Las Islitas Mariscos

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

We must have been there on an off day for the kitchen. The chile rellanos were tough. And what…read morethey 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.

Amazing molcajete!

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Tacos Al Fuego

4.6(105 reviews)

1.4 mi

Since I'm a pilot, I fly into Watsonville airport relatively often and I come here for this place!…read moreThey have amazing quesobarria tacos and the sauce is really good! I've brought a couple students here and they love the food here too. The place is cute inside, there are picnic tables to eat at outside, and it's clean inside. The staff I have encountered at the restaurant are kind and give great recommendations! Parking is plentiful on the street and it's a 4 minute walk from the airport. Worth going to!

Went to another brewery, but we missed the food truck by 15 minutes. After enjoying a draft there…read morecame here so we could get another draft and some food. This place was one of the options. As we were looking through the menu, a guy walked by and told us the surf and turf burrito was the best. We ordered it and my Shaka, tossing new Bestie, whose name I don't know, lol, gave us the best rec. Like that you can order food here and take it over to the brewery with the indoor and outdoor seating.

Interior: several tables, comfortable chairs, bar seating, TV, clean, bottled drinks on display, off menu specials

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El Frijolito Restaurant

4.2(333 reviews)

0.9 mi

If you're in Watsonville and want solid authentic Mexican food without spending crazy money, El…read moreFrijolito is definitely a must try. The food is affordable, portions are solid, and the flavor tastes homemade and authentic. The $10 super burrito is honestly one of the better deals around right now packed, filling, and actually satisfying. The burrito itself had great flavor, a good size, and definitely didn't feel skimpy. Glad they opened the second location on Main Street too. Nice to see a local spot expanding while still keeping the quality and prices reasonable.

Never disappoints being a well-loved restaurant in Watsonville and always worth the trip to have a…read moregreat meal every-time for our family.

Seating area

Asada taco plate with extra al pastor taco

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The Chile relleno/sope combo did not disappoint. The place is clean, family friendly and accommodating staff.

Olivias Cafe

4.4(206 reviews)

0.6 mi

Had the papas and eggs and there Salas is really tasty service is amazing and will come back.read more

The best Mexican food you could find in Watsonville! Service is great and food is authentic.read more

Machaca Huevos

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Taqueria & Birrieria Pacheco

4.4(87 reviews)

0.9 mi

Very spacious restaurant with a party like dining room and bar area and cool assortment of gumball…read moremachines and the dining room was furnished with decor & paintings. Right near the heart of the town center and parking near the entrance to accommodate quick a quick transference ahaha . Any how the food was really good and honestly better than most in the San Jose area making it a good choice if your in the Watsonville / salinas area . Thank you again for the quick service and btw Tip: they do taco Tuesdays for a dollar !! Steak chicken and pastor

I wish I was able to try the food. We went there but the restaurant was closed unfortunately, even…read morethough the online hours said open. Why three stars then? This closure led us to a local farmers market with food tents. Some of the best tacos I have ever had in my life!!! The location is in the heart of the city and would love to come back and try it if I have the chance

Front of the restaurant where you order

Chicken burrito

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Urinal out of service

El Michoacano

3.8(118 reviews)

1.6 mi

Finally tried this place out after debating going for so long, and it did not disappoint. We have…read moretried their restaurant in Gilroy and loved it. We weren't too hungry so we shared a piña colada milkshake and camarones al mojo de ajo plate. They also provide chips and salsa and beans while you wait for your food. Everything was absolutely delicious and the perfect amount for two of us. We did have to wait a little bit for food to be ready, but it was worth it. Our server was attentive and helpful. They also put the game on after we requested it. There's plenty of parking available, I definitely recommend trying out this place.

Came here to get to go food for a work lunch at a Dr office, and this place was awesome!They…read morespecialize in seafood, so I tried their spicy shrimp in salsa w garlic (aka Camarones A La Diabla) and I will definitely be coming back for this dish!! But next time I'm asking for more sauce!! I also tried their chicken taco salad, but I ate it later in the day, and taco salads need to be eaten right away for them to be good! The chicken had good flavor, so I would also order that again the next time I come back! The girl taking my food order didn't speak good English over the phone, so it took a little bit for her to get more order. And the food took awhile to make, I think about 45 min, but it was worth the wait! And I kept eye balling the neighbors yummy looking shrimp drinks (like a fancy beer with shrimp in it) and their shrimp food! Next time I want to eat in the restaurant, for the full experience!

Tostada de peace do

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D'La Colmena Market & Catering

4.4(130 reviews)

0.7 mi

Has the best torta sandwiches for a really good deal and the people are always kind I would highly…read morerecommend this place. They also have really good food when you ordering. It's such a nice place.

