Coa Agaveria y Cocina

This place was SO good we ate here multiple times during our stay in Columbia, SC. The food flavor/quality was the best. Everything was seasoned to perfection and had its own unique combination of flavor when combined. The atmosphere was so relaxing. Tea light candles on the table and paper menus to explore. They were very quick in the kitchen and the prices for the quality of food was amazing. I will always make a pit stop when coming through Columbia. Our server Ashley was so sweet and knowledgeable of the menu. She made a recommendation that I thoroughly enjoyed. The manager was very supportive of a great experience as well. He checked in after the food came. The service we received was collaborative, which was awesome. Everyone ensured that we enjoyed our time at COA. I wish there was one in WA State :)

Fantastic food and an even better tequila selection! Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff was knowledgeable and helped us navigate their impressive agave collection. Whether you’re a tequila lover or just after a great meal, Coa is definitely worth the visit. I’ll be back for sure!

It was just me having dinner, Gaby the bartender was amazing with her recommendations of food and drinks !! It was a full Monday and everyone who walked in kept saying how this was their favorite place everytime they come! And I confirm it was sooooo delicious! I had the poblano relleno and gaby recommend I had it with steak ans a side of rice and omg! Loved it !!!

This was my first experience that was, and I went with a couple of girlfriends of mine. We sat at the bar Which was honestly perfect because we didn’t think about all of the people having dinner for Valentines. Oops lol. The bartender, Carter, was awesome. He was such a nice guy. He was fun to chat with and the drinks he made well *chef’s kiss* 10/10 would definitely come back and recommend to friends and family.

First time eating here and It won’t be the last ! It was a hard decision to choose what to eat because everything sounds delightful ,but we tried the mole , tamal , and the sopes de pastor . All entrees were flavorful and delicious ! The place is so cozy and nice inside and the service is phenomenal. It was worth the drive .

I absolutely love Coa! Without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite spots in Columbia. With its chic atmosphere and soft lighting, it’s a perfect place for a date night. There’s plenty of parking—both street parking close to the building and a paid lot nearby. The waitresses always offer great recommendations, and the drinks are top-notch. The queso is smooth and creamy, and the salsa has a fantastic flavor with a smoky kick. The chips are always warm and fresh. We like to try different dishes here, and the tlayudas were definitely my favorite. I’d recommend ordering a few to share. I thought it would crumble like a tostada usually does at other places, but this one stayed solid until the very last bite and was surprisingly hearty.

AMAZING. Let's get into it. The food. Loved the presentation, which is pretty important to me. But, the taste ALWAYS takes the cake! And baby, they st husband disappoint! It was flavorful, so we'll seasoned, not salted. It was HOT!, which for me is a must! It was FRESH- like you could taste the freshness of the ingredients! We had the guacamole & salsa, Sopes De Barbacoa, Taquitos De Tinga, and Pollo Tampiqueno. I had the hibiscus and strawberry margaritas (both fresh, but the strawberry is sweeter). They were the PERFECT blend with enough liquor. The ambiance makes it a perfect place for date night. The vibe is perfect for a night out with friends. The food will have you talking and the family jealous. COA is officially on our repeat list!

After a long day walking, we decided to stop here for dinner. We did like the ambient inside the place. The service and staff were excellent. Really enjoyed the food. The food was really good. The only thing about the street tacos is that they only give you 2 which I know normal places have 3. They do give you a decent amount though on the tacos. Other than that it was good.

Wow!!! What an amazing experience!!! Let me start with the amazing display of Clase Azul Reposado Tequila Bottles that they have on their window sill. It was absolutely amazing!!! And even more amazing was Kyle Ford our server. He was a top notch server for us. We could not have asked for better service. Helpful, friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable!!! He answered all of our questions and we ended up with an excellent meal to complement the service. We had the Poblano Relleno and Birria Tacos. Thank you Yelp reviewer!!!! The meals were delicious!!! The drinks were great!!! The restaurant was a little dark where we were sitting but that just means we have older eyes We would definitely return here and we could only hope for Kyle Ford to assist us again.

