This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and I want to emphasize the Mexico part, not the borderlands mash-up TexMex that most places serve. The rice is white with peas and carrots, like they do in the interior. The pepper is more likely to be chipotle. There are some excellent fish (usually black drum) and shrimp dishes. I had a superb camerones dish over rice with chipotle sauce and a lovely slaw on top you wouldn't think would work but it does. And IMO the portion sizes are perfect, not demanding the carry out box every single time. The bar is also good, and if you're going to treat yourself, yes, they'll use Clase Azul tequila and do it well. The interior has been redone a bit, mostly in the tables, since we were last there, and it's an improvement. They still have the garage-style roll-up doors for opening up to the patio in good weather. (Not today, thanks, too hot out.) Christian was our server and was timely and anticipatory and professional and endured my Spanish. read more

Santa Catarina - Camerones Chipotle, on rice with a creamy chipotle sauce and slaw. Really good. - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

I recently dined at Santa Catarina Mexican Restaurant and had a mixed experience. The food was decent overall, but there were a few areas that could be improved. The mole enchiladas had good flavor, but they could have benefited from a little more mole sauce and a thinner tortilla to better complement the dish. I also ordered the Tacos Del Mar with beef, and unfortunately they seemed a bit light on the meat. On a positive note, the service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive throughout the meal, frequently checking on us and making sure we had everything we needed. Our drinks were always refilled before we had a chance to ask, and our glasses never sat empty. The outstanding service definitely made the dining experience more enjoyable. read more

I really don't give this place enough credit. The staff is always super nice and accommodating. It's located in a boutique apartment community. I've heard parking can be difficult. There are designated spots in the garage though if you can snag one. For the last few visits, I've been ordering the shrimp quesadilla. It's quite tasty. Happy hour is also good here too! I really should consider going to this spot more often. read more

We celebrated our Cinco de Mayo 2026 here and there's no better place to be on this occasion. Although I must say the ratio between the servers and tables are off, the food is still good, took an hour but worth it. We sat outside for the first time the place was packed! And amazing weather with the ambience. I love the tree drape that gave shade to the outdoor space. I didn't get to take much pics as our group focused on catching up I forgot to take pics of everything lol! read more

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We went on a Sunday and there was no wait. I've been to both locations and this one had a very similar look on the inside. There is also a green area for the kids to go outside and play. The food and service were good, even when the food wasn't out yet our server checked on us and acknowledge it was coming. read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

We stopped in with a couple of friends expecting a casual drink and maybe a few bites but we got so much more. Let me be clear: this is not your run-of-the-mill Tex-Mex joint. The flavors were bold, authentic, and absolutely delicious. We started with just drinks and a plan to share a few appetizers. The margaritas? Spot on. Perfectly balanced, not too sweet, not too strong and dangerously easy to enjoy. But the real surprise? The appetizers. These things were massive. We ordered three to split and ended up with enough food for the next day's lunch and dinner. Rookie mistake, but no complaints here. Service was a bit on the slower side, both with food and drinks, but the laid-back atmosphere made it easy to enjoy the company. Trying to pronounce some of the dishes was like a throwback to Spanish class, which gave us all a laugh and added to the fun of the evening. Bottom line: great food, excellent drinks, and generous portions. I'll definitely be back, next time with an emptier stomach and maybe a Spanish cheat sheet! read more

Santa Catarina - Totopos Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

Very nice and welcoming restaurant we stopped in for a quick lunch. Seated quickly, and Maria (our server) was friendly, helpful, and efficient. Had the Sopes appetizers, and the Hop Queen had tortilla soup. Ordered a cup, and she got a very generous portion of soup, almost a meal size (unless you're starving). She opted for the chicken enchiladas, and I got the black drum grilled - everything came out in an appropriate time for it being prepared fresh, and it was all very tasty and presented nicely. The Hop Queen did sample their margaritas and pronounced them excellent. Had enough food for to-go boxes, Maria even took care of that, either excellent service, or they'd seen me scrape food off my plate before (lol). Highly recommended, we will be back! read more

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Overrated, overpriced, under seasoned, but the service was okay. Came here because of the 4+ star review and was let down.

