I was staying in Watsonville for Car Week in Monterey. And I found this gem close to my hotel Jalisco has an amazing menu, but I was here for the mole. Chicken Breast with Mole: Chicken breast in mole sauce made with chile, clove, cinnamon, and tomato. Only $26.00 The sauce was rich and chocolatey with a hint of cinnamon. My plate came with flour tortillas, refried beans and rice. I'd come back just for the Mole. One of the best I've tasted. Matt says if you find yourself anywhere near hwy 1 on your way to Monterey or to Santa Cruz stop by Jalisco Restaurant. An amazing mole experience is waiting for you read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Chicken with Mole - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

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We were in Watsonville for a tournament and were looking for a place to have dinner. We had heard great things about Jalisco and were excited to give it a try. The restaurant is located in a beautiful traditional building with a lot of character. I really enjoyed the ambiance and decor, which created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Even though the restaurant was busy, they were able to seat us right away. The menu was extensive, offering a wide variety of options. We started with the complimentary chips and salsa, which were both good. The salsa had a nice flavor, and the chips were fresh. We also ordered the nachos as an appetizer. For our entrees, I ordered Combo Plate #6, which included a chile verde burrito, a cheese enchilada, and a carne asada taco. We also ordered a carne asada taco plate with a cheese enchilada and a chimichanga. When the food arrived, the presentation was impressive, and the portions were very generous. Unfortunately, this is where our experience started to decline. The rice and beans were good, but the chile verde burrito was quite dry. The pork lacked tenderness and was overcooked. The cheese enchilada was decent, though not particularly memorable. The carne asada taco was also disappointing. While the tortilla was excellent and the meat was well-seasoned, the steak itself was very fatty and undercooked. In fact, no one at our table was able to finish their steak tacos because of the quality of the meat. The chimichanga was another letdown. It arrived covered in sauce like a wet burrito, which eliminated the crispy texture you would expect from a chimichanga. As a result, it became soggy and still somehow tasted dry inside. The highlight of the meal was definitely the nachos--simple, flavorful, and enjoyable. The service was also very good. Our server was attentive, regularly refilling our drinks and bringing additional chips without us having to ask. Overall, we really wanted to love this place because the atmosphere and service were excellent. Unfortunately, the food fell short of our expectations. I probably wouldn't return for dinner, but I would consider stopping by for happy hour, some nachos or appetizers, and to enjoy the ambiance. read more

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After raving reviews we thought to try out this place. place itself is vibrant, live music and decor gives you a vibe. We were 2 adults 2 kids. they give complementary chips and salsa. mind you the salsa bowl was so small we had to ask for 3-4 refills during our dinner, which was kind of let down since you had to wait until someone either checks on you or you somehow manage to get their attention Food was good nothing extraordinary based on what we order. veggie tacos and from kids menu bean and cheese burrito and Enchiladas (somehow order got mixed up and we got cheese qusedilla instead) Drinks were good. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - veggie taco - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

Food was good, service was nice and quick, and the restaurant was nice! Our order also came with rice, beans, and tortillas. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Parrillada mixta - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

We had traveled to Watsonville for my son's taekwondo tournament. We ended up staying the night. This restaurant was recommended to us by the hotel I ordered. The Jalisco Especial my husband ordered the fajitas. We took it to go because our kids did not want to eat there. They wanted typical kid food McDonald's. The service was fast. The food came out quick. The restaurant itself was cute and quaint. If we ever return to Watsonville, we will definitely go there for dinner again. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Jalisco Special - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

Came here for lunch and it hit the spot. Cool place with excellent service and good, authentic Mexican food. I got the steak plate and the portions were huge. It even came with an enchilada. The rice is solid and the steak was tasty. Prices are comparable to every other restaurant but I think this place has them on the potion size. They give you a lot of food here. Great place to eat if you're nearby. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

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Came back with few friends seems like service keeps getting worse we got our food they forgot one of the plates took a long time for the plate to arrived we ask for salsa a few times and took way to long service needs lots of attention food ok prices are high if you compare to other Mexican restaurants read more

The food was very authentic and delicious. The ambiance was very inviting and the service was great. Margarita was very good. Pricing was not to high,just right. read more

