Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dos Carlitos

    4.1 (689 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Dos Carlitos Photos

    DOS CARLITOS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Dos Carlitos

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Alex K.

    It's been years since I was last here. This visit, some friends were craving Mexican and I remembered coming here a few times. Like prior reviews, it's more Tex Mex for me. But food is still good. It's a nice little restaurant right in the heart of Santa Ynez. A cute little town with restaurant and some shops. Theres plenty of parking along the street as well as a small lot behind and to the side. You'll find parking somewhere. There's both inside and outside seating. I personally prefer outdoor as it can get stuffy inside. It's not that big inside and the seating area are over sizes chairs so it can feel stuffy. Just my opinion. Regardless, the menu does offer pretty much loads of dishes. The salsa and bean salad that's brought out with chips is always good. Don't fill up on it though. Drink wise, it's was quite strong this visit so worth the money. Also, the guacamole was good. Decent amount for sharing. A few dishes were had. The grilled chicken salad which was quite nice with the dressing. Then there was the shrimp tacos. The shrimps were pretty big which was nice. Two tacos with a small sides of beans, guacamole and salsa. Also the chicken enchiladas with both rice and beans. And the carnitas meal with rice and beans. Food is good and flavorful. It's alway busy so they're doing well. Each visit, it feels like it's more of the locals that visit versus tourists. Overall, the visit was nice. Chips with the salsa and bean salsa were good. The meal was enjoyed as well as the margaritas. A little pricey for Mexican food but with location, it works. More Tex Mex in my opinion but much appreciated and enjoyed. Friendly staff and good service.

    Chicken enchiladas, steak burrito
    Julia R.

    Dos Carlitos is such a gem in the SYV! I've been coming here for ~8 years and the quality has stayed superb. I actually prefer this location to the SB original Carlitos for a few reasons. The service is always great with friendly staff and accommodating chefs. You start out with the signature salsas and chips, the black bean/corn salsa is one that I have yet to see at other restaurants and I think it adds a really unique touch. I always order the guacamole which is fresh and comes in the traditional molcajete. I love the chicken enchiladas, they have so much flavor and the portion is huge! The best beans and rice I've had locally as well. All of the ingredients are fresh and amazing quality. The steak burrito is another favorite, so juicy and flavorful. I love the interior vibes of this place, it's rustic and classy at the same time. All of the drinks are phenomenal but I always opt for a classic dos carlitos marg. So refreshing! This has been a go to place for celebrations in my life like graduations and birthdays, and I will definitely keep coming back and recommending it to family/friends when they are in town!

    Chicken verde enchiladas plate

    Nice place good food and service. Here at lunch. Portions are large. They give two salsas either chips. Nice atmosphere typical of the region with of horse pictures

    Patio seating on a warm day!
    Mae L.

    Service was great Cameron was a blast! He was very personable and attentive. Shrimp empanadas were delicious and they did not skimp of the shrimp! It came with chopped papayas and some green leaf lettuce and together the bite with some spicy salsa *chef's kiss* perfect bite of sweet gooey, savory and spicy (this is coming from someone who does not like papaya). Margaritas packed a punch and were nice and citrusy! Rice was very flavorful and the taco was nice and crunchy and the beef nice and tender. The relleno was - mehhh, pretty bland, but the rest of the meal made up for it.

    Robbin M.

    The food was by far some of the best Mexican I've had. Extremely healthy servings and the service absolutely fabulous. In door or out door the atmosphere is adorable. My only complaint is the price points. Extremely overpriced for Mexican food. Nothing reasonably priced.

    Shrimp , giant spicy and delicious
    Amy R.

    Fantastic Mexican food right in wine country. It was recommended to us by a local winery employee, who raved about the Quesadillas. We had a great table outside and honestly the food was wonderful. Really big portions and we should have shared ! The guacamole is served in a molcahete and is great for sharing. Also for appetizers we had the empanadas which are HUGE and packed with the filling you choose, easily a meal. Our 5 party members had Posole (red/pork) BIG bowl! Shrimp, Caesar salad with Salmon for protien choice, combo plate and the chicken quesadilla.. they also serve a mango iced tea that is refreshing. We left with to go boxes and full bellies! Service was timely and refills for tea, water came without having to ask. The food was not overly spicy for our friends who are spice adverse. The shrimp were large and plump and did have a lil kick to them but she said they were so delicious she pushed through and kept eating. See pics to appreciate the size of plates you will get! As we got our food those pesky meat hornets began to show up and that is a draw back when dining outside in warmer climates. Those pests aside Dos Carlitos does it right and you should definitely drop by , try the quesadilla!!

