Chapala Mexican Restaurant
7001 Saint Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC, 29212
Chapala Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Shannon W.
We love this place! Fast, friendly, wonderful outdoor seating-a rare thing in this area. The fish tacos are amazing and the chicken soup (yes, chicken soup) is now my go to crave if I am in need of comfort food.
(5)Julie P.
I was recently in town visiting family and we went here for lunch. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. My brother is on a gluten free diet and they smeared him clear of any sauces that may have caused an issue. I had the fajita nachos and they were very good. They had shrimp, chicken and steak. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of meat. Some places skimp on the meat to cheese ratio. One of my other brothers order the carne asada tacos. He exclaimed that they were excellent. All in all one of the best Mexican places I have been to in awhile. We definitely go back next time I am in town.
(5)Tim P.
This review was written when restaurant was newly opened. The place was packed. It took a while to get our orders in but the food came out lighting fast. Everything was great. The shrimp diablo was quite spicy and delicious. Overall the menus is standard tex-mex fare. The staff was friendly and family run. This location has been the home to many restaurants. This one will make it based on my experience.
(3)Ron B.
We love this place. It's very close to home, and has the friendliest staff in town. I love a place with outdoor seating so that gets it a star from the get go. It doesn't get any fresher than the hand made tableside guacamole. They cut, pit and scoop the avacados and throw in the fresh diced onions and peppers and serve it up in a big mortar. Cholula is available on the tables and every single dish i've gotten has been wonderful and so affordable.
(5)Kimberly S.
3 words Vulcan en fuego! One of my favorite things to eat. Comes with your choice of refried beans, black beans or a side of rice. Chips and salsa are always full and the waiter we had recently was awesome! Great food here
(4)Chester M.
Good food, great prices, Lots for your money.
(4)Heather A.
This is the best place we've found in Columbia. I've lived in Atlanta and Charlotte so I'm far from impressed overall as far as mexican places go. With that said... we haven't found anything better in Irmo and when we need a Mexican fix this is where we head. Don't get the table side guac, it was the worst i've ever had and worse than my friends pre-prepared side that came with his meal. Just don't.
(3)Taylor S.
This place was awesome! They had amazing chips and salsa! Their queso was great and so was their food! My boyfriend and I had the number 8 and 7 and they were both perfect! We will definitely be returning to here! The only thing negative I have to say is that the frozen margarita had a little too much mixer in it and which made it a little too sweet and juicy but my boyfriend had the 'on the rocks' margarita and he said it was perfect!
(4)Lindsay K.
Great food. The staff is always friendly. Make sure to try out the specialty drinks, they come in a clay pot and are perfect for sipping on the patio. And now they have black beans too! I love coming here.
(5)Eric W.
Come here all the time. Love the food and atmosphere. It's much better than other Mexican joints in town. Great lunch specials and the food is always fresh.
(5)Yvette P.
This is our first time while vacationing in SC. Our kids who love Mexican food, especially my son-in-law who is an excellent critique of Mexican food, was very happy his wife found this restaurant on our way back home to GA. After trying many Mexican restaurants here in the south and being unhappy, he found one he is willing to travel the 1 1/2 hrs to. The table side made guacamole was excellent. We had chicken tacos, rice and beans which were very good. The south uses white cheese not the orange. The refried beans are very, very mashed, but good. Enjoyed the rice with chopped tomatoes. Since I am from CA, I asked for a Cadillac Margarita with Grand Mariner and unfortunately they didn't know what that meant because they asked me two times what I asked for. Come to find out, at least according to our guacamole maker, they are called Texas Margaritas. This restaurant pre-makes a very large batch which includes the Grand Mariner. It was good, but weak which is fine with me. Our service was a bit slow, but everything else made up for it. Oh yes, the chips and salsa were warm and tasty. My daughter said her corn tortillas were good as was her fajitas. My son-in-law forgot to ask for cheese enchiladas forgetting in the south they default to ground beef. However he said they were pretty good and he doesn't care much for ground beef, that says quite a lot coming from him. I loved the Mexican music played. So if you find yourself in Columbia or passing through, try Chapalas in Irmo.
(4)Jack N.
Muchisimas gracias a Alicia, porque eres muy amable. The service was actually very attentive such that my drink never fell below half mast and I didn't have a chance to lack for any need I might have desired. Overall, the menu is slightly more tailored to the American palate that I might have cared to see, though my Torta Loca was reminiscent of the splendid fare served by the street vendors in several Mexican cities. It was exceptionally authentic and delicious in and of itself. I was not impressed with the Tacos De Camarones, but the Agua de Jamaica was bursting with the robust flavor I appreciate very much.
(3)Caleb B.
