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    El Comal

    4.1 (74 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Chicken enchiladas
    Nancy L.

    We've been wanting to try this relatively new Mexican restaurant in Los Altos downtown. We ordered the guacamole for appetizer and it was very good. I had the shrimp tacos. It was like a quesa-birria where the shell was pan fried and stuffed with cheese. It was a bit on the salty side though. I also had an octopus taco which was very tender. My boyfriend had the chicken enchiladas with the red sauce. I thought it was good but he thought it was bland. Overall, the ambience is nice and server was very courteous.

    Cochinita Pibil and Carne Asada Tacos at El Comal in Los Altos.
    Danny K.

    For the last dinner of my visitors from out of the country, I decided to take them to El Comal in Los Altos. My partner and I had a great experience back when they first opened in early 2025. I was one of the first Yelpers to review them and enthusiastically recommended El Comal to quite a few friends and work colleagues this past year. Last night got off to a bit of a strange start when our reserved table for five was not prepared in advance unlike the two seat table by the window which already had a reserved sign on it, ready for a couple that arrived 10-15 minutes after my party. They dragged over a 2 top and a couple chairs to complete our table. Once seated, we noticed right away that the menu had changed significantly. The beet salad that was the main dish my partner wanted to order...gone from the menu. The Sopa Azteca that I was looking forward to...also gone, and the "Soup of the Day" listed on the menu was not available at all. The light and airy tricolored tortilla chips were also gone, with denser and less crispy chips in their place. Even the mashed avocados in the guacamole had a slightly darker greyish color rather than the bright green you'd see in a fresh guacamole. My partner asked for a salad with no onions or cucumbers. Unexpectedly, the waitress quickly brought out a salad that had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onions. With no Sopa Azteca available, I ordered Enchiladas with Roja sauce. I was really puzzled when what was served was a cooled dish of Enmoladas topped with Mole sauce. Now I may not be Latino, but I know there's a huge difference between a roja sauce and a complex mole sauce. At first, I thought they may have misheard me when I ordered enchiladas. So when the waiter, who I believe is also one of the owners, tried to explain to me that they were similar and that they substituted enmoladas because they ran out of enchiladas, I had a few thoughts that I kept to myself. To his credit he offered to take the enmoladas back and let me order something else. But I very rarely send fully-prepared dishes back to the kitchen because it is wasteful and I'm not the type to openly complain. But if they had run out of enchiladas, I would expect that most restaurants would send someone to let me know before preparing and serving a completely different dish. That way I would have been able to order something else instead of getting a fully cooked dish that I wouldn't have ordered. I also didn't want to cause a fuss in front of my visiting guests so I kept the enmoladas and ate them in disbelief. The waiter brought by another dish (Bocolitos, I believe) on the house as we were nearing the end of our meal, which was a kind gesture. But the whole experience was such a letdown compared to the previous visits that I felt the need to update my review to better reflect the current state of the restaurant. One can only speculate about what's happening behind the scenes but based on our experience last night, there's been a noticeable decline in the selection and quality of the dishes as well as the service. In all likelihood, we won't be returning to El Comal after this sad turn of events.

    Denise. L.

    Great lunch of enchiladas and chilaquiles. Service was warm and friendly. Love this place!

    Salmon tostadas
    Devi K.

    We really enjoyed this very welcome addition to Los Altos downtown! We started with the chips and guac. The chips are made in house and excellent. The various house salsas were delicious, esp the the salsa verde and the guajillo. We also ordered the days special - a salmon sashimi tostada with a delicious sauce, chilies and orange zest - very delicious! For our entrees, we had tacos (huitlacoche, quesabirria and veggie) and the veggie enchiladas. The red sauce on the enchiladas was amazing. The only let down was the tres leches, but the rest of the meal was excellent! Friendly service, too!

    Guacamole & Chips

    I finally made it to El Comal, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I came with a friend and her son--both originally from Mexico--plus my own son, so this was a table with very high standards for Mexican food. Everyone left happy. We started with the guac and chips, which were incredibly fresh with the perfect balance of lime, salt, and cilantro. The ceviche was bright and vibrant--clean citrus, just the right amount of heat, and beautifully balanced. You could really taste the quality of the ingredients. For mains, we ordered a bit of everything: chicken mole, salmon, and a mushroom taco. The mole was outstanding--deep, complex, and rich without being overly heavy. You could taste the layers of spice and chocolate the way a proper mole should be. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the mushroom taco was surprisingly one of my favorites--earthy, savory, and packed with flavor. The micheladas were spot on--refreshing, tangy, and perfectly spiced. Even the kids' meals impressed us. The chicken tenders and fries were actually good quality (not an afterthought like at a lot of places), and the mocktails made the kids feel special and included. The service was excellent. We were checked on personally by the owner several times, which really added a warm, welcoming touch. Dining out with kids can sometimes be a bit chaotic, but the staff handled it with such kindness and patience. They brought the kids a coloring mat, which kept them happily occupied for a while--always appreciated by parents. The restaurant felt very family-friendly and even dog-friendly, which made the whole experience relaxed and comfortable. What really stood out was how authentic everything tasted. The seasoning, spice level, and flavor balance were exactly right--nothing watered down, nothing overdone. When you're dining with people from Mexico and they're nodding approvingly after every bite, you know the kitchen is doing something right. Great food, great drinks, fantastic service, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!!!

