Olivia’s Cafe

Salinas, United States

3.7

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 831-422-5430
Address:
14 Station Pl, Salinas, CA, 93901
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
350 ftSalinas Amtrak
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating
No
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
Yes
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
No

Today

Today 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Salinas) 04:18 Friday, 20 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

We specialize in authentic Mexican cuisine. Our tortillas are hand made. Some of our more popular breakfast items include dishes like chorizo and eggs, chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. For lunch, a popular item is our enchiladas and for dinner chile verde. We serve authentic soups including menudo and birria. We have a wide variety of items for you to choose from.

History

Established in 1985.

After working in the restaurant business for some time, Olivia decided to start her own business. She borrowed some money and opened up her own place in Old Town Salinas. It was a very small place that allowed her to serve every customer that came in. With hard work and grit Olivia has made Olivia’s Café what it is today. Olivia’s Café has been at the current location since 2001.

Meet the Business Owner

Olivia E.

Business Owner

Olivia is originally from Mexico from a town called Coalcoman in the state of Michoacan. She came here in search of the American dream. Along with her husband and family they stayed with relatives for a while until they were on their feet. Determined to work for herself and ambitious, she started her own business.

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Nearby

Near this location:
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20 reviews of Olivia’s Cafe

No registration required
Place rating: 1
Monterey, CA
The food and service was mediocre and the waitress tried to overcharge me on the meal and the tax. The bill was hand written, she didn’t use a cash register. Sad to see a long term local establishment engaging in fraud. It would also be helpful if the server is bilingual.
Place rating: 1
Concord, CA
Food is average. Services is slow. But the biggest kicker is that they overcharge you and when you confront them with it they get upset. We had one order of machaca at 9.99 one order of chilaquiles at 9.99 and 3 sopes with beans cheese and sour cream 3×3=9 and 3 drinks 3×2=6 a total of 34.80. But they charged me $ 49. I then asked her how did you come up with that number but she could not explain to me but she told me that it was $ 49. I was so upset I just paid the $ 49 and walked out. so if you do come here be careful when they charge chances are they are going to overcharging
Place rating: 3
Salinas, CA
Nice little café with good food and friendly staff. First time there, the ceiling was painted blue sky and white clouds. Looked like old family photos around the restaurant nice pics. I like a place that mades home made tortillas and has Hot salsa that makes your lips burn.
Place rating: 4
Eagle, ID
Good, authentic, homemade Mexican food. Everything I’ve had here has been amazing, this includes the pozole! A must try in Salinas!
Place rating: 5
La Selva Beach, CA
Angie the daughter of Olivia really knocks herself out trying to cover all the tables. My first time 11 years ago i was early for the train. I overheard Olivia tell a woman and her daughter not to worry and pay her next time as they only had credit cards and no cash. That was such a nice thing for Olivia to do with strangers that i knew it was a great place before i ordered. Angie’s kids now work there. the pozole is really good as is the chile verde and carnitas not greasy and not undercooked a little crunchy is how i like carnitas and handmade corn tortillas. i need to go back its a roundtrip 55 minute drive for me for the pupusas. I did take a lady friend there once and she was bummed no black beans but she is always the expert and doesn’t do well with other hispanic women.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
Food is AUTHENTIC Mexican. Fresh made tortillas and they make to your likings. You can customize your food. Olivia is the nicest :)
Place rating: 5
Campbell, CA
My husband has been raving about this place for years and I finally got to taste for myself… it did not disappoint! Try the pupusas made with pulled chicken and freshly made cornmeal dough. So authentic Mexican, very fresh and live the homey feel. Just like Mexico which I love. Just wish this place was not so far out of the way!
Place rating: 1
Salinas, CA
My husband and I went during lunch time. Wasn’t too busy with only a fee people. Took them a couple minutes to bring out the menus. We ordered and asked for chips and salsa and two waters. They brought us water bottles and the chips were burned and came in a small bowl. We waited 30 minutes and never received our food. People who ordered for to go received their order before us and they ordered after us. Took the lady 25 minutes before she updated us and said the food was on its way. Once another person received their order to go we got up and left. We left our $ 3 on the table for the burned chips. Left the unopened water bottles as well. Never again will be go to this place. We went down the street to el Charitto market and got some bomb burritos for a ten minute wait in line.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
