Drew M.

Good food and good service. I will say they make a very good margarita!

Laura R.

Chips weren't awesome they were weird thick but not inedible. Salsa wasn't hot but it was super fresh and my kid loved it! I may be a lightweight but I wouldn't order a signature drink here again. Seems the bartenders have a HEAVY hand when pouring, while sometimes that can be a good thing if your on a shitty date maybe and want to end up dancing on the table's later?? I like my mixed drinks to actually be mixed with something other than alcohol. The word here was that this is the norm. I couldn't finish my drink I switched to beer which I can always count on being safe. I had the blackened catfish relleno. It was delicous!!! Seriously I am a really picky Mexican and this was awesome you have to try it!!! If you love fish you can't go wrong here! The man had the rellenos platter w machaca on top, they use poblanos I tried it and it too was awesome!!! I will totally come back here I don't care what happens here the food is way worth it!! Service was ok nothing spectacular or memorable about it. Does anyone know where I can get this awesome of food in PHX??!?!

Jack K.

This was a pretty average beanery. Everything about it was average except the prices which were just a bit on the high side but I suppose that is to be expected in a place like Sedona. My wife had the chile rellenos which were good but not great. I had the carne asada which tasted OK but was far from authentic. I'm not sure what kind of steak it was but it was not the traditional skirt steak or even the often substituted flank steak. The guacamole was good but expensive. I liked the salsa and chips but they were average. The servings were generous. The service was attentive but rushed. The place was half empty so there was no real need to turn tables. We had to send the waiter away twice to have sufficient time to consider the menu. And we ordered guacamole as an appetizer and our main course was served about 45 seconds after the guacamole arrived which was only about 2 minutes after we ordered. The food came so fast it had me thinking microwave. There was nothing bad about this restaurant but I will go someplace else next time. Eating out is too expensive to settle for average.

Jenna C.

I have to agree with other reviewers - service was terrible. Our waiter, Laco, was so rushed, he pulled the menu out of my hand as we were ordering - in fact, we didn't even get to finish ordering before he rushed off. When he dropped off appetizer plates, he threw them down so fast, they were literally spinning on the table. In addition, he brought a pork taco instead of the beef taco that we ordered. But since he never came back to check on us, we never got it replaced (or drink refills for that matter). As for the food - it was pretty mediocre. I didn't care for the chips and salsa and the queso was just plain bad. It was more of a spinach and cheese dip than a Mexican queso dip. And it was burnt on top of that - it tasted burnt and I could see burnt bits in the cheese. The chile relleno was pretty good, but that's the only thing I really enjoyed.

Jerome W.

Ready? ...OK! J - Just come in and enjoy the yummy fresh tortilla chips they give you. A - A fantastic place to eat in Sedona V - View is beautiful! If it's a nice day, sit near a window or al fresco. E - Excellent Fiesta Margarita (ask for the big one) L - Love the shredded beef enchiladas! I - I like the Javelina head hanging in the bar. N - Noon is super duper crowded so try to schedule your visit later. A - Ask for more chips and fabulous home-made salsa C - Cheese, cheese, and more cheese on everything. A - A La Carte choices or combos from the menu - huge menu selection N - Not too spicy, but I suppose you can ask them to add some heat. T - Tortas are my favorite thing on the menu and come with fab fries. I - I can't stop eating the chips. N - No, this is not Taco Bell, folks. A - A+ for service

Laura D.

Wow I'm totally shocked at these other reviews, I thought this place was so awesome!! The service was good, the food was DELICIOUS... wow.. I had the #2 as it comes, and it was fresh, amazing food- no, not something you'd get in Mexico, but not as Americanized as some restaurants in Phoenix either- somewhere in the middle. Anyways, like I said, I'm a huge fan, and if I'm ever back in Sedona I will definitely return here! The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because though the salsa is yummy, its not spicy at all, and the chips werent super fresh, but other than that, I love this place!

Victor C.

Good food - not spectacular. Good service - but not spectacular. Convenient and good for a family outing. If you are looking for something upscale, for a date then you might go someplace else. But for me, its a great place to take my family and larger groups to have a nice time eating some mexican food.

Aubrie D.

I am really surprised this place has gotten such mediocre reviews! The margaritas are great and original. The Festive in particular was one of the best I have ever had. The food is on the scale of "healthy mexican"...there isn't 1600mg of sodium in a dish...in fact I had to add salt, which I personally appreciate. That means they aren't overloading it with salt and letting you salt it to taste instead. I had the chicken and veggie burrito, which was great! The chicken had a sauce on it that made it taste amazing and it was perfectly cooked. That plus the squash that was inside made for a really great flavor. Also the service was great. Even though it was busy our waiter checked on us often and was super nice. Our order came really fast and with a smile. :)

The O.

We were pleasantly surprised with this place, as we came here based on our concierge's recommendation. The chips and salsa were deliciously fresh and tasty, and we enjoyed the house margaritas. The adults ordered pork enchiladas and salmon tostada; the kids ordered beef soft tacos and chicken quesadilla. All of us left with half our meals as leftovers. They were just as good for breakfast the next day. We sat on the patio and enjoyed beautiful views and chirping insects. Our only complaint was the occasional flies, which is expected with outdoor seating. The service was friendly and excellent. The prices were very good. This restaurant was certainly the best of all the food places we visited in the northern Arizona area. P.S. We did not see these Yelp reviews until after the fact, and we are shocked at the low ratings.

Kandace G.

2.5 stars... After a morning of hiking, my girlfriends and I decided to try Javelina's for lunch. We wanted Tex-Mex, and knew it would probably not be the most authentic, but it didn't matter at the time. We were immediately seated, and our experience with the server was similar to other reviewers: "What can I get you to drink?" were the very first words out of the guy's mouth. We were not put off, though, being a relatively mellow group, and just ordered our drinks. Chips arrived shortly, and upon request, a very nice freshly made guacamole. The salsa left a lot to desire, but the guac made up for it. I ordered a tostada with blackened shrimp and scallops, and although there was a lot of orange cheese, there was also a lot of lettuce, cabbage, green and red peppers, and red onion. The scallops were delicious, the shrimp overcooked. Huge portions, I took 2/3 of my plate home for leftovers. Go expecting your americanized mexican cravings to be fulfilled, not to experience real mexican cuisine, and you will likely leave satisfied.

Jessica H.

We stopped at Javelina Cantina because we love Mexican food. The resturant was nice and our server was very nice and helpful as well. The portions were huge we couldn't finish our plate. I don't think I would go back, because I wasn't to impressed.

Tiffany V.

We were just in Sedona over the weekend and decided to try Javelina's again as the last time we were there several years ago it was pretty so so. Unfortunately, we had the same experience. The staff was on speed mode because they were so packed with what seemed like tourist's and large families. The waiter was talking a hundred miles and hour and expected us to order ASAP. We ordered margaritas, and I'm not lying when I say they were the WORST margaritas I've ever had. Melted ice, and 90% tequila with a splash of cactus juice. We usually get great margaritas on the rocks here in So. Cal, and I also make them at home, it's pretty difficult to make a bad one. I couldn't drink mine. The dinner was okay nothing to write home about. I know we won't give this place a third try.

Elaine P.

This was our second visit to Javelina. A-OK sums it up. On a Saturday night in late October, it was too cold to sit outside and we did not want a long wait for a table for four. So we settled on sitting in the bar. Service and food were both three stars. Nothing really bad but nothing really outstanding. In fact, I cannot even remember what I ordered -- certainly not memorable. With the many restaurant choices in Sedona, I am not sure I would return to Javelina.

Chris M.

Rough meal all around. Go to Elote if you can get in...

Michael L.

went there for my birthday and excellent. talapia fajitas were amazing. for b day gave a mini sombrero and free fried ice cream. service and food wonderful and more than youcan eat.

Bruges L.

We went here based on the recommendation of the hotel concierge. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. When we initially called, they told us that they couldn't take any more reservations that night. So, we had to ask the concierge to make the reservation. After the concierge called, we suddenly had a reservation for 8:15 pm. When we arrived, the hostess first told us that there would be a 15 minute wait. Since we informed her that we had a reservation, she said we could be seated immediately. I'm not sure why there would have been a wait since there were lots of tables in the section we were seated at. I must agree with Katie R that their food is smothered in cheese. They give you huge portions, but I've had better frozen Mexican dinners from the supermarket refrigerator case. The guacamole is basically mashed up avocados and sour cream - no taste or flavor. I tried one of their special combination platters - beef machaca flauta, chicken taco, and cheese enchilada. The rice was hard and flavorless; the refried beans were covered in cheese. The entree itself was okay. My husband had the steak fajitas. Not much flavor on that beef either. Service is okay. Our server, Candy, was nice and promptly took our order. However, we hardly saw her during our dinner service - we got water, chips and salsa from the busboys. We wanted to pay our bill with a credit card, but she got sidetracked by a large table. After waiting 15 minutes for her to return, we paid our bill in cash so we could go back to the hotel.

Holly S.

Good food. Good atmosphere. Good service. Makes the trip to sedona fun. Good kids menu. Had potato spinach and cheese enchiladas. Beans were perfect.

Chad P.

Sorry to say, but I just didn't find this place to be anything special. I had the super burrito with grilled steak. The steak seemed to be overly charred and the guacamole wasn't the greatest.

Maggie F.

I'm terrible at ordering drinks, so I asked the bar tender what he'd recommend for me. The result? The BEST mango margarita EVER!! (wipe a happy tear)

Troy H.

Good wait staff, acceptable food and average prices.

Ryan L.

Fairly standard Mexican fare served in a light and airy environment. We have eaten out on the patio, which is really nice. Dining there today, they were out of a lot of items, including their house-made tamales. Boo! Service seems spotty ... sometimes good, sometimes lack luster.

REBECCA C.

The food was great! Salsa a bit chipotle still yummy &bountiful., Service expedient. Heard the margaritas r yumm. Enjoyed the chicken wrap. Bean dip needs more tortillas (comes w/ 2) slightly on the pricier side but id def go again pref during hh

Carlyle C.

GREAT food and drinks!

Sapna G.

One of THE best restaurants I tried over the weekend! For all you Calgarians, Javelina Cantina is an upscale version of 'Julio Barrio'. The food was DELICIOUS (I HIGHLY recommend the tostadas and the burritos), the service was EXCELLENT (we got our meal within approximately 10 minutes of ordering it) and the ambiance was PERFECT (contemporary with some Mexican flavour)! The next time I'm in Sedona, I'll be back at this cantina before you can say 'taco'.

Tal F.

This place is comparable to an El Torito. We came in on a last minute decision. The prices are fair but the good is nothing special. It satisfied our Mexican food but would not return again.

Kurdy P.

We went here with a group of 18 after doing a Pink Jeep Tour. The location was in a nice quaint area. The food was mediocre but the margaritas were awesome! I ordered the chile relleno and all it was was cheese..not a big fan. The salsa was really good, ask for the hot! The service was nice but they didn't split our check for us which made it very difficult for us from the get go. Try the Prickly Pear Margarita..yummmm

Steven M.

This place is all about the view, not so much the food. It's standard fare Mexican with a few exceptions, with entrees priced in the $13-$16 range (pretty high for Mexican). You do get a plateful of food, and the service was fine. Nice beer selection. Try to get a seat on the deck to enjoy the sweeping views of Sedona.

Michelle P.

This was a convenient cantina near my hotel in sedona on my trip in june (kings ransom)... Still on the trip, in fact.no wait for lunch, but enough business that I know I wasn't the only one enjoying myself here. The prices were a bit higher than I'd like given that the food I ordered was average, good, but average. I had the chicken tostada salad: best part was the fresh red peppers. Now, the prikly pear margarita was MIGHTY tasty, salsa was good, and service was very good. They also have a full bar, and daily happy hour. I sat outside in the sun by the fountain and felt like I was "resorting" a bit... Beautiful view of red rocks.

Jason E.

Good beer selection, tasty guacamole, tamales were delicious and the whitefish fajitas were superb!

Grace S.

Had an excellent meal! Our food was yummy & served piping hot. The salsa had great flavor without too much heat.

Whitney O.

The Javelina Cantina was recommended by a man working in one of those tourist traps on the Main Street and I am happy I asked. Is the food here terribly unique or exceptional? No, but it is darn good greasy Mexican food. I had a vegetarian combo, which considering how many chips and guacamole I ate I put a huge dent in, it was so delicious I couldn't stop. My boyfriend had carne asada and he cleaned his plate. If and when I return to Sedona I will return to the Javelina Cantina. Oh yeah, the marg was great too. Please note I live in a resort town, so I have no idea what value is when it comes to food, I give stars based on the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Mel B.

I'm a fan of this place and will swing by next time I get the red rock fever. Portions were huge (good after a long day of hiking and touring no matter what kind of food at that point!), service was super friendly, and the food and drink quality was great for the price. We ordered a lot of good- any of which my boyfriend and I could have split on any other average day (we were REALLY hungry). I ordered a combo platter with a chimichanga, beef taco, and chicken burrito and he ordered chicken fajitas which came out smokin'! The seasoning was perfect and the freshness of the food was apparent. But! Where were the plantains??? You can't be a respectful, even remotely-related Mexican food restaurant without that menu item. Service was super friendly (one of the few places I've been to in a long time actually that sent us only ONE waiter for everything). What I liked about this place- and I credit my boyfriend with noticing this- is their water cups are massive. It makes sense because it prevents the wait staff from having to come back every ten minutes and people stay happy (although if you're in a pricey place, the waiter should be attentive to that refilling that 3 oz. water glass anyway and then some!). Eating outside would be beautiful in the summer I bet and the bar looks really fun if you have an hour or so to kill with some fellow tourists. Buen trabajo, Javelina, buen trabajo.

Sherri C.

Best Mexican food I've had since moving away from southern California! Can't wait to go back again. Huge portions, good service.

Kelly B.

If you really love mexican food, skip Javalina Cantina. If you're looking for an average-can't-go-wrong meal, step right in. It looked nearly closed from the outside (it's cold today, no one is sitting outside), but it was pretty busy once we opened the door. The place seems setup to handle large parties and kids well. The overall vibe is generic chain mexican restaurant. Nearly everything was average, except for a really great view from some tables. Service was average, chips were average, salsa probably came from the grocery store. One thing stood out the entire meal was the carne asada in a burrito. It was very good, much higher quality than everything else on the plate. It was weird to find great steak surrounded by average/crappy tortillas, beans, rice, and guacamole. Overal, they do give you a lot of food, but there isn't anything memorable about it. Their tequila/margarita menu looked interesting, maybe I'll go back to try just that.

George G.

Best sit down Mexican in Sedona for under 20$ per couple (2 entrees with no alcoholic drinks). Very extensive food menu and great value. We chose to go for the outside seating and enjoyed the sunset view while eating copious amounts of chips and salsa (provided on the house) while waiting for the entrees to show up. The chips, salsa, and water meter was superb. The fajitas came out sizzling and were enjoyable. My only regret from the evening is not ordering the huge margaritas for two which they make (only because I saw another customer with one on the way out, otherwise I would not have know such an item existed). Can honestly say that I was unable to find anything wrong with this place - great service, great food, great value. Will definitely plan on stopping here again when in the Sedona area.

Stephanie C.

Go for the margaritas! I have ordered only one other margarita that can stand up to it...you can actually taste the tequila, which is really hard to find in AZ (most places they just taste like lime juice). The food was good. My problem with people expecting legit Mexican cuisine anywhere other than Mexico is that they really should just go to Mexico. Anyhow, the food at the Javelina was good. I especially liked the chalupas in the masa boat...somethin different and really flavorful. Service was fine. Chips and salsa were pretty weak, but that's the only real complaint I have :0) At the very least, go have an afternoon marg, it's worth it!

Mary H.

I would not come back here. Our server was very rude. He spoke very fast and was rushing us from the moment we sat down. There were plenty of open tables, they were not busy, and I am from NYC... Used to people rushing. There was no need here, the guy was an a-hole. He slammed our beers down on the table and gave us dirty looks from afar. At the end of the meal, he added tip to our check. The menu says tip added for parties of 8 or more, we had seven. When we asked him about it, he said the computer did it automatically. Bull. Then, the food... Tasted okay, certainly not good. Chips were a bit stale, salsa was bland, the guac was good. What I would expect from a chain restaurant like chili's. That night, though, everyone who ate the carne asada had "stomach issues". The margaritas were expensive and had hardly any liquor in them. The rest of the staff seemed pretty nice, just not our waiter. I would never eat here again or recommend it to anyone. Its sad that in such a beautiful place a restaurant like this should exist. They obviously survive on tourist who haven't done their homework. Sleazy.

Jay K.

The drinks are great, food is great! The avocado vinagarette salad dressing is AMAZING! Service was good, wish the wait wasn't so long but other than that it is fantastic!

Robyn L.

We have always gone to Oaxaca in uptown Sedona, and never thought to come to Javelina Cantina! I'm so glad we did! The food was incredible, and our server, Angel, was awesome! They have an a la carte menu that we ordered from and it was the perfect portion for lunch! We'll definitely be back!

Sridevi K.

Good Mexican food on our way out as we drive from Sedona back to Phoenix. Fast service and tasty rice and beans. Margaritas looked awesome, but we did not indulge this time!

A D.

This is by far the BEST mexican food I have EVER had. The chips and salsa were amazing. My husband doesn't care for salsa much, but he scarfed that down! We even got some to go. I ordered the Chicken fajitas and they were wonderful. The next day we went back for the Fried Ice Cream. YUMMY!!! Great place to watch the sunset.

Scott M.

The service was awesome. The chimichanga was flavorful, but the green chili was too watered down. i must be spoiled by the New Mexican green chili. Great views and pretty good Mexican.

Greg L.

it would get 2 stars in San Diego, maybe it should be more for Sedona, it was just average Mexican, what i did like was they were quick, and service was decent. i would have gone to the "other" Mexican spot, that got better reviews, but they were closed on a Monday?! good luck!

Mary M.

My boyfriend and I were starving after a long day of hiking around the beautiful red rocks. We didn't have time to stop by the hotel and check yelp so we used a traveler's guide that the hotel gave us to find Javelina Cantina. It seemed a little pricey, but we were too hungry to go someplace else. The food was less than mediocre and the only good part about the place was the chips. The service was also TERRIBLE. Our server dilligently served all the tables around us, but ignored our table. Every time we needed something we had to get out of our seats to find someone to help us. We were done and ready for our bill and it took 30 minutes for us to get our hands on it. Stay away from this place. There are a lot of wonderful places to eat in Sedona and this is not one of them. I will NEVER return to this place.

Lisa C.

We came here for a late lunch because we were starving. It really wasn't all that good. The view of the red rocks was pretty and the service was friendly, but the food was subpar. We had the chicken tortilla soup which was pretty good, a beef tamale which was overcooked and super dry, and a scallop burrito which was ok. Not sure I'd come back here.

Art M.

Good: The location, decor and cleanliness of the restaurant Bad: The food! I had fish tacos, they smelled overly fishy, arrived a little cold, the re-fried beans on the side had congealed and had that gross layer of brown film that develops when beans cool off, and cracks when your fork hits them..gross. My girlfriend had the enchiladas, they arrived schlopped cafeteria style on the plate along with beans and rice. She endured three bites (my lovely trooper) then gave up on the pitiful plate. If I paid only $5 a plate, all of this would have been tolerable. But at close to $20 a plate, it was simply unacceptable.

McCools B.

Lame. Saturday night in Sedona. Ordered a shot and a beer, then my next order was a $15 margarita and never got it. Totally ignored after that. Pffftttt.....hated it.

Daniel S.

Food was great, service especially nice because we had 2 screaming toddlers who left a big mess on the floor...also great views of red rocks from patio...we recommend!

Tanya M.

Great food, horrible service. Waiter obviously didn't put or order in, then rather than admit his mistake and offer to make up for it, he tried to play it off that a big party slowed down the kitchen. Dinner ended up being a 2hr affair on a relatively quiet Thursday night.

Kayla D.

Stay away! The waiter was really pushy, acted as if we inconveinced him. The food was overpriced, I could whip up something way more tasty.

Ada G.

The smell of fajitas and the burnt smell of dirty sizzling plates is difficult to forget. The Sangria was sour and sparkly, which was a new and different variant for me, but not deliscious. We read reviews that the drinks weren't strong, so my mom asked for a strong margarita and got one. My mom said the chicken sandwich was wonderful. They don't allow substitutions of things like french fries for salad. My husband enjoyed the open faced shrimp quesadilla , but we both agreed that $15 for a simple quesadilla does not taste good. I ordered nachos - instead of sour cream, they put this sour cream mixed with taco seasoning on top. The first bite tasted good, but then, everything in the restaurant started to smell like burnt fajita plates, including my food, and I couldn't eat anymore. I gave it three stars because it's in Sedona and the food options are limited. If this were in Phoenix or the SF Bay Area, it would get one star.

Laura T.

I wanted to try this restaurant after a great referral from our guide on the Pink Jeep Tour. I walked in and was amazed with the views of the red rocks from each table. They also have beautiful outdoor dining as well. The food was incredible and the margaritas are some of the best I've ever had. I ordered the chimichanga and I have to say I've never had anything like it.They also serve it with a creme de fraiche, which is a sour cream with a southwestern kick.. I love this type of cuisine and it was so full of flavor. Everything was delicious and combined with the views, this is a wonderful place to dine.

Trevor F.

Javelina Cantina is just ok. Lunch did include a few tasty items. The chili relleno that I had was properly made the best thing I ate. The others in our party of 4 were reasonably happy with their choices as well, save one. The green chili tamale was mostly masa and unappetizing. The food didn't blow us away but it was serviceable. I agree with other reviews that the salsa was tasty but needed more heat. We asked the waiter for something hotter and he brought a nice hot little salsa from the kitchen. It did the trick. We washed this all down with a decent margerita. The waiter was informative and attentive. While this is the only Mexican I had in the Sedona area, I will probably try another place next time. The menu is pricey for what you get.

Shaela M.

Service and food were so-so. We went for Sunday night dinner & felt rushed. Waitress didn't offer specials or ask how our meals were. Seemed like being a vegetarian was a problem. Not much smiling or eye contact. Portions were big but flavor not great. Wouldn't go back with so many other options available.

mixxxx z.

Great service, delicious food, large portions. Margaritas are sublime! The decor is authentic and staff are friendly. Great place for groups. Even the bar area looked fun. Its a bit noisy but not too loud. We ate here twice over the weekend!

Loren P.

This is not on the favorite restaurant list. Coming from Texas we have our standards. We judge a restaurant by its Tortilla Soup and Fish Tacos. My Tortilla Soup had to many strips of Tortilla and not enough soup. When I found the soup, it could have had more flavor. My Prickly Pear Margarita was weak in alcohol and in juice.

Brian B.

We just sort of fell into this place while passing through Sedona and wanting lunch. We were able to sit outside on a beautiful day and enjoy the amazing scenery around you. The menu was large and the service was excellent. I has some enchilada lunch special which was very good. I'd go back here again for dinner and margaritas.

Kirsten C.

Delicioso! Great food and service. The view is breathtaking.

Dan And Eileen D.

Gringo Mexican, but surprising good food, nice vibe, and fast service. Most excellent Adobo pork/chili sandwich, seasoned fries, generous side salad with guacamole dressing, and great 1800 margaritas. We would return for sure.

Blair G.

Definitely not worth your time if you are in Sedona. This place was about as average as it gets for a Mexican restaurant. The Queso dip took about 35 minutes to come out. The chips and salsa were definitely a bright spot here, but not exactly worth the evening. Praise the Lord we were only here for an appitizer while we waited for an exceptional dinner at Elote. Those two places were worlds apart.

Trvlr W.

I love Mexican food but this place? Certainly NOT! We ended up coming here for dinner - the hotel we stayed at highly recommended this restaurant saying it was the best in town. Whew! If that's the best in town, then all the restaurants should just shut down forever! The chips and salsa came out first - the salsa tasted like pure ketchup with abit of vegetables tossed in. So we asked for guacamole and queso. Little did we know they were both $8! The guacamole was edible and the queso... a pure disgrace to cheese. Luckily, the people that I was with liked it. I just wanted to stop eating right there but I was hungry and didn't want to appear rude. We ordered an appetizer - crispy something... and what came out was an oversized tortilla with melted cheese on it and a little scoop of tomato concasse. It kinda looked like a quesadilla. How disappointing and it didn't even taste good - no flavor at all! And it came out the same time as our meal. Throughout the menu there were Javelina icons representing a popular Javelina item. So I had ordered the steak sandwich - it had an icon next to it so it just had to be good, right? Can you say where's the beef? The sandwich came out and it had 3 little fajita looking steak strips on each half filled with guacamole, and lettuce. I took one bite and thought this is a Javelina special? A popular item - why? The others ordered the chicken fajita with rice and beans. The rice was actually sweet! Who puts sugar in with their rice? And the fajitas? It was mostly onions and bell peppers... where's the chicken? It really was a good thing we had a $50 certificate from the hotel to eat here. Including tip, we only paid $16. Which I think was $16 too much! Wow... I still can't get over the recommendation - best in town... Huh! For our stay in Sedona the best meals we had were made in our kitchenette!

Daniel M.

Javelina Cantina was recommended to us by an "information booth" on the street uptown as having the best Mexican food in Sedona. If that is true, we recommend that you avoid Mexican restaurants in Sedona. We suspect the guy at the booth was getting a kickback for his recommendations. Although the place is pleasantly lively and the portions are quite generous, the food itself is of average to poor quality, and the drinks are worse ($6.50 for a smallish-sized frozen Marquarita that tasted like dirty water). If you are not particular about the quality of your food and drink, but quantity and atmosphere are your thing...this place is for you.

Amanda R.

Very disappointing. My chile relleno was made of nacho cheese and my beef taco was burnt. My husband's chimichanga was just a ton of chicken wrapped in a tortilla and fried. The chips were ok but the salsa was nasty. On the upside, our margaritas were great - very strong and not too much ice.

Alan T.

This place is like El Torito only with weaker margaritas. I'm not a huge tequila fan but I had to get an extra shot just to drink it. Food is sub-standard and overpriced. Wait staff was friendly enough and the place was clean - that's about the highlight. For a similar price but AWESOME food, go next door to Elote. I gave that 5 stars.

Katelyn F.

My parents found this place on a previous trip to Sedona and recommended we go there. So glad we did..... it was awesome! I had the number 7, which is a taco and a chile relleno. I added chicken to the relleno and ... YUM. will be back!

Leanna A.

OK, putting aside the bad service and wait time, there were other problems with this place. 1) The service was not only bad (OK, I said I'd put it aside, but this is worth mentioning)....but when our waiter did come over, he kept putting his hand on my husband's shoulder and saying "yo?" at the end of his questions. It creeped my husband out. 2) The margaritas are horribly watered down. 3) It seems very touristy 4) The pork adobo sandwich I got sounded wonderful on the menu and was a hunk of flavorless meat on very plain bread. One positive...my husband's steak and cheese torta was quite good. There are better places in Sedona.

Darius R.

Good food. Not your standard boring Mexican fair.

Rick B.

This was within walking distance from our hotel. Decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed. Complimentary warm tortilla chips and salsa. Kids menu included an ice cream sundae. Portions were huge (too much for me to finish, my teens killed it though and were actually full). Friendly front desk staff. We were seated in less than 5 minutes (party of 7). Even my 4 year old finished her chicken tacos. Next time we're in Sedona it will surely be on our return to eat list.

Sabrina S.

Sedona: Good: Gorgeous incredible red rocks and silvery-green dotted hills. Not so hot: The inflated prices. Just cause there are some gorgeous rocks, 100s of artists, and fancy homes, everything is inflated by $2-3 dollars. I've been to fancy arty places...but you can find better values there than in Sedona...and that is dissapointing. Such is what I experienced at Javelina Cantina with my family. I spied the Elote cafe and now wish that we'd gone there instead. But we were hungry and were searching for a place with our stomachs. The cafe we wanted was long-gone. Javelina was there, so we wondered in. We had sandwiches, a torta and some steak fajitas. Yeah, this is more Am-Mexican food, freshly done, but not worth its price. The torta was filled with tender steak, mild cheese and good w/ the cumin mayo and soft bread, but it wasn't *that* different from from tortas I've had in Chicagoland for 5 to 7 bucks. This torta was $10.50. So what if it comes with fancy salad? In Chicago, we know Mexican as well as the Western folk. There are Mexican joints and taquerias and El Famous Burrito a-plenty. I found myself wishing for Mexican hole-in-the wall cafes and Frontera Grill. My dad loved his steak fajitas, but he'll eat anything as long as it's hot, tasty and in front of him. Truly, Javelina Cantina isn't that bad (***1/2 stars) But it loses a star and a half for those over-inflated prices for regular food.

George H.

After three days in Sedona my girlfriend and I have eaten here twice. The drinks, food, service and atmosphere are fantastic. I'm not a fan of Mexican food but, these guys prepare fantastic food! The views of the red rocks are spectacular, check it out a sun set!

Janine G.

We heard wonderful things about this restaurant, but was met with disappointment. We had a large party with reservations 2 months in advance to have dinner. When we arrived, we were told after sitting down and ordering drinks we had to be out in 45 minutes. We walked out and were welcomed to Taos Cantina which I highly recommend. None of us have ever been treated so badly in a restaurant as we were in Javelina Cantina.

linda p.

Awesome Mexican restaurant!! Great food, great prices. Loved it. The organic margaritas amazing, wonderful chili relleno and cheese enchiladas . The restaurant is beautiful. Very reasonable. One of the best restaurants we've eaten at great service also, everyone's so nice here. Yeah finally a good restaurant that's not too over priced!

Bill K.

Once again a fabulous dining experience. Margaritas are the best. I had the scallops fajitas - superb! My wife had the potato spinach enchilada - first try the flautas was hard, but they got it right the second time with no hassle. We'll be back next year.

Raven K.

Please don't bother.......we visited for dinner on 7/24. We had several people recommend this restaurant, and cannot figure out why. On the plus side, the prickly pear margarita was very good and the waiter was very friendly. The house salsa was okay. My husband ordered the shrimp fajitas--although the flavor of the sauce was good, the shrimp/peppers/onions were essentially steamed rather than sauteed or grilled. I had the blackened catfish rellenos which were highly recommended by the waiter. Although the mango salsa on top was good, the fish was lacking in flavor and I didn't eat more than a couple of bites. The black beans were not good--very bland, and even the rice was poorly prepared. Overall, the menu selection looked promising but the results were not worthy of the $52 bill.

Jenny C.

came here really just for the prickly pear martinis...novelty...not worth it...it's super sweet and super weak... also came here because a lot of other places were packed and someone recommended this place. don't remember what i had so it must've not been that impressive...portion was big tho...

Tina G.

Average Mexican fare just priced higher. Waiter was very busy in the kitchen.

Christopher Q.

We went for a late lunch after a mornings walkabout. The Torta was pretty good. We also ordered a port burrito which was not so good . The pork was grilled and chopped up instead of slowcooked and shreadded as I was expecting. The portions are ginormous so people with small appitites beware. Good option for those of you (like me ) who are budget concious temper your expectations (ie dont expect the sun and the moon).

Michelle O.

Would definitely recommend this place - Great happy hour - Great service - We just happened upon this place randomly - Taco Tuesdays ($1 Tacos) and had a delicious Prickly Pear Margarita.. This place really hit the spot after wandering around in the cold rain. We also had free chips and salsa (pretty tasty). We also love how this place was next to beautiful art galleries - El Prada.

Charlie F.

Our waiter, Daniel, made the great food even better. His service was impeccable, and so completely welcome after a long day of hiking in the baking Arizona sun. He seemed to conjure himself whenever we needed something, and so we were never left wanting. Like a genie emerging from a Mexican bottle, he appeared with delicious quesadillas and chimichangas. Perhaps it could have only improved with limey reposado margaritas, but then we never wished for those. We'll be back.

Huamei Y.

Came here thanks to yelp! We were greeted immediately when we walked in & the hostess sat us after organizing herself, so we had to wait briefly. The inside is very festive with a large collection of island / Mexican decorations. I recall fake parrots as well, which kind of confused me. Our server was really nice but the food took a long time to come. Also it was difficult to flag down our waitress when we needed something. The food was good, I've had cheaper and better, and the portions were very generous. My family really loved the chips&salsa, but I prefer warm chips. These were room temp when they placed them on our table. I had the fish tacos which were yummy. I didn't really care for the rice and beans though. My family seemed to enjoy the meal enough but we are not talking about going again. I think I should check out other places in Sedona to compare.

Jacob S.

I've been coming here for years every time we make the drive to Sedona. It's a great place for large family gatherings, a dinner out, or even a lunch to get your day started! Great Mexican food, friendly service, and a killer Cadillac Margarita! ;) I order the Super Burrito with extra crème fraîche (because it's dang good!). Insider Tip: ask for the hot salsa! They don't offer it automatically but it's got great flavor!

Bill C.

We had a late lunch today here based on a recommendation of a friend who used to live in the area. I noticed some negative reviews here and thought about going somewhere else, but a personal recommendation won out. I'm glad we went here as the food and margaritas hit the spot. Three of us had fajitas (one portobello mushroom, one chicken and one chicken fajita salad). The fajitas were wonderful -- the seasoning they use was one of the best I've had -- and our oldest son had beef enchiladas that he loved. The chips were homemade and the fresh salsa was perfect as well as a side order of guacamole. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and attentive and the meal was very reasonably priced.

Nicole K.

