El Tule: Authentic Oaxacan and Mexican Cuisine in San Jose, CA

El Tule Introduce

Nestled in San Jose, CA, **El Tule** stands out as a premier Mexican restaurant, offering a dining experience that goes beyond the typical Tex-Mex fare. This establishment is particularly celebrated for its focus on **Comida Oaxaqueña** (Oaxacan food), bringing the rich, complex, and distinct flavors of Southern Mexico directly to the California Bay Area. For local diners seeking authenticity and depth of flavor, El Tule is a true culinary find.

The restaurant provides a **Casual** and **Cozy** atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for any occasion, whether it's a family dinner, a casual lunch, or a gathering with friends. The menu is expansive, thoughtfully divided to feature both traditional Mexican favorites and a dedicated section for regional Oaxacan specialties. This dual focus ensures that there is something to satisfy every craving, from familiar dishes like the **Carne Asada Plate** and **Fajitas** to rare regional delights.

Highlights of the Oaxacan menu include the famous **Tlayudas** (large, thin, crispy corn tortillas topped with various ingredients), unique **Empanadas De Chorizo Con Papa**, and, most notably, a selection of incredible **Moles**. Patrons rave about the Moles, noting the **Mole Negro Oaxaqueno** as "very good" and "flavorful and not too sweet," which is a testament to the chef's expertise in handling these complex sauces. The focus on regional specialty is a major draw, earning the restaurant praise for serving "some of the best Mexican food we’ve had in California."

El Tule offers a full range of dining services, including **Brunch**, **Lunch**, and **Dinner**, alongside **Catering** options for events. The establishment is designed to be highly accessible and family-friendly, ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone in the community. With a comprehensive beverage menu, including a selection of **Beer**, **Cocktails**, and traditional Mexican drinks like **Tejate** and **Horchata**, it truly provides a full-service, authentic Mexican dining experience.

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Location and Accessibility

El Tule is conveniently located at **5440 Thornwood Dr, San Jose, CA 95123, USA**. This address places it within easy reach of residents in the southern San Jose area and for those traveling along nearby major routes. Its location provides both ease of access and a dedicated space for its popular dining service.

The restaurant is committed to ensuring a welcoming environment for all guests, offering comprehensive accessibility features:

Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

For drivers, parking is simple and cost-effective, with both a **Free parking lot** and **Free street parking** available to patrons. This convenience, combined with the comprehensive accessibility provisions, makes El Tule an inclusive and stress-free destination for Mexican dining in San Jose.

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Services Offered

El Tule provides a complete and flexible array of services, catering to a wide range of customer needs and dining preferences throughout the day.

**Dining Services**: Features **Table service** for **Brunch**, **Lunch**, and **Dinner**, with comfortable **Seating** options.
**Convenience Options**: Offers seamless **Takeout** and **Delivery** services, allowing customers to enjoy their authentic meals at home or work.
**Event Services**: Provides professional **Catering** for gatherings and parties, bringing the unique flavors of El Tule to any event.
**Reservations**: **Accepts reservations**, which is advisable for groups or during peak dining hours.
**Payment Options**: Accepts a variety of modern payment methods, including **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**.
**Family Amenities**: Highly **Good for kids**, offering **High chairs** and a dedicated **Kids' menu** with simple, appealing options like the **Kid's Mini Nachos** and **Chicken Nuggets**.
**Dessert**: Offers a delightful selection of **Postres & Desserts**, including **Flan** and unique ice creams like **Nieve De Leche Quemada** (Burnt Milk Ice Cream).

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Features / Highlights

El Tule's key features and highlights focus on its culinary authenticity, quality service, and welcoming atmosphere, making it a standout choice for Mexican cuisine in the region.

**Authentic Oaxacan Cuisine**: Specializes in and **Serves local specialty** dishes from Oaxaca, including authentic Moles (**Mole Negro Oaxaqueno, Coloradito**), **Tlayudas**, and **Empanadas Oaxaquenas**.
**High-Quality Ingredients**: Dishes like **Plato De Tasajo** (Tasajo Plate) are praised for their "amazing taste," with delicious rice, beans, and meat, showcasing their commitment to quality.
**Speed and Efficiency**: Known for **Fast service**, ensuring that diners receive their delicious, freshly prepared meals promptly.
**Full Bar Offerings**: Features a comprehensive selection, including **Alcohol**, **Beer**, **Cocktails**, **Hard liquor**, and **Wine**, complementing the flavorful dishes.
**Beverage Selection**: Offers unique and traditional Mexican drinks such as **Tejate**, **Chilacayote**, and **Chocolate Oaxaqueno**, alongside standard sodas and coffee.
**Atmosphere**: Provides a dining environment that is both **Casual** and **Cozy**, ideal for comfortable gatherings with **Groups** and perfect for **Solo dining**.
**Dietary Considerations**: Includes a variety of **Healthy options** alongside classic **Comfort food**, catering to different dietary needs.
**Portion Sizes**: Known for generous portions, such as the "incredibly big" **Supreme Burrito** that often necessitates taking leftovers home.

