Fiesta Tepa-Sahuayo

Best food hands down! Where did you go! If I had lived closer is be there every day. The specials they created were amazing. So many years later and I still pine for this food!

This family run operation was fantastic. Sadly, Jorge passed away more than a year ago. He and his wife, both trained psychologists in Mexico, were unable to practice here so they opened a restaurant with some help from friends and family in the area. The surviving family members have returned to living in Mexico.
We miss them dearly.

Its closed!!! Noooooooo!
This is one of the best Mexican places I have ever been. I used to do some work in the area and I was lucky enough to have experienced the food and the graceful owners. But I live so far away now and have not had a chance to go back. When I did try a couple months ago I was so saddened to see that this place is closed. One of the most depressing food moments I have ever had in my life.
Does anyone know what happened to the wonderful people who ran this place and what happened to their family recipes? I neeeeed to knooooow! Please email me or send me a message if you have insider info.
This place was the best. The way they loved food and loved to serve it, it really seemed like that were trying to communicate true friendship through their great meals.
The most amazing was some cactus stew thing was just out of this world. I guess it was a dish only found in a very local cuisine or family tradition somewhere small and relatively unknown in Mexico. He called it like «Kiss of an Angel» or something along those lines. All the dishes came with a giant plate of rice and beans, a quesadilla (thier version of Tortilla, made from scratch for sure) and maybe like soup or salad. Each order is easily enough for two and they were delicious.
Also their drinks are the best. They had a fresh Strawberry lite milkshake/​juice kinda deal where one order was the size of a pitcher. It was fantastic (Especially because the strawberries are probably farm fresh from the surrounding sellers). They had a couple other amazing drinks of similar variety but different flavors.
Love Love Love this place. I need to find the owner to convince him to reopen or at least to express my graditude.
If you are reading this…
To the owners of Fiesta Tepa-​Sahuayo,
Your food is the shiznit!
Yours Always,
Jeremy

I’m depressed that Fiesta Tepa-​Sahuayo is closed! I worked in Pajaro for 5 years back in the 90s and I ate lunch here at least 3 times a week. Jorge would start preparing my meal when he saw me drive up… he mixed it up for me each time and I always trusted his choice… (he even humored me for a few years when I turned vegetarian) I L-​O-​V-​E-​D this place and the family that owned it. I really hope they are okay, where-​ever they are.
I recently bought a home in Watsonville (transplant from Santa Cruz) and I was SO excited that I would be able to visit my absolute favorite restaurant of all time (and Jorge) on a regular basis, just to find them GONE!
I shed a few tears… and was in an obvious state of denial as I searched for their «new location» in the phone book… boo.hoo.

I’m absolutely gutted to hear that they’re gone. It was my favorite mexican restaurant. Every meal I had here was a good memory. And what’s the point of life other than collecting good memories?

Um, it is closed?! How can this be. We went here a few weeks ago and they have vanished. The gentleman at the video store next door told me (if my Spanish is correct) that they up and left with no warning and returned to their home in Mexico. No! Come back! I still have like 20 things to try on your amazing menu. Seriously, this was one of the best restaurants I’ve ever ever eaten at. I didn’t appreciate you enough while you were here… RIP Fiesta Tepa Sahauyo, you will be sorely missed.

C L O S E D ! ! !
i don’t think i’ll ever taste such satisfying pineapple juice as theirs!

This is not your normal white folks style Mexican restaurant. This is gourmet cuisine. When you eat here, it’s like transporting yourself to Tepatitlan, Jalisco or Sahuayo, Michoacan. It is completely foreign, and freakin’ delicious!
How would I describe the food? In two words? Taste sensation! For our first time, we went with the Unilocal recommended dishes of Chilies Nogada, the turkey stuffed poblanos, and Rose Petal Shrimp. As others have waxed on lyrically, I will not. Suffice to say that the dishes were incredible as well as the side dishes of cheese crêpe, saffron rice, fabuloso refritos that tasted earthy and had texture, and great salsa. To my taste, the food was a bit sweet, but it was still delicious, fresh, hot, and well made.
The place is darling. The people are friendly. And, the strip mall is so NOT a dump. It’s perfectly fine. It would be nicer if they planted some flowers in the strips, but folks, I’m not there to admire the parking lot!
I would definitely recommend this place, but only to the right folks because, I’m serious, it’s not the normal Mexican food to which you are accustomed. It’s so much more!

My favorite Mexican Restaurant in the area.
Really unique and delicious food. It’s rare to find this kind of menu anywhere else in the area. Well, I only know this place. :)
The place is unique in itself, lots of interesting decoration. Definitely a cultural exposure when you eat in this restaurant.
I never been disappointed with their food or service. What are you waiting for? Go get some of these yummy dishes.

