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Angelou's Mexican Grill
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 3 pm
Fri-Sat 11 pm - 3 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
50 reviews for Angelou's Mexican Grill
Review Highlights
"...to have a revolving menu every week with daily specials."
(in 7 reviews)
"Their orange sauce is the best."
(in 4 reviews)
"This place is better than La Vics or Iguanas."
(in 3 reviews)
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Karen Z.
10/18/2011
Small, unassuming, clean, friendly. Big menu. Had the chips and salsa: very good. It's a finer textured salsa, darker...definitely some yummy roasted flavor in there. Then we had the carnitas Super Tacos with rice and beans on the side. Super Tacos? These were Super Awesome Tacos! Street taco size, with lots of toppings. And I must say, it was surprisingly pretty...I think someone there takes pride in their work. They gave us two squirt bottles with mystery sauces. Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE condiments. These were awesome! A thin, bright cilantro-ey sauce and a fantastic sauce I'm guessing is a chipotle crema. Anyway, awesome.
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Review from Cherryl D.
San Jose, CA
2/8/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
My Ratings:
Quantity: 4 - Portions are good
Quality: 4 - Very tasty
Price: 3 - Not bad but a bit pricey for mexican food
Location: 3 - Small, but has seats
Parking: 2 - Parking lot or street parking
Service: 4 - Nice, Friendly
Speed: 4 - Quick
Overall: Not so bad but best with some coupon/disounts.
My Opinion/Story:
I have a Yelp deal and used it. It was pretty nice that I got alot of food for the price that I paid. If I purchased it without it, I would it's a bit pricey. But the service is nice, the food is good, and location isn't so bad. Parking might be a bit of a problem especially if you go during busy hours. -
Review from Omar K.
Berkeley, CA
12/10/2011
A well-rounded place.
Their chicken mole is my favorite! -
Review from Nara a.
San Jose, CA
1/1/2012
went here last night after reading all the reviews.... ordered two carne asada tacos and they are so good. So good I had to order a third taco. definitely going back to try some of there other items.
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Review from Juston G.
San Jose, CA
11/17/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Great authentic food...so so service. This place is special cause they have actual hours that are fitting for an authentic restaurant so you know the food is fresh. don't try and make 3-5 pm early dinner run...I think they're closed. I like the mole and espcecially how they give the perfect proportions so you're full but don't have too much. : )
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Review from Khanh T.
5/13/2011
Dude. This is the best place for nacho fries. Hands down.
What's awesome is that they open late, so it's great for late night munchies.
However, their business hours suck. I don't know what time their hours are though so I can't help you there. I just remember my girl friend craving for their nacho fries so much that she would drive to downtown, but she found out they were closed during dinner time? What the poop!!!
But MAN!!!!! NACHO FRIES HERE!! Delicious.... -
Review from Henry C.
San Jose, CA
12/11/2011
Really ashamed to say this but my friends and I have gone at least two or three times a week ever since we discovered this place. Not good for my belly but it so darn delicious. It's right in the middle of all the bars downtown and the food is good, if not better than La Vic's. Best California burritos I've hand in San Jose hands down. Service is fast and you don't deal with a bunch of drunk college kids in line. The workers are alway very nice and friendly with customers. Only gripe is that their daytime hours are incredibly weird and it's hard to just casually come in for breakfast and lunch.
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Review from Dave J.
Winchester, VA
7/6/2011
Visiting San Jose quite often I had wanted to try Angelou's Cafe & Grill. The problem is their hours are a little strange, that's not a bad thing just check the website for hours.
I finally made it when the place was open and ordered my favorite Mexican meal, Chili Verde. They were out, so after due thought I ordered the Chicken Mole. I find these are the 2 dishes, Chili Verde and Chicken Mole that can show if a given Mexican restaurant has what it takes. The Mole was excellent, though the chicken was a little on the dry side as was the rice. The beans were excellent. The Mole had a deep rich flavor with just the perfect amount of heat which came sprinkled with sesame seeds. For now I'm blaming the dry chicken and rice and no Chili Verde on the fact I arrived just 30 min. before they closed for the afternoon, hence my 3 star rating. Next time I'll arrive well before closing and see how things go, if needed I'll update my rating. I do believe that Angelou's has the ability to produce some outstanding food. I also found it just a little strange that they charge $1.50 for a small order of chips and salsa, both were made in-house.
