Surprisingly good mexican buffet on Sundays. For 13 dollars for adults, you get a variety of items from rice and beans to tamales, menudo, pozole, papas con chirizo. They have the aguas chile (shrimp cocktail in a spicy liquid) ceviche and a host of other mexican dishes. Cheaper for kids which is a plus for those with families to feed. Kids will like the dessert bar with jello and fresh fruit, flan and pan dulce. If you want beat the crowds, come around 1pm. read more

I love this place the service is excellent and the food tastes just like real authentic Mexican food and they always go above and beyond to make sure that you leave happy and satisfy. I forgot to mention that the prices are amazing very affordable read more

My wife's friend introduced us to this gem by bringing us food last week while we were in the hospital delivering our newborn. She brought us Caldo for my wife and a green wet burrito for myself. Long story short I'm addicted. It's about a 20 min drive from home. I been there all week. Yes that includes Monday. I found out the hard way, Mondays are closed. We absolutely love the food and will continue our loyalty to this magical wet burrito haven. read more

Will never eat here again and neither should you, especially on sunday "BUFFET". The food served, is leftovers that have been stored from the previous buffet, which is only on Sundays. The serving stations themselves are unsanitary, there are no buffet style serving stations, they are trays of food placed on food warning candles., no lids to protect the food from becoming contaminated by flies and whatnot. On the subject of sanitary conditions, the restrooms are not well kept, with toilet paper scraps on the floor and toilet the waste basket in the restroom over flow with toilet paper lined with fecal matter, I don't know why they don't just flush it, but that's another matter. Who wipes and doesn't flush it whether it's the employees or customers is beyond me, but it is absolutely unsanitary and disgusting especially in a restaurant setting. After leaving the restroom, every single thing that was out of order suddenly grabbed my attention. As it looked at the landscape I noticed the grass was overgrown, the trees were not trimmed. While walking to my vehicle which I had to park at the liquor store because parking is hard to come by here, I noticed in the dumpster area some of the upholstery from the restaurant was just thrown on the floor in the alley along with some building material and broken-down cardboard, that are clearly shipping containers for some type of food...Looking at everything entirely I summed up the fact that this place is over all filthy, whoever runs it doesn't care too much about maintaining sanitary conditions inside or outside the facility. Don't be surprised if you eat there and leave with food poisoning or Hepatitis B. EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK! Their prices are no different from HomeTown Buffet so you're better off going there. read more

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came here for tha first time customer service was horrible ! very rude owner !!!! employes werent wearing their mask they took a long time to bring out the food and besides and it was very empty ! someone next to me mentioned they got a hair in their food and they did not want to exchange the plate nor refund it 0/10 do not waste your time eating here read more

I love it here. I went there last week for the first time looking for a good Mexican place because I was craving enchiladas. And I was served the best enchiladas ever. I'm real picky and the entire dish from beans to the guacamole salad was superb. 10/10 recommend and personally they have found themselves a regular because I'll be here every Friday for breakfast with my husband read more

Sunday mexican buffet breakfast. This is what this place has. And for later in the day, the huitlacoche (corn smut) quesadilla. which not many people enjoy eating the mushrooms off from the corn, but i do and i guess you can say its like a delicacy. read more

Friendly service! Our server was really quick always friendly. I'm from riverside and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in town. I had the shrimp cocktail 2 for 1 took one home with me. The shrimp with carne Asada was amazing too. Nice location too. Hope this place succeeds. read more

El Jacalito - Shrimp cocktail - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Man prob the best mexican food besides at home. I got the pantillpantillera jacalico I think. Price was very inexpensive. Mmmm doe. definitely coming back read more

This is one of my favorite breakfast places close to home. Friday mornings don't seem to start the same if I don't come to breakfast here the waitress is really nice and the food is really good. read more

