Review Pancho's - Cape Town Central

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 nice. Not too expensive, which is great for a dine or date for students. I definitely recommend their guacamole and chips omg everyone ordered it.

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

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 Margarita to your order, this will definitely complete the experience.

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

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

If I could give 10 stars, I would🤩 Everything about Panchos was perfect, the food, the service, the atmosphere. Not to mention the margaritas, sooo yummy. I have to recommend the mixed margaritas, so sour and juicy🍓🍋 I’m definitely coming back, cannot recommend it enough!

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 caring. Really would recommend!!! Please come and enjoy the experience with all the staff!!! 😁💃 And Aubrey please stay just as you are!! You are amazinggg! Love your friendly smile and service!!🤩

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 great, the decor quirky and food delicious plus such good value for money. The restaurant is made up of various rooms, so you will never feel too claustrophobic. There is a security gate foe added safety. The entrance isn't strictly wheelchair accessible but it is doable up one step. Parking is a bit more of a challenge in the busy neighborhood.

Ponchos in Observatory is a culinary fiesta! The vibrant atmosphere, curated by Restauranteur’s Richard and John, sets the stage for an exceptional dining experience. Chris, the manager, orchestrates impeccable service he is incredibly friendly and just a complete delight! Our Awesome Waitron Aubrey clinched the deal 😊 The menu is a symphony of Mexican delights, each dish a flavorful masterpiece. The sensational Vegan Butternut Flauta is absolutely amazing. The Margarita’s are exceptional. The atmosphere is indescribably desirable. You have NOT yet fulfilled True Gastronomic delight IF you have not been. “This” said from a hypercritical Fussy Vegan

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 bigger one, I took smaller one and it was enough. Margarita slush was tasty, but too sweet for me, reminded me the artificial flavors:) but it is nice sometimes for fun. Service was pleasant, quick.

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 margaritas are a hit and jugs are the best. The yummiest nachos, a super delicious burrito and I love their starters. The staff are amazing, friendly and always assisting. Will always be back!

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 regular and Mexican size (small). Had the frozen margaritas- they were simply amazing. Chilli poppers look different to what I had before but delicious. Gets served with guacamole and sour cream.

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 are tasty as heck! This place is perfect for groups or a casual date night. I will be coming back soon 🔙

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 actually delivery. Super service and a great meal. Very generous portions. Have enough for tomorrow as well. We chose the veg - spinach enchilada and poppers, plus nachos. Saw that they also do vegan options.

Great place to go out with friends or the family. Friendly atmosphere with kind staff and involved managers. I would recommend the margaritas and nachos as they are classics to have at Panchos. Food and drinks are more on the expensive side but you get your moneys worth. Always nice to have a bite to eat here!

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 are so good , service is great and when you ask for chilli they mean CHILLI! Would definitely recommend this place to anyone even for a cute date night.

Definitely one of the best Mexican restaurants in Cape Town.<br/><br/>Best margaritas, great food, warm ambiance.<br/><br/>Food portions are large so great for sharing.

Staff friendly and polite. Service is relatively quick. Food is served in large portions. Good value for money. Atmosphere compliments the cuisine well. Food was decent. Cocktail menu selection is more than adequate.

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

The worst Mexican food in CT, hands down. Been this way for a decade and more. No spice, no flavour. Nasty margheritas. A wonder of that world that anyone goes.

OMG!! Ponchos is one of my favourites<br/><br/>Vibe<br/>Proper mexican feel<br/>Intimate<br/>Great for a date<br/>Dimmed<br/><br/>Food<br/>Nacho heaven<br/>Flavours are on point<br/>Fresh<br/>Tasty<br/>Want to go back for more<br/><br/>Service<br/>I am an Obs girl so I love Obs people

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 recieved bad service or any food below par. A MUST visit...even if it is just to taste their frozen margaritas!

Ordered a cheese quesadilla from here on UberEats. The quesadilla was very tasty and generously portioned, but there was a bit too much cheese, and it was quite oily. They don’t use conventional tortillas either - they’re more like rotis in texture. I did like that they provided delicious guac and sour cream with the meal.

