Gringo A Go-Go

Actually we are eating here by accident. We had planned on the Oakwood Café, but they were closed for Memorial Day weekend and lucky for us Gringo a GoGo was right across the street. Funky and laid back little place located in an old gas station. Nice selection of Latin drinks (I had the Jamaica (hibiscus flower) and my wife had the hortchata). Service was friendly and fast. Started with an order of guacamole and chips that was above average. I had the Torta Al Pastor and my wife had the Tacos El Camaron, both were delicious! The kids shared an Asada Quesadilla (I swiped a bite and was great!). The star of the meal was the house made potato chips with lime, to die for. Definitely will be back.

I have changed my rating not due to the food but rather the service. I went from going few times a week to once a week, if that. Today will be last time dining here. Best Mexican food in town but hands down the worse service I have ever received. I even think someone spit in the salsa. Owner is a nice guy and makes amazing food, however his staff is killing his restaurant. The waitress even said «don’t even worry about leaving a tip.» Two people in my party were so upset they even approached the owner, nicest guy in the world, to let him know how bad our service was. It’s a true shame, cause this food is that good.

We enjoyed a casual night out at Gringo A Go-​Go last week. Finding outdoor seating that gets sun late in the evening is difficult in Raleigh so that is a bonus. The guac and chips were great (and I’m pretty picky about my guac). The asada quesadillas were amazing. Love their queso. A guy that I’m assuming was the owner was milling about, greeting people and checking in on them. He had the distinct vibe of someone who really cares about the restaurant, its patrons and how much they enjoy themselves. We highly value customer service so this was nice to see. This was our 3^rd time and it was by far the best so I’d say they are getting better with age!

Ok service, and tasty margaritas. The tacos (chicken and chorizo) however where not flavorful and bland. You also have to pay for toppings, so if you don’t order the condiment plate your taco is just the filling. Guacamole is nothing special either. Great outdoor and patio seating, inside is small.

Stopped in really quickly and tried the vegan chicken taco and now… im hooked! It was delivered to me quickly and the «chicken» was seasoned and cooked perfectly! I’ll definitely be back! Thanks for the yumminess!

I finally made it out to Gringo A Go-​Go. There is something about the place that just feels cool. On the whole it is definitely somewhere I would go again.
Atmosphere 4 — I loved the feel of this place. As best as I can tell it used to be a gas station. It really has a cool hip vibe.
Service 3 — The service was okay. I suspect the fact that we were sitting outside and it was a bit chilly might have impacted it.
Cost/​Value 2 — The food was definitely very good but I found it a little pricey. I am not accustomed paying $ 20 a head for Mexican.
Food 5 — They definitely do have great food. From the chip and salsa down everything was first rate.

I’m not a massive fan of Mexican food (the idea of all of my food touching on the plate in a mass of refried beans freaks me out) but I really enjoyed Gringo A Go-​Go! The space was cool, the service was great and most importantly the food was on point! I ordered the guac and chips and three steak tacos and was very pleased with all of it! The tacos were delightfully uncomplicated, with onions and cilantro topping them, and the meat was cooked to perfection. The only thing I wasn’t a massive fan of was the tortillas… Not because they weren’t of a good quality (they actually tasted super fresh) but just because I wasn’t a fan of the texture. They were a little too gritty for my preference, but i’m sure most people will enjoy them.
If you’re looking for uncomplicated, quality Mexican food definitely check this spot out! I will for sure be back!

It got 2 stars solely for the chips and guac. They were delicious. Food is overpriced. They put cinnamon in the black beans so my burrito tasted weird. Not a fan. Sorry.

Look people I know tacos… I love tacos… I am tacos. Outside of gluten free pizza the next item I look for it tacos. So HANDS DOWN… these are the freshest tacos in Raleigh. The tortillas for the chips are hand ground corn driven in daily. So Uh for all those cheapos out there find another spot for FREE CHIPS. If they were pre purchased chips and bottled salsa, then that crap is free. LOL. Super fresh Mexican costs… so if you don’t have a little change in your pocket visit the other spot. The margaritas GREAT! Unfortunately, NC liquor laws discourage the addition of some more diverse tequilas they have some good ones.
The bar boasts $ 2 specials… so for those looking on the low cost drinking end… check them out. They have added an authintic fave to the menu, Queso Fundido. Real cast iron melted cheese, not that milk based paste you call queso dip. The owner is a sweet fella who truly has a heart for recreating a laid back Mexican experience. In a 4-​day span I think I ate here twice. So here is how I really feel:
The Good
FRESH food. There is an item on the menu that is a likening to a Mexican lasagna. Flavorful, creamy, cheese goodness. The salsa yum, the chips thick and crunchy. You better get the cheese it so worth it.
The Bad.
Parking. We drove around the block for 5 min waiting for someone to leave. I’m not familiar with the parking situation in Raleigh there may have been better options near… I just drove in circles stalking the persons in the restaurants. I even considered double parking and announcing to the small space when I got in… just let me know when you are ready to leave.
The Verdict
GO Go to Gringo A Go Go. It’s a small business, locally owned, sustainable food. Yummy. Fresh bring a friend.

Love this place. Interesting but classic Mexican food. Among best food in Raleigh and I do not say that lightly. Most restaurants rated highly on Unilocal in Raleigh are just okay. Definitely best Mexican food in town.

Some friends and I ate here this past Friday night. I am usually not a huge Mexican fan but I must say this was my favorite in Raleigh. We ordered the chips and salsa with traditional pico and the peanut sauce. Both were excellent. Can’t wait to try the jalepeno and chipotle salsas. We also ordered a cheese dip with chorizo and 7 different cheeses and it was also good. I ordered The chorizo and chicken tacos. The chorizo was by far my favorite meat. My friends loved the al pastor tacos.
We also had a few margs which were tasty. Over all it was a good experience and I will definitely return.

