El Paraiso

Absolutely phenomenal. This was an outstanding experience. I stopped by for a relatively quick…read morelunch at the bar, and I was impressed by every aspect of the experience. The space is very nicely designed and laid out. Plenty of room in a cozy environment. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, on top of being very effective. I was extremely pleased to find that they even had a few different vegetarian proteins for their various dishes. In terms of the food, I went with a burrito bowl with vegan chorizo. The presentation was fantastic: my photo doesn't do it justice. It was also enormous. Much more food than I could finish, but also delicious. There were so many layers of flavors and textures that really came together in a cohesive dish. The best part is that they offer three different house made salsas, which really leveled up the dish and the experience. I would absolutely recommend checking this place out. The very hip, somewhat low key vibe was comfortable while also feeling high end well designed.

Great spot downtown. I've had the stuffed avocado multiple times. It's delicious. Tonight we also…read moretried the green bean app. Everything was delicious & the service was great too.

Mountain Madre Mexican Kitchen and Agave Bar

Loaded Nachos

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Margarita flight

Andale Way Mexican Grill

4.7(106 reviews)

2.8 mi

We just had lunch on 10-3-26 and we all enjoyed our meal. I had the steak fajitas and my daughter…read morehad spinach dip, a little thinner than the usual dip because of the cheese I guess but very good. Both of the margaritas were tasty as well. The waitress was prompt and friendly.

Service was successful and ambiance was pleasurable. I got a combo meal with a pastor taco, a…read morechorizo taco, and rice and bean purée. The rice and beans were phenomenal in flavor, especially when eaten together. Both the meats were cooked and seasoned to excellence, and the tortillas were piping hot. Overall, this is how to get a taco lunch.

Interior, bar area

Texas fajitas

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Bar

Salsa's

4.0(1k reviews)

Everything about this place is amazing! Hurry up cause it closes at 3!!!!…read more Mole and Avacado sauces are second to none!!! Highly recommended You'll be glad you came for sure!!!

Salsa's is my favorite restaurant in the world!!! I do not live in Asheville but have been lucky…read moreenough to be coming to Salsa's for 25 years! Every time I am remotely close to Asheville I go out of my way to have lunch or dinner. This visit was a Thursday night dinner. Unfortunately the restaurant was not crowded. We sat outside in the alley at the bar. Fun lights and painting and the alley really had a positive vibe! Alex hooked us up with some of the best margaritas we have ever had! The Gran Marnier float took the drinks to a whole new level! My wife and I both ordered off the specials menu. My wife had Papa Rellena and I went with Pork Belly. As always the food was beyond amazing! The flavors that we got are not like anywhere else. It is like a rave in my mouth where every flavor gets along and has the best time with every other flavor. Simply incredible!!! If you get a chance to try Salsa's don't pass it up!

Seating area

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Spicy Mango Margarita; Fresh Guacamole and Chips

Taqueria Munoz

4.4(177 reviews)

0.3 mi

Authentic as they come and I was not prepared for the portion sizes so I went a little overboard…read more That's fine - I took the leftovers home to my family. Giant quesadilla, chips & queso (don't get that, it was so watery. Even they prob looked at me like "you sure about that?") No frills lunch spot full of locals. Anything you get - besides the queso - is pretty fantastic.

Excellent pork tacos, tender with perfect tortillas. The…read morechicken tamales. Perfect spice, it makes me miss home.. Texas, lol.

Fresh made tortillas and a perfectly stocked toppings bar.

