We LOVE LOVE La Estrella! Truly the best Mexican food I have ever had. The Carne Asada Taco plate is TOO AWESOME! The sauces are amazing - ask for the red and green sauce when they bring your food. My fav is the green. The big taco (I forget the name, it's my hubby's fav) is so dang good makes you want to slap someone. The food is flavorful, filling, and good to the last unbeltbuckling bite. The little cafe style restaurant is inside a grocery store which has some very good produce, peppers, and bakery items. We eat there at least once a month, sometimes twice! read more

This is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Columbia. This is Mexican food, not Tex Mex. I've tried some of the other authentic Mexican places around town and they're good, but you have to try La Estrella!! They have just recently added another restaurant in NE Columbia. I haven't tried it but I'm sure it's good. read more

Great authentic Mexican store/food. Very friendly staff. Have been looking for a nice authentic Mexican place and have been going to real Mexico restaurant, but this place is awesome too. This is a great place if you want to pick up some great meat to take home and grill yourself. They even have pre marinated carne asada. Will definitely be back! read more

They had every thing I was looking for. Menudo and chili mango lollies being a couple of the things. The employees were nice. The store was clean. The butchers had the meat on display and it looked very fresh. I will definitely be visiting and giving my business again soon. It might turn into one of my monthly routines read more

Great neighborhood store with restaurant inside. Authentic tacos and food. The owner Dori is very personable and welcoming to the community. Met her at the event she held foe the new police chief in Cayce. I go here now weekly instead of the large chains stores. They have what I need and it is much fresher! read more

Legit Mexican food!!! I'm a native Californian (and half Mexican to boot), so I'm pretty spoiled (and particular) when it comes to my favorite comida - this is it! My boyfriend and I live in Charleston. We were camping nearby and were on our way to Columbia for lunch when we found this gem. A full mercado, carniceria, and restaurant. The only bummer is that the panaderia isn't available any more (their bread maker broke). We started out with house made chips and salsa (free, of course). The table was stocked with a variety of hot sauces. I had the 5 tacos plate with carne asada, bf had the regular carne asada plate. Tacos came just like they should - on corn tortillas with garnishes of cilantro, diced onion, grilled onion, radishes, and limes. Carne asada plate came with warm corn tortillas wrapped in foil, beans and rice, lettuce, tomato, and pico salsa. The carne was tasty and done right, but for me it's the sides - beans, rice, salsa - that really make an authentic meal. I ordered an extra side of beans and rice and took two of my tacos to go. This little west coast half-Mex was one happy chica!! read more

As a vegetarian, ethnic food is my best choice out. I've heard great things about this place so I stopped in hungry. Unfortunately the menu had no vegetarian section so I hunted around till I found something that listed beans and did not list meat, a burrito actually so I ordered it. I asked the waiter about other vegetarian options and there was some unclear communication. It came and the burrito was absolutely filled with beef. This wouldn't have been a problem but the cook/manager would not take it back. If I wanted a plain bean burrito I would have to pay for both. The waiter apologized several times and said there was nothing he could do. I felt like the management is vegetarian hostile. This is the first time I have ever experienced this at an ethic restaurant. I obviously won't be back, even for the delicious inexpensive fresh baked items in the grocery area. read more

I am home and just finished half of the Tortas Cubana that I ordered to go. I could not wait any longer to review this wonderful place. This is a very clean and friendly establishment. They are a grocery store as well as a restaurant. Food is prepared fresh and with love. The flavors will dance in your mouth! I will be returning here regularly!! Note: They are closed on Wednesdays. read more

Authentic Mexican tacos. Well seasoned. Customer service isn't the best but you get your food quickly. Easily the best tacos in Columbia.

