As a newcomer, I met a warm and friendly staff and the tacos de camarones were fabulous, the best…read moreI've had! Parking is convenient as well.

I took my grandma and grandpa here on Friday, and this place exceeded my expectations. My grandma…read morereally enjoyed her tacos, and my grandpa liked his food too--although he thought the salsa was a little too spicy (I personally loved the kick). The tortillas were amazing--soft, fluffy, and delicious. My molcajete had great flavor as well. My only personal preference was that the steak was cooked more well-done than I typically like, which made it a little dry for me. I understand that may be how many customers prefer it, but it could be nice to give guests the option on how they'd like their steak cooked. The beans were creamy, the rice had great flavor, and overall everything tasted fresh and well made. It does get busy, so parking can be a little difficult, and it can get pretty loud inside during peak hours--but that's also a sign that people clearly enjoy this place. Overall, delicious food and I definitely want to come back to try more items on the menu.

Eat their food at the monterey tequila festival very good…read more They are also at the farmers market once a week in downtown Salinas

From the owner: Smoked & BBQ'd foods, friendly serviceread more

The barbecue brisket sandwich is absolutely phenomenal and will leave your mouth wanting more of…read morethat savory flavor. The meat was not only tender but it was cooked to perfection. One thing about their coleslaw is that it's not overpowering it's not watery and I loved the fresh taste... Keep up the excellent work. Hollister Game Truck

Okay so my husband and I were taking a trip to Monterey Bay for the weekend (June 18-20) and looked…read moreup local food trucks and dinner pop-ups. We love finding places off the beaten path. I stumbled across a pop-up Casas de Humo BBQ (on Instagram @casasdehumobarbecue) which was going to be featured at a local bar in Monterey called Pearl Hour the night before we were heading down. so we changed our plans and headed to Monterey a day early (Thur 6/17), and man was it worth it. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING. Best of the best hands down. the tacos were fresh, the meat melted in your mouth and the salsa was amazing! The brioche bun on the sandwich was fresh; not soggy like other BBQ places serve. On Instagram I saw they make a bbq pork or beef sandwich with a jelly filled donut as the bun called the "Jelly D" which looks ambrosial (check it out yourself on their Instagram. it wasn't on the menu that night so we spotted one of the owners (family run business) and chit-chatted him up and he said they would be featuring the Jelly D Sat 6/19 starting at 12pm at the Joyce Wine Company at 1 E Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel, Ca. so today, we are heading there to dive into the JELLY D and whatever else they have on their menu, because trust me, we are tasting it all! Will update later. Update: the Jelly D was simply Ambrosial (word of the day). We ordered both the brisket jelly D and the pork Jelly D. both were light, flavorful and delicious. Once you pick it up it's hard to put down. The pairing of the Jelly D with Joyce wine company's Gamay Noir wine was perfect match. Casas de Humo Barbecue turned out to be the best adventure of our Monterey weekend getaway that took us to amazing places we may not have ventured without them. Their food was simply amazing and paired well with both places. Cant wait to see where Casas de Humo Barbecue takes us next. We shall see you soon.

One it's a pop up restaurant. When you walk in there are dominoes, pencils , and paper on the…read moretable. I was attracted to the Soul Food sign. There was also a cell phone and a wine glass laying out. But it's American Legion their functions switch out. I saw the menu, cheap prices. I bought a $20.00 plate. The potato salad was like water maybe one scoop, the greens were not homemade at all. The only thing that was good was the fried chicken because you have to serve that fresh. If I ever do go back it will be for the fried chicken.

From the owner: MommaLan's specialty is Soul Food with a healthy spin on it. Peach Cobbler, Mac & Cheese, collard…read moregreens, Fish, sweet potatoes, pork chops, chicken wings, corn bread.

Having Monterey Aquarium season passes means we find ourselves down in Monterey every couple of…read moreweeks because my son absolutely loves the aquarium. And somewhere along the way, Phil's has become part of the tradition. The first few times we came down, we were on a mission to find the best cioppino. We tried multiple places that all made their own claims to the title, but after our very unofficial family taste test, Phil's was the clear winner. Their cioppino is what keeps us coming back -- rich, comforting, loaded with seafood, and exactly what I want after a day on the coast. We also tried the sea bass fish and chips, which were excellent. The fish was buttery and flaky inside with a nice crisp exterior, and the portion was generous with four good-sized pieces of fish. At this point, a Monterey Aquarium trip almost feels incomplete without a stop at Phil's. We may come down for the fish at the aquarium, but we stay for the fish at Phil's.