Birria Tacos

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Limones Restaurant

4.3(851 reviews)

One of my new favorites in town. They update their menu monthly, which is great but also bad when…read moreyou find something you love. We sat at the bar and Ryan was a great bartender. He provided excellent recommendations. All of which we ordered and loved. The restaurant was bustling in the main room. It's more upscale but still a chill vibe. We had the chili relleno which was amazing. It came with both verde and roja sauces. Cheesy and gooey! It seeped a mixture of goat cheese, Monterey Jack, and cheddar. This should definitely be a staple on their menu. We also ordered the sixteen spice lamb which came with a delightful orzo pilaf and mint zhoug. So yummy! The last dish was the ginger cilantro shrimp. Yum! Very flavorful. It came with a cauliflower velouté, chayote, and pineapple pico. The dishes were the perfect size to grab a few and share. I can't wait to try their next menu which starts tomorrow.

A favorite of our adult children's, Limones was a restaurant suggested that we go to here. We were…read morecelebrating my our son's birthday. Our service person was spectacular: accessible, professional, and thoroughly knowledgeable about the cuisine here in Asheville, N.C. It was a very enjoyable, promising beginning. I have to say, honestly, the food was good. In my view, the food was not spectacular. I can't say that it was bad by any stretch of the imagination; all of it was tasty. In all fairness husband loved his Shrimp dish. That said, the price of the food did not match the experience nor the expectation; such an expense would invite most restaurant guests to assume the cuisine would be spectacular. Like I said, the food was tasty.

Pork cutlets and chorizo mashed potatoes

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Seared Sea Scallops

La Rumba Restaurant Latino

4.7(254 reviews)

4.8 mi

This was one of those completely last-minute dinner decisions that ended up being one of the BEST…read moremeals we've had in a long time. We were out in Asheville, randomly started craving Mexican food, and decided to give La Rumba a try. I'm SO glad we did because everything was genuinely incredible. The food was absolutely sensational. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor, fresh, and just ridiculously good. We kept trying each other's food and basically saying "oh my god" after every bite. Even the chips, salsa, queso, and guac had us hooked before our actual food came out. And the drinks!!! SO good. Dangerous in the best possible way. What really took the experience over the top though, was the service. Everyone was incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming, and you could tell they cared that we were having a great experience. Great food is one thing, but when the service matches it, that's what makes a restaurant memorable. We went in on a whim with zero expectations and left talking about how we HAVE to come back the next time we're in Asheville. Honestly, La Rumba may have ruined our ability to casually pick another Mexican restaurant now 10/10. No notes. Go hungry. Order everything.

A bit off our path by it was SO worth it! This place is a…read moreGem, I haven't yet found this quality Mexican in California. I had the Puffy Wrap with chicken and the wife had the Mushroom Crema. Everything was excellent. The sauces were exceptional. Portions were generous such that we took leftovers. But left a little space to split a Flan. Firm but delicious. Would certainly recommend!

3 Amigas!

Camarones al ajo negro

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Mahi- a la lena

Tacos Jalisco Mexican Restaurant

4.4(151 reviews)

0.2 mi

Easily my favorite Mexican restaurant in Asheville! Try the Habanero Burrito ! It's not as spicy…read moreas it sounds but you can ask for their delicious hot sauce if you like it spicy. The chips come with fresh salsa. Nice patio and chill indoor seating.

Looking for reasonably priced delicious Mexican food? This is the place. Tucked back off Patton Ave…read moreyou'll find this gem nestled in an office park. You will receive excellent service from a knowledgeable staff who take great care to get you everything you need. Food comes out hot and fresh. The fish tacos (our favorite) are delicious from first bite to last. Everything on the menu is fantastic! Chips are delicious and their sauces are too. And if you can save room for dessert, you need to get the churros! Yum!!!! Definitely worth the short trip from downtown to Patton.

Outside seating or plenty of inside seating We've been here as a party of 2 or 12 and they can always accommodate.

Fish tacos - it's the sauce! Our absolute favorite!

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Menu (Sep '24)

Taco Billy

4.5(498 reviews)

1.7 mi

We enjoyed the neighborhood vibe and great food! We each ordered two tacos and chips/salsa to…read moreshare. Everything was delicious. Drinks from the bar were yummy! The whole vibe is fun and easy-going!

