They do a Tex-Mex style Mexican that I really like. Love the steak fajitas and the nachos. I go regularly. Service is great too.

The food is delicious, the service is stellar, the ambiance is somewhat energetic but generally not loud, and the community engagement from this establishment is impressive to say the least. Every year, we look forward to the annual Yule Ball in East Grand Rapids and Jose Babushka's turns into the Leaky Cauldron where menu items are substituted with fun names, bust out amazing decorations, and they serve butter beer (both with alcohol and non-alcoholic varieties). Always a great experience here and I never regret dining at Jose Babushka's. read more

Me and my husband love this place. They have the best Polish food. It is only 20 bucks. It is a steal. I already made plans to go here for my birthday. read more

Jose Babushka's is a great spot for a low key, family-friendly happy hour. I grew up in the area, but no longer live in Michigan. When I'm back home, I always enjoy meeting up with friends or family at Jose's for their delicious margaritas (classic, or flavored - all yummy!) and chips & dip trio. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The place is never over-crowded or noisy, which I appreciate. Tons of outdoor seating - in front and back of the restaurant as well as bar & table seating indoors. read more

Jose Babushka's - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sitting outside on the back patio was the best part of dinning at this restaurant. It was pleasantly shaded but still gave enough room for sunlight to keep you warm. Food was tender but lacked flavor. Service was friendly but very slow. Kind of disappointed. read more

See all

Service was below par. A smile would have been nice. Chicken fajitas were very dry. Our whole table was disappointed.

In a word... meh. Honestly it was underwhelming. Everything lacked flavor. I had the steak tacos and they barley tasted like they were seasoned. The nachos were good but nothing special. The tortilla soup was overly salty. My wife had the el pastor tacos and she said they were underwhelming. My son had the queso burrito which was good. The margarita wasn't good and my wife didn't finish it. Best part was our server was awesome, John, even when he had 9 tables. Service was a 5. read more

Wait staff doesn't know the nightly specials and we were over charged for Taco Tuesday. $4 for one taco but $13 for 2... hmmm... we were very disappointed. read more

I have been here 4 times in the last two months. Love the mighty mac hamburger! Fries are crispy and all delicious. Hubs had the burrito and it was huge but he ate it all. The queso and chips is another favorite along with the margarita's. Located in the heart of East Grand Rapids. Great service and free parking. read more

If you're looking for the best Mexican food take-out in Grand Rapids, this is your spot! They are so friendly. The food is just INCREDIBLE! My favorite are the Momma's Tacos. I could eat 20 of them! And they're a Local business... I love that. And they're a really neat one. Give them a taste, you won't be sorry. read more

Jose Babushka's - Best takeout in GR - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Food was subpar. Drinks ok Needs to bring back food that is good. Beans on a plate that tasted like the can. Rice was over done . I would not go back read more

Walked in at 6 on a Monday night and most of the tables were filled with dirty plates. They had to clean a table for us to sit at. Once seated we were given menus and each one of them had dried food. The waitress took our drink order quickly and brought our drinks fast. The iced tea I ordered was grainy and tasted awful. The food was the blandest I've ever tasted! I ordered the hamburger quesadilla and there was absolutely no flavor but it sure was greasy. The only good thing was the service. As we walked out, the other tables were cleaned but they had wiped everything onto the floor and no one had swept it up. Wish I could post a better review, because it's in a great location! read more

This is the second time I've been here, and I've had good experiences both times! It's obviously in a lovely location... being right downtown in East Grand Rapids. It's nice that you can choose to eat either indoors or outdoors. And overall, I'm very impressed with their food selection and quality of their food. I was there with 3 other people, and everyone really loved their food! My husband is a vegetarian, and they do have some great options for him. My personal favorite? Their dill pickle soup! I've never been to a restaurant that has this type of soup! Some reasons I gave my review a 4-star... -The outdoor tables are much too small. When 4 people are seated at one of the outdoor tables... it is just way too small. There were plates everywhere, and there wasn't even a place for me to put my silverware down. I would highly suggest investing in some larger outdoor tables. -Because of COVID... they are pretty short staffed. And I understand that's not something they can really control. But... I do want to make people aware of it. Service takes a lot longer... and little things go unnoticed. Like we didn't have silverware for the longest time. So, just be aware of this when visiting. But overall, I would recommend! :) read more

