Pool Boy Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 'juliusc91 said: Went to Irene's again last night. Got mostly the same stuff I got above. Still great. a buddy got the plantains and beans dish, best sweet plantain I have had. Pupusa was hot and fresh and amazing too. The price/quality ratio is ridiculous here--5 dudes stuffed to the gills for like 45 bucks. Have you tried Mango's next door to this place. I've been there a few times now and it is quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted August 15, 2009 Author Share Posted August 15, 2009 This place is consistently solid. The same folks are *always* there whenever we go. My only nit is that sometimes you need to remember to ask for what the specials are (in case they do not remember to offer them up!), but do get the goods on the specials as they often eclipse the rest of the menu. Went last night and again had their seafood fajitas. lobster, scallops and shrimp served up with onions, tomatoes, guacamole and your choice of flour or corn tortillas. If you like margaritas, they do a tasty rendition, but I am no expert. Note to self. Do not order the pitcher (of margaritas) unless there are more than 2 people drinking...Oy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted August 17, 2010 Author Share Posted August 17, 2010 This place does not invent new gastronomia. It does not test the culinary bellweatherliness. No. It is not the best food on the planet, not even as Mexican or El Salvodoran food. But..... It is solid. Reliable. Tasty. Good. Delicious. Friendly. Comfortable. Tasty. Good. And quite reasonable. Remember to check the specials. Meander through the menu -- from good things you will not always find to things that seem more common to a Don Pablos, at least in name if not in delivery (thankfully). Worth a stop, a look and a taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toogs Posted August 17, 2010 Share Posted August 17, 2010 I have heard good things for years but haven't managed to make it in there. I will do my best to rectify that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowChowBlog Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Note that Mango's Grill closed in the original location. They lost their lease. But the Laurel Leader had an article saying they would move a few blocks down U.S. 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manic Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Just called their number. Was told they will reopen in mid July at Cherry Lane near rt 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted May 4, 2014 Author Share Posted May 4, 2014 They took over the old India Gate space and did a pretty complete renovation on the space. Couple that with the curb appeal the shopping center owner is doing (fears of the new Laurel Town Center rebirth?) and this place is on solid footing, backed up by its solid cooking and friendly staff. Honestly, while the regular menu is quite good, I always wait for the specials, because that is where these folks shine. So go! Try them! That being said, there are an awful lot of newer mom & pop type restaurants developing and opening in Laurel of late, partly because of the large population of Hispanic immigrants, which I see as great. More places to try. For now, my favorite is Mango's, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share Posted July 21, 2014 Went again recently. They were PACKED. While I opted for their (almost always on the specials menu) seafood fajitas platter, my wife tried their crabcake special - it was good, but quite rich. I spied a table next to us where the couple both ordered the same seafood soup/stew that I almost ordered (almost because I decided not too since it was too hot for soup!). Might have to try that soon as it looked really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 6, 2015 Author Share Posted June 6, 2015 Anyone been in the last year? I think I am going to need to scratch this itch again soon, and curious if they have changed or expanded their menu in any way - looking for new stuff to try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaho Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 I got takeout from here last week. Didn't have a menu on hand so the guy on the phone helped me order. I ended up with the Mango's Grill Combo, which was a bit of everything: shrimp, steak, and chicken fajitas, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, beans, and a roasted pepper, with 3 steaming hot tortillas on the side. Everything was solid and the meat was still tender by the time it reached home. A little expensive at $18, but enough food for two meals. I'll definitely be back to try their specials next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 On 6/8/2015 at 10:19 PM, Shaho said: I got takeout from here last week. Didn't have a menu on hand so the guy on the phone helped me order. I ended up with the Mango's Grill Combo, which was a bit of everything: shrimp, steak, and chicken fajitas, rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, beans, and a roasted pepper, with 3 steaming hot tortillas on the side. Everything was solid and the meat was still tender by the time it reached home. A little expensive at $18, but enough food for two meals. I'll definitely be back to try their specials next time. THEY DO CARRYOUT?!?!?!?!?!?! How did I not know this?