I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Boise recently and had a jonesin for some Mexican food. When I typed "Boise Mexican" into my smartphone and the first restaurant that came up was "Taco Time" ... fear had struck an icy dagger into my heart and my expectations were immediately aligned with reality. That being said, it's in a really cool location downtown. The decor is great and the service was really friendly as most people and places seem to be in Boise. The food didn't suck. It certainly looked and tasted like Mexican. The portions were massive and I was thankful I got something relatively healthy vs. the gut-bomb my colleagues opted for. Be sure you pay the up charge for guacamole. I found it to be the best part of the meal. That and the service, they were great. So friendly and kind that I'll forgive them giving me flour tortillas instead of corn as requested... typically I demand a lb of flesh for such an egregious transgression but I was so happy to get good service for a change we'll call it square.
(3)
Mike C.
They have the best salsa. The service was ok but the old was really good. You should go their.
(4)
Michelle B.
Food was awful went there for my birthday and got the pork Carnitas fajitas. The meat was completely unseasoned and tasted like it had been heated in the microwave. I skipped the meat and had some onion fajitas! I have ordered that same dish before and it tasted really good, it may have been an off day for them. Whatever it was, the food was so bad they have lost my business permanently.
(1)
Holly K.
I am yet to find a good Mexican restaurant in Boise. Steer clear from Cafe Ole. I had the carnitas fajitas. It is a perfect example of quantity vs quality. Just because you give me twelve pounds of food doesn't mean I'll overlook the fact that it consists of greasy meat, overcooked vegetables and stale tortillas. Sorry guys. Try fresher ingredients and smaller portions.
(2)
Mike L.
This restaurant has awesome food and service. Their salsa is incredible too! A great place to eat.
(5)
Andrew B.
Cafe Ole is always a favorite of mine because they serve beans with the chips and salsa and most places don't. I am a recent transplant to Boise, so I've gone here several times. The mall location seems to be a staff of eyecandy, both the men and women working there seem to all be great looking, which doesn't hurt. They seem to enjoy their jobs and be having a good time, which really helps especially during happy hour. Anyhow, back to the meat. It's great that they do nightly half off drinks in the bar. Not sure why the negative reviews on here complain it's not authentic, or it's a casual chainy like place. Duhh. And I dunno what the country bumpkin means by "brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs" ... sounds like he's got something against society. Of course it's not authentic, and of course it's like a chain. It's meant to be exactly that. If you go in with expectations of a home cooked mexican family dinner, you're out of line. It's decent food (I recommend the Mushroom Quesadilla!), for reasonable prices. If you want authentic mexican cuisine, go elsewhere. If you want americanized mexican, Cafe Ole is a great place!
(4)
AK M.
A Boise standard, this is still reliably good Mexican food. It's not dazzling TexMex, nor will you find exotic incarnations of Mexican standards. But it is solid and tasty with excellent service, food NOT swimming in grease. Family friendly.
(3)
L.S. R.
The food generally ranges from OK to good and the atmosphere at the Milwaukee branch is pleasant. However, their cantina is one poorly run and sub-standard excuse for a bar. The service is often poor and comes with an attitude. The happy hour margaritas are a weak and watered down imitation of a good drink. I used to really enjoy this place, but now I find much better alternatives including On The Border near the Edwards Theaters.
(2)
DeAnn S.
Cafe Ole' has been around for a long time. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the Boise area. Some food is standard for those who like to don't like to try new things. Their tortilla soup is AMAZING, so fresh and served in a very unique way. They pride themselves on authentic recipes and update them periodically. You have many choices around here for Mexican, but Cafe Ole's is best! Try the Cabrito margarita.
(4)
Ray N.
Really, it should get NO star. It's that bad. Virtually inedible. Greasy, inauthentic, faux-Mex food for fat-guts, brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs. If you have a normal stomach, the food will literally make you sick.
(1)
Caroline P.
Cafe Ole is conveniently located in downtown Boise, and the menu options are plentiful and affordable. The service was somewhat slow, and the food was fine, but not better than any other Mexican restaurant in Boise.
(2)
J C.
Chips and Salas Bar!!! I love self serve chips and salsa bars. This place has about 7 choices of salsa to keep you munching till your food arrives. They had some interesting choices too, like pineapple salsa. The one labeled spicy wasn't that hot though. I had the chicken taquitos and they were pretty good. Located downstairs in the 8th street market place this place is a good alternate if you run into a long wait at the other local restaurants like PF Chang's.
(4)
Daryl R.
Went today for lunch, visiting from out of town. Very impressed with our meal, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We started with chips and the self-serve salsa bar. All were fantastic and very fresh, and by the end of the meal I was eating the pineapple salsa with a fork!! lol Then had a cup of tortilla soup, which was absolutely off the charts!! Next time I go back I might just stop right there. We had two lunch specials- the fish tacos and a chicken enchilada/beef tamale meal, both served with rice and beans, guacamole and sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Our food was served promptly and hot. It was all very fresh, and obviously not a chain restaurant. The fish tacos were fabulous, served with a light ranch-like sauce if wanted, but not needed. The enchilada and tamale were spot-on. We took advantage of the half-price house margaritas with a lunch order, and were quite tasty for house tequilla. All in all, everything, and 3 drinks were a total of $33.00!! Shocking, I've paid that for only 3 drinks before. I will definitely be back again!
