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We visited on a road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. They seated us right away on a Sunday evening. I'd prefer to give them 3.5 for food, but I'm rounding up for their speedy service and abundance of hot sauce. I had the al pastor taco combination. It was pretty decent. The salsa was good, but just a tad to spicy for my taste. The prices were decent too.
If you like fresh - homemade Mexican food then this is a must stop. The flour tortillas are excellent- obviously homemade. We had the famous chili verde. It was tender with lots of flavor. It was not too spicy so you always add your own. I had the carne asada burrito plate. The beef is so fresh. The burrito is simple with just meat and beans in a homemade tortilla. The salsa is hot with a great kick. They have seating outside on the patio as well as several tables inside. You will pay at the window when you have finished your meal.
Tortillas are good. Hubby enjoyed his menudo. There was no hominy. Very rich. Burrito was on the smaller side but matched the price. Surprise 2% service fee. I'm not sure for what since it wasn't written anywhere.
Ok! That was delicious! We're stuffed. We were looking for a place to stop and eat and King City had quite a few places to choose from, but something told us to try out El Lugarcito. I ordered a shrimp taco combo. Two tacos, rice and beans. They even gave me half of a very fresh avocado! You could taste the flavors of everything. Tacos came in homemade taco shells and each bite was freshness at its finest. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. I can't say enough about homemade Mexican rice. Theirs was so fluffy and tasty, and the refried beans were piping hot and full of flavor too. Husband ordered the chili verde plate and he said it was the best he's ever tasted. He said the meat was tender and the sauce was absolutely delicious. Cute little place. Indoor/outdoor appearance. Kind of like a sunroom without the sweltering heat. You can eat inside or outside on the patio. It may have been 115° outside, but not in here. They had a couple misters going and we were very comfortable sitting in there eating. Flow of patrons was steady. Three tables were already being serviced, and I could see the cooks working away at preparing the dishes. Too bad we live so far away. This is a must return to place for us next time we come back through.
I've lived in King City for 6 years and barely went to El Lugarcito yesterday... I can't believe I've been missing out for 6 years! So so goood. You can tell the food is made from scratch, it also came out shortly after ordering. Definitely a spot to continue to visit. I ordered a torta and really enjoyed it although a sandwich like that feels too "bread heavy" so it won't be my usual thing but again it was still good. My dad got the Bistec Ranchero and said it's the best one in town! Looking forward to going back and enjoying more food here.
Hands down one of the best Authentic Mexican eateries in town. Excellent customer service and always very clean. This place is always busy during lunch time but they are quick service every time. Great selection of food on those menus. I always make a quick stop for those delicious chips & salsa. Best Chips n Salsa around!
I have a very strange relationship with King City. It's not a conflicted relationship--no, I don't harbor any ill will whatsoever toward King City, Caltrans nearly single-handedly making it very dangerous at the moment to drive on the 101 through the city notwithstanding. It's a strange relationship because I thought I was an expert. I had seen the little parks and medium parks and mysterious and unexpected suburban neighborhoods around them. I knew where to get gas, even if I couldn't name the gas brands because I swear each and every King City gas station has rebranded at least twice in the past ten years. I knew how to use surface streets to get from the Broadway Exit to the Canal Street exit, and vice versa. I even knew where all the kids used to hang out and eat pizza back in the day, even though I never went to King City back in the day. So when I was driving back to San Francisco with my dad in tow a couple of weeks back, I mentioned that we could stop in King City to get gas. He remembered a Mexican restaurant that my brother had brought him to before, and I knew exactly the spot, so I exited at Canal Street, entered the King City Center, and parked right in front of El Taco Bravo (https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-taco-bravo-restaurant-king-city). Sadly, it was closed, but surprisingly, my dad told me this wasn't the Mexican restaurant my brother had taken him to. "It's on an older main street," my dad said. An older main street? In King City, California? I know most little cities have existed for a long time, but I had no idea King city had an old main street, let alone any main street. And then I looked up King City Mexican restaurants on Yelp, and holy schnikes! there was an entire part of King City, California, that I never knew existed. I knew how to get to Broadway