My nine-year old daughter tells me that the nachos is one of her favorite school lunches. So, I searched for a restaurant with nachos and found Rudy's. As a Tufts student, I never ate here, not even once, but I remembered that it was a popular option for dining out and delivery to campus. So, 27+ years later, I decided to finally check this place out! We did tell the server that my daughter doesn't like it too spicy, and our waiter made some alternative suggestions which we followed. We ordered the super nachos with the beef chili and green chilies on the side. While the nachos were super cheesy, there were no noticeable greens. There was neither shredded lettuce nor scallions which I felt were missing in the bites. While tasty, I don't think I'd order those again. Husband got the steak fajitas which he felt was overcooked. My daughter got a soft beef taco from the kid's menu and said it tasted just like the meal I make at home! Upon suggestion from our waiter, I ordered the enchiladas sampler and was very satisfied with my meal. It came with a chicken, a beef, and a cheese enchilada. The chicken was quite flavorful and the cheesy one was delightful, even the following day as I took home the leftovers. The refried beans were noticeably seasoned in a good way. My plate which also included Mexican rice, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream was well balanced. Our server also brought over a caddy of six different hot sauces which wasn't needed at all. The food had enough flavor on its own. My frozen pina colada tasted more boozy than I would like, but I did finish it. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and would return to get the enchiladas. read more

Rudy's has been around for 40+ years and still serves the best guacamole of any Texas Mex place in the Boston area. The ambiance is relaxed and casual. I came here today for lunch with a friend because sadly this place is closing tomorrow and we wanted to enjoy one last visit for nostalgia's sake. Of course we shared guacamole and chips. I got the El Grande Burrito and she got the Combination Platter #4. Apparently, Rudy's never recovered from the pandemic which I'm told is the reason they are shutting down. I suggest going here tomorrow, 1/4/2025 for their grand finale if you see this review in time and have the opportunity! I am very sad to see them go. read more

See all

Quick review- enjoyed Cinco de Mayo here beginning with a 45 minute wait- not bad considering this holiday. The place was packed. All of the food was fresh, plentiful and tasty including my shrimp tacos- nice large shrimp cut into pieces. I was surprised to find some shrimp shells in each of the tacos. The vegetable quesadilla filled up two of our party and others had different tex mex combination plates. Service was fine and appreciated especially with the crowd. My only complaint of note is how loud it was. We sat at a round table of 6 and it was impossible to hear others across the table. Stick with a booth if at all possible if its busy. read more

Rudy's Café - a large group of people sitting at tables - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Rudy's is a staple in my neighborhood. The food is very Tex-Mex style, so if you are looking for authentic Mexican, Rudy's may not be your first choice. That said, the food is pretty good. My reasons for being a steadfast customer are (1) the staff is always kind and attentive; (2) the drinks are well made; (3) the chips and salsa are pretty good and a nice accompaniment to a paloma (my favorite there) or a margarita. Rudy's is not perfect, but it's a nice, cozy spot for good Tex-Mex and great drinks. read more

The location and overall energy of this restaurant are amazing. The food was interesting. It looked great on the menu, however when we got the food nothing tasted like Mexican food. My chimichanga tasted like a sloppy Joe instead of Mexican food. My partner described the food of American flavors with a Mexican inspired presentation. read more

This has been a childhood favorite of mine...well, since I was a child. I'm a fan of their nachos because they bake them in the oven and ensure that there is plenty of cheese-- a big pet peeve of mine is not enough cheese to chip ratio! I order the super nachos which have chili on top as well as one of their combination plates. What I love about my Mexican and Tex-Mex is cheese, so that's probably why Rudy's is a favorite-- you will never be disappointed by the amount of cheese. Because the dishes are baked, they come out piping hot. Service here has always been great, too. A great spot for a date, friends, or spending time with family-- really you can't go wrong with Rudy's. read more

See all

This is my favorite restaurant in Teele Square! Excellent service, reliable and delicious food, great margs.

