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Mexicali Border Cafe

3.2 (230 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Mexicali Border Cafe Photos

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MEXICALI BORDER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Classy
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Mexicali Border Cafe

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Appetizer menu
Jessica A.

I was looking for a lunch spot near the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation and ended up here. There were a few other patrons, but I was early on a Saturday and expect business would pick up as the day went on. I was seated quickly and served chops And salad. The waiter was attentive and my food was served surprisingly fast after i ordered it. Queso and chicken chimichanga were great! There was so much food on my plate that I couldn't begin to finish the beans and rice, but it was tasty. If I lived locally, I'd be back!

Ultimate Enchiladas
Wendy L.

Dinner at Mexicali Border Cafe in Downtown Tulsa, OK was just okay. We had a large party and we were able to get seated quickly with dinner reservations. Mexicali Border has a large menu. I ended up choosing the Ultimate Enchiladas, which came with one fajita steak enchilada and one chicken fajita enchilada filled with sautéed pico de gallo and portabella mushrooms. One was topped with queso mixed cheese , cilantro, and ranchera sauce. It was served with rice and Borracha beans. The enchiladas had a good taste but the texture was off. The ambiance was casual with dimly lit lighting. The staff was attentive. Overall, this is a great spot for large groups with a variety of dishes to choose from at a decent price. The dish I ordered could have been shared.

Margarita
Christopher F.

We ran in for a quick dinner while in town for a conference. We started out with some queso, which was good. Chips are very good as is the salsa. I had the shrimp tacos, which are large and flavorful. Rice and beans are very good as well. I had a skinny margarita which seemed a little sweet but was good. Restaurant is well maintained and is a comfortable environment. Our server seemed a little less than thrilled to be working but warmed up and provided good service for us.

Cheese Enchiladas
Sunnie T.

This is a very convenient spot to get some food if you're in the Arts District, especially since they have parking in front of the restaurant. It's usually a little busy if there's an event happening. Service was decent and helpful. The decor is fun and there is quite a bit of seating. I also like the large windows. I enjoyed the salsa since it tasted very fresh. But the Quesabirria I had was not the best variation of a Birria food I've had and honestly a bit disappointing. The bite of cheese enchilada I had was pretty average too.

Jeff S.

Took The Kid and The Wife to lunch the other day and she (The Kid) wanted Mexicali, so there we were. Always on point with flavors and service... never disappointing. The wife had her usual queso fundito/casserole dish, while The Kid had the taco salad. I myself broke form and went with the Wet Burrito. No one had any complaints. The wet burrito was much better than I expected. Not being a huge burrito fan, this one rocked. Queso appetizer was on point, and our server was great. Even though it's a far piece out of my normal operation area, Mexicali is always worth the trip downtown.

Mexicali food!
Matt U.

The Birria tacos are delicious! The chimichangas are spot on ! The borracho bean soup is the best I've ever had! Cocktail drinks are strong so be careful! Bathroom is spotless, ambiance is not over top and just cool. Service is friendly, funny and pleasant and so fast with the order, but not to where it feels like premade, just fresh. If you're in Tulsa OK, one last thing, just stop and get the apple pie in a skillet with ice cream and caramel sauce! To die for!

Two beef enchiladas with unmelted cheese on top, cold and flavorless rice.

If I could leave zero stars i absolutely would. My order was simple: 2 beef enchiladas, with rice on the side. It was to go and I even asked beforehand what sauce comes on top and the person taking my order answered back in SUCH an annoyed tone. I pay, get home, and the cheese is not even melted on said enchiladas, my rice was borderline cold and almost flavorless. And for $30, I found this absolutely unacceptable. I called the establishment, briefly and politely explained to whoever answered what the problem was, and that I would like to speak to a manager. The first manager did absolutely nothing, not even an apology and almost immediately transferred me over to the GM. I explained the situation politely to him and he did not apologize, and was SWIFT to tell me that he would not issue me a refund and that all of his "line" was up to perfect standard and that "well you have a nice night ma'am with the way you are speaking with/to me". As if he were my parent. And once he realized I was absolutely NOT backing down nor would be talked down to, his exact words were "well if u want a refund so bad then you have an hour to come down here, and we will judge if the food (that of which I barely even touched) is more than a quarter eaten or not and that's the only way we will refund you". The GM is absolutely condescending, cocky, rude and not fit to run ANY food establishment. As it is in the teens outside and i do not want to bring my young child back out, i will not be letting this gross establishment keep my hard earned $30. They clearly need it more than I do.

