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Jalisco Restaurant
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Rocio F. said: "I cannot get enough of this place! Even though I would think I had gotten enough of it when I was in high school, "THE BEAN" never dissappoints! I came in with my coworkers for a nice lunch and it was quick and cooked to serve. I had…" read more »
54 reviews for Jalisco Restaurant
Review Highlights
"Even the chips and salsa were fresh and flavorful."
(in 8 reviews)
"The tableside made guacamole was creamy and made in timely..."
(in 2 reviews)
"The seafood fajitas had a nice selection of seafood as well."
(in 10 reviews)
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Laura G.
Watsonville, CA
1/2/2012
I was hankering for tacos or something and heard of this place from my landlady. On a wintery day, you enter from the back and there was roaring fire welcoming you in a huge fireplace. It lit up the entire room. Although it was late for lunch, the waitress seated me (I was on my own) in the front in a window seat - I could just see passersby.
I ordered the fajitas burrito. Everything was scrumptious. The beef was well seasoned and the burrito was so huge it could have fed two. Rice and beans with guacamole and sourcream were on the side. Delicious rice, not your bland flavorless side, but a true foil for the grilled meat.
Will have to come back for dinner. -
Review from Melanie R.
San Jose, CA
9/14/2011 3 photos
No black beans, and the prices were higher than I would like - ehhh.
But the food itself was cooked deliciously and there was a great menu selection.
We got the crab enchiladas and two tacos.
One of the customers was walking around out back with a chicken sitting on his arm... that was kind of odd. -
Review from Jeff R.
Sacramento, CA
1/27/2012
It's not my favorite Mexican restaurant in this very Mexican city, but it is better than most anywhere. The food is excellent, the price not bad. My favorite dish, the Camarones a la Diabla, is spicy and succulent. My wife enjoys the Enchiladas Suizas Verdes, with plenty of green sauce. The helpings are large -- enough for lunch the next day! The restaurant is in a well-restored, historic building -- attractive, large and noisy, especially when the mariachis are playing. They have a good wine list for a Mexican restaurant, and they have a long list of top quality beers, tequilas and margaritas. The wait staff sometimes seems overwhelmed, but they're always friendly.
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Review from Dr M.
Dallas, TX
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
We drove 1600 miles to have the huevos rancheros and the corn tortillas. If that is not a recommendation then I don't know what is Mexican.
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Review from tara t.
Watsonville, CA
1/24/2012
Yummy food, yummy drinks, and great happy hour deals!
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Review from Rodolfo R.
Watsonville, CA
12/15/2011
Jalisco's Restaurant in my opinion is all about looks and not the food. I have been there twice and the second time was just to give them a second chance. I had chicken fajitas they were bland. I seriously think i make them better my self and so did my girlfriend. I would recommend this restaurant to people that want to just eat a whatever meal and have some drinks while listening to some mariachi music because i think that this is the reason why it's famous here in Watsonville,not it's Food.
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Review from Daniel M.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/3/2011
If you want authentic mexican in Watsonville, then you can't really beat Jalisco's. One thing to be aware of is that on weekends, they will play very loud live mariachi music right in front of you. It's hard to have a conversation when it's going. But, it adds to the culture for sure, just be prepared.
Their chips and homemade guacamole is awesome. You will not leave hungry, that's for sure. -
Review from Umilia M.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2011
Usually Mexican food isn't my first choice for dining out; I figure why pay for what i can make easily at home? But Jalisco's is absolutely worth a special trip.
The guacamole is made at your table, with a pestle and mortar, with fresh avocados, lime, a bit of jalepeno and a sprinkle of onions. The portions are quite generous, and the accompanying chips and salsa are scrumptious.
I ordered the steak fajitas, they came out sizzling, with rice and beans on the side and fresh corn tortillas.
My cousins ordered the mixed platter for two, which came with enough food for four or five people. Lots of seafood, steak, and chicken, and they especially enjoyed the ceviche.
On Friday nights they have a mariachi band, I'll definitely have to come back! -
Review from Michelle C.
