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    Carmen's Restaurant

    4.6 (132 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Carmen's Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

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    CARMEN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Carmen's Restaurant

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    Tacos de Pollo
    Dave R.

    Wonderful food and service! Our first time trying and we will certainly be back. Very welcoming and so delicious!!

    Inside
    Bob M.

    Always the best food and people. Everyone is smiling in this place - it really makes a difference!!!

    Dark meat chicken mole very good
    Sheryl L.

    What a fabulous place. I came in for lunch pick up on Saturday at about 2. I asked if it could order carnitas on top of my tostada instead of chicken or beef, and can I have the beans on the side. . A nice young lady came over and said we can do anything you want! That's a five star experience in my book and I will be a loyal customer forever. Everything was outstanding. They also gave me lots of salsas . Guacamole, and sour cream on the side. Also chips too. The total was only $31 for enough food for two days . That's the way to, run a business in my opinion.

    Bishop G.

    Service was slow and they weren't even that packed, queso fundido chorizo was real watery, my chilaquiles chips tasted stale and were hard to eat. Definitely not coming back.

    Chilaquiles con Carne Asada
    Leilani R.

    We live in the Bermuda Dunes area, and I had no idea Carmen's Restaurant was here! It's the sister restaurant to Mexicali Café, created in honor of their grandmother, Carmen. The food is exceptional, the margaritas are amazing, and the service goes above and beyond. They also have a great happy hour from 3-5 PM. Please come out and support this local gem--you won't be disappointed!

    Chile Colorado
    Diane A.

    Why can't you be consistent? The first time at Carmen's was wonderful! Everything we ate was fantastic. The problem is: we went back. My husband ordered chile colorado again. The first time was great, but second time, the meat was tough and gristly, tasted old and like a poor quality cut. I ordered the carne asada with shrimp. The four shrimp were... really shrimpy. Honestly the smallest shrimp I've ever been served. The carne asada had a very good sauce but my meat was also very gristly and tasted like a really inferior cut. Service was slow, even with the place less than 1/2 full. I think one of the worst traits is inconsistency. Carmen's went from fab to drab. Don't go there. The owners either changed their meat suppliers or cut down on their budget. I'm almost surprised we didn't get sick.

    Shrimp peppers

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Outstanding food and service. Will definitely go back ! Same owner as Mexicali cafe ! But a smaller location.

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Friendly service. Food very good - loved the fish tacos. But don't bother with the margaritas- nothing special.

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    2 years ago

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    Laura S.

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The best authentic Mexican restaurant in Palm Desert! Amazing service. Comfortable and with a great selection of margaritas. Enjoy!

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    7 months ago

    Get the chili relleno! You won't be disappointed and you can get it as part of a Combination!

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    2 months ago

    Food and service was very good. We will be their customer again. We heard about your restaurant and we wanted to try it

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The food is delicious and very well priced. The service is top notch. The ambiance is bright and pleasant.

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    Usually good. Soggy carnitas burrito. Cooks didn't give a crap. Forty cents worth of carnitas.

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    8 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Delicious I had chili Colorado plate yummy yummy yummy very friendly staff and fast service. I will be coming back.

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    Laura S.

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    10 months ago

    It was my first going to the restaurant I enjoyed the beans soup the salsa was delicious

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    11 months ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Carmen's Restaurant

    Do you have a happy hour? If so what time and on what days?

    Yes: Monday through Friday from 3pm to 5pm

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The service was amazing the food was great and the atmosphere was inviting. We had ceaser salad…read morebolognese and fried artichokes red wine.

    4.5 I 'd the entrance, the speak ez vibe, cocktails & the…read morefoodAn intimate setting with great lighting & decor. The menu might be considered small however plenty of excellent choices for everyone's palate. We started with martinis Aviation gin for me & Ketel 1 for my hubs complete with bleu cheeses olives served tall & verrry cold. Our appetizer choice, the deep fried artichokes served with a creamy tasty aioli nicely presented however a bit over salted for our tastes, hence the 4.5 vs 5 stars. We came in to Italica wanting pasta the Bolognese with wild boar/fennel sausage arrived practically overflowing from the bowl, easily could have served 2 or possibly an appetizer to share at the table. My choice the Spaghetti Alio Olio presented bucatini pasta with bread crumbs & pecorino cheese ~ OOOOH MY, sooooo DELICIOUS my bowl was inhaled. Mid meal we ordered the prosciutto ~ fig jam flatbread just perfection the jam adding sweetness in every crunchy bite. To full from our appetizer & pasta we skipped dessert this trip but we'll be back!!!!!! as the drive to Indio from Palm Desert is maybe 30 min (+\~) easy & plentiful FREE PARKING be sure to look for the all stainless patchwork door for entry, once inside relax & enjoy the vibe.

