Cielo Azul Mexican Kitchen and Seafood

Let me start off by saying this place is new (only open for 2 weeks as of 6/10/23) and still working out the kinks so therefore I'm being a bit lenient on the service issues. The food is top tier!! 👌🏾It's a pretty massive menu with some standard Mexican food and then they have a lot of things I haven't seen at other Mexican restaurants so that alone is impressive!! The chips and salsa are not complimentary. I think the guacamole is supposed to be prepared tableside, but ours was brought to us already made while a table that came after us had theirs made tableside. They were asked if they wanted certain items in their guacamole, we werent given the option... personally I would have loved jalapeño in mine.The presentation of the food is beautiful and very very creative. We did have a bit of a wait before someone came to bring menus and get our drink order even though we were seated immediately. The staff seems a little unorganized but hopefully as they work out the kinks everyone will have a clear understanding. We had a minor issue but the manager corrected it and made things right. The staff is very friendly so that's a major plus. You get a pretty big portion of food so in my opinion the price is justified. We look forward to returning and trying other items!! Job well job 👏🏾 👍🏾 😊

Update- been back several times, went back last week for taco Tuesday. Best margaritas I’ve had in town, great deals on food, and best part of all is this place seems to be a well kept secret. Never busy! I feel bad for the restaurant but I love that there’s never a wait and the staff is awesome. Went for lunch the other day, it was slow and they were obviously understaffed for lunch. But that’s where the complaint ends, I read the restaurant when I walked in and knew they weren’t going to be quick because it looked slow, so I ordered a margarita and sat at the bar and relaxed. While they were slow to get around to me, maybe 5 mins tbh, the waiter got me a margarita quickly and gave me a 5 star recommendation for the carnitas. The plate was massive and delicious. Margarita was pretty good too. Will be back.

This is the second time we have visit and both times have been 10/10. From the great people that serve you to the amazing yummy food. Management should be proud of the great team they have GREAT JOB. The food is so fresh and yummy the birria, caldos are full of flavor the steaks are cooked perfectly. To top it of the drinks definitely make everything spark together. Had me dancing in my chair. And if it’s your birthday EVEN BETTER celebrate with them they go ALL OUT. Great job Cielo Azul you have a loyal customer. A must share on BEST EATS IN JAX.

Came in yesterday for a Mother’s Day dinner and had a great time! They have live music every weekend and it’s a nice place to hang out for a while and eat great food. I had the arrachera, as recommended by Victoria, and it was delicious. She was a great waitress. The drinks were strong and huge.

Ruby Tran

We walked in and there was only one server on the floor (actually behind the bar) and maybe two customers at the bar, so we were a little hesitant going in but we were pleasantly surprised! The food was good, the staff were pleasant, and the place was clean. My mom REALLY enjoyed their rice. If only I could count how many times she complimented it. To her most rice eating out is the same, but they cooked and seasoned it well. Both the orange-ish and green-ish rice were good, though she enjoyed the green-ish one more. The salsa was good, tasted fresh. I got the fajitas and I thought it was seasoned well and a good portion, especially for the cost. The star of the show (aside from the rice for my mom) was the fried snapper. My parents tend to get fried fish when they go out, enough that I guess there are places where it doesn’t come out crispy (like my mom wanted me to ask if the fish would be crispy if we ordered it 😅). But it came out crispy but not overly fried too death. The crust was a little salty for our taste but with the salad, it balanced out nicely. The texture was good. The fries were crispy. There was another person who was on the floor and also ran the food out. But service and refills were not an issue. Again, pleasantly surprised and on our list of food places when we go out.

Lingiere Diaz (Rae)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Cielo Azul is pure Jacksonville magic! 🌮💙🎶 If you know, you know — this spot hits different. The food alone is reason enough to pull up, but once that live music kicks in? It’s a whole vibe. Between the sizzling fajitas coming out of the kitchen and the guitarist singing classic Spanish tunes, you can feel the energy fill the room — warm, lively, and genuine, just like the people running the place. The staff always greet you like family — they remember faces, crack jokes, and make sure your drink never runs low. The carne asada? Perfectly grilled. The enchiladas? Melt-in-your-mouth good. And the margaritas… let’s just say they don’t play around. 🍹 It’s the kind of spot that makes you forget about time — couples dancing near the tables, families laughing over fresh guac, locals clapping along to the beat. Whether you’re from Riverside, Southside, or just passing through Jax, Cielo Azul makes you feel like you belong there. Authentic food, amazing service, and live music that feeds your soul — this place isn’t just a restaurant, it’s an experience Jacksonville should be proud of. 💯

Ryan Huser

Stopped in here on a whim while using the EV charger. Blown away at how good the food was and how reasonable the prices were. Cool art on the walls and good atmosphere. Seems like they put a lot of love and care into the place. Only complaint : House margarita mix was a bit too strong and artificial tasting. Would return next time we're in the area.

