A couple things to note. Don't follow Google Maps when attempting to find this place because, Google has not clue how to map things more than 500 yards away from the main roads. And two... this place is must try! Cuban and Peruvian food places are few and far between so when they do come up, it better be done right and Mambo's Cafe seems to do it right. I never had Cuban food and Peruvian food so this place intrigued me to no end when I was told about it so I had to give it a shot. It looks to be a local chain with only two locations, one in Buford and the other in Alpharetta so people inside the Perimeter, you SOL... The interior looks to be just like any other chain restaurant. Spacious, moderately lit, with a bar so it's pretty unassuming. The service is basic. Professional. Courteous. Timely. Friendly... so there's really nothing to write home about. Now... the FOOD I had the Ceviche Mixto and their lunch special Churrasco. First off, they brought a tiny basket of bread. Four pieces of what looked to be garlic toast with a salsa verde that used serrano peppers which will kick you in the teeth if you're not ready and I wasn't. But the flavor of that dipping sauce was so good so suffice to say, it was kicked repeatedly. The only downside that I have to deduct points is that they don't bring you more bread as each basket of 4 tiny pieces was an extra $3.75 which was just ridiculous but hey, how's that inflation for y'all!!!??? Let's start with the ceviche. The flavor of this is to die for! The fantastic marriage between sour and savory due to the lime juice, cilantro, red onion, salt and pepper blend that any ceviche is known for is such a fantastic combination. The fish looked fresh, the octopus was tender, the mussels didn't give off any strong fishy smell. Everything was crispy, sour, salty, and just a mess of amazing flavor combinations that was just blissful to eat. Then on the side were a handful of cancho which are corn nuts which added a new texture to the seafood. A savory toasty crunch that brought even more satisfaction. The dipping sauce they included was a spicy red sauce that probably used the same serrano pepper. It was addicting to eat for sure! Highly recommend the ceviche and this was my first ceviche experience too so suffice to say, I think the bar is set high. If your ceviche isn't like the one here in Mambo's, then I don't want it. The churrasco is a skirt steak slathered in some of the most flavorful chimmichurri sauce with a small bowl of black means, yellow rice and peas, and 3 pieces of plantains that were sweet and soft. The steak was cooked to perfection, a lovely medium. The chimmichurri was flavorful and definitely added a fantastic level of flavor to the steak which heightened the already well seasoned meat. The rice was a bit of a let down as it was just a very minimally done rice pilaf without any sort of flavoring. So the winner of entree was the steak and the plantains by far! All in all, this place serves dishes that have levels of flavor at every turn. Each dish is satisfyingly addicting that will make you not want to stop eating. Highly recommend this place for sure! read more

Great Rellenos de Papa, good food , Churrasco was tender and a lot of favor, recommended this place, maybe a little pricey but worst the money. read more

I have to say, being from Miami, I LOVED this place. The live Spanish music plus the food really made me feel like I was home surrounded by family, which I think is one of the best ways to enjoy a meal. We got three appetizers to share, the tostones rellenos, the croquetas, and the empanadas de carne. The tostones were topped with shrimp which were delicious, but as a personal preference I think I'd ask for the tostones to be a little extra crispy so the crunch contrasts the texture of the shrimp more. The croquetas were piping hot and super yummy; I recommend squirting some lime over them to do it like how we do authentically. The empanadas were probably my favorite appetizer, they were massive, crispy, savory, and delicious. We also shared the mixed grill platter which came with churrasco, chorizo, arroz, frijoles, and pollo. Everything on the platter was delicious and VERY reasonably priced. For drink, I got the spicy cucumber margarita on the rocks which was coated liberally with tajin. It had a mellow flavor with a nice kick at the back, would recommend. This was a really fun experience, especially with the live music. I'm definitely coming back read more

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I had the vaca frita and the taste was delicious. Presentation and service was really good. I also loved that they had a variety of natural juices. Not many Latin restaurants in Buford so happy this opened can't wait to be back. Highly recommend. read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Vaca frita - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

Great everything, sangria, food, service. Best kept secret in Buford Try the habenero sauce read more

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Mambo's blew me away today! My fiancé and I shared the meat sampler and OH....my....gawd. Huge portions for $34. Every cut of meat was perfectly cooked with tons of flavor. The bread at the beginning was delicious with the green sauce. Needless to say I will be back 1000%. Tatiana our server was attentive and very polite. Being a new restaurant it was clean and the vibe was authentic. If you read the complaints by some of these customers that rated below 5 stars... you'll realize they are a bunch of Karen's. People need to get a life and realize nothing is perfect. This isn't a 5 star dining experience so knuckle up and eat your food and go about your day haha. read more

Leche de Tigre/ceviche with calamari on top! It was so good, it had octopus, fish, calamari in the mix. I requested Rocoto (hot sauce) on the side! It was very delicious. I'm Peruvian and I approve this dish! read more

If can I will give this place a 4.5 star! Love the environment and staff! They are super friendly and welcoming The reason why I give them a 4.5 instead of a 5 is because their food is a little bit overly salty. Love their sauces and seasoning! Just the more you eat the salt build up in your mouth :(( Love their Mango mojito and Churrasco steak! read more

Everything is great at Mambos! From the hostess to the waitress to the drinks to the food. We love it!!

