12 Best Mexican Restaurants In San Jose, California

Jaclyn
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
mexican restaurants in san jose

Mexican food is comfort food for Americans after a hard day’s work, when spending quality time with family, or just chilling with friends. Who can resist Taco Tuesday or feasting on a giant burrito? What about indulging in a plate of cheese enchiladas or classic tacos with cheese dip? California is known for its amazing Mexican dishes and there is an overwhelming amount of places in San Jose to try starting from parking lot taco food trucks to upscale regional fine dining spots. These joints will definitely satisfy your appetite for food from the south of the border. So while you have booked a nice vacation rental or more preferably one of the best hotels with a pool in the city for your accommodation needs, you can hop inside a Mexican eatery for indulging your burrito craving. Here is a list of the best Mexican restaurants in San Jose, California.

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1. El Camaron de Sinaloa

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Bringing Sinaloa’s culture to California, El Camaron de Sinaloa serves up the best Mexican food in San Jose that is sure to leave visitors with a lasting impression on their taste buds. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups, seafood, platters, sushi, and drinks. Some delicious meals that the restaurant serves include molcajete de mariscos, mojarra, ondeado, venenoso, birria de res, botana Mazatlan, chilaquiles, and camarones michelados.

As for the experience, the restaurant has a wonderful ambiance and atmosphere that complement the delicious food and great service which makes for a great dining experience for many visitors.

El Camaron de Sinaloa

Address: 245 Willow St, San Jose, CA 95110, United States

Website: El Camaron de Sinaloa

Opening hours: Mon: 10am - 10pm; Wed - Thu: 10am - 10pm; Fri - Sun: 10am - 1:30am (closed on Tue)

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2. Adelita's Taquería - Restaurant & Bar

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Adelita's Taqueria on Monday, March 16, 2020

Adelita’s Taquería - Restaurant & Bar is without any doubt one of the best places to eat in San Jose and takes pride in serving fresh, authentic, and delicious Mexican cuisine. Always aiming to impress any visitor, the restaurant strives to regularly introduce new dishes to new and old customers alike.

Because of this, its menu is quite extensive and contains dishes like bistec a lo pobre, chilaquiles plate, nachos, caldo de res, taco salad, tortilla soup, California burrito, veggie burrito, churrasco, chimichanga plate, fajitas, and red mole enchiladas. For vegan visitors, the restaurant has a vegan menu that includes lettuce tacos, vegan churritos, vegan fajitas, vegan salad, and vegan burritos.

Adelita's Taquería - Restaurant & Bar

Address: 1896 Curtner Ave, San Jose, CA 95124, United States

Website: Adelita’s Taquería - Restaurant & Bar

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 10pm

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3. Dia de Pesca

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

!!!! UPDATE- EXTENDED HOURS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS!! ! Now open 11am - 8pm daily! Come enjoy today’s special 3 Shrimp & Crab Flautas w/Rice & Beans or Salad $13.50 #patiodining #diadepescamexsifood

Posted by Día de Pesca on Monday, June 22, 2020

If you want the best fish tacos and burritos, then you cannot miss this Mexican restaurant in San Jose. Dia de Pesca is actually a former gas station and garage near Valley Fair Mall that was converted into a Mexican restaurant. Fish and seafood dominate the menu and is one of South Bay’s best Mexican food spots. Be sure to try their crispy tacos with snapper, breaded halibut prawn, or the octopus burrito.

Dia de Pesca

Address: 55 N Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128

Website: Dia de Pesca

Opening Hours: M-Th 10:30am to 8pm, F 10:30am to 8:30pm, Sat 10am to 8:30pm, Sun 10am to 8pm

Average Price For 2: 11-30 USD

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4. Mezcal Restaurant


Mezcal Restaurant, one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Jose, California, specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, the land of the seven moles. Instead of chips and salsa, they serve chips with their mole at the start of their meals. Mezcal is famous for their moles, including their Estofado mole (sweet mole made with tomatillos, peanuts, chili, and spices) and their Coloradito mole (red mole made with chili de arbol, spices, seeds, and chocolate). Plus they have traditional Oaxacan street food, including memelitas and chapulines, and a great collection of mezcal!

Mezcal Restaurant

Address: 25 W San Fernando St, San Jose

Website: Mezcal Restaurant

Opening Hours: M 11:30am-9pm, T-Th 11:30am-10pm, F 11:30am-11:30pm, Sat 4pm-11:30pm, Sun 4pm-9pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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5. Tu Mero Mole

Come en enjoy our delicious Food ! http://bit.ly/1XuJN5N

Posted by Tu Mero Mole on Sunday, 5 June 2016

If you want to feast on Mexican specialties, check out this Mexican restaurant in San Jose, CA. Tu Mero Mole wants you to escape your troubles, escape the South Bay, and feel transported to Mexico with their concepts of food. Their popular signature dish is their mole poblano and you can enjoy it with their chicken or enchiladas. Plus they’ve got a salsa bar with so many flavors. Don’t leave without enjoying their Cochina Yucateca taco, which contains pork that was slow-roasted and wrapped in banana leaves.

Tu Mero Mole

Address: 2041 Woodard Rd, San Jose CA

Website: Tu Mero Mole

Opening Hours: M-F 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-9pm

Average Price For 2: 10-20 USD

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6. Chavelas Restaurant

Posted by Chavelas Restaurant on Saturday, 6 August 2016

If you want to eat at a Mexican restaurant in San Jose that feels like home and will treat you like family, visit Chavelas Restaurant. It’s a small place but very welcoming and will start you off with chips and salsa. Be sure to order their Carne Asada Plate, Al Pastor Burrito, Steak Quesadillas, or Chile Verde. And, don’t worry about missing out on some of the excellent food. You’re definitely coming back to try the other dishes soon.

