Jose’s Mexican Restaurant
131 Sherman St, Cambridge, MA, 02140
Jose’s Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
131 Sherman St
Cambridge, MA, 02140 - Phone (857) 302-0861
- Website https://www.josesmex.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Janet D.
My experience with Jose's was really disappointing. I was really excited about finding Jose's since it was so close to home, and I've been missing the really great taquerias from out west. My "super" chorizo burrito from Jose's used low-end quality chorizo, with very little guacamole, sour cream, or cheese. There were bits of salad greens I got that were wilted to the point of being almost black and slimy. The chips were stale and the salsa just okay. Yet it might be an experience I might be willing to repeat if it wasn't also for the fact that this burrito experience cost me $14. Yikes! The service was nice, though, and the outdoor patio seating was pretty sweet.
(2)Andrea K.
UPDATE: So my boyfriend and I decided to give this place another go around and see if they can redeem themselves. As we walked in one of the waitress's told us to sit at a booth near the door and she will be back with the menus (she had a couple of plates in her hand so she couldnt hand them out to us) and I asked if we could wait for a table on the other side by the door and she said ok. We got seated and got our chips and salsa right away but unforunately the chips were stale so we didnt eat them.. We noticed that she was the only waitress working and she was getting annoyed with it. The service was very slow because she was the only waitress working, it took a long time after getting our chips to place our order, after the order it took awhile to get our drinks that we ordered, then the appetizer took a while, then of course the food took a while, and after that clearing of the table and the check was as well...a long wait. We got the tostado appetizer and it was very very bland so I had to put some of the salsa that wasnt sure because of the stale chips that we didnt eat ( I didnt bother asking for new chips because I think it would have been an annoyance to the waitress). My boyfriend got the chicken mole which he enjoyed and I got the chile relleno's with ground beef. My chile relleno's wasnt battered and fried as it stated on the menu and it came out cold, the beef and cheese were not hot at all which was a huge disappointment, I was expecting a piping hot fried pepper with melted cheese oozing out (like a chile relleno's) and that didnt happen. Another thing that I noticed was that the refried beans seem to be the canned verison and not handmade, canned beans is fine with me but I could make that at home and would expect from a restaurant to have way better refried beans, as well as the rice it was just not a very appetizing rice portion at all. The rice was dry and clumped together and cold as well. Since our waitress was the only one working it is understandable that it is hard to handle all that is happening but you shouldnt show your frustration to your customers, she wasnt that pleasant to talk to and her attitude really just....was crappy. At one point another female came in to drop some envelopes off (which I noticed) and our waitress and the other female were raising their voices to each other pretty loudly and it didnt seem like a good outcome nor show for the customers either. Our table was a bit dirty as we found dried lettuce stuck on the table when we sat down and dried up salsa left from the night before still on our table. Unforunately Jose's didnt redeem themselves and I wish they did. --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------------------ The atmosphere at this place is a great, I love the music and the decor its just a feel good restaurant. Waiting for a table can be a bit of a wait as they do not have anyone standing by the door waiting to seat people so be sure to catch someone's eye and stand next to the register area so they see you. The chips and salsa are great and ask how spicy you would like the salsa and its pretty accurate. The service is ok I defintely didnt have any problems everyone was pretty attentive. I have gottten the carne asada dish which was good but I was not to keen on the flavors of the vegetables that they put on top and I did not like the refried beans at all either. Another dish I have gotten is the enchilada's with the red sauce which was really good which also came with tacos which were pretty standard. The red sauce is flavorful and thickness that stuck to the tortilla. There deserts are not really what I expected. The Tres Leche was horrible and tasted like lemon which was hard to eat and the Flan was also not so good either. It had a cheesecake crumb on the bottom and there wasnt much of a caramel taste as there should be. Overall I do like this place and the food and the atmosphere makes up for some of the not so great dishes as well. Free parking is available which is next to the restaurant in the fenced in area.
(2)Rob D.
I really love this place - but it has more to do with the convenience and the atmosphere and the people who run it than it does the food. Don't get me wrong, the food is actually quite good - but the place doesn't become A Place without all the other ingredients. I've lived on and off in this neighborhood for several years - and I've seen Jose's go through a couple of changes of management -- this one is the management who should keep it forever. (Excellent job, Carlos!) The first noticeable change was to the bar...Martgueritas here used to be sitting around pre-made in a slushy machine. (I s**t you not.) Since Carlos took over, the slushy machine has been retired, and the Martgueritas are made to order...and they have a great selection of tequila to chose from, and quite a few Martguerita concoctions from which to choose. The mole sauce here is thick and good - and they will spice it to whatever level you want. (They will also send out a side of it if you want to use it on other, non-mole dishes.) The carne is amazing, btw... ...they get a star subtracted, however, because Carlos feels the need to send in a Mariachi band at bizarre times (like a random Thursday night).... he's doing that less and less, which is a good thing.
(4)Bianca G.
Oh Jose's - I was gonna give you 4 stars for the food (my burrito in adobado sauce was delicious, but the boyfriend's tostada was mediocre) but when I factor in the pitcher of margarita that we split between the 2 of us (no, we're not alcoholics!), the tres leches cakes (so simple yet so good), the custom-levels of salsa (the hot was indeed hot), and the very cheerful and colorful atmosphere (service was awesome too), you get bumped up to 5 stars. Congratulations, and you'll be seeing us again there soon.
(5)B R.
Being that we are on the east coast (i.e. almost as far from Mexico as one can get in the U.S.), this is pretty darn good! I love their red and green sauces, guacamole, and salsa. Nice folks and good prices too. Plenty to eat. Good vegetarian selection plus they are flexible.
(5)Anonymous P.
Ordered through diningin. Icky food at pretty high prices. The predominant flavor in everything I ordered, aside from the guacamole, was salt. Lots of it. Yes, the sauce for my enchiladas had some unpleasant tang, and the slimy little frozen shrimp inside added a sad fishiness. But mostly it was salt. I almost gave two stars because the guacamole, though bland, is not watered down with sour cream or mayonnaise, and they gave a large portion of it. But all in all this is garbage I'd rather not eat. In fact, I'm throwing most of it away. Taco Bell is easily superior.
(1)Alexis R.
We really like Jose's. The food is great, and service friendly, and pretty reasonably priced.
(4)Ryan L.
Came here on a nice Sunday afternoon after a softball game (and yes we won), and was pleasantly surprised. Let's start off with this, it's not straight up authentic Mexican but then again most Mexican places in Massachusetts are not, otherwise the locals here would not eat it. However this place is much better than your run of the mill Tex Mex place. The chips that came with the salsa was home made as you you could tell by the slight oil sheen on the chip that it was recently fried there. My ground beef crispy taco was great, it came with rice and some beans on the side. The inside of the place was small and cozy with a flat screen TV by the bar and they had outdoor seating as well. Now you're probably wondering, why am I giving this place 3 stars? Well pricewise this place is a bit expensive for Mexican cuisine. My 2 taco plate cost me about $11 which sort of defeats the purpose of Mexican food. Call me spoiled but I've had Mexican food in Mexico, LA, and the Mission District in San Francisco, and I've never had to pay more than $1.25 for a taco. I do understand this being Massachusetts that things are a little pricier for ethnic cuisine but even if this were the greatest taco in the universe, I can't really justify paying $11 for two tacos with some rice and beans on the side. Secondly, the horchata, a bit watered down, could've used a little more sugar and cinnamon in it and it cost $2.95!!! Dios mio, vendejo, who charges almost $4 for a glass of rice water with sugar in it?!?
(3)C.M. M.
Great food and well hidden. Parking - Free - Plus its walkable from anyone living in North Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington.
(4)Kellie D.
I visited Jose's the other day after church for brunch with a friend. Overall, it was A-OK - definitely good enough to try again. The decor was very Mexican - much like many of the small restaurants I have visited in Mexico. The food was on the mild side, but the main dishes had a nice flavor, but as stated in some of the other reviews, the rice and beans were a little tasteless - may have to do with all the healthy eating I have experienced here in the Boston area. I'm guessing they aren't using lard to give their food that extra flavor boost. Additionally, the meals were a little dry (not the preparation of the meats, but the amount of sauce). I prefer wet burritos, enchiladas, etc. However, since this was my first time eating at Jose's I can't entirely blame the restaurant. The menu didn't specify wet or dry and I didn't ask. Next time, I will know to make that request. I have to laugh at the many statements that the hot salsa was really hot. Gringos! lol After living in New Mexico for years, I found Jose's "hot" salsa to be a nice, well-flavored, "medium" salsa at best. It had a slight bite, but far from being spicy if you are used to authentic Tex-Mex food. (Maybe the waiter accidentally gave me the mild????) The waiter was nice and did an excellent job at keeping up on drink refills, but service was a bit slow even though the restaurant was not crowded. The food arrived hot and as ordered. The portions were plentiful and it cost less than $15 for the two of us to eat there. Great value for the amount of food we received. We walked - or should I say waddled, out of the restaurant feeling full and satisfied.
(3)Beth C.
To be honest, I ordered Mexican on Cinco de Mayo... I knew it was a gamble but Jose's had the best reviews/price range on Foodler. It arrived 45 minutes after the time stated for delivery... which again, I was letting go due to how crazy I'm sure it was there. However, when it arrived - my boyfriend's food was cold, they forgot the dessert, and the portions were small. I think next time I'll stick to Taqueria la Mexicana down the street, it would have cost me exactly half of what I paid too. UPDATE - Carlos the owner has followed up with me - a third party delivers all orders (MixMenu). Lessons learned on both our parts - do not order/deliver on Cinco de Mayo ;)
(3)Amanda S.
Yet another place that Groupon led me to. I have to say, my expectations were low because I've noticed that Jose's runs a lot of special discounts....which had me thinking they deperately needed to drum up some business. Turns out they're just good businessmen. Even though it's in kind of a weird location, Jose's was pretty full when I went in on a random week night. Our server was adorable....and he was patient as I agonized over what to order with so many great options. In the end, wanting to try as many things as possible, I landed on the Fiesta Grande and enjoyed every last bite of my chicken enchilada, taco and flauta. Between that, the chips & salsa, and a couple margaritas I felt thouroughly disgusted with how much I had consumed, buuuuut I rallied for the fried ice cream and was happy I did. The food was awesome, and the prices are fair (even more fair if you get one of those discounts they run!).
(4)Michael M.
Fun place for margaritas with your mexican food. The food is just OK, we go for the margaritas.
(3)Carrie S.
Having grown up in Southern California I consider myself a Mexican fare connoisseur of sorts, so imagine my surpise after living here for twenty years and finding Jose's! (Not to mention that I rarely leave the Cambridge, Somerville, Boston vicinity.) The food was just great. I find it pretty challenging to find an authentic Mexican resturaunt that serves margaritas or even beer and wine for that matter. There certainly isn't a shortage of bad Mexican restaurants, and the good Mexican food joints tend to be take out places. Plus you will never find a bigger parking lot within 128! Get the chile rellanos w/green sauce and don't fill up on the chips!
(5)Christine M.
great traditional mexican food. i'm a vegetarian with a gluten allgery, and i am always happy to eat here as there are many things on the menu that i can have. on slower nights, the service is INSANE, i mean this in a good way, your glass is never empty and there are always like 4 people making sure you've got everything you need...when this place gets busy, sometimes you have to wait a couple of extra minutes for more salsa or to get the check...i don't mind at all because, if you look around, you'll realize how small the wait staff actually is and how many tables this restaurant has. waitstaff are constantly running back and forth, making sure all tables are tended to. anyone looking for atmosphere or over the top kiss-ass service probably shouldn't eat at this type of restaurant. go eat at espalier. however, if you are looking for damn good inexpensive mexican food, go to jose's.
(4)Liza H.
I love this place. It's hidden away in North Cambridge, as you drive up it's purple and yellow exterior pops out at you. The food is excellent, I really dig the enchiladas here.
(5)David P.
This is a convenient place with a great variety of tequilla and Mexican beers with decent and interesting Mexican food. It's gotten pricier of late and, if tonight was any indicator, the service is going downhill. Our host ess was gracious and the man busing the tables was fine, but the waiter never came back to check on us and we had to launch major campaigns in order to get water, the check and other basics. Given GG.'s review earlier this month, I wonder if there is a trend. Or maybe just one inattentive waiter?
(3)Rozina K.
Jose's always hits the spot for me. Its tucked away in a quaint little corner of Cambridge and I'm not sure you'd find it unless you were specifically looking for it, but its definitely worth a visit. I like their homemade salsa which is flavorful and spicy and their variety of margaritas. I always get the chicken enchiladas here so I can't comment on anything else, but the enchiladas are great. They're fresh and the chicken is very tender. Its a good idea to make a reservation on the weekends because there's often times a wait. And they now accept reservations via opentable. Enjoy!
(4)Seraphine K.
Well, its small and authentic, thats for sure. I hate tequila, but my friends love the margaritas! The staff speaks minimal english [ie- the menu] and the service is very crappy, but the food is very yummy! Authentic salsa, chips mediocre. Huge free parking lot, kinda weird location in a neighborhood setting-ish. Queso Fundido so delish and so are the flautas!! maybe more tex mex than full on mex.
(3)Christopher M.
Great service, free parking, one of my favorites moles in this part of the country.
(4)Derek M.
My wife and I recently used a groupon we bought about 8 months ago at Jose's. Unfortunately, it took us 8 months to get there! Jose's is one of the few places we've found that actually serves sopes (big plus for the wife) and I got beef fajitas. I tend to be a bit of a fajita snob, and these were by far the best fajitas I've ever eaten... the steak was amazing... the vegetables were cooked perfectly, and their home made hot sauce was outstanding. The only bad part of the experience (for me) is it did take quite some time to get our check and have them take my card, but I'm not really going to hold that against them. We were out having a good time so it didn't really matter :)
(5)Rachel C.
Jose's is a nice friendly restaurant with okay food. It is Tex-Mex, and the margaritas are over-priced, but the service is good, the people who work there are always friendly, and they can accommodate groups. I find the shrimp salad, fajitas are pretty good. Tu y Yo is more authentic, but I always have a pleasant time when I go here.
(3)Julie A.
I'd drive past this place all the time always saying to myself "someday I have to go there"! Well, one Saturday night after s now storm I sent with my husband. There were a bunch of really annoying people waiting outside and inside the door. We squeezed past them to put our names in. They said it would be a two hour wait. Are you fucking kidding me?! no way, we took off. I had a bad feeling about the place, but everyone I know raves about it so I thought we'd try again. A few nights later, on a weeknight, we were back. We got seated right away. The place is small and cozy and decorated with pretty authentic mexican decor. They gave us free chips and yummy salsa (a good sign for any mexican place) I looked at the menu and wanted so many different things I could barely decide. They said they had a sample dinner in either vegetarian, seafood, meat or combo. I was stoked! My husband got some HUGE burrito and my plate came with 4 different mini entres on it. All four were amazing, and my husband was raving about his burrito the whole week! The prices were cheap to fair, especially with the XL portions. The margarita I got was VERY good but on the pricey side. They are kinda in the middle of nowhere in Cambridge, but have ample parking and would only be a (sketchy) 10 minute walk from the Alewife T I won't go back on a weekend, but the place was one of my all time favorite mexican restaurants across the country!
(5)Nadia M.
We went to Jose's tonight for an early dinner and we definately were not disappointed!! The food was really delicious. The chips were a little stale and the salsa a little watery (but still really tasty). The big parking lot makes coming here really conveinent too. The atmosphere was really cute too :). Really cozy and the lighting was warm and inviting. The only issue we had was with the service not being exceptional. We were one of two tables occupied in the restaurant and had to wait for a really long time to get service. But overall, definately worth the trip :). Great mexican food in a great atmosphere!
(4)Jay W.
I must be feeling more random than normal or at least in the mood for taking crap from my brother because...this is a 4 star review of a 5 star experience at a 3 star restaurant. Let me explain. I was FOP (no, not from the North Pole but SF) and visiting a very good friend of mine who over a year ago, having most callously decided that being close to her family was more important than our ability to go out to fun dinners whenever we want, moved back to the Boston area. It was a steamy summer evening and the idea of some cold margaritas and Mexican food out on the patio sounded very good. From outside the place had a nice feel to it and after reading the menu I had very high expectations for the food (though I had been warned to remember that I wasn't in The Mission any more) and drinks. Unfortunately while the food looked really good it lacked a bit of zest and the drinks, while definitely refreshing, seemed a bit expensive given that I was never really wowed by the tequila. That's the 3 star part. But I'm told the food was a bit off that night. Overall, however, the service was good and the place was exactly what we were looking for(4 stars) and it was an excellent start to what amounted to an outstanding few days in the Boston area (5 stars). If I lived in the area I'd gladly make Jose's a regular in my restaurant rotation.
(4)amanda n.
Two-and-a-half stars would be better. This place is funny. I took my brother tonight. The street off Mass Ave in the directions was closed, so I had to take the detour and find my way back over. Me: I think this is the way. Bro: These are houses. Me: Well, the reviews said Jose is there every night. Bro: Are we going to Jose's house?? And when we got there, it really did feel like we were at Jose's house. From the street, it looks like someone's having a party in their house. The same inside. It's small, casual, not super clean, not new feeling, colorful, and the windows are decorated with lights you can buy from CVS at Christmas time. Some of the tables are wobbly, even with napkins under one leg. Service was not so great. If you think you're going to want a second coke/beer/margarita, order it when you get the first one. Chips and salsa were brought to our table as soon as we were seated, but our drinks didn't come for a good ten minutes. I didn't think my taste was cultivated enough for me to notice the blandness mentioned in other reviews here, but I have to agree. I had the two chicken tacos, and it was something I could have made at home (and I don't really cook). Good enough, though. The chicken was tender. But flavorful? Not very. And I ordered it "medium." Parking is plentiful. There was no wait at 7:00 on Friday night, but some people were waiting when we left. I usually like comfortable, convenient, casual places, but I'm not sure I'll come here again unless I plan to have some drinks with friends to distract from the otherwise ho-hum experience of Jose's. I would call it the sit-down version of Anna's.
(2)matt o.
O Jose's how I love you. I've been coming here since I was in the 7th grade, it was a hole in the wall then and still is to this day. I cant believe how crowded it has been the last few times. I can't compare it to traditional Mexican cause this is what I always get, great margaritas and if you go on a slow night you can hangout after your meal, we've actually done this so much we end up drinking beers and taking tequila shots with the staff... I keep meaning to try there tamales but haven't. Jose should be featured in a Budweiser real men of genius add.
(5)Daniel S.
This place is a short walk from my house and I wish I had tried it sooner. Small and cute, with prompt service and decent prices. Chicken fajitas are great but the beef can be a bit tough. They have all the Mexican standards and a few things you won't find most other places. Maybe it is a bit gringo-fied (default flour tortillas with a lot of things, etc.) but I like it that way, so sue me. I look forward to further exploring the extensive menu.
(4)Anderson M.
Chorizo Burrito Suizo w/ guacamole and sour cream. Nuff' said. P.S. This place is tiny--don't go with a bigger group. Tasty margaritas and good guacamole!
(4)J B.
I have been here a handful of times and every time has been a good experience. The food has been great, the place is friendly, the frozen mango daiquiri is yummy (in the summer). not super convienient w/o a car but I always drive there so that has not been an issue... plus as mentioned previously, they have a huge parking lot which is helpful.
(4)S H.
Jose's is small and comfortable. The wait staff is very attentive and the drinks are great. They have a wide selection of margaritas using everything from cheap liquor to the more expensive. The two things they do right are the mole sauce and their burrito based entrees (burritos & chimichangas). Both are very flavorful and have the burritos have the right combination of each of the ingredients. Other dishes we've are pretty good, but not of the same quality and taste. 4 stars for the alcohol, burritos and service.
(4)Mike D.
The staff was friendly, the margaritas were excellent (we each had the "Autentica," first on a list of a dozen or so), but the food was just OK. Not bad. Just OK. That said I had enchiladas, which was a relatively dull choice for this menu. There were more exciting looking dishes I'd go back and try some time--especially those from Jose's mother's kitchen: flautas, tamales, chili rellenos, pozole... But I was tempted by the sound of the mole verde sauce (tomatillo and ground pumpkin seed). It wasn't bad. Just OK.
(3)Suzanne W.
Food was excellent. First time at this restaurant and will definitely be back. Great location off the beaten path with free parking. Fun decor. Excellent service. Chimichangas were to die for.
(5)Cassandra M.
two words: mole enchiladas
(5)JEM C.
The food was really tasty and the portions were HUGE (that explains some of the pricing). Its clean, has a fun ambiance and affordable drinks. The service was average, but overall its a great convenient place to get good Mexican.
(4)Alicia R.
After reading the mixed reviews here, I was a little wary about going to Jose's, but it's where my boyfriend wanted to go for his birthday. It started out really promising - we ordered the hot salsa and man was it tasty. It's hard to find truly hot salsa in new england (unless you make it yourself). Then we ordered the jalapeno poppers, which were excellent. The batter had crushed tortilla chips in it and it made it a crunchy scrumptious treat. Then onto the main course. I ordered the fish - I guess I was being a little daring? He got the Enchilada Verde. After the amazing salsa and jalapeno poppers, I'd have to say I was really disappointed by the main course. My fish was smothered in red and green peppers and onions with sliced (what seemed to be) jarred green olives and tomatoey sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. The fish was a little underdone, the rice was mediocre, but I kind of liked the beans. My boyfriend's enchilada's were tasty but he didn't like the rice or the beans. I wont write off this restaurant, as a lot of other reviewers said it was a hit or miss type of place - but I definitely won't be deviating from the normal tex-mex entrees in the future. Three stars are for the promising start with a very lackluster finish.
(3)Lisa B.
Stopped here on the way home from a bike ride and loved loved LOVED it! The salsa was fresh with lots of cilantro, the chips were crispy and not overly salty, my tostada was AMZINGLY yummy (spinach & cheese) with loads of guacamole and sour cream, the tortillas had been freshly fried. Vegetarian beans: yay! The whole experience was wonderful so I was surprised to see the negative reviews. Everyone on staff was friendly and just attentive enough but not annoying. We got a pitcher of margaritas and it was HUGE. Tasty but not very strong. And how do they make the rice so tasty and fluffy? It blew my mind. I'm a yankee and may not know Mexican very well but it sure tasted good!
(5)Dori P.
Lo siento (sorry), but I was very disappointed by Jose's. I, too visited as part of a large group. We didn't find the service especially friendly, it was, however, especially slow. By the time all our meals arrived they were tepid. For the prices charged, the portions were very small. Most appalling was the stingy allotment of (Uncle Ben's type) rice and (under- seasoned) beans. This combo is incredibly cheap to procure and prepare and there's no excuse for meting it out in this manner. The entrees tasted fine, but were nada to write home about.
(2)Matt W.
I am sort of a Mexican food snob after spending many years in Southern California where Mexican is a staple of the diet. After reading the reviews I had high expectations, perhaps too high, for Jose's. Upon arriving we were seated quickly, though we had a reservation. We had to ask the waitress to bring our chips and salsa because she apparently forgot about us, but then again she was quite busy. The chips and salsa were great which does set a good tone for a Mexican place. Next we ordered some pitchers of margaritas which were very tasty, average priced, and not super strong (a negative to me but positve for others). I ordered the fajitas, usually a safe dish to order as it is hard to mess up. As expected, the fajitas were decent, not amazing or large, with the only complaint being that I asked for flour but recieved corn tortillas. The dishes my friends got also tasted good, but I wouldn't lable any of them as the best I've had, even in Boston. Despite all of the semi-complaining in the above paragraph, my friends and I are already talking about going back again, if for no other reason than to get the chips, salsa and the margaritas.
(4)chungo m.
jeeze. once you get in after waiting for forever the food is good. very good.
(4)junie w.
This place is small and the tables are very close together (but for some reason it works for the environment there). It is a very cosy place. The jalapeno poppers were awesome! There was a little bit of live music only because a customer asked if he could use their guitar. =)
(4)Melissa B.
Jose's does decent tex-mex. nothing fancy. nachos are pretty good - piled high with lots of ingredients. The big problem they have is getting the food to your table hot. Great place to go sit for a snack and swill beers while catching up with friends. Not a destination place by any means, but fine if you're in the area.
(3)Arik C.
Another out of the way gem in Cambridge. Not as great as the Taqueria Mexico in Waltham but still pretty good. Great food for your buck and also a rarity, a selection of mexican beers and tequilas! More than just negra modelo and patron.
(4)Jeff D.
(617) 354-0335 josesmexicanrestaurant.c… Hidden in the less traveled streets of North Cambridge (near Fresh Pond), Jose's draws a rice and beans kind of crowd with FREE parking and fiesta flavor. They stock an amazing selection of 32 tequilas by the shot, plus 10 bottled beers from Mexico. You'll have no problem picking out the colorful triple decker from the street, and the sombreros and gem-toned walls give the energetic cantina a wide awake atmosphere. On the menu, it's BIG plates for small bills. You have to sort through Americanized salsa wings and "Mexican" pizzas, but the crispy tacos, flattened tostadas, and stuffed chili relleno will have you in a mariachi mood in no time.
(5)Anna S.
Jose's has the three "f's". Fast service, free parking, and food that is good. It is also inexpensive. The atmosphere is also quite charming, and reminded me of a mexican food restaurant in southern california, not north cambridge. My only concern with Jose's was that my food was slightly bland, but that may have been due to what I ordered.
(4)Adrienne P.
The food: Good! Not the best Mexican in Boston by any means, but definitely tasty and with a large variety of authentic dishes. The atmosphere: Tight space, but really eclectic, cozy, and cantina-feeling. Great space to have an intimate dinner. The service: STELLAR. I cannot say enough. My boyfriend and I came here with a Yelp deal before seeing a movie, and were running late. We were worried about missing the movie, and asked the server if there was any way we could expedite the ordering/billing process. She agreed without complaint, and rushed all of our food out of the kitchen piping hot for us. We enjoyed our meal, and were able to pay the bill quickly and get to our movie on time. THANK YOU Jose's for being so gracious and accommodating!
(4)Katie W.
Literally the best Mexican food I've ever had. The waitress was very sweet, the service was only slightly slow (very fast considering it was Cinco de Mayo and it was packed!). Everything tasted very fresh and definitely freshly made. We'll be back very soon.
(5)Geraldine D.
I went here with a couple of friends the day before Harvard's commencement. We wanted to get out of the vicinity, and found this Yelp deal. I ordered 3 tacos and we all split a pitcher of sangria. The sangria was great, and so were the tacos, which came with a (very small) side of rice and beans. The rice was burnt, which made it a little difficult to enjoy, but the beans were great. The tacos themselves were also good, although they were not phenomenal by any means. I believe that the standard price was about $15 for 3 hard shelled tacos, which, if you ask me, is not very economical, especially given the low cost of the ingredients While I was left a little disappointed by the food, I was really happy by how attentive the waitress was, how quickly we got our food, and by the décor in the area. Nestled into a very quiet area close to Alewife, you feel like you are transported to Latin America as you step in and see these decorations. I am happy that I tried the food, and am even happier that I bought the deal. If I hadn't, I'm not sure it would have been worth my patronage.
(3)Ashley S.
This review is in regards to Jose's catering, not their restaurant service. Our office decided to cater from Jose's for our end-of-the-year event. We spoke to them about 1.5-2 months in advance to get everything lined up. Our event did land on Cinco de Mayo, so we were concerned with how busy they would be, etc. Jose's confirmed that they could satisfy our order, and deliver on time for the start of our event. We confirmed everything with them the week of the event, and felt confident that everything would be delivered in a timely fashion. Fast forward to the day of the event - Jose's was an hour late delivering the order. We had asked for delivery at 5:30. Our event started at 6. The food was not delivered until 6:30. We had given them the cell number to call upon arrival, and drop-off directions. They were in the wrong location, and called the wrong number (an office number, when none of us were in the office). To add to it, they did not come close to delivering the correct order. We had ordered a taco bar with all the fixings, PLUS burritos and tamales (as extras, just in case the taco bar was not enough food to serve all). They only delivered the burritos and tamales. No tacos, no enchiladas, no chips and salsa and guacamole. The food they delivered did not come close to serving the 25 people in attendance. The delivery staff said they would come back with the missing pieces of the order, but never did - and never called to say they weren't coming. We had to order pizza from Domino's (who were great with delivery response, etc.) to make sure we had enough food for all attendees. This was a real spoiler in what was supposed to be celebratory, enjoyable event. Needless to say, I do not recommend Jose's for catering. And because of this experience, I have a bad taste left in my mouth overall - I likely will not be eating at or ordering from Jose's in the future.
(1)Nicole B.
I'd give Jose's 3.5 stars and I'd probably go back to try it again. This restaurant is hard to miss with all the colorful paint outside. The inside is a bit cramped, but there is outdoor seating. Thumbs up for the free spicy salsa and chips. The salsa was definitely made fresh and tasted great. Thumbs down for the guacamole, which tasted fine, but was so small! Even if its only two people, the "small" size is very tiny. The chicken fajita platter was on the pricey side for a casual Mexican restaurant at $18. The platter came with guac, sour cream, rice, black beans, and tortilla. The chicken was good, but started to get dry after being on the steaming hot sizzling plate for a bit.
(3)Alana T.
I absolutely loved this place!! I lived in California for 10 years and eating at Jose's was like being back on the west coast. The service was wonderful, the food was delectable, and the atmosphere was fun and comfortable. Great music, great ambience, and great flavors!!! 5 stars!
(5)Margaret Ann B.
This is a North Cambridge institution, and deservedly so. They've upped their game cuisine-wise considerably since I first visited 30 years ago, but they still have the same funky, festive vibe and are a good value. A wide menu with authentic and unusual flavor while still providing the good ol' tacos and enchiladas you crave. Highly veggie-friendly while offering a wide variety of meat and fish. I just had the Fiesta Grande Vegetariana which includes a spinach enchilada, chile relleno and veggie tamale. The relleno is a big, fresh poblano -- not battered & fried -- with a real kick. They offer Groupon deals frequently, but it's definitely worth full retail price!
(4)Xavier R.
This restaurant is fantastic- I cannot get over how authentic it is. The food was all delicious, the staff was extremely friendly and the decorations seemed like they were plucked out of the middle of Mexico. My food choice was the vegan tamale wrapped in a pepper and I loved every bite. I cannot recommend this restaurant any more highly. Drop what ever it is you're doing and go get some amazing Mexican food.
(5)Melissa H.
Been here a couple of times and was very impressed with the food each time. Not that canned refried beans and cheezwhiz place AT ALL. Fresh ingredients, thoughtful spices. VERY nice service - friendly folks. And a cool atmosphere. Best, it's near my house!
(4)Sameer S.
Dont judge a book by its cover. At first glance this may look like a 'kinda', 'sorta' restaurant that someone opened in their house but the food is excellent. Perhaps, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Cambridge (if not Boston area). Definitely,one of best homemade salsa, I've ever tasted. Went for a Sunday lunch. Ordered a Burrito, Fajita and a Shrimp starter. Loved it. Would definitely go again.
(4)Anya T.
When I first moved to Cambridge, everyone I knew in the Boston area kept telling me I had to go to Jose's, that it was the best Mexican restaurant in the area. It took me more than a year to get there; now, as it happens, I live a couple of blocks away, so I end up eating here more often than I might, if I were still down by Central, and after many visits, I feel I can say: This is such a fun, lovely place to while away an evening with friends. But the food is simply adequate. Decent. Some dishes are terrible. Some are good. Nothing is amazing. The simple carne platters are better than dishes like burritos and tacos and suchlike. Great margaritas. So, I love this place, despite the fact that the food isn't brilliant. Which is completely fine!
(3)Faith K.
I've never been disappointed by Jose's (except when they said they were open on the phone and we showed up a few minutes later to find it closed lol) This is the best Mexican that I've had in the area. Everything is fresh and delicious. The portions are perfection and they are vegetarian friendly, offering plenty of options with lots of vegetables. Some places will just kind of remove the meat from a dish, put nothing else in its place, call it vegetarian and I go home hungry despite paying the same price.. That NEVER happens at jose's. The veggie fajitas are my favorite and they are LOADED with vegetables.
(5)Claire G.
This is a cute, small Mexican hole in the wall. It has a nice atmosphere with authentic Mexican music and decor. We got the chips with guacamole and salsa to start off with. The guac was great and I would definitely order again, although I thought $8 was a little pricey. My margarita was good, nice and strong. I got the chicken fajita taco bowl. The chicken had good seasoning and was cooked well. The staff was very friendly. I would come back again.
(4)Jim M.
Best Mexican food my wife and I have found since moving to the Boston area three and a half years ago. I suspected the minute we sampled the fresh chips and tasty salsa that this place would be a keeper, and it was. The black bean soup was lighter and more flavorful than any I've had before, and each of us enjoyed our entree. I forget its name, but it was a vegetarian tamale, chile relleno, and enchilada, hers with a mild sauce and mine with the chipotle sauce. Prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are generous (after having the soup, I ended up saving half of my dinner for tomorrow's lunch). Jose's has its own parking lot (always a plus in Cambridge), and everything on the menu can be made for vegetarians or vegans. Give them a try; you won't be disappointed. Signed, A native Texan who missed Mexican food until now
(5)Georgia D.
Decor is nice. Chips and salsa and guacamole were good. But then came the main dish. Rice. Was this sitting around all day? Was it spiced from a box? I only ate a few bites. Burritos and Tostadas Estilo Tonatiuh, both very very bland, almost tasteless. We were all piling on the hot sauce. My friends tried to be nice. "I think the food in Mexico is normally quite bland." Nope. I've been there. Real Mexican food is spicy and complex, wonderful flavors that wake up your taste buds. This was very disappointing. My friends were in town from Switzerland and wanted Mexican food. I had been to Jose's several years earlier. Now I remember why I didn't go back. The only reason this is not just one star is because the serving staff was very pleasant and helpful. One other complaint. We were sitting outdoors. It got dark. Jose's had no lighting at all for our table-- a simple candle would have worked. I could not see my friend across the table. Maybe that was for the best, because he could hide his disappointment in the food!
(2)Greg G.
I went to Jose's for lunch one Sunday with my fiancé. The inside is quaint and unique with lots of artwork and things everywhere. They have a small outdoor seating area and it was a nice enough day for us to sit there. The complimentary chips and salsa were better than you'd find at comparable Mexican places. We both got two different kinds of burritos that were delicious. The sauces on both were special in their own way. And the burritos were well filled with their respective meats. Both tasted delicious and we cleaned our plates easily The one complaint I have is the service was pretty slow. It took a while to get a margarita and the food itself. I think the waitress was on her own which doesn't make much sense during lunch hour. The food was good enough to make the wait seem insignificant.
(4)Stephen D.
I love Jose's. I've been coming to this restaurant for most of my life, and it's been best that whole time. There are better take-out burritos and tacos, but there is no better Mexican food in the Boston area. The classic Americanized dishes are actually REALLY good in their hands, and the actual Mexican dishes are incredible. In particular I've spent years in a deep love affair with their chili rellenos, and their chips. Their salsa and guacamole are great as well, and they make a fresh salsa-queso that is... insane. The main courses are all fantastic, and have the deep flavors from actual seasoning and cooking with good ingredients and skill. The rice is delicious, and all of the bean varieties are too. I LOVE the enchiladas with tinga chicken, or the taquitos with shredded beef. That's the other great thing about Jose's... a solid lineup of fillings. You have chicken, both regular (solid choice) and "tinga" (seasoned and AMAZING). Ground beef or shredded, both are delicious and have their place. The pork is great, and rounding it all out are the beans and cheese. It's a small place, and not the most beautiful from the outside. You might be put off by it's location, but don't be! It's clean, it's comfortable, the drinks are delicious, and the flan... get the flan.
(5)joseph B.
Awesome authentic mexican food, one of the best mexican restaurant I've been to in a awhile. Definitely recommend!!!
(4)Chris M.
Mole is decent Everything else was disappointing. Salsa was mostly water Refried beans tasted like someone put their cigarette ashes in it-- absolutely revolting. Black beans were watery with no seasoning or flavor, very bland. Fried ice cream wasn't fried at all. The cereal the ice cream was rolled in was stale and very chewy. Enchiladas were fine, but the kitchen did give us the wrong fillings-- chicken in place of carnitas and carnitas in place of steak. I would have been okay with this if it weren't for all of the above-- particularly the refried beans. Waitress said kitchen was having an off-night.
(1)Al S.
The place is tiny. Looks exactly like a home in a wall. Food is pricey, but, oh, oh so good. So damn worth the trip! Skirt steak is to die for! Shrimp ceviche was simply amazing. And camarones fra Diablo were beyond praise. Food alone was just frigging outstanding. While I don't much care for tight squeeze and ever playing soccer on bar TV, it all ends up for a terrific authentic mexican experience. Highly, highly recommended! (One star withheld due to rather high prices and tiny premises). But the food! Glorious glorious food!
(4)Joan L.
Food is good. There is a parking lot not too far away which is a nice option. The staff is very pleasant and the food is pretty standard. You may want to call ahead, I have had to wait over 30 minutes the last 2 times I went during peak dinner time.
(4)Journey M.
How did this manage 3.5 stars? My girlfriend and I ordered delivery from Jose's. I really wanted Mexican food and on Grubhub Jose's was one of the better-rated ones. We ordered nachos grande, I got cheese & potato flautas and she got a salad. The salad was fine... that's all we can say! The "nachos grande," which were supposed to be "loaded with beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onions, olives, cheese and sour cream, with jalapeno peppers on the side" were actually just a clump of nachos with some lukewarm beans, lettuce, and tomato. YIKES. My flautas were completely tasteless, and had what I think might have been chunky sour cream on it? I couldn't tell for sure, because there was no taste to it. I'm from Texas, so I admit my standards for mexican food are high, but this is like if someone said "Hmm, Taco Bell's a good idea but a bit too spicy, let's tone it down a bit" -- that's what you would get here. NEVER AGAIN. New England you should be ashamed to have this place representing your mexican food offerings.
(1)Dan K.
Authentic, pleasant atmosphere, pleasing service, and oh yeah...MEXICAN FOOD
(4)Mourad C.
Stumbled on this place by luck and really liked it. Great menu selections and quite authentic. Service great as well!!
(4)Maria S.
Where are these glowing reviews coming from?! Great drinks and ambience, but the worst Mexican food I have ever had!! Enchiladas were bland with stringy chicken and burnt rice and the beans tasted like they came out of a can! Chips were decent and salsa so-so. Go for drinks, but there is a tiny restaurant in Waltham tons better than this crap!
(1)Joe T.
Great Mexican food! I ate here with two half-Mexican people from Texas (that equals out to the same as one fully Mexican person, right?). Both of the Texan semi-Mexicans said this was the best Tex Mex they had experienced so far in Massachusetts. I got a vegetable chimichanga which I loved! Lovely, cool-looking, classy restaurant. Just one caveat: If you order take out, CALL to place your order. I tried ordering online and it caused confusion.
(3)Sarah W.
Went there with some friends on a saturday night last week. We just wanted mexican food in cambridge, so I found this place on yelp. It does look like someone turned their house in to a restaurant, but inside is very cute. The decor is spot on for a mexican restaurant and is very cute. I got a strawberry margarita and a steak burrito. The margarita was okay, a little strong for my taste. The burrito was okay, nothing special. They forgot part of the burrito (cheese on top) which was on the menu, not a substitution or addition or anything. So overall the food was fine, would I go back? I'd probably look for another place. One perk was that they have a huge parking lot right next to the restaurant, so parking was very convenient.
(2)Kris S.
Consistently delicious Mexican fare. Brought 6 people here in the last few months and no one has been disappointed. Really good gauc.
(4)Kamille W.
I wish I liked Jose's more. Truly, I do. It's a cute, out-of-the-way spot with a staff that means well. I'm just not a fan. First, the good: the salsa was on point. It wasn't particularly complex or anything, but it had just the right amount of heat -- the kind that builds up slowly and doesn't burn out your palate. Respect. I got the fiesta grande with chorizo (an enchilada, a taco, and a flauta) so I could try a few different things. None of them made any impression. Also, I feel like there was kind of too much cheese. I know what you're thinking. "Kamille. There's no such thing as too much cheese." Ohhh except there is, friends. The overabundance of cheese in everything meant that the pork chorizo got completely lost. ...That hurts me, you guys. Honestly, my standards for Mexican food around town are very low, so I wasn't expecting much. If you just want some salsa and fried things with cheese, Jose's will serve your purpose (although I think the prices are about 20% too high). If you're craving something more, I'd say to look elsewhere.
(2)Corinne T.
I've come here twice and brought two different friends. Good: - great ambiance. cozy colorful seating, offers good privacy for conversations. - graciously accepted my long-expired groupon (paid value) - excellent steak burrito, ordered it twice - friend said the flautas were best she's had - great service - its own parking lot Not so good: - enchiladas here were very watery and unpalatable. Didn't order it again. I recommend!
(4)David B.
Just moved back to Boston from Las Vegas. Needless to say Authentic Mexican Cuisine is a staple out there. I went to Jose's for lunch today and was beyond thrilled with the food, service and atmosphere. For sure will be making this on of my frequent lunch spots.
(5)Nina V.
I love mexican! When my boyfriend says "what do you feel like for dinner??" My response is "are you sick of mexican??" That being said it was Saturday night and we were double dating with another couple. We were going bowling on Route 2 so decided to stay in the area for dinner. We got to Joses around 730 and were seated right away in the front dining room at a high top,I immediately noticed the door opening and closing was going to make for a drafty dinner so I requested to the host that we take the booth in the corner and he was happy to move us. A very pleasant young man came right over with chips and mild salsa,both were delicious. After a few minutes we were ready to order,we asked for a margarita recommendation and were told the Suprema was the best one so we went with it. Even at $12.95 per drink if the waiter recommends it Im going to go with,hence why I ask for a recommendation. Disappointed was an understatement. It was tequila and sour mix,nothing spectacular for $13 per drink. We then ordered dinner,the boyfriend and I are "fajita for two" couple. It's what we always get. Again I asked the waiter what he recommended,he said chicken and steak. Sold!!! A reasonable 10-15 mins later dinner arrived. The traditional side plate came right before the sizzling tray. Since it was a fajita for two we each got our own side plate which consisted of: 3 small tortillas,half a cup of rice,a very small portion of guacamole and a pile of cheese. Ok. So maybe they were running low on guacamole that day,but when the fajita tray came out it was piled with onions and peppers,chicken and 4 small pieces of steak which was by no means top choice and then a few bits of what was leftover from another cut. The chicken was ok,kinda blandly seasoned and again for the price tag of a fajita exceeding $25 I was expecting a little more. The service was great,the food & drinks were over priced and the bathroom was disgustingly dirty. I wish I could say I'm running back but unfortunately I'll be heading to Harvard Sq for my fajitas and Rita's!!
(3)Jim F.
Pretty good Mexican food. Smallish plates. Above average to really?! Prices. 2 adults. 3 kids. One ordered off the kids menu. One appetizer. 2 Drinks. $125 including tip for some quesadillas and sopes. So at $25 per person is this my first choice? Nope. Second? Nope. Third? Still nope. But pricing indicative of he neighborhood I guess. Nice Comfortable room. Easy to park because of the big lot.
(3)Denise P.
Hello Jose Staffers, Enjoyed the spicy food, the cozy booth in the corner. The waiter was efficient and helpful with the menu. I had the tomalles con pollo. We will be back. The sangria was a hit. Denise Cambridge
(4)Lauren P.
If you want to eat out for Mexican, Jose's is a great choice. The only downfall of this location is the tight quarters of all the tables -- it's really difficult to navigate around the servers and the other patrons. My favorite choice here is still the burrito with mole sauce. Definitely not disappointed. I bought the $20 for $40 deal via Yelp and didn't realize until too late that it didn't cover alcohol, just food. We were able to order an extra meal to go (covered by the coupon) to eat the next day. The best part about this restaurant -- the easy parking! So hard to come by in Cambridge!
(3)K C.
this is one of the most / probably THE most disgusting food we had. my wife run the the small and sanitized bathroom before we left restaurant. both of our stomach were upset. Food wasn't cheaper. Other Mexican restaurant's food is much more authentic then this place.
(1)Adel A.
Jose is a cosy and friendly restaurant in the middle of a residential area. Good: - large parking space - service - super cheap, appetizer, two meals with two beers ends up less than $20. (the food was 50% off from Yelp deal, otherwise the price is budget friendly, a bit more expensive that say, a Chipotle) Meh: - The food is for the lack of better word, meh! Not special, not bad, just meh. The salsa was nice. Overall, it was OK, but not the kind that you would want to come back to again and again. - the inside looks cheap and small
(3)Stuart C.
We've visited Jose's 4 times now and each time the food was blah. If this is authentic Mexican, I'll pass. Definitely over-priced for the quality of the food. I think we'll pass on visiting them again. The 5 of us visited on 4 occassions and each time we ordered something different and each meal was seriously bland and not worth the price paid. Usually when this is the case after so many visits...it means the restaurant is not very good. The prices should all be reduced by at least 50% or they should invest in a better chef. The atmosphere is pretty good but very cramped. Bye Bye Jose's.
(2)Sid M.
Loved the vegetarian tamales with mole sauce. This is now one of my favorite places to get Mexican food. Nachos were appreciated too!
(5)Chris J.
I have never been disappointed here. Best Mexican food in Boston. Though I haven't explored much on the menu, I can say that the nachos (best in somerville/Cambridge), guacamole, and fajitas are great! Service is awesome too. They'll add or substitute things without any fuss. Prices are more than reasonable and portions are bountiful. I've only have the churro dessert there but oh my heaven was it good. Haven't determined whether they're made in house or not but with that kind of flavor I don't think it'll matter. Anyway, check it out if you haven't already.
(5)Kelly F.
If you can handle a little bit of a wait and a small restaurant, Jose's is worth it! Small purple house that you wouldn't imagine being as good as it is. From the Chips & Salsa to the margaritas to the full meals this place has it figured out! I currently live around the corner and frequent there quite often! Fresh chips and tacos, delicious fajitas and burritos too! The food isn't overly covered by sauces, instead the food itself is delicious and tastes fresh! Outdoor seating in the summer is great, minus the commuter rail being right outside. There is a full parking lot too because the street is always packed.
(5)Juan V.
I'm from Mexico and raised in California and in the year I've been in Boston I've eaten in many so called Mexican restaurants but the dont even come close. This is by far the best Mexican Food in Boston! Come to the restaurant or stop at their taco truck by MIT.
(4)Michael F.
They hosted my company's party on the top floor and we had one of the best times that we ever had before... The service and food was exceptional... Plenty of parking and I highly recommend it to everyone...
(5)Kate R.
Small space for a large group to meet in , but great for casual dining. Food is priced well and their burritos are delicious.
(4)Michael S.
The food is just OK, beans are very salty. They charge $1.95 for regular ice tea and no free refills. I paid $6 for iced tea. That is a deal breaker to me.
(2)Adam P.
Even with the groupon this place was horrible. Like a majority of you guys here your thinking well if I use the groupon with the 2 margaritas and a side dish it should be great cheap meal I kid you not it was horrible. The quesadilla was horrible it was 15 dollars for a quesadilla like come on and it was greasy and the customer service was horrible... So please don't waste your Money on this groupon it is not worth it
(1)Kristina N.
Tasty but my chile relleno was strangely cold and we probably won't get over the fact that Mexican food is specialty food here for a while.
(3)Ruchi C.
Great food, totally worth it! Authentic, cute and good salsa!A nice place for date night! My husband and I had plenty of vegetarian options. We had the fajitas and vegetarian platter and ended it with caramel custard. Drinks were good but could be stronger, I'd definitely go back!
(4)Meredith L.
I love this place and have for about 20 years. It's almost always packed with people and the restaurant can get really loud and a bit hectic atmosphere, which is why I prefer to either sit outside or get take away. I highly recommend the tamales del dia with mole, guacamole and their homemade salsas and chips. They make a mean margarita as well. Too bad we can't put those in the take away order!
(4)Bryan M.
Excellent food, great service authentic Mexican, you can taste the freshness Great margaritas too!. Slightly on the pricey side, but well worth it.
(5)Brian S.
Service is always great here and workers really friendly, but the food isn't quite up to par. Queso dip is the cheapo, yellow stuff you'd get at a sporting event with a dollop of salsa on top. Yuk. The entrees were decent, but the enchilada and relleno were drowning in the sauces, almost to the point of losing the flavor of the rest of the dish. I'd go back, but it wasn't as wonderful as other mexican places in town.
(3)Zena B.
I had dinner here last night with my husband. The food was pretty good. Good taste, but small portion size. Definitely not something you can pack for lunch the next day. Really cute, small, hole-in-the wall place with good ambiance. The only reason I am giving this only 2 stars is because at the end of the meal, we told our waitress we had bought the $40 worth food for $20 yelp deal. I don't know if this was restaurant policy (it wasn't stated anywhere) but she goes and adds the tip on the total herself at whatever percent she wanted. I may be completely wrong here, but I thought it was the customers decision on how much tip you wanted to leave your waitress?? I've usually seen this happen in large groups of like 6 or more where the servers have to juggle a whole lot going on with the table, I understand that. But this?!
(2)Maggie W.
I usually like this place, but today was poorly done. App never came, and when reminded - it came out wrong. Server abandoned me, diet coke tasted like syrup, side of chipotle sauce ($1.50) was water, thimble of sour cream ($1.50) served with the wrong item, water empty and chips/salsa never replenished. It's too bad, because this is generally a better place.
(3)Steven R.
Jose's is located on a cozy Cambridge sidestreet/neighborhood. The inside of the restaurant itself is more like a home than a restaurant - so it's homey and comfortable feeling. There's a bar with dinner seating, a TV and actually pretty good Mexican music playing. The staff is very friendly, responsive and accommodating. My wife and I loved the salsa and chips, but the real hit was the quality of the dinners. Jose's has a number of options for your meal and all of them are made fresh with quality ingredients. We go to a lot of Mexican restaurants, and frankly find the food bland most places. Jose's has a great combination of good quality food, excellent service and a comfortable environment. We were hoping for a nice casual dinner in a warm friendly place. Jose's offers that and more. We don't write too many Yelp reviews - but Jose's earned a great one. Thanks guys!! We'll be back.
(5)Jeff D.
I was somewhat underwhelmed. I almost always get chili rellenos when I go to a Mexican joint, because one that is authentic can always get it right. Jose's was overly moist, sloppy, and fairly tasteless. I'll head to Tacqueria Mexico in Waltham next time. I know they do it right.
(2)Carly J.
Myself and 3 friends had dinner there last night and have all been there a few times before- loving the food. The service was horrible. Our waitress acted like she was pissed we were even there and that we were bothering her. She never once checked on us to see how our food was, if we needed anything, if we needed refills (which we did many times), and when our 4th person arrived it took her 25 minutes to even come up to him and that's probably only because he asked another staff member for a menu. We would have ordered at least another round of drinks and my friend tried to order more food twice and the waitress ignored her. If she had explained that she was very busy, short staffed, or even simply apologized for the slow service things would have been different. Nothing. We had to chase her down every time we needed anything (basic things like water, drinks, etc). Whenever we made her come over she rushed to get away- to the point where we we're mid-order and she would just walk away. There was just no awareness for what the customer needed. We did have a groupon, which I guess could be annoying, but then don't have them available. We tried to make change at the bar (knowing our waitress would take forever if she even came over) and the bar couldn't break a $20- are you serious?!? Also a 18% gratuity was included in the bill- we were not planning on leaving anything close to that. Who adds gratuity to a bill for 4 people?!? That was just the last straw. We couldn't wait to leave and will never be back. The food is fine and we saw at least 2 other servers attentively visit their tables (so 2 stars). That was embarrassing for them.
(2)Elizabeth B.
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN ! Native Texan lost in New England has found a place that serves food that helps quell bouts of homesickness. First, the homemade chips & salsa is the way it should be.... muy caliente y sabor :) The nachos villa are a meal themselves, & the queso fresco ( instead of sour cream ) is another touch of home. The margarita traditionale is spot on ( only a margarita aficionado would not be satisfied ) and the enchiladas adobo are so well crafted you'd swear you were home en la casa familia :) The plates were so generous I forgot to try the soppapillas, but will be returning for another meal & dessert soon ;) For those not accustomed to southern hospitality, learn to savor your food & drink. Meal time is an event itself & should be accompanied with copious amounts of convo & laughter. Southern hospitality also means that your service throughout the meal will mimic that of what you enjoy when at home for holidays. This is a place where dinner is very relaxed, & should NOT be rushed. For this lost Texan, Jose's is a pleasant reminder of home when I'm blue & need to have my homesickness chased away. The food, drink & friendly atmosphere are what they should be. Southern hospitality = Good food & drinks, Friendly service & long drawn out convos. My tip for patrons: Come home & RELAX !
(5)Dave R.
If you're into authentic Mexican, this place does a pretty good job at accomplishing just that. This is your typical very filling, very heavy Mexican food...authentic but nothing particularly special. With an amazing option like Painted Burro in the general area, there's not much of a reason to venture out here...the location is particularly difficult to reach for those without cars and really isn't worth the trek.
(3)Ana R.
Super yummy queso. Holy whoa. Their taco salad was DELICIOUS!! I usually only order burritos or quesadillas at Mexican places but last night was in the mood for something lighter. The salad was so fresh! The fried shell was a bit too much, but i broke off what I wanted to eat and used it like a nacho. So yummy. Big portions, great nachos and salsa (thank you for bringing us both hot and mild salsa!). But don't leave before you try the queso!
(4)Naira Q.
Nice ambiance, average quality Mexican food. Chips tasted stale. House margarita was delicious.
(3)Emily S.
I used to be a HUGE fan of Jose's, but it seems like they've really gone downhill in the last year or so. It all started when they changed their menu a year or so ago... perhaps they got new management? I'm not sure. The food is still ok some of the time, but the quality has become is pretty inconsistent. Also the restaurant seems a lot less clean and just generally the feel is a bit more grungy. I still go on occasion because I like the margaritas and I enjoy sitting on the patio in the summer, but the last few times I've been disappointed. My days of being a Jose's fan might be coming to an end.
(2)Chelsea G.
The ONLY good Mexican I've found in the Boston area. So delicious I wanted to keep eating long after my tummy was full. Tamales w mole sauce! Chimichangas are not on the menu but they make them upon request. Skip the queso dip. And get the yelp deal - $20 off our meal.
(5)Chris B.
Great authentic Mexican food. Shredded beef burito was excellent, chicken fajitas as well as the cheese quesadila. The service was incredible once seated and I would recommend going here. Kids had a great meal and staff was friendly.
(4)Keith L.
Pleased w/ the place. Extensive menu at reasonable prices. Very nice children's menu. Service is very good. Staff very friendly and efficient. Deserving of its top 10 ranking for Mexican in Boston area.
(4)Court S.
I had to deduct 2 stars due to the fish burrito having absolutely no flavor. The fish had zero seasoning. It was bland and tasted off to the point that I actually had to throw away the fish, and only eat the tortilla, rice & beans. Maybe I'll try shrimp next time. Or maybe not.
(2)Noelle L.
Very cute inside. Delicious margarita options that taste real and not overly sweet. Great food with authentic options. Service lacked though... Was seated for a good 20 minutes before even given water. Had to go up to the bar to ask for our check (we were the only ones left in the bottom of the restaurant) and there were children running around at around 10:00PM. One of them knocked on the door while I was using the restroom and were opening the kitchen doors and yelling. I say I'd go back... but I probably wont
(3)andrew w.
So over priced. One taco for 14$ how does that make any sense. Burrito's are 17$ and up. Place is also dirty. Also buisness must not be good since theres deals everywhere for this place
(2)Stephanie A.
