El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Grants Pass

Our first visit to El Molcajete was mixed. I was welcomed friendly and seated quickly, and within minutes attended to with chips, salsa, and a small plate of warm refried pintos for dipping. The service was good in every way. The disappointment was my dish I received. I chose the Chile Colorado. What I got was small, dice-sized pieces of beef that lacked proper flavor. It was tender, but I missed the flavor that comes from large chunks of seared beef, at least one and a half inches square, seared then simmered in the seasoned chile sauce. The sauce was too watery, spilling all over the plate and not sticking to the meat. Too thin even to scoop up with a spoon. I missed the sensation of a rich and savory spicy red Chile sauce that is cooked down from puréed chiles in the same pot as the beef was seared, developing the flavors from the whole package. It tasted just a little better than bland mini-beef cubes in red colored water. I don’t care about authenticity, but simple Mexican food should have that rich flavor you’d expect. It was missed.

I want to give them another try and sample more items though because as I walked through the restaurant, some dishes I saw looked very good.

Service was good I must say. If it hadn’t been for that I may not go back. I’ll give them another try sometime. But it won’t be with the Colorado.

Note: The service was worth the extra tip we gave. Every restaurant has days where things don’t go right so we won’t judge the entire restaurant on this visit. I saw some great looking food in the restaurant at other tables. The locals seems to know what they like and like it they do. I am willing to revise on the next try so this post shouldn’t...

El Molcajete is hands-down our parents’ favorite Mexican restaurant in Grants Pass, and it’s easy to see why. Over the past three years, we’ve made it a tradition to dine here every time we visit Oregon, and it never disappoints. Despite the stiff competition from other excellent Mexican cuisine spots in the area, El Molcajete consistently delivers a dining experience that sets it apart.

The food is always tasty. The portions are generous, as is typical of many Latin cuisine restaurants, but what stands out is the attention to detail and flavor in every dish. Most meals come with the classic rice and beans, but I personally love substituting them for a side salad and guacamole with sour cream – a fresh and delicious alternative. Our family favorites include the fish tacos, pork and beef tacos, and the flavorful chicken dishes, all of which showcase the restaurant’s mastery of traditional Mexican flavors.

The service at El Molcajete is equally impressive. Every table is attended to by a main server and an assistant server, ensuring prompt and attentive service throughout your meal. Whether it’s a refill of their fantastic margaritas (we highly recommend the skinny margarita with freshly squeezed juices) or an extra side of salsa, the staff is always eager to accommodate your needs with efficiency.

While our meals typically range between $250-$300 before tip for a party of six, it’s worth every penny. The good food, attentive service, and welcoming atmosphere make El Molcajete a standout choice for authentic Mexican dining in Grants Pass. If you’re in the area,...

I was very disappointed. Never been here before, and wanted to order the "el Molcajete" dish which I figured was their specialty since its the name of the restaurant. I ordered the combo chicken and beef one, and when it came I was confused because on the picture on the menu it showed a big piece of meat draped over the side. Mine had no meat draped, only the cactus plus about 6 slices of pineapple on top (see my picture)!

I asked the waitress...."where is the meat? Isn't it supposed to be draped over the sides?" She said "No, only the Molcajete Ranchero has that"....so I guess I needed to pay $25 instead of $17 to get a decent portion of meat to eat? I started digging in, and did see small pieces of chicken and beef in there, so I guess this was soup I ordered for $17? Very disappointing and incredibly over-priced! I later looked at the menu description after I left and it was also supposed to include melted cheese on top, well, see my pic, I got ZERO cheese. Again, is this supposed to be soup filled with 6 slices of pineapple?

Very weird dinner. I was not very happy with it at all. Also I specifically went there based on sooooo many 5 star reviews. So many people said they got little complimentary dessert things at the end of the meal, others said they got complimentary shots of tequila??? Is that only for some people, not all? Because we got NOTHING at all but the bill.

Weird. Don't believe the hype! Its all phony baloney and a very expensive...