Tommy&#x27;s Salsa!

526

1836

6 years ago

In town for a family visit and didn't want the usual Chipolte (although we did also get that this trip before discovering Tommy's! ha) Saw this little restaurant in a small strip mall. Didn't look too exciting from the outside, but those are usually the best places. Tommy's did not disappoint. I got a cheese enchilada and a Fajita taco. Both were delicious, but loved the Fajita taco. Usually for Veggies it is just peppers and onions, but they also had squash in there that just made the dish. You can't go wrong with a simple cheese enchilada, but the sauce really elevated the dish. My husband got a few street tacos - carnitas and I almost traded my meal for his! Everything looked so good, that I dove right in and ate before taking pictures!! We love to support local on our trips and I was glad were able to find this gem. I look forward to my next trip. **Covid precautions were in place. Everyone was masked up and you waited outside, so that distancing was in force. Felt very clean and safe. read more

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Mark K.

Elite 26 All-Star

386

356

6 years ago

I've lived in Novato for almost two years and I finally made it here. They are one of the restaurants open during the "shelter in place" order during this coronavirus pandemic. I was finally convinced to go here because I heard that they help out with underserved (those in need) population in Novato. I would give them 5 stars for just that. My teen daughter ordered the "RBC" (Rice - Beans - Cheese) burrito with sour cream and guacamole. That's her standard choice. She loved it. I ordered a pastor and a carne asada street taco. Both were very good. My other daughter had two soft tacos with flour tortillas. She seemed happy with them. We also ordered a small container of guacamole to go with the chips. The guacamole was very good. The guacamole has to be good. Imagine going to a breakfast place with great food, but the coffee is awful. Eeek. Almost forgot. The chips seem to be freshly made and they tasted that way. We will be back. read more

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Marla S.

Elite 21

140

468

6 years ago

For our weekly take-out during lockdown, we had a delicious Mexican feast from Tommy's, which is owned by a wonderful couple who is very giving to the community. This turned out to be dinner for two nights for our family of five! My husband and I shared two bronto (all the fixings) wet burritos - carne asada (with red sauce) and carnitas pork (with green sauce). Our three teens had nachos, a carne asada quesadilla, and a cheese quesadilla that came with beans and rice. The meal included house made tortilla chips and salsas, including my favorite - creamy habanero. It's super spicy, but has the most incredible flavor. I just dilute it with a little sour cream or guacamole, also freshly made and yummy. With the devastating news that salons won't be opening for months to come (hence no income for our family), this could be our last restaurant meal for a long time, so we were very grateful for this blessing. read more

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

Tommy's Salsa! - The creamy spicy sauce (far right) in the salsa bar is so good! - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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

Tommy's Salsa! - Cubano - roasted pork shoulder, ham, bacon, swiss, jalapeno pickles, mustard - like a grilled cheese in 3D! - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Tommy's Salsa! - Outdoor seating is perfect for dipping chips in summer. - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Tommy's Salsa! - Panucho - Yucatan taco - delicious special! - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Tommy's Salsa! - cheese enchilada w/mole sauce - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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

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

Tommy's Salsa! - taco salad w/prawns - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Meranda C.

3 years ago

Amazing food, great service and menu selection. By far the winning choice for Novato and most of Marin.

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Justin A.

2 years ago

Literally the best burrito of my life. Friendly staff and cute indoors. FREE CHIPS AS WELL

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Eric W.

159

3 years ago

Celiac Safe Today ordered 10 orders of the fajitas from the catering menu. The meal was excellent. Also they cooked it completely gluten free. The order was ready on time, more than enough food, and really really good. The food was packaged great for pickup, we just used the containers supplied to serve the meal. It was so easy and so good, and most importantly for me gluten free. They really have a good catering program there. read more

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Bill H.

Elite 19

365

179

2135

4 years ago

My first visit here in about a year to see if anything had improved since my last visit. But I've heard so many great reviews from raving fans of this place I decided to give it another try.I ordered the Al Pastor burrito, my favorite standard at many other taquerias. The friendly staff offered their warm bean dip and chips while I waited, and the wait turned into 25 minutes, a bit excessive for a burrito. But I had high hopes the wait would be worthwhile for this $15 burrito. Sadly this was not going to be that day. My highly anticipated chow down turned into another lackluster tasteless experience. The soggy white rice and non charred pork with no hint of pineapple from the spit combined with black beans and no cheese inside, just sprinkled sparingly on the top exterior was further diluted by the addition of zucchini, something I have never seen before in a non vegetarian burrito. So my cudos for the 3 stars go to the chips & bean dip, excellent habenero salsa and salsa verde, and the community support the business has done over the years. read more

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

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Fabien R.

