Guajillo's On The Island

You can not beat authentic MEXICAN homestyle cooking because that's absolutely what you have here. My wife and I ordered the green chicken enchiladas, which were melt in your mouth fantastic. The order menu is limited, but I'm sure it's all good. Same with the drink order, which is beer or soda pop. The service was okay, very quick to order, and also very quick to bring out our meals. It was a bit slow towards the end (busy place) to get our bill, which was payable at the guest counter. So basically, you pay your bill, and as you stand there, you will need to figure out how much to tip. No big deal, it's just the way they do it. There is no paper bill. It's certainly worth stopping if you enjoy authentic MEXICAN food.

Best place within hundreds of miles, they do a slow roasted 24-hour cooked pork loin that you shred into tacos grandfather and I came from San Marcos and eight like Kings. The food alone was worth the drive. Sided with pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole and tortillas of course we ate every shred off that bone and enjoyed every bite.b

True to their word, all the Mex, no Tex. This was a delicious spot after a day at the beach. Come for a casual dinner with finely cooked, authentic Mexican food. Staff made excellent recommendations. If you breathe deeply, you might even think you’re in Mexico.

SIgn says Mex without the Tex; accurate. Authentic Mexican food. We really enjoyed ourselves, 3 x Micheladas with Bohemia, mug well chilled, salted. Appetizer was chips and salsa; the salsa is NOT tomato based, relatively spicy like we like it. Additional appetizer was Guacamole with fried pork rinds. Entrees was Shrimp Tostadas, their award winning pork and a beef plate that I can't recall the name. Photos and not "beautiful" but the food was excellent. This is in our wheelhouse for authentic Mexican. I would/will go back.

Food lacked flavor. The albondigas were covered in a tasty sauce but the meat itself tasted like they were boiled in water. The shrimp cocktail sauce was basically ketchup.

Honestly, I was very Hungry! I asked my husband to get me some tacos. He stopped here, I was recommended the Mole, ONE OF MY FAVORITES! This Mole was terrible And indeed NOT MOLE For 25$ I am Sorry to have to leave a bad review but this was just Honestly such an expensive let down. I genuinely have not tried other items. So I cannot speak for those. Update: The Owner has stated this is not Mole. So Respectfully as a regular reviewer, I am going to give this restaurant another chance and bring in my Plate that is Not Mole I still have :(, to get another Mole. I will review again tomorrow.

This place is amazing!! It's Mexican food. Not Tex Mex. This is real Mexican food. Everything they make is so good!

Hands down, the BEST Mexican food I have had the pleasure of eating. Employees were friendly and attentive. I will definitely be coming back to this quaint little restaurant in the future. We ate about half of the freshly made chicharones before I took the pictures.

Wow!!! Small but mighty powerhouse! The staff is super friendly My husband ordered the special. A pork shank! Holy smokes this was amazing. The meat was beyond tender. I ordered the chicken in mole sauce! Yum! The chicken was fork tender and the mole hit just right. Next time we're in town, we'll be coming back.

My family and I stumbled upon this restaurant while on spring break in Corpus. The dishes we ordered were the pork shank, Chicken enmolados and kids steak meal. The pork was cooked to perfection in an adobo sauce that just fell off the bone. The mole sauce for the enmolados was a hint of spicy and sweetness balanced to perfection. The homemade chips are nothing like I ever tasted. They came with a salsa and both was awesome. The steak on the kids meal was nice and tender. Will be back.

Helpers said it was good and they were right! Wow! I enjoyed the tortilla chips and deciduous salsa to start with accompanied by a Pacifico. Then I was served the chicken mole plate that was some of the best I've ever tasted. The beans and rice were truly flavorful so the plate was uniquely special and good! They advertise as "Mexican without Texas" and that is how I'd describe the authentic flavors and cooking. You won't go wrong by enjoying this restaurant out on north Padre Island!

