We live close by and we're looking to go out and eat somewhere good but without busting the bank. Dos Carlitos is that place. Their food is great and the taste seems to always be consistent. They seem to have enough seating inside and outside. If your a bit to cold sit inside by the fireplace. If your running hot then sit outside. I don't drink by my wife says the drinks are good too. For a local like myself I like the atmosphere and the staff are always cordial and professional. read more

I love this place! The tacos are incredible! The people are kind and thoughtful. And, the margaritas are delicious.

This is possibly the worst $25 meal I have ever eaten. I ordered the wild caught salmon with grilled chard. The salmon was okay but the chard was next to raw and it was in such large pieces. You could not cut it into bite-sized pieces at all and so tough that you could not chew it. This was the worst I have eaten at this restaurant. Like they say, you can't order anything other than Mexican fare at a Mexican restaurant. I usually love the food here but this was a huge disappointment. The waiter was so nice that I didn't want to complain. read more

If you are a tourist I'm sure you will be tempted to come in due to the heavy foot traffic waiting for a overpriced Latin American meal. If you meet anyone that lives here they will tell you to go elsewhere. Huarache 1/10 This is the saddest excuse for a huarache I've ever had. It was 18 dollars for a single glorified taco. What makes a huarache a huarache is a substantial corn "boat" that adds a great texture to the meal. This was one "slightly larger" tortilla than their tacos. Would recommend every other Mexican restaurant in the valley over this. Carne Asada Torta 2/10 This is hard to mess up, yet the underwhelming seasoning gave this zero taste. Pozole 4/10 I'm sure if it's hot it would be better, but like warm fatty soup is less than appealing. Chile rellano 8/10 This was by far the best thing ordered at dinner. Combine all this, with service so bad that I was filling other people's waters and you have a place that's all hype and no bite. Go to Mariscos, tequilas, Rudy's or any of the other Mexican restaurants in the valley over this. And you'll save 50% to boot!! read more

Dos Carlitos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

I loooove Dos Carlitos! Both the location in Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara are great. I love the ambiance and sitting outside or outside are both awesome experiences. They have a black bean and corn salsa that is delicious, which comes standard with the usual chips and salsa. I love their Mariscos enchiladas. My husband loves their burritos and tacos. Honestly, everything is great. We haven't ordered anything we didn't like. Their margaritas are the perfect amount of alcohol with flavor. And fun fact, my husband and I had our first date here, as well as came again the day he proposed. The staff secured us the same table we ate at on our first date! Very special place for us! We dined at the Santa Ynez location last night and Cameron was our waiter. Amazing service! read more

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I met my sister and friends for lunch. The food was very tasty and good size portions. They give you complementary chips and salsa. For two of us, it tasted like tomatoes. For the other two, it was fine. We ordered something a little spicier and then all four of us were happy. The service was quick and friendly. We arrived when they opened, so it was nice and quiet. We enjoyed it because we were able to chitchat with each other. We will all go again. read more

OK so let's see, how do I explain this one? The employees were great, the restaurant itself is very nice but I don't think this is a place I will visit again. I visited this place in December and it was very cold outside. The management keep both of the big front doors wide open and everyone at my table was really cold. The building has a nice open floor plan with very high ceilings and because of that this restaurant is very very loud. I will say it was uncomfortably loud. We also didn't care for the chips and salsa. They actually gave us three salsa and we didn't care for any of them. I ordered the chicken fajitas and for the most part they were very good. I do t like how they serve all the sides in one bowl, everything was mixed together. The rive, the beans, the sour cream and the guacamole was all mixed together and it really sucked. I gave this place 5 stars because it was packed and I think everyone should check it out. Maybe I'm being too picky, I don't know. Bottom line I didn't at for it so go see for yourself. read more

Dos Carlitos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

My favorite Mexican spot here in the Santa Ynez valley! They have a ridiculous tequila flight selection and the seafood burritos here are gigantic. The portion sizes for their guacamole are super generous and the complimentary chips are really well seasoned. read more

Dos Carlitos - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Fresh and delicious food. Good service and ambience. Restaurant filled up quickly as there was a special event in town, but we got there just in time and were seated quickly. Excellent for small or large groups. read more

Mmm this location is just as yummy as Carlitos in Santa Barbara. This review is for two different nights at this location, a Wednesday and Saturday of the same week. Wednesday we were able to be seated right away and there were a few other empty tables. Our server was wonderful and very friendly. Everyone loved their food (there were 4 of us), but mine was lukewarm. Saturday the place was packed and we were told it would be a 30-40 minute wait (there were 5 of us. We decided to take a walk and they texted us 10 minutes later that our table was ready. Our server this time was also super personable and helpful when my dad asked what appetizers were popular. She strongly suggested the chicken nachos, which we ended up ordering those and they were delicious. I ordered the same dish that night as I did Wednesday (Enchiladas Mexicanas Verdes) and it was hot, yay! However, my mom asked our server snd another server repeatedly for more of the hot salsa and they kept forgetting. Other than that, the food was spectacular and the atmosphere is amazing as well. read more

