earned a star for: 1. delicious food and drinks 2. friendly servers 3. clean bathroom 4. indoor and outdoor seating 5. authentic vibe 6. reservations available lost a star for: 1. no baby changing table in the bathroom 2. long wait time for food read more

The chilaquiles de mole were amazing. Not to sweet, but definitely savory!! They had live dancers from Vallejo come and perform national dances from Mexico. It was a blessing to hear and feel the music. The ambiance is also very traditional, with plates and cups all being made of barro. Water was refilled constantly, and the servers were exceptional. I'm not too fond of hipster/gentrified Mexican restaurants that cater to non Mexicans but this space definitely feels like it caters to all. read more

We tried their brunch for the first time recently. Our server was very nice and took the time to answer all of our questions, which we appreciated. We ordered both types of pancakes from the menu, the fried hen and waffles, and I ordered the chilaquiles with no dairy, so no cheese or crema. Everyone at our table was served, but my food never came out. We asked a few times about it and were eventually told that another server had accidentally delivered my dish to a different table, which was a little odd and disappointing. That said, they did comp my meal, which was very appreciated and handled professionally. The food everyone else received was good, and overall the experience was still positive enough that we would go back. We're just hoping next time we all get our meals together so we can actually eat as a group. read more

Tonight I gathered with a friend for dinner. We both had a cocktail, salsa, guacamole appetizer, dinner and dessert! Pork belly salsa verde for her and ribs for me with corn and green beans. Cooked tender and lots of flavor . Dessert was mango sorbet topped on cinnamon torts cup :-) read more

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Date: 5/3/2026 Time:12:15 PM 60° Partly sunny Leña Restaurant was a recommendation by BoozieBrunch on Facebook. My daughter asked via text where I wanted to celebrate Mother's Day before next Sunday. Answer: Leña in Alameda! It is my first time having their brunch. Wow! I am totally impressed with the food and ambiance. Thanks to BoozieBrunch's blog. Shout out to her for the recommendation. Eats: Chilaquiles (tortilla chips with two eggs, mole sauce, queso fresco, crema and pickled onion, carnitas) for me. My daughter had the churraffle, which is a churro waffle, tossed in cinnamon sugar, topped with pastry cream, seasonal fruit and guava syrup; guava pancakes,topped with house-made vanilla pastry cream, fresh seasonal fruit and piloncillo syrup. For my beverage, it was Mexican coffee with mocha and cinnamon, topped with whipped cream. I usually don't drink coffee, and the last time I had a Mexican coffee was at Chevy's in the late 80's. Ooh, my chilaquiles was bomb-diggity excellent. I had chilaquiles at another Mexican restaurant in East Oakland, which was okay. However, Leña's chilaquiles is on point with their mole sauce. Tasted so so good, that figuratively speaking, I gotta slap the chef and the mama for preparing it. LOL. That chef knew how to burn. Damn! It got me grinning from ear to ear. Service was a tad slow and the wait time for the food was about 35 minutes. Yes, it was long. However, delicious food does take time for preparation and presentation. What is worth waiting is worth getting. Besides patience is a virtue. Our waitress was attentive and indeed pleasant, engaging my daughter and me in conversation. Return visit? YES! I want to have the Costillas, the pozole rojo, agua frescas. I know to ask about the nopales and if they serve poblano rice as a side dish. I also will consider this restaurant for a birthday dinner in June. I know someone special who loves rib eye steak. Finally, thanks to BoozieBrunch for speaking highly of Leña. read more

