Everything I've had on the menu is incredible! Tri-tip tacos are my favorite. Incredible service and a fun vibe for family or friends!

We absolutely love this place! It's one of those restaurants our family never gets tired of, and somehow everyone is always happy with what they order. The vibe is fun, relaxed, and welcoming--it really has that neighborhood cantina feel where you always want to hang out a little longer. The food is consistently so good. I seriously can't stop ordering the elote corn salad--it might be my favorite thing on the menu. And my boys are obsessed with the Longhorn Burger. If we're eating here, there's a very good chance that's what they're ordering (after multiple appetizers). We feel lucky to have a spot like this in our community. If you haven't been yet, you're missing out! read more

The Cantina is one of my favorite neighborhood spots and a place I find myself coming back to again and again. The food is consistently great, and my go-to item is the Elote Street Corn Salad. It's absolutely delicious, packed with flavor, and a must-try if you're visiting for the first time. What really makes this place stand out is the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. The service is always excellent, and everyone makes you feel right at home. I also make it a point to stop by the bar and see Jorge, who makes one of the best espresso martinis around. His cocktails are always perfectly crafted and never disappoint. If you're looking for great food, excellent drinks, and outstanding service, The Cantina is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended! read more

For a hole in the wall, it's a nice hole. Modern, well-staffed, clean, and busy, it might be only full bar south of the 85 from LG Blvd to Almaden where patrons aren't chain smokers with missing teeth and MAGA hats. While seating is limited, you can sit at the bar, a booth, a table, or the patio, which allows pretty views of people returning their safeway carts and middle schoolers. That's a dangling participle: They don't return their middle schoolers, but they probably wish they could. Anyway, the Americanized-Mexican menu is heavy on burgers and bar appetizers, which were hit and miss. The French fries were unusually hard and crisp. The smashburgers looked better than they tasted, but that's not too insulting: they look outstanding. On two separate burgers the bland buns fell apart, so hopefully they'll get better options in future. If they won't toast the bun for me next time, I'll bring a lighter. The guac was good (my wife and I are picky) but the "queso" is queso-tionable. It's not the authentic, pale, chile-flecked queso you might expect from even Chipotle, but bright orange school snack bar nacho cheese. The elote salad was not very elotey and it was flavorless (my wife asked for lime, which helped juice it up). The beer list is impressive. They offer rotating slush drinks. I loved the strawberry margarita ($11 or $8 happy hour) but returned the mojito. It tasted like fake mint. It was a nojito. read more

The Cantina - Good guac. Queso-tionable queso. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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I had lunch here today with a friend and it was a wonderful experience. We arrived right when they opened at 11:30am. They are located in a shopping center on the corner of Union Ave and Los Gatos Almaden Road, in Los Gatos. When we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the owner. He was so nice. He let us pick where we wanted to sit. We found a nice table for the two of us and checked out the menus we were given. Our waitress came by with some cold waters and introduced herself. She kindly answered a few questions that we had. I decided to order their Baja Fish Tacos and my friend ordered the Elote Street Corn Salad with Tri-Tip. My tacos came with a choice of two sides. I chose black beans and guacamole. We also ordered some soft drinks. The inside is very nicely decorated. It's a very modern/hip vibe inside. They have a full bar with seating there. They also have several other seating options. Our food came out with in 19 minutes, which wasn't bad at all. My friend liked her salad. It was a nice size salad with a hefty portion of Tri-Tip. They brought her dressing on the side as she requested. My Baja Fish Tacos were amazing. They were huge and filling. The fish they use is cod and it has a light crispy batter that is not overly greasy. It came topped with shredded lettuce, Cajun remoulade, pico de gallo. The remoulade had a little spice to it and I loved it. I added, the side of guacamole on top of each taco, and I was in heaven. The black beans were a small portion but tasted good. Honestly, I was so full, I don't think I could have eaten more than what I was served. An overall excellent experience, delicious food with a friendly atmosphere. Our waitress gave us the best customer service. This is definitely the perfect neighborhood spot for good food and drinks. I look forward to returning with my husband for lunch and dinner. read more

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Had lunch here today with a friend. This restaurant is tucked into a cute shopping center in a pretty neighborhood in Los Gatos. The owner greeted and seated us and was very friendly and nice, as was our waitress. I had an Elote Street Corn Salad topped with tri-tip. I was concerned it might be spicy, but the waitress assured me it wasn't, and she was right. It was huge and delicious with lots of fresh romaine, radish, corn, avocado, pepitas and more. I do feel the tri-tip was over cooked and wish it had been done medium rare. My friend had Baja Fish Tacos that she enjoyed very much. They looked delicious. The breaded cod filet in each of the tacos was huge. She ordered guacamole as one of the sides and that looked really good, too. The Cantina is lovely inside with jungle-core decor such as large plants and leaf print wallpaper. While the dining area is a bit small, there is additional seating at the bar and outside. read more