The food was ok. I felt it was overpriced for a meal that doesn't even come with sides. The drinks were great. Can't go wrong with a Mexican martini. I sat at the bar and the bartender was great. There weren't a lot of people there on a Thursday evening so not sure if that says something. I used to eat here a lot years ago and the whole menu seems to have changed. I'd go back and maybe try during lunch or something. read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican martini - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

I have yet to find an authentic Mexican spot in Austin with that said this was probably one of the better Mexican spots i have tried so far. The complimentary chips that they give is fresh and not salty at all. The guac appetizer was also yummy and with fresh ingredients. Husband tried the poblano with Pibil - even though this was fresh ingredients they used a bit too much cinnamon in the meat sauce that killed that zesty tangy flavor it should have. The shrimp fajitas were good and fresh The taquitos were good. I did not care for their rice but the chicken was good. I do wish it had a tad bit more sauce on it but overall it was good. It has a very cozy ambiance inside and our server was amazing. We may go back to try other menu items. read more

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Amazing food waiters were nice food was fast drinks tasted watered down tho if you visit i suggest ordering chips and cheese it's amazing lights were nice read more

First time here with a group of friends (9), and EVERYTHING was great. Friendly service, and delicious food. We came during their happy hour and even the prices were great. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

(Francisco: sorry I will not give you my name and email address on your contact form. Not much to discuss unless you rethink your menu prices or at least keep the portion sizes the same as before. New prices are high - you've lost me as a customer). Update: Good place but recent menu price increases make it too expensive for you get. Paying $20 for smallish beef quesadillas with jalapeño salsa is absurd. I can get the same quality quesadillas (and other dishes) for half the price at Taco Palenque. I've generally enjoyed my dinners at Santa Catarina. The cochinita pibil is solid and they have a wide range of margaritas. Appetizers are in the $13-17 range (example is $13 for guacamole). Apps are half price during happy hour but that ends before I leave work so not very useful. Nice interior. Friendly staff. read more

Santa Catarina - Cochinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

We dined on a quiet Thursday night. There were only two other tables of diners the whole time. After seeing positive reviews, this seemed sad. I was dining with a friend I hadn't seen in a while, so we talked a lot before looking at the menu; our server was very patient with us, and didn't outwardly show irritation. My friend really enjoyed his enchiladas. My soft tacos tasted good but failed as tacos. The restaurant prides itself on its tortillas. They taste good but are too weak to be a taco. My tacos fell apart. I think a double tortilla not only would be tasty, but it would then be structurally sound. I had a monthly drink special--the Como la Flor. It was delicious! Hibiscus and tajin in a drink? Fabulous! We stayed until they closed. They didn't rush us out, but we noticed them quietly start to clean the other side of the restaurant, so we got our check and left. In all, I think all go back and see if they will double up my tortillas on a taco to give them another shot. read more

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We went here for lunch specifically because I was craving cochinita pibil and didn't feel like making it. I was disappointed to find theirs completely lacking in the anchiote taste that characterizes the dish.. Instead the fairly tasteless pulled pork was served with a side of spicy jalapeno sauce and pickled red onions. It looked cute served rolled up in banana leaf...but it just was not my idea of what cochinita pibil is all about. My husband had some enchiladas he liked. I had a house margarita that tasted strongly of sweet & sour mix. Maybe their top shelf margaritas are better but I like to judge a Mexican restaurant by the quality of their house marg. It's a simple drink that should be excellent without add-ons. So overall pretty disappointing. read more

Visited family in Texas and wanted to satisfy a craving for Mexican food! We stumbled upon Santa Catarina and decided to head on in. Seated very quickly and the servers were very friendly! They provide complimentary chips and salsa that weren't too salty and were fresh! Not pictured, but my family ordered beef and chicken fajitas. I ordered the shrimp platter and it was a perfect amount of food. Had a great spice kick! The fajitas were delicious and had a great flavor profile. Margaritas here were also great to have! Highly recommend getting the prickly pear flavor if you prefer a sweet taste! Overall, a decent Mexican joint in the area! read more

