Obelisco has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants. We've probably been four times in just the last two months, and I honestly haven't had a single thing here that I didn't absolutely love. The Chile Verde is outstanding, and on our most recent visit I had the Camarones a la Diabla, which was fantastic. We've also had the carnitas, cheese enchiladas, and potato flautas, and everything has been consistently excellent. Our daughter is vegetarian and loved the cheese enchiladas. The margaritas are excellent as well. I had the spicy margarita on our last visit and it was absolutely delicious. As good as the food is, what really makes Obelisco special is the hospitality. You can tell this is truly a family-run restaurant. The brother and sister who are often out front are incredibly friendly and welcoming, always taking the time to stop by our table, chat with us, and tell us about upcoming events. The entire staff has been phenomenal every time we've been there. A special shout-out to Zachary, who has taken care of us on several visits and has always been fantastic--friendly, attentive, and genuinely great at what he does. We were sad to hear that he'll be leaving, but happy for him as he moves on to the next chapter in his life. We wish him all the best. Great food, great margaritas, wonderful people, and the kind of warm, family-run atmosphere that keeps bringing us back. Four visits in the last couple of months probably says it better than anything else can. We'll definitely be back! read more

I was walking along Lakeshore when I had the urge to get tacos. I came across Obelisco restaurant for a night out and it was a great experience. I was solo and was offered a seat by the windows which they opened at my request. The bar is beautiful and the entire restaurant is very spacious. I enjoyed shrimp tacos, rice, and the El Gitano cocktail. The service was pretty good as was the food and drinks. This is a more elevated restaurant that I'd go to for a treat or maybe before a concert or another event. See more: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSwMu8Uf/ read more

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Things I liked: The food! Delicious and fresh! We had carnitas, chile de Colorado and a caldo. Everything was cooked deliciously. The atmosphere and art was wonderful. They had beautiful art on the wall and everything felt authentic. Staff was very friendly and prompt with food However: -no tortillas for the table! Most Mexican places I've been too typically bring them out for the table. So eating carnitas without tortillas felt a little weird -very warm in there and seating is a little tight. I'd try this place again maybe on a slower night. read more

We happen on this place and was pleasantly surprised!! I had the Carne Asada plate with 2 corn tortillas, black beans and rice. Watermelon agua fresca. Delicious!! Our server recommended medium rare so I went with it. The meat was so very tender and flavorful. The corn tortillas were so soft yet stayed together very well. The watermelon agua fresca was not too sweet and very refreshing! We took the Coconut Flan to go but had to sample it before we left. Not too sweet and really lite with a good coconut flavor. Definitely a hit with the family and I would highly recommend!! Guaranteed that I will be back!! read more

The photos show the chicken molé and the enchiladas with red sauce, and both dishes were outstanding! The chicken was incredibly tender and fell right off the bone. The cocktails were just as impressive - absolutely delicious. Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Thank you, Obelisco! We'll definitely be back. read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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5 stars, all the way around. Honestly. We've been 4-5 times now and our family of 3 has not had a single thing that wasn't excellent. Mole, carnitas, shrimp, enchiladas, guacamole, MARGARITAS. OH, chile verde, tortillas, salsas. All of it, excellent. Family friendly. Family-owned and run, for that matter. Staff is friendly. Service is excellent. And they really care about your experience. read more

Food 0K Service Good Ambiance Terrible You do not sit a couple out on a "date" right next to a family of 6 with 3 under 5 years old with an empty table on the other side! read more

Chef's Kiss! Everything was perfect. The decor, the vibe ... from the time you walk into the door you are greeted by very friendly staff ... and everything ... I mean ever-E-thing ... was in point. The staff was very attentive, but not overbearing. The drinks were A-mazing! Perfect ratio of alcohol to mix .... to ice. The spot is very comfortable spacious but not audacious, cozy, but cute ... I had fajitas ... nice. And the portions were fine. Would highly recommend!! read more

