Cabana Grill
10422 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL, 32257
Cabana Grill Menu
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Address :
10422 San Jose Blvd
Jacksonville, FL, 32257 - Phone
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Joe K.
I wanted to wait to review this joint because it's sister company Taco Cabana in Texas is one of the best mex fast food places in town. Their menu is huge, cheap and delicious across the board. Why Cabana Grill chose such a similar design and aesthetic yet kept the menu so small I can not understand. The only thing I can safely say that migrated from Taco Cabana to Cabana Grill without error is the salsa bar. So... the food. Well, to be as blunt as possible, it sucked. The tacos were stuffed with old lettuce and had very little meat or cheese and I mean very little - like an insulting amount. The rice and beans had no flavor. I ate one of my two tacos and a couple spoonfuls of the rice and beans then threw the rest away. My taco heart is broken. This place is a "test run" for the company and based on my experience it won't make it, which is sad because I know the potential they have. We still have their other Caribbean sister, Pollo Tropical, but sometimes a brother just needs a taco instead.
(2)Don S.
This place is really good. The shrimp tacos are excellent and they have margaritas! They're fast, the place is clean, and the salsa bar is pretty interesting with on site prepared salsa toppings. They've got 3 kinds of seating too - indoor, outdoors, and a sort of hybrid area. Good breakfast burritos too! Now if they only had green chili!
(4)P J.
Went there and told them no spicy or peppers did not listen. bit in and spit it out and had burns and blister in month, received doctor care and from the start got treated like crap from the managers,Staff and the corporate office in Carmel indiana. No one called to see if I was ok, manager refused to notify corporate or insurance for my medical bills. I have my receipt and pictures I will see them in court only because they can careless about the customers. Beware
(1)Mrs. Marisol R.
Let me start with the good: Excellent, friendly staff. Danica took our order and was more patient with me than I deserved. I assumed they would have carnitas, which they didn't... so it took me forever to choose the steak street tacos, 3 for $4.99. She did not make me feel rushed. Hubby got the steak quesadilla, and baby got the kid's quesadilla. Note... there is no milk or juice... pretty much just beer and soda. When my daughter got rice on the ground, Danica, the cashier, shrugged it off, no problem. She even lugged a big ole cumbersome highchair into the dining area for us. But the food.... oh well, it is I suppose somewhat better than Taco Bell. But not by much. My daughter's quesadilla had I would guess about 1.5 tablespoons of shredded cheese that was spread out over a twelve inch tortilla. Mark's quesadilla was only marginally better. When you slice open a quesadilla, the fillings should prevent the tortilla from touching itself, as it is supposed to be stuffed with cheese and steak. There was so little of either, that the tortilla was indeed touching itself quite a lot... *highly inappropriate behavior for a quesadilla... shame....* My tacos were strange. I had to literally smother them in salsa in order to elicit enough good flavor to continue eating them. Naked, the steak tasted spongy and strangely sweet. Ending on a good note, the sopapillos were delightful. Airy and soft, dusted with delicious cinnamon sugar. It came with a dulce de leche sauce that tasted like tepid pudding, but the sopapillos were great without the sauce. Sadly, we wont be back unless a whole lot of fellow yelpers experience something better, prompting me to return for an update.
(2)Rachel L.
It's a good place for fast and fresh Mexican food! It's always clean and the staff is friendly. They give you quit a bit of food and it's almost too heavy for a lunch. I love the condiment bar and salsa. I love the corn tortilla street tacos.
(4)Pedro S. M.
