Copal is a gem. I'm visiting my mom in Lincoln, and as someone coming from California--where we take Mexican food very seriously--I wasn't expecting to find food this authentic, thoughtful, and genuinely delicious. Lincoln has plenty of watered-down, predictable Tex-Mex, but Copal is operating in an entirely different league. The food is fresh, vibrant, beautifully seasoned, and clearly made with care. The flavors have depth and balance, and the entire meal felt distinctive rather than formulaic. This is the kind of restaurant that deserves to be celebrated, not buried beneath a handful of overly critical reviews. A special shout-out to Roberto, who was fantastic. He was welcoming, attentive, knowledgeable, and made the entire evening memorable without ever hovering. Great hospitality is an art, and Roberto has it. If you appreciate authentic Mexican cooking and gracious service, go to Copal. It was one of the best dining surprises of my visit--and I'll absolutely return the next time I'm in Lincoln. read more

We dine at this restaurant often as it's one of our favorite spots for Mexican food in town, and the service is always consistently great. On our most recent visit, we sat on the back patio to enjoy the phenomenal weather. My husband ordered a house margarita while I went with the horchata, which was delicious. For our entrees, I had the carne asada with flour tortillas, and since it was Taco Tuesday, my husband chose the steak tacos. Both dishes were tasty, though I've noticed the carne asada isn't quite the same as it used to be. It was once the best in town, crispy and flavorful. I do miss when it was served with mashed potatoes. read more

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Nestled back behind a few stores in a strip mall, you'll find a moody, dark painted store front but when you walk in... COLORRRR! Especially that patio in the back So don't let the fact that construction getting to them, is sugar honey ice tea, or that parking may be limited on taco Tuesday's! We started off with their Nachos Oaxaqueños; stuffed full of chorizo and pork pastor, and all the great flavors of a guacamole sauce with a minor kick. The chorizo had an excellent flavor, that went extremely well with the cooling of the salsas, and sour cream. Didn't really taste much of the pork pastor in most of the bites, and was a little disappointed to see a layer of uncovered chips beneath the beautiful presentations. HAD to try their Pineapple Jalepenó Margarita (not on the Monday Margarita special just fyi, but house margs are!) and it was SOOOO good and super refreshing. Love it when bartenders don't burn them and she wasn't far from burnt! Great mix of sweet, sour, salty and well balanced. We also grabbed their Garlic Shrimp; CLEANED out shrimps with a great garlic flavor. Their rice and beans were the traditional style and taste; not really anything to write home about, but REALLY enjoyed it when you took bites with all offered (ie, shrimps, rice, and beans down the hatch in one swoop). Did I mention they were de-pooped? Of course when orange wheels are offered and they bring back nostalgic childhood memories you eat them with glee; and we did! The back patio... well.. you'll just have to see for yourself during golden hour. Also, when it's not 115 degrees out. read more

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We went on a Friday night and there was plenty of seating. Their happy hour is 3-6PM Monday- Friday There is a fairly good sized parking lot but it's shared with lots of other businesses and restaurants so it can get right on parking. The service was great! Our server was very attentive and telling us all stuff to try. She was fun! The star was Copal margarita which is made with Mezcal (smoky) and delicious. It's pretty big and definitely strong. My husband ordered and I ended up driving us home. First basket of chips & salsa is on the house. They were fine. My husband got the fajitas and enjoyed them. I ordered the vegan tacos. As a vegetarian I get nervous at restaurants with menus that aren't clearly labeled as most used lard in various dishes. The vegan tacos were the only clear option but there are probably more if you asked a lot of questions or don't care about lard. The tacos were okay. They fell apart everywhere and were very messy to eat. Rice was kinda bland. The price point was a bit high for the food that we got in my opinion. Maybe other options on the menu are great. read more

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First time I've eaten here. I loved their 3 pulled pork taco dinner. Chips & salsa to start with a great margarita. This is the best I have ever had. I've lived and Texas and Southern California and enjoyed the tacos there but this were the best and the restaurant buzzed with energy and a very nice decor for casual dining. I will be back often. I wish I had taken pictures. read more

One of my favorite places to go relax and have a yummy margarita and the food is delicious. The staff are very kind and friendly and remember who you are every time you come in! 10/10 stars. read more

