Joe's Taco Lounge & Salsa
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
158 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
"BEST SALSA BAR EVER! I heard about this spot because of it's sister spot in Berkley that I used to go to WAY back in the day when I was…" read more »
113 Reviews for Joe's Taco Lounge & Salsa
Fire grilled corn on the cob and some amazing sauce they serve in a squeeze bottle! :)
I get the shrimp tacos with extra sauce. YUM!!!
And for those of you who remember what life was like when you didn't have any responsibilities (and you could risk a quick trip to the ER), they have the most amazing hot sauce collection I've ever seen since my days at Netcentives. Go ahead, ask them to try the hottest one they've got.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
Joe's Taco "living room" not Lounge. Tostada was pretty tasty, but the tacos that were ordered were big on tortilla and not so much on the fish. The gal at out table got the crab tacos and those were quite plentiful with filling. Glad I tried, but will stay in SF for this type of fare.
On the whole, I'd say it's good for what & where it is. The decor is fun and interesting.
Some aspects of Joe's really bugged me, though:
1) Chips & Salsa cost $2. Excuse me? Chips are cheap and the salsa isn't all that.
2) They have lots of froofy sodas, but no tamarindo. Huh?
3) They add an 18% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. 5 seems pretty arbitrary and/or low to me. Mandatory gratuities, especially at a taco joint, rub me the wrong way.
I guess that's why it's in Mill Valley, and it's Joe's, not Jose's.
On the positive side, it's not too expensive (although that chip charge stings on principle.) The chicken quesadilla looked yummy, and my carnitas tacos were good, if a little heavy on the cabbage. The corn cake seemed to be the go-to nosh at this joint.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Joe's is pretty much insane.
Joe's has been a staple in my life for a long time. I have known Joe (who passed away in 2003) since I was a toddler, he and his family are very close to mine. As such I have been coming to Joe's for a long time, and I even worked there for 2 years back in the late 90s.
Thus, I have watched it change over the years, but at the same time, so much has not changed. Joe's consistently serves up great Mexican food, with a traditional bent. Joe was a consummate lover of good food and in our travels to Mexico he was always looking for the right taco, the right salsa, the right style of carnitas. When he thought he found it all he brought it all home to Mill Valley where it became an instant hit.
All of the salsas are home made (there are hundreds of bottles of commercial salsas in a ring around the restaurant, to be used by all, but all the salsas that are served by the kitchen are fresh). The pizza dough (yes, Joe's has pizza was serious south-of-the-border bent) is homemade with a wonderful corn meal crust.
The decor itself is like walking into the living room of a Mexican Elvis, or any luchador who has hit the big time. Joe's wife has a done an incredible job decorating the place, and its very shiny and captivating. With such classic icons as a Virgin of Guadalupe and velvet paintings of bull fighters, you know you are in the Mexican Mecca.
Ok, lets get to the food. The specialty of the house are the Ensenada Fish Tacos. These are strips of snapper that are breaded and then fried to a crisp. Served with a spicy aioli, fresh salsa negra and lettuce on a corn tortilla - amen. Joe's features a grilled snapper fish taco, a healthier alternative to the fried version, and it is very good. But if you are at Joe's, then throw it all out the window and go Ensenada.
One of my favorite dishes the is Tofu Tostada. The tofu is decidedly NOT authentic to the Mexican idea, but Joe's still pulls it off. Think friend, crispy Tofu served on a tostada with shredded cabbage, salsa, guacamole, cilantro, oh boy very divine - and maybe one of the healthiest items on the menu.
Joe's can get packed, but the service is very fast so turnover is quick.
As a whole, you cannot go wrong with Joe's. It is a true Mexican experience.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
my friend comes over from oakland at like 8:30pm on a sunday to eat and everything's closing... welcome to mill valley. you eat early or be prepared to plonk down 50 bucks for dinner. we managed to squeak into joe's taco which has dependable white bread mexican food for cheap, beer and wine.
here's the secret thing though... they put mayonaise in everything. or according to my friend who used to wait tables there. have you ever?! its wrong on outerspace levels to me, mayo in a burrito?? so regardless of what the menu states i always say... no mayo.
fyi, the tofu tostada is HUGE, good, and like 6 bucks! shaaazaamm!!
