Nuevo Laredo Cantina
Tex-Mex standards get a makeover at this wildly popular West Atlanta cantina.
Insiders:
Message from Nuevo Laredo Cantina
Nuevo Laredo Cantina was opened in Summer of 1992 by owner Chance Evans. A lover of Mexico, its food and culture, he first brought authentic Mexican fare to Atlanta in the 1980s when he opened the U.S. Bar Y Grill. Evans opened Nuevo Laredo Cantina in its campy, off-the-beaten-path location with the sole intention of offering authentic, home-cooked Mexican food to the lunch patrons of the surrounding industries. But word quickly got around and before he knew it, the dinner crowd soon surpassed the already healthy lunch business. It only took a year before Nuevo Laredo Cantina won it?s first ?Best of Atlanta? award by Atlanta Magazine. The restaurant has won this award (among others including the coveted ?Zagat Award of Distinction?) every year to date since then.
Editorial by
The SceneThis worth-a-trip cantina is tucked away in the never-never land beyond the mattress outlets of Chattahoochee Avenue. Inside are low ceilings, a small bar, funky religious icons, would-be celebrity photos and neon beer signs. Service is fast and efficient, but be prepared to wait for a table.
The Food
In rejuvenated form, this is the food you'd find in any of the one million "Mexican" restaurants crowding the roadside from here to old El Paso. From top to bottom, though, ingredients here are fresher, flavors are bolder, and the use of chilies a bit sharper. At the same time, there's enough familiarity not to scare anyone off. The enchiladas and tacos are more consistent than the carne tampiquena or the "especiales de la casa" such as chicken in red-chili sauce. The red table salsa is addictive.
Key Points
- Home Cooked Mexican Food
- Salsa That Ends Your Search
- Mexican Brisket
The Inside Scoop
- Know Before You Go - Arrive before 6:45pm to avoid a long wait. Only groups of six or more can make a reservation, Monday through Thursday.
- Parking - There's a small lot, but you may park in the lot next door or at the Pepsi plant across the street; avoid spots marked "Pepsi Employee Only."
- The Extras - Belly up to the bar for a strong margarita and be sure to ask for chips and salsa--they're free while you wait.
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
We love this place and eat here very frequently. Ths only down side is the parking.
Recommendations: Lobster tacos, chicken enchilada- really everything!
Pros: Food, Salsa, Margaritas
Cons: Parking, Small wait
Posted 01/15/03
They definitely have the BEST mexican food around. It's just a shame I have to drive so far (from Roswell) to get there. Every time is worth it!
Pros: Excellent Food, Fresh, Great Salsa
Cons: Too far, Location not best
Posted 01/15/03
I find myself having cravings for this unassuming, yet delicious mexican restaurant! I am obsessed with the enchiladas and of course the margaritas. I don't even mind the wait all that much, but I do wish the bar/waiting area were bigger-- I am hoping it will be in the new Inman Park location, which I am anxiously awaiting!
Pros: Inepensive, Good parking
Cons: Long Wait
Posted 12/22/02
so yummy. it is all so good! great margaritas and queso to die for.....mmm mmm mmm!!! Great place to meet freinds and grab a margarita! and it's really cheap too!!!!
Pros: fun atmosphere, cheap, excellent food
Cons: off 75, can get crowded, rsv. for groups only
Posted 12/17/02
The food and service is excellant. Easy to find and parking available.
Posted 12/02/02
Dont miss out... but don't be stupid either. Avoid traditionally busy times and you won't have a long wait. The food is very good!
Posted 12/02/02
the whole experience was barely average. you can get just as good food at the frozen food section for kroger.
Posted 11/20/02
After viewing the ratings on Citysearch, my husband and I decided to try Neuvo Laredo Cantina. We went first on a Saturday night and was told the wait for a table would be 45-55 minutes. Too hungry to wait quite that long, we left and tried again on a Monday night. We were seated immediately. The atmosphere was that of a hole-in-the-wall, ma-and-pa establishment combined with an extrememly loud bar. We were not able to hear each other without practially yelling. Although we were relatively pleased with the salsa, guacamole, and the amount of shrimp in my enchillada, we didn't feel the food lived up to the numerous awards on the wall. We were especially disappointed with the mexican rice and sopapillas. Even though the entire meal only cost us $35 before a tip, we felt it wasn't worth the noise and mediocre food.
Pros: Inexpensive, Service
Cons: Crowded, Loud, Long wait on weekends
Posted 10/28/02
I was very impressed by this small mexican restaurant. The food was very fresh and extremly tasty...we have had it catered into company functions on several occasions.