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10/10!!! From start to finish. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners and business managers, Yesenia. Leña is a family owned restaurant that is not an ordinary Mexican restaurant. It is elevated with a modern twist. Yes, it is pricy but you are getting a full experience not just fast food from a taco truck, no hate, but don't come to Leña expecting a cheap meal. Think more of an intimate classy restaurant, good for anniversaries, and special occasion gatherings. In regards to the food, I had the Tetelas with a side of papas bravas and green rice. My family had the Ribeye asado, Costillas, and Camaron a la Parrilla with sides of esquite and potatoes. The steak was super tender and the salsas that came with it were perfection. Everything was beautifully seasoned and brought out together. The drinks are also delicious! The Batido de Platano was my favorite, but I only tried sips of 2 others (I am a lightweight drinker) because they are strong in a good way. I had a great time talking to the staff and asking questions about the menu, cooks, and decor. I found out the tables were hand made by the family themselves. I felt so honored stepping in to this place at it is beautiful inside and out. From the murals to the bathroom decor, everything has a special touch and amazing attention to detail. read more

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Have visited Lena for dinner and really wanted to try their brunch. Got there a little before 1 and it was still pretty busy. We got seated and ordered the cafe de Olla which was a sweetened spiced coffee, in beautiful mugs, for brunch we ordered Conchata sweet toast and pombazo, which was a chorizo soaked egg sandwich with potatoes, guacamole, peppers, and a really yummy green verde sauce. Everyone was so friendly, helpful, and as the brunch-ended we got to have some friendly chit-chat. Did I mention that the food was so delicious! Really recommend their brunch, and want to come back and try more dishes! read more

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I've been wanting to try Leña since it opened and we finally got to check it out last week! We went on Friday at 8 pm and it was pretty busy, which I think is a good sign. While there was a little bit of a wait, it was not bad at all. The space itself is really beautiful. I love the decor, with the murals, back patio, asymmetrical wood tables, and comfy chairs. We decided to go all out with drinks, apps, and plates since Friday deserves a treat. Also, we are a fun drinks household and love our appetizers. For drinks, I got a sombra de cafe, which had coffee and mezcal, while the bf got the leña cantarito, with tequila, grapefruit, orange, and lime. I love both mezcal and coffee, but together it was a bit too bitter and too much drink for me. The leña cantarito was nice and refreshing though, and the chamoy(?) rim was a nice touch. For an appetizer, we got the raw oysters, which came with a chimichurri sauce and a salsa macha. Def was not expecting to get oysters at a Mexican spot, but the sauces sounded really good. I tried them both when they first came out and the salsa macha hottt! I love spicy food, and especially chili oil, but wow I was not expecting that level of of spice! It was good though, and flavorful, my mouth was just on fire for a bit hahaha. For the mains, we got the ribeye asada and the oxtail and shortrib birria. For the sides, we got the slaw, the corn, rice, and potatoes. The ribeye was a bit thinner and more cooked than expected for medium rare. But it was still really good. Because it was asada, you could really taste the slight char from the grill, giving it some extra flavor. I especially loved the birria. Both the oxtail and shortrib were sooo tender, basically fall off the bone, and the birria itself had nice flavor. Both dishes also came with fresh tortilla, which was nice and warm, with a nice corn flavor. Overall, I really loved everything we got. The prices are a bit high, but I thought the quality and flavors were top notch. I especially loved how it appears to be a lot of family recipes. Service was great as well. Nice to have a fancy new spot in Alameda! read more

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I really wanted to like Lena, but the customer service was some of the worst I've experienced in Alameda! The oysters Rockefeller and halibut ceviche were great, and the tortillas on the taco sampler were delicious -- but the tacos arrived lukewarm and the proteins were mostly bland. They also don't serve chips and salsa, and the "chips" for the ceviche were burnt baked tortillas. Definitely not what you expect from a Mexican restaurant. The real issue was the service. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, and our server disappeared after taking our order. I ordered a margarita with Mezcal, and no one bothered to mention that their Mezcal is $27 per drink. We didn't find out until the bill came -- which also included an extra drink we didn't order. Even worse, not a single employee apologized or tried to make it right. No manager came over, and the staff just looked confused. In the end, I spent $54 on two Mezcal margaritas in a place with no bar seating, no chips and salsa, and service that was chaotic from start to finish. Between the lack of communication, the overcharging, and the overall disorganization, I won't be returning. Alameda has plenty of other Mexican restaurants that actually value their customers. Do not recommend! Just NO read more

