We been to a lot of Mexican places in salinas and this has to be the most authentic tasting/looking Mexican restaurants in salinas. It feels like I'm in Mexico with the decor and the music. One of the most underrated Mexican restaurants I've ever been too. Has booths and tables for the family. Great place to take your short Latina novia to Super homie in here. Very simple meals but simple in the best way possible lots of options! The type of food that feels like I got a hug from my abuelita. Also the type food to put you in a food coma! Also the service was fantastic, the owner was so welcoming and always has a smile on his face. Super fast.Great spicy salsa for the complementary chips. Even the water was tasty, super pure and fresh. No metal taste or anything like that GREAT GRILLED CHICKEN SO MUCH FLAVOR Pretty decent sized burritos/plates. Will definitely get you full read more

Outstanding authentic Mexican food. Generous portions, exquisitely tasty, quick service. Go! read more

Photos of menu/wall as of September 12, 2024. Prices are so much more compared to 1-2 years ago! read more

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I love the food here. Service is always awesome, the staff is super nice and efficient.

We've been regular here for years and are never disappointed. Everything on the menu is delicious and the portions are always good. I can't recommend them enough. read more

Best super burritos in town hands down. You will not be disappointed. I would post a picture but i ate it too fast.

Stopped her on a whim and man did it hit the spot!! We got the Asada super burrito and this thing is not only huge but it tastes amazing!! Pictures don't do it justice. If you're in the area craving Mexican or not, give this place a try! Amazing staff too!! Keep up the great work! read more

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Great place to go for good tasting food, service is also great,. Recommend this restaurant you will not be disappointed

Nos encanta! Ambiente muy familiar.... Como en casa. Menudo birria azada fríes, quesadillas más uno que otro platillo de desayunó nos hemos deleitado! read more

No cooking for me tonight!! Woop woop! We were feeling like Mexican food and here we are. I ordered the pork w/ cactus and it was good but the beans were really the best part of this meal. I think if I had just had the beans with salsa and fresh corn torts I would be satisfied. The salsa was just the right amount of spiciness. My family likes it hot . And if your picky about the taste of water well the water is good too lol. It tasted filtered in a good way. My son as also very happy with taste and size of his burrito. Everyone was happy tonight. So we came back again I tried there Chile rellenos. Off the hook!! read more

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So we have eaten here twice and I can say it's amazing such great service,and great food.

Three words: Pastor crispy taco! So good. Perfectly crispy and the meat is savory deliciousness! I cannot eat much at one time, especially when there are chips and salsa involved. So, I only ordered one taco for myself and one for my mom. We both agreed we need to come back and get the same exact thing again. The problem with us is, we can't try other menu items since we don't have room to eat anything else! We went mid-afternoon when there was only one other table filled. There was one server. He was super nice. Another reviewer mentioned their water. Really good ice water! I would give them four stars because the wait was a tad too long, and the music was a bit too loud, especially the irritating commercials. However, the velvety painting of a bullfighter reminded me of every family-run Mexican restaurant of my childhood. I will make it a point to try other foods in the near future. The great taco and water, plus the service (and that bullfighter painting) gives this place five stars in my view. read more

Went there today for breakfast. The Birria was good and the man who served us was also great. Great attitude and welcomed us so well. I like the way the restaurant is small but it was clean, spacious, and traditional. I truly enjoyed my experience and definitely will come back. read more

Little neighborhood joint hidden from view. Guess that's why we haven't tried it until today. Only a couple of people in here today. Complimentary chips, nice and thin, the salsa is HOT and they give you a big bowl of it. I had a pork Tamale it was ok, a tiny bit dry inside. Beans and rice were on point. 7.95 for their lunch special is a good deal even though my friends burrito was pretty small. It didn't look or taste anything like traditional chili Colorado either. Still think We'll come back to try other things on the menu. Service was a little slow, didn't check on us. We waited for our check but Had to pay at the counter. Free Street parking available and a parking lot beside the restaurant. read more

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The pazole was so good well seasoned very good authentic Mexican atmosphere I'd recommend this place to anyone who comes through Salinas very tasty my friend had mannitol both awesome coming back soon read more

Carlito's 2 - Pazole - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Disappointment. We waited 50 mins before we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. We never got our order yet the people that came after us did. read more

Carlito's 2 - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Carlito's could easily become one of my favorites in Salinas ! But, I've tried several dishes and my only problem here is the consistency of the food on my visits. Sometimes amazing, sometimes I wonder what happened. Hmmmmm The service is always friendly... read more

first time I went yesterday and ordered a bread for $1. They gave me a hard small piece of bread that was as hard as a rock. No one speaks English at the counter. So basically I threw away $1. Will never go back there again. Just AWFUL .... PS....the bread ended up in the garbage! read more

Carlito's 2 - Here's a pic of the "rock" - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

My new favorite little Mexican restaurant in Salinas. Just off Main Street, like a hidden gem. Good food & service in house or take home! If want authentic Mexican but no crowds, this is that cool little place to dine! I also do my take home menudo or caldo de rez soups on weekends!! read more

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A Mexican restaurant in Salinas? Not exactly rare. Right! So being authentic is a good place to start. The warm and friendly staff was a complement to the surroundings. Sitting off a side street a half of a block off of South Main it's not in the most scenic of places. The foods good, basic Mexican faire. All the standard menu items. The prices reflect the food, just good enough. In a super metropolis of chili verde, rice and beans. We can be a little picky. If you're in need of some super nachos and a cold one and happen to be on the block...sure why not. Last words...so many choices, choose wisely. read more

Sopes are crunchy and the enchiladas have that thick red sauce and are on hit. Highly recommend those but any soups are fantastic. People tend to by pass it but there food has been good for so long. I like this place better than the one on west market. Salue Raza read more

I went here recently with my family, and the service was good. The waiter was very friendly, patient, and helpful. I just didn't think the food was that great at all. It didn't really have much flavor, and I wouldn't go here again, to be honest. However, other people have told me that they love this restaurant, but at their other location, though, which I haven't been to yet. read more

I Like the breakfast homemade tortillas and homemade potatoes eggs bacon is nicely cooked crisp yum...