    CHILAQUILES
    Ruth R.

    Looking for authentic high end Mexican food? You've come to the right place! On Saturday morning, we finally made it to El Comal where we were greeted by Fernando who provided us with exceptional service. We were in search of a nice Mexican brunch and saw their old menu showed chilaquiles. While no longer on their actual menu, we asked if they still made them. They whipped us up two fresh batches! They were delicious and very authentic. The best chilaquiles I've had recently in the Bay Area. Our only suggestion since they open at 10am on Saturdays: it would be great if they did offer a weekend brunch menu from 10am-2pm before changing to their dinner/day menu. They could keep it simple with typical Mexican brunch food items and offer fresh squeezed orange juice, mimosas, etc. We'll definitely go back!

    Menu
    John D.

    Holy Mole Brand-new Mexican restaurant located along the main drag in Downtown Los Altos, and features dishes from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Yucatán. The owners are the furthest thing from the restaurant biz, as one owns a plumbing company and the other owns a construction company. Oddly enough they met after both being scammed out of money by the same man, and a partnership was born. Normally restaurants that are owned by first-time restaurant owners don't fare well, but they seem to have done a good job hiring the right people. The Good: *Gorgeous interior décor *Dog-friendly shaded outdoor dining *Terrific service by "Server H" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ *For being open less than a month, they had a pretty smooth operation. *They just got their liquor license so they have beer, micheladas, wine, and cocktails. *Complimentary Chips and Salsa! Their salsa is really good fwiw. *Mole was fantastic and had a nice depth of flavor with just the right amount of chocolatey sweetness. I also really appreciated the fresh, well-dresssed salad that accompanied it instead of rice or beans. My one complaint was the chicken breasts were a touch dry, but otherwise an almost flawless dish. *Carissa really enjoyed her salmon salad, but we wish it had a little more Mexi flair to it. *Molletes were fantastic! Right ratio of cheese to beans, and the bread had a nice sourdough flavor. The Meh: *Street parking is free but can be tough to find. *It would be nice to see some craft beers available, beyond the stereotypical Corona, Modelo, and such, but I get it. The Ugly: *They need better exterior signage so that diners can know they exist as they walk across the street or drive-by. Conclusion: Fantastic authentic Mexi eats in a great location. Highly recommended.

    Chocolate flan

    Stopped by for the first time for lunch today. We came at the right time because it wasn't long before there was a wait. Had the ceviche to start. Absolutely perfect. My son ordered from the brunch menu and loved his food. I had the mole chicken enmoladas and they were heaven on a plate. (It's a large portion - I ended up taking 1/2 of it home!) The mole is housemade three times a week. It was spicy and complex. Loved it. Shared the chocolate flan dessert. Unique and delicious.

    Their Chile Relleno is delightful
    You K.

    El chile relleno is exactly how it should be made and taste. You can tell the tortillas are freshly made as well and we really enjoyed their rice, tasted very home made; even brought back memories of my family's cooking. Well done El Comal. Service was great and respectful. We even got to see their machine that makes the tortillas on the spot as our waiter was very kind to give us a mini walkthrough. We did arrive on a Saturday around 1pm so it wasn't busy, as they close at 2 and re-open at 4. Sat outside, it was peaceful and you are able to carry a conversation without any noise distractions.

    Delicious food & great service. Found this place walking around Los Altos looking for quality Mexican food.
    Peter M.

    Quality food & service. Found this place walking around Los Altos looking for traditional Mexican food that isn't just a taqueria.

    Enmoladas
    Jasmine A.

    We were excited to welcome a new Mexican restaurant to the neighborhood. Positives Cute interior Nice service Tortillas were very good Moles was tasty Negatives Restaurant was empty when we got there at 7pm Menu was limited. Not the menu pictured on Yelp My entree was luke warm. Not hot at all No chips, no salsa, no rice, no beans. You can get chips and guacamole for $14 $72 was steep for what we ordered Also, they turned away a single diner at 7:30pm so not sure what time they really close. I'm not sure they are building a local, regular customer base which is what a Los Altos neighborhood restaurant needs in order to survive

    Montse S.

