If you are in oak ridge and your craving Mexican food Zandunga is the place to choose. The dining area is ample bright and very clean. The service is fantastic, super friendly staff with happy smiles and a perfect level of hospitality. The menu is excellent filled with great choices and absolutely fair prices. This place is a strong choice in town. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Baja Fish Tacos (3) - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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First time here and we had great times. Service was fast. We had Flautas, fajitas, margaritas, tacos.. they were all delicious. We also like the spicy smokey sauce comes with steak fajitas, such unique flavor. It was happy hour on a Saturday. Their cocktails are highly recommended. This restaurant has a small Mexican apparel store in it. They sell traditional bags, slippers, dresses etc. with great prices. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Flautas! - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Had lunch on Saturday with my sister. We decided Mexican food was today's choice. The restaurant was open with lots of tables. The wait staff were friendly. The food, outstanding. Would definitely recommend trying when in Oak Ridge. After you can shop next door at Hobby Lobby. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Tamale - the meat inside was delicious - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Great service and even better food! Shrimps were fresh and delicious! Our new go-to spot!

Three orders: 1-cheese enchiladas combo, 2-chicken taco/burrito/enchilada combo, 3-taco salad. Cheese enchiladas come with what appears to be processed cheese (maybe cheese dip) wrapped in corn tortilla, not appetizing. chicken taco was soggy and stale, and the chicken was bland, certainly not chicken tinga as advertised, the red sauce is used on everything so there is no change in flavor profile. The taco salad was more like soup, apparently the chicken is held in water (the reason it is bland) before being served creating a soggy mess. read more

Cute mini store with goods. Excellent pitcher of margaritas. Cool vibe. Great, fun staff. Ate every bit of my shrimp quesadilla!

Disgusting from the chips and salsa to the bill. I had the 3 item sampler plate with ground beef burrito, chicken taco, and cheese enchilada. My wife had the asada street tacos. The salsa with the chips was like ketchup. The food came quickly, but was cold on arrival for both of us. The floor was not busy. The word "tasteless" comes to mind for everything. Zero flavor. The chicken taco with hard shell came with a store purchased premade shell. As previously stated, the food was cold so the cheese was not melted. The ambiance was similar to a cafeteria. Nothing special. Our meal cost approximately $30 for both of us. Frankly, we should have gone to Taco Bell. Overall, we agreed the meals were horrible by any standard. If I could give a negative -5 I would. Don't go here! Save ur money. read more

The food was okay, but not the best Mexican in town. The ambiance leaves something to be desired.

I went for a late lunch and the food was excellent. Had the beef chimichanga. Friendly service... will go again.

First, I want to say the service was excellent, truly great. However, that was the best part. The lighting in this restaurant is horrible, sterile and hospital like. It's just doesn't have a good atmosphere and I think it's the awful neon LED lighting. The food was meh, some dishes were awful, like the kid's nachos where the meat tasted like mystery meat. Other dishes like the burritos were filled with little meal and a ton of onions, should have been called an onion burrito. The Diablo Shrimp was good, but so many strange veggies for a shrimp dish that just didn't lend well to each other. The guacamole tasted store bought and not fresh, didn't even taste like cilantro or avocado. Overall I loved the service but probably wouldn't try this place again. read more

Had a hard time deciding between a 3 and 4 and would likely give a 3.5 if the Yelp gods let me. Missing a part of our order and a few soggy, inedible items were a bummer. It's the risk you take with to-go, so I will round up because many other items were yummy and we will definitely be returning to try more items. Should also note that we were charged an international fee on our debit card, as their online billing seems to be run through a Canadian company. Booo! (To unmentioned fees, not Canada ;-) ). Call instead. What we tried: -Mexican Corn on the Cob (street corn): two ears given and I LOVED the seasoning. More lime-forward than most street corn I've tried and I was a fan...hubby not so much. *shrug* More for me! The quality of the corn itself was "meh" but it's December, so not their fault. I can't wait to try this during corn season next summer. -Combo plate (beef taco, beef tamale, cheese enchilada w/ rice and beans: The quality of the taco innards were really good, but unfortunately, the shell got soggy and feel apart even though it was packaged separately. I feel like it would have been great in person instead of to-go. The tamale was really good, especially with some queso poured over the top. What's NOT better doused in cheese goo? The cheese enchilada was okay. I think I would pass on enchiladas next time. It tasted like a saucy tortilla, no cheese really present. -Shrimp nachos fajita: Super soggy chips, as they didn't package the wet ingredients separately. That was a bummer, as there was a lot of moisture from the veggies and shrimp pooled at the bottom. The toppings were really tasty. Know that there is not the mentioned melted cheese, but the very runny queso, which tastes great, but adds to the liquid. Cheese dip/Salsa/Chips: Really tasty queso with a slight kick. Very runny, but yummy. Salsa was exactly the kind I like-blended, not chunky and really flavorful. The chips were fresh and cooked well...could have used a touch more salt, but that was easy for us to sprinkle on. Chips and salsa were not automatically included and were a separate charge. Cheesecake Chimichanga: Paid for this and would have loved to try it, but they forgot to include it in our bag. :-( read more

