Top notch! From the time we arrived everything was really good at this restaurant. Chips were hot, salsa fresh, portions big, great wait staff. Even when they brought us the to go box, they asked if we wanted some salsa to go. Who does that? I don't know what took us so long to try this place, but we will definitely be back. read more

Lately it's been very consistent and very good. This is the best Mexican food that I know of anywhere within a 100 mile radius. read more

El Tecolote - View from the front. - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

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We love stopping here, it's on our way to the beach. The food and service are always good. This place has been here since 1944, so they must be doing something right. It's delicious Old School Mexican food except that I didn't like the taste of the beans. We're so glad they've reopened, they were really Covid sensitive, everyone wore masks, doors were open and diners were socially distanced. read more

El Tecolote - I had the 2 Taco Dinner and Kay Annette had the Taco & Enchilada, plenty of chips & salsa on request - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

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I have to start by saying the food is really good. I normally go for lunch and every once in awhile for dinner. My go to for both lunch and dinner is the 2 or 3 item combo. I mix it up every time but my favorite is the shredded beef taco and cheese enchilada. The chilireeno is probably your least favorite but I still order it every once in awhile. The chips and salsa are always really good and plentiful. The service has always been fast and friendly for me. The staff seems to be very aware and attentive. My only issue is it's a little pricey for what it is. It's home style Mexican food. And I am still paying about $18 with drink and tip for lunch and $20+ for dinner. That just keeps me from going as often as I would like too. Good tasting food though! read more

Delicious food, great service! We stop by whenever traveling through. A long standing, nostalgic establishment with same great flavors that I enjoyed 20 years ago. Hard shell tacos with shredded beef are a favorite, and always tasty chips and fresh salsa complete the meal. Had the pleasure of dining this past Sunday and it didn't disappoint, can't wait to dine at this restaurant again :) read more

So glad this Camarillo landmark made it through the shutdown. This is my favorite old California style Mexican restaurant in Ventura County. Yep it's a throwback to the 1950s. It's not much to look at but the food, oh the food. So last night I ordered the 2 Chicken Monterey enchilada plate with rice and beans. For me the rice is a throw away, but the beans are perfect. Creamy and smooth the way they get when you use lard. The enchiladas were stuffed with shredded white chicken meat covered in their tomatillo sauce. Chips and salsa are real chips - hand cut then deep fried without overloading the fryer. Each chip is beautiful, crisp and tastes the way a fat fried chip should outta. The salsa is hand cut, deep dark red and not too spicy. My wife is a fan of Chili Relleno and ordered the plate with two of them and beans only. They were stuffed with cheese and the breading was perfect. Mild chilies covered in gravy and cheese. We snacked on the chips on the way home, then just cut off the lids and ate out of the serving containers. Silence ensued while we ate. Then the groaning began from having been served the best meal of the week. It was good to see them open for biz - they are only using every other booth and the place was packed for a Saturday night. The staff was happy to see the restaurant full too. Great service last night. In the mood for real Cal Mex? This be the place.... Oh and did I mention their $30 dinner for four - four tacos (real tacos) plus four enchilada$, plus rice, beans, chips and guac. A good deal. Muy bueno. read more

They have a amazing Covid-19 Take-out Family meal . The food is absolutely the best and the price can't be beat . Thank you Mr. Owl

I've been to El Tecolote a few times now, and have decided that contrary to it's rave reviews it's not one of my favs. For starters, it ain't cheap! An authentic Mexican restaurant should stick to their roots in my opinion. For the amount of food you get and its quality, this should have easily been a $10 ticket. The quality of food was just ok as well. Nothing spectacular about the verde burrito my husband ordered, and the same for my enchilada/chile relleno combo plate. The service was slow and unattentive to our table the entire time we ate our dinner. The only thing earning them the two-star review is their freshly made chips. They were quite nice. Don't think I'll go here again unless some friends who love the place insist. read more

really good food, big portions. service was great! guacamole was amazing definitely need to get 3 of them if you're with a party bigger than 10.. goes fast. read more

Good solid Mexican food here since 1946. Seriously old school. Ground beef tacos are a rarity now a days. My lunch of one ground beef and one chicken taco with rice and beans was great. The giant double shot Cadillac Margarita in the frosty goblet completed the meal! Bueno!! read more

El Tecolote - Ground beef and chicken taco combo. This place is old school. - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

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El Tecolote is like the Denny's of Mexican food, it consistent, it tastes good and they have good chips and salsa. its a nice divey place right down to the booths and decor so much so that I would not be surprised to see them on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I have had a lot of the stuff on the menu more than once and its always good like the chicken monterey, chicken and rice and of course the mikes burrito. the potato tacos are good. my wife likes the fish tacos and they make a good Margarita and have cold coronas too. this is our ole stand by go to place when we cant decide where to eat. read more

