Jose&#x27;s Cantina

Walking in, you can tell its going to be a great time. Loved how the place was decorated. Curious…read moreabout Mexican Cajun combo we had to try it! I loved the fried green tomatoes with a sauce that almost tasted like chuy's ranch, but it came with a creamy bacon that was good and reminded me of potato soup. My "top shelf" margarita was only $2 more but came with an extra shot. The boudin balls were amazing flavor, nice & moist cooked perfectly. I ordered the fish basket with 5 pieces of fish and bought enough home to have it for lunch out of the air fryer the next day. Husband had the ahi tuna & said it was wonderful flavor. We arrived hungry & left happy with enough lunch for the next day. Great find and will eat again! Joy, was our awesome server to be sure to request her for the best service you could ask for!

Disappointing experience. This restaurant falls short in…read moreboth of the cuisines it advertises--Tex-Mex and Cajun. You know there's a problem when you're charged for chips and salsa. A true Tex-Mex restaurant typically serves complimentary chips and salsa, but that wasn't the case here. The nachos were simply a pile of chips covered with canned nacho cheese sauce instead of individually layered chips topped with beans, cheese, and jalapeños. Honestly, the food at Pancho's was better, which says a lot about the level of quality here. The Cajun dishes were somewhat better, but they still didn't compare to restaurants like Pappadeaux or Landry's. They likely stay busy because they're the only option in the Bolivar Peninsula/Crystal Beach area. The atmosphere and service were the highlights of the visit. Unfortunately, the overpriced menu resulted in a hefty bill that left us feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. There's plenty of room for improvement, and I hope the owners from Beaumont make some upgrades to better match the quality their menu promises.

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Front sign

Taqueria El Antojito

4.5(12 reviews)

1.9 mi

Breakfast tacos are really good! Green sauce is amazing! People were so nice family owned! Fast…read moreservice!!!

Taqueria el Antojito in Crystal Beach was just what we were craving for breakfast! They have…read morebreakfast tacos and burritos, authentic delicious dishes. The ladies working in the taco truck were friendly. Nothing bad to say about the place. Go check it out. Food comes out quickly too!

Breakfast

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Food

G’s Molcajete

2.8(85 reviews)

1.8 mi

I normally don't leave reviews, and especially not bad ones, this place was the worst place i've…read moreeaten in a very long time. We're in town for vacation like most others, and decided to swing by for lunch for something hopefully cheap. There were 4 of us, and the bill came out to $120 with no alcohol and 2 people splitting something. Our server seemed to not know what he was doing. We ordered just 3 corn and 3 flour tortillas, and he came back with 3 of each, containing 12 total tortillas we had to pay for. That wasn't a big deal, nor my biggest gripe. The queso had beef in it, and was simply not good. The queso was mostly unseasoned ground beef with a splash of queso. After we ordered, my dad ordered A torta with pickled jalapeño. The sever then brings out 3 whole grilled jalapeños a minute, and after the rest of our food comes out. all of our food was good enough, but they never brought out the torta? After my dad asked, they argued that he just ordered the 3 jalepenos . One more small gripe is that I ordered grilled shrimp tacos, and they gave me fried ones, no biggie, not something that id normally mention, I just felt I had to add. The atmosphere of the restaurant is just like a normal mediocre mexican joint, no gripes. Other than the bathrooms are a wee bit ran down. Anyway, tldr; if you're in the area,and want good mexican food, go to tia juanita's, or if you want cheap really good food, go to the nauti beaver across the street. I'd recommend to stay away.

Soon as we walked in no proper greetings just "Have a seat where you want". They barely have many…read moredrink options. Our server was Paulina which rarely came around to us. We ordered two of the Lupita plates, and when the food came out they brought the pork chops when none was ordered. Paulina came back and argued that we ordered the pork chops when we didn't. Food tasted very weirdly. Although this is a Mexican restaurant the atmosphere seemed racist as we were the only brown table in the restaurant we were checked up the least compared to others. Definitely do not recommend this was my worst restaurant experience.

Outside

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Salsa was good flavor, chips were all broken

La Playita Restaurant

3.3(85 reviews)

7.8 mi

We enjoyed La Playita…read more We came here as a group of 15 on a stormy Wednesday night, around 6 pm. The gentleman working there was pleasant and very accommodating. Chip and salsa was brought out and setup at our long table before everyone arrived. Chips were okay. Salsa was thin and had a bit of heat to it. I liked it. My wife had the Beef Asada. Not great as the meat wasn't seasoned but she ate it and we'll finish it at lunch today. I had the Ground Beef Enchiladas and wow - they may have been the best I've ever had. The meal came with rice and refried beans. I took half my meal home and will enjoy it at lunch today. A friend had cheese enchiladas with the same brown chili-like sauce I had on mine and he loved it. Others had the chicken enchiladas and enjoyed them as well. Two friends each had 5# orders of crawfish and they said they're better than what they had in Crystal Beach. They loved them. Next year when we're back in the area, I will definitely be back to La Playita for Beef Enchiladas!

