Joe Peña’s in Frankfurt am Main

First of all, the food was good, if not particularly warm. What was downright disappointing was the service. We arrived right after it opened. We were seated by the window. The insulation was poor, so it was quite chilly. I'm not exactly at home in Mexican cuisine. I sat there for a minute and was already asked to order. First, I read the menu. A minute later, the same thing happened. We ordered non-alcoholic cocktails and a carafe of water with mint and lime. According to the menu, the contents were 1 liter. We were served a carafe with two slices of lime and two sprigs of mint. And three-quarters of the carafe were ice cubes. I wanted water, not an icebox. And all this for €8. After the meal, my companion's plate was taken away first, even though I wasn't finished. My plate was taken away without a word because I briefly stuck out my elbows. That was probably the waiter's signal that I was finished. The bill for everything was reasonable. The waiter's satisfactory inquiry gave me a lecture about waiter training. There's zero understanding of my objection. That says it all.

The Gambas de Sartén are to die for. 🙏🏻 Truly sensationally good. Attentive and super friendly service, great cocktails!

I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and I can safely say I was satisfied with the selection, plus I even tasted some new combinations I never tasted before and I'm pretty sure belong to this restaurant. The staff was SUPER friendly (a blonde lady whose name I didn't get will surely make your day!), the food was great, the spiciness level was noticeable, and all-in-all a wonderful experience for my one day in Frankfurt!

Food quality is poor,4/10. Drinks also cheap and badly mixed. Service is friendly. Overpriced for what it is.

Delicious; just like before; the food could be a bit more creative :-)

Nice ambiance, especially on warm summer evenings outside. Friendly service, delicious food. Highly recommended.

Beautifully decorated, the staff are extremely friendly. The food and drink menu is extensive, and there's something for everyone. The food and cocktails were delicious. The only annoying thing was the noise level caused by the guests. You can also sit outside, which is certainly quieter, but smoking is permitted there. Overall, I would recommend the restaurant and visit again myself.

Highly recommended! Super friendly, cheerful, and attentive staff. Certainly not cheap, but the quality is very high and incredibly delicious. I'd happily come back again.

The food was excellent...very authentic Mexican cuisine.

Top-notch restaurant. I've been so impressed for the first time in a long time. Not only is the food great, but the waiters are also incredibly attentive. The location is truly impressive. It's definitely worth a visit.

Very courteous service. Our dog was given a bowl of water right away without being asked. The food and drinks were very good. The spicy sauce deserves its name. We'd be happy to go back.

Update: Thank you, Corinna!!! You were a highlight of our evening.... The food and service here are always outstanding. I always have a great time here. Highly recommended.

The food was disappointing, especially considering the higher prices. I ordered the sizzling beef fajitas, but they had an odd smell and were tough, which made them hard to enjoy. We chose to sit in the non-smoking section, but the smell of smoke was still noticeable since the glass divider doesn’t completely block it. Definitely something to be aware of if you’re sensitive to smoke or dining with children. On a positive note, the service was decent—nothing remarkable, but the staff were polite and friendly.

Overall, the quality of the chicken and beef was good, and the service was attentive and very friendly. However, the Strawberry Margherita was rather bland, and the "Sizzling Fajitas" (I know them as "sizzling fajitas") were seared and served hot in a pan. Ours were almost cold and served rather softly in the sauce. That was a shame, but they tasted okay.

A colleague recommended this restaurant to me. It's a fantastic place. The food is very good, and the service is top-notch. You can sit outside. All in all, I highly recommend it.

Last year it was great so we visited again. This year not so much. One waiter was really rude and unhelpful . Another one was nicer. The food is nice. It’s decent Mexican food.

I received a message that the review had been deleted by the owner... But since the experience at this restaurant was really bad, I feel it's important to repost it. We had reserved a table and were seated outside. That's no problem in the summer. But in cooler temperatures like these, I expect to be told this when we made the reservation. Luckily, we were able to move inside later. The four of us had to wait two hours for our food. You'd expect the service to tell you this, so you could decide whether to stay or leave. Unfortunately, the food was only moderately good. It was also very loud, which made it difficult to hold a conversation. Despite everything, the waiters were attentive.