Santa Catarina - Camarones - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

Really enjoyed my visit to Santa Catarina! The margaritas were excellent--definitely a highlight. It was easy to get a table, which is always a plus, and our waitress was super friendly and attentive. I also love the downtown location--great ambiance. Solid experience overall, and I'd happily come back for drinks and more! read more

This is a staple in my household! Everything is delicious! The mole sauce here is so delicious and I'm a stickler for mole. They have a great happy hour from 4-6 with great prices on appetizers. My husband and I will split a few appetizers for dinner often. Good service. Back patio is really cute! Favorite dishes and drinks: The jalepeno watermelon martini is so good. Cucumber martini is fresh and yummy Classic Marg is delicious. Anything mole! All enchiladas are yummy The steak! My mom said it's the best steak she's had. read more

Food was amazing! Everything was so good and the chips and salsa was amazing too and staff was very nice

We visited this restaurant when it first opened, it was great! we were surprised at the authentic food, they had a mariachi band on the (weekend) day we went we decided we would come back. The second time we noticed that the tomato sauce on the food was clearly from a can, and the food was just OK. I went out with my boyfriend a week ago, he had never been there, but I said it was OK and hopefully better than the last time, the restaurant we went to in the same shopping center was permanently closed. It was a Tuesday, not a busy night, we ordered water without ice, and the waiter didn't seem that he was experienced he brought the water with tons of ice and no straw. We gave him a pass and ordered. The appetizer -queso flameado - was incredibly watery to the point that it was hard to put it in a tortilla because the grease was melting and dropping from it, disgusting. We then ordered enchiladas; I order meat my friend ordered chicken; we both got chicken. We called the waiter and he called the manager instead of helping us, we explained the issue and she went to correct the order not before telling us that it was 'going to take a while' We waited and when the order came there was a hair in the enchiladas... we called the manager lady that had been at our table before and SHE TAKES THE HAIR AND STARTS PLAYING WITH IT! Yes, playing with it. She extended it, looked at it, at my curly hair, she wrapped it around her finger and she tells me, 'nobody in the kitchen has curly hair' INCREDIBLE!! I just looked at her and asked her to take back the plate. She asked if I wanted a replacement and I said no, she said I will give you a free desert and I said I don't want it. She brought the (full) bill and a desert; we paid and left. I have never had gone through an experience like this at ANY restaurant. Not only was this disappointing but totally inappropriate, disgusting and undeserving of a place that caters to people. We will never go back to this place. read more

We went to this place because Serrano's is closed on Mondays. We sat the bar and ordered dinner. I selected the Taquitos Dorados with pulled pork based on the bartender's recommendation - it was delicious. Essentially, they're enchiladas but instead of being covered in sauce and cheese, they're grilled and quite flavorful. If I lived in the Austin area, I would certainly return and order this dish again. It's a nice atmosphere with good food and service at a reasonable price. read more

Santa Catarina - Taquitos Dorados with pulled pork - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

The restaurant was not busy. The service was terrible, we waited way too long for everything but the crappy food. Authentic Mexican food is bull crap, this was just crappy food period end of discussion. read more

We recently had lunch with several family members at Santa Catarina. This is a charming restaurant serving primarily interior Mexican cuisine. It was chilly inside the restaurant when we arrived, so we decided to eat outdoors on the covered patio. The atmosphere was quite nice there, and we enjoyed the decor. Service was excellent. We had water and chips and salsa delivered almost immediately, and our entrees didn't take long once we ordered. We did not feel rushed to place orders or vacate our table. The place was definitely not crowded. Everyone in our group had something different. I had the lunch portion of Tacos del Mar and chose the shrimp. The 3-4 shrimp in each taco were beautifully grilled and nicely presented in a thin flour tortilla with lots of tasty goodies atop. The thin tortilla made it nearly impossible to eat the taco hand-held, but I didn't mind. The seasoned white rice and black beans were tasty and plentiful accompaniments. My husband enjoyed his enchiladas suizas. I wish this restaurant were located nearer to our home, as I think we'd become very frequent patrons. The food is very good and very reasonably priced, so would be worth the trip regardless. read more