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Contact Information

For all inquiries, including placing a takeout order, arranging catering, or making a reservation for your next meal, please contact El Tule using the information below:

**Address**: 5440 Thornwood Dr, San Jose, CA 95123, USA
**Phone**: (408) 227-1752

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What is Worth Choosing

Choosing El Tule is a vote for an authentic, deep dive into Mexican regional cuisine, specifically the rich tradition of Oaxaca, a flavor profile that is often hard to find outside of Southern California's major hubs. For Bay Area locals, this is a must-visit destination for an unparalleled Mexican dining experience.

The core reason to choose El Tule is its mastery of **Mole**. Customers consistently rate the Moles highly, calling the **Mole Negro Oaxaqueno**—a traditional sauce made from dozens of ingredients—"very good" and balanced in flavor. Equally compelling are the fresh **Tlayudas**, described as "fresh and crispy (but not fried)," which offer a genuinely authentic and refreshing alternative to standard Mexican fare. If you’re driving on Highway 85 through San Jose, as one customer advises, "you gotta go!!!!"

Beyond the regional specialties, the restaurant excels at traditional Mexican staples. Their **Plato De Tasajo** is a generous and amazing plate, and even the side items like the rice and beans are described as "delicious." Those who love larger, more familiar portions will appreciate the **Supreme Burrito**, a delicious and massive "Tex-Mex style" item that ensures great value.

Finally, the overall experience is enhanced by the excellent service and atmosphere. The restaurant’s family-friendly environment, the option for **Brunch** featuring classic items like **Huevos Rancheros** and **Chilaquiles**, and the convenience of a full bar and **Fast service** make it a consistently popular choice. Even their unique desserts, like the **Nieve De Leche Quemada**, offer a sweet, authentic finale that reminds customers of classic Mexican candy. For a truly authentic, flavorful, and full-service Mexican meal in San Jose, El Tule is the definitive choice.

El Tule Food & drink

Mexican Food
Carne Asada Plate $20.50
MexicanStyle thin Steak, letucce garnish, pico de Gallo and Guacamole.
Fajitas $22.99
Chunks of grilled meat with bell pepper and onions, side of freshly made guacamole, rice beans.
Enchiladas Suizas $18.99
Two enchiladas topped with El Tule red sauce, your choice of meat and one side of sour cream and guacamole.
Chicken Soup $17.99
Freshly made chicken soup, carrots, cabbage, potato, squash, with a side of rice, three tortillas, cilantro, onion jalapeño, and lime.
Chile Verde $18.99
Chunks of pork topped with our green sauce.
Carnitas Platter $18.99
Shredded deep fried pork with a side of pico de gallo and lime.
Enchiladas Verdes $18.99
Two enchiladas topped with El Tule green sauce, your choice of meat.
Bistec Ranchero $20.50
Chunks of grilled beef with bell pepper and onions topped with our ranchero sauce, slices of avocado.

Comida Oaxaquena
Empanadas De Chorizo Con Papa $22.00
Two handcrafted corn tortillas filled with chorizo, potatos and quesillo.
Plato De Tasajo $22.99
Grilled salted beef served with nopales grilled jalapeños scallions, avocado, pico de gallo, whole black beans, salad, and handcrafter corn tortillas.
Empanadas De Quesillo Con Epazote $22.00
Two handcrafted con tortillas filled with quesillo, epazote, and jalapeños.
Burrito Oaxaqueno $17.50
Flour tortilla filled with rice, boneless chicken, and El Tule's spice blend signature mole negro sauce.
Enchiladas Oaxaquenas $26.99
Three folded soft corn tortillas then smothered in our signature mole negro sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds served with rice and beans.
Canasta Oaxaquena $62.50
A combination of the 3 Oaxacan Style Seasoned Meats: Chorizo, cecina, tasajo served with grilled nopales (cactus), onions, jalapenos, includes cilantro, quesillo, mexican cheese, guacamole, and 6 handcrafted corn tortillas.
Enfrijoladas $22.99
Three corn tortillas served with tasajo covered with our savory black puree, queso fresco and onions slices.
Plato De Cecina $22.99
Spicy marinated pork served with nopales grilled jalapeños scallions, avocado, pico de gallo, whole black beans, salad, and handcrafter corn tortillas.
Molotes $22.99
Three handcrafted corn dough tortillas, deep, fried, filled with chorizo and potatoes and topped with black bean puree, guacamole, queso fresco, and sour cream.
Empanadas De Amarillo $21.50
Two handcrafted corn tortillas, filled with cilantro and our signature mole amarillo.
Torta Oaxaquena $15.00
Lightly toasted French roll with melted quesillo, topped with black bean puree, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and fresh avocado.

