Review Gina's Mexican Cafe - Nanaimo

Lovely and warm welcoming staff! The atmosphere of this place is cozy, vibrant and very inviting. Food was yum !I got the burrito speciality and the flavours were good and well balanced.

The 3 of us ate here last night and overall it was a good experience. I'd definitely go back to try again or get take out. We got 2x Navajo plates and I got the Frisco Kid. Flavor was really good aside from the rice which was a bit bland but I think that's how it's supposed to be. I have to say that the blended margaritas were SERIOUSLY below par though which was shocking considering everything else seems to be pretty good quality. The lime one just tasted really watery and we couldn't taste any tequila. It was a Saturday night and really busy so we waited longer than usual for our food, probably around 40 mins, which was ok because the place is cute and you can pass the time if you have company, but our server didn't come by to check on our empty drinks. We only had to wait about 15 mins for a table when we arrived though so that was reasonable. Would have rated a 4 if the service was a bit better.

We had friends visit from out of town and they requested Mexican for dinner. We gave Gina's a go and it was FANTASTIC! So good actually that we went back two nights later again 🙈 Portions were great, prices fair, flavour top notch. Our kids came with us on the second visit and asked for seconds, and they're usually picky eaters (to be fair, kid-friendly Mexican food is usually some variation of cheese and tortilla, regardless they loved it). Churros for dessert was just the cherry on top. Highly recommend giving them a try!

Really good Mexican food. This was one of the best lunch restaurants visited on a 6 day Vancouver Island vacation. Great staff service too.

A great get away to get some brilliant Mexican food. Tried their jalapeno cheese filled meal option and it was lip smacking. Drove 1.5 hours from Victoria just to try their food and their fancy lil place and it was worth it. Would definitely go there again. The place such a nice Mexican vibe and an amazing view! Do not miss this spot of you are crazy for the Mexican cuisine!

I absolutely love Mexican food and eat at many Mexican restaurants. This is by far the most bland Mexican food I’ve ever tasted. There was barely any flavour and if anything, it’s more of a Tex-Mex style of flavour than authentic Mexican flavour. One whose had authentic soft Mexican tacos would have sauce and juicy liquid drip from the first bite. The taco was so dry and so was my plate. Had to use the salsa given to add some taste. Food is expensive for what is served. We couldn’t finish the food as we got tired of the taste soon after.

I am Mexican, and I have eaten in different Mexican restaurants outside my country. sadly food will never taste good away from home. If you have ever tried Mexican food don't waste your money and time here, it is the worst food I have ever tasted. It is an offense to our gastronomy

Loved this place, is not like 100 authentic but really good still, love their salsas and just everything will go again for sure! I could not even take a picture of my dish bc how fast I ate it

It has been 10 years since last visit. Maybe it's a little bit too late to make a review for this place. It is the best Mexican or Canadian Mexican restaurant in Canada I've been to so far. Lots of good memories here. Wish to visit it again soon.

Been coming here for 28 years - consistently great food and good service - there is a reason they have been around for over 30 years. Probably something to do with all their sauces being freshly made in house and sourcing all local sea food !

Not the best food. Find somewhere else!!!! Boiled chicken taco and very bland food and I'm not a picky eater. I personally will not return or recommend this place.

UP - Lots of really good food with decent prices in a nice little house.<br/><br/>DOWN - Indoor seating can get warm on hot days but maybe that adds to the atmosphere!?<br/><br/>OUT - We usually get our Mexican fix from Baby Salsa because it's just down the road from us, but I'm glad we finally whipped up to Gina's. Very tasty halibut tacos and fresh shrimp. Chips and salsa were just right and so was the sangria. We'll be back for more!

Hidden gem! This place is great, they have delicious fresh salsa, great drinks, nice atmosphere. It's simple and plain, not dressy at all but the food is decent.<br/>Definitely worth a stop!

Very tasty. Best mexican food ever!

Island Mexican. Had been here before. It is a good road stop for a filling plate of Mexican..I had Enchiladas and it was a sizable portion. House salsa is very plain. They have a Chipotle salsa which was good. Reasonably priced also.

It was ok.. The servers were friendly and the atmosphere is really cute. But the food is something I can cook at home, nothing different or special. Honestly, it wasn't bad but I think I was expecting more? <br/>Also, it was my birthday and we mentioned it 2-3 times, most restaurants would bring you a free piece of cake, I got nothing, seemed cheap of them. We won't rush back.

