Salinas has it's fill of Mexican restaurants, and this is not one of the better ones. The staff is notoriously rude, everything is overpriced and stingy in the sense that chips are $2 extra. Most Mexican restaurants give you chips while you wait. Ticos has it's charms the food isn't bad, but if you want real Mexican food at a realistic price look elsewhere. read more

Ticos Tacos - This is a taco?! Where's the food?!!! - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

I end up at Tico's a couple of times a year, whenever my girlfriend and I head to her roots in Salinas. We live in San Francisco, so we're really spoiled as far as Mexican goes. Anyway, Tico's is fine for what it is: decent Mexican food in the middle of nowhere. But at the end of the day it doesn't deserve the credit that locals give it. read more

I dunno what happened to this place, but I was definitely let down. I went here all the time as a kid, got great food that didn't cost an arm and a leg...finally got to go in for the first time in, gosh, five years since I've been stationed overseas and I was SADLY disappointed. First, a plate of two CHEESE enchiladas and rice should not cost $10.25. How can you even validate that price? Then $1.50 per taquito? Seriously? For my order, it came out to about $14 which is insane to me considering I don't remember it ever...EVER..costing that much. Plus, I remember getting chips with your order. Nope, not now. Now you gotta spend $2 for a small bag? Have you lost your mind, Tico Taco? Maybe the price went up because of the fancy flat screen TVs they got hanging everywhere, or how they updated the appearance of their menu...or even opening a location up in Monterey..BUT...none of that is validation enough for the price gouging they're doing. Those sort of prices are legit in Monterey, NOT in South Salinas! I won't be going back again, to say the least. read more

This is the worst "Mexican" food I've ever had in my life, seriously. We decided to eat here on Friday night before a movie because we needed something quick and cheap; plus I'd never been to Ticos Tacos and I like the name. I ordered the cheese enchiladas which came witih rice and beans.I couldn't even find the tortilla and cheese, there was so much sauce and it wasn't good. I didn't eat the beans because they looked nasty and the rice tasted like it was overcooked. I joked with my boyfriend and said it tastes like the Mexican rice he makes and messes up on and throws away. I will not be back. Next time we will just go to Taco Bell or Del Taco. read more

Price, service and quality of serivce is great here. Ordered the combination plate of enchilada and burrito both with chicken. I'll definitely be back read more

Ticos Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

I'm really frustrated with this place right now because it has so much potential to be a really great Mexican restaurant but falls flat on one minor issue. In short, their food is good but not great. I say good because there is consistency in the recipes and the food will always taste the same from one day to the next and you don't have to worry about the food tasting different from one week after the next. It's not great because some of their food is canned but at least their vendors/distributors are also consistent with their recipes. So if you are looking for consistency, you got it. My greatest pet-peeve is that their dine-in plates are not dine-in plates, they are to-go containers with the tops cut off. It's really insulting to their regular customers to people like me. At first I thought that they just ran out of plates but it's been over six months now and they are still serving in to-go containers. The only word I would use here is GHETTO. This restaurant is in an affluent side of town and they treat them (and everyone else) like third class customers. Common let's step it up here, you probably waste more time and money on paying your employees to cut off the tops of the to-go containers than just buying regular dine-in plates. I say boycott this place until they start treating their customers again with a little respect. Please like if you agree. read more

Wow...what a war on here with the yelp reviews! My rating is skewed because I can get good cheap Mexican food in Los Angeles for half the cost but the fact that this place is always full of people says something positive for Tico's. While standing in line trying to decide what to order, I asked the people around me (which included Hispanic/Latino patrons too...) what their favorites were: asada tacos sounded like it. I also wanted to try the chili relleno but the lady behind the counter suggested the burrito version. I ate the asada taco and didn't care for it (although the generous guacamole is a nice touch). But my mom and I tried the chile relleno burrito and enjoyed it although the actual chile itself was tough. The fresh salsas are a must. The green salsa was hotter than I anticipated and so was the yellow salasa. Spicy but tasty! (Although my husband thinks I'm weak sauce in handling spicyness.) I came back the next day (couldn't get over the fact that it's such a popular place, I lived in Salinas for 10 years and never tried it before)! I tried the al pastor burrito this time. It's just about one of the greasiest things I've ever eaten but sure darn tasty! If you have a sensitive stomach, beware! And just like the original poster warned...it was just meat with no rice and no beans. NOTE: the prices have gone up since these last reviews....it would get more stars if the prices were lower. read more

