I don't usually leave reviews, but this was an all-around frustrating experience from start to finish. Right off the bat, we asked for a highchair and were told it would be brought over. It never came. After waiting, we had to flag down a server walking by, who eventually brought one--only for it to be broken. It then took another 10 minutes before we finally got a functional highchair. Throughout the visit, the staff seemed far more interested in talking amongst themselves than actually paying attention to guests. The overall atmosphere felt disorganized, inattentive, and unprofessional. The worst part came after we left. I realized almost immediately that I had left my wallet behind and called right away. Instead of any sense of urgency or willingness to help, the host who answered was incredibly rude and dismissive. Before I could fully explain the situation, she cut me off and told me to "call back tomorrow." When I tried to quickly describe the wallet--color, contents, anything that might help--she hung up on me mid-sentence. Considering I called almost immediately after leaving and was brushed off so quickly, it raises serious concerns about whether any real effort was made to locate it. I would hope any establishment would take something like that seriously. Between the lack of attention, the disorganization, and the way a simple, time-sensitive situation was handled, this place clearly has serious issues with customer service. I won't be back. read more

Some of the best Mexican food I've had !! The inside of this place is so cute ! That corn is a 10/10!! read more

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We had a large group that dined on a Thursday evening. The staff and waiter were excellent. Very attentive and polite. The table ordered a variety of items and appetizers. Everything was delish, and came out hot. I will definitely return as there were several items I would like to try. Also the margarita's we very tasty. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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What a cool restaurant! Our server was awesome she loved that we understood Mexican food! Such great art and a real vibe in the entire restaurant. You can tell it really comes to life at night! Our food all of our food was incredible!!! Birria Ramen was probably the biggest surprise in the very best way! We all tried it and every single one of us loved it even the most skeptical of us! I personally had the pozole I almost licked the bowl it was so delicious! The fish tacos, the burrito, the birria quesadilla all very good! Our family would for sure go back if we're in the area! read more

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Happy Mango Strawberry Mojito Monday!! Karla provided exceptional service!! The restaurant was clean and the food was great. (As usual) They have daily specials Monday - Thursday so come in after work and grab yourself some good eats and drinks. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Mango Strawberry Mojito - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Spectacular margaritas!! One of the best I've ever had. I would go back just for them and it's an hour from my house. Our server was energetic, kind friendly, and helped us throughout our time there. Inside was fantastic murals of women. Very clean plenty of seating and decorated to fit the theme of the restaurant. Our food with excellent and included bottomless chips and salsa. 10 out of 10. read more

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A long time friend took me to this place for my birthday, at first I was not sure what to expect but surprisingly the place was pretty good. The chips were good, service was fast and the portions were decent for the price. I got the birria quesadillas and they were really good, my friend got a ceviche she didn't like it that much but it was not bad. I will say is a good place to have dinner and definitely I will come back to try something else. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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First time at Camarillo's place and I was overwhelmed but grateful for the many choices that they had to choose from. There were so many drinks to choose from that did not disappoint. I'd definitely return for more. Our server suggested the appetizer platter and to me, that was the star of the show! The wings were so good - Flavorful but not too hot. The burrica egg rolls were good as well and the quesadilla. My steak and shrimp tacos were good as well but they were very salty. So much so, that I would even request no salt on the next visit. The shrimp was so good and they had a nice size to them. My husband had a steak burrito with cheese sauce that was huge. He left no crumbs per usual. We came right before they got busy so everything came out pretty quickly. Our server had great suggestions and was patient with me as I reviewed all of their options. We'll definitely return soon. read more

