Jose's Authentic Mexican

Jose, the owner, greeted us as soon as we walked in. Very kind and happy guy. We placed the order at the counter, and then they brought the food out. When you are done eating is when you pay. I ordered the 3 taco chicken meals that come with beans and rice. It wasn't too bad, but the chicken tasted microwaved, and the portions were small. It would have been perfect for lunch but not so much for dinner. We also ordered the salsa and chips in bother versions. The chips were terrific, but the sauce was almost a little slimy tasting. We didn't eat it, honestly My wife ordered the Mexican pizza with beef, and she liked it. My daughter ordered the same thing I did except Barbacola tacos. Terrific people but food not so much.

We had a great experience today. They were extremely friendly and happily accommodated my vegetarian requests with no question. We had the taco platters and chips with pico & guacamole. The food was made with fresh ingredients and made upon request. Both the pico & guacamole were some of the best we’ve had. 10/10 would recommend

Jose tried to overcharge me by $11, smiling the whole time. After we finished eating, he added $1–$2 to several items—prices that didn’t match the menu. I asked him to recalculate, and he backtracked, blaming a previous customer. But I clearly heard him call out each item as he rang it up. I checked other reviews and saw similar complaints about being overcharged. The food is great, but the business practices are shady. I don’t usually leave reviews like this, but I don’t want others getting ripped off. You have been warned.

Always Tasty, and Super Delicious. My wife and I have been going here for 10 years, and it has always been a favorite. 😀 If you are in Petoskey, stop in and try it for yourself. We now live almost 2 hrs away, and it's worth the drive.

Wife and I stopped there for lunch on 02 May, 2025. It was a Friday and not crowded. Food was very good. We forgot to ask for green sauce on the chicken enchiladas. Even with red sauce the enchiladas were very tasty.

Very nice owner, but food was not good all around. Enchiladas made as burritos, flour tortilla with no sauce. Salsa and tamales also no good. 18 dollars down the drain, didn't even early half. Don't believe the people who give over 3 stars to this place. Would recommend to try, only to see their food isn't good and go somewhere else.

The food is authentic and delicious! Try their burrito with a hot chile habanero sauce and it is to die for. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for some good Mexican food! (Not to mention that they’re super nice as well)

Authentic Mexican food at a family owned and operated restaurant. The tacos were delicious and the meal size was perfect for lunch (may be a little small for dinner). Staff were incredibly friendly and helpful

Amazing food and service for such a small yet friendly establishment. The food is authentic and definitely worth a stop!

The service here was wonderful. The owners were charming, friendly, and very attentive. The atmosphere was very much like a little mom and Pop shop. the menu was a little bit hard to understand. It was posted on the wall, and the lady taking our order, kept telling us to look at the wall. so we ordered something we thought we were familiar with. Fajitas. The aromas coming from their grill were spectacular. It made us very hungry! when we received our meal, though, it was very small. Much smaller than what you would expect from a Mexican restaurant. As always, there were definite positives and some negatives. The positives : the tortillas were delicious. buttery soft warm, they were really good. Unfortunately, unfortunately, you only got two or three with your meal. Less than positives : the portion sizes were tiny. We left hungry. the beans had no salt or flavoring added at all they were just mashed beans, or puréed beans they were pretty runny. The rice, the same. No flavor. your meal does not come with any extras such as chips. we got a very small side of some kind of hot sauce that wasn't what I would call like a salsa Fresca. the best sauce was just your bottles of Tabasco and habanero sauce. We thought that we would try a flan, but they told us that they just didn't have any. although we wanted to absolutely love this little restaurant, We won't go back.

Jose's Authentic Mexican Restaurant is a great choice for Mexican food in northern Michigan. The service is friendly and the ambiance is simple but comforting. Jose's Authentic Mexican Restaurant does not stray far from the Mexican standards, but there is a reason those items are so beloved. The burrito is a great option to go with. If you are in the area and craving Mexican food, Jose's Authentic Mexican Restaurant is a great option. The food is good and the service is great.

It's a decent choice given where we are. Think late night burritos in college or TBK in Chicago post bars. It's pricey fkr what it is but your in Peto$$key.

