TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in South Africa - Updated November 2024

Pancho's

84/100 (2114 ratings)

Restaurants

Mexican

Vegetarian Friendly

Mexican

Vegetarian Friendly

After-hours

Dinner

Quesadillas

Flauta Half Chicken and Half Beef Full Portion

Guacamole

Enchilada

Chocolate Torro

Frozen Margarita

Tequila

Jalapeno Poppers

Churro

Nachos with Beef

mixed starter

Vegan Cheese

Nachos

Chicken Wings

Starter Platter for Two

Beef

Chicken Spinach & Feta

Apricot Cocktail

Frozen Lemon and Strawberry Margarita

Chili

Nachos Enchiladas Tacos and Strawberry Margherita

Burrito

Enchilada Super Burrito Beef Nachos Macho Chilli on the Side Strawberry Margaritas

Nachos

Sit down

Mexican

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Serves Alcohol

Full Bar

Takeout

Dinner

After-hours

Mid-range

"Such a great ambience! Definitely value for money as the portions are huuuuuge none of us at our table could finish . The food is so good. The drinks..."

Zareenah

"Definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants in Cape Town.Best margaritas, great food, warm ambiance.Food portions are large so..."

Lauren Rabie

"Staff friendly and polite. Service is relatively quick. Food is served in large portions. Good value for money. Atmosphere compliments the cuisine..."

Pavansingho23

"Best chili poppers ever, amazing service and delicious margaritas 😍 Will definitely keep visiting panchos for many more years 💥 Thank you..."

Vegaintronadupont

"OMG!! Ponchos is one of my favouritesVibeProper mexican feelIntimateGreat for a dateDimmedFoodNacho..."

Sonique "Foodie" Davids

"My ABSOLUTE favourite restaurant in Cape Town and no one will convince me otherwise! Have been eating there for about 7 years and never have I ever..."

Sone Ginger Vd Merwe

"Worth the wait and experience we received! Absolutely delicious food and we about to get takeaways. The raving recommendations that we got to visit..."

Tania De Jager

"Deeply addictive margaritas, awesome vibe, super friendly staff and delicious Mexican food.Always get the Flauta...there is no better..."

Wesley Holm

"Oh my goodness the best Mexican restaurant in Cape Town 10/10 do recommend. My favourite thing is just the tortillas they use - they’re buttery and..."

Estelle Roux

"I’ve been wanting to come here for a while now, so yesterday I called to make a booking for that evening. The man on the other end of the line was..."

Janita Naidoo

"My partner and I decided to make a stop at Panchos for a snack and drinks a few weeks ago and the experience has stayed in my mind.Firstly,..."

Ruby Gaitskill

"This is the must visit spot for Mexican food in Cape Town. The Tacos here are essentially a crash course in everything good about a taco. The..."

Manna Storom

"Went for dinner on a Wednesday night it was full. We waited at the bar for a few minutes for a table for two. Make a reservation if you don’t like..."

Monette Bezuidenhout

"Lovely place on lower main. Went with a friend and ordered nachos, we got thee biggest serving. It was absolutely lovely, very tasty and delicious...."

Hlonipho

"To be honest, there isn't a place that sells more generous portions of Mexican food at an affordable price, having said that, it takes nothing away..."

Jade Jacobs

"The atmosphere was good but it doesn't feel very mexican. Also not often I go to a place where we ate less than 8 ppl and the tip is added to the..."

Lauren Adonis

"Food was delicious, the staff were friendly and helpful and we had a great time. It has a upbeat vibe, decently priced and portion sizes were larger..."

Erin Fourie

"I've been going to Pancho's since I was a child, so this place has become a bit of an institution for good Mexican food. I can highly recommend the..."

Clare Ford

"Service was absolutely amazing even though I booked late they sat us at a table at the door till a table was available on the balcony. Waitress kept..."

