I've been here a couple of times and really want to like it. However this last visit was a very frustrating one! Not only did it take 30 minutes to get my food, but it was super bland! Come on, do better. Just be honest you forgot my order! It does not take 30 minutes to do a quesadilla and you got the 5 orders behind me done before I had to remind you! So here's the cons: - Poor customer service and rude employees - 30 mins to get a veggie quesadilla - Bland food - Food not worth the value Save your yourself the headache and disappointment. There's way too many choices on 9th street. read more

I have been coming here since childhood and it's always been a classic. The food costs are extremely reasonable. For example, we got 2 mini burritos (1 chix, 1 steak), steak nachos + queso, and a veggie quesadilla AND 2 beers for $40. That was dinner and lunch for 2 people. The food tastes pretty good, I love the nachos. The service at the counter is quick but food can come out a little slow. The ambiance is nice. It's a lively, small space that has maybe 10 tables max and it's always pretty crowded but it's all part of the experience in my opinion. Overall, it's great for some cheap, yummy food. Another plus, they are open u til 4am! read more

The Cosmic Cantina - "Mini" steak burrito - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great food! Very yummy and the price is unbeatable. Also good vegetarian selection! Not something if you're looking for anything fancy but fun ambiance for casual dinner/lunch! read more

Love this place. Queso is the best and steak burrito is bomb. Long lines tho during the evening and night time.

Hugh burrito couldn't finish it. Service was good. They have a small outdoor patio. I went on a not so busy day. Food was made quickly.

food is kind of expensive for just tasting meh. The mini chicken burrito is certainly large for the price but it doesn't taste flavorful or special, and they went too ham on the beans so it fell apart kind of easily The steak quesadilla I bought along with my chicken burrito was also filling but it tasted like corned beef. Why would a mexican steak burrito burrito taste like corned beef? you ask me. Wouldn't go again. read more

Terrible phone service good food but they need to improve management to be a real business because I called 49 times eVeggie Burritos W Can't even answer the phone read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Shitty service - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Affordable, big servings and friendly staff. Lots eat here at lunch so you know the food is Good. My chimichanga so big, it was yummy but didn't get to finish half.. Guacamole the best especially with salsa and nachos.. read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Reg Chicken Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Good burritos but way too expensive, even moreso after price hike starting 2025. I get there's inflation but these are more expensive than the burritos in LA. read more

They're currently open. Masks are required. Dine in is available but it's very limited. They have outdoor seating too. Wouldn't suggest coming here with more than three people. You have to go up some stairs to get to this place and it smells like hot urine. It's a complete turn off honestly. Staff here are super nice and patient if you don't know the menu. I got a chicken and salsa quesadilla. It came out very quickly and was a good size. I wasn't a huge fan of the salsa but I'm sure others are. I hear the queso is really good but I didn't get to try it during my first visit. Hand sanitizer is available for patrons as well as a bathroom. Nothing fancy here but my food was good. read more

The tightest and best-wrapped burrito I've had probably ever. I commend whoever wrapped it. I had the vegan chorizo without cheese and added some tofu for fun. The chorizo was fine but I'd probably stick to just tofu next time. The flavors of everything else were fine. A solid burrito overall. Not the best, not the worst. I would order again. I love that they're open late. Stairway to get in feels a little sketchy, but the staff there is delightful and kind. read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Neatly and tightly wrapped burrito - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I had the steak nachos and they were delicious! I would definitely recommend this place.