Food and drinks was good. Loved the Cuban ambiance and they had a Dj was playing some nice Latin tunes. Guava margarita was a perfect balance of guava nectar and tequila. I usually don't care for drinks with juice but this one was a good balance. The steak was seasoned well and so was the shrimp and vegetables. Our waitress was so kind, but could tell she was stretched a little thin. She always came over with such urgency and apologetic but we didn't notice because my friend and I were deep in conversation, if we weren't we would've noticed gaps in attention. But because the waitress was so thoughtful and apologetic, we didn't complain. Overall a good experience and decent prices. We would visit again. read more

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Wife came here for lunch and recommended we try it for dinner. Wasn't crowded, even though it's only been open for a few weeks. I ordered skirt steak churrasco, and she ordered braised lamb. They were both good dishes, but to me, the over use of garlic and other spices took away from the flavor of the meat. Our server was also less than awesome. Prices aren't bad. It's worth a try. read more

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Opened in April 2023, here on the 19th for dinner. Nice atmosphere and tasteful decor with nice Latin music. Dinner was outstanding. Rosey was our server, very pleasant. I would recommend if you want to try Cuban/Peruvian Latin Flavors. Also, started out with a Kentucky Moscow Mule. Very well made. read more

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atmosphere was fine. Food was very bland. Also arrived on the table way too quickly. Must have been pre-cooked and sitting there. Meat was tough. Would not go back read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Stir fried rice and chicken had way too many scallions. That was about the only thing you could taste. - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

I would say used to be pretty big fan of mambos. Used to live by there Alpharetta location and went frequently. When I moved missed it and was glad to see they opened one in Buford. The portion sizes have all dropped and apparently now they don't refill bread? Had 3 people and was given 4 pieces of bread and told if I wanted more had to buy it. When I spoke to manager she was dismissive and didn't care. It's always disappointing when you had a place you used to like very well but has become a place you know won't go anymore. I guess something new will be there soon if this is how they decide to treat loyal customers read more

The quality and amount of the food was excellent. I also enjoyed the service. You get your money's worth.

Food was great! Service was fantastic. Jessica was our server and did an amazing job. I was just in Palm Beach and none of the grouper there tasted as good as this place. Highly recommend. read more

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We came to Mambo's after a day at the movies. Mambo's is located in the new up and coming retail, living /business district of Buford Ga. Right down from the Mall of Georgia. They start you off with some complimentary bread with a beautifully delicious cilantro, jalapeno lime sauce. When I say I could have just eaten that all by itself as a meal. You guys I tried too. (‿) My sister ordered a cocktail along with the rest of us. I wish I could remember name of the, but just know they were delicious. My menu choice where the Mambo's Mix Grill, which was cooked perfectly and delicious. My sister got the Filete fe Grouper Imperial, she really didn't enjoy the sauce too much. She thought it too way too much sauce for the fish. And my other sister ordered the Filete de Grouper A la Parrilla. She thought her fish was a little bland and I agree. But overall everything was OK and if I dont6 go back for anything else. I will go back for the bread and that cilantro suace and there cocktails. Also the Mambo's Mix Grill. read more

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The food was very tasty, our server was fantastic and the overall vibes were great. We will definitely be back read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Picante De Mariscos - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

I came here at around 8pm and it is a super loud place. Like I can't even hear the hosts talking to me. The food is actually good, but the noise ruins it. I don't understand why they need to have the music blasting in here. read more

I frequent the location in Alpharetta and I love it! I was near Buford and decided to try out the new location. Food never disappoints! I got the Ceviche de Camaron (spicy) with the black bean soup and omg it was delicious. My friend got the Lomo Saltado. We had the Tostones Rellenos for our appetizer. We love spicy so the green sauce that comes with the bread is so yummy!! read more

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I have no idea how anyone would give less than 5 stars for Mambos. The atmosphere is so cute and upbeat, perfect little date spot. The menu is amazing with something for everyone. We quickly became regulars. The Loma Saltado is for sure my go to but have yet to try anything that isn't amazing. Really good empanadas too. Now I'm getting hungry thinking about it and... am going to go lol. P.S.- excellent martinis! read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Loma Saltado! Delicious - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

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It was my first visit. Nice place with attentive staff. The food was good. The others enjoyed their meal. They had steak and I had fried rice. They have large portions at a great price. Worth a try! read more

I just left there a couple of minutes ago after being there for my first time the vibes was off as soon as I got there. I walked passed a worker who I later found out was the bartender that was in front of the bar not behind it talking to other customers didn't saying anything as I went pass her and sat down no hello or I'll be right with you. I said there for 5 mins as she continued having a conversation with a couple behind me to the left. More people came in and sat at the bar she didn't greet or acknowledge them. The host came from up front and gave them a menu he saw me and asked do I need a menu. I asked who was the bartender that's when he pointed out that it was the girl who was talking to the couple I asked her can I get some help I told her I've been waiting for 5 minutes she told me to you can wait not sorry I will be right you or anything then went back to her conversation the couple even told her she can attend me. She wasn't even taking their order they was just having a casual conversation. I just left after that.. I guess she wasn't taught customer service skills I'm big on customer service and tipping well I won't be back there again!!! read more

