Cielito Lindo

The place has awesome food. Right from Chile verde to the chile Colorado to chimichangas. Everything I’ve tasted here has been great.

I’ve been here maybe four+ times? Thought I should write a review. Haven’t been here in four years or so.
Ordinarily, it was a decent experience (3 ½ stars), ok food, seriously good chips, and fast service. Last night, was just sad though.
Positives:
–Fast service
–Normally not crazy busy, so you can get seated right away
–Decent food
–Really good chips and salsa
–Yummy margaritas
Negatives:
–No real parking unless you have a truck that can drive up curbs, not a big problem as you can park in front of someone’s house and walk ½ a block (feels weird to do that though)
–Saturdays are almost always booked by a party, so be sure to call ahead if it’s a Sat.
The main issue was we both ordered the daily special, set meal with salad and soda for $ 7.99. Our waitress was mostly fine, but seemed annoyed we were doing a budget dinner, slight eye roll and a little snippy. She was fine after.
Then the real problem hit. I got the burrito, which ended up to be 90% rice, no beans, no cheese, and 10% meat, where the meat was all at one end. What is with that? It was unbelievably small, definitely a kid’s size burrito, kinda small and sad. Think bean burrito from Taco Bell size. On the special, looks like they like to skimp on the portions to make up for the price difference. Oh, and no rice and beans with the special, but it’s clear from the lack in the description.
I might come back from margaritas and chips n salsa, otherwise I’ll go somewhere else for food.

Foods alright. Overpriced. Customer service is «ok” — never the best. I come here during family or friend events and it still seems like we get bad service. Perhaps the manager needs to assign more waitresses to the party and add a bus boy to bring waters /​refill waters?. It takes forever for you to be helped. I also came for lunch one time and was waiting in front for a while. No one noticed me or greeted me. After waiting for about 5 minutes I was like, you know, I am going to walk to Japan Town and order a healthier dish. Maybe this is a sign. The good thinks is this restaurant is near Jacks! After-​party drink!

I used to come here many years ago and recently had a chance to visit once again. It was so good that I came back yet again for lunch today and now I’m ready to review the place. I believe it’s the same owners since at least 15 years ago when I used to work in the area and the Chili Verde is just as good as I remember it.
A week or so ago I came here with 4 friends from work and although the food was quite good the service was not so good and they ended up charging us automatic 15% gratuity (for a party of 5?) The service and that experience dinged them a star but the food is worth 5 stars.
My second trip here (today for lunch) we sat at the bar and the 75 year old bartender was pouring really tasty margaritas and the service was much better. I revisited the Chili Verde and was licking the plate it was so good! The last time I tried the «La Favortiva» and that was awesome. A perfectly seasoned carne asada steak served with a cheese enchilada with rice and beans. I subbed the beans for some guac and made it «My Favortiva».
The chips and salsa are delicious and plentiful and the Margaritas are some of the best I’ve had. Sauza Tequila in the well and a full bar to back it up. Definately give this place a try!

Conveniently located… This is one of my favorite places for enchilada suisas con pollo. I am sure the other entrees are great too… I just cannot get past this favorite. Hearty portions in their no-​rush restaurant. The staff are friendly and seem to love working here. Sit back and enjoy a margarita or two.

Good Mexican food at good prices. Margaritas are good too!
Can’t go wrong with the enchiladas.
Do call ahead as they tend to close for special events quite often.

Enchiladas are a must!!! The Mexican food is by far one of the best in the South Bay. Try the Shrimp «A la Diabla» they are amazing tasteful and spicy. The décor is nice and the staff is friendly. Also, chips and salsa is in my opinion the best ANYWHERE!!!

If I could give a restaurant 6 stars, this would be it. GREAT customer service, and the food could not be tastier. You can tell the recipes were handed down from generation to generation because they are authentic and delicious.
I usually order the Tres Marias (3 enchiladas, chicken, cheese, and beef), which comes with a side of re-​fried beans and rice. Oh ya did I mention they have the most delicious enchilada sauce ever invented?
If I get bored of the Tres Marias I usually go for their burrito, I think its called a burrito special or something, but anyways its a big old burrito drizzled with that delicious enchilada sauce and rice and re-​fried beans on the side. They also always start you off with chips and salsa like every good Mexican restaurant should.
P. S. get an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade half iced tea) for a drink goes pretty well with any meal here.