Definitely not anywhere near authentic but very tasty food. We started with the trio of queso, guac, and salsa with chips. There was so much we couldn't eat it all. Definitely enough for a larger group. It wasn't the best I've had but it was still very good. I got the filet steak tacos and my husband got the crispy shrimp tacos. We split them up so I tried one of each. They were both SO good. If you want authentic this is not the place for you but otherwise I would recommend it. The service was also very good on a Friday night. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the beans and rice were not that great. They tasted like they'd been sitting out a bit.. but I was still satisfied with the overall meal. read more

Jose Babushka's - The Trio - guac, queso, salsa with chips - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

Went here once and had a decent drink but that's it. Beyond that, I would suggest they update business hours. My husband and I just moved to the area and took an Uber to specifically come here, just to walk up at 9:45 to have a server come out as we were arriving and say "sorry, we are closed." I was polite but told her everything I saw on their signs said 11 pm..she disputed it and told me that had changed since Covid. Sorry, but it's been a few years since the those hours have been in place. We went across the street and had a great time. read more

We decided to revisit this place on a whim. First impressions this visit weren't too good when we were asked to share a menu bc they were short on them. This was quite surprising for a restaurant that wasn't even half full. The waitress was sweet but didn't seem too knowledgeable on the menu. So I wasn't expecting much... but the food changed my mind. The dill pickle soup and the chicken Garcia chimi were amazing. So much good flavor and I rarely say that when I'm out and about. Drinks were ok and the kielbasa and potato pancakes were pretty good. Huge portions! One little word of advice to Jose Babushka's is you might want to consider updating the menu available online so it matches what's available in house. Other than that, I enjoyed this place! I think if a restaurant was ever to embody me, this might be the place! A fusion of Polish and Mexican! read more

See all

If you're Polish, order the tacos, and if you're Mexican, order the Kielbasa's and Polish fingers. And if you're neither, otder a drink. read more

The food is very very average. Our server was fine. I will not be returning to this restaurant. There are far better places serving Mexican food. read more

Yo Mama's Tacos are so good I almost always order that when I go to Jose's. I've tasted the fajitas too (other people ordered them) and they're amazing. The only things I would change are the aluminum plates. It would be great to get the tacos on a more appetizing plate. I've tried a few of the Margaritas, and so far the Fruitarita is the best. The ambiance is casual but classy, if that makes sense. read more

Excellent service for a large group of thirsty ballet moms. The Margaritas are really good & Guacamole was freshly made. Will visit again

Addy was very nice. Was visiting my parent's in EGR, wanted Mexican and decided to give this place a re-try. That shared my last 3 visits were culinary disasters...pre-COVID. Strike four and I'm out. Ordered a margarita and there were only 5 tables 2 on the back patio, 1 inside and two on the front patio and 20 minutes later Addy brought my lime juice and soda. The bartender charged me $5.00 extra I guess for extra soda? Addy tasted it with a straw and agreed...there was no tequilla, no Grand Marnier and no Agave Necter....it was all juice and soda. She offered to replace it but this is the same bartender who clearly doesn't get it. Didn't want to wait 20 more minutes for a repeat lime and soda. Requested my check...tipped Addy and walked with 90% of my "drink" and appetizer left behind. If you want drinks without alcohol...all mix and soda and mediocre to poor food with long waits for non-alcohol drinks...and high prices...this is your Mexican place! Ironically, the couple behind me mentioned their drinks were also bad and that's why they stopped with one. read more

Food was subpar for the price. Drinks are good, ambiance is good. Not going back due to the fact that the competition is better.

A Polish-Mexican fusion place in the East GR area. My wife and I went here recently and really enjoyed our visit. The ambience was hip, the space clean and our waitress was friendly and reasonably attentive, although I have not been during a busy time. We recently had lunch here and started off with the "Belly & Tots" which was pork belly, potato latkes, cheese and fresh (and quite spicy) jalapeños. I loved it, but the peppers were too spicy for my better half. For my lunch, I got a standard beef and bean burrito, which was generously portioned and quite flavorful. My wife got a shrimp salad and it was big, fresh and tasty. I think this place really nailed the odd fusion thing and I wouldn't hesitate to go back! read more

Jose Babushka's - The "Classico" beef & bean burrito. Yami, yo! - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

