Got the puffy tacos, they were very generous with portion. The creamy habanero salsa is great.

Food there is great and I would definitively go with the fish taco. beef enchiladas are also great. Portions are more than generous and the food feels always very fresh. Finally, the service is awesome! The lady is always very friendly, will remember you after a while and is so patient. One time while I was eating there, she helped these 2 grand mas who were quite confused about their food and their orders. The lady took the time needed to explain and sort out this situation and made the 2 grandmas day! I thought it was awesome and I would send my grandma any day there :) read more

We are weekly regulars here. Great fish tacos, breakfast burritos and tons of great options. We love this place. However, the last four times we have ordered here, they have made our order correctly! Specifically, my burrito. I have to order it custom because I am nursing and have a baby with a VERY sensitive stomach. Every time, the past four times they have not gotten it right. Even when I call back to get it remade, it is still incorrect! Extremely frustrating because I want to keep going back but not if I have to make 2-3 trips in order for them to get it right. My advice is that you don't custom order anything - especially if you have food restrictions such as myself, sadly. I will write another updated review in the future. Hopefully things improve by then. ------------------------------------------------ UPDATE as of January 14, 2016: We love this place. We order from them all the time. after writing my previous review, the owner had contacted me apologizing and letting me know that she would work with her staff to ensure custom orders would be taken care of properly! We ordered our usual from Tommys Salsa today and everything was delicious and spot on! We look forward to ordering from them much more in the future! Thank you for your excellent customer service! read more

Best Mexican food in all of Bay Area... I'm from San Jose so I know my Mexican food... Their habanero Salsa is out of the world! Try the breakfast burritos! Go see them and tell them Patrick sent you! read more

I was passing through this area on my way back down to SoCal and glad I did! The food was good, I tried a little bit of everything as I was starving and of course my eyes were bigger then my appetite lol(I came during breakfast)! The service was amazing as well, Brittany helped me out. All in all 5 stars for food and service. I will be coming here again whenever passing through. read more

Horrific customer service. No manger on duty and employees could have cared less that after waiting an hour, we discovered, (after getting home) that all 3 items were wrong. They were rude, unapologetic and couldn't tell us how long it would take to remake the order. This is how they treat loyal, local customers who have been coming here for years? No thanks. Will not be coming back. read more

I only go to Tommy's when Fiance begs. I've never had a meal here I was even halfway enthusiastic about and I've had more meals here that I was entirely unenthusiastic about. my 3 good-Mexican-place indicators: - the rice: although not entirely dry, it's bland. - the beans: bland. - carnitas: you'd have to ask Erik U. Fish tacos can be ok (as long as they're fried) but don't even think about ordering them when it's busy at lunch time. also, I recommend asking for less "white sauce" because they can really go overboard with it and it can be pretty overwhelming. Biggest plus about this place is the outdoor seating. It's really relaxing on a sunny day in Novato. read more

Two words: Fish Tacos. I get two fish tacos a la carte and it's plenty filling. I like their tiny salsa bar, sports on the TV. Nice quite spot to enjoy great food. read more

THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN NOVATO. Hands down. The Chile Colorado is amazing. I cannot get enough. I could eat it every day of the week either the plate with black beans and rice or in the Chile Colorado Quesadilla. The beef is lean, meltingly tender and so flavorful. Their salsa verde is GREAT! Eat here! read more

I have been eating at this restaurant for what feels like 15+ years. The food here is excellent! It's consistently fresh food and great, friendly service is what keeps me coming back, my favorite is the grilled Chicken Bronto Burrito it's huge! If you have a large appetite like me this size burrito will fill your belly! You can phone in your order and it's usually sitting at the counter when you arrive. I just like to say if your looking for a great burrito in the Novato area look no further than this place because you'll be satisfied in every way! Keep up the good work over there! read more

Crappy "white-people" burritos that take 30 minutes to get. 30 minutes for a burrito?! Any self-respecting taqueria can turn out multiple super burritos in seconds. Pro Burrito Tip; Save yourself a half an hour and go to La Hacienda or Mi Pueblo instead. read more

Good Mexican food and no long wait for anything. Their salsa is terrific and their burritos are good too! An excellent place to go in the neighborhood for some great Mexican food! Good waitstaff too! read more