Absolutely Sublime!! My girlfriend and I found this pace and everything is awesome!! They have a fresh, well executed, twist on Traditional Ameri-Mex. Best in Columbia! Must try
(5)Kelly B.
Pleasantly surprised. It's tucked back from the road and didn't know it was there for a while. Always enjoy the margaritas and queso. The taco salad is good, but seems to grow, as I can never finish the whole portion.
(4)KeiKei B.
Well yes ma'am! And that with my southern drawl yall!!! Had unfortunate business but was able to relax and chill with some Tex-Mex. It was a little loud in there due to the Elvis impersonator. The crowd had a great time. I did as well with my food. I needed to pick me up. Had the burritos and rice and beans and yes ma'am!! Highly seasoned like I like and amped up with little to no cheese (I know I am a weirdo). That said I had three, 3 y'all, margaritas! Yes ma'am! And they were worth every gulp!
(4)Mary D.
Finally, a Mexican restaurant in Columbia that isn't the same at the one next door. I have been back several times, and ordered something different each time, and it is always good. Each dish actually looks different and tastes different than the other. Don't settle for any more bad Mexican slop on a plate and come to Chapala's!! Great food, great service and love the patio!!
(5)Emily E.
A welcome addition to Irmo! I ordered the fish tacos and was pleasantly surprised by the generous amount of well seasoned fish that paired well with the cilantro. The sauce was served on the side and had a great spicy kick. The margarita was strong and hit the spot! Service was incredibly prompt and friendly. Sitting in the bar area was perfect for catching some March Madness action.
(4)Sateesh N.
Good chips and salsa.. Guacamole dip was best.. Food wasn't that great though.. Very economic though..
(4)Ryan C.
Ate here for the first time a few weeks ago and was surprised. Much better than your typical monterrey or casablanca linda. Salsa was amazing, especially the extra hot kind. Service was great, I ordered the Chile Poblano's and to my surprise it was actually prepared in the right manor and stuffed, unlike the rest of the slackers who just put the filling down and lay a pepper over it. But it was AMAZING. My girlfriend at the time got the Carnitas which were perfectly tender with just the right amount of lime and cilantro and the avatar salad was great. Definitely my new mexican spot. -Ryan C.
(4)Alan F.
Read the reviews was pretty excited to try it out. Went there on a Saturday night and it was not overly crowded. Most of the crowd was eating, or close to finishing their meals. Took awhile for the server to eventually make it to our table. The service and the food was horrible! We never got the appetizer we ordered. After watching many people come in and receive their food eventually-another server came by and asked us what we ordered. She must of placed the order at that time. Our order was wrong and the food was below average at best. It took well over an hour to receive our simple order. It was the first time in my life I did not want to leave a tip. This placed showed potential but it was heartbreaking to eat there. Btw: it looks more crowded than it is. Looks like they have the employees park up front to create a ruse of being busy.
(1)Jane N.
The food is pretty good and the best part is that the chips are gluten free. All of the wait staff doesn't understand GF but I did go in one day and ask the manager. he told me that the chips were in a dedicated fryer and gave me some ideas on what I could eat. We've eaten there several times and I think I have had one minor reaction, cross contamination I'm sure. But, 1 out 10 isn't bad and we will continue to go there.
(4)Ashleigh S.
I have been three times now and I can say I truly enjoy this restaurant. The food is fresh, standard tex-mex, but very well made. Tnere is a chicken with rich seasoning, mushrooms, Bell peppers, onions and other veggies that was so moist. The margaritas are far better than the sickly sweet junk at other chain Mexican spots in town. The staff shines above the rest. We came on a Saturday night with a Party of 12 and they were more than accommodating. They graciously moved us outside, it was a rare cool/early fall night, and attended to all of our needs. They surprised us all by putting a sombrero on my hubby's head, serenading him, and smooshing whip cream in his face! It was a perfect birthday. I highly recommend Chapala's in Irmo!
(5)Nadeen S.
It's like your neighborhood restaurant u feel very comfortable the food is good the ambience is nice the service is great difiniantly I will come back
(5)Tyler P.
Excellent food and super friendly service. Be SURE to try the California Burrito. Amazing!
(5)Eaton O.
Potential ! Salsa/chips...spicy but good. Tacos el or de pastor and chorizo were very fresh, tasty and something different. Chicken Quesadilla, fresh and plentiful. Atmosphere and decor...eh, average..... pretty much what it has been since every other place in there. Service was fine. They did offer a Sat night Nacho Fajita @ 6.50...looked good and seems like a deal l and heard mon was Fajitas. Give it a try... IRMO/HARBISON (unlike Chapin) needs this place !!! Try it.
(4)Will W.
Great Mexican Food. Better than the usual slop at other local chains. My favorite is the Tacos Al Pastor. Get it with corn tortillas and you will not disappointed! Gets 4/5 stars only for small lack of ambiance.