Taco Billy was a delicious breakfast/lunch spot to hit. I got two tacos: the Migas and the Support…read moreGroup. The Migas was delicious and filling, plenty of protein and veggies inside. I opted for a corn tortilla, but it quickly fell apart, so I'd recommend a flour tortilla for that one. The Support Group was good too - it was on the sweeter side because of the plantain tortilla, which was unique and fun to try, but I definitely have more a a savory tooth, so I would, again, opt for a flour tortilla in the future. All breakfast tacos come with a salsa, which I chose when I ordered, but they forgot to give it to me, and I didn't realize until I finished my meal so I didn't get to try it. The portions are pretty big - I could have gotten away with eating one taco rather than two since they were so filling and I wasn't too hungry. The service was quick and freshly-made. There were plenty of seats available on a Sunday morning. There is limited parking right in front of the building. They had some coffee, which I opted not to purchase, but good to know if you need a morning pick-me-up. My favorite part about the restaurant was all of the beautiful paintings on the wall with a hidden orange goat painted somewhere into them. I spent some time before I left looking for them in each picture, like Where's Waldo!

Kafka

Guacamole on the patio

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Mamacita's Taqueria

4.1(377 reviews)

There's fast casual and then there's FRESH fast casual. Everything here is made to order which is…read morepossible because the service is ridiculously efficient. The space gets a little intimate when the line gets long because apparently everyone else will likely also have the brilliant idea to come here but, lucky for everyone, the wait moves quickly. The asada salad is easily one of the best I've had: bright, vibrant, fresh flavors with seriously good carne asada. And the portions are appropriately sized for the price, which feels almost rebellious in this economy. But the churros, the churros... they are dropped in the fryer right in front of you then served hot and coated with actual grated cinnamon and sugar. Actual cinnamon. Revolutionary concept! I will absolutely be eating here again. In fact, every time I pass through Asheville, Mamacita is now on the itinerary.

It pains me to make this review as I've LOVED Mamacitas for years - but today, I was very…read moredisappointed by the staff. As a vegetarian, it was alarming to see a staff touch raw fish with their gloves and proceed to touch all the fresh vegetables without a glove change. After letting them know that this happened, the response was only a "oh sorry" and back to regular business. Not only is this unappealing for anyone to see, but an incredibly serious allergy risk that they do not care about and kept putting veggies on folks food. This is the best burrito spot in Asheville, and now, I don't know I can support or recommend them in all good conscientiousness.

Seating area

Chips And Salsa

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Selection of meat and tofu

La Cabana Mexican Grill

4.3(34 reviews)

5.8 mi

I tried to get a great review but for some reason the app is telling me I was too wordy. OK that…read morehas to be in the restaurant was amazing. Just come and try it and talk to Jess if you're over by the bar, even if you just need water.

I do not recommend This place. Tried it 3 times. Salsa bar…read moreis usually nearly empty and a huge mess with salsa slopped all Over and dried so I know it had been like that for a while and no one even does a wipe down. Restroom dirty. Originally seated at a very dirty table. Asked to be seated at a clean table and we were moved to another dirty table that hadn't been wiped down from Previous customer. Terrible waitress. Told the cashier, as we paid, that our waitress needed to go back to dish washing. Her reply was, "we know". I won't be back.

View of bar

Biria taco

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La paleta shot

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Westavl F.

14 years ago

Worst service i've EVER had in my life, and that says a lot! don't waste your time go to el que pasa or tacos jalisco instead. this place deserves zero stars. read more

El Paraiso - mexican - Updated October 2026

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Nachos and Beer

4.1

(134 reviews)

My husband and I stopped by for dinner on a Monday and really enjoyed our food and the beer…read more Service was friendly, and the food came out pretty quickly. Nachos and Beer has the appearance of an old diner, which makes the vibe fun and unique. They bring you complimentary chips with bean dip (a new one for me), and there's also a salsa bar. The green salsa was my favorite because it was the spiciest! I love beans, so I enjoyed the bean dip too. I had the Choripollo Burrito and was really impressed! The chicken and chorizo were well seasoned and flavorful, and the burrito was smothered in tasty cheese sauce. What's not to love?