Doesn't look like a restaurant when you come by late at night. I am not from the area, but multiple Duke students told me that it was a must for late night munchies on a weekend night. After walking up a flight of dimly lit stairs, I could smell something good cooking. I am honestly not sure how long it took from when I ordered until I got the food. It might've been 2 minutes and it could've been 20. It didn't really matter because it was absolute fire. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and had sides of black beans, rice, and chips and queso. I'm a little surprised my total was not more but it only came out to about $14! It ended up being one of those late night meals where you just eat for 15 straight minutes and don't say a word to anyone around you. Worth a trip if you live in the Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill Area. read more

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Not your traditional Mexican restaurant but it was delicious nonetheless. I had the chicken quesadilla and my friend ordered a steak burrito and guacamole. Im not a fan of guacamole but it was very fresh, served with hot chips. We arrived late (after 9p) and there were still a lot of people there but that was an indication of how good the food is. Service was quick as well. I wish they had more on the menu but that doesn't take away from the taste and flavor of what they do serve. Street parking only and you'll have to walk up a flight or stairs to get to the restaurant. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. read more

I've been going to this place for over twenty years and for most of that time they could be depended on for a good basic burrito. But tonight I waited for over an hour after ordering my two veggie burritos. Something very wrong here. Lots of people seemed to be getting mad. I probably won't be going back, at least not on a Friday evening. read more

Always amazing. I have been coming here since I was in high school! When we visit Durham it's a must stop for us.

I came to this spot every week when I was a student at NCCU (2013-2017). I recently visited again after taking a road trip through Durham (09/18/2023) and the place was exactly the same! I believe they need to take time to DEEP CLEAN the restaurant since they're open every single day. The bathrooms are disgusting. It's located at the top of a building with other businesses. The food tasted the same and the environment was the same. I ordered the veggie Constance burrito and it had NO veggies :( It only had rice and sour cream on it. I also ordered chips and pico so I ended up adding the pico to my burrito and it tasted great. The service is quick! My boyfriend ordered the chicken quesadillas with chips and queso. His food was great and they always give large portions for a great price. It's enough food for now and later. It's still one of my favorite spots in Durham, they just need a day of rest and cleaning! read more

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One of my favorite spots in durham for a quick and cheap bite. Always open at night so perfect for burrito cravings! read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Main area - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I'm always a fan of this local taco shop, because it's reasonably priced! The burritos are a healthy size, and I have yet to finish one in a single setting. Come for the tacos, but stay for the queso. I love their chips, because they're not very greasy, and also they are great to munch on with your meal. This location is doing takeout, so you can support them by calling ahead and making sure that you can come grab your order quickly! read more

The best place for late night food in Durham. I've been going to Cosmic for 10 years and can say they have the best Mexican food in the triangle. I highly recommend their famous chimichangas. Grab a giant size and split with a friend! read more

Honestly I hate giving reviews but honestly this one is necessary. The venue was beautiful and colorful and we were there on a rainy day so the windows were so pretty with the wet surroundings. The area is amazing and so much to do as well as the restaurant so pretty and lots of food. I ordered a simple chicken nacho and chicken quesadilla. Mind you I am a college student so I had to wait till I got home to eat it. I was so fustratee when I opend the box and my chips were soft and soggy and it just made the whole dinner experence irritating. The quesadilla was so dry and when I asked for sauce it was peco and not actually salsa. Just an over all bad experience. Had to over compensate with Sauce and fresh chips. Sorry won't be back! read more

