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    Ruben's

    4.1 (102 reviews)
    Open • 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Ruben's Photos

    RUBEN'S ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Ruben's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Female performer on Sundays for Brunch. Best Mexican brunch ever
    Lisa G.

    This is our to go place when down south. We love Sunday brunch and live entertainment on Sundays. The female performer is awesome and knows how to get the crowd going. She sings all rules of music. We are always ready to dance and of course the shots Ruben passes around. Highly recommend. Ruben is always great.

    Fresh Salmon Chef's Choice...Excellent!
    Larry F.

    We've eaten here a few times and this particular evening when we came I saw two fish specials walking in on the board so I asked and the waiter said the two fish specials were salmon or sea bass and I asked which might be better he said the salmon was fresh. He asked how would I like it prepared and I said please ask the chef for his own choice. I am so glad I did that! The chef wasn't super busy and he took great joy in preparing what he thought is the best method and he was right! He cooked a variety of small vegetables in a light teriyaki sauce and poached to the salmon in the same sauce with beautiful garnish and a wonderful presentation. I thought I was in the fanciest restaurant in Baja California! Even the house salad was better than most house salads on the north side of the border.

    Sampling from the buffet
    Missy B.

    We recently discovered Ruben's and we've back twice since our initial visit! First off, go on Sunday for brunch! I think it's better than the over-hyped La Fonda and not as crowded (though still busy). They have a buffet style brunch with bottomless mimosas, or you can select meals from their menu as well. We've been for the buffet and for a typical dining experience on a Saturday and both times the food was excellent! The buffet has everything from chilaquiles and omelettes to seafood and other traditional Mexican dishes. There are obviously fresh-made tortillas (quesadillas, anyone?!) and they even have paella! There really is something for everyone. We enjoyed sitting back down at our table and laughing at all of our randomly (yet perfectly) put together dishes! Service at Ruben's is top-notch. The servers are always hustling and are quick to fill up your drink and bring you whatever you need. You'll even see Ruben himself running around, greeting guests and making sure everything is running smoothly. The view is insane so definitely sit on the patio if you can and the weather is nice. Otherwise, there's plenty of room in the dining room as well. There's even seating at the bar if that's more your style. I highly recommend you check this spot out. I think you'll find you favorite new brunch spot, too!

    Outside patio with
    Ryan M.

    Still killing it! After covid I was worries spots like Ruben's may not survive or that the buffet would stop. They've adjusted and now have the buffet served cafeteria style and the food quality hasn't lacked. Went last weekend and it was $22 a person w/unlimited mimosas and of course Ruben himself is out there working his ass off and pouring shots in peoples mouth assuring we all have a good time.

    Wendy B.

    Ruben had a dream. A classy, big, gorgeous restaurant that offered fine dining. And he made it happen. And even though the huge back patio (intended for brunches and wedding receptions) is still incomplete, that is something we must get used to if we are to immerse ourselves in the "there's always mañana " Baja way. That's ok with me. It was quite beautiful inside, tastefully decorated, rich with stone work, tile and lots of wood, with white table cloths, flickering candles, and quite elegantly modern in attitude. And the hospitality that would not quit. We were guided here by someone who knew Ruben and had no doubt he would make us happy. It was a memorable evening. We tried to be discrete in ordering, our group of 6 friends. We failed miserably. And we really barely sampled the menu. First, a huge bar where we sat around, imbibed, and admired the new surroundings. After being seated at our table, we ordered a bottle of wine to share, then started with a tableside Caesar salad, something I haven't seen in a couple decades. Had to try it. The waiter pushed out a cart laden with tons of small dishes and bottles, even the raw egg, all the ingredients necessary for making an authentic salad. It took about 5 minutes, each ingredient added one at a time and expertly blended. The performance was fascinating. Out came a couple of baskets of garlic bread. Mind you, not just any garlic bread. Thinly sliced, delicately buttered, still soft and hot. Then out came another appetizer. Guacamole. Not your Grandmother's guacamole. This one was generous, lumpy, even had cubes of cream cheese in the mix. Served with thin pita chips, it was unusual and tasty. When I saw Shrimp Scampi listed as an appetizer, I knew this was my "dish" for the evening. And I was so right. Despite only 5 large, sweet shrimp, it was the copious amount of garlic, wine and butter sauce that pushed me over the edge. I cleaned my dish, left not a drop of sauce, greedily sopped it all up with that great bread. I shall probably go to hell for this. And I spent the rest of the evening, and most of the next day, fiendishly calculating how to get that dish again. Nobody took my blatant hints, but some day, I shall. The rest of the group each naïvely ordered a bowl of the lobster bisque. Eating light? Right. Who knew it was so huge? Who knew it was completely sealed with a buttery puff pastry lid? Who knew it would be another showpiece as the waiter cracked open the middle and drizzled sherry into the hot soup inside. It was creamy and rich and filling (I stole a spoonful). My only wish would have been to discover chunks of lobster meat inside. This one was a smooth one. No matter. I was still sopping up that amazing scampi butter and tearfully moaning words of endearment. The grand finale was yet another tableside showpiece. If you have never seen Mexican Coffee made, this is* the* place to do it. The cart came out displaying the bottles of Tequila and Kahlua. First they glaze the edge of your glass with sugar, then caramelize it by fire. Then comes the igniting of the different alcohols that have first been poured into a ladle. And a generous sprinkling of cinnamon that sparks like fireworks. Still blazing, they pour it into your glass. Then comes the hot coffee. And lastly, a generous topping of whipped cream and a cherry. What fun. And how delicious. After all this great food and several spectacular shows, each couple only paid $75. Total. Where can you do all this in the states? And where can you find kinder hospitality?

