Chapala Mexican Restaurant

Our Romeo lunch group went here for the first time today. We had seven of us, arrived at 11:15 and…read morewere immediately seated in a table for 8. The waitress took our order as soon as we walked in. She brought out chips and individual cups of salsa for each of us (the salsa was excellent with just the right amount of heat). Three of us ordered the #3 special (taco, enchilada and burrito), 1 ordered Fajitas, 1 order for #2 Lunch special(Taco and enchilada, one order the huge Cubana Torta. Service was very good. Food was great and authentic. The Cubana Torta is another thing in itself! Huge, with hot dogs sticking out the side and the kitchen sink ingredients on the inside. Freddie got half of it down and packed up the other half to take home to his wife. It's a cultural experience trying to eat the whole thing yourself. Since the last time I was here they have added a very nice outdoor covered area to the left of the restaurant...nicely decorated and a perfect place to enjoy Mexican food weather permitting!!! We'll definitely go back.

Real Mexico is a staple of the community and been solid throughout the years. The atmosphere is…read morefun, energetic and definitely busy with customers. Families, dates or just team gatherings fill the room along with the beautiful bright murals on the walls. The staff is super attentive and the service is absolutely exceptional. The pork belly chicharones were definitely the star of my meal. Fried perfectly and a good ratio of fat to lean meat, it was a 10/10. Hit it with some fresh lime juice and it sets it off! The esquites and carne asada taco were a miss for me. The esquites lacked depth of flavor, tasted like they just had canned corn that was warmed up and topped with condiments. Not terrible but again, nothing special. The carne asada taco was tough, literally and figuratively. It wasn't seasoned and tasted like it had been sitting for a while. This is still a go to spot...not pictured are the AMAZING soups they make.

Wall mural

Fajitas Monterrey

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New sign same great spot!

Tacos Nayarit

4.6(500 reviews)

14.3 mi

Food was delicious! Our order consisted of two bowls, street tacos, chips and queso, and a torta…read more Our proteins were a mix of chicken, steak, and shrimp. You order on the far right side of the counter. And then you walk down the line and add whatever toppings you want on your entree. Some items come with a small side of chips, some don't. The line was long but moved quickly. The tables inside were mostly full and better suited for parties of 4 or less. We had 5 in our group, so we sat outside at one of the picnic tables and had plenty of room. There's also outdoor seating on a second level deck that we didn't notice until we were halfway done eating. We will definitely be back when we're in the area!

Great subway style taco restaurant with pretty good tacos. Quick, easy, affordable and deliciousread more

Chicken street taco on flour tortilla

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Horchata, Birria tacos , refried beans

El Salto Mexican Cuisine

4.4(72 reviews)

14.8 mi

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.

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Moctezumas Taqueria

4.0(234 reviews)

12.8 mi

Great service, food, drinks and live music. What else could you ask for. The restaurant was very…read moreclean and a nice atmosphere.

My husband and I share Fajitas for one and even have some leftovers for the next day. The servers…read moreare always friendly and quick to get you seated. This is a good place to go with a group as there are tables beyond the booths that can be arranged for small or large groups. The food is always good and hot. We usually get the regular salsa which is pretty spicy and request a mild salsa for me. The only problem we have had the last 2 times we have been there is that extra money (no more than a dollar) was added to the tip.

Inside. Bit small but delicious!

Chicken Mole street corn and Blue Lagoon margarita

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Cocos and Beer

3.9(173 reviews)

13.1 mi

This is a local gem! I love going home to Columbia and trying new restaurants in the area. This one…read morewas new to me. Service was pretty quick and attentive until later in the evening when they got busy. They have some of the freshest restaurant salsa! It's chunky and delicious. The food and drinks came out so fast! The restaurant is cute, spacious, welcoming.

Update: 09/04/2026…read more Let me tell you how good this food was today! When I tell you I wasn't in a sharing mood, haha believe it! My husband made all the advances. I have dined here before but today the food was so delicious, there were no crumbs whatsoever:) I ordered the Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon. It's served with crispy potato, asparagus, steamed corn and white rice. The taste was heavenly! Everything was prepared perfectly. My husband ordered the Chicken Tacos. It was served with black beans, garnished with mixed greens and chipotle with cheese. He stated his food was full of flavor with an earthy crunch from the radish. He raved so much about the food while eating. I promise it was good in a short time! We loved our food so much and can't wait to try something different on the menu next time:) Customer service was great! Everything was amazing. We truly enjoyed it. See you soon Cocos and Beer!

Grilled chicken Tacos

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El Charro

4.7(56 reviews)

4.2 mi•Irmo

Oh my goodness, y'all!! This was the BEST Mexican I have had…read morein so long! & I eat a lot of Mexican!! We both had the fajitas nachos but I always substitute chips for rice. I cannot express myself enough how great this was! Our server was Luis C & he made sure that we were taken care of! Great server!! Very spacious in seating & of course it's family oriented. The bathrooms were super clean!! Plenty of parking & handicap spaces & handicap accessible seating. We live about 30 minutes from here & will definitely drive that again to come back. Also most reasonable in pricing that I've seen in a while.