Worth the wait and experience we received! Absolutely delicious food and we about to get takeaways. The raving recommendations that we got to visit you guys was no lie! Cannot wait to sit down again!

The service was great but the platter for two we ordered wasn’t the best. There were things I enjoyed Abu things I didn’t. The wings were too dry for me and im not sure if the nachos were home made.

Deeply addictive margaritas, awesome vibe, super friendly staff and delicious Mexican food.<br/><br/>Always get the Flauta...there is no better choice.

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 flaky like a paratha - and the nachos, which taste kind of like paaper bites. Weird but so good. Portions are massive, so even though everything’s like R100 you get enough for lunch the next day.

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 super friendly and very accommodating to my request to not be seated near a doorway or anywhere too noisy/busy as we wanted to enjoy our date night. <br/><br/>The table we were seated at was in a quiet area near the window, but when the manager on duty saw how tall Zen is, he offered to move us to the other end of the row where there was a bit more space for Zen to move his chair back & have more leg room. I thought this was really kind of him and I was also super happy that Zen wouldn’t be kicking my ankles the whole night. The first word that comes to mind is “unpretentious”, you get to eat good food while watching the crazy nightlife of the obz regulars in a clean restaurant. Winner.<br/><br/>We started with the lemon & strawberry mixed frozen margarita jug (1.8l can fill up 6 glasses), 4 Chilli poppers & guac and salsa, which both came with their own portion of chips.<br/><br/>The Chilli poppers are halved jalapeños filled with gooey cheese, wrapped in some sort of crispy pastry. Not like spring rolls, but more like a flour tortilla deep fried until crispy. This had great chewy texture, but was also super crunchy. The jalapeño had just the right amount of spice and the gooey cheese was not overpowering or messy. Heat of the jalapeños were offset by the sour cream and guac they’re served with. <br/><br/>The salsa was a bit sweet, but after the heat of the jalapeños it was welcomed. The guac is very smooth, not chunky at all, which made it feel more like a spread rather than a dip. It was still super fresh and tasty, regardless of the consistency. The nachos are house made I think, not like the regular supplier bought ones every Mexican place in CT has. They’re super crunchy, not oily and lightly seasoned with some sort of aromat style spice. <br/><br/>For mains I had the arroz con pollo (chicken with rice and refried beans) and Zen had a flauta (basically a deep fried burrito) the waitress informed us that he could get two fillings when ordering the large portion, so we opted for beef and chicken. Both meals were a bit bland and lacking some sort of fresh, crunchy’ness . The flauta only had some kick after you ate each bite with the minimal lettuce, cheese & salsa that it comes topped with. The beans and rice needed a bit of help from the salt shaker, but even that didn’t help a great deal. <br/><br/>The portions are huge so we took home nachos & dips, and more than half our mains, which is great for an easy lunch the next day, especially after having a jug of those margaritas (which were extremely tasty, and had the right amount of sweetness and sourness from the mix of strawberry and lime. The best I’ve ever had)<br/><br/>The restaurant itself is kept pretty clean and tidy. The bathrooms are located at the very back of the restaurant and through two doors, so it is a bit of a mission to get to. There are also only two of them, and for such a big seater restaurant that could cause lines out both doors on a busy night. The manager came to check on us twice during the evening and our waitress (Bongi) was extremely friendly and attentive.<br/><br/>The only reason I didn’t give this place 5 stars is that while the portions are big and the prices pocket friendly, the mains were nothing to write home about and ended up tasting the same. The food just needs an injection of something crunchy or a tangy slaw, something to bump up the freshness, otherwise it does get a bit heavy.

I want there Tuesday for a friend's birthday. The service was good. I had the large nachos with chicken and beef and what a disappointment! The corn chips were tasteless and bland. The beef had an odd taste and there was really little guacamole; way too little for the whole portion. But the real disappointment was the supposed to be sour cream which wasn't sour cream at all but rather a runny mess of normal cream. I will definitely not go back there.