I thought I'd end on a good note.
Nice pit stop after a wind swept hike on Mt. Tam. Had a craving for Joe's famous fish tacos, which they have an option of 2 to choose from ~ marinated grilled, and fried.
Walking in, I was delighted by the festive ambiance and the line up of hot sauce along the wall. Was great to pull a few off the shelf to try with my tacos and chips-salsa-guac.
Service friendly and with a smile.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (3)
So, here's the thing. I live in Pacific Heights and so more often than not a drive to San Francisco's Mission District or even over to Nick's Crispy Tacos, becomes a horrid ordeal - cross town traffic, parking issues ... But thankfully there is a beacon of light with superb grilled fish burritos just over the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a quick trip - about 15-20 minutes from Pac Heights, and there's always a place to park. So I ring up, order it "to go" and by the time I arrive, dinner's ready.
Now about the food ... did I mention that their grilled fish burrito ROCKS?? !! The salsa fresca has just enough snap on a mild day to make me happy.
I love this place, hang there with my cycling buddies. Easy parking, usually pretty good service and great fish tacos. Prices are reasonable too.
Their grilled fish tacos are pretty good and pretty cheap by Marin standards. They take forever to bring cerveza refills though. They've got Cholula on every table and lots of other hot sauces to select from lining the walls. The salsa was very mild that was served with the chips. I just dump some hot sauce in the salsa to spice it up.
This place epitomizes "quirky"--bright colors, funky knick-knacks, and that massive bar in the middle. I really dig it. It's very warm and welcoming, as are the servers.
As others have mentioned, Joe's can get packed, but there's quick turnover, thanks to the speedy service. And there are benches where you can wait outside. Or you could just take it to go and enjoy the beautiful Marin weather. It seems like it's always sunny and warm here!
This is my favorite place to stop on the way to or from somewhere-- Muir Woods, Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Mt. Tam, etc. The food is filling and fresh, but not heavy or too greasy. Just right.
Dishes I've really liked in the past include the plantains and the fish tacos.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Went to Joes Taco after a nice long hike to Alamere Falls in April. We were seated next to a table of about 7 kids. Parents were on the other side of the room...hmmmm, I wonder why? Well, the kids were pretty "hyper" and my boyfriend had to keep asking one of the kids to stop hitting his chair and getting in his space. It was a loud bunch.
Regarding the food, the salsa was a bit "oniony", my fish tacos were good and my boyfriend's burrito was a little dry. It needed some salsa, guacamole and sour cream. Probably these items should have been asked for, prior to biting into the burrito that was already made.
This is a pretty casual place, good to go after a nice hike. If you are looking for peace and quiet, probably not the best place to go.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
This is a great place to come with the family and have a beer. The food is pretty good, but I can't stand the rice. I usually get the enchiladas or the tofu tostada. It can be quite the MV-arian scene on the weekends from 5 - 7, so either come after 7 on those days or be prepared to see your future leaders toddle around while their parents get loaded.
I like the chips and salsa here too.
Here's the thing about Joe's: Its the closest restaurant to my house. I'm pretty sure my frequent visits have a lot more to do with this proximity aspect than any other aspect.
The eat-in experience isn't that great, its difficult to have a private conversation there. People are always waiting for tables in any available space, making the bar really the best place to sit. At times I've had trouble getting the waitstaff to realize my order has been sitting in the window getting cold for the last 10 minutes. Yes, it's nearly always packed, and often with small, annoying, whining, under-supervised, spoiled, yuppie children.
There's an enormous selection of hot sauces, but they are on this sort of ledge running around place so you have to either take what's closest to you or risk seeming like a weirdo peering over different tables to get what you want. I'd almost prefer they just stick to one good one at put it at every table.
The BRC burrito is my standby, and its pretty good. Needs the aforementioned hot sauce. I've also had the veggie tacos - a huge mess, too cabbagey and not very satisfying. Not recommended. When ordering "to go" we've had trouble getting them to tell us the order is ready. Milling around for 25 minutes, waiting, and them finally saying, "Is this anyone's? Its been sitting here for 15 minutes!" Gee. Thanks.
