Nopalitos Southwestern Café

Came for a lunch during the week. Very cordial and prompt staff to serve customers. Ambiance is good, outdoor seating and clean establishment. Good variety of breakfast and lunch menus. Ordered the chicken tacos on corn tortilla with salad. Decent meal, lots of protein on the taco, good portions. No agua frescas, unfortunately. Great neighborhood staple. Free but limited parking in the plaza. This is a cash only business.

When I first went inside, I didn't see any 'cash only' sign anywhere. After ordering my food, I was told that it was cash-only. Besides that, the food was pretty decent. I ordered the Chile Verde, and it was: a little spicy, the meat was tender (though a little dry), the rice didn't taste right [to me], the beans were okay, and the portion size was okay for the price [about $15]. On a side note, I also wished there was more pico on top of the Chile Verde. The chips and guacamole, on the other hand, was pretty good! The guacamole tasted fresh, and there was plenty of lime in it. The chips were salted and weren't stale-tasting. Would I recommend this restaurant? I'm not sure. For cash only, I would say no. Then again, I'm part of the population that uses card payments a lot so🤷.

Cash only! This is a fantastic neighborhood Mexican Café. Everything on the menu is good and priced affordably. The service is great and the staff is really friendly. This is a local café where you will often see regulars, drinking coffee and catching up. A very homey experience I highly suggest getting the Chilaquiles.

Small on the outside, small on the inside, HUGE on flavor! With only six tables inside plus a few tables outside, this clean, southwestern restaurant is compact. Their food is attractive, delicious, and they serve ample portions reasonably priced. It's an East Sac institution now open evenings and Saturdays. Choose your times to avoid the crowds--its a hit!

Very nice customer service and a cozy atmosphere. I ordered the French toast and breakfast burrito—both were very delicious. I understand that prices have gone up everywhere, but still... you'd expect to get what you pay for. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here. The portions were quite small for the price. It felt very expensive for the amount of food served.

[Updated Review] I went back! And it was even better this time. I convinced my favorite brunch buddy to switch up our usual haunts for Nopalitos, and I'm pretty sure this is going to quickly become one of our new favorites. We each had the Huevos Rancheros with the house's homemade chorizo (mine with red sauce and hers with green). What a truly satisfying meal on a cold morning! We also had the option to sit outside with the heaters today, which is a fun option. Remember to bring cash. [Original Review] This spot has been on my list to try for a while, and I finally had the chance to do so on a particularly cold morning. I enjoyed the Smoked Bacon Scramble with a very fine cup of coffee. Friendly, clean, and the food was perfect for a winter morning. I'll be back!

My favorite breakfast burritos in town! Also - they have fantastic chorizo! Great update - they now accept card! They didn’t for the longest time and that was always a deterrent because I don’t normally keep cash on hand.

Big, fat, tasty burritos. My friend got the veggie burrito and absolutely loved it. I got the chicken in adobo ("tinga" written on the wrapper) and enjoyed it. A few points off for no horchata and there's a salsa bar but you don't get chips until your food comes, which I've never liked. The whole point is to snack on chips and salsa while you're waiting for your food. The Pico de Gallo was really good - they put a little something extra in there. Nice job. The two green salsas were also good, though the "relish" wasn't as spicy as I was expecting (that's not a complaint, just a comment! We both enjoyed it). Overall, good but didn't blow my socks off. More meat choices, more salsas, horchata, and chips while you're waiting and it would have been 5 stars. Oh, and I almost forgot: I had to take another star off because they only accept cash or checks. I just happened to have pulled out cash yesterday, otherwise we would have had to go somewhere else. Many people don't carry cash anymore. It's unreasonable in 2025 to only accept cash. And who under 70 carries a checkbook anymore?

My girlfriend and I went here on a Saturday morning, it was very lively, but service was fast as the food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. We ordered the huevos rancheros and the chili Colorado. Important note: They ONLY accept CASH or CHECK as forms of payment.

Service excellencent. Cash or check only. No bueno Coffee tasty. Small cups though. Like larger cup so less refills Had chili Colorado w flour tortillas. Tortillas were hot hot hot! Tasted homemade Chili Colorado w papás had decent flavor. Not like I'm used to but good. I just wish there was more flavor to it and a tad more serving size. I marked down 1 star for no CC and small serving size. Good neighborhood staple

The omelettes with nopales are so good and a nice change from what you get at other places. You have to remember to have cash on your though because they don't take credit cards.

