I noticed this place the other day so we made reservations for last night. It's tucked away on a side street as you enter a residential area. The parking was a bit challenging even though they have a parking lot for customers but we found a space. It was obvious that it's a locals spot and the place was full. There's a full bar as you walk in, fun decor pleasant ambiance. It's on the small side but there's a covered patio outside for overflow/outdoor dining. "Ben" was our server. He was so attentive and friendly! We ordered a tequila flight, very nice!, shrimp fajitas that came with black beans and rice, taco and enchilada plate and a glass of Cabernet. Everything was delicious and I can't wait to go back because I really want to try the Mexican chocolate cake! Also, the location is so close to the hotel we stayed at in Lover's Point. We coulda shoulda walked! read more

Had to audit my own bill because the math didn't add up. The waiter tried to justify it with a 3% card surcharge and blamed "the computer," only to eventually realize I was being charged for a dish I never ordered. Corrected, yes - but not before a lot of unnecessary attitude. Food was mediocre, salsa we ordered never arrived. Advice: check your bill carefully if you eat here. read more

Had the Chicken hard shell taco and carne asada burrito combo. Decent. This is the most Americanized Mexican food I've eaten outside of a Taco Bell. Which, makes sense in hindsight, given that it's located in Pacific Grove. They definitely found what pays the bills. read more

The best Mexican food in PG... but I miss their outdoor seating. The tacos al carbon are fantastic.

Peppers Mexicali is one of those local gems you're glad you stumbled upon. The moment you walk in, the warm, friendly service makes you feel like a regular even if it's your first visit. The portions are generous and you definitely won't leave hungry. I ordered a beef dish and was blown away by how tender the meat was. It practically melted in my mouth. Their sauces are another level too. flavorful, with just the right kick, and clearly made in-house with care. Everything from the chips and salsa to the entrées was fresh and full of flavor. Add in the chill, laid-back vibe and quick, attentive service, and you've got the kind of place you keep coming back to. read more

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I rarely give 5 stars except for Pepper's. First, the food is fresh, delicious and very consistent. Secondly, the staff is very efficient and friendly, they make your Pepper's experience even better. I understand that the blood orange margaritas are delicious. They have a great bar area where locals and visitors mix for lively conversation. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I would recommend making a reservation, but it is also fun to sit at the bar and sip on the best margarita's in town while waiting for your table read more

My wife and I live in a close by Tourist town however we don't get to Monterey very often. We lucked out and went a little before the dinner rush on a Saturday afternoon when it wasn't really busy. The skirt steak fajitas was amazing with my Pacifico on tap ! The waiter was attentive and the dinning room was welcoming. We will definitely put this on our to do over list for future visits to Monterey ! read more

It's worth the wait! Great Mexican Food. The tortillas are hot and fresh. My husband and I shared the fajitas to save room for dessert. It was perfect. The restaurant is small with a small bar. The line to get in on a Wednesday night was a 45min wait... still worth it! read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - House Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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This restaurant has very nice outdoor seating with heaters!! Service was ok. i asked for salt but it never showed up. Ordered the swordfish fajitas and the chile verde with side salad instead of rice and beans. Everything was tasty, portions were huge and pricing was reasonable. Not the best mexican food i've had but a reasonable option. read more

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Super kind and helpful staff. Took my order and sent it to kitchen immediately. Walking distance to the beach. Nice spot with great food. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Views - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

"DO ELSEWHERE!!!" $27 for a taco plate by myself. Clumpy rice with no color or flavor, beans no flavor, meat was chewy with nerve... Service, nobody came by. Good thing I didn't bring my RV group or I would have been so embarrassed! I packed the the food and gave it to a homeless guy! My go to place is 10 minutes up the road on Forest: Sarita's Mexican Grill Restaurant, 21 Soledad, Monterey 93940. read more

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We're in town visiting family and decided to stop in. We were able to walk in at around 5;30-6 on a Saturday and get an outdoor table for 7+ adults. The staff was extremely accommodating. As busy as it was, our food and drinks came out quickly. Everything was correct and we couldn't have been happier with the service. The cherry on top was the location of their outdoor area. Our kids could run around in an empty side lot which was extremely helpful! read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

After hearing about how good the garlic shrimps are on Yelp, we decided to go there to give it a try. It doesn't taste like Mexican food because it was in a creamy white sauce. It was not bad. But there is no Mexican Spices to it. Before we order, we had asked how much for a side of Carnes asada and the waitress said $6.95. So we ordered the garlic shrimps plate ($23.95) and add on a side order of Carnes Asada. Then on the receipt they charged us $16.95 for a side of Carnes Asada. Are you kidding me? If we had known that we could of order a whole meal instead. They also charged you for service fee. With that cost you can get better food somewhere else. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

The good: service was friendly, including to a baby, and portions were big. Meat and salsas were decent. It was very loud inside. Very Americanized as others have pointed out. I found most of the food pretty bland. The melted cheese (which was abundant) had that slightly burnt flavor (like when you overcook your cheese toast in the toaster oven) and made pretty much everything unappetizing. read more