Posted 10/28/02
Great mexican food, the lobster tacos are outasight. Get there early.
Posted 10/18/02
Chicken mole is awesome and so is Chicken Diablo. Just check out the crowd in this small out of the way joint and you'll see how good it is. BMWs, Benz's, etc.. are a good sign in front of this small place. Just try it out but expect to wait at least 30 minutes and probably more on weekend evenings.
I find it to be the best and most authentic Mexican that I have tried. Rio Bravo is tex mex and this is far from that corporate junk they serve.
Pros: anything with mole, chicken diablo, tamales
Cons: very crowded, small place
Posted 10/14/02
Just went back to Nuevo Laredo after returning to Atlanta after being away for 3 years. Had been ranting to my husband about the quality. The salsa was still amazing but my tamales tasted like they had been sitting under a heat lamp all day. Love Chance, the owner, but didn't see him this night - maybe the kitchen isn't as up to par without him close by?
Pros: Great Salsa, Not in Buckhead, Ample Parking
Cons: Crowded, Stale Food, Spotty Service
Posted 09/22/02
If you're one of those people who thinks authenticity necessarily means quality, then stay away from Nuevo Laredo. You probably won't find its menu in many cantinas south of the border. But if you like delicious food, fantastic people watching, and guzzling fabulous margaritas among the hip crowd, this is your place. Avoid the temptation to fill up on chips and salsa, which are excellent, because the chicken mole is to die for, and the steak and lobster tacos rock. The service is fast. You'll have to wait for a table, but the wait is short and the bar is quick, so enjoy your wait. Where else can you get stuffed on great food for under $10?
Pros: Food, Service, Inexpensice
Cons: Atmosphere, Parking, Crowded
Posted 09/10/02
Why don't you finally open a TEX MEX category where all these except Zocalo can fall into!
Please Atlantan's lets show some globalization!!!!
Tex Mex is not MEXICAN!!!!!
....from a native and well educated Mexican Citizen!
Pros: cheap
Cons: not mexican
Posted 09/04/02
The food here is awesome! The portions are huge and the service is wonderful. If you go on a friday night, expect to wait though. But while you are waiting sip on one of their awesome margarita's!
Posted 08/26/02
ok, hello? Nuevo Laredo is a state in Texas and not in Mexico. I'm sorry, but this place has nothing to do with any taqueria in Buford highway or Zocalo, which by the way is owned by...Mexicans! it really reminded me of a trailer stop in Texas, with no clue what so ever of authentic Mexican, this is the "REAL TEX MEX" invented by us "americanos" which i have nothing against it, but please lets not insult our fellow neighbors trying to say that this place is "authentic Mexican" pleeeease!
Pros: inexpensive, good service
Cons: food, food, food
Posted 08/25/02
food is great, salsa to die for.service is great.And at a great price. My favorite mexican restaraunt. The owner is usually always there (Chance). To me that is always a sign of a good restaraunt when the owner is overseeing everything.
Pros: food, price, atmosphere
Cons: long waits
Posted 08/23/02
Best salsa in Atlanta. They sell it by the gallon.
Posted 08/05/02
One of the Atlanta'a best kept dining secrets. If you want "real" Mexican food then this is the place to go. Its off the beaten path, but well worth it.
Pros: delicious, affordable
Cons: croweded at lunch
Posted 07/21/02
Great food, but lacking in customer service. Margaritas are excellent!
Pros: Inexpenseive
Cons: Small Parking Lot, Rude hostess, Crowded
Posted 07/17/02
Nuevo Laredo has some of the best mexican food in town- their vegetarian dishes in particular shine, especially when you consider that meatless options at a mexican restaurant are often limited to cheese enchilladas & refried beans (oh wait! just what are those beans refried in, anyway?). The guac is sublime, they do amazing things with potatoes and carrots and for us omnivores, the mole chicken is to die for. Be sure to have a margarita during your inevitable wait for a table- trust me, this will make the whole process much less painful.
Pros: fresh, yummy mex
Cons: long wait
Posted 05/26/02
Love coming here with friends for a low-key night out. Unfortunately, Nuevo Laredo gets extremely crowded and the staff seems to have difficulty seating large parties. But the food is excellent and worth the wait. The tamales are one of my favorites--they're sizeable and quite tasty.
Pros: Great Mexican food
Cons: Very crowded
Posted 05/12/02