Came to celebrate a good friend’s b-​day.
Wow.
21 people in our group.
The waiter/​owner suggested some specials.
The food came without fanfare.
Simple presentation.
More than enough to eat.
Inexpensive.
And it was good.
Very good…
Yes, I am going back.
And telling all my friends
it’s a «don’t miss’ place to dine

After reading the other Unilocal reviews, I had to try this restaurant. I have travelled throughout Mexico, Central America and it was suggested by the owner Jorge Rivas that since it was my first visit that I try the Chiles Nogada that consisted of Poblano Peppers, filled with ground Turkey, seasoned with Almonds, Pecans, Fine Herbs, Dried Fruits and Topped with Walnut Sauce. $ 14.50.
Along with two cold Negro Modelo’s I must say this was one of the best meals that I have had on this earth and if this was my last day or last meal of this great life, I would join with friends to Fiesta Tepa-​Sahuayo .
I posted a photo of the Chiles Nogada along with the side dish and the Negro Modelos.
Thanks for the great previous Unilocal reviews.
PS Enclosed is a YouTube Video of Watsonville its sites and people
taken on August 1^st 2008

I agree with pretty much everything everyone else has written. Fantastic food, crazy décor, friendly waitstaff. If you’re looking for something a little different, give Fiesta-​Tepa-​Sahuayo a try.

Tired of the usual ceviche, tacos, burritos and other ubiquitous Mexican meals? Come on down to Tepa. The NYF and I returned here on a Sunday afternoon around 1:00PM. We seated ourselves and the restaurant owner walked up to the table and gave us the rundown of the menu, including highlights of the special authentic foods.
NOTE: They also now carry Mexican Coca Cola. 5 stars ahoy!
Included on this list was one dish that particularly caught our eye, although I now fail to recall the name. $ 14 bucks. Definitely share if you come here; you get a lot of food. Here’s the gist:
2 Chili Rellenos stuffed with ground turkey, almonds and spices, topped with a walnut sauce
A sweet cheesy crêpe topped with rose petal sauce and dried cranberries
Saffron Rice
Beans
Salad
Mexican Coke
All delicious. I love it every time I come here. I stand by my belief that this is the best Mexican restaurant for authentic and innovative cuisine in all of Watsonville.

review synopsis. GO HERE. NOW.
i was sold on fiesta tepe-​sahuayo before i even ate there. last thursday night, my bf unit called and went off on a serious schpiel about how amazing amazing the food at this restaurant is. there were exclamation points involved, so i knew he was honestly exuberant. AND, not to mention, my boyfriend has never EVER raved to me (with exclamation points!) about any food he has ever eaten. so i knew this place was going to be bomb. my bf’s got a discriminatory palate!
this place is soooooo whimsical in their décor. lots of authentic pottery and faux fruits and plants on the wall (see pic). this place does not have 5 star décor (white tablecloth, spotless Oneida silverware, and the like). but what it lacks, it makes up with their food. i have never had mexican food like this.
the restaurant owner/​waiter provided us with such great service. he was right at our table when we first arrived. when my bf and i each ordered a negra modelo, he brought SIX. ON ICE. IN A BUCKET. so basically we pay for whatever we drink. i ordered the 4-​mole platter (with prawns) and bf ordered the rose petal with prawns. let’s take a trip down memory lane…
i’m testing out my delicious mole. i have never gone out of my way to order mole at any mexican restaurant, but bf loved it here and recommended it, so i had to try it. so i’m chewing… and bf is chewing. he’s eating some of the crêpe that came with his rose petal. he gives me a piece of his crêpe (and mind you, bf never offers any of his food to me so i always have to ask him for a bite if i want to try his food). so bf actually offers me a piece of the crêpe without me asking. i take a bite. i am launched into culinary oblivion. there are fireworks in my mouth, on my tongue. my taste buds are running amok. they are jumping around like munchkins on speed. i do not want to stop chewing for fear the crêpe would go away. i savor every moment. i keep chewing. i keep keep chewing. first word out of my mouth after i’m done chewing: «…wow…»
NO JOKE! go eat at this place! i have never said «wow» to anything i’ve eaten before. this is a big clue that y’all need to step on it and eat at fiesta. GO! NOW!
there is a catch to this place. most of their splatters are in the $ 13 range. i think that’s probably why this place doesn’t do as great of business as, say, el frijolito. or burger king. but the food is worth it. actually, the food is worth MORE than what it costs. and the prawns were big, too. not shrimps in disguise.
after dinner on friday night, i made a promise to myself. i will eat at fiesta tepa-​sahuayo at least once every weekend that i visit my boyfriend in watsonville. scout’s honor! and i can say that because i used to be a girl scout. yes, i rocked the brownie knee socks with the orange side tassels.

