A Hidden Gem for Mexican Seafood -- Don't Sleep on This Place! As a traveler from California in town for a swim meet, I was on the hunt for good Mexican seafood and stumbled upon La Costa Grill. Based on the reviews, I had decent expectations -- but this place blew them out of the water. The ratings honestly don't do it justice. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was warm and genuine. We were greeted by the hostess and seated right away, even during the lunch rush. Then came a wonderful surprise: our server brought out a mini skillet of the most incredible black refried beans for dipping, alongside four salsas ranging from mild to hot, all served with tostadas -- compliments of the house. Back in California, you're lucky to get one salsa, let alone refried beans as a free starter. It immediately set the tone for the meal. Our server was knowledgeable and genuinely helpful with recommendations. We ended up sharing a lunch portion of paella, an octopus taco, and a fish ceviche tostada -- and every single dish delivered. The octopus taco was a standout; served over a layer of refried beans, it was a flavor combination I didn't know I needed. The ceviche tostada was fresh and bright, and the paella was satisfying and well-seasoned. I also have to give our server extra credit for her transparency -- she mentioned upfront that the paella leans heavier on rice than seafood. That kind of honesty is rare and really appreciated. We ordered it anyway, and we were glad we did. If you're visiting McAllen and want authentic, flavorful Mexican seafood with outstanding service and hospitality, La Costa Grill needs to be on your list. I'll absolutely be returning before I head back home.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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The food is excellent here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is pretty with large TV's and sea style decorations.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The complimentary soups, black beans and salsa w/tostadas is excellent. I really enjoy this restaurant. read more

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Food and service are good. Never order the whole red snapper though. A small fish was $65!!!! Yes, $65! It's a rio off! I always go to Istioneria Michoacana on Dive and 10th and the whole red snapper is like $38, and the special, with six delicious grilled shrimp is like $42. Really, never going back to La Costa. Have never paid $65 for a small fish! Don't go there, go to Ostioneria Michoacana. I was so mad but it was my fault for not asking the price before ordering. I still think it's a ripoff! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Clean establishment with great, friendly service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Started with a trio of salsas and a bean dip. Ordered a michelada, paella and ceviche. All were great! Additionally, ordered the churros and cornbread. Yum. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They offer indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would come back to try the molcajete and other items. read more

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This "upscale" Mexican restaurant was over priced and underwhelming. Went there and had no problems finding a table. Ordered a margarita, which was flavored ice water with a couple drops of tequila, in a very small glass. I asked where its bigger brother was and they said it's only one size. Navigating the menu was a problem but I finally decided on the molcajete bowl with shrimp and fajita meat. The presentation was nice but the flavor wasn't there. I had to add the habanero squeeze tube they had on the table. The cost of the meal and 2 drinks was way larger than it was worth and I will not go back again. The one extra star was for the presentation that was good, however there was another waiter that was trying to talk to the one handing a smoldering hot VOLCANO BOWL. read more

La Costa Grill - Waiter lighting the molcajete bowl on fire. - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Delicious seafood, dessert, and environment for friends and family.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff was very attentive and friendly. If you're in large party (5 or more) the large party tip is applied automatically to your bill but you can' provide additional tip as well. Short of a full five because of the small size of the tacos, which I had the pulpo taco and an arrachera taco but were to my surprise very small. The taste was amazing though. They do provide tostadas (bottomless) and or saltine crackers to ho with fixings such as refried beans, pickled onions and two hot sauces before your meals come out. The churros were ultimately the show stealer which when ordered didn't realize it came in a small cart like display with three dipping sauces which were great. Definitely a place to visit if you're in the mood for seafood. read more

The food at la costa was good 3/5. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere was 2/5.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] And the server SUCKED they took like 40 minutes to bring the check and didnt even come to ask if we needed anything customer service was a 0/5 to be honest. read more

Had a quick stop here with my parents to have delicious Mexican food. The service was fantastic since I spoke a little bit of Spanish. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is plenty of seating for small groups and large families too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 5 stars! read more

