My family and I have ordered from Carmen's for a couple years now in the absence of San Jose…read moreTaqueria not being upon. The food has always been fantastic. We finally decided to come and sit down. We were not disappointed in the food. I had my super burrito with steak and as always, it was delicious. My wife had two tacos À la carte. With the same results as my burrito. Her Michelada was good, not great but she still loved it. The restaurant is decorated well, and lived the tv's going to watch sports. The one thing I was let down was the amount of chips and salsa given out as we sat down. There were three of us and we received two small bowls of green and red salsa. When I say small, they were the size of the bowl you order fries and they give you ketchup. Now, for the price you pay for Mexican food now a day, I am expecting a little more salsa and chips. I will be coming back, as the food is great, and the people are so nice. Just don't be so frugal on the chips and salsa.

Wonderfully delicious and authentic!!! Ate here all three days my family stayed in town. And…read moreEVERYONE loved it! Tried four different items ( menudo, asada burrito, fish tacos. Asada nachos) and the asada burrito was everyone's favorite. Every ingredient on the burrito stood out and came together perfectly! Even the chips and salsas were amazing! The menudo broth however was lacking flavor and required adding all condiments to bring it to life but given the quality of all other items I will overlook this. I was going to order burritos to take home before we left but forget in the rush of packing and checking out sadly. Highly recommended!! Can't wait to come back next year for more!!!

Excellent guacamole. Thursday night and it was packed. Great service, very friendly. Loved the…read moreatmosphere, loud but not too much. More lively one would say. Chicken enchiladas were phenomenal, sides were excellent. Ceviche was fresh and full of flavor, not too much citrus. Would definitely eat here again!

I miss the good old days of Boca steakhouse, Boca Tavern, and finally Crave in that order. Boca…read moresteakhouse was outstanding. Crave was the weakest of the three but still very good. Unfortunately, Mamita is no where near as good as the original 3 iterations. While Mamita is passing overall, it is unexciting and pedestrian. I don't understand why every iteration has downgraded quality. Why close better versions every few years? Wish they would upgrade for once for a better quality experience.

Taqueria Mi Pueblo III was a nice stop for lunch after almost three years. I was craving a drink,…read moreso I ordered a margarita, and we shared a guacamole dip. I was happy with both, although the guacamole was slightly saltier than usual. I ordered the carne asada plate, and my significant other went with a meat quesadilla. It was a warm Sunday, so we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air. The ladies who took our order and served us were wonderful, as was a young man who helped with the tables. The food was delicious, and overall we had a relaxing and enjoyable time.

Our fave Mexican restaurant in town! Yummy, good & fast service. Some of dishes we love most:…read moreSalsa & chips Burritos- Carne asada, shredded beef Chicken quesadilla for kiddo Molcajete Grilled Fish Shrimp Colima Jamaica Didn't like their arroz con pollo

Well, how things evolve over time. My dad was JONESING for menudo Sunday morning, and it was too…read moreearly to visit any of his usual weekend Mexican haunts. My wife called around to find that El Rey was open - and had menudo. What we didn't realize was that there was a full-on buffet-style brunch going on every Sunday from 9-2. First, the aromas were intoxicating. Second, there was a HUGE buffet line with Pozole, Menudo, rice & beans, chilaquiles, sausage or eggs with chorizo, veggies, potatoes, huevos ranchero, birria, quesabirria tacos, EVEN American brunch favorites like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes (but why eat those when there is AMAZING Mexican buffet to choose from?). Coffee/soda also included, and desserts including fruits and custards. I figured for sure it was upwards of $30 a head for the buffet, but the bill comes and it's like $68 for the three of us! What a value! BTW, everything I had was delish. Fresh. Hot. Tasty. And the fact that 90% of the people dining at the restaurant were Latinx tells you all you need to know. Highly recommend this brunch, Novato!

Over a week ago, we were driving south to San Francisco through Novato when we decided to have…read moredinner, and Mexican food won the majority vote! We chose to try a new place, and El Rey caught our attention. We arrived around 7:30, and the restaurant wasn't busy since it was a Sunday evening. Looking at the menu, I was drawn to their ceviche. We decided to start with guacamole and chips, share a ceviche, and have a Quesadilla con Carne Asada. The guacamole was fresh and well-made, the ceviche was exceptionally delicious, and the quesadilla was very well prepared and tasty. Our server was very friendly and helpful with our questions, and we even shared a few good laughs. The service was excellent. El Rey has been a local spot in Novato for many years, family-owned and known for serving traditional Mexican dishes in a welcoming setting. It has built a reputation in the community as a reliable place for a hearty meal, and many locals have been coming here for decades. The restaurant is a standalone building in a shopping center and offers a large seating area. They also have an outdoor seating area, which I imagine would be especially nice on a warm evening. As a first-time visitor, I left impressed. The food, service, and relaxed atmosphere made for a very enjoyable stop on our drive. We would definitely come back again the next time we're in Novato.

