Sonora Cocina Mexicana

Really delicious food. The $7 sangria was INCREDIBLE. Really cool tin ceiling tiles and beautiful wooden sculpture on the wall. Well done!

Food here was amazing! Everything was super fresh and flavorful. I cannot speak highly enough of my steak burrito, super flavorful and the steak was very tender! Would highly recommend this place if you are in Asheville and looking for delicious Mexican food and refreshing margaritas. Don’t forget to order the chips and queso, it is so good! Great service as well!

This is some good Mexican food! The tacos are expensive, but they are not your tiny street tacos, they are so worth it. The sauces are great! The bartender was super friendly and accommodating for my friends who has some odd dietary restrictions. Lots of seating, chill vibe. I’d for sure go back.

A sense of community is evident as soon as you walk through the door. Nearly fifty incredible tequilas available, & as many menu options! From the silvery-reflective ceiling inviting you to lose yourself in a dozen-or-so margarita/cocktail options, to the wine & beer options, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose a favourite aspect of Sonora Cocina. Rustic wood floors, bright pictures & accent walls, & an open-style seating area marry contemporary ambience with upscale-causal Mexican dining. A massive plus for me were the gender-neutral washrooms. They are also wheelchair accessible. If you want a genuine interaction with owners & staff, look no further than this instant downtown classic. (Pssst! All margs contain 2 oz of tequila!) Oh, & did I mention that the food is OUT OF THIS WORLD?! UPDATE: this evening we dined again, & had Cheyenne as our server, & enjoyed the fantastic service & delicious food. We also tried a tequila flight (they have tons of options!), & several margaritas (see photos).

Awesome food. Not your Americanized Mexican. The tamale was the best I ever tasted in a restaurant and like homemade. Margaritas freshly squeezed, beef enchiladas tasted great. The Elote I have never had but also great. Did not like the beans at all, but everything else was the best I ever had . Also good service and friendly management

My family and I were passing through Asheville for the evening and came here for dinner. The margaritas are excellent, and all staff members were very nice and more than accommodating. They have a large variety of salsas and presentation of the food was also on point. However, the food overall had little to no flavor. The fish taco was beyond bland with a very tough shell, the beans and rice had no seasoning, and the chips were too hard and lacked any taste. We were really let down since so many others raved about the food, but at least there were some positives that made this dining experience not a total waste.

My wife and I came were in Asheville from out of town and decided to try this place out due to the good reviews. We were not disappointed. We sat at the bar and had a really cool bartender who was very friendly and could make a great margarita. The food was amazing as well. We got the salsa and chips for our starter and the chips came out with 4 different salsas and all of them were delicious. I got the specialty tacos and my wife got 2 chicken tacos and they definitely did not disappoint. If I lived in Asheville I would be a regular here for sure.

Great addition to downtown Asheville. Cool Space. Super friendly service. We had kids that were picky eaters and they accommodated them with exactly what they wanted. The food was so good. Everyone was raving. I'm definitely going back. I like that the menu isn't overwhelming with too many options. Margarita had fresh squeezed lime in it and was high quality. Go check them out for sure! They will be a really popular one soon I'm sure.

Nice little spot in downtown AVL. I wasn't a huge fan of the chips and salsa - I feel like they could've used more salt but then again, I love salt so... The chicken burrito was for me and was really good. It had rice and beans inside, along with shredded chicken. Everyone I was with loved their food too and chowed it down fast. The staff was very friendly and when I come back, I'm definitely stopping back in.

So glad our first choice of restaurant was packed - 100% pleased with entire experience. Food was absolutely delicious. Drinks were very good. Staff was very friendly

This place is a must! Some of the freshest, homemade Mexican in Asheville!! The queso Is delicious, do yourself a favor and add the chorizo! The. Empanadas are some of the best I've ever had! I also recommend the shrimp taco and the potato taco. Let's talk cocktails! Their margaritas are made with homemade ingredients and they are good!! Great drink specials and the sangria is magnificent! The owners are lovely and their passion for their food shines through! They are doing all the right things!!

