Amazing Mexican food this far away from the border. First day at Raleigh and this one was close to the hotel. Walked in and felt right at home. The waiters went friendly and the food was phenomenal. Ordered the classic margarita, the lunch special Texana fajitas which is a mix of shrimp, chicken, steak onions and tomatoes. The shrimp was succulent and the meat was spicy and tender. I would go there again in a heartbeat. read more

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Came here to watch a Copa America futbol match with my friend who connected with someone from the establishment via FB. The place looks like a palace from the outside, really cool with tropical trees outside. Parking on slow days fine but when busy, it is tight. You're greeted when you walk in. The bar area had a huge projector screen! A bit wrinkled but watching the match was amazing. The manager and server were attentive and all the food came out correct. There is a beer special on pitchers too, ask server. Really great atmosphere. Today the screen is down but they have another screen in a smaller room with sound which I like better! You can always get free chips with salsa. The decor is sharp too. Many good pictures waiting to happen. I'll keep coming! read more

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I invite my sister to dinner, we arrive at 9:20 pm and ask to sit at the bar and the host tells us no because they had taken photos and we can't sit down. we sit at a table and they tell us the kitchen closes in 5 minutes when the restaurant closes at 10:00 pm. really awkward, my sister ordered Rib-eye medium and it was delivered fully cooked. Really dissatisfied. read more

"The food was very good, I'm sorry I ordered an ACC 12 shrimp, squash and zucchini and only 10 shrimp came and they didn't put squash on it, the price was the same. The order was to go and no forks or napkins were added. I invite the manager to improve the packaging process and advise that there are no more ingredients or if they can be replaced by another vegetable."--Translation of Dr. Reyes review of 4/17/22. She seems to think Spanish is the main language of America. My personal review is 4 stars, because the food was good and I didn't have to pay for it. read more

Dinner with my bride. We were on a tight timeline since we had an appointment to get to by 7(ish). Arrived around 5:45, in and out in an hour - not bad. Food was okay, not great or memorable. Service was decent - prompt, quick with drinks. Glad we tried the place, will have to do it again when we are not rushed. read more

Stopped by leaving the mall one Saturday. Immediately seated with pleasant waitress. Good chips and salsa. A little Cilantro kick at the end I could have done without though. Quest dip was also good but had probably been sitting out as it had a skin on top. Ordered the Chimichanga. Chicken was well seasoned and I enjoyed the toppings. Guac was again filled with Cilantro. My mom got the chicken fajitas. They come with corn tortillas. These were not as good as Chuys fajitas but she enjoyed them. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I agree with others about how inviting and nice this restaurant is. They've done a super job making it look nice. If only the food matched the decor! We had an early dinner on this Saturday. Were sat right away in a booth and brought chips and salsa immediately. Despite the large number of staff, it took a while before anyone asked what we wanted to drink. Didn't bother us much though as everyone was having fun dressing up for Halloween. We got a kick out of them. Food. Sigh. Husband got the Burrito San Marcos with Steak and Salsa Verde. He said the steak had no seasoning. He liked the Salsa Verde but said there wasn't enough of it to perk up the bland steak. He said the refried beans were pretty tasteless also, but "didn't mind" the rice. As for me, I wish I could give those calories back! My plate of chile relleno and grilled vegetable enchilada was totally tasteless and super greasy. I hated the rice. Mushy. No flavor. I always love mixing beans with rice, but the black beans had no seasoning, so putting them together didn't even help. (note they didn't ask what kind of beans I wanted). I don't know if they are using a fryer that's too low of a temperature or what, but I had to scrape off most of the outside of the relleno due to excessive grease. Even the tortilla on the enchilada was soaked in oil. The enchilada sauce was bland and there were only a few teeny tiny pieces of unseasoned veggies inside. Sadly disappointing! Neither of us were jumping up and down about the chips and salsa either. To make matters worse, both of our insides were churning shortly after. read more

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La comida muy rica, lamento que ordene un ACC 12 camarones, squash y zucchini y solo venían 10 camarones y no le pusieron squash, el precio el mismo. La orden era para llevar y no le agregaron ni tenedores, ni servilletas. Invito al manager a mejorar el proceso de empacado y avisar que no hay más ingredientes o si pueden suplantar por otro vegetal. read more

San Marcos has delicious margaritas and great lunch specials. There is something here for everyone. I especially enjoyed eating out on the patio. We've been searching for a local Mexican restaurant since we moved to Raleigh a couple months ago and we're thinking we finally found the one! We will be back. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food is great. Drinks are delicious. Service was excellent. Prices are competitive. We will be back.