Never eating here again. Waited 30 minutes to have my order taken, then the food took 35 minutes. The food itself was decent. Adobo burrito and Pazole. Seriously considered yelling at the staff when the people who arrived 25 minutes after us had food 20 minutes before us, but decided I don't need to get that excited.
(1)Tim G.
The margaritas were good, and there was ample parking. The food was okay, but there are definitely better options for Mexican food in the Cambridge area. I also found a piece of metal wire in my food that cut the inside of my mouth when I bit into it. Upon informing our waitress, she just kind of smiled and nodded (possibly didn't understand what I was saying?). I would have given it three stars if not for the "wiry" chicken.
(2)Amber D.
***** EAT HERE IF YOU DON'T MIND EATING ANOTHER CUSTOMERS LEFTOVER TRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!***** We came Jose's to eat a little after 9 one day last week. HUGE mistake on our part. 1. we walk in and got NO service. Mind you the wait staff saw us come in and they proceeded to ignore us. *RED FLAG* 2. we walk up to bar and ask what time do they close, bartender responds 'we're closed, we close @ 9:30. (we should have walked out) 3. Manger comes up behind him and corrects him by saying 'No, we close @ 10, kitchen closes @ 9:45'. He shows us to our seats and offers to bring us chips/salsa and tells us our waitress will be by to take our orders...... *here we go* 4. Waitress drops off our chips/salsa, walks off never taking our order. As we wait to order, we start eating the 'chips'...... Finally after waiting a good 10-15 minutes she comes back to take out order and walks off. By this time we've eaten a good amount of the chips/salsa. All of a sudden I hear my friend say 'What the hell is this?' while she's looking in chip basket; come to find out these bastards give us somebody else's TRASH. Not only was there literally balled up pieces of straw paper wrappers mixed in with the chips, but I also pull out a soggy chip covered in salsa on the bottom. When I say I was sick to my stomach, that is an understatement. The fact that they had the balls to gives their customers trash really shows what they think of us. I work for the state in Health & Human Services, as soon as my contact person at the board of health gets back from vacation, a formal complaint will be made. *HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, DIRTY FACILITY, DIRTY WORKERS.*
(1)Jesse D.
Recently went for a group business lunch on a weekday. Our waitress was very sweet and they did their best to accommodate our large group. The building and interior feels rundown and could easily be improved with some TLC and elbow grease. We enjoyed the food. I had the shrimp fajitas...and while the chili steam made half the table cough for 5 mins, it was still good. :) Not the best Mexican food but there was an air of authenticity. The TV was playing soccer news in Spanish and the general vibe was welcoming....although I wouldn't have wanted to touch the walls much. Would consider going back.
(3)Teddy C.
Living in Texas for the last 7 years, I was ready to say good bye to awesome Tex-Mex when we made the move to Boston. So Jose's is a really pleasant surprise! It reminds me of a lot of the great neighborhood Tex-Mex joints in Austin, places that feel family run with no-frills comfort food. All the little details reminded me so much of food back home. The fresh guacamole, the michelada (ask for without Clamato), the fresh salsa, the tamales, even the kids menu that offers chicken nuggets and fries. Great food and a really great price with the Yelp $20 for $40 deal. If only they also did breakfast tacos.
(4)Benno K.
Wow what a bunch of haters! You just make me sad hating on Jose's ); cuz this place is excelente! I've been here 3 times since I moved to North Cambridge all the way from Albuquerque New Mexico last August and I must say ALL three visits were memorably delightful! :D ¿Por Qué? 1. This place is as local as it gets and the atmosphere is superb plus they even got parking! 2. Service is great! Waiters are friendly! They were even happy when I ordered en español. And thought it was funny when my little brother tries the same ( he speaks Chinese better than Spanish) 3. Food is delicious and, in my opinion, quite reasonably authentic. NOTHING like Taco Bell if that's what you got out of their nachos -_- 4. They have an awesome place to eat right outside on the sidewalk during warm summer days. 5. The location is superb; right down the street from my apartment. I'll admit I'm not an expert on Mexican food cuz the delicious NEW Mexican cuisine back in ABQ is obviously New Mexican but regardless Jose's is a deliciously delightful restaurant that I am excited to return to in order to fill mi estomago and just because a few haters be hatin on Este restaurantre excelente isn't going to convince me otherwise.
(5)Gairik S.
We went there for lunch using a yelp deal and got the Taquitos, Fiesta Grande Vegetarians and Camarones with the green peppers sauce. The shrimp (camarones) was the best of the three and deserved five stars. Perfectly cooked and a yummy sauce. The spinach enchilada and poblano in the fiesta grande were also great, but the tamales was average with a pretty thick and slightly dry crust. Tinga (chipotle chicken) taquitos were really great and came with a yummy fresco cheese. The chicken could have been a bit juicier though. The ambience for lunch was very fun and overall it was a great meal. Wish they hadn't run out of the fried ice cream :)
(4)Adi R.
Very Nice Menu and Delicious food. Servers are very co operative and friendly. Dont go on the looks. This looked a bit overpriced for what it is .
(4)Dan M.
This is poor "Mexican" food. I don't usually write these reviews, but I got the Groupon because there seemed to be honest loyalty to this place, and plenty of solid yelp reviews. Seriously? I'm a white guy, Boston born and bred, but I like food enough to know this food honestly sucked. There is plenty of legit, flavorful, thoughtful Mexican cuisine around, from Acitron in Arlington to Sol Azteca in Newton/Boston, to Anna's Tacqueria just about everywhere. This stuff they served us was just lazy - I mean no seasoning, overcooked, guac that really may have been the tj's pouch stuff. Really. I thought about adding a star just for their COURAGE to charge $19 for two bland, dry carnitas tacos on a plate - we went through half a bottle of cholula just to get out dinners to taste like anything - but didn't want to add to their already inflated rating. Jeesh, Boston diners/yelp reviewers, you totally steered us wrong on this one. Honestly, only way they get away with this kind of food is because apparently the local gringos actually don't know any better. Yikes, I'm embarrassed. And from this point on, way more skeptical of yelp ratings.
(1)Erin P.
So, despite an okay service experience and a really tasty margarita, I don't think I'll be going back here. Food poisoning was what I got from my visit to Jose's Mexican Restaurant. I ordered appetizer sopes, and my friend had a ground meat quesadilla. I was happy with the little sopes, and I thought they were tasty and fun. The quesadilla, however, was soaking in grease, messy to eat, and it wasn't really what I'd expect from a quesadilla. However, the next morning proved how something had gone very wrong in their kitchen. I know every place can have a bad day, but I won't be taking my chance again with this place.
(1)Chann C.
Holy guacamole. Their guac is so fresh and delicious! Their salsa is also awesome as well. I am a huuuge fan of spicy food and their salsa is definitely muy caliente. You can also get it mild as well for those of you who can't take the heat. The salsa I get at other mexican restaurants in the area just don't seem to have enough kick to it. For entrees, I always get either the enchiladas or chile rellenos. Both are very great options. My favorite dish is their chicken enchiladas with the verde sauce. It's so filling, I can never finish it. I always have some leftovers to take home. All entrees are served with rice and beans. I'm not a huge fan of beans so I just pass on that. Service is always wonderful and their drinks are pretty solid. Nice little establishment. Don't expect anything too fancy here. If you just want decent tex-mex for an affordable price, this place is for you.
(4)Tracy P.
AWFUL SERVICE at sister restaurant in Wayland, Ma (Viva Mexican Grill). Insulting especially to my Mother on Mother' Day when we were told "Oh don't be mad its Mothers Day" even thought we waiting OVER AN HOUR for our entrees. Owner told us verbatim when we explained we would not be back because of the awful service "Oh don't worry about it" and went back to EATING his own meal even though we never received our food. Hopefully out of business soon.
(1)Deek P.
Excellent! A must try. Thank you for a few great meals!
(5)Karen M.
I really wanted to like this place. Honestly, I thought it was cute, kinda cozy. But right from the beginning, we were seated in a tiny table crammed up to the corner of the bar. My husband had to squish into his chair and he's not small. The waitress asked if we wanted guacamole with our chips and we said yes. Come to find out when we got the bill, the chips and guac were $8. I thought the chips came automatically to your table and the guacamole would be a few bucks extra. Ok, not that big of a deal. After we ordered our meals, it took a LONG time for the food to come out. Other people were getting theirs and finishing before ours even came. When it was obvious by the way the staff was huddled together talking and looking over at us that they realized we were still waiting for our food, no one came over to apologize about the wait. Only to fill our waters, which had just been filled. When the food finally came, I have to agree with the other reviews I've read here, it was nothing special. I ordered a steak dish, Bistec a la Mexicana ($17) that was really a disappointment. My husband's Tacos Carnitas ($19) were just ok. Even the rice was just meh. After we finished eating I was hoping to see the dessert menu or get some coffee, hoping to redeem the experience a bit. The waitress set the check down on the table and left, without asking if we'd like anything else. We got an amazon local deal ($30) so that helped a little bit but the final bill after the 'deal' still came to $40. Seventy dollars is way too expensive for bad service and so-so food! This place has the potential to be quite good. I hope they can make the needed changes.
(1)Jamal S.
I too wanted to love this place. Staff is nice, food is ok, but not 4-star for sure. Chile relleno was good, but cold. Rice and beans cold and terrible. Chicken in the relleno was flavorless, but the tomatillo sauce was fresh, nice and tangy. The chicken tamales were great. If you come here with a larger party, ours was eight, expect the food to be cold. The guacamole was fresh, but had no cilantro(!) and while the avocados were fresh, the whole dish lacked seasoning--needed some salt and some hot green pepper. The chicken enchiladas uses poor quality, flavorless corn tortilla, and the chicken stuffing is similarly bland and uninspired. I would give them a one star because for the price they charge, it should be a better quality food and flavor, but they get two because there are limited Mexican options in the boston area and I want to keep them around. If we were in Texas, and i lived in Austin, this would definitely be a one star.
(2)Anya H.
The wait time can be kind of long on the weekends but the service and the food is great. I love the warm tortilla chips with the medium salsa and the black bean soup is really good. I also like the burritos but they are so filling I've never eaten more than half. If your thinking about dessert get the churros! They are sooo good and come with ice cream!
(4)Joe R.
Tex-Mex solidly done, in a back neighborhood of Cambridge. Very popular, and a fun place for the four of us. The food was served promptly, the service seemed rushed in order to free up our table, and I understand what was happening when we left and the crowd outside was large. The food was a-ok. If not for the friends, and their love of this restaurant, its a doubtful that I go back. Oh, I might bring my 20-something year old kids here when they visit Bean Town.
(3)Marc B.
I went back here after a long hiatus. I think the last time I was there I had the burrito and was blown away. I think this time I had some speciality fish dish which turned-out to be alright. My wife has something else and we both felt it wasn't worth the drive over the river for again. Oh well.
(2)Kim K.
I toooootally second Joanna, the authenticity of the interior and menu really gave me high hopes but I wasn't super impressed. We were seated immediately on a Wednesday night at 6PM (definitely no reservation needed then). Service was prompt and friendly. The house salsa was delish and we got the guacamole in the mortar too. The guac was delish, very rich and flavorful. This would have been a 2 star review without the guac. For dinner I got the tinga (chicken spiced with chiles and onions) sopes. I was slightly misled with the sopes, I thought they were on a doughy tortilla but were on a hard, fried tortilla that was more like a huge nacho (see picture). Not exactly what I wanted. The meal itself wasn't as robust and flavorful as I would have liked. Kind of tasted like burned plastic and had too much cheese on it. Well, the description said queso fresco which I was excited about but it had a pinch of queso fresco to the mounds of melted cheese underneath with the chicken. Bummer. This place could really ramp up the food, authenticity, and have even more business. It just all felt very...apathetic? lazy? Not sure. There's just so much potential here that's being wasted in my opinion.
(3)Christian G.
Come for the margaritas stay for the mole, but steer clear of the queso dip. Movie theater nacho "cheese" tastes better.
(3)Sushiman S.
Ole Redux.... can't get enough of this place... good honest authentic (well maybe almost authentic) Tex Mex food in our fair city. For me, the parking lot (gigundo) is another plus. Stopped by for lunch the other day and brought back two bags of food for the office. We were in a food coma for the afternoon... need I say more? The service is always speedy and professional as well. Just wished they had some Sonoran style food.... but other than that, Numero Uno!
(5)Christina V.
I've become quite a regular at Jose's. I started going because they always had deals or restaurant.com gift certificates and you could use it towards alcoholic beverages as well. Their margaritas and sangria are delicious. The staff are all friendly and attentive. I go about once a month or so, so now they are starting to know us. I've really never had anything bad to eat there ...
(4)Jarrod G.
Our first and likely last time. Very slow. 75 minutes to get our food. Wait staff ignored us for a 30 min stretch with no water refills or check-ins until we inquired. In the end the food was pretty basic, not what we expected given the price. Very different than what I expect from a god Mexican restaurant - fast service and good value.
(1)Sereia C.
Jose's is a bit of a hole in the wall with good margaritas and okay food. I have been there twice. The last time there was only one other table sat in the restaurant, and I still had to get up three times and walk around to find my waitress to get 1: a water refill 2: more chips, and 3: the bill. I mean, I dunno. I guess I should cut her some slack, being that busy and all...
(3)Katrina F.
I'm not super impressed with this place, but I don't dislike it either. I went there on a Friday night with three other people. We didn't have a reservation, and they accommodated us, which I appreciated. The service in general seemed impersonal and rushed, but maybe that was because it was a Friday night. The margaritas were good, though a little pricey in my opinion. I had a chile relleno stuffed with shrimp, and between that and the chips and salsa, I left full. My husband really liked his taquitos. We ordered guacamole to accompany our chips, and it was lacking a little flavor; I make better guacamole at home. I know you can't really expect super authentic Mexican food in Cambridge, but I guess I was thinking that at least it would meet the same standards of my old hangouts in Lincoln, Nebraska.
(3)Tara B.
Great food, not too expensive. Nice decor, clean, free parking, friendly staff.
(5)John C.
WORST DINNER EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. Waited 45 minutes to get a table, after my designated "reservation" time. After sitting down, I waited 15 minutes to be served a drink and an addition 45 minutes to be served my food. I love Mexican food and I have eaten at some pretty reputable (and bad) Mexican restaurants, this by far was the WORST. I read some great reviews about this place, enticing me to check it out-big mistake. My waitress was pleasant, but my food was horrendous and I was in the restaurant for a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Don't waste your time with this place. Maybe I caught them on a bad night, and I have never written a review before, but after dinner here I thought it would be worth it to warn people.
(1)Michelle A.
I'm usually a fan of Jose's. Been there a bunch of times with friends. I came by to get a quick bite to eat to take with me to Paddy's Lunch down the street. Chorizo or some pork derivative empanadas I ordered were really greasy and too spicy for my liking. I will try Jose's again but will steer clear of those on the menu.
(2)Laura B.
We love all the food we have ever tried here. I especially love the mole on spinach enchilada. Mexican food is not usually my first choice except here. They also have fresh salsa and great drinks.
(5)Kate M.
Awesome margaritas, really good food, fun atmosphere and good prices.
(4)Scratchie S.
Some friends of mine were raving about this place so I decided to give it a try. I was very disappointed. The spicy salsa was excellent, but the chips were stale, and tasted like they came from the supermarket. Not a deal-breaker, but a disappointing start to the evening. I decided to order off the "Mom's home cooking" portion of the menu (or whatever it's called) and ordered tamales. I guess I was expecting something special because (a) the place was so crowded and (b) they were listed in the "home cooking" section of the menu, which led me to believe that they were a specialty of the house or something. When they came, they were very bland. I realize that tamales are not traditionally supposed to be spicy, but it's possible to make mildly-spiced food that is still well-seasoned. These were just bland, and not noticeably different from any other tamales I've gotten in New England, except that they were very small (and only two to an order). If I hadn't eaten so many stale chips during the long wait, I would have left the restaurant hungry. I'm guessing that my friends love this place for the extensive tequila menu, but for the actual food, this restaurant wasn't worth the long wait in any way, shape or form. I could have gotten essentially the same thing (and more of it) over at Boca Grande.
(2)Amanpreet S.
We decided to take advantage of the Yelp deal here. I didn't think it was bad, but I did think the dishes could probably use a bit more spice. I'm guessing they tone down the spices for the sake of the locals. If I go there again, I'd definitely ask them to make things a bit more spicy.
(3)Jeff F.
I've come in twice and it's definitely hit or miss: - Chips and salsa - meh. - Guac was ok, ground beef burrito w/ salsa verde - I've had some other things off the menu that are just ok. - Perfect family Mexican atmosphere If you're closeby, I'd give it a try, but I wouldn't go out of your way
(3)Anthony L.
Amazing authentic Mexican restaurant. First off, this place has a large parking lot around back and is free to park. A rarity in Cambridge. Also the best Margaritas you will ever have. Delicious, large, and plenty bang for your buck. I am a 200+ pound man and they hit me like a freight train. For food I highly recommend the Mexican Banderillas. Hugely addictive, easy to share, and wont fill you up before your entree. My favorite dish is the Tamales Del Dia with Mole sauce. This place is great for groups. I have been coming here for years and Lisseth has always been our friendly and attentive server. She is excellent and an absolute delight. The rest of the staff is always very friendly as well. If you love Chipotle and Taco Bell then this place probably isnt for you. But if you are looking for great atmosphere, excellent Margaritas, and authentic Mexican food with the best service, then this is your place.
(5)Jeremy K.
I have been to Jose's Mexican Restaurant a couple of times, mostly thanks to Groupon and their promotional deals with this place. Whether I was there for dinner with a friend, or with a date, I've had a great time and have been able to enjoy my meals there. The place is located off of Porter Square, in a prominently residential area of Cambridge and they have a gigantic, free parking lot, which is remarkable since no one can really walk or take the subway there. I actually suspect that the parking lot is one of the reasons as to why this place is so popular, especially on the weekends. Both times that I've been there the place was mobbed, on both floors, making for some rather unique experiences. But thanks to OpenTable, getting seated was not impossible, it just required a bit of patience and a few margaritas at the bar. While very few of their items are authentic, a lot of the items are varied enough to please just about everyone - add to that many tequila-based drinks and you've got yourself a winning combination. Every table received complimentary chips and salsa - you even get to pick between mild, medium and hot. Their salsa is delicious and I'm a big fan of their hot one, having it both times I've been there. I've eaten and tasted many dishes there, from their fajitas to their enchiladas and even their chimichangas. Each plate features generous portions and comes with a side of beans, guacamole and sour cream. My favorite that I've had so far is their Enchiladas con Mole, which is a traditional enchilada (meat-filled tortilla baked in sauce and sprinkle with cheese), which comes lathered in a gorgeous, flavorful mole sauce. It's delicious and very filling. On my most recent visit there, last week, I shared a fajita platter for two with my girlfriend; we couldn't make up our minds over which meat to pick so we decided to get ours with both chicken and steak and our waiter accommodated our needs which was pretty awesome - a few minutes later, the sizzling hot, iron platter arrived at our table with the proper accouterments: the tortillas. Unfortunately they had a little mishap at the pass and sent us the wrong one, as this one had shrimp in it and after we pointed it out, just instants later, the correct one arrived. It was no big deal and our waiter was very apologetic - it was an honest mistake. Once the right one arrived, we dug right in and picked through the giant pile of caramelized onions, peppers, chicken and flank steak. Everything was cooked well, seasoned properly and was very tasty - best of all, it's very easy to share, especially for two people, making for a great dish when with a significant other. Our drinks were also very good. We had a margarita each at the bar while waiting for our table to open up and then another round at our table. Their variety of margaritas is great and they have all kinds of other drinks as well, including shots and a few Southern beers like Tecate, Dos Equis and a few others. If you're feeling spendy, you can even try a shot of their Patron Anejo ($14 a pop) - it goes down smoothly. Overall this is a great addition to the Cambridge Mexican dining scene - The food is great, as is the service, the prices are affordable and parking easy to find. What else could one ask for? Seriously? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
(4)S S.
Very cute exterior but only a small part of the restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Living here for a year after moving from California we were excited to see a Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. Sadly, it is very generic and has more central American flavors rather than Mexican.
(3)Thomas B.
We ate in Jose's Mexican Restaurant. It is a nice little place with very friendly and patient waitresses. I had the steak fajetas, which i really enjoyed. There was plenty of food. It was fairly priced. I will return for some more!. The place was packed on a Saturday evening.
(3)Michael K.
Now here is a great and authentic Mexican restaurant. The Queso was perfect, the meal as it should be, and the flan was really good. Too bad they were out of the Tres Leches. The there was the Salvadorian, Gisette I think her name is. What a doll. I will be back, and go out of my way to grab a meal here.
(5)Tamarleigh G.
Update: I just learned that it changed ownership a few years back. That explains it. I think they have a lot of momentum, because they used to be good. But that momentum only carried them just so far, and if they can't maintain the standards of their predecessors, they should have the decency to change the name of the restaurant, so that diners don't expect the same quality. In other words, when you take over a great restaurant, you need to step UP or step OFF! Don't cheapen the good name of Jose's restaurant, which had a great reputation that was well-deserved. I swear that chili con queso was like pump cheese, you know, the cheez that the guy at 7-11 pumps onto your nachos. LOL I still can't get that cheez out of my mind. I think it shows a lack of concern for quality ingredients and quality preparation. It is not all that freakin' hard to make chili con queso. They probably do it in the microwave. (I have no proof of that, it's mere speculation, but just based on my opinion of their standards.)
(1)Brittany T.
The food here is no frills and good for the price. The margaritas are excellent and the service was really nice too. If you are looking for a well priced simple Mexican place with great decor; this is your jam!
(3)Lindsay B.
This is a good spot for a margarita and some chips and salsa. Do yourself a favor and stop there. Having been three or four times now trying different things the food is consistently bland. The ambiance leaves something to be desired, but the outdoor seating in nice weather is a slightly redeeming quality.
(3)Jillian J.
Visiting Boston and decided to check this place out using the Yelp deal. It was soo good! Our 40 for 20 deal covered our entire deal. Our server was very nice and although it was a packed lunch hour we were served promptly. Def recommend!
(4)Jennifer L.
I love Jose's! We've been there a few times lately with Groupons and 50% off deals, making it even better... I had them cater a party a few years back and that was awesome. Burritos, rice, beans, guacamole (the usual standards), for a group of about 20. They were on time, friendly, and the price was fair. Their food is high-quality and they offer a lot of stuff you don't see at other area Mexican restaurants. Big menu. A little pricey, but worth it. (And, like I said they've been offering lots of coupons/Groupons lately for Jose's.) I love the mole sauce, the guacamole is delicious, and the salsa is excellent (the hot is very hot). The (free) chips are hot off the stove and everything is fresh. They can also make pretty much anything vegan/vegetarian, and I don't feel bad asking for that as it's right on the menu. I've never had to wait for a seat (though if you had a group you might). They have dozens of tequilas available by the shot and margarita pitchers. The restaurant is in a purple house and the inside is cozy and warm. I believe they have outdoor seating, and parking, too!
(4)Liz D.
Pros: - So many vegetarian options (we tried flautas papas, tamales, sopes, spinach and cheese enchiladas, chile rellenos) - Michelada (although they didn't put ice cubes in it which was a little odd to me) - Mexican ice cream - Friendly staff who were willing to speak a little Spanish with me - Parking Lot (although we walked) - Corn tortillas Cons: - Small area to wait to be seated, honestly there weren't many cons
(4)Melissa B.
I come here for the mole sauce. AMAZING, rich, not watered down. The service is fabulous. Margaritas are with lime juice, not mix - YUM! Eating outside is always nice.
(5)Sarah W.
Food is good, drinks are good. Outside tables are adorable and charming. However when I went this time, the service was AWFUL. Not the table service, the seating service. There was a young guy working as host, and he was absolutely lost. We walked in, no one greeted us. We stood there for about five minutes before he acknowledged us. He took forever to seat parties, and then it took forever for someone to come take our order. Once our order was taken, everything moved along very quickly. But the experience of being (not) seated almost cost them our service-- in fact, the party behind us just gave up, as they were never once acknowledged. Hoping it was just a one-night blip.
(3)Darla S.
nastiest food i have ever had! so dirty mouse droppings everywhere! food is over priced and small portions! don't go here
(1)Tiff D.
I wanted to love this place... Really cute little place located on a quiet back road of Cambridge with a free parking lot and even some cute outdoor seating for those warm summer nights. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE food but delicious margaritas. Come for the drinks not the food.
(2)Harri S.
S and I came here in her car. Carring (?) it in Boston? It happened. We had our groupon and some margaritas in hand about five minutes into our visit. After carefully un-crumpling the groupon and handing it to the waitress (why is it that I crumple EVERYTHING?), we ordered some guac and chips and a burrito and fajitas. What can I say, we missed our California. It was fairly dead in the afternoon and we were at the bar watching a particularly irking episode of the Doctors. Believe you me, S is practically a doctor and those guys are idiots. Back to the review! Within an hour these two So-Cal girls were sufficiently satiated and inebriated. We paid our bill, waited responsibly for an hour and drove back to a place we ride the T more often.
(4)Jeff G.
Margaritas + Doña Reyna's Chile Rellenos I find myself constantly recommending this place to my friends. It's a bit out of the way, but they have the best margaritas in Boston. Lolita is sluttier, Sunset has more variety, but Jose's is just done right. All the employees I have come in contact with spoke Spanish and they have some dishes that you won't see on many other menus in the Northeast. There is even a section "from my mother's kitchen". Servings are large and very delicious. Also they constantly have Groupons available so check before going.
(4)Sarah F.
The highlight for me of eating at Jose's was definitely the guacamole and the convenience of the large parking lot. That being said there are many ways this restaurant could improve. The most frustrating part of the experience was that the host did not greet us for a long time even though he was standing right there. He reorganized menus and worked at the computer seating program for at least 10 minutes before seating us. This was made even more awkward by the fact that the entry hallway is extremely narrow with servers passing every few minutes. Then he said that we would have to wait 15 min even though there were many open tables. After a minute he changed his mind and sat us. He later admitted to being the manager, which made the experience even more confusing. Shouldn't he have mastered the seating system? As a meal I had the Mexican flag enchiladas. They were OK. The chicken tasted boiled and unseasoned. As I said, the best part was definitely the guacamole and my Coronas with lime.
(3)Shaina P.
No complaints about the ten dollar Autentica margaritas (Shaina pronounces is "oh-ten-tee-ka"). Didn't fuss about the slightly soupy (yet quite spicy) medium-heat salsa. But why doesn't Jose's serve their rich delectable mole verde available at their MIT truck??? Slap some bright colored building in the suburbs of North Cambridge and you have Jose's. Do not let it go unnoticed. Do not let yourself be hungry. Indulge in Mexican food goodness and you will faire well. As far as being the best Mexican around? I would like to think so, but I would also like it to be closer to me so I can try regularly...
(4)Jon S.
Just moved to the area (like yesterday) and was craving some Mexican food. Saw that this place was a couple blocks away from my place and decided to give it a try. The restaurant was busy which I always see as a good sign. They told us the wait for two was 15 minutes, but we probably waited five. They customize your salsa to your liking (mild, medium, or hot) which is definitely a good thing. We ordered the medium, but I didn't find it to be very hot though. Salsa was decent, chips were pretty good. I settled on a chicken burrito and a strawberry margarita. The margarita tasted like it was from a mix and definitely was not made from fresh strawberries or even strawberry puree, bit of a disappointment. The food took FOREVER to come out (close to 45 minutes). The waitress dropped off a side of guac, apologizing for the long wait (apparently the kitchen was extremely backed up...) When we left, they were telling people they could not order their food for thirty minutes because of the kitchen situation which I found to be a little odd. The burrito was okay, but was not put together well. One side contained mostly rice and beans, and the other side contained all the chicken and the guacamole. The spanish rice was bland and really rather tasteless. This place wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. Maybe I'm spoiled because I lived in LA for four years? But this wasn't good. I hope this isn't the standard for Boston Mexican food, or I guess I'll be frequenting Chipotle a lot...
(2)Kristina S.
Do not eat here, please review their health violations in advance. www2.cambridgema.gov/ins… ?restId=JOSE%27S%20MEXICAN%20RESTAURANT|131|ÂSHERMAN%20ST I went tonight with my boyfriend and he reports that there is not running water in the men's room, so they told him to wash up in the woman's room which had water but no soap! I hope people are not getting sick.
(1)sabina s.
I used to eat here quite frequently in the early '00's & was recently brought back by some friends who'd heard about it & wanted to try it. I said "Sure" that place is GREAT! Well, It WAS great ... 10 years ago. My one star is for the memories I have about the food from 10 years ago. Negative gazillion stars for my recent experience. No lie: I've had better "Mexican" food at airport Taco Bells. Seriously.
(1)Dan W.
Come here for the cool laid back atmosphere and the delicious Mexican food. Can be a little crowded but worth the wait. Grab a margarita and some guacamole for starters. Expect to be serenaded by a two piece ensemble on the weekends.
(4)Steve W.
We love Jose's. Don't read the reviews that list health-code violations, use your home bathroom before coming, and then enjoy great margaritas, chorizo enchiladas with mole sauce, and an ambiance that I can only describe as "authentic Cambridge". Live a little, challenge your immune system, and enjoy some of the best tasting food in the area.
(4)Brendan M.
Went here last night for Valentine's day with my +1. Right off the bat there's free parking. Thats a big plus. We had reservations for 8:00, but didn't get seated until 8:23 or so. It's a small, intimate place and it WAS Valentine's day. I'm not complaining, just giving a fair assessment. Take it for what it's worth. So we sat at the bar and had a couple margaritas. The margaritas were reasonably priced ($7 four a large frozen house) and very strong. I hate when I get frozen sugar water with a splash of tequila, so props to the bartender. She worked hard all night and serves up some tasty margaritas. Also, the tequila section looked pretty good...if that's your thing. We were seated in the upstairs section. The downstairs was extremely hot. Not sure if it's just because it was busy but upstairs was much more comfortable. They serve chips and salsa before you order: your choice of mild, medium, or hot salsa. If you order the hot, wait for the water to come because the hot salsa is no joke. Tasted like habaneros and scotch bonnets in there. Very tasty. Our appetizer of jalapeño poppers arrived after the dinner came. These were pretty tasty. Handmade stuffed with a mild cheese and breaded with a tortilla chip crust and fried. Again, very tasty. You can actually taste the pepper. Dinner- I ordered the chicken chile relleno platter and she ordered the spicy chicken Chipotle enchiladas. Doesn't look like much when it comes out but it'll fill you up for sure. The meal was delicious, no complaints. I have only good things to say about the food here. I got the pinto beans as a side, they were delicious (fresh not canned!) Overall a quality meal. It's pretty authentic Mexican food and not Americanized (i.e. NOT OVERLY CHEESY and fried!). So yes, a very good meal. Delicious drinks. The service was alright...entrees came out in a timely fashion. Had to wait a bit to order (probably because of Valentine's Day) but when it came down to it the guy wasted no time when taking our order. I had to remind them about the poppers appetizer and my second margarita with dinner. Overall I'd recommend this place. Great, authentic food. The margaritas alone will have me coming back on a friday or saturday.
(4)Stephen Y.
It really shows that Jose's was founded by someone who wanted to quit their tech job and get back to their family's home cooking. They're not quite as exquisite as Ole, but they're nowhere near as pricey either. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jennifer N.
Jose's is A-OK. The medium salsa is more like mild.. and I could use more tomatoes and actual veggies in the salsa. Good chips though, and when I got up from our table, I saw the salsa comes out of a huge vat, so maybe that explains the not super fresh flavor. Ordered the burrito- they reversed our orders (friend got my steak I got his tinga (flavored chicken) ). They were quick to fix the problem. Burrito is big- and I like that you get additional rice and beans on the size instead of just in the burrito- though I only could finish half! Friend likes the adobe sauce, good flavor, though does not think the tinga tastes any different than regular chicken. With the groupon, it only cost $15, so we couldn't go wrong. However, I am not sure I would pay full price!
(3)Nanker P.
I think this is a great place. The Tacos are great and the restaurant has a great atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Melissa M.
I've had better crispy tacos from my Irish-American mother's Old El Paso mix. Really, I can't believe how bad my two crispy ground beef tacos were. They were supposed to come with the standard lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese. I could not find any. Ok, there was 2 diced tomatoes in it, a lone piece of lettuce and maybe 1.5 shred of cheese. The beef was cooked terribly and was all clumpy and they put this poopy thing in two taco shells to soak up all the grease which just made things awk to eat. The chips tasted like they'd been sitting around for days but had a ton of oil on them and the salsa tasted like tomato juice and that is it. 12 bucks for two poorly made tacos. I feel like a fool for spending my money and leaving unhappy. Seriously, don't bother. Too bad, I really like that they have parking and my waiter was nice. I will not return.
(2)Ashley J.
I have heard so many times how amazing Jose's is but since I rarely eat in Cambridge I never tried it out. This Saturday I met a friend there and I was very disappointed. Ignored in the door until I stared down the bartender. The waitress had less than zero personality. The food was meh. Greasy. Tasteless. The tacos look like a cheap American taco from taco bell. Not what I expected at all and very pricey for the quality. My margarita was the one good part of the whole meal. I tried my friend's steak and it was tasteless as well. Too bad they watered down the food to what they think Americans are looking for because most of us are looking for something better.
(2)Joe M.
I'm a Cambridge boy and I can remember when Jose's first opened. I've probably eaten here over 50 times. To this day, it still holds the belt for the best guacamole in the business. Never had an issue with my server and there isn't a bad dish on the menu. In my opinion, Mexican restaurants tend to mirror each other. But, Jose's has it's own vibe that makes it a cool joint. The only knock I have on it is the size of the place. It can get loud and hot at times. But, other than that, I have no complaints.
(4)Jen A.
Great margaritas, great fajitas, great atmosphere and kid friendly! Plus a parking lots next door! Best Mexican food restaurant we've foun din the Boston area!
(5)Emily F.
I always have a solidly good time at this place, complete with a giant and deliciously unhealthy meal (as Mexican-American was intended). I'm always happy to have the waitstaff converse with you in Spanish. Always gets a few laughs. Live music on Fridays ! He's great! House margaritas are tasty, the chips are salty, but nothing amazing. *I tried a chef special 1/21/11 that I did not like. Some giant bowl of grilled meat. I would rather have had a burrito. :) Come hungry. Leave happy.
(4)Laura D.
I have been here twice both times with my bff and it is pretty tasty. They are in a super colorful house and have a pretty extensive menu. While I would not describe the food as authentic it was yummy. The first time was for dinner complete with margaritas, burritos and tacos. It was very good. A little pricey but hey it was fun. My only complaint is the margaritas where a little weak. We came back again for lunch on NYE and each got some flautas. An order of potato and a pork to share. They where delicious. I am not sure about authentic, after all the had feta cheese. Last I heard feta cheese is not mexican. But hey it was good. The beans are always good and I am not a huge fan of their rice but it is ok. I did not get a napkin or silverware this time. Our server was MIA and I have to say the service is not what it was the first time.
(3)Anna T.
It was fine. Not great, not bad. Fajita salad sounded great, had raw peppers and onions. Salsa was fair. Decent prices, fresh food.
(3)Matthew K.
good food good mole enchilada's good margarita's YUM ! YUM! YUM!
(5)Jon W.
Tamales, stuffed poblanos, delicious margaritas, fantastic service, endless chips and salsa, and A PARKING LOT IN CAMBRIDGE? This is a serious hidden gem.
(4)Jorge F.
meh... it was OK- not worth writing home about; however a good fit for Gringos craving Mexican food. Cool house setting, but kind of awkward... 3 visits was enough for me- La Posada in Arlington gets my vote (along with Tu y Yo in Medford/ Somerville).
(2)Marie R.
Jose's has pretty standard Mexican food, good but nothing to write home about. The staff is friendly however service can be kind of slow. The decor could use an upgrade, it's a little shabby.
(3)Kate S.
The food is pretty good, but the drinks are great. You have to get the pitcher of margaritas! The server we had was super cute and really nice to us! The wait was long though.
(4)June Y.
only ordered takeout once. the food is terrible, over salted and bland. avoid wasting your money there.
(1)Jef S.
Somewhat off the beaten path in Cambridge, Jose's nonetheless manages to deliver good Mexican food like other more popular places, but without busting your wallet. It's located in a funky area near Fresh Pond Mall, definitely not near major T areas (though you could theoretically walk it from Alewife Red line, but it would be a pain in the ass). Jose's is not as fancy as Ole! (nor does it use punctuation as artfully) or Casa Romero, but it's also not the neighborhood taco stand. It's a good mid range alternative...you want to go out to a somewhat romantic place on date night, but you don't want to dress up and spend $20 on chips and guacamole. About the guac, it's as good as Ole!, and you can get it as spicy or not as you like. The restaurant is not jumping crowded like other places, either, though weekend nights get tough. I recommend any enchilada dish or any tamales. Some offerings are kind of Americanized, but overall they do a very nice job here. The servers here are very nice and always accommodating.
(4)Shannon F.
Somewhere between Huron Village, Porter Square, Alewife, and the commuter train tracks lies a mysterious little mexican restaurant. Nestled between apartments, triple-deckers and town-houses, perhaps a mile from any other restaurant sits Jose's. Jose's provided excellent service: water, chips, drink order within seconds- like a well-oiled mexican machine. The margaritas are perfect and for an east-coast girl the food was as authentic as any I've tasted. Do yourself a favor and find this place.
(4)Erica D.
I have only gone to Jose's once. My friend gave it such rave reviews that I thought I should give it a chance. Price: The prices seemed pretty reasonable and they give nice portions. Decor: This place is crazy awesome, the restaurant is in a house. Mexican inspired art on the walls, colorful tile everywhere. Nothing matches, but it all seems to mix well and have an authentic feel. The tables and chairs in the section I sat in were very high, but I was comfortable sitting facing the bar and TV. Unfortunately it was near the door, so every time someone came in, I felt a breeze. Service: Our server was very polite, he dropped off some salsa and chips, took our drink order and didn't mind that we were still looking at the menu the third time he came around. Food/Presentation: I figured an enchilada would be a pretty safe bet-- since anything with cheese in/on/around it is a win-- but looking through the menu, I couldn't really find one that would suite my taste. So I ordered the one that was on special. Well, when it came out it seriously looked like a crepe drenched in chocolate sauce drizzled with white stuff. It was pretty, but I wasn't sure it was my meal. Upon tasting it I realized it was mashed black beans on the top (with some white drizzle sauce that I couldn't identify). The tinga chicken on the inside was really good; it had a nice flavor and color. I definitely won't get the same meal again, but I will return to try something else. Location: It's hard to find since it's in some house in Cambridge. On the plus side, there was plenty of parking in the lot next to the house. Recap: Price: 5/5 Decor: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food/Presentation: 4/5 Location 3/5
(4)Elizaron D.
Been there twice and I'll return many more times. This restaurant does simple and tasty food in a very nice cozy setting. The staff are consistently friendly and very helpful if you have any questions about what to order etc. Not much more to say other than it has my recommendation
(5)Eva F.
This sounds dorky, but this is what 4 years in Boston have done to me: I LOVE the parking lot. Ahhhh. A real parking lot. Don't have to park near anybody else if you don't want to. (Watch, I'll get run over or murdered in the parking lot, next time I come to Jose's.) The food is pretty good. As someone else mentioned, they have a really tasty mole. And of course it's hard not to fill up on chips and salsa. The drinks are too expensive for me to buy. So that's a problem. But oh well, I'll be the designated driver to the PARKING LOT! HA!
(4)Bhuvana H.
Two stars for the service, four stars for the food, so an average of three stars. We went there with a fairly large group (6 adults, 3 kids) on Halloween night after an hour of trick or treating. We were seated somewhat awkwardly in their back room with a couple tables next to a booth, but it worked ok. Everyone was hungry so we ordered as quickly as possible. The food came out pretty quickly, which was good. And maybe it was just because we were hungry, but it tasted pretty good. The margaritas were also well made and tasty. After we had gotten through most of our dinner, things seemed to fall apart with the service. We had to ask four times for our check before they'd bring it to us. We did hear some yelling from the bar area; apparently they had to deal with a patron who had clearly had way too much to drink. But it would have been nice if they could've kept one waiter in the back room to actually pay attention to the groups there. I'd probably go back again if I was in the neighborhood, but not otherwise.
(3)Meg M.
My husband and I are regulars here and always enjoy! Pros: really good Mexican food overall (I love the steak flautas and my husband likes their super burritos), EXCELLENT margaritas (and a great variety as well), really great and authentic desserts (I HIGHLY recommend their fried ice cream), not a far drive, and their own parking lot (yes! a parking LOT!) Cons: reservations are usually needed for dinner or weekend dining (you can do them online), salsa is a bit unpredictable (but we've found the most consistent and best tasting to be the medium spicy), tables are set up a bit close (as the space itself is quite small) All in all, a great little Mexican Restaurant! I would recommend to all my friends.
(4)Curtis M.
Best mex in mass (hands down)
(4)John D.
I love this place .. when I am really hungry this is one of the best places near Huron Village to go eat. They have parking and the food and service are always FANTASTIC.
(4)Kathy P.
I hesitate to write a review for fear that his great little restaurant will be found. This cozy spot has great quality food. You can choose from mild, medium or hot for your salsa. The adobo dishes have a wonderful smokiness that makes the meal very enjoyable. There are at least four margaritas that are available without the sour mix. Since i am not a fan of sour mix, this is a highlight! If you enjoy tasting tequila, you can select from a few different flights of tequila. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. In addition, there is a parking lot that always has plenty of parking.
(4)Billie M.
I went to Jose's a week ago since they had a special Groupon that I purchased ($20 for $40). It seemed like a great deal and I was craving Mexican so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. First let me describe the place... We went on a thursday night and the place was really busy (not sure if it was because of the coupon or if that's their normal traffic). The location is... interesting. We parked in a parking lot next to the train tracks in what looked like suburban Cambridge (not a place you'd expect to find a Mexican restaurant). The restaurant, which very well might be just a house, consists of two floors. The first is the bar area with some seating and upstairs is more seating, where we sat for dinner. The tables were wobbly, the menus were messy (someone spilled their salsa in there), the staff seemed frazzled and the floor was dirty. Judging this place on looks alone, some might describe it as "unique" to be polite. On to the food... The salsa we ordered was quite soupy, so being a chunky salsa girl myself I was really let down. I ordered taquitos for an appetizer which were crunchy and delicious (my favorite part of the meal). For dinner my boyfriend ordered the Enchiladas Verde which were very good, and I ordered the Enchiladas en Adobo which was okay except the sauce tasted a little burnt. For dessert we had sopapillas which was nothing fancy, and we probably didn't need any more food at that point. Overall it was an okay experience. The location is really not convenient, especially if you don't have a car so although I wouldn't mind exploring more of the menu, I don't think I'll be making the trip back there anytime soon.
(3)Lori S.
I made a reservation online and was seated almost immediately upon entering the restaurant. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. The food was wonderful. I had the Camarones al Mojo de Ajo which was delicious. My son had the Barbecued Shrimp and my husband had the chicken tacos. All were equally satisfied and the mark of excellence was that there were no leftovers to take home which is very unusual for us. We will return.
(4)Mimi J.
I love this place so much! The staff is friendly and the food is seriously good.
(5)Gregory S.
Jose's Margaritas were very good but the food was average Mexican fare. My fiance had a dish with mole on it and that which good.
(3)S M.
The chicken was rubbery. It was either really cheap chicken or had a high fat content in my burrito. The service was fair, not great. Some of the staff are more concerned about using their iphones or devices and talking amongst themselves rather than serving customers in a proper manner. They left dirty dishes on the table and then served desert with the dirty dishes on the table- never wiped down the table either. This is all basic 101 "how to run a restaurant". The management and owner need to start paying attention. Biggest downfall is the restaurant business is employees/owners start to settle in and don't take notice on day to day operations.
(2)D M.
I dig Jose's after our first outing here last week. I share my birthday with a good friend, and we are known as the Mexican Birthday Twins amongst our friends, so what else could be better for us on our birthday than drinking tequila and eating enchiladas? There were eleven members in our party, and we were seated promptly and our reservation was set up perfectly, which was great. We had waters and chips waiting for us, and once we were seated the waitress brought over a mild and a hot salsa.....the hot was pretty mild, but it was still very tasty. I ended up ordering the steak enchiladas with the verde sauce, and the sauce was amazing-it was nice, green, and tangy from the tomatillos and jalepenos. The steak was nice and tender, and the torillas were very fresh. I love refried beans, but I really didn't like theirs. They were kind of bland and mushy. I think that the beans were higher in fat that I am used to in refried beans. The rice had assorted veggies in it, and was fluffy and flavorful. Before I forget, the margaritas!! I had a scorpion margarita, which was made from fresh limes, good tequila, and Cointreau. It was very yummy. We were served some birthday desserts, and I wasn't really into it. It was fried ice cream, which didn't seem fried.....it just seemed rolled in corn flakes. It wasn't a bad flavor, just not what I was expecting. The service was very friendly, but because we were tucked away upstairs I feel like we weren't checked up on quite as much....we didn't need much attention, but a water refill would have been good. While it's not cheap Mexican, it's good Mexican. I really enjoyed the enchiladas, which were around $12-13. The gigantic margarita was about $12, which is completely reasonable. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Larry C.
I have been going here since the early days when the portions were huge, had that more homemade authentic feel, and was reasonably priced . Now the rice is nicely placed on the dish, with a small portion of beans, and sometimes even a sliver of orange as garnish. I give it 3 stars because it has moved away from the great Jose's of old when it was the closest place around that was as good as Mexican joints in Cali.
(3)Julie S.
I have mixed feelings about Jose's. On the one hand, it is far from authentic Mexican food. On the other hand, the restaurant itself is cute and pleasant to hang out in, which makes it better for "date night" than most of the other Mexican restaurants I tend to frequent. Plus, you can make a reservation on Open Table so you know you won't have to wait. The chips and salsa are always tasty, and the servers are happy to bring seconds. They'll even bring separate salsa for my husband and I, since I like mild and he likes hot. I haven't been thrilled with the margaritas. They're expensive and aren't that strong, so I only tried them once. For an appetizer, you can't go wrong with the taquitos. They're delicious and filling, which you may need because the entree portions are not all that generous. I like the Mexican Flag enchiladas. They're fun and festive. Service is variable. The last time we went we had a great, attentive server. The time before that our server was awful and it was a few months before we ventured back to Jose's.
(3)Tony K.
Jose's - Been there on 2 occations. Food was good both times. Drinks forgetable. Service poor. A group of 6 of us sat upstairs. It was on the later side and the dining room was not packed. They had mexican discovery channel or something on a big screen TV. I swear it took 20 minutes for every stage of server/customer interaction. Get seated - wait 20 minutes. Waiter comes with chips and salsa, takes drink orders - wait 20 minutes. Drinks come, take dinner orders - wait 20 minutes. Get more chips - wait 20 minutes. Finally get servered dinner - I think you get the point. I *would* come back if there were no other mexican around, but there are enough places for me to keep searching for great mex that I don't think I will be back to Jose's any time soon.
(2)Bob B.
I have been going to Jose's for years even when "Jose" was an Irish guy who opened the place after learning how to cook Mexican in the Navy. The menu has classed up a bit since then... but I still miss him. I took 5 other people here the other night. They had us in a room to ourselves since it was a bit late. At times it was hard to find our waitress but it wasn't a disaster. We ordered lots of food... too much to mention. We also ordered lots of Margaritas. The final bill was about $210. The food was very good but the Margaritas were pretty weak. All in all, it was a good night but not great.
(3)Jolene S.
I was not impressed. My friend liked this more than Ole in Inman (I haven't been there) but I thought Jose's didn't hold a light to Tu Y Yo in Somerville. The chips, salsa, and black bean soup were good but the horchata and sopes were not that great. Better luck elsewhere.
(2)Joan E.
The food here is tasty, but best not to show up within an hour of closing time. If you get there before that you can expect a solid, tasty meal. A little difficulty getting the order right (we asked for no sour cream but got it anyway) but it didn't tarnish our enjoyment.
(4)Ira H.
This is a great little charming Mexican place we found through Groupon.com We started out with the best Margarita I've ever had. They take them seriously here. It was $14 as well so.. only had 1. Service was good and the waiter knew the menu and helped with recommendations. We had the Guacamole with chopped up hot peppers in it for an appetizer. It was amazing and fresh. One big complaint here was the chips are just OK. They seem like they are either not home made or old or from a bag. For entrees, we had the fish in a sauce which came with rice and black beans. We also had the marinated chicken mole burrito. The mole was perfect and the burrito had some type of cheese in it I believe which was also excellent. I will definitely return.
(5)M B.
Shelves full of tequila choices, full plates of tasty food and friendly waitstaff! Parking is easy and safe. The margaritas are fabulous, whether small or larger.count on bringing leftovers home as the servings are quite large! Quaint bar in front room, which adds to the ambience! Right down Rindge Ave and surprise, a great Mexican spot. Enjoy!!
(4)Stephanie G.
A solidly good Mexican meal. As previously mentioned, the location is strange. One minute you're walking on a strictly residential street, and the next you are accosted with the bright neon lights that so familiar to those who love Mexican food. We were seated immediately on the patio, and the wait staff was very attentive. There is nothing artsy-fartsy about this restaurant (or, at least what I saw of it), all the silverware and stuff is straightforward and home-y. I like it. Plus they give you two things of salsa with your chips - mild and hot. Cool. I got something off the "home cooked" part of the menu, and I had some concerns about the spiciness (having just been, literally, seriously injured by a hot pepper at another neighborhood Mexican restaurant. I ain't weak, but from now on I have learned to be cautious). They assured me I would be safe, and I am pleased to say they were right. For me, maybe because I seemed like a wuss, it was not very spicy. It was Sunday, so we did skip the margaritas, but I would love to go back and try them. There are a whole lot of pitchers that range from $30-40, so...props. I think my friends and I could have a lot of fun there.
(4)Karen S.
The food here is amazing! But more than that, the service is reliable and fast. I placed a huge delivery order for our office and Carlos and his team prepared a fantastic spread and even delivered it in the middle of a huge snow storm! I have never been to the restaurant, but I will definitely go there the next time I want tasty Mexican fare!
(5)Erica K.
My husband and I found Jose's on Groupon Now...I believe they're always up there so definitely whip out your smartphone before paying full price. Anyway, they were o.k., don't be fooled by the copious accolades-a lot of them are things they printed off of the internet like a 5 star rating from Yelp even though it was based off of 40 reviews in 2008 (I'm sure their staff was primarily responsible). The salsa and chips was the best part...and to be honest, I don't even remember what I ordered because its not the type of place that you talk about after you leave. Definitely not a spot I would recommend, even with a Groupon, there's MUCH better Mexican food in Boston.
(3)Heather B.
It's very, very hard to find good Mexican food in Boston. The fact that this restaurant is off some side street and painted purple, yellow, and other seizure inducing color combos is a good indication that the food and experience is going to be light years better than any burrito chain in town. It is. Burrito Suizo is a personal fave.
(4)Janak S.
Their chips and salsa are amazing. Make sure you ask for the super spicy special salsa, it tastes much better than the ordinary stuff they bring to your table. The jalapeno poppers are the best I've ever had! They are breaded and resemble an armadillo. The enchilada verde was only so-so, maybe because I was full by then. The Mexican ice cream was awesome! Cinnamon is a wonderful drug =)
(4)Erin M.
Located in a more "suburban" part of Cambridge, Jose's is a semi-hidden gem. People know about it but it's still tucked away in a residential neighborhood and even has a parking lot that's free and larger than the restaurant itself. Jose's offers patio, bar, and restaurant seating. Since it was dark and raining out, my brother and I opted for the regular restaurant part (kitschy but charming). There are maybe only 12 table in there so on busier nights I would guess that reservations are a good idea. The hostess did ask us if we had them. Pre-set at your table are chips and you are given the option of mild, medium, or hot salsa. All are fresh and the hot is pretty hot and definitely delicious. We could not stop inhaling them. The menu consists of a range of Mexican fare from burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, all the way to various soups and chiles rellenos. Heaven! I love real Mexican food and have been desperately seeking anything resembling New Mexican or Mexican food since having been to NM two years ago. Having said that, I was elated to the point of startling the waitress when I saw sopapillas on the menu. My brother opted for a quesadilla with tinga, a type of seasoned chicken, and our waitress was resourceful and seemed sort of ok with answering his questions regarding how spicy and onion-y it was. I had the enchiladas verde after the waitress recommended them just a bit over the adobo ones. Our plates came out quickly. The food was fresh and had a beautiful presentation. Each came with a small portion of beans and rice. Actually, the portions of beans and rice were too small, about two spoonfuls each. For entrees that cost over $12 they could have spared a little. However, the beans were a bit watery and the rice was white rice. It was fluffy white rice though but I don't know how it was all that authentic. Each of the main courses were a perfect portion size though and very flavorful. The chicken in each dish was moist and seasoned just right. I wish the enchiladas had a bit more spice to them, but the "verde" was from tomatillos more than jalapenos, so I should not have been as surprised as I was. Still, a great meal that was full of flavor. When we finished the waitress checked to see if we did want the sopapillas, which we did. It came out a bit different than the ones I have had in New Mexico, but was still awesome. Sopapillas is essentially fried dough that is crispy and then lightly covered with honey and in this case sugar and cinnamon as well. Yum! This dessert can be split from 1-4 people...It's enough to feed 2-3 in my opinion since it's so good. With a big menu and those sopapillas, I will definitely be back! My brother raved about the experience as well and it's difficult to get him to get going on stuff like this sometimes, so that is saying something.
(4)Rimi C.
I've always biked by this adorable place and wanted to try it and so just the other day I finally did. The staff are really kind and served me delicious salsa and tortilla chips right away. The place is decorated really well and it has a lot of charm. The other reviews here talk about the margheritas being weak and I would totally agree. I had two margheritas and I was barely buzzed, normally I'm tipsy after just one. At $10 each it's a waste of money. However the mole sauce was awesome and the food was decent. I'm glad I tried it, worth the trip but likely not a place I'll seek out to go back to. Hence, my two star rating.
(2)Jes H.
I don't expect that much of Mexican food here - Anna's is a joke, if you ask me. I love SF Mission-style burritos, and I grew up on Tex-Mex (the good kind, in Oklahoma). I haven't found anything here that blows me away. But Jose's is pretty good. Chips were freshly-made, salsa was good. Hot was hot. The burrito and enchiladas we ordered were good. I'd like to try the margaritas, but couldn't last week as I'm about 9 months pregnant. However, DO NOT ORDER the queso dip. Disgraceful. It was like powdered nacho cheese sauce from the movie theater. Jose's is a little pricey compared to better Mexican and Tex-Mex from the source, but hey, we're pretty far from Mexico and from Texas. I'd go back here, especially after I'm able to partake in a margarita on the patio.
(3)Rehan B.
Great ambience and delicious food. Make sure you make reservations if you are planning to head there on Friday nights or the weekend. We tried the Carne Ascada and the Enchiladas con Mole (tastes better with fish than chicken). Worth going back to try their other dishes!
(4)Jennifer K.
The only reason we gave it two instead of one is that it's got a great atmosphere. It's actually with a heavy heart that I write how awful my used-to-be standard neighborhood restaurant has gone DOWN a big steep hill. Twice in one week we went because we had groupons we needed to use before they expired. The food took forever to come, it was flavorless, soggy, and cold. When they changed management they were great but now, well, I'm just sad.
(2)Hanh R.
It's nestled in a neighborhood of homes. I love the decor of the restaurant, fun colors and wonderful music playing. It is a very small restaurant and most of the tables seat only four. The salsa was great! It is hard to find a places that have hot salsa. Although it was not hot enough for my taste, it still was not mild!! The chips are great because they are crisp and unsalted. I ordered the tamale dinner which was excellent. The service was fast, we did not wait too long after ordering before our dinner appeared.
