Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Our bachelorette group of 9 ladies showed up at opening and they quickly seated us. We were greeted by the sweetest waitress, Althea, who took the best care of us. For apps, we ordered the street corn queso, crispy brussel sprouts and crab crake bites. For our entrees, we ordered various tacos, quesabirria, and nachos. Everything was delicious. The meats and flavors were cooked to perfection. Great twists on Mexican favorites. We loved the brussel sprouts app so much that we had to ask for the recipe, which they happily shared. We highly recommend this spot if you need to satisfy your Coastal Mexican cravings.

Great experience! Sitting at the bar, expertly tended by the talented bartender Adam, was a highlight of our visit! The new menu options are impressive, & we particularly loved the Mexican-themed flavored wings. The jalapeño + dry rub wings were crispy & packed with flavor. Highly recommend!

We came here right as they opened on a Thursday morning. Our server greeted us quickly and took our drink orders. I went with a Jalapeño Margarita, which was delicious. We ordered the Triple Dipper, which was salsa, guacamole, and queso. It was very good but really could’ve had more chips. And the menu showed a charge for extra chips, which is a disappointment. I ordered the Baja Fish tacos, and while the flavors were good, the piece of fish was pretty small. The rice and beans had little to no seasoning at all. I’d say with the number of choices for Mexican style restaurants, set your expectations for this place to average. Or choose another.

Beautiful open-air atmosphere if you wish to sit outside with amazing shading, or plenty of seating if you wish to be inside as well. Happy hour drinks were delicious, but if you are a "drinker," i suggest you ask for an extra shot to get the extra kick. I had the street corn queso and BBQ chicken tacos both tasty as well. My server Naj and Cody who was the manager on duty were so pleasant, kind, and always available to assist if needed. Very dog friendly; even asked if she would like ice in her water. I couldn't ask for a more pleasurable experience. Thank you for your great hospitality, and I'll for sure be back as well as spread the word ❤️

I was reluctant to leave a review here because I came here for a Wine and Food event with a tasting menu but I truly believe that even after eating from this menu that their food from the regular menu has to be just as good! Every course was packed with flavor, texture and enjoyed it with a margarita! The atmosphere was vibrant and fun and I definitely want to come back and try their regular menu food. Big shout out to their amazing staff,Morgan and G4 tequila for putting this together!

Been plenty of times over the years but recently went back for the restaurant week menu in January. It was such a great deal we couldn’t pass it up and the food definitely made us crave their menu again! We started with the Brussels which packed an unexpected heat punch and were great along with the tortilla soup which was thick and hearty. We had the chicken fajitas and short rib enchiladas which were both fantastic. Apparently the best enchiladas he’s ever had! And for desert we’d recommend the tres leches.

We highly recommend Mex 1 for its outstanding food, exceptional service, and vibrant atmosphere—our perfect spot to unwind after a long day. We start with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Shrimp Taquitos, then dive into tacos (we love them all). We often take home a burrito or enchiladas (my guilty pleasure: topping a portion with sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast, sometimes mixing quarters of each). Dessert is always shared Tres Leches—pure bliss. We love hanging at the bar with Adam; he makes great margaritas. My wife prefers sweeter drinks, while I'm hooked on the Shark Bite with its fun shark "pet" garnish. We dine here frequently to keep it thriving—always a great experience with top-notch food and vibes.

I went here a few years ago and was not impressed at all. I came back this past weekend and I'm glad I did. I don't know what changed. New management, new cooks, new menu, something. Whatever changed good for you! Definitely will be coming back. The street corn queso was so good. The quesadilla was awesome, the nachos were plentiful, and the seared tuna taco was delicious.

I popped in on my lunch break to Mex1 for the first time and I couldn't be happier with my first experience. I just started small and tried two of their $3 Street tacos special for Taco Tuesday and they were delicious. Everything from the chips and salsa to the tacos tasted very fresh and yummy. My food came out fast too so I was able to get in and out before I went over my break time. Mallory did an excellent job, it wasn't busy but she was still attentive and making sure I was doing ok. Nice vibes in the restaurant too. The only snafu I would say that this place has is its parking. There aren't many spaces when it's busy obviously but they also seem a little bit smaller in width than normal, or maybe I'm just being a little too cautious who knows lol . All in all, I will definitely be back soon and will maybe try something new next time. Thanks for a great quick lunch Mex1 Coastal Cantina.

