Food and drinks are really good service is great but come on 9 days later still no A/C and no working Tv at bar if you need a real A/c tech I can send you someone stop using handyman to work on it get it done right the first time read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - 9 days later still no A/c no working tv at bar - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Great place for food and cocktails. Unique flavors and combinations. A must if you like seafood. A great variety of plates with something for everyone. Non seafood lovers will find a variety of tasty plates and appetizers. The decor is very colorful and festive, great vibe. I want to emphasize the great tasting and colorful cocktails. Devin was my bartender. He made some very flavorful, well crafted cocktails. He was super helpful and expedited our food order. He made several great suggestions and knew the menu well. Really cool place for date night or other special occasions. They have a lot is seating capacity and look to be able to host large parties. Parking is ample. Great unique food and flavors. read more

So don't let the price scare you off these are one of the best tasting dishes I've tried in a long time. So much flavor in each bite. We ended up getting the rib eye aguachile as a appetizer and they definitely do not care about portions. It was a huge cut but the sauce is what takes it over the top. The other plates were Camarones Al Mojo basically garlic shrimp with rice and beans. Soooo much flavor and keep in mind they come with home made tortillas. Lastly we ended up with the trio ceviche. Each definitely had there own thing going. Must try. Service was quick and efficient will definitely come back to try other plates. read more

Great spacious, tv screens and fans. Good service. Loved their iced cucumber water, chips and salsa on the house. + Lilikoi Ceviche ($18): not worth, was okay but lacked lilikoi flavor and bits were diced too small (6/10) + Al Pastor taco ($7): pricy and okay! Really enjoyed the homemade tortilla (7/10) + Ensenada style taco ($9): chose fish and it was delicious (7.5/10) read more

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Where do I start? We were literally the only people there when we arrived, and the service was already below par. It took forever for the waiter to bring us water, and he didn't even bring silverware until after our food arrived. We actually had to ask if we could get some so we could eat. There was only one person doing everything, and at most there were three tables occupied, so I can't imagine what the service would be like when this place is actually busy. We also waited quite a while for our food to come out. The cook/chef definitely wasn't in any hurry. Maybe this is a great bar, because I see it has some high ratings, but as a restaurant experience, we were not impressed. We ordered the fried fish tacos, which I had heard good things about. You get four pieces of fish on one taco, but at $9 for a single taco, I just don't think it's worth it. The ribeye steak and shrimp taco had plenty of ribeye, but very little shrimp. It was around $30-something for one taco, and it didn't come with rice or beans. I'll let you look at the pictures and decide if you think it's worth the price. The trio tacos were supposed to include al pastor, but they were out of it, so they substituted a shrimp taco. That came with rice and beans, but unfortunately the beans were so cold that the cheese hadn't even melted. It was literally sitting there in a chunk. I also ordered the whole grilled fish. The fish itself was tasty, but at $33 for the meal, I wouldn't order it again at that price. Overall, the food had flavor, but the experience just wasn't worth the $95 we spent for four people. The combination of slow service, food taking too long, cold beans, small portions for the price, and the lack of attention from the waiter really took away from the meal. For me, this is a 3-star experience at best. I wouldn't come back, and I probably wouldn't go out of my way to try their other locations either. There are just too many places where I feel you get better food, service, and value for your money. read more

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Tried the happy hour here, and we were not disappointed. Plenty of open seating, perfect for groups. Great selection at the bar as well. Off the happy hour menu: - Vegan ceviche - Queso fundido - Guacamole & chips - House salsas Vegan ceviche features fresh mango, cucumbers, carrots, and onions--crispy and fresh, clearly made just moments before. Served with tostada shells. Queso fundido arrives hot, with three warm, thick tortillas. Be sure to order accordingly. The guacamole was flavorful, accompanied by thick chips. I asked for house salsa and a habanero salsa, both of which were really good. The food was excellent. Service, however, was lacking; they didn't check if we needed water or refills, so keep that in mind and order all at once to ensure you get what you need. read more

