Nuevo Laredo Cantina

Terrible. Over priced. Awful service. Border line racist. Definitely preferential treatment to non black customers. Long wait times. Mediocre food. Rude wait staff. Tiny ass dump of a Mexican restaurant. The End

Part restaurant, part religious shrine, this is the pinnacle of Tex-​Mex and Mexican food in Atlanta, and worth the drive from anywhere. No reservations taken, but you will not regret the wait. Enjoy the wait by talking and connecting with your friends and family. There is not a bad choice on the menu, and we have been here many times. We celebrated a birthday with a party of six, and we all left in a food coma. I had the daily special — Borrego, which is baked lamb, with rice, frijole, salsa verde, pico, and tortillas. The lamb was savory and lean, and it was a generous portion. Awesomeness for $ 12.95. This place is an icon in itself, and in a funky old part of town that perhaps you have never seen.

Just your average mexican restaurant… This restaurant is nothing special but their crab enchiladas were decent.
I love crab meat so whenever I can eat it, I’m a happy camper – too bad their «crab enchiladas» were basically two cheese enchiladas with crab meat dumped on top.
This restaurant gets 3-​stars instead of 4-​stars because it’s extremely small /​cramped inside and there’s always a long wait. Also, their outside seating is pretty limited and it’s in the middle of nowhere! And, although I finished my «crab enchiladas», I wouldn’t return unless I was at the Cumberland Mall (rare!) and someone else wanted to go.

One of the best «hole in the walls I’ve ever been to!» Great chips/​salsa, great guacamole, great house margarita & excellent lobster tacos! Very cool place! Even the rice and black beans were delicious!

Now open 8 days a week, per the sign outside. lol I should have taken a picture of it. I still love this place, its a must visit when I am in the A.
You can always enjoy the goodness here. I took a star off because our server was really bad. We had to order the same things twice with a different person. She didn’t get any of our food right. We even sent back the drinks, and I hate to send back anything.
Anyway, we had the texas fajitas and drinks and once our orders were corrected, it was just as good as it was from my last visit.

I really enjoyed myself. I had the salmon Pacifica with sauté spinach, which was awesome. I recommend this place to anyone who like me xican. The staff is fast, nice and friendly. Oh, we had a pitcher of Texas and it was Good.
The only can, I’m challenged and walking from across the street is a challenge. But all else is excellent.
Recommend to all. Will return.

Great Queso Dip.
Very small intimate seating .
You will be close to your neighbor. The food was delicious and fresh. The food came out quickly too as well. The staff is nice — older Hispanic ladies :) very sweet. The staff is a little limited so it was kinda difficult to get your server attention.

Prices are a bit high but the quality of food and meat is better than most Mexican restaurants.
Service was good but the wait is always long. Bar is positioned right at the door and so there is always a huge traffic jam.
House margarita is good. Fajitas are good. Fish tacos are good. Sopapias are ok. Queso is better than most other restaurants.

Okay, not going to lie, this place is pretty yummy. The food is on point. The prices kind of surprised me.
On one hand, I’m like wellll they are pretty good and obviously have a great following. On the other hand, something about overpriced comfort food is weird and REALLY $ 4 Tecate?!
Worth a try for those who have never been. Just be ready to spend a few more bucks, especially if you’re like me and equal Mex with shots & beer. Mmmm…
Also would highly recommend the cheese and chorizo dip. Omg…

I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. Time and time again I have heard amazing things about Nuevo Laredo Cantina so I decided to give it a try.
Lets start with the service. The service here is either really good or really bad, and you can always expect a long wait for a table. They also don’t split checks for parties over four which is silly in my opinion.
Now lets get to the food. The food here is pretty good! My favorite thing here by far is the salsa, gosh is it good!!! The menu items are also good but pretty overpriced in my opinion.
If you come here, order a bunch of salsa and get a margarita or two, they are pretty tasty.

I love this place. I love this place so much I trusted it with my first date with my fiancée. This is the place I offer up as the best Mexican restaurant in ATL and the only negative thing I can come up with is that this place is so popular it is often crowded with over 30min waits with a crowded parking lot. It’s really everything you need after a terrible workday — hot fresh chips, awesome fresh salsa, potent delicious margaritas (get the Texas) and hot delicious food. All the tacos are fantastic. Our favorites are shrimp and chk mole. That mole is the best in town. It is so complex in flavor and tastes like it was cooked all day. The refried beans and rice are so damn good they could be a satisfying meal on their own. This is one of those once a week spots. Everything I’ve had has been wonderful.