I’ve been here a few times with my girlfriend and really love the atmosphere, along with the fantastic drink specials. The food is good, not great, but it is authentic and fresh, which is hard to find these days.
However, last night I went in with my girlfriend and two friends for drinks. Two of us had already eaten, so only two ordered food. We were ordering plenty of drinks every time he came by the table. The entire hour we were there, the waiter CONSTANTLY tried to upsell us on drinks, food, and dessert, to the point that it was uncomfortable and downright insulting. As we were leaving, he even had the nerve to say «maybe next time you can actually eat here». Don’t think there will ever be a next time.

Super kitschy Mexican place playing Buck Owens, Johnny cash and Dwight Yoakum. Love that they have vegetarian options and outdoor dog friendly seating. Really enjoyed the guacamole with just enough kick to make it interesting.

While it wasn’t necessarily Gringo a «no-​no», it was certainly not a «go-​go». It was Gringo a «meh-​meh».
I had the burrito. It was okay. I had the chips and guac. They add $ 5 to get an order of chips, whether you choose guacamole or salsa to go with them.
The service was pretty fast.
The venue isn’t too bad. Just kinda simple.
What I *do* appreciate is the blend of old country music they play. In fact, I loved it so much that I asked where they got their mix or if someone there created the mix. No one seemed to know. The server asked several others who worked there, and the music remained a mystery to them.
There are better Mexican joints in town. I wouldn’t choose this one over the others. My experience wasn’t bad by any stretch, but it wasn’t fantastic.

Locals, this is the old Biscuit Station on Person (which I loved by the way). To be honest, it doesn’t look that amazing from the outside. And there is that silver tinsel all around the bar. But once you get past that, this place is awesome. All the staff were very nice and service was quick.
We ordered salsa and chips — you get to pick two salsas, from mild to very hot. And the chips are fresh and homemade. My kind of place. We also ordered guacamole. And it is was super FRESH and yummilicious. The margarita was strong and perfectly made as well. We also had entrees, which were great and came with two more salsas, but it couldn’t have gotten any better so why keep typing.
Vegetarians — YES place! Carnivores — also a yes place, but lesser a concern of mine.
Parking is very limited so be careful.
Looking forward to many future visits

Great little spot!
Nice patio area to sit outside (a bit loud from the traffic because you are very close to the main road). Definitely some of the best authentic Mexican food in Raleigh. The flavors and presentation are what sets it apart I think. I’ve been really trying to find decent Mexican food in the area and I’ve found it. It’s worth checking out.

If you want excellent handmade tortilla chips and daily made salsa by the gallons, this is the place. with Dollar beers on Wednesday & Delicious tacos whether you order a condiment plate or not. This is authentic and excellent and delicious.

I was excited to try this place but will not be going back. Everything on the menu was extremely overpriced. The biggest downfall is that they charge $ 5 to bring out chips and salsa and they bring out a tiny bit of both the chips and the salsa. For their prices they can surely afford complimentary chips and salsa like nearly every other Mexican restaurant in town. The food was good but not so good as to off set the high prices.

I had really high hopes for Gringo a Go-​Go. I’m frequently in the neighborhood and fell in love with the idea of a funky, authentic Mexican place with good parking where I can easily pick up food for the family.
My first impression was that it is expensive. Unfortunately, for the most part, Mexican food served in divey joints has the reputation of large portions at low prices and that is what people expect. Gringo a Go-​Go is the opposite. The menu is small– which is always a good sign– but there is no lunch menu or specials. Also, items like tacos ($ 3) come naked and a side of condiments costs extra ($ 2.50). Go to menu items like quesadillas ($ 12.50) and enchiladas ($ 13) are expensive for what you get. The pricing may be justified it a complimentary bowl of hot chips and house made salsa was put on the table when you sat down, but that too costs ($ 5) and the portion was on the small side.
Other issues include staff training. My server did not know the menu, at all, and really struggled using the iPad POS. Technology can be glitchy, but not knowing the menu, especially when it has only nine items is not acceptable.
And the space; it feels like it is trying too hard to be authentic and this causes it to fall short. It is in an old garage, but that is not excuse for it being dirty. I waited at the bar for my order and there was a very moldy whole lemon in the bar set up. I will never go there for drinks.
Ok, the food. As I mentioned I was disappointed with the prices and debated leaving, but I was already in there, so I ordered two tacos ($ 3 each) — carnitas, a slow cooked pork shoulder and a grilled chicken, and the spinach and cheese empanada ($ 4). The tortillas seem homemade
My only request was NO CILANTRO. I got home and both tacos were covered in chopped cilantro. Ugh. Total bummer.
But after I picked off the cilantro, I found the carnitas to be very tender and full of flavor and so was the chicken. I was disappointed that both tacos were just tortilla and meat– I was not told that condiments were extra. The empanadas were also delicious.
If I have an unpleasant experience, I typically give them another chance before I write a review, but I’m not this time because it is overpriced and that isn’t going to change.

This place has the world’s tiniest parking lot; let me begin with that. Once you find a spot, you then venture inside and are greeted with walls of kitsch. But it’s good kitsch – who doesn’t love Loteria cards?
I had a burrito with the vegan beef option, and the texture was good. The whole burrito was very tasty. I paired it with an order of their guacamole – divine.
The atmosphere is cute in a hipster-​y way, and the number of vegetarian and vegan options made me tip them to a solid four stars. It’s absolutely worth a try – we came to rest our feet after a long day at the Natural Science Museum and left with full bellies and smiles on our faces.