I've eaten at Cholita Linda's popups at the Old Oakland Farmer's Markets many years ago several times, and also at their location on Telegraph, so it's great to see them expand into yet another brick and mortar spot - this time in the heart of Downtown Berkeley. I've always loved their fish tacos, which to me are better than any I've ever had in SoCal, including San Diego! Like their other permanent locations, here you will also find tacos with various fillings, lunch plates and other items. Walk on in and you'll find an airy clean open interior with high ceilings and plenty of seating and tables all around. Scan the laminated paper menu at the counter. The menu isn't big, but it's rather focused. No burritos here, just tacos, sandwiches (tortas) and big plates! Vegetarian/Vegan? There are several tofu-based offerings and a bigger salad too. Order up at the counter, grab a pager, find a seat, enjoy the Latin music over the speakers and before you know it, your order is presented before you. Trying to stay "healthy", I decided against my all-time favorite Baja fish tacos, and ordered the Pollo de Cholita plate. With this you get a big boneless chicken thigh marinated with herbs and mild spices with white rice, beans (black or pinto), a side salad of fresh mixed greens and three delicious fried plantains. The chicken thigh is flattened thin, but was totally moist and tender and most importantly flavorful and not overly marinated on the tongue. The rice with black beans and mixed greens in a light vinaigrette were the perfect neutral companion to the chicken, with the plantains providing a lightly fried sweet contrast and finish to the meal.. Suffice it to say, I loved this dish, and look forward to coming back! read more

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You can eat pretty healthy at Cholita Linda or so I kept telling myself in my sporadic avoidance of carbs. Mind you, I'm in a different headspace when I come out of the gym, definitely hungry but flummoxed by guilt over excessive calorie intake after working out. Tacos can be fun, even tofu ones, and sanguches too, but I decided to go for what I surmised to be a healthy choice. It also turned out to be the priciest plate on the menu, the $14.65 Pollo de Cholita. I didn't regret my selection. It centered on a flattened boneless chicken thigh marinated in herbs & spices and grilled. It was surrounded by rice covered in pinto beans, a mixed green salad, and grilled plantains (Photo 7). Like my other experiences at other Cholita Linda, it was satisfying enough because the ingredients were fresh and the execution fine if you're looking for homestyle Mexican comfort food at a non-taqueria price point. FOOD - 4 stars...satisfying enough and healthy AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...pretty spacious for a fast food operation SERVICE - 4 stars...quite attentive and efficient TOTAL - 4 stars...dependable...I know what I'll get at Cholita Linda RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https://yelp.to/gRI1kLVoeB read more

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Came here for lunch with a friend and it was perfect. I've eaten here several times at all 3 of their locations. Their decor is colorful and inviting. Today in downtown Berkeley we ordered the chica pica sandwich, 2 fish tacos, an order of chips and guacamole. We ate in the restaurant and bussed our table after we ate. Everything was delicious. I love their fish tacos and can eat them every week. Sometimes I order the bean and rice or a side of plantain-always good. Reasonable prices and good food. read more

I have done takeout from Cholita Linda over the years. Their tacos are very good, my fave is the Baja fish tacos. They have a welcoming and colorful vibe, just check out the to go bag when I picked up my food. Their staff are friendly and when I pick my food up it's always ready when I get there. They have plenty of seating and like I said love the color of the place, might want to try to dine in. They do have other food like sandwiches, entree plates, sides, and other like churros & agua Fresca. read more

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Fantastic place. Try the steak asado sandwich! Great interior and ambience in the restaurant.

Found a hair in the bajo fish taco. Fortunately it was found in the nick of time before choking on it. Almost gagged after discovering it. They should really use hair nets in their kitchen. read more

Cholita Linda - Hair in fish taco. - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Torta was very good (4.5/5) according to my friend. Carnitas taco was good but not like a traditional taco (3/5). Margarita was fairly good. Chips and guac are fairly good. You're getting what you paid for. Service was pretty fast and the decor inside is pretty cute and on theme read more

Cholita Linda - Menu (5/09/25) - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Cholita Linda opened recently in Stand Up Burger's vacated space. Infrastructure, seating similar. Decor changed. Instrument music in background. C.L. Is a local mini chain with 6 locations. Offerings (Mexican): tacos, desserts, appetizers, sandwiches, salads, plates, booze, Aqua Fresca.. Ordered at counter, pd. Food ready to pickup at pick up station in 10ish minutes. Bites: Baja fish taco, pollo taco @4.25 -crispy fried batter fish was a single long slender piece of flaky tastiness while morsels of the spit roasted free range chicken lacked unami definition. The +onion difference didn't matter. -the common ingredients of Roja salsa, cabbage slaw, Baja crema amplify the fish, did nothing for the pollo (chicken). Baja fish the star here. -service quick, courteous, helpful. Meter parking iffy. $4.00 per hour. Free on Sunday. *would maybe repeat with a sandwich. read more