You can find the Nuevo Laredo Cantina at 1495 Chattahoochee Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30 318 right across the street from a small parking lot provided by the Atlanta Pepsi Beverages Company (yes even Pepsi has a small stronghold in this city dominated by Coca Cola). Nuevo Laredo is in the short section between Collier Rd and Marietta Blvd. There’s some small amount of parking around the restaurant but most people use the lot across the street.
Long before there was a «Westside» as a destination there was Nuevo Laredo. I remember visiting this place in the early 90’s for the first time — it coincided with my retiring from the restaurant biz and I remember getting quite drunk off the fine margaritas and Diablo chicken. Over the years I’ve visited quite a few times — mostly to drink and enjoy the patio but it had been a few years. I was visiting the nearby Monday Night Brewing with friends’ Kwame and Michelle’s rocking UYE, and after running out of tickets we decided to get a bite — since there were a few who hadn’t been to this venerable Tex-​Mex establishment, we ended up here with about a 45 minute wait. I know that sounds horrible, but one of the very smart things the management of this restaurant did was to provide a very efficient bar near the entrance — you can order drinks (in our case, pitchers!) and some snacks. We enjoyed chips with a great salsa and guacamole while we waited for our table.
The restaurant is small — they could easily expand to double the current size and do well, based on the crowds (of course they would also need to expand the kitchen which could be why they haven’t gone that route). The upstairs has the bar to the right of the entry and a dining room to the left. There’s a downstairs that isn’t apparent when you walk in and the deck-​patio with entry from the bar. Average wait times during the week is in the 30 – 45 minute range and an hour on weekends. Try to get there earlier if you can and you’ll get the best food and service. The food here is Tex-​Mex in general, but there’s a bit more emphasis on the Mex side of the equation that makes it interesting. You’ll find a good mole here and a level of spiciness that you won’t find in the schwag Mexican restaurants in the burbs. The salsa is fresh with plenty of cilantro — don’t bother coming here if you don’t like cilantro as it’s in pretty much everything or used as a garnish.
The margaritas here are quite good — love the sour-​mix they use as a base and they tend to be stronger that what you’re used to getting. Do yourself a favor and buy them by the pitcher — easier for everyone and you won’t be fighting against the crowds of people for singles. My preference is to sit on the patio if possible but it’s usually just too damn hot with Atlanta’s extended summer and short fall/​winter/​spring. Service is quite good at Nuevo Laredo with a very knowledgeable staff however as you may have already surmised, it gets very busy here so expect to wait. The food and drink will be well worth it but be prepared to wait and order that replacement pitcher before you hit bottom. If you don’t like margaritas they also have sangria — I haven’t tried it but have heard that it’s good. They also usually have a selection of local craft beer as well as you’re typical Mexican and American favorites.
Try the cheese sauce (chile con caso) here with chorizo — simply fantastic. For the entrée I gravitate towards the mole and diablo as already indicated. I haven’t tried it but the tamales looked and smelled wonderful (well, maybe I had a taste and from what I remember it’s quite good). By the time I had a bit this last visit I was rocking pretty hard on those pitchers. Look for the specials in the upper right corner of the menu — you can’t go wrong with any of them. The rice here is much better than your typical «red» rice that you find elsewhere (can’t stand that stuff) and the black beans are fantastic. Also make sure you have plenty of salsa on hand. For something a bit lighter the carne asada here is quite good — I’d recommend the tacos.
In all my last visit was everything that I remember from my first and subsequent visits. I’ll be coming back.

I love this place.
Always busy, always a struggle to park, always waiting to sit. Worth every minute.
Everyone is always gripping about authentic Mexican fare. «It has to be authentic!»
Let’s be real.
I’m not that girl.
I want it to be tasty. I think Nuevo is delicious.
Cheese dip fix? Check
Huge menu with items I like? Check
Best fresh salsa ever? Check
Margaritas the size of my face? You know it.
I always order Tacos de Carne Asada. Three steak tacos with only onion and cilantro. It’s just perfect!
The way it was meant to be!
They have all the hot sauces bad chipotle you could dream of and I love that the place has some sizzle.
Others have ordered basic items and I’ve tried them all– quesadillas, Cebollitas? the grilled green scallion with lime appetizer (yum).
Second favorite menu item is the Steak Diablo. So delicious! That Diablo sauce is the perfect kick of spice and flavor!
The menu recommends you non-​Spanish speaking folks to ask about the menu items and know Very Clearly what you are ordering because food made Properly that was ordered by You will be paid for by You. Heh, love it.
Also, the sign at the front door, it looks like a non smoking sign but a woman’s name is in the circle instead of a cigarette. Apparently it’s a food critic that gave the place a bad review. Hilarious.
I also love the hanging sign during business hours below the Nuevo Laredo sign, it says ‘Ocean View’
LOL totally.

