15 years later & STILL DELICIOUS!!! No need to add more, just look at the pictures Yumm yum yummy yum yummy yum read more

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The staff is very friendly and attentive and the food is always good. I like the Carne Asada plate and the Albondigas.

The food and margaritas were absolutely amazing! My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed trying all of the enchiladas. The owner was so kind and attentive, I'll definitely be back! read more

Jose's Mexican Cafe - Margarita, Chips & Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

A casual spot for Mexican cuisine with colorful decor. We were served complimentary chips and salsa. My friend also ordered guacamole, which was a huge portion. I wasn't really a fan of it, as it was too bland and soft. Of course, I got the Horchata drink, which was sweet and refreshing, with strong flavor of cinnamon. I ordered the Pescado Frito, which was a whole Deep Fried Fish. I wasn't expecting it to be the whole fish. Had I known, I probably would have gotten something else because I'm not the best at eating fish with a lot of bones. That being said, the plating was nice and the Fish looked quite impressive. It was marinated overnight with lemon and garlic, along with avocado and raw onion on top. This came with Mexican rice, refried beans with cheese on top, along with corn tortilla. The Fish was incredibly crispy with tender, flaky meat, but I couldn't really taste the garlic or other seasonings much. The rice was cooked well, and I liked the addition of cheese on the beans. Service was okay at first, but really went downhill towards the end. We had asked for to go containers. I had almost half of the fish leftover and all of the tortillas. My friend and I left for a minute, until I realized I had neglected to take my leftovers with me. When I returned, I was told that the table was already cleaned and my leftovers were most likely thrown away. There was no remorse, checking on it, or offer to make it right. Their policy was to get rid of leftover food right away, which made no sense to me... Why would I ask for something to go if I didn't plan to take it with me? The whole exchange left a bad taste in my mouth and I would certainly never return. read more

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This a popular location with the locals. The margaritas are good (got too excited and forgot to take a picture of the drink) But well made. The service is good, seems family run but everyone was happy and friendly. The restaurant had bar seating and table seating. It looked like there is outdoor dining during summer. The food was good. The beef enchilada was delicious and the rice was well made. Please not the parking lot is small and so street parking is easier to get. read more

Jose's Mexican Cafe - Beef enchilada with only rice - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Cheap! Asada super burrito was good, big; but I feel like I ate an Americanized style of burrito.

We go here all the time and absolutely love Jose's! It's the best Mexican food I've had since I moved out of San Jose in 2013...and believe me when I say I have tried a LOT of other places. It hits, and I mean every single time. The service is always excellent, and all of the staff are extremely nice and welcoming. The only way it could be better is if the parking lot was bigger, but there is usually street parking available if the lot is full. I HIGHLY recommend checking them out. read more

I've been eating here regularly for a couple of years. Love the food, good value and the staff is always super nice and helpful! Really happy to have this place in the community! read more

We hadn't been here in a long time, we used to come regularly years ago when Marcos was the owner. We were definitely pleasantly surprised at how delightful the lunch was, husband had the combo plate with fajitas and all the trimmings, I had the combo plate with Chile relleno and a tamale. I am always cautious about tamales because tamales can be either good or pretty lacking. These were the best I have had in years and years. This place is coveniently located, has been a mainstay for decades, is clean and tidy inside with bright and attractive decor and the wait person was as friendly as she could be. Definitely recommend Jose's and will be coming back many more times in the future! read more

First my waitress brought me some chips and salsa before asking me my order, then when she came back I ordered shrimp fajitas. The chips and salsa were good and the shrimp fajitas were good too just wish the shrimp had more flavor. Overall, I would still come back to try again. read more

Very friendly service and great food. I enjoyed the Carne Asada y Camorones but mostly enjoyed the setting and welcoming atmosphere.

We liked this place the first time - the food was bland both times. The second time we ate here and my reason for writing this review is that we both came down with severe food poisoning the next day, pretty much as bad as can be expected outside of being hospitalized. We would not recommend eating here! read more

Jose's is like a family friend. Always happy to see and feed you. Have been going to Jose's for years ... decades ... and the food is always delicious! I love ordering the three item plate (two cheese enchiladas and a shredded beef taco with rice and beans). I eat my taco and half my beans and rice on the spot and save the rest for a second meal. Of course the large guacamole is a must to devour with a basket (or two) of house made chips. And when I'm there for dinner or when I'm not driving, I enjoy it all with a classic margarita! For dessert, it has to be the flan! Love this place, these people, and their food! Makes me hungry just thinking about it. Jose's, I'll be there soon! read more

Lovely staff, cute atmosphere, and great food! Well priced, too! We loved our experience here. Margaritas were a delicious treat, don't miss! read more

Food & drinks were delicious and the service was very quick! Loved their salsa and super friendly staff. We will definitely be back whenever we are craving some authentic Mexican food. read more

