Culichi Mexican Seafood Bar & Grill

Located at 4512 W. Market Street in Greensboro, Culichi serves Mexican fare for lunch and dinner seven days per week. There is a full bar and occasional live music.

Mexican restaurants in Greensboro never truly die; they merely rebrand. The Southwestern-style building that Culichi calls home was previously Los 3 Potrillos and before that Casa Don Lupe. While an emphasis on seafood sets Culichi apart from its predecessors, only time will tell if can enjoy greater longevity.

My wife and I made our first visit on a Sunday night. There was a largeish group there for a birthday party, and a mariachi band was playing, so it was loud but not unbearably so.  The interior layout was largely familiar (bar on the right, booths along the walls, tables in the middle) although the décor is more sedate than that of Los 3 Potrillos.

Culichi’s menu has a lot of the expected (carnitas, ACP, burritos, etc.) as well as some truly impressive-looking – and massive – seafood platters. I opted for the costa azul (shrimp, crab, and scallops with cheese, rice and salad) while my wife went with cazuelon tapatio (chicken and chorizo with rice, beans, and cheese) Wait times for the food were reasonable given the restaurant’s volume, and service left no room for complaint.

The food proved mostly satisfactory. The proteins were seasoned well, portion sizes were generous, and they didn’t skimp on the shrimp. On the other hand, the chicken in the cazuelon tapatio was dry, and the chips, salsa, and rice were all fairly pedestrian. Pricing was fair: seafood entrees run into the teens while plenty of menu items can be found for under $10.

Greensboro has so many Mexican restaurants that standing out from the pack is an uphill battle. In Culichi’s case, Mexico Mexican Restaurant, El Camino Real, and Carniceria el Mercandito are all a short distance up the road while Luna and Villa del Mar also offer a focus on seafood. That and the lack of a “wow” factor are definite challenges, but they are not proof positive that Culichi can’t compete. The food and service showed enough promise to suggest viability. As with many restaurants, consistency over time will ultimately be what makes or breaks this place. 

7.5/10