Very clean, cozy and tidy place, delicious food and good customer service…read more.. I got the snapper Veracruz, my husband the parrillada. Both delicious! Comes with guacamole, rice and beans. Generous portions. Food came quickly! The cherry on top: freshly handmade tortillas! And don't miss the horchata, it's so creamy and has the perfect sweetness . One of my favorites now!

Yum! I was worried when I was the only one there during dinner rush, but I'm so glad I stayed. The…read morechips were thin and crispy, and the red salsa had an oregano-y flavor to it. My carnitas burrito was great. Well seasoned, with a great mix of toppings. The beans were sort of in between refried and whole, which added some great texture. I will be trying it again.

I had a really great experience eating at this restaurant. All the seafood was extremely delicious…read moreand flavorful. Restaurant was clean and the service was quick. It's one of those meals that just puts a smile on your face. Recommend checking in them out. If someone could please tell them to open a restaurant in Sacramento I'll be there for sure

The food here really rates 5 stars! Fresh ingredients, well prepared with just the right…read moreseasonings made the meal one to remember. The place is modest, but clean and comfortable. Our server was pleasant and efficient even though she didn't seem to speak much English. The stand out dish was the chile relleno. The chile was sweet with a perfect texture. Bathed in a savory slow roasted delectable sauce and the right amount of melty cheese. Chips and salsa were top notch. The whole fried snapper was crispy and well seasoned and was accompanied by yellow rice, beans, salad and two wonderful spicy sauces: one red and one green. The other dishes we had were tasty as well. Tacos & taquitos with rice and beans. I will definitely return when I'm in the area.

We were visiting Monterey and craving good local tacos. After checking Yelp, we tried Deliciosos…read moreTacos and we're so glad we did! It's a small spot with 7 tables inside. It's clean and the staff was friendly. They're cash-only, but there's an ATM on site. The menu is straightforward and reasonably priced. We ordered the carne asada super burrito, two carne asada tacos, and two carnitas tacos. Everything was excellent. The meats were well-seasoned without being salty, and nothing was greasy. The carnitas were tender inside with crispy edges. While we were eating, three other people came in to eat. We left very satisfied and will definitely be back next time we're in Monterey!

It is located in a small business lot between a Chinese food place and a bakery, service was fast…read moreand very friendly but they only accept cash. We had the carne asada burrito and the Al pastor tacos. Prices were not too bad and the overall flavor of the food was average, could have been a little more flavorful. Serving size was decent and I was impressed with how fast the food came out, although we were the only ones there.

Okay this is my second review on Franco's Taqueria in Castroville. I recently went in and had tacos…read morede tripa. I love tripas but usually they are a bit too hard and chewy for my liking. These were tender and sooo savory! Plus they come served on homemade corn tortillas. Outstanding! Tonight I went in for their menudo. They were already out so I had the posole. This is authentic Mexican food at its best! Even the hominy in the posole is fresh cooked! Most restaurants and people, myself included, use a canned hominy because it's convenient. Not here! It is the best posole I've ever had period! I will definitely be coming next week at an earlier time to get their menudo. I know this will be hands down the best menudo ever in Monterey County. For all of you who love menudo, it is worth the drive to this beautiful restaurant in Castroville.

I've been on a hellbent mission to find the best menudo in the area for the last couple months…read more Every weekend, instead of just hiking or catching up on sleep, I wake up early to hit as many spots possible to find that one place that would bring me to tears and drop a $100-200 tip for the sake of showing full gratitude. Two months later, I'm still unsure if I'll ever achieve that in this area. Maybe there are some here on Yelp that knows something I don't and would lead me in the right direction. But my personal efforts have yet to lead to some serious results - as well as being able to finally give a personal friend of mine from Oaxaca the acknowledgment that I've figured it out and remove that smug look off his face. Whatever it is, bowls and bowls later, I've yet to find that perfect bowl. It's become repetitive. Flavors always mild. Filling as it is, rich as it is, I can't shake off the feeling that the flavors are always mild. It can't be can it? A "sacred" dish like this can't be this flat all the time right? So in light of the recent Yelp event that got me hunting for the "true" Birria de Chivo (instead of the common Birria de Res"), I was pleasantly surprised to pass by this spot that sported both of the items in my current hunt. Menudo and Birria de Chivo on the weekends! Sure got me to stop and head right in. I wanted to order both but was told that they only had "Birria de Res" this time around. Not surprised. It happens and without hesitation, I ordered the menudo to go (as I just had finished consuming a couple menudos earlier and am too full to continue). She told me to call next time to make sure they had the goat stew before driving back. Long story short. It was the most loaded menudo so far. More tripe that broth. And took me actually two attempts in one evening to finish as it was really, really rich. Goodness, I'll be back again for the menudo once this whole search is done BUT more than anything, they have got me truly curious about their Birria. Barely anyone else in the area even does Chivo so that is enough for me to come back again. See you around and I'll definitely call you first to make sure you have the goods. Cheers!

