44 Best Mexican Restaurants near Half Moon Bay

“I was there with my daughter and we both have great appetite. plates have plenty of food and it was delicious so much that my daughter bought extra hot sauce she really enjoyed it well so do I. highly recommended and I will visit you guys again whenever I go back to California.“

“I was surprised how good the food here is! Not too greasy, and very reasonably priced, they're also open late and jave both indoor and outdoor seating. Service is also very good, I would definitely recommend if you're looking for lunch or a quick late night bite in Half Moon Bay.“

“This took me far too long to write, but I wanted to find the right words to say. My husband and I had been waiting two long years to get married. We postponed twice because of the pandemic and in the course of that time changed our venue to San Benito House. Let me tell you, that was the BEST decision we ever made. Not only is the venue itself incredibly beautiful and the food so delicious, but Kai and his staff bent over backwards for us and all of our guests. Kai is the ultimate hype guy and he took what normally would have been a stressful event to plan, and made it so easy and fun. I would (and will) recommend that anyone who is wanting a Half Moon Bay wedding, that this is the ultimate place to go. Our guests are still talking about the day and if we could, we’d do it 1000 times over just to experience the magic again. Thank you, thank you, thank you! To Kai and the incredible staff, you are truly THE BEST.“

“Authentic incredible eats. If you’re lucky enough to pass by and grab a bite , don’t miss the quesabirria plate, fried chicken and curly fries, as well as the tacos. Very generous with the guacamole and the best food and service. Thank you and can’t wait to be back during our annual trip to HMB“

“Food is good but the reviews need to be updated so badly. We stopped here thinking it'd be cheap only to find out the only menu photos are from 6 years ago and prices are dramatically raised now. Still got stuff just would've been nice to have been aware ahead of time... One star off for that only otherwise a great place imo“

“These guys are exactly what we we’re looking for! Great margarita’s and really good food!“

“Food was good and the service was great. We rolled in 20 min to closing and so did quite a few other people and they were nice and didn't rush anyone which was nice. I had the chili relleno dinner and my guy has the barbacoa plate. The salas bar was fresh and delicious and the fresh churro was good.“

“Delicious food, super friendly service. A little slower than a typical restaurant, but that’s because everything is made to order and not sitting around in a pan waiting to be served. The food was amazing, and so pretty!“

“Great food an Service. Friendly staff and generous portions.“

“First time trying the food at this spot and all I can say is that I got surprised, I ordered an alambre and when I got home it overpass my expectations, not only that flavor is good but the presentation was amazing, I'll be back for sure!“

“Still the best kept secret in San Mateo. I’m moving tomorrow and this food is what I’m going to miss the most. The portions are generous, the price is affordable, the service can’t be beat. Cash only. Small parking lot. Family owned and operated. The carne asada is delicious! Actually I haven’t had a bad meal here. Take away is available. You won't be disappointed . Skip the la cumbre and pancho villa. Come get the best!“

“Once of those great authentic cuban restaurant. Their food and drinks are one of a kind. They have this distinct taste that they can be proud to compete in the food industry. Definitely and highly recommended. Our top choice when it comes to cuban cravings.“

“Do you love going to Flavortown? How about dreaming with your eyes open? Then try these birria tacos. The first time I had it was from leftovers that my daughter brought home for lunch. Then I drove from Oakley to San Mateo to have them fresh. It was AMAZING! They provide extra stuff to add to the tacos, but it honestly didn’t need them. The meat was so tender & flavorful that I had to close my eyes so I could fully appreciate the taste. Then I added the extras one by one & it tasted like a new taco each time. I know it seems like I’m exaggerating, but it’s really that good! My only wish is that they had seating nearby & a second location closer to Oakley.“

“Me encanto les pedí un pastelito para mi niño y ellos le cantaron las mañanitas .no lo esperaba me gustó mucho!!!“

“Great food. Fantastic value. Don’t tell people, it’s already too popular 😃“

“The Super Shrimp Burrito is the best thing on the menu, idk what the chef does back there but he’s amazing. I literally come here maybe once every 2-3 weeks just because it’s so good. best thing to do is get chips and put it in the burrito. Fire!!!“

“Best Chile Verde I have had in years! Excellent food, friendly staff, and pleasant setting.“

“Food delicious and authentic“

“This spot is takeout-only, but honestly the food speaks for itself. I’ve been ordering the chicken ensalada pretty regularly, and it’s become a favorite. The ingredients taste fresh, and I really like the mix of cauliflower, cabbage, and tomatillos. The pulled chicken and tofu options are both great, especially with the green cilantro sauce — that sauce ties everything together.

They only have one dessert, a dark chocolate cashew pudding, but it’s made with clean ingredients and tastes solid without feeling heavy or overly sweet. Another plus: they stay open later than most places in the Bay Area, which makes it a reliable go-to when everything else is closed.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for healthy food that still feels satisfying.“

“La atención y la comida muy buena“

“Each meal I’ve had here has been consistently fresh and well-prepared. Did I mention delicious? The staff is friendly and attentive.“

“One of the best Taquerias around, hands down. Charlie’s does it right.

