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    Cenaduria Elvira

    4.5 (81 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Cenaduria Elvira Photos

    CENADURIA ELVIRA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Menu
    Taylor J.

    TikTok led me here and it did not disappoint! What a lovely lunch over at Cenaduria Elvira! Arrived around 11:30am on a Sunday and the place was happening! So many folks were dining there and I had to wait about 10 min to be sat (well worth it). For drinks, I needed a Jamaica and it was exactly what I wanted. Sweet and refreshing! For food, of course I had the magic that was the tostada. So yummy,so airy, so crunchy. They sent over a bunch of toppings to enjoy it with. It was absolutely perfect! Very nice lunch at Cenaduria Elvira! I can't wait to come back and try some other goodies in their menu.

    Crispy taco with beef and pork
    Camie K.

    Super stoked for this newcomer Jalisco style Mexican joint. We enjoyed their: - crispy taco with beef/pork - enchilada with cheese - sopes with poblano peppers- excellent crust Their horchata and jamaica (hibiscus) drinks were very fresh too. Prompt and friendly service but they forgot to give us a menu and chips after seating us. Oh well! Prices were decent. I can see why this is a busy bustling spot! Will be back to try the raspadas and pozoles!

    La Original Tostada Raspada w/ shredded pork, beans, cabbage, queso, salsa ($19)
    Cherylynn N.

    4.25 STARS If sloppy was a person.... *Raises hand* If you're coming for Cenaduria Elvira's specialty: tostadas raspadas and you're sloppy like me... Come prepared with a hair clip, gloves, and bib...crab boil attire. Cuz it gets messy with enough bewbie crumbs for a snack later. A pandemic baby, Cenaduria Elvira started in the owner's parents' backyard before opening her first brick and mortar in February 2026. Walk-ins only, no rezzies. On Sunday, we arrived a little before 11 am opening and was promptly seated. By 12 pm noon, it was packed with a wait. M E N U Jalisco Cuisine with hearty stews, torta ahogada, enchiladas, tacos dorado, sopes, pozole, and their specialty: tostadas raspadas. Beer and sangria available. 3% CC surcharge. F O O D * Trompa en Salsa: Pig Snout in tomato sauce ($14): https://tinyurl.com/bddbf7ab Ok, before you yuck someone's yum, you can't let anything go to waste in this economy! Plus, pig snout is not as uncommon as people think, making appearances in nose-to-tail cooking and haute cuisine. Shoot, celebrity chef Chris Cosentino used to serve an entire pig's head at his SF resto that often sold out. The pig snout was slowly cooked and chopped into rich, meltingly soft gelatinous pieces. Satisfyingly delicious, homey, and collagen-rich, put it on top of the broken pieces of tostada "chips" and dress it with pickled onions and their smoky, spicy salsa macha. Bomb. * La Original Tostada Raspada w/ shredded pork, beans. cabbage, queso ($19): https://tinyurl.com/4rjujyad THE dish that landed Cenaduria Elvira in the NYT for "One of the Best Dishes" in 2023, a paper thin corn tortilla is sundried then freshly fried before serving. Shatteringly crispy with rough edges, it low key reminds me of flat unsalted bugles. It's topped with watery refried beans, shredded pork, queso fresco, lettuce, and a mild salsa. It's quite plain and the pork was dry so you gotta dress it with pickled onions, crema, hot sauce, and a squeeze of lime. It gets soggy fast and is messy to eat. * BYO Pozole (Large-$17): https://tinyurl.com/8mez3p86 - Add pata: pig's feet ($4) - Meltingly tender with a chewy gelatinous chew. - Add lengua: pork tongue ($4) - Soft, tender slices. * BYO Pozole (Large-$17) - Add espinazo: spine ($4) - Rich, meaty flavor but you only get two bones so not the best value. - Add oreja: pig ears ($4) - Soft and chewy with a slight crunch from the cartilage. The broth is mild and savory with chewy, bloomed hominy. Doctor it to your liking with diced/pickled onions, squeeze of lime and salsa macha. The finely shredded cabbage and sliced radish provided a welcome fresh crunch. They accidentally brought a pozole which we thought had the offal we ordered underneath. It turned out to be the pozole con carne (boneless pork), the same pork from the la original tostada raspada - very lean and dry so don't recommend this. Fyi, large size seemed more like medium and the small size is smaaaalll. S E R V I C E Warm, friendly service. It feels like the team is still finding its footing as they transition from a small home-based operation to a full-scale resto. Our order took a while and we received the wrong order but the mistakes were quickly fixed. The staff seemed stretched thin so we had to ask a few times for certain items (i.e. water). A M B I A N C E Modern, airy dining room with woven bamboo pendant lighting, greenery, and an open kitchen. There's about 10-12 tables inside and seven tables in the front patio with umbrellas. P A R K I N G Street parking, no lot. Overall, I came for the tostadas raspadas but what really shined was their homestyle stewed offal. Gotta eat my collagen to keep them ostrich tracks at bay!