Breakfast came out cold. Once food arrived, server never returned. Me and 4 grands. Server knew he…read morehad a fixed 20 % Tip. Was never told this. You will not receive a check, done at front countertop. Be sure to look at your check and your receipt.

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Tacos Rositas

4.9(23 reviews)

3.5 mi

If there ever was a time not to judge a book by its cover this was it.I am so glad we took the…read morechance to try this little food truck out because it turned out to be some of the best tacos. We literally ate here 3 times in just 2 days and couldn't stop raving about how delicious everything was. Including fresh handmade tortillas. The two ladies running the truck were incredibly nice and helpful. I will definitely be back

Do not be fooled by the location or look of this food truck…read more Some of the best tacos I've ever had. Homemade tortillas and yummy everything else! The two women making the food were so nice and helpful. Made 3 trips there in one week of visiting the city!!!

Breakfast tacos

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Crispy taco

Tequila Rock Kitchen & Cantina

4.5(100 reviews)

12.1 mi

This place definitely deserves 5 stars! The food came out quickly, was fresh, high quality, and…read moreabsolutely phenomenal. Everything we ordered was delicious. What made our experience even better was our server, TJ. She was so friendly, attentive, and gave us great recommendations that did not disappoint. If you come here, you have to order the Smashburger tacos, they're phenomenal and a must-try! We'll definitely be back!!

I have found that when I am in Texas, I need Nachos. I guess I like Tex-Mex, so my server told me…read more Walking around The Strand and feeling hungry these Nachos were a great fix. The decor was fun. Tables and chairs a little sticky - that could very well be the humidity. A fun place to stop when you're in the area to get a drink or Nachos, like me!

Cool Decor! Great Margaritas!

Breakfast on Saturdays 9:30am!

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Bloody Mary

Stingaree

3.8(554 reviews)

4.7 mi

Sad, view was awesome. Service was lackluster at most. Will be trying other restaurants before…read moregoing back.

THE go to spot in Crystal Beach!…read more Galveston main island is great, but sometimes you want to get away from the touristy stuff. Which is why renting a house in Crystal Beach is an awesome alternative. While there this is our go to destination. Food is fantastic and the place itself is a nice, kitschy spot. Great food and friendly staff!

Dining area

Oysters

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View from the patio while you wait to be called for restaurant seating.

Tiki Beach Bar and Grill

2.8(210 reviews)

0.9 mi

We ended up here after waiting half an our for drinks at another place. I'm so glad it didn't work…read moreout and we ended up here because these have to be, hands down, the best burgers on bolivar. They use that good sourdough bread that taste sweet as it touches your tongue. Service was great too. We had a young gentleman and he was quick with the drinks and food. The place itself is where I deducted the star. The smell of cigarette smoke is heavy when you walk in and There's a lot of Trump stuff all over the place. So not the most welcoming feeling

I'd give this place 3 stars ONLY because of atmosphere. The building did seem to be under…read morerenovation HOWEVER. That being said the service and food were actually really good! We have no complaints in that department. I'd recommend stopping by for a quick lunch.

Chris and Karen Gatlin taking care of our community during a disaster.

Tikis Cheeseburger & fries

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Fish Company Taco

4.6(366 reviews)

12.7 mi

Why 5 stars? Because this might be my new favorite restaurant in Galveston…read more --- --- --- We had been in Galveston for a couple of days, and while we had some solid meals, we were feeling kind of gross and overstuffed. Fish Company Taco proved to be like finding water in the desert. A lot of Galveston eateries are very similar, in that there's an ample amount of fried seafood on the menu, which is not exactly what you're looking for when you're in the bloated, but wanting to eat *something* state that we were in. My thought was: fish tacos are relatively light and we can walk there from our hotel - how do you beat that? What I didn't realize is that this place probably belongs more in the Heights than Galveston. And I mean that in a good way. The menu is very hipster-coded. And the food matches with hipster quality. It's hard to say what my favorite item even was. The one thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the fish dip - it was just okay. Everything else ranged from good to great. We tried... The burger: FYI, it's more like a double stacked slider than a burger, but delicious. 3 Tacos: Dirty South, Empire and Korean Flavors. I really liked the empire and the korean flavors, but thought the dirty south had a little too much going on with the pimento cheese and chips. Sticky Shrimp: I don't even know how to describe this, but it was delicious. I thought it as more like bang bang shrimp, but it was more fried that I expected. But not hardcore fried - they almost had the airy texture of fried pork skins, but were much tastier. Chili marinated Cucumbers and corn ribs: Simple, refreshing and addicting. But I liked the cucumbers a bit more. They also had some fresh juices and we enjoyed both the mango and the coconut lime concoctions. An easy 5-stars for me and a place I will definitely recommend to anyone visiting Galveston.

