There's a casual place in town, not far from here, where Mexican-adjacent food is prepared with…read moreorganic ingredients all sorts of flourishes, and prices to match. That place makes my son crazed and annoyed. He wants Mexican food to be the ilk grew up with (I raised him right); he wants to be able to step inside and afford a taco. He'll like Carmen's Hacienda. I liked Carmen's Hacienda. On a rainy night all but one table inside was filled and it was from there that I was served and what service it was. Fresh chips and two good salsas arrived at my table and two servers were quick to respond to every need of mine (which generally involved more salsa, more chips). I old-schooled it back to a long-time favorite dish of mine: a Taco Salad (about $15) with carne asada. This is one of those versions served in a fried tortilla shell and I was down for it, consuming almost every bite. The other dish at my table was a burrito with shredded chicken which proved ample enough for two meals. They asked if we wanted it "wet" but we instead opted for the sauce on the side, quickly realizing it's better than the sauce usually found. The sauce that tops a wet burrito here is thin and warm, glazing the burrito instead of drenching it. Very good. I'd tried Carmen's once before and not been taken with it but was really glad I returned. No doubt it'll be in heavy future rotation when I'm seeking a quick, casual dose of traditional Mexican fare.

The food is good. The caldo de albóndigas is just okay definitely not worth $14.95. Only gave me…read morethree meatballs. The service is fast. The place is very clean. They charge $9.00 for 1 tostada definitely overpriced. If you are Mexican looking for Mexican food this is not the place it's too overpriced.

Very nice people, food, while dated is very good and always consistent…read more This is not "gourmet" Mexican, just honest old school Mexican-American comfort food cooking at very fair prices. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed, just don't expect a Michelin star meal. Delicious, nutritious, filling and satisfying. Hmm, maybe they SHOULD have a Michelin star!

Amazing service!! However bland food, this is white people Mexican food. Also very pricy!! Asked…read morefor one taco and they gave me an entire plate, miscommunication I guess. Anyways I have mixed feelings about this place. Best to the kind workers though!

I guess I've been coming here for 25 years.... located in Montecito Plaza, San Rafael by the high…read moreschool. A new tenant, "CHIPOTLE" appeared a few years ago a couple of doors down. I'm always puzzled that anybody would venture in there, all things considered. (Akin to dining at McDonald's in Paris.) Or, taking a bath with your socks on. It's my substitute for "Gordo".... But, since there is not one in Marin, I am here frequently. It's the closest thing to "Gordo". It took me this long to realize that the owner of this joint used to work for "Gordo" before he opened up this place. So, I guess that my comparison was spot on. There's something about the simplicity of the menu and the "tight wrap" that makes it work so well. You can choose from at least four tortillas, green, red, white, and whole wheat. For me it's whole pinto beans and cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, and a little green hot sauce. In lieu of the guacamole I prefer sliced avocado, but that's more labor intensive for them so I don't often ask. Done, I inhale it. Really satisfying. It's one of those items that I crave sometimes and the anticipation from the first thought that enters my brain to the drive here is very tough. It's my crack. There used to be a time when the owners, Bobby Hernandez along with his wife and there two sons worked here regularly, but now I rarely see the owner and his wife, but one of the sons is still very involved and the other left years ago to do construction work, I believe. The one who remains is a nice, friendly young man with a great personality and good energy. I guess he's the partner. So cool to see him still working it-you know, from a 12-year-old to a grown man. I come here at varying times and different days. But truthfully, it's just about my favorite burrito joint. In fact, it might be becoming my number one. Check it out, go to "Trader Joe's" and grab some groceries and come over here for lunch or dinner. They sell side orders of rice and beans and guac, etc. so you can throw a party! Have some cash to tip, cause they don't have a tip accommodation on their charge card slips! Una comida deliciosa y constante!!!

Awesome family owned authentic Mexican restaurant. Service and staff is excellent. My special angel…read moreand I highly recommend this restaurant.

I visited on a weekday around 12:30 p.m. and the restaurant was busy. The set-up is fast food style…read morewhere you order at a counter and pay, then find a seat or wait for your to-go order. I ordered a regular burrito which included a choice of meat, (I chose Chile Verde), rice, beans (I ordered my burrito without beans), and salsa. The food was prepared quickly and was hot when we received it. My only complaint is my burrito lacked flavor. Chile Verde is usually very flavorful but not this time. I'm 50/50 on if I'll try this restaurant again and order a different meat option.

Best Mexican in the area. Friendly service, huge portions, great price, delicious food. You…read morecan't go wrong.