I came to this place because i could not belueve my daughters review. I just dont even know where to start reviewing and rating. So there i go. One thing i can tell you that really jumps out is the corn tortillas. OMG. We mexican are proud of our national dish. These tortillas are a barf of what real corn tortillas should be. Who ever made yhis recipe for the tortillas has no idea what a tortilla lopks like or taste like. This chef should go to any grocery store and buy some to take home and taste. This chain should buy celorio industrial tortilla makers and produce tortillas for the chain. It seems to me the flour tortillas got a proper chef to formulate a recipe and make them. But also you cant as much as you want screw up flour water and crisco. The salsas. This items could be really good except that the formula they use contains about 40% more salt than required. The salsas seem to be an almost copy cat of the pollo tropical place. It seems to me that they tried to mexicanise the salsas by adding salt and it really does not work that way. All the salsa formulas need some revision by a real mexican chef to dramatically improve them. Pico de gallo You really cant go wrong. Mexican rice is ok. Refried beans is just like the salsa too much salt. I think this afternoon my blood pressure is going to soar. I have never seen in Mexico street tacos served with lettuce or sour cream. That is a tex mex deal and taco bell fabrication of tacos Sour cream for a taste of mexico is never served as you scoop it frim the container. Mexicsn sour cream is prepared with milk, lime juice and salt. But this is our fault because most mexican restaurants is served that way. This practice originated by most owner of mexican restaurants not knowing or not wanting to invest in preparing the sour cream mexican way. The fajita meat was very good no complaints about it. Very nice tender and tasty steak Cant complaint about the service or the cleaningless of the restaurant In conclusion it looks like this chain was created by a latin american who visited all kinds of chains of bad mexican food and tried to come up with something of more class. But sorry you needed to really go out of this country to say " a taste of Mexico" I dont think i will willing go by this place again
(3)Vanessa T.
The nachos were good, just eat fast so the chips don't get soggy! Load them up with Pico, then dip in pineapple salsa. ... Yum!
(3)Chuck L.
Gave this place a 2nd try after saying id never go back to see if it was just a 1 time bad experience !!! 1. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable if it was a rating on staff alone would be 5 stars !!! 2. The food taste just isn't good... Got the street tacos and the meat was cold and just bland flavor!!! 3. The chips are greasy and just not fresh ... When there are 3 Mexican restaurants nearby (authentic) Margaritas, Lanapolera, and Don Juans I will gladly give them my business because there is no comparison !!! Sorry but there won't be a 3rd time !!!
(2)Selecia J.
Deliscioso y muay authentico. Fresh ingredients and the salsa bar has a dozen items. Street tacos are right on. Salad good size. Shrimp Tampico nice.
(5)Elizabeth M.
Came here for lunch and I feel a bit confused on how to rate this place. The service and people who work there are great. Very attentive and good to give suggestions. Best part is that they are very very friendly. The food however leaves a lot to be desired. The street tacos are similar to what you would find in Mexico however the onion needed to be chopped a bit finer. Chunks of onion are a no go especially when it's only one of two toppings. The next thing we got were the steak fajita tacos. The tacos were okay but the lettuce was shredded and it was kind of limp and a bit soggy like it had been soaking in water. The cilantro lime rice was good but nothing spectacular. The refried black beans were almost perfect but they were too salty! The nachos, I had high hopes for the nachos but they just fell short of anything that would be amazing. I did get them with asadero cheese which is supposed to be a white melty Mexican cheese but it fell short. Maybe I'll try them as they are supposed to be with the cheddar jack cheese. The prices are okay. We spent about $22 for the three things but I left feeling a bit ripped off. Maybe it's because I am Mexican and I am a bit biased when it comes to Mexican food but this place was just one too many corn chips too short for my liking. Maybe I'll go back but not sure if it will be anytime soon.
(3)Ken P.
Fast casual is the name of the game, and Canana is definitely that ...fast and casual. This is my first time here, stopped by for a quick lunch before the second half of my day begins. I can definitely say that it was a good experience! First, this is definitely one of the cleaner establishments in which I've dined. And the setup is such that it provides a vibrant environment which added to the pleasant experience. The staff - very friendly and always willing to help, so no complaints there. And the turnaround from order to table was pretty quick. But on to the food... I had the chicken fajitas taco plate (two tacos w/ choice of two sides), which at $5.99 is a great deal. Comparable to the Speedy Gonzales at La Nop, I felt that Cabana's version was a more manageable portion and the food was not as "heavy", so as much as I love some La Nop, I actually enjoyed this plate better. The chicken was nice and warm, the lettuce and tomatoes were nice and cool - all ingredients were very fresh tasting. Cabana Grill also has a pretty awesome salsa bar with some nice concoctions, including a pineapple chipotle salsa and an avocado cilantro salsa, both of which I tried. The salsas provided a nice complement to the tacos. All in all. I enjoyed this initial experience. Look forward to coming back in the future, maybe the nachos will be next on my list!
(4)Ernesto M.
Good place for vegetarians. They do have meats but the steak is horrible, it has a strange taste that i cannot decide if the meat is bad or the seasoning is the bad part of it. My wife had a chicken taco and the chicken was cold and tasted as 8f it had been out for quite a while. Needless to say, we only ate the sides. Vegetarians can eat good there because the sides are good and the tortillas very fresh, they actually make them when you order your food
(2)Patricia Y.
