Ay Caramba Mexican Grill & Bar
853 Merrimon Ave, Asheville
(828) 505-0086
Customers' Favorites
Shredded Chicken Taco
Huevos Con Chorizo
Chimichanga Dinner
Grilled Chicken
Northside Wings
Guacamole Dip
Shrimp Diabla
Mexican Corn
Texas Fajitas
Bean Burrito
Lunch
Lunch Chimichanga
(1) Chimichanga, shredded chicken or ground beef, served with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and tomato. Served with rice and beans.
Taquitos Mexicanos
(2) Grilled chicken taquitos. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
Enchiladas Supreme
(1) cheese, (1) ground beef enchilada. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Mexican Wrap
Filled with guacamole, lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, grilled chicken and choice of poblano or chipotle dressing. Served with rice or fries.
Pollo Popeye
Grilled chicken breast topped with spinach, mushrooms and queso. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Huevos Con Chorizo
Two scrambled eggs with Mexican sausage. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Huevos Rancheros
Two fried eggs, topped with ranchero sauce. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Huevos Mexicanos
Two scrambled eggs with tomatoes, jalapeños and onions. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Fajitas
All fajitas are cooked with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Fajitas Shrimp
All fajitas are cooked with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Fajitas Vegetarian
All fajitas are cooked with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Make Your Own Combo!
Pick 1 with rice and beans.
Appetizers
Guacamole Dip
Table Side Guacamole
Texas Dip
Steak, chicken, and shrimp topped with queso and pico de gallo.
Queso (White Cheese Dip)
Northside Wings
10 pieces / buffalo, BBQ, mango habanero, or tiger sauce.
Chori Dip
Our homemade chorizo topped with queso and pico de gallo.
Spinach Dip
Papas Locas
Fries topped with shredded cheese, queso, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños. Your choice of steak or chorizo.
Momias
5 bacon wrapped jalapeños stuffed with Monterey jack. Served with syrup or ranch!
Mexican Corn
Whole corn covered in mayonnaise, tajin pepper, and cotija cheese.
Salads
Ay Caramba Salad
A bed of romaine lettuce and fresh spinach topped with your choice of chicken, steak or shrimp. Grilled with zucchini, mushroom, onion, broccoli, bell pepper and tomato. Topped with house dressing, avocado, tortilla chips and pico de gallo.
House Salad
Romaine lettuce, spinach, tomato, onion, avocado and shredded cheese.
Southwest Chicken Chipotle Salad
Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, black beans and corn. Topped with tortilla chips, pico de gallo and chipotle dressing.
Nachos
Cheese Nachos
Special Nachos
Topped with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and guacamole.
Nachos Supreme
Ground beef, shredded chicken and beans. Topped with lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Grilled Nachos
Choice of steak or grilled chicken. Topped with lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Ay Caramba Nachos
Grilled chicken, steak, Chorizo and shrimp.
Fajita Nachos
Choice of steak or grilled chicken. Cooked with onions, peppers and tomatoes.
Texas Nachos
Grilled chicken, steak and shrimp cooked with onions, peppers and tomatoes.
Fajitas
Steak, Chicken or Mix
Texas
Steak, chicken and shrimp.
Shrimp
Fajitas Del Mar (Single)
Shrimp, scallops, tilapia and zucchini.
Fajitas Ay Caramba
Skirt steak, grilled chicken breast and veggies cooked in our home made Chorizo.
Vegetarian (Single)
Zucchini, mushrooms and broccoli.
Combinations
Make Your Own Combo!
With rice and beans.
Make Your Own Combo!
Without rice and beans.
Veggie Combo
Choose 2 items with rice and beans.
Chicken
Choripollo
Grilled chicken breast topped with Chorizo and queso. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Pollo Asado
Grilled chicken breast laid on a bed of grilled vegetables. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, tomato and tortillas.
Pollo Popeye
Grilled chicken breast topped with spinach, mushrooms and queso. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Pollo Loco
Grilled chicken breast topped with white cheese. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
ACP (Arroz Con Pollo)
Grilled chicken on a bed of rice topped with queso.
Pollo Con Crema
Grilled chicken strips cooked with poblano peppers, onions and creamy chipotle sauce. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Pollo Cancún
Grilled chicken breast topped with shrimp, grilled onions, pico de gallo and queso. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Caldo De Pollo
Chicken soup with pico de gallo, rice and avocado.
Tacos
Tex Mex Taco (Each)
Hard or soft flour with lettuce and cheese.
Avocado Taco (Each)
Soft corn tortilla with fresh avocados, lettuce, pico de gallo and chipotle sauce.
Sea Food Taco (Each)
Soft corn tortilla with lettuce, pico de gallo and chipotle sauce.
Mexican Taco
Soft corn tortilla with onion and cilantro.
Birria Taco (Each)
Chimichangas
Chimichanga
Single Chimichanga
No sides.
