Aki Fresh Mex — Restaurant in Marina

What a delightful place , a cozy nook situated in the most inconspicuous of places . I consider this a refined dining experience or hybrid Mexican cuisine . Evident in the food was The contrast of elevated cooking techniques and use of indigenous ingredients to encapsulate the culture and flavors of Mexico.

The food is definitely in a category of its own in comparison to your typical Mexican cuisine . I had the Duo mole , prepared with a crispy fried tender chicken leg set on a plate overlaid with a green and dark chocolaty mole sauce . Additionally on the side are your corn tortillas warmly wrapped in an insulated covering, a moderate amount of rice and whole pinto beans .

Pre meal : I indulged myself with a glass of Pinot noir from a local winery in Carmel valley , good blend with mild fruity flavors and a bit of dry yet had a balanced body of viscosity in terms of sweet and bitterness in its overall character. I also ordered the Corn on the cob called Elote ! A traditional street food delicacy served in its elegant rendition plated and skewered for devouring. The roasted corn was slathered with layers of butter, lemon, mayonnaise , chili powder, and cilantro .

I was content and a happy patron after this meal ,

One rare and pleasant experience that exceeded my expectations ! Kudos to the proprietors of this little a gem of gastronomic wonders!

Órale !

Dr. A...

We had dinner at this hidden gem in Marina last night. The place came highly recommended so we gave it a try. We were both pleasantly surprised. The food was unique, the ambiance welcoming & warm, and the service was on point. There aren’t many places in our area that have this mastered.

We had the grilled artichoke and guacamole appetizers. The chips were freshly made and guacamole perfect. The highlight for us as locals was the grilled artichoke! It was fire & hands down the best grilled artichoke I’ve had at any restaurant in Monterey County!

He had the carnitas vampiros and I had the chile relleno. Both of us absolutely loved our dinners!

We wanted to try the churro just because everything else was so good and we’re glad we did. Didn’t get a picture, but it doesn’t matter because the flavor is what sets it apart! This churro was fresh, crispy, warm, and full of the flavors of a homemade traditional Mexican dessert! The perfect blend of cinnamon & sugar.

We can’t wait to go back & alredy know what we will be trying next! I’m pretty sure we’re gonna...

I would love to be able to give this local spot a better rating, but my meal last night was so disappointing. I ordered the pork chile verde to go. The sauce was extremely soupy, as if straight out of the can, with no time cooking. Even though I made a quick trip home and kept the bag level, the watery sauce was everywhere. It ruined the rice; it ruined the beans…and leaked all over my kitchen. Part of the reason I order takeaway is for the convenience of no cleanup. Not the case here, as it made a mess everywhere. The pork was cooked, but obviously not braised in the chili Verde sauce. There was very little chili Verde flavor in the pork. It seemed to Me that they just used the pork they had roasted for Carnitas or other dishes. Now, if this had been a $15 platter of food, I wouldn’t be writing this review. But this was (after taxes) nearly $30. I may try them again, but I will be skipping the...