The staff is very friendly. The food seems to have violent mood swings. Some days it has the seasoning of paste, others drinking straight from the ocean would have less salinity. When the seasoning is on, it's good, but for the price it should be consistently better than good. read more

Went here the other night with a friend who was relatively new to the neighborhood and we wanted to see what cuisine the area had to offer on the cheap. My friend had the prawn quesadilla and did not enjoy it. She picked the prawns out, nibbled on the cheese, and proclaimed the rest of the meal inedible and threw it away. I ordered the mole enchiladas and a hard taco because it was Taco Monday. The enchiladas were inconsistent...dry in the middle, soggy in the center. The chicken kept getting caught in my teeth because it had the dry consistency of beef jerkey, and the "mole" sauce tasted faintly like la rosarita enchilada sauce you'd find at safeway. The rice was DRY dry dry and formed unnatural clumps. The beans were lardtastic and probably my favorite part of the meal plate. The taco was a little better, with the salsa fresca and cheese tasting closer to fresh. The shell was crisp, but again the entire entree was ruined by bland, dry, gritty chicken. At the time of ordering, I had commented as a compliment "Well, thats less than I'd pay at Taco Bell!" however now I realize that even though it is "fresh taqueria" and not fast food, I'd take Taco Bell over this place again in a heartbeat. read more

Stopped for a burrito today. Al pastor no beans. Really bland. At first I thought they'd given me a vegie burrito because there about a tablespoon of meat in the whole thing. I also paid extra for guac and sour cream--there was maybe a teaspoon of each? Tortilla was burnt on the inside. It was to go or I would have brought it back. Also there was only one other person there waiting for a to go order. Took over 20 minutes to get my burrito. Nice counter person, but I won't be back. I expect something decent for a $10 burrito. read more

We had the Carne Asada Fries today and they were so delicious! My first thought was that they were microwaved, just based on how clumpy the cheese was to the fries. I hope I'm wrong...this was a takeout order, so maybe it just didn't travel well. Anyway, the flavors were very good! The steak was nicely seasoned and flavorful, the guacamole was great, the fries were cooked perfectly, and the pico de Gallo had a nice tart flavor addition to the entire dish. Every forkful was the money bite! Tommy's Salsa is definitely my go to lunch spot for Mexican in Novato. read more

In my quest to rate every Mexican joint in Novato, this one is my third favorite after La Hacienda and Mi Pueblo. There's nothing creative or passionate about Tommy's, just plain old Mexican food. You won't get chips and salsa at your table unless you order it. This I don't understand. The al pastor is just ok. I almost always get the tiger prawn burrito which has a nice tomatillo salsa and a nice helping of tiger prawns. The salsa bar is always really good, especially if you like a hot red salsa. They recently added flat screen TVs which is usually on ESPN which I appreciate. The dining room is small and clean but doesn't give you the impression that you're in a taqueria. Remember to order at the counter and then find a place to sit. There are a couple tables outside if you don't mind sitting on the sidewalk and looking out at the parking lot. The staff is always friendly and they remember you. read more

We eat lunch here pretty regularly. The food is good and there is plenty of it. It didn't get the 5th star because of the interior. It's small and can be standing room only during lunch. That's probably a good thing because being popular also means it's consistently good. The fresh salsa bar has the best salsa I've ever had. read more

I've lived in Novato for awhile now and I figured I'd try something new, Tommy's Salsa. When I eat Mexican food I typically eat it at the restaurant because the crunchy shells are typically soggy when I get it to go. Well tonight I had no choice and had to get carry out. I was a little skeptical about getting the tacos, but did it anyway. And what a surprise I had when I got home. I got the taco plate and I definitely have to give it 2 thumbs up. The tacos shells were crispy, the meat moist and the toppings were just right. I had Spanish rice on the side and could have sworn my mama was back there cooking it herself just like when I was younger. Typically the Spanish rice is dried out at other restaurants, but Tommy's was pretty good. Even the chips and salsa were good. No greasy chips! I'm definitely taking a trip back to eat there because if the carry out is good, than eating in has got to be that much better. And the restaurant itself had a nice vibe. Reminded me of restaurants back home in New Mexico. read more

I had a carne asada burrito with sour cream, rice, guac and beans. I usually only get a veggie burrito but I love carne asada. The meat wasn't as good as I remembered, it was burnt and hard to chew. My stomach didn't feel well afterwards and I got food poisoning. I'm definitely not getting anything with meat from tommys again. read more