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Overall, I really liked the Cantina. It has a nice friendly vibe and is conveniently located in the Safeway shopping center near LG Almaden Rd and Union. Our server was really nice and friendly. I asked if the onion rings were freshly made (vs premade frozen) and she confirmed they were freshly made, so I used my unhealthy credits and pulled the trigger on the onion rings to go along with my pulled pork sliders. She heard me comment on the indulgence and said it was Friday, so it was all good. The food was slow in coming, but luckily we weren't in a hurry. Overall, it seemed to be well prepared with care - like not just throwing together the bare minimum for the pork sliders, but adding a nice slaw to the sliders, as well as pickles and a little salad with radish. The sliders were really good - I liked them a lot. Great flavor and very well put together. The onion rings were actually quite flavorful and they looked like they were prepared fresh - some slight sweetness to the batter. Hard to not be oily, but not overly oily. My only issue was they were overdone as you can see from the pictures. I ate them, they had a slight burnt taste but not enough to not eat them, but IMO they really should have kind of seen that these were overdone and done a new batch that were cooked a minute less or so. Won't stop us from coming back, and hopefully next time everything will be good and I can amend my review to a full 5 stars. read more

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Came here for lunch with my husband last Friday. We hadn't been to this location since the Mooyah days. I felt nostalgic seeing how different it looked inside. It was nicely decorated, causal yet classy. I loved how beautiful the brown and blue banquette seating area with dimmed lights looked. It felt comfortable and relaxing. They also had a lively vibe, especially in the bar area. Business looked good. They had customers at the bar, at the tables inside and in the outdoor patio. Service was friendly. It look almost 30 minutes for our food to arrive, though. It wasn't a big deal as we weren't in a rush, and the environment was so nice. I had the Baja fish tacos with guacamole and black bean. The fish was really fresh and well seasoned. I usually preferred grilled vs fried, but at least the fried fish here didn't feel greasy. There's a decent amount of cajun remoulade, shredded lettuce and pico de gallo. Very flavorful, just a little messy to eat. On the other hand, I wished there're more black bean and guacamole. My husband enjoyed his pulled pork sliders and onion rings as well, even though the onion rings looked a bit burnt. Would love to come back for their happy hour. read more

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Great addition to the neighborhood in a renovated space that previously housed "La Pesca Blue" (and before that "Mooya"). We dropped in several months ago during their cold open and decided this Friday night would be a good time to see how well the Cantina team worked out the kinks. Glad to say the team here is doing well. We were seated in their newly opened patio and ordered the Elote Street Corn Salad and Tri-Tip Tacos that were served as nachos. Both were delicious. The menu may be confusing at first with both burgers and tacos but it makes sense when compared to the food you might find on the California/Baja border. Think comfort food and adult beverages served quickly and with wide appeal. Bar pricing was reasonable-Our delicious spicy margaritas came in at $14. We had a friendly conversation with the owner who purposefully aimed at reasonably priced and interesting tequila drinks with a price point where diners might order a second drink. Good idea! I ordered two. Check 'em out read more

The Cantina - Feb Beers and Wines - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I've had the pleasure of dining here twice now, and I already look forward to returning. The only thing keeping me from becoming a regular is the distance--I live in Sacramento and the restaurant is in Los Gatos--but I can honestly say it is well worth the drive. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by a host and staff who are genuinely kind, attentive, and eager to help. That level of hospitality makes a lasting impression. It is refreshing to be served by people who clearly take pride in what they do and make you feel like a valued guest. I also appreciated that the bathrooms were spacious enough for wheelchairs and exceptionally clean, which added to the overall comfort of the experience. The food is outstanding. The menu is unique, creative, and wonderfully eclectic, and the chefs have a remarkable ability to combine flavors and spices in a way that elevates every dish. In fact, I never even reached for the salt shaker because everything was seasoned so perfectly. I also appreciate that they offer a full menu for the little humans in your life. It is truly a family-friendly restaurant without feeling overly geared toward children. They have struck an excellent balance, creating a menu that can be enjoyed by everyone, from adventurous food lovers to kids. And then there is the bar--simply excellent. Every cocktail feels thoughtfully crafted, with careful attention to both flavor and presentation. Whether you prefer cocktails, beer, or wine, there is a strong selection to suit a variety of tastes. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is an ideal place to meet a friend after a long day at work, catch up over exceptional food and drinks, or treat your family to something beyond the usual chain restaurant experience. If you are looking for memorable dining, outstanding service, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere, this is the place to go. I know I will be making the drive back again soon. read more