I absolutely love this place. They are always quick, there is hardly a wait, and the food is delicious. My favorite is their Chile Rellenos, always fresh never too greasy like some other places. And you can never go wrong with their Super Chavelas!!! I come here at least once a week

The GF and I have eaten here several times during the past year. The food is reasonably priced, decent portions, and it tastes great! We usually have the mixed fajitas along with the appetizer sampler plate. The service is good and the place is very quiet. We like quiet. Call before you visit on Sundays because they may be closed for special events.
Update!!!
Came here on a Saturday for dinner and it was closed for a special event. Ugh! I guess I should have called first. Sigh!

Fast service, pleasant people and delicious food! Went there before an event at SAP and it was not too packed. We were sat immediately and they took our order as soon as we were ready.
Food: garlic shrimp dish was amazing! Lots of shrimp, garlic, little tang and little spice — delish! Chile verde was authentic and heavenly. Kids had bean & cheese burritos with no complaints there either.
We will be back! Ambiance was fun, friendly. Mariachi band was warming up when we got there!

We live nearby and decided to give this place a shot. Food was average to below average.
However, my Fiancé got food poisoning the next day and everything else we had eaten could not possibly cause that. Will not be returning.

ambiance: depressing. food eh. expensive for average mexican, tostada soggy bc of so much crap they put on it. The waitress was decent but didn’t go above and beyond. will not be returning.

Great Mexican place. Manny behind the bar took care of me, good guy, welcomed me and poured a Chevela which was the first and the start of a new friendship. Salsa was very nice, and the fajitas were terrific. Highly suggested, reasonable, and great people inside to make you feel at home.

My girlfriend rented out the whole place for her engagement party. This was my first time here and for the party, they were very accommodating.
They let us decorate however we wanted. We were not allowed to take down any of the pictures but they did allow us to cover them. It was a black and white theme so we draped black table clothes over the walls.
Food was great and the staff was very attentive. They only had one bartender but he was quick, accurate and poured healthy drinks.
The only bad was that it tended to get pretty warm inside with all the bodies. An outside patio would be a great add on.
Parking is a bit of a pain, but so is everywhere else in DT San José.

Happy hour is 4−6pm M-​F. $ 6 super chevelas! $ 4 appetizers! Chips & Salsa were super fresh.

My husband and I love this restaurant so much. Such a sweet place. The mole is the best in the world. The margaritas are yummy too. And the servers are awesome as well.

I’ve been here a handful of times for lunch with my co-​workers since it’s a short drive from the office and the lunch specials are great. It’s not the most fancy place but the food is decent for the price. For $ 6.99, you can get an entrée, salad, and drink and there are a handful of options to choose from. So far, I’ve tried their chile verde burrito, tacos, and enchiladas lunch specials. Overall, I liked my food and loved the endless supply of chips and salsa too!

My wife and I first came here over a year ago in search for some good, authentic Mexican food. Returning to the area, we had to come back.
I have to say, nothing is really ‘that’ incredible, but everything is pretty good. My wife loves the green enchilada sauce and hasn’t had any as good as this anywhere.

Stopped by on my way to volunteer in Japantown because I wanted Mexican food for a change, and was a bit surprised.
I ordered the Carne Asada Burrito Special to go, and at first I was shocked at the over $ 10 price for a burrito, especially when the waitress told me that there was just beans, rice, and meat inside… yet upon opening the to-​go box, I found out why it was so expensive. The burrito was huge — filled up half the to-​go container, and was smothered in sauce. I was also given quite a lot of tortilla chips and salsa, which was nice. However, upon eating the massive thing, it still felt a bit plain. Personally, I enjoy my burritos with cheese, guac, and lettuce…
Perhaps Cielito Lindo is more known for their other dishes, but their burritos are just okay…