Location: Harlingen
Top Restaurants in Harlingen
Top Things to do in Harlingen
Where to eat Spanish food in Harlingen: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Reviews on Spanish food in Harlingen, Texas, United States. Harlingen (/ˈhɑːrlɪndʒɪn/ HAR-lin-jin) is a city in Cameron County in the central region of the Rio Grande Valley of the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas, about 30 miles (48 km) from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than 40 square miles (104 km) and is the second-largest city in Cameron County, as well as the fourth-largest in the Rio Grande Valley. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 64,849, for a growth rate of 12.5% since the 2000 census. It is the city with the lowest cost of living in the United States.
Things to do in Harlingen
6. Las Cazuelas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By ViajeroAficionado
I ordered the Camarones ENDIABLADOS this means super HOT Shrimp (the menu had the same Capital Letters to warn people of how hot this plate was). I would call them Camarones Endulsados (sweetened shrimp) since the Hot Sauce tasted sweet and had no spice at all. This is a perfect restaurant for people who consider Taco Bell Mexican Food!
5. Platillos Mexican Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Stoneleet
The service is fast and the cheese enchiladas are very good. Most things here are good. They are closed on Sundays, but opened the other days of the week. If you can't dine in, the do offer carry out.
4. Los Asados
Overall Ratings
4 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By Jackie T
We ate at Los Asados and loved it! Our waitress, Carmen had a great personality, very helpful, made some good suggestions for our food. Sunday-Thursday, there are $3 margaritas-huge and delicious! My husband liked the salt around the beer bottle. I had the quesadillas-very good! We will definitely return to Los Asados when in the area
3. Pepe's Mexican Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 117 reviews
Reviewed By Solar-sailor
There is a sign inside this restaurant that says "One of the best Mexican Restaurants in America," or something like that. If that is true, then I've been wrong for many years. I thought Mexican food was suppose to have some flavor, some taste and perhaps be a bit spicy. The food there was bland, small portions and flung out by "don't care" staff. I ordered the lunch special, 2 tacos, beans and rice. They brought chips and "salsa" to the table and asked if I wanted it??? The chips were stale and the "salsa" was little more than watery diced tomatoes. The food came - I got a bowl of beans (not refried) and an ice cream scoop of rice and two tacos. The taco shells were not broken (I have to say something nice about the place). Then the check came; Lunch Special $5.75, Ice Tea $2.75, Chips & Salsa $1.85. Kinda high for tea and chips (that most other restaurants serve complementary!).Had the food actually had some flavor I might have ranked them higher - but it was bland and tastless.Would I go back - oh no, not to this place. I'd rather drive through Taco Bell then go here again.When I got home I took my wife out to a real Mexican restaurant.
2. Las Vegas Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 207 reviews
Reviewed By willdriveforfood
I was a first timer on a rainy morning in Harlingen when I stumbled into the las vegas around 6:30 am, by then the parking lot was crowded but not so crowded that you had to park your van, truck or car on the street and block the view of oncoming one way Harrison street traffic for those in the parking area , not quite that busy, maybe later in the day it might be. . Unfamiliar with the restaurant I waited to be seated but was told to sit anywhere , which should have signaled I wasn't a local. I sat in a two seat table. Looking at the wall there are placards listing Lunch and breakfast items. I was asked almost as soon as I was seated what I wanted to order (no menu was offered) so I figured " OK, it's a menu limited to what's on the board next to my head , So craning my head to eyeball the placard I ordered , Coffee, water and the Frenchie special (french toast ). But as I was waiting for the food to arrive EVERYone who was coming in and being seated after me was ordering the breakfast special." I'll have the special" was ringing out everywhere. (2egg, meat , toast , HB or beans and coffee for one price) rather than coffee extra as in my case.). So what I would suggest is if this is your first time at the restaurant , ask for a menu , so you have the option of not ordering just what's presented on the board. Otherwise the coffee was medium strength, not really hot , the breakfast was OK , nothing terrific stood out. Service was fine. But it is a "regular's place" I didn't see anyone presented a menu, they all knew what they wanted(the special) and probably order the same thing every time as the wait staff pretty much knew everyone's order. Or just order the special and pretend you live in Harlingen.
1. La Playa Mexican Cafe
Overall Ratings
4 based on 383 reviews
Reviewed By Guide826198
Multiple people told me this is the best Mexican restaurant in Harlingen. I did note tht no one said it was Tex Mex, Not sure if that is politically sensitive this close to Mexico, but I found out there is at least one more reason. The waitress told me they are known for the fajitas and fried avocado, so I ordered both, The chips, salsa, avocado and fajitas were delivered all within 30 seconds of each other. Bad mojo. I was shocked that the salsa was a smooth sauce, not chunks of veggies. It was severely hot for my taste. I did not finish it. The fried avocado was an avocado with some. tasteless chicken breaded and fried served with a packet of Newman's Ranch dressing, finely cut lettuce and pico, or rather, tomatoes with a rare cilantro leaf and maybe onion. The lettuce and tomatoes were tasty, but otherwise a waste of calories, dollars and time. The chips were boring and undersalted. If they could buy Newmans salad dressing, why not buy tasty chips?The fajitas were mildly tasty but hard to eat. About a third of them were cut parallel to the grain, making them very hard to bite, They were severely under-marinaded. The onions and peppers were good, the real saving grace of the dish. There were two tiny corn tortillas, and only after i had eaten all of the fajitas did I discover one stale wheat tortilla.Coming from the Houston area I found the fajitas to be severely lacking in flavor and quality, If this is the best in Harlingen, I may just wait till I get back to Houston, Sugar Land or The Woodlands.Small point, but I think there is a distinct difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican. My experience is that fajitas should be purchased in a Tex Mex restaurant and other dishes in a Mexican restaurant. Just saying..,,