Joe's did save our butts the weekend our power was out after that huge crazy storm in January when we were absolutely not going to cook by candlelight. I called ahead and the order was ready to go when I was - I just waded through the water and 25 people waiting for tables, snatched up or sack of Mexican delights and headed back to our dark cold house. That night Joe's warmed up the place and it was a godsend.
Ho hum. To me, this "gentrified" mexican food. Granted I lived in the Mission District for a while. The salsa bar serves various different sals'a that do not pack much heat. But you can up the ant by picking a hot sauce of your choice from the wall. The prices are reasonable, the food pretty fresh, the atmosphere is great. Heck, I even saw the "Red Rocker" here once! I guess it comes back to the authenticity of it all. It just seems like Mexican Food for Marin-ites...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Food = mediocre. It was edible but very boring, especially for Mexican food!
Service = mediocre, friendly but barely able to take the orders or refill the drinks.
Decor = bright with many, many Virgin Mary statues.
Yeah...I'm not sure I hate it, but can't like it either.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
Some of the best gringo enchiladas in the North Bay. They've got some that have chicken and a white sauce that make you want to eat them in the smallest bites possible to make them last longer. That's good.
I think the person serving me the last time I was in was new or a friend of the owner/s but he went above and beyond to make sure I had enough beer, water, tortillas, chips, salsa, that my table was clean, and that I was happy. Yet, he wasn't over the top and in my face. Good job bro.
Winner - great food (chicken tostada is best), great atmosphere & service. Have ordered almost everything on the menu - the fish tacos are also very good. Small room but tables turn quickly. Wort hthe wait if there is a line
there is a reason they include salsa into their title. it is delicious, fresh, and a highlight to any experience here.
also unique to this place are their lounge sodas...a lime soda or a lemon soda are usually my favorite compliments to the meal.
beyond that, the food is always tastey, however still haven't found that magic item on the menu that really knocks me out. still, the menu offerings i have had are good enough to keep me coming back, and make a great stop after catching a show at mtc.
Whenever the wise foodie sage, Natasha S., speaks, you must listen. She said "Go to Joe's Taco Lounge." I didn't question. I just went. Kitschy, lively, and fresh were the words that came to mind. This is probably as ethnic as Mill Valley gets, but it's still good. Food portions weren't overbearing or heavy (except perhaps if you ordered what looked to be a whale sized burrito). Hibiscus aqua fresca - surprisingly different. The bright salsa was fresh if very mild. The chicken tortilla soup was filled with homemade goodness--chock full of shredded chicken, delicate tortilla strips--a lovely comfort filler for the stomach. The grilled fish tacos were a nice mix of fresh tomatoes/onions, marinated fish, and sauce. Service was lickety split (mid-afternoon on Sun so the lunch crowd had died down). Definitely a fine choice for light and tasty fare after a day of outdoor playing around Mill Valley.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (2)
Cool (4)
I love this place. It reminds me of my time in Austin, TX. The tacky Jesus and hot sauces everywhere are a nice step outside of Marin. Very cozy.
The plantains rock ... alway fresh out of the fryer served with sour cream.
Chips and fresh pico/salsa. My ten year old loves the pico.
The fish tacos are so yummy, both grilled and fried. Complement them with an Anchor (or the Lava juice if you aren't into booze) for a refreshing post hike refuel.
I have been to Joe's twice and enjoyed my meal both times. The interior is bright, friendly and warm. A long shelve stretches the length of the building on both sides and is chocked full of hot sauces and a diner counter is plopped right smack in the middle of the room. When the place is full, it can be kind of cramped, but it adds to the cozy quality.
There is an interesting pulley system that is over the diner counter and goes to the kitchen. My being a nosy-rosy asked what it was for and apparently before the age of computers they used to send orders back to the kitchen via the pulley system. Just another item to add to Joe's charm.
I ordered the chicken burrito both times and both times was so happy that I did. Whatever they marinate the chicken in is awesome. My boyfriend LOVES the street burger and raved about it for months. I wasn't blown away by it, but it was good.