Chose El Charro for its high Yelp ratings. It did not disappoint. Casual ambience like other local…read moreMexican restaurants. What makes El Charro better is the excellent service, big portions and reasonable prices. Started with a Margarita. Beware of going with the large size. It was served with a tiny plastic fish on top of the ice, mainly because the glass was the size of a fishbowl. Enough for 4 drinkers and well worth the $20. Entrees included the Fried Chimichangas, 3 item platter. Food was wonderful. Don't forget some Queso dip, also excellent.

9.4 mi•Gervais Street Corridor

Dining room

Enchiladas, rice and beans

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Al pastor tacos are my go to

Coa Agaveria Y Cocina

4.3(254 reviews)

Coa was definitely a fun restaurant! I went during happy hour, and I'd say that the major thing…read morethat stuck out to me was the awesome customer service. Although I don't remember the bartender's name, he was such a cool guy and did a great job of introducing me to the restaurant. I got a margarita to drink, which was a little more expensive than most other margaritas I've gotten, but the quality easily made up for the price. To eat, I simply got three (3) cheese quesadillas, as the rest of the menu was a little too complicated for me. Although they're a simple dish, they were still really good! As for the ambiance, Coa was also a really cool, upscale, and atypical Mexican place! I think it nailed the vibe it was going for, and there are few, if any, comparable places in the surrounding area (that I've been to at least!) Overall, Coa was an awesome upscale Mexican restaurant. I loved stopping in, and I will be back in the future. As such, I'd recommend it to anybody looking for the same vibe!

We were really looking forward to celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary at COA, but…read moreunfortunately we never made it past the seating experience. I made our reservation about two weeks in advance and specifically noted that we were celebrating our anniversary--44 years on September 11. We arrived at 4:15 for our 4:30 reservation, and the restaurant was nearly empty. At the hostess stand, we initially seemed to be treated as walk-ins until I mentioned that we had a reservation. That didn't seem to make any difference. We were led past three booths occupied by parties of four, two, and three. The fourth booth was empty. Instead, we were seated at a very small two-top with other two-tops about two feet away on either side--not exactly the setting we had hoped for on our anniversary, and barely enough room for dinner plates and drinks. I asked whether we could have the empty booth and was told it was reserved for a party of four. Fair enough, so I asked whether there was another table available. The hostess said she would check, despite the restaurant being almost completely empty. Our server then came over and began pouring water. I had to say "wait a minute" twice so we could find out whether we were changing tables. She then told us they were completely booked and there was nowhere else they could seat us. Perhaps every one of those empty tables really was committed to later reservations, but at 4:15 in an almost empty restaurant, it was disappointing that no effort seemed to be made to accommodate a couple who had reserved well in advance and specifically told the restaurant they were celebrating their 44th anniversary. So we left. We walked across the street to Blue Marlin, where we were warmly welcomed and had an excellent anniversary dinner. The contrast in hospitality could not have been greater. We never had the opportunity to try COA's food, so I can't comment on it. But restaurants are about more than food. Hospitality begins the moment a guest walks through the door, and on a special occasion we had planned weeks in advance, COA simply made us feel like they didn't particularly care whether we stayed or left. We left.

Queso

Elote

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Cantina 76

3.9(389 reviews)

9.7 mi•Downtown

Ok, so I've neglected Cantina 76 for a while. Looked like a chain. Corner of Lady & Main. Stopped…read morein while I was on the bicycle. Decided I would only stop at a place with a bike rack. Wow. Great happy hour. Wonderful service. Some of the margs are a little too crafty for my taste but the one I settled on was delicious. Loved the music and everyone looked to be having a good time. Yeah, I Yelp, and I Yelp hard but this was a good spot. Happy hour, 2 tacos, chips and salsa OR queso for $11

People absolutely love this cantina and location. Personally the drinks are my favorite,…read morespecifically their margaritas are so yummy. As for tacos they are pretty basic in my opinion. I do like the trio dip for an appetizer. It's in a great spot on Main Street if you're looking for something quick. Service is quick and everyone super friendly.

Inside restaurant

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Strawberry Margaritas

Casa Maria

4.6(40 reviews)

23.2 mi

4.5 stars. The food was solid overall. I tried the Carne Asada Hondureña, and it was a nice taste…read moreof Honduras in South Carolina. The Carne Asada was a bit stringy and harder to cut with the regular table knife, but the flavor was good. Service was good, and the restaurant itself had an open feel and was fairly relaxed for lunch. I would return, and I think I would try something from the Mexican Food side of the menu.

Mi Casa Latina (previously Casa Maria) offers a delicious and authentic blend of Honduran and…read moreMexican cuisine. The staff is incredibly welcoming, and the food consistently impresses--with flavors that stand out and prices that are very reasonable. If you're looking for a fresh take on traditional Latin fare, I highly recommend giving them a try. You won't be disappointed.

