I thought this place was actually quite good. Super friendly staff, delicious margaritas, generous portions to make you nice and fat. I was expecting it to totally suck ass, because "the first spot by your hotel" is almost always a terrible choice. Glad to find that it didn't. The ONE thing I wasn't happy about: the seven-layer dip (was it six? I don't know) was mostly just beans. Lots and lots of beans. With a fairly thin layer of "the other stuff". Great if you love refried beans and excellent farts. Not so great if you love other stuff.
(4)
El Jeffy S.
Food was fantastic!!!!! Service was fast and polite. $1 taco's on Wednesday and they fill you up. Highly recommend
(5)
Audra R.
Only thing you need to know about Javelinas: FAJITAS. You're welcome!
(4)
Nienke S.
We came here because the restaurant on the other side of the road was crap. Very friendly staff, good service in this restaurant! We ordered a steak and grilled salmon. The steak was cooked perfectly, the salmon was a bit to dry. It came with shrimps, rice, vegetables and beans. The taste was okay, but not great.
(3)
Marti L.
It has been a while since coming here! Too long! Staff is excellent! Cody was our server, and a great server his is! Dinner...well we love it! Mike ordered a beef taco and a pork tamale. I ordered my old standby, chili relliano and a beef taco. Mike said the pork actually tasted like pork should! My rellano was so big and delicious, I had to bring half of it home! The margaritas we're tasty! A not to be missed experience.
(4)
Dylan V.
Typical party town kind of place. Pricey diluted drinks. Canned/frozen food advertised as "homemade" I would say the chips and salsa were the highlight of my dining experience. I don't think I will be back.
(2)
Laura M.
Best chili rellanos in the world!! It's sad because nothing can compare! Not even close!
(5)
Margie F.
This place is nicely located at london bridge...patio has great views...The server was very nice and attentive, however if you are looking for good Mexican food this place doesnt come close to being good or authentic. Was very disappointed.....
(2)
John C.
Nice view and great food. Awesome server Brandy!
(5)
Lisa G.
Great tie dye margarita! Great fajitas! Great nachos! Great service! Definitely recommend after hanging on the beach!
(4)
B J.
The service was fairly quick for a Friday night and the chips and salsa were good. I ordered the chicken fajitas which were very different from normal fajitas - they were in a soy sauce glaze and had an Asian feel. Either way, they were still pretty tasty. On the other hand, the rice and beans were really bland and lacked flavor. For dessert I got the xango - let me tell you - the was delicious! Overall a decent meal and lots of food, but the view outside on the lake was what made it even better. Also, it was our server's first night of training. I can't recall her name, but she did excellent all while attending to a very large group over at the next table!
(3)
Rayna J.
If you're looking for a view, this place is the spot. You can see the London bridge and a lil hotel/bar "the Heat". You can see the channel which is beautiful at night and across the way is Kokomos, a place I like to go out to! :) We ordered the sampler platter and it was pretty blah. Came with cheese dip, flautas, jalapeno poppers & a quesadilla. I would have thought it would come with maybe sour cream or guacamole or some lettuce under the cheese cup. Something to give it color and not just look like a pile of fried food. Definitely plating wasn't their expertise. I ordered a Totopos salad. It was amazing! My girl friend ordered the Taco salad and her's was the same. We asked the waitress if she accidentally ordered the wrong one, she said no they are both taco salads. OK whatever, there was a difference but no big deal. LOL Everyone else was very impressed with their food, the enchiladas, tacos, flautas and burritos. Wait time was only 20 minutes for a party of 5. I think I would go back just because I liked the vibe and the food was good for the most part!
(3)
Jessica E.
I've been coming here for years, since they first opened. I am so picky with Mexican food and this place is AMAZING!! You don't leave feeling like you ate a ton of lard like many Mexican restaurants. Our server tonight was Ruben and he was awesome! Everything he suggested was incredible. Definitely a must when you come to Lake Havasu. BEST food, AMAZING ambiance, and EXCELLENT service. Great for kids too!! The booth seats are really high so my crazy toddler can't awkwardly stare at the patrons in the next booth. . Not shy on the tequila in the margaritas either. Love this place!! You wont be disappointed!!
(5)
Cat D.
SuPeR yUmMy Mexican Food! We were offered a green salsa they had, OMG!, I think it might have been the best tasting salsa I've ever had!! You will get a LOT of food for a reasonable price! The staff is really friendly too!! Thanks for a delicious meal with a beautiful view!!
(5)
Brandy N.
Javelina Catina food was pretty good. I ordered the enchilada plate. Chip and both red and green salsa. Both where pretty good. I find it hard to find good place to eat in havasue. Service was very good when I went also.
(4)
Katya B.
Went for the spicy prickly pear margaritas ~ i did ask if they could make it with mango instead which they did and it was ok but not the best i've ever had.. the picture showed pieces of jalapeños but what they bring is premix. We only ordered salad and appetizers so can't really comment too much on the food but what we had was nothing impressive that would have me running back..sorry
(2)
Dale V.
I have been here two times and both were amazing. The staff as extremely curious and they really want to make sure your visit is pleasant. Both times I came they had their 1/2 price fajitas. These are the best fajitas I have ever had. They have large checks of meat, shrimp, peppers and onions. Some folks may complain about that, but I'd rather be able to cut them to my own size than deal with finely cut veggies that turn too soggy. I will definitely recommend this place and the next time I am in Havasu I will be back!
(5)
Carla E.
I have checked in here so often I have earned "The Dutchess of the Javalina Cantina" on Yelp :-) The food here is always consistent, the service is very very good and the cocktails are wonderful. This last check-in, we opted for a seat in the air-conditioned bar as we had been out and about all day.. we were hot, tired and hungry. It was early, around 4 and so were seated immediately. Our chips and salsa and glasses of water came right away. Our server this time was Stephanie and she did an amazing job. I ordered the Taco Salad with shredded beef and it was very good, my husband had one of the combo meals. Javalina is his absolute favorite place to dine in Havasu and so I am very happy to have been able to get there this trip as we are snowbirds and this time our trip was limited to just two weeks. I am not sure how these people do it! The place is always packed after 5 and the servers must burn thousands of calories running to make sure the patrons have a memorable experience. They are always smiling and happy and that is one of the main reasons we will continue to patronize the Javalina. Check Yelp or their website for daily specials as there is always something going on. Thanks to manager Danny, server Stephanie and everyone else behind the scenes. For a true taste of Havasu, you need to dine here :-)
(4)
Cliff C.
Nice view of the London Bridge if you are seated outside. The waiter we had was very nice and knowledgable. I believe his name was Ryan. The hostess up front however was not friendly. No smiles. It felt like she was a robot. They had pretty big servings. Good to share. It just fell a little short on the tasty side. I tried everyone's food and none really blew me away. I'm so used to the Mexican food being rich in flavor. It was more bland to me. Although we did have an overall good experience.
(3)
Nakia H.
Great way to end the trip! David took such good care of our group. We stopped here for lunch on our way out, mainly just out of convenience but the service was a definite plus and much appreciated! Food was pretty good and prices were well above reasonable for the quantity and location. Looking forward to trying some of the fancy cocktails we saw being delivered...giving my liver a break for all its hard work this weekend ;) Stopping by will be our new tradition!
(5)
Katie R.
My parents and I had dinner here on a quiet Tuesday night in December. Tuesday is apparently tequila Tuesday so all tequila drinks are half off which was a fun bonus for us. My parents both had blended margaritas which were good.Just a note that the fruit flavor seemed to come from a concentrate/syrup. I had the green carnitas and the pork was very tender! The pork pieces were almost falling apart and I didn't need a knife. I would definitely recommend that dish. My parents had standard combinations that seemed pretty good as well. The large outdoor seating area seemed very spacious and had lots of heaters, but we chose to sit inside and we still had a good view of the water.
(4)
Kristin H.
Food is good- a little higher priced plates than most mexican restaurants in Lake Havasu but the quality is there. The margaritas are great -the "Grande" isn't really worth the price. Stick to the normal size unless they have a two for one special. It's definetly a place to check out!!!
(4)
Arrie Z.
We have eaten at Javalina Cantina at least a half a dozen times in the past and it has always been great! I am not much for reviews, as you can, tell but when someone continually exceeds my expectations they deserve the recognition. The view of the London Bridge from their upper deck patio is unbelievable (especially at sunset). And the food is ALWAYS very good. But the service is way beyond what you would expect from a Mexican food restaurant. They're always kind and friendly and make you feel like you are a regular, even if its the first time they've met you. Absolutely love the view and have become addicted to the food but it is the above and beyond service that keeps us coming back!
(5)
Chad G.
Located right on the water. Very nice setting. Get the spicy salsa has a nice bite to it. Both me and my wife enjoyed our food. I went with the fish tacos. And she had a super burrito. Now for the bad. Service is slow. Don't be in a hurry. Took forever to get the salsa refilled had to ask twice. Took forever to get the check also. But since we went to a place next door and the service was the same there, maybe that is just the norm in Havasu.
(4)
Barbara S.
We always go there to eat at least once while in Havasu. We love their Casa Salad with Lime Cilantro dressing such a great assortment of veggies and delicious dressing. Like their green tamales and husband likes their enchiladas and tacos. Really good food and great service.
(5)
Jamie S.
The waitress Sandy is a complete b**** to her fellow workers. I cannot believe how she treated and talked to her fellow employees in front of customers. It was embarrassing to the employees and made us as customers feel every awkward. She obviously hates her job and she wasn't even our waitress!!!!!!
(1)
Luke W.
Javelina is one of my favorite spots to eat at while in Havasu. Great location on the island, above the channel. The fajitas are the some of the best I've ever had. The margaritas are delicious and chips and salsa keep you full till the meal arrives. Also the manager, Danny is a great guy and takes care of us everytime. If in havasu, it's a must do!
(5)
Julie H.
Large portions, good service and yummy food. We have eaten at this restaurant three or four times. The food is consistently good. Our servers have always been friendly and we never find ourselves waiting around for our meal. The lobster tacos are amazing.
(4)
Tatud A.
I've given this place a few tries, at least 3 or 4....... ALWAYS disappointed. The food just doesn't have it. Totally lacks flavor. And, it's pricey. The patio and the patio view are nice. The service is pretty normal. Except for $1 tacos on Wednesday I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Paul M.
We had lunch here as part of the London Bridge Jet Boat Tour. Shared the chicken fajitas with shrimp added. Way more than enough food for two. Hot came hot and was delicious. Service was excellent.
(5)
Tiffany S.
So here's the thing about Mexican restaurants....they need to have good chips guacamole & salsa, and bomb margaritas! The rest honestly any minimum wage cook can make and people will be happy, but if those two things aren't good then they shouldn't be considered a Mexican restaurant! My point would be that JC is missing the boat big time on both fronts! The guacamole was plain bland and lacked anything spicy/salty/tasty!! I had to ask for cilantro, then add hot sauce salt and pepper to make it worthy of eating...so sad!! Then the margaritas....well let's just say don't get your hopes up here either! We ordered two: one Cadillac and one Havarita! Both lacked booze, flavor, and oh yeah BOOZE!! If I am going to pay $16 for a drink I want a little kick in the pants...and they both had nothing! Sorry so say!! I ordered the salmon and shrimp and the sides were good and the shrimp was good but the salmon was cooked about 15 minutes too long....which is a risk you take when ordering seafood, but if it's going to be on your menu then train your staff to cook it properly! All and all I really do love this place and it pains me to write this review but I have to be honest! It was not a good experience! JC needs to take a hard look at the presentation of the food and drinks and put some effort in to keeping the quality up! I was sadly let down :(
(2)
Mickey J.
