Love this place because of the bright, colorful, and tropical interior! Also their Baja fish taco…read moreis sooo good because the fish is really crispy and flavorful. I also like that the service is really fast! You order first, find a seat, and they'll bring your food to your table pretty quickly

We we t in for dinner. My son ordered fish tacos with yuca fries and mango agua Fresca. I ordered…read moreto pollo chicharron, came with salad, beans, rice and two small plantains. We also ordered an order of tostones. I got a mango agua Fresca. It was refreshing and very mango tasting. The pollo chicharron is always my favorite. The service is ordered at front. I was nicely surprised they used dinnerware which makes it feel more authentic. There's plenty of inside and outdoor seating as well as booth chair seating looking out.

Ohhh baby we got a winner!!!…read more I had high expectations when I saw the Michilin Bib hanging over the kitchen, and boy did it live up to it. Not only was the food great but it also has a very cozy and unique vibe inside (well I guess technically it's outside.) there was no line and we got our food quick, I can't think of one thing to complain about. I got three tacos, all costing a mere 5$; Pork: absolutely blew me away. The first taco I started with and set the bar very high. I tried the first bite with all my friends and we instantly locked eyes because we knew we found something special 9.7/10 Pollo: nearly on the same level as the pork. The red onions on top gave it great texture and a unique flavor profile 9.2/10 Barbacoa: on its own it was solid! But when compared to its counterparts it wasn't quite as jaw dropping. 8.1/10 Overall: 9.4/10

Decent tacos with original and fun takes on classics and vegan friendly options. But it left me…read morewanting more in terms of genuine flavor, textura and coziness that I would get from other taco spots in Oakland. It's a fun space to hang out and I admire their contribution to the community, but I'd still recommend folks to go to Fruitvale for more diversity and genuine flavors. The presentation and hand made tortillas were great though

Super fun little spot on the corner. Bright pink building. We ordered one chilaquiles verde. Huge…read moreplate, steaming hot, delicious!!!! Great value. Thank you!

La Esquinita has seriously become one of my favorite lunch spots because the food is AMAZING…read more Unfortunately, my issue is specifically with the two girls with black hair who are usually working the front register. Every single time I've come in and those two are working, the customer service has been disappointing. Neither of them ever seems welcoming. No "hi," no "welcome in," no smile, and sometimes barely even an acknowledgment that you're standing there waiting to order. When they do take your order, both come across short and irritated, almost like you're inconveniencing them by being there. Then you pay and there's usually no "thank you" or anything. The whole interaction gives off a "why are you here?" I'm not asking these girls to throw me a welcome party, but damn basic hospitality shouldn't be this difficult. When you're the first people customers interact with, your attitude represents the restaurant. At this point, the food has more warmth and personality than the two people standing at the register. And I want to make it clear that I'm specifically talking about my experiences with these two cashiers, because the food itself is DELICIOUS. Whoever is cooking in the back deserves their flowers. It's honestly unfortunate that such good food is being paired with front-counter service that repeatedly makes me reconsider coming back. Hopefully management addresses the issue because I genuinely enjoy eating here. Customers shouldn't feel like they're bothering the employees just for walking in and placing an order.

Went in with zero expectations and left planning my next visit…read more Stopped by Tacos Mi Rancho near Lake Merritt and honestly didn't know what to expect. From the outside, it looks like a straightforward taco truck, but wow was I surprised. I ordered the Carnitas Super Taco, which came loaded with lettuce, cheese, cilantro, onions, sour cream, and guacamole. Everything was fresh, well seasoned, and packed with flavor. My only complaint? You only get one taco per order because I definitely could've eaten another. The Kid ordered the Carne Asada Super Taco and before we even pulled away, she was asking for a second one. That's usually a pretty good sign. We also tried the horchata and jamaica, and both were delicious. The horchata was creamy and flavorful, while the jamaica was refreshing and not overly sweet. What surprised me most was how quickly they got the food out, especially considering how popular this spot seems to be. A few things to know: * Cash or Venmo only * Parking can be a challenge, but it's worth it * Keep an eye out for the new speed cameras in the area Their hours are another plus: Open daily, 9:30am- midnight Overall, this was one of those pleasant surprises that reminds you not to judge a place by appearances. Definitely looking forward to coming back.

Food 5/5 Service 4/5…read moreVibes 5/5 Staple taco truck spot in Lake Merritt that kept me sane and fed during my college years

The shrimp tacos are amazing! I've only gone twice and had steak, chicken and shrimp taco…read more The shrimp tacos are by far my favorite! So flavorful and cooked to perfection. I also love their green salsa.

Came to try the tacos since everyone keeps talking about how good this place was. To be honest,…read morethey're alright. Their meat is a little salty. I think the best items were their fish taco with the pico de callo, and their ceviche. Their frescas tasted a little artificial, but still refreshing.

Their $6 tacos with Niman Ranch meats are like baby burrito sized:…read more- Al pastor - perfectly cooked tender beef - carnitas - loaded up with meat and beans Hearty, not overly seasoned, lots of quality protein and they will sub out flour for corn tortillas on DD orders. The salsas are great, guac could use a bit more oomph and the chips are a bit thick for my taste. Overall - would order again. Felt healthy-ish for a restaurant meal.

La Calaca Loca has one of the best pollo quesadillas!! They have an amazing menu, but the…read morequesadillas are always my go to for a quick, fulfilling, and savory lunch. 10/10 the chicken is soft, juicy packed with flavor and comes with a side of chips + salsa Highly recommend for anyone to try!

