Restaurants in Salinas
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Best Restaurants
“Wonderful evening for my wife’s birthday. Great service. Excellent food. Rigatoni bolognese was terrific. Well seasoned. Pasta was perfect. My wife’s carbonara was, she said, the best she had ever had. Great food, excellent service, reasonable prices. Doesn’t get much better!”
Restaurants by Cuisine
“First time visit. Beautiful place, for that special someone, or your entire family. Fancy. Loved the decor. We decided to try a bit of everything and went for carnitas tacos, pizza and a cheeseburger. We all loved our food, and tasted a bit of what we all had ordered. The food was exceptional. The pizza crust was delicious, toppings tasted fresh, and it had honey on it. A first for me, and I loved it. I went with the Monterrey beer, and it was great! We had the churros for dessert. They were amazing. They were nice and hot, crispy, and smelled great. Isaiah was our waiter, and it was a delight to have him wait on us. All waiters should be like that. Friendly, knowledgeable about the food and beer he is serving, well spoken and what seemed a desire to impress the patrons at this bar/restaurant. We had an awesome experience. Yes, in small town Salinas. I personally can’t wait to go back. Like Salinas’ son, Steinbeck, said: “there’s nothing in the world like the first taste of beer.” And, they have lots of beer.”
“Our corvette club had a great time here. The wine was very good and the hospitality great. Love that this is a family owned winery. A sweet young couple with kids just starting out. Please support their new and growing business. 🍷”
Restaurants with Delivery
“Overall great customer service only problem is them staying open when there’s literally no more cookie flavors anymore but the cheesecake ones they can at least put a sign saying there’s only cakes left that way I won’t be in line only to be dissapointed, anyways I love this location because they are very friendly and their secret menu flavors are always excellent!!”
“Outstanding! I had the huaraches birria and was delighted with the flavors and textures. I also had the sangria preparado which was sweet and savory and delicious. Husband had the enchilada with chicken. Chicken was most and perfectly done and he cleaned his whole plate!”
“Wonderful evening for my wife’s birthday. Great service. Excellent food. Rigatoni bolognese was terrific. Well seasoned. Pasta was perfect. My wife’s carbonara was, she said, the best she had ever had. Great food, excellent service, reasonable prices. Doesn’t get much better!”
“First time me and my husband went to try this restaurant. We were beyond pleasantly happy with what we had and everything was perfect service, food, ambience. definitely recommend it to anyone”
“Nice setting looking out the horses in the across the street ranch. No need to face the gas station. Friendly, courteous service. Nice guys there. Good delicious and on time. We’ll be back. Recommended.”
Outdoor Dining
“I'm not from Salinas. So it's not fair to rank or rate this restaurant to others nearby. But I'd say it was quintessential and has an authentic style for California Mexican restaurant.How can you go wrong with local, small business?First time eating a pickled carrot. Tasty, tart and a hint of spice.The four Tacos #1 was amazing.AMAZINGIt's off a main road so easy access but also traffic noise.
Parking: Plenty of parking for the size of the restaurant.
Kid-friendliness: Kids like food too, you know? Feed them
Wheelchair accessibility: Access.”
“Few things in life are as satisfying as tacos crafted with care, and the combination of tripa or lengua on handmade tortillas is a culinary experience worth savoring.
The tripa (beef tripe) is perfectly prepared—crispy on the outside yet tender and flavorful inside, with a rich depth that only proper seasoning and technique can achieve. The lengua (beef tongue) is melt-in-your-mouth tender, subtly seasoned to highlight its natural buttery flavor. Together, they create a perfect balance of textures and taste. Highly recommend them”
“The food had always been far superior to......what word really tops amazing? Out on the road, I try as little as possible to use franchises found at home. We've made this a top choice. its always great to find places to count on when away from home.”
