Oh my goodness this is the best Mexican food in the treasure valley. And I've tried most of them. Some come close, but not quite there. My great grandmother was a cook in a Mexican restaurant. She brought her expertise from Mexico and it was incredible. Janitzio's is owned by a family. It's not a chain. The owner cooks. It's so close to what my great grandmother made. If you do not like it, it's probably because you're not used to authentic. The Americanized Mexican food isnt that great. And what is Tex-mex anyway? Give me the real thing any day! read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Super nachos with beans, ground beef, and loads of other goodies! Yummm! - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

I judge Mexican food by their chili rellenos and their tacos! Absolutely delicious homemade goodness! A wonderful family owned restaurant so fresh!! We will be back it's only three miles from home! read more

Alright, I wouldn't say there's anything special. Only ate there once and i personally would prefer elsewhere. Staff are nice and the price isn't bad. Skip the beans here. read more

I don't really know what the hype is about. It was decent but not special based on my 4 pm Thursday visit. And the price for a single burrito with nothing on the side isn't great in my opinion. It was quiet, and yet pleasant Latin music played from somewhere. Employees were friendly and attentive enough, especially for a go order. If there'd been a tip jar I'd have left one, even for a go order. However, I'd really prefer to see paper "to go boxes" instead of the typical styrofoam ones, and styrofoam isn't that much cheaper, but will keep releasing toxic chemicals while not turning into anything besides smaller and smaller pieces of (micro)plastics, unlike those made from thicker paper. Yes, anything very saucy is going to eventually leak through the paper box maybe, but how long are you planning to keep your leftovers before eating them? And I'd rather just put a plate under the box in the fridge for just in case there's slight leakage, instead of assumedly contributing more toxic plastic waste to all of our children and grandchildren and great grands (and beyond) to deal with. Even a very small change becomes hugely significant, the more people do it. we see that with the current state of the plastic "island" waste in the ocean and microplastics being found EVERYWHERE after less than 100 years of growing plastic usage and waste, so we could see dramatic improvements in a short time as well, the more people do small manageable changes that build and grow with themselves and others around them. I rarely eat out or eat convenience foods anymore, for example. And I wash, to hopefully effectively recycle, as many waste containers of all types as possible. anyway, I got a burrito with shredded beef, and I liked that there were real beans in the burrito. But it was $9 for a burrito with meat, enough hot cheese to make it gooey, beans, and red sauce in a tortilla. it tasted like fresh ingredients, but I could get fresh ingredients and more flavors and textures, besides primarily cheesy goo, at a mainstream chain my younger child likes. I always prefer to try a local place first if practical, so I'm glad I did, but even if I ate out very often I'm not sure this would be my first choice. But it was good enough in the moment. I'm realizing in hindsight also that I might have enjoyed the flavors and textures more of assumedly regular/ traditional tacos, but for $3 each for how small traditional tacos are, and how many it takes to equal a burrito filling your belly, or $12 plus for any kind of combo plate, I just didn't want to spend even a few dollars more. A few dollars here and a few dollars there also makes a big difference, especially when it adds up, in some peoples lives more than others. And I don't know if chips and salsa are a free appetizer when you eat in (many places serve those to snack on while you're waiting to get the food that you ordered), but for the inexpense of a few chips and a little salsa, I think it couldn't hurt to also ask go customers if they'd like a few chips, because I would've taken a few in the same go package. I'd have eaten them first and they'd have been easy to eat on the go. :-) read more

Might be the best traditional Mexican food in the valley. Food service and atmosphere are all excellent. Highly recommend. read more

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As recent CA transplants, we have been on a quest for great Mexican food. We've been to several establishments, including two others in Caldwell, one just this past Sunday. We've been wanting to try Janitzio for some time. The first time we tried they were closed on a day they were normally open. Today, Wednesday, we came about 11:30 am. There were two other parties already seated. The ambiance is quaint and very Mexican, with colorful tile and art. It appears to be a mom and pop operation, with the wife cooking and the husband serving. He was very friendly and provided great service. My wife ordered the mole enchiladas and I had the shrimp enchiladas. Both came with rice and beans. It was all delicious. In addition, my wife, whose parents were from Mexico, thought the mole as good as what her late mom used to make. That is saying a lot for the authenticity of the food here. It seems as if we have found our authentic Mexican restaurant in the Treasure Valley. read more

