Don Jose Mexican Food

This place is amazing great staff, delicious food, quick service for a exceptionally great price! There is not one thing on the menu that isn’t cool perfectly and is delicious EVERYTIME!

Don Jose is that place I remember when I reminisce about Mexican food joints from my childhood. It’s not fancy, I don’t think they have even one velvet picture of a Bullfighter. It’s an old building, family run using family recipes. It is good, solid Sonoran style that will satisfy that urge.
I had been working since dawn on this day. Cutting down a Mulberry tree in my back yard that has become more of a hindrance than a benefit. I worked with the crew I hired to climb this huge tree and cut it up into pieces. Most of the trunk was cut up into firewood-​sized chunks, which I would split later. The smaller stuff I loaded onto a flatbed for the trip to the 27^th ave Landfill, where it would be turned into mulch. Waiting in line to enter the landfill, I realized I hadn’t eaten all morning. I was starved. So was the wife.
After dumping our load, we headed back to the neighborhood. We had to stop at the bank for cash first, as Don Jose only take cash. That’s a bummer, because if they did credit, I’d prolly come more often. Anyway, we grabbed some bucks and headed around the corner to Don Jose. This day they were packed for lunch, with a noisy crowd of revelers in the back. The dining room is a long, narrow room with booths along the side and tables in the middle. We quickly found a booth and starting noshing on chips and dip while going over the menu.
I already knew what I wanted, Pollo Fundido. They do Fundido with chicken, beef or smoked pork, but I was craving that mild chicken flavored with savory spices, deep-​fried, then slathered with cream cheese and a delicious blanket of cheddar melted over it all. The wife ordered a chile rellano. At Don Jose, this rellano comes with a filling of savory smoked pork, then lightly battered and served with a tasty red sauce.
That Fundido totally hit the spot. I scarfed it. The wife doesn’t eat pork, so I got to enjoy that smoky-​delicious mouthful too. The refried beans were perfect. the Iced tea was fresh and cold.
Don Jose, please don’t stop doing what you do.

My family has been eating here since 1969 or 1970 and it just keeps getting better. We love to meet up here from all around the valley and can always count on great service as well as the same fabulous food we all remember plus the new items that have been added. The smoked pork is a big hit with us as is the pollo fun dodo. Please keep doing what you’re doing forever. Mmm Don Jose!

Best Mexican food in town! Enchiladas are great. My girlfriend had the chicken taco plate, which she said was fantastic. They season or marinate the chicken just right & they add a dollop of cream cheese to the tacos which makes it very yummy. Beans are fantastic. You will really dig this place. Give it a try.

The food is mediocre or less. They don’t tell you that it is a cash only business. They have an ATM conveniently set up in the lobby with a $ 2.50 fee to take out your money. It is cold outside but they do not have a heater inside. I will not be returning to this establishment.

One of my favorite places to eat while visiting Phoenix. The food is always great. The owner was very sweet & awesome while we were there eating a Christmas Eve dinner and celebrating with friends.

My favorite sit-​down place for no frills tacos.
The shredded beef tacos have a very good amount of meat, cheese, and not too much garnish. The beef is well seasoned and have never been dry, stringy, or too drippy greasy.
Their chimichangas are really good, too. Medium in size, they’re deep fried just enough to be crispy all around without overcooking the inside. I sometimes get them enchilada style but the red sauce isn’t as awesome as the salsa.
The salsa seems like it’s tomato-​based and it’s a little on the sweet side but there’s lots of flavor in it and about medium in heat. It’s definitely unique. It goes really well with the tacos and chips,
The Mexican Pizza didn’t have a lot to it if you’re looking to fill up. The cheese crisp comes with slivers of green chilis — a little bland for me but I’m used to having chilis cooked with some sort of savory meat. The enchiladas are great and are really gooey-​cheesy.
The seating is a little tight along the middle row of tables and you’ll feel every shift in weight of the people behind you in the booths. The building has a sharply tapered roof so when hell freezes over it’ll handle the snow just fine. It’s cash only but there’s an ATM at the entrance. Additional bowls of chips are charged extra. The service is pretty quick and drinks are refilled promptly.

Fabulous food. No I mean Fabulous food. Like the kind you could eat every day. Best beans in town, great margaritas, great chips. green corn tamales-​yum. Bean burro enchilada style-​nummy. chicken tacos with jalapeño cream cheese — wow.
That the food was great is part of the experience. The people, the service are outstanding.
Did I say I like this place? Try it for yourself.

Consistently good, and friendly people. 100 check– ins due to the weekly need for my fine Don Jose meals. I do like the beans, machaca, chicken and margaritas.

Good family style Mexican food with friendly service and nice comfortable atmosphere. Great place to go after arriving from the east coast. Easy parking in area with shopping and strip malls. Nothing fancy or put on just simple good Mexican food served the right way.

Sure we’ve made great strides since the bean and cheese burrito meals of our childhood. There is nothing special or unique about the menu. The place is put together with linoleum and Naugahyde. But sometimes you want to go somewhere familiar to satisfy those occasional bouts of nostalgia. This place or Teepee fit the bill when then those urges happen.

My favorite restaurant, started coming here as a kid, love the green chile burro, cheese chips and always order a miller beer (reminds me of my Grandad). Very special place!

I have recently relocated back to the Valley. After a recommendation from a friend I decided to give this place a try. I was NOT disappointed! Chips and hot sauce were great, just a nice perfect touch of heat. I ordered the smoked pork street tacos and beans and rice. One of the best meals I’ve ever had! Smoke was not overwhelming in the meat, just perfect! Service was top notch, it is cash only but there is an ATM on site if you don’t have any cash. I will definitely be back!