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.<br/><br/>Firstly, the chilli poppers are some of the best I've had in Cape Town. Crispy and full of flavour! <br/><br/>We then had the large beef nachos, which was more than enough for 2 people. The nachos were crispy and they did not skimp on the toppings and the beef, which was layered throughout the nachos. <br/><br/>The drinks were amazing. The majority of our bill was spent on incredible cocktails that are the highlight for me. Not too strong but not watered down either.<br/><br/>Kay was our waitress and she was sweet and attentive to us throughout our few hours there.<br/><br/>Manager was also present and checked on us. <br/><br/>Will definitely be back for more delicious food, drinks and hospitality.

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 ambiance is incredible. Built right in the trendy center of observatory this place has a real authentic experience. The service is great and everyone is incredible polite.<br/>That coupled with generous portions and a reasonable price makes this a must visit spot.

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 waiting. The service was really friendly. The food was good. I recommend the frozen margaritas.

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. Absolutely loved it. Amazing service too

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 from the quality of food, produce was fresh, meat was succulent and tasty, dressings were superb and the atmosphere was vibrant. The staff are friendly and allow you space, they check on you just enough for you to not feel neglected, would've been a 5 star review, however, the seating is a tad cramped.

Had supper here. Overall feeling from the people around our table were that the food was underwhelming.... Not as spicy as we expected or flavorful. Service was very good and enjoyed the overall vibe of the restaurant.<br/>Whether I would return in a hurry.... Not too sure....

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 bill. Those are the only negatives. The frozen margaritas are scrumptious and the food portions are big and tastes sooooo good. I would recommend the place for a good chilled vibe. Not very big so booking could be essential.

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 than we expected.

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 nachos, which are delicious, and the frozen margaritas.

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 checking up on us and took our order and by the time a table opened we barely sat down then our food and drinks was served. Waitress was great fun ask for Emma

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 competent. We were a big table and she looked after us very well. My only issue is that one of our friends is in a wheelchair, and on trying to exit the building, none of the staff offered to help him out, even though it was very obvious that he was struggling to get out the door. We helped him of course, but we were struggling with the doors, and there was no-one in sight to assist. There isn't a ramp and the odd way the door opens makes wheelchair navigation really tricky. I think they need to look at this because as much as my friend loved the place, he won't go there again if it's so awkward for him to get in and out.

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

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 called the Mexican bulldog! The vibe is cool and relaxed and the portions are massive.

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! Will definitely be back for the mexiacan food which looked absolutely incredible and really well priced!<br/><br/>Our waiter was highly attentive and I love the Mexican themed decor! Very cosy and busy little restaurant!

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 patient. I was pleasantly surprised with the food, and it was all reasonably priced.

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 delicious. I have yet to finish a meal completely. You also can't go there without trying their famous frozen margerita's. The only criticism I could give is that it maybe isn't in the best area but fortunately that doesn't affect the appeal in anyway as it is still such a fun atmosphere.

I've been to Ponchos numerous times and I always return for their beef tacos (one of the best I've had) <br/>However, last nights at a friends birthday while having merry time ordering almost everything on the menu, we were basically harassed by the upstairs manager. <br/>We were told that a double booking was made and that we had to be out by 8:15 which we were fine with as this was only the beginning of a long line of birthday activities planned.<br/>We got our food quickly, which was nice coz we were starving, and got reminded about our deadline <br/>10 mins later, another reminder about our deadline. I swear I heard the same sentence every ten minutes for our entire duration. Which as you can imagine was super annoying.<br/>After paying (5 mins early I might add) the manager literally CLICKED HIS FINGERS AT US AND SHOOED US TO VACATE so that they could clean the table <br/>I have never experienced nor given this amount of disrespect. I had previously worked 5 years as a waitress all throughout my undergraduate degree and I have tons of patience when it comes to a busy restaurant.<br/>Is it because we were the only people of colour in the restaurant that we were treated this way? Is it because we only spent R2000+? Or is it because Ponchos just has the rudest management I have ever come across? <br/>

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 priced, and the portions are very generous! Always leave with takeaways. The vibe is awesome and the staff are lovely. Try the frozen margaritas, they're a winner.