A local guide that works at the Sedona tourism center referred us here. She said it's her favorite Mexican Restaurant in all of Sedona. It was mehh---ok. We were all starving after a jeep tour through the red rocks and I called to make a reservation. The hostess told me that they don't take reservations this late anymore but she put my name down anyway, which was really nice. They were packed on a Saturday night -- at both the tables and bar with people of all ages. We waited maybe less than 10 min for our table for 5. SERVICE - 2 stars Our waiter (never mentioned his name) was not that friendly. I felt like he just wanted to get out of there. He brought us more chips/salsa and to-go boxes when we asked for it, but he never smiled and he was so abrupt. FOOD - Salsa that comes with the chips is really good! Very addiciting! Warning -- portions are as huge as the javelinas! We each had 1/2 our our plates still left over, which made for a great after-hike snack the next day! We ordered steak tacos with avocado, burritos & fajitas. The food was ok but nothing that special. My friend really liked the flavoring on her guacamole and sour cream and was raving about it, but no one else raved about other parts of their meal. When I was with my family in Sedona circa 2003, I remember having some amazing Mexican food -- I can safely say it wasn't at this place.

Meagan B.

Javelina Cantina: All kinds of NOPE. After a Jeep Tour and trekking about, Dude and I had plans to visit another renowned restaurant in town. Exhausted and hungry, I remembered my Physical Therapist's Technician recommended this place to me. No harm in trying it! I want to say from the get go that I realize this is indeed "Gringo-Mex". That type of Mexican cuisine can be delicious - This was not. We arrive around 5, and we're seated immediately. A sign to turn around out the door should have been how dead it was at that hour on Saturday, and how almost all the patrons had a good 30 years on us. *Keep an open mind, Meg!* Sat down immediately to some chips and salsa. The chips were warm, big and salty. Good sign! But that's where it ends. The salsa they give you has somewhat of a good flavor, but zero spice. We asked our server if there was a spicier salsa, and sure enough, there was! This one had plenty of spice but no flavor. Luckily we had a recommendation from the PT tech, the Fajita Chimichanga. He said it was pan fried instead of deep fried. What a culinary clusterphuk. This is the kind of food that makes me wish you could get a refund on calories consumed. The chimi was smothered in a savory queso, filled with chicken, red and yellow onions and bell peppers. The chicken had a sauce or marinade that was cloyingly sweet; it almost reminded me of teriyaki chicken. The flavor profiles made no sense at all. At that point, we were starving and ate it to make it go away. Beans and rice were nothing special, the guacamole was suspect and I don't even know what the heck the supposed creme fraiche was supposed to be (tasted like regular ol' sour cream to me). I also want to point out what a rushed experience this was from the time we walked in to the time we walked out. I would have left it at two stars if not for this: "Anything else?" "No, but ..." *server bolts to the POS as Dude is mid sentence* When she came back, Dude presented the 10% off check-in offer. Server had the nastiest look on her face as she went to add that to the check. Pst, Audrey: Sorry we inconvenienced you by asking that you do your job. And Javelina Cantina management: If Yelp check-in offers illicit this type of reaction from your staff ... Get rid of it! Basically, this place is horrible. Don't waste your time. Spare yourself the indigestion, the rushed atmosphere and eat anywhere else in Sedona.

candice s.

Great Mexican food and margaritas with gorgeous views of the Red Rocks. I had a prickly pear margarita which was pretty good and the chicken fajitas (which could easily feed 3 adults). Everything was delicious including the complimentary chips and salsa that are brought out. We will probably return when we are ever back in Sedona.

Christy H.

We were promptly greeted by a friendly waiter & a warm bowl of perfectly salted chips & salsa. Dinner did not disappoint. Portions were tasty & very generous. Would definitely go back!

Heidi S.

I was in Sedona and wanted good authentic Mexican. None of the places on the main street looked very "authentic" so I asked a woman working in one of the stores where her favorite mexican restaurant was and she said without hesitation, "go to Javelina Cantina". It was about 1 mile out of the main touristy area but the view was still beautiful. There was indoor or outdoor seating. Ask for the hot salsa when they bring you the complimentary chips and salsa, as the standard salsa wasn't very hot. I had the carnitas and liked it very much. They came in a black cast iron bowl mixed with a chile verde. Very tender and flavorful. Lots of food with the rice, beans, guac and creme fraiche. The margarita was gret too. Would definitely go back!

Patricia G.

This really should be 4.5 stars. Dinner was very, very good, atmosphere awesome, food outstanding,view if you sat outside would be fabulous. I did not give 5 stars due to the bar we went to first and waiter knew nothing about their happy hour, so had to skip that and go to our table in the dinning room. Would surely return. Waiter Angel was great. Fast service also.

Ann G.

Great views and food. The asada (steak) is tender and flavorful in tacos, enchiladas, etc. Nicely priced. Quick efficient service. I will be back. Nice house margaritas and large seating tables. The salsa has a great flavor and consistency. The chips are fresh, warm, and crunchy. All good here. Some of the best views of the mountains throughout this plaza. Beautiful patio seating.

Andrew C.

On our overnight trip to Sedona we decided to give Javelina Cantina a try based on a few recommendations we got. Given the time we were going for dinner and how tired Meg and I were, we decided it was best to give them a go and hold off on some of the more reknown places in town. Now admittedly I am a bit harsh on Mexican Food restaurants (looking at you Nandos *glares*) but I have also learned a few warning signs at this point that tell me I'm going to have a Meh to awful experience. #1 - MASSIVE tub of tortilla chips. First thing I saw going in was the waiter's area which had a storage bin full of chips. I typically shrug this off because I know not all restaurants make their own chips. That's fine, I'll eat the Sysco brand chips, so long as you got something to make up for it. the salsa here failed to make up for it one bit. The mild sasa had an alright flavor but no kick. The hot salsa had kick but no flavor. Had to mix the two to even half way enjy it. #2 - Cheesy decor. The place looked like they went into a Macayos to do decor research, had 2-3 too many margaritas, then took their notes and brought it to their designer. Good god... Still, I can let this one go as well. I've been to some paces that make my eyes hurt but make up for it with the experience. At this point, I'm already expecting a Macayos experience. Cheesy with okay food. Just your typical chain restaurant food meant to stuff you full and leave you contented. #3 - Hurried staff even during downtime. When we came in, it was fairly early for the dinner crowd. Roughly around 4, 4:30 so you can imagine it was fairly slow with a lot of staff hanging out with not much to do. But from the second we got in to the second we got out it was 'Go Go Go Go". Had us seated in 10 seconds, water, chips, salsa, and drink orders in 30 seconds, and dinner orders in 60 seconds. Thank goodness we were already told to try out the Fajita Chimichanga with chicken before we went in or else we might have derailed them. Then, 5-10 minutes later our food was down. At first look, it looked pretty decent. Their Chimichangas are baked, not fried so seemed like it might be halfway decent. And then we had our first bite, triggering my final warning sign #4 -Food that doesn't know what it's trying to be. From the first bite this thing was sweet sweet sweet. It was clear that, along with the usual bell peppers, purple onions, and chicken that a traditional fajita is made with, there were sweet yellow onions and some sort of sweet brown sauce in it. By the time we finished it (because face it, we were starving) I was thoroughly convinced that Javalina Cantina was trying to pull a Chino-Bandito with some asian teriyaki fusion stuff in my chimi. Worked for Chino, failed miserably for Javalina. The beans and rice that came with were nothing special and I would not recommend touching the Guacamole or sour cream that was on there (meg thinks is may have been Creme Fraiche, but my recommendation stands). After we ate, we had the check in 30 seconds. keeping up with the rushed experience. Now this is where the big irritant of the night hit. I had checked in and had the 20% off coupon ready to go before we even sat down. When the waitress came to ask us if we wanted anything else, she was already halfway to the register as soon as I said "no thanks but..." causing her to miss me telling her about the check-in offer. Alright, fine, I decided to tell her when she came to pick up the card. I tell you... if looks could kill the look she gave me as soon as I told her about the offer would have killed a cat and all nine of it's lives. And thus I ended my dining experience and Javalina Cantina with a nasty taste in my mouth and a deep regret that we didn't spring for Elote just up the street. I have to say I will not be returning. I'm fairly convinced that Javalina Cantina is here to fill a niche for fast paced sub par mexican food and to provide a fall back for those who just don't want to wait to get into Elote right up the street. I highly considered a 2 star review but after the service we got (and the nasty indigestion later) I can't rate this higher than I did Nandos. I just can't. One star and be thankful that's as low as I can go because despite the food, at least the staff at Nando's didn't tick me off on my way out the door.

Danna S.

Nice ambience. Very friendly staff and the food portion, taste and price are excellent. Definitely recommend and would be a return customer for sure!

Kathy G E.

It's always tough when u try a place where ur best friend always has the same thing, in this case carnitas with salsa verde. We were a party of six. There was a party of 12 and a party of 23 bring seated at about the same time so the place was busy. We had a reservation, walked in and were seated immediately . Started with a pitcher of ultimate margaritas which rocked and more than enough for the four drinkers in the group. Then we went with carnitas and they were great as always according to our friend. Take home item número uno. Next the fish fajitas and there was enough for TWO EASILY. They were delicious and perfectly prepared. Take home item number two. Took a chance on the chili rellenos and was not disappointed. Prepared perfectly! Nice flavor to the poblano and just the right amount of cheese and batter.Take home item número tres. Two fish taco comps one grilled one fried DELICIOUS! Take home times Quattro y cinco. Finally the carne asada plate.... EXCEPTIONALLY prepared medium rare as requested. Take home item number six. So for those who had a bad experience I'm sorry it didn't work for you because we killed it ! PS WE DID A CHECK IN AND GOT A 10% DISCOUNT!

Mihir P.

Good food and filling. Chicken was excellent and has a good taste to it. The enchilada was cheesy with a good amount of spice. If you like extra spicy order the more spicy salsa!

Dan W.

Hot chips and fresh salsa. good start. our waiter was awesome and made contact with us just the right amount of times. Didn't interrupt our conversation and was right there when we needed something. I have been on the search for years for a good chicken enchalada but I always ask for flour tortillas. I've actually been told at other places that they can't do that because they are premade; aka frozen. If these were premade they fooled me. The chicken inside was even grilled and you could taste it. Covered in a very tasty red sauce, cheese, and creme fresh. anyone who knows me knows I can really put the food away and I could barely finish half. Jen ordered the catfish relleno and said it was good but a little bland. Overall we had a really pleasant experience. We sat inside because it was a little warm outside and we were already pretty spent on the day. The patio has a magnificent view but we still had a pretty good one.

Lisa G.

Simply amazing. I sure do love Mexican restaurants and this lived up to my expectations. Everything was so yummy! The view is nice! The service is great! I hate eating in sedona because it's usually shitty& overpriced this was not! I can't wait to come back!

Huy T.

My group came scouring for food after a long day of rock watching (lol) in Red Rock. Elote was closed so we decided to find the most populated restaurant we saw and Javelina seemed the place to be. We were seated in a booth 10 minutes after arrival and promptly greeted with a basket of chips and some salsa. The tortilla chips were nice and crunchy, how I like it, and we killed our basket in 5 minutes; The servers replaced it quite quickly. Food: *Baja Tacos - These were very good, the shrimp was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The portion was also very nice, just enough to fill me up. *Scallop Quesadillla - Props to the chef for cooking the scallops correctly. I only had a piece from my friend's plate but they were so tender and the texture and taste was very plesant. The contrast of citrus and creaminess of the light cheese made it very enjoyable. *Steak Fajitas - I actually did not try this but it came out boiling hot (bubbling). My friend enjoyed it very much. Ambiance: The booth we were seated in had a gorgeous view of some of the red rock mesas. The restaurant was full of customers and was hustle and bustle but never felt cramped. Service: We actually had 2-3 servers systematically check up on us. Our water was filled, our chip basket never completely empty, and our food came out at a reasonable amount of time. Why the -1 star?: While I was eating a small fly flew in my beer (blegh). Don't get me wrong, the restaurant by no means had a fly problem, and I didn't visibly see any flies buzzing around. One stray one may have got in and decided to get drunk with me. Not cool by no means but forgivable. The waiter ended up replacing my beer but, dude, I could have had some extra unwanted protein in my meal. Overall, I would come here again and probably try the fish tacos.

jamie w.

Hot chips, outstanding salsa, and great views! If you are looking for the best traditional Mexican food - look no more! Their carnitas and tacos are out of the world and the margaritas are like drinking liquid love! I ordered the chimichanga (since it was invented in Arizona) with the beef machaca - which is like a shredded beef brisket. I can't begin to explain the tantalizing flavors that exploded on my palate- it would take all day! Gotta eat- my food is here!

Joel S.

Wouldn't go again. There are much better Mexican options in the Sedona area. This was mediocre Mexican food at best. Similar to a chain restaurant! My premium Margarita, and my wife's wine were good. The salsa is also good. But the over sauced, over cheesy glopped up Mexican food I could skip! If you want really good basic Mexican food here in Sedona, and don't require alcohol, a great basic, authentic and inexpensive option is Torta Fuega.

Justin M.

We ate here after a day of hiking in the Sedona area. The patio is dog friendly and the staff seemed to love having the dog hanging out with us. The location is great with cool views of the surrounding red rocks. The patio is a real winner. Food is good too. My chili relleno was excellent. The chips and salsa were also fresh and tasty. Service was excellent. Our waiter was great and the hostess was friendly and attentive. We'd definitely eat here again!

Lisa D.

Disappointing. $4 for iced tea. Got my meal wrong. And we both didn't like our lunches. I had a taco salad and the chicken was dicey. Hubby had a chicken chimichanga and it was oily. Has to ask for drink refills. Wouldn't go back. Bummer.

Rachel R.

The service here was very quick and the seating outside was nice. However if you sit on the patio and it's windy be prepared for a little sprinkle from the fountain out back. The food here was bland for my liking, but still decent. The view was nice and the atmosphere was very casual which was nice after a jeep tour.

Nick S.

Great atmosphere with an awesome view of the mountains. We sat outside on the patio which I thought was way different than being inside. It was a super nice night out. The salsa was one of the better ones I've tasted. Was fresh and had some spice to it. We both ordered fajitas and i would say they were pretty good. The tortillas also tasted fresher than the ones you get at most Mexican restaurants. All in all they were good but the price was a little on the expensive side. Service was great. We had Angel as our server and he was attentive, friendly and made great recommendations for us. We will definitely go back when in town.

Alissa M.

Solid choice for good, hearty Mexican food in the area. Big portions, free chips and salsa, not too greasy and very delicious entrees. Favorites are the Carne Asada platter and the open faced quesadilla. Great prompt service as well!

Fun M.

Not that great. It isn't bad, just nothing that wowed me. I have a feeling it was amazing when it opened, but they just stopped putting in the effort. In this part of the world, I expected better.

Adam S.

Surprisingly good shrimp tacos. Well made flour tortillas and great salsa. Service professional and attentive. Great view from the patio as well.

Tyler B.

We have been here a couple of times, most recently after mountain biking some of the local trails. Huge portions, great food, and amazing views of the red rocks. Like several of the previous reviewers, we went at sunset and stayed well into the night. We laughed, listened to good music, and had a great time... Never feeling rushed at all. Surprisingly good fish tacos (they are massive) and great cocktails.

Brian G.

This is by far my favorite restaurant in all of Sedona- I get the pollo asado chimichanga smothered in cheese sauce every time and it never disappoints. The only downside can be the wait, which on certain occasions is well over 30 minutes. Shows you how great the food is when people are willing to wait so long- I highly recommend it.

Ricky J.

We stumbled on the restaurant. It looked like an interesting place which was next to a group of shops called Hillside. The portions were huge, very tasty, and reasonably priced. Not the cheapest Mexican / Southwest but you got amazing quality food that tasted great. The views were good not great since there was a lot of trees etc which made it very comfortable to eat outside even at 3:00 in the afternoon.Service was effecient and very friendly ( much like the whole town except at the Best Western Plus where we stayed now thats for another review lol)Get a drink and enjoy this restaurant.

Lauren O.

Very gluten free friendly and knowledgeable wait staff. The food was amazing , as well as the views all around the restaurant. We will make this a must stop every time we visit Sedona.

Soo Jin M.

This is a pretty decent Mexican restaurant. The complimentary chips and salsa are very good. They have a solid beer and drink selection. I think I'd rather just eat the chips and drink there. The food was ok but nothing to write home about. I got the beef machaca chimichanga - the covering was doughy and kind of too folded in there so I discarded a lot of it. There was also a lot of cheese in there. The beef machaca was just shredded beef with not a lot of flavoring in there. The sauce, pico, and guac that came with it helped a lot - especially in addition to the hot sauce I requested. I wouldn't avoid the place but I wouldn't expect anything amazing.

George Z.

Typical tourist place to eat. Nothing spectacular to brag about. The views are worth the visit.

Nimesh U.

Awful service. The waiter avoided us repeatedly while other tables were served. I know it was a holiday weekend but our waiter just decided not to serve us.

Jill D.

Incredible food. ..mouth watering and huge portions! The decor and the view were amazing! This is a must attend place to eat while in sedona! ! Our family can't wait to come back! ! Don't forget the tasty Margarita! !

Norman S.

Arrived @ 7:30 p.m. on a Friday night behind a party of 50. We were seated within 15 to 20 minutes as predicted. Decor is Southwest Industrial - somewhat noisy, but there were close to 100 people in the restaurant and bar. Server, "Angle", arrived promptly and we got our order in before the party of 50 :) . Chips were warm and salsa had a mild bite. Hostess came to vheck on us. Prices are reasonable for Sedona. I had shrimp fajitas. They came quickly, everything was fresh and plenty spicy for my southern california pallet. Plenty of food! Service was excellent. No negatives!

Scott M.

I can always tell a great Mexican restaurant by how good the rice and beans are prepared. Javelinas does not disappoint in this regard and is one of my favorite restaurants when visiting Sedona. This place can be easily missed while driving on highway 179 as it sits up high in a strip mall. I look forward to the large prickly pear margaritas while dining on their wonderful tasting food. They did not need a dish washer because I cleaned my plate! Everything from the fajitas to the combination meals are awesome. I checked in on Yelp at this location and received a 10% discount on my bill!

Judy a.

Wanted to like this place was told by our tour guide that it was really good and authentic it was less than authentic the beans were dry and hard the rice was cold I had to send it back the waiter never came back to give us a refill or anything $56 later I had a not so happy experience.

Lisa T.

DELICIOUS, huge portions!my husband got the steak fajita chimichunga, it was enormous but he ate it all bc it was so good!my mom and I both did the combos, huge again! The enchiladas were by far our favorite. My son got the chicken tenders off the kids menu, wouldn't recommend those, very vainy and he refused to eat them.he had no problem sharing ours with Him.only reason I gave a 4was because the service wasn't the best by any means.he only checked on us twice and our drinks went unfilled and we received no extra napkins and had to grab ourselves.other then that the view and food were out of this world :-)

Tex C.

Our family vacation brought us to Sedona and our hotel recommended the Cantina. We are glad they did. Two of us had the chimichanga which was the hit of the table. Also receiving great reviews were the chicken fajitas and fish tacos. The super burrito was good but not quite as good as the other items. Finally, our server, Angela, did a great job with our crazy family.

Chad J.

Order the fajitas! If you're on a date get the extra tortillas and guac and you'll have enough and some for leftovers.. Great service and ambiance overlooking the Sedona red rocks. Beautiful!!

John D.

After initially getting shut out of my original dining choice, Elote, because they're only open for dinner, my sister recommended this place--however, she did preface her recommendation by stating that this was definitely not "authentic" Mexican food and as long as I was OK with that I should enjoy it. We arrived for a late lunch around 1:30 and there was no wait, but my sister highly recommended we get a patio table. The hostess claimed there would be a 15-min wait, and I decided another 15-minutes wouldn't kill us; luckily after only about 5-minutes we were seated and away we went. Drinks- Prickly Pear Margarita- I saw this as one of the Yelp review highlights and it sounded really good after a morning of hiking the Red Rocks. The Margarita came out and it was good, because it wasn't too sweet or boozy. I didn't realize it until I tried walking later that it also has a nice kick to it. 4* Appetizer: Chips & Salsa- Javelina gives you complimentary chips and salsa--which is getting rarer and rarer these days. The chips were decent and the salsa was nothing special, but they're free and it's hard to complain about that. 3.5* Javelina's Chef's Specials: Pork Carnitas- I could tell from the menu description that these Carnitas were not authentic, but a Green Chile simmered Pork Shoulder sounded tasty, nonetheless. The Carnitas were pretty good, but I would've preferred a bit more spice to them. The tortillas, refried beans, rice, and guacamole that came with it were all pretty standard, but the Chipotle flavored Crème fraîche was excellent. 3.5* Kid's Menu: Donovan's Cheese Quesadilla- Ordered the Quesadilla for the boy with fries. He wasn't a huge fan of the Quesadilla, but he liked the fries. 2.5*-Lance Rating Service & Ambiance- The service was very good. Our waiter was very friendly, attentive and got our food to us in a timely manner. The patio view that my sister insisted on was well worth any wait. Their patio looks out onto the spectacular Red Rocks of Sedona. I could've sat there all day sipping Margaritas and staring at the views, but my 3-year-old would never allow it. 4*-service/5*-Ambiance Value- The prices at Javelian were pretty standard for the adult food, and a bit high for the kid's menu. Just remember you are in a touristy area, so anytime you're not getting ripped off you should be thankful. 3* If I were to rate Javelina just based on the food I would give it a solid 3-3.5-stars, but when I factor in the kick ass margarita, good service and fantastic views I'll give it the 4-star bump. Just remember when dining here that they serve Gringo Mexican and you shouldn't have an issue with food. Otherwise, they get a solid recommendation from me.

Mark L.

The food was so-so, average Mexican food but they make up for it with super generous portions. That being said-- the service was awful. 3/4 dinners came out, the other was much later and our drinks were persistently empty. The waitress appeared to be frankly overwhelmed and we could only get refills when we re-directed our glare in her attention. Will not be going back.

John P.

Just left from having dinner with my family. Service was great, drinks were very good and the food was well above average. I would go back without thinking twice.

Betty C.

After a day of hiking in Sedona, we were hungry! This spot had good Mexican food which hit the spot! We polished off the fresh tortilla chips and salsa which they gave us while we waited for our order. I had the special tilapia which was battered and fried fish fillets in a wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, and some yummy dressing. I also got black beans with cheese melted on it and a side of rice with my plate. The others had tacos and fajitas. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Our server was also very friendly and efficient. Glad we found this spot!

Justin S.

we love this place. I started coming here in early 2000 with my mom and now my wife and i go there multiple times when in sedona. sit outside on the patio take in the view of the red rocks which are spectacular, get a margarita, chips and salsa, you are ready to order. we have tried a lot of stuff on the menu but we really like the fish tacos - everything has been tasty and authentic. the beefs - chips are way too salty and sometimes especially with the fajitas (which we love) are very very greasy. since we have been going there a lot over the years i don't usually complain. you will be happy.

Mary R.

It's a chain mexican restaurant, but it's good. We ate at the bar to avoid the long wait for a table, and loved our meals. First you can't go wrong with an endless supply of chips and salsa. Our bartender/waiter made great suggestions for our meals. And we weren't disappointed - the portions were large and yummy!

Mike A.

I totally agree with Sue W about this place. Huge portions, good prices but faily typical, almost chain like "Mexican". If you are looking for something different then skip it. If you want the same ole (American style)Mexican food then this is it.

Bre R.

This is the best Mexican food in Sedona. The service was good, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was excellent! I had the Javelina taco salad and my husband had the shredded beef taco and pollo asada enchiIada. We both loved our meals and left full and happy! They receive 5 stars overall for the price, quantity and taste of food, and service combined.

Byron M.

Nice place, good food, reasonable prices. I had the steak fajitas, very good, meat was tender and flavorful. Would recommend you try it out.

Jared W.

Before discovering yelp.com , I ate here and had a great experience! Good food, good prices, and wonderful local beer! Sadly, my second time around really showcased just how far this formally good cantina has fallen. I don't know what to call it, but its an ailment that affects countless formally great eateries in many touristy towns all across the fruited plain. For now I'll call it "touristitus". Basically what happens is that tourists start getting demanding about the type of food served there and quality drops. What was grilled is now deep fat fried, what was fresh, is now frozen, and what was local is now imported because of the picky, demanding creatures known as tourists. Sadly this ailment has hit Javelina Cantina in a big way. The food is bland bland bland; designed to be pumped out of the kitchen at a brisk pace in order to keep up the finicky flighy tourist. In my humble opinion, Mexican food should be fresh, simple, and most of all spicy. The menu is boring, taco this and burrito that. No mention of a good chicken mole, chili colorado, or even real cantina tacos. In fact, most of the menu is Mexican-American food. Burritos, and American inspired tacos are the dominating menu items. If only they had big American flavor, I might have given a better review. But no, the food is barely seasoned. This is most likely the result of too many complaints of overly spicy food. I did eat here in the past and it was terrific. But now, it doesn't pass as Mexican food in my opinion. As for drinks, I LOVE Oak Creek Amber, a local Sedona brew. Seeing as how it is local and therefore easily accessible from the brewery located within Sedona, you would think that they would never run out. Well they did, I was severely disappointed and even more when I had no choice but to accept a XX in lieu of the local offering. Someone get Gordon Ramsey in there because this cantina needs a refresher on what a cantina is supposed to be! On to the service. I ate at the bar and had zero problems getting drinks and prompt service in what was a mostly empty restaurant. Unusual for a beautiful fall weekend I might add. One thing that did irk me was the fact that the hostess was busily tapping away on her iphone when I entered and exited the building. Not once did she look up and acknowledge me. I was actually greeted by one of the servers upon walking in. Unusual, since they actually bothered to pay a hostess to stand there and do that exact job. Someone tip the servers if they greet you, its not their job. I won't be around to do it because that was my last trip into the Javelina Cantina.

Albert H.

Thick and salty chips were fairly good with salsa. Portions were large, service was alright, and they offer a few craft beers. Really it's just an ordinary Mexican restaurant in a stellar location in Sedona. Very pricey though - most entrees were $15-ish, and this is for pedestrian things like enchiladas, burritos and such.

Sue W.

It looks like your standard casual mexican restaurant but the food was great and HUGE portions. I recommend splitting meals since they are very generous. I recommend holding off on the chips (since they aren't the best) and saving room for their specialty meals. We had a veggie fajita and a salad and they were delicious. The seasoning they applied was different than the normal but great. Its a great lunch spot of maybe happy hour spot.

Katie C.

Let's be serious. This place is not good. It's like a Garcias. No real reason to go here. But, I am biased and hate most if not all the tourist geared restaurants in uptown Sedona.

Pete P.

The best cheese enchilada I have ever had.

Arlene W.

Tried the cilantro lime salad dressing and the poppers with prickly pear dip on the waitresses recommendation and glad we did! Both were great! Got here at 12:10 on a Sunday and the outdoor dining was full but we did get a window seat. Probably could have waited about 10 min for a seat outdoors but thought we didn't have time. $ 30 for 2 sandwiches and tea with a 10% discount using the card from one of the local tourist offices. It was good and different!

Will D.

Pretty terrible place. When I walked in I thought the decor was nice and liked the bar setup a lot. That all changed when I sat down and looked at the menu. WAAAAAYYYY overpriced menu for mediocre food. Are you really going to charge $10+ for a burrito? I can get a way better burrito for $5 at a hole-in-the-wall place back in California. I decided to order 2 beef enchiladas a la carte and was not impressed. They were covered in a pretty bland red sauce and what seemed like 1/2 an inch of cheese. It was just sloppy and gross. The meat wasn't very tender either. One last complaint I have is that the whole place was all smoky which made it very stuffy and uncomfortable. If you are going to get Mexican food in Sedona, go to Elote.

Sarah S.

Thought it was a great, affordable Mexican restaurant. Nothing particularly special but the food was yummy and affordable and the atmosphere was comfortable. I only wish the margaritas were stronger!

Bindiya T.

The 2 stars are only for the chips and salsa, did not like their food at all

Colin A.

In One word "GREAT" - Great Views, Great Food and Great Service. Couldn't ask for more. Visit the visitor's center and they gave me a coupon for 10% off.

Frank M.

Food pretty good but chips and salsa were uninspiring. Also, found hair in salsa. Not good! Waiter was ok but not very personable. Nice view but over priced like all restaurants in Sedona. My fajitas were pretty tasty but cost $16 and I had to spend 2 bucks more for beans and rice. What's up with that?

Andrew K.

My chicken super burrito - enchilada style (huge; so glad I shared) - and prickly pear margarita were tops (on the rocks; tasted virgin). Yummy. Lively Americanized placed; Sonoran Mexican. Good stuff.

Taylor J.

The best part about this meal may have been the fresh, hot tortilla chips at the start of the meal. That said, the 'specialty' item I ordered - the pueblo sandwich with seasoned fries - was a disappointment. If my memory serves me correctly, it was supposed to have come with mesquite turkey, avocado, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and a chipotle sauce. However, I can't be quite sure because nothing really stood out about it. The sauce was spread unevenly and the turkey was downright tasteless. Should have known better than to order turkey at a restaurant that bills itself as Mexican. Then again, the description sounded intriguing. Maybe if the execution had lived up to it, I would have left a little more satisfied. From the reactions of my dining companions, their dishes were equally uninspiring. To be fair, it appears as if this place makes a living on speciality margaritas (over 2 pages of them!) and an atmosphere that is kid-friendly (fun and colorful atmosphere, nice selection of kid food, children's books scattered in the waiting area). However, I didn't get a margarita and I didn't order from the kid's menu. I don't know whether it was the quality, freshness or combination of the ingredients, but something wasn't quite right about my food. Unless you've got kids or have a craving for margaritas, save some money and head over to the nearby Wildflower Bread Company. Your taste buds will thank you too.

H G.

Hubby loved the steak fajitas - and while I thought they were tasty and tender, you could tell they were marinated in a soy sauce - sort of odd for fajitas. After the $18 for the fajitas, you could add rice & beans to it for $2 more. If we wanted to split it, they would be gracious enough to do that by charging you $7 more. The beef machaca tostatda I ordered was good as was the prickly pear margarita. The service, while friendly, was lacking. After we rcvd. our food she was never to be seen again...

Simone R.

We chose the Javalina Catina because we loved the name and the menu online offered some interesting choices like cactus fries. We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated. The atmosphere and decorations of the restaurant were OK. The waiter was polite and helpful. When we asked about the menu, he explained that the menu online was for the Lake Havasu menu not the Sedona location. We were disappointed because the menu in front of us was your standard chain Mexican food fare - nothing new or interesting. Nevertheless we were there so we ordered. The food tasted like it was straight out of a can or out of a Costco bag. The re fried beans were cold when they arrived at the table and the food was beyond average. Everything was full of raw onions and kind of tasteless. The salsa tasted like it was plain tomato sauce. For the price we paid we were extremely disappointed. We will not go back. Other than a good location and a nice view of the Sedona cliffs I just can't recommend this restaurant.

Elizabeth O.

this was a random desperate choice after wandering red rocks for too long on a hot afternoon. the chips and salsa were delicious, or at least seemed to be to someone who was barely avoiding heat stroke...anyway, we got the enchiladas. the platter came with 3 of them (we chose 2 chicken and one cheese), and they were good. not remarkable. decent. they did come with lots of beans and rice which my traveling partner enjoyed. also, the drinks are enormous. thank God too, because i needed a gallon of water at that point. really, arizona isn't the place to eat mexican food, but if you have a hankering, this place will suffice.

Ann B.

Delicious, fresh Mexican food in a lovely, pleasant, pretty environment . Reasonably priced. Dinners are rather large. We each got two meals out of our orders.

Robert Z.

6-5-09. We had already ate at the Oaxaca so we knew this place had to be better before we even walked in the door. The hostess was less than inviting although we were given a table in the bar with a minimal wait (it was a very busy night). The chips and salsa came quickly with out a price tag so it was already better than the Oaxaca. My wife got the fish tacos and I got the quatorce which was a massive plate of rice and beans with a huge chicken soft taco and enchilada all covered with a generous portion of melted cheese. Excellent. Our waiter was not very attentive and we had to sit and wait a while for the check etc...but it was a very busy night. Conclusion....Food was excellent, service was so-so, price was par for Sedona.

Justin D.

I lived in Sedona for a couple years and each time I go back to visit my folks I always stop here for their fish tacos. I can't really speak for their other items as I always get the same thing. The staff has always been friendly and I have no complaints about the service either.

Emily D.

Places like this kill me. I think that chips and salsa that taste this good should be completely banned! I don't know many people who can resist fresh salty tortilla chips and house made salsa. This is the stuff that back fat and muffin tops are made of... On a more positive note, the food is GREAT! I had a chicken fajita salad that was very fresh and my boyfriend loved his enchilada. I did not sample the cocktails but will make sure to do so next time. We sat outside and enjoyed the amazing view of the red rocks. Service was great and I will for sure return!

Alex F.

We got a Margarita, and split the shrimp tacos. food and service were good, but it was pricy. I'm sure there's better mexican in Sedona, not blown away, but not bad either.

Beverly B.

The chips and salsa are great - our waiter was very attentive. We enjoyed the fish tacos, cheese and green chili tamale, and cheese chili relleno. We were there for lunch in January (not the busiest time), had no wait and great service.

Dennis C.

In the Hillside Plaza. Good Southwestern-Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices (for Sedona) with attractive and comfortable surroundings. Generous servings. We've been eating there for years always had always great food plus courteous and efficient service. The chimichangas are my favorite. There's often a crowd and long wait at dinner time.

Whitney W.

The food is sub-par, the wait is usually excruciating, but javelinas the animal are adorable, fierce, and mysterious, so at least the name is excellent. The last time I went here, my friend ended up throwing up in the bushes outside, and she had not been drinking at all. Do with that information what you will.

Natali M.

