WOW. Real. Deal. Mexican. Food. You can tell the negative reviewers are haters. I have had Mexican food in Mexico and all up and down the West Coast and this is as real as it gets. Best quesadillas I've ever had. No exaggeration. Choriqueso was heaven. Best quality fresh tortilla chips and fresh salsa. Rice and beans were perfect. Fries were divine. Everything I tasted as a 10/10. Best advice: relax and enjoy. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Wow. We were seated quickly but then not greeted for 5 minutes. Our server was also our bartender so, understandably, it took her a while to get back to our table after making our drinks. But, in the meantime my dad tried to ask for assistance from the manager sitting at the end of the bar and he ignored us. We were trying to set up an iPad so my niece would be entertained while we waited. The second time my dad tried to flag him down thinking he might not have seen him the first time he shook his head and pointed at our server behind the bar. ARE YOU KIDDING? You're a manager, you're here to make the dining experience seamless, to support the staff and customers. DO YOUR JOB. Lazy. Also, when we ordered a pitcher of margaritas I asked for silver tequila, the server nodded and came back with a pitcher that had grenadine and cherries in it. So not a classic margarita and not what we asked for. It was a little on the sweet side but we agreed it was fine. But, when the check came we saw it was rang in as a top shelf pitcher? Also, not what we asked for. The food was okay. Crab quesadilla and fish tacos were pretty decent. That's the only saving grace here. The chicken and steak served with the fajitas was super dry. We've come here 5 times in total. Not going back. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

I had been to El Zarape once before and remembered that it was great experience. So, when my family booked a beach townhouse across the street from the restaurant... I knew that I had to go back again! We waited until the last night of our trip to visit El and it well worth it. We went to El around 5pm on Saturday night and with a large party of 8 people were able to get a table right away. To start, I ordered a monster of a strawberry margarita and it was delicious! It went perfectly with my meal. For my entree, I ordered the chicken fajitas. They were good. They have a generous portion of chicken and veggies. I even had enough to share! Overall, my family enjoyed our evening at El - the atmosphere was perfect and it was very family friendly! read more

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A solo dining visit at the venerable L Zap. Seated at the bar as all tables taken, groups waiting. Service was very quick. Friendly and engaging too. Bryan's Burrito (carnita & black bean filling, queso & chorizo topping) was hot, tasty and filling. Chips were nice and warm, salsa was well seasoned, not too spicy. Beer bottle perfect temperature. All in all another very solid experience. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Maybe we got to this place on a bad day considering most of the reviews say the food is decent. But wow what a bad experience. The service was fine but the food was awful. I had the shrimp fajitas and my boyfriend got the large shrimp cocktail. Our food came out within 4 minutes of us ordering it. How is that possible? The fajita plate wasn't even sizzling and you could tell the shrimp and veggies had been sitting in there for longer than the time we have been there. To make it even worse, it was so oily I couldn't even eat it. My boyfriend's shrimp cocktail was lukewarm as well. Needless to say we wasted a lot of food, barely ate anything and walked out very disappointed. If you like greasy, super subpar quality Mexican, this is the place for you. Otherwise, I would go elsewhere. read more

Had great food here 3 years ago. Returned hoping to repeat the experience but it appears to me that they are CLOSED! Hoping someone can confirm this. They are still listed on Yelp with hours of operation, etc. Was pretty disappointed. read more

Still the best Mexican food in the state of North Carolina. I have been eating here since I was a small child and I am nearly 30 now. Amazing food. Cool owner. Love the service I received here. ¡The burrito de carne asada es muy delicioso! read more

The great thing about El Zarape is the location. It is smack dab in the middle of Emerald Isle, and from where we usually stay, it is walking distance. It is also on the bike/greenway trail for Emerald Isle, so basically, there are no excuses to get your buns over here. Traditional mexican menu, very good food, flavorful, great value for the amount of food you get. Hubs and I venture here for Margaritas on the weekends at the beach but also for the Mexican fare. You should def know that when you order the large beer, it is actually a super dooper monster beer, like 4 standard beers in 1!!! Crazy, but I'm not complaining. Staff is super on-top-of-it, usually a pretty good crowd on the weekends. Lots of fun! read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Not the best service. In fact, we almost walked out twice before even being served. The two ladies already seated assured us that while the service was awful the food was great. Amazing Margarita on the rocks. Food was pretty good, not the best Mexican food I've had (i am from Texas afterall) but was definitely good. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

