Trying a new place for some Mexican food. We were seated immediately, good service . Nice clean restaurant there were few other tables full but the service was quick. Chips and salsa were yummy, they have a roasted pepper spicy salsa it was fire but so flavorful. We ordered margaritas and michelada. The corn elote was really good. For dinner ordered the taco salad no meat, the wait staff was so nice she asked if I wanted rice in my taco salad. Good food hit the spot . read more

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Best Nachos I've ever had !! Service is amazing and quick to bring out the food. I love this place as a Mexican I forsure recommend any day ! read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Best Meat Super Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

They didn't had small portion for vegetarian except nachos. I went on Friday afternoon at 4pm where I didn't wanted to have a full meal just some drinks and small bites. Service was quick and server came check in if we are doing good. A decent ambiance . read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Mac - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Service was excellent but food was lacking. Half of us found our dishes "okay" while others felt the dishes were mediocre st best.

Great service. Nice atmosphere. Good menu. Friendly staff. Queso was awful. Tasted like out of a can. Why can't Mexican restaurants serve queso fundido?? Searching for a new regular Mexican restaurant as our favorite has closed after 30+ years. We will go again. read more

Sante Fe is a fantastic spot for a quick lunch break if you work or live in the Kirkland/Totem Lake area. I have gone there now for the last 5 years and always loved the food and had great service! Gabriel is our usual waiter and he is super fast and friendly! The food comes out looking great and tasting even better! You can find some great vegetarian options on the menu as well so that is a plus! Great ambiance for a date night or a night out with the girls. Really enjoy Sante Fe and happy they are so close to us for a great lunch option! read more

The food and service were both great but over-priced for Mexican food. I know prices have gone up everywhere but this was over the top.

We found this restaurant close to the hotel we were staying at. We went there for lunch and can't believe the food. It was delicious and plenty of it. The staff was very attentive and the food came quickly. I had the chili relleno and it was huge. We were visiting so we recommended it to our family there in Kirkland. read more

Okay, so I actually really liked the food at this place. Everything was really tasty. Their chips & guacamole were AMAZING with their enchiladas and tacos are tasty as well. My wife and I went for Valentine's Day and they had a great band playing that night as well. Their trumpets were too loud for us however, as it was hard to talk with each other or the server. The service was slow that night, I understand that it was a busy night and the place seemed to be a bit understaffed (I noticed that only about 2 servers were working in a restaurant that was packed to thee brim). Our Guacamole was also delayed because the server most likely forgot to bring it out as well. The PROBLEM with this place that we had--and what justifies this one star review--is what I found in my food when I was near finishing. Apparently other people had found metal nuts in their food before. This happens when the food tray is shacking under a machine and a bolt from said machine comes loose and falls off into the food. It's extremely unsafe to have things like this in your meal. Accidentally swallowing metal nuts can cause severe life threatening consequences that would require a visit to the hospital + an expensive surgery. They did make it up to us for giving us (one) free meal. We still paid for my wife's meal normally. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Metal screw found in food - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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I'm giving Santa Fe stars for the following reasons: 1. Their menu is extensive, so you have a variety of options to choose from 2. The food came out hot The salsa was watery and nothing special, and the second bowl of chips had a rancid taste, like they were cooked in bad oil. We got the following items: 1. Pescado frito - the fish was no seasoned and had little taste. Came with corn or flour tortillas. Tortillas are not made in house. Basic store bought. 2. Enchiladas Verdes - came with pork, rice, beans and pico. The pico is a super pale color and was not fresh at all. Reminded me of pico that's left in the fridge too long. The enchiladas weren't bad, pork was dry but the verde sauce helped. 3. Super pollo burrito - came with shredded chicken, beans and a side of rice and beans. My brother said the sauce was basic. Service: 1. We were sat at a semi clean booth that had a random half drank water bottle on it (can see in one of the pictures) 2. We had to flag down someone to take our order. But they were polite and food was ready pretty quickly. There were only 2 tables occupied while we were there. Overall: Santa Fe has gone down hill in both quality and service. But the meal was decent, nothing special. Expect to be paying $23-$30 for an entree, but their portions are big! read more