Belmont, CA
9/22/2011
This is the first fancy restaurant I've tried in Watsonville. It is really nice inside. Love the ceilings. The chips and salsa are really good. Warm when they bring out a new bowl of chips. Service was good. I liked how they brought out a basket of tortillas with our meals. No extra charge! I was very happy to see they had a vegetarian section of plates. Prices for the meals ran around $10 and up. Great place to go to if you want to relax and take your time eating.
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Review from Megan P.
4/18/2011
Jalisco has probably the best margarita I've ever had (the one that is their namesake). I couldn't get over how delicious it is and at $8 a pop, they should be. All I know is that they were good enough to almost spend $20 on. I've only been here twice but I've tried their huevos rancheros, shrimp taco, and their "enchilada de espinaca y mole verde" and they all have been incredibly delicious. I've never had mole verde before and I am definitely a fan. I'm moving a few blocks away and this definitely will become a weekly or biweekly must! Happy hour is 3-7 M-F and I love a good happy hour!
Also, this is clearly not your "typical" mexican food. It doesn't feel like a gut bomb which I appreciate. If you're looking for a ~ traditional ~ meal go to El Azteca (my favorite Mexican joint) on Freedom! It's delicious. -
Review from Paula E.
San Diego, CA
7/2/2011
TWO YUMMS DOWN!
If you appreciate REAL Mexican food, avoid this place. If you want a place to hang out with friends to have a drink in a beautiful ambience, you will like this place. Me, I avoid it like the plague. -
Review from Jennie P.
The salsa was on HIT! They also have pretty good specials going on! There wasn't any "WOW" factor about this place.. except for the cheap prices!
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Review from Kristin V.
Campbell, CA
1/12/2011
This place is the bomb diggity. My family and I ate here back in November and the food was delicious. Large portions and great drinks! Awesome staff, too. I only give four stars because the waiter forgot about us a few times. We had to ask a few times to get our drinks. : (
Bottom line- next time I am in Watsonville, I will hit this place up! -
Review from Lacey H.
Pleasant Hill, CA
11/21/2010 1 photo
This place is awesome. The service was great, and their happy hour margarita's were surprisingly fresh tasting. I had the cheese enchillada, with green sauce, and rice/beans and lettuce on the side. Nom nom nom. Their chips are warm, slightly salty and crispy. And I fell in love with their 5 minute salsa (gone in 5 minutes). The ingredients were fresh, and everything on the plate complimented each other (which is important for Mexican food, since I typically mix everything together anyway). The most shocking dish, though, of the five that my group had, was the seafood nachos. I have included a photo of this Goliath in the photo album above. It was a monster of a dish, and included octopus. My brother informed me that it was one of the best meals he had ever had twice (he had half at the restaurant, and half at home later.)
Please do come here. It is pretty out of the way for me (an hour and 45 minutes from my house), but I hope to be back soon. -
Review from David A.
Morgan Hill, CA
5/6/2011
I have always loved Jaliscos. But my last visit was plain terrible. The food was below par, our waiter ignored us much of the night, he confused our orders several times, got our checks wrong, discharged our cards several times, and was rude and belligerent in addressing it. Then 2 days later our cards were again charged $25! I can't in good conscience recommend Jaliscos based on this behavior.
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Review from Sushi S.
6/4/2011
Enough food to feed villages... in Mexico.
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Review from Liz B.
Royal Oaks, CA
12/12/2010
This is the Mexican restaurant that everyone comes to when celebrating or hanging out. One of the best in town, if not THE best. It does not have taqueria prices, though. If you're looking for some tacos or a burrito, you're probably best served to go some place else. This is Mexican dining, not snacking.
My partner likes the huachinango, but I like their ensalada de carne con nopales best. Their tamales and their flan is pretty good, too. If you order guacamole, they will make it for you tableside. You'll be dropping at least $10 or more per person, especially if you order drinks. They have a bar menu if you want lower priced options, but it's not a cheap restaurant. If you want to spend only a few bucks, go to Super Taqueria or one of the Mexican supermarkets that have wrap-out burritos to go. -
Review from Rocio F.