I have been craving good Mexican food since returning from Mexico. Found this place while on an errand in Mandarin. The food is very authentic and delicious! It's our very first visit and look forward to returning again. We met the Assistant GM, Gary Knight, who was a delight to meet. He valued our feedback and welcomed us back. I hope they expand into other areas of Jacksonville, i.e. Town Center, 220 Riverside, and Tinseltown.
(5)Debbie F.
Todays lunch was at the new CG. They are the same Corp. As Pollo Tropical. They have a sauce bar and they state everything is from Mexico like the bottled coke. I had the chicken nachos which were very good and also tried the scrumptious Sopapillas with dulce de leche. They offer a Happy Hour 4-7 which their Margaritas are on special $. They will be my next check in review from here.
(4)Renda H.
So I finally went and tried this new Mexican place on San Jose and it was pretty good and the prices are very reasonable. Everyday they have happy hour from 5 to 7 which is there a small beer margarita or a soda for 1.50! also the small chicken nachos are 3.50...they were pretty good I liked the chips very light and thin and crispy and the queso had a little kick to it. They have a salsa bar with many different choices including avocado cilantro and pineapple chipotle. I liked the decor very clean and modern and they have a lot of outdoor seating and free wifi too... I'm going to go back and try the quesadillas next time :-)
(3)Andrea J.
It was just "okay" in my opinion. I wish I had more to say, but nothing stood out as a wow factor that would make me want to return any time soon. The food was decent, the prices were reasonable, but it wasn't anything that I could brag about. Nick was very attentive and fixed any issues immediately. He made sure he came around to our table multiple times to make sure we had everything we needed. Let me clarify, this isn't your regular dine in restaurant. Think more along the lines of Pollo Tropical or even Boston Market. You order your food, they bring it out to you and then check on you. I wasn't sure if they were working for tips or what. They do serve beer and margaritas. I was disappointed in the margarita, not realizing they aren't allowed to use tequila. Instead, the margarita is a wine base...it's like tequila...but it's not. The shrimp tacos were good. They were wrapped in foil so they remained warm but the cold toppings made them have a bit of a chill. The Mexican rice was delicious. The potatoes were good and spicy, but still, nothing special. I can say I did enjoy the quesadillas. That might be my go-to order if I ever go back. I probably would only go back if I'm in the area but as of right now, I won't go out of my way to eat.
(3)Drew A.
This place is trying very hard to be a walk in food truck establishment. However they only succeeded in the walk in part. My stepdad summed it up best, it's slightly upscale Taco Bell and he hates Taco Bell. I ordered the large steak fajita nachos and they were not good. The only somewhat redeeming factor is the price. They're very cheap compared to Moe's or Chipotle. I would recommend you avoid this place. The extra star above one was for the service. Very friendly people.
(2)Jill C.
Cabana Grill opened in Mandarin recently, and I was invited to a special blogger lunch to try them out. Ever since I heard they were coming, I was very interested. They are from the same people as Pollo Tropical, so I knew they would be good! Let me start by saying how awesome the restaurant is. All of the decor is authentic Mexican pieces, and they even commissioned a photographer to go down to Mexico and shoot street photos! As a photographer myself, I can really appreciate the awesomeness in that! Another really cool thing is that they make all of their salsas and sauces in house daily. Nothing is delivered in cans, it's all fresh veggies. All tortillas are always made fresh to order, and you can really taste the difference (more on that later!) They have a window next to the registers where you can watch the magic happen, which I love. To me that means they have nothing to hide and it's very respectable. Now, on to the food!! They have a salsa bar, and I tried almost everything on it. You can't go wrong. I will warn you though, that salsa verde is so spicy that it made my throat close. True Story. We were treated to a few different menu items - Steak Quesadilla, Shrimp Quesadilla, Chicken Taco, Steak Taco, Mexican Potatoes, and Sopapillas (these things are like crack. They are little pillows of awesomeness. Do yourself a favor and order them. You can thank me later.). Everything was really really good! The Steak was tasty and the chicken was real grilled chicken pieces. The shrimp was my favorite. They use small shrimp, but you gets lots of them. I like that way better than one or 2 large shrimp. The Shrimp quesadilla was very cheesy and had a very nice flavor. I liked this place so much that I took my coworker Michelle with me again 2 days later! On this trip I got the Taco Plate with Shrimp Tacos, Cilantro Lime Rice, and Black Beans. Once again, it was delicious! I really enjoyed the flavor of the sauce in the tacos and the rice and black beans were great additions to the meal. With the tortillas being made fresh to order, that really gives it something extra. They were light and flaky...unlike a ready-made tortilla! Michelle got the Chicken Tortilla Bowl. She also really enjoyed her meal and mentioned how great the bowl tasted and how fresh it was. The bowl was loaded high and was a very good value at $5.49. Verdict: Loved it!! I don't know what is going on with the negative reviews I have seen. Everyone I have talked to likes this place, so all I can ask is that you go there and form your own opinion. All I can think is that they have only been open a week, so I'm sure they have had a few bumps in the road. I have been there twice now and I love it. The food is super fresh and the employees are very friendly and attentive. I will be back for sure...hopefully during happy hour (from 4-7) when the margaritas are $1.50!!