My family and I have been eating at, and ordering food to go, from this restaurant for more than 20…read moreyears. In my experience, it is rare that any restaurant would be consistently excellent over that period of time. This restaurant is one of the rare few. Everything from the salsa bar to the chicken (both shredded and barbecued) to the carne asada and even the beans are just delicious. Not only is the food consistently wonderful, but the staff is welcoming, friendly and efficient too. One of my family members has an obvious medical condition and the staff always greets with a smile and is very patient and understanding while ordering. Couple this with the reasonable prices makes this restaurant a home run! My family feels lucky this restaurant is here and when we're in the mood for a Mexican meal, this is where we go.

Been eating here for years, but sadly, over time the prices have gone up and the quality has gone…read moredown. Now prefer El Toucan in San Rafael, although far less convenient a location.

Hi guys, This is a…read morehidden gem must try! Sonoma Taco Shop near Macy's in Terra Linda exit, offers authentic Mexican food with a consistently delicious experience. Their tender and juicy Carnitas soft tacos and quesadilla are a must-try. The casual atmosphere and friendly owners make it a great place to enjoy a meal. Despite the high demand and low quality from other restaurants like Joe's taco lounge or Lucinda; Sonoma taco shop offer excellent quality of freshness from their home made salsa (spicy or mild) at a reasonable price, unlike many other restaurants. With 32 years of experience, I see why they've become a local favorite.

I like the nachos and chicken tacos! Nelida is always attentive to customers and makes sure to ask…read morefor any dietary accommodations. Her service is excellent and quick. My go to taco spot. Lunch time is pretty busy but the wait is not long. Very spacious restaurant.

We were in Novato for our son's basketball game and decided to go get a bite while the team warmed…read moreup. We drove around, debating a few different options and decided to pop into Tommy's Salsa. The first thing I noticed was how charming the atmosphere was, including the lighting and warm cozy temperature. It was a chilly evening and absolutely wonderful to walk into this welcoming atmosphere. The young woman who took our order was super sweet and friendly. I ordered the chicken soup with a side of avocado to put on top and my husband had a beer along with tacos. I noticed they were very busy with a lot of people coming in for pickup. We were starting to get nervous because the game was about to begin and our food was taking a long time. even though we had to go ask for our food, worried that we were forgotten. I still did not dock them a star because of how friendly they were and how delicious the food was. Very nice people work here! We enjoyed complementary chips, along with a tasty bean dip, My soup was a generous portion, and the broth was tasty but a bit on the salty side, still, loaded with vegetables and generous portion of chicken: two drumsticks. The squeeze of lime that was provided was the perfect compliment. It would've been nice to have more time and feel relaxed, but we had to rush back for the game. I have a favorite Mexican restaurant in San Rafael however, every time we go there, the bright fluorescent lighting is brutal and it's like eating in a refrigerator . And the people that work there are kind of like robots and don't really seem to care about us. I'm only saying this because yes, the food is important and Tommy's has absolutely delicious food, but it is also about feeling comfortable in the environment. Next time we are in Novato, we will definitely eat here again!

Came from out of town again to visit and had to stop here at Tommy's Salsa. Service was great, food…read morewas fantastic. Just as we remembered. Fresh, delicious, and the prices are very fair. We ate outside and the tables were clean. Wish we lived near so we could go more often. So happy we got to come again.

the food was sooooo good! some of the best fish tacos i've had in my life. so fresh! and reasonable…read moreprices: two large tacos for $12-13. the restaurant exterior drew my attention initially. i loved the bold, contrasting color palette and the wonderful hand painted signage. it screams local gem! the style of the place is consistent throughout, even the serving trays pop! they had a really great collaged art piece in the bathroom. the staff was so friendly and accommodating as well, it was a great place to discover on our father's day adventure. even had a chance to chat with beloved local, "purple lady" Barbara, and her partner, Stewart. what angels they were, everything happens for a reason! would definitely come back for more

My family and I were first-time visitors to this hidden gem of a Mexican restaurant…read more We discovered it while shopping in the area, recognizing it by its vibrant exterior visible from the road and its outdoor seating. When we entered the restaurant, we knew it would be a fun experience, as the interior decor offers guests a little of everything, as shown in my pictures. The restaurant is small but well-maintained, and it must be very popular because, when we arrived, over 12-15 other guests were seated at various tables. The steady flow of customers never slowed during our visit. Our waitress, a young woman (forgive me for forgetting your name :( ), provided excellent service. She was very friendly, outgoing, and hardworking. She got our order right the first time, THANK YOU!! The entire staff was friendly and worked nonstop in various roles, whether taking food and drink orders, delivering them to guests, cleaning tables, or filling take-out orders. My wife and I ordered the special of the day--chicken fajitas served with black beans and rice--while our daughter chose a bean-and-egg burrito. The food was fantastic! It was flavorful, delicious, and satisfying. The black beans were some of the best I've ever had, as I am a huge fan of beans, period. This was a wonderful dining experience.