Jeff T.

We were in downtown Tulsa and stopped in here for lunch. I may now have to move here because I absolutely loved this place! The service was excellent as our waitress was very attentive. The food and drinks came out fast and the flavors were amazing. We tried an assortment of things including the tortilla soup, blackened chicken salad, lunch nachos with steak, and chicken with vegetables. The vegetables were grilled and tasted like they were cooked on the grill alongside the steak which gave them incredible flavor. I chose the pineapple mango dressing for the blackened chicken salad and they complimented each other very well. All of our choices were wonderful. My beer came with a lime and salted rim and had a nice frothy head to it. The Paloma Rita had a tahine rim and was tasty as well. This was just a great experience for us and I highly recommend a stop in here for some great eats!

Chips and 1/2 Pint Salsa and Chipssalsa
Alexex C.

My favorite Mexican restaurant in Tulsa fast service good lunch specials outdoor patio is clean and has space to work and relax.

Maleyah H.

MEH... food was just okay. The rice was a complete abomination. Service was less than ideal. Drink was completely watered down. The way they bus the tables here is gross. The garbage can is right next to you while you are trying to eat and you can see and hear the food being scraped off the plates. Really makes the whole experience feel gross. Not worth what we paid to come here

Im glad to find this little gem. This is my first time here. I love the atmosphere. Its not crowded. The bar is kinda in a little cave. The music wasnt loud. Everyone is really helpful. From my server to the margaritas to the oh so delicious fajitas. Perfecto! Thank you Sam for helping me decide on what to get. Thank you for allowing me to sit in peace without having to ask for anything. Its exactly what I needed.

Tortilla Soup

Food and service were great. Soup was tasty and portions were large. The waitress did a great job for the size of the party we had.

Pozole

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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13 years ago

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11 years ago

Mexicali is the best. The queso and guacamole is a must get. And I love their fajitas and enchiladas. I've always had good service here.

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7 years ago

Business owner information

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Marshall K.

Thank you for taking the time to review us. We appreciate you!

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14 years ago

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9 years ago

Food was edible, not great. Margarita was a joke. Service was terrible. Waste of a good location downtown.

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

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14 years ago

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9 years ago

Fast and good service, decent food. Great place to go for drinks and a food quick meal before going out to an event at the BOK or Brady.

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13 years ago

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14 years ago

Good salsa hot food fresh good service i will be back

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11 years ago

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7 years ago

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13 years ago

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Marshall K.

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10 years ago

Very fast during lunch hour. 2 tacos, rice and beans. 7 bucks. Tasty too. I can't vouch for the rest of the food but it was what I expected.

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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14 years ago

Very good steak fajitas & bacon wrapped shrimp - would recommend

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Ask the Community - Mexicali Border Cafe

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Dos Panchos Tequila Bar & Mexican Grill

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4.5
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I'm surprised to see that this place is listed on here as permanently closed? I eaten here recently…read morewith my family, party of 6. There's a parking lot in this plaza, and we were seated immediately upon arrival. They offered complementary chips and dips (salsa and queso). We ordered additional guac. The chorizo queso is sooooo good! I ordered the birria taco plate and I'd say this is very authentic compared to food back home (California)! They were generous with the birria and the consome is chefs kiss!!! The staff did a wonderful job in assuring our needs were met and that we were satisfied. I hope this place is just renovating and hopefully will reopen in the foreseeable future. I would love to see this place continue to thrive!

Doing four stars for the food. I would do 3.5 for staff. :(…read more I loved the salsa (fresh and spicy) and the complementary queso like dip. I loved the shredded beef enchilada! Really good and would order again. Rice and beans were probably above average. My dining partner asked how the chile relleno was prepared. (He doesn't like the eggy batter.) We were literally told that it came premade and frozen and was "just fried." Obviously, he ordered the street tacos instead. We sat at the bar and it took a bit to get waited on but the manager jumped in and gave us water and silverware. I liked my Blackberry-Rosemary Marg but I honestly didn't feel like it had much tequila in it. The regular marg was just OK. Since it is a tequila bar and we sat at the bar, I would have liked to have discussed tequilas but my bad for not asking. Would have loved to have done a tasting. The menu was informative. I would go back when in south Tulsa. Not sure I would make it a destination. (Well, maybe. Those enchiladas were good! It is a cute place.

