Sofrito Restaurant — Restaurant in Mauldin

[Initial review was 5☆ over 3 visits in 2019. Update reduced it to 3☆ based on 2 visits in early 2020.]

I barely noticed this place tucked away amongst the sea of neon on Woodruff Road, but boy, am I glad I did! A PERFECT Mojito (rarer to find than you might think), extremely reasonably-priced creative food obviously made with love by talented professionals, a happy, comfortable atmosphere, and excellent service (our waitress apologized that she was still learning English, but got everything exactly right, did a wonderful job, and was really adorable!) all went to create a rare enjoyable dining experience. I am RIDICULOUSLY picky and critical of what passes for culinary "skill" most places and I was absolutely impressed.

So, chronologically: the chips are EXCELLENT: crunchy, not too salty, warm, definitely NOT out of a bag. They gave us two salsas, mild and hot. The mild was delicious! Hot isn't my speed, but my husband really liked the spicier salsa.

The iced tea was excellent; the Margaritas and Mojitos were perfect. I had the El Taco Vegan (with sweet plantain - yum!), the El Poblano Taco, and rice & beans. Everything was absolutely delicious. My husband had an El Taco Vegan, a Mahi-Mahi Taco (since the fish is bland anyway, he noted it could use a little sauce of some kind to zip it up), and a Grilled Guajillo Steak Taco.

We were so pleased and are looking forward to our next date night at this lovely and scrumptious restaurant!

UPDATE: LATE 2020. There was a re-branding from "Tacos and Mas" to "Sofritos". My understanding is that it was simply a name change and not a change in management or ownership. I unfortunately have to report that neither the food nor the drinks were on par with my previous experiences when this was Tacos and Mas. The same mojito I raved about before was watery without enough lime or mint to make it fresh and outstanding. I had really been looking forward to that drink and could have easily made it better myself. This tells me there's a lack of training behind the bar [mixing a great drink is MATH. It requires strict adherence to a specific recipe!] or a lack of concern on the part of the bartender as to what s/he is serving. And I realize there are usually different bartenders who work different days or hours. If you are part of the bartending staff at Sofritos and you don't like what I've said here, search yourself. You probably know exactly who the weak link is, and if it's you, you DEFINITELY know it.

The chips were not as good & although I spelled out my very simple order, they got it wrong and, in addition, put things on it that were not even in the menu description. They were eager to make it right, but I had to wait while they made it over. I insisted my husband go ahead & eat so that his meal would not get cold. It was not a pleasing experience. The meal itself was pretty average. It's really so disappointing because everything was so stellar our first few visits. The front-of-house staff we saw were still all very nice and friendly. I think, perhaps, the problem lies in the kitchen. Not enough attention to detail, not reading tickets, unfamiliarity or lack of care as to what goes in each dish. The love was missing from the food. I think either more training or different kitchen staff is what is now needed. I'll visit at some point this year in 2021. Hopefully I'll be able to report that delicious food and drinks have returned to Sofritos.

UPDATE: August, 2025. Went for cocktails & a snack. My $8 mojito was in a glass so narrow it could have been a test tube. Filled with ice. Probably $1 worth of beverage in it. Average taste. Got guacamole & chips. They don't have salsa. The guac was very light mint green in color, as if it had been mixed with something like sour cream. Avocado quality was low: very little flavor. I detected no onion, no cilantro, no tomato, no lime, and NO SALT. As a result: no flavor. They were stingy with the chips, filling the basket only halfway each time, making you request more. This was our final...

I have dined at numerous restaurants around the world, searching for culinary experiences that truly stand out. I am thrilled to say that my visit to Sofritos Restaurant exceeded all expectations and deserves a glowing 5-star review!

Arriving at 9 pm, the restaurant appeared serene, but I was immediately welcomed by the delightful Diego, whose expertise in the menu was truly commendable. He not only impressed me with his knowledge but also dazzled me with his exceptional presentation skills and thoughtful suggestions. This level of service is exactly what one expects from a top-notch, 5-star establishment.

To kick off the evening, I indulged in the queso & chorizo, and it was absolutely superb! The combination of flavors was simply divine, leaving me craving for more. Thanks to Diego's recommendation, I opted for the Roasted Mojo Pork Mofongos, and it turned out to be an outstanding choice. The dish was packed with incredible flavors, and the portion was so generous that I had enough for a second meal. It was truly excellent.

My partner had the Shrimp Salad, and let me tell you, it was a spectacle for both the eyes and the taste buds. The avocado dressing with a hint of jalapeno added a fresh and tantalizing twist to the dish. It was a burst of flavors in every bite, leaving us both thoroughly impressed.

To conclude our exceptional dining experience, we couldn't resist indulging in Sofritos' signature flan and tres leches. Oh, what a delightful treat it was! The desserts were prepared to perfection, showcasing the chef's expertise and attention to detail. And to top it all off, the Colombian coffee we enjoyed with our desserts was surprisingly exceptional in taste and quality.

As if all these amazing experiences weren't enough, we decided to bring home some chicken fingers and fries for our nephew, who had recently been discharged from the hospital. The lightly battered chicken fingers were a hit, and the fries were crispy and delicious. It was a heartwarming gesture from Sofritos, showcasing their dedication to going above and beyond for their customers.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Sofritos Restaurant to anyone seeking an extraordinary culinary journey. From the moment we arrived, Diego's impeccable service, knowledgeable recommendations, and attentive care made our evening unforgettable. The queso & chorizo, Roasted Mojo Pork Mofongos, Shrimp Salad, flan, tres leches, and the surprising Colombian coffee were all simply outstanding.

Thank you, Sofritos Restaurant, for an incredible dining experience. You have earned every bit of my 5-star rating, and I eagerly look forward to returning soon for another...

Overall this restaurant was good. The food was warm and tasted great. I had the pastelon and my wife had the shrimp mofongo. Since we used to live in the Orlando, FL area, we are aware of what good carribean (Puertorican) food should be. This is comparable to the food they have there. The pastelon’s meat was well seasoned and tasted really good. The only downside was their wasn’t as much sweet plantain in it as I would have liked. The portion size was also kind of on the small side. The mofongo was well seasoned and the shrimp and fried pork were very well seasoned and tasted great. I also got a side of fried yucca and it was cooked well as it was not dry at all and the sauce that came with it was really good as well. The reason I gave them 4 stars and not 5 was because of their online ordering system. It was very confusing because the items are not in order (the kids menu and desserts show up in the middle of the menu instead of at the end). Also, when I ordered the pastelon, it didn’t say that it came with a side of rice and beans. This is important for me because I can’t eat rice. If I had known that it came with rice and beans, I would have ordered something else or asked for a substitute. It would be nice to have more customization options for the menu items when you order online. The other issue was that the web site and email I received said the food would be ready at 5:25pm (I ordered it around 4:30pm). I left home at 5pm and got there at about 5:10pm. The food was already ready and packaged. I usually like to get the restaurant early to get it as soon as it comes out of the kitchen so it’s as warm as possible when I get home. I don’t know how long it was sitting there, but it would be better if the online ordering system has a better ETA. Overall, the food was good and we would try this place again. We might call in the order next time if the online ordering system is...