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Observed (back house) handling trash and ready-to-eat food without washing hands and having a barrier between hands and ready-to-eat food. All but one staff member (front house) eating food while handling ready-to-eat food. Citations OUT 13 Food separated and protected OUT 20 Proper cold holding temperatures OUT 42 Utensils, equipment and linens; properly stored, dried, handled OUT 45 Food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used OUT 53 Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean should have looked this up before venturing out to eat here. read more

I'm clearly in the minority, lots of great reviews and the restaurant was busy. Thought I should share my impressions though. Staff and service - great, friendly, fast . Also nice atmosphere and looked clean. Chips - they were stale, so I flagged nearest person, and she quickly brought me another basket which were fresh and crispy. I prefer thinner chips though personally - these are quite thick. Salsa - this was not for me, very much needs more flavor, onion cilantro spices etc, uninspiring. Enchiladas plate (one tinga chicken, one beef, one cheese) - arrived quickly, looked very attractive. Unfortunately the cook used fridge-cold tortillas; the warm fillings couldn't recover and it was all sort of room temp with stiff cold tortillas. Cheese filling okay, beef not much flavor at all. However tinga chicken did have a really great flavor . Refried beans - wow so salty, couldn't eat this at all. Also I had asked for "beans" as my side dish, which in my mind was a pile of black beans - my bad of course but maybe servers should clarify which beans. Side of cheese sauce (which I like on enchiladas ) - average, like 90% of the world's cheese sauces, not very cheesy and rather salty, and this one was also quite thin. Had the chips and salsa won me, I would probably go back to try again. But in this case, that's pretty unlikely to happen unfortunately. read more

I stopped in for a quick lunch. I haven't had never been there before the ambience was great, the servers were very friendly, and the food was fabulous. I would highly recommend. Zandunga Mexican Restaurant! read more

I went during lunch hour and was happy to see that they had reasonably priced lunch specials. All of the staff had smiles and the service was great. The restaurant had music playing, not loud at all, but it set the mood well. It has an industrial feel to the place, with some nice decor and what looks like a well-stocked bar. The salsa was smooth and thick, which seems to be a trend here in town. While I prefer my salsa on the chunky side, this one had more flavor than a recent visit I had to another Mexican restaurant here, and it's served in a little carafe, so you don't have to ask for more. The chips are thick and hold up to dipping. Since I missed breakfast, I ordered the huevos con chorizo and it came quickly. The chorizo was spicy, but not overly so, and it was served with the typical rice and beans. There were tortillas as well, and I chose flour. They were very soft and stretchy, so if you like your tortillas with a char, these are not for you. However, they served very well for sopping up sauce. I'll definitely have to come back to try their dinner options. Parking is easy, as it's between Hobby Lobby and the new thrift shop. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Chips and salsa, with extra so you don't have to ask for more - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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The service was great as was the food. We are from Virginia and stopped in for lunch. Oak Ridge is fortunate to have a Mexican restaurant of this quality. Will return on each visit in the future as well as recommend to our family and friends who live here. read more

Great customer service and good deals! We love to come here for happy hour when we're in Oak Ridge. Portions are good too. read more

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Service and food was good. Liked the clean atmosphere. The fajitas were good and definitely recommend the house hot sauce. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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FANTASTIC! The staff is friendly, polite and inviting. The food was fast, hot and fresh exactly as ordered. The dining area was spotlessly clean! One of the other servers (not mine) noticed my coke was low and topped it off instead of ignoring it. Nice team work! read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Arroz con pollo no onions - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

We come here all the time. Best Mexican in oak ridge by a landslide!! Staff is so friendly and the food is so fresh

We arrived and got seated immediately, got the usual chips and salsa and gave a drink order. My fiancee Jackie ordered a glass of Moscato from the menu; I ordered a diet coke. A different waitress came back and said they didn't have Moscato so Jackie showed her the menu. Response was"Oh it's a wine". She came back again and said they were out. Jackie then ordered a sangria and I got my coke and ...we waited and waited with no one asking for a food order. Finally, after a couple of sips of coke and at least another 10 minutes, I got up and was told the bartender was about to make the sangria. I asked how much for the coke and waitress said she couldn't get into the cash register so I told her we were leaving and we did. There were a couple of larger parties there but at least three wait staff near the bar while we're there for 25 minutes I'd eaten there before and was unimpressed by the food. Also, the lighting was too bright. So we went to Aubrey's where we served within 5 minutes... read more

very welcoming and attentive staff, definitely has a family feel. food was amazing! can't wait to come back read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - steak tacos and steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Outstanding food, service and prices! The chips and salsa were perfect! The salsa wasn't watered down like some places. Try the veggie fajitas, it comes with a plate of delicious refried beans and rice. Our waitress, Lupita, was super friendly and had a million dollar smile! read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - the front of the restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

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Great place, but busy! I'm very happy that a friend recommended it. The food was great, and the service pretty good, even though the whole place was crazy busy on a Saturday night. We enjoyed every bit of it, food, ambiance, and service. read more