Classic. Gina's is a classic nanaimo establishment. Id say its more (canadian) Tex-Mex than authentic Mex. Its not cheap, but you get huge portions for what you pay, and they actually make it spicy when you ask for spicy which goes a long way in my book. Service is good, friendly staff. Not sure what kind of tequila they use in the margs but I have a feeling its cuervo gold.

Excellent enchiladas. Accompany with a lime margarita, you can't go wrong. Really neat place.

I had a great meal here at a reasonable price. Funky decor. Good menu. Friendly service.

Good Ol' Ginas. This is the go to place for unfussy tex-mex food especially if you want good portions and very colourful environment. Tacky/ festive, and damn pleasant. And if you're needy, the staff can handle modifications.The servers at Gina's have been here for a while, and they are sharp and cool as cucumbers even when swamped. Solid team.<br/><br/>The menu is small but with a fair bit of variety. The Adobe and Huevos Rancheros being something I fall back on. Oh and the molé sauce is peanut free, for those of you who care. It costs around $30 ish with tip for 2 people not including appy or drinks which is fair I think.<br/><br/>Not everything on the menu is a gem. I would avoid the tostada type salads if you're hungry and the dishes with baby shrimp because they're generally not the freshest. Although Prawns Coriander is one of my favourites, seafood here, like most restaurants, is not going to be the best. And sometimes the corn is wrinkly... but I'm not really complaining.<br/><br/>P.S. I would not recommend a party of 20, although I've seen it done, <br/><br/>*** /*****

I went there yesterday for lunch, there was NO parking at all so maybe expanding the lot would be nice cause you can fit less than 10 cars. Also, the food was bland, the beans were hard and uncooked, the rice was dry, and they did not put enough sauce on the wrap so the wrap was dry also. I am upset because I was told that this place was amazing and got tricked. Not worth my money to go there again. I will be going to penny palapas when it opens again for the year :).

Very disappoint. Went to Gina's for my sons graduation from VIU. We had a reservation for 17, at the time of the reservation we were assured that we could all sit together at 1 table. When we arrived we were put at 2 separate tables and not together as promised. We purchased a cake for the group to share for the celebration, and were told upon arrival that no outside food was allowed. So the personalized cake stayed out in the truck of the car and the group didn't get to enjoy it. We all had appy's dinners and drinks, which most dinners were sub par at best. When dinner was finished the waitress had the nerve to ask us if we wanted dessert. I will never go back again.

Gina's Genius Food. I am a huge fan of mexican food and needless to say, this place takes the gold! There was wonderful service and a wide variety of choices! When the food came it was fresh and hot! I would definitely suggest this place! :)

Great Service!. Cute funky little place! liked the atmosphere.<br/>I wasn't overly impressed by the food though. Authentic or american-mexican, doesn't really matter to me as long as the food is good... and I thought the food was mediocre.<br/>That being said, I may go back, because the service was fantastic! I was helped by a few different servers and everyone was very friendly. I was seated and had my order taken quickly, which I was not expecting due to how busy it was! The food came a little TOO quick (if you know what I mean), but I guess that's just the type of place it is...<br/>So if you go in without too high of expectations for the food, you will enjoy yourself due to the atmosphere and great service!

Fun Place. Great spot, lots of fun. A bit overpriced and certainly not authentic but OK. Service is good, setting is great. We go at least once a year.

How is this Mexican Food?. I am from Mexican culture and I don't know why people actually call their cuisine Mexican Food. It could be close to bad Tex/Mex at best, but there is nothing authentic about their food especially if you are Mexican. Cream cheese in the Chile Rellenos? Seriously? Overuse of black beans and canned corn? We don't eat any of that back home at all. The tortillas are not hand-rolled, and taste like processed paste made in a frozen food factory. It was obvious that I was Latin American and the waitress and looked at me like I was from Mars and seemed to know nothing about the food, it's ingredients or how it was prepared . The décor is an insult to Mexican culture. It's fun to be tacky but I became nauseous when I walked in. I am sorry, but the people must have been smoking something Mexican before they came to eat here, because I didn't see it.

Funky local spot I was recommended. 5 mins from ferry. Great food well priced good portions. Fresh ingredients. Friendly staff. I will go back.

Large portions, consistent, and friendly staff.

It's pretty good. I've been here a number of times over the years, more recently this summer my girlfriend and I decided to trip up island for the day, we stopped at Gina's for a bite to eat having been there before and remembering it to be pretty tasty. It was mid afternoon and maybe a little stuffy but our food was delicious. The server forgot our appetizer but we weren't terribly set on it and were pretty full after our main courses anyways.<br/><br/>It may not be authentic or have a ton of parking, but every time I've been to Gina's the food has been good and I've left full and satisfied. I've never had TERRIBLE service and I don't plan to take meals home when I go out to eat. I'd say try it.