I recently visited Coa Agavería and Cocina, and while the food was great, the service left much to be desired. We arrived at 6:09 pm, ordered an appetizer, two entrees, and drinks, and the food itself was good.I was initially excited to return, but the service really soured the experience. By the time we were finishing up and still enjoying some chips and guacamole, it was around 7:05 pm. That's when the server came over and asked if we were still ordering food or drinks. She then told us there was a waitlist and that she needed us to close our tab since she was being asked to clear out tables that weren't ordering anything else. This felt incredibly rushed, especially since we were still enjoying our appetizers and catching up. The tab I paid had a timestamp of 7:08 pm. I would understand if it had been over an hour and we were completely done eating. Also, the server didn't seem too thrilled when we asked about the happy hour specials. She acted dismissive, which was a bit off-putting and made us feel uncomfortable. It felt uncomfortably abrupt to be pressured out when we weren't even finished. I understand that they might have been busy, but the lack of respect for our time and experience was disappointing. While the food was definitely worth trying, I'm not sure I'll be returning due to the poor service.

As always the food here is amazing!! Not pictured was the amazing chips, salsa, and queso! The Birria tacos aren't on the menu but if you ask about them they always have them!! And let me tell you, they are 100/10! the service is always amazing, our waitress was very attentive and checked in on us regularly! The ambiance is always perfect for my girls night, could be perfect for a date night too! I will continue to come here regularly!

My client recommended this spot and it did not disappoint! The drinks were delicious, the food was even better. Portions are a bit small for sharing, however it was nice to get a little bite of multiple things.

had dinner there with my husband a couple of times now, I personally LOVE the chicken and arugula salad! I am one of those people that hates cilantro, tastes like soap to me but it is indispensable in cooking some foods. This salad has cilantro and you could ask the chef to go light on it but it is important to balance the whole thing. My husband has had the tacos there and loved them. I definitely love the ambiance and do recommend this restaurant for many reasons. The food, the service and the ambiance. Oh but the parking sucks!! Welcome to the vista!!!

LOVE Coa so much!! This is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia.This is a great date night vibe with its dim lighting and upscale ambiance. Parking is plentiful with a paid lot and street parking right next to the building. Drinks are always top tier and the servers give excellent recommendations. The salsa is so flavorful and has a hint of smokiness, the queso is creamy and velvety. Chips are always fresh and warm as well. In terms of entrees, we always like to try something new here. I would recommend getting a few dishes and splitting them, the highlight for me was the tlayudas. I thought since it was a tostada, it would fall apart on me (they usually do that at other restaurants) but this one held its shape until the last bite and was surprisingly very filling.

We went here for an early dinner. Our waiter didn't seem to care for us at first, but she slowly warmed up. (I think my question to her about MP [market price] guacamole - threw her off. She didn't seem to like my question.) The food was only okay, nothing stood out, and we didn't finish any of our food, so we don't think we'll be returning.

Two Mexicans walk into a Mexican restaurant in South Carolina and loved it. The guacamole was fresh. The birria was flavorful. The chile poblano tasted amazing. And the desserts were on point but we couldn't finish it because we were full.

The food here is ok. The only reason I say that it's because sometimes it's amazing and other times it's ok and not the same quality. The inconsistency makes me not want to eat here as much anymore. BUT!! I will say that their Drinks are absolutely Amazing!!! Definitely a great place to pre drink for a fun night out. With summer coming up there margaritas are absolutely refreshing! strong! Lots of amazing flavor

Great service and the food was amazing! Excellent guacamole and highly recommend the barbacoa.

Terrible experience. I went here with a coworker and was treated terribly. Long story short, the wait called me out if my name and refused to give me my receipt so I could adjust me tip. I had to speak with the manage because of how rude the waiter and the hostess were throughout the entire dining experience. They acted as if they did not want my business and treated us as if our dollars weren't green. I don't suggest and person of color visit this restaurant because the racial profiling is very prominent!!!!

An upscale type of restaurant with great Mexican food! It could definitely be a date night type experience if you wanted to make it that! Our waitress, Sandra, was really nice and she was so knowledgeable when it came to the menu, which helped us make our selection! The food was amazing and I would highly recommend the Birria tacos. They we sooooo good! And the Churros!

Food and drinks are amazing! The service is outstanding. Atmosphere is elegant. So reasonably priced for a high level celebration dinner.

Traditional Mexican food is what you'll find here, if you're looking for TexMex look elsewhere. Our experience was very positive. I had the grilled chicken served on top of a cheese enchilada. It was excellent. Service was great and the restaurant clean and decorative.

