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Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
5317 E Independence BlvdCharlotte, NC 28212
Neighborhood: Eastland
(704) 535-4383
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Shawn M. said: "Updating my previous review of Paco's Tacos due to an interesting development.. As I indicated originally they did not have a real hot sauce option. Stop the presses! They have a Ghost Chili sauce now that is.. dare I say.. sweet?!?…" read more »
14 reviews for Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...covered with cheese, sour cream, and avacado slices (and..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Rice and beans are heaping as the sides, and the fresh, hot..."
(in 2 reviews)
"Another fav - machos burrito."
(in 3 reviews)
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14 reviews in English
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Review from Nazima M.
Burbank, CA
12/13/2009
Ive been here a dozen plus times and never left unsatisfied or anything less than stuffed. The one on South Tryon is closer to me, so Ive been only to this location. The hostess knows us well enough to know our favorite booth, and the waiters know my spice level (which is pretty high).
Since I eat seafood and vegetarian exclusively, I just pay $1 extra to get the regular lunch combinations replaced with shrimp, not bad at all. The rice and beans are bland, but upon request they give a spicy sauce that tastes much like habenero sauce to me. Makes me sweat, but I love it! Everything is worth trying once or twice or more, and portions are gargantuan. Enjoy. -
Review from Andrew B.
Coto De Caza, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here from California for a friends birthday.. this was were he wanted to have dinner so they sat 20 of us.
Great staff !!
But I have to say the asada tacos taste like there straight from San Diego!!
It was a welcome taste
AMAZING TACOS! -
Review from Annie W.
7/19/2010
Surprising place really, located in the same strip mall as the sexy shop, happy ending massage parlor, and strip club (oh, and Fu Lin). I was not expecting this cavernous and brightly decorated El Torito-esque restaurant. Service was friendly and quick, obligatory tortilla and salsa were good, and amount of food was ridiculous.
Popeye quesadilla appetizer was tasty, had a ton of spinach, a glob of sour cream and guacamole on top. Machos burrito was giant and nopales (cactus) was interesting, in a good way. Arroz con pollo was gargantuan. I was literally shocked at how much food was piled on this ginormous plate. Definitely enough to feed four people. Tried a bit of the sauce (minus chickens) and it was pretty tasty.
Good stuff. Great food to price ratio. -
Review from Seth A.
Matthews, NC
7/15/2010
Hablas espanol? No importa!!!! If you want cheap, gringo-esque Mexican food served by friendly folks, Don Pedros is your place.
First, they serve freshly fried tortilla chips with homemade salsa (lots of cilantro).
They have lunch specials for $4. And I don't mean Taco Bell-sized portions either. Everything they serve is hearty. If you don't mind the calories, get the chicken chimichanga. Its a fried tortilla, stuffed with chicken, and covered with chesse, guacamole, and sour cream. They serve enough rice and fried beans on the side to feed about three people. Every meal is finished by sopapillas-fried tortillas with honey, cinnamon, and a dollop of whip cream. Muy rico!!!
When I worked nearby, I ordered takeout alteast once a month. It was usually read in 10 minutes or less. A typical entree is around $8. They have a second menu with specialities and authentic Mexican dishes. The wait staff speak English well, so nothing gets "lost in translation" when ordering. -
Review from Julia S.
3/6/2010 1 photo
This place reminds me of the Mexican pavillion at Epcot, a little.
As in overdone, but awesome. Hello, 2 story waterfall. The menu is exactly the same as Azteca's, so that's a plus, since Azteca is decent, veg-friendly tex-mex. Pretty sure they're all part of the same local chain. Service is always over the top terrific and we end up leaving a 40% tip often since the bill is always so low - the most expensive thing I've ever ordered here was 9.50.
Chips are good and plentiful. Nothing here is blow you away, but most of it is passable, sometimes even good. Don't order the huevos rancheros - probably the least impressive thing on the menu.
My favs, at both Pedro's and Azteca, are the Enchiladas de Espinaca - rice, beans, and fresh spinach-stuffed flour tortillas smothered in queso sauce. Yeah, there's veggies in there, but this is heart attack land.
Another fav - machos burrito. I guess eating cactus puts hair on your chest. Its a pickle burrito. It is awesome. Have them add some fresh jalapenos for a kick. Its as big as your head, so you'll take some home - fry an egg, stick it on top, you got yourself 3 dollar brekkie.
And hey, since Skandalos is right next store, you could stuff your face AND see mexican heavy metal, all in one night. Hell yeah.Listed in: Vegetarian Venues in ze CLT, Bootin' the Gluten
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Review from Dave S.
Charlotte, NC
2/13/2009
I have only been to Don Pedro's for lunch (maybe half dozen times), when I am visiting a client in the area. It is very, very good... one of the best (and only decent) places to dine in that Independence area... between Sharon Amity and Idlewild.
Don Pedro's lunch menu is embarrassingly inexpensive! The food is very good... I've even gone off the lunch specials to the regular menu a couple times. I can't vouch for "Mexican authenticity", but it meets my need for something in that vein. Chips and salsa on being seated, and a dessert sweet treat seem to be complimentary, even with the lunch specials.