    Casually walked by on a wednesday and they had taco specials, I had three different kinds all for under $25 a Paloma, which they specially made for me not being too sweet and honestly, I went at a slow time so the one Server was taking care of the entire restaurant and she was very attentive. Join in at the patio, it's beautiful.

    Enmoladas and michelada

    I found myself in Palo Alto at dinner time, and Mexican food sounded good, so I gave El Comal a try. I got enmoladas and a michelada. The michelada was very tasty, with tajin on the rim and a lime wedge. I'd never had enmoladas before, so I was excited to try them. They're essentially chicken enchiladas with mole on top. The mole was one of the tastiest I've ever had, and the meal was really good. My only complaint is that the enmoladas were not as warm (physically, not spice-wise) as I would expect, which detracted a bit from the meal. I look forward to eating there next time I'm in the area to try some more things on the menu.

    Same - mushroom/corn fungi and a shrip taco.

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    2 months ago

    im from modesto was in the area the food is super good i got the carne asada plate (really picky with carne asada) but theirs was 10/10

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    Ask the Community - El Comal

    Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan

    Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan

    4.2
    (184 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Small gem right in the heart of downtown Los Altos. They also see to have a truck that operates in…read moreSan Mateo. Tacos come with hand made tortillas. Everything is fresh and has great flavor. There's a small self-serve salsa station. The green sauce had the perfect taste without being too spicy. We tried the carne asada and the tripas. Tripas were perfectly crunchy (we made a point to ask for extra crispy). We also had a quesadilla, nothing to write home about, but the portion was very generous! The agua Fresca was also so good and not sweet. Service was fast and friendly. We came in on what seemed like downtime, so not sure how fast they operate when its bus.

    First time visiting this restaurant since I'm not local and was so glad I stumbled across it! Tacos…read moreare $4 per which I think is a fair price. I was disappointed that they were out of lengua since I'm not typically a fan of the other meats. The times I've had asada, it's usually dry, but I ordered it anyway not knowing what else to get and holy smokes was it good! It was so tender and flavorful that it changed my entire opinion of asada. It's really that good! Their chips were crispy and not stale and I just love their self serve salsas. It's usually a hit or miss at Mexican Restaurants, but it's great here! Unfortunately, it seemed like the employee did not want to be there and I felt a bit uncomfortable but the food well makes up for it.

    Photos
    Small dining area
    Small dining area
    8 taco combo - @rayz
    8 taco combo - @rayz
    Aguas y ricas salsas

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    Aguas y ricas salsas
    Vive Sol

    Vive Sol

    3.9
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Hidden gem! Rather ppl who know the place are regulars and keep coming back. Full house for…read moredinners and that's gotta say something about Vive sol Food was good, tried the grandmas family recipe and just wow!

    Came here on a Saturday night around 7:30 pm for an early Mother's Day Dinner and it was quite…read morepacked, but we were able to get seated fairly quickly. The restaurant is well decorated, feels lively, and is very dark. Maybe a bit too dark - we had to use our flashlight on our phone just to read the menu. We ordered a few items: - Guacamole 3.5/5 , tasted fresh but needs salt. - Ceviche 3/5 , A bit on the sweeter side than we would like - Verde Carne Asada Burrito meal: 4/5, pretty solid actually just wish the portion was a bit bigger for $24 - Steak Fajitas.... 1/5. My mother usually orders fajitas when we go out to eat at mexican restaurant, but we did not see it on the menu, so we asked the server if they had it and he said yes! Now we know why it's probably not on the menu... The meat was SUPER oily, I mean like drenched in oil, if you put a flashlight on the dish, you will quite literally see a puddle of oil at the bottom of the bowl. Second, the meat is very very tough and dry, similar to some meat you would reheat in the microwave after leaving it in the fridge for a few days. This dish is literally unacceptable and the worst part is the fact it costs $29. DO NOT ORDER THIS. Since, this was a dinner for an early mother's day. We did not want to cause any complaint or trouble to the restaurant as it was super packed. We just won't be coming back here anymore. The server himself was friendly, but man did the service suck. We had to flag down someone every time to bring water, chips, and the check. There was no staff check in ever. In fact, they actually lost my credit card and we were waiting around 10- 15 minutes to just get our check back. Everything took forever and the service was super slow. It was a lot of sitting and waiting for each thing. Losing my credit card and having us wait 10-15 minutes to get it back is unacceptable for a professional restaurant that is not on the lower end of things either.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Nachos
    Nachos
    Margarita

