Ate lunch here on Saturday after the Baltimore Running Fest, after the wait for a table at next-door Abbey Burger was over an hour. Pretty standard Mexican place - good food (bonus they still served brunch at 1pm) and cool atmosphere. We seemed to have 2 servers who would both ask how everything was, if we needed anything... but better two than none. Nothing too exciting here, but nothing to complain about either!
(3)
Dawn H.
Cheap eats with great peeps! Delicious and tasty, great location -- in the heart of the city
(4)
Susan A.
A "meh" so-so Mexican bar and restaurant. Pros Inexpensive Free salsa and tortilla chips Cons Post-frat-boy-20-somethings galore Not clean Loud What I got Vegetarian tacos Guacamole and chips Two house margaritas What I thought The bar is in the front and seating is in the way back, in a cave-like area with 6 tables. When I walked in, I couldn't even tell that they served food. We polity pushed our way to the back, in swarms of drunk and loud young people reliving their college years. It was 9:30pm, how are these people so drunk? A handful were wearing green outfits for an early celebration of St Patricks Day (thats two weeks away, folks). The attention is very much so at the bar, so there is one server for the six tables for the food eaters. I ordered two house margaritas, the first one tasting pretty good and the second was heavy on the tequila. I dislike ordering two of the same drink and having them taste starkly different. Our server forgot utensils, our order of guacamole and waters multiple times. She was nice, but busy. The guacamole used under-ripe avocados, so the dip was not smooth, but rather had little gritty chunks of avocado, and under-seasoned. The tacos were fine; I really enjoyed the fresh sweet corn. You can tell that the corn was fresh because multiple kernels stuck together, meaning it was cut right off the cob. I wish the tacos came with something else - the plate looked rather plain.
(2)
Rachel L.
On a Sunday afternoon, some friends and I were in the mood for a little Sunday Funday action. One friend suggested No Way Jose because she was craving queso and we all headed over there. No Way Jose is located in the heart of Federal Hill and it's usually packed. The Ravens weren't playing when we went which made the spot significantly calmer than usual. We started the meal with an order of complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was fresh and the chips were good. But nothing to write home about. One of my friends I was with, has a serious thing for queso. By that, I mean if it is on a menu, she will order it. (If you have any good queso suggestions, I'd love to hear them.) So she ordered herself some queso and surprise we got more chips. The queso was great, much better than the one at Blue Agave. It was creamy, cheesy and had a nice hint of a spice. Our group also decided to share Guacamole and Chips. The guac was made fresh and had a nice flavor to it. One of my friends ordered the Grilled Steak Tacos. The order came with two tacos topped with steak, salsa, cheese and roasted peppers. They had a slight spice to them but were packed with flavor despite appearing a little plain. My other friends shared a Vegetable Quesadilla which they loved. Inside the quesadilla there was various vegetables, and cheese. This was good, but there's nothing special about it. I ordered the Elotes which is easily my favorite Mexican dish. This is hands down the best elote I've ever had. The paprika and chipotle mayo spread made it spicy and really elevated the roasted corn flavor. For some no-frills Mexican Food, No Way Jose really delivers.
(4)
Caitlin C.
This place reminds me of the bar I went to in college. Kinda divey, with cheap margaritas and tacos. I've been here with my family to eat during regular people dinner hours, and I've always enjoyed their food. They have a nice selection of fajitas and tacos, with a build your own taco and burrito option, which I've always appreciated. The drinks are good and strong, which makes up for the slightly dingy atmosphere and sometimes not great service. I've been frequenting this place every Monday after Baltimore Social volleyball games, and I've been pleased so far. They offer good drink specials for people in Social jerseys, and have specials like $5 for two tacos and BOGO nacho plates. They've also been letting us play flipcup upstairs, which is fun!
(3)
Kimia M.
I never have a bad expensive when I come into this establishment from the mangers to the busboys everyone is welcoming friendly and extremely enjoyable they make the experience a fun one!!
(5)
Angela M.
Best margaritas and great food. Small restaurant so the bar is usually crowded but it is not as packed in the seating towards the back or upstairs
(5)
Katie M.
This place has great deals! I went for the margaritas and fajitas for two special they have on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's $24.95 for plenty of food and a nice, big pitcher of margaritas. We couldn't finish everything. The service was good, but not fantastic. I wouldn't really have expected anything better from a bar. The salsa is kinda bland, but just add a little salt and it's fine. The fajitas were yummy, but I've had better. Each person gets two burrito sized flour tortillas to eat them. Plenty of toppings were given too. They are also served with rice, black beans, and pinto beans. All of that was sorta bland. The margaritas don't taste that strong, but I was definitely pretty buzzed before we even finished the pitcher. I would definitely go back to this place. Don't expect to eat a gourmet meal, but do expect to have a good time, enjoy decent food, and good drinks at great price. P.S. Parking sucks.
(4)
Jessica L.
When you walk in you are greeted by brightly decorated interior with strung lights and colorful signs and a narrow bar. You can then head on back o the seating area that has tables and booths. The walls are adorned with a Corona themed mural. Once you have a seat you are given a menu and bowl of homemade chips and salsa (the salsa has some kick). The menu hosts some typical Mexican fare from tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc. I had the beef soft taco and was impressed with the taste but the presentation was different than any other soft taco I have seen. Instead of a small shell it was one large shell. My friend had the Chicken Burrito, which came with beans and rice. All the ingredients looked fresh and tasty. The side outside the door hosts many happy hour drink specials like $3 margaritas. The food was good and the service was welcoming. Next time I am in the area I will be heading back. I want to try one of the margaritas I hear are good! The Extras: Monday is half-price burger night with $2 Yuenglings. Tuesday and Wednesday nights feature fajitas for two, which includes over-sized orders of fajitas and a pitcher of margarita or sangria for $20.
(4)
Bristew M.
Great authentic Mexican food, great drinks and a great happy hour!
(5)
Drew P.
Five for 5.00 tacos!!!!!!!! Get em beef and crunchy, with a nice cold beer or margarita. I think 5 for 5 is Saturday and Sundays, but im not 100%. It was Saturday when I went, around 5 o clock for some mid day brews and munchies. Service was OK, but it is a bar. I'll probably make this a regular weekend event if the tacos are always on par as they were the other day.
(4)
Matthew L.
The salsa is really good. I've always enjoyed No Way Jose for drinks, but the food is pretty good too. Looks like a pub that was splattered with bright paints. Americanized mexican food, with a good margaritas. It's cheap and fun. It's a good meal for a group of laid back people before a night out in Federal Hill.
(3)
Matt B.
Is it a bar...is it a Mexican restaurant.....well it appears to be both and does a good job in the process. The food is very good, and cheap, and the staff are friendly!!
(4)
Jane A.
My boyfriend and I were here last night for an early dinner. It happened to be happy hour timing. It wasn't busy so we just sat at the bar. The specials are awesome during happy hour. We each had a margarita that was really good. Chips and salsa were good to hold us over until our tacos arrived. Taco Tuesday: any taco (except the shrimp) for $5... and they come in 3s! We ordered the steak tacos and the chipotle chicken tacos. So good. Nice bartenders, funny and upbeat. They said it was dead for a normal Tuesday, being right after MDW and with the downpour we were having, but it was pretty quiet most of the time. When we arrived there were only 2 others and when we left there were about 10 others. It was a typical bar setting, nothing to complain about. We'll absolutely be back.
(4)
Cathee L.
Don't know what I expected. Very mediocre tex-mex. It was inexpensive, but I left disappointed. With all the other great options in the area, I wouldn't go back.
(2)
Taylor V. S.