(4)Eric W.
While Jose's has a decently eclectic menu, you'd be doing yourself a disservice without ordering a MOLE dish. Jose's has some of the best MOLE. Period. I'm personally a big fan of the chicken tinga mole enchiladas. And the best dish I've ever eaten was a three-mole sauce enchilada special that left the taste buds craving for more. And you can wash down your mole with a margarita. Jose's has an eclectic margarita menu, and they don't skimp on the top-shelf tequila. Though their margaritas are a little on the pricey side, and will put you back ~$10. Jose's is off the beaten path, but is definitely worth the trip. With its large parking lot, getting there by car is a snap! Or it's a very pleasant 15 minute walk from Porter square.
(5)Francesca R.
You gotta love a bright purple restaurant that comes out of nowhere in a residential area. I love a place that doesn't take itself too seriously. The walls and chairs are all painted in neon primary colors. Orange! Blue! Purple! Yellow! Prepare for your retinas to be blasted out. In the upstairs dining area there is a lovingly framed poster of a Mexican Homer Simpson. 'Nuff said. The food is a whole lotta all right. The guacamole leaves a bit to be desired (flavor, specifically) but the salsa is nice and spicy. The pitchers of margaritas are epic. They do not come with any ice so you are getting about seven or eight glasses of undiluted tequila happiness. Yay! The entrees are solid--we always clean our plates. Service is extremely friendly and fun, albeit sometimes MIA. No matter--the combination of great food and festive atmosphere have created an army of loyal patrons. This place is worth going out of your way for, just remember to make reservations.
(4)Jessi L.
Jose's is located within a 45 second walk of my current apartment. The restaurant earns an immediate extra star for convenience as I can drink as many margarita's and sangria as I can shove down my throat and still make it home safe and sound. I am a fan of the food and have found their chile relleno to be by far my favorite of anything on the menu. The margaritas were, unfortunately, disappointing. My friends and I decided to get a pitcher and what came out resembled ecto-plasm from Ghostbusters. It was a serious struggle for my friends and I to finish the pitcher. Thankfully on a second dining trip I tried the sangria. It was the perfect amount to split and packed a mean, yet delightful, punch. Service is a little spotty. There is no place to wait for a table so you are crammed into a hallway in the front where servers are constantly going back and forth. It's a little awkward, but the benefit of living so close comes into play because I can call, make a reservation, then call right before to check if there is still a wait. Our waitress on my first trip was a little spacey. She brought out our bill before our meal. I'm chalking it up to her being very busy. Also, depending on what time you get there, there's a mariachi singer whose is very cool. I recommend Jose's as a neighborhood eatery or if you have friends in the area and want a bite to eat. Not sure if I would trek out from outside of Cambridge to check it out, though.
(4)Toni S.
Alright, this is serious business. I am from Colorado and you can get some of the best authentic Mexican food ever there. So, living in other states that are not minorly populated by Mexican culture is interesting for what I am used to. You can get some Puerto Rican food here in Boston that will knock you off your ass, but I am talking about good Mexican food. It's hard to find and I crave it! This place IS as good as it gets here! We are talking fresh squeezed lime margaritas, freshly made guacamole, the carne asada with lime squeezed over the top is poetic and the tamales--perfect! Totally comparable to what you get in Colorado at the markets and a select few restaurants. Almost all of the appetizers are delectable, I can say that because our party had almost all of them and two different pitchers of different types of margaritas, which were both fresh and lovely. This is gourmet Mexican at it's best and I highly recommend this place. If you don't like Jose's you don't like Mexican!
(5)Dave M.
Great service, solid menu. The food was a little bland the first time I came, but the meal I had the second time more than made up for it. The salsa could stand to be a little spicier, however it's flavorful, and thick. The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce... oh man. Those are the best I've had in a LONG, LONG time. The service was great, and friendly. All in all, this place is a win, even if I have to have friends with me in order to buy a pitcher or margaritas...
(4)cmk s.
You call this Mexican? Their margaritas are ALWAYS weak! And I really don't recognize anything in this place as Mexican. Maybe an watered-down version of Mexican. Post Script: To be fair, after I wrote this review, the owner contacted me and asked that I come in and try them again. I am impressed that he cared enough to write to me and ask me specifically what I did not like.
(2)Louie M.
Very spicy. Very good. Unique and authentic - unlike other Mexican restaurants.
(5)Lila L.
I love this place! Our waiter was very nice and attentive, we forgot our leftover towards the end of the meal and poor guy came to us in our car in the cold just to give it to us! But yeah, food is AWESOME- great portions and so yummy. Been here twice and will definitely be back!
(5)Anna P.
The first time I went to Jose's, I was really impressed. I had some outstanding steak - it was flavorful, cooked perfectly, and served by some very friendly waitstaff. The next few expeditions I made to Jose's, I kept expecting a repeat experience. Instead, I often found the food flavorless, or cold. I'm guessing that there are some dishes that are out of this world, and some that just don't work. At the prices they charged, however, I really wanted a much better dining experience.
(2)Caleb M.
I really enjoyed the food and house margarita. No complaints. Get some guacamole.
(5)Jessica M.
Why is this place open while Maria Bonitas is closed? I think this place relies on it's atmosphere and decor (lots of lights and kitschy Mexican stuff hanging all over the walls) to make up for it's incredibly sub par to abysmal food. The thing is, all the super WASPY Cantabridgians eat this kind of stuff up. I came to Jose's with a friend of mine last summer, I don't remember what I ordered because it was so forgettable. What I do remember is that I don't think the mediocre quality of the meal matched the high price of the bill. Then a few weeks ago I decided to give it a second shot. I went with my boyfriend and I believe it was a Monday or Tuesday night. It was dead inside except for one other table. We both ordered the Carne Asada, and our waiter was pleasant enough. About a half hour later we were served. This was one of the first times I sent food back in years, and we both had to send our plates back. The steak was almost grey on the outside, and completely raw on the inside. I can maybe understand this I guess. I asked for it medium rare and with it being a very thin cut of steak it might be harder to judge how long to cook it. This wouldn't have been such a big deal except that the steak was ICE COLD. Not even like sitting out for hours at room temperature cold, like cold from a fridge cold. The rice and beans that went with it were also very cold. Which made me think, did they just serve me microwaved food? The plate was the hottest thing they served me. Or maybe they happened to put it on a plate that was fresh out of the washer and was warm, but I doubt it. My boyfriend's plate was completely identical to mine. So we sent them back and the waiter was apologetic. Less than 10 minutes later they brought out our new steaks that actually tasted like they were cooked to order. While the steaks were good (nothing to write home about) I happened to be sitting facing the kitchen and bar and every couple of minutes this guy that worked there would peak out from around the corner trying to be stealthy to look at us and probably gauge how we liked the new food. After about the fifth time it got really obnoxious. The bill with two meals and two drinks came to almost $70. I'd never come back here to eat. The one star would only be for the drinks which have at least been consistently tasty and strong. Still pricey though.
(1)Mathew S.
One of the best Mexican places around..Try the Churizo in anything and everything!
(5)Alison B.
Yumo! I have nothing negative to say about this place. The waitress was very nice and patient (as we were dining with our 13 month old) and the food was AMAZING! I ordered tamales with mole and they were the best tamales I have ever had. The Carlo margarita was delicious and had just enough kick to justify the price. My husband had the Feista Grande platter, and even items as simple as a taco were delicious. We will be back and we will look forward to it. They also have a great patio which we hope to check out in the summer.
(5)Kathy S.
I went here with 15 people and we had our own room upstairs. I was impressed with the service we got from Jose's..if it was just on the service..I'd definitely give it all 5 stars! But, the food was just mediocre. I wasn't that impressed. The margaritas were not really that good..I"m not sure, why all the good marks on them. The Chips and salsa were very good. I had a chimichunga and a chicken taco that was super dry. I was very disappointed by the food. I was so excited about this place and was really looking forward on eating here. Mexican is my favorite food! I LOVE spicy food. This place really wasn't that spicy at all..It was very bland.. I will have to try it again. Maybe there were too many of of us or something. Definitely, the waitstaff was amazing....that's why the three stars!!! They were extremely sweet to all my guests!
(3)Herbert K.
It is as if... That Gordon Ramsey show has gone through here, and changed a few things. I went for lunch - my beans and rice now come in a much smaller portion, on a 'monkey dish' with my main dish. This is fine by me, I always seem to eat a bunch of the chips and salsa while I wait anyway. I like the specials, and occasionally order the posole off the dinner menu when the weather is cold. You might want to give them another try, if you haven't lately.
(4)Sarah T.
I love this place. It's great for groups and the food is fun and tasty. Our waitresses are usually so sweet and friendly. The drinks are great as well. I ordered the authentic margarita which is fresh and has a great amount of alc. :) Even when they were very close to closing time they excepted my group happily. The staff is friendly over all. I will visit again soon.
(4)Brandon S.
Came here with a Groupon, and had a fantastic meal. The food is a little pricey, but very good and the service is excellent. Huge bonus for the free parking lot! and the decor of the restaurant is very cool as well
(5)Charlie L.
Do not venture off the beaten path at this place... the standard burritos and flautas are decent, but get into the chicken stew and other non-standard fare, and you are in for a horrible shock. I grew up in Texas and spent many a summer on the border, and I gotta say, this may be reasonably authentic, but not in a good way.
(2)Orly M.
I dream about this place. The chips and salsa are addictive -- really it's because their salsa is SO GOOD. The frozen margaritas are also the best in town, and I especially love the frozern mango ones. I usually can't resist having 2 so maybe I'm not so qualified to write about the food... But DAMN it's tasty. We usually just split an order of the fajitas and they are tasty and light. I don't recommend the black bean soup, waaaay too bean-y. The atmosphere is great too. It reminds me of the restaurants I go to when i travel in Mexico, unlike most of the craptastic "Mexican" places around here.
(5)Patrick F.
Eh. It wasn't $80 good, that I can tell you. I tend to use the quesadilla as a baseline test for Mex or Tex-Mex places. If I don't like it, chances are I may not like the rest of the offerings. That said, we also had the Queso Fundito and the Chimichanga. To put it politely, all of the flavors were a bit... delicate. Seriously, since when is this genre of food allowed to be unsavory and not has a flavr? Even the salsa was guilty; all bite, no flavor! The margaritas were at least good but don't let their claim of "Large" fool you. This is just their way of getting you to pay extra for a drink that's the same size or smaller than most other restaurants or bars instead of something presumably even smaller. So, if you go, just go ahead and get a pitcher (gotta love how they serve pitchers of Margarita, have free Parking and are located around the corner from a School). The 'authentic' Mariachi who told us all he was actually from "The Future Republic of Puerto Rico" made me LOL at least.
(2)Carrie M.
What I like about this place: Free parking! Three heat levels of salsa and free chips. Being able to choose what you want in your meal without worrying about asking for substitutions. Margaritas. Reservations on Opentable (and yes, on some nights you will definitely need them). Lots of vegetarian options (zucchini tacos = yum!). What I don't like: Weird set-up - choppy dining area. Kind of gross bathroom. Overall, as the four stars state "I'm a fan" and will definitely be back.
(4)Annie P.
No Way Jose. (To sum it up: all three of us who are normally patient and polite eaters could not finish our dishes and just had to go. They comped the entire meal hence the one star but MY GOD...)
(1)Roger S.
So, I heard great things...authentic mexican, quaint atmosphere, free parking?! Atmosphere: Quaint and small, bright and colorful interior. Food: We had Queso Fundido with Chorizo which was very good. For entrees, Adobe Burrito and Chile Relleno. The Burrito had great flavor with a very smoky sauce. The Chile Relleno was good, but not quite what I imagined as traditional. Very little poblano pepper, floating in verde and roja sauce. Flavor was good, but just not as expected. As I've seen in another review the chips were absolutely stale - quite surprising and the salsa was acceptable (the hot wasn't spicy at all). Service: The service was prompt and courteous with pleasant servers. Overall: A bit disappointed based on hype, but overall a decent dining experience.
(2)Stephen Y.
Service was good.... but things went downhill a bit after that.... We spent $80 on margaritas.... bloody potent Salsa comes in three degree of spiceness.... "hot" means HOT Appies OK.... ceviches was quite disappointing... chewy... Tex-Mex style... yuck Tamales OK... kinda dry .... But I think burritos OK I think the fajita was pretty awesome judging by the speed it was devoured.... Overall- food OK... booze kinda dear but not pretty decent... not watered down... Atmosphere OK decor pretty cool and funky.
(3)Steven P.
None have summarized my opinion of Jose's better than the Yelper whose review began with "NO WAY JOSE". Annie P., you couldn't be more correct. My two star rating for Jose's is an average, based on numerous dining experiences. In general, I've always been somewhat underwhelmed by Jose's food, drinks, atmosphere, and service. Each time, I simply paid my bill and walked away feeling as if I had been cheated somehow. Like an abusive relationship, I always assumed that I shared some (if not all) of the blame. Maybe I was expecting too much? Maybe I shouldn't have thought I should enjoy dining out? Maybe I'm just selfish and greedy? Feeling unworthy, I took a hiatus from Jose's in order to repair my damaged self-esteem. However, after my most recent trip to Jose's, it's become very apparent to me that Jose's has been abusing me (culinarily speaking) all this time. I was the victim, and it's time for me to stand up and defend my right to good food, good drinks, and good service! Let me guide you through my last meal at Jose's... I made an Open Table reservation for 7:45 PM on a Friday night. My wife and I arrived at 7:30 PM and we immediately checked in with the hostess. We were told that there was one party of two ahead of us, but we could wait at the bar if we wished, and she would come to us when our table was ready. In general, I enjoy the opportunity to have a drink prior to dinner. However, the bar at Jose's seats a maximum of four people, and three of those seats were taken. My wife took the last open seat and I stood beside her, only to get repeatedly elbowed by the diners at a high-top table that was placed unnecessarily close to the bar. With a forearm in my ribs, I order two margaritas for my wife and me. I never balk at paying for a well-made cocktail, but I do object to paying nearly $10 for the beverage that Jose's calls a margarita. To begin with, the bar had run out of sour mix, so I had to watch the bartender spoon powdered sour mix into a plastic container, fill it with water, shake it, taste it with said spoon, determine that the flavor was somehow incorrect, then repeat these steps until she was satisfied with the result. Unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied, and Jose's should be ashamed to charge $10 for what amounts to approximately $2 in cheap liquor and mixers. If margaritas are going to be one of your marquee beverages, then offer your customers a product that you can be proud to serve. While sipping the last drops of our insipid concoctions, I noticed that the hostess was repeatedly seating parties of two that were walking in without reservations. I approached her and told her that we were still waiting for our table, and she said that she could seat us immediately if we wanted to dine outside. It was now nearly 45 minutes after we arrived. Never once did she acknowledge that she had sat others, nor did she offer us an apology. We relented, and sat outside. The food at Jose's is simply okay. I wouldn't say that there is one dish that is prepared better here than at another restaurant in the greater Boston area. On the contrary, I would say that you can find much better food elsewhere. The decor is kitschy, the bathrooms are atrocious, and you are left with the impression that the owner believes that purple paint hides all imperfections. I will admit that the servers were very friendly and attentive, but in the end, this cannot make up for Jose's many shortcomings. Jose's, I am breaking up with you for good. And just so you know, you were never really all that and a bag of tortilla chips.
(2)Daniel M.
This would be a solid five stars if it weren't for the location. I like the spot, just can't get there easily without a car :-/ The decor is glorious. Hideous colors, sombrero shaped pottery, cacti, a menorah...? I don't get that part but whatev, loved it. Since it was Saturday the place was jumping and it was really hot in the dining room. Hopefully they clear that up before summer really kicks in. Otherwise I can picture it being miserable in there. I would still go. We ordered a pitcher of the authentico margaritas to share. $40. Ouch. Each of us said, "meh, this is weak". Each of us left toasty. It was a sneak attack, but a welcome one. They use fresh lime juice as made evident by the huge chunks of pulp that clogged up the straws. Split between four the pitcher was very much worth it. Salsa was tasty, though the hot was more mild and the mild was forgettable at best. I still wish we had ordered the guacamole en molcajeta (stone mortar and pestle). Next time. I ordered the spinach and cheese enchiladas con molé. The molé was damn near perfection. The spinach inside was a little much. Next time I'll do a more standard enchilada and 86 the spinach. The accompanying rice and beans were delicious and 100% vegetarian. Hoorah! Service was excellent. Not all up in your face but the water didn't run dry. Also, our server spoke to me in Spanish and allowed me to reply in Spanglish. That works for me. This place is worth every penny and the trouble in getting out there. It may be best that I can't eat there every day. Surely my waist will be the better for it.
(4)Lizzy B.
i gave Jose's three chances. got the spinach quesadilla plate on three different occasions (without the queso...so i guess we can just call it a "spinach-dilla") . anyhow, the first time was a take-out order and i was quite surprised how expensive it was for such a small thing...it came to $27 for two spinach quesadillas with extra salsa. it wasn't terrible, but tasted a little off to me so, i'm not sure i even finished mine. the second time was at the actual restaurant and i loved it. the spinach-dilla was crispy, flavorful and hearty. the beer probably helped, as well as the company we were with. but, still, it was good enough for me to consider giving Jose's one more try. sooooo...the third time was at the restaurant again. no beer to influence my experience this time. firstly, the service was extremely slow even though there were so few people seated. the server was nice enough but there was no apology or explanation for our extra long wait. then we noticed that the table that was seated after we had already put our orders in got their meals before we did. so maybe it wasn't the server as much as it was the kitchen. a single salad eventually arrived, even though we'd ordered two, which was just as well since it was $6 for a small plate of soggy iceberg lettuce with some flavorless tomatoes that had been over refrigerated. i think a truck-stop cafeteria salad is probably more flavorful. FINALLY we got our spinach-dillas and i think they must have ended up rushing to throw them together...they were very skimpy and under-cooked. not at all worth the wait and nothing like our previous experience (the one with the beer and the people). thankfully, the mini-side of black beans were pretty decent. probably not worth going back to Jose's just for the bean's tho. i can just pick up a can of those at Trader Jose's.
(2)Shane D.
I absolutely love this place! I go back time and time again for the great food and festive ambiance. I've read the few negative reviews here...it's important to remember this place is not trying to be a 4-star, upscale Boston restaurant. It is what it is... a local, family-owned, truly authentic Mexican joint. It's unfussy and unpretentious, but the food is consistently delicious at a great price. I've been there on dates and also w/ groups of friends, and it's always a fun, tasty experience. The service isn't always top-notch--these are not professional waiters, they're usually young people who speak English as a second language--but the servers are always super friendly and for the most part attentive. Yes, you may have to request more water/chips, but big deal! The food is fantastic, particularly the guacamole. I love eating outside in the summer, and inside is fun too because it is boisterous and colorful. If you are a total foodie and looking for a quiet, chic place and to deconstruct the food, this ain't your place. If you want a fun night out with delicious Mexican food and potent cocktails, it's worth searching out Jose's. IMPORTANT NOTE: It gets REALLY busy during weekend peak hours, which is why I always call ahead for a reservation. Furthermore, the bar is tiny and the waiting area is as well, so if you don't have a rez, it can be a bit of a drag to wait because there is very little room to hang around. I only wish they could somehow expand!
(5)Megan B.
Best Mexican I've had in the Greater Boston area!....which, isn't saying much. I am tempted to give Jose's 4 stars simply because all other Mexican I've had in Boston has sucked so much more. However, it's still pretty middle-of-the-road when you compare it to what's available in AZ, CA, NV, NM, CO, TX, and probably most states west of the Mississippi. Chips were clearly homemade, and the waitress was kind enough to ask how hot we wanted our salsa. Our table's 2 "hot!" requests were slightly muffled by 6 other "mild!" replies...we settled on a bowl of each. The hot was delicious, with loads of fresh cilantro and peppers; the mild tasted, predictably, like nothing. Be brave and go for some spice here! Chicken fajitas provided a very generous amount of food for a very low ($7.95 maybe?) price. While the chicken and veggies weren't bad, they needed more spice. Decent guacamole, but the tortillas and rice left something to be desired. Actually, the rice was an Americanized pilaf with those little frozen peas and carrots; not Mexican in any way, which was strange. Mexican rice isn't even hard to make! Oh well... Very slow service...but this only makes this joint even more "authentic Mexican", so I'm not going to complain. I'd definitely come back.
(3)Jenn A.
This place is fantastic. I was introduced to Jose's a couple months ago and frequently recommend it already. Recently we had my boyfriend's birthday celebration there and it was superb. It has free parking, is kid friendly, delicious margaritas and a mariachi band! It was a Saturday night and they took our reservation for 7 people a few hours in advance. The food was excellent! Friends from out of town want to come back not to see me, but to go to Jose's! It is off the beaten path but well worth finding it!
(5)Alex W.
Always a good time for all. Can't lose @ Jose's!
(5)Jon O.
Would have probably given 2.5 if I could, but alas. From the beginning. Parking is great. Food. I mean eh. It's adequate at best, but you can honestly (and very easily) find better Mexican food all over Boston. First the chips (from a bag?) and salsa. The salsa was about as exciting as reading War & Peace on a cloudy day. The guacamole. Again a great big "eh". Enchiladas w/mole. The mole was fine, but pretty thick and a tad too sweet. And the "Authentica" margarita. If you're going to steer our party to get a pitcher and drop $40 on it please make it good. But, in reality this was far too sweet, lacking in tequila and all around boring. Which I guess is how I sum this place up. If you're looking for boring Mexican food this is the place for you. PS - The service was kinda sucky as well.
(2)Katie M.
So we've been going here for about a year now and it absolutely one of my favorite places to eat. The food is so good and the staff have always been really nice. Excellent salsa verde and mole sauce, and the Dona Reyna's Chile Rellenos (not sure how to spell that - sorry!) are amazing. I find myself craving the burrito con mole with shredded beef on a regular basis. If you haven't been, try it!
(4)Stephanie K.
Despite living in the area for 6 years, I had no idea this place was here! I was pleasantly surprised to find such a wonderful Mexican restaurant in my own back yard. The margaritas (I recommend ordering by the pitcher if your party is large enough) were nice and tart. The salsa tasted good, but I wish the consistency had been thicker. I ordered the sopes with chorizo. They were outstanding! I am still thinking about them and wanting to order them again soon. This is not typical Brazilian chorizo, it is ground sausage and the spicing is perfection. I tried my boyfriend's chicken fiesta grande and that was also delicious. We didn't order any desserts so I cannot comment on those, but overall this is a delicious restaurant and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Meena V.
Great menu with lots of vegetarian options, good food and decent margaritas. The spicy salsa, actually spicy! I'd go there again for a dinner-and-drinks affair on a night when I just don't want to deal with driving and finding parking on a popular/snowy night in the city -- free hassle-free car park!
(3)Nick K.
Decent food, Great servers, however a bit pricey for the amount of food you get.
(3)Nicole P.
Please go here if you love Mexican food! The food is so delicious and not expensive. The ritas are also really yummy! On recent visits I had: Chef's special- I forget the exact name but it was described as displaying the 3 colors of the flag- AMAZING- it was pablano peppers breaded and steak (you can get chicken, veggies or ground beef) with this amazing cream, walnuts sauce and salad. I've also had the chimichanga- also very tasty. My gf loves the fajitas and the burritos are good too. The fried ice cream is a nice dessert too- mmmmm. This is one of my top 5 favorite Mexican places in MA!
(5)Dave R.
I came here about four months ago (yeah I'm slow to post - so sue me) with a friend of mine. Let me start by saying - "I'm from South Texas" (yes, that is true). So please understand that this review is coming from someone who grew up with the best - no, seriously BEST - Mexican food you can find this side of the border. Jose! (is there a Jose? I didn't meet the owner.) My man! Y'all have done it RIGHT. The place is a little small, but I respect that. And I LOVE the ambiance. The guac and salsa here are kick-ass (could use a pinch more capsaicin - maybe use more serranos?) and the chips are 100% corn - Celiacs take note! They have about 20 different margaritas here - we only got the pleasure of drinking two, but they were perfect. Plenty strong, tart, not too sweet, just enough salt - perfect. My friend and I both got enchiladas - she had enchiladas verde, which she seemed extremely pleased with. I decided to vet the Enchiladas con Mole. Do you know that I have not been able to find decent mole sauce since I came up here? Years it's been! Well Jose, my friend, you made my day. The mole sauce was fantastic! The enchiladas were no joke either, but it was really the sauce that made them amazing. Yeah, maybe it's just a tad -and I do mean tad- pricey here. But, honestly it's a small price to pay for amazing Mexican food. I'll be back soon hombre! Gluten Free Note** - 100% corn chips (check), safe salsa and guac (check), corn tortillas for enchiladas and optional for fajitas (check), no CC to speak of (double check), extensive selection of tequila (quadruple check). Glutard's Mexican food heaven? Yes indeed.
(5)Jamie J.
Having been born and raised in San Diego, I have not been impressed at Boston's selection of "Mexican Food" restaurants, if you can call it that.... Until I stumbled upon Jose's, which should really be called "A tiny piece of genuine Mexican food heaven". I can promise you that this is the closest you'll get to authentic Mexican food anywhere in Boston. I've searched. I know. Jose's is it. From their fresh salsa and chips served at the beginning of your meal to the [almost nauseatingly] bright multicolored walls and artwork surrounding you, it is all perfect. I can't really explain this, but even the texture of the menu just feels right in my hands. It's dirty, it's off-white, it's thick... it's the real deal. I've been there three times in about a month and everything we have ordered has been spot on. Apart from the occasional blizzard outside the windows, I could easily think I was back in San Diego enjoying my delicious margarita (yes, those are perfect too). It is well worth your money. And very often groupon/coupme have half price deals for Jose's, making your adventure into good Mexican food that much more delightful. ANNNND they have a parking lot, so you don't even have to worry about finding street parking. Double whammy. Please please please, go to Jose's. You'll get it.
(5)Anastasia R.
YAY! I heart Jose's Jose's is my favorite Mexican food joint in Cambridge. It's hidden away on this tiny street buried in a residential neighborhood AND THEY MAKE KILLER MARGARITAS! Which is a shame because you have to drive to it. Plus their jalapeo poppers are breaded in their home made tortilla chips for a nice change of pace. The staff is super friendly and a couple of them have prison tattoos, which makes for fun conversation.
(5)jylcat R.
Jose's food is pretty darn good... but we always seem to have some sort of problem when we go there... from an elastic band in the salsa to paying $2 for each side of sour cream. These are the small annoyances that add up and make people kind of hem and haw about going to Jose's. I like their quesadillas and enchiladas a lot. Their menu could do with a bit more explanation (ie, I don't know what flautas are and felt stupid asking). But overall they've got some good, authentic Mexican food. A damn sight better than Anna's (which I don't really like) or Qdoba. I give it three stars, because overall the food is better than the petty annoyances. If you are going here for lunch, and you're on the clock, better be prepared to be late coming back. The service is ALWAYS very very slow. VERY. SLOW. One time we were sitting in the back room and I really don't think the waitress came over more than twice. I ended up going up to the window to get my own food because it was sitting there for 10 minutes. Oh well. If you've got time, and a craving for Mexican, I would recommend visiting Jose's. Just ask how much they're going to charge you for extras, otherwise you'll get quite the surprise when the bill comes.
(3)Bob S.
I thought it was very good.Service is great and friendly...for a couple of dollars more than The Border..you get some great Mexican Food in a funky place with a parking lot. I mean it's in a purple house...how can you go wrong?
(4)Old Bear ..
Possibly one of the best Mexican joints in metro Boston, the environment is like those small neighborhood places that are rarely found outside of San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Denver. Some Cambridge friends introduced me to the place a couple of years ago. Otherwise, I'd never have found it because of its unlikely location on a residential street off Ringe Avenue between Porter Square and Fresh Pond. I was just back there and the food is even better than I remembered it. I had the flauta filled with chorizo and topped with tomatillo salsa verde. Not only was it delicious, it was served attractively arranged on a rectangular platter -- not the usual thrown on a plate with glops of rice and refritos. My companion had the chiles rellenos which were equally good. And this place actually has posole as a regular menu item. That's the spicy stew of hominy kernels, chiles and meat. The meat varies depending upon the whether the chef decides to use chicken or use pork on that day. Like most folk cuisines, the interpretation depends upon one's family traditions, available ingredients and creative inspiration, so this may be slightly different from posole (or pozole) which you've had elsewhere. Trust me -- it's good! Which brings me to the subject of margaritas. Jose makes a number of kinds of margaritas. They aren't cheap, but they're good. There is a reasonable tequila list -- not huge but representative of more varieties than the usual Cuervo Especial. (I am fond of Sauza Hornitos and of Herradura, both of which are on Jose's bar menu. Order them straight-up, on the rocks, or -- if you must -- in a margarita.) If you come by car, your "designated driver" will have little problem parking in Jose's adjacent free parking lot -- an unusual amenity for suburbanites who may not otherwise want to drive into Cambridge.
(5)Lauren L.
I SOOO wanted to like this place. I love mexican food. It's cheap, yummy and easy to make vegan. After reading the other reviews I figured at least this place would have good chips, salsa, guacamole and margaritas, but I was wrong, dead WRONG! This is how me, the hubby, and one of our favorite couples rated this place: Atmosphere: A- for cuteness and good easy parking. The table was a little dirty but meh it's Mexican food. Drinks: we said B- last night but I think that's because we were pretty drunk. The drinks are strong and use good tequila but (and this is a sin in my husband's opinion) they also use margarita mix. bleh! so why did we buy the pitcher of margaritas with the expensive tequila when it was just ruined by sugary crap???? Service: C We were sitting for a full 15 min before anyone asked us if we wanted drinks and we only got our guacamole b/c I was starving and asked the host for it the moment we sat down. By the time we got our drinks we had finished our first round of hot salsa (pretty good) and most of the guacamole. The main courses came out fast and hot though and our waiter was a sweet guy so that saved the service from getting a lower grade. Food: D+ (and we gave it that grade when we were drunk-not a good sign since I have totally eaten some sub par things when drinking) Kudos for them for having lots of choices. The specials looked good but we all went with classic fare like burritos and enchiladas. My mole burrito was big and filled with good veggies, lots of guacamole, and rice. It also came with a side of bean and rice which was a lot of beans and rice. The mole sauce tasted like it had Hershey's syrup in it but it was spicy-meh. The sauce on my husbands adobo burrito was tastier so I would go that way. The green tomatillo sauce on my friend Dan's burrito was the best freshest tasting, but everything else was sub par and under flavored. The fajitas at the other table smelled good and might be a better way to go. Usually fresh guacamole is really good and this wasn't so bad but it was under salted and the avocados they used were browning. Frankly I have had a better meal and drink at Margaritas-eek! PLEASE don't use margarita mix with your good tequila and please use fresh avocados and lime juice in the guacamole (a little salt would be good too) and then I'd really like to come here PS I spent most of the night throwing this crap up... it could have been that I was overly full or the overly sugary drink but my warning would be to stay away!
(1)Ed G.
This place is not authentic. It is as Americanized as it gets. Not that have a problem with AmeriMex, but it does have to taste good. The glop they serve here does not. The margaritas are poor.
(1)Michael S.
My office is just down the street from Jose's, and although I've known about it for years I've only become a regular recently. I love the shabby-fun homegrown, neighborhood-owned atmosphere of the place, and the food isn't half bad. A decent selection of the standards, some unusual specialties (try their mole), good guacamole and salsas. Prices are reasonable. Their service is friendly and fast, and they always seem to be doing decent business. All in all, a worthwhile place to put on your eating-out schedule.
(4)Andy B.
What's not to like at Jose's? First, the location itself, on a somewhat sleepy, densely tree-lined side street, convinces the first-time visitor that they've stumbled upon something hidden. And once they enter the front door, it's clear that they've discovered something intimate and special and not at all like other muted Mexico-inspired venues in the Boston area. All of the food ordered was generously portioned and delicious. The waiter asked for the desired amount of hotness for each of the entrees and the chef delivered exactly that amount. Only caution would be the Scorpion margarita, which had an overpowering smoky taste. Maybe it tastes good to certain palates, but not to mine. Otherwise, the Jose's experience was charming and completely satisfying.
(5)Christine T.
It's good Mexican considering it's such a very long swim from the Border....Don't hate, my grandparents made the swim too... The owners are ciudades, so for those of us from la frontera the cuisine is a little different than we're used to. . The rice and dishes are Gringo'fied...but decent. Still tasty. Just not the real thing. Service is good depending on who you get. The carnitas are yummy, I recommend the carne asada. Enchiladas are mucho cheesy but have the taste of being "from the can". The sopapilla wasn't what I expected, they fry it like chips and its flat and crunchy, i'm used to light and fluffy bubbled up dough. I've been dieing to try their tamales, but can never catch em when they have beef. (i hate chicken tamales) . Its a good place, preferable to all the other shops in town. PS Anna Taqueria is NOT Mexican...
(3)Essie H.
This place was such a disappointment! I'd heard from several people that this was THE place to go for Mexican food in the Boston area. But while the decor was festive, the food was totally bland. The chicken was overcooked, the sauces were one-dimensional, and the tamarind margaritas were sticky sweet and overpriced. The search continues for Mexican food in Boston that satisfies a native Californian's palate.
(2)Nupur L.
The pros: Very attentive service, decor that's reminiscent of the old Tex-Mex restaurants that grace the South with their yummy goodness, great fresh chips, good mango margarita and reasonably good refried beans. The cons: no pitcher of margaritas that is priced below $40, very mediocre food with little spice or flavor (please don't come here if you miss Mexican food from California or Texas) and a chile relleno dish that tasted more like an omelet than chiles that had been fried in a batter with egg. Important to note for those who frequent the Kendall Square area is that this is the same Jose's that runs the food truck on the edge of the MIT campus. You can try all the staples on the restaurant menu at literally 1/3rd of the menu prices or less. We learned this the hard way when my boyfriend mentioned that the food reminded him strongly of the MIT Mexican Food truck..and I look out the window and see it in Jose's vaunted parking lot. Damn.
(3)Lina G.
Well, I think I'm a bit biased when it comes to reviewing this restaurant, I lived in San Diego for 8 years and ate real authentic mexican often. So...when people tell me about Mexican joints in the Boston area and are like this place is great, I'm like yeah right! This place is good but not 'WOW!!' I really liked the appetizers, the guac was great (needed a little more lime) and the chips and salsa very yummy. I had the enchiladas with mole and I must admit the mole was the best I've ever tasted. However, my friends got burrittos and fajitas and the burrittos were dry. The margaritas were good but I've had better...sorry. This is a nice hole in the wall. If you want to impress someone I'd think twice about the restaurant itself. Even though it was cute it seemed dirty and smelled like it needed a good scrubbing. If you want a place for a quick bite and don't give a crap what your friends or date thinks then it's perfect.
(3)Jos L.
Great Mexican place tucked away north of Harvard Square. They plop down chips and salsa as soon as you are seated. Their meats are delicious -- the steak/chicken fajitas, carne asada, etc, all have wonderful, rich flavor; the seafood is not bad, but if you're ordering something with a choice between fish/shrimp or steak/chicken, definitely go with the meat. Jose's empanadas are pretty good as well, and the guac is some of the best I've had in the Boston area. On the side, the rice and beans are pretty standard, and the tortillas are definitely not made in-house, but overall the main fare is excellent. Also, the decor is colorful, the service is friendly, and the margaritas (get their classic one) are amazing :)
(4)Mike D.
Really, really good food! Had the Fiesta Grande; delicious spicy chicken and flavorful potatoes in the flauta. Very good (24- Karat) margarita. Portions on food and drink were just right, and prices are very reasonable. Service was adequate- not bad by any means, but not stellar. Highly recommended!
(4)Greg N.
Best Tex-Mex I've had since leaving Texas 7 years ago. The enchiladas were terrific, the guacamole was adequate, the chips and salsa were free (the way they are supposed to be), the service was great, and I got seated with no wait at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night. The only thing holding back the 5th star is portion size and that is purely a personal opinion. My wife was pleased with her plate and actually had a bit left over. On the other hand, I am used to LARGE portions of beans & rice and at least one item on the menu that has 6 or 7 items on it (Texas remember?). Bottom line......I'll be back......a lot.
(4)Anastasia C.
We've been here many times and I don't think we've ever suffered the bad service some other reviewers mention. Our servers have always been polite and on the ball. The food has always been lovely as well. The last time we went I got sopes (again) and loved them (again). The specials are usually worth a try. There's currently a shrimp dish served in a molcajete which was very tasty. If it was closer to where we live now we'd probably go more often, but its a bit out of the way for us now. They do have a parking lot, though, so its convenient in that way.
(4)Derek W.
Meh, this place doesn't really impress. The atmosphere is nice inside and out and the huge parking lot is also a plus. The margaritas are outstanding. I don't even like margaritas and I'd still be willing to pay $8 for one here. Unfortunately, the food is really hit or miss. I had the enchiladas verde which were really soggy and completely bereft of any texture. The flavor was off, as well. My girlfriend, on the other hand, got a tostada with steak and we both agreed that it was excellent. I only found out about Jose's because I had a groupon and I have another so I'll be back to give it another shot. Hopefully my experience will be better because I really think the place has potential and I really want to like it.
(3)I DRE U.
Went here for Cinco de Mayo a few years back and have really good memories. They had pomegranate margaritas which were tasty and stiff. Their food is excellent as far as Mexican food in New England goes and their staff is actually Mexican which is always reassuring as a patron.
(4)Barb P.
The food here is solid, and the atmosphere downstairs is fun. It's gotten a little more "fancy" in the last few years (square plates, garnishes) so it isn't the same basic but delish Mexican it used to be, but the food is still good.
(4)Tanvi D.
This place is tucked away on one of the back roads in Cambridge. Its small and cozy and has reasonable prices. The menu has a lot of variety.. Mostly the standard enchiladas, quesedillas, burritos, etc,, I had papas flautas and my friend had Cheese Enchiladas.. Hmm.. Pretty good.. I would order it again.. The salsa I wasn't too crazy for.. Seemed really watered down.. The chips were OK, nothing to write home about.. We finished our dinner with Flan, which was qutie delectable as well.. We didn't have any alcoholic drinks, but, people around us were having them, so, I'm guessing they are good as well. The service was nice and prompt, but, not pushy.. And, they have a parking lot which is a HUGE bonus in Cambridge.. If it weren't for the chips and salsa, I'd have given them 5 stars..
(4)Mary P.
So, being from CA I'm very hesitate to try Mexican food in Boston. My friend had a LivingSocial coupon, so we figured we'd try it. Chips and salsa were fantastic...I could not stop eating them. The Margarita Autentica was one of the best I've ever had. The food was good. My tamales were a bit dry even with the yummy mole sauce on top. I have nothing to compare the relleno to because I've never had it before, but my friend said it was pretty good. It's a small place, so I can see why reservations are recommended. I would go back...
(4)Daniel J.
I'm a Mexican food snob from California. I know, you hate us, because we're always telling you that the Mexican food you love in the Boston area actually ... sucks. Well, I am happy to say that Jose's turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I am not going to go so far as to say it's as good as my favorite SF Bay Area restaurants, but it's "pretty darned good" and has a pleasant festive atmosphere that is lacking in some other places I've tried. Above average margaritas and enchiladas, and quite tasty chips/salsa. Great party environment. Vegetarian? I'm talking to you. This place is unusually accommodating to vegetarians for the Boston area. Many (all?) of their dishes are prepared without lard and it was easy and confidence-inspiring the way the waitress responded to my inquiries. You know what I'm talking about, not the "Umm ... yes" that always means "not really," but the certain yes and voluntary confirmation that other items in the dish are also vegetarian. Looking forward to going here again soon.
(4)Rebecca B.
We went to Jose's for the first time last night for a going-away dinner. It's the kind of place I would go to if I was looking for a funky, kind of nonchalant atmosphere, and I wanted to eat something beyond Boston's burrito fixation. By the way, for burritos, there's no place better than El Pelon in the Fenway. I've lived in Boston for seven years now (native New Yorker), and I've been on a mission. For more complex food in a typical fancy restaurant atmosphere, Zocala on Comm. Ave. in Allston hits the spot. Anyway, Jose's. The parking lot is a savior - I never get to this part of Cambridge (behind Alewife, sort of), mainly because I don't know the area well enough to brave the bus, and I don't have one of the Cambridge parking permits. The lot's a nice touch, and it definitely saved angst on the ride over. We sat upstairs at one of the tables (not the booths). There were five of us. The poor soul in our party that was sitting in the corner had to keep brushing away the leaves of the plastic plant over her shoulder - but I say, that's her fault for sitting there. Everybody seemed pretty happy with their food. The wife got taquitos - deliciously unhealthy! I got the Donya Rellenos stuffed with chicken - chiles rellenos. Stuffed, battered and fried chiles rellenos, in a spicy-ish tomato sauce. It came with black beans (choice of refried, if you want), warm tortillas and rice. Muy bien! But honestly? I've made better rellenos in my woefully unequipped galley kitchen in Allston Rock City. The flavors were good, but I think it had been sitting for a while - by the time I got the plate, the chile had - deflated? into the huge amount of sauce, and the fry batter was spongy and moist, not crispy and light like I had hoped for. But again, the flavors were good, and I was a few sangrias in at that point, so I want to say it was "good-bad." As opposed to "bad-good," if that means anything (good-bad is better). The verdict: good for more-than-burrito; easy parking; not fancy, but satisfying in that "I just want to gorge myself and laugh with my friends" way. I'd definitely go back, but not if I was trying to impress anyone. Viva!
(3)Crystal K.
Unlike the West coast, it's hard to find great Mexican food in New England and if you do, chances are they are primarily Tex-Mex. Lucky for North Cambridge residents, there is Jose's Mexican Restaurant tucked away on nearby Sherman Street. Jose's has three things that really help it stand out from the few other Mexican restaurants in the Cambridge/Boston area: 1. Tasty traditional food 2. Spot-on prices and 3. Abundant free parking. Begin with a margarita, which come in a variety of specialty flavors (pomegranate is especially fresh and tasty) or combinations of different tequilas and mix-in liquors ($5.95 to $14.95). If you come with a group, you can also choose to order pitchers of particular blends ($39.95). The Authentica is a strong, simple choice. If you are feeling adventurous, try the chef's specials. They range from unusual burritos to a dish of talacyos, a flat ricotta cheese stuffed dish made from masa, similiar to polenta. The specials are usually authentic tastes of Mexico, which on the night we dined there, came packaged with a glass of wine and dessert. If you want big burritos without a big price tag, Jose's is the perfect place.Burritos come in veggie, chicken, shredded or ground beef, shrimp, fish, pork chorizo or steak, with Mexican rice and black or pinto beans. Try the spicy Burrito en Adobo made with guajillo, ancho and smoked chipotle, and covered with melted white cheddar cheese ($10.95). Tacos are also a specialty, with crisp hard shells rarely found in restaurants today. Choose from pork chorizo, beef, shrimp or fish ($11.95-$12.95). If you can't decide, choose the Fiesta Grande, which serves up a flauta, enchilada and hard-shelled taco ($11.95-$14.95). Also worth checking out is the grill choices--steak ranchero, fajitas and camarones. Jose's is open for lunch and dinner and they sport a strong catering service. The interior is fun and colorful but the bar is tiny and crowded. There is a small patio for outdoor dining. Get there early or expect a wait, especially on the weekend. If you want great value, delicious Mexican fare and a juicy margarita, Jose's is your place.
(4)Vanilla P.
Parking? Si! Margaritas? Si! Fancy fun paint on the walls? Si! Am I drunk now? Si!!!! Me likey the margaritas mucho, and the salsa was bueno. In all seriousness, both hubby and I decided that if we're craving Mexican food, this is by far the best place to come in Cambridge. I ordered the chile rellenos (with salsa verde instead of fajita style veggies), and they came with beans and rice, three corn tortillas, and a smile from the waitress. All in all, very tasty and filling. Hubby got the chicken salad, which came with salsa, cheese, and sour cream, but we added on a side of guac, and it was perfecto! He did get an enormous amount of chicken, so much that I said, "Damn, did you order a whole chicken???" Aside from the huge American-sized portion of chicken, I felt like I was right in Mazatlan or Puerta Vallerta, surrounded by gringos and delicious margaritas. So our drinks cost more than our food, but who cares? I'm happy, drunk, full, and hubby's definitely gettin' some from date night tonight!
(5)Steve L.
As a Californian, I need my good Mexican food, so moving out to Boston I was really craving. Anna's Taqueria doesn't sit well with me for some reason, and many of the other joints have been disappointing. Jose's strikes a good balance for me -- just satisfying all my needs for a good burrito. The chips kinda suck and the salsa is really spicy, but this is the best place I've found so far.
(3)Lily V.
First time here and it was good. There are several dining areas, including a patio area. We sat inside, in the area by the kitchen. There's a pretty big parking lot with free parking. The service was friendly, though there were periods of time when we couldn't find our waitress. We thought the food was good, but pricey for the portion and location. Margaritas were good, and they sell it by the pitcher. The chips were a little stale, and the salsa was average. So, "meh" is about right.
(2)Jenn R.
I had the shrimp fajitas and they didn't blow me away but they were decent. The menu was interesting and there were other things that I wanted to try but I was craving fajitas so I'll definitely be back to explore the food. The margarita was good but didn't pack a very good punch. The guacamole was a bit too creamy for my taste and the hot salsa was not very hot. A good overall experience and I will definitely return when I am craving Mexican food on the casual side of the spectrum.
(3)Kerri O.
Jose's is one of those places you'd never know about, unless you were a local (or are a Yelper). It's tucked away in the crooked streets of North Cambridge. You can't miss it, if you drive by, though. It's an eye-catcher. So, it's another Been there Forever place, that I grew up going to. The food is pretty great. The service is friendly. The menu is large. It definitely beats all the other local choices when it comes to serving up good Mexican Food.
(4)Caroline D.
Hello, pitcher of margaritas! The fact that they have a PITCHER of margaritas automatically gives it a star. Delicious!! I wasn't a super-fan of the $40 price tag on said pitcher, so they lose a star for that but Jose's has been doing a bunch of coupons with Groupon and restaurant.com , so I didn't mind. Whenever I find a new mexican place, I'm always reminded of my quest to find the PERFECT chili relleno. I automatically knew I wanted to order it when I saw it on the menu but I couldn't decide what variety to get (red salsa? salsa verde? chicken? beef? decisions!!!), but thankfully, Jose's let me have a four-way chili relleno and it was delicious. Perfect amount of cheese, spice, and not over battered...now if only I could decide which way was the best! Also liked the variety of different salsas, some are pretty spicy. I'll have to get back here the next time I'm in cambridge!
(4)Eve L.
Best Mexican food in this town, and I'm a tough critic. I grew up in South Texas, in San Antonio, to be exact. But this place has excellent Mexican food. You know how you know? By the quality of their salsa and the quality of their margaritas. Jose's has spicy, flavorful salsa and strong, perfect margaritas. The rest of their food is quite good too. Never had anything that disappointed, though I must say I'm partial to enchiladas. Also, the staff are nonwhite, which is a big bonus in this town. Mexican restaurants run by white people (Forest Cafe, Border Cafe) creep me out. Get the hell out of here with that crap.
(5)Phil D.
I've been holding off on writing a Jose's review because I have some conflicting feelings about it. I ate lunch there at least once a week when working in the area. 1) I have to say, up front, that I was the "dude" referred to in emily b.'s review who called the ambulance for the waitress who fell down the stairs. Small world. 2) The margaritas here are among the best ever. 3) The new outdoor patio seating is nice. 4) The recent price increase takes this place from 4 stars to 3. It's just a little too spendy these days, especially for the lunch specials, which used to be one of the best deals in town. 5) Good for groups if you call ahead first. The upstairs seating area is an excellent place to throw a party or have lunch and watch the World cup with a lot of people. 6) Free parking. 7) The food. It's good, but not knock-your-socks-off amazing. Perhaps I have just eaten there too often over the years, but many of the dishes taste the same. The salsa is decent, but not incredible. 8) The staff is excellent. They are super-friendly and I have nothing but good things to say about them. The waitress who tripped had a quick recovery, by the way. 9) I would not recommend getting food to go. It's best right out of the kitchen.
(3)Jen R.
My roommate and I went here on a last minute decision. We couldn't have been more pleased. Our waiter was fantastic and the food was amazing. I highly recommend the quacamole, enchilladas and Super Burrito. All of them were great! The margaritas were delicious, too! We ended the night with the vanilla ice cream rolled in cinnamon and coconut. It was the perfect ending to the perfect dinner!
(5)Becky P.
enjoyed the fish enchiladas. medium spicy salsa = de-lish. ordered a pitcher-o-margarita ("top shelf") that could have been stronger. love the patio. our waitress was professional, friendly and accommodating to the friendly small dog.
(4)Madhumitha N.
Food is not good as expected and drinks were not strong, has more water. The place is not clean as expected. But the good thing about this place is waiters was good and attentive, checked with us often what we want and whether we are satisfied. Not worthy for the money you spend for drinks. And food is really average... had better food.. disappointing
(2)Maren C.
After two visits: Good Salsa Friendly Servers and pretty good food. One appetizer and one entree fed two. One small female adult and one average male adult. If we had eaten fewer chips upon our arrival this might not have been the case. Happy to have been introduced to Jose's.
(4)Chrissy H.
Yummy authentic Mexican food, just like in my hometown in Texas! The staff is friendly, the food tasty and the price is right. You start off with a choice of 3 different home made salsas to accompany your tortilla chips. If you pay a bit extra you can get yourself a little cup of guacamole, which my boyfriend said was quite good. I had the chicken tamales with mole. Pretty delicious. The boyfriend had the carne asada which was absolutely delightful. The only problem I had was that the seating was pretty tight. We also thought it was pretty ridiculous that the staff had to bring the food from the kitchen, out the front door and up the stairs to the other dining room, all the while having to push incoming patrons aside and keep from burning themselves on hot plates. I suggest trying to get over there for lunch during quieter times.
(3)Shine B.
I'm confused over this place. We went last night and had a typical experience there. The enchiladas with mole sauce were ver good. I almost always get mole sauce when I have the opportunity, and this mole was excellent. My "cheap" (6.95) margarita tasted so bad it was undrinkable. Seriously, I realize that none of you know me, but there are VERY few occassions where I am unable to drink a drink. This drink was awful. The chips and salsa were boring. The salsa, which we got "medium" hot was like tomato puree with no lime or spice. Its hard for me to understand how this place can be so good at some things, and so bad at other things that should be so basic, like good salsa and good drinks. I will definitely go back to Jose's, and I will probably pay them for one of their neon green top shelf margaritas. Maybe I will bring some jarred salsa from Whole Foods. update: at a recent visit we were seated upstairs which I don't recommend. It was just weird. There is a HUGE TV up there which they leave on all the time. Its a ridiculous size for the room size. I felt like I was invading staff hangout space when they sent me up there. We ordered guacamole this time and while it was fresh, it had zero taste. After this try, I don't think I'll be returning to Jose's.
(2)Sarah G.
What is up with $11 burritos? Is there a shortage? Somebody get Mexico on the phone, because I'm sick of this insanity. We were lazy and indulgent and ordered from diningin. Veggie burrito was sub-par and had no rice, which bothered me until I saw the side of rice my boyfriend got. Flash back to grade school cafeteria - cubed carrot pieces and peas with some fresh out of the box instant rice. Boo all around.
(1)Cheryl D.
Jose's is colorful, inside and out. The service was good, and the interior was a little bit dark, but it was nice overall. Speaking as a person who has grown up knowing only Taco Bell but has since been exposed to more, the menu seems to be on the more authentic side. One of the main reasons for coming was that sopapillas were on the menu, not something you can easily find in Boston. Unfortunately, it was good but not . . . well, I think I have to search elsewhere for the real sopapilla experience. Maybe a different state would be better. :-P
(3)Evie U.
Somebody call the Gringo Police, because this place has been totally Gringo-ized... The only good thing about this restaurant is the chips and salsa, that are free at the beginning of the meal. Other than that, the food is a tiny step above TGI Friday's. The waiter asked if I wanted my food "mild, medium, or hot". I figured hot would make me cry and put me in a fair amount of pain, and medium would have just enough heat to make me feel like I was eating Mexican food. So I ordered my food "medium" and it wasn't even mild. There was no hint of hotness or spice in anything. The Mexican flag enchiladas, filled with shredded beef, were somewhat reminiscent of unseasoned beef jerky topped with Prego and Kraft shredded monterey jack cheese. (at this place, bandera salsa = Prego) Perhaps the problem is that they are trying to cater to North Cambridge/Avon Hill Waspy-ness. They certainly get away with their high prices. Save your money and go get some real Mexican food at Taqueria Mexico in Waltham or Olecita in Inman Square, Tu Y Yo in Powderhouse, or even Ana's Taqueria for crying out loud...
(2)m p.
The only complaint I have about Jose's is the sometimes slow wait staff. The food is pretty incredible. You need to try their mole sauce, so good! In fact, I think I'm going to head over there right now for lunch! Also, try their sangria.
(4)edition o.
I've been going to Jose's for a few years, mostly because it's within walking distance to my house. It has never been anything that I've had a craving for but it served a purpose when I've had guests in town and we wanted a bite without driving. Last night was no exception. But what happened at the end of the night will prevent me from ever returning. Oddly it was the first time I had ever used their bathroom facilities so I was surprised to see what a dark room it is. More surprising was when, mid-stream, a mouse came out from behind the garbage can 6 inches from my sandaled foot and proceeded to spin around like a jumping jack. I let out a muted scream as the mouse and I couldn't figure out how it got into a tiny box with a human without a planned escape route. Finally after what felt like an eternity, it disappeared into the shadows under the sink. I'm not naive enough to think it's easy to keep mice out of city restaurants but this is definitely a case of "I'd rather not know" than get that up close and personal.
(1)DeeJay H.
I LOVE A RESTAURANT WITH A PARKING LOT...and Jose's has one. I mean- if I l had a nickel for ever time I drove up and down Tremont Street trying to find a parking spot...well I would have alot of nickels. Nothing against the area, which has the best restaurants in the city...I JUST LOVE A RESTAURANT WITH A PARKING LOT.... The ambience is nice...and good for groups as well (there was a party of 12 near us)...not too loud...but definitely buzzing and alive. On our visit, we went for the Carne Asada and the Enchiladas mole... Jose's has the tastiest Carne Asada in the land (and by the land I mean Cambridge)...and the mole is delish. Moles can be fussy- but Jose's has the perfect balance of flavors. To drink I had several margaritas...but my companion only had one as we drove because THE PLACE HAS IT'S OWN PARKING LOT. DID I MENTION THE PARKING LOT....
(4)L D.
Let's get something straight, this is Boston (or Camberville), not exactly a Mexican mecca. So why is it surprising to everyone that the Mexican food here isn't 100% great authentic awesome amazing? Some places are borderline inedible (Anna's) and some fill that hole in your tummy when you really need pseudo-Mexican (Jose's) that hovers above the Tex-Mex line. Why is Jose's great? They have parking. Have you any idea how very important that is? Especially for a restaurant away from the T. I've never had a problem with the service for dine-in of take-out. The owner (Jose, duh) is always there and recognizes return customers with a friendly hello. The margaritas are great if you know to ask for good tequila (the selection here is fantastic). The food is delicious but depends on sauce and cheese; don't go here expecting the greatest Mexican food. Remember, this is Cambridge! Not Texas. Not California. I usually order the enchiladas and they get the order right when I ask for one of every variety each with a different sauce. Complicated, I know. The mole sauce isn't the greatest ever but it's far from the worst I've ever tasted. The chili relleno is also a huge hit. Prices are a smidgen high which is why I don't eat there more often but a meal for two with a drink each is still under $40. Did I mention the parking lot? Seriously, A+ for that alone.
