Isla Balli — Restaurant in South Padre Island

We had high hopes for this place, but Isla Bali seriously let us down.

We ordered simple dishes—chicken tenders, chilaquiles, and pancakes with eggs and bacon—but everything went wrong from the start. The service was awful; we weren’t even greeted when we walked in. Staff seemed disinterested and inattentive the entire time.

Then came the food. It was cold, the fries were soggy and flavorless, and the chicken tenders were literally raw and pink inside—a major health hazard. The chilaquiles were bland, and even the pancakes, which should be foolproof, were dry and unimpressive.

The only good thing about this place is the aesthetic—but honestly, that should be the least of their concerns. A pretty place means nothing if the food is unsafe and the service is nonexistent.

They have a lot to work on at Isla Bali, and until serious improvements are made, we won’t be coming back—and I wouldn’t recommend it to...

What an absolute delight to dine at Isla Bali on its second day of opening! From the moment we walked in, we were met with such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food was outstanding. We particularly savored the mushroom skewers, which were so unique and flavorful—we'd never tried anything quite like them before! The vibrant golden beets salad was also a hit. The chilaquiles with outskirts (carne asada) were so rich and tasty, and even the pancakes were a standout. And for a perfect finish, their espresso martini was perfectly crafted. Our server was incredibly attentive, making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. It was also such a lovely touch when Alexandra, the owner, stopped by our table to personally thank us for visiting. Her warmth and hospitality truly made our experience even more special. Isla Bali is already a gem, and we can't recommend it highly enough. We'll definitely...

My friends and I tried this place. Hostess said an hour wait (tried to reserve beforehand, but no response). Waited 40 minutes. The server was nice, but when my friend ordered chilaquiles and asked for avocado on the side, she was told no, even though the description includes 'SLICED AVOCADOS.' Someone we know went the next day and got chilaquiles with sliced avocados! People who arrived after us were served first. A table of six and another table who arrived 30 minutes later got their food before us. We ordered simple dishes (egg sandwiches, eggs benedict, chilaquiles, kids' pancake meal), but it took an hour and 40 minutes to get our food! It wasn’t even hot. We arrived at 1 PM and left at 3 PM. The owners talked to the table in front of us while we waited but didn't apologize for the wait or the obvious preferential treatment, even though they ordered the same thing as us. 1 PM to 3 PM for a...