Ocotillo Restaurant & Cantina

We found this place on Unilocal and took our family there after softball games in Winchester. From the outside it’s not that appealing. It looked closed so we almost didn’t go in. But once we did it was great, there were 10 of us and food was fast, great price and really good great food! I had a crispy taco and soft taco, I always judge a mexican restaurant by chips and tacos if they do those good forget about everything else and this place had both!!! The service was great too… We then walked outside in the patio to find Karaōke set up at 6pm on a Saturday. what a blast. We always try small out of the way restaurants and this was a «Bingo».

Ocotillo is awesome! My girlfriend and I were on our way through from San Diego to Palm Springs. We were looking for a place to stop and watch the basketball game. The ladies were extremely nice and allowed us to put the channel on the one we wanted.
The food was great. We had a chimichanga, a California burrito, and some chips an guac. They were all very polite and the owner even came out to make sure we were enjoying our meal.
Thank you ocotillo!

Great food. Been there 2 times and was greeted by owner both times. Nice staff. great chips and salsa. Great out door seating area and great food

Great food. Comfy environment, good service, and good music playing in the background.
This is one of those cool neighborhood places that you have to try.

Saw this little restaurant advertised on Hemet News. We tried it out. DELICIOUS! Super fast service, and everything was great. Our waitress was friendly and one of the owners stopped by to check on us. It doesn’t look fancy from the outside, but we were impressed! We will be back!

Awesome family restaurant, full bar and very friendly service! We came in for the $ 3.99 special, for 2 pan cakes, 2 eggs any style, and 2 sausage or links. The coffee was good the Orange juice was fresh. Very friendly. Loved our breakfast!
Just so no reviews this place badly thinking we got the coffee and juice included, we did pay extra for the beverages! Just don’t want any of the hater reviewers to think we got special treatment, sorry I just read so many terrible reviews that I don’t want to become the reason for any more.
I read three 1 star reviews that are all from the same family, I think this is a ploy to lower this places rating! Very sad. There is nothing here that comes from a can. Come in and meet the owner this og Latino doesn’t do cans!

Over price flavorless garbage, that has sucky winco cheese on it. They don’t have tortas and the food out right sucks. The carne tastes if awful!!! Don’t waste yo time or money just go down the street to Santiago’s

So happy to see it reopen. Great chips! Cheese enchiladas, chili Colorado, carne Asada, shredded beef with red sauce burritos and Chilis verde with green sauce. Will be back for more. Very affordable. Friendly staff. Kareoke on Saturday night outside patio. Breakfast lunch and dinner. And did I mention very affordable?

We heard about this place thanks to Hemet News.
The breakfast burritos are a good deal for the size that it is. It was pretty good it just lacked flavor. Kinda plain. I got it with bacon and ham and i didnt see any bacon at all. Maybe they were tiny pieces but all i could taste was the ham and a lot of potato. Potatos need some salt. Lol we also got an enchilada plate. It was good but lacked flavor. The food wasnt very warm, i felt like it wasnt made that fresh. The beans were ok the rice was ok the salsa was okay the chips were okay. Lol nothing amazing to rave about. We also got the breakfast special and it was good. The pancakes tasted great. The girl who served us was very nice so we appreciated that. The inside of the resteraunt looks wise… needs some work, Not very appealing. I dont feel like coming back here again or recommending it to anyone. Thats my honest opinion. But I suggest you try it out yourself and let them know what you think as well.

Our family ate there a month ago. We loved it years ago and saw it had reopened. The albondigas soup smelled like canned tomato soup and looked like someone threw in some meatballs. My son ordered a burrito with carne asada and threw up when we got home. Nothing was good not even the margarita. Hoping they improve.

Carne asada was tender no tough chunks. red sauce not much flavor. beans good.
rice wet. salsa very good. beer cold. waitress nice.
I would not eat here regularly but i have yet to try the lunch or breakfast menu which looks good. .not bad though… still looks the same as always. outdoor section is nice. try it you might like it.

