We were greeted when we walked in. It was a team lunch. Our server was nice. The food was decent. The queso and salsa tasted like it was freezer burnt. My taco salad wasnt bad. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I ordered a pastor taco and a burrito. The tacos are honestly really good; the tortillas are the goods tbh and come with plenty of meat. I didn't realize that all the burritos are topped with cheese, which I'm not a fan of, but the chef was really cool and didn't mind switching it out for me. The little bar area is also nice and a great place to watch a game. Definitely come for the tacos! read more

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Since the weather was great, my friend and I sat outside and it was very quiet. Our server was super attentive, but not hovering. I had my typical combo meal, which was excellent. The food is consistently good. One thing that put it over the top was this cute little bonus birthday dessert!! read more

I just need to vent about Caliente charging Xtra for using your debit/credit card. I've never heard of restaurants, grocery stores etc doing this. Nowadays most people don't even carry cash. What a load of b.s.!!!! read more

I just went in to Caliente today with friends and I paid with cash since the card option costs more. I put a $20 and a 5 bill on the tray but the server came back and claimed I had put two 5's on the tray. I apologized and exchanged the 5 for (another!) $20 bill later realizing I just got scammed. I called the manager who pretended to take my email to send video footage of the error from the table but somehow he just could never repeat my email back to me. BEWARE. They play tricks if they think they can get away with it. Never going back again. unreal! read more

Misses on quality, taste, and price. Service is fine. Drive a mile to the next Mexican restaurant.

They accommodated our party of 32 with no problem at all! Food was great, service was great! Restaurant had a very good vibe and we will be returning! read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

My wife and I arrived at Caliente at 840 pm to order a to-go order. The business had the open sign on and there were patrons inside when we arrived. Their hours stated they closed at 10 pm We stood at the door for about 5 minutes as there was no host there to seat us. Several waitresses passed by us carrying food and drinks to different tables. Finally the bus boy told the guy in the office behind the register that there were people waiting. The guy comes out of the office and starts to walk to the menus then just turns to us and says "We're closed". I questioned what he said in case I misunderstood him as they were still serving food and it was over an hour before they close. He again says "We're closed" and points to the door. No apology, no explanation, nothing! Just pretty much a get out. Being we live near by, we eat here quite often, but after that rude exchange we will take our money elsewhere. read more

Had a great experience at Caliente! Very clean and fun restaurant. Food was delicious. Service was a bit slow, but not terrible. Would definitely go back! read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Pains me to say it and hopefully they'll get back to what they used to be, but the food over the past year has not been nearly as good. This is our families go to spot, we used to go there at least once a month. Food costs have gone up everywhere , it is what is, but can't justify going when the quality has gone down. I used to say their Al pastor tacos would go head to head with anyone but those have even fallen way off. Unfortunate as we would still love to go here regularly, not sure if they changed cooks or recipes or what, but just not what it used to be. Maybe it doesn't matter either way to them since they're always busy, but hopefully they'll get back to what they were doing! It's not terrible but it doesn't stand out anymore over all the same format Hispanic spots similar to them. read more

We chose the right restaurant for Cinqo de mayo ! This place is located in 116th in Carmel . We ordered a jumbo Texas margarita (28 oz) and ONE was enough for me ! They had a special price for Cinqo de mayo :) For food I ordered Acapulco special which had Grilled chicken fajitas, green peppers and onions cooked in a special creamy sauce with lettuce, guacamole, diced tomatoes, rice and tortilla . I also got a side of beans with it . It was full of flavor and not too spicy for me . I tried the CAMARONES A LA DIABLA but that was very spicy for me so I can't say much about the dish. Overall this is a good setting for some delicious Mexican food . Our server was super nice and friendly and too great care of us . PS - since this is the first time I visited this place and checked in on Yelp I got a coupon for 10% off which I showed to the restaurant staff . They asked me to have it printed to be able to use it so I couldn't redeem the offer . Just an FYI if you experience the same. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Top : Camarones a La Diabla Bottom : Acapulco Special - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Food was good! We came an hour before close which I try to avoid, but unfortunately needed to stop in with my sister getting into town late. There was a funny smell when we walked in, the bathrooms are located at the entrance of the restaurant and I think that may have been the issue. Our server was patient with us. The strawberry marg with sugar rim was great and just the right amount of tequila. I'd be back, honestly every bit of the food we had was good, they were generous with the chips and salsa too. read more

Best Mexican food I've found in the area. You get sooooo much food for what you spend. Got the guacajete and were shocked at the amount we got. Chips were fresh, tacos were hearty, fajitas had tons of toppings. Left very full and happy with our service. Only thing keeping it from 5 stars is limited patio seating. Definitely will be back here. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Chicken tacos Guacajete - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Nothing beats warm chips and delicious cheesy queso. Caliente never lets me down, they are by far my favorite Mexican restaurant in Carmel. Not only are the chips and dip fantastic, but they have some delicious entrees as well. My current favorite is the Al pastor taco entree. The tacos are so flavorful and huge, which always makes for a second meal the next day. The staff are all very friendly. The restaurant itself is huge so there is typically no wait. And it's not a trip to Caliente with a margarita. They always have something on special making for a good deal and a delicious drink to enjoy!! read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - House margarita - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Food ok. Service ok. Did not like that they surcharge payment by credit card. I do not patronize places that do that practice.

