Wow! Just wow. This place has molcajete and that's rare to find around the bay. We got that sling with fish with grilled onions. Both were phenomenal choices! The fish was tender and had a lovely onion and garlic butter topping. The molcajete was fresh and hearty! It comes with chicken, beef and shrimp. I loved it all! Get the margarita too. Woooo this was really nice. The service was great and I'd definitely come back here again. read more

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Was sent here for first time two weeks ago, and super thankful for finding this gem. Back for second time and completely wowed again. Michelada's are super tasty, this time we ordered the Aguachile (green) like a ceviche, wow can't wait to get again (see photo) and also the torta sandwich so fresh and flavorful, meat seasoned to perfection Can't wait to come back already planned what I'm ordering!!@ read more

El Sinaloense - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've come here on several occasions and it's always great! The service is friendly and welcoming. They're attentive and do their best to accommodate any special requests. They also have a birthday spectacle with music and lights for those that choose to celebrate their special day here. Nice ambiance. The paintings and large bar make it feel very nice and reminiscent of Sinaloa. There are multiple TVs which usually have sports and an extensive bar. I often get the enchiladas or the fajitas which are always on point. Good price, flavor, and portion size! There are several types of ceviche all of which I'd recommend. The menu is pretty large so there are plenty of options and a number of different mixed drinks too. El Sinaloense is always a wonderful meal and I've never left unsatisfied. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting Sinaloan food! read more

My favorite dish. I get this once a month. Their salsa also is legit as one can see in the corner of the photo. read more

El Sinaloense - Mariscada - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Best dessert EVER!! Get the bunuelitos!! Fried cinnamon chips with syrupy honey drizzled on top served with vanilla ice cream. My dad and I come sometimes just to have dessert. Nachos are bomb too!! read more

Very busy on a Friday night. Came with a big group and everyone loved the food. Our server was also in charge of seating people so it took a bit to get our cocktails and drinks. read more

Great food. Fresh. Tasty. Delicious. Pro: Food is authentic and they give plenty of it. Con: While the food is great the service isn't great. Waiter has no grace and doesn't provide a welcoming environment. The bus boys or dishwasher dry the utensils by hand on the dining area and slam them back into the utensil holders loud as though clanging metal is pleasant to hear for 15 minutes while you're eating. Other than that I can't say anything bad about this restaurant. read more

El Sinaloense - Chicken Mole w/black beans and vegetables - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is fantastic! If you love seafood, this place is can't miss. Wife had the Sinaloense Tropical with shrimp (served in a hollowed-out pineapple) and I had a carne chimichanga. We started with the queso fundido con camarones, which was insanely rich! The ONLY drawback was their flan. It was just so-so, but I don't go to Mexican restaurants for dessert! Friendly people, great location, killer food! read more

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El Sinaloense is tucked away in a part of San Mateo away all the other main retail and restaurant areas in town. I would definitely call this a hidden gem. We were able to find parking out front right away and noticed so many people were streaming into the restaurant on a Saturday evening at dinner time. Thankfully we had reservations. The restaurant has a bar area and a spacious dining room. The atmosphere was very lively and it seemed like everyone was having a great time! There were large and small groups of families and friends on the night of our visit. The menu contains all the usual dishes one typically sees at a Mexican restaurant but it also had a good selection of seafood dishes, especially ceviche, mariscada (mixed seafood platter) and the molcajete. Their mole is also well made. I ordered a carnitas taco and chicken enchilada and was able to sample the molcajete and mole. Everything was fresh, flavorful, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. I really enjoyed the salsa that came with the chips. There were no complaints from anyone in our group; we all had high praise for the food, service and overall experience. Service was on point and delivered with many smiles. The wait staff was hustling! I honestly felt like I could have been at a restaurant in Mexico while dining here. The dishes seemed to be more authentic than most places I've been to that cater to American palates. I cannot wait to return to try some of their other dishes. Parking is fairly easy to find nearby. I would definitely call ahead to reserve a table on weekend evenings. read more