The best Mexican restaurant in Frankfurt 👍

Two out of three meals were good and tasty. One steak was not medium rare.

The atmosphere is very pleasant and the food is delicious, albeit expensive. However, you should avoid ordering and having it delivered to your home. The food seems completely different from the one you'd get at the restaurant. Not only are the dishes smaller, but the food actually tastes disgusting.

Highly recommended great drinks, food with authentic ingredients and very attentive staff

Food was flavourless- just boiled vegetables and meat! No spices added whatsoever, even lacked salt.

Great place with friendly staff and wide variety of cocktails

Restaurant serving Mexican food. Very nicely decorated. We had a reservation and sat outside. Everything was still empty inside, but since all the doors can be opened completely, it's almost like the outside. We were there on a Friday, although it was during the holidays. The food was delicious, the portions were generous, and the service was super friendly. We didn't have to wait long, and the food came pretty quickly. We'd be happy to come back.

I've been a regular at this truly traditional restaurant for about 30 years and have spent numerous birthdays, New Year's Eve, etc. there, and seen several changes of management... After having a disastrous dining experience there about two years ago (lukewarm nachos that tasted of nothing, watery cocktails), we visited Joe Peñas again a few months ago... Good drinks, but strangely arrogant, rude, and at times spooky service... This impression was reinforced last weekend when, at around 9:30 p.m. in a three-quarters empty restaurant with several couples at tables of four, we (a couple) were stoically refused a table by the head waiter (possibly the owner's son?) without giving a reason, even after we asked for it... When other couples were then assigned other tables of four, we didn't want to be fooled any further and left after the starter... This has been the rudest and most unprofessional service experience in years... Joe Peñas Never again with the operator!

Last weekend, I went to this restaurant with my boyfriend, who has been a regular there for years. Unfortunately, our visit was very disappointing. I left before the main course because the waiter—presumably the son of the new owner—was extremely rude, arrogant, and had a strange demeanor. Such behavior is truly disappointing for a restaurant that once had a good reputation. No wonder the restaurant was almost empty on Friday night. Never again.

Like many years ago, everything is great: the atmosphere, the service, and the food!

Very bad food. Cold and Tex-Mex. I don't recommend it.

If you are visiting Frankfurt, skip the tourist attractions and go straight to Joe Penas. Service was excellent as was the meals

Nice Mexican food nice clean restaurant if u want to try Mexican you should check this out you won’t regret it 🤗

It is mandatory to reserve a table in advance. These are then reserved for two hours. Unfortunately, we had to wait almost two hours for our food. The food was okay, but the value for money was not right. The space is completely overcrowded and too cramped.

The food is great, the drinks are amazing and the staff makes the evening magical.

Thank you for the waiter who guided us to the halal food. Nice outdoor seating.

I recently had dinner at Joe Peña's in [city name] and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was lively but not crowded—just the right mix of relaxed and stylish. The decor is tasteful, with many small details reminiscent of a modern Mexican restaurant.

I was passing through and came to eat alone. The biggest drawback that means I'll never return: the main server, the one who places the table and gives the final bill: rude, no smile, awful!

Good food, but unfortunately, terrible service! Arrogant, unfriendly service. Terrible!

Awesome Mexican restaurant in downtown Frankfurt... The food is great, the menu is very varied, the service is excellent, and all at a fair price-performance ratio. That's what a good Mexican restaurant should be like... I'd be happy to go back when I'm in Frankfurt.

The food was okay but not that special and had too much acidity. Some cocktails, like the Grateful Dead, were very poorly prepared. It tasted like an ashtray, and when I researched the flavor, I found out it wasn't at all authentic and was due to poor hygiene or poor preparation. Some of the waiters are also very arrogant. I was there with my company, but I would never spend money there personally.

Excellent food, I would have financial issues if I lived nearby! Patio was just perfect after a long day inside.

Incorrect billing, no receipt, animal in the food, diarrhea for days. Thanks – never again.

The staff is young and friendly. Despite the greenery, the terrace is very close to the street.

