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16 Best Restaurants in San Jose del Cabo Mexico

16 Best Restaurants in San Jose del Cabo Mexico

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There are so many great restaurants in San Jose del Cabo. Whether you want great street tacos, a nice Mexican restaurant where you can sit and enjoy a few margaritas with your meal, or some international dishes there’s a little bit of everything in San Jose.

I’ve been living in San Jose del Cabo for the last two months eating and exploring as much as I possibly can.

You can check out all of the videos I’ve made about San Jose del Cabo and all the things we explored here.

If you are also considering a trip to Cabo San Lucas, don’t miss my guide for things to do in Cabo as well as the best restaurants in Cabo San Lucas

While I believe the food scene is better here in San Jose, there are still some really great spots to check out in the neighboring Cabo. 

San Jose del Cabo Restaurant Tours

If you are interested not only in visiting some of the best restaurants in San Jose del Cabo, but also having a guide help you choose authentic dishes and explain some of their origin, then taking a food tour while you are in town is a great option.

There are som fantastic local guides in the area that you can pre-book with through Get Your Guide. These are our personal favorites.

  • Food Tour with Market Visit: This is a mid-morning tour that starts with a visit to the local San Jose del Cabo market. You can learn all about the different Mexican ingredients that you will find most often in traditional Mexican food. You will then head to a few different taco spots around town and be able to enjoy the food while learning about its origins as well. Book that food tour here.
  • Evening Street Food Tour: If you want to sample some of the best restaurants in San Jose del Cabo by night, this is the tour for you. You will visit cool night markets, and awesome taco spots, and perhaps have a few cold beers or margaritas along the way as well. Book the night food tour here.

Best San Jose del Cabo Restaurants

There are countless restaurants in San Jose del Cabo, but like every tourist town around the world, not all are created equal. 

I spent three months living in San Jose del Cabo and sampled many amazing restaurants there and a handful that were not that great and a few that were absolutely abysmal. I returned again in 2024 to make sure the good ones were still good and to sample a few that were new to the scene!

Only the absolute best places to eat in San Jose del Cabo have made the cut for this list!

1. La Lupita Tacos y Mezcal

La Lupita is without a doubt one of my favorite restaurants in San Jose del Cabo.

If you are looking for a place that does Mexican food in a slightly more elevated way, you will definitely want to make a reservation here. Just as the name suggests there are two main things on the menu: tacos and mezcal. But it’s no ordinary taco and the mezcal is small-batch artisanal and delicious.

Some of my favorite tacos on the menu are the barbacoa taco, the cheese crust pastor (the tortilla is made of CHEESE!), the pork belly taco, and the pork pibil taco. They have a few seafood options which I really enjoyed, but I thought the meat tacos were definitely the stars of the show here.

We sampled almost all of the tacos on the menu and absolutely all of them are delicious. They also have some vegetarian options including cactus, mushroom, and eggplant tacos. 

We also ordered the mezcal sampler which came with three artisanal mezcals. Luke and I shared the sampler since the mezcals are strong. They also have a menu with cocktails and beers if mezcal isn’t your thing. But if you’ve never tried it before, this is a really great place to sample some fantastic mezcals.

tacos and mezcal at La Lupita restaurant in san jose del cabo

The tacos and mezcal that we had along with all of the salsas at La Lupita.

2. Los Tamarindos

I know everyone raves about Flora Farms, and I’m sure it’s very good, but I haven’t been there. 

I was drawn instead to Los Tamarindos, another farm-to-table restaurant in San Jose del Cabo that’s really making a splash.

We opted for Los Tamarindos because it’s Mexican-owned. The chef, Eduardo Silva, is from the state of Sonora and moved over to Cabo in the 90s. He trained under several chefs in Mexico before learning more in LA, Thailand, and France before returning to Mexico with a plan to showcase seasonal Mexican food.

It’s certainly one of the more expensive restaurants in San Jose, but it’s worth it if you are looking for a high-end experience with quality to match.

fish tacos from taqueria rossy in san jose del cabo

Delicious fish tacos from Taqueria Rossy in San Jose del Cabo. The left one is grilled fish and the right one is smoked marlin!

3. Taqueria Rossy

One of the things I’m always most excited about when I visit a new beach-town in Mexico is finding really great fish tacos.

Some of the best seafood tacos that we’ve had in San Jose del Cabo have been at Taqueria Rossy. 

My personal favorite is the scallop taco, but they also make incredible fish tacos, great shrimp tacos, and a killer marlin taco. I usually opt for flour tortillas here in Baja because they tend to be fresher and go perfectly with seafood.

The tacos come simply with the tortilla and the meat inside. You can then take them to the salad bar where there are a few different spicy salsas, chiles, shredded cabbage, coleslaw, and roasted chiles. 

On a recent visit I discovered their delicious marlin tacos as well. Smoked marlin that has been shredded and served hot in a fresh tortilla. 

carne asada tacos from the best taco restaurant in san jose del cabo, taqueria el paisa

The carne asada taco from El Paisa is truly delicious

4. Taqueria El Paisa

This is a chain around Mexico, but the quality of the meat and cooking varies greatly (it may be a franchise). Whatever the situation, the one in San Jose del Cabo is probably the best El Paisa I’ve ever been to.