The Cantina - Dessert - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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We were looking for a place with a decent kids menu for a quick dinner before hitting up the festival of lights. It's at a Safeway parking lot so plenty of free parking. We were seated right away but it was early (5pm). The service is really nice and the place was cleaned and well maintained. The menu is more an Americanized Cabo bar but the food we ate was solid. I had the pulled pork sliders, my kid had the quesadilla and my husband had the Cali burger. The fries were delicious- thick and crispy. I appreciate the local beers on tap and the drink variety. I felt that $17 was too much for a burger with no side. read more

The Cantina - Happy hour menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This place is super cute inside - located in the same parking lot as Safeway with a good amount of parking, they have a well stocked full bar and seasonal and regular cocktails. Service was good - attentive and friendly staff. The food, however, was just ok. The beef taco were super greasy and lacked seasoning. The fish tacos were rubbery. The queso and quac tasted store bought. The tortilla soup was the best part of our meal. Overall, not a great food experience... but maybe it was just an off day. read more

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I went with a group to the official opening day of The Cantina at 15529 Union Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032 This family owned and operated bar and restaurant was packed with customers, but we ordered tacos, hamburgers, super nachos, black bean dip, fish tacos, chips and salsa. The menu had many different food items like hot dog, wings, dessert, and salads. Our server, Janelle, really did a great job taking care of the group. The kitchen was a little backed up, but did not affect the experience. Everything we had was really good and well prepared. The full bar and restaurant is brand new and very clean. It is family oriented, as they do have a kids menu and crayons. I'm going to HIGHLY RECOMMEND The Cantina! read more

The Cantina - Entry - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Locally owned restaurant/bar serving delicious drinks and food--what's not to love? The owner came by to chat and was incredibly kind. You can tell this place is a true labor of love, and it makes you want to root for him and his partner. Our waitress was warm, friendly, and attentive. One detail that really stood out: they brought out a second version of my cocktail because they weren't sure the first one was mixed quite right. I wasn't going to complain about getting an extra drink, and it turned out the second one was indeed even better! That level of care really shows how much they value their customers. The burger and fries were spot-on, and I'll definitely be back. Wishing them the very best! read more

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Went there couple of times with my friends in the evening. Food was great and also customer service was great also so that's good.

The Cantina is a new bar/restaurant in the strip mall on union ave. The place has a great decor and everything looks really clean. They even have a nice website. The service is great, friendly and attentive. The food came out really fast. The fish tacos had generally good flavor but they need more options on the hot sauce or salsas. The 2oz of pico de gallo just wasn't enough. The fish tasted good but was just a tiny bit tough. The nachos were honestly a miss. Some of the chips were like leather, others were slathered and soggy due to tons of queso (we were actually expecting a cheese blend melted on the chips not poured queso sauce). The steak was good, but overall it needed more ingredients to elevate the dish. We'll be back soon though. read more

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Very interesting variety of different things on the menu that I wouldn't normally think go together but as long as you look at the menu before you go and you like a dish or two, you're probably good I am not a french fry person and we got the garlic french fries which were amazing. The perfect amount of crispy, oil and flavor. We both ordered burgers and I was surprised to learn that in order to have a side with the burger you had to order that separately and it had its own separate charge. So when you order an $18 burger you then have to order $6 fries for example or just have a burger and nothing else The staff was very friendly and quickly addressed any needs that we had The entire restaurant including women's bathroom was very clean and well taken care of. I always feel like it is very telling of the restaurant's overall cleanliness based on the bathrooms cleanliness. This one definitely get an A+ grade The restaurant is pretty small but we went at 8:20 PM on a Wednesday so did not have trouble getting in. I have no idea what the situation would be at a typical dinner time or on a weekend They make their own tortilla chips in-house. They are slightly thicker than most read more

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I had a great experience at the Cantina in Los Gatos. It used to be La Pesca blue. My friend and I met up for drinks and appetizers. I had a beach cruiser and a Paloma. Each for $14 and were well-made. We also ordered Garlic fries and chips with salsa Verde. We sat at the bar which has two large screens above it. Folks were watching various sports. Prices were good and Service was great. I think the chips and fries were each seven dollars, which is quite reasonable in this area. I'm planning to go back for dinner soon and would recommend giving this place a try. Parking is very convenient as it is in a large shopping center. There's lots of other shops around that you can visit while waiting. At 6 PM on a Friday night, there was a wait for tables but no wait at the bar. read more