(4)
Kevin R.
I try and ignore most 1 star reviews because I don't think MOST restaurants actually sacrifice kittens on an alter of bones where they prepare your food like most 1 star reviews would have you believe. However... The waitress was more interested in recalling drunken escapades with the bartender than refilling my water so she just left a carafe on the table. The first dish, carnitas street tacos, was SWIMMING in grease and the avocado slices were crunchy. She nicely offered to bring me something else so I got the quesadilla. Much tastier (I ate 2 of the 4) but still drowning in grease. The table next to me offered fajitas and seemed VERY happy with them so that might be worth trying
(2)
Susan R.
Nice atmosphere, just ok food and drinks. Had the steak fajitas which were plentiful but not that tasty. Cadillac margarita was a bit sub par, definitely weak also. Great service however.
(3)
Amy H.
What a fun atmosphere, with some really good eats included! I was surprised that a bean dip came with the chips & salsa. I dont know about you, but I rate a mexican food restaurant based on their beans & their salsa. The bean dip was flavorful with a desireable texture & the salsa was flavorfully spicy, just right! Now I ordered chimichingas, which were delicious & my daughter, chicken flautas, which she liked so much, she called in a to go order again tonight! Definately a must experience!! YUM!!
(5)
Lino R.
Just ok. We got the huge appetizer sampler. Tons of food. We went home with 4 boxes of left over. There were times my drink was empty for 5 minutes or more and times where I had to ask him for a refill. Service was mediocre as the food. Two big sides of sour cream and guacamole for our appetizer for only $.50 each. That was nice. Chips and salsa were good. A little better then the Meridian location. Nicer ambiance.
(3)
Ron R.
Had a early dinner, was not good at all. Waiter seemed uninterested in serving us and slow. We are from out of town and if this was in my town I would not return.., We had enchiladas , chicken , crab and shrimp. The chicken was over cooked and the seafood was fishy. The rice was dry and tasteles.
(1)
Rebecca T.
Last night I went here with a friend, ordered a blended margarita and got one on the rocks, I dont like to complain so I kept it and didn't say anything so the next ones we ordered came out warm and the ice melted in a minute. After that we did say this is really warm could you shake it next time (we should not have to tell a bartender this) then another friend showed up ordered one no salt and she brought one with salt! After all this she didn't even apologize or offer to take a charge off. I will never go here again, so disappointed with the quality and service
(1)
M B.
Excellent! Best mexican restraunt in boise. Good chips and salsa & great salsa bar. Love the Arroz Con Pollo!!! So good !!! Margaritas are great too!
(5)
Alyssa K.
This is usually one of my go to restaurants if I'm wanting some delicious chimichangas and chips. However, tonight was not a very fun evening out. Our waitress was horrible. It took what felt like forever for Anyone to even come take our drink order. Then, when we ordered she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. She didn't come back very often to see if we needed drink refills. And just overall, wasn't very friendly. She'd talk to us from by the kitchen area and not actually come to our table. Let's just say she didn't earn a very good tip tonight. I understand we all have bad days but she needs to get her act together if she wants to keep her job! Her name is Teresa if it matters. I hope she can learn from tonight and do better next time.
(2)
Zach A.
Really good Mexican food. The service is always friendly and I've never had a problem.
(5)
Jerry M.
Ok. I do have to say that they have great Salsa....HOWEVER, not the bowl that they serve to you at the table in my opinion. The first batch you get with you chips is a very mild salsa, and too sweet for my taste. What one needs to do is to locate the salsa bar and enjoy the more spicier salsas that they have there. THOSE are the ones that we loved the most. My wife and I had the street tacos, and we enjoyed every single bite. Three tacos from here are very filling, and they serve them up with plenty of meat!
(4)
Christopher J.
Had the Carnitas Fajitas for lunch after shopping the mall. Solid "Mexican" food for the American pallet. Enjoyed Dos Equis amber on tap. Reasonably priced lunch menu. Service attentive.
(4)
Kimberly N.
We had the flautas! Amazing! Exactly what we were hoping for! Just read a review that the street tacos are better in a food truck.... Give me a break. The side carnitas taco was awesome! Being from SoCal (45 min from the border) I'm a decent judge of Mexican food. Try this place! It's authentic! Ask for Jeni! She was friendly and attentive! We'll be back!
(4)
Beauford W.
Most taco trucks are better than this place. I stopped in for happy hour and was sorely disappointed. The only thing that they got right was the beer. We have so many great Mexican food restaurants in this area (El Tenampa - Meridian , El Galo Giro - Kuna). My nachos were soggy and covered with what I can only describe as government cheese. It wasn't authentic. It was lazy, lifeless, boring, uninspired, bland Mexican food. I didn't even think it was possible to make Mexican food so bland and flavorless. Taco Bell has better Mexican food.
(1)
Joan M.
Terrible teribble hostess! Never a smile...just a quick glance. When people can't smile then they need to get a new job! It makes for never wanting to go back regardless of the food.
(2)
Susan R.