Independent, local restaurants like this are what makes this neighborhood so great. Rudy's has been around for 40 years and I hope they're here for another 40 at least. The staff is wonderful and the drinks are the best in town. They make excellent margaritas and can point you in the right direction if you're new to the tequila game. A great place to hang out and a great part of living in Teele square! read more

This restaurant had an Arizona vibe with the atmosphere. The salsa that comes with the chips are delicious, really good! Ordered the Tex-Mex Combination Plate Four with a chimichanga, enchilada and taco. The meal was delicious and came out relatively quick after ordering. The service was good and everything on the menu is affordable compared to similar restaurants. read more

Rudy's Café - Combination Plate Four - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My friends took us here and we all had a decent meal. Dining room was very dark we could not see the menus. We shared the black bean nachos which was a huge portion. So simple and good. Menu is huge and with many combo plates. Flavors were fine- nothing stood out. Hot sauce helped. I really enjoyed the lit fireplace in the dining room. I would go back but there are so many choices in the city. Service was pleasant. read more

Ordered the Combination Plate twice here and I figured the best parts have always been the beef taco. They're very tasty! If I'm gonna be back again I'd go straight for the tacos. The rest of the plate is very mediocre. read more

See all

I haven't had great nachos in a very, very long time. The Black Bean nachos were amazing! Stuff wasn't just piled on top. Excellent layering and delicious ingredients. Big servings, lots to take home. read more

Perhaps my favorite Tex-Mex place in Somerville. I've ordered from here a ton, both for takeout and dine-in (though I haven't dined in since COVID started). One thing to note is that I'm a vegetarian, so I don't have any opinion on their meat dishes. Not that it's all that relevant right now, but I've always enjoyed going here in person. The food is great hot, the margaritas are delicious and sweet, and the servers and bartenders are incredibly nice and super friendly. Since COVID, I've only gone to pick up takeout, but it looks like they still have limited in-person dining, all the servers + bartenders are wearing masks, and there's enough space that they seat you quite far from other groups / tables. Their COVID takeout process is very seamless and contact-free. We often order online, and the food is ready in a bag with our name on it at the counter, and any staff is completely socially distanced. As far as their food goes, it's always delicious. As a vegetarian, my top choices are either the Combo #3 or their black bean Nachos. I'm a big fan of good Nachos, and these ones are loaded, and a single large Nachos often ends up being a full meal for both me and my SO (though, granted we may not eat quite as much as others). They're slathered in cheese and beans, and whatever spicy sauce they use is just enough to give it the occasional kick without being overbearing. My one minor gripe is that there's virtually no main dish that's vegan-friendly. I've been trying to eat more vegan recently, and would love if they added some vegan options (especially a vegan version of the Nachos)! Then again, I know vegan and Tex-Mex generally don't mix. read more

Food is mediocre and overpriced as is most places in Somerville area avoid this place if you want a meal that's tasty it had no flavor and was mostly supermarket shredded lettuce than actual food Side note this is more a family restaurant so plan accordingly read more

I'm conflicted by this place. While the queso, chips, and salsa were tasty, the food was very mediocre. Our server was very attentive and in tune with my drink needs, but the margaritas I got were not that strong. I can see how this would be a good spot if you live in the neighborhood, but not worth the drive if you're going to have to search for parking and wait in line. read more

I came for dinner with a few friends. I would say that the food is ok for a Mexican dinner. If you are not looking for anything authentic and you are near the Teele Square area, this is the place for you. Note that when you are ordering a beef burrito or enchilada, it's grounded beef. read more

Rudy's Café - Taco salad - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I have tried reaching out, more than once to resolve an issue with a new wait staff person and a bill charge. Food was great, as usual, but the fact of still having an unresolved payment issue has me a bit annoyed. If someone was able to resolve my issue, I'd happily return! read more

If you were playing a game of telephone with a Mexican person on one end and the chef of Rudy's on the other, the confusing end result would be this meal. Que rico! $7 margaritas. I got the Gold which has a hint of orange, and the flavor and strength were decent. The queso was good on flavor and spice but would have been better if the consistency was less watery. Comes with salsa which was chunky and tasted pretty fresh. Lots of dippage going on, and they'll bring you more chips. Que pena! Perusing the menu, we realize that these dishes sound pretty huge, so my group of 4 girls split the Combo Plate #4 and the Enchilada Sampler. They brought out the plates, and all we see are waves of rice, beans, sauces, and cheese. Underneath all of this are tortillas in various forms wrapping a variety of meats. There was just so much going on here, and everything blended together after a while. The refried beans on the enchilada plate were paste-like and tasted pretty disgusting. Worse than some canned varieties I've had. The black beans and guacamole on the combo plate were a better side. The taco (ground beef, shredded lettuce and tomatoes, crunchy shell) was just a slight step up from Taco Bell. The chicken inside the chimichanga was flavorful, but the encasing tasted a bit stale. Since we shared an app and 2 entrees, the price of the meal was quite reasonable, and all 4 of us came away full. However, our taste buds were pretty dazed and confused. This place doesn't even try to pretend its food is authentic Mexican fare. However, I think Texans would still scoff at this "Tex-Mex" establishment. Si regreso, solo voy a beber margaritas. read more

