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    Aqui Cal-Mex

    4.0 (929 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Aqui Cal-Mex Takeout or Delivery

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    AQUI CAL-MEX ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Aqui Cal-Mex

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    Avocado Dip
    Tram V.

    I haven't been to an Aqui in forever. I forgot how much I used to love this place. I usually go for their swirls, but today I decided to try their chef special - jambalaya. The jambalaya was full of flavors and filled with fresh ingredients: shrimps, mahi, spinach, zucchini, tomatoes, and okra. It also came with taquitos and they were delicious. Everything balanced each others so well and paired perfectly with all the hot sauces they offered. I'm not a fan of the avocado dip. It was okay. I would rather just get the salsa and chips. The place was big and have plenty of seatings. However, it started to get packed and open table became nonexistent. Out of all the Aqui locations I've gone to, the interior of this place is my fav. Service was fast and efficient. They routinely cleaned the table and picked up any empty dishes.

    Sunrise Swirl
    Marlon P.

    I only ever come here for drinks with some friends to wind down after work and the service here is great. The bartenders are attentive and keep a conversation going with all types of people and that takes talent. It does get quite busy here so sometimes there is a line at a bar but thats to be expected because the quality of their drinks, not just the swirls, are top notch. If youre coming during the colder months theres heaters outside to keep you warm, and if its hot, just bring a swirl out there to keep you cool.

    Bryan C.

    Aqui is our go-to whenever we feel like getting some high quality tex-mex fusion food in a fun dining place with great price. From comfort food to yummy seafood plates, they have everything! Highly recommend folks in South Bay to try them out, I am sure you will enjoy the food and will go back again!

    Knife & Fork Veggie Burrito
    Don L.

    I've gone here for years since it's the closest Aqui to me. I've been going to the Cupertino Aqui more recently, and it has a better vibe than this Blossom Hill one, I'm ngl. The Blossom Hill location is kind of bad, with it being next to a VTA stop and a parking lot. The patio has no views since there's a giant wall, but the dining area inside is nice enough, if a bit cramped. The freshly made California-based food and, of course, the alcoholic swirls are delicious and affordable. Aqui is a South Bay Area institution. Even though the Blossom Hill Aqui not my favorite location, in the grand scheme of things, it's still an awesome restaurant to come get good food and drinks.

    Firecracker Shrimp
    Jose C.

    I will return soon for the swirls everyone raves about. I was driving this visit and I heard one swirl is enough to get you toasty. My girlfriend did have one and she enjoyed it. It looks like a tropical slushee with tequila. Centenario Tequila to be exact. They serve them on their cashier side where you order your food and also on the bar side. I had an amazing Sonoran braised beef plate I believe my family calls this "carne en su jugo". The chips and salsa were okay. I like the thick corn tortilla chips but the pico de gallo salsa was watery. I prefer a chunky salsa. The pozole was okay more of a Tex-Mex flavor. The hominy was cooked perfect just too much tomatillo flavor in the broth for me. It was good though just not authentic enough to rate excellent. I devoured the beef plate. What a combination of goodness all in one plate. The sweet potato mash with the two fried wedges I can eat a full plate of. I loved that it came with zucchini and queso fresco on top. Made the plate a little refreshing with a scoop of cold Santa Fe style corn. The beef was so tender and flavorful. I kept eying someone's chocolate cake that was sitting next to us. I will save room for that next visit.

    Strawberry coconut soju swirl
    Damien H.

    Aqui has become a classic for many in my social circle and myself. It's a nice, casual, and bright place to grab a bite or a drink. The Cal-Mex style food is delicious and made fresh. My go-to order is the Southwest Chicken Taquitos and they always come crispy and perfect with a good amount of avocado on them, especially considering the price. It's an order at the counter type of place, and the cashiers are always friendly and happy to answer questions. The drinks are nice and strong while also refreshing and reasonably priced. Their flourless chocolate cake is also tasty, very chocolate-y, and great texture even without flour. You can't really go wrong at Aqui!

    Side Chips
    Sarah S.

    Aquí is a San Jose staple for a reason and it's not just their swirls. Personally, I think the swirls are both too strong and too cloyingly sweet so I never partake. But their food is incredible. Forget the "can't move, can't function because I ate too much heavy Mexican food", this is fresh mex. They have many vegetarian options which my in laws love when they're in town. I love the adobo chicken lime avocado bowl but my husband loves the fajitas. I love the side bar of all the sauces and salsas that you can grab as needed. The service is quick and the ambiance is busy and loud but it's poppin! You'll have fun meeting up with friends or coworkers here!

    Grilled Salmon Salad
    Megan L.