Such a fun family restaurant! The food is pretty authentic, the margaritas are good, and the chips and salsa before the meal are great! Also, the wait staff was really honest and sincere. Our waiter advised us against ordering the chalupas or the spinach enchiladas but suggested other enchiladas, tamales, and fajitas. All lived up, although there was just a bit too much maza in the tamales. The guacamole is very creamy and fresh as well. In all, a great Mexican dinner!

Megan K.

Great happy hour stop. After a round of strong margaritas and quesadillas we overheard patrons being told that there was a three hour wait for dinner. Standard Mexican-American food and atmosphere.

Elizabeth C.

This is average mexican food even for the southwest. I tasted no difference between it and other mexican places we went. Our waitress seemed like she needed a day off. You get a lot of food for your money and there is a ton of room for a party, even a seperate party room. Recommended, but don't expect it to change your life.

Kali R.

The fish tacos were soo yummy! And huge, I had enough left over for a whole meal the next day. We sat outside with a great view of the red rocks. The staff was very attentive. The margarita's were good, but I've had better.

Michelle S.

The food was typical of chain Mexican restaurants....fair at best. I was looking for a more authentic Mexican food experience and was somewhat disappointed. Only thing I really enjoyed was the Prickly Pear Margarita.

Erika B.

All in all, we had a pretty good dinner here, especially considering it was about 7:30 on a Friday night and we only had to wait about five minutes for a table. We were seated on an open air patio with beautiful views and a nice breeze. There's a lot to choose from on the menu, so it's easy to please everyone in a large party - you can order big meals like fajitas, but there are also tasty looking salads, vegetarian options, or you can order a la carte. The salsa was really good and they were very generous with the servings of both salsa and chips. I ordered the vegetarian combo and the portion was huge - the cheese chile relleno was really tasty, and there was a really delicious tomatillo sauce on the tamale. The only complaint would be the service - nothing really bad to speak of, but rushed and inattentive. But, the food came out quickly, so in the end the experience was overall pretty good.

Mike H.

Absolute crap. I have had my share of Mexican food and honestly, this is the worst of it. Neither my wife or myself finished more than a third of our food. This is simply garbage. Save your money and get a gas station microwave burrito... Service was ok but couldn't save the meal. CRAPOLA! Ok... I think I've said enough?

Addie G.

I will be the first to admit that I can be a little meticulous about service and quality of food. Maybe I got lucky, but our waitress was excellent and the food was delicious. The prickly pear margarita was tasty and the pork carnitas were great. My brother had the chicken fajita salad, and he enjoyed his as well. I would definitely come back!

Lori K.

Headed to Sedona to celebrate My husband b-day and to take my sister in-law visiting from CA site seeing. We were pointed in the direction Of Javelina from our jeep tour guide. I knew immediately when the salsa lacked flavor and spice , not to order anything too fancy. (We did request a hotter salsa and when the two were mixed together, it was ok) I gave three stars bc the grande margarita was very good and generous. (I actually got a little buzz) I ended up with just a bean and cheese burrito enchilada style. Simple and easy enough not to mess up. Both my husband and my sister in-law had the carnitas. Well, we are use to crispy pork chunks served on top of beans and rice. This was served in a little pot on the plate and was more like chile verde . They both said just "ok" Service was good-!if you check in on Yelp you get an10% discount. Plenty of restaurants to try in the area, I don't think we would go back.

Flor D.

My family absolutely loved the food. My children are really picky eaters, they were practically licking there fingers. All I can say is delicious.

L T.

The food was great and the atmosphere was fun. I would have given them 5 stars, but the waiter screwed up my order. It took them a long time to fix it, so everyone else was done eating by the time I started. I ordered the chicken fajitas and they were so good! I also enjoyed their chips and salsa. I was happy to get a discount from checking in on Yelp, which was a bonus.

David G.

We came away with mixed feelings from this location. As mentioned in MANY reviews the chips and salsa were great! We asked for a "queso" cheese sauce as well and it was more of a yellow cheese sauce with a variety of peppers opposed to a white cheese that we have been accustomed to... It was decent not great not something we probably order again going forward. The service was okay about standard or average but not over-the-top that a restaurant with that type of view should have. We noticed that our waitress was manning many tables both inside and outside and was very quick when dropping off food etc. My silver wear had dried food on it and my daughters water glass has lipstick marks on it as well. We went solely for the view and were not disappointed in that...however I'm sure there are better places out there.

Jiu J.

I love Javelina Cantina's Cat fish menu!!! It's so big and yam!!! 2 People can share this big giant dish! Most of their employees are very kind and nice. Joe was our table waiter, he made our ladies night more specially with wonderful smiley manner. Please enjoy the outside table with beautiful fountain. You can enjoy the red rock view with wonderful scenic view.

Lucy C.

Not very good food. Definitely was not authentic Mexican. Everything was doused in cheese and then smothered again by more cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Biggest problem was the waitress, Patty, who gave us a lot of attitude for making a slight modification on the side salad. She literally turned to me, rolled her eyes, and made sarcastic comments about my friend when he tried. On top of that, the side salad still came out the way it was on the menu.

Kathleen M.

Some of the best Mexican food outside of California I have ever eaten! I had the Asada Enchiladas, divine! OMG huge amount of food, exquisite taste it was incredible! We ate here on a rest stop coming from Chicago on our way to Santa Monica, a group of 12. This trip had started on my birthday and someone realized that they had not acknowledged my birthday and whispered to our waitress. Next thing I knew a group of wait staff had formed behind me, a sombrero was plopped on my head, dessert with a candle on fire was placed in front of me and everyone was singing. Needless to say I was a bit surprised, no startled! It was a great time! The view of Sedona from the restaurant windows and patio were gorgeous!

Jeremi H.

Best steak burrito of the three places I've tried in the area. The quac was good to. I eat at a lot of mexican restaurants and I'll be back.

C S.

Exactly the experience you imagine you'll receive. The prices were reasonable, very fair for Sedona. We were seated immediately, our order was taken promptly and our food was fast. The chips were hot when they got to the table, the salsa is on the sweet side and homemade. I had the grilled fish tacos which were ok but not great. My husband had the Asada enchiladas, one chx one beef, both were tasty, chicken was better. I recommend them for a typical Arizona Mexican dinner.

Steven M.

A friend came here a month prior and told us we had to stop in. We were off the tourist trap path, so that was good for us and bad for JC. Not a lot going on in here, so we picked our seats. The razor thin non greasy chips were perfect for the homemade guacamole. I got the pork carnitas and it came in a cauldron full to the rim. Dude! I strapped that thing on with the warm tortillas and I didn't come up for air til I hit bottom. The service was great and the food experience excellent. Will be back on our next visit.

Kristy W.

Some of the best flavored steak fajitas I have ever had period!!! We were with a very large wedding group and most of them ordered them and said the same thing. The drinks were not bad. I had a strawberry colada. Just very spendy. The staff was very accommodating to our very large group, even though the restaurant was full and pretty busy. I'm really impressed! Our next vacation to Sedona I know where I want to stop and eat.

Deb C.

Love this restaurant! Located off the main street, the views are amazing and the food even better! The staff is very attentive and they make you feel very special. Portion size is huge! Come hungry! Margaritas...wow! Definitely a must visit restaurant!!

Loosey B.

Wow! What a fantastic meal we just had at this place! Sat in the enclosed patio where the views would have been amazing if not for the 8 inches of snow that has fallen today! No matter, we could see the outline of one of the rock formations, and we were there for the food. Our server, Paul, was great. Made us feel very welcome, and had some suggestions about things to try. I went for today's special which was a carnitas burrito and was absolutely delish! Hubby did the chicken fajita chimichanga. Both had some green chili sauce, and this chipotle sour cream, which, when mixed with the salsa, was divine. The guac was excellent too. The water and chips and salsa were on the table just about the moment we sat down. We'll be heading back again before we go home this weekend. There were lots of other things on the menu that sounded great, and a dessert we had our eyes on. Just too full for that today. Oh, and the portions were so big, we both brought half our meals back to the hotel with us to warm up for lunch tomorrow! If you are in the mood for Mexican food, give this place a try!

Ian W.

Overall, this was a decidedly subpar experience starting right up front with an extremely rude hostess. The flies circulating above kept us entertained as we awaited service, and that ended up being the highlight of our evening. The food, across the board for a group of five, was very disappointing. The queso was velveeta, the tacos could not vie with Taco Bell, and my wife's salad was a messy mix of frozen ingredients. The salsa that came with the chips was actually pretty good, and our server Joe was attentive and helpful. Otherwise, this dining outing was the worst we had in Sedona. Stay clear. Certainly not family friendly, and it was grossly overpriced for the food quality presented.

Shawn D.

Quick to get a seat we were told 40 mins they sat us in about 20. Immediately started is with bottomless warm tortilla chips and salsa. Our server Paul was a real peach. Drinks came quick. Food is delicious authentic Mexican. And the portions are outstanding. Ambience is delightful just a fantastic experience all around.

Evan R.

THE best Mexican food I have ever had in my life. The chips and guac are on point. The FAJITAS are killer. Service is great. And the bus boys are the fastest in the West. Great views of the red rocks. The Mexican "shiz" Aka cheese is as authentic as an unironic mustache.

Russell M.

I've been dining here since it opened. It changed hands recently and the new owners have ties to the original so there's no noticeable difference in my opinion. Javelina is always reliable and dependable for good food, a good vibe and nice views, especially from the outside patio. The portions are pretty large so you might consider splitting something with your dining mate or just take the rest home and have it for lunch the next day. I enjoy their chile rellano. Their fried tacos are also quite good. Good place for cocktails, especially margaritas. The servers are always friendly, upbeat and attentive. Good place for pop Mexican style fare.

Melanie K.

I came here with my boyfriend to grab a bite for dinner. The reviews on this place were good, so why not give it a try? Heads up, when going here, you really ought to make a reservation. When we arrived, there was only a few people ahead of us and we were predicted a 20 minute wait time. Well.. we waited more than 20 minutes and a party of two people who also did not have a reservation were seated before us! We weren't given the option to sit at the bar, which would have been fine with me. As soon as we sat down, we ordered. I really enjoyed the machaca beef taco and the rice. They were very delicious. What I did not care for was the margarita I had ordered. I ordered a blended version of the silver dollar with extra salt. When my drink arrived there was not much salt on it and it tasted like tequila and water. Now, when I read the description this was not what I had in mind. Our server was nice, but it seemed like he was stretched pretty thin amongst his tables.

Nicole B.

Javelina Cantina is the laid back, cheaper, alternative to Elote in Sedona. The portions are jumbo sized served with plentiful rice/beans, sour cream and guacamole. I had the special, short rib tacos, which I highly recommend if available. The dish was so filling I had to have the rest for lunch the next day. Salsa and chips started the meal off well along with a prickly pear margarita. The margarita is a bit sweet for my taste, but when in Sedona I had to try the prickly pear version! Javelina is the go-to restaurant in Sedona for great food and atmosphere.

Geoff N.

By 8 yr old Claire: Javelina Cantina is a great place to dine. People aren't the only ones dining here, by the balcony a group of Javelinas live enjoying corn chips. I even saw a baby Javelina! I recommend this restaurant to anyone staying in Sedona.

angie r.

This was by our hotel so we tried it out! We are a family I five vegetarians... Three kids ages 4, 7 and 9. We LOVED this place! Great atmosphere with amazing service. Our waiter made us feel like old friends (thanks Craig!). Kids loved their kids meals which came with a Sundae. I had the chili tamales and the husband the veggie fajitas. We really adored our meal, every bite. Terrific food! A beautiful view at our booth completed the experience. Can't wait to return!

James J.

This place does the job it advertises. Combo plate Tex-Mex done just as well as in any strip mall in Dallas. You won't be wowed but neither will you be disappointed. Nice view from the patio.

Skipper W.

We were visiting Sedona for the weekend, and it was a Saturday dinner time. We tried to go to Elote Cafe, but the wait was +1.5 hr long! That seemed to be the norm at that restaurant, but we just wanted to have a decent Mexican food (we didn't go to Sedona for a culinary experience), and found Javelina in 3 min walking distance. Yelp reviews made it seem like it's a bad chain Mexican restaurant that just appears "nice"...so we hesitated to go and considered waiting at Elote, especially with all that hype of people waiting for that long. We decided that we will not wait (especially since we had 8 people in a group) and walked over to Javelina. I will not say that the restaurant was amazing, but our experience was definitely above 3 stars as a family-friendly Mexican restaurant for several reasons (I would give 3.5). 1. I called them for availability of seats, and they immediately answered with a wait time of 30-40 min (not bad for a Saturday dinner time in a small tourist town). They took my name in over the phone. 2. They had a table for 8 as they promised. 3. Waitress was very friendly & helpful. No unpleasant experience, even with Yelp coupon use. 4. Salsa/chips refills! (Pretty good roasted pepper salsa) 5. Large portion as others have mentioned. 6. Speed of service was standard, even with 8 people at a table. Some things to keep in mind: 1. Popcorn shrimp is not fried...I had an image of fries shrimp...turned out to be healthier! Good amount of shrimp...sauce was too much to my liking, but maybe you can ask them to put on the side. 2. Beef steak enchilada meat was diced, so it's a little different...seasoning is not bad, but if you are picky with that, you know it now. 3. Guacamole comes with almost every dinner entree, along with their sour cream (?) sauce. 4. Margarita is very standard. 5. Pricing is not bad for a tourist town. There is a combo menu too for more economical options. Customer service can vary depending on the waitress & manager on duty, but we were happy with the way they took care of us that night (we are also not that needy in general). Parking seems to be ok as well. The restaurant is in a newer shopping center, so it's large & easy to park. Restaurant is at the north end of the shopping center. If you are looking for a "wow" restaurant, this is not for you, but if you want a solid standard American Mexican that will sufficiently satisfy you, I would recommend this place.

Angela D.

Food was tasty and flavorfull not your typical authentic Mexican food. Only downfall was that it took long to get our order in but worth the wait.

Marisa H.

Terrible service, terrible food, crappy margaritas and horrible fajitas (my husband had steak and I had the shrimp) all burnt, both terrible. Didn't even bring the tortillas and had to wait and remind the server 5 times waiting 10 minutes at least after our food was at the table. Both kids chose the nachos. They both came overcooked, wouldn't touch them. I tried to ignore the poor reviews on here and give them a chance because they had really good reviews too. They must have had a diffrent cook or something at one point bc this place is GARBAGE... I'm so disgusted I may puke... and then the bill came... way too overpriced blah... will never be back there and I suggest you don't waste your time either...

Kevin L.

Decent, good portions

Jeff B.

First time at Javelina Cantina. Just walked from Elote cuz it was a two hour wait there. Got right in to JC. Hostess was abrupt but whatever. Our server greeted us quickly with menus and the staff brought us water, chips and salsa. The salsa was actually very good. Very cold, but very good. She also ordered wine while I got the Fago Margarita. It was good, not stellar. My wife ordered combo number two, which they let her have two tacos. It came with beans (subbed rice), shredded cabbage and pico de gallo. She got machaca tacos. I ordered the machaca chimichanga. It came with beans, rice, crema, guacamole, pico and red sauce. The tacos were very good. They were juicy and flavorful. My chimi was also juicy and flavorful and hot! The cheese was on one side inside the tortilla, so I tended to dig thru that side first to get the tang of the cheese but the whole package was tasty. We will return to JC when we are in the area.

Ketty W.

Great happy hour specials and margaritas! The bean dip appetizer was delicious! They have $3 margaritas on Mondays!

Nicole K.

One star for the view, that's where the positivity ends. There are much better options in Sedona, if in the mood for Mexican food I recommend Taos Cantina. The server was abrupt, looked annoyed when I asked if they make Micheladas, and had a generally irritated vibe. The fish taco was inedible, I did not send back because I was afraid of the attitude. I had bite and left it, not that the server noticed. The veggie fajitas my sister ordered were not cooked. Overall, awkward. I seldom leave negative reviews but it was not a good experience.

Genevieve D.

Great scenery , tall windows so you can see the red rocks. Went in on a rainy day and the storm clouds looked beautifully mysterious around the peaks. Decor is cozy and food is substantial and good!

Stefanie D.

The concierge told us that he recently moved to the area and he hasn't eaten at any other mexican place since trying the Javelina Cantina. We decided to check it out. The food was delicious. Service was great as well! They have a gluten free menu and accommodated my dairy intolerance. The waiter seemed very knowledgeable.

Jordan W.

We were very hungry and it was there. I've had ten times better "Mexican" food on the east coast.

Cherie A.

Their signature dish of salmon tostada is not to be passed up! Treat yourself to the mango salsa on this one. The chips and salsa are good too! Great service. Outdoor dining was a scenic setting.

Shawntil B.

Good food. The margarita was ok, not great. Salsa was great. Atmosphere was the best part. Staff was nice. I would eat here again.

Craig B.

Pros: decent draft beer selection. The food, including unique menu items like catfish relleno. The service. Cons: the service. Started great, then kinda fell off. No check-in till long after food delivered, fail to bring ordered second drink for way too long, and brought spouse wrong beer. But party next to us was high maintenance, so might not have been entirely his fault. The house margarita. Too much tequila, not enough lime. Some might think that's a pro.

Sue M.

Salmon was great and blackened grilled catfish was perfect. Being Gluten Free I had to dance around the sauces but the accommodations was perfect. Will return!

Divya V.

Most of the reviews rave about the awesome views - we went for dinner and it was pitch dark so I cannot comment on that. The service was OK... our server was polite with the fake smile and all. The chips and salsa were really disappointing... yes I know its free but I have had better free chips and salsa. The chips were thick and hard to bite. I like them thin hot and crispy! We ordered the queso dip (they use cheddar cheese so if you are preggers you can enjoy this!). The dip comes steaming hot from the oven... it takes about the same time as an entree... I liked that it was not plain cheese they had poblano peppers in these as well. I ordered the black bean, veggie and cheese chimichanga and the hubby got green chile tamale. The portions are huge! I had a little taste of both. The chimichanga was average. The flavored sour cream that they bring with it is pretty good. The green chile tamale was pretty good. Overall a decent meal but don't go in with high expectations.

Michael F.

My Wife, two kids and I stopped in for lunch today. We have been here before I just haven't written a review until now. It is in a great location. Try to be seated at the north side of the restaurant because they have large windows which have some great views of the red rock mountains. Our server was very polite and went above and beyond. My 4 year old daughter had her favorite stuffed animal (a bunny) and our server brought out a plate with some carrots for her best friend. How sweet. I ordered a chile relleno, cheese enchilada with rice and beans. All was very good. My wife had the carne asada tacos which were equally as good. Kids meals were devoured without any complaints. They even come with desert. Another bonus was when I checked in on Yelp, a screen popped up on my phone which gave us 10% off our meal. That is the first time I have seen that. Overall a great experience. Give them a try if you are in Sedona.

Stacey H.

Ordered the Oak Creek Brown locally brewed beer - a tasty, mild, not bitter dark - recommened by our waitress, and glad she did! The chicken tortilla soup was hearty and delicious! Carrots, celery, onion, yellow and green squash, nice chunks of chicken, garnished with sliced avocado and tortilla strips. For dinner the asada enchilada with red sause. The enchiladas are packed full of delightfully grilled chicken. The red sause had a hint of chipotle, loved it! Plenty of rice and beans, too. The only ding would be that I had ordered steak enchiladas, and was served chicken. Not an issue, and I didn't complain. The chicken did not disappoint. Looking forward to steak the next trip ;)

Adrian D.

Horrible food. Beans tasted like they were poured from a can. The chimi soggy. Go elsewhere.

Johnny S.

Mediocre chain type Mexican food. We ate inside and flys would not leave us or the food alone. We actually stopped eating in the middle of the meal and pretended to be full because the flys were so bad. Menu had variety but nothing special. Nice staff, but better Mexican food around town... Don't settle like we did save your money.

Jennifer G.

Long waits if during vacation season ! We made a reservation and are so thankful .....food was good, service was..........hmmmmmm efficient :/ our service did her job , we had to flag her down several times with our "list" , but she returned with everything in a timely manner. The portobello fajitas were really good ! It's a good place for our little ones to eat with us. a little noisier, has a kids menu, and typical Mexican food. We would come back if in town again. Just don't stay your welcome , they apparently need your table ! Hence the three stars not four.

Lorena K.

Stay away from the beef fajitas which were made to taste like Chinese hoisin. Stir fry. Went there as Elote was not yet opened. NIce view from patio. Maybe drinks would have been better????.

Alex K.

Beautiful location. Fast service. Very tasty authentic Mexican food. Great for families with available seating outside.

Doug G.

Being from California, Mexican food is far and wide... The food at Javelina Cantina was great! The seasoning on the chicken inside the chicken burrito was tasty! The rice was fluffy and the beans were really good. The food tasted fresh and I would definitely go back again when I go back to Sedona. We were seated within a few minutes despite the crowd. Our server was prompt and our food was brought out in a timely manner. Only 3 beers on tap, but they have many domestic and imported beer brands. Recommended to anybody visiting Sedona. Go to Javelina Cantina and try their Mmm-Mmm-Good food!

Danielle R.

We are 2 for 2 in terrible places to eat in Sedona! We waited about an hour for a table on a Saturday night- which is a given. So just a heads up, if you don't like waiting for dinner, get there early or late (I.E. Before 5 or after 9) I don't know what everyone was talking about fantastic chips and salsa. I can stop by Safeway and pick up better chips and salsa, people! And the food was mediocre..... We tried the steak tacos, chicken machaca taco, and my poor daughter tried to choke down a shredded beef taco. The rice might be minute rice, but don't quote me on that. All in all, I think the chefs could afford to use a little more seasoning with everything. Maybe even start with salt and pepper?

Katie G.

Omg soooo good! I had a javelina margarita and the Baja tacos with shrimp. It was soooo good, especially after such a long hike. Great views! The only thing I REALLY want to warn you about is the address yelp has. I'm not sure if it's my phone, but it took us too the wrong location even when I entered it in manually into google maps. The address is 671 State Route 179 # BD, Sedona, AZ 86336. It's right by the Hillside Sedona Hotel....In the same complex. I ended up finding it on google maps and manually navigating us there. It was the weirdest thing. If you punch in the hillside hotel in Sedona that would probably work the best. Who knows my phone could've been going crazy?! Anyways, I definitely recommend this place

Fami D.

I had shrimp fajitas which was delicious. Shrimp was tender and succulent - not over done. Onions were sweet and cooked just perfect. I really liked the creme fraiche that came on the plate of accompaniments. A nice change from just ordinary sour cream. My husband had grilled fish tacos. We appreciated the casual & non pretentious atmosphere; we were able to relax and enjoy our meal. It is a very family & kid friendly place. My ice tea was filled immediately as soon as I put the glass down. Overall a great experience. We got there around 5 pm on a Saturday night and we walked right in without any wait. There were several groups waiting when we were leaving so I recommend getting there around 5 if you have a large group or want to avoid the wait.

Don M.

After a day if enjoying Sedona stopped here for some chow. This was a good choice for sure. The chips and salsa were very good. We ordered some Guacamole dip also and it was fresh and delicious. For my main I had the Asada Enchilades and went for the grilled steak. This was very good. I enjoy each bite and washed down with a perfect Margarita. The atmosphere is nice and inviting and service is very good. Worth stopping

Erin M.

Not the best experience, even though it came highly regarded by our hotel. We made a reservation for 8pm, but we're not seated until about 8:15 - not usually a big deal but it was Sooo crowded, you couldn't even make it to the bar to get a drink while you waited. Once seated our waiter came immediately to take our drink order (he was the best part of our experience). Drinks, chips & salsa, and guacamole came quick and were great. Once we ordered our meals it took almost an hour to be served... All 6 meals were luke warm, and the salmon dish was raw in the middle. Meals were mediocre at best, the rice and beans being the best part. Our waiter kept a sense of humor through it all and took the bad meal off he bill. The manager never came to speak with us even though we asked several times. I would not recommend this restaurant and will not be returning.

Zach M.

I got the cantina burger and latter that evening had food poisoning and threw up looks like it could of been anything, Employee might of not washed hands. Bad meat. Could be anything

Joe T.

FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL!!!!!! OK, I have been a Javelina Cantina ( including Shugrue's and Barley Bros) fan for over 10 years, both in Sedona and Havasu several times each year on various trips. This took the prize for maybe the most unprofessional restaurant attitude ever. So it's our last night in Sedona. Been out hiking all day. Stopped in with the family for happy hour- a few snacks, a few margaritas to have a nice goodbye. We get there and the bar is full so THEY ask us to sit in a nearby table, not 6 feet from the other bar tables. I even asked if this was still ok for happy hour. "Yes, no problem. We are full in there so please sit here". This was our 3rd time here this week so we knew what we wanted. 2 margaritas, a couple of quesadillas and an order of chicken strips. Again I remind her "from the happy hour menu". FAIL #1 Food comes and all of the requests for no salsa or sour cream we're screwed up. Kids- scrape it off, eat your food, quit whining. No big deal. FAIL #2 The bill comes and all prices were twice the price. Happy hour pricing completely ignored. EXCEPT for the margaritas. Hmmm. FAIL #3 I inform the waitress. And I am quoting..... "Oh, I am sorry, we were just being nice by seating you here". WHAT? "I will see if I can get it fixed". FAIL #4 Corrected bill still wrong! Chicken strips still menu price, so I ask her about it. "Oh yes, we no longer have those on the happy hour menu". I was like uh, yes you do as of two days ago. She says (with a major attitude) "let me check" "ok, you are right, let me get this fixed TOO". Really? You are the ones who sat me here and told me happy hour pricing was good and then double-charged me for everything and "I" am the bad guy that deserves attitude????? It's good to be busy as a restaurant but lying and cheating customers does not go far with me. I know that tourists are big $ for you but just because you think they are one-timers does not mean you should try and screw them. Sorry Javelina, this was ridiculous. I won't even wear my 6 year old Javelina Cantina T-shirt again!

Andrew L.

Pros and Cons Pros 1. Good Food 2. Great Views 3. Affordable Prices 4. Good Portions Cons 1. Hard to find I came here on my visit to Sedona and was very pleased. It is a bit hard to find but the views are great and the food is delicious. i ordered the number 2 combo which came with one taco one enchilada rice and beans. The portions were huge.

Desiree M.

Amazing Views-food was delicious and the service was fast -the chips and dip are especially tasty as was the cantina bowl and asado steak enchiladas. Margaritas are made just right on the rocks with salt. 10% off our bill just for checking in with Yelp!

Chad H.

Chips were great, Maui Maui tacos were great. kids hamburger not so great but she didn't notice. Service was fast and friendly

M. V.

Very dissappointed! Followed the guidance of our hotel staff and regretted it. I recommend trying somewhere else for Mexican food. This place goes down as one of the worst of all time. Service was average, no complaints there. The wait for food was relatively long. Good rule of thumb for Mexican food: higher real estate value = lower quality of food. At Javelina Cantina you're paying for location...the food is terrible. I ordered the combo plate with a machacado beef taco and carne asada enchilada. Taco was OK, but soggy. Enchilada was 2nd worst I've ever eaten. I'm not so sure the meat wasn't actually Javelina meat. It was terrible. Beans tasted like they were canned. Rice was average. Salsa average, mild...heavy on the garlic. Tortillas bland. Wife had the chicken chimichanga with green salsa and said it was fair. Overall, a big disappointment. Don't waste your money here.

David D.

I seriously don't understand the 3 star overall review. This place is the best Mexican food in Sedona. I have been here 4 times and every time was as great if not better than the last time. The chips and salsa are incredible and always have my wanting more. Every dish I had here is delicious and the portions are huge. Both their burrito and chimichangas taste great. The environment inside was nice and quaint. The server was extremely outgoing. It was my girlfriend's birthday and he offered to take pictures of us for her. He even took us outside to take a picture with the beautiful view in the background. He was extremely accommodating. After the main course they brought her out a big dessert for her birthday and a sombrero for her to take home with her. I come here every time I come to Sedona and recommend it to everyone who comes here for vacation.

Ellen B.

The chips & salsa are the best I've ever had anywhere on the planet, and I've eaten at a lot of Mexican restaurants. I had the chicken fajitas and they were excellent also! The margaritas were great too. The service was great and very friendly! I can't say enough good things about this place! We will definitely go back again!

Guil B.

Well seasoned Mexican food. Huge portions, tasteful. Great view, fast service. We had lunch there on a Friday afternoon. Nothing fancy but a good vacation spot

Tami D.

We loved the food and service! I ordered the veggie fajitas and the seasoning they use is super yummy. My husband ordered steak fajitas and loved them as well. They are very generous with their chip refills but also the number of tortillas they give with the fajitas is much more than any other Mexican restaurant. Our food came out super quick as well.

Emily M.

Food was great! Huge portions - you get your money's worth here! Service was good and outdoor patio was beautiful, what a great view.

Sean C.

Good food but way to pricey for what I have gotten in the past. I am always willing to come here for a birthday. But when it comes to eating here all the time I would rather go elsewhere.

Xander S.

I'm rating this on the overall experience, meaning I would go back. Let me explain why. First off, there is plenty of sesting, both indoor and out. The outdoor seating has a beautiful view of red rock mountains. I couldn't imagine there being a long wait considering the amount of seating. Granted I went for a late lunch/early dinner at 4 pm. The happy hour was great, $3 margaritas which weren't the best or strongest, but certainly worth the price. The chips and salsa were above average and I loved that the chips seemed to be homemade or at least they were thin, crispy, and warm (hot). Not to mention it's unlimited and free. Kinda had too many and filled up before my meal. Nonetheless, I ordered the sonoran chicken sandwich which was alright by itself, but I loved putting the avocado dressing on it (I'd highly recommend getting a cup on the side for fries too). The fries tasted beer battered and were also above average and crispy golden. The flan was rich and creamy, but kinda small for $7. Unfortunately I can not vouch for the Mexican side of "Texmex", but from my experience it was worth going and I'm glad I went. Definitely check the place out for lunch or happy hour!

Pamela D.

We enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner with amazing margarita's after participating in the Sedona Marathon event on January 31st. Javelina Cantina was highly recommended by a colleague. We made reservations and were seated promptly as soon as we walked in the door. The staff was very attentive to our needs and the waiter was awesome. We enjoyed the guacamole and The Ultimate Margarita while waiting for dinner to be served. The Salmon Tostada with the Black Bean Mango Salsa and Chicken Fajitas were excellent. After having completed a half-marathon earlier in the day, this was the perfect place to relax for dinner to celebrate our accomplishment. This will be a regular stop for us when we return for our next hiking adventure. Blessings!!

Susan H.

Worst food ever, but customer service wasn't too bad. My husband and I decided to check this place out for a special night out. My fajitas were in edible and his fish tacos were unseasoned and the tortillas were not heated in any way. The server was helpful and attempted to fix the situation with fried ice cream , but even that was bad, due to stale corn flakes. Definitely won't go back ever again!

Michelle H.

We had a group of 9, it was a Saturday night and they handled us perfectly. Very little wait and great service. That gave them an extra star. This is good Mexican food. The portions were large, The margaritas contained plenty of the most important ingredients, The price was right. I would come back,

Bhavin B.

Ordered fajitas, was made in teriyaki sauce too sweet for me didn't like it . Ordered guacamole was not very fresh and no flavours didn't like it. Kids ordered tacos no cream cheese was included was okay. Average price 15-17$ per person. Served fresh chips and salsa was good . Will not visit this place as we did not enjoy the food . Ambience was good and service was quick.

Bob N.

After heeding the advice of our local friend, who said Elote was overrated, overpriced and for the tourists, we met him at Javelina, which he said he liked better. We were told there was a half hour wait, but no wait if we wanted to sit outside. The table we were shown was out back, without much of a view, unlike the wonderful outdoor tables up front, with the gorgeous views, which I discovered only after going inside to the bathroom. But at least we didn't have to wait 30 minutes. One odd thing: the hostess gave us a single paper menu for 3 of us, claiming they had run out. When we asked our waiter, he found us one regular menu. We were fine sharing them though. The chips and salsa were great. Our drinks came quickly. Our waiter, though not especially talkative, was efficient. My chimichonga with shredded beef was great, and the rice, which I generally don't like, was excellent. It was a great meal. My friend's salmon was delicious (I tried it) and my wife was ecstatic over her seafood fajitas. While we were waiting for our food, a herd of wild javelinas, which look like little pigs, came snorting through the underbrush to feast on a pile of tortillas dumped on the ground at the base of our balcony. Kind of a novelty. People kept coming outside to take pictures, getting a little bit in our space, but we were in a good mood and didn't let it bother us. Overall, a great meal. I'd go here again and skip Elote and its notorious lines next time too.

Prev D.

Even in the very late afternoon, the wait for a table was still 30 minutes. We decided to eat at the bar. Disappointed by the chips and salsa we expected the food to be "ok". It was not ok -- it was very good! Our bartender, Rick, was excellent! I heard the Margaritas were good. Rick was very friendly and attentive and really personable! The food was delicious and at fair prices! Definitely a good pit stop in Sedona.

Kent T.

Good: specialty margaritas, ambiance, service. The food we had was at best average. Nachos were fine but the chili Rellenos were fair, the chicken enchilada was large but boring. The shrimp fajitas weren't worth finishing. We've eaten at many Mexican restaurants, I won't return to this one.

Noelle B.

We loved this place our first night so much we decided to come again on our last night. The chips and salsa were still dreamy and the margarita was awesome. I ordered the special for a second time, which I highly recommend. They make a killer mole sauce!!

Denise S.

Fun place for a birthday, and the food was great!

Rose A.

If you want great Mexican food, go to Javalinas Cantina !!! Nice atmosphere and good service!

Bobby H.

How awesome is this place! The ambience is incredible, the good is for for kings! The service was very personable. The view of the red rocks was incredible. Seemed to be able to accommodate families, groups, couples or individuals. Was very happy with all and for checking in on yelp I received a 10% discount!!!!

