Love this place! Great food that comes out quick, homemade everything, guac is amazing! Love their…read moreAl pastor tacos so many toppings truly a fav. They also make everything quickly, and are friendly. Plenty of places to sit and enjoy.

My wife and I had a chance to go back to Cilantro Tacos with my mom who is visiting from…read moreCalifornia. During our previous visit, my wife and I tried their California Burrito, with carnitas for my wife and carne asada for me. Both burritos were bursting with flavors and were served in generous portions...we couldn't finish all of it. This time, we ordered the Bowl with Carne Asada for me and Carnitas for my wife. My mom tried their California Burrito 3 fish tacos. We were also served a flavorful dip that is not yet on the menu that the owner plans on adding soon...it'll be called Mama's Dip. It was so good, we can't stop eating it with chips. My wife actually just ate that with chips and took home the bowl. I too liked that dip very much that I too packed my bowl to go! The owner shared that they started the business 12 years ago and moved to the Newberry location 6 years ago. There's a reason they've been recognized for their food. Everything was prepared well, flavorful and freshly made. We learned they make everything in house from fresh ingredients...nothing frozen nor canned. Such care and attention to detail elevates the dining experience and raises the bar for fast casual Mexican restaurants. Clean space with friendly service and vibes. We will surely be back!

Really solid tacos. I travel in Mexico quite a bit, and just generally eat tacos whenever I have…read morethe opportunity. I'm rarely surprised by food in Gainesville, I feel like I know what to expect and am fine with the "Gainesville version of ___". These are very good tacos by any measure. The birra is tasty and not oily, the pastor has a nice crispness with a balanced pineapple sweetness, and the chicken is well seasoned and not dried out. Overall a really good meal, affordable and filling. The interior is bright and pleasant, a fun stop for lunch.

We were driving through on I-75 and didn't want the normal fast food. We came here to order to go…read more However the food was so much we sat and enjoyed our meal outside. It ended up being a nice break and so worth it. The staff was very friendly and helped me With their menu. We ordered an el pastor burrito and the chicken quesadilla. The two sauces (red and green) were really good. The red was the hottest.

I went here for lunch and loved the food and the vibes. I like that you can sit outside at fourth…read moreAve and Muecas has delicious food and a variety to choose from. I got the curry with the daily catch, which was Seabass. It was so delicious and such a good size portion. My sister got a bowl which is always promising and their tacos are also delicious!! The service was also good. I want to go back and try their daily specials and Sunday brunch!!

We popped in for brunch on a Sunday. The surrounding places were busy but Munecas wasn't, so we…read moredecided to give it a try. We ordered at the counter and seated ourselves while we they prepared our food. We also ordered a Bloody Mary from the bar while we waited. Everything was prepared quickly and turned out to be delicious and filling. I had to get a to-go box. The restaurant was clean and the staff members were attentive and friendly. We definitely had a great experience and would go back again!

I usually go to Tioga, but today I brought my mom here and I'm so glad I did. I ordered the chicken…read morenachos, and let me tell you... these weren't just nachos. This was an event. A whole experience. A mountain of food so generous it could easily feed two people, layered like an edible masterpiece. The plate came overflowing with rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, cilantro, queso, and shredded cheese, all draped over perfectly seasoned chicken. Every bite felt warm and comforting, the kind of food that makes you pause mid‑conversation because the flavor hits you in waves. Creamy, crunchy, fresh, savory... everything balanced beautifully. I also tried the al pastor, and it was incredible. Tender, juicy, with that perfect hint of sweetness and char that makes al pastor unforgettable. You can taste the love and intention in every bite. I loved that you could see the pineapple chunks because usually places just use pineapple juice . The atmosphere was cozy, the service was kind, and the food felt like it was made by people who care. If you're anywhere near Alachua, do yourself a favor and stop here. This place deserves all the stars.