    Tacos dorados
    Martha G.

    An amazing find and gem! This place tastes so authentic and is exactly the flavor and type of meals you'd get a a small mom and pop cenaduria in Mexico. We tried a variety of things and none of the dishes disappointed. We ordered a half order of chicken enchiladas (6), half order of picadillo sopes (6), half order of chicken tacos dorados (6), pozole, and a tostada raspada. All of these dishes were so delicious but if I had to rank them, it would be enchiladas, tacos dorados, sopes, pozole, and lastly the raspada. We also tried the horchata and the jericalla, which if you've never had it before is kind of reminiscent of flan but more aromatic. There's outdoor and indoor seating and the servers are so kind, welcoming and attentive. The food comes out quickly and I really liked the vibe. We left just as the rush started around 6pm so if you can come early you don't have to wait. By the time we left around 6pm there was a wait time (I'd say it's definitely worth it to wait if you have to). This place is great for family and friends.

    Chicken tostada (across the table)  1/2 dozen tacos (bean, potato, poblano pepper)
    Kim B.

    Delicious place to try, esp if you like pork. I'm vegetarian so I took advantage of the crispy vegetarian taco options. I got the bean, potato and poblano pepper tacos. So delicious. I also got the Michelada and it was pretty decent, too. W I went with a friend around 7:30 which turned out to be perfect because a line was forming around 8 and up until we left.

    Tostada raspado
    Elaysha J.

    We went Friday night with our toddler, it was busy but we got a table relatively quickly! I love that the family is all hands on deck here, such a cute spot with delicious food. We got a table around 8:30 and they had already sold out of lots of the meats and pork parts (I didn't mind because I don't eat beef or pork). The food! My son's quesadillas were so flavorful, the tacos dorados and tostada raspado were delightfully crispy with excellent portion sizes. My only qualm is it was freezing outside and they were so busy that it seems we were a bit overlooked and at one point we were asked if we'd received all the food we ordered. Still, service was warm, friendly, welcoming and attentive. I cannot wait to get around to trying more of the menu.

    enchilada
    Deepa P.

    3.5/5. i've been wanting to try this jalisco-style mexican food for a while. went on a weekend afternoon, there was no wait to sit outside. jamaica was fresh, pickles and other housemade condiments were excellent. my favorite thing we tried was the adobo beans w/ pedacera appetizer. i also enjoyed the tacos dorado. everything was quite similar flavor-wise.

    Gorgeous dining area
    Mercedes M.

    First time- came here for lunch with my boys. We absolutely loved it here! From the ambience, service and food were amazing. We will be coming back :)

    6 sopes and one raspada de pollo
    Francina L.

    Walked in around 6pm on a Saturday, there was a wait for 2 for about 25 mins but we were text in 11 mins that our table was ready. They are every efficient so serve is good and fast. We were asked if we wanted chips and beans (thinking it was on the house- it is not) but was asked in a way where it was interpreted that way so just fyi. It was tostada and beans which were good. We also ordered one raspada de pollo and 6 sopes to share. Everything was really good and flavorful. Next time I would pick and choose different sopes and tacos dorados to get more variety. Everything takes super fresh and homey. I saw other people eating tortas so I would want to try that and their pozole next time as well.

    Entrance to dining room with cute decor
    Kendra W.

    This is definitely a new spot to check out! The food is not only good but massive! I mean the chicken tostada alone was big enough to feed 3 whole people 4 if you just wanna taste! I almost ordered two thinking it was going to be your normal tostada size. The tacos and enchiladas are normal size so fee free to order extras! We orders the cheeses enchilada, tacos de papa, pollo and also the carne which is shredded pork! All were delicious! Honestly my only con is that I didn't order more tacos! All the tacos we ordered were dorado which means deep golden fried and laid to the side if you know then you know! Let's just say they were Fire and leave it at that! This place is so cute and a great little hidden gem in jack london! So excited to come back and get more yumminess!

    Table decor
    Monica B.

