The Mex Authentic

By far the best Mexican restaurant in town. Great food, drinks and hospitality. Obie was our server and he is wonderful. Highly recommended!

Amazing food. I had the enchiladas Vallarta and it was amazing ¹⁰⁄₁₀. Chips and salsa is really good as well. Everyone was really friendly. Highly suggest visiting this place!

Restaurant is on the smaller side but in a good way. Tables were fairly close to the kitchen which gave an «at home» dining experience. I ordered a Chile Colorado chimichanga. It was very crispy and delicious. The meat was shredded and not in chunks which is the way I prefer it. The sauce was perfect. My father ordered the carnitas plate and
He didn’t care too much for it. He mentioned the meat was too tough and dry but still edible. He did love the rice and beans though. Everyone else in my family enjoyed their food which included a chicken burrito and shrimp fajitas. Service was great. Our waiter did a great job. Overall this restaurant has great food at decent prices.

Food and service was great!
Stopped here for drinks and appetizers. I had the Mexarita and nachos. The food came out right away (within 10 mins) and the place was almost full. The price was a little less than average which was nice.
The Mexarita was very sweet to me, which I didn’t expect or really care for in a margarita. However despite this, I finished off the drink in a few minutes and enjoyed it.
I thought the nachos were a little cold, but I still enjoyed them. It’s your typical nachos– chips, cheese, beans, guac, sour cream, jalepanos. Nothing special, they were ok.
I’ll probably come back next time I’m in town.

Very clean and comfortable spot, friendly staff, homemade chips and salsa, delicious food and very affordable prices… only issue is the parking lot is packed during lunch, but it was worth it…

Best damn nacho I’ve ever had everything was fresh and seasoned perfecto keep it up the mex authentic

I come here regularly now. The food is awesome every time. The service is awesome every time. The owner is super duper awesome. Friendly. And makes sure no one waits for seating unnecessarily by coming from behind the bar or wherever he may be to seat them himself. I find that to be a great testament to his character & professionalism.

Taco Tuesday is alive and well at Mex Authentic! Crispy tacos for cheap and they are really good! Great tostadas too! Their chip salsa has just the right amount of heat to gobble down the whole basket of crispy chips! The owners Gabriel and Tori are super friendly and make you feel right at home!

Fantastic food & exceptional service!
Owner Gabe really hooked it up. He shaped the perfect takeout menu for our group of 11 women, and everyone praised how absolutely bomb the food was.
I wish I had a ‘before’ pic of our wonderful spread – shredded chicken, carne asada, sautéed veggies, rice, mix of tortillas, onion & cilantro, chips, salsa, guac – but everyone seriously dove in and devoured the deliciousness!
And that guac, oh my — get two quarts of it!
There’s so many Mexican food options in Santa Barbara, but Gabe really makes the takeout experience so effortless. He’s super patient & unfailingly helpful, and the professionalism of Mex Authentic makes it the best spot for Mexican food in the area.

Excellent service at the Mex Authentic. We came in to try it out and used our Axxess Card (buy one entrée, get one free). The spicy cucumber jalapeño margarita was refreshing but a little sweet for my taste. Nice spice to it though. I had the chicken enchilada rancheras, which were good, but I wish had gone with one of the spicier options. Not bursting with flavor by any means. All of the staff were exceptionally helpful and on the ball. Excellent beer selection, including my favorite brew from Ballast Point, Grapefruit Sculpin (bottles, not draft). Great place overall. Looking forward to coming back and trying some more of their food.

Pretty good, not too greasy Mexican food. Particularly excellent chips and salsa, though!

First trip to Mex Authentic tonight and I was really impressed by the service the minute we sat down. Great drink selection, including Sculpin, which immediately elevates any restaurant 1 to 2 stars in my book. I also loved that my glass came with a Dodgers logo considering one of the last restaurants in this location was full of workers who were Giants fans. SB is Dodger country and you’ll get an extra star from me reppin Dodgers love.
I ordered three tacos, carnitas, shrimp, and a crispy beef one. They were good sized but even after adding a variety of hot sauces, and they generously brought them all out, they simply didn’t have as much flavor as I expected. Considering how much they seem to have their stuff together, I’ll be back to try again, but I’d like to see them spice the food up.

