Gecko Grill

Good food and service… had the chicken flautas.
Just found out that this place has closed. Bummer.

I’m so sad to hear Gecko Grill closed. I loved this place for breakfast /​brunch. Their food was superb and portions were fairly large.
I also love that when paying cash, you get 10% off the bill.

I learned yesterday that Gecko Grill may be closing. This is the worst news for those of us who are regulars.
We’ve been going to the Gecko weekly for the past two years. It is the best mexican Restaurant in San Jose. No other place comes close. The food is fresh, the menu is awesome and the service is great.
Lets keep our fingers crossed that they will find a new location.
Save the Gecko!!!

The restaurant was decently populated for a rainy Friday night. The décor is rather charming with various gecko art climbing the walls and ceiling. I ordered chile rellenos, the bf got guaco tacos. All in all, it was a decent chile relleno; nicely battered cheese stuffed chile covered in more cheese and bell peppers. It was really missing out on some of the classic red sauce and the cheese was just… everywhere. The refried beans were very thick and the rice was weird and not classic Spanish rice. I thought that they worked really hard on presentation when all I wanted was authentic Mexican comfort food that wouldn’t send me home with a sodium overload. Prepare to drink massive amounts of water after this meal.
Also, they never refilled our drinks and took forever to get us our check. Hmph.

My co-​workers and I headed out to lunch today with really no idea where to go. One of them suggested Gecko Grill which was right down the street and was alleged to have pretty good food as well.
Really?
At 11:30 the place was dead, which gave me pause, but it was a beautiful day so we all sat outside. Enjoying our agua con limon, still no one else came to the restaurant. Hmmmm. After a bit of a wait, our order was taken and chips and salsa delivered. The salsa was very good, chips, not so much.
I ordered the carne asada burrito «grade style» where they charge you $ 2 for beans and rice in your burrito. And it was a damn good thing I did! When my burrito finally came out, there was 3 tiny slivers of carne asada. If I hadn’t paid for the beans and rice, I fear my burrito would have been more of a taquito. But at least mine came out. My co-​worker had to ask where her food was (evidently coming out to a table of 4 people with only 3 dishes wasn’t enough of a clue… never mind this was the waitress that TOOK THE ORDER!!) and the waitress had forgotten to place the order. WTF? The rest of the table had lukewarm food, I thought the burrito came out just right, except for the total lack of meat in it.
In short, for a $ 10 burrito here, you should be paying about $ 1.69 at Taco Bell for 3x as much meat. This was my first and last visit to Gecko Grill.

Endless chips but long wait for food. the food was good but i’d prefer the food come in a timely manner. my quesadilla was HUGE and too big for my liking. i got sick of it really easily. i think i’ll have to get the ceviche here since that tasted great.
i’ll try this place again but i’m weary of how long it will take.

I’ve never heard of this place even though I work only minutes away.
I ended up here for a birthday lunch and was just overwhelmed by the choices they had on the menu. Do I want a chicken quesadilla? Or a good mole? or a big burrito?
Nope, I ended with their Tropical Fish Tacos. It was lightly breaded Mahi Mahi and they were so delicious! I loved it! Pretty big portion size.
But I filled up my tummy by snacking on their chips and salsa while waiting for all the food to come out. But it was worth it. Great friends and great food, it was a good birthday lunch.
The service is slooooooooow so make sure you’ve got time to spare.

On a whim my bf and I checked out Gecko Grill and we walked away new fans of the place. It’s now on our «places to frequent» list. There are so many choices — which works for me because I have a specific diet to adhere to.
The first time we were there I had the Gecko Asada Omelette (FILLED with delicious carne asada, cheese, and veggies); the second time I had the side order of Chicken Mole and my bf and I split a half order of 10-​layer dip. All three of those items are super tasty. I’d never had Chicken Mole before and requested it with shredded chicken. It was melt-​in-​your-​mouth chicken and the sauce was so delicious. Definitely something I will order again! Also, the side order size was PLENTY for me as a main meal. The Omelette was pretty big and I took home half for a future breakfast.
As for atmosphere/​décor — the place is really cute inside but we prefer to sit outside on their patio. Colorfully painted walls, decorations and tables fill their patio. I believe I read somewhere there is live music but we haven’t been there at a time when that was happening. So far we’ve been there right after work (around 6ish) and it wasn’t busy at all. So the service is really personable and fast.
I can’t wait to go back and try a few more dishes — especially their omlettes!