Soy cliente asiduo de la costa pero hoy estuvieron de lo peor 1.- Pedí un plato que siempre ordeno, y la mesera me dijo que ahí no lo ofrecían, lo cual era incorrecto 2.- la máquina de sodas no funcionaba (lo cual lo comprendo) pero de jodido regálanos agua!!! 3.- nos trajeron la comida (otro mesero) y no nos dieron cubiertos ni de plástico 4.- se los pedimos a otro mesero y contestó: ahorita le digo a tu mesera 5.- cuando nos trajeron unos tenedores la comida ya estaba fría .... Y mi mujer ENCABRONADA Y diciéndome: cómo me voy a pasar la comida sin nada que tomar 6.- nos trajeron los refrescos y eran puro jarabe (horribles) 7.- pedí hablar con el Gerente y no vino, cuando lo vi pasar llegó en chinga dijo Sorry y se fue... Y mi mujer MÁS enojada y ya sin tiempo para comer .... Llegamos de buenas y salimos de malas Aplica al Restaurante de Mission solamente McAllen y San Juan Nunca me han fallado read more

Friendly and fast food service. Had the paella and was it good! Yes I would go back to enjoy that dish my only complaint is I wish there was more seafood. read more

Food was super tasty, and a large variety to choose from. Service was on point with our bartender since we sat at the bar for lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was nice and calm at the lunch hour[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]- read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at La Costa Grill! The food was delicious, the wait time was reasonable, and the customer service was impeccable. It's definitely one of our favorite restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley! Highly recommended! read more

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Style Over Substance If you're looking for a place that values presentation over flavor, this might be your stop--but don't say you weren't warned. The food was pretentious and poorly prepared, as if someone thought a handful of microgreens could disguise the lack of basic cooking skill. They served a tostada so tough it could've doubled as concrete board--crunchy, yes, but in a dental hazard kind of way. While the service was fine and the staff courteous, it couldn't make up for the food, which was both disappointing and grossly overpriced. This is one of those places that tries too hard and delivers too little. read more

It began with a variety of sauces and black bean dip accompanied by tostadas. We had the fried shrimp wrapped in bacon stuffed with cheese, it was amazing! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great service and atmosphere![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We are from Austin and happened to be staying nearby. What a treat! read more

La Costa Grill - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

Great food and service. Friendly staff patiently assists with the menu if you feel overwhelmed. I like their starter complimentary dish and its presentation. They serve mashed black beans with a variety of salsas and toppings as well as a side of deliciously crunchy tostadas. I have had ordered the La Costa Tower as an appetizer. Not only is it delicious but plentiful that it can easily feed two. All the other dishes on the menu are also delicious. You can't go wrong with your choice. They have indoor and outdoor seating. During the weekend evenings, they have live music. read more

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We decided to come in for a late dinner our last evening in town. We said we weren't hungry but then the menu changed our minds! On a Thursday night this place was playing club music and it was definitely an interesting playlist for a casual seafood dinner spot. That said the food was very good and the starter soup that came in the Mason jar was delicious! The shrimp salad I ordered was generous in size and exactly what I needed for a late night dinner. We ended up eating way more than we should have, but it was all very good. Next time I'd like to come for lunch and see what the atmosphere is like in the light of day. read more

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This is a nice grill which offers varieties of seafood, steak, sandwich, tacos, etc. For a quick and easy lunch, we ordered some marlin, shrimp, and gator tacos. They price of the tacos are slightly higher than street tacos, but the presentation and the taste of the tacos are totally worth every cent. The fried shrimp and fish weren't overly fried, and they still hold the original flavors. The gator tacos were super scrumptious, the meat was very tender. The decor had a giant long screen TV. The restroom was clean without the funky smell. The service was friendly and attentive, no complaints at all. Overall, it was a great dining experience, it deserves a 4.7 out of 5. Will visit again! read more

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Gallo and his Team best Bartenders in the valley. Best customer service and drinks. Everyone is always ready to serve and give the best customer service and have Everyone happy. read more

Delicious food and great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great atmosphere and the waitress was very helpful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will definitely be back. read more