Great little Mexican "hole in the wall" near the busy part of downtown Caldwell. Fair prices, good food and good service. Not hard to see why this place has been around for a while! read more

Preface: We had an earlier planned dinner planned here on a recent Saturday while visitng the Christmas lights at Indian Creek Plaza. Imagine our surprise when we got to Janitzio's entry door only to see that they are not open on Saturdays. Whaaat? A restaurant closed on what one might consider a prime family dinner out day? In any case the sliver lining here was that we walked one block and had a great first-time meal at Grit 2 C (see my earlier review for them). Regardless, had another weekeday in the area so we popped in for a late lunch. Atmosphere: Janitzio's is your typical, traditional family-run Mexican eatery. The requisite decor, dining furniture, and music you'd expect and welcome. Obviously it is not a new facility, but one that was very clean and comfortable. We (3 of us) were seated immediately (middle of the day, no surprise there) and greeted by a daughter of the owners. Actually she is the daughter of the woman who owns Janitzio's along with her current husband - either way, they are all family. There was a gentleman finishing up his lunch at the table next to us - he had an apron on so I assumed he worked here and was enjoying his post-lunch break. He engaged us in discussion and we discovered that this was in fact the husband/owner. Truly an all-family operated establishment. Out of curiousity I mentioned about our detoured attempt to eat here on a recent Saturday. His response, once understood, then made sense. He said that they work very hard together all week and decided that the weekends were meant for them to be family days. Totally respect that perspective. Food: One bellweather I rely on when we visit Mexican restaurants for the first time are pork carnitas. When I say that, I refer to a simple plate of carnitas, accompanied with beans (whether refried, ranchera or other whole bean treatment) and rice. I want to be able to sample the carnitas in a "non-muddled" form - not inside a burrito, not in an enchilada, not in a taco. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy carnitas in all the forms just listed, but for this initial sampling I prefer to taste things at their basic existence. I really did enjoy the carnitas - appropriately seasoned and a good mix of slightly crispy ends with moist tenderness. One other plus here is that the carnitas were not shredded into oblivion. Nice bite-sized chunks that made scooping a few into portions of flour tortilla quite nice. I tasted everything sans guacamole nor pico de gallo first by the way. Subsequent bites with the guac and pico were very good. The rice was nice and fluffy. The refried beans were also welcomed on the side. Overall I would gladly order the same plate again or venture to try the carnitas in another manner (taco, enchi, burro). My two fellow diners went on different paths: one went with a cheese enchilada & chicken taco combo, the other with the chimichanga. Both plates were served in the same manner as mine, that is with refried beans and rice on the side. The presentation for all plates was simple but tastefully done. I tasted the sauce on the enchilada, I would say it leaned a little towards a mild mole in flavor - which I quite enjoyed. Happy to see that Janitzio's does not rely on those pre-fabricated hard taco shells (drives us crazy). Our other diner was very happy with the chimi. It was certainly a large serving and necessitated a take home box. In our everlasting search to find the Mexican food we grew up enjoying, Janitzio's is worthy of another visit! Great family serving really good food! read more

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The food was very good and the staff (owners) were friendly. My husband and I liked it better than any of the other Mexican restaurants we've tried lately. We didn't want lard. They don't use lard, except in the tamales. read more

The reviews are not wrong! The food here is delicious. My husband prefers "hole in the wall" Mexican joints, and this one delivered. Janitzio appears to be family-run with a lot of food made on premises. The guacamole is spicy and chunky, for example, and the salsa is smooth and made with top quality tomatoes--lots of flavor. And don't think "hole in the wall" means dirty. This place is neat and clean if a little kitschy. I enjoyed the steak and shrimp rancheros. That rancheros sauce tasted fresh and distinctive (and I don't normally like red sauce!). The steak was nothing special but tasty. Those shrimp? Perfectly prepared and as large as the menu promised. The hubs liked his combo plate: rellenos, chicken enchilada and shredded beef taco. Even the rice and beans had good flavor! The margaritas were one line in the menu but so good, I ordered two (this is not usual for me--I hope I don't regret it in the morning). So good! Not too sweet, not watery, tart and tasty. Everything was served super hot and fast. Be aware: most prices are 2 bucks more than the menu lists. This is clearly stated on signage so don't be surprised. Also, you need to request chips (served warm) and salsa, and they cost 4 bucks. Overall though, everything is a good value. We thought we were compromising on this place because a lot of other restaurants are closed on Mondays, but I'd go back here on any day of the week. read more