A staple Mexican eatery near the Airport that I somehow missed out on for seven years. Glad I finally made it. The restaurant side is very casual with friendly staff. My girlfriend and I seated ourselves and were helped immediately. The chips are unique - thick and crunchy, definitely fresh and house made - and the salsa is great. Do yourself a favor and ask for the salsa verde and spicy red as well, they're excellent. The tacos and tortas we ordered were good. Authentic style, not Americanized like many of the other local restaurants, featuring crumbled Oaxacan cheese and fresh avocado. The torta Cubana I had was massive - piled high with ham, two melted cheeses, refried beans, egg, chorizo, tomato and avocado on a soft, buttery roll. It was delicious and I was full after eating half of it. The grocery store side is where you'll find incredible deals on produce and Mexican staple items. The carniceria in the back is the gem here, offering house made chorizo and al pastor (among other meats) at great prices. Overall, this is definitely a five star establishment. I'd give the restaurant a 4 (not the best I've had, but quite good) and the tienda a clear 5. Long live La Estrella! read more

Very good Mexican restaurant very authentic. I suggest if you go on there you get queso with your chips and salsa. My husband always gets the Ranchero and the steak always taste good. Overall it's always been a great dining experience. read more

Had the carne asada tacos, they were pretty delicious and came with all the traditional garnishes. Only reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is the salsas were really weak. We asked for the verde salsa (green for you gringos), and it was bland as well. However, they have a decent selection of spicy hot sauces on the table, mix those into the salsa and it helps out a lot. Overall, will definitely be returning, fajitas are next on my list. read more

Delicious authentic Mexican food! I've been to every Mexican restaurant in Columbia and this is the best one. If you're looking for white quest dip covered burritos you WILL NOT find them here. Thank goodness. Great prices and great service. read more

I think I died and went to Mexico. This has got to be the best carne asada in South Carolina. The refritos are muy autentcio, and the salsa are actually...good...really good. Don't be turned off by the fact that the restaurant is actually inside a grocery store. That's how all the great latino food places work. I give this 5-stars (for South Carolina) read more

Genuine Mexican food! For example, my nachos were made with delicious queso, not the weird shredded cheese one often receives. Friendly and fast service. Plus I really like the Superhero piñatas hanging over the grocery section. They also sell fresh vegetables and giant cooking pots. So glad to find this place--next time will i have to try something from the bakery which I have heard is delicious. read more

La Estrella - Piñatas - Mexican Near Me - Cayce, South Carolina

OK so this place is kind of off the beaten path, it's out by the airport. It's really worth the trip. It's minus all the glitz and glamour of some restaurants however the food is down-home delicious Mexican at it's finest. I had the whole deep fried tilapia. Delicious and inexpensive read more

Right down the road from our hotel. Very friendly. Got take out. Food was great. Generous portions. Good value. Definitely recommend!

Very good food. Not the cookie cutter Mexican chain. Really tasty and fast. Would definitely reccomend. read more

La Estrella - Fajita taco. Very good. - Mexican Near Me - Cayce, South Carolina

Food was re heated so meats were a bit dried. Super nice employees if you order enchiladas or quesadillas you will enjoy

Visiting from Phoenix, AZ. Was looking for Mexican food & found this place. Which felt very familiar being from AZ. The food is Awesome & authentic! The real thing! We were very happy to have found this place! We ate there 2 times on our visit. For breakfast & Lunch! Mmmmm Good!!! read more

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Most authentic Mexican food I've had in South Carolina! Got the carne asada tacos and reminded me of the street tacos back home in California. Will definitely be coming back! read more

La Estrella is by far the best Mexican food you'll ever have. I've lived in Miami, Denver, Detroit, and Columbia and nothing comes close to the quality of La Estrella. The food is excellent and you won't find more authentic Mexican food. Everyone is very friendly and the market has an excellent deli as well. I can't recommend La Estrella enough! A+++ read more

Best authentic Mexican food in the city.I cannot tell you how much we enjoyed going here. When our kitchen was being redone we were eating here three days a week. Love the waitstaff. It's small , quaint , warm and, friendly. a great place to have a taco, fajitas or a burrito. Love love love it! read more

Good food good people amazing Mexican environment 100% recommend for good Mexican food.

Service is either fantastic or amusingly bad. The TV was on very loudly last time I was there but I tell you what other than that the food was delicious. I adore those homemade chips and the green salsa in the bottle. read more

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Small place to eat or get to go and to shop for Mexican food. They have a grocery side and meat market. The place to eat has great chips and good prices. The customer service is awesome on both sides of the place. read more

Chips were overcooked. Second basket was the same. I had shrimp empanadas. They were okay. Salsa was okay. Service was good. Kept the salsa and chips full. read more

Best tacos in town. Friendly service, clean dining area, and attached to an authentic grocery with a fantastic butcher shop.