“Thank you Izaha and to the young tall bus boy I think his name is Christen. Our waiter was welcoming and served us with a smile he was patient and considerate. The food was hot a flavorful and delicious. Thank you for the cleanliness of the restaurant and the warm welcome. The young bus boy was very thorough he cared enough to disinfect everything down and used different clothes like he should to wipe the chairs and the tables!! Cleanliness is key!! Thank you 😊”
Online Reservation Available
“First time visit. Beautiful place, for that special someone, or your entire family. Fancy. Loved the decor. We decided to try a bit of everything and went for carnitas tacos, pizza and a cheeseburger. We all loved our food, and tasted a bit of what we all had ordered. The food was exceptional. The pizza crust was delicious, toppings tasted fresh, and it had honey on it. A first for me, and I loved it. I went with the Monterrey beer, and it was great! We had the churros for dessert. They were amazing. They were nice and hot, crispy, and smelled great. Isaiah was our waiter, and it was a delight to have him wait on us. All waiters should be like that. Friendly, knowledgeable about the food and beer he is serving, well spoken and what seemed a desire to impress the patrons at this bar/restaurant. We had an awesome experience. Yes, in small town Salinas. I personally can’t wait to go back. Like Salinas’ son, Steinbeck, said: “there’s nothing in the world like the first taste of beer.” And, they have lots of beer.”
“I came to Mama Lupita's for lunch one day after several hours in the court room listening to juror selection procedures. So I had pretty high expectations and an empty stomach.
There's not too much to say about the restaurant itself. It's somewhat bare, but it's the kind of raw, undesigned design where you can be pretty sure you're about to eat some incredible Mexican food.
But let's verify that. How good really was it?
To begin my meal, I was provided the standard chips and salsa, as well as a consommé that was more like a fiery noodle soup and was quite enjoyable. The chips tasted fresh and rich. But I was let down by the salsa. It really just tasted like watered down cayenne powder, with no interesting notes in flavor or texture. Thus it was also unjustifiably spicy, which is a terrible sin for a salsa to commit.
I ordered the costillas con nopales, and they arrived on an enormous platter with fresh, housemade corn tortillas. The dish was also quite spicy, but this time it felt earned. There were layers in the rich scarlet broth (it looked much brighter in person), some of which were supplied by the meat and nopales. It was a cohesive dish, and not like anything I've had before. The beans and rice were surprisingly good, as I thought they had an anemic appearance. The tortillas were intriguing as well. Not as succulent as a typical housemade corn tortilla but with a curious chewiness and leathery exterior that gave them a delightful mouthfeel. I wish I could have had a few more.
I had a pretty good lunch, and I had the good fortune to discover that Mama Lupita's also has rather comfortable bathrooms, which beat the courthouse stalls by a mile.
If you're looking to beat the jury duty blues I wouldn't off the bat recommend this place (there are plenty of others to try, and I have found better not too much farther away) but given the short walk and decent food I wouldn't tell you not to give it a shot -- just don't take that as legal advice.”
“Thank you Izaha and to the young tall bus boy I think his name is Christen. Our waiter was welcoming and served us with a smile he was patient and considerate. The food was hot a flavorful and delicious. Thank you for the cleanliness of the restaurant and the warm welcome. The young bus boy was very thorough he cared enough to disinfect everything down and used different clothes like he should to wipe the chairs and the tables!! Cleanliness is key!! Thank you 😊”
“Delicious food, they are very welcoming, if there is something wrong with the order they don’t hesitate to fix it. We come here often. I usually order a quesabirria or quesadilla. My daughter loves the sopes and tacos. My husband likes their asada burrito. I’ve had many of their plates and they’re all good. They also have Taco Tuesday. My dad’s favorite. Their food trucks are also good. One thing I do recommend is that they make more aguas frescas since they run out quick every time I go to the restaurant they’re out.
Kid-friendliness: They like having my toddler over. Always talking to her.”