Street, but instead of turning left, I turned right, and I was welcomed to a lovely, oldish part of town that had plenty of independent little markets and lots and lots of taquerias. We passed the restaurant my dad had been to and settled on El Lugarcito because it got the best reviews. It looks like a dump from outside, and the inside is a work in progress, but rather than close the entire place down while they refurbished it from top to bottom, they've decided to take it one section at a time. We were sitting in the recently redone section, and the booths are gorgeous and well made and just really display some amazing custom craftsmanship. The rest of the restaurant? Meh. Our culinary experience didn't start well, as both my dad's and my first chips from the bowl were really stale, as in these two chips had been sitting in a bin somewhere for at least three days, and I was considering getting up and leaving, but the allure of those booths. . . . The menu is quite odd, which gave me high hopes because strangely done menus in places like this usually portend some really good food. We ordered, and not more than three-and-a-half minutes after the server had left, he returned with my dad's combination plate. I'm not exaggerating how quickly the food came out. Mine was out a couple of minutes later, and the food was really good. Like really good. Like I know abuelita was in the back cooking because this just reminded me so much of the food I've had at my friends' houses--and their aunts' houses and their grandmas' houses and their cousins' houses, etc. We were sitting and enjoying this fresh, fantastic food, and we couldn't understand how a place like this could serve stale chips. So I reached for the opposite side of the nacho bowl, and the chip I pulled out was really fresh. I pulled out a couple more, and they were fresh too. My dad followed my lead, and we each had a fresh-to-stale-chip rate of about 8:2. I guess the folks at Lugarcito didn't throw out the old chips before they filled the bin/basket/cage/box with fresh ones, so we just happened accidentally to pick the wrong side of the bowl to start picking from. The fresh chips were delicious. I want to come back. And I hope they finish the construction, eventually. It's worth the little trip to the end of Broadway Street, and you can say you feel like a local even though you won't feel like a local. Did I mention that the staff was super nice and welcoming?
I'm writing my review while waiting for my husband to finish his carnitas plate. It was huge. And the pork is huge chunks of delicious fresh meat. I had to add a picture to show how juicy it looks inside. I had a chili verde burrito combination plate, not wanting such a huge meal. I disagree with the earlier poster who said it was as small as a gas stays ion burrito. The chili verde was wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla and was as fresh and good as my husband's carnitas-- they've got cooking meat down to perfection. The rice was very good and different than I've ever had. It was just good fresh rice homemade with a bit of vegetables simmered in the broth for flavor when making it. The seasoning of the chili verde was delicious and let the chili flavor come through. Again, it was also different than just simmering the meat in green sauce that most restraints do. The booths and bar seats are beautifully made. The restaurant has a homey flair the staff were attentive. Floors and tables were clean and inviting. We were able to use our credit card when we went up to pay (a sign said cash only on the way in the door). Prices seemed reasonable for what I've been seeing lately and their bigger plates were huge for what you pay. More than I can eat, so I may talk my hubby into sharing a carnitas plate next time. Other a la carte items are very reasonably priced. Tacos, Burritos, Tostadas all have a choice of 7 different meats. Kids menu, too! Ask about the specialty drinks. They served the most amazing things to the table next to us. They Modelo turned upside down caught our eye. They made our tea and Diet Coke look sad, but then again we still had to drive to our destination.
We stopped here on our way down South. Found it on Yelp and it did not disappoint. We got the seafood cocktail and carnitas plate. The carnitas was damn delicious! The plates came with rice, beans and FRIES! Service was friendly and fast! Will def stop here again
Stopped here serendipitously while driving to Pinnacles NP. It was the Easter weekend, many of the eateries in King City were closed. Yelped a bit before picking this place. We had tacos, vegetarian and shrimp. Both were excellent, great taste at unbelievable price, made for a very nice light lunch. Service was prompt and welcoming. The place has a rustic charm, so much nicer than some overrated spots in the Bay Area. Will recommend!!
Absolutely legit local Mexican food. It's not fancy but it's great eats. The pastor is amazing and the prices are great. The salsa is hot and the chips are thick, awesome. Never had rice like this and it's addictive. Friendly service and obviously a local favorite. Get some.