El Jacalito is one of our favorite restaurants. Please don't confuse the five star rating with an assertion that the food is particularly sophisticated, or that it can't be a bit hit or miss. If I could have given it 4.5 stars, I would have; but given how good it usually is and how poorly the other "reviewers" rated it, I went 5 rather than 4. In brief: Home style Mexican cooking, usually at its finest. I love the pescado al diablo, here. It's a whole good sized tilapia (or sometimes perch) fried in the usual manner, and served swamped in the best al diablo anywhere. Did I say good sized? Sometimes, huge. The fish fills a plate by itself, so they bring a second for the garnish -- french fries, rice, beans, and salad. The tortillas are hecho a mano and wonderful. The beans are wonderful as well. The rice is merely excellent. Some other highlights include chile rellenos, tamal, asada, the bistec with all the onions and peppers (can't remember what they call it on the menu), enchiladas. In short, most things are good. It's true though, that desserts can be indifferent. If you put a gun to my head and made me guess, the cheesecake is baked elswhere and brought in frozen. The flan is homemade, and somewhat variable. It can be dense and creamy, or dry and fluffy. No way to anticipate. Have another beer instead. I'm not sure what their liquor license is, they don't have a full bar. But they do serve margaritas which taste as though there's tequila in them (as opposed to soju for instance). Those margaritas aren't special in the sense of premium call ingredients, ice cream, or other expensive or weird variations. They're tasty, alcoholic, if a bit on the light side, and make my wife happy. What more can you ask? They have a decent selection of bottled beers and a beer happy hour. Your mother asked me to remind you not to drink too much and have someone else drive. Service, at least in terms of making sure your table is clean, getting you a menu, taking your order, bringing a refreshing beverage, getting your food to you hot and in a timely manner, is very good. It's true they can be a little lackadaisical with the check -- but that's how it works in the SGV. Also de rigeur in the SGV, they take Visa and Master but alas not American Express Sunday brunch is crowded and fun -- lots of big families. As previously noted, good luck parking when it's busy. I particularly enjoy making tostadas of their ceviche de camarones crudas. In fact, that particular ceviche rates as a highlight in itself. Que ricos! The brunch is a buffet though, so all the usual buffet caveats apply. If you see one lonely, dried up enchilada in a chaffer, don't put it on your plate -- it won't be any better than it looks -- I never said the five stars meant perfect. Another caveat: El Jacalito doesn't make much allowance for gabacho* palates and expectations. It's spicer than most restaurants, the hot sauce on the table includes big hunks of chili, and the al diablo is spicy to the point that they practically required a waiver the first time I ordered it. Other notes: The chorizo has crisp edges because that's the way it's best. It's true, El Jacalito's carnitas are not special. While I didn't share a meal with the other reviewers, in the many times we've eaten there we have never encountered a freshness problem. * What's a "gabacho?" If you think you or anyone you know is or might be a gringo, you're a gabacho. Give it a try, BDL read more

I went to eat at this resturtant on a Friday night, the place was empty. We were the only people in the resturtant and the waitress still managed to get my order wrong. The food didn't have much flavor. There prices are cheap, but I feel that I did over pay seeing all I really ate was the chips and salsa. read more

Came here for sunday brunch with my girlfriend. Actually were are on our way to el taquito until we saw this sign for 11 dollar brunch (including drinks). Ahh small square tvs, good mexican food reminds me of good back in the day home made mexican food at Grandmas. Carnitas, chorizo and egg, menuo, shrimp soup, flan, carnitas, rice, tortillas, enchiladas, and more. Im not saying this place is the fanciest ever, it is a small hole in the wall, mom and pop shop. Service was good, 3 mexican women constantly asking if everything is okay and if you need refills. Also when a cetain brunch item was empty, I just let them know and they were quick to refill it. Its basic, good food, home filled environment, definitely worth a try if you like AYCE mexicam food. read more