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We came here on a whim. Beautiful clean friendly atmosphere. The food was delicious. I highly recommend trying it out. We had the combination pick 3. So delicious. Great portions we had leftovers. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - My delicious leftovers - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Fantastic Mexican food. I'm not sure if it's authentic but it is delicious! There's a lot to choose from and you can find some really good deals if you search the menu well! Service is usually quick but during busy times you may have to wait a while. I always leave Carajillo's full and satisfied. The interior decor is super cool and I love the art work. Their margaritas are really good too and a good size. Lots of options for flavor combos with the margaritas too read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Pastor Burrito! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Carajillo's is the place to go for delicious, authentic Mexican food and a good vibe! It understood the assignment when we needed a relaxing evening out and comfort food. Service was excellent. Will be back. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Mixed Fajitas Carajillos - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place is my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant in the triangle. It's more like Mexican-fusion as they have an extensive menu with tons and tons of items. The menu used to be about 10 pages long but I think they've cut it down recently to just 3-4 pages. They even have some crazy four person lobster dinners in the back of the menu for $200 lol. The venue is an absolute monster. It used to be Grandad's Buffet which just opened new right before COVID and it didn't survive COVID which is sad because Grandad's was one of the best souther fried buffets around. I would guess you could seat 200+ people in this restaurant and there will still be a wait to get in on Friday and Saturday evening. The parking lot is very big so there's never a problem parking. However, turning left onto 401 is almost next to impossible because of traffic. So my trick is to eat here, then turn right out of the parking lot and go up to the first place you can turn left which will take you to Goodberrys Frozen Custard...this is where we get dessert every time. Then if you're heading south you can make an easy right turn to get home. They offer both table side and kitchen guac. If you order table side you'll be able to customize it as much as you want...extra cilantro please! The typical entrees such as chimichangas, enchiladas, birria tacos--all amazing. It's hard not to try something new here each time. I've even had items with octopus on them! Service is top notch. You will be greeted promptly. Seated quickly. And served well with multiple people checking in on you. Like the chips, the horchata flows free here and is unlimited. The decor is amazing, they have a ton of airbrushed artwork all over the entire restaurant with classics like Selena. They have an instagram angel wing wall for those who do the gram. My only issue here is noise level. They have a couple different places they setup bands, DJs, and other extremely loud entertainment. Once we got here and they had a mariachi band in the back which was nice...but then later switched to karaoke and it was right in front of us as were the speakers...it was sooo loud we couldn't talk to each other or our server. Luckily this was at the end of our meal, but otherwise watch out for the loud sections near speakers. read more

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Came here recently with some friends as a halfway point between north Raleigh and Benson. This place has lots of parking, which is always appreciated. It's also huge. It has these beautiful murals on the wall done by a local muralist. It's your standard Tex Mex fair BUT they also sell sushi. Which is so wild. I didn't get any this time but the couple we went with says it is delicious and they ordered a roll. Our waitress was awesome and very attentive. I got a burrito, my partner got churi pollo, and we shared a large queso dip and soda. With tip it was $53 and we had leftovers. Definitely worth a visit! They also have a location in North Raleigh. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Burrito Carajillo - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a to go meal from here, but went in and sat at the bar while waiting for food. Staff was friendly, helpful, patrons were cordial and food was excellent. The restaurant was nicely laid out with nice accommodations for guest. read more

Great service and great food. The Atmosphere was great. Delicious margaritas. Was busy at the restaurant but the servers were great.

Very quick service on a huge menu. The staff was friendly and the booths were spacious. They had a good selection of premium cocktails and the burrito inordered was properly enormous read more

Food was good Service lacking didn't get a refill on drinks, food took longer than usual, wasn't offered a drink menu like everyone else. Apparently we don't look like we drink or something. No one came to check on us until we were done eating after we were looking around. We were 1st in this row but othered served before us and checked on. Will not rush back here! read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I decided to treat my parents to lunch/dinner after church today. We stopped by Carajillos. We had never tried this restaurant before, but I stopped in to take a look at the menu and saw a variety of choices to my liking, so we decided to eat there. They opened at 11:30 AM, and we had gotten there about 20 minutes after they had opened. We did not need to have reservations. We were seated right away. The restaurant has nice decor, and the ambience is intriguing. The Mexican music playing in the background was very soothing and appropriate for the atmosphere. Our server, Letty, greeted us with a smile, and brought chips and dip for the table within about five minutes after we sat down. She then took our drink order. After she brought our drinks, I told her that we needed a little more time since this was our very first time at this restaurant. She was very cordial and said she would come back. After she took our orders, our entrées came out within a reasonable period of time. Letty came back to check on us periodically which was appreciated. I ordered the new PA CHUPARSE LOS DEDOS (MEXICAN BOIL POT). My parents ordered SALMON SANTA CLARA and STEAK A LA MEXICANA. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Everything was seasoned nicely and had good texture and moistness. The portions were also adequate. There were two things missing when my food was brought out, a bowl to hold the shells from the crab legs and the shrimp and also a utensil to crack open the crab legs. I used the empty basket from the chips to hold the shells, and I asked for a utensil for the crab legs. Other than that, we had good service. Letty was personable and professional. We enjoyed our visit and will return. read more

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Pretty nice restaurant for some good food. This building has been a few different restaurants over the years - however, you wouldn't know that. They have truly put their own twist on the interior of the building. The service as well was excellent. We were greeted and seated pretty quickly. Our waitress came over promptly and ensured the entire time we were good and all inquiries were answered. The food was good. We all ordered something different to get a feel of what was on the menu. The menu is large and something for everyone. Overall, we felt what we received was worth the value and will be back to try more when we are in the area. read more

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I've seen a few friends posting about this restaurant on social media and took the opportunity to try it myself for the first time while visiting the area. The staff were very attentive and food was delicious. I like the interior decorations and vibe of a Mexican restaurant. I can't remember the name of the dish I ordered, but it exceeded my expectations! The salsa and chips were good too. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Food is very good quality and taste! Service is fast and good. Ambience is very pleasant. Good place for group lunch and dinner.