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It felt like I was back in Acambaro when I took a bite of my pambazo, It was perfect! The bread was soft and chorizo was so flavorful and the salsa was super fresh10/10! The ambiance is wonderful mariachi playing in the background I love it!!! I went for brunch but I can't wait to go back for the dinner. We also tried the rapado flight I definitely recommend it. The concha toast was a first for me and fell in love definitely ordering that next time again. The service was super friendly and welcoming. Im telling all my friends and family to come. read more

Leña Restaurant - Raspados flight - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

Our first time eating here, they've been open for about a month according to the server. The service was friendly and attentive. Because it was a Saturday afternoon before 1:30pm, which is also their closing time until they reopen for dinner, you can only order off the brunch menu. We were both happy with our meals and will return again to try their dinner menu! read more

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I had a feeling the ribeye asado was going to be my favorite thing we ordered, yet we wanted to try as much as possible and succumbed to our gluttony. We came on their grand opening event so it was very crowded with a great vibe and a mariachi band that made it even better. The space is also done so thoughtfully and curated a little getaway from the bay. For drinks I had a cantarito and it was amazing -- tasted like fresh squeezed juice from all the ripest fruits with a side of suddenly I know Spanish. Next I ordered the la veladora and wow that was decadent without being heavy at all. We started with the tatemaditas. Our favorite salsas were the verde and macha. The macha had a really good heat to it. My spice tolerance is pretty decent but that one definitely made me feel like I was on a hot ones challenge. Next is where our downfall happened. The 7 mini taco sampler did not have mini tacos. They were very-generously-almost-normal-sized tacos that my boyfriend and I split, didn't even finish 2, then we were already almost full. Yeah we could've taken smaller bites but they were all so good and different from each other that we couldn't help it. The ribeye asada and halibut were our favorites. Then finally came the ribeye asado... perfect cook on it, amazingly seasoned, so juicy and tender. Could we power through and give it the savoring it deserves? No. We did not finish it as you expected but we are so looking forward to eating it as leftovers and I WILL be coming back to give my full attention and empty stomach to this dish. read more

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Wow. Just wow. This is the kind of Mexican spot Ceron kitchen wishes it were. Upscale Mexican that is worth the spend. Super flavorful food across the board that is well executed. Not your generic stuff that you can find at any Mexican restaurant. I didnt think I'd be getting saint Louis ribs at a Mexican place, but they killed it. Cocktails are unique and well balanced. Service is quick and friendly. This spot took over the old Alameda Comedy club space, so super open on the inside. Welcoming vibe. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the mood for some elevated Mexican food. read more

Love love love the atmosphere!!!!! Such a pretty restaurant! We came here for a wedding and let me tell you the service and the food is amazing! From the homemade tortillas for tacos to the whiskey business drink.....YAASSSSSSSS! The food was so flavorful and so filling. We had rice, beans, and carnita tacos. So yummy! Don't sleep on this restaurant! Definitely coming back when I visit Alameda. read more

This is the first time I've been here. I'm both a Mexican and a chef. Do not come here if you're somebody who's gonna ask for nachos. They serve sophisticated and innovative, but also traditional Mexican food from various regions. A lot of their recipes are very complex and unique. I had a pork shank that was delicious. It was in achiote and pineapple. The range of salsa they have is also quite wonderful and the drinks are very innovative. Also nice is they have a lot of small dishes. There's an old prejudice that says that Mexican restaurants have to be cheap. That's nonsense. This one is not so expect that. read more

Leña Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

I've seen this space go through a few transformations, and this is easily my favorite yet. It's a clear step up from other Mexican spots on the island--perfect for a date night, but I can already picture booking the outdoor space for family parties too. Beyond the decor, vibe, and genuinely friendly staff, the real star is the food. We tried the Sombra De Café, Tatemaditas Guac & Salsa (love that you can pick four!), Jefitas Mole, and Costillas. The presentation alone was stunning--but honestly, when it looks and smells that good, I have no problem eating the art. Also, being able to pick two sides with your entrée? Elite move. My husband and I fully strategized to maximize variety--and it paid off. The esquite was hands-down our favorite. We came hungry, we conquered, and the portions definitely delivered--no room for dessert this time, but that just means we'll be back soon. I'm even planning to walk over next time. Quick note: my husband mentioned the men's bathroom stalls are a bit tight, though very clean. I'll report back on the women's side next visit! read more

