I love how easy it is to order using the kiosk, and the abundance of outdoor seating is a big plus. The food is affordable and absolutely delicious. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that the service can be a bit slow at times. read more

Disappointed: Picante has been a favorite for around 20 years. I almost always ordered one of their "platos." I visited the other night, after a few months away, with a friend. They had simplified the menu tremendously, such that my favorite carnitas plato was gone. I ordered the enchilada plato, but they only offered a choice of cheese or chicken. I ordered the cheese, as I don't care for chicken. The $22 dish was relatively large, but the sauce was obviously canned, the filling was skimpy and not properly melted, to my mind (my microwaved version, with canned sauce, is far superior). My friend had a chicken burrito, which he described as merely "fine." Both of us were disappointed in the skimpy menu, which amounted to the demise of a long-time favorite. Will not return. read more

My wife keeps asking me why I keep going back. I'm done. 8 times out of 10 there will be no avocado in the burrito. Despite paying for it. Drive up pick-up is routinely staffed by 1 person who is completely overwhelmed. I guess La Mission is my new go-to. read more

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The service was sooooo amazing and kind. I have a gluten intolerance and accidentally ordered something with flour-- staff was so quick and kind about replacing my order. It was totally my fault for not asking, but they were really reassuring about it not being an issue. The food itself was really yummy too!! & there's lots of seating and has a great ambiance. Would definitely recommend! read more

I was hungry and this was near the freeway. During a remodel and covid they had a really nice set up. A big tent for indoor dining and outside tables and chairs. They had a dispenser for paper towel and a sink. This was a better option then all to go. The food could have been better. I had the al pastor-beef and pork in pineapple-morita chile sauce + onion-cilantro relish and chips and salsa. The two together fed both of us. I have ordered al pastor many times for the past 3 years and this one was not great. I would not order it again or recommend it. Everyone else seemed happy with there order. I would come again and try something else. They are just so convenient , with easy street parking. You may not have had so many al pastor meals and may love it, but after so many better ones, I'll pass. If you are in area, give the place a try. It's right off the freeway. read more

Picante - Al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Place your order at the counter- the counter helpers know the menu well and answer all the questions you may have. the guacamole was very good. they have a few specialty meats and sauces that seem like they could be worth a return visit. plenty of sitting room so larger groups have no worries. Save room for the soft serve ! read more

Gone down hill. No longer the ultra fresh beautiful food it used to be. The "fresh" salsa was withered and old. Iceberg lettuce instead of the romaine salad of before. The fish burrito was bland, lacking both spices and ingredients. The food is completely different than before the remodel. I wrote to the owner about the quality decline as a heads up. When I said the old Picante's freshness and quality was influenced by Alice Waters, he asked "who is Alice Waters". Clearly ownership has changed. The new owner has veered away from fresh seasonal foods. He seems unaware that old or bland ingredients will alienate the loyal foodie customer base. It is so sad. My family ate there all the time. I will miss it. read more

Just as I suspected, the remodel now leaves the interior of the once epic restaurant bland and devoid of flavor. Ya'll really ruined a good thing. The old interior was gorgeous and colorful. Now it is just following the bland minimalist trend. I could get past the remodel if the food was restored to its previous glory, but no. Still overpriced, smaller portions and taste nothing like what made this spot famous. Bummer. read more

Pickup orders are getting much better, order is rarely wrong now and the food is tasty. We do like Picante enough that we kept ordering throughout the trials and tribulations of wrong orders. read more

My partner and I went to Picante the other day. I was so excited to show them the taqueria of my childhood. We were super surprised when we arrived. The restaurant was demolished and under construction so they had a warehouse type area and outside of it an outdoor kiosk for ordering. The whole ordering system is super bizarre. You order at the outdoor kiosk and either wait on the street for your to-go order to arrive or you walk down the street to a parking lot with chairs and tables. We ordered the rajas con papas burrito and the shrimp burrito. We also got an horchata and a soda. The total was close to $50. Unreal prices but at the time we thought it would be good so we were willing to pay that outrageous price. We waited over 20 mins in the parking lot dining area (not the ambiance I was hoping for) for our burritos even though there was barely anyone there (6 other people). When we got the food the horchata came with no ice and it was a hot day. The Rajas con Papas burrito was inedible . It tasted like methane gas. As if they turned the oven on but it never got ignited and so then they pan fried the veggies. The potatoes in it were not even cooked. I have never tasted something so bad from there in my life and I have been going to Picante since I was a toddler. The shrimp burrito was not much better. The shrimp were battered and fried but the batter was thick and not fried completely so it was soggy. There is no service. Once you order you are on your own. We went to tell them how bad it was at the end of the meal and they did refund our veggie burrito and horchata for which we are grateful. But because it was so bad I can honestly say I will never go here again. read more

