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    Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    CALI SPARTAN MEXICAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Robert K.

    Authentic Mexican food, very tasty and made with fresh ingredients. Friendly staff...if you can get their attention. The dining area has limited seating. This place is very busy, so take any table you can get or order to go. The food is very good, always made fresh daily. One complaint I have is the music is WAY TOO LOUD!!!! It's an unbearable level that eliminates all the enjoyment of eating in. Better to order to go.

    Big crispy tacos
    Emily W.

    Cali Spartan never fails to blow me away. It's delicious and reliable, and it's always a good spot to take visitors to or dine at with friends. I've been to all of the locations multiple times and they are all fantastic. The parking lot is pretty small for this downtown SJ location compared to the other Cali Spartan locations in the suburbs. They have indoor and outdoor (under tent) seating available. The music is usually pretty loud and sometimes it can get pretty hard to hear people when seated inside. I always get the big crispy tacos here, and I've tried their carne asada, al pastor, fish, shrimp, chicken, cabeza, etc. and all have been delicious! My favorites are probably the carne asada, shrimp, and al pastor. Their regular fries are tasty and crispy, and the loaded Cali fries are amazing too. Their food is just loaded with so many toppings and bursts of flavor. Always a good time eating here. One time I did try their super burrito though and I wasn't a fan of it. It was super plain and seemed to skimp in almost all of the ingredients and had mostly just rice and lettuce. It even had some tiny shredded carrots which was interesting because it looked like a salad mix type and was not the move for a burrito. Wasn't up my alley but I'll continue ordering and loving the big crispy tacos and Cali fries!

    Carne Asada Fajitas (Sizzling Plate) Al Pastor Fajitas (Sizzling Plate) Chips and Guac
    Justin D.

    Came here for lunch on my quest of trying all locations for Cali Spartan; 2/3 so far. This is the original location and it did not disappoint! 5/5 stars had a wonderful experience! Servers were attentive and were ready to take our order immediately. The interior decorations are very beautiful, but it is a bit smaller than the blossom hill location. Parking can be difficult during peak hours so keep that in mind. The food was delicious and HIT the spot. The quality of their food is very consistent and is jam packed full of flavor & fresh! Al Pastor Fajitas 10/10 Carne Asada Fajitas 9.5/10 Chips and Guac 9/10 Tried some new items on the menu instead of what's usually ordered and it did not disappoint! Their sauce bar and mango salsa/condiment availability is better than the blossom hill location. Both the Al Pastor and Carne Asada were scrumptious, they were cooked to perfection and had some crunchy pieces too! Flavor was superb, but the Al Pastor did taste better than the Carne Asada. Chips and Guac was excellent, and they also do have the chip seasoning to boost the flavor! Overall the fupa is very happy with this experience and only have 1 more location to try! Big Back Tip: Extremely satisfied with this order because the sheer amount of protein you get for the price point has got to be better than any other item. Will definitely return to indulge on this again.

    Little crispy tacos with pastor and suadero

    I frequently crave these tacos. From the spicy smoky creamy orange salsa to the crispy taco shell, to the flavorful tender suadero and pastor meats. They're perfect, consider me addicted! They have a food truck and restaurant, the truck is just around the corner and takes cash only, and the food is just as good. Cannot recommend enough!!

    Interior
    Hannah C.

    These tacos are addicting - every time I think about this place, I start getting hungry. I ordered on the phone prior to pick-up on a Wednesday night, and thank goodness I did because it was so busy. There is extremely limited parking, so be prepared to circle a couple times before you find a spot. The actual store is quite small but has a nice patio area. There's a whole bar dedicated to toppings, ranging from pickled onions to lime wedges. I ordered a bunch of crispy tacos maybe fifteen minutes before arriving and waited an additional fifteen minutes in the restaurant. This was understandable given the crowd. I can't get over how delicious the crispy tacos were. The crunchy shell was the cherry on top of a fantastic, filled taco. I highly recommend al pastor and lengua for the filling. It was a flavor explosion, with savory meat, fresh vegetables, a smoky sauce, and a perfect crisp. The crispy taco is definitely not cheap, but for the amount of food you get, it's worth the price. I devoured all of my tacos and immediately started craving more. I'm looking forward to my next visit!

    Interior
    Jed O.

    Checked out a different Cali Spartan kitchen and was impressed again! Unfortunately they do not have the guacamole salsa at this location, but they still had amazing service otherwise. The atmosphere is lively but still cozy as it is smaller than their other location, but service was just as fast! The Al pastor and tripa meats are super delicious. Seasoned very well and not too salty. Each component of the taco doesn't overwhelm the other ingredients and you are welcome to add as much onion or cilantro from their toppings bar!

    Big crispy tacos
    Alyx J.