(4)Shannon W.
We love this place! Fast, friendly, wonderful outdoor seating-a rare thing in this area. The fish tacos are amazing and the chicken soup (yes, chicken soup) is now my go to crave if I am in need of comfort food.
(5)Eaton O.
Potential ! Salsa/chips...spicy but good. Tacos el or de pastor and chorizo were very fresh, tasty and something different. Chicken Quesadilla, fresh and plentiful. Atmosphere and decor...eh, average..... pretty much what it has been since every other place in there. Service was fine. They did offer a Sat night Nacho Fajita @ 6.50...looked good and seems like a deal l and heard mon was Fajitas. Give it a try... IRMO/HARBISON (unlike Chapin) needs this place !!! Try it.
(4)Will W.
Great Mexican Food. Better than the usual slop at other local chains. My favorite is the Tacos Al Pastor. Get it with corn tortillas and you will not disappointed! Gets 4/5 stars only for small lack of ambiance.
(4)Ashleigh S.
I have been three times now and I can say I truly enjoy this restaurant. The food is fresh, standard tex-mex, but very well made. Tnere is a chicken with rich seasoning, mushrooms, Bell peppers, onions and other veggies that was so moist. The margaritas are far better than the sickly sweet junk at other chain Mexican spots in town. The staff shines above the rest. We came on a Saturday night with a Party of 12 and they were more than accommodating. They graciously moved us outside, it was a rare cool/early fall night, and attended to all of our needs. They surprised us all by putting a sombrero on my hubby's head, serenading him, and smooshing whip cream in his face! It was a perfect birthday. I highly recommend Chapala's in Irmo!
(5)Nadeen S.
It's like your neighborhood restaurant u feel very comfortable the food is good the ambience is nice the service is great difiniantly I will come back
(5)Tyler P.
Excellent food and super friendly service. Be SURE to try the California Burrito. Amazing!
(5)Julie P.
I was recently in town visiting family and we went here for lunch. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. My brother is on a gluten free diet and they smeared him clear of any sauces that may have caused an issue. I had the fajita nachos and they were very good. They had shrimp, chicken and steak. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of meat. Some places skimp on the meat to cheese ratio. One of my other brothers order the carne asada tacos. He exclaimed that they were excellent. All in all one of the best Mexican places I have been to in awhile. We definitely go back next time I am in town.
(5)Tim P.
This review was written when restaurant was newly opened. The place was packed. It took a while to get our orders in but the food came out lighting fast. Everything was great. The shrimp diablo was quite spicy and delicious. Overall the menus is standard tex-mex fare. The staff was friendly and family run. This location has been the home to many restaurants. This one will make it based on my experience.
(3)Mary D.
Finally, a Mexican restaurant in Columbia that isn't the same at the one next door. I have been back several times, and ordered something different each time, and it is always good. Each dish actually looks different and tastes different than the other. Don't settle for any more bad Mexican slop on a plate and come to Chapala's!! Great food, great service and love the patio!!
(5)Emily E.
A welcome addition to Irmo! I ordered the fish tacos and was pleasantly surprised by the generous amount of well seasoned fish that paired well with the cilantro. The sauce was served on the side and had a great spicy kick. The margarita was strong and hit the spot! Service was incredibly prompt and friendly. Sitting in the bar area was perfect for catching some March Madness action.
(4)Sateesh N.
Good chips and salsa.. Guacamole dip was best.. Food wasn't that great though.. Very economic though..
(4)Ryan C.
Ate here for the first time a few weeks ago and was surprised. Much better than your typical monterrey or casablanca linda. Salsa was amazing, especially the extra hot kind. Service was great, I ordered the Chile Poblano's and to my surprise it was actually prepared in the right manor and stuffed, unlike the rest of the slackers who just put the filling down and lay a pepper over it. But it was AMAZING. My girlfriend at the time got the Carnitas which were perfectly tender with just the right amount of lime and cilantro and the avatar salad was great. Definitely my new mexican spot. -Ryan C.
(4)Alan F.
Read the reviews was pretty excited to try it out. Went there on a Saturday night and it was not overly crowded. Most of the crowd was eating, or close to finishing their meals. Took awhile for the server to eventually make it to our table. The service and the food was horrible! We never got the appetizer we ordered. After watching many people come in and receive their food eventually-another server came by and asked us what we ordered. She must of placed the order at that time. Our order was wrong and the food was below average at best. It took well over an hour to receive our simple order. It was the first time in my life I did not want to leave a tip. This placed showed potential but it was heartbreaking to eat there. Btw: it looks more crowded than it is. Looks like they have the employees park up front to create a ruse of being busy.
(1)Jane N.