Going to make my review short. The other reviews are pretty accurate. The food was really good. It was more than I can eat, and kept me full for the remainder of the day (and I went in for lunch.). I ordered the Mexarita – wasn’t strong – very sweet. Some people like it this way.
It’s about $ 15 per entrée, but again portions are generous. Chips and salsa were good. Service was good. Set-​up was a bit cramped. I will return for lunch.

As soon as I saw the pictures on Unilocal I knew this was going to be our lunch destination in SB today. I’m glad to see this space was taken over by a place that really is making an effort to make good food and provide great service.
We came here twice when it was Pace Food and Drink. The place was closed both times during business hours. We never did get to eat there.
The Mex Burger was tasty. It came out hot off the grill. I got the jalapeños on the side and I’m glad I did. Hot!
Carnitas taco was good according to the GF. I tasted the fish taco, it was okay, not great. We powered through two margaritas a piece and they were made very well. Honorable mention to the warm chips and spicy salsa. Park in the lot on the corner.
Viva Mex Authentic!

We came here for dinner after a busy Saturday of wine tasting. It was fairly busy but we were able to grab four seats at the counter. At this family owned business everyone was friendly and accommodating. The restaurant was clean with simple décor.
I ordered the Enchilada Shrimp Ranchero and it came with rice and beans. The rice was fluffy and plentiful the beans were topped with cheese and were very flavorful. The shrimp in the Enchilada were a nice plump size and very tasty. The bottomless chips and salsa were delicious before, during and after dinner. To top off my dinner I enjoyed an original margarita which I was told did not have any Tequila but a wine base substitute (it was fantastic).
Overall, my experience here was a five star, great customer service and yummy food. I can’t wait to try more of the food and drinks on my next visit to Santa Barbara.

If you’re in Santa Barbara, on the main strip, there are basically two Mexican restaurants. One is huge and loud, with so-​so food. The other is small and subdued, with killer, awesome food.
The Mex Authentic is the one with the awesome food.
Got their three item combo (with carne asada soft taco, shredded beef burrito, and a crispy chicken taco), a two item plate (two shredded chicken enchiladas with red sauce) and a Mex Burger. Everything was awesome. Loved the shredded chicken and shredded beef. Even the Mex Burger (my son doesn’t get the whole Mexican restaurant concept yet) was actually one of the best burgers I’d had — grilled buttery bun with two kinds of cheese and yummy fries. I noticed a few other people around us were getting the burger as well. My only complaint, and it really isn’t that bad, margaritas were just OK, and kinda small (and they don’t do blended).
If we lived closer we’d be here literally every week.

This has become my favorite Mexican Restaurant in Santa Barbara after my first visit! Whenever I go to a new Mexican Restaurant I always order enchiladas. It has sort of become my way of gauging the good quality. With a few options to choose from, I went with the enchiladas Mazatlan and was blown away. The sauce was spicier that I thought it would be, but just spicy enough for any spicy food lover to enjoy. The rice was some of the best I’ve had at a restaurant and the beans tasted fresh and hot. The staff was also very attentive and courteous. Everyone there seems to chip in and help each other out. At least 3 different people asked me if I wanted refills. That kind of attention is always very much appreciated. They also have an Axxess deal! So, how can you go wrong with that!
They have certainly positioned themselves very well to be in that spot for a long time, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that hopes that they do. I look forward to returning to try their other selections. If you haven’t been there yet, it needs to be next on your list.

«Real Mexican food made by real Mexicans», maybe. But it was only Gringos eating it.
This still stands after my repeat visits.
*Taco Tuesday discounted chicken taco was all fluff and little chicken. TONS of lettuce and cheese in a puffed out soft tortilla with a touch of chicken.
*Carne Asada with is side o cheese enchilada– The asada was more tough than I expect but the enchilada sauce was delicious.
*Enchilada Mazetlan, one beef one chicken and the beef is the CLEAR winner. Chicken is fine but the smokey burn of the ranchera sauce works the beef.
I do love the thin and salty chips I can load up with the chunky that has a kick.
Sangria $ 7 for the price should be more but delicious. I’m a fan of Alcazars but this has potential. Just a little more than I want to spend on fruit and cheap wine.
Another hot ass time. All of my visits have been filled with heat from the kitchen. Why is the front door not open?
I was hoping for more consistency in the food but it’s been hit or miss with me at The Mex with a chewy Chili Colorado and now the Carne Asada. I still like the vibe but not the prices. The rating remains at ³⁄₅ but I’m optimistic I will find what I like here. So that’s a good thing.