Could NOT decide what to get. There are a lot of things on the menu that sound so good.
Ended up with the ground beef with potatoes burrito. Menu says it comes on a bed of greens. In my head I pictured lettuce that is usually served at Mexican restaurants.
It took me a second after my plate was placed in front of me to realize that they were GREENS. So it was NOT the typical iceberg lettuce. I was impressed. My burrito was yummy. It made a great lunch and a good dinner (I ate half for dinner).
I would prefer the potatoes to be more evenly distributed throughout the burrito. While eating it I said, «Oh yeah, I forgot there were potatoes in here.» Linda commented that they were finely mixed in with the meat, but. .. what I found was they were at one end, the end I had for dinner. But it was good. Maybe could use just a tad more flavor. I got it with no tomatoes.
Chips were thick and crunchy, I like the thinner ones. I am not a huge salsa fan, but I liked theirs.
I arrived at 11:30 and my party (the Lovely Linda L) was already there. We had the run of the place for a while. I didn’t see all who came in because I had my back to the door, but it never seemed to get overly crowded. It was nice. Service was attentive.
I want to go back to get a torta! I will be back!

Who wants huevos rancheros?
They not only serve great food but they serve great breakfast food too. Who knew? And if you like things to dip, they got a whole lil mini bar of sauces to dip.
Of course it’s much nicer to go check out when it’s the summer time with the out door patio and live band… LIVE BAND!!! It’s nice! Give me good weather, great friends and fantastic grilled lobster here. the live band is nothing but gravy!
;D

Thanks to Daniele D, I finally had the opportunity to try their famous Guaco Tacos… and I was not disappointed. I prefer the soft tortilla version because the crunchy shell can get messy. But even with the soft taco, they pack these bad boys with their beef-​bean-​potato concoction, topped with their fresh guacamole, cheese, and tomatoes. I ended up using chips to help lighten the load (like a dip), which made the taco a lot easier to handle.
Their rice, fresh chips & salsa, and carne asada taco were amazing. In fact, the carne asada (from the outside grill) boasted a noticeable lime flavor, so I didn’t have to add any. Also, the hand-​made tortillas were a definite plus!
Their black beans, albondigas (meatball stew), both pineapple and mango agua frescas were just okay for me. I’d love to come back and dabble with more of their soups, agua frescas, happy hour, and seafood.

I don’t think i’ve ever ordered a dish made with ground beef at a Mexican restaurant, normally it just doesn’t sound appealing. Yet for some strange reason, yesterday when i came here and looked at the menu, it did sound appetizing so i tried it. I got a geckolupa taco (I think that’s what it was called) with the ground beef, it was very tasty.
Someone in our group ordered the surf & turf quesadilla, which was very, very tasty. They serve it with seems to be some sort of cream based chili sauce, it’s very good, though it was $ 11 – kinda steep for a quesadilla. In fact, the place is a little pricey for Mexican – it’s like $ 5 for just a taco, a taco plate, not including rice or beans is around $ 9, but i guess that’s not unheard of.
We ate outdoors, and had a baby with us. The waiter noticed that and turned on the space heater for us. the waiter was just a nice person in general.
I’m definitely a fan and interested in going back to try some more of their stuff.

Oh I am so glad Daniele invited me here for lunch yesterday! I had seen this place before but never came by and finally had my chance.
When we arrived we were immediately seated and given menus. Our drink order was taken promptly and our waitress was friendly and quick.
Daniele told me I should try their Guaco Tacos so I ordered that. They are two jumbo tacos (Yes they are pretty big!) filled with sauteed ground beef with minced potatoes and topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, crema, onions, cilantro and tons of guacamole. It also came with a little tiny salad on the side with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing that was tasty. I loved my tacos but they sure are messy so be prepared for the tacos to break and spill over. Daniele ordered the tacos in a soft taco which makes it a little easier to eat.
Great service and great food… oh the only downfall is the parking here but you can find parking on the street around the restaurant.
I’ll be back again!

Yum! Delicious food and walking distance from my house? Count me in!
I heard about this place through a co-​worker and since we lived so close by I had to check it out. When we went on a Friday I absolutely loved the outdoor patio area with the live music. How fun it is to just sit down, chill with a beer and some good food, perfect way to wind down the work week.
I’ve had a variety of dishes here and must say all are good, most served with rice, salad and beans, here’s my breakdown:
— Oysters– Can be served raw or grilled with garlic and butter, hands down the bbq oysters with garlic and butter won me over. OMG I could eat a dozen of those!
— Lobster– Delicious grilled lobster, huge and wonderful. I can’t ever resist lobster
— Camarones a la Diabla– Fantastic sauce and perfectly spicy
— Surf and Turf fajitas– Good standard fare
— Mahi Mahi– Great flavorful fish served with vegetables– healthy and delicious
— Chicken Mole– Very very tender chicken
— Carne asada tacos– average, I’d order something else
— Guacamole– Fresh and perfectly made
Not only do they have a salsa bar (all you can eat) but they also have a large variety of drinks from pitchers of sangria to beer.
Most importantly, everyone we’ve encountered here has been very nice and accomodating.
Food can take a little longer and be a little slow but it’s worth the wait. Also, I wish they’d close a little later on weekends, this would be a great place to chill.
Looking forward to Friday nights again :)

This place sits across the street from a Taqueria I used to frequent. This is a much better place location –wise. Much cleaner and the menu is pretty classy. Parking can be difficult at times. When the place is busy as in lunch or dinner you can park on the street.
Now their burrito is different. The wrap is crispy and you can tell is fresh.