This is a small but delightful restaurant in the fast, casual ethnic food category. There's a lot…read moreof Mexican food restaurants out there, which are great, but this restaurant specializes in central American food. If you haven't become familiar with it yet, give it a try! Their pupusa and their tamales are delicious. And you don't have to spend a lot of money to get great tasting food. I only spent $11 for example on my recent lunch there and got two items which filled me up sufficiently. I'll definitely be going back to Cocina Antigua on my rounds through Novato

Delicious Guatemalan food. Many aqua frescas. Had the Plato Antigua and partner had a beef with…read moremole sauce. Beans, guacamole and salsa yummy. Plantains fried to perfection.

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.

Definitely recommend! I ordered a classic carne asada burrito but there were a few other items on…read morethe menu I can't wait to come back and try. The carne asada was tender and flavorful, not a chewy piece in the entire burrito. Such a well balanced and well packed burrito. Chips and salsa were delicious, salsa had a nice mild heat/flavorful balance to it. Chips were nice and perfectly crisp. I also ordered the margarita Azul and it was so delicious. Staff are attentive, nice, and welcoming. Overall I really enjoyed my experience here. I also loved that they had outdoor seating up front and I regret not sitting out there on such a gorgeous day like today. Will be back soon!

Quick bite & drinks…read more Margaritas were tasty and tacos had a good taste. We sat in the bar area - bartender was a bit busy, but very attentive. We had our food delivered by a nice group of staff. By the time we left - the restaurant was full. Looks like a locals place.

Crab enchiladas!!!! The entire staff is always so welcoming--like you're family! Whether the patio…read moreby the fountain on a sunny day, the upstairs for an event, or inside downstairs--the ambiance is always happy and positive. Always a great choice.

Cute local restaurant with large outdoor seating area and a smaller space inside with a few tables…read more Bar area seems popular. We had lunch inside since it was a cold day. Burritos were quite large and more than we could eat. Complimentary chips and salsa. Service was good and not rushed. Plenty of street parking available. Overall a good experience, will be back.

Always a pit stop after I finish getting my nails done next door whenever I feel like picking up a…read morequick snack to take home. Today their gelatin desserts spoke to me from their refrigerated section containing salsas, guacamole, & flan. Their gelatin cups aren't too sweet and are a yummy treat. Take one or some home!

This is comfort food in the true sense of the word! Not fancy in its decor, La Chulada has a warm,…read morefriendly atmosphere, and I always feel personally welcomed when I walk in. The food tastes like home, and is always served piping hot and presented beautifully with a simple elegance. Their fresh tortillas, made per order, are just delicious. One of my favorite dishes is the Birria. And with a little advanced notice, they will prepare a wonderful ceviche which I recently served for a party in my home. I love this little Novato gem!

I can't believe this is the first time I've been here. When you first walk in, there is a large,…read morewelcoming bar area. My daughter and I went here on a Saturday night and there was plenty of open seating. They quickly bring you chips and two types of salsa and water. The red salsa was a unique recipe which set it apart from many generic red salsa that I encounter at other Mexican places. The green salsa was tasty also and not too spicy. I ordered the tropical pork. I told my daughter that it was a Mexican version of Chinese sweet and sour pork. It has many of the same ingredients. It was very flavorful and came with rice, beans, and plantains. It also came with a nice side salad of mixed greens and balsamic vinaigrette (?). My daughter ordered a combo plate with a veggue burrito and chicken flauta. I tasted both. Good, but didn't really shine. We were both surprised to see broccolli in her burrito. Also surprised that it didn't have rice or beans in it. Aren't they considered veggie? They have a huge menu of Mexican-inspired cocktails. Maybe next time. I like the feel of this place, the staff, the food and the prices. They also have a decent amount of parking. I will be back. I'd like to try some other items on the menu.

For many years, and I really mean years, as we drove up north or south on Highway 101, Maya…read morePalenque in Novato caught our eye, but we never stopped there for a meal or a drink. We finally got the chance to do that, and it made us wish we had done it earlier. As we entered the restaurant, I saw the bar with people sitting there, drinking, chatting, and watching football on TV. My first mistaken impression was that this was more of a working man's hangout. But when we went into the dining area, we were seated, and I looked around at the other folks there and overheard some of their conversations, I realized that the place is more of a local favorite. The atmosphere was warm and family-oriented. I saw couples, young and old, and families with children of various ages. Our server stopped by shortly after we sat down, and we received a basket of freshly made chips and salsa, both of which were delicious. I had read about their tasty margaritas but decided against ordering one this time because I was tired and driving home to San Francisco. So we went straight to the main course! I ordered Adobado, a dish I hadn't tried before. Adobado features thin slices of pork tenderloin marinated and grilled in a chipotle-adobado sauce, served with plantains and sour cream. It turned out to be a very satisfying and fulfilling choice, but not enough to prevent me from asking for a flan. Let me tell you about my obsession with flan! I love flan, but to me, a good flan is one that is not too sweet and not overcooked to be too hard. It should be firm enough to not fall apart when served to you, but soft enough to tremble as it is presented! The flan here was perfect! The two guys who worked on the floor were wonderful. They answered our questions while we were ordering and stopped at our table several times afterward to see if we needed anything and to make sure everything was fine. The restaurant has nice decorations. I don't know much about its history in the neighborhood, but it seems to have been there for years. I spent a few minutes looking around at the various drawings on the walls and other decorations around the dining area. It will grab your attention. Overall, this was a pleasant experience. We will stop by there again, and I'll make sure to try their margarita next time!