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Granite Bay meets Mexicali at Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant, located in Granite Bay, CA. Why travel to Mexico when you can enjoy delicious, authentic northern Mexican cuisine, locally in Placer County? A plus... you'll be treated like family by some of the friendliest people you'll ever have the pleasure to meet. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little before noon on Saturday, February 08, 2025, and I've arrived at Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant, located in Granite Bay, CA. Actually, Granite Bay is an upscale, unincorporated community east of Roseville, and a part of Roseville, that stretches east until it reaches she west shore of Folsom Lake. After enjoying a couple pints of beer at nearby Granite Bay Brewing Company, it was time for lunch, and Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant is only a block from the brewery. This is a one-two punch for enjoyment, as the brewery and Los Zarapes are two of the finest of their kind in all of Placer County.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll be greeted by a staff member, and seated at one of the booths in the dining room. Jesus, who seemed to be everywhere today, was on the phone taking an order, but acknowledge me with a smile. There are many signed photos from regular diners pasted to the counter.
Photo: The dining room is long and narrow, very clean, comfortable and attractively decorated. The decor reminds me of a mid-level restaurant in Tijuana or Mexicali, complete with the vivid, earthy colors that you'll find in Mexico.
Photo: Immediately after I was seated, I was presented with a complimentary basket of fresh corn tortilla chips, along with a bowl of salsa. The chips were crispy, fresh and warm from the kitchen, and the bowl of fresh salsa was made in-house. The chips and salsa made an amazing appetizer.
Photo: The menu is extensive, and lists all of your classic, quintessential dishes of northen Mexico. From the "Mexican Favorites" page of the menu, I started at the top, and ordered "Borrego." Menudo is served on weekends. Naturally, I ordered a large Pacifico beer to complete today's lunch.
Photo: After placing my order of "Borrego," I peeked my head into the kitchen, and took a photo of the talented staff performing their magic.
Photo: After placing a chips and salsa on my table, friendly Jesus delivered a large Pacifico beer, with a smile.
Photo: I toast Jesus and say "Cheers!" with a tall glass of Pacifico beer, which is one of my favorite Mexican beers.
Photo: Major league baseball was playing on the television monitors which seemed very much in place on this early Saturday afternoon in late July.
Photo: Meet Anna, my amazingly friendly server who brought my lunch to me with a smile. She provided friendly, efficient service and treated me like a member of her family. I refer to her as "Anna Jr." as she and her mother share the same name.
Photo: I toast Anna and the friendly staff at Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant. My bowl of house salsa was empty, and Jesus was more than happy to bring another bowl. I almost went with "Menudo" today instead of "Borrego." Well, almost...
Photo: From the "Mexican Favorites" page of the menu, I went with "Borrego," along with pinto beans and Mexican rice. My choice of tortillas was corn, and I was in for a treat, as I enjoyed some of Anna Sr.'s made-from-scratch tortillas, hot from the kitchen. Muy sabroso! The menu describes "Borrego" as, "Marinated, seasoned lamb shank, braised slowly until tender. Served with marinade sauce, pico de gallo, sliced avocado and corn or flour tortillas." Such a difficult choice between Anna Sr.'s corn or flour tortillas! The seasoned lamb shank was marinated in a robust, red marinade, which held in the juicy flavor, and made it fall-off-the-bone tender and simply delicious. I notice the very red color, and the thick texture of the marinade, most likely due to lots of tomato and a chili pepper or two, along with slices on onion. The thick marinated coated the lamb shank, which added flavor along with juiciness, and enhanced the delicious, tender lamb, but didn't overpower the robust taste. If you're a lover of lamb, and you've never enjoyed Mexican Borrego before, you're in for a treat. The meat was so tender that a knife wasn't needed, as the meat fell off the bone when poked with the fork. The shank was of a generous size. As an added bonus, there was a small dish of the marinated on my plate, with was meant to dip the lamb into. The marinade was the same as used for the lamb shank, except it was much thinner, as it was meant for dipping rather than sticking to the food. It was simply delicious, and made for a great enhancement to the delicious bites of lamb. The Mexican rice was simply amazing! The rice had a delicious, Mexican flavor, not at all spicy, but simply bursting with flavor. I suspect the talented chef must have used chicken broth rather than water, as this rice wasn't simply "blah" like the rice you're served at many restaurants... this rice was a cut above and "top shelf" any way you looked at it. Like everything else on my plate, the portion size was generous. Oh the side of refried beans! ... creamy, with a few coarse chunks of beans, just like you'd find in a restaurant in northern Mexico. The beans were flavorful and I suspect were cooked with lard, as they had the delicious, "nutty" flavor that only lard can give. The beans were garnished with a few slices of Mexican cheese. Like eveything else on my plate, the refried beans were among the most scrumptuous refried beans that I've ever enjoyed during my many years on the Roseville dining scene. The pico de gallo was fresh, and especially with the sliced avocado, made for a refreshing side to my lunch. Diced tomato, white onion, cilantro and... surprise... sliced cabbage made up the pico de gallo, but it was wonderful, and the cool veggies contrasted with the warm lamb, beans and rice, and made a wonderful side dish. The corn tortillas were simply OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious, and I could have made a meal of them alone! Anna Sr. pointed out to me they were made from scratch in her kitchen, and I believe her, as these tortillas tasted EXACTLY like countless corn tortillas I've enjoyed at tortilla shops during my many trips to Mexico. The corn tortillas were fresh, hot from the kitchen, slightly toasted, moist, tender, and simply delicious! No tortillas from the supermarket at Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant, as the tortillas are made from scratch from Anna Sr., in her kitchen, and are delivered fresh and warm from the kitchen. I have eaten at nearly every Mexican restaurant in Placer County, and they're all good, but Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant is a cut above the rest, as their food tastes homemade, and if I closed my eyes, I could imagine being in Mexicali, at a local taqueria, enjoying the same delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine. The skill and dedication of the staff is apparent, along with a cheerful willingness to produce superior Mexican cuisine shows, as this fine restaurant is "top shelf" in every way.
Photo: "Borrego" which is a Mexican lamb shank, marinaded and coated with a thick version of the marinade. Extra marinade is on the plate, and I made quick work of it with one of Anna Sr.'s delicious corn tortillas. The lamb was so tender it almost fell off the bone.
Photo: A piece of the lamb shank, after dipping into the small bowl of marinade. Simply delicious! Today's dining experience was amazing, and I was simply blown away by the super friendly service I enjoyed from Anna and her mom, along with the amazingly delicious, authentic northern Mexican cuisine. It's been a very long time since I've enjoyed such great dining at a Mexican restaurant of this caliber... maybe, just maybe Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant could be my favorite Mexican restaurant in Placer County and the greater Sacramento area! I certainly look forward to future dining adventures... You'll simply love the authentic cuisine of northern Mexico that Los Zarapes serves, and you'll love the friendly staff, and you'll love being treated like a rock star. The fine Mexican cuisine is authentic and delicious, and the dining experience is as friendly as it gets... Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant is truly a "top shelf" Mexican restaurant, in Roseville, CA. Los Zarapes Mexican Restaurant Copyright(c) 2026 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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