Rudy's Café - Gold margarita. Queso & salsa. Chips on chips. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Good place been going here for 30 years! We are 2 all ways bar people! Small bar here! But now we have to put up with a group of people who take up 4 to 6 seats at the bar and they don't know how to keep their bs to themselves totally ubknxous get a table!!! Selfish assholes tired of them they are always there can't take it anymore hopefully they tip good because I won't be back at the place anymore too bad I can't take it too bad for the restaurant but fuck those folks!! read more

Great place to satisfy your Mexican cravings. Mexican Pizza-REALLY GOOD and flavorful!! This is an appetizer, but I can probably just eat this alone. The tortilla was crispy even though I took it to-go. The mixture of the enchilada sauce, beef, cheese, tomato and scallions makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I also tried one of the combo plates. The portions were pretty big. I had Combo #4, the beef taco and enchilada were pretty good. My sister really liked the chicken chimichanga, but I found it a little bland. I definitely will be coming here to try the other foods! read more

Their queso is top-notch and pairs nicely with a spicy margarita. But what sold me on Rudy's is their staff. This is a neighborhood classic and has some of the friendliest staff I've ever encountered! read more

Rudy's is where you want to go for good drinks and pleasant service. Full disclosure this review is SOLELY based on the bar and service. Didn't need to tinkle so I can't speak on the bathrooms and had reservations next door so we didn't eat. The pour: Ordered my usual (Goose, rocks, lime and berries) they didn't have any berries so I settled on lemon. I watched other drinks being made and can attest to my own, the pour is generous. You'll be besties with your bar neighbor in no time chatting about everything from politics (this is New England), to Pats, and even pumpernickel (true story! Google 'rye berries'. Mind. Blown). Also, see my pic of a shot on ice. You'll understand when you do. Service: From the moment you walk in the bartenders and servers greet you with warm smiles. They're attentive, even when busy, and really welcoming. I'm all about service and they nailed it. Ambiance: The restaurant is mom and pop meets local dive. I mean this in the sincerest way. It's super lax and unassuming. Very 'eat, drink, and be merry'. Come in. Take a load off and have a toast. Food: Didn't have any so I can't speak on it. Overall: We enjoyed ourselves and have added it to the bar list. read more

Rudy's Café - That's ONE shot of Goose. Rock's. Lemon. Lime. No berries - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

If you want Tex-Mex cuisine, Rudy's is where it's at. Every time I have been, the food has been good and the ingredients fresh, the portions are huge, the prices are very reasonable and the service friendly. It's been around for a long time. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food or a "gourmet" experience, you are coming to the wrong place. If you want some good Tex Mex, drinks and to have a fun experience with your friends, Rudy's will do the trick. There's something everyone can enjoy on the menu. read more

***FOOD POISONING*** all night-morning- and still now vomiting! Terrible terrible terrible. We ordered the beef, chicken fajitas and one chicken chimichanga! The only good thing was the service. Never never going back. Check for the right temperatures for the proteins. Change the oil Wash your hands Better dishwasher And don't know do something!!!!! For your business read more

Rudy's Café - Food poisoning!!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Great place. Except the food, while always terrible, is now actually inedible. I feel bad giving them one star because I love that they've been around so long. They are a Somerville institution. They have earned a lot of slack. So what if they're a bar with terrible food? That is an OK niche. They survived the pandemic! They are surviving the gentrification of Somerville! They're old school! I love the 70s vibe so much. It's a great place to chill and watch the game. Except they serve guacamole that has actually turned. That is rancid. The food isn't something even a dive bar lover can eat. Unlike the usual 'some went wrong in the kitchen' it did not make me ill later--it made me ill at the time. The horrible taste of Pace picante salsa or whatever they use is OK but rotten food? It's fallen far below high school cafeteria, which for less picky people is the bottom limit. You would do better heating up TJs in the microonda at home. My hope is they'll see this and try more because it would be great if they last another 40 years. They just need to pull it up just a wee bit to 'freshly prepared.' I am sure it's harder than it sounds but it could turn things around. read more