2 months ago
Stopped in here for dinner on a Saturday night around 6pm. Most of our group was excited they had birria tacos and items on the menu, however, they were out so we had to pick something else to order. That had cute christmas decor for the holidays, and decent music playing. Service was pretty decent in terms of ordering/paying/getting out food. We'll have to come back another time to see if they have birria in stock. read more
Fun taco joint with lots of other options. The Chile verde is the standout - chunks of tender pork with great tomatillo chili. Asada and Carnitas tacos are good and simple examples. We didn't try the seafood but the table next to us did and enjoyed. Chips and salsa were great (homemade) and the salsa has a kick! The taco stand across the street serves the absolutely best tacos but it has no indoor seating and no cover from the sun. If you are looking for a sit down joint, El Lugarcito is a good option. read more
We visited on a road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. They seated us right away on a Sunday evening. I'd prefer to give them 3.5 for food, but I'm rounding up for their speedy service and abundance of hot sauce. I had the al pastor taco combination. It was pretty decent. The salsa was good, but just a tad to spicy for my taste. The prices were decent too. read more
2 months ago
2 years ago
If you like fresh - homemade Mexican food then this is a must stop. The flour tortillas are excellent- obviously homemade. We had the famous chili verde. It was tender with lots of flavor. It was not too spicy so you always add your own. I had the carne asada burrito plate. The beef is so fresh. The burrito is simple with just meat and beans in a homemade tortilla. The salsa is hot with a great kick. They have seating outside on the patio as well as several tables inside. You will pay at the window when you have finished your meal. read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Ok! That was delicious! We're stuffed. We were looking for a place to stop and eat and King City had quite a few places to choose from, but something told us to try out El Lugarcito. I ordered a shrimp taco combo. Two tacos, rice and beans. They even gave me half of a very fresh avocado! You could taste the flavors of everything. Tacos came in homemade taco shells and each bite was freshness at its finest. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. I can't say enough about homemade Mexican rice. Theirs was so fluffy and tasty, and the refried beans were piping hot and full of flavor too. Husband ordered the chili verde plate and he said it was the best he's ever tasted. He said the meat was tender and the sauce was absolutely delicious. Cute little place. Indoor/outdoor appearance. Kind of like a sunroom without the sweltering heat. You can eat inside or outside on the patio. It may have been 115° outside, but not in here. They had a couple misters going and we were very comfortable sitting in there eating. Flow of patrons was steady. Three tables were already being serviced, and I could see the cooks working away at preparing the dishes. Too bad we live so far away. This is a must return to place for us next time we come back through. read more
1 year ago
I've lived in King City for 6 years and barely went to El Lugarcito yesterday... I can't believe I've been missing out for 6 years! So so goood. You can tell the food is made from scratch, it also came out shortly after ordering. Definitely a spot to continue to visit. I ordered a torta and really enjoyed it although a sandwich like that feels too "bread heavy" so it won't be my usual thing but again it was still good. My dad got the Bistec Ranchero and said it's the best one in town! Looking forward to going back and enjoying more food here. read more
3 years ago
Hands down one of the best Authentic Mexican eateries in town. Excellent customer service and always very clean. This place is always busy during lunch time but they are quick service every time. Great selection of food on those menus. I always make a quick stop for those delicious chips & salsa. Best Chips n Salsa around! read more
5 years ago
I have a very strange relationship with King City. It's not a conflicted relationship--no, I don't harbor any ill will whatsoever toward King City, Caltrans nearly single-handedly making it very dangerous at the moment to drive on the 101 through the city notwithstanding. It's a strange relationship because I thought I was an expert. I had seen the little parks and medium parks and mysterious and unexpected suburban neighborhoods around them. I knew where to get gas, even if I couldn't name the gas brands because I swear each and every King City gas station has rebranded at least twice in the past ten years. I knew how to use surface streets to get from the Broadway Exit to the Canal Street exit, and vice versa. I even knew where all the kids used to hang out and eat pizza back in the day, even though I never went to King City back in the day. So when I was driving back to San Francisco with my dad in tow a couple of weeks back, I mentioned that we could stop in King City to get gas. He remembered a Mexican restaurant that my brother had brought him to before, and I knew exactly the spot, so I exited at Canal Street, entered the King City Center, and parked right in front of El Taco Bravo (https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-taco-bravo-restaurant-king-city). Sadly, it was closed, but surprisingly, my dad told me this wasn't the Mexican restaurant