Nikita January

"I've been coming here for years and the quality of the food is still as good as ever! Delicious and affordable. Our waitress was fantastic and highly..."

Kate West

"Great Mexican food !! Amazing and welcoming staff ... overall a great experience and a wonderful hidden gem to visit in obz..."

Shivesh Bhana

"Best Mexican food I've had in Cape Town. The quesadillas are my favourite but the nachos are also great. Definitely try the beer and margarita drink..."

Gabi

"Came here for a few cocktails for a friends birthday! They were pretty well priced, but on the sweet side! The frozen margarita jugs are delicious!..."

Sarah Mcghie

"Pancho's was one of the few restaurants that were open late in obz, so its a great spot for a late snack. The staff were extremely friendly and..."

Leeandrea Naidoo

"By far my favourite mexican restaurant. It has such a fun vibe and is great value for money considering the portions are huge and the food is..."

Monica Fernandes

"Panchos has the best Mexican food around! I let would definitely be my first choice for Mexican food in Cape Town. The food is delicious, well..."

Gaby

"I don't think Pancho's gets the credit they deserve.Great food at a very decent price. Our waiter was fast and very attentive. The portions were..."

Willem Potgieter

"Went there last night with my hubby and friends for the first time, loved the food!!!! Will be returning. Had the chicken quesadilla, it was..."

Samantha Savoy

"Pancho's is a cosy mexican restaurant priced for the person willing to ball out a bit more than your average student. The starter platter to share..."

Tinéo Galela

"Panchos is the place that I'd normally pop into for a drink after dinner in the area but a couple of weeks ago, I decided to actually eat here - and..."

Melanie Du Toit

"Fantastic food and vibe - consistency in food quality and service. The huz and I have been going back for almost 4 years and never leave..."

Lauren S

"Best Mexican evening 🌮Great place to go with friends👯 The food was great, I had a burrito with butternut, feta and chicken and it was the..."

Emma Haines

"If you have never had Panchos nachos, you haven't lived. These are probably the most moreish, and affordable, nachos in Cape Town. Slathered in sour..."

Tessa Brown

"The buzzing atmosphere hits you as you enter, greeted by humourous, friendly staff worth a R25% tip. The DIY Fajita's and Tortilla's are messy, just..."

Wesley Du Plessis

"Number 1 go-to frozen Margherita spot, with hearty Mexican food worth sharing! Great for dinner if you're either really hungry and looking for a..."

Mishka Latib

"Best Nachos and Guacamole I've ever had. Vibe is perfect and the staff are excellent. Would definitely recommend getting those when you're there!..."

Nicholas Hunt

"I take everyone who is visiting me in Cape Town to Panchos.I have had a number of birthdays at Panchos. I do not think I have ever had such good..."

Morgan Lehy

"When I called to reserve a table, the telephone etiquette and welcoming voice of the supervisor had already put me in a such a great mood! The..."

Farryn Thomas

"I suppose it was the hype that did this place in for me. Going in with really high expectations the first time, I found the food pretty good (not..."

Ami

"My favourite Mexican restaurant in Cape Town so far. The atmosphere here is festive and vibrant. The service staff are all very friendly as..."

Danieljake

"One of the better Texmex options in Cape town.. And definitely the most festive, so make sure you make a reservation. Massive portions of food,..."

Nicol Miller

"Visited Panchos for some dinner with couple friends and it was ok . The tequila and Margaritas were great and so were the chilli poppers . the..."

Jeff Fernandes

"This place is a life saver. I have been coming to panchos for the last few years. One thing I can say, they are always consistant. We have tried..."

Teryn Francis

"When in the mood for Mexican cuisine pancho's is always our go to restaurant. Great for big or small groups or even just as a couple. The..."

Jana Van Rensburg

"When is comes to Mexican food, Pancho's is the perfect middle ground between El Burro and Fat Cactus. It's got a very authentic feel coupled with a..."