We went there for the lobster tacos. The first order was raw, even the fried ones. They took them back to refire and they came back way under cooked. We finally changed to steak fajitas and they were good. Also the tortilla soup was excellent and our waiter was so nice and patient with us. He felt really bad. We will give them another try this week.
(2)
Barb B.
Bar review only! We've been in here a few times and our servers have been LESS then friendly. We greet and smile, thank our servers and be nice. This bunch barely responds. Drinks are standard pour. Nothing spectacular. I'm not going to whine and complain..... We just won't be going back.
(2)
Walter R.
Great food & service. Very large portions. Awesome Mazerati margarita...very good & smooth & not sweet. Good prices too. Nice atmosphere. View of Londin bridge.
(4)
Bernie K.
Food was awesome,. No patio next time,. too windy, birds and flies. Sit close to the Bridge side otherwise you will not have a view of it, you will just see the backside of Heat bar .
(4)
Tami C.
Everything here is so great! $1 taco Wednesday's are the best but bring your patience! Manager Danny is amazing and always treats us like family. Fajita Monday's are such a great deal!
(5)
Andrea E.
Food is always yummy and service fast & friendly. We have 4 kids and finding a place that all of us love is tricky..this is the place! Beautiful view of the Colorado river, excellent food (especially the lobster tacos and shrimp fajitas), great daily specials (we can feed our family of 6 under $20 on taco Wednesday). The servers/staff are always welcoming & accommodating whether we are here with just the 6 Of us or a large group. The tie dye margarita is a must have!
(5)
Jen C.
The best shrimp ceviche i have ever had!! I also had a shrimp taco, which was awesome, and a carne asada taco, which was just okay.
(5)
Mike S.
Stopped for taco weds, and left without being served. Ground beef tacos, big deal. It's a hassle to find a place to dock the boat and 30 min wait time is not for me. I'd rather order a pizza from papa Leones and have it brought to the boat . As with most places here, taco specials are only good if your homeless and can't buy a good asada taco. The bottom line, you will not get a good taco , at a special cheap price . Don't be a sucker , go out and pay for food on a non specials day .you will only be disappointed and pissed when the food shows up, and it's garbage , this seems to be the way it always is. Thanks
(2)
Alexa D.
Great view of the lake, average food. The chips were very oily, but somewhat satisfying. Lots of birds! The fajitas were AMAZING and came with lots of sides. The nachos were average. It all tasted pretty artificial, nothing was fresh.
(3)
Caryn S.
We made reservations and got a table quickly even when they were busy. The $8 fruity margarita came on the rocks; the waiter took it back to be blended. Sadly, it had little flavor and, I'm pretty sure, no liquor. Husband said his chicken burrito could have been a little spicier and that's the most complaining I've ever heard from him. The vegetarian option was a good combination: chili relleno, tostado, and enchilada -- who needs rice and beans? We enjoyed patio dining and good service but the food was nothing special.
(3)
Cathleen F.
I've been a big fan since they opened, while visiting Lake Havasu its on my radar! #1 Tip... TIE DYE Margarita! , i always crave it! Its a blend of all the different margaritas combined (exotic flavors) We sat on patio, beautiful, ordered the fajitas and they are so flavorful, my only complaint is they only give you 3 tortilla's at a time, and if you sharing which I suggest that not gonna cut it! lol Cheers
(4)
Brittany R.
Good service and the best margarita ever!!! You have to try the tie dye margarita!! Great chips and salsa.
(5)
Sarah F.
The food was good, but.. the service.. needs a bit of work. I don't ask much in a waiter but i certainly would rather not have an attitude and a side of I don't care where your food is. Or about your table. Two times in a row. Take out for me please. Again, good food, nice atmosphere, but hopefully when you go youll get better service.
(3)
Shan V.
Amazing salsa. Service by Sarah was awesome and she was very helpful with everything.
(5)
Amanda G.
Giving 4 stars because of the the incredible costumer service. The food isn't bad at all it just wasn't great in my opinion, It was good...the salsa and chips however were freaking awesome which I think need to be at a Mexican restaurant. Prices were good. The view from the balcony was awesome. Its a great spot to eat at if you are ever by lake Havasu and want to Mexican food.
(4)
D D.
Good place to eat out on the patio. The food like most Mexican food is pretty good taco, enchiladas, chips salsa ect. They have a pretty cool little bar area with lots of tequila.
(4)
R R.
So I've been meaning to write a review about this place for a long time. Me and my girlfriend did the jet boat tour from Laughlin and this place was recommended. It claimed to have the best margaritas, great food blah blah blah. Well I can contest that neither is true. The food is bad cafeteria food which is an insult to cafeteria food. The beans were burnt the rice hard the carnitas I got well jerky is the beat way to describe it. My girl got carne asada tacos and it was just as bad. Now the super great margaritas...if youve never attempted to make a margarita or don't even know what a Margarita is for that matter. Your margarita would be better in your first attempt at making one. Bland boring and just crap. I would also like to point out that when we went it wasn't even busy so for the food and drinks to be crappy should tell you all you need to know. If your in the mood for "mexican" food I think there was a del taco near by. And its a hell of a lot cheaper. Find somewhere else to eat.
(1)
Kimberly M.
The waiter was nice, the service was fast, and the salsa was good, so I gave this place two stars...If this review was based solely on the food I would give 1 star. My husband ordered their special, which was a rib eye steak, and the steak was terrible, and the Mexican rice was terrible. I ordered the garden vegetable fajita, and the veggies were so covered in soy sauce and worcestshire sauce and whatever else that you couldn't even taste that they were vegetables. My daughter ordered a green chili tamale and it was super dry. Even the chicken fingers from the kids meal were absolutely awful! I would not recommend this restaurant for food. Might be good to sit on the patio and have a drink in the summer but I'd eat elsewhere.
(2)
Abby L.
Ok I'm cranky with all the cranky reviews on here. HAVE YOU TRIED 1/2 $ Tequila Tues?? That's where its at! We love the Blue Bomber in the rocks, and for the regular frozen Margaritas, get the Prickly Pear, Kiwi, or TieDye! SO YUM!!! Love the Nachos or the sampler appetizer. (Get the prickly pear sauce with the sampler.)
(5)
Cat P.
I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. As soon as we walked in, we could tell that the atmosphere was very college-y and we were kind of worried. We had no interest in doing body shots or beer bongs, so yeah...I was really questioning what the food would be like here. Our dishes were actually pretty good, though; I opted to get a ground beef taco platter with a side of Mexican rice and guac, which I enjoyed. Our drinks took a little long to get unfortunately, even though it was just a margarita and a draft beer. The staff here seemed very overwhelmed for only a Thursday night. Hopefully they hire more people (read: bartenders) or figure out a better system!
(3)
Marie A.
Really good service and view. The food came out really quick and was good too. The shrimp cocktail was more like a shrimp marinade but tasted great and the combination plates are huge. Now we have awesome leftovers for later!
(4)
Cody S.
I have such mixed emotions about this place and my review is pretty basic. The good: The food was great. I had a burrito with shrimp in it and it was delicious! Do I want to go back because of the food, yes. The bad: I encountered 1 friendly person (a male bartender, who was genuinely a great person) the whole time I was there. We were quoted a 15 - 20 minute wait time. No problem. When 20 minutes came up my boyfriend went to ask about the status and the host snapped saying "I told you 15 to 20 minutes, its only been 15." -which it most certainly had not been. I felt it was so unprofessional of how she handled a simple question. We were not demanding, or in a hurry, just asking about how much longer it would be. When we were finally sat, it appeared our server was inconvenienced by us and gave us attitude. They were busy, yes, but not slammed. I think he realized how he had talked to us because he did a 180 and was overly nice, to the point it seemed forced and fake, but I'll acknowledge the effort. When we had a request it was ALWAY answered with "I'll be back in a minute." When we finished, I swear to you he did not say thank you. He walked by so fast with the bill that when he put it down it slid half way across the table. No joke. That happened not only when he brought the bill but when he brought it back when we paid. I actually laughed because I had never seen that happen before. It pains me to say that I don't think I will be back and will not be recommending it to anyone because the food was so good, but the service was so terrible. We don't expect much when we go out to eat, but a smile and a thank you is definitely a requirement - something this place lacks.
(2)
Mike B.
Ate here during the Jet Ski World Finals almost every night for a week. Food was good the service was top notch. Thank you Kelly and Rachel for being such awesome people we thoroughly enjoyed having you serve us. Can't waiti to be back next year, hopefully we get the same great service.
(5)
KL A.
Good service and they let our dog into the outside seating area (even brought him his own water bowl!). View of the London Bridge was nice also. The food, however, was just average (we had enchiladas and a Caesar salad). Really enjoyed the pomegranate margarita on 1/2 price tequila Tuesday!
(4)
Mercedes L.
The food was great, the drinks were great, but the service was excellent! If you're in the area, definitely make a stop here.
(5)
Kimberly S.
Love this place. Eat there for lunch all the time. Janine is the best waitress in town. Great tacos and the green corn tamale is the best
(5)
Pam F.
The food isn't as good as I'd hoped. The salsa caters to a milder crowd and their fajitas ($17) come back burned beyond recognition, and they have like a black goopey film that they lay on. Burned PAM spray maybe? The guacamole bacon burger ($13) leaves much to be desired. They don't put a giant toothpick in it, so it gets all over the place and the bun falls apart after the first bite. The fries were extra toasty though. Drinks run about $9-$18. The service is nice and friendly when you can get it. For the price, I expected better food.
(2)
Nicole B.
I used to love you Javelina Cantina but then I experienced real Mexican food. Sure, I've been here plenty of times with my parents, friends, and my husband. But each time the experience steadily went downhill. My favorite meal - whether lunch or dinner - was the chicken chalupa with red sauce (no lettuce or tomatoes on top). I have tried other items - the quesadilla, fish tacos, fried ice cream, etc. but hands down I loved that dish. However, when I stopped by for dinner recently it just wasn't the same. Maybe my taste buds had changed or maybe the sauce changed - who knows. Even my husband, who used to like Javelina, thought the meal was just mediocre. The inside is nice - I like the high-back booths. The patio is pretty decent too. I love looking out at the lake, but sitting outside we got drenched by the misters. Even our food was becoming water logged. Something is just off...
(3)
Kile D.
Seriously, their salsa is the BEST I have ever had. I make sure to get some every time I am in town! Havent been able to be there on Wednesday nights for their dollar tacos, but man, Javalina would be my dinner every Wednesday night! Bomb.com ! Javalina come to San Diego!!!
(5)
Bren H.