4 years ago

Tasteless food. I've tried a few burritos in Bay Area and this one tested nothing: I couldn't taste the cheese, not sure where the guacamole went and I'm not 100% positive the meat was correctly cooked. The staff is fine. read more

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Kodibad ..

4 years ago

I just bought a Caritas burrito at Tommy's salsa I ordered it with avocado sour cream when I got home and started to eat it it was 90% rice I will never go there agian read more

Tommy's Salsa! - Caritas burrito with avocado and sour cream right - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Business owner information

Sharon E.

Thanks for the review. I'm sorry there wasn't enough meat or beans…

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Audra C.

3 years ago

Maps Shopping Images Videos News Books Flights Finance All filters Feedback Tools Search Results Tommy's Salsa 4.4(285) ‧ $ Mexican restaurant ‧ Closed 77+ Overview Menu Reviews Photos About Main Results Reviews from the web Grubhub4/5294 votesHappyCow3/53 reviews Google review summary 4.4 (285) Reviews All burrito26 fish15 prices15 chips10 +6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Audra just now NEW I absolutely LOVE LOVE Tommy Salsas !! I am a Site Supervisor / Teacher at a state funded preschool in Novato. We provide care for low income families. We recently had our preschool graduation . I decided to have it catered by Tommy Salsas ... More Delana Agnew 5 reviews·5 photos a month ago Dine in | Breakfast | $10-20 I've been here many times over the years for their tacos and burritos but never for breakfast. What a mistake. The best Mexican breakfast in town!! The Huevos Motoleños and the Huevos Rancheros were OMG ... More 1 Nitya Lins Local Guide·43 reviews·77 photos 3 months ago Dine in | Lunch | $10-20 We loved the food! The chips and beans sauce was a surprise for me! ... More Jared B 20 reviews 2 months ago The food is good but I've had issues most of the time I order pick up from here. They are always slow and get my order incorrect. One time I ordered a chicken burrito and said "chicken burrito with just rice and salsa" and they gave me a ... More GrubHub https://www.grubhub.com ' reviews Tommy's Salsa Novato Reviews View 107 reviews of Tommy's Salsa Novato 1553 S Novato Blvd Ste F, Novato, CA, 94947. Explore the Tommy's Salsa Novato menu and order food delivery or ... 4.0(294) · $$$ GrubHub https://www.grubhub.com ' tomm... Tommy's Salsa Novato Delivery Menu | Order Online Reviews for Tommy's Salsa Novato. 294 ratings. 93 Good food; 91 ... 4.0(294) · $$$ Restaurantji https://www.restaurantji.com ' novato Tommy's Salsa Novato, CA 94947 - Menu, 93 Reviews and 52 Photos Tommy's Salsa is my favorite place for lunch. Well priced, friendly, and clean. The best fish tacos I've ever had. The outdoor seating gets full afternoon sun. Birdeye https://reviews.birdeye.com ' tom... Tommy's Salsa Reviews, Ratings | Mexican near 1553 S Novato Blvd, ... 302 customer reviews of Tommy's Salsa.One of the best Mexican businesses at 1553 S Novato Blvd, Ste f, Novato, CA, 94947, United States. HappyCow https://www.happycow.net ' reviews Tommy's Salsa - Novato California Restaurant Reviews of vegan-friendly restaurant Tommy's Salsa in Novato, California, USA 'I had the vegan burrito with Beyond beef. It was the tiniest burrito Ive ever ... 3.0(3) · Moderate Restaurant Guru https://restaurantguru.com ' Tom... Tommy's Salsa in Novato - Restaurant menu and reviews 8 days ago -- All info on Tommy's Salsa in Novato - Call to book a table. View the menu, check prices, find on the map, see photos and ratings. Tommy's Salsa! https://www.tommyssalsa.com Tommy's Salsa, Novato Mexican Restaurant. Fresh, authentic flavors. Tommy's Salsa. Fresh, authentic Mexican food since 1992. Novato Mexican restaurant. Catering. Locally Owned. Best fish tacos in Novato. Eat in or to go. Page Navigation Audra just now NEW I absolutely LOVE LOVE Tommy Salsas !! I am a Site Supervisor / Teacher at a state funded preschool in Novato. We provide care for low income families. We recently had our preschool graduation . I decided to have it catered by Tommy Salsas because their food is absolutely amazing!! I placed my order with them . I decided on going with the taco bar , enough to serve 80 people . They then informed me that they would be donating ALL OF THIS FOOD FOR FREE !!! They were so very kind to do this for my families and for the children!!! Tommy Salsas cares about their community. . I would recommend them to anyone who loves authentic , delicious Mexican food. They made our graduation day just that much better . Thank you Tommy Salsas !!!! ;) Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 read more

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Tomas B.