This is a review on the cod fish and chips. The order was huge. However, the fish had an extreme…read morefishy taste and the breading was thick and kind of doughy. The tartar sauce was pretty much flavorless. The staff is adequate and the restaurant is unique. I would come back but pass on the fish and chips.

We visited Patria in to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday, and it was a hit for all of us. We…read moremade reservations ahead of time and were seated promptly. The restaurant has a great drink selection and a great menu. We were pleasantly surprised to learn they offer a Tuesday dinner special that includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for only $32! This menu also had a special drink selection. I ordered the house salad, prawn risotto, and chocolate lava cake. The salad was very fresh with spring mix and butter lettuce, which I especially enjoy, and it was topped with a light vinaigrette style house dressing that was light and delicious. The prawn risotto was creamy, flavorful, and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. The chocolate lava cake was rich and very chocolatey, a bit too rich for my personal taste, but still enjoyable. It also came with vanilla gelato, which was delicious. As a table, we also ordered the tableside tiramisu, which was such a fun and unique experience. I am a tiramisu connoisseur, so anytime I see it on the menu, I ordered it. It is my favorite dessert. Although this was not my favorite one, I very much enjoyed the experience. I will mention the espresso needs a little more time to fully soak into the ladyfingers, but the presentation and experience alone made it worth trying. The ambiance was lovely with nice background music, and the service was attentive and welcoming. Everyone in our party truly enjoyed their meal, especially the birthday girl. Overall, Patria is a fantastic dinner spot in Salinas, and I would absolutely return and highly recommend it.

Food was great, start to finish, and there was finally some ambiance and I say this as my sole…read moreissue in the past was that the place was silent as a library, because when I'm out for dinner and drinks I like at least a little ambiance. I'm glad to report that last night had some music in the bar, it was soft and sounded like Italian folk (Frank Sinatra would've been nice too) but it was perfectly fine because it broke up the atmosphere in a positive way. Calamari appetizer was great and my pork chop was too. Service was equally great as it was prompt and accompanied. I'll be back soon, so if you haven't tried Patria yet, you should.

I gotta keep it real:…read more Finding good AZN food in Monterey County is like unicorn hunting. You'll have an easier time finding a sugar daddy (or mama) at Pebble Beach or Carmel by the Sea. Judging by the name and playful monkey mascot, Cong N Go may not look like a spot serving up seriously delicious and flavorful SE AZN cuisine BUT they are! Owned by two Cambodian sisters, one holds it down in the FOH while the other is cheffing it up in the kitchen. Indoor seating but they have dog-friendly outdoor seating upon request (two tables). F O O D * Sach Ko Jakak: Cambodian Beef Satay (3 pc-$14) The marinated, tender beef skewers were sweet-savory with aromatic lemongrass flavor and nicely charred, slightly crisp edges. I forgot to ask if they offer sticky rice but it would've been the ideal accompaniment. * Fried Chicken Wings w/ jeow som dipping sauce, rice ($18) Perfectly done, the massive whole chicken wings were shatteringly crunchy on the outside and juicy inside. The "crack sauce" (jeow som) was bright and punchy, hitting all the right notes...salty, tangy, sweet, garlicky, and slightly spicy. Served with steamed rice and fresh veggies. * Kuy Teav Cha: Cambodian Stir-Fried Noodles w/ pork, shrimp ($18) Savory, slightly sweet, and umami, the soft, chewy rice noodles came with tender pork, shrimp, and a boiled egg. Raw bean sprouts, cilantro, green onions, and peanuts brought welcome freshness and crunch for a well-balanced dish. S E R V I C E Friendly, attentive, and prompt. Even tho we were the only ones outside, I appreciate that Thea checked on us and kindly offered water to my dogs. A M B I A N C E Casual, modern with about 8-10 tables inside. Overall, Cong N Go is such a gem in Monterey County for deliciously satisfying and flavorful SE AZN food. Def recommend if you're coming from the SF Bay Area and craving AZN comfort food during your staycation. As I was leaving, I was eyeing their housemade pandan coconut chiffon cake in the cold case...which gives me an excuse to return!

Never come across Cambodian food in California, I found one finally, an authentic tasty one…read more I ordered lemon basil soup, stuffed angel wing, Cambodian salad with soft shell crabs. We went there around 6 pm and some food sold out already, so better go there earlier to get their food.