I had chicken enchiladas w/ green sauce. They were delicious. Not quite enchiladas suisas. The rice and beans were good.The chips were OK, salsa was nice. Not too hot or mild. We sat outside w/ a little view of the bridge and the channel. Service was friendly and we got our food in a timely manner. Drink refills were plentiful. Granted, business was slow.
(5)
Mark H.
The good: Nice outdoor patio, waitress was great. Tasty Prickly Pear Jalapeno margaritas. The bad: tortilla chips not so good. Boring salsa and boring guac dip. That's all the food we had since we were there for the ritas. Probably will try elsewhere next time we are in town. Been to the one in Sedona, which seemed better. I think the food is hit and miss.
(2)
Shannon N.
I haven't sampled too much on the menu. My lobster tacos were pretty good. But the service was quick and friendly, the view of the channel is great and the margaritas are to die for. I usually drink classic margaritas on the rocks, but their mango margarita is on point!! All in all, a great spot for your havasu weekend!! Keep it up!
(4)
natalie s.
Our server Kelly was awesome! She had us laughing every time she came to the table and was super sweet and friendly. Definitely will come back and will ask to sit in her area. She gave us great suggestions on food too. Definitely try the grilled lobster tacos and the large bean/queso dip. Delicious food. Thanks Kelly!
(5)
Cassidy C.
Great place. Super busy but service was still great. Gorgeous margaritas and yummy fish tacos. Definitely sit inside, the misters are kind of intense. Loved it overall!
(4)
Wendy S.
Our family of 5 enjoyed a great lunch on the patio. Our server Ryan was awesome, cheerful and quick. Chips and salsa we great - my 5-year old even remarked on how good the salsa was. When your picky 8 and 10-years olds say how good their (NOT kid's menu) food is, you take notice. Loved my chicken taco salad was great! Hubby says his chili colorado burrito was 'alright'. I would definitely return next time we're in Havasu.
(4)
Nikki J.
Great staff and service and awesome view of the London Bridge and river. The food is so good, I've yet to have anything that I disliked. We try to stop by every time we go to the river, its our go to spot to eat.
(5)
Paul F.
Two words: dollar tacos. You figure out when.
(4)
Robin C.
Great food, great service. Kelly was our waitress and she gave us great service and joined in our fun. Love this place. Because of her we will be back.
(5)
Monique T.
My family visited this restaurant during our vacation and we were pleasantly surprised! The service was great with enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. The food was amazing. I had the enchilada's and they are on par with some of my favorites. We also had a unique and tasty dessert (the sopapilla is a must try!) We will definitely come here again when we are in the area!
(5)
NevadaBackroad S.
Rating for bar only. Great drinks, service and lots of friendly patrons. As far as the food, I prefer other restaurants. The first few times, since it was busy, got stuck in the funky rear parking lot with odd entrance. Still got me my margaritas on time!
(4)
L. C.
If I never come here again my life will be complete! The hostess was miserable! The server got the order wrong and argued that the order was right. He tried to make us feel like we were wrong. The only thing that saved this place was the manager, Danny. He was nice and accommodating. This place needs help with food and service. It's sad because the view is beautiful.
(1)
A P.
Been here twice. Carne asada was very good. We both had the fajitas today, and I'm pretty sure they were made with some sweet sauce like teriyaki. They're not my style but the veggies refresh.
(3)
Eliran M.
Decent food waiters and hosts are rude and disrespectful. Just a bunch of kids running the show here. Found spit in my meal, unbelievable wait even with Atleast 10 open tables, terrible service, and terrible staff. Overall don't come here as these are kids and kill act and treat you that way.
(1)
Nawal A.
I eat here periodically and always get a delicious meal. Love the food here and great staff. Thank you!
(5)
Robert G.
We were invited to Wednesday Taco Night by our neighbors, we arrived a bit early and headed for the bar area to enjoy some of their Happy Hour treats, they have a good combination of drinks and food specials, we had a good house margarita and house white wine, we ordered a shrimp cocktail and jalapeño popers, at $7.99 each they were delicious and huge, the shrimp cocktail, reminded me of the ones we use to have all over Baja California, loaded with shrimp, the poppers, i have to say, the best I had in town. We were seated for dinner promptly at our reservation time and were join by our friends at the table, our waitress Stephanie was friendly, helpful, and very professional, she quickly too our drinks and food orders and was very attentive to our needs during the whole time we were there, even though the place was placed with diners. The $1 tacos were excellent, we had a combination of shredded beef, shredded chicken, and ground beef tacos, all of them flash fried with flout tortillas, resembling more of a flauta/taco combo, all were delicious with a perfect combination of flavors from the well seasoned meat, cabbage, pico, and cheese. The manager, Danny, stopped by to say hello, and see if we needed anything, he was very friendly and made us feell very welcomed. We all left very satisfied with the drinks, food, and service and will definitely return!
(5)
Joshua M.
Don't go there for drinks, the bar sucks! No service was given to us, that were standing there for 10 minutes. After complaining to the male manager, nothing happened. We went there in a great mood and left feeling upset. Where is the customer service? And, their food didn't look like it was worth a 35 minute wait. Don't bother with this place. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)
Dee S.
The food, price, and service here are pretty good. Get the chicken fajitas!
(3)
Skoops C.
We spend most our summers in Lake Havasu and Javelina's is a must visit for us. I love their ceviche which they now call shrimp cocktail. TONS of fresh tasting shrimp! I add a touch of spicey sauce as it's too mild for my taste but it is always fresh and full of flavor. Their salsa is also good. I would give them 5 stars but I believe their margarita prices are just too high and there's no excuse like view... you can hardly see anything! There's trees to the right blocking the Channel, you can see the bridge but hey its a bridge! After you've seen it once big deal. The Heat hotel and its new bar outside blocks the water view. I used to always order a Tie Dye Margarita the BEST marg I've ever had hands down however at those prices... and I'll admit calories, I now have 2 reasons to not order anymore. I still recommend them to others! You must try one if you like all the flavors margs come in and can't decide which one, then the Tie Dye has you covered! Staff is always friendly, food no matter how busy they are comes out quickly which after being in the sun all day and your starving this is 5 star service! When I want Mex food with a low key atmosphere and better prices I head to Casa Serrano but their service is not very good and the waitresses are very slow so its one of those predicaments which to choose. Dress up and cooler people... Javelina, dress down, exhausted but not starving, Casa Serrano.
(4)
Courtney M.
Javalina cantina is the my favorite spot for margaritas and Mexican food in Lake Havasu. The tie die margarita is to die for! Love how they make it! Also I love the fajitas and enchiladas. The patio is definitely the best place to sit, eat, drink and enjoy the views.
(4)
Ashley M.
The salsa was delish! The views were lovely on the back deck, great location right on the channel by the London Bridge. We closed in the evening enjoying the breeze and sipping a margarita. The food was also good, a little pricey and not great quality. The music out back was awful! Made us giggle all night long!
(5)
Jen S.
Although not a chain restaurant per se, this restaurant is just one of several local restaurants owned by one family. All the restaurants have daily happy hour specials. So for tonight, I came here for the $1 tacos. Having had the $1 tacos at another Shugrue-owned restaurant, Mad Dog's, I was expecting something similar, but strangely enough they weren't as good. There are only three choices of tacos here: ground beef, shredded pork, shredded chicken, either hard or soft. The ground beef was definitely forgettable, while the other two were just okay. My order took a little longer than I expected, but in fairness, the restaurant was pretty busy with spring breakers. Service was below average, the bartender who took my order never specified hard or soft shell, he just entered whatever he thought I would want. The waitress at the bar seemed more preoccupied with getting off work. Overall, this location is more suited for people viewing , especially during daylight hours, than their happy hour specials.
(2)
Alan F.
$1 taco day rocks, usually friendly and fast wait staff. Can be a bit noisy but great food and atmosphere!
(4)
Cassie S.
We had such a great experience. The service was awesome and the food was very good. We quite enjoyed the jalapeño poppers with jelly! And sitting outside by the water and bridge was quite nice.
(5)
Karen L.
We came here on Cinco De Mayo hoping to celebrate with some Mexican and Margaritas. When we sat on the open patio and relaxed with the awesome view, we had high hopes, which were unfortunately quickly dashed. First of all, no one saw us for at least 20 minutes, even to take drink orders. We finally asked the busboy to grab someone and we saw him tell the hostess who then told the waitress . . . basically no one remembered we were there. Then the cute little waitress came over but didn't offer any apologies for the wait. The food was substandard Mexican food and the margaritas weren't that good either. Also, I think it is owned by the same people that own several other nearby restaurants so you know it's not authentic. Meh, ok if you need some sort of Mexican fix but don't expect greatness.
(2)
Duncan J.
Had the Rocky Point fish tacos. Really good! Wait staff was very friendly.
(4)
Kathy S.
Great food! Great service,
(5)
Denise D.
Love this place. Always great food and service and can't have a better view then from the patio. Would totally recommend to everyone visiting and living in Lake Havasu..
(5)
Anjali S.
Huge portions. I mean HUGE! We had (fried) fish tacos (good), steak fajitas (good), sides of veggies and chillie dusted fries (both great), bean burrito (ok), chicken chillie relleno (way way too much cheese), and a very salty veggie platter. The salsa was super fresh and yummy. Be warned their habanero salsa is five alarm hot-you'll feel it the next day!
(3)
Marti L.
Date Night! JR was our server, and what a terrific guy! He reads his customers well, and goes with their mood! Great guy delivered a great experience ! Food was as expected and did not disappoint! By husband had the Super Burrito and said it was great, I tried something different..the Lobster Tacos...yum! A terrific meal! Thanks for being a very dependable establishment!
(4)
Iohn W.
Wife and I took the family for some Mexican food. Local family wanted to try the food. It was good a fairly good experience. Staff was pleasant, drinks were cold and plentiful, Kelly our server was attentive and accommodating. Food was served warm and it was tasteful. Overall the experience was enjoyable and I know we would return.
(4)
Tim W.
Nice outdoor patio and view. Over hyped restaurant with overpriced drinks, average food and average service. I was up-sold on the larger margarita too and was shocked to see the $19 price when I got the bill. The 'larger' margarita is in a beer schooner. Sure doesn't seem like a $19 drink. One thing Havasu does NOT lack is Mexican restaurants. Skip the Shugrue's chain and eat at one of the better, cheaper places in town!
(2)
Rob W.
Here you are paying for the spectacular view. I'm really paying. I let the waitress up sell me (i didn't ask how much? dumb!) to a "large" premium margarita. It was $19.00 when I got the bill and it wasn't THAT large! I'm sure just ordering two regular ones would have been a better deal. The food was good and the service was just OK. You can get better Mexican food in Havasu for less $, easy. Of course the restaurant here makes it on location alone but for me that's not enough. This place is part of the Shugrue's Restaurant Empire and I really feel like they can do better across the board.
(2)
Cindy L.
It was pretty crowded here, even for a weekday. We hung out at the bar first and ordered the tie-dyed margarita and the house margarita. Drinks were decent. The tie-dyed margarita was pretty, but I didn't think the taste was amazing or anything. My friends enjoyed it though. The $1 taco special was okay. It was decent but not incredible. Service was friendly, but a little difficult to get ahold of.
(3)
Trevor B.
