Mexican Restaurant Ay Caramba in Asheville — Restaurant in Asheville

My wife and I stumbled upon Ay Caramba Mexican Bar & Grill during our road trip from Wisconsin to Florida in August, and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be!

Located in a nondescript strip mall, Ay Caramba may not catch your eye from the outside, but don't let that fool you. Once inside, the décor is created by decorations on the walls, like many strip mall restaurants the décor could be changed in 24 hours. Although the vibrant decorations do set the stage for a delightful dining experience.

We kicked off our evening with their 27oz House Margarita, and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of driving.

As for the main course, I opted for the Especial Ay Caramba—a Ribeye steak on a flavorful bed of onions, zucchini, and bell peppers. The dish was served with a generous portion of rice, refried beans covered in Mole sauce, and a full ear of corn on the cob. The Ribeye, cooked to a perfect medium rare, was succulent and mouthwatering. The combination of flavors from the vegetables and Mole sauce added a delightful complexity to the dish.

My wife chose the Cheese Enchiladas, and she was equally pleased with her choice. The enchiladas were generously filled, smothered in Mole sauce, and accompanied by sides of rice and refried beans. According to her, it was a delicious and satisfying meal.

The service throughout our visit was excellent—attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The staff seemed genuinely passionate about the food they served, and their recommendations were spot-on.

While the exterior might suggest just another strip mall joint, Ay Caramba stands out for its outstanding food and attentive service. We left with satisfied taste buds and the certainty that we'll be making a return visit in the future. If you're in Ashville and craving authentic Mexican cuisine, Ay Caramba is a hidden gem that's well worth...

I had a very disappointing experience. After receiving my $9 avocado burrito without avocado, I spent 10 minutes trying to flag down my waiter to let them know that my dish wasn't prepared properly. He informed told that the owner himself put a tiny slice of avocado in it and I just didn't see it. I was shocked at being accused of deception and then also dumbfounded by the fact that a tiny slice of avocado was their interpretation of what an avocado burrito should contain. I have attached a picture of 80% of the burrito to show no avocado was in it. I was ultimately overcharged for a bean burrito and then called a liar. If you are intending on ordering a burrito of any kind from this establishment, I suggest you open it immediately while your server is watching to assure you receive what you ordered and charged accordingly. My family and I used to frequent this restaurant weekly. We won't be returning nor recommending it in the future. If you're reading this and would like a recommendation for an alternative Mexican cuisine restaraunt, try Pappa's & Beer. There are several 5 star ones...

Ok first off I had a coupon buy one get one with nothing but the logo for ay caramba on it the same exact logo on the menus when I showed the waiter the coupon and he says to me "Hey bro that's only for the Leicester hwy location" it says that no where!!!! 9n top of that the guy completely ignored us the whole time granted he was the bartender but there was less than 10 people in the whole restaurant also there was 4 of us myself my wife and kids I ordered fajitas and they came out 15 minutes before any of the other food including my tortillas I even asked another server walking around about it and she said "it's coming from the kitchen" when I asked how long she rudely said "soon" and walked off I'm very disappointed because all I've heard is good things about the place but I will not recommend this restraunt to anyone and I will...