4 years ago

I made a Yelp in the restaurant just because this place is that bad, classic Marin county having an abundance of mediocre Mexican food. You could get the same mushy burrito from high tech. read more

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Thomas B.

Elite 26 All-Star

404

1273

4937

7 years ago

Awesome lunch. Lots of home cooking. Flavors on point. My lady had the carne asada tacos and I had the carne asada special. They have a salsa bar that's pretty cool too it's got a lot of different peppers and combinations and tomatillo salsa and it was very very tasty and I really appreciated that they had the jalapenos in Escabeche. We took our table and it was home cooking start texting a couple minutes longer to get your table but we expected that comes out fresh and really beautiful on your plate very nice presentation. We absolutely adored the refried beans I don't know what they do with them but boy they are delish and it came out with our chips. I would come back here anytime and I would recommend our friends to stop in and have some food too. Nothing like fresh fresh fresh. And Pamela the server was super awesome being attentive and helpful. read more

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

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

Tommy's Salsa! - Tommy Salsa is in da house - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Tommy's Salsa! - Tacos carne asada. - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Scott S.

153

356

576

9 years ago

This little place was a great surprise. We found it by mistake and I am so glad we did. I was concerned at first when we walked in. The two televisions were playing a soccer (futbol) match and the volume was loud. I mean very LOUD. But the place seemed to be very clean. The employee at the counter was kind and was very willing to answer our questions. I ended up getting a 2 taco combo. One taco carne asada and one al pastor. The pork taco was perfect. I loved the charred bits and the juicy tender chunks. The carne asada was nice as well. They offer a good selection of fresh salsas and they have the best horchata I have had in many years. Check them out if you are in the mood for a soccer match and a great taco. read more

Tommy's Salsa! - Two taco combo. Carne asada and al pastor. - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Dina Y.

Elite 25

140

292

279

7 years ago

Update Review after the last 5 visits, this morning basically prompted the low review update. Called in a phone order pick-up promptly at 9am. Lady says it will be ready in 15 min. Arrived in 15 minutes to only wait another 30 minutes for the order. Our orders (including orders we made there) have so far resulted in "forgotten" orders and now this. Attached is a picture of their Chorizo scramble with "country potatoes" that is basically just oil infused cooked with something else that doesn't taste like potatoes. PLEASE don't go further downhill. I ordered Tommy's Salsa in the past via Eat24 and impressed with their food! Enough to order it several more times!! Slightly disappointed that I'm unable to order for delivery direct from them but will definitely be eager to try stopping by sometime to try out their restaurant service. Their chicken enchilada was just like I liked it, their nachos I'll most likely pass on next time (by the time I received it the cheese was already "hard" with soggy chip, but my grandson loved their chips and salsa. read more

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

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Shannon K.

Elite 21

306

156

7 years ago

This is some of the best Mexican food around!! I've been to almost every spot in Marin county and I will say this place is the BEST!! Prices are fair, portions are large, staff is very kind, and the food is beyond amazing! This place you order at the counter and they bring you the food. There is complimentary bean dip that comes with the chips (oh they have great chips!) There's a salsa bar next to the soda station. All their salsas taste good. It is easy to park because they are located in a lot and there is always a good amount of spots. This is our family's go to spot when we want Mexican food. I've tried something different every time I've gone and I've loved everything! Worth a try! read more

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

Tommy's Salsa! - 5554. 2 Tacos Macho Combination (w/ whole pinto beans) (One chicken and one al pastor) - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

Tommy's Salsa! - 5525. Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Pat D.

3 years ago

The best Mexican restaurant in Marin. Great owners and service Try fish tacos. They're addictive. Best tortilla chips too read more

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Ryan E.

3 years ago

The prices are out of control. $17.00 for a chimichanga and $7.00 for a beer. I ordered carne asada and it was more of a ground beef. More rice than anything. The food was ok but not worth the price. And where did the bean dip go when we waited for the order? read more

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Cynthia H.

232

5 years ago

Used their online system for the first time, and it worked great. Food was ready before I expected. Packaged in a paper bag, no more plastic. read more

Business owner information

Sharon E.

We apologize for the long delay. We usually estimate longer times…

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Victoria D.

5 years ago

This place has the best fish tacos, burritos, anything! Or beef, chicken, etc. Their food is excellent. Terrific staff that goes the extra mile. Their flan is so good. Much better than ever imagined. A place I definitely wouldn't pass up to take visitors to eat. Or get food to eat in. They're very nice. And definitely worth trying out. They're worth it. Awesome experience with this place and their staff. I'd give more stars if there were more available. Guaranteed enjoyment! read more

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Joy G.