We loved this place! This was our first time here. LOVED the dill pickle soup! So creamy. The best pickle soup I've ever had. The pieogies were also great. Loved all the different tequilas they offer too. I had a skinny mama margarita. Has a bite to it with jalapeños and cucumbers. Really tasty. Great service and atmosphere. This maybe our Jew favorite restaurant. We'll be back! read more

Do you remember having Sunday brunch at José Babushka's when you were a kid? I sure do! I grew up in Belmont, a very short drive from the original José's on Northland Drive. Over time, the original José's closed, and I moved away to Chicago, both events marking the end of an era. A few years ago, family who still live in the area told me that José Babushka's had reopened in a new location in East Grand Rapids. I was excited about this prospect, and I pledged to visit one day. Last Saturday, my husband and I planned to meet friends at José Babushka's for an early dinner at 4:00 PM. We needed an eight-top, but the place was so crowded at 3:40 PM when we arrived that we could only score a four-top. (The restaurant is so tiny! So tiny! It only has about seventy seats. Be warned!) Despite our initial panic, our great server was able to get us an eight-top in under 30 minutes, but be warned. José's might not be the best option for groups over four. Before our trip, I had looked at the website. There was no mention of reservations. No online reservation form! No OpenTable logo! No phone number next to the word "Reservations." Therefore, I errantly assumed that the restaurant didn't accept reservations. This was not the only issue with the website either. The online menu was outdated. José Babushka's, the Tex Mex-Polish restaurant, no longer offered the kielbasa filled burrito though this item was still on the website the day of our visit. How disappointing! Speaking of the menu, the food is so different from what I experienced in the 1980s that the only thing that I found similar between the José's of the past and today's José's was the name. The food was good, but it was modern Tex Mex. We shared avocado fries, for example. Also, my vegetarian burrito was good, but it was missing something. Ah! It The missing ingredient was 1980s Tex Mex nostalgia. My burrito was so 2019. One of the things I love about the Grand Rapids area is that, though the area has changed over the decades, some things have stayed the same. I joke that my favorite Grand Rapidian Italian restaurant hasn't moved a chair since 1970, for instance. Some change is welcome; some is not. For me, José's turn to a more modern Tex Mex was a little disappointing though the food was certainly good. It just wasn't anything to write home to Chicago about. read more

I really wanted this place to be good. I ordered tacos with pineapple on it and it said the tacos came with "house-made queso fresco" on it. Awesome. I'm from the 3rd largest city in the US, so I know good authentic Mexican food because there were an array of them to stop into at any given point of my life. Welp. The tacos arrived and I was excited to dig in but... I've honestly never been nauseous from tasting food in my life. I was so upset with myself but I just could not eat the tacos! Whatever "queso fresco" they had made was NOT queso fresco. It tasted more like an aged cheese (maybe trying to be cotija?) but really just tasted like parmesean. I asked my friends later on in the local area if they all knew what queso fresco tasted like -- thinking "oh, maybe this area just doesn't know what it is". But they all described what I am familiar with! Queso fresco is more or less like a mozzarella of Mexican food, not parmesean-like. If you go here, the Polish food is decent albeit heavily fried. We had pierogies and also some pickle soup too (I love pickle soup!) I'd go back for just the Polish food. Overall...I really wanted this place to be more fusion, but I could deal with the fact that it wasn't. However, I could just NOT deal with the flavors of that taco! I was so sad. read more

Got in late afternoon after a doctors appointment. Was not busy at all. Waitress was very friendly and the place was clean. To my surprise, my wife ordered the beef and bean burrito. Good thing is, I will get the leftovers. She liked the burrito and I thought it was pretty good reheated. Not the best I've had, but far from the worst. I ordered the steak quesadilla. The meat was a little tough and not seasoned much. The peppers on it though were fabulous. My wife was eating them all by themselves. Not a great meal, but worth the stop in for a bite. If the meat was just a little tender and spiced up a bit, it would have been great. read more

We've been wanting to try this place out for quite awhile and finally went for a date night. The margaritas were super sour and not good, guacamole was lacking flavor, queso I think came out of a jar (as well as the peppers in the chimichanga), and they put a cheese slice on top of the chimichanga that tasted like Kraft American cheese. We were not impressed and definitely not going back. Which stinks because it is definitely a cute place and a warm atmosphere COVID REVIEW: NOT AT ALL complying to covid restrictions. Bar was full, cook WASNT EVEN WEARING A MASK!, and definitely werent 6 feet apart. read more

Waiter was great, we had a couple delicious margaritas and my fajitas were exactly what I was looking for.