Guy Blackhurst

"We were a table of 7 for dinner on a Saturday night and the service was a little slow. Maybe this was because we were so indecisive with our orders...."

Kirstie Rose Heynes

"Spontaneous missions always seem to turn out being some of the best memories. Walking into Panchos tonight our needs were instantly attended to and..."

Chanel Fivaz

"This is my favourite Mexican joint, I have never had a meal and definitely recommend this restaurant to all my friends, ps. The frozen margaritas is..."

Allistair

"Without hesitation, I can easily say that Pancho's is the best restaurant in the Observatory area. It ticks all the boxes: authentic Mexican cuisine,..."

Jess Weisz

"So the key lesson we learned about panchos is that no matter the day of the week you should make a reservation. They were very accommodating when we..."

Charné

"I have been coming to this memorable establishment for years now and last night they did nothing but greatness. They threw us everything, great..."

Kieran Evans

"Panchos was an okay experience. The flauta is quite good. Portions are big and the fillings are tasty but nothing that wowed me. Good service with..."

Azele Anne Naicker

"Took my son here for his birthday-haven't been here in years but nothing has changed. Great atmosphere, good service and good food-huge..."

Eleanora Bresler

"When the little Mexican inside wants to come out to play my default is always Pancho's Kitchen... Lower main road in Observatory has a unique..."

Bishneen Freeman

"By faaar the best mexican place in town, its always delight. The food is unreal, the frozen margaritas are amazing, awesome vibe and staff. U can..."

Johan Naude

"Returned to Panchos after about 2 years and the experience was as good as ever! Booked for the 2nd sitting at 8:30pm and the restaurant was still..."

Deelan

"Another great meal at Ponchos, we of course had to get the chilli poppers to start with and they were amazing, best poppers around!!. I ordered the..."

Jessy Da Silva

"We were in the mood for Mexican last night so my cousin booked us a table at Panchos. They do 2 table seatings because they are so busy, 5:30p.m to..."

Binita Mistry

"Mexican was the order of business yesterday. Parking is abit of a problem so as soon as you see an opening take it. The restaurant has 2 seatings at..."

Vishal Mistry

"So my friends and I have tried a couple Mexican restaurants in Cape Town recently. All the restaurants we tried had their positives and negatives, of..."

Justin

"Panchos is where I spent my 18th birthday over a decade ago, and it was good tonight as it was then. The food is delectable beyond belief - the..."

Meg Ringdal

"I've been hearing about it for a while, so I was pleasantly surprised when Janine Roos booked a table during our weekend in Cape Town. It was packed..."

Erhardkk

"BEST CHICKEN NACHOS EVER ! ..."

Richa Khataw

"Great place on Lower Main Road! Food is tasty and they have the best frozen marguerites! The parking can be an issue though and it's important to..."

Sereshan Pillay

"I had a fantastic night at this excellent establishment. They are nothing fancy, just a really cool and relaxed spot with mouth watering Mexican..."

Ryan Mulders

"I've been wanting to go to Pancho's for a while now and it was definitely worth the wait. Although it is located in a bit of a dodgy area, it felt..."

Meera Naik

"Totally the Mecca of all Mexican food in Cape Town. It may be located in a dodgy area, but hey, when in Mexico ;)...The great thing is that..."

Raeesa Naik

"I've been wanting to try Pancho's for what feels like forever! Finally I made my way there to try the Mexican food I've been hearing about for so..."

Nici Botha

"Quantity, Quality and Frozen Margaritas: What more could one want? Had a really good Mexican experience at Panchos recently. Arrived without a..."

BT

"Pancho's is by far one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in Cape Town for three reasons:1. Their strawberry-lime frozen margaritas..."

Mikaela

"Their chili con carne was a huge portion! Definitely delicious! The staff was friendly but they didn't check on us very often and it was quite..."

Hang T

"Nice and cosy, with low lighting. Was very busy tonight as well. The food was yummy and the portions are huge. The waiter was super friendly and..."