WOW, all fresh and true Mexican food not Tex Mex. Absolutely amazing owner and authentic, fresh, beautifully cooked food that my mouth waters about just writing this. I would drive 3 hours from Houston another weekend just to go here, have breakfast, go to beach, go back here for lunch then sadly leave. A must stop for anyone on the island here. You will keep going back.

I drove 3+ hours from Houston to try this place. The reviews were just too good to pass up. It did not disappoint overall, particularly the food flavor. The food was a solid 5 stars. Everything we ate was delicious, particularly the birria and the pork shank. Everything was perfectly seasoned and came out the ideal temperature. The birria was spicier than expected, so keep that in mind. The ambiance was ok. It's a smaller joint than expected, and nothing fancy. It was clean overall, including the restrooms. The service was good and the waiter and waitress were nice. We were seated promptly. Check out takes place at a counter, not at your table, but it was quick (the minimum tip recommended on the iPad is 18%, in case you care about those details). The reasons I couldn't give my experience 5 stars: - We were not offered chips and salsa. We had to ask after our main dishes came out. Asking for a refill felt like a chore. - We never had our drinks refilled. Given that the birria and salsa were spicy, it was a bit inconvenient. They were busy on a Friday night so we didn't think it was worth flagging our wait staff down for refills. - The count of tortillas that came with our pork shank dish was stingy. We had a party of 4, and when we asked for more tortillas so we could finish the shank, they gave us 3 tortillas. I would have been happy to pay for the extra tortillas. Overall, I would highly recommend this place if you find yourself near Corpus Christi. I would definitely come back.

Their slogan is the Mex without the Tex, and they absolutely nailed it. After being a 2 separate trips to Texas and searching for a good Mexican spot each time, I'm happy to say Guajillo's more than satisfied. On a 4 day trip we went here twice, the first time I got chicken chilaquiles rojo and the next I got enmoladas. I truly don't know which I liked more. The rojo was a little bit more sour and spicy, and their mole was sweet, but not overpowering. Lastly, I've got to shoutout that their (I think habanero lime garlic) table salsa is the best I've ever had and their table chips were house made and fantastic. When we went in the first time our service was top notch, the waiter was really happy, checked in often and made good suggestions (get a michelada). Ambiance was great, it's a little small but feels very homey. TL:DR: Best Mexican food I had in Texas and probably top 3 of all time for me. Fantastic and the only thing worth going to Corpus for.

Small place with great authentic Mexican dishes. I had the chicken mole which was the best I have ever had anywhere.. even Mexico. I want to go back for the pork shank and the enchiladas... maybe next trip!

The food is delicious and the family that runs the restaurant is as nice as can be. It's a small restaurant so it can get crowded and loud, but I've been on a slow Sunday evening and a busy Wednesday night. No matter how busy the wait staff takes great care of you. The salsa is crazy spicy, but oh so good.

This is my all time favorite restaurant in Corpus Christi! They serve authentic Mexican food and the menu is not huge like a lot of places. My husband and I were having a hard time deciding what to order. A customer sitting at a nearby table who was a regular offered some suggestions. Here is what we ate: Totopos and Salsa - Two baskets of chips come free and then it costs $3 per order after that. Chips are crunchy, salsa has good flavor and is not spicy. Poblano Beans Appetizer - $6.75 Soooo yummy! Mole Poblano with beans and cotija cheese. It comes with its own chip basket. The mole is to die for! It is so smooth and rich! Birria Soup - $18 Beef birria comes in its own consumme as a soup with lime, cilantro, and onion on the side. We ordered a side of three handmade corn tortilla for .75 cents so we could make tacos out of the meat. The broth is spicy and taste heavily of chilis. Just delicious! This is a family owned spot and well deserving of their #3 ranking on Yelp's Top 100 Restaurants in Texas. You must visit Guajillo's when in Corpus! It is worth the price!

Really great food. Our waitress was so nice and explained all the specials very well. Some of the best Mexican food around.

