Best Contemporary Mexican Restaurants in San José del Cabo

Good is great, service is great. When we arrived the hostess refused to seat us on the roof even though there were many tables available upstairs. However this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Our waiter Manuel was absolutely amazing — helpful, attentive and courteous. After we were sat and peeked upstairs to see that there were multiple available tables and spoke with a manager Manuel offered to move us upstairs which we declined as we wanted to keep Manuel as our server. All of our food was delicious authentic Mexican dishes. We ordered the table-side Caesar, which Abraham prepared for us - while telling us the history of the Caesar salad and how it was invented in Tijuana! The enchiladas were great, the filet was even better. For dessert we ordered the table-side flambé, which Abraham also prepared while telling us how to make it at home! This dessert I will be dreaming about in NYC. Abraham and Manuel made our last night in Cabo so special. We truly had a great meal despite the hostess’ refusal to our request to sit upstairs. I can’t say better things about Los Tres Gallos - it’s a must visit in Cabo for us.

From the amuse-bouche to dessert, fabulous in every bite. The wait staff was attentive and informative. Pork shank and brisket were phenomenal. While I didn’t eat it, my family raved about the octopus ceviche. 100% would return.

Truly exceptional in every way. I have dined at the best restaurants in Baja Sur, including the only Michelin star (Cocina de autor) and el farallon, but Phortal is in a league of its own. From the moment I arrived, they had someone standing outside the restaurant waiting to escort me inside who greeted me by name. From there, everything was nothing short of divine. The space is modern and inviting, and they have gorgeous blankets if you are cold. They serve three butters (chipotle, regular and honey) with fresh bread. The seafood dishes are exquisite, every bite was memorable. If I could dine at one restaurant in the world, it would be Phortal. The individual attention they give to the diners during the tasting menu is unreal. It’s like you have a personal tour guide who describes each dish with passion, modifying for your preferences and restrictions as you go. The dishes are so flavorful and innovative, the ingredients so fresh. At the end, the chef came out to meet us. He was so young and adorable. In fact, everyone there was invested in the cuisine — it was a real team environment and you could feel the love and passion they all have in what they do. I will dream of returning to Phortal. There is no reason why Phortal should not have received the Michelin star besides that the environment isn’t yuppy - a star is deserved, in fact, two stars are deserved. Don’t pass up the opportunity to dine here. We “splurged” for the 5 course tasting menu (which is actually 9 courses) and with 25% tip and alcohol it came to only about $125/person. In NYC, this meal would be closer to $500-600. The best restaurant I’ve dined at ever. Hands down. I will most certainly be back.

We had 5 pm reservations on a Thursday night so we could head out to the Art Walk afterwards. Service was excellent. Not a large menu, but we started w tortilla soup and a grilled caesar salad. Both were very good. Then we shared the flank steak w chimichurri. The chimichurri was not a green one - it was red and we didn't get much of it. I would have enjoyed a more flavorful chimichurri. It was also served with a big pile of roasted veggies and a delightful potato cauliflower, which was the most enjoyable part of the meal. All in all - good, not great!

If youre looking for the feel and look of the original Tropicana, sadly the past is gone. The entire complex has been beautifully renovated, and I hope they are successful. If you want to stay in town and enjoy peace and quiet, yet be able to walk out to the historic center and art district, you can’t go wrong. Gone is the Cubano bands and bar with overlooking balcony, and in its place is a beautiful bar with tables for drinks and dinner. The sidewalk dining area has the same feel, but I do agree, the menu is limited. That being said, it was the best “catch of the day” dinner I have ever had. The sea bass was cooked to perfection in a mango purée and veggies. The staff was very friendly, and we dined with live music outside. I did not feel as though the prices were any higher than most of the restaurants you now find in Los Cabos. After 18 years of dining and staying at the Tropicana, it was hard to see the change, but I will go back.