112

274

113

7 years ago

Tommy's?? What happened? 5:45 on a Sunday, picking up food to go. No, green salsa! I asked if there was more and was told no. Got the food and headed home. Our fish taco's had very little fish, a lot of cabbage and no sauce. At first I thought the beans were smoky, then I realized they were burned. Maybe the bottom of the pot? They were also kind of crunchy. The overall feeling was just sad. This used to be our go to for fish taco's. I guess not anymore. So bummed. read more

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Eric L.

442

500

711

13 years ago

Revising my review, I'm becoming more of a fan of Tommy's. They've got excellent al pastor, and I'm a huge fan of their BRC burrito. Service is always good, and I'm always pleased with consistent great food. I love their green salsa as well, it goes great with everything! read more

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E K.

2 years ago

Tommy's Salsa recently catered a Taco Bar for a family gathering of 28 people. Maria and Ramon were very responsive and helpful in fine tuning our order. The order was ready on-time for pickup and nicely packaged. The food was fresh, prepared perfectly and delicious. Our guests loved it! We will definitely use Tommy's Salsa catering service again for a future event. Highly recommended. read more

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Cheryl D.

3 years ago

Great food and staff! Order ahead and it will be ready. Dining room is small I always have their burritos!! read more

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Sara T.

Elite 24

252

125

6 years ago

Delicious local Mexican food. Please support this wonderful Novato family-owned restaurant during this hard time. The food is so good. The staff is great. Try the enchiladas and fish tacos! The refried beans are delicious, and I almost never like refried beans. read more

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Devin B.

3 years ago

Great local Mexican food. I always enjoy items from this restaurant Good service also read more

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Peds P.

Elite 21

319

1437

8 years ago

Came here for a Saturday evening dinner. Smaller, cute place that was bustling with families and their young kids. Had a scent of dogs (was there a dog there earlier that day? Was it in the back?). Kinda icky, I don't appreciate that smell in a restaurant. As soon as I was seated, the waitress brought me some chips and bean dip.I told her hold the chips (since I was having nachos), but that I would definitely take the bean dip. My order of nachos (sin carne) came out from the kitchen muy rápido. The nachos and bean dip were bland in flavor and, sad to say, I wasn't impressed. Perhaps other items are better on their menu?? I wouldn't come back for their nachos, but another day I'd like to try their chilaquiles para desayuno. La próxima, Tommy's Salsa read more

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

Tommy's Salsa! - Nachos (no meat) - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Wuelinton H.

3 years ago

Terrible service They took an hours to make a quesadilla and a torta The lady told me 25 minutes I waited an hour Terrible service read more

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Jerome Y.

6 years ago

Stopped by Tommy's Salsa for lunch and they did not disappoint. Wife ordered delicious Al Pastor Tacos while I went for the Carnitas burrito. 1st class service and outdoor seating made our visit ideal. read more

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Audra S.

Elite 19

146

125

4 years ago

This place is great! The food is authentic, they always do everything possible to make sure each order is custom made to your liking, and they are kind and accommodating. I can't say enough about this local staple. What can I say, it just feels like hone as soon as you walk in the door. Make sure you don't leave without some homemade chips and salsa! read more

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Mike K.

265

360

526

6 years ago

So, besides the great food and nice people, this is a restaurant that CONSISTENTLY gives back to the community. When the school shutdown started, Tommy's jumped in with free BRC burritos to ANY school age kid who wanted one. No questions asked. FOr that reason alone my wife and I have come back a few times for takeaway since the covid outbreak. We will continue to favor those establishments (and there are quite a few in Novato, I'm happy to say) who chip in. And by the way, they also were able to supply me with a bag of yeast for my lockdown baking! Way to go, Tommy's Salsa. Novato loves you! read more

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Emy B.

724

1277

8 years ago

The place was busy but the staff is friendly and do their best to satisfy your catering needs. I ordered 120 Beef & Cheese Empanadas to be delivered for a party. They were delivered hot still with a large container of their fresh made salsa. So delicious! And leftovers heat up easily in the oven. Will be my go to catering place for future parties. read more

Tommy's Salsa! - Delicious beef & cheese empanadas - Mexican Near Me - Novato, California

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Kate K.

4 years ago

Many friends that have lived in Novato have suggested this place so I decided to check it out and was not disappointed. Friendly staff, great food, and locally owned. Will definitely be back! read more

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Jared B.

3 years ago

The food is good but I've had issues most of the time I order pick up from here. They are always slow and get my order incorrect. One time I ordered a chicken burrito and said "chicken burrito with just rice and salsa" and they gave me a tortilla with only rice and salsa in it. They always ignore customizations (changes to the base burrito or taco). read more

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Angelo Z.

2 years ago

This review is for the food truck in Hamilton. I ordered an asada super burrito and I didn't see one piece of steak in it. Maybe the order was miscommunicated, but still deserves 2 stars. The majority rice... bean, salsa, guac, and crema burrito was decent though. read more

Business owner information

Sharon E.

