Fresh flavorful food. Wonderfully warm and welcoming staff (family) a special gem. HIGHLY recommend!!

Delicious, one of a kind, super fresh with local ingredients. This is probably the best Mexican food I have had. So much so that we had them cater a party for us and all our guests were blown away. Highly recommend! read more

Was visiting from out of town, and our group of eight decided to grab some Mexican food. It's a cute restaurant, and both the food and service were very good. I ordered the chicken flautas and a beer, and we also shared an order of chips and guacamole, which were delicious. Overall, the food was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared. My biggest gripe and the reason I can't give them five stars is their pricing and some of the extra charges. My cousin, who also ordered the chicken flautas, asked for a little extra lettuce with her meal, and they charged her $3 for it. We all thought that was pretty unusual and it left a bad impression. Later, we asked for some "hot sauce", and they brought us their homemade salsa instead. It was delicious, but we were surprised to find a $2 charge for it as well. That also left us with a negative impression. While we genuinely enjoyed the food, we felt the prices were already on the high side for what we received. Combined with what felt like unnecessary nickel-and-diming over small extras, the overall value just wasn't there for us. We'd still say the food is good, but the pricing kept this from being a five-star experience. read more

Found this place on Yelp and it was right by our hotel so we stopped by. When we got there, we were the only ones, but within 15-20 minutes it was packed. One waiter but the service was still pretty fast and very friendly. My son was concerned that the birria plate was too expensive ($35), but I told him he should try it. So glad he did! He said it was the best birria he's ever had!! Would highly recommend the splurge for this one if you're into Birria. The churros were also great. Great little local place. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Birria - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

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The food was absolutely amazing, and the service was great. I had some fun which I can't explain

We (family) love this restaurant. It's delicious. My favorites? Everything. Service was great and the restaurant and bathroom were clean. We will be regulars. Look for us...we will be weary a big smile and a full tummy. read more

Food amazing Service excellent Ambiance cute and quaint Such a delicious meal!!! We ordered Nachos Fiesta, vampire tacos, Guacamole And Chips, and Aki Molcajete. We did not take photos because we were so hungry. Everything was delicious! For dessert we had churros with ice cream and the flan. I wish I were a local so I could eat here more often and try everything in the menu!!! If in Monterey drive to Marina it's so worth the drive, in my opinion. We would have eaten there again today but it is closed in Sundays. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Aki Molcajete - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

New Marina favorite! Aki was spectacular 11/10!! The food was absolutely amazing, the service was fantastic and the restaurant is now my favorite Marina food location. Amazing service, the waitress recommended the duo mole and it was amazing! The 3 tacos were delicious, coated in cheese with an amazing flavorful birria inside! The restaurant was full but it felt like we were the only ones eating. It's set up perfectly for the staff to move seamlessly around without bumping into tables! Love the ambience! read more

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The food was out of this world! Standouts were the stuffed zucchini, churros and the birria (we had it in tacos vampiros with shredded beef I think). Enchiladas in mole and the elotes were very good too. My 5 and 3 year old ate the birria tacos all up. 5 year old asked if he could eat them every day Service was very sweet. The chef came to visit our table and check in. She was wonderful. We had a bit of a wait beforehand, but it was well worth it read more

We heard about this place from my husband's PT. We made a reservation for a Sunday. Seriously, the food was delicious. We had the Calabacitas and the Chilaquiles. So fresh and tasty. Then we ordered the Churros for dessert. Wonderfully tasty and crisp. Great way to end a lovely experience. Our waiter was lovely as well. Give it a try!! read more

Located in a small strip mall in Marina we visited Aki for dinner. It's surrounded by residential apartments, some houses and retail. Parking is extremely limited and difficult. Once you figure that out you enter a clean "shop, store " environment with tables and chairs from Goodwill--clean though. The sun was beating through the side window-- no shade and it was bright. We sat on the opposite side. One server, one busser.server was pretty good and helpful answering our questions. We read about this in Edibles Magazine- a trusted source in Monterey . The food, while Mexican, is built around "taking it to the next level"- each dish had something unique about its presentation or ingredients. It's not over the top or trying to be fancy rather taking old favorites and providing a different take. My chilie verde was very good and had distinct flavors to mix it up. Guac was excellent. Wife's Tacos were a miss-the burned cheese was just too much. She ate the insides instead and said the filling was good. One note, the place is small but fairly empty . Prices are reasonable. Beer soft drinks wine. I'd give it another try. read more

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Absolutely fantastic food and the sweetest staff. LOVE that they are a blue zone focused restaurant too.