Update: Okay, after all the hassle, the food was good. Notice, I said, "...good", not "...great". The corvina tasted okay, but quite honestly, it was over priced. Between the hassles on both occasions, and the cost for what I consider food that is fair to middling, I likely will not be back for quite a while. read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Price charged - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

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OMG! Mambo's Cafe is amazing. Everything we ordered was so delicious. The Tacu Tacu was straight out of Peru. The atmosphere and service is impeccable. Treat yourself to a trip to Cuba or South America and visit Mambo's Cafe. read more

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Very excellent food ! Fresh fries and good sauce ! Rice good as well : I would say 100 x this lomo read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Very excellent foood ! Fresh fries! Good sauce ! And rice excellent ! I would say 100 x this lomo :) - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

My experience was upsetting. We had two different servers because the first one said she was busy taking care of other things. We placed in our order. Roughly waited around 30 mins.. only to be told she forgot to place it in because she was making drinks. After asking for the tab (because we've already waited this long) she said she would be able to put in the order and questioned if we had to go anywhere. After a couple minutes waiting on the tab she said she placed in the order if we could just wait on the food. The whole experience was a waiting game. If you're looking to waste time and come out disappointed this is the place to go! read more

Food was just okay, not close to good Cuban food I've had before. Service was really good so no complaints about that. Was really hoping for the best but wife and daughter had headaches after eating! Initially we were hesitant to try because couldn't figure out why a brand new restaurant had a B health score. You're brand new you should have a clean slate! Hopefully things improve but for now we won't be returning any time soon! Good luck read more

We tried Mambo's since it was a new-to-us restaurant, and we're glad we did. The food was tasty, the service was friendly, and the restaurant has a chill vibe to it. We'll order differently next time because their portions are quite substantial so we took a lot of food home. read more

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The peruvian menu it's TERRIBLE! Completely tasteless. Not even the tartar sauce was good. We tried 3 different plates and every single one of them was bad. The cuban menu was ok. The service is good and the place is very nice. Too bad about the food. I love peruvian food but the closest restaurant to me is in Pleasant Hill so i was hoping this could be an option. read more

Good and staff are amazing. Please stop by and see Barbara, Kristen, or Freddie at the bar. read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Appetizers - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

The service is great. The food is fresh and delicious. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the food and provided recommendations. The mixed drinks were good also. I recommend this place for dinner. They give large portions so bring your doggy bag. read more

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This is my first time at Mambos Cafe and everything was great! Food & service was on point! We ordered the beef empanadas and I can say I haven't had any great empanadas besides homemade! Must have for sure! Next item - was the Lomo saltado perfectly made! Delicious. Another item was- fried seafood platter- grouper, shrimps, squid, mussels with fried yuca with a side of red onions(JALEA MIXTA DE PESCADO Y MARISCOS). Last dish was the all meat combo!! Churrasco steak. mojo chicken breast, Spanish chorizo and pork tenderloin sampler. (mambos mixed grill). Overall place is well set up, ambiance is bright and good vibes! Oh and my server was awesome! Kristen! Very attentive and does her job well! Thanks for the great service! We'll be back again read more

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The new kid in the neighborhood is Mambos, and they're serving up a real experience. As a new restaurant, I can appreciate any new establishment that has encouraged staff who are friendly and take care to memorize the menu and options to optimize the experience to individual palate needs. The menu is limited, but the food that we received was well prepared/seasoned, and that is what makes Mambos an attractive establishment that I believe will do well in this area. read more

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La comida es una de las mejores que me allá comido en mucho tiempo, El servicio estuvo bien los precios estaban ok todo muy bien hasta que nos fuimos para el bar eramos turistas y queríamos tomarnos un trago en la barra después de haber comido y una muchacha nos trato muy mal por que no se ?? Le dijimos al manager, y el nos dijo que el nos dijo que iva a hablar con ella !! Que pena que se dañe la imagen de un Lugar por una persona read more

Mambo's Cafe - Buford - Menu del restaurante - Peruvian Near Me - Buford, Georgia

Foods were very delicious Service was great, we didn't wait long for the foods and staff were friendly Very good atmosphere and nice decor read more

Unfortunately, we didn't even had the pleasure of eating here and the reception was all we needed to walk out. We know it is a holiday, but the attitude of the host was very rude. When he said the wait was 45 minutes we said yes, he immediately looked up and down to us and said "or more" almost expecting we said no. Rude and unpleasant. read more

Totally amazed- she chose this spot for date night. Let me tell you great vibes, music, food and dancing. We shall return. read more

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We tried the cuban food and it was okay. I didn't particularly like all the raw garlic junks on my vaca frita. It really took over the flavor and led me to not want to eat it. Service was friendly and quick. I may go again and give the Peruvian food a try. read more

We order the whole fish special and love it. Mixed drinks are also fantastic. I would recommend