First time visiting with coworkers for lunch. We ordered off the lunch menu and I got the lunch caliente chimichanga. I also got a beverage which was ok. The food was good but for me, the steak was a let down. Most time you get beef/steak, it is grilled or crispy. This was more sauteed and had no seasoning. Overall the meal was good and I would eat here again if I'm in the area. I didn't even think about getting pictures of the food as I was hungry and this was my first meal of the day. read more

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Great food, including the king burrito and the queso. Got it with the chicken (loco dip) , def recommend. The Texas margarita is excellent and well worth it. Pleasant experience, we ate with family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm picky about salsa and really liked there's, especially mixed with the queso!! read more

Let me just start off by saying that the staff at Caliente recognize me, which could either attest to their memory or the fact that I love this place, but it's probably the later. The restaurant is clean and has TONS of seating so I've never had to wait for a table which is awesome. My go-to margarita is the Texas marg. It's strong, smooth, and worth the money. As far as food is concerned, portions are big and I've never been unhappy. The acupulco special might be my new favorite because the "creamy sauce" that comes on top is like a lighter version of queso. Highly recommend! read more

First time ever calling the health department on a restaurant! The whole restaurant smelled very strongly of cleaning products, so much so that it messed with the taste of the food and my friend and I were commenting on it throughout our meal and then towards the end of our visit, a ROACH climbed up the wall towards our food! My friend squished it and left a note with it on the table but I just wanted to get out of there. Very grossed out. Food was very mediocre. Will not return. read more

Let's start with the positives - great ambience, love the decor! The nachos and salsa dip is really good! Menu options are great. Lots of options in seafood and also for vegetarians! I ordered shrimp fajitas with rice. Loved the rice! Very flavorful! Food serving size is pretty good too. Now for the negative- nothing I have not had before. Food tastes average. read more

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If you crave authentic Mex-Tex (a mix of both cuisines but more Mexican than Texan), this Carmel restaurant is for you. The food is superbly seasoned and prepared perfectly for taste buds that appreciate a little zing but not so hot as to overpower the fantastic flavors. My spouse grew up ion this kind of menu and says this is as good as anything in Austin or San Antonio. We recommend every single dish here. read more

I haven't been to Caliente in quite some time but I was meeting a friend for a late lunch / early dinner. I was craving a beer (dos xx's Amber) and my favorite dish Quesadilla Suprema. My friend ordered a salad, unfortunately I can't recall the name but I have included pictures. As a starter; of course they brought us a basket of tortilla chips and salsa which we polished off. We sat in the bar area, we were the only ones there and our server was very attentive. This restaurant remains one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in town in large part due to the fabulous Quesadilla Suprema. I've included pictures of our meals. read more

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Might just be my new fav local Mexican joint! I always go for the verde enchiladas at any Mexican place. These ones are so good. Super flavorful! I also love their rice. Their chips and salsa is great! Perfect amount of spice. This place has fantastic service! Super quick to seat you and get your food ordered. They have a really great patio with lots of seating. read more

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Coming from the west coast, I've had my fair share of out of this world Mexican cuisine....but I feel like there's no seasoning, not even on the chicken just overall very bland. Don't be afraid to spice things up. Some people can handle flavor . The hostesses were very friendly and accommodating, the server.... Well anyway. I prob will give it another try and see other dishes might be better. read more

This is our ever favorite Mexican place in Indiana for its authentic vibe, decor and most of all most importantly food! The service is always professional and courteous. this time around we ordered something different from the usual and popular - veggie chimichanga, Camarones a La Diabla. Now don't go by the name and think its a complex dish. Think of a spicy sauce with grilled shrimp, onion infused with garlic. I was wowed for sure! The spice was just right, not something that makes you cry. The portion was huge and filling along with the lettuce, guac, rice and beans. I love shrimp in general, but this shrimp was a step further. I am going back again for Camarones a La Diabla! Flavors to die for! read more

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We go there once a week for the Molcajete . There is no need to look at their menu anymore. The hot stone pedestal is layered with chicken , shrimp, steak, cactus, bbq onions, chorizo and cheese! It's consistently perfect and enough for two! The staff is friendly and hard at work because the place is always busy. Never a long wait. It's festive and vibrant. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I love the vibe here. Been a while that I've visited the place for a dine In. Food is very good. Must Try - Texas Chimichanga and Big fajita enchiladas. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Dine In area - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

used to do pick up a lot. Now they have a one dollar takeout fee and increased the price of everything on the menu by 30%. This is Mexican food the cheapest food on the planet to make in the people that work there work on Tips. So where is all this extra money going? Owners pockets. PURE GREED. Drive south to a nicer and cheaper place. You won't regret it. Now, if you actually feel like going there, they never have enough servers, despite being never busy either. There's never a time when you wont encounter a crying baby either. read more