Love this place! I got the chorizo frijoles & crunchy…read morebirria tacos this time and it was insanely delicious! Imo you can't miss when you go here!

Came here for taco Tuesday last week and according to their website, shots are $5 and margaritas…read moreare $7 yet I still got charged full price for everything and for one of the drinks, they gave us a completely different one than the one we asked for. The bartender said the discounts start at 3pm but after looking on their website, there is no start time mentioned at all for taco Tuesday discounts. It's happy hour that starts at 3pm and that's under a completely different tab. It's not the end of the world that I paid full price for something, I just don't like false advertising or employees that don't know their own specials

Everything was so good! Our server was extremely knowledgeable and I had a lot of questions. I got…read morethere right as it opened, but it quickly filled up by the time I left. Must be a popular spot, and I can see why. The vibes are casual and fun- would love to have events here in the future. My coffee was rich and perfectly sweet. It was honestly a challenge to slowly sip it. The chilaquiles verdes were perfect, and the black beans are incredible.

On the taco trail today for Friday Funday with the man. We stopped by this place because it has…read morebeen on my "To Try" list for several months. We are in search of a Baja fish taco that is satisfying since both of the places we loved either closed or stopped serving the baja style. We went to Mersea earlier for the views and to check out TI and it was uninspiring so we rambled back to the east bay and decided to try Mercado. Reviews looked good (thanks y'all, I appreciate you) and despite a few misses on the baja taco (according to some reviews) we decided to take a run at it. The man was feeling jaded after the am stop and wasn't going for the fish, I stayed neutral...no one wants their little taco loving heart broken twice in one day...ultimately, he decided to try the fish taco plate with 1 baja and one grilled. I had the poblano mole tacos w/chicken. We shared the guacamole with chips. I had cafe de olla (it is called something else here) and he had the mocktail with the ginger beer. The ordering at the counter wasn't my favorite but the spot was pretty quiet for a Friday midday and the service was still exceptional. They were attentive and responsive. I would definitely go back at the same time cuz I don't like crowds. On to the food. Dayum! Everything was good. Well seasoned, beautifully plated, and sufficient serving size. I pigged out. For real...I waddled out of that joint. Brought every drop of the leftovers home so I could have the chocolate custard (DAYUM) for dessert with the remnants of my coffee. Him: he preferred the baja style to the grilled fish. As some others have said, it can fall apart (really stuffed with goodness) but he didn't want his fixins on the side. VERDICT: he'll be back for that taco. Me: I enjoyed the mole but the chicken in chunks didn't work for me. I would have preferred it shredded. I'll try something else next time and there will be a next time. Oh, and the black beans and green rice were flavorful as well. Standing order: guacamole and chips Cafe Chocolate custard... What? No pics? Come on now. I wasn't thinking 'bout y'all when my food came. Go take your own pics.

Our first take out from here and it was fantastic. Mussamun in particular. Will return to sample…read moreadditional delights.

Cozy eatery serving Thai dishes reminiscent of the eateries in Thailand. A rustic ambience with…read moresimple tables, and you know instantly that the focus is going to be on the food! They've also made it to the Michelin Bib Gourmand list several years in a row, so you know the food is going to be legit! They don't accept reservations, so getting there and hoping for a table is your best bet. We were a group of 5, and after about a 20 min wait (pretty much par-for-the-course for a Saturday night), we were seated. They do have tables outside, but we were told that we couldn't start our meal outside and then move to a table indoors after one was available, so we waited. Oh well! As we waited, we noticed a steady stream of online orders, indicating this is a popular place with those in the neighborhood. We got a few beers while we waited for a table. They also have Thai iced teas/coffee/lemonade, and serve young coconuts with water. We got a bunch of appetizers to share and some entrees. We got the crispy rice pork salad, this is served with lettuce leaves and herbs and a wedge of lime. I loved this dish - the crispy rice and ground pork combination was balanced and the squeeze of lime juice made for a perfect bite wrapped in a lettuce leaf with mint and cilantro. Next was the Bird & Buffalo Chicken wings, perfectly crispy and tossed in salt and pepper. Good for folks who don't enjoy the spice. We also got the grilled pork spare ribs to share, which folks enjoyed. For entrees we had the drunken noodles with pork, green curry with rice and massaman curry with rice. I could have done with a spicier version of the green curry, but it was flavorful and satisfying. Overall, a solid spot for Thai food - we will be back to sample some of their other dishes too!

There is a large parking garage close by. No reservations needed. The door is heavy but not closed!…read more Four of us ordered on the phone. The chips with three dips was great. The margaritas were delicious. The food came out reasonably quickly but as there seemed to be only one server (besides the bartender) it was sequential. No big deal. Decent sized servings. My Quesabirrias were excellent. Forgot to try the churros! Nice clean welcoming place. Definitely recommend!

The place is beautiful with an amazing aesthetic. I also loved that you don't even have to talk to…read moreanyone to order since everything is done through a QR code, it made the whole experience quick and easy. I'm giving it 3 stars because I honestly don't understand why everyone raves about the ceviche. It was very bland, and we had to ask for hot sauce, extra lime, and salt just to give it some flavor. On the other hand, the quesabirrias were absolutely amazing, and the three dip with chips was so good. The cocktails were also excellent. My recommendation: skip the ceviche and go for the quesabirrias, 3 dip and cocktails instead!