Outstanding seafood-forward Mexican in a charming, family-run restaurant. We came in with a big group on an Tuesday evening and they served us some terrific food. Standouts were ceviche, seafood stew, rellenos, and fajitas. Enchiladas were least favorite but not bad. Salsa and hot sauces have kick. Would definitely come again if I'm through there sometime in the future. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Boatload of ceviche - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

I really enjoyed my meal here. Many of the other diners clearly knew the staff and owners and were there both for lunch and to reconnect. We arrived at a fairly late time for lunch (around 2:00) and there were several tables of diners who looked like they had finished a while earlier and were just hanging out and catching up. The food was great and I wish I'd been hungrier. They had a long list of ways they prepare shrimp (bacon wrapped, served in garlic butter, grilled, breaded, etc.) and I was quite tempted, but opted for shrimp enchiladas with salsa verde. It was delicious--the shrimp were not overcooked and the salsa verde was bright and tangy. The beans served alongside were very well seasoned and the texture was spot on. The place was relaxed and friendly, food came out quickly, and everything I saw others eating looked delicious. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Shrimp Enchiladas with Salsa Verde - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

We must have been there on an off day for the kitchen. The chile rellanos were tough. And what they said was grilled shrimp was almost not edible. I had to try to peel the shell off of the shrimp that was grilled to a hard surface and it came with all its little feet! Not a good taste or presentation. The atmosphere was drab and not very inviting. read more

This lil place in Watsonville has the best shrimp ceviche I've ever tasted, come give it a try soon El mejor ceviche de toda el area y sus alrededores read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Shrimp ceviche, fried tilapia - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

This is the best of the best mexican you can have. Family own, nice people and the food is just delicious.

I was excited to try this spot based on the reviews. Perhaps the expectations were too high but I thought the food was just OK. The mole was a little too bitter, the carne asada and chicken in the tacos had good flavor but were too dry. Super nice staff, wonderful, friendly ladies. read more

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First time here and it was such an amazing experience! The staff was friendly and greeted me when I entered. The ambiance was laid back and the food was great. I had a taste for fish and initially thought I wanted fish tacos to go. Changed my mind upon entering as it was only 2 families inside. I got to pick where I wanted to sit. The server welcomed me to the restaurant upon telling her it was my first time and asked if I had any questions after looking at the menu. The menu has a wide variety of items. The staff were nice. I got chips and salsa complimentary. You could tell the chips were home made. The salsa was great and has some kick to it. I ordered the fish red snapper fillet plate (grilled), rice, beans, fries, salad, and fresh flour tortillas (I chose flour). Let me tell you the fish is some of the best fish I have very had! And I'm not a big fish person. I usually just eat salmon. The flavor was amazing, seasoned well, and it was so tender. The only thing I didn't care for was the fries. After the chips, rice, beans, and tortillas I didn't need them. The staff was nice and it was a good laid back vibe. I felt welcomed not rushed, or othered since I don't Spanish. I'm mad I haven't been here before but will definitely be back. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Red snapper filet plate! - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

My family and I have been here twice and both times have been great. We love the food here. The food is delicious, slightly salty for us and it is fine. Eating out is to be expected. Who eats out expecting bland food anyways. The atmosphere is easy going and the staffs are friendly. read more

We stopped in Watsonville on the way back from a Big Sur vacation. The staff was friendly and bilingual, indulging my poor attempts at Español. The food was well-cooked and delicious. Get the guacamole! La Perla's owner stopped at our table for a chat, sharing some of the history of her family and her restaurant. When you're hungry in Watsonville, this is the place to go. read more

asked for a plate of NON-SEAFOOD , because this was the only place available for a quick bite on my lunch , and the entire meal tasted as if it was fried in the same oil they used to deep fry a fillet or a whole fish. very unprofessional for a kitchen to do that , knowing most people have food allergies now a days. very lazy food prep and quite frankly disgusting. Health Department needs to pay them a visit read more

Shrimp empanadas were really good my gf got the camarones wrapped in bacon half of them came out raw and the waitress asked if she would like them remade ...like of course we want them remade and fully cooked no bueno read more

Amazing service, family friendly environment. The food was unbelievably fresh and delicious! Will definitely be coming back. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Seafood al mojo de ajo - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