Jack B.

Directed there by hotel after being told Elote does not take reservations. Greeted promptly, seated with a nice view outside. Staff was attentive and friendly. All the food was well prepared and tasty. Portions were HUGE enough for two really, even the kids portions. Desert provided with kids meals which was a nice treat. We were pleased and full when we left.

Denise S.

Nice meal and great margaritas to celebrate completing the Sedona Half Marathon. Service is good and fast. Generous portions and strong drinks-LOL!! This place was recommended by a PHX coworker and it did not disappoint. We missed the views - it was after dark when we arrived, but we'll be back! Be sure to make a reservation. We were seated immediately.

Rachel D.

One star for the views, one star for the service, and one star for using quality ingredients, such as real steak and good chicken. This restaurant touts itself as Sedona's "best Mexican food", which is wrong. Any Los Betos will serve better Mexican food than this place. As my husband put it, it's "white people Mexican food": A heaping plateful of colorful, bland food. There was no spice to anything, which was majorly disappointing. I make better Spanish rice at home in a frying pan and better refried beans in my crockpot. We're visiting Sedona and this place looked so promising, but boy was I disappointed. If you hate spice and don't really care about flavor, this restaurant is for you. (I ordered the chicken chinichanga with red sauce and my husband ordered asada steak enchiladas with red sauce.)

Amanda M.

After a 12 mile hike and a horseback ride, we were hungry. Javelina Cantina was the perfect solution to our problem. We all started with margaritas, and they were delish. The fiesta (prickely pear) was very pretty, and very sweet. Their standard margs were very good too. Chips and salsa were perfect. Salsa wasn't too thick, or to thin. We also got the queso, which had great flavor. For mains, we had tostadas, enchiladas, tacos, tamales, and flautas. Everything was great! Chicken items were flavorful, but the star was the shredded beef. Even though we were full, we ordered dessert - both the churros and chocolate cake were very good. Service was good, and we thought the "speed" delivery of the chips & salsa was very funny.

Beth A.

I've always enjoyed eating at the Javelina whenever we come to Sedona. It's not gourmet fancy Mexican food for sure but it is good. It's also not a run of the mill place either. The margaritas are also very good and pretty authentic tasting. We had a large party and our waitress was very attentive. The chips and salsa are also very good. Everyone's meal came out correct. Javelina also has a nice patio with an amazing view of the red rocks. I will be back.

George M.

I saw some reviews and almost didn't go but the ambience was great the food was wonderful and the service was awesome. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!

Dick A.

Now I know how it felt to be a cow herded into the Chicago stockyards. Everyone smiling while trying to figure out how fast they can get rid of you. We got there early so we went to the bar. They have a good prickly pear margarita one of huge bartenders was engaging and willing to talk. We sat there right to the moment of our reservation even though they said it wouldn't be long. When we were seated in the dining area it was like being in Nascar, the way people came up so fast with their painted on smiles asking how or what we wanted, I'll be back, chips flying, salsa bowls sliding I knew I was in first place. We ordered, and the next thing we know, out comes part of the pit crew, car jacked up lug nuts off new tires and wheels on, and there's dinner in front of you. I will saw the enchiladas were good, just don't expect to feel like your welcome.

Jennifer C.

Views are amazing. Food is average. Service was horrible. The waitress, Faith, told our son he should have "read the menu" in order to determine the bean and cheese burrito included red sauce. Not impressed.

Mila S.

Yummy food, reasonable prices, excellent service. Found this place randomly looking for someplace open (evidently Sedona has no night life) and were more than satisfied. Margs were good, food was delicious with large portions, prices were reasonable and service was great. Highly recommended.

Joni L.

We asked a local couple where to go for Mexican food and they suggested this place. We ordered the sizzling fajitas, Carne Asada, quesadillas and tacos. The food and service was good, but nothing was memorable or outstanding. The most exciting part of our dinner was when our server gave the kids a basket of tortilla chips to feed the javelinas that hang around below the back deck of the restaurant. They still talk about how they fed the javelinas at the Javelina Cantina!

Ash H.

Solid place! We couldn't brave the wait at 4pm for Elote! We love it and were there from the start but starving and it's hard to brave the pre opening line up with kids. Tried this place on a whim and it was great! More traditional food than Elote. Service was great, kids meals are huge, Margs and views were great and it fit the bill seeing as we had a long day hiking and out in the jeep. I'd go back.

Sandy M.

Probably 3.5 stars. Nice atmosphere, quick and friendly service. Great chips and salsa.....good margaritas. Food is OK...but the tortilla soup, which is a "special" but they have frequently is delicious! Have eaten here 3 or 4 times on several trips to Sedona. It is also in the lovely Hillside Sedona shopping area, which has really nice shops.

Sophia M.

Service was great. Food was beyond terrible. Would NOT recommend for people looking for authentic Mexican food in Sedona. The enchiladas taste like dog food, and the taco meat is tasteless. The beans in my burrito were extremely dry, and my whole family did not enjoy their food at all. Again, good service, terrible food.

Tom P.

Ok, I'm biased because I'm a Californian, and it is true, all "Mexican" food outside of Southern California sucks. This place keeps the stereotype alive! The tacos are ground beef, the cheese enchiladas were hard and the cheese tasted like a mix of cheddar and American, the iced tea was literally water with a lemon in it. But never mind the food, let's talk service and atmosphere. The older blonde hostess wasn't exactly hospitable, "Are you the five?", then walks off with menus and plops them all on the table and walks away. Later on she would be standing at the bar talking to a couple for a very long time, as if they were friends. The atmosphere and decor remind me of a bad Jimmy Buffett nightmare and a ski lodge. Our waiter seemed perfectly fine at first until it came time for our check. "Can I get you guys anything else? No, how about a dessert menu? No, well anything else then? More water, maybe another iced tea? No, just the check? Oh, you're probably going to laugh and make fun of me when I walk away, right? Right?" 2 stars for the awkward service and sub par food.

Rose B.

The food here is sooooo good!!! I love the fish tacos, and my husband loves the enchiladas. We like to sit by the windows, next to the fountain so that we can be cozy in our booth while we watch the water and look at the red rocks. After a day of hiking, this is the perfect place to unwind!

Donna R.

Ugh .... Husband and I are Texans and know our TexMex to Authentic pure Mexican foods. ordered 1 cheese enchilada, one shredded chicken enchilada. Husband ordered skirt steak and we shared a super large serving of queso with ground burger. Portion was ridiculously huge. Most was boxed up and taken with us. Husband liked his order . I couldn't get past the sauce on my enchiladas. Did not like it at all. and returned it. Our waitress was very attentive in reorder of a black bean enchilada instead with simple cheese melt and sour cream . ( I ordered sour cream sauce but it came out as sour cream on side ). The hostess with blonde or maybe gray bob was stoic and not friendly. Our waitress was frazzled and doing the best job she could . She shared she was filling in for a no show. I felt sorry her really. Over hearing the hostess speaking to her kind of snappy and condescending. I hope that's not the norm. All in all service was slow, atmosphere felt unmanaged, food unmemorable. We probably won't be returning. And I can't recommend .

David T.

Family and I were up from california staying for 2 days. We all wanted mexican so we decided to give this place a try. Not good at all. My wife found a hair in her burrito, the beans on the plate looked old and none of the food had any flavor. pretty close to one of the worst meals I have ever paid for. If your in town on vacation don't waste your money on this place. Good news though, we loved Sedona.

Charlotte W.

The restaurant was nicely decorated and has a fancy look. They have an outside area which is nice. Great atmosphere and very popular. We went there for lunch and it filled up quickly. Great food and drinks. The guacamole was very good and had the right amount of kick. You get plenty of food. My hubby had a burrito that had plenty of grilled onions and peppers and steak. Very tasty. I was able to substitute black beans instead of refried beans in my burrito with no problem. We will definitely eat here again.

Nathaniel P.

Hmmmmm where should I start? The guacamole is NOT made fresh to order. It's made early in the morning. When I asked my server for fresh guac he pretty much looked at me cross eyed. I had to insist for him to go back and please take fresh avocado and mash it up and make some fresh guacamole. He did and boy what a difference. The black beans tasted like cardboard the pinto beans were cold. On a more positive note the Margarita was decent and the fajitas were pretty good but just a bit oily. Definitely will not come back again. It doesn't seem like the people here pride themselves on their food. It feels like they're really happy with doing the minimum amount of work possible. The food is not authentic Mexican. Honestly, I appreciate restaurants that pride themselves on giving you the best possible experience. If you're not going to do 100%. Don't do it at all. We left feeling like we wasted $50 and should have just waited the hour long wait at Elote, the restaurant down the street with 4.5 stars. There's a reason this place has 3.5 stars...

Jo Anne B.

Wonderful view and food. Staff is friendly and accommodating to guest needs. Food was a good value and tastes great. We now have 2 favorite places to eat when we come to Sedona.

Mike L.

It was a nice location and we would rate a few menu items 4 stars but others were just. 3. Server was great. We ate outside and the weather was nice.

Tira A.

Wonderful food. I had the combo #3 it had so much food I shared it with my husband. I would have to say it was the best enchilada I have ever had. So yummy!! It is a bit of a wait so I suggest getting there early or plan on waiting to be seated. They do take reservations so call ahead if you can.

Mike M.

We found this gem after a really bad experience at Elote. The folks at Elote were kind of rude and told us there was a 45 minute (yes we got there early) wait while we could easily see tables that were open. Whatever, that's their business choice. So we went to Javelina Cantina and we were SUPER happy about it. The staff were all very nice and helpful and the place was PACKED. The food was filling and had great flavor and the prickly pear margarita was bomb. So, don't waste your time with the ego fueled Elote and go here first. The food is amazing and the people are great. We spoke with some "locals" (as local as you can get in Sedona) and they all agreed that Elote is great but Javelina is an equal with regard to food but beats them in the service. Side note, I had the enchiladas and my wife had the steak fajitas. Both were great and on par with the Spotted Donkey in Cave Creek. Very delicious. :)

Georgie M.

If you are up in Sedona or Flag, Javelina Cantina is a nice place to stop for some food and cold drinks! Whenever we're up here, it alway seems like we coming to Javelina for a meal. The food is good. Not Taqueria truck good, but Mexican restaurant good. Each plate comes with the standard Mexican rice, refried beans and either a Chimie, taco, burrito... et cetera. It's you basic Mexican faire. And, yes it's Three Stars "A-OK" good! I've read some of the other Yelp'ers and they're all pretty close to what we have experienced. I like Andrea's point about the chips and salsa, They are good, flavorful and interesting. My guess it that they cut tortilla for frying in the back, so you know it's fresh. And, yes the Margaritas are cold and good! Enjoy!

Lyn C.

I only had an appetizer, chips and salsa and beer. Those were all just average. However, it is really cute inside and it gets four stars because there are tons of javelinas right outside over the patio/railing that you can check out and feed your extra chips! It's so cool to see them up close like that because they are usually trying to run away from people. There were tons of babies ones too that are the size of kittens. Super cool.

Kerry P.

The setting, Sedona az, is amazing. The patio is refreshing. The food is bland bland bland. We had the super burrito, the Mexican pizza, and guacamole. Flavorless. How this can be classified as Mexican food is beyond me. They need to incorporate the flavors and spices of the southwest into the cuisine. The atmosphere/Decor: very nice. Service = acceptable. By the way, this is not an inexpensive restaurant. For the price I expect both better service and definitely better food. The service and flavors do not match the surrounding environment.

Gina D.

Bartenders were awesome in this entirely mediocre establishment. Cheese dip lacked any cheese, but prickly pear margarita was nice.

Rachel C.

Tucked back in what would pass for a strip mall anywhere else, the Javelina Cantina was the kind of place you'd like to spend the afternoon sitting on the deck with a margarita and guacamole. Sit back in your chair and watch the cotton clouds drift by in shapes of dreams and enchiladas. The fare was, as expected, worth the visit . . . but the gentle feeling of a soft relaxing afternoon with nowhere to go but to share the peace and solitude of a cozy patio with the Spring sunshine and the clinking of ice against Mexican glass was my invitation to return again. I could have stayed there all afternoon, but we had places to go and tours to take and red rocks to explore. Have no fear little Javelina, my friend, I shall return to share another story with you when no one is looking.

Kindra S.

Saw some negative reviews but decided to throw caution to the wind. So glad I did! Food was excellent and service was fabulous. Carne asada enchiladas were very good. My friend got the sirloin steak and cheese sandwich and really enjoyed it. Tip: if you want to share . . . this is the perfect item. It's huge. Make sure you ask to sit in Javier's station. He was very knowledgable about the menu and made suggestions. He was very attentive and our glasses were never empty. Also he was VERY patient with my friend who wanted to pay with two different timeshare gift cards and cash. (One of the cards kept getting declined but he wasn't even phased. Just kept trying again.) I would definitely come back again.

Michael N.

My wife and I went on a Saturday night. The place was packed so I had high hopes. We got drinks at the bar while we waited for our table. The drinks were very weak and the chips and salsa were average at best. Once we were sat we were greeted by our 2 servers immediately. The one was friendly, the other mute. Our orders came out pretty quickly but the food was mediocre. I would not visit this place again and wouldn't recommend it unless you are desperate for imitation Mexican food.

Claire A.

Javelina Cantina has an amazing view and their water feature on the patio makes sitting outside a real treat. The food is middle of the road. I ate the shrimp tacos which were okay and my dad had the salmon tostada which he said was really good. The nachos were probably the highlight. I got a top shelf margarita but would recommend just getting something cheaper because there wasn't much special about the drink. I would go back just to sit on the patio.

Gary M.

Disregard the negative reviews. I've lived in Sedona since 1983 and Javelina wins the award for Best Mexican Food in Sedona again. Try the chicken fajitas...they are exceptional. As to the review attacking Elsa, it sounds to me like the reviewer had an axe to grind, repeatedly saying she didn't mean to disparage, but... As to the food and service, it's excellent. Take it from a long-time local.

Daniel V.

Excellent food! Be warned though. Portion sizes are huge! The fajitas were incredible and more than enough for two (I had a lot left over). Great atmosphere and an excellent view. Definitely will be returning on the next visit to Sedona! I definitely recommend!

Cheryl S.

Excellent restaurant and highly recommend. My husband had the blackened catfish relleno and loved it. Great portions for the hungry. Hannah our waitress was fabulous. Will definitely come back. Cheryl from Reno, Nevada.

Diane B.

Delicious! One of our best and top rated Mexican food dinners in Arizona. We ate outside and enjoyed our view of the Red Rocks at sunset time. Roberto was an excellent waiter! Highly recommend!

Lauren Y.

Service was bad and food was not good. There were no vegan choices and I had to explain what that is. Be sure to ask what comes with your entree....

Patrick F.

There was a nice family atmosphere with pleasant decor and the servers were reasonably friendly. The grande prickly pear margaritas were VERY light on tequila. A double margarita should have at least two shots and this could only have had uno. Any prickly pear syrup was actually absent and it just failed to please. Tortilla chips were warm and crispy but the salsa was made with tomato paste and tasted more Italian than Mexican. The Chile Relleno Plate was fairly tasty, beans and rice were neither creamy nor zingy. Carne Asada (steak) Tacos and accompanying Pico de Gallo were bland and ordinary. For someone who is used to eating la comida Mexicana this will not be muy bien. Not worth the price.

Jesica W.

It was good and had good service. We got the tacos and enchilada combos. Very fresh tasting. Chips could have been better. Got the house margaritas- the frozen was horrible. All ice. No flavor. Rocks was good. So I sent mine back. And now I'm tipsy. Beautiful view as well. Oh and the guacamole was my favorite.

Corey B.

Food was alright. Got a giant burrito. Service was excellent though! Good for a quick bite.

Heidi K.

Average food. Nothing special. Average service. Hostess unfriendly. Overall experience lacking. Go elsewhere.

Raymond H.

Very average Mexican food. Cold hard chips and ok salsa. Manager is a bee-otch and does not understand the definition of hospitality. 2 stars and two tums

Ashley Y.

Visiting some family from Texas and we were craving some Mexican food. I had the chicken quesadilla but the chicken was unfortunately dry. The fajitas though were amazing! It comes fresh on a sizzling skillet and the aroma just fills the restaurant. I highly recommend that if coming here. (Along with the margaritas)

Rachael P.

This place was great! The portion sizes are huge and the drinks are awesome. I recommend stopping in while in Sedona. I chose the steak fajita chimichanga and a strawberry margarita. The steak was juicy and the grilled onions inside were cooked perfectly. I recommend this place for sure.

Tammy R.

The service was good but the food lscked flavor. The carne aada was nor marinated the toco salad no dressing unless you ask. The drinks were decent.

Stephanie S.

Good, but not amazing. Cocktails were nice, the Carnitas were not anything special. Pretty Standard mexican food.

Mark C.

Decent mexican...classic Tex Mex style...huge portions. Don't come here looking for high end mexican....it's similar to a Chi Chi's....which is fine if you're in the mood for that. Food was tasty, service was good.

Dr Tim L L.

Some of the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. A wonderful dreamy strawberry dessert. Enchiladas with chicken and beef fantastic . Amazingly beautiful view. Highly recommend that you eat here.

Starla C.

Went in with low expectations after reading some negative reviews. Couldn't have been treated better. Food was amazing, service was beyond fantastic. We had our dog with us and they even served her! All around fantastic experience.

Sally C.

Best Mexican food and drink we've enjoyed in ages. Angel is best server! Views spectacular. Javelinas were an added attraction.

Allison A.

4 stars for tamales... I always read reviews but never post. I absolutely had to this time. The green corn chile tamales were the BEST I'VE EVER HAD hands down. Had poppers and queso dip as well but those were very mediocre especially compared to the what? The tamales. I swear they are made by a little old Mexican lady in the back.

Eyal B.

This place was meh. Food was just alright (being a biased Californian myself, you should go check out Taos on 89a). Service was OK, food was really sub par.

Karl S.

For us, a late Mexican dinner. Nice decor. Prompt service. Decent prices. Serviceable food.

Meg F.

Well, it's not gross but I wouldn't go back. The views are great; be sure to make a reservation if you want a view table. The service was pretty good. It was freezing in the restaurant, on an evening that was breezy and pleasant outside so I don't know why it was necessary to have the air blasting inside. The chips were warm and good. The salsa was bland and pretty much like roasted puréed tomatoes. Not terribly interesting. I ordered carnitas, which came in a bowl like stew instead of roasted and crisped like the carnitas I'm familiar with; it was more like chile verde. Guacamole was icky. Rice and beans were ok. Instead of sour cream they serve some kind of seasoned sour cream dip that I didn't care for. It's a Pepsi place and I'm a diet Coke addict. Didn't get to try the margaritas, alas. My daughter had crispy chicken tacos and a cheese enchilada and she was happy with her dinner. Price was ok, I spent $30 on dinner for the two of us, including one soft drink. Overall, just below average.

Crystal S.

4 stars for the excellent food and breathtaking views. Everything was flavorful and fresh. A couple downsides. 1. You only get one refill on your drink and then your charged for another. 2. The wait for our food was so long we went through two baskets of chips and still waited. Probably 35 minutes. We saw two tables seated well after us enjoying their dinner while we continued to wait. Other than that, the food was tasty and the location was awesome. The prices were a little high for Mexican food but considering the location, fairly reasonable. Large portions. We will definitely go again and hopefully get a table outside to take advantage of this restaurant's amazing location.

Amanda S.

I can't help but think "Tourist Trap" when I think of this restaurant. I grew up on Mexican food, so while I don't consider myself an expert, I know sub-par when I taste it. The margaritas are just OK, I guess once the novelty of having an exotic prickly pear flavored drink wears off you realize there is hardly any tequila. Honestly I feel I could do better with some canned beans, a box of rice, and some tortillas and cheese from the Mexican market near my home. This place is resting on its laurels and taking advantage of the beautiful location and tourist trade in Sedona. The sad thing is though, many visitors from the East Coast and other areas that lack Mexican cuisine probably try this stuff and never want to eat another Mexican dish again, unaware of what they are missing out on. If you are in Sedona, skip this location. There are many other places with prickly pear margaritas that most likely serve better tasting food.

Lilmissb B.

Great place! The portions are HUGE! I decided to go with the steak fajitas and I am very happy that I did. The marinade for the steak, onions and peppers was really good. Definitely recommend them! Also, the shredded meat and cheese enchilada was very tasty!! The views from the restaurant were amazing ;)

Anthony Z.

Stopped in for a quick lunch and sat at the bar. I had the Signature burger and my wife had the chicken tacos. We waited a little longer than normal for our food, but couldn't understand why as the place was only 25% full. The burger was a little overdone, but the soft tacos were very good. Shredded chicken served in a hot, home made tortilla. Great place to hang out at the bar!

Scottyboy N.

Try the chile rellano with shredded beef, hands down some of the best ever, the bomb dot com!!!

Julie A.

This restaurant is AWESOME. Our family enjoyed the best nachos we have EVER had, and we are huge Tex Mex fans. The atmosphere outside is lovely; it's in a great section of town. The service was perfect and everything we ordered was delicious. Great sized portions, good margaritas. If we lived in Sedona, we would come back again and again. Absolutely wonderful.

Sue G.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal here while in Sedona for several days. We were able to make reservations and asked for a window table. Even though there were only 2 of us, we were able to enjoy a window table. Our server was very nice - and started out strong and then . . . maybe due to busyness, his attentiveness declined as the meal progressed. We did enjoy our meal - servings were large since. We would enjoy going back when in Sedona again.

Nicki N.

wonderful HUGE plates of Delish entrees. i always get the chimichanga because it is unforgettable. great ambiance & the wait staff is always right there. FUN can't help but notice the collection of the name of the restaurant figures & decorations

Sam M.

The food is mediocre but the portions are huge. Nice view on the porch and good atmosphere.

Steve V.

Okay, wow, I have a lot to say here. First, location is great! Really nice views. Decor is okay, a bit run down. First gal we met at the door seemed to be in a REALLY BAD MOOD - sorry if we are visitors just here trying to have fun and it is old hat for you. A great restaurant can often times be judged by how well it treats people, and by showing that they really VALUE your patronage. Did not feel that here. (the gal at the front with brown hair and a NASTY attitude should NOT be meeting and greeting people. Anyway, let's get on to the food and drink. I don't mean to disparage, but I don't think they clean the glasses really well. You can check my other posts, I have never highlighted this issue. It was my buddy Dave's birthday, and we ordered a beer and margaritas. There was a funny smell in the drinks, and we had to send it back. So, to play it safe make sure you order a BOTTLED BEER! Again, no offense but that didn't work for me. Next, let's talk about the food (here comes the "rip the bandaid off" part). Beans and Rice - very good. Cheese enchilada, excellent. As to the fish tacos, and steak taco - I would rather knaw on a popsicle stick than eat the steak or fish (the fish tasted like dirt). Again, I don't mean any offense, but really it was just not that impressive. In reading the reviews, there was not a lot of positive talk about the steak or chicken (look it up for yourself) and now I understand why. (As for my great friends Dave and Jess, they insisted I state the following and so I will for the sake of having a fair review): 1. The green enchilada sauce on the chimichanga was "da titz" (sorry, Dave made me write that - it was his birthday)!!! : ) 2. Sorry, there was no #2 3. And thus, no #3 (okay, just one, Jess said the TEQUILA SHOTZZ were AMAZING - of course, aren't they always)! : ) Moving on, let's talk about the service (aside from my comments above), Don't sit at Elsa's table (ask for Angel). Again, no offense, but she should not be on the front line serving people. The service was slow and it was a Wednesday night. She is a good person, but was repeatedly forgetful. Again, this is not an issue I talk about much, but normally this is not an issue. As for me, I won't be going back anytime soon. There are too many other good places to go. If you say "i'm going anyway" then go for it. I doubt you will rate it any better than I do. Here is where we all agreed you should go when in Sedona (Oak Creek Brewery, Elote Cafe; the Hideaway (my wife just moaned when I said that); Kens Creekside (great burgers!). Other than that, have a great weekend in Sedona! Enjoy the views.

Cassandra H.

This place was delicious! We came because of a recommendation and I'm so glad we did. I ordered a margarita, and it was great! The sizes are very generous as well! We started with the beef nachos. The plate was piled with chips covered in cheese, beef, tomatoes, green onion, olives and jalepanos. There was also a very generous serving of guacamole and sour cream. They were so good! Then we split the beef fajitas. These were also with a very generous serving size, and so tasty! The next time we are in Sedona, we will be stopping here again.

Angel S.

My husband and i had just left Elote close by because of a 2 hour wait! We tried Javelina by chance and from the moment we stepped foot in here, the service was Excellent! The wait was quick even though they were busy. As soon as we were seated we were given water, chips and salsa (Delish!) I ordered the chicken vegetable burrito.... Amazing! My husband had the carne enchiladas. . So great! Our waiters were so on top of it. We will Absolutely come here again!

Sally And Mark S.

My wife and I enjoyed our food, by the service was terrible. First the food: my wife had a chicken enchilada combo. The plate was huge and had a lot of food for only $7.99! Her enchilada was decent but nothing special. Same with the rice and beans. Good value simply because of the size. I got the machaca chimichanga. It was pretty good, though not as crispy as it should have been. It was very large and had a great deal of flavorful meat. The plate included lots of rice and beans and a very tasty sour cream concoction. That cream sauce was the best stuff on the plate for sure. Chips and salsa were very good. Now the service: terrible. Terrible. Terrible. Not once did our server say any of the following: "welcome," "enjoy your meal," "how is everything?" "how's your food?" "Is everything okay?" "Can I get you anything?" "Is there anything I can do?" How was your food?" "Would you like a refill?" "Would you like dessert?" Not one of those questions or statements crossed her tongue. Neither did anything similar. She did say "okay" once though after I finally asked for more water after my glass was empty for 10 minutes. That was kind of her. Moral of the story: decent food that comes in large portions accompanied by terrible service.

Andrea S.

I'm not so sure why everyone is against The Javalina Cantina, we had an enjoyable experience here. Good food, good drink, good service, good views. What else is there? You can pretty much judge a good Mexican place based on the free chips. These were warm and crunchy and big with the perfect amount of salt. Thats a good sign. Second is the salsa served with the chips. It was really flavorful and interesting. Not your typical salsa, it had some other element to it, like thyme or something. Very good! The menu is seriously extensive, they have everything you could want from fish to chicken and steak, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, etc. You can order plates that are served with rice and beans and all that, or they have an a la carte menu on the back. We weren't dying of hunger so that's the route we took. My shredded chicken tostado was huge! It's an awesome value and it was delicious. Their margarita menu is the clear winner here. They have well over a dozen different options and come in small and large. A large is 24 ounces of margarita and is massive, so keep that in mind if you're driving. Ole!

Bob B.

I was introduced to the American version of Mexican food four decades ago. A friend suggested trying Javelina Cantina as she thought it was excellent and that's what I found out. I wanted to remove myself from my standard Mexican dishes that I usually ordered. Enough with Tacos, Burritos, etc as I wanted something different. I choose the Fajita Salad with grilled shrimp. The photo does not do the salad justice at all. It was one of the best dishes that I ordered. The ten shrimp were grilled to perfection! This was my late lunch and early dinner as it was a large portion. We usually visit Sedona several times a year and will return to the Javelina Cassntina.

Cherry L.

First impression - walk in and a half distracted older hostess greets us. We ask her what the wait is for 2 people for a table. Her answer - looks at us funny and says in her been-smoking-too-much-voice "um, I don't know, maybe 10-15 minutes?" Wha?! Excuse me, aren't you the hostess? It only goes downhill from there. The only plus was the one interaction with the busboy who was quick to realize I wanted a water with no ice and got it to me quick. Our waiter wasn't very enthusiastic nor helpful. Asked him what he recommended and he said the fajitas were the most popular. I hate answers like that. What did HE like? After the food was ordered, we didn't see the waiter come back until we flagged him down. The place was no longer busy by the time we got our food so hav no clue why not. Bf and I decided to try the fajitas since we couldn't get more out of him. Big mistake. Bf got the steak and I got the fish which I thought was dif since I've never heard of fish fajitas. Both plates come out and neither one of them were sizzling like most places. Then the other downfall, both of them were drowning in this teriyaki type sauce that wasn't very good. Since when do fajitas come with sauce? Granted there was a lot of fish but I could barely eat it since the sauce was just too much. Overall unfortunately I have to agree with many of the yelpers, service is bad and so is the food. Sad excuse for Mexican food.

Emily L.

Some of the best Mexican food I had while in Arizona(or anywhere for that matter). The portions here are HUGE and the price is right. First, I had a giant margarita. It was strong and ENORMOUS and had me feeling real good. The complementary chips and salsa were really good(i would have paid for them). The salsa has a nice smokey flavor and the chips were warm and not greasy at all. For dinner, I had the chile relleno with chicken on top(it was $2 extra to add chicken or beef on top). With the order, you get 2 HUGE chile rellonos, rice, and refried beans. I was STUFFED by the end and everything tasted so good. The sauce on the chiles was so flavorful and just a little spicy, which I loved. If you are in Sedona and looking for a good joint for dinner after a big hike, check this spot out!

Leang E.

I was still stuffed from breakfast earlier so it was tough to appreciate dinner as much as I would have liked to. We arrived after a decent hike up near little bell mountain and big bell mountains, and decided to come here since the other Mexican spot we wanted to go to was closed. This is a hidden gem near some shops in the back, but there is a small outdoor patio that we chose to sit. The interior is pretty spacious and it looks like there is a fun bar area. The outdoor area had tons of flies, but trudged on. We started out with the freshly made guacamole, which was very flavorful and delicious. My prickly pear margarita was refreshing after sweating it out in the heat. My salmon tostada was creative and delicious, and I wished I had the space to finish it all. The prices were decent and the service was ok.

B D.

Not impressed. Bug in our chip basket and the waitress didn't even flinch when we told her..made me wonder how often that occurs. Prob not the best spot for the sunset though the rocks still look good there. Beef chile relleno dish came with one veggie chile and one beef chile despite ordering both beef. Below average dish. The green chile corn tamale was okay, but nothing special. Margaritas taste like they are from a mix...not good.

Lisa A.

Best chile relleno I have ever had! Salsa has a great smoke flavor to it... Drinks weren't filled - they were pretty busy. I hope to go back before I have to fly back to TX. Want to try he jalapeño poppers. Great view of the Red Rocks.

Robert K.

After walking out of another restaurant for poor service, we drove to Javelina's and were instantly seated. It is a nice casual place with good service and good food. I will defiantly go back the next time I am in town.

Jason F.

I ate here this past week for lunch with four other dining companions. When we arrived the restaurant was fairly empty and never really filled up. For my entree I ended up having the chile relleno platter. That consisted of two chile rellenos, rice and refrained beans. The chiles were decent although had no spice whatsoever. The sauce was good while the rest of the food was your typical fillers. The bottom line for me is that I would not come back here. It's not that the food was bad as it was ok but I think it was a little overpriced.

Justin L.

Good food and plenty of it, although a bit expensive. The chips and salsa is great and they have amazing views. Fajitas were good. Gauc was 3/5. Great service and staff. Margheritas were alright, but watery.

Chris C.

When Im working in Sedona when its hot the BIG margi get me lookin for a place to stay! We have been here a lot!

Walkerny W.

Pretty standard Mexican food. No complaints, nothing exceptional.

Jim C.

Oh gosh, this is pretty tedious Mexican food. Bartenders couldn't be nicer but the food is really bland, unimaginative and of low quality. We went only because it was a 2 hour wait at Elote Cafe which is the best Mexican restaurant I have been to. The setting is large and attractive at Javalina and the wait staff and bar tenders are all nice and helpful but don't come here expecting to find amazing flavors or write-home-to-mom recipes. It's pretty much dull as dishwater enchiladas, tacos and burritos.

Leeann W.

Enjoyed the food & appreciated the number of non-meat dishes as well. I was impressed that they even make their own margarita mix! I went at night so I had a great experience based on the food alone. Only downside was that I had too much food and couldn't take it with me because I was leaving town early in the morning. Give it a try!

Jessica S.

Javelina Cantina had good guacamole and nice fresh chips. My vegetarian plate with tamale and cheese stuffed pepper was very tasty. The side of black beans was flavorless. My husband's chicken burrito had good flavor but could have used a topping as the whole burrito was a bit dry. Prices were average but ambience was nice. It is a good place for a quick meal when exploring the rocks.

Mark C.

An acceptable Mexican restaurant, food is good, but unremarkable. Service was good as they served our party of seven. Margaritas come in three sizes (small, medium, and large). Get the large if you want a huge dose of cold Margarita. Medium is more than sufficient for most people. Enjoyed by the table. Chips and salsa are served complimentary. Salsa is okay. Meals were good. Sufficient size for anyone coming in with an appetite. Nachos (either beef or chicken) served as an appetizer is HUGE. Two people had it as their entree with plenty left over. Open faced shrimp quesadilla was a pleasant surprise. More like a flatbread pizza with shrimp, cheese and greens served with a vinaigrette. (Tasty) Other entrees enjoyed by the table included beef and chicken enchiladas. Meal was topped off with a Mexican singer coming around to the tables. Decent place for families.

Sandy C.

Best Mexican food in town. Greeted and treated very well! We will diffidently return. So good. Food was hot and very flavorful.

Gary J.

Inspite of some of the negative reveiws, I am reading about, the restaurant in my opinion, is a 10 out of 10. Service was fast, very nice gentlemen as our server and the food was absolutly fantastic.Salsa and chips was the best I ever had, my steak burito was very tasty. I cannot understand why these people were negitive and displeased of this place. I do know my mexican food its my favorite and frequent mexican restaurants quite often . Gary

Ellen K.