24 Hour Restaurants
“I have gone to many places to take this service, I love the bread they offer here in these units, but in this place Mrs. Noemi is a super, extremely easy-going and kind woman, if you have a bad day this lady lets you know that the Life continues, always with your cheerful and helpful attitude to serve customers, God bless lady so kind and excellent service from you to customers”
“975 N Main St, Salinas, in Sherwood Gardens, is now my favorite Jack in the Box. Jack in the Box became my favorite fast food hamburger when they started using the more substantial split-top hamburger bun.By using the Jack in the Box app, every day in December until Christmas they give the "24 days of Jackmas" offers, with a minimum $1 purchase. Each day they've given different free offers: Bonus Jack, Large Curly Fries, Large Fountain Drink, Oreo Milkshake, Onion Rings, Jumbo Egg Roll.By using their mobile app I can buy 2 tacos for $0.99. Adding the extra cheese for $0.20 makes an order over a dollar qualifying for the free Jackmas offers. I also get the extra lettuce for free.This newer Jack in the Box's dining room is nice and clean and the parking lot is larger and well lit.This morning, my Jackmas offer gave me a free breakfast Jack with my two tacos.The manager, Veronica, greeted me today by name!
Parking: The parking lot is well lit.”
“Hidden little jem! Come here a lot and always make sure to get the Spicy Chirashi, the appetizer Mussels. Only place you'll find this delicious spicy chirashi and I've eaten all across this peninsula. They have so many rolls, you'll definitely find something delicious here.”
“The place was very busy and very loud the evening we were there. The pulled pork sliders were very good. The French dip sandwich was great and the garlic fries were fantastic. They both went down smoothly with a blood orange ale.”
Takeout Restaurants
“We were passing by to take freeway and turned around to try these tacos .. boy were we surprised how good they are and beat part is home made tortillas on the spot A+ Absolutely going back next time in town Recommended takes a little time to get food but well worth it”
“Man the food was amazing... Got 3 tacos, and a bean burrito... For $24 sounds like a lot, but the burrito ? was huge, and the tacos were fresh. Being from Alabama and I love these food trucks, this the only reason I'll come to California. Even though I hate this state, but the food is worth it”
“The Mrs wanted Chinese and her regular spot was closed. Went here for the first time. Got some fried rice and chow mein. Very tasty and although it was two of us, plenty of food for four. Great tasting, priced right and staff was very friendly. Definitely will be back.”
“We have lived in Salinas for over 50 years and can truly say Taquitos is amazing. The food is always on point perfect! The restaurant employees are always so nice. They make you feel at home. We highly recommend Taquitos Restaurant. Today was Father’s Day and the Fajitas were delicious! My husband had the best Father’s Day dinner out. Thank you Taquitos you are the best!”
“Mandarin Garden Review
Currently traveling and wanted Chinese food, looked at the reviews of all the Chinese restaurants in the area and chose this place based on other people's experiences!
Small House Wonton Soup: White fish, charsiu, lots of plump handmade pork wontons, carrots, zucchini, napa cabbage, mushrooms, and bok choy in a clear, light broth. Hearty, and good for about 3 people. 7.5/10
Beef Chow Fun: Wok stir-fried wide rice noodles in soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, ginger, green onion, perhaps a little shaoxing wine and sugar. Well seasoned with the distinct taste of wok-hei. Generous with the beef. Not too much mung bean sprouts and shredded carrot, which I appreciated. Amazing, I was very pleasantly surprised. I grew up eating beef chow fun and it is my go-to order at Chinese restaurants, and this is one of the best I have tasted. 9.5/10
Mongolian beef: Requested to be non-spicy. Looks amazing, lots of beef, good texture, but flavor was okay. Had just a slightly off taste that I personally didn't like. Tasted like the meat is just a little old or sitting in the marinade for too long and the flavor has oxidized. 6/10
Walnut Honey Shrimp: Huge shrimp pieces deep fried in a light batter and tossed in a light sweet mayo sauce, and topped with perfect lightly candied walnuts. So so so good. 10/10
Ice Tea: Tastes like McDonald's sweet tea but less sweet. Not bad, just not my cup of tea (no pun intended). 6.5/10
Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant. Big portions. Very fair price. Clean restroom. Hard working and attentive staff with big smiles. Thank you for a great meal! I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a quick and hearty lunch or dinner.