I don't think Pancho's gets the credit they deserve.<br/>Great food at a very decent price. Our waiter was fast and very attentive. The portions were more than enough.

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

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 was delightful and filling enough to save me for my next Pancho visit so that I can experience more of the cuisine they have to offer.

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 I was impressed! Plating up all manner of Mexican and Tex Mex fare, Panchos will be a winner with anyone who loves chilli poppers, nachos, fajitas, and the like. Our table shared their starter platter and managed to pick at everything on offer.

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 disappointed. Their poppers and saucy (yasss! and cheesy) burritos & enchiladas are amazing. <br/>Only question I have is when are they opening a second one?!

Best Mexican evening 🌮<br/>Great place to go with friends👯 The food was great, I had a burrito with butternut, feta and chicken and it was the absolute best **highly recommended**.<br/>Great service and very festive !

The margarita's are exceptional! The happy hour specials will have you walking out in limbo.<br/><br/>Right in the heart of Observatory, Pancho's is one of the many Mexican restaurants I've been to and I must admit the food was not that great. <br/><br/>True to most Mexican restaurants Panchos in its decor is authentically Mexican with some of the most beautiful prints of Frida Kahlo on the walls. <br/><br/>If you're keen for margarita's in a room full of Frida, Pancho's is the place however, I wouldn't excite myself over the food.<br/><br/>

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 cream, these unique crispy chips are my favourite and can easily be shared between two.

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 how I like it. So much flavour, colour and crisp. Perfect for a date night or a get together with friends; food is good for sharing as portions are enormous. It's a mexican place, have the tequila.

I ordered a take away from ponchos and was very disappointed. I ordered the enchiladas although it was good value for money, the dish lacked flavour and was so badly presented.<br/><br/>I have heard good things about the atmosphere, vibe and cocktails from friends and family who have gone to the restaurant but I cannot comment on this as I only ordered a take away.

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 safe, tasty option, or getting fed to prep for a solid night out in Obs... great for drinks with a few friends: split one of their Jugs and you'll be right in that confident sweet spot, ready to take on a game of pool across the road at Stones.

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! Also the Margaritas are amazing

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 nachos, the shredded beef and refried beans is an incredible combo and the amount of sour cream - I am in heaven. The flauta is also delicious, but if you do order it please realize you will be rolling home. The portions are enormous! I would always recommend, but I also recommend booking because it is so popular.

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 ventilation in the smoking section was fantastic and the service was absolutely 4-star. Our waitron was very sweet and knowledgeable and the supervisor and manager really took care of us. <br/><br/>Then, the portion sizes were huge (we should have shared a main course) and food was fresh, hot and full of flavour. <br/><br/>This is by far my favourite Mexican restaurant in South Africa. <br/><br/>Thank you for a great evening, Poncho’s<br/>.

Visited Pancho's because I was craving nanchos. Unfortunately I was not that impressed with the nanchos. The nanchos lacked flavour and was drenched in cheese. Mexican food is usually packed with flavour.  The portion of the nanchos was huge, I think two people can eat one portion. <br/><br/>The service was good and cocktails was really good though, but unfortunately the food did not live up to the hype.

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 outstanding), the margaritas nice (but no great shakes), and nothing that stood out in my memory as fantastic. On my second visit I discovered the Decadent Martini (divine!) and that's something I would definitely go back again for! Also, the chilli poppers are really as good as everyone says, people. Other upsides - a vibrant atmosphere, friendly waiters, huge portions. The place fills up fast so it definitely appeals to a lot of people... maybe I'll like it more with subsequent visits!

My favourite Mexican restaurant in Cape Town so far. <br/><br/>The atmosphere here is festive and vibrant. The service staff are all very friendly as well. <br/><br/>The chilli poppers were great and the enchilada I ordered was very flavorful. <br/>The portion size was huge and even ordered the smaller portion. <br/><br/>Panchos is definitely an obz gem.