I just happened to stumble upon this restaurant since it was a few miles away from my client site. The restaurant isn't anything fancy from the outside, nor from the inside, but at least the interior is clean and somewhat modern. It is fairly colorful with lots of woods. The pictures, or murals, on the wall are all square and consist of 9 panels each. In summary, since this restaurant is so different from the mostly tex-mex restaurants in town, and the food is really good, service is family-like, it's hard not to give them 5 stars. There is a nice size menu, but everything sounds so good. It will remind you of thai or Chinese restaurants since there are pepper indications on many of the menu items. It was a tough choice, but I narrowed my decision down to 3 pork dishes, the pork in pepper sauce, cochinita pibil, and the pork shank. Since I like spicy food, the waitress actually recommended the pork in pepper sauce over their specialty item, the pork shank. I also added avocado slices for 4.75 more. You start with chips and salsa, but neither the chips nor the salsa are like most Tex-mex restaurants. The main pepper used in the salsa is guajillo, similar to the taste of salsas you may find in Honduras, or other central american countries. Tomatillo peppers are also added to the salsa. The chips are thick and crunchy with lots of texture. The pork in pepper sauce comes out on a plate in chunks swimming in the sauce. I didn't feel it was very spicy even though the menu says it's 4 chili peppers. There is also rice and beans on the plate, which are like a central Mexican style of beans. The dish comes with 3 corn tortillas. They do not serve flour tortillas here. The entire menu is supposedly gluten-free, except for the Fideo soup. I was going up to the hostess stand/cash register to pay and saw the sign for homemade ice cream. They have Limon and coconut. I chose coco. It comes out in a sundae glass. This is obviously homemade since there are pieces of toasted coconut throughout. I would say it's a little on the sweet side due to all the sweetened coconut flakes. The color of theirs is also a tan, similar to butter pecan for conparison. My biggest complaint is probably the prices, which are not going to cater to everyone... especially those used to paying $7 or so for a Mexican dish at a cheap Mexican restaurant. They are also very proud of their avocados and guacamole too. For a side of avocado slices, it's $4.75. I looked at older menus and it was over $5 on those, so the price has come down, but I feel it's still more than most places charge for adding a few avocado slices to your entree.

Great food! Would definitely recommend. The salsa was perfect. And the chips were excellent

Best salsa I've ever had!!! I love that they are gluten free because I have a thyroid disorder

This place is just not the same since ownership changed. Went for early dinner and found the service a little challenging. Also the floor was a bit sticky and tables were not very clean. Food was not the quality we experienced before. Just another okay place to eat provided they clean up a little more.

If you want classic Mexican food this is the place to go! The service is great and accommodating!

Floors are sticky. The beans taste sour and the rice is mushy. The service was lacking communication.

Floors and tables were sticky and food was alright the Mexican steak didn't have any flavor. Every plate was around $20 everything was low med on rating and server was slightly forgetting on drinks and items and to top it off $20 on top of our receipt from gratuity when it was a party of 6 but only 5 ppl ordered food

I ordered the chamorro and it was wonderful. It is very large enough for 2 people. The food was great. Service was very good and the place was clean.

This place is truly a hidden gem. Gluten free menu except for 2 items. Beans are not cooked in lard. I highly recommend this place if you are at Padre Island TX. I wish we have one like this in North Texas.

I entered the restaurant with a friend and was immediately called out by the waitress for dress code in front of the entire restaurant. I was wearing a tank top and skirt (she thought I had on a bathing suit). Completely embarrassing and uncalled for. The food was mediocre at best and the service bad. The atmosphere was subpar and definitely not in line with the upscale vibe they are trying to create. Very disappointing. Oh, and they only serve beer and wine so no margaritas here.

A must stop when I'm in town. Delicious food and excellent customer service. If hungry definitely order the special.