AMAZING! Everyone in my family loved their food! I could have gotten about three meals out of my tilapia fajitas but they were so good I had to eat them all in one sitting. I loved how you could hear the fajitas sizzling when they brought them to the table. Everything else was great but make sure you come hungry!!!

Mona W.

Somewhere between a 2.5 to 3 stars. The food was just okay even after a super long and tiring day of hiking. I guess on a normal day it would have been a 2 stars experience for me. The Prickly Pear Martini was not what I think it should be. The sugary syrup totally masked out all the flavors of the cactus. I was told prickly pear has a watermelon like fruity flavor but I failed to identify any of it. Ordered the Fried Fish Tacos and they are below average. Certainly filled my growling stomach but my taste buds were not totally satisfied. The fish tasted frozen. The garnish in the taco were bland. The rice and the beans were.. well...let's just say I left those alone. I really expect better from a $14 taco. Tried the fried catfish other ordered and it was pretty much the same story. The good thing is that the portion is really generous. There's enough food for two meals.

Mary S.

Fajitas had strange taste and thickening added it seems when sauteed. Enchiladas mediocre. I've had much better. Seems to have gone downhill since I was there 4 or 5 years ago.

John P.

My family and I have been coming here off and on for the past 10 years. It used to be really good but lately it hasn't been. The chips were aweful and the fajitas were average. I wish this place would work a little harder to provide fresher ingredients and better customer service.

Stephen N.

They were recommended to us, but so glad we accepted. Great food, good prices & great service. We will go back there again for a great meal. Also a quiet background. We could talk across the table w/o noise interfeance.

B B.

Everything was awesome!! Don't pay attention to negative reviews on this place! I was hesitant after seeing a few bad reviews, until I clicked on the user and realized they complain about every restaurant, hotel, etc. that they go to. Definitely consider the source before making a decision, cause this place is amazing! They were on a wait but handled everything really quickly, and food and service were great!

Pam Y.

Some of the best Mexican food we have ever eaten. The salsa was very flavorful and the entrees were big enough to share. This place was so good we ate there twice.

Dee B.

Whenever we visit Sedona, dinner at Javelina Cantina is always included. Food portions are large and the prices are reasonable given its location. During our most recent visit, we ordered the fish fajitas. To our surprise, four tilapia fillets were laid on top of the bed of vegetables. The meal included the usual sides of rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream. The only disappointment was the service. Although we asked for no cheese or sour cream, both items were included on the plate. My husband returned his rice and beans due to dairy allergies. Approx 15 minutes elapsed. Finally, I had to leave the table to get the server's attention so my husband could receive a replacement dish of rice and beans. In the server's defense, he seemed to have tables scattered throughout the restaurant which was very crowded. Perhaps this was the result of a poor management decision. At times he seemed overwhelmed, but he was pleasant and upbeat. As usual, the food was above average. We will definitely visit this restaurant again.

Terese H.

Food was just okay - nothing to write home about. I would rather wait in line for Elote!

Katy G.

Not A-OK!, but just A-OK. Javelina Cantina was pointed out to us (though not exactly recommended) by our Pink Jeep driver, and so we tried it at the end of our trip on the way out of town. My husband enjoyed his turkey sandwich, but the fish tacos I had just weren't all that.

KiLeigh K.

Food: Couldn't be better!!! Service: Good Wait time: Lengthy Price: Reasonable Only real complaint was noise level, pretty loud in there.

Lisa B.

If you're in Sedona, this is the one place I would tell you to go! Everything from this place is amazing, from their chips and salsa all the way to their birthday dessert! (By the way, you get to keep the birthday sombrero they give you!) I have been here 4 times now and I have never had a bad experience - The employees are great, helpful and super nice! Every time we have been there, our server has gone above and beyond to do something for us (which I honestly cannot say about some other restaurants that I've been to)!

Eric B.

High quality establishment! Great food, delicious cocktails, and wonderfully attentive staff. We were directed this way last night and simply had to come back today for a lunchtime margarita and soup to send us on our way. Thank you!

Lia T.

So confused why there are so many great reviews. Mexican food is my favorite and it's hard to mess it up in my opinion but I was not satisfied with the food and they only added 1/2 the ingredients to my entree. How did this happen? No idea. Everything on the lunch menu started at $12 and up so I decided to get the carne asada taco and a side of beans and cheese. When I got my order it was a corn tortilla with some dry meat and cheese. Halfway through eating it I realized it was supposed to atleast have guacamole on it so I asked for a menu to check. I let the waitress know and she argued with me that it does not come with guacamole until I showed it to her on the menu. She came back with a side of guacamole and apologized saying the cooks thought I had just wanted the cheese on my taco because I ordered a side of beans and cheese? O-kay. Makes NO sense. But it wasn't until I finished my sad $7 taco with a little dry meat and cheese that I realized that on the menu the taco also came with cabbage and pico de gallo. So my Carne asada taco with meat, cheese, cabbage, and pico de gallo came out only with meat and cheese and I NEVER requested it like that. Seriously annoyed and overpriced for what you get. Messed up on a simple order with no remedy to the situation. Would never go here again.

H K.

We had lunch here on our visit to Sedona because the Vietnamese cafe next door was still close. The food was good and the servings are very large. Service was great. They however do not have spicy food here. I ordered an enchilada plate and wanted a slightly spicy sauce. I was told all their sauces were mild. Price was reasonable. Lunch for 3 people was about $50 plus tip.

David W.

Great views. Solid food. Nice spot when in Sedona.

AL K.

Service has got to be better. Food is ho hum. Went for lunch. We were seated and menu handed to us with no explanation of what's the special or what not. Very abrupt bordering rudeness. Food is very average. The place has a potential to be better if management were to train their staffs. Would not recommend nor come back.

Nicole C.

Bartender was nice but food was definitely below average. Not even worth going for the Monday night $3 margaritas.

Kathy H.

I always judge a Mexican restaurant by their Chile Rellenos. I can't say I have ever had a better Relleno than the one served at Javelina! I ordered it a la carte with the house margarita because I wasn't starving and I didn't need anything to detract from the main event. The staff here is professional, friendly, and efficient. I loved that the waiter called us "Amigos" ! Really: I am damn tired of being called "You guys" so I nearly gave 5 stars based on that alone. This is the best place in Sedona for lunch...then you are fortified to wait on line at Elote for dinner!

Cody P.

Great Mexican food in Sedona. Went there with a friend. I had the enchilada and she had the super burrito both of which were excellent. This place is nicely decorated and has great views. Chips and salsa given for free with the meal. Only crazy thing about this place is that they charge $3 for a soda with only one refill, never seen soda that expensive before. Deffinely would come back.

Katherine A.

The food is good. The view will blow your mind! Chips and Salsa were brought out with our waters which was nice. Food is slightly pricey but again, it is Sedona. Relax and enjoy the red rock views! The restaurant sits up high and they have a few tables outside. We chose to sit inside due to the heat and they only had a few umbrellas and all were allocated. There is a sun room with many windows and it was perfect!

Rekha A.

We went to this restaurant based on recommendation from Hyatt. It was quite crowded but they seated us fairly quickly, but the good news ends with that. We ordered the vegetarian special and the Asada enchiladas with chicken. The chips and salsa brought to the table was tasteless. The salsa was completely devoid of tomato flavor and had a bitterness that was very off putting. The House margharita was also pretty bad, quite strong which I suppose is good, but again quite bitter and lacked any decent flavor. Then came the food, the enchiladas looked like a huge plate of melted cheese. They were made with greasy rubbery cubed chicken and not flavorful shredded as expected, and the tortilla was thick and barely cooked, and had ridiculous amounts of cheese on the top AND on the inside with a tasteless red sauce on the bottom. To make things worse the Pico de gallo was bitter as well, they must have used a horrible batch of lime on all of the above without tasting any of it. The veggie dish was just filled with cheese and lacked the finesse and flavor expected. Overall, it was a huge let down and far from the quality of Mexican food we were expecting. Not worth the effort or money. The service was quite non nonchalant and seemed almost forced as well.

Mike M.

I really like this place! we got a tip from one of the staff at the Sedona Visitor's Center, and have never been disappointed. The food offerings are varied and very good. They have excellent combos to choose from, and unusual choices on the specials menu like lobster tacos. The decor is cool, the place is clean, and the service is good. The waitstaff sometimes seems to be in a little too much of a hurry and often cutoff the customers on the way through the place, making it a bit of a "joust" to move from one end to the other, but all in all, a great choice, especially if you can get a patio seat on a cool day to take in the views.

Kel M.

We had coffe and drinks here during happy hour. $1 tacos were great but I witnessed a horrifying act as I was eating. The bartender was making a drink and smashed a 16oz glass over the ice bin and continued using the ice from that bin without changing it. I and people around me were horrified. We ended leaving and we'll never go back. K. Mockingbird

Dane M.

If there was a ZERO rating, I would give it. That's because we didn't get rotten service, we didn't get ANY service. We came in and sat at the bar - there was only one other person sitting on a bar stool. When we sat down, the bartender looked at us, didn't say a thing, and walked away. Nice. We figured maybe we would get some service by getting a table, so we requested a table. After we were seated, NOBODY ever came to talk to us. While we were looking at the menu, someone (we didn't even see them), threw down a bowl of chips and salsa. When we saw the bowl of chips land on the table, we looked up immediately (because we wanted to order drinks), but the person had already disappeared. We waited for at least 15 minutes - YES - 15 mins and NOBODY talked to us, got us drinks, took our order, NOTHING! We kept checking the time because we could not believe what was happening. Finally, we had no choice to leave. We wanted to tell someone we were leaving, but even the hostess was nowhere to be found. I'm not the kind to give such a crappy review, but our experience seriously warrants it.

Robert C.

Wow! What a food factory. From the brusque greeting from the hostess to the waitress who basically flung the food at us, the only goal seemed to be to turn the table as quickly as possible. Food was good but not great and the place has a good view . Seems to me, staff has seen so many tourists, they don't care whether you come back again. Would not go back again and certainly can't recommend this place.

Amanda N.

I came here with my parents for dinner. My mom ordered the del mar salad and I shared the fish (tilapia) fajita with my dad. Watch out - they charge you an extra $5 if you share a plate. For the fajitas, you get an extra serving of tortillas, guacamole, and creme de fraiche. The fajita was good, but not memorable. There was too much watery sauce accompanying the fajita. The tortillas... well those just tasted old. They were anything but warm, soft, and fresh. The del mar salad was huge, but it didn't make up for the average taste. You can order shrimp, scallops, or a mix of both. My mom ordered both. The scallops were large and rather tasty, but the shrimp was too salty for me. This salad was topped with crumbled cheese, which made it worse. I'm not a fan of crumbled cheese, so you may like it more than I did. The service was below average. When we first walked in, I noticed that only 2 tables were accompanied, but for some reason the hostess still made us wait. Then we had to wait even longer while she chatted it up on the phone with her son. Our waitress was cold and unfriendly throughout the night. Come here if you want average americanized Mexican food and cold service, but don't have high expectations.

Amy L.

We came here about 3 years ago and had a great meal including the Prickly Pear margaritas which were to die for, in fact we came b a back this time for the margaritas. We are not sure what changed, but the food this time was just average and the margaritas were not good which was very disappointing after a hot day of hiking. Service was very good as our waiter attempted to fix the margaritas and he was friendly.

Shane P.

We figured out that everything and I mean everything completely shuts down around 8:30pm in Sedona. We got in just after sundown from a hike with our kids and their grandparents. Then we started looking for somewhere to go for dinner besides the resort. I thought Javelina Cantina sounded like a cool place to go. Well, first, it's really hard to find it after the sun goes down. The sign is not lighted and you actually have to turn in before you get to it (if you are driving north). When we walked in, there were 8 of us total, 5 adults and 3 kids, I asked if they were still seating. One guy said yes and the other waiter standing there looked as if we were imposing on his "cutting out of work early" schedule. Our waiter was friendly enough, but also seemed like he was trying to get out of there as well. We ordered several of their grande margaritas. They sucked. Not in the "there's no alcohol" in them, just in the taste. My mother-in-law told me to send it back, but I just wanted to enjoy the evening and not make a fuss. The kids soft drinks were also flavorless with too much carbonation, we did request others, but they too were drinkable, but not great. I thought the chips and food were actually quite good. The drinks were not. Before we finished they started stacking the chairs on top of the tables around us. I'm actually surprised they didn't cut the lights off and ask us to leave. When we got back to Tempe (we stayed an extra day to do some 4x4ing, my in-laws headed back home to Tempe and we were staying with them) my mother-in-law said that she called the restaurant and asked to speak to the manager to let her know about our experience. Manager was rude, told my mother-in-law she must have bad taste if she thought the margaritas were not good, and basically said too bad. If you are looking for a pleasant experience, good drinks and waiters who don't make you feel like you are imposing on them, take yourself elsewhere.

Frank T.

Really good Mexican food. We had steak fajitas that were excellent. The chips and salsa were equally good. The frozen margaritas were okay. All in all, a really good restaurant.

Daniel S.

Great atmosphere with a great view are the high points. Margaritas were good as was the queso. Had a burrito and I'd say it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Could have used a little more kick and more flavor.

Tim M.

Three nights in Sedona meant we wanted 3 different Mexican restaurants to try. We tried El Elite first after seeing hundreds of 4 star reviews here. It was awesome. Last night we tried Javienda and while not the same experience as the first it was very good. The staff was not as welcoming and friendly, but it was a nice and tasty experience. I got the chimichonga which was huge and filled withe tender shredded beef. My wife got shrimp quesadea and reported it very good. Since we came mid November the sun sets by 5 PM so we had no views while eating, but the restart was clean and classy. It was not crowded and we got in and out quickly. The price was reasonable too.

Douglas M.

The food is fine for Mexican chain food, which is what this place is. I've had far better in Minneapolis. What bothers me much more than the food is that our server didn't bother to tell us that regular Margaritas are $3 on Mondays, and was happy to sell us $9 Margaritas that were of a type recommended by another Yelper. I didn't learn about the special until I overheard another server telling his table about it. When I told my server I was disappointed to not learn about the special, I got a lot of defensiveness about how "they never tell anyone about the special," and more defensiveness when I pointed out that the other server does. And certainly no offer to adjust the bill. Average place that ended up a big disappointment because of overreaching. I won't be back.

Katie R.

We went here both times we've been in Sedona. The first time was either way better or my taste in food has changed. Very unauthentic cheese smothered Mexican food. The margaritas are good and the prices are decent. If i lived in Sedona I might eat their every once in awhile when i wanted a big delicious heart attack on a plate but I think we will skip it the next time we are there. There are many better options. Meh is the perfect word to describe it.

Cristina G.

Meh is an overstatement. Nothing great here except their organic margaritas. The food is Americanized Mexican...blah...the server was curt. He comes up to our table and doesn't even say hello....he immediately says "what will you have?". I mean...seriously.....say hello first. I would not bother going to Javelina. Try Casa Bonita...excellent food and authentic!

Marshall M.

Beautiful view. Thoughtful service and great chips, salsa.

Gia S.

Had the chicken Cesar which was good. Husband had chicken enchiladas which were good. Wait staff not great.

Ashlei T.

Good margarita and views! I had had the Melon Margarita and that was the best I have ever had. I am so glad I had to chance to eat here. The pork carnitas was great as well.

Ami T.

Decent Mexican food, kinda pricy. The margaritas were delicious though and a pretty good deal during happy hour. Service was very good!

Luana L.

Javelina Cantina has a soft place in my heart from last Winter. Everytime I am in Sedona, I return for the shredded beef tacos. YUM, YUM, YUM! The chips are crisp and a carbohydrate addicts dream. They are good with lime juice and sea salt glittered on top. The prickly pear margarita is dive inable. With plenty of yummy sea salt along side the rim. The only thing that wasn't on top this time was the coffee. I don't know why, it just tasted tired. That is exactly what I needed for the drive back to Phoenix. Angel was my waiter and he was exquisite. Made me feel like I was the only one he had to wait on and it didn't hurt that he was a lovely person. ~ Luana Joya Lucia, International Massage Practitioner

Vanessa P.

Our first lunch while in town was at Javelinas. The location is great with beautiful views of the red rocks, but that's about it. Although our waitress was exceptional, the food unfortunately did not match up. To start, the chips were beyond salty. So much so, that my boyfriend actually turned them down (which has never happened before - he is always first to dive into a bowl of tortilla chips). We ordered two margaritas, both which were just okay. Nothing special. To eat I ordered the chimichanga and it was sub-par. My boyfriend ordered the chicken fajitas and he wasn't really a fan either. For the amount we paid for the food, we left feeling short changed. I also thought the rest of the wait staff was very unprofessional. While we waited for our food, a bunch of male waiters and the cook were goofing off. Maybe it was just a bad placement for the kitchen to be out in the open next to the tables, but being able to see servers not working and playing around was a bit off-putting.

Eric E.

This place sucks. It's atmosphere is OK, nice views from the outside patio, and the staff is pretty friendly. But here's what I don't like... If you came from, let's say, Washington DC, and were in town enjoying beautiful Sedona, and came here for "Mexican Food," I'd be upset if you thought this was good mexican food, like you were getting the real deal. It's overpriced and bland. Nothing special here. In fact, it's really not that good at all.

Judy S.

Great food and service. Friendly and professional!! I will go back again.

Tina H.

If you're from Texas, don't eat here. So, I did a lot of googling and trip advisoring and yelping. We really wanted to sample some "Arizonian" Mexican food while here from Texas. I thought this would be a good bet. It really wasn't. The margarita was "eh," the food was "eh," and $91 dollars later, our family of three wished for the first time that we were back at home in Texas. I had the chicken and vegetable burrito. It was fine. Nothing extraordinary. I paid the extra $2 to have green and red sauce on top. So, yes, a $17 burrito. A $17 BURRITO!!!!!!! My husband had the Tacos a la Parilla. The steak was NOT the tender skirt steak we're used to en Tejas. The best I can figure, it was well done sirloin. Not great. Our son had the taco/enchilada combo. From his 12-year old lips: "I think I'll just go with cheese enchiladas in a new restaurant from now on." From the mouths of babes, I tell ya. So, overall, we feel like chumps for throwing away a hundred bucks. Crap

Jordan T.

We ate here on our first night in Sedona ... great night time views outside, and the food was reasonably priced. We had great staff to take care of us as we did not want salted tortilla chips with our salsa .. so they made us two unsalted baskets!

Matt S.

This really is one of my favorite places to eat Mexican Food in Sedona. I am a huge fan of their green chile corn tamale! Pretty much anything I have ever eaten at JC has been amazing. I love the tacos, enchiladas, beans and rice - everything. Only negative? Chips & Salsa, but I don't hate it enough to give it one less star. If I were them I would work a bit to improve the salsa and work on having fresh (less salty) chips - My suggestion would be to skip the C&S and save room for the entres! They are huge portions and everything I have ever had was great! Can't wait to go back to Sedona and try something new!

Jess B.

This was a wonderful restaurant. They have a great patio in the front or back of the restaurant with gorgeous views. Very reasonably proved and the portions were very big yet the food tasted amazing. Group of 6 and our food and service was speedy. The Margaritas were delicious and came in large blue glasses. I recommend the catfish or fajitas. I would definitely go back!!

Bob I.

Great overall experience! We had the Cantina bowl, and enchiladas. The food was promptly served and delicious! I would go back for the Cantina bowl with beef. Very good food. Excellent chips and the salsa was outstanding. Our server, Craig, could have taught a class on service. Highly recommend this place.

Scott M.

We heard great things about this place and liked it okay. It wasn't fantastic but a notch above average mexican food. Kind of noisy. Didn't love the chips and salsa. Ordered the Carne Asada that was really tender and tasty and way more than an average serving. Good dish. Had the recommended Pork Carnitas which were just okay. I ordered them spicy and they forgot to add the jalapeños but the waiter did remember them after I had eaten half of it. Service was very good and overall not bad but not memorable.

Kelli R.

We had a 10% off coupon in our hotel room for this place so we decided to try it out and I'm so glad we did. I love the way this place was decorated and just had an open feeling with huge windows and amazing views. Service was good and the food was top notch! I'd definitely go back again!

Red C.

$1 Tostada Thursdays in the bar!! And they're not as crazily priced as some of the uptown area restaurants from what we saw on their menu. We enjoyed the views and atmosphere here after a long(slightly grueling hike nearby). They also have TVs in the bar so we were able to watch a few games as well. Well positioned within walking distance from our hotel at Los Abrigados which was nice and convenient. They're food and views were WAY better than Oaxaca's too.

Kariyushi C.

I grew up in Sedona and this is my all-time favorite restaurant in the area. No, it is not the most authentic Mexican food you can find. Yes, it is TexMex-style with a lot of U.S. influence. But, that doesn't mean it's not darn good. My favorite food (not just my favorite dish here at the restaurant, but my favorite food to eat, ever) is the grilled fish taco at Javelina Cantina. Their sandwiches and fries are amazing (I don't care if I don't feel like I'm grabbing street food in Tijuana - these things are good by anyone's standards). The chips are made in house, as well as the salsa, and they are both amazing. But all of this aside, they have the best margaritas ever. The titanic-sized classic blended margarita is probably about as many calories as your dinner - but why do you need dinner with a boat of margarita and endless homemade chips?! I have to go with 4 stars because I'm not in love with some of the wait staff. Odds are you'll get a great waitress, but there are a few floaters who could stand to be more attentive.

Tracey C.

Absolutely the worst customer service in Sedona. The manager was hesitant to offer service to our group of 11 because it was an hour before closing time. The hours of operation posted on the door have question marks as the closing time, which one would assume means they are open late. The patio had people eating on it with large tables for groups available for seating, yet the hostess/manager refused to seat our group on the patio. She said they were no longer seating anyone on the patio. They made no attempt to arrange seating for us using the many four top tables that were open around the main dining room. We waited for 20 minutes before leaving. The menu was boring and over priced anyway. When leaving, I informed the hostess/manager that we were no longer interested in dining and she replied with "who are you"? Additionally, is it odd to anyone else that this restaurant has two yelp accounts? What a sad excuse for management.

James D.

Great service from a very attentive and very tall waiter. The food was very good for all 4 of us: Shrimp Wrap, a Smoked Turkey/Wrap/Quesadilla and a Chicken Tostada, and a Chicken/Rice and Black Bean Bowl. We are talking about heading back tonight for Margaritas.

De A.

The service is seriously suffering these days. The food is good enough, in fact I was thrilled with one of the salads (the one with the scallops) and so I ordered it all three times at our recent visits. The service was OK the first time but it got progressively worse each time we went back. The second time our waiter had a bit of a weird, negative attitude. The third time our waitress was nice but it seemed she was the only server for the whole place...very over worked. It took ridiculously long to get our food, then even longer to get our check. I ordered some food to go too, but that wasn't ready so the wait was even longer. Then, the order was wrong and they sent it back to the kitchen for an even LONGER wait! If I knew the service was intentionally improved, I'd still hesitate to go back. Seems like a management issue to me.

Barry C.

Great daily specials in the bar like $1 tacos on Tuesday, $3 margaritas on Mondays, $3 drafts on Wednesdays and $1 tostadas on Thursday.

Cloey K.

Quick service! Very good food. LARGE portions. I filled up pretty quickly. Their chicken fajitas were great, and their red rice is just perfect. They also had lime chips with salsa given almost immediately!

T S.

I have two homes in the area, this is my all-time favorite mexican restaurant in the area. I make sure when I come back to the Sedona area I hit this place at least twice.

Victoria C.

The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and inviting...our server Paul was incredibly attentive, gave great suggestions, and recommendations on local hikes as well. The food was perfect! Their green chile cheese crisp is a yummy way to start if you want fresh green chiles.

Sol T.

We had a great time at this place. The food was incredible, drinks where very good, and the servers where very pleasant and attentive. Hard to beat the prices. We got off real easy on this meal. We where all very happy with the entire experience. Background: we had Mexicans among us who know great Mexican cooking. They loved this place. We will be coming back every time we are in town.

Brent B.

We stopped by on a busy Saturday night, but they still managed to get us to a table quickly. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was great. We started with the guacamole dip, which is just a big bowl of guacamole. This comes served with homemade chips and salsa. I had the pork chimichanga, which they made for me even thought it's not on the menu. My wife had a chicken chimichanga. They food was hot, fresh, and brought to our table in a very reasonable amount of time. Drinks were quickly refilled. I would definitely go here again. Pros: Fast, Friendly, Delicious, Reasonably priced. Cons: none

Leslie A.

I think it must be the location because almost every time I am in Sedona I stop at the Javelina Cantina. There is parking and you get to avoid the overwhelming tourist spider web. (Unless you like that, in which case yay Javelina Cantina is right around the corner!) I am not a big fan of this style of overpriced, generic Mexicanish cuisine, but the last time we went 2 good things happened: we ordered something different and really enjoyed it and our server was phenomenal. Let me start with our server. Before ordering we had to ask some questions about the vegetarian-ness of various things (beans, tortillas) and he very carefully explained what we could eat and what we couldn't and then he also told us that they cook their rice with chicken stock. I have never had a server offer extra information like that! Normally they just shrug and say sure the beans are vegetarian. Maybe this guy is a vegetarian himself or maybe he is just extra courteous but it just made our meal feel that much better because we knew he had our back. OK so the food. I have gotten the vegetarian burrito, and the chile relleno and they were just blah. Mostly just a pile of food that you can't finish but you feel too ambivalent to take it home. This time I got the salmon tostada and I loved it! I ate the whole thing. I have a soft spot for fruit salsa and it comes with a mango salsa that is yummy. If we go back I am getting it again. So there you go. Not the best, but not the worst. Your call.

Michael F.

Plus: Decent margarita. The rest: Smother with cheese, serve with beans, wave a pepper over it and call it Mexican. Somewhat scattered and inefficient staff. It was so ordinary that I can't remember what I had. Huge portions; split one between two people if you don't want to leave looking like the python that ate the pig. It was however a great place for our party because the couple we were with had two young and very rambunctious kids. They have a child's menu, crayons and a coloring menu. We were able to corral them in a corner booth. Sorry about the noise. Add another star if you have kids.

Keith F.

I've lived in AZ for 40 years. My family and I had a great experience. Best Mexican food I have ever had!!!

Alex B.

For mexican fare, it seems a bit mass produced and run-of-the-mill. The quality was good, but the dishes lacked the spark of authenticity. I am accustomed to far better mexican cuisine sold on the streets of NYC or the Bay Area, or after Ranchero concerts in the car park, so my expectations tend to be a bit high for a restaurant. The service was fair yet slow, despite acknowledging and agreeing to serve us faster since we didn't have 3 hours to stay. We discovered a foursquare voucher for the restaurant and attempted to use it, but given the lack of AT&T network signal strength and the ability to open the the voucher itself, the management refused to honour it. This was a case of a red card for both Javelina and Foursquare. On our next visit to Sedona, we'll give one of the other mexican restaurants a go.

Drew H.

No reason this shouldn't have higher marks overall! Excellent margaritas and fantastic menu. We had fajitas and a burrito that were both perfect. Staff was quick and attentive and dining area along with bar very clean with great views out the windows too.

Chris O.

Worst overall experience I have had. I will keep it short and sweet because quite honestly the experience made me mad. The server was awful. Messed up the orders, appetizers, and couldn't figure out how to solve anything. The food was just as bad, of course part of it being the fact they were not cooked the way we asked. I ate very little off my plate and the waiter never thought to ask one question about it. I asked to speak to a manager and I was told the manager was too busy to speak with me. So I wasted $50 and just left. Horrible experience in every aspect of reviewing a restaurant.

Bob G.

Outstanding view from the back patio. I had the chile relleno with chicken,, it was very good. margaritas are tasty. They make their own Margarita mix from scratch. We go there every time we are in Sedona. The wait staff is nice and the location is wonderful. Chips and Salsa are fresh and good. Lots of combos to choose from. nice bar and good ambiance. Reading some of the other reviews I wish I could give award half stars. I would give them 3 1/2.. alas 4 will have to do.

Mike M.

We have gone to this place each time we travel to Sedona for the last 10 years. The food is pretty good, but the service really stinks. From the person at the front door, to the arrogant bar tender, to the server that drops food and never shows up again. The bummer is, the service gets worse each time we go. Kind of a shame, as this place used to be really a nice place to spend time with friends and family.

Amanda P.

Great food, a little pricey but fun atmosphere! We had great service, the chips and salsa were delicious and we were had a fun time joking with our server. Long wait at the dinner rush so plan ahead!

David E.

Best enchilada and fajitas we've ever had!

Jason V.

Food was excellent and service was top notch. Prickly pear margaritas are a must. We had the queso and steak fajitas, probably some of the best fajitas I have ever had. Little pricy but great for a special night out.

David D.

This is a popular spot at the back of the Hillside Shops. Four of us dropped in for dinner on a Monday evening, and although the place was bustling, we were seated in less than 5 minutes. The menu showed a lot of dinner specials around the $15 price point, and since the a la carte prices added up to more, the waitress agreed we should go with the specials. Margaritas for three of us, a glass of wine for My Love, and two baskets of complimentary chips with two tubs of salsa, helped us decide what to eat. Two of us settled on the 2-taco 1-enchilada special, I tried the 1-taco 1-burrito special, and I can't remember it all. There was rice and beans on every plate. The food was heavier than I expected, and while I ate the whole taco, I only got through half the burrito. The other half is now a snack waiting patiently in our refrigerator. The total, un-itemized credit card receipt shows that the whole affair cost us just under $100, + tip. As we left, someone pointed out the awesome burl portrait of a javelina, which, of course, I forgot to photograph. The town is so full of art, that even spectacular displays sometimes don't reach me.

Richard R.

Apparently, I really had to try this place. Not only was it recommended to me by someone in Phoenix, But a Sedona local randomly suggested it while I was up there. And would you believe this... It's one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at in a long time. The portions are huge, which made it good for my family. I ordered the super burrito with chicken. My dad had a combination plate with a taco, a tamale, and an enchilada. My mom had some tacos. We split most of the food from each others plates, and all of it was great. While it's not exactly authentic Mexican food. It's as good as and American Mexican restaurant gets.

Priscilla K.

Beautiful location, nice atmosphere. Food good enough. Service slow, but had very good salsa to munch on while we waited. Margaritas a little overpriced.

Ralph M.

Tends to be pretty busy on the weekends, the service is good better at the bar. Margaritas are great , I ordered carnitas which I found superb, the portions are generous so you can share

Tyler D.

First time at this place. Friendly staff, clean restaurant & most importantly really good food & fairly priced for Mexican food. We had a party of seven. Not one person was unhappy with their food choice. We also had some desserts. The fried ice cream was great!!! Well be back when we visit Sedona again.

Julie C.

Dining was filthy and food was overpriced! Meal was overcooked...the beef taco was so tough it was comparable to eating beef jerky. I feel like the people that recommend this place to visitors have personal gain from referrals. Don't go here.

Jack R.

Pretty big place with a nice long Mexican menu so you can get pretty much whatever you might be looking for. They had the NCAA tournament on a few TVs near the bar which was awesome. Friendly wait staff and good food. This is a perfect place to go after hiking Cathedral Rock.

Cher T.

On a weekend trip with the girls, I was able to pay Javelina Cantina a visit and here are the hits & misses of our meal there: HITS: - The chips n salsa were good, the chips are very crunchy and most of us loved them. However a friend didn't care for them as they are rather thick in comparison to other restaurant's chips. the salsa was VERY good, but I wish it had more heat in it. - cheese enchiladas are wonderful! They are filled with a crumbled white cheddar cheese pesto. the sauce was great and the next time I go, that'll be all I order! - The Rice was flavorful and really good! I loved it. Misses: -Service: the waitstaff likes to speak about their customers to one another in Spanish. I overheard one say: "the Two ugly witches are already drunk!" to another waiter! I was appalled! Also, we asked for the check to be separated and at first he refused until we asked the manager to do it for us. Which he didn't, but he sure got the waiter to do it for us! I'll go again but I think I'll speak Spanish to the waiter just so they're not to catty about their customers!

Coreen S.

Strike Two! After a bad experience at this restaurant two years ago, my husband and I decided to give it another try. BIG MISTAKE! Besides feeling extremely rushed, we made a very specific drink ingredient request. It soon became very obvious that this request was ignored. At 8:15 pm, the chairs were placed on top of the tables all around us and our check was brought before we were done with our meal. This restaurant must cater to tourists, one-time shots, as they clearly do nothing to ensure repeat business.

Ike D.

I was in town to celebrate an anniversary with my girlfriend a while ago. We were cruising the little bits of night life the town had to offer for a place to eat. This place was rumored to have the best Mexican food in town so we stopped in. It's a fun little place and prices weren't too bad considering you are in Sedona. I had a burrito and the little lady had the steak fajitas, served sizzling; the food was good. The service is very friendly and accommodating, Next time I'm in Sedona looking for a cold beer and some Mexican food I'll know where to go. -Ike P.S. - If you're from out of town and don't know what a javelina is they have two mounted near the bar comically named Jave and Lina. :)

Andrew S.

I will always give the Javelina Cantina 5 stars. The same people have been working there for years, the fajitas always come out sizzling hot, and it is traditional Mexican food. I have never disliked a meal there and their guacamole is amazing.

Kevin M.

I've tried this place maybe 3 or 4 times. I keep giving it another chance because I like Mexican food and the location is good. The food continually disappoints. This is Arizona, why is the Mexican food so bad? The menu is just what you would expect. The basic average mexican restaurant fare, no imagination, no flair. The prices do have flair though, they're high! You can get the basic Mexican slop with rice and beans anywhere...don't overpay for it here.

Debbie M.

This place was great!!!!!!! Chips and awesome best ever salsa!! Great service, our waiter was efficient. We all ordered ala carte items from burritos to tostados to tacos. Every meal good, delivered hot (love a restaurant that understands the concept of hot food equals good). Gotta get sopapilla for dessert. Yummmmmmmmm. Will come back to eat here for sure.

