Palominos — Restaurant in Baja California

If you’re hunting for the prime steak experience in Mexicali, Palominos has officially stepped up to claim the crown. I first dined here about five years ago and left thinking, “Good, but not great.” Fast‑forward to today and it’s a whole new story—these folks have seriously upped their game.

Steaks & Food Every cut we ordered arrived cooked to absolute perfection: juicy centers, flawless sear, and that deep, smoky flavor you only get from a kitchen that knows its craft.

Service We were a party of seven, yet our waiter never missed a beat. Drinks refreshed before we noticed they were low, plates delivered in sync, and genuine menu recommendations that hit every time. It’s the kind of attentive, unpretentious service that makes you feel both pampered and relaxed.

Ambience Palominos strikes a sweet balance between casual comfort and understated elegance. You can show up in jeans or dress to the nines, and either way you’ll feel right at home. Soft lighting, warm wood accents, and a lively buzz from the open grill set the mood perfectly.

Drinks The wine list offers plenty of Mexican and international labels, plus a solid whiskey selection and creative cocktails if you’re feeling adventurous. Even the beer arrives ice‑cold—because details matter.

Price Yes, it’s a tad pricey, but nothing exceptional ever comes cheap. For the quality of steak, service, and atmosphere you get, it’s money well spent.

Bottom Line Whether you’re craving a flawless steak, eyeing an impressive wine pairing, or just want a cold beer with friends, Palominos is well worth your pesos. I’ll definitely be back—and next time I won’t wait...

Nice clean place with pretty cool decor and very comfortable. Some of the best margaritas I've ever had. They were just perfect. Server was very nice, attentive and explained the special well. We went with a dinner for 2. A nice big Tomahawk bone in ribeye cooked and sliced to perfection with chili relianos, cream spinach, baked potatoes, awesome chips, salsas and tortillas.

We order a nice drink for the lady some specialty from Sanora.and she loved it. Now, server failure...I asked for another margarita so he asked the lady if she wants another. She said no thank you and this nut job takes her drink away. We just look at each other because she clearly wasn't finished. She finished her dinner and he starts taking my stuff too. I was still eating and said hey bro slow down or just bring me a box. I couldn't believe it. He never asked if we want desert and he doesn't bring the bill. I told my lady do I really have to ask him to bring the bill? All the servers only had 1 table each. He takes the bill to my lady. I said what are you doing? That goes to me. Then I catch on. He's telling her the bill is in pesos and in dollars its $124. I said no its not. The bill is $103.52 almost $104. He ruined an awesome meal by trying to hustle me through my lady. What a fool and I still gave him $20 he didn't deserve.

I feel bad too because when the manager came to touch tables I said how great everything was and our server was really good. That was the truth at the time. I want to go back because I loved the place but...

Made a reservation to celebrate my first wedding anniversary. Reservation was for 7:30. I confirmed every text message and email they sent me. We showed up at 7:00 just to be told that the restaurant was closed early because of the holiday. There were still parties enjoying their dinner, and we were turned away. I explained to the host that this was unacceptable. I confirmed my reservation not once but twice with them. Nobody ever reached out to me to notify me that they wouldn't be able to accomodate us. I insisted on speaking with the owner. Upon calling the owner he asked if we would be able to eat and get out by 9:00. As aggravated as I was, I accepted that offer. The owner called the acting manager. When he was done with the phone call he said that the cooks had already left for the night, so even after being asked if leaving by 9:00 was okay, we still weren't given an opportunity to enjoy our first anniversary dinner. Even worse is the fact that when I looked at their tablet, not only did I see my confirmed reservation, my phone number was there. They could have called me at any point explaining that they were going to close early, and we needed to change our time... but they didnt. This is a horrible way to treat your guests. The bottle of wine they offered in NO WAY makes up for ruining our anniversary. Disgusting business antics. If you have a big celebration planned, I highly recommend you look at a place that won't...