For a restaurant in a strip mall, it has a lot of true South of the Border feel. The staff is true hispanic (no surprise). Check out the waterfall in the bar/lounge. :) The neighboring spaces are used for a latin oriented nightclub in the evening, so the place does have an authentic flavor.
Plan to pay for a sit-down waited-upon meal for what one might expect to pay for fast food elsewhere! Please tip accordingly (20%+)! :)
I met my sister (from Raleigh) and her daughter there for lunch one day as they were passing through town. My sister still talks about the nachos and the fried ice cream dessert they both enjoyed that day.
Only "complaint" is that they serve the tomatoes on dishes as half slices. I would rather have diced, as it seems to better integrate into the dish. That being said, the photos of the dishes accurately portray that "standard" for the dishes.
I WILL go there for lunch again when I find myself looking for lunch in that mid-Independence corridor. -
Review from Vinnie I.
Charlotte, NC
5/13/2009
For traditional Mexican fare with large portions and no frills, this is a fine place. It's a little out of the way down there on Independence, but don't be fooled by the strip club and lingerie store in the same plaza -- for a strip-mall place, Don Pedro is a spacious treasure.
Everything is good here, from the Camarones (Shrimp), Enchiladas, to anything with Pollo (Chicken) and Carne Asada (Steak). Rice and beans are heaping as the sides, and the fresh, hot chips and two kinds of salsa deliver nicely before the meal.
You can eat there as a family, with friends, for an office lunch, or even for a little party, if you're in the margarita mood. I've been to Azteca (which I believe is the same management) and the other Don Pedro (down there on Tryon near 485), but I tend to like this one a bit better.
The service is good, the food is authentic (our resident Mexican gave it a thumbs up) and on top of everything else, you leave smiling without spending too much cash. They even give you a little free dessert! -
Review from Paula G.
Charlotte, NC
Updated - 6/3/2009 3 photos
Yes, I know ,I am well aware of the fact that if this were politics I would be know as a flip flopper!
What can I say after trying many Mexican joints, I must say, I am still a fan of Don Pedro. If it helps to know , this is not the only location I have been to.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2008
HOLA ! Is this place a chain? I'm usually the first to frequent an independent restaurant… Read more »
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Review from Chad E.
6/24/2006 1 Check-in Here
Another restaurant in a strip mall, but this one is different too. Rather than being tucked in a small space, this one is quite cavernous. While the entrance seems small, you are led through a door into what is almost a warehouse that has been converted into a Mexican cantina, and you are greeted quickly and rapidly served toasty warm chips.
The meal is then served quickly, with fresh ingredients and large portions. While the only downfall is that the rest of the strip mall around the restaurant isn't doing that well, the fact that this is part of a larger regional chain may allow it to ride out the storm. I sure hope so. -
Review from Lauren A.
Charlotte, NC
12/26/2010
Really great Mexican food. Some of the best in Charlotte along with Las Margaritas. The prices are great and the service is too. One of the benefits of coming here is the ability to host groups and get them fed in a good amount of time. Splitting a check is never difficult as it can be at some restaurants. The food is pretty good, but the last visit here left me with a very very greasy quesadilla. But, for the price, you can hardly argue with it.
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Review from Lea K.
Charlotte, NC
Updated - 8/12/2010
I have to downgrade ol' Don Pedro because of the ongoing situation with the salsa/pico de coleslaw. I mean maybe it is innovative to introduce cabbage - lots of WILTY cabbage - to your salsa/pico, but it sure ain't good. Cabbage is probably recession-proof, but please go back to the good stuff, guys!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/24/2009
I didn't want to love it. I wanted to stick to our neighborhood places, where the ambience is lousy… Read more »
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Review from deanna h.
Charlotte, NC
5/3/2010
I am a frequent visitor of the Don Pedro! Don't let the location detour you. As long you come when the mariachi band isn't there - you're good! I'm pretty sure my ears have almost exploded when they have played beside my table! But for authenticity purposes, the band is pretty cool :) Typical delicious mexican food - the queso is really good - margaritas are delicious and they give you free dessert at the end (which I never need, but always eat).
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Review from Lucas C.
Charlotte, NC
12/28/2010
I love this place!!! It has become one of my staple "go-to" places. The service is great, they are quick, and the food is great! I love the Don Pedro Burrito...shrimp and chicken in a burrito, covered with cheese, sour cream, and avacado slices (and it's healthy too! LOL). And the best part is that everything will feed you for at least 2-3 meals, so you have lunch ready for the next day! In my book, this is a must if you are a Mexican fan.
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Review from Emily H.
Charlotte, NC
3/1/2008
I went to the Don Pedro's at 8943 S Tryon St. I am generally not a huge fan of mexican food, but this place is great, the food is awesome! Very reasonabley priced, and the staff is very nice and attentive. I didn't even realize this place was chain.