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Ribeye Aguachiles. Yes! Tacos: Octopus Chicharron. Yes! Gobernador. Yes! Kesabirria. Yes! Everything we fantastic. That crunch was crazy when we bit into the octopus chicharron. Everything so flavorful. And Michelada was so nice and refreshing. Service was a little slow but other than that everything was so delicious! Cut little spot. Colorful and beautiful decor. read more

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Loved this place! The vibe, the space, the decor Service was great! we got in at the start of lunch and people started coming in as we were leaving. Food - so yummy! fragrant and flavorful. We got the mango/passion fruit ceviche, The grilled octopus entree. and Kesebirria tacos. I'll be coming back for the drinks and try other food options. read more

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I was craving ceviche for dinner because it was a hot day. I remembered Xecora had a variety of ceviche plates so we headed there at were seated in the outside patio right before sunset. I ordered the LiliKoi and my husband ordered the Trio. I asked the waitress which were not spicy and she recommended LiliKoi for me. I also ordered a Watermelon (Sandia) Agua Fresca it was delicious tasted naturally sweet but also watery. Overall, I had a great time. We went on a Friday before the crowds arrived and they have pretty good service too. I would go again. read more

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They're understaffed. One bartender and one server. Both were doing their best during happy hour. Food is always on point and freshly made. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Happy Hour it's 2 tacos per order $8 - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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Excellent, excellent cocktails! We have been here numerous times because their cocktails are absolutely delicious. I had a salad today that also was excellent. It was the avocado citrus salad with shrimp. The service was friendly and we couldn't have asked for better. We mentioned that we were celebrating a birthday and they brought out a delicious dessert on the house. We can't wait to come back. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Avocado citrus salad - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

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I can't believe I live down the street from this amazing restaurant! A hidden gem, with the best Mexican food I've ever tasted. We went a little right after opening for brunch, and everything tasted so delicious!! Even their House salsa tasted great. We ordered their fish ceviche, the shrimp & pineapple ceviche, the taco trio, and their grilled octopus. Can't imagine how poppin' this place gets at night time too, because the interior decor is so cute! Service was amazing, and we will definitely be coming back. They also have catering trays too, which we can order for parties and that's a huge plus for us! read more

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Had such a great experience here! Everything was wonderful, and I especially want to give a shoutout to our waitress, Beritza. She was so friendly, attentive, and made us feel really welcome. She checked on us throughout our visit without being overbearing and made sure everything was perfect. They also have $5 margaritas, which is a great deal! You can tell Beritza genuinely cares about her customers. Thank you, Beritza, for making our experience even better! We'll definitely be back! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - $5 margaritas - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Awesome delicious food everything about the spot was great ceviche was delicious. What can I say I'll be back !!!

Absolutely love Xecora on Azusa Rd. Tonight we had a late dinner and everything was amazing. But I ready wanted to shoutout Elizabeth our food server. She was super professional and nice. Took our orders and planed them out accordingly, came back to check in on us to see if we need anything, with intention. She made our experience even extra. Thank you Elizabeth read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Recipe - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Tacos Governador were really good. The lilikoi ceviche was also really good (if you like savory and sweet. We hadn't been here for a while due to the service but today we received great customer service from Betzabeth. She was outstanding. She was very attentive and pleasant. Will definitely come back soon, especially for their Taco Tuesday deals. We do miss that they got rid of the marlin taco gobernador. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Finally trying this place out! - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Lilikoi ceviche is the best ceviche Ive everrrr had, im not kidding. Sometimes ceviche can be too acidic or barely have any fish, but this dish surpassed my expectations. I wanted to try something new and different from typical Mexican dishes. I believe this ceviche has passion fruit juice, mango and cucumber, super fresh. Although it might not look so flashy or filling, the ceviche paired with tostadas was so satisfying. If you love seafood you must try their ceviche selections! The vibes of the place is real cool but when I went i thought the music was a bit too loud. It was hard to hear my friend talking lol. But the people were real nice and friendly. I would love to come back again. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - LILIKOI - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Pretty yummy! I've been to a few ceviche places now and my favorite is Xecora! Everything tastes so much fresher here and I never feel any fear that I'm going to get food poisoning. Servers here are super nice and they will come check in on you frequently! The free chips and salsa also are always a hit. Music can be a bit loud sometimes read more