It's a very nice place. The food is tasty, and the service and ambience is wonderful. Just beware, as Mexicali places go, Peppers leans heavily into the Cali in presentation. I had the special salmon tacos and my wife had the Tacos Al Carbon. My salmon was very good and her skirt steak was perfect. But, these were served on flour tortillas. Flour tortillas are for burritos. Tacos go on soft corn tortillas. The condiments were shredded leaf lettuce and some grated cheddar and Monterey Jack. The also had a little bowl of pico and another of their guacamole. There was no cilantro, and the pico was primarily just diced tomatoes. Their guacamole is delicious, as are their margaritas. The red and green salsas they bring with their chips are quite good as well. I found the black beans tasty, and the rice boring. Seeing those flour tortillas served with tacos though was Roy. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Chips - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Great local spot! Always very busy at dinner, we love the margaritas and my personal favorite are the mushroom artichoke enchiladas. Service has always been extremely fast once we are seated and prices are great for the area! read more

Good atmosphere and good food too. It was pretty lively on a Sunday evening when everything else in Pacific Grove was closed or quiet. Recommended Peppers to other friends a few days later & they also reported a favorable experience too. read more

Peppers has awesome service and I love their back patio. It's a good place for a casual group meetup. The guac is fresh and they keep the chips flowing. However, they do not season their food. Their mole enchiladas in particular don't recognizably contain a single spice one uses in mole. They could have honestly been made with spaghetti sauce given the flavor. If you're someone who eats at the Cheesecake Factory while on vacation, it's probably great, but if you gravitate towards taco trucks in areas where actual Mexicans live, this ain't it. read more

If you're looking for some authentic local Mexican food in Pacific Grove definitely check out the spot. It seems like a local favorite because it was packed. The place is cozy and the staff are friendly. We ordered the three combination to share and it was more than enough. The price point is just right and the portion sizes are generous! definitely recommend. read more

I've been dinning there for years. I highly recommend this dining experience. Service and food are all exceptional

Such a gem spot!! We had such wonderful experiences and loved the authenticity of the food. It was exactly what we looked for... local, welcoming and great food! Skirt steak Taco was awesome! Scott was a really good server. I also have to say the hostesses were very sweet since the moment they picked up the phone for our reservation. Much appreciated them!! The homemade spicy sauce was out of this world and margaritas at the bar were so fresh and great! Thank you so much for making this visit so special for us and our children. We hope to visit again. Highly recommended!!! read more

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Good was very bad. I don't understand How they get so many people to dine Through the years. On a good note, our server was attentive. read more

Plenty of street orkinKinda expensive for what you get, but keep in mind this is Pacific Grove and not Los Angeles. Service was non-existent. We didn't see our server apart from when he was taking our orders a and clearing the table. My Snapper Yucatán dish ($20.50) only came with 2 tortillas. The Jack's Spicy Margarita ($13) was good, but nothing special. Rice tasted like microwaveable rice and the beans tasted like they were out of a can. I only got 2 corn tortillas with my order. read more

The service here is great! From the hostess to the waiter, everyone was extremely nice and eager to help my wife and I. However, if you're seeking authentic Mexican food, this is not the place for you. I expected a little more flavor from the food but left disappointed. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Two Item Combination - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I was impressed. I was by myself in a biz trip exploring the area after work. The yelps were good, so I headed to Peppers. Good street parking in a late Wednesday afternoon. Promptly greeted and sat with the menu. Server Josh also promptly greeted me and brought chips and salsa. I ordered the grilled prawns starter and they offered a salmon taco special for an entree. Both were excellent. Very good size portioned grilled salmon filets in the tacos. Josh was very attentive and friendly. Ambiance is a neighborhood restaurant with a very welcoming vibe. Highly recommended! read more

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we both had fish taco, black beans & rice & the tacos weren't great, our tortillas were cracked & crumbly, the fish didnt have much flavor, but all the toppings were fresh & flavorful, our server did a great job read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

What can I say about Peppers Mexicali Café this place never disappoints .. my rancheros was on point taco was delicious. Everything was fresh. This is a must stop every time. I'm in Monterey Peninsula. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - The aftermath of my huevos rancheros - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Busy and popular restaurant. They do take reservations by phone and not online. Good food overall and an excellent staff. They have some spicy options too. read more

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This restaurant was hustlin and bustlin on a Friday afternoon around dinnertime. But that didn't stop us from receiving fast and friendly service as we ordered for takeout. The staff was attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we stepped inside, and was accommodating while we waited for our order, and even when we asked if we could get margaritas to go! We got the seafood paella and portabello mushroom dish, and enjoyed our meals at a nearby park. Everything was absolutely satisfying, fresh and flavorful ingredients, good sized portions, a mound of clams, mussels, prawns, and fish mixed in with perfectly sauced rice and sauteed veggies... the paella served hot and delicious! Our order came with tortillas on the side, and warm and crisp tortilla chips (super tasty, some of the best I've had) and red and green salsa. We also got blood orange margaritas to go, and these were so yummy, a nice sweetness and flavor to wash down our meal, not heavy on the alcohol. I definitely recommend Peppers Mexicali Cafe if looking for some good eats in Pacific Grove, a cute and casual eatery sure to please. read more