They ripped out the beautiful fountain made by locals, and did some remodeling. "Let's charge our customers double and shrink the portions", seems to be their motto. "More money for us, less food for them." This is a classic case of a business ripping off locals. I could see raising prices 20 % because that's what inflation actually was. Picante raised their prices more than 100% while reducing portion sizes. The food is not bad but make no mistake about it. You are overpaying. read more

We have long frequented Picante. During Covid they had ace curbside service that always included a biscuit for our dog that we jokingly called his $40, treat. Of late the portions have gotten smaller. The tostada salads lack the elegant presentation they formerly had. The chips remain one of the finest sides. Picante has never been a bargain compared to other Mexican restaurants on Solano Avenue and around town. The quality justified the greater cost; now, not so sure. We hope Picante will turn things around. Our dog would especially appreciate it, If that happens, I'll gladly revisit my rating and commentary, ¡Los mejores deseos! read more

Ordered online and picked up. Burrito is a smaller than most restaurants but packed with flavor and dry at all! The guacamole was thick and it's not the watery cream kind, definitely had chunks of avocado and tomatoes. The red salsa was spicy but the extra sauce (roasted tomatoes, habanero, and Smokeyness) on the side mixed with this burrito was top notch! The nachos were crunchy, I think it was the home made tortillas then deep fried. The tacos were fresh and well balanced. The fried fish and shrimp had the same condiments, the mangos and thinly shredded cabbage defi no they cut the fat, sauce inside is recommended, not dry tho. The asada was marinated and cooked very well, not dry and burnt, perfect with the onions and cilantro, side salsa is a must! I'd go back again but try different item on the menu. The salsa doesn't taste spicy on your first few tries but man, it creeps up on you! Love habanero peppers, the creepers! read more

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Had a chance to try Picante this past weekend and man I really loved it! Got there around 7ish and placed an order online right before. The order was ready pretty early which was nice. I personally ended up getting the three taco platter which was an awesome decision and tried : al pastor taco (my favorite and so flavorful), Cochinita Pibil taco ( yummy as well and flavored but largely bigger chunks of meat), & the machamantales taco which was yummy but could be slightly more flavored. Overall though, really enjoyed the beans as well as well as all the fresh salsas which were pretty yummy. Overall, one of the better mexican spots I have had in berkeley! read more

Picante - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

They finally opened the dining room after making renovations. It's so plain and boring inside. For 3 tacos, a side of refried beans (because they no longer have 3 taco plate with beans), and a side of chips was 28$ wtf? They got rid of the bottles of salsa and bring you tiny little containers (only 2) for a side of chips. The manchamanchalas tacos didn't have much flavor. So bummed. read more

Picante - Guacamole container and a half bag of chips for 10 bucks, hmmmm - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I just literally left the restaurant a couple minutes ago because I saw a HUGE rat run into the kitchen and nobody noticed. Don't eat here!!! read more

Hands down, best tortilla soup in the bay! Friendly staff, super quick service. Surprised they don't have higher ratings... A whole parking lot just for customers, and indoor and outdoor seating, with a spacious restroom and full bar. I came here for lunch every week for two years. Never disappointed. read more

We ordered takeout from Picante and got the fish burritos, and they were absolutely amazing! The fish was perfectly seasoned, and the addition of mango gave it a delicious touch of sweetness. The green salsa is to die for--so fresh and flavorful! We brought the burritos to my partner's parents, and it was their first time trying Picante. They were thoroughly impressed. We'll definitely be coming back for more! read more

Picante - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

They remodeled and raised the prices. Very sad. This place was an institution and now resembles a bland shell of what it used to be. Don't bother. Go somewhere else. read more