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We visited this place and were disappointed. The dishes and plates were dirty. The waitress didn't bring us forks. The food was served on broken plates. A complete disappointment, we will not come back. The meat was as tough as a shoe sole. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - No forks - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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This place has quickly become one of our "go-to" spots after a previous favorite Mexican place shut down. The food is always consistent and hits the spot every time! My only thing is sometimes the service is a little slow when they don't seem that busy, but if you don't mind taking the extra few minutes from time to time, this place is definitely worth giving a chance! Our personal favs are the queso dip, chicken chimichangas, and enchiladas (which both of our kids will actually eat!). Come hungry - the three enchiladas meal is huge! read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Cheese enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Couldn't figure out how to use a gift card that came from their business. They had no way to confirm the funds on it. And when I told them how much was on the card (I had the receipt with me), which was less than the bill I was paying, they informed me they couldn't give me the change back (roughly $20). I wasn't asking for the change and that's not how gift cards work anyways. It was such an odd experience. In order to leave, I just told them to keep the balance as a tip. I'd recommend this business figures out how to use their gift cards if they are going to sell them. The food and service were fine. Would I go back? Unsure. The inside environment is what we like about this place but there's nothing really special bringing us back. read more

Santa Fe is our favorite neighborhood Mexican restaurant, and we have been eating here since it opened, replacing the previous Circus Circus or some such thing, a rather odd name for a Mexican restaurant. It's our first dine-in at a Mexican restaurant in such a long time. I miss having infinite salsa with my Mexican meal, so this aspect was very satisfying. The food is still as delicious as we remembered. The service was a touch spotty, where hubby's water was not refilled until asked. (The rest of us ordered drinks.) With short staffing everywhere, it's not something I begrudge the staff at the moment. Everyone likes to complain about the parking. Walking a few steps isn't going to kill anyone. Situated in a strip mall, we always find a parking spot eventually. Their food is classic Mexican, not Tex-Mex. The Food: Mar-Y-Tierra, $24.99 - 5 Stars We call this the Mexican Surf and Turf - shrimp and mushrooms in a butter sauce with carne asada and tortillas. It's hard to beat such a combination. I always suggest this dish to guests when they can't decide amongst the vast menu, and it's always a hit. My nephew readily polished off the entire plate. Carne Asada Fajitas, $22.99 - 5 Stars Hubby is a steak fajitas fiend (ignoring the fact fajitas is a fictional Mexican dish), and this is one of the better ones. The meat is tender, the portion is generous, and comes with all the fixings. Camarones a la Diabla, $20.99 - 5 Stars This is my perennial favorite. There's a hint of spiciness (probably more than a hint for most others). The shrimp, mushrooms, and veggies are perfectly cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. So simple, yet so good! Enchiladas Verdes, $16.99 - 5 Stars Enchiladas in green chili sauce. My nephew's GF is half Mexican, and she polished off these enchiladas before I even had a chance to ask how is the food. She declares them gone and delicious. If that isn't a 5 Stars endorsement, I don't know what is. Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Water), $3.50 - 5 Stars My 5 Stars rating might be a bit lopsided as I love hibiscus tea, beverage, etc. Their version is not too sweet, and it is so delicious and refreshing. Flan, $5.00 - 4 Stars I think flans are very personal and for that matter, regionally different. Some are a bit more dense, somewhat resistant to the fork. Some can be too gelatin-y. Some have a tenderness to them, that yields to the fork, but not squeaky like gelatin; this is my favorite version. Alas, this version leans toward the denser variety. I think this is very much a personal taste; it's simply not my preferred consistency. read more

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Service was beyond slow considering there were 3 other tables in a span of almost 2 hours. Charged me for a plate of food I return, which i never do, but my toddler wasn't a fan of. I did try it and it wasn't very good at all very salty and greesy. My shrimp cocktail was actually good the only complain is that they charge you 26 for less than 10 shrimp. read more

The food is okay. But if you order delivery, they give you a big bag of chips with a ridiculously tiny cup of salsa. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Food was ok, had better. Service was good. Didn't taste very authentic, kind a blah. Would not recommend unless starving.

