We went in on a Tuesday and it was quiet not many customers. I got the carne asada and my husband got the 7 mares soup. Everything was great. read more

The food and service were incredible. The flavor was amazing and could not ask for friendlier staff. When I got the check, I was even more impressed with the value for what you receive. recommend this place highly for locals or someone just passing thru. read more

The restaurant was good but definitely not great. It definitely was large but was sterile feeling. It lacks the home like feeling most Mexican restaurants have. read more

Hello Hickory, you have a gem in your midst. I had not planned to go here but I was refused service at another Hickory restaurant called Harbor Inn Seafood so this place became plan B. It probably should have been plan A all along because this place is great. The service and the food was just incredible. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted and made to feel welcome. The menu is massive with a vast selection of appetizers, soups salads and main dishes. I was impressed right away with they served some large round tortillas with a mix of salsas, free cut limes and a mix of cheese and other herbs and spices. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and was told they have fresh made lemonade so I said yes, let's mix it with some sweet tea. It was brought in a large 32 oz, mug, it was delicious. I've eaten Paella on the Plaza De Mayor in Madrid and from fine Portugest restaurants in Washington, DC. There Paella De Mariscos was fantastic. This is a 'family style' restaurant. All the plates are for sharing. The portions are massive and way too much for one person. Be prepared to get a 'to go' box and enjoy the rest later. The prices are on the higher end and I shared this with my waiter. I'm not surprised when he said 'it's supply chain due to COVID'. How many of us have heard that before? read more

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My son goes to the local university so I'm driven down the street many times and noticed this new restaurant recently. I was excited to see you authentic Mexican restaurant in this area so I had to stop in. It's a nice large open restaurant with plenty of parking. I was greeted immediately when I entered and handed the menu. There's so many yummy choices on the menu. It is nicely decorated with plenty of seating. One small problem was that I wanted fish tacos I know that they have them but they weren't on the menu. The hostess was pretty sure they were but neither of us could find them but she ordered them for me anyway. I also got the empanadas. I only had about a 15 minute wait for my food. On a scale of 1 to 5 I'll give the tacos a four. I'm a custom to more authentic tacos that I get when I go to Southern California. These were a little Americanized. The empanadas were also pretty good. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area again. read more

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WOW!! Now check this out, my wife and I work in Los Angeles and stay in Santa Clarita for a good portion of the year. These two cities are both in "northern Mexico aka southern California"!! When we're not working, we LIVE OUR BEST LIVES near the town of Hickory, in North Carolina. Now working and staying where we do, you know we're blessed with some of the best Mexican food on earth, but in Hickory, North Carolina?, and it was seafood too....whaaaaaaaaat?, nooooooo! way!! Yes Way!! Oh Lawd, El Vallartazo was EPIC!! We had a large order crab Nayarit, way too much for two people and a pescado guajillo & garlic red snapper, fried to perfection!! Again, way too much for two people... I need to mention the tostadas with ceviche along with the two salsas that are both served before the meal are absolutely amazing!! Now what impressed me the most was of course how fresh and delicious the food was but even more so it was the hospitality that made this evening so nice. From the time we walked in and sat down to the end of the meal when we were the only ones in the restaurant because they were actually closed at this point, but never made us feel rushed the entire experience was great!! read more

Would like to review the food , but the steak truck didn't arrive . So, the guacamole was decent l. And the service was ok.

Best seafood around love it. Service can be better but it's not bad. Ambiance is nice and open. Their shrimp empanadas are bomb.com The red snapper and mojarras delicious, their oysters yummm read more

Le doy una estrella aunque no se lo merece. He visitado dos veces este lugar y las dos veces he quedado decepcionada , muy caro y el sabor de la comida no le llega al precio .No lo recomiendo. read more

Food was amazing and lots of different things to choose from! Service was wonderful as well, will return! read more

El Vallartazo - Mexican Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Not really even sure where to start!!! When you walk in, the place is very clean and simple. The staff was extremely friendly. You are served ceviche with corn chips, fresh salsa and limes when you sit down. The food is so fresh, best seafood around!! The paella had scallops, octopus, prawns, shrimp, muscles, and a cluster of crab legs. It was out of the world!! We live an hour away and are already planning out next visit. We also ordered shrimp empanadas and shrimp tacos that were just as fresh. This place deserves 10 stars !! Thank you to our server, she was helpful in suggesting things to try for our first time. read more

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Food is fresh octopus was really tender. Sauces are flavorful without being overly salty. Even the ceviche was delicious. This is easily one of the best restaurants around. Highly recommend more people try this place especially if you love seafood. I will be back for seconds for sure. read more