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Great Mexican option on Emerald Isle. Located a little bit off the beaten path, it is easily visible from Emerald Drive (the main throughfare) but the entrance is actually on the "back" side of the building. I ordered a Dos Equis on draft, and received a massive 36-oz mug topped with a lime. Very nice indeed! For lunch I ordered the Burrito Deluxe - very large portion, cooked perfectly. The "free" chips and salsa upon arrival was a nice touch. Quick service and attentive waitstaff as well.... This is certainly a good, solid choice for Mexican food while on the island... read more

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Very good.Waitresses we're very welcoming and kind.Would love the digits to all of them.Also the food was good but needed a few more seasonings and a little over cooked.Muy Bueno y los mecedoras son muy guapas tambien. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - a blurry photo of a dining room - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

The first clue that this would not be a good experience was when I called the restaurant's phone number listed on Google to order take-out and no one answered (I called twice) and there wasn't even an outgoing message indicating I'd dialed the right number (I had). So I go to El Zarape to order and wait. I walked in and no one was at the host stand and I had to flag down a waiter (second clue). A guy comes from the back and takes my order but then disappears again. Still no one at the front, despite several parties coming in and the same poor waiter having to help them and keep track of his tables. I wait. 15 minutes goes by. There are a few tables getting their food. I go up to the bar to check on my order and the same guy that took it had no idea who I was and when I reminded him, he said "oh, there are no fish tacos" (3/4 of our order). It really wasn't possible to give me that information right after taking my order? He had no explanation and no suggestions as to what I might do. I walked out without anything because at that point this guy clearly had no interest in working and helping customers. I'd give less than zero stars if possible. And I have actually eaten the food on a few previous visits, and it was pretty decent texmex. But we will not be returning. read more

Great refried beans and easy to pick up during Covid. The queso was also tasty and had a kick to it!

Love El Zerape! It's my birthday tradition for to come here and they've always been so friendly and fun with our margarita-loving group, bringing lots of delicious food and tasty drinks. Times are a bit different now w/ COVID, but their takeout service was fast and just as friendly as ever, and it looked like it was still safely-distanced and family-friendly inside. Love that it's a local family business too. Thanks to the whole team for the fun times and delicious treats! read more

Very good food. I had a great meal. The ambiance is a B, but food is great!! When u drive up redial not li bury appealing and it looks like it's part of a small office park but the inside is nicer. read more

We called ahead and they said no wait for a party of 6. Arrived and no one greeted us for a good 5 minutes. Then we were told the chef needed to catch up so they couldn't seat us. They proceeded to seat other tables. We sat at the bar and ordered margaritas then asked the manager why other tables were seated and were served chips and drinks. He responded quizzically and stated "what did I tell you?" When he was reminded he said we could split up. We left and will not return ever again. The bartender was apologetic for the managers lack of service skills. Go elsewhere for dinner. read more

We have been coming here since they opened every year. Tonight the waiter was so nasty towards us. The place was almost empty. They had at least 6 employees working. I have never been treated like this before. If my family wasn't with me I would have walked out. read more

