My husband and I tried El Jalapeno Rojo based on a recommendation by our neighbor. Our neighbor said that they made the best chile relleno he's ever had. Chile relleno is my favorite, so I couldn't wait to try the hype. We drove down Delmas Ave. and pulled into the parking lot from this street. We quickly realized that all the cars lined up on the San Carlos side. There was no way for us to get to the back of the drive-through line without going around the entire block. I thought it was cool that they had a drive-through as well as walk-up window. Clearly the place was a former Wienerschnitzel. We got into the drive-through line, and there were about 4 cars ahead of us. We waited at least 15 minutes until we got to our turn. They were pretty fast making the food. 5 minutes tops. I got the chile relleno, which came in a massive portion. The to-go box came with a side of rice and refried beans with cheese, but the chile relleno was a chonkers. I think they used multiple stuffed peppers, not just one. The rojo sauce was flavorful and not too salty, and I was full to the brim just by eating the chile relleno part. Hardly touched the rice and beans, which were mediocre at best. read more

I love that they have a drive through, and be aware that your food is made to order so it might be awhile. The beans are so good, as are the carne asada tacos. What's not great is the surly service, which I've experienced on every visit I've had (10+ times) over the last year. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Drive through - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Always great good with really good flavors no matter what you order. No blandness here. Ordered freshly made and passed through the drive through. Awesome and the ladies are very nice too! read more

Wow cant believe the prices here so affordable for some huge portions too very rare now and days. definitely takes time if it's a little busy it is a very small drive-through. But for the price it still goes pretty quick and I'm not complaining. I always get a torta with french fries huge amount of fries too with huge sandwich also pretty good too they also have Chicken salads too that real real good authentic too not processed food at all I recommend this for quick mexican food pig out type day read more

The food was super good, and the customer service was awesome. I'd totally recommend checking it out. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - The Food menu - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

They always have the freshest food. Definitely worth the price. The service is always above and beyond,

This place never disappoints, no matter what you order off their menu, it's always good. I always appreciate the agua frescas that are consistently the right amount of sweet and the salsa is always the right amount of spicy. The staff is always nice and straight to the point as it does become rather busy in bursts. The area itself if off an intersection with a small patio you can sit at that has four tables under some shade. Fair warning that the drive does get a front row experience to you eating is you chose to eat there. read more

Im used to going here because of the location. It was good, then bad and back to being alright. But NOW.....I'm so tired of not getting what I ordered. I said NO QUESO on my dish......once again......there was cheese. AND the fact that 3 flautas with two scoops of rice and beans is $16?!?!???? Extortion. It's so basic and staple it's real cost is like 5 bucks, but with the service it should be an $8 meal. AND when I asked for asada flautas they said they only have chicken which means the just cheap frozen finger foods.....not fresh and made on order. Never again. I'll spend my $16 elsewhere . What a rip off!!!!! read more

My husband and I go to El Jalapeño Rojo every single Friday without fail, and it has become our standing date night. We look forward to it all week because the food is always spot on and the service is consistently great. There is something really comforting about knowing a place will get it right every time, and this spot absolutely does. My go to is the carne asada super burrito, and it is honestly the best one I have found in the area. The carne asada is charcoal grilled and then crisped on the flat top to order, so it has that perfect smoky flavor and texture. It is lean, flavorful, and never greasy. From day one they have never minded my custom order of a carne asada super burrito with no beans and extra onions. A lot of places get irritated with special requests, but here they just make it happen with a good attitude every time. My husband is all about the carne asada nachos, and they are loaded in the best way. There is plenty of meat, the toppings are balanced, and the chips stay crisp under everything. He does not share them, and I understand why. I also want to give a big shout out to the people who make this place what it is. Lorena in the kitchen is incredible, and the consistency in the food shows how much pride she takes in her work. Guadalupe at the register is always friendly, patient, and welcoming. Week after week they are the same nice people they were on day one, and that is a huge part of why we keep coming back. El Jalapeño Rojo is a place that never misses, and we are grateful to have it as our Friday night tradition. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Carne asada super burrito with no beans and extra onions. Perfection! - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I'm NGL. Anything that's got decent food and open after 9pm is going to be a W in my book. I'm a night owl and I get late night cravings. Now, don't get me wrong. If it's 5p on a weekday and their are a bunch of other Mexican places open, I'm probably going to go somewhere else. However, El Jalapeno Rojo has a DRIVE THRU!!!!! How many taquerias are there that have drive thrus?! When I first moved to San Jose, there was only one thing that made me miss home and that drive thru taqueria that I would frequent after being out late with friends. The convenience of being able to get food handed to you in the comfort of your car is priceless. Sometimes my level of laziness requires this kind of service. I have never had an issue with the service. The drive thru can be a bit slow, but the workers have always been nice to me. read more