January 2023: We had a very nice evening at Joe Pena's. Delicious food & super friendly service. It's very loud inside, but thanks to blankets and heaters, you can also sit outside comfortably. I would like to see more vegetarian dishes on the menu.

Great food! We've loved this Mexican restaurant for years. The only thing that's almost better than the food are the cocktails. We highly recommend it! It's also very kid-friendly, so the other guests could learn a thing or two from their experience.

A very delicious and authentic restaurant. Lovingly decorated and super delicious food. The service is also top-notch.

Mega restaurant with great service, a great atmosphere and really delicious food.

Despite having a reservation and already assigned a table, we were sent out because we were overbooked. Totally unfriendly staff! Never again!!

I found the menu prices to be somewhat steep considering the portion sizes provided. The dishes also felt lacking in authenticity; for instance, they include ingredients like peanuts in the ground beef for tacos, which isn't traditional and doesn't really improve the flavor. This choice doesn't contribute to an enjoyable or genuine culinary experience. On a positive note, the service was attentive and friendly.

Solid delicious food. Gladly again.

Authentic Mexican flair with small compromises in volume There were three of us yesterday and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. As soon as you enter, you'll notice the loving furnishings: lots of dark wood, warm colors - you immediately feel like you're in a traditional Mexican restaurant. The color combinations and the overall ambience are really harmonious. We sat inside, where we immediately noticed the service: very accommodating, polite and attentive. The food also came quickly, so we didn't have to wait long. We weren't disappointed in terms of cuisine either. I can particularly recommend the burritos and fajitas – both absolutely delicious! Unfortunately the enchiladas weren't quite to my taste this time, but that's certainly a matter of taste. The drinks were great, the Panema was prepared perfectly. An absolute highlight was the guacamole freshly prepared at the table – incredibly delicious! We were also impressed with the Crema Catalana at the end. The only point of criticism is the noise in the restaurant. It was really loud, which made it difficult to have a conversation and was a bit uncomfortable in the long run. Nevertheless, we had a very nice evening and will definitely come back. Next time we'll try it in the summer to sit outside - the outside area also looked very inviting. A clear recommendation for anyone who likes authentic Mexican cuisine and values ​​friendly service. There is only a small point deduction for the noise level indoors.

Absolutely recommended! Happy hour until 8:00 p.m. for cocktails, delicious food and great ambience!

Typical Mexican restaurant with good food and delicious cocktails. Very friendly service. Unfortunately, it was a bit noisy for entertainment purposes and the price might have been a little lower for that. All in all, still a strong 4 stars.

Simply the best Mexican outside of Mexico

Great cuisine! Service is also top. Were here for the second time now and are very satisfied.

Extremely loud, you couldn't have a conversation. The food came lukewarm and the steak was not cooked as desired. The quality of the meat is subpar for this price range. The service was very attentive, but it still took almost 2 hours until the food was at the table.

Yep. The rump steak for two people was amazing, and the cocktail replenishment went brilliantly.

We were here for New Year’s Eve dinner. Ambience was quite nice. Very limited vegetarian options, food and drinks were yummy. Guacamole and churros were amazing. But I feel food portions were really small compared to other Mexican restaurants for the price per dish.

Very tasty food, super friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere with Spanish music - highly recommended! :) We shared the appetizer platter as well as the guacamole with nachos and a chicken burrito. The guacamole was made fresh at the table and was fantastic! Only the dessert was different than expected: two people ordered the fried ice cream and thought the fried outer layer would be warm. However, this was cold and soggy and was not particularly liked.

Great service. Very loud. Amazing food!

Average food, waited 1.40 hours with a booked table... dinner on the veranda with a cloth full of holes... it was cold... Not recommended because it is also very expensive

It was supposed to be my birthday dinner before we went to a concert in the mess hall...let's just say: we were 20 minutes late! We waited a whopping 1.5 hours for the food and it was almost cold. Lots of noise, very loud location. Good for chatting and drinking, but not so much for eating. Price-performance ratio is not right...cocktails that are too expensive in a glass that is too small...