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I am in utter shock that this place has earned any above average ratings. My boyfriend and I visited El Tecolote last night looking for a change from our normal Mexican digs... The place has been around forever, and we couldn't remember the last time we had dined here. Well, the nauseating scent of cleaning supplies mixed with general mustiness should have been a huge sign to turn around and flag our uber down immediately. Shortly after entering the establishment, we were acknowledged by the chatting wait staff who couldn't be bothered, shoved menus in our face, and told us to seat ourselves. The complimentary chips and salsa were served and, honestly, this was the best part of the meal. We ordered double Cadillac margaritas, which were also satisfyingly strong. If the restaurant didn't smell so putrid, I would probably return simply for the chips and drinks. We ordered an appetizer: the chorizo bean dip. Bad decision. Albondigas soup was thankfully edible. Combination plate with a ground beef taco, cheese enchilada, and chile relleno was ordered and served within a record speed of approximately 5 minutes-- maybe less. Definitely a sign of freshly made food, right? Wrong... The ground beef taco tasted strongly of burnt oil, and the rubbery chile relleno was flooded in sauce to disguise the staleness. I couldn't find the cheese enchilada until I realized it was under a humongous mountain of shredded lettuce. By that point, I was so disgusted with what I had tasted on the plate that I didn't have the appetite to try the hidden lump of mush that hardly resembled an enchilada. I apologetically returned the plate 20 minutes later, when our waitress decided to get up from the booth she was sitting at with other members of the staff to check on us. Another 10 minute went by before she returned, and we finally got our check. She generously refunded the cost of the entree and gave us an additional 20% off without prompting, which was great-- but we left hungry and missed our movie. :*( With so many delicious options for Mexican food in the area, we definitely will not return. read more

Ahhh El Tecolote - I have such fond childhood memories of you. I was born in nearby Oxnard and grew up in Camarillo until Dec. of 1978. El Tecolote (Spanish for "The Owl"), or..as it was known then.. "Mike's El Tecolote".. was a Camarillo institution back then. It was also the locale of quite a few meals out with the family. My late father knew the (then) owner of the place and I've wonderful memories of eating here and chatting with the owner and staff back when i was but a tiny tot. When we went to Solvang for our vacation 3 years ago, we stayed with a friend in Camarillo for a day - and I decided to come back here with the wife to see if it was as good to me as an adult as it was 30 years or so ago when i was younger. It was! :) The place hadn't change much. Alot of it was as I remembered it...just updated and built on to slightly. We enjoyed a delicious meal here. The wife (who considers herself an Enchilada Expert) was yumming all over their Cheese Enchilada plate. Loved it! Myself, I ordered my fave.. the Chile Rellenos. And they were heaven. As a previous reviewer stated - they've kept the same numbering scheme on their combo plates for over 3 decades. Ahh... nostalgia. The place also makes GREAT Margaritas! Our service... yea it was a bit slow. Certainly slower than I remember. But then, the evening we were there (a Tuesday of all days), the place was PACKED. So that's forgiven. Normally a 3 star place. But the food, nostalgia and staying power of it give it the 4th star. read more

El Tecolote - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

We have debated trying this place many times and finally decided to head in. It's been a staple in Camarillo for many many years. I will make it known now that we did not eat there...many reasons why. We walked in & were greeted by a hostess...restaurant Empty. Very old dilapidated building inside. Not welcoming at all. This was a Friday night at 7pm. Dead inside. We headed to the bar for a drink. Waited 10 minutes for a girl to show up. Her drink skills were lacking. We stuck to bottle beer. Had a couple. Watched food come out that looked absolutely small and disappointing. Was told that we couldn't request no onions in a dish we wanted to orde cause ALL THE FOOD IS PREMADE!!!! What????!!! PREMADE. Ummmmm no thank you. This is a restaurant in 2022. Food should be prepared fresh. It's a shame cause this place could be so awesome! Just needs some remodeling inside and an inviting staff & homemade real fresh food. Made to order food. Not frozen premade food. read more

Ok. So. I drove by and decided to give it a shot. The young woman who greeted me was super friendly and overall the service is very fast and efficient. The food is ok. Not fantastic. *LARD ALERT* I asked if there was lard in the refried beans and as often happens the answer was "Yes." However, I was then informed the chips are fried in lard, too! Who still does that? Bummer. Oh well. I didn't ask too many more questions. Ignorance is bliss. (Mexican restaurant that play current pop music also lose some points with me.) read more

