This place has sadly gone way way way down hill. Our table was super sticky. We came at a time that they were not crowded at all. We waited about 30 minutes for drinks and we waited over an hour for our food to come out. We ordered a quesadilla which was good and the Confunditas which was absolutely not edible. The chicken was filled with gristle and it was dry and hard. The tortillas were dry and hard and we could not cut them or chew them. There were flies flying all over the restaurant and attempting to land on the food. It was miserably hot inside the restaurant and the TV above my head had the volume on very low which was super uncomfortable to have to try to be in conversation and hear the low volume of a baseball game for absolutely no reason. I'm so sad and disappointed and have never wanted to get out of a place so bad in my life. At least the manager did remove the inedible food from our bill. read more

I've never had Honduran food and Esmeralda's Cafe has been on my list forever, so decided to order in from here! Got the: - Baleada con Salchicha (beans, cheese, cream, avocado, huevos en torta, hot sausage): Simple but delicious! Really liked the subtle spice of the sausage and chewiness of the tortilla. - Pollo con Tajadas (fried chicken, fried green bananas, cabbage, pico de gallo, cheese, alderezo sauce, jugo de pollo, encurtido): Wow! Definitely recommend this- the combination of flavors and textures was amazing. One piece of feedback would be to package the components of this dish separately for takeout orders. However, even with it all coming together, the plantain chips did not get super soggy so this is relatively minor. Also, this held up surprisingly well when re-warmed in the air fryer. Large parking lot, casual ambiance, fast service. 9/10 would recommend! read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Baleada con Salchicha, Pollo con Tajadas - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Extremely fast service, and very cute space with positive energy. I would return for another iced coffee in the future. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Iced Flavored Latte - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Located in a strip mall near a mattress store and an ABC store, this place isn't in your typical location conducive to good foot traffic. But it's always busy. I've only been once since they relocated from the Mall, so on a rainy Spring Friday I came in for a late lunch. I was one of the few customers with native English, I think, which didn't bother me. Groups of workers having coffee and food, catching up on the news from ViX with Spanish subtitles. Very quiet for what it was! The menu is very nicely laid out with a huge selection, ranging from breakfast to full dinner plates. Veggie options are many. They have a small bar in the front with a few dozen bottles, but I doubt if anyone here could shake up a "Sex on the Beach!" The staff was busy and efficient, easily switching between Spanish and English depending on the customer's needs. I ordered the Esmeralda Burger, which is a beef burger with bacon, avocado, and a fried egg. I could barely finish it all, read more

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Very tasty dish here - large large LARGE portion of plantains topped with fried chicken and a few various sauces. Good stuff (I couldn't eat it all!) for the type of food! Great service as well - our service was kind and attentive. read more

The food was served in a timely manner and was very tasty. I was surprised by the size of the dishes, like this delicious fried fish with slices. We also ordered two baliadas de carne azada, but for some reason one had egg and the other didn't. I don't know if it was a mistake, but I liked it better without egg. The empanadas (beef) were crispy and delicious. The server was very friendly despite the fact that she was serving about four tables alone, simultaneously bringing out food, drinks, and taking them to the register for checkout. The place was very nice and has a warm, family-friendly atmosphere. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Empanadas, Baleadas de Carne Asada, Tilapia Con Camarones Only Waffle - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Had a great experience here when I stopped in for a breakfast burrito. The customer service was excellent. Although I got the burrito, there were many items that looked really good. My burrito was hot, tested fresh and was delicious! The ambiance was cool. The price was extremely reasonable for what you got. There is ample parking as it's in a shopping center. I would recommend stopping by this place on your way in or out of a cool outing like the Duke Homestead nearby. (Feel free to check out my review of that place as well!) read more

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La comida es realmente deliciosa, el café es buenísimo y la atención es muy buena Lo recomiendo muchísimo read more

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The cafe is very lively with families and workers having lunch. The food is excellent, a mix of American and Honduran food. I had the empanadas with a cold cabbage salad and a side of refried beans -- all delicious. read more

Don't bother going to this place if you're a gringo. Walked out after waiting for 20 minutes for someone to take my order or even asked if I wanted something to drink. The waitress didn't even acknowledge me as she proceeded to take the order of a party of 5 that sat down right next to me 15 minutes after I sat down. read more

Pretty good place. First time here. Came here on a Sunday breakfast time which the place was busy. A good sign. Had to wait a little but didn't mind. The food was amazing, want to come and try out lunch. The atmosphere was very noisy as expected because how busy they were. Would definitely come back and recommend for sure. read more

How did I miss this place for so long? Fantastic coffee, spectacular breakfasts, a wide array of selections for all meals and really strong community vibes--definitely a new favorite. read more