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The Americanization of truly authentic Mexican cuisine is easily identified by gobs of YELLOW cheese swamping a meal. It is laughable to read the countless reviews that incorrectly, but matter-of-factly assert some chain restaurant is authentic and then post a pic of a gooey yellow object on a plate. The other faux pas of numerous Gringo reviews is that the reviewer places way too much focus of chips and salsa. Hey folks, get over it, chips and salsa are as common as forks and napkins, don't swoon when you see them. Sometimes departing from my cynicism I enjoy trying a family-run Mexican establishment just to sample their personal recipes. Such was the case with my recent visit to Janitzio Mexican Restaurant. Real family pride is in each serving. I use the same order to "test" a family-run restaurant - Pork with green chili, rice and beans (Chili verde con arroz y frijoles refritos). Yep. That separates the good from bad really fast. People within driving distance of Caldwell are fortunate to have Janitzio Mexican Restaurant. The rice is fluffy and very tasty. The refritos are that great consistency that suggests the use of lard. As companion to the main dish they should not be in such quantity to overshadow the main item. See the photo to view a properly balanced presentation. Pay close attention to the moderate size of the pork chunks. That can lead to really unpleasant chewiness in the pork, but because this family recipe calls for a long cooking cycle, these beautiful chunks of porkiness were very tender and full of flavor. The green sauce had a great texture, flavor, spiciness and thick enough to impress anyone who likes chili verde. The pork had a hint of cumin too much for my taste buds, but that is really a personal preference issue. The photo shows that the family wants to please all clientele and there a few strands of yellow cheese mixed with the white cheese that lightly decorate the beans. Overall, this was a grand meal and I strongly urge others to sample their "go to" meal as I did at Janitzio Mexican Restaurant. read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Green chili - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

The best Mexican food by far around the Treasure Valley!!!! Fresh salsa and guacamole. Super nice family. Better than anything in Star, Eagle or Boise. read more

Amazing food and friendly atmosphere. Definitely our new go to Mexican restaurant! Excited to try more dishes.

I'm so disappointed with Janitzio Mexican restaurant in Caldwell. I made a post raving about their vegan options and friendly staff weeks ago, only to have the owner (short man) treat me so rudely today, and similar to my first visit, give misinformation about what's vegan and what's not. He first told me the rice was, I told him last time they said it wasn't, he said he'd check and after checking, told me it wasn't. I asked for bean sauce on the enchiladas (since last time they told me the other sauces had chicken broth) and was brought enchiladas cooked in what he told me was chili and when I asked what the oil was he said "Oh my god" & "why don't you eat food at home," I told him I was on my break from work and asked if I could speak to the woman (who on my 1st visit was friendly, truthful and knowledgeable, but at this point my appetite is ruined and I just want to leave) and he said she's busy. I told him I could wait, and then after pacing off he returned a minute later & asked me to leave, stating how he was the owner and how "you're wasting time." He never answered what type of oil the enchilada was cooked in, as well as not giving me what I ordered--enchiladas with bean sauce on top. My non-vegetarian Mexican family made enchiladas the same way that Janitzio brought the ones to me today, and the oil was chicken grease. Based on my experience today, the owner was very rude, refused to answer simple questions and does not cater to vegans; he will lie saying something is vegan when it's not, and then get offended if you are a strict vegan and want the truth. read more

Don't come here if you're in a hurry! Good well prepared food takes time. Dinner for my party of 4 with beverages was about $70 and well worth it. We ate it way too fast to get photos, maybe next time. read more

I've been coming back here frequently and haven't had a disappointing meal yet! The sure know how to cook flavorful Mexican food! The only reason for four stars instead of five is the décor, and they can get understaffed if the tables are full. read more

IS THIS RESTAURANT EVER OPEN? We have tried doing pick up and calling, we have driven to this restaurant when it says open, but it was actually closed.. read more

Wow, just wow! What an amazing restaurant. The Pollo Borracho is fantastic.so many lively flavors with the chicken breast with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, jalapeños, white wine in a tasty ranchero sauce and served with race beans and fresh tortillas . Then tried a sweet tamale for dessert. That was tasty and unique too! Nice decor and well lit. Charming family that runs the restaurant and delivers wonderful dinners with a smile. They love being here and serving you. What a great find in a town that has too many mediocre Mexican restaurants. read more