We went up to La Perla from our vacation rental in Moss Landing and were not disappointed. Although we are not Spanish-speaking, we were warmly welcomed and the service was kind. They were out of the whole snapper and the mole so we had the snapper fillet as a dinner (breaded/fried), chile relleno, and green chicken enchiladas, and fish tacos. Snapper fillet - pretty good but a bit heavy; chile relleno - fantastic, delicious flavors; green enchiladas - wonderful, not too spicy at all. My sister and mom also loved the horchata (and my sister is a bit of an horchata aficionado). The tortillas were amazingly good, homemade I think. The least successful was the fish taco - too salty and just kind of weird tasting. The prices were VERY reasonable for very large portions. Four entrees for four people was way too much. We enjoyed leftovers for several days afterwards. Looks like this is a popular place - on a Tuesday there were two large parties celebrating BDs there! I would very happily return with the hope of getting to try the mole. And re-order the chile relleno and chicken enchiladas! Thank you, La Perla, for making us feel so welcome and feeding us so well! read more

So fresh! The breaded fish tacos were so good! I preferred the mixed seafood tostada over the pulpo. Would like to come back to try of their things on the menu! read more

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The service is excellent and the owner took the time to talk to us. And the food was very delicious and affordable. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

Kind people and best Chili Relleno and Tacos in Watsonville. And that says 'mucho'! Glad we stopped in, on Main Street.

Ordered... Shrimp & Octopus cocktail- substantial portion, tender octopus and large shrimp. Tasty tomato broth with red onion, avocado, cilantro. Cold and refreshing. Served with crispy fried corn tortilla. Buttery Garlic Shrimp- large shrimp in shell with delicious butter garlic sauce. Generous portion. Served with fries, rice, and beans, salad, soft flour tortilla. Will return to try mire dishes. Prompt, attentive, friendly service. Family friendly. Easy parking in lot behind restaurant. Good value for price. Clean bathroom. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Shrimp and Octopus Cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

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Wonderful people preparing tasty food. Makes you feel like you came home and hate to leave. Thank you for your great meals and service. read more

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Simple spot with great food and friendly service. What made this spot special was the quality of the dishes, flavors, portions and price. The ceviche was plentiful and fresh as were the other 2 dishes. read more

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The service was excellent- a very warm staff that was very accommodating. However, I didn't realize when I ordered the mixed seafood tostada that it would be ceviche. The ceviche was very fresh, but I just don't like raw fish. I wish the menu would have said that. The chips were good, and the salsa was good and hot. My husband enjoyed his shrimp tacos. The ambiance is funky, but clean, and the seating is comfortable. read more

Excellent seafood Great helpful service! Our server described the option for the dishes & sauces. Small but plenty of seats we saw a lot of take out orders for the locals read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Casuelita Excellent big portion - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

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Heard good things about this restaurant but lunch was a bit disappointing. I had shrimp a la ranchera. Plenty of shrimp but they were not the best quality. The sauce was a bit bland. Beans were great. My wife's burrito was too dry, but the meat was good and it could be salvaged by mixing in the beans. Service was very good. Lacked the excitement we were hoping for. Maybe an off day? read more

We ordered and aguachile an tostada mixta. The aguachile was VERY spicy so beware. We enjoyed it but mane others wouldn't. The tostada mixta was a large portion. It is a small establishment so it could be very busy but the food still came out quickly. read more

We come here whenever we want the best Mexican food in the county. The seafood mocajete bowl rocks!! and it can easily serve 3 people. It has the best flavor of any seafood mocajete anywhere. The snapper steeped in garlic (ala mojo de ajo) is fabulous too. The staff and clientele are super friendly and attentive. read more

So delicious we came from San Jose for a beach house day and while waiting to check in we found this gem. Pretty much let them bring us the best of the best on the menu and it did not disappoint. The shrimp and octopus ceviche amazing. Fish tacos breaded over grilled. Both amazing but the dressing on the breaded was so good and tangy. We also got oysters that were fresh and meaty. We will for sure make the trek over the hill to come her again read more

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On a drive south from Santa Cruz we decided to stop for dinner. La Perla was an excellent choice - a family run restaurant with unique recipes and incredibly personal service. Do not miss the mariscos a la diabla! We will be dreaming of that tangy, spicy sauce for a long time to come. read more

Grilled Fish Tacos Grill Fish Tacos with beans and rice. The tacos were missing something. Everything tasted fresh, but there was some flavor missing. Maybe more salt?? The rice was different. I was expecting Mexican style rice; it was simply white. The beans were missing something too. For me it was the texture, they needed more whole beans in the mix. I think I paired a Pacifico with the meal. Delicious. Overall while the meal was just okay, the customer service was excellent. We will return for the empanadas. read more

La Perla Del Pacifico - Grill Fish Tacos with beans and rice. - Seafood Near Me - Watsonville, California

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Anything you pick from the menu is good, 7 mares the best and service is also great very nice waitresses I recommend this place though it's small but food is great. The 7 mares it was delicious read more

This is a very unassuming building that could be passed up if you didn't know that the food is delicious. I recommend any of the dishes.