On a bustling Tuesday morning, we opted to visit Nopalitos, finding it surprisingly crowded for a weekday. We were promptly welcomed by a friendly cashier. Our choice of coffee de la olla didn't disappoint; it was quite enjoyable. Moreover, the natural lighting streaming in through the large windows added to the pleasant atmosphere. However, the true standout was the little cactus special. I highly recommend trying it with both salsas; each adds its own flair. The dish boasted a satisfying crunch from the tortilla chips and was bursting with flavor. Without a doubt, I'll be returning for more.

I discovered Nopalito's many years ago. It's in East Sacramento in the same shopping center that The Beat used to be in for years. I loved the food there, but the hours they were open were limited to breakfast and lunch M-F. It just wasn't all that convenient to get there. Fast forward to recently walking with friends around McKinley Park and us wanting lunch afterwards. We went to Nopalito's. I was surprised that neither of my friends had heard of it. ( Boy, were they in for a pleasant surprise.) I ordered the spicy pork quesadilla. My friends ordered various taco plates. We took our numbers to an outside table to sit as we had our well-behaved dog with us. The plates came out quickly. Since we all had skipped breakfast and we're hungry, this was welcome. Then I noticed the hours posted. They were now open until 8pm! I'm going to be eating here more often, now! Apparently, there's a new owner, and that's the reason for the expansion of hours.

Honestly, the breakfast burrito was arguably similar to a frozen breakfast burrito from the grocery store. the eggs were watery, tortilla not crispy, paid $48 cash only for 3 (NOT BIG) burritos, and the cheese i paid $2 per burrito for was almost none. salsa was good so i will be using it on something else since my wife and i have thrown our burritos away, and we do not waste food ever, so that should tell you something. Imagine high school / hotel eggs. My experience is very unfortunate because i would like to try their regular burrito, but its just not worth the shot in the dark. I saw amazing reviews for the breakfast burritos here, and i just cannot understand why. 2 stars for the salsa and nice staff. ..... Seriously The real reviews are far below the 5* ones.

Great place for authentic Mexican food! We got the machaca and the breakfast burrito with their signature stewed beef. Both were solid! I think the beef isn't a normal breakfast meat to choose but it was really flavorful. The machaca was also great - soft and no porky smell. The free salsa bar was great. The cashier was super helpful and patient and the food came out super quickly. Definitely a great spot for quick and casual breakfast/lunch!

*Cash/check payment only.* They also did not offer to provide a receipt. Why have I never been to Nopalitos before?! I've been missing out. You order at the counter before sitting. Their menu can be a little challenging, since they don't have their full menu in a viewable area - some items are written on a chalkboard overhanging the counter, while a lot of the items are just on a laminated paper that you can't view until it's your turn to order. I recommend reading the menu online, but this also has some downfalls as the prices for the items (and any add-ons, like sauces) are not displayed online. However, the descriptions are good for getting an idea of what you'd like to order. If you something off their breakfast menu, come before 12pm. I ordered their Breakfast Burrito with Chile Verde - flavorful and filling! They have a self-serve salsa bar & water. Adding some of the salsa on the burrito made it even more delicious! They have a shared parking lot, but if that's full, there's street parking. Good service. Cute, cohesive decor throughout the restaurant as well. Nopalitos will definitely be one of my go-to spots from now on.

The food is amazing as well as the Service was great! The restaurant has a nice ambiance. Cash Only!

**Cash only** We were heading elsewhere and drove by this spot. We did a Google search and saw that the reviews were good and the price was right. We arrived Saturday morning at about 930 and it was kinda busy. By the time we got our food and started eating, it was standing room only and the line was out the door. Clearly, this is the place to be! The menu is fantastic and it's hard to make choices when there are so many great options. I definitely need to come back for lunch or dinner. I ordered the special. Beef hash and eggs. The beef was okay and the rest was exceptional. Great flavors in the sauce, fresh warm tortillas and the eggs cooked perfectly. Service was great and despite how busy they were, the manager (maybe the owner?) was hustling around to fill coffee cups, check on guests and clean up as folks left. I really like this place and I'll be back for more. Likely when it's not so dang cold!!! We can sit outside and people watch.

This place only takes cash or check. It's a small, crowded joint and if you can't snag a table, it's worth ordering to go. We got the chorizo omelette with a side of potatoes, polenta breakfast, coffee, and Mexican hot chocolate. Staff were super friendly and welcoming. Everything was amazing and seasoned perfectly! Will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

Great food, Mexican style breakfasts. Small neighborhood cost Restsurant. Good coffee and serviced

Delicious breakfasts and lunches; great owners and employees too More places should strive to be "delightful" with excellent attention to customer service and friendly staff Definitely coming back soon Everything on the menu was tasty and fresh!