"It's okay." That's my experience in a nutshell. Disclaimer: I'm a Texas native who has spent many months across the boarder, so I'm picky. The location is excellent. It's right in the middle of Federal Hill, across the street from Cross Street Market. The venue is larger than it appears from the outside, with two stories of seating. However, the critical elements--the food and drinks--leave a lot to be desired. The chips were cold and stale. The salsa is sweet--no spice, and insufficient savory to cut through the sweetness. The $5 house margaritas aren't quite as good as ones I've made I'm a hotel blender in Cancun, but not terrible either. The tortillas are microwaved and get hard before you can fill them. It's just okay. Would I come back? No Way, Jose!
(2)
Brittany W.
It's the bartenders' bar. They have the best staff and some amazing food! Love to come here and play the jukebox, watch games, dance like a fool, maybe drink a natty light or a bunch and pretend I'm still in college :) Love Jose's!!
(5)
Mattie C.
Long wait at Ryleigh's next door so we stopped by here for some pre-dinner drinks. Liked it! There were games in the back, a long narrow bar that wasn't too crowded, friendly bartender and relatively cheap drinks. Oh yeah, I love the name of the place too. While the fiance stuck to beer - a really tasty vanilla porter actually, I had some kind of combo special of a tequila shot, Tecate and some table salt. Classy! I enjoyed it. There were TVs lining the bar so we watched some Olympics coverage and basketball while we enjoyed our drinks. Nice place to stop by for a drink and hang out. Didn't try any food but definitely liked the vibe of the place and enjoyed being here. Would happily stop here again next time we are int his area!
(3)
Kris L.
Happy hour is the only reason to hit up this place: $3 margaritas, $5 for 5 beef tacos til 7 PM Service is pretty shotty. We were there for happy hour. Asked for margaritas. They asked if we wanted flavors so my friend got strawberry. We get the bill and strawberry margaritas are $6 instead of $3. Pretty tricky and lame. The margaritas themselves were decently strong with good flavor. They start your table off with chips and salsa. Surprisingly, the salsa was very good and tasted homemade. The food was edible but I could have made better at home. The tacos were flavorless and the taquitos were oily and tasted...fried. This place is somewhere to go for the atmosphere, not the food. If I return, it'll only be for drinks.
(3)
Michelle B.
Service - Great Atmosphere-Great Sangria-Great Food- Nothing to write home about. Typicial neighborhood joint.
(3)
Be B.
This was a new place for all of us and we LOVED IT! We went on a Thursday and it was build your own burrito night. Pick and choose from a nice list of ingredients PLUS a free beer. What a deal! I had a veggie burrito with black beans, cheese and avocado. Everything was nice and fresh;nicely seasoned without being hot (spicy-wise). YUM. Our bartenders were attentive without being pesty and were really friendly. Bathroom was nice and clean too. What more could you want? We're definitely going back. BTW - the menu has tasty-sounding options and really reasonable prices
(5)
Jay L.
Best Mexican restaurant in Fed Hill. Dare I say, the city. Burritos are killer, chicken tacos and wings are incredible. And the bar is my favorite part. And that pic over the fireplace is my favorite.
(5)
Max R.
If you like great deals on food and drinks during happy hour then this is the place for you with a good mexican vibe. Solid margaritas, great chips and salsa!
(3)
Jalisa J.
A group of friends and I were in Federal Hill yesterday for their annual Irish Stroll. After some time there, we decided to order some food to hold us over for the remainder of the day. We ordered burritos and tacos, which you could basically build yourself so it was really nice and I like that it could be customized. I split tacos with a friend and we ordered the tacos with sour cream, jalapeños, rice, salsa, and chicken. The tacos themselves were okay - nothing special, but still good. The only thing is that sour cream wasn't brought out with them, but we just shared sour cream with another friend so no big deal! It seemed as if my other friends enjoyed their food too. Also, for it to be such a busy day, the back room where we were was empty, which was a pleasant surprise. Our server was really attentive and upbeat! I'm sure working on such a busy day is frustrating, so I liked that she was really positive. Overall, I had a good experience at No Way Jose and would love to return sometime in the future!
(3)
Abigail L.
This was my boyfriend and my's second and last stop of our night out in Baltimore. We aren't too familiar with the area, and we played it by ear...but I'm glad we stumbled upon this establishment :). Though it was crowded, it didn't take too long to get drinks and they weren't overpriced. My only complaint is the fact they don't have designated male and female restrooms. I understand the concept - men's lines are usuAlly shorter than women's lines so eliminating assigned bathrooms equals less wait for drunk girls - men are disgusting bathroom creatures. Pee everywhere, that nasty stench of the pee that's everywhere, no toilet flushing....I would rather strain my bladder an extra 5 mins than deal w that horrific bathroom scene....aside from that-it's a good place! And the touch tunes has a great selection!!
(4)
Lisa D.
My boyfriend and I stopped in on a Sunday night for a late dinner. I had the chicken and shrimp chimichanga which was just "ok", but my boyfriend ordered the Jose chipotle or something like that--and it was delicious! The prices were pretty decent, and we left full and happy--so I'd say it was a good time.
(3)
Eboni T.
Food was not the best but it definitely gets the job done. We came here because we could not get a table next door. I think if you are looking for bar food and a relaxed atmosphere this place is for you.
(2)
Jen M.
The best Mexican bite in Fed Hill. The food is tasty and the prices are low. Consistently solid but never really blows you away, which is my 3 rating rather than 4. Situated in between numerous options, No Way is usually doing brisk business in tacos and not-too-sweet but strong house margaritas. There's not too much room up front, so seats at the bar are at a premium, but there are a few tables in the back, but that room loses the festive feel of the front bar. The menu is predictable (no big surprises) but what they present is tasty, filing, and well-prepared. The crowd features many regulars, which can be a great break from the fraternity party-vibe and assault of axe body spray that (in our opinion) kills the fun at other Fed Hill favorites (sorry, MaGerks). Overall you can hit No Way for any number of reasons and you'll have a good time.
(3)
Shannon M.
Saturday HH until 7pm. $3 House Rita was delicious! While I didn't watch the bartender make it I sensed that it was made with OJ and real juice rather than sour mix from the bottle. Well worth the three bucks. I didn't eat any food but saw some come out and it looked good. The place itself had a little bit of everything. A nice bar area with a bunch of locals, an area in the back to sit at tables and an area in between with a fire place and a few stools. Apparently there's an upstairs bar too, but it wasn't opened when we were there. When I'm in Baltimore next I'll definitely stop back.
(5)
David F.
Cheap drinks, cheap food, friendly bar tenders, excellent salsa, margaritas were the best! Only down side, it smelled a bit like old socks when I first arrived. Quickly got over it! It's in an awesome neighborhood in Federal Hill - Cross street!
(4)
Brittany S.
Ate here at lunch the other day and had a lot of fun! It was a Saturday around 2pm and they were still serving brunch until 3 (which is good to know for those hangover days). My boyfriend and I were starving so we ordered a Mexican pizza which was basically a tostada with shrimp and big chunks of chorizo and some other yummy Mexican toppings. My boyfriend ordered 5 beef tacos for $5, not sure if it was a deal or they always have it but it was a really good price! They were a little too greasy for me, not a huge fan of ground beef tacos to begin with. My shrimp tacos weren't the best I've ever had, they were a good size but there wasn't much of a "salsa" on it or whatever they called it. But the drinks!!!!!!! Wooooooweeeeee, I had 2 sangaritas, yes sangria mixed with their golden margarita... man let me tell you! That might have been the best part of my whole day! They were soo good and even after all those carbs and yummy Mexican food to soak up alcohol... I was feelin' good! I'm guessing they had a lot of liquor in them but I couldn't taste a thing... I used to be known to drink tequila like water though so... anyways besides the point. They were bomb! Over all the place was fun, I love how they have so many big open windows you're basically sitting outside. There was a really nice breeze that day too so it was perfect. The bartenders are super nice and friendly and everybody at the bar was the same. They had a different game on every TV so we didn't miss anything.
(4)
Joe K.