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We love this cute little authentic Mexican restaurant. Obelisco is a cozy-feeling family-run place, with friendly attentive staff, (Thank you Zack!), bright new-looking decor, indoor seating for around 50, and outdoor seating for around 10. We were seated quickly in the evening (Oct 2025). We started with rich fresh quacamole enlivened with onion, cilantro, and lime, and a nice bite of serrano. The freshly made chips are thin and crispy, with nicely lightly spicy red pico sauce and green salsa. We loved our strong balanced bite-y mango margaritas, a smooth rich non-alcoholic lightly cinnamon horchata made with house-made rice milk, and a wonderful refreshing house-crafted lime&tequila horchata! We had terrific perfectly-tender juicy halibut tacos, a sweet lightly flavored fish, served with black beans and rice and thin sliced radish circles. We had rich robust intricately-seasoned pollo mole, with dense flavoring and tender a juicy chicken-quarter. The chicken chile verde was a treat i hadn't tasted before, chunks of tender chicken with some lasting heat from the tangy green tomatillo sauce. These two were presented rather simply, sneaking up on us with their bold authentic flavors. We happily stayed to enjoy their house-made silky creamy flan under caramel sauce for the lingering sweetness that matches our experiences here. Experience"s"? Yep. We visited three times during a seven-day trip here! Obelisco made us feel like welcome family. They are open during dinner hours, and promise lunch service soon. We got one of several parking spots out front, and there's street parking to the east and north, with some competition from nearby places. This is great place for a casual meal or for an occasion. read more

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Dropped by for their weekend brunch service. The interior is sleek and the staff is friendly and helpful. I was debating between two dishes and had the chilaquiles strongly recommended by the waitstaff. I love when the servers have strong opinions they're willing to share. Super helpful! They were tasty, though nothing I'd write home about, and they accidentally came with scrambled eggs instead of fried. To be fair, staff noticed the issue before I did and offered to have it fixed. But I was ravenous, and someone leaving the table with my food was going to either end in violence or tears. It's solid for brunch, and I plan to come back to check out their dinner menu. I have a suspicion that's where they really shine. read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Chilaquiles in red sauce - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Ever since Obeliscos moved locations, it feels like they left behind the soul and essence that made the restaurant special. The old location had so much character, culture, and a welcoming atmosphere. Now it feels like you have to dress up just to eat there. The entire vibe has changed. The food has changed too, especially the portion sizes. The chicken tostada salad used to come with around 15 pieces of chicken, and now you're lucky if you get about 4. The fish tacos were also one of my favorites they used to be big, flavorful, and satisfying. Now they're noticeably smaller and just don't hit the same. It's disappointing because this used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I understand businesses evolve, but it feels like they sacrificed what made Obeliscos unique in the first place. read more

Had family in town and tried Obelisco. Staff were friendly and attentive, margaritas and food were great, and they were accommodating with a high chair for my toddler. Will be back! read more

We had dinner plans with another couple, a belated 50th bday dinner, and snagged last minute reservations, and we were BLOWN AWAY. The long story short is, the food was absolutely delicious. We started with guacamole, ceviche and cocktails. Then we had carnitas plate, chicken mole, the chile relleno, and the enchiladas verde, which we all retired bored of each other. Each one was better than the rest. But hands down, we all agreed the best part of the meal was the refried beans(!!). They assured us there was no lard in them but, holy cow, the flavor was so ridiculously good we have no idea how it could be that flavorful without it. Spoke to the host afterwards, who's the son of the owner/chef (who later came out to say hi and let us shower her with praise). They had been in Fruitvale station for many, many years and recently relocated. The ONLY downside, and it was minor overall, is that it seems they're still figuring out their stations and as a result, a few different servers came to help us and it crossed some wires, but easily fixed and we said we were getting "extra attention"... (also, the server that brought out our dessert flan and sang happy birthday in Spanish lacked quite a bit of enthusiasm, but it gave us a laugh afterwards, so it's all good!). All told, we'll definitely be back and hope to work our way through the rest of the menu. read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Cocktails, ceviche and guac. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Salsas for chips were delicious and fresh. Drink on point. Appetizers and main entree were fantastic, a lot of flavor. Delicious home made corn tortillas. Pass on the dessert. When busy, you will be waiting a little longer than expected for the wait staff to come by and get you what you need. Location and ambiance were great! read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Fast and friendly service even during soft opening. Very efficient and well orchestrated service. Shrimp ceviche was pleasantly surprising as it was refreshing and well balanced. Love the artwork and decorations. My son had the Dos Tacos but it was sadly bland. In contrast the Carne Asada was well seasoned and tasty. Chicken enchiladas verde is always my tester and it was moist and tasty. Agua fresca horchata is on the sweet side but well balanced. Look forward to trying more dishes. read more