This was a great local find! I wasn't sure what to expect, found it on Yelp after getting a blood test in the area! lol When I got there, I placed my order and they only take check or cash! That was different, I don't have cash or check normally, I was in luck I did that day. Not too many people when I sat down, by the time I left there were people waiting in line to order. A very busy spot for sure! The food was delicious I will be back.

Love this place. Great for a nice lunch or breakfast. So happy that the new owners who worked with the original owners are open after 2 pm!! I'm a vegetarian and their vegetarian and vegan options are yummy.

My family and I have been going to Nopalitos for YEARS, so we're frequent customers. The staff are so personable and it's so easy to like them. The service is so impeccable, I can't even put it into words here. It's that GOOD. The resturant stays busy, as it should, so the ambiance may be a little louder than normal. But it's never disturbed. I love their pancakes. It fills me up every time!

**Bring cash**. I had to update the Yelp info about payments. Ugh. Nopalitos is an East Sac breakfast/lunch institution, but now it's not just open during the week for breakfast and lunch anymore. Check their hours. Crazy huh? The value is good for food that gives off big homemade vibes. The world just kind slows down when you bite into their chili verde. Also try the tamale bowl. Salsas, rice, and such are all very flavorful. I haven't had the pleasure of a breakfast burrito, but my next breakfast burrito hopefully comes from here. Places like this still exist. Patronize them.

The parking lot sucks but the breakfast burrito makes up for it! Their green salsa is THE BEST. The staff has always been friendly.

Yummy food! Great service and the food came out so fast! This place is cash only so remember to pull out your cash.

One of those times where the taste of the food is so good I can't wait to come back and I don't care about any piddly things like cramped space inside or cash only not evident until you walk inside. They do have tables and heaters outside and I love to sit outside anyway unless the sky is dumping, as I know I've said many times before and possibly in the review just before this one. There is a cash only sign just inside behind the desk where you order, and we've so far been able to modify the yelp page to show it. Nice to see fixing yelp business pages is not a months long slog like it used to be, fingers crossed. Anyway, where was I? Vegetarian tamale bowl was where I was. Good gravy, my taste buds. I am so glad I had this the week before I came down with a cold that dulled my senses. It was a vegetarian tamale in a bowl, yes. With vegetarian chili that was a flavor explosion party in my mouth. It reminded me of a mole, there was so much going on. Just the right amount of cheese and sour cream was placed on top. This was served with chips, which I did not know, and ordered guac and chips as well. Oopsie. Their guacamole is also delicious, with chunks of onion and tomato, just how I like it. Nobody does guacamole better than my love, but theirs is the closest I've tasted in awhile. Even the chips were fresh and tasty. There were zero weak points with this delicious food. Everyone who works here is unbelievably nice. They even knew exactly where to send us for the closest ATM (Metro Food and Liquor, H & 54th). If I had known about this when I was at Sac State (of the currently undefeated football team, Stingers Up!), it would have been a problem. Heh. We shall return, little cactus. Vegan Corner: many things for vegetarians, but limited for vegans just from what I could tell. I didnae ask either, my bad. Parking: East Sac so curbs galore wherever you may find them, if the small lot is full.

Delicious eats and friendly service time after time. Thanks for being amazing and consistent for all these years!!! Comfy seating indoor and out. Nice decor.

We have not been here since the ownership change. So how is the food? We ordered the following: 1) tamale bowl with chili verde: good, but the polenta was just a tad cold and there were just 3 small pieces of pork. But the taste was fine. 2) breakfast bacon burrito: this burrito was actually very tasty. crisp pieces of bacon, eggs, potatoes, peppers. Although smaller in size than other breakfast burritos around town, it was definitely more flavorful than others. Would we return. yes. the quality of ingredients and deft in preparation definitely superior than others. I believe and know this place can achieve more stars.

The polenta breakfast was really, really good. The bacon had a ton of flavor and was cooked perfectly. The staff is very friendly and attentive.

Food is fresh and delicious here. CASH PAY ONLY! There is a liquor store around the corner with an ATM if you need to take out cash. Our food came out quickly and was soooo good. Everyone in previous reviews were raving about the chocolate chip cookies here...they were not amazing. If you've had pan dulce, they are very similar to that. The food was amazing though, and the staff was great. We will be visiting again. Thanks!