Salads
Mexican Chicken Salad $14.25
Grilled chicken on mixed lettuce, shredded carrots and purple cabbage, slices of avocado and tomatoes.
Green Salad $7.99
Mixed lettuce, shredded carrots and purple cabbage, slices of avocado and tomatoes.
Taco Salad $18.50
Deep-fried flour tortilla with rice, beans lettuce, sour cream, and freshly made guacamole.

Kids Menu
Kid's Mini Nachos $9.50
Corn tortilla chips topped with beans and cheese.
Kid's Mini Burrito $9.50
Mini flour tortilla burrito with beans and cheese with side of rice and beans.
Kid's Mini Quesadilla $9.50
Mini flour tortilla filled with cheese and side of rice and beans.
Chicken Nuggets $10.99
Served whit French fries

Tlayudas
Tlayuda Veggie $25.99
A Gigantic thin handcrafted baked corn tortilla imported from oaxaca topped with our black beans puree, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado slices, Mexican cheese, Quesillo (Optional)
Tlayuda Una Carne $25.99
A Gigantic thin handcrafted baked corn tortilla imported from oaxaca topped with our black beans puree, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado slices, Mexican cheese, Quesillo, and your choice of Meat Tasajo (grilled Beef) or Cesina enchilada (marinated pork chilli) Or Chorizo
Tlayuda Mixta $28.50
A Gigantic thin handcrafted baked corn tortilla imported from oaxaca topped with our black beans puree, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado slices, Mexican cheese, Quesillo, and three meats (Chorizo, Tasajo- Grilled Beef, Cecina enchilada- Marinated pork)

Mis Mejores Moles
Coloradito $22.99
Made of two kinds of chilis, sugar, onions, peanuts, almonds, sesame seeds, and El Tule's original spice blend secret recipe green beans, chayote, potatoes, rice, and handcrafted cor tortillas.
Mole Verde $22.99
Try out unique green mole made with El Tule's secret recipe, including yorba santa, tomatillos, and jalapeños potatoes, rice and handcrafted corn tortillas.
Mole Negro Oaxaqueno $26.99
Authentic savory sweet flavored mole includes rice, refried pinto beans, and crafted corn tortillas.
Mole Amarillo $22.99
Another one of our popular moles - made with two kinds of dry chili peppers guajillo, pasillo, yerba santa, and El Tule's original spice blend secret recipe served with green beans, chayote, potatoes, rice, and handcrafted corn tortillas.

Create Your Own Combo
Combo 1 $13.50
Choice of one Item.
Combo 2 $16.25
Combo 3 $19.99
Choice of three Item.

Antojitos Oaxaquenos & Appetizers
Chapulines $14.99
Popular Oaxacan delicacy, grasshoppers toasted on a clay griddle and sprinkled with a sour-spicy, salty seasoning using El Tule's special secret recipe served with fresh lime and chile.
Taquitos Oaxaquenos $16.99
Four single rolled deep-fried corn tortillas filled topped with black bean puree, cabbage, queso fresco, and guacamole.
Three Mini Tostadas De Tinga $15.99
We spread our unique hand-blended black bean puree on a crafted tostada shell and top it with shredded chicken simmered in a tomato-chipotle sauce, lettuce, queso fresco, and sour cream.
Nachos Oaxaquenos $18.99
Homemade chips drenched in our signature mole negro sauce and queso fresco.
Empanadas Fritas $16.99
Two deep-fried, hand crafted corn tortillas filled topped with black bean puree, cabbage, queso fresco, and guacamole.
Tamal Oaxaqueno $6.99
Banana leaf-wrapped tamale filled with boneless chicken mole and covered with El Tule's spice blend signature mole Negro sauce.
Taco De Chapulines $10.50
Made with handcrafted tortilla, avocado, queso fresco, and sauce.
Botana Oaxaquena $22.99
Two deep-fried cheese empanadas, two deep-fried chicken taquitos, two molotes with chorizo potatoes, two memelas with quezo fresco.