(5)Cameron S.
The food here is decent, but I find absolutely no reason to come here when there is superior restaurants around town compared to cabana grill. I had a shrimp burrito, and it didn't come close to the quality or taste of chipotle, located 2 minutes down the road.
(2)Andrew G.
the food was ok, but the portions are very small. I usually don't leave hungry when ever I order a desert but I did with this place. the chicken taco combo and it should be called lettuce tacos with a little bit a chicken. I opened them up to try some of the sauces and i had a hard time finding the chicken. I did like the wide variety of salsas and sauces. and the sopapillas were way under cooked. some of them were just raw dough and the sauce was nothing special. I understand it was the grand opening, but if they don't change, we will see them go out of business quickly
(2)Greg D.
Don't order to go. Oh and don't ever order nachos to go the tacos were somewhat decent but so soggy after a short 10min drive home. An upscale Taco Bell but not as good as chipotle
(2)Doug R.
This was my second visit to the fast casual Mexican grill. The first time the service was good and the food mediocre. This time the service was still good and I tried a different menu item. The first time I had the street tacos, this time regular tacos. The food quality is fresh and I think the key is finding which salsas from the salsa bar best enhance your meal. I think (can't confirm) they make their corn tortilla's in-house. And the corn tortillas are heated, not fried for the taco shell which is exactly the way I wanted it. I will go back and experiment with the menu. At the very least it is a restaurant I can add to my rotation for lunch.
(3)Jonathan P.
At first, this restaurant had a confusing menu. The staff was friendly and very patient. The food was decent but a bit more overpriced than I had expected. This restaurant seems like it's trying to compete with Moes but it doesn't have anything that makes them standout. If you want decent fast food and a decent atmosphere this is the place to go.
(4)J N.
My wife ordered a fajita bowl with no shell. She said it was ok. I'm not 100% but I'm not sure if the chicken is frozen and just reheated. I got the chicken quesadilla, wasn't impressed with the distribution of contents could of had more flavor. The chips were good, not too salty (Thank God). Will give it another shot when not so busy.
(2)Michelle B.
I have been to Cabana Grill for the 3rd time. I love it. It's clean, the staff is very friendly, the food is good. For quick tex mex food I would go here anytime.
(4)Alex P.
Average restaurant. The place looks super nice and modern. But the food was bland and not exciting or very tasty at all. For the exterior looks of the place you would expect a little more but I would still rather go to a place less expensive and better like Chipotle. The place was very busy when I went and customer service was good though.
(2)Jessica G.
First, this place is brand new so there are going to be bumps until they get a good rhythm going but so far I'm a fan. This place is owned by Taco Cabana, which is a chain in TX (there is one in ATL) and I've been a fan of TC for years. The biggest sell for me on this place is the fresh made flour tortilla's, I've not found another place in Jax that makes their own flour torts and to me there is nothing better. The salsa bar is a nice bonus with the addition of other toppings aside from salsa. Ultimately this is a fast food joint but it's better quality than your run of the mill fast food taco places.
(3)Brian T.
Clean restaurant with friendly staff. The food was good and at a low price. Enjoyed the salsa bar and the drink selection.
(5)John H.