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Very delicious meal. We shared the combo meal and it was so much food! The chili rellano was absolutely amazing. Highly recommend:) read more

Dos Carlitos - Chili rellano and chicken enchilada...WOW! So good. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Location; is in the heart of Santa Ynez, CA - cute little town located in the heart of wine country. Food; Today I got the Tacos Pastor and have to admit it was pretty good - the meat was spiced and cooked to perfection. I will admit the tortilla was a bit thicker that I like - but very flavorful. Also, the Valley Margarita was not your typical marg as usually don't order them - this was nice mixture of delicious goodness. Service; Our server was always helpful and outgoing. Speedy service read more

Dos Carlitos - Valley Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

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I had high expectations coming here but I hate to give low ratings. The food was lacking flavor and was very dry. I never had a burrito with no beans or sauce. It jus had chicken inside with some bell peppers. My friend ordered tacos which also had no flavor and was dry . We had to ask for sauce on the side for it. The waiter only checked on us ones towards the end. Would not be coming back sorry. read more

Dos Carlitos - Chicken asada burrito - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Yum yum yummmmm! Lits of tasty choices, but i like the Caesar salad and chicken enchilda/taco combo. But you have to get the flan!!!!! Definitely!! read more

The best Mexican food in the area with great ambiance! I love coming here when we're visiting because the food and service are consistently on point. This evening we had an a wonderful waiter with a beard. I didn't catch his name but we received great service from him at our small table for two by the fireplace. The restaurant does close early (8pm on Fridays) for some of us LA folks who are used to eating dinner much later on; however, I do love an early dinner so the closing time didn't bother us. We had the guacamole and the key lime pie for dessert - both were good. I also appreciated that they took down our phone number so we could step outside the restaurant while we waited. Street parking is very easy on the main road. They are a walk-in only restaurant, so do be prepared for a wait (especially if it's rainy weather). read more

Fun, little Mexican spot in the heart of downtown San Ynez. Our group had to try one of their delicious margaritas to start. We tried the Fuerte, the Cadillac and the delicious blood orange margarita, which was my personal favorite. We downed these with some basic but tasty tortilla chips, guacamole, and two different types of fresh salsas. For our mains, we tried the grilled stuffed Anaheim chilies and a couple of combos involving an enchilada and some crispy chicken tacos served with black beans & rice. Everything was well prepared and the service was excellent. read more

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I've been here for dinner and lunch and the food was SO good. I will definitely be going back when I get the chance. The service is good and the have indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Dos Carlitos - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

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We love going to get their tacos and enchiladas verdes. This is hands down the best Mexican food anywhere in the area of Solvang and Santa Ynez! The patio is nice in the Spring and Fall. read more

Oh my! The food was delicious! And plenty of it! I ordered the carlitos combo w enchilada and chile relleno-delish and spicy. The margarita... no skimping on the alcohol! Great drink! read more

We went there for dinner and food was pretty good even though u thought it was overpriced. The service was slow and inattentive so would not come back. For little extra money you will have better dining experience at the brothers at the red barn read more

This place used to be so good. The last few times I have been the food is really lackluster. They need a proper chef. I just ordered the Grilled chicken Salad . The chicken was so dry I couldn't eat it. Tomatoes no flavor . Dressing no flavor . I asked the server to bring me another piece of grilled chicken . Exactly the same .So dry you could barely chew it. They should just grill each piece of chicken to order. Instead of grilling it ahead and then reheating it. You lose all the juice and the flavor of a freshly grilled piece of chicken. It doesn't take 5 mins to grill one. Never see the owner in here . I guess he doesn't care much about his restaurant. Too bad used to be so good. ( the chips and salsa are still delicious) read more

This is my 1st place, all time favorite Mexican restaurant! It is about 3 hours away from home sadly. But, a wonderful excuse to visit adorable neighboring Solvang and or the wineries! Let me explain why it is worth the drive. It is very open and airy inside. The ceilings are sky high. It has a casual but classy vibe. For all you booze hounds, it has an impressive array of tequilla. Now, for the food! If I could only use one world it would be "fresh". The salsa seems like it was just made. The tomatoes are juicy. The rice is to die for. It is white and has bits of peppers that it was cooked in. I love it! I get the shredded beef crispy tacos. The juice from the beef drips down your hands and onto your plate. I think it is slow stewed and wrapped in an onion! It's a gorgeous drive up the coast, just do it! read more

Food is good, but the service? Wouldn't recommend a birthday here. My friend went with 3.5 people here for her birthday. Her husband tried to arrange a birthday dessert, and tipped the waiter off. But absolutely nothing was done. Nothing. First birthday in 38 years where my friend had no candles to blow out. She was out of town for one night only to celebrate her birthday, and made reservations at this place thinking it would be a special night to remember. When you go out of town, it's a little hard to bring a cake and candles all the way to the place you're staying, especially when you have children in the car. It would be nice to have at least been informed by the waitstaff that there was nothing they could do. I'm sorry, but one star for service. It was her birthday and now all she can remember is pounding drink after drink to try to numb out the pain of a cakeless candle-less birthday. WHATS THE POINT OF A BIRTHDAY DINNER IF YOU CAN'T HAVE "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" SANG TO YOU UNCOMFORTABLY IN FRONT OF A ROOM FULL OF STRANGERS??? AND SHE'S A LEO. IT IS LEO SEASON YALL. DO BETTER. read more