Hi Angelo, I’m very sorry to hear that. I will follow up with staff…

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Hoda I.

4 years ago

Good quality food and tasty. We ordered the food to be delivered and it arrived quickly, was neatly packed and looked great. And then, on top of that, it's tasty fresh and delicious. It did not leave me feeling heavy or gross - it felt like good quality food. I am so glad I found this place. read more

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Back

Page 2 of 9

1553 S Novato Blvd
Ste F
Novato, CA 94947
Directions
(415) 898-1351
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.tommyssalsa.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Tommy's Salsa! open?

Tommy's Salsa! opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Tommy's Salsa! close?

Tommy's Salsa! closes at 8:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.Tommy's Salsa! closes at 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Mon-Thu, Sun 11:00 AM - 8:00 PMFri-Sat 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Payment methods

Does Tommy's Salsa! take Bitcoin?

No, Tommy's Salsa! does not take Bitcoin.

Does Tommy's Salsa! take credit cards?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Tommy's Salsa! have catering options?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! does have catering options.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have a drive thru?

No, Tommy's Salsa! does not have a drive thru.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have a happy hour?

No, Tommy's Salsa! does not have a happy hour.

Does Tommy's Salsa! serve alcohol?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Tommy's Salsa! allow dogs?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! allows dogs.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have TVs?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Tommy's Salsa! have bike parking?

No, Tommy's Salsa! does not have bike parking.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have outdoor seating?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! has outdoor seating options.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have parking?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Is Tommy's Salsa! wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Tommy's Salsa! is wheelchair accessible.

Does Tommy's Salsa! have free WiFi?

No, Tommy's Salsa! does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Our FISH TACOS are described as the best in Novato by our Yelp reviewers! Visit Tommy's Salsa, a Novato classic spot serving burritos, tacos, and combinations. Our food is always fresh and delicious. Since 1992, we have been in central Novato, serving tasty Mexican specialties. Other favorites are nachos, fajitas, quesadillas, tamales and chiles rellenos. Order at the counter, then sit down and we bring the food to you. Our taco truck can now be found around town! Follow us on Facebook for regular updates on the locations and times. Catering is available including taco platters, taco bars, mini burritos, and more. We deliver and set up your food for your party or event. Meal delivery is also available through our partners Dine in Marin or Door Dash. Visit Tommy's Salsa, a local family-owned Novato favorite!

History

Established in 1992.

Tommy's Salsa has been open continuously since 1992, in our central location in Novato. In 2015, new owners took over and have maintained the good food and comfortable atmosphere. The staff, menu, and concept are the same as is the emphasis on fresh, quality ingredients. In 2023, we added a taco truck, which can be found around town and at parties, festivals and events.

Meet the Business Owner: Javier and Sharon E.

Sharon and Javier are the owners and managers of Tommy's Salsa. We moved to Novato in 2013 with our 3 small children. Javier has extensive experience managing restaurants. He has worked managing several small chains of restaurants in the Bay Area for over 10 years. Sharon attended culinary school and worked for several years as a Pastry Chef. She now manages Celine’s Sweets, Novato’s downtown candy shop, formerly Powell’s Sweet Shoppe.

More Info

Health Score

Ask the Community - Tommy's Salsa!

Is their Chicken Soup or Birria stew Gluten Free?

Yes, both are gluten free!

View question details

I used to eat here a lot and love the food! But I recently found out that I have celiac disease...are there any gluten-free items on this menu?

Hi, yes anything with corn tortillas and we also have gluten free flour tortillas for quesadillas or burritos. Stay away from the fish (breaded and fried), anything fried (crispy tortillas), the enchilada sauces, tamales, and the Chile relleno.…

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4.1(311 reviews)

2.8 mi

So I've heard plenty about this place and wanted to check it out because honestly the places around…read moretown in Novato that are Mexican food just don't really cut it. Don't get me wrong. They're fine, but just not true Mexican food.. I'm really glad that I did and I was not disappointed. The weight staff was on top of everything took our drink orders right away offered appetizers. We ordered the guacamole and I got to tell you the guacamole was to die for it did not taste processed or anything. I probably could've eaten the whole bowl because it was that good and the serving was huge! My husband ordered the chicken enchiladas with a green sauce, which she did offer two other options for sauce and he opted for the green sauce cause he thought it wouldn't be that spicy, but it was a tad bit spicy for him. It comes with a rice and beans your choice of whether you want black beans or pinto beans and of course he chose black beans because he loves black beans. The rice is not your typical side of rice that you normally get at a Mexican restaurant it has so much flavor in it and it was very light and fluffy. I ordered the Carne Asada tacos with pinto beans. And again it was very tasty. I could not finish my second taco just because I was filling up on all the guacamole and a beer before hand so I ended up taking my food home. The flavors in my tacos were so good and it was not dry steak. It was so moist and tender. You could probably cut it with a fork! The flavors were just perfectly matched and not too spicy. We will definitely go back there again and try a few more things off the menu. They are open fairly late so that's a plus. It's definitely a must try place so hope to see you there soon! Before I go, let's talk about the decor. It is so nicely decorated in there. It makes you wanna stay a little bit longer just because it makes it so nice and comfy. They redid the place much to a heritage. Definitely gonna go back!