Xyn H.

This place was recommended to use by one of the locals at Safeway. Food was alright. It was nearly impossible to get service. Nobody actually greets you at the door. The lady is running all over the place. Once seated the waiter expects you to know what you want. Food came out quick but if you need more salsa nearly impossible. I wouldn't go back to this place if I visited Sedona again. Plenty of other places to try.

Betty R.

Terrible food. To start off, the chips were very stale. When we complained, the waiter said it was because they were cold. (they weren't cold). He brought us another basket--just as stale. We had bean burritos. The tortillas were inedible and the beans were just a mushy mess. Do not eat here. If this, as they claim, was voted best Mexican restaurant in Sedona, I feel sorry for the people of Sedona.

Sake N.

I'd been told this place was special, so we tried it. It isn't. The food is generic "Mexican" food for Anglos, very much like you might find at any moderately priced "Mexican" restaurant that caters to those who don't know this fine cuisine. The salsa was mostly tomatoes and out of a can. The chile con queso tasted like velveeta with a few canned chopped green chiles in it. The tamales weren't bad, but lacked the fine texture and richly flavored fillings I expect from a good tamale. My husband reported that his carne asada was okay, but a bit bland. I just asked him which dessert he had, and he couldn't remember, which tells you all you need to know about that. (Normally he waxes poetic about a good dessert.) The only difference between this place and a "Mexican" diner you'd find in any midwestern town without much of a Latin American population is the price, which was not moderate. :/ I suspect that the margaritas and the party atmosphere would appeal to some, but if you have tastebuds and plan to remain sober, there are many better places in Sedona, some of them considerably less expensive.

C S.

Excellent food, it took a long time to choose b/c I wanted it all. My vegetarian combo was delicious and huge, I'm leaving stuffed and happy. Our waiter was very attentive with constant water refills, and lots of chips and salsa. Best sit-down Mexican I've had in awhile. And the view from the outside deck can't be beat.

Jennifer P.

We drove up to visit a friend for the day in the sedona area. She ventured down from north to meet us. We hiked for several hours and then decided to catch some dinner in town. Having never been to Sedona before, I know nothing of the town or how touristy it is. My friend had eaten here a few times and knew that it was good and we could have her little boy here without too much disruption. We were seated quickly very near a window with a nice view of the mountains. The took good care to get us everything we needed for three hungry adults and a very active, quick handed little baby. The food seemed like pretty standard mexican fare, nothing too fancy. The chips and salsa were good.There were a few good specials, but I opted for a regular off the menu combo. An enchilada and taco, if memory serves me correctly. The food was good. Even the baby liked his rice and beans. Our service was very good. Our water glasses were continually replenished and the staff did not seem the slightest bit upset by the baby making a mess. I do not know what the rest of the town holds, but I thought this place was a good above average meal with a nice view and good staff.

M.J. C.

Really good food....especially the fajitas!! Good house margarata and they have Dos Equis on tap. Salsa needs a little spicing up if you like spice. The views are great. A few outside tables with a spectacular view but there are some very nice view tables inside too. It's a nice place to go for some pretty decent Mexican food!

Denise S.

Fun place for a birthday, and the food was great!

Rose A.

If you want great Mexican food, go to Javalinas Cantina !!! Nice atmosphere and good service!

Meg F.

Well, it's not gross but I wouldn't go back. The views are great; be sure to make a reservation if you want a view table. The service was pretty good. It was freezing in the restaurant, on an evening that was breezy and pleasant outside so I don't know why it was necessary to have the air blasting inside. The chips were warm and good. The salsa was bland and pretty much like roasted puréed tomatoes. Not terribly interesting. I ordered carnitas, which came in a bowl like stew instead of roasted and crisped like the carnitas I'm familiar with; it was more like chile verde. Guacamole was icky. Rice and beans were ok. Instead of sour cream they serve some kind of seasoned sour cream dip that I didn't care for. It's a Pepsi place and I'm a diet Coke addict. Didn't get to try the margaritas, alas. My daughter had crispy chicken tacos and a cheese enchilada and she was happy with her dinner. Price was ok, I spent $30 on dinner for the two of us, including one soft drink. Overall, just below average.

Crystal S.

4 stars for the excellent food and breathtaking views. Everything was flavorful and fresh. A couple downsides. 1. You only get one refill on your drink and then your charged for another. 2. The wait for our food was so long we went through two baskets of chips and still waited. Probably 35 minutes. We saw two tables seated well after us enjoying their dinner while we continued to wait. Other than that, the food was tasty and the location was awesome. The prices were a little high for Mexican food but considering the location, fairly reasonable. Large portions. We will definitely go again and hopefully get a table outside to take advantage of this restaurant's amazing location.

Amanda S.

I can't help but think "Tourist Trap" when I think of this restaurant. I grew up on Mexican food, so while I don't consider myself an expert, I know sub-par when I taste it. The margaritas are just OK, I guess once the novelty of having an exotic prickly pear flavored drink wears off you realize there is hardly any tequila. Honestly I feel I could do better with some canned beans, a box of rice, and some tortillas and cheese from the Mexican market near my home. This place is resting on its laurels and taking advantage of the beautiful location and tourist trade in Sedona. The sad thing is though, many visitors from the East Coast and other areas that lack Mexican cuisine probably try this stuff and never want to eat another Mexican dish again, unaware of what they are missing out on. If you are in Sedona, skip this location. There are many other places with prickly pear margaritas that most likely serve better tasting food.

Lilmissb B.

Great place! The portions are HUGE! I decided to go with the steak fajitas and I am very happy that I did. The marinade for the steak, onions and peppers was really good. Definitely recommend them! Also, the shredded meat and cheese enchilada was very tasty!! The views from the restaurant were amazing ;)

Anthony Z.

Stopped in for a quick lunch and sat at the bar. I had the Signature burger and my wife had the chicken tacos. We waited a little longer than normal for our food, but couldn't understand why as the place was only 25% full. The burger was a little overdone, but the soft tacos were very good. Shredded chicken served in a hot, home made tortilla. Great place to hang out at the bar!

Scottyboy N.

Try the chile rellano with shredded beef, hands down some of the best ever, the bomb dot com!!!

Julie A.

This restaurant is AWESOME. Our family enjoyed the best nachos we have EVER had, and we are huge Tex Mex fans. The atmosphere outside is lovely; it's in a great section of town. The service was perfect and everything we ordered was delicious. Great sized portions, good margaritas. If we lived in Sedona, we would come back again and again. Absolutely wonderful.

Steve V.

Okay, wow, I have a lot to say here. First, location is great! Really nice views. Decor is okay, a bit run down. First gal we met at the door seemed to be in a REALLY BAD MOOD - sorry if we are visitors just here trying to have fun and it is old hat for you. A great restaurant can often times be judged by how well it treats people, and by showing that they really VALUE your patronage. Did not feel that here. (the gal at the front with brown hair and a NASTY attitude should NOT be meeting and greeting people. Anyway, let's get on to the food and drink. I don't mean to disparage, but I don't think they clean the glasses really well. You can check my other posts, I have never highlighted this issue. It was my buddy Dave's birthday, and we ordered a beer and margaritas. There was a funny smell in the drinks, and we had to send it back. So, to play it safe make sure you order a BOTTLED BEER! Again, no offense but that didn't work for me. Next, let's talk about the food (here comes the "rip the bandaid off" part). Beans and Rice - very good. Cheese enchilada, excellent. As to the fish tacos, and steak taco - I would rather knaw on a popsicle stick than eat the steak or fish (the fish tasted like dirt). Again, I don't mean any offense, but really it was just not that impressive. In reading the reviews, there was not a lot of positive talk about the steak or chicken (look it up for yourself) and now I understand why. (As for my great friends Dave and Jess, they insisted I state the following and so I will for the sake of having a fair review): 1. The green enchilada sauce on the chimichanga was "da titz" (sorry, Dave made me write that - it was his birthday)!!! : ) 2. Sorry, there was no #2 3. And thus, no #3 (okay, just one, Jess said the TEQUILA SHOTZZ were AMAZING - of course, aren't they always)! : ) Moving on, let's talk about the service (aside from my comments above), Don't sit at Elsa's table (ask for Angel). Again, no offense, but she should not be on the front line serving people. The service was slow and it was a Wednesday night. She is a good person, but was repeatedly forgetful. Again, this is not an issue I talk about much, but normally this is not an issue. As for me, I won't be going back anytime soon. There are too many other good places to go. If you say "i'm going anyway" then go for it. I doubt you will rate it any better than I do. Here is where we all agreed you should go when in Sedona (Oak Creek Brewery, Elote Cafe; the Hideaway (my wife just moaned when I said that); Kens Creekside (great burgers!). Other than that, have a great weekend in Sedona! Enjoy the views.

Cassandra H.

This place was delicious! We came because of a recommendation and I'm so glad we did. I ordered a margarita, and it was great! The sizes are very generous as well! We started with the beef nachos. The plate was piled with chips covered in cheese, beef, tomatoes, green onion, olives and jalepanos. There was also a very generous serving of guacamole and sour cream. They were so good! Then we split the beef fajitas. These were also with a very generous serving size, and so tasty! The next time we are in Sedona, we will be stopping here again.

Angel S.

My husband and i had just left Elote close by because of a 2 hour wait! We tried Javelina by chance and from the moment we stepped foot in here, the service was Excellent! The wait was quick even though they were busy. As soon as we were seated we were given water, chips and salsa (Delish!) I ordered the chicken vegetable burrito.... Amazing! My husband had the carne enchiladas. . So great! Our waiters were so on top of it. We will Absolutely come here again!

Sue G.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal here while in Sedona for several days. We were able to make reservations and asked for a window table. Even though there were only 2 of us, we were able to enjoy a window table. Our server was very nice - and started out strong and then . . . maybe due to busyness, his attentiveness declined as the meal progressed. We did enjoy our meal - servings were large since. We would enjoy going back when in Sedona again.

Nicki N.

wonderful HUGE plates of Delish entrees. i always get the chimichanga because it is unforgettable. great ambiance & the wait staff is always right there. FUN can't help but notice the collection of the name of the restaurant figures & decorations

Sam M.

The food is mediocre but the portions are huge. Nice view on the porch and good atmosphere.

George M.

I saw some reviews and almost didn't go but the ambience was great the food was wonderful and the service was awesome. Two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!

Dick A.

Now I know how it felt to be a cow herded into the Chicago stockyards. Everyone smiling while trying to figure out how fast they can get rid of you. We got there early so we went to the bar. They have a good prickly pear margarita one of huge bartenders was engaging and willing to talk. We sat there right to the moment of our reservation even though they said it wouldn't be long. When we were seated in the dining area it was like being in Nascar, the way people came up so fast with their painted on smiles asking how or what we wanted, I'll be back, chips flying, salsa bowls sliding I knew I was in first place. We ordered, and the next thing we know, out comes part of the pit crew, car jacked up lug nuts off new tires and wheels on, and there's dinner in front of you. I will saw the enchiladas were good, just don't expect to feel like your welcome.

Jennifer C.

Views are amazing. Food is average. Service was horrible. The waitress, Faith, told our son he should have "read the menu" in order to determine the bean and cheese burrito included red sauce. Not impressed.

Mila S.

Yummy food, reasonable prices, excellent service. Found this place randomly looking for someplace open (evidently Sedona has no night life) and were more than satisfied. Margs were good, food was delicious with large portions, prices were reasonable and service was great. Highly recommended.

Joni L.

We asked a local couple where to go for Mexican food and they suggested this place. We ordered the sizzling fajitas, Carne Asada, quesadillas and tacos. The food and service was good, but nothing was memorable or outstanding. The most exciting part of our dinner was when our server gave the kids a basket of tortilla chips to feed the javelinas that hang around below the back deck of the restaurant. They still talk about how they fed the javelinas at the Javelina Cantina!

Ash H.

Solid place! We couldn't brave the wait at 4pm for Elote! We love it and were there from the start but starving and it's hard to brave the pre opening line up with kids. Tried this place on a whim and it was great! More traditional food than Elote. Service was great, kids meals are huge, Margs and views were great and it fit the bill seeing as we had a long day hiking and out in the jeep. I'd go back.

Tom P.

Ok, I'm biased because I'm a Californian, and it is true, all "Mexican" food outside of Southern California sucks. This place keeps the stereotype alive! The tacos are ground beef, the cheese enchiladas were hard and the cheese tasted like a mix of cheddar and American, the iced tea was literally water with a lemon in it. But never mind the food, let's talk service and atmosphere. The older blonde hostess wasn't exactly hospitable, "Are you the five?", then walks off with menus and plops them all on the table and walks away. Later on she would be standing at the bar talking to a couple for a very long time, as if they were friends. The atmosphere and decor remind me of a bad Jimmy Buffett nightmare and a ski lodge. Our waiter seemed perfectly fine at first until it came time for our check. "Can I get you guys anything else? No, how about a dessert menu? No, well anything else then? More water, maybe another iced tea? No, just the check? Oh, you're probably going to laugh and make fun of me when I walk away, right? Right?" 2 stars for the awkward service and sub par food.

Rose B.

The food here is sooooo good!!! I love the fish tacos, and my husband loves the enchiladas. We like to sit by the windows, next to the fountain so that we can be cozy in our booth while we watch the water and look at the red rocks. After a day of hiking, this is the perfect place to unwind!

Donna R.

Ugh .... Husband and I are Texans and know our TexMex to Authentic pure Mexican foods. ordered 1 cheese enchilada, one shredded chicken enchilada. Husband ordered skirt steak and we shared a super large serving of queso with ground burger. Portion was ridiculously huge. Most was boxed up and taken with us. Husband liked his order . I couldn't get past the sauce on my enchiladas. Did not like it at all. and returned it. Our waitress was very attentive in reorder of a black bean enchilada instead with simple cheese melt and sour cream . ( I ordered sour cream sauce but it came out as sour cream on side ). The hostess with blonde or maybe gray bob was stoic and not friendly. Our waitress was frazzled and doing the best job she could . She shared she was filling in for a no show. I felt sorry her really. Over hearing the hostess speaking to her kind of snappy and condescending. I hope that's not the norm. All in all service was slow, atmosphere felt unmanaged, food unmemorable. We probably won't be returning. And I can't recommend .

David T.

Family and I were up from california staying for 2 days. We all wanted mexican so we decided to give this place a try. Not good at all. My wife found a hair in her burrito, the beans on the plate looked old and none of the food had any flavor. pretty close to one of the worst meals I have ever paid for. If your in town on vacation don't waste your money on this place. Good news though, we loved Sedona.

Justin L.

Good food and plenty of it, although a bit expensive. The chips and salsa is great and they have amazing views. Fajitas were good. Gauc was 3/5. Great service and staff. Margheritas were alright, but watery.

Chris C.

When Im working in Sedona when its hot the BIG margi get me lookin for a place to stay! We have been here a lot!

Walkerny W.

Pretty standard Mexican food. No complaints, nothing exceptional.

Jim C.

Oh gosh, this is pretty tedious Mexican food. Bartenders couldn't be nicer but the food is really bland, unimaginative and of low quality. We went only because it was a 2 hour wait at Elote Cafe which is the best Mexican restaurant I have been to. The setting is large and attractive at Javalina and the wait staff and bar tenders are all nice and helpful but don't come here expecting to find amazing flavors or write-home-to-mom recipes. It's pretty much dull as dishwater enchiladas, tacos and burritos.

Leeann W.

Enjoyed the food & appreciated the number of non-meat dishes as well. I was impressed that they even make their own margarita mix! I went at night so I had a great experience based on the food alone. Only downside was that I had too much food and couldn't take it with me because I was leaving town early in the morning. Give it a try!

Jessica S.

Javelina Cantina had good guacamole and nice fresh chips. My vegetarian plate with tamale and cheese stuffed pepper was very tasty. The side of black beans was flavorless. My husband's chicken burrito had good flavor but could have used a topping as the whole burrito was a bit dry. Prices were average but ambience was nice. It is a good place for a quick meal when exploring the rocks.

Mark C.

An acceptable Mexican restaurant, food is good, but unremarkable. Service was good as they served our party of seven. Margaritas come in three sizes (small, medium, and large). Get the large if you want a huge dose of cold Margarita. Medium is more than sufficient for most people. Enjoyed by the table. Chips and salsa are served complimentary. Salsa is okay. Meals were good. Sufficient size for anyone coming in with an appetite. Nachos (either beef or chicken) served as an appetizer is HUGE. Two people had it as their entree with plenty left over. Open faced shrimp quesadilla was a pleasant surprise. More like a flatbread pizza with shrimp, cheese and greens served with a vinaigrette. (Tasty) Other entrees enjoyed by the table included beef and chicken enchiladas. Meal was topped off with a Mexican singer coming around to the tables. Decent place for families.

Sandy C.

Best Mexican food in town. Greeted and treated very well! We will diffidently return. So good. Food was hot and very flavorful.

Gary J.

Inspite of some of the negative reveiws, I am reading about, the restaurant in my opinion, is a 10 out of 10. Service was fast, very nice gentlemen as our server and the food was absolutly fantastic.Salsa and chips was the best I ever had, my steak burito was very tasty. I cannot understand why these people were negitive and displeased of this place. I do know my mexican food its my favorite and frequent mexican restaurants quite often . Gary

Ellen K.

AMAZING! Everyone in my family loved their food! I could have gotten about three meals out of my tilapia fajitas but they were so good I had to eat them all in one sitting. I loved how you could hear the fajitas sizzling when they brought them to the table. Everything else was great but make sure you come hungry!!!

Mona W.

Somewhere between a 2.5 to 3 stars. The food was just okay even after a super long and tiring day of hiking. I guess on a normal day it would have been a 2 stars experience for me. The Prickly Pear Martini was not what I think it should be. The sugary syrup totally masked out all the flavors of the cactus. I was told prickly pear has a watermelon like fruity flavor but I failed to identify any of it. Ordered the Fried Fish Tacos and they are below average. Certainly filled my growling stomach but my taste buds were not totally satisfied. The fish tasted frozen. The garnish in the taco were bland. The rice and the beans were.. well...let's just say I left those alone. I really expect better from a $14 taco. Tried the fried catfish other ordered and it was pretty much the same story. The good thing is that the portion is really generous. There's enough food for two meals.

Mary S.

Fajitas had strange taste and thickening added it seems when sauteed. Enchiladas mediocre. I've had much better. Seems to have gone downhill since I was there 4 or 5 years ago.

John P.

My family and I have been coming here off and on for the past 10 years. It used to be really good but lately it hasn't been. The chips were aweful and the fajitas were average. I wish this place would work a little harder to provide fresher ingredients and better customer service.

Stephen N.

They were recommended to us, but so glad we accepted. Great food, good prices & great service. We will go back there again for a great meal. Also a quiet background. We could talk across the table w/o noise interfeance.

B B.

Everything was awesome!! Don't pay attention to negative reviews on this place! I was hesitant after seeing a few bad reviews, until I clicked on the user and realized they complain about every restaurant, hotel, etc. that they go to. Definitely consider the source before making a decision, cause this place is amazing! They were on a wait but handled everything really quickly, and food and service were great!

Pam Y.

Some of the best Mexican food we have ever eaten. The salsa was very flavorful and the entrees were big enough to share. This place was so good we ate there twice.

Dee B.

Whenever we visit Sedona, dinner at Javelina Cantina is always included. Food portions are large and the prices are reasonable given its location. During our most recent visit, we ordered the fish fajitas. To our surprise, four tilapia fillets were laid on top of the bed of vegetables. The meal included the usual sides of rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream. The only disappointment was the service. Although we asked for no cheese or sour cream, both items were included on the plate. My husband returned his rice and beans due to dairy allergies. Approx 15 minutes elapsed. Finally, I had to leave the table to get the server's attention so my husband could receive a replacement dish of rice and beans. In the server's defense, he seemed to have tables scattered throughout the restaurant which was very crowded. Perhaps this was the result of a poor management decision. At times he seemed overwhelmed, but he was pleasant and upbeat. As usual, the food was above average. We will definitely visit this restaurant again.

Terese H.

Food was just okay - nothing to write home about. I would rather wait in line for Elote!

Katy G.

Not A-OK!, but just A-OK. Javelina Cantina was pointed out to us (though not exactly recommended) by our Pink Jeep driver, and so we tried it at the end of our trip on the way out of town. My husband enjoyed his turkey sandwich, but the fish tacos I had just weren't all that.

KiLeigh K.

Food: Couldn't be better!!! Service: Good Wait time: Lengthy Price: Reasonable Only real complaint was noise level, pretty loud in there.

Lisa B.

If you're in Sedona, this is the one place I would tell you to go! Everything from this place is amazing, from their chips and salsa all the way to their birthday dessert! (By the way, you get to keep the birthday sombrero they give you!) I have been here 4 times now and I have never had a bad experience - The employees are great, helpful and super nice! Every time we have been there, our server has gone above and beyond to do something for us (which I honestly cannot say about some other restaurants that I've been to)!

Eric B.

High quality establishment! Great food, delicious cocktails, and wonderfully attentive staff. We were directed this way last night and simply had to come back today for a lunchtime margarita and soup to send us on our way. Thank you!

Katherine A.

The food is good. The view will blow your mind! Chips and Salsa were brought out with our waters which was nice. Food is slightly pricey but again, it is Sedona. Relax and enjoy the red rock views! The restaurant sits up high and they have a few tables outside. We chose to sit inside due to the heat and they only had a few umbrellas and all were allocated. There is a sun room with many windows and it was perfect!

Lia T.

So confused why there are so many great reviews. Mexican food is my favorite and it's hard to mess it up in my opinion but I was not satisfied with the food and they only added 1/2 the ingredients to my entree. How did this happen? No idea. Everything on the lunch menu started at $12 and up so I decided to get the carne asada taco and a side of beans and cheese. When I got my order it was a corn tortilla with some dry meat and cheese. Halfway through eating it I realized it was supposed to atleast have guacamole on it so I asked for a menu to check. I let the waitress know and she argued with me that it does not come with guacamole until I showed it to her on the menu. She came back with a side of guacamole and apologized saying the cooks thought I had just wanted the cheese on my taco because I ordered a side of beans and cheese? O-kay. Makes NO sense. But it wasn't until I finished my sad $7 taco with a little dry meat and cheese that I realized that on the menu the taco also came with cabbage and pico de gallo. So my Carne asada taco with meat, cheese, cabbage, and pico de gallo came out only with meat and cheese and I NEVER requested it like that. Seriously annoyed and overpriced for what you get. Messed up on a simple order with no remedy to the situation. Would never go here again.

H K.

We had lunch here on our visit to Sedona because the Vietnamese cafe next door was still close. The food was good and the servings are very large. Service was great. They however do not have spicy food here. I ordered an enchilada plate and wanted a slightly spicy sauce. I was told all their sauces were mild. Price was reasonable. Lunch for 3 people was about $50 plus tip.

David W.

Great views. Solid food. Nice spot when in Sedona.

AL K.

Service has got to be better. Food is ho hum. Went for lunch. We were seated and menu handed to us with no explanation of what's the special or what not. Very abrupt bordering rudeness. Food is very average. The place has a potential to be better if management were to train their staffs. Would not recommend nor come back.

Nicole C.

Bartender was nice but food was definitely below average. Not even worth going for the Monday night $3 margaritas.

Kathy H.

I always judge a Mexican restaurant by their Chile Rellenos. I can't say I have ever had a better Relleno than the one served at Javelina! I ordered it a la carte with the house margarita because I wasn't starving and I didn't need anything to detract from the main event. The staff here is professional, friendly, and efficient. I loved that the waiter called us "Amigos" ! Really: I am damn tired of being called "You guys" so I nearly gave 5 stars based on that alone. This is the best place in Sedona for lunch...then you are fortified to wait on line at Elote for dinner!

Cody P.

Great Mexican food in Sedona. Went there with a friend. I had the enchilada and she had the super burrito both of which were excellent. This place is nicely decorated and has great views. Chips and salsa given for free with the meal. Only crazy thing about this place is that they charge $3 for a soda with only one refill, never seen soda that expensive before. Deffinely would come back.

Rekha A.

We went to this restaurant based on recommendation from Hyatt. It was quite crowded but they seated us fairly quickly, but the good news ends with that. We ordered the vegetarian special and the Asada enchiladas with chicken. The chips and salsa brought to the table was tasteless. The salsa was completely devoid of tomato flavor and had a bitterness that was very off putting. The House margharita was also pretty bad, quite strong which I suppose is good, but again quite bitter and lacked any decent flavor. Then came the food, the enchiladas looked like a huge plate of melted cheese. They were made with greasy rubbery cubed chicken and not flavorful shredded as expected, and the tortilla was thick and barely cooked, and had ridiculous amounts of cheese on the top AND on the inside with a tasteless red sauce on the bottom. To make things worse the Pico de gallo was bitter as well, they must have used a horrible batch of lime on all of the above without tasting any of it. The veggie dish was just filled with cheese and lacked the finesse and flavor expected. Overall, it was a huge let down and far from the quality of Mexican food we were expecting. Not worth the effort or money. The service was quite non nonchalant and seemed almost forced as well.

Mike M.

I really like this place! we got a tip from one of the staff at the Sedona Visitor's Center, and have never been disappointed. The food offerings are varied and very good. They have excellent combos to choose from, and unusual choices on the specials menu like lobster tacos. The decor is cool, the place is clean, and the service is good. The waitstaff sometimes seems to be in a little too much of a hurry and often cutoff the customers on the way through the place, making it a bit of a "joust" to move from one end to the other, but all in all, a great choice, especially if you can get a patio seat on a cool day to take in the views.

Dane M.

If there was a ZERO rating, I would give it. That's because we didn't get rotten service, we didn't get ANY service. We came in and sat at the bar - there was only one other person sitting on a bar stool. When we sat down, the bartender looked at us, didn't say a thing, and walked away. Nice. We figured maybe we would get some service by getting a table, so we requested a table. After we were seated, NOBODY ever came to talk to us. While we were looking at the menu, someone (we didn't even see them), threw down a bowl of chips and salsa. When we saw the bowl of chips land on the table, we looked up immediately (because we wanted to order drinks), but the person had already disappeared. We waited for at least 15 minutes - YES - 15 mins and NOBODY talked to us, got us drinks, took our order, NOTHING! We kept checking the time because we could not believe what was happening. Finally, we had no choice to leave. We wanted to tell someone we were leaving, but even the hostess was nowhere to be found. I'm not the kind to give such a crappy review, but our experience seriously warrants it.

Robert C.

Wow! What a food factory. From the brusque greeting from the hostess to the waitress who basically flung the food at us, the only goal seemed to be to turn the table as quickly as possible. Food was good but not great and the place has a good view . Seems to me, staff has seen so many tourists, they don't care whether you come back again. Would not go back again and certainly can't recommend this place.

Amanda N.

I came here with my parents for dinner. My mom ordered the del mar salad and I shared the fish (tilapia) fajita with my dad. Watch out - they charge you an extra $5 if you share a plate. For the fajitas, you get an extra serving of tortillas, guacamole, and creme de fraiche. The fajita was good, but not memorable. There was too much watery sauce accompanying the fajita. The tortillas... well those just tasted old. They were anything but warm, soft, and fresh. The del mar salad was huge, but it didn't make up for the average taste. You can order shrimp, scallops, or a mix of both. My mom ordered both. The scallops were large and rather tasty, but the shrimp was too salty for me. This salad was topped with crumbled cheese, which made it worse. I'm not a fan of crumbled cheese, so you may like it more than I did. The service was below average. When we first walked in, I noticed that only 2 tables were accompanied, but for some reason the hostess still made us wait. Then we had to wait even longer while she chatted it up on the phone with her son. Our waitress was cold and unfriendly throughout the night. Come here if you want average americanized Mexican food and cold service, but don't have high expectations.

Shane P.

We figured out that everything and I mean everything completely shuts down around 8:30pm in Sedona. We got in just after sundown from a hike with our kids and their grandparents. Then we started looking for somewhere to go for dinner besides the resort. I thought Javelina Cantina sounded like a cool place to go. Well, first, it's really hard to find it after the sun goes down. The sign is not lighted and you actually have to turn in before you get to it (if you are driving north). When we walked in, there were 8 of us total, 5 adults and 3 kids, I asked if they were still seating. One guy said yes and the other waiter standing there looked as if we were imposing on his "cutting out of work early" schedule. Our waiter was friendly enough, but also seemed like he was trying to get out of there as well. We ordered several of their grande margaritas. They sucked. Not in the "there's no alcohol" in them, just in the taste. My mother-in-law told me to send it back, but I just wanted to enjoy the evening and not make a fuss. The kids soft drinks were also flavorless with too much carbonation, we did request others, but they too were drinkable, but not great. I thought the chips and food were actually quite good. The drinks were not. Before we finished they started stacking the chairs on top of the tables around us. I'm actually surprised they didn't cut the lights off and ask us to leave. When we got back to Tempe (we stayed an extra day to do some 4x4ing, my in-laws headed back home to Tempe and we were staying with them) my mother-in-law said that she called the restaurant and asked to speak to the manager to let her know about our experience. Manager was rude, told my mother-in-law she must have bad taste if she thought the margaritas were not good, and basically said too bad. If you are looking for a pleasant experience, good drinks and waiters who don't make you feel like you are imposing on them, take yourself elsewhere.

Frank T.

Really good Mexican food. We had steak fajitas that were excellent. The chips and salsa were equally good. The frozen margaritas were okay. All in all, a really good restaurant.

Daniel S.

Great atmosphere with a great view are the high points. Margaritas were good as was the queso. Had a burrito and I'd say it was ok, but nothing to write home about. Could have used a little more kick and more flavor.

Tim M.

Three nights in Sedona meant we wanted 3 different Mexican restaurants to try. We tried El Elite first after seeing hundreds of 4 star reviews here. It was awesome. Last night we tried Javienda and while not the same experience as the first it was very good. The staff was not as welcoming and friendly, but it was a nice and tasty experience. I got the chimichonga which was huge and filled withe tender shredded beef. My wife got shrimp quesadea and reported it very good. Since we came mid November the sun sets by 5 PM so we had no views while eating, but the restart was clean and classy. It was not crowded and we got in and out quickly. The price was reasonable too.

Amy L.

We came here about 3 years ago and had a great meal including the Prickly Pear margaritas which were to die for, in fact we came b a back this time for the margaritas. We are not sure what changed, but the food this time was just average and the margaritas were not good which was very disappointing after a hot day of hiking. Service was very good as our waiter attempted to fix the margaritas and he was friendly.

Kel M.

We had coffe and drinks here during happy hour. $1 tacos were great but I witnessed a horrifying act as I was eating. The bartender was making a drink and smashed a 16oz glass over the ice bin and continued using the ice from that bin without changing it. I and people around me were horrified. We ended leaving and we'll never go back. K. Mockingbird

Douglas M.

The food is fine for Mexican chain food, which is what this place is. I've had far better in Minneapolis. What bothers me much more than the food is that our server didn't bother to tell us that regular Margaritas are $3 on Mondays, and was happy to sell us $9 Margaritas that were of a type recommended by another Yelper. I didn't learn about the special until I overheard another server telling his table about it. When I told my server I was disappointed to not learn about the special, I got a lot of defensiveness about how "they never tell anyone about the special," and more defensiveness when I pointed out that the other server does. And certainly no offer to adjust the bill. Average place that ended up a big disappointment because of overreaching. I won't be back.

Katie R.

We went here both times we've been in Sedona. The first time was either way better or my taste in food has changed. Very unauthentic cheese smothered Mexican food. The margaritas are good and the prices are decent. If i lived in Sedona I might eat their every once in awhile when i wanted a big delicious heart attack on a plate but I think we will skip it the next time we are there. There are many better options. Meh is the perfect word to describe it.

Cristina G.

Meh is an overstatement. Nothing great here except their organic margaritas. The food is Americanized Mexican...blah...the server was curt. He comes up to our table and doesn't even say hello....he immediately says "what will you have?". I mean...seriously.....say hello first. I would not bother going to Javelina. Try Casa Bonita...excellent food and authentic!

Sally And Mark S.

My wife and I enjoyed our food, by the service was terrible. First the food: my wife had a chicken enchilada combo. The plate was huge and had a lot of food for only $7.99! Her enchilada was decent but nothing special. Same with the rice and beans. Good value simply because of the size. I got the machaca chimichanga. It was pretty good, though not as crispy as it should have been. It was very large and had a great deal of flavorful meat. The plate included lots of rice and beans and a very tasty sour cream concoction. That cream sauce was the best stuff on the plate for sure. Chips and salsa were very good. Now the service: terrible. Terrible. Terrible. Not once did our server say any of the following: "welcome," "enjoy your meal," "how is everything?" "how's your food?" "Is everything okay?" "Can I get you anything?" "Is there anything I can do?" How was your food?" "Would you like a refill?" "Would you like dessert?" Not one of those questions or statements crossed her tongue. Neither did anything similar. She did say "okay" once though after I finally asked for more water after my glass was empty for 10 minutes. That was kind of her. Moral of the story: decent food that comes in large portions accompanied by terrible service.

Andrea S.

I'm not so sure why everyone is against The Javalina Cantina, we had an enjoyable experience here. Good food, good drink, good service, good views. What else is there? You can pretty much judge a good Mexican place based on the free chips. These were warm and crunchy and big with the perfect amount of salt. Thats a good sign. Second is the salsa served with the chips. It was really flavorful and interesting. Not your typical salsa, it had some other element to it, like thyme or something. Very good! The menu is seriously extensive, they have everything you could want from fish to chicken and steak, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, etc. You can order plates that are served with rice and beans and all that, or they have an a la carte menu on the back. We weren't dying of hunger so that's the route we took. My shredded chicken tostado was huge! It's an awesome value and it was delicious. Their margarita menu is the clear winner here. They have well over a dozen different options and come in small and large. A large is 24 ounces of margarita and is massive, so keep that in mind if you're driving. Ole!