Update** Still loving this place. Quality, inexpensive, tasty food that is easily accessible. My favorites are: - Asada Tacos: these are so flavorful and they put so much meat! - Chile Relleno: This was really good and came with fresh tortillas, beans, and rice. The portion was so large I couldn't finish it. The tortillas were also really good. - Carnitas Nachos: Classic Nacho cheese, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and jalapeños. The carnitas weren't dry. My husband liked this, but next time he wants to try it the Asada Nachos next time. - Horchata: This was yummy and not watered down. Other menu items we've tried: - Bean and Cheese Burrito: this was HUGE! It was the same size as the super burrito and the beans were flavorful and they use real cheese. Very filling for being a "side". I liked this one. - Al pastor taco: My husband ordered one and it came with pineapples. He said it was okay, but he preferred the asada. - Chips and Guacamole: the guacamole was more of an avocado salsa. I would pass on this. - Asada Sope: Asada had nice flavor and there was 1/4 avocado on top. But, I preferred the taco over the sope. We tried to order the Sonoran Hot Dog, but it was sold out on a Friday night. We will have to come back to try it! read more

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Food was good but now it's not. They used to crisp the taco tortilla and now they don't and the meat is very dry. My biggest issue is they keep raising their prices where I just paid $4.50 for a veggie taco. It's actually more than the chicken taco that is $2.99 They also used to give you lime with your order and now you have to ask for it. We have been going here for years and I'm sad to say we won't be going here anymore We used to recommend people to this Taqueria, which we will not be doing anymore. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Ok what is up with not giving you enough salsa for your food .. w t f ..food is good but part of eating Mexican food is the salsa. A lot of other places an taquerias are not stingy with their salsa because that is part of the experience of eating tacos burritos whatever it is you're eating Mexican. And it's sad to say but even Taco Bell and Jack in the box give you salsa enough for what you're buying. Don't get me wrong the food's great but come on guys give people enough salsa for their food you buy two burritos give them three or four salsas don't chintz out. 3 stars because of the lack of salsa or it would be 7 ! read more

The food here is decent. It seems popular though. There was a steady stream of cars at the drive through. Their breakfast burrito comes with rice and beans, which isn't uncommon but now how I normally get it. Most of the meat and eggs were in the back half of the burrito, so my initial bites were just carbs. I didn't like the texture of the beans at all. But they did a nice job grilling the tortilla. The fish taco was pretty big. They fried up the corn tortilla which gave the taco most of the flavor since the fish was bland on its own. read more

The cashier was very aggressive. She told me not to yelled at her when I wasn't yelling at her at all. I don't know what's her problem but she is very mean with customers. Definitely, she doesn't have a clue about customer service at all. Instead of greeting me she started yelling at me when I not even have started to place my order. I also heard she was arguing with the customer before me. I ordered a super burrito and asked for no cheese no sour cream, but my burrito came with lots of cheese and sour cream when I specifically said no cheese no sour cream. I went back to fixed my burrito but she ignore me and was talking shit about me with the line cook. I just hope that the manager hear about what her employees are doing because she loosing business with these kind of employees. read more

