Best tacos I've had in Durham. Love the way they present the nachos. It's exactly how'd I'd eat it if I were at home. It's all business. The Carnitas, Chorizo and Al Pastor are all recommended. The salsa is on the mild side so please use generously. It's got great flavor. I was impressed with this visit. I came in hungry and I left happy. You've definitely got a gem here in Durham. I will be back many times over. Yum gang... read more

Hmm, for the reviews Mi Calvillo had I was expecting way more flavor profiles. However the food was very bland. The chips were not fresh and there was no spice at all in the salsa. We had a cheese dip as well that was lukewarm. The server was very pleasant and helpful. It was a cute small space. read more

Mi Calvillo - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I was so excited to check this place out because I really wanted a shredded beef burrito and I saw one listed on their menu. Where I am from you can get a shredded beef burrito anywhere but they are hard to find here. We walked in and I was surprised to see that you order at the counter and it seems most of their business is takeout. They did allow us to sit at a table to order though. The waiter did not bring us anything. No chips. No salsa. No napkins. No silverware. I asked if they have salsa and they then brought out chips and salsa. I asked for silverware and napkins after our food arrived and they then brought out those things. We ordered bean dip and they brought out what I would describe as a bowl of water. Both the beans and the cheese were so runny that it was impossible to get either beans or cheese to stay on the chip long enough to deliver to your mouth. Total fail. How can bean dip be messed up? I was still excited for my shredded beef burrito to come. That excitement and any hopes I had for this place went way out the window when the man came back and plopped a shredded chicken burrito down in front of me. Definitely not what I ordered! I literally went there because they have shredded beef burritos, as least their menu says they do. I ate some of the shredded chicken burrito that I did not order and simply quietly boxed up the rest feeling too defeated to eat or complain. Speaking of the menu, they charged significantly more for every single item than the price that was listed on the menu. Once again I did not complain. I was so ready to leave. The horrible bean dip, three tacos for my husband, and a burrito that I did not order cost us $60. Never again. read more

The first time I came here it was fabulous. The second and third time were just alright. I suggest getting the special. Very kind employees. read more

Mi Calvillo - Torta- Pollo - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

This is a little hole in the wall place on 9th street in Durham. Often times a hole in the wall place is where you will find the best food. This is not that place. There are maybe 6 tables in the place. We were able to grab one as soon as we walked in. We ordered bean dip as soon as we were seated as it is one of our go to appetizers without having to look at the menu. When the bean dip arrived it was more like bean soup, so watered down it didn't really stay on the chips. The chips however were good and reminded us of the fair. I ordered 3 tacos, 2 langua and 1 called Diablo which I'm pretty sure ended up being some kind of pork (it definitely wasn't chorizo). The tacos were served "street" style and were good. My wife ordered a shredded "beef" burrito but was brought a shredded "chicken" burrito. The real bummer was the fact that we had to ask for everything individually to get it, basic things you expect when sat down at a Mexican joint. We had to ask for salsa, napkins, utensils ect as we realized we didn't have one item after another. The food was marginal at best and over priced for the quality. Three tacos and burrito and "bean soup" was almost $50. Will definitely go somewhere else next time were in the area. read more

We stopped at Mi Calvillo on our way to the airport. The service was fast which was perfect because we were on a hurry. The food was ok but the tacos meat portion was too little. Also, the Al pastor taco did not had pineapples. Traditionally the pastor has pineapple as a topping which adds an amazing flavor. The rice & beans were cold. One down size is finding a parking spot. read more

Mi Calvillo - Carnitas taco. Al pastor taco without pineapple ( ) Carne Asada (steak) taco. Rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Quality hole in the wall in Durham with excellent food! Service was quick and the place was small but clean! read more

Mi Calvillo - House Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Today was my third (and favorite!) time dining in at Mi Calvillo. I've never been disappointed with the service here and this was time was no exception, the waitress was kind and the food came out relatively quick. I ordered the camarones a la plancha and the shrimp were juicy and flavorful. The corn tortillas were amazing as well, super fresh and served hot. The portions are quite big as well, so there was plenty to take home. Out of the few dishes I have tried this one was my favorite so far! read more