My neighbor & I wanted to try out this new restaurant next door to Hobby Lobby, that just opened. First impressions mean a lot. This restaurant did not disappoint us. Upon entering, we were warmly greeted. I was amazed by the decor & cleanliness. The walls are vibrant & trendy. This approach gave the place a more open feel. The restrooms were bright & very clean. The staff wore festive uniforms. Our waiter was very professional & conscientious. My neighbor is Latino, her enchilada and traditional squash and corn was excellent according to her. Her standards are very high. My experience has taught me that if the salsa is really good, I know the food is going to be outstanding. They nailed it! The salsa had flavors that complemented each other brilliantly. The other measure I use, are the chips. They were freshly made. These two factors told me a lot about this establishment. Another factor I use is their tacos. I have to say that their beef tacos were excellent. The ground beef actually had a very pleasant flavor. They had generous portions of cheese and lettuce. I chose black beans as my side & again they got it right. You have to check out this place in Oak Ridge. If you live in Oak Ridge or West Knoxville take the time to go to this place. They cook their food with love. They may take their time, but it's worth it. Most likely based upon the taste of the food they cook it to order. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - The front entrance - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

The atmosphere is, blank communal lunch room. The staff are all nice but the food isn't the best.

After living in and around Texas for 20 years, the food was good and plenty of it. Service is good and the atmosphere was pleasant. You can tell it's a small family operation. I will definitely be back. read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Good stuff - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Very nice place with good food and service. Among so many other Mexican restaurants in the area this one is remarkably good!

Best and freshest Mexican I've ever had. Unlike most of the chain-type restaurants. Awesome flavors.

Good food great service they are the closest I've found to authentic Mexican food! Try it out!

Great experience trying Zandunga! First time eating here, we tried Pollo Zandunga, Burrito El Coyote, corn on the cob (sorry too good to take a picture), and Margarita Jumbo. The food was delicious, everything was extremely tasty, flavors were really rich, and the service was amazing. The chips and salsa were really good too!! Overall, food was 5/5! Great price, awesome quality, and perfect portion. The decoration of the restaurant is gorgeous, they have traditional handmade items around the restaurant, looks beautiful. Will definitely go again to try more authentic and delicious Mexican food! Will recommend this place, great new spot in Oak Ridge! read more

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We eat here regularly, love the options available on the menu, and feel they are fairly priced. The staff are always nice and always get our order right. read more

I really, really want to love this spot. The new owners have done a fantastic aesthetic improvement and the interior is colorful, bright, and tastefully decorated, which was an unexpected surprise. The staff was friendly and efficient. And they were all wearing these elaborate flowered headband-hats and I knew I had to have one. Fortunately there is a "store" of sorts near the front with all kinds of Mexican wares for sale, most notably the shoes, jewelry, and - YES! - the flowered head things. Sweet. We were quickly seated in a comfortable booth to look over a very extensive menu. I picked huevos rancheros and dude and kiddo got combo plates. The food arrived within a few minutes (like finding out the WiFi password took longer than our food did). It looked fine. But someone had a heavy hand with the salt. It was almost inedible. My dining companions said the same thing - salt. And I love salt. But. Too. Much. Salt. My entire body was dehydrated the rest of the day and my skin felt like it was pulling away from my bones!! I'm hoping we caught them on an off day. I have a feeling if I had said something (I didn't), they would've made it right because it feels like that kind of establishment. Hopefully they'll continue to improve because the owners have clearly put time and energy into this much-needed-on-this-side-of-oak-ridge new spot! read more

Zandunga Mexican Restaurant - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Oak Ridge, Tennessee

This is our first time visiting tonight, the food and service was excellent. The restaurant has full liquor and a good selection of food. The Decour was very nice the only thing I would probably change is it was a little bright in there, perhaps lower some of the LED lighting. read more

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My favorite local Mexican place. The food is always very good and the service and prices are great.

Zandunga Mexican, which just opened this week, is located in the former Nixon's Deli spot next to Hobby Lobby. "La Sandunga" (also spelled "La Zandunga") is a traditional Mexican waltz and the unofficial anthem of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in the state of Oaxaca. The food was great and the portions were large as well. The decor is very cool, including a long, swanky bar area. The service was a bit slow since they are getting started but I highly recommend you waltz on in. Try the Arroz con Pollo! read more

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OK place. Was there with family during holiday season. Menu typical of this style restaurant. Items we got were nothing special. Not crowded, service could have been better read more

The food was delicious. The staff was friendly and service was great. I had the street tacos and my husband had the chimichanga. I would recommend this restaurant whole heartedly. read more

Food is not bad, but the place needs to look more Mexican. Not a bad place for a quick lunch, but I'd like if the wait staff to be more sociable. I have only tried a couple of their dishes and had good presentation and tasty. To be fair I'm willing to go back and I'll have to try it more times to see if things get better. For lunch , go visit and enjoy! read more

I went, I ate, and I will never find a better Mexican restaurant. This is by far one of the best Mexican restaurants I have ever eaten at and at some of the best prices around. If you're in the area don't pass it up. read more