It is difficult to express the distinct taste of Mexican food in words. The history of Mexican cooking started with their ancient societies, then came the Aztecs, and eventually, the immigrants added some flavor to the base variety of meat and vegetables. The freshest addition is a fusion with the Texan cuisine, which is known as Tex-Mex. All in all, these recipes are flavourful, pungent, and are as complex as Indian or Asian style of cooking. For this reason, people all around the world are forever in crave, but the citizens of the United State are just too much in love. This article, in particular, is focused on Columbia city, South Carolina. This southeastern state is nowhere near the Mexican borders, yet we wouldn’t let the locals live with the non-genuine Mexican restaurants. Here, we are sharing a list of 100% authentic Mexican restaurants in Columbia, South Carolina.
1. San Jose Mexican Restaurant
San Jose is serving Columbia since 1981, they are now running more than 10 restaurants in different locations but every place presents something distinct, all of them are worth a visit. It’s a family-owned chain, which has emerged as a prominent Mexican eatery of this metropolis in recent decades. Steak, pork, chicken, seafood, and even ice creams and drinks, utter a word and San Jose would serve you a true Mexican flavor out of it. The reviews say that chicken chimichanga, queso, and tacos are just too good here. Be there before 7:00 in the evening to have happy hour discounts.
San Jose Mexican Restaurant
Address: 4561 Hard Scrabble Rd, Ste I, Columbia, SC 29229
Website: San Jose Mexican Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:30 PM, Sunday closed
Average price for two people: 11 - 30 USD
2. Don Tequilas Mexican Grill & Cantina
Don Tequila is a fresh name in Columbia, and this city is so grateful to them. They are Mexican grill & bar, and this might be a foodie’s paradise because the menu here is so extensive that it will literally take many months to try every item. They are quite generous with the happy hour slot as well, during which, a diner would be served a glass of margarita complimentary with his regular food orders. The next best thing about this place is that the food portions are also pretty large. The staff is friendly, and they serve the best shredded-beef in this city.
Don Tequilas Mexican Grill & Cantina
Address: 114 Afton Ct., Columbia, SC 29212
Website: Don Tequilas Mexican Grill & Cantina
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Average price for two people: 11 - 30 USD
3. Casa Linda Mexican Restaurant
Other eateries may operate their business by staff, but this restaurant is running through a passion. Zeal has charmed a young Mexican boy to this country, he had struggled in the early days and moved places before finally arriving at the right job, which was his passion - a Mexican restaurant. After working hard for years and following his passion, he took a chance and opened up a restaurant by the name Casa Linda. It’s now people’s beloved choice of Mexican flavors and they get lunch, dinner and kids menu here. Casa Linda has all the usual Mexican names in their list, and they have recently updated their menu a bit, so there are many new options to try as well.
Casa Linda Mexican Restaurant
Address: 285 Columbiana Dr., Columbia, SC 29212
Website: Casa Linda Mexican Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Average price for two people: 15 - 35 USD
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4. Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Monterrey is an affordable name on this list, it’s a family-run Mexican restaurant that was primarily known for its finest margarita, followed by taco, burritos, and fajitas. Their décor feels Mexican, the lights are warm, and you can have good family time in this restaurant. They have a dining room, a patio, and a full-service bar. This restaurant is usually crowded in the evening and the service could be slow too, but bear with them as the taste is incredible.
Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Address: 327 Killian Rd, Columbia, SC 29203
Website: Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Saturday 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
5. Taco Time
Taco Time Mexican Restaurant is another budget-friendly option on our list, this eatery gives you an option to pick a lunch combo from 11 pre-defined choices, for just under five dollars. They have many meat variants of chimichanga, fajita, and tacos. And you won’t have to worry if you happen to be a vegetarian because they would also serve vegetarian fajitas. Along with that, there will be a full-sized Tex-Mex (Texas – Mexico) menu, kids menu, desserts, and beverages.
Taco Time
Address: 7546 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC 29209
Website: Taco Time
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM, Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
6. Cecilia's Mexican Restaurant
Cecilia and her family own this place, and you will get genuine Mexican food here at a very reasonable rate. House specialty is guacamole dip, which is to die for, plus the items in their lunch-special menu served on your plate is so much in quantity that two can share one lunch. Cecilia is a friendly lady, and locals adore her. Maybe that’s why most of the diners are regulars, and if I am reading the so many reviews correctly, probably you will also be a regular customer once you’ll have the taste.
Cecilia's Mexican Restaurant
Address: 6169 St Andrews Rd, Ste 11, Columbia, SC 29212
Website: Cecilia’s Mexican Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM & 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Friday & Satuday 11:00 - 2:30 PM & 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM, Sunday closed
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
7. La Fogata Mexican Restaurant
Sometimes whipped cream added with chocolate syrup, sometimes chips and salsa bar, La Fogata would surprise you with their complementary offerings every day. The word ‘La Fogata’ means campfire in Spanish, and you will definitely get a campfire or barbecue kind of taste with the food here. For instance, their chicken is not cooked in fat here, but it’s grilled. All in all, they are affordable and serve you the true Mexican flavors, they also arrange caterings.
La Fogata Mexican Restaurant
Address: 2805 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169
Website: La Fogata Mexican Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
8. Real Mexico Restaurant
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Real Mexico on Thursday, March 4, 2021
You step inside and look around, and now you are amazed to see many Hispanic guests dining. Truly this décor, the atmosphere, and also the food served here is so real, that for a second you would feel you’re dining somewhere in Mexico. Real Mexico Mexican Restaurant is the more favorite eatery among the Latin Americans, come and know why they feel that. They serve lunch and dinner menu, plus they have a full bar.
Real Mexico Restaurant
Address: 2421 Bush River Rd., Columbia, SC 29210
Website: Real Mexico Restaurant
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM, Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
9. Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill
Salsaritas Mexican restaurant is also into catering arrangements, plus they are running their app promotion nowadays. Earn points by joining their program, and spend the points on the menu items. Signup is free and it will instantly get you a free lunch upgrade. Members can forever earn points by referring this app to friends, and also with every food order. Coming to the restaurant introduction, they also have a full Tex-Mex menu, and the special thing about this place is you can customize the meat and everything in your order’s stuffing, isn’t it great?
Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill
Address: 275 Park Terrace Dr., Ste 800, Columbia, SC 29212
Website: Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Average price for two people: Under 10 USD
10. Cantina 76
Cantina 76 serves not only the genuine Mexican delicacies, but they have more to offer. Along with the true Mexican flavors like tacos, quesadilla, and chimichanga, you will be seeing many dishes from American and foreign origin. For instance, teriyaki from Japan, and also smoked pork, which is nowhere related to Latin America. They also have an imported drinks section. Along with the regular happy hours, they also feature a weekly menu.
Cantina 76
Address: 2901 Devine St., Columbia, SC 29205
Website: Cantina 76
Opening hours: Monday & Tuesday 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM, Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Average price for two people: 11 - 30 USD
Check the gratuity scene first
Sure the average price shown on the list looks fair, it would seem even fascinating when you’ll look into their full menu. But please be aware of the gratuity scenes in such restaurants, as the mandatory tipping rate isn’t uniform at every place. That is why rely on the menu but also confirm the tipping rates before ordering something.
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