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What a beautiful, carefully curated restaurant! The food is beautifully prepared with quality ingredients. The drink menu is fun- one comes with a tiny lollipop- so fun! Welcome to Alameda!!! read more

We went to Lena this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived around 5:45 and were promptly seated. The restaurant is pretty spacious. My wife, kids and I shared the siete tacos appetizer and three tamales which came out quick. Both appetizers were great. Definitely a cut above the other Mexican restaurants in town. For the entrees, my wife shared the ribeye with the kids and I had the Cornish hen. We enjoyed the entrees as they were grilled to perfection. The sides were pretty good too. Everyone enjoyed the creamed corn in particular. We found the potatoes a little bit too spicy but everything else was great. It took quite awhile to get the entrees as the restaurant was busy by this point. Given the recent opening and amount of people I can understand. Hopefully it'll be a bit quicker in the future. The food was worth the wait at least. For dessert we tried the bunelo which was great. Overall, the restaurant is a unique addition to Alameda. read more

I wanted to try something new and the reviews were stellar for this new Mexican restaurant at the former Alameda Comedy Club. As you walk up to the entrance the murals and decor are very Inviting. We did not have a reservation but were quickly seated by the very nice hostess. We ordered cocktails which came out promptly and then ordered our dinner: ceviche trio and ribeye. It took some time to get our meal. Our waiter apologized to us and said that our ticket got lost. It took him a minute but I was happy he honestly informed us of what happened. The ceviche was fresh and bright. I asked for the ribeye steak to be cooked medium rear + and it came out perfect. The sides were also tasty, although the corn came out cool and not hot. We enjoyed our whole meal and even said we want to come back again. read more

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I had high hopes for this place. Unfortunately the quality of service made me give them 3 stars. The restaurant was cute but I'd probably only recommend coming for drinks not to dine in. I arrived 2 hrs before closing for Saturday brunch. Place was EMPTY. Server sat me immediately but never returned. They have a relatively small brunch menu so I didn't need a ton of time to decide what to order. It took forever to be asked if I wanted water while I waited or to put in my cocktail order. I had to have a different employee take my order. Their drink menu was fabulous- really great mixology going on! I got the chilaquiles (jump scare) they charge $17 for a plate that doesn't even come with meat included lol but additional $6 to add. read more

I really wish I got to taste your food. After 15 minutes of no one greeting us and barely got any acknowledgment, we left. Too bad. The few dishes that I saw coming by looked really good. Instead, Homeskillet down the street got our business and they were FABULOUS!!!!! read more

Food here is high-quality--honestly, "amazing" is the best way to describe it. It's family-friendly but also perfect for a date night. OMFG... this has got to be the Mex-Food in the Bay Area, hands down. Nothing beats it--and I was born and raised here, eating Mexican food my whole life. The staff greeted me right when I walked in and seated us almost immediately. Our waiter made sure my guest and I were taken care of throughout the entire meal. At one point, I heard a nearby customer complain about the lighting being too bright (it really wasn't), but I let the waiter know, and they dimmed it almost right away. We ordered the fish and the birria. The side of potatoes was a 10/10--holy smokes, I've never had anything like it. The fish tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, straight out of someone's mom's kitchen in Mexico--absolutely finger-licking good. My guest had the birria plate and didn't even bother to share, so I can only imagine how incredible it was. The mechiladas were amazing too. The vibe, decor, and overall experience aren't a hole-in-the-wall or boujee--it's that perfect in-between: a legit mom-and-pop spot that's leveling up fast. They also have a bar area, which I can't wait to swing by for. Plus, they've got outdoor seating too, which is a nice bonus as I often organize outings with friends and looking to pregame. read more