Stopped by while waiting for my car at a mechanics appointment a couple blocks away. What a hidden gem! Looks like strip mall crap outside, but nicely remodeled and large inside. One of the best Chicken Fajitas I've ever had! I cannot believe it. The meat was tender inside but crispy outside. Large portions. Quick service. Ice cold beer. This will be my new go-to for Mexican. read more

This was really good! Very authentic Mexican food and they have excellent salsa and lunch specials that are humongous. I would go back if I were in that area! read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

The food was great. It was spicy. I tried a new dish. This was my first visit there. I tried Pollo Chipotle. The service was great. The drinks were huge and not watered down. On a Friday night this was a good place to eat. The atmosphere was very welcoming. Highly recommend. read more

Just went in for some margaritas, they were delish. Staff was super friendly, can't wait to come in and try some food! The place was super clean and comfortable atmosphere, read more

We were greeted very friendly. The atmosphere in Mexican decorated and like a cute village. The food came fast and it was delicious and abundant. I think parking could be tricky at times even though it's off street. read more

My friends & I tried their burritos. Love the portion size & the service was great! Flavor: 2/5 for the vegan vegetable burritos. 3/5 chicken burrito & 3/5 beef burrito. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - 2 vegan burrito, 1 beef burritos, & 1 chicken burrito. Maybe the burritos are not the best on the menu. But we give it a 3/5 stars. - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Excellent restaurant. We came in for a late lunch on a Friday and were pleasantly greeted. Very cool decor with authentic feel. I had the Mar Y Tierra, which was amazing. We also ordered the shrimp fajita taco salad which was also excellent. Huge portions for a good price. Service was very friendly. This will be our go-to Mexican restaurant going forward! read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Mar Y Tierra -- superb! - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I really enjoyed the food, and the waitstaff was very friendly. Place was clean and the decor was very nice. read more