(4)Chrissy M.
No, no, no. I'll get right to it. Made a reservation online, showed up 10 minutes early, waited 25 for a table, ended up at the worst table ever smack in the middle of the room. We were surrounded by large tables of really loud guests; keep in mind there was two of us. The waitress totally screwed up our order, tried to fix it and screwed up again. To top off all the nonsense that we had already gone through, it was someone's birthday at a table next to us so they shut off all the lights...leaving the whole place in total darkness...and started singing and clapping triggering all the other loud tables to sing and scream. Just when I thought I would snap, someone said that the birthday girl was in the bathroom...they then proceeded to do it ALL OVER AGAIN. I was ready to freak. I love a good time, but not in a small confined place, with a ton of loud strangers during a quick week night bit to eat. Also, I could have picked up the same meal at Taco Bell for half the price.
(2)Lovan C.
I think that 3.5 is more accurate. Their specials are mostly better than the fixed menu. Quality can be inconsistent but the highs are really good.
(4)Matthew S.
Their medium salsa has no spice, but it was fresh. We tried the hot salsa next, and that had the requisite kick. Guacamole was tasty, fresh, and yumtastic, but for $6 I wanted more. Their frozen margarita's were passable. I got the tamales with mole and that was very good. My friend got the zucchini stuffed soft tacos and they were okay, but difficult to eat. Service was average at best, friendly but not very attentive. This place is purple. Cool decor, cool Mexican vibe. All in all, not a bad time, but it wont blow your socks off.
(3)J S.
I am beginning to strongly believe this place is trying to pull the wool over you poor northerner's eyes. It's like they are thinking, jaja, they gave us 4 1/2 stars on Zagat and Yelp, and we just gave them stale chips and overcooked rice! Let's see if we can get away with giving them "queso" dip that tastes and looks like yellow wax! Or cold appetizers and burritos, making sure to have sour cream on each item to replace flavor! And the "cheese" on "crispy" sope's is just scant crumbles, and we make the crispy more like soggy! jajaja! I am from Oklahoma and we have several very good Mexican restaurants. Yes, some are tex-mex, but several were actually authentic central or south mexican. I thought I'd give them a couple chances, because my boyfriend likes the place. Bless his corazon, i think it's because he's from upstate New York and doesn't know any better. But now, I've tried 3 separate dishes on 3 separate occasions. All flavorless and cold. So i'm resolved to save the rest of you this fate. The few good things: their salsa seems fresh and is genuinely good. (although I've never had chips that were hot or not stale) It does look the part, with colorful and cozy decor and layout. It is clean. Even more bad things: pop is $2 and no free refills. The sopapillas are hard and cold. Prices-- not crazy expensive but not cheap, not worth it.
(1)M T.
I used to go to José's all the time, but I feel like it's gone downhill recently. The last time I went, the prices were higher and quality was lower, and service was kind of blah. I was sitting upstairs and there was a loud, tacky mariachi singer and the waitress was kind of surly. You're better off going to Tú y Yo or Olé.
(2)Chris G.
Jose's is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. My food has always great, the wait staff friendly, and the drinks tasty. I generally get a burrito or the tamales. My friend always gets the veggie chimichanga. Neither of us ever has a complaint. The margaritas are good, but I would prefer a little more lime, and a dollar off the price. The restaurant can get rather crowded around dinner time, so I recommend getting there a little bit early, or being willing to wait for a table. The parking is ample and free, which is good as it can be a bit of a walk from public transportation.
(4)Dalet Z.
start off with the chicken tinga sopes. i love that they put refried beans, lettuce & crema on them. the chicken is flavorful and delicious. the margaritas & sangrias are also tasty. i usually get the chimichanga there. though, once they screwed up my order. the only time i actually placed my order in spanish. go figure. (oh, and i'm fluent in spanish, so i know i was ordering properly!) the carne asada is very flavorful. i do love this place.
(4)Kdub W.
Meh. Tried the place out with a Groupon. Atmosphere is funky and I liked it. Service was sub-standard (waited 15 minutes after sitting down for some water- so thirsty from the chips). Margarita selection was excellent- I got the house- something like $6 or 7, and it was value for the money. Salsa was good (pico de gallo) but the chips tasted stale to me and something out of a grocery store. I ordered pork tamales "hot", which was a joke. I knew the stuff would come out more like medium because, hey, this is Boston- but come on. I'd say they were mild... and unfortunately, the pork was dry and hard. All in all, not a bad place for Mexican food in Boston, but coming from California, I just can't subscribe.
(3)Jay B.
When I first came to Boston I was shocked that I had actually had better Mexican (heck...even Tex-Mex) during my brief time in Ohio and Kentucky. In my further travels I have found that just about everywhere has better Mexican food than the Boston metro area. One of the few exceptions to that is Jose's! I like the staff, the free parking, the fact that very few people actually know about it, and the prices ain't too shabby either; but what I LOVE about Jose's is the Burrito Suizo! A delicious burrito covered in cheese and tomatillo (green) sauce. This is where I go and what I get...when I treat myself! Also nice- there is this one quiet little booth smack in the center that I sometimes have the good fortune of getting. If you are looking for an enjoyable dinner in Cambridge and you crave some great mex- Jose's is the place for you.
(5)Olivia F.
Mediocre food. I got the spinach and cheese tostada which was the smallest tostada I have ever seen for $11! I enjoyed the salsa and margarita, but really don't think the food or drinks are accurately priced. It's damn expensive for what it is. I was expecting really fresh, really good mexican food, only to leave dissapointed. The service was friendly and efficient.
(2)Janet P.
The atmosphere at this place is authentic and fun. The food is part authentic, part americanized, part original...good combo. The staff is energized and friendly and the food comes out quickly. The location is secret and the parking lot is a huge plus. After I went the first time, and went back a second time in the same week!
(4)Jana M.
I like this place a lot. Real neighborhood gem - casual, reasonable price and great food. Went there two times already and plan to go back.
(4)Matthew B.
Did anyone ever notice the lack of inexpensive sit-down, chips & salsa and margarita places in Cambridge and Boston? In any other city I'd give Jose's three stars or maybe even two, but I'll take what I can get here. It's a wonderful, intimate space, and they even have a few tables on a patio outside along Sherman Street. The service is friendly but a little slow. As for food & drinks, the margaritas are great (and the Ultimate is better than the Autentico), the salsa with the chips is excellent. Food is pretty standard and sounds better on the menu but comes out tasting like standard tex mex. Prices are a little high, but hey, it's a nice location in Cambridge with free parking.
(4)Trish F.
I popped into Jose's to get lunch last week. About 5 hours into the whole moving process I realized I hadn't eaten that day (whoops). Jose's lot looked like it had just gotten over its lunch rush so I thought it would be perfect to grab some quick take out. I have mixed feelings about the service. I waited in the front area checking out the menu for a few minutes and when no one greeted me I walked up to the bar. The woman pretty much ignored me and walked into the kitchen. When she finally walked out she walked right by me. I called out hello and I asked if I could place my take order with her. She simply said a waiter would help me and then walked away again. Errr k... when a waiter finally came out of the kitchen the phone rang so he had to take it. When he was off the phone, he too walked right by me. I thought he'd come back to take my order. Wrong again. When I finally walked up to the front again, he was very nice to me and didn't mind that I was thrown off by the questions (how hot, what kind of beans, what kid of tortilla.. poor little unfed head). He told me 10 minutes and I went about my business. It was all set when I came back later and the waiter was again very nice. Maybe when I initially walked in I had my "don't eff with me" face that I sometimes use when in those parts of NoCa? Is that why they ignored me? The food was just alright. I got the empanadas (shredded beef) and the two tacos platter. The fish tacos were super mushy.. probably because of condensation from the container and whatnot (should have gotten crisp tortillas).. but I was definitely unimpressed by the fish. The empanadas were VERY good and they disappeared quickly.. props to my starvation extra ordering.. otherwise I would have moved the rest of my stuff (I had 8 more hours after lunch) with a half of a fish taco in my belly. The rice and beans weren't bad but they tasted like the restaurant smelled. Not bad.. just strange.. I think the interior is pretty cool. Mostly because walking in you feel completely transported out of North Cambridge. But now that I'm not in the neighborhood, I don't feel totally compelled to come back. And even if I did come back, it'd probably for drinks if I had a lot of time on my hands.
(3)Gordon B.
Gag! I called Dining In for a refund after getting delivery from this place. Worst Mexican food ever. Even their jalapeno poppers were inedible. How do you screw up poppers?
(1)TinaGinaBabina L.
Went there because of Groupon. The decor and the 30 minute wait was promising for a Thursday night. We were expecting decent food, but was completely disgusted. We ordered 4 dishes and with the exception of the guacamole every thing was extremely tasteless. We had specifically ordered the guacamole to be extra spicy since it was made to order, but it came out without a hint of heat. So we asked to have some fresh chopped jalapeno to add to it ourselves but instead we got huge slices of pickled jalapeno instead. The same thing with our jalapeno ribs which is a specialty of the restaurant came out dry and bland as can be. Also the rice was hard, with pieces of burned rice mixed in. I'd expect a Mexican place to get the rice right, but no such luck. The only thing nice about the place was ample parking space and the service is pretty friendly. Being a foodie, I would never come back. In fact, not sure why any one would pay this kind of price for this kind of untasty food. In fact, I would not even come back even if it were free; a waste of my time
(1)Steve Y.
great mexican food, much better than some of the other disgusting experiences i had a anna's tacqueria ("mexi-CAN'T"). funky little building and casual atmosphere. the salsa is great and the food is delicious. a great neighborhood restauarant.
(4)Henry P.
Food is ok, experiences have not been great. Got charged twice on my CC from this place, owner/manager did not care to help me alleviate this error. Pay in cash. Restaurant can smell like urine in the wintertime which can be off-putting, but best used a metaphor for pissing away my loyalty.
(1)Michelle B.
Good food, good service. I love that you can order a big bowl of guacamole rather than the tiny little cup most places give you. The mole is excellent, the best I've had in New England. Sangria and margaritas are decent too. I have eaten here several times this year and would definitely go back. The waitstaff was friendly, too.
(4)Jobeth B.
I am an out of towner who was brought here for dinner. The food was great and IMHO as authentic as you'll get in the states. A very cozy feel and decent service. If you want Mexican, I'd say give it a shot!
(4)Thomas H.
Now I first have to say, I love this place. I have been here 5-6 times in the past and love it. Normally it would get 4, possibly 5 stars. However, I went in last night and things have changed. With a new menu, comes new (higher) prices and different (less) menu items. You can no longer get the Molcajete guac dish, just a bowl of guac the same size as the salsa. Tragic. Also, certain dishes like the blackened chicken are no longer offered. Huge disappointment. Also, the prices have gone up a couple dollars for each entree. I have a feeling all of this is to negate the restaurant.com coupons, so I understand, just not the same place I loved. It is now on par with Rudy's in Teele I would say, and fallen behind chain Border Cafe.
(3)John S.
Jose's gets a solid, respectable three stars. I wish I could give it more but there were just enough warts on my experience to keep this rating where it is. Sure, the guacamole and fresh chips were excellent, and my meal (pork chorizo enchiladas in a salsa verde) was flavorful, but the service was a bit erratic and the portions were not great. I think Jose's would excel for an afternoon lunch, if you have plenty of time and order one extra item to split. It's a solid place, and I can understand why locals keep coming back, but it's not the same kind of transcendent food experience you can get at many other local Mexican places.
(3)Ruth M.
Cute place (bright purple exterior and brightly painted interior). And the food was good. Not amazing, certainly, but good. I would go back, though not until I've checked out several other such places in the vicinity. Not a disappointment for a low-key night out that needed a slightly festive vibe.
(3)Joanna F.
3.5 stars really. The atmosphere of this place, unlike any other restaurant I've been to, really made me believe the food was a little better than it was. It also made me overlook the mediocre service. Walking into this adorable Mexican restaurant was like going to Mexico. It's brightly painted with strings of lights everywhere. Sitting outside seems like it would have been magical. We got seated immediately thanks to our reservation (which is highly recommended on a weekend, might I add). We were served drinks fairly promptly and decided to try a couple appetizers. We chose the chicken taquitos and empanadas. The table agreed that the chicken in the taquitos was absolutely amazingly flavored, however I thought the taquitos overall were fairly dull. The empanadas were way too dough-ey with hardly any flavor and a tiny bit of filling. Not great. For my entree, I got the two fish tacos. I have to echo other reviews that I didn't really notice any cheese on my taco. I also had ordered a side of guacamole which came out at least 15 minutes after my entree came. Considering I really wanted the guac for my tacos, I was fairly annoyed. As for the rest of the food, the table generally liked everything except my friend and boyfriend both thought the pork's seasoning was overwhelming and hard to stomach after several bites. Overall, a pleasant experience, but I won't be rushing back.
(4)Cliff H.
Authentic. Hidden. Delicious. Stop by here off the ongoing discounts off Restaurant.com and make a night of this little gem. Could not have had better experience. Place is small, but you are greeted with bright colors and friendly family service. Started off with complimentary spicy salsa/chips. Then scored big with the chicken/steak enchilada smothered in delicious mole. Holy mole! Not too sweet, not too bland: GoldilocksMole! Washed down with some of the most seriously amazing margaritas yet indulged around Boston (hint: keep the frozen margs for traditional style, fruity ones on rocks). Server super polite and attentive w/out being overbearing. Redeemed the gift card right off the phone no questions asked (rarity in itself). If you love Mex as much as moi (Casa Romero regular) you can can appreciate how this place is the real deal. New fav Mex stop. Worth the trip off the beaten path, especially with more parking than a Sam's Club on a no-trucker day in Arkansas. Hey, hey do not delay cause it's no cliche to say MA's mex is Trump's toupee or Michael Bay... aka: per-se passe. This Jose will make your day like sorbet and croquet on a hot Mexico day. Lead not astray. Get here today.
(5)Kristen X.
Based on the food, I would give Jose's 5 stars. I go to Jose's about 2-3 times per month, the food is that good. I always get the enchiladas verdes, they are to die for (Not to mention inexpensive). The guacamole here is by-far the best I've ever had. The atmosphere is very small and simple which is nice. The building isn't insulated very well so it can get very frigid inside, especially upstairs...i would suggest bringing an extra layer during winter just in case. It does tend to get very busy especially on the weekend, making a reservation on their website is your best bet for getting seated quickly. (P.S.The vanilla fried ice cream is amazing)
(4)Jerome T.
Terrible. Absolutely Terrible. Food: Food is advertised as being "Authentic Mexican" but is nothing of the sort. The salsa was bland and runny. This is the first warning sign of a crappy mexican restaurant - if they can't get simple stuff like Salsa right, then you should immediately walk out. We failed to follow this simple rule... My date's entree was first delivered incorrectly. She ordered a Quesadilla, they delivered a Fajita. (I suppose I can see the similarity... but...) Regardless, they made it right and delivered her quesadilla... Except it wasn't a quesadilla. In fact, neither her, nor I, could Identify what the heck it actually was. The cheese was pink(ish) and wrapped similarly to a burrito. Imagine, stuffing a burrito wrap with cheese and other random sauces, and squishing it, but nothing like what you'd imagine a quesadilla to be. I'm pretty understanding of regional differences, but the problem with this neo-mexican concoction was that it tasted like crap. That, I cannot forgive. My Entree was a trio of Enchilada's with Mole sauce. Except it too had very little resemblance to what a 'traditional' (Or tex mex) enchilada. Again, I'm very forgiving to regional differences, but it too, tasted like crap. The mole sauce tasted excessively chocolaty, like I could have poured some hershey's chocolate into a bowl, mixed it with some tabasco, and pour it on some tortilla's. Crap. The Enchilada's I ordered originally arrived as Tacos... It was sent back, and corrected. 3 Enchiladas - Cheese (Tasted average...) Shredded Beef (Below average - very dry) Ground Beef (Tasted like absolute crap. Very Dry ground beef, with terrible seasoning. Service: I asked for WIFI, as my iPhone picked up a signal, and they said "Absolutely, we have it! Let met get the password." Few minutes later, the woman shows up and informs me that it's not for customers... Ok... I can buy it - annoying, but not a game ender. We waited 10 minutes for the guy to come up and take our drink order. Upon getting the order, it took another 20 minutes to get our food, and an additional 10 minutes to get the food that they screwed up right. (See above.) Later, I was asked if there was anything else I needed... I asked for a refill of coke. "We don't have refills here." ... Fine... water, please. The water never came. This pissed me off. What exactly is it that you do here? Do you expect me to pay for crappy mexican food, not get anything right in your dinner service, and tip you 20 percent on an overinflated bill? Bill total: 35 dollars for enchiladas, a coke, guacamole, and a quesadilla. I find that to be exorbitant. Conclusion: 1 star. Screw you. Im never coming back, and Im taking time out of my day to tell others of the lame experience I've had here. I admit, I'm a bit biased being from california and enjoying good Tex Mex/Authentic Mexican food... but these guys couldn't even get the basics right. Totally unsatisfactory experience. Later, Some of the irritating policies of this place are: No refills on soda, with a bar present. Wifi, not available for customers.
(1)Corey L.
Got some groupons to Jose's and have enjoyed it twice so far. It's a tad pricey, but the food is really good. My gf and I shared the fajitas for two and they were simply magnificent. Really liked the sangria too - and I'm a sangria snob. It's not the biggest place, but haven't had to wait long yet. And they have a parking lot. Thumbs up
(4)Kat K.
Best silver margaritas ever. We dream about them. Always refreshing and perfect. Always a good time, good food, and easy parking. Ole!
(4)Jeff K.
Was busy, live musician was a nice treat (although he stayed a song to long), good food, fun atmosphere, tight space for waiting for a table, price is right.
(4)Shannon M.
This place is super colorful and super adorable...and they sometimes have live music! The last time I came here I ordered a steak salad and loved it...lots of steak strips on top of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and bell peppers. While I've had more authentic Mexican food in California, this is one of Boston's better versions of Mexican food and probably my favorite. The experience of eating in the rainbow house is worth the trip out here alone. And the good food is a nice little bonus.
(4)Stacey D.
Wow, this place was surprisingly bad. It wasn't like I had hopes, I have been on a long and forsaken journey for good Mexican in Boston, and have pretty much given up. I went here with the boy on the day that Hurricane Irene hit. Props for them for being open. When we entered, immediately the service was askance. There were stairs up to a eating area, and another eating area on the ground floor. There was no server and no sign indicating "please wait to be seated". While the wait staff was mingling around, and clearly saw us, no one came over to us to say seat us or even to say hi! I hate being confused when I first enter a restaurant. We were eventually seated, and asked "mild, medium or spicy?" Having no clue what they were referring to, I said, "medium" . The salsa and chips that came out were decent. I wish the chips were hot though - hot chips! Now that's class. But no... Anyways, we ordered. I, being a maximizer, ordered a combo plate with an enchilada, a flauta and a taco. The boy, being boring, ordered a chicken quesadilla. The chicken quesadilla was surprisingly dry, and tasteless, with a little bit of cheese and nothing else. Now the boy is from the country - way up North, he doesn't know much about Mexican food, and I am from CA, we don't agree on much when it comes to food, but we both thought the quesadilla was tasteless. My enchilada, flauta and taco were similarly flavored, by that I mean dry. I keep coming back to that word, I know, but I can't help it... The beef was dry, the chicken was dry. The pico de gallo - was good. So they have good sauces... what can I say? my journey for good mexican food continues...
(2)Scott B.
An actual hidden gem, Jose's is located among the residences of the Porter Square neighborhood in Cambridge. You'd never expect to see this place while driving around this area... but sure enough it is there. Jose's serves delicious food. Like... really, really delicious food. I highly recommend the Enchiladas with chicken or beef. They are super good. The atmosphere is quirky... with a mexican-antique-shop-sort-of-feel to it. Also, there is an out door seating section. I was so impressed with Jose's, that this would have been a 5 star review if the service hadn't been so darn slow. It took nearly 20 minutes after we finished our meal before a server even came to our table to offer dessert/check. Despite the neglect, I still hope to be back soon to enjoy those fantastic enchiladas again!
(4)Michelle B.
I've been to Jose's several times, either to meet friends or to use up a Groupon. Every time, the food is tasty. While yes, the enchiladas/tacos/etc are good, my real love here is the chile rellenos. Everything about these was perfect, from the seasoning, to the tenderness of the shredded beef, to the tangy, silky salsa verde sauce. The service is pretty brusque and often not too knowledgeable about the menu. It can also take awhile to be seated if they have pick up orders waiting at the host station also. Other than that, we always get the correct food when we order and we're never left waiting long for anything - drink or water refills, our check, etc. The drinks are good, I've tried the margaritas and the sangria. Not too expensive and a pretty heavy hand with the liquor. It's a HUGE plus that they have their own parking lot.
(4)Rick L.
I'm lucky that I live less than 5 minutes walk away from this place, because I keep wanting to come back. I like the way the menu is organized, with all their entrees having multiple options for your choice of protein. They offer a weekend brunch until 2 PM, but the one time I tried to get it they weren't offering, probably because it was cinco de mayo. I really like their mole sauce, and their tinga has a real punch to it. Their tequila bar is a little pricey, but the quality of their drinks is worth the cost. I have yet to have a bad margarita, and if you have enough people (or a strong enough liver), they offer pitchers as well.
(4)Lisa I.
A tiny hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. This place is ok, but I wouldn't rate it as highly as some of the other reviewers. The restaurant and the décor are cute, but I don't think the food is particularly authentic. I'd put it on the same level as Sunset. It's decent for cheap Mexican, but nothing special.
(2)Jay M.
We've been here a few times and it's always good. Pleasant service and food arrives quickly. Enchiladas are yummy and the Burrito I had last night was super delicious, and so big I took half of it home. I have no idea how "authentic" this place is, but food does not have to be authentic to be good
(4)Mr. D.
When we left this place, I was wondering if they printed all the great reviews in the entryway themselves? The place was filthy, the menu handed out to us was greasy and there were food rests between the pages. The chips and the food - a catastrophe characterized by a predominant taste of old oil. the presentation was sloppy and not appealing. I also don't like it when the waiter starts cleaning the table next to you as loud as he possibly can, throwing the dishes into a big plastic bin.
(2)Maria D.
Note: this is a biased review. Jose's is my favorite restaurant. Jose's is my "go-to" restaurant. Jose's is the shit. There was a recent study done that proved that when there are groupons, or the like, for restaurants, that restaurant's reviews tend to go down. Obviously that is the case with Jose's since this place is the best. People complain about "authenticity". What do you mean by that? I don't think I've ever been to an authentic Mexican restaurant if this isn't, and thats saying a lot since I've been to many Mexican places in my life. What exactly are you looking for? If you don't find Jose's to be satisfying, where else do you eat Mexican food? Please let me know what you find to be authentic, because I cannot comprehend that Jose's isn't better than other places out there. I can never order fajitas again from another restaurant. I just couldn't. Jose's fajitas are so good, I'd not only feel disloyal, but I KNOW i'd be disappointed if I went elsewhere. Theyre so good, that I sometimes come here twice a week... (even three times if I'm feeling like a fatty). I rave about this place. And everyone that I have sent here, ie: my parents, siblings, friends.. and have demanded that they order fajitas, have also stated that Jose's fajitas are the best they ever had. Generous portions. Delicious quac. And non stop tortillas (all you gutta do is just asked for more and they'll keep bringin em). I love the servers, and not just because they know my face. I love the atmosphere. I love the salsa. I love it. AND I LOVE THE FRIED ICE CREAM. THE BEST DESSERT YOU COULD ASK FOR.
(5)Michael S.
Been here three times and it reminds me of the places Ive been to out in Arizona and New Mexico. They got that chocolate Mo-le and they do it right. Great little place with nice atmosphere and i was not disappointed by the drinks. High Marks.
(5)Matt G.
I absolutely la-la-love this place! First, I love the decoration. Its so completely off the wall its awesome. Little authentic Mexican knick-knacks, bright vivid colors everywhere (including the outside paint job), and really interesting and quirky art on the walls. You start the meal with fresh chips and homemade salsa. The salsa tends to be hit or miss depending on the night. (sometimes its a little soupy) We always get the medium or the hot version, which I think is just the mild version with some extra chile mixed in. Fine by me! It tastes very ... clean and fresh. Yum! Now onto the Margarita list! If you are going to be having more than 1 Margarita with some people: GET A PITCHER. (We usually default to "Steve's Classic") You get a standard plastic pitcher filled... with NO ICE, and then your glasses (with rocks if you'd like). The good part about that is that you have a pitcher FILLED with liquid yumminess and no ice to water it down. For the price of 3-4 margaritas you get a pitcher that yields ~7. The burrito menu is fantastic. My safe standby is the Chicken Burrito con mole. The mole sauce there is smokey, dark, with a hint of chocolate. The fajitas and tacos are always a good bet as well... but don't be afraid to ask for some mole on the side! We bring our friends here all the time and nearly everyone we introduce to this place loves it. This is a great little hidden place just outside of any major Cambridge 'Square' and I love the fact that we can walk here from our apartment. The service is always friendly, and we've frequented it enough times that most of the staff recognizes us. (we even had a buy back once on a round of Patron!) 5 stars!
(5)Roxie D.
i ordered dinner from Foodler, and specifically stated that I did not want ANY meat on my food. Should make prep easier, right? After charging me a brazen $6 to deliver my food a whopping 2 hours after I'd placed the order, I opened it up to find that EVERYTHING was covered with fucking chicken. The restaurant was no help. The assholes that run the delivery service- I believe it's Mix Menu- were rude and useless. I paid them $6 in delivery fees and $5 in tip--that's *$11* dollars just to get it from the restaurant to me- and they still couldn't be bothered to check to make sure my order matched what they picked up OR get it here within 2 hours of it being ordered. It was cold and soggy by the time it got here, and the driver stopped to have a 15 minute conversation with a crackhead in front of my house about the dog he kept in his car while making deliveries. He saw me standing in the doorway and when I waved, he signaled for me to wait until he was done talking. FUCK THAT. Do not order delivery from these people. Support businesses that actually give a shit about customer service and not employing asshats. UPDATE: I got a very nasty email from someone saying that my issue was with just the delivery service- NO. The restaurant screwed up my order because they were too inept to read the instructions that I know for a fact foodler sent over, because the receipt with said instructions, and "NO MEAT OF ANY KIND, PLEASE" printed clearly on it. The delivery service *also* sucked. Try and keep up.
(1)Ash And Dan L.
This is an amendment to my first 5-star yelp, due to my awful experience at Jose's last night. Whenever I go to Jose's I expect to wait a little while to be seated (even if you have reservations), but this time not only did we have reservations and have to wait 25 min to be seated, but they seated 2 people w/o reservations who arrived about 15 minutes AFTER us before they seated us. And to make things worse, they seated us upstairs, which in general means the service sucks, and the waitress only comes around every 10-15 minutes. When seated upstairs you should plan on saving about 30 minutes at the end of the meal for your waitress to give you your check, and take your credit card or change and return back to you at your table so that you can wrap up the tab. Overall the dining experience took two hours, when typically we can expect to be in and out of there in an hour or so if we want to (so although sometimes it's nice to dine for 2 hours, it's not so nice when you're spending half of that time waiting to be seated or waiting for your waitress to come around because you're seated up in the attic and are forgotten about). I give them 2 stars because I like their food and it's decently priced. But I'm not sure I'll be going back for a while after this experience. And if I do, I will make a point to wait an extra 10 minutes if needed so that I can be seated on the 1st floor, and not upstairs.
(2)Rich W.
My wife and I drove past here several times and each time we said, "we have to check that place out." The reason we did was my wife did a 2 week study abroad program as a part of her Masters program in Mexico. She didn't get to have mole sauce and her host family bragged about how good it was. A little bit of research and we found out that Jose's does make traditional mole. So...we went. What a GREAT surprise this restaurant was! The mole was awesome!!! Free chips and salsa came with the order...we like it hot and found that it was spicy but not over spiced to get you to buy more drinks. LOVED it! We've been back a few times and each time, the meal has been great!!! Always check out the specials! I had a steak with a Jamaica (SP?) Sauce that was amazing! Free parking next door - a HUGE plus for eating out in Cambridge! Good service and outdoor seating in the summer. I had my wife's birthday party there and we had a fabulous time!!!! I've been told by Central Americans that Jose's is about as close as you can get to real Mexican - not Tex Mex food in Boston! For desert, have the fried ice cream!
(5)Vanessa C.
quick,friendly service.very delicious food,too. Small space but free parking is cool.No disablilty access,though.
(4)Erica W.
Pretty good food butttttttt... I went on a Friday night and the place was PACKED. Without any real waiting area, the tiny doorway was squeezed tight with people (much too cold to wait outside that night) with waiters and customers squeezing by to get from the kitchen to the upstairs tables. My group of 4 had made reservations, and arriving a couple of minutes before our reservation we still stood in the crowded doorway for around 15 minutes. Other than that the food was good, the salsa had a nice kick to it and everything was delicious, although maybe not worth going out of the way for in the future.
(3)Adriana A.
Love it! Great food, drinks, staff & owner. I'm always happy with them. And the time I've invited people over they were happy as well with the food, drinks and service. Plus I also know the owner gives back to the community, so I'm happy to spend my money there!
(5)Mike G.
This was pretty good Mexican. It was a bit crowded for a Thursday night, but the service and delivery was quick. I wouldn't say our burritos were to die for, but they were pretty good. What put the icing on the cake for this though, was our restaurant.com certificate that I got for $2. So we got $25 worth of food for $2. So it ended up being half price, and a steal. With tip about $30 for 3 people. Oh and you get free chips and salsa!
(3)Jess L.
I know this place is tucked away in an obscure part of Cambridge, but this restaurant had a great, authentic selection of Mexican food, a pretty decent margarita, and a fun atmosphere. My quesedilla came looking like a burrito, which was weird... On the other hand, my friend was excited to see Sopa de Elote on the menu, which she hadn't seen on a menu since she lived in Mexico.
(4)Allison R.
All right, not sure what to make of Jose's. They are listed on eatnow.com , so one night when I was craving a burrito but didn't want to leave the home (and had no cash for Anna's), I ordered one. I'm 100 % sure I ordered steak, but definitely ended up with some weird vegetable bean thing. A few weeks ago, I was plagued with the same craving, so my roommate and I ordered delivery, part two. This time, I was super stoked because I was able to order off the kid's menu, which meant smaller portions and more variety. We never received an email confirmation for the order, so my roommate called to ask what was up. The guy at the restaurant claimed they never deliver, and had no idea what being listed on eatnow.com meant. Then, 30 minutes later, as we were frying up some tasty frozen peking ravioli, a delivery guy came to our door. He rang the bell, knocked on the door, called me twice, and then knocked on our window. Seriously? But, to the credit of Yelp (and possibly this restaurant), the owner did message me and explained that eatnow likely calls and poses as a customer....sort of like a foodler without any credibility. hrm. not sure if i believe it, but this would explain the delivery fiasco. Too much drama. I'll make the trek out to La Paloma in Quincy the next time I crave Mexican food.
(2)Lisa M. K.
You know, I'd give Jose's 4 stars just for their mole alone. I actually crave their burrito con mole. It is delectible. I ate there yesterday and I am still thinking about it. Jose's is a great little neighborhood place - has all the criteria: comfy, pleasantly decorated, has an intimate feel as it is broken into small rooms, good service, yummy food and drink. Decent Mexican - we always like what we get... good salsa and guacamole too. Bonus points for lots of free parking too.
(4)Lu B.
I love Jose's. I love it way more than is warranted by the actual quality of the food. I mean, we're still talking Mexican food in New England people. Although, for the official record, in my opinion the food here is *way* better than the terrible "Tex-Mex" that they serve up at Border Café in Harvard Square. If that's not enough for you, here are the top three reasons why I love this place... countdown style: 3) I used to live well within walking distance to Jose's. Sadly, I don't anymore. But actually it's okay because Jose's has a parking lot. For free. One of the perks of being all tucked and hidden away on a completely residential street. 2) There are regularly Groupon (etc.) offers out for Jose's. I buy those up four or five at a time. They also have coupons in those Super Coup or Super Savers that come in the mail. You know, the completely useless envelopes full of coupons for things you would never use or want... C'mon I know that you know what I'm talking about! Yup, only coupon I've ever used from one those things - Jose's. 1) ICELESS pitchers of Margaritas. The menus state that there must be four people in your party to order these. I've ordered them with just two, and been served without a bat of an eyelash. Although, if you're going to go this route; I do recommend that you forget all about my number three reason for loving this place. The margaritas are insanely consistent here. Consistently delicious, and consistently strong enough to knock you on your @ss. It's a 10-15 minute walk from Alewife. Between the spicy Mexican food and the tequila you won't even notice the cold.
(4)Chelsea T.
While it is one of the better Mexican places I've been to in the city, it gets major points deducted for serving, what I believe to be, Cheez Whiz for their queso. Whatever I put in my mouth was not real cheese. I had to send it back. Also, it was $5! Atmosphere here is nice, food is alright, and it's overpriced. Wouldn't go again.
(2)Ed M.
Came in here after a friend told us he enjoyed coming here for Mexican food. Placed in a residential area of Cambridge near the Commuter Rail tracks (the train was coming as we left) we decided to enjoy the nice weather and eat outside. We were seated faster than I expected to be on a warm weekend night. The service was very friendly and the margaritas were great. The salsa was a bit watery but tasted nice. Our food was out pretty quick and everything tasted nice, we went for the tamales and the tostada and both were great. We would definitely come back.
(4)Linda E.
This place is awesome, and they have a parking lot! It is kind of far away, but worth the travel. I had a coupon for $15 off which pretty much paid for the tequila shots my friend and I had. I order the enchilada with mole sauce which was amazing!! The salsa was spicy that came with the chips and I love spicy! I liked this place and will return!
(5)Calli C.
On a recent federal holiday, while the world was still recovering from Snowpocalypse - the Snow Strikes Back, a friend and I wanted to grab lunch somewhere close and catch up. She suggested Jose's, which is pretty much in the most obscure location. It's less than a 10 minute walk from the Alewife T Station and it's got a big parking lot next to it, but in the end it's disguised as a brightly painted house in an all-residential neighborhood. Like I said, parking is super convenient, thanks to the parking lot next door, and we didn't have to wait to be seated at a high-top in the front of the restaurant. It's deceptively large, with several different dining rooms throughout the building. This would pose a bit of an inconvenience later on, because it was hard to flag down a server to take care of the check or bring over silverware, but it wasn't that big a deal, because we were having a good time talking and laughing. We decided to celebrate the holiday with some margaritas. Hoo-whee they were big and strong, like I like 'em! The salsa was clearly fresh pico de gallo which I appreciated. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with mole verde, because I had never heard of green mole and wanted to try it. My friend had the same thing, but with traditional mole. The food was timely, and a good sized portions, with rice and beans and a few greens on the side. I was a little disappointed that the chicken filling was a small portion and not that flavorful, especially compared to the overwhelming mole verde, which had a spicy and nutty flavor. It was delicious, but I just wished for more chicken and cheese! I was able to eat it all without feeling overly stuffed. This would be a great place for a UYE, what with the cheap solid food and great drinks!
(4)Melissa M.
the one star rating is based entirely on the food and nothing else - the servers were friendly and the place seemed cute enough, which was actually why i was drawn to stop in, despite warnings that the food was nothing to write home about. started out with a pitcher of margarita - it came in a plastic cafeteria style pitcher with no ice except what was in our glasses, needless to say, it tasted like warm lime juice after 20 minutes. the pitcher of sangria at least had ice in it, but sucked flavor-wise. you'd think after 2 pitchers of booze split between 3 people i'd at least catch a small buzz. nope. the queso was velveeta with some salsa thrown in. the burritos were gross too - the meat was not seasoned nor were the tortillas warmed or grilled for that matter. the rice was what you'd get in a hospital cafeteria if it were taco day. the kicker was desert: FRIED ice cream. FRIED ice cream means a scoop of sealtest covered in stale rice krispies - not fried whatsoever, and not kidding. *side note - if you plan on sitting outside take a dramamine as the tables are all placed on a slanted sidewalk, like, really slanted. i wouldn't even get a groupon for here. FAIL.
(1)Christian H.
Ok, so apparently some people enjoyed the poetic review of Oasis Brazillian BBQ, so I think I want to try it for Jose's. This place was really great as well. I am surprised I had never been here before. Here we go! Hola, foodie ones and gather to hear That Mexican food in Cambridge has always been near It is tucked away by the tracks of trains So you gotta check this out, a delicious domain A nice little colorful, cozy atmosphere you will see Good vibes, good service it is the place to be The place is small but has a lot to thats so tasty So take your time with the menu and don't be so hasty I myself tasted a delcious steak quesadilla Rolled and grilled in a in lovely flour tortilla With cheese inside with a sides of rice and beans So tasty and a different type of quesadilla I had ever seen My lady had a steak salad with such delicious meat Grilled with spices that I had to taste and eat Everything was very fresh and full of flavor Therefore, we took our time and had to savor So if you're in the mood for some good Mexican Go to Jose's, taste the food, you'll become a fan A solid place to check out and have a bite With lots of choices to choose from, it'll just feel right.
(4)matt m.
s'alright, s'alright. The Margaritas are definitely the strong point of the menu. Salsa is a bit watery but I like you can order it mild/medium/hot, also the case for most dishes. Is that a good thing or do they just add extra spice at the last minute? We ordered the fajitas, which taste exactly like those at Border or any other tex-mex place for that matter. Also had a taco, enchilada, and a flauta- all tasted the same. Only came here because of a New England Perks coupon, plenty of better mexican places around so we won't be back soon.
(2)Mark J.
I would quite possibly give Jose's a 5 star rating if the service was better and if the medium salsa had more flavor. The hot salsa was excellent, the chips were just out of the fryer and very good, and the food and small yet fun atmosphere were great too. I actually enjoyed my green pumpkinseed mole enchilada's more than any other enchiladas I have had anywhere. They were just chicken, with no cheese, with green mole on top and they were excellent!!! The chorizo is excellent too, which I had as a side taco. We also ordered some guacamole on the side and it was fresh and full of tomatoes and cilantro. The service wasn't bad, but we had to wait too long for our first napkins and for refills of water. That is why I couldn't give it a 5. Also, when you first walk in, you will think the place is about half the size that it is, but don't be afraid to ask for seating in the other half (it was offered to us, so we didn't even have to ask). I can't wait to try the new restaurant for lunch that he is opening in Wayland!
(4)Scott M.
As a West Texan, I know Mexican food. And this stuff was pretty good. I had a burrito and it was pretty tasty. Chips and salsa were great also. Can't go wrong for Mexican in Cambridge!
(4)Mister Chub S.
Sadly, I was really underwhelmed by my entire Jose's experience. I sat outside on the small patio which was nice. There was also a live singer who was really waling on his guitar. We started with the chips and salsa. The chips were good but the salsa was too watery. Ordered the tinga (chipotle chicken) sopes $6.95 It was a good portion (3 big spoes) for a small order but the chicken and mesa were way underseasoned. I also ordered the spinach and cheese enchiladas with mole but the flavor of the mole wasn't anything special- neither were the bland rice and beans that came along side it. I had the chili relleno $ with salsa verde as well and that was tasty but the cheese inside wasn't completely melted through. Service was slow but it started getting busy when we sat down so that's understandable. All in all, disappointing.
(2)Matt T.
I'm not a big fan of spicy food, or at least my stomach isn't, so what am I doing in a Mexican restaurant you may ask? Well, something keeps me returning here, certainly the food - i usually get carne asada or ribs, but I love the atmosphere, which is a big deal to me, very colorfully painted, you can't miss it in the daytime. Sometimes there's a musician wandering the restaurant playing guitar and singing. STRONG drinks. I can't help but notice the condos being built across the street. It shouldn't take long for whatever yuppies move in there to complain about the "light and noise" across the street.
(4)Chris G.
The skinny: cool vibe decent food - I like some of the sauces drinks are good late lunch at the bar watching world cup last year was cool
(3)ancaruci C.
A nicely decorated place with their own parking lot (great!). The service was really good, the girls deserve 5 stars. But the food was... let's say no what I expected. I had read good reviews, so I was envisioning something out of the standard americanized mexican restaurant, but Jose failed me. It means that the food is good but nothing special. The flavors were too mild for typical mexican food ( I have been in Mexico, believe me), and it is way too expensive in comparison to other places I have been before.
(2)Ashley P.
I completely enjoyed my experience at Jose's! We went on a Thursday night and there was no wait. The chips and salsa were delicious, but my boyfriend (who loves spicy food) said that it could have been spicier. I ordered the flank steak with rice and a potato flauta. It was delicious! It was the perfect blend of spicy and sweetness. The flauta was also delicious. I got a side of mole sauce and it was superb. My boyfriend got the ribs and shrimp. He was a little nervous about getting ribs at a Mexican place, but he was very pleasantly surprised. He said they were some of the best ribs he has had in a long time. The shrimp were good as well, but were overpowered by the delicious ribs. Total meal was less than $30. Service was good, nothing spectacular but all of our needs were taken care of and everyone was smiling. I will be back!
(4)Luis F.
The best neighborhood restaurant this side of Cambridge. Excellent service, friendly staff, bottomless warm chips, bottomless salsa (your choice of mild, medium, hot), and overall good genuine non-TexMex food in reasonable non-excessive portions. Good margaritas also! Who knew a restaurant in a quiet part of North Cambridge will be a mecca for good food?! When in North Cambridge, look no further!
(5)D H.
I give this a meh. The service was great. The food just meh. It's straight-forward Tex Mex, but not particularly memorable.
(3)Natasha A.
Highly mediocre. Fast and friendly service though.
(2)Kana O.
We used to come here all the time and loved it.. but now I will never return and here's why.. We went on a Saturday night and we expected a wait since we went with a party of 6. We walked in at 7pm and were told it would be 45min to 1hr wait. We said we'll wait at the bar so we all ordered drinks and waited to be seated. 1hour later, we asked where we were on the waiting list and they said it would be another 30min. This should have been a sign to leave... but since we had already spent an hour there, we just waited. 30min later, we asked how they're doing and they said "you're next. there's a table that's just finishing up so it will be another 5min". 10min later we were told "The guests are done eating but we're just waiting for them to pay and leave".. Another 15min later, they said "Now we're waiting on another table to finish so that we have enough seating for 6".. at this point we were extremely unhappy and said we're leaving but then they finally said, no, your table is ready now. We were seated and we ordered food. 30min later, all the tables around us that ordered food around the same time or after us had already gotten their foods, but we hadn't.. about 15min later we finally got our food and it was COLD and tasted horrible... clearly it had been sitting in the window for a while! Needless to say, I will not be returning.
(1)Dessa R.
Before I reveal a detailed opinion about Jose's, allow me to say that I do not take the search for decent Mexican food in Boston lightly. In my experience, the Mexican food in Boston has been just downright disappointing. I don't even care how authentic it is, I just want it to be GOOD. So that being said... I'm surprised to read all the negative reviews about Jose's, because it was the first Mexi meal I've had in Boston that didn't end with a sad little frown, and a snotty anecdote about my days in Arizona and New York City. The waitress was pleasant, the chips and salsas were fresh, and the food was really pretty good. Unlike many other Mexican establishments in Beantown, the chicken they used was all white meat. It wasn't dirt cheap, but it didn't come close breaking the bank either. They even have a parking area, which is always a bonus. Two criticisms- the place is in no-man's land, and a nearly impossible venture for non-drivers. Secondly, the pitcher of margaritas, was a little salty, and needlessly tart. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning. OK, so Jose's isn't the end of my search for good Mexican in Boston. But at least now when I get a serious Mexi craving, I have somewhere pretty tasty to go.
(4)Elle M.
I am Latina and from Los Angeles. I don't know if this makes me an authority on Mexican food, but I like to delude myself into thinking so. I had dinner here tonight with my partner and his mom. They both ordered combo plates of sorts, and i ordered the posole. Let me tell you, i've made better posole at home with some Goya hominy and some leftover chicken. Their plates were not bad, but not great. The autentica margaritas were just so so. Tasted like limeaid with a teeny bit of tequila. I could have forgiven all of this if the prices weren't so high. When I saw the prices I really expected larger portions. Nope. For reals, the prices did not justify the quality of the food. All the servers were very nice, however, they were super slow. I'm not going back nor would I recommend this to anyone I care about. If I want Latin food, I'm stickin' to my East Boston hangouts.
(2)Jessie C.
First off - i love mexican food. I'm not super picky about how authentic it is because honestly - i have no idea how authentic it is, it all tastes good to me. We ordered take-out from this place so this is strictly based on the food and not the rest of the restaurant: Pros: DELICIOUS burrito - i ordered the super burrito. It was the perfect size, not too HUGE but also enough that I didn't want a second one after i finished it. They had guac and rice in the burrito as well which is great! Love guacamole! The chicken on the burrito was really good quality also - not like the wierd bits and pieces that sometimes you get in a burrito where you're not really sure if it's chicken or what. Cons: $32 for two burritos and a cup a chili - seems a little pricey for me. No extra salsa on the side. Summary: Great food but a little overpriced.
(3)Cwot W.
Not bad food and margaritas and I love that it is just a random house on the street. Margaritas were really expensive though.
(4)Stacy B.
I'm a West Coast girl, born and raised, but happily living in Boston. I have no intentions of leaving -- except on the occasion of wanting some goddamned mexican food. The real kind that I'm used to, smothered in cheese, each table seating served unlimited chips and salsa, make the music loud please, and put some damned tequila in my margarita for Baby Jesus' sake!!! So happy to have stumbled across Joses. All of the above, and then some. Considering there is no air fare to get there -- I will never be complaining about the prices. And kudos for their vegetarian options!
(5)Chris S.
The food was great, fantastic atmosphere, and GREAT mole sauce (as others have indicated)! It was JUMPING on the Friday night we went, but they do take reservations (and I would DEFINITELY recommend them. Eating there we tasted a variety of dishes and I can highly recommend the tinga (chipotle spiced chicken) and I had it in the empanadas. The prices were reasonable, and the food tasty. Truly a north Cambridge hidden gem!
(4)Kimberley S.
I came here last night and it was really good! I love the decor. It's so cheesy and kitschy: chili pepper strung lights, sombreros on the wall, the outside painted purple. After a long day it was low-key and relaxing. The food was amazing. When the waiter brought out the salsa, I couldn't shovel it in my mouth fast enough. I got the hot salsa which was watery, and tomatoey, and spicy, and yummy. Then I got the shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were cooked so perfectly and all of the condiments (guac, sour cream, your choice of beans, your choice of warm tortillas, your choice of salsa) were wonderful too. The margaritas were nothing special. I liked that they had fresh lime in them but they weren't very strong- both in terms of tequila flavor and margarita flavor. That being said, I felt kind of drunk after 2 1/2, but they didn't TASTE very strong. I like my margaritas to be a flavor explosion, and these were just alright. The service was great up until the end. We didn't seem to have a particular waiter. In most restaurants, this means that no one will serve you. Here, it means everyone will serve you. Upon sitting down, 2 waiters tried to bring us water (one pretended to cry when we'd already been served). Staff came up every 5 minutes throughout our meal to ask if we needed anything else, and were constantly giving us new napkins, tortillas, waters, etc. Things got crowded at the end of our meal and our check took a long time, but no harm no foul. I'll come back again.
(4)Dal C.
I went here again mainly because my wife bought a groupon for them. The food this time was pretty good; however they had one of those singing guys who sang to us and that was pretty annoying. I never know what to do with those guys; are you supposed to tip them? to make them go away?
(3)David N.
Eh, it was okay, food was a solid B-, service wasn't very good they kept trying to charge us extra and it was a hassle to get it done correctly.
(2)Bryan G.
I gotta say, it's pretty rare that I don't like a restaurant. You'll see as I continue Yelping. There will be a lot of good reviews on my profile. Jose's just didn't do it for me. I've given it two tries, and I was impressed neither time. First time: dinner and margaritas. It took us over 20 minutes for them to even take our orders, and then another 15 to get our margaritas. And the margs weren't spectacular. The food was...okay...not spectacular either. Second time: brunch. It looked like the place was closed when we walked in. I had to yell "HELLO?" four times before someone came out to seat us. The waitress clearly had no idea what she was doing. I ordered a Bloody Mary, which it took her 10 minutes to figure out they couldn't make it. Fine, just know that when you come to the table. The exact same thing happened when my fiancée ordered her food. And the food (coming a half hour later) was bland. There are many better Mexican places in Boston. Go to them instead of Jose's.
(1)Jane R.
Delicious Mexican food and great big tasty margaritas. Whether my husband and I are going out to dinner, or meeting up with friends for drinks, Jose's has become one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. Try the mole verde... yum.
(5)Julia F.
Like. Like. Like. Like! I have driven by this place for YEARS and never stopped in. I've talked about going, but not until there was a Groupon for the place did I commit even a little bit to the follow though. I'm so glad I finally made it in the door! I brought one of my friends who needed to get out of the house as badly as I did on a Saturday afternoon, and also likes spicy foods. I showed her the shortest way I knew to get from C-town to North Cambridge, and after sitting in a mess of traffic on Harvard Street in Medford, we were there. It was a little loud in here the other evening. They were juicing limes, which is apparently a really loud process. The end of the process is amazing - I tasted my friend's "Authentica" margarita, which was very tasty, and this is coming from somebody who really dislikes drinks who's primary ingrediant is tequila. We also chose to sit at the table under the stairway going up to the 2nd floor of the building... It sounded like people were throwing bowling balls down the stairs most of the time we were eating. One you get a second round of drinks, the noises are almost insignificant. Almost. The people were wicked friendly. It was hard to tell who the hostess was, and who was the waitress, as they both came back and took orders for drinks and different parts of the meal. But both of them were very nice women, and got us what we wanted, when we wanted it! What we wanted: Spicy salsa for the chips that they give you to get going. We also got the small order of empanadas for an app, what a good choice! It was so tasty! The sauce was like a salsa/marinara sauce - SO GOOD! I got the flautas, the chorizo ones, with pinto beans. My friend got the Grande *something* "mexican 3 ways" as we called it from then on, with black beans. Both meals were VERY good. I got a couple glasses of sangria, she got to "authentica" margaritas, which tasted BEYOND amazing! I agree with Lu, if you are driving do not partake in the drinking, the drinks are intoxicatingly good, and the parking is free, yes... But be smart and take the T, or a cab! I'm going back, but not gonna sit under the stairs, nor am I gonna sit near the juicer, or be the designated driver. WATCH OUT JOSE'S, here we come! The ladies bathroom was really small and right near the entrance to the kitchen- it's small, and also has a lot of noises going on in there... the fan, the air freshener, and the automated paper towel dispenser, oy! The hot and cold are also reversed from what is "normal" - but cute little pieces of tape show you which is hot and cold.
(4)Karen D.
Adios, Jose's, because you've lost me. Last night your only business was collecting money. It was a fast food experience at full dining prices. -We ordered margaritas ($12-14 each). They tasted awful (the worst margarita I have had in a very, very long time), and my boyfriend's was far from full. A stiff drink doesn't mean you stiff the customer. We've had these before and they were good. I would think making a good margarita at a Mexican restaurant would be a basic pre-requisite. -The mole enchilada was OK. However, when you ran out of dishes for the beans, putting 6 beans in a thimble-sized plastic condiment container was a joke. The whole dinner wasn't very hot (in temperature). Makes me wonder. -When I came back from the bathroom, my unfinished beer had been taken away before my boyfriend could stop the buser. -The server wasn't very attentive. Efficient, and pleasant but not very different from service I get at a take out window. So, we won't be going back again. Yeah, I know every restaurant can have a bad night, but if my money wasn't having a bad night, I should get something in return.
(1)Diane D.
Jose's is my go to Mexican. They ask if you want mild, medium or spicy salsa from the get go, but I don't think they actually pay attention. They get 4 stars because their mole is AMAZING!!! They have really tasty margaritas and guacamole is wonderful. THey have outdoor seating int he summer and I have never had to wait more than ten minutes for a table. They are a little out of the way, but worth it. They also often have groupons or eversaves.
(4)Lynne S.
Tucked away on Sherman Street behind Fresh Pond, Jose's is a bit off the beaten path, but definitely worth the drive! Housed in a brightly colored building with a large free parking lot next door, it's inviting exterior immediately sets the tone for a fun filled evening. Stepping inside, it looks like someone left the painting to the kindergartners. Every wall is painted a different primary color and covered with colorful sombreros and Mexican murals. Even the chairs and tables are brightly colored! The music and live Mariachi player matched the restaurants colorful atmosphere perfectly! Jose's offers many options for margaritas, tequila shots and Mexican beers, as well as lots of other drink choices. The margarita I chose was a little weak for my taste, but the second one was better. The menu offers a nice mix of your classic tex-mex choices plus a good variety of more authentic Mexican dishes. I opted to try a chicken and cheese stuffed Chile Rellenos topped with Salsa Verde and served with rice and black beans. The pepper was soft and sweet, the filling was tender, juicy and cheesy and the Salsa Verde added just the right kick. Yummmy! The Carne Asada looked terrific, as did the enchiladas and a special lamb taco entree was the hit of the table. Service was overly friendly and at around $15 a plate, our bill was very reasonable at the end of the night - even after several pitchers of margaritas!
(4)Tulan K.
The place is in awesome location tucked away in middle of nowhere heheheeh. the food was good and it has some great authentic sauces and moles. The salsa on the other hand was very watery tasty yet watery and it was a tad bit expensive for the quantity of food served. The service is the reason i am giving it so low score. Food is def great.
(3)Andrea H.
Best Mexican food that we've had since leaving California. Now let me clarify... The salsa is very watery, which was eh...alright. The tacos were delicious. My husband's chimichanga was great. The Tamale that we had with tomatillo sauce was fantastic! The rice...not authentic or very good. It had corn, a few peas, and a carrot in it.... Kind of strange. However, the main dish really made up for it. Finally some real taco shells, and not out of the box!
(4)Jillian Q.
I had been meaning to try Jose's for a long time and when my mother mentioned wanting Mexican food for Mother's Day dinner, I made a reservation (using trusty Open Table - love getting my dining points!, or so I thought). The whole experience was disappointing. I think the most disappointing aspect was the service - it was just unacceptably horrible. The waiter would disappear for a very long period of time, while we sat with unfilled drinks (even to get the first round of drinks took an insane amount of time). I felt like we practically had to flag him down in order to place an order for any part of our meal. As for food - the guacamole was probably the only part of the meal I enjoyed (the chips were just ok as well). I had a steak entree that was diced and served on a spongy-tortilla like base. The steak was tasteless and luke-warm, I didn't like it at all. My family ordered enchiladas and quesadillas which they liked - I ate some of the chicken enchilada and it was fine, nothing spectacular. For dessert, we had the sopapilla, which I enjoyed but would not convince me to come back. The one-star versus two-star rating definitely stems from the service, it was just terrible. On a side-note, I got an email that the restaurant "canceled" my Open Table reservation accidentally instead of "accepting" it which means no dining points for me...*sigh* I thought I would at least have that!
(1)Erica S.
God this place is adorable! Tucked away in North cambridge in a totally non-commercial neighborhood, this place is an off-the-beaten-path gem. The decor is lively, colorful and fun. The food is top-notch. And drinks are yummy and strong! Definitely the best Mexican food I've had in the Cambridge/ Somerville area, hands down. Note: For a treat, order the 'camarones al mojo de ajo' (shrimp in a garlic, white wine, and tomatillo sauce). The portion is huge, and it's clean-your-plate delicious.