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Good: instant greeting when entered Cheerful Attentiveness: we knew right away ( mother And I) she was by herself. Not as good as before. I know we're in a recession, $6 for chips and salsa? Taste: my chili changa was half the size I remember and had barely any carne asada it was just folded flour tortilla thickly wrapped and then deep fried. I used to go to their cannery row location They were good then Now? A long wait ( 37min) for our food is understandable on mother's Day. But sheesh it was a mediocre at best experience read more

I came over for lunch. It's a tricky parking job because the address is on Del Monte, but the parking area is located on Broadway. I was seated quickly and right away I noticed how clean the interior was and the alcohol on behind the bar. They did have a tv on a soccer match, but they had music playing. They do have high-chairs & booster seats for the kids, and their restroom was very clean. As for the food, the chips were really fresh and the salsa was very good. A little on the spicy side, but good. I had the enchiladas. One was chicken, beef & cheese with green sauce. I like the brûlée cheese on top and the small salad, but that's where the positives stop. The green sauce that was on top of the enchiladas had a citrus/sour taste. It really made the dish hard to eat. The chicken inside the enchilada was very dry. Very disappointing. With all of the other Mexican options around, I don't think I'd try this place again. Price: $27 (includes a 20% tip) read more

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I love Jose's Mexican cafe! It comes second after tacos on the bay but their food is great and very flavorful. Their carne asada tacos are super delicious and filling! Their meat is cooked just right and grilled just perfectly. It's not too burnt but it's not too crispy. They have great tortas my fiancé and I love getting food from here. The service is always outstanding. Workers are always polite. The ambiance is great and quiet at times. Great for date night! read more

Went on Valentine's day! Our service was great! Food tasted amazing (definitely get the chicken tacos!!!) and the overall vibe was so fun! Definitely will be back!!! read more

Best places to get your chimichangas and the best group of people you can ask for at this restaurant!!! Very family oriented and believe me when I say the best chips in salsa around Monterey!!!! Telll em Deadpool sent you!!! read more

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The service was spectacular, the company was great, and the food was delicious.... So I'm gonna say less.

Always a welcoming smile. We love chips, salsa and water arrive almost instantly. The decor, the best of bright colors . With all the classics. Crab enchiladas- yummy - grilled chicken crispy tacos. A warm family friendly vibe with wonderful cocktails. This locals favorite. read more

Food and service is amazing! Sam is so on top of everything, she's so so fun!! Margaritas are delicious

One of the best Chile Rellenos I have had in a long time. Good portions and Nancy was great at her job. read more

Jose's Mexican Cafe - Chile Relleno with a Chile Verde burrito. I didn't care for the beans inside of it though. - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Such a cute Mexican restaurant off of Del Monte in Seaside. (The entrance to the parking lot is on Broadway). The decorations and ambience were both colorful and fun. Our waitress was super welcoming and attentive. Unfortunately, the food was very frustrating. I say frustrating because they CAN be better. The potential for amazing food is clearly there, but there were a couple of stumbles that made it hard to swallow. For example, their red salsa was amazing, full of flavor and tasted fresh. On the other hand, the green salsa, while still fresh tasting and had a good level of heat, was bland, very under-seasoned and needed more acidity and salt. The beans were blended smooth and creamy; I liked them, my lunch date did not. Steak fajitas - awesome, tamale - broken and cooked unevenly. Shrimp cocktail: the tomato sauce with avocado and onion was great! I probably could have drank it. Then... We got to the shrimps in the shrimp cocktail...the texture and taste were clear indicators that they were frozen precooked shrimps. You might be able to do serve that in a land-locked state but not in Monterey, where other local restaurants are serving fresh shrimp. Hopefully they find a way to bring consistency to the taste and quality of all their dishes. Currently, it almost taste like different cooks are making different sauces and dishes. It is definitely a place that I want to come back to and maybe even bring guests. read more

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After a bad experience here several years ago Jose's was a no go.. I heard they changed owners a couple years ago so we tried it again. I found both the Refried Beans and Spanish Rice to have no flavor whatsoever. The enchiladas were extremely under-filled. They were flat and maybe quarter inch thick... *Also important to note they charge extra to pay by credit card and do not inform you of this. I noticed later when I was looking at my receipt. read more

Don't overlook the beautiful flowers someone is nurturing/growing at the entrance of this quaint little restaurant near busy Broadway Ave. Full L shaped bar with seating for likely 50. Seems a nice locals hangout for lunch. Bright interior sufficiently decorated, the best part is the service and the food. The red salsa is very fresh and is spicy. The heat builds up pretty good depending on your tastes, go easy. The green salsa is hotter (see if you can get both!) The service is spot on! Attentive and with an honest smile. read more

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The steak fajitas were very bland, and unseasoned. The peppers and onions were much too large. No problem with the service.