I used to love this place. I would go with the guys from work every Friday and it was great…read more Unfortunately my last two experiences didn't hold up. The service has been atrocious. We saw our waitress when she took our order and when she brought us the check. She didn't bring us our food, and she never came to refill our water, which we ran out of before we got our food. The restaurant was not busy. They were probably close to 30% capacity. It took us 30 minutes to get our food. The wait would have been justified if the food was knocked out of the park, but it just wasn't, and that pains me to say. The chicken was unseasoned and the rice was dry. We were sitting on the patio, so if I give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe they just forgot we were out there. Either way, I was very excited to visit a place I used to love, but left feeling disappointed on multiple fronts.

El Que Pasa

3.9

(175 reviews)

The food is always excellent and the service is top notch! My very favorite Mexican restaurant ever!read more

West Asheville staple that has grown in popularity but not quality or price. The service is very…read morefriendly and the food is predictable but over the years it has gotten increasingly expensive. For example, I just paid $4 for a soda water that was never refilled. I got the salad one time and it was wonderful but a second time it was pretty horrible so I opted for fajitas this time $19). There was plenty for two meals, which I super appreciated.

Taco Fiesta Mexican Kitchen - Mars Hill

3.9

(38 reviews)

Eaten there 25 - 30 times. Watched as this restaurant has gained friction. Great Tex- Mex with some…read moreauthentic dishes in the mix. Service is quick, sausa from the bar is great and chips are fresh and great. I've had just about all on menu and all have been very good. Like every restaurant in WNC, they have had problems with staff and challenges. They try hard and have improved on every level since opening. I'm sure foodies can find complaints, but for me, they are great for Mars Hill and this area. They are busy during peak dining hours but get through their wait list very efficiently. They are definitely much better than their Yelp rating and are comparable to anything in Asheville. I feel lucky to have a great "go to" close by. Highly recommend!

Walked into the environment and was immediately stared at like an outsider. This was normal for…read morethis area and we overlooked it. We were seated immediately which was great until we waited for our server for about 15 min. We noticed everyone around us getting served even those who came in after. I was told they did not serve any alcohol, then I watched everyone around be served alcohol. The menu looked great so we decided to overlook everything. We ordered our food and drinks. One drink had a fly in it and the server was not interested in providing us another after we asked. The order we received was wrong, in which we debated with the server until it became apparent that our presence was not wanted in this establishment. I do not recommend this place at all.

El Chapala Mexican Restaurant

3.7

(102 reviews)

The aesthetic is a typical American Mexican restaurant aesthetic, very clean and lots of tables and…read morebooths. There's a fairly recently added extra room with a nicely lit bar as well. The prices and portions are excellent for this area - as are the beer prices. The staff is always very friendly and efficient - you. NEVER have to wait more than a few minutes at max (even on crazy busy days like Cinco De Mayo). My wife always gets the shredded chicken chimichangas, she can't imagine eating chimichangas anywhere else. I usually get the Mexican style tacos, and they offer a slightly deep fried jalapeño for adding to your dish (highly recommended). We eat here at least once a week, you will enjoy it!

Overall not so great experience. Two out of three people in my party ended up not feeling great…read moreafterwards. The fajitas were not the best and the steak was very sparse. I don't think that I would go back for that alone. We did have good service and they had some pretty good salsa.

Blue Agave

3.9

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Great food, service and salsa bar. Dog friendly! We were seated right away and they brought the…read morepups a bowl of ice water. The food was excellent!

We stayed at hotel next door, grabbed take out, small soup came in a styrofoam cup... odd, but good…read morebroth, loaded with large shrimp, wife's quesadilla was pretty small & thin, came with chips.