Sitting here, about to fall asleep, after the best tacos of my life y'all, I wanted to lick the plate. Service was great, Atmosphere was great, everyone just... trust me. COME HERE if you love yourself and want to have a good day 10/10

Terrible customer service. Unbelievably rude. Not welcoming at all. We'll never go back again.

Service was good! Very attentive. They only have a beer and white license. No Margaritas. I was directed to a pork chipotle dish. Based on my spice level. It was tasty but not angry enough. The beans were good and well flavored. The rice was there. Nothing special. But tasty. They tout that they are number #3 in Texas for some list. And to be honest the sauces were well constructed, flavor and depth were there. But I've just had better Mexican food. There was a constant stream of customers but it was never more than half full. It was quaint and clean. I'm going out on a very small limb and saying this is number three due to location location location. It's close to the island and it's got good reviews. It could be spicy to some with a low tolerance for spice and heat.

The vegan / vegetarian options were great. Very delicious! The waitress was very quick and hospitable.

Absolutely the best Mexican I have had in a REALLY long time, maybe ever. The tomatillo sauce was the best! Green Chile Enchiladas were amazing. Hot, fresh, healthy and tasty. Service was friendly and very quick. If I ever come back to Corpus, this is the spot I will revisit.

Born and raised in Texas. This is in the top 3 best Mexican food for all time for me. Ate here 2 nights in a row. Incredible. Eat here!

Have been here a few times and it's great! Authentic and dishes are all made from scratch. More of a mole or gravy type sauces. Service was great and the wine menu has great selections. Small place but don't let that steer you away. Delicious authentic food.

Fantastic, authentic food, friendly service and comfortable dining room. Will definitely be back.

Had a great lunch here. They don't offer typical Tex Mex. In fact we stopped in hoping for fish tacos, but found out they don't have much in the way of simple tacos. In fact they serve warm tortillas with the meal which works out great. We decided to split one order of Chamorro in adobo sauce. I can't describe how great it was. 5 stars for sure. The pork falls off the bone and shreds (falls apart) easily. Fold it into a warm corn tortilla and you will love it. Add some guacamole and fresh salsa It's a small venue with wooden tables. Service was great. I'd be back every day, but living in Ft Worth makes it a long drive

Food was ok. No carne guisada, fajita, trips, mollejas, or flour tortillas. Had bistek tacos that didn't have much flavor. Micheladas tatasted off. 2 plates and 2 micheladas cost me $49, way over priced for a mediocre lunch.

We had been hearing awesome reviews about this place and finally decided to try it! Let me tell ya, it did not disappoint!! It is a cute family owned restaurant and the staff was so friendly and accommodating. My husband and I both ordered the pork special- the pork literally fell off the bone, and it came with beans and guac and corn tortillas. So delicious!! Everything is gluten free which is a nice perk, especially for those with sensitive stomachs like me haha. The food came out quickly. I definitely recommend if you have family/friends come into town that want great Mexican food!!

We finally made it here! This is a breath of fresh air when it comes to Mexican food. A very different menu with more central Mexico cuisine. The refried beans were like none we've had before...flavorful and spicy! I had chili relleno and my husband had albon digas. Both were very good, served with homemade tortillas. The flan topped off our meal deliciously! Can't wait to come again and try something new!

I can't stop thinking about the meal I had here! Mike was our waiter and he was super friendly and informative. He walked us through the menu and explained each dish in detail, making the meal even more enjoyable!

First timer and the food was amazing! It's extremely hard to find authentic Mexican food that is actually Authentic. The team here is amazing. Pork shank 10/10, shrimp tostadas 10/10, choco flan dessert 10/10.

We visited this place to try it. We had seen good reviews. The complimentary chips were stale and hard to eat. The entrees were good and tasty and pleasantly spicy. The service was OK. Overall a good experience.

Small, casual but charming, locally owned restaurant on the island. The server was very helpful and welcoming, explained the daily special which he recommended. I ended up ordering the special, the Pork Shank Chamorro. It was quite a large portion, but that meat was moist and fell off the bone as you shred it to make tacos, topping it with beans and fresh guacamole. I had plenty of leftovers from the special. My partner had the chicken tostadas which he also enjoyed. Definitely some of the best food I've had while on vacay.

