Zarate's Latin Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Edmond

When I first sat down at the table, I wasn’t expecting much from a simple glass of water—but from the very first sip, I knew this place took hydration seriously. The water arrived promptly, poured with care into a tall, crystal-clear glass that sparkled under the soft lighting. There was no lingering scent of chlorine or tap—just a clean, crisp aroma that signaled freshness. It’s rare for water to make a first impression, but somehow, this one did.

The temperature was perfect. Not ice-cold to the point of numbing your taste buds, but chilled just enough to refresh and awaken the palate. No floating ice cubes, no condensation pooling at the base—just a well-balanced, neatly presented drink that set the tone for the rest of the meal. It didn’t try to be fancy, but it didn’t have to. The quality spoke for itself.

What truly set it apart was the mouthfeel—soft, almost silky. There was no harsh mineral aftertaste, no gritty texture, and absolutely no metallic tang that sometimes betrays a poorly maintained filtration system. It was as if the water had been filtered through mountain stones and bottled straight from a glacier, even if that wasn’t the case. Every sip felt intentional, like a quiet luxury hiding in plain sight.

The refills came without prompting, each pour graceful and silent, like the servers had been trained at a water sommelier school. Even the glassware added to the experience: tall, elegant, with a slight taper that fit comfortably in the hand. I noticed myself savoring it between bites, appreciating the balance it brought to each course. It elevated the entire dining experience.

In the end, while most diners may forget the water entirely, I left with a strange sense of gratitude for something so basic yet so beautifully executed. It reminded me that hospitality can be found in the smallest details. If a restaurant treats its water this well, you can bet it takes pride in everything it serves. A five-star...

Yes, they have Mofongo! And fried Yucca, both are a little hard to find here in the land of the chicken fried steak. When I find mofongo, I eat it! What makes Zarate's Latin Mexican Grill stand out is the uniqueness of having a good varied Mexican menu along with Latin American menu items. We ate here in 2016 and really enjoyed the Brazilian BBQ Chicken & Shrimp. South American food is not on every street corner in Oklahoma. Although, limited we have found several good restaurants; this is one. Anyway, it was time for a return visit and a quick run to Edmond. They start the meal with thin crisp tortilla chips, a very good mild salsa and queso. It you like heat ask for their hotter salsa. It will go well with whatever you order and help to bring the heat level up a little. My wife had the Tamale Honduran Banana Leaf. White rice, black beans and a tamale make up this meal. There was little or no seasoning on the rice and beans and mild spices in the tamale. She really liked it. I tasted of the beef in the tamale and it did have a good flavor. I can’t pass up the mofongo, so I went for the Mofongo with Shrimp. It is a good sized meal with a mound of mofongo, a few fried plantains, and a dozen shrimp smothered in a sauté of chopped tomato, tomato sauce and onions. It is not spicy or hot. I was a little disappointed in the mofongo. I expected the fried crushed plantains, with chicharrones (or bacon) and garlic to stand out. It had a nice crunch to it, but was lacking in flavor, I think it was just some tostones that had been mashed up into a little pile. After I dumped the remaining hot sauce all over the plate it turned out to be a pretty good meal! It is a clean restaurant with good service, and it is above average! If you are looking for other Mexican restaurants in the area, check out my reviews in my collection "Jalapeno Highway" on Yelp. I've...

I’d driven by this lovely blue building at least 3 times before finally stopping in… I can’t believe I waited so long!! The food was delicious! I can’t eat gluten or dairy, so I unfortunately wasn’t able to try the queso, but the waitress offered me the special spicy salsa & I loved it :)

I ordered the Argentina Steak Chimichurri and it reminded me how much I’ve missed chimichurri. The steak was grilled wonderfully & the chimichurri on top looked picture perfect. It is all made fresh by the chef & even the garlic bits are hand diced… I was impressed as I always just use a blender. So fresh!! The rice and beans were just as I expected & tasted even better with a tiny bit of the hot salsa on top. The avocado salad was simple but very enjoyable. I like to eat some lettuce with most meals, so that was right up my alley. The regular salsa was standard but fresh & great, plus I loved the thin chips.

I generally cook all my own food at home & don’t often go to resturants. I am following a “diet” called The Wahls Protocol to treat my MS (instead of taking up to $50k worth of drugs per year), so it can be hard to find places that I can eat & be confident I won’t end up eating gluten or dairy. Zarate's makes all their food from scratch, so can tell me exactly what goes in every dish. This place has plenty of options that suit me I look forward to trying them all!

Highly recommended, don’t drive past this lovely blue building again without giving Zarate’s Latin...