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Average size burrito for a cheaper than average price. Didn't blow me away but still nothing wrong with it. They make you pay extra if you want more salsa and their salsa containers are smaller than average. The salsa is just your average green and red salsa, I've had better read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Carne Asada Super Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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I started coming here because I work downtown and it's convenient to be able to drive down the street and go through their drive-thru The food is pretty decent. The reason I decided to write a negative review today is because every time I ask for hot sauces or lime slices I get serious attitude from the lady at the drive through window. It's always the same one..an older woman (perhaps she's part of the family that owns this place). I don't know what her problem is, but she is so rude. I ask for 3 green sauces and she only gives me 1 or 2, and never any lime wedges. She seems to take it personal or has major issues when you ask for more sauces and she never gives it to me. She's grumpy, never pleasant, and treats you like crap with her bad attitude. Each time I've come here, I decided I would give them 1 more chance. Well...that's it...I'm done! You've not only lost my business, but all of my coworkers as well, as I've told them my experience and they all gave me practically the same feedback! No one I know is going there anymore. So now you've lost at least 10 customers! You'd think She'd be nice to customers, or at least "act" pleasant for the few minutes she has to deal with you. WORST SERVICE! read more

This was my first time coming and will be my last . First the service could need some improvement, like how to speak to a customer, in a such a manner of the care for the customer needs and not keep cutting them off . That should have been my first red flag but I was hungry and so was my child and it was near where I was having an appointment. Once the food was ready i picked it up and eat there the burrito was very salty and very spicy rice was a bit hard too so meaning it was undercooked. The Chile Relleno was very very oily take a bite and you can taste the oil from it ! And very salty too , and the rice was also undercooked beans salty . Overall the only thing that was good was the drink Jamaica and the convenience of the location read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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"Little Donkeys" Ep. 1 I come to this place for lunch whenever I find myself working in the nearby area. It has a drive-thru which really makes it a Plus + for me and a big reason why I choose this spot. Average wait is about 5-10 minutes from the time you order your food. You can dine outside or take it to go. I paid 11.75 for a regular burrito + horchata Burrtio : 8.25 / 10 Horchata : 6.75 / 10 Chips w/ Salsa : Not Included read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Loved next to El Jalapeño all life and this the first time I stopped by this drive-through Mexican spot. Wish I would have came sooner. The service was fast and friendly, even during a busy time, and my order came out hot and fresh. The food itself was really good for a drive-through. The enchiladas were packed with flavor, the chicken was tender, and the portions were generous. You can tell they actually care about the quality, not just speed. Overall, this is a great option when you want something quick but still satisfying. Definitely better than your average fast food, I'll be coming back. read more

Amazing food! Bean, rice, and cheese burrito has been a go to for years! Food is quick, but can be a little wait during peak hours. Recommend to everyone. read more

They get pretty busy during prime dinner and lunch hours. If you must go during those times skip the drive through. Order through the window instead, it's faster. The food is pretty good for what you pay. It's def not top of the line but it hits the spot. Had the wet burrito and regular burrito and some tacos so far. Their salsas are legit. Will go many times over. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Menu 6-10 - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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This place always has a line but I must have ordered the wrong items. I was unimpressed with both dishes, but went here out of convenience of having a drive thru. The service was good & food arrived quickly though. $3.99 charge for using a card and not paying with cash though. I felt robbed. Will I be back? Possibly. I just want to ask them next time what they are known for, so I don't order what I'm hungry for. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Grilled Chicken Salad & Shrimp Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

This was the first time coming here, and I decided to try them because they have a drive-thru. It's a small place, and I noticed the line of cars right away. I didn't know where to park since it was my first time here, it was nighttime, and parking would be hard to maneuver with the drive-thru line there. It only took less than 10 minutes to order and receive my order. I got a carne asada wet burrito. It was very good, and their hot sauce was also pretty good. The burrito is pretty big and can be split into two meals. I'll try their tacos next time. read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Carne Asada Wet Burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Breakfast burrito was really tasty, service was fast. The horchata was fresh. Price was decent too