Leña Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Alameda, California

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Love this place. Everything we've had has been great, except the "chips". I know they are supposed to be traditional and not actual chips but they are so hard and burnt. Hope they listen to the reviews and change them or just add some regular chips. read more

I'll start by saying it has a nice atmosphere and the drinks look good. Service was average nothing extraordinary. The thing that jumps out at you first and foremost are the prices! Outrageous!! BUT after the sticker shock I kept it to myself and wanted the food to warrant those prices. We ordered the Pork belly, Ox tail birria, appetizer and 2 kids tacos plates. Pork belly was drenched in oil and made my mom sick, Ox tail was good but def not worth what they are asking for. Kids tacos were good. So for 2 entrees, app and 2 kids plates we ended up spending $200!!! They tacked on a 20% "large group" for me, my wife, mom and 3 young kids. The food was decent but forgettable. If the prices were lowered we might consider going back. We really wanted to like this place because we live around the corner but safe to say we won't be coming back. read more

Great service Food's amazing and I don't drink but my friend does. She said that the drinks were 10 out of 10 read more

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Well - that was amazing. Two of us walked in on a Saturday evening at 7:30 and we were seated right away. The food blew our minds. It was really delicious. AND out server Theresa was so attentive, friendly and considerate. All of the staff was pleasant to be around. You should go, it's worth it! We shared the Jefitas Mole and we still had to take some home. We'll be back. Also I enjoyed the unique and authentic decor. read more

The way this place is decorated had me staring at the room for a while. It is rustic, classy, and cozy. The staff were friendly and the food made me extremely joyful. I'm particular about my chilaquiles and my mole, so I got both combined and I am coming back to try more dishes; it was crunchy and mole was sweet yet savory. My husband and I came there to celebrate our anniversary and left extremely full. We also did try the waffle churro which straight up tasted like a delicious churro. He also got the breakfast pambazo. Delicious. read more

I had a very disappointing experience at Lenas The customer service was terrible from start to finish, and unfortunately the food did not make up for it. The restaurant tries to "elevate" authentic dishes, but the execution completely misses the mark. For example, the mole and ceviche was strange and unbalanced -- I have never had ceviche with oregano, and it simply did not work. The mole itself tasted inauthentic and overly simplified. Their "grandma's recipe" seemed to contain only guajillo chile and cumin. Authentic mole is complex and layered, made with a combination of chiles, seeds, spices, and other ingredients. The chicken was also full of bones, which made the dish unpleasant to eat. The drinks were equally disappointing. They seriously need to hire an experienced mixologist because the cocktails lacked balance and flavor. Even the rice was bad dry and hard. To make matters worse, the pricing was outrageous. We ordered two plates, two appetizers, and two drinks, and the bill came out to almost $300. The quality and experience did not justify the cost at all. Overall, I would not return or recommend this restaurant. read more

We made reservations, and they were on time, and very friendly. The cocktails are excellent, but no grenadine for shirley temples, so that was a disappointment for the kiddo. The kiddo ordered the street taco sampler and really liked it. Great variety of meat and tasty. I ordered the mole dish and the meat was very tender and juicy. Not a big fan of the mole. I prefer the creamy, mild chocolate moles and this one was more a tangy mole. I think it's tasty, just not my style. It was also a bit salty for my taste. My husband ordered the oxtail dish and enjoyed it but it was a bit more fatty than he likes. Overall, though the flavor was tasty (probably because the fat!). I will come back and try something else. For sure for a special occasion because it was EXPENSIVE, and not your weekly treat. Check this place out! read more

Just finished our meal and we are already planning our next night out. From the tamales, to the, drinks, sauces, and sides everything was on point. You could tell that the food was made with a lot of love and served with pride. This is truly a new gem for Alameda read more