Mi Calvillo - Camarones a la plancha - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Delicious! Great service to go with the amazing food. We loved that they serve 'chicharrones' which are another version typically sold by street vendors. They called them 'Doritos' . With Valentina sauce they are so good. We ordered a torta de Jamon & husband ordered a burrito. read more

See all

Solid choice for authentic and affordable Mexican food on 9th St. Smallish but warm and pleasant interior featuring an open kitchen and a curious but cozy mix of decorative plaques (of the "live, laugh, love" variety) and cool forged metal wall art, plus a couple of tables outside for sidewalk dining on a nice day. Service is very fast and the staff is incredibly friendly and inviting so you'll instantly feel comfortable there even on your first visit. This was, in fact, my first time there so I tried a variety of tacos (cochinita pibil, al pastor, shredded beef, and diabla) that tasted great and were topped with the expected diced white onion and cilantro. The pibil - which has great depth of flavor and I highly recommend - also had some picked onions on top which was a very pleasant surprise. The salsa roja and salsa verde were both good as well, and didn't taste *exactly* like the salsas at other places, which is always a plus for me. A little heat, but nothing heavy so don't be afraid to try them out. They also have Valentina but you could stay home for that. Come on. Get to know your new friends Roja y Verde de Mi Calvillo, they're nice and would probably help you move if you asked them. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the taco fillings as well as the enchiladas, burritos, aguas frescas (what was I thinking getting a Mexican Coke?) and other items that people rave about. read more

See all

Best latin food ! Order takeout every time they are very kind , good service, very prompt. They have the best Al Pastor Quesadillas ! The red sauce is the best read more

I feel like I'm back home eating my dad's authentic and delicious Mexican cooking. Everything I've had here is good. Carne y Nopales: Fantastic! Just like my dad makes at home. Pork and cactus in a savory sauce Duritos (aka wheel chips): Instead of chips and salsa, they serve duritos with Tapatío. Really unique touch! read more

Mi Calvillo - Carne y nopales - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Outstanding! Love the traditional street tacos on secret menu. Good tortilla, good steak, a bit of onions and cilantro and good hot sauces. Simple but delicious read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here for the first time today without any expectations and we were blown away. The service was quick and great, and the food was incredible. I'm vegetarian and these were probably the best vegetarian tacos I've ever had. The mixed veggie tacos were so good and the nopales was so, so well seasoned and cooked. My boyfriend enjoyed the al pastor and chorizo tacos and would agree that it was the best chorizo he's had. Highly recommend! read more

Really thoughtful service and delicious food. The guacamole was perfect and not a bad price. Charlie had green enchiladas that were spectacular and I had a Gordita. Cristobal, the waiter, even brought out extra carnitas on the side for me. A true gem. read more

Was not expecting this level of authenticity on 9th street for mexican food. I frequent north Durham often so la superior and del rancho are my routine stops. This review takes those into consideration. This was the best burrito I've had in Durham - the rich flavor, the chewiness of the tortilla, the portion, everything was done to a perfection. I can't wait to try their lengua burrito next time. All I gotta say is that sorry lime and lemon - that's my usual go-to food place on 9th and Mi Calvillo will make me think twice every time I am getting food around 9th street. Yelp is making me to say something some service / ambiance - it's a small place and can easily be missed. Inside is very clean. The service was super friendly and fast (mine was for pick-up). read more

The food was really goodddd I should've got Birria I didn't see it on the menu :/ but the combo plate was good and the server was super nice. Food came out pretty quick and it was solid and filling and not too pricy, overall it def hit after not having Mexican for a while bc I've been in college. The environment is nice too as it is right on 9th street and overall was super comfortable and good experience. read more

Mi Calvillo - Carne Ranchera - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