The food was decent, but the service was good. I tried the Captain Johnny it was crispy and…read moresatisfying, especially with a side of fries. The Vietnamese taco stood out the most for me, while the Baja and Korean flavors were just okay, not really my favorites. Overall, it's a chill spot with a relaxed vibe and not too crowded. I'd recommend coming during happy hour to get the best experience.

Garnishes Omar the counter for the fresh drinks!!!!

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Coconut lime Fresca and rose guava frozen

Salsa's Mexican Restaurant

3.6(916 reviews)

14.4 mi

8.6.26 Never been here before. The restaurant is quite large…read moreand even has a private room you can reserve for parties. It was very busy here. This one of the few restaurants that is open past 9pm during the weeknight. We original went to another restaurant but it was a poop show so we left. The service was not bad and not great either; just average. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and it had a ton of meat. It was really quite good. (Minus the tomatoes and guacamole (it had tomatoes) I ordered sliced avocado and when it was brought out it was rotten. The waitress was nice and took it off our bill. My family said the salsas was good and so was the queso dip. Everyone seemed enjoyed their dinner. We would come here again.

Service is fast and friendly, which is impressive given the crowd is usually a mix of loud,…read moresun‑soaked tourists fresh off the beach and some locals. Chips and salsa hit the spot, and the food is good, just not particularly distinctive. The menu is huge, with the kind of "big operation" feel where dishes are clearly designed to move quickly rather than showcase anything unique. Parking is the same story it's always been: not nearly enough of it. Most people end up in the Academy lot next door, and it's been the unofficial overflow for as long as anyone can remember. Hopefully Academy keeps looking the other way. A perfectly acceptable Seawall stop, but nothing that pushes it past a solid three stars.

Things to do in Crystal Beach

Inside

3.2pts of 10

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Chamoy Margarita (Frozen)

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Marlene G.

844

6 years ago

Well we were going to get on the ferry to Galveston but decided not to wait 80 minutes and turned back around. We came here and everything we ate was great!! Shrimp and queso Texas style yummy appetizer! Margaritas were on point! 3 meat trio great, shrimp platter great, rice was decent, charro beans were good, fajita and quest burrito phenomenal!! Service by Brenda was exceptional...she was going to be off work but stayed to serve us with a happy attitude!! Ask for Brenda . Tortillas are not homemade but okay. Pictures we didn't get beforehand but we finished everything! We will be back! read more

Ava S.

5 years ago

The food we ate was salty, disgusting smelt bad, it made our friend throw up. She went to the ER and they said it was YOUR FOOD, for any people who see this DO NOT come to this restaurant there service is not appropriate. read more

Shane W.

4 years ago

Very good food...great atmosphere...service was great plenty of staff if it gets busy...and also one of the only places open during the week til 10pm! We will definitely be going back! read more

Rebecca R.

5 years ago

Ordered the fajita steak nachos to go. The guac and sour cream were piled on top. The steak tasted strange and has a strange texture. Would not go back. read more

Hannah S.

302

3 years ago

Ellen was a A whole assss vybe not even toplesss weeekend and I'm stilll buzzin would marry her if I wasn't already wifed up shrimp for $4.99 #Marooon5 read more

Denise S.

9 years ago

The service is horrible. Not busy staff seems miserable. Never again back to Oceans Grill for us. Sad not many choices on beach .

Kristie H.

4 years ago

Grumpy old man at door ruined it. Not many places to eat around town, but will never try this one again, we'd rather starve.

Andrew M.

9 years ago

It was very reasonably priced and very good. the salsa is amazing and so is the service

Jose's Cantina - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Entirely mediocre. Nothing tasted especially fresh, but nothing tasted especially bad either…read more Service was incredibly slow. I have the fish and chips. I ordered a house salad appetizer. The salad was wilted. It's clear they make them earlier and leave them laying about. The fish was squishy. It tasted good, oddly given how squishy it was, but the texture was just not pleasant. The chips, French fries, were sad. It was a bed of those kind of breaded french fries but they too weren't fresh. The server was nice, but it took forever for the food. The only thing this restaurant has going for it is the ambiance. On a reasonably cool breezy evening, it's a nice view of the beach.

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Late night munchies hits "The Spot." This restaurant has a dining area with a view of the gulf…read more It's counter service, you order at the counter and they your bring food. It works well and the servers are attentive and numerous. We ordered the Diablo Grilled Shrimp, Onion Rings and a Rum Punch. My Diablo Grilled Shrimp were spicy but not overly hot. They were cooked perfectly with that crisp snap. Grilled vegetables were well seasoned and crisp, not grilled to death. The green chili rice burst with flavor and clumped together the way I love, not in tiny individual pieces of rice. The Onion Rings had great flavor and expertly fried The Rum Punch a let down. It was a good drink it just wasn't cold, cold even with the ice. Shake it then pour it over new ice. But it was good for $11. I really like The Spot! It's fun and the food is great. It's crowded and can get a little claustrophobic though.

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