So this was a nice surprise. We were in the bookstore when the person I was with said it was time to eat. I asked the woman in the bookstore if she could suggest a good place to eat. She asked what we wanted and my friend said taco's. She smiled and said, "you have to try Jose's. He's right around the corner. We eat there all the time. ". She was right. The food was delicious. And of course, when we asked for the hot stuff he was happy to oblige. We will most definitely be back.

This place is great. The usual cast of options but a couple of twists. I am doing carb free right now, so I did Carnitas and chorizo on top of their salad. I could really taste the meats, and they were fantastic! It's a greasy spoon kind of place, which only makes it all the better

This place has great reviews so we stopped in for lunch. We got to the counter to order and the lady behind the counter just looked at us. We had a menu question which she didn't answer. She just continued to look at us and finally said "what do you want?" Not a great start but we had an open mind. We ordered two meals along with some chips & guacamole. We sat for a very long time - more than 30 minutes. Again, ok, I get that the whole world is understaffed so we patiently continued to wait. When we kept seeing others get their food, we decided to check on our order. It had gotten shuffled to the bottom of the stack and once remedied, our food came out pretty quickly. The guacamole was top notch. I have to say it's some of the best I've had in a long time. The tacos were also good but the shrimp was overcooked and a bit chewy. The others two were good. I wanted to rate this higher but the service is keeping me at 3 stars.

Jose is a local institution. His smiling face greets all customers and his expertly peppered authentic Mexican fare is delicious. Jose's guacamole is the best in northern Michigan--bank it.

Authentic food and atmosphere, delightful staff, this is a favorite downtown spot.

This restaurant is AMAZING!! We had to be patient but the food, delicious!! The staff was working so damn hard to accommodate everyone and it was beautiful!! Thank you for the best meal on our way out of Petoskey! The barbacoa was so good we got a to go container of it! Thank you!!

After living in LA for 8 years, in all that time, I never found a Guacamole I liked more than the one served at Jose's. It is perfection. When I would come back to Petoskey for the holidays, I always made sure to visit. Jose, who runs the restaurant is always sweet and kind. As far as authentic Mexican food goes, Jose's is the real deal. The flan is delicious. The asada tacos hit the spot, and the Mexican pizza is surprisingly really good. The atmosphere is casual, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. Prices are just right.

Service & food were amazing!!! Clean and comfortable environment, food came fast, smells absolutely amazing inside too. Finally found the perfect Mexican food spot 10/10 would recommend

Great Mexican food and great prices and you can view Lake Michigan from their place you can either dine in or order to go.

FANTASTIC Mexican food !!! The owner did EVERYTHING! Waited tables, cooked, cleaned tables, vacuumed and did dishes, ALL while we were there.

Delicious. If you want authentic Mexican while up north, this Is your spot. We drive from Boyne City 3x per week for Jose's. My wife, 14 year old daughter and I, are all hooked. The Chile Relleno is perfect

The man who runs this restaurant is SO KIND!! Even though they are only serving carry out at the moment, he made us feel welcome and appreciated. Right when we walked in, a regular told us we were about to have the best Mexican ever, and he humbly thanked him. I know that if I lived in Petoskey, I'd be a regular too. Fast, well seasoned food that every age group will enjoy!

We go to Jose' every time we are Petoskey. He is a really nice guy and everything is made fresh. This is the best Mexican I have ever had. I wish his restaurant was near me down state. Unlike the Mexican restaurants in my town that makes everything ahead of time and microwave your plates. The guacamole, chips, tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas are superb! My daughter-in-law is from Texas and said her meals was fantastic, which is a big compliment coming from her. We absolutely love this place!

Traveling for work Had the Chicken Enchilda Verde - Super Yummy:)

We ate lunch at Jose's yesterday. My family (including the kids) loved their food. If you are the kind of person who prefers a small privately owned restaurant over a corporate or franchise restaurant, then this is the place for you! The food was freshly prepared with high quality ingredients, and the attention to detail in the food preparation were fantastic.

Easily my favorite place to eat when I want to eat authentic Mexican food. Enjoying the salsa and chips with some platter tacos and a Jarritos is a great way to spend an afternoon. Jose and his wife are lovely people, I've always felt welcomed here.