Happy Hour, at No Way Jose, in Fed. Hill is a great spot to pregame before the ball game or a relaxing night out with a friend. Located across from Abbey's Burger Bistro, next door to Raleigh's ( or so) , in Federal Hill you'll find NWJ by their giant open cantina look. There are many TVs in the building and make for a nice place to grab a drink, the the space from where the bar is to the rear tables is nice, especially on a Saturday night if you're trying to get a bite you aren't on top of the bar crowd. Monday's (5/21/12) offers where 5 dollar hard tacos, half burgers, 3 dollar of any Mexican brewed beer and lasted until 7p. Asking about their beer list, mostly everything in bottle is of Mexican Origin, not just them trying to pass off Corona and Dos Equis. But they have beers like Pacfico, Negra Modella ( my personal favorite from the area, which hasn't been bought out by the "big two" breweries in the Americas). The burger I order was large, and great value. Cooked to order, though it was overcooked, the burger had mixed shreded cheese, bacon, jalapeno and guacamole. The flavors were unfortunately inconstant, and the meat was flavorless, I which it was a lot more spicy and not just a generic burger with topping just added to it. You couldn't beat the price though during HH, so no need to complain. The burger was served with curly fries that were above average, and they were plentiful. Like most Mexican influenced restaurants, chips and salsa came as starters, with better than average salsa. Service was good, and quick and took care of us without us needing to wait, I coudln't have asked for better service. Overall I enjoyed my first experience here, I could remcommend this place for their atmosphere mostly, something about the large cantina style windows looking out and around the street, with all of the tv's is relaxing and simple. 3 stars, a-ok!
(3)
Sonya M.
The next time someone asks me if I wanna have dinner at this place my reply will definitely be, "No Way Jose." I wandered in No Way Jose Cafe one afternoon with a friend. Neither of us had been there before so we decided to give it a chance. For starters, we thought it was attached to the adjacent restaurant with outdoor seating. Once we got inside we discovered that we were wrong but didn't wanna be rude and leave. Wish we'd been rude because the food was awful! I ordered the tacos with beans and rice. Tacos were okay I guess but nothing special. The meal came with both refried beans and black beans which was unusual to me. I liked the black beans but didn't care for the refried beans. My friend got a burrito and he said his food was just okay. Our waitress was okay but she didn't provide exceptional service or anything.
(2)
Elizabeth S.
They have the BEST salsa in town and their version of "Chipotle" is my favorite. Very good food and service :)
Of all of the mexican themed bars/restaurants in the city, this is the best. Good food and good margaritas. I've tried several different entrees off the menu, and everything was equally good. They have brunch on the weekends; I recommend the huevos rancheros. They used to have an amazing cheese and green chile enchilada that I haven't seen on the menu in quite some time, so if the manager reads this review, you have at least one vote for bringing it back. The bar is big, with lots of stools, and they have a handful of booths in the back. I think there is seating upstairs, but I've never been there for the late night crowd and have always lucked out with finding a booth.
(5)
Tony H.
I came in here to meet a buddy the other night, and I was very surprised to find that this bar was super tiny and incredibly dirty. Most of the places I've been to on cross street are pretty spacious and pretty clean, this was just a huge contrast. This place only had two other groups when I went, and I still waited a half hour to get a drink that never came. Apparently the bartender was more concerned with talking to his friends, then actually doing his job. That's fine the people present at the time really weren't the kind of people I wanted to be around. The girl next to me screamed across the bar that she wanted a Natural Ice. When the bartender screamed back, "OH A NATTY ICE?". She replied back, "NO. A NATURAL ICE!!!". Apparently she was had enough class to correct someone for using the slang term for her "classy beer."
(1)
Mark B.
Cheap food, cheap drinks, fun place, great bartenders, fun vibe. I'm on the older side of their clientele, especially on weekends, but the place is still my favorite after Ravens games. Their salsa is yummy, the margaritas just strong enough, and on nice warm evenings with all the windows open you can convince yourself you're in Key West. Great vibe -- everyone is having fun.
(4)
Ashley V.
Went in on a Sunday evening for what I was hoping was some low-key Mexican joint. I live locally but I've never eaten at No Way. I was surprised when I walked in at how crowded the bar was for a late Sunday night. So we sat in the back area which was quieter and more relaxed. (The front bar had some loud rap music going on). I ordered a frozen margarita and I was told that the blender was broken, I was pretty disappointed so I tried a rita on the rocks. When the margarita came out, it was pretty undrinkable. It was all sour mix and not much taste. So I returned it, the waitress was completely okay with it and took it off the bill. I appreciated her understanding. The chips and salsa that was given when we sat down were okay, chips seemed a little stale and the salsa looked store bought. We got mahi mahi tacos and a chicken & shrimp chimicanga - both were $11 but I feel like the chimicanga was a better deal because it came with two sides and it was a huge portion. The tacos were pretty small and not very exciting. Overall, the experience wasn't terrible, food was just average. After reading some of the other reviews, it might be best to go back for happy hour next time.
(3)
Sarah B.
No Way Jose Cafe is becoming one of my fave spots in Bmore. You can't beat the happy hour specials. Usually, with a happy hour this good, the food is nothing to write home about. But this is not the case here. Good food AND good, cheap drinks. WOOP WOOP. YES way Jose!
(5)
Lauren S.
We came to No Way Jose as a group of 8 on a Saturday night. They bent over backwards to accommodate us as soon as possible and didn't hesitate to push two tables together so our party didn't have to separate. The chicken enchiladas are the most amazing I've had anywhere. The chicken was literally flaking apart and the flavor was excellent - not too spicy!
(5)
Ashley W.
No Way Jose! How can I describe it..... I thought 5 tacos for $5 would mean cardboard crunch, but it meant AMAZING ORGASM in my mouth. Yup, the food was that good. And so were the drinks. DEFINITELY going back
(4)
Shek M.
No Way Jose is on the scale of medium, inexpensive good meal for a sunday night. Their guacamole is excellent, and menu items offer a selection beyond typical mexican food including sandwiches. Tacos surprisingly large. Margaritas are great especially the "santa fe", and "kick ass". However if you're a guy don't get the "santa fe" because its pink and the ladies may look at you funny. Jeans are fine, wingtips are definitely not neccesary.
(3)
Lister C.
I went here to get some dinner and grab a couple drinks with some friends. The seating was good, didn't wait long before being served. The music was waaaay too loud, and this was when we were in the back away from the speakers. The food was pretty on par with some other local federal hill restaurants, although it was a little pricey for Mexican dishes (we paid $100 after tip for 4 people to eat burritos and 1 cheap beer each). This I can live with, it is federal hill after all. I gave only 1 star because the server (blonde female with vine tattoo on wrist) spilled my beer on me... Twice! The first time, my beer was 3/4 full and went all over my dress and leggings and even shoes. She didn't offer me another drink even though it was all spilled out on me. Then after she came back later, she knocked the same bottle over onto me, but luckily it only had a few drops in it... still no offer of a replacement or to take it off the tab. She seemed more concerned with socializing with the people at the table next to us rather than focusing on her job. I was a server for a few years and if anyone spilled a drink on a customer, it was a big deal, especially if it's on a woman's nice dress!
(1)
Ami M.
Came for happy hour on a Tuesday - the margaritas were disgustingly sweet. No one in my group could have more than 2 sips, we ended up getting Coronas instead (minus one star). I ordered the queso dip as an app, it was decent. I got the veggie tacos and I liked them, once I added some queso, guacamole, and hot sauce to them. My friend got the pork tacos and thought they were horrible, she didn't have more than 2 bites (minus one star). My other friend got the chicken tacos and he said they were pretty good. The service was meh, we had to get up and flag the waiter down and the place was pretty empty. Also, the bathroom smelled like someone peed all over the place, public restroom. I understand if your bathroom smells on a busy night when it's filled with drunk people, but on a Tuesday at 7pm - no excuse (minus one more star for service and bathroom). To top it all off, they were out of the churro dessert (which I wanted SO bad), so we all left slightly disappointed (and grossed out).