I recommend getting a pitcher of water because the hot sauces on the shelf will tempt you and you will need to be prepared. We asked for several orders of salsa and doctored them up with the hot sauces. Try the scotch bonnet one, it will sneak up on you when you least expect it.
If you're looking for an excuse to get out of the city, Joe's is as good of an excuse as any. It's right next to a Whole Foods and a strip of really cute shops so you can go shopping before or after.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Joe's Taco Lounge is where customer service comes to die. For a place that looks as cute, fun and kitchy as Joe's, it was surprising to discover that the employees were almost completely bereft of any charm whatsoever.
The tacos were alright, but not really worth the lame atmosphere; we went at 5:30 pm on a Monday, which evidently is feeding time for the children of Mill Valley. We were practically the only table without two kids under the age of six. Maybe its our fault for going at this time and we should try again - at least I hope thats the case.
(yes, I find an overabundance of small children and their oblivious parents to be deleterious to my dining experience sometimes. In this case, definitely.)
BUT! get this ...
No liquor license = no margaritas. My ears burst into flames when our server delivered this abysmal news. The embers of my earflames burned bright when he offered me a margarita made with wine!
And!
They charge for chips and salsa. Wasn't the term "WTF" invented for places that charge for chips? I thought so.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (3)
Cool (3)
Okay, I don't like Mexican food, but my husband keeps taking me to Mexican places, so I feel I need to give them a review.
I ordered a crab tostada and if I am ever presuaded to go eat Mexican again, THIS will be the place. The only thing that I am certain about is that there was fresh cracked crab on my plate. Whatever it was mixed with, I really don't know. I am not a beans person and there weren't any beans. It was really good and I would go again.
Finally a little Mexican place in Mill Valley with real honest-to-goodness personality . Joe's has handfuls of personality to spare. Go ahead and try to count the number of salsa bottles ringing the place. The fare is surprisingly good while being relatively cheap and the wait-staff is attentive. The Agua Frescas is tasty, the beer is cold and food is spicy (if you like it that way).
i love everything about JOE'S! the food is fantastic, the decor is fun and the take out service is exceptional! my only order dishes are the shrimp taco's and the corn cakes. total YUM!
The atmosphere gets 5 stars, but I always rank places on the food. You can get a decent meal here. Nothing to rave about, but if you're in the mood for a colorful Mexican shabby chic cozy place, this is it. It's a neighborhood place, small, and usually has people waiting to get in. The wainscotting has all different bottles of hot sauce, which is decorative and practical. The prawns diablo is pretty good...spicy.
I like the kitsch. And all the hot sauces. I got the chicken tacos and a side of spanish rice -- yummy! I don't usually get tacos, but I felt like I should since "taco" is in the name. They were quite good, and made even better by a few drops of hot sauce! My boyfriend got the grilled corn on the cob and the taquitos. The corn on the cob was really good, and would probably be even better in the summer, when corn is in season! The taquitos were also really good, especially the sauce. Yum Joe's Taco Lounge!
Great food, cute spot. You can eat outside with your pooch, too. And since this is Mill Valley, you probably won't freeze your butt off while you're doing it. The service is lackluster, but not so bad that it gets in the way of my enjoyment of the fish tacos.
This place is great! I love their grilled snapper taco's as well as their snapper burritos. My boyfriend's favorite is their shrimp quesadilla. They have a great selection of Mexican beers for only $4.00. Their decor is welcoming eclectic and have great chips, salsa and guacamole. I recommend this place to anyone who wants a really great fish taco, anyone with kids, or anybody that wants a satisfying meal for not very much money.
Mill Valley is not known for good restaurants. Joe's Taco Lounge is a great find in this town and it's actually affordable (surprising since Mill Valley is a hoity-toity town full of yuppies). It's a fun place that serves up tacos and other Mexican fare in a fun and casual environment. Now, I've had way better tacos elsewhere in San Francisco, but for Mill Valley, this place really shines. Fresh salsa and chips, ice cold beer, and fish tacos with guacamole made up my dinner this time around. One small disappointment was that the tacos had way too much cabbage just to make the plate look fuller. I had to push most of that cabbage off the taco before eating it. Lots of hot sauces to choose from. Big selection of other dishes that I'm excited to try next time, including brugers. I'll certainly go back to this place since it's one of the only good places to eat in it's neighborhood.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
The same dudes that say Fred's is one of the best breakfast joints ever, will have you believe that Joe's Taco Lounge is an institution.
