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    Ay Caramba

    4.0 (308 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed • 11:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Order Ay Caramba Takeout or Delivery

    Ay Caramba Photos

    AY CARAMBA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ay Caramba

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    The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Everything came out fresh and flavorful, and the staff was friendly and attentive. Definitely coming back!

    What's left of my shrimp cocktail, and the box that my taco came in which opened into a plate.
    C S.

    So disappointed. This used to be one of my favorites and we came often, continued decline, unfortunately unlikely to come back at this point which sucks because I want to support local spots so much! I know that prices have gone up in life in general .... but a skirt steak that used to be $19 that's now $39, and that no longer comes with a salad and now has instant potatoes versus the baked potato that it used to come with is just unbelievable. One of my favorite things about this dish was the fact that it came out on a cast iron cooktop, sizzling with vegetables, the baked potato and bread. During my most recent experience, both myself and the other person who ordered the skirt steak, were so disappointed. I order medium rare, she ordered medium and both were barely cooked at, no sizzling whatsoever. We sent one back and it came back still rare. We also ordered the churro cart which we used to love, it was terrible, 3 little churros. There used to be a warm Carmel dip, this time it was cold. The shrimp quesadilla is still good, and beans good, and the arape good. Staff always friendly. But not worth the cost and definitely issued with changes that have been made.

    Cristina P.

    Everything was amazing! No wait time to be seated, Great food and delicious, very good service! Will be definitely coming back.

    Enchiladas Suizas ($15.25)
    E H.

    Initially quiet when I arrived shortly after 5:00 p.m., it did pick up as the night progressed. When I walked up, I was greeted by an inviting outdoor patio area decorated with pumpkins for a nice fall vibe, complete with heat lamps for the chilly nights. The menu and cocktail "specials" are also posted on an easel as well. The establishment is clean yet seems it can't decide if it's a sports bar (there are multiple TV's playing sports channels) or a slightly upscale Mexican restaurant. While not "real Mexican food" as the signage proclaims, it's a pleasant spin on Tex-Mex. Smartly presented chips and salsa were top-notch! Warm, crispy fried tortilla chips filled to the brim in a stylish metal cone holder with three small types of salsa in a custom "flight deck paddle" were brought table-side shortly after being seated. We had the Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas Suizas($15.25), which was described as "Our traditional Enchilada Suiza sauce topped off with sour cream & onion." The generous serving of 4 enchiladas was filled with chicken, although on the dry side, but they were swimming in plenty of the suizas sauce to help a bit. Slightly disappointed that the side dishes came in very small ramekins, as typically in other places, you get a fair amount on the plate itself. In this case, the rice was bland, but the beans were good with a nice smoky flavor. The server, "Ricardo," reserved in demeanor, however, was professional, polite, and courteous the few times he checked in on us. The bathroom was a bit untidy, with paper towels strewn all over the floor, but the rest of the facility appeared clean. Worth a return if passing by the area.

    Enchiladas
    Mikey R.

    This is my go to Mexican restaurant in the area. The enchiladas are my favorite, red or green, you can't go wrong with either! I also really like their happy hour offerings which makes it a perfect place to grab a few drinks and tacos after work with friends. They have a good selection of beers and make a great michelada! I also really enjoy going on Fridays because of the live music, it makes for a nice ambiance.

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great service and great food. Definitely a must try. My favorite is the ceviche , birria tacos and mojito.

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    4 months ago

    Molcajete is a must have, Huaraches as well! Great service and food never disappoints

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    1 year ago

    Friendly service. Got tacos to go. They were mediocre. Not much in the way of meat compared to tortilla and toppings were not inspiring.

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    Artistic presentation,wonderful authentic flavors Definitely come again The chips were warm in a paper funnel with 3 different salsas

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

    Food was absolutely delicious and Adrian was very kind and polite! He made sure our order was correct.

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    9 months ago

    The food and service was amazing the desert was next level specifically the churros and Flan were top tier

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    1 year ago

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    Juanita B.

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    1 year ago

    Love the huaraches and the burritos! Simple menu, but it works. Food comes out quickly. Good service.

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    Juanita B.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Ay Caramba

    I need someone to make paella for my reception in Monterey. Cook it there. Can you do this?

    No I’m sorry we do not make paella.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Service is ok, Fodd is excellent so I keep going back:) Owners are very caring about their…read morecustomers. Jennifer, LMFT

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    Inside

    Sarita's Mexican Food - Enchilada

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    Alfonso's Authentic Mexican Food - Alfonso's Authentic Mexican Food, in between Subway and Round Table.

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    4.4(352 reviews)
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    The Alfonso's Logo on the Castroville Station Center sign, across the street from the Giant Artichoke Restaurant.

    Alfonso's Authentic Mexican Food
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    Photos
    Birrieria & Restaurant Estilo Coalcoman - Crispy cheesy tacos in the making. How many can you eat? Remember to order a consome to dip the tacos!

    Crispy cheesy tacos in the making. How many can you eat? Remember to order a consome to dip the tacos!

    Birrieria & Restaurant Estilo Coalcoman - Goat ribs just came out of the oven ready to be plated.

    Goat ribs just came out of the oven ready to be plated.

    Birrieria & Restaurant Estilo Coalcoman - Camarones a la diabla- spicy deviled shrimp plate next to a Mango Michelada.

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    El Charrito

    El Charrito

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
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    The flavors here are genuinely good -- you can tell there's real care in the seasoning and the…read moreoverall taste. That said, the portion sizes need serious attention, especially with the burritos. I ordered one expecting a proper amount of meat, but it came with barely any -- mostly rice and beans with just a sprinkle of protein. For the price, that's a tough sell. I'd love to come back and give this place a higher rating, but the portions really need to match the quality of the flavor. Hoping this gets addressed soon because the food itself has real potential

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    El Charrito - Burritos made with tortillas right off the grill

    Burritos made with tortillas right off the grill

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    Ay Caramba - mexican - Updated September 2026

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