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    Carmen's Restaurant

    4.6 (138 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 8:30 pm

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    CARMEN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Carmen's Restaurant

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    Tacos Dorados & The #3 Combo plate.
    Mercy S.

    Carmen's was a delight! We were craving Mexican food and this was Bomb. They were so friendly and welcoming! The restaurant is so charming and casual. The prices are fair, big potions. The food quality is excellent ! I am so excited to have found this little gem by my house! Thank you for a wonderful early dinner!

    Also for carne asada fries
    Jon F.

    We walked in and the AC was pumping on a 100° day after food at Desert Falls. The cart guy recommended the place. We trust locals, being from temecula and visiting. Place looks very clean and kept. Workers had chips on the table before our butts hit the seat. I ordered a stuffed shrimp Bellpeppers thing that you put mayonnaise on, soy sauce, and lemon. Wow! Tastes explodes on every bite. Very unique to this spot. Try one, or ten.... They're technically called Chiles Gueritos !! So good! Worth coming just for this!

    Lengua verde
    Jacky I.

    Caldo de res one of the cleanest recovery caldo you can ask for. Packed with meat and veggies. Lengua was tender and not gamey. That pepper with shrimp appetizer is unique and delicious. Friendly staff. Glad to find authentic mexican flavors out here!

    Chile guerito relleno de camaron
    Blake B.

    Great food, chile gueros are awesome. Micheladas are top notch, and a chill place to people watch.

    Inside
    Bob M.

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

    Tacos de Pollo
    Dave R.

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

    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.

    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.

    Chilaquiles con Carne Asada

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    2 years ago

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    Laura S.

    We're so glad to hear you enjoy the food!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing restaurant, the food was so good, the service was great. The new decor looks very nice as well. We will definitely be back

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    3 years ago

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    Laura S.

    Happy to hear you enjoyed your experience at Carmen's!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    Laura S.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The freaking best salsa EVER! Food is incredible too but the salsa!!! Trust me and buy a quart and take it home!

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    3 years ago

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    Laura S.

    We're glad you're enjoying the food you love closer to home!

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    Laura S.

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    3 years ago

    Just had breakfast here and it was delicious! Great salsa and the carne asada omelette was perfect.

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    Laura S.

    Thank you for visiting and taking the time to let us know how we did.

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    2 years ago

    The food was very good. Menudo is top 5 in southeast Coachella Valley. Overall service was good.

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    1 year ago

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    Laura S.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food and service, friendly staff and exceptional manager. Our new favorite Mexican food restaurant

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    Laura S.

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    Laura S.

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    2 years ago

    Really good food. Margaritas are bomb! Service very friendly and quick. Gets real busy because they are great. Please try it

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    3 years ago

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    Laura S.

    Welcome back to the family recipes you've come to love!

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    3 years ago

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    Laura S.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    This place was delicious. We had the chile verde lengua. My son had the carne asada which was perfectly cooked. Service was great as well.

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    2 years ago

    Super yummy and very affordable. Staff is great! Beautiful restaurant, very clean and they are fast! Will definitely be back!

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    Page 3 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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    Photos
    YEP! the other side of the dining room & the bar back on the right
    YEP! the other side of the dining room & the bar back on the right
    Rigatoni Bolognese
    Rigatoni Bolognese
    Shrimp Casarecce Alla Vodka

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    Oceana Restaurant

    Oceana Restaurant

    4.7
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    I cannot get over how amazingly tender this grilled octopus was. As a pescatarian I'm always on the…read morehunt for a delicious seafood restaurant that doesn't break the bank. After a little bit of research, I discovered this beautiful gem, and I was able to make reservations by calling the restaurant directly. Once we arrived, we were greeted and seated right away. Our waiter Thomas was so incredibly sweet and attentive. We decided to share a crabcake appetizer along with octopus and scallops as our main dish. I've tried mini grilled octopuses before in Southern California and never have. I had one so tender as this one. The octopus was huge and so flavorful. Most importantly it was so tender and not chewy at all. Everything we ordered was fantastic and cooked to perfection.

    Another great restaurant find in the Coachella Valley, this time in Palm Desert. We discovered…read moreOceana Restaurant on the Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week website -- the Pulpo Chicharrones caught our eye -- so we decided to check it out. Thank goodness we did. Our group started out with the above mentioned Pulpo Chicharrones. Crispy Octopus bites served with fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and flour tortilla chips.The octopus had a charred crispy exterior that gave way to a buttery-tender interior. None of the rubbery texture that so often turns people off. For entrees, we selected the Whole Fried Huachinango (Red Snapper), 7 Oceanas (think "Spanish Chioppino"), and Pan Seared Halibut which was the special of the day. The halibut special featured a very generous pan seared filet on a bed of white wine risotto with a sesame seed veloute and asparagus. The 7 Oceanas consisted of perfectly cooked octopus, white fish, clams, mussels, shrimp, salmon, and scallop in a rich broth with tomato, onion, garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, and guajillo peppers. Served with housemade telera bread sticks to sop up the amazing broth. The snapper was deep fried to perfection leaving the skin super crispy and fleah moist and flaky. Drizzled with an adobo sauce and served with grilled sliced lemons, chayote squash and baby potatoes. Our only complaint was the snapper was not true red snapper as advertised, but rather porgy (we think). Red snapper is one of the most substituted fish and very few people in the world could tell them apart. My partner Ernie is a connoisseur, and he can. The dish was still excellent, we just wish it wasn't advertised as Huachinango. This hidden gem delivered fresh seafood, tasty cocktails with a nod to tequila and mezcal drinks crafted by owner Marco Castellanos, and friendly attentive service from Gina.

    Photos
    Complementary cucumber, jicama, and beets to start.
    Complementary cucumber, jicama, and beets to start.
    Banana Peppers stuffed with shrimps in a delicious sauce!
    Banana Peppers stuffed with shrimps in a delicious sauce!
    Guayacal - mezcal, fresh guava nectar, housemade sweet & sour mix, and a lava salt rim.

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    Guayacal - mezcal, fresh guava nectar, housemade sweet & sour mix, and a lava salt rim.

    Carmen's Restaurant - mexican - Updated August 2026

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