Corto Lima

I had a PHENOMENAL experience today at Corto y Lima. First of all, the happy hour deal was amazing. The happy hour drinks are each $5, which is a great deal for the quality of the beverages. The margarita, especially, was wonderful. I also quite enjoyed my food. I had a crunchwrap that was filling and delicious, as well as the Nachos with queso and black beans. All of this was less than $30 during the happy hour. Definitely a deal to check out! It was also very filling. I ate about 9 hours ago now, and I am still full! The decor and atmosphere of the place is also lovely. Very peaceful and earthy, but bright and open! I spent some time reading and relaxing, and it was perfect! My server, Alex, was wonderful, helpful, kind, and made me feel very welcomed! I really enjoyed Corto y Lima and I can definitely understand why I continue to see it recommended as a great Lexington dining option!

This place surprised me. I was walking by, and it looked busy, so I stopped for lunch. The giveaway for a Mexican tequila bar is the tequila on the shelf. If most of it is low quality, the food is usually not good. Good tequila bars have nearly 100% additive-free tequilas on the shelf. This place has Tequila Ocho, G4, and Cazcanes, which are all excellent, but they also had a lot of low-quality tequilas full of additives. The lunch special was $20 with tax, which included chips, guacamole, rice and beans, and two street tacos. The food was really good, and the portion was solid for the price. The service was not great, but they were busy prepping the bar, so they were probably distracted. They also have their own house-made hot sauces. The flavor is good, but they are not spicy. Overall, it was really good and a bit surprising. I would stop in again.

We dined at Corto Lima Saturday, 8/16/2025 and had yet another great experience!! We started with cocktails and had the chips with guacamole and queso (split order), then had the tamales and Chicken Chicharron and Crispy Shrimp Tacos. She had a peach margarita and I had a mojito then habanero peach margarita. We love the atmosphere and the staff are consistently SPECTACULAR!! Mads (Madison), our waiter, recommended the hot sauce with champagne base and it was so good I couldn't stop using it on my food despite tearing so much it looked like I was crying!! We can't wait to go back; small plates are FUN PLATES!!

If you're looking for a good taco place look no further! My husband and I came here for an early dinner around 5:30 pm on a Friday and didn't have to wait for a table inside. There are also some tables outside. They're known for their margaritas, and I got the watermelon one on the rocks. It was delicious! We got the queso without chorizo. It was nice and thick! It could have used a little more flavor though. The chips were good but a little salty. I got smoked pork tacos which were very tasty. I got the honey jalapeno salsa on the side, which I was glad I did because it was a little hot for me. They put a lot of meat on the tacos, so I think you're getting a good deal for the price. I would come back here again!

Great spot for a quick meal. Easy options to choose. I excellent blend of Latin flavors and a fresh atmosphere. Only been once but looking forward to another visit.

this texas transplant finally found his margarita bar. every thing is insanely good. came for the margs, stayed for the food (crispy shrimp tacos on corn), stayed longer for the customer service.

What an amazing place! Probably the best Mexican food in Lexington! Atmosphere is incredible, place is nice and cozy. Decorating looks great! seating by the window were nice and comfortable. Literally EVERYTHING on the menu looks and tastes amazing. Presentation was great too. Service was fast and friendly. We loved the experience.

This place was suggested by a colleague and sure enough it was in the top places that Yelp recommended as well. It is located in downtown and right on the corner. Inside is well arranged and has a nice ambiance! The food was good but what stood out was the margaritas!! Our waiter said they were #1 in town for Margaritas and that definitely felt right once we tasted ours. Their Guacamole was fresh and tasty. I think the best way to go is to order Tacos. We loved Falafel tacos, Machette Quesadilla was great in presentation but OK in taste. Peruvian chicken was flavorful and a large portion too. Overall service was kind of OK. When we asked for our 2nd Margarita they got busy and I guess the waiter made it and it wasn’t as great as the first one. Hope they will not cut corners to get by busy times like this.

