Top Restaurants in San Jose del Cabo
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San Jose del Cabo Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in San Jose del Cabo
With its 18th-century Spanish colonial architecture and laid-back local scene, San Jose del Cabo provides a low-key Baja Peninsula counterpart to fun-loving Cabo San Lucas 20 miles south. Scuba dive and kayak in Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, home to the Sea of Cortez's only hard coral reef and the wreck of the fishing boat Colima. Visit the 200 bird species that live in the tranquil San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary. Sunbathers will fall in love with Playa Palmilla, one of Mexico's best beaches.
Things to do in San Jose del Cabo
1. Casianos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 288 reviews
The Restaurant: Situated in Fonatur development, San Jose del Cabo, Casianos Restaurant offers an exceptional culinary experience. With an outstanding mix of products, contemporary techniques and Mexican flavors. Chef Casiano Reyes brings his style of "Spontaneous Cuisine" to Los Cabos. ECLECTIC, MINIMALIST, but yet COLORFUL Our Concept: No menu... No rules... Let "Casiano" surprise you or guide him with your favorite flavors. If you are looking for a complete experience, a five course menu will show you the best of Baja and a taste of what is the true essence of Mexican cuisine. Our Wines: No culinary experience will be complete with out its best partner... Wine. Casianos has a growing wine list that includes world wines along with some of the best Mexico has to offer. Designed to compliment the "spontaneous" style of cuisine the wine has been carefully chosen to fulfill this goal.
Reviewed By mikeforney - Fort Collins, Colorado
A full 7-course meal with wine pairings can run you $320USD, but the experience is worth it, with interesting small servings of fish, meat, vegetables and soup along with a delightful dessert. You are at the mercy of the chef, and that’s as it should be here. Be aware of heavy construction in the market square, but it should not last much longer and does not disturb your meal here.
A great time to visit is a Thursday evening when all of the marvelous art galleries are open.
2. Sardina Cantina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 819 reviews
Close to the ocean, stroll from your seaside accommodation and enter a brick-lined patio with the ambiance of an English garden right off Federal Hwy. #1 Emphasis on Seafood but also serving salads, steaks, chicken, pasta, Mexican food & Continental Fare. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, we strive to create a friendly atmosphere with our attentive and caring Waitstaff while serving up some of the best meals you'll have on your vacation!
Reviewed By Bobbie W - Warwick, Rhode Island
Right off the side of the road in a small strip. Clean, nice atmosphere. The traffic is hidden by some tall plants. I was busy chatting so I didn’t pay attention. Warm bread comes out with a delicious garlic and chive butter! My husband got the Linguine with clams (305 pesos). He said it was wonderful with plenty of garlic! I got a special; Seafood stuffed chili Rieno. It was a little spicy but absolutely delicious. Came with large scoops of fried rice, refried beans, salsa and guacamole (429 pesos). This restaurant does NOT take credit cards. Cash only. Try to have pesos, because they screw you when you pay in USD!
3. El Matador
Overall Ratings
5 based on 458 reviews
To all our clients we want to inform you that due the low season, from August 15th to September 31st, this restaurant opens its doors only with reservation of at least one day in advance and for groups of 4 or more people. If you already have a confirmed reservation within this time, do not worry, your reservation is still active, it will be a pleasure to receive it. Thank you!<br><br>El Matador is the finest restaurant in San Jose, owned by a former Matador, Pablo Velez. It boasts Mediterranean Mexican dining. It is in a neighborhood next to the Nun's Hospital. Their Scallopine Marsala is to die for as well as the other items on the menu. Please add this restaurant to your list. I can't imagine why it hasn't been on there as we have been eating there for at least 3 or 4 years. This
Reviewed By Minneapolisdoyle - Santiago
Four of us had dinner at El Matador on a Sunday night. We all think that this was maybe the best meal we have had anywhere in our travels but, without a doubt, the best in San Jose. We all travel internationally quite a bit and will happily eat fine dining or at a hoit dog stand, but we have not had such a great meal anywhere that we have been that was so totally wonderful.
Our meals were two filets with a fantastic chipotle sauce, lamb chops and the shrimp flamed in Tequila. The steak was unbelievably good and prepared to perfection. My wife’s shrimp were large and flavorful. We all were very impressed. Three of us had Caesar salad made right at our table while my wife had the gazpacho. For desert we had Mexican lime pie, flaming bananas, flaming strawberries and molten chocolate cake. I had read about the Mexican and Spanish coffees prepared right at your table so we finished our night with one of each which which we passed around among us. Again everything was prepared to perfection.