I've had this bookmarked for so long and it really did not disappoint! I'm so glad because I picked this spot to have an early dinner with a friend and neither of us had been here! Shared parking lot and the ambiance inside is so fun! Devin was so friendly and welcoming! He really added to our experience and I appreciated his energy on top of being super attentive! We ordered the lilikoi ceviche and it was delicious! The shrimp was fresh and it really had the perfect amount of acidity! My friend ordered the grilled octopus and I made him share with me; it was soooooo good! I've never had octopus that was so well seasoned and cooked. It was tender, like not rubbery or chewy. So good I want to learn how to make it and definitely something I'd order again! I got the taco trip which came with the shrimp taco, birria taco, and al pastor taco. The shrimp taco was so fresh and definitely something I'd recommend. The birria taco didn't come with consume since I ordered the trio and the al pastor taco didn't come with any pineapple - I would say that was the only thing I can complain about. Devin was my hero tho, he brought me some pineapple and didn't make me feel like a burden. This spot can be so easy to miss since it's tucked away next to a gas station but it is such a gem! Highly recommend!! read more

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Amazing fresh food and good HH options!! Ceviche Travolta has been my favorite for years, but they are all absolutely delish! The tacos governador are a must, but their quesabirria and al pastor are also surprisingly delicious. My cousin ordered the pulpo tacos and OMG the best pulpo I have ever tasted!! This restaurant goes out of their way to serve fresh quality ingredients, and it shows!! Bartenders are always nice (Shout out to Dev) We tried breakfast for the first time, of course it was delicious too!! Mimosa flight- yessss!!! Yummy all around! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Chilaquiles come with beans (under), eggs, salad, and a fried corn tamal! My entire plate was delicious! - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Xecora in El Monte has quickly become a very special place for us. Puerto Vallarta is our absolute favorite place on earth and holds so many beautiful memories for us. There's something about walking into Xecora that immediately brings those feelings back. The colors, the music, the atmosphere, the food, and just the overall energy remind us so much of being back in Vallarta. For a little while, it feels like we've escaped back to a place that means so much to us. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, but what made the experience even better was the service. Our waitresses were on point! They were friendly, attentive, welcoming, and made sure we were taken care of without ever making us feel rushed. That kind of service really makes a difference. For us, Xecora isn't just another restaurant. It gives us a little piece of Puerto Vallarta right here at home and brings back memories of a place we truly love. Great food, amazing atmosphere, excellent service, and that beautiful Vallarta feeling. Xecora, you definitely have us coming back! read more

Getting here can be a bit tricky especially if you have to make a left turn into the parking lot. The cross street intersection doesn't allow U-turns. There's some parking spaces for this location but should be manageable. The inside is quite spacious and there's lots of seating. The staff were fine and nice. I got the al pastor tacos. The menu mentions getting 3 tacos comes with rice but we didn't receive that so I'm a bit confused. Maybe it's for certain dishes. The tacos were good. It does come with a single pineapple chunk but it kept falling out. I'd wish it were in smaller bits to get the taste throughout the whole taco. I tried the quesabirria and it was decent. The consommé was okay, I wish it were more rich because it was kinda watery. The chips and salsa was pretty good! The salsa had a good kick but not overly spicy. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Ambiance: A lovely bar feel with tons of space and seating Service: Incredibly friendly and helpful Food: I loved their chips and salsa that they provided at the front. It's just the chips had the right saltiness and the salsa had terrific flavors. I found the ceviche to be a bit salty. But loved the choice of ingredients. Incredibly well balanced. The octopus was the most unique dish. It was tender and u can taste the grill flavor well. The presentation of each dish left was beautiful as well. I really enjoyed my time here read more