My daughter and I came in for a light lunch around 2 pm on a Saturday. Not busy at all. The gentleman seating was very welcoming and recommended the patio that has a view of the golf course. Beautiful day for a patio lunch. We each had a Patron margarita for $15 and it was a good size that gave us a good buzz. She bad Birria tacos tat looked amazing and I had the taquitos. Good food, drinks and service. I almost always love the decor in Mexican restaurants and this one did not disappoint read more

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Tried for the first time and I really enjoyed the fajitas! They were a winner for sure. I also got a Mexican corn and I didn't like it at all but that could be just me. I've had other street corn and elite that I liked but this one was not good to me. I'd come again for the fajitas or to try the other dishes they have! Everything seemed good quality. read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Mexican corn - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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We are always down to try new Mexican restaurants and this was probably one of the better Mexican foods we've tried in the Omaha area. We came in on a Friday night and it wasn't super busy and we got sat right away. The decorations in the restaurant were really cool. One big complaint about this place is that the service was extremely slow; it took us around 30 minutes to even begin ordering drinks and probably another 20 to order food. Our waitress was wandering around and did not acknowledge us until much later. The food was overall very good; we also got served fresh chips and salsa as we sat down, but the drinks were the highlight of the meal. I ordered a Paloma-esque drink that came in a clay pot. My friend got a margarita flight and it came with 4 large size drinks (very worth it!). read more

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I recently tried this place for lunch and our waiter was very friendly and efficient. We started with the cheese dip and the Copal margarita. The dip was good with chopped, fresh jalapeños. The Copal margarita was very good. It was nice and strong without being too sweet. We ordered a variety of tacos for lunch. We tried the grilled mahi, birria and pastor. While they were all really good, the birria and pastor tacos were our favorites. On Tuesday tacos are 3 for $11 with rice and beans, which is a pretty good deal. They are fairly big and definitely filling! This was our first visit and the food was great and service excellent. read more

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I have been to Copal a few times, and never leave disappointed! Located in the corner of the Eagle Run strip mall, there is usually parking, but you might have to walk a bit on a busy weekend night. The service is always great, and the food comes out quickly. They have a full bar and a great margarita and cocktail menu! The complimentary chips and salsa are fantastic! The restaurant has plenty of space and seating, and they even have a great patio out back! My most favorite dish here is the verdes enchiladas, the sauce they make just tops any other green sauce I've tried. So good! Most dishes come with rice and beans, which are also flavorful and delicious. Highly recommend!!! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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I mulled over whether to give Copal 4 or 5 stars after having an experience that was not up to100% of expectations. Every visit has been awesome. The margaritas are spot on. The salsa, enchiladas, tacos, etc. are always very good. Service? Friendly. We have been on an adventure looking for a Molcajete that can beat our favorite here in Omaha. It's back on the menu at Copal. We like it hot, we like it soupy, we like it bubbly and spicy with good quality meat. We almost had it all except the meat and sauce were lukewarm. It surprised the heck out of us. Presentation was very appetizing. Our waiter was a little braggadocios in a friendly way about how hot this gets. He even came up to check on us and tapped his finger on the Molcajete to assure himself that it was hot. It was! But it wasn't. We looked at each other like are you kidding? The thing is that we didn't bring it up and that's on us. I have seen reviews elsewhere that people really enjoyed it so I'll mark it up to an anomaly. We took the leftovers home and heated it ourselves and it was awesome. It's pretty dang close to our previous favorite. Give this place a shot. We're going back for sure. read more

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We've been to Copal a few times now, and enjoyed it quite a bit each visit. The location that the restaurant is in has changed proprietors many times over the years, but Copal seem to be pretty popular so I don't think it's in danger of suffering the same fate. The decor is very colorful and bright, while the ambiance is super lively and always bustling. The service has been a little hit or miss over the times we've been there, with how busy they get during their daily specials and happy hour times. We did have one great waiter though, named Carlos G, who was very attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant, even when we were there on one of the aforementioned busy nights. The most important part now - the food! Starting with the starters (lol) our favorites we've had are the Queso Fundido (super gooey cheese with little bread bites for dipping) and the rolled chicken taquitos (which come with three dips!) And the main dishes we've enjoyed are: Birria tacos - A roast beef protein, with sour cream topping and a side of beef broth for dipping. These come with a LOT of meat in each taco. It was a little bit too much for me, actually, but my husband was happy to eat the meat I took out of my tacos to lighten them up. Chorizo tacos - These are filled with a delicious and super well-seasoned chorizo mixture atop a tasty slaw base, and then all topped with - wait for it - french fries! That might sound weird but my husband said the fries were actually pretty delightful themselves. This also comes with a side of rice and beans, which the Birria Tacos do not for some reason, so just be aware of that. Huarache - This is mouthwateringly flavorful. It's a corn base with beans, salsa, beef (but you get your choice of protein) and is topped with queso, sour cream, and avocado slices. It is just so many of my favorite things all rolled into one dish. It also comes with a yummy little salad on the side too! Steak Fajitas - My husband loves fajitas and he said these were some of the best he's tried. Perfectly cooked steak strips covered in a slaw of peppers and onions. The dish comes with beans and rice in a little dish on the side also. (We haven't tried any desserts yet, because we've always been too full after our meals to stuff anything in there, but we will have to save room and try them next time and report back!) All in all, I would definitely recommend giving Copal a try if you're in Northwest Omaha and looking for some pretty authentic Mexican options. read more