This restaurant is terrible. The food reminds me of Mexican food that a 7th grader might make. Picture a plate of nachos with tostitos salsa poured over them, making all the chips soggy. My margarita had a fly in it, but even the one they brought to replace it tasted awful. I see people inside this restaurant regularly (I walk by it a lot) which boggles my mind. Maybe if you've never had good Mexican food you'd be fine with it? read more

Cold beers and great nachos! Friendly and extremely hard working bartender! With all the drinks he was making he still had time to talk and wait on us! read more

Great, strong margs. Friendly, efficient servers. I get the jalapeño chicken whenever it's on the specials menu. Don't understand why they don't just put it on the regular menu. read more

Located in the heart of Teele Square, Rudy's is a very accessible and fun, little restaurant which serves up some pretty good cocktails and Mexican food. There's nothing authentic here folks, just some good old Tex-Mex, but some decent one at that. Whether you are getting a quesadilla, a cup of queso, or just some guac' and chips, the food is there is reliably good (although not great by any means). You could also settle for one of their daily specials which are marked on the blackboard by the bar. Last time I was there they had a grilled hangar steak special and some key lime pie as well. I resisted to much regret, instead settling for another round of drinks. And drinks there are their forte. They have a ton of tequila-based drinks available here, and most are better than in places like Jose's Mexican Restaurant in Cambridge. They have a unique one which is called a Prickly Pear Margarita and which is well worth having frozen and blended. It's pretty tasty and my girlfriend is pretty much addicted to it. That one aside, there's many more items from Pina Coladas to Daiquiris and many other options. The best part is that most cocktails are under $8 here making for a great bargain. I've sat at both the bar and at tables here and must admit that I've enjoyed sitting at the bar better somehow. I found it entertaining to see the bartender's smooth moves behind the counter as he preps yet another round of drinks. The tables are just a bit too cramped for my taste, especially when the place is packed. As far as the food menu goes, they have a wide-variety of appetizers, all of them costing under $9 and their entres have everything from tacos to enchiladas and even burgers. Oh and they have combo plates available as well, in four different varieties, starting at $10 and going up to $11. They each comes with specific items such as a burrito or enchilada and then some rice and beans. It's great value but the portions are pretty big so sharing might be a good option. The service is decent there and the place is relatively clean except for the bathroom which was far from sparkling. read more

Rudy's Café - Combo Plate #4 - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Pretty decent. My boyfriend and I came on a snowy Thursday night. Food was your run of the mill Mexican American faire. We left feeling uncomfortably full after not really eating that much, so I'm not really sure what that was about. But either way, the drunks were awesome. Service was nice. We will probably go back for some drinks and chips, in terms of food we might skip out next time. read more

Probably sacrelidge that I've lived within a few miles of this place for years and never made it in the doors. I finally made it there with Steph P, on a Saturday afternoon that we both found ourselves really hungry, and just minutes away from here. We got some nachos to share, which were very good. Large serving too. I liked the nachos more than my actual entree. We each got a salad. This taco salad was UNbelievably large. It was bigger than my head. I'm not sure how I was supposed to finish it. I'm also not a huge fan of leftovers of this type, cause the taco base gets soggy, it's just bad news... I was happy with the service, and happy with the dishes I tried. I would go back, if I happened to be in the mood for tex-mex and in the neighborhood. I hear they make good cocktails, but I am not the type of person who can manage to day drink, so ... not for me. read more

Rudy's Café - taco salad - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Lived in Somerville this summer and walked by Rudy's Cafe multiple times a day to get to & from work/gym/etc... Always was busy at dinner (never walked by around lunch). Ate there once (would have gone more, but was busy and trying to save money) and the service was great - everyone was really friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. Their portions were great and their nachos - which is how I judge the value of a Mexican restaurant - were delicious! (tho a bit oily on the bottom). Excellent excellent excellent - will definitely go back when & if I am in Somerville again! read more