We visited for the first time because of the good online ratings. Unfortunately our experience was very poor. Chips and salsa are priced extra; not too typical for a Mexican restaurant when ordering meals. Girl working did not know the price for cheese and sour cream (both extras) to go on our fajitas. The wait for our food was a bit lengthy considering we were the only patrons in the restaurant. When the meal did come the order was wrong. The waitress was totally rude ... treating us like it was our fault! Based on our experience I would not recommend this place.

It's a good small restaurant, a great place to just hang out with a friend and get a little bit of food Staff very friendly

Delicious. I actually give them 4.5 stars. Friendly Clean. Crispy and yummy tortillas. Coming back before we leave town.

Tiny tiny portions for the cost... nice people and a great view but the portions don't justify the cost.

Just really great Mexican. Period. I hate when people on yelp compare small-town food to big cities--like, what am I going to do, fly to New York for dinner? I'm just looking for the best of all the nearby options. But I've had Mexican in LA, in Denver, in Mexicantown in Detroit, and honestly, this is way up there. My personal top five, easily. Just fresh, flavorful, filling, and an incredible value. It's a little tucked away and you have to bus your table yourself, but the food is so good that it's 100% worth it. A++ horchata, too.

Simply amazing so authentic... friendly service with all the menu options looking amaziny

Delicious enchiladas, great guacamole. Had a wonderful dinner. Great environment to eat with friends!!

Nice people! Chips are al carte, but it kept me from gorging while waiting on my food. Portions are small for the price. Food was good and as of now my chemical detector says fresh....no reaction. The owner threw in some chips with my meal. Worth checking out if you aren't looking for alcohol, which I wasn't!!

So happy to have found this gem! The food was so delicious and fresh! Came in for a late lunch and left extremely satisfied! Wish we were from the area because we would eat here way too often!

Delicious! The fish tacos are famous but I had the fajitas and they were great too. Gorgeous view outside too. Definitely recommend.

Wow this place is so slow! Not sure how they stay in business. Food might be good but after 30 minutes I still do not have my order. After 45 minutes we got the food...not very good and small portions.

I had the best quesadilla ever. I have tried them at many Mexican restaurants. So crunchy and juicy and had lettuce and tomatoes, many do not.

I have had this place on my radar to check out in Petoskey for a long time. I finally made in there last night and was extremely disappointed. Arrived at 6:20. Placed an order for 1 chicken quesadilla. I was told 10 minutes. My order was finally ready at 6:55. My quesadilla was wrapped in aluminum foil like a burrito. I questioned if I was getting salsa and sour cream like the description on the menu. I was assured it was all inside the quesadilla. Okay, no problem. Once I sat down to eat, it started dripping milky liquid. I opened it up and there was no salsa, sour cream or even cheese. I'm guessing the stuff dripping out what what was left of the sour cream after it melted. Seriously disappointed. Taco Bell would have been better not to mention faster and cheaper. Next time I'm craving Mexican food, I'll head over to Happy Tacos.

Wow! We felt we were back in Mexico again. The food was excellent. Jose was by himself at lunch time ( and it was extremely busy) so I'm not docking him for the long wait, trust me it was worth it! Jose came to our table prior to making our meal to double check our order. After we were done and the restaurant cleared out Jose came to our table. He first asked how it was then apologized profusely for the wait. (His help had called in) Not only were we impressed with the food but the customer service!. We had the tostadas, bean burrito, quesadilla and tacos( I seriously wanted one of everything since I could see him preparing all the dishes!) We stumbled on the restaurant and so glad we did. Who would have thought an authentic Mexican restaurant can be found in downtown Petosky! DEFINITELY a hidden gem.

Thoroughly unimpressed. Chips and salsa were not complimentary. Paid $4.60 for chips and salsa (which she ended up giving me pico. Would have rather had salsa. And the chips were definitely not fresh). The woman that took my order was very unfriendly. I felt like I was bothering her by placing an order. Ordered a steak burrito, and it was bland. It had very little meat... Mostly beans. As far as being authentic, the menu misses the boat. Very unhappy that I wasted $17 on lunch here. I would have rather ate somewhere else. It's too bad that such a nice location is wasted on such mediocre fare.