Nice atmosphere, just ok food and drinks. Had the steak fajitas which were plentiful but not that tasty. Cadillac margarita was a bit sub par, definitely weak also. Great service however.
(3)
Amy H.
What a fun atmosphere, with some really good eats included! I was surprised that a bean dip came with the chips & salsa. I dont know about you, but I rate a mexican food restaurant based on their beans & their salsa. The bean dip was flavorful with a desireable texture & the salsa was flavorfully spicy, just right! Now I ordered chimichingas, which were delicious & my daughter, chicken flautas, which she liked so much, she called in a to go order again tonight! Definately a must experience!! YUM!!
(5)
Kevin R.
I try and ignore most 1 star reviews because I don't think MOST restaurants actually sacrifice kittens on an alter of bones where they prepare your food like most 1 star reviews would have you believe. However... The waitress was more interested in recalling drunken escapades with the bartender than refilling my water so she just left a carafe on the table. The first dish, carnitas street tacos, was SWIMMING in grease and the avocado slices were crunchy. She nicely offered to bring me something else so I got the quesadilla. Much tastier (I ate 2 of the 4) but still drowning in grease. The table next to me offered fajitas and seemed VERY happy with them so that might be worth trying
(2)
Lino R.
Just ok. We got the huge appetizer sampler. Tons of food. We went home with 4 boxes of left over. There were times my drink was empty for 5 minutes or more and times where I had to ask him for a refill. Service was mediocre as the food. Two big sides of sour cream and guacamole for our appetizer for only $.50 each. That was nice. Chips and salsa were good. A little better then the Meridian location. Nicer ambiance.
(3)
Ron R.
Had a early dinner, was not good at all. Waiter seemed uninterested in serving us and slow. We are from out of town and if this was in my town I would not return.., We had enchiladas , chicken , crab and shrimp. The chicken was over cooked and the seafood was fishy. The rice was dry and tasteles.
(1)
Rebecca T.
Last night I went here with a friend, ordered a blended margarita and got one on the rocks, I dont like to complain so I kept it and didn't say anything so the next ones we ordered came out warm and the ice melted in a minute. After that we did say this is really warm could you shake it next time (we should not have to tell a bartender this) then another friend showed up ordered one no salt and she brought one with salt! After all this she didn't even apologize or offer to take a charge off. I will never go here again, so disappointed with the quality and service
(1)
M B.
Excellent! Best mexican restraunt in boise. Good chips and salsa & great salsa bar. Love the Arroz Con Pollo!!! So good !!! Margaritas are great too!
(5)
Alyssa K.
This is usually one of my go to restaurants if I'm wanting some delicious chimichangas and chips. However, tonight was not a very fun evening out. Our waitress was horrible. It took what felt like forever for Anyone to even come take our drink order. Then, when we ordered she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. She didn't come back very often to see if we needed drink refills. And just overall, wasn't very friendly. She'd talk to us from by the kitchen area and not actually come to our table. Let's just say she didn't earn a very good tip tonight. I understand we all have bad days but she needs to get her act together if she wants to keep her job! Her name is Teresa if it matters. I hope she can learn from tonight and do better next time.
(2)
Zach A.
Really good Mexican food. The service is always friendly and I've never had a problem.
(5)
Jerry M.
Ok. I do have to say that they have great Salsa....HOWEVER, not the bowl that they serve to you at the table in my opinion. The first batch you get with you chips is a very mild salsa, and too sweet for my taste. What one needs to do is to locate the salsa bar and enjoy the more spicier salsas that they have there. THOSE are the ones that we loved the most. My wife and I had the street tacos, and we enjoyed every single bite. Three tacos from here are very filling, and they serve them up with plenty of meat!
(4)
Christopher J.
Had the Carnitas Fajitas for lunch after shopping the mall. Solid "Mexican" food for the American pallet. Enjoyed Dos Equis amber on tap. Reasonably priced lunch menu. Service attentive.
(4)
Kimberly N.
We had the flautas! Amazing! Exactly what we were hoping for! Just read a review that the street tacos are better in a food truck.... Give me a break. The side carnitas taco was awesome! Being from SoCal (45 min from the border) I'm a decent judge of Mexican food. Try this place! It's authentic! Ask for Jeni! She was friendly and attentive! We'll be back!
(4)
Beauford W.
Most taco trucks are better than this place. I stopped in for happy hour and was sorely disappointed. The only thing that they got right was the beer. We have so many great Mexican food restaurants in this area (El Tenampa - Meridian , El Galo Giro - Kuna). My nachos were soggy and covered with what I can only describe as government cheese. It wasn't authentic. It was lazy, lifeless, boring, uninspired, bland Mexican food. I didn't even think it was possible to make Mexican food so bland and flavorless. Taco Bell has better Mexican food.
(1)
Joan M.
Terrible teribble hostess! Never a smile...just a quick glance. When people can't smile then they need to get a new job! It makes for never wanting to go back regardless of the food.
(2)
Francisco M.