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Still loving Copal! Finally tried something out of my comfort zone last time and I LOVED it!! The enchiladas verde! highly recommend! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Chicken Taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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The service was excellent. We were seated immediately and the servers were very attentive, even as the place got busy. The decorations in the restaurant are very homey and cute! I ordered the enchiladas verdes and they were soooo good. They come with a side of beans and rice. I do wish the portion sizes were switched as I love rice more than I love beans, but that's a personal opinion. I look forward to visiting Copal again! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Enchiladas Verdes - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

Good food, but nothing special. Decent service, but not much to write about. Not the best vibes. Lighting is all off. Portion sizes were the highlight, which isn't saying too much. Margs need some work. read more

The fajitas were amazing, loved the flavors. The rice was good the beans were not very flavorful. I do understand it was busy but our server seemed very much all over the place. We had asked for an order to go and we had already finished eating waiting for our to go order but she had not put in the to go order yet. She did put in the order as soon as we asked and it did come out fast. read more

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Great customer service and the food is phenomenal you won't regret it. I mainly like the customer service but obviously the food is great

We came in for dinner Saturday night around 7pm. It was a very busy evening as it was the holiday but we got our water and chips and salsa quickly. Their chips are so thin, salty, and overall delicious. True restaurant style salsa, we devoured the bin before we even had our drink orders taken. I went for the cucumber jalapeno margarita. It had a good kick to it, but the diced cucumber threw me for a loop, it was like boba, so i didn't care for it. We wanted to get a pitched of Pacifico but the tap was out. The server was SO nice and came over with a bottled beer and let us know it was on the house. Then we ordered the triple meat fajitas to split with mexican corn. Now, I will say it said mexican corn, not elote, but I was expecting elote, needless to say the stalk of corn threw me, but it was SO good. coated with creame and tajin, mmmm. Now onto the fajitas, fantastic, the shrimp was so chunky and cooked to perfection. We both got our fill from just one plate. I ordred a corona light after my marg, and he brought it over again and told us onthe house because of the wait. We really didn't think too much of the service because we always had something to eat and drink, but that was very kind of our server to be so apologetic. We will definitely be back and continue trying more dishes. read more

By far the most authentic and delicious Mexican food I have ever had in Omaha! The atmosphere is fabulous. From the decor, to the music, to the friendly service, it is a true dining experience. The drinks are also fantastic and are not overdone with mix, you can taste the quality of the tequila with each drink! The patio is gorgeous. But more than anything, the FOOD. I ordered the mahi tacos this time and each bite had the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, crunch, and fish. I have also had the green enchiladas before with chicken tinga. The first bite immediately reminded me of the food I had when visiting Chichén Itzá in the Yucatán region of Mexico. I could not rave any more about this place, I'm obsessed! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Mahi Mahi Tacos, Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

I know Omaha Restaurant Week has come and gone, but I've finally found the time to drop a review! I've been to Copal several times, and have always had a pleasant experience. The atmosphere isn't quite "warm and inviting", but you don't really expect it to be either. My ONLY complaint, is that it's hard to snap good quality photos when you're being blasted by neon colored lights LOL. To start things off - the spicy cheese dip is incredible. It has the perfect balance of spices, and like the menu states, it's "not so spicy". I chose the Cochinta Pibil Panucho and my partner snagged the Birria tacos. I will say, the first bite I took of my Cochinta must have had a whole spoonful of "mayan seeds" or maybe an entire pepper because I ALMOST DIED. Luckily, the spice came down quite a bit as I continued to eat through it, I was worried there for a second! The start of the show though, the true MVP, and the dish I will forever order when I return, is the Stuffed Churros. The tequila ice cream was cool and refreshing, and the "white creamy sauce" was incredible. Do yourself a favor and don't leave without ordering this. Can't wait to go back! read more