Beautiful modern Mexican cantina in the heart of downtown! We came here tonight based of the review of another Yelper! The hubster loves Queso fundido and most places serve it as chorizo in cheese dip but this was served sizzling in a cast iron skillet with melty cheese just the way he likes it. Her review was exactly what I needed to be able to surprise my husband with one of his favorite dishes. We ordered the chips and queso dip which was thick and delicious, it was actually the perfect consistency. The guacamole was very creamy and delicious, I can't wait to use the left overs in the morning for avocado toast! The salsa wasn't overly spicy nor was it loaded with fresh herbs, it was perfect and delicious and had chunks of tomatoes in it. The tacos were served on corn tortillas and had chorizo and steak. The tortilla ended up breaking half way through and I ate the filling with my fork and didn't miss the tortilla at all. The filling would also be delicious as a topping for nachos!

Went here the other night to try something new. Much like the other reviews, I must say the place was kind of unbearably loud. While I can praise this place for its authenticity, I will emphasize that the menu is not picky-eater-friendly. The service was decent, as my server checked up on me a couple times throughout the night. I got the tuétanos asados, which are bones (exposed marrow), corn, pickled red onion, carne asada, and corn tortillas. The carne asada was a little on the dry side, but otherwise the meal was fine. I just wasn't into the texture of the bone marrow. It had a good flavor, but I couldn't get over the mouth-feel. Over all: Tuétanos asados: 6.5/10 Total: ~$26

Perhaps my hopes were too high but I was not crazy over my meal. The server was nice and the restaurant theme was mild.

I've been to a lot of excellent, genuine Mexican food restaurants- in Mexico and Southern California. I can confirm this place is legit (not Tex-mex), best Mexican food we've had since moving to SC. Margaritas were top notch! Service was great, helped us navigate the menu. We shared the steak quesadillas, chicken taquitos, beans, and guac. The steak in the quesadilla was so tender, all great flavors! Ambiance was great for an early dinner. We'll be back.

¡Muy delicioso! Wish I could eat here every night so I could try everything on the menu! I had the hibiscus margarita fresca, carne asada street tacos, and sautéed vegetables- every bite was so satisfying. I love that they also have a vegan menu and will make some of their cocktails as mocktails so that more people can enjoy this tasty restaurant.

Visiting the area for a work trip and stopped by after seeing rave reviews on Yelp. Loved the decor inside but it was very busy and loud. Asked for a table outside and there were plenty. My waitress Lesley was so lovely and all her recommendations were great. I got the original maragarita and had a hard time deciding between the brava and the bone marrow entree. I went with the bone marrow and it was sooo good. Wish it came with more of the carne asada but it was still very good. Ended with the strawberry shortcake tres leche which was soooo good! Highly recommend if ur in the area

Went here for my birthday definitely a date night spot but the vibe was still very inviting. The food was great and our waiter was above and beyond. Definitely a place that I will visit again rather a date night or a girls night.

Really pretty on the inside! Towards the back it gets a little dark though. Overall good service. Are appetizer didn't come out until we already had our food but they quickly brought it out when our food got to the table. Margs we're on point! I'm a big tequila fan and I liked that I could taste the tequila in my drink and it was 100% fresh lime juice in my drink (so no sugary mixers) I got the pomegranate margarita and my husband got the spicier margarita on the menu. The menu is sorta hard to navigate imo. It's not sectioned off by course. We almost thought it was tapas style but also there's other items that you can get to make more out of a meal if you didn't want to share plates and stuff. I'd go back just for the drinks tbh! Really nice!

Wow!! One of the best cantinas I've been to. After 3 flights, 2 states and 2 meetings I just wanted something easy but good and my hotel was located right above this place! When I asked the hotel concierge for recommendations for the BEST places in town this was top of his list. Best ending to a crazy day. Food was amazing and fresh and authentic!! I got the guacamole tradicional and the Tacos de pibil really a spot you HAVE to try if you are in Columbia. The bar is beautiful and the vibe is everything! This was a Tuesday night and it was pretty full. Love the house rules on the menu!

Delicious food and lovely ambiance and service! I will definitely be back! The food we got were the tuna tostadas, tried a couple different tacos and the lump crab empanadas. So delicious! 10/10 recommend!