How fitting is it that the two best restaurants on Ninth Street are right next to each other? The other one being Banh's Cuisine, of course. This partially hidden gem can get pretty busy at times, but for some reason a lot of my peers haven't visited yet. Odd, considering it provides anything a student on a budge could ever want: relatively cheap food, a lot of food, and good tasting food. I've been here quite a few times, bringing new peers along each time. So far, I've ordered/tasted their tacos, enchiladas, sopas, gorditas, ultimate fries, burritos, and birria. Everything has been incredible. Personally, I'd probably order tacos again and again, because for less than $10, I can get a solid meal. While the asada (steak) is always a classic, my favorite are the carnitas. The pork has always been incredibly juicy and flavorful. I've also recently tried the diabla filling, but it's been incredible as well- a mix of chorizo, steak, and grilled onion with a red salsa. read more

See all

This is a tiny, cute, very clean restaurant across from Erwin Hall. My friend liked his sampler platter and cleaned his plate. My green enchiladas were tasty, but had very little tomatillo sauce, so they were dry. It was a huge portion, especially for lunch, so I took half of it home. Service was efficient, but when we tried to pay separately at the counter, I don't think they understood. Instead of charging each of us for our entree, they split the check in half, which meant I paid more than I should have, and my friend paid less. Also, we tried two tables, and both were very unstable, which made eating difficult. The best thing I had was the complimentary cucumber appetizer. Instead of chips and salsa, we were served a plate of sliced cucumbers, lightly sprinkled with paprika, salt and lemon juice. Simple and perfect, and since my friend hates cucumbers, I got to eat the whole thing! read more

See all

Wanted to get the tripe soup but they didn't have it anymore. Ended up ordering the green enchiladas. It was okay nothing special. Service was good but a bit slow. Waiter was good. Giving 3 stars only because it was below my expectations and nothing special or surprising. read more

Mi Calvillo - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I really wanted to like this place but it was just -- OK. I called in to place a take-out order. I went with the "House Burrito". It was ready within 10-15 minutes. When it was finally time to eat, I opened the bag, and it was just a burrito...no sauce or salsa? Common! Who eat eats a Mexican food without some sort of sauce? The burrito was as huge with lots of filling such as steak, chorizo, lettuce, cheese, and rice. Again -- NO SAUCE! For a $10-12 burrito, you expect it would come with at least some chips too. The burrito tasted good but nothing out of this world. read more

We've been wanting to try this place out. So glad we decided to stop by. It's a little small inside with only 6 or so tables, but worth the wait. One of the owners stopped by our table and shared that some of the recipes were their grandmother's. The food was pretty tasty. read more

Mi Calvillo - Mollette - it reminds me of an open faced torta. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Atmosphere: Mi Calvillo is a small restaurant on Ninth Street near Duke's East Campus. The interior is simple and clean, with a line of tables along one side of the restaurant and the kitchen on the other side. Service: They are pretty prompt with their orders, but we would recommend ordering online for quick and easy pick-up if ordering takeout. Food: Our favorite thing to order at Mi Calvillo is their House Burrito, but we've also tried their Flautas with chicken. The House Burrito is huge and can easily serve 2 people. The fillings are seasoned well and juicy, and there is a good variety of texture throughout. We like to add guacamole to our burrito, as it is fresh and adds vibrancy to the dish. Their hot sauce is also delicious and adds a good kick to the burrito! The Flautas on the other hand were a bit disappointing since there was not much filling in them, and we could only really taste the fried outer shell most of the time. Overall: Mi Calvillo makes a fantastic burrito that is great in taste, quantity, and value. They have become one of our go-to burrito places in Durham. We think that they are one of the most underrated restaurants on Ninth Street, and we would recommend anyone to give them a try! read more

See all

Solid food, really nice workers, and very quick. I love coming here during my lunch break

I just love this place; I love everything about it. The food is clean, like made with attention to detail. The fajitas come out on a skillet and they are hot, hot, hot! The salsas (green and red) come in those adorable plastic cups, and they serve an appetizer (some sort of fried wheel things) we enjoy. I normally get carne asada (I can't roll my Rs) and the wait staff is very chill. I've eaten here maybe a half dozen times? Mostly my girlfriend and I come here to have nice sit downs. The prices are excellent. I'm amazed this place doesn't have moré business. I took my ten-year-old, he was able to order off the adult menu (he got chicken quesadillas) and he was able to eat them. He's normally very restrictive about food. I have to remove a star over a small but important comfort. The lock on the woman's restroom is sketch. I feel like someone is gonna walk in on me, and this place has gendered bathrooms, despite them being single use. This is still my current favorite place to eat. read more

