El Burro Mexican Restaurant in San Jose, California

El Burro Mexican Restaurant is located on Bascom Avenue, in the center of the Pruneyard Shopping Center. My family and I consider El Burro the first of our two favorite Mexican restaurants in Silicon Valley because of the location, the family atmosphere, the quality of the food and the price.

Before our family came, my husband and I would go to El Burro for a romantic dinner or lunch. Lunchtime doesn't see as much traffic as dinnertime.

The restaurant has both downstairs and upstairs dining, as well as a screened patio just outside the front door. I've yet to see an available patio table on a Saturday night. Unless we're going out with a large party, we never make reservations. We can walk in on a busy Saturday night and get seated within fifteen to twenty minutes.

My favorite seating area is near the bar because of the dim lighting. The only time I've been able to get a table there is if we go for lunch. By the time we arrive for dinner, all of those seats are taken, and we either have to eat upstairs or outside the bar area.

A server comes to take our drink orders within five minutes after we're seated. At that point, I'll order a side of guacamole to go with the chips and salsa. I enjoy the guacamole while my kids pound down the chips and salsa.

The menu has a wide variety of choices for all ages. Some of my favorites are the shrimp and crab tostada, chili colorado, chile verde chimichanga, enchilada vallarta, and enchilada suiza. My husband either gets the chorizo enchiladas or the chimichanga. My kids get the chicken flautas and the beef chimichanga.

The food is good and so plentiful that we often box up what we can't eat to have for lunch the next day. The only thing El Burro skimps on is the salad, which is little more than bagged lettuce thrown into a bowl with a single beet resting on top. I consider that a "refresher" between the guacamole (which has some kick) and my entree.

El Burro is a great place to eat, whether you're going out on a date or celebrating a family member's birthday.

Here is some additional information about El Burro Mexican Restaurant:

Served: Lunch and Dinner
Cost: Between $10 and $15 per plate
Dress Code: Casual

Campbell 

1875 S Bascom Ave

Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 371-5800

Newark

3100 Newpark Mall

Newark, CA 94560
(510) 797-3030