Not much to add that hasn't been covered by other 2 star ratings. Food is fresh tasting but nothing special. It doesn't feel like a value at all. Overpriced chips. And food portions small for the price too. So yes I would take family here again for quick mex. But it is not a favorite and we will not be rushing back any time soon.
(2)Jon B.
Great and friendly staff. Food seems like a dollar menu from McDonalds with Chilis pricing.
(2)Cory K.
Ordered the taco plate last night just to try this new place but wish I hadn't. The two tacos were a steak "fajita" taco and a shrimp one which both were not good at all. The tortillas were tasteless soft shells that ripped apart as you pick them up, the steak had to of been pre cooked and was so tough I couldn't eat more than one bite. The marinade of the steak and shrimp were not good either. After seeing that the tacos came with two sides I thought that the six dollars was a good deal until I found the sides are a list of three types of beans and two types of rice. Bad food in an expensive building is the best description I can give this place. Disappointing because I'd been waiting to try the place for a while.
(1)Andrew H.
I was greeted at the door by hospitable staff. I ordered a steak burrito which consisted of only 3 thin strips of steak (one of which I couldn't chew through at all). The burrito was a glorified bean burrito with absolutely no taste whatsoever. For the pricing of the food, I wish I had driven a little further to Chipotle. This place has that "new zoo" smell inside. I would be shocked if this place is still open in 3 years. NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Linda K.
Absolutely the worst mexican choice in town. Two tacos are advertised with two sides. Seems like a good deal at first however then you find out the only sides are rice and beans! like wtf this is the great depression. Tortilla literally fell apart as i picked up my taco. Never again. Please save your money people.
(1)N L.
Really enjoyed this place! The prices and portion sizes are awesome and the food was great. The atmosphere was quite nice and all the employees we encountered were very welcoming and helpful. Will definitely visit again!
(4)Kathy W.
Since moving to the East Coast I have been deprived of good Mexican and Tex Mex restaurants. This is about as close as I have gotten. The menu is not quite the same as Taco Cabana but it was good and the service was great. The tortillas are outstanding. My chicken was we'll cooked and had good flavor. I will go back and take my family.
(4)C H.
I like the atmosphere but the food needs work. The steak fajita is over-seasoned without enough onion and pepper. Flavors need to be balanced.
(2)Gabie R.
Just had their breakfast tacos this morning and was so impressed they make even their next door neighbor of breakfast look like just another fast food joint. What makes them shoot through the heart are those fresh baked flour tortillas they use--so chewy and soft--makes me wanna slap my Tia's bottom! I've had the chorizos me egg burros as well but the tacos have just stolen my heart--and I was already so happy with the burritos! I'm thrilled this place is near home and that it truly feels like home cooking when I eat breakfast there. The burritos don't have the shape of a company trying to cut costs, but one trying to resemble mama's desayuno. All that's left is to get all their employees to master the Spanish accent and its home!
(4)Katrice S.
I was recently invited to lunch at this new restaurant in Mandarin called Cabana Grill! Before attending, I read up on the history of the restaurant and found a few pleasant surprises which had me very excited about lunch! For starters, Cabana Grill was created by the San Antonio based restaurant, Taco Cabana! I'm from San Antonio and Taco Cabana was the number one spot to go to after high school football games! Oh the memories! I also learned that Cabana Grill is under the restaurant group that also operates and franchises Pollo Tropical! I love me some Pollo Tropical!!! With those two facts in mind, I knew lunch was going to be delicious! Cabana Grill has fast-casual dining. You can enjoy your meal indoors, out on the patio, take it to go, and even drive-thru! Something I really love is when you can see your meal prepared. All of their ingredients are prepared fresh daily, including the amazing tortillas that are made to order. Quick story...when I was in high school my friends thought I was "weird" because I would order 3 plain tortillas in the drive-thru at Taco Cabana. LOL! They are good enough to eat alone! The Salsa Bar features three signature salsas that are handmade with fresh ingredients, daily. They are the Chipotle Lime, Salsa Crema, and Avacado Cilantro. All three salsas complement any dish you may order! Another feature I enjoyed about Cabana Grill was the artwork! I found out that all of the decor came from Mexico, including this cool picture below which was taken by a photographer sent down to Mexico to capture its essence just for Cabana Grill. Makes for great ambiance!!! Ok, so the food was just as amazing as I imagined it would be. This taco plate came with a steak and chicken taco, Mexican rice, and refried beans. Steak Fajita Bowl served in a hard tortilla with delicious grilled steak! My favorites were the chicken fajitas and street tacos! The flavors are really amazing! You really get that grilled taste and you can truly taste the freshness of the veggies! They also serve authentic beverages including Mexican Fanta and Mexican Coke with real cane sugar, margaritas made with fresh-squeezed lime juice, and a selection of cold domestic and Mexican beers. Last but not least is my all time favorite Mexican dessert, sopapillas!!! The first time I had a sopapilla was when I took a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico when I was 18. I've been a fan ever since. These things can cause detriment to your waistline, if you're not careful! They little fried pastries, similar to doughnuts, that you dip in either honey or dulce de leche! AMAZEBALLS! I'm definitely a fan of Cabana Grill! The food was fresh and delicious and everyone that worked there were friendly and knowledgeable! I'm particularly excited because I feel like I'm getting a little taste of home! If you're looking for somewhere quick to dine and are in the Mandarin area, hit up Cabana Grill! You won't be disappointed.