Came during lunch time and was nice to see only a few people dining outdoors. Everyone kept their distance & all the waiters/servers wore masks. There's a sign that indicated they were supposed to take everyone's temperature, however, that did not happen during our 1 hour there. We ordered the following: - Complimentary chips & salsa- kinda disappointed they weren't fresh made tortilla chips. But roasted salsa was good. - House margarita- perfect ratio of mix & alcohol. - Molcajete- Huge portion- enough for 2-3. came out bubbling hot & flavorful. - Fajita Sinaloense- also came out on a sizzling platter, full of flavor, love the mixture of meat & seafood. - Tocino y queso- Crispy bacon wrapped with prawns & cheese. - Churros to go- fresh & warm. Chocolate sauce was the perfect accompaniment- not too sweet. Came with scoop of vanilla ice cream which I didn't think was necessary. read more

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If this were the UK, El Sinaloense would be the neighborhood pub. It's more than another Mexican restaurant. Away from the bustle of San Mateo's traditional dining/shopping areas, it's set on your way to a neighborhood east of El Camino. The menu has the regular standbys, done well, but really does represent the best of Sinaloan food. It has many options of the "mariscos" variety including octopus (pulpo), fish filets, scallops and shrimp, and ceviche. You can order a steaming hot molcajete served in the traditional lava bowl. The hubs is a big fan of the pulpo and the shrimp Diablo style. Personally, I'm all in on the slow cooked chile Colorado. But it's the vibe here that makes it a favorite. Family owned, you'll be treated like a member of the family. We'd been here twice and it was enough for the owner to remember our drinks and get them going. Think, "Norm!" I love it. Nice outside area street side for the Covid conscious (that's me) with plenty of patio furnaces. Big screen at the bar enjoyed by many. If you're a lover of seafood and Mexican flavors, warmth and fun, give this place a try. It will become a favorite. read more

Great service, excellent food. First time there for a 50th wedding anniversary party, about 25 of us in attendance. Authentic, tasty, wanting more. Desserts, walked out happy and content. Would recommend to others! Bacon Wrapped ShrimpCombo Plate read more

El Sinaloense - 50th wedding anniversary party - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

An out of the way neighborhood Mexican Restaurant behind Safeway in San Mateo. A couple people recommended this restaurant to us so we wanted to give this place a try. This is perhaps the best Mexican place in San Mateo.. Far better than Pancho Villa. Outdoor seating too. Definitely want to come back and try some of the regular food like molcajete, Fajitas, fried whole fish, fish tacos Food Picks: Chicken Quesdilla ($12.70) came fast and hit the spot. Good sized and decent quality with lots of cheese. 8.5/10 Steak Fajita Burrito Super ($13.70) was also big and full of good stuff. Better than most. 8.5/10 Carne Asada Burrito ($10.25) was pretty big for regular size. High quality meat brought out some good flavor. Chips and Salsa ($4) had lots of nicely done chips and some fairly spicy salsa. 8/10 Horchata ($3.69) was too sweet. 6/10 Overall - Very Good Food - Very Good Decor - Good Service - Good Value - Very Good Would we come back - Yes read more

They have a really nice patio. Service is very good. Quantities are large We're basically Southern California where Mexican food is terrific. We haven't found a good Mexican restaurant on the peninsula. This is about the best. We found the food plentiful creative but way under seasoned read more

Regretfully I need to downgrade my rating from 5 to 1 due to my recent experience. My order through Grubhub was delayed a bunch of times for a total of one hour and eventually cancelled by the restaurant because "they were too busy"! When I called the restaurant to find out what happened the lady who picked up rudely indicated "yes we cancelled your order, we can cancel any order whenever we want to". She could have at least sounded apologetic but no, she acted as if nothing was wrong with the action or the attitude. And by the way, she says you can stop by and pick up your order. So, you're too busy for a Grubhub order but not if I pick up myself? What kind of logic is that? It's unfortunate when front of the house people ruin the restaurant's reputation. read more