Bob B.

I was introduced to the American version of Mexican food four decades ago. A friend suggested trying Javelina Cantina as she thought it was excellent and that's what I found out. I wanted to remove myself from my standard Mexican dishes that I usually ordered. Enough with Tacos, Burritos, etc as I wanted something different. I choose the Fajita Salad with grilled shrimp. The photo does not do the salad justice at all. It was one of the best dishes that I ordered. The ten shrimp were grilled to perfection! This was my late lunch and early dinner as it was a large portion. We usually visit Sedona several times a year and will return to the Javelina Cassntina.

Cherry L.

First impression - walk in and a half distracted older hostess greets us. We ask her what the wait is for 2 people for a table. Her answer - looks at us funny and says in her been-smoking-too-much-voice "um, I don't know, maybe 10-15 minutes?" Wha?! Excuse me, aren't you the hostess? It only goes downhill from there. The only plus was the one interaction with the busboy who was quick to realize I wanted a water with no ice and got it to me quick. Our waiter wasn't very enthusiastic nor helpful. Asked him what he recommended and he said the fajitas were the most popular. I hate answers like that. What did HE like? After the food was ordered, we didn't see the waiter come back until we flagged him down. The place was no longer busy by the time we got our food so hav no clue why not. Bf and I decided to try the fajitas since we couldn't get more out of him. Big mistake. Bf got the steak and I got the fish which I thought was dif since I've never heard of fish fajitas. Both plates come out and neither one of them were sizzling like most places. Then the other downfall, both of them were drowning in this teriyaki type sauce that wasn't very good. Since when do fajitas come with sauce? Granted there was a lot of fish but I could barely eat it since the sauce was just too much. Overall unfortunately I have to agree with many of the yelpers, service is bad and so is the food. Sad excuse for Mexican food.

Emily L.

Some of the best Mexican food I had while in Arizona(or anywhere for that matter). The portions here are HUGE and the price is right. First, I had a giant margarita. It was strong and ENORMOUS and had me feeling real good. The complementary chips and salsa were really good(i would have paid for them). The salsa has a nice smokey flavor and the chips were warm and not greasy at all. For dinner, I had the chile relleno with chicken on top(it was $2 extra to add chicken or beef on top). With the order, you get 2 HUGE chile rellonos, rice, and refried beans. I was STUFFED by the end and everything tasted so good. The sauce on the chiles was so flavorful and just a little spicy, which I loved. If you are in Sedona and looking for a good joint for dinner after a big hike, check this spot out!

Leang E.

I was still stuffed from breakfast earlier so it was tough to appreciate dinner as much as I would have liked to. We arrived after a decent hike up near little bell mountain and big bell mountains, and decided to come here since the other Mexican spot we wanted to go to was closed. This is a hidden gem near some shops in the back, but there is a small outdoor patio that we chose to sit. The interior is pretty spacious and it looks like there is a fun bar area. The outdoor area had tons of flies, but trudged on. We started out with the freshly made guacamole, which was very flavorful and delicious. My prickly pear margarita was refreshing after sweating it out in the heat. My salmon tostada was creative and delicious, and I wished I had the space to finish it all. The prices were decent and the service was ok.

B D.

Not impressed. Bug in our chip basket and the waitress didn't even flinch when we told her..made me wonder how often that occurs. Prob not the best spot for the sunset though the rocks still look good there. Beef chile relleno dish came with one veggie chile and one beef chile despite ordering both beef. Below average dish. The green chile corn tamale was okay, but nothing special. Margaritas taste like they are from a mix...not good.

Lisa A.

Best chile relleno I have ever had! Salsa has a great smoke flavor to it... Drinks weren't filled - they were pretty busy. I hope to go back before I have to fly back to TX. Want to try he jalapeño poppers. Great view of the Red Rocks.

Robert K.

After walking out of another restaurant for poor service, we drove to Javelina's and were instantly seated. It is a nice casual place with good service and good food. I will defiantly go back the next time I am in town.

Jason F.

I ate here this past week for lunch with four other dining companions. When we arrived the restaurant was fairly empty and never really filled up. For my entree I ended up having the chile relleno platter. That consisted of two chile rellenos, rice and refrained beans. The chiles were decent although had no spice whatsoever. The sauce was good while the rest of the food was your typical fillers. The bottom line for me is that I would not come back here. It's not that the food was bad as it was ok but I think it was a little overpriced.

Marshall M.

Beautiful view. Thoughtful service and great chips, salsa.

Gia S.

Had the chicken Cesar which was good. Husband had chicken enchiladas which were good. Wait staff not great.

Ashlei T.

Good margarita and views! I had had the Melon Margarita and that was the best I have ever had. I am so glad I had to chance to eat here. The pork carnitas was great as well.

Ami T.

Decent Mexican food, kinda pricy. The margaritas were delicious though and a pretty good deal during happy hour. Service was very good!

Luana L.

Javelina Cantina has a soft place in my heart from last Winter. Everytime I am in Sedona, I return for the shredded beef tacos. YUM, YUM, YUM! The chips are crisp and a carbohydrate addicts dream. They are good with lime juice and sea salt glittered on top. The prickly pear margarita is dive inable. With plenty of yummy sea salt along side the rim. The only thing that wasn't on top this time was the coffee. I don't know why, it just tasted tired. That is exactly what I needed for the drive back to Phoenix. Angel was my waiter and he was exquisite. Made me feel like I was the only one he had to wait on and it didn't hurt that he was a lovely person. ~ Luana Joya Lucia, International Massage Practitioner

Drew M.

Good food and good service. I will say they make a very good margarita!

Tyler D.

First time at this place. Friendly staff, clean restaurant & most importantly really good food & fairly priced for Mexican food. We had a party of seven. Not one person was unhappy with their food choice. We also had some desserts. The fried ice cream was great!!! Well be back when we visit Sedona again.

Vanessa P.

Our first lunch while in town was at Javelinas. The location is great with beautiful views of the red rocks, but that's about it. Although our waitress was exceptional, the food unfortunately did not match up. To start, the chips were beyond salty. So much so, that my boyfriend actually turned them down (which has never happened before - he is always first to dive into a bowl of tortilla chips). We ordered two margaritas, both which were just okay. Nothing special. To eat I ordered the chimichanga and it was sub-par. My boyfriend ordered the chicken fajitas and he wasn't really a fan either. For the amount we paid for the food, we left feeling short changed. I also thought the rest of the wait staff was very unprofessional. While we waited for our food, a bunch of male waiters and the cook were goofing off. Maybe it was just a bad placement for the kitchen to be out in the open next to the tables, but being able to see servers not working and playing around was a bit off-putting.

Eric E.

This place sucks. It's atmosphere is OK, nice views from the outside patio, and the staff is pretty friendly. But here's what I don't like... If you came from, let's say, Washington DC, and were in town enjoying beautiful Sedona, and came here for "Mexican Food," I'd be upset if you thought this was good mexican food, like you were getting the real deal. It's overpriced and bland. Nothing special here. In fact, it's really not that good at all.

Judy S.

Great food and service. Friendly and professional!! I will go back again.

Tina H.

If you're from Texas, don't eat here. So, I did a lot of googling and trip advisoring and yelping. We really wanted to sample some "Arizonian" Mexican food while here from Texas. I thought this would be a good bet. It really wasn't. The margarita was "eh," the food was "eh," and $91 dollars later, our family of three wished for the first time that we were back at home in Texas. I had the chicken and vegetable burrito. It was fine. Nothing extraordinary. I paid the extra $2 to have green and red sauce on top. So, yes, a $17 burrito. A $17 BURRITO!!!!!!! My husband had the Tacos a la Parilla. The steak was NOT the tender skirt steak we're used to en Tejas. The best I can figure, it was well done sirloin. Not great. Our son had the taco/enchilada combo. From his 12-year old lips: "I think I'll just go with cheese enchiladas in a new restaurant from now on." From the mouths of babes, I tell ya. So, overall, we feel like chumps for throwing away a hundred bucks. Crap

Jordan T.

We ate here on our first night in Sedona ... great night time views outside, and the food was reasonably priced. We had great staff to take care of us as we did not want salted tortilla chips with our salsa .. so they made us two unsalted baskets!

Matt S.

This really is one of my favorite places to eat Mexican Food in Sedona. I am a huge fan of their green chile corn tamale! Pretty much anything I have ever eaten at JC has been amazing. I love the tacos, enchiladas, beans and rice - everything. Only negative? Chips & Salsa, but I don't hate it enough to give it one less star. If I were them I would work a bit to improve the salsa and work on having fresh (less salty) chips - My suggestion would be to skip the C&S and save room for the entres! They are huge portions and everything I have ever had was great! Can't wait to go back to Sedona and try something new!

Jess B.

This was a wonderful restaurant. They have a great patio in the front or back of the restaurant with gorgeous views. Very reasonably proved and the portions were very big yet the food tasted amazing. Group of 6 and our food and service was speedy. The Margaritas were delicious and came in large blue glasses. I recommend the catfish or fajitas. I would definitely go back!!

Bob I.

Great overall experience! We had the Cantina bowl, and enchiladas. The food was promptly served and delicious! I would go back for the Cantina bowl with beef. Very good food. Excellent chips and the salsa was outstanding. Our server, Craig, could have taught a class on service. Highly recommend this place.

Scott M.

We heard great things about this place and liked it okay. It wasn't fantastic but a notch above average mexican food. Kind of noisy. Didn't love the chips and salsa. Ordered the Carne Asada that was really tender and tasty and way more than an average serving. Good dish. Had the recommended Pork Carnitas which were just okay. I ordered them spicy and they forgot to add the jalapeños but the waiter did remember them after I had eaten half of it. Service was very good and overall not bad but not memorable.

Kelli R.

We had a 10% off coupon in our hotel room for this place so we decided to try it out and I'm so glad we did. I love the way this place was decorated and just had an open feeling with huge windows and amazing views. Service was good and the food was top notch! I'd definitely go back again!

Red C.

$1 Tostada Thursdays in the bar!! And they're not as crazily priced as some of the uptown area restaurants from what we saw on their menu. We enjoyed the views and atmosphere here after a long(slightly grueling hike nearby). They also have TVs in the bar so we were able to watch a few games as well. Well positioned within walking distance from our hotel at Los Abrigados which was nice and convenient. They're food and views were WAY better than Oaxaca's too.

Kariyushi C.

I grew up in Sedona and this is my all-time favorite restaurant in the area. No, it is not the most authentic Mexican food you can find. Yes, it is TexMex-style with a lot of U.S. influence. But, that doesn't mean it's not darn good. My favorite food (not just my favorite dish here at the restaurant, but my favorite food to eat, ever) is the grilled fish taco at Javelina Cantina. Their sandwiches and fries are amazing (I don't care if I don't feel like I'm grabbing street food in Tijuana - these things are good by anyone's standards). The chips are made in house, as well as the salsa, and they are both amazing. But all of this aside, they have the best margaritas ever. The titanic-sized classic blended margarita is probably about as many calories as your dinner - but why do you need dinner with a boat of margarita and endless homemade chips?! I have to go with 4 stars because I'm not in love with some of the wait staff. Odds are you'll get a great waitress, but there are a few floaters who could stand to be more attentive.

Tracey C.

Absolutely the worst customer service in Sedona. The manager was hesitant to offer service to our group of 11 because it was an hour before closing time. The hours of operation posted on the door have question marks as the closing time, which one would assume means they are open late. The patio had people eating on it with large tables for groups available for seating, yet the hostess/manager refused to seat our group on the patio. She said they were no longer seating anyone on the patio. They made no attempt to arrange seating for us using the many four top tables that were open around the main dining room. We waited for 20 minutes before leaving. The menu was boring and over priced anyway. When leaving, I informed the hostess/manager that we were no longer interested in dining and she replied with "who are you"? Additionally, is it odd to anyone else that this restaurant has two yelp accounts? What a sad excuse for management.

James D.

Great service from a very attentive and very tall waiter. The food was very good for all 4 of us: Shrimp Wrap, a Smoked Turkey/Wrap/Quesadilla and a Chicken Tostada, and a Chicken/Rice and Black Bean Bowl. We are talking about heading back tonight for Margaritas.

De A.

The service is seriously suffering these days. The food is good enough, in fact I was thrilled with one of the salads (the one with the scallops) and so I ordered it all three times at our recent visits. The service was OK the first time but it got progressively worse each time we went back. The second time our waiter had a bit of a weird, negative attitude. The third time our waitress was nice but it seemed she was the only server for the whole place...very over worked. It took ridiculously long to get our food, then even longer to get our check. I ordered some food to go too, but that wasn't ready so the wait was even longer. Then, the order was wrong and they sent it back to the kitchen for an even LONGER wait! If I knew the service was intentionally improved, I'd still hesitate to go back. Seems like a management issue to me.

Barry C.

Great daily specials in the bar like $1 tacos on Tuesday, $3 margaritas on Mondays, $3 drafts on Wednesdays and $1 tostadas on Thursday.

Cloey K.

Quick service! Very good food. LARGE portions. I filled up pretty quickly. Their chicken fajitas were great, and their red rice is just perfect. They also had lime chips with salsa given almost immediately!

T S.

I have two homes in the area, this is my all-time favorite mexican restaurant in the area. I make sure when I come back to the Sedona area I hit this place at least twice.

Victoria C.

The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and inviting...our server Paul was incredibly attentive, gave great suggestions, and recommendations on local hikes as well. The food was perfect! Their green chile cheese crisp is a yummy way to start if you want fresh green chiles.

Sol T.

We had a great time at this place. The food was incredible, drinks where very good, and the servers where very pleasant and attentive. Hard to beat the prices. We got off real easy on this meal. We where all very happy with the entire experience. Background: we had Mexicans among us who know great Mexican cooking. They loved this place. We will be coming back every time we are in town.

Brent B.

We stopped by on a busy Saturday night, but they still managed to get us to a table quickly. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was great. We started with the guacamole dip, which is just a big bowl of guacamole. This comes served with homemade chips and salsa. I had the pork chimichanga, which they made for me even thought it's not on the menu. My wife had a chicken chimichanga. They food was hot, fresh, and brought to our table in a very reasonable amount of time. Drinks were quickly refilled. I would definitely go here again. Pros: Fast, Friendly, Delicious, Reasonably priced. Cons: none

Leslie A.

I think it must be the location because almost every time I am in Sedona I stop at the Javelina Cantina. There is parking and you get to avoid the overwhelming tourist spider web. (Unless you like that, in which case yay Javelina Cantina is right around the corner!) I am not a big fan of this style of overpriced, generic Mexicanish cuisine, but the last time we went 2 good things happened: we ordered something different and really enjoyed it and our server was phenomenal. Let me start with our server. Before ordering we had to ask some questions about the vegetarian-ness of various things (beans, tortillas) and he very carefully explained what we could eat and what we couldn't and then he also told us that they cook their rice with chicken stock. I have never had a server offer extra information like that! Normally they just shrug and say sure the beans are vegetarian. Maybe this guy is a vegetarian himself or maybe he is just extra courteous but it just made our meal feel that much better because we knew he had our back. OK so the food. I have gotten the vegetarian burrito, and the chile relleno and they were just blah. Mostly just a pile of food that you can't finish but you feel too ambivalent to take it home. This time I got the salmon tostada and I loved it! I ate the whole thing. I have a soft spot for fruit salsa and it comes with a mango salsa that is yummy. If we go back I am getting it again. So there you go. Not the best, but not the worst. Your call.

Michael F.

Plus: Decent margarita. The rest: Smother with cheese, serve with beans, wave a pepper over it and call it Mexican. Somewhat scattered and inefficient staff. It was so ordinary that I can't remember what I had. Huge portions; split one between two people if you don't want to leave looking like the python that ate the pig. It was however a great place for our party because the couple we were with had two young and very rambunctious kids. They have a child's menu, crayons and a coloring menu. We were able to corral them in a corner booth. Sorry about the noise. Add another star if you have kids.

Keith F.

I've lived in AZ for 40 years. My family and I had a great experience. Best Mexican food I have ever had!!!

Alex B.

For mexican fare, it seems a bit mass produced and run-of-the-mill. The quality was good, but the dishes lacked the spark of authenticity. I am accustomed to far better mexican cuisine sold on the streets of NYC or the Bay Area, or after Ranchero concerts in the car park, so my expectations tend to be a bit high for a restaurant. The service was fair yet slow, despite acknowledging and agreeing to serve us faster since we didn't have 3 hours to stay. We discovered a foursquare voucher for the restaurant and attempted to use it, but given the lack of AT&T network signal strength and the ability to open the the voucher itself, the management refused to honour it. This was a case of a red card for both Javelina and Foursquare. On our next visit to Sedona, we'll give one of the other mexican restaurants a go.

Drew H.

No reason this shouldn't have higher marks overall! Excellent margaritas and fantastic menu. We had fajitas and a burrito that were both perfect. Staff was quick and attentive and dining area along with bar very clean with great views out the windows too.

Chris O.

Worst overall experience I have had. I will keep it short and sweet because quite honestly the experience made me mad. The server was awful. Messed up the orders, appetizers, and couldn't figure out how to solve anything. The food was just as bad, of course part of it being the fact they were not cooked the way we asked. I ate very little off my plate and the waiter never thought to ask one question about it. I asked to speak to a manager and I was told the manager was too busy to speak with me. So I wasted $50 and just left. Horrible experience in every aspect of reviewing a restaurant.

Bob G.

Outstanding view from the back patio. I had the chile relleno with chicken,, it was very good. margaritas are tasty. They make their own Margarita mix from scratch. We go there every time we are in Sedona. The wait staff is nice and the location is wonderful. Chips and Salsa are fresh and good. Lots of combos to choose from. nice bar and good ambiance. Reading some of the other reviews I wish I could give award half stars. I would give them 3 1/2.. alas 4 will have to do.

Mike M.

We have gone to this place each time we travel to Sedona for the last 10 years. The food is pretty good, but the service really stinks. From the person at the front door, to the arrogant bar tender, to the server that drops food and never shows up again. The bummer is, the service gets worse each time we go. Kind of a shame, as this place used to be really a nice place to spend time with friends and family.

Amanda P.

Great food, a little pricey but fun atmosphere! We had great service, the chips and salsa were delicious and we were had a fun time joking with our server. Long wait at the dinner rush so plan ahead!

David E.

Best enchilada and fajitas we've ever had!

Jason V.

Food was excellent and service was top notch. Prickly pear margaritas are a must. We had the queso and steak fajitas, probably some of the best fajitas I have ever had. Little pricy but great for a special night out.

David D.

This is a popular spot at the back of the Hillside Shops. Four of us dropped in for dinner on a Monday evening, and although the place was bustling, we were seated in less than 5 minutes. The menu showed a lot of dinner specials around the $15 price point, and since the a la carte prices added up to more, the waitress agreed we should go with the specials. Margaritas for three of us, a glass of wine for My Love, and two baskets of complimentary chips with two tubs of salsa, helped us decide what to eat. Two of us settled on the 2-taco 1-enchilada special, I tried the 1-taco 1-burrito special, and I can't remember it all. There was rice and beans on every plate. The food was heavier than I expected, and while I ate the whole taco, I only got through half the burrito. The other half is now a snack waiting patiently in our refrigerator. The total, un-itemized credit card receipt shows that the whole affair cost us just under $100, + tip. As we left, someone pointed out the awesome burl portrait of a javelina, which, of course, I forgot to photograph. The town is so full of art, that even spectacular displays sometimes don't reach me.

Richard R.

Apparently, I really had to try this place. Not only was it recommended to me by someone in Phoenix, But a Sedona local randomly suggested it while I was up there. And would you believe this... It's one of the best Mexican restaurants I've eaten at in a long time. The portions are huge, which made it good for my family. I ordered the super burrito with chicken. My dad had a combination plate with a taco, a tamale, and an enchilada. My mom had some tacos. We split most of the food from each others plates, and all of it was great. While it's not exactly authentic Mexican food. It's as good as and American Mexican restaurant gets.

Priscilla K.

Beautiful location, nice atmosphere. Food good enough. Service slow, but had very good salsa to munch on while we waited. Margaritas a little overpriced.

Ralph M.

Tends to be pretty busy on the weekends, the service is good better at the bar. Margaritas are great , I ordered carnitas which I found superb, the portions are generous so you can share

Julie C.

Dining was filthy and food was overpriced! Meal was overcooked...the beef taco was so tough it was comparable to eating beef jerky. I feel like the people that recommend this place to visitors have personal gain from referrals. Don't go here.

Jack R.

Pretty big place with a nice long Mexican menu so you can get pretty much whatever you might be looking for. They had the NCAA tournament on a few TVs near the bar which was awesome. Friendly wait staff and good food. This is a perfect place to go after hiking Cathedral Rock.

Cher T.

On a weekend trip with the girls, I was able to pay Javelina Cantina a visit and here are the hits & misses of our meal there: HITS: - The chips n salsa were good, the chips are very crunchy and most of us loved them. However a friend didn't care for them as they are rather thick in comparison to other restaurant's chips. the salsa was VERY good, but I wish it had more heat in it. - cheese enchiladas are wonderful! They are filled with a crumbled white cheddar cheese pesto. the sauce was great and the next time I go, that'll be all I order! - The Rice was flavorful and really good! I loved it. Misses: -Service: the waitstaff likes to speak about their customers to one another in Spanish. I overheard one say: "the Two ugly witches are already drunk!" to another waiter! I was appalled! Also, we asked for the check to be separated and at first he refused until we asked the manager to do it for us. Which he didn't, but he sure got the waiter to do it for us! I'll go again but I think I'll speak Spanish to the waiter just so they're not to catty about their customers!

Coreen S.

Strike Two! After a bad experience at this restaurant two years ago, my husband and I decided to give it another try. BIG MISTAKE! Besides feeling extremely rushed, we made a very specific drink ingredient request. It soon became very obvious that this request was ignored. At 8:15 pm, the chairs were placed on top of the tables all around us and our check was brought before we were done with our meal. This restaurant must cater to tourists, one-time shots, as they clearly do nothing to ensure repeat business.

Ike D.

I was in town to celebrate an anniversary with my girlfriend a while ago. We were cruising the little bits of night life the town had to offer for a place to eat. This place was rumored to have the best Mexican food in town so we stopped in. It's a fun little place and prices weren't too bad considering you are in Sedona. I had a burrito and the little lady had the steak fajitas, served sizzling; the food was good. The service is very friendly and accommodating, Next time I'm in Sedona looking for a cold beer and some Mexican food I'll know where to go. -Ike P.S. - If you're from out of town and don't know what a javelina is they have two mounted near the bar comically named Jave and Lina. :)

Andrew S.

I will always give the Javelina Cantina 5 stars. The same people have been working there for years, the fajitas always come out sizzling hot, and it is traditional Mexican food. I have never disliked a meal there and their guacamole is amazing.

Kevin M.

I've tried this place maybe 3 or 4 times. I keep giving it another chance because I like Mexican food and the location is good. The food continually disappoints. This is Arizona, why is the Mexican food so bad? The menu is just what you would expect. The basic average mexican restaurant fare, no imagination, no flair. The prices do have flair though, they're high! You can get the basic Mexican slop with rice and beans anywhere...don't overpay for it here.

Debbie M.

This place was great!!!!!!! Chips and awesome best ever salsa!! Great service, our waiter was efficient. We all ordered ala carte items from burritos to tostados to tacos. Every meal good, delivered hot (love a restaurant that understands the concept of hot food equals good). Gotta get sopapilla for dessert. Yummmmmmmmm. Will come back to eat here for sure.

Laura R.

Chips weren't awesome they were weird thick but not inedible. Salsa wasn't hot but it was super fresh and my kid loved it! I may be a lightweight but I wouldn't order a signature drink here again. Seems the bartenders have a HEAVY hand when pouring, while sometimes that can be a good thing if your on a shitty date maybe and want to end up dancing on the table's later?? I like my mixed drinks to actually be mixed with something other than alcohol. The word here was that this is the norm. I couldn't finish my drink I switched to beer which I can always count on being safe. I had the blackened catfish relleno. It was delicous!!! Seriously I am a really picky Mexican and this was awesome you have to try it!!! If you love fish you can't go wrong here! The man had the rellenos platter w machaca on top, they use poblanos I tried it and it too was awesome!!! I will totally come back here I don't care what happens here the food is way worth it!! Service was ok nothing spectacular or memorable about it. Does anyone know where I can get this awesome of food in PHX??!?!

Jack K.

This was a pretty average beanery. Everything about it was average except the prices which were just a bit on the high side but I suppose that is to be expected in a place like Sedona. My wife had the chile rellenos which were good but not great. I had the carne asada which tasted OK but was far from authentic. I'm not sure what kind of steak it was but it was not the traditional skirt steak or even the often substituted flank steak. The guacamole was good but expensive. I liked the salsa and chips but they were average. The servings were generous. The service was attentive but rushed. The place was half empty so there was no real need to turn tables. We had to send the waiter away twice to have sufficient time to consider the menu. And we ordered guacamole as an appetizer and our main course was served about 45 seconds after the guacamole arrived which was only about 2 minutes after we ordered. The food came so fast it had me thinking microwave. There was nothing bad about this restaurant but I will go someplace else next time. Eating out is too expensive to settle for average.

Jenna C.

I have to agree with other reviewers - service was terrible. Our waiter, Laco, was so rushed, he pulled the menu out of my hand as we were ordering - in fact, we didn't even get to finish ordering before he rushed off. When he dropped off appetizer plates, he threw them down so fast, they were literally spinning on the table. In addition, he brought a pork taco instead of the beef taco that we ordered. But since he never came back to check on us, we never got it replaced (or drink refills for that matter). As for the food - it was pretty mediocre. I didn't care for the chips and salsa and the queso was just plain bad. It was more of a spinach and cheese dip than a Mexican queso dip. And it was burnt on top of that - it tasted burnt and I could see burnt bits in the cheese. The chile relleno was pretty good, but that's the only thing I really enjoyed.

Jerome W.

Ready? ...OK! J - Just come in and enjoy the yummy fresh tortilla chips they give you. A - A fantastic place to eat in Sedona V - View is beautiful! If it's a nice day, sit near a window or al fresco. E - Excellent Fiesta Margarita (ask for the big one) L - Love the shredded beef enchiladas! I - I like the Javelina head hanging in the bar. N - Noon is super duper crowded so try to schedule your visit later. A - Ask for more chips and fabulous home-made salsa C - Cheese, cheese, and more cheese on everything. A - A La Carte choices or combos from the menu - huge menu selection N - Not too spicy, but I suppose you can ask them to add some heat. T - Tortas are my favorite thing on the menu and come with fab fries. I - I can't stop eating the chips. N - No, this is not Taco Bell, folks. A - A+ for service

Laura D.

Wow I'm totally shocked at these other reviews, I thought this place was so awesome!! The service was good, the food was DELICIOUS... wow.. I had the #2 as it comes, and it was fresh, amazing food- no, not something you'd get in Mexico, but not as Americanized as some restaurants in Phoenix either- somewhere in the middle. Anyways, like I said, I'm a huge fan, and if I'm ever back in Sedona I will definitely return here! The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because though the salsa is yummy, its not spicy at all, and the chips werent super fresh, but other than that, I love this place!

Victor C.

Good food - not spectacular. Good service - but not spectacular. Convenient and good for a family outing. If you are looking for something upscale, for a date then you might go someplace else. But for me, its a great place to take my family and larger groups to have a nice time eating some mexican food.

Aubrie D.

I am really surprised this place has gotten such mediocre reviews! The margaritas are great and original. The Festive in particular was one of the best I have ever had. The food is on the scale of "healthy mexican"...there isn't 1600mg of sodium in a dish...in fact I had to add salt, which I personally appreciate. That means they aren't overloading it with salt and letting you salt it to taste instead. I had the chicken and veggie burrito, which was great! The chicken had a sauce on it that made it taste amazing and it was perfectly cooked. That plus the squash that was inside made for a really great flavor. Also the service was great. Even though it was busy our waiter checked on us often and was super nice. Our order came really fast and with a smile. :)

The O.

We were pleasantly surprised with this place, as we came here based on our concierge's recommendation. The chips and salsa were deliciously fresh and tasty, and we enjoyed the house margaritas. The adults ordered pork enchiladas and salmon tostada; the kids ordered beef soft tacos and chicken quesadilla. All of us left with half our meals as leftovers. They were just as good for breakfast the next day. We sat on the patio and enjoyed beautiful views and chirping insects. Our only complaint was the occasional flies, which is expected with outdoor seating. The service was friendly and excellent. The prices were very good. This restaurant was certainly the best of all the food places we visited in the northern Arizona area. P.S. We did not see these Yelp reviews until after the fact, and we are shocked at the low ratings.

Betty C.

After a day of hiking in Sedona, we were hungry! This spot had good Mexican food which hit the spot! We polished off the fresh tortilla chips and salsa which they gave us while we waited for our order. I had the special tilapia which was battered and fried fish fillets in a wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, and some yummy dressing. I also got black beans with cheese melted on it and a side of rice with my plate. The others had tacos and fajitas. Everyone enjoyed the meal. Our server was also very friendly and efficient. Glad we found this spot!

Kandace G.

2.5 stars... After a morning of hiking, my girlfriends and I decided to try Javelina's for lunch. We wanted Tex-Mex, and knew it would probably not be the most authentic, but it didn't matter at the time. We were immediately seated, and our experience with the server was similar to other reviewers: "What can I get you to drink?" were the very first words out of the guy's mouth. We were not put off, though, being a relatively mellow group, and just ordered our drinks. Chips arrived shortly, and upon request, a very nice freshly made guacamole. The salsa left a lot to desire, but the guac made up for it. I ordered a tostada with blackened shrimp and scallops, and although there was a lot of orange cheese, there was also a lot of lettuce, cabbage, green and red peppers, and red onion. The scallops were delicious, the shrimp overcooked. Huge portions, I took 2/3 of my plate home for leftovers. Go expecting your americanized mexican cravings to be fulfilled, not to experience real mexican cuisine, and you will likely leave satisfied.

Jessica H.

We stopped at Javelina Cantina because we love Mexican food. The resturant was nice and our server was very nice and helpful as well. The portions were huge we couldn't finish our plate. I don't think I would go back, because I wasn't to impressed.

Chad P.

Sorry to say, but I just didn't find this place to be anything special. I had the super burrito with grilled steak. The steak seemed to be overly charred and the guacamole wasn't the greatest.

Maggie F.

I'm terrible at ordering drinks, so I asked the bar tender what he'd recommend for me. The result? The BEST mango margarita EVER!! (wipe a happy tear)

Troy H.

Good wait staff, acceptable food and average prices.

Tiffany V.

We were just in Sedona over the weekend and decided to try Javelina's again as the last time we were there several years ago it was pretty so so. Unfortunately, we had the same experience. The staff was on speed mode because they were so packed with what seemed like tourist's and large families. The waiter was talking a hundred miles and hour and expected us to order ASAP. We ordered margaritas, and I'm not lying when I say they were the WORST margaritas I've ever had. Melted ice, and 90% tequila with a splash of cactus juice. We usually get great margaritas on the rocks here in So. Cal, and I also make them at home, it's pretty difficult to make a bad one. I couldn't drink mine. The dinner was okay nothing to write home about. I know we won't give this place a third try.

Elaine P.

This was our second visit to Javelina. A-OK sums it up. On a Saturday night in late October, it was too cold to sit outside and we did not want a long wait for a table for four. So we settled on sitting in the bar. Service and food were both three stars. Nothing really bad but nothing really outstanding. In fact, I cannot even remember what I ordered -- certainly not memorable. With the many restaurant choices in Sedona, I am not sure I would return to Javelina.

Chris M.

Rough meal all around. Go to Elote if you can get in...

Michael L.

went there for my birthday and excellent. talapia fajitas were amazing. for b day gave a mini sombrero and free fried ice cream. service and food wonderful and more than youcan eat.

Bruges L.

We went here based on the recommendation of the hotel concierge. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. When we initially called, they told us that they couldn't take any more reservations that night. So, we had to ask the concierge to make the reservation. After the concierge called, we suddenly had a reservation for 8:15 pm. When we arrived, the hostess first told us that there would be a 15 minute wait. Since we informed her that we had a reservation, she said we could be seated immediately. I'm not sure why there would have been a wait since there were lots of tables in the section we were seated at. I must agree with Katie R that their food is smothered in cheese. They give you huge portions, but I've had better frozen Mexican dinners from the supermarket refrigerator case. The guacamole is basically mashed up avocados and sour cream - no taste or flavor. I tried one of their special combination platters - beef machaca flauta, chicken taco, and cheese enchilada. The rice was hard and flavorless; the refried beans were covered in cheese. The entree itself was okay. My husband had the steak fajitas. Not much flavor on that beef either. Service is okay. Our server, Candy, was nice and promptly took our order. However, we hardly saw her during our dinner service - we got water, chips and salsa from the busboys. We wanted to pay our bill with a credit card, but she got sidetracked by a large table. After waiting 15 minutes for her to return, we paid our bill in cash so we could go back to the hotel.

Holly S.

Good food. Good atmosphere. Good service. Makes the trip to sedona fun. Good kids menu. Had potato spinach and cheese enchiladas. Beans were perfect.

Ryan L.

Fairly standard Mexican fare served in a light and airy environment. We have eaten out on the patio, which is really nice. Dining there today, they were out of a lot of items, including their house-made tamales. Boo! Service seems spotty ... sometimes good, sometimes lack luster.

REBECCA C.