I usually order one of three things (or, let’s be honest, one of each of these things); carne asada tacos, pastor tacos, or a papa rellena with carne asada.

If you’ve never had a carne asada taco before, you should go to El Paisa and order one. It’s a baked potato that’s been wrapped in foil and heated to perfection on the barbecue. It is then topped with carne asada (or another meat of your choice) and topped with cheese and sometimes sour cream.

They serve the papa rellena with tortillas so you can make your own tacos. It’s decadent and delicious and top it with some spicy salsa to really get the full enjoyment.

This is some of the best pastor in the city, so if you have a hankering for juicy pork, then grab a few of these tacos at El Paisa.

The tacos here are certainly more expensive than you’ll find at other taco spots around San Jose, but I think part of that is due to its central location and part is due to the high quality of the meat. The tacos are also enormous here, so you don’t need many to feel full.

Aguachile tostada in san jose del cabo

An aguachile tostada from Claro Fish Jr

5. Aguachiles el Moky

This restaurant has a total of three tables out in a small patio that, when closed, looks like nothing at all. However, El Moky is making the freshest and most delectable aguachile you will have in Los Cabos.

Aguachiles el Moky is a family-run operation doing exactly as their name suggests, seriously great Aguachiles.

They serve them in a molcajete or a mortar and pestle style container, and they are the freshest shrimp you’ll ever taste. 

Every year in Cabo there is a sashimi-style food contest and Aguachiles el Moky won the most recent one. 

If you’ve never had aguachile before, it’s sort of like a ceviche, but it’s made with shrimp and usually lots of chile. If you don’t like too much spice, just be sure to say that you don’t want it too spicy. 

They have a few other items on the menu, but you should not look past the aguachile to share.

fish tacos in san jose del cabo

More delicious fish tacos from Claro Fish Jr

6. Baja Brewing Company

This is the home of craft beer in Baja. If you love IPAs like I do, you’ll definitely want to stop here for some draft beers. Alternatively, they have a shop at the front of the restaurant where you can buy bottles and cans of their beer and take them back to your hotel or Airbnb (or the beach!) to enjoy them.

While I prefer this place simply as a bar, they also have a really comprehensive menu and are a great option if you’re craving a good burger or pizza.

I particularly like their burgers and overall it’s probably one of the best beer-burger combinations in town. But I’m biased because I really like their beer.

The pizzas are big enough to share between two people and are relatively affordable.

shrimp taco

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a simple, well-cooked shrimp taco. This one was from Sashimi y Mariscos El Burro.

7. Claro Fish Jr

This is another of the best restaurants in San Jose del Cabo for seafood tacos. The best thing about Claro Fish Jr is how close it is to the downtown and to the beach.

While I love Rossy, it’s a bit of a walk to get to if you’re staying by the beach. Claro Fish Jr is on the road that runs between the beach and the Centro Historico area of town and is easily walkable. There’s also a huge parking lot if you’re getting around with a rental car.

My favorite taco at Claro Fish Jr is the smoked marlin taco. It is utterly delicious and they have a huge salad bar with salsas, different coleslaws, and different pickled onions. They also make one of my favorite Baja-style fish tacos (battered and fried fish).

tostadas with seafood

A sampling of the different ceviches and seafood salads on tostadas at Mariscos el Chino – I particularly loved the tuna sashimi!

8. Mariscos el Chino, Abby’s Place

This is another great local spot for seafood tacos. I came here initially on a food tour to have the Baja-style fish tacos which were incredible. I also really love their smoked marlin tacos.

However, this is really one of the best spots for their raw seafood too. They make huge plates of aguachile to share as well as really fantastic ceviches. I really loved their ceviche.

They recently renovated the restaurant and there’s now a huge upstairs seating area which is like a terrace rooftop area. The staff are really friendly and the beers are icy cold.

9. Taqueria El Fogón

For some of the best grilled meat tacos of your life, you won’t want to skip a meal at Taqueria el Fogón. 

A little streetside spot with lots of seating, we knew we were in a good place when the local police pulled in to have dinner there.

My favorite thing on the menu here is the carne asada. They grill it to perfection, a slight char on the outside but nice and juicy on the inside. You can have it in a flour tortilla, a corn tortilla, or in a burrito. 

Besides the carne asada, I also really love the cecina here. If you’ve never tried cecina before, it’s a lightly cured beef that is then grilled on the barbecue.

They also have bowls of pozole soup on Thursdays and Saturdays that are absolutely delicious. Just come early if you want the soup, because it sells out by early afternoon.

the menu at El Fogon in san jose del cabo

The menu at El Fogon has so many delicious options to choose from.

10. El Ahorcado – The Hangman

A solid mixture between bar and restaurant, I was first drawn to El Ahorcado for the menu. They have an extensive list of unique tacos that I haven’t seen elsewhere in San Jose del Cabo.

The lengua taco (cow tongue) is cooked in a rich sauce and the texture is absolutely perfect. The meat is tender and the salsa is tomato-based and rich.