If you are in the mood for Mexican food, look no further. This is the spot you should come check out. They have fantastic tacos and burritos. If you come on the weekend you might be able to get specials like menudo.

Along with exceptional food they also provide very friendly and welcoming service. A true San Mateo staple well worth checking out if you haven’t already. Keep it up Charlie’s!“

“Hadn’t been here in nearly 30 years, we moved to Seattle, but back for vacation. Had to have the Cancun platter. Just like I remembered!!“

“los mejores tacos los recomiendo🤤“

“Best Chile Verde I have had in years! Excellent food, friendly staff, and pleasant setting.“

“Great food menu & fast service“

“We love the food and Fresca.“

“L verdd q todo es súper rrica la comida y la atención es muy buena“

“Excellent Cadillac margaritas!! Service and food is always great.“

“This is my favorite spot for Mexican style seafood aka mariscos! So fresh and amazing ceviche and aguachile! The shrimp are just as amazing!“

“I purchased the Super Nachos they were great the chips were fresh. The service was good the cook came out to check on me and asked about the food. I was pleased that they were very nice and attentive to their customers. Everyone was friendly and as a customer that is what I enjoyed the most. I've never been to a place where the cooks checked in on me about the food. See my plate below and the portion size was wonderful. I will definitely be returning for a second trip to try other items on the menu.“

“I thought the food was great! The ingredients were high quality and I was licking the plate at the end. There may be some struggles with the service due to them primarily speaking Spanish. The server is also a quiet speaker. The atmosphere didn't really stand out to me, as the restaurant was mostly empty. Overall, it was a good experience that I would recommend for those in the area who want good Mexican food.“

“Ordered California Super Nachos with Cabeza to go ($13.68 after tax), which came with free chips. I will say the fries weren't crispy and the guacamole is watery, but this was phenomenal. The meat was so tender and flavorful, and it came with all three salsas which were great (the spicy one is no joke though). The phone orders cut out a lot and it can be a bit hard if you don't speak Spanish, but just try to speak clearly and it will be fine. Really freaking good stuff for the price point.“

“Great job on the hand made tortilla“

“I recently grabbed lunch at a local taco truck, and the experience was delightful. The carne asada tacos were flavorful, and the spicy salsa added a nice kick. The staff was friendly, making the visit enjoyable. However, the tacos were priced at $3 each, which seemed a bit high for a food truck. Despite this, the quality of the food made it worthwhile“

“A delicious breakfast! I ordered menudo, refried beans with fresh cheese, machaca (shredded dried beef), and my favorite jasmine tea. The prices are very reasonable for the portion sizes. 100% recommended, whether you're looking for a traditional Mexican- Sinaloense breakfast or some delicious seafood. Un desayuno riquísimo en San Mateo. Ordené menudo, frijoles puercos con queso fresco, machaca, y no podía faltar el té de jazmín. Los precios son muy accessibles para las porciones. Recomendados al 100. Ya sea por un desayuno sinaloense tradicional o unos deliciosos mariscos.“

“The best tasting Mexican food ever! I always order their Cabeza De Res burrito. Very few Mexican food trucks sell cows head. But this taco truck introduced me to this very flavorful dish. Please don’t hesitate to give tips, they always makes me feel so happy with their “piping hot foods” and free crispy warm nachos.“

“What an amazing Mexican delight. I didn’t know what to expect but wow did the food deliver. I got the super beef taco and the ceviche salad. Both were incredible and fresh with amazing seasonings and flavour. Thanks for the wonderful experience. Def underrated on the reviews. This place is a gem.“

“We had red sangria, delicious seafood salad in a tostada shell, chicken enchilada, beef taco, chicken taco combo plate(not pictured) and fried ice cream in a tostada shell. It was so good like everything else we had before.“

“Shout out to this wonderful neighborhood spot serving up some great homestyle cuisine. I stopped in for breakfast and ordered chorizo with eggs. Everything was delicious and well seasoned. Fresh salsas and homemade tortillas rounded out the meal. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. If I lived in the neighborhood I would return again and again.“

“Great time to get away with your wife“

“This place is an absolute hidden gem. My family and I stopped here on our way to SFO looking for great Mexican food, and it completely exceeded our expectations. We ordered the Rigos Taco Combo and the Tacos Suaderos. Let me tell you, the suaderos were hands down the best tacos I have ever had in my life.

What makes this establishment truly special, though, is the hospitality. We connected immediately with the owner, who is incredibly kind and caring. She went out of her way to welcome us, even gifting our entire family a complimentary quesa-birria taco and consome just to share her amazing food. The entire team kept checking in on us, genuinely wanting to ensure we had a perfect experience.

Eating here gives you a very special feeling. It feels like you are enjoying the best tacos imaginable right at a family member's house. A definitive 5/5 stars, we will absolutely be back!“

“They are actually open after the listed closing time but they move the truck and park near the Safeway at Delaware and Peninsula instead. They're usually there from like 6PM to 9PM I thinkThe menu only lists res, chivo, and pollo as options but they also do all the other regular taqueria meats as wellGreat food, the super burritos and super quesadillas are unbelievably gigantic 5/5“