Great food and speedy service. This place was bigger than I expected and pretty busy. Food was great and they are known for their huge margaritas/ pitchers. Will definitely come back again ! read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Steak and chorizo tacos - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Well we missed the lunch time specials so we were stuck with the dinner menu at 3:05 pm. There were only two booths being used counting us. The other was a single occupant who was playing a Google livestream video all about the NRA. She had it very loud and she was talking to someone. Turned out she was talking to herself. Little creepy. In the discussions she had with herself and her video--the major one was did she need another gun. After the video "they decided they needed a Keltec" to round out her armory. Service was lacking though the food was good. Had to go find someone who could ring us up and process the payment. read more

I visited on a busy Saturday night. I called my food in and he said it would be ready in 15 minutes. I was walking over from the nearby apartments, so O got there in like 8 minutes and the food was ready. Good portions and prices. The food was typical, but good. Service was quick efficient but not overly friendly. Would go back to try more. read more

I reached out to see if they could do a fajita bar for my husband's 50th b day and 25 people. They were responsive and the only problem was a few missing items we had to go back for. The food was a big hit. read more

The food here never disappoints!! The service is always wonderful, and I do think you get what you buy in terms of price and more than what you buy in terms of quality! The staff is fluent in both English and Spanish, and they're very encouraging and helpful when you practice your Spanish in conversation and ordering! I love the Mayan/Aztec/Mexican decor throughout the restaurant! I grew up in a town that was half white/half Mexican in Nevada, and this food is definitely authentic! read more

Horrible customer service. I ordered ahead and when I arrived at home realized they made chicken fajitas instead of steak. I called to let them know and the guy kept saying.... "yes, you got one chicken and one steak"( referring to the steak quesadilla we ordered). He finally seemed to get it and told me to come back in. I said ok and began to rebag items (because the bag they sent it in had juice from one of the meals spilled in the bottom. He calls me back not even 2 mins after I hung up and asked why I was not back in the store. I told him I had to drive back and was on way. At the store, the guy questions me about why the quesadilla wasn't in the bag. I told him because it was correct and my husband was currently at home eating it. He then starts telling me (even after showing him my online order twice) that I got the right fajitas-chicken and only the quesadilla was steak. I keep showing him the receipt and finally he says they will remake it. So, he hadn't even bothered to have them start remaking it from the call and I had to sit there another 15 min while they remake it. No apologies or "sorry for the inconvenience " at all. I wasn't rude about it but told the man when my food was finally ready that I was leaving a bad review due to his rudeness to me. He then suddenly offered me a coupon. I told him no thank you and that there was no reason to be rude to me when I was not rude to him and it was a simple mixup that he treated like it was my fault and I was inconveniencing him. I just took my correct food home and will finally get to eat it 35 minutes after my order was supposed to be ready. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Good food, good service, and great drinks! They have a big and beautifully decorated space. Their menu is huge - anyone can find something they want to eat from it. A good Mexican restaurant to try out in Carmel. read more

Hands down one of the best waiters I've ever had! I cannot remember his name unfortunately but my waiter was one of the funniest servers. He kept my family and I laughing the full couple hours we were there! The jokes were flying! Also the food hit the spot as you would expect of any classic Mexican restaurant, but nothing out of this world. I will say the staff was very accommodating to all our requests to change up a few times on the menu to make them vegetarian - very much appreciated! 5/5 goes to that service though, I will be back just for that! read more

I ordered the Chilaqilles with carnitas breakfast. It was a very generous sized meal, beautifully presented, and the most delicious. They never disappoint! read more

If you're in the mood for authentic Mexican food Caliente is a must try. My colleagues and I often eat lunch there and today my family had the opportunity to try there food. Guess what, it was a big hit! No surprise to me, I've always enjoyed their food. My favorite dish is the Camarones A La Diablo. It's spicy and packed with a lot of shrimp, rice and beans. We also ordered the Amigo Burger, Grilled Nachos Supreme, Tostada, and Tres Amigos. All were a big hit! read more

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Food, service and speed were great! I will definitely return, this is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Carmel so far. Best queso I have tasted. read more

Caliente Mexican Restaurant - Fried ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We've been going to Caliente for about 5 years. We went with friends again tonight. Unfortunately the food and beverage quality has declined (queso dip was small for a large order and the margaritas weren't as strong or tasty). What really disappointed me most of all was the fact that the waiter added a 20% tip on to the bill order before I gave my credit card, and when it was rung up it came back with lines to add a tip and total plus conveniently listed amounts for 18%, 20% and 22% tip ON TOP of the amount that already included a 20% tip. If I hadn't reviewed the original bill I wouldn't have caught that. How many other people miss this and end up doubling their tip at Caliente's? I told the other couple we were with to check their bill and they found the same thing. I found this deceptive and offensive. I asked for the owner but he wasn't in so I had a manager void my first charge and reissue the bill to me for the correct amount. I asked if this is the restaurant's practice or the waiter's and he said it was not the restaurant's. I wonder. I won't be back but If you go, check your bill. read more