This was my second time here. It is a bit far from where I live but today I was driving through and…read moregot a craving for it. Full disclosure, I am Colombian so absolutely enjoy the full menu options. There is plenty of parking but the inside is a bit small so I'd consider time when heading there. Sunday evening was great as I got to pick my table after I was greeted upon arrival. I went with the typical dish, my favorite, Bandeja tipica (paisa). This dish is LOADED, so had leftovers. It has rice, beans, avocado, sweet plantains, egg, arepa, chorizo, steak and chicharron aka fried pork belly. The server was friendly and got my order correctly. She got me lime wedges afterwards which must be used with the chicharron. Half a star lost because the empanadas are not my favorite. The outer shell and the inside. Not what a colombian empanada at least my favorite one is like. But you can try it. The ambiance is great. They play music and there's some nice art and two televisions. The other half star lost is because of their point system for rewards. I didn't get points for my last visit there. And the server was not very knowledgeable of it. But overall, I will go back. Check it out though! Ps. They have a bakery too, it was too late today for me but definitely try the "pan de bono" and thank me afterwards.

I came here for my birthday last night and I absolutely loved it! I ordered the arroz con pollo and…read morethe serving size was HUGE! I also got an empanada on the side and it was fantastic too. For dessert I got tres leches and it was so moist and delicious. Overall I had an amazing time and all the food was so good. I will definitely be back soon!

This place was absolutely amazing. All I can say is, we made a lot of happy noises while eating,…read moreand there were plenty of "oh my God" moments at the table. From the staff to the manager to the food, everything was on point. The food truly speaks for itself. They serve small plates, which we love because it gives you the chance to try different things and experience a variety of flavors. We started with the fried pork belly on tostones. It was perfectly seasoned, topped with avocado, and every bite just melted in your mouth. Next, we had the tamarind sticky ribs with a tamarind mango barbecue sauce. This was a perfect example of how simplicity can create complex flavors. The ribs were cooked just right -- not completely falling off the bone, but tender enough that when you bit into them, the meat pulled apart so easily. They were juicy, full of flavor, and had just the right touch of spice from the chili flakes. Then we moved on to the mini arepas, and oh my God. They had slow-cooked pork, guava barbecue sauce, and fried papas on top. The arepa itself was crispy on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. The savory pork paired with the sweetness of the guava barbecue sauce was incredible, and the crunch from the fried papas took it to another level. Now, I have a bit of a sweet tooth, but my wife does not. I wanted dessert, and we were leaning toward the tres leches, but our waitress highly recommended the bread pudding. I am not usually a fan of bread pudding at all, but her recommendations had been on point all night, so I decided to trust her. I am so glad we did. They take a Mexican bolillo, soak it overnight in tres leches, then pan-sear it to create this crispy caramelized outside while keeping the inside warm, soft, and sweet. It is topped with crema and toasted coconut, then they pour warm guava syrup over it and serve it with a scoop of coconut sorbet. The layers of flavor in that dessert were unreal. Honestly, it may have been the best dessert we have ever had. And remember, my wife is not big on sweets -- she usually only takes one bite of dessert, but this time she tried to eat over half of it. Lol. I highly recommend this place. The food, the service, the drinks, and the atmosphere were all amazing. And after dinner, you can even head upstairs to work off the food with salsa lessons and a dance club. This is definitely a spot worth checking out! Este lugar fue absolutamente increíble. Lo único que puedo decir es que hicimos muchos sonidos de felicidad mientras comíamos, y hubo muchos momentos de "¡Dios mío!" en la mesa. Desde el personal, hasta el gerente, hasta la comida, todo estuvo excelente. La comida realmente habla por sí sola. Sirven platos pequeños, algo que nos encanta porque te da la oportunidad de probar diferentes cosas y experimentar una variedad de sabores. Comenzamos con el pork belly frito sobre tostones. Estaba perfectamente sazonado, cubierto con aguacate, y cada bocado simplemente se derretía en la boca. Después probamos las costillitas pegajosas de tamarindo con una salsa barbecue de tamarindo y mango. Este plato fue un ejemplo perfecto de cómo la simplicidad puede crear sabores complejos. Las costillas estaban cocinadas en su punto: no se caían completamente del hueso, pero estaban tan tiernas que al morderlas, la carne se desprendía fácilmente. Estaban jugosas, llenas de sabor y con el toque perfecto de picante gracias a las hojuelas de chile. Luego pasamos a las mini arepas, y ¡Dios mío! Tenían cerdo cocinado lentamente, salsa barbecue de guayaba y papitas fritas encima. La arepa estaba crujiente por fuera, calientita y esponjosa por dentro. El sabor salado del cerdo combinado con la dulzura de la salsa barbecue de guayaba fue increíble, y el crujiente de las papitas fritas lo llevó a otro nivel. Ahora, a mí me gustan mucho los dulces, pero a mi esposa no tanto. Yo quería pedir postre, y estábamos pensando en el tres leches, pero nuestra mesera nos recomendó mucho el budín de pan. Normalmente no soy fanático del budín de pan, pero sus recomendaciones habían sido excelentes toda la noche, así que decidí confiar en ella. Me alegra muchísimo haberlo hecho. Toman un bolillo mexicano, lo remojan durante la noche en tres leches y luego lo sellan en sartén para crear una capa exterior crujiente y caramelizada, mientras que el interior se mantiene calientito, suave y dulce. Lo sirven con crema y coco tostado, luego le vierten encima un jarabe tibio de guayaba y lo acompañan con una bola de sorbete de coco. Las capas de sabor en ese postre fueron irreales. Honestamente, puede que haya sido el mejor postre que hemos probado en nuestra vida. Y recuerden, mi esposa no es muy amante de los dulces; normalmente solo prueba un bocado del postre, pero esta vez intentó comerse más de la mitad. Jajaja.