Service was first rate and the place was very clean, location excellent. Prices were very reasonable (except for the chips & salsa). All in all Angelou's rates better than 3 stars but falls short of earning 4 or better. I'll defiantly return for another go. -
Review from Amadeo D.
San Jose, CA
8/8/2010
High quality, cheap Mexican food, a clean atmosphere, and open late makes Angelou's a clear cut winner.
Their meat is always seasoned with flavor and cooked perfectly. Their Nachos, Burrittos, and Quesidillas have never disappointed. They have a burger on the menu, which I think I'll try next time.
Casual cozy cafe with service that's always friendly. I can see how it could get busy during lunch, but I usually only stop in for diner, or late night.
Worth mentioning that they close in between lunch and dinner. Check the hours before you go. -
Review from Katherine E.
Campbell, CA
1/7/2011
This place is better than La Vics or Iguanas.
The meat is high quality and the vegetable ingredients are fresh. Each plate comes with perfectly fried chips. I had the carne asade torta today, and am happy to report the fine people at Angelou's do not skimp on the fillings.
Menu options are a bit limited for a Mexican spot, but I can't wait to go back for breakfast all the same. -
Review from Tad S.
San Jose, CA
3/26/2010
Recently, I started working in downtown San Jose again, and Angelou's once again has become one of my go-to lunch spots.
They have rotating specials every day for breakfast and lunch. When entering the cafe and walking up to the kitchen counter, today's specials are usually displayed there so no need for me to check the menu. For these specials, prices range from $7 to $9. There are also lots of other regular items on the menu just above the kitchen counter.
Today for lunch, I ordered a super chicken burrito (~$6) from the regular menu. It was yummy but a bit too large for my tummy, though. For Mexican food take-out, I used to go to Mucho's nearby, but after their ownership change, they are no longer my fav taqueria. Instead, I prefer getting my Mex-fix at Angelou's.
During lunch time, they seem always shorthanded. It is not a very large cafe, and it easily gets filled up with people waiting for their food to go. They have 5 or 6 small tables with only 1 just outside the cafe if you prefer dining in. -
Review from Archie G.
San Jose, CA
4/29/2009
This place offers a $3.50 breakfast which features an egg, toast, and a good sized sausage.
That's what she said!
Anyway, the little meal hits the spot in the morning, for very little cash, and my stomach is not rumbling while I am in court. I can dig that.
They seem to have a revolving menu every week with daily specials. I tried their "huevos rancheros" and they were very hot, spicy, and delicious in my mouth.
¡Eso es lo que ella dice!
Yes, I just made a "that's what she said" joke in Spanish. I am officially not funny in two languages.
Ajua! Ajua! -
Review from Veronica V.
San Jose, CA
8/12/2008
Not the best burrito and certainly not the worst.
Though I can't complain about a new taqueria downtown because I love variety. Give me options and I'm happy.
A solid 3.5 but I'll round up. -
Review from Daryl M.
Newark, CA
8/11/2010
Today I ate lunch at Angelou's, order enchilada plate and a fountain drink. Total came to $11.20. The sauce lacked flavor and the chicken did not taste fresh. Downtown has several taqueria to choose from, the dish I had was below average. I might return to try one or two other items, but there are better bang for the buck in DTSJ taqueria inventory. The atmosphere inside was nicer than other taquerias in the area. Maybe I caught them on a bad day, since so many others rating them 3 stars and above.
Located on second street just around the corner from Santa Clara Ave, get ready for the shake down from the homeless. -
Review from Liz L.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/8/2009 1 Check-in Here
I really like Angelou's, and thank you Yelp for helping me discover it. I've only been here twice, but both times it was delicious. Once, got the chicken quesadilla special, and today, I got the chicken chimichanga special. Both were wonderful, and the sauces they provide hit the spot.