The food was great! Salsa a bit chipotle still yummy &bountiful., Service expedient. Heard the margaritas r yumm. Enjoyed the chicken wrap. Bean dip needs more tortillas (comes w/ 2) slightly on the pricier side but id def go again pref during hh

Carlyle C.

GREAT food and drinks!

Sapna G.

One of THE best restaurants I tried over the weekend! For all you Calgarians, Javelina Cantina is an upscale version of 'Julio Barrio'. The food was DELICIOUS (I HIGHLY recommend the tostadas and the burritos), the service was EXCELLENT (we got our meal within approximately 10 minutes of ordering it) and the ambiance was PERFECT (contemporary with some Mexican flavour)! The next time I'm in Sedona, I'll be back at this cantina before you can say 'taco'.

Tal F.

This place is comparable to an El Torito. We came in on a last minute decision. The prices are fair but the good is nothing special. It satisfied our Mexican food but would not return again.

Kurdy P.

We went here with a group of 18 after doing a Pink Jeep Tour. The location was in a nice quaint area. The food was mediocre but the margaritas were awesome! I ordered the chile relleno and all it was was cheese..not a big fan. The salsa was really good, ask for the hot! The service was nice but they didn't split our check for us which made it very difficult for us from the get go. Try the Prickly Pear Margarita..yummmm

Steven M.

This place is all about the view, not so much the food. It's standard fare Mexican with a few exceptions, with entrees priced in the $13-$16 range (pretty high for Mexican). You do get a plateful of food, and the service was fine. Nice beer selection. Try to get a seat on the deck to enjoy the sweeping views of Sedona.

Michelle P.

This was a convenient cantina near my hotel in sedona on my trip in june (kings ransom)... Still on the trip, in fact.no wait for lunch, but enough business that I know I wasn't the only one enjoying myself here. The prices were a bit higher than I'd like given that the food I ordered was average, good, but average. I had the chicken tostada salad: best part was the fresh red peppers. Now, the prikly pear margarita was MIGHTY tasty, salsa was good, and service was very good. They also have a full bar, and daily happy hour. I sat outside in the sun by the fountain and felt like I was "resorting" a bit... Beautiful view of red rocks.

Jason E.

Good beer selection, tasty guacamole, tamales were delicious and the whitefish fajitas were superb!

Grace S.

Had an excellent meal! Our food was yummy & served piping hot. The salsa had great flavor without too much heat.

Whitney O.

The Javelina Cantina was recommended by a man working in one of those tourist traps on the Main Street and I am happy I asked. Is the food here terribly unique or exceptional? No, but it is darn good greasy Mexican food. I had a vegetarian combo, which considering how many chips and guacamole I ate I put a huge dent in, it was so delicious I couldn't stop. My boyfriend had carne asada and he cleaned his plate. If and when I return to Sedona I will return to the Javelina Cantina. Oh yeah, the marg was great too. Please note I live in a resort town, so I have no idea what value is when it comes to food, I give stars based on the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Mel B.

I'm a fan of this place and will swing by next time I get the red rock fever. Portions were huge (good after a long day of hiking and touring no matter what kind of food at that point!), service was super friendly, and the food and drink quality was great for the price. We ordered a lot of good- any of which my boyfriend and I could have split on any other average day (we were REALLY hungry). I ordered a combo platter with a chimichanga, beef taco, and chicken burrito and he ordered chicken fajitas which came out smokin'! The seasoning was perfect and the freshness of the food was apparent. But! Where were the plantains??? You can't be a respectful, even remotely-related Mexican food restaurant without that menu item. Service was super friendly (one of the few places I've been to in a long time actually that sent us only ONE waiter for everything). What I liked about this place- and I credit my boyfriend with noticing this- is their water cups are massive. It makes sense because it prevents the wait staff from having to come back every ten minutes and people stay happy (although if you're in a pricey place, the waiter should be attentive to that refilling that 3 oz. water glass anyway and then some!). Eating outside would be beautiful in the summer I bet and the bar looks really fun if you have an hour or so to kill with some fellow tourists. Buen trabajo, Javelina, buen trabajo.

Sherri C.

Best Mexican food I've had since moving away from southern California! Can't wait to go back again. Huge portions, good service.

Kelly B.

If you really love mexican food, skip Javalina Cantina. If you're looking for an average-can't-go-wrong meal, step right in. It looked nearly closed from the outside (it's cold today, no one is sitting outside), but it was pretty busy once we opened the door. The place seems setup to handle large parties and kids well. The overall vibe is generic chain mexican restaurant. Nearly everything was average, except for a really great view from some tables. Service was average, chips were average, salsa probably came from the grocery store. One thing stood out the entire meal was the carne asada in a burrito. It was very good, much higher quality than everything else on the plate. It was weird to find great steak surrounded by average/crappy tortillas, beans, rice, and guacamole. Overal, they do give you a lot of food, but there isn't anything memorable about it. Their tequila/margarita menu looked interesting, maybe I'll go back to try just that.

George G.

Best sit down Mexican in Sedona for under 20$ per couple (2 entrees with no alcoholic drinks). Very extensive food menu and great value. We chose to go for the outside seating and enjoyed the sunset view while eating copious amounts of chips and salsa (provided on the house) while waiting for the entrees to show up. The chips, salsa, and water meter was superb. The fajitas came out sizzling and were enjoyable. My only regret from the evening is not ordering the huge margaritas for two which they make (only because I saw another customer with one on the way out, otherwise I would not have know such an item existed). Can honestly say that I was unable to find anything wrong with this place - great service, great food, great value. Will definitely plan on stopping here again when in the Sedona area.

Stephanie C.

Go for the margaritas! I have ordered only one other margarita that can stand up to it...you can actually taste the tequila, which is really hard to find in AZ (most places they just taste like lime juice). The food was good. My problem with people expecting legit Mexican cuisine anywhere other than Mexico is that they really should just go to Mexico. Anyhow, the food at the Javelina was good. I especially liked the chalupas in the masa boat...somethin different and really flavorful. Service was fine. Chips and salsa were pretty weak, but that's the only real complaint I have :0) At the very least, go have an afternoon marg, it's worth it!

Mary H.

I would not come back here. Our server was very rude. He spoke very fast and was rushing us from the moment we sat down. There were plenty of open tables, they were not busy, and I am from NYC... Used to people rushing. There was no need here, the guy was an a-hole. He slammed our beers down on the table and gave us dirty looks from afar. At the end of the meal, he added tip to our check. The menu says tip added for parties of 8 or more, we had seven. When we asked him about it, he said the computer did it automatically. Bull. Then, the food... Tasted okay, certainly not good. Chips were a bit stale, salsa was bland, the guac was good. What I would expect from a chain restaurant like chili's. That night, though, everyone who ate the carne asada had "stomach issues". The margaritas were expensive and had hardly any liquor in them. The rest of the staff seemed pretty nice, just not our waiter. I would never eat here again or recommend it to anyone. Its sad that in such a beautiful place a restaurant like this should exist. They obviously survive on tourist who haven't done their homework. Sleazy.

Daniel S.

Food was great, service especially nice because we had 2 screaming toddlers who left a big mess on the floor...also great views of red rocks from patio...we recommend!

Ada G.

The smell of fajitas and the burnt smell of dirty sizzling plates is difficult to forget. The Sangria was sour and sparkly, which was a new and different variant for me, but not deliscious. We read reviews that the drinks weren't strong, so my mom asked for a strong margarita and got one. My mom said the chicken sandwich was wonderful. They don't allow substitutions of things like french fries for salad. My husband enjoyed the open faced shrimp quesadilla , but we both agreed that $15 for a simple quesadilla does not taste good. I ordered nachos - instead of sour cream, they put this sour cream mixed with taco seasoning on top. The first bite tasted good, but then, everything in the restaurant started to smell like burnt fajita plates, including my food, and I couldn't eat anymore. I gave it three stars because it's in Sedona and the food options are limited. If this were in Phoenix or the SF Bay Area, it would get one star.

Laura T.

I wanted to try this restaurant after a great referral from our guide on the Pink Jeep Tour. I walked in and was amazed with the views of the red rocks from each table. They also have beautiful outdoor dining as well. The food was incredible and the margaritas are some of the best I've ever had. I ordered the chimichanga and I have to say I've never had anything like it.They also serve it with a creme de fraiche, which is a sour cream with a southwestern kick.. I love this type of cuisine and it was so full of flavor. Everything was delicious and combined with the views, this is a wonderful place to dine.

Trevor F.

Javelina Cantina is just ok. Lunch did include a few tasty items. The chili relleno that I had was properly made the best thing I ate. The others in our party of 4 were reasonably happy with their choices as well, save one. The green chili tamale was mostly masa and unappetizing. The food didn't blow us away but it was serviceable. I agree with other reviews that the salsa was tasty but needed more heat. We asked the waiter for something hotter and he brought a nice hot little salsa from the kitchen. It did the trick. We washed this all down with a decent margerita. The waiter was informative and attentive. While this is the only Mexican I had in the Sedona area, I will probably try another place next time. The menu is pricey for what you get.

Shaela M.

Service and food were so-so. We went for Sunday night dinner & felt rushed. Waitress didn't offer specials or ask how our meals were. Seemed like being a vegetarian was a problem. Not much smiling or eye contact. Portions were big but flavor not great. Wouldn't go back with so many other options available.

mixxxx z.

Great service, delicious food, large portions. Margaritas are sublime! The decor is authentic and staff are friendly. Great place for groups. Even the bar area looked fun. Its a bit noisy but not too loud. We ate here twice over the weekend!

Loren P.

This is not on the favorite restaurant list. Coming from Texas we have our standards. We judge a restaurant by its Tortilla Soup and Fish Tacos. My Tortilla Soup had to many strips of Tortilla and not enough soup. When I found the soup, it could have had more flavor. My Prickly Pear Margarita was weak in alcohol and in juice.

Tanya M.

Great food, horrible service. Waiter obviously didn't put or order in, then rather than admit his mistake and offer to make up for it, he tried to play it off that a big party slowed down the kitchen. Dinner ended up being a 2hr affair on a relatively quiet Thursday night.

Kayla D.

Stay away! The waiter was really pushy, acted as if we inconveinced him. The food was overpriced, I could whip up something way more tasty.

Brian B.

We just sort of fell into this place while passing through Sedona and wanting lunch. We were able to sit outside on a beautiful day and enjoy the amazing scenery around you. The menu was large and the service was excellent. I has some enchilada lunch special which was very good. I'd go back here again for dinner and margaritas.

Kirsten C.

Delicioso! Great food and service. The view is breathtaking.

Dan And Eileen D.

Gringo Mexican, but surprising good food, nice vibe, and fast service. Most excellent Adobo pork/chili sandwich, seasoned fries, generous side salad with guacamole dressing, and great 1800 margaritas. We would return for sure.

Blair G.

Definitely not worth your time if you are in Sedona. This place was about as average as it gets for a Mexican restaurant. The Queso dip took about 35 minutes to come out. The chips and salsa were definitely a bright spot here, but not exactly worth the evening. Praise the Lord we were only here for an appitizer while we waited for an exceptional dinner at Elote. Those two places were worlds apart.

Leanna A.

OK, putting aside the bad service and wait time, there were other problems with this place. 1) The service was not only bad (OK, I said I'd put it aside, but this is worth mentioning)....but when our waiter did come over, he kept putting his hand on my husband's shoulder and saying "yo?" at the end of his questions. It creeped my husband out. 2) The margaritas are horribly watered down. 3) It seems very touristy 4) The pork adobo sandwich I got sounded wonderful on the menu and was a hunk of flavorless meat on very plain bread. One positive...my husband's steak and cheese torta was quite good. There are better places in Sedona.

Darius R.

Good food. Not your standard boring Mexican fair.

Justin S.

we love this place. I started coming here in early 2000 with my mom and now my wife and i go there multiple times when in sedona. sit outside on the patio take in the view of the red rocks which are spectacular, get a margarita, chips and salsa, you are ready to order. we have tried a lot of stuff on the menu but we really like the fish tacos - everything has been tasty and authentic. the beefs - chips are way too salty and sometimes especially with the fajitas (which we love) are very very greasy. since we have been going there a lot over the years i don't usually complain. you will be happy.

Trvlr W.

I love Mexican food but this place? Certainly NOT! We ended up coming here for dinner - the hotel we stayed at highly recommended this restaurant saying it was the best in town. Whew! If that's the best in town, then all the restaurants should just shut down forever! The chips and salsa came out first - the salsa tasted like pure ketchup with abit of vegetables tossed in. So we asked for guacamole and queso. Little did we know they were both $8! The guacamole was edible and the queso... a pure disgrace to cheese. Luckily, the people that I was with liked it. I just wanted to stop eating right there but I was hungry and didn't want to appear rude. We ordered an appetizer - crispy something... and what came out was an oversized tortilla with melted cheese on it and a little scoop of tomato concasse. It kinda looked like a quesadilla. How disappointing and it didn't even taste good - no flavor at all! And it came out the same time as our meal. Throughout the menu there were Javelina icons representing a popular Javelina item. So I had ordered the steak sandwich - it had an icon next to it so it just had to be good, right? Can you say where's the beef? The sandwich came out and it had 3 little fajita looking steak strips on each half filled with guacamole, and lettuce. I took one bite and thought this is a Javelina special? A popular item - why? The others ordered the chicken fajita with rice and beans. The rice was actually sweet! Who puts sugar in with their rice? And the fajitas? It was mostly onions and bell peppers... where's the chicken? It really was a good thing we had a $50 certificate from the hotel to eat here. Including tip, we only paid $16. Which I think was $16 too much! Wow... I still can't get over the recommendation - best in town... Huh! For our stay in Sedona the best meals we had were made in our kitchenette!

Daniel M.

Javelina Cantina was recommended to us by an "information booth" on the street uptown as having the best Mexican food in Sedona. If that is true, we recommend that you avoid Mexican restaurants in Sedona. We suspect the guy at the booth was getting a kickback for his recommendations. Although the place is pleasantly lively and the portions are quite generous, the food itself is of average to poor quality, and the drinks are worse ($6.50 for a smallish-sized frozen Marquarita that tasted like dirty water). If you are not particular about the quality of your food and drink, but quantity and atmosphere are your thing...this place is for you.

Amanda R.

Very disappointing. My chile relleno was made of nacho cheese and my beef taco was burnt. My husband's chimichanga was just a ton of chicken wrapped in a tortilla and fried. The chips were ok but the salsa was nasty. On the upside, our margaritas were great - very strong and not too much ice.

Alan T.

This place is like El Torito only with weaker margaritas. I'm not a huge tequila fan but I had to get an extra shot just to drink it. Food is sub-standard and overpriced. Wait staff was friendly enough and the place was clean - that's about the highlight. For a similar price but AWESOME food, go next door to Elote. I gave that 5 stars.

Katelyn F.

My parents found this place on a previous trip to Sedona and recommended we go there. So glad we did..... it was awesome! I had the number 7, which is a taco and a chile relleno. I added chicken to the relleno and ... YUM. will be back!

Sabrina S.

Sedona: Good: Gorgeous incredible red rocks and silvery-green dotted hills. Not so hot: The inflated prices. Just cause there are some gorgeous rocks, 100s of artists, and fancy homes, everything is inflated by $2-3 dollars. I've been to fancy arty places...but you can find better values there than in Sedona...and that is dissapointing. Such is what I experienced at Javelina Cantina with my family. I spied the Elote cafe and now wish that we'd gone there instead. But we were hungry and were searching for a place with our stomachs. The cafe we wanted was long-gone. Javelina was there, so we wondered in. We had sandwiches, a torta and some steak fajitas. Yeah, this is more Am-Mexican food, freshly done, but not worth its price. The torta was filled with tender steak, mild cheese and good w/ the cumin mayo and soft bread, but it wasn't *that* different from from tortas I've had in Chicagoland for 5 to 7 bucks. This torta was $10.50. So what if it comes with fancy salad? In Chicago, we know Mexican as well as the Western folk. There are Mexican joints and taquerias and El Famous Burrito a-plenty. I found myself wishing for Mexican hole-in-the wall cafes and Frontera Grill. My dad loved his steak fajitas, but he'll eat anything as long as it's hot, tasty and in front of him. Truly, Javelina Cantina isn't that bad (***1/2 stars) But it loses a star and a half for those over-inflated prices for regular food.

George H.

After three days in Sedona my girlfriend and I have eaten here twice. The drinks, food, service and atmosphere are fantastic. I'm not a fan of Mexican food but, these guys prepare fantastic food! The views of the red rocks are spectacular, check it out a sun set!

Janine G.

We heard wonderful things about this restaurant, but was met with disappointment. We had a large party with reservations 2 months in advance to have dinner. When we arrived, we were told after sitting down and ordering drinks we had to be out in 45 minutes. We walked out and were welcomed to Taos Cantina which I highly recommend. None of us have ever been treated so badly in a restaurant as we were in Javelina Cantina.

linda p.

Awesome Mexican restaurant!! Great food, great prices. Loved it. The organic margaritas amazing, wonderful chili relleno and cheese enchiladas . The restaurant is beautiful. Very reasonable. One of the best restaurants we've eaten at great service also, everyone's so nice here. Yeah finally a good restaurant that's not too over priced!

Bill K.

Once again a fabulous dining experience. Margaritas are the best. I had the scallops fajitas - superb! My wife had the potato spinach enchilada - first try the flautas was hard, but they got it right the second time with no hassle. We'll be back next year.

Raven K.

Please don't bother.......we visited for dinner on 7/24. We had several people recommend this restaurant, and cannot figure out why. On the plus side, the prickly pear margarita was very good and the waiter was very friendly. The house salsa was okay. My husband ordered the shrimp fajitas--although the flavor of the sauce was good, the shrimp/peppers/onions were essentially steamed rather than sauteed or grilled. I had the blackened catfish rellenos which were highly recommended by the waiter. Although the mango salsa on top was good, the fish was lacking in flavor and I didn't eat more than a couple of bites. The black beans were not good--very bland, and even the rice was poorly prepared. Overall, the menu selection looked promising but the results were not worthy of the $52 bill.

Jenny C.

came here really just for the prickly pear martinis...novelty...not worth it...it's super sweet and super weak... also came here because a lot of other places were packed and someone recommended this place. don't remember what i had so it must've not been that impressive...portion was big tho...

Tina G.

Average Mexican fare just priced higher. Waiter was very busy in the kitchen.

Christopher Q.

We went for a late lunch after a mornings walkabout. The Torta was pretty good. We also ordered a port burrito which was not so good . The pork was grilled and chopped up instead of slowcooked and shreadded as I was expecting. The portions are ginormous so people with small appitites beware. Good option for those of you (like me ) who are budget concious temper your expectations (ie dont expect the sun and the moon).

Michelle O.

Would definitely recommend this place - Great happy hour - Great service - We just happened upon this place randomly - Taco Tuesdays ($1 Tacos) and had a delicious Prickly Pear Margarita.. This place really hit the spot after wandering around in the cold rain. We also had free chips and salsa (pretty tasty). We also love how this place was next to beautiful art galleries - El Prada.

Xyn H.

This place was recommended to use by one of the locals at Safeway. Food was alright. It was nearly impossible to get service. Nobody actually greets you at the door. The lady is running all over the place. Once seated the waiter expects you to know what you want. Food came out quick but if you need more salsa nearly impossible. I wouldn't go back to this place if I visited Sedona again. Plenty of other places to try.

Betty R.

Terrible food. To start off, the chips were very stale. When we complained, the waiter said it was because they were cold. (they weren't cold). He brought us another basket--just as stale. We had bean burritos. The tortillas were inedible and the beans were just a mushy mess. Do not eat here. If this, as they claim, was voted best Mexican restaurant in Sedona, I feel sorry for the people of Sedona.

Sake N.

I'd been told this place was special, so we tried it. It isn't. The food is generic "Mexican" food for Anglos, very much like you might find at any moderately priced "Mexican" restaurant that caters to those who don't know this fine cuisine. The salsa was mostly tomatoes and out of a can. The chile con queso tasted like velveeta with a few canned chopped green chiles in it. The tamales weren't bad, but lacked the fine texture and richly flavored fillings I expect from a good tamale. My husband reported that his carne asada was okay, but a bit bland. I just asked him which dessert he had, and he couldn't remember, which tells you all you need to know about that. (Normally he waxes poetic about a good dessert.) The only difference between this place and a "Mexican" diner you'd find in any midwestern town without much of a Latin American population is the price, which was not moderate. :/ I suspect that the margaritas and the party atmosphere would appeal to some, but if you have tastebuds and plan to remain sober, there are many better places in Sedona, some of them considerably less expensive.

C S.

Excellent food, it took a long time to choose b/c I wanted it all. My vegetarian combo was delicious and huge, I'm leaving stuffed and happy. Our waiter was very attentive with constant water refills, and lots of chips and salsa. Best sit-down Mexican I've had in awhile. And the view from the outside deck can't be beat.

Jennifer P.

We drove up to visit a friend for the day in the sedona area. She ventured down from north to meet us. We hiked for several hours and then decided to catch some dinner in town. Having never been to Sedona before, I know nothing of the town or how touristy it is. My friend had eaten here a few times and knew that it was good and we could have her little boy here without too much disruption. We were seated quickly very near a window with a nice view of the mountains. The took good care to get us everything we needed for three hungry adults and a very active, quick handed little baby. The food seemed like pretty standard mexican fare, nothing too fancy. The chips and salsa were good.There were a few good specials, but I opted for a regular off the menu combo. An enchilada and taco, if memory serves me correctly. The food was good. Even the baby liked his rice and beans. Our service was very good. Our water glasses were continually replenished and the staff did not seem the slightest bit upset by the baby making a mess. I do not know what the rest of the town holds, but I thought this place was a good above average meal with a nice view and good staff.

M.J. C.

Really good food....especially the fajitas!! Good house margarata and they have Dos Equis on tap. Salsa needs a little spicing up if you like spice. The views are great. A few outside tables with a spectacular view but there are some very nice view tables inside too. It's a nice place to go for some pretty decent Mexican food!

Mary R.

It's a chain mexican restaurant, but it's good. We ate at the bar to avoid the long wait for a table, and loved our meals. First you can't go wrong with an endless supply of chips and salsa. Our bartender/waiter made great suggestions for our meals. And we weren't disappointed - the portions were large and yummy!

Mike A.

I totally agree with Sue W about this place. Huge portions, good prices but faily typical, almost chain like "Mexican". If you are looking for something different then skip it. If you want the same ole (American style)Mexican food then this is it.

Bre R.

This is the best Mexican food in Sedona. The service was good, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was excellent! I had the Javelina taco salad and my husband had the shredded beef taco and pollo asada enchiIada. We both loved our meals and left full and happy! They receive 5 stars overall for the price, quantity and taste of food, and service combined.

Byron M.

Nice place, good food, reasonable prices. I had the steak fajitas, very good, meat was tender and flavorful. Would recommend you try it out.

Katie C.

Let's be serious. This place is not good. It's like a Garcias. No real reason to go here. But, I am biased and hate most if not all the tourist geared restaurants in uptown Sedona.

Pete P.

The best cheese enchilada I have ever had.

Arlene W.

Tried the cilantro lime salad dressing and the poppers with prickly pear dip on the waitresses recommendation and glad we did! Both were great! Got here at 12:10 on a Sunday and the outdoor dining was full but we did get a window seat. Probably could have waited about 10 min for a seat outdoors but thought we didn't have time. $ 30 for 2 sandwiches and tea with a 10% discount using the card from one of the local tourist offices. It was good and different!

Will D.

Pretty terrible place. When I walked in I thought the decor was nice and liked the bar setup a lot. That all changed when I sat down and looked at the menu. WAAAAAYYYY overpriced menu for mediocre food. Are you really going to charge $10+ for a burrito? I can get a way better burrito for $5 at a hole-in-the-wall place back in California. I decided to order 2 beef enchiladas a la carte and was not impressed. They were covered in a pretty bland red sauce and what seemed like 1/2 an inch of cheese. It was just sloppy and gross. The meat wasn't very tender either. One last complaint I have is that the whole place was all smoky which made it very stuffy and uncomfortable. If you are going to get Mexican food in Sedona, go to Elote.

Sarah S.

Thought it was a great, affordable Mexican restaurant. Nothing particularly special but the food was yummy and affordable and the atmosphere was comfortable. I only wish the margaritas were stronger!

Jared W.

Before discovering yelp.com , I ate here and had a great experience! Good food, good prices, and wonderful local beer! Sadly, my second time around really showcased just how far this formally good cantina has fallen. I don't know what to call it, but its an ailment that affects countless formally great eateries in many touristy towns all across the fruited plain. For now I'll call it "touristitus". Basically what happens is that tourists start getting demanding about the type of food served there and quality drops. What was grilled is now deep fat fried, what was fresh, is now frozen, and what was local is now imported because of the picky, demanding creatures known as tourists. Sadly this ailment has hit Javelina Cantina in a big way. The food is bland bland bland; designed to be pumped out of the kitchen at a brisk pace in order to keep up the finicky flighy tourist. In my humble opinion, Mexican food should be fresh, simple, and most of all spicy. The menu is boring, taco this and burrito that. No mention of a good chicken mole, chili colorado, or even real cantina tacos. In fact, most of the menu is Mexican-American food. Burritos, and American inspired tacos are the dominating menu items. If only they had big American flavor, I might have given a better review. But no, the food is barely seasoned. This is most likely the result of too many complaints of overly spicy food. I did eat here in the past and it was terrific. But now, it doesn't pass as Mexican food in my opinion. As for drinks, I LOVE Oak Creek Amber, a local Sedona brew. Seeing as how it is local and therefore easily accessible from the brewery located within Sedona, you would think that they would never run out. Well they did, I was severely disappointed and even more when I had no choice but to accept a XX in lieu of the local offering. Someone get Gordon Ramsey in there because this cantina needs a refresher on what a cantina is supposed to be! On to the service. I ate at the bar and had zero problems getting drinks and prompt service in what was a mostly empty restaurant. Unusual for a beautiful fall weekend I might add. One thing that did irk me was the fact that the hostess was busily tapping away on her iphone when I entered and exited the building. Not once did she look up and acknowledge me. I was actually greeted by one of the servers upon walking in. Unusual, since they actually bothered to pay a hostess to stand there and do that exact job. Someone tip the servers if they greet you, its not their job. I won't be around to do it because that was my last trip into the Javelina Cantina.

Albert H.

Thick and salty chips were fairly good with salsa. Portions were large, service was alright, and they offer a few craft beers. Really it's just an ordinary Mexican restaurant in a stellar location in Sedona. Very pricey though - most entrees were $15-ish, and this is for pedestrian things like enchiladas, burritos and such.

Sue W.

It looks like your standard casual mexican restaurant but the food was great and HUGE portions. I recommend splitting meals since they are very generous. I recommend holding off on the chips (since they aren't the best) and saving room for their specialty meals. We had a veggie fajita and a salad and they were delicious. The seasoning they applied was different than the normal but great. Its a great lunch spot of maybe happy hour spot.

Bindiya T.

The 2 stars are only for the chips and salsa, did not like their food at all

Jay K.

The drinks are great, food is great! The avocado vinagarette salad dressing is AMAZING! Service was good, wish the wait wasn't so long but other than that it is fantastic!

Robyn L.

We have always gone to Oaxaca in uptown Sedona, and never thought to come to Javelina Cantina! I'm so glad we did! The food was incredible, and our server, Angel, was awesome! They have an a la carte menu that we ordered from and it was the perfect portion for lunch! We'll definitely be back!

Sridevi K.

Good Mexican food on our way out as we drive from Sedona back to Phoenix. Fast service and tasty rice and beans. Margaritas looked awesome, but we did not indulge this time!

A D.

This is by far the BEST mexican food I have EVER had. The chips and salsa were amazing. My husband doesn't care for salsa much, but he scarfed that down! We even got some to go. I ordered the Chicken fajitas and they were wonderful. The next day we went back for the Fried Ice Cream. YUMMY!!! Great place to watch the sunset.

Scott M.

The service was awesome. The chimichanga was flavorful, but the green chili was too watered down. i must be spoiled by the New Mexican green chili. Great views and pretty good Mexican.

Greg L.

it would get 2 stars in San Diego, maybe it should be more for Sedona, it was just average Mexican, what i did like was they were quick, and service was decent. i would have gone to the "other" Mexican spot, that got better reviews, but they were closed on a Monday?! good luck!

Mary M.

My boyfriend and I were starving after a long day of hiking around the beautiful red rocks. We didn't have time to stop by the hotel and check yelp so we used a traveler's guide that the hotel gave us to find Javelina Cantina. It seemed a little pricey, but we were too hungry to go someplace else. The food was less than mediocre and the only good part about the place was the chips. The service was also TERRIBLE. Our server dilligently served all the tables around us, but ignored our table. Every time we needed something we had to get out of our seats to find someone to help us. We were done and ready for our bill and it took 30 minutes for us to get our hands on it. Stay away from this place. There are a lot of wonderful places to eat in Sedona and this is not one of them. I will NEVER return to this place.

Lisa C.

We came here for a late lunch because we were starving. It really wasn't all that good. The view of the red rocks was pretty and the service was friendly, but the food was subpar. We had the chicken tortilla soup which was pretty good, a beef tamale which was overcooked and super dry, and a scallop burrito which was ok. Not sure I'd come back here.

Art M.

Good: The location, decor and cleanliness of the restaurant Bad: The food! I had fish tacos, they smelled overly fishy, arrived a little cold, the re-fried beans on the side had congealed and had that gross layer of brown film that develops when beans cool off, and cracks when your fork hits them..gross. My girlfriend had the enchiladas, they arrived schlopped cafeteria style on the plate along with beans and rice. She endured three bites (my lovely trooper) then gave up on the pitiful plate. If I paid only $5 a plate, all of this would have been tolerable. But at close to $20 a plate, it was simply unacceptable.

McCools B.

Lame. Saturday night in Sedona. Ordered a shot and a beer, then my next order was a $15 margarita and never got it. Totally ignored after that. Pffftttt.....hated it.

Emily D.

Places like this kill me. I think that chips and salsa that taste this good should be completely banned! I don't know many people who can resist fresh salty tortilla chips and house made salsa. This is the stuff that back fat and muffin tops are made of... On a more positive note, the food is GREAT! I had a chicken fajita salad that was very fresh and my boyfriend loved his enchilada. I did not sample the cocktails but will make sure to do so next time. We sat outside and enjoyed the amazing view of the red rocks. Service was great and I will for sure return!

Alex F.

We got a Margarita, and split the shrimp tacos. food and service were good, but it was pricy. I'm sure there's better mexican in Sedona, not blown away, but not bad either.

Beverly B.

The chips and salsa are great - our waiter was very attentive. We enjoyed the fish tacos, cheese and green chili tamale, and cheese chili relleno. We were there for lunch in January (not the busiest time), had no wait and great service.

Dennis C.

In the Hillside Plaza. Good Southwestern-Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices (for Sedona) with attractive and comfortable surroundings. Generous servings. We've been eating there for years always had always great food plus courteous and efficient service. The chimichangas are my favorite. There's often a crowd and long wait at dinner time.

Whitney W.

The food is sub-par, the wait is usually excruciating, but javelinas the animal are adorable, fierce, and mysterious, so at least the name is excellent. The last time I went here, my friend ended up throwing up in the bushes outside, and she had not been drinking at all. Do with that information what you will.

Natali M.

Such a fun family restaurant! The food is pretty authentic, the margaritas are good, and the chips and salsa before the meal are great! Also, the wait staff was really honest and sincere. Our waiter advised us against ordering the chalupas or the spinach enchiladas but suggested other enchiladas, tamales, and fajitas. All lived up, although there was just a bit too much maza in the tamales. The guacamole is very creamy and fresh as well. In all, a great Mexican dinner!

Megan K.

Great happy hour stop. After a round of strong margaritas and quesadillas we overheard patrons being told that there was a three hour wait for dinner. Standard Mexican-American food and atmosphere.

Elizabeth C.

This is average mexican food even for the southwest. I tasted no difference between it and other mexican places we went. Our waitress seemed like she needed a day off. You get a lot of food for your money and there is a ton of room for a party, even a seperate party room. Recommended, but don't expect it to change your life.

Kali R.

The fish tacos were soo yummy! And huge, I had enough left over for a whole meal the next day. We sat outside with a great view of the red rocks. The staff was very attentive. The margarita's were good, but I've had better.

Michelle S.

The food was typical of chain Mexican restaurants....fair at best. I was looking for a more authentic Mexican food experience and was somewhat disappointed. Only thing I really enjoyed was the Prickly Pear Margarita.

Erika B.

All in all, we had a pretty good dinner here, especially considering it was about 7:30 on a Friday night and we only had to wait about five minutes for a table. We were seated on an open air patio with beautiful views and a nice breeze. There's a lot to choose from on the menu, so it's easy to please everyone in a large party - you can order big meals like fajitas, but there are also tasty looking salads, vegetarian options, or you can order a la carte. The salsa was really good and they were very generous with the servings of both salsa and chips. I ordered the vegetarian combo and the portion was huge - the cheese chile relleno was really tasty, and there was a really delicious tomatillo sauce on the tamale. The only complaint would be the service - nothing really bad to speak of, but rushed and inattentive. But, the food came out quickly, so in the end the experience was overall pretty good.

Colin A.

In One word "GREAT" - Great Views, Great Food and Great Service. Couldn't ask for more. Visit the visitor's center and they gave me a coupon for 10% off.

Frank M.

Food pretty good but chips and salsa were uninspiring. Also, found hair in salsa. Not good! Waiter was ok but not very personable. Nice view but over priced like all restaurants in Sedona. My fajitas were pretty tasty but cost $16 and I had to spend 2 bucks more for beans and rice. What's up with that?

Andrew K.