    Here goes... THE TOSTADAS RASPADAS ORIGINAL absolutely delicious!!! Tostada had a wonderful toasted flavor (imported from Jalisco), the beans were good, cheese was rich & not too salty, cabbage added a nice texture & crunch, & the toppings provided--pickles red onion (literally ate them before food came), sliced radishes, lime wedges, diced onion were all great additions to tostada. The chile de aceite/salsa macha was perfectly spicy. They also bring you salsa & sour cream. And finally the shredded pork was really flavorful! When you see it it looks massive & you'd think you can't finish it...you can. We also ordered a couple tacos dorados and yes, they were good but very small. Ordered the Jericalla--it was ok. Trust me: Stick to the tostada raspada. Service was great! We signed up & were told 30-45 min but were seated much sooner. It's not a place you sit & eat for a few hours, it's a quick meal kind of place. How long does it take you to eat a tostada? Friend & I did sit a while but only because we like the chisme with our beer. Ambiance: Decor is simple & the lighting is really what makes a statement. Later in our meal they turned on some classic Mexican music which really added to the vibe--loved.

    More tacos
    Theresa L.

    The Teen and I decided to stop for dinner before heading back through that tunnel to avoid the dreaded traffic and it worked! We both ordered 3 tacos and a adobo beans with pedacera to share since they don't serve chips and salsa. She: three chicken tacos . Me: a bean taco, chicken taco and a potato taco. Wow, everything tasted good, I just wish there was more inside the taco shell without having to pay for extra, stuffings and I could've used a couple more chip thingy's to finish off the bean dip. Service was good we were greeted upon entering the door and seated immediately. Even with other staff being trained things went well. Ambience was chill on a First Friday in Jack London, but that's because I believe we beat the crowd. I would definitely go back and check out the outside seating so I could people watch a little more and because there's a few more things I like to taste from the menu. I'm giving this place 3 yumms up and I see you next time.

    Cute terracotta server full of fresh garnish for your own pleasure.
    Nena C.

    If you're looking for a local gem in Jack London Square, Oakland, this authentic Mexican restaurant is an absolute must-try. They specialize in Jalisco-style food, and when I say you'll be licking your fingers, I truly mean it. Every dish is made with so much attention to detail, and you can genuinely taste the love in the food. The flavors are always consistent, which is something I really appreciate. Everyone here, from the wait staff, cooks, dish washers to the servers, is friendly, attentive, and kind. I've also had the pleasure of speaking with the owner on a few occasions. She's a young woman who turned her dream into a reality, and it's inspiring to see. I truly wish her continued success because she's truly built something special. Every time I've dined here, the restaurant has been full, and for good reason. I've brought my mom, my children, and other family members, and we all absolutely love it. I've also taken food to go for my dad and as lucky as he always is, he's had outstanding reviews about this beloved gem! My family is from a small town in Jalisco called Ameca, so we know authentic Jalisco flavors very well, especially tostadas, or what we call "raspadas." We've tried just about everything on the menu, and honestly, there has been nothing disappointed. We truly love the entire menu. My personal favorites are the tacos dorados, especially the potato ones. They are incredibly delicious, crispy, flavorful, and comforting. We're also huge fans of their pozole. The hominy is authentic and clearly made from scratch, not canned, and you can absolutely taste the difference. Another thing we love is being able to load up on the sour cream at the table along with their homemade salsa picante. And let me tell you, the salsa picante deserves an extra A+ from me. I grew up eating spicy food naturally because I'm Mexican, but this salsa is no joke! It'll have you tearing up in the best way possible while still reaching for another bite. We were there again yesterday, and I had another opportunity to speak with the owner. She was so kind and humble, taking a brief moment from working hard in the kitchen to sit down and enjoy a meal herself. That simple moment really showed how genuine and hardworking she is. You can feel the heart behind this restaurant, and that's what keeps us coming back. This place truly feels like home and is easily one of the best spots for authentic Jalisco-style Mexican food in the Bay Area.

    Tostada raspada with chicken

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    At the soft opening they had a selection of beers (draft/bottle; mostly Mexican brands) and wines, as well as a michelada option. I'm not sure whether that selection has expanded since the grand opening.

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    Molcajete Cocina Mexicana

    Molcajete Cocina Mexicana

    3.8
    (758 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Super quick service and good food! The pricing is a little on the higher end, but maybe it's worth…read moreit! I ordered for pickup and they gave me a 20-minute estimated time. I got there sooner than I expected and my food was ready!! I got it to go, so I didn't get to enjoy it fresh or in the establishment, but when I got home the food was still hot and enjoyable! They did a great job, and this is definitely my go-to spot in Oakland now!