    Shrimp Echilada

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    The food is very good, the service is excellent. And it has a nice view. There is plenty of parking in front of the restaurant.

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    7 years ago

    Don't waste your time coming to this place. Service was slow and food quality poor. I wouldn't recommend this place AT ALL.

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    $15 Sunday seafood buffet is a bargain. Entertainment and champagne gratis. Drinks are big, tasty and potent. Definitely worth a visit.

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    12 years ago

    Love it here!!!! Antonio is the best bartender. Kids love adults live food is good beer is cold and prices are good.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ruben's Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Ruben's

    “I've been coming to Ruben's Sunday brunch for about 10 years now.”

    Mentioned in 15 reviews

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    Colectivo Surf

    Colectivo Surf

    4.6(133 reviews)
    2.4 km
    •$$

    Where to start...well here goes, we parked and waked in to this establishment and noticed that most…read moreif not all people in this place where glued to the television as the World Cup game (Mex vs. Kor) was on, understandably as in certain places Football is life. We waited by the Bar near the entrance for 25 minutes while all three waiters ignored us, made eye contact, checked their phone and took pics . Another Paton at the bar walked over to us and said they her grandchildren were sitting at a table which was empty except for a few sweatshirts so she removed them and said we could have the table, which was a very nice gesture that we appreciated. We continued to wait for another 10 minutes or so until we had enough with being ignored we left and went to another place and were seated and not ignored, a great meal by the way. My Brother in law was with me along with my son and my nephew. I had seen this place recommended by "The Boredom Report " ( JT my apologies but your guy here is out of line) many times and was excited to try this place as I always am when in Baja. Unfortunately, this place dropped the ball. My Brother in law left a review on yelp approximately 20 minutes or so after our visit and was sent a rather rude and racist message by someone named "Noel' stating that Mexico was in the World Cup and that they were playing in Mexico along with that we were I can't remember if it was Dumb or Dirty Americans so I'm going to go with Dumb for this one, "Dumb Americans" that need to educate ourselves on the Mexican culture and such. Well I'll say this, I too have been in Baja for over 40 years, Noel and never have I had any establishments in Baja ever ignore any customers until last night. If myself and my family didn't love, respect Mexico or its people and culture we would never go south of the border and be ignorant to anything having to with Mexico. But, since you are obviously more focused on Football instead of your business I would imagine that you might not last long with that mindset. Also Noel, please feel free to explain to me or anyone for that matter why you choose to run an American style Microbrewery and Sushi Restaurant and not a traditional restaurant in Baja? Could it be you're were attempting to attract a certain Dirty and or Dumb Americans? Also, please explain me and all that read this how to educate myself on "Mexican Culture'' when you're attempting to mimic two different cultures and yet have no idea on anything related to customer service. Please continue to Just throw out something racial and derogatory to cover up for you and your staffs shortcomings because racism has become a form of needing attention and not truly the issue at hand these days. Perhaps next time any "Dumb Americans" walk in to your place why don't you just refuse service, oh wait you do that by ignoring them and giving a racist rant on culture and education. instead of actually dealing with your staff/business issues. Now I've made some mistakes before with reviews and I generally give a place a few chances to rectify things as I know running a restaurant/business isn't easy and there are things that are out of people's control so I will update things when I return. As I believe this is the only true way of giving a honest and legitimate review. Perhaps next time you post a response you should also remember that there is an e-mail that is sent with your same response to the person that posted the review.Simply changing your response online doesn't change the initial email, and saying "you were busy" isn't an accurate description in this instance. Nice try. TO NOEL I WILL NEVER PATRONIZE THIS PLACE AS LING AS I LIVE! I WILL MAKE IT MY MISSION TO TELL EVERYONE I KNOW THAT VISITS BAJA TO NEVER GIVE YOU ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU TREATED US. SIGNED: "THE DIRTY AMERICANS'

    This is a top notch Sushi Restaurant and Brewery, and they have other great dishes (come for the…read moreGuacamole - stay for the Scorpion!). The Margaritas and the beer are excellent! The Yellowfin tuna we had was swimming just a few hours prior. So good!!! They use locally sourced and only the highest quality and freshest ingredients. The staff is super friendly and fun - we spent 2 afternoons there and they were awesome! My two teen-aged daughters and my wife and I really enjoyed it. It's a good size place with beautiful inside and outside areas - good for families and the party crowd. I hope we'll be able to come back one day soon!!!

