50 Best Mexican Restaurants in Salinas

“Great food and such a wonderful family-run business! The staff is incredibly kind, welcoming, and friendly. The birria tacos are absolutely delicious! I always love supporting small, family-owned businesses like this. Definitely worth stopping by and giving them a try!“

“Amazing place food is well prepared and tasty!“

“Menudo is great!! Staff is so nice!!!“

“Muy ricas las tlayudas recomendadas“

“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!“

“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“

“Awesome food my favorite every time I go Salinas 🏅“

“I love the food at Los Grullenses. My go to order is the pastor quesadilla and a large of beans and rice. I can make three meals out of this order. But, if I’m honest, I really make the drive over from Monterey for their green salsa. It is sooo good. The atmosphere isn’t the best so I get my food to go.

The constant struggle is the salsa. I’m not quite sure what the deal is. They make you pay for salsa, which I’m grouchy about but it’s my favorite so I’m willing to pay. The order for salsa is literally called “4 salsas” and the menu photo shows 4 tiny containers of salsa. Despite ordering it, I almost never get this in my to-go bag, sometimes it’s 2 or 3 tiny containers but rarely 4. So then I have to ask and I hate having to ask because I am paying for it, it’s part of my order, it shouldn’t be so hard. And I order via DoorDash takeaway so there is no room for a language barrier, it’s as plain as day: 4 salsas.

I will continue to go and recommend LG but make sure you check your orders before leaving. Would definitely be 5 star for me if this wasn’t such a consistent issue.“

“muy rico en verdad les doy super like fue exactamente lo que quería 😍 un desayuno como en casa“

“never been disappointed with the food here ! everything always tastes delicious and prices are good. amd the customer service is always friendly and awesome! my #1 go to place for some delicious Mexican food !“

“La comida muy rica y los tragos divertidos ❤️🥩“

“Four useful pieces of info:
1) handmade tortillas, so good
2) there is indoor seating, it’s clean and nice
3) they have sopes, even though they’re not on the menu
4) they can make veggie tacos (w beans)“

“My family and I like to support our local businesses and we were coming from a service for a loved one who passed.
We got wonderful service . Food was very tasty, flavorful and delicious. The young lady at the counter took our order, was polite and very welcoming.
We will be back. What a lil gem:)“

“la comida muy buena. La atención excelente 😉😉“

“Always have great food“

“I got the birra torta here and two tacos al pastor. The tacos were good but the torta was surprisingly delicious upon first bite due to the quality of the birria. The overall taste profile at this location is balanced and deep, meaning it is well-seasoned and flavorful without being excessive or greasy. It is food that can be eaten every day without feeling overloaded. It is also at a very nice location next to a park and lots of trees.

I randomly met the owner one day prior at an unrelated place, and I can see that there is a reason he confidently invited me to try his food, where his lovely wife operates the business and cooking! It is because he knows he can deliver a great food experience! Through word of mouth, I know that I am not the only one who liked the torta here.

There is quite an extensive menu, and I will definitely be back to try more items. I highly recommend the birria. Overall a great spot!“

“GREAT food if you go you have to try the CHAVITA“

“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.“

“Muy buena comida. En especial. Las corundas. Y pambasos pero toda la comida muy buena!“

“Made with love! This is definitely a go to for me in Salinas. Not my first time going but the first time I’ve felt the NEED to let other people know about a food spot. If you want homemade tortillas, good cuts of meat and awesome service this is the spot! Ps. I’m picky when it comes to taco trucks so if you are too this one won’t disappoint.“

“Love their Menudo and Cajun Shrimp!“

“It reminds me of the "cheap kitchens" of Mexico. Typical foods that are not of such high quality but are good and cheap. The difference from the cheap kitchens of Mexico is that here they serve very large portions. Several dishes are enough for 2, almost 3, people.“

“An incredible dining experience all around! The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was top-tier, and the pricing was excellent! I ordered the chilaquiles verdes with over-easy eggs, mexican rice, and beans it was absolutely superb 🫶🏼 This spot is a must-visit, and I’ll definitely be returning!“

“🌮 Ka Costa Taqueria — a flavorful gem in Salinas!
If you're craving authentic Mexican bites with no frills and all flavor, this spot delivers.

✨ Highlights:
- 🐷 Al pastor tacos that hit the spot
- 🍤 Shrimp ceviche that’s fresh and zesty
- 🌯 Burritos so big they deserve their own zip code
- 🪑 Outdoor seating with a casual, local vibe

💸 Heads-up: It’s cash only, so bring those bills or be ready to sprint to the nearest ATM!