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Amazing fresh seafood in a bright and clean restaurant. I came early in the evening and service was spot on. Complimentary ceviche served with tostado rounds started me off. Had their mango margarita which was picture perfect and delicious. Enjoyed a shrimp tostada and they were more than willing to grill the shrimp for me. Visiting Hickory for work and will definitely be back. read more

El Vallartazo - Mango margarita frozen. - Mexican Near Me - Hickory, North Carolina

Well, I have never had Mexican seafood before and I had no idea what to expect. Well, it was great and at a high quality of food. Everything was delicious and I can not wait to go back again. read more

All I can say is WOW... we are in town from Louisiana and found this really incredible Mexican seafood restaurant- not Tex- mex,, so much better. We split a seafood dish in a lava bowl- That was to die for, the service was wonderful, she explained dishes and was very welcoming. We are already planning to go back before we leave town! read more

I came here after the movies and if you want to satisfy your craving for seafood, come to this place. The service was great, the food was legit I enjoyed my food a lot, the ambiance on the other hand was nothing special. Overall great experience will come back here again. read more

Tried this restaurant out tonight with my family and everything tasted good but the customer service was mediocre. The waitress came and checked up on us once and never came back. So instead of chips and dip, you get started off with ceviche and tostada shells. They bring you two salsa with it and if you can handle heat, the Habanero sauce is delicious! I definitely recommend the Botana Cora (Shrimp in hot sauce) and the Charola de Mehillones (Muscles). The Patas De Jaiba Estilo (crab legs) was okay, a bit too salty for my taste. If you're wanting Horchata, definitely skip that here. The horchata tasted so watered down with barely any flavor. read more

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This place is a gem! Go here to eat if you're in town or visiting or just in general. They have a freshwater prawn dish marinated in a sauce with onions and it's just mwah delicious . Lots of unique seafood dishes with great flavors . They have a bar and great service ! The owner hands on with the customers , sweet and amazing as well. As a person who travels state to state eating food, this is a highly recommended ! read more

We have been watching the construction and waiting for them to open. We finally had a chance to stop in last night. So delicious and fresh! The oyster platter had raw oysters with minced celery, tomato and red onion and also squid and shrimp on top with a lot of fresh lime. I have never had oysters done this way and they were fabulous. We split the small size seafood pasta with the creamy mushroom sauce and still brought most of it home, the small was huge and again very fresh. Lovely family owned restaurant from near the Puerto Vallarta area where they are known for their seafood. The pricing was very fair and the mango margarita took me out Please support this family owned business, you'll love it. read more

Great seafood. Everything we had was really good. We would go here again if we were looking for seafood with a Mexican food type flavor.

Food was excellent; band was fascinating. Never seen one with a sousaphone. One of a kind Mexican restaurant.

So many seafood choices! Everything is fresh and delicious. Our regular stop when we are driving through Hickory.

Saturday nights, this place has all the things. Great authentic 6 piece norteno (spelling?) Mexican band with saxophone. A bit loud, but you adjust and it's very authentic, feels like I'm in LaPaz! The food was authentic as was the music. Not your smashed beans and rice place. Try the shrimp empanadas, really, really good. Lots of local Mexican families in here, all seemed to enjoy themselves. I was alone and sat at the bar, I was still greeted with warmth and great service. I'll be dragging my out of town friends in here for their big selection of tequila, music and those dang good empanadas! read more

The food was amazing here! It's definitely not just your run of the mill Mexican spot. The menu was big and pretty much entirely seafood. Everything was delicious and fresh. Would happily return here! read more

Excellent ceviche and fish. Great service. Authentic and I wish it were closer to home.

I was raised in the area and it's been a total thrill to see this area grow in craft and business. I get super prideful thinking of the great vision these folks have in designing a spectacular menu filled with rich flavors for everyone. You like spice, they got you! You don't like spice, they got you. Coming here is a guaranteed delicious experience! read more

Absolutely delicious! Made me feel like I was eating ceviche on the beach in Mexico! We cannot wait to return!

Loved this restaurant! We took a chance on a new location, as this is a Mexican sea food restaurant. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful in explaining the menu and offering suggestions. I am not much of a sea food consumer, but I loved everything I tried! We got ceviche right away ( instead of salsa and chips like most Mexican restaurants), we loved the shrimp and cheese empanadas! The fish tacos were yummy and my husband's salmon with mushroom cream sauce is the best way I've ever had salmon!The decor is very beachy and refreshing. It's wide open and it transports you to a Mexican beach while you're there! Signage said live music on Saturdays, so we will likely bring our whole family back for the experience! read more

We have eaten their twice and enjoyed both visits. The food is very good and not your typical menu. It starts with a very good appetizer and helpful staff. We have dietary restrictions and they have been very accommodating in helping us. We've tried mostly grilled shrimp dishes - tacos, burrito and salad. All were excellent and we plan to return. We will be going back and I look forward to trying more of the menu. read more