I wanted to review Jose's a little higher but can't. The food is tasty and full of flavor however the prices are high for what you get. I'm used to them serving you chips and salsa when you sit down but they don't. You can purchase them separately if you want. They give you a menu and you go to the counter and place your order. My mom and I ordered the guacamole and chips. They brought the guacamole in one of those black pots but there was only a small amount to go with the small basket of chips. For $5.95 it seemed they should be giving larger servings. I got the Jose's combo which came with an enchilada, taco, rice, beans, and a fountain drink. Very fresh and flavorful. Just the right amount of food for lunch. Everything was A-OK but nothing stuck out that would make me come back here over trying a new restaurant.

Had lunch here today. Very good. I have eaten here quite a few times and have always been very happy with the food and service.

Tasty hole-in-the-wall joint. Proprietor was pleasant. Food we got was to-go and held up on the way back to the hotel. My three tacos were delicious, with a slightly crispy corn shell on a soft taco. The burrito my companion chose was wrapped up well and tasty, too. The salsa on my tacos was a bit spicier than I would normally choose, but didn't detract from the experience.

My colleagues and I were in town for just one day and were looking for a lunch spot that was warm and comforting. José's was perfect! I'm giving 5 stars for two reasons: A) The food - everything we had was delicious! The order at the counter style is quick and convenient and our food came to the table quickly. This is home-style, authentic dishes. I was immediately on board for the sopes (which are hard to find down where I live). B) The people - the staff and chef are delightful! We were the first customers of the day and they were cordial and inviting. Plus - I left my scarf there and she's sending it to me. So nice! It's a great little place that I'll visit again when I'm in town! Check out José's!

Best home made Mexican in the area! Very helpful and always has a smile and warm greeting! Great service and clean.

I've been to this restaurant twice. The first time was in 2015 when I was visiting Michigan with my father & the food was great ! Now in 2019 I have visited again. Based off of my two visits, Jose's was not a crowded restaurant, however a popular one. I never had to wait to get a table. The restaurant is located in downtown Petoskey so it might be hard finding parking on busy days but I've never had a problem. When you first walk in you place your order in the front right away, then you are assigned a number and you take your number to your table where you will be served. When I visited the restaurant recently there was one guy working ALL BY HIMSELF. He took orders, answered the phone, made the food, and handled the money for every customer ALL BY HIMSELF. I just think that is amazing. I'm not sure if that was Jose or just an employee but I have no words besides "amazing." The food was delicious. My mouth is watering thinking about it now! Also the man who was working there and doing everything ALONE was super nice. You can tell he has a really good heart & he is a very diligent worker. Thank you Jose's Authentic Mexican Restaurant for a fantastic lunch !!

The owner, Jose, was so friendly today and I sat outside with a view of the water and honestly had the most delicious quesadilla I've ever had for under $10. Definitely will be back.

Great fresh food and Jose is usually the one who makes the food. He's super inviting and friendly. I recommend the burrito. Also, the guac is stellar!

Phenomenal food. The best of the best!! I always know I'm going to get the best, freshest food here and greeted and the door. An awesome place all around

We stopped here on the 4th of July. We're not from the area but saw the great reviews. We waited awhile for our food, but could tell by the way the whole place smelled like delicious food that it would be worth the wait. Plus any good place will have a long wait on a holiday so you have to expect that. Jose was very kind in checking on us as he was making orders as fast as possible. I had the salad which was incredibly flavorful and tasted fresh. I appreciated that it wasn't overly huge. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his tacos. It's just a great blend of flavors. We'll be back!

The best real Mexican food in petoskey! And the friendliest staff! Make sure you ask Jose for some of his secret HOT salsa

Excellent food that's prepared per order. Jose is very Friendly & accommodating. Clean. We'll be back on our next trip.

Authentic Mexican food, in Petoskey! I have never had a bad meal here. I work in Petoskey, we go here at least once a month. Love the Mexican Pizza, the the little tacos (get at least 3!), and love the Pico de Gallo!

One of the best Mexican food. If you are in Petoskey Michigan do try the food. Staff is very good and quick.

Very delicious Mexican Food! Recommend the Chile Relleno and the tostada! Beef or pork! Yum!