Think a Latin Denny's. When you enter take a seat, if a table is available. The waitress will arrive with menus and place a number stand on your table. The waitress was polite but a little hurried. You will hear Latin music playing and occasionally someone will sing along. There is a mixture of tables and booths. The bathrooms were unavailable during our entire meal. I believe they were being cleaned. I ordered the omelette with potatoes and toast. The other order was a chicken quesadilla. Drinks were gourmet tea and americano coffee. The meal was fine. I enjoyed the omelette. The potatoes were fork tender (which is good). I wouldn't classify the burrito as authentic, but it was fine. Not terrible, not great, fine. And that's perfectly ok. We didn't care for the tea - not quite sure what that flavor profile was. When we asked the waitress she stated it consists of many flavors "peach, mango.." Maybe that was an off batch. The toast had an artificial taste. Like it was basted in oil. I don't feel the need to rush back, but I'd eat here again. Would recommend 3.2 (Latin Casual) read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Chicken quesadilla - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Always excellent, the huevos rancheros is on point. The coffee and service are always great as well. This is our go to Sunday spot. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Huevos rancheros - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Very good soup , amazing service , everyone is nice and happy a must try Good ambience , overall excellent food read more

Great, authentic place for Honduran breakfast like baleadas and desayuno platters. When you come in, it's pretty busy so you would sit yourself and have to flag someone down to get your order. Once you order, the food is fresh, hot and ready to be devoured. I got the desayuno plate with cappuccino. It was tasty and when I asked for hot sauce, they definitely delivered because it packed quite the heat. It is pretty authentic as 90% of the patrons are Spanish speakers but the servers are bilingual. I should give their American breakfast and other entrees a try but can't go wrong with the Latin-American food options. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Food and service are consistently good! Been hear for breakfast and lunch. Some items seem a little overpriced for what you get. The ambiance is simple no frills so come for the food and service! read more

My favorite Sunday morning tradition! Service is always fast, food is always amazing, cappuccino con azúcar is the best coffee treat you can get on this side of Durham. The baleada sencilla never fails to satisfy, ask for the habanero hot sauce! read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have been here a few times and it's pretty good. Every time I'm here, the police officers are having lunch. So maybe that means something! read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Cops are *always* here! Maybe that's good? - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Esmeraldas is a Mexican food restaurant that serves an awesome breakfast in addition to lunch and dinner fare (breakfast reviewed here). Ambience is fine, stylized for the type of restaurant it is. Approx 20 tables or booths, could accommodate larger parties with their standard seating is set for 4-6. Service was fast from seating to being engaged by wait staff and food prep. Very friendly and we were checked on often. Food here was unique and tasty! We had a deluxe breakfast which included carne asada, three eggs, plantains, beans, cheese, avocado and homemade corn or flour tortillas. Everything was cooked as ordered and the food was fresh. Perhaps a little light on the asada but had to stretch here to find a criticism. They also offer other Mexican breakfast options to meet your craving and prices are fair. The standout here was the coffee. I ordered a latte and it was the best I have had in a very long time. A great experience all around, I would recommend this restaurant- you will be happy you gave this one a try! read more

We walked into a very busy cafe. A table was cleaned and made available to us. The service was great with a busy server working many tables without a rushed exchange. I'm not that familiar with Latin food, but the menu had so many choices of Sandwiches, Wraps, Quesadillas and many good breakfast offerings as well. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, A nice presentation of 3 eggs topped with rancheros sauce and garnished with pico. Beans, A slice of fresh avocado, cojito cheese and tortillas rounded out a delightful breakfast for me. I cannot speak for my friends except to same, all plates were empty . Loved the display of different old coffee grinders on the wall. Great choices on coffee, frappe, cappuccinos. Overall a great experience, glad we chose Esmeralda's! read more

I really enjoy the food here. It's not one of your cookie cutter Mexican restaurants. Service was excellent and I'm going back. My whole party had good experiences. read more

I stopped in for a late breakfast. It's a big cafe, seat yourself environment. The service was good, they are quick! Food was good too. Lots of options for everyone. I had the French toast platter and it was very good. I will definitely be back as it's conveniently located. I have driven by 100 times and had no idea they were in there! read more

My server was kind, but I found a hair in my fajitas. Told them about it but was offered no refund.

I've seen this pop up, but never had the chance to try it. As we were heading to Costco, we decided to have lunch here, and it was a great decision! We were welcomed in and told to sit wherever we'd like, and we were quickly greeted with menus. A lot of the menu is in Spanish with translations underneath, and a wide variety of foods to choose from. My wife and I couldn't decide between the omelette and the French toast platter, so ultimately we decided to get both and split them. Both dishes were fantastic! Friday and Saturday they have live music if you're interested in that, but being a Sunday it was relatively quiet. They were pretty busy, and I can see why, the food and service is great! About halfway through we saw on one of the TV's they also have a (new?) location in Butner, and since we live there, we will definitely check it out! read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - French Toast platter - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This is absolutely crazy she didn't come by to refill drinks or ask if we needed anything but charged a party of 4 a gratuity percentage 18% is crazy to me we were going to tip her but I don't think she deserved at $20 dollar tip I ain't trying to be no Karen but it's crazy to pay that much money when I thought that was for a guest of 6 and up read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great menu, wonderful service and really good food! Everyone in the family enjoyed their dishes