We had already noticed that the food here keeps getting saltier, but then we also realized how often the cashier got the order wrong, and/or overcharged us. We almost always get the food to go, but my Salvadoran husband goes there and orders in person, in Spanish. Sometimes it was a la crate when rice and beans were ordered, sometimes the opposite. Sometimes food missing, sometimes food we did not order. Last week was the last straw. When my husband saw the receipt and asked how the bill could be over $40., the cashier SHOULD HAVE SAID oh, my mistake...I double charged you...let me fix that. Instead, she said FISH IS EXPENSIVE. Her coworker walked up and commented to her that this was the SECOND TIME IN A ROW SHE HAD OVERCHARGED MY HUSBAND (which was true). She said they would fix the error LATER, as they were BUSY. Six days later a partial refund showed up on our account, short by at least another $1.50. This a a shoddy business practice that cannot be tolerated. Plenty of Mexican restaurants in Novato. We will be going elsewhere. read more

I love supporting local restaurants and do it all the time. The couple of times I have been to Tommy its just kind of bland. The carne asada is really flavorless and they use so much rice and lettuce it feels like that's all there is in the tacos or burritos. Also, with a name like Tommy's Salsa I thought they would have a nice hot salsa but like the carne asada is was just bland, Americanized and boring. I'll try it again but I know people love this place so I cant imagine them changing anything. I just need more heat, less lettuce and more flavor. read more

We wound up in this restaurant almost by happenstance - we were attempting to have lunch at nearby Perugina, but it was closed. Given that there wasn't enough time to eat at the Thai restaurant, we wound up at Tommy's Salsa. Sometimes this is the best way to discover a restaurant. The cashier was happy to explain what was in a prawn burrito, and saved me from having to indulge in sour cream. What a treat it was! This boy didn't eat for the rest of the day, and surprisingly didn't suffer a food coma, as is often the case with mexican food. The prawns were ground nicely, the burrito had a consistent texture, and I didn't come down w/ a stomach ache either. Wife was satisfied with her carnitas burrito, and we decided that Tommy's is our new Mexican joint for Novato. How did I miss it all these years? read more

This place I find is very hit and miss. I tried their fish tacos, which seem to be very popular... but I was very underwhelmed. No spice, too much pico, yet somehow very dry. Perhaps it was just a bad fish taco day, but I probably won't spring for those again. The steak burrito was a significant improvement. Big, meaty, lots of sauce... I enjoyed every bite! Somehow the bill got up to over $25 for two people ordering ala carte. But no matter. Good place overall, but it's not first on my list. read more

This was some of the best Mexican variety of food we have ever had. We had the quesadillas and the burrito and they were very tasty. My brother had the chili rellenos and he left saying it was one of the best meals he had ever had. I highly recommend this eatery. The salsa is freshly made and in abundance. read more

Tommy's Salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

See all

This is a very Americanized take on Mexican food, and they are not trying to hide that. So if that's your bag, you'll be happy. I found it a bit blah and didn't really care for the atmosphere. It's not a place I'd frequent, if someone really wanted to go there I'd take them, but only after trying to suggest some place else. read more

Great food and service! Some of the best salsa in town. And they do catering as well!

Incredible food. Extremely fresh and flavorful. Great ingredients - significant portions and great service. New favorite!

Love the food. Fresh and tasty. Good salsa options. Must taste chille releno with sabarosa, it is one of the best releno in have tasted so far. read more

Tommy's Salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

A bit too healthy and clean for my palate and mexican food. Meats are lean and less seasoned. Hardcore meats of cabeza, tripa, lengua, etc. are not available. Lovely staff and good service. Food took a bit longer than usual. Habanero salsa had a bit of pepper heat but not seasoned again, needed some salt and acid. Chimichanga cooked well, tortilla can be cut with just fork. Torta cubana meaty but dry. Fried fish taco batter under seasoned again. I felt they are real deal Mexican but holding back to cater to more of the subtle American palate. If this is the case, we are ok to go Chevy's or Chipotle because that is what we expect and thus they earn 5 stars for the food they serve. read more

We love Tommy's. It was good before, but it is better now. Love the Fajita Taco plate - enough for my husband and I to share. The bean dip and chip appetizer they give you is a nice addition....and the folks there could not be nicer. read more

I love this place! The food is always delicious. Fish tacos r my favorite. Can't go wrong though everything is good.