Food was great, authentic Mexican food. I had the grilled Mahi Mahi on a bed of zucchini squash and asparagus. Not greasy and very healthy. Really clean cooking. Corn tortillas only. No flour tortillas. Wonderful flavors. Service was phenomenal. Edgar welcomed us with a big smile. He was extremely helpful. We did have a 20 minute wait but I am glad we waited. It's a small family owned restaurant with limited seating. Definitely worth trying if you haven't. The flan was delicious.

Had such a great experience!! Food was so delicious! Had the pork shank special and it was amazing. Highly recommend. Our waiter said it is a family owned restaurant and the food is like how his dad used to make it and the secret ingredient is love.

The staff - which is family running was so nice and welcoming. They were very genuine. The food was fabulous and the atmosphere was so clean and fresh. The lights were low and made a great atmosphere with no load music. Would go back in a heart beat and highly recommend.Can not remember the name of what I ordered, it was the nights special but it was pork on a bone and as my fork touched it, the pork fell of the bone, amazing and the guac salad with it was perfection.

Food was great, will be back to try more dishes. Salsa is hot but good, has me thinking I should have bought some to go. Service was good but a small place so be patient, island time remember.

This place is awesome. I've dined there several times and will be stopping to pick up lunch today. The poblano beans and totopos is a must every trip. The Chef Fideo Soup never disappoints. The Green Mole Chicken is one of my favorites. Off menu items are announced and typically great. A favorite is the pork shank, slow smoked to perfection. Portions are quite generous. I'll get 2 meals out of most orders. Fernando and his family crew are always friendly and wonderful hosts. This is not a Tex-Mex kind of place. Lots of gluten free and vegetarian options. Do yourself a favor and give them a try!

Wife truly enjoyed her Mahi with vegetables and I tried the chicken enchiladas. Both meals were very good and the service was excellent. Had a nice conversation with Fernando the owner, who was very cordial, sharing his story of how he managed to open up this fine restaurant. We will be back and encourage others to give this place a try sometime...

Finally found real micheladas!! This place is so delicious and authentic. The enfrijoladas were delicious! The chicken enchiladas verdes were so delicious, they tasted like the real deal. The service was super nice and helpful. Regarding prices, it is a bit on the higher end but it is definitely worth it. The place is small and cozy with cool art.

I don't see why this restaurant is rated so high. Service was good. Food is meh. Very salty and runny sauce over chili relleno. Mole was very dry. The pork chamorro was very good. Condensation from a water line dripping on table. They close pretty early as well.

We stopped in for street tacos for lunch, and they were very accommodating and friendly. We were in a rush and they got us our food pretty quickly and efficiently. We got the steak tacos and the tacos Al pastor with some Mexican Coke. I wish we weren't in such a rush or I would've told them how delicious it was. I definitely recommend the pastor tacos. I hope to visit again soon.

Delicious, clean Mexican cuisine. I recommend the chicken tostadas and the chicken enchiladas verde. Service is impeccable and the owners are always very friendly with customers.

I thought this place was overrated AND overpriced. The chips served were wet with fry oil but the salsa had a good taste, just didn't eat too many chips. Enchiladas Verdes came with a hot plate but the enchiladas were barely warm in the middle. I could have gotten these from any other local restaurant $5-6 cheaper! No made these stand out flavor wise. No refill on my water glass. The water glass had condensation and pooling on the table top. I asked for extra paper napkins, TWICE, for my food and (lips) and each time the waitress brought ONE small napkin! Wasn't impressed with the flan either for the price. Parking area is small and there's no designated handicap parking. I would not go back.

Best mole I've ever had. Employees and chef were friendly. Nice quiet atmosphere. Best Mexican north of the border!