This hidden gem in Watsonville located in back of the market. I got myself carnitas mix with meat…read moreand buche(skin) plate which came with rice and beans and I also got a crunchy chicken taco on side. It did not disappoint the carnitas had other crunch and meat inside is moist. Other places carnitas is braised. This one seems to be deep fried to get the nice golden color yet still moist inside. The skin was also nice and yummy. More of a braise so not crunchy. My taco was amazing deep fried with the filling then the dress it up. It was nice and crunchy. Tortillas was fresh as well so loved it. Only disappointment was beans was a to dry for me and rice was over cook soggy. But carnitas is the star here. I also got few pcs of chicharon and that too was yummy. Nice crunch not hard at all. This will be my new carnitas stop whenever pass thru Watsonville.

Catering trays

Tilapia

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Menu

Jalisco Restaurant

3.9(516 reviews)

0.6 mi

I was staying in Watsonville for Car Week in Monterey. And I…read morefound this gem close to my hotel Jalisco has an amazing menu, but I was here for the mole. Chicken Breast with Mole: Chicken breast in mole sauce made with chile, clove, cinnamon, and tomato. Only $26.00 The sauce was rich and chocolatey with a hint of cinnamon. My plate came with flour tortillas, refried beans and rice. I'd come back just for the Mole. One of the best I've tasted. Matt says if you find yourself anywhere near hwy 1 on your way to Monterey or to Santa Cruz stop by Jalisco Restaurant. An amazing mole experience is waiting for you

We were in Watsonville for a tournament and were looking for a place to have dinner. We had heard…read moregreat things about Jalisco and were excited to give it a try. The restaurant is located in a beautiful traditional building with a lot of character. I really enjoyed the ambiance and decor, which created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Even though the restaurant was busy, they were able to seat us right away. The menu was extensive, offering a wide variety of options. We started with the complimentary chips and salsa, which were both good. The salsa had a nice flavor, and the chips were fresh. We also ordered the nachos as an appetizer. For our entrees, I ordered Combo Plate #6, which included a chile verde burrito, a cheese enchilada, and a carne asada taco. We also ordered a carne asada taco plate with a cheese enchilada and a chimichanga. When the food arrived, the presentation was impressive, and the portions were very generous. Unfortunately, this is where our experience started to decline. The rice and beans were good, but the chile verde burrito was quite dry. The pork lacked tenderness and was overcooked. The cheese enchilada was decent, though not particularly memorable. The carne asada taco was also disappointing. While the tortilla was excellent and the meat was well-seasoned, the steak itself was very fatty and undercooked. In fact, no one at our table was able to finish their steak tacos because of the quality of the meat. The chimichanga was another letdown. It arrived covered in sauce like a wet burrito, which eliminated the crispy texture you would expect from a chimichanga. As a result, it became soggy and still somehow tasted dry inside. The highlight of the meal was definitely the nachos--simple, flavorful, and enjoyable. The service was also very good. Our server was attentive, regularly refilling our drinks and bringing additional chips without us having to ask. Overall, we really wanted to love this place because the atmosphere and service were excellent. Unfortunately, the food fell short of our expectations. I probably wouldn't return for dinner, but I would consider stopping by for happy hour, some nachos or appetizers, and to enjoy the ambiance.

Bar

Veggie taco

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La Fogata

4.6(41 reviews)

1.1 mi

Everything here Delicious the service always great las…read morecostillas en chile,Gorditas,albondigas,enchiladas and menudo. you cant go wrong with this place could Definitely be the 1 Mexican restaurant in watsonville

It is great to see so many others share their love for the sopes at La Fogata! They make my…read moreabsolute favorite sope anywhere, and why I always stop at La Fogata when I drive through Watsonville!

#7

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Sope close up. Best sopes ever!

Cilantros

3.4(456 reviews)

0.6 mi

Good choice for Mexican food in Watsonville. Parking is extremely easy since it's in a major…read moreshopping plaza. Easter Sunday we arrived around 2pm and there was no wait. Service was superb! They were very attentive and kind. They were understanding and didn't see irritated that half of our party was running late. I ordered the mango colada. Delicious non-alcoholic drink. It was very refreshing and had a cute presentation too. For food I ordered the tostada de mariscos. It was one tostada but it was absolutely loaded! I had to eat off about half of the toppings before I could pick it up and eat it all together. The generous portion sizes were also true for other items like the chimichanga. It's been here before. Always a good time at Cilantros.