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We went on a Tuesday and literally no one was in there. Service was extremely slow despite it being empty - they took forever to just come and get our order. And then when they gave us our food they never came back to check on us or refill waters and drinks. Food is ok...definitely more Tex mex style than authentic Mexican food. I'd rather go to south O for Mexican food than here The restaurant ambiance however is nice and big, but outside of that - it's ok, probably not somewhere I'd recommend to friends read more

Some of the food was good, some not so great. Extra cost for more chips and salsa. It tasted like there was kale or cucumber in their salsa verde which I find odd. We got the ceviche flight and it was okay, but not very flavorful. Also, the flight only came with two tostadas, and extra tostadas cost more. The server also took my margarita when it was only half empty. The vegetarian tacos were good. read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Ceviche flight and vegetarian tacos - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

We started our meal with spicy queso! Delicious with a nice kick! Then we had crunchy tacos which were on happy hour. Raul, our server, was very attentive and friendly. The venue is even more beautiful now as they have added vibrant pink flowers along with the papel picado and other colorful decor. We always love going to Copal! read more

Copal has been a place I've been wanting to try for a long time and glad I finally did! Immediately I was delightfully surprised to find out they had a patio! And it's a nice sized patio! I love that! I got the skinny Marg and the creamy tomato enchiladas and thought both things were delicious! The service was quick and all the servers were friendly. I will happily be back! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Creamy Tomato Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

10/10 must eat here! This was the freshest and most authentic Mexican food I have ever had in the US. Stewart was a great server everyone was incredibly friendly. The quality of the ingredients was second to none! read more

Had a nice little meal here and ate way too much. Fish tacos, chicken mole, and lots / lots of chips with salsa and guacamole. On a Thursday night it was pretty hopping and drinks were flowing. Overall a fun spot for a group! read more

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The food here was great! The salsa verde we hs with the tacos and fajitas had an unexpected but pleasant bite. The tortillas were really tasty as was the rice, especially with queso on it. I had a carajillo which was somewhat like an espresso martini, if that's your thing! My husband had a Paloma, which he said was very good. The only qualm was that we were in the party room where it was really warm, like it was cooler in the rest of the restaurant or outside compared to where we were at. That dampened the experience slightly, but we'll certainly be back to try more things on the menu. read more

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This is my new favorite Mexican place in Omaha. Their chips and salsa are legit. Warm chips not too thick, not too thin. Super fresh salsa with plenty of cilantro. You must order the mahi tacos! The fish is very lightly battered and fried, comes out hot and crispy, topped with tangy slaw and a creamy chipotle sauce. Divine. The rice is also very nicely seasoned. Hubby couldn't stop complementing the shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, which can be difficult to achieve in a setting like this. Even the kids cheese quesadilla was good! Tortilla was nicely browned and the perfect amount of cheese. Happy hour every day and nice strong drinks. The bar was a bit slow getting drinks out but they looked short staffed. I am so glad another great restaurant came into this space! read more

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Some of the best food I've had in my whole life. 10/10 No complaints. Compliments to Abuela read more

My lunch group met at Copal in June. We had a reservation & were promptly seated by friendly staff. Our waiter was courteous, he shared with us that it is a family owned restaurant & everything is made from scratch. He also shared personal favorites. Their lunch specials were priced under $12.00 & delicious & leftovers to take home. The parking is not great, but it's in a strip mall, so it is what it is. We plan to try out their outside seating when it cools off. We are adding Copal to our favorites list. read more

It's cold in here. The air is cold, the lighting, the silverware. The center of the dining room reflects the glare of the cold ceiling lights, the edges of the room subdued, almost in shadow. Nothing says warmth nor welcome. Isn't comfort part of the dining experience? Why do these folks make me wear my jacket to eat? The chips are excellent. How so? I don't know, they just are. I asked a waitress to turn up the heat. She returned saying she turned it...on. The carne assada was good. The veggies lacked the scrumptious-ness I like and were few. Sides were excellent. I can feel the heat now. By the time I leave it should be up to 65. Two stars...because of the chill. read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Light and dark, glare and gloom. - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