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Masa Mexican Street Food

4.5(68 reviews)

11.7 mi

Our first time dining here was wonderful. The quality of the food was superb and the service was…read moregenuinely friendly and courteous. The staff provided excellent menu guidance, helping us choose dishes that we thoroughly enjoyed. We ordered the Nachos and Salsa, Molotes Chicken, Corn Ribs, Tacos and Chicken Quesadilla, all of which were flavorful and beautifully prepared. Highly recommended. The restaurant had an excellent ambiance that creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. This spot is definitely worth a visit!!

Food and Service was really great. My husband and I were told about the place so we decided to…read morecheck it out. My husband is not a big Mexican food eater and he was impressed and that is really hard to do. We ordered a variety of items including Carne Asada Fries, Chicken Tamale in Salsa Verde w/ side of sour cream, Beef Chorizo Taco & Camaron Taco w/ side of cheese, Ques-Tacos Carne Asada, Quesa-Tacos Barbacoa, Queso y Chips y Salsa & Happy hour margaritas. Everything was flavorful , nice size portions. Menu items were ala carte items but everything is reasonably priced . All this was $85 w/ drinks . Our server was excellent. She was attentive without being intrusive to the dining experience. We sat a the community table top because the booths were full and we did not want to wait. Noise level was moderate and you could definitely talk and enjoy conversation with your party. We had no wait with an arrival time 6:30pm in a Friday. We will definitely be back .

Hostess at entrance of restaurant

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Mezcal cocktail

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Margie Q.

9 years ago

Friends and family Y'all know how much we travel and eat out, well let me just share this comical yet disturbing fact we just experienced. So we just visited this restaurant and we ran into one of trumps protoges!! Sad to say that this Mexican man in his broken English had conversation and time for all "Americans" (if you catch my drift) except us!!! What a piece of shit! And he's the manager!!! When we asked about him, hoping I was wrong, his employees agreed with us and even mention that he treats them bad! Avoid this place or go give him hell !! If it weren't for Tadeo and the other waiter in today we would have left. Sadly this piece of shit thinks he's better than his compatriots!! Wake up call you are just a manager in a tiny Mexican restaurant In rural South Carolina!! How ironic!!! SO I CALLED HIM OUT ON IT!! I think he knew. His employees looked relieved I called him out!! SO SAD MY FRIENDS THAT YOUR OWN KIND THINKS HE'S BETTER!! Lo peor es que se le ve el nopalote en la frente y muy apenas habla inglés!! Que poca cosa es!! Rant over Good night!! Of course he caters to the Non hispanics or Latin people that visit the restaurant!! What a shameful piece of shit!! read more

Eaton O.

12 years ago

Potential ! Salsa/chips...spicy but good. Tacos el or de pastor and chorizo were very fresh, tasty and something different. Chicken Quesadilla, fresh and plentiful. Atmosphere and decor...eh, average..... pretty much what it has been since every other place in there. Service was fine. They did offer a Sat night Nacho Fajita @ 6.50...looked good and seems like a deal l and heard mon was Fajitas. Give it a try... IRMO/HARBISON (unlike Chapin) needs this place !!! Try it. read more

Paullete C.

5 years ago

Food and beverages are great!! Service is really really nice!! Outdoor seating available for warmer nights is perfect, give it a try ! read more

Griffin S.

6 years ago

This was an amazing meal. My whole family came and everyone loved it! It's super clean and has very good service.

Jackie B.

118

6 years ago

Love this place!! Very friendly staff!! Food is always amazing!! Highly recommended. Service is very quick!

Michael W.

5 years ago

Great meal and Johnny was a great server. One of the best Mexican restaurants I've been to.

Dani M.

12 years ago

Good food & good service. Their guacamole dip is awesome!

Tiffaney C.

5 years ago

Great Service and good food!! We love going for lunch!

Chapala Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated October 2026

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One of my favorite spots to order to-go! And when I have the time to stay, I love sitting back and…read moreenjoying a margarita. The customer service is always warm and welcoming. The food comes out fast, hot, and absolutely delicious. The ambiance is low-key and private, making it the perfect place to feel comfortable, relax, and enjoy some truly good food.

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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.

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I ordered 24 tacos for my team today and was quoted $65.88. When I picked the tacos up the lady who…read morewas running the cash register told me it was 15 tacos. I went back and forth with her and she called a manager over. He assured me and her that there were 24 tacos in the bags. I came back to work and realized they only gave me 18 tacos. I called and spoke with the manager and he told me I was given the wrong price and he could not do anything about it. Meanwhile, I didn't have enough tacos for my team and he didn't seem to care. He said I could come pick up 6 more and he would charge me more. However,t that is not what we agreed upon. Talk about a bait and switch! I will never go there again! Nor will I take my team there often like we do after work and I will let everyone know what this restaurant does. Horrible customer service!

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Great service, food, drinks and live music. What else could you ask for. The restaurant was very…read moreclean and a nice atmosphere.

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