Caliente - Kings Beach

Name: Caliente - Kings Beach
Address: 8791 N. Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach, CA, United States, 96143
Telephone: (530) 546-1000
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.2

4.2

499 Reviews

$30 and under

Regional American (Southwestern)

Top tags:

Located in historic Kings Beach and just minutes from the waterfront, Caliente takes its name from its diverse family neighborhood surroundings. Caliente specializes in the flavor of the American Southwest and beyond. Think Santa Fe, or as we like to say, “Southwest, South”. Caliente, opened on August 3rd, 2007 after an extensive remodel, is one very important step in the revitalization of the Kings Beach neighborhood. Today, Caliente stands on North Lake Boulevard as the stunning example of the Kings Beach remodel in progress. We take great pride in our creation and our clean, casual and friendly atmosphere awaits your visit. Caliente offers an unequaled and unique variety of quality fun, food and beverage at affordable prices. Dining out is more than just a meal, it is an event based on value and a wonderful experience. Combine our meals with generous premium Margaritas and our famous signature drink, The ChupaCabra, and we have created a dining experience to remember.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 2, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(530) 546-1000

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Regional American (Southwestern), Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern), Latin American
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–5:00 pm Bar Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–1:00 am Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(530) 546-1000
Website
http://www.calientetahoe.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Gabriel Golden
Private party contact
Amy Grigsby: (530) 546-3366

Location
8791 N. Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach, CA 96143
Neighbourhood
Kings Beach
Cross Street
Chipmunk
Parking Details
There is plenty of on-site private parking, public parking, and street parking.
Public Transit
All local public transit drops off and picks up in front of Caliente Southwest South.
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Chips & SalsaUS$5.00
served with charred tomato salsa, tomatillo or mango pico if you wish
Queso Fundido con ChorizoUS$16.00
hot & creamy dipping sauce made with manchego and jack cheeses served with warm tortillas
Don Tomas Guacamole*US$17.00
fresh avocados smashed together with queso fresco, pico de gallo, spices, fresh lime
Short Rib Street TacosUS$23.00
corn tortillas, apple jicama slaw, braised ancho short rib, aioli, cilantro, queso fresco
Southwest QuesadillaUS$21.00
flour tortilla stuffed with pepper jack cheese, sauteed peppers, onions, choice of chicken tinga or pork pibil served with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo
Cerveza Chile RellenoUS$22.00
fire roasted poblano pepper stuffed with queso fresco, manchego, jack cheese, grilled corn, black beans, crema, guacamole , pico de gallo
Short Rib TaquitosUS$18.00
jack cheese, black beans, crema, queso fresco, pico, cabbage
NachosUS$23.00
chicken tinga or pork pibil with queso fundido, jalapenos, refried beans, sour cream , pico de gallo. what do you call someone else's cheese, na - cho cheese!
Spicy Jalapeno Six Shooters
bacon and cheddar stuffed, beer battered, hot & spicy jalapeno "shots" with cilantro ranch
- each shotUS$6.00
- Six forUS$33.00
Shrimp CevicheUS$22.00
lime cured shrimp, fresh onion, cilantro, jalapeno, halved avocado, mango pico, chipotle aioil
Ahi Poke NachosUS$22.00
chipotle aioli, toasted seasame, mango pico

Tahoe Tacos Especiales

$1 of each, $2 of one, or a $3-some - your choice - each taco is different you know. All served with chipotle-tomato aioli, cilantro, radish

Fish Tacos*US$22.00
grilled or battered snapper, apple-jicama slaw, guacamole, chipotle-tomato aioli
Pork Pibil
chipotle adobo braised pork, sauteed peppers, onions, cabbage
- eachUS$11.00
- 3 forUS$30.00
Chicken Tinga
chili de arbol braised chicken tinga, cabbage, tomatillo salsa
- eachUS$11.00
- 3 forUS$30.00
Carne Asada*
chimichurri grilled skirt steak, charred tomato salsa, cabbage
- eachUS$11.00
- 3 forUS$30.00
Caliente Shrimp*
chipotle marinated shrimp with onions, peppers, pineapple jicama slaw
- eachUS$11.00
- 3 forUS$30.00

What 499 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.2

4.2 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.4Service
4.4Ambience
3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Tahoe / Reno Area
Innovative
Tahoe / Reno Area
Great for outdoor dining
North Lake Tahoe
Great for outdoor dining
North Lake Tahoe
Good for special occasions
North Lake Tahoe
Lively