For a restaurant that's been open for four years, I'm surprised our experience revealed so many…read moreopportunities to smooth out the kinks. The owner, manager, or a staff member might benefit from a walkthrough to experience the restaurant from a patron's point of view. I'm not going to list everything because I'd rather not complain. For instance, the ladies' restroom has no light when you first enter, so it's quite dark. A very loud whine also continued the entire time I was in the restroom, which was extremely unnerving. Upon our arrival, the hostess was efficient but not personable. Perhaps she was overworked, but only a handful of patrons were dining before 5 p.m. The restaurant offers several rooms to choose from. To the left of the huge cow in the reception area sits a lovely bar. A separate room accommodates a large party or meeting, while a spacious indoor dining room and an outdoor patio with a large tree offer additional options. Large paintings and various sizes of statues featuring Día de los Muertos themes are delightful to view--almost like visiting a museum. We chose the covered outdoor patio on a lovely summer early evening with pleasant weather. Only one other table was occupied. Oddly, a random thwack repeatedly came from the canvas wall covering near us, which distracted us as we talked throughout our visit. We could also occasionally hear traffic zooming by, accompanied by loud Latin music or the roar of an engine. I chose the grilled fish tacos with a side salad, all beautifully plated. However, the sauce was watery and leaked considerably from the thick tacos, which appeared to be homemade. The tortillas had a peculiar bitter taste and fell apart as soon as I picked them up. My companion preferred two chicken enchiladas, but the server said the plate comes with three. I thought that was odd since most restaurants serve just two, so he simply conceded his request. The restaurant played loud, upbeat Cuban music, so don't expect soothing music to calmly accompany your meal. As we were leaving, a large gathering of workers was chatting among themselves. I was surprised that neither they nor the hostess acknowledged us or thanked us for visiting.

Ambience.

Tres Leches

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Other end of covered patio.

Taqueria Mi Pueblo III

3.7(530 reviews)

0.6 mi

The flavor of this food reminds me of my old neighborhood in Chicago. We dined outside near the…read moredelightful fountain. It was a warm 77 degrees. Quiet. Then a family with an honestly adorably sweet young fella dined sent to us. Very sweet. I ordered 5 street tacos: cabesa, lengua, chorizo, pollo asado, y carnitas. Exquisite. You just have to try your favorite 5 from the list of 12 possible meat choices. Awesome. My companion had the 3 (is that the new usual 2 these days) enchiladas: shredded chicken and carnitas. Excellent. Oh! And the non-alcoholic margarita is the best in the area.

Taqueria Mi Pueblo III was a nice stop for lunch after almost three years. I was craving a drink,…read moreso I ordered a margarita, and we shared a guacamole dip. I was happy with both, although the guacamole was slightly saltier than usual. I ordered the carne asada plate, and my significant other went with a meat quesadilla. It was a warm Sunday, so we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air. The ladies who took our order and served us were wonderful, as was a young man who helped with the tables. The food was delicious, and overall we had a relaxing and enjoyable time.

The real thing

Guacamole and Agua de jamaica

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El Rey Mexican Bar and Grill

3.9(226 reviews)

0.7 mi

Over a week ago, we were driving south to San Francisco through Novato when we decided to have…read moredinner, and Mexican food won the majority vote! We chose to try a new place, and El Rey caught our attention. We arrived around 7:30, and the restaurant wasn't busy since it was a Sunday evening. Looking at the menu, I was drawn to their ceviche. We decided to start with guacamole and chips, share a ceviche, and have a Quesadilla con Carne Asada. The guacamole was fresh and well-made, the ceviche was exceptionally delicious, and the quesadilla was very well prepared and tasty. Our server was very friendly and helpful with our questions, and we even shared a few good laughs. The service was excellent. El Rey has been a local spot in Novato for many years, family-owned and known for serving traditional Mexican dishes in a welcoming setting. It has built a reputation in the community as a reliable place for a hearty meal, and many locals have been coming here for decades. The restaurant is a standalone building in a shopping center and offers a large seating area. They also have an outdoor seating area, which I imagine would be especially nice on a warm evening. As a first-time visitor, I left impressed. The food, service, and relaxed atmosphere made for a very enjoyable stop on our drive. We would definitely come back again the next time we're in Novato.

