Mariscos El Buchón — Restaurant in Carlsbad

I recently visited Mariscos El Buchon in Carlsbad, New Mexico, after flying into the city on a Wednesday evening. With no taxi service and limited Uber availability, I was fortunate to find a ride to my hotel and discovered this restaurant just down the street. I decided to give it a try based on its good ratings.

While the large patio was inviting, I chose to sit inside. The atmosphere was lively with loud Latin music and there was no air conditioning. The waitress, who spoke only Spanish, was friendly and managed to help me with my order despite the language barrier. The restaurant seemed popular among Spanish-speaking diners, and the menu was primarily in Spanish with English translations provided in smaller print.

They started me off with complimentary chips and salsa, along with a small bowl of fish soup. The salsa was a bit watery, but it had a nice kick, as did the soup. To drink, I ordered a Mexican Coke for $2.50, which was super refreshing given the heat.

+Camarones A La Plancha (Grilled Shrimp) for $18 - This was served with a salad, rice, and mashed potatoes. I wish the shrimp tasted better, but it didn’t do it for me. 3.5/5

+Ceviche De Callo (Scallop) for $25 - This was served on a large chip and featured scallops in lime juice with tomato, jalapeños, onions, cilantro, cucumber, and avocado. This was also just okay. - 3.5/5

Overall, my visit to Mariscos El Buchon was a unique experience, offering a taste of authentic Mexican seafood in Carlsbad. While the food didn’t impress me enough to return, it’s a solid choice for those craving seafood in the area. I’d rate it a...

I feel compelled to write a review because I came to this restaurant because of other reviews and maybe mine can help another person decide to eat here. My friend and I visited the restaurant last Friday after a long day of hiking at Guadalupe Mountain National Park. We both love Mexican food but neither of us speak any Spanish. The menu was almost completely in Spanish so I used Google Translate for us to order Chicken Tacos and two small salads. We also added guacamole. The chips and salsa brought to the outdoor table were great but mostly because of the chunky, spicy homemade salsa. It was by far the best I have ever tasted! It had jalapeños in but not too hot to have fabulous flavor! Then a huge tray of 4 chicken tacos and side salad came and we both agreed they were the best chicken tacos ever put in our mouths. The guacamole also was totally fresh, having just been peeled and smashed and served artfully in a bowl with several chips of garnish. Very authentic Mexican food - the chicken was so tender and tasty and the sauce and lettuce on them were incredible. We were very full when we left, but so completely satisfied with the delicious dinner that I knew I had to come back to this site and write a review. iIt is a small place, not many staff, all working very hard, but definitely wanting to please the customers with great food. I hope you will decide...

We really enjoyed our dinner here. The fish ceviche was very different from what we had before but it was very good. They give you a tasty soup in a bowl you drink directly from in a round bowl, meaning you don't use utensils. Very good! Hubby had the arrachera flank steak tacos and I had the borracho shrimp tacos. Both were absolutely amazing. They are small but we were very full and satisfied at the end of the meal. The iced tea is also good despite there being flakes at the bottom. Reminded me of home brewed.

Most of the staff only speak Spanish so have Google Translate ready if you have questions. You also have to speak up if you want something but they were very responsive when we asked for something. We were warmly welcomed with smiles when we got there and everyone was courteous.

It's not fancy but we would definitely come.back next time we are in the area. My husband said that he especially liked that it was different than the Mexican food we eat in Texas, but it was a good change! Thanks for a lovely first meal...