(4)Neila Z.
The reviews were so mixed I was hesitant to try it. I can't say enough good things. My food was hot and fresh, the salsa bar was great. It's new so may have had growing pains .... They got it figured out now. Try it
(4)Nichole H.
Waste of time! taco bell taste better the only thing this place has on them is a modern eating area and alcohol but its a complete upset.. :-( and they lie on the menu it says chips and queso but its really nasty nacho cheese.. booooo
(2)Jay M.
From greasy-spoon old-school to nouveau gourmet, it's not hard to find Mexican food on the First Coast that meets just about any timeframe, budget or appetite. Somewhere in the middle, fast-casual Mex outlets like Moe's Southwest Grill, Tijuana Flats and Chipotle promote smaller menus, fresh ingredients, salsa and hot sauce bars, modern, artsy and almost hipster-fabulous dining rooms, and free Wi-Fi. Think classy digs on a college student budget. That's fast casual. (Unfortunately, unlike the greasy spoons, the fast casuals aren't so forthcoming with the complimentary chips and salsa. Get me a salty top-shelf margarita in an obnoxious glass stat, and I'll tell you more!) Enter Cabana Grill, the East Coast incarnation of a Texas fast-food staple that's been around nearly four decades, Taco Cabana. Jacksonville is home to the second store of the new brand (the first opened last April outside Atlanta) at 10422 San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin. Since its opening December 10, I've visited the Mandarin location not quite a handful of times, my culinary scalpel at the ready (cleverly disguised as an iPad). Cabana deals in tacos, bowls and burritos, nachos and quesadillas, many available either a la carte or as combo plates. Entrees generally live in the $5-7 range. In other words, two-wheel-drive-safe fast-casual terrain. While menu items are few, you can get them dressed in a variety of proteins or veg styles, with premium toppings and alongside any of eight side items ($1.09-3.59), from Mexican rice to Mexican potatoes. The process is straightforward: order at the counter, approve your order on the screen and pay up, take a number and proceed to the dining room, where a server will eagerly hunt you down wielding a plastic tray. You have two optional pit stops - the Coca-Cola dominated soda fountain, and the complimentary salsa bar, which boasts about a dozen colorful dressings of the chunky, saucy and fiery type. On my most recent visit, I dialed up a Chicken Fajita Burrito ($5.49) nicely dressed with refried black beans and cilantro lime rice (for most entrées, you choose the bean and rice flavors). And since the burritos don't come with a side, as with most entrees here, I tacked on a small Mexican potatoes ($1.09; admittedly, a splurge). Obviously the kitchen is haven to some professional wrappers. That burrito was bundled up tight! But once you unravel things, be ready with a fork for cleanup duty. Ingredients were fresh as advertised and it was a satisfying, voluminous entrée. Remember the Waffle House hashbrown ordering instructions? You know ... scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, cubed, etc., etc. The Mexican potatoes aren't far off in their "all-the-way" configuration. Think breakfast potatoes covered in onion, tomato, cilantro and jalapenos, and finished with mild asadero cheese. If you're a professional sweet tooth, the pickings here are slim. Cabana offers sopapilla pastries dusted with cinnamon and sugar (small for $1.29; large, $1.99). I haven't tried them yet, but they're on my list. If adult beverages are the way you satisfy your sweet tooth (and who's judging?), go for the house margaritas. Twelve-ouncers start at $4. Or show up during "happy hour" from 4 to 7 p.m. for buck-50 10-ounce pours and $3.50 nachos. You'll also find a collection of domestic and import bottled beers. If I had to compare Cabana with other locals, it's an squeaky-clean, Ozzie-and-Harriet version of Tijuana Flats, with slightly lower price points than TJ's, and no crowdsourced pop-art ceiling tiles. You won't watch your food being created like at Moe's. But sometimes, that's just fine, especially when there's a salsa bar (and complimentary jalapeno slices!) beckoning. Cabana's a worthy dine, and an equally worthy break from the San Jose Blvd. madness with dine-in and drive-through service. They're on Facebook at facebook.com/thecabanagr… .