If you are in the area or are from around here you must try their bean and cheese burritos! It is the simplest thing on the menu but it is delicious!!! It is a family owned Mexican place so pretty much everything they have here is really good. read more

Ticos Tacos - Bean Burrito plate - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Bring your Wallet! Most expensive Mexican food in Salinas.! Same exact food, except served with a bad attitude. The Only advantage to eating here is that it is downtown. Hundred better restaurants in Alisal! El Zacotecono,(sp),La Costa-N.Salinas,hell,Chipotle Has better food! And cheaper! read more

Ticos always hits the spot! I love coming here for a classic bean and cheese burrito but I love their flautas, and enchilada style burritos as well! Ticos is a classic favorite in salinas! I tried the chorizo burrito today and it was a cheap and very delicious breakfast! If you haven't been to ticos then are you really from the 831?! read more

Okay, so here's the thing with Ticos, it's got the kind of food you crave but regret eating afterwards. I've been eating here about twice a month since moving to the area back in the early 90s so I've been here a lot. I crave their mild salsa...its super thin and sauce-like and I can eat it all day long. Other than that I don't really have and "favorites". Their enchilada sauce is better than most, and the taquitos are simple and tasty (plus they come with this great avocado/cilantro dipping sauce). Burritos are for the most part fair and tacos and generally good (although if you'r getting tacos to go, make sure they are soft tacos cause the hard shell they make turn soft in like two minutes). All and all good, but like I said, never feel great after eating their food...I probably just eat too much though. read more

Won't go there again, First off it gave me diarrhea, the customer service is very poor. I ordered a chille,Reyeno and I believe me that looked like a small jalapeño. The rice and beans where poor in taste. My sister got carnitas tacos very dry meat, and the Asada fries where horrible. OVER PRICED $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for poorly food. I'd much rather go eat at super taqueria or taco bell read more

I order a bean cheese and very little rice burrito (every time) and they continue to give me mostly rice with a little beans and cheese.... read more

Ticos Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Food is ok . Not very authentic . Rice is good . Beans are good . Enchiladas are terrible . Not authentic at all . Combination plates are too expensive , every time I go I feel like the plates went up . I do see a difference in customer service now that the owners daughter doesn't work there anymore .. thank god she was so rude and it hurts business . read more

Love their food, but avoid the lunch hour if you are in a hurry. I always place my order online to avoid the madness .

The food was delicious! I didn't even add any sauce.the employees were really nice too! read more

Ticos Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

Another issue, please fix your wasp problem! It's dangerous. All you need to do it put some grout under the tiles, and wella! The space underneath the tiles will no longer be available for wasps to nest. This has gone on far too long. read more

I have always enjoyed this place! You must get the taquitos and the bean and cheese burrito! Downside though this place is always packed! Must be the great food read more

i had a bad perception of this place but i decided to give it another try, and glad i did! i ordered the carne asada burrito for $3.75! i didn't think i was gonna like it, but boy was it amazing! they also have this awesome salsa bar you can get some legit and delicious salsa. they did get my order wrong at first but it was corrected right away with no attitude. they do lose a star for not having caps for their salsa cups! what if i was getting it to go? i would not have been so happy. anyways the burrito was a legit size and it was delicious! i couldn't belive how good it actually was for the price! i will definitely be coming back to this place! read more

How can rice,beans and lettuce cost $7 and a burrito $4.50 ? when I asked I got an aggressive answer form the clerk. Over price they need to fix that , the order of rice and beans was super small and sad. crazy , this restaurant does not have to charge so much of rice/beans and lettuce, Highway rubberty !! I will never go there again, also very small portions the burrito was like a baby burrito, I can get a much bigger burrito here in SF for $6 where everything is expensive . read more

Ticos Tacos - $7 for a very small portion of rice,beans&lettuce??? and $4.50 for a very I mean very small burrito , Highway rubberty - Mexican Near Me - Salinas, California