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Let me start off and say that this restaurant is aesthetically beautiful. The color scheme is very vibrant and if you're looking for a change of scenery, this is the right place to sit down and clear your mind. The staff are also very friendly and carry very positive attitude. Food wise however, I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of good and bad. I ordered a Cubano and the texture was excellent, but the flavor was a bit off. It was oversaturated with mustard that literally hijacked the majority of the flavor. It didn't help that the pickles blended in with it to make it a bit overpowering. I also felt that the price that I paid for what could've been a more fulfilling sandwich was definitely a bit high. It makes me wonder if I can make my own at home and actually give it better flavor. When it comes to their tacos, my wife ordered two Carne Asada and two Fish. I did enjoy the flavor of the fish better than my Cubano, but it definitely lacked in seasoning. My wife didn't like her fish tacos at all, but did the Carne Asada, which I thought was near flavorless. What's unfortunate about their tacos? Is that you're literally eating hardly any of the meat as they pack each one with lettuce, cilantro, and radishes that end up taking over 70% of each dish. For that price while they are filling, you definitely aren't satisfied and like my Cubano believe that it could be made much better. Where my wife and I were in Universal agreement was that we both enjoyed our freshly made frescas. Mine was pure strawberry while hers was strawberry lime. For us, those were the highlights of our meal. My verdict is this, Cholita Linda has lots of potential if they can just add more seasoning to the food. Being in Berkeley, unfortunately the prices are about right but for what you are getting in return it comes off too high. While I don't see us returning here anytime soon or at all, if I'm ever in the area and read reviews that actually the flavor both of us should be happy to come back here. 3/5. read more

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Been here 3 times in the past 2 weeks and I'm obsessed! Not super familiar with Latin American food, so it's nice to have a new option in the Berkeley scene. Everything is tasty, reasonably priced (~$15 per person), and makes you comfortably full. You have different meat options (beef, chicken, pork, fish, tofu), all well seasoned, and prepared in different styles (taco, sandwich, or plate). My personal favorite is their fish which is super most inside even though it's fried. I prefer the plates since it includes sides (salad w/ tangy dressing, black/pinto beans, rice, and sweet plantains) You order at the counter and then get a buzzer to pick-up when it's ready. You help yourself to water, utensils, and cleaning up. It can get kind of busy, so be mindful if you need to order in a rush. The inside has a bunch of vibrant colors, upbeat music playing, and a good place to grab food with a friend/smaller group. read more

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Love that they opened up a Cholita Linda in Downtown Berkeley! This location is spacious and very cute. The decor is bright and inviting, while the staff were kind and efficient. I tried their Baja fish tacos which were delicious. The fish had a great crispy texture, while the sauce was creamy and worked well with the veggies in the tacos. The pricing for their portions are also great, especially compared to other places in the area. I'd love to return to try their plates or sandwiches sometime soon! read more

Cholita Linda - Baja Fish Taco - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

I pass by this place all the time, so I figured it was time to try it out! I was looking at their website and I realized I could order my food online. The website was easy to navigate and order from. When I got there to pick up my food, I saw how spacious and clean the restaurant was. There are a lot of tables and counter space to sit down and eat at. From our brief interaction, I could tell that the staff was really nice. I ordered the Papito sandwich and a side of french fries. I loved the sandwich; the plantains tasted amazing, bringing a soft sweetness. At times, they overpowered the steak a bit, but they both tasted really good. It's a rather big sandwich that would have been a filling meal on its own, but I did want to try out their fries. The fries are some of the best I've had, they're not too salty and have a slight crunch to them. It's located in downtown Berkeley. There's a small parking lot out to the side as well as street parking nearby, but it may be difficult to find a spot right next to the restaurant. I would love to come back again and try other items on the menu! read more

Cholita Linda - Papito and fries - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

The staff was very nice and attentive. The food was very filling and was prepared fairly quickly. read more

Cholita Linda - Cubano - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Low key. Bright latin ambience. Efficient service. Food made with care. The baja fish taco was flavorful and balanced. The tasty asado sandwich reminded me of something I'd enjoy at Porto's down south. Worth a revisit - recommend. read more

