Real Mexican cooking, worth the drive.
Hand-pressed tortillas, scratch salsas, and an outdoor patio in the heart of Central. Five minutes from Clemson, and a world away from anything off a freezer truck.
This is not a free chips
and salsa kind of place.
Everything that leaves our kitchen is made fresh, by hand, the same day you eat it. Tortillas pressed to order. Salsas built from whole chiles. Birria simmered low and slow until the meat gives way. We cook with heart, and you can taste the difference in every bite.
The dishes that built our name
A few favorites to start with. The full menu runs deeper, and it shifts with the seasons.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Chilled shrimp, ripe avocado, and fresh pico in a bright tomato-citrus broth. Cool, fresh, and made to order.
$15
Quesabirria Tacos
Crisped tortillas, melted cheese, birria-rich beef. A guest favorite, and an easy one to fall for.
$15
Hibiscus Margarita
Our signature pour. Fresh lime, real hibiscus, scratch sweet, never from a mix. Worth ordering twice.
$12
Street Tacos
Corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, lime. Choose al pastor, carnitas, pollo, or carne asada.
$13
A patio made for long evenings
Our patio is the part guests remember. Scratch margaritas, the fire-pit high-top, sun-and-shade seating, and live music drifting across the patio on weekends.
- ◆Scratch margaritasHibiscus, classic, or spicy, poured under the string lights all season long.
- ◆The fire-pit high-topA round high table with a fire pit in the middle and bar stools all around. The seat everyone wants when the evening cools.
- ◆Sectioned for private eventsPart of the patio can be set aside just for your group.
We will bring the party to you
Game day spreads near Clemson, office lunches, graduations. Scratch Mexican food, delivered and set up.
Your night on the patio
Rehearsal dinners, birthdays, Clemson and SWU group gatherings. The space is yours.
Live music most Friday & Saturday nights
Craving it at home?
We are on all three. Order from whichever you already use, and we will have it out the door fast.
Prefer to pick it up? Call us at (864) 952-5008.
Read what people are saying
Our guests have left us hundreds of reviews across Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor. Read them yourself, and if you have been in, please leave one of your own.
Made fresh, every single day
Our full menu, made fresh by hand every single day. A focused lunch menu runs Monday through Friday until 2pm. Kids eat happy. Drinks pour all day. Tortillas pressed to order and salsas built from scratch.
Hungry yet?
Come taste it on the patio, get it delivered, or let us cater the whole spread for your group.
A family kitchen on Main Street
The Mexican at Central grew out of one belief: that real Mexican food, made by hand, has a place in this town.
The Mexican at Central lives inside a converted house on West Main Street, and it still feels like one. Rooms instead of a dining hall. A porch that became a patio. A kitchen where everything starts from whole ingredients and ends on your plate the same day.
This is a family-owned restaurant, and it cooks like one. The recipes carry the weight of where they came from, and the kitchen refuses the shortcuts that most places quietly take. Tortillas are pressed by hand. Salsas are built from whole chiles, not poured from a jug. Birria is given the hours it needs.
That patience is the whole point. Guests travel from Clemson, from Seneca, from across Pickens County, and they come back because the food tastes like someone cared. Because it does. The Mexican at Central is not trying to be the fastest Mexican restaurant in the area. It is trying to be the one worth remembering.
Pull up a seat on the patio, order a hibiscus margarita, and stay a while. That is the invitation, and it always has been.
Three things we will not compromise
Made by hand
Tortillas pressed to order, salsas from whole chiles, birria given its hours. Fresh is not a tagline here, it is the method.
Cooked with heart
Family recipes, family standards. Every plate leaves the kitchen the way we would serve it at our own table.
A place to linger
The patio, the fire pit, the music. We built a restaurant you want to stay in, not rush through.
Come see us on Main Street
Pull up a seat on the patio, or let us bring the food to your next gathering.
We will bring The Mexican to you
Game day spreads, office lunches, graduation parties, tailgates near Clemson and Southern Wesleyan. Scratch Mexican food, delivered, set up, and ready to serve.
The same scratch kitchen, at your event
Trompo-roasted al pastor, hand-pressed tortillas, salsas built from whole chiles. We bring the cooking with us, so your guests get the real thing, hot and fresh.
Three ways to feed your crowd
Pickup Trays
Order ahead, swing by, and we will have hot trays packed and ready. The simplest option for smaller gatherings.
Drop-Off & Set
We deliver, arrange the spread with serving ware, and leave you to host. Most popular for offices and parties.
Full-Service
Our team on site, serving and tending, so you never leave your own event. Best for weddings and large groups.
Built around your group
Pick a starting point and we will build the menu around it. Every package scales to your headcount, and we can mix and match.
Taco Boxes
Hand-built tacos by the dozen. Pick a single meat or a mix. The easiest option for offices, classrooms, and game-day groups.
Nacho Bar
Hot chips, scratch queso, beans, pico, and your choice of meats. Buffet-style and built for crowds.
Mini Taco Salad Bar
Compact build-your-own taco salad station. Right-sized for small offices and intimate gatherings.
Taco Salad Bar
Full DIY taco salad spread with multiple proteins, scratch salsas, and all the fixings. Built for bigger events.
Tell us about your event
A few quick details and we send back a custom menu and price. The quote itself is free with no obligation. A 25% deposit locks your date once we confirm the details.
Catering questions, answered
How far ahead should I book?
We ask for at least 3 days. For game days near Clemson and bigger events, a week or more is best, since those weekends fill up fast.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes, catering starts at 12 guests. For smaller groups, a large to-go order from the regular menu is often easier, and we are glad to help with that too.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. A 25% deposit locks your date once we confirm the details. The quote itself is free with no obligation. The deposit applies to your final balance.