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 27, 2015 Author Share Posted June 27, 2015 On 6/8/2015 at 8:47 AM, Pool Boy said: THEY DO CARRYOUT?!?!?!?!?!?! How did I not know this?! Went here again the other night after not having gone in far too long (before going to see the Inside Out movie). It was pretty packed. People of all ages and ethnicities. People there for large family meals. Couples sharing a bite. A nice slice of Laurel life was here. I veered away from the 'used to only be a special, but is now on the regular menu' go to dish, Fajitas del Mar (which they do so well). I need to try more of their menu so I went with Mariscos Saltado (shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels in a broth with tomatoes, onions, garlic - served with good rice and a side of beans (also good). They offered and I took some tortillas but they were not necessary. Pretty good flavor, especially the broth, the mussels and scallops. They used pre-split but shell on shrimp, which is a mistake. The shrimp are overcooked and a pain to deal with due to the split and shell on. I'd much rather they keep the shrimp whole and shell on but that is me. Their tortillas are excellent, and the salsa they serve with it is very good. The guacamole is not nearly aggressive enough, but acceptable. My wife's crab enchiladas were really great - definitely recommended. They make pretty good margaritas, but nothing magical. The service is really good though. It's a small, close knit group with the same people running it for years. Always friendly, always helpful and always responsive. Parking is easy. The refresh of the shopping center was done at the same time as the new giant development accross the street at the site of the old mall went in. Very glad to see these folks weather the closure of their old location and take the place to the next level. Sure, there's room for improvement, but I have a lot of menu to get through to find all of the easter eggs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 We went again recently to dine in the restaurant. Packed. It is still good, and still worth seeking out if you are in Laurel for any reason. I still have not done carryout, but we noticed this time quite a string of people coming to do just that.. We both decided to move this in to our carryout rotation post haste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRocks Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 18 hours ago, Pool Boy said: We went again recently to dine in the restaurant. Packed. It is still good, and still worth seeking out if you are in Laurel for any reason. I still have not done carryout, but we noticed this time quite a string of people coming to do just that.. We both decided to move this in to our carryout rotation post haste. Pool Boy, has Mango's Grill already moved, or are they still in their original location? Never mind - I see from HowChowBlog's May 30, 2012 post that this occurred several years ago, and they just haven't updated their website. The restaurant is indeed right on the corner of Route 1 and Cherry Lane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Boy Posted June 5, 2016 Author Share Posted June 5, 2016 Correct. Several years ago I am sure, someone acquired the land and buildings at the intersection of Route 1 and Rt 198 right in the heart of Laurel. There were a few things there - Mango's (in a tiny, tiny space), a check cashing place, a former Kenny Rogers Roasters that had been converted in to an Irene's (of Wheaton fame) and then this hideous, horrible, ugly, falling apart 3 or 4 story 'office' building (it had boards up in several windows, the AC was provided by random window mounted units, and was in a general state of disrepair -- I often wondered if anyone still went in to the building and worked there and always thought no, that is not possible...). Anyway, someone must have bought everything up, did not renew any of the leases as they came up, tore everything down and put a super huge Walgreens on the sight (a significant improvement). Aside from that parcel being redeveloped in to something new and useful, Mango's landed in the old India Gate space at the intersection of Route 1 and Cherry Lane (YAY!). Irene's ended up near the Home Depot at Route 1 and Route 197 (I think it replaced an Asian Buffet place). The check cashing place disappeared (yay!), and that horrible ugly building was gone gone gone. As a side note, while it was too bad India Gate disappeared, the coming of Curry Leaf just down the road was a beacon of light (and that place is in my regular carryout rotation). Mango's did a refresh of the India Gate space and really expanded the seating. A lot of the same people who were at the old location migrated to the new location and they expanded staff to manage the additional demand. I am really glad they are doing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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