If they had any brains at all, they would stay open when the 2am Club is open, and sell tacos out of a window. That's my opinion.
But with so many great Taquerias 7 or 8 miles in any direction, why would you waste your money? If you actually took the time to think about it, I don't think you would.
Food isn't great but it isn't bad either. Service is usually horrible but it is an easy place to go grab food on a weekend. And they have beer. Good luck getting refills.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
OK folks- this is IN Marin so yes, Marinites (SUV-driving, kid-doting yuppies) will actually be dining there! So if you don't like us, head on back to San Francisco after enjoying your bike ride on Mt Tam. Enough said. Those of us who don't get out of Marin that often think it's a gem.
The food- fish tacos are the way to go and the atmosphere is great.
Cheers!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Baja Prawn Tacos and a side of Rice OR Tofu Tostada and a Lava Soda! That's all you really need to know, oh and the Street Burgers!! You might want two if you're a big eater. Everything on the menu is GREAT but those are our Classics that are very hard to stray from! Local family owned vibe and hospitality. Saturday's breakfasts are great too!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
this place is OG. its definately worth the drive out to mill valley to check it out and its quirkyness. get some prawn tacos.
So I decided to check out Mill Valley on Labor Day weekend. Went on a nice hike with the dog and then needed to find a outdoor spot to have lunch. I really did not find a lot of choices for eating alfresco, but then I spotted Joe's. The menu is pretty straight forward, tacos and such. I had the steak tacos/ 2 for $5.50. They where pretty tasty and just the right size. I also enjoyed the chips and salsa. The salsa was not smooth, which is what I normally like, but still good. Could use a bit more of a kick though.
I don't live in this area and I don't really see myself coming back too soon, however if I did, I know I would be a Joe's regular!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
not going to bother with the complete rundown, or dispute its 'mexican' chops, but simply say that the marinated fish tacos are fabulous and a great deal. nice to sit out front after a hike. really like the fact that you can sample many salsas with your tacos, kind of fun.
Mucho Fantastico!
I tried the crab taco's that they were simply delicious, they also have a shirmp tostada that is very tasty. You can sit at the bar or at a table and it's very cozy and homey.
Wow, I haven't thought about this place in ages. I used to eat here all the time and enjoyed the place - well that is until someone in my party became extremely ill afterward and I'm talking severe food poisoning. I was never able to go back after that, although I'm sure it was an unusual occurrence, I just can't face it after that experience. I called them about it to report the problem but whoever I spoke to didn't seem to care very much.
4 stars for the food prior to that, but I have to deduct a star, at least, for the time it made someone very ill and how that was received.
If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have given it 4 stars, but alas, only 2 this time. I went here after, you guessed it, a walk in Tennessee Valley.
The food: I always get the ensenada fish tacos which used to taste exactly as they do in Baja - amazing, light, airy. Not this time - I was so close to sending them back, but resisted afraid they'd spit in my food. They were bland, barely fish blocks of "food" - the farthest from fresh imaginable. The corn on the cob was watery and bleck.
Drinks: don't bother with the margaritas or sangria because there's no booze in them! Get a beer instead.
other than that, it's a fun place to go and I suppose I'll give it once last shot before abandoning it altogether.
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,… -
My 'Hood, the Ill Valley
All the spots where the cool kids hang out and… -
Eat and ride the bike
Here's where I like to eat and drink while bike… -
Top Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the… -
My SF "Go-to" Spots for…
The picky foodie presents her choices for an… -
Vegetarian Goodness
Some of my favorite spots to indulge in some… -
Places to not be Seen
Apple loves real intimacy. Here is where you go… -
My Neighborhood
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Hot and New
- Ike's Place
284 reviews
Neighborhood: Castro
- Halu
11 reviews
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
- Zebulon
280 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
- Kasa Indian Eatery
88 reviews
Neighborhood: Castro
- Caffe Ambrosia
103 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District