I started going here because a lot of events I went to around town would be catered by cosmic cantina. The foods not bad but nothing to really be wowed by either. I always order the mini burrito. I used to feel cool ordering it cause it wasn't on the menu haha I've tried the chicken and the steak and honestly they're better at making chicken. The burrito comes with chips but it's literally like six chips, if you like chips to go with your food your best bet is to just order a basket of chips for like $1.60. I'll be honest the burrito is kinda dry so order it with sour cream or salsa. The only thing keeping me from giving a 3 or even 4 star is the anti-panhandling sign. There's a lot of homeless people in the area just trying to get by like anyone else... If people want to give their spare change out of kindness and solidarity then they shouldn't be made to feel bad about that. read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Ugly anti-panhandling sign someone clearly thought was clever ‍ - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This place was strongly recommended for good burritos when I was in Durham for the day. Although I wasn't really in the burrito mood, I decided to give it a try to see how good this place was. I'm glad I tried it, but there isn't anything special hefe that hooked me to return for more burritos in the future. First of all, the stairway up to Cosmic Cantina is very hard to spot. I don't even remember seeing any sign outside. My boyfriend who has been there before took me to the entrance, and I was confused in the beginning. The restaurant gives off the hole-in-the-wall vibe which I loved it because I enjoy trying those special small places! The menu is right in front of you when you walk into the restaurant, and you order from the cashier. Once your food is ready, they call your name for you to come and get your food. I ordered regular Chicken Burrito with extra hot sauce (free), and my boyfriend ordered deluxe Steak Burrito. Regular and deluxe are the same size, except deluxe has guac and sour cream. Burritos came with small amount of salsa and chips. They were both good, but they were also regular burritos. I enjoyed my meal, but I've had better burritos else where. But I must point out the hot sauce was the best part of the meal. It's a must try! One more thing, the bathroom! It was not clean at all. I felt a bit grossed after visiting the bathroom before the meal. The sink faucet was leaky, and the floor was nasty with wet spots everywhere and a random cleaning brush behind the toilet. Methinks not on the next visit to Durham! read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Chicken Burrito with a side of hot sauce (free) - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Brought some friends along for their first time here at CC! They got the giant steak burritos and I got the regular size, because I'm basic. They loved it. More than enough to fill their hollow bellies! Bottom line; I won't ever stop recommending this place for burritos read more

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Old school veggie burrito is my go to for $3.50 The old school with chicken or beef is even better. A read more

Cosmic Cantina was my go to burrito spot when I lived in the Triangle and still is when I'm in the area, especially when looking for a healthy and affordable vegetarian options. The prices are relatively affordable and the food was healthy and delicious. Luckily, not much has changed. I ordered the Old School Vegetarian Burrito for approximately $7, which was fresh and filling. The warm beans and cool guacamole were the highlight, providing a nice contrast. The restaurant is largely known for it's freshly made pick de Gallo salsa, which tastes very healthy and delicious. The restaurant does not require customers to wear masks. I did not observe staff wearing masks but they were, for the most part, more than 6 feet away from customers. Additionally, the restaurant provides complimentary hand sanitizer for customers. read more

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Yeah. Walked in and the cashier had a finger up her nose. No Turn around and went to the many others places that care. read more

We are all entitled to our own opinions, right? Well here's mine: Parking: 2 Location: 3 Decor/ambiance: -1 Customer Service: 3 Look I know what you're thinking, you're looking at my mini ratings above and you see that negative one beside decor in ambience. Yes that negative in front of the number one is correct. This place is a major hole in the wall. But how many of you actually know what hole in the wall means. Most hole in the wall restaurants are restaurants that look ridiculous. Some of them look unsafe to even enter. But the food, the food is always worth the entry. This place qualifies as a certified hole in the wall. There is pictures on top of pictures, there is graffiti on top of graffiti, there is banners and flyers all over the place. At one point during our visit I was actually searching around just waiting for roaches to come flying out of the corners but Nunn did. The place is a certified hole in the wall again I repeat certified so do not go taking your lovely date out for a first date to this place. Now is the food worse the hole in the wall, heck yes it is. This place feature some of the best Mexican food I've had in years located off of ninth Street in Durham. As I stated it's sketchy on the outside is even sketchier on the inside but there's no question about it that the food is good. Don't take a minute to look behind the counter because that my gross you out to as all of the stoves and cooking equipment looks pretty old. But then again as I stated the food is yummy. I will have to give cosmic Cantina a whopping three stars as the food is quite awesome but they really need to get the decor and that plays together because it is run down. Another thing I actually like about them besides the food is that they are Open really late so they are open to eat whenever it comes to the light night hours of the night. read more

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Great fresh tacos, lively environment, service was good considering how busy. Solid go to for me if I'm nearby.