(5)Adrienne P.
The food: Good! Not the best Mexican in Boston by any means, but definitely tasty and with a large variety of authentic dishes. The atmosphere: Tight space, but really eclectic, cozy, and cantina-feeling. Great space to have an intimate dinner. The service: STELLAR. I cannot say enough. My boyfriend and I came here with a Yelp deal before seeing a movie, and were running late. We were worried about missing the movie, and asked the server if there was any way we could expedite the ordering/billing process. She agreed without complaint, and rushed all of our food out of the kitchen piping hot for us. We enjoyed our meal, and were able to pay the bill quickly and get to our movie on time. THANK YOU Jose's for being so gracious and accommodating!
(4)Geraldine D.
I went here with a couple of friends the day before Harvard's commencement. We wanted to get out of the vicinity, and found this Yelp deal. I ordered 3 tacos and we all split a pitcher of sangria. The sangria was great, and so were the tacos, which came with a (very small) side of rice and beans. The rice was burnt, which made it a little difficult to enjoy, but the beans were great. The tacos themselves were also good, although they were not phenomenal by any means. I believe that the standard price was about $15 for 3 hard shelled tacos, which, if you ask me, is not very economical, especially given the low cost of the ingredients While I was left a little disappointed by the food, I was really happy by how attentive the waitress was, how quickly we got our food, and by the décor in the area. Nestled into a very quiet area close to Alewife, you feel like you are transported to Latin America as you step in and see these decorations. I am happy that I tried the food, and am even happier that I bought the deal. If I hadn't, I'm not sure it would have been worth my patronage.
(3)Ashley S.
This review is in regards to Jose's catering, not their restaurant service. Our office decided to cater from Jose's for our end-of-the-year event. We spoke to them about 1.5-2 months in advance to get everything lined up. Our event did land on Cinco de Mayo, so we were concerned with how busy they would be, etc. Jose's confirmed that they could satisfy our order, and deliver on time for the start of our event. We confirmed everything with them the week of the event, and felt confident that everything would be delivered in a timely fashion. Fast forward to the day of the event - Jose's was an hour late delivering the order. We had asked for delivery at 5:30. Our event started at 6. The food was not delivered until 6:30. We had given them the cell number to call upon arrival, and drop-off directions. They were in the wrong location, and called the wrong number (an office number, when none of us were in the office). To add to it, they did not come close to delivering the correct order. We had ordered a taco bar with all the fixings, PLUS burritos and tamales (as extras, just in case the taco bar was not enough food to serve all). They only delivered the burritos and tamales. No tacos, no enchiladas, no chips and salsa and guacamole. The food they delivered did not come close to serving the 25 people in attendance. The delivery staff said they would come back with the missing pieces of the order, but never did - and never called to say they weren't coming. We had to order pizza from Domino's (who were great with delivery response, etc.) to make sure we had enough food for all attendees. This was a real spoiler in what was supposed to be celebratory, enjoyable event. Needless to say, I do not recommend Jose's for catering. And because of this experience, I have a bad taste left in my mouth overall - I likely will not be eating at or ordering from Jose's in the future.
(1)Nicole B.
I'd give Jose's 3.5 stars and I'd probably go back to try it again. This restaurant is hard to miss with all the colorful paint outside. The inside is a bit cramped, but there is outdoor seating. Thumbs up for the free spicy salsa and chips. The salsa was definitely made fresh and tasted great. Thumbs down for the guacamole, which tasted fine, but was so small! Even if its only two people, the "small" size is very tiny. The chicken fajita platter was on the pricey side for a casual Mexican restaurant at $18. The platter came with guac, sour cream, rice, black beans, and tortilla. The chicken was good, but started to get dry after being on the steaming hot sizzling plate for a bit.
(3)Alana T.
I absolutely loved this place!! I lived in California for 10 years and eating at Jose's was like being back on the west coast. The service was wonderful, the food was delectable, and the atmosphere was fun and comfortable. Great music, great ambience, and great flavors!!! 5 stars!
(5)Margaret Ann B.
This is a North Cambridge institution, and deservedly so. They've upped their game cuisine-wise considerably since I first visited 30 years ago, but they still have the same funky, festive vibe and are a good value. A wide menu with authentic and unusual flavor while still providing the good ol' tacos and enchiladas you crave. Highly veggie-friendly while offering a wide variety of meat and fish. I just had the Fiesta Grande Vegetariana which includes a spinach enchilada, chile relleno and veggie tamale. The relleno is a big, fresh poblano -- not battered & fried -- with a real kick. They offer Groupon deals frequently, but it's definitely worth full retail price!
(4)Xavier R.
This restaurant is fantastic- I cannot get over how authentic it is. The food was all delicious, the staff was extremely friendly and the decorations seemed like they were plucked out of the middle of Mexico. My food choice was the vegan tamale wrapped in a pepper and I loved every bite. I cannot recommend this restaurant any more highly. Drop what ever it is you're doing and go get some amazing Mexican food.
(5)Melissa H.
Been here a couple of times and was very impressed with the food each time. Not that canned refried beans and cheezwhiz place AT ALL. Fresh ingredients, thoughtful spices. VERY nice service - friendly folks. And a cool atmosphere. Best, it's near my house!
(4)Sameer S.
Dont judge a book by its cover. At first glance this may look like a 'kinda', 'sorta' restaurant that someone opened in their house but the food is excellent. Perhaps, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Cambridge (if not Boston area). Definitely,one of best homemade salsa, I've ever tasted. Went for a Sunday lunch. Ordered a Burrito, Fajita and a Shrimp starter. Loved it. Would definitely go again.
(4)Anya T.
When I first moved to Cambridge, everyone I knew in the Boston area kept telling me I had to go to Jose's, that it was the best Mexican restaurant in the area. It took me more than a year to get there; now, as it happens, I live a couple of blocks away, so I end up eating here more often than I might, if I were still down by Central, and after many visits, I feel I can say: This is such a fun, lovely place to while away an evening with friends. But the food is simply adequate. Decent. Some dishes are terrible. Some are good. Nothing is amazing. The simple carne platters are better than dishes like burritos and tacos and suchlike. Great margaritas. So, I love this place, despite the fact that the food isn't brilliant. Which is completely fine!
(3)Faith K.
I've never been disappointed by Jose's (except when they said they were open on the phone and we showed up a few minutes later to find it closed lol) This is the best Mexican that I've had in the area. Everything is fresh and delicious. The portions are perfection and they are vegetarian friendly, offering plenty of options with lots of vegetables. Some places will just kind of remove the meat from a dish, put nothing else in its place, call it vegetarian and I go home hungry despite paying the same price.. That NEVER happens at jose's. The veggie fajitas are my favorite and they are LOADED with vegetables.
(5)Claire G.
This is a cute, small Mexican hole in the wall. It has a nice atmosphere with authentic Mexican music and decor. We got the chips with guacamole and salsa to start off with. The guac was great and I would definitely order again, although I thought $8 was a little pricey. My margarita was good, nice and strong. I got the chicken fajita taco bowl. The chicken had good seasoning and was cooked well. The staff was very friendly. I would come back again.
(4)Jim M.
Best Mexican food my wife and I have found since moving to the Boston area three and a half years ago. I suspected the minute we sampled the fresh chips and tasty salsa that this place would be a keeper, and it was. The black bean soup was lighter and more flavorful than any I've had before, and each of us enjoyed our entree. I forget its name, but it was a vegetarian tamale, chile relleno, and enchilada, hers with a mild sauce and mine with the chipotle sauce. Prices are quite reasonable, and the portions are generous (after having the soup, I ended up saving half of my dinner for tomorrow's lunch). Jose's has its own parking lot (always a plus in Cambridge), and everything on the menu can be made for vegetarians or vegans. Give them a try; you won't be disappointed. Signed, A native Texan who missed Mexican food until now
(5)Georgia D.
Decor is nice. Chips and salsa and guacamole were good. But then came the main dish. Rice. Was this sitting around all day? Was it spiced from a box? I only ate a few bites. Burritos and Tostadas Estilo Tonatiuh, both very very bland, almost tasteless. We were all piling on the hot sauce. My friends tried to be nice. "I think the food in Mexico is normally quite bland." Nope. I've been there. Real Mexican food is spicy and complex, wonderful flavors that wake up your taste buds. This was very disappointing. My friends were in town from Switzerland and wanted Mexican food. I had been to Jose's several years earlier. Now I remember why I didn't go back. The only reason this is not just one star is because the serving staff was very pleasant and helpful. One other complaint. We were sitting outdoors. It got dark. Jose's had no lighting at all for our table-- a simple candle would have worked. I could not see my friend across the table. Maybe that was for the best, because he could hide his disappointment in the food!
(2)Greg G.
I went to Jose's for lunch one Sunday with my fiancé. The inside is quaint and unique with lots of artwork and things everywhere. They have a small outdoor seating area and it was a nice enough day for us to sit there. The complimentary chips and salsa were better than you'd find at comparable Mexican places. We both got two different kinds of burritos that were delicious. The sauces on both were special in their own way. And the burritos were well filled with their respective meats. Both tasted delicious and we cleaned our plates easily The one complaint I have is the service was pretty slow. It took a while to get a margarita and the food itself. I think the waitress was on her own which doesn't make much sense during lunch hour. The food was good enough to make the wait seem insignificant.
(4)Stephen D.
I love Jose's. I've been coming to this restaurant for most of my life, and it's been best that whole time. There are better take-out burritos and tacos, but there is no better Mexican food in the Boston area. The classic Americanized dishes are actually REALLY good in their hands, and the actual Mexican dishes are incredible. In particular I've spent years in a deep love affair with their chili rellenos, and their chips. Their salsa and guacamole are great as well, and they make a fresh salsa-queso that is... insane. The main courses are all fantastic, and have the deep flavors from actual seasoning and cooking with good ingredients and skill. The rice is delicious, and all of the bean varieties are too. I LOVE the enchiladas with tinga chicken, or the taquitos with shredded beef. That's the other great thing about Jose's... a solid lineup of fillings. You have chicken, both regular (solid choice) and "tinga" (seasoned and AMAZING). Ground beef or shredded, both are delicious and have their place. The pork is great, and rounding it all out are the beans and cheese. It's a small place, and not the most beautiful from the outside. You might be put off by it's location, but don't be! It's clean, it's comfortable, the drinks are delicious, and the flan... get the flan.
(5)joseph B.
Awesome authentic mexican food, one of the best mexican restaurant I've been to in a awhile. Definitely recommend!!!
(4)Katie W.
Literally the best Mexican food I've ever had. The waitress was very sweet, the service was only slightly slow (very fast considering it was Cinco de Mayo and it was packed!). Everything tasted very fresh and definitely freshly made. We'll be back very soon.
(5)Chris M.
Mole is decent Everything else was disappointing. Salsa was mostly water Refried beans tasted like someone put their cigarette ashes in it-- absolutely revolting. Black beans were watery with no seasoning or flavor, very bland. Fried ice cream wasn't fried at all. The cereal the ice cream was rolled in was stale and very chewy. Enchiladas were fine, but the kitchen did give us the wrong fillings-- chicken in place of carnitas and carnitas in place of steak. I would have been okay with this if it weren't for all of the above-- particularly the refried beans. Waitress said kitchen was having an off-night.
(1)Al S.
The place is tiny. Looks exactly like a home in a wall. Food is pricey, but, oh, oh so good. So damn worth the trip! Skirt steak is to die for! Shrimp ceviche was simply amazing. And camarones fra Diablo were beyond praise. Food alone was just frigging outstanding. While I don't much care for tight squeeze and ever playing soccer on bar TV, it all ends up for a terrific authentic mexican experience. Highly, highly recommended! (One star withheld due to rather high prices and tiny premises). But the food! Glorious glorious food!
(4)Joan L.
Food is good. There is a parking lot not too far away which is a nice option. The staff is very pleasant and the food is pretty standard. You may want to call ahead, I have had to wait over 30 minutes the last 2 times I went during peak dinner time.
(4)Journey M.
How did this manage 3.5 stars? My girlfriend and I ordered delivery from Jose's. I really wanted Mexican food and on Grubhub Jose's was one of the better-rated ones. We ordered nachos grande, I got cheese & potato flautas and she got a salad. The salad was fine... that's all we can say! The "nachos grande," which were supposed to be "loaded with beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onions, olives, cheese and sour cream, with jalapeno peppers on the side" were actually just a clump of nachos with some lukewarm beans, lettuce, and tomato. YIKES. My flautas were completely tasteless, and had what I think might have been chunky sour cream on it? I couldn't tell for sure, because there was no taste to it. I'm from Texas, so I admit my standards for mexican food are high, but this is like if someone said "Hmm, Taco Bell's a good idea but a bit too spicy, let's tone it down a bit" -- that's what you would get here. NEVER AGAIN. New England you should be ashamed to have this place representing your mexican food offerings.
(1)Dan K.
Authentic, pleasant atmosphere, pleasing service, and oh yeah...MEXICAN FOOD
(4)Mourad C.
Stumbled on this place by luck and really liked it. Great menu selections and quite authentic. Service great as well!!
(4)Maria S.
Where are these glowing reviews coming from?! Great drinks and ambience, but the worst Mexican food I have ever had!! Enchiladas were bland with stringy chicken and burnt rice and the beans tasted like they came out of a can! Chips were decent and salsa so-so. Go for drinks, but there is a tiny restaurant in Waltham tons better than this crap!
(1)Joe T.
Great Mexican food! I ate here with two half-Mexican people from Texas (that equals out to the same as one fully Mexican person, right?). Both of the Texan semi-Mexicans said this was the best Tex Mex they had experienced so far in Massachusetts. I got a vegetable chimichanga which I loved! Lovely, cool-looking, classy restaurant. Just one caveat: If you order take out, CALL to place your order. I tried ordering online and it caused confusion.
(3)Sarah W.
Went there with some friends on a saturday night last week. We just wanted mexican food in cambridge, so I found this place on yelp. It does look like someone turned their house in to a restaurant, but inside is very cute. The decor is spot on for a mexican restaurant and is very cute. I got a strawberry margarita and a steak burrito. The margarita was okay, a little strong for my taste. The burrito was okay, nothing special. They forgot part of the burrito (cheese on top) which was on the menu, not a substitution or addition or anything. So overall the food was fine, would I go back? I'd probably look for another place. One perk was that they have a huge parking lot right next to the restaurant, so parking was very convenient.
(2)Kris S.
Consistently delicious Mexican fare. Brought 6 people here in the last few months and no one has been disappointed. Really good gauc.
(4)Kamille W.
I wish I liked Jose's more. Truly, I do. It's a cute, out-of-the-way spot with a staff that means well. I'm just not a fan. First, the good: the salsa was on point. It wasn't particularly complex or anything, but it had just the right amount of heat -- the kind that builds up slowly and doesn't burn out your palate. Respect. I got the fiesta grande with chorizo (an enchilada, a taco, and a flauta) so I could try a few different things. None of them made any impression. Also, I feel like there was kind of too much cheese. I know what you're thinking. "Kamille. There's no such thing as too much cheese." Ohhh except there is, friends. The overabundance of cheese in everything meant that the pork chorizo got completely lost. ...That hurts me, you guys. Honestly, my standards for Mexican food around town are very low, so I wasn't expecting much. If you just want some salsa and fried things with cheese, Jose's will serve your purpose (although I think the prices are about 20% too high). If you're craving something more, I'd say to look elsewhere.
(2)Corinne T.
I've come here twice and brought two different friends. Good: - great ambiance. cozy colorful seating, offers good privacy for conversations. - graciously accepted my long-expired groupon (paid value) - excellent steak burrito, ordered it twice - friend said the flautas were best she's had - great service - its own parking lot Not so good: - enchiladas here were very watery and unpalatable. Didn't order it again. I recommend!
(4)David B.
Just moved back to Boston from Las Vegas. Needless to say Authentic Mexican Cuisine is a staple out there. I went to Jose's for lunch today and was beyond thrilled with the food, service and atmosphere. For sure will be making this on of my frequent lunch spots.
(5)K C.
this is one of the most / probably THE most disgusting food we had. my wife run the the small and sanitized bathroom before we left restaurant. both of our stomach were upset. Food wasn't cheaper. Other Mexican restaurant's food is much more authentic then this place.
(1)Adel A.
Jose is a cosy and friendly restaurant in the middle of a residential area. Good: - large parking space - service - super cheap, appetizer, two meals with two beers ends up less than $20. (the food was 50% off from Yelp deal, otherwise the price is budget friendly, a bit more expensive that say, a Chipotle) Meh: - The food is for the lack of better word, meh! Not special, not bad, just meh. The salsa was nice. Overall, it was OK, but not the kind that you would want to come back to again and again. - the inside looks cheap and small
(3)Nina V.
I love mexican! When my boyfriend says "what do you feel like for dinner??" My response is "are you sick of mexican??" That being said it was Saturday night and we were double dating with another couple. We were going bowling on Route 2 so decided to stay in the area for dinner. We got to Joses around 730 and were seated right away in the front dining room at a high top,I immediately noticed the door opening and closing was going to make for a drafty dinner so I requested to the host that we take the booth in the corner and he was happy to move us. A very pleasant young man came right over with chips and mild salsa,both were delicious. After a few minutes we were ready to order,we asked for a margarita recommendation and were told the Suprema was the best one so we went with it. Even at $12.95 per drink if the waiter recommends it Im going to go with,hence why I ask for a recommendation. Disappointed was an understatement. It was tequila and sour mix,nothing spectacular for $13 per drink. We then ordered dinner,the boyfriend and I are "fajita for two" couple. It's what we always get. Again I asked the waiter what he recommended,he said chicken and steak. Sold!!! A reasonable 10-15 mins later dinner arrived. The traditional side plate came right before the sizzling tray. Since it was a fajita for two we each got our own side plate which consisted of: 3 small tortillas,half a cup of rice,a very small portion of guacamole and a pile of cheese. Ok. So maybe they were running low on guacamole that day,but when the fajita tray came out it was piled with onions and peppers,chicken and 4 small pieces of steak which was by no means top choice and then a few bits of what was leftover from another cut. The chicken was ok,kinda blandly seasoned and again for the price tag of a fajita exceeding $25 I was expecting a little more. The service was great,the food & drinks were over priced and the bathroom was disgustingly dirty. I wish I could say I'm running back but unfortunately I'll be heading to Harvard Sq for my fajitas and Rita's!!
(3)Jim F.
Pretty good Mexican food. Smallish plates. Above average to really?! Prices. 2 adults. 3 kids. One ordered off the kids menu. One appetizer. 2 Drinks. $125 including tip for some quesadillas and sopes. So at $25 per person is this my first choice? Nope. Second? Nope. Third? Still nope. But pricing indicative of he neighborhood I guess. Nice Comfortable room. Easy to park because of the big lot.
(3)Denise P.
Hello Jose Staffers, Enjoyed the spicy food, the cozy booth in the corner. The waiter was efficient and helpful with the menu. I had the tomalles con pollo. We will be back. The sangria was a hit. Denise Cambridge
(4)Lauren P.
If you want to eat out for Mexican, Jose's is a great choice. The only downfall of this location is the tight quarters of all the tables -- it's really difficult to navigate around the servers and the other patrons. My favorite choice here is still the burrito with mole sauce. Definitely not disappointed. I bought the $20 for $40 deal via Yelp and didn't realize until too late that it didn't cover alcohol, just food. We were able to order an extra meal to go (covered by the coupon) to eat the next day. The best part about this restaurant -- the easy parking! So hard to come by in Cambridge!
(3)Stuart C.
We've visited Jose's 4 times now and each time the food was blah. If this is authentic Mexican, I'll pass. Definitely over-priced for the quality of the food. I think we'll pass on visiting them again. The 5 of us visited on 4 occassions and each time we ordered something different and each meal was seriously bland and not worth the price paid. Usually when this is the case after so many visits...it means the restaurant is not very good. The prices should all be reduced by at least 50% or they should invest in a better chef. The atmosphere is pretty good but very cramped. Bye Bye Jose's.
(2)Sid M.
Loved the vegetarian tamales with mole sauce. This is now one of my favorite places to get Mexican food. Nachos were appreciated too!
(5)Chris J.
I have never been disappointed here. Best Mexican food in Boston. Though I haven't explored much on the menu, I can say that the nachos (best in somerville/Cambridge), guacamole, and fajitas are great! Service is awesome too. They'll add or substitute things without any fuss. Prices are more than reasonable and portions are bountiful. I've only have the churro dessert there but oh my heaven was it good. Haven't determined whether they're made in house or not but with that kind of flavor I don't think it'll matter. Anyway, check it out if you haven't already.
(5)Emily S.
I used to be a HUGE fan of Jose's, but it seems like they've really gone downhill in the last year or so. It all started when they changed their menu a year or so ago... perhaps they got new management? I'm not sure. The food is still ok some of the time, but the quality has become is pretty inconsistent. Also the restaurant seems a lot less clean and just generally the feel is a bit more grungy. I still go on occasion because I like the margaritas and I enjoy sitting on the patio in the summer, but the last few times I've been disappointed. My days of being a Jose's fan might be coming to an end.
(2)Karen M.
I really wanted to like this place. Honestly, I thought it was cute, kinda cozy. But right from the beginning, we were seated in a tiny table crammed up to the corner of the bar. My husband had to squish into his chair and he's not small. The waitress asked if we wanted guacamole with our chips and we said yes. Come to find out when we got the bill, the chips and guac were $8. I thought the chips came automatically to your table and the guacamole would be a few bucks extra. Ok, not that big of a deal. After we ordered our meals, it took a LONG time for the food to come out. Other people were getting theirs and finishing before ours even came. When it was obvious by the way the staff was huddled together talking and looking over at us that they realized we were still waiting for our food, no one came over to apologize about the wait. Only to fill our waters, which had just been filled. When the food finally came, I have to agree with the other reviews I've read here, it was nothing special. I ordered a steak dish, Bistec a la Mexicana ($17) that was really a disappointment. My husband's Tacos Carnitas ($19) were just ok. Even the rice was just meh. After we finished eating I was hoping to see the dessert menu or get some coffee, hoping to redeem the experience a bit. The waitress set the check down on the table and left, without asking if we'd like anything else. We got an amazon local deal ($30) so that helped a little bit but the final bill after the 'deal' still came to $40. Seventy dollars is way too expensive for bad service and so-so food! This place has the potential to be quite good. I hope they can make the needed changes.
(1)Jamal S.
I too wanted to love this place. Staff is nice, food is ok, but not 4-star for sure. Chile relleno was good, but cold. Rice and beans cold and terrible. Chicken in the relleno was flavorless, but the tomatillo sauce was fresh, nice and tangy. The chicken tamales were great. If you come here with a larger party, ours was eight, expect the food to be cold. The guacamole was fresh, but had no cilantro(!) and while the avocados were fresh, the whole dish lacked seasoning--needed some salt and some hot green pepper. The chicken enchiladas uses poor quality, flavorless corn tortilla, and the chicken stuffing is similarly bland and uninspired. I would give them a one star because for the price they charge, it should be a better quality food and flavor, but they get two because there are limited Mexican options in the boston area and I want to keep them around. If we were in Texas, and i lived in Austin, this would definitely be a one star.
(2)Anya H.
The wait time can be kind of long on the weekends but the service and the food is great. I love the warm tortilla chips with the medium salsa and the black bean soup is really good. I also like the burritos but they are so filling I've never eaten more than half. If your thinking about dessert get the churros! They are sooo good and come with ice cream!
(4)Joe R.
Tex-Mex solidly done, in a back neighborhood of Cambridge. Very popular, and a fun place for the four of us. The food was served promptly, the service seemed rushed in order to free up our table, and I understand what was happening when we left and the crowd outside was large. The food was a-ok. If not for the friends, and their love of this restaurant, its a doubtful that I go back. Oh, I might bring my 20-something year old kids here when they visit Bean Town.
(3)Marc B.
I went back here after a long hiatus. I think the last time I was there I had the burrito and was blown away. I think this time I had some speciality fish dish which turned-out to be alright. My wife has something else and we both felt it wasn't worth the drive over the river for again. Oh well.
(2)Kim K.
I toooootally second Joanna, the authenticity of the interior and menu really gave me high hopes but I wasn't super impressed. We were seated immediately on a Wednesday night at 6PM (definitely no reservation needed then). Service was prompt and friendly. The house salsa was delish and we got the guacamole in the mortar too. The guac was delish, very rich and flavorful. This would have been a 2 star review without the guac. For dinner I got the tinga (chicken spiced with chiles and onions) sopes. I was slightly misled with the sopes, I thought they were on a doughy tortilla but were on a hard, fried tortilla that was more like a huge nacho (see picture). Not exactly what I wanted. The meal itself wasn't as robust and flavorful as I would have liked. Kind of tasted like burned plastic and had too much cheese on it. Well, the description said queso fresco which I was excited about but it had a pinch of queso fresco to the mounds of melted cheese underneath with the chicken. Bummer. This place could really ramp up the food, authenticity, and have even more business. It just all felt very...apathetic? lazy? Not sure. There's just so much potential here that's being wasted in my opinion.
(3)Christian G.
Come for the margaritas stay for the mole, but steer clear of the queso dip. Movie theater nacho "cheese" tastes better.
(3)Sushiman S.
Ole Redux.... can't get enough of this place... good honest authentic (well maybe almost authentic) Tex Mex food in our fair city. For me, the parking lot (gigundo) is another plus. Stopped by for lunch the other day and brought back two bags of food for the office. We were in a food coma for the afternoon... need I say more? The service is always speedy and professional as well. Just wished they had some Sonoran style food.... but other than that, Numero Uno!
(5)Christina V.
I've become quite a regular at Jose's. I started going because they always had deals or restaurant.com gift certificates and you could use it towards alcoholic beverages as well. Their margaritas and sangria are delicious. The staff are all friendly and attentive. I go about once a month or so, so now they are starting to know us. I've really never had anything bad to eat there ...
(4)Jarrod G.
Our first and likely last time. Very slow. 75 minutes to get our food. Wait staff ignored us for a 30 min stretch with no water refills or check-ins until we inquired. In the end the food was pretty basic, not what we expected given the price. Very different than what I expect from a god Mexican restaurant - fast service and good value.
(1)Sereia C.
Jose's is a bit of a hole in the wall with good margaritas and okay food. I have been there twice. The last time there was only one other table sat in the restaurant, and I still had to get up three times and walk around to find my waitress to get 1: a water refill 2: more chips, and 3: the bill. I mean, I dunno. I guess I should cut her some slack, being that busy and all...
(3)Katrina F.
I'm not super impressed with this place, but I don't dislike it either. I went there on a Friday night with three other people. We didn't have a reservation, and they accommodated us, which I appreciated. The service in general seemed impersonal and rushed, but maybe that was because it was a Friday night. The margaritas were good, though a little pricey in my opinion. I had a chile relleno stuffed with shrimp, and between that and the chips and salsa, I left full. My husband really liked his taquitos. We ordered guacamole to accompany our chips, and it was lacking a little flavor; I make better guacamole at home. I know you can't really expect super authentic Mexican food in Cambridge, but I guess I was thinking that at least it would meet the same standards of my old hangouts in Lincoln, Nebraska.
(3)Tara B.
Great food, not too expensive. Nice decor, clean, free parking, friendly staff.
(5)John C.
WORST DINNER EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. Waited 45 minutes to get a table, after my designated "reservation" time. After sitting down, I waited 15 minutes to be served a drink and an addition 45 minutes to be served my food. I love Mexican food and I have eaten at some pretty reputable (and bad) Mexican restaurants, this by far was the WORST. I read some great reviews about this place, enticing me to check it out-big mistake. My waitress was pleasant, but my food was horrendous and I was in the restaurant for a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Don't waste your time with this place. Maybe I caught them on a bad night, and I have never written a review before, but after dinner here I thought it would be worth it to warn people.
(1)Michelle A.
I'm usually a fan of Jose's. Been there a bunch of times with friends. I came by to get a quick bite to eat to take with me to Paddy's Lunch down the street. Chorizo or some pork derivative empanadas I ordered were really greasy and too spicy for my liking. I will try Jose's again but will steer clear of those on the menu.
(2)Laura B.
We love all the food we have ever tried here. I especially love the mole on spinach enchilada. Mexican food is not usually my first choice except here. They also have fresh salsa and great drinks.
(5)Scratchie S.
Some friends of mine were raving about this place so I decided to give it a try. I was very disappointed. The spicy salsa was excellent, but the chips were stale, and tasted like they came from the supermarket. Not a deal-breaker, but a disappointing start to the evening. I decided to order off the "Mom's home cooking" portion of the menu (or whatever it's called) and ordered tamales. I guess I was expecting something special because (a) the place was so crowded and (b) they were listed in the "home cooking" section of the menu, which led me to believe that they were a specialty of the house or something. When they came, they were very bland. I realize that tamales are not traditionally supposed to be spicy, but it's possible to make mildly-spiced food that is still well-seasoned. These were just bland, and not noticeably different from any other tamales I've gotten in New England, except that they were very small (and only two to an order). If I hadn't eaten so many stale chips during the long wait, I would have left the restaurant hungry. I'm guessing that my friends love this place for the extensive tequila menu, but for the actual food, this restaurant wasn't worth the long wait in any way, shape or form. I could have gotten essentially the same thing (and more of it) over at Boca Grande.
(2)Amanpreet S.
We decided to take advantage of the Yelp deal here. I didn't think it was bad, but I did think the dishes could probably use a bit more spice. I'm guessing they tone down the spices for the sake of the locals. If I go there again, I'd definitely ask them to make things a bit more spicy.
(3)Jeff F.
I've come in twice and it's definitely hit or miss: - Chips and salsa - meh. - Guac was ok, ground beef burrito w/ salsa verde - I've had some other things off the menu that are just ok. - Perfect family Mexican atmosphere If you're closeby, I'd give it a try, but I wouldn't go out of your way
(3)Anthony L.
Amazing authentic Mexican restaurant. First off, this place has a large parking lot around back and is free to park. A rarity in Cambridge. Also the best Margaritas you will ever have. Delicious, large, and plenty bang for your buck. I am a 200+ pound man and they hit me like a freight train. For food I highly recommend the Mexican Banderillas. Hugely addictive, easy to share, and wont fill you up before your entree. My favorite dish is the Tamales Del Dia with Mole sauce. This place is great for groups. I have been coming here for years and Lisseth has always been our friendly and attentive server. She is excellent and an absolute delight. The rest of the staff is always very friendly as well. If you love Chipotle and Taco Bell then this place probably isnt for you. But if you are looking for great atmosphere, excellent Margaritas, and authentic Mexican food with the best service, then this is your place.
(5)Jeremy K.
I have been to Jose's Mexican Restaurant a couple of times, mostly thanks to Groupon and their promotional deals with this place. Whether I was there for dinner with a friend, or with a date, I've had a great time and have been able to enjoy my meals there. The place is located off of Porter Square, in a prominently residential area of Cambridge and they have a gigantic, free parking lot, which is remarkable since no one can really walk or take the subway there. I actually suspect that the parking lot is one of the reasons as to why this place is so popular, especially on the weekends. Both times that I've been there the place was mobbed, on both floors, making for some rather unique experiences. But thanks to OpenTable, getting seated was not impossible, it just required a bit of patience and a few margaritas at the bar. While very few of their items are authentic, a lot of the items are varied enough to please just about everyone - add to that many tequila-based drinks and you've got yourself a winning combination. Every table received complimentary chips and salsa - you even get to pick between mild, medium and hot. Their salsa is delicious and I'm a big fan of their hot one, having it both times I've been there. I've eaten and tasted many dishes there, from their fajitas to their enchiladas and even their chimichangas. Each plate features generous portions and comes with a side of beans, guacamole and sour cream. My favorite that I've had so far is their Enchiladas con Mole, which is a traditional enchilada (meat-filled tortilla baked in sauce and sprinkle with cheese), which comes lathered in a gorgeous, flavorful mole sauce. It's delicious and very filling. On my most recent visit there, last week, I shared a fajita platter for two with my girlfriend; we couldn't make up our minds over which meat to pick so we decided to get ours with both chicken and steak and our waiter accommodated our needs which was pretty awesome - a few minutes later, the sizzling hot, iron platter arrived at our table with the proper accouterments: the tortillas. Unfortunately they had a little mishap at the pass and sent us the wrong one, as this one had shrimp in it and after we pointed it out, just instants later, the correct one arrived. It was no big deal and our waiter was very apologetic - it was an honest mistake. Once the right one arrived, we dug right in and picked through the giant pile of caramelized onions, peppers, chicken and flank steak. Everything was cooked well, seasoned properly and was very tasty - best of all, it's very easy to share, especially for two people, making for a great dish when with a significant other. Our drinks were also very good. We had a margarita each at the bar while waiting for our table to open up and then another round at our table. Their variety of margaritas is great and they have all kinds of other drinks as well, including shots and a few Southern beers like Tecate, Dos Equis and a few others. If you're feeling spendy, you can even try a shot of their Patron Anejo ($14 a pop) - it goes down smoothly. Overall this is a great addition to the Cambridge Mexican dining scene - The food is great, as is the service, the prices are affordable and parking easy to find. What else could one ask for? Seriously? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
(4)S S.
Very cute exterior but only a small part of the restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Living here for a year after moving from California we were excited to see a Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. Sadly, it is very generic and has more central American flavors rather than Mexican.
(3)Kate M.
Awesome margaritas, really good food, fun atmosphere and good prices.
(4)Thomas B.
We ate in Jose's Mexican Restaurant. It is a nice little place with very friendly and patient waitresses. I had the steak fajetas, which i really enjoyed. There was plenty of food. It was fairly priced. I will return for some more!. The place was packed on a Saturday evening.
(3)Michael K.
Now here is a great and authentic Mexican restaurant. The Queso was perfect, the meal as it should be, and the flan was really good. Too bad they were out of the Tres Leches. The there was the Salvadorian, Gisette I think her name is. What a doll. I will be back, and go out of my way to grab a meal here.
(5)Tamarleigh G.
Update: I just learned that it changed ownership a few years back. That explains it. I think they have a lot of momentum, because they used to be good. But that momentum only carried them just so far, and if they can't maintain the standards of their predecessors, they should have the decency to change the name of the restaurant, so that diners don't expect the same quality. In other words, when you take over a great restaurant, you need to step UP or step OFF! Don't cheapen the good name of Jose's restaurant, which had a great reputation that was well-deserved. I swear that chili con queso was like pump cheese, you know, the cheez that the guy at 7-11 pumps onto your nachos. LOL I still can't get that cheez out of my mind. I think it shows a lack of concern for quality ingredients and quality preparation. It is not all that freakin' hard to make chili con queso. They probably do it in the microwave. (I have no proof of that, it's mere speculation, but just based on my opinion of their standards.)
(1)Brittany T.
The food here is no frills and good for the price. The margaritas are excellent and the service was really nice too. If you are looking for a well priced simple Mexican place with great decor; this is your jam!
(3)Lindsay B.
This is a good spot for a margarita and some chips and salsa. Do yourself a favor and stop there. Having been three or four times now trying different things the food is consistently bland. The ambiance leaves something to be desired, but the outdoor seating in nice weather is a slightly redeeming quality.
(3)Adam P.
Even with the groupon this place was horrible. Like a majority of you guys here your thinking well if I use the groupon with the 2 margaritas and a side dish it should be great cheap meal I kid you not it was horrible. The quesadilla was horrible it was 15 dollars for a quesadilla like come on and it was greasy and the customer service was horrible... So please don't waste your Money on this groupon it is not worth it
(1)Kristina N.
Tasty but my chile relleno was strangely cold and we probably won't get over the fact that Mexican food is specialty food here for a while.
(3)Brian S.
Service is always great here and workers really friendly, but the food isn't quite up to par. Queso dip is the cheapo, yellow stuff you'd get at a sporting event with a dollop of salsa on top. Yuk. The entrees were decent, but the enchilada and relleno were drowning in the sauces, almost to the point of losing the flavor of the rest of the dish. I'd go back, but it wasn't as wonderful as other mexican places in town.
(3)Zena B.
I had dinner here last night with my husband. The food was pretty good. Good taste, but small portion size. Definitely not something you can pack for lunch the next day. Really cute, small, hole-in-the wall place with good ambiance. The only reason I am giving this only 2 stars is because at the end of the meal, we told our waitress we had bought the $40 worth food for $20 yelp deal. I don't know if this was restaurant policy (it wasn't stated anywhere) but she goes and adds the tip on the total herself at whatever percent she wanted. I may be completely wrong here, but I thought it was the customers decision on how much tip you wanted to leave your waitress?? I've usually seen this happen in large groups of like 6 or more where the servers have to juggle a whole lot going on with the table, I understand that. But this?!
(2)Maggie W.
I usually like this place, but today was poorly done. App never came, and when reminded - it came out wrong. Server abandoned me, diet coke tasted like syrup, side of chipotle sauce ($1.50) was water, thimble of sour cream ($1.50) served with the wrong item, water empty and chips/salsa never replenished. It's too bad, because this is generally a better place.
(3)Steven R.
Jose's is located on a cozy Cambridge sidestreet/neighborhood. The inside of the restaurant itself is more like a home than a restaurant - so it's homey and comfortable feeling. There's a bar with dinner seating, a TV and actually pretty good Mexican music playing. The staff is very friendly, responsive and accommodating. My wife and I loved the salsa and chips, but the real hit was the quality of the dinners. Jose's has a number of options for your meal and all of them are made fresh with quality ingredients. We go to a lot of Mexican restaurants, and frankly find the food bland most places. Jose's has a great combination of good quality food, excellent service and a comfortable environment. We were hoping for a nice casual dinner in a warm friendly place. Jose's offers that and more. We don't write too many Yelp reviews - but Jose's earned a great one. Thanks guys!! We'll be back.
(5)Jeff D.
I was somewhat underwhelmed. I almost always get chili rellenos when I go to a Mexican joint, because one that is authentic can always get it right. Jose's was overly moist, sloppy, and fairly tasteless. I'll head to Tacqueria Mexico in Waltham next time. I know they do it right.
(2)Carly J.
Myself and 3 friends had dinner there last night and have all been there a few times before- loving the food. The service was horrible. Our waitress acted like she was pissed we were even there and that we were bothering her. She never once checked on us to see how our food was, if we needed anything, if we needed refills (which we did many times), and when our 4th person arrived it took her 25 minutes to even come up to him and that's probably only because he asked another staff member for a menu. We would have ordered at least another round of drinks and my friend tried to order more food twice and the waitress ignored her. If she had explained that she was very busy, short staffed, or even simply apologized for the slow service things would have been different. Nothing. We had to chase her down every time we needed anything (basic things like water, drinks, etc). Whenever we made her come over she rushed to get away- to the point where we we're mid-order and she would just walk away. There was just no awareness for what the customer needed. We did have a groupon, which I guess could be annoying, but then don't have them available. We tried to make change at the bar (knowing our waitress would take forever if she even came over) and the bar couldn't break a $20- are you serious?!? Also a 18% gratuity was included in the bill- we were not planning on leaving anything close to that. Who adds gratuity to a bill for 4 people?!? That was just the last straw. We couldn't wait to leave and will never be back. The food is fine and we saw at least 2 other servers attentively visit their tables (so 2 stars). That was embarrassing for them.
(2)Elizabeth B.
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN ! Native Texan lost in New England has found a place that serves food that helps quell bouts of homesickness. First, the homemade chips & salsa is the way it should be.... muy caliente y sabor :) The nachos villa are a meal themselves, & the queso fresco ( instead of sour cream ) is another touch of home. The margarita traditionale is spot on ( only a margarita aficionado would not be satisfied ) and the enchiladas adobo are so well crafted you'd swear you were home en la casa familia :) The plates were so generous I forgot to try the soppapillas, but will be returning for another meal & dessert soon ;) For those not accustomed to southern hospitality, learn to savor your food & drink. Meal time is an event itself & should be accompanied with copious amounts of convo & laughter. Southern hospitality also means that your service throughout the meal will mimic that of what you enjoy when at home for holidays. This is a place where dinner is very relaxed, & should NOT be rushed. For this lost Texan, Jose's is a pleasant reminder of home when I'm blue & need to have my homesickness chased away. The food, drink & friendly atmosphere are what they should be. Southern hospitality = Good food & drinks, Friendly service & long drawn out convos. My tip for patrons: Come home & RELAX !
(5)Dave R.
If you're into authentic Mexican, this place does a pretty good job at accomplishing just that. This is your typical very filling, very heavy Mexican food...authentic but nothing particularly special. With an amazing option like Painted Burro in the general area, there's not much of a reason to venture out here...the location is particularly difficult to reach for those without cars and really isn't worth the trek.
(3)Shaina P.
No complaints about the ten dollar Autentica margaritas (Shaina pronounces is "oh-ten-tee-ka"). Didn't fuss about the slightly soupy (yet quite spicy) medium-heat salsa. But why doesn't Jose's serve their rich delectable mole verde available at their MIT truck??? Slap some bright colored building in the suburbs of North Cambridge and you have Jose's. Do not let it go unnoticed. Do not let yourself be hungry. Indulge in Mexican food goodness and you will faire well. As far as being the best Mexican around? I would like to think so, but I would also like it to be closer to me so I can try regularly...
(4)Jon S.
Just moved to the area (like yesterday) and was craving some Mexican food. Saw that this place was a couple blocks away from my place and decided to give it a try. The restaurant was busy which I always see as a good sign. They told us the wait for two was 15 minutes, but we probably waited five. They customize your salsa to your liking (mild, medium, or hot) which is definitely a good thing. We ordered the medium, but I didn't find it to be very hot though. Salsa was decent, chips were pretty good. I settled on a chicken burrito and a strawberry margarita. The margarita tasted like it was from a mix and definitely was not made from fresh strawberries or even strawberry puree, bit of a disappointment. The food took FOREVER to come out (close to 45 minutes). The waitress dropped off a side of guac, apologizing for the long wait (apparently the kitchen was extremely backed up...) When we left, they were telling people they could not order their food for thirty minutes because of the kitchen situation which I found to be a little odd. The burrito was okay, but was not put together well. One side contained mostly rice and beans, and the other side contained all the chicken and the guacamole. The spanish rice was bland and really rather tasteless. This place wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good either. Maybe I'm spoiled because I lived in LA for four years? But this wasn't good. I hope this isn't the standard for Boston Mexican food, or I guess I'll be frequenting Chipotle a lot...
(2)Kristina S.
Do not eat here, please review their health violations in advance. www2.cambridgema.gov/ins… ?restId=JOSE%27S%20MEXICAN%20RESTAURANT|131|ÂSHERMAN%20ST I went tonight with my boyfriend and he reports that there is not running water in the men's room, so they told him to wash up in the woman's room which had water but no soap! I hope people are not getting sick.
(1)Brendan M.
Went here last night for Valentine's day with my +1. Right off the bat there's free parking. Thats a big plus. We had reservations for 8:00, but didn't get seated until 8:23 or so. It's a small, intimate place and it WAS Valentine's day. I'm not complaining, just giving a fair assessment. Take it for what it's worth. So we sat at the bar and had a couple margaritas. The margaritas were reasonably priced ($7 four a large frozen house) and very strong. I hate when I get frozen sugar water with a splash of tequila, so props to the bartender. She worked hard all night and serves up some tasty margaritas. Also, the tequila section looked pretty good...if that's your thing. We were seated in the upstairs section. The downstairs was extremely hot. Not sure if it's just because it was busy but upstairs was much more comfortable. They serve chips and salsa before you order: your choice of mild, medium, or hot salsa. If you order the hot, wait for the water to come because the hot salsa is no joke. Tasted like habaneros and scotch bonnets in there. Very tasty. Our appetizer of jalapeño poppers arrived after the dinner came. These were pretty tasty. Handmade stuffed with a mild cheese and breaded with a tortilla chip crust and fried. Again, very tasty. You can actually taste the pepper. Dinner- I ordered the chicken chile relleno platter and she ordered the spicy chicken Chipotle enchiladas. Doesn't look like much when it comes out but it'll fill you up for sure. The meal was delicious, no complaints. I have only good things to say about the food here. I got the pinto beans as a side, they were delicious (fresh not canned!) Overall a quality meal. It's pretty authentic Mexican food and not Americanized (i.e. NOT OVERLY CHEESY and fried!). So yes, a very good meal. Delicious drinks. The service was alright...entrees came out in a timely fashion. Had to wait a bit to order (probably because of Valentine's Day) but when it came down to it the guy wasted no time when taking our order. I had to remind them about the poppers appetizer and my second margarita with dinner. Overall I'd recommend this place. Great, authentic food. The margaritas alone will have me coming back on a friday or saturday.
(4)Stephen Y.
It really shows that Jose's was founded by someone who wanted to quit their tech job and get back to their family's home cooking. They're not quite as exquisite as Ole, but they're nowhere near as pricey either. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jennifer N.
Jose's is A-OK. The medium salsa is more like mild.. and I could use more tomatoes and actual veggies in the salsa. Good chips though, and when I got up from our table, I saw the salsa comes out of a huge vat, so maybe that explains the not super fresh flavor. Ordered the burrito- they reversed our orders (friend got my steak I got his tinga (flavored chicken) ). They were quick to fix the problem. Burrito is big- and I like that you get additional rice and beans on the size instead of just in the burrito- though I only could finish half! Friend likes the adobe sauce, good flavor, though does not think the tinga tastes any different than regular chicken. With the groupon, it only cost $15, so we couldn't go wrong. However, I am not sure I would pay full price!
(3)Nanker P.
I think this is a great place. The Tacos are great and the restaurant has a great atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)Melissa M.
I've had better crispy tacos from my Irish-American mother's Old El Paso mix. Really, I can't believe how bad my two crispy ground beef tacos were. They were supposed to come with the standard lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese. I could not find any. Ok, there was 2 diced tomatoes in it, a lone piece of lettuce and maybe 1.5 shred of cheese. The beef was cooked terribly and was all clumpy and they put this poopy thing in two taco shells to soak up all the grease which just made things awk to eat. The chips tasted like they'd been sitting around for days but had a ton of oil on them and the salsa tasted like tomato juice and that is it. 12 bucks for two poorly made tacos. I feel like a fool for spending my money and leaving unhappy. Seriously, don't bother. Too bad, I really like that they have parking and my waiter was nice. I will not return.
(2)Ashley J.
I have heard so many times how amazing Jose's is but since I rarely eat in Cambridge I never tried it out. This Saturday I met a friend there and I was very disappointed. Ignored in the door until I stared down the bartender. The waitress had less than zero personality. The food was meh. Greasy. Tasteless. The tacos look like a cheap American taco from taco bell. Not what I expected at all and very pricey for the quality. My margarita was the one good part of the whole meal. I tried my friend's steak and it was tasteless as well. Too bad they watered down the food to what they think Americans are looking for because most of us are looking for something better.
(2)Joe M.
I'm a Cambridge boy and I can remember when Jose's first opened. I've probably eaten here over 50 times. To this day, it still holds the belt for the best guacamole in the business. Never had an issue with my server and there isn't a bad dish on the menu. In my opinion, Mexican restaurants tend to mirror each other. But, Jose's has it's own vibe that makes it a cool joint. The only knock I have on it is the size of the place. It can get loud and hot at times. But, other than that, I have no complaints.
(4)Jen A.
Great margaritas, great fajitas, great atmosphere and kid friendly! Plus a parking lots next door! Best Mexican food restaurant we've foun din the Boston area!
(5)John S.
Jose's gets a solid, respectable three stars. I wish I could give it more but there were just enough warts on my experience to keep this rating where it is. Sure, the guacamole and fresh chips were excellent, and my meal (pork chorizo enchiladas in a salsa verde) was flavorful, but the service was a bit erratic and the portions were not great. I think Jose's would excel for an afternoon lunch, if you have plenty of time and order one extra item to split. It's a solid place, and I can understand why locals keep coming back, but it's not the same kind of transcendent food experience you can get at many other local Mexican places.
(3)Ruth M.
Cute place (bright purple exterior and brightly painted interior). And the food was good. Not amazing, certainly, but good. I would go back, though not until I've checked out several other such places in the vicinity. Not a disappointment for a low-key night out that needed a slightly festive vibe.
(3)Joanna F.
3.5 stars really. The atmosphere of this place, unlike any other restaurant I've been to, really made me believe the food was a little better than it was. It also made me overlook the mediocre service. Walking into this adorable Mexican restaurant was like going to Mexico. It's brightly painted with strings of lights everywhere. Sitting outside seems like it would have been magical. We got seated immediately thanks to our reservation (which is highly recommended on a weekend, might I add). We were served drinks fairly promptly and decided to try a couple appetizers. We chose the chicken taquitos and empanadas. The table agreed that the chicken in the taquitos was absolutely amazingly flavored, however I thought the taquitos overall were fairly dull. The empanadas were way too dough-ey with hardly any flavor and a tiny bit of filling. Not great. For my entree, I got the two fish tacos. I have to echo other reviews that I didn't really notice any cheese on my taco. I also had ordered a side of guacamole which came out at least 15 minutes after my entree came. Considering I really wanted the guac for my tacos, I was fairly annoyed. As for the rest of the food, the table generally liked everything except my friend and boyfriend both thought the pork's seasoning was overwhelming and hard to stomach after several bites. Overall, a pleasant experience, but I won't be rushing back.
(4)Cliff H.
Authentic. Hidden. Delicious. Stop by here off the ongoing discounts off Restaurant.com and make a night of this little gem. Could not have had better experience. Place is small, but you are greeted with bright colors and friendly family service. Started off with complimentary spicy salsa/chips. Then scored big with the chicken/steak enchilada smothered in delicious mole. Holy mole! Not too sweet, not too bland: GoldilocksMole! Washed down with some of the most seriously amazing margaritas yet indulged around Boston (hint: keep the frozen margs for traditional style, fruity ones on rocks). Server super polite and attentive w/out being overbearing. Redeemed the gift card right off the phone no questions asked (rarity in itself). If you love Mex as much as moi (Casa Romero regular) you can can appreciate how this place is the real deal. New fav Mex stop. Worth the trip off the beaten path, especially with more parking than a Sam's Club on a no-trucker day in Arkansas. Hey, hey do not delay cause it's no cliche to say MA's mex is Trump's toupee or Michael Bay... aka: per-se passe. This Jose will make your day like sorbet and croquet on a hot Mexico day. Lead not astray. Get here today.
(5)Kristen X.
Based on the food, I would give Jose's 5 stars. I go to Jose's about 2-3 times per month, the food is that good. I always get the enchiladas verdes, they are to die for (Not to mention inexpensive). The guacamole here is by-far the best I've ever had. The atmosphere is very small and simple which is nice. The building isn't insulated very well so it can get very frigid inside, especially upstairs...i would suggest bringing an extra layer during winter just in case. It does tend to get very busy especially on the weekend, making a reservation on their website is your best bet for getting seated quickly. (P.S.The vanilla fried ice cream is amazing)
(4)Jerome T.
Terrible. Absolutely Terrible. Food: Food is advertised as being "Authentic Mexican" but is nothing of the sort. The salsa was bland and runny. This is the first warning sign of a crappy mexican restaurant - if they can't get simple stuff like Salsa right, then you should immediately walk out. We failed to follow this simple rule... My date's entree was first delivered incorrectly. She ordered a Quesadilla, they delivered a Fajita. (I suppose I can see the similarity... but...) Regardless, they made it right and delivered her quesadilla... Except it wasn't a quesadilla. In fact, neither her, nor I, could Identify what the heck it actually was. The cheese was pink(ish) and wrapped similarly to a burrito. Imagine, stuffing a burrito wrap with cheese and other random sauces, and squishing it, but nothing like what you'd imagine a quesadilla to be. I'm pretty understanding of regional differences, but the problem with this neo-mexican concoction was that it tasted like crap. That, I cannot forgive. My Entree was a trio of Enchilada's with Mole sauce. Except it too had very little resemblance to what a 'traditional' (Or tex mex) enchilada. Again, I'm very forgiving to regional differences, but it too, tasted like crap. The mole sauce tasted excessively chocolaty, like I could have poured some hershey's chocolate into a bowl, mixed it with some tabasco, and pour it on some tortilla's. Crap. The Enchilada's I ordered originally arrived as Tacos... It was sent back, and corrected. 3 Enchiladas - Cheese (Tasted average...) Shredded Beef (Below average - very dry) Ground Beef (Tasted like absolute crap. Very Dry ground beef, with terrible seasoning. Service: I asked for WIFI, as my iPhone picked up a signal, and they said "Absolutely, we have it! Let met get the password." Few minutes later, the woman shows up and informs me that it's not for customers... Ok... I can buy it - annoying, but not a game ender. We waited 10 minutes for the guy to come up and take our drink order. Upon getting the order, it took another 20 minutes to get our food, and an additional 10 minutes to get the food that they screwed up right. (See above.) Later, I was asked if there was anything else I needed... I asked for a refill of coke. "We don't have refills here." ... Fine... water, please. The water never came. This pissed me off. What exactly is it that you do here? Do you expect me to pay for crappy mexican food, not get anything right in your dinner service, and tip you 20 percent on an overinflated bill? Bill total: 35 dollars for enchiladas, a coke, guacamole, and a quesadilla. I find that to be exorbitant. Conclusion: 1 star. Screw you. Im never coming back, and Im taking time out of my day to tell others of the lame experience I've had here. I admit, I'm a bit biased being from california and enjoying good Tex Mex/Authentic Mexican food... but these guys couldn't even get the basics right. Totally unsatisfactory experience. Later, Some of the irritating policies of this place are: No refills on soda, with a bar present. Wifi, not available for customers.
(1)Corey L.
Got some groupons to Jose's and have enjoyed it twice so far. It's a tad pricey, but the food is really good. My gf and I shared the fajitas for two and they were simply magnificent. Really liked the sangria too - and I'm a sangria snob. It's not the biggest place, but haven't had to wait long yet. And they have a parking lot. Thumbs up
(4)sabina s.
I used to eat here quite frequently in the early '00's & was recently brought back by some friends who'd heard about it & wanted to try it. I said "Sure" that place is GREAT! Well, It WAS great ... 10 years ago. My one star is for the memories I have about the food from 10 years ago. Negative gazillion stars for my recent experience. No lie: I've had better "Mexican" food at airport Taco Bells. Seriously.
(1)Dan W.
Come here for the cool laid back atmosphere and the delicious Mexican food. Can be a little crowded but worth the wait. Grab a margarita and some guacamole for starters. Expect to be serenaded by a two piece ensemble on the weekends.
(4)Steve W.
We love Jose's. Don't read the reviews that list health-code violations, use your home bathroom before coming, and then enjoy great margaritas, chorizo enchiladas with mole sauce, and an ambiance that I can only describe as "authentic Cambridge". Live a little, challenge your immune system, and enjoy some of the best tasting food in the area.
(4)Kat K.
Best silver margaritas ever. We dream about them. Always refreshing and perfect. Always a good time, good food, and easy parking. Ole!
(4)Jeff K.
Was busy, live musician was a nice treat (although he stayed a song to long), good food, fun atmosphere, tight space for waiting for a table, price is right.
(4)Shannon M.
This place is super colorful and super adorable...and they sometimes have live music! The last time I came here I ordered a steak salad and loved it...lots of steak strips on top of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and bell peppers. While I've had more authentic Mexican food in California, this is one of Boston's better versions of Mexican food and probably my favorite. The experience of eating in the rainbow house is worth the trip out here alone. And the good food is a nice little bonus.
(4)Rick L.
I'm lucky that I live less than 5 minutes walk away from this place, because I keep wanting to come back. I like the way the menu is organized, with all their entrees having multiple options for your choice of protein. They offer a weekend brunch until 2 PM, but the one time I tried to get it they weren't offering, probably because it was cinco de mayo. I really like their mole sauce, and their tinga has a real punch to it. Their tequila bar is a little pricey, but the quality of their drinks is worth the cost. I have yet to have a bad margarita, and if you have enough people (or a strong enough liver), they offer pitchers as well.