I'd give it a 3.5. Overall, our first visit here was a great experience because of the service, environment and good food. Everything was fresh and flavorful and their queso was one of the best ones we have had in a while. The prices are a little on the high side, not necessarily what I would've expected for a casual lunch. For two people, we spent almost $60 before tip and this was for chips and dip, queso and two entrees.

First time back in Asheville in a few year. Was searching for some dinner and Sonora popped up. Every time a Mexican restaurant appears, I have to see if they have rellenos. This place did, and they batter and deep fry them, too. Right up my alley. So I arrived about 30 minutes prior to closing. Got my self a classic margarita which hit the spot after a long day. Chips & Salsa were next. Their variety are thicker chips, which were good. Some were salty, and some weren't. It came with 4 types of salsas, pico de gallo, roja, avocado and spicy mango habanero. All, were good. Next up was the relleno, which came on a bed of rice and some beans. I also ordered it with chicken. I assumed the chicken would be mixed in to the relleno, but it was just shredded chicken around the finished product. My only complaint about this dish was that it was topped with some kind of sauce, which ruined any kind of crunch you would have gotten with the batter. But, it was full of cheese which oozed right out upon the first cut. It was actually a lot of food. I only managed to eat half of it. But the flavors were there. Good all around. Tim was the bartender and he was very interactive with me, another small group and a gentleman that came in right before closing. This was a good experience.

My complaint is only about the food. The staff were really great. First issue was that many items were not fresh. The chips were at least day old; The sauces as well. Old, lacked flavor. My quesadillas were good. Rice and beans. Just not sure why but terrible flavor. Sangria was either a mix or just used cheaper juices. Anyway. Big disappointed.

Stopped in to get a couple tacos before a tattoo session. Great service, friendly staff, and really good food.

Fabulous find in Asheville while on a motorcycle ride through North Carolina. We tried 3 appetizers as our shareable meal: chips & salsa (comes with FOUR delicious salsas!), Queso Crisp (think super thin pizza, Mexican-style on a giant flour tortilla) and a Beef Empanada smothered in the creamiest queso I've ever tasted. Very reasonable prices. Our bill with soda and tip was $42.

Good place to stop for a drink and some Mexican food. They have a wide range of food and we enjoyed it, the margaritas were average compared to the food but they weren't bad. Service was good, we were seated and served almost immediately and we were given good suggestions. This is a pretty casual place great for a date or just hanging out with friends. The seating area is large and they have some bar seats.

Was driving through Asheville and stopped into Sonora to grab some lunch. While it's a small place they pack in some good quality grub. I started with the elote appetizer. This has been one of my new go-to apps at Mexican places. This was a great version. The corn was nicely grilled, the sauces and cheese compiled this into a great starter, this may be the new elote bar for me. I got the pork belly torta for my entree which came with home made tortilla chips. The chips were great and had a nice pico laid out on top. The torta was good, but parts of the pork belly were tough, seemed like they had grilled the pork belly which unfortunately didn't render all the fat correctly so there were several tough bites with thick cartilage/fat. Or Perhaps it wasn't butchered correctly.The parts I could eat were very tasty, but the hard bites made it unappealing to be pulling cartilage out of my teeth while trying to eat a sandwich. I guess I expect to not pull that type of stuff out of a sandwich. All the toppings and sauces on the torta were very good. Probably will hit this place up again if I'm in Asheville they had some other items on the menu that sounded great.

Food was fresh and spicy!!! Just like I like it! Tim was super friendly and professional. We were headed to a metal show at the cherokee center. Will be coming back next time we head to Ashville

Great margaritas with homemade mixer. Great cheese dip. Got tostada and tacos...all delicious. Wonderful and friendly service. 13/10 would go again!!!

The queso with chips was good. well, at least the queso. Not a fan of these places that need to stand out with thick but flavorless chips. We had barbacoa, carnitas burritos and steak tacos. Not impressed with any of it. Their rice is overcooked and disintegrated into particles that reminded me of cous cous. I felt the burritos had way too much sauce and had very little fresh ingredients. the meat was forgettable. Not sure what is up with their pico but the tomatoes lacked freshness. Overall, sorely disappointed.

