TLDR: Immaculate vibes and friendly staff. The atmosphere and huge layout of the place are super…read morenice - maybe one of the best in the city - and it's definitely a great place to have a big party or gathering. Lots of different open sections, many open spaces and large tables covering a huge foot print. Lots of TVs, good music/sound system, and lots of plants used to split up the tables and create a great environment. Food could be slightly improved. I'll definitely be back and give it another try. Come here for the vibes, drinks, and atmosphere - which are without a doubt a 5 star experience - but if you want good authentic Mexican food, look elsewhere. Food, I'd give a generous 3.5 stars to 3.8 stars, at best. I was really excited to try their food but honestly it tasted bland, unpolished, and unrefined. I have a feeling their target audience is someone that doesn't like spice so they punish those of us that actually like them. For example, my fish tacos didn't have pico de gallo or hot salsa, my rice and beans were NOT even topped with any sour cream (a Mexican delight) or fresh grated queso fresco. These are two very simple ways to elevate the dish and was a miss in my book. Their mole dish was nicely plated but for the taste the mole was not up to par - it tasted sweet and not authentic, there was no depth in the flavor you're used to tasting for mole. Drinks were 5 stars without a doubt and I had the best Paloma I've ever had in my life. I also highly recommend the Alabama slammer super yummy and tasty it's like a punch but not too sweet. The drinks did take a solid 30+ minutes to get delivered so that was a bummer. If they were quicker I would've gotten a second round but I didn't feel like risking waiting around for another half hour for them. Parking is pretty good but it's still Oakland - I do appreciate that they hire a super friendly security guard attendant at a nearby dedicated parking lot location for a modest $5 charge. Don't forget to tip the parking lot attendant doing the lords work! The last thing I would mention is that if you're sensitive to smells, this is an outdoor place right off the bay (1-2 blocks) and near some Amtrak train tracks (which pass hourly or so), so there is a faint and occasional odor of bay water and some brake dust or diesel fumes when trains pass occasionally.

Genuine authentic Mexican style restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Large yard for seating…read moreor even private events. Full bar with friendly bartenders and beautiful hostess and waitresses. Welcoming and warm atmosphere great for groups, gatherings, events watching over big screens, kids, casual dates and meetups. Food is simply amazing full of flavors and fresh. Reservation is recommended for large groups and off for events. Large parking area across the street for $5. Wide and flat entires and routes great for accessibility.

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.

I've been here a few times now and have tried the shrimp and steak burrito as well as the chicken…read moreburrito. Both were really good, with generous portions and great flavor. The staff has always been friendly, and the food has been consistently enjoyable. One suggestion I'd offer is to consider adding a happy hour or Taco Tuesday special. There are several Mexican restaurants nearby that offer deals like those, and I think it could help bring in more customers during slower times. The food is definitely good enough to attract people--I just think a few specials would give more people a reason to stop in and give the restaurant a try. Overall, I'd definitely come back and would recommend it if you're looking for a solid burrito.

The service was fantastic, the man in the front was very polite and friendly, and the ambiance in…read morethe restaurant was great I loved the decorations so much, but the food disappointed me. It was packed nicely in a cool container I'm so excited to reuse, but the salsas were watery and bland, and oh my the flautas were nothing like I was expecting. They were big like little burritos and the tortilla was still soft, it also lacked flavor. The beans and rice were delicious, the rice had some big pieces of what I believe were tomatillo peppers which I loved. I think my food was supposed to come with tortillas which I did not get. Maybe I just need to try something else there but a bad salsa really put me off.

One of the best Mexican places in The Town - and it's a fiercely competitive landscape too! We've…read morebeen coming for a while now and this place never disappoints. The menu does change up seasonally. I've had countless mouth watering chile rellenos with their ever changing sauce and filling. And my to go to nowadays to ensure I get plenty of protein is ordering one of their bowls, usually with pescado frito (fried fish) with black beans. My husband enjoys their barbacoa shredded meat. The bowls are filling, nutritious and flavor bombs. I also love indulging in their agua frescas. Our personal favorites are the strawberry horchata (a MUST if it's available) and their coconut ice coffee. Refreshing beverages to help soothe your tongue because the sliced fresh chiles on fried fish bowl are indeed lethal. Overall consistently delicious. It does get packed but if you come early around 4-5pm you will beat the crowd.