I was visiting Lake Havasu for the first time. I assumed that since its known as a Spring Break spot that the restaurants would be open until at least 10pm. I was wrong! Fortunately, Javelina Cantina was still serving. The bonus? It was dollar taco night! So, I ordered up 3 chicken soft tacos and a Corona (also on special) and my night was saved. For dollar tacos - they were excellent. Large and well stuffed with chicken plus lettuce, tomato - gringo style. Not much more to say because they were closing as I finished up my grub.
(3)
Heather Y.
this place has really good food but the restaurant is really dirty and the service is horrible.
(2)
Ken M.
Prior to writing this review, I have dined at this restaurant over the past 2 years, approximately 10 times. Each time my party and I received great service. The food comes out looking and tasting great. It is located in a perfect spot. For dinner, we walk from the Hampton Inn and during the day we beach the SeaDoos and walk up. cannot say enough great things about this place. Hope they keep it up. :)
(5)
Le L.
Amazing margaritas!!!! Best margaritas I have ever had! Great restaurant staff:)
(5)
Danielle D.
Good margaritas, good food, great service. Awesome salsa, super friendly owner/ staff
(4)
Steve D.
Good food. We visited on the off season (November). The city was quite and so was the restaurant. The food was good, the drinks were better! We ate outside but had to fight off the birds.
(3)
Christina D.
Just had the tie dyed margarita! F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!! The bar tender had a great sense of humor and the atmosphere was fun, will be back.
(5)
Brian B.
Great Magaritas, Decent Food. The margarita selection is very good, catering to both the fruity drink crowd and somebody looking for something hand shaken with a decent quality tequila in it. In my group we had more than a few of both and people were not dissapointed. It was very refreshing to have a frozen one outside when it was 114 out there. The food is decent, its not authentic, but it does cater to the Tex-Mex style of taste and it was prepared and the quality of ingredients was good. The salsa was not spicy but was very fresh tasting. Service was very response and the wait staff very friendly. The place makes a better bar than a restraunt, but its good for getting a few ritas and some decent Tex-Mex.
(3)
Mark B.
We always make sure we eat at Javelina Cantina every time we visit Lake Havasu and have been eating here for over five years. We have never had a bad meal. Service is usually very friendly. Like the other post complain about be up selling to a bigger margarita, it has never happen to me and I always order a margarita. The fajitas are by far, some of the best out there. No matter if it's chicken, steak or shrimp you won't disappointed. Tacos are awesome. Chili rellano -my wife says it the best she ever has and must be true because it's the only thing she ever orders. The best view in Lake Havasu overlooking the bridge and channel. Try it once and you will be back for sure.
(5)
Michael B.
Great fajitas. Went on Sunday because they advertise half off "menu" on Sundays. Only after ordering drinks and seeing the bill did we find out its only half off "entrees". Not very happy and in my book this is false advertising and they should reimburse all people they they have charged full price for drinks, desserts, etc. Maybe a class action suit might get the shugrue family to change their misleading and false advertising.
(4)
Daniel C.
I too was upsold on the margarita and it was awful. Very disappointed as this was the whole reason we went there in the first place. I would say go for the fresh salsa and chips and maybe a beer, but avoid the greatly overpriced food. While the food is tasty, it's not authentic and it is expensive. Tim W. is absolutely right, there are so many really great Mexican joints in Havasu. There's no real reason to go to Javelina's.
(3)
Sadie M.
We have been here many times and the food is always great for Sonoran Style. Service is always with a smile and good attitude. The guacamole is awesome and chips too. That in itself can be a meal. Great for large groups and families.
(4)
Brian T.
Great location and atmosphere. however, the food and drinks are consistently bad.
(2)
Ryan S.
Havasu is not known for it's culinary achievements but Javelina's is one of the better spots if you are in town. I got the carnitas and it was good. Nothing out of this world but better than I expected. The margaritas are good as well and everybody was pleased with their food. Salsa was fresh which was nice and the jalapeno poppers were a good choice to start.
(3)
Kelly L.
Great fresh chips and salsa... Chips are homemade and substantial!! Had the chicken and veggie burrito - is made with teriyaki sauce and was a neat twist on the original: loved it!! Will def go here again!
(4)
Kristin S.
After having pretty decent expectations about this place I am EXTREMELY saddened to say that I suggested this place for dinner. The location is nice and so is the environment. The service is pretty average seeing as every once and a while the nice waitress came by to check everything was okay. For starters, I found the chips and salsa VERY average. Nothing special that couldn't have been served straight from a La Victoria Salsa bottle, boo! We ordered the guacamole which was absolutely disgusting, of which i wanted to spit out but didn't out of courtesy. After sending that back I hoped our dinner would at the least be better. I ordered the Steak Fajita's Caliente, which definitely were no where near "caliente" by the way, and found the steak to taste as if it were two day old reheated meat. The onions, tortilla's, bell peppers, and other various veggies were delicious though. Throughout the entire time I was battling flies and attempting to eat at the same time, which I found to be an extreme nuisance! Overall, if you're looking for a place to drink and hang w/ friends that has way overpriced food, this is the place to go. I'm sure if you're just throwing back a couple drinks in the bar and enjoying their dollar taco's on certain days it might be worth the trip. Otherwise I'd definitely steer clear of this despicably called "Cantina." YUCK!
(2)
Laura D.
Lake Havasu, city of rocks, cacti, old men on Harleys with braids, rocks, the London Bridge (yes, really), desert, tons of fast food places, more rocks, and Javelina Cantina. My mom and I recently returned from Lake Havasu. No no, this trip was not for pleasure, it was to take care of some unpleasant family business. My mom discovered Cantina during her last trip here, as she was with her nephew who is a vegetarian. Love the outside seating- It was only 80 degrees around 7pm, so we decided to eat outside. Upon sitting down, the staff brings homeade, thick, tortilla chips with fresh salsa. The salsa is SO FRESH- tomato and pepper based, with onions, and cucumber- my mom tasted it and her palate is professional so I go with it. She ordered the seafood cesar salad, while I ordered the grilled shrimp cesar salad. Both came in large tortilla bowls, with romaine tossed in a delicious southwest cesar dressing with plenty of sundried tomatoes (always a plus), croutons, and parmesan. And they were not stingy on the seafood- woot woot. My mom needed a drink- she doesn't drink....ever. But for this trip, a margarita was in order. She ordered their platinum margarita with top shelf tequila. Momma D doesn't mess around! They have an extensive (truly) and impressive selection of tequila....be careful! Aaaand, we went to Cantina both nights we were there because it was reliable, the service was friendly, and we were too exhausted to search the rocky desert terrain of Lake Havasu for another restaurant. If you are ever in Lake Havasu, by choice (wtf) or not by choice, eat at Cantina. Enjoy the fresh salsa while you sit outside, gazing at the London Bridge, rocks, large lake, and more rocks. Eating here gave us something to look forward to at the end of the day and I am thankful to Cantina for that.
(4)
Louise J.
This was my second and last time eating here. The food is not fresh at all. The guacamole was horrible it tasted sour. I had a scallop salad, the whole thing was just wrong, the scallops smelled bad and were like rubber, the iceberg lettuce was drenched in dressing and looked like it had been sitting in it for hours. I also had a taco the meat tasted like last weeks left overs. The first time I ate here I had the fajitas YUCK!! They had at least half a cup of oil on them and another cup of sauce??? The service was ok. What a waste of a restaurant with a great location!
(1)
Chukki S.
Great view of London Bridge, but unfortuneately, it's on the wrong side. There is a parking lot in between which sort of kills the view a little bit. Still, it's a visible. The service here was good when I came. The food was decent too. I had a lunch special and it was a good deal ($5.99 for a big taco, rice and beans) plus chips and salsa. The inside of the place looks really nice too, much classier and upscale than the name implies. I do like the logo and name though, and even considered buying a T-shirt.
(4)
Bill S.
Way too expensive for generic mexican food. I had a Chimi that reminded me of something you might buy at Costco. Tasted like it was heated up in a microwave. Salsa also tasted like it came out of a bottle. We have been to the Cantina in Sedona, and the food there was completely different. There are other Mexican Retaurants in Havasu that far outshine this place.
(2)
Shaina S.
A really good authentic-tasting Mexican restaurant, even though it's part of the Shugrue's chain. The menu is pretty extensive There are big yummy margaritas and the misters Dominic mentioned outside to keep you cool, even when it's 114 degrees out. My family has been to most of the restaurants around these parts, and I'm pretty sure this one's a keeper.
(4)
Jared L.
Cool restaurant with good food. Great location and even better margaritas! Worth a test run if your a first timer.
(4)
Debbie M.
The chips are hot & the margaritas are cold...the food is good and the view is great!!! We are usually at least a pary of 10 when we go here, so sometimes the service perfect & sometimes it just ok. Please note in my party of ten or more we are typically 6 kids & four adults....the last two times we were 4 kids, 6 adults & 5 teenagers- would you want to be our waitress? The service was good, especially considering the customers & everyone got their food as ordered and hot. Nothing was forgotten & the drinks were continually refilled as were the chips & salsa. It is tasty food but definatly designed to appeal to a broad clientle not to Mexican food purest. I love this place & my family always asks to go back and the staff always tells me they are happy to see us so it's a great relationship!
(4)
Dominic L.
Lisa's Taco plate is my favorite - I get the hard shell shredded beef tacos. Half of the appeal of the place for me is sitting on the patio with the water misters blowing down on hot days - just enjoying being outside. I don't drink much - but usually have to order a Pacifico to go with the chips and salsa and enjoy the view of the London Bridge. Great location, friendly staff - consistent food.
(4)
John S.
Our second visit to Sedona, and our second dinner here. We think the food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. Service was a little slow, but the place was full and bustling. It is a fun atmosphere. We took home 1/2 of our dinners, so it was almost like getting 2 for 1 dinners. I thought the margaritas were priced about right. We will return on our next visit to Sedona.
(4)
patricia m.
My husband and I had an outstanding dinner at Cantina. We went there cause we read about it in the Valuecard book that we picked up at the Visitor's Center.... full of good info and discount coupons. The "Early Bird Menu" for $9.99 between 4:30 & 6 PM sounded good to us. We figured that at that price it would be a pretty "skimpy" menu but were we WRONG! You have to ask for the special menu but this have a good selection. I had the Tortilla Soup which was the best I've had... loaded w/chicken, great broth, cabbage & crisp tortilla strips. My entre was a good size chicken enchilada w/green sauce, whole black beans & rice. It doesn't sound like much but it was more than enough... I actually couldn't finish it all. It also included a dessert... I had the Apple Chimni(?) which was a scoop of vanilla ice cream w/whipped cream with four pieces of a fried rolled tortilla filled w/apples then w/sugar & cinnamon on top. My husband had the soup, a chicken buritto.... that was good size & fried ice cream for dessert. I also had a margarita (reg sz) and my husband had two beers. The total bill was about $40.00. Pretty resonable in my book. The server was very friendly and helpful. We were so pleased with our dinner & service I left her a $10 tip. She deserved it! The outdoor patio look great but it was a little cool so we stayed inside. The next time we are in the area we will definitely go there again... plus mention it to friend. Tonight we are going to try "Barley Bros".... we'll post a review there tomorrow!
