El Mariachi

I they don’t even deserve a star they over charge you for expired things I wouldn’t buy anything here they rip you off stay away from this place

I worried when I left Texas to move to Columbia, SC, that I would not be able to find good Mexican food. Was I ever wrong! I’m thinking this is really El Salvadoran food, but it hit the spot. More authentic than much of what you can find in Texas, which is heavy on the Tex-​Mex. This was like eating in Mexico City, or maybe San Salvador? The pupusa revuelta was delicious. I’d never had one before (Googled it and it is a traditional dish from San Salvador) — it is a kind of stuffed tortilla with cheese, ground pork, and beans. It was served with a pickled cabbage slaw and an orange hot sauce that was super flavorful. I also had the eggs with chorizo. The best part, which is as it should be, was the home made corn tortillas! Yes!!! Yay!!! My best dude had the caldo de res, which was chock full of beef, corn, and other yummy stuff. We couldn’t finish the food, so we brought back a box for later. I almost forgot, the fruit water (I had melon) is refreshing. We will be back — again and again and again and again.
I do need to mention that we initially thought they were closed even though I called before we went to make sure they were open. The grocery store was closed, but around the side of the building is where you find the restaurant side and it was open. This place is just too good to miss and I’m oh-​so-​thrilled that I will not be pining for delicious food from south of the border. Muy declicioso!!!
The reason they didn’t get 5 stars is it is a bit «down at the heels,» but that’s actually just fine with me. This is not date-​night food for the well heeled, it is authentic food for the adventurous.
Tip: just a little bit of Spanish will help as the friendly lady who served us and took our payment does not speak English fluently. Between her English and our «picked up from growing up in Texas» Spanish, we did fine.

This little Mexican joint is an overlooked gem in west columbia! Unless you are looking for it you can pass right by and not even realize the deliciousness you are missing. This is a combined restaurant and store with all sorts of imported Mexican products. We walked around while we were waiting for our food and checked out all the Mexican candy and pastries. They also have a counter with raw marinated meats such as al pastor and carne asada which you can take home and cook to your liking. We got the fajitas Texanas which are just mixed grill fajitas, a steak burrito and lengua tacos. Everything was wonderful. The shrimp in the fajitas were probably the best I have had in a Mexican joint. They were cooked perfectly, not chewy at all. Basically, this place is great even if they do play super loud Mexican music the entire time you are eating! Also the waitresses speak limited English so there may be a couple lost in translation moments but when in doubt just point at what you want on the menu!

Went in there for the menudo, as I was walking in I seen the BBQ outside they had whole chicken and ribs. I asked the guy about the chicken. They make it every sunday. As for the menudo the waitress seemed flustered couldnt handle the work load. I asked for tostadas first and then my menudo. She brought everything at once made me wait for 20 min without my first entrée. Once I tried the menudo it was ok, Since I am from california I know what is good in my mind to put it in a broad perspective the menudo did not have a taste to it. It was hot thought which is a plus. I will say the tortillas were hand made and very warm I ate the whole batch she brought. I wasnt satisfied with the menudo so I grabbed some of the bbq a whole chicken for 12 dollars comes with tortillas and salsa. I will say that was very good I couldnt eat all of it but i saved some for later. Overall I would definitley come back but not for the menudo. I feel the tortillas are the saving point and the chicken which will get me to come back. overall I give it a 2.5 stars could be better but its really authentic so that is a plus

This place is good, the food has an authentic Mexican flavor and the service is ok. I say ok cause it took a while to get my food, there was only one waitress working on Saturday and she did her best but it was just too busy for one person. They have Mexican market attached to the restaurant so you can have lunch and do some shopping after, not a bad place for lunch or brunch in the weekend.