Prices are right, and they're pretty fast too. Check it out!Listed in: Yelp Love, Lunch in downtown SJ
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Review from Wayne P.
San Jose, CA
6/24/2008
This is one of the places I get coffee in the morning before work. I'd rather drink piss than give my money to Starbucks. The coffee here is A-Okay, self serve style, always hot, and never bitter or burnt tasting. Also no long line of clueless yuppies ordering designer beverages to deal with. I had lunch here as well. The food was okay.
The staff is friendly and the prices are moderate.Listed in: Coffee sans Starbucks
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Review from David D.
San Jose, CA
6/23/2008
Angelou's is a charming little cafe downtown between Santa Clara and the St. James park. The food is pretty good (the breakfast burritos are so-so) and the service is terrific -- warm, fast, and friendly. Good sauces, too.
The place is clean and pretty attractive, but small and a bit cramped. When the door is closed, it gets pretty warm from all the grilling, so if it's a fair day you might want to snag one of the outdoor tables. Watch that step up as you enter -- I imagine that if you're in a wheelchair, it's still surmountable, but this is not the most accessible restaurant downtown. Parking is also a bit of a hassle, so I'd say this is more of a pedestrian destination than anything.
Playful, amateur art on the walls contrasts with a single Van Gogh print; I'm not sure what they were thinking, but, again, it's kind of charming. -
Review from S e.
Oakland, CA
3/12/2011
I ordered the carne asada plate and the meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. The salsas are amazing. So fresh and full of flavor. You know that all of the ingredients are completely homemade.
The service is excellent, and you can't beat the late night weekend hours. -
Review from Joshua S.
Santa Clara, CA
1/8/2011
My expectations were high from the yelp reviews, unfortunately I thought the food was just okay. The carne asada had huge chunks of chewy fat in it, which I'm not a fan of. The nachos had the "fake" cheese on top. I think La Vics and Iguanas burritos are better, but the ambiance at Angelou's has them beat (at least until the remodeled La Vics opens on Santa Clara). Also Angelou's gets big points for staying open until 3am, but not enough for a 4th star.
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Review from Stacy J.
San Jose, CA
2/18/2010
Went here today with some of my friends. We ordered veggie burgers, nachos, and carnitas plate. Food was very good.
Their prices are reasonable and the ambiance is nice and cozy. -
Review from Jessica J.
Cupertino, CA
9/19/2011
Good food and prices pretty reasonable. The chicken tacos were really good and my husband had the carnitas which he really enjoyed. Service was good and I would definitely recommend this restaurant.
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Review from Yo U.
San Jose, CA
7/6/2011
Meh, this place is alright, I guess. I don't have any quibbles about the cleanliness of the joint or the quality of the food, but the grub here is a wee bit expensive in my opinion. Also, after confirming with the lovely young woman who prepared my order that I wanted only onions and cilantro in my tacos, she still prepared them with onions, cilantro and beans. What is it with beans in tacos out here, anyway? Is that some kind of Californian gringo variation or is it genuine Mexican style? I haven't seen it elsewhere before, and I don't much care for what I presume to be fillers like beans in my tacos.
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Review from Brenda G.
San Jose, CA
4/11/2007
Great food! Really cute place. Located right downtown.
Yum!! -
Review from Amber U.
Hempstead, NY
10/29/2008
I eat here about 3 times a week. The staff is really nice, and the service is very quick. It's also really clean inside. Although they have plently of tables, it can get pretty crowded during lunch, so I like to call in my order and pick it up.
The have good tacos (not the best, but still very good), good sandwiches (I love the chicken salad sandwich), and they have a nice selection of daily specials.
They catered an event for the company I worked for once, and their drip coffee is pretty good.
