We had dinner here this past Saturday, arrived during the last hour of business and there was plenty of seating available. It's a clean and casual space with a lovely tree mural on the wall and decorative lighting above. Staff was friendly and provided excellent service, just one guy helping customers in the dining room. The mole verde was tasty and the chicken was tender, the grasshoppers were on the salty side but had good flavor and a nice crunch, and the quesadilla with shrimp was yummy, definitely good quality of ingredients, I could taste the difference since I often get this same dish at other places. It was sooo cheesy too, just the way I like it. I requested no guacamole, but it was included. Not a big deal though. We were happy with our experience here, great product and value. read more

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Hidden gem! We ordered the Botana Oaxaqueña, which is a mini sampler of 2 cheese empanadas, 2 chicken taquitos, 2 chorizo/potato molotes and 2 memelas. All were delicious. Then we shared the grilled pork platter and man, that was good. Well seasoned grilled pork, grilled onion, fluffy rice and tasty refried black beans, all with handmade tortillas. Outstanding. Stuffed ourselves silly and totally worth it. We will for sure be back to try their mole dishes and a tlayuda for sure. Located right next to Oakridge mall, there's plenty of parking and the staff is really nice. read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Botana Oaxaqueña: 2 cheese empanadas, 2 chicken taquitos, 2 chorizo/potato molotes, 2 memelas - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Was Craving for Tinga Tostadas, thought EL TULE would be a good option... Was wrong, the tostadas are small, and did not feel fresh. They tasted like they had them from a time ago, and split on half. LOL What was my surprise... I also found a sticker with in my food. Funny thing is after i noticed the tostada flavor, and in two pieces. I went to check reviews, and someone mentioned a sticker on a review, OMG I found one too in my plate (food) lol (what would be the chances). That tells me the vegetables were not washed, which could make some ppl sick (stomach aid) TBH that was a huge disappointment. Thanks, left all the food. Wish i had made a better selection. read more

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Although the outside looks like a typical strip-mall restaurant, the inside is nicely decorated and feels cozy. El Tule has a wide variety of traditional Oaxacan dishes, as well as a number of Mexican dishes. The food is really good! Many times in general Mexican restaurants, the side items (tortillas, rice, beans, etc) are pretty forgettable, but at EL Tule every item on the plate feels like a specialty. Portions are good (the tlayuda is huge!), and the prices are fair. I see some of the other reviewers complain about service. All I can say is that I found the service to be friendly and helpful. read more

I've lived in San Jose for 20 years and HAD yet to find decent mole here.... This spot by far has the best mole I've EVER had. Authentic and flavorful. I'm coming back for the mole verde tomorrow! Excellent service and small, quant dining room. read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Oaxaquenas y Coloradito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Good as always good and fresh I got the trayuda and chicken soup delicious!!! My husband got the michelada and empanadas filled with chorizo con papas They made with masa. 100% recommend!!!! read more

I just happened to be walking distance from this place, so I checked it out. The menu is quite big, so I went with something familiar and got the Cali burrito. Honestly one of the best burritos I've ever had! The carne asada inside was perfectly cooked and seasoned so well. Service was friendly and the restaurant was nice and clean! Highly recommend giving this place a shot. I'll be back for sure when I'm in this area!! read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Burrito California - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

The food is amazing. The person who took care of us was such as sweetheart and took the time to explain each dish that we order. Honestly 10 out o 10. Will continue to come and eat here. read more

Fresh authentic Mexican food! I recommend the nieve de limón y tamales! Prices are fair and the place is beautiful!! read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Nieve de Limon - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food here is delicious!!! And the service is even better. Everyone is super nice here and made sure we were comfortable during our dine in. They had a saxophone player during our dinner and completely fit the vibe! I'd come to this Oaxacan restaurant again read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Mole Negro Oaxaqueno, Molotes y una botana de chapulines - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I loved this restaurant so much! The super nachos were so yummy and the fish tacos + chicken tacos were amazing! The service was excellent, I didn't get the name of the man who helped us but he was so sweet! Horchata was also very delicious. I enjoyed the decor inside and the music playing. Lovely experience. read more

