Mexican Restaurants near Guadalupe

“El Tapatio is a very special place indeed, and just a hop, skip, and a jump from the bigger, Central California city of Santa Maria. The fun begins when you enter and see a colorful, festive, happy place with a giant, old juke box that sits quietly at the entry, and vibrant Mexican music oom pa pa' ing loudly from the open galley kitchen. But best of all, it's the delicious smells that greet your descriminating nose. Eddie and Mimi, the dedicated, friendly owners/husband and wife team, are very proud of their little diner, as well they should be. This little cafe has been in the family since 1988, handed down from father to son in 2018. They don't take shortcuts. Each morning starts with a trip to the local market for fresh produce. And living in Guadalupe puts you right at the center of some of the finest, vast agricultural heartland you could imagine in California. It doesn't get any better for quality. Our eyes got bigger and bigger as the food rolled out. The first thing on my agenda before ordering had been to sample the chile verde sauce. It was a bright, lightly herbal tomatillo sauce with chunks of the juiciest pork I could hope for. I knew immediately things were heading in the right direction, so I ordered a chile verde enchilada. But I wanted to make this a combo because I could not resist trying the chile relleno either. The Chile Relleno was magnificent. Eddie starts with a cheese-stuffed, monster-sized pasilla chile and a delicate batter. He lightly cooks it so that platter-sized pasilla is still slightly crunchy. His salsa for the chile is homemade, made of sauteed, fresh tomatoes and onion. Wonderful, not greasy. Mr. B had eyes only for the Camarones Mojo de Ajo. What arrived at our table was a huge platter, half of it filled with medium shrimp in a generous butter garlic sauce cooked to perfection. As if the entrees were not enough to bring tears of joy to our eyes, the sides of beans and rice were superb as well. And I have to mention that the complimentary corn chips and salsas brought to our table when we sat down were our first clue that we were in for something special. Two small bowls of dip arrived, one containing their rich, authentic refried beans topped with a drizzle of verde sauce and melted white cheese, the other was a vibrant cilantro avocado sauce with a slightly spicy tang. The tortilla chips were freshly fried...they make their own. Mimi assured us that nothing is pre-made nor popped in a microwave here. There is no microwave. Easily verified, tasting was the final proof. This will be a regular stop for us when we pass through. Just make sure they are open that day. Don't waste your time in Santa Maria. I challenge you to find better, home-style Mexican cuisine than here.“

“Really really really good. I love coming here to eat and for take out. My wife always gets the nachos with fresh pico and I'll generally stick to a burrito. I attached a photo of my finished burrito (was planning on taking a picture of it before but it looked and tasted so good that I ate it all before remembering to snap a quick pic)“

“I make it a priority to go to La Simpatia whenever I'm in town. The tamales are awesome, the beans are the best anywhere and the tacos are the same as I've been eating my whole life. This is the best authentic Mexican food. Can't wait to go back next time I visit.“

“When I go out for Mexican food I drive 15 minutes out of town to Nardos. The food is homemade and home style. The food is like visiting your grandmothers kitchen, clean, cozy and the food prepared with care. We ordered Albóndiga soup and Machaca breakfast with fresh handmade corn tortillas. The owner and her staff prepare everything with attention to detail. I always enjoy my fresh homestyle meals at Nardos. February 13, 2024“

“La Pasadita is consistent with their traditional Mexican food and they have great hours! Most of the restaurants in Guadalupe have posted hours that they do not honor, but this restaurant is always open when they say they’re going to be open. Food is amazing, service is awesome and the atmosphere, well I usually get it to go…“