I was surprised at the sub-par customer service at this place…read more It was my first time here, and, at first, it seemed like it would be my new favorite place (busy atmosphere, drinks, food)! It obviously is a popular place. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered drinks and asked for a menu. And then we waited...and waited, and waited.. The worst part was the waiter/bartender had a long ongoing conversation with the couple directly beside us, but completely ignored us the whole time, and didn't ask if we were ready to order--just walked by after every conversation. We had our menus closed on the counter, so I think it was kind of obvious we were ready to order? Also, no conversation at all about menu items and recommendations--zero, which really helps when I am at a new restaurant deciding what to order. Finally, after a long wait, I did what I really (!!!) don't like doing, which is to try to flag down anyone who might notice to take out food order. At that point, I am over. However, that did work after maybe 2 tries. We both agreed the customer service wasn't very good, and there are better places elsewhere. I guess don't try to order food at the bar. The food was good, but nothing special. The salsa is watery. I do prefer a chunkier salsa, especially with chips. The drinks are very good as well as the wine selection, so maybe that is an option.

SIZZLING SEAFOOD FAJITAS

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

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jose z.

0

7

0

4 years ago

Honestly the food is very very bad, it doesn't have any taste, like I don't know what's going on, the service sucks too, I got 2 mojarras today and me and my partner didn't like them, the mojarras tasted like they had mud, plus the prices on those are exorbitant like crazy, they cost 20.00 each while at Nayarita's they cost 13 and the flavor is really good, but then we decided to get them from here because it's so close to us, but we regret it. read more

ED T.

553

98

217

13 years ago

So many people , go in and out to kitchen , cooks eating at the same time cooking , no hair restrained , found a long hair in my food , when I ask , they just laugh on my face , and so many tv channels not appropriate to family , so many macho guys drinking to dead ,especially on Fridays karaoke nights , not a place for a family read more

Dhalilla T.

0

5

0

14 years ago

best shrimp empanadas ever the servers are very nice there especially noemi rock that place without noemi is a disaster very crowded on fridays and not really good place for families that day so i recomend to not go there on fridays. as good as it gets it is delicious read more

Elena M.

14

40

7

4 years ago

We arrived here at 8:50, and it 9:30 and no one had come to get our order. I waved them twice and yet nothing.

panfilo R.

10

7

1

15 years ago

Best sea food ever

Las Islitas Mariscos - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Had not been here in at least ten years, and finally had the chance to try it out again. I tried…read moretheir asada tacos which were delicious! It comes with a side of red salsa which was very good too and not spicy. The tacos were so much bigger than other Mexican restaurants which was a very nice surprise. We got two tacos, two chicken sopes, and two horchatas for about $18. Everything was delicious and cheaper than expected. I went during lunch time so it was pretty busy, but still got our food pretty fast. The staff were all friendly. There is some parking available as well. Definitely recommend this place!

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Only the way too loud birthday celebrations are annoying, the food is amazing. Service is great as…read morewell.

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I've only been here once but it was awesome! My regular spot in watsonville was closed so a buddy…read moretook me here, yes! It's a small place with just a few tables but the food is excellent. I had the carne asada enchilada's and they were great! The carne asada was cooked in a tasty sauce, wrapped in corn tortillas, smothered with a home made mole sauce, topped with cheese, broiled to molten perfection! I had just rice (no beans) and they put a little salad in the plate for fun. The rice was exceptional and had some peas mixed in, unusual but delicious! Chips and salsa came with our meal and they were great too. The salsa was just the right heat, made me sweat! I'm not in watsonville often but this place is on my kick ass Mexican eats list from now on! Give'em a try!

A hair found inside my salsa after I noticed the salsa being on top of the counter where the money…read moreis handled, the bucket was not covered, the lady did not have a hair net as she was serving the salsa into the mini cups to serve to guests, neither did she have gloves on after she was handling money.

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This place is soo amazing! The Asada Burrito is one of my favorites of all time! The service is…read moreamazing as well!!

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

We must have been there on an off day for the kitchen. The chile rellanos were tough. And what…read morethey 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.

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Food had no flavor. My carne asada burrito was more like a bean burrito and it also tasted like…read moreburnt beans. The only food we really liked was the quesabirrias.

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Oh, what delicious chips! Perfect balance of oil, salt, and crunch. Salsa was ok, but I am told…read moreif you invest deeply in it, it keeps getting better. Too bad the tacos weren't as good, although they were deliciously cheap ($1.50.) Nothing wrong with the tacos, they were just dull and unexciting - neither the carne asada nor the pollo offered anything inspiring, nor was their some wonder in their construction. Nice, high quality tortilla was used however, which aided them in being eatable; my friend thought they were on the large side, but I think it was just an illusion. This is a sit-down restaurant where they take your order; most of the combo plates on the menu are $9. Friendly staff, and quick food service.

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