    Delicious tex-mex spot with a fun interior and salsa bar. Fresh, flavorful food and great service. Will be back for the industrial swirls!

    Chelsea C.

    This is one of my favorite spots to eat in town. There are a plethora of healthy options and the food presentation is 10/10. There's something for everyone at Aqui and I've had nothing but positive experiences with the staff. The restaurant is clean and the way they have everything set up it's easy to order and your food comes out promptly!

    Thai chicken burrito
    Tina K.

    This place is consistent and solid. It's not Mexican food, it's Mexican-food-esque with a healthier twist. You stand in line and order, then grab a seat and wait for the buzzer. They have a wide menu and offer healthier options with great specials. I LOVE the variety in flavors and options, and their presentation is always beautiful! They have a full-bar and it's all about the swirls (slushie margaritas that catch up to you quickly).

    Grilled shrimp
    Rini R.

    Loved the food and it's coming from someone who is not a very big fan of Mexican cuisine but I still gave it a try as it's my husband's one of the favorite cuisine and boy , I loved it so much . The service is very very fast . We ordered grilled shrimp and Wild Mahi shrimp teriyaki and both the items were delicious. By the time we were grabbing our sauces and the dressings , they were ready with the order . We also ordered one of their swirls and it was pretty strong . Loved the ambiance , lots of places to sit inside as well as outside . Surely recommend it .

    Kevin D.

    The Aqui is definitely my go to! The food feels refreshing and light. But the chips and salsa are so addictive, I always end up eating way more than I planned!

    Grass fed beef bowl

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    Aqui Cal-Mex Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Aqui Cal-Mex

    Are dogs allowed in the patio area?

    Yes, as far as I know. I ate there with our puppies

    Is there halal food?

    Hello Zainab, I have confirmed with our Executive Chef that our Beef is Halal.… 

    Does the bar serve Russian Mule drinks?

    They have a Russian Mule Swirl™

    Are there any gluten free options?

    Yes

    When are you going to open an Aqui Cal-Mex in Sacramento? It will be a complete hit, it will be the best healthy restaurant in Sacramento. Please open it close to downtown…

    Please try again to open one here in Santa Cruz. We've been waiting for 20 + years! Janet and John

    Is there a special Happy Hour menu?

    Does the bar serve scotch on the rocks?

    What time is Happy Hour?

    I think 4 to 6 Monday thru Friday. Drinks only. Nothing on food

    View All 8 Questions

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    Blossom & Bourbon

    Blossom & Bourbon

    4.2
    (712 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    We had such a great experience at Blossom & Bourbon! Everything we ordered was absolutely…read moredelicious. We tried the steak tacos, smoked chicken lollipops, skirt steak, creamed spinach, and mashed potatoes, and there honestly wasn't a single thing we wouldn't order again. The meats were cooked perfectly, the sides were fantastic, and everything had so much flavor. We were already talking about what we'd reorder on our next visit! One thing to know before you go is that they don't take reservations, so if you're walking in during a busy time, there's a good chance you'll have a bit of a wait. Thankfully, you can grab drinks from the bar and sit outside while you wait, which made it really enjoyable and didn't feel like an inconvenience at all. Great food, great atmosphere, and absolutely worth the wait. We will definitely be back!

    Busy restaurant even for a weeknight. Surprising considering this place is a little more upscale…read more Food and drinks are not the cheapest here and I would say for the average consumer, maybe eating here (or a similar restaurant) once a month would be reasonable to fit one's budget. Onto the food...rib eye steak, at $58, was cooked perfectly. Not overdone and tasty with garlic butter on top. Also a decent cut of meat that wasn't tough. Price is acceptable for a 16 oz size steak of this quality. Lobster rolls as an appetizer, were just the right portion if you're not too hungry and don't want to eat a full meal. Good lobster to dough ratio and the sauce it came with was adequate. Friendly service and the restaurant was staffed appropriately for the number of patrons it had. Clean and welcoming interior. Parking lot is available.