I love this place because they have my favorite food which is el salvadorean and impossible to find and hard to make well — (I tried, especially after it was on martha stewart) pupusas! Everything was made to order, your choice for pupusas is queso, frijoles (bean), and chicharrones (I think it is pulled pork). This is not on the menu, but on a sign on the wall. The curtido (fresh pickled slaw) is what your pupusa condiment it’s delicious, and comes with two sauces, verde chili hot or mild tomato base. One is good as an appetizer. They also have one of the largest mexican and spanish soda selections I have seen. The restaurant is attached to a very nice grocery store and butcher that has all the traditional meats and a variety of cheeses. Good Queso Fresco and inca kola is hard to find, I wish they would move to Charleston!

Any place that serves menudo and lengua tacos on a daily basis gets high ratings from me. Back home, I can only get menudo on the weekends. The lengua tacos were served with onions, cilantro, and lime. Just the way I like them.
The taqueria is in the back of the grocery store. The dishes served are all traditional Mexican dishes. When you sit down, you get chips and salsa but be sure to ask for the green spicy salsa. It’s got some kick to it.
You can pay with credit card here but you’ll have to go to the grocery store section to have your card run. However, you can’t add a tip on your receipt so bring some cash to tip your servers. I’ll definitely make this a regular lunch spot.

I don’t believe I could say I am a subject matter expert in rating Mexican cuisine, but I’ve had it all along the I-​10.
With that being said, this is as authentic as it gets. One of my fears moving to Columbia was being able to find a real Mexican restaurant (one that doesn’t have to advertise nachos and margaritas). The pictures are exactly what you get.
Some extras worth noting:
o the Carne Asada is cooked in a grill in front of the building and you can smell the mesquite smoke
o Mexican Coke (yes, the soda)
o the loudest jukebox blasting Banda and Mexican cover songs of 80s rock ballads like Journey; listen closely
o and of course, my peeps who are very humble and friendly
I had the Caldo de Res and my company had a bowl of Menudo and various Tacos (Tripas, Carne Asada, Lengua, and Carnitas).
Overall, very pleased I used Unilocal to find this place. You too should give it a try.

Good, fresh food, plenty to choose from. No more ordering by numbers! Best tamales in Cola, as far as I know. Someone else mentioned the Cubano. Be advised, it’s a meal for two, but good.

Great meal in a very cool place. This is AUTHENTIC Mexican. Thank goodness we had a friend w/​us who spoke spanish, so we could order and ask questions. Tacos & Tamales were really good. Fajitas our friends had looked great. The shrimp soup is good and has LOTS of big jumbo shrimp in it… BUT be warned. They are WHOLE. Head, shell, tail & eyes! Freaked my daughter out when they set it in front of her. :-)

Love this place. It’s in the back of a grocery store that looks like it was helicoptered in from Mexico. The tacos are excellent and the tortas are great, too. For an adventure, try the torta cubana. Not your typical Cuban sandwich. Includes a fried egg and a hotdog. The house made salsa picante is great and changes periodically.
Love this place.

a hidden gem!
when getting here, you will feel completely confused but in a good way. upon entering, you find yourself in a store. the restaurant is located to the left in the back. loud music is played from a juke box in a corner. do not come expecting a romantic quiet time. this is a place for groups or families… or those that don’t mind shouting a little bit over their meals. :)
warning: the waitstaff does not speak a lick of english. the menu is in both spanish and english but there is no description to the dishes. everyone starts their meals with fresh tortilla chips (thick ones) and a condiment plate which consists of diced onions, cilantro and 2 sauces (salsa verde and red).
tacos al pastor (pork) are great. i enjoyed my tamale as well. pupusas and tortas are also offered.
posole («mexican stew») is a spicy rich stew with small tender bits of spareribs served with corn tortillas.
shrimp cocktail is drowning in an overly sweet tomato sauce with generous amounts of onions and cilantro.
i’m not a huge fan of the gorditas but all the tortas are solid.
highlights of the weekend specials are the caldo de res (beef soup) and marinated chicken. the beef soup is hearty with multiple layers of flavor. delish!
drinks include horchata and aguas frescas (alternating between melon, papaya, jamaica, pineapple)
open until 10pm daily!