Double dated with my friend and her partner. It was my partner's and my first time visiting Dona…read more Ambiance coming in was welcoming and well decorated. They welcomed dogs on their patio, loved seeing all of the pups. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Food promptly came out and was delicious. We'd definitely come back in the future! We got the nachos and french toast....delicious

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.

I was really excited when I arrived at Taquería El Paisa. It's a lively, energetic establishment,…read moreand even though there were at least 20 people ahead of me in line, the wait gave me a chance to observe the well-orchestrated kitchen operations. Everything looked authentic, fresh, and incredibly appetizing. When it was finally my turn to order, I was especially pleased to see the variety of meats available. The suadero immediately caught my attention. It appeared to be the proper cut of meat--a cut that surprisingly few places in the Bay Area use, and even fewer seem to know how to cook properly. I also noticed that they use a traditional "disco"--the large, deep, circular pan with a dome-shaped center--to cook the suadero. At that point, my mouth was watering. We ordered a burrito, three asada tacos, two suadero tacos, two cabeza tacos (meat from cow's head), one lengua (beef tongue), and one tripa (beef small intestine). I also asked for some of the salsa available behind the counter where they serve your tacos, which turned out to be a delicious house-made habanero salsa. Unfortunately, not all that glitters is gold. As appetizing as everything looked, the meats simply weren't executed as well as I had hoped. The asada was dry and overcooked. The suadero was dry, tough, and overcooked. I was particularly looking forward to the tripa, but instead of the crispy, rich, savory flavor I normally associate with a great tripa taco, these were soft, soggy, fatty, and somewhat bland. One of the biggest disappointments was that all of the different cuts seemed to taste almost exactly the same. Part of the appeal of ordering tacos like suadero, cabeza, lengua, and tripa is experiencing the distinct character of each cut. Unfortunately, those differences were largely lost here. By the end of the meal, the dominant flavor in my mouth was simply grease, which made it difficult for the individual meats to shine. That said, there is a lot to like about Taquería El Paisa. I absolutely loved the décor and overall ambience. The restaurant has a genuine feel of as if you were in a Mercado in Mexico City, and that atmosphere adds a lot to the experience. I also really enjoyed the salsa bar, which offers a great variety of traditional taco accompaniments. The house-made habanero salsa, in particular, is excellent--bright, flavorful, and seriously spicy. A few drops on each taco is more than enough. Seriously, resist the temptation to douse your taco in it! I think Taquería El Paisa has tremendous appeal and a potential for the best taqueria in the Bay Area. The atmosphere is authentic, the selection of meats is impressive, and the presentation initially builds a lot of anticipation. What I would love to see is a little more attention given to the cooking techniques and handling of each individual cut. Better control of the cooking time, texture, and perhaps work on mastering how  the suadero, tripa, lengua, and cabeza can each maintain their own distinctive flavor and character. There's definitely something special here waiting to come through. With some refinement in the execution of the meats, Taquería El Paisa could really elevate the taco experience and turn that first impression of excitement into an equally impressive meal. Side note, is there a bathroom at this restaurant? I couldn't find one.

Decided to try this place out and my friend and I were greeted by the nicest people. I just had…read moresurgery so I've been in the house for a few weeks just laying in bed and I had been craving a really nice Mexican meal with a margarita! The service was amazing, Brendan was our server and he was extremely nice and attentive. After being in bed for a few weeks this was the perfect meal and restaurant experience to come back out to. My enchiladas were smackin! And the chips & guacamole with the salsas were some of the best I've had! Just want to thank Brendan again for making the dinner experience all the more memorable!