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Obelisco offers high end Mexican food at a midrange price (by Bay Area standards anyway). With a good, uncomplicated menu and a well-stocked bar (featuring a hardworking and skilled bartender and a solid cocktail menu), this place is legit on both the food and drink fronts. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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I just had the greatest posole verde of my full life experience and met the charming daughter of Letticia who is Julianna. I can recommend the authenticity and excellence of the food -the highest quality in Oakland.this particular restaurant has been around oakland for more than 20 years probably but now on Lakeshore it's really shining and you need to try it read more

My last review of this dining establishment (5 stars as well) reflected my earlier DINNER experience, my inaugural visit. They've since offered BRUNCH, and I was eager to avail myself of their brunch menu selections. Moreover, we were kicking off National Margarita Day...despite the fact that I opted for a Paloma! But I digress. They consistently came through/delivered on ALL aspects: service orientation and superlative quality of our menu (including cocktail selections) items: Guac/Chips, Halibut Ceviche, Chilaquiles, and Flan. Menu items far exceeded simply passing muster....flavors, associated execution thereof = amazing and left us gobsmacked. Clearly our dining experience was elevated AND our high expectations are redefined for ensuing return visits! read more

A lovely family owned restaurant, Obelisco was located in Fruitvale for 20 years then the family moved it to its current location near Lake Merritt. The location is very nice, elegant, warm, and lively. The extended family are your servers, bartender, and cook (the mother, still making her original family recipes!). Specialties are house made pozole (served with sides of all of the fixings so you can blend it to your liking), chicken mole, burritos (wet, mole, or with the works), and enchiladas. I had chicken mole enchiladas, which were delicious. My daughter had a carnitas burrito and said it was "the best burrito I have ever had". I took a bite of her burrito and agreed-- somehow it was perfect. Not to miss are the amazing house made salsas, the salsa verde is thick, rich, and bright-green fresh. Honestly I could eat it alone, but the fresh chips were also delicious delivery devices. The food is excellent, the family are charming and convivial, and the setting is nice, busting, and warm. Perfect place to go for a sit down meal. Try it! read more

Absolutely delicious! We ordered more goodies to take home. Don't miss out on the flan. Callum is the best server! read more

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We were frequent customers of Leticia's from when she had the taqueria across from the BART station and enjoyed her full service restaurant on 12th St. We decided to go out for Mexican this evening, and I selected a place on Lakeshore Ave. in Oakland that was relatively new. Imagine our delight when we discovered that Leticia and her son Alain own the place. The food is even more delicious, the recipes even more refined than ever. We were very happy with our meals, the service and the ambiance. My carnitas were fragrant of oranges, and delightfully crisp and tender. My wife loved her vegetarian enchiladas. We are really glad to find Leticia again, and will be going back again! read more

Fabulous food, friendly service. This is an absolute neighborhood gem. Please support this wonderful family-run business so they can stay here. (Hint: try the molé) read more

I absolutely recommend Obelisco! The steak is so tender, the chips and guacamole are a must have even if you pop in for drinks. The service was excellent. I'll be back for the churros! Very nice ambiance. I felt dressed down in my Warriors sweatshirt and jeans but they didnt make a stink about it but next time I'll definitely dress up! Family owned and operated! They use to be at Fruitvale station and they moved here. Cheers and thank you! read more

We had the pleasure of dining at Obelisco, Sunday night. We were there to support and celebrate restaurant week in Oakland. Our experience was perfect from start to finish, this family owned restaurant is warm and inviting. It was like being transported to another place. The food and cocktails were delicious, thoughtful and made with great care. If you're looking for a stylish and authentic night out, you'll find the food, ambiance and service at Obelisco is sure to impress. read more

We had a wonderful experience. There were four of us, we shared several appetizers and entrées, and they were all delicious. Service was warm and friendly, attentive. Highly recommend. read more

I recently came here for their new brunch and really enjoyed myself. The food was incredible and the staff is all super nice! I also think the inside is beautiful. If i could give them any advice i would say they could use an appetizer or two and a bit more variety for brunch but overall i would come back. read more

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Great food, amazing service, excellent vibe. I have been here twice now and would happily go back. In this era where going out to eat is a costly endeavor, I feel Obelisco is money well spent - the high quality of the ingredients and the joyful and relaxed attitude of everyone working there makes for a lovely evening. read more