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This is one of my hubby's favorite spots here in Watsonville and he had to bring us! Parking is limited, so be prepared. There is a tiny lot in the back, and spots on the street. The atmosphere is nice. Clean, not too loud, friendly staff greeting you, and a beautiful bar as the focal point. We were sat inside near a beautiful fireplace... we were by the open door that led to the patio so it was a bit chilly and would have been nice if the fireplace were on lol. Our server was very polite and didn't rush us when deciding on what we wanted to order. There were a few questions, and he answered them all without hesitation. I ordered a carne asada chimichanga and I wish one of my questions would have been if it came wet or not. Just in case you're wondering, it comes wet. It's my fault for assuming and not asking. If I would have known, I would have ordered it dry. Honestly it was like a regular wet burrito and not a chimichanga. Because of the sauce, it took all of the crispness away. The sauce on top had very good flavor, and the meat was tender and delicious. My daughter ordered shredded beef tacos and shredded chicken tacos came out instead. She wasn't going to say anything but the server who delivered our food noticed her face and asked if there was something wrong. I told him she ordered beef and got chicken. He was so sweet and apologetic and within minutes fresh hot beef tacos were in front of her, and she loved them! I'm mentioning this not because of the mixup, but because of how quickly it was resolved and how nice both servers were. My hubs always gets the fajita trio. Beef, chicken, and shrimp. He has told me in the past how much he loves this dish and tonight I got to see this affection firsthand haha.... within minutes his plate was clean!!! I managed to snag a shrimp without losing a finger and now I know why he loves it so much! The flavor was really good and the shrimp was plump and perfectly cooked. The food came out after a good amount of time after we ordered and we never felt rushed. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. This is a place that we will frequent from now on whenever we come to visit. read more

The ambiance was absolutely beautiful--I was especially impressed by the interior architecture, which truly made it feel like we were on vacation in Mexico. The service was outstanding. It felt like we had two servers taking care of us at once. They checked in frequently, made sure we had everything we needed, and kept our drinks refilled without us ever having to ask. As for the food, we kept it simple with two margaritas and a plate of nachos. The portion was generous, and we added chicken, which was a great choice. The nachos were served with real cheese--not that canned green sauce you sometimes see--making them even more enjoyable. Overall, the food was delicious, the service was top-notch, and we'd definitely come back. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

This restaurant is top 10 one of Watsonville's staples I have not stepped foot in here in over 15 years!! Dropped in for a drink with my bestie and I felt like like nothing has changed since I was in High school LOL Bartender was nice, friendly and efficient Bar area has a TV playing sports Chips and salsa were good (just as I remember) Inside is well decorated, lots of seating available Parking is in the back of the restaraunt read more

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Atmosphere: lively, if not a little bit loud on Friday nights when the mariachi bands are making their rounds. It was definitely bustling. Service: pretty good, staff was efficient, and prompt, and absorbed the many requests, my group had during our meal, including a one-year-old. The bar forgot one of the drinks for a while so it took a little bit longer to arrive. Food: overall pretty good. The chicken tortilla soup was honestly a stand out. Bursting with the flavor and loaded with ingredients. It came out piping hot, so I had a different experience from others here who reported it being served cold. I would strongly recommend ordering. The cup , pictured, was very large. The bowl must've been enormous, but I think the cup could supplement other side, or a standalone meal if you weren't that hungry. I found the chicken enchiladas to be too dry, and the chicken with chipotle sauce, lacking in flavor . Drinks were great and the restaurant overall has great energy. I would definitely go again, especially for the tortilla soup. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Chicken with chipotle sauce - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

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When shopping at nob Hill during our family beach vacation, Jalisco was highly recommended by the workers at the cash register. We came for an early lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the food, ambiance and service. Starting from the chips and salsa, both tasted fresh and yummy, salsa had great flavor but not overly spicy. The one page lunch menu was easy to follow, we ordered chilli relleno stuffed with shrimp and cheese and a chilli Colorado/ beef taco combo both came with rice and beans. Both orders were served hot within 10 minutes, very tasty and generous with the protein. There were easily a dozen tender shrimps in the chili relleno; beef in the taco was very juicy. Our leftovers travelled well in the cooker, still delicious after reheating. A great spot for authentic Mexican food and hospitality we would happily recommend. read more