Probably the best overall Mexican food in Camarillo! Chips and salsa provided are top notch. All meals feature plenty to eat. Enchiladas en mole' sauce may be the best dish but the pork verde is also great. read more

Really wanted just a taco and a decent margarita. Sat at the bar, no one else there. Bar had not been wiped down in a while. Margarita was decent, a little sweet but not bad. Wouldn't do more than one though which is the true kiss of death. Chips were great; hot with just the right temp to the salsa, good crunch and chew. Beef taco was very bland, no noticeable seasoning. Pleasant though somewhat inattentive service, maybe since I was solo at the bar. Would bring back my wife for another try but would need to see some improvement beyond that. read more

First of all the service is so so at best. We ordered soup as an appetizer and it came out the same time as the meal. I ordered Carnitas and my friend ordered Chicken. Mine was fairly dry and luke warm when served and my friends chicken was just plain dry. The beans basically sucked. There are too many good Mexican Restaurants to accept this kind of service and food. I will have to be pretty dam hungry to come back to this place. In addition it does not seem like the cleanest place in town. read more

We dined here this evening and it was just okay. When we walked in, the hostess handed us two menus and told us we could seat ourselves wherever we wanted. We sat down, and our waiter brought us chips and salsa. I ordered a cheese enchilada, and shredded beef taco a la carte. The food tasted okay, but the temperature of my food was lukewarm. I've never been one to send my food back, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to dine here again. P.S. a restaurant this size should have a bigger ladies room. Just saying.... read more

I had a great day today foraging for pumpkins at a local family-owned farm, but the highlight had to be eating dinner at El Tecolote, located right off the 101 Freeway at Lewis Road in Camarillo. I always prefer to eat at restaurants where the architecture adds to the experience. From the minute you walk onto the porch of the converted house and pass the gnarled trees which spread up and frame it with a canopy of leaves, you feel as if you're about to grub at your Mexican friend's house, where mom's cooking smells waft out from the kitchen 24/7. The decor is sparse but there seem to be owls represented everywhere, which ties into the story of the restaurant owner and owls in the trees around the original Moorpark location. The menu boasts traditional Mexican dishes but occasionally you will see something interesting, and what caught my eye were the spinach and mushroom enchiladas. They came with a side of fluffy and delicious rice and topped with black olives and shredded lettuce. The iced tea was mysteriously cloudy but delicious and did not taste store-bought. The enchiladas hit home, with just the right amount of cheese, spinach, and onions. I topped them off with the house salsa which was not spicy and suited my gringa palate. I ordered the flan for dessert and was VERY Pleasantly surprised to find it firm, not too sweet, and very cold. Just the way I like it. This place is great for families, they also have a bar, and the restrooms were very clean. A+! read more

the food was terrible, if you are looking for authentic Mexican food DONT ‍ come here, the chicken is so dry and wasn't even cut good its like they wanted me to shred it myself the horchata was not mixed properly so it was spicy, the burrito was not rolled properly so it opened when I tried to cut it, not to mention it was 10% beans and rice and 90% dry chicken , they didn't have ketchup for my fries, service was ok, parking is really small and food was wayyyy too expensive for it to be this bad i think the only decent thing here was the complimentary tortilla chips read more

Great team good food. Tables and chairs are placed in a social distancing manner and the sun does not hit you so hard that you're burning up. read more

Have to tell you that I have lived in VC for a lot of years and haven't eaten at El Tecolote in awhile. When we walked in, my wife and I could not believe the smell of old dirty restaurant. It hits you right when you come in. My wife looked at me right away and said "smells dirty". We sat down and opened the menu and we could not believe the prices!!!!!!! This is Mexican food in Camarillo not West LA. We politely got up and walked out. Can't tell you about the food, didn't make it that far. read more

OMG I have been waiting for this day!! 5 star service, great food! Giant Burrito is amazing Asada burrito is great and 3 item combo amazing!! read more

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I grew up in the area but only started coming here when I worked in Camarillo on the regular. This place is one of those familiar landmarks you remember since being a kid. It's so funny to me to see all the negative reviews on substance other than food. This restaurant is not some corporate entity that can just write off your discounts if you don't qualify. Instead, people's individual livelihoods are impacted should a server *choose* to honor a demand for a discount one doesn't qualify for to begin with. Once this is recognized, I hope one can appreciate the hard work and dedication of all the folks working there. I have been coming in on the regular during work and after work for happy hour for the last couple years. My personal opinion is their margaritas are better than Yolandas. I love the variety of food based on my mood. Sometimes I'll want something big, sometimes I don't. There are always options for this. I've had every server here, several times. Both afternoon and evening service has always been great for me. Since Yolanda's isn't open for lunch, El Tecolote is a perfect place in Camarillo for lunch. I prefer the large margaritas at El Tecolote over others as well. I feel like I always get the bang for buck. I've never left disappointed after having a margarita. My favorites here are the nachos, the asada quesadilla, the flautas meal, rice bowl and sometimes the asada burrito if I'm in mood for a lot of food. I want to call out Jackie, Sarah, Oscar and Katie for always making my experience an enjoyable one. Every single time I've come in has been positive and the food has always been good for me. Cheers! read more