What a disappointment! We have a favorite Mexican restaurant in Watsonville but we were in Salinas and it was late in the evening and I heard about Jose's on the radio a few times so we had dinner there last night and it wasn't very good. My fiance's Shrimp and steak fajitas was dry and I'm surprised it didn't come on a hot skillet. My shrimp Camarones was ok and the portion of beans and rice was small with a tiny salad. Not going back. We'll keep trying other Mexican food in Seaside. read more

While visiting the Carmel/Monterey area we felt like some good, authentic Mexican food. We have great Mexican food, but it's different. Everything revolves around green chili in Colorado, hell, it's practically a religion here. But we wanted Californian Mexican. Enter Jose's. Highly recommended by fellow Yelpers we decided to visit. It's a small, but very clean space. They were practicing social distancing. All staff wearing masks and gloves. Tables were separated. The staff were so nice. Parking is very limited and really took awhile to find a parking spot on the street. Food was delicious! Very recommended. read more

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I give this place 4 stars. 3 for food 5 for service, vibe, and having a liquor license. If they could step their food up just a bit, I'd go here all the time. Its hard to describe, but it is pretty typical small town Northern California Mexican which is pretty disappointing. Sometimes you can look the other way when you just want Mexican good and a real drink. But usually I need something better. I want better grilled browning in the meat, cooked at a higher heat, more seasoning with real dried chilis etc, grilled onions and jalapeños, better produce, better refried beans and better Spanish rice. That sort of thing. read more

Food and service was great. Reasonable prices. Only change I would suggest is better chips. Roasted salsa was good.

I came here on a Saturday night with my husband and this restaurant was not our first choice. With our luck the power went out and majority of all the places we wanted to eat at was closed. We were fortunate to drive by this place and see that it was open. When we arrived we waited a few minutes to be seated but it turned out to be a wait. We waited for a good 20 minutes to finally be seated in the patio. We were given complementary chips and salsa which was really good since it was fresh. I was super hungry and ordered the veggie burrito and chicken flutas and my husband ordered the steak quesadilla and shrimp fajitas. I was not in the mood for any steak or carne asada since I did not have a pleasant experience earlier during my day at another restaurant. My veggie burrito tasted like your typical burrito like you would get at taco bell nothing special. The chicken flutas were literally over fried and burned. It was so hard taking a bite and chewing on it. My husband found his food to be okay and nothing great. It didn't have the kick or flavors we were looking for. Also, the amount of time it took for us to receive or food was literally an hour. I think they were running short on staff due to the sudden power outage and increase of customers. The service was great tho and I was grateful I was able to have dinner that night. Overall, it was your average typical restaurant. read more

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Nancy was our server and delivered our food promptly. The portions were generous and the prices are competitive with other restaurants. We appreciate the chips & salsa that were complimentary. We will be returning in the future for more meals. read more

the rating is below one star. the staff at the bar were very nice. But- the margaritas tasted like a lime had been soaked in a jar of water for a week. The chips had to have been at least 2 weeks old. the chimi was so greasy it was doing the backstroke inits own oil, tortilla not even halfway cooked thru. we did not know mexican food could be this bad. this is a sad but true story. DO NOT WASTE your appetite here. read more

This was some of the best Mexican food we've ever had! We're from Fresno and thought we had good Mexican food down there, but let me tell you... this was on another level! Everything tasted homemade, fresh, and authentic. The margarita's -- bomb. The Mr. pibb -- bomb. The rice, beans, tacos, burritos, tamales, ect...everything was BOMB DOT COM. Highly recommend this place. We're coming back for sure! We would have taken a picture before it was all gone but we were to excited to chow down! read more

Jose's Mexican Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Seaside, California

Went for dinner last night with friends. Adorable restaurant with much authenticity. Large and very tasty portions. But most outstanding was our waitress Samantha. She's a gem and would make any restaurant outing a pleasure! We will definitely return! read more

Where is the front entrance to Jose's restaurant in Monterey, CA. There are 2 doors and I was trying to figure which one was the correct one. About Jose's, I saw the great Yelp reviews and my partner in crime said we had to try it. The interior atmosphere is bright and colorful, similar to being in a town in Mexico. Ordered the combination enchilada and taco with rice and beans. everything tasted so authentic ( I was in Puerta Vallarta in October). The meat in the enchilada and taco was fresh, not too much chees. The chips kept coming and the guacomole was the best. Jose's offers Mexican and domestic beers, I thought I saw some tequila but probably not a large selection. Bring your own like in Mexico. Great service, our server came back to ensure we were happy with our food and water. Unfortunately I saw some one and two star reviews. Look at the Elite ratings. This place is really good. read more

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Down home, good food. Nothing pretentious but yummy food. The guacamole was chunky and delicious. Appropriately priced. Small parking lot. Friendly service. read more

We really enjoyed our dinner at Jose's Mexican Cafe! I recently moved to Monterey County and in the past few weeks I had the chance to experience some good and some so-so food. My friends like to go to happy hour, specifically taco Tuesdays in Carmel but because of car week and major traffic issues, I suggested Jose. We easily found parking and were promptly seated and served with excellent margaritas. The food was delicious and abundant. I would not hesitate to go back, perhaps try some other dishes. I'm sure they all taste great. I highly recommend it. read more

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