I went for happy hour and sat at the bar. Service was super friendly. The taquitos and tacos were awesome- but the chicken wings- amazing. They put their own spin on the sauce- it's rich and slightly spicy- layers of delicious flavors! read more

Up enjoying the weekend in Big Bear. Came across this place in the village. The rating was not particularly great but decided to give it a shot. Well, first impression was that there's a 'BIG' sign at the entrance stating wait to be seated. Ok, no problem, BUT... after a few minutes of standing in the sun and employees walking by. No hostess or anyone coming. We were about to leave when someone finally called to us and said to sit anywhere! WTF! Then why the sign!?Anyways, we entered hoping that we didn't make a mistake! Someone brought us chips and said that there's a self serve salsa bar and to help ourselves. Again no problem. We were talking and then I realized that it's been a while since someone came by to take our order. FINALLY, the server came apologizing for the delay and took our order. She was very polite or else I have no problem getting up and leaving. There are many other places to go to spend my hard earned money! The drinks and food came out in relatively good time and was pretty good. The taquito were nice and the Carnitas burrito was good too. It was a weekend and they didn't seem short staffed but I did see staff inside just talking, maybe they were assigned there, I don't know. But if you're going to put a big ass sign at your entrance telling people to wait, then you better have someone there to take care of them. Just saying. We sat outside and I never saw anyone attending the entrance, but I did see people walking in ignoring the sign or got tired of waiting and left. I probably wouldn't go back. There's a lot of different places to walk to in The Village and we'll probably try them out next time. I always try to support local small businesses, but sometimes the score is just a score. Thank you for your interest. read more

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

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This place was amazing! We brought our 7 month old baby with us and the staff was so kind and friendly. They did not care about the possibility of a baby crying. They were so welcoming. Our baby was at such peace with the ambiance. The food was absolutely amazing. I simply can't wait to go back again. I can't fathom how amazing this place was and how much of an amazing memory we built choosing this location for dinner. read more

We love this place there tacos are amazing and service is A+ always come when we are in town Highly recommended read more

Stopped by El Jacalito Grill to watch a World Cup game and had a great experience overall. The servers were friendly and attentive, the drinks were good, and the atmosphere was perfect for catching the match. We took advantage of happy hour and ordered the margaritas, which were delicious and a great value. We also happened to visit on Quesabirria Wednesday, and the birria was excellent. My only complaint is the regular drink pricing once happy hour ends. While I understand they're located in the Village and prices tend to be higher in that area, $19 for a margarita felt a bit steep. Because of that, we ended up leaving when happy hour ended. Overall, I'd definitely come back for the service, food, happy hour specials, and game-day atmosphere--just be prepared for higher drink prices outside of happy hour. read more

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

The place was really good. I came here during the afternoon hours on a Monday. It was sad to see there was only one server taking on multiple parties. I think someone called off or was running late. The server was helpful and thankful for having patience. The shreeded beef burrito (no beans), wet style with red enchilada sauce was amazing. The complimentary chips and salsas were top notch. I loved the two spicy green salsas. The chips were fresh and delicious to pair with the burrito. The margaritas were good and the atmosphere was relaxing. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

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I love this place.Eat here all the time.Sarah is one of my favorite waitresses ever! She's the best always taking care of you like family. I recommend this restaurant and all the servers are amazing, especially Sarah! read more

Sara was awesome! She was friendly, easy to talk to, and did a great job keeping everyone engaged and making the atmosphere fun. You can tell she knows how to connect with customers and make people feel welcome. Great energy, great service, and definitely someone who makes the experience that much better. Had some chips on the side, kinda stale but not bad. If you stop by El Jacalito Grill, I hope you get Sara as your bartender! Overall great experience. read more

Sarah was the absolute best server! She was so sweet and always checking in on us. We came for their taco Tuesday and quesabirra tacos Wednesday and everything was so good and our favorite part was the open salsa bar def come here!! read more

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

My experience at El Jacalito Grill was extremely disappointing. The food upset our stomachs, which is unacceptable when going out to eat you expect the food to have flavor and be what any Mexican dreams of eating but the food had no flavor at all. What made the situation even worse was that our concerns about the food were not acknowledged, and they still took our payment without making any effort to address the situation. We expected better food quality. When customers have a concern about food making them sick, the least thing the restaurant can do is listen and take it seriously. Based on our experience, I would not recommend this place, and we will not be returning. read more

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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Sara is very attentive and she provides exceptional service everytime we stop by to eat.