Food is bomb dot com. Home style not restaurant style. Olivia and her crew sometimes give you attitude and the wait for food can be ridiculous so don’t go there looking for a quick meal. But if you have time on your hands and want something delicious you can find it here.
Place rating: 2
San Jose, CA
Stopped here with my mom on the way to SLO. Chips and salsa were standard. We both got burritos: chicken, cheese, beans, rice. The cheese was still cold, not melted into the burrito at all but still in shredded pieces. To top it all off there were 6 small bones and 2 chicken hearts in the meat… Needless to say we will not be eating here again.
Place rating: 4
Salinas, CA
This little café was a welcomed treat. Almost like eating at home or at one of your tias house. They don’t use lard to fry the beans! Everyone was very friendly. I had two delicious tostadas, a bean sope, and some of my hubby’s nopales. They make fresh corn tortillas and their salsa and chips are fresh. What more could you ask for? ?? Its very small only 5 tables, so try to go during the off peak hours…
Place rating: 5
Princeton, MA
I grew in the Salinas area and I have eaten in tons of Mexican restaurants and eaten great Mexican food at the houses of my friends and my mom makes a great chile verde. This place has the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. Who cares that the staff speaks only Spanish. The machaca and the steak ranchero are amazing. They come with the freshest corn tortillas; hot and brought to the table straight from the cooks hands! Every time we come to California, my husband goes at least 5 times. There are always farm workers eating menudo (good hangover food I’m told) and retired old guys hanging out telling stories to each other. It is not a tourist place, and ordering oatmeal is probably not the best choice. But if you want really good Mexican food and you LOVE hot, fresh corn tortillas, this is your place.
I wish I lived closer so I could go there a ton more often.
Place rating: 3
Monterey, CA
Honestly the best place to grab coffee and tamales when you’re waiting for your bus/​train out of the Salinas Amtrak station. I’ve come here for many years now, and I am still impressed. They have TVs so you can catch the current soccer or football game before your trip. I would highly recommend it it travelers and Salinas locals.
Place rating: 3
Monterey, CA
The food is good! A little bit pricy for a small place like this. Somehow the place looks messy. Customer service could improve, have a nicer more enthusiastic attitude.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
I came here for lunch with a friend based off recommendations. We came around lunch so the place was fairly busy! We were seated in a family-​style dining table with another party. They were very friendly and we all chatted together. My friend and I both ordered the sopes, rice and beans. They were delicious! The sope was perfectly cooked nice crisp on the outside and very flavorful shredded beef on the inside. Rice had a great flavor and salsa had a great spice that went perfectly with our sopes. The staff was very friendly and had great interaction with their regulars. Lots of laughs were going on while we were there. Overall a great experience!
Place rating: 5
Hollister, CA
Delicious… this place is as authentic as it gets, home made tortillas, great food, great prices and the best chilaquiles around.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
Went for lunch, really enjoyed the chips & salsa. Great combo dish. Prices are great!
Place rating: 4
San Pedro, CA
Great local place. Friendly with ample menu of home made Mexican food.
Staff speaks English but you’ll mostly hear Spanish. There really is an Olvia so say hello and enjoy meeting all the locals who drop in to say hi or come in to eat.
It is s short walking distance to the train station so a good option for To Go or a quick meal while you wait.
Place rating: 3
Ventura, CA
Earlier this year I arrived way too early in the morning for my Amtrak bus to take north. It was a stormy, freezing day and the Amtrak station wasn’t open yet. I saw this restaurant was open and so ran in there to get out of the weather.
To be polite I ordered some food. I got a hot tea and oatmeal, which I learned is called avena in Spanish. I killed time in the restaurant eating slowly so I wouldn’t have to be back out in the weather again until the station open. I was VERY appreciative the people running the restaurant didn’t seem to mind this! I had fun reading the newspaper in Spanish and looking at the old photos of a Mexican family and its ranch.
The oatmeal was thin and runny but plentiful. There was butter and brown sugar in it which made it delicious! The waitress also gave me cream to put in the oatmeal.
I would like to try the other food here sometime! Then I’ll update the review, I assume higher based on these other reviews.
Place rating: 4
Miami, FL
While waiting for the Coast Starlate to finally get to the train station, Mom and I popped in here for some to-​go hot food, and ordered the mole.
Oh my god, I had missed Mexican food. So much.
Great, solid, authentic Mexican food.
Although, I totally understand the other reviewers complaining about the lack of English spoken. Luckily mom and I are fluent in Spanish, so our service was top-​notch.