(5)
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Address :1420 N McCulloch Blvd
Lake Havasu City, AZ, 86403
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Andy O.
I thought this place was actually quite good. Super friendly staff, delicious margaritas, generous portions to make you nice and fat. I was expecting it to totally suck ass, because "the first spot by your hotel" is almost always a terrible choice. Glad to find that it didn't. The ONE thing I wasn't happy about: the seven-layer dip (was it six? I don't know) was mostly just beans. Lots and lots of beans. With a fairly thin layer of "the other stuff". Great if you love refried beans and excellent farts. Not so great if you love other stuff.
(4)El Jeffy S.
Food was fantastic!!!!! Service was fast and polite. $1 taco's on Wednesday and they fill you up. Highly recommend
(5)Audra R.
Only thing you need to know about Javelinas: FAJITAS. You're welcome!
(4)Nienke S.
We came here because the restaurant on the other side of the road was crap. Very friendly staff, good service in this restaurant! We ordered a steak and grilled salmon. The steak was cooked perfectly, the salmon was a bit to dry. It came with shrimps, rice, vegetables and beans. The taste was okay, but not great.
(3)Marti L.
It has been a while since coming here! Too long! Staff is excellent! Cody was our server, and a great server his is! Dinner...well we love it! Mike ordered a beef taco and a pork tamale. I ordered my old standby, chili relliano and a beef taco. Mike said the pork actually tasted like pork should! My rellano was so big and delicious, I had to bring half of it home! The margaritas we're tasty! A not to be missed experience.
(4)Dylan V.
Typical party town kind of place. Pricey diluted drinks. Canned/frozen food advertised as "homemade" I would say the chips and salsa were the highlight of my dining experience. I don't think I will be back.
(2)Laura M.
Best chili rellanos in the world!! It's sad because nothing can compare! Not even close!
(5)Margie F.
This place is nicely located at london bridge...patio has great views...The server was very nice and attentive, however if you are looking for good Mexican food this place doesnt come close to being good or authentic. Was very disappointed.....
(2)John C.
Nice view and great food. Awesome server Brandy!
(5)Lisa G.
Great tie dye margarita! Great fajitas! Great nachos! Great service! Definitely recommend after hanging on the beach!
(4)B J.
The service was fairly quick for a Friday night and the chips and salsa were good. I ordered the chicken fajitas which were very different from normal fajitas - they were in a soy sauce glaze and had an Asian feel. Either way, they were still pretty tasty. On the other hand, the rice and beans were really bland and lacked flavor. For dessert I got the xango - let me tell you - the was delicious! Overall a decent meal and lots of food, but the view outside on the lake was what made it even better. Also, it was our server's first night of training. I can't recall her name, but she did excellent all while attending to a very large group over at the next table!
(3)Rayna J.
If you're looking for a view, this place is the spot. You can see the London bridge and a lil hotel/bar "the Heat". You can see the channel which is beautiful at night and across the way is Kokomos, a place I like to go out to! :) We ordered the sampler platter and it was pretty blah. Came with cheese dip, flautas, jalapeno poppers & a quesadilla. I would have thought it would come with maybe sour cream or guacamole or some lettuce under the cheese cup. Something to give it color and not just look like a pile of fried food. Definitely plating wasn't their expertise. I ordered a Totopos salad. It was amazing! My girl friend ordered the Taco salad and her's was the same. We asked the waitress if she accidentally ordered the wrong one, she said no they are both taco salads. OK whatever, there was a difference but no big deal. LOL Everyone else was very impressed with their food, the enchiladas, tacos, flautas and burritos. Wait time was only 20 minutes for a party of 5. I think I would go back just because I liked the vibe and the food was good for the most part!
(3)Jessica E.
I've been coming here for years, since they first opened. I am so picky with Mexican food and this place is AMAZING!! You don't leave feeling like you ate a ton of lard like many Mexican restaurants. Our server tonight was Ruben and he was awesome! Everything he suggested was incredible. Definitely a must when you come to Lake Havasu. BEST food, AMAZING ambiance, and EXCELLENT service. Great for kids too!! The booth seats are really high so my crazy toddler can't awkwardly stare at the patrons in the next booth. . Not shy on the tequila in the margaritas either. Love this place!! You wont be disappointed!!
(5)Cat D.
SuPeR yUmMy Mexican Food! We were offered a green salsa they had, OMG!, I think it might have been the best tasting salsa I've ever had!! You will get a LOT of food for a reasonable price! The staff is really friendly too!! Thanks for a delicious meal with a beautiful view!!
(5)Brandy N.
Javelina Catina food was pretty good. I ordered the enchilada plate. Chip and both red and green salsa. Both where pretty good. I find it hard to find good place to eat in havasue. Service was very good when I went also.
(4)Katya B.
Went for the spicy prickly pear margaritas ~ i did ask if they could make it with mango instead which they did and it was ok but not the best i've ever had.. the picture showed pieces of jalapeños but what they bring is premix. We only ordered salad and appetizers so can't really comment too much on the food but what we had was nothing impressive that would have me running back..sorry
(2)Dale V.
I have been here two times and both were amazing. The staff as extremely curious and they really want to make sure your visit is pleasant. Both times I came they had their 1/2 price fajitas. These are the best fajitas I have ever had. They have large checks of meat, shrimp, peppers and onions. Some folks may complain about that, but I'd rather be able to cut them to my own size than deal with finely cut veggies that turn too soggy. I will definitely recommend this place and the next time I am in Havasu I will be back!
(5)Carla E.
I have checked in here so often I have earned "The Dutchess of the Javalina Cantina" on Yelp :-) The food here is always consistent, the service is very very good and the cocktails are wonderful. This last check-in, we opted for a seat in the air-conditioned bar as we had been out and about all day.. we were hot, tired and hungry. It was early, around 4 and so were seated immediately. Our chips and salsa and glasses of water came right away. Our server this time was Stephanie and she did an amazing job. I ordered the Taco Salad with shredded beef and it was very good, my husband had one of the combo meals. Javalina is his absolute favorite place to dine in Havasu and so I am very happy to have been able to get there this trip as we are snowbirds and this time our trip was limited to just two weeks. I am not sure how these people do it! The place is always packed after 5 and the servers must burn thousands of calories running to make sure the patrons have a memorable experience. They are always smiling and happy and that is one of the main reasons we will continue to patronize the Javalina. Check Yelp or their website for daily specials as there is always something going on. Thanks to manager Danny, server Stephanie and everyone else behind the scenes. For a true taste of Havasu, you need to dine here :-)
(4)Cliff C.
Nice view of the London Bridge if you are seated outside. The waiter we had was very nice and knowledgable. I believe his name was Ryan. The hostess up front however was not friendly. No smiles. It felt like she was a robot. They had pretty big servings. Good to share. It just fell a little short on the tasty side. I tried everyone's food and none really blew me away. I'm so used to the Mexican food being rich in flavor. It was more bland to me. Although we did have an overall good experience.
(3)Nakia H.
Great way to end the trip! David took such good care of our group. We stopped here for lunch on our way out, mainly just out of convenience but the service was a definite plus and much appreciated! Food was pretty good and prices were well above reasonable for the quantity and location. Looking forward to trying some of the fancy cocktails we saw being delivered...giving my liver a break for all its hard work this weekend ;) Stopping by will be our new tradition!
(5)Katie R.
My parents and I had dinner here on a quiet Tuesday night in December. Tuesday is apparently tequila Tuesday so all tequila drinks are half off which was a fun bonus for us. My parents both had blended margaritas which were good.Just a note that the fruit flavor seemed to come from a concentrate/syrup. I had the green carnitas and the pork was very tender! The pork pieces were almost falling apart and I didn't need a knife. I would definitely recommend that dish. My parents had standard combinations that seemed pretty good as well. The large outdoor seating area seemed very spacious and had lots of heaters, but we chose to sit inside and we still had a good view of the water.
(4)Kristin H.
Food is good- a little higher priced plates than most mexican restaurants in Lake Havasu but the quality is there. The margaritas are great -the "Grande" isn't really worth the price. Stick to the normal size unless they have a two for one special. It's definetly a place to check out!!!
(4)Arrie Z.
We have eaten at Javalina Cantina at least a half a dozen times in the past and it has always been great! I am not much for reviews, as you can, tell but when someone continually exceeds my expectations they deserve the recognition. The view of the London Bridge from their upper deck patio is unbelievable (especially at sunset). And the food is ALWAYS very good. But the service is way beyond what you would expect from a Mexican food restaurant. They're always kind and friendly and make you feel like you are a regular, even if its the first time they've met you. Absolutely love the view and have become addicted to the food but it is the above and beyond service that keeps us coming back!
(5)Chad G.
Located right on the water. Very nice setting. Get the spicy salsa has a nice bite to it. Both me and my wife enjoyed our food. I went with the fish tacos. And she had a super burrito. Now for the bad. Service is slow. Don't be in a hurry. Took forever to get the salsa refilled had to ask twice. Took forever to get the check also. But since we went to a place next door and the service was the same there, maybe that is just the norm in Havasu.
(4)Barbara S.
We always go there to eat at least once while in Havasu. We love their Casa Salad with Lime Cilantro dressing such a great assortment of veggies and delicious dressing. Like their green tamales and husband likes their enchiladas and tacos. Really good food and great service.
(5)Jamie S.
The waitress Sandy is a complete b**** to her fellow workers. I cannot believe how she treated and talked to her fellow employees in front of customers. It was embarrassing to the employees and made us as customers feel every awkward. She obviously hates her job and she wasn't even our waitress!!!!!!
(1)Luke W.
Javelina is one of my favorite spots to eat at while in Havasu. Great location on the island, above the channel. The fajitas are the some of the best I've ever had. The margaritas are delicious and chips and salsa keep you full till the meal arrives. Also the manager, Danny is a great guy and takes care of us everytime. If in havasu, it's a must do!
(5)Julie H.
Large portions, good service and yummy food. We have eaten at this restaurant three or four times. The food is consistently good. Our servers have always been friendly and we never find ourselves waiting around for our meal. The lobster tacos are amazing.
(4)Tatud A.
I've given this place a few tries, at least 3 or 4....... ALWAYS disappointed. The food just doesn't have it. Totally lacks flavor. And, it's pricey. The patio and the patio view are nice. The service is pretty normal. Except for $1 tacos on Wednesday I wouldn't recommend this restaurant.
(2)Paul M.
We had lunch here as part of the London Bridge Jet Boat Tour. Shared the chicken fajitas with shrimp added. Way more than enough food for two. Hot came hot and was delicious. Service was excellent.
(5)Tiffany S.