这个饭馆的做饭很好。 我最喜欢你们的牛肉炒粉!好吃了😋 你们的家人很努力。一定要好好休息。”
“yummy yummy yummy pizza I absolutely love it I've been coming here since I was a little girl and it's stayed my number 1 pizza place since then the staff is great props to those 2 asain ladies for making the best pizza ever. They make it just the way I like it and It will forever be my favorite place if you're looking for a place that serves not only great Hawaiian pizza but just pizza in general this is the place to go (If you love lots of tomato sauce on your pizza this might not be for you they are very light on the sauce so it might not be for everyone)”
“I like to go on Sundays for the barbecue. The truth is that it is very good and they serve you well. You can almost always order a small glass of consommé to enjoy it while you wait to be served with handmade tortillas and it is very delicious.”
“always had a pleasant experience, we were impressed by the friendly and prompt service, and they provide good food (ribs. steak are delicious) all at a reasonable price.”
Drive-Thru Restaurants
“Awesome fresh coffee alevery day. New super tasty drinks always being featured... like the honey and lavender latte 😍. The dulce latte is so perfect to start the day. Not too sweet but the perfect caffeine pick me up! The cranberry orange scones are to die for... and the morning crew is always friendly and FAST to whip out your drink!”
“If you have children, and don't mind noise, a lot of noise, you might like Angelina's. A LOT of kids teams were also there which is nice, but when there is already excess noise, it makes it tough. It was so loud my husband and I had to lean across the table and almost shout to hear eachother. Food was ok, not good enough to make a special trip for. Service...about 80% self serve, and had to chase down someone if we ever needed anything.”
“Well, Tacos Los Patrones really made our business mixer a PARTY! Our group LeTip of Carmel had them come over and provide the food and beverages for our mixer this week and I think it was one of the most fun events we’ve ever had. The food is so fresh and delicious - the quesadillas, the tacos (of course) and even their homemade guacamole is wonderful. So convenient and fun to have their mobile kitchen roll up to our meeting place, too. They are also so friendly and fun - totally recommend them!”
“The customer service is excellent and their pizza is on point. It is family oriented environment. They support schools, kids fundraisers, Supported Japanese student club and our local Salinas high students were able to go to Japan. I recommend coming here. I always keep one thing in mind we don't live in a perfect world doesn' mean that Mountain Mike is a bad place to come. On another note they have earned the Monterey County Health Department Gold Seal”
Cheap Eats
“I went out for lunch and had an Asian Chopped Chicken Salad. If you’re into salads, you’ll love this one—it was super fresh and made to order. Definitely a 10/10! If you’re short on time, I recommend calling ahead to place your order. I also picked up a double-baked almond croissant for my mom, and she said it was absolutely delicious. All the pastries looked incredible! I highly recommend checking out this gem!”
“31st Grill has got to be one of the best American restaurants I've been to in a while. I ordered a Backyard Burger with some fries on the side, and everything tasted amazing. However, there was one problem when it came to my fountain drink. When I ordered a refill for my fountain drink, my server took way too long to give me back my refill, so I ended up having to ask one of the other employees to give it to me. Aside from that, everything else was perfect.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair parking is available.”
“They always have what I want. Buns, sweet bread, flan, cookies. $6.50 for a cake made of ham or turkey with everything! They accept EBT Yummy, fruit eaters made right in front of you. I love the green juice. Nice, sweet ladies always there. Neighborhood store that I will miss when I leave Salinas.
They always have what I want. Bolillos, sweet bread, flan, claws. $6.50 for a ham or turkey pot pie and they accept EBT. Flan for $3, many breads cost less than $1.75. The fruit waters and green juice are so delicious.”
“The son of the owner was managing the place when I went. He was friendly and he was amenable to correcting my order after I submitted it.
The wings are yum, I recommend. The pizza is also tasty; I would prefer that they add less dressing on pizza and maybe more spice.
I hope they continue to do well (they opened just 4 months ago).”
“Best pho in Monterey County. When they first opened years back they told me the owners were from San Jose. My sister and I come here for pho when in the area. Service is super nice and they are so sweet! Tasty food, always consistent. Super casual place.