Wow, excellent food! They really are a more authentic style Mexican restaurant! The brisket taco taste just like the ones at our local Mexican market, but better, they dress them up a bit. I loved the cheese dip, the quantity was great as well! Every Mexican restaurant I go to I have to try their version of chile relleno, the version here is about as good as it gets. I will definitely be back for more cheese dip and chile relleno!!!

Chalk this up as «one of those reviews of a place I’d been to countless times, but never thought to review it until a recent visit made me realize that there wasn’t something I could quote myself on to a friend that’s never been.»
All it really took to get people here was bringing up «Lobster. Taco.»
Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anywhere else in Atlanta that has lobster tacos. Google+Yelp reveals quite a few, but given the alternatives, I still think that Nuevo Laredo kind of has the synonymous association with it. At least for me, since I live in a bubble anyway.
Whatever though, when the urge for tacos struck, I had to bring some friends over here. We were putting our lives in our own hands though, because Nuevo Laredo has a tendency to be packed completely at completely unpredictable times of the day, mostly come dinner time. Weekday, weekend, it doesn’t matter, the place has the capability to go from empty-​to-​packed at completely random times of the day, it seems. Thankfully, on the night of my last visit, I was able to get a table with minimal wait, made more gratifying by seeing the line of 15 people form after I was seated.
The location is in the northern part of Atlanta, that still technically has an Atlanta zip code but typically isn’t recognized by those claiming to be from Atlanta. It’s the area where words like «gentrification» are thrown around, and it’s actually now showing way more development than in prior years, with most notably a high tech golf ball-​hitting joint lighting up the skies right near Nuevo Laredo.
Parking is one of the biggest issues with the property, as in front of Nuevo Laredo, there are actually like 6 – 7 spots immediately in front of the door. For whatever reason, the neighboring business has a fence erected to divide the property, yet somehow, NL has a couple spots on that side as well, very clearly marked as theirs, in case you were wondering. For the rest of the plebeians, there’s substantially more parking available across the street.
The interior of the restaurant is «cozy,» which is to say the ceilings are low, the tables are closely spaced and the carpet is kind of old and dingy, and have been walked across a billion times, but it’s got that atmosphere of a place that is very well visited, and everyone who works there are obviously long-​time veterans of the food service business, balancing 6 plates at a time on two arms.
Like most Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa are delivered promptly after sitting. It should be noted that NL’s salsa runs a little on the spicy side, which is fine for me, but those not expecting a little heat might be blindsided by it.
I know lobster in general has a synonymous association with being pricey, but we’re still dealing with tacos here. Nuevo Laredo’s lobster tacos essentially run at $ 10 a pop for a single taco; sure, they’re generous with the lobster meat, and if you get the two-​taco plate, it comes with the systematic rice and beans, but it’s still $ 20 for basically two tacos and sides. That’s like 50 Taco Bell tacos right there. They’re still tasty, as they’re creamy and buttery, without suppressing the subtle sweetness of lobster meat, but frankly, I’d rather they reduced the lobster portion and lowered the price.
Honestly though, my love of Nuevo Laredo has always been their chorizo tacos; they have this charred flavor to them that simply can’t be found anywhere else, and I would rather pound 3 – 4 of those any other day of the week.
Overall, I think Nuevo Laredo is a little overrated by the mass populous, and I hope that a review like mine helps temper expectations. The location is pretty easy to get to, the parking can sometimes be problematic. There’s no guarantee that there won’t be a tragic wait time to be seated. The staff is always friendly, polite and attentive. However, the prices run on the high side for Mexican restaurant fare, especially on the lobster tacos, and if you’re in the mood for just tacos, chips and salsa, I can think of two alternatives within 2 – 3 miles that feature lower prices.
It’s a little overblown calling it the institution that it’s so often lauded at, but it’s still solid Mexican restaurant.