This place hits it every time. Comfortable seating inside. Sidewalk seating that is pleasant on pleasant days. They'll take good care of you wherever you sit. It's a small plate place and every dish is delicious. I've not had anything I didn't like and I've sampled a good bit of the menu over the years. They have an excellent Happy Hour menu. I particularly enjoy the Crunch Wrap and $5 Margs. If you want to learn about tequila, this is a good place to do it. Order a flight and ask questions. This is a Jonathan Lundy establishment and he knows what he's doing. Good stuff in your glass and on your plate.

Any time you are downtown I bet you will find Corto Lima we pass by it every time usually we go down to downtown and it's really good actually so so this place I mean it's great The next thing you will see is likely a bit of a crowd, so Corto Lima might be a little crowded and that's OK and it's really fancy and I hope you like this place really really really good (Liam 6) Now, here is mine. (the mom) we come here all the time. The staff is beyond friendly. The food is always great. They have the best margarita in town. And I'm not just saying that, I promise. Ask for the hot sauce. Love the guacamole. If you're looking for a perfect spot to enjoy great feud and a friendly city this is it. it's our favorite.

Great service. Sat on patio which was nice! Food was wonderful. Food came out super fast! Very flavorful.

If you're looking for a good taco place look no further! My husband and I came here for an early dinner around 5:30 pm on a Friday and didn't have to wait for a table inside. There are also some tables outside. They're known for their margaritas, and I got the watermelon one on the rocks. It was delicious! We got the queso without chorizo. It was nice and thick! It could have used a little more flavor though. The chips were good but a little salty. I got smoked pork tacos which were very tasty. I got the honey jalapeno salsa on the side, which I was glad I did because it was a little hot for me. They put a lot of meat on the tacos, so I think you're getting a good deal for the price. I would come back here again!

Best hot sauce I've ever had and best taco salad i ever had! Solid margs as well. I had to buy a couple bottles of hot sauce and I will be back for more

This popular eatery is on the small side and doesn't accept reservations so keep that in mind when you go. Wait times can be long. We visited early on a Sunday night and we were immediately seated. The service and drinks were excellent. I highly recommend the Rum Punch and any Margarita. Appetizers were disappointing, lacking flavor and the proportions were abysmally small. The Salsa Trio and The Blue Corn Empanadas were not portioned appropriately considering the price $10+ charge. There wasn't enough salsa to even dip a chip in. The Cerviche was 99% pico and 1% shrimp. Next time we will skip appetizers all together. The Chicken Chicharrone was delicious but we did not care for The Green Chili Macaroni. The Crispy Shrimp Tacos were excellent. This was my third choice as they were out of the Mojo Shrimp and the mushroom quesadilla. And my wine choice. We enjoyed most of our food choices, the atmosphere and the excellent service but our bill for 4 people was $200, before tip. This review would have been 5 a five star review, however, the price points and portions are so far apart that I can't recommend Corto Lima as a good value restaurant.

I had a mid-afternoon Mother's Day brunch with my family today, and our party of six had a great experience! I was so happy to indulge in a few (ahem... three) watermelon margarita slushies while spending time with my child, bonus child, husband, dad, and stepmother. We shared a number of tapas, though I ordered a separate order of mac and cheese just for myself. The green chile mac and cheese is my favorite mac and cheese in Lexington! The servers at Corta Lima are always friendly and they SMILE! Great service, beautiful ambiance that makes me want to go buy all the plants, and fresh, delicious food - best Mother's Day ever!

A bustling restaurant with tasty tacos! My group got guacamole, which was very good, and I got the shrimp tacos, which were excellent! It was very loud in there though, to the point where I could barely hear the people at my table. I think I'll only go back for lunch in hopes that it's less busy than dinner. Also because of the busyness, I felt our server was hoping we would leave. She was still friendly though.