Have noticed this place before but never went in. Decided to come here with a group of guy friends for a birthday dinner. This place was hopping on a Friday evening for dinner even with the coronavirus scare. They even had strobe lights and recorded birthday songs playing a few times for some other tables' birthday celebrations. Service was fast and friendly. The guy I think was the manager was kinda forcing the margaritas so we ended up getting 2 pitchers. They were legit because they were definitely not watered down. We got the mango and lime ones. Both were good but a little pricey although each pitcher poured out to 7-8 glasses. The food menu is not just your typical basic burritos, tacos and fajitas. They had a lot of specialty entrees. We were overwhelmed by the amount of choices so we ended up having the manager choose a nice variety of choices for us that he said was representative of the best and most popular dishes. All were good since we got a variety of seafood and meats including Mexican mole. I can't remember the dishes but I would order all of them again. I will definitely be back! read more

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Excellent Mexican food in cozy atmosphere - chicken mole enchiladas, homemade sangria and flan all exceptional!

You wouldn't even know it existed. On Palm, one block inland from the famed El Camino Real, and darn convenient (if you ask me) -- right off the 92. Easy-peasy street parking makes the whole thing an easy-peasy decision to come here, or at least, try it out. I haven't laughed so much since Monty Python and the Holy Grail: =================================================== Super funny and responsive service from the moment the gf, my mama, and I walked in. Very welcoming, one guy behind the bar, Mario. He worked the entire room with comfort and ease, coming out to take our order, bring it and drinks, etc. Shout out to Super Mario! C & S: ===== High praise for Mexican food that starts off with free "C & S", aka "chips and salsa" -- can you believe some places actually charge per basket? Thankfully, the salsa was delicious and the chips were warm and thin. Albeit a bit greasy. Chile Verde or Chile Colorado? ======================== I love both, but always a tough choice. When I asked which one Mario likes better, he said they are both great -- and he can bring 1/2 & 1/2. What? Never! Well, sure enough I got it, and both were wonderful. Served with beans and rice, this plate was really enjoyable. [$15.95, 4.5 stars] Recommend! =========== Warm service with belly laughs, good food, clean and cute decor, family atmosphere, it's a no-brainer for me to tell you -- go! read more

El Sinaloense - Chile Colorado AND Chile Verde [$15.95, 4.5 stars] - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

Delicious food, attentive service, fun ambience. Especially loved the surprise birthday extravaganza!

This lovely establishment has the most quaint and beautiful restaurant. Such a hidden gem that we were so lucky to be recommended to by my mom's friend. We brought our aunt who loves Chili Rellenos! She comes back to the states just to have Mexican food, since there is none in Taiwan. She said it was one of the best she's ever had. Our family was in awe of all the delicious food and generous portions that came. Everything we ordered was delicious! We ordered: The shrimp ceviche Tacos Dorado ( beef) Steak and Prawn Burrito Chili Relleno platter Chicken Quesadilla Fajitas Sinaloense Mariscada (seafood combo platter) Everything was delicious! More than anything the customer service and care was top knotch. At the end of our meal, the owner ( I'm assuming) surprised my aunt with a special birthday dessert and a little light show. We can't wait to visit again, and I really hope other people get to enjoy this fine establishment. #supportsmall #supportlocal read more

El Sinaloense - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

Best margaritas in San Mateo! This place is a hidden gem, the ambiance is great and the staff is also amazing. read more

A decent Mexican place! The location is pretty residential, so you have to drive around to find street parking. Great margaritas! I recommend the mango. Lots of vegetarian options. One note - the refried beans and rice are made with chicken stock. Only the black beans are actually vegetarian. Food was fresh and yummy. I would return if I was in the area, but it's in kind of a random location, so I'm not sure when that would be. read more

El Sinaloense - Tacos Dorados with chicken - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great food! Great drinks! New happy hour menu accompanied with a great new bar. The main menu is the same and still delicious as always. The only sit down Mexican restaurant on the peninsula that has high quality ingredients, smiling faces and treats you like family. read more