Amazing authentic Mexican seafood in downtown Watsonville. Portions are big and price is very reasonable! The ceviche was so fresh, sweet, and plentiful. It came with fried tortillas that gave another texture. The mixed seafood soup had a deep flavor with lots of seafood and came with tortillas. We got the whole red snapper (half fried and half grilled) and it came with rice and beans. This dish was definitely the highlight! It provided a deep but not brutal spice that lingers in your mouth. read more

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Came here for a quick brunch. I tried fish and al pastor tacos. The tacos had so much meat and flavor. It was so delicious. Not only that, it was also big and less than $10 for two tacos! read more

La Perla del Pacifico is a charming, small family-owned restaurant that stands out in Watsonville. Having traveled and worked in Mexico for over 15 years, I've experienced some of the best Mexican cuisine, and in my opinion this is the best place in Watsonville. The Fajita al Pulpo I had was exquisite, and my wife's whole fried fish (Huachinango) was authentically prepared, just like in Mexico. The service was great! I highly recommend La Perla del Pacifico. We will be returning regularly for more delightful meals! La Perla del Pacífico es un encantador y pequeño restaurante familiar que se destaca en Watsonville. Habiendo viajado y trabajado en México por más de 15 años, he probado algunas de las mejores cocinas mexicanas, y en mi opinión, este es el mejor lugar en Watsonville. La Fajita al Pulpo que probé estaba exquisita, y el pescado frito entero (Huachinango) de mi esposa estaba preparado de manera auténtica, tal como en México. Recomiendo encarecidamente La Perla del Pacífico. ¡Regresaremos regularmente para más comidas deliciosas! read more

10/10 for classic seafood Mexican dishes. Hole in the wall family run business that makes incredible food. I had the shrimp Chevice and chicken mole enchiladas both were delicious! Staff and owners are sweet and friendly. Definitely recommend when coming to town! read more

Great service and some of the best fish tacos I've ever had anywhere. I had a few with a beer and they customized them to my request. I'll be back for sure. read more

We go all the time, our go to is the whole fried fish (with a side of Diablo sauce), their mixed seafood skillet, and their green enchiladas (best green sauce I've ever had). The best Mexican seafood anywhere. If you haven't been, you're missing out. The owners are lovely and staff are so friendly, it's nothing fancy, just tasty food with fresh ingredients. read more

Si la opción dejara poner 0 estrellas con gusto le pondría 0!!! La Comida no tiene sabor en lo más mínimo... ni sal mucho menos sazón auténtico... Pedí una michelada q solamente sabía a cerveza con tomate revuelto con agua, tmb ordene unos camarones a la diabla y la salsa tenía sabor a chilli sauce, los camarones eran pre-cosidos y todos chiclosos... en conclusión no volvería ni aunque me pagaran por ir mucho menos a regalar el dinero... A parte de malo carísimo. read more

My favorite little place in Watsonville! From being home sick and needing tacos to getting a cold and needing soup this place was just what I needed. Customer service- Amazing! The owner remembered me after my first visit. Felt like I was in her home instead of a restaurant. Food- consistent and made to order! Caldo- I asked for a smaller portion which she was more than happy to accommodate, I was sad that the day I went they were out of veggies but it didn't matter! The caldo/broth had all the flavor it needed and a great amount of shrimp. They serve it with a side of Avocado, red onion, lime, and cilantro! DELICIOUS! Tostada de Ceviche de Camarón did not disappoint! Flavorful with all the expected veggies! Tacos- Chicken and Carne asada tacos everytime I visited! Both perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. You can get them "a la carte" or as a plate. The beans and rice are also delicious, don't be fooled by the fact that it's white rice, it's mouthwatering! read more

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It is definitely a hole in the wall type of place but the service was fantastic. Staff was friendly. We had a drink while we waited for our order. Grabbed some Ceviche to go and the Aguachiles. Food was amazing. We have been coming to Pajaro for years now but we had no idea this place existed. We will definitely be going back. Our Kids enjoyed the food just as much as we did. read more

Have eaten here for over 25 years--- never have had a bad meal there. The service and family are terrific and the food just slaps!!!!! Seafood is their thing and we love the comal and pulpo al mojo de ajo, however the tacos and other things are also just sooooo great. read more

It's easy to overlook this local gem, tucked away right on Main Street in Watsonville. The seafood is excellent, the people are friendly, and the service is reliably good. read more