Kids Plates
Kids Pizza
Corn Dog
3 Chicken Strips
Combo
Drink included.
Side Orders
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Beans
Rice
Guacamole Salad
Sour Cream Salad
Dessert
Sopapilla
Fried tortilla covered in honey, sugar, and cinnamon topped with whipped cream.
Flan
Mexican custard.
Fried Ice Cream
Served in a sopapilla bowl.
Xango
Chimichanga stuffed with cheesecake.
Churros
Deep fried pastry. Covered in cinnamon and sugar.
Tres Leches Cake
Authentic mexican three milk cake.
Beverages
Soft Drinks, Coke Products
Jarritos, Milk, Orange Juice
No refill.
Tea, Coffee
Horchata
Aguas De Sabor / Fresh Flavored Water
Seafood
Camerones Con Tocino
Shrimp wrapped with bacon. Served on a bed of rice and grilled vegetables.
Camarones Ay Caramba
Garlic shrimp cooked with onions, tomato, avocado and cilantro. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Fish Fillet
Breaded or grilled. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo
Our garlic cooked shrimp. Served on a bed of grilled onions with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Camarones a La Diabla
Spicy shrimp. Served on a bed of grilled onions served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Caldo De Mariscos
Seafood soup cooked with chipotle, shrimp, tilapia and seafood mix. Served with pico de gallo.
Mojarra
Whole fried tilapia served with rice, lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado and tortillas.
Aguachiles (Verdes)
Shrimp cured in lime. Served with tomato, onion, cucumbers, avocado and covered with a special spicy salsa.
Ceviche Plate
Fish, shrimp, octopus.
Mexican Cocktail
Served with shrimp.
Steak
Carne en Su Jugo
Steak cooked with bacon, whole beans and green tomatillo sauce. Topped with chopped onion & cilantro. Served with tortillas.
Carne Asada
Thin cut flap steak. Served on a bed of grilled onions, beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole and tomato.
Beef Steak Ranchero
Rib eye steak topped with ranchero sauce. Served wit rice, beans and tortillas.
Steak and Shrimp
Rib eye. Served with rice and beans.
Especial Ay Caramba
Ribeye steak topped with onions, tomatoes and peppers. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
The Americano
Ribeye steak topped with grilled onions, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. Served with rice and beans.
House Specialties
Chilaquiles Mexicanos
Our home made tortillas chips topped with grilled chicken, ranchero sauce, egg and shredded cheese. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Flautitas
Flour tortillas stuffed with grilled chicken, shredded cheese, and pico de gallo. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
Special Dinner
(1) chalupa, (1) mexican chile relleno, (1) cheese enchilada, (1) beef taco, (1) chicken burrito, rice and beans.
Chile Colorado
Chopped steak or carnitas cooked with chipotle sauce. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
La Favorita
Grilled chicken, steak and shrimp cooked with peppers, onions and tomatoes laid on a bed of rice. Topped with our queso.
Molcajete
Grilled chicken, steak, Chorizo and shrimp cooked with onions, poblano peppers and tomatoes. Topped with shredded cheese. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, tomato and tortillas.
Taco Salad Fajitas
Choice of grilled chicken, steak or shrimp. Cooked with onions, peppers and tomatoes laid on a bed of beans, queso, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
Carambero Rice Bowl
Bowl of rice with your choice of chicken, steak, chorizo, carnitas. Topped with lettuce, sour cream, tomato, and your choice of black beans or pinto beans!
Milanesa
Choice thin cut breaded steak or thin cut breaded chicken breast. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream and tomatoes.
Veggie Soup
Rice, avocado and pico de gallo, with zucchini, broccoli, and mushrooms.
Parrillada for Two
Tender piece of steak, grilled chicken breast, chorizo, carnitas and shrimp laid on a bed of grilled vegetables. With 2 servings of rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Taco Salad
Choice of ground beef or shredded chicken. Topped with beans, queso, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
Sope
Homemade thick tortilla topped with your choice of meat, beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and cheese. Steak, grilled chicken, carnitas, pastor or chorizo.
Poblano Loco
Chile poblano stuffed with cheese and your choice of steak, grilled chicken or carnitas. Covered with ranchero sauce. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream, tomato and tortillas.
Alambre
Bacon, ham and steak cooked with onions, tomatoes, poblano peppers, corn and chipotle sauce. Topped with shredded cheese. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Taquitos Mexicanos
4 grilled chicken taquitos. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Carnitas Dinner
Fried pork tips. Served with grilled onions, rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, tomato and tortillas.
Torta (Mexican Sub)
Choose from: carnitas, steak, grilled chicken, chorizo, adobada, ham or milanesa (steak or chicken) served with fries, beans, cheese, jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, avocado and chipotle sauce.
Torta Cubana
Ham, steak, chorizo, egg and carnitas. Filled with all basic torta fillings except for lettuce. Served with fries, beans, cheese, jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, avocado and chipotle sauce.