my brother had taken him to. "It's on an older main street," my dad said. An older main street? In King City, California? I know most little cities have existed for a long time, but I had no idea King city had an old main street, let alone any main street. And then I looked up King City Mexican restaurants on Yelp, and holy schnikes! there was an entire part of King City, California, that I never knew existed. I knew how to get to Broadway Street, but instead of turning left, I turned right, and I was welcomed to a lovely, oldish part of town that had plenty of independent little markets and lots and lots of taquerias. We passed the restaurant my dad had been to and settled on El Lugarcito because it got the best reviews. It looks like a dump from outside, and the inside is a work in progress, but rather than close the entire place down while they refurbished it from top to bottom, they've decided to take it one section at a time. We were sitting in the recently redone section, and the booths are gorgeous and well made and just really display some amazing custom craftsmanship. The rest of the restaurant? Meh. Our culinary experience didn't start well, as both my dad's and my first chips from the bowl were really stale, as in these two chips had been sitting in a bin somewhere for at least three days, and I was considering getting up and leaving, but the allure of those booths. . . . The menu is quite odd, which gave me high hopes because strangely done menus in places like this usually portend some really good food. We ordered, and not more than three-and-a-half minutes after the server had left, he returned with my dad's combination plate. I'm not exaggerating how quickly the food came out. Mine was out a couple of minutes later, and the food was really good. Like really good. Like I know abuelita was in the back cooking because this just reminded me so much of the food I've had at my friends' houses--and their aunts' houses and their grandmas' houses and their cousins' houses, etc. We were sitting and enjoying this fresh, fantastic food, and we couldn't understand how a place like this could serve stale chips. So I reached for the opposite side of the nacho bowl, and the chip I pulled out was really fresh. I pulled out a couple more, and they were fresh too. My dad followed my lead, and we each had a fresh-to-stale-chip rate of about 8:2. I guess the folks at Lugarcito didn't throw out the old chips before they filled the bin/basket/cage/box with fresh ones, so we just happened accidentally to pick the wrong side of the bowl to start picking from. The fresh chips were delicious. I want to come back. And I hope they finish the construction, eventually. It's worth the little trip to the end of Broadway Street, and you can say you feel like a local even though you won't feel like a local. Did I mention that the staff was super nice and welcoming? read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I'm writing my review while waiting for my husband to finish his carnitas plate. It was huge. And the pork is huge chunks of delicious fresh meat. I had to add a picture to show how juicy it looks inside. I had a chili verde burrito combination plate, not wanting such a huge meal. I disagree with the earlier poster who said it was as small as a gas stays ion burrito. The chili verde was wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla and was as fresh and good as my husband's carnitas-- they've got cooking meat down to perfection. The rice was very good and different than I've ever had. It was just good fresh rice homemade with a bit of vegetables simmered in the broth for flavor when making it. The seasoning of the chili verde was delicious and let the chili flavor come through. Again, it was also different than just simmering the meat in green sauce that most restraints do. The booths and bar seats are beautifully made. The restaurant has a homey flair the staff were attentive. Floors and tables were clean and inviting. We were able to use our credit card when we went up to pay (a sign said cash only on the way in the door). Prices seemed reasonable for what I've been seeing lately and their bigger plates were huge for what you pay. More than I can eat, so I may talk my hubby into sharing a carnitas plate next time. Other a la carte items are very reasonably priced. Tacos, Burritos, Tostadas all have a choice of 7 different meats. Kids menu, too! Ask about the specialty drinks. They served the most amazing things to the table next to us. They Modelo turned upside down caught our eye. They made our tea and Diet Coke look sad, but then again we still had to drive to our destination. read more
We stopped here on our way down South. Found it on Yelp and it did not disappoint. We got the seafood cocktail and carnitas plate. The carnitas was damn delicious! The plates came with rice, beans and FRIES! Service was friendly and fast! Will def stop here again read more
4 years ago
Stopped here serendipitously while driving to Pinnacles NP. It was the Easter weekend, many of the eateries in King City were closed. Yelped a bit before picking this place. We had tacos, vegetarian and shrimp. Both were excellent, great taste at unbelievable price, made for a very nice light lunch. Service was prompt and welcoming. The place has a rustic charm, so much nicer than some overrated spots in the Bay Area. Will recommend!! read more
Absolutely legit local Mexican food. It's not fancy but it's great eats. The pastor is amazing and the prices are great. The salsa is hot and the chips are thick, awesome. Never had rice like this and it's addictive. Friendly service and obviously a local favorite. Get some. read more