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, especially the Nachos, so it's ideal to share. I generally order the nachos and chilli poppers, otherwise the quesadillas. Oh, and don't forget the margarita jugs and tequila! It's a must.<br/><br/>✔big portions<br/>✔ good Texmex<br/>✔festive<br/><br/>✖Location( difficult to find parking)<br/>✖difficult to get a table as a walk in

Not sure I quite get the hype about Panchos - have heard many people rave about it. Came here a while back with colleagues after work. We got some nachos, which were good. Nice variety of tequila too. For mains I ordered a chicken burrito but found it very heavy handed on the cheese and the sauce. Was not super impressed overall.

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 Burrito however was massive and could of fed 2 people . drenched in sauce and oily wasnt the best i have had but nevertheless cool vibe and nice place to meet up with friends and have a decent night

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 several mexican restaurants around Cape Town and always at the end of the night land up comparing it to Panchos. Food is always good. Platters are great when we are in a group. Not to mention mention the best magharitas in town. Definately still one of my favourite places to go out for a chilled evening with friends. Great atmosphere, good service and awesome food.

I've always wanted to try out Panchos. I've only been here on a night out and had more than 1 of their famous jugs however never tried the food until last night. What a disappointment. I opted for the enchilada; chicken, butternut and feta. It was bland with an odd tasting flavour to go with it. How do you get an enchilada wrong ? Yes it was massive but it was quantity over quality. And i like my food the other way round. I thought I was lucky when my boyfriend didn't like the burger and wanted my enchilada so we swopped. Even worse. It was one big vrikkadel falling apart, making a big mess all over the plate. I couldn't eat it. Horrible. Waiter didnt even ask why. But I guess that is understandable as Panchos specialises in Mexican cuisine. Which doesn't actually make it any better as the enchilada didn't live up to standard. After we received our food our waitress completely forgot about us. Needless to say I left highly disappointed and hungry.

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. <br/><br/>The portion sizes are huge and the prices are not really that high. Burritos, chilli con carne, nachos, quesidillas, tortillas and flautas etc.<br/><br/>Frozen margaritas can be ordered in jugs or in single serving glasses. Extensive tequila menu!<br/><br/>I always have a half beef half chicken flauta with quite a few frozen margarita jugs. Usually so stuffed that there is no place for dessert.<br/><br/>I would recommend booking way in advance as they are normally fully booked.

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 relaxed and comfortable environment. The food is always great and very generously portioned. The prices are also very reasonable, especially considering you will probably leave with a doggy bag. A common favourite is the deep fried Flauta which can be filled with meat or vegetable options. Be sure to grab a jug of strawberry and lime frozen Margarita while you're at it.

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. We all had at least one question about different aspects of the menu. If you would like leftovers, I would suggest going for the larger Mexican portion. If you struggle with spice, the mild spicyness level is totally doable. I order the mild chicken nachos and it tasted like classic roast chicken rather than a Mexican dish. On my next visit I will order a smaller more spicy portion. Overall they have great value for money and the cocktails are worth a try.

Spontaneous missions always seem to turn out being some of the best memories. Walking into Panchos tonight our needs were instantly attended to and we felt right at home. The food however wasnt the best in terms of authentic mexican. It lacked flavour and heat. There is however a great atmosphere. A warm and festive environment and the Margeritas are delicious!

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 awesome.

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, an exceptional selection of drinks and an ambience to beautifully complement the flavorsome food. Although a bit hard for the student budget - the frozen margaritas and DIY tacos are well worth that little splurge. Plus, the portions are generous enough to share.

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 arrived randomly but it would have been easier if we had booked. The waiter was very attentive and friendly. The place is packed and it has a great vibe. I really enjoyed my food as well as the nachos AAnd chilli poppers. When I go back I'll rather buy the shared starter which has a variety of different snacks and is generous. All their food is actually generous. Even the small portions are shareable between two. So maybe get to small meals and share them so you can try more.