I came in the day before to place an order for catering for about 20 people. The service was great & they were so accommodating. They had food ready and they were PACKED on a Friday lunchtime. I was so lucky we were able to order. I would definitely cater from them again! We had tacos for 20. Came with rice, beans, chicken, tortillas, salsa x2, sour cream, cheese, guacamole. I made myself a bowl and it was delicious!

We love this place. It's small and can get crowded at lunch time because it's so popular. My favorite is the tamale bowl with green chili. Everything is tasty and the service is fast and friendly. They take cash or check.

I highly recommend this East Sac gem. This establishment is very cozy and small. They also have outside seating, which is nice for spring or summer. The food here is outstanding. I highly recommend the breakfast hash and the egg scrambles. Family owned and operated with great customer service. Just a note that this location only takes cash or checks.

If i write a review anymore these days it because i absolutely love it. Or absolutely hate it. But there isn't anything to not like about this spot. Other than the food being incredibly good, the service is even better. Very quick despite being a little busy at times. I have come back multiple times now during the week in hopes for the breakfast hash. I believe it may only be on Friday/weekend. Regardless i haven't been disappointed with anything else on the menu. Bring Cash or Check as they do not take debit

I picked up my bestie, and she mentioned this place, which I agreed to try. My first impression was that it was small and crowded with people, which is usually a good sign, but I prefer a bit less chaos. We stood in line in the tiny crowded place, not really knowing the menu. I quickly chose the chorizo omelette, and my friend went for the green chile cactus omelette. We also saw a child eating a pancake with bananas and decided to order one too. We went outside to sit at a table, and while waiting for our food, a table inside opened up, so we grabbed it. The food was delicious and worth the wait. I tried my friend's cactus omelette, and it was really good. I would definitely consider ordering that next time.

I am a huge fan of Machaca. Always have been. Always will be. This place makes a pretty legit Machaca. W's potato dish was tasty and filling. The potatoes are great. Actually, everything we've had has been delicious and fresh. Well cooked, flavorful food. It doesn't seem that hard but so many places get it wrong. Not here. They have it down. Probably why they've been in business for 20+ years. Eggs are always as ordered. Flavors are spot on. Food is freshly cooked and hot. Really nothing to complain about. Parking is scarce but just park on the street. Cash (or check - do people still use checks?) so plan accordingly. This is not a giant place so be flexible. Eat outside if its nice. Hang out for a minute until someone leaves and then take their table. Get it to go. I always roll my eyes when people complain about things like parking and no credit cards. You want a place with a giant parking lot that takes credit cards but has disgusting food? Have at it. I'm sure there is a Chipotle somewhere nearby. As for me, I'll be back.

The great reviews are 100% correct. Nopalitos is a gem. I had a crispy taco plate and my hubby had chicken fajitas. Both were absolutely fabulous. And the chocolate cake was amazing, too. We'll be back.

Ordered burrito bowl, poor quality chicken thigh meat, , bland rice, minimal salsa. I would have liked more spice and flavor

Food is always good no matter what you order from the menu. I like the salsa bar. They always have some kind of cookies or cake to satisfy the need for sugar. The place is clean and the staff is friendly and attentive. Be prepared for CASH ONLY

Only cash or check, no card! Shared parking lot that's full at lunchtime on a weekday. Clean and bright interior. Very little outdoor seating, and the indoor seating is more compact than cozy. The patio was totally full, and inside was at 50% capacity. The tables are small, and it would be cramped if you actually tried to seat four people at one. I don't think this would be the best spot to accommodate large groups. Friendly staff and quick service. No masks, but they did have hand sanitizer on the counter and restrooms off to the side. Salsa verde and pico de gallo are self-serve. Water is self-serve. The menu is written in chalk overhead, and they put out a couple menus on the front counter. They didn't give us a receipt. I ordered the soft taco plate, which comes with two tacos and a salad. You can choose a different meat for each taco. The greens in the salad were crisp, and the dressing was sweet. The beef was tender and tasted very reminiscent of canned chili, which was a strange surprise. The carnitas taco was good - the seasoning was great, but the meat was cut into big chunks instead of shredded as is usual with carnitas.

Love the food here. My fave is not the burrito though, it's the tamale. Service is decent.