We planned a road trip out to Watsonville just to eat at Fiesta Tepa-​Sahuayo & visit w/​friends. It’s hella far just for lunch coming from Fremont, but it’s worth it.
We all met up at 1pm and it took a while to check out the menu & order. The male waiter/​owner mentioned the more authentic Oaxacan dishes to our group of Caucasians/​Asians. We had to wait a long time for the food, but you get chips & salsa to tie you over.
We ordered:
2 orders of guac.- really fresh & yummy.
Pipianes $ 13.50-green, red moles cooked w/​pumpkin seeds in each different peppers & Mex. herbs as epazote, aguacato leave, hoja sauce w/​either shrimp or chicken. we got it w/​shrimp. Everyone liked it.
chiles nogada $ 14.50-roasted poblanos stuffed w/​mixture of ground turkey, seeds, dried fruit w/​almond sauce. Everyone liked it.
saffron shrimps in tepa $ 13 — everyone liked it.
rose petal cooked shrimps in tepa $ 13 –featured in the movie Like Water for Chocolate. Awesome.
Squash blossom quesadillas — yummy
white enchiladas $ 10 for 3. Huitlache & squash blossom. Awesome.
Also we got 6 beers: Negro Modelo (guys liked it) & Corona.
I got a pitcher of the fruit drink Guanabana. It’s yummy, don’t know what the fruit really taste like so can’t compare.
They take credit cards. One unisex bathroom hidden in the back of the restaurant. Cool jukebox near the front.
Pics above.

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. I was introduced to this place by some friends, and I’ve made it a point to go out of my way to go there on a regular basis.
The salsa is amazing. I lived in New Mexico for awhile, and this salsa is comparable to the amazing salsas I have had there.
The food comes out on a random assortment of dishware. Every time I go I end up with the glass microwave platter. I love it! When you order juice or horchata, you get a pitcher’s worth and not just a glass. It’s very worth the money for drinks there.
I’ve yet to have anything horrible on the menu. The last time my parents were in town we went here and we all ordered something completely different and every meal was amazing. So far the best thing I’ve tasted in the Saffron on the specials menu. The green chile wrapped tamales are also amazing. The chile rellenos are not your typical rellenos and are a bit sweet, but they are much better than the usual deep-​fried, cheese-​stuffed chiles you get at any other restaraunt.
If the man who works there comes up and makes suggestions, I recommend taking them! The last time we went we all took his suggestion and every meal was tasty and amazing!
Yes, it’s in Watsonville, but it is worth the drive. If you plan a trip to Target, go out of your way and stop here!

Some may question whether it’s worth the drive to Watsonville for Mexican food when the San Francisco boasts a wealth of options, but allow me to this: it is. At the very least I’m happy to drive well out of my way just to buy a stack of their fresh-​made flour tortillas.
FTS specializes in freshly-​prepared Oaxacan dishes. I’ve had the great fortune to drive throughout the state of Oaxaca, from the city of Oaxaca out to the mezcal producing regions and beyond, and FTS captures the best of the best. My only thought as to why some people have given Fiesta Tepa-​Sahuayo negative reviews is because they’re not used to anything but Tex-​Mex or more commercial «Mexican» food.
Without question it’s a modest place. It’s located in a strip mall. It’s festooned with a variety of Mexican souvenirs. Get over it. The jukebox rips – be sure to make a couple of selections from the «Solo Para Borrachos» («Only for Drunks») CD, get a bucket full of Bohemia beers and settle in.
Check out the shrimp in rose sauce, large, juicy shrimp grilled and folded in a rose scented and flavored cream sauce that’s insanely tasty. Another favorite: the Jimador. Named for the laborers that harvest the agave for tequila distilleries, the dish is your choice of chicken, beef, shrimp (or a mix of all three) steamed in a foil with tequila, nopales (cactus), onions, peppers and garlic. All dishes are served in mammoth portions with generous sides.
Every time I’ve gone I’ve sampled from friend’s plates and come to the conclusion that there’s virtually no way to go wrong. The adventurous will be rewarded…

–hella crap on the walls
–jukebox plays 1 english song the whole day
–birthdays they put a sumbrero on you and your guest as they sing and dance around
–good authentic taste even when i’m not mexican to make that call
–the bathroom is thru their stock
–you feel how hot the salsa was coming out your arse
=CHEESE QUESADILLA, YUUMMMM

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants ever. Every time I’m in the area I try to stop there. The food is excellent and very authentic.
The staff here is very friendly and hospitable, and sometimes the son of the owner will chit-​chat and entertain the customers until his mom will come out and give him the evil eye to get back to work.
The atmosphere in this place is very confusing, mismatched, and cluttered though (therefore losing a star). I think the owners just find anything Mexican and just hang it on the wall. You can find plates, masks, pictures, artwork, and even utensils hanging on the wall. The plates, silverware, and cups never match each other. Its quite a spectacle to witness, which I believe adds charm to the place.
The food is definitely worth it though…

It’s in a mall next to a small market. It looks like a place with simple tacos-​rice-​and-​beans. You could not be more wrong.
These people LOVE food. They don’t just like the movie «Water for Chocolate»; they live it! The menu has things that I didn’t know people ate at the same meal. And it is world-​class wonderful.
Everything on the front page of the menu is guaranteed: if you don’t like it, send it back with no hard feelings. I think they don’t have to pay off on that very often. The décor is… busy: lots of little things on the wall (do these guys know they are in earthquake country?), and the tables are simple. If you order beer, you will get an iced bucket with extra bottles (just in case).
The food comes out as they finish it (and I think they have only a few burners), so if don’t like your table-​mates enough to share, you should not be eating with them. Expect some grilled cactus with your steak, and a chili verde you can savor instead of wrestle with.