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I forget how yummy and energetic this place is...it's been awhile but mainly visit for their pescado frito, the ceviche with fresh seafood or the super burrito with carne asada and shrimp. El Sinaloense is not your typical taqueria but a place that serves Mexican-style seafood so the menu has quite the variety...so for those who are not big on seafood they offer more familiar items like tacos, burrito, quesadillas...my friend really loves the molcajete which comes with chicken, beef, shrimp and nopales in a spicy tomato-based sauce that's sizzling when it arrives at your table...and it's got a kick! Place is lively, drinks are delicious, service is friendly and attentive and there always seems to be a birthday celebration....that's when the lights dim, the disco ball/lights flash, music is turned up as staff sing to the birthday guest! Located off El Camino a block behind the Safeway (down 17th)...parking in residential. read more

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Most delicious Mexican food! Friendly staff, awesome ambience. Highly recommended. The Molcajete is a must. And not to mention their drinks. My favorite is micheladas. read more

El Sinaloense - Delicious Churros! So tasty! - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

Very good food and nice atmosphere. The Mazatlan is wonderful as pictured. I've been coming here for years and never disappointed. The guacamole was especially a favorite of my daughter. read more

El Sinaloense - The Mazatlan - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

I never eaten here but have gotten take out multiple times. Totally recommend their quesadilla, I love the steak and shrimp one. Also their burritos are good and the portion sizes are large. This place have very spicy salsa that goes with their chip and salsa order, try it if you like spice! Finally their horchata is another must order item if you do make a purchase here. I didn't care too much for the flan or churros, but everything else was amazing. read more

Best Mexican food on the peninsula. The service is top notch and the owner Mario is one of a kind. This our go to place for comfort food, a great atmosphere, and a warm homelike feeling. read more

My first time here last year was excellent. I had the Carne Asada plate. Tonight, I ordered the Carne Asada y Camaron plate. Everything was good except for the Carne Asada which was overcooked and dry. So disappointed. We waited for our food for about 30 minutes. We were entertained by 2 birthday celebrations and the tape they played was the longest happy birthday I've heard. But quite entertaining. I didn't taste my son and husband's food but they both liked it. Would I come back? Not for a long time since it's far from home. Pity, it was one of my few favorite Mexican restaurants but the Carne Asada left a bad impression. read more

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Took some visiting staff here for lunch. Food had good portions, but seems very overpriced. I had the mole and it wasn't something I would order again. Also- the guacamole we ordered as an appetizer was already browning as if it had been portioned out hours before. The seafood looked good and my staff were happy so I'll give 3 stars. read more

What a great near-hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. On a business trip from Denver, and no stranger to solid Mexican food, I looked around for some spots that seemed like they'd make me feel good about my life decisions. When you walk in it's small, and lively. It feels like a really wonderful neighborhood joint; the bartender and the servers very clearly knew at least a few people in the place. I tried to start off with a skinny marg but they don't really roll that way, couldn't quite understand what I wanted - and with the absence of a drink menu it was an interesting communication exercise, but we ended up with a couple margs that were delicious even if they weren't exactly what I was looking for. I was not an unhappy gent. Amidst margaritas I knocked down some queso fundido and chalupas and had a grand time reading my book, chatting with the bartender, and just enjoying my time. Super great little spot that I wouldn't hesitate to visit the next time I'm in San Mateo. Even the uber driver said I chose a phenomenal spot! read more

My first time trying this place out and it certainly did not disappoint. The staff there was very friendly and accommodating and the food was fantastic. I got the steak and prawn burrito while my friend ordered the prawn burrito along with a few appetizers. They have a nice bar there with a good selection of beers and I believe a full bar. I will definitely be a repeat customer. read more

My Michaela tasted like mix and had no lime in it and was gross...Not fan of the shrimp cocktail I ordered it warm n it came out hot with boiled little shrimp that were already Cooked ... I grew up in the mission of San Francisco so Maybe I'm spoiled but this aint it read more

