Alkimia Mexican Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Haw River

Saw this place on a TicToc & wanted to check it out since it’s local and new. Wasn’t sure if they would be open on July 4th, but so glad they were. Sometimes, even a small unknown place next to a gas station might turn out to be the gem restaurant that becomes a favorite of yours. You never know what you may find unless you venture to explore. Tonight, we start our journey to new food choices. Parking was not an issue even with people still getting their gas and going into the store. For a Friday night, they weren’t very busy, but it could be the holiday or the fact that they are still not known well. Our server was also our greeter. She was so sweet. Got our drink order (water) & brought us chips w/homemade salsa. Not sure what spices were on the chips, but it paired nicely with the salsa. I tasted a bit of lime. We also got queso. Chips came with it as well. The queso was thicker than I have had at other places, but still very good. It was made to take the chip and not break it. Our server gave us plenty of time to voice our entrees since we had no idea what to get. Finally choices made- my hunny got the Cali Burrito & I got Camarones Zarandeados , plus Carnitas Taco. I,of course needed to alter my order- no onions (I don’t like raw onions) & no cilantro. I’m telling you, once I tasted my marinated shrimp, I really didn’t want to share. That was probably one of the best marinades I have ever tasted. The house salad was simple (lettuce, tomato slices, shredded carrot, avocado slices) & I didn’t eat the rice (I did take a bite- just not on my diet plan). And the carnitas were perfect. The mayo on the side that I got with my other entree was so good on it. My hunny ate all of his meal minus one plantain which I tasted. I really need to learn to make these. I can’t even tell you how many times we were checked on to make sure our meal was ok. Even when our server left for the day, she told us bye and hoped we would come back. Now it was a bit more than we usually pay without having any leftovers. However, considering the size of my shrimp and the fact that a lot of items have had price increases, that is to be expected. We have always decided to go back again. There are other items we want to try. You really need to give this place a chance. Don’t let this gem disappear because all you see...

🌮🌯5-Star Review for Alkimia – Haw River, NC 🌮 📍 Located next to Sunoco on Hwy 70

Tried a new gem today and had to share! Lane and I stopped by Alkimia, a fresh new Mexican restaurant in Haw River — and y’all, it did NOT disappoint.

The menu is simple but genius: pick your protein and choose how you want it — ACP-style, burrito, quesadilla, or machete. That’s it. No endless flipping through pages — just solid choices done right.

🍤 I had the shrimp ACP: grilled shrimp with onions and poblano peppers, served over rice and covered in queso, with tortillas on the side. Absolute perfection. 🌯 Lane got the steak burrito bowl loaded with black beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, guac, and sour cream — fresh, flavorful, and filling. 🥤 We both had sweet teas, and our total was just over $34. Definitely a great value for the quality and portions!

💫 The vibe is clean and inviting, and we were lucky to have Carmen as our server — super friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home.

Alkimia is officially on our “go again soon” list. Whether you're local or passing through Haw River, do yourself a favor and stop in. Can’t wait to try their...

Like the other reviewers, we were a bit hesitant when we realized this place is co-located with a gas station. But we pushed past that and we're glad we did. The food was excellent and the service was attentive. I'll warn you about the spicy shrimp, however...the shrimp come with heads and shells intact, and it's a fight to get them ready to pop in your mouth, during which your hands will be covered in the seasoned sauce in which they're served. They taste wonderful, so it's worth the effort, but expect to go through a bushel of napkins.

While we were finishing our meal, the cook came out to visit with us and ask how we enjoyed our meal. We chatted with him for a while, discussing our preferences for levels of heat in our food and such, and eventually he brought out some tiny M&M-shaped peppers for me to try. They packed a potent punch, which was fun. He also explained that they had recently relocated to that location and could use a boost in popularity, so tell your friends! Good restaurants are becoming rare, so we need to keep the...