EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina
+64 7-213 1175+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Mon
11:00 am - 3:00 pm5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Tue
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Wed
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Thu
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Fri
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sat
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$12.00 – $34.00
CUISINES
Mexican, Latin, Central American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Is this a Spanish restaurant?
Details
About
Authentic Mexican Cuisine. The first and only Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Rotorua, New Zealand. Serving Mexican Food since 2017. Best Mexican Food Outside Mexico. Award Wining Restaurant for 2021 Tripadvisor Traveler's choice "Best of the Best Award 2021,2022 and 2023" in Rotorua New Zealand.
PRICE RANGE
$12.00 – $34.00
CUISINES
Mexican, Latin, Central American
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Family style, Gift Cards Available
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5.0
1,361 reviews
Excellent
1,240
Very good
79
Average
20
Poor
9
Terrible
13
RoamingMellon
Russell29 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
Our host Eduardo was warm, welcoming, so interesting, and informative about all the different meals. My partner almost paid the same amount up the road for a bland 1 topping pizza - Instead he got a huge tasty burrito loaded with veges & multiple sauces. Camarones are mouthwateringly delicious 👌🏽coconut margaritas for the win!
Written 12 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarona Rameka
Taupo172 contributions
Jul 2020 • couples
Hubby and I dined here before a concert. No reservation, and was welcomed by a very friendly man who seated us immediately. We ordered tacos, beer, jalapeño poppers, fried chicken, pork meatballs. Wow. I don't even like jalapeños, but they were as addictive as an ex. The best stuffed jalapeños ever. Every bite would burn my face but the cheesy goodness kept calling me back for more. Chicken was crispy and tasty; meatballs were in a flavour punched gravy; tacos were meh. $15-$16 per tapa (each one also came with slaw and tortilla). Great value for money. LOVED the decor too although the TV seemed out of place.
Written 19 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike O
30 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
After checking out the Eat Street eating establishments and finding out the wait time for seating was between 45-60 minutes (and at Sobar where we were seated, it was an hour for the food?) we went looking for a Burger Fuel.
We didn't find it luckily but did spot El Mexicano Zapata. Upon walking in the aroma of authentic Mexican food hit us. We ordered the chicken enchiladas, pork chimichanga and our friends had the paella. All the dishes were delicious and piping hot. There was enough food to feed an army. We would return here in a heartbeat.
Written 24 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rauchi
Wiener Neustadt26 contributions
Jan 2020 • friends
I highly doubt that either the owners nor the cook have ever been to Mexico, because what is served here has nothing to do with authentic Mexican cuisine. It is American inspired Tex Mex at best. We had Guacamole and Corn Chips as a starter, followed by a vegetarian Burrito and Chicken Chimichangas. Although the food was edible, it was nothing special and lacked seasoning and taste. The guacamole lacked salt and looked store bought as it was uncharacteristically shiny/oily. Both the burrito and the so-called Chimichangas were drowned in what looked and tasted like a mix of mayonaise and American dressing/cocktail sauce (seriously, wtf), and from what we saw on the other tables and photos on the internet, every dish seems to be served like that. And what is Mexican slaw supposed to be?! It was just regular coleslaw and had yet again nothing to do with Mexican food at all. Did you know Chimichangas are supposed to be deep fried? Because the ones we got were not. Im fact, both our main dishes looked exactly the same, the only difference seemed to be that one cost 10$ more than the other. Unfortunately, the staff tonight was not the most polite either. When we arrived all tables were either occupied or reserved, and the manager on duty simply let us know that she can't tell us how long it would take for a table to clear. 30 seconds. It literally took 30 seconds until not one but two parties paid and left. In retrospect, I wish we had just left then and there too and eaten somewhere else. I honestly don't know how this place can have so many good reviews. I feel sorry for people's taste buds and idea of Mexican food.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T K
Auckland3 contributions
Jul 2020 • family
Two hungry adults and two famished children dining in on a Sunday night at start of school holidays.