I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Boise recently and had a jonesin for some Mexican food. When I typed "Boise Mexican" into my smartphone and the first restaurant that came up was "Taco Time" ... fear had struck an icy dagger into my heart and my expectations were immediately aligned with reality. That being said, it's in a really cool location downtown. The decor is great and the service was really friendly as most people and places seem to be in Boise. The food didn't suck. It certainly looked and tasted like Mexican. The portions were massive and I was thankful I got something relatively healthy vs. the gut-bomb my colleagues opted for. Be sure you pay the up charge for guacamole. I found it to be the best part of the meal. That and the service, they were great. So friendly and kind that I'll forgive them giving me flour tortillas instead of corn as requested... typically I demand a lb of flesh for such an egregious transgression but I was so happy to get good service for a change we'll call it square.
(3)
Mike C.
They have the best salsa. The service was ok but the old was really good. You should go their.
(4)
Michelle B.
Food was awful went there for my birthday and got the pork Carnitas fajitas. The meat was completely unseasoned and tasted like it had been heated in the microwave. I skipped the meat and had some onion fajitas! I have ordered that same dish before and it tasted really good, it may have been an off day for them. Whatever it was, the food was so bad they have lost my business permanently.
(1)
Holly K.
I am yet to find a good Mexican restaurant in Boise. Steer clear from Cafe Ole. I had the carnitas fajitas. It is a perfect example of quantity vs quality. Just because you give me twelve pounds of food doesn't mean I'll overlook the fact that it consists of greasy meat, overcooked vegetables and stale tortillas. Sorry guys. Try fresher ingredients and smaller portions.
(2)
Mike L.
This restaurant has awesome food and service. Their salsa is incredible too! A great place to eat.
(5)
Andrew B.
Cafe Ole is always a favorite of mine because they serve beans with the chips and salsa and most places don't. I am a recent transplant to Boise, so I've gone here several times. The mall location seems to be a staff of eyecandy, both the men and women working there seem to all be great looking, which doesn't hurt. They seem to enjoy their jobs and be having a good time, which really helps especially during happy hour. Anyhow, back to the meat. It's great that they do nightly half off drinks in the bar. Not sure why the negative reviews on here complain it's not authentic, or it's a casual chainy like place. Duhh. And I dunno what the country bumpkin means by "brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs" ... sounds like he's got something against society. Of course it's not authentic, and of course it's like a chain. It's meant to be exactly that. If you go in with expectations of a home cooked mexican family dinner, you're out of line. It's decent food (I recommend the Mushroom Quesadilla!), for reasonable prices. If you want authentic mexican cuisine, go elsewhere. If you want americanized mexican, Cafe Ole is a great place!
(4)
AK M.
A Boise standard, this is still reliably good Mexican food. It's not dazzling TexMex, nor will you find exotic incarnations of Mexican standards. But it is solid and tasty with excellent service, food NOT swimming in grease. Family friendly.
(3)
L.S. R.
The food generally ranges from OK to good and the atmosphere at the Milwaukee branch is pleasant. However, their cantina is one poorly run and sub-standard excuse for a bar. The service is often poor and comes with an attitude. The happy hour margaritas are a weak and watered down imitation of a good drink. I used to really enjoy this place, but now I find much better alternatives including On The Border near the Edwards Theaters.
(2)
DeAnn S.
Cafe Ole' has been around for a long time. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the Boise area. Some food is standard for those who like to don't like to try new things. Their tortilla soup is AMAZING, so fresh and served in a very unique way. They pride themselves on authentic recipes and update them periodically. You have many choices around here for Mexican, but Cafe Ole's is best! Try the Cabrito margarita.
(4)
Ray N.
Really, it should get NO star. It's that bad. Virtually inedible. Greasy, inauthentic, faux-Mex food for fat-guts, brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs. If you have a normal stomach, the food will literally make you sick.
(1)
Caroline P.
Cafe Ole is conveniently located in downtown Boise, and the menu options are plentiful and affordable. The service was somewhat slow, and the food was fine, but not better than any other Mexican restaurant in Boise.
(2)
J C.
Chips and Salas Bar!!! I love self serve chips and salsa bars. This place has about 7 choices of salsa to keep you munching till your food arrives. They had some interesting choices too, like pineapple salsa. The one labeled spicy wasn't that hot though. I had the chicken taquitos and they were pretty good. Located downstairs in the 8th street market place this place is a good alternate if you run into a long wait at the other local restaurants like PF Chang's.
(4)
Daryl R.
Went today for lunch, visiting from out of town. Very impressed with our meal, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We started with chips and the self-serve salsa bar. All were fantastic and very fresh, and by the end of the meal I was eating the pineapple salsa with a fork!! lol Then had a cup of tortilla soup, which was absolutely off the charts!! Next time I go back I might just stop right there. We had two lunch specials- the fish tacos and a chicken enchilada/beef tamale meal, both served with rice and beans, guacamole and sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Our food was served promptly and hot. It was all very fresh, and obviously not a chain restaurant. The fish tacos were fabulous, served with a light ranch-like sauce if wanted, but not needed. The enchilada and tamale were spot-on. We took advantage of the half-price house margaritas with a lunch order, and were quite tasty for house tequilla. All in all, everything, and 3 drinks were a total of $33.00!! Shocking, I've paid that for only 3 drinks before. I will definitely be back again!
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No 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.