Absolutely loved our meal here! The staff were super friendly, and the environment was very cozy and intimate. We got the two-mole dish, which was fantastic. The mole was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were on point. I also got an horchata drink, which is some of the better horchata I've ever had. Couldn't recommend enough, will surely be back! read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

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The food and customer service was amazing! I had the chile verde plate, chapolines, guacamole and chips. My wife had the zucchini plate and we loved everything. The ambience was very tranquil and enjoyable. The tortillas were hand made and they were amazing. We also had the churro with ice cream and this was a must. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Churro with vanilla ice cream. - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

While doing laundry, we had decided to try out the restaurant next-door to Mom's laundry. We decided to share a Birria nacho dish which was perfectly made both with taste and presentation! The service was exceptional, and the restaurant setting was very relaxing. I will definitely be returning to try more dishes from the menu. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Aki restaurant is a hidden gem! Great service and AMAZING authentic Mexican ! Definitely will be returning to try more dishes! - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

The food at Aki's is excellent. It's Mexican vegetable-forward food, which I love. You will pay a little more than a lot of Mexican places, but this is no Taqueria. It's elevated. The service is superb. No complaints there. Dana is always friendly and thoughtful -- goes the extra mile. The ambiance is rustic, authentic Mexican. read more

First time here and had an excellent experience! The staff was super friendly especially Carlos and Chef Isabella. The horchata was delicious, and the mole and birria tacos were full of flavor. The churros and ice cream were the perfect finish. I'll definitely be back and highly recommend this spot for authentic, tasty food. read more

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Wow, I can't believe this little gem has been sitting in my backyard & I had no idea. From the service, food, ambiance. I highly recommend. Jalapeño margarita Mushroom app Chicken tacos Churro dessert read more

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Went to Aki Fresh Mex in Marina today for the first time. Cute spot. The food was delish and well presented. Service was very friendly as well. We had the vampire tacos, chicken tacquitos, street corn and chips and salsa. Btw the tacquitos would normally have the the chil Verde sauce coating the tacquitos but I had it on the side. All the sauces and food items had good flavor and tasted homemade. We also had the red wine sangria and that was very refreshing. We managed to have a little room for dessert and glad we did. Freshly made churros with ice cream....so gooood!! Make sure you save room for the churro dessert!!!! We are looking forward to returning soon. Fyi the parking is aweful so recommend parking on the street and walking over. read more

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They are such a gem! Their food has really beautifully crafted flavor and it is a friendly environment, with good service.

Accidentally ended up here and thankful we did. From the clean fresh atmosphere to the amazing food, we will return soon and frequently... read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Chicken enchiladas on homemade corn tortillas... - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

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Mommy can cook! The mole is to die for or better yet, remain alive and just let it all melt in your mouth. Such a sweet, informative and helpful daughter that serves. We read the reviews and headed out this way after a trip to Best Buy's. We were not disappointed... the volcano tacos and enmoladas de pollo with guacamole and street corn filled us up. Scheduling our return. Yum. read more

We are in town visiting and we are a tough crew to find a restaurant for. We have people who are picky, one can't do gluten, we have a vegan and a vegetarian. This place not only fit the bill with dishes for everyone, but we had the most delightful server and the food was incredible! (I didn't take photos of the enfrijoladas, which were a much needed comfort food, or of the flan. Both were tasty!) read more

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Good atmosphere, good service and above all good food. As a local I highly recommend this little place. I recommend the stuffed zucchini and the guac 10/10!! read more

Amazing place to meet friends for lunch or dinner. Great service, a little dark on the Ambiance, food is prepared fresh I go there as often as I can, one thing it's a bit $$$$. Most of my friends don't mind because the food is always made like everyone is special as an individual . this is a Oaxacan restaurant. read more

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Excellent food and service . Reminds me of being in Mexico. Not a hole in the wall but simple and casual atmosphere read more

This spot is small but packs a great menu. Our group started with the guacamole, salsa and chips. My entree was the Mole Duo. Two different style of chicken mole. This was spot on. The green mole had a nice kick and traditional mole was velvety hints of chocolate and spice. I look forward to coming again to try the rest of the menu. Also had the honey and lavender water and it was very good. Next time I'll try the Tamarind juices. Our hostess was attentive and made recommendations and brought back more chips and refilled out drinks. Tip: be patient as it looks like the owner and one other person was running this show. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

Good food and interesting menu options, excellent service, cozy atmosphere, and a pleasant dining experience. A little bit pricey, but it is definitely NOT your average Mexican restaurant. Give this place an opportunity to impress you too! read more

I'm thinking it's kinda over rated. The food is tasty, just not a lot of it. The prices are high for the experience. The interior still had the Christmas vibe, it's February take down the tree and table decorations. The walls are a mix of stuff like cool photos and then some sort of fence deal screwed into the wall, a taxidermy deer and a saw blade. The service was good. She was polite and moved around the restaurant like a pro. So, we ordered the Tacos Vampiros which might be their signature dish? Good sure, but for $7 a piece it should be filled with Wagu instead of chicken. 3 for $21. Then we ordered Isabel's Chiles Rellenos $24, filled with cream cheese and cooked in butter, no batter. And they were good. Again portions are small. Can't fill up on chips and salsa that's $5 bucks an order and if you can use cash there's a 3.5% credit card processing fee which is never mentioned. Overall just an average experience in a overpriced Mexican restaurant which there are few in this area. Last words... I'm going to get something to eat. read more

Aki Fresh Mex - Mexican Near Me - Marina, California

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Run, don't walk! And whatever you do, get the chile relleno or the mole two ways! This place has incredible service, super friendly people, and unbelievably good food! I literally never do reviews, but I can't help it with this one! read more