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This Mexican-themed trendy gastropub has a cool, vibrant look and a full bar, and at first glance it feels like one of those fun, hole-in-the-wall spots with potential. Unfortunately, my experience was pretty disappointing overall. The food was overpriced for the value. The ceviche barely had any shrimp or octopus--I had to dig through cucumbers to find the seafood. The shrimp taco also had very little shrimp, and while the fried octopus taco was intentionally dry (chicharrón-style), it still didn't make up for the lack of substance. Ironically, the best part of the meal was the salsa that came with the complimentary chips--that was genuinely really good. The service was the biggest issue. I was told the ceviche could be customized, but it came out with onions anyway. When I politely mentioned it, the response felt annoyed and inconvenienced. The shrimp taco also came with onions, and given that I had already said I don't like onions, it would've been nice to get a heads-up. I asked the bartender for more salsa and he completely forgot--until about 20 minutes later when he happened to see me again. No one checked in on me, and I had to flag someone down just to get service. To top it off, another staff member brought out the bill before my last item even arrived. When I finally shared that it was my first time and that the service hadn't been great, the response was pretty indifferent. The ambiance is actually nice--beautiful, colorful Mexican decor, fun furniture, and murals. The music is loud, giving it more of a sports bar vibe. The place definitely has potential, but between the small portions, high prices, and poor service, it just wasn't worth it for me. I'd much rather go somewhere with better portions and, honestly, much better service read more

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I ordered the oysters and as you can see in the photo these are all the shards I pulled out of my mouth as I ate them. The largest one cut my tongue. I've eaten oysters at many places and have never had this experience. A shard here and there, ok, it happens but this many and this big ?! They need a professional shucker. Though they were fresh and tasty it's too bad because I could not enjoy these at all. Bad experience and will not order again. read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - Oysters - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Beritza is the best! She is the reason I come every week! She gives the best service and makes the best drinks! She is very attentive and no matter how many customers she has she still comes and makes sure we are good! read more

I took my parents to urgent care which is located cross street and I deciden to come here since they are from Nayarit and I think I made a good choice. The service was great and the food tasty, the place looks like we were in Nayarit because the ambiance ande decoration, we really liked it. read more

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Communication is key. From the beginning and the idea of using this place the person in charge of catering was on point. I arrived early, my tables were set and the buffet style was a hit. Everything was self service and that was great. They allowed me to decorate and have space that was private. We had two types of proteins and vegetarian dish and fruits, eggs and tortillas, rice and beans and one type of beverage cold and one hot. Cost was great. The staff were amazing, especially Devin! Clean restrooms, private parking lot. They allowed us to bring in treats. I didn't have open bar and those folks could grab and get their own tabs. Side feedback: some salsa had too much salt but that is an easy fix. Also the beans were a bit spicy for those that don't eat hot and spicy foods. I will do this again. read more

Pricey but everything we ordered was a hit. Even the complimentary chips and salsa was really good. Chips were thin and crispy. Salsa was flavorful. - Lilikoi ceviche was good. Small order is enough for at least four people to share - Pulpo Zarandeado was the charbroiled octopus. Octopus was well cooked and not chewy but portion for the price seemed small. - Carne Asada house special is also really good. Steak was tender and the marinade was a bit sweet. I enjoyed building my taco. read more

This place was just okay. There isn't a very welcoming atmosphere - the hostess and server weren't particularly warm. The food was just OK overall, i'd say my octopus chicharron tacos were way too hard to chew. Maybe I went on an off day. With all the amazing mexican food in the area, i won't be returning. read more

COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask. All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. The staff also wears gloves when handling food. There are no hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has some indoor seating available with no limited capacity. They are not sanitizing in between customers. I mention these things in my reviews for the sake of protecting immunocompromised people like the elderly and people sick with cancer and other illnesses. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment several days ago, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently do have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty big. It is shared with other establishments too though. Spots are pretty wide. Ambiance: The vibe was very chill and laidback. Food and Drinks: We were served homemade, hot, and fresh tortilla chips with salsa. The salsa had a mild, sweet, and spicy kick to it. So perfect for the tortilla chips. My friends and I ordered the margarita flights (classic, tamarind, and hibiscus), shrimp creamy pasta, ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita), and taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). My friends and I really enjoyed the margarita flights. They were very fruity and filled with alcohol. Some places water down their margaritas for happy hour, which really sucks. But this place is legit. They do not water down their drinks especially during happy hour. The drinks packed a punch. Also, their water is so incredibly refreshing because they put cucumbers into the water. My friends and I shared the shrimp creamy pasta, ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita), and taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). The portion for the shrimp creamy pasta was pretty huge for happy hour prices. Like damn! The pasta noodles were cooked al dente, which was perfect for all of us. The shrimps were very big, juicy, generous, and fresh. Also, they included several pieces of golden brown and crispy garlic bread. Soooooo fricken delicious! This dish was extremely creamy, rich, flavorful, and tasty. Highly recommend! Next, we all tried the ceviche trio (la negra, travolta, and nayarita). The tostada that came with the ceviches were hot, crunchy, fresh, and homemade. Each ceviche dish was packed full of flavors and made fresh. I enjoyed all 3 of them. Next, we all tried the taco trio (Kesabira taco, shrimp gobernador and al pastor). All taco shells were very crunchy and tasty. I enjoyed the Kesabira taco. It had marinated beef with cheese, onion, and cilantro. The beef just melted in my mouth. Soooo yummy! The shrimp gobernador had shrimp, cheese, cabbage, and pico de gallo. Also very delicious. The Al pastor taco is a classic. You can't go wrong with it. Marinated pork with pineapple, onion, cilantro, and avocado. Extremely delicious. This was actually my favorite taco. Sergio, the owner, also let us try the Mama Lila's Garden for desserts. It's a very yummy dulce de leche. So sweet, creamy, and caramely. What a perfect way to end the night. Thank you, Sergio! Staff: The staff here are very friendly, warm, welcoming, attentive, and kind. Again, shout out to Sergio, the owner, who so graciously let us try the Mama Lila's Garden. Our server Rosa was very attentive and friendly. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is no credit card minimum. read more

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I bought a group of family here since it seems it has great review on Yelp.. Unfortunately it did not deliver.. We had the famous grilled octopus but it was bland even with the sauce. My husband had fried fish skin which were soooo dry that the dish were sooo small... Other dishes were carne asada and seafood soup, they were decent but portion is still small. Very overpriced overall and there are lots of cheaper options around with better food. read more

The food at Xecora is absolutely worth talking about--fresh, bold, and full of personality. But the overall experience fell short due to slow service and an overly loud dining room. We came on a Friday afternoon just after they opened. There was only one server handling the entire restaurant, so service was slow. While our food did arrive hot and fresh, the long wait was hard to overlook. The biggest issue, though, was the music volume. it was incredibly loud and made it tough to have a normal conversation. That said, the food itself was excellent. The lilikoi ceviche was bright and citrusy, a perfect starter. My husband got the enchiladas and couldn't decide between red or green sauce, so got both. The red was tomato based, and the green packed a fresh hot chili punch! We also shared a cheesy shrimp empanada--not your typical flaky crust, more doughy, but still very satisfying. the café de olla was warm and perfectly spiced, and the cucumber agua fresca was refreshing. Xecora has real potential. With a quieter atmosphere and better-paced service, it would definitely be a place I'd introduce to others. read more

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Great atmosphere and friendly service. Place is beautifully decorated and very clean. Great bar with a ton of drink choices. I even highly recommend the horchata. Very unique dishes to choose from. Lots of seafood options. The shrimp ceviche is very good. Carne Asada is very tender. read more