The Cantina - Beach cruiser - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Came by for HH, which started at 2pm on Friday. The cocktails were tasty, and they had a great selection of tequila as well. Would go back just for their tequila tasting flights. One of the owners knows his tequila , for sure. The happy hour bites were also tasty and fresh. The staff were very friendly too! They overheard my friends mentioning it was my birthday and surprised me with some mini churros with a candle. That's some great hospitality! read more

This area really needed a nice sit down, full service restaurant. And even better is that it takes all the foods from your favorite burger joint and taco bar, adds some fun extras, and presents everything on a menu for your choice. All of this comes with wait service and an enjoyable decor that allows for a place that invites you to relax with a good meal and friends or family. We tried the Island smash burger - a double patty smash with pineapple, pepper jack cheese and teriyaki. The meat was tender and flavorful. The teriyaki sauce was a bit heavy. We also tried the Momma's Stovetop tacos with the queso and bean dips. The tacos were delicious, the queso add was very good, the black bean dip was a tad dry. We also tried the Elote Street Corn salad. This was super fresh and tasty. It was well mixed and had enough of the yummy bits to make every bite full of goodness!! And you can add your favorite protein to the salad. The service was fast and friendly, they have a couple of TVs over the bar. We definitely enjoyed our lunch!! read more

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Update: tried the incredible looking burger and it was as good as it looked! The Cali burger was absolutely delicious! And my husband loved his tacos. Ended the meal with mango soft serve and every bite from start to finish was perfection. read more

The Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

I wish I could tell you about their food, but we were never served. Walked in on a Sunday afternoon. Gentleman at the front desk was friendly and seated us right away and then we were ignored by every single server. It wasn't busy at all. One of the servers even ended up sitting down by the bar area to fold silverware into napkins. After about 15 minutes of just sitting there, we got up and left. read more

If you're in Los Gatos and want good food and energy, The Cantina is it. The black bean dip and guac are my go-tos. Their tacos hit every time, and the drinks are a great excuse to stay longer than planned. The space manages to feel lively and cozy at the same time. Service was warm and attentive. Highly recommend, especially if you're coming with a group! read more

The Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This place is AMAZING! The moment I walk in, I instantly feel relaxed & ready for a fun time. The food is incredible, and the staff is attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. My favorites are the fries, fish tacos, churros, plus the ELG cocktail. The tequila selection is outstanding, and Scott's tequila expertise is seriously impressive. They also hosted my event with such care. Jen & Scott helped my sister create the perfect buffet. The reception was exceptional and my family is still talking about it! read more

Had a great experience at The Cantina! This place had a pretty chill vibe, maybe it was the Hawaiian fusion theme of the place that made it feel relaxing. Even though it is bit smaller restaurant than some other places, it gave the feel of a family friendly neighborhood joint. It seemed like an easy place to get some casual dinner and also catch the game with the main bar TVs able to be seen from almost any seat in the house. The bar area was pretty large and had a wide variety of different drinks, even some more Hawaiian and Mexican fusion drinks. The service was super family friendly and our food came out so quick! I had the elote street corn salad with the added tritip and it was great! Would recommend this place for anyone wanting that fast casual tropical get away! Looking forward to trying out more things on the menu next time! read more

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I stopped here for dinner with my husband. Atmosphere is modern and trendy. We were greeted and seated right away, and service was quick and friendly. The place is kind of small, so I imagine there might be a wait on a busy night. I ordered the chicken club sandwich and my husband got a carnitas bowl. He probably would have gotten tacos if they had corn tortillas, but we didn't see that as an option. I enjoyed my sandwich and thin fries. Husband likes his bowl, and I think the choice of two sauces was really nice too. It added significantly to the dish. Parking was easy, the restaurant was clean and comfortable, and I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again. read more

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The Cantina is an absolutely delightful addition to the Los Gatos pantheon of restaurants. Notice it is THE Cantina, not LA Cantina. The menu offers delicious Mexican food, but an interesting variety of other foods as well. The bar drinks are delicious, service is fast and exceptionally friendly. Prices are standard and a children's menu is available. And, good news, they may have opened their outdoor seating! We are looking forward to that. The restaurant is beautifully appointed with attention given to noise abatement which is greatly appreciated. The restaurant and restrooms are sparkling clean. The restaurant is family owned and is definitely an asset to Los Gatos. Parking is a breeze as it is within a shopping center. read more

Such a thoughtfully designed modern space with great energy and welcoming, and attentive service. We enjoyed the tri tip nacho bowl and Baja fish tacos, though both dishes have room for minor improvements. The nacho bowl would be significantly better if the cheese was freshly grated and melted on top instead of having a syrupy "ball park" consistency. For the Baja fish tacos, a lighter and crispier batter would elevate the dish. Overall, it was a great dining experience. read more