    Photos
    The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
    The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
    Fries that come w/ the French Dip
    Fries that come w/ the French Dip
    Mexican Coke®($6)

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    The Stand - American Classics Redefined

    The Stand - American Classics Redefined

    4.3
    (292 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Really delicious food, I struggled with 4 or 5 stars, but quality of food and portion size deserves…read morea 5. It is one of the pricier burger options around, but you can literally customize your burger to your hearts content (or other sandwich type). We have had their burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken tenders and a salad - kale quinoa. Quality of ingredients - really high, really delicious meat. Lettuce and ingredients in salad were fresh, and plentiful. Portion size - a large fry or a large onion ring feeds my whole family - when it says large, it is large.I did not trust the first time and ended up with WAY more fries than we needed. But fun fact - these reheat really well! Some do not, these are great the next day in the air fryer (same as onion rings) The only disappointing item for my son was the chicken tenders, they were very small and mostly breading. Kind of felt like we had the last remnants of a batch. Good flavor overall, just not a lot of chicken and overall this was the smallest portion size, even for a kid size. And we order from them all: Mojo, Habit, The Burger Lounge. I would rank the Stand higher than these others for quality, flavor and menu selection. But definitely at a higher price point. One thing to keep in mind - paying for McDonalds these days is close to paying for one of these higher-quality spots and I will pay more $$ any day of the week to ensure higher quality ingredients and choices.

    The Stand American Classics has become one of our go-to spots whenever we're craving a great…read moreburger. Everything we've ordered has been fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The burgers are juicy, the fries are crispy, and the milkshakes are absolutely outstanding, rich, creamy, and the perfect way to finish the meal. What really stands out is the consistency. Every visit has been a great experience, and the staff is always friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The restaurant is clean, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it's a great place for families or a casual meal with friends. If you're looking for high-quality burgers, delicious shakes, and excellent customer service, I highly recommend The Stand. We'll definitely be coming back again and again for our classic burger fix!

    Photos
    The Stand - American Classics Redefined
    The Stand - American Classics Redefined
    We Cater!

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    We Cater!
    The Table

    The Table

    3.9
    (3.9k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$

    (4.5/5) Had brunch…read moreat The Table on a beautiful warm Wednesday, and the patio was definitely the highlight. It was the perfect spot to enjoy the fresh air and made for a really relaxing atmosphere. The restaurant has a great vibe overall, especially if you're looking for an outdoor brunch. (Have not been inside) I ordered the steak chilaquiles, and I'd give them a 8.5/10. The flavors were really good, the sauce was delicious, and I liked the addition of the eggs, avocado, and queso. My only complaint was the steak. I ordered it medium rare, but it came out medium well, a bit dry and was tougher than expected, making it difficult to cut. It was still tasty--just not cooked quite the way I was hoping. The mimosas were good too, a great value. Nothing that really stood out as amazing, but definitely nothing bad about them either--they got the job done. What really elevated the experience was the service. Our server Rebecca was attentive, knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly quick throughout the meal. They checked in at the right times, answered our questions confidently, and made us feel well taken care of without ever being overbearing. Overall, I'd come back, especially to sit on the patio again. With a more tender steak, this meal would've easily been an 8.5 or 9 out of 10!! :)

    One star, and it's entirely about how the staff handled a serious situation, not the food…read more I was harassed by another patron at the bar -- told to "go back to my own country." That's blatant racism, and it happened while I was a paying customer. Staff did nothing to address it in the moment. Understandably upset and shaken, I had too much to drink afterward. My family came and drove me home safely. Rather than addressing what actually happened -- a customer being racially harassed on their premises -- management's response was to ban me, not the person who harassed me. If a business allows this kind of harassment to go unaddressed and then punishes the target of it for reacting, that's a real problem, not a minor service issue. This is the San Francisco Bay Area. We should expect better than this. Avoid this place if you don't want to find out how they'll treat you when something like this happens to you.

    Photos
    The Table
    Roasted Carrot Salad ($14)
    Roasted Carrot Salad ($14)
    Market Fish: Salmon w/ Balsamic Soubise ($36)

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    The Creek Eatery

    The Creek Eatery

    3.9
    (533 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    First time checking out The Creek Eatery and overall it was a solid experience. The atmosphere was…read morerelaxed and welcoming, making it a great spot to sit down and enjoy a meal. We ordered the seafood pasta, combination pizza and added jalapeños, fried zucchini, and of course, some beers I was in between the linguine clans and the seafood pasta, but ended up just going with the seafood pasta. The seafood pasta was flavorful with a nice tomato-based sauce, plenty of seafood, and perfectly toasted garlic bread on the side. The pizza had a generous amount of toppings, fresh vegetables, and just the right amount of heat from the jalapeños. Thank you to all the servers and workers for continuously checking up on our table and making sure we were good and refilling our beers! And also thank you for bringing out a little birthday dessert for my partner!

    Went there for a Sunday Brunch. Place was packed and we had no reservations. But still got seated…read moreimmediately. The staff is really good at this restaurant. They bring out the order almost with 10 minutes of placing the order. Their menu has good variety of options. Their pizzas and salads top the chart. My kid almost loves every single item on the kids menu. Favorite is usually French Toast with Bacon and cup of fruit. They also do food catering for parties and are pretty flexible with choosing a menu that works best. They delivered on time and food was packed really well.