Sort by

OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food3service4ambience4
Okay Mexican food. Can bring much more authenticity to the food quality and taste.
C
Chris
Las Vegas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great place to spend Mothers Day. The food and the service was excellent.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is a great place to celebrate any special occasions. The restaurant itself was really nice.We book a reservation at the time that it said that it’ll closed, we were a little skeptical of arriving and not being able to get attended but the host was very sweet and helpful. Nobody was in the restaurant except my party, which was great since it was my sister birthday. The host made sure to give us a great experience overall.
AA
AndreaA
San Francisco
32 reviews
vip
5.0
32 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our 2nd visit to this restaurant and it was just as good as our first experience. Fresh chips and yummy guacamole. Delicious tacos and outstanding service. What more do you need!
L
Lynn
San Francisco
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Second night in a row for dinner. Great service and food.
L
Lynn
San Francisco
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the food and service! Always come here on our trips to Tahoe.
CS
CompassSpinners
Vancouver
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 27, 2023
overall2food2service5ambience2
Super friendly staff. Very accommodating. There was literally nobody else in there on a Sunday around 4 pm. Makes you wonder why they weren’t as busy as their sister restaurants always are. My husband and I had been wanting to try this place out since it opened several years ago but only now had the opportunity. Food was just alright-definitely not worth the price. Absolutely nothing that stood out. Four people all had the same opinion…shmeh. Doubt we’ll be returning.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on February 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I came here with my girl on our first date, inside is pretty nice! Everyone was really friendly and the food was great. My date loved the Chupacabra, was a bit much for me. Surprisingly, it wasn't busy at all for a Saturday night. I wanna come back with my pals for happy hour. Apps and beer are 50% off!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New Orleans
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Generous sizzling beef tacos Delicious!
IL
ILoveBarolo
San Francisco
15 reviews
vip
1.0
15 reviews
Dined on February 19, 2023
overall1food2service2ambience4
This place does not want kids. The internet is horrible and everyone just says it’s always this way. The kids tacos are a joke. A few pieces of meat on a tortilla. No sauce. What should have been a nice family meal was a mess.
LW
LindaW
Minneapolis
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful good! Great taste, good amount of meat in the burrito. Nice atmosphere! Would definitely go again!!
E
Edward
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is my go to Mexican place since like the vibe and get very good service. Part of this may be because I have got to know some of the employees there but I know they always try to do their best in light of difficulties getting employees to work.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love coming here for dinner after hitting the slopes! We come every winter and usually stop by at least once while we're visiting the lake!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on January 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great time! I like coming here in the winter rather than the summer, it's not so crowded.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience3
The server was excellent. The food was all right, but over priced because of location.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Sacramento
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Family Christmas Vacation
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on October 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place! Everyone is so friendly!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on September 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the Palapa bar! The straws are hilarious!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on September 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a great time! Staff is very friendly! We will be back.
J
Jalea
San Francisco
29 reviews
vip
3.0
29 reviews
Dined on September 25, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience3
It was ok for what it was, not really complaining, the food was just ok
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 18, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
It was a really good experience, the food was good the service was fabulous and we were able to sit outdoors. We will definitely be back
t
traciej
Orange County
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on September 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The short rib tacos were OUTSTANDING
AW
AliciaW
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous dinner with excellent customer service
OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good food, peak view of Lake Tahoe, great drinks, prompt service. Will go back.
BS
BiancaS
San Diego
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 28, 2022
overall2food1service4ambience4
Very pricey for food that was lacking flavor. The salsa, guacamole and wet burrito was so bland it was disappointing. Kitchen needs to step it up. Will not be going there again.
E
Elizabeth
San Francisco
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 24, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
Overpriced, but good food in a nice place, especially the rooftop patio.
MR
MaryR
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 22, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
I had the Poke nachos and wouldn't recommend it, but the rest of the food was amazing. Our 4-person party had plenty to eat even without the poke nachos. The chips are amazing. Our waiter was so very helpful. The service was timely, and the food came out piping hot and super fast. We've eaten here numerous times and keep going back. You really can't beat the roof-top deck as the sun sets in the summer.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
23 reviews
vip
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Very pricey for sub-par food and drink.
L
Local
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Service was great from Luca. Value is fair. We have going to Caliente since it opened. Charging separately for chips and salsa at a Mexican place is lame.
T
Tallqball
Tahoe
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere on outside deck. Delicious food. Fun drinks.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We celebrated my wife’s birthday and it was so good!
s
stephenc
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience2
Avoid not worth any reason
JP
JoanneP
Tahoe
13 reviews
vip
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2022
overall2food1service2ambience4
We stay in Tahoe every year and mostly grill/ cook at our house. It’s nice to get a break, however and usually go to Caliente. The waitress was good… she was doing her best but there were not enough staff to support her. The food was mediocre. The chips and salsa / guacamole good. The entrees seem to have less portion size and lacking flavor. We would have ordered more drinks but no one came to ask. It was definitely more expensive than It was worth!!! Will be grilling at home tonight!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tahoe
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on August 3, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
The food had no flavor, the food tasted like it had been frozen or canned. The staff was nice! But I wouldn’t recommend anyone to go.
SH
SteveH
Los Angeles
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience4
I've eaten at Caliente many times. In the past, the food has always been excellent. this evening i ordered a pork burrito. i could not find the pork - there was hardly any. :( Also, $17 for guacamole - c'mon, really, even with inflation!
E
Elaine
Exclusive
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, we enjoy Caliente. Every time I go there I say to myself, I do not understand the 3 1/2 stars. It has always been a five for us, and we have never had a 3 1/2 rating. Last night we had shrimp fajitas. The shrimp was piled high on the plate and we had cilantro rice, black beans, sour cream, guacamole, and diced tomatoes to put on the fajitas. And of course we had a chupacabra! Calientes answer to Garwoods wet Woody. We love those two.
J
Joanlee
San Francisco
11 reviews
4.0
11 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Very nice server
FF
FoodieFun
San Francisco
22 reviews
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2022
overall5food3service5ambience5
The chef did an above-and-beyond effort to provide some baked tortilla chips to accommodate my gluten intolerance and I loved that! However, the quality of the meat chosen for my steak fajita dish was not good, with much fat and gristle.
NS
NicoleS
Las Vegas
6 reviews
vip
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience3
We made reservations for dinner Saturday evening. We were sat fairly quickly in the upper deck. No one came by to bring us water or say Hi for over 10 minutes. There was a large party set up next to us. The hostesses and server went by the table several times to set it up. When the party arrived, which was a bachelorette party, the server immediately greeted them and started taking their order. I had to get up and ask the hostess if she knew who was our server. There was a miscommunication. Their saving grace was that our server was quick to come over and was attentive after he was told that we were his. I'm glad we didn't get the other server who was assigned to the large party. He seemed really focused on them, but could have gotten us in and out of there before they needed a refill on margaritas. I've been a Kings Beach resident for over 13 years and this is will continue to not be one of my go to places.
DF
DennisF
Phoenix
10 reviews
vip
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall4food3service4ambience5
Food was not as good as in the past. Service was only OK, we received our appetizer at the same time our dinner arrived, not the way we'd wanted to enjoy our dinner. Location and view were very good. Again, not as good an experience as in the past.