Shrimp Al La Diabla was quite good and tasty. Lots of hearty and delicious tastes. Service time could've been a little faster, but was worth the wait! read more

Delicious, shrimp ceviche will is really fulling more then enough shrimp.. Birria taco are also good but the consommé lacks flavor. I do have a pic I'll update soon read more

The asada we ordered was salty and it tasted as if we got the bottom of the barrel left over meat. The way the asada looked was similar the way chorizo looks, which is not a good thing. read more

This is my go-to spot on Monday nights after late night work meetings. Amazing staff, Juan for customer service and Lore the chef! So much flavor- my order: Super Burrito, no sour cream, with carne asada and shrimp- tortilla extra toasted BOMB ! read more

Amazing food and good prices. I love their breakfast burrito and it's filled with everything.

Good food and a bang for your buck. Good meat. Asada quesadilla came with guacamole, sour cream and chips. At least try it once! read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Asada super quesadilla w/ guacamole, sour cream and red sauce. :+) - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Refried beans and rice are the best taste here especially in your burrito. The horchata and pineapple drink is too watery not sweet at all.

authentic convienient inexpensive friendly staff quick service clean envirenment love the drive thru

Avoid. Read the other comments about service. They are true. These are uneducated people with no respect for clients. My family has been coming here for many months now mostly out of convenience and always felt the bad attitude but dismissed it since it's a quick grab and go. But today they messed up the order and marked as veggie the fish burrito. When I asked about it they insinuated that I was trying to profit by having eaten 1/5 of the burrito before noticing and told me to give it to my wife since she's my wife and that would be okay. When I asked to redo both since the veggie one (marked as fish) looked off and when tried to bring her attention to how serious this mistake is since I could have allergies, she went completely nuts and started to say she refused service. Eventually I was able to get the fish one redone but then she said not to come back. I even tried to reason and apologized if I sounded too angry but she closed the window on my face and my wife's too. I can't really express here how low level this interaction was. Probably the worst I've experienced at any restaurant. Best way to describe is how other folks put it - felt like ghetto. But I'm glad she's refusing service since it's the way I for sure won't be coming back. read more

Love it !! food is great always go there thanks el Jalapeño Rojo Yes food delicious and service is great thanks read more

One of the best fast food Mexican places I have ever had. Got the enchiladas with red sauce and carne asada. Everything was fantastic on the plate. Will definitely eat here again after a Sharks game- it's a 10 min walk from the SAP center read more

Solid fast casual Mexican food option! We've drove by this place countless times and always wondered if the food was halfway decent. There usually is a line so that piqued our interest to try it out more. We finally stopped by on a Tuesday night and it didn't disappoint! Wet burrito was packed full of meat. The asada was well seasoned and was large enough for dinner and lunch the next day. I loved both salsas they offer (ask for extra green sauce!) What a bargain to have a delish, hot and quick meal under $10! Bonus points for being open later than most places *woot*! read more

El Jalapeno Rojo - Wet burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I want to give a shout out to Lorena who is the cook at this taqueria. My son loves their tacos and she always makes his tacos exactly how he likes them. Thank you for always being so kind!! read more

This used to be my favorite go to Mexican place. I would always get there chili Verde this time we had a bad experience they gave us. The wrong order said that we gave them the wrong order. I never have ordered a dish. They said we ordered before so needless to say I won't be back. I asked them if they were under new management new business they said yes it was obvious. My husband also said we won't be going back. It's too bad. They had a good business going. I hope they get all of the bugs straightened out because they have a good location. read more

The Best Drive thru Mexican Restaurant I love this place, Jalapeno Rojo 400 West San Carlos St and go 2 x a month. I usually get the enchilada meal, perfect for a gringa. The flautas were a little mild and the tacos were very spicy. I have been going since it was El Grullense and it closed due to covid. read more