(3)Kamal K.
Cabana Grill is a test concept restaurant developed by the parent company of Pollo Tropical and Texas-based Taco Cabana. There's currently two of these located in the southeast, one in suburban Atlanta and the other being in the Mandarin neighborhood of Jacksonville. I've heard many great things about the Taco Cabana chain, known for their fresh tortillas and steak fajitas. It appears that the format of the Cabana Grill is a streamlined format of Taco Cabana - nonetheless, I was excited to finally get some time to try the place out. Walking in last night, the staff was very friendly and willing to show new customers the ropes of the menu. Unsure of what to get, I ended up deciding on a Steak Fajita taco plate with a side of cilantro lime rice, and a side that I can really only describe as "Mexican baked beans" (the proper Spanish name for the dish is escaping me at the moment). I decided to add some sour cream, cheese and guacamole to my tacos. Guacamole and sour cream were each showed up as 25 cents up charge on the cashier's screen; with a drink, the whole meal surprisingly ended up being under $10. As I got my receipt and scouted out an open table, I noticed the Salsa bar.. the REALLY complex salsa bar. Easily over a dozen salsas and other garnishing items were on hand. I found the salsa choices to be creative, a number of them were sour cream and avocado based; thus it really ended up being pointless for me to top my tacos with sour cream. Note taken. The building itself is very nice with ascetically pleasing features, albeit a bit cramped. I was constantly playing an awkward game of chicken with other patrons at the drink station. As I was finalizing my salsa choices (a green tomatillo salsa and the green avocado salsa), my food arrived and it was time to put this test concept.. to the test. The tacos were generously topped with steak, cheese, lettuce and sour cream. The steak wasn't as piping hot as I hoped it would turn out, however the strips had a good, albeit mild flavor. The cheese was your standard cheddar-jack that you find at big-chain restaurants such as Don Pablo's or On The Border. The guacamole was simple, and most likely shipped from elsewhere. The lettuce was the lowest point of the meal, it's the same ugly shredded wilted iceberg lettuce that you would find in a Taco Bell soft taco. A nice fresh/crisp romaine would do wonders. The saving grace of the tacos though were the tortillas. These are made on site, are fresh, chewy and EXCELLENT. I could just eat those alone. Upon exiting the building I caught a glimpse of the kitchen, which demonstrated the tortilla machine. The tortillas alone bumped the rating up to an A-OK. The sides I had were okay, if not a bit underwhelming. The beans had a sweet smokey flavor similar to baked beans. The cilantro lime rice didn't really have much flavor, I was hoping for something similar to Chipotle's rice. Overall, I'm feeling a solid 3 stars, the tortillas alone will bring me back. I noticed another patron that ordered the steak fajitas received hot/smoking skillet, think I'll go that route next time. Hopefully the kinks with the food outside of the tortillas will gradually work out, and either the new brand survives - or the unit converts outright to a Taco Cabana. 3/5
(3)Ashley S.
Margaritas were gross , I got the chicken bowl, the chicken wasn't fresh barely added rice not enough toppings I like I won't be going back Taco Bell taste better lol
(1)Debra B.
I grew up with taco cabana in Texas. South Florida could use one! Hollywood area...just saying! Love this place! :) yummmmmm!
(5)Mark B.
I saw this place a few weeks ago while stopping into a different restaurant. I heard that it opened so I got a chance to try them and I jumped on it. Well the place was pretty crowded as I expected. There was little grill mates running around all over the place. Can I help you or do you need anything maybe how is/was your meal. I told one of them it's fair and she seemed thoroughly hurt. Is something wrong or is there something we can do. Yea leave me alone and let me eat. Now the food has not gotten very good reviews and I should have heeded the warnings. But, NOoooo not me I had to try it anyway. The street tacos were really small and the steak or in this case partials of brown matter had no taste of beef or seasonings. The corn tortilla was dry and crumbed in my hands. Then you throw in a quesadilla that was mighty thin. Cheese and a very small amount of steak or the brown matter again. In all I think I will stay across the street when I'm hungry and in the area of town.