(2)
Taco C.
Let me preface this by admitting that I literally signed up for yelp just so I could write a scathing review of this restaurant. Probably I will write more in the future, but I was just so incredibly frustrated with my food at No Way Jose Cafe that i felt like it would be a disservice not to tell everyone in cyberspace about it. So, recently I got a sweet ap for my smart phone that tells where all the happy hours are in Baltimore at any given time. I had a day off last Friday, so I went to meet my boyfriend in Fed Hill for lunch and we consulted my ap to find some cheap/awesome lunch. We were super siked when we found that No Way Jose Cafe had a $5 for $5 taco deal. We are both seriously hard core taco enthusiasts and to find some in B-more at more-or-less LA taco prices seamed totally awesome. Additionally, other yelp reviews make this place seam rad. Maybe the bar put those people up to writing them, or something, who knows. The first indication that things were not as they seamed was that it was a Friday, during lunch time, and we were actually the only people there--save for the one waitress/bartender and her boyfriend who were nice but chatted audibly about their future for the duration of our meal. Think about it: if this were a decent taco joint in the middle of one of the busiest business areas of the city and they had sweet tacos, don't you think it would be fully packed for Friday lunch? Ok, so the next thing is: there are a couple caveats to their $5 for 5 tacos offer: 1. They are only hard tacos and 2. they are only ground beef. Are you a vegetarian or do you not eat red meat? Sorry, you are going to have to get something else at full price. Whatever, we ordered the tacos and when they arrived was when the real disappointment began: tiny little hard shelled tacos that tasted, I kid you not, like dog food in a shell of cardboard. Yuck!! The meat was super super bland and gross. The cheese was slightly hard as though it had been frozen for way to long, and the sour cream was way to expensive. I guess a decent description of these tacos would be something like: Imagine you were like 9 and your parents went away for the weekend and left you with a babysitter who was some 16 year old chick who just wanted to smoke weed in your club house. Then she realized at some point she had to feed you. In despiration she sends you to the 99 cents store (not the supermarket) to pick up a tack kit. In her marijuana induced haze she accidentally put the Alpo in the tacos and served it to you. Yes, that is what these tacos were like. I don't mean to say it tasted like the chef was high when he made these tacos, but that he totally did not care about the tacos when he made the tacos and ultimately I feel that is much much worse. Its easy to say "what do you expect, they were like a buck a taco." However, in other parts of the country you can get the best tacos ever for like a buck. Go to LA. I would say a resounding: DO NOT GO TO NO WAY JOSE CAFE, however part of me wants to instead say, yes, go there, try these tacos that way people can agree with me more here. The yelp reviews for this restaurant as super skewed. Ugh. In short: the name of this establishment basically sums up how i would respond were someone to ask me if i would ever frequent this restaurant again: NO WAY JOSE!! An update: today we went to Cinco De Mayo (1312 eastern). As far as I can tell it is the only real reasonably priced taco spot in b-more. it is excellent. Go there.
(1)
Chris L.
Came here before the Ravens game yesterday. The 5 for $5 tacos are ok for the price. They also have $2 natural light which is good for pre-gaming. Service was friendly. I would come here again before another football game to pre-game.
(3)
Alyce M.
No Way Jose has a small bar and small eating area. You can walk down the alley to get to the eating area if the bar is packed. The drink specials are awesome and the food is cheap and not bad either. The place is a little dirty and corny but it's a nice change from some of the other places in the neighborhood.
(3)
Marye I.
Tuesday and Wednesday! Margaritas & fajitas for 2! Love it.
(4)
Dana L.
The cheap margaritas drew us in, but the food wasn't too bad either. We originally went in because there was a sign outside advertising all of the drink specials. A bit hokey, but it definitely serves its intended purpose. This place struck me as a little dirty, and the service was nothing to rave about, but our bean and cheese nachos were pretty good. The waiter pretty much ignored us, and our food took quite a long time to arrive, but I suppose that's understandable - this is a bar first, and a restaurant second. Most of the entrees seemed to be about $8, so its a pretty good deal, particularly if you like to drink.
(3)
Den F.
its a small place. came here on a sunday night for some food. you get chips and salsa after you seat yourself. their menu has a great variety of different mexican foods. i ordered the taco; it was big and pretty tasty. their guacamole is very fresh and yummy. i think they are known for their margaritas. i got the santa fe margarita and it was pretty good.
(3)
Joanna S.
This place pulled me in with a big sign outside announcing $3 margaritas. Music to my ears. I went in and ordered my margarita at the bar. I then went and sat down, ate a good plate of nachos. Nothing special about the nachos, but they were pretty good. Overall, a nice vibe, good bar/restaurant in Federal Hill.
(4)
Maria D.
Let me just start off by saying that I really rely on Yelp especially if I'm not from the area! Everyone who reviewed this place is completely missing what makes a GOOD & DECENT restaurant. I am usually not this harsh but let me save you the trip for those of you that want good eats for a cheap price- GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Since I visited Baltimore on a Tuesday, I thought some places would have Taco Tuesday. I looked on Yelp and even called the place beforehand and asked about their menu. Seems like everyone took pride in this place, so I opted to take a risk and have the whole family visit this place. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. First off, it was tacky looking with a bunch of bright colors. As soon as we walked in, the bar was on the left and it was very tightly packed. I assume that a lot customers come here for the drinks/bar and having food being served was just a 'Oh, I guess I'll order food since I'm here!' Anyways, there was only 1 server and he did not greet us at all or show us where to even sit. We stood there dumbfounded, thinking he'd act knowledge us but he glanced at us and went upstairs right away (which I later found out it was another seating area). My sister had to even go up to the bar tender and ask if we were being served at all after 5 minutes passed. As we sat there, we realized the back seating area was right next to the bathroom and flies were everywhere! Once the bartender gave the male server a tip that we were waiting on him, he gave us menus quickly and then went elsewhere as soon as he dropped them off. But we already knew what we came for, the 5 for 5 tacos! And we tried getting his attention but still he walked away. The chips are NOT homemade! Our whole family saw him scoop our tiny wooden chipped bowl in a bucket with chips sitting on the floor next to the bar. That is definitely not homemade. The salsa came in a plastic container with some plastic peelings left on the side. Obviously, it was NOT homemade either. When he finally gave us 1 order of 5 for 5 tacos, we were so disappointed. They could not switch out the crunchy shell for the soft tortillas. There was barely any meat in there. I felt like I traveled almost 15 minutes on the bus to get Taco Bell. Taco Bell actually would of seem better than this and I never eat fast food. We were really hungry anyway so we order another 5 for 5, when we could even get a hold of him! He was checking in the other tables directly next to us on both sides but never came towards us to check? I didn't understand why he didn't check with us and then when we finally grab his attention, the tacos took exactly 12 minutes to get to our table. They were so simple and such a small order, I didn't understand the wait. He kept complaining to us that there was a big table upstairs too. Overall, bad service. bartender is the only friendly one. stinky area. poor quality. small space. I would of been better off spending my money on Chipotle or even resorting to Taco Bell. I am very disappointed.
(1)
Christie S.
This place is a little on the cheesy side but with their great deals and friendly atmosphere No Way Jose is pretty fun. One Thursday my friends and I ordered fajitas for two and a pitcher of margaritas for under $20. Friday happy hour also offers $1 tacos and $3 Margaritas. Pretty cool. And they have a jukebox so you can program it to play cheesy music and watch the drunk federal hill yuppies lip sync to Black Eyed Peas or Bon Jovi.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Laura D.