Two days later, I return to Gecko eager to show my friends the wonder that is held inside. We arrive at 5pm to an empty room. i order the grilled fish tacos and an ultimate margarita. I noticed that it was happy hour but was curious as to how much they would charge me when the bill came. My friends ordered flautas, tortas, and a salad. The feedback wasn’t so great from their food. One person said that the crema that came with the torta was bland. The same was echoed from the person who ordered the flautas. In the end, the meal was more about mixing salsas and trying combinations of the three types there.
After polishing off my margarita, which was tasty by the way, just right amount of alcohol, lots of lime juice. I was still thirsty, no thanks to my friend next to me who was inhaling water like she had been running a 10K. I saw the option to have a «chavela» which is a beer with lime juice and a salted rim. Of course, I got convinced by the bartender to try the «michalada”(hoped I spelled that right). This beverage was ice, clamato juice, tabasco, modelo especial, black pepper, and of course, the salted rim. My first sip: my first thought was, «whoa!» Is this soup or a beer? I felt like I needed a dinner roll to cleanse my palate… but after a few sips, I started to taste the beer as it meshed with the clamato and the salt on the top rim. Would I ever order it again? Definitely not for a while.
So in summary, bad feedback on tortas, although I’m still a fan of any of their tacos served in corn tortillas. A lunch place for sure if I’m ever passing through. Now, time to find some tasty carnitas.
PS. I was charged $ 5.95 for the margarita although I wasn’t sure if this was happy hour price or regular.

I was so hungry after going to different places to look at granite. My fiancé brought out his GPS system and found Gecko Grill. I remembered that Gecko Grill had great Unilocal reviews, so I definitely wanted to go there!
The dining area is cozy. We went after 1pm so the lunch crowd was over.
I love the free chips and salsa. MmMm. This place makes their chips on site. Yay! I love the fresh tasting chips. It is a bit oil, but the flavors are so much better than those store bought chips. The salsa is decent. I wish it was spicier though.
I had the chicken mole platter ($ 12). I was attracted to the description of the mole sauce made out of pumpkin seeds, bananas, and chocolate. The chicken was cooked very well. The sauce was also good. You can taste the slight bitterness from the chocolate. The dish also came with a side salad and you choice of beans. I chose black beans.
My fiancé had the carne asada geckolupa ($ 10). Oh goodness. This dish was soooOOoo good!!! The geckolupas were huge! You have to eat this with a fork and knife since the tortilla is too large to wrap your mouth around it. The beef was cooked perfectly and very tender. I love the huge mound of guacamole. It was interesting to taste the mozzarella and mexican cheese in the geckolupa. I would definitely come back for this dish.
Service is a bit slow considering that there wasn’t anyone at the restaurant.
Separate men and women bathrooms are in the back of the restaurant.
Happy hour is from 3−5pm.

I blame Daniel D. She introduced me to this AMEX (American/​Mexican) food joint. UFC her for her comprehensive review-​hey, I share the love:
Cute joint if you like that wild color vibe.
Great outdoor seating for throwing back a cold one.
Skip the chips, as they are cold.
Stick to the Guaco Tacos and Sopes.
Crunch crunch! Where is my mariachi?

Went here with some friends a few weeks ago. It was a Sat, and they weren’t terribly busy.
Service was beyond bad…
They forgot items, gave us food, but no utensils, gave the wrong sizes of items, and we had to continually ask for water refills before we got them. It also took longer than it should have to get our food.
I think there’s only two people waiting tables, but like I said, they weren’t very busy.
They weren’t hostile or anything, just neglectful and forgetful.
Aside from the horrible service, the food was pretty good. Our friends said they really liked theirs too. Prices were very reasonable.
Even though the service was dreadful, I will probably go back and give it another try at some point.

OK place. I got takeout on a Tuesday afternoon after visiting Watson Dog Park. Standalone resturant in a small industrial area next to a residential neighborhood. A few blocks from the intersection of 101 and Oakland Road. Oakland Road changes to North 13^th Street, heading towards downtown San Jose.
Small with a lot of character. Like the Gecko décor. About half a step up from a tacqueria. For instance, the tacos are bigger and have more filling than the ones at my favorite place, Los Tres Hermanos (The Three Brothers) in East Palo Alto. Kinda pricey but good. I wouldn’t make a special trip to eat at Gecko Grill again, but I won’t be upset if someone I was with wanted to eat here.
I had:
1 maize tortilla quesadilla
1 Tomatillo Chicken Soft Taco: Grilled Tequila chicken with our marinated cabbage, cilantro, red onions and topped with tomatillo salsa.
1 Grilled Asada Soft Taco: Marinated Carne Asada topped with fresh chopped onions, tomatoes, lettuce, crema, queso fresco and tomatillo salsa.
Side of black beans and Gecko Mexican rosemary rice.