I've eaten at Cholita Linda more times than I can even count. This is my goto spot for a quick, cheap bite at Berkeley. Cholita Linda never fails to deliver on quality, taste, and portions with their tacos. My goto order is 2 Baja Fish Tacos!!--I've had all of their other tacos but their fish taco is simply the best. Great portions for the price, and the fish is always perfectly crispy and comes with ample toppings and an addicting and creamy sauce. They also often have promos on Doordash for togo and dine-in making them a great option for college students on the go. The restaurant's interior is very festive and spacious, making it a good dine-in spot for larger groups as well. Cholita linda you have a special place in my heart~ read more

Cholita Linda - Baja Fish Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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LOVE LOVE LOVE CHOLITAAAAA. Been to all their other locations (Temescal, Alameda, Walnut Creek, and SF) and this one DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! Will be a staple anytime I'm in Berkeley and craving fish tacos haha read more

Cholita Linda - beautiful interior - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

The other night I got an email saying Cholita Linda opened their new location in Berkeley. What?! I screamed and then texted it to many friends lol. Cholita Linda is my favorite place for fish tacos and the fact they have a new location 10 minutes away from me is dangerous.​ So of course, I had to pay their new location a visit with my cousin since we were both craving tacos! Being that this location opened the other day, there were similarities and differences. The exterior of the restaurant is unassuming and a giant red building, so it was a bit hard to find. Once inside, the interior mimicked all of their other locations. Colorful, loud, and fun! It's a pretty open and spacious restaurant with lots of tables, communal tables, and booths. I already know this is going to be a prime setup for Cal students once school is back in session. Similar to their other locations, ordering is done at the front register, and you receive a buzzer. Once it buzzes you grab your food versus them bringing it to you. There is also a bathroom, but a code is needed. Overall, the service by all was extremely friendly and efficient. We came during a quiet weekday evening so we were one of the only customers. Of course, I got what I always get, Baja Fish Tacos! My order consisted of two Baja Fish Tacos with Light Crema and a Mango Agua Fresca. I've been rocking with this order for 10 years now and it always hits. The tacos here were phenomenal--crispy yet light, perfect ratio of protein to tortilla, and well-seasoned. I was worried about the quality being it was a new location, but everything tasted great. The agua fresca was refreshing, fruity, and delicious. My cousin loved her carnitas tacos. We'll be coming back in the future for more! Cholita Linda is a staple for fast-casual Latin American food in the Bay Area! This is their newest location in Berkeley off of Kala Bagai Way. Parking can be found around but it's either restricted for 2 hours, metered, or residential (free after 6 p.m.). I'm looking forward to coming back again and again with more friends and family! read more

Cholita Linda - Baja Fish Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This new Berkeley location is now my favorite one. I liked the layout. The staff were attentive. I ordered the fish tacos. The fish was made to order and flakey. The tacos were delicious. I am definitely coming back. read more

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The food here is amazing. I like going here always fresh. The service is okay, not bad. Not overextatic, either though, but the food makes up for all of that. Sometime I sit in and eat sometime.I take it to go read more

I've heard of and seen Cholita Linda locations around the Bay Area and was excited to see one open in Berkeley! They really turned the space around. The decoration is amazing. You order at the one cashier, receive a pager, and wait for your food to be ready for pick up at the counter. It was a bit busy during lunch rush but there was still some seating available. I got the Baja fish taco and carne asada taco for $4.25 each. The tacos were packed. I liked the fish taco the best. The fish was juicy and had a good breading:fish ratio. The carne asada taco could've used a little more meat filling. My friend also got the churros to share. It comes with 4 pieces and they were some of the best churros I've had in awhile. They came out piping hot. Overall, an extremely pleasant experience. I'm excited to go back. I'm already craving the fish tacos! read more

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THE BEST TACOS!!!!!!!! My favorites are the carnitas tacos, but they're all delicious and super flavorful. I also love the interior design. It feels like you're outside in a little town, and they play fun music. It's usually not too busy, so service is good and there are plenty of seats. read more

Cholita Linda - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good food and a decent price cute restaurant. It was nice and fast. People were nice. I had the fish taco someone else had a sandwich. They liked it a lot. I got the homemade chips and guacamole. It was delicious. read more

Wednesday, December 11th, 2024, 12:00 Cubano ($13.50): pulled pork, ham, mustard aioli, pickles, grilled French bread - very standard, everything was tasty but unremarkable Chips & Guac ($6.45) - I think the chips were home-made, very yummy! - guac was very fresh and heavy on the lemon/lime Plantains ($4.95): 5 pieces - a bit too oily but had good flavor Service: - order at the counter, grab a table, and pick up your order when your buzzer goes off - self-service water, utensils, and napkins - staff was friendly Ambiance: - vibrant interior with ample seating read more

Cholita Linda - Cubano, Chips & Guac, Plantains - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