I have been coming to this memorable establishment for years now and last night they did nothing but greatness. They threw us everything, great service with friendly waiters, a fast service out of the kitchen with a wait non existing and the food, oh my pallet the food was exquisite. The food lifts ones pallet but sticks to its true Mexican flavours. This place is a must. Pick up your phone and make a reservation for tonight ! Now !

I've come here countless times. The margaritas are INSANE!!! The best ever!!! But that does not excuse the consistently poor service I have received here - although there have been a few good occasions. <br/><br/>On the other hand, the food is good - yet there have been several instances where my friends, or myself, have had soggy nachos. Personally, the portions are way too rich and way too large (even the "small" options), which are good for takeaways on a student budget and if leftover melted cheeses or mixed meats sounds good to you... I'd also question whether the nachos and tacos are homemade or if they're just not always freshly made... Just my opinion though. The margaritas make everything taste amazing anyways 😝🍹

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 tasty drinks.

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 portions.

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 artsy/student buzz that I occasionally enjoy! & one of the gated entrances leads to "little Mexico"...<br/><br/>Booking is a MUST & I love being seated in the nonsmoking area alongside the window. Something about the indoor thatching just makes the experience so much more festive! Think tequila, jalapeño, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, dark chocolate treats & loads of fun- it's basically a huge fiesta!! <br/><br/>My favorites include a starter portion of jalapeño poppers & tequila shots followed by a main of mild chicken nachos with Savanna Loco and the dark chocolate Torro (mousse) for dessert!! I promise it's amazing... & really cost effective!

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 really try anything on the<br/>Menu!

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 packed with customers and was as vibey as ever. We ordered two jugs of Margaritas first the plain lime one then the lime and strawberry mix, the latter definitely taking the cake. These drinks alone are good enough to get me to revisit the restaurant. I ordered my usual burrito with chicken and mushroom filling for my main course and as usual was not disappointed. The burrito is packed with the filling (and with flavour) not leaving room for one disappointing bite. The hot red chilli sauce is a great addition and it completed the meal for me. The value for money at this place is fantastic as portions are still massive and I was only able to finish about half of my meal. Service was good and our waiter was well clued up on the menu. Awesome experience overall, always keen to visit again and again!

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 beef nachos really great!! Had always been a favourite of mine!! Nothing like hot mexican food on a cold night.

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 8p.m and 8:30p.m onwards. We booked for the 8:30p.m slot. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. We ordered lime margaritas for the table and when that was finished we had the strawberry and lime margaritas. Have got to say they were the best margaritas I've had and I would go back just for that. The waiter explained the menu and the fact that they have a normal portion which is quite large and the Mexican portion which is slightly smaller. I opted for the chicken Enchilada (Mexican portion). Food arrived very quickly. Even the Mexican portion was extremely big and I only managed to eat a quarter. The corn tortilla was lovely as well as the sauce. There was something about the chicken that I didn't like. Should have ordered the veg option of mushrooms instead. My Husband's Burrito was delicious.

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 supper, one from 17:30 to 20:00 and the other from 20:30 to closing. We booked for the 2nd seating option. The restaurant is nothing fancy and has a really awesome Mexican vibe to it. We started with the 1L jugs of margaritas which were absolutely fantastic, and a must have!<br/><br/>For mains there are 2 portion sizes, the normal (which comes with 2 fillings) and the Mexican portion (which comes with 1 filling). I ordered the normal sized burrito with chicken and mushroom. The burrito was delicious and packed full, enough chicken and mushroom for every mouthful. The portion sizes here are extremely large and I'll be surprised if anyone can actually finish the entire portion in a single sitting.

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 course. Pancho's is by far the best we've tried so far. Positives: food portions are huge, they actually play nice music that sets a nice atmosphere and keeps to the theme, staff are friendly and give off a good vibe, frozen margarita's are damn delicious. Negatives: food is a little pricey (understandable because of the portion sizes), kitchen closed a little early for me, quesadilla's were lacking the Mexican 'flavor' I was looking forward to. All in all a nice experience and I will be returning.

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 chicken and almond flauta being my favorite - generously portioned and reasonably priced making it great value for money. Although a bit noisy, the ambience is great, and service is completely commendable. Only advice is to book in advance as these guys are busy - with good reason!