    Enjoying some time at dinner with family
    Melissa L.

    The food was superb, we brought my daughter to dinner for her bday. This was her 1st time here. She was impressed with the restaurant. The service was fantastic, our waiter kept checking on us making sure our glasses were filled, and our experience was going good. He recommended the margaritas . He was spit on with the flavors he suggested for us. The ambiance in the restaurant was so inviting and gave the vibe of Mexican dining on the Patio while eating inside, while it was raining outside. We enjoyed our bday celebration, and recommended if your in the area, enjoy yourself at this great restaurant and the food and margaritas as well. You won't be disappointed.

    steak torta

    Cute establishment, ambiance is lively. Servers were super nice and attentive. The food was good, and presented well. I liked that they had the option for black or brown beans, you don't see that often. Overall would recommend to check it out.

    Combo plate. Enchilada and chili releno in there
    Karl S.

    Visiting Solvang and asked our hotel front desk for a Mexican food recommendation. Try Dos Carlitos about 3 miles up the road in Santa Ynez. We're glad we did. Great Mexican food. Awesome Margaritas. I got the Al pastor street tacos. My dining partner got the combo plate and chose an enchilada and chili releno. My dining partner grades Mexican places on their chili relenos, this one was definitely top 3. The restaurant evokes a late 1800's California ranch house. Very pleasant. Some very good Mexican here. Try it, you'll like it.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    5 days ago

    The food is delicious, but I wish the enchiladas had more sauce. Excellent guacamole and a nice variety of dishes.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ava S.
    0
    22
    0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe K.
    0
    34
    2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lori A.
    26
    41
    6

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jim W.
    0
    37
    4

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Liz U.
    0
    15
    1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom W.
    0
    35
    9

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rasta R.
    19
    34
    15

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Daniel R.
    307
    24
    11

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    DELICIOUS! Love the no frills ambiance coupled with 10/10 food. Great for kids. Highly recommend the pork pozole.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Food is always good and large portions. Friendly and fast service. Indoor and outdoor seating and clean.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 18

    Dos Carlitos Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dos Carlitos

    Does this place have heated outdoor setting?

    Do you take reservations?

    No they do not

    Is the patio open for dine in at this time?

    Yes it is

    Are the beans and rice vegetarian or is it Cooked with chicken broth,beef, or lard?

    To be perfectly honest, I reviewed this place as a "VEGAN EATER" and was highly critical of the whole experience, was attacked by the owner and removed it. Some people just don't consider that the "customer is (often) right" and should be listened… Read more

    Is the patio dog friendly?

    I've seen others bring their dogs, but it's best to call the business.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mexican 1,483 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Smashburger, baby.

    Pony Cocktails Kitchen

    4.4(51 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    We just kind of stumbled upon Pony Kitchen but what a happy accident, I think this was my favorite…read moremeal of our trip We were seated at a cozy outdoor table and service was personal and attentive. My husband and I both got the three course, prix fixe menu and were very pleased with our decision. The meal started with a hearts of romaine salad that was a perfect medley of tastes and textures and just the right size. Next up was steak frites - the best steak I've had in a long time and the shoestring fries were perfectly cooked and savory delicious. The meal ended with a slice of olive oil cake topped with mascarpone crema and blueberry compote. Outstanding meal from start to finish.

    Went with my fiancée for Valentine's Day. We both had the truffle tasting menu. The food was…read morefine, nothing to write home about. But there was one glaring problem. My fiancée ordered her steak well-done. I get it--an unpopular choice. But she doesn't order her steak well-done because she thinks it tastes better; she orders her steak well-done because she's squeamish and the red color freaks her out. When the steaks arrived, they were both medium rare. I called our waitress over and asked if they could cook my fiancée's steak a little more. She was apologetic and took the steak back. A few minutes later, my fiancée's steak returned...still medium rare. The kitchen had not cooked the steak more. My fiancée tried her best to eat it, but it made her feel pretty bad. While she was in the restroom, I asked our waitress what happened. She said she was very sorry, but the kitchen doesn't really "do" well-done steaks. Uh....why not? The thought that the kitchen was unwilling to cook my fiancée's steak more is utterly ludicrous. The restaurant business is a SERVICE industry. The object is making your diners happy, not maintaining your sense of dignity by refusing to cook my fiancée's steak to a temperature she's comfortable with. So, thanks to the kitchen's high-and-mighty attitude, my fiancée went home hungry. Unbelievable.

    Photos
    Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Inside Pony. Very nice inside space

    Inside Pony. Very nice inside space

    Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Dessert!

    Dessert!

    Pony Cocktails Kitchen - Food + Cocktails

    See all

    Food + Cocktails

    Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn - Almond Joy (dairy free)

    Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn

    4.5(595 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    We went to Brothers and it was pretty busy, so we sat at the bar--but honestly, it made the…read moreexperience even better. The focaccia bread was absolutely delicious, warm and full of flavor. For my main course, I had the chicken stuffed with goat cheese, served with mashed potatoes, and it was incredible. Every bite was so good--I completely devoured the whole plate. If it were socially acceptable, I would've licked it clean! Thank you for the great service and an amazing meal. I'll definitely be coming back!

    Dinner at Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn was easily one of the most memorable steakhouse…read moreexperiences I've had. The filet was phenomenal -- honestly one of the top three filets I've ever eaten. Perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and full of flavor. The sides were just as impressive, and the Mud Pie for dessert was absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way -- rich, indulgent, and unforgettable. We went on Sunday night, the day after Valentine's Day, and the place was packed (good thing they take reservations). We'd had an unfortunate experience the night before at a different local restaurant, but despite the crowd, we were seated right away at a great table. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance: relaxed but upscale, with a retro country steakhouse vibe that feels both classic and comfortable. The staff was outstanding -- attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. We also enjoyed a fantastic local cab from Brave & Maiden that paired beautifully with the steak. From start to finish, it was a perfect evening. This place absolutely lives up to its reputation.

    Photos
    Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn - View inside across from our table

    View inside across from our table

    Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn - Almond Joy (dairy free)

    Almond Joy (dairy free)

    Brothers Restaurant At the Red Barn

    See all

    Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe - Over 500 mostly local wines with seasonal, local wine country cuisine.

    Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Hands down the best restaurant in Los Olivos. Have the three course dinner or lunch meal which is…read morethe best deal in town. Easily the best wine selection in town as well. Staff are extraordinary. Setting is wonderful. And the best one selection for purchase as well.

    This is a hard one to review. We had one good appetizer and a glass of wine. The rest of it kind of…read morewent south. The positive first: walking in everybody was super friendly and greeted us with a smile, and sat us down right away on the patio since we had our dog with us. We ordered the baked brie appetizer and two glasses of red wine. My husband had the Austin Hope Cab and I had a red blend. I don't remember the brand name. It was a little bit expensive for a glass of wine. I wanna say around $25 but we both were in the mood for a good wine and wanted to treat ourselves. The baked Brie was delicious. Negative: the fish and chips and the service. I was so excited to see fish and chips on the menu because it was halibut. I'm used to cod in fish and chips so of course I had to order since I am a huge halibut lover. The table next to us also said what an amazing meal that was and ordered one to go. We received our fish and chips from not our server and the person dropped the meal and left without asking us if we needed anything. My husband and I looked at the fish and chips and immediately started laughing. It looked like little fish nuggets as opposed to fish! I kind of thought we were being punked. We waited and waited for the server to come by or a manager or some thing and could not get anybody to come talk to us. It took 14 minutes for her to finally come tap on our table and ask if everything was OK. We told her it was not OK and to look at the size of the fish and she said she would go tell the kitchen and asked if we wanted to remake it. At that point, we weren't even hungry anymore. We were just kind of annoyed at the entire situation. She comes back out a few minutes later and says we're going to take it off of your bill. We don't see her for a while and then the manager comes over and says we took it off of your bill. He didn't ask if there's any way to make it right he just said OK anyways and walked away at the end. Being in the restaurant industry for many years, I thought this was pretty offensive. If I were him, I probably would have made another one right away or offered something they are known for like their pizza. So overall, I wouldn't be back. I think there's many other restaurants around there and to be treated like that after how we were served....no thank you!

    Photos
    Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe - Outside the wine merchant- so cute!

    Outside the wine merchant- so cute!

    Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe - Grass-fed beef Skirt Steak with seasonal preparations.

    Grass-fed beef Skirt Steak with seasonal preparations.

    Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe - Classic house made pizzas with fresh Mediterranean twists. Try the Alba!

    See all

    Classic house made pizzas with fresh Mediterranean twists. Try the Alba!

    Dos Carlitos - mexican - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...