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    Margarita
    Village Pantry

    Village Pantry

    3.9
    (336 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Well all the years I have been in the area, never tried this place. The woman that owns this place…read moreis nice and friendly and always laughing and smiling. But if you think you are coming into this place and are going to be able to get any market based hot sauce, ketchup or anything like that, even coffee think again!! Everything she makes here is homemade. At one point I was going to ask her, are your tables and chairs homemade as well? ;-) She has many regulars! What I ordered which was a basic breakfast was really not anything to write home about, I did not care for the bacon nor their homemade sauce nor her mixes of coffee, it just did not work for me. I went with another YELP ELITE colleague, I think they felt the same way. Would I be back, sure I would like to give it another try with perhaps some other plate. I think for sure the owner is welcoming and has had so many people come here for years, perhaps I ordered the wrong thing? I am not sure. I was not that impressed, sorry.

    Stopped by Village Pantry for breakfast and it had a very low-key, old-school diner vibe. It was so…read morequiet when I walked in that I genuinely wasn't sure if it was open at first. Kind of a peaceful, almost frozen-in-time feel compared to the busier brunch spots around town. If you're looking for a simple, no-frills breakfast and a calm start to the morning, this is a great option.

    Photos
    Village Pantry
    Chicken fried steak and eggs, gravy is fire!
    Chicken fried steak and eggs, gravy is fire!
    Village Pantry

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    Rick's Cafe

    Rick's Cafe

    3.5
    (781 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Rick's is exactly what it looks like: a sleepy little cafe where everything feels familiar. They…read moreserve classic breakfast food, all of which looked and smelled delicious. I had a chocolate chip waffle, which was so nostalgic to have. The staff was very friendly and food came out quickly after ordering.

    My husband and I had a rare day off together after dropping our kids off at summer camp, so we…read moredecided to treat ourselves to brunch. We arrived around 10:00 a.m., and while the restaurant wasn't busy and there were plenty of empty tables available, we stood at the host stand for more than five minutes before anyone acknowledged us. Looking back, that should have been a sign of what was to come. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. We ordered simple breakfast items--a ham and cheese omelet with hash browns and toast, and a two-egg breakfast with hash browns and toast. When our meals arrived, the food was lukewarm to cold, and the toast had been replaced with bagels. The eggs were dry and overcooked, and the hash browns were soft and cold. Ironically, the best thing on the plate was the buttered bagel, which was at least fresh and soft. We also requested extra napkins, but they never arrived. For the price we paid, we expected a much better experience. Between the lackluster service and mediocre food, this was not a meal worth repeating. Unfortunately, we won't be returning.

    Photos
    Entrance Area
    Entrance Area
    Veg Crepe!
    Veg Crepe!
    Exterior

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    Exterior
    Super Tacos El Conrro

    Super Tacos El Conrro

    3.6
    (141 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $

    Got the Carnitas tacos. Although it doesn't say it, these are the street taco size that uses the…read moresmaller tortilla but extra stuffs the meat and has just the chopped onion and cilantro on top. Each taco was $3.75 so really good price for the bay area. I grabbed all three salsas as well. The carnitas taco as a whole, eaten properly with a lime squeeze and the salsa was really good. I loved it. The salsa paired perfectly with the carnitas and was actually spicy like it should be. The tortillas also where actually heated through too. The carnitas alone. Good tasting, but not as moist as it should be. I suspect either A. After chopping they didnt mix a little of the juices or B. They didnt cook it long enough in the lard & beer, or C. They didn't use lard. I'm very happy though that they did the more common fat/oil cook method vs. The orange juice etc. method that IMO isnt as good tasting. Regardless it went so well with the salsa and the salsa was so fantastic they still get a bay area 5/5 and a San Diego/TJ/Mexicali 4/5. Sorry to foodsplain but I have started to learn the people in the Bay Area have little idea of good Mexican food should be and taste like as most of it is just edible to say the least...

    I ordered a plate of veggie tacos to go, and the experience was extremely disappointing. Every…read moresingle slice of avocado was visibly rotten -- not just overripe, but clearly spoiled. Completely unacceptable, especially for how pricey these tacos are. I only discovered it once I got home, which made it even more frustrating. For the cost, you'd expect at least basic quality control. Definitely not an experience I'd want to repeat.

    Photos
    Chips & Salsa Bar
    Chips & Salsa Bar
    Carne Asada and Carnitas Tacos
    Carne Asada and Carnitas Tacos
    Outside

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    Outside

    El Comal - mexican - Updated July 2026

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