Watsonville, CA
8/23/2011
The service sucked. I've come here a couple of times and received OK service (business lunches, friends birthdays, etc) but the last time I came with my brother, I was highly unsatisfied. I ordered the fajitas and they completely forgot to bring my rice and beans. What was I supposed to eat? Meat and onion? By the time I could even get my waiter to notice me to tell him about my missing rice and beans, my fajitas were cold and greasy. Not the best service and not the best food. I was highly dissappointed.
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Review from Salty D.
Santa Cruz County, CA
Updated - 6/16/2011
The restaurant
Decent food, excellent service, okay prices, clean, good ambiance.
Kind of an annoyingly loud mariachi band when we were there, but I'm not sure if that's the norm or what.
For sit down - higher end Mexican food in Watsonville I'd go to Cilantros for food quality, and Jalisco's for ambiance.
The bar:
Good drinks, staff seems to know their alcohol, interesting laser light show thing goin' on at night. Sort of turns into a mini-night club once the lights go down. Once the night club thing gets goin', it's almost an exclusively latino crowd. In fact, the only other non-latinos I saw were the people I was with. Attire in the later hours is your standard club fair. Lots of black dresses, button up shirts, and fancy shoes. Cowboy hats for some of the vaqueros as well. Uniformed security outside.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2011
Pros:
Great food
Great service
Good atmosphere
Lively
Cons:
When they go into club mode at night, it can… Read more »
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Review from Anne d.
Fremont, CA
7/12/2007
My review comes almost a week late. I've been busy, you know, All-Star week and all. That's another story.
This one begins with a wedding...oooh....ahhh...yes, a wedding in Watsonville. Pajaro Dunes, to be exact. It's a nice little beach rental community right on...the beach! The day after the wedding hubby and I decided that some Mexican breakfast or lunch was in order. So, we Yelped Mexican in Watsonville, and to our surprise only a few places came up. One of them was Jalisco.
We called to see how early they opened for Sunday and they were already open (it was around 9am), so that 's good, we were hungry.
The location is right on Main St in the old PG&E building built in 1931. The building was damaged in the Loma Prieta quake and Jalisco owners moved here after the quake when their own building was also damaged. They restored the building to its glamour, it's really quite a striking place, true adobe style and lots of beautiful Mexican colors (colors of Jalisco, more specifically) surround you. Dark wood beams, wrought iron chandeliers and colorful stencil details. I'd say, go just for the architecture, stay for the food.
OK, get to the food already. I wanted breakfast and perused the huevos menu. Since I usually test things with huevos rancheros, I thought maybe I should be different for some reason. So I ventured into Huevos con Nopales (cactus). It was terrrific. The cactus is sort of the same consistency as green chili's used for Chile Rellenos. The flavor is mild, but was wonderful with the scrambled eggs.
Hubby decided to try something del mar. He wavered a bit, but ended up with Camerones a la Diablo. It's a relatively spicy dish, but in his opinion, made better by one of his cooks who is from Jalisco. So, while it was tasty, it wasn't the best he's had...although he wouldn't send it back either!
All in all, a pleasant morning. Blanca our server was attentive, as was the busboy who refilled our water regularly. Next time you are traveling down Hwy 1 to Monterey, you should detour to 152 through town and hit Jalisco. -
Review from Sirinda S.
Los Angeles, CA
11/26/2007
Pros:
The menu is great- lots of variety and seafood (especially shrimp)- which makes it hard to make a choice. The salsa that comes with the chips is very fresh and tasty. HUGE entrees. Very tasty, well seasoned rice. I'm looking forward to going back to try other dishes.
Cons:
The service could have been better- everyone was pleasant enough but not enough follow up was offered. The waiter never checked back to see how our entrees tasted. Also, toward the middle of the meal, they lagged in refilling water (Why are the water glasses so small when the salsa is so spicy?). And it took a while to get our check after we had finished eating. The desserts offered were very limited - flan and ice cream. The drive from Santa Cruz on Highway 1 South is crazy busy on weeknights.
Undecided:
The mariachi band is festive and loud. Good for dinners when you don't want to have conversation but otherwise you'll spend your dinner pantomiming and yelling intermittently. -
Review from Nita L.
Aptos, CA
4/2/2010
Jalisco's has a reasonable and very tasty lunch menu. I especially like that you can substitute a really good salad (not just lettuce) for rice and beans.