Smells like fabuloso.. drinks are weak. The tacos plancha and salsa was good. There was no alcohol in my margarita and when I asked the bartender to add a shot.. she acted like it was an inconvenience read more

This place was so good that I went back two nights in a row. My favorite dish was the paella. Muy bueno! read more

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This place was crazy busy on a Friday evening. I thought I would come a bit early to enjoy things before the crowds hit, but this is such a great place that it is packed almost all the time. Lots of great breezy outdoor seating. Tons of stylish indoor seating. I was lucky to snag the last seat on the very end of the bar. The bartenders served as my waiter. They were spot on and made insanely good margaritas. The only down side was I think they lost/forgot me at the end of a shift change or something. No worries. I was alone and had a few margaritas in me so the time went fast as I played with my phone. Yeah, wonderfully romantic, popular restaurant and I'm the dope alone at the corner of the bar.... It started out with this large tortilla/wafer/cracker thing. Ok, I'll admit it. I had to slyly watch the GQ model next to me and his date to figure out how to appropriately eat the thing. Or then again, we both looked like dopes. It had these superb pickled onions, neat salsas, and crazy spicy bean dip that went on it like pizza toppings. I think I could have just enjoyed those with my drinks. I couldn't figure out what to go with so I went full decadence and ordered the Lobster tacos. It was definitely worth the treat. I actually wish I had a date to share it with and almost offered some to the couple next to me, but then I would have definitely been full on creepy. So, I just sacrificed and ate the entire glorious thing. read more

La Costa Grill - Great tortilla "cracker" and toppings were crazy cool. - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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First time here ,we came for our daughters birthday dinner and we were so happy with the food But maybe when my husband isn't in a wheelchair.... The place is small and is t very wheelchair friendly at all... we literally had to move tables away just to be seated and also to leave. But we still want to come back but maybe when my husband has more mobility. read more

La Costa Grill - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

everything is delicious grate service [[HIGHLIGHT]]a little bit noisy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the paella is amazing and enough for tow and the chicharrón the pulpo I love it read more

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The snapper al mojo de ajo was crispy, moist and delicious! As were the sides of sautéed cabbage and fresh vegetables. The elote bread (dessert) was a tad overcooked, but still tasty. Great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice family ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Phenomenal place. read more

Excellent service every time great staff, I got the bacon rapped shrimp with tartar is a most try read more

La Costa Grill - Bacon rapped shrimp 48. Bacon Shrimp - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

I decided to try a new place while in town and was impressed. This will definitely be on my go-to list. Good seafood, great service. If you like ceviche, the La Costa Tower does not disappoint. Plenty of seafood and avocado packed into this one. The flavor was just right for me. I also had the arrachera (grilled fajita) taco in corn. It was also very tasty and hit the spot if you're looking to satisfy your taco fix. read more

La Costa Grill - La Costa Tower - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

Haaaapppyyyy New Year!!!! What a way to start 2023 with the family! La Costa grill was absolutely delicious! We were a large party, but were seated promptly. It is so bright and fresh inside. Really warms you up for your meal. There's live music to add to the ambience. You are greeted immediately with tostada chips, salsa and beans. You also get this warm cup of seafood broth. So pleasant and rich. It made me want a michelada! Lol We ordered a variety of things! We shared the tuna nachos and the costa tower, which was amazing. The seafood is SO. Stinkin. FRESH!!! No seawater taste. The shrimp are juicy and plump. The tuna nachos were delicious. Loved the crunch. The seafood platter was amazing. Comes with ceviche tostada, shrimp cocktail and a ton of seafood to much on. I grabbed a few tacos. I had the octopus, which was smoky and well cooked. Not chewy. The blue corn tortilla paired well. The shrimp pastor is a must. The roasted pineapple alone was heaven. Then, to top it off, I got the shrimp ceviche tostada. Light, balanced and full of shrimp. Service was phenomenal. Place was clean. People were friendly. I wish I could try everything on the menu. Can't wait to come back for more! read more

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Very disappointed service was not caring or knowledgeable. Cleaning was a zero food was very bland. I guess people go here because of the cheap drinks to bad, I'm not a drinker.. but like they say where they're good drinks, cheap drinks, the food is horrible.. read more