If you are looking to eat authentic and delicious mexican food do NOT come here. To start off customer service is not up to par. You walk in and employees do not greet you and basically ignore you. Ive been to a bunch of Mexican restaurants where they have been super welcoming and pleasant but not this spot. The food portions do not match the ridiculous prices!!!! My party ordered a variety of their dishes. The rib eye was well done and basically burnt to a crips after I asked for it medium rare. We got some chilaquiles and they forgot the extra protein i asked for on the side (which was an additional charge that was NOT removed from my bill after not receiving it with my food). Two of the pambazos we ordered were extremely greasy which grease is expected because its dipped in oil to cook but the amount of oil they had was disgusting. Not to mention we had to wait around 45 minutes for our food to be ready. No one came to apologize for the significant wait. All of my party but one person had received their food and we had to wait an additional 15-20 minutes for them to finally get their food. Honestly save your time and money and actually go to a place that actually serves AUTHENTIC mexican food. Saw this place online and everyone raved about it but it is a HARD PASS for me. read more

Customer service is terrible. I understand this place is fairly new but it needs some serious work. We waited 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged our presence. There was a long line of people waiting for the host to manage the crowd. The host was clearly inexperienced and had no idea how to manage the crowd. When we were finally addressed, the host was very unhelpful and had a terrible attitude. This place needs more staff or a better host. The host was clearing plates and setting tables while the line of people waited for service. After 30min, we were finally seated. There were several empty tables so the wait was due to poor crowd control. After ordering a drink and appetizer, we were informed that almost half the menu of entrees was out for the night. That would have been nice to know before waiting 30min to be seated. Not a great first impression. To be fair, our appetizer and drinks were very good but the service and experience were poor. Would be willing to try this place again but they need to do some work to fix these issues. read more

Amazing food. Ambiance was incredible. Excellent customer service. We went for the brunch and had the most tasty drinks. 10/10

This is a fun new place and the food was good. The waitress we had was rude, though, so I'm on the fence about returning. We hadn't gotten our drinks and we inquired about them and the waitress was clearly irritated when we asked. We also asked for something later in the meal that she forgot and she actually stopped in her tracks and stared at us with look of sheer annoyance for several seconds. I've never seen anything like it before. It's too bad because this place has promise. Once I see reviews saying that the service has improved, I'll consider returning. read more

It's new so we didn't get our food at the same time but that's fine. They're working it out. For my taste the music was a little too loud lending to a loud atmosphere. The food was very tasty. Not a good spot for kids yet but again I'm sure they'll work that out. read more

Excellent food and the service we received from Teresa was amazing. The reason for the 3 stars was because the hostess was indifferent and clueless. She seemed to not really care about her job. Lastly the place is extremely loud. Between the customers loud voices and the blaring music, it is not a pleasant dining experience. We probably won't return. read more

Wonderful food and service and overall atmosphere. Lucky to get a table as a walk in around 5p on a Friday night before it got busy. Already thinking about what to have when we come back to try brunch. read more

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We have eaten here twice and it was outstanding both times! Everyone in our group loved their food and the drinks are delicious. Special mentions to the margaritas de la casa, banana whiskey drink, and bidi bidi bom! Truly a gem and the decor is so unique and true to the vibe. Our server Theresa is so friendly and welcoming that we immediately felt comfortable. Recommend 10/10! read more

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My husband and I were excited to try this new place. We had brunch there yesterday, and it was outstanding! Very lovely menu items that exceed other menus in the area. Sophisticated and innovative cuisine. Great service, terrific food and wonderful ambiance! They did a great job in decorating and murals on the walk up are great! We can't wait for the outside patio to open! Will be back for dinner! read more

Ambiance was cozy, felt like Walnut Creek. Tostadas were just okay. The pork belly and tortillas were good. Drinks were good. The issue is the service. They are a new restaurant and busy but we shouldn't have to track down someone for water and to order after 25 minutes of waiting. Food came out in random order. No one came to check on us until the very end. She appeared to be a manager. They never recognized the birthday celebration. Simply put, front of house needs more training. read more

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