(4)Lisa I.
A tiny hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. This place is ok, but I wouldn't rate it as highly as some of the other reviewers. The restaurant and the décor are cute, but I don't think the food is particularly authentic. I'd put it on the same level as Sunset. It's decent for cheap Mexican, but nothing special.
(2)Stacey D.
Wow, this place was surprisingly bad. It wasn't like I had hopes, I have been on a long and forsaken journey for good Mexican in Boston, and have pretty much given up. I went here with the boy on the day that Hurricane Irene hit. Props for them for being open. When we entered, immediately the service was askance. There were stairs up to a eating area, and another eating area on the ground floor. There was no server and no sign indicating "please wait to be seated". While the wait staff was mingling around, and clearly saw us, no one came over to us to say seat us or even to say hi! I hate being confused when I first enter a restaurant. We were eventually seated, and asked "mild, medium or spicy?" Having no clue what they were referring to, I said, "medium" . The salsa and chips that came out were decent. I wish the chips were hot though - hot chips! Now that's class. But no... Anyways, we ordered. I, being a maximizer, ordered a combo plate with an enchilada, a flauta and a taco. The boy, being boring, ordered a chicken quesadilla. The chicken quesadilla was surprisingly dry, and tasteless, with a little bit of cheese and nothing else. Now the boy is from the country - way up North, he doesn't know much about Mexican food, and I am from CA, we don't agree on much when it comes to food, but we both thought the quesadilla was tasteless. My enchilada, flauta and taco were similarly flavored, by that I mean dry. I keep coming back to that word, I know, but I can't help it... The beef was dry, the chicken was dry. The pico de gallo - was good. So they have good sauces... what can I say? my journey for good mexican food continues...
(2)Scott B.
An actual hidden gem, Jose's is located among the residences of the Porter Square neighborhood in Cambridge. You'd never expect to see this place while driving around this area... but sure enough it is there. Jose's serves delicious food. Like... really, really delicious food. I highly recommend the Enchiladas with chicken or beef. They are super good. The atmosphere is quirky... with a mexican-antique-shop-sort-of-feel to it. Also, there is an out door seating section. I was so impressed with Jose's, that this would have been a 5 star review if the service hadn't been so darn slow. It took nearly 20 minutes after we finished our meal before a server even came to our table to offer dessert/check. Despite the neglect, I still hope to be back soon to enjoy those fantastic enchiladas again!
(4)Michelle B.
I've been to Jose's several times, either to meet friends or to use up a Groupon. Every time, the food is tasty. While yes, the enchiladas/tacos/etc are good, my real love here is the chile rellenos. Everything about these was perfect, from the seasoning, to the tenderness of the shredded beef, to the tangy, silky salsa verde sauce. The service is pretty brusque and often not too knowledgeable about the menu. It can also take awhile to be seated if they have pick up orders waiting at the host station also. Other than that, we always get the correct food when we order and we're never left waiting long for anything - drink or water refills, our check, etc. The drinks are good, I've tried the margaritas and the sangria. Not too expensive and a pretty heavy hand with the liquor. It's a HUGE plus that they have their own parking lot.
(4)Jay M.
We've been here a few times and it's always good. Pleasant service and food arrives quickly. Enchiladas are yummy and the Burrito I had last night was super delicious, and so big I took half of it home. I have no idea how "authentic" this place is, but food does not have to be authentic to be good
(4)Maria D.
Note: this is a biased review. Jose's is my favorite restaurant. Jose's is my "go-to" restaurant. Jose's is the shit. There was a recent study done that proved that when there are groupons, or the like, for restaurants, that restaurant's reviews tend to go down. Obviously that is the case with Jose's since this place is the best. People complain about "authenticity". What do you mean by that? I don't think I've ever been to an authentic Mexican restaurant if this isn't, and thats saying a lot since I've been to many Mexican places in my life. What exactly are you looking for? If you don't find Jose's to be satisfying, where else do you eat Mexican food? Please let me know what you find to be authentic, because I cannot comprehend that Jose's isn't better than other places out there. I can never order fajitas again from another restaurant. I just couldn't. Jose's fajitas are so good, I'd not only feel disloyal, but I KNOW i'd be disappointed if I went elsewhere. Theyre so good, that I sometimes come here twice a week... (even three times if I'm feeling like a fatty). I rave about this place. And everyone that I have sent here, ie: my parents, siblings, friends.. and have demanded that they order fajitas, have also stated that Jose's fajitas are the best they ever had. Generous portions. Delicious quac. And non stop tortillas (all you gutta do is just asked for more and they'll keep bringin em). I love the servers, and not just because they know my face. I love the atmosphere. I love the salsa. I love it. AND I LOVE THE FRIED ICE CREAM. THE BEST DESSERT YOU COULD ASK FOR.
(5)Michael S.
Been here three times and it reminds me of the places Ive been to out in Arizona and New Mexico. They got that chocolate Mo-le and they do it right. Great little place with nice atmosphere and i was not disappointed by the drinks. High Marks.
(5)Adriana A.
Love it! Great food, drinks, staff & owner. I'm always happy with them. And the time I've invited people over they were happy as well with the food, drinks and service. Plus I also know the owner gives back to the community, so I'm happy to spend my money there!
(5)Mike G.
This was pretty good Mexican. It was a bit crowded for a Thursday night, but the service and delivery was quick. I wouldn't say our burritos were to die for, but they were pretty good. What put the icing on the cake for this though, was our restaurant.com certificate that I got for $2. So we got $25 worth of food for $2. So it ended up being half price, and a steal. With tip about $30 for 3 people. Oh and you get free chips and salsa!
(3)Matt G.
I absolutely la-la-love this place! First, I love the decoration. Its so completely off the wall its awesome. Little authentic Mexican knick-knacks, bright vivid colors everywhere (including the outside paint job), and really interesting and quirky art on the walls. You start the meal with fresh chips and homemade salsa. The salsa tends to be hit or miss depending on the night. (sometimes its a little soupy) We always get the medium or the hot version, which I think is just the mild version with some extra chile mixed in. Fine by me! It tastes very ... clean and fresh. Yum! Now onto the Margarita list! If you are going to be having more than 1 Margarita with some people: GET A PITCHER. (We usually default to "Steve's Classic") You get a standard plastic pitcher filled... with NO ICE, and then your glasses (with rocks if you'd like). The good part about that is that you have a pitcher FILLED with liquid yumminess and no ice to water it down. For the price of 3-4 margaritas you get a pitcher that yields ~7. The burrito menu is fantastic. My safe standby is the Chicken Burrito con mole. The mole sauce there is smokey, dark, with a hint of chocolate. The fajitas and tacos are always a good bet as well... but don't be afraid to ask for some mole on the side! We bring our friends here all the time and nearly everyone we introduce to this place loves it. This is a great little hidden place just outside of any major Cambridge 'Square' and I love the fact that we can walk here from our apartment. The service is always friendly, and we've frequented it enough times that most of the staff recognizes us. (we even had a buy back once on a round of Patron!) 5 stars!
(5)Roxie D.
i ordered dinner from Foodler, and specifically stated that I did not want ANY meat on my food. Should make prep easier, right? After charging me a brazen $6 to deliver my food a whopping 2 hours after I'd placed the order, I opened it up to find that EVERYTHING was covered with fucking chicken. The restaurant was no help. The assholes that run the delivery service- I believe it's Mix Menu- were rude and useless. I paid them $6 in delivery fees and $5 in tip--that's *$11* dollars just to get it from the restaurant to me- and they still couldn't be bothered to check to make sure my order matched what they picked up OR get it here within 2 hours of it being ordered. It was cold and soggy by the time it got here, and the driver stopped to have a 15 minute conversation with a crackhead in front of my house about the dog he kept in his car while making deliveries. He saw me standing in the doorway and when I waved, he signaled for me to wait until he was done talking. FUCK THAT. Do not order delivery from these people. Support businesses that actually give a shit about customer service and not employing asshats. UPDATE: I got a very nasty email from someone saying that my issue was with just the delivery service- NO. The restaurant screwed up my order because they were too inept to read the instructions that I know for a fact foodler sent over, because the receipt with said instructions, and "NO MEAT OF ANY KIND, PLEASE" printed clearly on it. The delivery service *also* sucked. Try and keep up.
(1)Ash And Dan L.
This is an amendment to my first 5-star yelp, due to my awful experience at Jose's last night. Whenever I go to Jose's I expect to wait a little while to be seated (even if you have reservations), but this time not only did we have reservations and have to wait 25 min to be seated, but they seated 2 people w/o reservations who arrived about 15 minutes AFTER us before they seated us. And to make things worse, they seated us upstairs, which in general means the service sucks, and the waitress only comes around every 10-15 minutes. When seated upstairs you should plan on saving about 30 minutes at the end of the meal for your waitress to give you your check, and take your credit card or change and return back to you at your table so that you can wrap up the tab. Overall the dining experience took two hours, when typically we can expect to be in and out of there in an hour or so if we want to (so although sometimes it's nice to dine for 2 hours, it's not so nice when you're spending half of that time waiting to be seated or waiting for your waitress to come around because you're seated up in the attic and are forgotten about). I give them 2 stars because I like their food and it's decently priced. But I'm not sure I'll be going back for a while after this experience. And if I do, I will make a point to wait an extra 10 minutes if needed so that I can be seated on the 1st floor, and not upstairs.
(2)Rich W.
My wife and I drove past here several times and each time we said, "we have to check that place out." The reason we did was my wife did a 2 week study abroad program as a part of her Masters program in Mexico. She didn't get to have mole sauce and her host family bragged about how good it was. A little bit of research and we found out that Jose's does make traditional mole. So...we went. What a GREAT surprise this restaurant was! The mole was awesome!!! Free chips and salsa came with the order...we like it hot and found that it was spicy but not over spiced to get you to buy more drinks. LOVED it! We've been back a few times and each time, the meal has been great!!! Always check out the specials! I had a steak with a Jamaica (SP?) Sauce that was amazing! Free parking next door - a HUGE plus for eating out in Cambridge! Good service and outdoor seating in the summer. I had my wife's birthday party there and we had a fabulous time!!!! I've been told by Central Americans that Jose's is about as close as you can get to real Mexican - not Tex Mex food in Boston! For desert, have the fried ice cream!
(5)Vanessa C.
quick,friendly service.very delicious food,too. Small space but free parking is cool.No disablilty access,though.
(4)Erica W.
Pretty good food butttttttt... I went on a Friday night and the place was PACKED. Without any real waiting area, the tiny doorway was squeezed tight with people (much too cold to wait outside that night) with waiters and customers squeezing by to get from the kitchen to the upstairs tables. My group of 4 had made reservations, and arriving a couple of minutes before our reservation we still stood in the crowded doorway for around 15 minutes. Other than that the food was good, the salsa had a nice kick to it and everything was delicious, although maybe not worth going out of the way for in the future.
(3)Jess L.
I know this place is tucked away in an obscure part of Cambridge, but this restaurant had a great, authentic selection of Mexican food, a pretty decent margarita, and a fun atmosphere. My quesedilla came looking like a burrito, which was weird... On the other hand, my friend was excited to see Sopa de Elote on the menu, which she hadn't seen on a menu since she lived in Mexico.
(4)Mr. D.
When we left this place, I was wondering if they printed all the great reviews in the entryway themselves? The place was filthy, the menu handed out to us was greasy and there were food rests between the pages. The chips and the food - a catastrophe characterized by a predominant taste of old oil. the presentation was sloppy and not appealing. I also don't like it when the waiter starts cleaning the table next to you as loud as he possibly can, throwing the dishes into a big plastic bin.
(2)Jennifer L.
I love Jose's! We've been there a few times lately with Groupons and 50% off deals, making it even better... I had them cater a party a few years back and that was awesome. Burritos, rice, beans, guacamole (the usual standards), for a group of about 20. They were on time, friendly, and the price was fair. Their food is high-quality and they offer a lot of stuff you don't see at other area Mexican restaurants. Big menu. A little pricey, but worth it. (And, like I said they've been offering lots of coupons/Groupons lately for Jose's.) I love the mole sauce, the guacamole is delicious, and the salsa is excellent (the hot is very hot). The (free) chips are hot off the stove and everything is fresh. They can also make pretty much anything vegan/vegetarian, and I don't feel bad asking for that as it's right on the menu. I've never had to wait for a seat (though if you had a group you might). They have dozens of tequilas available by the shot and margarita pitchers. The restaurant is in a purple house and the inside is cozy and warm. I believe they have outdoor seating, and parking, too!
(4)Liz D.
Pros: - So many vegetarian options (we tried flautas papas, tamales, sopes, spinach and cheese enchiladas, chile rellenos) - Michelada (although they didn't put ice cubes in it which was a little odd to me) - Mexican ice cream - Friendly staff who were willing to speak a little Spanish with me - Parking Lot (although we walked) - Corn tortillas Cons: - Small area to wait to be seated, honestly there weren't many cons
(4)Melissa B.
I come here for the mole sauce. AMAZING, rich, not watered down. The service is fabulous. Margaritas are with lime juice, not mix - YUM! Eating outside is always nice.
(5)Sarah W.
Food is good, drinks are good. Outside tables are adorable and charming. However when I went this time, the service was AWFUL. Not the table service, the seating service. There was a young guy working as host, and he was absolutely lost. We walked in, no one greeted us. We stood there for about five minutes before he acknowledged us. He took forever to seat parties, and then it took forever for someone to come take our order. Once our order was taken, everything moved along very quickly. But the experience of being (not) seated almost cost them our service-- in fact, the party behind us just gave up, as they were never once acknowledged. Hoping it was just a one-night blip.
(3)Darla S.
nastiest food i have ever had! so dirty mouse droppings everywhere! food is over priced and small portions! don't go here
(1)Tiff D.
I wanted to love this place... Really cute little place located on a quiet back road of Cambridge with a free parking lot and even some cute outdoor seating for those warm summer nights. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE food but delicious margaritas. Come for the drinks not the food.
(2)Jillian J.
Visiting Boston and decided to check this place out using the Yelp deal. It was soo good! Our 40 for 20 deal covered our entire deal. Our server was very nice and although it was a packed lunch hour we were served promptly. Def recommend!
(4)Harri S.
S and I came here in her car. Carring (?) it in Boston? It happened. We had our groupon and some margaritas in hand about five minutes into our visit. After carefully un-crumpling the groupon and handing it to the waitress (why is it that I crumple EVERYTHING?), we ordered some guac and chips and a burrito and fajitas. What can I say, we missed our California. It was fairly dead in the afternoon and we were at the bar watching a particularly irking episode of the Doctors. Believe you me, S is practically a doctor and those guys are idiots. Back to the review! Within an hour these two So-Cal girls were sufficiently satiated and inebriated. We paid our bill, waited responsibly for an hour and drove back to a place we ride the T more often.
(4)Jeff G.
Margaritas + Doña Reyna's Chile Rellenos I find myself constantly recommending this place to my friends. It's a bit out of the way, but they have the best margaritas in Boston. Lolita is sluttier, Sunset has more variety, but Jose's is just done right. All the employees I have come in contact with spoke Spanish and they have some dishes that you won't see on many other menus in the Northeast. There is even a section "from my mother's kitchen". Servings are large and very delicious. Also they constantly have Groupons available so check before going.
(4)Sarah F.
The highlight for me of eating at Jose's was definitely the guacamole and the convenience of the large parking lot. That being said there are many ways this restaurant could improve. The most frustrating part of the experience was that the host did not greet us for a long time even though he was standing right there. He reorganized menus and worked at the computer seating program for at least 10 minutes before seating us. This was made even more awkward by the fact that the entry hallway is extremely narrow with servers passing every few minutes. Then he said that we would have to wait 15 min even though there were many open tables. After a minute he changed his mind and sat us. He later admitted to being the manager, which made the experience even more confusing. Shouldn't he have mastered the seating system? As a meal I had the Mexican flag enchiladas. They were OK. The chicken tasted boiled and unseasoned. As I said, the best part was definitely the guacamole and my Coronas with lime.
(3)Allison R.
All right, not sure what to make of Jose's. They are listed on eatnow.com , so one night when I was craving a burrito but didn't want to leave the home (and had no cash for Anna's), I ordered one. I'm 100 % sure I ordered steak, but definitely ended up with some weird vegetable bean thing. A few weeks ago, I was plagued with the same craving, so my roommate and I ordered delivery, part two. This time, I was super stoked because I was able to order off the kid's menu, which meant smaller portions and more variety. We never received an email confirmation for the order, so my roommate called to ask what was up. The guy at the restaurant claimed they never deliver, and had no idea what being listed on eatnow.com meant. Then, 30 minutes later, as we were frying up some tasty frozen peking ravioli, a delivery guy came to our door. He rang the bell, knocked on the door, called me twice, and then knocked on our window. Seriously? But, to the credit of Yelp (and possibly this restaurant), the owner did message me and explained that eatnow likely calls and poses as a customer....sort of like a foodler without any credibility. hrm. not sure if i believe it, but this would explain the delivery fiasco. Too much drama. I'll make the trek out to La Paloma in Quincy the next time I crave Mexican food.
(2)Lisa M. K.
You know, I'd give Jose's 4 stars just for their mole alone. I actually crave their burrito con mole. It is delectible. I ate there yesterday and I am still thinking about it. Jose's is a great little neighborhood place - has all the criteria: comfy, pleasantly decorated, has an intimate feel as it is broken into small rooms, good service, yummy food and drink. Decent Mexican - we always like what we get... good salsa and guacamole too. Bonus points for lots of free parking too.
(4)Lu B.
I love Jose's. I love it way more than is warranted by the actual quality of the food. I mean, we're still talking Mexican food in New England people. Although, for the official record, in my opinion the food here is *way* better than the terrible "Tex-Mex" that they serve up at Border Café in Harvard Square. If that's not enough for you, here are the top three reasons why I love this place... countdown style: 3) I used to live well within walking distance to Jose's. Sadly, I don't anymore. But actually it's okay because Jose's has a parking lot. For free. One of the perks of being all tucked and hidden away on a completely residential street. 2) There are regularly Groupon (etc.) offers out for Jose's. I buy those up four or five at a time. They also have coupons in those Super Coup or Super Savers that come in the mail. You know, the completely useless envelopes full of coupons for things you would never use or want... C'mon I know that you know what I'm talking about! Yup, only coupon I've ever used from one those things - Jose's. 1) ICELESS pitchers of Margaritas. The menus state that there must be four people in your party to order these. I've ordered them with just two, and been served without a bat of an eyelash. Although, if you're going to go this route; I do recommend that you forget all about my number three reason for loving this place. The margaritas are insanely consistent here. Consistently delicious, and consistently strong enough to knock you on your @ss. It's a 10-15 minute walk from Alewife. Between the spicy Mexican food and the tequila you won't even notice the cold.
(4)Chelsea T.
While it is one of the better Mexican places I've been to in the city, it gets major points deducted for serving, what I believe to be, Cheez Whiz for their queso. Whatever I put in my mouth was not real cheese. I had to send it back. Also, it was $5! Atmosphere here is nice, food is alright, and it's overpriced. Wouldn't go again.
(2)Ed M.
Came in here after a friend told us he enjoyed coming here for Mexican food. Placed in a residential area of Cambridge near the Commuter Rail tracks (the train was coming as we left) we decided to enjoy the nice weather and eat outside. We were seated faster than I expected to be on a warm weekend night. The service was very friendly and the margaritas were great. The salsa was a bit watery but tasted nice. Our food was out pretty quick and everything tasted nice, we went for the tamales and the tostada and both were great. We would definitely come back.
(4)Linda E.
This place is awesome, and they have a parking lot! It is kind of far away, but worth the travel. I had a coupon for $15 off which pretty much paid for the tequila shots my friend and I had. I order the enchilada with mole sauce which was amazing!! The salsa was spicy that came with the chips and I love spicy! I liked this place and will return!
(5)Calli C.
On a recent federal holiday, while the world was still recovering from Snowpocalypse - the Snow Strikes Back, a friend and I wanted to grab lunch somewhere close and catch up. She suggested Jose's, which is pretty much in the most obscure location. It's less than a 10 minute walk from the Alewife T Station and it's got a big parking lot next to it, but in the end it's disguised as a brightly painted house in an all-residential neighborhood. Like I said, parking is super convenient, thanks to the parking lot next door, and we didn't have to wait to be seated at a high-top in the front of the restaurant. It's deceptively large, with several different dining rooms throughout the building. This would pose a bit of an inconvenience later on, because it was hard to flag down a server to take care of the check or bring over silverware, but it wasn't that big a deal, because we were having a good time talking and laughing. We decided to celebrate the holiday with some margaritas. Hoo-whee they were big and strong, like I like 'em! The salsa was clearly fresh pico de gallo which I appreciated. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with mole verde, because I had never heard of green mole and wanted to try it. My friend had the same thing, but with traditional mole. The food was timely, and a good sized portions, with rice and beans and a few greens on the side. I was a little disappointed that the chicken filling was a small portion and not that flavorful, especially compared to the overwhelming mole verde, which had a spicy and nutty flavor. It was delicious, but I just wished for more chicken and cheese! I was able to eat it all without feeling overly stuffed. This would be a great place for a UYE, what with the cheap solid food and great drinks!
(4)Melissa M.
the one star rating is based entirely on the food and nothing else - the servers were friendly and the place seemed cute enough, which was actually why i was drawn to stop in, despite warnings that the food was nothing to write home about. started out with a pitcher of margarita - it came in a plastic cafeteria style pitcher with no ice except what was in our glasses, needless to say, it tasted like warm lime juice after 20 minutes. the pitcher of sangria at least had ice in it, but sucked flavor-wise. you'd think after 2 pitchers of booze split between 3 people i'd at least catch a small buzz. nope. the queso was velveeta with some salsa thrown in. the burritos were gross too - the meat was not seasoned nor were the tortillas warmed or grilled for that matter. the rice was what you'd get in a hospital cafeteria if it were taco day. the kicker was desert: FRIED ice cream. FRIED ice cream means a scoop of sealtest covered in stale rice krispies - not fried whatsoever, and not kidding. *side note - if you plan on sitting outside take a dramamine as the tables are all placed on a slanted sidewalk, like, really slanted. i wouldn't even get a groupon for here. FAIL.
(1)Christian H.
Ok, so apparently some people enjoyed the poetic review of Oasis Brazillian BBQ, so I think I want to try it for Jose's. This place was really great as well. I am surprised I had never been here before. Here we go! Hola, foodie ones and gather to hear That Mexican food in Cambridge has always been near It is tucked away by the tracks of trains So you gotta check this out, a delicious domain A nice little colorful, cozy atmosphere you will see Good vibes, good service it is the place to be The place is small but has a lot to thats so tasty So take your time with the menu and don't be so hasty I myself tasted a delcious steak quesadilla Rolled and grilled in a in lovely flour tortilla With cheese inside with a sides of rice and beans So tasty and a different type of quesadilla I had ever seen My lady had a steak salad with such delicious meat Grilled with spices that I had to taste and eat Everything was very fresh and full of flavor Therefore, we took our time and had to savor So if you're in the mood for some good Mexican Go to Jose's, taste the food, you'll become a fan A solid place to check out and have a bite With lots of choices to choose from, it'll just feel right.
(4)matt m.
s'alright, s'alright. The Margaritas are definitely the strong point of the menu. Salsa is a bit watery but I like you can order it mild/medium/hot, also the case for most dishes. Is that a good thing or do they just add extra spice at the last minute? We ordered the fajitas, which taste exactly like those at Border or any other tex-mex place for that matter. Also had a taco, enchilada, and a flauta- all tasted the same. Only came here because of a New England Perks coupon, plenty of better mexican places around so we won't be back soon.
(2)Mark J.
I would quite possibly give Jose's a 5 star rating if the service was better and if the medium salsa had more flavor. The hot salsa was excellent, the chips were just out of the fryer and very good, and the food and small yet fun atmosphere were great too. I actually enjoyed my green pumpkinseed mole enchilada's more than any other enchiladas I have had anywhere. They were just chicken, with no cheese, with green mole on top and they were excellent!!! The chorizo is excellent too, which I had as a side taco. We also ordered some guacamole on the side and it was fresh and full of tomatoes and cilantro. The service wasn't bad, but we had to wait too long for our first napkins and for refills of water. That is why I couldn't give it a 5. Also, when you first walk in, you will think the place is about half the size that it is, but don't be afraid to ask for seating in the other half (it was offered to us, so we didn't even have to ask). I can't wait to try the new restaurant for lunch that he is opening in Wayland!
(4)Scott M.
As a West Texan, I know Mexican food. And this stuff was pretty good. I had a burrito and it was pretty tasty. Chips and salsa were great also. Can't go wrong for Mexican in Cambridge!
(4)Mister Chub S.
Sadly, I was really underwhelmed by my entire Jose's experience. I sat outside on the small patio which was nice. There was also a live singer who was really waling on his guitar. We started with the chips and salsa. The chips were good but the salsa was too watery. Ordered the tinga (chipotle chicken) sopes $6.95 It was a good portion (3 big spoes) for a small order but the chicken and mesa were way underseasoned. I also ordered the spinach and cheese enchiladas with mole but the flavor of the mole wasn't anything special- neither were the bland rice and beans that came along side it. I had the chili relleno $ with salsa verde as well and that was tasty but the cheese inside wasn't completely melted through. Service was slow but it started getting busy when we sat down so that's understandable. All in all, disappointing.
(2)Matt T.
I'm not a big fan of spicy food, or at least my stomach isn't, so what am I doing in a Mexican restaurant you may ask? Well, something keeps me returning here, certainly the food - i usually get carne asada or ribs, but I love the atmosphere, which is a big deal to me, very colorfully painted, you can't miss it in the daytime. Sometimes there's a musician wandering the restaurant playing guitar and singing. STRONG drinks. I can't help but notice the condos being built across the street. It shouldn't take long for whatever yuppies move in there to complain about the "light and noise" across the street.
(4)Chris G.
The skinny: cool vibe decent food - I like some of the sauces drinks are good late lunch at the bar watching world cup last year was cool
(3)ancaruci C.
A nicely decorated place with their own parking lot (great!). The service was really good, the girls deserve 5 stars. But the food was... let's say no what I expected. I had read good reviews, so I was envisioning something out of the standard americanized mexican restaurant, but Jose failed me. It means that the food is good but nothing special. The flavors were too mild for typical mexican food ( I have been in Mexico, believe me), and it is way too expensive in comparison to other places I have been before.
(2)Ashley P.
I completely enjoyed my experience at Jose's! We went on a Thursday night and there was no wait. The chips and salsa were delicious, but my boyfriend (who loves spicy food) said that it could have been spicier. I ordered the flank steak with rice and a potato flauta. It was delicious! It was the perfect blend of spicy and sweetness. The flauta was also delicious. I got a side of mole sauce and it was superb. My boyfriend got the ribs and shrimp. He was a little nervous about getting ribs at a Mexican place, but he was very pleasantly surprised. He said they were some of the best ribs he has had in a long time. The shrimp were good as well, but were overpowered by the delicious ribs. Total meal was less than $30. Service was good, nothing spectacular but all of our needs were taken care of and everyone was smiling. I will be back!
(4)Luis F.
The best neighborhood restaurant this side of Cambridge. Excellent service, friendly staff, bottomless warm chips, bottomless salsa (your choice of mild, medium, hot), and overall good genuine non-TexMex food in reasonable non-excessive portions. Good margaritas also! Who knew a restaurant in a quiet part of North Cambridge will be a mecca for good food?! When in North Cambridge, look no further!
(5)D H.
I give this a meh. The service was great. The food just meh. It's straight-forward Tex Mex, but not particularly memorable.
(3)Natasha A.
Highly mediocre. Fast and friendly service though.
(2)Kana O.
We used to come here all the time and loved it.. but now I will never return and here's why.. We went on a Saturday night and we expected a wait since we went with a party of 6. We walked in at 7pm and were told it would be 45min to 1hr wait. We said we'll wait at the bar so we all ordered drinks and waited to be seated. 1hour later, we asked where we were on the waiting list and they said it would be another 30min. This should have been a sign to leave... but since we had already spent an hour there, we just waited. 30min later, we asked how they're doing and they said "you're next. there's a table that's just finishing up so it will be another 5min". 10min later we were told "The guests are done eating but we're just waiting for them to pay and leave".. Another 15min later, they said "Now we're waiting on another table to finish so that we have enough seating for 6".. at this point we were extremely unhappy and said we're leaving but then they finally said, no, your table is ready now. We were seated and we ordered food. 30min later, all the tables around us that ordered food around the same time or after us had already gotten their foods, but we hadn't.. about 15min later we finally got our food and it was COLD and tasted horrible... clearly it had been sitting in the window for a while! Needless to say, I will not be returning.
(1)Dessa R.
Before I reveal a detailed opinion about Jose's, allow me to say that I do not take the search for decent Mexican food in Boston lightly. In my experience, the Mexican food in Boston has been just downright disappointing. I don't even care how authentic it is, I just want it to be GOOD. So that being said... I'm surprised to read all the negative reviews about Jose's, because it was the first Mexi meal I've had in Boston that didn't end with a sad little frown, and a snotty anecdote about my days in Arizona and New York City. The waitress was pleasant, the chips and salsas were fresh, and the food was really pretty good. Unlike many other Mexican establishments in Beantown, the chicken they used was all white meat. It wasn't dirt cheap, but it didn't come close breaking the bank either. They even have a parking area, which is always a bonus. Two criticisms- the place is in no-man's land, and a nearly impossible venture for non-drivers. Secondly, the pitcher of margaritas, was a little salty, and needlessly tart. Not a big deal, but worth mentioning. OK, so Jose's isn't the end of my search for good Mexican in Boston. But at least now when I get a serious Mexi craving, I have somewhere pretty tasty to go.
(4)Elle M.
I am Latina and from Los Angeles. I don't know if this makes me an authority on Mexican food, but I like to delude myself into thinking so. I had dinner here tonight with my partner and his mom. They both ordered combo plates of sorts, and i ordered the posole. Let me tell you, i've made better posole at home with some Goya hominy and some leftover chicken. Their plates were not bad, but not great. The autentica margaritas were just so so. Tasted like limeaid with a teeny bit of tequila. I could have forgiven all of this if the prices weren't so high. When I saw the prices I really expected larger portions. Nope. For reals, the prices did not justify the quality of the food. All the servers were very nice, however, they were super slow. I'm not going back nor would I recommend this to anyone I care about. If I want Latin food, I'm stickin' to my East Boston hangouts.
(2)Emily F.
I always have a solidly good time at this place, complete with a giant and deliciously unhealthy meal (as Mexican-American was intended). I'm always happy to have the waitstaff converse with you in Spanish. Always gets a few laughs. Live music on Fridays ! He's great! House margaritas are tasty, the chips are salty, but nothing amazing. *I tried a chef special 1/21/11 that I did not like. Some giant bowl of grilled meat. I would rather have had a burrito. :) Come hungry. Leave happy.
(4)Laura D.
I have been here twice both times with my bff and it is pretty tasty. They are in a super colorful house and have a pretty extensive menu. While I would not describe the food as authentic it was yummy. The first time was for dinner complete with margaritas, burritos and tacos. It was very good. A little pricey but hey it was fun. My only complaint is the margaritas where a little weak. We came back again for lunch on NYE and each got some flautas. An order of potato and a pork to share. They where delicious. I am not sure about authentic, after all the had feta cheese. Last I heard feta cheese is not mexican. But hey it was good. The beans are always good and I am not a huge fan of their rice but it is ok. I did not get a napkin or silverware this time. Our server was MIA and I have to say the service is not what it was the first time.
(3)Anna T.
It was fine. Not great, not bad. Fajita salad sounded great, had raw peppers and onions. Salsa was fair. Decent prices, fresh food.
(3)Matthew K.
good food good mole enchilada's good margarita's YUM ! YUM! YUM!
(5)Jon W.
Tamales, stuffed poblanos, delicious margaritas, fantastic service, endless chips and salsa, and A PARKING LOT IN CAMBRIDGE? This is a serious hidden gem.
(4)Jorge F.
meh... it was OK- not worth writing home about; however a good fit for Gringos craving Mexican food. Cool house setting, but kind of awkward... 3 visits was enough for me- La Posada in Arlington gets my vote (along with Tu y Yo in Medford/ Somerville).
(2)Marie R.
Jose's has pretty standard Mexican food, good but nothing to write home about. The staff is friendly however service can be kind of slow. The decor could use an upgrade, it's a little shabby.
(3)Kate S.
The food is pretty good, but the drinks are great. You have to get the pitcher of margaritas! The server we had was super cute and really nice to us! The wait was long though.
(4)June Y.
only ordered takeout once. the food is terrible, over salted and bland. avoid wasting your money there.
(1)Jef S.
Somewhat off the beaten path in Cambridge, Jose's nonetheless manages to deliver good Mexican food like other more popular places, but without busting your wallet. It's located in a funky area near Fresh Pond Mall, definitely not near major T areas (though you could theoretically walk it from Alewife Red line, but it would be a pain in the ass). Jose's is not as fancy as Ole! (nor does it use punctuation as artfully) or Casa Romero, but it's also not the neighborhood taco stand. It's a good mid range alternative...you want to go out to a somewhat romantic place on date night, but you don't want to dress up and spend $20 on chips and guacamole. About the guac, it's as good as Ole!, and you can get it as spicy or not as you like. The restaurant is not jumping crowded like other places, either, though weekend nights get tough. I recommend any enchilada dish or any tamales. Some offerings are kind of Americanized, but overall they do a very nice job here. The servers here are very nice and always accommodating.
(4)Shannon F.
Somewhere between Huron Village, Porter Square, Alewife, and the commuter train tracks lies a mysterious little mexican restaurant. Nestled between apartments, triple-deckers and town-houses, perhaps a mile from any other restaurant sits Jose's. Jose's provided excellent service: water, chips, drink order within seconds- like a well-oiled mexican machine. The margaritas are perfect and for an east-coast girl the food was as authentic as any I've tasted. Do yourself a favor and find this place.
(4)Kathy P.
I hesitate to write a review for fear that his great little restaurant will be found. This cozy spot has great quality food. You can choose from mild, medium or hot for your salsa. The adobo dishes have a wonderful smokiness that makes the meal very enjoyable. There are at least four margaritas that are available without the sour mix. Since i am not a fan of sour mix, this is a highlight! If you enjoy tasting tequila, you can select from a few different flights of tequila. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. In addition, there is a parking lot that always has plenty of parking.
(4)Karen S.
The food here is amazing! But more than that, the service is reliable and fast. I placed a huge delivery order for our office and Carlos and his team prepared a fantastic spread and even delivered it in the middle of a huge snow storm! I have never been to the restaurant, but I will definitely go there the next time I want tasty Mexican fare!
(5)Erica D.
I have only gone to Jose's once. My friend gave it such rave reviews that I thought I should give it a chance. Price: The prices seemed pretty reasonable and they give nice portions. Decor: This place is crazy awesome, the restaurant is in a house. Mexican inspired art on the walls, colorful tile everywhere. Nothing matches, but it all seems to mix well and have an authentic feel. The tables and chairs in the section I sat in were very high, but I was comfortable sitting facing the bar and TV. Unfortunately it was near the door, so every time someone came in, I felt a breeze. Service: Our server was very polite, he dropped off some salsa and chips, took our drink order and didn't mind that we were still looking at the menu the third time he came around. Food/Presentation: I figured an enchilada would be a pretty safe bet-- since anything with cheese in/on/around it is a win-- but looking through the menu, I couldn't really find one that would suite my taste. So I ordered the one that was on special. Well, when it came out it seriously looked like a crepe drenched in chocolate sauce drizzled with white stuff. It was pretty, but I wasn't sure it was my meal. Upon tasting it I realized it was mashed black beans on the top (with some white drizzle sauce that I couldn't identify). The tinga chicken on the inside was really good; it had a nice flavor and color. I definitely won't get the same meal again, but I will return to try something else. Location: It's hard to find since it's in some house in Cambridge. On the plus side, there was plenty of parking in the lot next to the house. Recap: Price: 5/5 Decor: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food/Presentation: 4/5 Location 3/5
(4)Elizaron D.
Been there twice and I'll return many more times. This restaurant does simple and tasty food in a very nice cozy setting. The staff are consistently friendly and very helpful if you have any questions about what to order etc. Not much more to say other than it has my recommendation
(5)Eva F.
This sounds dorky, but this is what 4 years in Boston have done to me: I LOVE the parking lot. Ahhhh. A real parking lot. Don't have to park near anybody else if you don't want to. (Watch, I'll get run over or murdered in the parking lot, next time I come to Jose's.) The food is pretty good. As someone else mentioned, they have a really tasty mole. And of course it's hard not to fill up on chips and salsa. The drinks are too expensive for me to buy. So that's a problem. But oh well, I'll be the designated driver to the PARKING LOT! HA!
(4)Bhuvana H.
Two stars for the service, four stars for the food, so an average of three stars. We went there with a fairly large group (6 adults, 3 kids) on Halloween night after an hour of trick or treating. We were seated somewhat awkwardly in their back room with a couple tables next to a booth, but it worked ok. Everyone was hungry so we ordered as quickly as possible. The food came out pretty quickly, which was good. And maybe it was just because we were hungry, but it tasted pretty good. The margaritas were also well made and tasty. After we had gotten through most of our dinner, things seemed to fall apart with the service. We had to ask four times for our check before they'd bring it to us. We did hear some yelling from the bar area; apparently they had to deal with a patron who had clearly had way too much to drink. But it would have been nice if they could've kept one waiter in the back room to actually pay attention to the groups there. I'd probably go back again if I was in the neighborhood, but not otherwise.
(3)Meg M.
My husband and I are regulars here and always enjoy! Pros: really good Mexican food overall (I love the steak flautas and my husband likes their super burritos), EXCELLENT margaritas (and a great variety as well), really great and authentic desserts (I HIGHLY recommend their fried ice cream), not a far drive, and their own parking lot (yes! a parking LOT!) Cons: reservations are usually needed for dinner or weekend dining (you can do them online), salsa is a bit unpredictable (but we've found the most consistent and best tasting to be the medium spicy), tables are set up a bit close (as the space itself is quite small) All in all, a great little Mexican Restaurant! I would recommend to all my friends.
(4)Curtis M.
Best mex in mass (hands down)
(4)John D.
I love this place .. when I am really hungry this is one of the best places near Huron Village to go eat. They have parking and the food and service are always FANTASTIC.
(4)Billie M.
I went to Jose's a week ago since they had a special Groupon that I purchased ($20 for $40). It seemed like a great deal and I was craving Mexican so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. First let me describe the place... We went on a thursday night and the place was really busy (not sure if it was because of the coupon or if that's their normal traffic). The location is... interesting. We parked in a parking lot next to the train tracks in what looked like suburban Cambridge (not a place you'd expect to find a Mexican restaurant). The restaurant, which very well might be just a house, consists of two floors. The first is the bar area with some seating and upstairs is more seating, where we sat for dinner. The tables were wobbly, the menus were messy (someone spilled their salsa in there), the staff seemed frazzled and the floor was dirty. Judging this place on looks alone, some might describe it as "unique" to be polite. On to the food... The salsa we ordered was quite soupy, so being a chunky salsa girl myself I was really let down. I ordered taquitos for an appetizer which were crunchy and delicious (my favorite part of the meal). For dinner my boyfriend ordered the Enchiladas Verde which were very good, and I ordered the Enchiladas en Adobo which was okay except the sauce tasted a little burnt. For dessert we had sopapillas which was nothing fancy, and we probably didn't need any more food at that point. Overall it was an okay experience. The location is really not convenient, especially if you don't have a car so although I wouldn't mind exploring more of the menu, I don't think I'll be making the trip back there anytime soon.
(3)Lori S.
I made a reservation online and was seated almost immediately upon entering the restaurant. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. The food was wonderful. I had the Camarones al Mojo de Ajo which was delicious. My son had the Barbecued Shrimp and my husband had the chicken tacos. All were equally satisfied and the mark of excellence was that there were no leftovers to take home which is very unusual for us. We will return.
(4)Mimi J.
I love this place so much! The staff is friendly and the food is seriously good.
(5)Gregory S.
Jose's Margaritas were very good but the food was average Mexican fare. My fiance had a dish with mole on it and that which good.
(3)S M.
The chicken was rubbery. It was either really cheap chicken or had a high fat content in my burrito. The service was fair, not great. Some of the staff are more concerned about using their iphones or devices and talking amongst themselves rather than serving customers in a proper manner. They left dirty dishes on the table and then served desert with the dirty dishes on the table- never wiped down the table either. This is all basic 101 "how to run a restaurant". The management and owner need to start paying attention. Biggest downfall is the restaurant business is employees/owners start to settle in and don't take notice on day to day operations.
(2)D M.
I dig Jose's after our first outing here last week. I share my birthday with a good friend, and we are known as the Mexican Birthday Twins amongst our friends, so what else could be better for us on our birthday than drinking tequila and eating enchiladas? There were eleven members in our party, and we were seated promptly and our reservation was set up perfectly, which was great. We had waters and chips waiting for us, and once we were seated the waitress brought over a mild and a hot salsa.....the hot was pretty mild, but it was still very tasty. I ended up ordering the steak enchiladas with the verde sauce, and the sauce was amazing-it was nice, green, and tangy from the tomatillos and jalepenos. The steak was nice and tender, and the torillas were very fresh. I love refried beans, but I really didn't like theirs. They were kind of bland and mushy. I think that the beans were higher in fat that I am used to in refried beans. The rice had assorted veggies in it, and was fluffy and flavorful. Before I forget, the margaritas!! I had a scorpion margarita, which was made from fresh limes, good tequila, and Cointreau. It was very yummy. We were served some birthday desserts, and I wasn't really into it. It was fried ice cream, which didn't seem fried.....it just seemed rolled in corn flakes. It wasn't a bad flavor, just not what I was expecting. The service was very friendly, but because we were tucked away upstairs I feel like we weren't checked up on quite as much....we didn't need much attention, but a water refill would have been good. While it's not cheap Mexican, it's good Mexican. I really enjoyed the enchiladas, which were around $12-13. The gigantic margarita was about $12, which is completely reasonable. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Larry C.
I have been going here since the early days when the portions were huge, had that more homemade authentic feel, and was reasonably priced . Now the rice is nicely placed on the dish, with a small portion of beans, and sometimes even a sliver of orange as garnish. I give it 3 stars because it has moved away from the great Jose's of old when it was the closest place around that was as good as Mexican joints in Cali.
(3)Julie S.
I have mixed feelings about Jose's. On the one hand, it is far from authentic Mexican food. On the other hand, the restaurant itself is cute and pleasant to hang out in, which makes it better for "date night" than most of the other Mexican restaurants I tend to frequent. Plus, you can make a reservation on Open Table so you know you won't have to wait. The chips and salsa are always tasty, and the servers are happy to bring seconds. They'll even bring separate salsa for my husband and I, since I like mild and he likes hot. I haven't been thrilled with the margaritas. They're expensive and aren't that strong, so I only tried them once. For an appetizer, you can't go wrong with the taquitos. They're delicious and filling, which you may need because the entree portions are not all that generous. I like the Mexican Flag enchiladas. They're fun and festive. Service is variable. The last time we went we had a great, attentive server. The time before that our server was awful and it was a few months before we ventured back to Jose's.
(3)Tony K.
Jose's - Been there on 2 occations. Food was good both times. Drinks forgetable. Service poor. A group of 6 of us sat upstairs. It was on the later side and the dining room was not packed. They had mexican discovery channel or something on a big screen TV. I swear it took 20 minutes for every stage of server/customer interaction. Get seated - wait 20 minutes. Waiter comes with chips and salsa, takes drink orders - wait 20 minutes. Drinks come, take dinner orders - wait 20 minutes. Get more chips - wait 20 minutes. Finally get servered dinner - I think you get the point. I *would* come back if there were no other mexican around, but there are enough places for me to keep searching for great mex that I don't think I will be back to Jose's any time soon.
(2)Bob B.
I have been going to Jose's for years even when "Jose" was an Irish guy who opened the place after learning how to cook Mexican in the Navy. The menu has classed up a bit since then... but I still miss him. I took 5 other people here the other night. They had us in a room to ourselves since it was a bit late. At times it was hard to find our waitress but it wasn't a disaster. We ordered lots of food... too much to mention. We also ordered lots of Margaritas. The final bill was about $210. The food was very good but the Margaritas were pretty weak. All in all, it was a good night but not great.
(3)Jolene S.
I was not impressed. My friend liked this more than Ole in Inman (I haven't been there) but I thought Jose's didn't hold a light to Tu Y Yo in Somerville. The chips, salsa, and black bean soup were good but the horchata and sopes were not that great. Better luck elsewhere.
(2)Joan E.
The food here is tasty, but best not to show up within an hour of closing time. If you get there before that you can expect a solid, tasty meal. A little difficulty getting the order right (we asked for no sour cream but got it anyway) but it didn't tarnish our enjoyment.
(4)Ira H.
This is a great little charming Mexican place we found through Groupon.com We started out with the best Margarita I've ever had. They take them seriously here. It was $14 as well so.. only had 1. Service was good and the waiter knew the menu and helped with recommendations. We had the Guacamole with chopped up hot peppers in it for an appetizer. It was amazing and fresh. One big complaint here was the chips are just OK. They seem like they are either not home made or old or from a bag. For entrees, we had the fish in a sauce which came with rice and black beans. We also had the marinated chicken mole burrito. The mole was perfect and the burrito had some type of cheese in it I believe which was also excellent. I will definitely return.
(5)M B.
Shelves full of tequila choices, full plates of tasty food and friendly waitstaff! Parking is easy and safe. The margaritas are fabulous, whether small or larger.count on bringing leftovers home as the servings are quite large! Quaint bar in front room, which adds to the ambience! Right down Rindge Ave and surprise, a great Mexican spot. Enjoy!!
(4)Stephanie G.
A solidly good Mexican meal. As previously mentioned, the location is strange. One minute you're walking on a strictly residential street, and the next you are accosted with the bright neon lights that so familiar to those who love Mexican food. We were seated immediately on the patio, and the wait staff was very attentive. There is nothing artsy-fartsy about this restaurant (or, at least what I saw of it), all the silverware and stuff is straightforward and home-y. I like it. Plus they give you two things of salsa with your chips - mild and hot. Cool. I got something off the "home cooked" part of the menu, and I had some concerns about the spiciness (having just been, literally, seriously injured by a hot pepper at another neighborhood Mexican restaurant. I ain't weak, but from now on I have learned to be cautious). They assured me I would be safe, and I am pleased to say they were right. For me, maybe because I seemed like a wuss, it was not very spicy. It was Sunday, so we did skip the margaritas, but I would love to go back and try them. There are a whole lot of pitchers that range from $30-40, so...props. I think my friends and I could have a lot of fun there.
(4)Erica K.
My husband and I found Jose's on Groupon Now...I believe they're always up there so definitely whip out your smartphone before paying full price. Anyway, they were o.k., don't be fooled by the copious accolades-a lot of them are things they printed off of the internet like a 5 star rating from Yelp even though it was based off of 40 reviews in 2008 (I'm sure their staff was primarily responsible). The salsa and chips was the best part...and to be honest, I don't even remember what I ordered because its not the type of place that you talk about after you leave. Definitely not a spot I would recommend, even with a Groupon, there's MUCH better Mexican food in Boston.
(3)Heather B.
It's very, very hard to find good Mexican food in Boston. The fact that this restaurant is off some side street and painted purple, yellow, and other seizure inducing color combos is a good indication that the food and experience is going to be light years better than any burrito chain in town. It is. Burrito Suizo is a personal fave.
(4)Janak S.
Their chips and salsa are amazing. Make sure you ask for the super spicy special salsa, it tastes much better than the ordinary stuff they bring to your table. The jalapeno poppers are the best I've ever had! They are breaded and resemble an armadillo. The enchilada verde was only so-so, maybe because I was full by then. The Mexican ice cream was awesome! Cinnamon is a wonderful drug =)
(4)Erin M.
Located in a more "suburban" part of Cambridge, Jose's is a semi-hidden gem. People know about it but it's still tucked away in a residential neighborhood and even has a parking lot that's free and larger than the restaurant itself. Jose's offers patio, bar, and restaurant seating. Since it was dark and raining out, my brother and I opted for the regular restaurant part (kitschy but charming). There are maybe only 12 table in there so on busier nights I would guess that reservations are a good idea. The hostess did ask us if we had them. Pre-set at your table are chips and you are given the option of mild, medium, or hot salsa. All are fresh and the hot is pretty hot and definitely delicious. We could not stop inhaling them. The menu consists of a range of Mexican fare from burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, all the way to various soups and chiles rellenos. Heaven! I love real Mexican food and have been desperately seeking anything resembling New Mexican or Mexican food since having been to NM two years ago. Having said that, I was elated to the point of startling the waitress when I saw sopapillas on the menu. My brother opted for a quesadilla with tinga, a type of seasoned chicken, and our waitress was resourceful and seemed sort of ok with answering his questions regarding how spicy and onion-y it was. I had the enchiladas verde after the waitress recommended them just a bit over the adobo ones. Our plates came out quickly. The food was fresh and had a beautiful presentation. Each came with a small portion of beans and rice. Actually, the portions of beans and rice were too small, about two spoonfuls each. For entrees that cost over $12 they could have spared a little. However, the beans were a bit watery and the rice was white rice. It was fluffy white rice though but I don't know how it was all that authentic. Each of the main courses were a perfect portion size though and very flavorful. The chicken in each dish was moist and seasoned just right. I wish the enchiladas had a bit more spice to them, but the "verde" was from tomatillos more than jalapenos, so I should not have been as surprised as I was. Still, a great meal that was full of flavor. When we finished the waitress checked to see if we did want the sopapillas, which we did. It came out a bit different than the ones I have had in New Mexico, but was still awesome. Sopapillas is essentially fried dough that is crispy and then lightly covered with honey and in this case sugar and cinnamon as well. Yum! This dessert can be split from 1-4 people...It's enough to feed 2-3 in my opinion since it's so good. With a big menu and those sopapillas, I will definitely be back! My brother raved about the experience as well and it's difficult to get him to get going on stuff like this sometimes, so that is saying something.
(4)Rimi C.
I've always biked by this adorable place and wanted to try it and so just the other day I finally did. The staff are really kind and served me delicious salsa and tortilla chips right away. The place is decorated really well and it has a lot of charm. The other reviews here talk about the margheritas being weak and I would totally agree. I had two margheritas and I was barely buzzed, normally I'm tipsy after just one. At $10 each it's a waste of money. However the mole sauce was awesome and the food was decent. I'm glad I tried it, worth the trip but likely not a place I'll seek out to go back to. Hence, my two star rating.
(2)Dave M.
Great service, solid menu. The food was a little bland the first time I came, but the meal I had the second time more than made up for it. The salsa could stand to be a little spicier, however it's flavorful, and thick. The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce... oh man. Those are the best I've had in a LONG, LONG time. The service was great, and friendly. All in all, this place is a win, even if I have to have friends with me in order to buy a pitcher or margaritas...
(4)Jes H.
I don't expect that much of Mexican food here - Anna's is a joke, if you ask me. I love SF Mission-style burritos, and I grew up on Tex-Mex (the good kind, in Oklahoma). I haven't found anything here that blows me away. But Jose's is pretty good. Chips were freshly-made, salsa was good. Hot was hot. The burrito and enchiladas we ordered were good. I'd like to try the margaritas, but couldn't last week as I'm about 9 months pregnant. However, DO NOT ORDER the queso dip. Disgraceful. It was like powdered nacho cheese sauce from the movie theater. Jose's is a little pricey compared to better Mexican and Tex-Mex from the source, but hey, we're pretty far from Mexico and from Texas. I'd go back here, especially after I'm able to partake in a margarita on the patio.
(3)Rehan B.
Great ambience and delicious food. Make sure you make reservations if you are planning to head there on Friday nights or the weekend. We tried the Carne Ascada and the Enchiladas con Mole (tastes better with fish than chicken). Worth going back to try their other dishes!
(4)Jennifer K.
The only reason we gave it two instead of one is that it's got a great atmosphere. It's actually with a heavy heart that I write how awful my used-to-be standard neighborhood restaurant has gone DOWN a big steep hill. Twice in one week we went because we had groupons we needed to use before they expired. The food took forever to come, it was flavorless, soggy, and cold. When they changed management they were great but now, well, I'm just sad.
(2)Hanh R.
It's nestled in a neighborhood of homes. I love the decor of the restaurant, fun colors and wonderful music playing. It is a very small restaurant and most of the tables seat only four. The salsa was great! It is hard to find a places that have hot salsa. Although it was not hot enough for my taste, it still was not mild!! The chips are great because they are crisp and unsalted. I ordered the tamale dinner which was excellent. The service was fast, we did not wait too long after ordering before our dinner appeared.
(4)Eric W.
While Jose's has a decently eclectic menu, you'd be doing yourself a disservice without ordering a MOLE dish. Jose's has some of the best MOLE. Period. I'm personally a big fan of the chicken tinga mole enchiladas. And the best dish I've ever eaten was a three-mole sauce enchilada special that left the taste buds craving for more. And you can wash down your mole with a margarita. Jose's has an eclectic margarita menu, and they don't skimp on the top-shelf tequila. Though their margaritas are a little on the pricey side, and will put you back ~$10. Jose's is off the beaten path, but is definitely worth the trip. With its large parking lot, getting there by car is a snap! Or it's a very pleasant 15 minute walk from Porter square.
(5)Francesca R.
You gotta love a bright purple restaurant that comes out of nowhere in a residential area. I love a place that doesn't take itself too seriously. The walls and chairs are all painted in neon primary colors. Orange! Blue! Purple! Yellow! Prepare for your retinas to be blasted out. In the upstairs dining area there is a lovingly framed poster of a Mexican Homer Simpson. 'Nuff said. The food is a whole lotta all right. The guacamole leaves a bit to be desired (flavor, specifically) but the salsa is nice and spicy. The pitchers of margaritas are epic. They do not come with any ice so you are getting about seven or eight glasses of undiluted tequila happiness. Yay! The entrees are solid--we always clean our plates. Service is extremely friendly and fun, albeit sometimes MIA. No matter--the combination of great food and festive atmosphere have created an army of loyal patrons. This place is worth going out of your way for, just remember to make reservations.
(4)Jessi L.
Jose's is located within a 45 second walk of my current apartment. The restaurant earns an immediate extra star for convenience as I can drink as many margarita's and sangria as I can shove down my throat and still make it home safe and sound. I am a fan of the food and have found their chile relleno to be by far my favorite of anything on the menu. The margaritas were, unfortunately, disappointing. My friends and I decided to get a pitcher and what came out resembled ecto-plasm from Ghostbusters. It was a serious struggle for my friends and I to finish the pitcher. Thankfully on a second dining trip I tried the sangria. It was the perfect amount to split and packed a mean, yet delightful, punch. Service is a little spotty. There is no place to wait for a table so you are crammed into a hallway in the front where servers are constantly going back and forth. It's a little awkward, but the benefit of living so close comes into play because I can call, make a reservation, then call right before to check if there is still a wait. Our waitress on my first trip was a little spacey. She brought out our bill before our meal. I'm chalking it up to her being very busy. Also, depending on what time you get there, there's a mariachi singer whose is very cool. I recommend Jose's as a neighborhood eatery or if you have friends in the area and want a bite to eat. Not sure if I would trek out from outside of Cambridge to check it out, though.
(4)Toni S.