Ocotillo reopened under new ownership a couple of months ago. Should have just stayed closed.
Went in on a weekday afternoon for lunch. There was one other person there, sitting at the bar. Sat at a table nearby and the bartendress came over. She said that her uncle had bought the place and that everything on the menu was new. I asked if they had any specials and she told me that is was Chile Colorado. So I ordered that and a margarita. All this time there were a couple of ladies (probably owners/​relatives) having a very loud conversation in the next room.
Everything came up pretty quickly. Margarita was ok, Colorado was not. Rice, beans and tortillas were good. I have been a Chile Colorado fan for probably 35 – 40 years. I have had good and not-​so-​good Colorado, but I have never ever just left it on my plate. First time for everything.
So no plans to go back. Will wait for the next ownership change…

Do not eat here. I would give zero stars if possible. I came to try this place out after they reopened sense i only live around the corner. I ordered a carnitas burrito to go looked great nice size until i bit into it. On the second bite i got a jagged piece of bone along with a cracked tooth and a cut up mouth. I called them right away to let them know and the owner was to busy to talk to me so i left my name and number and big suprise never got a call back they obviously didnt care. Complete waste of money and you should not eat here.

So disappointed, Chile Verde taste like the sauce came out of a can, received spoiled marinara sauce with mozzarella sticks, plate presentation was sad. The place looks nice just not authentic Mexican food. Where’s the love! Can’t even make fresh salsa, can tomatoes! !!! Salsa? Is all the 5 star reviews family or friends. …

Great Mexican food. Chip’s and Salsa were perfect as was the Chili Relleno. Definite be back!!!

Want fancy? This is not it, want good Mexican food with friendly fast service. Stop here!

My Husband and I have been going there for over a year now! We even had our FIRST date there! We enjoy the food, and the prices are good! This is a Family owned and run business. They are always kind, and welcoming!

Yum! I stop by Hemet on occasion to visit my lovely Aunt. We ate here a couple of years ago and it was just so-​so. Stopped by again this past weekend and noticed a difference immediately. Though it is a little hole in the wall roadside restaurant, it was delish! Huge portions, homemade, very fresh and not a lot of fluffy fillers. I had a basic chimichanga, guacamole and chips. My Aunt had chili rellenos, chicken tacos, rice and beans.
The darling new owner was our server and you could see the pride in her accomplishment. This will be our spot for lunch every visit!
Thank you from a person that highly recommends this restaurant.

This place use to be so good 3 owners ago. When the 2^nd owner took over the place was nasty. I am glad to learn it was sold again, so I am reviewing the 3^rd owner. The new owner is Sade, who is very nice. we tried some tacos and taquitos along with chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and homemade, they were really good. I even thought about taking some to go. The salsa, was also really fresh, full of garden fresh vegetables. The heat came on has you ate it, not really spicy just a very nice warmth that built up in your mouth. The tacos were really full of chicken, they too had a fresh homemand flavor. The food is not really traditional mexican, not white washed either, just fresh and good. The kind of food you would make yourself if you are a really good cook. The rolled tacos were also good, the tortillas made them along with the all white meat chicken. A little skimpy on the quacomole, but I guess I could have asked for more. I will be back for taco tuesday for sure. On thursdays it is enchilada all you can eat day for $ 8.95, you choose the meat. So for me and the kiddo, 4 chicken tacos, 1 order rolled tacos (3), chips, salso and a diet coke, $ 21 and change, Good place, I am glad it is back.

Craving amazing chips and salsa? Come here!
Starting with the staff they are very nice and welcoming! Our waitress was super happy and pointed us towards the good stuff on the menu!
The homemade soup was super yummy! Make sure to have cheese with it, it makes it! They make their own ranch and it’s very good.
We ordered the shrimp tacos and chicken flautas. By far both dishes were the best mexican food we have had in a long time! The shrimp was large and fresh and the tacos were very filling. The chicken flautas had tons of flavor and were cooked just right.
This is a neigborhood gem and the new owners are really putting the time and effort in to making this a great place to dine! We will be back soon!