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.

The atmosphere was refreshing and the food was wonderful! I will absolutely be returning!read more

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

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.

Super quick service and good food! The pricing is a little on the higher end, but maybe it's worth…read moreit! I ordered for pickup and they gave me a 20-minute estimated time. I got there sooner than I expected and my food was ready!! I got it to go, so I didn't get to enjoy it fresh or in the establishment, but when I got home the food was still hot and enjoyable! They did a great job, and this is definitely my go-to spot in Oakland now!

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.

We went to Agave Uptown for a dinner before seeing Poppy at the Fox Theater. When we arrived, we…read morewere pleasantly greeted by the host and sat at a table for two. Very quickly someone came to give us water. We looked over the menu and were able to decide what we wanted pretty quickly so with in a couple minutes our server came to take our drink order. Since we were decided, we ordered everything at that time since we were on a schedule for the concert. My wife ordered the Chef Salad and I ordered the two tacos plate. We also ordered shrimp ceviche to share. With in a few minutes, our server brought our drinks to us. A couple minutes later, the ceviche was brought to the table and it was absolutely delicious. Just about the time we finished off the ceviche, our meals were brought out. They visually looked stunning and smelled wonderful. The first bite of a taco was so good. The chicken seasoned perfectly, the ratio of onion with cilantro was spot on and the salsa was delicious. The plate included Mexican rice and black beans, both of which were excellent pairings with the tacos. My wife's chef salad was outstanding as well. We determined that if ever in Oakland, this is our go to place to grab a meal

Update: I came here about twice after last time and thought "Okay, even the lady who was hostile…read morelast time is now cloyingly sweet, even if just to mock me, but its still good food and a nice time, I'll update the review" and enjoyed myself here on a date recently.... Until tonight. I came tonight with my autistic friend for their birthday and the staff kept giving me mocking eyes, as if he thought I was on another date, (and of course mere seconds after approaching me, talks of "puta" and overtly derogatory slutshaming terms all while still glancing at me with a smirk as he talked to his friend at the bar was quite irritating,) and the evening continued with a pretty heavy tone of dude giving me a mocking look, as if barely able to hold onto his laughter seeing me with a more poindexter looking openly autistic looking friend of mine, assuming I was just some hoe having hella dates, I get it, I was here a few days ago for an actual date. God forbid I think "What a pleasant spot, and I like their agua frescas, let me take my autistic friend who doesn't drink for a little bite since it's their first night in Oakland after an hour long drive, after a nice outing today, and to end an evening on a high note." And the mockery didn't help set a tone for a fun evening at all, we left pretty fast from the discomfort and bro triggered my migraines with the passive aggressiveness. Delicious food, and the woman server was pleasant, the guy? Not exactly. And its a shame, I liked the pork loin and agua frescas here a lot, not the ableism and weird commentary and vibes.

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!

Not worth it. This is an example of why I drive to Hayward for Mexican food!…read more Not the friendliest person at the register either

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.

Absolutely loved Bombera! The service was amazing from start to finish, and the food was even…read morebetter. The smoked trout tostadas were SO tasty -- seriously to die for! Every bite had so much flavor. The fish tacos were another standout. They were perfectly fried, packed with a generous amount of fish, and the combination of flavors paired together phenomenally. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. Such a great experience overall. I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying even more of the menu! Highly recommend!