Well, how things evolve over time. My dad was JONESING for menudo Sunday morning, and it was too…read moreearly to visit any of his usual weekend Mexican haunts. My wife called around to find that El Rey was open - and had menudo. What we didn't realize was that there was a full-on buffet-style brunch going on every Sunday from 9-2. First, the aromas were intoxicating. Second, there was a HUGE buffet line with Pozole, Menudo, rice & beans, chilaquiles, sausage or eggs with chorizo, veggies, potatoes, huevos ranchero, birria, quesabirria tacos, EVEN American brunch favorites like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes (but why eat those when there is AMAZING Mexican buffet to choose from?). Coffee/soda also included, and desserts including fruits and custards. I figured for sure it was upwards of $30 a head for the buffet, but the bill comes and it's like $68 for the three of us! What a value! BTW, everything I had was delish. Fresh. Hot. Tasty. And the fact that 90% of the people dining at the restaurant were Latinx tells you all you need to know. Highly recommend this brunch, Novato!

So much soggy mess in these overpriced "nachos" and my Happy Hour margarita was all ice and filler.

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Cocina Antigua

4.4(123 reviews)

0.0 mi

This is a small but delightful restaurant in the fast, casual ethnic food category. There's a lot…read moreof Mexican food restaurants out there, which are great, but this restaurant specializes in central American food. If you haven't become familiar with it yet, give it a try! Their pupusa and their tamales are delicious. And you don't have to spend a lot of money to get great tasting food. I only spent $11 for example on my recent lunch there and got two items which filled me up sufficiently. I'll definitely be going back to Cocina Antigua on my rounds through Novato

Homemade tortillas, great flavors/seasoning. I've been looking for good tacos in Marin and there…read moreare only a couple of decent spots - this is definitely at the top for me so far!

Inside seating with tasteful wall hangings.

Tostada de pollo (chicken)

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Sabor A México

4.6(344 reviews)

8.8 mi

Came here for a family dinner, and was surprised to find a love band "duo" playing great casual…read moremusic! An unexpected treat. We had a reservation for Father's Day and waited about 10 minutes for a table to open, as it was the busiest I have seen. The table was nice, big enough for the five of us, and the ambiance is always great here as well. We were quickly greeted by our server, Eli, who provided chips and salsas to whet our appetites, and we soon narrowed our focus to the food and drink menus. We ultimately decided on some El Jefe Tacos, a shrimp and crab enchilada, a three-item combo with two chile rellenos and a cheese enchilada with green sauce, a carne asada taco, and the volcanic Molcajete (served in a warm stone bowl with grilled steak, chicken, and prawns. Covered with a red chile, roasted tomato sauce). For libations, we went with a mojito and a new drink - for us at least - the pineapple mezcal mule! The food came in a timely manner, and the molcajete was still bubbling! Hence, the volcano nickname! The mojito was very minty and refreshing, and the pineapple mezcal mule was an acquired taste for some of the group - I enjoyed the smoky earthiness of the mezcal, but it's not your run-of-the-mill tequila, so if you are new to mezcal, be aware of the difference. The food last time was a bit spicy, but this time it was not an issue. Still spicy, but not to the point of being overpowering. Even the salsas were not as extreme. Good for some of us! All the food was delicious, and the three-item combo was great to look at as well. As we say, "the eyes eat first," and indeed my eyes were little piggies that meal! Overall, the service was great, the food great, and the entertainment a perfect background for what would have been just a noisy bunch of chatter. Overall a great Father's Day lunch.

Am liking this place more than before. Went with daughter-in-law, wife and one grandchild for lunch…read moreand it was OK. Mexican Jarrito sodas are $5 each, a glass of Modelo beer is $7 and a small orange juice is $6. Prices, to us, are high. Yes, it is in California, but Mexican dishes are not that expensive to make. Eli was our server and he did a good job with us. The Conchinita Pibil Tacos plate ($21) is a Yucatán Peninsula dish of deeply flavorful pulled pork, marinated in citrus and achiote (those tiny red seeds common in the Americas) paste. Served with pickled onions on corn tortillas. They were OK. Huevos Rancheros ($19) were, as expected, fried eggs over corn tortillas and slathered with green and red sauces. Pretty good. Most expensive was the five Street Taco Plate ($48), an outrageous price for five street tacos. Of course, you could choose what protein you wanted in those five tacos, but... We will be back as son's family like it very much. We...not so much.

Inside - Very festive!

One of the very best Quesabirria out there.