Started with salsa trio and queso and chicken chicharron appetizer and nothing was left of any of those 3 dishes. The salsa trio was excellent except the pineapple salsa felt like just chunks of pineapple cut up. Wish it was blended up like a salsa. I ordered the steak anticucho that was a ny strip on skewers with chimichurri and smashed potato and every part of it was excellent and delicious. Friends ordered chicken and beef enchilada and I was able to taste both of those and they were just ok. Service was great and never waited. Restaurant is smaller and packed which creates a vibrant vibe

Can't wait to return! Food and service were great. Margaritas were amazing! This is perfect spot for when visiting town

To start off, I really like Corto Lima. The ambience and service are great. We started off with queso, guacamole, and salsa verde with chips as an appetizer and these are very solid. I also got their special margarita of the week which was passionfruit-pineapple and it was quite delicious. I got the tamales as an entree. I am a huge tamale fan, but these were not my favorite mainly due to how smoky the pork was. It overwhelmed all other possible flavors and all you could taste was smoke, this is personal preference. I would not recommend getting anything with the pork unless you're a big fan of smoky flavor.

Great restaurant in downtown Lexington. The food is fresh and flavorful. A standout entree was the special of the night "Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas with an elote topping". The Smoked Pork tacos were a bit too spicy for me but loved the queso, guacamole, and mojitos. The crab empanadas were spicy and messy. Our last visit the hostess took her job very seriously and had us wait outside to not crowd the bar with our friends

Yummy spot for food and drinks! I enjoyed an express lunch deal with salsa, tacos and a side salad. The prickly pear margarita was delicious, and pretty! Friendly staff and beautiful bar.

They have the best margaritas in downtown Lexington. Prickly Pear slush is my favorite! They also have a good crunch wrap on happy hour and drink specials. It's a cute spot for any celebration or get together with friends.

Great place for a night out. Drinks are fantastic, food is great and servers are attentive. Ambience also great with nice music and cozy atmosphere inside.

This place was suggested by a colleague and sure enough it was in the top places that Yelp recommended as well. It is located in downtown and right on the corner. Inside is well arranged and has a nice ambiance! The food was good but what stood out was the margaritas!! Our waiter said they were #1 in town for Margaritas and that definitely felt right once we tasted ours. Their Guacamole was fresh and tasty. I think the best way to go is to order Tacos. We loved Falafel tacos, Machette Quesadilla was great in presentation but OK in taste. Peruvian chicken was flavorful and a large portion too. Overall service was kind of OK. When we asked for our 2nd Margarita they got busy and I guess the waiter made it and it wasn't as great as the first one. Hope they will not cut corners to get by busy times like this.

We really loved this place. We were in town on a post-football-game Saturday for a concert and wanted a nice, intimate place to get dinner. This place hit all the marks. We got all sorts of food. Our heavy favorites were the queso blanco, anticuchos, shrimp ceviche, and shrimp tacos. We also got a couple kinds of empanadas that were glad we tried but we don't know that we'd get them again. All the flavors were so fun and bright and exactly what we were looking for. We sat at the bar, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was cozy but hustle bustle so it made for a really nice experience. Can't wait to be back!

The Old Guys Pub Crawl loves this place. Everything was good. Young Obie, the youngest old guy crawling with the group, forgot his teeth so he just drank beer. He's not a pretty man but he's a happy guy and Corto Lima made him happy. Happy 70th Obie.

Was excited to try this spot as the menu reads well. We ordered the steak tacos for the kids and shared the shrimp ceviche, elote, and steak plate. All were horrible. Elote was hard/cold and difficult to prepare with the toppings. Steak plate: steak was a poor grade of beef, ordered medium rare and came medium well; "potatoes" were essentially frozen Cisco fries unseasoned. Shrimp ceviche was just okay...no chips and lacked flavor. Steak tacos: same grade of steak and was poorly prepared. Tres leches: overly sweet, poor texture and taste. For the price of the meal, do not recommend.

I tell you hwhat, this place is the bees knees. Killer tapas style, great chips and drinks, packed all the time, and really makes you feel like you're in a small cantina. Highly recommend for date night, birthday, night out, cocktails, break ups, solo dinner, business. Just go

Came for late dinner Friday night. There were a lot of people waiting for seats by the door but since I was by myself got a seat at the bar immediately. Got the mojo shrimp plate, it was good, not amazing. The bar didn't have that much choice for non-alcoholic drinks besides soda and jarritos. I asked if they had a chicha morada (peruvian purple corn drink) and the server has never heard of it. I've had better peruvian food in other cities, this is ok. Service was good and food arrived fast.