Mel Woudberg

"Love Panchos an institution in Obz! Celebrated my friend's 30th birthday with authentic Mexican fare and delicious frozen strawberry lime margaritas!..."

The Jax Blog

"Yummy food and atmosphere. Had the 8 layer dip is fab accompanied by corn chips. Chilli con carne Enchiladas are humongous. First time here , pity..."

Tania

"Pancho's is one of my favourite Mexican spots in ct. They have awesome margarita's, nachos and taco's (I've tried them all😜) The service can..."

Ulisha Moodley

"The best margaritas and chili poppers in town! Service is friendly but slow. Food is greasy, cheesy and delicious. Value for money is outstanding -..."

Jessica Stromin

"What Pancho's lack in service they make up for in portion size and flavour! Great food at reasonable prices. Don't miss out on their nachos and..."

Michelle Matzdorff

"If Mexican food is your thing and you are in Cape Town I'd say Pancho's should be on your list to try.Location wise, one may find a bit of..."

Mike

"Still amazing - best Mexican food - generous portions and amazing friendly staff. Always a great way to end off a day at a window seat in Panchos. ..."

Carlétjie Van Eck

"Love love love this place. We had no booking and they made a plan. The service is amazing and the foooood omg! If Aubrey is your waiter give him a..."

Juztick

"Great food! Awesome service!And sexy waiter eye candy 😊 ..."

Wes

"According to my first visit I am giving a clean 5.0 for this restaurant. The service was really nice and attentive, we had to tip the waitress..."

Jhjh

"Feels as if I went for a trip to South America. Vibes are great. Very hidden but don’t let that deter you. Food was great, drinks were also really..."

Luca van der Westhuizen

"Fantastic Mexican restaurant. Owners managed to squeeze us in on a Friday evening without a reservation. The food was absolutely amazing. Nice..."

Lukie Snyman

"Still the best Mexican restaurant in Cape Town. All items on the menu is full of flavor and mouth watering. Don't forget to add jug(s) of Frozen..."

Roelof van Heerden

"What a lovely place to visit, cozy 😊 and the hosts were great. We had an absolute blast here on Saturday. Very..."

Kylee Lynn Jacobs

"My most favorite restaurant ever! Food, service and atmosphere always top notch! Great value for money as..."

Olandi Hammond

"If I could give 10 stars, I would🤩 Everything about Panchos was perfect, the food, the service, the atmosphere. Not to mention the margaritas,..."

Kelly de Waal

"Oh my! What do I say.. This place is amazing. The vibe is a thing on its own😍 and the service is awesome! Everybody is so friendly and..."

Sharné Ritter

"This is such a great restaurant for for authentic mexican food. The restaurant has been serving patrons for a few decades! Thw vibe and atmosphere is..."

Michelle Macleod

"Ponchos in Observatory is a culinary fiesta! The vibrant atmosphere, curated by Restauranteur’s Richard and John, sets the stage for an..."

Wendy Le Goff

"I had chicken enchilada and margarita slush. Enchilada was tasty, maybe a bit too crispy. Sauce and cheese paired nicely. One can choose smaller or..."

Ugnė Dubonytė

"Sooo delicious! I love a good Mexican meal and this is my go to place. The portions are worth the price, super tasty and filling. The frozen..."

Alison Franciscus

"Great service and amazing food. Always busy so best to make a resevation ahead of time. The food portions are quite big. You get two options the..."

Melissa Naidoo

"Don’t let the exterior of this restaurant fool you—the decor is so chilled and the chocolate mousse pie is to die for. The tacos and cocktails..."

Ashley Davids

"Panchos is open for takeaway and sit down. We registered and ordered on line and then I popped in to collect - although their on line option is..."

Moz Du R

"Great place to go out with friends or the family. Friendly atmosphere with kind staff and involved managers. I would recommend the margaritas and..."