Francisco M.
I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Boise recently and had a jonesin for some Mexican food. When I typed "Boise Mexican" into my smartphone and the first restaurant that came up was "Taco Time" ... fear had struck an icy dagger into my heart and my expectations were immediately aligned with reality. That being said, it's in a really cool location downtown. The decor is great and the service was really friendly as most people and places seem to be in Boise. The food didn't suck. It certainly looked and tasted like Mexican. The portions were massive and I was thankful I got something relatively healthy vs. the gut-bomb my colleagues opted for. Be sure you pay the up charge for guacamole. I found it to be the best part of the meal. That and the service, they were great. So friendly and kind that I'll forgive them giving me flour tortillas instead of corn as requested... typically I demand a lb of flesh for such an egregious transgression but I was so happy to get good service for a change we'll call it square.
(3)Mike C.
They have the best salsa. The service was ok but the old was really good. You should go their.
(4)Michelle B.
Food was awful went there for my birthday and got the pork Carnitas fajitas. The meat was completely unseasoned and tasted like it had been heated in the microwave. I skipped the meat and had some onion fajitas! I have ordered that same dish before and it tasted really good, it may have been an off day for them. Whatever it was, the food was so bad they have lost my business permanently.
(1)Holly K.
I am yet to find a good Mexican restaurant in Boise. Steer clear from Cafe Ole. I had the carnitas fajitas. It is a perfect example of quantity vs quality. Just because you give me twelve pounds of food doesn't mean I'll overlook the fact that it consists of greasy meat, overcooked vegetables and stale tortillas. Sorry guys. Try fresher ingredients and smaller portions.
(2)Mike L.
This restaurant has awesome food and service. Their salsa is incredible too! A great place to eat.
(5)Andrew B.
Cafe Ole is always a favorite of mine because they serve beans with the chips and salsa and most places don't. I am a recent transplant to Boise, so I've gone here several times. The mall location seems to be a staff of eyecandy, both the men and women working there seem to all be great looking, which doesn't hurt. They seem to enjoy their jobs and be having a good time, which really helps especially during happy hour. Anyhow, back to the meat. It's great that they do nightly half off drinks in the bar. Not sure why the negative reviews on here complain it's not authentic, or it's a casual chainy like place. Duhh. And I dunno what the country bumpkin means by "brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs" ... sounds like he's got something against society. Of course it's not authentic, and of course it's like a chain. It's meant to be exactly that. If you go in with expectations of a home cooked mexican family dinner, you're out of line. It's decent food (I recommend the Mushroom Quesadilla!), for reasonable prices. If you want authentic mexican cuisine, go elsewhere. If you want americanized mexican, Cafe Ole is a great place!
(4)AK M.
A Boise standard, this is still reliably good Mexican food. It's not dazzling TexMex, nor will you find exotic incarnations of Mexican standards. But it is solid and tasty with excellent service, food NOT swimming in grease. Family friendly.
(3)L.S. R.
The food generally ranges from OK to good and the atmosphere at the Milwaukee branch is pleasant. However, their cantina is one poorly run and sub-standard excuse for a bar. The service is often poor and comes with an attitude. The happy hour margaritas are a weak and watered down imitation of a good drink. I used to really enjoy this place, but now I find much better alternatives including On The Border near the Edwards Theaters.
(2)DeAnn S.
Cafe Ole' has been around for a long time. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the Boise area. Some food is standard for those who like to don't like to try new things. Their tortilla soup is AMAZING, so fresh and served in a very unique way. They pride themselves on authentic recipes and update them periodically. You have many choices around here for Mexican, but Cafe Ole's is best! Try the Cabrito margarita.
(4)Ray N.
Really, it should get NO star. It's that bad. Virtually inedible. Greasy, inauthentic, faux-Mex food for fat-guts, brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs. If you have a normal stomach, the food will literally make you sick.
(1)Caroline P.
Cafe Ole is conveniently located in downtown Boise, and the menu options are plentiful and affordable. The service was somewhat slow, and the food was fine, but not better than any other Mexican restaurant in Boise.
(2)J C.
Chips and Salas Bar!!! I love self serve chips and salsa bars. This place has about 7 choices of salsa to keep you munching till your food arrives. They had some interesting choices too, like pineapple salsa. The one labeled spicy wasn't that hot though. I had the chicken taquitos and they were pretty good. Located downstairs in the 8th street market place this place is a good alternate if you run into a long wait at the other local restaurants like PF Chang's.
(4)Daryl R.
Went today for lunch, visiting from out of town. Very impressed with our meal, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We started with chips and the self-serve salsa bar. All were fantastic and very fresh, and by the end of the meal I was eating the pineapple salsa with a fork!! lol Then had a cup of tortilla soup, which was absolutely off the charts!! Next time I go back I might just stop right there. We had two lunch specials- the fish tacos and a chicken enchilada/beef tamale meal, both served with rice and beans, guacamole and sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Our food was served promptly and hot. It was all very fresh, and obviously not a chain restaurant. The fish tacos were fabulous, served with a light ranch-like sauce if wanted, but not needed. The enchilada and tamale were spot-on. We took advantage of the half-price house margaritas with a lunch order, and were quite tasty for house tequilla. All in all, everything, and 3 drinks were a total of $33.00!! Shocking, I've paid that for only 3 drinks before. I will definitely be back again!