The cosy restaurant was busy when we arrived, but we were quickly seated (having made a last minute reservation) and provided with drinks. The margaritas (one classic, one blue) were perfect, and the boys really enjoyed their mandarin and mango flavoured Mexican soda’s.
The food was simply delicious and portion sizes very generous.
We had fresh guacamole and chicken wings with fresh coleslaw to start - both were excellent. The mains (two chimichangas, vegetarian tacos and pork meatballs) were also delicious, fresh and so tasty. Again, very generous portions, and we were offered a takeaway box for what we couldn’t finish.
Despite being so well fed, we couldn’t resist the churros, which were again divine, and plentiful.
The service was speedy, attentive and very friendly, we loved being your guests.
This is the best Mexican meal we have had in years, and wish we could transport you to our home town so we could enjoy your wonderful food and dining experience more often. Will visit again as a priority next time we are in town - thank you!
Written 6 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KenVicLee
Huntington Beach2101 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
It was our group's first night in Rotorua after a long day traveling from Auckland by way of Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and Hobbiton. We were tired. We were kinda hungry. Nothing on a crowded, noisy Eat Street appealed to the group.
Not everyone considers Mexican food "comfort food" but since five of our group are from California, Mexican food was as close to being comfort food as meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy. But we were suspicious of the boast, "Best Mexican Food Outside Mexico."
After a short wait we were seated at an outside table where we could watch the goings-on as people strolled by in the night. We had a big lunch earlier in the day so while there was that gnawing pain in our stomach, none of us wanted to eat too much. We started with a couple of chips and guacamole. That was exactly like you would get in California. Some of us split a chicken or beef quesadilla. Those too were consistent with what we had back home. At the end of the day we agreed this place was pretty authentic which given that we were thousands of miles away from Mexico is saying a lot. A very enjoyable meal.
Written 18 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SachdevSnacker
Wellington50 contributions
Jul 2021 • couples
Has to be one of the the best choices we have done, randomly walking the streets of a city we were in for the weekend.
Treat yourself with extremely tasty food with huge portions. Jalapeño poppers are a must for those who enjoy them as these are the best we have tasted in NZ.
Chimichanga and Pork Enchilada is what we had for mains. Both were huge and packed with flavour. The house made hot sauce was awesome and hopefully in future it could be bottled and sold to the public to take home.
Washed down with a classic Margarita and a Mechilada it was definitely the perfect meal.
Staff were fantastic, polite and friendly. Every request was met with a smile and an "absolutely we can do that!!" The ambiance was great, the only restaurant on the street buzzing on a chilly Friday night.
$99 for the meal and drinks was 100% worth it for what we received and will definitely be returning next time we are in Rotorua.
Thanks for the Brilliant meal and service El Mexicano!!!!
Written 30 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina
The entire team of El Mexicano Zapata Cantina would like to thank you for this wonderful review!!! It’s priceless!!!! This keeps us motivated to do better and better everyday. Just to see our customer smile after their meal is just awsome!!! We look forward to serve you again soon!!!! Muchas Gracias from all of us here at El amexicano Zapata Cantina. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Written 30 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pingu
Auckland83 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
Soooo authentic, soooo tasty - we love this place so much! The food is unbelievable, bursting with flavour, you could easily eat ten bowls of it. And the service, the owner/chef came and spoke to us personally as we had some dietary requirements and he described exactly what he could do and explained so that we were happy with what we would be ordering. Talk about customer service. And the atmosphere is wonderful, you are transported to Mexico.
Written 6 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChicoRanMan
Chico1174 contributions
Feb 2020 • family
Had a nice dinner at this Mexican restaurant way down under. I wouldn’t say it was the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, but it was pretty good. The guacamole and chips were excellent. The chicken burrito was pretty good but the small cole slaw salad that came with it didn’t taste quite right. Either it was meant to have a fermented taste to it or else it was a few days old. On any account, it wasn’t so good.
The waitress was pleasant and competent. The decor was appealing and loaded with many Mexican decorations on the walls. The menu included a nice list of Mexican beers.