I have gone here a few times to try and not only see if my experiences would improve but to see if the new owners would have changed things. Newer decor and a change in the salsa bar have made things nicer and the chalkboard behind the cashier has rotating specials that all are unique and sound tasty. Each time I have eaten here I have been disappointed but today was the worst. Usually I do not like to leave bad reviews but this seems like a constant thing with them. Timing. When I placed my order to go today there was only one person in line and every other person was eating already, his ticket was the only one on the board. I ordered my burrito and sat down, then a few others walked in. Now, in most restaurants with a kitchen you cook on a line and as the orders are taken in they are filled. I waited for 20 minutes for a burrito to go. 20. minutes. There was no reason for me to wait, it was a simple order and the man in front of me ordered Tacos. Now I don't know what was happening in the kitchen but there were three guys in there, plenty of hands. When I began to eat the burrito I knew something was off. I ordered steak, refried beans and a supremo (guac, salsa and crema) There were three chunks of meat in the direct center of the burrito and each end was different. one end was a small amount of crema and a small amount of guac and the other end was lettuce and beans. Whoever rolled it needs a lesson in rolling wraps. read more

Yesterday afternoon I stopped in to pick up something to bring home. I placed my order, payed for my fish taco combo, 2 burritos and container of salsa and waited at a table for my order that was supposed to be ready in 10-15 min. After waiting 24 min & seeing 2 people after me get their orders, I went to the register to ask about mine. The gal looked around for it and responded with "I'm sorry, it's on me, I forgot to place your order" and it would be ready really quickly, would I like something to drink. I declined, feeling a bit put out going back to wait at the table. After another 12 min, I went to the register to see about my order & received another apology for the delay. As she was packing my food, she asked if I would like a couple extra salsas, she had apparently forgotten I ordered a container of salsa by the look on her face, so I reminded her. A week and a half ago, my partner had gone there to place an order and after opening the food at home discovered that they had gotten his order wrong. He ordered a Chipotle Chicken burrito special and after a few bites (and then cutting it open) learned that had no meat in it. Both times we had not received a receipt (I don't know, maybe you must ask for one) which would have been nice to check to verify our order. I keep hearing great reviews about Tommy's and I wish I could add mine, but our experience doesn't bear that out ...the food is good, but there are other Mexican restaurants in town who make good food too and will receive our business. read more

OMG! I just ate the Chile Relleno Vallarto - succulent house made Chile relleno filled with prawns, mushroom, bell pepper, cheese, pineapple. Topped with green relleno sauce & avocado. It was AMAZING! The pineapple perfectly offsets the spicy Chile. They must, I mean MUST keep this on their menu so I can come from Vallejo & eat it again. I highly recommend this restaurant not only for the food but the service was excellent as well. I'd give them 10 yummies if there was such a thing! read more

Came here before the pandemic and it was very good. I ordered the enchiladas. The horchata was delicious. Took my child and found it very kid friendly. I would definitely recommend Tommy salsa. read more

We order a seafood burrito and we found one shrimp . The chipotle burrito was very poor in chicken too

I don't know what happened to this restaurant. When I first starting coming here, I was very impressed. I was such a regular that the main female cashier would know my order and have it ready quickly, I especially appreciated this place when I had a kitchen remodel and needed a place local to eat at for a few times. But unfortunately, once a young man started being the cashier I saw the quality and friendliness disappear. He appeared more interested in the young things coming in and would spend lots of time flirting/ chatting with them while letting the customer line grow. Every order I gave to him, too, was mixed up. I have a severe fish allergy and one time I luckily smelled the to-go burrito before letting my husband taste it to confirm my suspicions. You see, instead of being a carnitas burrito it was a fish burrito! That was the last time I went here. Not putting my life on the line. It saddens me, though, because I used to love coming here. read more

Good fish tacos. That is what to order here. Other burritos are made with fresh ingredients, but lack the Max Mexican that I crave. It is like "healthy, American burritos". Yeah, I am eating healthy! Decent, clean place. Nice people work here. Remember the fish tacos are what to eat here. read more

- Chimichanga. Meh... - Chips n Salsa. Easy to eat.