Alright, this is serious business. I am from Colorado and you can get some of the best authentic Mexican food ever there. So, living in other states that are not minorly populated by Mexican culture is interesting for what I am used to. You can get some Puerto Rican food here in Boston that will knock you off your ass, but I am talking about good Mexican food. It's hard to find and I crave it! This place IS as good as it gets here! We are talking fresh squeezed lime margaritas, freshly made guacamole, the carne asada with lime squeezed over the top is poetic and the tamales--perfect! Totally comparable to what you get in Colorado at the markets and a select few restaurants. Almost all of the appetizers are delectable, I can say that because our party had almost all of them and two different pitchers of different types of margaritas, which were both fresh and lovely. This is gourmet Mexican at it's best and I highly recommend this place. If you don't like Jose's you don't like Mexican!
(5)cmk s.
You call this Mexican? Their margaritas are ALWAYS weak! And I really don't recognize anything in this place as Mexican. Maybe an watered-down version of Mexican. Post Script: To be fair, after I wrote this review, the owner contacted me and asked that I come in and try them again. I am impressed that he cared enough to write to me and ask me specifically what I did not like.
(2)Louie M.
Very spicy. Very good. Unique and authentic - unlike other Mexican restaurants.
(5)Jessica M.
Why is this place open while Maria Bonitas is closed? I think this place relies on it's atmosphere and decor (lots of lights and kitschy Mexican stuff hanging all over the walls) to make up for it's incredibly sub par to abysmal food. The thing is, all the super WASPY Cantabridgians eat this kind of stuff up. I came to Jose's with a friend of mine last summer, I don't remember what I ordered because it was so forgettable. What I do remember is that I don't think the mediocre quality of the meal matched the high price of the bill. Then a few weeks ago I decided to give it a second shot. I went with my boyfriend and I believe it was a Monday or Tuesday night. It was dead inside except for one other table. We both ordered the Carne Asada, and our waiter was pleasant enough. About a half hour later we were served. This was one of the first times I sent food back in years, and we both had to send our plates back. The steak was almost grey on the outside, and completely raw on the inside. I can maybe understand this I guess. I asked for it medium rare and with it being a very thin cut of steak it might be harder to judge how long to cook it. This wouldn't have been such a big deal except that the steak was ICE COLD. Not even like sitting out for hours at room temperature cold, like cold from a fridge cold. The rice and beans that went with it were also very cold. Which made me think, did they just serve me microwaved food? The plate was the hottest thing they served me. Or maybe they happened to put it on a plate that was fresh out of the washer and was warm, but I doubt it. My boyfriend's plate was completely identical to mine. So we sent them back and the waiter was apologetic. Less than 10 minutes later they brought out our new steaks that actually tasted like they were cooked to order. While the steaks were good (nothing to write home about) I happened to be sitting facing the kitchen and bar and every couple of minutes this guy that worked there would peak out from around the corner trying to be stealthy to look at us and probably gauge how we liked the new food. After about the fifth time it got really obnoxious. The bill with two meals and two drinks came to almost $70. I'd never come back here to eat. The one star would only be for the drinks which have at least been consistently tasty and strong. Still pricey though.
(1)Mathew S.
One of the best Mexican places around..Try the Churizo in anything and everything!
(5)Alison B.
Yumo! I have nothing negative to say about this place. The waitress was very nice and patient (as we were dining with our 13 month old) and the food was AMAZING! I ordered tamales with mole and they were the best tamales I have ever had. The Carlo margarita was delicious and had just enough kick to justify the price. My husband had the Feista Grande platter, and even items as simple as a taco were delicious. We will be back and we will look forward to it. They also have a great patio which we hope to check out in the summer.
(5)Orly M.
I dream about this place. The chips and salsa are addictive -- really it's because their salsa is SO GOOD. The frozen margaritas are also the best in town, and I especially love the frozern mango ones. I usually can't resist having 2 so maybe I'm not so qualified to write about the food... But DAMN it's tasty. We usually just split an order of the fajitas and they are tasty and light. I don't recommend the black bean soup, waaaay too bean-y. The atmosphere is great too. It reminds me of the restaurants I go to when i travel in Mexico, unlike most of the craptastic "Mexican" places around here.
(5)Meena V.
Great menu with lots of vegetarian options, good food and decent margaritas. The spicy salsa, actually spicy! I'd go there again for a dinner-and-drinks affair on a night when I just don't want to deal with driving and finding parking on a popular/snowy night in the city -- free hassle-free car park!
(3)Nick K.
Decent food, Great servers, however a bit pricey for the amount of food you get.
(3)Nicole P.
Please go here if you love Mexican food! The food is so delicious and not expensive. The ritas are also really yummy! On recent visits I had: Chef's special- I forget the exact name but it was described as displaying the 3 colors of the flag- AMAZING- it was pablano peppers breaded and steak (you can get chicken, veggies or ground beef) with this amazing cream, walnuts sauce and salad. I've also had the chimichanga- also very tasty. My gf loves the fajitas and the burritos are good too. The fried ice cream is a nice dessert too- mmmmm. This is one of my top 5 favorite Mexican places in MA!
(5)Steven P.
None have summarized my opinion of Jose's better than the Yelper whose review began with "NO WAY JOSE". Annie P., you couldn't be more correct. My two star rating for Jose's is an average, based on numerous dining experiences. In general, I've always been somewhat underwhelmed by Jose's food, drinks, atmosphere, and service. Each time, I simply paid my bill and walked away feeling as if I had been cheated somehow. Like an abusive relationship, I always assumed that I shared some (if not all) of the blame. Maybe I was expecting too much? Maybe I shouldn't have thought I should enjoy dining out? Maybe I'm just selfish and greedy? Feeling unworthy, I took a hiatus from Jose's in order to repair my damaged self-esteem. However, after my most recent trip to Jose's, it's become very apparent to me that Jose's has been abusing me (culinarily speaking) all this time. I was the victim, and it's time for me to stand up and defend my right to good food, good drinks, and good service! Let me guide you through my last meal at Jose's... I made an Open Table reservation for 7:45 PM on a Friday night. My wife and I arrived at 7:30 PM and we immediately checked in with the hostess. We were told that there was one party of two ahead of us, but we could wait at the bar if we wished, and she would come to us when our table was ready. In general, I enjoy the opportunity to have a drink prior to dinner. However, the bar at Jose's seats a maximum of four people, and three of those seats were taken. My wife took the last open seat and I stood beside her, only to get repeatedly elbowed by the diners at a high-top table that was placed unnecessarily close to the bar. With a forearm in my ribs, I order two margaritas for my wife and me. I never balk at paying for a well-made cocktail, but I do object to paying nearly $10 for the beverage that Jose's calls a margarita. To begin with, the bar had run out of sour mix, so I had to watch the bartender spoon powdered sour mix into a plastic container, fill it with water, shake it, taste it with said spoon, determine that the flavor was somehow incorrect, then repeat these steps until she was satisfied with the result. Unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied, and Jose's should be ashamed to charge $10 for what amounts to approximately $2 in cheap liquor and mixers. If margaritas are going to be one of your marquee beverages, then offer your customers a product that you can be proud to serve. While sipping the last drops of our insipid concoctions, I noticed that the hostess was repeatedly seating parties of two that were walking in without reservations. I approached her and told her that we were still waiting for our table, and she said that she could seat us immediately if we wanted to dine outside. It was now nearly 45 minutes after we arrived. Never once did she acknowledge that she had sat others, nor did she offer us an apology. We relented, and sat outside. The food at Jose's is simply okay. I wouldn't say that there is one dish that is prepared better here than at another restaurant in the greater Boston area. On the contrary, I would say that you can find much better food elsewhere. The decor is kitschy, the bathrooms are atrocious, and you are left with the impression that the owner believes that purple paint hides all imperfections. I will admit that the servers were very friendly and attentive, but in the end, this cannot make up for Jose's many shortcomings. Jose's, I am breaking up with you for good. And just so you know, you were never really all that and a bag of tortilla chips.
(2)Daniel M.
This would be a solid five stars if it weren't for the location. I like the spot, just can't get there easily without a car :-/ The decor is glorious. Hideous colors, sombrero shaped pottery, cacti, a menorah...? I don't get that part but whatev, loved it. Since it was Saturday the place was jumping and it was really hot in the dining room. Hopefully they clear that up before summer really kicks in. Otherwise I can picture it being miserable in there. I would still go. We ordered a pitcher of the authentico margaritas to share. $40. Ouch. Each of us said, "meh, this is weak". Each of us left toasty. It was a sneak attack, but a welcome one. They use fresh lime juice as made evident by the huge chunks of pulp that clogged up the straws. Split between four the pitcher was very much worth it. Salsa was tasty, though the hot was more mild and the mild was forgettable at best. I still wish we had ordered the guacamole en molcajeta (stone mortar and pestle). Next time. I ordered the spinach and cheese enchiladas con molé. The molé was damn near perfection. The spinach inside was a little much. Next time I'll do a more standard enchilada and 86 the spinach. The accompanying rice and beans were delicious and 100% vegetarian. Hoorah! Service was excellent. Not all up in your face but the water didn't run dry. Also, our server spoke to me in Spanish and allowed me to reply in Spanglish. That works for me. This place is worth every penny and the trouble in getting out there. It may be best that I can't eat there every day. Surely my waist will be the better for it.
(4)Lizzy B.
i gave Jose's three chances. got the spinach quesadilla plate on three different occasions (without the queso...so i guess we can just call it a "spinach-dilla") . anyhow, the first time was a take-out order and i was quite surprised how expensive it was for such a small thing...it came to $27 for two spinach quesadillas with extra salsa. it wasn't terrible, but tasted a little off to me so, i'm not sure i even finished mine. the second time was at the actual restaurant and i loved it. the spinach-dilla was crispy, flavorful and hearty. the beer probably helped, as well as the company we were with. but, still, it was good enough for me to consider giving Jose's one more try. sooooo...the third time was at the restaurant again. no beer to influence my experience this time. firstly, the service was extremely slow even though there were so few people seated. the server was nice enough but there was no apology or explanation for our extra long wait. then we noticed that the table that was seated after we had already put our orders in got their meals before we did. so maybe it wasn't the server as much as it was the kitchen. a single salad eventually arrived, even though we'd ordered two, which was just as well since it was $6 for a small plate of soggy iceberg lettuce with some flavorless tomatoes that had been over refrigerated. i think a truck-stop cafeteria salad is probably more flavorful. FINALLY we got our spinach-dillas and i think they must have ended up rushing to throw them together...they were very skimpy and under-cooked. not at all worth the wait and nothing like our previous experience (the one with the beer and the people). thankfully, the mini-side of black beans were pretty decent. probably not worth going back to Jose's just for the bean's tho. i can just pick up a can of those at Trader Jose's.
(2)Shane D.
I absolutely love this place! I go back time and time again for the great food and festive ambiance. I've read the few negative reviews here...it's important to remember this place is not trying to be a 4-star, upscale Boston restaurant. It is what it is... a local, family-owned, truly authentic Mexican joint. It's unfussy and unpretentious, but the food is consistently delicious at a great price. I've been there on dates and also w/ groups of friends, and it's always a fun, tasty experience. The service isn't always top-notch--these are not professional waiters, they're usually young people who speak English as a second language--but the servers are always super friendly and for the most part attentive. Yes, you may have to request more water/chips, but big deal! The food is fantastic, particularly the guacamole. I love eating outside in the summer, and inside is fun too because it is boisterous and colorful. If you are a total foodie and looking for a quiet, chic place and to deconstruct the food, this ain't your place. If you want a fun night out with delicious Mexican food and potent cocktails, it's worth searching out Jose's. IMPORTANT NOTE: It gets REALLY busy during weekend peak hours, which is why I always call ahead for a reservation. Furthermore, the bar is tiny and the waiting area is as well, so if you don't have a rez, it can be a bit of a drag to wait because there is very little room to hang around. I only wish they could somehow expand!
(5)Megan B.
Best Mexican I've had in the Greater Boston area!....which, isn't saying much. I am tempted to give Jose's 4 stars simply because all other Mexican I've had in Boston has sucked so much more. However, it's still pretty middle-of-the-road when you compare it to what's available in AZ, CA, NV, NM, CO, TX, and probably most states west of the Mississippi. Chips were clearly homemade, and the waitress was kind enough to ask how hot we wanted our salsa. Our table's 2 "hot!" requests were slightly muffled by 6 other "mild!" replies...we settled on a bowl of each. The hot was delicious, with loads of fresh cilantro and peppers; the mild tasted, predictably, like nothing. Be brave and go for some spice here! Chicken fajitas provided a very generous amount of food for a very low ($7.95 maybe?) price. While the chicken and veggies weren't bad, they needed more spice. Decent guacamole, but the tortillas and rice left something to be desired. Actually, the rice was an Americanized pilaf with those little frozen peas and carrots; not Mexican in any way, which was strange. Mexican rice isn't even hard to make! Oh well... Very slow service...but this only makes this joint even more "authentic Mexican", so I'm not going to complain. I'd definitely come back.
(3)Jenn A.
This place is fantastic. I was introduced to Jose's a couple months ago and frequently recommend it already. Recently we had my boyfriend's birthday celebration there and it was superb. It has free parking, is kid friendly, delicious margaritas and a mariachi band! It was a Saturday night and they took our reservation for 7 people a few hours in advance. The food was excellent! Friends from out of town want to come back not to see me, but to go to Jose's! It is off the beaten path but well worth finding it!
(5)Alex W.
Always a good time for all. Can't lose @ Jose's!
(5)Jon O.
Would have probably given 2.5 if I could, but alas. From the beginning. Parking is great. Food. I mean eh. It's adequate at best, but you can honestly (and very easily) find better Mexican food all over Boston. First the chips (from a bag?) and salsa. The salsa was about as exciting as reading War & Peace on a cloudy day. The guacamole. Again a great big "eh". Enchiladas w/mole. The mole was fine, but pretty thick and a tad too sweet. And the "Authentica" margarita. If you're going to steer our party to get a pitcher and drop $40 on it please make it good. But, in reality this was far too sweet, lacking in tequila and all around boring. Which I guess is how I sum this place up. If you're looking for boring Mexican food this is the place for you. PS - The service was kinda sucky as well.
(2)Katie M.
So we've been going here for about a year now and it absolutely one of my favorite places to eat. The food is so good and the staff have always been really nice. Excellent salsa verde and mole sauce, and the Dona Reyna's Chile Rellenos (not sure how to spell that - sorry!) are amazing. I find myself craving the burrito con mole with shredded beef on a regular basis. If you haven't been, try it!
(4)Stephanie K.
Despite living in the area for 6 years, I had no idea this place was here! I was pleasantly surprised to find such a wonderful Mexican restaurant in my own back yard. The margaritas (I recommend ordering by the pitcher if your party is large enough) were nice and tart. The salsa tasted good, but I wish the consistency had been thicker. I ordered the sopes with chorizo. They were outstanding! I am still thinking about them and wanting to order them again soon. This is not typical Brazilian chorizo, it is ground sausage and the spicing is perfection. I tried my boyfriend's chicken fiesta grande and that was also delicious. We didn't order any desserts so I cannot comment on those, but overall this is a delicious restaurant and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Lila L.
I love this place! Our waiter was very nice and attentive, we forgot our leftover towards the end of the meal and poor guy came to us in our car in the cold just to give it to us! But yeah, food is AWESOME- great portions and so yummy. Been here twice and will definitely be back!
(5)Anna P.
The first time I went to Jose's, I was really impressed. I had some outstanding steak - it was flavorful, cooked perfectly, and served by some very friendly waitstaff. The next few expeditions I made to Jose's, I kept expecting a repeat experience. Instead, I often found the food flavorless, or cold. I'm guessing that there are some dishes that are out of this world, and some that just don't work. At the prices they charged, however, I really wanted a much better dining experience.
(2)Caleb M.
I really enjoyed the food and house margarita. No complaints. Get some guacamole.
(5)Dave R.
I came here about four months ago (yeah I'm slow to post - so sue me) with a friend of mine. Let me start by saying - "I'm from South Texas" (yes, that is true). So please understand that this review is coming from someone who grew up with the best - no, seriously BEST - Mexican food you can find this side of the border. Jose! (is there a Jose? I didn't meet the owner.) My man! Y'all have done it RIGHT. The place is a little small, but I respect that. And I LOVE the ambiance. The guac and salsa here are kick-ass (could use a pinch more capsaicin - maybe use more serranos?) and the chips are 100% corn - Celiacs take note! They have about 20 different margaritas here - we only got the pleasure of drinking two, but they were perfect. Plenty strong, tart, not too sweet, just enough salt - perfect. My friend and I both got enchiladas - she had enchiladas verde, which she seemed extremely pleased with. I decided to vet the Enchiladas con Mole. Do you know that I have not been able to find decent mole sauce since I came up here? Years it's been! Well Jose, my friend, you made my day. The mole sauce was fantastic! The enchiladas were no joke either, but it was really the sauce that made them amazing. Yeah, maybe it's just a tad -and I do mean tad- pricey here. But, honestly it's a small price to pay for amazing Mexican food. I'll be back soon hombre! Gluten Free Note** - 100% corn chips (check), safe salsa and guac (check), corn tortillas for enchiladas and optional for fajitas (check), no CC to speak of (double check), extensive selection of tequila (quadruple check). Glutard's Mexican food heaven? Yes indeed.
(5)Jamie J.
Having been born and raised in San Diego, I have not been impressed at Boston's selection of "Mexican Food" restaurants, if you can call it that.... Until I stumbled upon Jose's, which should really be called "A tiny piece of genuine Mexican food heaven". I can promise you that this is the closest you'll get to authentic Mexican food anywhere in Boston. I've searched. I know. Jose's is it. From their fresh salsa and chips served at the beginning of your meal to the [almost nauseatingly] bright multicolored walls and artwork surrounding you, it is all perfect. I can't really explain this, but even the texture of the menu just feels right in my hands. It's dirty, it's off-white, it's thick... it's the real deal. I've been there three times in about a month and everything we have ordered has been spot on. Apart from the occasional blizzard outside the windows, I could easily think I was back in San Diego enjoying my delicious margarita (yes, those are perfect too). It is well worth your money. And very often groupon/coupme have half price deals for Jose's, making your adventure into good Mexican food that much more delightful. ANNNND they have a parking lot, so you don't even have to worry about finding street parking. Double whammy. Please please please, go to Jose's. You'll get it.
(5)Anastasia R.
YAY! I heart Jose's Jose's is my favorite Mexican food joint in Cambridge. It's hidden away on this tiny street buried in a residential neighborhood AND THEY MAKE KILLER MARGARITAS! Which is a shame because you have to drive to it. Plus their jalapeo poppers are breaded in their home made tortilla chips for a nice change of pace. The staff is super friendly and a couple of them have prison tattoos, which makes for fun conversation.
(5)jylcat R.
Jose's food is pretty darn good... but we always seem to have some sort of problem when we go there... from an elastic band in the salsa to paying $2 for each side of sour cream. These are the small annoyances that add up and make people kind of hem and haw about going to Jose's. I like their quesadillas and enchiladas a lot. Their menu could do with a bit more explanation (ie, I don't know what flautas are and felt stupid asking). But overall they've got some good, authentic Mexican food. A damn sight better than Anna's (which I don't really like) or Qdoba. I give it three stars, because overall the food is better than the petty annoyances. If you are going here for lunch, and you're on the clock, better be prepared to be late coming back. The service is ALWAYS very very slow. VERY. SLOW. One time we were sitting in the back room and I really don't think the waitress came over more than twice. I ended up going up to the window to get my own food because it was sitting there for 10 minutes. Oh well. If you've got time, and a craving for Mexican, I would recommend visiting Jose's. Just ask how much they're going to charge you for extras, otherwise you'll get quite the surprise when the bill comes.
(3)Bob S.
I thought it was very good.Service is great and friendly...for a couple of dollars more than The Border..you get some great Mexican Food in a funky place with a parking lot. I mean it's in a purple house...how can you go wrong?
(4)Old Bear ..
Possibly one of the best Mexican joints in metro Boston, the environment is like those small neighborhood places that are rarely found outside of San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Denver. Some Cambridge friends introduced me to the place a couple of years ago. Otherwise, I'd never have found it because of its unlikely location on a residential street off Ringe Avenue between Porter Square and Fresh Pond. I was just back there and the food is even better than I remembered it. I had the flauta filled with chorizo and topped with tomatillo salsa verde. Not only was it delicious, it was served attractively arranged on a rectangular platter -- not the usual thrown on a plate with glops of rice and refritos. My companion had the chiles rellenos which were equally good. And this place actually has posole as a regular menu item. That's the spicy stew of hominy kernels, chiles and meat. The meat varies depending upon the whether the chef decides to use chicken or use pork on that day. Like most folk cuisines, the interpretation depends upon one's family traditions, available ingredients and creative inspiration, so this may be slightly different from posole (or pozole) which you've had elsewhere. Trust me -- it's good! Which brings me to the subject of margaritas. Jose makes a number of kinds of margaritas. They aren't cheap, but they're good. There is a reasonable tequila list -- not huge but representative of more varieties than the usual Cuervo Especial. (I am fond of Sauza Hornitos and of Herradura, both of which are on Jose's bar menu. Order them straight-up, on the rocks, or -- if you must -- in a margarita.) If you come by car, your "designated driver" will have little problem parking in Jose's adjacent free parking lot -- an unusual amenity for suburbanites who may not otherwise want to drive into Cambridge.
(5)Lauren L.
I SOOO wanted to like this place. I love mexican food. It's cheap, yummy and easy to make vegan. After reading the other reviews I figured at least this place would have good chips, salsa, guacamole and margaritas, but I was wrong, dead WRONG! This is how me, the hubby, and one of our favorite couples rated this place: Atmosphere: A- for cuteness and good easy parking. The table was a little dirty but meh it's Mexican food. Drinks: we said B- last night but I think that's because we were pretty drunk. The drinks are strong and use good tequila but (and this is a sin in my husband's opinion) they also use margarita mix. bleh! so why did we buy the pitcher of margaritas with the expensive tequila when it was just ruined by sugary crap???? Service: C We were sitting for a full 15 min before anyone asked us if we wanted drinks and we only got our guacamole b/c I was starving and asked the host for it the moment we sat down. By the time we got our drinks we had finished our first round of hot salsa (pretty good) and most of the guacamole. The main courses came out fast and hot though and our waiter was a sweet guy so that saved the service from getting a lower grade. Food: D+ (and we gave it that grade when we were drunk-not a good sign since I have totally eaten some sub par things when drinking) Kudos for them for having lots of choices. The specials looked good but we all went with classic fare like burritos and enchiladas. My mole burrito was big and filled with good veggies, lots of guacamole, and rice. It also came with a side of bean and rice which was a lot of beans and rice. The mole sauce tasted like it had Hershey's syrup in it but it was spicy-meh. The sauce on my husbands adobo burrito was tastier so I would go that way. The green tomatillo sauce on my friend Dan's burrito was the best freshest tasting, but everything else was sub par and under flavored. The fajitas at the other table smelled good and might be a better way to go. Usually fresh guacamole is really good and this wasn't so bad but it was under salted and the avocados they used were browning. Frankly I have had a better meal and drink at Margaritas-eek! PLEASE don't use margarita mix with your good tequila and please use fresh avocados and lime juice in the guacamole (a little salt would be good too) and then I'd really like to come here PS I spent most of the night throwing this crap up... it could have been that I was overly full or the overly sugary drink but my warning would be to stay away!
(1)Ed G.
This place is not authentic. It is as Americanized as it gets. Not that have a problem with AmeriMex, but it does have to taste good. The glop they serve here does not. The margaritas are poor.
(1)Michael S.
My office is just down the street from Jose's, and although I've known about it for years I've only become a regular recently. I love the shabby-fun homegrown, neighborhood-owned atmosphere of the place, and the food isn't half bad. A decent selection of the standards, some unusual specialties (try their mole), good guacamole and salsas. Prices are reasonable. Their service is friendly and fast, and they always seem to be doing decent business. All in all, a worthwhile place to put on your eating-out schedule.
(4)Andy B.
What's not to like at Jose's? First, the location itself, on a somewhat sleepy, densely tree-lined side street, convinces the first-time visitor that they've stumbled upon something hidden. And once they enter the front door, it's clear that they've discovered something intimate and special and not at all like other muted Mexico-inspired venues in the Boston area. All of the food ordered was generously portioned and delicious. The waiter asked for the desired amount of hotness for each of the entrees and the chef delivered exactly that amount. Only caution would be the Scorpion margarita, which had an overpowering smoky taste. Maybe it tastes good to certain palates, but not to mine. Otherwise, the Jose's experience was charming and completely satisfying.
(5)Christine T.
It's good Mexican considering it's such a very long swim from the Border....Don't hate, my grandparents made the swim too... The owners are ciudades, so for those of us from la frontera the cuisine is a little different than we're used to. . The rice and dishes are Gringo'fied...but decent. Still tasty. Just not the real thing. Service is good depending on who you get. The carnitas are yummy, I recommend the carne asada. Enchiladas are mucho cheesy but have the taste of being "from the can". The sopapilla wasn't what I expected, they fry it like chips and its flat and crunchy, i'm used to light and fluffy bubbled up dough. I've been dieing to try their tamales, but can never catch em when they have beef. (i hate chicken tamales) . Its a good place, preferable to all the other shops in town. PS Anna Taqueria is NOT Mexican...
(3)Essie H.
This place was such a disappointment! I'd heard from several people that this was THE place to go for Mexican food in the Boston area. But while the decor was festive, the food was totally bland. The chicken was overcooked, the sauces were one-dimensional, and the tamarind margaritas were sticky sweet and overpriced. The search continues for Mexican food in Boston that satisfies a native Californian's palate.
(2)Nupur L.
The pros: Very attentive service, decor that's reminiscent of the old Tex-Mex restaurants that grace the South with their yummy goodness, great fresh chips, good mango margarita and reasonably good refried beans. The cons: no pitcher of margaritas that is priced below $40, very mediocre food with little spice or flavor (please don't come here if you miss Mexican food from California or Texas) and a chile relleno dish that tasted more like an omelet than chiles that had been fried in a batter with egg. Important to note for those who frequent the Kendall Square area is that this is the same Jose's that runs the food truck on the edge of the MIT campus. You can try all the staples on the restaurant menu at literally 1/3rd of the menu prices or less. We learned this the hard way when my boyfriend mentioned that the food reminded him strongly of the MIT Mexican Food truck..and I look out the window and see it in Jose's vaunted parking lot. Damn.
(3)Lina G.
Well, I think I'm a bit biased when it comes to reviewing this restaurant, I lived in San Diego for 8 years and ate real authentic mexican often. So...when people tell me about Mexican joints in the Boston area and are like this place is great, I'm like yeah right! This place is good but not 'WOW!!' I really liked the appetizers, the guac was great (needed a little more lime) and the chips and salsa very yummy. I had the enchiladas with mole and I must admit the mole was the best I've ever tasted. However, my friends got burrittos and fajitas and the burrittos were dry. The margaritas were good but I've had better...sorry. This is a nice hole in the wall. If you want to impress someone I'd think twice about the restaurant itself. Even though it was cute it seemed dirty and smelled like it needed a good scrubbing. If you want a place for a quick bite and don't give a crap what your friends or date thinks then it's perfect.
(3)Jos L.
Great Mexican place tucked away north of Harvard Square. They plop down chips and salsa as soon as you are seated. Their meats are delicious -- the steak/chicken fajitas, carne asada, etc, all have wonderful, rich flavor; the seafood is not bad, but if you're ordering something with a choice between fish/shrimp or steak/chicken, definitely go with the meat. Jose's empanadas are pretty good as well, and the guac is some of the best I've had in the Boston area. On the side, the rice and beans are pretty standard, and the tortillas are definitely not made in-house, but overall the main fare is excellent. Also, the decor is colorful, the service is friendly, and the margaritas (get their classic one) are amazing :)
(4)Mike D.
Really, really good food! Had the Fiesta Grande; delicious spicy chicken and flavorful potatoes in the flauta. Very good (24- Karat) margarita. Portions on food and drink were just right, and prices are very reasonable. Service was adequate- not bad by any means, but not stellar. Highly recommended!
(4)Greg N.
Best Tex-Mex I've had since leaving Texas 7 years ago. The enchiladas were terrific, the guacamole was adequate, the chips and salsa were free (the way they are supposed to be), the service was great, and I got seated with no wait at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night. The only thing holding back the 5th star is portion size and that is purely a personal opinion. My wife was pleased with her plate and actually had a bit left over. On the other hand, I am used to LARGE portions of beans & rice and at least one item on the menu that has 6 or 7 items on it (Texas remember?). Bottom line......I'll be back......a lot.
(4)Anastasia C.
We've been here many times and I don't think we've ever suffered the bad service some other reviewers mention. Our servers have always been polite and on the ball. The food has always been lovely as well. The last time we went I got sopes (again) and loved them (again). The specials are usually worth a try. There's currently a shrimp dish served in a molcajete which was very tasty. If it was closer to where we live now we'd probably go more often, but its a bit out of the way for us now. They do have a parking lot, though, so its convenient in that way.
(4)Derek W.
Meh, this place doesn't really impress. The atmosphere is nice inside and out and the huge parking lot is also a plus. The margaritas are outstanding. I don't even like margaritas and I'd still be willing to pay $8 for one here. Unfortunately, the food is really hit or miss. I had the enchiladas verde which were really soggy and completely bereft of any texture. The flavor was off, as well. My girlfriend, on the other hand, got a tostada with steak and we both agreed that it was excellent. I only found out about Jose's because I had a groupon and I have another so I'll be back to give it another shot. Hopefully my experience will be better because I really think the place has potential and I really want to like it.
(3)I DRE U.
Went here for Cinco de Mayo a few years back and have really good memories. They had pomegranate margaritas which were tasty and stiff. Their food is excellent as far as Mexican food in New England goes and their staff is actually Mexican which is always reassuring as a patron.
(4)Barb P.
The food here is solid, and the atmosphere downstairs is fun. It's gotten a little more "fancy" in the last few years (square plates, garnishes) so it isn't the same basic but delish Mexican it used to be, but the food is still good.
(4)Tanvi D.
This place is tucked away on one of the back roads in Cambridge. Its small and cozy and has reasonable prices. The menu has a lot of variety.. Mostly the standard enchiladas, quesedillas, burritos, etc,, I had papas flautas and my friend had Cheese Enchiladas.. Hmm.. Pretty good.. I would order it again.. The salsa I wasn't too crazy for.. Seemed really watered down.. The chips were OK, nothing to write home about.. We finished our dinner with Flan, which was qutie delectable as well.. We didn't have any alcoholic drinks, but, people around us were having them, so, I'm guessing they are good as well. The service was nice and prompt, but, not pushy.. And, they have a parking lot which is a HUGE bonus in Cambridge.. If it weren't for the chips and salsa, I'd have given them 5 stars..
(4)Mary P.
So, being from CA I'm very hesitate to try Mexican food in Boston. My friend had a LivingSocial coupon, so we figured we'd try it. Chips and salsa were fantastic...I could not stop eating them. The Margarita Autentica was one of the best I've ever had. The food was good. My tamales were a bit dry even with the yummy mole sauce on top. I have nothing to compare the relleno to because I've never had it before, but my friend said it was pretty good. It's a small place, so I can see why reservations are recommended. I would go back...
(4)Daniel J.
I'm a Mexican food snob from California. I know, you hate us, because we're always telling you that the Mexican food you love in the Boston area actually ... sucks. Well, I am happy to say that Jose's turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I am not going to go so far as to say it's as good as my favorite SF Bay Area restaurants, but it's "pretty darned good" and has a pleasant festive atmosphere that is lacking in some other places I've tried. Above average margaritas and enchiladas, and quite tasty chips/salsa. Great party environment. Vegetarian? I'm talking to you. This place is unusually accommodating to vegetarians for the Boston area. Many (all?) of their dishes are prepared without lard and it was easy and confidence-inspiring the way the waitress responded to my inquiries. You know what I'm talking about, not the "Umm ... yes" that always means "not really," but the certain yes and voluntary confirmation that other items in the dish are also vegetarian. Looking forward to going here again soon.
(4)Rebecca B.
We went to Jose's for the first time last night for a going-away dinner. It's the kind of place I would go to if I was looking for a funky, kind of nonchalant atmosphere, and I wanted to eat something beyond Boston's burrito fixation. By the way, for burritos, there's no place better than El Pelon in the Fenway. I've lived in Boston for seven years now (native New Yorker), and I've been on a mission. For more complex food in a typical fancy restaurant atmosphere, Zocala on Comm. Ave. in Allston hits the spot. Anyway, Jose's. The parking lot is a savior - I never get to this part of Cambridge (behind Alewife, sort of), mainly because I don't know the area well enough to brave the bus, and I don't have one of the Cambridge parking permits. The lot's a nice touch, and it definitely saved angst on the ride over. We sat upstairs at one of the tables (not the booths). There were five of us. The poor soul in our party that was sitting in the corner had to keep brushing away the leaves of the plastic plant over her shoulder - but I say, that's her fault for sitting there. Everybody seemed pretty happy with their food. The wife got taquitos - deliciously unhealthy! I got the Donya Rellenos stuffed with chicken - chiles rellenos. Stuffed, battered and fried chiles rellenos, in a spicy-ish tomato sauce. It came with black beans (choice of refried, if you want), warm tortillas and rice. Muy bien! But honestly? I've made better rellenos in my woefully unequipped galley kitchen in Allston Rock City. The flavors were good, but I think it had been sitting for a while - by the time I got the plate, the chile had - deflated? into the huge amount of sauce, and the fry batter was spongy and moist, not crispy and light like I had hoped for. But again, the flavors were good, and I was a few sangrias in at that point, so I want to say it was "good-bad." As opposed to "bad-good," if that means anything (good-bad is better). The verdict: good for more-than-burrito; easy parking; not fancy, but satisfying in that "I just want to gorge myself and laugh with my friends" way. I'd definitely go back, but not if I was trying to impress anyone. Viva!
(3)Crystal K.
Unlike the West coast, it's hard to find great Mexican food in New England and if you do, chances are they are primarily Tex-Mex. Lucky for North Cambridge residents, there is Jose's Mexican Restaurant tucked away on nearby Sherman Street. Jose's has three things that really help it stand out from the few other Mexican restaurants in the Cambridge/Boston area: 1. Tasty traditional food 2. Spot-on prices and 3. Abundant free parking. Begin with a margarita, which come in a variety of specialty flavors (pomegranate is especially fresh and tasty) or combinations of different tequilas and mix-in liquors ($5.95 to $14.95). If you come with a group, you can also choose to order pitchers of particular blends ($39.95). The Authentica is a strong, simple choice. If you are feeling adventurous, try the chef's specials. They range from unusual burritos to a dish of talacyos, a flat ricotta cheese stuffed dish made from masa, similiar to polenta. The specials are usually authentic tastes of Mexico, which on the night we dined there, came packaged with a glass of wine and dessert. If you want big burritos without a big price tag, Jose's is the perfect place.Burritos come in veggie, chicken, shredded or ground beef, shrimp, fish, pork chorizo or steak, with Mexican rice and black or pinto beans. Try the spicy Burrito en Adobo made with guajillo, ancho and smoked chipotle, and covered with melted white cheddar cheese ($10.95). Tacos are also a specialty, with crisp hard shells rarely found in restaurants today. Choose from pork chorizo, beef, shrimp or fish ($11.95-$12.95). If you can't decide, choose the Fiesta Grande, which serves up a flauta, enchilada and hard-shelled taco ($11.95-$14.95). Also worth checking out is the grill choices--steak ranchero, fajitas and camarones. Jose's is open for lunch and dinner and they sport a strong catering service. The interior is fun and colorful but the bar is tiny and crowded. There is a small patio for outdoor dining. Get there early or expect a wait, especially on the weekend. If you want great value, delicious Mexican fare and a juicy margarita, Jose's is your place.
(4)Vanilla P.
Parking? Si! Margaritas? Si! Fancy fun paint on the walls? Si! Am I drunk now? Si!!!! Me likey the margaritas mucho, and the salsa was bueno. In all seriousness, both hubby and I decided that if we're craving Mexican food, this is by far the best place to come in Cambridge. I ordered the chile rellenos (with salsa verde instead of fajita style veggies), and they came with beans and rice, three corn tortillas, and a smile from the waitress. All in all, very tasty and filling. Hubby got the chicken salad, which came with salsa, cheese, and sour cream, but we added on a side of guac, and it was perfecto! He did get an enormous amount of chicken, so much that I said, "Damn, did you order a whole chicken???" Aside from the huge American-sized portion of chicken, I felt like I was right in Mazatlan or Puerta Vallerta, surrounded by gringos and delicious margaritas. So our drinks cost more than our food, but who cares? I'm happy, drunk, full, and hubby's definitely gettin' some from date night tonight!
(5)Steve L.
As a Californian, I need my good Mexican food, so moving out to Boston I was really craving. Anna's Taqueria doesn't sit well with me for some reason, and many of the other joints have been disappointing. Jose's strikes a good balance for me -- just satisfying all my needs for a good burrito. The chips kinda suck and the salsa is really spicy, but this is the best place I've found so far.
(3)Lily V.
First time here and it was good. There are several dining areas, including a patio area. We sat inside, in the area by the kitchen. There's a pretty big parking lot with free parking. The service was friendly, though there were periods of time when we couldn't find our waitress. We thought the food was good, but pricey for the portion and location. Margaritas were good, and they sell it by the pitcher. The chips were a little stale, and the salsa was average. So, "meh" is about right.
(2)Jenn R.
I had the shrimp fajitas and they didn't blow me away but they were decent. The menu was interesting and there were other things that I wanted to try but I was craving fajitas so I'll definitely be back to explore the food. The margarita was good but didn't pack a very good punch. The guacamole was a bit too creamy for my taste and the hot salsa was not very hot. A good overall experience and I will definitely return when I am craving Mexican food on the casual side of the spectrum.
(3)Kerri O.
Jose's is one of those places you'd never know about, unless you were a local (or are a Yelper). It's tucked away in the crooked streets of North Cambridge. You can't miss it, if you drive by, though. It's an eye-catcher. So, it's another Been there Forever place, that I grew up going to. The food is pretty great. The service is friendly. The menu is large. It definitely beats all the other local choices when it comes to serving up good Mexican Food.
(4)Caroline D.
Hello, pitcher of margaritas! The fact that they have a PITCHER of margaritas automatically gives it a star. Delicious!! I wasn't a super-fan of the $40 price tag on said pitcher, so they lose a star for that but Jose's has been doing a bunch of coupons with Groupon and restaurant.com , so I didn't mind. Whenever I find a new mexican place, I'm always reminded of my quest to find the PERFECT chili relleno. I automatically knew I wanted to order it when I saw it on the menu but I couldn't decide what variety to get (red salsa? salsa verde? chicken? beef? decisions!!!), but thankfully, Jose's let me have a four-way chili relleno and it was delicious. Perfect amount of cheese, spice, and not over battered...now if only I could decide which way was the best! Also liked the variety of different salsas, some are pretty spicy. I'll have to get back here the next time I'm in cambridge!
(4)Eve L.
Best Mexican food in this town, and I'm a tough critic. I grew up in South Texas, in San Antonio, to be exact. But this place has excellent Mexican food. You know how you know? By the quality of their salsa and the quality of their margaritas. Jose's has spicy, flavorful salsa and strong, perfect margaritas. The rest of their food is quite good too. Never had anything that disappointed, though I must say I'm partial to enchiladas. Also, the staff are nonwhite, which is a big bonus in this town. Mexican restaurants run by white people (Forest Cafe, Border Cafe) creep me out. Get the hell out of here with that crap.
(5)Kathy S.
I went here with 15 people and we had our own room upstairs. I was impressed with the service we got from Jose's..if it was just on the service..I'd definitely give it all 5 stars! But, the food was just mediocre. I wasn't that impressed. The margaritas were not really that good..I"m not sure, why all the good marks on them. The Chips and salsa were very good. I had a chimichunga and a chicken taco that was super dry. I was very disappointed by the food. I was so excited about this place and was really looking forward on eating here. Mexican is my favorite food! I LOVE spicy food. This place really wasn't that spicy at all..It was very bland.. I will have to try it again. Maybe there were too many of of us or something. Definitely, the waitstaff was amazing....that's why the three stars!!! They were extremely sweet to all my guests!
(3)Herbert K.
It is as if... That Gordon Ramsey show has gone through here, and changed a few things. I went for lunch - my beans and rice now come in a much smaller portion, on a 'monkey dish' with my main dish. This is fine by me, I always seem to eat a bunch of the chips and salsa while I wait anyway. I like the specials, and occasionally order the posole off the dinner menu when the weather is cold. You might want to give them another try, if you haven't lately.
(4)Sarah T.
I love this place. It's great for groups and the food is fun and tasty. Our waitresses are usually so sweet and friendly. The drinks are great as well. I ordered the authentic margarita which is fresh and has a great amount of alc. :) Even when they were very close to closing time they excepted my group happily. The staff is friendly over all. I will visit again soon.
(4)Brandon S.
Came here with a Groupon, and had a fantastic meal. The food is a little pricey, but very good and the service is excellent. Huge bonus for the free parking lot! and the decor of the restaurant is very cool as well
(5)Charlie L.
Do not venture off the beaten path at this place... the standard burritos and flautas are decent, but get into the chicken stew and other non-standard fare, and you are in for a horrible shock. I grew up in Texas and spent many a summer on the border, and I gotta say, this may be reasonably authentic, but not in a good way.
(2)M T.
I used to go to José's all the time, but I feel like it's gone downhill recently. The last time I went, the prices were higher and quality was lower, and service was kind of blah. I was sitting upstairs and there was a loud, tacky mariachi singer and the waitress was kind of surly. You're better off going to Tú y Yo or Olé.
(2)Patrick F.
Eh. It wasn't $80 good, that I can tell you. I tend to use the quesadilla as a baseline test for Mex or Tex-Mex places. If I don't like it, chances are I may not like the rest of the offerings. That said, we also had the Queso Fundito and the Chimichanga. To put it politely, all of the flavors were a bit... delicate. Seriously, since when is this genre of food allowed to be unsavory and not has a flavr? Even the salsa was guilty; all bite, no flavor! The margaritas were at least good but don't let their claim of "Large" fool you. This is just their way of getting you to pay extra for a drink that's the same size or smaller than most other restaurants or bars instead of something presumably even smaller. So, if you go, just go ahead and get a pitcher (gotta love how they serve pitchers of Margarita, have free Parking and are located around the corner from a School). The 'authentic' Mariachi who told us all he was actually from "The Future Republic of Puerto Rico" made me LOL at least.
(2)Carrie M.
What I like about this place: Free parking! Three heat levels of salsa and free chips. Being able to choose what you want in your meal without worrying about asking for substitutions. Margaritas. Reservations on Opentable (and yes, on some nights you will definitely need them). Lots of vegetarian options (zucchini tacos = yum!). What I don't like: Weird set-up - choppy dining area. Kind of gross bathroom. Overall, as the four stars state "I'm a fan" and will definitely be back.
(4)Annie P.
No Way Jose. (To sum it up: all three of us who are normally patient and polite eaters could not finish our dishes and just had to go. They comped the entire meal hence the one star but MY GOD...)
(1)Roger S.
So, I heard great things...authentic mexican, quaint atmosphere, free parking?! Atmosphere: Quaint and small, bright and colorful interior. Food: We had Queso Fundido with Chorizo which was very good. For entrees, Adobe Burrito and Chile Relleno. The Burrito had great flavor with a very smoky sauce. The Chile Relleno was good, but not quite what I imagined as traditional. Very little poblano pepper, floating in verde and roja sauce. Flavor was good, but just not as expected. As I've seen in another review the chips were absolutely stale - quite surprising and the salsa was acceptable (the hot wasn't spicy at all). Service: The service was prompt and courteous with pleasant servers. Overall: A bit disappointed based on hype, but overall a decent dining experience.
(2)Stephen Y.
Service was good.... but things went downhill a bit after that.... We spent $80 on margaritas.... bloody potent Salsa comes in three degree of spiceness.... "hot" means HOT Appies OK.... ceviches was quite disappointing... chewy... Tex-Mex style... yuck Tamales OK... kinda dry .... But I think burritos OK I think the fajita was pretty awesome judging by the speed it was devoured.... Overall- food OK... booze kinda dear but not pretty decent... not watered down... Atmosphere OK decor pretty cool and funky.
(3)Shine B.
I'm confused over this place. We went last night and had a typical experience there. The enchiladas with mole sauce were ver good. I almost always get mole sauce when I have the opportunity, and this mole was excellent. My "cheap" (6.95) margarita tasted so bad it was undrinkable. Seriously, I realize that none of you know me, but there are VERY few occassions where I am unable to drink a drink. This drink was awful. The chips and salsa were boring. The salsa, which we got "medium" hot was like tomato puree with no lime or spice. Its hard for me to understand how this place can be so good at some things, and so bad at other things that should be so basic, like good salsa and good drinks. I will definitely go back to Jose's, and I will probably pay them for one of their neon green top shelf margaritas. Maybe I will bring some jarred salsa from Whole Foods. update: at a recent visit we were seated upstairs which I don't recommend. It was just weird. There is a HUGE TV up there which they leave on all the time. Its a ridiculous size for the room size. I felt like I was invading staff hangout space when they sent me up there. We ordered guacamole this time and while it was fresh, it had zero taste. After this try, I don't think I'll be returning to Jose's.
(2)Sarah G.
What is up with $11 burritos? Is there a shortage? Somebody get Mexico on the phone, because I'm sick of this insanity. We were lazy and indulgent and ordered from diningin. Veggie burrito was sub-par and had no rice, which bothered me until I saw the side of rice my boyfriend got. Flash back to grade school cafeteria - cubed carrot pieces and peas with some fresh out of the box instant rice. Boo all around.
(1)Evie U.
Somebody call the Gringo Police, because this place has been totally Gringo-ized... The only good thing about this restaurant is the chips and salsa, that are free at the beginning of the meal. Other than that, the food is a tiny step above TGI Friday's. The waiter asked if I wanted my food "mild, medium, or hot". I figured hot would make me cry and put me in a fair amount of pain, and medium would have just enough heat to make me feel like I was eating Mexican food. So I ordered my food "medium" and it wasn't even mild. There was no hint of hotness or spice in anything. The Mexican flag enchiladas, filled with shredded beef, were somewhat reminiscent of unseasoned beef jerky topped with Prego and Kraft shredded monterey jack cheese. (at this place, bandera salsa = Prego) Perhaps the problem is that they are trying to cater to North Cambridge/Avon Hill Waspy-ness. They certainly get away with their high prices. Save your money and go get some real Mexican food at Taqueria Mexico in Waltham or Olecita in Inman Square, Tu Y Yo in Powderhouse, or even Ana's Taqueria for crying out loud...
(2)m p.
The only complaint I have about Jose's is the sometimes slow wait staff. The food is pretty incredible. You need to try their mole sauce, so good! In fact, I think I'm going to head over there right now for lunch! Also, try their sangria.
(4)edition o.
I've been going to Jose's for a few years, mostly because it's within walking distance to my house. It has never been anything that I've had a craving for but it served a purpose when I've had guests in town and we wanted a bite without driving. Last night was no exception. But what happened at the end of the night will prevent me from ever returning. Oddly it was the first time I had ever used their bathroom facilities so I was surprised to see what a dark room it is. More surprising was when, mid-stream, a mouse came out from behind the garbage can 6 inches from my sandaled foot and proceeded to spin around like a jumping jack. I let out a muted scream as the mouse and I couldn't figure out how it got into a tiny box with a human without a planned escape route. Finally after what felt like an eternity, it disappeared into the shadows under the sink. I'm not naive enough to think it's easy to keep mice out of city restaurants but this is definitely a case of "I'd rather not know" than get that up close and personal.
(1)DeeJay H.
I LOVE A RESTAURANT WITH A PARKING LOT...and Jose's has one. I mean- if I l had a nickel for ever time I drove up and down Tremont Street trying to find a parking spot...well I would have alot of nickels. Nothing against the area, which has the best restaurants in the city...I JUST LOVE A RESTAURANT WITH A PARKING LOT.... The ambience is nice...and good for groups as well (there was a party of 12 near us)...not too loud...but definitely buzzing and alive. On our visit, we went for the Carne Asada and the Enchiladas mole... Jose's has the tastiest Carne Asada in the land (and by the land I mean Cambridge)...and the mole is delish. Moles can be fussy- but Jose's has the perfect balance of flavors. To drink I had several margaritas...but my companion only had one as we drove because THE PLACE HAS IT'S OWN PARKING LOT. DID I MENTION THE PARKING LOT....
(4)L D.
Let's get something straight, this is Boston (or Camberville), not exactly a Mexican mecca. So why is it surprising to everyone that the Mexican food here isn't 100% great authentic awesome amazing? Some places are borderline inedible (Anna's) and some fill that hole in your tummy when you really need pseudo-Mexican (Jose's) that hovers above the Tex-Mex line. Why is Jose's great? They have parking. Have you any idea how very important that is? Especially for a restaurant away from the T. I've never had a problem with the service for dine-in of take-out. The owner (Jose, duh) is always there and recognizes return customers with a friendly hello. The margaritas are great if you know to ask for good tequila (the selection here is fantastic). The food is delicious but depends on sauce and cheese; don't go here expecting the greatest Mexican food. Remember, this is Cambridge! Not Texas. Not California. I usually order the enchiladas and they get the order right when I ask for one of every variety each with a different sauce. Complicated, I know. The mole sauce isn't the greatest ever but it's far from the worst I've ever tasted. The chili relleno is also a huge hit. Prices are a smidgen high which is why I don't eat there more often but a meal for two with a drink each is still under $40. Did I mention the parking lot? Seriously, A+ for that alone.
(4)Chrissy M.
No, no, no. I'll get right to it. Made a reservation online, showed up 10 minutes early, waited 25 for a table, ended up at the worst table ever smack in the middle of the room. We were surrounded by large tables of really loud guests; keep in mind there was two of us. The waitress totally screwed up our order, tried to fix it and screwed up again. To top off all the nonsense that we had already gone through, it was someone's birthday at a table next to us so they shut off all the lights...leaving the whole place in total darkness...and started singing and clapping triggering all the other loud tables to sing and scream. Just when I thought I would snap, someone said that the birthday girl was in the bathroom...they then proceeded to do it ALL OVER AGAIN. I was ready to freak. I love a good time, but not in a small confined place, with a ton of loud strangers during a quick week night bit to eat. Also, I could have picked up the same meal at Taco Bell for half the price.
(2)Lovan C.
I think that 3.5 is more accurate. Their specials are mostly better than the fixed menu. Quality can be inconsistent but the highs are really good.
(4)Matthew S.
Their medium salsa has no spice, but it was fresh. We tried the hot salsa next, and that had the requisite kick. Guacamole was tasty, fresh, and yumtastic, but for $6 I wanted more. Their frozen margarita's were passable. I got the tamales with mole and that was very good. My friend got the zucchini stuffed soft tacos and they were okay, but difficult to eat. Service was average at best, friendly but not very attentive. This place is purple. Cool decor, cool Mexican vibe. All in all, not a bad time, but it wont blow your socks off.
(3)J S.
I am beginning to strongly believe this place is trying to pull the wool over you poor northerner's eyes. It's like they are thinking, jaja, they gave us 4 1/2 stars on Zagat and Yelp, and we just gave them stale chips and overcooked rice! Let's see if we can get away with giving them "queso" dip that tastes and looks like yellow wax! Or cold appetizers and burritos, making sure to have sour cream on each item to replace flavor! And the "cheese" on "crispy" sope's is just scant crumbles, and we make the crispy more like soggy! jajaja! I am from Oklahoma and we have several very good Mexican restaurants. Yes, some are tex-mex, but several were actually authentic central or south mexican. I thought I'd give them a couple chances, because my boyfriend likes the place. Bless his corazon, i think it's because he's from upstate New York and doesn't know any better. But now, I've tried 3 separate dishes on 3 separate occasions. All flavorless and cold. So i'm resolved to save the rest of you this fate. The few good things: their salsa seems fresh and is genuinely good. (although I've never had chips that were hot or not stale) It does look the part, with colorful and cozy decor and layout. It is clean. Even more bad things: pop is $2 and no free refills. The sopapillas are hard and cold. Prices-- not crazy expensive but not cheap, not worth it.
(1)Chris G.
Jose's is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. My food has always great, the wait staff friendly, and the drinks tasty. I generally get a burrito or the tamales. My friend always gets the veggie chimichanga. Neither of us ever has a complaint. The margaritas are good, but I would prefer a little more lime, and a dollar off the price. The restaurant can get rather crowded around dinner time, so I recommend getting there a little bit early, or being willing to wait for a table. The parking is ample and free, which is good as it can be a bit of a walk from public transportation.
(4)Dalet Z.
start off with the chicken tinga sopes. i love that they put refried beans, lettuce & crema on them. the chicken is flavorful and delicious. the margaritas & sangrias are also tasty. i usually get the chimichanga there. though, once they screwed up my order. the only time i actually placed my order in spanish. go figure. (oh, and i'm fluent in spanish, so i know i was ordering properly!) the carne asada is very flavorful. i do love this place.
(4)Kdub W.
Meh. Tried the place out with a Groupon. Atmosphere is funky and I liked it. Service was sub-standard (waited 15 minutes after sitting down for some water- so thirsty from the chips). Margarita selection was excellent- I got the house- something like $6 or 7, and it was value for the money. Salsa was good (pico de gallo) but the chips tasted stale to me and something out of a grocery store. I ordered pork tamales "hot", which was a joke. I knew the stuff would come out more like medium because, hey, this is Boston- but come on. I'd say they were mild... and unfortunately, the pork was dry and hard. All in all, not a bad place for Mexican food in Boston, but coming from California, I just can't subscribe.
(3)Jay B.
When I first came to Boston I was shocked that I had actually had better Mexican (heck...even Tex-Mex) during my brief time in Ohio and Kentucky. In my further travels I have found that just about everywhere has better Mexican food than the Boston metro area. One of the few exceptions to that is Jose's! I like the staff, the free parking, the fact that very few people actually know about it, and the prices ain't too shabby either; but what I LOVE about Jose's is the Burrito Suizo! A delicious burrito covered in cheese and tomatillo (green) sauce. This is where I go and what I get...when I treat myself! Also nice- there is this one quiet little booth smack in the center that I sometimes have the good fortune of getting. If you are looking for an enjoyable dinner in Cambridge and you crave some great mex- Jose's is the place for you.
(5)Olivia F.
Mediocre food. I got the spinach and cheese tostada which was the smallest tostada I have ever seen for $11! I enjoyed the salsa and margarita, but really don't think the food or drinks are accurately priced. It's damn expensive for what it is. I was expecting really fresh, really good mexican food, only to leave dissapointed. The service was friendly and efficient.
(2)Janet P.
The atmosphere at this place is authentic and fun. The food is part authentic, part americanized, part original...good combo. The staff is energized and friendly and the food comes out quickly. The location is secret and the parking lot is a huge plus. After I went the first time, and went back a second time in the same week!
(4)Jana M.
I like this place a lot. Real neighborhood gem - casual, reasonable price and great food. Went there two times already and plan to go back.
(4)Matthew B.
Did anyone ever notice the lack of inexpensive sit-down, chips & salsa and margarita places in Cambridge and Boston? In any other city I'd give Jose's three stars or maybe even two, but I'll take what I can get here. It's a wonderful, intimate space, and they even have a few tables on a patio outside along Sherman Street. The service is friendly but a little slow. As for food & drinks, the margaritas are great (and the Ultimate is better than the Autentico), the salsa with the chips is excellent. Food is pretty standard and sounds better on the menu but comes out tasting like standard tex mex. Prices are a little high, but hey, it's a nice location in Cambridge with free parking.