📍 Located at 1306 N Main St, it’s a local favorite for good reason.
Fast service, generous portions, and a menu that keeps you coming back“

“muy rico en verdad les doy super like fue exactamente lo que quería 😍 un desayuno como en casa“

“Comida mexicana tradicional y sabrosa! El Chaparrito and his wife catered our son's party, and they did a great job! The food was fresh and tasty, and ready to be served when they arrived...a very brief wait for setup and preparation. I loved the grilled onions and serrano peppers the best. Spicy salsa too! Very friendly, professional service too. Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“Tacos are delicious, and also the side of onions, chiles, pickled carrots they give you. Also good homemade hot salsas they make. I haven’t tried their chile rellenos but they look delicious too. Very friendly staff and quick service.“

“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“

“Best breakfast spot in Salinas 🔥 10/10 recommend! The staff is so welcoming—they genuinely make you feel at home. You can tell they love what they do and really care about your experience, not just serving food but making sure you enjoy every bite.“

“places is FIRE!!! I had broccoli I also had some chicken three pieces two legs and a breast and some rice 🔥🔥🔥“

“I had flautas and it was awesome food. Also the staff was very polite and cute lol. Can’t believe I been driving past this place for years and never tried it till today I have been missing out“

“Delicious tamales and very affordable! The lady was very nice and accommodated my large order. We came from San Francisco to visit family nearby and they were hot and fresh when picked up. Would highly recommend to those looking for a spot for tamales in general. We even took some masa back home, everything was good quality.“

“Large portions of good food and friendly attentive service are hallmarks of this establishment. Enchiladas with melted cheese (get the plate with rice and beans), fish tacos, super burritos and chimichangas are all I have tried so far, but there's lots more on the menu. Proteins include asada, pollo, carnitas, and chili verde. Margaritas and cerveza available as well as non alcoholic offerings.“

“Came on a slow day after 3pm for Taco tuesday. Service was excellent 5+ stars. Food was good. Enjoyed there sauces. Had Al pastor and chicken tacos highly recommended 😋. $1 dollar tacos on tuesday, u can't go wrong with that. If u want something good and cheap I recommend this place.“

“It's a tiny restaurant, but the tacos are decently priced at $2 and $1 on Taco Tuesday. The tacos were delicious, especially the Al Pastor ones! Plus, tortillas are handmade fresh when you order your tacos, making them even more delicious. Would come back again to try different items on their menu.“

“Best Mexican Seafood I have ever had! 5⭐️’s“

“Stopped on a whim and found a great new place. Delicious food and great prices, Staff was friendly and accommodating. I will be there often.“

“lez recomiendo era mi lugar faboruto.mucho ancient mui amable don Roberto. lo malo k me made a Houston sino aunestu iera ye do q bqilar selos recomiendo.“

“very good food and friendly service. this is a good place to enjoy some good Mexican food.“

“The Food is usually on point. There is a cook that is way better than the other..Idk if it's the effort or wasn't trained properly but for that reason I give 4 stars. Otherwise I would say it's some of the best mariscos in Monterey County.“

“We have been coming to this truck for over twenty years and we are still so happy with the service, the quality of food and the SALSA!!! Whenever I’m in salinas and craving tacos, I come here. Especially on Taco Tuesday!!!! They offer special pricing!!“

“exelente calidad y buen servicio“

“one of the best selections of tequila, wine, whiskey, and bourbon. in addition very friendly and knowledgeable staff. oh, and the breakfast burritos are great for a morning hangover“

“We had a good experience visiting El Pollo Loco.

The food was good, and the staff were polite during our visit. There was also plenty of seating available inside the restaurant, making it easy to find a place to sit.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal, although the price felt a little high for what we received.“

“We traveled through Salinas and wanted Tacos. We love going to El Paisa in oakland for suadero but have trouble finding it. After a Google search, we called this restaurant and it was a close tie to our favorite Tacos! I actually liked these tacos much better but my boyfrienf says its a tie. Great price, atmosphere, corner location! We will be back. 🙂“

“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“

“(Translated by Google) Good place for coffee and bread, the cakes there are rendidoras, the Cuban and the toluqueña the best ..... the but are the donkeys of roast or chicken, they have more rice than meat the net .... x that the 4 stars(Original)Buen lugar para el café y el pan, las tortas ahí son rendidoras ,la cubana y la toluqueña las mejores.....el pero son los burros de asada o pollo, tienen más arroz que carne la neta....x eso las 4 estrellas“

“Amazing food. bathrooms are horrible and not a lot of parking but if you do get a spot YOU MUST try the food.“