....The food is very good
....The portions are huge, enough to take some home for dinner
....The prices are right
....The service is excellent
.....The Tortilla chips and salsa are the best in town! -
Review from Daddy O.
Long Beach, CA
8/9/2007
The experiences I've had at Jalisco's have been mixed. This is not your every day run of the mill Watsonville taqueria with greasy lard-ridden foods.
The offerings at Jalisco's are as rich as they are diverse, with a wide array of options to keep you coming back even after many visits. One of the nicest features I've found is that they offer their breakfast menu even through the lunch hour. This is HUGE. Sometimes I don't get around to eating breakfast at the office, so when I head out for lunch I want a meal that satisfies on multiple levels.
The menus were recently redone, and despite a scandal where some employees had been stealing liquor from restaurant and distributing it to minors on the black market, I still think this is a great place.
The -1 star comes from the price. Their lunch menu is a bit steep. -
Review from Stephen M.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2007
Excellent mexican food. The owner, Stella, can often be seen helping out in the evenings, making sure the food is up to her demanding standards.
The atmosphere is great: The building is a beautiful old villa-style building, with some nice decorations inside. They're usually pretty busy around dinnertime, but the staff are very good. On weekends a mariachi band usually shows up when night falls. They're usually pretty good, but they can get kinda loud and make conversation difficult.
They do an especially good job on Fajitas; standouts are a meat combination with skirt steak, chicken, and prawns, and the seafood fajita with fish, prawns, and scallops. Another great is home-made guacamole; they actually bring a mortar and pestle to your table and make it right there from fresh avocado! Plus, the chips and salsa are superb, probably the best I know of.
Parking isn't that bad; there's a small lot behind the building and another across the street. The prices are a little high, but you get large servings.
If you're looking for great mexican food in Watsonville, this is it. -
Review from Marcella G.
Aptos, CA
4/11/2011
Food: B
Ambience: B+
Margarita (Cadillac) A
Service: B+ -
Review from Patrick O.
San Mateo, CA
2/28/2011
This place hit the spot after coming back from Monterey in desperate need of some good ol' Watsonville Mexican food. This town definitely has some of the best to offer and Jalisco's is definitely now on my list. It was really slow when my girl and I came in here so our waitress was very attentive with helping us. I had the fajitas and the quality of the meat was beyond good. The beans and rice were very flavorful and the chips were extra crunchy like I like um' and the salsa left a pleasing kick on the tongue. Pretty pricey, but well worth it considering the portions are fat.
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Review from Itzhecatl D.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/4/2009
This review is for the restaurant not the bar.
The good:
They offer the staple Mexican foods you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. The chips and salsa were decent. They offer really tasty tortillas and a well balanced list of entrees with meats, poultry, and seafood.
They offer seating outside with heaters in case it gets cold (which is often the case).
The bad:
The food was modest in taste. The pricing was high considering we received a lot of the food cold. The tortillas were in short supply. We ordered more tortillas and they were brought to the table 15+ minutes later. The service was poor.
The ugly:
They have been in business for a long time (I'm not sure how or why). Due to their experience I would expect something of quality perhaps better service, better tasting food, better something... work with me here Jalisco's! -
Review from Grace K.
Palo Alto, CA
9/29/2007
Arite y'all, Jalisco does not mess around. I've only been here once but that is only because my po' ass makes its way over to Lucy's for some cheap tamales or Super Taqueria for some cheap tacos.
That being said... Jalisco is definitely a lovely place for a special meal. I made a large reservation here for a friend's surprise birthday party. The service was so-so-- the woman on the phone was not very helpful, but I understand that it was incredibly busy and it was also a Friday night-- their busiest night since they have live mariachi.
Our server was awesome. He was adorable and completely helpful despite half our party being super sloppy drunk. The food was delicious, but I found my shrimp to be slightly overcooked.
Overall, a good experience but I'm not sure if it's worth the price or the hike over to Watsonville... especially since Lucy's is just across the street! -
Review from Ed R.
San Francisco, CA
7/24/2006
While waiting for a table, we had a couple of nice Margueritas. Warning (you probably knew already): don't load up on the corn chips and salsa! After a long day, I was starving and had a few, but then I couldn't even get through a quarter of my meal.
