CARMELA'S, McKinleyville - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number

Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

No

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Details

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PRICE RANGE

$5.00 – $10.00

CUISINES

Mexican

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

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4.0

95 reviews

Excellent

35

Very good

31

Average

17

Poor

7

Terrible

5

susansC8836IW

Sedona8 contributions

Tasty with large portions. Won’t rush back though

Mar 2023 • couples

We were traveling in the are for a hiking trip. The restaurant is somewhat noisy, having lots of har surfaces, but that’s fine. Greeted as we came through the door and offered to sit anywhere. Menus were slow to follow, but they we’re busy, a good sign. Food was good, we had enchiladas suisa (one carnitas and one chicken). Both were good sized and came with a generous portion of refried beans and rice. The red wine was chilled…just…why? The only other annoyance were our neighbors, noisy and fidgety adult in the booth. I wish we had selected a table with chairs!

Written March 29, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary V

McKinleyville828 contributions

A great meal and friendly staff!

Mar 2023 • friends

My friend and I ate here after a movie recently. We were looking for a place where we could enjoy a casual good meal and talk without distractions. Carmela's was perfect. The food is very good and there are lots of options. I really enjoyed the shrimp tacos and the plain margarita was delicious (and enough!). Our server was extremely pleasant and accommodating to our requests. The food was served quickly. Seems they've done some renovating inside as it was spacious and very well-lit - I remember it being a bit dark in the past but now it's very nice. Great local's favorite!

Written March 25, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Galen B

1 contribution

Best Mexican Food around

Mar 2023 • solo

Great service and Huge portions. Excellent flavor and amazing choices. I had the 3- Comrades Fajitas. Steak, Chicken and shrimp. Very well seasoned and flavorful. Also had a Top Shelf Margarita custom made by Katy the bar tender and she did Awesome job at it.

Written March 20, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

matt w

1 contribution

Service, not so great….

Aug 2023 • couples

Sadly the service was slow, to the point that we had to stop servers just to get our order in. We waited for at least 30 minutes for the servers to ask us if we needed anything or if we were ready to order, and they never did. We finally had to stop a server just to let them know our order.

Written August 15, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Oliver

Springfield6 contributions

Wasn’t worth it

Jul 2024 • family

The service was quite poor. The server was new, so the table service is excusable. However, the meals were incorrect. I asked for rice and a soft shell. I got no rice and a hard shell. It wasn’t horrible but the food wasn’t particularly tasty. I wouldn’t consider returning.

Written July 28, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julio M

1 contribution

Put this on your LIST

Oct 2021 • none

Food was amazing!! I had the carnitas and the flavor of it was so traditional so Jalisco. Very friendly service

Written October 29, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stacee c

1 contribution

Disgusting

Apr 2021 • friends

What is the one thing that makes food good? Its fresh and tastes good. Nope. Not here plus there is absolutely no customer service. Put this on your list to SKIP!

Written May 27, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve B

3 contributions

Bland food

May 2021 • couples

Was excited after seeing the reviews but food was bland and tasteless. I had a carnitas Quesadila with rice and beans. No flavor at all. Disappointing.

Written May 18, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John jones

1 contribution

Great food f the mask

Sep 2020 • solo

Whoever stops eating here over a mask should reconsider their life food is good covid is a f ing joke

Written September 8, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jake H

1 contribution

Mask not worn properly by hostess

Jun 2020 • solo

When I entered the restaurant I noticed the hostess did not have her mask covering her nose. I tried to remind her that the point of the mask is to protect others from her and that she wasn't wearing the mask properly. She informed me that her glasses fogged up when she wore it over her nose, and that the piece of plastic erected at the cash register was protecting customers. I am not eating here again. People don't seem to understand the purpose of the guidelines posted by the CDC.

Written June 19, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carolyn L

1 contribution

Wonderful small town Mexican restaurant.

Feb 2020 • couples

I love their food, especially their grilled shrimp! Their margaritas are really good too. Quick, efficient, friendly staff. It's our favorite local place to eat by far.

Written March 19, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbedoo

Ukiah54 contributions

Cold food and tasteless

Nov 2019 • none

I had heard so much about the food at Carmela's and was excited to try it out. Were we disappointed. Although there was plenty of food on the plate, it had no flavor and was basically cold. I also didn't get what I wanted but at that point, just said "heck with it." My sister took us there and paid for it, so we didn't get to see the final total. The prices seemed fair, but we were very disappointed in our meals. Maybe it was a bad night or something, but I will not go there again. Trip hazards on the very worn, dirty carpets as well. Service was good, although it took forever to get our dinner and there were two other tables that night.

Written December 9, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RedwoodRed

7 contributions

Thank you Carmela's!

Oct 2019 • none

Thank you to Carmelas's Mckinleyville for going out of their way to open during the Humboldt Blackout II. It was a welcoming site to see the dark restaurant with the doors open and the signs out. A limited menu yes, but tacos and burritos, come on! And as a vegetarian, they even had grilled veggies to offer. Carmela's McKinleyville gets a "two forks up" for their extra effort to accommodate not only me but other dietary needs of Mexican food lovers. On the menu, for me, were not only tortillas, beans, rice, peppers and onions (the norm), but choices of tofu, grilled vegetables, spinach and potato for all options. Also, went with carnivores who loved their entrées as well. Everything was fresh, salsas were terrific, and the beer was cold (drinks offered as well). THANK YOU!!!

Written October 30, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary V

McKinleyville828 contributions

Great food - glad the construction is over with!

Aug 2019 • none

Carmela's took down their mural but painted the outside while they added two windows to bring more light and atmosphere inside. The food is still as good and we enjoyed a lovely lunch special of rice, beans, taco and enchilada. The service was excellent in spite of the construction distractions. A locals favorite!

Written September 15, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jrlanz

McKinleyville24 contributions

Great Carnitas!

May 2019 • none

By far the best Carnitas I have found in McKinleyville, California. One of my favorite places for Mexican food in town.

Written June 7, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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