As vegetarians, my family usually struggles to find decent offerings at Mexican restaurants,…read moreusually settling for bland bean-and-rice burritos, cheese enchiladas that clearly were made haphazardly (if not out-right cooked from the freezer), or calorie-bombed nachos. This is not the case at Dos Carlitos in Santa Ines! Yes, my kids split the order of nachos, but the ratio of black beans, tomatoes, and guacamole to cheese made this mother happy. The vegetable tostada was loaded with grilled vegetables and the freshly-made tortillas were incredible! Finally, the cheese enchiladas (we're creatures of habit) were freshly cooked, with more of those in-house tortillas, and they were, according to my husband, some of the most delicious that he's had in a long time. Service was courteous and prompt, and we were greeted by the host in a very pleasant manner. I have to give a shout-out to our busboy, who was fantastic, ready with water or chip refills before we even thought to ask (whatever his name was, he was working Thursday, July 23 at noon). In short, Dos Carlitos is a first-rate Mexican restaurant! We love how it is not loud or overfilled with patrons. One might balk at some of the high prices, but in general I have to say it was overall worth it!

It's been years since I was last here. This visit, some friends were craving Mexican and I…read moreremembered coming here a few times. Like prior reviews, it's more Tex Mex for me. But food is still good. It's a nice little restaurant right in the heart of Santa Ynez. A cute little town with restaurant and some shops. Theres plenty of parking along the street as well as a small lot behind and to the side. You'll find parking somewhere. There's both inside and outside seating. I personally prefer outdoor as it can get stuffy inside. It's not that big inside and the seating area are over sizes chairs so it can feel stuffy. Just my opinion. Regardless, the menu does offer pretty much loads of dishes. The salsa and bean salad that's brought out with chips is always good. Don't fill up on it though. Drink wise, it's was quite strong this visit so worth the money. Also, the guacamole was good. Decent amount for sharing. A few dishes were had. The grilled chicken salad which was quite nice with the dressing. Then there was the shrimp tacos. The shrimps were pretty big which was nice. Two tacos with a small sides of beans, guacamole and salsa. Also the chicken enchiladas with both rice and beans. And the carnitas meal with rice and beans. Food is good and flavorful. It's alway busy so they're doing well. Each visit, it feels like it's more of the locals that visit versus tourists. Overall, the visit was nice. Chips with the salsa and bean salsa were good. The meal was enjoyed as well as the margaritas. A little pricey for Mexican food but with location, it works. More Tex Mex in my opinion but much appreciated and enjoyed. Friendly staff and good service.

My friend has a tradition after any of our big hikes; the second he gets cell phone reception, he…read morestarts searching for the closest Mexican restaurant that has margaritas, and no matter how small a town may be, there is generally one to be found. We've been through Frazier Park many times on the way to hikes, but I guess I had never ventured up any side roads to the actual 'downtown'. Upon entering, you think the place is small, but it keeps extending into a sizable dining room and there appears to be a back room that you can use for events. The staff was pleasant, the place was clean and organized, but there was almost zero ambience with only the slightest hint of a radio playing in the kitchen, but my friend said they closed at four on Sundays, so maybe it was the end of the day when we were there, but it was literally dead quiet. I could tell from the picture on the menu that they didn't make their own taco shells and were the pre-formed kind. All the food was hot and freshly made, and plated decently, but every bit of it was fairly bland and flavorless; definitely not traditional Mexican food.

You not o let get the best flavors from Mexcio , but you literally have the owner as your personal…read morewaiter. I was eating and enjoying her true authentic self with her customers. She knows many by name and she also made a special button on her ordering POS machine for her loyal customers that have been eating here for years. That is a valid 5/5 star rating! The amount of proportionate food is over the top, you can literally share one meal itself. The guacamole is perfect and the chips and salsa are so delicious, it's hard to stop. The ambience has such a beautiful touch to the Hispanic culture as well as the architecture . Swing by

Love the food here and the service is amazing . The owner…read morehimself treats you like family and makes you feel so welcomed This is me and my hubbys place

This is a hidden gem in Buellton! It is a small, cute…read morelittle place. There is a salsa bar, who doesn't love a salsa bar! You can pick your salsa, there was also limes, chopped cilantro and pickled veggies. The chips were thin and warm. Service was perfect, very helpful and friendly. The side salad was so good, I might go back and get that for an entree. It had fresh greens, walnuts and clementines with a light creamy mango dressing. It was bomb! I got enchiladas with the creamy Chipotle sauce, delicious. My husband got mole, he really liked it. The mole was a little sweet to me but I dont like or ever order mole, so I shouldn't speak to it. We also got the churros, so good. Prices are very reasonable. I will definitely return.

