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    Jose's Mexican Cafe

    3.8 (246 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Jose's Mexican Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Jose's Mexican Cafe Photos

    JOSE'S MEXICAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Jose's Mexican Cafe

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    Kathy X.

    A casual spot for Mexican cuisine with colorful decor. We were served complimentary chips and salsa. My friend also ordered guacamole, which was a huge portion. I wasn't really a fan of it, as it was too bland and soft. Of course, I got the Horchata drink, which was sweet and refreshing, with strong flavor of cinnamon. I ordered the Pescado Frito, which was a whole Deep Fried Fish. I wasn't expecting it to be the whole fish. Had I known, I probably would have gotten something else because I'm not the best at eating fish with a lot of bones. That being said, the plating was nice and the Fish looked quite impressive. It was marinated overnight with lemon and garlic, along with avocado and raw onion on top. This came with Mexican rice, refried beans with cheese on top, along with corn tortilla. The Fish was incredibly crispy with tender, flaky meat, but I couldn't really taste the garlic or other seasonings much. The rice was cooked well, and I liked the addition of cheese on the beans. Service was okay at first, but really went downhill towards the end. We had asked for to go containers. I had almost half of the fish leftover and all of the tortillas. My friend and I left for a minute, until I realized I had neglected to take my leftovers with me. When I returned, I was told that the table was already cleaned and my leftovers were most likely thrown away. There was no remorse, checking on it, or offer to make it right. Their policy was to get rid of leftover food right away, which made no sense to me... Why would I ask for something to go if I didn't plan to take it with me? The whole exchange left a bad taste in my mouth and I would certainly never return.

    Beef enchilada with only rice
    Cary N.

    This a popular location with the locals. The margaritas are good (got too excited and forgot to take a picture of the drink) But well made. The service is good, seems family run but everyone was happy and friendly. The restaurant had bar seating and table seating. It looked like there is outdoor dining during summer. The food was good. The beef enchilada was delicious and the rice was well made. Please not the parking lot is small and so street parking is easier to get.

    Natalie H.

    Food & drinks were delicious and the service was very quick! Loved their salsa and super friendly staff. We will definitely be back whenever we are craving some authentic Mexican food.

    Storefront
    Stan W.

    I came over for lunch. It's a tricky parking job because the address is on Del Monte, but the parking area is located on Broadway. I was seated quickly and right away I noticed how clean the interior was and the alcohol on behind the bar. They did have a tv on a soccer match, but they had music playing. They do have high-chairs & booster seats for the kids, and their restroom was very clean. As for the food, the chips were really fresh and the salsa was very good. A little on the spicy side, but good. I had the enchiladas. One was chicken, beef & cheese with green sauce. I like the brûlée cheese on top and the small salad, but that's where the positives stop. The green sauce that was on top of the enchiladas had a citrus/sour taste. It really made the dish hard to eat. The chicken inside the enchilada was very dry. Very disappointing. With all of the other Mexican options around, I don't think I'd try this place again. Price: $27 (includes a 20% tip)

    My son on the outside patio
    Luis R.

    Best places to get your chimichangas and the best group of people you can ask for at this restaurant!!! Very family oriented and believe me when I say the best chips in salsa around Monterey!!!! Telll em Deadpool sent you!!!

    Chile Relleno with a Chile Verde burrito. I didn't care for the beans inside of it though.

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    19 days ago

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    Cheap! Asada super burrito was good, big; but I feel like I ate an Americanized style of burrito.

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    Very friendly service and great food. I enjoyed the Carne Asada y Camorones but mostly enjoyed the setting and welcoming atmosphere.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    The service was spectacular, the company was great, and the food was delicious.... So I'm gonna say less.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Food and service is amazing! Sam is so on top of everything, she's so so fun!! Margaritas are delicious

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 months ago

    The steak fajitas were very bland, and unseasoned. The peppers and onions were much too large. No problem with the service.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food and service was great. Reasonable prices. Only change I would suggest is better chips. Roasted salsa was good.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Jose's Mexican Cafe

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    We went back to Mariscos Puerto Nuevo last night for dinner with couple of close friends, and it…read morewas absolutely outstanding. I honestly can't speak highly enough about this place--it remains a total gem in Seaside.The food was incredible across the board. Between our table, we had everything from their fresh, every dish was packed with flavor and served in massive portions. You can really tell they've been using the same traditional family recipes for a while making it feel comforting and authentic.The service was fast and friendly and the homey, whether you're a local or just passing through the Monterey area, this is a recommended spot if you want high-quality, authentic Mexican seafood that never misses the mark. I had the Nuevo seafood special and it was off the hook good ! We've previously enjoyed breakfast and lunch here before but the dinner last night just turned the dial up to 10 on the happy scale !

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    El Pollo Rey - Half Chicken Combo (super moist chicken and awesome beans) - 5/6/2024

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    The family pollo & carne very delicious. Everyone is very nice. Highly recommend this spot for…read moreauthentic pollo asado.

    We've gotten take-out from this place several times already. It's consistently good! It does take…read moreabout 15-20 minutes to package the food, so you'll want to call it in before. We usually get the Whole Chicken Combo. It is not possible to get only white or dark meat. The chicken is "slick" enough that even the white meat is good. There is some char on the outside and the skin is cooked nicely. It comes with a few tortillas (can pick flour or corn), 2 kinds of salsa (spicy red and chipotle based), and pickled onions. Roasted hot peppers (yes, they have some heat!!) and onions are a nice touch. The whole chicken isn't too large. Sides are Spanish Rice (great flavor, but seemed a bit hard), seasoned whole beans (tender and flavorful). It's enough for a family of 4 with little kids. But you might think about ordering more if you have more adults or older kids. We also got a guacamole (loaded with onions, tomatoes) and chips. Guacamole is fresh and creamy. You'll love it if you like the style with extra stuff added. Chips are thin and oh-so-greasy, in a good way. Kids loved the extra colors. Portion size isn't too big, could probably have ordered an extra one, because you won't want to stop eating them! Overall, a great place to grab a quick dinner. Can't go wrong with this spot!

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    Jose's Mexican Cafe - mexican - Updated May 2026

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