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While passing through Watsonville, we stumble upon this wonderful Mexican restaurant. The decor was rich, warm colors, lush plants, and a nice, weather protected courtyard. It reminded me of an authentic Cantina restaurant in a Mexican town. The hosted and server were friendly and professional. For dinner we ordered the Camarónes a la Veracruzana, fresh garden vegetables and prawns, sautéed in a cilantro garlic butter sauce and simmered in a tomatillo sauce. And the Fajitas Combinadas, strips of skirt steak and chicken breast prepared on a sizzling hot skillet with sautéed sliced green and red bell pepper and onion, served with rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream and homemade corn tortillas. Both were delicious and large enough serving to bring home some for the next day. The homemade corn tortilla were also very good. read more

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Deliciouso! Great service and fast too. Had Chicken Enchiladas with both red and green sauce... it was superb. Tasted great. Stole a friend's piece of skirt steak and that was cooked to perfection. Highly recommend. read more

I went here for the first time this weekend. It was dinner time and we were quickly seated. Our server was very kind and helpful. I ordered an Horchata and Garlic Butter Shrimp. Everything was delicious! read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

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The food is amazing, the servers are great and the live music put it over the top. I've enjoyed the food a lot mid week but the atmosphere on a Friday was incredible. read more

The food is so good. The guacamole dip is delicious and be to order the large size. We had plenty to bring home and it was delicious on a toasted plain bagel for breakfast.This restaurant is in a historical building. There are very extensive choices of food to order. My son had the scopes and loved them. It's on Main Street Watsonville, California. You must try it. 10. read more

Killer fajitas de res, kick-ass margaritas and great mariachis. What more do you need?

DELICIOUS!! our Air BB host recommended Jalisco's and it did not disappoint. We were seated within 5 minutes. It was fairly busy. Lively fun bar at the entrance. I ordered the Pozole Verde with chicken and my husband got the Molcajete. The soup was AMAZING, I'll be day dreaming about it. Tortillas were warm, fresh and must have been made in house. Mariachi band joined halfway to our meal, which is fun but sometimes loud. We had a great time. The reason for four out of five stars is because it took a while to get our drinks/refills and salsa came out beforehand had a bit of a kick. I was struggling for a minute Next time we are in town we will for sure be back!! read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Green Pozole/chicken Molcajete Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

Great service and atmosphere. Loved that they offer pitchers of Margaritas and food was delicious -especially the Guacamole. Mariachi on Friday night added to a great experience. read more

Highly recommending the lunch special #8. Shrimp/cheese chile relleno with delicious rice and beans. Just the right amount of batter, stuffed with large shrimp, covered with salsa fresca. Mmmmmm. Yummy read more

I have been coming here for the past 5 years at least twice a year. I always enjoy this place including their cocktails. Service is always so kind and ambient is super. Jalisco is always clean and the food is amazing. Today we try Pozole verde with chicken and some hand made tortillas. We got a mixta tostada and taquitos dorados. We loved them all. I ask for some agua mineral with lemon and it was perfect. I do recommend this place for any celebration, date or family gatherings. read more

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Went for a dinner work party. We had pre-ordered mixed plates with steak, shrimp, chicken, and veggies and a few pitchers of margaritas. Plenty of food for the head count, and all very delicious. I also ordered a pitcher of raspadito it was way too drinkable--I'd return just for that cocktail. read more

Excellent fish - red snapper, guacamole, ceviche and sides. Service supper fast and nice. Low key lunch place on Monday. Looks like they get busy for dinner... read more

Good local Mexican place. Ala carte or combo meals. Custom made guacamole is great. Friendly staff.