We didn't know there was a new restaurant at this location. Long time ago it was an Italian restaurant! Today, we visited for the first time. Immediately when we entered we were greeted by a very friendly hostess! Awesome decor and great atmosphere. We had reservations for five and got seated right away at 5pm on a Saturday! We were lucky because happy hour ended at 6pm. I ordered three chicken tacos from the happy hour menu $9 (I think) and they were yummy. Big size and came with salsa, Mexican rice, and beans. Overall we had a very good experience at this restaurant. Btw our server Carlos was super friendly and courteous! Highly recommend trying out this place! Side note: (might be personal preference) my son and I think the rice was a little bit too hard! Wished it was cooked a little longer! read more

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Was too excited for the food and forgot to take photo before and after! Chips and salsa are my favorite in town. Chips are light and perfectly salted. Salsa is fresh with a slight kick. Perfect amount. Didn't get a margarita today but had them in the past. They are delicious and mixed to perfection. For supper I got the grilled steak tacos. Comes with 3 of them, rice, refried beans, and spicy salsa. Steak was a little dry and has some tough pieces. However, overall it was very good. Topped with parsley and purple onions. Hot sauce has an excellent kick. Highly recommend if you prefer spice. Nothing special about beans or rice. Overall love this place. One of the best in town! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Grilled Steak Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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It was a chilly night so we sat inside, but there is outside seating available. The atmosphere is fun and energetic. The chips and salsa were so good. We ordered mahi tacos and steak tacos. They were both delicious. I ordered a mezcal mojito that was a huge serving and strong. Would have liked the server to be more attentive as we had to flag her down for more water and chips. But overall, definitely will go back. (Pics are funky because of the cool blue lighting in the restaurant) read more

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It was a quiet Thursday afternoon and I seemed to be the only diner, which was fine with me. The server was very friendly and suggested a Margarita, but since I was driving, I declined. He said they also had lemonade and I could get an Arnold Palmer. That was tempting but I opted for water. He brought a basket of fresh corn chips. They were thin and crispy and went well with the salsa, which was just right. I opted for a tostada from the express lunch menu. When I said I didn't want meat on it, I was offered veggies to add on, to which I said yes. Beans and rice were sides. I also added a side of guacamole which came in a stone bowl with chips like wings. I think it was supposed to be when pigs fly and it was so cute! The tostada was crispy and loaded with deliciousness, including avocado. The beans and rice were tasty and I ended up taking most of that home since the tostada plus chips and guacamole was very filling. The guac was just as good as it's presentation. The server told me they were having mariachis on Sunday, so that's another incentive to go back, besides the awesome food. read more

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This place is the real deal. The staff is incredible and you can feel how every person cares so much about their guest! The food is also incredible!! We love this place! read more

Have been to Copal many times and always enjoy their flavorful dishes. Red and green salsas are wonderful and so is the mole. Vegetarian options are packed with the freshest vegetables and the entire menu offers something good for everyone, portions are big! Staff is friendly and offer great service. Very cute, festive outdoor area is fun to sit in when the weather is nice. read more

We were super excited to try this place, but we were really disappointed. The food wasn't remarkable (the dessert was good though!), the ambiance isn't anything to write home about either, the restaurant feels crowded, and the service was just horrible. I sincerely hope this was just a bad night for them. When waiting to be seated, three different people asked us how many were in our party (2) and said they'd be right with us. Okay, they're busy, no problem. At the table, I ordered Las Verdes Enchiladas and they brought Tomato Enchiladas. My partner had the Chorizo Burrito, which they say was "just okay". The worst part was that the server didn't bring silverware, and it took us 15 minutes to flag down a server to correct my order and grab silverware. The server brought silverware for my partner and quickly replaced my order with the correct plate, but didn't bring ME any silverware! Drinks were great, which was a huge plus. I had the Passion Fruit Mojito and my partner had a Guava Margarita on the rocks. Had churros for dessert which were yummy. Genuinely want to come back and hope they're a little less overwhelmed and we can try some more dishes, hopefully rate it better! read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Las Verdes Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

This place was pretty nice but the Mexican food was delicious! The decor seemed like a mix modern couple with a wall with what looked liked a couple of giant peacocks made out of brightly colored pieces of carpet remnants. Behind the bar was very contemporary looking. The best thing was the service and the food. But the one disappointment for me was the fact that even though they have only been in that location a short time, they had already raised their prices and you had to use a CR code to find out what the. NEW prices were. read more

Copal Mexican Cuisine - Chile Relleno. (Excellent!) - Mexican Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

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