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La Tertulia

La Tertulia

4.1
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A vibe. The…read moreminimalist adobe-like layout reminds me more of southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico than Oklahoma, but it works and it's a comfortable space - even if your table is pretty close to your neighbors. The menu features many Mexican food favorites. Enchiladas, burritos, tacos and more. They're cooked well and served in large portions by a helpful server. A note - some of the dishes are plain and include a protein charge. I'm not a huge fan, but I'm okay with it if it's explained. I was confused during my visit because my enchiladas listed a $2.50 protein charge, but the protein charge was for each enchilada not the plate, so my three enchilada plate was $7.50 more than it was listed because I asked for chicken. I don't necessarily feel cheated, however I was surprised when the server gave me the bill. $2.50 is one thing. $7.50 is a lot more.

FINALLY got to try this spot out & it was perfect timing. Even though the website suggests…read morereservations, we called to check if they accepted walk-ins, which they did so that's good to know that both options are available. As what was stated over the phone, the moment we walked in, we were seated. The place is very intimate in space, I'd recommend for dates. I went with the Enchiladas, something I've been craving for a couple of months & La Tertulia helped that fix. There were a few meats to choose from & I went with chorizo. The wait on the food wasn't long (people were starting to fill in as well & it didn't stop the servers from being on point) & the food was really good. Coming in with 3 enchiladas, stuffed with the chorizo & the fixins, I was left full after I finished. The spanish rice & pinto beans were good as well, paired good with the enchiladas. The chorizo looked more like breakfast sausage more than the chorizo that's more on the dark brown + reddish tint I'm used too. The enchiladas also come with chiles (I picked green) & plenty of cheese. Side Note: Chips & salsa were also super good, my favorite type of salsa. Kinda like a Taquera/Molcajete style. I was so hungry that the chips & salsa didn't slow me down from running through my main entree.

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La Tertulia
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918 Maples Tacos & Cantina

918 Maples Tacos & Cantina

4.6
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My new favorite Mexican restaurant in T-town!…read more Everything they put on our table was a 10/10. The guac was super fresh, the queso was great, and the birria pizza is simply a must! The staff was attentive and very friendly. We will 1000% be back!

There are few word combinations that get me more excited than "Taco Tuesday." There are plenty…read moreMexican & Latin cuisine eateries spread throughout Tulsa but they're not all made alike. I've heard of the highly lauded 918 Maples Tacos & Cantina many times since I moved back so I finally decided to try it on August 28th, 2025. Since then, I've experienced 918 Maples on different occasions and I'd say that it deserves the high praise. I've eaten at 918 Maples atleast 4 times, twice at the food truck (4931 S Union Ave.) and twice at this location. On 8/28, I arrived around 5:50pm. The walls are filled with color & different decorations, from murals to Latin-American art as well as TV's behind the bar for entertainment. The area is very home-like, compact, with just enough space for walking lanes. There's only one booth while the rest of the seating is either tables or at the bar. The host podium is at the door immediately upon entrance, I sat at the bar. Their menus are large but not overwhelming. On Tuesdays, tacos are $2 each. This doesn't include Birria, fish or Shrimp which are $3 or $4 on Tuesdays. My server was Diego, great guy! I ordered 5 Tacos: 2 Birria, 1 chicken 1 Carne Asada and 1 El Pastor. I also ordered a Paloma and a small queso. The meal comes with chips & Salsa, brought out immediately. Their chips are thicker and their salsa is mild. Add a little salt, good to go! I'm a fan of white queso but I particularly enjoyed theirs, worth the $2. The food came out within 10mins, not long at all. Two ramekins of salsa & 4 tacos. Each taco was amazing individually. The el pastor had crispy edges on the meat, the carne asada was soft & delicate while the birria was to DIE for. Only criticism is that the chicken was a little too salty but not terrible overall. As I mentioned, I ordered 5 tacos, queso & a Paloma but only received 4 tacos. I wasn't upset about the paloma, I could do without. But, I was a little uneasy about being shorted 1 taco, especially since I paid for 5. However, I didn't fret. I paid the bill & praised the staff because they deserve it! Since then, I've returned once or twice. Each time, usually on a Tuesday, the space is decently filled which a sign of a well-run & good quality establishment and the food is just as good. I consistently ordered tacos but I would gladly try their Queso Chicken, Rustic Quesadilla, or Birria Pizza. I've had their tacos at their food truck as well and, though the ambiance isn't comparable, the service is sweeter & the food is just as good. Bummer that their food truck doesn't do discounted tacos on Tuesdays. Photos here are from 8/26/25, 9/16/25 and 1/6/26. Had it not been for the forgotten taco, this would be a FULL 5-Star review!

