Lilly’s Mexican Restaurant: Review ***

Sandhills News arrived at Lilly’s at 2898 Horner Blvd. in Sanford at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8 and the restaurant shined cleaned and a friendly face walked me to a booth with a sticky table. The restaurant’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Some days begin at 4 a.m. or earlier and this was the first meal of the day.)

The unsweet tea was cloudy but served without ice and with lemon, as requested.

The server quickly placed chips and salsa on the table. The chips were light and crunchy. The salsa tasted like canned tomato sauce.

The fresh salad served with two freshly-cut lime slices was delightful.

The rice was moist and held the desired tomato flavor.

The chile relleno, my favorite, was not fresh, but shriveled and bitter. The sauce held a mild pumpkin flavor but was not thick enough to stay on the fork. I do not know what type of cheese was drizzled over the top, but it was not even melted.

At check out, the server said the owner was not in and that the restaurant was not a chain and was family-owned.

Maybe dining improves after a visit to the bar.

Eat Here, Cook There — Ratings Key

★★★★★ Excellent

Exceptional food with a pleasing presentation and service. Returning for second helpings!

★★★★ Great

Well-prepared main course and good value with okay service. Minor issues do not outweigh strengths.

★★★ Good

Enjoyable but not impressive.

★★ Fair

Edible but forgettable. Problems with flavor, preparation, or value.

★ Poor

Significant issues with food quality or service. Not recommended.

Eat Here, Cook There conducts restaurant reviews without influence from restaurant owners or public relations representatives. Reviews are not written in exchange for free meals, discounts, or invitations.

Invitations to openings are for reporting purposes and are not reviewed.

Suggestions from readers and restaurant owners are welcome, but coverage is not guaranteed or announced.

Ratings reflect the reviewer’s experience during a typical visit and are based primarily on food quality and value. The goal is fair, honest reporting that serves readers and supports transparency in local dining coverage.

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Jan. 11, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

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