(4)Trish F.
I popped into Jose's to get lunch last week. About 5 hours into the whole moving process I realized I hadn't eaten that day (whoops). Jose's lot looked like it had just gotten over its lunch rush so I thought it would be perfect to grab some quick take out. I have mixed feelings about the service. I waited in the front area checking out the menu for a few minutes and when no one greeted me I walked up to the bar. The woman pretty much ignored me and walked into the kitchen. When she finally walked out she walked right by me. I called out hello and I asked if I could place my take order with her. She simply said a waiter would help me and then walked away again. Errr k... when a waiter finally came out of the kitchen the phone rang so he had to take it. When he was off the phone, he too walked right by me. I thought he'd come back to take my order. Wrong again. When I finally walked up to the front again, he was very nice to me and didn't mind that I was thrown off by the questions (how hot, what kind of beans, what kid of tortilla.. poor little unfed head). He told me 10 minutes and I went about my business. It was all set when I came back later and the waiter was again very nice. Maybe when I initially walked in I had my "don't eff with me" face that I sometimes use when in those parts of NoCa? Is that why they ignored me? The food was just alright. I got the empanadas (shredded beef) and the two tacos platter. The fish tacos were super mushy.. probably because of condensation from the container and whatnot (should have gotten crisp tortillas).. but I was definitely unimpressed by the fish. The empanadas were VERY good and they disappeared quickly.. props to my starvation extra ordering.. otherwise I would have moved the rest of my stuff (I had 8 more hours after lunch) with a half of a fish taco in my belly. The rice and beans weren't bad but they tasted like the restaurant smelled. Not bad.. just strange.. I think the interior is pretty cool. Mostly because walking in you feel completely transported out of North Cambridge. But now that I'm not in the neighborhood, I don't feel totally compelled to come back. And even if I did come back, it'd probably for drinks if I had a lot of time on my hands.
(3)Gordon B.
Gag! I called Dining In for a refund after getting delivery from this place. Worst Mexican food ever. Even their jalapeno poppers were inedible. How do you screw up poppers?
(1)TinaGinaBabina L.
Went there because of Groupon. The decor and the 30 minute wait was promising for a Thursday night. We were expecting decent food, but was completely disgusted. We ordered 4 dishes and with the exception of the guacamole every thing was extremely tasteless. We had specifically ordered the guacamole to be extra spicy since it was made to order, but it came out without a hint of heat. So we asked to have some fresh chopped jalapeno to add to it ourselves but instead we got huge slices of pickled jalapeno instead. The same thing with our jalapeno ribs which is a specialty of the restaurant came out dry and bland as can be. Also the rice was hard, with pieces of burned rice mixed in. I'd expect a Mexican place to get the rice right, but no such luck. The only thing nice about the place was ample parking space and the service is pretty friendly. Being a foodie, I would never come back. In fact, not sure why any one would pay this kind of price for this kind of untasty food. In fact, I would not even come back even if it were free; a waste of my time
(1)Cheryl D.
Jose's is colorful, inside and out. The service was good, and the interior was a little bit dark, but it was nice overall. Speaking as a person who has grown up knowing only Taco Bell but has since been exposed to more, the menu seems to be on the more authentic side. One of the main reasons for coming was that sopapillas were on the menu, not something you can easily find in Boston. Unfortunately, it was good but not . . . well, I think I have to search elsewhere for the real sopapilla experience. Maybe a different state would be better. :-P
(3)Steve Y.
great mexican food, much better than some of the other disgusting experiences i had a anna's tacqueria ("mexi-CAN'T"). funky little building and casual atmosphere. the salsa is great and the food is delicious. a great neighborhood restauarant.
(4)Henry P.
Food is ok, experiences have not been great. Got charged twice on my CC from this place, owner/manager did not care to help me alleviate this error. Pay in cash. Restaurant can smell like urine in the wintertime which can be off-putting, but best used a metaphor for pissing away my loyalty.
(1)Michelle B.
Good food, good service. I love that you can order a big bowl of guacamole rather than the tiny little cup most places give you. The mole is excellent, the best I've had in New England. Sangria and margaritas are decent too. I have eaten here several times this year and would definitely go back. The waitstaff was friendly, too.
(4)Jobeth B.
I am an out of towner who was brought here for dinner. The food was great and IMHO as authentic as you'll get in the states. A very cozy feel and decent service. If you want Mexican, I'd say give it a shot!
(4)Thomas H.
Now I first have to say, I love this place. I have been here 5-6 times in the past and love it. Normally it would get 4, possibly 5 stars. However, I went in last night and things have changed. With a new menu, comes new (higher) prices and different (less) menu items. You can no longer get the Molcajete guac dish, just a bowl of guac the same size as the salsa. Tragic. Also, certain dishes like the blackened chicken are no longer offered. Huge disappointment. Also, the prices have gone up a couple dollars for each entree. I have a feeling all of this is to negate the restaurant.com coupons, so I understand, just not the same place I loved. It is now on par with Rudy's in Teele I would say, and fallen behind chain Border Cafe.
(3)Janet D.
My experience with Jose's was really disappointing. I was really excited about finding Jose's since it was so close to home, and I've been missing the really great taquerias from out west. My "super" chorizo burrito from Jose's used low-end quality chorizo, with very little guacamole, sour cream, or cheese. There were bits of salad greens I got that were wilted to the point of being almost black and slimy. The chips were stale and the salsa just okay. Yet it might be an experience I might be willing to repeat if it wasn't also for the fact that this burrito experience cost me $14. Yikes! The service was nice, though, and the outdoor patio seating was pretty sweet.
(2)Andrea K.
UPDATE: So my boyfriend and I decided to give this place another go around and see if they can redeem themselves. As we walked in one of the waitress's told us to sit at a booth near the door and she will be back with the menus (she had a couple of plates in her hand so she couldnt hand them out to us) and I asked if we could wait for a table on the other side by the door and she said ok. We got seated and got our chips and salsa right away but unforunately the chips were stale so we didnt eat them.. We noticed that she was the only waitress working and she was getting annoyed with it. The service was very slow because she was the only waitress working, it took a long time after getting our chips to place our order, after the order it took awhile to get our drinks that we ordered, then the appetizer took a while, then of course the food took a while, and after that clearing of the table and the check was as well...a long wait. We got the tostado appetizer and it was very very bland so I had to put some of the salsa that wasnt sure because of the stale chips that we didnt eat ( I didnt bother asking for new chips because I think it would have been an annoyance to the waitress). My boyfriend got the chicken mole which he enjoyed and I got the chile relleno's with ground beef. My chile relleno's wasnt battered and fried as it stated on the menu and it came out cold, the beef and cheese were not hot at all which was a huge disappointment, I was expecting a piping hot fried pepper with melted cheese oozing out (like a chile relleno's) and that didnt happen. Another thing that I noticed was that the refried beans seem to be the canned verison and not handmade, canned beans is fine with me but I could make that at home and would expect from a restaurant to have way better refried beans, as well as the rice it was just not a very appetizing rice portion at all. The rice was dry and clumped together and cold as well. Since our waitress was the only one working it is understandable that it is hard to handle all that is happening but you shouldnt show your frustration to your customers, she wasnt that pleasant to talk to and her attitude really just....was crappy. At one point another female came in to drop some envelopes off (which I noticed) and our waitress and the other female were raising their voices to each other pretty loudly and it didnt seem like a good outcome nor show for the customers either. Our table was a bit dirty as we found dried lettuce stuck on the table when we sat down and dried up salsa left from the night before still on our table. Unforunately Jose's didnt redeem themselves and I wish they did. --------------------------------------------------Â------------------------------------------------ The atmosphere at this place is a great, I love the music and the decor its just a feel good restaurant. Waiting for a table can be a bit of a wait as they do not have anyone standing by the door waiting to seat people so be sure to catch someone's eye and stand next to the register area so they see you. The chips and salsa are great and ask how spicy you would like the salsa and its pretty accurate. The service is ok I defintely didnt have any problems everyone was pretty attentive. I have gottten the carne asada dish which was good but I was not to keen on the flavors of the vegetables that they put on top and I did not like the refried beans at all either. Another dish I have gotten is the enchilada's with the red sauce which was really good which also came with tacos which were pretty standard. The red sauce is flavorful and thickness that stuck to the tortilla. There deserts are not really what I expected. The Tres Leche was horrible and tasted like lemon which was hard to eat and the Flan was also not so good either. It had a cheesecake crumb on the bottom and there wasnt much of a caramel taste as there should be. Overall I do like this place and the food and the atmosphere makes up for some of the not so great dishes as well. Free parking is available which is next to the restaurant in the fenced in area.
(2)Rob D.
I really love this place - but it has more to do with the convenience and the atmosphere and the people who run it than it does the food. Don't get me wrong, the food is actually quite good - but the place doesn't become A Place without all the other ingredients. I've lived on and off in this neighborhood for several years - and I've seen Jose's go through a couple of changes of management -- this one is the management who should keep it forever. (Excellent job, Carlos!) The first noticeable change was to the bar...Martgueritas here used to be sitting around pre-made in a slushy machine. (I s**t you not.) Since Carlos took over, the slushy machine has been retired, and the Martgueritas are made to order...and they have a great selection of tequila to chose from, and quite a few Martguerita concoctions from which to choose. The mole sauce here is thick and good - and they will spice it to whatever level you want. (They will also send out a side of it if you want to use it on other, non-mole dishes.) The carne is amazing, btw... ...they get a star subtracted, however, because Carlos feels the need to send in a Mariachi band at bizarre times (like a random Thursday night).... he's doing that less and less, which is a good thing.
(4)Bianca G.
Oh Jose's - I was gonna give you 4 stars for the food (my burrito in adobado sauce was delicious, but the boyfriend's tostada was mediocre) but when I factor in the pitcher of margarita that we split between the 2 of us (no, we're not alcoholics!), the tres leches cakes (so simple yet so good), the custom-levels of salsa (the hot was indeed hot), and the very cheerful and colorful atmosphere (service was awesome too), you get bumped up to 5 stars. Congratulations, and you'll be seeing us again there soon.
(5)B R.
Being that we are on the east coast (i.e. almost as far from Mexico as one can get in the U.S.), this is pretty darn good! I love their red and green sauces, guacamole, and salsa. Nice folks and good prices too. Plenty to eat. Good vegetarian selection plus they are flexible.
(5)Ryan L.
Came here on a nice Sunday afternoon after a softball game (and yes we won), and was pleasantly surprised. Let's start off with this, it's not straight up authentic Mexican but then again most Mexican places in Massachusetts are not, otherwise the locals here would not eat it. However this place is much better than your run of the mill Tex Mex place. The chips that came with the salsa was home made as you you could tell by the slight oil sheen on the chip that it was recently fried there. My ground beef crispy taco was great, it came with rice and some beans on the side. The inside of the place was small and cozy with a flat screen TV by the bar and they had outdoor seating as well. Now you're probably wondering, why am I giving this place 3 stars? Well pricewise this place is a bit expensive for Mexican cuisine. My 2 taco plate cost me about $11 which sort of defeats the purpose of Mexican food. Call me spoiled but I've had Mexican food in Mexico, LA, and the Mission District in San Francisco, and I've never had to pay more than $1.25 for a taco. I do understand this being Massachusetts that things are a little pricier for ethnic cuisine but even if this were the greatest taco in the universe, I can't really justify paying $11 for two tacos with some rice and beans on the side. Secondly, the horchata, a bit watered down, could've used a little more sugar and cinnamon in it and it cost $2.95!!! Dios mio, vendejo, who charges almost $4 for a glass of rice water with sugar in it?!?
(3)C.M. M.
Great food and well hidden. Parking - Free - Plus its walkable from anyone living in North Cambridge/Somerville/Arlington.
(4)J B.
I have been here a handful of times and every time has been a good experience. The food has been great, the place is friendly, the frozen mango daiquiri is yummy (in the summer). not super convienient w/o a car but I always drive there so that has not been an issue... plus as mentioned previously, they have a huge parking lot which is helpful.
(4)S H.
Jose's is small and comfortable. The wait staff is very attentive and the drinks are great. They have a wide selection of margaritas using everything from cheap liquor to the more expensive. The two things they do right are the mole sauce and their burrito based entrees (burritos & chimichangas). Both are very flavorful and have the burritos have the right combination of each of the ingredients. Other dishes we've are pretty good, but not of the same quality and taste. 4 stars for the alcohol, burritos and service.
(4)Kellie D.
I visited Jose's the other day after church for brunch with a friend. Overall, it was A-OK - definitely good enough to try again. The decor was very Mexican - much like many of the small restaurants I have visited in Mexico. The food was on the mild side, but the main dishes had a nice flavor, but as stated in some of the other reviews, the rice and beans were a little tasteless - may have to do with all the healthy eating I have experienced here in the Boston area. I'm guessing they aren't using lard to give their food that extra flavor boost. Additionally, the meals were a little dry (not the preparation of the meats, but the amount of sauce). I prefer wet burritos, enchiladas, etc. However, since this was my first time eating at Jose's I can't entirely blame the restaurant. The menu didn't specify wet or dry and I didn't ask. Next time, I will know to make that request. I have to laugh at the many statements that the hot salsa was really hot. Gringos! lol After living in New Mexico for years, I found Jose's "hot" salsa to be a nice, well-flavored, "medium" salsa at best. It had a slight bite, but far from being spicy if you are used to authentic Tex-Mex food. (Maybe the waiter accidentally gave me the mild????) The waiter was nice and did an excellent job at keeping up on drink refills, but service was a bit slow even though the restaurant was not crowded. The food arrived hot and as ordered. The portions were plentiful and it cost less than $15 for the two of us to eat there. Great value for the amount of food we received. We walked - or should I say waddled, out of the restaurant feeling full and satisfied.
(3)Anonymous P.
Ordered through diningin. Icky food at pretty high prices. The predominant flavor in everything I ordered, aside from the guacamole, was salt. Lots of it. Yes, the sauce for my enchiladas had some unpleasant tang, and the slimy little frozen shrimp inside added a sad fishiness. But mostly it was salt. I almost gave two stars because the guacamole, though bland, is not watered down with sour cream or mayonnaise, and they gave a large portion of it. But all in all this is garbage I'd rather not eat. In fact, I'm throwing most of it away. Taco Bell is easily superior.
(1)Alexis R.
We really like Jose's. The food is great, and service friendly, and pretty reasonably priced.
(4)Beth C.
To be honest, I ordered Mexican on Cinco de Mayo... I knew it was a gamble but Jose's had the best reviews/price range on Foodler. It arrived 45 minutes after the time stated for delivery... which again, I was letting go due to how crazy I'm sure it was there. However, when it arrived - my boyfriend's food was cold, they forgot the dessert, and the portions were small. I think next time I'll stick to Taqueria la Mexicana down the street, it would have cost me exactly half of what I paid too. UPDATE - Carlos the owner has followed up with me - a third party delivers all orders (MixMenu). Lessons learned on both our parts - do not order/deliver on Cinco de Mayo ;)
(3)Phil D.
I've been holding off on writing a Jose's review because I have some conflicting feelings about it. I ate lunch there at least once a week when working in the area. 1) I have to say, up front, that I was the "dude" referred to in emily b.'s review who called the ambulance for the waitress who fell down the stairs. Small world. 2) The margaritas here are among the best ever. 3) The new outdoor patio seating is nice. 4) The recent price increase takes this place from 4 stars to 3. It's just a little too spendy these days, especially for the lunch specials, which used to be one of the best deals in town. 5) Good for groups if you call ahead first. The upstairs seating area is an excellent place to throw a party or have lunch and watch the World cup with a lot of people. 6) Free parking. 7) The food. It's good, but not knock-your-socks-off amazing. Perhaps I have just eaten there too often over the years, but many of the dishes taste the same. The salsa is decent, but not incredible. 8) The staff is excellent. They are super-friendly and I have nothing but good things to say about them. The waitress who tripped had a quick recovery, by the way. 9) I would not recommend getting food to go. It's best right out of the kitchen.
(3)Jen R.
My roommate and I went here on a last minute decision. We couldn't have been more pleased. Our waiter was fantastic and the food was amazing. I highly recommend the quacamole, enchilladas and Super Burrito. All of them were great! The margaritas were delicious, too! We ended the night with the vanilla ice cream rolled in cinnamon and coconut. It was the perfect ending to the perfect dinner!
(5)Becky P.
enjoyed the fish enchiladas. medium spicy salsa = de-lish. ordered a pitcher-o-margarita ("top shelf") that could have been stronger. love the patio. our waitress was professional, friendly and accommodating to the friendly small dog.
(4)Madhumitha N.
Food is not good as expected and drinks were not strong, has more water. The place is not clean as expected. But the good thing about this place is waiters was good and attentive, checked with us often what we want and whether we are satisfied. Not worthy for the money you spend for drinks. And food is really average... had better food.. disappointing
(2)Maren C.
After two visits: Good Salsa Friendly Servers and pretty good food. One appetizer and one entree fed two. One small female adult and one average male adult. If we had eaten fewer chips upon our arrival this might not have been the case. Happy to have been introduced to Jose's.
(4)Chrissy H.
Yummy authentic Mexican food, just like in my hometown in Texas! The staff is friendly, the food tasty and the price is right. You start off with a choice of 3 different home made salsas to accompany your tortilla chips. If you pay a bit extra you can get yourself a little cup of guacamole, which my boyfriend said was quite good. I had the chicken tamales with mole. Pretty delicious. The boyfriend had the carne asada which was absolutely delightful. The only problem I had was that the seating was pretty tight. We also thought it was pretty ridiculous that the staff had to bring the food from the kitchen, out the front door and up the stairs to the other dining room, all the while having to push incoming patrons aside and keep from burning themselves on hot plates. I suggest trying to get over there for lunch during quieter times.
(3)Amanda S.
Yet another place that Groupon led me to. I have to say, my expectations were low because I've noticed that Jose's runs a lot of special discounts....which had me thinking they deperately needed to drum up some business. Turns out they're just good businessmen. Even though it's in kind of a weird location, Jose's was pretty full when I went in on a random week night. Our server was adorable....and he was patient as I agonized over what to order with so many great options. In the end, wanting to try as many things as possible, I landed on the Fiesta Grande and enjoyed every last bite of my chicken enchilada, taco and flauta. Between that, the chips & salsa, and a couple margaritas I felt thouroughly disgusted with how much I had consumed, buuuuut I rallied for the fried ice cream and was happy I did. The food was awesome, and the prices are fair (even more fair if you get one of those discounts they run!).
(4)Michael M.
Fun place for margaritas with your mexican food. The food is just OK, we go for the margaritas.
(3)Carrie S.
Having grown up in Southern California I consider myself a Mexican fare connoisseur of sorts, so imagine my surpise after living here for twenty years and finding Jose's! (Not to mention that I rarely leave the Cambridge, Somerville, Boston vicinity.) The food was just great. I find it pretty challenging to find an authentic Mexican resturaunt that serves margaritas or even beer and wine for that matter. There certainly isn't a shortage of bad Mexican restaurants, and the good Mexican food joints tend to be take out places. Plus you will never find a bigger parking lot within 128! Get the chile rellanos w/green sauce and don't fill up on the chips!
(5)Daniel S.
This place is a short walk from my house and I wish I had tried it sooner. Small and cute, with prompt service and decent prices. Chicken fajitas are great but the beef can be a bit tough. They have all the Mexican standards and a few things you won't find most other places. Maybe it is a bit gringo-fied (default flour tortillas with a lot of things, etc.) but I like it that way, so sue me. I look forward to further exploring the extensive menu.
(4)Anderson M.
Chorizo Burrito Suizo w/ guacamole and sour cream. Nuff' said. P.S. This place is tiny--don't go with a bigger group. Tasty margaritas and good guacamole!
(4)Christine M.
great traditional mexican food. i'm a vegetarian with a gluten allgery, and i am always happy to eat here as there are many things on the menu that i can have. on slower nights, the service is INSANE, i mean this in a good way, your glass is never empty and there are always like 4 people making sure you've got everything you need...when this place gets busy, sometimes you have to wait a couple of extra minutes for more salsa or to get the check...i don't mind at all because, if you look around, you'll realize how small the wait staff actually is and how many tables this restaurant has. waitstaff are constantly running back and forth, making sure all tables are tended to. anyone looking for atmosphere or over the top kiss-ass service probably shouldn't eat at this type of restaurant. go eat at espalier. however, if you are looking for damn good inexpensive mexican food, go to jose's.
(4)Liza H.
I love this place. It's hidden away in North Cambridge, as you drive up it's purple and yellow exterior pops out at you. The food is excellent, I really dig the enchiladas here.
(5)David P.
This is a convenient place with a great variety of tequilla and Mexican beers with decent and interesting Mexican food. It's gotten pricier of late and, if tonight was any indicator, the service is going downhill. Our host ess was gracious and the man busing the tables was fine, but the waiter never came back to check on us and we had to launch major campaigns in order to get water, the check and other basics. Given GG.'s review earlier this month, I wonder if there is a trend. Or maybe just one inattentive waiter?
(3)Rozina K.
Jose's always hits the spot for me. Its tucked away in a quaint little corner of Cambridge and I'm not sure you'd find it unless you were specifically looking for it, but its definitely worth a visit. I like their homemade salsa which is flavorful and spicy and their variety of margaritas. I always get the chicken enchiladas here so I can't comment on anything else, but the enchiladas are great. They're fresh and the chicken is very tender. Its a good idea to make a reservation on the weekends because there's often times a wait. And they now accept reservations via opentable. Enjoy!
(4)Seraphine K.
Well, its small and authentic, thats for sure. I hate tequila, but my friends love the margaritas! The staff speaks minimal english [ie- the menu] and the service is very crappy, but the food is very yummy! Authentic salsa, chips mediocre. Huge free parking lot, kinda weird location in a neighborhood setting-ish. Queso Fundido so delish and so are the flautas!! maybe more tex mex than full on mex.
(3)Christopher M.
Great service, free parking, one of my favorites moles in this part of the country.
(4)Derek M.
My wife and I recently used a groupon we bought about 8 months ago at Jose's. Unfortunately, it took us 8 months to get there! Jose's is one of the few places we've found that actually serves sopes (big plus for the wife) and I got beef fajitas. I tend to be a bit of a fajita snob, and these were by far the best fajitas I've ever eaten... the steak was amazing... the vegetables were cooked perfectly, and their home made hot sauce was outstanding. The only bad part of the experience (for me) is it did take quite some time to get our check and have them take my card, but I'm not really going to hold that against them. We were out having a good time so it didn't really matter :)
(5)Rachel C.
Jose's is a nice friendly restaurant with okay food. It is Tex-Mex, and the margaritas are over-priced, but the service is good, the people who work there are always friendly, and they can accommodate groups. I find the shrimp salad, fajitas are pretty good. Tu y Yo is more authentic, but I always have a pleasant time when I go here.
(3)Julie A.
I'd drive past this place all the time always saying to myself "someday I have to go there"! Well, one Saturday night after s now storm I sent with my husband. There were a bunch of really annoying people waiting outside and inside the door. We squeezed past them to put our names in. They said it would be a two hour wait. Are you fucking kidding me?! no way, we took off. I had a bad feeling about the place, but everyone I know raves about it so I thought we'd try again. A few nights later, on a weeknight, we were back. We got seated right away. The place is small and cozy and decorated with pretty authentic mexican decor. They gave us free chips and yummy salsa (a good sign for any mexican place) I looked at the menu and wanted so many different things I could barely decide. They said they had a sample dinner in either vegetarian, seafood, meat or combo. I was stoked! My husband got some HUGE burrito and my plate came with 4 different mini entres on it. All four were amazing, and my husband was raving about his burrito the whole week! The prices were cheap to fair, especially with the XL portions. The margarita I got was VERY good but on the pricey side. They are kinda in the middle of nowhere in Cambridge, but have ample parking and would only be a (sketchy) 10 minute walk from the Alewife T I won't go back on a weekend, but the place was one of my all time favorite mexican restaurants across the country!
(5)Nadia M.
We went to Jose's tonight for an early dinner and we definately were not disappointed!! The food was really delicious. The chips were a little stale and the salsa a little watery (but still really tasty). The big parking lot makes coming here really conveinent too. The atmosphere was really cute too :). Really cozy and the lighting was warm and inviting. The only issue we had was with the service not being exceptional. We were one of two tables occupied in the restaurant and had to wait for a really long time to get service. But overall, definately worth the trip :). Great mexican food in a great atmosphere!
(4)Jay W.
I must be feeling more random than normal or at least in the mood for taking crap from my brother because...this is a 4 star review of a 5 star experience at a 3 star restaurant. Let me explain. I was FOP (no, not from the North Pole but SF) and visiting a very good friend of mine who over a year ago, having most callously decided that being close to her family was more important than our ability to go out to fun dinners whenever we want, moved back to the Boston area. It was a steamy summer evening and the idea of some cold margaritas and Mexican food out on the patio sounded very good. From outside the place had a nice feel to it and after reading the menu I had very high expectations for the food (though I had been warned to remember that I wasn't in The Mission any more) and drinks. Unfortunately while the food looked really good it lacked a bit of zest and the drinks, while definitely refreshing, seemed a bit expensive given that I was never really wowed by the tequila. That's the 3 star part. But I'm told the food was a bit off that night. Overall, however, the service was good and the place was exactly what we were looking for(4 stars) and it was an excellent start to what amounted to an outstanding few days in the Boston area (5 stars). If I lived in the area I'd gladly make Jose's a regular in my restaurant rotation.
(4)amanda n.
Two-and-a-half stars would be better. This place is funny. I took my brother tonight. The street off Mass Ave in the directions was closed, so I had to take the detour and find my way back over. Me: I think this is the way. Bro: These are houses. Me: Well, the reviews said Jose is there every night. Bro: Are we going to Jose's house?? And when we got there, it really did feel like we were at Jose's house. From the street, it looks like someone's having a party in their house. The same inside. It's small, casual, not super clean, not new feeling, colorful, and the windows are decorated with lights you can buy from CVS at Christmas time. Some of the tables are wobbly, even with napkins under one leg. Service was not so great. If you think you're going to want a second coke/beer/margarita, order it when you get the first one. Chips and salsa were brought to our table as soon as we were seated, but our drinks didn't come for a good ten minutes. I didn't think my taste was cultivated enough for me to notice the blandness mentioned in other reviews here, but I have to agree. I had the two chicken tacos, and it was something I could have made at home (and I don't really cook). Good enough, though. The chicken was tender. But flavorful? Not very. And I ordered it "medium." Parking is plentiful. There was no wait at 7:00 on Friday night, but some people were waiting when we left. I usually like comfortable, convenient, casual places, but I'm not sure I'll come here again unless I plan to have some drinks with friends to distract from the otherwise ho-hum experience of Jose's. I would call it the sit-down version of Anna's.
(2)matt o.
O Jose's how I love you. I've been coming here since I was in the 7th grade, it was a hole in the wall then and still is to this day. I cant believe how crowded it has been the last few times. I can't compare it to traditional Mexican cause this is what I always get, great margaritas and if you go on a slow night you can hangout after your meal, we've actually done this so much we end up drinking beers and taking tequila shots with the staff... I keep meaning to try there tamales but haven't. Jose should be featured in a Budweiser real men of genius add.
(5)Mike D.
The staff was friendly, the margaritas were excellent (we each had the "Autentica," first on a list of a dozen or so), but the food was just OK. Not bad. Just OK. That said I had enchiladas, which was a relatively dull choice for this menu. There were more exciting looking dishes I'd go back and try some time--especially those from Jose's mother's kitchen: flautas, tamales, chili rellenos, pozole... But I was tempted by the sound of the mole verde sauce (tomatillo and ground pumpkin seed). It wasn't bad. Just OK.
(3)Suzanne W.
Food was excellent. First time at this restaurant and will definitely be back. Great location off the beaten path with free parking. Fun decor. Excellent service. Chimichangas were to die for.
(5)Cassandra M.
two words: mole enchiladas
(5)JEM C.
The food was really tasty and the portions were HUGE (that explains some of the pricing). Its clean, has a fun ambiance and affordable drinks. The service was average, but overall its a great convenient place to get good Mexican.
(4)Alicia R.
After reading the mixed reviews here, I was a little wary about going to Jose's, but it's where my boyfriend wanted to go for his birthday. It started out really promising - we ordered the hot salsa and man was it tasty. It's hard to find truly hot salsa in new england (unless you make it yourself). Then we ordered the jalapeno poppers, which were excellent. The batter had crushed tortilla chips in it and it made it a crunchy scrumptious treat. Then onto the main course. I ordered the fish - I guess I was being a little daring? He got the Enchilada Verde. After the amazing salsa and jalapeno poppers, I'd have to say I was really disappointed by the main course. My fish was smothered in red and green peppers and onions with sliced (what seemed to be) jarred green olives and tomatoey sauce. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. The fish was a little underdone, the rice was mediocre, but I kind of liked the beans. My boyfriend's enchilada's were tasty but he didn't like the rice or the beans. I wont write off this restaurant, as a lot of other reviewers said it was a hit or miss type of place - but I definitely won't be deviating from the normal tex-mex entrees in the future. Three stars are for the promising start with a very lackluster finish.
(3)Lisa B.
Stopped here on the way home from a bike ride and loved loved LOVED it! The salsa was fresh with lots of cilantro, the chips were crispy and not overly salty, my tostada was AMZINGLY yummy (spinach & cheese) with loads of guacamole and sour cream, the tortillas had been freshly fried. Vegetarian beans: yay! The whole experience was wonderful so I was surprised to see the negative reviews. Everyone on staff was friendly and just attentive enough but not annoying. We got a pitcher of margaritas and it was HUGE. Tasty but not very strong. And how do they make the rice so tasty and fluffy? It blew my mind. I'm a yankee and may not know Mexican very well but it sure tasted good!
(5)Dori P.
Lo siento (sorry), but I was very disappointed by Jose's. I, too visited as part of a large group. We didn't find the service especially friendly, it was, however, especially slow. By the time all our meals arrived they were tepid. For the prices charged, the portions were very small. Most appalling was the stingy allotment of (Uncle Ben's type) rice and (under- seasoned) beans. This combo is incredibly cheap to procure and prepare and there's no excuse for meting it out in this manner. The entrees tasted fine, but were nada to write home about.
(2)Matt W.
I am sort of a Mexican food snob after spending many years in Southern California where Mexican is a staple of the diet. After reading the reviews I had high expectations, perhaps too high, for Jose's. Upon arriving we were seated quickly, though we had a reservation. We had to ask the waitress to bring our chips and salsa because she apparently forgot about us, but then again she was quite busy. The chips and salsa were great which does set a good tone for a Mexican place. Next we ordered some pitchers of margaritas which were very tasty, average priced, and not super strong (a negative to me but positve for others). I ordered the fajitas, usually a safe dish to order as it is hard to mess up. As expected, the fajitas were decent, not amazing or large, with the only complaint being that I asked for flour but recieved corn tortillas. The dishes my friends got also tasted good, but I wouldn't lable any of them as the best I've had, even in Boston. Despite all of the semi-complaining in the above paragraph, my friends and I are already talking about going back again, if for no other reason than to get the chips, salsa and the margaritas.
(4)chungo m.
jeeze. once you get in after waiting for forever the food is good. very good.
(4)junie w.
This place is small and the tables are very close together (but for some reason it works for the environment there). It is a very cosy place. The jalapeno poppers were awesome! There was a little bit of live music only because a customer asked if he could use their guitar. =)
(4)Melissa B.
Jose's does decent tex-mex. nothing fancy. nachos are pretty good - piled high with lots of ingredients. The big problem they have is getting the food to your table hot. Great place to go sit for a snack and swill beers while catching up with friends. Not a destination place by any means, but fine if you're in the area.
(3)Arik C.
Another out of the way gem in Cambridge. Not as great as the Taqueria Mexico in Waltham but still pretty good. Great food for your buck and also a rarity, a selection of mexican beers and tequilas! More than just negra modelo and patron.
(4)Jeff D.
(617) 354-0335 josesmexicanrestaurant.c… Hidden in the less traveled streets of North Cambridge (near Fresh Pond), Jose's draws a rice and beans kind of crowd with FREE parking and fiesta flavor. They stock an amazing selection of 32 tequilas by the shot, plus 10 bottled beers from Mexico. You'll have no problem picking out the colorful triple decker from the street, and the sombreros and gem-toned walls give the energetic cantina a wide awake atmosphere. On the menu, it's BIG plates for small bills. You have to sort through Americanized salsa wings and "Mexican" pizzas, but the crispy tacos, flattened tostadas, and stuffed chili relleno will have you in a mariachi mood in no time.
(5)Anna S.
Jose's has the three "f's". Fast service, free parking, and food that is good. It is also inexpensive. The atmosphere is also quite charming, and reminded me of a mexican food restaurant in southern california, not north cambridge. My only concern with Jose's was that my food was slightly bland, but that may have been due to what I ordered.
(4)Michael F.
They hosted my company's party on the top floor and we had one of the best times that we ever had before... The service and food was exceptional... Plenty of parking and I highly recommend it to everyone...
(5)Kate R.
Small space for a large group to meet in , but great for casual dining. Food is priced well and their burritos are delicious.
(4)Michael S.
The food is just OK, beans are very salty. They charge $1.95 for regular ice tea and no free refills. I paid $6 for iced tea. That is a deal breaker to me.
(2)Kelly F.
If you can handle a little bit of a wait and a small restaurant, Jose's is worth it! Small purple house that you wouldn't imagine being as good as it is. From the Chips & Salsa to the margaritas to the full meals this place has it figured out! I currently live around the corner and frequent there quite often! Fresh chips and tacos, delicious fajitas and burritos too! The food isn't overly covered by sauces, instead the food itself is delicious and tastes fresh! Outdoor seating in the summer is great, minus the commuter rail being right outside. There is a full parking lot too because the street is always packed.
(5)Juan V.
I'm from Mexico and raised in California and in the year I've been in Boston I've eaten in many so called Mexican restaurants but the dont even come close. This is by far the best Mexican Food in Boston! Come to the restaurant or stop at their taco truck by MIT.
(4)Ruchi C.
Great food, totally worth it! Authentic, cute and good salsa!A nice place for date night! My husband and I had plenty of vegetarian options. We had the fajitas and vegetarian platter and ended it with caramel custard. Drinks were good but could be stronger, I'd definitely go back!
(4)Meredith L.
I love this place and have for about 20 years. It's almost always packed with people and the restaurant can get really loud and a bit hectic atmosphere, which is why I prefer to either sit outside or get take away. I highly recommend the tamales del dia with mole, guacamole and their homemade salsas and chips. They make a mean margarita as well. Too bad we can't put those in the take away order!
(4)Bryan M.
Excellent food, great service authentic Mexican, you can taste the freshness Great margaritas too!. Slightly on the pricey side, but well worth it.
(5)Naira Q.
Nice ambiance, average quality Mexican food. Chips tasted stale. House margarita was delicious.
(3)Ana R.
Super yummy queso. Holy whoa. Their taco salad was DELICIOUS!! I usually only order burritos or quesadillas at Mexican places but last night was in the mood for something lighter. The salad was so fresh! The fried shell was a bit too much, but i broke off what I wanted to eat and used it like a nacho. So yummy. Big portions, great nachos and salsa (thank you for bringing us both hot and mild salsa!). But don't leave before you try the queso!
(4)Chelsea G.
The ONLY good Mexican I've found in the Boston area. So delicious I wanted to keep eating long after my tummy was full. Tamales w mole sauce! Chimichangas are not on the menu but they make them upon request. Skip the queso dip. And get the yelp deal - $20 off our meal.
(5)Chris B.
Great authentic Mexican food. Shredded beef burito was excellent, chicken fajitas as well as the cheese quesadila. The service was incredible once seated and I would recommend going here. Kids had a great meal and staff was friendly.
(4)Keith L.
Pleased w/ the place. Extensive menu at reasonable prices. Very nice children's menu. Service is very good. Staff very friendly and efficient. Deserving of its top 10 ranking for Mexican in Boston area.
(4)Court S.
I had to deduct 2 stars due to the fish burrito having absolutely no flavor. The fish had zero seasoning. It was bland and tasted off to the point that I actually had to throw away the fish, and only eat the tortilla, rice & beans. Maybe I'll try shrimp next time. Or maybe not.
(2)Noelle L.
Very cute inside. Delicious margarita options that taste real and not overly sweet. Great food with authentic options. Service lacked though... Was seated for a good 20 minutes before even given water. Had to go up to the bar to ask for our check (we were the only ones left in the bottom of the restaurant) and there were children running around at around 10:00PM. One of them knocked on the door while I was using the restroom and were opening the kitchen doors and yelling. I say I'd go back... but I probably wont
(3)andrew w.
So over priced. One taco for 14$ how does that make any sense. Burrito's are 17$ and up. Place is also dirty. Also buisness must not be good since theres deals everywhere for this place
(2)Stephanie A.
Never eating here again. Waited 30 minutes to have my order taken, then the food took 35 minutes. The food itself was decent. Adobo burrito and Pazole. Seriously considered yelling at the staff when the people who arrived 25 minutes after us had food 20 minutes before us, but decided I don't need to get that excited.
(1)Tim G.
The margaritas were good, and there was ample parking. The food was okay, but there are definitely better options for Mexican food in the Cambridge area. I also found a piece of metal wire in my food that cut the inside of my mouth when I bit into it. Upon informing our waitress, she just kind of smiled and nodded (possibly didn't understand what I was saying?). I would have given it three stars if not for the "wiry" chicken.
(2)Amber D.
***** EAT HERE IF YOU DON'T MIND EATING ANOTHER CUSTOMERS LEFTOVER TRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!***** We came Jose's to eat a little after 9 one day last week. HUGE mistake on our part. 1. we walk in and got NO service. Mind you the wait staff saw us come in and they proceeded to ignore us. *RED FLAG* 2. we walk up to bar and ask what time do they close, bartender responds 'we're closed, we close @ 9:30. (we should have walked out) 3. Manger comes up behind him and corrects him by saying 'No, we close @ 10, kitchen closes @ 9:45'. He shows us to our seats and offers to bring us chips/salsa and tells us our waitress will be by to take our orders...... *here we go* 4. Waitress drops off our chips/salsa, walks off never taking our order. As we wait to order, we start eating the 'chips'...... Finally after waiting a good 10-15 minutes she comes back to take out order and walks off. By this time we've eaten a good amount of the chips/salsa. All of a sudden I hear my friend say 'What the hell is this?' while she's looking in chip basket; come to find out these bastards give us somebody else's TRASH. Not only was there literally balled up pieces of straw paper wrappers mixed in with the chips, but I also pull out a soggy chip covered in salsa on the bottom. When I say I was sick to my stomach, that is an understatement. The fact that they had the balls to gives their customers trash really shows what they think of us. I work for the state in Health & Human Services, as soon as my contact person at the board of health gets back from vacation, a formal complaint will be made. *HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, DIRTY FACILITY, DIRTY WORKERS.*
(1)Jesse D.
Recently went for a group business lunch on a weekday. Our waitress was very sweet and they did their best to accommodate our large group. The building and interior feels rundown and could easily be improved with some TLC and elbow grease. We enjoyed the food. I had the shrimp fajitas...and while the chili steam made half the table cough for 5 mins, it was still good. :) Not the best Mexican food but there was an air of authenticity. The TV was playing soccer news in Spanish and the general vibe was welcoming....although I wouldn't have wanted to touch the walls much. Would consider going back.
(3)Teddy C.
Living in Texas for the last 7 years, I was ready to say good bye to awesome Tex-Mex when we made the move to Boston. So Jose's is a really pleasant surprise! It reminds me of a lot of the great neighborhood Tex-Mex joints in Austin, places that feel family run with no-frills comfort food. All the little details reminded me so much of food back home. The fresh guacamole, the michelada (ask for without Clamato), the fresh salsa, the tamales, even the kids menu that offers chicken nuggets and fries. Great food and a really great price with the Yelp $20 for $40 deal. If only they also did breakfast tacos.
(4)Benno K.
Wow what a bunch of haters! You just make me sad hating on Jose's ); cuz this place is excelente! I've been here 3 times since I moved to North Cambridge all the way from Albuquerque New Mexico last August and I must say ALL three visits were memorably delightful! :D ¿Por Qué? 1. This place is as local as it gets and the atmosphere is superb plus they even got parking! 2. Service is great! Waiters are friendly! They were even happy when I ordered en español. And thought it was funny when my little brother tries the same ( he speaks Chinese better than Spanish) 3. Food is delicious and, in my opinion, quite reasonably authentic. NOTHING like Taco Bell if that's what you got out of their nachos -_- 4. They have an awesome place to eat right outside on the sidewalk during warm summer days. 5. The location is superb; right down the street from my apartment. I'll admit I'm not an expert on Mexican food cuz the delicious NEW Mexican cuisine back in ABQ is obviously New Mexican but regardless Jose's is a deliciously delightful restaurant that I am excited to return to in order to fill mi estomago and just because a few haters be hatin on Este restaurantre excelente isn't going to convince me otherwise.
(5)Gairik S.
We went there for lunch using a yelp deal and got the Taquitos, Fiesta Grande Vegetarians and Camarones with the green peppers sauce. The shrimp (camarones) was the best of the three and deserved five stars. Perfectly cooked and a yummy sauce. The spinach enchilada and poblano in the fiesta grande were also great, but the tamales was average with a pretty thick and slightly dry crust. Tinga (chipotle chicken) taquitos were really great and came with a yummy fresco cheese. The chicken could have been a bit juicier though. The ambience for lunch was very fun and overall it was a great meal. Wish they hadn't run out of the fried ice cream :)
(4)Adi R.
Very Nice Menu and Delicious food. Servers are very co operative and friendly. Dont go on the looks. This looked a bit overpriced for what it is .
(4)Dan M.
This is poor "Mexican" food. I don't usually write these reviews, but I got the Groupon because there seemed to be honest loyalty to this place, and plenty of solid yelp reviews. Seriously? I'm a white guy, Boston born and bred, but I like food enough to know this food honestly sucked. There is plenty of legit, flavorful, thoughtful Mexican cuisine around, from Acitron in Arlington to Sol Azteca in Newton/Boston, to Anna's Tacqueria just about everywhere. This stuff they served us was just lazy - I mean no seasoning, overcooked, guac that really may have been the tj's pouch stuff. Really. I thought about adding a star just for their COURAGE to charge $19 for two bland, dry carnitas tacos on a plate - we went through half a bottle of cholula just to get out dinners to taste like anything - but didn't want to add to their already inflated rating. Jeesh, Boston diners/yelp reviewers, you totally steered us wrong on this one. Honestly, only way they get away with this kind of food is because apparently the local gringos actually don't know any better. Yikes, I'm embarrassed. And from this point on, way more skeptical of yelp ratings.
(1)Erin P.
So, despite an okay service experience and a really tasty margarita, I don't think I'll be going back here. Food poisoning was what I got from my visit to Jose's Mexican Restaurant. I ordered appetizer sopes, and my friend had a ground meat quesadilla. I was happy with the little sopes, and I thought they were tasty and fun. The quesadilla, however, was soaking in grease, messy to eat, and it wasn't really what I'd expect from a quesadilla. However, the next morning proved how something had gone very wrong in their kitchen. I know every place can have a bad day, but I won't be taking my chance again with this place.
(1)Chann C.
Holy guacamole. Their guac is so fresh and delicious! Their salsa is also awesome as well. I am a huuuge fan of spicy food and their salsa is definitely muy caliente. You can also get it mild as well for those of you who can't take the heat. The salsa I get at other mexican restaurants in the area just don't seem to have enough kick to it. For entrees, I always get either the enchiladas or chile rellenos. Both are very great options. My favorite dish is their chicken enchiladas with the verde sauce. It's so filling, I can never finish it. I always have some leftovers to take home. All entrees are served with rice and beans. I'm not a huge fan of beans so I just pass on that. Service is always wonderful and their drinks are pretty solid. Nice little establishment. Don't expect anything too fancy here. If you just want decent tex-mex for an affordable price, this place is for you.
(4)Tracy P.
AWFUL SERVICE at sister restaurant in Wayland, Ma (Viva Mexican Grill). Insulting especially to my Mother on Mother' Day when we were told "Oh don't be mad its Mothers Day" even thought we waiting OVER AN HOUR for our entrees. Owner told us verbatim when we explained we would not be back because of the awful service "Oh don't worry about it" and went back to EATING his own meal even though we never received our food. Hopefully out of business soon.
(1)Deek P.
Excellent! A must try. Thank you for a few great meals!
(5)Jessie C.
First off - i love mexican food. I'm not super picky about how authentic it is because honestly - i have no idea how authentic it is, it all tastes good to me. We ordered take-out from this place so this is strictly based on the food and not the rest of the restaurant: Pros: DELICIOUS burrito - i ordered the super burrito. It was the perfect size, not too HUGE but also enough that I didn't want a second one after i finished it. They had guac and rice in the burrito as well which is great! Love guacamole! The chicken on the burrito was really good quality also - not like the wierd bits and pieces that sometimes you get in a burrito where you're not really sure if it's chicken or what. Cons: $32 for two burritos and a cup a chili - seems a little pricey for me. No extra salsa on the side. Summary: Great food but a little overpriced.
(3)Cwot W.
Not bad food and margaritas and I love that it is just a random house on the street. Margaritas were really expensive though.
(4)Stacy B.
I'm a West Coast girl, born and raised, but happily living in Boston. I have no intentions of leaving -- except on the occasion of wanting some goddamned mexican food. The real kind that I'm used to, smothered in cheese, each table seating served unlimited chips and salsa, make the music loud please, and put some damned tequila in my margarita for Baby Jesus' sake!!! So happy to have stumbled across Joses. All of the above, and then some. Considering there is no air fare to get there -- I will never be complaining about the prices. And kudos for their vegetarian options!
(5)Chris S.
The food was great, fantastic atmosphere, and GREAT mole sauce (as others have indicated)! It was JUMPING on the Friday night we went, but they do take reservations (and I would DEFINITELY recommend them. Eating there we tasted a variety of dishes and I can highly recommend the tinga (chipotle spiced chicken) and I had it in the empanadas. The prices were reasonable, and the food tasty. Truly a north Cambridge hidden gem!
(4)Kimberley S.
I came here last night and it was really good! I love the decor. It's so cheesy and kitschy: chili pepper strung lights, sombreros on the wall, the outside painted purple. After a long day it was low-key and relaxing. The food was amazing. When the waiter brought out the salsa, I couldn't shovel it in my mouth fast enough. I got the hot salsa which was watery, and tomatoey, and spicy, and yummy. Then I got the shrimp fajitas. The shrimp were cooked so perfectly and all of the condiments (guac, sour cream, your choice of beans, your choice of warm tortillas, your choice of salsa) were wonderful too. The margaritas were nothing special. I liked that they had fresh lime in them but they weren't very strong- both in terms of tequila flavor and margarita flavor. That being said, I felt kind of drunk after 2 1/2, but they didn't TASTE very strong. I like my margaritas to be a flavor explosion, and these were just alright. The service was great up until the end. We didn't seem to have a particular waiter. In most restaurants, this means that no one will serve you. Here, it means everyone will serve you. Upon sitting down, 2 waiters tried to bring us water (one pretended to cry when we'd already been served). Staff came up every 5 minutes throughout our meal to ask if we needed anything else, and were constantly giving us new napkins, tortillas, waters, etc. Things got crowded at the end of our meal and our check took a long time, but no harm no foul. I'll come back again.
(4)Dal C.
I went here again mainly because my wife bought a groupon for them. The food this time was pretty good; however they had one of those singing guys who sang to us and that was pretty annoying. I never know what to do with those guys; are you supposed to tip them? to make them go away?
(3)David N.
Eh, it was okay, food was a solid B-, service wasn't very good they kept trying to charge us extra and it was a hassle to get it done correctly.
(2)Bryan G.
I gotta say, it's pretty rare that I don't like a restaurant. You'll see as I continue Yelping. There will be a lot of good reviews on my profile. Jose's just didn't do it for me. I've given it two tries, and I was impressed neither time. First time: dinner and margaritas. It took us over 20 minutes for them to even take our orders, and then another 15 to get our margaritas. And the margs weren't spectacular. The food was...okay...not spectacular either. Second time: brunch. It looked like the place was closed when we walked in. I had to yell "HELLO?" four times before someone came out to seat us. The waitress clearly had no idea what she was doing. I ordered a Bloody Mary, which it took her 10 minutes to figure out they couldn't make it. Fine, just know that when you come to the table. The exact same thing happened when my fiancée ordered her food. And the food (coming a half hour later) was bland. There are many better Mexican places in Boston. Go to them instead of Jose's.
(1)Jane R.
Delicious Mexican food and great big tasty margaritas. Whether my husband and I are going out to dinner, or meeting up with friends for drinks, Jose's has become one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. Try the mole verde... yum.
(5)Julia F.
Like. Like. Like. Like! I have driven by this place for YEARS and never stopped in. I've talked about going, but not until there was a Groupon for the place did I commit even a little bit to the follow though. I'm so glad I finally made it in the door! I brought one of my friends who needed to get out of the house as badly as I did on a Saturday afternoon, and also likes spicy foods. I showed her the shortest way I knew to get from C-town to North Cambridge, and after sitting in a mess of traffic on Harvard Street in Medford, we were there. It was a little loud in here the other evening. They were juicing limes, which is apparently a really loud process. The end of the process is amazing - I tasted my friend's "Authentica" margarita, which was very tasty, and this is coming from somebody who really dislikes drinks who's primary ingrediant is tequila. We also chose to sit at the table under the stairway going up to the 2nd floor of the building... It sounded like people were throwing bowling balls down the stairs most of the time we were eating. One you get a second round of drinks, the noises are almost insignificant. Almost. The people were wicked friendly. It was hard to tell who the hostess was, and who was the waitress, as they both came back and took orders for drinks and different parts of the meal. But both of them were very nice women, and got us what we wanted, when we wanted it! What we wanted: Spicy salsa for the chips that they give you to get going. We also got the small order of empanadas for an app, what a good choice! It was so tasty! The sauce was like a salsa/marinara sauce - SO GOOD! I got the flautas, the chorizo ones, with pinto beans. My friend got the Grande *something* "mexican 3 ways" as we called it from then on, with black beans. Both meals were VERY good. I got a couple glasses of sangria, she got to "authentica" margaritas, which tasted BEYOND amazing! I agree with Lu, if you are driving do not partake in the drinking, the drinks are intoxicatingly good, and the parking is free, yes... But be smart and take the T, or a cab! I'm going back, but not gonna sit under the stairs, nor am I gonna sit near the juicer, or be the designated driver. WATCH OUT JOSE'S, here we come! The ladies bathroom was really small and right near the entrance to the kitchen- it's small, and also has a lot of noises going on in there... the fan, the air freshener, and the automated paper towel dispenser, oy! The hot and cold are also reversed from what is "normal" - but cute little pieces of tape show you which is hot and cold.
(4)Karen D.
Adios, Jose's, because you've lost me. Last night your only business was collecting money. It was a fast food experience at full dining prices. -We ordered margaritas ($12-14 each). They tasted awful (the worst margarita I have had in a very, very long time), and my boyfriend's was far from full. A stiff drink doesn't mean you stiff the customer. We've had these before and they were good. I would think making a good margarita at a Mexican restaurant would be a basic pre-requisite. -The mole enchilada was OK. However, when you ran out of dishes for the beans, putting 6 beans in a thimble-sized plastic condiment container was a joke. The whole dinner wasn't very hot (in temperature). Makes me wonder. -When I came back from the bathroom, my unfinished beer had been taken away before my boyfriend could stop the buser. -The server wasn't very attentive. Efficient, and pleasant but not very different from service I get at a take out window. So, we won't be going back again. Yeah, I know every restaurant can have a bad night, but if my money wasn't having a bad night, I should get something in return.
(1)Diane D.
Jose's is my go to Mexican. They ask if you want mild, medium or spicy salsa from the get go, but I don't think they actually pay attention. They get 4 stars because their mole is AMAZING!!! They have really tasty margaritas and guacamole is wonderful. THey have outdoor seating int he summer and I have never had to wait more than ten minutes for a table. They are a little out of the way, but worth it. They also often have groupons or eversaves.
(4)Lynne S.
Tucked away on Sherman Street behind Fresh Pond, Jose's is a bit off the beaten path, but definitely worth the drive! Housed in a brightly colored building with a large free parking lot next door, it's inviting exterior immediately sets the tone for a fun filled evening. Stepping inside, it looks like someone left the painting to the kindergartners. Every wall is painted a different primary color and covered with colorful sombreros and Mexican murals. Even the chairs and tables are brightly colored! The music and live Mariachi player matched the restaurants colorful atmosphere perfectly! Jose's offers many options for margaritas, tequila shots and Mexican beers, as well as lots of other drink choices. The margarita I chose was a little weak for my taste, but the second one was better. The menu offers a nice mix of your classic tex-mex choices plus a good variety of more authentic Mexican dishes. I opted to try a chicken and cheese stuffed Chile Rellenos topped with Salsa Verde and served with rice and black beans. The pepper was soft and sweet, the filling was tender, juicy and cheesy and the Salsa Verde added just the right kick. Yummmy! The Carne Asada looked terrific, as did the enchiladas and a special lamb taco entree was the hit of the table. Service was overly friendly and at around $15 a plate, our bill was very reasonable at the end of the night - even after several pitchers of margaritas!
(4)Tulan K.
The place is in awesome location tucked away in middle of nowhere heheheeh. the food was good and it has some great authentic sauces and moles. The salsa on the other hand was very watery tasty yet watery and it was a tad bit expensive for the quantity of food served. The service is the reason i am giving it so low score. Food is def great.
(3)Andrea H.
Best Mexican food that we've had since leaving California. Now let me clarify... The salsa is very watery, which was eh...alright. The tacos were delicious. My husband's chimichanga was great. The Tamale that we had with tomatillo sauce was fantastic! The rice...not authentic or very good. It had corn, a few peas, and a carrot in it.... Kind of strange. However, the main dish really made up for it. Finally some real taco shells, and not out of the box!
(4)Jillian Q.
I had been meaning to try Jose's for a long time and when my mother mentioned wanting Mexican food for Mother's Day dinner, I made a reservation (using trusty Open Table - love getting my dining points!, or so I thought). The whole experience was disappointing. I think the most disappointing aspect was the service - it was just unacceptably horrible. The waiter would disappear for a very long period of time, while we sat with unfilled drinks (even to get the first round of drinks took an insane amount of time). I felt like we practically had to flag him down in order to place an order for any part of our meal. As for food - the guacamole was probably the only part of the meal I enjoyed (the chips were just ok as well). I had a steak entree that was diced and served on a spongy-tortilla like base. The steak was tasteless and luke-warm, I didn't like it at all. My family ordered enchiladas and quesadillas which they liked - I ate some of the chicken enchilada and it was fine, nothing spectacular. For dessert, we had the sopapilla, which I enjoyed but would not convince me to come back. The one-star versus two-star rating definitely stems from the service, it was just terrible. On a side-note, I got an email that the restaurant "canceled" my Open Table reservation accidentally instead of "accepting" it which means no dining points for me...*sigh* I thought I would at least have that!
(1)Erica S.
God this place is adorable! Tucked away in North cambridge in a totally non-commercial neighborhood, this place is an off-the-beaten-path gem. The decor is lively, colorful and fun. The food is top-notch. And drinks are yummy and strong! Definitely the best Mexican food I've had in the Cambridge/ Somerville area, hands down. Note: For a treat, order the 'camarones al mojo de ajo' (shrimp in a garlic, white wine, and tomatillo sauce). The portion is huge, and it's clean-your-plate delicious.
(5)