The Cantonese-style ribs, the pork loin, and the carne asada are all really delicious as well. This is not a great spot for vegetarians. They do have some vegetarian tacos, but they are not going to be the most delicious things on the menu. 

Beers are cold and cheap and the atmosphere is fun on a Friday night. They almost always have live music. 

They close for a few weeks during the low season, so always check their facebook page if you are visiting outside of peak season.

birria taco with consomme at el jalisciense birrieria in san jose del cabo

The birria taco I made along with the consomme at El Jalisciense Birrieria to dip it!

11. El Jalisciense Birrieria

For a taste of Jalisco, get yourself to El Jalisciense Birrieria. They make birria with beef as well as the traditional way, with goat (chivo). You have to get here early on a weekend if you want to have the goat because it sells out fast, but both are really incredible.

Birria is a slow cooked meat that has been stewed for hours in its own juices as well as with dried chiles and tomatoes. It’s traditionally from the state of Jalisco, hence the name of the restaurant. 

I highly recommend ordering it seca (dried) or dorado (golden aka grilled). The meat will come out separate from the consomme or soup. You can make tacos with the meat, add all of the salsas and onions you want and then DIP IT into the consomme. It’s a true thing of beauty.

12. Mariscos El Toro Güero

This is one of, if not the, most popular restaurants in San Jose del Cabo. Speak to anyone, locals and frequent tourists, hotel staff, or taxis and they’ll all sing the praises of El Toro Güero.

They have a few locations around Baja California Sur, I’m a particular fan of the La Paz location, but this one is also exceptional.

This is the place to head for platters of fresh seafood. They have everything from shrimp to clams, whole fried fish to ceviche, and shrimp cocktails. It’s particularly busy on weekends when families drive in from all over the area to have lunch, micheladas, and to enjoy the live music that’s usually there.

13. Adelitas

An unassuming family-run restaurant in San Jose del Cabo. Adelitas is sort of tucked down away from the main strip, but it is entirely worth straying from the strip for these tacos. 

You’ll spot it first because of the stunning mural on the outside of the restaurant. There are even more beautiful paintings inside as well. But you’ll come back again and again for the food. 

Most of the meat is grilled and you can find classics like a good arrachera steak or ribs. However, I highly recommend trying some of their “more exotic” tacos if you’re feeling brave.

They do a cabeza taco, which is a cow head taco, with beautifully stewed meat that is so tender and juicy. They also make tripe tacos, which are from the lining of the cow’s stomach. Be sure to ask for it nice and crispy and top with some spicy salsa and lime. 

tuna tacos

The tuna tacos at El Burro were some of the most memorable and delicious tacos that I’ve had in San Jose del Cabo.

14. Sashimi y Mariscos El Burro

Google Location

Hours: Thursday-Tuesday 11am-7pm, closed Wednesdays

A little bit out of the center of town, it is well-worth grabbing an Uber or parking your rental car up outside of this little local restaurant.

While the name suggests that they have great raw dishes (and they do), I come back again and again because of all of the tuna options. They have fried tuna, seared tuna, smoked tuna, and even tuna with barbecue sauce. And all of the tuna tacos are seriously good. It’s fresh, well-cooked, and fun and different.

My personal favorite is the “chicharron” style tuna taco. Lightly floured and then fried, each bite made me hope and wish that the taco would never end.

15. Taqueria Las Brasas

I discovered Las Brasas on my most recent trip to Los Cabos when I wanted a good late-night taco spot that wasn’t as expensive as El Paisa.

Located a few minutes away from the city center, Las Brasas is open every day until 1:30am! So it’s the perfect spot to head after a few mezcals or craft beers at Baja Brewing.

But their tacos aren’t just for after you’ve had a few drinks. They are open from 4pm so stop by any time in the evening for some of the best barbecued meat tacos in San Jose. The carne asada is particularly spectacular, but I have also enjoyed the pastor and the grilled pork.

16. Taquerias Guamuchil

Tacos cooked over a flaming barbecue are the main attraction at this local taqueria. Have juicy carne asada in a taco, inside a quesadilla or on top of a volcan which is a tortilla that has been grilled until crisp with cheese melted over the top.

I usually stop here on the way home from the beach and pick up half a kilo of carne asada to take home with me for dinner. They give you tortillas, salsas, and onions and cilantro so that you can make your own tacos once you’re home (or take it to the beach for sunset!).

If you only go to one place for carne asada tacos, this is perhaps the most delicious and most authentic experience you’ll have in San Jose. 

See What Some of the Plates of Food Looked and Tasted Like!

Charlotte

Tuesday 21st of November 2023

awesome! taco galore, here I come. T-5weeks. ;) Thanks for this very cool page!

Laura Bronner

Tuesday 28th of November 2023

Awesome! Enjoy your travels, so many great places to eat in San Jose!!

Steve

Sunday 7th of May 2023

We had great food and an awesome time at Habenaro’s. A bottle of beer was under 3.50 US. Service was great even with a wedding rehearsal dinner being held while we were there.

Cameron Hood

Monday 13th of February 2023

Some prices would be nice. Or just an indication of $,$$, or $$$