(4)Kevin R.
I try and ignore most 1 star reviews because I don't think MOST restaurants actually sacrifice kittens on an alter of bones where they prepare your food like most 1 star reviews would have you believe. However... The waitress was more interested in recalling drunken escapades with the bartender than refilling my water so she just left a carafe on the table. The first dish, carnitas street tacos, was SWIMMING in grease and the avocado slices were crunchy. She nicely offered to bring me something else so I got the quesadilla. Much tastier (I ate 2 of the 4) but still drowning in grease. The table next to me offered fajitas and seemed VERY happy with them so that might be worth trying
(2)Susan R.
Nice atmosphere, just ok food and drinks. Had the steak fajitas which were plentiful but not that tasty. Cadillac margarita was a bit sub par, definitely weak also. Great service however.
(3)Amy H.
What a fun atmosphere, with some really good eats included! I was surprised that a bean dip came with the chips & salsa. I dont know about you, but I rate a mexican food restaurant based on their beans & their salsa. The bean dip was flavorful with a desireable texture & the salsa was flavorfully spicy, just right! Now I ordered chimichingas, which were delicious & my daughter, chicken flautas, which she liked so much, she called in a to go order again tonight! Definately a must experience!! YUM!!
(5)Lino R.
Just ok. We got the huge appetizer sampler. Tons of food. We went home with 4 boxes of left over. There were times my drink was empty for 5 minutes or more and times where I had to ask him for a refill. Service was mediocre as the food. Two big sides of sour cream and guacamole for our appetizer for only $.50 each. That was nice. Chips and salsa were good. A little better then the Meridian location. Nicer ambiance.
(3)Ron R.
Had a early dinner, was not good at all. Waiter seemed uninterested in serving us and slow. We are from out of town and if this was in my town I would not return.., We had enchiladas , chicken , crab and shrimp. The chicken was over cooked and the seafood was fishy. The rice was dry and tasteles.
(1)Rebecca T.
Last night I went here with a friend, ordered a blended margarita and got one on the rocks, I dont like to complain so I kept it and didn't say anything so the next ones we ordered came out warm and the ice melted in a minute. After that we did say this is really warm could you shake it next time (we should not have to tell a bartender this) then another friend showed up ordered one no salt and she brought one with salt! After all this she didn't even apologize or offer to take a charge off. I will never go here again, so disappointed with the quality and service
(1)M B.
Excellent! Best mexican restraunt in boise. Good chips and salsa & great salsa bar. Love the Arroz Con Pollo!!! So good !!! Margaritas are great too!
(5)Alyssa K.
This is usually one of my go to restaurants if I'm wanting some delicious chimichangas and chips. However, tonight was not a very fun evening out. Our waitress was horrible. It took what felt like forever for Anyone to even come take our drink order. Then, when we ordered she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. She didn't come back very often to see if we needed drink refills. And just overall, wasn't very friendly. She'd talk to us from by the kitchen area and not actually come to our table. Let's just say she didn't earn a very good tip tonight. I understand we all have bad days but she needs to get her act together if she wants to keep her job! Her name is Teresa if it matters. I hope she can learn from tonight and do better next time.
(2)Zach A.
Really good Mexican food. The service is always friendly and I've never had a problem.
(5)Jerry M.
Ok. I do have to say that they have great Salsa....HOWEVER, not the bowl that they serve to you at the table in my opinion. The first batch you get with you chips is a very mild salsa, and too sweet for my taste. What one needs to do is to locate the salsa bar and enjoy the more spicier salsas that they have there. THOSE are the ones that we loved the most. My wife and I had the street tacos, and we enjoyed every single bite. Three tacos from here are very filling, and they serve them up with plenty of meat!
(4)Christopher J.
Had the Carnitas Fajitas for lunch after shopping the mall. Solid "Mexican" food for the American pallet. Enjoyed Dos Equis amber on tap. Reasonably priced lunch menu. Service attentive.
(4)Kimberly N.
We had the flautas! Amazing! Exactly what we were hoping for! Just read a review that the street tacos are better in a food truck.... Give me a break. The side carnitas taco was awesome! Being from SoCal (45 min from the border) I'm a decent judge of Mexican food. Try this place! It's authentic! Ask for Jeni! She was friendly and attentive! We'll be back!
(4)Beauford W.
Most taco trucks are better than this place. I stopped in for happy hour and was sorely disappointed. The only thing that they got right was the beer. We have so many great Mexican food restaurants in this area (El Tenampa - Meridian , El Galo Giro - Kuna). My nachos were soggy and covered with what I can only describe as government cheese. It wasn't authentic. It was lazy, lifeless, boring, uninspired, bland Mexican food. I didn't even think it was possible to make Mexican food so bland and flavorless. Taco Bell has better Mexican food.
(1)Joan M.
Terrible teribble hostess! Never a smile...just a quick glance. When people can't smile then they need to get a new job! It makes for never wanting to go back regardless of the food.
(2)Susan R.