I tried Carajillo's for a weekday lunch. They offer an $11.75 lunch menu which turns out to be a very good value because it includes a beverage. The complimentary chips were definitely a notch above what most Mexican restaurants are serving these days. Mine arrived at the table warm and had a light airy texture. I chose the enchiladas de carnitas, served with salsa verde instead of typical enchilada sauce. The salsa verde had a tiny bit of heat and both enchiladas had a very generous filling of carnitas, which unfortunately was definitely on the dry side. The rice and black beans were fine, but typical. Serving sizes were generous. My server was reasonably attentive and did a good job keeping my drink filled as well as checking in on me. All in all, I thought my lunch at Carajillo's rated 4-stars, especially given the reasonable price. I will definitely return. read more

A great family dining experience. Tonight there is a mariachi band complete with a horn section. Football games on the TV and very cool artwork on the walls. Food is tasty with generous portions. My wife swears by the nachos while I am partial to ACP. read more

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A group of friends and I met here for dinner. The mariachi band was so early splittingly loud that the only way to talk was to cup your hand on the other person's ear and speak directly into it. We tried to ask if it was continuous or could be moderated, but the staff at reception was unhelpful. We felt we had no choice but to go elsewhere. read more

Good and service was beyond great! Plenty of parking, stand alone building. Large enough for crowds. Store nice and clean will be back.. read more

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What a cool place. The deco and art on the walls made my Mexican ancestors proud. Reminds me of back in California. The food was delicious. Huge portions. food and drink menus are Gigante. The birria tacos are outstanding. The street corn hit the spot. Fresh chips and salsa are amazing. fresh and warm. Guacamole was Delicious though it could have used a bit more lime juice. Carnitas are so flavorful. Definitely a must try. read more

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Best shrimp cocktail in all North Carolina. The shrimp were a bit hard, but the sauce was incredibly delicious. There was live Banda, so the ambience was amazing. read more

Dined out with hubby while in Raleigh/Garner area. This restaurant was recommended by a friend. Dirty front door. Oh, no. Is this a harbinger of things to come? MAYBE: Several staffers at front desk. Not one greeted us, smiled or said, "Welcome." There was some confusion by waitstaff that slightly delayed us having our order taken. It happens. My cup with ice had seen better days. How do you miss big chips like this when washing the cup or presenting the cup? Artwork was kinda' weird. MAYBE NOT: Nice menu. We decided on fajitas for two. Complimentary queso when you follow on IG. Do that in advance. Chips and salsa were good. Washed mine down with Mexican Coke in a glass bottle. My fave. Fajitas were excellent! Give them a try. Generous portion for two. Tasty chicken that wasn't dried out. Upbeat music. Comfortable booth seating. Management: A little more attention to detail would move the needle from 4 to 5 stars. Yes, if I'm in the area again, I'll go back. read more

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DONT EVER COME HERE! my waitress never came back with chips and she had a bad attitude the entire time. while we were eating we found a piece of paper in our food. she took 20 minutes to come by to check on our table. and barely refilled our drinks. we will not be coming back here with the fam read more

Good place to go for a night out! I think they have the best chips and salsa - they are perfect to me! For food, I've tried the Choripollo and the Chimi-Rito (a combination of a burrito and chimichanga). The choripollo was good - chicken was very tender. The Chimi-Rito was fine, not my favorite. Not sure what I'll try next time, but it'll be something new! The mango margarita was super delicious thought! And our waiter Pedro was very good! read more

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Food was fresh and tasted amazing! service was quick and very attentive. finished the meal with some great drinks. Will be returning again

Finally decided to visit this newer Mexican restaurant as we see it very busy each time we drive by. This is a good sized piece of property with plenty of parking and lots of dining inside. Was seated in good time, but took wait staff to see us a little late. The menu is ridiculously large, lots of special dishes. I ordered a margarita on rocks that came with a lighted object in it and a floating duck, see picture. Very unique. Our order was taken and food took a little bite to come out. Everything tasted good. My wife had taquitos which were displayed nicely. I had a burrito displayed very nice. Fell the menu is a little pricey even for the food presentation and portion sizes. read more

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The food here is amazing. Everytime we've eaten here, the experience is wonderful. The menu has so much to choose from. We loved the chorizo pizza and the bacon wrapped shrimp on the burrito con cameron was fantastic. Highly recommend. The service is great and the atmosphere is awesome. read more

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After a few recommendations we decided to check this place out. Cute decor, nice selection of fun drinks and the menu was good. The staff were friendly and service was quick. Overall food was good. read more