    Photos
    Hot spot in evergreen for pizza
    Hot spot in evergreen for pizza
    Mediterranean halibut
    Mediterranean halibut
    Wine and drink selection

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    Wine and drink selection
    Palm & Ember

    Palm & Ember

    3.2
    (36 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    What a find! Every dish seemed like it was meticulously…read morecrafted for flavor, texture, and culinary joy. Portions were generous and filling and well worth the prices. Everyone loved what they ordered. I had the quinoa power bowl and added sweet potato fries. The bowl was elegantly arranged with quinoa, avocado, chickpeas, almonds, roasted sweet potatoes, cucumber, mango, greens, and cherry tomatoes. Fantastic combination. I alternated between eating the ingredients by themselves and mixing them together. The sweet potato fries were served up just the way I like them: savory and the right balance between a light crunch on the outside and smooth inside. I tasted the porterhouse pork with apricot chutney. Just wow. What a burst of flavor and seasonings with the meat tender and juicy. I also sampled the truffle rotini. Rich and flavorful. A perfect combo with the pork. Other food ordered included Mary's 1/2 bird and fish tacos. Reports from everyone were outstanding. We were even compelled to compliment and thank the chef. For an appetizer we ordered the local cheese charcuterie board. We didn't leave a single item standing. One tiny hiccup: they ran out of lemons. Never seen that before. A lime was a sufficient substitute for my water. The ambiance of the restaurant and the hotel is stylish and comfortable. However, the dining area carries sound and I am guessing gets quite loud when full. Just be prepared. Otherwise, a great place to enjoy a fine dinner with a partner or a family.

    We didn't get seated and left after waiting over thirty minutes when we made a reservation…read more It appeared they were vary understaff and the two wait staff had to act as both busser and host. The restaurant wasn't even fully seated and they were visibly struggling and stressed. they didn't even have time to deal with customers waiting and clearing the tables, some of which were not cleared the entire 30 minutes we were waiting. No restaurant manager was present and there seemed to be no food and beverage manager either probably due to a large wedding going on. if there was going to be no manager on duty and service standards compromised due to understaffing they should have not operated without a manager on duty or proper staffing for an upscale restaurant. several other waiting customers were unhappy with the long wait and left. too bad the environment was very charming and Hayes Mansion was beautiful. This is an upscale restaurant and charges a premium for its prices, and this is not a premium experience at all. Hotel management, do better for your employees and guests so they aren't struggling to operate a restaurant without leadership present and ensure proper staffing levels so the guest experience is not compromised. I know in many chain sit down restaurants if they can't get a manager on duty or pull in someone else, they close for the shift.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    The Palm Burger
    The Palm Burger
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    Black Sheep Brasserie

    Black Sheep Brasserie

    3.8
    (780 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$$

    Big space & good service. Food was also pretty good. -…read moredrinks: our drinks were good, not amazing. - tuna tar tar: good, pretty standard or rather basic. - gnocchi: great favor with truffle nose. Alton much sauce for my liking but enjoyed it. Gnocchi was soft & yummy. - Brussels sprouts: very flavorful. Came in a watery sauce which made me skeptical first but really enjoyed it. - shrimps with garlic sauce: shrimps were cooked well & sauce was good. Overall it was fine.

    I wanted to love this place because it's close to my home and I love supporting local…read moreestablishments. Went here for a date with my wife and the server, Lexus, was great. All the staff we met were really good. So, goes without saying I feel bad leaving this review, but I rely on Yelp for recommendations, so I have to. The food was genuinely bad. We ordered French onion soup which arrived lukewarm. The croutons inside were hard. Not crunchy, just stale tasting and hard. I took one bite and realized the cheese on top was actually cold and not melted either. I went back in for onions but got another rock hard cruton. Set it aside to be sent back. The Brussel sprouts were good. No complaints. Steak tartare was bathed in some sort of ketchup-tasting sauce that completely overpowered the other flavors. We ate most of it because we were hungry but I wouldn't recommend it. We ended up canceling our entrees and left. The manager was apologetic and again- I genuinely feel terrible leaving this review. That said, there are so many really good places nearby that it would be unfair for me to sweep this awful food experience under the rug.

    Photos
    Black Sheep Brasserie
    Crispy Skin Salmon ($37)
    Crispy Skin Salmon ($37)
    Passionfruit Panna Cotta ($14)

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    Passionfruit Panna Cotta ($14)

    Aqui Cal-Mex - mexican - Updated August 2026

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