Had a wonderful time here for dinner! Came with my family (there was 4 of us) and since it was a weeknight, it wasn't too busy and we were seated right away. They have amazing outdoor seating so we were able to bring our dog with us! We ordered a pitcher of margarita and holy moly, I think it's one of the best margaritas I've ever had!! I ordered the chicken mole and it was delicious! The plate came with chicken mole, rice, beans, salad, and a side of tortillas. I was so full by the end!! I can't wait to come back to try something else! read more

El Sinaloense - Pollo En Mole - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

All these years, this place has maintained deliciousness. I often order their taco salad con pescado. They don't stuff it with lettuce, they stuff it with pescado! Not literally. Just saying they don't skimp. This place serves and cooks with their heart. xoxo read more

Food is ok, standard. We had a buy one get one free combo platter and it was pretty confusing. The coupon makes it seem if you buy a combo platter, you would get another equivalent combo platter. However, we learned the hard way that the free combo platter is only a one item combo platter, no matter how many items you order for your other combo platter. Honestly, we never would have come to try this place without the coupon, but the poor customer experience with the unclear technicalities of the coupon makes us not want to return. Also bc of the limitations of that coupon to a combo platter only, we didn't try any of their specialities. Maybe they're good, but we will never know. read more

First time trying the food here! Very yummy! Drank the michelada, ate the ceviche con camarones & the chilaquiles con pollo. Came here on a date, so good time! Good environment! Ate outside & good weather! Although, when I asked for boxes for leftovers, they didn't give me a bag right away. I had to ask for one. I just think that if there are more than one box to use, a bag is an automatic given. Also one employee seemed he didn't like my character, but I was polite & nice to him. ?? It's okay, maybe he was having a bad day. read more

Wanted to eat here tonight but ended up having a bad experience. Were to seat ourselves. No one came to our table for almost 10 minutes. Scanned the QR code for the menu and finally got someone to wipe the table down. Placed our orders and the long wait began. 45minutes go by and two baskets of chips later, the server comes to tell me they ran out of my dish. So you're telling me that your POS system couldn't let you know after entering my order that it was sold out. Ordered another dish and it has got to be the worst I've ever had here. The Machaca had no seasoning and the rice of all things tasted like nothing. No flavor. Must be a new chef. This is one of my favorite places, but tonight they were off their game. The server took the dish off the bill. A piece of advice...work on the communication skills. Let your customers know what's happening. They'll be a bit more understanding. read more

El Sinaloense - Looks like chips and chili for dinner tonight. - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

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When I want to eat fish I love to come here.. Either filet empanizado or cocktails the camarón this is one of my favorite place to go in the area. Also I like very much the salsa they serve with the chips it's very fresh and the way they do I like it. Very flavorful. Service is friendly and fast. read more

El Sinaloense - Filet empanizado - Seafood Near Me - San Mateo, California

4.5 stars Cheap taquerias are a dime a dozen in California, but for truly authentic Mexican-style seafood, you'll have to come to a place like El Sinaloense! This lively restaurant located on a nondescript street off El Camino Real in San Mateo is a hidden gem. On our visit, the place was absolutely bustling with families and lively music, and at one point, they even shut off all the lights and ran a disco ball to sing "Happy Birthday" to one of the other diners in the restaurant! While the atmosphere already in itself is memorable, the food is the real reason to come--you're started off with warm chips and a huge bowl of some of the best, freshest salsa (made from fire roasted tomatoes) I've had in a while! The molcajete was my favorite dish--a bubbling stone pot of salsa with pieces of steak, chicken, shrimp, and cheese, topped with several whole scallions laid out on top. It came with a plate of rice, beans, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole on the side, along with plenty of tortillas of course! I also tried the "topolobampo" plate, a huge serving of grilled fish topped with a tasty mixture of shrimp, clams, and chopped squid, along with rice and steamed vegetables in a delicious sauce! So good! The menu prices may not be the cheapest, but this is seafood we're talking about--I'll definitely be back to try more of their offerings, including some of their ceviche and aguachile menu items. During my first visit, however, it happened to be particularly cold outside, so I definitely leaned towards the soul-warming flavors of the molcajete! read more

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