We came here for Cinco de Mayo, and really enjoyed it. It has a cozy, neighborhood feeling. The staff was friendly and warm. We got the sangria and michelada; both were very tasty. The chips and salsa and kids nachos were all fresh too. The salsa is pretty spicy though! My husband got the empanada and I got the chicken tamale combo (create your own). Very flavorful and authentic. Good portions on both the food and drinks. We will definitely be back! read more

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Service quality is really bad They make me wait more than 1hour After an hour i ask for my order They did not have on the system Food not good tested too read more

Delicious food. Great service. Clean and had a guy playing a sax over top 40 and Latino music. read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Chorizo - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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I was in a hurry to buy some lunch while I was doing my route and stopped here thinking it would be a Great place to eat since I love Mexican food. I ordered 2 shrimp tacos and I was charged $8 per taco! CoMe oN and the SKIN was left on the shrimp. I also asked for a flavored water- $9 Service was really bad as well. Never will go there again!! So expensive and the food is gross read more

We went to the movies and stumbled across this gem! The mole was delicious. We ended up trying new plates and it was mind blowing. Recommend everyone to try. We were also lucky enough to have gone on a day that had live music being played. read more

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A true gem, one of the area's finest restaurants, in my opinion. First Visit: Three mini Tostadas de Tinga, Tamal Oaxaqueno. The tostadas were fresh with lots of veggies and flavorful. The tamale was savory, delicious, and had lots of great texture, slightly chewy. The real star was the mole. Second Visit: Chicken Soup, Fish Burrito. Chicken soup with huge chunks of vegetables and chicken. Almost like a stew. The fish burrito was also huge, and I really enjoyed the fresh cilantro, onions, and lime on the side. Here, you are receiving comfort food at its finest. I was delighted by the service I received. Satisfied Customer. read more

The food was Amazing Here! We ordered what's called a Tlayuda Enough for 2 hungry ppl :) if you are in the area for Good Oaxaca Food this is the place to go! Also the chorizo papa empanada was sooo delicious! read more

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WOAH what a delicious surprise! My sister and BF introduced me to this Oaxacan restaurant and I was definitely impressed. We shared the Canasta Oaxaquena, Tlayuda Mixta, Tlayuda Una Carne (choose one meat). The first is essentially their version of build your own fajitas with chorizo, cecina (like al pastor), tasajo (grilled meat), grilled cactus, jalapenos, lots of cheese, pico de gallo and fresh tortillas. The Tlayuda Mixta is basically a large pizza sized tostada! So it's a massive baked corn tortilla topped with black bean puree, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, tasajo, cecina enchilada, and chorizo. Since this is my first time, these dishes are perfect for sharing and really showed me how amazing Oaxacan cuisine is. The Tlayuda with cecina enchilada was my favorite because of its awesome flavor. The combination of delicious meat, fresh veggies with a crispy tortilla was perfect. If you've never tried Oaxacan food before, give this place a try and you'll be blown away. read more

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I was drawn to this place because of all the Oaxacan specialties like moles and Tlayudas. We tried the mole negro, mole amarilla, chicken tinga tacos, and al pastor burrito. Everything was just good, not great. My favorite part about the place is the fresh handmade tortillas. read more

Horrible service, the food is extremely hyped up for what it's for. Not authentic, the food looks great in pictures but nothing to what is served. Was looking for a good authentic place and this place by far is not. So unfortunate, maybe the place needs someone who can run it better and make the dishes more attractive. read more

This review is for the service or lack of service. We came in Sunday afternoon and no one would wait on us. We smiled at the servers as we locked eyes but they served table after table who arrive after us. They definitely saw us as we were the only two blondes there. I don't understand the motivation to pretend customers don't exist but this will be the last chance they get with us read more