Ate lunch here on Saturday after the Baltimore Running Fest, after the wait for a table at next-door Abbey Burger was over an hour. Pretty standard Mexican place - good food (bonus they still served brunch at 1pm) and cool atmosphere. We seemed to have 2 servers who would both ask how everything was, if we needed anything... but better two than none. Nothing too exciting here, but nothing to complain about either!
(3)Dawn H.
Cheap eats with great peeps! Delicious and tasty, great location -- in the heart of the city
(4)Susan A.
A "meh" so-so Mexican bar and restaurant. Pros Inexpensive Free salsa and tortilla chips Cons Post-frat-boy-20-somethings galore Not clean Loud What I got Vegetarian tacos Guacamole and chips Two house margaritas What I thought The bar is in the front and seating is in the way back, in a cave-like area with 6 tables. When I walked in, I couldn't even tell that they served food. We polity pushed our way to the back, in swarms of drunk and loud young people reliving their college years. It was 9:30pm, how are these people so drunk? A handful were wearing green outfits for an early celebration of St Patricks Day (thats two weeks away, folks). The attention is very much so at the bar, so there is one server for the six tables for the food eaters. I ordered two house margaritas, the first one tasting pretty good and the second was heavy on the tequila. I dislike ordering two of the same drink and having them taste starkly different. Our server forgot utensils, our order of guacamole and waters multiple times. She was nice, but busy. The guacamole used under-ripe avocados, so the dip was not smooth, but rather had little gritty chunks of avocado, and under-seasoned. The tacos were fine; I really enjoyed the fresh sweet corn. You can tell that the corn was fresh because multiple kernels stuck together, meaning it was cut right off the cob. I wish the tacos came with something else - the plate looked rather plain.
(2)Rachel L.
On a Sunday afternoon, some friends and I were in the mood for a little Sunday Funday action. One friend suggested No Way Jose because she was craving queso and we all headed over there. No Way Jose is located in the heart of Federal Hill and it's usually packed. The Ravens weren't playing when we went which made the spot significantly calmer than usual. We started the meal with an order of complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa was fresh and the chips were good. But nothing to write home about. One of my friends I was with, has a serious thing for queso. By that, I mean if it is on a menu, she will order it. (If you have any good queso suggestions, I'd love to hear them.) So she ordered herself some queso and surprise we got more chips. The queso was great, much better than the one at Blue Agave. It was creamy, cheesy and had a nice hint of a spice. Our group also decided to share Guacamole and Chips. The guac was made fresh and had a nice flavor to it. One of my friends ordered the Grilled Steak Tacos. The order came with two tacos topped with steak, salsa, cheese and roasted peppers. They had a slight spice to them but were packed with flavor despite appearing a little plain. My other friends shared a Vegetable Quesadilla which they loved. Inside the quesadilla there was various vegetables, and cheese. This was good, but there's nothing special about it. I ordered the Elotes which is easily my favorite Mexican dish. This is hands down the best elote I've ever had. The paprika and chipotle mayo spread made it spicy and really elevated the roasted corn flavor. For some no-frills Mexican Food, No Way Jose really delivers.
(4)Caitlin C.
This place reminds me of the bar I went to in college. Kinda divey, with cheap margaritas and tacos. I've been here with my family to eat during regular people dinner hours, and I've always enjoyed their food. They have a nice selection of fajitas and tacos, with a build your own taco and burrito option, which I've always appreciated. The drinks are good and strong, which makes up for the slightly dingy atmosphere and sometimes not great service. I've been frequenting this place every Monday after Baltimore Social volleyball games, and I've been pleased so far. They offer good drink specials for people in Social jerseys, and have specials like $5 for two tacos and BOGO nacho plates. They've also been letting us play flipcup upstairs, which is fun!
(3)Kimia M.
I never have a bad expensive when I come into this establishment from the mangers to the busboys everyone is welcoming friendly and extremely enjoyable they make the experience a fun one!!
(5)Angela M.
Best margaritas and great food. Small restaurant so the bar is usually crowded but it is not as packed in the seating towards the back or upstairs
(5)Katie M.
This place has great deals! I went for the margaritas and fajitas for two special they have on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It's $24.95 for plenty of food and a nice, big pitcher of margaritas. We couldn't finish everything. The service was good, but not fantastic. I wouldn't really have expected anything better from a bar. The salsa is kinda bland, but just add a little salt and it's fine. The fajitas were yummy, but I've had better. Each person gets two burrito sized flour tortillas to eat them. Plenty of toppings were given too. They are also served with rice, black beans, and pinto beans. All of that was sorta bland. The margaritas don't taste that strong, but I was definitely pretty buzzed before we even finished the pitcher. I would definitely go back to this place. Don't expect to eat a gourmet meal, but do expect to have a good time, enjoy decent food, and good drinks at great price. P.S. Parking sucks.
(4)Jessica L.
When you walk in you are greeted by brightly decorated interior with strung lights and colorful signs and a narrow bar. You can then head on back o the seating area that has tables and booths. The walls are adorned with a Corona themed mural. Once you have a seat you are given a menu and bowl of homemade chips and salsa (the salsa has some kick). The menu hosts some typical Mexican fare from tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc. I had the beef soft taco and was impressed with the taste but the presentation was different than any other soft taco I have seen. Instead of a small shell it was one large shell. My friend had the Chicken Burrito, which came with beans and rice. All the ingredients looked fresh and tasty. The side outside the door hosts many happy hour drink specials like $3 margaritas. The food was good and the service was welcoming. Next time I am in the area I will be heading back. I want to try one of the margaritas I hear are good! The Extras: Monday is half-price burger night with $2 Yuenglings. Tuesday and Wednesday nights feature fajitas for two, which includes over-sized orders of fajitas and a pitcher of margarita or sangria for $20.
(4)Bristew M.
Great authentic Mexican food, great drinks and a great happy hour!
(5)Drew P.
Five for 5.00 tacos!!!!!!!! Get em beef and crunchy, with a nice cold beer or margarita. I think 5 for 5 is Saturday and Sundays, but im not 100%. It was Saturday when I went, around 5 o clock for some mid day brews and munchies. Service was OK, but it is a bar. I'll probably make this a regular weekend event if the tacos are always on par as they were the other day.
(4)Matthew L.
The salsa is really good. I've always enjoyed No Way Jose for drinks, but the food is pretty good too. Looks like a pub that was splattered with bright paints. Americanized mexican food, with a good margaritas. It's cheap and fun. It's a good meal for a group of laid back people before a night out in Federal Hill.
(3)Matt B.
Is it a bar...is it a Mexican restaurant.....well it appears to be both and does a good job in the process. The food is very good, and cheap, and the staff are friendly!!
(4)Jane A.
My boyfriend and I were here last night for an early dinner. It happened to be happy hour timing. It wasn't busy so we just sat at the bar. The specials are awesome during happy hour. We each had a margarita that was really good. Chips and salsa were good to hold us over until our tacos arrived. Taco Tuesday: any taco (except the shrimp) for $5... and they come in 3s! We ordered the steak tacos and the chipotle chicken tacos. So good. Nice bartenders, funny and upbeat. They said it was dead for a normal Tuesday, being right after MDW and with the downpour we were having, but it was pretty quiet most of the time. When we arrived there were only 2 others and when we left there were about 10 others. It was a typical bar setting, nothing to complain about. We'll absolutely be back.
(4)Cathee L.
Don't know what I expected. Very mediocre tex-mex. It was inexpensive, but I left disappointed. With all the other great options in the area, I wouldn't go back.
(2)Taylor V. S.
"It's okay." That's my experience in a nutshell. Disclaimer: I'm a Texas native who has spent many months across the boarder, so I'm picky. The location is excellent. It's right in the middle of Federal Hill, across the street from Cross Street Market. The venue is larger than it appears from the outside, with two stories of seating. However, the critical elements--the food and drinks--leave a lot to be desired. The chips were cold and stale. The salsa is sweet--no spice, and insufficient savory to cut through the sweetness. The $5 house margaritas aren't quite as good as ones I've made I'm a hotel blender in Cancun, but not terrible either. The tortillas are microwaved and get hard before you can fill them. It's just okay. Would I come back? No Way, Jose!