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Busy restaurant in the quaint downtown Pacific Grove area, with great food options & generous portions. Service is friendly & efficient, with chips and salsa being brought to the table almost as soon as we were seated! For an appetizer we ordered the calamari which was crispy & well seasoned. The cilantro dipping sauce was tasty and not spicy at all, despite the menu description. I ordered the Mushroom and Artichoke enchiladas (one enchilada) and I really enjoyed my dish. It is a unique vegetarian spin on enchiladas! Even with just one enchilada, it is a very generous portion with the black beans and the rice. Doused in the "red and green sauce" as our server described it, it was really delicious! My husband had the Mission District Burrito Platter with steak. He really enjoyed his dish & despite the big serving he had no problem cleaning his plate! My daughter opted for the Combination Platter - a Chicken Taco & a Burrito. It was an absolutely huge serving and she could not finish it! There is a 3% service charge if you use your credit card, so just bear that in mind. We would definitely return to try other items on the menu when we are in the Pacific Grove area! read more

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Very tasty usual Mexican fare. Ate outside, very nice. Had the special chicken tamale.

Fantastic! Hidden gem in Pacific Grove Very good margaritas!! Reasonably priced. Has a small bar for happy hour. read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Taco combination plate - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

literally the best tacos i've ever had oh my god. And our server was amazing friendly and sweet! had a nice conversation and was super helpful!!!!! And the ambiance outside is so fun with heaters and super fun lights! thank you to our server elias!!!!!!! read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - outside area :) - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

This used to be the restaurant where we took interviewing potential faculty members at the Naval Postgraduate School- I used to love this place. I went here recently and our waiter took our order and then ignored our table for an hour- I finally waved him down and he brought us our food which was ice cold as it had been sitting for sometime. The food was poorly cooked as well. I would skip this place until it gets new owners. I have probably been to Peppers 25 previous times. read more

Well, the secret is out! Peppers is the Pacific Grove hot spot for delicious Mexican food and margaritas! Tucked away on a quiet, narrow street literally a block from PG's main street, it brings in the out-of-towners and the locals! In droves. Sometimes toooo many people in the evening hours:(. No more reservations, so the wait may be long. Sigh! With all that said, I do enjoy the energy and vibe of Peppers! Mexican traditional is how I would describe the food. Consistently good and satisfying! Beginning with the chips and salsa. The red has quite the heat. I'm not typically a fan of green salsa, but I like it here. Chips are great, in my opinion. Chicken enchiladas or chicken fajitas are my fav. Fajitas served with fabulous green peppers and onions and a small portion of fresh pico de gallo. I opt for both corn and flour tortillas. Yum! You can count on great rice and black beans, too. My fellow diners, to a person, always have positive comments. We all seem to leave very clean plates:)! Margaritas shine here! Omg...! Check out the Margarita drink menu photo I have included. I think I have had one of each:)! All tequilas are one hundred percent agave. Lisa was behind the bar today, cranking out the beers and tasty margaritas! Polite, organized, and business like customer service. Which is always appreciated. Once you order, your drinks and food are not far behind. And that is because there is a crew of hard-working people in the kitchen!!! A small, really cute bar area awaits when you enter the restaurant. It is a popular place to hang. There never seems to be any open seats when I have been there. Clean, modern, contemporary casual ambiance! Cool art on the walls. Everyone welcome! Groups of friends, families, couples, and solos. Safe, neighborhood feel. So it is all good at Peppers! Far away from the Monterey wharf madness. But in actuality, only a few miles away. Full menu served ALL day. My pro tip is to try an afternoon meal in peace and quiet and no wait! You may thank me later:)! Sincere thanks to every employee who makes Peppers such a stand out, fun establishment. read more

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We popped in here after walking along the bay trail. Set outside because we had the dog. Food was great and service was fine. Tasty tacos and enchiladas. read more

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Good food, and generous portions. However, the noise level is really high. Be prepared to yell at your companions, or just give up and talk later. It would be really great if they could figure out a way to address the noise level. The ceilings are high, and they have installed what looks like a few acoustic tiles up there, but that's not helping. Maybe some upholstery on the backs of the chairs? We chose other places to go now so that we can have a conversation. read more

Best place in peninsula for Mexican food! Margaritas by the pitcher!! Great service. Two item chili verde burrito and beef tostada! Well seasoned meat. read more

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We love Pepper's, and it's often our go-to after work. Drinks are pricey but delicious - the blood orange Margarita pitcher is one of our favorites. Food is great and chips and salsa are free. Service can take a long time and inside is usually busy but there is heating outside at night where we usually sit and the ambiance is lovely! read more

Peppers Mexicali Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Lisa is amazing!! Great service with a friendly twist ! The food was very good!! Shrimp was delicious The beef tacos rice and beans were also enjoyable. It was so good we went back and grabbed our friends to try! Thank you Lisa ! read more