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Amazing food ,,Excellent customer service and very good ambiance is a perfect place to enjoy family time. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Is it a Molcajete. - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Absolutely love this place! Absolutely delight was vegetarians and best enchiladas in Totem Lake neighborhood! Their take-out is really well packaged and I'd highly recommend trying them out :) Jalapeño Margarita's are just YUM! They're not on menu(I'm not sure why) read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I was hankering for some Mexican so I searched on Yelp for a reliable one while I was in Evergreen Hospital waiting for my wife to finish her procedure. After comparing reviews for Mexican food on 3 places, I decided to come here cuz many reviews said "authentic Mexican food". I grew up south of LA so I know Mexican food. We arrived at 5pm on a Monday to an empty restaurant except one other table. The decor was nice as the photos hinted at. They have TV's for sports but are not in a good spot for sports viewing so don't come here if you're big game is on! There was typical Mexican music playing that non-Hispanic people expect-but not what the youngsters listen to. It surprised me how chilly it was inside- 62!! I took a picture of the thermostat to prove it. You're okay if you have on a couple layers but wear warm pants!! We were waited on right away with water and our chosen beverages. I would've liked a beer but I'm an old guy who has to drive 45 minutes home and it'll make me tired. They brought a metal basket of warm chips and salsa. Both were tasty but Juanitas are better! Sad that they never came back and offered us more plus we never got drink refills! I ordered a side order of guacamole which was outstanding. I needed to wipe my hands but we didn't have any napkins!! Nor silverware we later realized. The menu is extensive so you'll find something you like. I like enchiladas- right, I know, how boring! But go with what you like. It was 14.99, one of the cheaper dinner items on the menu ( old people are budget minded) so I ordered #2 which comes with a chili relleno. My wife ordered the beer battered fish ( cod)tacos. It didn't take too long to get our food. I started to pick some of her fish(?) out of her taco as she thought they brought her the wrong order because it wasn't beer battered. My wife didn't want me to eat it with my fingers (she's so picky.) so I asked for silverware since we didn't have any! My wife told the server that she ordered fish tacos and as you can see in the photo those aren't beer battered fish tacos. The waitress said, "Yes,those are fish tacos". Hmmm... something's amiss. My wife said she didn't wanna argue with the server. I'm thinking, I'm gonna show them the picture I took on the menu, but my wife would get mad at me so I had to come up with a plan to talk to them about it. I have a review to write ya know?! I had a choice of beef, chicken or pork for the enchilada. I wanted carnitas but that wasn't a choice. Btw, it's hard to find pork carnitas the PNW. Why is that? I love the fried version that borders on Cuban Lechón Asado. I love cheese enchiladas so I don't know why I ordered a pork one except that the waitress asked me what kind of meat I wanted. How come they don't put much cheese in a meat enchilada? The chili relleno was tasty. The beans were adequate but the rice was devoid of good flavor- they were very bland. Also what surprised me is that my food and plate were not only not hot but too far on the not-warm side. They melted the cheese in the oven but it must've stood outside the oven too long. It was okay but noticeably different and not on the positive side. The fish tacos came as 3 with rice and beans but my wife substituted the beans for rice. She said the tacos were okay but wouldn't order them again. Turns out the fish tacos had little chunks of tálapia with chunks of onion and tomatoes. But not much fish. For 19.99 you'd think you'd get a slice of fish in your taco( which we usually see in grilled fish tacos) but I think they chunk it with other ingredients so you don't realize how little fish you're getting. My wife ate two of her three tacos so I put her taco and my leftovers in a to-go box. At this point my plan starts! I tell my wife to go wait in the car because she's obviously cold. (She doesn't argue) The server never came by to give me a bill so I had to hang out of the booth to get someone's attention. So I ask the young host guy about the fish tacos. I tell him that I just wanna know if they changed the menu as my wife wanted beer battered fish tacos. ( we had just left the hospital and I wanted her to get what she wanted- she wanted to go to Oto Sushi in Redmond but being nice she said it was okay if we got Mexican). So the lady server drops the bill on the table and removes the dishes. I say nothing. The young kid( at my age anyone under 30 is definitely a kid) brings the new bill- he cut 5$ off the bill and removed the old check. He says the owner did change the tacos and hadn't updated the menu( so take note). I say thank you. I could've complained and probably gotten her meal for free as it wasn't what she ordered per the menu but she liked them and they need to make some money. All in all, I'd like to come back and try something else. ( but we go to Oto Sushi first) read more

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Very very busy when I stopped in at about 7 p.m. after dealing with the boys at Toyota of Kirkland. I was probably in frantic search of a beer, but settled for Jamaica and a chile relleno. Seems like a popular hot spot for families and groups of friends, yet I felt okay enough as a solo sitting in a small booth. There was some sort of Late Night Live poker game that was probably not live on one of the TVs, and on the large TV there was another sports game. The food was okay, and the service was okay, the plus being that everyone there spoke excellent English. It's rather uncommon and also pretty cool. What I did not appreciate was the payment being snatched up quickly off the table because the servers were trying to close out their tabs, I guess. I left at about 8 after being given a box for my leftovers. Sans plastic bag. read more

