Los Cabos is indeed an incredible place for food. Every style, every price range, and every type of ambiance. This issue focuses on traditional-style restaurants, under palapas, with a great choice of Mexican and American food, at a reasonable price. Get out and try them. You will be pleased!
Cabos San Lucas: Maria Jimenez Restaurante Mexicano
Located Calle Narcizo Mendoza Entre Revolucion de 1910 y 20 in Cabo San Lucas, Maria Jimenez Restaurante Mexicano was founded in 2012 to fulfill the dream of Maria Jimenez and her husband. He quit his job at another restaurant in Cabo San Lucas to start it and unfortunately, died three months later of a brain aneurism. Maria, determined to fulfill their dream, pushed forward but she contracted cancer. Despite this, she opened the space that is now their bar with the stove, refrigerator and dishes from their home. In 2014, they opened the current space beside it under a large palapa, designed by Maria. The design included adobe walls to remind her and her children of where they were from on mainland Mexico. Maria Jimenez passed in 2015. The restaurant is now run by her three daughters and her son, with a commitment to continue to fulfill the dream of their family.
The atmosphere is truly Mexican and the menu reflects all of the traditional dishes of Mexico: appetizers, salads, soups, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, chile relleno, fajitas, chicken, arrachera, sopes, Mexican combination platters, seafood platters, and of course, desserts. While we reviewed the menu, we were served a special small bean tart appetizer that we had seen being grilled at the entrance to the bar when we arrived. We ordered guacamole and queso fundido con chorizo as appetizers. Our server, one of the sisters, also brought us four different salsas, ranging in spiciness, and tortillas to go with the guacamole and melted cheese. Beth and I both chose the corn chowder as a starter. It was sweet, creamy, and delicious.
Our selection of main courses was wide. Bill ordered their special chicken with extra spice and served with rice and beans; Dianne chose the catch-of-the-day, Sea Bass served with rice and grilled vegetables; Beth selected the shrimp with a garlic and butter sauce, also with rice and grilled vegetables and my choice was the breaded chicken with rice and beans and a special ranch dressing. The portions were all very large. In fact, my chicken was enough for another full meal at home. Everyone was so full and satisfied that we passed on dessert.
The food quality and flavor were excellent, the presentation and portion sizes were great, and the service was very attentive and efficient. As all of the servers were on radios, refills of drinks were virtually immediate. The atmosphere is great. This is definitely a place to take guests who want a Mexican experience at a reasonable price.
https://www.facebook.com/mariajimenezcabo
San Jose del Cabo: Teo Bar and Grill
Located on Boulevard Mijares in downtown San Jose del Cabo (just past the roundabout) is TEO Bar and Grill. It is touted as the best burger in town. If you ever want some regular comfort food like burgers, sandwiches, or chicken fingers for a quick lunch, this is the place.
My wife and I stopped recently for lunch after driving to Cabo San Lucas. Beth had been craving a BLT for some time, along with some French fries. I ordered a bowl of their Soup of the Day, chicken vegetable, and some chicken fingers with French fries.
The BLT is enormous. It is a two-layer sandwich with three slices of bread with lots of bacon. The French fries are crispy and plentiful. My soup to start was a large bowl with lots of pieces of chicken and fresh vegetables including cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes and onions. It was delicious and filling. My chicken fingers were just what I wanted.
It was a great lunch.
https://www.facebook.com/TeoBarAndGrill
Todos Santos: La Esquina
After crossing through the arroyo from downtown to go to Las Tunas, the first big building on the road to the left is La Esquina (Calle Horizonte and Topete), a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Walking through the front or side gate to the restaurant provides a surprise with big trees and several different seating areas under palapa cover or in a forest-like setting.
To order your food, you walk up to a counter to review the menu, make your order and pay. The cashier provides you with a cube with a number on it to put on your table for your order to be delivered. The breakfast menu includes all styles of eggs, omelets, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, pancakes, and toasts as well as oatmeal and fruits. The lunch menu offers soups, salads, burritos and bowls, quesadillas, tostadas, enchiladas, wraps and sandwiches.
I was there for breakfast and ordered huevos a la Mexicana and orange juice with flour tortillas. I took my number and went to a table in the shade. The restaurant was quite full and so the wait was over 40 minutes to get the food. However, during the wait a guitarist and saxophone player entertained the crowd. There seemed to be quite a few people there for coffee, which you can refill yourself.
The food was good, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. The wait — not so much. Regular live music is a plus.