Camarillo staple. It's been around forever so don't let the age of the building discourage you, food is consistently comforting!

My parents have been going to this restaurant for many years and they remembered my mom even though my dad wasn't with her this trip, my husband and myself were with her. They have always gotten great service and told us the food was really good. We tried for the first time and yes was delicious, very authentic. We will still take my mom at least once a month even if my dad isn't with us now. read more

My husband went there two weeks ago, ordered a bean/rice/cheese burrito with their house salsa. He woke up eight hours later with gnarly stomach pain and diarrhea. His mom lives in Camarillo so he decided to try it out because during get-togethers it was all about pizza. He recovered just fine and decided to give it another go last night and he woke up again eight or nine hours later with stomach pain and diarrhea and he had ordered the same thing. We are used to eating organic and non-GMO foods but since he has an iron stomach he thought he give this place a try, ha ha. Sure would be nice if it was healthier because that did it for him! read more

Amazing food and unbelievable Margaritas! Family owned so you know you are getting great home cook food. The staff are friendly and helpful. If you are looking for a warm and cozy Mexican home cook dinner, this is the spot. read more

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed. With a shot of tequila and an ice cold beer, chips and delicious homemade salsa, we were planning our next visit. Dinner was absolutely delicious. Authentic old school Mexican food. Family friendly and so much fun!!! read more

Just as the Yelp 3-star rating is called "A-OK". This joint is A-OK. Not stellar but worth a try on occasion. Our food was adequate. The service was very friendly. The location (which is so old it reminds me of the Pantry in downtown L.A.) is really one of the biggest reasons to check this place out. You can feel the history. When we crave Mexican we don't usually think of El Tecolote. That might be an indication of something... but I'm sure we'll try it again. read more

El Tecolote - Mexican Near Me - Camarillo, California

Ground Beef Tacos Rock. The drinks are the bomb. Love the beef tacos and chips and salsa and Kendell is one fine waitress. read more

There prices have gone up so much yet the quality has not. Very sad use to have lunch specials that where at a fair price but now a lunch with a drink is over $35 not including tip. Crazy! read more

I live in Texas and still insist on coming here for Tex Mex whenever I'm in Ventura County. This place is one of the last bastions of old VC, and I love it. Funky owl decor, great ambience, fun and unusual spot to relax. Service is always fast and friendly. Looks like a few of the reviews talk about the food being inconsistent but I've never had anything but great meals here. Shredded beef enchiladas are hard to come by, and they do a fantastic job with them. Order one, and get a chile relleno off the a la carte menu as well. read more

Food is consistently good, great rice and beans. Their hard shell tacos are my go to and I highly recommend them!

We came here on our last night in town based on a recommendation from a local we met. I wish we had known about it earlier so that we could have come multiple times. You're not coming for the location or vibe. You're coming for the authentic food at a good price and kind servers and good margaritas. The margaritas were fabulous. I ordered an original flavor frozen with a double shot. My mom ordered the same but with a single shot. We both loved them. So refreshing and not too sweet and not too sour. Juuust right, as Goldilocks would say. The chips and salsa were delicious - the chips were warm and fresh. We split the Monterey chicken enchiladas, which had a green tomatillo sauce over them and were served with generous portions of rice, beans, sour cream, and guacamole. This was the authentic fresh Mexican food I was hoping for in California. And on top of everything else, the staff and service could not have been more lovely. read more

Food is good and service is always great. This time, food was super greasy. I'm thinking it's from the cooks being overwhelmed with a full house. I definitely will come back, it's usually pretty good. read more

I'm so glad that they reopened last week! I have loved the food here for years and have gotten to know the family that owns it through the years. Everything I have ever ordered at this restaurant has always been great. It's the perfect place to come to eat after going shopping at the Camarillo Outlets! read more

The staff are always super friendly, and the food is always hot and fresh. Their chips and salsa are the best!

Yuk. Don't come here when there are so many other great Mexican food options in Camarillo. This place is dirty and the food is subpar at best. Even the margaritas were bad. read more