My friend and I went in after seeing the positive reviews on yelp. I lived in Guadalajara, Mexico one year and have traveled to the Chiapas area so I am wary of the typical establishments here because they tend to be very inauthentic. And then sometimes you get goggle-eyes if you are a gringo so I was looking for how we would be greeted. No worries here at La Estrella! We were welcomed with smiles. As a former server myself, I look for that. Anyways, we ordered the Sopes, a Burrito, and Fajitas. I also had Agua de Melon. Our server was DELIA: ask for her! She is so sweet and attentive. There were only a few people there (a Friday afternoon) but she was all over our table and making sure we had everything we needed. She spoke with me and Spanish and with my friend in English, very flexible as to whichever her customer preferred to speak in. The chips were delicious and deep-fried CRUNCY (actually pretty dangerous if you are dieting) and the sauce amazing. Next time I will come on a weekend for the menudo! The Agua de Melon was not my favorite as it had a weird aftertaste, and I've never had that before with other aguas. My burrito was beef with rice and I ate a good portion of it and had some to take home because it was huge, definitely a great choice for the budget traveler. My friend loved her Shrimp Fajitas and had a generous helping to take home. The young man who served as our cashier was sweet as well, and although he was most definitely American-born, he indulged me with Spanish. So, I can't wait to come back and bring my husband. Definitely delicious and the only other place I found that was just as good is in Saluda, SC since I've moved to this area. read more

I eat here once a week, at minimum. This is THE BEST mexican food in town. I don't know what else to say. Eat there. A lot. The end. If I wasn't clear, I love this place. read more

Pork rinds are fantastic and so are the hand made corn tortillas. I haven't tried the restaurant just went back in the corner where the fresh meat that they sell was and found they have fresh pork rinds that tasted amazing, carnitas, barbacoa, and roasted chickens read more

All in one! Store, market, restaurant and bakery in one spot!! Reasonable prices.

Best Mexican spot in Columbia. This is the real deal and not some bastardized fake Mexican.

If you've traveled in Mexico, you'll really appreciate this place. If you want a fancy American restaurant, this isn't it. Yes, chips & salsa - good. I sampled a variety of tacos (fish, beef, shredded beef, chicken, al pastor, etc., - all fantastic. They came the Mexican way with cilantro, onions, and lime slices on the side, not the American way buried in shredded lettuce and cheese. I notice the rice water dispensers near the end of my meal, or I would have ordered horchatta when I sat down. I think my waitress was surprised to see me enjoying the corn tortilla tacos and squeezing lime juice on them. I'm sure she was waiting for me to ask for cheese and some kind of hot sauce. Oh, and remember to walk through the grocery store part. read more

Amazing service. I am gluten free and called in an order driving through on interstate. The gentleman triple checked and made sure I was taken care. In 15 years of having food allergies, i have never been treated so well. Excellent authentic Mexican food. We will absolutely be back when we drive thru Colombia again. Muchas muchas gracias. read more

By far the most authentic food I have found in the Columbia area. True Mexican food by true Mexicans. And there's a little store to pick up some essentials. read more

Stopped in while on a business trip....one of the absolute best places I've eaten Mexican food. This is the real deal and done right. Combined within a Mexican grocery store, tables sit to the right with an open window to the kitchen. Extremely friendly and attentive staff serving the best tortas I've ever had the pleasure of eating! Perfect salsa and chips to start as well, but take it easy, the portions are large! read more

Excellent beans. Juevos con chorizo was good as well. Would definitely come back.

Excellent and authentic Mexican food! I had the chicken tacos and churros for dessert. It was delicioso! After living in New Mexico for seven years and moving back east I was longing for good Mexican food. I found it in this place. The tacos were flavorful and the churros were fresh and crispy. Don't miss out on this treasure! read more

I love this place. This is my go 2 spot for tacos in the columbia area. Super fast service, and friendly staff. Seems to be a local spot for the Hispanic community which is nice to see. Pick up some groceries on your way out! read more