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    Kiki’s

    Kiki’s

    4.1(285 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    Kiki's is back! The…read moreengaging owner, Jack, is a valley institution, having owned 22 restaurants in 35+ years. Burrata: excellent quality with the crave worthy house-made focaccia. Kiki's Sala: salanova lettuce is unusual but tasty -- like arugula without the bitterness. This is a large portion which you could share with four people as an appetizer. Sugar Snap Pea pizza: unexpected flavors with snap peas, mushrooms, & stracciatella. Table was divided on whether this worked. Cacio e Pepe: this version uses bucatini and is a little creamier than the classic. I ate it all regardless. Grilled Avocado: the name ignores that it includes fried artichokes as well. Satisfying and not too garlicky. Another large portion. The only disappointing item was the Polenta -- a little bland. If you get the Chicken Parm, you only need a half portion. Jack says the best two dishes are the Caesar and Linguini & Clams. They fly in Juniors cheesecake from NY! Full bar, attractive ambiance, and well trained staff. Go to Kiki's.

    From the moment we walked in, the experience stood out. We had to wait a bit longer than expected…read morefor our table, but the staff handled it so thoughtfully--our waitress was incredibly friendly and sweet, and even brought us complimentary bread while we waited, which immediately made us feel taken care of. Once seated, the service only got better. Our waitress continued to be warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without ever feeling overbearing. What really impressed us was the owner making the rounds to personally greet each table--it added such a personal, heartfelt touch that you don't often see. As for the food, it absolutely delivered. The chicken parm was perfectly cooked with rich, comforting flavors, and the hanger steak was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Between the exceptional service and the delicious dishes, this was one of those meals that leaves you already planning your next visit.

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    Kiki’s - YEP! the other side of the dining room & the bar back on the right

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    RD RNNR- roadrunner Old Town La Quinta - cobb salad

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    We were in the area for the Farmers Market and decided to grab lunch here with friends. It's quite…read morea large restaurant and it was packed when we were there. We didn't have reservations and requested to be seated inside. There was a little awkward first impression with the hostess who told us that there was only one inside table left in the back corner. She didn't come across very friendly when we asked if we could see it before deciding if we wanted to sit there or not. I understand they were busy but she was a bit short with us. We were seated in Isabel's section and she more than made up for it. What a gem! She was so friendly and very nice. She made sure to check on us often and we had a lovely time at your restaurant because of her. We are giving this review 5 stars because of Isabel. The seared ahi tuna salad and the ahi tuna nachos were both delicious. The fish was fresh and so very tender with a light dressing. The pulled pork tacos were good too. The brownie dessert was a bit dry though.

    I rarely leave reviews, but this experience was bad enough that I feel obligated to warn others…read more My fiancé ordered a Cobb salad, which should be one of the safest, most straightforward items on any menu. Instead, she bit into a sharp chicken bone hidden in the salad--something that absolutely should never happen. This wasn't a small, soft fragment either; it was sharp enough to cause immediate, severe pain and pierced her gums. This is not just a minor oversight--it's a major failure in basic food safety and kitchen preparation. There is no excuse for serving food in this condition, especially something as simple as a salad. We trusted this restaurant to provide a safe meal, and that trust was completely broken. What makes this even worse is that the situation could have been far more dangerous. If swallowed, this could have led to choking or internal injury. No customer should ever have to worry about that when ordering a salad. I strongly urge the restaurant to take a hard look at their food prep standards and quality control, because this is unacceptable. Until then, I cannot recommend this place to anyone.

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    Carmen's Restaurant - mexican - Updated June 2026

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