John Bernard at Corto Lima recommended Anti-Cochu which was amazing with my Brazilian margarita. He then recommended the Tres Leche and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!! when you go, take a pass on the menu & just ask for John's recommendation. cooked to perfection as ordered and terrific service!!

A fun and festive atmosphere with Latin food! The drinks were delicious (we sat at the bar). We ordered empanadas two different styles. Everything was tasty. Definitely a popular spot!

Love their unique dishes! Also delicious Margarita slush drinks. The specials are usually unique and delicious!

Underwhelmed by this place. Popped in, had a couple of drinks and some food. Food wasn't great, the selection is small. I had their happy hour nachos and they were just kind of a greasy chewy mess (I added steak). The thing comes piled into a cardboard box so toppings just aren't distributed evenly and it's hard to eat. We had some kind of berry margarita, also pretty meh. My wife had the civiche and she said she did enjoy that, so maybe it's not all bad. Prices are also pretty steep for the overall quality IMO. I don't mind paying the prices they want, I just expect better overall quality.

So glad we stopped in for happy hour! And thrilled we found a happy hour that happens every day of the week. This place is so bright and cute and the servers are so nice. Everything was delicious! We intended on only staying for a drink and a small bite, but we were hooked and kept ordering. I was in a wine mood, but my boyfriend loved their margarita slush. We both enjoyed their nachos with chicken and went for some queso and chicken tacos after that. Highly recommend this spot! So good and such great value too!

First time here ... food was exceptional... I had the Masa Falafel Taco Drinks were nicely balanced and perfectly prepared ... I had a Mojito and Mezcal Margarita Leah the server was attentive, warm, and insightful Beautiful interior with cool vibe

A small restaurant. We sat at the bar which was the perfect spot on a busy Sunday evening. The service was amazing! Logan was helpful when inquiring about different margaritas to order. Recommended the Prickly Pear with Salt! It was delicious. Started with the Queso Blanco, it comes with a warm very large bag of freshly made chips. My husband had the Steak Rajas Tacos, which had great flavor. I had the Smoked Pork Tacos, which had a good kick of spice. It was still amazing! Would definitely recommend it! We were just passing through Lexington and went there on a recommendation from someone at our Hotel. We plan to stop again the next time we go through there!

Fantastic experience here on a busy evening. There was a wait when we walked up, and the manager took the time to highlight all of the local spots on the block for us if we were in a hurry since we were unfamiliar with the area. We decided to wait it out and I am so glad we did! The food and drinks were fantastic, great atmosphere, great staff and very quick service. Highlights for us were the blue corn crab empanadas and the pork tamales. The guac was also great! If I was local, this would become a regular dining spot for us, and above all appreciate the friendliness of the management and

Awesome food. Awesome Service. Awesome drinks. The atmosphere was perfect! Would return

Great food, sat at the bar, we had great micheladas, and margaritas. Service was on point. The space itself was really cute.

Are you ready for an experience from a James Beard recipient? This place does not disappoint. I arrive by myself and the place is bustling. There is one spot available at the bar. I love watching them make the drinks and talk to the customers. It is busy but happy vibe. The house margarita is amazing. I ask the bartender what is giving it a smooth but slightly sweet flavor and am told it is a mixture of fresh lime juice and maple syrup. So good! I get the queso and chips and the blue corn empanadas. Everything is absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. I highly recommend!!!

The food is very delicious and the drinks are great. You can't go wrong with either the mojito or margaritas. The service is always great. It is a rather small place but is always packed. Great all around.

The food at Corto Lima was so delicious and flavorful! We arrived and our group of three was seated within 15 minutes - the host and our servers were very kind and attentive! The ambiance inside is very trendy and has touches of Latin American flare in the decor. We ordered several drinks including non alcoholic (any of their cocktails can be made virgin which is nice!). The food came out quickly and was delightful, I look forward to coming back again!

LOVE this restaurant! Such a great experience. Our server was so nice, and the food is delicious. They have the best margaritas and food. We were visiting from out of town and randomly stopped here as we were walking downtown. They allow dogs on the patio and even brought them little treats. When we visited (Sunday) they had a brunch menu that was affordable and so good. I would come here again!