Chorizo Azteca Skillet
Our home made Chorizo laid on a bed of shredded cheese. Served on a skillet. Topped with cooked poblano pepper, raw diced onion and cilantro.
Quesadillas
Chicken Chipotle Quesadilla
Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Shrimp Quesadilla Combo
Stuffed with shrimp. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
Rolled Quesadillas
Stuffed with cheese, grilled chicken, mushrooms, bacon and pico de gallo. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Leicester Quesadilla
Grilled chicken with side order of rice. Queso on everything.
Quesadilla Texas
Stuffed with steak, chicken and shrimp. Served with rice, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.
Quesadilla Fajita
Stuffed with your choice of steak, chicken or vegetarian fajitas. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Spinach Quesadilla Combo
Served with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole.
Quesabirria
Quesadilla dipped, grilled, and stuffed with birria style beef served with rice and birria consome for dipping.
Enchiladas
Spicy Enchiladas
(2) choice of carnitas, shredded chicken or ground beef. Topped with shredded cheese and choice of ranchero salsa or salsa verde. Served with rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Enchiladas Rancheras
(2) stuffed with cheese, topped with carnitas, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese and enchilada sauce. Served with rice, lettuce, guacamole and tomato.
Enchiladas Supreme
(4) one cheese, one ground beef, one shredded chicken and one bean. Topped with lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Enchiladas Banderas
3 shredded chicken enchiladas with cheese sauce, poblano sauce, and enchilada sauce, on a bed of rice and mozzarella cheese topped with lettuce sour cream and tomato.
Burritos
Burrito Especial
Stuffed with ground beef. Topped with burrito salsa, cheese, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Burrito Mexicano
Stuffed with carnitas, peppers, onions and tomatoes. Topped with queso, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and tomato.
King Size Burrito
Stuffed with strips of steak, beans, cheese, lettuce and tomato. Topped with queso.
Burritos Deluxe
(1) ground beef and bean, (1) shredded chicken and bean. Topped with burrito salsa, cheese, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Burrito Fajitas
Stuffed with grilled chicken or steak cooked with onions, peppers and tomatoes. Topped with queso. Served with rice and beans.
Burrito Verde
Stuffed with steak, whole beans, shredded cheese and poblano peppers. Topped with verde salsa.
Burrito Cheese Steak
Stuffed with steak and grilled onions, topped with queso. Served with lettuce, tomato and choice of rice or beans.
Burrito Chipotle
Stuffed with grilled chicken, onions, mushrooms, shredded cheese and chipotle sauce. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Ay Caramba Wrap
Stuffed with your choice of steak, grilled chicken or shrimp, pico de gallo, beans and cheese. Served with rice, lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
Jumbo Avocado Burrito
Stuffed with avocado, lettuce, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce and beans.
Southwest Chicken Chipotle Burrito
Stuffed with black beans, corn, pico de gallo and grilled chicken cooked with chipotle. Topped with chipotle sauce. Served with rice.
Jumbo Bean Burrito
Stuffed with your choice of black, whole or fried beans, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Topped with ranchero sauce. Served with rice.
Burrito Grande
Ground beef burrito with beans inside, topped with and burrito sauce. Served with rice, queso lettuce, sour cream and tomato.
A La Carta - Quesadillas
Cheese (1)
Shredded Chicken or Ground Beef (1)
Grilled Chicken or Steak (1)
Shrimp (1)
A La Carta - Burritos
Shredded Chicken, Ground Beef or Beans (1)
Grilled Chicken or Steak (1)
A La Carta - Enchiladas
Shredded Chicken or Ground Beef (1)
Spinach, Beans or Cheese (1)
Grilled Chicken, Steak or Shrimp
A La Carta - Other
Tamales
Mexican Chile Relleno (1)
Ground Beef or Shredded Chicken Tostada (1)
Chalupas (1)
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Recent Reviews
Typically I only leave negative reviews, this is one of the few restaurants that was so good that I felt like I needed to leave a review. The chicken was not only seasoned but marinated. The staff was not only friendly but I felt welcomed. Not another restaurant I will eat at next time I visit Asheville. If I could give it 6 stars. I would.
July 2025
Visiting area from Texas, so we're always skeptical. But this place is pretty tasty. I love their Salsa Bar and the Bean Puree Dip w/ chips are a nice touch. You simply can gorge on those. I will say that I think they flatten their meat too thin which leaves it a bit dry (beef fajitas). But that may be just how they're made here. They were still good and fajitas for 2 is really like fajitas for 4...LOL. I love the mix of zucchini in it as well. I would definitely go...
June 2025
My wife and I had an amazing dinner at Ay Caramba Mexican Grill & Bar on Merrimon Ave. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming — you can feel the love the moment you walk in. She couldn’t stop talking about how perfectly made her enchiladas were — said they were the best she’s had in a long time! I went for the fajitas and a margarita, and everything was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The churros were also a real standout — crispy, warm, and just right....
May 2025
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