This place was pretty good. I got a Dos Equis, some black bean dip, and carne asada tacos. It was a good experience which is why I'm giving it a slightly higher rating than usual. The staff were extremely friendly and we never had to ask for anything. My buddy got a burrito and my girlfriend got a pollo chimichanga and they both liked their food as well. Decently priced check for three people as well. I'd go again. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First time eating here. My friend recommendation it. I love the decor inside. The food was delicious. Our waiter was nice and attentive. read more

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this food was actually god awful. & overpriced. i got charged 1.20 when i asked for cilantro with my three tacos & 1.50 for lime. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant is conveniently located behind Crabtree Valley Mall; it was previously Crabtree Tavern. I was VERY pleased with the appearance of the new restaurant including updating the flooring, walls and décor. The restaurant is quite inviting and the staff are more than happy to help you including suggesting some of their unique dishes or drinks. During my first visit, we tried 2 different margaritas including a lovely and "strong" Don Julio Margarita and the Margarita Tropicale; both were good and JUMBO. Next, we had chips, salsa and guacamole; I was impressed to see that the restaurant was offering pink chips to honor Breast Cancer Awareness in October. Little touches like that can go a long way with their customers. For dinner, we had the Carne a su jugo (suggested by our waitress) and Burrito Mexicano (large enough for 2 meals). Both meals were very good and likely to be consumed again; there are so many tempting options, I may try something new next time (trust your wait staff to give you awesome suggestions). I really enjoyed my evening at San Marcos Mexican Restaurant. I really like how they redid the entire restaurant (including the bathrooms) and look forward to my next visit. read more

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The food was fresh but the plates were small and the drinks were very expensive. Had lunch with two Modelos, which were $8 each for a draft, and a small 7" burrito and bill was over $30. The service was slow and waiter played on his phone more then he did anything else. read more

I ordered takeout from this restaurant, and there was a long, black hair through one of the tomatoes in my salsa. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Very attractive restaurant on the outside and inside - they have gone all out on the decor! This was my first time to this restaurant but it won't be my last. I went with girlfriends, one of whom made the recommendation. They have an extensive and varied menu with a separate drink menu. The prices were quite reasonable. I had fish tacos and the grilled tilapia was excellent. As per most Mexican restaurants, there were unlimited chips and salsa and we also ordered fresh quacamole. All in all, a great dinner. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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My mother in law recommended this place and honestly it was pretty good! It's hidden behind crab tree mall, so if you're in the area and need a place to dine (they have a wide lunch and dinner menu) definitely check this place out. Very spacious seating, nicely decorated and the service was so inviting. The chips came out warm which I loved! The salsa was also flavorful. The portions are fairly big on the dinner menu. We misunderstood something from the menu and they were happy to make an adjustment free of charge. I would most certainly come back, great for big family outings. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Their margs and quesadillas are fantastic! Carne Asada Tacos are also great and their chicken rolls! Staff is always friendly and welcoming

I have lived in Raleigh for 10 years and this is hands down the best Mexican place I have been to in Raleigh! I'd passed it a few times trying to beat traffic on Glenwood and it looked a little house on a hill. I was intrigued, so I decided to go on a Tuesday. There were very few people, so I was worried it wouldn't be mind blowing. I was wrong. I'm now convinced that no one knows about this place because of how tucked away it is. I had the A.C. Tex: grilled shrimp, chicken and steak strips, grilled onions, bell peppers, and rice with queso. I also got a side of refried beans. The portions were very large and the plate and food came out the hottest I've ever had food or a plate in my life! As I started eating, I could see the steam coming off the food. But it was so good, I couldn't wait for it to cool! The prices were more than reasonable. The staff was all very helpful and attentive.l, with recommendations of their favorites. My only regret is that I didn't try it any sooner. Try this place. You will not regret it!! Pictured: Dessert read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Xango: Cheesecake wrapped in a deep fried flour tortilla, served with a scoop of ice cream. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ordered steak tacos. It was just sliced steak in a taco - and NOTHING else. No salsa, sour cream, or other toppings whatsoever. Plain Jane!

Food: These place is a poor representation of Mexican food. I ordered the tacos de asada, they came plain with no salsa and a small cup of onion and cilantro. They had no flavor what so ever, even after adding salt to them. The rice was bland and dry and the little bean dip that came with it had two small string of cheese and the beans taste as if they were from a can. Drink & Service: I ordered a Michelada, it was missing the tomato juice and the mug was only filled half way. The sever kept referring to me as "bro" and kept insisting another Michelada. Final straw: Before finishing my last taco I saw a bug crawling on my table next to my plate, I have no idea where it came from but after that I stopped eating, paid my bill and left. read more