Great customer service. The food is delicious. Fresh and hot. The staff is very friendly and attentive. The quesadilla had plenty of chicken and veggies. Great salsa too. Great location. Plenty of parking. They also offer café drinks like espresso, latte, etc. read more

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Esmerelda's is a true hidden gem in north Durham! I got coffee a few times when they used to be located in Northgate Mall and loved it. I was happy to hear they had opened in a new location after the mall closed. I have only had coffee and donuts from them, but their food menu has so much variety and always looks and smells delicious whenever I am there. I need to plan a full meal soon. Do not sleep on this place!! read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Iced pumpkin spice latte - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I come here mainly for their coffee service! So good. I ordered the Honduran traditional breakfast and it was good, my husband had the whole fried tilapia and it looked so good! But it was tasteless. Their flour handmade tortillas I highly recommend, so fresh and yummy. Overall, not everything is good here, but I will be coming back for their coffee read more

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My friend and arrived at 6:05pm on a Saturday. We were seated immediately. The cafe was not too busy which was great because we wanted to have a good conversation over coffee. I ordered the Cafe Americano. I wanted to almond milk but they didn't have it. It was not a big deal. I ordered the Caesar salad with grilled shrimp. It was very delicious. I had to ask for extra dressing but that's a personal preference. The Americano came in a big coffee mug and it was so good. The service was amazing. They checked on us several time even though my friend didn't order anything. Very attentive. Around 7:30, they had a young lady come out and she took song requests and started singing. It was a little loud but not too disruptive. I will definitely be back so I will remember to get pictures. read more

A hidden gem with amazing coffee! It's located inside of Northgate Mall. It's worth the stop if you need a cup of coffee to wake you up. I took a small sip of my Raspberry Latte before driving back to my house and it woke me up to the max! I was surprised how strong it was! Holy moly! The customer service is also wonderful. They were very kind and was able to help me navigate the menu. I look forward to stopping by again for a cup of coffee. The food sounds delicious as well! I may have to give this a shot next time. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Quality latte! I took one sip and it woke me up! - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I could not reccomend this place more highly. Incredible food. amazing staff. wow. I will be buying gift cards for this place. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - pic of my dad and I loving our meal. forgot to snap pics of the incredible art on the walls. the place has tons of charm. - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I had a breakfast burrito with Agua de Jamaica and they were both very delicious. Staff were attentive and quick. I'll definitely be trying this restaurant again. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - Breakfast burrito - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Best breakfast in Durham, without a doubt. I can't speak to other breakfast items because I always get the breakfast burrito and a vanilla latte, but I've brought friends here and they have enjoyed the huevos rancheros and the omelet. A friend from out of state is still talking about the burrito three months later! It is so fresh and hot and tasty, it warms not just the body but the soul. Absolutely delicious. The vanilla latte is just sweet enough, creamy and delicious. I have to also say that the people who run this place are fantastic. It's clean, pleasant, and they are so nice and accommodating of special requests. It's such a find, in an oddly dead strip mall across from the North Durham Costco. Love this place. read more

We went here for breakfast. We were seated immediately (on a Sunday morning!) and everything was great! The staff was very attentive and I will definitely come back. read more

We stumbled on this place and it looked good. We were seated quickly and ordered right away. I ordered a BLT and fries. My wife ordered the empanada. People came in after us and were seated. We waited...waited and waited. The waitress kept telling us our food was coming up. We waited again and notice people that came in well after us got their food. The table next to us got their food and one of the guys took a bite of his food and said it was cold. The waitress then told us 8 minutes more. When the people that came in after us were finishing their meals we figured we weren't going to get our food. We got up to leave and a waitress said she would check. When we saw the kitchen staff just grab assin' we just kept going out the door. I know how long it takes to make a BLT and to fry an empanada. This was a disgrace. We will never go back due to the inexcusable poor service and lackadaisical attitudes of the wait and cook staff. read more

Baleadas are on point. I get chorizo or steak! Coffee is great too for the coffee lovers out there

First time having Honduran food and I loved it! Esmeralda's has such a welcoming feel from the moment you walk through the door until you leave. Service was phenomenal, I was checked on at least every 3-5 minutes by multiple people. I love this place! Will definitely be back! read more

I visited Esmeralda's Cafe for the first time today and had a wonderful experience. Someone approached and seated us immediately as we walked in. The waitress was really sweet and attentive. They have a large menu with a variety of food to choose from. I got the French Toast platter with scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon and coffee to drink. The food came out quickly and everything tasted great. I really loved French Toast. The cheese was not mixed in with the eggs and melted so if that's something you like be sure to request it. Other than that, no complaints and I will be back. read more

Esmeralda's Cafe - French Toast platter with scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon - Cafes Near Me - Durham, North Carolina