An $18 two item combo and a $9.50 kids meal (without drink) generally wont get my patronage but all things considered the food was solid and it's the best choice in the Solvang/Santa Ynez area. The Santa Ynez valley is a very wealthy area of California with some ranches selling for well over 40 million, and the Neverland Ranch selling for 70 million. So I understand the price. To Dos Carlitos' credit, they used all fresh and high quality product. Presentation was also well above average along with the service. So for me the high price was justified. I thoroughly enjoyed my food. The one negative was the price and quality of their kids meals. At $9.50 without beverage you got a scoop of rice and a frozen grocery store sized burrito (See picture). Don Carlitos is crowded. They quoted us a thirty minute wait and it ended up being a true thirty minute wait. If we had come in 30 minutes later (at 6:30 PM) it would likely have been over an hour wait. So plan ahead and plan for a backup option. This small town is dead at night and there are only a few restaurants open. Tip - There's some crazy-wacky-pricing at Don Carlitos (Iced Tea = $4 but Diet Coke = 3.50..huh?) But take advantage of the steak nachos at $14. The steak is far superior to anything you'll find at most other Mexican restaurants. read more

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The food was amazing! Would recommend. I brought my team here to have a lunch meeting and everything we got was amazing (at least that's what my team shared). The portions were large! I'd recommend the fajitas for two if that's something you'd like to share. The service was equally great. The wait staff were attentive and friendly. It truly made the ambiance much more welcoming! As for parking - we parked on the street. Definitely coming back! read more

The food is OK. My personal opinion it's very Americanized. Not authentic. There is no bar to sit at which is a extreme turn off for me. If you were looking for decent food, nothing special. This is the place for you. Just being honest. read more

We visited on Cinco De Mayo and it was obviously very busy, we waited a little over an hour and it was worth the wait! The drinks where delicious (I had the Chili Passion Martini), the black bean and corn salsa they give you with the chips was amazing. I ordered the Chile Relleno and it was sooo good it did not disappoint. read more

Dos Carlitos - Bar drinks - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Awesome authentic Mexican food in the town of Santa Ynez. Great place with Wild West feel. Margarita tastes great. Worth a drive from Solvang to this place. read more

Awesome Mexican restaurant... delicious food drinks and service... don't visit the Santa Ynez Valley without a meal at Dos Carlitos...

The food was great and so was the service. I highly recommend the steak tostada and their ultimate margarita.

Great food, the chicken enchilada is amazing! The bean salsa was also amazing and putting those two things together makes it perfect.

Great patio area; perfect for groups. Came here for "family" time dinner before a show at Lost Chord Guitars. Could not decide on which food we wanted so my friend and I ordered the two things we wanted and split them. Great food and the wait staff was awesome. read more

Found this place on our walk around town. We decided to give it a try and not disappointed. The calamari was delicious and the drinks good. I would highly recommend it. We look forward to our next visit read more

Dos Carlitos - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Very good food and staffs are very attentive ! Better eat inside during the day. The place is too busy outside.

Good Mexican food and a delightful outside dining area. The bartender seemed overwhelmed, but was turning out good stuff. Ceviche was huge and delicious. read more

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This is the first time I've been here because brothers red barn was closed for the holiday. They have a fast service even though the place is packed. The food is delicious and large servings. I will definitely be back. read more

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Great Chile Verde plate. All the staff is Great, would be back here again and again. Thank You all at the restaurant

If you're looking for some tasty Mexican cuisine at a restaurant with outdoor seating, look no further than Dos Carlitos! We showed up around 7 PM and there were a few groups of people waiting outside, but we walked up with no reservations and were able to get a table right away. The Enchiladas Mariscos were fabulous! So much flavor-- the papaya really added a lot to this dish. The portion size was also very generous. Above all, our server was wonderful. He was so genuine and personable-- it really made it a great experience. Will definitely come back when in Santa Ynez. read more

One of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to! I love their shredded beef nachos! I have taken so many people there on many occasions and been greeted with warmth and excellent service. Justin our waiter remembered me and my party from the last time I was there which is really nice. Grab a table with Justin! I highly recommend this place. read more

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Generous proportions will satisfy the weary traveler or tired rancher. Prices for Santa Ynes are average and expensive for other places where you will get the same food. The sole with half carnitas and half steak was enjoyed by my husband. I had the combo which allowed me to have a vegetarian dinner. This could be more vegan friendly by offering plant based protein. Not an innovative place more like comfort food. Lots of margaritas to choose from... read more

Dos Carlitos - Indoor - Mexican Near Me - Santa Ynez, California