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Las Guitarras Restaurant

3.0(292 reviews)

0.7 mi

Carnitas Fajitas!! Even more delicious than they are fun to say! I highly recommend them. So savory…read moreand flavorful. I've had the carnitas many times in enchiladas but not as fajitas. Wow! I chose a salad with their excellent chipotle cream dressing, instead of rice and beans. They are always happy to accommodate my food sensitivities and preferences. Today we also enjoyed a peach margarita made with fresh peaches picked from their tree! They always have fun seasonal margarita specials, but my favorite is still their house-made margarita with Patrón Silver. I don't order margaritas anywhere else anymore!

The food is so-so, and not authentic, with the presentation being the worst. Everything on the menu…read moreis overpriced. The owners are rude and belittle the staff in public. I will not be returning.

El día de los muertos tree

Chimichanga. Kind of small.

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La Chulada

3.6(59 reviews)

0.6 mi

•$

I was told about this restaurant recently and finally got the chance to go for lunch. Fabulous…read morechips and salsas. I got two tacos -- birria and chorizo -- and both were delightfully delicious. Plentiful portion. Over the past few months, I have also been ordering two dozen or more tamales for takeout each month to share with day laborers in Novato. They are consistently absolutely perfect and devoured with gusto. All in all, great food and great people.

Always a pit stop after I finish getting my nails done next door whenever I feel like picking up a…read morequick snack to take home. Today their gelatin desserts spoke to me from their refrigerated section containing salsas, guacamole, & flan. Their gelatin cups aren't too sweet and are a yummy treat. Take one or some home!

La Chulada store front

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Delish in a cup

Maya Palenque

3.4(256 reviews)

2.8 mi

Large freeway-adjacent Mexican restaurants are a thing I've long noticed, Maya Palenque being one…read moreof several to be found as you traverse north on Highway 101. I've often wondered about such places, fantasizing that they may be great but if Maya Palenque is representative of the genre I've been missing nothing. The dishes here were nice enough in presentation. The place itself is very large and the menu quite extensive. I ordered the Taco Salad with grilled chicken and though there was nothing wrong with it, I'm someone who requires spice with my Mexican food choices. Green and red salsas were delivered to my table and - wow - I've never tasted salsas that had zero spiciness. Now I have. These added exactly nothing to the taste profile making it clear that were I desirous of any spiciness it would have to come from Tapatio or Tabasco. If you're okay with very bland Mexican fare, Maya Palenque is serving it up. My curiosity about large, freeway-adjacent Mexican restaurants has been satisfied and no further exploration of the genre is required.

For many years, and I really mean years, as we drove up north or south on Highway 101, Maya…read morePalenque in Novato caught our eye, but we never stopped there for a meal or a drink. We finally got the chance to do that, and it made us wish we had done it earlier. As we entered the restaurant, I saw the bar with people sitting there, drinking, chatting, and watching football on TV. My first mistaken impression was that this was more of a working man's hangout. But when we went into the dining area, we were seated, and I looked around at the other folks there and overheard some of their conversations, I realized that the place is more of a local favorite. The atmosphere was warm and family-oriented. I saw couples, young and old, and families with children of various ages. Our server stopped by shortly after we sat down, and we received a basket of freshly made chips and salsa, both of which were delicious. I had read about their tasty margaritas but decided against ordering one this time because I was tired and driving home to San Francisco. So we went straight to the main course! I ordered Adobado, a dish I hadn't tried before. Adobado features thin slices of pork tenderloin marinated and grilled in a chipotle-adobado sauce, served with plantains and sour cream. It turned out to be a very satisfying and fulfilling choice, but not enough to prevent me from asking for a flan. Let me tell you about my obsession with flan! I love flan, but to me, a good flan is one that is not too sweet and not overcooked to be too hard. It should be firm enough to not fall apart when served to you, but soft enough to tremble as it is presented! The flan here was perfect! The two guys who worked on the floor were wonderful. They answered our questions while we were ordering and stopped at our table several times afterward to see if we needed anything and to make sure everything was fine. The restaurant has nice decorations. I don't know much about its history in the neighborhood, but it seems to have been there for years. I spent a few minutes looking around at the various drawings on the walls and other decorations around the dining area. It will grab your attention. Overall, this was a pleasant experience. We will stop by there again, and I'll make sure to try their margarita next time!

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Taquizas Los Cuñados

5.0(5 reviews)

0.6 mi

Every Friday at Keg Stand. The best tacos and burritos you can get. They are set up outside of Keg…read morestand. Mary the owner is amazing. The food is spectacular. Best tacos and burritos in Marin.

Absolutely love Taquizas Los Cuñados! Found them last year at the Novato Farmer's market. Every…read moreitem on the menu is delicious and authentic. It's so hard to find good traditional tacos in Novato and this place is a gem! The quesabirrias are my favorite. The meat and dipping broth are flavorful. I highly recommend them for catering as well. Their table set-up was beautiful and service was impeccable. All of our guests enjoyed the food.