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Best margaritas in CP, best Mexican food in CP, worst WiFi. Personable and aesthetic . Kid friendly and adult approved read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

There's some good things and some bad and or annoying things for sure. Good: Creamy Green Jalapeno salsa is great, reminds me of my favorite salsa at Tacos Sinaloa off 17th St. In Santa Ana, CA. I'd just eat bowls and bowls of that stuff and pour it on my food and all that. Love it! One thing I'd recommend is giving a single bowl of that to every table without having to ask for it because it's so damn good and if more people knew about it, they'd probably like the place even more. I'd be one of those fools known to hit up a Mexican spot just because I love their salsa. I dunno about you. Bad: It was hard to get them to bring me more green salsa, I had to request it three fugging times and the first time I asked he never brought any. The second time I requested more green salsa, 15 minutes pass and the waiter finally came back and he only brought us more chips and instead of the salsa I requested, and again, this was the second time I asked for more salsa, this time he picked up the almost empty bowl of green salsa that was in front of my dad and he put it over by me and walked away. I mean, what the actual.....? I asked for more salsa... dinner had barely started, we still had plates of food and I asked for more salsa. The meal was $270 dollars and they are skimping on the salsa? What an utter shame... I asked a third time for salsa and he finally brought it after yet another eternity... Sheesh, I paid a dollar pour bowl for that, why so skimpy with it guys? Our bill was $270 dollars for 3 people and y'all can't bring me some salsa with my meal? Such an absolute shame... The Rest of the Story: The beef on my $32 dollar Tampiquena plate was tough, cooked until it was dry as a bone and flavorless. The mole was the worst I've ever had by far. How can you serve such mole'? Have you no shame? Ceviche was great. Beans were good, rice was dry and flavorless. Totopos with steak were actually very good, borderline great. Steak was tender and broke right off when you took a bite. Crab tostadas were absolutely fantastic. All of these items would have been better if we weren't saving our near empty bowl of Jalapeno salsa and waiting for more and never getting it. What a joke. Waiter won't bring more salsa when you ask for it twice... such a fucking shame. Imagine if I fucked up at my current job, then when my boss noticed it and mentioned it I fucked up again, he'd tear me a new asshole. How do you screw up bringing a salsa twice in a row, then actually pickup a near empty salsa from one person and proceed to place it in front of another person without saying a single word, as if this is some sort of normal business? The Restaurant wasn't even busy and they had several waiters, and only a few tables, it's not like he was so busy that he forgot twice or some shit. All in all, we'll be back, and if they don't bring me salsa when I ask haha, ill probably tell him "there's an extra $20 bucks in it for ya if you keep bringing me salsa when I ask, ok? Bud?." Like pulling teeth trying to get salsa at this place. read more

This is more of an upscale Mexican place. Sure, there are margaritas, tacos, enchiladas, but there are multiple shrimp and fish entrees, and there's a chef's specialty pork entree my husband found to be flavorful and abundant. I enjoyed a relleno chile stuffed with shrimp and fish--something I haven't enjoyed before; I ate every bite. The Mexican rice most certainly doesn't come out of a box. The decor is Mexican-style--artistic and sophisticated. Even the plating is pretty. Our drinks were tasty but not strong. In other visits, we enjoyed tequila shots (for real 'men who want to get drunk quick JK). I loved the salsa--pretty sure there was tomatillo in there. My husband found it tart. The guacamole was chunky just the way I like it (but I added salt). The chips are standard (but free like a good Mexican place should have). For some reason, we always find ourselves here in mid-afternoon so service has always been efficient. Friendly, too. read more

Santa Catarina - Flan. Divine. Carmely. - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