I'm looking forward to coming here for breakfast and lunch someday, because the menu looks good. -
Review from Andy M.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2009
Just got back from eating a delicious vegetarian burrito at Angelou's. I started off my order by asking if their rice and/or beans were cilantro free as I hate that stuff and I was surprised to learn that they were. I placed my order with the friendly cashier and took a seat. A few minutes later my burrito arrived. I took a bite and discovered that it was covered in pico, which, of course, has LOTS of cilantro in it. Instead of asking for a new one (since I hadn't made it clear that I definitely wanted a cilantro-free burrito) I started to dissect it to remove the unwelcomed green leaves. I was then greeted by the owner who said she was already having a new burrito made for me because she should have known I wouldn't want the pico. It was amazing of her to take it upon herself to fix the problem even when I wasn't going to say anything.
AND THE BURRITO WAS DELICIOUS! Seriously. It was really good.
My friend ordered the blackened cat fish and said it was "delicious" as well.
I highly recommend this place. -
Review from I K.
San Jose, CA
1/7/2011
If you're looking for a quick in and out burrito or taco, this is not for you.
If you want tasty Mexican food with fresh quality ingredients, made with care, then this is definitely a go to spot in downtown.
Sit down service and quality (after you order at the register) at taco shop prices! Can't be beat. Daily specials and coupon deals on their website!
There people here are so nice and sweet, definitely NOT the "attitude" you get at the typical Tacqueria or Cafe if you're not a well known regular or spanish speaker.
I had a chicken quesadilla. They don't skimp on the cheese or the meat. The chicken was perfectly grilled and fresh, plus salsa, sour cream, guacamole and orange sauce, all for $6!
BTW no Panini's or Pasta on the menu (anymore?) as another review wrote about, which suggests they know what they do well, and they do well what they know. -
Review from anna e.
Los Angeles, CA
12/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
People like to fight over whether la vics or iguanas is better. I choose Angelou's. Their orange sauce is the best! Not as spicy as Iguana's, yet doesn't leave a funky after-taste like the orangey substance at La Vics. The only thing that sucks about this place is their hours, they are never open when I want to go! Late night after the bars isn't an ideal time to be open, as my friends and I are usually too drunk to truly appreciate the taste!
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Review from Sara W.
1/22/2009
We got a $25 certificate for this place (you can buy it for $3 on http://restaurant.com... you just have to spend at least $35, so I'd suggest bringing a group). It's pretty close to our work, so we walked there and made it at 12:05, right before the lunch rush. It's a small place, but our group fit fine inside. Everything we ordered was under $7. I got a veggie burrito, which was pretty good, but not the best. The philly cheesesteak was all right. Nachos were one of the better items. It gets kind of confusing in here because you order, then you sit, the food is brought out, then you pay.
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Review from A L.
San Jose, CA
7/14/2010
Great stop for breakfast or lunch for those of you in downtown San Jose! Their Mexican food is delicious and the staff friendly. It's located a tad off the main strip and surrounded by a few vacant spaces, but no one seems to mind!
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Review from Daniel L.
San Jose, CA
7/13/2011
This place is a great little shop. Probably the nicest interior taqueria in town. Cool spot for outside eating too. I ordered Carnitas here. The meat had that perfect crisp to it. Check it out if your in the area.
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Review from H H.
Oakland, CA
4/3/2007
Angelou's has awesome food, great service and is handily located in downtown SJ. The owner Teresa Lopez is an absolute love and has created a inviting cafe with a really diverse menu with amazing food. I had the carnitas tacos today, which were really tasty. Love the fresh salsa and cilantro, despite the fact it makes my nose run.
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Review from Justin P.
Cupertino, CA
11/15/2010
Late Friday night, a group of us were walking to my car to go meet another group at another restaurant. We passed by the window and saw that there was no line. When the smell hit our nostrils, it was a done deal.
We gave it a shot and were pleasantly surprised. The pricing is competitive, our food was ready within 3 minutes, and it all tasted great. They have their own orange sauce which tastes fresher than other places. (The order girl is cute! Haha) -
Review from Jonas C.