I absolutely loved going to Tico Taco's with my Dad in the 90's. I continued to drop in and have my favorite taquito's and the yummy sauce. It has been a couple of year's and was shocked at how bad my visit today was. The staff is rude and seem as though they would rather be anyplace else but at work. The price for taquitos, rice & beans was $14.50, small portions, no chips or drink. I read so many reviews echoing my sentiments, but no one at this establishment has answered any of the complaints. This will be the last time I visit this restaurant unless someone on the staff acknowledges the poor quality & insane prices. read more

Maybe its because i'm from the Los Angeles area, where delicious taco trucks and amazingly delicious mexican food places are everywhere, but this place was not really worth it. I chose to eat here while stopping for lunch on my way up north and because the quirky decorations caught my eye and i was craving enchiladas. Ordering took some time not because the place was packed, but because the service took FOREVER. I ordered one enchilada and it took around 30 minutes. When I finally got my dumb order, I was so confused because all that i could see in my container was sauce (it was halfway filled). If I wanted SAUCE, I wouldve just freaking asked them for a plastic water cup and stocked up on the free sauce they had at the concession stand. Anyways, I somehow managed to fish out the enchilada and despite it being extremely soggy, it wasn't bad. If you want authentic mexican food, come to socal. read more

I used to live in Salinas and this was my favorite Mexican restaurant. The cheese enchiladas were delicious and I haven't been able to find anything as good at any other place that I've been. I'd say that downfall of this place is that its trying to be a sit-down restaurant, but is more like a fast food restaurant in atmosphere. However, given that Salinas is not exactly San Francisco in sophistication, the atmosphere will do here and the food is really great. read more

I LOVE THE SOFT SHRIMP TACOS!! & THE AL PASTOR or is ADOBADA idk but they are full of flavor!!!!!! 4 stars cus I wish the old lady who is always there was a bit nicer and not so serious all the time. read more

I keep coming here out of habit and I'm not sure why anymore. The prices have gone up so high, just so the owner can buy a new Porche. The food is alright, a slight leg up over Taco Bell if you ask me. The owner is a prissy princess type that has the most fake set of manners I have ever scene. No respect for the customer, we are only walking wallets to that harpy. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I have had only 2 things that I just can't get past. Number 1 is the ASADA BURRITO which is grilled sooo good and juicy it does not need salsa or any type of home made sauce that is there for you. I have to sit there for at least 10 minutes to make sure I let the food settle before I eat another one for tongue association only and the 2nd is the SURF AND TURF Burrito.... That is to dye for. Shrimp, Asada, french fries, and avocado all wrapped up in a burrito. OMG Pure love. I am so happy we live so close now. The girls here are the bomb and the cook, well he is just heavenly. Thank you for opening another on Cannery Row. ONE LOVE. read more

I would not recommend this restaurant to anybody!Just large, tasteless portions that were overpriced! The Carnitas were served in large chunks and very dry and tasteless. The rice with the entree had no flavor, the beans were just OK and the side-salad served with the entrées was a joke! The side-salad was simply chopped iceberg lettuce, undressed in a tortilla cup, that's it! Tico's Tacos...never again! read more

We were in Monterey for an event and stopped by this establishment on the way home. I didn't mind the prices that everyone writes about in their reviews. but what was very disappointing was the service and the order of nachos my friends got which came with literally almost no chips. I explained to Tere the cashier that there was not a lot of chips and if I could get some more. She proceed to hit the keys on her register and says. $2.00. I again explained that we payed $10 for nachos and hardly came w chips. Tere looks away and then looks back at me. And says. $2.00 Needless to say customer service is what keeps customers. And her lack of customer service is what made this a one star review not the lack of chips . read more

This is the most disappointing restaurant in Salinas. They are extremely over priced. A chicken burrito only has chicken no rice no beans. And they charge over $5 for a small Taco Bell sizes burrito. Some Of there food is alright if you don't mind spending $20 a plate and are still hungry after. If you can skip this place I would suggested it. Salinas has amazing Mexican restaurant who take a lot of pride into there food and don't charge an arm and a leg. I think there goal is to just collect money from the people who are too afraid to leave the south side. Smart business move. Disappointing food. read more

Great food. Good service. Good prices. Nice place for locals. Lots of food choices. Great location