I never write reviews but I had an amazing experience last night and I had to share. I visited Obelisco with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday on a recommendation from a friend. We were immediately greeted at the door and promptly seated. The server offered a variety of house-made aguas frescas. After we picked, the server brought the drinks along with the fresh guacamole and chips along with some sides of salsa. At the server's suggestion, we also ordered some fish ceviche as an appetizer and it was gone within seconds. As a pescatarian, I was impressed by how easy it was to find appetizers and an entree I could enjoy. We ordered a variety of dishes and they were served pretty quickly considering how busy they were. My family and I tend to let each other try our orders so I can speak to the vegetarian enchiladas, the camarones a la diabla, and the fish tacos. My meat-eating family members all raved about the mole and the chile colorado. Finally, after we wrapped up dinner, the staff brought out birthday churros and we sang to my dad. He was soo happy with the churros and I could not get enough of the vegan coconut flan I ordered. Obelisco is the kind of gem you want to gate keep but also tell anyone who will listen. The space is beautifully decorated, the food is deliciously authentic, and the staff is friendly and helpful. The ambience suited the couple on a date next to us, a professional getting a drink at the bar, and my hungry family. I can't encourage you enough to go try it out. I'm already planning my next visit! read more

One of The best Mexican restaurants ever! Great service in a small neighborhood spot! read more

Delicious Mexican classics; burritos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, etc. This family owned restaurant, started in the Fruitvale District of East Oakland, has certainly expanded and up-leveled. Giving us a boogie vibe twist on traditional Mexican palates, this is the place to be. Whether grabbing a Hibiscus Mint tea or sippin' on Margaritas, your thirst is sure to be quenched and belly super satisfecha. Not to mention the sweet staff and lovely service. Buen provecho and tell em Zakiya sent cha ;) read more

Amazing steak burrito, perfectly separated rice, quality steak and they allowed me to order my burrito at brunch which to me was above and beyond. I'll definitely be back. The waiter was so nice, very nice man!! read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Steak Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

The best Mexican Restaurant in the Bay Area. The food is fresh and clean and the taste is absolutely delicious! The ambiance is pleasant and modern. One of my favorite spots to eat. Try it you will like it! Yum, yum! read more

Halibut ceviche and guacamole, not very flavorful, avocado was brown on the underside, a bit dry overall. Service was slow in a mostly empty restaurant. Not sure if I'd go back after this first try for a snack $40 read more

Looking forward to Obelisco working out the new restaurant kinks. Food arrived luke warm and beans and rice cold, margarita just okay. Since it is new spot will give it time and try again in the new year. Good luck. read more

I made a last minute reservation on a Sunday night and was wowed at that service and food quality. Obelisco has such a cozy, yet upscale interior and the food was amazing -- beautiful plating and presentation with the taste of home cooked meals. Don't miss out on the mole. I can't wait to come back next time for brunch and dinner (again!). read more

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OMG! I have been a huge fan of this restaurant when they were at Fruitvale area. So Happy they opened in this neighborhood. Ok, let's talk about the food....I am a huge fan of made to order tortillas. They are always so fresh and tasty. My fav is the shrimp tacos and carnitas. I love the Pazole too. Everything is made fresh even the Margaritas. Enjoy! read more

My first time visiting with some friends. I walked into a beautiful place, greeted with excellent customer and the food was delicious!!! I had the Chile Relleno amazing flavors . We tried the Fish Ceviche , a friend had Carnitas Plate and let me try the Carnitas. The meat was perfect !! I have already planned to return. read more

This restaurant used to be in Fruitvale BART station & i always came for the pozole verde w/pork. It's the same family & recipes...tastes just like i remember! Dined at their new location twice near lake Merritt. ambience/aesthetic is moody & cute, great service-attentive & personable. Support this family owned business! read more

Their salsa is the best I had! Definitely organic and so fresh, spicy but not too hot. read more

Obelisco Restaurant - Their salsa is the best I had! - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

We recently had Obelisco cater my son's 5th birthday party, and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. We had around 80 guests -- kids and adults -- and every single person loved the food. I'm not exaggerating when I say it disappeared fast. The chicken flautas, potato flautas, green and red chicken enchiladas, rice, chips, salsa -- everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The kids devoured it. The adults went back for seconds (and thirds). That tells you everything. Beyond the food, the service was flawless. They were on time, fully prepared, and everything ran smoothly. No stress. No issues. Just great food and great people doing what they do best. We already love Obelisco and the owners -- they're some of the kindest, most genuine people you'll meet -- and this just reminded us why we keep coming back. They treat us like family every time we're there. If you're considering them for catering or just a meal out, don't hesitate. Highly, highly recommend. We'll absolutely be using them again. read more