Got there right at 1145, just before they stop serving breakfast. Small, homey and very friendly space and staff; cashier gave us recs on what her favs were. We the huevos rancheros with chorizo, Chile verde, pancakes, chorizo burrito and kilter cactus plate. I'd have to say the huevos rancheros was the fav and everything so perfectly flavored. Many places will give u a big portioned size of food to make up for the taste, but taste was on point and portion was just enough to push me over the edge. Don't let me forget about the pancakes. You might be thinking that this isn't the place for pancakes, BUT IT IS!! Light and fluffy and pretty much the best pancakes in sac, even more so than some of the high end brekkie places I've tried.

This is a cute spot that a lot of the locals go to. The restaurant is small ,decorated and clean which is something I always look for. The customer service is excellent. You need to come prepared with cash as they do not take debit/ credit cards. We walked down the street (less than a minute walk) to a liquor store and used their atm and came back. Do I wish they took debit cards? Yes, but it will not change my review because I really enjoyed my food and the service. If you like comfort food and tamales I would suggest ordering the tamale in a bowl, it was delicious. Overall a great place to get delicious comfort food and the most friendly service.

Great burritos and quick service. Their salsa bar is relatively limited but all options are made fresh and offer unique flavors. Highly recommend the Chile Colorado. The interior is relatively small with cozy eclectic vibes. This is a cash only establishment so come prepared.

Another place in Sacramento that I've driven by a million times and never been. My dad brought me for a late breakfast, early lunch one day and we enjoyed their burritos. I opted for their carnitas burrito and for the price, it was a decent portion. I would definitely come back and give this plane another try for more of their menu items before 100% making up my mind. There are a lot of amazing Mexican places in Sacramento and based off my one experience, Nopalitos felt very average.

It's hard to believe this is my 4th update reviewing Nopalitos. Since the change in ownership, the new owners have continue to deliver terrific food and service that Nopalitos is known and loved for. Their chile verde is still wonderful and we still love the Sonora salad topped with it! I just found out they've expanded their hours to Saturdays in addition to evenings until 8pm. Wow, now more options to get their food. Their menu online lists new dishes served as dinner plates (served between 4 pm to 8pm). We haven't tried these yet, but fully intend to. We can report from our most recent visit that the Sonora salad with chile verde is still tops. We also want to call attention to their roasted chile relish, the dark green one in their salsa area. It's just the right amount of heat and flavor. We've not seen anything like it anywhere else and it is really tasty. Yes, they're still cash only.

No sign indicating it's cash only and wanted us to walk to use an atm down the street. I will not be back

I enjoy coming to this place as much as my wallet allows. The food is consistently great and the service is also impeccable. The family that took over the restaurant(after the original owners retired) have done an amazing job of keeping the quality at the same level while opening up the business hours. I had the green pozole today, which was their daily special. It was delicious. My typical go to is the Little Cactus Special or the Huevos Rancheros. As long as I live in Sacramento I will be getting my breakfast here. Thank you wholeheartedly for having such a wonderful space for the neighborhood to enjoy.

Favorite Burrito in Sacramento, hands down, this is the shredded chicken with Guac a must try! Cash only Update** they're open until 8PM now with a dinner menu! Ig: Anthonyxibarrax

The food is delicious! It was my first time here and the staff was friendly. We sat in the patio since we had a bigger group of 6. The food truly is great! Very authentic and fresh. I would definitely return

Best breakfast burritos around and excellent customer service. Only downside is they don't accept credit cards.

The flavors are great. Great potatoes, great eggs, chorizo is okay (it's lean so it doesn't taste like a classic chorizo but it's good for what it is). However, I highly recommend getting a plate and not getting a burrito. The tortilla was very large with not very much filling, and it was very loosely wrapped. It was messy. Get a plate. This place is always VERY busy, but the service is still really great. Such nice employees and they are really good about keeping the tables and dining area clean, despite how busy they are.

Just love this place!! The food is WONDERFUL, the service, just the best! 5 stars! Just our favorite!! William and family are 5 star +++!!

This restaurant is amazing. The food was great and the service was superb. This is a cash only restaurant. There an ATM 5 minutes away by foot.

The food was really good. They had a variety of breakfast options, some were unique and different. My family had a lot of requests, like salsa, extra napkins, more pancake syrup, etc. They were very friendly and their service was exceptional. I would come back to try other food options they have. This is a family owned business. Tip: Bring cash, they only take cash.

I love this place. Small, local family owned restaurant with fantastic food and service. Cozy and warm. Bring cash, they don't accept credit cards.