    DONT LISTEN TO EVERYONE - this is the same as the taco truck that is located across the street. Skip the line and eat here LOL! Also there is guaranteed seating, its the parking that is difficult! My go to is always the big crispy tacos or the quesabirria! We love coming here! Its great food for a low price! I also always see people oreering their giant drinks here... maybe one day i will order it! Seems like the spot for college students.

    3 little crispy tacos, carne asada
    emily d.

    Have always been a 5/5 for me, but recently noticed you are not allowed to drink outdoors anymore. Had to wait extra time for space to open up inside, but still loved it as usual. I have dreams about the little crispy tacos and nothing will satiate it than here or the food truck. Also the orange sauce... gimmie dat. Ceviche was a huge service for a good price point and I loved the micheladas. Can't go wrong.

    Big crispy tacos and Quesabirria tacos
    Jarod N.

    Really solid taco spot located right next to the SJSU campus in downtown San Jose. Came in on a warm day to get some tacos before heading to the Sharks game. To my surprise, this is actually a sit-down establishment as opposed to a taqueria style counter order. The menu was very extensive and had so much variety in food and drinks. Service was nice and we got our food fast, as it wasn't too crowded when we came in on a Thursday around 6pm. There is also a self-service salsa bar with all the taco fixings. Big Crispy Tacos: one of their best sellers, basically a tostada with a heaping mound of taco meat, cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. We got pastor and lengua and both were great! Quesabirria Tacos: served in a set of 3 tacos and these were also great! I actually preferred them over the big crispy tacos, but I'm just a sucker for quesabirria I think.

    Chavela and michelada
    Maria M.

    Still a regular at this location and still on support of all the great things you read about their crispy tacos. But back to share something new that I haven't seen anyone mention yet; their tamarindo flavored chamoy rims! Yes you probably heard mention of it but did you know it's their OWN recipe?! I LOVE their chavelas. It's actually the first place I tried it and no wonder I've never liked them anywhere else. Their IN HOUSE CHAMOY rim blends with Pacifico beer, lime and tajin in a way no other location can do and I finally got tired of wondering what brand chamoy they used to I asked and discovered it's their own recipe which leaves me only being able to have it here. I don't mind! But do hope they'll consider selling it! Would be cool to have some Cali spartan merch besides shirts. Wait for food is hit or miss these days. Some days, service is fast! Others it's notable slower. They still have their own parking lot but since this place is so popular, you can't count on always finding a spot. This does lead to people double parking or parking in ways that could block you. Employees will take a picture of cars and go around asking whose it belongs to and if they can be moved. Parking is hard in downtown but the people make it work for their tacos! I don't mind any of this. I'm a certified fan

    cali fries, crispy cali tacos, big crispy tacos
    Madison B.

    We came here on a Monday night and got sat down for service. The food here is really good, I have not been here for years and it was better than I remembered. I love all the toppings and the sauces they have and everything tasted so good! I would definitely come back, they have a large variety of foods and drinks here. I recommend this place, I know they have food truck down the street that serves food as well.

    Super cali crispy tacos
    Charlotte Z.

    There's a reason this place is famous in the bay. love the lively, colorful, decorations, and loud atmosphere families friends, the diversity, that comes here to enjoy saucy, flavorful, Mexican food food. Famous for its super Cali crispy tacos, the crunchy shell with creamy avocado, fat fries, and the superior orange sauce. Insane best quesadilla I've ever had as well, so fat it was like a burrito, good meat, saucey like I like it! Waitresses can be a bit slow because they're constantly overworked.

    Big crispy tacos (pastor and cabeza)
    Christine L.

    I've been here twice now with my brother and the crispy tacos are EXCELLENT! We were fortunate both times to find parking in the lot out back, but during peak dining hours I'm sure it's harder to find. I've tried the little and big crispy tacos now, their wide selection of meat is excellent and what other spot lets you pick different meats for a set of 3?? Feels rare! The pastor is solid, and cabeza is really tender. I'm curious about their braised beef next time! I also had a large strawberry/horchata agua fresca (32oz!) for only $8, what a steal! I'm not local anymore and this hit the spot so well that I'm considering picking some up next time I fly into SJC.

    My husband's tacos. This orange sauce adds heat but it's also Smokey and flavorful.

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    16 days ago

    Food is good. Service is quick and it's close to campus. My friend is always craving this place lol.

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    Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen

    How's the parking situation? Do they have a dedicated parking lot?

    Yes they have their own parking lot. Weekend lunches can be very busy though so last time we had to park on the street

    Do they take 100 bill?

    Yes, they can give you change for 100 but it's preferable to carry smaller bills. Specially when they open as they might not have enough to give you change.

    Are they still cash only?

    Nope, you can Zelle/Venmo them. Once they confirm payment, you're all set. But I try to have cash with me if I know I'm stopping in.