This was my first time coming here since they rebranded and reopened. I already enjoyed the…read moreprevious concept and was anxious to see what was different. The essence of it still feels similar with a few differences in ambiance and menu. They still over an oyster option, but we didn't try it. The octopus was good - cooked nicely. I enjoyed the ceviche. It's not the best I ever had, but a solid choice and the portion was excellent. The cocktail was well balanced and tasted good. The skirt steak was nice, but I was full so didn't eat all of it. There are black beans under the skirt steak that were AMAZING. It was just a small option of the dish - not the size of a side portion but almost like a "sauce" under the steak. It was perfect. This place remains a solid choice. I would come here again on a date or with a girl friend.

I found Buena Papa Fry Bar on places to eat in Raleigh on TikTok and was not disappointed. The…read moreladies who work here are so friendly and were very helpful with giving me suggestions on what to choose. I opted to go for the boricua which had roasted pork and lots of other yummy toppings. Everything was delish! My only con is that the fries were fried a little too well done for my liking, but other than that everything was great!

I'll give it a 4 because fries are amazing and price isn't too bad. You get a good portion, the…read morelarge fed two with leftovers! The fries could've been more fresh, doesn't seem like they cook them to order so they got soggy and cold fast. Service wasn't all that. She said nothing entire transaction.

Friendly quick service. Explanation of choices was excellent. The food came out quickly and was…read moredelicious.

I've had this placed saved to try for a while and finally got the opportunity to try it out on a…read morerandom Wednesday. The space is large with plenty of seating and also bar seating. You order your food at the front (bar) and then grab a seat wherever you want. I got a mango margarita which they didn't skimp on the tequila in it! Was sweet enough where I didn't notice at first how much tequila was in it (a win in my book). For dinner, I got the pernil w/cuero which was full of flavor. Tostones were nice and crunchy without being greasy. The rice was just okay, I prefer a bit more sazon and sofrito. I think this restaurant would do well in a more inhabited area instead of connected to the mall but the guy working stated they do very well on the weekends, so I hope it brings them continued business!

Esmeralda Grill is a very authentic local Mexican spot that does a lot of things right, especially…read morewhen it comes to classic comfort dishes. I usually rotate between the tacos, enchiladas, and molcajetes, and while the tacos themselves are just okay, the overall experience is solid. The fresh chips are easily some of the best I've had at a Mexican restaurant (warm and crisp). Add queso to those chips and it really seals the deal. They more than make up for the tacos being a bit underwhelming and are honestly reason enough to come back. This is a great neighborhood spot if you're looking for authentic flavors, generous portions, and excellent chips and dips (biggest downside is no liquor aka no margaritas). Not every dish is a knockout, but the highlights keep it comfortably in 4-star territory.