Three friends and I visited San Marcos for lunch the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Following is my review of the experience. The good: Fajitas were very good, plenty of steak/chicken in the Mixed offer, stir-fried along with peppers and onions and enough for three well-stocked tortillas. Sour cream, gaucamole and lettuce (along with a single slice of tomato for the whole dish) was adequate (except for the tomato). A dollop of refried beans in a round taco shell completed the dish. Fairly priced, I was able to take a fajita home for lunch the next day. Another person in our party had the Steak Fajita and he was similarly pleased. A third person said his meal was good as well (I don't recall what he ordered.) The bad: The fourth person in our group ordered a taco and refried beans. For the price (only a dollar less than the fajitas, was barely the size of a Taco Bell offering and a soup bowl half full of refried beans, He suggested a pass on the taco menu and order something a bit more substantial. Along with the title of this segment, I would have to include the slow service. We weren't in a rush but the restaurant wasn't very busy and it took a while to get our food. I've noticed this remark in other reviews, so add fifteen minutes or so to your wait time if you expect something else. Another issue - the server never came back to refill our drinks. A minor thing, but not cool. The ugly: When I reviewed my credit card bill, as I do occasionally and it happened to be fairly soon after our visit, I noticed the charge was higher than what I had signed for. In essence, the tip had been doubled. I contacted the restaurant the day I discovered the "mistake" - giving the server the benefit of the doubt - but there was no manager on site and the person answering the phone took my information and said I would be contacted as soon as the manager returned. Four days later I have not heard anything back. I also contacted my friends to have them check their credit card charges. As it turns out I was not the only person in the party to have their tip doubled and their cards charged for an improper amount. So - heads up for current and any future patrons of San Marcos: be sure to check your credit card statement when you get home! read more

the food and service are good. came on a Saturday night with my family and was seated quickly. only bad thing was the music. the DJ is unnecessary and way too loud our poor waitress could barely hear us and we could barely hear her. not to mention it's a family establishment not a school dance. read more

This is by far the worst Tex-Mex/Mexican food I have ever had. We ordered to go last night, first the order wasn't quite right, and the food tasted horrible. We ordered elotes, although we asked for one made the regular way and two without tajin, but with the mayo and cheese, what we got was two with mayo, and one with tajin. None of them had queso fresco, and the corn was significantly overcooked. I ordered the carnitas to share with my two year old. The meat was extremely dry, so much so, that I did not feel comfortable giving him any, because you legitimately had to chew one piece of meat for 5 minutes before it was safe to swallow. Even then, you still felt rubber going down your throat. My mom ordered the mixed fajitas. There were maybe five pieces of meat, and five pieces of chicken, the rest were peppers onions, etc. Meat was rubbery and overcooked. The only thing that was okay was the queso. Save your money and go elsewhere read more

3 for food, NEGATIVE 5 for service. Either offer more to staff or don't invite so many people in the restaurant. Horribly managed by an idiot. read more

Wow how the mighty have fallen. Came here again with some out of town family because they were here before. We were all excited to eat here again. For the most part we got the same dishes like the carnitas tacos, the chicken fajitas and the pastor tacos. Our server was very young and not really attentive. He got our drinks order mixed up but very nicely corrected it. Our food was served by the food runners...and it wasnt hot at all. Like it was sitting there for a bit before being picked up. The food. It was dull and bland. BLAND. A Mexican restaurant with bland food!! Its almost criminal. The once beloved black beans tasted like they were old. The soft tacos were hard & almost stale. Oh it was just heartbreaking that the once loved carnitas was fatty and flavorless. I dont know what happened here. Maybe chef quit...or worse. All I know is that this once gem of a restaurant can join the ranks of boring and flavorless. read more

Horrible service. We've been here about six times within the past couple of months and every time we get waited on, once our meals are brought out the waiter is never to be seen again. We had to get other waitresses to take our bill. Ridiculous read more

Forget the Beef Fajitas here! A very small amt. for lunch and Rubbery... ate two "stringy" pcs. of the "beef" and was too much trouble to chew it! Left the rest of it on their tiny sizzling plate! Gross! And the guacamole & other stuff that usually come with Fajitas was such a small portion too! I was starving when I got there & was starving when I left! Service was ok. Ate inside and it was so noisy you could hardly hear the person next to you. If you go... eat outside...it's breathtakingly beautiful with gorgeous desert & tropical plants, beautiful stone columns, and much quieter and peaceful. I must say other people in our 16 count group liked the food. So, just be sure to not order the STRINGY BEEF FAJITAS! Ate there June 2021. read more

Can't recommend. Drink prices are high. Food is good, (though I ordered beef and bean burritos and got chicken and bean) and priced accordingly. They upcharge for credit cards. That is a non-starter for us. Not coming back. read more

Food and drinks was on point so delicious. We sat outside, it was really nice out on there patio.Carne Asada Tacos