Old fashioned "Mexican" restaurant. Lots of goo wrapped in tortillas with melted cheese. Food was molten hot and all the same temp which makes me assume microwave and salamander are the main tools at work here. Service was indifferent to hostile. Exit an like Olive Garden is Italian. If you have tried one of the many authentic Mexican restaurants popping up in big cities across Canada you will be disappointed. If you liked Chi Chis you will love Gina's.

Gina's A family Favourite for 25 years. Whenever we have a special occasion, we like to go to Gina's. We have been dining there fro 25 years. When we first started going, we lived on Salt Spring Island and that was before the new Island Highway was built. It took us forever to get there with all the stop lights in Nanaimo, but it was always worth it. I can't tell you how many of my friends now go to Gina's because we introduced them to the lovely atmosphere and delicious food. We now live in Parksville, so it is an easy drive, with a shady spot to park in for the dogs! <br/>Always the best!

What a pleasant surprise! So good! Reasonably priced too. Yummy salsa and corn. Cheese quesadilla is delish! Ditto the chicken soft tacos, chicken burrito with mole sauce and shrimp enchilada.

Not sure why everyone loves this place microwaved bland soggy food. Not authentic at all the only

My boyfriend and I have eaten at Gina's a couple times. Once just the two of us, another time with his parents who were visiting for the weekend. The Mexican cafe has so much potential but sadly fell short. The food is decent (not as authentic as one may hope, but still not horrible). What really made these experiences disappointing was the staff. They were rude, standoffish, and looked terribly unhappy. No smiles. Not to mention they rush you out even an hour before closing time. We felt rushed and unwelcome. The food would be worth another visit if it weren't for such poor service. Really disappointing.

Nanaimo's Mexican Restaurant War. Well, after my amazing experience and review of Baby Salsa and reading the comparisons of the two, I naturally had to try Gina's. Now Gina's has something every restaurant would love. A bright pink house on a top of a hill that you just cannot miss. Baby Salsa has lots of free parking. Gina's has a great view. Baby Salsa has what I am sure will be a great summer patio. <br/><br/>The first thing that put me off when i took the tin foil off my plate (HA!) was that there was olives in the rice. Now i personally do not see olives as a traditional mexican ingredient, although i know they are popular down there these days. I think this point could be argued from either side, but i digress. For me, the flavours on the plate just didn't "come together" like they did at Baby Salsa. The corn, the rice and the beans that came with my chimichanga just did not blend. They each had their own distinct flavour. And the corn did not even look fresh, yuck. There was so much beans on the plate which, if they had proper takeout containers could be separated from my chimichanga and retained its crispiness, but instead the chimichanga was half soggy when i got home. Did not finish the meal as i cannot stand those olives. I think Gina's may have brainwashed ppl into thinking that this is what Mexican food is.<br/><br/>In the end I will be going back to Baby Salsa first and MAYBE Gina's after 5pm, when you can actually park in their lot! (HA! again)

Can't get enough.... This place is so good it's unbelievable. Outstanding. Absolutely my favorite place to eat in Nanaimo. Great atmosphere and such a cool location perched on the top of the hill. Awesome Mexican cuisine, funky vibe, a+ service. GO NOW.

Great Food. I always love the food at Gina's. I wish they would get some proper takeout containers though, when you get takeout, you dont expect to walk to your car with four soggy paper plates with tinfoil over the top to put on your seats and car floor. They charge a decent price, get some decent takeout boxes!!!<br/>BUT, Baby Salsa cant come close to the great flavours Ginas has!!!

Cute place. I loved the food I ate here, and the decor was awesome as well!

Fiesta!. My favourite Mexican restaurant. Completely worth the drive for me, and a fun time is always had. Best enjoyed with friends, otherwise, you're the the only one who's only one.

Mmm tacos. All the meals are good, sea food tacos especially. It is very filling if you eat the mexican style beans. If you want mexican food this is the place to go. The way it is painted reminded me quite a bit of mexico too.

Good Food!. I ate here for lunch despite the bad reviews. I ordered the fish tacos, and I was blown away! I've never eaten Mexican food like this before, and I was quite charmed by the restaurant, good service, and great food. I also found it to be quite good value as well. I recommend it, and will eat here again.

Daaaaaaamn Gina!. GIna's has always been a Nanaimo staple and all these years later continues to provide solid Mexican food in a fun atmosphere. On this most recent visit I had the fish taco's, with one Halibut and one Salmon. They were absolutely incredible, I was shocked at how good they were! Also big time points for their ability to cater to the gluten-free and dairy free, They subbed in soy cheese for those who needed it, adjusted their chipotle sauce so it didn't contain sour cream and there's corn tortillas for the gluten-free. All-in-all Gina's has always been a good, reliable restaurant and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who lives or is passing through Nanaimo.