Esmeralda Grill absolutely rocks, and it was almost a restaurant that I considered avoiding because…read moreI ordered the wrong thing. I was really one mayonnaise filled torta away from missing out on my favorite Mexican restaurant of Cary. The food is some of the freshest and most authentic in the area, and is consistently spot on. Forget heavy burritos or overly sauced enchiladas, this place is the real deal. When you come to Esmeralda Grill, you should really focus on the meat heavy dishes, whether it be via land or sea. There are so many different options to choose from, from both categories. When thinking seafood, expect the full fish. If you find yourself with the fresh grilled tilapia, you will receive a delicious whole fish that tastes as if it was caught that morning. It is such a fantastic option. I also appreciate the camarones a la diabla, or Diablo shrimp. The shrimp are plump and juicy, the spice of the dish is excites your taste buds and is a great dish. My favorite entrees are the land meat dishes though. El Trio Perfecto is my go-to order, it is grilled steak, chicken and pork all on one plate with rice, beans, salad, and tortillas. The Mexican spice rub on the meats is absolutely mouth watering, the flavors are so bold and tasty. The meats are all cooked to perfection and the portions are gigantic. You can make different tacos with the various meats, it is seriously one of my favorite Mexican dishes. I would highly recommend this! Additionally, Esmeralda Grill has so many other wonderful dishes for different flavor profiles. My grandparents are pretty particular about empanadas, but simply cannot get enough of Esmeralda's version. They also make some killer tacos, and some very affordable ones if you were to come on Tuesday! The moral of the story? Don't base your opinion of a restaurant after a single visit. You don't come across a fantastic hole in the wall every day, Esmeralda Grill is one that every Mexican food lover should know!

I love Mami Nora's chicken! Sure, the place is not decorated like an upscale bistro, but it isn't…read moresupposed to be. It's Peruvian. It comes complete with Peruvian attitude and casualness towards time. If you're in a big hurry, this is not the place to go. If you're relaxed, visiting with friends and not worried about the clock, it's perfect. I love the chicken and the plantains. I really haven't tried anything else because I like what I always get.

After the Covid pandemic, Mami Nora's has never been the same. Every time I visit Raleigh, I I was…read morelooking forward to eat here, but it seems they've changed their recipe significantly. The chicken has undergone a complete transformation, resulting in a completely different taste. The Horchata used to be the best, but now it seems like they just took it out of a package from Food Lion. It's beyond terrible.

We came here on a Wednesday night for dinner. They start by providing complimentary bread. It was…read morereally good. It was nice and buttered and toasted perfectly. We started with the empanadas, which were excellent. We had one beef and one chicken. The beef was nicely seasoned and had potato's on the inside as well. For our main entrees we had the bistec de pollo with yellow rice and plantains. We also had the lechón asado with moros and plantains. The moros is the Cuban version of dirty rice and it was very delicious. The plantains were golden, soft and prepared so good. The chicken and pork were tender and good. The servers were really nice as well. Great experience.

I've been craving Cuban food for a while. It's been about 4 years since I've been. To Miami and…read moreenjoyed the cuisine. I specifically sought out this place after researching Cuban food in the triangle. It's right conveniently just off of the highway tucked away in a small shopping center. I was greeted upon entry and seated immediately. The space is open and a bit dark with minimal decor. The server that assisted me was friendly and attentive. He came over with water and took my order. The Ropa Vieja is my go-to Cuban dish. It feels like a warm hug. It's comfort food, but it's not too heavy. It's skirt steak slow cooked in a tomato sauce with peppers and onions. The entrees come with 3 sides. I ordered the Moros( rice and black beans) and maduros. The meat was tender and savory. It wasn't seasoned as well as I've had it before, but it was still enjoyable. The diet coke that I ordered wasn't as carbonated as I would have liked. Overall a great meal. Next time I go back, I might try something different and order a cocktail.