Just went there for a late dinner. First time there, not sure what to expect...The menu had typical mexican food and since we weren't too hungry the three of us in our party ordered a la carte. The waiter was very courteous, friendly, and answered our questions about their menu items. The waiter brought us chips and tasty & authentic spicy salsa then took our order. The food portions were generous. I had the chicken tostada and the chicken was juicy and full of flavor. Everyone else in our party was very happy with their meals. The prices were very reasonable too! All in all...wonderful service and food full of flavor! read more

Best super burritos around! Not to mention their breakfast burritos as well. Very good. Great size and price as well! One burrito is $4-6

Had been wanting to try this place for sometime now, finally made it there yesterday. Food was very good, authentic, homemade corn tortillas, salsa very tasty. Will definitely go back! read more

I've been wanting to eat here for a long time it's near my house and I've heard they have really good homemade tortillas. I walked in at 7:30pm and it was pretty empty just two tables were filled. Nobody there to greet me I finally went up to the register area looking for someone and a girl came out and just looked at me. So I asked her if she work there and she said yes. finally I had to ask her if I could sit any place I wanted and she said yes. she brought me chips and salsa and a menu and I asked what was good there she had no answer. So I asked her what her with favorite was and she had no answer so I asked for water. Afraid that she might not ever come back when she brought the water I ordered the three shrimp enchiladas. I had to ask for water again. The food was good. but I was there for an hour and a half when I finally decided I was never going to get a bill so I went up to the register. It was a different girl this time. There were two when I arrived but I wasn't sure who work there and who didn't. There was no way to tell the employees from the patrons. Another table or two fillled while I was there. I've never felt so unattended in a restaurant in my life. I'm 61 years old I've had some bad service here and there but this Takes the Cake it's the first time I never left a tip. How sad that a restaurant I've heard so many good things about where the food is pretty good has employees at the front lines to greet the guests that don't give a s***. I've been in the food business myself so I understand problems when it's busy or why food can take a long time to get to the table or why food servers can be overworked due to staffing issues or an unexpected busier than usual shift. I'm so disappointed in my experience there. like I said the food was okay but I'm not sure it was good enough to go back and expect to spend 2 hours just to get a meal and a bill. I take reviews on Yelp with a grain of salt because a lot of people just like to complain or they just showed up on a bad day. Some of the worst posts I've read on Yelp make me think that the person complaining has other issues besides the business they are reviewing. Message to the owners of this business if you read this post. The parking lot was awfully dark and I didn't feel safe getting out of my car and not tripping on something cuz I couldn't see. The exterior is inviting and one of the reasons I wanted to stop. Your restaurant was lovely inside and the floors were sparkling clean! I could see pride of ownership with the mirrors and art on the walls. But the young girls you had working the front tonight Tuesday Oct 16, 2018 were deplorable. Not friendly, not helpful, I had to ask if they work there, I had to ask if I could take a seat, I almost asked if they were still serving dinner except I knew the hours from the sign on the front window. I probably won't be back. read more

I live within walking distance and everytime I go by there is usually more staff than customers. I did eat there once about 5 yrs ago and it was nothing special. I often wonder how they stay in business? Maybe the owner needs some sort of write off or a front for another business he might have? read more

Great Mexican food! You can taste the love! It's hard to find a good Mexican restaurant. This place and yelp made it pretty easy. Thanks for a great meal! Peace read more

Haven't been there in along time. But decided to try it tonight. The service was great, food was good. Loved their crispy tacos. Husband had their Shrimp enchiladas which he said was really good. Salsa was really favorable, but too spicy for me, but he loved it. Will definitely return. read more

Great little Mexican place! The food is outstanding and very inexpensive! Been here many times and never had a bad meal/service. Right next to the 7-11 on North Main. read more

A great mexican restaurant with great prices. I've been there several times and everytime I leave full and happy! Other reviewers are correct that there seems to be more staff than customers, but I've only evr been there for dinner, so they could have a large lunch crowd. Enjoy! read more

The chimichonga was good - well balanced, with a nice crisp fried flavor to it, the sopes were alright but the fries were too soggy for any rating higher than 2 stars. read more

The place looks dirty! The ambiance doesn't feel right. I had a Caldo de Res and tortillas and I thought it was quiet expensive for the place and location. Wouldn't go back again.... read more

Super nice staff. Awesome food!!! Salsa was really good. Crispy shredded beef tacos- Rad!!! Sure beats going to Mc D's or Taco Bell garbage spots. If you have to stop in Salinas, hit up Carlito's!!! read more

Don't ever ever eat here!! Customer service is horrible!! They always serve crunchy dry old asada then charge you extra for requesting condiments that should come on the food for free!! They have no customer value!!! read more

Went to get a burrito for lunch at work since i already know theyre great well priced and are big in size. I also ordered a shrimp taco to eat right now and it was really good amd tasted fresh, try the place out if your in town its the bright yellow square building next to 7/11 off of north main chips and salsa are good too if u decide to eat there read more

Shredded chicken was good. Good service. Clean place.