. Will never go back

My experience with this site was just the worst ending to an already not so good day... I came late…read morenight. I ordered two large nacho fries and a bean burrito... When I got to the window to pay, he literally sat there laughing around and joking with whomever never open the window I finally got tired of waiting and just drove off... This just happened at 10:17 PM... I'm just gonna go ahead and cross that place off my list... The fries were always cold anyway... they'll either be closed down soon or just getting by breaking even...

I'm not too sure how to feel about this place. Chips and salsa, definite 10/10...my daughter had…read morethe barria tacos. 3/10. Lacked flavor, and the tiny dipping bowl was cold. She added salt, pepper and sour cream but that dog just wouldn't hunt. Grilled shrimp taco, great quantity but something was missing...I ate them tho

We can here before bd the food was awesome and the waiter was fantastic…read more NOT TODAY!!!!! For was still awesome. I had to wait a long time for him to refill my diet coke. My wife asked for a to go box a while ago and we sit here still waiting on the bill. Horrible service!!!!

San Jose on Hard Scrabble has been a part of my family's life for as long as I can remember. Every…read moremajor milestone has been celebrated here--birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, new jobs, and everything in between. It's always the first restaurant we recommend to friends and family visiting Columbia. One of the things that makes this location so special is that it's family owned and operated. Every time you visit, you're likely to see a member of the family working, whether they're serving tables, bartending, or greeting guests at the register. That personal touch is something you don't find everywhere, and it's one of the reasons we keep coming back. Most recently, my boyfriend and I celebrated both of us starting new jobs here, just like my family has done for so many other milestones over the years. It felt like the perfect place to mark another exciting chapter. As for the food, you really can't go wrong. The fajitas are always a favorite, especially with the chunky guacamole and queso. If you're looking for a huge sandwich, the Tony's Torta definitely lives up to its reputation. And of course, the margaritas are always a must. Great food, friendly people, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere keep us coming back year after year. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in Columbia, this is the place I always recommend.

Loved our waiter, he was on top of things & provided the best customer service (we left a nice…read moretip), but the food was only okay: Chips & salsa: the chips were GREAT, the salsa was boring. The meat needed more seasoning on both our dishes, the beans were fine, the rice was the perfect texture but lacked flavor as well. We may come back to give it another go, we'll see...