Service here is always amazing. The staff is friendly and polite and never un-​attentive.
The food is always fresh tasting and fantastic! They offer a pretty large vegetarian menu, and a usually happy to accommodate small changes to the menu. The tacos are all fantastic!
The atmosphere is a little cozy due to the size of the building, but I think it adds to the charm. The walls are filled with celebrity pictures and you never seem to be able to see everything while you are there!
Be prepared to wait on weekends and evenings, usually an hour or so since its popular. The parking is small, but the lot across the street is open for you to use as well, just be careful crossing the street.

This place was interesting… Rather hole in the wall-​ish type place or a dive… But it’s not large and was crowded and busy on the Thursday night we went. For a party of six we had to wait a long time for a table downstairs. Didn’t really mind the wait since we had Margaritas, chips, salsa, and guacamole around their small bar area…
When we finally got to sit down everyone ordered drinks and looked over the menu to see what they wanted. What I ended up ordering is what caught my eye immediately on the menu… the Holy Tacos. I was fascinated with the idea of mashed potatoes as the main ingredient in tacos.
When everyone’s food arrived and after a round of picture taking ensued we all dug into our plates… My tacos were quite yummy… The taco shells weren’t the kind you find at fast casual tex-​mex places, these had flavor and texture and paired well with the potatoes, cheese, cabbage, and green salsa. I also had a side of black beans but my tacos were very filling so I couldn’t even finish them. Also according to the waitress they cook their rice in chicken stock so I ended up not getting it as my other side.
Overall, this place was small, crowded, had a even smaller messy bar area, and a health score in the 80s. It is definitely a hole in the wall type joint, with different menu items from other tex-​mex restaurants I’ve been to. But I would come back. It just feels like one of those places where you want to hang with friends and drink margaritas while eating some chips and salsa… I actually liked their guacamole as well… It was my first time officially trying guacamole, as avocados are not a food I like, but their guacamole was bright, light, and tasty.
I would like to come back in a smaller setting… Eating in large groups can be tricky and make for different experiences. But service was good and our waitress even split the check up for us despite a sign near the bar saying that they wouldn’t split large group checks after a certain time, can’t remember what it says specifically. But when I’m on this side of town again… this place will be on my radar.

It was tasty and the dish I had was very filling and flavorful.
The restaurant is a shabby shack type establishment and the staff automatically greeted us from the bar (way overfull with customers) and the waiters. But we were seated in the middle of the very busy and full room where I had a man tell me to excuse him as he couldn’t get past my chair to reach the exit door… so we moved to an even more cramped table near the wall but away from those trying to push by us to get to the exit.
Anyhow, the Cadillac margarita in a pitcher certainly left us all with a happy buzz and we finished it off, barely, as it was a large pitcher indeed.
My mom and I shared the fish tacos plate — smoky grilled salmon with cabbage and beans and rice and Pico de guillo oh my! So tasty. Their house salsa is also really good to put on top of that dish.
Overall it was a decent meal but insanely crowded so I don’t feel like I’ll be returning. I recommend Los Hermanos instead.

This place was my go to Mexican restaurant when I was in college. The margaritas are strong and big and the cheese dip is awesome! A few tips, arrive early or odd times to eat. There can be a long wait during dinner and lunch times. Available parking across the street.
Do get the lobster tacos and cheese dip. Not a fan of the chorizo enchilada (very salty). The tamales and tacos are delish! I haven’t gotten the fajitas, but they smelt good.
Overall a low key Mexican restaurant that the standard hasn’t alter over time

My favorite Mexican spot in Atlanta, hands down.
— DELICIOUS. I mean, every item I’ve had on the menu here is just spectacular. Burritos loaded with mouthwatering marinated pork. Enchiladas topped with lots of cheese, received beans like no other and Mexican rice to kill for.
— MASSIVE PORTIONS, FOR LESS. For lunch, you pay $ 10-​$ 11 and you get a massive portion. As hungry as I was, I just could not eat it all.
— HOMEY FEEL. It’s probably not a first date spot as its a very hole in the wall type of place (unless your date is into that). It’s a small hut, with photos covering the walls and village style table clothes.
— NO WEEKEND RESERVATIONS AND A LONG WAIT. Just something to mindful, it’s a popular spot and its small. You will have to wait hour + on a Friday or Saturday night for dinner. Weekday lunches typically don’t have a wait.
Ps. There is extra parking across the street.