We had reserved a table and were seated outside. That's no problem in the summer. But in cooler temperatures like these, I expect to be told when we made the reservation. Luckily, we were able to move inside later. The four of us had to wait two hours for our food. You'd expect the waiter to tell you that, so you could decide whether to stay or leave. Unfortunately, the food was only moderately good. It was also very loud, which made it difficult to hold a conversation. The servers were attentive.

Food is tasty, but rather expensive given the size. Cocktails are also small and not very tasty. Unfortunately it is also incredibly loud and you can't have a good conversation. But the staff is super nice and accommodating!

The food was delicious, the restaurant looks nice but we waited 2 hours for our food... Its true that we were a group of 10 people and the restaurant was full so we expected that it will take longer but there were other groups that came after us and they were served sooner than we which was dissapointing, especially when the waiters were always promising to check the status of our orders but never came back with any info so the total review is: food is excellent, service is poor.

Great food with great atmosphere in the restaurant. Sadly our group need to wait for more than an hour for the food.

I don't recommend this restaurant to anyone! The food was TERRIBLE! It was served cold, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Mexican food. I absolutely don't understand the good reviews here. If possible, I wouldn't even give this restaurant a single star.

Two hours waiting for food. Insane…

Two hours of waiting for meal? Serious? Terrible

We were here for valentine’s night dinner. Very expensive for what this place has to offer. Waiters were definitely overwhelmed with amount of guests. Service was terrible. We waited for a long time before someone took our order and when they served our food after long waiting, it was already cold. Food is made with good quality ingredients but tastes below average, it is definitely does not have any Mexican flavour.

Average and uninspired dishes, especially for the price.

20+ euros for half portion dishes. I found it overpriced. The taste was also average. I cannot recommend directly. There are better places definitely.

Atmosphere were too dark, I know it's a bar too, but still too dark. Food was served after 40 minutes and so disappointing. I ordered enchiladas de pollo costs 21.8 and totally overpriced. I won't come back.

Highly recommended. Were there with 4 adults and 2 children. Very accommodating, especially towards the children.

Really cool shop. I really enjoy coming here and it always tastes great.

Super loud and super tasty! Always fun!

The food is overpriced, and the quality is disappointing. I dined here with my family, including two kids, and ordered the sizzling beef with tortilla. Unfortunately, they had an unusual smell and were tough to eat. Although we sat in a non-smoking section, there was still a strong cigarette odor, possibly due to poor sealing of the glass partition. This might be a concern for those sensitive to smoke or families with children. On the bright side, the customer service was excellent.

The food is very tasty, but not cheap. Main courses are all around 20 euros and up and are normal, not large, portions. The staff are super nice and attentive and we didn't have to wait long for our food

Very good food, I like to come here when I'm nearby 👌🏼

The quantity is small compared to the price and the taste is not that great. Moreover, the blatant request for a tip is burdensome (I paid).

The food was really very good, the cellars were very friendly. Unfortunately, my colleague wasn't at all happy with his dessert. And I almost gave mine back too. It's a shame, everything's great, but they can't do desserts.

Really delicious food, a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and friendly and extremely attentive service.

Very courteous service. The food was very, very tasty.

Very hospitable, attentive, friendly, and approachable service

Super delicious food, clear recommendation!

Extremely rude manager and there are better mexican restaurants in frankfurt.

My favourite restaurant we visited in Frankfurt. Fantastic service, the food was just amazing and really good drinks too! I loved the decor and interior, really added to the overall experience! We got lucky with a table a random Monday night. Fresh guacamole made right at our table and everything!

Very friendly, helpful and flexible staff, typical food, delicious drinks.

We were dissatisfied as a group… the starters were priced at an unacceptable price at €15 per person for what? My guacamole also cost €14.90 just for a dip. The taste was also rather mediocre. Unfortunately I have to say that this is my last visit as it has gotten worse over the years.