Good Times with Family and Friends. I Bring my family and friends to Gina's whenever I am visiting Nanaimo.<br/>Love it!

Ends on bad taste. I enjoy Gina's food. It's consistent, no surprises. Drinks are good too. However, waiting in line to pay in a crowded doorway, moving around for people trying to come in, people leaving, while one person dithers at the till has left us with a bad taste on more than one ocassion.

I had passed by this restaurant last year while walking around the downtown area. . .but did not stop in till last night. All I can say is that it is a shame it took me so long to come in and have a meal. I got to eat healthy..(whole wheat burritos), the price and portion was reasonable, the food was well prepared and tasty. . . and service was attentively courteous. Thumbs up and I will be back!

Cute place, nice view. My wife and I love Mexican food, so while we travel, we are always on the lookout for a new place. Gina's got decent reviews, so we thought we would give it a try.<br/>We were there for dinner, about 5:30. I had seen a picture online, so I was prepared for the exterior paint :) Inside is a match! We were seated quickly, and menus, water, and chips & salsa came fast. The menu is good, with not so many choices to confuse you, but enough to satisfy almost anyone, including the kids. On the table is a little pink menu card, and on the back is a glossary of Mexican food words, in case you don't know the difference between a burrito and an enchilada. The salsa is good, seems homemade. The chips were a little hard, and there weren't too many of them. Enough to get a taste, I guess. Our orders were taken pretty quick, and the food came in good time.<br/>One thing we noticed while sitting there was how steady it was. People were coming and going, and there was good traffic (especially for a Sunday!). The food was good, we had the Sierra, which is a chile relleno and an enchilada. I must disagree with their interpretation of the relleno, however, as it was merely a "stuffed pepper". Generally a chile relleno is also breaded in corn masa or battered in egg - this was merely a small poblano stuffed with jack cheese. Tasty, but tiny, and missing something.<br/>In all, I would say it was a good meal. The server could have been a bit more attentive, but she did her job.<br/>Overall, it was good, and I would recommend it.

Portions shrinking. Yes, sorry Gina's your potions are shrinking too like everywhere else. Not fair. We used to be able to treat ourselves to meals out, not anymore if that is what we get for our money...less and less.

We love it. Our family has been coming to this restaurant for 20 some years and it has always been like coming home. Don and his longtime staff make us feel welcome even in the days when our kids were spilling things everywhere. Too bad for those very few folk who do not appreciate the effort made by management and staff who have been keeping this tradition alive since the 80's. The food and service is always exactly what we expect and anticipate therefor our continued support.

Love it. We love mexican food and gina's doesnt dissapoint.

Awesome Lunch. Went to Ginas today for lunch, had the Seafood South Western burritos, the halibut was cooked to prefection and the mild chipolte sauce was like a party in my mouth. Waitress was a hoot, had us all laughing. Left feeling very satisfied and like we were part of the family. Will be going again and again

Simply overrated. I've been to ginas a number of times over the years living in nanaimo and have always found the food to be bland and dry.

Fun fare. Eaten there several times. the food is good (for a campy mexican place). service is hit and miss (but mostly miss). Shrimp flutas are the best.

Quality is Lacking..... I don't know why everyone is raving about this restaurant as the quality of food has been going downhill steadily....The last time I went there the fish tacos were swimming in sauce and the salad came out to the table so rusted it was disgusting....I couldn't believe the cook sent out a plate looking sonbad...I asked for a new side and they got me a spinach salad that was oozing dressing. I couldn't even eat it but said nothing at this point as I didn't even want to eat anything from this kitchen...Not authentic Mexican at all, just plain terrible food swimming in sauces covering up everything.