    Photos
    Colectivo Surf
    Colectivo Surf
    Colectivo Surf - Yellow Tail roll

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    Yellow Tail roll

    Mariscos Puerto Nuevo - 3 half lobsters for $24. This is 6 half's.

    Mariscos Puerto Nuevo

    4.8(185 reviews)
    0.9 km
    •$$

    Came for Nana's birthday, left with a new Puerto Nuevo favorite!…read more Everyone on TikTok seems to say "Go to Ortega's!" when talking about Puerto Nuevo, but last time we went it was just okay and a little pricey (making the fam shuffle to put pesos together since it was cash only). We were celebrating my Nana's birthday and had a bigger group than usual, so I started looking around on yelp for other options. There are SO many little lobster restaurants along this street, but this place had good reviews, the pictures looked good, so we figured- why not try something new? And I'm SO glad we did. Actually, before we even got there, all the restaurant promoters were trying to get us into their places and asking where we were headed. Every time we said this restaurant, they were like, "Oh yeah, that's a really good place!" I'm sorry, but when the people trying to steal your business are ALSO admitting the place you're going to is good... I'm listening. We got in, immediately got a table, and they brought out chips, salsa AND fresh ceviche. Ceviche is one of my favorite foods, so at that point they basically had me. Then the food came out and the whole family was happy. The lobster was amazing, the tortillas were fresh, the rice and beans tasted like Nana made them herself, and the drinks were PHENOMENAL. Everything was flavorful and fresh, and we all had such a good time. What I really loved about this place is that it reminded me why sometimes the little local spots are better than the big, famous ones. You don't always need the biggest restaurant, the most viral TikTok, or the place with the best-known view to have an amazing meal. Sometimes you just have to look around and give one of the smaller places a chance. And this one absolutely delivered. The restaurant itself is quite a bit smaller than Ortega's, and you do have to walk up a few stairs, but nothing crazy at all. I actually liked the smaller, more intimate feel. And when we were walking out of the restaurant we say them preparing all kinds of ceviches and other dishes right there. We saw several things we hadn't tried before and immediately started making a mental list of what we want to order next time. This wasn't just a one-time birthday dinner either -- I've already come back since her birthday, and now this is the place I recommend when anyone asks me where they should eat in Puerto Nuevo. So TikTok can keep telling everyone to go to Ortega's. Me and the real foodies are happily enjoying this little spot instead. 10/10. Nana-approved. Family-approved. Ceviche-approved. Can't wait to go back again

    We found this spot on Yelp, after looking through other reviews and comparing them to other spots…read morein the area. We were also welcomed by someone promoting this restaurant on the street/inviting people to check out the food. I realized later that they also have a downstairs bar and restaurant (you can also preview the seafood selections from the cart). We opted to eat upstairs since they had a bit of a view with a more open seating area. Only about 3 tables have the view of the water/beach, while the rest of the tables are either on the side overlooking the street, in the middle of the restaurant, or on the side where you can kind of see the view. They also have a nice photo opp/background also on one of the sides facing the water view. We were welcomed and seated and got to check out the different sized lobster options (this was what immediately drew us to this spot initially). We were greeted with complementary chips, salsa, pico de gallo, and ceviche. It was a nice welcome surprise. We got an order of 3 medium lobsters and an order of garlic shrimp. We also got a bottle of Tecate and a Carajillo cocktail. One of the neighboring areas had a mariachi band serenading different tables in their outdoor restaurant area. And that provided a lot of entertainment for our seafood feast. We also had other musicians come through our restaurant to try to serenade us, but nobody seemed to want to fork over any money. The drinks came pretty quickly and even though I'm not big on beer, the chilled bottle just somehow made sense and tasted a lot better. The Carajillo was tasty and served with an orange slice. I felt like it was the perfect combination to the coffee forward cocktail. The Appetizer was delicious, although I'm not big on any spicy items, the salsa was good in small doses. The ceviche and pico de gallo were super fresh, as were the tortilla chips. When we got the main courses, they came out rather quickly. They were split and halved. Same with the shrimp. These dishes were also served with an order of beans with rice, freshlu made flour tortillas, as well as a side of butter dipping sauce. The food was extremely fresh and came out rather quickly. Our server seemed to be a bit attentive and check on us a couple of times. When we finished, we ended up getting 1 homemade flan to share and another Carajillo to pair. The drink was just as good as the first one and prepared similarly. The flan was tasty, just a bit on the sweet side for me. It was the waiting that kinda got to me. It wasn't that they forgot about us, but that we were probably waiting around for a bit before the server came back to check on us. We may have waited an extra 10 minutes before we got the check, paid, and left. Food and drinks: 5 stars Service: 4 stars (courteous and respectful, just bit less attentive than we would've hoped for.

    Photos
    Mariscos Puerto Nuevo
    Mariscos Puerto Nuevo - 3 medium lobsters and rice

    3 medium lobsters and rice

    Mariscos Puerto Nuevo - Large lobster

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    Large lobster

    Ruben's - mexican - Updated October 2026

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