Nice atmosphere, just ok food and drinks. Had the steak fajitas which were plentiful but not that tasty. Cadillac margarita was a bit sub par, definitely weak also. Great service however.
(3)Amy H.
What a fun atmosphere, with some really good eats included! I was surprised that a bean dip came with the chips & salsa. I dont know about you, but I rate a mexican food restaurant based on their beans & their salsa. The bean dip was flavorful with a desireable texture & the salsa was flavorfully spicy, just right! Now I ordered chimichingas, which were delicious & my daughter, chicken flautas, which she liked so much, she called in a to go order again tonight! Definately a must experience!! YUM!!
(5)Kevin R.
I try and ignore most 1 star reviews because I don't think MOST restaurants actually sacrifice kittens on an alter of bones where they prepare your food like most 1 star reviews would have you believe. However... The waitress was more interested in recalling drunken escapades with the bartender than refilling my water so she just left a carafe on the table. The first dish, carnitas street tacos, was SWIMMING in grease and the avocado slices were crunchy. She nicely offered to bring me something else so I got the quesadilla. Much tastier (I ate 2 of the 4) but still drowning in grease. The table next to me offered fajitas and seemed VERY happy with them so that might be worth trying
(2)Lino R.
Just ok. We got the huge appetizer sampler. Tons of food. We went home with 4 boxes of left over. There were times my drink was empty for 5 minutes or more and times where I had to ask him for a refill. Service was mediocre as the food. Two big sides of sour cream and guacamole for our appetizer for only $.50 each. That was nice. Chips and salsa were good. A little better then the Meridian location. Nicer ambiance.
(3)Ron R.
Had a early dinner, was not good at all. Waiter seemed uninterested in serving us and slow. We are from out of town and if this was in my town I would not return.., We had enchiladas , chicken , crab and shrimp. The chicken was over cooked and the seafood was fishy. The rice was dry and tasteles.
(1)Rebecca T.
Last night I went here with a friend, ordered a blended margarita and got one on the rocks, I dont like to complain so I kept it and didn't say anything so the next ones we ordered came out warm and the ice melted in a minute. After that we did say this is really warm could you shake it next time (we should not have to tell a bartender this) then another friend showed up ordered one no salt and she brought one with salt! After all this she didn't even apologize or offer to take a charge off. I will never go here again, so disappointed with the quality and service
(1)M B.
Excellent! Best mexican restraunt in boise. Good chips and salsa & great salsa bar. Love the Arroz Con Pollo!!! So good !!! Margaritas are great too!
(5)Alyssa K.
This is usually one of my go to restaurants if I'm wanting some delicious chimichangas and chips. However, tonight was not a very fun evening out. Our waitress was horrible. It took what felt like forever for Anyone to even come take our drink order. Then, when we ordered she acted like she didn't know what I was talking about. She didn't come back very often to see if we needed drink refills. And just overall, wasn't very friendly. She'd talk to us from by the kitchen area and not actually come to our table. Let's just say she didn't earn a very good tip tonight. I understand we all have bad days but she needs to get her act together if she wants to keep her job! Her name is Teresa if it matters. I hope she can learn from tonight and do better next time.
(2)Zach A.
Really good Mexican food. The service is always friendly and I've never had a problem.
(5)Jerry M.
Ok. I do have to say that they have great Salsa....HOWEVER, not the bowl that they serve to you at the table in my opinion. The first batch you get with you chips is a very mild salsa, and too sweet for my taste. What one needs to do is to locate the salsa bar and enjoy the more spicier salsas that they have there. THOSE are the ones that we loved the most. My wife and I had the street tacos, and we enjoyed every single bite. Three tacos from here are very filling, and they serve them up with plenty of meat!
(4)Christopher J.
Had the Carnitas Fajitas for lunch after shopping the mall. Solid "Mexican" food for the American pallet. Enjoyed Dos Equis amber on tap. Reasonably priced lunch menu. Service attentive.
(4)Kimberly N.
We had the flautas! Amazing! Exactly what we were hoping for! Just read a review that the street tacos are better in a food truck.... Give me a break. The side carnitas taco was awesome! Being from SoCal (45 min from the border) I'm a decent judge of Mexican food. Try this place! It's authentic! Ask for Jeni! She was friendly and attentive! We'll be back!
(4)Beauford W.
Most taco trucks are better than this place. I stopped in for happy hour and was sorely disappointed. The only thing that they got right was the beer. We have so many great Mexican food restaurants in this area (El Tenampa - Meridian , El Galo Giro - Kuna). My nachos were soggy and covered with what I can only describe as government cheese. It wasn't authentic. It was lazy, lifeless, boring, uninspired, bland Mexican food. I didn't even think it was possible to make Mexican food so bland and flavorless. Taco Bell has better Mexican food.
(1)Joan M.
Terrible teribble hostess! Never a smile...just a quick glance. When people can't smile then they need to get a new job! It makes for never wanting to go back regardless of the food.
(2)Francisco M.