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 when we got there as they have 2 dinner sittings in a evening. Great cocktails which are available in liters with an amazing dish called a fluota (basically a deep fried burrito)....which is AMAZING! Great vibey place although the service is slow.

people speaks a lot about panchos. its been around for a while, we didnt know we had to make a booking but the restaurant was full and we were initially seated at the bar. we had the nachos, poppers, tacos and something that i cant recall. the virgin mojito wasnt good and we changed it for something else. it didnt live up to expectation but the managers were awesome and accommodated us.

BEST CHICKEN NACHOS EVER ! <br/> <br/>

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 make a reservation as it is often packed.

I had a fantastic night at this excellent establishment. They are nothing fancy, just a really cool and relaxed spot with mouth watering Mexican food. I had the chilli poppers to start and the Flautas as a main which is basically a deep fried burrito served with guacamole and sour cream. The portion was rather big and I couldn't finish it which is rare for me. It was heavenly! The service was great. Our attentive waitor came and called me at the bar when our starters were served and also I ordered a beer at the table and went for a smoke. Instead of just leaving the beer at the table he came and found me. That is good service. I highly recommend this spot to anyone.

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 like mini CBD.<br/>The restaurant was packed and very loud - it's advisable that you book in advance. Service was a bit slow, and not that friendly. We had jalapeño poppers for starters which were a great choice. My friends believe that their frozen margaritas are the best in Cape Town, so we were off to a good start. <br/>Our main meal arrived slightly cold but this might be due to the fact that we were in such a large group. I had their mushroom quesadilla which did not disappoint. I like my Mexican food served with beans and because the quesadilla did not come with beans, I ordered the Frijoles con Queso which is a bean dip. Apparently the enchilada wasn't that great but the Nachos would be a good choice. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience and I will definitely be back!

I was shocked to find panchos needed reservations. The service I felt was really good. The waiter was attentive and the mangers dealt with our complaints well. The food however, was underwhelming. My drink was okay (some virgin Cosmo thing) the nojito wasn't good at all.

I love panchos normally but my burrito was dry inside!! It advertised "a saucy filling" but there was no sauce! And my sister's was dry too. The frozen margaritas were great! And lovely ambience. Please improve on the dryness

Totally the Mecca of all Mexican food in Cape Town. It may be located in a dodgy area, but hey, when in Mexico ;)...<br/><br/>The great thing is that the owners go to great lengths to keep everybody safe with a security lock on the door. I think this deters vagrants and allows customers to feel safe, which is nice. The restaurant is also full of people from different walks of life, and doesn't only pack a bunch of students on a binge-drinking quest; this spot is very old and well-known for its food.<br/><br/>The food is absolutely amazing. I have tried just about everything and among the winners are the chilli poppers, flautas and ENCHILADAS! I ask for extra cheese whenever I pay a visit because I'm terrible; I always want more cheese, but it's so amazing... This place gets very busy so I try to go on quiet weekdays (but still also busy sometimes). Service has always been good-natured and pleasant. Waiters try to make you feel at home and have decent manners, which is much appreciated.<br/>**Ensure that you call and book a table ahead of time, or you will be turned away.

Enchiladas are plural, burritos don't have peas in them, and the chipotle pepper is an integral part of Mexican food. Someone, please, open another Mexican restaurant...

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 long.. The wait for food was long and they were quite busy but it was so worth the wait! The portions were massive and we all had the smaller portion they offer.. The food was really good and the Margarita Jugs were a real treat! I will deff be back for some more.. This is a place you get your money's worth, they are really well priced for the amount of food you get!

Quantity, Quality and Frozen Margaritas: What more could one want? Had a really good Mexican experience at Panchos recently. Arrived without a booking and the manager was catering enough to organize a table for my colleague and i on an extremely busy night. Despite this, the service was impeccable and all culinary expectations were surpassed. We shared the Nachos for a starter, which could easily have passed for a mains due to the sheer generosity of portion size. For mains we  had the beef enchilada and burrito respectively. The Mexican flavours and combinations were on point and the spice levels were perfect, even for my colleague (who has a very sensitive spice threshold). Overall, Panchos represents some of the best value for money Mexican food in Cape Town- undoubtedly the Southern Suburbs.<br/><br/>Tip: Order and collect Nachos next time you want to watch a big sporting occasion on the couch and are in need of some finger food.