    I'm honestly annoyed I spent money here. Molcajete Cocina Mexicana was a huge letdown from start to…read morefinish. The menudo was completely bland and tasted like it came straight out of a can definitely not fresh and absolutely not worth ordering. The chips and guacamole were just "okay," but even that's being generous since the chips were clearly old and stale. The steak nachos were the final straw. They were straight-up gross. I ordered steak nachos and somehow got nachos covered in rice, barely any meat (if any at all), and a laughably small portion for the price. On top of that, they were made with the same stale chips. For what they charge, this level of food quality is unacceptable. I won't be coming back. The server was rude and short didn't care to answer any questions. Sinceramente me molesta haber gastado dinero aquí. Molcajete Cocina Mexicana fue una gran decepción de principio a fin. El menudo estaba totalmente desabrido y sabía como si saliera directo de una lata, nada fresco y definitivamente no valía la pena. Las papas fritas con el guacamole estaban "más o menos", y eso siendo generoso, porque las totopos estaban viejas y rancias. Los nachos de carne fueron la gota que colmó el vaso. Estaban horribles. Pedí nachos de asada y me los sirvieron llenos de arroz, casi sin carne (si es que tenía algo), y con una porción ridículamente pequeña para el precio. Para colmo, los hicieron con los mismos totopos viejos. Por lo que cobran, la calidad de la comida es inaceptable. No regresaré.

    Photos
    Molcajete Cocina Mexicana
    Guacamole, chips & salsa trio
    Guacamole, chips & salsa trio
    Sopes Plate

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    Sopes Plate
    Taqueria El Paisa

    Taqueria El Paisa

    4.4
    (556 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Came here for lunch on a Tuesday around noon and it was pretty busy. We finally lucked out and got…read morea parking spot in the parking lot. We tried coming here on a Sunday and couldn't find parking for 15+ minutes so we ended up leaving. There is some street parking but we prefer to park in the lot. Once you get inside you order at the counter. If you're getting tacos they're all the same price so the cashier will write the number of tacos you bought and you take that receipt and get in the line. Once you get called up you put your receipt in the basket that the worker hands you and tell them what kind of meat you want in your tacos. Today I tried the asada, carnitas, Al pastor, and tripa. They all were delicious, my favorite was the tripa. Portions are good ($4.50/taco) and they have a variety of salsas, jalapeños, limes, etc in the seating area once you exit. I also got a hibiscus (Jamaica) agua fresca that was good. They do accept credit card but they'll charge a $1 fee so try to bring cash if you can. Definitely recommend, this is now one of my top taco spots in Oakland.

    This is certainly one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to. Each taco is $4.50 and…read morethey load each up with meat. The meats are all juicy and cooked perfectly. The pina colada drink was perfect to balance out the salty/savory flavor of the tacos. You self serve cucumbers, carrots, and radishes which is always cool. Finally, there's live Mexican music playing and the overall vibes are fantastic. 4.9/5

    Photos
    Taqueria El Paisa
    Torta de asada!
    Torta de asada!
    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)

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    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)
    Mesa Maguey

    Mesa Maguey

    4.6
    (207 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    I was here last night(Thursday night) for the Comedy show! The comedy, the crowd, the cocktails,…read moreand the host made the drive worth it! Order dinner 30 minutes before the show starts and get their margarita flight; that should last you the entire show. The comedy happens in the very back of the restaurant.

    Came here for dinner and a comedy show Monday night. First impression, it's a really cute spot. I…read morelove the decor, the colors, the ambiance, and the artwork in the back where the comedy show was held. Even the bathroom is so cute!! And that is saying something because I never take pictures of bathrooms for reviews lol. The food is just as pretty as the decor. Every plate we ordered came out looking beautiful. The 4 stars is really because although the food looks pretty, I would say everything tastes okay, nothing really stood out particularly in taste. If this review was based on food tastes alone, and not looks, vibes, and the great show, it would've been 3 stars. The flautas were a bit too hard for me. Ive had way better flautas at El Torito's in San Leandro. Although there were only like 6 of us total in the audience for the show, it was still really enjoyable. The host, Tony Parker has great energy, and a lot of the comics (I think were like 5 or 6) had us laughing throughout. No one was safe lol. All in all, a really cute place for date night and comedy show. Apparently they have them Sunday-Thursday nights, and they're free!