Seafood
Camarones Rancheros $21.50
Shrimp sautéed with bell pepper and onions topped with our ranchero sauce and slices of avocado.
Camarones A La Diabla $21.50
Sautéed shrimp in El Tule's red spicy sauce.
Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo $21.50
Sautéed shrimp in butter and garlic.
Fajita De Camarones $23.50
Grilled shrimp with bell pepper and onions with a side of guacamole and rice.

Bebidas & Drinks
Tejate $7.25
Legend tells us it was once the drink of mesoamerican nobility. Today, El Tule restaurant is one of the only destinations where you'll enjoy this fermented cacao and maize flour concoction.
Sweet Tea Pure Leaf $4.80
Brewed using freshly picked tea leaves so every sip is as sweet as the last.
Jarrito Fruit Punch $4.50
Sidral Mundet $4.50
Diet Pepsi Bottle $4.50
A crisp tasting, refreshing pop of sweet, fizzy bubbles without calories.
Horchata $4.50
Rice water.
Chocolate Oaxaqueno $6.50
Leche/Agua Made with your choice of milk or water.
Manzanita Sol( Apple) Bottle $4.50
Sangría Señorial $4.50
Jamaica $4.50
Hibiscus flower iced tea.
Jarrito Tamarind $4.50
Chilacayote $7.25
Chilacayote type of squash grown for its edible seeds, closely related to other squashes in its genus squash, cinnamon, and piloncillo.
Kombucha $5.00
Softdrinks $3.00
PEPSI, DIET PEPSI , SQUIRT, DR PEPPER, ROOT BEER, WATER BOTTLED, MANZANITA SOL
Horchata Con Tuna $7.25
Horchata mixed with prickly pear opuntia is a genus fruit in the cactus family, topped with cantaloupe and peanuts.
Sparkling Water $4.50
Lemonade $4.50
Imported Mexican Sodas $4.50
JARRITOS(tamarind, mandarin,fruit punch, pineapple, Lime) , SIDRAL MUNDET, SANGRIA SEÑORIAL, APPLE JUICE, SPARKLING WATER
Pepsi Bottle $4.50
The bold, refreshing, robust cola
Jarrito Lime $4.50
Jarrito Pineapple $4.50

Appetizers
Regular Quesadilla $9.99
Flour tortilla with melted cheese.
Supreme Quesadilla $13.99
Flour tortilla stuffed with choice of meat and melted cheese side of sour cream and freshly made guacamole.
Super Nachos $14.50
Regular nachos with choice of meat and one side of sour cream and guacamole.
California Fries $15.99
French fries topped with carne asada melted cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.
Nachos $10.75
Chips corn tortilla with beans and melted cheese.

Breakfast Menu
Huevos Con Chorizo Breakfast Platter $17.50
Scrambled eggs with chorizo.
Machaca De Pollo Breakfast Platter $17.50
A Scramble of red and green peppers diced onion and shredded Chicken,
Breakfast Burrito $12.50
Potatoes OR Beans, Cheese, Eggs, and your Choice of Bacon, Ham, Chorizo, Chiken Machaca
Huevos A La Mexicana Breakfast Platter $17.50
Scrambled eggs with onion, tomatoes and cilantro.
Huevos Con Tocino Breakfast Platter $17.50
Bacon and Scramble Eggs
Chilaquiles Breakfast Platter $17.50
Sautéed scrambled eggs, tortilla chips in a red or green sauce topped with melted cheese.
Nopales Con Huevo Breakfast Platter $17.50
Scramble EggsWith Cactus
Huevos Rancheros $17.50
An Oil Dipped Tortilla, Topped With 2 Eggs To order Smothered with EL TULE SAUCE and Cheese

A la Carte
Fries $4.99
Extra Salsa $1.50
Tamal $2.99
Smothered with your choice of red or Green Salsa topped with melted cheese
Tostada $3.99
Chips Small And Salsa $7.50
Enchilada $3.99
Chips LArge And Salsa $9.99

Postres & Desserts
Nieve De Limon $7.50
Lime sorbet.
Flan $6.50
Nieve De Leche Quemada $7.50
This Oaxacan specialty has a fascinating balance of smokiness and sweetness, somewhat like a creme brulee the simplicity of the recipe demands the best quality vanilla and caramelized sugar, creating an exquisite and lingering finish on the palate.
Mixta All Three Ice Creams $8.99
Nicuatole $6.50
Oaxacan style gelatinous dessert made from ground maize and sugar with corn, milk, cinnamon.
Nieve De Pitalla $8.75
Oaxacan prickly pear sorbet opuntia is a genus fruit in the cactus family.

