RESTAURANTS BEST STEAKHOUSE Whaling Station Steakhouse 763 Wave St., Monterey (831) 373-3778, thewhalingstation.com Before any hand is played, the dealer will cut the cards. There is probably little benefit to this practice, though. The kitchen staff at the Whaling Station know their cuts, as well. However, there is a big payoff to their efforts. Center-cut sirloin, rib-eye, New York strip, filet mignon—these are cuts of aged prime beef, charbroiled to your liking (not more than medium rare, if you want the best flavor). What is more, the staff show their hand, presenting each table with a display of the steak options. No wonder the restaurant is awarded by readers year after year. BEST THAI Pacific Thai 663 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 646-8424, pacificthaicusineca.com When you think of “America’s Last Hometown,” most people think of the Queen Anne-style homes, beach bungalows, art galleries, boutiques and the overall unmistakable Americana charm of Pacific Grove. Pacific Thai sprinkles on just enough zest and spice to wake up the sleepy town with and snag the Best Thai Restaurant title again. Diners will find comfort in classic Thai favorites like green curry, drunken noodles and pad Thai, but can also opt for something a little more adventurous like the ultra fragrant spicy Thai basil stir fry, pra ram tofu, or savory and piquant larb gai. They’re not playing around. BEST TAQUERIA El Charrito 122 W. Market St., Salinas, (831) 424-9446 483 Calle Principal, Monterey, (831) 884-5143 elcharrito.com There are routinely long lines at El Charrito’s original Salinas location and the El Charrito Express offshoot in Monterey, and for good reason. “It reminds people of their grandmothers’ cooking,” says proprietor Kenya Moncada-Jay. “It feels very homemade.” There are reasons for that too: Everything is still made according to Moncada-Jay’s grandmother, Teresa Moncada’s, original recipes she opened with 43 years ago, and everything is made in-house. That includes the buttery homemade flour tortillas, and it feels a little bit like winning the lottery if you score a bag. The odds are in your favor to get a delicious meal in the hot line, but the odds of finding extra tortillas are not. Play at your own risk. BEST MEXICAN BEST RESTAURANT - SALINAS Villa Azteca 157 Main St., Salinas (831) 256-2669, villa-azteca.res-menu.com If Villa Azteca were to design a game of Lotería—iconic for its depiction of everyday items on playing cards—the family-run restaurant would probably depict things like their handmade tortillas using different types of heirloom corn, a nopal which they lovingly prepare as a taco filling, a margarita (pink from a prickly pear), a molcajete (pestle and mortar) that they use to make their variety of fresh salsa, and perhaps a cazuela (a traditional Mexican clay dish). It would be a fun deck of cards. In real life, Villa Azteca brings familiar Mexican flavors with a modern and playful flare. That is as colorful as a game of Lotería, but much more edible. BEST MEDITERRANEAN Dametra Cafe Ocean and Lincoln, Carmel (831) 622-7766, dametracafe.com Once again Carmel’s Dametra Cafe wins the Weekly readers’ vote for Best Mediterranean in Monterey County. And while we’ve been talking about games this year, play is always on the menu at Dametra. The aromas from this cafe’s signature Lebanese dishes consistently lure passersby, but it’s this restaurant’s zeal for life that keeps guests coming back. Don’t forget the decadent baklava and Moroccan or Persian tea to end the night—it’s the perfect companion with Dametra’s tradition of singing and dancing among the tables. 90 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof Rated the 12th Best Restaurant in the country by Yelp Top 1% of Restaurants Worldwide and Best Everyday Dining - U.S. 2010, ‘12 Business of the Year, Carmel Chamber of Commerce No. 2 Favorite Finds of 2013 Chris Reynolds, Los Angeles Times Ocean Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln 831-622-7766 • Carmel-by-the-Sea www.dametracafe.com “Like nowhere else” our loyal Monterey County Weekly customers, -you’re like family- for your support and votes! ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’25 Mediterranean Restaurant in Monterey County Best For 15 Years! ’24 We would like to thank
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