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Some of the absolute worst service I've ever received in a long time. Arrived on a Sunday lunch time and was seated promptly, however, the lackluster attentiveness of the staff was apparent by the shear lack of basic prosocial service etiquette. Put ceviche appetizers in and didn't hear from anyone or received dishes in 25+ minutes followed up by waving down a bartender to inform them we were ready to put our entrees in the took nearly another 30 minutes to be put out. All food was lukewarm. Despite the Gastronomia presenting decent morsels (both ceviches were excellent, entrees were palatable but stripped of full marks because of how late and cooled to the touch the dishes were. The birthday girl of the group even had to voice her frustration just to prompt the check to be brought to us. No amount of offering to take a photo for the table reconciled that service received. Rolling eyes and hovering over the touch pad as we tip should have yield an epic 0% tip that I typically never do, but I am sympathetic to those who may be suffering in silence; 10% tip despite disappointing service to a party of 6. Who knows if the staff and waitress just had one bad day or this is the norm for this establishment. Ambiance was fun and lively i will say! Xecora receives my lowest review of the year despite the hype strictly due to service and food being clearly an afterthought for our waitress. read more

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Came to Xécora Gastronomía Urbana for lunch with a friend, and we left seriously impressed. First off, shoutout to our server Lupita--she was warm, attentive, and gave great recommendations. The complimentary chips with roasted salsa were a strong start, but Lupita also brought us a red spicy salsa that packed serious heat in the best way. We started with the ceviche de pescado, and both of us agreed--it's easily one of the best ceviches we've had anywhere. Super fresh, well-balanced, and full of flavor. We also tried the pozole, which was comforting and well-seasoned, but the real standout was the charbroiled octopus. It was grilled perfectly with just the right texture--tender with a bit of crisp char. Absolutely mind-blowing. The space inside is cozy and stylish, with plenty of TVs that make it feel like a great spot for game nights. Bonus: they've got happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-6pm. We're already planning to come back and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend this place. read more

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The salsa, of the chips and salsa, is smoky and of a good spice level. The watermelon agua fresca is definitely sweet--too much for me, not for my partner. I won't comment on the sangria, having driven here, but my partner liked that too. The tacos el gobernador, having marlin as a protein, are quite good. The marlin announces itself with almost a bite in texture, which pairs with the tortilla (flour, heated until very nearly crispy). I'd like, though, more pickled onions. read more

I took my friend out for their birthday because we both love ceviche and this restaurant was amazing. I got the La Negra and my friend got the Lilikoi and both of our ceviches were incredible. I also got the tortilla soup and I rarely ever encounter tortilla soups that are vegetarian! I really appreciated that this restaurant has so many vegetarian and vegan options! read more

Xecora Gastronomia Urbana - LA NEGRA - Mexican Near Me - El Monte, California

Food is perfection! One of my favorite places! I visit the Downey location frequently which Is for the most part a busy location. This location isn't the best simply because it's in a funky strip mall but once you get in you'll be pleasantly surprised. Full bar with delicious drinks and awesome food! If your In the area and need a place to work, eat and have a drink? This is your spot!! It wasn't busy on a Friday mid day but it should be!! Give it a try! I love the grilled octopus plate and poblano and steak appetizer are perfection. read more

We were blown away by Xecora! Nayarit inspired cuisine and decor made for a beautiful experience. Came in for dinner on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. Knowledge and helpful staff made for an excellent dinner. What a color place complimented with beautiful art and decor throughout the restaurant. A family friendly environment is always a plus.Their complimentary chips and salsa were great. Not too spicy with perfectly salted chips. Their guava margaritas are solid. Perfectly made and well priced.Has to have a Michelada and no complaints.On to the food.We opted to share a large fish ceviche. Fresh and well prepared. The jalapeños made it spicy but so tasty.our kid's shared creamy pasta and they really enjoyed. I also tried it and loved the sauce. So good and delicious.For our main course we shared a filete zarandeado and we were blown away. Tender and grilled to perfection. Fresh fish complimented with beans and rice. The handmade tortillas made it even better. Definitely one of the best filete zarandeado we've ever had. read more

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