I wanted a small bite and this place was around and saved the day. They offer a tamal oaxeña and this differs from other tamales in that it's wrapped in banana leaves. What this place seems to specialize in is their mole sauce. This tamal comes with a delicious pour of mole which is awesomely sweet and savory. I enjoyed the masa and would have wanted more chicken for sure. I woke want to try their other items but the tamal seemed pretty solid in my book. Very unique flavors and different than other tamales from other regions in Mexico. I got it to go! read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came with my family and we all ordered the móle. The móle itself is ok, a little sweet for my taste but my mom is from Mexico and she liked it. The rice had a strong aroma of onion and it looked good but when you eat it, it's flavorless. That was interesting and disappointing, considering the strong onion smell. Their pinto beans on the other hand were delicious! I ordered some of their fresh handmade tortillas just to eat the beans. The tortillas were really good. I also had the oaxacan hot chocolate made with milk and it was so good! The staff was very friendly, but the service was spotty. They were scattered and didn't check on us after we sat down for at least 10 minutes. It's a very small restaurant, only about 8-9 tables and there were only a few tables occupied when we got there. The inside of the restaurant is clean, the decor is sparse but pretty typical of any small Mexican restaurant. I wish I could give it a better rating but the food was just ok and the service needs to be improved. read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Mole enchiladas filled with queso fresco served with rice and beans. Oaxacan hot chocolate made with milk. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Dishonest place looked over my recipe and noticed I double tiped them went back to ask an all they said was everything is getting expensive now never did they mention the addition of tip on recipe when I asked they said it's double taxes my husband and family is oaxacan and will never recommend this place to any one read more

Disgusting. Straight into the garbage. I called and they said "oh if you wanna come back, we will fix it" WTF!" Nasty nasty nasty. I'd never eat here. Worthless read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Disappointed and disgusting. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I asked for the chicken fajitas and the bell peppers still had the barcode stickers on them. They clearly don't care about their food quality. Someone else in our table got a used glove mixed in with her food. Never coming here again. read more

This family owned restaurant was a great find. I had their California burrito. It was delicious. Plus they have horchata! Their menu includes tamales wrapped in banana leaves and flan. I noticed their health score on Yelp is 96. They do delivery and pickup. The earlier post said they often donate to the local food bank and church. So if you want to help a local business, try them out. read more

This is the most delicious and authentic Oaxacan food I've tasted. My favorite dish is the Enfrijoladas with Tasajo(Refried Bean Enchiladas with thin cut steak). I definitely recommend to any one that's in the area. It's located across Eastridge mall. read more

El Tule Mexican Restaurant - Inside area. I ordered a beverage called Horchata con Tuna and it's so good. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

The staff is really nice, the ambiance is good, and the pastor tacos are amazing! Will definitely return.

Wow how do I start 31$ for 8 tacos + standing in the place like a idiot for 30+ min for my Togo order as the 2 lady's that just walked in are eating their chips and salsa I'm still here waiting!! Told the cashier I want 4 tacos on one plate 4 on the other he gives me 2 separate recipes I'm like NO I will pay for them both now just need them in 2 separate plates one for me one for my bitch I'm so pissed off I came on Yelp I don't do that often !! Never ever will I ever be back !! (Going back to my taco truck) read more

El mejor restaurant de comida mexicana todo pero todo lo que pides está buenísimo el caldo de pollo quesadillas clayudas y la nieve hecha en casa tortillas hechas a mano read more

I took my family there for dinner The service was SO bad , no one there to help or guide us to sit , we have to go to the counter and asked if someone was going to take our order! I don't complain about the food because the taste is good but the service to bad ! read more

Consider me blown away!! Mole is so hard to get right for most Mexican restaurants. I came here with my parents not really expecting more than some decent mole but man is their mole negro amazing. Truly authentic Oaxacan mole! It is so absolutely rich, flavorful and intense! I wish I could have tried some of their other moles as the look good as well. I guess people aren't fans of the service but we had no complaints here! Honestly though this is the type of restaurant you go to for the amazing food, not the service. read more

Food here is amazing. Their Oaxacan menu is where you should order from. Try their tostadas and moles and everything was a 10/10 on flavor. Idk why this place isn't packed tbh. Their ambiance is comfy enough and service is great. Also great traditional horchata n hot chocolate read more

We came here and waited about 20-25 minutes and no one acknowledged us at all so we decided to leave. There was only one couple waiting for food, so no excuses for that. read more

Felt very disappointed, the food was very simple and it lack flavored. The agua de horchata and agua de tuna were very concentrated. My husband got The mole negro which was good and had hand made tortillas. I got the order or empanadas fritas and felt like it had alittle filling and had alittle but of cheese, lettuce and sauce. My son got a fish taco and the fish tasted old :/ overall for $95 bill it was not worth it read more

This place is very special, the best Oaxacan food in the South Bay. I order delivery and they take great care to keep even the gigantic tlayudas in tact in a pizza box. read more

Very delicious, authentic regional cuisine. The "on the rocks" margarita was heavenly!