(2)Brittany W.
It's the bartenders' bar. They have the best staff and some amazing food! Love to come here and play the jukebox, watch games, dance like a fool, maybe drink a natty light or a bunch and pretend I'm still in college :) Love Jose's!!
(5)Mattie C.
Long wait at Ryleigh's next door so we stopped by here for some pre-dinner drinks. Liked it! There were games in the back, a long narrow bar that wasn't too crowded, friendly bartender and relatively cheap drinks. Oh yeah, I love the name of the place too. While the fiance stuck to beer - a really tasty vanilla porter actually, I had some kind of combo special of a tequila shot, Tecate and some table salt. Classy! I enjoyed it. There were TVs lining the bar so we watched some Olympics coverage and basketball while we enjoyed our drinks. Nice place to stop by for a drink and hang out. Didn't try any food but definitely liked the vibe of the place and enjoyed being here. Would happily stop here again next time we are int his area!
(3)Kris L.
Happy hour is the only reason to hit up this place: $3 margaritas, $5 for 5 beef tacos til 7 PM Service is pretty shotty. We were there for happy hour. Asked for margaritas. They asked if we wanted flavors so my friend got strawberry. We get the bill and strawberry margaritas are $6 instead of $3. Pretty tricky and lame. The margaritas themselves were decently strong with good flavor. They start your table off with chips and salsa. Surprisingly, the salsa was very good and tasted homemade. The food was edible but I could have made better at home. The tacos were flavorless and the taquitos were oily and tasted...fried. This place is somewhere to go for the atmosphere, not the food. If I return, it'll only be for drinks.
(3)Michelle B.
Service - Great Atmosphere-Great Sangria-Great Food- Nothing to write home about. Typicial neighborhood joint.
(3)Be B.
This was a new place for all of us and we LOVED IT! We went on a Thursday and it was build your own burrito night. Pick and choose from a nice list of ingredients PLUS a free beer. What a deal! I had a veggie burrito with black beans, cheese and avocado. Everything was nice and fresh;nicely seasoned without being hot (spicy-wise). YUM. Our bartenders were attentive without being pesty and were really friendly. Bathroom was nice and clean too. What more could you want? We're definitely going back. BTW - the menu has tasty-sounding options and really reasonable prices
(5)Jay L.
Best Mexican restaurant in Fed Hill. Dare I say, the city. Burritos are killer, chicken tacos and wings are incredible. And the bar is my favorite part. And that pic over the fireplace is my favorite.
(5)Max R.
If you like great deals on food and drinks during happy hour then this is the place for you with a good mexican vibe. Solid margaritas, great chips and salsa!
(3)Jalisa J.
A group of friends and I were in Federal Hill yesterday for their annual Irish Stroll. After some time there, we decided to order some food to hold us over for the remainder of the day. We ordered burritos and tacos, which you could basically build yourself so it was really nice and I like that it could be customized. I split tacos with a friend and we ordered the tacos with sour cream, jalapeños, rice, salsa, and chicken. The tacos themselves were okay - nothing special, but still good. The only thing is that sour cream wasn't brought out with them, but we just shared sour cream with another friend so no big deal! It seemed as if my other friends enjoyed their food too. Also, for it to be such a busy day, the back room where we were was empty, which was a pleasant surprise. Our server was really attentive and upbeat! I'm sure working on such a busy day is frustrating, so I liked that she was really positive. Overall, I had a good experience at No Way Jose and would love to return sometime in the future!
(3)Abigail L.
This was my boyfriend and my's second and last stop of our night out in Baltimore. We aren't too familiar with the area, and we played it by ear...but I'm glad we stumbled upon this establishment :). Though it was crowded, it didn't take too long to get drinks and they weren't overpriced. My only complaint is the fact they don't have designated male and female restrooms. I understand the concept - men's lines are usuAlly shorter than women's lines so eliminating assigned bathrooms equals less wait for drunk girls - men are disgusting bathroom creatures. Pee everywhere, that nasty stench of the pee that's everywhere, no toilet flushing....I would rather strain my bladder an extra 5 mins than deal w that horrific bathroom scene....aside from that-it's a good place! And the touch tunes has a great selection!!
(4)Lisa D.
My boyfriend and I stopped in on a Sunday night for a late dinner. I had the chicken and shrimp chimichanga which was just "ok", but my boyfriend ordered the Jose chipotle or something like that--and it was delicious! The prices were pretty decent, and we left full and happy--so I'd say it was a good time.
(3)Eboni T.
Food was not the best but it definitely gets the job done. We came here because we could not get a table next door. I think if you are looking for bar food and a relaxed atmosphere this place is for you.
(2)Jen M.
The best Mexican bite in Fed Hill. The food is tasty and the prices are low. Consistently solid but never really blows you away, which is my 3 rating rather than 4. Situated in between numerous options, No Way is usually doing brisk business in tacos and not-too-sweet but strong house margaritas. There's not too much room up front, so seats at the bar are at a premium, but there are a few tables in the back, but that room loses the festive feel of the front bar. The menu is predictable (no big surprises) but what they present is tasty, filing, and well-prepared. The crowd features many regulars, which can be a great break from the fraternity party-vibe and assault of axe body spray that (in our opinion) kills the fun at other Fed Hill favorites (sorry, MaGerks). Overall you can hit No Way for any number of reasons and you'll have a good time.
(3)Shannon M.
Saturday HH until 7pm. $3 House Rita was delicious! While I didn't watch the bartender make it I sensed that it was made with OJ and real juice rather than sour mix from the bottle. Well worth the three bucks. I didn't eat any food but saw some come out and it looked good. The place itself had a little bit of everything. A nice bar area with a bunch of locals, an area in the back to sit at tables and an area in between with a fire place and a few stools. Apparently there's an upstairs bar too, but it wasn't opened when we were there. When I'm in Baltimore next I'll definitely stop back.
(5)David F.
Cheap drinks, cheap food, friendly bar tenders, excellent salsa, margaritas were the best! Only down side, it smelled a bit like old socks when I first arrived. Quickly got over it! It's in an awesome neighborhood in Federal Hill - Cross street!
(4)Brittany S.
Ate here at lunch the other day and had a lot of fun! It was a Saturday around 2pm and they were still serving brunch until 3 (which is good to know for those hangover days). My boyfriend and I were starving so we ordered a Mexican pizza which was basically a tostada with shrimp and big chunks of chorizo and some other yummy Mexican toppings. My boyfriend ordered 5 beef tacos for $5, not sure if it was a deal or they always have it but it was a really good price! They were a little too greasy for me, not a huge fan of ground beef tacos to begin with. My shrimp tacos weren't the best I've ever had, they were a good size but there wasn't much of a "salsa" on it or whatever they called it. But the drinks!!!!!!! Wooooooweeeeee, I had 2 sangaritas, yes sangria mixed with their golden margarita... man let me tell you! That might have been the best part of my whole day! They were soo good and even after all those carbs and yummy Mexican food to soak up alcohol... I was feelin' good! I'm guessing they had a lot of liquor in them but I couldn't taste a thing... I used to be known to drink tequila like water though so... anyways besides the point. They were bomb! Over all the place was fun, I love how they have so many big open windows you're basically sitting outside. There was a really nice breeze that day too so it was perfect. The bartenders are super nice and friendly and everybody at the bar was the same. They had a different game on every TV so we didn't miss anything.
(4)Joe K.