FAQs

Caliente - Kings Beach offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (530) 546-1000.

Caliente - Kings Beach is rated 4.2 stars by 499 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 2, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Booked 2 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(530) 546-1000

8791 N. Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach, CA 96143

Additional information

Cross Street
Chipmunk
Neighbourhood
Kings Beach
Hours of Operation
Lunch Sat, Sun 11:30 am–5:00 pm Bar Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–11:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–1:00 am Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Regional American (Southwestern), Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern), Latin American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
There is plenty of on-site private parking, public parking, and street parking.
Public Transit
All local public transit drops off and picks up in front of Caliente Southwest South.
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive Chef
Gabriel Golden
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.calientetahoe.com/
Phone number
(530) 546-1000
Private party contact
Amy Grigsby: (530) 546-3366

Caliente - Kings Beach

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information

Popular dishes

Fish Tacos

Nachos

Wet Burrito

Menu

Botanas y Ensaladas

Chips & SalsaUS$5.00

Queso Fundido con ChorizoUS$16.00

Don Tomas Guacamole*US$17.00

Short Rib Street TacosUS$23.00

Southwest QuesadillaUS$21.00

Cerveza Chile RellenoUS$22.00

Short Rib TaquitosUS$18.00

NachosUS$23.00

Spicy Jalapeno Six Shooters

Shrimp CevicheUS$22.00

Ahi Poke NachosUS$22.00

Tahoe Tacos Especiales

Fish Tacos*US$22.00

Pork Pibil

Chicken Tinga

Carne Asada*

Caliente Shrimp*

What 499 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

FAQs

Does Caliente - Kings Beach offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Caliente - Kings Beach restaurant rated?

Is Caliente - Kings Beach currently accepting bookings?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information