We definitely love coming to Bag O' Crab. It's the most authentic and closest taste to Boiling Crab…read morethat we've found in the Bay Area. I lived in the Bay Area for several years, and this is honestly the closest you'll get in flavor. There is usually a wait, but that's the same experience at Boiling Crab. I also love that they offer combo options that Boiling Crab doesn't. I can get snow crab legs and shrimp together, which are my two favorites.

Ever since I moved here from Sacramento, I have been coming to Bag o Crab for at least once or…read moretwice a week, because there is no seafood boil close to the one in Sacramento. Me and boyfriend came in as a party of 2 with the possibility of one more as the other party just got off of work and already ate and only coming for a drink. We walked in at exactly 4:30pm and the place was not busy. They asked for how many and I said 3 they then stated to us that we must have the entire party before we are seated. This is the first time this has happened to us. I may understand this as most restaurants do this but for it being 4:30, with multiple booths and tables open, no rush, staff just sitting in empty booths, no waitlist, how can they not accommodate this? I understand restaurants have policies that are important, but what happened to hospitality. Dining out is not only about serving good food it's also about providing thoughtful, welcoming service. When the restaurant is clearly not busy, a little flexibility and basic consideration can make a significant difference in a customer's experience. A post like this can easily be avoided if there was a bit of empathy. The food is good so I leave this a 3.

My go to Mexican joint to get a good plate of food. The taco oaxaqueño de cesina is my staple. It…read morecomes with a green avocado salsa that is soooo good and a nopal (cactus) fresh salad. Memelitas are great. Tlayuda de asada to die for. Them mole nachos are Always great service. I love this place.

I am so happy we got to try a new style of Mexican food. My family and I are from Jalisco and love…read moreall kinds of Mexican food, but Jalisciense food is definitely our favorite. We were on our way home from the 17-Mile Drive and wanted to get dinner before our long drive back. I found Padrino Restaurant on Yelp, and we decided to give it a try. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted and seated. I loved that they provide the table with a pitcher of water, but I do wish it was a little larger. We ordered the kids' food while we looked over the menu. This restaurant is a little more expensive than most Mexican restaurants. A kids' quesadilla was $8 with no sides included. We ordered a side of rice and beans for the kids to share since they were $4 each. My oldest got two fried quesadillas, and my youngest got one regular quesadilla. They don't automatically bring out chips and salsa, but they do offer them. I actually don't mind that because it can feel wasteful to give them to every table when not everyone will eat them. I understand the choice. I ordered the Stuffed Chilaquiles with beef. I loved the flavors. They were definitely different from what I am used to, but still very delicious. The asada was seasoned really well, although don't expect a huge portion of meat. I would give this 4/5 stars. My husband ordered the Enchiladas Rojas with a side of rice and beans (for an extra charge). He did not like the sauce at all because it was more like a dark mole sauce than the red sauce he is used to. I traded plates with him, and I actually liked it. It had a darker flavor than what I am used to, but it was still delicious. I would give this 3/5 stars. My mother-in-law ordered the Green Enchiladas. They were very different--they were more like flautas covered in green sauce. Still good, just not what we expected. I would give them 3/5 stars. I am happy we got to try it, and the service was great. I am just not sure if I would come back again. That may simply be because we are so used to the flavors and style of food we grew up with.

Had an absolutely amazing breakfast here today. The orange juice was spectacular. Fresh squeezed…read moreand delicious. Their homemade sausage is to die for, they cook scrambled eggs perfectly soft, and the hashbrowns were salty and delicious and perfectly crisp. Cute little patio outside and quick and efficient service. Fantastic spot in Carmel Valley. Forgot to take pictures because it was so delicious.

Would not recommend or return. Came with the kids and took awhile for the servers to acknowledge…read morethat we were waiting for a table. Took a very long time to flag someone down to take our order. The plastic glasses are yellow. Had to ask 3 times (from 2 different servers) for straws. Asked twice for silverware. The food took quite awhile to come, one of the servers even thought we were already done and asked how we were and then realized we hadn't even received our food. The plating was absolutely horrible. They placed the fruits on the plate with the French Toast and it made the French toast soggy. The whole plate was drenched with fruit juice. The breakfast burrito was horrible!! Do not get it! The tortilla was soggy from the pico de gallo on the plate. The filling was stuffed with pcio de gallo too, there wasn't any substance. Just cheese and pico de gallo. Paid extra for protein and couldn't find hardly any pieces of meat. No one came back once to ask how the food was and if we needed anything. The server that's a shorter than the other two, with dark brown hair was not very friendly. The other two servers were friendly . Sadly, this place feels like a soft opening restaurant. Three servers and they seemed very disorganized.