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Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
CUISINES
Mexican, Southwestern, Latin, Spanish
FEATURES
Takeout, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Reservations, Live Music
Reviews (430)
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427 results
Traveller rating
235
140
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11
10
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Time of year
LanguageEnglish
Traveller rating
235
140
31
11
10
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All reviews stuffed avocado fajitas street tacos rice guacamole fries charro beans frozen margaritas seated right away valley
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Reviewed 2 weeks ago

The food is amazing!! I had the bacon wrapped shrimp that was grilled , on a bed of sautéed onions topped with cheese. Served with beans , rice and salad. It was so flavorful, can't say enough to express how good it was!!

Date of visit: February 2024
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Reviewed 13 November 2023

The ambience is great and the service was good as well. However, the food is subpar and the Margaritas even more so (basically water). We fully expected an excellent meal based on ratings and location and were very disappointed :(

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 24 July 2023

Interior was comfortable enough, nothing special but you did have a choice between booth or table. Service was good and the waiters personable. BUT THE FOOD! As with any restaurant, it depends on what you order, so we went with our server's recommendations. Molé Enchiladas...and Fajitas with a mushroom poblano pepper cream sauce. We shared and the two together was AMAZING! BEST MOLÉ SAUCE!!!! We will go back.More

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 22 July 2023

I've been twice, and I'm going back tonight. This is my favorite regular spot when I come to visit my son. Family friendly, and food is solid. Margaritas are a little weak, but cheap. I love the fajita quesadilla.

Date of visit: July 2023
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Reviewed 7 February 2023

This place was noted as a TA 2022 Best. Not many of these in the RGV. We were visiting the Arroyo Colorado at Harligen for a hike and visitng the Iwo Jima museum. This place stood out as the place we needed to try during...our visit for dinner. We are glad we did just that. The restaurant has a cool vibe to it. It even offers outside dining but we opted to dine inside as the views were that of a highway. Our food was very enjoyable as well. We had the Fajita Quesidillas and the Fajita Guisada. Both were great. The salsa was the warm version which is sold throughout the region and northern Mexico. It was good not exactly our favorite but surely authentic. We felt the food was easily 4.5 ratins. The only knock we had on this place would be the service. Our server seemed to get lost for long periods of time. She had a couple of other tables but definitely did not keep up with her maintenance of our dinning needs. If she had been attentive she would have at least gotten another margarita out of us on our bill. Our ratings for this place would be: Service 2.5 stars Food 4.5 stars Renown 4.5 stars Atmosphere 4 stars Romantic Appeal 4 stars Value 4 stars It all averages to 3.9 stars. This is a nice dining destination. We are happy to have stopped here.More

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 3 February 2023 via mobile

After a disappointing mexican meal a couple of nights ago, we gave it another try tonight. We drove a few miles to LA Playa. Well worth the effort. The food was excellent and we'll be back. We had combination plates and they came out hot...and flavorful. Give them a try.More

Date of visit: February 2023
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Reviewed 9 January 2023

My friend had a birthday party for me because I turned 70 years old. We had a waiter that was rude and the guacamole I ordered had no flavor served with slices of lettuce with diced tomatoes on top with 2 corn tortillas on top!...This is not how it’s made. We ordered dinner and we’re never given utensils or napkins. We. Spotted them in the corner and retrieved them ourselves. We asked for coffee and the waiter said they didn’t serve coffee ☕️ what? A Mexican restaurant that doesn’t serve coffee. Safe your money and go elsewhere. We will never go back there!!!!!!!!More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 17 November 2022 via mobile

Great environment and quick service! The Milanesa was outstanding! Came recommended and it did not disappoint! Will be going back next time I'm in town!

Date of visit: November 2022
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Reviewed 9 November 2022 via mobile

Completely disappointed with this restaurant. All the food we ordered lacked seasoning. We doctored the guacamole with limes and the chip dip to make it palatable. But our entrees, Marisco soup and a fajita dish, were also bland and disappointing. We actually gave up and...left (we did pay). The service was so slow and uncoordinated on top of everything. Even the margaritas were a disappointment.More

Date of visit: November 2022
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Reviewed 11 September 2022

Ordered fajitas for 2. The onions are barely cooked and the “bed of bell peppers” is a joke. It came with two slices of bell pepper. Meal was supposed to include beans but weren’t given any and we were charged $6 for 3 extra tortillas....We can’t believe we spent $40 on this meal.More

Date of visit: September 2022
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed 4 September 2022 via mobile

Fantastic food. We had the shrimp rellanados (sp?) and spinach enchiladas for lunch. Service was prompt. Everything top notch. Comfy seating though the booths are not for “big guys” like me. We opted for a table. Good ambience. Nice building.

Date of visit: September 2022
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Reviewed 31 August 2022 via mobile

I am living temporarily in Harlingen and went here to meet a business colleague. It was so good I went back the next day for lunch by myself. I highly recommend.

Date of visit: August 2022
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Reviewed 3 August 2022

I am new to the valley, and the food is good. The problem is their service is not on the same level. On two occasions, I ordered the Tres Leches, and it was spoiled. I called the restaurant manager, and he indicated he would refund...23.97$ to the card on which the food was charged. A month later, I have never received a credit for the spoiled Tres Leches.More

Date of visit: July 2022
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Reviewed 22 June 2022

Against my wishes I was coaxed into giving this place another try. The first time was dissappointing. This time was worse we had to wait outside to be seated, no big deal except it is very hot and humid and around 6pm the sun just...happens to be beating down in the waiting area outside. After we were seated our drink order was taken quickly, but it did take a few minutes to receive our drinks, we were ready to order but the waitress was unable to take our order at that moment. Chips & salsa arrived shortly after the drinks. They were gone and my ice tea was also gone before the waitress even came by again, got a refill and she took our order. We waited & waited until I was finally going to ask if our order had been misplaced but we could not get the attention of any of the staff as they all rushed by like we weren't even there. I told my wife we should just get up and go but our meals arrived right at that moment. My wife had ordered fajitas but did not get any tortillas with her meal. She was told that the server would go get them and he never stopped back. My meal was a house specialty chicken dish which had a decent taste except it was room temperature. Obviously it had been sitting in the warming stationfor quite some time. Not only that but the chicken was tough, difficult to cut with the knife provided. My wifes food was also luke warm. Very Very dissappointing, I'm not sure how they get the rating they do because there are plenty of better restaurants in this area.More

Date of visit: June 2022
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Reviewed 16 May 2022 via mobile

The food continues to be delicious and the environment is the best in the city. The wait was no more than 20 minutes, but we expect that for such a great restaurant.

Date of visit: May 2022
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Questions & Answers
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Pat O
10 December 2019|
AnswerShow all 4 answers
Response from Rjquick | Reviewed this property |
Yes. The staff at La Playa Restaurant speaks English and Spanish. All that I have encountered are bilingual.
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La Playa Mexican Cafe, Harlingen - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about La Playa Mexican Cafe

Yes, La Playa Mexican Cafe offers takeaway services.

La Playa Mexican Cafe is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4
  • Atmosphere: 4