We are from Southern California. Mexican food is our family favorite, and we know good Mexican food when we taste it. We came here with our son who was missing Mexican food since moving to Durham a few months ago, and we were happily surprised to find excellent Mexican food in North Carolina. Everything we ordered could hold its own with the best that is available in Southern California. One thing to note is that this restaurant has an open kitchen at the front of the restaurant. That made it so we could see our food being prepared and interact with the friendly kitchen staff, but it seemed that the heat from the kitchen along with the heat of the late afternoon sun pouring in the big west facing windows at the front of the restaurant was a little more than the air conditioning could handle. The temperature inside the restaurant was a bit warmer than we were hoping for, but we were sitting at a table adjacent to a window. On hot afternoons when the sun is in the west, it may be best to avoid tables near the windows or simply come earlier or later when the sun isn't low in the west. On the other hand, they give you one free refill when you order an agua fresca so that certainly helped with the heat. read more

I've been to this place 2 times and now and it is THE BEST Mexican place in the triangle. After being all over the world I'd say this is as close as you can get to the real thing. My partner who lived in California and knows authentic tacos says this is the best in the area!! You cannot go wrong here. There's great service, it's family owned and you can just tell they put their heart and soul into this place. When you walk in, you are immediately greeted and they take care of you through and through. I don't know why this place does not have more reviews on Yelp or if they are new but man this place is 10/10! We will be going back more frequently. The ambiance is very homey inside too. My partner described it as if we went to his friends house and their parents were cooking... it was THAT good! read more

See all

I got door dash so I can't comment on the location or the people. The food was pretty good, a little spicyier that I preferred.

We went here because my boyfriend was craving tacos! I'm so glad we tried it out. We ordered a party platter of tacos (12 tacos). You can get up to 4 different proteins in them. We got chorizo, diabla, steak and el pastor. Our favorites were steak and el pastor but all were good! We also go the carne ranchera. This was steak mixed with grill onions and poblano peppers topped with cheese and served with rice and salad. It was so good and authentic! When placing the order over the phone, the lady was super nice and even when I picked up the food, everyone was super friendly. Everything was fresh and hot. We will be returning. read more

See all

I've never had a disappointing meal here and I don't expect to. Small, clean, family run Mexican joint with great food. The menu hasn't been Americanized to death. The mole is excellent. The spice levels are respectable. Food is invariably cooked and seasoned well. The service is prompt and friendly. Stop reading and go eat there. read more

Stopped in for a light meal and thoroughly enjoyed the tacos and fresh homemade tortillas. The chorizo, Al pastor, and chicken tinga tacos were perfect. read more

Mi Calvillo - Shredded chicken taco, Al pastor taco, chorizo taco. Side of avocado. - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First off I will say that they are taking Covid precautions very seriously which is greatly appreciated. Secondly I would be remiss not to mention how friendly and helpful everyone there was through the whole ordering and picking up process. They were super kind about humoring my begging for more hot sauce. As to the food: 1. Carne asada fries -- delicious, probably the best I've had in the Triangle. Los Cuates in Raleigh gives a little more meat that's a bit tastier but the homemade fries at Mi Calvillo made the whole dish far superior. Order 'ultimate fries with steak' and that will get you a delicious mess of starches, spice and meat. 2. Red enchiladas-- cooked perfectly in the authentic manner (at least I think it's authentic, it's how it was served in Nuevo Laredo when I was there). Four cheese-filled enchilada with a homemade red sauce served alongside some delicious roasted potatoes, escabeche and a cactus salad. Absolutely delicious. 3. Quesadilla -- tried the shredded beef one and it was well fried and tasty. 4. Flautas -- as good as can be expected (my non-Mexican Food fan father's favorite dish). Guacamole with them was good but not quite as good as Nacos nor Azteca. 5. Tacos -- had a rajas (poblano) one and a potato one (same potatoes as the accompaniment to the enchiladas). Both were tasty and served on homemade corn tortillas that completely gave way after the first bite. Would have preferred it if they would have had two tortillas per taco. Overall I will absolutely be back very soon, really like this place read more