It’s been a few years since I’ve eaten at Don Jose. I use to stop by fairly regularly due to convenience and due to the nice folks there, but I was never passionate about the food. I was in the area today and was curious if a change in ownership had materially changed the restaurant.
The good news for fans of Don Jose is that the restaurant continues to have a very positive vibe. The servers are amazingly attentive, refilling drinks, replenishing chips… before you have a chance to realize you’re in need. My server was surprised when I needed a moment to look at the menu, a reflection, I think, of the number of regulars the establishment attracts.
Unfortunately, the food still seems uninspired to me. I like Mexican food that is hot and spicy. I want to have to wipe the sweat off my brow when I’ve finished my meal. Don Jose has never been such a restaurant. On this visit, I single handedly consumed more than one mini pitcher of their «hot» sauce. It’s a fine sauce, a nice complement for the chips, but it could definitely carry a little more heat for my taste. Since no complimentary mild salsa is served, I suspect more heat in the sauce is not a practical expectation. My feelings are the same regarding the enchilada sauce. Fine, but bland.
Ending on a positive note, I do plan to return. Don Jose is not a destination restaurant for me, although I always appreciate creative use of a former IHOP location. The people who work here are amazingly efficient and just plain nice, strong reasons for a return visit. I can understand why some long-​time customers have a real sentimental attachment to this place.

My family and I have been coming for decades! We love the food and the people who work there! Very friendly and fast service! I recommend getting cheese on the chips they bring out!

Unilocal Stars — 4
Actual Score — 4.3
I really liked this place. The margarita was good (and I’m a tough critic when it comes to margaritas) and the taco plate was flavorful with that classic Tex-​Mex taste. If you’re in the area definitely pop in for a meal — it’s hard to go wrong here.

Came to eat here for the first time looking for some good mexican food. I arrived today (Saturday) at around 1:30pm, the place was packed and there were a LOT of children. After being told to sit at «one of those booths over there» I seated myself, then noticed an entire spilled plate of food sitting there on the floor below an occupied child seat, about three feet away from me. Now, to be fair it’s not fair to review Don Jose on the basis of the disturbing customers, and it wouldn’t be right if the owner declined service because kids. But then again, is there a reason there are so many kids here?
I looked around at the build and décor of the place. Feels like northern Mexico. Not rustic, but cheap and simple, and yet comfortable. A bright colored rug /​blanket hangs on the wall, drowning out notice of any other wall décor that might have been there.
The food arrived. I ordered a rather complete sampler. Everything was delicious. I washed it down with an over-​sized Coke using a way too short straw I kept having to dig back out and hold. Finally, after asking for a check, I had to use their ATM (a $ 2.50 charge) to pay in cash and walk back to the table to leave some change as a tip. $ 20 after ATM fees and tip for just my meal. But I was very full of delicious food.
I might be back, probably will, but I’m not a fan yet because of the noisy and messy dining experience other customers gave me and because of cash only payments.

Sometimes it depends on what you order.
I have been to Don Jose on more then a few occasions and the quality of the food sometimes depends on what you decide to order.
However, I want to start this review off on a positive note. The staff at Don Jose is very accommodating and friendly. You will never have to ask for a refill on your beverage because the servers at Don Jose make sure your drinks and chip bowls are always full.
Today, my lunch companion and I ordered a pork chimichanga and red beef burrito enchilada style. I have to be honest the food wasn’t very good today. The pork chimichanga was slightly over cooked the and the pork was on the dry side. The red beef burrito was a little on the fatty side, however, the red sauce was tasty.
The service is good, the prices are reasonable, however the food is hit or miss.

Looks like E Thomas Blvd is the spot for good Mexican food! 2 for 2 so far!
After my meal last night, the Mexican food bug was implanted in my body and soul. I needed more, pronto! I drove down here because of the good reviews on Unilocal.I was happy I took the drive.
They start you out with some chips and salsa. I then ordered the «Don Jose Special» which consists of a beef tamale, cheese enchilada, bean tostada, beef taco, rice or beans and corn or flour tortillas. This special came with a drink too. Total was $ 11.00. Here is how everything was…
Chips and salsa– This was the only thing that I was not truly impressed with. The chips were nice and thin but they weren’t even warm and they weren’t salted either. The salsa that they serve is more of a purée. No chunks in it. They both tasted just ok. I’ve had much better elsewhere although I can think of some places that are worse too.
Beef Tamale– This was a large tamale stuffed with shredded beef/​machaca. It was covered in red sauce and was pretty hefty in size. It was a little dry, but the beef was flavored well and the sauce tasted pretty good.
Cheese Enchilada– I am usually not the biggest fan of enchiladas but this one was great! Plain and to the point. Lots of cheese, and lots of onions which I love. This thing was also covered in their red sauce. It was really good!
Bean Tostada– Simple and to the point. Beans, lettuce, cheese on top of a fried tortilla shell. I like how it held up and was still crispy/​crunchy even though I ate it awhile after it came to the table. It was a good tostada!
Beef Taco– A little bit small but packed with flavor. It reminded me of a Lolitas beef taco, just smaller in size. The beef was seasoned well and they topped this with a lot of cheese. I was pretty impressed!
Diet Coke– Coke products which is awesome. The only bad thing about the drink was the size of the cup it was served in. Couldn’t have been more than 8 ounces. It was like a tiny orange juice glass. Free refills at least.
Service was friendly and to the point. Their a la carte prices on things seemed a bit high so I won’t be rushing back to try out other things. If in the area again, and craving Mexican food, there will be no hesitation to come back though. Everything was pretty darn tasty and the combo plate was priced well for the sheer amount of food you receive.
Cash only!

Perhaps some of the best tacos I have ever had. They had a great smoke flavor to them. The beans and the rice were on par as well.
Our whole table was happy and the service (speed of food too) was really really fast.
I wish they were a bit closer to my side of town.