This was my first time coming here. My sacred sister in spirit and my (spiritual) godmother brought me here to celebrate my birthday; my sacred sister is Mexicana so this place is her spot. I was excited because I've always wanted to come here. The food was good and surprisingly not more Tex-Mex yet upscale authentic Mexican. Everything is made in-house daily regarding the guacamole and salsa which I loved and could taste, and the drinks were amazing as well; they even have spicy ones. The appetizers were good. The queso was amazing; very cheesy and abundant. The Gringas were delicious as well, and I didn't think I would like the wild mushroom flavor however I did. My main dish was the Dobladitas and the chicken was cooked to perfection! Very flavorful and better than I expected. Overall though, I wish the Dobladitas had a little something else other than the queso and pico de gallo. I kept thinking it was missing something yet couldn't put my finger on it, otherwise, the dish was great regarding the taste. Highly recommend. One of my friends got the grilled pulpo (octopus) which is her jam when she goes there and my other friend got the yuca potatoes which she said was great; she's vegetarian by the way. She was thoroughly enjoying the appetizers and absolutely loved the salsa. The atmosphere is sexy, perfect for a date night or even a self date to meet someone at the bar for good conversation and food. I loved this place and will be going back especially for the street tacos and poblano rice because it looked amazing.

Very cute but very dark inside! Mexican place next to the Aloft hotel. It took a while for someone to wait on us at the bar but once he did, service was good from there and he was friendly enough. We ordered a margarita and a beer, along with some appetizers. The drink was decent, taquitos were average and the other steak appetizer was sotting on tortillas that didn't bend and you also couldn't bite into- either stale or overcooked? Very average experience overall but would probably try again if in the area.

We are always searching for restaurants that offer vegan selections, in addition to their regular menu offerings. I had never ventured to Coa, but I will say, everyone left happy. I stepped out of my comfort zone and had the bone marrow. It was good! The star of the show was THE DRINKS! Highly recommended and I will definitely be going back.

Delicious food! Definitely planning to go back. They have great happy hour specials. We sat outside and it was lovely. Their guacamole is so good! Salsa was yummy too and perfect for people like me that are nervous about salsas being so spicy you can't enjoy it. I ordered their Birra tacos and it is a 10/10!

One of my favorite place to get drinks. Their selection of cocktails is part of the top tier in Columbia. Off the beaten path of Gervais, but still close enough to travel to other parts of the Vista easily. They are always bustling, with great service, kind servers, and a beautiful, smokey ambiance. Their selection of tequila far outstrips any place in Columbia, and they deserve their rightful place upon the throne of elevated Mexican cuisine. They offer a great menu of tapas and different spins on Mexican cuisine that is outside of the normal chain. Perfect for date nights or just a drink with friends!

Loved this restaurant! The ambiance was so eclectic and the food had fresh flavors. Natalie was our server, she was great and so sweet! Will be coming back soon!

This is a new favorite! My fiancé and I waited about an hour to be seated, but it was late on a Saturday night. Service was excellent, and everything was delicious. I also got two cocktails and both were so good! The specialty cocktails on the list were $12.5 and they were so good. I love the atmosphere and the decorations in the building too. Our food was amazing and tasted really fresh. The guac was one of the best I've had. We will be back!

There was a long wait, we were told they don't do reservations but they probably need to! The waiting area they had was very nice and spacious though. Our waiter was very attentive and we were offered drinks/chips& salsa while we waited. The quesadilla I had was very good, but I wish they were a bit bigger. Would go again!

Food is always delicious, the staff is very friendly and can explain the dishes to you if you have any questions. Drinks are great too.

Thanks to my friend for recommending this fine dining Mexican restaurant, located in Columbia SC. The decorations are pleasing to the eye. The menu is wonderful, maybe traditional but elevated to fine dining. The tamales were melt in your mouth. The Octopus grilled.

Great food at a cute and fun place! Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. The guacamole is to die for and the chicken was amazing with every dish we ordered! Would absolutely recommend!

The food service and ambiance are next level! I have Celiac Disease and to have a place like this means more to me than I can explain. I love hispanic culture and cuisine and am so grateful! We always ask for Dan! You should too! He is a GREAT server! The food is so good we ordered extra!

They say everything is bigger in Texas... Well not when it comes to street tacos. They gauge me two large street tacos. Easily one taco makes 3 small or what I'm used to in the traditional sense. It was delicious! By far one of the best I've had. I ordered a side of beans and rice. I've not quite had beans like this and I've traveled Mexico. I'm more partial to the tradition pinto beans. The rice was good. The atmosphere beautiful and my waitress was helpful and friendly. Definitely a restaurant to book mark! They hv tons of specialty drinks to choose from if that your thing. Spicy to sweet they hv it!

Happy hour food and drinks a really good but I finished the margarita in about 6 sips. Tacos are good, and the rest is hit or miss. Pretty expensive for the amount of food you get.