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Yelp says four stars is "Yay! I'm a fan." And I am. We've been eating here for several years, and we'll keep coming back. It's good border Mexican (aka Tex-Mex, Cal-Mex) type food that is usually well prepared. They occasionally swing and miss on a dish, but overall the food is tasty. Carne asada is always a winner. Chile rellenos are better and less greasy than most. Enchiladas are good. The main thing to avoid are the seafood dishes--like crab enchiladas. Those just seem like something is off on them. It's a nicely decorated interior that is mostly clean and well maintained. It's begin to show its age around the edges a bit and could probably use a little TLC and refreshing. I was disappointed on our last visit to see they only had an "Okay" sign from the King County Health inspector. They need to work on this. read more

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This place is affordable, authentic, with great service, and the quality of the food is fantastic and consistent. The servers are friendly and attentive. It is our favorite neighborhood cantina. read more

Used to be a Kirkland family favorite, but the prices have almost doubled since the pandemic. We can no longer afford to eat here, which is sad for everyone. Their taco salad, $13.95 a month ago, is now $16.95 - no way, Jose. Am learning to cook a few specialties & have found other restaurants that charge 30% less than Santa Fe & are equally delicious. I understand restaurants took a huge hit during the pandemic, but there's value & then there's price gouging. read more

Being from Southern California originally I have high standards for Mexican food. With that being said, this place is really good! I got the carne asada plate which was cooked perfectly, the rice and beans could be better but they'll definitely do. I like their salsa as well. I'm excited to try the crab enchiladas next time I come, those sound amazing. I'm glad that I live close by. read more

Definitely order the mar y tierra if you come here. You won't be disappointed lol. Service was great too. read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

I used to love this place. It's gone downhill a lot. Over time we have noticed the food getting less flavorful, the salsa and veggies tasting less fresh. Tonight was the worst experience I've had at a Mexican restaurant in more than ten years. One of the things I used to love the most was their salsa, but even though it's not as good as it used to be I can't even try it properly when it's served with chips that were cooked in such severely rancid oil. DON'T COOK YOUR CHIPS IN NASTY RANCID OIL. read more

Soooo delicious! We were just passing through and decided to stop in for lunch. Our server was Robert and he was funny and quick to refill drinks and tortillas. We dug into our meals too fast for pictures... but they were delicious! We had Arroz con Pollo and enchiladas ranchero. The chicken was divine! Perfectly cooked and tender and seasoned just right. Best enchiladas I've ever had! We live an hour south of here, but we'll come back. Exterior of the building is unassuming but don't worry! The interior is beautiful! Oh - and the salsa and chips were great - salsa wasn't too spicy and chips were warm. They have a full bar, too! Check this place out if you're in the area! read more

Santa Fe Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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We went to Santa Fe Mexican Grill on a cold, wet Sunday evening. We had thought about having the Seven Seas special but it looked like too much food. We enjoyed a couple of combos and decided to return at a later date for the Seven Seas. The service was good and the food very satisfying. read more

Food was average, the restaurant lacks transparency in the way they charge and might rip you off if you don't notice. Our bill came with a big tip already included in it but it was not listed out (was included in the total directly). Worst part which spoiled our experience further was they randomly charged a 4% surcharge for using a credit card, and didn't even inform us in advance when we offered our card for paying. The server didn't know why they were charging the surcharge. Definitely not going there again and don't recommend this restaurant. read more

Bunch of thieves. Never going to come here again. They add a surcharge if you use credit card without informing beforehand and add exorbitant tip automatically without any option to change. read more

I have no idea how these folks grew to 5 locations. Service is great. Beer was cold. Food is atrocious. The Jack in the Box "two for $1"tacos are larger and better than what I had last night. The food is bland, overcooked, small portions, and very unimpressive at best. The chicken tamale was 95% masa (corn meal) and 5% chicken. See photo of my chicken taco below - half of it was empty, the shell was cold (as in refrigerated) and that picture is exactly how it arrived. The salsa is watered down and only stays on the chip if there's a dip to hold the liquid. How they have some of these positive reviews is beyond me. Truly some of the worst Mexican food I've ever tasted. read more