Prices were pretty high (like everywhere down here). The burrito was NZD $15 and guacamole & chips $12. Most dishes on the menu were in the $20’s.
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bridie
Mount Maunganui135 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Made a booking for 3 of us on our way to Rotorua. Took 5 minutes to get a menu, and a further 20 minutes before we decided to walk out because no one came to even take our drink order. 3 front of house staff walk past us ignoring us, the restaurant is tiny and wasn’t very busy. We chose somewhere else instead of waiting even longer to get any food or drink. Will never be back
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire Lambert
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • none
I ordered the Quesadilla and it was one of the best i have eaten, not only is the service fantastic but the food is so fresh it almost tastes like it's home grown. Really nice atmosphere and the staff made you feel right at home and as if nothing was too much trouble. Highly recommend.
Written 13 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kayleigh
New Zealand1 contribution
Feb 2022 • couples
My husband are I visited here on our honeymoon in February. We loved the outside colourful entryway and atmosphere so we decided to pop in and give it a go!
We were greeted by a lovely man who seated us and began to tell us the specials of the week. He was so friendly and attentive.
We were so incredibly astonished by the quality of the food and the very reasonable and affordable prices. We are from Wellington and have tried many of the restaurants here but nothing has compared to the food we had here. We tried the black bean cheese dip with homemade corn chips and this alone made us want to come back. Our mains came out, I tried the fish tacos which were by far the freshest fish tacos I have ever tried. They were full of flavour and cooked perfectly. My husband had the bbq chicken - he wanted to order a second lot to take it home after!
We travelled up to the Coromandel and on our way back ended up detouring to Rotorua just to have dinner here again only five days later. I ordered the enchiladas which were packed full of flavour and came with a lovely side of rice and black beans. My husband tried the special of the week which was “Papa Fritas” which included mince, fries and a beautifully made homemade cheese sauce. We shared the freshest churros for desert with homemade dipping sauces.
What a team you have here and food that needs to come to Wellington! We enjoyed meeting your chef, the friendly and most talented man! Thank you again for our lovely experience and beautiful food. We are looking forward to the next time we can come up north just for Mexican!
Written 8 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina
Thank you for sharing this wonderful review!!!! We are all delighted at the restaurant to know that you have enjoyed your dining experience with us. We can’t wait to have you back again soon!!! Best wishes for you both!!! Muchas Gracias 🙏 ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰
Written 9 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wrightoff
Auckland48 contributions
Apr 2021 • couples
Stopped by on a rainy Tuesday and decided to spice things up with some Mexican Food.
Food was delicious (Jalapeño poppers are incredible) and incredibly good value for money. 2 people with cocktails, starters, and mains for around $80!
We got a bit excited and our waitress (Jamie) mentioned we probably ordered one dish too many. She was spot on-the portion sizes are quite large! Nice to see an honest guidance instead of upselling-we’ll be back because of this so well done!
5-Stars!
Written 19 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joy A
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • family
Me and my family love traveling to many countries and everywhere we always visit top restaurants. We not just enjoy eating, but we like to relax in the environment.At this Mexican Restaurant we had exceptional service from the owner, their lovely chef and the friendly staff. The food was really yummmmmmmy, the portion of the meal was huge so we take some home, the food was cooked to perfection with the special Mexican spicy sauces freshly made . It was a marvelous night brought us back to Mexico.
Thank you guys for the distinguish hospitality and more so for the delicious food. I highly recommend and if you have not eaten here I am sure you are missing something in your bucket list 🤩🤩
Written 2 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kris Cruz
2 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
Coming from all the way from Palmerston North, we always stop here at El Mexicano Zapata Cantina. the staff was very accomodating the best of service even at the very short notice. The food is excellent, well priced, for sure we would continue to come and dine here as part of our trip tradition.
Written 21 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EL Mexicano Zapata Cantina
Muchas Gracias Amigo Kris for this awsome review!!!🙏🙏🙏 safe travels going back to palmy and we will see you all again soon!! ❤️❤️❤️
Written 21 November 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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