Cinco de Mayo = Free Sombreros and t-shirts and that is where one of the stars is coming from. Pretty good queso, another star. Decent service, another star. My wife and I enjoyed out dinner here but I really don't see us ever coming back. If you like paying $13 for a really blan Mexican food then this is the place to go. The black beans and chimichanga were severely lacking in flavor. Also the decor is in need to a makeover. In total, I would not recommend this place to any friend. read more

Rudy's Café - Combo plate 4. Better to look at than to eat - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Sometimes you just crave greasy chips, cheese, refried beans, and meat all smothered in sour cream and guac. When you have those cravings it doesn't matter where you go, just about every Mexican spot in your neighborhood will do the trick. And the cheaper the better. Rudy's did the trick. I will say, however, that there are so many Mexican spots around that will do it better. I got very very mediocre chicken tacos and my friend got the enchiladas, which were definitely the better choice. The chips were complimentary (a non-negotiable in my opinion) but a little stale. 2.5 stars because we had a sweet waiter, which is always important. read more

So far I'm giving this a 3-star review, but I'm guessing it'll get bumped up with time. The salsa isn't that great, but I've eaten here several times and always walk away full. Recently my bf and I shared the pulled pork quesadilla, and it was pretty damn good. The drinks are strong, and they have a ton of margarita options. I had a glass of wine (why? I'm an idiot) and it was fine but not anything to write home about. Service is pretty friendly. This is just a good local neighborhood spot to grab a drink and a bite to eat. I wouldn't say this is a date place unless you've been with your significant other for awhile! It's just a casual place where anything goes -- I could easily walk in wearing sweats or work-out gear, and no one would blink an eye. I'll be back fairly frequently, because it's just around the corner from my new place! read more

Ever-busy place in Teele Square that serves Tex-Mex food at a higher price than Anna's and Chipotle. So it has to be better, right? Not necessarily. I got the shredded beef burrito and chips. The chips were great. The shredded beef burrito left me thinking, not unlike the immortal Little Mermaid, "I want more." It was a $15 burrito that should have cost $5 less. The beans were about as bland. The rice was nice. Service has been quite good. Keep it up and I may be back! read more

Solid Mex food and margs. You get big portions of any tex-mex option you can think of for a reasonable price (maybe teetering on overpriced depending on your standards). As a general rule of thumb, the more cheese that is on your dish, the more satisfied you will be. The margs are good but expensive. Service is great, plenty of chips and salsa and all that. Cool vibe. Would recommend. read more

I really wanted to like Rudy's having just moved to the Medford/Somerville area about a year ago. I've been here several times over the last year and each time, the food was less then desirable, and the staff weren't very friendly, the bartender was actually pretty rude. Last time I ordered the chicken tacos, having a dairy allergy I asked for no cheese but could I substitute avocado. (the staff neglected to tell me they would be charging me, which if told up front I'm fine and having to pay a little extra is ok for me but after the fact is not customer friendly in my opinion). The chicken was old and reheated, the lettuce was shredded wilted iceberg lettuce. My sister ordered the fish tacos and she too agreed, the food wasn't very good. I rarely give below a three star review but Rudy's is just not a place I can frequent again or recommend. The staff were not very friendly, the food is far below general standards of Mexican-TexMex. I frequent all types of cuisine and various price ranges, as a person who loves good food, Rudy's just is not the place for me. read more

I rarely venture up to Teele Square, but the short walk up from the Davis T stop was worth it for some tex-mex on Cinco de Mayo. Rudy's delivers a very wide selection of tex-mex food with tacos that were overflowing with fresh lettuce and cheeses, a nice selection of combination plates, and nice beer and tequila selection in a cozy space - overall a solid, if slightly higher priced, choice for tex-mex food. I don't know of many tex-mex restaurants in the area other than perhaps the Border Cafe, which comes in at a slightly lower price-point than Rudy's. I went for one of the combination plates at $14.99 of chicken chimichanga, a verde enchilada, and a beef taco with rice and black beans. It was a very large portion and was difficult to finish, but cooked fresh and was delicious. The salsa and chips served with the meal are classic tex-mex and I enjoyed the sweetness of the salsa. The interior of the restaurant, including a back area with booths, was cozy and had nice natural lighting and wasn't too busy on a Saturday at lunch time. read more

Not a good experience. We came here for a nice Mexican meal but got instead half frozen fish tacos with no taste at all. Don't go there. We definitely not coming back. It used to be quite good restaurant but not anymore. read more