Jacob

Van Hunks

78/100 (2675 ratings)

Restaurants

Contemporary

Bar

Pub

Bar

Vegetarian Friendly

Pub

Vegetarian Friendly

Brunch

Drinks

After-hours

Dinner

Lunch

Chillie Poppers

Fish and Sallad

Spare Ribs Pizza Margherita

Bloody Mary

Salad

Frozen Margarita

Ribs

House Wine

Cakes

Beef Burger and Fries

Meat Lovers

Fish

Broccoli Salad

Cocktails

Burger

Table Mountain

Nachos

Chicken Burger

Mussels

Chicken curry and rice

Calamari and Fries

Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel

Beef

Traditional Malva Pudding

Pork Schnitzel Mash Salad

Beef Prego Roll

Sit down

Contemporary

Bar

Pub

Reservations

Seating

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Serves Alcohol

Full Bar

Outdoor Seating

Television

Dinner

Lunch

After-hours

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Brunch

Mid-range

"Hello, I’m Muffin. I make the joys of Cape Town’s incredible food and locations possible for my person to share. I am a seizure alert support dog..."

Muffin For Mayor

"Very well priced for the location!! Great specials, pizza, cocktails and beer. An awesome experience anytime of the day, be it morning or evening for..."

Sone Ginger Vd Merwe

"My friend had her birthday here, great food and even better vibe! This place was really cool, will go back :) Rating: AwesomeWill..."

Yajna Gold

"Go there for one of their specials like the 90 rands for 2 breakfasts and you will gonna have a great meal for a really cheap price. Very friendly..."

Didi Kedirileng

"Food: Simple. Tasty. Reasonably priced. Service: Good. Friendly. Ambiance: Nice. vibey. Can get quite festive! Overall, an enjoyable meal and a great..."

Bebz H

"We're always here for drinks and to watch sport and we tried the food for the first time the other night. Definitely have the spare rib..."

Robyn Rainier

"This spot positively emanates good vibes. We popped in on Friday night and the atmosphere was one of cheer and excitement. We sipped on some wine and..."

Melanie Du Toit

"Relaxed, local spot to watch the football or rugby and staff are interactive and friendly. I would recommend their pizzas and margaritas, but..."

Nicol Miller

"Great burgers, great price and great milkshakes! It makes for a great end to the week on a Sunday. There's also a nice outside area and friendly..."

Patrick Colborne

"Wife and I popped in here after 10pm on Saturday evening. Unfortunately the kitchen closes at 10 except for pizza till 11pm. We orders a margaritas..."

Carl Thomas

"Love the chilled back vibe of this place. Situated on Kloof Street I always come for their delicious Margarita's and they have peanut butter shots it..."

Chantelle Lamusse

"Great great great pizzas ! Everyone needs to go for their R40 monday night pizza special and add all the toppings. It is so worthit. I tried the..."

Andrea Lauren Kraak

"Awesome vibey place to come to with some mates for a drink. Can come for pres before the proper jol starts or can just come chill here to watch the..."

Gabriel Stein

"A really vibey place. The balcony is really spacious and sheltered so isn't too cold in winter. The staff are always great and the service is good...."

Phoebe Kondylis

"Huge outside section - which I love. Amazing bar snacks. Love the chili poppers and ribs. The steaks are really good.They have a..."

Tiaan Jonker

"Great place with a very nice patio. Even though the patio is right on the busy street, they managed to separate it enough for customers not to feel..."

Hang T

"I always imagine Van hunks as that bar you see in the movies, where successful, young, single business folks go to try and chat up the opposite sex...."

Tafel Vir Twee

"Superb. Best steak in Cape Town I've eaten. Great service and nice friendly relaxed atmosphere. Well priced food inexpensive. Value. Under rated..."

Peter Bassingthwaighte

"I really enjoy Van Hunks – I love that they have a huge outside section that looks onto the hustle and bustle of Kloof Street. Good vibe, food and..."