The food is pretty good and the best part is that the chips are gluten free. All of the wait staff doesn't understand GF but I did go in one day and ask the manager. he told me that the chips were in a dedicated fryer and gave me some ideas on what I could eat. We've eaten there several times and I think I have had one minor reaction, cross contamination I'm sure. But, 1 out 10 isn't bad and we will continue to go there.
(4)Ron B.
We love this place. It's very close to home, and has the friendliest staff in town. I love a place with outdoor seating so that gets it a star from the get go. It doesn't get any fresher than the hand made tableside guacamole. They cut, pit and scoop the avacados and throw in the fresh diced onions and peppers and serve it up in a big mortar. Cholula is available on the tables and every single dish i've gotten has been wonderful and so affordable.
(5)Kimberly S.
3 words Vulcan en fuego! One of my favorite things to eat. Comes with your choice of refried beans, black beans or a side of rice. Chips and salsa are always full and the waiter we had recently was awesome! Great food here
(4)Chester M.
Good food, great prices, Lots for your money.
(4)Heather A.
This is the best place we've found in Columbia. I've lived in Atlanta and Charlotte so I'm far from impressed overall as far as mexican places go. With that said... we haven't found anything better in Irmo and when we need a Mexican fix this is where we head. Don't get the table side guac, it was the worst i've ever had and worse than my friends pre-prepared side that came with his meal. Just don't.
(3)Taylor S.
This place was awesome! They had amazing chips and salsa! Their queso was great and so was their food! My boyfriend and I had the number 8 and 7 and they were both perfect! We will definitely be returning to here! The only thing negative I have to say is that the frozen margarita had a little too much mixer in it and which made it a little too sweet and juicy but my boyfriend had the 'on the rocks' margarita and he said it was perfect!
(4)Lindsay K.
Great food. The staff is always friendly. Make sure to try out the specialty drinks, they come in a clay pot and are perfect for sipping on the patio. And now they have black beans too! I love coming here.
(5)Eric W.
Come here all the time. Love the food and atmosphere. It's much better than other Mexican joints in town. Great lunch specials and the food is always fresh.
(5)Yvette P.
This is our first time while vacationing in SC. Our kids who love Mexican food, especially my son-in-law who is an excellent critique of Mexican food, was very happy his wife found this restaurant on our way back home to GA. After trying many Mexican restaurants here in the south and being unhappy, he found one he is willing to travel the 1 1/2 hrs to. The table side made guacamole was excellent. We had chicken tacos, rice and beans which were very good. The south uses white cheese not the orange. The refried beans are very, very mashed, but good. Enjoyed the rice with chopped tomatoes. Since I am from CA, I asked for a Cadillac Margarita with Grand Mariner and unfortunately they didn't know what that meant because they asked me two times what I asked for. Come to find out, at least according to our guacamole maker, they are called Texas Margaritas. This restaurant pre-makes a very large batch which includes the Grand Mariner. It was good, but weak which is fine with me. Our service was a bit slow, but everything else made up for it. Oh yes, the chips and salsa were warm and tasty. My daughter said her corn tortillas were good as was her fajitas. My son-in-law forgot to ask for cheese enchiladas forgetting in the south they default to ground beef. However he said they were pretty good and he doesn't care much for ground beef, that says quite a lot coming from him. I loved the Mexican music played. So if you find yourself in Columbia or passing through, try Chapalas in Irmo.
(4)Jack N.
Muchisimas gracias a Alicia, porque eres muy amable. The service was actually very attentive such that my drink never fell below half mast and I didn't have a chance to lack for any need I might have desired. Overall, the menu is slightly more tailored to the American palate that I might have cared to see, though my Torta Loca was reminiscent of the splendid fare served by the street vendors in several Mexican cities. It was exceptionally authentic and delicious in and of itself. I was not impressed with the Tacos De Camarones, but the Agua de Jamaica was bursting with the robust flavor I appreciate very much.
(3)Caleb B.
Absolutely Sublime!! My girlfriend and I found this pace and everything is awesome!! They have a fresh, well executed, twist on Traditional Ameri-Mex. Best in Columbia! Must try
(5)Kelly B.
Pleasantly surprised. It's tucked back from the road and didn't know it was there for a while. Always enjoy the margaritas and queso. The taco salad is good, but seems to grow, as I can never finish the whole portion.
(4)KeiKei B.
Well yes ma'am! And that with my southern drawl yall!!! Had unfortunate business but was able to relax and chill with some Tex-Mex. It was a little loud in there due to the Elvis impersonator. The crowd had a great time. I did as well with my food. I needed to pick me up. Had the burritos and rice and beans and yes ma'am!! Highly seasoned like I like and amped up with little to no cheese (I know I am a weirdo). That said I had three, 3 y'all, margaritas! Yes ma'am! And they were worth every gulp!
(4)