Service was great and very friendly! The biggest point of criticism is the starter plate. My group finds the composition of the prize confusing. The price mentioned is calculated per person and does not start at (14.95 for two people). Well, if the platter comes to the table after 2 minutes, that's great on the one hand, but on the other hand it makes it clear that the things are only warmed up briefly and then served (very nicely prepared!). I really liked the quantity of the main course, but in my opinion it had relatively little taste. I helped myself with salt and pepper. We paid 170€ for 3 people with a starter plate, a drink per person and a bottle of water.

While passing through Frankfurt for a few days, we had dinner on 12/31/2024 at Joes Pena. Great setting, great service! On the other hand, the dishes were very basic, not bad, but we expect a little better for the price paid. However, I recommend this restaurant :)

Service nice. The dishes taste okay. 5 on a scale of 10. BUT… with all due respect guys, the prices for these portion sizes are not acceptable. As an example: €14.90 for a small plate of guacamole or this starter plate for €30 for 2 people is absolutely too much. This applies to almost every dish on the menu.

The restaurant offers average Mexican food, which is flavorful but a bit on the heavy side. The service, however, is excellent and very attentive. The atmosphere is pleasant and casual, though slightly too dimly lit. The margaritas are absolutely delicious, making it a great spot for gathering with friends.

Very good food and a super good staff with good advice if you don't know what to eat

Everything was perfect!!the atmosphere the food as it should be!!

Based on service alone, I'm giving this place a 5-star rating. My server really did the most to provide excellent service. For example, he apologized for the lack of a menu in English but told me that it was available on their website. He also sat me in an area where my dog wouldn't be in the way. The service here really is top notch. Sadly, I can't really say the same about the food. It wasn't bad, I was just disappointed because it wasn't authentic. Having lived in San Diego for the better part of 12 years, I'd like to think I know a little something about real Mexican food. Unfortunately, this wasn't it. As I ate my chips and salsa, it almost felt at one point like I was eating ketchup. And there was nothing authentic about my chimichanga. I'm disappointed not in the food itself but that it wasn't real Mexican food. But overall, I'd recommend this restaurant. (And as usual, for my fellow pet owners, they allow dogs inside.)

The dishes are quite expensive, but taste very different, some tasty, some bland. I would take the fact that a delicious homemade guacamole is served as a starter, but then a completely different type (more liquidy, with less taste) is served as a side dish, is the best example. Unfortunately, in winter you're cold despite wearing a jacket because it's so drafty on the first two rows of tables near the door (which was also the case last year).

Looking, looking, looking... ...and still didn't find anything negative! Chance led us to this restaurant where everything is just right. I'll try to keep it brief: The service was very friendly (almost warm-hearted), charming and extremely attentive - but without seeming "slimy" or even dishonest. Simply authentic! The candle on the table that had just burned out was noticed and replaced in no time. We were given friendly support when choosing the menu (I had no idea about the dishes). What was served after a barely noticeable wait was not only extremely delicious, but also plentiful. Tastes are fundamentally different, and getting the right taste is often a matter of luck in gastronomy. This one perfectly suited my taste! I also found the ambience to be very pleasant - a great atmosphere with warm, pleasant light. People tended to forget that they were in Frankfurt. I would have loved to stay an hour or two longer to linger at the cocktail bar, which was also very appealing. However, unfortunately I had to drive back to Frankenberg. It's a good hour's drive from there. A route that is definitely worth it for this culinary experience. We had a great evening – thank you very much for that. We will come back! Rare, but equally well-deserved 5 stars from me.

Food, service, everything was great - would be happy to come again. The appetizer platter, the steak and the fried ice cream were excellent. All the service staff were super friendly. Great!

Food is interesting and good, however, huge minus - its too busy, you have to sit literally "back to back" with some strangers - they try to fit there as much people as they can, but this is very uncomfortable for customers, ruined the whole experience. Also, both times that we were there and booking table long in advance - we were getting the worst table next to the main entrance-terrible...constantly cold wind and people pushing you while walking...we will not come back again, this is not worth it, very uncomfortable experience, food was not that great to sit like that...at the same time - big compliment to their waitresses, they were very fast and with a good memory, while so busy.

Very tasty and super nice staff! We chatted with us and gave us very good recommendations! We'd love to come back! :)

Delicious food with excellent service