    Photos
    Got mezcal?
    Got mezcal?
    Chicken Mole
    Chicken Mole
    Flautas

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    Flautas
    Tacos Oscar

    Tacos Oscar

    4.4
    (306 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Tacos Oscar, Temescal, shipping container taco spot with a Michelin Bib Gourmand and zero…read morepretension about it. Menu changes constantly, written in chalk on the container door, you get what they feel like making that night and thats actually fine because its always good. Charred broccoli taco sounds like a prank until you eat it. The handmade tortillas are the real thing, fresh pressed, you can smell them from the sidewalk. Got the pork chile verde too, braised and saucy, didnt last long. Order at the window, grab the back patio, dont skip the salsa macha. 5 stars, the taco truck ordering skills ive been cultivating for years finally got tested and this place passed

    Tacos Oscar is relatively unassuming when you view the restaurant from the street. Oscar is a small…read morestand with a relatively clean menu that doles out tacos, beverages, and a a few more bites. Tacos Oscar offers up slightly more upscale Tacos with nuanced ingredients and intense flavors. During my latest outing I went with the mushroom, barbacoa, and chile verde tacos. Each of my tacos was great, but the mushroom one stood out. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly and had a slight crunch which gave them an excellent texture. They were also incredibly well seasoned. My barbacoa and Chile verde tacos were also solid with some nice topping variation that helped mix up the flavors and texture. Oscar's service is good and straightforward. Place your order up front and either grab a table there or walk to their back patio. I LOVE the back area on a sunny day and would highly recommend it. Each taco here will run you about 5-6 bucks so don't be too suprised by the sticker shock. I would say 3-4 tacos is the ideal range depending on how hungry you are. Give them a try if you're ever in the Mosswood/Temescal area.

    Photos
    Side seating entrance
    Side seating entrance
    Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system
    Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    Bombera

    Bombera

    4.1
    (539 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$$

    Upscale Mexican-by-way-of-California restaurant with rich and inventive flavors. There are three…read morelegs that hold up the stool here; the masa, the mole, and the celebration of each dish's main ingredient. We ordered the duck carnitas, summer tamales, and kids' quesadilla, along with the roasted beats and a strawberry agua fresca and horchata. I cannot enumerate all of the amazing elements and flavors in this meal, but I can say that the crispy outside of the duck and the ease with which it fell apart drew a connection between duck confit and carnitas that changed the way I will think about both. The hearty masa in the tamales had a the texture of hand ground corn and was substantial enough to warrant chewing though. The beet -- tender and flavorful in itself -- was paired with a nutty, spicy mole like a thick paste, bright with its herbs. The agua fresca was a summertime blast of fruit. Yes, yes. All of the food is delicious and amazing. But what takes the restaurant over the top is that the food is comforting and familiar in equal measure to its inventiveness and flawless execution. This is not just food for the tongue and stomach but food for the soul.

    Arrived to no host so another worker had to assist and kept looking around for the hostess. We made…read morea reservation a month prior, the table wasn't ready, but we managed to get seated at a table with other diners. The woman who brought water was very welcoming. The prices on the menu are $5-10 more than the menu on their website. It's a nice dining room, but very loud and the piped-in music makes it worse: I couldn't hear what my date was saying across the table. We started with the smoked trout tostadas. This is kind of ceviche style, and they were delicious. These are "street taco" sized tostadas by the way. The portion was OK but for $20 it could've been a bit more substantial. The duck mole: the duck was nicely unctuous and cooked amazingly, but very salty. The mole had the consistency and taste of hummus. Needless to say it was thick, gloopy and tasted only of cumin. The little salad on the plate was plastered in it. The grilled swordfish Valencia style was just an overly sour salsa verde with a couple chopped green olives with the fish sitting in the watery liquid. The salsa had a kick, but tasted mostly of lime, it was also cold. The swordfish however was grilled perfectly and the portion was great--for $35 I'm glad it was. Beans and rice seemed an overly salty afterthought, and if you don't want beans, too bad, it's served in the same bowl as the rice. The service was almost non-existent--no one checked in on us or asked how things were; there seemed to be only one person taking orders in the dining room and three-four people running around. Our appetizer plates sat in front of us for 15 mins, so when the entrees arrived the runner had a hard time clearing the table and simultaneously putting down the entrees. We didn't see our server again until the end when she gave us the check. Suddenly the charm came on when the tip came up. I appreciate what they're doing, but for that price point there are far better options.

    Photos
    Inside main room
    Inside main room
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Interior looking out

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    Interior looking out

    Cenaduria Elvira - mexican - Updated July 2026

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