    Do they take phone orders?

    Yes but it gets loud so you have to speak up.

    Does anyone know what kind of spice is on their tortilla chips?

    Im pretty sure its taco seasoning, i think

    Is the crispy tacos made with fried flour or corn tortillas?

    Fried corn tortillas, its almost like a tostada. Theyre really good here

    Is there cheese on the tacos?

    On some tacos but the menu is clear on whats on each of their items!

    What are their new hours?

    10am-10pm

    What is that white sauce on taco and Fries?

    sour cream

    Are they in DoorDash?

    Yes, I've doordashed them before.

    Does Cali Spartan provide catering?

    No they do not provide catering.

    View All 16 Questions

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    Añejo Cantina & Kitchen

    4.4
    (515 reviews)
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    Its nice to try and find new places to eat, my friend did the research and decided that this would…read morebe the place to try for our next get together. We met on Saturday for lunch. Plenty of parking available since the restaurant is in a strip mall. It wasn't too busy when we got there, but then it started picking up. There was only one server working and she was really hustling to meet everyone's needs. Plus, she was friendly. I had the carne asada burrito, it was good but nothing over the top that made it stand out. My friend had enchiladas with mole. We were most excited about dessert and decided to share the churros and Tres leches. It was a nice touch that the churros and Tres leches did not come plain, a little pizzazz since they were both served with berries, whipped cream, and a cajeta style sauce. Both of the desserts were so good and a perfect touch of sweetness.

    Second time dining here, the experience this time was more positive. We walked in around 6PM on a…read moreFriday night and there was no line and only a couple of tables occupied. We ordered right away and were served in a timely manner. Chips and guacamole - 5/5 Chicken Mole plate - 3/5 Enchiladas- 3/5 Ordered lemonade for drink, which was never served until we asked for it again, towards the end of our meal. The service is not the best and you have to try hard to catch the servers attention. The food was better this time, but not as good as many other Mexican restaurants. It is not what I consider authentic Mexican food.

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    Red enchilada
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    Zona Rosa

    Zona Rosa

    3.9
    (1.8k reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    For a while, Zona Rosa was one of my favorite restaurants, the food was delicious, it was a great…read moredeal, and the portions were big. Unfortunately inflation and the economy has changed the prices and food sizes, but at least it still tastes good. Some of my favorites here over the years have been the salmon tacos, Esquites, Enchiladas De Camarone and suizas, and the bacon guac. I used to not bat an eye and order whatever I wanted, but now I do have to think a little bit more so that the bill doesn't get too high. This location has a super cute front patio, it's bright, light, and airy, transporting you out of San Jose and right to a vacation mode. Even though it's on a pretty busy road, the traffic isn't usually distracting. Parking in the area can be hard, there's a couple paralele spots and then it's all neighborhood parking on the side of the street with the restaurant. Across the street can be a little bit easier.

    Still one of our favorite restaurants, even though we don't eat out as much as we used to…read more We came here on Father's Day with a friend visiting from out of town. They have seating out front inside and in the back, but the place was pretty full. Nonetheless, we were seated quickly as we had a reservation. It is a good idea to call ahead and make one. The prices are high, but hopefully all their people are making a good living and the portions are enough for our appetites at least. I had the shrimp enchiladas, and my wife had the vegetarian tacos with a side order of scrambled eggs. There was nearly a mixup as the waiter thought we wanted to order an egg taco and that's considerably more expensive but we got it straightened out with the maitre D. We also shared a Paloma cocktail with which has a pretty color and delightful taste.

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    The 5 taco plate
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    Tulum Mexican Kitchen

    Tulum Mexican Kitchen

    3.8
    (444 reviews)
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    Came yesterday for the first time & they had a DJ outside spinning good mixes…read more We went to the front & was seated right away. Our server was Sebastian & he was super friendly, attentive & recommended us the goods. My favorite here was their enchiladas - red & stuffed with chicken tinga. It also came with a side of rice & beans. The pickled red onions that came on top was delicious as well. My daughter even loved it & she's super picky about her onions. Drinks were good, the michelada with the shrimps - fire. Paloma - not that strong for the price you pay, but it was still alright. Guacamole - my kids loved Sebastian recommended us the coffee to-go, super flavorful Overall good vibes, great service, good food Will recommend.

