Jalapenos

This is a surprising location for a pretty nice restaurant, considering it has Home Depot and Dollar Tree as neighbors. I would never have stepped foot in here had a friend not suggested it for dinner. It’s a small business, so I support that.
The ambience inside is cozy and again, surprisingly busy on weekends. The lighting is a little dim, but I guess that contributes to the feel.
Our party ordered a number of tapas to share and some of them were really quite good, but sooo small for the price. Service was fine.
Overall, the restaurant concept kind of confused me based on the strange location, weirdly nice atmosphere inside, Mexican/​Spanish/​Cuban menu. However, I would consider coming back for happy hour.

3.5 stars. I was actually quite surprised with this place. Lots of options: tacos (3), tapas, enchiladas, guac, margaritas, etc. We started with the guac — it was good, but I felt it was lacking something. Chips and salsa cost extra, so beware — no munchies prior to dinner like most Mexican joints. A few of my dining companions had margaritas — they weren’t very good at all. They were watered down and although you could taste the tequila, the mixer was pretty terrible. My husband got the enchiladas verde, and really liked the verde sauce, although he was still hungry afterwards. I got 2 tapas — the salmon filet over potatoes and an empanada (there were 2). Both were pretty tasty and sufficed for a light dinner. My friends had the mole enchiladas (chicken) and some tacos. They both liked their meals. My husband got some chocolate cake for dessert that was fine, but nothing to write home about. The place was super busy (maybe b/​c it was Easter weekend?) but the guy at the front was able to get us in within 10 minutes of arriving without a reservation. Pretty good service and decent value… in a strip mall in Annapolis.

Definitely a good vibe restaurant. Perfect lighting and set-​up. Good service. For appetizer, I had Sopa de Posole. It was ok, but nothing phenomenal. For entrée, I had their chorizo enchiladas. Unfortunately, I actually didn’t like the enchilada that much. Personally, I thought that it lacked some flavor. When I am in Annapolis area, I may re-​visit and re-​evaluate. Try to make a reservation if you are going on a weekend. 3.5-star due to atmosphere and service.

If you’re coming here for Mexican food, it’s ok. Go to Sin Fronteras for that. But the real reason to come here is for the Spanish Tapas. This is the real deal. We ordered at least 10 different things with a table of four. Every bite was devoured. Delicious and beautifully presented. Great service too. Dip the delicious hot rolls in all of the sauces that are in the dishes you order. You’re Welcome!

The food here has always been really good. Awesome menu with great variety. The service however is always pretty close to awful. We’ve been here at all times of day and days of the week but regardless we always end up with slow (and not due to being busy) service. More than one occasion I’ve had a server standing in the POS area on their phone while we were trying to get their attention for one thing or another. I feel like some re-​training and attitude adjustment would impact this place greatly!

Ehhhh this place is ok. I seriously was so disappointed. I wanted some authentic mexican food and i just wasn’t impressed.
First of all they charge you $ 4 for chips and salsa, its not complementary. I ordered the fish tacos and they were sooo bland and small, almost like appetizers. My friend got the ceasar salad (typical nothing special) and the arroz con pollo. The chicken was dry and the rice was not tasty.
Overall, dissapointed. I was really excited about this place because i entered it was pretty busy. But most likely i wont be coming back.

One of the better restaurants in the area. I think their Spanish food is the better part of the menu. Tapas of course. The filet with cabrales is probably my favorite.
I highly suspect the older gentleman who often greets you at the door is the owner. If so, in my opinion that’s always a very good sign at a restaurant. I’ve never been disappointed.

This place had a good recommendation by word of mouth, so I ordered a chile relleno to go. When I got it home, I tried to cut into it with a serrated knife, but I literally could not cut through a pepper! They had apparently microwaved it until the cheese inside the pepper turned into something resembling recently set concrete. I threw the whole thing away. A waste of time, money and food.

I know this restaurant gets a lot of great reviews but I think it’s overrated. It’s a decent restaurant but for the $$$ I pay here I can get a just as good meal somewhere else. I understand there’s the atmosphere at the bar, kind of quaint but it’s dark in there.
The food is ok but I could eat at some other mexican restaurants/​fast food and have a similar meal at much cheaper prices. Think California Tortilla, etc.

Jalapenos is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Do not let the fact that it’s in a strip mall fool you! The owner welcomes you at the door and takes you to your table. He’s always been friendly and accommodating to us. The place is nicely decorated with comfy chairs. There’s even a fire place! I can’t speak for the happy hour or drink prices, but the food prices are average. Every server I’ve had has been friendly and attentive.
My mother and I stopped in here for a late lunch this afternoon. After we were seated, we were promptly given chips and salsa. Our server came over to take our drink and food order. We ordered the Croquetas appetizer (béchamel mixed with beef, rolled in bread crumbs and egg and fried.) There are five to an order. They came out hot and delicious. We both ordered the Torta Cubana sandwich for our main meals. The sandwich had roasted pork, smoked ham and Swiss cheese with mayo, mustard, and pickle on ciabatta bread, with homemade chips. The sandwiches were excellent. The sandwich had quite a bit of pork throughout, the ham was hot and soft, the cheese was gooey and melted, and the pickles were hot, but crisp and crunchy. Our server checked in about mid-​way through our meal to see if everything was to our liking. It was the first time my mom had dined at Jalapenos and she wants to come back the next time we’re in the area.

Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooove this place!!!
We ordered a lot of different food from the menu and it was heaven!

Great reviews and recommendations from my friends got me to check this place out. In full disclosure I am not a Mexican or Spanish food fan. But i can appreciate a dish.
I ordered the salmon and it was done well and the side of veggies was a bit too salty and so was the mashed (whatever) my salmon sat on.
My friend ordered the lamb and it was the better dish. Same complaints about the veggies.
The margaritas were very tastey.

Solid choice. Unique menu of Mexican and Cuban food. Classy atmosphere, great prices.
We both enjoyed our Cuban lunch plates of stewed and shredded meats. Beef was smaller than pork but came with rice and black beans. Fried plantains were included and really tasty. Only $ 11 each.
Chips and salsa tasted better than most restaurants. Quiet, somewhat empty atmosphere at lunch. Our server seemed to forget about us when we were finished, but a little wait was ok. Classy, sit down dining atmosphere
Look forward to trying some more dishes in the future.

This place is a hidden gem — hidden in a strip mall next to a dollar store! I know it sounds unusual but as soon as you walk in you’re transported to a cozy Hispanic-​Latino dining room with a soothing waterfall behind the host stand and cozy chairs at every table.
Definitely make a reservation for dinner, as we do each time, and always speak to the friendliest guy, who I think is one of the owners. He always sounds genuinely happy to have you come in!
Great happy hour specials but usually packed.
Fantastic guacamole and fajitas.
We celebrated a 30^th birthday party in their back room and it was a perfect evening. It seats 20 but we had plenty of room.
Excellent house margaritas and attentive staff.

Went with my husband and son for dinner. Wait staff is pleasant but not cloying. Food was spiced and flavorful. I got ceviche in lime. Husband got ceviche in tomato base. Both were full of seafood and delicious. I got shrimp tacos with cactus, Onions and cilantro. Son got a diner with pork that he was happy with and husband stuck with tapas. For desert we got 3 different deserts and all were delicious. I got the Bomba Tropical. It was refreshing and Huge. Bread pudding was moist.
Meal was not cheap but thouroughly enjoyed it. I only wish the location were in a place where you could enjoy the outside while you eat. There is no outside seating and no view. Windows are covered with curtains.

Though it’s initially a confusing place– is it Mexican? Spanish? Why is in the saddest little strip mall in a rapidly developing part of Annapolis? This place never disappoints. The food is great (for very reasonable prices) and the service is always friendly.
I chose carnitas tacos ($ 7.75) and mussels in tomato sauce (mejillones cantina – $ 8.75) giving me a taste of both. The three tacos came with just one corn tortilla each (yay– I don’t like it when the taco is so soggy it requires two) and contained just basics: carnitas, onions, cilantro and guacamole sauce. Honestly, these three probably would have been enough! But the generous portion of mussels was also fantastic. The tomato sauce, which was so well-​balanced, neither too sweet or too tart, was so addictive I even asked for some bread (hot rolls!) to mop it up.
The menu is quite extensive and offers something for everyone, since you can mix it up with some small plates or a larger platter you might find at a Tex-​Mex place (I think the menu has changed recently with more of an emphasis on the Tex-​Mex options, like burritos and fajitas). Definitely check this out! It’s a great non-​chain option in an area of Annapolis littered with them.

Food tasted okay, service was mediocre, and prices are so-​so. Jalapeños ranks average in my tapas restaurant scale… not very original or authentic. Not sure what kind of theme they are going for, but they seem to be confused. Maybe they were trying to «class it up» with a more upscale restaurant atmosphere, but with with middle of the road «good, but not great» flavors and menu selections, they fall on the average, or above average if I am being generous. They’re probably the only Spanish tapas restaurant in the Annapolis area, so I can’t compare or recommend other options.
If you’re willing to drive an hour to Rockville and visit La Tasca… that’s your best bet.

I’d give this place roughly a high 3 starts, rounded to 4.
We stopped in here the other night for a quick organizational meeting. We had about 12 people in our party and met in their private room in the back.
The good: The food! The name Jalapenos might suggest this is a Mexican place, but the food seemed to have more of a Cuban influence. Plantains were part of several of the meals, but it wasn’t spicy in the classic Mexican food kind of way. I had beef, the SO had fish, the munchkins had enchiladas and tacos. We were all happy.
The prices were a smidge higher than I’d expect, but I suspect that’s because we were in Annapolis.
This place is right near the downtown shopping area and parking was free and plentiful.
We’ll be back.

Don’t let it’s location fool you! It looks like a shady strip mall joint that will leave you with dysentery or worse, but go! The minute you step inside, your jaw drops at the gorgeous design. Waterfall glass, walls of wine, everything is so lovely. You forget there is a dollar tree next door.
The food is great. They offer different things for lunch and dinner, but everything I’ve tasted has been great. Their service is attentive and intimate without being obnoxious. You are never for want of anything. Margaritas are strong and sweet and sour, delicious. Staff is so accommodating. I took my friend who has a severe gluten allergy and they were so kind in helping her ensure she could eat all of her choices.

It’s a bit of a drive from DC but some of their dishes are better than the trendy new Spanish restys in DC. Tucked away in a little shopping center with a rather nondescript heading, don’t let it’s diminutive appearance from the outside stop you – this place is legit.
Also, their happy hour specials are ridiculous. Go there, you won’t regret it!