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A visit to North Carolina to visit some folks and I was told Carajillo's is one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants to eat in Raleigh. Although we went on a rainy day, the vibe swiftly changed as soon as you walk in. Walls are scattered with magnificent artwork, an area to take instagram worthy photos and a large bar that spreads out in a square shape. The drink and food menu was colorful with many different options to choose from whether you are a pescatarian, vegetarian, carnivore, etc. the drink I ordered was refreshing, lightly sweet, and **strong haha and I found it so cute with the crown decoration on top (wanted to take it home with me ) The shrimp tacos with the shrimp soup did not disappoint either, not sure where the seafood is sourced from but the shrimp was quite large. The cheese just melts in your mouth as well & the plates came out rather quickly! I love that they have lunch specials & noticed that a lot of blue collar folks come by to have a bite. If you are in Raleigh, you must check it out for yourself read more

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In my opinion, this is the best, authentically accurate Mexican food in the Triangle area. And, what a fun place to go out to eat! Food - amazing. Free chips and salsa. Try their trio of dips for the table: guacamole, queso and Pico di Gallo. So good. I always get the same dish when I go there: POLLO TAPATÍO. Hot and yummy. I want some now! Service - fast. Maybe TOO fast. Just when you tell the wait staff what you want, they attempt to get away. But, you have something else to order. It would be comical in a sit-com, but not so humorous when you are hungry. Still, better serve than at other places. Ambiance - can you say mariachi band on the weekends? Sure, the horns are blasting, which will curtail your conversations. But, you are too busy dancing in your seat to care about that. Plan on spending about $60 without alcohol. But, you will have take home for another lunch or snack. I just love this place. But, don't take my word for it. Try it yourself. read more

I had a bad dining experience here unfortunately and I'm sad because I was really looking forward to coming here for so long. I had came by one day for chips and queso, which was great by the way and the portion of queso was huge, and decided I needed to return to actually eat here but I will not be returning after this experience. The inside of the restaurant is nice. It has a nice full bar, many tables, and is very big. The menu is huge as well. As far as the service goes, every plate of food we ordered came out came with no utensils, napkins, or plates so we had to keep asking for napkins and plates which took a while and our area was just messy from picking at the food with no plates that took so long to come. There was also a language barrier with our server which made it hard to order as well but we tried our best. When we had to send an item back due to it being cold and overcooked, our server left it on the table for over 10 minutes while we waited for someone else to handle it and order something else. The food: -For starters we got the street corn. We were not a fan, it did not taste right. We took a bite and were done with it. -For our main entrees we got the steak with shrimp, gobernador tacos, and crab legs. It was our mistake for ordering crab legs at a mexican restaurant. It was not seasoned, the onions and tomatoes on the plate were just strange, and it wasn't good. The steak was so cold and overcooked, this was the plate we had to send back. The shrimp was also sticking to the shell and hard to eat and I usually always get this style of shrimp at other places with no problem. I am a HUGE fan of a gobernador tacos and these barely had cheese and the flour tortilla was as hard as a hard shell taco. Just awful. It seemed like nobody put effort into trying to cook the food with quality. The manager asked us what we wanted instead of the steak so we got birria tacos. As you can see they were barely filled and very average as well. I took pictures of every food item just so I could show everyone what it looked like with this review. I will not be returning here because sadly not even one dish was up to par for me. read more

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Excellent Mexican food in an upscale location with murals on the walls,clean, well lighted ambiance. Full bar with subdued background music is very relaxing. Full menus with many choices beef chicken seafood vegetarian meals. The delicious fire grilled octopus (Pulpo) with rice and broccoli was tender but not the tough chewy texture when over cooked by other restaurants. read more

Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen - Octopus is delicious fire grilled tender and tasty. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Decided to try out Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen for dinner tonight. The restaurant was surprisingly spacious and had a lot of tables. I liked the paintings and quotes on the walls. The chips, drinks, and food came out pretty quickly. The portions were big and I really enjoyed the Azteca salad. The margarita flight was a cool concept too, and overall I liked that they offered a very extensive food and drink menu. The special menu and drink menu did not have any prices listed though which I didn't like. The restaurant was very busy and our waiter - although very friendly - didn't come by the table very often. We had to wait quite a while to get boxes, the check, etc. Aside from the lack of pricing on the menu and long wait for the check, the food was really good and overall, I really enjoyed dining here! read more

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One of our favorite Mexican restaurants in the the area. Has a great, warm and exciting atmosphere. Interesting cocktals menu with a huge number of margarita, mojito, and mezcal concoctions. Be careful though...the cocktails can run your bill up quickly. The menu is large and all of our food was excellent, Burritos Carajillo and Al Pastor were big hits. Our picky eater finished a dish of Arroz Con Pollo. Overall delicious and fun. If you go, get your selfie with one of the many cool murals. read more