Pancho's is by far one of my favourite Mexican restaurants in Cape Town for three reasons:<br/>1. Their strawberry-lime frozen margaritas (Amazing!)<br/>2. The portions are huge<br/>3. Their chicken nachos<br/>The pricing is also not too bad, considering how large the portions are. Pancho's is great for a dinner with friends. The festive atmosphere and friendly staff also make it a great place to host a birthday. There is also a small bar if you want to just pop in for drinks.

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 difficult to get their attention.

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 efficient, and easy on the eyes too :). Will definitely go again

Love Panchos an institution in Obz! Celebrated my friend's 30th birthday with authentic Mexican fare and delicious frozen strawberry lime margaritas! <br/><br/>The nacho portions are very generous and I love how they use carne Asada and not minced meat on these. Chili poppers were very unusual wrapped in tortilla and deep fried. Went down a treat! 😀 the burritos that others had looked really delicious too! <br/><br/>Furniture a bit tired place could use s bit of a facelift inside.<br/><br/>But the fantastic food and service at this unpretentious restaurant more than made up for it. Very attentive waitstaff despite the long wait (was a busy eve as usual it was packed)<br/><br/>Big ups to the Manager who upgraded us to an upstairs roomier table as there was a mixup with our reservation.

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 about time limit on table

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😜) <br/>The service can be a little shoddy from time to time but the food definitely makes up for it. Their portion sizes are also very generous. Tonight we had a variety of different dishes as we were a large group. Some favourites were the chilli poppers, nachos and the DIY taco's with chicken. <br/>If you're looking for great Mexican with reasonable pricing, pachos is the place.

The best margaritas and chili poppers in town! Service is friendly but slow. Food is greasy, cheesy and delicious. Value for money is outstanding - portions are huge so try share if you're not too hungry.

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 flautas, you'll regret not trying them! Definitely the best Mexican food in the Mother City.

If Mexican food is your thing and you are in Cape Town I'd say Pancho's should be on your list to try.<br/><br/>Location wise, one may find a bit of urban decay and beggars around, yet Ponchos does provide its own off-street charm. <br/><br/>Walking in, you are welcomed with a warm atmosphere and busy restaurant buz. <br/><br/>Management and staff were friendly and engaging, checking in often. I'm not an experienced Mexican eater, and our positive and energetic waitron (Malcolm) provided some excellent suggestions.<br/><br/>To start, a round of Jalapeño Popper, which seems to be a favourite at Pancho's.<br/><br/>My suggested meal, Enchilada - with spinach and feta, was lovely. <br/><br/>I was a little disappointed by the very limited range of tequilas available, specially Agave - I would have expected more from a Mexican restaurant.<br/><br/>All round good experience, go try it out - just don't flash your valuables on the walk there <br/>

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. Had my 1st Flauta and I am in love - I can't say anything bad about this amazing little gem!!

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 good tip. He rocks. They even charged our e-cigs.

Great food! <br/><br/>Awesome service!<br/><br/>And sexy waiter eye candy 😊<br/><br/><br/><br/>

According to my first visit I am giving a clean 5.0 for this restaurant. <br/>The service was really nice and attentive, we had to tip the waitress very well for this excellent service.<br/>The interior gabe me the impression that the Pancho's restaurant serves the typical 'Tex-Mex' food you do not want to eat other than you like exessive Taco-Bell style of sauce with ceddar cheese. Well, my anticipation was really wrong once I got my well-prepared Tacos with beef and mushrooms as toppings. The Tacos can be self-complete by the customer, which is really nice (avoiding over-saucing or over-creme-fraice-ing). Also my gf's Tostada was really nice and well-balanced with the beans and lettuce.