It's a glorified fast food Taco Bell. Note to the owner-- the pictures of your food is so sun-bleached that you can't see them. Could you please update them? Food is meh. Those who love it, don't know what really good Mexican food can be. My husband refuses to eat here. He says I make better at home. Hey! Now that I mention it, I'm half Mexican. My Nana taught me how to make GREAT Mexican food. I don't get it, why so many locals love this place. Then again, they never ate my Nana's authentic Mexican food. Then you'd know this place deserves no more than two stars. read more

I LOVE TICO'S! Best quesadilla ever; it's like a pocket full of cheese! Everyone says that this isn't authentic Mexican food, and maybe it's not... I grew up on Tico's Tacos- lunch almost every Saturday and a special weekday treat if we got out of 4th period early enough to walk there. read more

Simple Pleasures at Tico's Tacos. I overlooked this place for years due to it's South Side location and obvious non Mexican demographic. But I was pleasantly surprised when a friend who eats there three or four times a week forced me to give it another try. I've tried many things at Tico's some better than others. Let the list that I provide you with be your guiding beacon when ordering on their overwhelming menu. If you have a fierce appetite try the Sonora Enchurrito. This plate is what seems like damn near 3/4lb of shredded beef wrapped in a flour tortilla, smothered in their signature delicious mole sauce topped with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole (pronounced walk-a-molay, it's never too late to learn how to pronounce Guacamole the right way.) Make sure you request the included salad in the crunchy tostada bowl. It's almost a little too crunchy but not bad when dipped in salsa and used as a chip. This meal is enough to split with someone else, or just split your belly open. If you want something delicious, yet inexpensively filling, try the bean, rice, and cheese burrito and have them add their mole sauce inside of it. I've turned the most discerning Mexican food critics on to this delicious concoction. It's one of the cheaper items on the menu and is stays with you. If you are low on funds their classic bean and cheese burrito always hits the spot. The crunchy shredded beef tacos are everything you want them to be. Crunch fried taco shell stuffed with shredded beef, lettuce, and cheese. I've always enjoyed their salsa bar. Try the extra bright green Jalapeno salsa if you like a bite. All the other Salsa's including their mild and hot red salsas have nice flavor as well. I only wish they'd throw in some chips for orders over 10 dollars. As you definitely want to try their Salsas. My only complaint is the pickled carrots are soggy and the nachos stick to the Styrofoam plate. Seems a little toxic to me. So I just request a piece of wax paper under my chips if I order nachos. I've tried many menu items but when I go to Tico's I know what 's good and what works for my taste buds. It's may not be your Abuelita's cooking but it isn't taco bell either. So if you are passing by and need something of substance give it a shot. read more

This is a favorite restaurant of mine. The food is fresh and most of it is really good. I love the cheese enchiladas (I LOVE the flavor of the sauce) and the carne asada burritos and the fish tacos are other favorites. They also have great breakfast burritos. My favorite is the ham one. The only dish that I have not cared for was the chicken quesadilla- so I just don't order it. The chicken taco salad is HUGE and delicious as well. Fair warning- their guacamole is a little on the spicy side- so if you don't like that you might want to forgo anything that has it on it . They get busy on Friday nights especially..but will gladly take phone orders- which is what we do most of the time. read more

We had tacos at this place yesterday and they were so good. Lots of meat and good flavor.

We have been regulars here for a long time but lately there has been a noticeable decline in the quality of the food. Sopes shells have maybe a third of the size as before like they have become minis. 2 of our dinners were more cold than hot. The chicken was almost dry & grisly. The bill was $36 for 3, so has gone up in price & down in quality. Will have to find a new favorite. Sad read more

Been coming here for decades. Great food, busy almost every day of the week, good customer service. read more

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This place has the best refrained beans...my son always has me pick up a big side of refried beans.

What a bummer... used to come here all the time (about 10yrs ago. Just spent $10 on a super small and simple taco salad. No rice and no sour cream. Just like an earlier post said, smaller portions and larger price= not a good value. 2stars is for their salsa and carnitas read more

Their shrimp tacos are the best! I also highly recommend their taquitos! At their salsa bar, go for the green avocado salsa...very spicy! The only reason I gave this place four stars is because of the high prices, they could be a little less expensive. Oh, and you have to pay for the chips and salsa. read more