So here's the thing about Mexican restaurants....they need to have good chips guacamole & salsa, and bomb margaritas! The rest honestly any minimum wage cook can make and people will be happy, but if those two things aren't good then they shouldn't be considered a Mexican restaurant! My point would be that JC is missing the boat big time on both fronts! The guacamole was plain bland and lacked anything spicy/salty/tasty!! I had to ask for cilantro, then add hot sauce salt and pepper to make it worthy of eating...so sad!! Then the margaritas....well let's just say don't get your hopes up here either! We ordered two: one Cadillac and one Havarita! Both lacked booze, flavor, and oh yeah BOOZE!! If I am going to pay $16 for a drink I want a little kick in the pants...and they both had nothing! Sorry so say!! I ordered the salmon and shrimp and the sides were good and the shrimp was good but the salmon was cooked about 15 minutes too long....which is a risk you take when ordering seafood, but if it's going to be on your menu then train your staff to cook it properly! All and all I really do love this place and it pains me to write this review but I have to be honest! It was not a good experience! JC needs to take a hard look at the presentation of the food and drinks and put some effort in to keeping the quality up! I was sadly let down :(
(2)Mickey J.
We went there for the lobster tacos. The first order was raw, even the fried ones. They took them back to refire and they came back way under cooked. We finally changed to steak fajitas and they were good. Also the tortilla soup was excellent and our waiter was so nice and patient with us. He felt really bad. We will give them another try this week.
(2)Barb B.
Bar review only! We've been in here a few times and our servers have been LESS then friendly. We greet and smile, thank our servers and be nice. This bunch barely responds. Drinks are standard pour. Nothing spectacular. I'm not going to whine and complain..... We just won't be going back.
(2)Walter R.
Great food & service. Very large portions. Awesome Mazerati margarita...very good & smooth & not sweet. Good prices too. Nice atmosphere. View of Londin bridge.
(4)Bernie K.
Food was awesome,. No patio next time,. too windy, birds and flies. Sit close to the Bridge side otherwise you will not have a view of it, you will just see the backside of Heat bar .
(4)Tami C.
Everything here is so great! $1 taco Wednesday's are the best but bring your patience! Manager Danny is amazing and always treats us like family. Fajita Monday's are such a great deal!
(5)Andrea E.
Food is always yummy and service fast & friendly. We have 4 kids and finding a place that all of us love is tricky..this is the place! Beautiful view of the Colorado river, excellent food (especially the lobster tacos and shrimp fajitas), great daily specials (we can feed our family of 6 under $20 on taco Wednesday). The servers/staff are always welcoming & accommodating whether we are here with just the 6 Of us or a large group. The tie dye margarita is a must have!
(5)Jen C.
The best shrimp ceviche i have ever had!! I also had a shrimp taco, which was awesome, and a carne asada taco, which was just okay.
(5)Mike S.
Stopped for taco weds, and left without being served. Ground beef tacos, big deal. It's a hassle to find a place to dock the boat and 30 min wait time is not for me. I'd rather order a pizza from papa Leones and have it brought to the boat . As with most places here, taco specials are only good if your homeless and can't buy a good asada taco. The bottom line, you will not get a good taco , at a special cheap price . Don't be a sucker , go out and pay for food on a non specials day .you will only be disappointed and pissed when the food shows up, and it's garbage , this seems to be the way it always is. Thanks
(2)Alexa D.
Great view of the lake, average food. The chips were very oily, but somewhat satisfying. Lots of birds! The fajitas were AMAZING and came with lots of sides. The nachos were average. It all tasted pretty artificial, nothing was fresh.
(3)Caryn S.
We made reservations and got a table quickly even when they were busy. The $8 fruity margarita came on the rocks; the waiter took it back to be blended. Sadly, it had little flavor and, I'm pretty sure, no liquor. Husband said his chicken burrito could have been a little spicier and that's the most complaining I've ever heard from him. The vegetarian option was a good combination: chili relleno, tostado, and enchilada -- who needs rice and beans? We enjoyed patio dining and good service but the food was nothing special.
(3)Cathleen F.
I've been a big fan since they opened, while visiting Lake Havasu its on my radar! #1 Tip... TIE DYE Margarita! , i always crave it! Its a blend of all the different margaritas combined (exotic flavors) We sat on patio, beautiful, ordered the fajitas and they are so flavorful, my only complaint is they only give you 3 tortilla's at a time, and if you sharing which I suggest that not gonna cut it! lol Cheers
(4)Brittany R.
Good service and the best margarita ever!!! You have to try the tie dye margarita!! Great chips and salsa.
(5)Sarah F.
The food was good, but.. the service.. needs a bit of work. I don't ask much in a waiter but i certainly would rather not have an attitude and a side of I don't care where your food is. Or about your table. Two times in a row. Take out for me please. Again, good food, nice atmosphere, but hopefully when you go youll get better service.
(3)Shan V.
Amazing salsa. Service by Sarah was awesome and she was very helpful with everything.
(5)Amanda G.
Giving 4 stars because of the the incredible costumer service. The food isn't bad at all it just wasn't great in my opinion, It was good...the salsa and chips however were freaking awesome which I think need to be at a Mexican restaurant. Prices were good. The view from the balcony was awesome. Its a great spot to eat at if you are ever by lake Havasu and want to Mexican food.
(4)D D.
Good place to eat out on the patio. The food like most Mexican food is pretty good taco, enchiladas, chips salsa ect. They have a pretty cool little bar area with lots of tequila.
(4)R R.
So I've been meaning to write a review about this place for a long time. Me and my girlfriend did the jet boat tour from Laughlin and this place was recommended. It claimed to have the best margaritas, great food blah blah blah. Well I can contest that neither is true. The food is bad cafeteria food which is an insult to cafeteria food. The beans were burnt the rice hard the carnitas I got well jerky is the beat way to describe it. My girl got carne asada tacos and it was just as bad. Now the super great margaritas...if youve never attempted to make a margarita or don't even know what a Margarita is for that matter. Your margarita would be better in your first attempt at making one. Bland boring and just crap. I would also like to point out that when we went it wasn't even busy so for the food and drinks to be crappy should tell you all you need to know. If your in the mood for "mexican" food I think there was a del taco near by. And its a hell of a lot cheaper. Find somewhere else to eat.
(1)Kimberly M.
The waiter was nice, the service was fast, and the salsa was good, so I gave this place two stars...If this review was based solely on the food I would give 1 star. My husband ordered their special, which was a rib eye steak, and the steak was terrible, and the Mexican rice was terrible. I ordered the garden vegetable fajita, and the veggies were so covered in soy sauce and worcestshire sauce and whatever else that you couldn't even taste that they were vegetables. My daughter ordered a green chili tamale and it was super dry. Even the chicken fingers from the kids meal were absolutely awful! I would not recommend this restaurant for food. Might be good to sit on the patio and have a drink in the summer but I'd eat elsewhere.
(2)Abby L.
Ok I'm cranky with all the cranky reviews on here. HAVE YOU TRIED 1/2 $ Tequila Tues?? That's where its at! We love the Blue Bomber in the rocks, and for the regular frozen Margaritas, get the Prickly Pear, Kiwi, or TieDye! SO YUM!!! Love the Nachos or the sampler appetizer. (Get the prickly pear sauce with the sampler.)
(5)Cat P.
I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. As soon as we walked in, we could tell that the atmosphere was very college-y and we were kind of worried. We had no interest in doing body shots or beer bongs, so yeah...I was really questioning what the food would be like here. Our dishes were actually pretty good, though; I opted to get a ground beef taco platter with a side of Mexican rice and guac, which I enjoyed. Our drinks took a little long to get unfortunately, even though it was just a margarita and a draft beer. The staff here seemed very overwhelmed for only a Thursday night. Hopefully they hire more people (read: bartenders) or figure out a better system!
(3)Marie A.
Really good service and view. The food came out really quick and was good too. The shrimp cocktail was more like a shrimp marinade but tasted great and the combination plates are huge. Now we have awesome leftovers for later!
(4)Cody S.
I have such mixed emotions about this place and my review is pretty basic. The good: The food was great. I had a burrito with shrimp in it and it was delicious! Do I want to go back because of the food, yes. The bad: I encountered 1 friendly person (a male bartender, who was genuinely a great person) the whole time I was there. We were quoted a 15 - 20 minute wait time. No problem. When 20 minutes came up my boyfriend went to ask about the status and the host snapped saying "I told you 15 to 20 minutes, its only been 15." -which it most certainly had not been. I felt it was so unprofessional of how she handled a simple question. We were not demanding, or in a hurry, just asking about how much longer it would be. When we were finally sat, it appeared our server was inconvenienced by us and gave us attitude. They were busy, yes, but not slammed. I think he realized how he had talked to us because he did a 180 and was overly nice, to the point it seemed forced and fake, but I'll acknowledge the effort. When we had a request it was ALWAY answered with "I'll be back in a minute." When we finished, I swear to you he did not say thank you. He walked by so fast with the bill that when he put it down it slid half way across the table. No joke. That happened not only when he brought the bill but when he brought it back when we paid. I actually laughed because I had never seen that happen before. It pains me to say that I don't think I will be back and will not be recommending it to anyone because the food was so good, but the service was so terrible. We don't expect much when we go out to eat, but a smile and a thank you is definitely a requirement - something this place lacks.
(2)Mike B.
Ate here during the Jet Ski World Finals almost every night for a week. Food was good the service was top notch. Thank you Kelly and Rachel for being such awesome people we thoroughly enjoyed having you serve us. Can't waiti to be back next year, hopefully we get the same great service.
(5)KL A.
Good service and they let our dog into the outside seating area (even brought him his own water bowl!). View of the London Bridge was nice also. The food, however, was just average (we had enchiladas and a Caesar salad). Really enjoyed the pomegranate margarita on 1/2 price tequila Tuesday!
(4)Mercedes L.
The food was great, the drinks were great, but the service was excellent! If you're in the area, definitely make a stop here.
(5)Kimberly S.
Love this place. Eat there for lunch all the time. Janine is the best waitress in town. Great tacos and the green corn tamale is the best
(5)Pam F.
The food isn't as good as I'd hoped. The salsa caters to a milder crowd and their fajitas ($17) come back burned beyond recognition, and they have like a black goopey film that they lay on. Burned PAM spray maybe? The guacamole bacon burger ($13) leaves much to be desired. They don't put a giant toothpick in it, so it gets all over the place and the bun falls apart after the first bite. The fries were extra toasty though. Drinks run about $9-$18. The service is nice and friendly when you can get it. For the price, I expected better food.
(2)Nicole B.
I used to love you Javelina Cantina but then I experienced real Mexican food. Sure, I've been here plenty of times with my parents, friends, and my husband. But each time the experience steadily went downhill. My favorite meal - whether lunch or dinner - was the chicken chalupa with red sauce (no lettuce or tomatoes on top). I have tried other items - the quesadilla, fish tacos, fried ice cream, etc. but hands down I loved that dish. However, when I stopped by for dinner recently it just wasn't the same. Maybe my taste buds had changed or maybe the sauce changed - who knows. Even my husband, who used to like Javelina, thought the meal was just mediocre. The inside is nice - I like the high-back booths. The patio is pretty decent too. I love looking out at the lake, but sitting outside we got drenched by the misters. Even our food was becoming water logged. Something is just off...
(3)Kile D.
Seriously, their salsa is the BEST I have ever had. I make sure to get some every time I am in town! Havent been able to be there on Wednesday nights for their dollar tacos, but man, Javalina would be my dinner every Wednesday night! Bomb.com ! Javalina come to San Diego!!!
(5)Bren H.