TACOS Y BURRITOS
SUPER BURRITO $14.25
Served in a flour tortilla, choice of meat, rice refried beans, pico de gallo and cheese, Sour Cream , freshly made guacamole.
SUPER TACO $5.99
Served in a double corn tortilla, meat, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream and guacamole and lime slice.
Fish Taco $6.75
Served in a single corn tortilla, grilled tilapia fish, cabbage, pico de gallo and El Tule's fish sauce.
REGULAR BURRITO $12.25
Served in a flour tortilla, choice of meat, rice refried beans, pico de gallo and cheese.
VEGGIE TACO $4.99
A CORN TORTILLA, RICE AND BEANS, PICO DE GALLO, LETUCCE AND CHEESE
REGULAR TACO $4.99
Served in a single corn tortilla, meat, pico de gallo and lime.
Veggie Burrito $14.25
Served in a flour tortilla, rice, beans, grilled bell peppers and onions, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
California Fries $15.99
French fries topped with carne asada melted cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole.
Burrito Bowl $14.25
Choice of meat , rice, refried beans, pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, and freshly made guacamole .
Burrito California $14.25
Served in a flour tortilla, carne asada, French fries, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and guacamole.
Supreme Burrito $16.99
Served in a flour tortilla, choice of meat, rice, refried beans, pico de gallo, cheese sour cream, freshly made guacamole, topped with red or green sauce and melted cheese on top.
Fish Burrito $16.75
Served in a flour tortilla grilled tilapia fish, rice, pico de gallo and Tule's fish sauce.

El Tule Details

Service options
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service
Serves local specialty

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Hard liquor
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Wine

Dining options
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy

Crowd
Groups

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Kids' menu

Parking
Free parking lot
Free street parking
Parking

El Tule Photos

El Tule Location

El Tule

California Santa Clara County San Jose South San Jose Thornwood Drive

5440 Thornwood Dr, San Jose, CA 95123, USA

El Tule Reviews

An average rating of ★4 from 340 user reviews.

oaxacan foodmoletlayudapricehorchataburritowaterhomemade corn tortillastunatip

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Food is great, very authentic..Plato de tasajo: Nice big portion and amazing taste. Their rice and beans are delicious as well as the "tasajo" meat. We know it as "cecina" but either way it's delicious.. Supreme burrito: delicious (tex-mex style). It was incredibly big, had to take some home. The ingredients were tasty and I do believe that adding the sauce on top makes it even better.. Chavela (drink): This I would not recommend at all. They charge you $11 for the frosted glass with lime juice PLUS an extra $5 for the beer itself! Had I known I would have avoided it..Mole Oaxaqueño: 9/10. Very good.Nieve de leche quemada: Delicious! Tastes like the Mexican candy "Paleta Mimi".
March 27 · Tamara Kleiman
Some of the best Mexican food we’ve had in California. Traditional Oaxacan dishes served with homemade corn tortillas ✔️ If you’re driving on 85 through San Jose you gotta go!!!!Mole was flavorful and not too sweetTyaluda was fresh and crispy (but not fried)Chicken soup could cure any cold
September 16 · Haley Read
Food is not worth the price.Shady people here. They ruined an exciting food experience for me. They charged me for cheese that was supposed to be on the food, but they had forgotten to garnish it correctly. They chose what tip percentage to charge my credit-card without my consent. I do not recommend you visit this place. Very unfortunate because this was my first introduction to Tacos de Chapulines. That was great. Also, the Horchata with Cactus Prickly Pear was quite interesting. If you are interested in a drink that seems to be created by kids, go for it. I ordered Enchiladas Quaxaquenas. They were delicious. Sadly, they were missing the Queso Fresco that I would be later charged for, and the rice, although it appeared colorful and fluffy, was crunchy raw. Whoever owns this establishment should check on the integrity of their employees. Very shady practices.
May 22 · Rosario Dowling
Got a tamal Oaxaqueño and it was amazing. The mole is exquisite, sweet and smoky. I'm exited to go back and try everything on their menu. Also had the nieve de Limon and it was also on point.Will definitely return!
July 01 · 6elfauno9
I was recommended here by co workers and it was very good. I ordered two Carne Asada enchiladas with rice and beans. The Carne Asada was seasoned perfectly and wasn't overcooked. The sauce for the enchiladas wasn't spicy but it was very flavorful and paired well with the flavor of the beef. The beans were very good, a bit of melted cheese topped them off beautifully. The rice was a bit different than I've had before, it tasted like mixed vegetables which wasn't bad at all just different. The service very friendly and fast, the staff understood English but it would help if you spoke Spanish at least a bit. I have nothing bad to say about the staff or restaurant and I will likely return soon!
August 29 · Traveling Gamer