Happy Hour, at No Way Jose, in Fed. Hill is a great spot to pregame before the ball game or a relaxing night out with a friend. Located across from Abbey's Burger Bistro, next door to Raleigh's ( or so) , in Federal Hill you'll find NWJ by their giant open cantina look. There are many TVs in the building and make for a nice place to grab a drink, the the space from where the bar is to the rear tables is nice, especially on a Saturday night if you're trying to get a bite you aren't on top of the bar crowd. Monday's (5/21/12) offers where 5 dollar hard tacos, half burgers, 3 dollar of any Mexican brewed beer and lasted until 7p. Asking about their beer list, mostly everything in bottle is of Mexican Origin, not just them trying to pass off Corona and Dos Equis. But they have beers like Pacfico, Negra Modella ( my personal favorite from the area, which hasn't been bought out by the "big two" breweries in the Americas). The burger I order was large, and great value. Cooked to order, though it was overcooked, the burger had mixed shreded cheese, bacon, jalapeno and guacamole. The flavors were unfortunately inconstant, and the meat was flavorless, I which it was a lot more spicy and not just a generic burger with topping just added to it. You couldn't beat the price though during HH, so no need to complain. The burger was served with curly fries that were above average, and they were plentiful. Like most Mexican influenced restaurants, chips and salsa came as starters, with better than average salsa. Service was good, and quick and took care of us without us needing to wait, I coudln't have asked for better service. Overall I enjoyed my first experience here, I could remcommend this place for their atmosphere mostly, something about the large cantina style windows looking out and around the street, with all of the tv's is relaxing and simple. 3 stars, a-ok!
(3)Sonya M.
The next time someone asks me if I wanna have dinner at this place my reply will definitely be, "No Way Jose." I wandered in No Way Jose Cafe one afternoon with a friend. Neither of us had been there before so we decided to give it a chance. For starters, we thought it was attached to the adjacent restaurant with outdoor seating. Once we got inside we discovered that we were wrong but didn't wanna be rude and leave. Wish we'd been rude because the food was awful! I ordered the tacos with beans and rice. Tacos were okay I guess but nothing special. The meal came with both refried beans and black beans which was unusual to me. I liked the black beans but didn't care for the refried beans. My friend got a burrito and he said his food was just okay. Our waitress was okay but she didn't provide exceptional service or anything.
(2)Elizabeth S.
They have the BEST salsa in town and their version of "Chipotle" is my favorite. Very good food and service :)
(5)Nicole W.
Good fish tacos and queso. My fiancé had the $1 beef tacos, and seemed to enjoy them. Service was just so so as the bartender messed his drink up ( he had been drinking Jack and diets and she refilled his cup with regular coke) and it took a long time for them to take our food order.
(3)Becca R.
Of all of the mexican themed bars/restaurants in the city, this is the best. Good food and good margaritas. I've tried several different entrees off the menu, and everything was equally good. They have brunch on the weekends; I recommend the huevos rancheros. They used to have an amazing cheese and green chile enchilada that I haven't seen on the menu in quite some time, so if the manager reads this review, you have at least one vote for bringing it back. The bar is big, with lots of stools, and they have a handful of booths in the back. I think there is seating upstairs, but I've never been there for the late night crowd and have always lucked out with finding a booth.
(5)Tony H.
I came in here to meet a buddy the other night, and I was very surprised to find that this bar was super tiny and incredibly dirty. Most of the places I've been to on cross street are pretty spacious and pretty clean, this was just a huge contrast. This place only had two other groups when I went, and I still waited a half hour to get a drink that never came. Apparently the bartender was more concerned with talking to his friends, then actually doing his job. That's fine the people present at the time really weren't the kind of people I wanted to be around. The girl next to me screamed across the bar that she wanted a Natural Ice. When the bartender screamed back, "OH A NATTY ICE?". She replied back, "NO. A NATURAL ICE!!!". Apparently she was had enough class to correct someone for using the slang term for her "classy beer."
(1)Mark B.
Cheap food, cheap drinks, fun place, great bartenders, fun vibe. I'm on the older side of their clientele, especially on weekends, but the place is still my favorite after Ravens games. Their salsa is yummy, the margaritas just strong enough, and on nice warm evenings with all the windows open you can convince yourself you're in Key West. Great vibe -- everyone is having fun.
(4)Ashley V.
Went in on a Sunday evening for what I was hoping was some low-key Mexican joint. I live locally but I've never eaten at No Way. I was surprised when I walked in at how crowded the bar was for a late Sunday night. So we sat in the back area which was quieter and more relaxed. (The front bar had some loud rap music going on). I ordered a frozen margarita and I was told that the blender was broken, I was pretty disappointed so I tried a rita on the rocks. When the margarita came out, it was pretty undrinkable. It was all sour mix and not much taste. So I returned it, the waitress was completely okay with it and took it off the bill. I appreciated her understanding. The chips and salsa that was given when we sat down were okay, chips seemed a little stale and the salsa looked store bought. We got mahi mahi tacos and a chicken & shrimp chimicanga - both were $11 but I feel like the chimicanga was a better deal because it came with two sides and it was a huge portion. The tacos were pretty small and not very exciting. Overall, the experience wasn't terrible, food was just average. After reading some of the other reviews, it might be best to go back for happy hour next time.
(3)Sarah B.
No Way Jose Cafe is becoming one of my fave spots in Bmore. You can't beat the happy hour specials. Usually, with a happy hour this good, the food is nothing to write home about. But this is not the case here. Good food AND good, cheap drinks. WOOP WOOP. YES way Jose!
(5)Lauren S.
We came to No Way Jose as a group of 8 on a Saturday night. They bent over backwards to accommodate us as soon as possible and didn't hesitate to push two tables together so our party didn't have to separate. The chicken enchiladas are the most amazing I've had anywhere. The chicken was literally flaking apart and the flavor was excellent - not too spicy!
(5)Ashley W.
No Way Jose! How can I describe it..... I thought 5 tacos for $5 would mean cardboard crunch, but it meant AMAZING ORGASM in my mouth. Yup, the food was that good. And so were the drinks. DEFINITELY going back
(4)Shek M.
No Way Jose is on the scale of medium, inexpensive good meal for a sunday night. Their guacamole is excellent, and menu items offer a selection beyond typical mexican food including sandwiches. Tacos surprisingly large. Margaritas are great especially the "santa fe", and "kick ass". However if you're a guy don't get the "santa fe" because its pink and the ladies may look at you funny. Jeans are fine, wingtips are definitely not neccesary.
(3)Lister C.
I went here to get some dinner and grab a couple drinks with some friends. The seating was good, didn't wait long before being served. The music was waaaay too loud, and this was when we were in the back away from the speakers. The food was pretty on par with some other local federal hill restaurants, although it was a little pricey for Mexican dishes (we paid $100 after tip for 4 people to eat burritos and 1 cheap beer each). This I can live with, it is federal hill after all. I gave only 1 star because the server (blonde female with vine tattoo on wrist) spilled my beer on me... Twice! The first time, my beer was 3/4 full and went all over my dress and leggings and even shoes. She didn't offer me another drink even though it was all spilled out on me. Then after she came back later, she knocked the same bottle over onto me, but luckily it only had a few drops in it... still no offer of a replacement or to take it off the tab. She seemed more concerned with socializing with the people at the table next to us rather than focusing on her job. I was a server for a few years and if anyone spilled a drink on a customer, it was a big deal, especially if it's on a woman's nice dress!
(1)Ami M.
Came for happy hour on a Tuesday - the margaritas were disgustingly sweet. No one in my group could have more than 2 sips, we ended up getting Coronas instead (minus one star). I ordered the queso dip as an app, it was decent. I got the veggie tacos and I liked them, once I added some queso, guacamole, and hot sauce to them. My friend got the pork tacos and thought they were horrible, she didn't have more than 2 bites (minus one star). My other friend got the chicken tacos and he said they were pretty good. The service was meh, we had to get up and flag the waiter down and the place was pretty empty. Also, the bathroom smelled like someone peed all over the place, public restroom. I understand if your bathroom smells on a busy night when it's filled with drunk people, but on a Tuesday at 7pm - no excuse (minus one more star for service and bathroom). To top it all off, they were out of the churro dessert (which I wanted SO bad), so we all left slightly disappointed (and grossed out).