My wife and I visited here recently. Almost skipped it, due to the fact that the entrance is around back. It looked deserted on the night we visited. Not so much, once we pulled around back The service and food here were excellent. I can't say that I've been to a place that serves "Gringo Mexican" food with such style. The chips were hot, salty, and nowhere near greasy. Salsa was spicy, with well-balanced flavors of garlic, cilantro and jalapeño. Even better, I didn't have to ask for a refill of my salsa. They asked me. It's the first time that has happened at any Mexican restaurant I've been to. I ordered the Texas Alambres. Basically, this is a dish with steak, chicken, shrimp, onions and peppers, with refried beans and rice. Pretty standard. The portion was extraordinarily generous, and the meats were exceptionally tender and flavorful. The shrimp was sweet and tender. My wife ordered a seafood platter (can't recall the exact name) with tilapia, shrimp and small scallops. It was equally tender and flavorful. She was very happy with the dish, and repeatedly tried to share it with me. She never does that, simply because she is quite annoyed when people try to force her to taste entrees. I've always said the true test of any restaurant is how they cook seafood. Shrimp easily turns rubbery, and scallops are even worse. These people know how to cook. Pico de Gallo was fresh and delicious. As to whether or not these guys use queso blanco, It was used in each of our dishes, and there was no cheddar in sight. Seating was plentiful, the dining area is spacious, and the staff is very attentive. All in all, this was a fantastic restaurant for "Tex Mex" style mexican, with a great selection of bottled beer, including "Bohemia". Not just a joint that sells margaritas and Corona. They also offer more traditional Mexican dishes, like Tacos al Pastor and Lengua. We visited off-season. The kitchen may be bogged down during peak, but our food and service were on point at all times. I definitely recommend El Zarape. I hope to visit here again, very soon. read more

Great service. Good food. Clean. We had beef fajitas, shrimp chimichangas and beef chimichangas. The chips were warm and we each we given our own bowl of salsa. read more

We walked in at 7:50 they had a handful of tables. We walked out at 8:10 with no one saying anything to us no chips on the table nothing. Would not recommend! So sad because we loved their place in Atlantic Beach. For a small area that needs the money these restaurants need to do better. read more

Great for lunch or dinner . Very chill atmosphere with good food . The enchiladas were excellent but the salsa was a bit off . It's usually pretty good so I think it was just an off day . Would recommend for a quick affordable bite to eat . read more

My family comes to Emerald Isle a few times every year, and we've always enjoyed the food here when we have a hankering for Mexican. I have to say, though, that today's visit took the cake...or the sopapilla, as the case might be. My boyfriend and I arrived around 3 or 3:30pm for a late lunch and were the only patrons in the restaurant, which was nice. We decided to splurge on a pitcher of margaritas. The waiter asked if we wanted a mix or fresh, and we were just like, "Is that even a question?!" The poor guy juiced a bunch of oranges and limes by hand to make one of the best margaritas I've had in a while. The guac was fresh, and we went for the carne asada (him) and chicken (me) tacos, done in traditional style. Excellent, fresh food. And we got rice and beans, though it was way too much food. I saw a few other reviews talking about the cheese. There was shredded cheese on the refried beans. I'm not sure what it was, but it was the best cheese I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant. And I'm not a big cheese person. Only moderate complaint was that it was so warm that we were sweating by the time we finished our hot meals, but the food was good enough to keep this reivew at five stars. read more

I grew up coming here since it opened and my family has been going to the other locations since the '90s. I've always loved the cheese here as well as the salsa and enchiladas. I eat Mexican food on average about 3-5 times a week and I have to say that El Zarape has always delivered to my cravings. The waitstaff are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. During the summer, this place is always packed. You may have to wait for over an hour, but considering other options on the island....unless you're trying to go to the mainland....the wait is worth the experience. The drinks are always generously prepared with the right amount of alcohol and the seating capacity is very large considering the size of the complex. Take this advice from a salty local: come here for the best tex mex on the crystal coast. read more

This is the closest restaurant to our beach house in "Sounds of the Sea" and I'd walk back to it again. The service was a bit slow and sporadic from beginning to end. However, the food was delivered quickly, and was delicious! I had the green burrito and the fajitas were awesome as well. read more

This was a great experience. The food was great for Americanized Mexican food. I had the special dinner. The tamales were great. This is a real challenge with most Mexican restaurants - they often have a refrigerated taste. Their's did not. Everyone seemed to have the same great experience. Service was tonotchch and the food was very quick for a group of 8. read more

This restaurant appears semi-decent for a beachside Mexican spot, yet, on three different occasions we had waiters who were completely unfocused and rude. Food was of average quality, and when an order was messed up the waiter did not return to the table for fourteen minutes and other wait staff told us to wait. The waiter refused to apologize and proceeded to bring a new plate only after another twelve minutes had elapsed. We had to ask for utensils three times and we were not given any drink refills. Not a recommendable spot if you want good service.... read more