Don Buyos Mexican Restaurant and Cantina

4.1

(21 reviews)

Our relatives from Candler NC took us here for dinner and was one of they're favorites. They…read morestarted us with chips and salsa which was good and also have a salsa bar with more dips for the chips! I had the enchiladas verde which came with rice and refried beans which was very good and a decent size . Think it was like 12.99 .and well worth it . Our bartender served us and was great . This place was here for like 6 months and had a very new decor throughout the restaurant. Looked very nice . Lots of stuff to choose from and prices were very reasonable. Would come back again for for great food .

We stopped for lunch on our way home from a little getaway. We spotted Don Buyos and decided to…read moregive it a try. We ordered our food to go so we could conquer the road, but the atmosphere was very nice and clean! The man who took our order was friendly and their service was quick! My husband order a burrito and taco, it came with rice plus chips and salsa. He enjoyed it, it had a great flavor! I ordered a tamal and burrito. I are the tamal first and it was delicious! My next door neighbors when I was growing up were from Mexico, so I know what good tamales taste like. Definitely give this place a try. We will go back again only next time we won't be in a rush!

Canelo's Mexican Family Restaurant

3.8

(39 reviews)

Updating my review after I was served raw ground pork. The salsa avocado is still the best ever. I…read morequit going after my order of Chori Pollo had raw ground pork on top. Instead of cooking the chorizo they simply put a big scoop of raw sausage on top and expected it to cook under the broiler on top of the dish. I started eating it and after a couple bites realized it was raw underneath. I had to throw it out.

Ordered a veggie burrito for takeout here and was pretty happy with it. It contained squash,…read morezucchini, rice, beans, and pico de gallo with a LOT of queso poured on the top. I'll definitely ask for them to go easy on it next time. All in all it tasted fresh and it was a pretty hearty portion size. The salsa bar had some good selections too, but didn't have two of my favorites--still had nice variety though and I enjoyed the pickled jalapeño onions/carrots. I'll definitely be coming back to dine-in and explore the rest of the menu. My order was made quickly and the folks working there were nice, and it seemed like a very mellow place to eat at due to how quiet it was; not a lot of loud music and not super packed. Looking forward to my next visit!

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Mountain Madre

4.4

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All this B.S. adulting lately had me needing a fantastic drink, and the Spice of Life at Mountain…read moreMadre North was it! Cheers! Astral Blanco Tequila, strawberry serrano syrup, fresh lime, and lava salt. Spicy + sweet! Cocktails But, let's hear it for the salsa flight - their house salsa and avocado verde salsa are truly remarkable. I don't tend to dream about salsa, but I'll be back for that and be sure to spend $120 talking to my therapist about food dreams. Appetizer I ordered the chimichanga with steak, and the flavors were popping' with perfectly cooked steak and bright jicama slaw on top. The jicama slaw over corn puree & cilantro-lime crema called out for its own vessel - I wish there was more! My wife and friends explored the enchiladas and taco salads, which were equally excellent with fresh flavors. Entrees Parking secret: parking adjacent to the building is greedily and stupidly marked off as "no restaurant parking" (yeah, like MOST of it, not just a few spaces), but we saw a sign that said we could park legally for free in the church parking lot just across the side street. Score! Parking And noise/ambiance: I'm perimenopausal and pissed off at everything these days, but I can honestly say that the noise level here was totally manageable, room temperature read pleasant, and the lighting and decor was impeccably and not overly done. Intimate conversations Big groups Not overly stimulating Mountain Madre Asheville 791 Merrimon Ave

Wonderful service and wonderful food. Each dish we have gotten here has been solid. No complaints…read moreon anything ordered from the menu. Taco Tuesday's vary the selection of each of the three tacos. Nice variety, simple, always well done. Nice and spacious seating area, feels open and vibrant. Their take on an Old Fashion with the Anejo Old Fashion is my favorite specialty drink!!

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