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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Came into town for Oktoberfest and wanted some yummy mexican food so we decided on this place. Looked really nice & cute inside and we decided to sit at the bar. Our bartender Sara was super attentive and very sweet, I liked her a lot. Really good service and yummy drinks! I would definitely come back when I'm back in Big Bear, especially if Sara was the bartender again! read more

Came in for lunch and the wait wasn't too bad for a Friday in Big Bear! We got drinks and appetizers, the flautas were bomb. Drinks were so good too, get the margaritas! Our server was so kind and patient with us, she helped recommend us so many things to do around town. Thank you so much Sara!! Well be back for dinner before we leave and we'll request her again read more

Food was great! Ambiance was nice, and the service provided by Sarah was excellent! I'd want her to be my server everytime because she definitely made me wanna come back everytime I visit. read more

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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Loved this restaurant our waitress Sarah was great help n even giving us places to see around big bear she brought our food in timely response we will definitely be eating here again read more

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 delicious Crispy taco Chicken taco salad very good Margarita always good with Mexican food Chips nice and crunchy Service Petroleum Our waiter was extremely good Ambiance We ate outside and it was very nice I would recommend this place read more

If I could do 0 stars I would. Honestly, one of the worst dining experiences we've had. We came in as a party of 11, were respectful, and just wanted to enjoy a good meal together. The food was disappointing, and Sarah C. made the experience even worse with her rude attitude when we paid. She also took our unfinished food without asking. Our entire group felt unwelcome, as if we were a bother just for being there. We left feeling disrespected and disappointed. Definitely won't be returning. read more

Sarah C provided horrible service. Since we were a large group and gratuity was already included, it felt like she didn't care about our experience at all. The food was disappointing she took my friend's food before she was even done. When my boyfriend tried to hand her his card, she rudely said, "Calm down, honey, I'm not done yet." Completely unprofessional and disrespectful. Definitely not an experience I would want to repeat. read more

Sarah C. I hope they fire you, genuinely the worst service I have ever experienced. She never attended to us, gave us no water refills and just ignored until the tip. Horrible service wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy. The food itself was not amazing at all, very underwhelming and overpriced for its quality. Ambiance was cool but the server and food horrible. read more

Food was not that good. Service was horrible. Wouldn't come again and would not recommend. Our server Sarah C. Was rude and it felt like she just wanted to get us out of the restaurant. read more

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

I've been here a few times before, but this time the service was terrible. We waited over an hour for our food and never received it. Meanwhile, we watched people around us get served, eat, and leave. Our server kept telling us that our food would be out shortly, but it never came. Finally, after waiting about an hour and 20 minutes, we let the waiter know that we were just going to leave. She then told us there had been a WiFi issue and that they never received our order. But the people seated around us were able to get their orders, so I'm not sure why this only affected us. It also wasn't busy, and we weren't a large group. She also said she was going to get the manager, but the manager never came out to speak with us. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time we've had issues here, but this experience was definitely the worst. From the beginning, our server seemed a little off, and overall it was just a very disappointing experience. It especially sucks because we drove 3 hours to come here while on vacation, only to leave hungry and disappointed. Definitely would not recommend based on this experience. read more

I live in Orange County but my favorite Mexican food in Southern California is in Big Bear at El Jacalito! Their chips are great, and I love the added salsa bar. Their guacamole is delish!! My favorite menu items are the asada ranchers and the Santa Fe salad with shrimp-- both totally with the 2 hour drive!! And we've been making it for years. The service has always been good, but I'm finally writing this review because when we went last weekend or service was exceptional. Our waiter, Levi, was outstanding-- plenty knowledgeable, and the perfect balance of attentive. His manners were impeccable, so friendly and polite. I would definitely request his station in the future! read more

Great food, I love the enchiladas. the staff were fast and kind. The vibe is great when its not packed. I definitely reccomend coming here!

What a great find. My daughter and I were in Big Bear for the day and visited the village for lunch. We just happened to find this great Mexican restaurant. Clean comfortable surroundings, excellent food (chile verde was among the best I have had) and the service was the best in town. Their salsa bar is a great touch with salsa offerings from mild to wild! Portion size was tremendous. We will definitely be back. WELL DONE! read more

El Jacalito Grill - Taco combination plate and chile verde burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Big Bear Lake, California

Went there with friends Tuesday and the service and food was great. We enjoyed sitting on the patio. read more

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

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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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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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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

Gratuity for a family of 6 was automatically included at 18%. Fine, but the service was not very good. It seemed as though she knew she would get an ample tip without trying. We didn't get straws, rarely checked on..had to wait a while for the check and a to-go box. The kids meals were great, but adult food was eh. Sitting outside was nice, but we probably wouldn't return for the other reasons. read more

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

Best Mexican food in Big Bear for sure! They have a fresh salsa bar and the fajitas are so good. Their shrimp à la diabla is a very unique flavor, I recommend it. read more

El Jacalito Grill - Fajitas - 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

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

Good service, good food, good bar. Nice location. Village is delightful. Friendly staff.

n gotta be kidding me! Every single thing from the chips and there's a salsa bar!? Was rice was amazing every single thing down to the fried ice cream margaritas perfect amazing the best. read more