El Tule (ET) is a terrific little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that's located in a nondescript strip mall right across from mega-mall Oakridge. Named after El Árbol del Tule; a giant Tule tree that located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (Wa-hah-kah), and is estimated to be 3,000 years-old, with a trunk circumference of ±140', and a height of ±116'. ET serves up Oaxacan (Wa-hah-kan) cuisine that is renowned for being the most varied in all of Mexico. My favorite part of Oaxacan food is probably what they're most famous for: Mole. For those who aren't familiar, Mole is a type of sauce that is comprised of many different ingredients; some pretty normal (e.g., chili powder, garlic, onions, etc.) and some not-so common (e.g., Chocolate, Cinnamon, Pumpkin seeds, etc). While most Mexican places serve up only one type (Black), ET has a whole rainbow of colors to choose from! Let's delve in, shall we? Moles: Oaxaqueño (Black)- This is the most common type you'll find at quite a few Mexican restaurants, but ET puts everyone else's to shame. It's chocolaty, earthy, complex and not for beginners; I adore it and could eat it every day, if possible. 5* Amarillo (Yellow)- I don't think I could love anything more than their Black mole but, I must say, their Yellow comes in a close second. It has an excellent flavor; sweet, buttery and thick. I really like the potatoes and green beans that come with it, as they're a nice accompaniment. 4.5* Verde (Green)- ET's Green Mole is very similar to a Tomatillo salsa, but a little bit thicker; sweet, earthy and a little tart is how I'd describe it. I'm not a fan of Tomatillos, but this wasn't bad. 3.5* Coloradito (Red)- This is the only one I still haven't tried; I tasted a co-worker's once, but I need a full sampling to review. I will fill this in later. Meat- All their Moles come with chicken; the option of Beef with the Yellow; and the option of Pork with the Green. You can't go wrong with any of them, but the beef can be dry from time-to-time. 4* Sides: Rice- Terrific homemade Mexican rice. It's always tender, and compliments their Moles quite well. 4.5* Corn Tortillas- Homemade and excellent. 'Nuff said. 5* Drinks: Horchata- ET might have one of the best Horchatas I've ever had; not too sweet, great cinnamon flavor and no chalky residue. 5* Horchata con Tuna (Horchata w/ Prickly Pear)- This is essentially ET's Horchata with Prickly Pear juice (syrup?) added in. It's good, but I think I prefer their regular Horchata. If you like your drinks a bit sweeter, this is the way to go. 4* Chilacayota (Pumpkin w/ Cinnamon)- I think this is my new favorite Mexi drink. Nice mix that's not too sweet, cinnamony and refreshing as anything I've ever had. I can't really tell what the base is, but it's delicious. Unfortunately, I've never seen it anywhere else, but I'll keep looking. 5* Complimentary Chips & Salsa- These are worth mentioning because they're homemade chips, and the salsa is terrific and has a nice zing to it. 5* Chapulines (Grasshoppers)- Dried Chapulines are another part of Oaxacan fare that the region is famous for. They come out fully cooked; seasoned with salt and chili; and lime wedges to squeeze on. They remind me a little bit like those dried shrimp you get in Asian grocery stores, but not as salty. They actually have a much more pleasant flavor than the aforementioned shrimp, and they're not as crunchy as one might think. If you throw them on a corn tortilla with some rice and salsa, they actually make quite a terrific taco! You really, really have to try it! I promise you, it's delicious. 4* Service & Ambiance- The people working in ET are always really nice, and very quiet. Some people might take that the wrong way, but I can assure you they're lovely, and humble people. ET is a tiny spot that holds maybe 20-25 diners, and is decorated with pictures of Oaxaca. The store itself is always clean, and smells delicious. 5* Value- Typical Mexican restaurant prices at around $10/plate. They could easily charge more -because the quality is superb- but I'm not complaining. 4* I think that about wraps it up for ET. If you've never tried Oaxacan cuisine, then this is definitely the spot to break you in. They also have regular Mexican food that you can find at a million other places here in SJ, but what fun is that? If you're feeling adventurous, then try the Chapulines--you won't regret it! As I like to say, "Veni, vidi, Yelpi!" read more

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