Chavelas Restaurant

Address: 960 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95110

Website: Chavelas Restaurant

Opening Hours: T-Th 10am to 9pm, F-Sat 10am to 10pm, Sun 10am to 9pm

Average Price For 2: 10-20 USD

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7. Consuelo Mexican Bistro

Come & try our traditional Chile Relleno - a local favorite!

Posted by Consuelo Mexican Bistro on Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Consuelo Mexican Bistro is one of the must-visit Mexican restaurants in San Jose, CA, and uses seasonal ingredients according to what’s available in the market. Their definite must-try dishes are their Chips and Guacamole, Chile Relleno, Spicy Shrimp Fajitas, Carnitas, and Barbacoa. Make sure to book a reservation, especially during the lunch and dinner rush.

Consuelo Mexican Bistro

Address: 377 Santana Row, Ste 1125, San Jose, CA 95128

Website: Consuelo Mexican Bistro

Opening Hours: M 11am to 6pm, W-Th 11:30am to 10pm, F 11:30am to 11pm, Sat 10:30am to 11pm, Sun 10:30am to 10pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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8. Angelou's Mexican Grill


Angelou’s Mexican Grill is the Mexican restaurant in San Jose to visit when you want traditional, homecooked Mexican food. Although they also serve American dishes and other international food, Mexican cuisine is still at the heart of this family restaurant and they want to share the food they grew up eating with the public. Their must-eats continue to be their Burritos (can’t go wrong with any type), Carne Asada Fries, and Super Nachos. Come here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Angelou's Mexican Grill

Address: 21 N 2nd St, San Jose, CA 95113

Website: Angelou’s Mexican Grill

Opening Hours: M-Th 9am to 10pm, F 9am to 12am, Sat 11am to 12am

Average Price For 2: 10-20 USD

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9. Ollo Cocina


Located in Downtown San Jose, Olla Cocina serves traditional Mexican specialties using local California ingredients. Their menu boasts a wide variety of Mexican food that will leave you craving more. Get the Empanadas, Al Pastor Tacos, Ahi Tostada, or the Taco Sampler plate, so you can try a few of their top dishes. Be sure to visit during their happy hour, too. They’ve got lots of cocktails available, plus mezcal flights, bottled and draft beers, and a wide selection of wine. There’s no happy hour during game nights, though.

Ollo Cocina

Address: 17 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110

Website: Ollo Cocina

Opening Hours: M-Th 11:30am to 10pm, F-Sat 11:30am to 11pm, Sun 12pm to 9pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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10. La Perla Taqueria

Posted by La Perla Taqueria San Jose on Sunday, 9 February 2014

If you want to experience authentic homecooked Mexican food and excellent customer service, drop by this homey family Mexican restaurant in San Jose, CA. La Perla Taqueria serves Burritos (try the Jose’s Deluxe), Chicken Plates, and Enchiladas (have the Enchiladas con Mole) but their specialty lies in their flavorful tacos. Order the Carnitas Jalisco, Carne Asada, or Mexican Molcajete tacos and you won’t go wrong. Remember to get Michelada when you eat at La Perla Taqueria.

La Perla Taqueria

Address: 1150 McGinness Ave, San Jose CA 95127

Website: La Perla Taqueria

Opening Hours: M-F 10am to 11pm, Sat-Sun 8am to 11pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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11. Zona Rosa

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Who is ready for taco Tuesday?

Posted by Zona Rosa Restaurants on Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Zona Rosa is one of the best Mexican restaurants in San Jose specializing in Mexican fusion and the best tacos in the bay. You are bound to love them just as much as the many other people, judging from tables that fill up quickly every day. Be transported to a small Mexican village while feasting on their Crab Ceviche, Scallop Tempura Tacos, Chimichurri Tacos, or their Salmon Tacos.

Zona Rosa

Address: 1411 The Alameda, San Jose, CA

Website: Zona Rosa

Opening Hours: T-F 11:30am to 2pm, 5pm to 9pm, Sat 10am to 9pm, Sun 10am to 2pm, 5pm to 9pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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12. Luna Mexican Kitchen


Luna has a mission, to serve authentic Mexican food that is clean, healthy, and nutritious. Luna Mexican Kitchen’s menu revolves around Mexican staples, including corn, chili, and beans, which are present in all their dishes. The best part about dining here is that omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans can all dine here together because there are several choices for all three lifestyles. Try the Vegan Enchiladas, Carnitas Burrito, or the Parrilladas.

Luna Mexican Kitchen

Address: 1495 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126

Website: Luna Mexican Kitchen

Opening Hours: M-Th 9am to 9pm, F-Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 9pm

Average Price For 2: 20-40 USD

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Explore the Mexican feasts in San Jose

Tacos
Source: Pixabay

By this time, you already have a list of Mexican restaurants in San Jose to visit, plus a list of dishes to order. The best thing about eating Mexican food in San Jose, or in California in general, is that you will always get authentic flavors, as the high-quality food comes from authentic Mexican kitchens. And it’s food that’s meant to be shared, so bring your family, friends, and your co-workers and eat your heart out at these Mexican restaurants.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Jaclyn is a creative writer, screenwriter, entrepreneur, and social media marketer all at once. She cherishes her vacation and travel breaks because she gets to let her hair down and discover new...Read more

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