Agave Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar

Tucked into the Ecor Rouge Place Shopping Center at 104 Ecor Rouge Place in Fairhope, Alabama, Agave Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar has been serving the Eastern Shore since 2010. The locally owned and operated restaurant built its reputation on a straightforward promise: fresh chips, generous portions, and a menu deep enough to keep regulars coming back for years.

The kitchen’s botanas section sets the tone before the entrees even arrive. Bean & Cheese Dip, Choriqueso, and a Fajita Quesadilla share menu space with Buffalo Chicken Wings, Loaded Fries, and the Agave Americano Sampler for tables that can’t decide on just one starter. Nachos come in eight configurations alone, from simple Bean Nachos up through the loaded A La Parrilla and Ultimate Nachos.

Tacos are handled with the same range. Diners choose from Tacos de Carne Asada, Tacos al Pastor, Tacos de Birria, and rotating Street Tacos, alongside a fish or shrimp version for anyone leaning toward the Gulf. The enchilada lineup runs from the tomato-based Enchiladas Rancheras to the tomatillo-forward Enchiladas Verdes and the cheese and sour cream Enchiladas Supremas.

Fajitas are a house specialty, with steak, chicken, and shrimp available on their own or combined, plus a Texanas Fajitas option for those who want it all sizzling on one platter. The Del Mar section leans into seafood specifically, with Camarones a la Mexicana, the fiery Camarones a la Diabla, a Ceviche Camaron, and the Del Mar Platter for anyone wanting a sampling of several seafood preparations on one plate.

Combination plates give indecisive diners a way out, with names like the Don Ruben Favorito, El Trio, the Crispy Flauta Combo, and the Especial Los Reyes mixing tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and chile rellenos on a single plate. Dessert keeps things simple and classic: Fried Cheesecake Chimi, Fried Ice Cream, house-made Flan, and Churros round out the postres list.

The restaurant’s name is no accident once the drink menu comes out. The bar builds its Handcrafted Agaveritas around Sauza tequila in nine or more variations, including the Blue Agaverita made with Sauza Hornitos Reposado and DeKuyper Blue Curacao, the Presidente Agaverita blending Sauza Gold with Agavero and Presidente brandy, and a Coronarita that upends a Coronita bottle straight into the glass. A Tito’s Agaverita and fruit-flavored versions in raspberry, peach, mango, strawberry, and banana round out the list, alongside a full run of imported beers like Modelo Especial, Pacifico, and Negra Modelo, and wines from Souverain, Matua, and Estancia.

The full appetizer list runs longer than most cantinas attempt, with a Cheese Dip and Cheese & Beef Dip alongside the Bean & Cheese Dip and Choriqueso, a Bean & Cheese Quesadilla and a Guiltless Vegetable Quesadilla for lighter starts, and Cheese Sticks for the table that wants something simple. The taco list also includes Chicken Tacos and Tacos De Puerco alongside the Carne Asada, al Pastor, and Birria versions, and a Grilled Mexican Spicy Sausage shows up as its own item for diners who want the char without the tortilla. On the enchilada side, an Enchilada Dinner and Enchiladas Mexicanas round out the five-item section, and the Del Mar seafood list adds a Shrimp Cocktail and Shrimp Over Rice to the Camarones dishes.

Non-alcoholic options extend well past soda, with Jarritos, horchata, and jamaica alongside fruit-infused lemonades and teas on offer. Agave serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, until 10 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Full-service catering with delivery and setup is available for birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, and corporate gatherings, extending the restaurant’s contemporary Mexican menu beyond its own dining room and festive tequila bar.