A friend of mine brought me here a few months back, but we really only stayed for 1 cocktail. But had the Pins-Habanero Ceviche- and I've been DREAMING about eating it again. It's that good. So: The Pina-Habanero Ceviche ($11.50) is amazing. I didn't really taste any pineapple, but the grape tomatoes and other veggies were a perfect compliment to cold fish. The habanero hits you in the soft palate with a gentle warmth. Just, lots of amazing flavors. I could seriously just drink the juice it's swimming in (but that would be rude . Next I ordered the Oaxaca Old Fashioned ($11.50) . Oh my. Have I told you how I HATE tequila? But this... this was smoky like a good bourbon with just that hint of " oh yeah there's a bit of tequila in here" tang. It's wonderful to sip on and compliments the food nicely. I will definitely be ordering that again. Next , I REALLY wanted the grilled octopus dosh but they said they had been out of it for a while and that currently it was very expensive. So instead I ordered the chicken pibil tacos with the shredded chicken (also around $11.50) These were very tasty. The chicken was full of flavor and tender and the spicy salsa they served it with was oh so yummy. The only criticism would be that the tacos were stuffed so full of chicken my tortillas fell apart and I ended up eating them with a fork. But the tortillas were warm, soft, and tasted home made. I then ordered a seranata ($11.50) It had a different kind of tequila in it and that jalapeño syrup certainly gives it a kick. I had been starving so I thought I would try 1 last dish- and I chose the (drat I forgot the name of the dish) but it has roasted bone marrow, carne asada, and roasted corn. It was served with several tortillas. The waiter advised me to spread a layer of the marrow like a spread on the tortillas and then load up with steak and corn. This is a super rich dish and very indulgent- but also very good. The charred corn added a bit of sweetness to dish, which some people will love. But I'm rather savory in my taste and I found the corn to be a little bit too sweet. for me- I missed some heat, and some acid to cut the fatty richness of the marrow. But that's my opinion. There are tons of other dishes I want to try, so I will be back. So my total bill was $70 (plus change & tip). Pricey, yes for 1 person. But this is a tapas restaurant and it would be economical to split a few dishes with someone.

Great atmosphere with unique food and drinks. I wish they were open during lunch time!

Everything was Outstanding! Delicious flavors, Steak Dobladitas was amazing - added the mushrooms as well and it was the best I've ever had, mango margaritas were fantastic! Really good service, too. I'll definitely go back when I'm in Columbia SC!

Best margarita I have ever had. Love all the food. Can't say anything wrong about this place.

Fantastic food and amazing drinks. My only complaint would be how loud it is. There isn't anything soft of sound absorbing in the entire place which makes it really hard to hear the people you're sitting with.

Perfect place for after work drinks! Amazingly surprised by the wonderful environment and delightful tapas and delectable cocktails! The octopus was absolutely amazing tender and smoky! The crab empanadas were simply delicious, the ceviche was clean and fresh and sopas were nice to savory and the perfect bite! This is definitely going to be one of our regulars in rotation.

A new favorite! We went to celebrate my husband's birthday and we loved every bite. The food was delicious and the cocktails were ahhhhmazing! Our waiter, Dan, was super knowledgeable and helped us make decisions since it was our first time. We will definitely be back!

I believe the owners of this restaurant are the same owners of Masa and Salud in Camden (I love those two places so much). Hearing this news, I was ecstatic for Coa, so I went there as soon as I could. Honestly, it was quite underwhelming, especially after being familiar with the flavors from Masa and Salud. Coa just doesn't taste as good. They don't season their food as well. For reference, we ordered the ceviche, the octopus, and the skirt steak. We also got the churros for dessert. I will have to try this again another time, but for my first visit, it was a significant downgrade from Masa and Salud.

If you're looking for a quiet evening, this is not the place - it's noisy! But that is literally the only thing I can say as a critique because this place was fantastic. We had a cheerful, attentive server which is always a bonus. The queso fundido with chorizo was fantastic as were the fried plantains. We also had the shrimp tacos with a side of grilled veggies - delicious! There are lots of menu options depending upon how hungry you are. The taco platters come with 2 nicely stuffed tacos. The small plates are good for 2 people but not a large group. The drinks were fantastic. Highly recommend the Coa Margarita...very fresh and tangy.

Been here several times visiting our son at USC, food and service has always been excellent,will be coming back. Gets very busy on Saturday nights, be prepared for a wait.

Once again I hit my favorite Gourmet Mexican Restaurant yesterday. The best margaritas anywhere. I am so in love with their Poblano Relleno that I find it hard to try anything else. My Bride and myself, like the Tamal Rajas along with the beans and fantastic plantains!!! Can't go wrong here.