Great patio ... love the drinks ... food is okay. The jalapeño martini is good if you can handle the heat. A little spicier than what I would expect but still a nice change. Location is convenient and easy parking. read more

Jose Babushka's - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Absolutely LOVED this restaurant. Had the most incredible waitress named Grace who was such a beast. Highly recommend and will be back every night. read more

I had my "reservations" about the combination of Polish and Mexican fare, but Jose Babushka's made me a believer. So often, Polish food is served super traditional restaurants or casual taverns that do little more than pull a draft domestic. I was pleasantly surprised to see the combination of two down home cuisines coupled with an attractive, modern interior, an inventive menu, and a full bar with a creative cocktail list. We came for dinner, on the early side, and appreciated the excellent service, prime location in Gaslight Village, and relaxed and warm atmosphere. I was happy to see a mix of couples and families with children of all ages, very much indicative of the surrounding EGR area. Jose Babushka's is a welcome addition to the strip and it has set itself apart with novel offerings and consistent execution. read more

Alligators tacosssss! I think it's a seasonal thing but it was the best thing I had! I also tried the fish tacos, and steak quesadilla. It both had the burnt taste That made me not eat anymore. I wish they had more polish dishes. I think 80% of the menu was Mexican. read more

See all

We had a very good experience at Jose babushkas, it is a nice addition to downtown east gr. We came in with 3 people in our group on a Thursday night. We started with drinks- they were delicious. The service was great as well, and they kept up as the place got busier. We were served complimentary chips and salsa and the salsa was awesome. It was a blended salsa which was prefect because we hate the salsa that has big chunks of tomatoes. Our entrees were very flavorful- we all had different salads and they were all pretty big. I had the Mexican Caesar and it was a little surprising when it came out because it was literally a hunk of lettuce with sauce on top that you had to cut and chop yourself. Luckily the flavor made up for it. For desert we ordered a fried ice cream type thing. It was tasty but it was so large that it was actually a little off putting. Overall pretty good place- we will definitely be back to try out everything else. read more

Jose Babushka's - Desert. A little big, but tasty. - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

I love this place! The quesadilla burger is a MUST HAVE!!! Also Jose's fries as an appetizer are AMAZING! Plus they have a nice courtyard area for dining outside right in the middle of the gaslight village. Great place to go for a variety of occasions! read more

This place has delicious food. I brought takeout to share with my Father, and he thought the kielbasa dish was excellent. I did too. The cucumber salad it was served with and the potato pancakes created a spectacular sensation all on its own. We also ordered the sirloin steak fajitas and perogi appetizer, both of which were also excellent, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. We truly had a special feast . All dishes complemented eachother .. it was a delicious wonderland. read more

The foods good when they get it right. 80% of the time, there's a mistake with our order -- which is particularly frustrating when it's a mistake involving food allergies (which makes the meal inedible). This is the kind of place that argues with you when they get it wrong. Service is slow and impersonal. read more

I was incredibly disappointed with my first experience here. Our group had a reservation for 10 people on Friday night. We expected that it would be busy and we also are aware of the challenges larger groups come with. What we didn't expect was to be incredibly neglected. Drink orders came few and far between. We ordered 3 plates of chips, salsa, and guacamole. The dips came almost a half an hour after the tortilla chips. When it came to entrees, we were all served two at a time in about 10-15 minute intervals, and even then our orders were missing items. When we were ready to go, not only were those items still on our bills, but drinks were as well that we didn't even receive. On top of that, paying our bills took about 45 minutes from the moment we asked to the moment we paid with our respective cards or cash-- this is not including the time it took to receive the books back to sign. Perhaps they were short staffed, or I am not sure- but this was definitely not the way to start the evening. read more

This was our first time and we were curious of the Polish/Mexican menu! What a duo! We both had the Spicy Marg-Tini (margarita served martini style) for drinks. Both of us enjoyed the tasty beverages. We got the cheese and potato pierogi appetizer. Wife got the pork belly tacos and I got the walleye tacos. Food was fantastic. We'll definitely be back! read more

Jose Babushka's - Marg-Tini - Mexican Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

The food was okay but over salted. Our hostess tried to seat us at the worst table in the uncrowded house (close to the door). Our waiter started with a hard sell on the appetizers and then seemed disinterested when we went straight to the menu for entrees. No one made us feel particularly welcome. read more