I am always on the hunt for good Mexican food. Sonora may not be exactly what I have been looking for but it was still good and hit the spot. We started with a few margaritas and chips with multiple delicious salsas. I am a sucker for salsa so I got nice and full before my actual meal came. I still managed to eat about half of my entree which was the barbacoa empanadas. The empanadas were good but I didn't love them enough to go back for. My husband was also satisfied with his meal of fish tacos.

I was in Asheville for a trip and I decided to eat here to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately, this was most unbearable meal I've ever had. As a Hispanic person I honestly feel offended that someone could make food this plain and have the nerve to say it's authentic Mexican. Even Taco Bell is closer to getting it right than this place. I ordered the enchiladas with chicken and chile verde and it was not edible. The rice and beans on the side were horrid. I have never tasted rice quite like this and I hope I never have to again. Not only that, but the food was rather overpriced. The chips & salsa and the kindness of my waiter were the only good things about my visit here.

Came Saturday for an early dinner. Pork belly and shrimp tacos were good as were the tostados. Chips and salsa were really solid. Great service. Would go back and recommend it for anyone looking for a Mexican spot in the area

This place is super tasty. I'm a big fan of their tacos and margaritas. Everything tastes really greasy and homemade...because it is. Great center location downtown and the staff is always really helpful.

Can I give a 5++ review. I love me some Mexican/Spanish/Cuban food. I have my favorites in Asheville. I most recently discovered this amazing New Mexican Restuarant in Asheville on Patton!!! Right up the street from another favorite of mine, Salsa. They are 2 entirely different styles, presentation and vibe. Sonoras is now my NEW FAVORITE ASHEVILLE MEXICAN Restuarant. Let's start with the margaritas. Owner Katie makes a mean margarita...all fresh. no mix!!! The food will make you weep with explosions of layered flavors.

I always get the tacos and I find them to be a really large serving size. They need another specials board though because our server didn't mention the specials and we saw when we were leaving that we missed out on some options. I also wish one of the salsas were spicy - pretty mild overall.

My wife and I had a very good dinner at Sonora. Excellent food. Everything was very fresh. If you are looking for great Mexican food (and with a good bar) in downtown Asheville, I'd highly recommend Sonara. Also had a very nice conversation with the owner! We live in Asheville and will definitely be back to eat at Sonora!

Wow, how do more people not know about this place? I was pleasantly surprised by the hot dog. All the food was fresh and tasty, service friendly and affordable! I had a great experience

Best food ever and portions are huge! Friendly wait staff. I will definitely return.

Every time we come here, this place isn't super busy. I don't get why not, it is very good. Service is prompt, food is tasty, and the prices are very reasonable. Had the shrimp and steak tacos with elote. My whole family cleared their plates and were asking if we could figure out how to make their tacos at home. We'll be back!!!

One word - AMAZING. Sonora is just so good! The habanero salsa is one of my favorite things, probably in my whole life. The fish taco is incredible, the different toppings and the amount! The pineapple just makes it perfect. I've never been one to rave on rice-but again, it's just so good!

Delicious, fresh tacos with lots of flavor on double layered, very slightly crisped but otherwise soft, tortillas. Friendly bartenders and margaritas made with fresh squeezed juices and house made syrups.

Stopped for margaritas and some chips/queso. Easy to park a couple blocks away and walked back. Had the house margarita and the strawberry and lavender infused tequila margarita. Margaritas are shaken, very delicious. We watched them make the chips, thick and crunchy. We got the queso with pico on the side. For drinks, chips, service, A+

Its crap food, the rice was disgusting. The meat wasn't cooked at all the taco shells were gross. I ordered the enchiladas the vegetables were all right, wasn't my favorite. They didn't have horchata which I was lowkey disappointed about it. But that wasn't the main problem, nothing tasted good. The avocado was too salty. If you're gonna run a hispanic food type of joint. Make the food is good and serve horchatas. Everything looked weird? The shell of my enchiladas was this really dark brown color? It was gross just tasted burnt and made me almost wanna puke. Anyway hope they work on that crap food and I hope all of you have a crap day. Shart fart Im depressed and this restaurant sure made me even more depressed anyway lol.

