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    San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh

    3.6 (216 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Seafood
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    SAN MARCOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT - RALEIGH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh

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    Antonio H.

    The service was great and prompt ! The food was delicious and the whole restaurant was a nice vibe ! I will definitely be back to get some more when I'm back in state and in area !

    Tortilla soup
    Chelsea S.

    Great experience! Went to the restaurant around 5pm on a Sunday. Greeted with smiling faces and seated at a table in bar area. We were with a 4 year old and they were very accommodating. Ordered a burrito. Baja shrimp tacos and tortilla soup. All delicious and well seasoned.

    Enchiladas Mexicanas
    Haley B.

    I wasn't even aware there was another San Marcos besides the Smithfield location until I drove by this one on the way to Crabtree! I decided to get my usual, the enchiladas mexicanas, and it came out perfectly. It tasted exactly how it does at the other location. The beans and rice were delicious and because I came during lunch there were only 2 enchiladas instead of 3 which was good as I didn't have a crazy big appetite. Overall I had a great lunch here and I'm very happy there's a San Marcos in Raleigh.

    Acp
    Taylor M.

    I love going here because it's super convenient to where I live literally within walking distance! The food is always great along with the service! The Ambiance gives such great vibes too

    Front
    Jillian S.

    Authentic Mexican food served up right behind Crabtree Valley mall. We ordered: Super Burrito ($17.40) - large, flavorful Cheese Dip ($7.19) - okay, small for price Carne En Su Jugo (Guadalajara Style) ($20.39) - authentic, flavorful, cooked perfectly Xango ($7.00) Overall, we enjoyed our meal (over the course of several days) and recommend this restaurant to others!

    Jonathan P.

    Had a great time at San Marcos for Cinco de Mayo. Everything was great from the drinks to the food. I ordered myself a bahama mama and an ACP which was spectacular. They brought a great ambiance for us with the DJ they had he played great music that just fit the atmosphere which I enjoyed. I would come back to San Marcos and would fully recommend it to anyone.

    My son declared this Al Pastor the best quesadilla he's had. Never seen this prepared as a quesadilla.
    Toshi I.

    Loved the decor here. This is a casual place great for meeting friends because there's a little something for everyone on their menu. I ordered Ala Carte a shrimp taco and steak enchilada. Hubs ordered a mix of chicken and steak fajitas. This was served up fresh to my table. Of course, I had to try their signature marg which complemented both my meak and experience. My son ordered the Al Pastor Quesadilla which isn't a menu item we see at every Mexican restaurant. He said it was the best! Will be back.

    John C.

    This place was great. The food was super tasty. The decore was awesome. This looked like a theme park.

    Fajitas
    Terrie S.

    Staff is super friendly. The food was amazing. Ordered fajitas and a taco salad. Everything was fresh and tasted great. If we weren't traveling and lived in the area, we would definitely go back.

    Fajita mixture of chicken and steak with salad and rice and beans SO BOMB! Mixed Fajita for 1
    Jeimi J.

    Fast , and so good !! ‍ drinks were fire except cocunut one unless you are a coconut fan

    Menu
    Ivan S.

    Overall I enjoyed the place. Service is not the best and could be a little more prompt, however the food was amazing thus 5/5 rating. The inside is decorated nicely in a Mexican theme. Menu is huge with lots of things to choose from. They serve chips and salsa right from the start, we complemented it with queso, which to our surprise was quite small for 6 bucks they ask for it, however it was delicious. For main course I ended up getting Mexican grilled steak which was basically a taco like dish, the steak was combined with queso and oh my, it was sooo good! I'll be back to try something different here for sure.

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    5 months ago

    Cook did not prepare my meal as ordered and manager was only willing to take off 25% I will not be returning to this establishment

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    Ask the Community - San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh

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    We were only in Raleigh for a short family trip and wanted one memorable dinner. After reading the…read morereviews, we decided on The Crunkleton--and it exceeded our expectations. We arrived on a busy Sunday evening without a reservation and were told the wait would be about 40 minutes. Instead of simply putting us on a list, Alfredia, the host, immediately made us feel welcome. She even offered me a cup of ice water after noticing we'd walked over in the summer heat. A few minutes later, she found a way to get our family seated much sooner than expected. That small act of kindness set the tone for the entire evening. Our server, Toni, was exceptional. Friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic, he guided us through the menu with thoughtful recommendations. Every suggestion was spot-on, and it was obvious he knew the menu well. The food was outstanding. The Duck Flautas were a great start. The She-Crab Soup was rich and flavorful. The Wagyu Burger with caramelized onions, truffle aioli on brioche was excellent--my son says it's the best burger he's ever had. The Mediterranean Chicken Piccata was beautifully prepared with confit fingerling potatoes, charred asparagus, goat cheese, sun-dried tomato tapenade, and piccata sauce. We were so busy enjoying dinner that we completely forgot to take photos until dessert--which probably says everything. The Beignets with cold brew icing were excellent, and the warm Brownie with salted caramel ice cream was the perfect ending to the meal. What also impressed us was that Chef Jonathan stopped by our table to check on our meal, and Ravin, the General Manager, took time to welcome us personally and make sure everything about our visit was going well. We never felt rushed. Great food may bring people through the door. Great hospitality is what brings them back. The Crunkleton gave our family one of those dinners we'll remember long after the trip is over. The atmosphere is stylish without feeling pretentious, the service is genuinely warm, and it's clear that everyone there takes pride in what they do. If you're visiting Raleigh--or if you're fortunate enough to live there--I would absolutely recommend giving The Crunkleton a try. We left talking not only about how much we enjoyed the meal, but also about the people who made the evening special. Thank you to Alfredia, Toni, Chef Jonathan, Ravin, and everyone behind the scenes for making a simple family dinner into such a memorable experience. We absolutely will be back.

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    J. Alexander's

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    I had a very nice lunch here recently while visiting the area. The portions were generous, and the…read moreservice was friendly. Our server noticed right away if anyone needed more iced tea and offered before we asked. Both my friend and I enjoyed our meals. They had a lively lunch crowd on a weekday but were organized and well-staffed.

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    Raleigh Crab House

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    This Crab house is located in Mini City off of Capital Blvd, plenty of parking…read more Started off with a lemon drop martini, be specific on the liquor if you are particularly, if not, you'll taste the house option strongly. Had the calamari as an appetizer, very chewy, I would not recommend. I really went for the crab broil. Mine had, crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, corn and sausage, everything was cooked well. I went with the Big Bang sauce, mild which includes Cajun, garlic and lemon pepper. It is salty. Overall, it was a solid broil for the price. I went in early on a Friday, service was quick and friendly. Dim lighting and cool upbeat music.

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    Fantastic bar for having a bite to eat and a chat with friends
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    San Marcos Mexican Restaurant - Raleigh - mexican - Updated July 2026

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