Located in a shopping center with plenty of parking.”
“I go here for Caldo de res, and imo they have the best fried breaded chicken around. Their Menudo broth is a little fattier Mama Lupitas and Fish n Chips but comes with more than just tripe which I love, and its available regularly everyday. The lady at the register is always super nice and service is always quick. Prices are very fair for what you get.”
“We have been going to Heirloom Pizza a few times a year for a while now and have always enjoyed great food and good service. This was until last night. The food was still delicious and the server was good. That was the limit of a good experience. The hostess had a look that we were bothering her by wanting to eat there. We arrived about 7pm and they were busy, but it only took about 10 minutes to be seated. We ordered fairly quickly and then waited for over 50 minutes to have an appetizer to reach our table and another 25 minutes for our main dish. By the time we received our appetizer the restaurant had only 5-6 tables with people still sitting. We understand that it takes a little longer for a deep dish pizza, but well over an hour in unacceptable. In the 50 minutes we saw no less than a dozen or so orders go out the door for pickup orders. I understand they sell pizza and there is likely a large amount of business that doesn't come an stay to eat, but we felt forgotten. If we choose to go back, maybe we should order before arriving.”
“Everything I have had from here has been so fresh and delicious 😋”
“service was good, sushi has good flavor but is 1/3 what you get at other places. maybe 1/8th of a roll from Arigoto. For the same price. Up side is great service and never busy when I have been there. very good for last minute large groups.”
“Very delicious comfort the red res mmmm Mmm Mmm.The very refreshing tissue. The very ayenta and friendly waitress. My milk chocolate served it very sparkling and warm. [Original] Muy deliciosa comodia el calo rojo de res mmmm buenisisimo .los chiles rrellenos de pollo muy ricos. el tejate muy refrescante .la mesera muy ayenta y amable .My chocolate de leche lo sirvio muy espumoso y calientito .Todo estubo bien definitba mente si greresamos...Gracias ..Letty por todo..”
“Las mejores pizzas de Salinas Ca, con su especial toque hogareño y un servicio eficaz y amable ☺️ muy recomendadas.”
“Visiting friends near Monterey , but like Italian and Boy were we not sorry we came here the food was delicious the pasta was perfect everything tasted homemade and fresh I’ll definitely go back when we go in that area♥️”
“I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PASTA PLACE! The food is so yummy, affordable, and has great presentation. I love getting the pasta there on my break or lunch because they are so quick. I never write reviews, but this is my favorite spot. Amazing people!!”
“I got take out at lunchtime. Chicken tacos are great. Good portions. Not skimpy on the meat.??
Parking: Theres other restaurants right next to it so parking could probably get pretty crowded at noon and dinnertime.”
“Excellent Chinese food. Superior and less expensive to a Chinese restaurant I patronized in downtown Salinas.”
“I grew up on the last honest pizza. I moved from CA in 1988. every time I travel back To CA, it's the first thing I eat when I land and the last thing I eat before I leave. I hope that they would expand to the south. preferably Charleston S.C.”
“Our first time here and won't be our last. We ordered the new item FISH AND CHIPS. Chips were seasoned and delicious and FISH was super. Coleslaw subperb. Waitress coul.dn't have been better. THANK YOU ALL... oh and they have desserts in cases that wow.. I had to run past”
“Clean, reasonable sized rooms. Friendly staff. They have a lou he/bar which is fairly quiet but easy to grab a bite and stay in”
“After new owners took over the food changed for the better. I had a chance to speak with the new owner, very nice guy and when I am in town I will go eat there again.”
“Friendly crew, delicious foods and drinks, namely pizza, great overall service, and just awesome as a whole.”