Zaira Sumaya

Birria tacos were fire 🔥 — dipped in that consomé just right. Fries were crispy, service was great, and the music set the vibe 🎶🙌. Our server, Johan (I think that was his name), was super friendly. Definitely coming back!

Marina Youssef

We came in lunch time / happy hour. The service was nice. The food was great. Their chips and salsa were really good too.

Adrian

Love an esthetically pleasing restaurant! The food is good, the guacamole wasn’t the best I ever had but it was decent. Queso, Ceviche, and steak taco were really good. I love a good old fashion, theirs has a bit of a spin which maybe is an acquired taste 😅 my friend said her margarita was pretty good!

Mike Zouein

The food here is amazing! Not your average mexican spot. Pastor tacos are delicious with chunks of pineapple, the black beans were incredible! Fajitas yummy. Everything very well seasoned, highly recommend!!

Heather

Do yourself a favor and go here! My husband and I went for a mid-week, mini date night and this place is by far one of the best Mexican restaurants we have ever had. I got the pick 3 for $16 and ordered a beef soft taco and 2 beef Chili Relleno (it came with rice and beans) and my husband got the chimichurri steak for $28. For both of us, with our meals, a soda, a beer, and queso we spent right at $100 with a $22 tip!

Max Hochman

This place is awesome! Sad it wasn't more busy on a Friday night. Live music, amazing food and margaritas. I would absolutely go back! Must try if at Avenues Mall.

April Zaevi

The food was incredible and such large portions! Stopped in with coworkers, it was all our first visit. We were all highly impressed with the food and service. Dari A was a great server! Was excited to see they have vegan options.

Lexy W

Let me start off by saying this place is new (only open for 2 weeks as of 6/10/23) and still working out the kinks so therefore I'm being a bit lenient on the service issues. The food is top tier!! 👌🏾It's a pretty massive menu with some standard Mexican food and then they have a lot of things I haven't seen at other Mexican restaurants so that alone is impressive!! The chips and salsa are not complimentary. I think the guacamole is supposed to be prepared tableside, but ours was brought to us already made while a table that came after us had theirs made tableside. They were asked if they wanted certain items in their guacamole, we werent given the option... personally I would have loved jalapeño in mine.The presentation of the food is beautiful and very very creative. We did have a bit of a wait before someone came to bring menus and get our drink order even though we were seated immediately. The staff seems a little unorganized but hopefully as they work out the kinks everyone will have a clear understanding. We had a minor issue but the manager corrected it and made things right. The staff is very friendly so that's a major plus. You get a pretty big portion of food so in my opinion the price is justified. We look forward to returning and trying other items!! Job well job 👏🏾 👍🏾 😊

TJ Cullen

Update- been back several times, went back last week for taco Tuesday. Best margaritas I’ve had in town, great deals on food, and best part of all is this place seems to be a well kept secret. Never busy! I feel bad for the restaurant but I love that there’s never a wait and the staff is awesome. Went for lunch the other day, it was slow and they were obviously understaffed for lunch. But that’s where the complaint ends, I read the restaurant when I walked in and knew they weren’t going to be quick because it looked slow, so I ordered a margarita and sat at the bar and relaxed. While they were slow to get around to me, maybe 5 mins tbh, the waiter got me a margarita quickly and gave me a 5 star recommendation for the carnitas. The plate was massive and delicious. Margarita was pretty good too. Will be back.

Moises Robles

This is the second time we have visit and both times have been 10/10. From the great people that serve you to the amazing yummy food. Management should be proud of the great team they have GREAT JOB. The food is so fresh and yummy the birria, caldos are full of flavor the steaks are cooked perfectly. To top it of the drinks definitely make everything spark together. Had me dancing in my chair. And if it’s your birthday EVEN BETTER celebrate with them they go ALL OUT. Great job Cielo Azul you have a loyal customer. A must share on BEST EATS IN JAX.

Paige Dougherty

Came in yesterday for a Mother’s Day dinner and had a great time! They have live music every weekend and it’s a nice place to hang out for a while and eat great food. I had the arrachera, as recommended by Victoria, and it was delicious. She was a great waitress. The drinks were strong and huge.

Take my wife here yesterday for a lunch day and movie. The staff were so friendly and hospitable. They kept coming over to check in on us to make sure we didn’t need anything. The service was fast. Our food came out and it was nicely plated and delicious. I got the Molcajete and she got the Fajita. If you are in the mood for some great Mexican food, I suggest you give them a try.

Jahvi Ivhaj

Take my wife here yesterday for a lunch day and movie. The staff were so friendly and hospitable. They kept coming over to check in on us to make sure we didn’t need anything. The service was fast. Our food came out and it was nicely plated and delicious. I got the Molcajete and she got the Fajita. If you are in the mood for some great Mexican food, I suggest you give them a try.

