El Mexicano Zapata Cantina image

El Mexicano Zapata Cantina

Restaurant Mexican restaurant

One of the Best Places To Visits in Rotorua


Address

1148 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand

Website

elmexicanozapata.com

Contact

+64 7 213 1175

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (1.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Thursday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Friday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Saturday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Sunday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Monday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm
  • Tuesday: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 to 9 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Mexican (10) good (10) recommend (7) delicious (7) friendly (7) tasty (7) restaurant (6) amazing (6) ordered (6) highly (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Giles P. 1 year ago on Google
    During the 30byeara I've been eating Mexican, this was one of the best experiences. Food, drinks, service. All exemplary. Because everything was so good, let me keep it simple.... If you eat at El Mexican, you are going to have a good time. 13/10 would recommend.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ina I. 1 year ago on Google
    WOW!!! WOW!!! Hands down this is the best restaurant in New Zealand. My husband and I spent 5 weeks travelling all around New Zealand, both the North and South Islands, and I can say this place had the most delicious food I have ever had in my entire life. Absolutely everything there had an amazing flavour from rice to sauces to meat to tortillas. We ordered Grilled corn cobs (OMG!!!!), Fajitas and Enchilada, and honestly, I am not sure what tasted better. I LOVED everything!!! The portions are massive, we had nowhere to put all the food we ordered, and we struggled to finish everything. The host Sheila is AMAZING!!! She makes you feel like you have come to your old friend’s house for a catch-up, amazing food and drinks. She definitely makes your El Mexicano Zapata Cantina experience 20 times better. If you are in Rotorua, I highly recommend you come to El Mexicano Zapata Cantina.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kate C. 8 months ago on Google
    The most incredible Mexican restaurant in New Zealand, maybe even the Asia pacific region! We had the burrito, quesadillas and corn chips with salsa verde and from the first bite it was mouth watering and you didn’t want to stop eating until you exploded! Absolutely incredible food, service and atmosphere. And randomly, but the water was so good! Crisp and refreshing. I wanted more.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David B. 11 months ago on Google
    Everything about this place is great, first of all we were lucky to time it right and get a table without booking. But definitely book to make sure you aren't disappointed. Everything on the menu looks delicious, it was a hard choice. We ended up having the enchiladas and the chimichanga, which is grilled not deep fried. The enchiladas were very filling and delicious. Beans and rice came on the side. I also had the classic margarita which was also yum. You need to eat here !
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vimal P. 1 year ago on Google
    It was yummy and delicious food. I ordered 2 dishes expecting that they will be small in portion but they were big in quantity. Couldn't finish. Lucky, they have takeaway boxes. After trying Mexican for the first time, i am keen to try all the dishes to near by restaurants in my town. Awesome experience !!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Aileen S. 9 months ago on Google
    Our go-to for warm dishes and a friendly atmosphere, great for weekend nights out. We highly recommend the black bean dip, the three cheese dip, the tacos, and the churros. There are still dishes we haven't tried, and what we've tried so far are always yummy.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 C K. 3 months ago on Google New
    On first impression walking into this place, the restaurant gave off this welcoming Mexican warmth (and not because the heaters were on inside). The staff were friendly and accomodating to us. Their mains do seem pricey being over $30 but are well worth the price as portion sizes are good to share among two people. I tried their chicken enchilada and churros and they were great! ¡Muchas gracias!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nick S. 11 months ago on Google
    Despite looking like a Mexican themed restaurant, this place is great. Food is excellent with some minor changes from traditional. Large dinner portions. The staff are very friendly and attentive. Drinks were not strong, but were tasty. Prices were reasonable keeping in mind the food is very good. Outdoor seating has warm gas heaters. Good vegetarian options. Either book or be prepared to wait. Street parking can be a challenge. Highly recommended.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Vivia G. 1 year ago on Google
    Best Mexican restaurant in NZ, nice food and drinks, highly recommend margarita, the blue margarita looks amazing in the photo (definitely taste nice as well) and the spicy margarita taste very special (not like the other spicy margarita), lips on fire. Food is amazing, and the best churro that I have ever had.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tor C. 1 year ago on Google
    Super friendly service. Food is great and tasty, beware portions are big. We had to take home a burrito and it was still good when reheated the next day. I had the beef enchilada which was full of succulent meat and very filling. Drinks are good.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jaskarn B. 1 year ago on Google
    Came here because it was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. Food was so gooooood, like chefs kiss. I had the chimichanga with a watermelon jarrito and my mouth still waters thinking about. Be sure to make a reservation as it fills up quite quickly (it was packed even on a monday). The food is worth every penny, and the portions are huge!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 CK 1 year ago on Google
    This place is amazing. The food is super yummy and the staffs are very accomodating. We will definitely come again. But be sure to book it in otherwise you will not get any table. As this restaurant very packed. 😇😇
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Raunaq B. 1 year ago on Google
    We ordered Uber delivery from this place and thanks to the chefs and our uber driver that it reached on time and was fairly hot. Every dish was flavorsome and fresh, be it avocados and tomatoes in our guacamole and in salsa, Chipotle mayo and crreamed corn, tacos and burrito bowl. Yum, yum , yum. Thanks for such delicious food made with love.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dylan 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful place and the staff there are just the best! Can have very spicy or mild and no matter what you order it will be delicious! The ceviche is definitely worth ordering. Gave me good life advice too 😂.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zoe 1 year ago on Google
    The best Mexican meal I've had, highly recommend. We shared a fajita plate between two for a late lunch, it was delicious! Followed by tasty churros. Lots of interesting art and decorations gave it a nice feel too.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul R. 2 years ago on Google
    Great meal with the family. The best Mexican food we've had yet....all the dishes were fast, tasty, super generous and well presented. The staff were friendly, attentive and very helpful. Never had to ask for water, always looking to help. Fed our teenage family of 5 for $152, including drinks, starters, mains and dessert. The best value ever....can't recommend them more highly....😊👍👍😁😁
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Joanne M. 4 months ago on Google
    We had tacos and nachos and both were amazing and very generous serves. Margarita's were some of the best we have ever had and very reasonably priced. Staff also went above and beyond to keep our baby entertained and were friendly and attentive.

  • 4/5 Wilson S. 5 months ago on Google
    Was recommended to this place. We ordered the beef empanadas and the pulled pork fajitas. The beef empanadas was quite good, the pastry was crispy and the beef inside was nicely flavour and pairs well with the creamy spicy sauce. The salad salsa that was included was actually really unique, a bit sweet and sour that complements the empanada well. The fajita was not bad, a lot of sauce to choose from and I particularly like the red and green salsa sauce. There was only 5 wraps which I felt not enough, given amount of stuffs to put in. However as a whole I felt only the sauce was good and everything felt a bit simple. Overall, the meals here are above average and we want to try the churros next time.

  • 5/5 Kevin T. 5 months ago on Google
    We ordered the zapata steak and houmita empanadas, which were both very nicely prepared. Would highly recommend the mochachino zapata (coffee, tequila, bailey's, whipped cream) and "special zapata drink". Go early to avoid the crowds!

  • 5/5 Philip M. 4 months ago on Google
    Fantastic Mexican food. Everything was visually appealing, well portioned, and tasty tasty tasty! Staff was very friendly, courteous, and attentive.


Call +64 7 213 1175 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Small plates
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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