Great food as always. Server was amazingly sweet and helpful. Cute little location and the inside is always super clean and cute. read more

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Love this place ! Such good food and the customer service is just awesome so convenient for me since I just work next door at moms laundromat . Totally recommend it! read more

Ordered chapulines to start. My first time and very tasty. The duo mole chicken has two great sauces: red and green Fresh tortillas went perfectly Rice and beans as well Had the fresh Horchata to round out the meal A small space in a strip mall but excellent food. read more

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Wow second time, and it was fantastic again! No pics of the food because we were too busy enjoying it but you gotta check this spot out for sure. Amazing service too. We had like 4 apps 3 entrees, and dessert. It was an incredible meal from start to finish. read more

This small restaurant had been recommended to us. I can see why! It is amazing! It's unassuming, casual, and the food and service are truly outstanding! We started with the beer selection, which was not your usual Mexican beers. I loved the Blanca de Maguey, in the IPA vein. They have beers I've never heard of from Mexico and ones brewed in Watsonville at Buenos Vista Brewing. The cook is from Hidalgo, a cuisine I had never tasted before. The moles and the Molcajete sauce we had were complex, creamy and made me want to lick my plate! The portions were generous, but not overwhelming. We had room for dessert of churros and vanilla ice cream, which were so much better than the churros I've had before. I highly recommend this restaurant, and can't wait to return to try other dishes. Our waitress was delightful, which added to the joy of eating there. read more

Ive been wanting to come to this place for over a year and I only live 7 miles away in Castroville. Overall experience did not disappoint. All very positive parts with only a couple neutral to above average parts. Went on new years eve evening at 6:30p and had about 2-3 open tables but had a reservation. Clean place, a little dark inside for my taste but didnt effect my experience. Server promptly seated us and waited on us the appropriate amount of times during dinner. We came in looking for multiple courses and expected a bigger than normal check. Partner got a modelo chavela and i decided to not get a $4 can of soda so I got a $7 glass of jamaica agua fresca which was large and lasted past dessert. After we ordered drinks and grilled artichoke for app, The server brought our drinks and a side of guacamole and chips. We didnt order it and ended up acknowledging it and not charging us on check. Guacamole was fresh, bright, perfect mix of ingredients, pepper, lime, and added sesame seed garnish on top. Chips were homemade and perfect. Not too thin, but also the thickness didnt have the crunch of a super thick or hard chip, they were light and perfect imo. Grilled artichoke was amazing, garlic in between leaves and aioli was amazing. Super bomb items before entrees. I got the anytime chilaquiles and my partner got the chicken flautas. Chilaquiles was a big portion, they used the perfect homemade chips and hot black beans and good eggs, not your everyday grocery store eggs. The green sauce i dont get typically but wanted this plate, the only thing about this dish was the green sauce was a little too citrusy, so much where I didnt wanna finish all of it, it was yummy, but very lemony, and plated in a bowl with everything getting real soggy, if I were them id plate it on a wider plate than a bowl. Partner got the chicken flautas, everything was great but the sauce was the same as in mine, but wasnt drenched in it and could easily be taken out of it. Very yum. The dessert was beyond amazing. Literally the best churros ive had in my 48 yrs, better than disneyland or county fairs. Warm, and fresh and homemade with the bombest cinnamon sugar coating, with a scoop of super good vanilla ice cream. We knew what we would be paying for before we got there and ordered that way. We could have easily made the check Lower by getting water and no dessert and different plates. So our check was $99 didnt get charged for guac and chips. I tipped $20 which was 20%. We were there over 45 minutes. If you are playing for multiple people of course it will be more but if its yourself and/or one Other person, just order how you want to pay. Food if def worth it and want to go again to try more items. Probably will go very sporadically. Maybe even by myself. I would give it 4 1/2 stars but it only lets you do whole numbers. So i give it a 4, because of green sauce, and certain item prices. Oh and the music Pumping was super dope, it was some 70's and 80's stuff. Im a vegetarian by the way and this place has lots of stuff I can eat. read more

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The food is so delicious and authentic. I love this restaurant and have told friends to definitely go there. I will be back.

I think what makes a Mexican restaurant is the chips and salsa. I wouldn't pay for the chips and salsa here. It's alright - I didn't think it was good. The chile verde is good. It's crispy and tender. I would get that again. The tortillas it comes with is basic. It's not homemade. That could be a game changer if it was. The place over all is small but I like it. Trendy and hip. The service is friendly. read more

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I grew up in the San Joaquin Valley, which means I have a solid experience with GOOD Cali-Mexi food. THIIIIIS restaurant delivers! Plus I got to learn the HISTORY of some of the recipes as my waitress told me her MOM created the stuffed zucchini recipe I was eating!! How cool!! Also enjoyed the fresh air and atmosphere. Parking is the only MEH so just find a spot up the road and its so easy to get to. read more

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We had a great experience at Aki Fresh. We enjoyed very delicious home made food and great service. I had the Calabacitas Mexicanas, the grill corn yum! super delicious! The pricing was very reasonable and the Jamaica drink was so refreshing! Definitely coming back!!! read more