El Zarape, you mean El Crappy. We've been coming to Emerald Isle for 20 years, and we have been to this restaraunt many times. They must be under new management, as we have had good meals there in the past, but tonight was the worst Mexican food experience of my life. The staff was clearly just putting in their time, and the food was almost as good as frozen grocery store Mexican, but not quite. The service was fast, so fast that I'm sure the food was prepared much earlier in the afternoon and placed under a warming lamp. And oh, the Margaritas were a disgusting florescent green powder mix glasses of poison. WTF?? DO NOT EAT HERE UNDER RISK OF SEVERE DISAPPOINTMENT. read more

Good food and service for a cheap price. Not a landmark by any means but quite good and right price. Great lunch pick if you want Mexican food. read more

Fresh squeezed margaritas! Yes please. You have to ask, otherwise it might come from the slushy or juice machine. Pretty good TexMex... Staff is slightly aloof but if you are here to have margaritas and filling dishes and you don't have a timeline-- it hits the spot. One of the better dining experiences on EI, good prices to as well. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Fresh squeezed Margarita. - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

This is your average Mexican restaurant. There isn't anything out of the ordinary on the menu, but everything I've ever had here has been really good. The people are really friendly, and the customer service is great. A couple of times I've called my order in and ended up having to wait a little longer for it than expected, so they have either taken an item off the bill or thrown something extra in for no additional charge. read more

Love their food here. Nice atmosphere. Service is hit or miss. I think it's better than any Mexican food around here tho! Would recommend to friends who visit. They have good chicken burritos and awesome soft tacos. read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Food was ok, nothing special. Definitely pricey for basic Mexican food. Service was a joke. Waitress was slow, disinterested and forgot things. Decore is tacky. There are better options in town. read more

Very good Mexican food for fairly cheap. Nice atmosphere inside and great location close to the beach.

I went end of jan 22 2017 with a friend witch has been a dental assistant for over 20 years it was 2.30 pm I ordered the beef and chicken fajitas and the bell pepper had a rock in it and I split my moler tooth in half this comes from not washing produce my friend hears it crack I told the waiter he did not know what I talking about I payed 25.00 lunch got cracked tooth I called owner paco he said get back with me never called he lucky I did not turn over to Atty. read more

Food is nothing special: chips and salsa are pretty standard. I had the enchiladas (one chicken, one beef, one bean, one cheese). The plate came covered in cheese and sour cream which I had to shovel out of the way to find the enchiladas. The chicken was tough and stringy. They have a good and very reasonable beer list. The third star is mostly for the service. Very attentive and friendly without being overbearing. read more

Ordered the fish tacos and not only did they smell a little fishy but you can tell they were frozen. My husband ordered the shrimp burritos and the shrimp was clearly frozen as well. Everyone else who ordered meat or chicken at our table seemed to have a decent experience. Just DO NOT order anything with seafood--and maybe bring your own water. read more

Great food, unbelievable service! Our chip basket was never less than half empty before our waiter came and filled it up! Same with drinks! He also gave us more than enough salsa for our group. Our food came fast and hot. It was delicious and the large portion sizes were well priced. Best Mexican food in the whole Jacksonville area if you ask me! read more

Came in with a group of 8 with small children for a weekday lunch. Seated quickly, with water and warm chips & salsa. I ordered the Alambres Texano, and as someone from California who's tasted a wide variety of Mexican food, I have to say it was delicious and unique. Must have been the cheese or something which gave it an incredibly rich and savory taste. I highly recommend that dish. My son had some sort of veggie/ tortilla sandwich which he says was just so-so. My wife had a fajita salad which she said had great flavor, and she enjoyed it a great deal. Service was very attentive and courteous, the price was very reasonable for us. read more

Really great food, pleasant servers, quick to be attended to. Great spot we stopped at randomly on our way to holden beach! Would definetly come here again when we pass through next time!! read more

El Zarape Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

This is probably the worst service and worst food I've had in my life. Extremely rude waiters. I wouldn't wish this service upon my worst enemy. The food is mediocre at best. read more