Great service, lively atmosphere, and great deals for happy hour. The fall specials are really appealing and experience is always consistent. Nachos are next level!

This is a great place closeby to get a bite to eat - I love the street tacos on Tuesdays. They have them for $3 each, and it's a great deal!!

This place is a must. The house margarita was great and the nachos were really delicious. They use a liquid cheese which I wasn't expecting but it really works. We also added beef to the nachos which was great. Vibes in here are beach coastal and it's honestly a mood. They also advertised a Taylor Swift themed drink which was cool being a swiftie myself.

I came here for happy hour, and was impressed by their margarita and hydrator drink. Both were fairly priced at six dollars each. I also really enjoyed the chips and queso! The chips were fantastic. Parking is abundant and they have a nice outdoor seating area, though it can be kind of loud because of their location near the road. Service was a little off during my visit, but I think it might have just been a bad day.

First time to Charleston, first time to Mex1, first impression was a delight. Taco Tuesday!!!! The atmosphere is active. TVs throughout for viewing various events. Full bar. Outdoor seating optional. Waitress was pleasant and knowledgeable of menu. During the day, family friendly. At night, trivia night Tuesdays and I'm sure other lively activities on other nights of the week. The MexiCali Burrito! Everything rolled up in that, yes, even the french fries! Cheese, yes! Get this again, YES!! First time to Charleston or back again, stop by Mex1 for your Taco Tuesday or any day Mexican food cravings.

I've only been once and it happened to be on Taco Tuesday. I sat at the bar. Staff was very attentive overall Great vibe and value.

Been a handful of times. Has that nice skate/surf decor vibe, which, I'll take any version of that around here I can get. Servers have always been great, never been left alone long or treated like I was being annoying for asking for something. Tacos haven't missed yet, haven't wavered elsewhere on the menu because I don't want to. The buffalo shrimp one which is typically for most places a "we need to fill this space on the menu with something" last minute add that usually sucks is actually really good.

Family friendly love the pricing and the atmosphere is super chill. Great service and delicious food! 2 locations, Mex 1 located on Sullivan's Island and West Ashley Free parking Kid friendly - Maverick's fave is the shark attack drink year round! They also have a great kids menu! I love that they have lighter fare options alongside their carne asada fries, we got the triple dipper to share and their Caesar salad and Baja bowls are seriously gigantic and really good! They also have outdoor seating, chill vibes, and @kingofpops for dessert options for the kiddies!

Place has gone downhill - trying to like but not working - staff hardly there (bar) - would visit Mex1 often but given the lack of attention with staff I do not see the point.

Stopped in for the first time on Veterans Day. This is a Family oriented establishment that is good for locals. The beer was good!

Sam Coco held it down great server. His service was timely and thoughtful. The food was great.

I am so happy I found this spot! I've known about the hype in Sullivan's but never made a visit to either location. Came here for dinner with a friend and we were both so happy. The service was super friendly and crazy fast. I'm vegan and got the mushroom burrito bowl thing. It didn't sound all that exciting but it was insanely good. The mushrooms were absolutely phenomenal, I like mushrooms fine but very rarely get excited about them. Another surprise is that it was so affordable compared to similar restaurants in Charleston! My bowl was a LOT of good quality food for under $15. Great vibe for a social dinner.

Mex 1 is a great place to watch a game or casually hang out. We came in a Monday night for trivia and were able to find parking in the back lot and find a table for a rather large group. Our server was very attentive and efficient and handled all different orders and requests perfectly without missing a bit. I stuck a the Mexican ashtrays which are Tecate cans with lime and hot sauce , and for my diner I had a steak quesadilla . The quesadilla was good and large enough that I was able to bring back a quarter for lunch the next day. Lots of fun , great food and parking, check it out!

Mex 1 yummy Baja-Mex food and solid Margaritas!! Love the bang'in shrimp tacos and Baja Fish tacos. Hey the Chips and Salsa are a great way to start the meal off!! Add some Queso ohh so good! Today I'm having the Bang'in Shrimp Tortas sandwich plus seasoned fries!! Ohh soo good!! Mex 1 has a solid menu with great variety!! Easy 5 Stars !!

Great food, great service, cozy atmosphere! Authentic dishes and fresh salsas! We will be returning on a regular basis.

While the tacos and the chips and queso were good, half of the draft beer system was down, so my meal wasn't complete. There was trivia going on, and the sound system was obnoxiously loud. I would give it a second chance, on a night without trivia, and hopefully the draft beer would be up and working again.