I had chicken enchiladas w/ green sauce. They were delicious. Not quite enchiladas suisas. The rice and beans were good.The chips were OK, salsa was nice. Not too hot or mild. We sat outside w/ a little view of the bridge and the channel. Service was friendly and we got our food in a timely manner. Drink refills were plentiful. Granted, business was slow.
(5)Mark H.
The good: Nice outdoor patio, waitress was great. Tasty Prickly Pear Jalapeno margaritas. The bad: tortilla chips not so good. Boring salsa and boring guac dip. That's all the food we had since we were there for the ritas. Probably will try elsewhere next time we are in town. Been to the one in Sedona, which seemed better. I think the food is hit and miss.
(2)Shannon N.
I haven't sampled too much on the menu. My lobster tacos were pretty good. But the service was quick and friendly, the view of the channel is great and the margaritas are to die for. I usually drink classic margaritas on the rocks, but their mango margarita is on point!! All in all, a great spot for your havasu weekend!! Keep it up!
(4)natalie s.
Our server Kelly was awesome! She had us laughing every time she came to the table and was super sweet and friendly. Definitely will come back and will ask to sit in her area. She gave us great suggestions on food too. Definitely try the grilled lobster tacos and the large bean/queso dip. Delicious food. Thanks Kelly!
(5)Cassidy C.
Great place. Super busy but service was still great. Gorgeous margaritas and yummy fish tacos. Definitely sit inside, the misters are kind of intense. Loved it overall!
(4)Wendy S.
Our family of 5 enjoyed a great lunch on the patio. Our server Ryan was awesome, cheerful and quick. Chips and salsa we great - my 5-year old even remarked on how good the salsa was. When your picky 8 and 10-years olds say how good their (NOT kid's menu) food is, you take notice. Loved my chicken taco salad was great! Hubby says his chili colorado burrito was 'alright'. I would definitely return next time we're in Havasu.
(4)Nikki J.
Great staff and service and awesome view of the London Bridge and river. The food is so good, I've yet to have anything that I disliked. We try to stop by every time we go to the river, its our go to spot to eat.
(5)Paul F.
Two words: dollar tacos. You figure out when.
(4)Robin C.
Great food, great service. Kelly was our waitress and she gave us great service and joined in our fun. Love this place. Because of her we will be back.
(5)Monique T.
My family visited this restaurant during our vacation and we were pleasantly surprised! The service was great with enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. The food was amazing. I had the enchilada's and they are on par with some of my favorites. We also had a unique and tasty dessert (the sopapilla is a must try!) We will definitely come here again when we are in the area!
(5)NevadaBackroad S.
Rating for bar only. Great drinks, service and lots of friendly patrons. As far as the food, I prefer other restaurants. The first few times, since it was busy, got stuck in the funky rear parking lot with odd entrance. Still got me my margaritas on time!
(4)L. C.
If I never come here again my life will be complete! The hostess was miserable! The server got the order wrong and argued that the order was right. He tried to make us feel like we were wrong. The only thing that saved this place was the manager, Danny. He was nice and accommodating. This place needs help with food and service. It's sad because the view is beautiful.
(1)A P.
Been here twice. Carne asada was very good. We both had the fajitas today, and I'm pretty sure they were made with some sweet sauce like teriyaki. They're not my style but the veggies refresh.
(3)Eliran M.
Decent food waiters and hosts are rude and disrespectful. Just a bunch of kids running the show here. Found spit in my meal, unbelievable wait even with Atleast 10 open tables, terrible service, and terrible staff. Overall don't come here as these are kids and kill act and treat you that way.
(1)Nawal A.
I eat here periodically and always get a delicious meal. Love the food here and great staff. Thank you!
(5)Robert G.
We were invited to Wednesday Taco Night by our neighbors, we arrived a bit early and headed for the bar area to enjoy some of their Happy Hour treats, they have a good combination of drinks and food specials, we had a good house margarita and house white wine, we ordered a shrimp cocktail and jalapeño popers, at $7.99 each they were delicious and huge, the shrimp cocktail, reminded me of the ones we use to have all over Baja California, loaded with shrimp, the poppers, i have to say, the best I had in town. We were seated for dinner promptly at our reservation time and were join by our friends at the table, our waitress Stephanie was friendly, helpful, and very professional, she quickly too our drinks and food orders and was very attentive to our needs during the whole time we were there, even though the place was placed with diners. The $1 tacos were excellent, we had a combination of shredded beef, shredded chicken, and ground beef tacos, all of them flash fried with flout tortillas, resembling more of a flauta/taco combo, all were delicious with a perfect combination of flavors from the well seasoned meat, cabbage, pico, and cheese. The manager, Danny, stopped by to say hello, and see if we needed anything, he was very friendly and made us feell very welcomed. We all left very satisfied with the drinks, food, and service and will definitely return!
(5)Joshua M.
Don't go there for drinks, the bar sucks! No service was given to us, that were standing there for 10 minutes. After complaining to the male manager, nothing happened. We went there in a great mood and left feeling upset. Where is the customer service? And, their food didn't look like it was worth a 35 minute wait. Don't bother with this place. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)Dee S.
The food, price, and service here are pretty good. Get the chicken fajitas!
(3)Skoops C.
We spend most our summers in Lake Havasu and Javelina's is a must visit for us. I love their ceviche which they now call shrimp cocktail. TONS of fresh tasting shrimp! I add a touch of spicey sauce as it's too mild for my taste but it is always fresh and full of flavor. Their salsa is also good. I would give them 5 stars but I believe their margarita prices are just too high and there's no excuse like view... you can hardly see anything! There's trees to the right blocking the Channel, you can see the bridge but hey its a bridge! After you've seen it once big deal. The Heat hotel and its new bar outside blocks the water view. I used to always order a Tie Dye Margarita the BEST marg I've ever had hands down however at those prices... and I'll admit calories, I now have 2 reasons to not order anymore. I still recommend them to others! You must try one if you like all the flavors margs come in and can't decide which one, then the Tie Dye has you covered! Staff is always friendly, food no matter how busy they are comes out quickly which after being in the sun all day and your starving this is 5 star service! When I want Mex food with a low key atmosphere and better prices I head to Casa Serrano but their service is not very good and the waitresses are very slow so its one of those predicaments which to choose. Dress up and cooler people... Javelina, dress down, exhausted but not starving, Casa Serrano.
(4)Courtney M.
Javalina cantina is the my favorite spot for margaritas and Mexican food in Lake Havasu. The tie die margarita is to die for! Love how they make it! Also I love the fajitas and enchiladas. The patio is definitely the best place to sit, eat, drink and enjoy the views.
(4)Ashley M.
The salsa was delish! The views were lovely on the back deck, great location right on the channel by the London Bridge. We closed in the evening enjoying the breeze and sipping a margarita. The food was also good, a little pricey and not great quality. The music out back was awful! Made us giggle all night long!
(5)Jen S.
Although not a chain restaurant per se, this restaurant is just one of several local restaurants owned by one family. All the restaurants have daily happy hour specials. So for tonight, I came here for the $1 tacos. Having had the $1 tacos at another Shugrue-owned restaurant, Mad Dog's, I was expecting something similar, but strangely enough they weren't as good. There are only three choices of tacos here: ground beef, shredded pork, shredded chicken, either hard or soft. The ground beef was definitely forgettable, while the other two were just okay. My order took a little longer than I expected, but in fairness, the restaurant was pretty busy with spring breakers. Service was below average, the bartender who took my order never specified hard or soft shell, he just entered whatever he thought I would want. The waitress at the bar seemed more preoccupied with getting off work. Overall, this location is more suited for people viewing , especially during daylight hours, than their happy hour specials.
(2)Alan F.
$1 taco day rocks, usually friendly and fast wait staff. Can be a bit noisy but great food and atmosphere!
(4)Cassie S.
We had such a great experience. The service was awesome and the food was very good. We quite enjoyed the jalapeño poppers with jelly! And sitting outside by the water and bridge was quite nice.
(5)Karen L.
We came here on Cinco De Mayo hoping to celebrate with some Mexican and Margaritas. When we sat on the open patio and relaxed with the awesome view, we had high hopes, which were unfortunately quickly dashed. First of all, no one saw us for at least 20 minutes, even to take drink orders. We finally asked the busboy to grab someone and we saw him tell the hostess who then told the waitress . . . basically no one remembered we were there. Then the cute little waitress came over but didn't offer any apologies for the wait. The food was substandard Mexican food and the margaritas weren't that good either. Also, I think it is owned by the same people that own several other nearby restaurants so you know it's not authentic. Meh, ok if you need some sort of Mexican fix but don't expect greatness.
(2)Duncan J.
Had the Rocky Point fish tacos. Really good! Wait staff was very friendly.
(4)Kathy S.
Great food! Great service,
(5)Denise D.
Love this place. Always great food and service and can't have a better view then from the patio. Would totally recommend to everyone visiting and living in Lake Havasu..
(5)Anjali S.
Huge portions. I mean HUGE! We had (fried) fish tacos (good), steak fajitas (good), sides of veggies and chillie dusted fries (both great), bean burrito (ok), chicken chillie relleno (way way too much cheese), and a very salty veggie platter. The salsa was super fresh and yummy. Be warned their habanero salsa is five alarm hot-you'll feel it the next day!
(3)Marti L.
Date Night! JR was our server, and what a terrific guy! He reads his customers well, and goes with their mood! Great guy delivered a great experience ! Food was as expected and did not disappoint! By husband had the Super Burrito and said it was great, I tried something different..the Lobster Tacos...yum! A terrific meal! Thanks for being a very dependable establishment!
(4)Iohn W.
Wife and I took the family for some Mexican food. Local family wanted to try the food. It was good a fairly good experience. Staff was pleasant, drinks were cold and plentiful, Kelly our server was attentive and accommodating. Food was served warm and it was tasteful. Overall the experience was enjoyable and I know we would return.
(4)Tim W.
Nice outdoor patio and view. Over hyped restaurant with overpriced drinks, average food and average service. I was up-sold on the larger margarita too and was shocked to see the $19 price when I got the bill. The 'larger' margarita is in a beer schooner. Sure doesn't seem like a $19 drink. One thing Havasu does NOT lack is Mexican restaurants. Skip the Shugrue's chain and eat at one of the better, cheaper places in town!
(2)Rob W.
Here you are paying for the spectacular view. I'm really paying. I let the waitress up sell me (i didn't ask how much? dumb!) to a "large" premium margarita. It was $19.00 when I got the bill and it wasn't THAT large! I'm sure just ordering two regular ones would have been a better deal. The food was good and the service was just OK. You can get better Mexican food in Havasu for less $, easy. Of course the restaurant here makes it on location alone but for me that's not enough. This place is part of the Shugrue's Restaurant Empire and I really feel like they can do better across the board.
(2)Cindy L.
It was pretty crowded here, even for a weekday. We hung out at the bar first and ordered the tie-dyed margarita and the house margarita. Drinks were decent. The tie-dyed margarita was pretty, but I didn't think the taste was amazing or anything. My friends enjoyed it though. The $1 taco special was okay. It was decent but not incredible. Service was friendly, but a little difficult to get ahold of.
(3)Trevor B.
