Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

Aptos, CA · Mexican restaurant

Rating
4.5/5
★★★★★ 4.5
Reviews
20
Rank in Aptos
#9
of 64 restaurants
City Percentile
56%
rating percentile
Address
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant, 261 Center Ave, Aptos, CA 95003
Phone
(831) 688-4848
Website
www.manuelsrestaurant.com
Status
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM

Manuel's Mexican Restaurant is a restaurant located in Aptos, CA. It is one of 64 restaurants listed in Aptos. Its 4.5-star rating matches the Aptos city average of 4.4 stars. It ranks #9 of 64 restaurants in Aptos. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

About Manuel's Mexican Restaurant

Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant serves northern Mexican inspired fare, made fresh daily. Most recipes are created by founder Manuel Santana and the Santana Family, and most date back to when Manuel’s opened in 1965. With 21 tables it is small, cozy and... More

Hours

Saturday11 AM–

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 Christine Nguyen · Feb 2026

Friday nights, Manuel's serves HUACHINANGO A LA JAROCHA (fresh snapper, breaded, pan-seared, and served with a delicious sour cream sauce). It is Amazeballs. If it's not Friday night, get the cheese enchiladas instead. They have an incredible onion-flavor and the roasted salsa is really, really good. The strawberry margaritas are also delicious and DANGEROUS. You have been warned! Service is super friendly. The place is tiny and PACKED so expect to wait. It's worth it though!

★★★★★ 5.0 Tool Man · Jan 2026

OMG !!!! This is the absolute BEST MEXICAN FOOD I’ve Ever Had In my LIFE !!!! I suspect that everything here is made from scratch, by hand, a

★★★★★ 5.0 Kathy Escott · Feb 2025

The restaurant was hopping on Saturday night. Without a reservation, we waited about 40 minutes to be seated. It was well worth the wait. This was our first visit to Manuel's. The service was excellent. All the staff was friendly and efficient. This was the best Mexican food we've had in years. The rice and beans were seasoned well and absolutely delicious. The chili relleno was light, eggy, fluffy, and so good, almost like a souffle. This set them apart from others we've had in the past. We can't wait to go back for more. Tomorrow perhaps? ;)

★★★★★ 5.0 Amir Ahmed Asif · Sep 2024

A bit upscale than everyday Mexicsnnpalces but worth the money. The service is super fast! It is the shortest ever someone took an order for burrito and tostada and came back in 5 minutes. Food was good. The portion size is satisfactory. Indoor has three sections. The ambiance has three types: well-lit front, medium-lit middle and dark back tables. Each table has a candle and some flowers.

★★★★★ 5.0 Andrea Bekkers · Dec 2025

Wonderful spot, perfect for any occasion, and very elegant in appearance. Such delicious food, house margaritas, and dessert!

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Services

Mexican restaurant

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This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.