Toller Mexikaner. Der Name wird hier wörtlich genommen und entsprechend gekocht. Der Service war sehr zuvorkommend und hat uns die nötige Zeit gegeben. Das Essen hat hervorragend geschmeckt und Preis– Leistung stimmt in jedem Fall. Hier werden wir jederzeit wieder essen gehen und freuen uns auf den nächsten Besuch!

I have to confess, I am a Mex Authenticholic! After eating here on several different occasions and practically licking my plate clean — I cannot deny, I have a problem — If you consider eating delicious Mexican food, frequently, with excellent service in a wonderful, welcoming, clean atmosphere a big deal. I might just need an intervention. And with such fair and reasonable prices for quality Mexican food, I can afford to support my Mex Authentic habit as often as I desire. (Which is like, daily.)
A few of my faves are the Carnitas Jalisco, Carne Asada with Cheese Enchilada, Jalepeno Cucumber MEXarita, House Made Chips and Salsa.
The Carnitas Jalisco are tender, yet crispy, large chunks of marinated pork. I hate soggy carnitas. Restaurants that seep and stew their carnitas without pan frying them at the end to give that crispy, caramelized pork goodness on the outside of the meat disgust me. The Mex Authentic does carnitas right. The entrée comes with a generous portion of flavorful refried beans topped with a blend of cheeses, Mexican rice, a dollop of fresh guac, warm corn or flour tortillas and pico de gallo. Muy rico!
Equally delicious is the Carne Asada plate with Cheese Enchilada. The carne asada is very well-​seasoned, tender and prepared perfectly with a pink center. I’ve had it several times and it is usually perfect. Once it was a teeny, tiny bit chewy but in my experience that was an anomaly. The rich Cheese Enchilada is a wonderful compliment to the meat, as is the aforementioned sides.
A surprising star, is the Jalepeno Cucumber MEXarita because it is actually not tequila, rather a wine based substitute due to the liquor license. It’s incredible! Seriously, 90% better than any margarita that I’ve had in Santa Barbara. Not too sweet, not too spicy, refreshing and loaded with flavor. I can’t taste or feel a difference from a regular tequila based margarita. It’s very good!
The House Made Chips and Salsa are so yummy that we usually continue to eat them throughout the meal. You just don’t want them to end, which works out great because they are «bottomless.»
The owners and staff are attentive, observant, and very personable. They keep the restaurant in great shape. The bussers do not miss a beat. I saw someone walk-​in and on the way to the table a minuscule piece of white paper fell from their person to the floor — the busser was on it in a matter of seconds immediately picking it up and placing it in the trash. They were prompt with refills when needed and clearing plates as we finished.
This is not one of Santa Barbara’s high end, gourmet restaurants yet I’d be remiss not to give it the 5-​stars it has earned. For what it is, a delicious, casual Mexican eatery with great food and service, it’s top in it’s class. When I have a hankering for Mexican food, and especially when I don’t want to endure the chaos that is Los Agaves (primarily the Miplas location which is declining in service in the absence of the owner’s presence) — it’s The Mex Authentic for me. I highly recommend.
Btw, if you see me sitting at the bar with three different entrees for myself, greedily hovering over all the yummy food as if it’s my first or last meal, then it’s time for an intervention and I may need your help.
(Pro tip — For the locals, or budget savvy visitor, they are on 2016 SB Axxess.)

We popped in here for lunch, originally wanted to chow at Mony’s but neglected to check that they close on Sundays. Boo.
Food here is very decent. The chips n salsa were excellent. They had a fried fish taco special (they’ve only grilled fish taco on menu) and that was really YUM. My chile relleno plate was good n filling. My Bf ordered the Mexican pizza… tasted like quesadilla to me, nothing interesting. Kids would like it, too school food Americanized.
Service was initially very good. There were two servers looking after our table during a modestly busy time. The restaurant cleared out and one big party came in settling at the bar and it immediately went downhill. Service instantly suffered and the waiters seemed stressed right away. Had to flag them down for the check n refills.
Anyway, food was good but far from authentic. Still… I like the dining area, had a very pleasant time.