Visited Mex 1 recently with a couple friends on a Sunday afternoon. The server saw that we were catching up and was very patient and friendly while we decided what to order. We ordered a couple drinks and then dinner, and everything was great. My friends got some taco specials and said the tacos were really good. They enjoyed the flour tortillas. The chips they brought out were fresh and crispy, and the salsa was perfectly seasoned. My friend got the Mexican street corn as a side and she said that it's consistently one of her favorite dishes. I ordered a Cabo salad with steak. The steak was tender and flavorful and the salad was a good size and well-dressed. The restaurant space is big, clean, and nicely decorated. It's family-friendly and not too loud while still being lively. We'll definitely be going back!

This place real nice vibe and set up. Seaside cantina vibe. Service is normal. Food...not sure if it was an off day or what but the salsa was sweet, lacking onion, jalapeño, and garlic lemon flavor. The rice beans bland. I got the three taco platter. Seared tuna, pork and pineapple, and the short rib taco. The tacos were lacking flavor or the flavors were off. They didn't mix well. They don't marinate the meats well. The tuna was the best of the three. Sear tuna, pickled ginger and some aioli. Flavor profiles were off. Did not suit me. The pineapple pork was sad. The pineapple salsa by could not decide if it was a pico de gallo ish or pickled salsa. The pork lacked depth. The short rib tacos meat was not marinated. There was some weird orange puree that I have no idea what it is. It needs to go. I'm not sure if it was there to help mellow the pickled onions but it was like savory pumpkin puree. Just no for me. The pickled onions...I think they pickled themselves. They used oregano or basil some Italian herb that does not belong. I hope this was an off day. If you're looking for fusion it's pretty poorly executed fusion. If you're looking for fun vibes and nice place. Not sure for food. I'll have to try this place again to check maybe my opinion will change.

The queso is soooooo good! Unfortunately everything else was basic. The mixed drinks were a complete joke. The tacos were bare minimum. I have higher expectations on tacos being from Texas so not sure if my take on the tacos are fair. Every person from Charleston really likes the food so hate to be so harsh but the tacos were just not great. Beach vibe was great, enjoyed sitting out on the patio eating and drinking.

I'd been here a few times but not in a couple years. I was never impressed but a friend wanted to go so I decided to give it another try. While the location is cute, the parking is horrible. The server was extremely friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. The food itself though is terrible. I ordered the shrimp Baja bowl. To add shrimp it's $6 and you get 6 tiny shrimp. The rice tasted like undercooked minute rice. Overall the bowl was dry and just lacked any flavor. Bowl my friend and I asked for one of their salad dressings (which they were happy to bring us) to try and give it a little flavor. It helped but only slightly. I could make something much tastier at home for a much lower price. Unless a friend really wants to go here again, I won't be back.

Food is not good, not authentic tasting Mexican food at all. Prices are high. Atmosphere is alright, service sucks

We passed by this restaurant on our way to our vacation home in Folly beach. My husband spotted the sign and suggested we go here for dinner on one of our first nights in South cCaolina. This little restaurant was probably some of the best food that we had in our entire vacation, and we found it by accident! The salsa was very fresh, the cocktail menu had some unique things to try and the food was delicious. It has some outdoor seating, but most of it is inside. Our server had been with the company for roughly 10 years. He was extremely knowledgeable, had recommendations right off the bat when we asked for them, and he really made us feel very welcome. My husband had street tacos and Mexican corn which he was really looking forward to. He also had queso as an appetizer. I took the server's recommendation and had a steak quesadilla as well as their complimentary chips and salsa as an appetizer. It was all really good! Two downsides, it's easy to pass on the street as it's a standalone restaurant in a fairly nondescript building that you could pass by quickly if you weren't paying attention. The parking lot is pretty small too. You could easily get shut out of dining here if you don't find a parking spot. We highly recommend this place and will certainly be back when we return to South Carolina!

Pleasantly surprised with this last minute decision! The tacos are AHmazing! The service was impeccable. We also ordered the trio of dips, so super yum! The nachos are huge! The fish was absolutely perfect on the tacos. Ambience is fun and the restaurant is clean. We will be back time and time again. Next time we will take photos, we were too busy eating!

Great food, plenty of tvs. Casual and easy going. Service was a little slow but for a holiday week understandable.

