Best Restaurants in Salinas (2025)
Located on a dusty strip of West Market Street in Salinas, I found a yellow, strictly to‑go spot whose packed parking lot and steady stream of muddy work trucks make its popularity obvious. Inside there are no dining tables — just an outdoor patio and a well‑oiled operation of staff manning a counter lined with five steam tables, filling orders in Spanish and English while online orders and delivery drivers bustle by. I watched tortillas made from scratch starting as early as 4 a.m. — mixed, rounded, rolled, pressed and grilled in batches so they puff and achieve charred spots — which locals queue for as early as 5:40 a.m.; a pack of 10 can sell out by 6:10 a.m. and retail tortillas are limited to two per customer. Burritos here are compact, tightly folded and wrapped in parchment: each tortilla is brushed with beans, ladled with rice and a choice of one of 12 meats (carne asada, pollo guisado, and chile colorado among them), topped with salsa, and finished with painstakingly prepared components — rice cooked in chicken broth, eggs cracked by hand, chorizo marinated overnight, a three‑hour family recipe for beans, and a two‑day chile verde that is roasted, simmered and browned per Teresa Moncada’s instructions. The Moncada family — Teresa and Jose, who immigrated from Santa Fe del Río, Michoacán, and bought the Market Street grocery in 1981 — turned Teresa’s home recipes into what I experienced as “slow‑fast food”: served quickly and conveniently but built from long, careful processes, including two full‑time butchers and a single person who batters and fries about 90 chile rellenos each day. Recent efforts by the grandchildren to modernize operations (installing tilt skillets after extensive testing, launching an ordering app, and streamlining the shop to focus on burritos) have scaled the business to roughly 750 walk‑in burritos daily plus hundreds more online and even an El Charrito Express in Monterey.
A vibrant, family-owned ode to Michoacán with handmade blue-corn tortillas and contemporary plates. Named Best Restaurant – Salinas by Monterey County Weekly readers and spotlighted by KQED’s Check, Please! for inventive chilaquiles and more.
Reborn in 2025 under new local owners, this Oldtown bistro blends Patria’s European soul with seasonal Italian, seafood, and cocktails. Edible Monterey Bay reported the refreshed menu and community-forward vision.
An Oldtown stalwart tied to Salinas Valley agriculture, known for prime rib, classic sides, and a wall of local history. Recommended in Monterey County Weekly’s Eat+Drink 2025 as the county’s quintessential steakhouse vibe.
Independent smokehouse turning out brisket, ribs, and tri-tip with a loyal local following. Repeated Best of Monterey County winner, noted by Monterey County Weekly for serious smoke and community spirit.
Lunch in John Steinbeck’s restored Victorian boyhood home, operated by a local nonprofit guild since 1974. The official site confirms current hours; Monterey County Weekly regularly highlights its cultural charm.
Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pies meet a lively stage in a revived Oldtown building. KSBW covered the Salinas expansion; Monterey food writers note its growing role as a downtown hangout.
An intimate Italian spot for housemade pastas, crisp calamari, and classic desserts. Featured in Monterey County Weekly’s Eat+Drink for polished, comforting plates ideal for date night downtown.
A longstanding local favorite for generous rolls, teriyaki plates, and late-night nigiri. Called out in Monterey County Weekly’s Eat+Drink 2025 as a go-to downtown date-night option.
Housed in a 1929 Art Deco bank, this independent brewery’s taproom pairs award-winning beer with smashburgers, pizzas, and tacos. Cited in Monterey County Weekly; official site confirms hours and the food-forward menu.