Love this restaurant! The chips, salsa, and refried beans are delicious! Wonderful food! Good, generous portions. Love to support this local family owned business. Good service and the staff is always very friendly and helpful. read more

Janitzio is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants because the owners and their daughter do all of the cooking themselves and their menu has so many unique and/or exceptionally well executed items. For example, this is the only local Mexican restaurant where I have found Chilaquiles on the menu. Although they are only on the lunch menu, they have been gracious and allowed me to order them as an appetizer for dinner. The last time I visited with a friend, we ordered: Pork Tamale and Chile Rellano, Enfrijolades, Pollo a La Crema and Steak & Shrimp Especial The pork tamale was OK, but not great. I would not order it again. I did appreciate that these were freshly made and had just finished being steam-cooked right before we ordered them, but my favorite tamales are located at a little business nearby and they have sat the bar high for what I have come to expect from a tamale. I do think the average person would probably enjoy these though. The Chile Rellano was outstanding! It isn't until you have one this good that you realize many restaurants are using canned chilies. You can tell the difference by the size and texture. The first Chile Rellano I ever ate was back in the 60's. It was prepared by and served by my maternal grandmother Josephine, who was a gourmet cook. Ever since, it has been an item I often search out on menus, but it's the one that most often disappoints. I can't imagine ever visiting this restaurant and not ordering their Chile Rellano, even if just as a side. Pollo à la Crema is my go to dish here. It consists of chicken sautéed with onions, bell peppers and mushrooms in a creamy chipotle sauce. It is served with tortillas, rice and beans. This is an a dish that I don't normally order elsewhere but I love it at Janitzio because adding chipotle to the cream sauce makes all the difference. My friend recommended the Enfrijoladas, which are four tortillas filled with Mexican chorizo, topped with a thin layer of beans, finished with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and sour cream sauce. It wasn't my favorite dish but I think most would enjoy it. Steak & Shrimp Ranchero Especial is a house specialty. It consist of strips of beef and four large shrimp sautéed with onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, and mushrooms, in a white wine and Ranchero sauce, topped with melted cheese. Is served with tortillas, rice and beans. I enjoyed it. The Horchata, Hibiscus and Tamarind drinks are made from scratch, all of which are delicious. Fruit tamales are available for dessert. I tried one of each flavor when I first visited this restaurant. They weren't for me but I appreciate that they are on the menu. It is an item that others may enjoy. The salsa is not my personal favorite. Nor do I recommend the shrimp or fish tacos. read more

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I've come here twice. Enjoyed both times. It's convenient in downtown Caldwell. I really enjoyed my Chile Relleno. They make traditional or with cream sauce. Very yummy! The owners are so kind. Definitely come back! read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Creamy Chili Relleno. - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

En route to Oregon and we were searching Yelp for a dinner stop. We decided on Janitzio and were so glad we did! We LOVED the food. All four of us ordered different things and we were all super impressed with the flavors!!! Highly recommend. read more

One of the few places that offers a variety of dishes on the menu and has authenticity at every corner including the food, one thing I always look for is if there is a refrigerator that's accessible to the customer with more than just drinks like the sauces or sauces accessible and it's always a great touch when the kids are helping out for this little family business in which the food is the biggest attraction, I come from a family who has had restaurants and I recall the humble beginnings of a family owned business and the authenticity of the food, Try it once and you will be back many times read more

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ok, we live in Sonoma County, CA, the "undocumented" capital of wine country and a culinary extravaganza. We are really spoiled in the food department as celebrity chefs are everywhere. As a result, we have REALLY good Mexican there, so we're always in search of same when we travel. My wife found this place and the reviews here were all mostly accurate. Janitzio absolutely rocks Mexican fare. Its all home made, even the tortilla chips. The green avocado salsa is stunning, but you have to ask for it.. The pinnacle for me is always Chile Rellenos - they are tough to make and take a lot of time to do right. If they get that dish right, then its safe to assume the rest is great. They nailed it, right down to the correct sauce. My wife had a chicken enchilada as well and that was great. It was so good, I brought a friend back the next day. The combo Fajitas I had were awesome. Horacio and Maria are jewels. She is the genius behind the kitchen, he's the charmer with the customers. You won't be disappointed in this place. No masks required but tables are very spread out inside. my wife even felt comfortable. AND she gives the food 4 stars, a tall order as she knows her Mexican food as well as and this is the real deal. read more

Great food in a family atmosphere. Service was most kind and attentive. Flavors were really fresh and fulfilling.