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El Rio Verde

El Rio Verde

4.2
(318 reviews)
1.4 mi
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El Rio Verde is authentic Mexican food, not TexMex. It's in an older neighborhood near I-244 and…read moreUtica and doesn't look like much from the outside (or the inside), but the food is great! It's well-worn but clean. Staff is quick and friendly. The prices are very reasonable. You'll leave full, but not bloated. I've been a fan of El Rio Verde for many years and always look forward to eating here. It's not a large place and only has perhaps four or five booths and a half-dozen tables, and it fills up fast at lunch. They're known for their "Wet Burrito," but the enchiladas and burritos are also outstanding. The refried beans are fresh and made in-house. The salsa is freshly made too and very good, but not memorable like the food. You'll see people from all walks of life eating here - couples, single moms with children, police officers, business people, blue collar workers, and everyone in-between. If you want really good Mexican food that is not TexMex or from a chain restaurant, try this place! You won't regret it! One of my favorite places in Tulsa. However, as of this review, be aware that Utica Avenue, just east of the restaurant, has been blocked to north-bound traffic only for water main replacement, so getting into the neighborhood is easier than leaving. Plan to go toward downtown on the service road next to I-244 for most efficient egress.

The food was mediocre at best. They didn't have A LOT of things on the menu and do NOT serve beer…read more They charge for the chips & salsa, so do not think it's free. ABSOLUTELY CRAP SALSA. The service was deplorable at best, as we had to request things multiple times after continued efforts at flagging them down. They WILL ignore you. Have NO IDEA how they "got on the map" to begin with. Ambience is an afterthought.

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Mi Pueblo

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4.0
(58 reviews)
4.3 mi
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food i ordered a jamaica drink, that also came with chips &…read moresalsa for the table. though the greeter sold the soft drink options really well, out of the soft drinks, horchata, and jamaica listed as options, the jamaica was closest to agua fresca, as i'd went to the restaurant looking to taste, and is consistently a favorite among the mexican flavors i've tried, and as a standalone among that category of drink options at the restaurant, the drink i'd tasted did not disappoint, strong but not overpowering in flavor, so much as to seep subtly but recognizably into the ice, which made for some satifying crunching. and not to forget the chips, that were warm and crunchy too, and while i'd not tried the salsa, it came in a charming glass bottle i loved, as you can see in the picture below where i'd left the broken off chip pieces at the bottom of the basket for the birds on the patio, something i would only do as the only guest on the patio, which i was today. service in addition to selling the drink options really well, the greeter was very welcoming and accomodating of.such odd requests as wanting to sit on the patio during a heavy downpour; i did not want to drip water off these soaking clothes inside the restaurant haha. ambiance the restaurant features traditional decor like the colorful paper machete sort of cutouts originated in certain mexican regions, and has arcade style games inside. further, the ambiance was conducive to beautiful instances of nature, most recognizably to me a small bird, likely a child, appearing on the patio bannister and flying across the patio, and also the sudden slowing and stop of the referenced downpour, along with brief contemplation on the connectivity of such occurences.

This is my second time at this restaurant and each time the food has been exceptional! Server…read morechecked-in to make sure everything was good with the food multiple times. I will continue to eat here and recommend this restaurant.

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Mexicali Border Cafe - mexican - Updated July 2026

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