Visiting this area for business. Ended up eating here two times in a row. The first time I had the shrimp pasta and give that a four out of five stars. Then my second time around I had the salmon ceviche and the paella five out of five the waiters are really nice, unfortunately I don't know how to speak Espanol oh yeah, I also got the churro dessert and that is five out of five as well. Now I'm going to take a mid afternoon nap and question my eating habits. read more

La Costa Grill - Salmon ceviche to the left and paella to the right. You're welcome. - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

Was not impressed. Will not be coming back. Overpriced for the service and food quality. Been there twice and both visits were disappointing. Try to give the m a second chance but noticed the service is getting worst. read more

I went here three times during my time in McAllen and always enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. I think the ceviche is the best item I had. The dirty martinis were neither dirty or very good. The kettle one with sofa and lime was overwhelmingly soda. I good place to hang out and enjoy the live music. read more

La Costa Grill - Where's the rest of my squad? Hostess was very kind to let me get a large table before the others arrived! - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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Went yesterday 1. Octupus was overcooked 2. The chilis on plate appeared to have been cooking all day 3. The lobster tacos were 5 stars delicious 4. Service was 5 stars 5. I don't like when restaurants charge a credit card fee . Either increase the food charge but don't charge separate 6. The lemonade cucumber drink needed a little sugar 7. Another lemonade drink was tart. read more

Found this perfect little gem about a month ago. Food is so authentic and super delicious. Every item on the menu is served with its own flare. From the welcoming tiny seafood broth mug.. to the yummy heaping sopes and tostadas of shrimp, marlin, etc etc. Last visited this pass Sunday with visiting family in tow. It was 1pm and they were super busy. The food, the service and the atmosphere pleased once more. Plenty of seasoned servers ready to take your order. Definitely will b one of our favorite go to's. The Wegners. read more

La Costa Grill - This is just the start of the meal. Pickled spiced onions..... Delish - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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Authentic Mexican food. Good for family dining.Tried seafood dinner and was good. staff were attentive. read more

The best!! Cocktails are beautiful and strong!! The food is fresh and delish! You can't go wrong sitting indoors or out the lobster enchiladas were yummy!! read more

La Costa Grill - Salad Caesar - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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Went here after working a convention around the corner. We called ahead since it was a Saturday and they said they'd hold a table for us. We got there and they seated us immediately, outside. The patio is beautifully situated with great lighting and relaxing ambiance. Menu had a great variety, I ordered three tacos a la carte; pastor shrimp, tuna carnita, and gator steak. They all tasted delicious with a house margarita. My only complaint is that I was too tired to try more of their menu. Definitely on my list next time I am in town. read more

La Costa Grill - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas

Food was very fresh and good quality at a reasonably priced Delivery was very efficient read more

I've been here once and have been dreaming on she. I'm coming back. The lobster tacos, ceviche tower, and molcajete were outta this world!

So this is a hard review to write. We found this trip on holiday and decided to try it out. We are close to the boarder and everyone SHOULD be able to make good Mexican food. Well that's what you get for assuming. Delightful place where the energy was high with the help of Bad Bunny and Ozuna playing on the speaker. So we were hopefully. We ordered drinks and tapas and sat and waited. Expecting a wonderful, tasteful, delightful meal. However when we received our meal we were all, party of 4, sadly disappointed in the food we were served. The portions were perfect and way more food then we needed but .... It's hard to eat a lot of food when.... It doesn't taste good. The food was blah, it had zero flavor. The entree was just as boring as the queso we ordered. We all looked at each other and said, this really doesn't taste.... Flavorful. The hard part of this review is the On Floor Manager approached us and asked how our meal was but due to the language barrier we were unable to say "... Well, the drinks have flavor and seasoning, the beans they served had season but our actual meal doesn't" I would go back for the water, yes the water, I would go back for the salsa and chips, I would go back for those little salsa bean things but that's about it. Not for the food. Which is so disappointing because we were so hopeful. read more

La Costa Grill - Mar y tierra - Mexican Near Me - McAllen, Texas