Great Service by HEBER y Yener the bartenders! Excellent food, great atmosphere! 100 % recommendedread more

So delicious! Holy cow! I was just in the mood for a bean and cheese burrito, and I ordered the red…read moreone. The flavors and spices were vibrant, the tortilla was perfect and just the right amount of thin and chewy, very cheesy, and I asked for some hot sauce (I def would want way more than a small container but I am a hot sauce fiend) and their hot sauce was fire. The burrito is gigantic and I had plenty of leftovers! Friendly service, and cute interior and exterior. Places to sit inside and outside. So delicious. I also recommended it to my friend who lives in the neighborhood!

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.

My wife and I tried Mesa Maguey for lunch last Sunday. We walked in...it wasn't crowded on a…read moreSunday. We loved the decor. Very comfortable tables/seating. Friendly staff. We ordered rose sangria and 3 plates to share: ceviche, flautas, and empanadas. We didn't wait long for the drinks and food. The ceviche was excellent. The flautas and empanadas were good (we've had better elsewhere) so we'll likely try other dishes when we go here again. Good quality food at reasonable prices. Again, friendly, attentive staff. We enjoyed our lunch and visit to this restaurant. Looking forward to returning. Definitely going to try their mole.

Fridays at Mesa Maguey are very fun, there is a musician and the vibe is very happy…read more Service is good, the staff is amicable and always checking in. Their flautas and chilaquiles are delicious and their regular ceviche very flavorful. Prices are great. A little tip: always ask for the price of the specials, we ordered a special ceviche thinking the prices would be similar than the rest of the dishes and when we got the bill it was the most expensive dish of the whole menu, and we actually left more than half of the place because we didn't like it, we usually have a great experience here and is one of our quick and nice to go places, but this was a bit of a bummer.

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

Love, love, love. We went for my birthday and I picked this place off of a short list I have saved…read morefor some time. I could only get a 8PM seating for 3 but we decided to get there at 7ish and see if they would seat us early. They were able to! However I will say the place was pretty packed. We were seated in the covered patio area and it was plenty fine with a jacket and they did have heat. We went a little crazy and I will say for three people we ordered WAY too much but we're foodies and wanted to try it all. We started out with the pluot salad, spicy carrots and a bowl of pozole. I ordered a passion fruit margarita. For mains we ordered the duck verde mole and the filet huarache. For desert we order the pot de crème (chocolate with an almond cookie). Everything was flavorful perfection. I actually think the salad and the carrots were my favorite. Hearty potions on everything btw. Inside is beautifully decorated and it has a party vibe. I brought the food home for my guys, even my 13 year old ate it up.

We came here for my birthday dinner. I was especially excited to see the cute decor and try the…read morecocktails. We were able to get a reservation the night before, which was a great birthday surprise! The waitress was very unfamiliar with the menu and ordering was a bit tricky. She didn't know the tequilas offered, which resulted in drinks needed to be sent back and remade. She brought a shot of tequila, rather than having the cocktail made with it. We don't mind a mistake, but it was a bit odd that she didn't know the ingredients of an old fashion. We started with the carrots, which were the star of the show! The chips , salsa and guacamole were pretty good! The salsa and guacamole were standard. The chips were a bit greasy and taste like Fritos corn chips. Not bad, but not the quality we expected. For entrees we got carnitas, fish tacos and a quesadilla. Everyone really enjoyed their entrees. The carnitas were cooked to perfection. The fish tacos were delicious; fried in a light batter, they were not greasy at all. The totally lost us with the desserts. Coconut tres leches cake: ironically SO DRY. The cake was crumbly. The fruit on top was not fresh what so ever and there were no notes of coconut. Nobody ate more than a bite. Chocolate pot de creme: the chocolate itself was amazing with a hint of spice, but the whipped cream was out of a can :(. A house-made whipped cream ( or leaving it off completely) would be a game changer for this dessert. The restaurant is STRICT on their two hour policy, and the hostess did in fact ask us to leave once we had reached our time limit- so beware! Overall, this place is good, but with a Michelin Star ( and MICHELIN STAR PRICES) you expect them to go above and beyond. Simple things like waiters being familiar with the menu, house-made whipped cream, and fresh tortillas chips would take this place from good to great.