    Our reservation to another place didn't work out for us so I called Tulum the afternoon before our…read moreholiday outing and the woman on the phone picked up promptly and noted they could accommodate a 12 person group at opening. This made it so seamless to reserve here. Our group got there at opening and our table was ready and most of the group was already seated when we got there. Drink orders were flowing as the waitress caught up to me and I got a cafe de olla. We browsed the menu and the more I looked the harder it was to pick one thing. I ended up choosing chilaquiles with a bandera sauce and carne asada as the added protein. The rest of the table got all different types of dishes from carne en su jugo to birria to omelettes. While we enjoyed each other's company sipping on our cafecito I enjoyed the ambiance of the space. Nicely decorated for the holidays. Since it was opening time it wasn't as loud as I imagine it can get in there. The sun did shine on the faces of those facing the windows which was not enjoyable for them. There was no way to cover the sun either since it was coming in from the top windows with no shade. My food came out along with the rest of the plates and we went right in to enjoy them. My favorite chilaquiles was covered in the white sauce. The red and green were good but the white sauce was my favorite. The carne was cooked well but I could taste it wasn't marinated or lacked flavor. I didn't get a knife to cut the meat so it was very difficult to enjoy a piece with my chilaquiles. It was hard to cut with a butter knife. I thought it would be a piece of steak but it was a piece of carne asada. Eggs were scrambled and cooked well. The whole plate was filling, had flavor, and was a good portion. The cafe de olla had a good flavor but a tad sweet for my preference. The space in here is a vibe. A fun place to enjoy large gatherings. I came for breakfast but will update when I come back to visit for dinner. Bathrooms are clean. Staff was welcoming and efficient in taking care of our group. Hospitality was a 10/10. Parking in the am was a breeze but at prime time I can see it being a complete nightmare so plan accordingly. I enjoyed my visit and will come back to check out the dinner menu.

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    Inside
    Inside
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    LUNA Mexican Kitchen

    LUNA Mexican Kitchen

    4.3
    (3.3k reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    Food and service excellent! Atmosphere is fun too. We go there every time we visit! The grandkids…read morelove it too!!!

    I've been wanting to try more Mexican food and stumbled across LUNA. The outside patio seating was…read morepleasant and perfect weather during my visit. As I entered the restaurant there was the aroma of fresh tortillas being made. Upon sitting down I was presented with fresh homemade corn tortilla chips along with two salsas (mild and medium) Tortilla chips were thick with just the right amount of crunch. Tasting the green (mild?) salsa was my favorite. It had a great tomatillo flavor with a creamy spiciness. It was a good reprieve from my main dish. A Paloma was my drink of choice this time. I'll preface this by saying I'm not a fan of tequila but when presented with the cold clay mug rimmed with salt and topped with orange and grapefruit, I was impressed. It was delicious, so refreshing, fragrant, and cold! A nice counterbalance to my meal. Chilaquiles was a dish I wanted to try. They had delicious chips again cooked in salsa verde. Covered with eggs (any style) fresh crema, avocado, and onions the chilaquiles exceeded my expectations. So simple yet so flavorful. Mixing up quantities of ingredients in each bite made for a delicious experience. My favorite element being the sharpness of the onions which cut the richness of the dish. I'm generally not a fan of refried beans but these ones had such a unique and satisfying flavor which complimented the dish well. My server, Luis was very helpful and quick to check in and make sure I was doing okay! I cannot wait to try out their fish tacos and various drinks from the menus next time!

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    - Guacamole  - avocado, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, lime, chicharrones
    - Guacamole - avocado, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, lime, chicharrones
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    Cali-Spartan Mexican Kitchen

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    3.8
    (605 reviews)
    5.7 mi
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    This place is so good. I'm glad to have tried it. I used to eat a lot of Mexican food when I went…read moreto school in SoCal, which is where I encountered Carne Asada Fries, so I make it a habit to get it at any restaurant that has it. CaliSparkles (what SJSU people call this restaurant), has it. SERVICE We came here on Saturday June 6th around noon. Quick to seat, took a bit to get our orders, but the waitress forgot that we asked for the check and to go boxes when we were done and didn't give us everything we asked for when we reminded her. In fact, all the servers vanished at the same time, and came back at the same time. FOOD Tacos are well priced ($3.50 for 1, $9 for 3 tacos), and I haven't seen that good of a deal in a long time. This is what they're known for and what most of my cousins ordered. Otherwise, one ordered a Super Burrito, and I ordered the Cali Fries with steak. It was soooo good. I loved that all the tacos and the fries came with avocado, some type of sauce, and tomatoes (I believe). Will def be back if I'm ever in the area.

    By far the worst service ever . I asked for a cup of ice…read morewhen the server came to give us the food, and we waited over 30 mins. I was almost done eating my food and still no cup of ice with water , I look up to see if I could get my servers attention and all 4 servers are at the bar chatting , laughing , gossiping and NO attention to the tables at all. There's about 10 tables right now being served. Food was OKAY, nothing special. I won't come back here again. No one came to check up on us after they served us with our food . We needed re-fills that we never got on our drinks .

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    You can watch your favorite sport!
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    3 crispy tacos
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    Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - mexican - Updated July 2026

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