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Well, the good.... 1) Facility is nicely decorated and clean. 2) Staff is nice and professional. 3) Food was brought out fast. Here are some areas of opportunity... 1) Never serve water without ice, unless requested by guest. 2) Fajitas served on a cast-iron skillet should come out to guests "sizzling." 3) Flavor, Flavor, Flavor!!! The fajitas, guacamole, rice, black beans, and pico were ALL flavor-less. I had to take the fajitas home and give them a good helpin' of seasoning to make them more eatable. I'll end this review on a positive note. Hats off to the staff for quickly, calmly, and professionally handling the altercation at a table near us. #GreatJob read more

Overall good food like most people say. I don't know about anybody else, but I would go here more often if they only had pinto beans and spanish rice as an option vs only black beans and white rice, which are pretty tasteless. This is so off putting to me and friends and family, that it's actually a determining factor on where we decide to have Mexican food... just saying. I can't speak for everyone, but it reminds me of that famous hotdog place that refuses to have Ketchup as an option bc they believe it's a sin to put Ketchup on your hotdog. I say, if it's not that much of a stretch, give the good people what they want and what they're used to in American/Mexican cuisine. read more

Absolutely Tasteless $13 guacamole. Waited 25mins after we placed our order, only to be told "the kitchen lost our order". Mean while, family or employees of the establishment came in to eat and got served their full table of food within minutes. Waited on hand and foot on their part. I'm not sure where the "4 stars" came from, but it sure as hell wasn't at this establishment. NOT WORTH your 2 hours of time for shit ass sorry service. read more

3 stars for food and 4 for service. I'm rounding to 4 because they don't deserve just 3. We are on the large covered patio area had an enjoyable time. It wasn't too hot and there was a breeze. Food: I did not like their salsa. It had very little flavor. On the plus side, it kept me from overrating chips and salsa (which I may or may not be guilty of!) The fish ceviche and campechana ceviche were fresh. I enjoyed the fish more than the campechana. We also got an appetizer that looked bean and cheese tostadas and tasted like bean and cheese tostadas but had a different name. My husband had the relleno en nogada. He enjoyed it. One son had the tostadas dorados and liked them. Our younger one has 2 bean and cheese tacos and I had the breakfast enchiladas. They were chicken enchiladas with sunny side up eggs on top. I enjoyed them but wouldn't get them again. Their beans and rice were not good. They had little flavor and just seemed like a major afterthought. Ask for other options if you're meal comes with beans and rice and hopefully they have something else. The food was good quality and fresher and healthier than your typical Mexican. I'm glad we tried it. If there was still a playground we would be definitely be back. Please vote for my reviews and pictures if you find them helpful! read more

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This place is really good. For how much food typically is in Austin, this place is a hit!! Especially for the amount and quality of food, it is very reasonable. For 5 meals (one being kid), a beer and two margaritas it was a decent $95. Staff is very friendly and responsive. Inside has a lot of room with plenty of tables. We went around 2pm, so it was not very full. The weather outside was nice and the outdoor seating was almost full, but indoors was nearly empty. This is not really Tex-mex like many Mexican restaurants are. It much more like authentic Mexican food. Very fresh and not so greasy. My husband, who LOVES spicy food and salsa said this salsa is one of the best he has ever had. Which is saying something. So much so that he took a whole half pint container to go to have at the house! When he complimented the lady refilling it she said that they have it fresh all the time. Instead of using canned tomatoes like many do, they use fresh roasted tomatoes. My husband went with our daughter, son in law and granddaughter. They are kid friendly and have a good kids menu too. They have booster seats and high chair. I got a couple tacos a la cart, and it was very good. I asked for beef, and it was not ground beef. It was more like stew beef. A little spicy, but very very good! My husband got ranchero enchiladas and pretty much gobbled it to bits it was so good. They have the options to add additional things to your meals, or get add ons, and also choose corn/flour tortillas, etc. The other meals the rest of our party got were also good, including the kids meal. My daughter and I got mango margaritas and they were very good. They were quite thick though. So, it took a bit for it to get thin enough to fit through a straw, but was definitely very delicious!! read more

Santa Catarina - Excellent salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