Sandra, our waitress, was great. Sandra was extremely efficient, responsive and engaging. Sandra made great recommendations and did a wonderful job preparing our table side drinks. The other ladies on Sandra’s team were similarly efficient, responsive and friendly.
I am not usually so effusive about a meal or a restaurant but this was no ordinary meal. It was fantastic. Never once did we feel rushed during our time at El Matador.
El Matador is a family owned and operated restaurant and is located in the patio of a beautiful home. Although the restaurant has some heaters a light coat or a sweater is needed to ward off the evening chill on a cool night.
The owner currently lives on the premises and he stops by and will graciously tells stories about his interesting life growing up and as a famous matador. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and also contains much memorabilia about the owner’s life and career.
El Matador is not a huge restaurant and I suggest that you make a reservation. I sent a reservation request to the restaurant via a question on TA and it was answered promptly even though it was Sunday morning and the El Matador did not open until 5:00PM. Just another example of the high level of service El Matador provides.
I highly recommend El Matador for a wonderful dinner and great service. This was one night that we will not forget.
4. Buzzards Bar & Grill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
We are located in Laguna Hills just 10 minutes outside of Puerto Los Cabos.
Reviewed By ak_kimby - Colorado
Went here several times on a recent trip to cousins house in Zacatitos. The food is fresh. Being a vegetarian I loved all the fresh veggies on the fajitas. Fun setting with tables in the sand. The last night there was pretty chilly so the servers brought us blankets to wrap around our shoulders. Friendly owner. Compliments to the Chef, Wonderful each and every time! Will come back when my cousins house is finished in Zacatitos!
5. Flora's Field Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
( Closed Mondays) Floras Field kitchen is about handmade food using our farm fresh ingredients. Our goal is to create a healthy family meal with a sense of place. Our day begins at four in the morning when Jose the baker arrives to fire the wood oven. Working with sourdough cultures and pre ferments he makes loaves of Pain L'ancienne baguette, ciabatta, sourdough, focaccia, whole wheat and herb breads. Chefs, cooks, stewards, the butcher and farm hands begin arriving after first light. Throughout the morning produce comes in to be washed and prepped while the line gets fired up to prepare the first meals- through dinner there is harvesting going hand in hand with cooking. All meats served at Floras Field Kitchen come from our nearby 150-acre ranch where animals are humanely raised on diets that do not include hormones or antibiotics. In the evening, and for Sunday brunches, the wood-burning oven becomes Mamas pizzeria. We make Neapolitan style pizza with fresh mozzarella and dough that is built over time and handled lightly.
Reviewed By Tom K - Lone Tree, Colorado
We opted for lunch instead of dinner as it we were told it becomes very crowded for dinner and Reservations need to be made far in advance. We made ours about 4 days in advance and others say they just show up. We would not recommend doing this. Call or use the internet.
We had eaten at Acre the other major farm to table restaurant. Flora Farms is a little closer to town but is still at least a 50 peso cab ride over washboard dusty roads once you get a little ways over the bridge. Flora Farms was the original and extremely popular with tourists. They always ask if you have eaten there so now we can say we have.
We were fortunate enough to find a table for two outside in the shade overlooking some of their vegetable plots. We enjoyed a cocktail in the warm air with a slight breeze. Jill ordered the cold cucumber soup (see photo) and a pulled pork Sandwich. It was not flavored with BBQ sauce but something tasting lighter and more flavorful. Best she has had she reported. Too much though so you will see a take home box in her hands in the photo below.
I should add that we were in process of a three week 50th anniversary celebration in Mexico. A place we try to get to each year.
I had the potato soup that they poured at the table. The bacon did not generate much flavor but the small cheese medallion was excellent and helped with the taste of the soup. I had a sausage on a roll with this. There were fresh ingredients on top of the sausage that were delightful.
We topped this all off by sharing an homemade ice cream cone.
6. El Grill Restaurant
Overall Ratings
5 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By Bobbie W - Warwick, Rhode Island
It’s not a large restaurant but we were seated right away. The food was delicious. They brought out (on the house) a mound of chopped avocado and broccoli. An unlikely pairing, but it worked. Served with house made tortilla chips. For dinner, we got the stuffed pepper (250 pesos) and beef kabob (350 pesos) for dinner. Water was 30 pesos a bottle. Each meal came with asparagus, baby string beans and rice. We enjoyed both immensely.
7. El Meson
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 270 reviews
In Mexico "meson" refers to guest houses that expertly craft authentic dishes. Under Chef Mauricio Lopez, El Meson honors Baja California culinary heritage and celebrates the people who bring you the food. The cuisine utilizes locally grown ingredients in season, from organic farms whenever possible, prepared using traditional techniques in a contemporary setting. Baja is often described as the Mediterranean of Mexico thus special focus is given to fresh fish and seafood from the Pacific ocean and sea of Cortez. In addition the menu showcases a wealth of traditional local flavors.
Reviewed By 9313rd - Westminster, Colorado
The best breakfast buffet we have ever had. Dennis and his staff are always the best and always have a smile on their face. Wonderful people.
8. Fiorenza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 498 reviews
We offer cooking lessons, catering for parties and private specialized italian chef to delight you in the comfort of your home. It is wonderful to learn how to make dishes rather than just eat them. The "hands-on lessons" last approximately 3 hours where you will learn the basics of the italian cooking without the necessity to travel to Italy. My goal is to create indelible memories regarding our Italian cousine. TO COOK FOR YOU IS TO LOVE YOU! Let the dream begin!!! Contact Me
Reviewed By AdventureTx - Houston, Texas
We came because the reviews said it was best. We’ve been in Cabo about 3 months. And never realized this place existed. It’s tucked off the street and in a very unassuming storefront. We walked up and it smelled amazing. We came for pizza but had to try the lasagna too. We were not disappointed. The lasagna was huge. And the flavor was great. The sauce was tomato-Esque without the sour vinegar or the too sweet of most Italian tomato sauces around these parts. The noodles were firm not soggy or hard or burned. The cheese was just right.
The pizza was pretty good as well. On a super thin crust which isn’t my preference but it was really good in spite of that. Sauce was just right. Great flavor and not too much sauce. We got Laura (pepperoni and mushroom) and added jalapeños.
Service was slow. Drinks came after appetizer. Check took a long time. For that I’d really prefer if I could give 4.5.
9. Las Cazuelas del Don
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 437 reviews
The best charcoal grilled american steak cut, fresh local chicken and vegetable dishes, slow cooked in a traditional cazuela (clay pot) for additional, unique flavor... Simply delicious! El Don invites you to kill your capital sins... Bite by bite!! Where about: Coming from Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo on the Transpeninsular Highway, you pass Walmart (on your right hand side), at 100 meter is a traffic light wait for the left arrow, cross the hiaghway (there is a "Gift Shop" right on the corner), we are on the same block as the Oxxo store but on the other corner.
Reviewed By Minneapolisdoyle - Santiago
Two couples had a very nice dinner in this very clean and friendly family run restaurant. The owner, his wife and I assume daughter operate this restaurant located in a quiet residential area. The family is extremely friendly and helpful
Between us we had two sloth tortas, two beef and one chicken taco and one stuffed baked potato. We all enjoyed our meals very much. We each had a couple of beers and we split a piece of homemade frozen key lime pie for desert. In all honesty we spent way more money eating at Don Sanchez in downtown San Jose last night but we all liked the informal atmosphere, friendly family atmosphere and food at the Los Cazuelas del Don better.
The restaurant is exceptionally clean and all Seating is under a covered patio. Nothing deceptive here but very good food served by a friendly family. We will be back.
10. La Forchetta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 717 reviews
Italian Restaurante. Our menu will surprise you with original and unique recipes. We have two terraces outside. For us service is as an important as the quality of the food, and we take care of every small detail. We are open every day, form 5:00 PM to 11 PM,. We accept VISA AMEX and MASTERECARD..
Reviewed By Joyful1 - Fredericksburg, Virginia
We ate inside the first night we visited this establishment, for it was a bit cool outside. The next two visits, we ate outside on the charming Terrace. My husband had shrimp risotto and I ordered a stuffed ravioli as our entrees. We split a salad as an appetizer. Our waiter, Daniel, was very attentive, and checked back often to make sure our food and service were as expected. The next two times, we went with different couples. Each of us ordered something different. All of us agreed the food and service were excellent. Even the manager checked with us to make certain all was okay. The portions were large enough that I took some back for lunch the next day. The restaurant is located across the street from Cabo Azul, so it was very accessible for us.
