Molcajetes Restaurant (21St)

The first location is amazing but this one is 3 times more!!!! Loved the food and the atmosphere! Thank you for being closer to my home. Now I can enjoy it more often!!

This restaurant serves authentic Mexican food is sooooo delicious 10/10. The atmosphere is friendly and they have big screen tv and music in the background playing. The service was great, everyone was very friendly. This is my husband’s and I favorite spot now. We been here about 5 times and we also order to go a lot.

Molcajetes was excellent! We ordered the basic Molcajetes and it was fantastic. Chips and salsa were great and there were two other homemade hot sauces. Homemade corn tortillas were great. But it was the El Pastor burrito that stole the show! Phenomenal. Staff was great, super nice to our little guy. Nice bar too.

Great food and great atmosphere! I had the fajitas and it was so good with all of the extras they provide. Good salsa too, I always check the salsa! Take the family because there is something for everyone!

Only non-sugar beverages is Diet Coke -or water of course. Only sweet tea… Food was good. Enchiladas were served different than expected. Not bad, just never had this way (enchiladas on the bottom and then the other parts, like chicken, lettuce, tomato… were on top). Fajitas were good. All nice portions. Too large even for some, so a second meal is easily obtainable. Salsa was good. Guacamole was a little spicy, again not bad, just different. Practically, everything is new from the former restaurant that was in this location. Seating choices are intimate bar (maybe ~12 chairs?), booths, bar tables, or traditional tables. Favorite part of the bathrooms is the stall doors have a lip, so no gaps! IYKYK Our server had limited English, traditional server duties were fine, but his English conversations were limited to expected waiter/patron themes. He was great, refilled our drinks and chips when needed, food was brought to the person ordering (not auction style). Removed plates and items from the table in a reasonable time. Offered to go containers.

Molcajete Review Molcajete has been one of my favorite restaurants for a while now, ever since I discovered them years ago at their original location on 11th and Garnett. That location is currently undergoing renovations, which led me to finally give their second location a fair shot. I’m usually hesitant to try a new branch when I already have a go-to spot, but I was curious to see if they could replicate the same quality and experience. First Impressions Right off the bat, one major plus—this new location is much closer to my home. I'm literally just about a mile away, so that’s a win. The building itself has a bit of a history. Over the past 10 years, several restaurants have tried and failed to make it here, so I wasn’t feeling overly optimistic when I heard Molcajete was moving in. But to my surprise, the parking lot was full when I pulled up. That’s always a good sign. As soon as I walked in, the atmosphere embraced me. The warm, thoughtful decor immediately sets the tone. It’s authentically Mexican, yet with tasteful modern touches that elevate the space. This is exactly what a restaurant should aim for—the experience shouldn’t start with the food, but with the feeling you get the moment you step through the door. Molcajete gets this right. Service and Hospitality Their service continues to be top-tier. The staff is kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. I looked around for my favorite waitress—who always adds a respectful, personal touch—but she wasn’t there this time. Still, the rest of the team held up the same standard. And just to be clear: when I say “personal touch,” I don’t mean the kind of flirtatious service you sometimes find elsewhere. I mean genuine friendliness, delivered with class and dignity. It’s the kind of warmth that doesn’t feel transactional—it feels sincere. That feeling of care even extended to the cleanliness of the place. I didn’t have to check the restrooms to know they were going to be clean, but I did anyway. And sure enough—they were spotless. Ambiance and Potential I noticed a small stage setup in the back of the restaurant. My guess is they’re planning to introduce live entertainment or maybe even make the space rentable for private events. Either way, it’s a smart move. Music or performances could really enhance the already great ambiance and make this location even more of a destination. The Food Now for the main event: the food. I went with a T-bone steak and shrimp combo, served with rice and beans. It was just as excellent as I’ve come to expect from Molcajete. They’re consistent—that’s one thing I truly admire about them. You can almost guarantee you’re going to leave satisfied. One Honest Critique But now for the one issue I simply can’t overlook—and I say this bluntly, because it needs to be addressed. There’s a woman working in the kitchen who is extremely loud. If you're seated near the kitchen window where the food comes out, you’ll hear her—trust me. She constantly bangs the service bell with excessive force, over and over. While I was eating, it became more than just a minor annoyance; it disrupted the whole experience. To make matters worse, there seemed to be some tension between her and one of the waitresses. Whether it was miscommunication or stress, it was noticeable and off-putting. To the management: please, look into this. That bell being slammed over and over, combined with visible tension among staff, can really kill the vibe—especially when everything else is going so well. It may seem like a small thing, but trust me, it stands out. Final Thoughts Aside from that one issue, you're doing great things. The food, the service, the atmo