It's always hard to impress me when it comes to Mexican & Latino foods because I've had the best and most authentic dishes all over the world. But when I tell you Santa Catarina made the best first impression and truly exceeded my expectations I am not exaggerating! We came on rainy Saturday night and found parking easily. To my surprise when we got inside it was nearly empty. The place is not loud, well lit and tastefully decorated. We were greeted by a hostess almost immediately and seated there after. They brought chips and salsa to us to start. The salsa was one of the best I've ever had. It had the perfect amount of spice, great consistency and the color was all I needed to see to know the salsa was good. We started off with chips and guacamole, which was amazing. They use different chips with more crunch which held the well seasoned chunky guac! I also got a watermelon margarita which really set the tone for the great meal and service I was already experiencing. I order the picada salad and the taquitos dorados with pulled pork. Let's just say there were no crumbs left! It was one of the best complete meals from start to finish I've ever had. I can't wait to return and try some of the other menu items. They have a brunch menu as well and I can't wait to try the chilaquiles! I can't recommend this restaurant enough and I cannot wait to return! read more

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Very good food and really fast! And super helpful! Lots of vegetarian options too !! I got a mushroom enchiladas plate with salsa verde read more

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Last dinner during race weekend was here at Santa Catarina. We literally spent 3.5 hours trying to get out of the parking lot at COTA before arriving here for a late dinner. Was told by a good friend that their mole was amazing. He went ahead and ordered a chicken mole dip and nachos to start. Originally thought I was going to order their camarones chipotle but after looking at what other people ordered, I quickly changed my mind and ordered the chicken mole enchiladas. My friend laughed and said had he known he would've skipped the mole appetizer. The waitress quickly brought out the apps and devoured them. Sadly, I was already starting to get full before the entrees were brought out. The chicken mole enchilada was just as good as the appetizer was but ended up leaving most of the rice and beans behind. I'd say this is probably one of the best mole dishes I've ever had. Even forgot to take a pic of the entree. Definitely would head back here for their mole in the future. read more

Santa Catarina - Mexican Near Me - Cedar Park, Texas

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Nice atmosphere and good service. The food was disappointing and hated the aftertaste it left. I don't think we will be back

With a happy hour every day of the week, I'll definitely be back! When you have a seat, you're greeted with chips and salsa to start. Our server was very attentive and was able to answer all of questions. I had the Pina Colada martini and actually had a hard time picking something because the menu had some really interesting choices that I had never seen. I went for the pescado a la talla and loved it! I got to try my gf's cochinita pibil and the pork was seasoned and slow cooked to perfection. The restaurant itself was decorated with a variety of artwork and you can tell by the number of people celebrating events on a Wednesday that is a local favorite. read more

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Big bright restaurant with bold colors. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The drinks were delicious. The Catarina Mexican martini was so smooth that I would have ordered a second if I didn't want to try some other drinks. The Pina Colada martini was absolutely delicious. It's dangerous how easy it was to drink. The frozen prickly pear margarita was good, but not that unusual. I love mole, and was disappointed in my chicken mole enchilada. The sauce was more red than brown, and tasted strongly of Chile powder rather than the complexity I expect in a good mole. That being said, the chicken was well seasoned and the black beans were good. The rice was over cooked. Most of the people I was with ordered the fish and shrimp tacos and said they were really good, so I will try those next time. It's definitely a place I would go to for happy hour. The drinks are worth it. read more

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A couple of friends and I met for lunch with our kids and it was lovely! It was an off-hour so we had the patio to ourselves, and the fenced green space was perfect for them to run around. I suggest bringing a few toys. Food and drinks were surprisingly good, and I'm still dreaming about the tortilla soup! read more

Came here specifically for the play area so we were sad to find out it was gone and was just a fenced in area with fake grass. Would have been ok if our kid had brought some toys. Service was kinda slow but friendly. Food was pretty good, really like the taquitos dorados, but expensive. Probably won't be back. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed my meal here. The style is more interior Mexican rather than Tex-Mex. Food is well prepared and simply delicious. The fresh corn tortillas are outstanding. Tacos dorados with pulled pork is one of their signature dishes and it delivers the flavor. The beef fajitas are equally outstanding. Service is great and their outdoor patio is wonderful. read more

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