Came here for a family dinner to see what all the hype was about. Food was great but nothing over the top. Service was great and very prompt. I will say though, their guac is the best I've ever had!

Ordered carry out for a late lunch. We got some tacos, the chips and salsa trio, and blue corn empanadas! The empanadas were so tasty and different from anything I've had! The tacos were good, and so were the salsas! They gave a generous portion of chips, but the tacos and empanadas seemed a little small for the price. They were very nice when we came to pick up and had the food out when they said it would be ready.

This place was awesome!! Everything was so yummy!! Service was great I cant remember our servers name but he was so nice and had great recommendations. Also tried a few margs the best was the house and pina colada marg. The place is tiny so definitely make reservations. We went on a Wednesday and it was packed and waited 20ish mins for a table.

I used to love Corto Lima, would tell everyone to go there when asked but the last time I went it changed my mind completely. We went here to get a bunch of tapas to share and we felt disappointed. Everything was lacking flavor and mostly warm versus feel hot and fresh. The chicharron were soggy versus crispy, the empanada were doughy, the Guac was lacking flavor we had to put a ton of salt and lime to make it be worth eating. To top it off the service wasn't great, they just dropped our food off and never really did any follow up with us. Hopefully it was just an off day but it will be a while before I'm back.

We've wanted to try Corto Lima for quite some time when visiting Lexington. We timed it well, and were able to grab a seat at the bar recently. Bar staff was helpful as it was our first visit. The margaritas were quite refreshing and paired nicely with the salsa trio and guacamole, which was nicely presented. We ordered the tamales and the chicken chicharron. The chicken thighs were a little spicy, but we were forewarned about this. Probably will try different entrées/apps next time. So many options!

The service was fast, restaurant was clean, and food was good. The bathroom hand dryer did not work, left with wet hands.

Food was great! We were looking for something different. We all loved the rice and beans. This hit the spot. It was a little pricey for a family of 4.

They don't take reservations, so giving a phone number resulted in a half hour wait or so on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Having been offered a choice of indoor and outdoor seating, their indoor space was quite sunny and airy. I started with a strong and salty limeade that lasted the length of my meal. My mushroom quesadilla was rich, the mushrooms likely marinated, and my elote spicy. The guacamole had a high ratio of toppings, including bits of onion, radish, and limes to be squeezed on top. The amount of chips we got was 2-3 times what you'd use for that amount of guacamole, and everything took a rather long time. They did apologize for the wait and comp some things; I wonder if it's reflective of the general labor shortage. Nonetheless, we tipped based on the full price for those that were working. I was a bit miffed that the online menu was not the same as what was in store, but the number of vegetarian options was good for me (GF clearly marked as well). There's nothing else similar in Lexington.

Food was dry, very small portions. Margaritas were well balanced. Quick service, but weird that front of house is outside - we were dining in on a cold day, and she kept opening the door to seat guests or set up tables, etc. Good ambiance for a small party or date night.

Classic expensive gentrified Latin American restaurant. The food was unseasoned, uninspired, and incredibly overpriced. The beans were unseasoned, the guac had no flavor, the adobo chicken was incredibly bland and honestly go to chipotle and save your money. The ambiance was kind of weird lofi music that got very repetitive. Staff was very nice though! I'd just go somewhere else for something authentic. Lots of white people in the kitchen lol

Made reservations for 2 to meet up with my sis. Place is small but we didn't wait for our seat. Very cool ambiance upon entry, looks to look at! Our server was excellent...answered questions & offered great suggestions. I truly have no complaints! We loved everything from queso appetizer, corn chips, drinks, & our entrees. Definitely recommend and will be returning!

The service was outstanding. The chips were warm and made to order! All of our meals were exquisite. The hybiscis marg was excellent. Quick service, clean bathrooms. Loved it. Those churros were gone so fast we didn't get a photo.

The real deal in scratch made Latin dishes. Great tequila and mezcal selection, we love the Slushy Prickly Pear Margarita! Best tamale in Lexington.

I love the atmosphere & decor of this downtown restaurant! their food was very good and at the time I went, which was early afternoon, there wasn't a long wait.