My friend and I were craving Mexican food while in Solvang and decided to try Don Nacho's Café…read moreafter finding it on Google and I'm glad we did! The food took a little while to come out, but it was definitely worth the wait. Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and full of authentic Mexican flavor. You can tell care went into the dishes. The only thing to keep in mind is the portion size it's a bit small for a Latin restaurant, especially at around $20 per plate. Still, the quality makes up for it. Customer service was okay. Since you pay before eating, they didn't really come by our table to check in, which felt a bit impersonal. The place is very quiet, nice decor. Overall, I'd recommend it just know the portions are on the smaller side!

I finally got to try Don Nachos Café on Tuesday the 15th after missing out during my visit to…read moreSolvang last year when they were closed. This place is very tucked away--almost hidden. If you aren't looking up while walking or specifically searching for it, you could easily miss it. It feels less like a traditional sit-down restaurant and more like a casual, fast-food spot. You order at the counter yourself, and while they do bring the food to your table, they don't really come back to check on you. The space is very small both inside and out, with the outdoor seating area feeling especially tight. As for the food, the taste was excellent--fresh and delicious. However, I agree with other reviewers that the portions are quite small for the price. I paid $20 for my main plate and was still hungry, the portion was very small, so I ordered the beef nachos with all the trimmings. I have never seen tortilla chips so tiny and light at a Mexican restaurant. The beef was chopped into such minuscule pieces that it completely blended in with the beans, making it hard to find but you could taste it, just a bit strange I have to say. That being said, the flavor was still very good. While the prices feel a bit high for the amount of food you get, the quality is definitely there. Interestingly, while I left wanting a bit more, the portions were actually perfect for my girlfriend. For the first time ever after eating Mexican food, she didn't feel totally stuffed and didn't even need a Pepcid, which says a lot for her sensitive stomach! Again, the portions are small, she was happy with it, I was a bit too hungry afterwards and trust me, I've never felt hungry leaving any Mexican restaurants or Mexican at a fast-food place. I guess it will also depend on what you order, I read some reviews "so much food", I don't know how much they ordered and if they ordered many different plates of food to share and taste, where of course you can say "so much food", but if you order regular dinner for two people like we did, I still have to say "portions are small" and you will feel hungry afterwards that's why I ordered after my regular dinner plate nachos supreme, and I explained how the "supreme" was anything but; however, very tasty and worth trying it for sure, and I would personally order it again if and when I may visit Solvang again. Basically, order a few different plates if you want to fill yourself up, otherwise, you'll leave feeling good but still a bit hungry. Not knocking the place, it was just my personal experience as far as the amount of food or lack of, but the freshness was definitely there and for Mexican food, it was very light, and that's also a good thing. We both had room for a danish pastry and that was a good thing and still were not stuffed, which is also a good thing. Overall, if you are someone who expects huge plates of food at a Mexican restaurant, this place won't give you that. But because the food tastes so fresh and great, I totally recommend it, I enjoyed it and would definitely eat here again on my next trip to Solvang to try some different dishes.

Ordered asada burritos supreme and came out to $20 each! No wonder the prices weren't posted…read morecorrectly. Supposed to have the works(per the lady working the register) asada, beans, onion cilantro, avocado, sour cream, cheese & lettuce (I omitted the rice) - $40 for 2 burritos sorry, ridiculously over priced. Got worse when I bit into the burrito and all it had was meat and beans - w/a touch of sour cream. Got to the middle of the burrito - still no avocado, onion, cilantro, cheese, lettuce in sight. This wasn't an error either because both burritos were ordered exactly the same way and both were made the same. The truck had one worker and one customer besides me, so there's no oversight. This has been a stop for me for over 10yrs for a quick bite while on the 5, as of today never again.