Vibrant atmosphere and great cheap options for a college student's lunch! Also quick, even at noon. I had plenty of time to order, eat and get back to campus within the hour. read more

Great food. Fast service. Comfortable ambience. We enjoyed our meal after a matinee show at Berkeley Rep. read more

Cholita Linda - Cubano - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

I wanted to give this place a 4.5 star. Both sandwiches we ordered we delicious but are they the best Cuban sandwiches we ever had? No. But are they the best we could find in the Bay Area? Yes. And I'm happy they have a vegetarian option which a lot of restaurants servicing their version of Cuban food don't have. Brownie points for making the tostones crunchy like they should be. Nothing is sadder than a floppy toston. read more

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Something for everyone. The Cara Cara Orange was next level good! Plain ol flavors were solid too. The service was super sweet and patient. We had 4 kids and two adults in the group and no one knew what they wanted. Fun pics of pups on the walls. Quick take away options in the fridge. I hope this place survives. It's the 3rd ice cream establishment in 6 years? read more

Had a delivery today: fish tacos and churros. The fish was whole and fried crispy, which was great. However, the food was incredibly bland - no hot spice. I added my own homemade salsa to add heat. Churros had no custard taste in the dough. It is sort of an Americanized version of food. No bueno! read more

This has quickly become my weekly craving, just about every week. The Papito steak sandwich is simply perfect! The savory steak, the creamy sauce, the sweet plantain, all perfectly complimented by the tang of the arugula (and I normally am not an arugula fan). If you are looking for a hearty, warm, umami sandwich...look no further! The fries are deliciously seasoned and their drinks are always tasty. Great great food! read more

Underwhelming. Ordered salsa but got Pico de Gallo instead. I'm confused. I thought they were different? Also, the guacamole was average at best. It would've been nice to see tomatoes, onions and jalapeno. Especially for $5. The only highlight was the margaritas. Overall, it reminded me of Chipotle. read more

The cashier was very friendly and provided excellent service. She was kind, quick, and made sure everything went smoothly., The food was delicious. Great service and good vibes all around! great experience overall at the Berkeley location Cholita Linda! read more

Amazing ambiance and great food. Parking is tricky but that's typical for the area. Very nice staff.

I tried their Pollo de Cholita plate, which contained chicken with heavy herbs and spices. I preferred plainer pollo. Plantains, rice, and beans were all authentic compared to what I ate in Miami. Their food was clean and not greasy. Guacamole was fresh and had a strong lime flavor. Ambiance was fast casual with great service. read more

Their tacos are good. However, watch out for their POS system. After our meal, I went back to buy a single taco that came to 4.69 with tax, and I was prompted to tip $1 (21.3%), $3 (64%), or 5$ (106.6%!!!). Ok, that's bad enough, but they also reverse the order of the tip amounts so the highest amount is on the left, which is where we're all used to the lowest amount usually being. Come on, Cholita Linda. I'm a good tipper, but stop playing those games. read more

Just visited the new location and really enjoyed it. It is clean, with lots of room for seating. Staff is friendly and service is fast. Order at the register and they give you a buzzer and you pickup when the food is ready. They also have a self serve water area. I got 2 chicken tacos and 1 carnitas. Personally I felt like the chicken tacos were more flavorful, I would get those again over the carnitas. The churros came hot. We got the Papito sandwich as well which was good, just a bit rich for one sitting. Overall had a good experience and will be back! read more

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Found this Cuban restaurant while walking around from the Residence Inn Hotel close by . Entrance and ambiance was very inviting! Very clean and spacious! The lady at the counter was very pleasant and friendly. They give you a number and pick up your order at the counter . I got the fish and el pastor tacos . Both very good , but next time I will order two fish ones instead . My family had the cubano and lechon sandwiches and reported that both were very tasty . Dessert was awesome with the coconut pudding topped with mango sauce. And churros . The strawberry and mango juices were very refreshing Will definitely return when we come back into town . read more

Cholita Linda - Inviting entrance - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cholita Linda has always been one of my favorite places to take people. Their food is absolutely delicious and the interior is so cute. Service is also fast and there are napkins and hot sauce available on the tables. Glad they opened another location! read more

Cholita Linda - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great food and service Fair pricing Staff is amazing Quality of food is great and taste read more

As good as the Temescal location! Embarcadero doesn't quite hit in the same way but the fish tacos are on point here. Dare I even say, the best fish tacos in the Bay. read more

Cholita Linda - Generous portion of slaw on the fish tacos, don't forget the habanero sauce! Chips and salsa are also fresh - Tacos Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great food and staff is super nice and understanding. Have to try the fish tacos if you are paying a visit