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    Rafael Mexican Grill

    4.1 (115 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Rafael Mexican Grill Takeout or Delivery

    Rafael Mexican Grill Photos

    RAFAEL MEXICAN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rafael Mexican Grill

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    Reviews With Photos - Rafael Mexican Grill

    Olivia P.

    Service was amazing, food was probably the best I've ever had in Salinas. I sat outside and the area was relatively quiet which was nice. Honestly 5 stars I would definitely come back and recommend to others. The staff was great and super sweet!

    Shrimp Fajitas
    Haleh M.

    This was my first time at this location and the staff was so incredibly nice!! She attended to us quickly and with a great attitude. The food was good and there is a ton of it. It's a casual spot for sure and there are four TVs available and lots of seating. I do concur with some of the past reviews that the beans are not the best but the shrimp dishes themselves were good. I'm interested to try burritos/tacos

    Chili Chile Verde
    Agnes D.

    They have a nice decor on the wall that says: "Great food, Great friends, Great times".... and this place is just that. Excellent food! The place is clean, and our server greeted us with a smile! Awesome service!

    Torta de carne asada
    Stephanie C.

    Had the birria with broth and coctel de camarón con pulpo (Shrimp cocktail with octopus). Everything was fresh and delicious. I was really impressed with the shrimp cocktail. Will def keep coming back.

    Carnitas plate
    Joann Pulido S.

    Fast, friendly service. Food tastes great. Portions are great. I've ordered online for delivery, dined in and ordered to go and food is constantly good. My teams and I love this place is close to our home. If they're busy they do warn you there is a wait of 15 or so before your food is ready and I appreciate that because if you're in a hurry you can go somewhere else (I've been in that situation and couldn't have waited so the warning was welcomed). I will always comeback. I'd say I've been there a good 8 different times before this review. We've ordered burritos, caldo de camarones (excellent flavor!) chicken flautas, chicken enchiladas, carnitas and beef flautas. These are our go to dishes. Enjoy!

    Shrimp tacos ($2.50 ea), Chavela ($9.99 -  large glass!)
    Cyrina H.

    We visited today and dined in the outdoor patio area. The food was so good! I would say some of the best shrimp tacos I've had in Salinas - the salsa! Whatever the salsa recipe is (on the tacos), you guys are doing something right. Shrimp or fish tacos are only $2.50 ! The chavela was $9.99, served in a pretty large glass - good size. - Outdoor seating available - To-Go available - Good prices - Good sized menu for whatever you're craving! - Alcohol available - Excellent service (very friendly and got our order out quickly) Couldn't ask for a better meal - delicious and at a great price. Thank You! This will definitely be our go-to spot for shrimp tacos.

    Inside
    Darroll L.

    Very good food and wonderful service. The ingredients were fresh and the presentation delightful. The interior decorations are nice and it is well lit inside. The dining area is always very clean and organized.

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    6 months ago

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    3 years ago

    Food was great service is friendly and fast would highly-rated recommend this place

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Nice people and good food. My wife and I like meeting there for lunch. Also have great breakfast menu. Definitely recommend this place.

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    3 years ago

    Great food and service I get the enchiladas of cheese or chicken are good mom loves this place

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    4 years ago

    Close to my home. Friendly and good customer service. Clean restaurant and great food!

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    6 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Rafael Mexican Grill

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    If you know me, you know I LOVE Mexican food. I read an article about this restaurant with rave…read morereviews and decided this is where I wanted to go on Mother's Day. Drove two hours from the Bay Area to get there and it was totally with the trip. My son got the mole negro and I got the chile verde. Everything on both plates was authentic, delicious, and AMAZING. My son tried my chile verde and said it was the best he's ever tasted and I agreed. They were super busy because it was Mother's Day, but we were seated after a short wait and our waitress was super efficient and friendly. Several times during our meal someone checked to see if we needed anything. Not going to lie, we were a bit intimidated when we pulled up as there were no other non-Hispanic people in the large crowd outside waiting to be seated. I told my son that meant the food was definitely going to be good, but I was worried about how we would be received considering the political climate these days, but it wasn't an issue. Everyone was super friendly. Will definitely be going back to try other items on their menu.

    Culturas in Salinas was my first time trying Oaxacan cuisine, and it was a great experience…read moreoverall. The place was packed, which is always a good sign, yet the service was still excellent, very friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I ordered the tlacoyos with chicken Milanesa, and they were absolutely delicious. The chicken Milanesa was perfectly cooked, the queso fresco added great flavor, and the chile sauce had a nice kick without being overwhelming. I also tried the tamale Oaxaqueño, which was very flavorful with shredded chicken, a rich black chile sauce, and soft masa. It was much spicier than I expected, and unfortunately too spicy for me to finish, but you can tell it was made with authentic flavors. The tostadita Oaxaqueña was another tasty treat, fully loaded, fresh, and delicious. Every bite was packed with flavor. I also had the atole, which was warm, comforting, and the perfect drink to balance the meal. Overall, Culturas gave me a memorable first introduction to Oaxacan food. If you enjoy bold, authentic flavors and don't mind some heat, it's definitely worth trying.

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    El Canaston

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    This place is a hidden gem. Located at the Northridge mall in Salinas…read more We tried the street tacos, quesa birria tacos and the tacos de cansta. The street tacos are made with the hand made tortillas that are to die for. We tried asada, carnitas, and pastor. Let me just say all meats were delicious. Not dry at all and super flavorful.! But the pastor stole the show. The pineapple flavor shines through with the pork and it literally is the best pastor I've had.! The tacos de cansta were amazing.! Get there early to get the chicharrón filling. They sell out.! Add the cabbage mixture to the taco for a bright flavor. Also, get both red and green salsas. Mix them and be amazed. The red salsa has a hint of smokeyness but it's not over powering. The green is more like an avocado salsa. I told the owner that I fully enjoyed his food and he explained the process and I can appreciate the time and prep he takes to make this cuisine. Every bite was amazing and if you want a new favorite taco spot, here it is. Warning: it ain't cheap but neither is Louis Vuitton.

    Absolutely delicious food coming from this kitchen. Crazy this quality of food is in a mall. The…read moreowner is so kind and informative. I ordered one of each of the tacos de canasta and they are delicious. The beans are so flavorful, you can tell they were made with love. I took a bite of the quesadilla and OMG it's amazing. Not to mention the salsas! Both the red and green are good. It's in a mall so you get what you get as far as noise levels etc. But you can't get better food at any restaurant in town. This is a must try!

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    Rafael Mexican Grill - mexican - Updated July 2026

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