Fun & Funky. If it's a fancy fine dining experience you're looking then Gina's is probably NOT for you. (What mexican restaurant is?) BUT if you're looking for a fun & funky place that offers good food at a good price, where you won't leave hungry or regretting eating there then Gina's is for you. A blue collar regular working folk kind of place, no frills, no fuss but good value.<br/>I have eaten there many times and will most definitely go back again & again - never had a bad meal or experience there - I LOVE GINA'S

Dried out, microwaved food and frumpy service. Every time I have gone to Gina's it has been the same: the servers are aloof and forget a number of things, the food has spent too long in the microwave and is dried out, and I walk away still hungry and feeling like I'm paying too much. I don't understand how this restaurant seems to be so popular. After my experience today I will not be returning to this restaurant. First the server asked us to move to accomodate a larger table, which didn't actually show up until after we were finished. We were only given two menus for the four of us, and when asking the server for more she scoffed at us. We ordered coffees and waters and did not receive the waters until halfway through our meal when we were asked if we would like water (they had forgotten). The food, as mentioned, was crusty and dried out. Like their sister restaurant, Delicados, all of the food is microwaved - disgusting. They don't know how long to microwave it for and it gets crusty. Beside the point, my meal consisted of two small wraps which were not accompanied by any salad or side of any kind for over ten dollars. Needless to say I was still hungry when I was finished. Apart from the rude service, crusty food and unreasonable prices, the restaurant is awkwardly cramped, has tacky decor, and smells like BO. I will not be eating here ever again.

Great atmosphere with amazing quesadillas! It's the place to go for mexican food in Nanaimo for sure.

We arrived sat.night had to wait for 50 min to even get a table they were seating the bigger groups first when we ordered they had run out of prawns so they gave us shrimp which was ok the sangria was very bland and at $25.00. Ltr was way over priced the four meals we ordered all very disappointing by the time the food arrived the place was empty $130.00 for four meals and the sangria and two beers just a rip off I did notice two other customers complaining while we waited we spoke to the owner don and he said that was the price no offer of any discount we will never eat there again high priced low quality food with a very poor manager owner stay well away it's a total rip off

Well.... We went to Gina's on a recommendation from a co-worker on a trip to Nanaimo. It is a super cute little place, which would be obvious to anyone who's seen it. The food, the prices, and the drinks were great.<br/><br/>That said, the service was pretty much the worst I have ever had. And it wasn't the fault of any specific member of the waitstaff, it was the fault of whoever oversees hiring and scheduling. The place was essentially full and from what I'm reading, that's not uncommon. Given that, they should have more people working. Period. I saw a waitress (younger woman) getting yelled at in front of patrons by a more veteran waitress. And then later saw her having to try to calm down an irate customer on the phone. I can only imagine this type of thing would cause a pretty high rate of turnover.<br/><br/>After it was mentioned that we were getting these free chips, plus the fact that it's pretty common knowledge about the place (and stated on the menu), we saw several people seated after us getting their chips while we still didn't have any. We tried to flag down employees several times with no luck. When we finally did, the woman just gruffly said "You didn't get any?" and when we confirmed, disappeared and returned a few minutes later and kind of tossed them down on the table without a single word being said. <br/><br/>To make a long story short here, there was a lot of waiting. For the meal, the cheque, and the pay our bill. And my friends, as much as they liked their food, were a bit disappointed, and I felt bad for suggesting the place. Sooo... maybe 2nd time's a charm??

Great food, large portions, and very reasonably priced. Service was excellent. Loved the shrimp tacos!

Gina's is a fun place to go with good food and lots of it. However, I wouldn't really call it Mexican, more like Tex-Mex. They have typical tacos, enchiladas, etc but sometimes the favour is not bursting out. Don't get me wrong though for Tex-Mex in Nanaimo it is the place to go, just avoid sitting anywhere near the live music, it tends to kill all conversation and socialization.

Great place!. I always get the Don Juan (basically an omlette quesidilla; eggs, cheese, and veggies inside a tortilla shell) - total comfort food :) <br/><br/>Cute, unique, and worthwhile place that keeps my family, friends, and myself coming back again and again. It's a great place to eat, and by the looks of it, many people agree (it's always packed in there!)

Love the food and the atmosphere. Tons of charm, friendly staff. I just wish I lived in Nanaimo so I could go more.

My husband and I love to eat here. Our favorite dish is the fish tacos. The staff is always fiendly and service is great

Hola amigos! While over on the island I checked out a couple restaurants one being, Gina’s Mexican Cafe. Because when you think of Nanaimo you obviously think of Mexican food! Okay… so maybe you don’t… But nonetheless we went to go check this restaurant out! This florescent pink house you cannot miss! You could probably see it all the way from Vancouver. It is very festive with mexican looking decoration and is definitely an eye catcher. But don’t let this building fool you on the outside because the food is delicious here! We were first greeted with chips and salsa (personally this is my favourite part of mexican food). The chips weren’t super crunchy and tasted a little stale, but the salsa was very good. It had nice flavour, but wasn’t spicy. There were little bits of carrots mixed in with the salsa which made it different from all the other mexican salsas you have. For the entree we ordered the Halibut Fish tacos and the Sierra plate. They were both served with corn, rice, and bean