I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Boise recently and had a jonesin for some Mexican food. When I typed "Boise Mexican" into my smartphone and the first restaurant that came up was "Taco Time" ... fear had struck an icy dagger into my heart and my expectations were immediately aligned with reality. That being said, it's in a really cool location downtown. The decor is great and the service was really friendly as most people and places seem to be in Boise. The food didn't suck. It certainly looked and tasted like Mexican. The portions were massive and I was thankful I got something relatively healthy vs. the gut-bomb my colleagues opted for. Be sure you pay the up charge for guacamole. I found it to be the best part of the meal. That and the service, they were great. So friendly and kind that I'll forgive them giving me flour tortillas instead of corn as requested... typically I demand a lb of flesh for such an egregious transgression but I was so happy to get good service for a change we'll call it square.
(3)Mike C.
They have the best salsa. The service was ok but the old was really good. You should go their.
(4)Michelle B.
Food was awful went there for my birthday and got the pork Carnitas fajitas. The meat was completely unseasoned and tasted like it had been heated in the microwave. I skipped the meat and had some onion fajitas! I have ordered that same dish before and it tasted really good, it may have been an off day for them. Whatever it was, the food was so bad they have lost my business permanently.
(1)Holly K.
I am yet to find a good Mexican restaurant in Boise. Steer clear from Cafe Ole. I had the carnitas fajitas. It is a perfect example of quantity vs quality. Just because you give me twelve pounds of food doesn't mean I'll overlook the fact that it consists of greasy meat, overcooked vegetables and stale tortillas. Sorry guys. Try fresher ingredients and smaller portions.
(2)Mike L.
This restaurant has awesome food and service. Their salsa is incredible too! A great place to eat.
(5)Andrew B.
Cafe Ole is always a favorite of mine because they serve beans with the chips and salsa and most places don't. I am a recent transplant to Boise, so I've gone here several times. The mall location seems to be a staff of eyecandy, both the men and women working there seem to all be great looking, which doesn't hurt. They seem to enjoy their jobs and be having a good time, which really helps especially during happy hour. Anyhow, back to the meat. It's great that they do nightly half off drinks in the bar. Not sure why the negative reviews on here complain it's not authentic, or it's a casual chainy like place. Duhh. And I dunno what the country bumpkin means by "brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs" ... sounds like he's got something against society. Of course it's not authentic, and of course it's like a chain. It's meant to be exactly that. If you go in with expectations of a home cooked mexican family dinner, you're out of line. It's decent food (I recommend the Mushroom Quesadilla!), for reasonable prices. If you want authentic mexican cuisine, go elsewhere. If you want americanized mexican, Cafe Ole is a great place!
(4)AK M.
A Boise standard, this is still reliably good Mexican food. It's not dazzling TexMex, nor will you find exotic incarnations of Mexican standards. But it is solid and tasty with excellent service, food NOT swimming in grease. Family friendly.
(3)L.S. R.
The food generally ranges from OK to good and the atmosphere at the Milwaukee branch is pleasant. However, their cantina is one poorly run and sub-standard excuse for a bar. The service is often poor and comes with an attitude. The happy hour margaritas are a weak and watered down imitation of a good drink. I used to really enjoy this place, but now I find much better alternatives including On The Border near the Edwards Theaters.
(2)DeAnn S.
Cafe Ole' has been around for a long time. It is the best Mexican restaurant in the Boise area. Some food is standard for those who like to don't like to try new things. Their tortilla soup is AMAZING, so fresh and served in a very unique way. They pride themselves on authentic recipes and update them periodically. You have many choices around here for Mexican, but Cafe Ole's is best! Try the Cabrito margarita.
(4)Ray N.
Really, it should get NO star. It's that bad. Virtually inedible. Greasy, inauthentic, faux-Mex food for fat-guts, brainless biz quiks and yup Duhs. If you have a normal stomach, the food will literally make you sick.
(1)Caroline P.
Cafe Ole is conveniently located in downtown Boise, and the menu options are plentiful and affordable. The service was somewhat slow, and the food was fine, but not better than any other Mexican restaurant in Boise.
(2)J C.
Chips and Salas Bar!!! I love self serve chips and salsa bars. This place has about 7 choices of salsa to keep you munching till your food arrives. They had some interesting choices too, like pineapple salsa. The one labeled spicy wasn't that hot though. I had the chicken taquitos and they were pretty good. Located downstairs in the 8th street market place this place is a good alternate if you run into a long wait at the other local restaurants like PF Chang's.
(4)Daryl R.
Went today for lunch, visiting from out of town. Very impressed with our meal, and the staff was very friendly and efficient. We started with chips and the self-serve salsa bar. All were fantastic and very fresh, and by the end of the meal I was eating the pineapple salsa with a fork!! lol Then had a cup of tortilla soup, which was absolutely off the charts!! Next time I go back I might just stop right there. We had two lunch specials- the fish tacos and a chicken enchilada/beef tamale meal, both served with rice and beans, guacamole and sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Our food was served promptly and hot. It was all very fresh, and obviously not a chain restaurant. The fish tacos were fabulous, served with a light ranch-like sauce if wanted, but not needed. The enchilada and tamale were spot-on. We took advantage of the half-price house margaritas with a lunch order, and were quite tasty for house tequilla. All in all, everything, and 3 drinks were a total of $33.00!! Shocking, I've paid that for only 3 drinks before. I will definitely be back again!
(4)