Katrina Eleftheropoulos

Wow amazing Mexican restaurant! My husband and I got our usuals, and don’t usually venture much from our normal Mexican dishes, but after this I think I have the courage to try one of the specialty more authentic dishes. I got my usual of a taco salad, no shell, extra lettuce, and side of pico (to put on the salad). Huge portion with everything exactly as I asked and very tasty. My husband got the burrito loco and said it was phenomenal. Similar to how another local Mexican restaurant used to be but has since gone downhill. We got a grilled chicken taco for our very picky younger child and she didn’t want to eat it at first but then devoured it. This place did not disappoint! Of note it is part of the mall, but it has its own outside entrance.

Had some yummy Mexican for lunch at the Avenues mall today. California burrito- HUGE Fajitas- sizzling Flautas- crispy Chips and salsa- delicious I recommend lunch portions!

This was our first time here. We came during lunch time. Service was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and offering their top dishes. We ordered the house margarita. I got a regular and my husband got the large. It was strong and delicious. We got a side of Queso or cheese dip which was very huge. For our entrees we ordered the steak fajitas and the rice bowl with grilled chicken. Both entrees were very flavorful and delicious. I would come back and try the rest of the menu.

Lovely

This was our first time here. We came during lunch time. Service was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and offering their top dishes. We ordered the house margarita. I got a regular and my husband got the large. It was strong and delicious. We got a side of Queso or cheese dip which was very huge. For our entrees we ordered the steak fajitas and the rice bowl with grilled chicken. Both entrees were very flavorful and delicious. I would come back and try the rest of the menu.

Giving this place a solid 3 stars! This place was okay, friendly staff, as well as amazing food! However it wasn’t all super great overall. We started off with chips and salsa, which aren’t complimentary, and ordered some drinks as well. Our food took over 30 minutes if not more to come out, and the place was not busy, our server was great and apologized a few times about the wait. We weren’t in a rush so we didn’t mind. We order the Birria Steak burger, which was super good, and the rice bowl with shrimp, which was good as well. After finishing up, we ordered some desert, the Mousse Passion Fruit, which was pretty great! Unfortunately towards the end, their system was down and we had to wait for over 20 minutes to receive the bill. We arrived around 2:30 and didn’t leave until 3:55. So despite having some great food, the whole experience was somewhat underwhelming. In addition, they already have a 18% service charge automatically added to the bill, which is a questionable decision. Overall great food, let down experience.

Adriel

Giving this place a solid 3 stars! This place was okay, friendly staff, as well as amazing food! However it wasn’t all super great overall. We started off with chips and salsa, which aren’t complimentary, and ordered some drinks as well. Our food took over 30 minutes if not more to come out, and the place was not busy, our server was great and apologized a few times about the wait. We weren’t in a rush so we didn’t mind. We order the Birria Steak burger, which was super good, and the rice bowl with shrimp, which was good as well. After finishing up, we ordered some desert, the Mousse Passion Fruit, which was pretty great! Unfortunately towards the end, their system was down and we had to wait for over 20 minutes to receive the bill. We arrived around 2:30 and didn’t leave until 3:55. So despite having some great food, the whole experience was somewhat underwhelming. In addition, they already have a 18% service charge automatically added to the bill, which is a questionable decision. Overall great food, let down experience.

Ok mall but Don't go to the Dubai chocolate stand. Rude unapproachable attendant. Candy bar prices $15, $20 and $35 options. Over priced and misrepresentation of what ur purchasing....$20 midsized BOX small candy bar. Shared with my step daughter. I don't think it's the real thing. Taste bland just ok. Not what u see advertised. On another note...At least 3 shops I entered never even acknowledged I was browsing which made me not spend money in their store. Cinnabon was very nice and the pillow shop was very friendly. I don't care to go back. See pics of candy bar.

Very peculiar spot.. and not in the best way. They have a bunch of tequila like clase azul shown off on their shelf and wall..yet they don’t offer it. Those are empty bottles just for display. Service was meh. Food was okay.

Tea Gerl

Ok mall but Don't go to the Dubai chocolate stand. Rude unapproachable attendant. Candy bar prices $15, $20 and $35 options. Over priced and misrepresentation of what ur purchasing....$20 midsized BOX small candy bar. Shared with my step daughter. I don't think it's the real thing. Taste bland just ok. Not what u see advertised. On another note...At least 3 shops I entered never even acknowledged I was browsing which made me not spend money in their store. Cinnabon was very nice and the pillow shop was very friendly. I don't care to go back. See pics of candy bar.

Mia Miskovic

Very peculiar spot.. and not in the best way. They have a bunch of tequila like clase azul shown off on their shelf and wall..yet they don’t offer it. Those are empty bottles just for display. Service was meh. Food was okay.