Dropped in midafternoon for a late lunch with the kiddos- our service and food was perfect for our little group. The waitress was attentive and brought out crayons and coloring paper for the kids. The environment is playful and colorful, as well as spaced out and clean. Baja bowl and fish tacos are a must. The refresher is the ultimate (and most dangerous) drink- you can drink them all afternoon!

Mex 1 is a great place for drinks! The painkiller and the original marg were both delicious but we have had other drinks as well that were all equally as good. Chips and salsa are provided to the table. We tried the carne asada fries and they were delicious as well. Fast and affordable!!

Service was great! Had the cutest, sweetest server ashlee! Wow great! Bangin bowl 10/10, rocking awesome. House margarita's are hard to come by for good quality, mex 1 has the best!

Great food, service and riverdogs always passes out coupons at games! Cheers and go dawgs!

We were in Charleston for just a few days, but this place was so good that we went there twice! Tacos are great. The corn side is delicious, and the chips and queso are tasty.

Fun environment and we had good service. Tavis were good, queso was delicious. We ordered 3 different margaritas at our table and they were all just okay. One tasted very watered down.

The complementary warm chips and fresh salsa, with a variety of hot sauces to help kick it up a notch, was a nice way to start the meal. The great drinks kept the meal on an upward path. It was difficult to pick from the many Margarita's but I tired and I loved Pineapple Habanero Margarita, while the wife tried and loved her Cadillac Margarita which included Grand Marnier. The wife thought her Baja Taco was one of the best ever, while a enjoyed 1 grilled Mahi Mahi, 1 Pork Belly Taco. We split a side of street corn which we both greatly enjoyed. We also split but did not like the zero flavor Serrano Jicama Slaw We both followed our taco's up with Baja Bowl. Had we realized how big the bowls were, we might have split one, or skipped the side dishes Considering the quality and quantity of food, I would say the prices are more than reasonable, if not down right cheap. Clearly a spot we will try again and again.

The food was extremely upsetting. I ordered the mexi-cali burrito, it came out cold, with the liquid plastic like cheese (queso?) already forming a film from cooling already, it was not visually pleasing to say the least. It was relatively small and definitely not worth the 15$ paid. The waitress was nice, however never offered to refill any drink. The Michelada was terrible, if you are thinking about it I would strongly advise against it, it had the consistency of soup and warm. The restaurant itself was very clean, just the food was not satisfactory whatsoever.

I love the menu more than Azul's. The fresh catch fish salad is SO GOOD. Kid-friendly and casual.

This is not a review for the restaurant, but for a Covid event, they held in conjunction with the Post and Courier. It was not interactive, but you were on zoom watching Morgan Hurley and the P&C rep talk about the ins and outs of making a refreshing margarita and delicious guacamole. And, my husband and I had a great meal after this fun time of joint kitchen counter time together. https://www.postandcourier.com/virtualevents/how-to-make-the-perfect-margarita-and-guac/article_a08c54d4-fea0-11ea-89ee-5f611c346269.html

We went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. It wasn't busy. The server was nice, but slow and inattentive. Not one refill of my water. The food was not good quality. The chips were bland. I got the three tacos platter and felt disappointed by all three - steak, carnitas, and chicken. The meat was poor quality and the flavors were off. My friend said the shrimp taco was good though. One of our forks had food on it when we unrolled it from the napkin. I've been to the Sullivan's location multiple times in the past and the food and service progressively worsened over time. Similar experience at this location. I can't see myself visiting either location again.

Love the casual but great vibe. Our service was wonderful but noticed that all staff were working very hard, nice to see! Food was great, we tried the Queso con carne and an assortment of fish and beef tacos. Delish! Pineapple Coco drinks were amazing! Would definitely recommend

You get free chips and salsa soon as you sit down. Which is always a bonus. The Baja bowl was full of flavor. The crunchy shrimp, sweet sauce mixed with beans rice and guacamole was an amazing combo. I highly recommend this meal.

I had the Pineapple Margarita for the 1st time and it was so good! I had a virtual happy hour meeting and it was perfect. I definitely love a good sip. I can't wait to try some others.

My girlfriend and I have been wanting to stop here for a while and we finally decided to today. We came in on empty stomachs and ordered a pitcher of the habanero pineapple infused margarita hoping to take a Uber home but we're surprised when neither of us got slightly buzzed after finishing the entire pitcher. $50 pitcher is a bit steep for how weak it was poured. The infusion of the drink tasted great but we're legitimately convinced we ordered nonalcoholic margs. Other than the drinks, the bangin shrimp bowl was delicious and the staff was very friendly. Still looking for our go to Mexican joint!!