In the morning, I left the doggy bag with most of the meal in the hotel fridge. C(&$^ m(*&%&!! -
Review from Lindsey D.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/5/2009
I love Jalisco's for lunch! Most of their lunch specials are around $10, and big enough to eat the other half for dinner. You can get any of their lunch specials with a salad instead of rice and beans for no extra charge, and they have a tasty salad. It usually has tomato, cucumber, mandarin oranges, and avocado on top of mixed greens. My favorite is the #9, which is a prawn burrito stuffed with prawns, broccoli, mushrooms, cauliflower, and whole beans....Mmmm.
They also have pretty fast service and I'm able to get back to work on time. -
Review from Tina B.
San Jose, CA
4/10/2011
Great for food and drinks.
Friday night alot of locals go and make it a hang out spot. -
Review from Anthony R.
Silicon Valley
2/22/2009
Now this is MEXICAN FOOD!
A bit high priced, but worth every penny as the food is high quality, the atmosphere is authentica, and the staff is nice.
Get the combination shrimp, steak, and chicken fajita trio!
Good margaritas, and the chips and salsa are addicting! -
Review from Lee S.
Seattle, WA
8/28/2009
Seemingly pretty standard Mexican fare, though they do have a heavier seafood bent. A mariachi wanders the dining area serenading diners with music. The seafood soup was quite flavorful, and had a wide variety of different items throughout(crab, mussel, fish, shrimp, etc). The seafood fajitas had a nice selection of seafood as well. The rest of the dishes were about what you'd expect from a typical Mexican restaurant.
The service when I was there was pretty abysmal. Our waiter never wound up getting some things that we had requested(like extra chips, drinks, etc). We wound up having to ask the bartender who graciously helped us out. Being on a Wednesday night, they weren't exactly busy either. -
Review from Lindsay S.
Santa Cruz, CA
6/17/2008
Real Mexican Food. You can get your classic tacos, enchiladas, burritos - and they'll bring you the best thing you've ever had. But you can also have their amazing grilled dishes, awesome fish soups, and fresh guacamole that they made at your table.
It's a little pricey... but I go there as often as I think I can afford it. -
Review from Ana R.
New York, NY
4/23/2009
Beans and rice could be better.
Good fajitas.
Nice people -
Review from Sony M.
Aptos, CA
1/2/2010
My favorite Mexican restaurant in whole Santa Cruz, Watsonville area. Very warm, welcoming place, nice decor with awesome food. I have been there many times, and I have always had pleasant experience.
Their portions are pretty generous, I always turn home with doggy bag. I love their nachos, they are pretty big. I am a vegetarian, I eat veggie burrito. I think it is nomero dos in the menu, and I love it.
Servers are usually kind and friendly. Their restrooms are always clean, which is very important for me.
All over very good place to eat! -
Review from Nikki S.
Campbell, CA
5/30/2010
My fiancé and love the margaritas, and of course the food. The enchiladas suizas are my fave. Not to mention live music every week and karaoke night too. It's definitely worth the drive. When we're in town we always come for dinner and flan.
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Review from vanessa s.
Hollister, CA
5/3/2008
The food was awesome if you like cheese. Never before have I seen a mexican meal with 90% cheese. I couldn't finsh my meal at all for fear of choking on the handfuls of melted cheese. The place is rather lovely and the staff is top notch but everything was done in Spanish and I really hate it when they assume everyone at the table assumes they speak spanish. When my friends pointed to me and another guy the waiter got annoyed and was hesitant if he had to repeat the menu again. From then on, I just knew I had to yelp this place. At seven people at a table for a lunch meal, they tacked on a 32.00 tip! Insane. Insaaaane. While the pickings are slim in Watsonville, I would hands down head on over to Del Taco.
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Review from Nancy N.
Watsonville, CA
7/20/2007
This is a great restaurant/bar. Mariachi on certain nights and special club events with a DJ, artist performances and more! Check in to see their upcoming events.
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Review from Arturo C.
Watsonville, CA
7/10/2009
Decent Mexican American food. Not authentic but everything tastes good. Try the fajitas!
