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    Jose Babushka's

    3.2 (121 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Polish, Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Jose Babushka's Photos

    Business Info

    JOSE BABUSHKA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Jose Babushka's

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    Alyson C.

    Jose Babushka's is a great spot for a low key, family-friendly happy hour. I grew up in the area, but no longer live in Michigan. When I'm back home, I always enjoy meeting up with friends or family at Jose's for their delicious margaritas (classic, or flavored - all yummy!) and chips & dip trio. The staff is friendly and accommodating. The place is never over-crowded or noisy, which I appreciate. Tons of outdoor seating - in front and back of the restaurant as well as bar & table seating indoors.

    Tacos pastor w/ flour tortilla
    Jackee O.

    Sitting outside on the back patio was the best part of dinning at this restaurant. It was pleasantly shaded but still gave enough room for sunlight to keep you warm. Food was tender but lacked flavor. Service was friendly but very slow. Kind of disappointed.

    Best takeout in GR
    Terry E.

    If you're looking for the best Mexican food take-out in Grand Rapids, this is your spot! They are so friendly. The food is just INCREDIBLE! My favorite are the Momma's Tacos. I could eat 20 of them! And they're a Local business... I love that. And they're a really neat one. Give them a taste, you won't be sorry.

    The Trio - guac, queso, salsa with chips

    Definitely not anywhere near authentic but very tasty food. We started with the trio of queso, guac, and salsa with chips. There was so much we couldn't eat it all. Definitely enough for a larger group. It wasn't the best I've had but it was still very good. I got the filet steak tacos and my husband got the crispy shrimp tacos. We split them up so I tried one of each. They were both SO good. If you want authentic this is not the place for you but otherwise I would recommend it. The service was also very good on a Friday night. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the beans and rice were not that great. They tasted like they'd been sitting out a bit.. but I was still satisfied with the overall meal.

    Dill pickle soup
    Kate A.

    We decided to revisit this place on a whim. First impressions this visit weren't too good when we were asked to share a menu bc they were short on them. This was quite surprising for a restaurant that wasn't even half full. The waitress was sweet but didn't seem too knowledgeable on the menu. So I wasn't expecting much... but the food changed my mind. The dill pickle soup and the chicken Garcia chimi were amazing. So much good flavor and I rarely say that when I'm out and about. Drinks were ok and the kielbasa and potato pancakes were pretty good. Huge portions! One little word of advice to Jose Babushka's is you might want to consider updating the menu available online so it matches what's available in house. Other than that, I enjoyed this place! I think if a restaurant was ever to embody me, this might be the place! A fusion of Polish and Mexican!

    The "Classico" beef & bean burrito. Yami, yo!

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    8 years ago

    We love the taco salad(beef) and tacos here! Great for takeout - they are fast and the food is awesome! One of our go-to's in the area.

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    7 years ago

    Went to this restaurant one hour and half before closing and their kitchen was closed! Was really dissapointed about this.

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    10 years ago

    Came here for lunch, not impressed at all with their food. Lacked flavor, and was overpriced.

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    My husband and I met some friends at House Rules. This is a great place where you can have a bite…read moreto eat, grab a drink, and play a game in a relaxed atmosphere. You pay for your table by the hour. You can pick from a wide range of games from their game library. You can also bring your own games or purchase one at the establishment. We played Chameleon while enjoying sandwiches and chicken tenders. The food was pretty good and made with local ingredients. You can order from a QR code on the table and the food is brought to your table. For dessert we ordered a cookie skillet. We had a good time at Hose Rules and highly recommend it.

    In terms of things to do in Grand Rapids, visiting House Rules nears the top of my list. I'm not a…read morebig beer drinker, so I had my doubts, but in addition to a half dozen fridges full of beer, they had plenty of non alcoholic drinks, as well as hard ciders, seltzers, and canned cocktails. Many brands were local that I'd never heard of before, and it was fun to experiment and try new things. Their food menu honestly shocked me with how tasty everything was. For a board game bar, I usually expect food to take a back seat or be phoned in, but everything was delicious! I had to try the elote deviled eggs, which was a combo I had never considered but I'm so glad someone did! I also got the truffle mac and cheese and a house salad. Both were excellent! The board game selection was extensive, with old favorites and hidden gems. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to stop in again!

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    The General Woodshop, you will ALWAYS be famous…read more This bar is near and dear to my heart, when it first opened last year I made an effort to bring anyone with me that would come along. As a queer person, we have to protect our spaces by supporting them. The care that the staff lures into this place truly shows. The rotating menu, the affordable drink options, the ambiance and the way they truly take suggestions from their patrons. They have a new patio addition which has made the smaller spot feel larger aswell. Last fall, I came in on a whim by myself. Callie was my bartender (love), and they were deciding what to do with some Sloe Gin. Thus the "Femme Fatale" was born, there's something magical about watching a craft cocktail come together. Something even more magical about being able to NAME a cocktail at your favorite watering hole. GW is truly a beautiful addition to GR.

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    One Twenty Three Tavern

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    4.3(349 reviews)
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    Outdoor seating
    Locally owned & operated

    We came in on Saturday night, 7/25/26 around 5:30pm before going to a concert at Acrisure. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but fortunately there was room at the bar - which is our preferred seating spot anyway. I was surprised at how long it took for the 2 hosts to greet us - as we were standing directly in front of them. They were talking to one another, and it was probably work related, but to just stand there staring at them for a couple minutes while they ignored us was awkward. When they finally talked to us they weren't very friendly. Anyway, we made our way to the bar and it was full except for 3 seats. I think the bartender waiting on us was new. He seemed like he was pretty overwhelmed/in the weeds. He greeted us quickly and brought us waters when he did, which I appreciated. I ordered a Blackeberry Bourbon Sour and my Mr had Paloma Nuestra. We both enjoyed our drinks they were refreshing and well crafted. For dinner I had a really hard time deciding! I wanted to try so many things! Our bartender said his favorite thing in the menu is the chicken and rice bowl. That was something I was considering and decided to go with that. Excellent recommendation! The chicken was flavorful and so tender. The hot peppers were a nice touch. There was a lot of food too! I couldn't finish it all. Mr had the hanger steak that was served with mushroom and asparagus risotto. He said the risotto was the best he's ever had, and I agree. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and so was the steak. The space is really nice, felt intimate without being overcrowded. We are looking forward to coming back!

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    One Twenty Three Tavern
    One Twenty Three Tavern
    One Twenty Three Tavern

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    Jose Babushka's - mexican - Updated September 2026

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