I was visiting Lake Havasu for the first time. I assumed that since its known as a Spring Break spot that the restaurants would be open until at least 10pm. I was wrong! Fortunately, Javelina Cantina was still serving. The bonus? It was dollar taco night! So, I ordered up 3 chicken soft tacos and a Corona (also on special) and my night was saved. For dollar tacos - they were excellent. Large and well stuffed with chicken plus lettuce, tomato - gringo style. Not much more to say because they were closing as I finished up my grub.
(3)Heather Y.
this place has really good food but the restaurant is really dirty and the service is horrible.
(2)Ken M.
Prior to writing this review, I have dined at this restaurant over the past 2 years, approximately 10 times. Each time my party and I received great service. The food comes out looking and tasting great. It is located in a perfect spot. For dinner, we walk from the Hampton Inn and during the day we beach the SeaDoos and walk up. cannot say enough great things about this place. Hope they keep it up. :)
(5)Le L.
Amazing margaritas!!!! Best margaritas I have ever had! Great restaurant staff:)
(5)Danielle D.
Good margaritas, good food, great service. Awesome salsa, super friendly owner/ staff
(4)Steve D.
Good food. We visited on the off season (November). The city was quite and so was the restaurant. The food was good, the drinks were better! We ate outside but had to fight off the birds.
(3)Christina D.
Just had the tie dyed margarita! F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!!! The bar tender had a great sense of humor and the atmosphere was fun, will be back.
(5)Brian B.
Great Magaritas, Decent Food. The margarita selection is very good, catering to both the fruity drink crowd and somebody looking for something hand shaken with a decent quality tequila in it. In my group we had more than a few of both and people were not dissapointed. It was very refreshing to have a frozen one outside when it was 114 out there. The food is decent, its not authentic, but it does cater to the Tex-Mex style of taste and it was prepared and the quality of ingredients was good. The salsa was not spicy but was very fresh tasting. Service was very response and the wait staff very friendly. The place makes a better bar than a restraunt, but its good for getting a few ritas and some decent Tex-Mex.
(3)Mark B.
We always make sure we eat at Javelina Cantina every time we visit Lake Havasu and have been eating here for over five years. We have never had a bad meal. Service is usually very friendly. Like the other post complain about be up selling to a bigger margarita, it has never happen to me and I always order a margarita. The fajitas are by far, some of the best out there. No matter if it's chicken, steak or shrimp you won't disappointed. Tacos are awesome. Chili rellano -my wife says it the best she ever has and must be true because it's the only thing she ever orders. The best view in Lake Havasu overlooking the bridge and channel. Try it once and you will be back for sure.
(5)Michael B.
Great fajitas. Went on Sunday because they advertise half off "menu" on Sundays. Only after ordering drinks and seeing the bill did we find out its only half off "entrees". Not very happy and in my book this is false advertising and they should reimburse all people they they have charged full price for drinks, desserts, etc. Maybe a class action suit might get the shugrue family to change their misleading and false advertising.
(4)Daniel C.
I too was upsold on the margarita and it was awful. Very disappointed as this was the whole reason we went there in the first place. I would say go for the fresh salsa and chips and maybe a beer, but avoid the greatly overpriced food. While the food is tasty, it's not authentic and it is expensive. Tim W. is absolutely right, there are so many really great Mexican joints in Havasu. There's no real reason to go to Javelina's.
(3)Sadie M.
We have been here many times and the food is always great for Sonoran Style. Service is always with a smile and good attitude. The guacamole is awesome and chips too. That in itself can be a meal. Great for large groups and families.
(4)Brian T.
Great location and atmosphere. however, the food and drinks are consistently bad.
(2)Ryan S.
Havasu is not known for it's culinary achievements but Javelina's is one of the better spots if you are in town. I got the carnitas and it was good. Nothing out of this world but better than I expected. The margaritas are good as well and everybody was pleased with their food. Salsa was fresh which was nice and the jalapeno poppers were a good choice to start.
(3)Kelly L.
Great fresh chips and salsa... Chips are homemade and substantial!! Had the chicken and veggie burrito - is made with teriyaki sauce and was a neat twist on the original: loved it!! Will def go here again!
(4)Kristin S.
After having pretty decent expectations about this place I am EXTREMELY saddened to say that I suggested this place for dinner. The location is nice and so is the environment. The service is pretty average seeing as every once and a while the nice waitress came by to check everything was okay. For starters, I found the chips and salsa VERY average. Nothing special that couldn't have been served straight from a La Victoria Salsa bottle, boo! We ordered the guacamole which was absolutely disgusting, of which i wanted to spit out but didn't out of courtesy. After sending that back I hoped our dinner would at the least be better. I ordered the Steak Fajita's Caliente, which definitely were no where near "caliente" by the way, and found the steak to taste as if it were two day old reheated meat. The onions, tortilla's, bell peppers, and other various veggies were delicious though. Throughout the entire time I was battling flies and attempting to eat at the same time, which I found to be an extreme nuisance! Overall, if you're looking for a place to drink and hang w/ friends that has way overpriced food, this is the place to go. I'm sure if you're just throwing back a couple drinks in the bar and enjoying their dollar taco's on certain days it might be worth the trip. Otherwise I'd definitely steer clear of this despicably called "Cantina." YUCK!
(2)Laura D.
Lake Havasu, city of rocks, cacti, old men on Harleys with braids, rocks, the London Bridge (yes, really), desert, tons of fast food places, more rocks, and Javelina Cantina. My mom and I recently returned from Lake Havasu. No no, this trip was not for pleasure, it was to take care of some unpleasant family business. My mom discovered Cantina during her last trip here, as she was with her nephew who is a vegetarian. Love the outside seating- It was only 80 degrees around 7pm, so we decided to eat outside. Upon sitting down, the staff brings homeade, thick, tortilla chips with fresh salsa. The salsa is SO FRESH- tomato and pepper based, with onions, and cucumber- my mom tasted it and her palate is professional so I go with it. She ordered the seafood cesar salad, while I ordered the grilled shrimp cesar salad. Both came in large tortilla bowls, with romaine tossed in a delicious southwest cesar dressing with plenty of sundried tomatoes (always a plus), croutons, and parmesan. And they were not stingy on the seafood- woot woot. My mom needed a drink- she doesn't drink....ever. But for this trip, a margarita was in order. She ordered their platinum margarita with top shelf tequila. Momma D doesn't mess around! They have an extensive (truly) and impressive selection of tequila....be careful! Aaaand, we went to Cantina both nights we were there because it was reliable, the service was friendly, and we were too exhausted to search the rocky desert terrain of Lake Havasu for another restaurant. If you are ever in Lake Havasu, by choice (wtf) or not by choice, eat at Cantina. Enjoy the fresh salsa while you sit outside, gazing at the London Bridge, rocks, large lake, and more rocks. Eating here gave us something to look forward to at the end of the day and I am thankful to Cantina for that.
(4)Louise J.
This was my second and last time eating here. The food is not fresh at all. The guacamole was horrible it tasted sour. I had a scallop salad, the whole thing was just wrong, the scallops smelled bad and were like rubber, the iceberg lettuce was drenched in dressing and looked like it had been sitting in it for hours. I also had a taco the meat tasted like last weeks left overs. The first time I ate here I had the fajitas YUCK!! They had at least half a cup of oil on them and another cup of sauce??? The service was ok. What a waste of a restaurant with a great location!
(1)Chukki S.
Great view of London Bridge, but unfortuneately, it's on the wrong side. There is a parking lot in between which sort of kills the view a little bit. Still, it's a visible. The service here was good when I came. The food was decent too. I had a lunch special and it was a good deal ($5.99 for a big taco, rice and beans) plus chips and salsa. The inside of the place looks really nice too, much classier and upscale than the name implies. I do like the logo and name though, and even considered buying a T-shirt.
(4)Bill S.
Way too expensive for generic mexican food. I had a Chimi that reminded me of something you might buy at Costco. Tasted like it was heated up in a microwave. Salsa also tasted like it came out of a bottle. We have been to the Cantina in Sedona, and the food there was completely different. There are other Mexican Retaurants in Havasu that far outshine this place.
(2)Shaina S.
A really good authentic-tasting Mexican restaurant, even though it's part of the Shugrue's chain. The menu is pretty extensive There are big yummy margaritas and the misters Dominic mentioned outside to keep you cool, even when it's 114 degrees out. My family has been to most of the restaurants around these parts, and I'm pretty sure this one's a keeper.
(4)Jared L.
Cool restaurant with good food. Great location and even better margaritas! Worth a test run if your a first timer.
(4)Debbie M.
The chips are hot & the margaritas are cold...the food is good and the view is great!!! We are usually at least a pary of 10 when we go here, so sometimes the service perfect & sometimes it just ok. Please note in my party of ten or more we are typically 6 kids & four adults....the last two times we were 4 kids, 6 adults & 5 teenagers- would you want to be our waitress? The service was good, especially considering the customers & everyone got their food as ordered and hot. Nothing was forgotten & the drinks were continually refilled as were the chips & salsa. It is tasty food but definatly designed to appeal to a broad clientle not to Mexican food purest. I love this place & my family always asks to go back and the staff always tells me they are happy to see us so it's a great relationship!
(4)Dominic L.
Lisa's Taco plate is my favorite - I get the hard shell shredded beef tacos. Half of the appeal of the place for me is sitting on the patio with the water misters blowing down on hot days - just enjoying being outside. I don't drink much - but usually have to order a Pacifico to go with the chips and salsa and enjoy the view of the London Bridge. Great location, friendly staff - consistent food.
(4)John S.
Our second visit to Sedona, and our second dinner here. We think the food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable. Service was a little slow, but the place was full and bustling. It is a fun atmosphere. We took home 1/2 of our dinners, so it was almost like getting 2 for 1 dinners. I thought the margaritas were priced about right. We will return on our next visit to Sedona.
(4)patricia m.
My husband and I had an outstanding dinner at Cantina. We went there cause we read about it in the Valuecard book that we picked up at the Visitor's Center.... full of good info and discount coupons. The "Early Bird Menu" for $9.99 between 4:30 & 6 PM sounded good to us. We figured that at that price it would be a pretty "skimpy" menu but were we WRONG! You have to ask for the special menu but this have a good selection. I had the Tortilla Soup which was the best I've had... loaded w/chicken, great broth, cabbage & crisp tortilla strips. My entre was a good size chicken enchilada w/green sauce, whole black beans & rice. It doesn't sound like much but it was more than enough... I actually couldn't finish it all. It also included a dessert... I had the Apple Chimni(?) which was a scoop of vanilla ice cream w/whipped cream with four pieces of a fried rolled tortilla filled w/apples then w/sugar & cinnamon on top. My husband had the soup, a chicken buritto.... that was good size & fried ice cream for dessert. I also had a margarita (reg sz) and my husband had two beers. The total bill was about $40.00. Pretty resonable in my book. The server was very friendly and helpful. We were so pleased with our dinner & service I left her a $10 tip. She deserved it! The outdoor patio look great but it was a little cool so we stayed inside. The next time we are in the area we will definitely go there again... plus mention it to friend. Tonight we are going to try "Barley Bros".... we'll post a review there tomorrow!
(5)