Hubby and I came here for dinner on a Sunday late afternoon. They were pretty busy and initially we didn't realize that they were still at 50% capacity. We waited about 45 minutes before we sat down at a table. We were greeted with water and our server was super friendly. We ordered the queso fundito appetizer. I opted for the fish taco and pork belly taco. It came with rice and beans. The queso dip was amazing! It had Valentino sauce and pico de gallo and it really made it! My taco were delish! The lime crema was amazing along with cabbage. I could have drank the lima crema!! Hubby had the avocado and fish tacos and he loved it! He also had the corn elote. It was shucked instead of on the cob and it was also delicious. Everything was very good. We did have to wait about 15-20 minutes but no worries. Their service and friendliness mad up for it.

Made it back to Sonora after Covid . I had the shrimp tacos and they are the best I have every had ...EVER ! My husband loves their burritos . They are also packed with flavor . Thanks for such great food

The decor may be sparse, but do NOT walk past this amazing little find!! We were lucky enough to score a prized seat at the bar, and if you are lucky enough to, make sure you chat with the owner Tim! He lives in Mexico City and does he know his stuff!!! First, I am vegan so it's not always easy to find food beyond veggies and salads at places that aren't strictly vegan! Sonora not only had avocado tacos (yummy!) but also vegan chorizo!! Love me some avocado tacos, but I went right for the chorizo!! OUTSTANDING!! Many Mexican restaurants will give you a huge portion of rice and beans and a little tiny taco...not Sonora! My taco was generously filled and topped with an amazing avocado salsa! My boyfriend had the carnita enchiladas with three different sauces, including the Diabla sauce! Needless to say, he enjoyed every bite! Don't miss out on Sonora!!!

Delicious!!! My family and I enjoyed everything from appetizer to our entrees (enchiladas and variety of tacos). The price was average and the staff are friendly.

What's not to love about this place? It's delicious. The food was very good. I enjoyed the queso dip a lot. The environment/restaurant was nice and clean. The staff wore masks. They weren't the most friendly though, my only complaint. The waitress seemed annoyed the whole time and was pretty slow with taking orders/gettig food out. She rarely came back to check on us either. I would come back next time I'm in town and try some other menu items! The food was great!

The food and service was magnificent! Jonni was our amazing waitress. I got the potato taco and the house. You must come here if you are visiting Asheville!

The food was absolutely amazing! And the service was phenomenal! A true Asheville treasure

Very friend service and amazing food. I would recommend this place to anyone that likes Mexican food. Also great margs!

Did the tourist thing today, including Biltmore Estate, and loved it. Decided to come back to downtown Asheville for a late lunch/early dinner and literally stumbled on Sonora. Took our chances. Best part of our day. Food was amazing. Tim (owner/chef) and Brandon (bartender and our server) could not have been more inviting. Drinks were great and food was off the hook. We will remember our great visit to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. But we will always say "That Sonora restaurant was amazing!"

This spot is a gem! First the staff upon entering immediately greeting and found seating for my party. We quickly were met by a server and got a great recommendation to try the rojo from the drinks menu- wow it paired so well with dinner! The roja and avocado salsa were our personal favs; and the peach was a great bite! We started off with tacos which were filled to the brim and presented so well (thank you because we were so hungry ). If anyone wants a dish to share get the platilllo de carne asada. You're in for a plate of flavours- wafting with garlic, melting and buttery steak, crisp tomatoes and fluffy rice. Please, come support this restaurant and treat yourself to pleasant and fun night out.

Food was awful,server didn't care that we didn't eat it or as what was wrong with. Overpriced crappy Mexican. If you wanna waste your money then support this business but if you want good don't go here.

Sonora has got to be the best Mexican restaurant in Asheville. I come from California and we know Mexico food. This place is amazing, you have to come here.

