Old Town Mexican Cafe — Restaurant in Key West

A Flavorful Mexican Fiesta at Old Town Mexican Cafe

Located at 609 Duval Street, Old Town Mexican Cafe is a vibrant and popular eatery that brings the lively flavors of Mexico to Key West. I recently had the pleasure of dining at this charming establishment and was delighted by the authentic Mexican experience it provided.

As soon as I entered Old Town Mexican Cafe, I was welcomed by the inviting aroma of sizzling meats and the energetic ambiance that permeates the restaurant. The colorful decor and lively music only added to the festive atmosphere, instantly transporting me to a Mexican fiesta.

The menu at Old Town Mexican Cafe offers a wide variety of classic Mexican dishes, ensuring there is something for everyone. From sizzling fajitas to mouthwatering enchiladas and savory tacos, the choices seemed endless. The extensive selection of vegetarian options was also impressive and greatly appreciated.

I decided to start with an order of their homemade guacamole and freshly made tortilla chips. The guacamole was simply divine—creamy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The chips were crisp and with just the right amount of salt. It was the ideal way to kick off a memorable meal.

For the main course, I opted for the chicken enchiladas, accompanied by sides of rice and refried beans. The enchiladas were generously filled with tender chicken and smothered in a rich, flavorful sauce that had just the right amount of spice. Each bite was a delightful explosion of flavors, leaving me yearning for more.

The service at Old Town Mexican Cafe was friendly and attentive. The staff was knowledgeable about the menu, willingly offering recommendations and ensuring that we had everything we needed to enjoy our dining experience.

One aspect that sets this establishment apart is the extensive drink menu featuring refreshing margaritas and a wide selection of Mexican beers. The margaritas were expertly crafted, perfectly balanced between sweet and tangy, making for a delightful and thirst-quenching accompaniment to the meal.

The only slight downside I experienced was the occasional wait for a table, as Old Town Mexican Cafe can get quite busy. However, the lively atmosphere and the tantalizing aromas drifting from the kitchen create an anticipation that makes the wait worthwhile.

In conclusion, Old Town Mexican Cafe is a delightful culinary destination in Key West for those seeking a true taste of Mexico. With its vibrant ambiance, authentic flavors, and friendly service, it offers an enjoyable dining experience. Whether you're craving enchiladas, tacos, or a zesty margarita, Old Town Mexican Cafe is a fantastic choice to satisfy your Mexican food cravings...

In December I went to San Diego to see family on my moms side. My mom hasn’t seen some of her family in about 20+ years. My moms side of the family are mostly in California and Mexico. In 2002, she came the the USA and she went to go live in Florida. She met my dad the same year she came here. My dad is Salvadoran, so as you can guess, I’m Mexican and Salvadoran. Anyway, she and my dad started their lives in Florida together. My dad was already here in Florida when they met. He came to the USA in 1992, 10 years before my mom. In 2004 they had my older brother who sadly passed away at birth, and in 2006 they had me. I’m from Miami, born and raised. I’ve lived in south Florida my whole life and still live here. A lot of my dads side of the family live here in South Florida, New York, Virginia, and El Salvador. My mom as been closer to my dads side since we’re always having family reunions. She basically grew up with them in her 30s to Now, and she’s 53. As I said before She hasn’t seen some of her family in about 20+ years. In December of last year we went to San Diego to see her family, I had never met people on my moms side before but we all had each other on Facebook. I got to meet them for the first time and it was amazing. I always travel around and mostly go to California but we usually don’t see family. This time we did. I was in San Diego (Oceanside specifically) for 11 days. Left on new years 2023. The first day we arrived my uncle picked us up from the airport and our first stop was to go eat somewhere, and we came to this restaurant! Loved it so much. I ordered tacos de asada and they were delicious. I went to so many places while on the trip and did so many things. Went to go to another uncle’s at what I like to call his “mini mansion” in Fallbrook. Went to San Diego Zoo, the beach (Tamarack), Shopping at the mall, Shopping again in little stores in Old town, etc. I ended up going to old town Mexican cafe twice on this trip, both times were amazing, this trip was very special to me and I hope to see my family again soon, I’m back down in Florida. My dads side of the family has never really loved me, in those 11 days i received more love from my moms family than my dads side has shown me in my 17 years of life. This trip was amazing. 10/10...

Typical rushed Duval dining experience. It wasn't busy, a weekday prior to 7. We requested a table we saw and liked, but was denied. All the tables outside seat 4, so no reason for the denial.

The waiter rushed the ordering process, but still, it was not busy enough to warrant. He was a younger fellow with maybe not much experience. He offered no assistance with our questions on the menu. His canned answer was, "everything is good". Not much help and kinda annoying after 3 times. He took my girlfriend's order, he did not ask what type of beans she wanted. I ordered my selection, but I asked what type of beans they offered since all I saw on other patrons' plates were black, which are fine but not preferred. He then owned up to it and offered Pinto beans. Come on, one simple question, but the patrons' satisfaction is not the high priority at this restaurant. Just a food mill.

I ordered a high-end añejo tequilla to sip on, and he has the annacity to instruct me that what I chose was preferred to be sipped on. Well, duh. So he brings our drinks and my tequilla was brought to me in shot form and it was completely clear, not añejo. I asked him if this was what I ordered and he said he'd ask the bar. He came back with an answer like I was an idiot and said it was matured in light wood barrels... ok, fine. I checked the menu and the brand I ordered was not listed as a Blanco. Ok. Looked the brand up on the internet, clearly it should have had straw color. It also drank like a Blanco. I returned from the restroom and took a good look at the bar and they had all 3 grades of my ordered tequilla. I was charged for añejo and given Blanco. I was furious. Later the waiter even passed by and tried to pick up my tequlla, with some left, to clean up the table, and I said I wasn't done yet. He actually replied, "oh, I thought it was just water." Seriously?

With all that being said, the food was actually pretty good. However, we left saying we would never return to the restaurant solely based on the waiter and my bait n switch tequilla... I could sympathize more if the place was busy, but it wasn't, the entire...