I've been on a taqueria kick, but hubby wanted a sit down restaurant so we decided to try Jalisco. Jalisco is a large restaurant with a big patio. It looks like they can host large parties. I was surprised to see how seafood heavy the menu was. I got the scallops, shrimp, and snapper fajitas. The flour tortillas were the absolute best part! They were super hot, nice n' thin, and freshly made. I think they're the best tortillas I've ever had. The flour tortillas are the only reason why I'm giving this place 3 stars instead of 2. The seafood had a nice, mesquite flavor, but I thought it was mainly mediocre. And my husband's seafood molcajete was supposed to come with crab legs, but it didn't! It wasn't until later that the server told us that they were out of crab legs. They should have told us before when we were ordering it or before they made it to see if we wanted something else. The only upsides were that the octopus and the molcajete sauce were yummy. The margaritas were on the much smaller side and only okay. The horchata was better. The salsa that came with the chips was flavorless. I think that's what most of the meal was missing: flavor. Service was super slow, but friendly. Our water and chips were never refilled. read more

Portions huge, drinks superb, atmosphere fun, waitstaff amazing. I don't know why I don't go here more often. Chile rellenos and mango margaritas delicious. Can't wait to try more of the menu. read more

Top notch! The food and service is great! I love the free chips and salsa! Did I mention the handmade tortillas?

Just eating here now for the first time, the fajitas were delivered sizzling hot, and the food is delicious. Have you ever seen a Mexican restaurant menu with 10 seafood dishes? Or eight fajitas? We sampled many things, and they were all delicious. Fabulous surprise in Watsonville. read more

Came to Jalisco's around 9pm on Father's Day and they did not disappoint. We ordered the combo plate, a cóctel, and two kids plates -- everything came out fresh and full of flavor. The drinks were really good too! Even that late, the service was fast and friendly. Definitely a solid spot -- we'll be back for sure. read more

I recently ate here with a group of 10 while on a trip to Pajaro Dunes. We were able to make a reservation for the group the same afternoon for the time we wanted and were seated right away once we arrived. The food was very good, and for reference we eat a lot of Mexican food. I thought the tortillas were outstanding - some of the best I've had. Service was good and portions were huge, so it felt like a good value. Overall, it was a great experience! read more

Beautiful outdoor patio seating. Good lunch specials and fajita dinners paired with great service. Good seafood too. The mariachi performances every weekend evening are also a delight. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Enchilada & chile relleno lunch - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

Service is very nice, food came out quickly and was delicious. Excellent guacamole and tortillas.

We stumbled on this location after our first chosen restaurant happened to be closed (Memorial Day Monday). Our group of 7 parked in the back and first noticed all the plants, vines, wrought iron gate and fixtures and loved the decor and Spanish hacienda style of the building. It is a historical landmark, built in 1931. We called before opening time and they let us enter and be seated early. The plates are huge, can def feed 2 people. Our group ordered pozole, chicken enchiladas, chilaquiles, and the desayuno molcajete. All plates were hot and fresh, homemade enchilada sauce and handmade tortillas. We were all extremely satisfied AND FULL! Delicious food & great service. read more

Service was great and efficient Food was pretty good too. Chips and salsa served at each table (we had 30 people); I had the flautas. They were crispy and meat was good (not dry); my brother said the enchiladas were good too. I also had a Cadilla margaritas and a Paloma which were really good. Great price for all that we had. read more

Service is always great, depending on the day you go food can be hit or miss but usually more hit than miss. Did notice that if you plan on paying with a card, you'll pay more than paying cash. DO NOT LIKE THIS ONE BIT!!! Grant it was only a few dollars but...... would be nice if it was mentioned to us instead of "hey surprise!!!!" When you get the bill. read more

Jalisco Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Watsonville, California

I like the atmosphere, service and enjoy the food every time. When you want authentic Mexican cuisine and sit down to enjoy with music and full bar, this is the place to go. I've been with large family groups and they always try to accommodate and treat you well. I had some dietary restrictions at one point and they were great to adjust. Definitely a favorite when visiting my family in Aptos. Worth the drive from Aptos! read more

I had combination #2 2 chicken enchiladas 1 beef sole, enchilada sauce lousy flavor, (too strong) Sope meat seems to me was from a can. Had coffee never ask if I wanted more. They are loosing it. Watsonville best Mexican food, GO TO CILANTROS read more

Stopped with fam on the way home from the Santa Cruz County Fair. Food, margaritas, ambiance and service all blue ribbon, best of show!