Husband has been a huge fan for a while since it's beer his work and he can swing by to grab lunch…read morequickly in between meetings. So recently he insisted we go so I could try it out. It did not disappoint. He knew what to order so that helped. If I went in by myself I would be so overwhelmed. The staff is quiet. They're not the most helpful but not rude either. Just there to fill your order when you figure things out. The helpings are more than enough. Two arepas are hard for me to finish in one setting. The only downside to saving for later is they get kinda soggy so you cannot eat them neatly with your fingers later after you warm them up. But they still taste so good! The ambiance is typical fast-food feel. I like being able to get refills on my drink on my own while I'm dining in instead of having to go to the counter and wait in line to ask for one. Tables seem to be wiped down and maintained in-between customers which is nice too.

Trying something new one evening while out running errands. The person at the front counter was…read morepleasant and welcoming. Arepa's are great balance of simple and comforting go to food. Gluten free options are always a lighter and a less heavy option, in my option. This is one of the perks. I tried the La Tica (chicken) and the La Surena (bbq). I enjoyed the chicken. Very flavorful. I wasn't a fan of the bbq - a bit on the dry side for me. The chicken was delicious but the cheese could've been melted and I would've preferred my food on the warmer side. Giving Grace with 4*, perhaps I tried this too late in the evening. Maybe these are intended to be served that way I received them. I do recommend Arepa Culture NC but I'd recommend go at opening or before lunch time for freshness. The rice and beans were good. The peach juice was okay.

I love this place so much! Their pupusas are always so good and the staff are always so friendly…read more I'm honestly shocked that whenever we go there is barely anyone there because this is one of my favorite places in Cary and deserves all the hype. I also HIGHLY recommend getting their atol de elote drink when it's cold outside. It is so comforting and taste like Christmas. I always get the #7 and it is the best of all worlds.

El Cuscatleco in Cary…read more Came with a friend and my meal was the plato típico. Came with a nice variation of different foods and flavors. Generally speaking the food was super yummy but not the best ever. The tamale was very bready with little filling, but was good. The yuca fries and sauce were the best ever that i've had. The portion to price ratio is retry good. My plate was roughly $15 but lots of things to nibble on. Atmosphere was nice, staff was friendly. Nothing memorable of this place though.

Nice little Peruvian spot in Garner. Food is similar to Alpaca but very good in its own right!…read moreService was great! I highly recommend visiting Mi Peruvian!

This is the short summary: Don't go, this place is infested with cockroaches see pics. Complete…read morereview: I came here with my whole family and my in laws on Saturday. I am Peruvian and I've eaten at the Mi Peru restaurant in Durham a few times and I always liked it, it was too far for me though. Once I found out another Mi Peru opened closer I had to try it. For starters the strip mall where it is located is not the nicest location. The restaurant itself feels a bit old and not very clean. I was about to leave but I decided to take a chance. We ordered a few dishes to share: ceviche, chicharron de pescado, arroz chaufa, aji de gallina and seco de res. And even desserts : Alfajor, tres leches and crema volteada. Food overall wasn't bad, I actually liked it, it wasn't amazing but not bad at all. The service on the other hand was terrible, there was a young guy and a young girl who had no idea how to wait tables, we were missing silverware, we had to ask for plates and glasses, .... That duo was a mess. They seemed too occupied flirting with each other than caring for the 2 tables that were occupied. Anyhow, when we got to bill I noticed that an 18% tip was mandatory !! 18 % for the terrible service I had received, that was really unfair. I paid over $180 for 5 adults and 2 kids and terrible service. Up until that point I was determined to leave and just give this place 3 stars . But then I decided to go to the bathroom and on my way to the bathroom there was a cockroach in the hallway, that was disgusting so I moved quickly into the bathroom. Inside the bathroom under the sink there was another cockroach !!! I almost threw up wondering how many cockroaches are probably running around in the kitchen!!! It is sad for me to post this as a Peruvian but I care more about the safety of the people and the reputation of the Peruvian food. My advice to the owners of Mi Peru.( the original ) which I respect. Don't destroy your brand, close the restaurant and fumigate it completely, then remodel it, clean it, hire better waiters and then reopen. Or pick a nicer location if possible. I am not coming back and will advise everyone I know not to go either.