El Jacalito - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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El Jacalito is closed for business... So the family and I headed over to our regular breakfast spot. We had been raving to our friends about this place so much, that we convinced a large group of friends, who were a few minutes behind us, to join us this morning. When we arrived to the restaurant, we noticed that the security gate was closed but that the main door was open so we went ahead and walked over and could see that the employees were inside prepping some delicious food. We called out in a loud voice saying good morning to the lady that was at the front counter but there was no response nor acknowledgement. Mind you that there was no loud music and that we could clearly hear their conversation. So we decided that since they felt the need to ignore us and not open the door even though it was after 8 a.m., we decided to leave. By the time the woman decide to calmly walk to the door and do us the favor of allowing us to patronize this establishment, we had already turned around and walked away from the restaurant disappointed and insulted. I then called my friends and applogized to them saying that this previously highly recommended place is no longer open for business. We drove to another local place down the street this morning that was eager to greet and serve their customers. We ate, talked and enjoyed the morning. So Jacalito has lost a long time supporter and patron. We shall never return again. -$235 in lost breakfast revinue for the day. read more

The salsa is probably the best thing from this restaurant. If the salsas good, the restaurants good. I enjoyed the food, and the ambient with music was nice. Overall a great restaurant. read more

I love their Huevos Rancheros. I go to this place 2x a month to eat my favorite dish. I also had tried their chicken wet burrito in red sauce and usually have their buffet on Sundays. I love them! So far, we've been celebrating Mother's Day here for two years in a row. I haven't experienced any unpleasant days so far. The servers and the owner are very attentive and nice. My nephew from Vegas makes it a point to eat at this place whenever he comes down here. He had eaten here before when he was an intern at Children's Hospital and USC Hospital. read more

This was recommended by my nephew that goes there 3 times a week. Had a green Chile wet burrito and a asada gordita very good . .The service is excellent and prompt .definitely will be going back!!! read more

Best Mexican food ever I live in east Los Angeles and drive out here for my Mexican fix yummers!!!

Great food! Awesome prices! Service is great too.. I've been coming here for about 8 yrs.. I moved away from this area but every chance I get I stop by and have lunch with my kids.. Very friendly staff read more

Great service and great food. Homemade tortillas. Huarache de care asada sooooo delicious

I originally wanted to go to another restaurant but because of the wait i searched for another one found this one it looks kind of old from the outside but dont let that push u away i am very happy i walked in here today its very simple but the food is amazing great taste great portion the prices are just right and they have an awesome customer service today i was helped by celia she was really nice i defenitly recommend this place read more

This is very comfortable and friendly place to enjoy Mexican food and cocktails. The food is very tasty and if you go for their buffet you will enjoy it even more! They do not have much variety but the food they serve will make you feel satisfied. If you are a pancake person, the buffet includes unlimited pancakes and french toast so you can order as much as you want for the same price. The lady servers are very nice and make you feel welcomed. The reason why I don't rate a 5 stars is because their parking fits no more than 15 cars so you have to park on the street which is fine but not for me. Other than that I will really recommend El Jacalito for your Mexican food craving needs. read more

The food in this place is OK but the service is very disappointing. The old lady/waitress is very rude. I'm not sure if she is but she acts like she owns the place. Even if she did owned it she should not treat her customers the way she does. My wife and I took a visiting relative to this place. From the moment that we got there the waitress/older lady was just there just staring at us acting as if she was busy doing something else and not asking us what we wanted to order. When she finally approached us, her non caring attitude was a turnoff. We felt like we were being rushed. Well, my relative and I order a buffet each and my wife order a regular menu entry. Almost by end of our meal I served myself a small dessert from the buffet and while I was eating it my wife took one spoon from my dessert to taste it and immediately the waitress/old lady came over to our table and with this attitude as if we had broke the law said to us that we had to pay for a full buffet meal since my wife was eating off my dessert. We decided to pay for the full buffet for my wife + her menu entry to avoid the embarrassment but we ARE NEVER GOING BACK THERE. The service was the worst ever. Do not go there!!! read more