See all

Great ceviche, amazing service, and overall really good food! Camila served us and she recommended some tasty options. Also, the portions are pretty big for the price point. read more

Mi Calvillo - Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Fabulous food. Understand they were recently sold, but my recon said the menu is unchanged and the quality is just as good. Trying them tonight. I'll let you know how it goes!! read more

Yes! This is great! Finally a restaurant I have no concerns with whatsoever and can recommend to anyone. Service was fast and friendly. Food is excellent, craveable even. In my opinion, the best Mexican food I've had so far in the area (coming from someone who doesn't eat meat, cheese, or sour cream). The veggie burrito is massive and satisfying, tacos are done properly which I know because they are delicious with just veggies in them. I'm so thankful that they understand how to season things at this place. The chips are properly seasoned as well. The prices are appropriate for the portions and quality of food. The only issue I could say is that street parking can be a challenge but it's worth it once you find a spot. Other than that, solid place with consistently good food. For me right now, Mi Calvillo is the the Mexican restaurant to beat. read more

Such a lovely restaurant! My wife and I enjoyed lunch of chicken enchiladas and fish tacos. Very impressed with the food! The service was excellent and we felt very well taken care of. Recommended! read more

I've been coming to this place since it opened because I realized from the start it was run by a family and I love to support family owned businesses. The service, efficiency, and the plates have been getting better with each visit. I must be honest, I have pretty high standards when going to Mexican restaurants because I grew up with one of the best Mexican cooks out there, my mom who is from Jalisco, Guadalajara. Location: Small yet clean place on 9th St. Plenty of street parking. It can get pretty full around lunch and dinner hours, but I haven't had to wait for more than 10 min for a table. Decor is something I don't really like to discuss, as long as the food is good, the decor for me is more of a bonus but not a priority. Staff: Like I said, it's a family owned business. The teens are the ones to normally serve and take our orders. They are very processional, speedy, and friendly.....which is amazing because I sometimes can't find this in adult servers I've had at other restaurants. Food: To be clear for those who have not been here, this is not you general Americanized Tex- Mex restaurant, so if you want something full of cheese and "queso" dip, this may not be your spot. Everything that I've ordered containing chicken has been delicious, I try to switch it up each time I go, and I have not been disappointed. So the reason for my 4 star rating is that I did try the asada (steak) tacos once and the meat was not to my liking. Taste is a pretty subjective thing, so you may love them, but the stake flavor was not my favorite. There are plenty of other dishes I have not tried, so I look forward to trying them out in the future! read more

Mi Calvillo - Sopes de pollo ( chicken).... my fave dish there!! - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is definitely appealing to the American but it's pretty good. However, if you're looking for a true traditional Mexican food there are better places in Durham. Their chips are really really good but their taco meat, while good, is not the most amazing thing I've ever had. The best meat there was the chorizo. Great location - right on 9th! read more

See all

Delicious! If you want a taco, this is the place to come! I previously came here and did not like what I ordered. However this time around, I ordered the tacos, and they were delicious!The chorizo taco has a meaty taste with a kick. The taste of the cactus taco is so difficult to describe. It's a bit sour but has an interesting crunch. The cost is a bit higher than I expect and additional toppings are extra, so I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars for that reason. The menu is a bit difficult to understand. It may help if the put "v" next to vegetarian options. The ambiance is lovely and modern. I can't wait to come back! read more

Mi Calvillo - Chorizo and cactus tacos - Mexican Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Solid fare at this little family-run spot--lots of choices, super pleasant service and a real sense of authenticity/--feels like eating at mom's house if my mom was Mexican. read more