This is a tough one for me as we have been regulars for a couple of years now. Almost always it's been for Taco Tuesday and a beer. We tried going last week but they were really busy (that's great) and we decided to come back the following week. We were a few minutes early and so stood outside and waited for them to open. It's a very unwelcome entrance with signs plastered everywhere outside the door and windows. There is now so many there's no way you could read them all if you were just walking through the door. Every time we are at Sonora there's a different waitress. Our favorite is no longer there. This time it was a waitress training another gal. The main waitress was very, well, harsh. She rattled off the rules for the place and took our order. My hubby asked for the spicy sauce to go with our chips as always and she told him no, not on Taco Tuesday. Huh? Okay. We ordered the chicken and beef tacos with a beer each. The tacos were not as good as they usually are. They were dry and not very flavorful. 20 minutes in to our meal a gentleman walked in and asked for a table. Mind you, we were the ONLY people in the place. Our waitress told him bluntly that no he could not have a table because those are reserved for 2 or more people. He obviously thought about leaving but then went and sat on a barstool. We were really surprised and it was obvious she wouldn't have cared if he left or not. I absolutely understand the rules and reasoning behind everything that was said and printed EVERYWHERE but the execution was a major turn off. We walked out feeling like we had inconvenienced our waitress and the establishment in general. We were honestly happy to leave and when we stepped out my hubby and I both said we should try somewhere new next time. I am giving 4 stars because this isn't our first time and the food and service before this has been really good. If this were our first time it would easily be 2 stars.

So super delicious!!!! If you want yummy tacos go here! Also get their Queso crisp for an appetizer!!! Pricey BUT amazing food and service! The owners are usually there working and it's a such a great vibe! It's a must when we go downtown! Also great salsas!! I like spicy and their Diabla does not disappoint!

Miserable food, Miserable owners. I used to love this place but the way the owners communicate with their customers is downright disgusting. 1/10 recommend

Great atmosphere, incredible service, and solid food! I HIGHLY recommend the queso fundido with chorizo. It was the perfect size as an appetizer for 2 and was full of flavor. Both the barbacoa and carnitas tacos were good, but the elote and calabacitas stole the show during the main course.

This place looks cool from the outside & also the inside. There's nice art & decor but the food is definitely overpriced for the portions, not to mention the drinks. The cheese dip was very different & good, but like I said, it's very overpriced & you do not get what you pay for.

After reading the reviews online we decided to try Sonora during our stay in Asheville. We have had Mexican all over the world literally, we love it. Sonora was good not great not exceptional. The chips are fried very hard. The salsas weren't bad but I have had better. The burrito though honestly did have a good taste and a perfect size. The menu does not specify that you can only choose one meat on your burrito. So, my husband asked for a shrimp and steak burrito which is not uncommon for many Mexican restaurants to do with an up charge. However, Sonora wouldn't do it and even when my husband asked for the shrimp on the side and he would pay extra it still was not an option. They do have excellent margaritas it was my favorite thing at Sonora!

This spot was a great place for a late night bite. Overall, I thought it was average! I felt the chips and queso were decent, no additional flavor, but did the job. They're shrimp tacos were very filling and pretty good. The margaritas were the best part!! The staff was friendly. I am just not a fan of the less authentic Mexican places. I felt this place was westernized and strayed away from the authentic Mexican I love so much. It was still a great experience and great location!

You would walk right past it in busy downtown Asheville. Don't! Go in and have the best meal with amazing service. They had no problem seating our large group. The food came out hot and perfectly timed. Give it a go you won't be disappointed.

Stopped in for a quick carry out on the way home after work. The food was really great. You know how sometimes a place can make you feel like you're "less than" because you carry out just one quesadilla? Not here. The price was reasonable and my server was great and really friendly.

Excellent tacos! Went on a whim- and glad I did. Quite possibly some of the best tacos I have ever had. My wife and I had two each with the teddies beans and the Fondito queso. More than enough for us. The premium margarita with fresh lime juice was excellent.