Best Mexican food in town! So delicious. Great prices, food is always very fresh and great quality…read more $1 toscos on Mondays are a great deal too.

I've driven past Phil's Fish Market & Eatery several times over the years but never actually…read morestopped. I'm glad I finally did. This isn't a fancy seafood restaurant, and it doesn't try to be. The dining room is bright, casual, and comfortable, with a classic coastal fish house feel. The menu is extensive, ordering is simple, and the entire experience feels relaxed. The clam chowder was one of the better ones I've had along the California coast. Thick enough to be satisfying without becoming overly heavy, and packed with far more clam meat than I expected. Every spoonful actually contained clams. The fried calamari was the biggest surprise. These weren't the tiny frozen rings served at chain restaurants. The pieces were thick, meaty, and obviously made from real squid. The breading stayed light and crispy while the inside remained tender. We also ordered the peeled shrimp, and they were outstanding. Sweet, fresh, perfectly cooked, and incredibly crisp with that natural snap only very fresh shrimp have. Honestly, they hardly needed the melted butter. Everything tasted fresh, portions were generous, and nothing felt over-seasoned. The kitchen simply let the seafood speak for itself. One thing that really stood out was the service. Before we were even seated, the staff had already prepared cups of ice water for guests waiting in line, which was a thoughtful touch on a busy day. Once seated, they continued checking on tables, refilling drinks promptly, clearing plates efficiently, and making sure everyone was taken care of. Despite being busy, nobody looked rushed or impatient. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Why four stars instead of five? Mostly because the restaurant is intentionally casual. You're here for fresh seafood, not white tablecloths or fine dining. If that's your expectation, you may be disappointed. If you're looking for honest, fresh seafood at fair prices, this place delivers. If you're visiting Moss Landing or driving along Highway 1, Phil's Fish Market & Eatery is absolutely worth the stop. I'd happily order the clam chowder, fried calamari, and peeled shrimp again. I'll definitely be back. -- Reviewed by Dr. C

As a local, I've been a patron of Phil's for many years. I miss the previous location in Moss…read moreLanding, with its rustic charm and ambiance. But, the Monterey Bay Aquarium research lab needed the space and owned the property. The food and recipes, particularly the Red Clam Chowder seem different to me. It now is a mushy, flour and corn starch laden mush of a soup, not as I remembered. For the prices charged, the product should be unparalleled and instead, is meh.

MUST stop in your way to Monterey area from Santa Cruz / San Jose…read more Authentic Oaxaca , south Mexico, food. We stop twice, in our way in and back to Santa Cruz. Owners, are cooks, and they have Mexican hospitality, in their service. Don't skip the soups, caldo de res, beef soup, Menudo, Sat and Sunday. Menuso, fresh , soft, comforting , flavorful. 7 Mares, seafood soup, spicy level as you like. Big portions, hand made big tortillas. Try the cafe de olla, boiled coffee, Coffee beans from Oaxaca. And the quesillo, world famous , Oaxaca's Cheese. But if you want to have a real experience, have the MOLE. Made on house, authentic Oaxaca's MOLE. I licked the plate, the smell, the color, the flavor, I've never tasted it before here in CA. I can go on. Stop, eat, be happy. Clean. Restrooms available. Charming town, reminds you where your food comes from, and the hard workers that bring us the food our earth produces.

I ate here about six months ago. Since they advertise as comida Oaxaceña autentica (authentic…read moreOaxacan food) I was really looking forward to trying it. Underwhelmed. Nothing different than what the other 2, 655 other Mexican restaurants on the Central coast offer.

Such an unexpected surprise. Great beers fun host and unexpected experiences. I'll stop by again.read more

Love the service which is friendly. This is your local small town dive where the beer is cold and…read morepeople are quick to chat.