So good! It's just a small family run spot in downtown Caldwell, but it's big on flavor. The staff was wonderful, and made sure I was taken care of. read more

Good service. Food was OK. I like my Carnitas juicy and crispy. This was dry. They try hard but it wasn't a place we will return to. Maybe if I ordered something else? read more

Friendly service and great food. We tried lunch specials with enchiladas and tamales. The steak in the enchilada was a too crispy for my liking but everything else was perfect. Pay the $4 for chips and salsa; the salsa is delicious and the chips are light and crispy read more

Love this place. Good food and stellar service. We are frequent flyers. Highly recommended. read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

In the past I would have gone 5 stars all-the-way. Outstanding fajitas and shrimp cocktail...I'm only giving 3 stars today though because they have raised prices (they are marked out all over the menu...drawing obvious attention to the increases) while drastically decreasing portions. We don't eat a ton of beans and rice anyway, but it is a little insulting and off-putting to pay more to get far less. Best lemonade on the planet...authentic Mexican lime freshly squeezed! Fajitas are superb! read more

We had heard great things and needed to try for ourselves. The more a restaurant looks like a hole in the wall - or 'dive' - the better in our opinion. We had the carne asada plate, fish taco, pork tamale and pollo borracho. All the dishes came out hotttt, fresh, and tasted absolutely delicious. That, and the chips and salsa were great - some of the best salsa I think I've ever had. We will definitely come back to try more of the menu, we had a hard time picking since everything soundef so good! read more

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We went here during the Winter Wonderland Festival so it was very busy, although we were able to get a table pretty quickly. Getting the food to our table was slow, but that was understandable. Everyone was pleasant and responded to our requests for more chips, another beer, etc quickly, even with the rush! I ordered the Carne Asada and it was delicious. I'd definitely return to try more menu items if I ever find myself in Caldwell again. read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

Amazing food. Amazing service. Highly recommend if you're looking for great Mexican food. Best Mexican place in Idaho so far! Thank you!

Good food but small servings and you ol have to pay extra for your second basket of chips.

Very chill and good Mexican place. The family is super nice and respectful and I love the home fee of it all. It's definitely a small business if you want to support that :) read more

I would have given a 5 star IF they served a well made margarita, but they served none at all! Food was excellent, and the Salsa was very tasty. We asked for extra spicy and whoa did we ever get it! We were looking for a place to eat near the river so we could go enjoy the festivities nearby, and glad my wife found this on Yelp. Seriously, the food is amazingly great tasting. Do NOT let the small moderate place scare you away. read more

This is my kind of "joint".... Very interesting vibe and friendly service. It's located in Old Caldwell and has a seedy, almost sketchy feel to it. Good vibe... The chips seem to be homemade and perhaps a bit stale? Hard to tell but not super crispy. The salsa a good accompaniment to the chips, not chunky and just a slight bite. I ordered the special which happens to be Bistec Ranchero prices at $11. There is only one gal working the front so it took a bit for the food to arrive at the table. So, if you might want to try this place if you aren't in a big hurry. The food itself was very good. This may be my new favorite Mexican place in Caldwell. read more

Janitzio Mexican Restaurant - Good stuff.... - Mexican Near Me - Caldwell, Idaho

Wandered in this local hole in the wall restaurant based on a few yelp reviews. We were greeted with a big smile and chose a booth to look over the extensive menu...so far, so good. The decor is a bit lackluster but the bright blanket stripe under glass was nice and cheery. This isn't a place where you will find black beans ( I asked if that was an option vs refried and it is not)' but they did have several veggie options. I had a chicken tamale with a side of guacamole and pico (pretty spicy pico:)and my coworker had a beef enchilada rancheros. Although it wasn't a place I would go out of my way for, we both thought it was tasty and fresh (and better than many fast food options in town). FYI since it was questioned in a previous review, I thought it was very clean in the restaurant and the restroom...which made me feel better. read more

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It's not much to look at from the outside but the food was surprisingly yummy. Servers were kind and friendly (which is always bonus to me). I had the Chile verde dinner special and my husband had the carne Asada plate. We both left full and quite pleased with our meal. Would definitely come back again. Best Mexican food we've found so far since moving from California. read more

Matt M. has his sunglasses returned to him by an honest busboy and then leaves a 1-star review because he felt slighted by the waitress? Wow. Just wow. read more