Best Taco's in Alachua County and maybe even in Florida! Great service, incredible people, and…read morereally comfortable atmosphere. Great taste for the price too. I was very satisfied with the portions, and everything is made fresh to order. Presentation is really top notch. If you can't tell, I think the place and the people are amazing. Family owned too, so definitely a place to frequent and support. They also make the cakes(tres leches) in house! Seriously impressive place. I would recommend 10/10. Thanks so much Cilantro tacos team!

Amazing restaurant! Go check it out. Beautiful decor n friendly service. Claudia was amazing!read more

I did not look at the reviews prior to eating at El Patio as my friend Googled food near us and I…read morewent with it since we could walk from the hotel. We went to dinner after 9 PM and it was pretty slow. It was our servers first night and she was sweet and willing to help answer all our questions (even when that meant she had to go ask someone). I had a seltzer, guac and a taco and my total was $14.50. Wow, I knew I wasn't in Kansas anymore lol. What a great deal! The guac was my least favorite. Something about the texture wasn't quite right:/ But I ate most of it because I was hungry. The chicken taco was superb! The chicken was flavored delightfully! It included lettuce and cheese and I added their homemade salsa which I really liked. The restaurant was clean and colorful with paintings on all the booths and chairs. They didn't try to run us out when we were the only people left lol. Thanks for the yummy food and great service!

The food was amazing, but the fried ice cream was not the same as I always rememberedread more

They only get one star because the staff was friendly. This place is DISGUSTING The food is…read moreflavorless and the restaurant is dirty. They need to clean all their fixtures. The booth I was sitting at had massive amounts of dust and residue all over the lamp. I wish I would have noticed it before I sat down and ordered a drink. I would have walked out IMMEDIATELY. The worst part about the food I ordered was this weird gravy sauce they put over the Mexican rice. I've never seen anything like that and I CERTAINLY didn't ask for it. I couldn't even eat all my food. What a waste, I will NOT be back.

Food is good. Salsa bar. Service is great and fast. Very lively restaurant with live…read moremusic/entertainment. Our server Mia was super helpful and friendly.

We found Las Carretas Mexican Restaurant in Gainesville through a last-minute Facebook Valentine's…read moreDay event, and WOW what a surprise! The event said no reservations needed, so we showed up not realizing how popular it would be. The place was PACKED with a line out the door! Even so, we only waited about 25 minutes for a table on Valentine's Day, which honestly wasn't bad at all considering the crowd. We went specifically for their Valentine's special: 2 margaritas, fajitas for two, and dessert, such a great deal! The margaritas were delicious. We ordered the Rita sampler and the blueberry margarita tasted like blueberry pie, so fresh, organic, and absolutely yummy. We also ordered homemade guacamole, which was delectable, paired with fresh, crispy homemade chips. Our fajitas included steak, pork, chicken, and shrimp, and everything was cooked to perfection. The flavors were incredible!!! And can we talk about the restaurant itself? It's HUGE! It felt like one of those multi-level Times Square NYC restaurants, with multiple floors and even outside patio seating. It was like a magic trick walking through it! Our waitress, Lia, was fantastic, attentive, helpful, and so sweet despite how busy it was. The staff worked incredibly hard all night and it showed. Plentiful parking, amazing food, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back to this hidden gem we didn't even know existed in town. Thank you for making our Valentine's Day special after a long day of yard work

I have been driving by this taco stand on US 441 for the past month or so, and each time it has…read moreintrigued me... except that the time was always wrong. But now I have finally had the opportunity, and it was definitely worth it! Typically parked next to the old Hollander's Hydraulics building, this taco stand has been operating in the parking lot for the past month, and appears to be doing quite well. They now have their own porta-potty, mostly for themselves but I would assume guests would be able to use it as well if needed. Access from both sides of the road is easy enough as well as there is a cross-over of 441 right at the entrance to the parking lot. Their menu has all the regular things you would expect with a variety of meats... tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, and tostadas. I went with an order of tacos and a burrito. Now, I have found that tacos have become a bit over-hyped, and therefore expensive for what you get. This was the case as well... while the tacos are good, I just found them to be a bit pricey for what you get. You definitely get a better bang for the buck when it comes to the burrito, and I was quite happy with it. When it comes to ambiance, well... it is a taco truck on the side of the road. There is plenty of parking, but nowhere to sit, so this is purely a grab and go kind of place for the time being. Perhaps as they become more established in the location they will have a chance to put out some picnic tables or something so people can sit outside and eat their meals. I will be returning when the timing is right, as it is on the way home for me!