4 years ago
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2 years ago
This past weekend we had our rehearsal dinner out on the patio. Alejandra and her team killed it! The food was amazing!!! I forgot to get a picture of the food because we were so excited to eat. All of our guests loved it and some even returned the next day! The service was great! food and drinks were out so fast and they even played music to match our vibe. They worked with my mother-in-law who brought in decorations. We were a party of 25 and a few kids. They have a photo backdrop area and a little grass patch on the ground that the kids played on. 10 out of 10. Amazing experience! read more
2 years ago
Great food! Our go to in Kings City! Love their outdoor patio, service, and food. Their wattresses are quick and kind! They remembered us after one visit! read more
2 years ago
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2 years ago
I smell celery in the air. Ahhh. No wonder. We are in King City, once known as Hog Town, famous for nothing. Land of overturned dirt! Surely you must know, King City is NOT a haute cuisine capitol. That's ok. Because, for those with grumbling tummies, I have found just the place for you! Doing a search on Yelp, and a drive thru, I found that the town consists of 99% Mexican restaurants and markets, and possibly one Chinese restaurant, and a pizza joint. Odds were pretty good we would have Mexican food. But the Lugarcito reviews turned my head. Mostly written by non-locals, the reviews proclaim their loyalty and intent to return. Good enough. The drab outside of Lugarcito does not prepare you for the cutely decorated, tropical Mexican patio inside. Fresh paint. Clean. Friendly. Two TVs going with two different stations on. Bathrooms, entry from the outside. Camaron al mojo de ajo. A plate of 4 butterflied, shell on, shrimp, roasted garlic cloves, refried beans, pink rice, and salad. A quarter of an avocado, AND last but not least, french fries. Oh. Duh. Tortillas. Anyone who thinks this is not enough food for about $13 must need a lobotomy. I am here to report: excellent. Shrimp cocktail. This is a typical Mexican cocktail, with medium shrimp, served in a cool spa of tomato sauce. The sauce had cucumber, chopped tomato, onion, and cilantro in tomato juice. I like mine with a kick, so spiked it up with some of their spicy salsa, lime juice and a little more salt. Again: about $13. My only regret was the complimentary chips were overcooked. Excellent meal. And coming from a hometown where Mexican food is stellar, I tend to be quite biased. Total $27.89. And two happy tummies. Yes, I too would look forward to coming here again if passing thru King City. read more
PIT STOP - GOOD MEXICAN FIX ~~~~~~~~~ in the Middle of 101 No-Where ....downtown KING CITY! Ugh! NO Kings, here! ~~~~~~~~~~ great pit stop on the long hundred + mile "forever" road from GILROY to (SLO) San Luis Obispo (Central Coast)! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ but closes at 9 PM.... ~~~~~ it is about 2 miles away from the 101....BTW so use your GPS.....easy to miss off the 101 since the road forks after "spinning under the S101 underpass(go right)! (NOTE: I REALLY HATE WHEN THE YELP PROGRAM DECIDES TO LOWER CASE EVERYTHING....UGH...IF I CAP TOO much :) ! Since the selection of mexican food in SLO is generally pathetic & if you are unfortunate to be driving too late at night, since by the time you get to SLO, if will be too late to eat a big meal....& digest it properly! This hole-in-the-wall mexican place that lots of yelpers like, sure hit the spot one night, but they do close early! Nice clean place. good food selection, but mostly seafood & meat. Their seafood SOUP was outstanding! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ with great flavor & huge hunks of fresh veges! CARNE ASADA was yum too!!! see pics! :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NO cheese at all, IMHO, kind of weird for a mexican place. For Veges, my wife had to get a Vege Burrito, Beans.....so almost no Vege selections. It is probably the best place in this one horse town!!! ************************************************************************** Other Pit-stops includes Fast-Food places, Amero-Chinese, or Starbucks in the other tiny Mexican Farming (Or Prison) towns along the 101 (e.g. Soledad) read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Solid restaurant in town with great service. They were really quick on a Sunday afternoon. Had the Carnitas plate which was huge! Two of us could not finish it. Came with rice, French fries, regrows beans, lettuce, avocado, tomato and of course, big chunks of yummy carnitas. Washed it down with a sprite. Yum! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
6 years ago
One of my favorite restaurant in Monterey County or here in King City. All their food is cooked fresh and their carne asada tacos are one of my favorites on the menu. If you are looking for a bigger dish try the camarones al mojo de ajo! Also their MICHELADAS are BOMB read more
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More info about El Lugarcito Restaurant
128 Broadway St
King City, CA 93930
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(831) 385-4521
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8 reviews that are not currently recommended
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