I use to eat at Picante often (almost every week) and the quality was excellent. Now they've increased prices and the quality has decreased drastically. I always ordered the tostada salad, but now there is barely any ingredients for the pick up orders. I ordered 2 salads and it was missing the salsa verde, beans, cabbage, carrots, radish and jicama. I only got lettuce and the tostadas. I complained to the manager and they made me another one, but it was just as bad. Barely any ingredients were added, it was just sad. I understand the price increase, but when quality goes down also, I cannot eat here anymore. read more

I have eaten here for years. In the past couple years there were episodes of failing on takeout orders. It happened again yesterday when they forgot to add sour cream and guacamole to the Super Burrito. It had the sticker and they charged for it. read more

If you're looking for quick Mexican food for lunch, stop by Picante! Their online ordering system is easy to use, our order was prepared under 15 minutes, and their drive through pick up is quick, easy, and covid-safe! For our main dishes, my boyfriend got the manchamanteles burrito and I got the al pastor burrito - would definitely get both of them again. Not only were they tasty but they were very filling too! My boyfriend and I usually can each eat a whole bowl/burrito at Chipotle but we were both full from just half our burritos - you can have them cut the burrito in half for you too, which is a nice plus. We also got the chile relleno by itself, also tasty, and a couple of their salsas. Overall, all the food and salsas were really good. My favorite salsa is the green and my boyfriend really liked the habanero salsa. We each had an aqua fresca that were also on point. The only thing we weren't really a fan of were the chips. They were pretty mediocre and the really uneven distribution of the salt didn't help the situation. Luckily their yummy salsas carried the chips through - as the chips are decent at being a salsa carrier. Would definitely come again for all the food, but may skip out on ordering chips again. read more

Picante - Chile Relleno, Al Pastor Burrito, Chips and salsa and guacamole, and side orders of the avocado salsa (small) and mango salsa (medium) - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

This review is for the owners of Picante. It's a really sad day for our family that our relationship has to end. my children were raised on your food, and we spent many countless evenings, post- soccer game lunches, and margaritas in your dining room, and outdoor tent. You fed us during Covid. Your name is literally picante and you took the salsa bar away. What an embarrassment. How much is it actually costing you to keep salsa for your patrons? I asked for a side of green salsa last night and was charged $1.40 for two tiny servings! And a scoop of rice for my daughter was $4! We've always been accustomed to your higher prices, but in return have had exceptional food made with quality ingredients and free salsa. Bring back an authentic feeling please. We miss seeing the tortillas being made, the vibrant artwork, and a real vibe. You are really making it clear that picante is no longer a welcoming place for a large families or large groups. You are pricing us out of eating quality materials and did I mention that there's no free salsa. The staff seemed unhappy too. I don't know what's up but I had just spent $100 for 4 people and came back to ask for some chips because we didn't get any and honestly just give me the chips! Don't nickel and dime me for everything. read more

Food was amazing and staff was very friendly, highly recommend! Spacious with plenty of seating too

Lovely family lunch at Picante last week, first "in person" visit since the pandemic. I loved the old "fiesta" decor, but the new remodel (though very different) looks good too. Staff was very friendly and helpful. We all liked our choices and the servings were generous. Good to see several vegetarian and vegan choices being offered! I had the tostada salad and it was delicious. We also liked sampling the 3 Dips and Chips, and especially liked the mango-jicama salsa, yum! read more

Order ahead online or over the phone! Kay, I've done my part. Haha no, I've been really excited to go here. Glad they're still open too. Enjoyed the super nachos, which I swear I ordered a small but still got the best serving size that lasted me two days! Delicious, full of goodness and a hearty scoop of toppings like cheese, jalapeños and salsa. Loved the chicken tacos I got too that came salsa verde and a side of beans, devoured immediately. Such a large menu, I will be back to try out the different tacos and tostadas! My eyes are definitely getting bigger than my stomach but it all looks so good online. And to know it tastes good too? That's the spicy salsa on top! Highly recommend this spot! read more

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First time visiting since the interior remodeling and it's beautiful! The staff are friendly as always and very quick with serving food. My all time fave dish is the Sopa Azteca. Best comfort meal ever read more

Outrageous food... Great setvice, good bsr. Fun ambiance. Chili rellenos are to die for. Made in the dining room corn tortillas are perfection. