One of my favorite parts about visiting El Jacalito Grill was that it perfectly matched the whole cozy mountain-town atmosphere that makes Big Bear so fun in the first place. After spending the day exploring Big Bear Lake with my family -- winding mountain roads, giant trees everywhere, little local shops, live music drifting through downtown, bird-watching activities in the mornings, and even riding one of those alpine-style mountain coasters where you control your own speed -- we were starving and looking for somewhere that actually felt local instead of tourist-trap-ish. This place ended up being exactly that. The downtown area itself is adorable, and stopping in here after walking around honestly completed the experience. The restaurant had that warm, welcoming energy where everybody could finally sit down, relax, and decompress after a full day of running around the mountains. The food was fantastic, fresh, flavorful, and exactly the kind of comfort meal you want after being outside all day. Sometimes vacation spots lean too heavily on "the view" and forget the food has to hold up too, but this place absolutely delivered. Service was friendly, the atmosphere felt lively without being overwhelming, and it blended perfectly into the little old-town charm Big Bear has going for it. Honestly, this was one of those meals that became part of the memory of the trip itself. Big Bear already had us sold with: * the scenery * the family activities * the fresh mountain air * and the small-town charm ...but ending the night here made the whole experience feel complete. Definitely a spot I'd come back to the next time we head up the mountain. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Big bear ! - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Great food, good service, chips & salsa was great! Price wasn't too bad for the food, drinks were alil higher than usual but overall I enjoyed it. Nice little cozy spot, right in the village. I got the enchiladas! They were sooo good! Highly recommend! read more

El Jacalito Grill - Chili relleno - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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I really wanted to like this place. Our server was great and the atmosphere was fun, clean and great vibes. The food however was just bland. No real flavor to any of it. The salsa the rice or beans or the chicken just nothing really had any flavor to it. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Grilled chicken burrito - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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The vibe here is good nice and Mexican style. I like that they had heat warmers outside which was great since it was so cold. I ordered albóndigas soup but it wasn't all that great. The taquitos I got for my daughter were good. read more

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We were visiting Big Bear from Las Vegas. Coming from a Service Oriented City, I tend to have high expectations. They definitely exceeded my expectations. We were a party of 9, and they were on top of quickly seating us, accommodating our needs, and making sure we were satisfied. It's a Mexican restaurant and cantina, it's a cool Day Of The Dead theme as you enter. Throughout the restaurant they stay true to the theme. Nine picky eaters ordered different items off of the menu. None of us had a complaint. I ordered the Carnitas Burrito. It was fantastic. Filled with flavor and a very generous portion! It is a cantina so I was able to order a 32oz beer. That made me very happy. If you like Mexican Food. I highly recommend El Jacalito Grill. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Hostess Stand - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Good Mexican spot with large menu and drink selection. Salsa bar is great. The albóndigas soup was very delicious. Service was a bit slow when they are busy. There is indoor and outdoor seating options with a bar as well. Loud environment. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Albóndigas soup - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Absolutely one of the best Mexican spots in Big Bear. Hubby had the carnitas wet burrito with green sauce and the carnitas were super tender. Not salty at all and the green sauce was not too spicy. I had the enchiladas suizas with chicken with rice and pinto beans. My goodness were those beans and rice delicious!!!! I'm a huge believer that if they mess up something as basic as beans and rice everything else will be blah but man did they pass with flying colors. Our server was very nice and attentive. I love that they speaks Spanish here. I also appreciated that they brought out my toddler's plate before ours and that's a huge win in my book!!!! Definitely check out this spot whether it's a date night or family night out. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Enchiladas suizas with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

A girl gets hungry after a day of shopping so I came in for lunch and was very very happy with my visit here. Sarah was exceptional. She was attentive, she was friendly and just all around one of the best servers I've ever had. Very cute restaurant with a nice big outdoor patio towards the back and then a smaller front one and then interior seating has high top tables with TVs in one room and then comfy large booths in another room. I enjoyed a skinny margarita, my fave, and she brought out warm tortilla chips that weren't too flaky at all. They were sturdy so they could be dipped in all the sauces that you can choose from at their salsa bar! Then I had the combination enchilada and chicken taco on the lunch menu special and everything was extremely flavorful and unctuous! I truly recommend this place and the prices are pretty decent as well! Thanks again! read more

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We went on Labor Day weekend and the molcajete was pretty good! A little overpriced for what it was but it's a tourist area... so it's expected. We had decent service. Our server himself was very polite and helpful but the hostess wasn't when we first got there. The atmosphere is nice outside during September and it was pretty busy. It's a fun place with their own salsa bar, and every salsa we tried was actually pretty amazing and authentic! read more

El Jacalito Grill - Molcajete with asada, pollo asado, shrimp, chorizo, jalepenos. - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Food was delicious and prices were fair, but the service ruined the experience. Our server, Sarah St. Clair, was monotone, curt, and clearly not interested in being friendly -- not just with us but with other tables too. When we complained, the person we spoke with first claimed to be the manager, then backtracked saying the manager had a "family emergency." It felt more like she was covering for her coworker than taking the concern seriously. To top it off, Sarah St. Clair waved at us with a smug grin as we left -- incredibly unprofessional. Great food, but unless the service is addressed, it's hard to recommend. If you like the Las Vegas restaurant called Dicks where they treat you as such, then Sarah St. Clair is your gal. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Unfortunately, this visit was a bit disappointing. I ordered the nachos and the chips were mostly crumbs, which made them hard to enjoy. The cheese also could have been melted much more--everything felt a little unfinished. The only real redeeming part of the nachos was the guacamole, which was fresh and tasty. I also ordered a blended Mango Cadillac Margarita, but it wasn't blended well at all and had large chunks of ice, which took away from the drink. On a more positive note, my husband did enjoy his burrito, and my son said the fajitas were very flavorful. So while some dishes were good, my experience personally fell short, especially for the price. read more

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Food was great and lots of flavor. Service was fast and friendly. Ambiance was clean and authentic Mexican. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Paloma - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Delicious Pozole, shrimp tacos, birria tacos and the salsa bar has all flavors and spice you need to pair with amazing food! Highly recommend! read more

Great service and loved the salsa bar. Our food was good and the margaritas even better. Solid Mexican restaurant to visit if you're in Big Bear. It's super close to all the shops and has a nice patio area as well. read more

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I want to start with service. 5Stars! Levi was our server and was amazing. We had a party of 7 and he helped us get seated quickly. He was friendly, knowledgeable and very personable. Didn't rush us, he let us actually dine and converse but also he kept checking on us. He gave great food recommendations, and we all loved our food! Overall we loved the vibe, the food & drinks...but Levi made it a great experience. read more

The Small Bear burrito is an excellent breakfast burrito. Big Bear Burrito wasn't bad if you don't like chorizo

Got here on a Friday night hungry... mistake number one. Drove into town thinking there would be availability for a table of 10! Yeah, no. Luckily as we walked back we saw this nice little gem. Right away they accommodated my party of 10 (mostly kids to too it off). Clearly the service was great right off the bat! Our orders were taken right away and served impressively quick. The servers were attentive and accommodating. They had great attitudes and made us feel welcomed. The food... boy was I surprised. Quite authentic. I had the albóndiga soup due to the cold weather. Tasted home made! Right amount of vegetables and albóndigas. My kids had the quesabirria tacos and they were not disappointed. The portions are decently good. They have a salsa bar and each one of their salsas were delicious. My favorite was the "hot". Certainly homemade salsas. I was impressed with the refried beans! They do not taste like canned beans. I was very happy about that. I did not expect the over all great taste of their food. They also played great music that's loud enough to enjoy, but also you're able to have a conversation! read more

El Jacalito Grill - Quesabirria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

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Greater & seated immediately. Sat on the patio, perfect day to enjoy the weather. Our server was friendly & attentive. Ordered happy hour margarita & IPA. Loved the salsa bar. All salsas were good. Had the carne asada fries & birria tacos. Both delicious! We'd definitely come back! read more

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Food was good - back staff was good. Service wasn't the greatest. Waitress forced us to pay the tab as a whole and said we couldn't split the bill for a party of 8. read more

My wife and I went there for lunch and had a great time! The food and service were both excellent. I had the steak fajitas and my wife had the taco plate. We really enjoyed both. Also, Mary was very good as well. The next time we're in town we'll definitely stop by for a meal. A great place to go for very good Mexican food. read more

Cannot say enough great things about this place! We visited this past weekend, after being treated HORRIBLY at the neighboring restaurant. I am actually glad that happened because we were then able to experience the wonderful service, delicious food, great drinks, and the very welcoming atmosphere El Jacalito Grill has to offer. Thank you to everyone on the staff for being so accommodating for our infant, and for turning our day around! Cant wait to come back next time we are in Big Bear Lake. read more

My friend and I came here for our bachelorette party dinner. The chips that come out are absolutely delicious! The seasoning they use tastes great with the salsa. Overall, we all really enjoyed the dishes we got: burrito bowl, pozole, and two different types of enchiladas. Personally, the red sauce for the three enchilada combo has a heat that grows. I didn't fully enjoy my meal because of it but overall it was good and the rice is delicious. Our sever was so kind and he was great for our party. He offered quick service and made sure our drinks came out way before our meals. The place itself is on the smaller side so it was a little tight. Luckily for us, the other people who were out for dinner match our vibes on a Friday night! read more

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We come to Big Bear at least once a year and El Jacalito is always a must! Food is great and Sara provided stellar service! Get the triple meat fajitas and a Cadillac Margarita It is a TEN! Love their outside dining area as well! read more

Ordered the veggie burrito bowl -ordered no pico de gallo arrived with guacamole, roasted peppers and onions (which I did not want or added) but no cheese or sour cream, when I requested cheese and sour cream the charged me an additional $4. Won't EVER eat here again, you're better off going to Taco Bell down the street. The busboy server was excellent, everyone else seemed inconvenienced that we were there. read more

Terrible customer service. Me and husband walked in waited 15 minutes without any help. We patiently waited, the older lady then said "what do you need" we asked for a drink menu she pointed across from her which wasn't in our eyesight whatsoever, mind you it's our first time. Very very rude and unwelcoming, went across to the bears layer taproom with MUCH BETTER service!!! read more

Excellent service and the food was amazing I highly recommend the birria quesadilla tacos. Probably the best Mexican food I've had in California. read more

Service was quick and food was delicious! Enjoyed the salsa bar and the various levels of spiciness to them. The plates are well priced for the amount of food you get. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Went in for some drinks at the bar , but was greeted by so called bartender eating and talking with her mouth full of food . I wanted a mojito and said she didn't have mint , mind you almost all the drinks had mint , but she didn't like offer an option for us . She was just plain rude & we just left & went to Tropicali!! read more

First time here, wow. What's an amazing Jem in big bear . We dined at 8 pm. We were not rushed at all. Drinks filled non stop , chips and salsa were always topped off. Now the good stuff. The food. They have amazing food. All 7 of us had the same conclusion. Awesome!!!! We will be back for sure. The prices were great too. Cheers to Rolando our waiter and his crew. They were on point. The vibe was great . Music but not too loud. Just had a warm feel about it. You won't regret it. Thank You Very Much read more

This is our second time coming in great food great service. Everything is so fresh. We're definitely coming back. Alexandra was our waitress. She was really tentative to us and great service. read more

It was closing time when we got there and young lady said it's closing time and we can take out if we want to. We have us the menu and spoke so nice to us and already I knew this is the spot. We ordered the Thursday special and shrimp cocktail (I love Mexican Shrimp cocktails) and we waited and got out to go and it was super satisfying dinner I had in a long time. Service was excellent and food was amazing. I love this place read more

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Cruising thru The Village at Big Bear Lake, we decided to try El Jacalito Grill. The patio dining area looked inviting. Parking was easy and the waiter was attentive. The Salsa Bar was a pleasant surprise with something for all tastebuds. The chile relleno combo plate was massive and the food delicious. The albondigas meatball soup was Wow.... with a flavor that was distinct and unique, yet subtle. Ahhh. Go for great food, atmosphere and service. A highlight of our trip. read more

Great service, food and drinks was good The guacamole chips were really good. The door that says entrance, they don't really use it so that was a little confusing read more

El Jacalito Grill - Guava mezcal margarita Guacamole and chips - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Levi was a delightful waiter! We had been here twice before, but we weren't impressed. I had the Biria with black beans and both corn and flour tortillas. Husband had a chili verde burrito. We both had a draft beer. With an inquiry, I found out that the establishment had been bought by new people who immediately improved the food. It was good! They now have a salsa bar which was very nice indeed! It is small inside, but they've done some work to the inside to accomodate more diners and make it more roomy. I recommend it! read more

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We stopped in for lunch. We had taco salads. Hubs had carne asada and I had carnitas. Both were delicious. Lots of meat and very flavorful. It was quiet when we came in on Friday. Saturday night for dinner. Service was great the decor is really nice. We will definitely be back again. read more

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2nd time at this place. Let me just say I love this place the service is great and food comes fast. Alexandra was so attentive and quick with her amazing service. The food has great flavor and it comes hot and fresh. Any time I find myself in Big Bear I will be coming by for a great meal. I really recommend this place. read more

Everything was delicious. We sat out on the patio with our dogs. They brought chips, salsa and waters out immediately. There are definitely no deals to be had here... nothing crazy upscale just upscale prices, however, it was a great little outdoor spot and we enjoyed what we ordered. At our table we got the chicken bowl, carne asada fries and something with shrimp but I can't remember the name. No complaints- we also enjoyed a beer and a pina colada. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Portions were large enough to enjoy left overs later at our campsite - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

First visit and will definitely be going back. Food was really good, service was really good. Loved the salsa bar.

The service on the patio was SLOW! The server hardly checked on us. The food and drinks were mediocre. Much better options available in town! read more

it was good and made me super fat sarah was super nice and lots of people even on monday