Can you do a rush order?
Sometimes. Less than 3 days out is a rush, and rush orders add a surcharge starting at $150 depending on what you need. Call us at (864) 952-5008 to see what is possible.
Can you handle dietary needs?
Absolutely. Vegetarian options are easy, and we work around common allergies and spice preferences. Just tell us in the form or on the phone.
Do you deliver, or do I pick up?
Both. Pick up hot trays yourself, have us drop off and set the spread, or book full-service with our team on site. You choose what fits your event.
How much does catering cost?
It depends on the menu and headcount. Send the form or call, and we build a custom quote for your group, free and with no obligation.
Tailgates, offices, weddings, and showers
From a 20-person office lunch to a full game-day spread, the same scratch kitchen, brought to your door.
Your night, on our patio
An outdoor patio with a fire-pit high-top, a section that can be set aside just for your group, and a kitchen that turns any gathering into an occasion. Five minutes from Clemson, walking distance from Southern Wesleyan.
Built for gatherings, not just dinners
The patio can be sectioned off so your group has its own corner of the restaurant, with the fire-pit high-top a favorite spot to gather.
- ◆Semi-private or fully privateReserve a section of the patio, or take the whole space for the evening.
- ◆Margaritas and cold cervezaOur scratch margaritas and cold Mexican beer, served to your group.
- ◆Custom menusFamily-style, plated, or a build-your-own taco spread. We build it around your group.
The patio was made for evenings like these
Rehearsal Dinners
An easy, warm setting the night before the big day.
Birthdays & Celebrations
Milestone parties with margaritas, music, and room to move.
Corporate & Team Dinners
Off-sites and team nights that people actually look forward to.
Clemson & SWU Groups
Greek formals, banquets, club socials, faculty and department gatherings.
Showers & Reunions
Bridal showers, baby showers, alumni and family reunions.
Game Weekends
Pre-game gatherings and post-game dinners all season long.
Set up and ready for your group
Choose your space, build your night
Rent a part of the patio, take the whole restaurant, or hand us the whole night and we will run it for you. Food, drinks, and headcount layer on from here.
Patio Rental
From $800
Seats up to 68 outside. Tables, chairs, and a drink station with strawberry lemonade and jamaica are included, plus chips and salsa for the group. Food layered in by the menu. Alcohol sold separately.
Indoor Rental
From $1,000
Up to 80 guests inside. Tables and chairs included. Food layered in by the menu. Alcohol sold separately. The right call when the weather is not.
Full Restaurant Buyout
From $3,500
The whole restaurant, patio and inside, from 2 pm until close. Includes a nacho bar or taco bar for 80. Groups over 80 can add tent rental for the patio overflow. Alcohol sold separately.
All-Inclusive Event
From $3,000
We run the whole night. Cake, decorations, games, custom menu, and the space, all handled. You show up to your own party. Best for milestone parties and weddings.
Pickup catering on its own carries no venue charge — see the Catering page for taco boxes, nacho bars, and salad bar packages. Final pricing depends on headcount, menu, and date. A 25% deposit locks the date once we confirm the plan.
Let us hold a date for you
Share your details and we will follow up with availability, capacity, and a plan for your event.
Weekends sound better here
Live music on the patio when the weather is right. Come for dinner, stay for the set. And if you are a performer, this is where you book a date with us.
On the patio this season
A live calendar of upcoming sets. We update it as dates are confirmed.
This week's lineup posts to our socials
We confirm sets a few days out. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook to see who is playing this Friday or Saturday, or call us and we will tell you.
Acts who have played the patio
A taste of the live music guests have caught on weekend nights. The lineup keeps growing.
A margarita, a meal, and a set under the lights
Come for dinner, order a scratch margarita, and stay for the music. Friday and Saturday nights on the patio are the reason guests linger.
Want to play the patio?
We book live music most weekends in season. Send your details below. We review every submission personally, listen to your music, and reach out if it is a fit.
Come see us on Main Street
Right in the heart of Central, five minutes from Clemson University. Walk-ins welcome, and the patio is open whenever the weather agrees.
| Monday | 11:00am to 9:00pm |
| Tuesday | 11:00am to 9:00pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 11:00am to 9:00pm |
| Friday | 11:00am to 9:00pm |
| Saturday | 11:00am to 9:00pm |
| Sunday | 11:00am to 8:00pm |
★ Closed Wednesdays. Walk-ins always welcome.
Send us a message
Questions, feedback, or just saying hello.
Pick your delivery app
The Mexican at Central is live on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Order from whichever you already use.
Prefer pickup? Call (864) 952-5008 and we will have it ready.
Reserve your table
We are a small, family-run kitchen. A heads-up before you come lets us give you our best, especially on weekends and game days near Clemson.
Reservation questions, answered
Do you take walk-ins?
Always. We keep room for walk-ins every night. A reservation just guarantees the table you want, at the time you want.
How far in advance should I book?
For weekends, two to three days ahead is best. For game days near Clemson, a week is safer. Weeknights, same day is usually fine.
Can I reserve the patio or the fire pit table?
Yes, just note your preference on the form. The fire pit table seats six and is the seat everyone wants when the evening cools.
What if I need to change or cancel?
No problem. Call us at (864) 952-5008 or reply to your confirmation text. We just appreciate as much notice as you can give us.
Big group, ten or more?
For parties of ten or more, the Private Events page is the better starting point. We can set aside a section of the patio just for your group.