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I love The Cantina! It's a new neighborhood gem. The staff is so welcoming and nice. The cantina is not a huge place it's small but perfect for a quick bite with family or drinks at the bar. I came with my family and everyone enjoyed their meal. Definitely will be coming back soon! read more

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We've been here several times and have enjoyed all the food items that we've tried, including the burgers and tacos. Love the appetizers and happy hour specials. Burger with avocado (California burger maybe) was juicy and just a little messy (why does avocado always slide around so much?) but very tasty. Also love the dip options with their chips especially the cheese dip. Good friendly service. I think the owner has come to check on us every time we've been in. Last time we were in we had a miscommunication on our order and it was fixed quickly, with no charge and no complaint. Nice neighborhood restaurant! read more

This restaurant is tucked into a small shopping center around the Los Gatos/San Jose border that also includes a Safeway, although it feels a bit like it could be at a resort in San Diego. We went for a Saturday lunch, it had pretty steady traffic. A few interesting points about the menu: - The restaurant has an interesting mix of fusion with burgers and fries and Mexican food like tacos and guacamole. - Chips and guac. The chips have a slightly reminiscent vibe of Fritos mixed with a tortilla chip. The chips and salsa are not complimentary, although they are worth getting because these chips are yummy. I definitely filled up on chips. The guacamole was solid. It was a bit spicy as was the salsa so beware if you are spooked by that. - Tacos. The tacos were interesting because I would refer to them more as a tacadilla. There was enough cheese and the folding of the tortilla reminded my friend and I of a quesadilla. The cauliflower was cooked and spiced nicely as was the whole dish. They mentioned having pico on the taco and then picking two side dips for it, however it ended up just being pico and the other salsa on the side. Having more in the tacos would have made it taco status. It felt quesadilla-like. - Salad. The salad had really fresh ingredients and an interesting pepita dressing. - The fries. After the photos I had seen, I was surprised these were crinkle fries. They were good, but nothing to write home about. The prices here seem pretty standard even though the chips and salsa are not included. The food kept us full for a while. 8 PM dinner anyone? read more

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Ordered the guacamole appetizer, the Elote Street Corn Salad with tri-tip for my entrée, and the Wounded Cougar as my cocktail. The tortilla chips tasted freshly made, perfectly crisp and delicious. We wiped the guacamole bowl clean. Every dish was immaculate. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, special shoutout to the hostess and our waiter for making the experience even better. I also loved the greenery and laid-back vibes of the space. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

First time in The Cantina. Ambiance is relaxed/fancy but giving the neighborhood hangout. Food was simple but delish and the drinks were amazing! read more

The Cantina - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Tonight we visited The Cantina as part of a school fundraiser, and honestly, we went in expecting the usual "fundraiser night" food to be good enough, but nothing memorable. Instead, we were pleasantly surprised! The atmosphere was fun and lively, the food and drinks were absolutely delicious, and the service was fantastic from start to finish. It's always great discovering a new spot that exceeds expectations, and this one definitely did. Safe to say we'll be adding it into our regular rotation. So good! read more

What a fun vibe. Locals on a vacation at home. Food is delicious and finally a place within walking distance to meet up!service is attentive. read more

The Cantina is excellent!! The food is great and the drinks are on point. I eat there a couple times a week now since it opened. Highly recommend this locals owner restaurant, everything is perfect. The restaurant is owned my a few local families that wanted to bring a bar/restaurant back to the neighborhood. It definitely has that "Cheers" vibe, where you just feel comfortable there. read more

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It's so nice to have a neighborhood restaurant again. My husband and I love to go in and sit at the bar for dinner or a snack. Love the Longhorn burger and tacos. read more

I had a great experience when I had dinner with family and friends. We sat outside, the seating was very comfortable with a nice ambience of lights. The waitress shared her recommendations with the table. I had the Carnitas and it was delicious! Nice and tender meat! 10/10 recommend! Everyone should check them out! read more

This is exactly what the neighborhood needed great prices and very good quality that you can taste. Reminds me of a classic place from 2002 when it was superb no non sense service. Do yourself a favor and come by for the awesome drink list and the 2 huge tvs for all your sporting events needs. read more

The Cantina - Baja fish tacos with side salsas and quac that comes with your order not extra $$ - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Los Gatos, California

Just came here on 2nd day they opened, love the vibe, atmosphere, ambiance. Service is fabulous and food super delicious! I can walk here from my home. Highly HIGHLY recommended!! read more