I came here during my bachelorette weekend and we had a great meal! They don't usually take reservations but accommodated our group of 8, which we really appreciated. The pineapple harbanao margarita was so spicy! I normally can handle spicy things but this had a LOT of kick. I switched to their special watermelon margarita and liked that much better! The tacos were tasty and a good portion size. I had debated getting three tacos but two was the perfect amount (especially if you order guacamole and queso to start like we did) I opted for the Bangin Shrimp and the Cantina Chicken, and both were delicious!

I went this evening with my little boy and was greeted by a young kid and given a table immediately. Would give that kid kudos for doing his job. Now I understand if you are busy but do not ignore a table for 10mins. Not one person said anything, did not even offered water. No one greeted us the entire time we sat there. When we informed one of the workers we decided to leave his only reply was "ok". No concern why a customer was walking out the door. It was really a testament to the care for customers this place has. Not sure what's going on with this place but i cant imagine treatment of customers in this manner is good for business. Hope the management will make some changes.

I have been wanting to leave this review for a while now and I kept saying maybe it's just an off day for the cooks or the expo to ensure food is made properly or to the menu/request of the customer. Today, my wife ordered two tacos with a lettuce wrap but they only brought one out to the table but with a tortilla. The server had to take it back and had it remade. Also, the amount of toppings in it has become non existent from previous visits. That wasn't the biggest issue. That came with the big mamas nachos. I only ever get cheese on it with whatever meat I select. It usually is great with the amount of queso but the meat amount is always different. Meaning the amount I get is never the same. Today it was pathetic and it was five dollars for steak. My wife has more steak in her taco. Her taco! I know I am a man child when it comes to my nachos but for 17 dollars you would expect to have a decent amount of queso and a proper amount of meat. Plus they put shredded cheese on my nachos, not on the menu and wasn't asked for. Very disappointed in the quality of food that has been served consistently now and wish it was different. It's to the point my family will stop coming and this was a weekly/biweekly place for us. The Manager talked to all tables around us but didn't even come see us to follow up. I know she knew because when our server went to the kitchen to request more steak and queso, she peaked around the surf boards and looked right at me. For the future, please have a set standard in servings. This will help prevent any issues with quality and service. I posted this review also to Facebook but never got a response. Very disappointing since this was our favorite place to go.

Wonderful outside table, excellent foods and professional service! There are huge selections that I'd love to try more. I spilt my margarita after I tasted one sip it. It was totally my fault, and I admit that I could've ordered a new one, but the server offered me a new glass without charging as soon as he found my glass was empty. I appreciated his attentive service and kind offer. Such gesture makes my visit even more pleasant ontop of great foods. Only a downside is small parking areas compared to the quite a lot of customers.

I just like that this place is a chill low key environment. It's in West Ashley, but I feel like I'm a bit closer to the beach when I walk in here. They have happy hour, 4-7pm. The hubs enjoyed a Mex1can Ashtray and they are only $2 during happy hour. We shared an item that was on their Instagram but isn't actually on the menu, Bam Bam Shrimp Nachos. Let me tell you, I'm 5 months preggo and I can put some food away but between the two of us we could not finish this!! It is a lot of food!! They may ask you if you want the big or the small version, we got the big... I totally think it could feed 3 people just fine, maybe even 4 depending on how big/hungry the people are at the time. I got a virgin version of The Hydrator, not but pretty sweet. I've had their margaritas before and I look forward to being able to do that again. Overall a great place for a chill dinner/taco Tuesday or ton of nachos!

Great Mexican fun in an easy relaxed dining location. Staff were friendly and fun, and for early On an Monday evening the place was packed out The food and drinks were great and we would Definitely go back again

This place was good and we came a little before an hour before they closed for quick food and drinks, so we sat at the bar. We were pretty rushed to put food in, but it was a good! They give good portions and the flavors are unique. They also have outdoor seating

Enjoyed National Margarita Day with friends! We went straight from work and enjoyed infused margaritas for five dollars each, chips, salsa, queso and bowls of Mexican delights. Fun place for food and drinks!

The bartender was so nice she told me her favorite dish and I tried it and loved it. The shrimp taco was amazing the sauce they use was so good. She made me a pineapple margarita added strawberry omg the best!! I definitely will be back for more..