(2)Taco C.
Let me preface this by admitting that I literally signed up for yelp just so I could write a scathing review of this restaurant. Probably I will write more in the future, but I was just so incredibly frustrated with my food at No Way Jose Cafe that i felt like it would be a disservice not to tell everyone in cyberspace about it. So, recently I got a sweet ap for my smart phone that tells where all the happy hours are in Baltimore at any given time. I had a day off last Friday, so I went to meet my boyfriend in Fed Hill for lunch and we consulted my ap to find some cheap/awesome lunch. We were super siked when we found that No Way Jose Cafe had a $5 for $5 taco deal. We are both seriously hard core taco enthusiasts and to find some in B-more at more-or-less LA taco prices seamed totally awesome. Additionally, other yelp reviews make this place seam rad. Maybe the bar put those people up to writing them, or something, who knows. The first indication that things were not as they seamed was that it was a Friday, during lunch time, and we were actually the only people there--save for the one waitress/bartender and her boyfriend who were nice but chatted audibly about their future for the duration of our meal. Think about it: if this were a decent taco joint in the middle of one of the busiest business areas of the city and they had sweet tacos, don't you think it would be fully packed for Friday lunch? Ok, so the next thing is: there are a couple caveats to their $5 for 5 tacos offer: 1. They are only hard tacos and 2. they are only ground beef. Are you a vegetarian or do you not eat red meat? Sorry, you are going to have to get something else at full price. Whatever, we ordered the tacos and when they arrived was when the real disappointment began: tiny little hard shelled tacos that tasted, I kid you not, like dog food in a shell of cardboard. Yuck!! The meat was super super bland and gross. The cheese was slightly hard as though it had been frozen for way to long, and the sour cream was way to expensive. I guess a decent description of these tacos would be something like: Imagine you were like 9 and your parents went away for the weekend and left you with a babysitter who was some 16 year old chick who just wanted to smoke weed in your club house. Then she realized at some point she had to feed you. In despiration she sends you to the 99 cents store (not the supermarket) to pick up a tack kit. In her marijuana induced haze she accidentally put the Alpo in the tacos and served it to you. Yes, that is what these tacos were like. I don't mean to say it tasted like the chef was high when he made these tacos, but that he totally did not care about the tacos when he made the tacos and ultimately I feel that is much much worse. Its easy to say "what do you expect, they were like a buck a taco." However, in other parts of the country you can get the best tacos ever for like a buck. Go to LA. I would say a resounding: DO NOT GO TO NO WAY JOSE CAFE, however part of me wants to instead say, yes, go there, try these tacos that way people can agree with me more here. The yelp reviews for this restaurant as super skewed. Ugh. In short: the name of this establishment basically sums up how i would respond were someone to ask me if i would ever frequent this restaurant again: NO WAY JOSE!! An update: today we went to Cinco De Mayo (1312 eastern). As far as I can tell it is the only real reasonably priced taco spot in b-more. it is excellent. Go there.
(1)Chris L.
Came here before the Ravens game yesterday. The 5 for $5 tacos are ok for the price. They also have $2 natural light which is good for pre-gaming. Service was friendly. I would come here again before another football game to pre-game.
(3)Alyce M.
No Way Jose has a small bar and small eating area. You can walk down the alley to get to the eating area if the bar is packed. The drink specials are awesome and the food is cheap and not bad either. The place is a little dirty and corny but it's a nice change from some of the other places in the neighborhood.
(3)Marye I.
Tuesday and Wednesday! Margaritas & fajitas for 2! Love it.
(4)Dana L.
The cheap margaritas drew us in, but the food wasn't too bad either. We originally went in because there was a sign outside advertising all of the drink specials. A bit hokey, but it definitely serves its intended purpose. This place struck me as a little dirty, and the service was nothing to rave about, but our bean and cheese nachos were pretty good. The waiter pretty much ignored us, and our food took quite a long time to arrive, but I suppose that's understandable - this is a bar first, and a restaurant second. Most of the entrees seemed to be about $8, so its a pretty good deal, particularly if you like to drink.
(3)Den F.
its a small place. came here on a sunday night for some food. you get chips and salsa after you seat yourself. their menu has a great variety of different mexican foods. i ordered the taco; it was big and pretty tasty. their guacamole is very fresh and yummy. i think they are known for their margaritas. i got the santa fe margarita and it was pretty good.
(3)Joanna S.
This place pulled me in with a big sign outside announcing $3 margaritas. Music to my ears. I went in and ordered my margarita at the bar. I then went and sat down, ate a good plate of nachos. Nothing special about the nachos, but they were pretty good. Overall, a nice vibe, good bar/restaurant in Federal Hill.
(4)Maria D.
Let me just start off by saying that I really rely on Yelp especially if I'm not from the area! Everyone who reviewed this place is completely missing what makes a GOOD & DECENT restaurant. I am usually not this harsh but let me save you the trip for those of you that want good eats for a cheap price- GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! Since I visited Baltimore on a Tuesday, I thought some places would have Taco Tuesday. I looked on Yelp and even called the place beforehand and asked about their menu. Seems like everyone took pride in this place, so I opted to take a risk and have the whole family visit this place. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. First off, it was tacky looking with a bunch of bright colors. As soon as we walked in, the bar was on the left and it was very tightly packed. I assume that a lot customers come here for the drinks/bar and having food being served was just a 'Oh, I guess I'll order food since I'm here!' Anyways, there was only 1 server and he did not greet us at all or show us where to even sit. We stood there dumbfounded, thinking he'd act knowledge us but he glanced at us and went upstairs right away (which I later found out it was another seating area). My sister had to even go up to the bar tender and ask if we were being served at all after 5 minutes passed. As we sat there, we realized the back seating area was right next to the bathroom and flies were everywhere! Once the bartender gave the male server a tip that we were waiting on him, he gave us menus quickly and then went elsewhere as soon as he dropped them off. But we already knew what we came for, the 5 for 5 tacos! And we tried getting his attention but still he walked away. The chips are NOT homemade! Our whole family saw him scoop our tiny wooden chipped bowl in a bucket with chips sitting on the floor next to the bar. That is definitely not homemade. The salsa came in a plastic container with some plastic peelings left on the side. Obviously, it was NOT homemade either. When he finally gave us 1 order of 5 for 5 tacos, we were so disappointed. They could not switch out the crunchy shell for the soft tortillas. There was barely any meat in there. I felt like I traveled almost 15 minutes on the bus to get Taco Bell. Taco Bell actually would of seem better than this and I never eat fast food. We were really hungry anyway so we order another 5 for 5, when we could even get a hold of him! He was checking in the other tables directly next to us on both sides but never came towards us to check? I didn't understand why he didn't check with us and then when we finally grab his attention, the tacos took exactly 12 minutes to get to our table. They were so simple and such a small order, I didn't understand the wait. He kept complaining to us that there was a big table upstairs too. Overall, bad service. bartender is the only friendly one. stinky area. poor quality. small space. I would of been better off spending my money on Chipotle or even resorting to Taco Bell. I am very disappointed.
(1)Christie S.
This place is a little on the cheesy side but with their great deals and friendly atmosphere No Way Jose is pretty fun. One Thursday my friends and I ordered fajitas for two and a pitcher of margaritas for under $20. Friday happy hour also offers $1 tacos and $3 Margaritas. Pretty cool. And they have a jukebox so you can program it to play cheesy music and watch the drunk federal hill yuppies lip sync to Black Eyed Peas or Bon Jovi.
(4)