Ok so this is a place where I would recommend weighing your menu options. Def recommend the loaded nachos with chicken. Had an experience with the cheese quesadilla being too bland and hard to consume. Was the cheapest thing on the menu at the time of ordering. After being here a few times, a good strategy would be to check out the loaded options and stuff with meat/veggies. A good place to get add-ons for sure! Wait times can be unpredictable and take 20 or 30 minutes when there's a rush. read more

I absolutely love this place. When I was in college I used to come all the time. The food is delicious and very reasonable. For the price you get a large amounts of food. When you first get here, you will probably think you're lost... you're not. I promise. You'll have to walk up a narrow and weird stairwell with graffiti on them. Once you get upstairs you'll see the restaurant. It's a true "hole in the wall" joint. So if you're looking for an upscale atmosphere, this isn't for you. The food here, in my opinion is a lot better than bigger Mexican restaurants. The best part of Cosmic Cantina is they're open late! Very late! We used to come here at 3:00 am after partying and they were accommodating. Food is always made fresh. Even though I'm not in college anymore, this is still one of my little favorite spots to come to for a quick bite and good beer or margarita! Highly recommended if you want some good food, lots of it, a cool drink, and a chill atmosphere. read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Even though it has a sign, you probably have to know about this place to come here. The sign is incomprehensible from the street. Since it's just off the Duke East Campus and open really late at night, it has a clientele. Frankly maybe I'm not one of them. I don't like being hustled by shady guys outside this narrow staircase up to a dead-end hallway. Oh there's the door. What a dump! Welp Gimme a burrito, I guess. Okay here it is. Really really salty! They must be catering to a drunk crowd and I accidentally wasn't drunk that one time. When I came down the stairs the abusive scammers were gone. So this certainly is a place for drunkards. I will try it next time when I'm drunk on 9th street. read more

Great serving sizes, love the outdoor seating during the warmer months. Always a packed house when I go

A local Bull City classic that has filled my tummy with amazing food since high school! (That's about 15 years haha) My best friend and I recently went for nachos and margaritas on a late night run and we were satisfied! It's a hole in the wall that keeps cooking all night and I haven't had any complaints. Try anything on the menu plus a classic marg and you'll be happy! read more

Came here for late night munchies. Thought I was in the wrong place upon walking into the building because the downstairs portion is totally separate from upstairs, and it wasn't entirely clear that Cosmic Cantina was up the questionable stairs (each step seemed very old and poor in structure). Downstairs had the weirdest vibe = very out-of-this-world ambience with the neon party lights and funky decor. Anyway, this place is great for late night cheap food aka after you've had a few drinks. Expect a long line around midnight on the weekend. The food is not terrible, but it's not great either.Plenty of options to choose from. I wanted to try the strange nori rolls (weird to have this option at a Mexican place), but they ran out of seaweed, so I went with the steak nachos instead (a little less than $7). The steak was pretty good, but the chips got soggy really quick. The food was prepared slower than I expected, especailly considering this is supposed to be a fast-food place, and the portion wasn't all that great either (hardly any chips). The place is small and looks run-down, but at least they stay open til 4am. read more

The Cosmic Cantina - Steak Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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In 2020, I am alarmed by the inaccuracy of my own review. Things have changed dramatically in the last seven years and Cosmic is tremendous. Great burritos. Friendly service. Crazy affordable. Have been 10+ times since 2013 and the food has been consistently great. Beans not watery and no weird after taste. Though I've been in broad daylight, no drunk dude bros. Highly recommend. Looking forward to grabbing a delivery or takeout burrito soon. read more

The nachos were breathtaking and the service was zippy! Will be coming back!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved the tacos the drinks the time the everything. Just the spot to go to for locals and tourist. Believe me when I tell you stay in that line or call in it's worth it. read more

It's on the second floor of the building, accessible through two flights of stairs. I couldn't tell if there was an elevator. Affordable, service was pleasant, got my food quickly, but the chicken burrito was salty. read more

Cool spot! We where in the mood to try something new and a friend referred this spot. The entry way is cute but can be tricky for little kids. The wait was a little long but the food is cooked to order. The prices are great for the amount of food you get! The chicken burrito was GREAT....we will defiantly come back again. read more