Schenectady, NY
6/26/2008
If there were a way to give 3.5 stars I'd do so, but since I can't, I'll round up to 4. I've been here a couple times, it's usually not very busy, and the service is good. It sort of reminds me of a Mexican Plutos. Regardless, the food is good and prompt and fresh. I would stick with the Mexican fare, the burrito I had was pretty good, the enchiladas tasty, the sandwich was pretty good too. They have daily specials so the menu is usually very diverse, I enjoy it a lot. My friend had the marsala and the roast the last two times we came together, I tried a little, it was hearty but I thought a little bland, not horrible, but not great either. The Mexican food is wonderful though. Good place for a quick bite.
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Review from Kathleen K.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 9/9/2010
Teresa has been adding new Taqueria items to her menu. I had the Quesa-Taco yesterday and it was FABULOUS. Corn tortilla filled with carne asada, cheese, cilantro, onions, pico de gallo, salsa and grilled to perfection. It was served with a side of rice and beans so it was very filling as well as delicious. This has become one of my new favorites!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/8/2010
I work in downtown San Jose so there are plenty of good places to grab lunch but Angelou's is my… Read more »
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Review from Irfan R.
2/5/2010
Big fat burrittos for only $5.00. Pretty good deal. Had the veggie burritto. Comes with two different sauces. Very filling. Need to come back again and try out the other food. They also serve breakfast here.
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Review from Joy H.
Oakland, CA
3/3/2008
Pretty average sandwiches. I think I should have gotten some of the Mexican fare, because that's what everyone else was getting, but I didn't want burrito breath.
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Review from Susannah G.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 8/13/2010
I'm a big fan of their simple Taco Tuesday which is not your typical taco. Flavorful chipotle sauce on grilled chicken and onions with fresh cilantro. Although you can get sour cream and guacamole etc, this plate of soft Tacos are really wonderful, filling and healthy. I rarely order anything else (the occasional burrito or Tuna melt, both great too) but this week I happen to see the Red Enchiladas go by and they looked amazing. So I ordered them. Three small, simple enchiladas with JUST chicken inside. Red sauce was great and just a bit of sour cream cheese and onions on top. I licked the plate clean. Yes there are lots of places in SJ to get Mexican food, and since I eat it about 4 days of the week I think each place has its specialties. What I like about Angelou's is it's flavorful, friendly, fair-priced and always a bit different than your run of the mill taqueria.
1 Previous Review:
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6/3/2008
inexpensive, quick, healthy and friendly! Always a great variety! Try their chicken Tacos, GREAT!
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Review from tuna t.
San Jose, CA
8/6/2010
I've been working at music in the park lately and tried their food because it was only a stand away. i didnt expect it to be so good, but i was pleasantly surprised. i ended up liking it alot more than the more popular burrito places in san jose. My favorite is the super nachos, i am addicted. just from appearance you can tell the quality of the chips is better. and so are all the other ingredients. i also tried their veggie burrito and my friend had their chicken super burrito. SOOO SATISFYING. the sauces they have for the burritos are really good too bc theyre not overwhelming the taste of the food itself. ive only had the food out of the stall but i cant wait to try it fresh outta the kitchen.
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Review from Thomas W.
San Jose, CA
8/9/2007 1 photo
Angelou's is awesome! I just went there today with a friend for lunch. It's a good walking distance from City Hall and MLK, not to mention that there's a parks nearby as well! The service was great, everyone was friendly, and the food came quickly. They have those old glass bottle Coca-Cola bottles too. I got the steak tacos (3 actually) and they were great! Would definitely suggest this to anyone in San Jose.
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Review from AJ J.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/9/2007
Everyone who works here is so friendly. But I really love this place because the home cooking & service are great. They always have at least 2 daily specials, from seafood (paella, sauteed fish, shrimp salad) to traditional mexican fare (chimichangas, pozole, tasty carnita tacos) that keep it interesting if you happen to eat there more than once a week. Cheap, tasty & fast...