“This a wonderful place to order food . The crab was to die for a long with shrimp . Everything was better than I ever expected a five star salute to the people of the Crab Bucket”
“Beautiful location, just had a family gathering they were very accessible, food was great and had such a great time, thank you for making our daughter's graduation a great memory for all of us 😊Service excellent 👍 👌”
“My dinner started off well (after some difficulty ordering due to language problem) with samosas and a beer. Naan and main came next served in a timely manner and was very good. The problem came when I went up to pay and found the charge for the beer was $10, not $6 as stated on the menu. I at first tried to explain nicely the menu only showed $6 ( there was no $10 beer listed) and all of a sudden the older man who ran the place became combative and argued that was the only beer he had so that’s what he will charge. This was never mentioned when I made my order. So… make sure you are getting exactly what you ordered and check the price when you get your bill! The man finally called his son who was able to understand the mix up and resolved the problem.”
Latest Reviews
“Our first time here and won't be our last. We ordered the new item FISH AND CHIPS. Chips were seasoned and delicious and FISH was super. Coleslaw subperb. Waitress coul.dn't have been better. THANK YOU ALL... oh and they have desserts in cases that wow.. I had to run past”
“I lived in Salinas many years ago, discovered Eva's Cafe by accident and was truly overwhelmed with the food. the atmosphere, and the service. So much so that I brought my friends at every opportunity. I left the area for about 15 years and upon my return, the first chance I got, returned to Eva's. I was so pleased they were still there and again bring my friends over and over. I have traveled the world in my career and can say with honesty Eva's has the best Mexican food on the planet.”
“Very delicious comfort the red res mmmm Mmm Mmm.The very refreshing tissue. The very ayenta and friendly waitress. My milk chocolate served it very sparkling and warm. [Original] Muy deliciosa comodia el calo rojo de res mmmm buenisisimo .los chiles rrellenos de pollo muy ricos. el tejate muy refrescante .la mesera muy ayenta y amable .My chocolate de leche lo sirvio muy espumoso y calientito .Todo estubo bien definitba mente si greresamos...Gracias ..Letty por todo..”
“We were passing by to take freeway and turned around to try these tacos .. boy were we surprised how good they are and beat part is home made tortillas on the spot A+ Absolutely going back next time in town Recommended takes a little time to get food but well worth it”
Most Popular Restaurants
“Overall great customer service only problem is them staying open when there’s literally no more cookie flavors anymore but the cheesecake ones they can at least put a sign saying there’s only cakes left that way I won’t be in line only to be dissapointed, anyways I love this location because they are very friendly and their secret menu flavors are always excellent!!”
“31st Grill has got to be one of the best American restaurants I've been to in a while. I ordered a Backyard Burger with some fries on the side, and everything tasted amazing. However, there was one problem when it came to my fountain drink. When I ordered a refill for my fountain drink, my server took way too long to give me back my refill, so I ended up having to ask one of the other employees to give it to me. Aside from that, everything else was perfect.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair parking is available.”
“Outstanding! I had the huaraches birria and was delighted with the flavors and textures. I also had the sangria preparado which was sweet and savory and delicious. Husband had the enchilada with chicken. Chicken was most and perfectly done and he cleaned his whole plate!”
“Awesome fresh coffee alevery day. New super tasty drinks always being featured... like the honey and lavender latte 😍. The dulce latte is so perfect to start the day. Not too sweet but the perfect caffeine pick me up! The cranberry orange scones are to die for... and the morning crew is always friendly and FAST to whip out your drink!”
“Great place to go and occasionally have dinner and or an alcoholic beverage. One complaint, it's probably an isolated case. Usually, I pay through the card devices placed on your table to satisfy the bill and any tip you might want to leave. Well, the other day I went into the take-out counter, placed my order which I received it about 15 minutes later. Ten minutes later I was home ready to eat and came to find out that my meal was cold. I asked my wife if the meal seemed cold to her. She replied that it was not warm like that meal we ordered just a few days before. The only difference is, when I paid the bill, I didn't accept the tip percentage of 18% percent. I changed it to 10 percent since this was an order to go. A few days prior, I had paid the 18% because I didn't realize the payment device had included 18% in the bill. The food that day was hot and delicious, and we enjoyed it greatly.”
“Great First Friday dinner 04/06/22. Terrific food and friendly volunteer servers. Highly recommend.”