MelbourneLops

"It’s always good times at Van Hunks, and I love the homage to Cape Town folklore, but it can get super busy – and when it’s super busy the..."

Bree Street Brent

"Really good selection of craft beers and a different menu special every day - Wednesday special gives you a beer and a burger for R70! We had burgers..."

Estelle Roux

"Really good place to go out for drinks in Gardens.. I've never eaten here yet but I definitely will. I really enjoy the house Merlot. Other than that..."

Nici Botha

"Great place, had the biggest plate of prawns and it was absolutely delicious.. probably the friendliest waiters I've ever come across too!!! Getting..."

Renay Paulse

"Great weekend spot for a couple of beers, as they have quite a nice selection. The service has always been relaxed & friendly. The times we've eaten..."

Louda Connoway

"Great spot to have a nice pizza and a few drinks and get the evening started. More of a pre-going out dinner/drinks spot that is guaranteed to be..."

Kelly Rae Gifford

"Only ever been here for drinks, but it's a fantastic environment! We had great service even though it was full to the brim! I would absolutely..."

Bronwyn Coltman

"I often find myself here for a drink or three.Drink wise I will give it 4 stars.Food wise I will give it 2.5. service wise I wil..."

Martin Evans

"good vibe nice and cosy, and good value for money... Especially when there specials, which are..."

Ryan Albert

"What a fabulous place, devine food, amazing selection of Craft beer & great vibe! Definitely going back soon... just want Aces Lager on tap! Then it..."

Jeanne-Marié

"Great bar set up, great food (burger and steak me up!). Lovely atmosphere and wonderful beers on tap. The waiters are super friendly..."

Vicky Jankiewicz

"What a fabulous place. Food was well priced, and even better prepared. The service was very good. We would definitely come back to try the rest of..."

Lizelle Vos

"I was surprised to see such a low rating for this place. The service was fantastic. The pizzas were delicious and it was just all around enjoyable...."

Tammy

"Sundays have ever been the same since half price tequila and 2 burgers for R75, this is my new favorite place to eat at on a Sunday, so rad and the..."

Kieran Pearce

"Great burger, little slow service...otherwise..."

Stephan Gerber

"Great pizza, goo vibes.had an awesome time with friends, the bar area was awesome. the TVS were all on and showing good..."

Zane Bradley Slatter

"Cheap food, well priced drinks and usually pretty crowded with what seem to be students. Pub vibes, nothing much else to say about the place...."

Tom Kennedy

"Great local spot for sports games and drinks or lunch and dinner with mates. Delicious food. Great vibe. Awesome staff. Van Hunks never disappoints...."

Brandon Lorenzo

"Was really nice - not so much a place for more mature audience but was a nice late afternoon meal. The waiters were really nice and..."

Claudia Ludwig

"Great food, friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. For a Brit visiting Cape Town for the first time and probably looking like a rabbit in headlights..."

Paul McLoughlin

"Very nice bar, was great to sit have a few beers. Definitely a local hot spot, has a good vibe to it and will try the food next time we..."

Steff

"An great spot with an open veranda and mountain views. Good lunchtime meal..."

Jan Burger

"Van hunks has always impressed me, from their service, atmosphere, music, to their food, however, they wowed me on the night of the Rugby World Cup..."

Tishaylin Govender

"Great bar and restaurant that is an institution in the city bowl. Plenty of seating in the restaurant area or outside on the deck and in the actual..."

Garth Breytenbach Poormanscaviar

"Van Hunks TUES special on ribs platters are are the an absolutely delicious and well priced for the special. The meat just falls off the bone and..."

Lauren Jacques

"VERY Good pub menu. Food on point- nice surprise 😉 Emmanuel, our waiter, also fantastic 👏 👌🏽 thx guys👍🏽 The Drinks are really..."

Angel Waterson

"Had the grilled fish, and beer battered fried fish & chips here over lunch, for the lunch special. Both were delicious, and great value for money...."

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