(3)Cyndi A.
Awesome condiment bar!! Great cilantro rice. Quest not the best, but all else on par. Unique
(4)Drew W.
It's like a step up from Taco Bell. I don't think the chicken was really chicken. I like the idea, though. Good on them for offering beer and live music, but, do they really have to scream corporate? Thanks for the taco salad.
(2)Jane R.
Amazing Food! Great Service! This place reminds me of being back in San Antonio, Tx. They make homemade torillas which is something you just do not find at a Fast food TexMex food joint. The meat in the fajitas and tacos are fantastic! This place really puts Taco Bell to shame. There is no comparison. Cabana Grill also serves breakfast with juice and milk. And their lunch and dinner specials offer a great variety of sodas and a about 6 beer choices. I highly recommend this place. I also will be coming back!
(5)M D.
I am from San Antonio and a HUGE Taco Cabana fan! I was so excited when I realized Cabana Grill was opening in Jacksonville and rushed over there on opening day. It was such a disappointment! The menu is very limited, the tortillas are like cardboard, and the portions are very small and surprisingly bland. The original Taco Cabana menu is sooo much better, the fluffy flour tortillas fresh from the tortilla makers, choice of entrees, generous portions, and yummy breakfast tacos. The positives are the decor/design, salsa bar, margaritas, sopapillas, and friendly staff. As for the Cabana Grill concept, "Meh" is pretty much what I thought the 2 times I went. Sadly, I have no plans to go back and would not recommend it. I wish they had just opened a Taco Cabana.
(2)Sabrina B.
Just ordered a fajita bowl, no shell. It's certainly not quality. It's quite apparent that the chicken comes to the restaurant precooked and may be heated on a grill. The majority of the chicken did not have grill marks and consisted of a rubbery texture and appearance. The bowl itself was a mess. It just tasted like a hodgepodge of stuff. I also ordered guacamole on m u bowl and didn't receive it. Not a biggie about the guacamole. It wouldn't have made the food any better. One star because the chips were good. Not too salty.
(1)Cassie C.
Went for lunch as a group of 5. At 1pm there was hardly anyone inside and staff was just standing around. The menu was very underwhelming and not descriptive or detailed at all. Seating was an issue because they had no place for more than 4 and we had to put tables together which seemed to annoy the employees. We ordered and had to wait a short time for our food which wasn't exactly tasty. The blandness of the quesadillas, the lack of flavoring in the burritos, the chips being unsalted & stale and the "queso" being more like easy cheese from a can heated up... it was a bad experience that left an undesirable flavor in our mouths.
(1)Hannes B.
I was extremely interested to see what this placed had to offer, especially since their construction signed stated: "Get ready for some real Mexican food". Overall atmosphere is really nice - friendly staff that will give you suggestions when asked. Some of the design themes of the building is also creative and unique. Food is at a great price point. Nice selection of salsa, with the best being the Avacado Crema. However, the food is the weakness of Cabana Grill - there is an over all lack of flavor in the menu items we sampled. Which included tacos, 2 different kind of beans and the Mexican potatoes. The food was warm, verging on luke warm when we received the plates. The plates were a tad sloppy, with no separation for sides or the main meal. One reviewer mentioned that the chicken seemed precooked and just heated back up. Which seemed to be exactly the case with our visit. Do not go expecting something like Chipotle or Baja Fresh from the west coast. Because you will leave feeling disappointed and wanting more.
(3)Harlan M.
Best suited for families with children OR as a quick lunch option. You walk in and order at the counter, standard burrito, quesadilla and taco choices. Also if you're really hungry they advertise family fajitas that serve two or four. We opted to split a steak burrito. Don't expect the awesome intimidation of the Moe's Homewrecker, but tasty just the same. It was also nice to have a bottled beer and frozen margarita option. Coolest feature is the fresh salsa bar where you can choose from onions and jalapeños to some tasty salsas. The staff are super friendly and family oriented. The dining room is clean and nicely decorated with a modern motif.
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