Best tacos I have had in Gainesville, this is now my new place for tacos. I recommend the Al…read morePastor, Carne Asada, Birria and Cabeza Tacos. 4 tacos for 12 dollars.

Very authentic Mexican food! This is a great Mexican staple for Gainesville. You order at the…read morecounter and choose a table, so a great place for lunch or a quick dinner. The service is always super fast. The food is always fresh and authentic. Not pictured are the birra tacos, which are my favorite and go-to item at La Tienda. The spice is tolerable, and the meat is always fresh. The nachos were a huge portion and had nicely seasoned meat. The queso was warm which was lovely

True Mexican restaurant. Very casual and basic. Some of staff speaks English but not all. Inside…read moreand outside dining. Order at counter and they bring food out. Cash discount on food. Good size portions. My husband had the chorizo eggs with beans and rice. Just ok. I tried the Huarache (house specialty) with Barbacoa beef. Masa pancake with meat, lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream and avocado. Delish! We are from out of town but would definitely come back for if in Gainesville

After trying a few other Mexican restaurants I chose this one because the Pork belly tacos. Upon…read morearriving we were told to pick our table. We chose to sit inside. Our server was Brandon, who was an absolute delight! He was so energetic, so friendly, and gave great suggestions. We started with drinks. I had a skinny margarita and my husband had a Frida (top shelf margarita) and our son had a Coke. First thing we ordered was the chips and salsa. The chips were perfect, not too thin and not too thick. They came with two salsas. Both were tasty. Not sure if there is a spicier option but we will check next time. I ordered the Birria tacos. They were so delicious! So much flavor! The avocado tomatillo salsa was perfect with it. My husband ordered the Al Pastor tacos. It was very traditional Al pastor. He loved the black beans. His words were " these are the best black beans I have ever had!" Our son ordered the chorizo tacos. First, I have never seen chorizo tacos offered in a Mexican restaurant. Secondly, they were amazing! To finish, I ordered the banana pudding and our son ordered the churro sundae. Both desserts were delicious. The portions were huge! All in all I say Nopal is quite the gem. Perfect portions and dishes that are packed with flavor. And service that goes above and beyond. We can't wait to go back. We will ask for Brandon!!!

I arrived with 3 friends on a Wednesday night 7:20pm and we sat on the patio. There was not a…read moresingle table occupied inside the restaurant. There were 4-5 other tables seated outside. Our server mentioned he was busy but would come by as soon as he could. No problem! Well....he silently dropped waters off about five minutes later and zoomed away. We flagged him down a few minutes later to order bar drinks. Two of us ordered beers and two ordered margaritas. The margaritas took forever and when they finally came out, they both tasted terrible. One tasted like pure sugar (all sour mix) and the other tasted like rubbing alcohol but not a tequila taste. My friend took them inside to the bar to swap them out since the server was too busy. The bartender said there was too much agave in their sour mix today. They ended up with beers. Finally by almost 8pm we flagged the server down and asked to order food. He was apologetic that he was inattentive. We ordered and the food came out quickly. Everyone enjoyed their food. The server asked us if we wanted dessert and made a recommendation. Two of us had a check together and the other two separate. The server struggled to separate the checks and was confused. Suddenly by 9pm the kitchen was closed, he had dropped off our checks, and quickly picked them up. As soon as the checks were signed he was picking up the signed receipts and bussing the table around us although 3 out of 4 of us had full beers from a second round. The server was very kind but I can only hope that it was his first week because he was in the weeds the whole time and there was another server on the patio, so at most they had 3 tables each. I don't know if the solution is to add another server for that shift or if he needs a smaller section but it was hard to watch and honestly I don't think I will return. Maybe the manager could have helped take drink orders or run drinks on the table.