Yes, it is a food truck style place off the I-5 and it is delicious. I was driving in 106 degrees…read moreweather and opted to eat in the air conditioned car, so I ordered an easy to eat carne asada quesadilla. It was large and full of meat and cheese and one of the best I've had in a long time. My sister got the chili verde burrito that looked a foot long and 3 in diameter, her burrito was huge and she says it was awesome. The man that took our order was really nice! He understood my Spanish greeting and cooks yummy food! I highly recommend stopping by and good authentic Mexican food

excellent food great atmosphere…read more quick service salsa bar top notch We drove two hours for lunch !!

The food, service and ambiance are superb. Ironically we were going to another taco place but it…read morewas closed today. My husband and I were delighted to experience such a clean, fresh restaurant. The prices are right as well. Highly recommend!

Totally worth the three min drive off the freeway! Fresh delicious tortillas chips and salsa and…read moreeveryone loved their food. We had burritos, quesadillas, tacos and salads and all were a hit. And most importantly on a road trip ... large, clean, new bathrooms. Thank you!

Our First Time Here Ever, At Gabby's Grill And Cafe. In Lost Hills, CA. On Our Way To San…read moreBernardino, CA To See My Fiancée's Sister. We Always Pass By And Never Stopped..!!! Time To See If They're Any Good...??? So I Ordered A Breakfast Burrito With Carne Asada, Eggs, Potatoes, Cheese. My Fiancée Ordered The Cheese Enchiladas With Beans And Rice..!!! I Ordered A Soft Drink Self Serve And I Was Conflicted Between Orange Crush Or Rootbeer..?? Rootbeer Won..!!! My Fiancée Ordered A Bloody Maria..!!!

I was on my way to Carrizo Plains and needed a bite. Surprised to see a solid taco joint in this…read morepart of town! I'm a fan. From most to least impressed: + Lengua taco: This was done really, really well. Lengua can be a hit or a miss sometimes, as it's easy to make it tough to chew, but this was extremely tender and I could've ordered an entire plate of just this. + Quesabirra taco: Really flavorful. The birria was great and pairs well with consume. + Asada taco: I would skip this one because the meat was on the tougher end for me. But the other two tacos win me over. Reasonably priced and the meal came with chips and salsa. Also clean seating and bathrooms with ample parking in the lot. Make this your pit stop if you're ever in this side of town!

Our server welcomed us with the update that they had already sold out of chile rellenos. When I…read moreordered agua de Jimica they were out of that too so horchata it was. We ordered chips and salsa but then learned they were out of salsa and would be making more. They did have the tacos and quesadilla we ordered and they were delicious. Our server checked in to see if we needed anything else and we said we were waiting on the chips and salsa. She updated us that they were actually out of the ingredients for the salsa so those wouldn't be coming. I'm glad I checked the stall in the bathroom as one was out of toilet paper. I worry they might not have the cash flow they need if they have such a lean inventory.

A patron paid for my meal!!! The a chicken tortilla soup was probably the best I've ever had!…read moreBetter than my moms ;) Had the Pastor burrito and it was so good I didn't have time to take a picture! Spicy salsa had a fair amount of heat which was very nice too. Fair prices and very nice staff. They were as surprised as I was when I was trying to pay my bill so I guess I will have to just pay it forward. Definitely give this a try if you're in the area.

I ordered kabobs and the meat, rice, and veggies were delicious and richly flavorful. Definitely…read moredropping by whenever I drive through town, SO GOOD!!!

It's a cute little Mexican restaurant on I-5, I stopped by on my way back to the Bay Area from Los…read moreAngeles. It's not fancy but it's cozy. We were hungry for lunch and the restaurant didn't disappoint. We had shrimp fajitas, chicken tacos and my kid had a kids cheese quesadilla. Everything was well seasoned and the server Zinia was very attentive and pleasant to talk to. She also gave me fresh salsa with my tacos. The prices are reasonable and the portion size is decent to fill you up. I will stop by if I am in the area :)

I was traveling from San Francisco back to Los Angeles. And I always stop here because I know the…read morefood and the menu are so good! The service is always great I've been coming here for 20 years now. Never disappoint. I highly recommend you come in. The shrimp Moho is also my favorite. But today I got the steak, shrimp and fries.