Service was really good. Jessica was sweet and accommodating. The food was just gross. Three of our five meals were underwhelming and bad. Dad's quesadilla was not cooked - they did nothing to fix this. My enchiladas were cold and vegetables were not fresh. My sisters fajitas were like eating rubber she said. This was our first get get together in a very long time and we were so excited to try this restaurant but were never going back. There are awesome Mexican restaurants I this town and sadly this isn't one of them. read more

The restaurant has a pretty atmosphere If you've ever seen the movie CoCo, that is exactly what the restaurant looks like. The food was really good. Pricier than other Mexican restaurants but it was good. The staff could be a bit more respectful but other than that it served it's purpose. read more

We are visiting from the Houston, Texas. Typically we don't like to eat Mexican this far north east, however. This was a great choice! Vegan and vegetarian options as well. Plenty of options, very accommodating,. Our server was Gustavo, just attentive enough, not too long between and not pestering either. Terrific hot sauce, dirty nachos, fajitas and vegan or vegetarian enchies and tacos! Loved the music choice and not too loud, atmosphere was terrific. This was late afternoon on a Saturday! Will define return before we leave towns and recommend to family and friends that come this way to visit. read more

We've eaten at San Marcos many times, and each time the food has been very good. We prefer to eat outside, especially during COVID. However, we have been seated next to people who are smoking, and that diminishes the dining experience. (I'm not sure how the nonsmoking laws impact this as other place we eat outdoors do not allow smoking in outdoor dining areas). Furthermore, we were surprised that there were no outdoor heaters (keeping COVID In mind and the preference of many to eat outdoors only). We were there tonight and asked to sit outside; the chairs were wet and when we asked for a towel to wipe the chairs down, we were given a handful of paper napkins and had to wipe the table and chairs down by ourselves. My husband's meal came out 10 minutes after the rest of our party's meals. Thus, overall, while the food is good, the attention to diners' desires/needs can use some attention. read more

San Marcos Went to San Marcos with a group of 20 for dinner on a Tuesday Night. We had just one waiter assigned to our table, but he did a nice job for such a large group. He made sure all of our guests had Chips and their own Salsa, a nice pico de gallo along with some added queso, as they arrived. He then took care of drink orders while we waited for the last of our group. Orders were taken quickly and soon the food began to arrive. I was impressed that the food all was coming out at the same time, and as quickly as our waiter could bring it from the kitchen to the table! Our table had several different Fajita dinners. All were said to have been very good. I had the Pollo Feliz which was also very good. The ACP was ordered by another couple at our table and that was only rated as good. I think they were a little jealous once they saw the Pollo Feliz and the extra flavors that came with that! The one unusual moment was when two in our group ordered a draft BlueMoon and they delivered what almost looked like brown ale. Both were tasted and sent back and exchanged for different bottled beers. The situation was handled nicely at our table, but frankly there was clearly something wrong with that keg and those two beers should have never have left the bartender. With that said, San Marcos is a solid mexican food experience. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Pollo Feliz - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I thought this place was excellent! My husband and I went here for the first time for lunch on Saturday. I chose San Marcos because I thought they had more vegetarian options than most Mexican restaurants that we go to. I love the entire look of the place and the food was excellent! We both had the vegetarian Chimichangas and queso. The chips were warm and delicious, the salsa was fresh and so was everything else. We will definitely be back soon! read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - Veggie Chimichangas (full order at top, half order at bottom. Black beans on full order, refried on half. Queso, Salsa and Coronas!! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just had an awesome experience at San Marcos. Great food, GREAT service. Ordered a $60 margarita that was suppose to be Lunazul tequila blanco but unfortunately it was mostly sour mix. DO NOT order a pitcher of margaritas. It's a rip off. Other than that had a good experience. read more

It's been a long time coming, but definitely a welcomed and solid addition to the Mexican restaurant scene near Crabtree Valley Mall. Really like the nice touches they put into the interior and exterior of the building. Not your typical buildout - lots of cool details which start in the parking lot and are carried throughout the restaurant. Food was very good - might even take you back to your days in Zihuatanejo with your buddy Red. Whether you're looking for chimichangas and choose-your-own-combo's or if you're feeling kinda frisky and want to try something not-so-typical, you'll feel right at home with their menu. Service was very good. We were greeted with multiple hello and welcomes. As we left we genuinely felt like our visit was appreciated. Price was middle of the road, not cheap but not too expensive either. read more

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First time come here. I ask the bartender for the"Carne en su jugo" or arrachera dish, she says I don't know how the arrachera comes but I know about the carne en su jugo. if you hungry I will recommend the carne en su jugo. at first I was happy to try something different from the other Mexican restaurant around the area but, I was very upset. My dish suppose to come with banana peppers and I never find them, the dish was unflavored and no salt shaker close to me till the other corner of the bar. Pretty bad for my $16 dollars dish. read more

San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - My $16 dollars dish! Carne en su jugo, sour sauce and unflavored. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina