We had dinner at this hidden gem in Marina last night. The place came highly recommended so we gave it a try. We were both pleasantly surprised. The food was unique, the ambiance welcoming & warm, and the service was on point. There aren’t many places in our area that have this mastered. We had the grilled artichoke and guacamole appetizers. The chips were freshly made and guacamole perfect. The highlight for us as locals was the grilled artichoke! It was fire & hands down the best grilled artichoke I’ve had at any restaurant in Monterey County! He had the carnitas vampiros and I had the chile relleno. Both of us absolutely loved our dinners! We wanted to try the churro just because everything else was so good and we’re glad we did. Didn’t get a picture, but it doesn’t matter because the flavor is what sets it apart! This churro was fresh, crispy, warm, and full of the flavors of a homemade traditional Mexican dessert! The perfect blend of cinnamon & sugar. We can’t wait to go back & alredy know what we will be trying next! I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be regulars.

The food was really good. Everyone at the table loved their entry. Excellent flavors.

Incredible authentic Mexican food with great vegetarian options. The chilaquiles were honestly some of the best we've ever had. The tortillas still a little crunchy (which we loved) and the sauce was rich and flavorful. We also tried the flan, which was presented beautifully. The flavor was mild and not overly sweet, which was perfect for us. The chef also came out and talked to us for a bit, which was a highlight. I would say this is some of the best food in the area!

Hidden gem! Super delicious! I ordered Mole duo. My favorite! The meat is so tender and the source is really good! The restaurant is normally closed on Sunday. We are lucky that they are open on Valentine’s Day. Best Mexican food!

This is the best in Monterey/Marina. Good service, and the food we had had so much flavor it was delicious. Made with love. Absolutely come here, will will be back.Thank you Isabella.

Incredible, fresh, delicious Mexican! The staff were so kind, attentive, and friendly. This place deserves a line around the block, but we were the only ones in for lunch on a Saturday. We got chips and guacamole, calabacitas, chicken flautas, and gorditas. Waaay too much food for two people, but everything looked amazing and we wanted to try lots. We weren’t disappointed! All of our food looked amazing and tasted even better. We will absolutely be back.

Food was good, a little pricey, but worth trying the unusual dishes. Biggest challenge is finding parking. I ended up parking by the Walmart!

WOW. We love this place! The BEST on the Monterey peninsula! Maybe even the state? I found this 'by accident' looking for top restaurants in Marina after moving here to Marina and we were instantly impressed. The food and service is top notch. We have been back several times since moving here. This is our GO TO spot now! You need to try this place.

Phenomenal experience in every possible way. The space is so sunny and inviting. Service was a delight. Grandma’s mole recipe will blow your mind. Guac was super fresh. Everything had a special touch— a french press of coffee brewed with cinnamon, tender, perfectly seasoned rice and beans, a sprig of flowered rosemary on the ice cream and homemade churros. This place was wildly special.

We loved this place. The stuffed zucchini was incredible. That was honestly one of the best Mexican dishes we’ve ever had. Everything on the menu had a lighter yet bursting taste. We had the chicken enchiladas (red sauce) and chips and salsa and those were equally great. It was the best food we had on our entire California trip.

Our hotel staff told us about this place. Man, they talked this place up and they were on point! Just Wow!! A small little place. But the dishes and flavors are huge! Modern, yet very Mexican in every way imaginable. So good. If you are in the area, man you must stop in and be prepared to get full bellies! If you don’t like it. Then I’ll pay for it. But you will like it. Believe me. See my pictures! Also the glass bottle, “bottled in Mexico” Coke is so refreshing.

Aki Molcajete- Loved the dish for two, very filling! Strawberry blueberry lemonade is perfect pairing with the meal. The only disappointment thing is that they charge for extra tortilla shells (the dish only comes with 3 shells for a meal intended for two people, it should come with 6 at least). If they charged for extra- this should have been stated in the beginning (waitress made it seem like it was free). Chips and guac were delicious.

Excellent food, very tasty and natural. Loved the corn as a starter, delicious cheese sauce. We had the pot dish which was sufficient for 2 adults and 2 kids (6 + 8 years). The churros with ice cream were an excellent desert. We'll come back for sure.

Everything was so great!! We had chips and salsa, molcajete, flan and churros. I loved the green salsa and the chips were fresh. The molcajete had perfectly cooked meat and the sauce was amazing. I apologize for the half eaten churros picture but that’s the best I could do, haha. They were soft, flaky, crunchy, perfect. The flan had a great texture and just the right amount of caramel flavor. I wish I lived in the area so I could eat here more often. Check it out!! Great service and even better food :)

Wow. Just wow! AMAZING food, great service, awesome music. The tortillas homemade, the chips, the guacamole…. a must visit if you love fresh mexican food. The owner is such a lovely lady and made everything on the menu herself! Just amazing, wish I could give it 100 stars!

Stopped here after a long day of hiking in the hot summer sun. We must have smelled delightful but our server didn't show it. Bless her. We enjoyed an appetizer of chips and salsa that was bright and fresh tasting. I had the Tacos Vampiros while my husband had a mole dish. Both were excellent. The only complaint is that the music is a touch too loud. Though it is unlikely that we will be back in the area, I would absolutely return to this restaurant if we ever do.

What I loved. Service was fantastic. Both the server and the chef checked in on me to make sure I was enjoying the food. Food tasted very fresh. Even the enchilada sauce tasted like it was fresh made. Chips and salsa tasted great. They also tasted freshly made. What I didn't like so much. 3.5% credit card processing fee. This is an unnecessary penalty in 2023, especially coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic when most places required that you use a credit card. This 3.5% is approximately $1.50 for my dinner. Why penalize the customer for choosing a form of payment that is far safer and more secure than carrying around cash. Charging over $6 for an order of chips and salsa more than makes up for any cost associated with processing a credit card. If the restaurant had advertised cash only, I simply would not have eaten here.

Food is fresh, with decent flavor. No complaints about the chips and guacamole; it was indeed fresh. There is no chips and salsa, or even salsa with your food. The beer is $7 for a bottle, and not even dressed. In my opinion, that's absolutely ridiculous! The food takes a very long time, and the service was lacking. There was one other table in here at the same time, I would hate to come during "rush hour". Would I recommend? Meh. From my experience in the area if your looking for Mexican food, this place tries to be a "fancy" restaurant with a corner Café vibe. They really try for "high end" vibes, and could give a much better experience if they embraced the area and the culture they represent. If you choose to try them, take cash. 3.5% card transaction fee.

We stopped for lunch on our way to Monterey for a day trip. Food was absolutely amazing, great service - very fast and friendly. The cook even came out to see how we liked the food. Would definitely recommend eating here.