Mexican Restaurants | Columbia SC

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant | Northwest/Irmo/Harbison, Downtown, Lexington & Northeast
We were craving Mexican food and I had planned on making tacos at home (a far cry from good Mexican cuisine!) We were out running errands in the Harbison area and as it got later and later, I was on the brink of one of those "we better eat soon or you'll have a cranky hungry whiner/accuser/pain-in-the-tush woman seated beside you in this car" moods of which, after 35 years of mostly wedded bliss, my husband has developed a keen perception of the early signs. (Grunts, sighs and under-the-breath comments) "Why don't we eat at Monterrey?" he asked. "Oh, honey, what a great idea!" I gushed. So off we were to the best South of the Border eats in Harbison. Monterrey is the quintessential Mexican restaurant. It is located off Columbiana Drive in the area across from the mall, behind a bank. Chips, chips, chips... bring me chips and salsa... I am starving! A basket of piping hot crispy corn chips is placed on the table with a delicious mild hot salsa, just chunky enough and just spicy enough. Beer, beer, bring us a pitcher. Okay... there you go. Now we are in business. Now I can relax and look over the menu and happily munch on the chips. If you are really hungry, go to a Mexican restaurant. Where else do they place something so satisfying in front of you upon your arrival? It's like the Mexican restaurant folks get why you are there... "you are hungry, no?" Darn tootin, amigo, so let's get eatin'. Gracias. Monterrey offers the traditional fare but also some interesting-sounding creative choices as well. I would like to try some of their seafood dishes sometime. But instead I went for the chicken fajitas and George ordered carnitas (as in "carnivorous")... big chunks of roasted pork served with tortillas, refried beans, rice, guacamole and pico de gallo. The fajitas were wonderful... they give you so much meat along with sauteed peppers and onions, and very fresh and red tomatoes, lettuce and guacomole for toppings. George loved the carnitas and amazingly ate every bite. It is all so good and homemade. And the waitstaff is really great. Our waiter kept checking on us and making sure we were happy. Thanks, Cris, you have a fantastic establishment. More
114 Afton Court 803-749-5928
931 Senate Street 803-765-1465
5570 Sunset Blvd. 803-356-8314
327 Killian Rd & I-77 803-786-7369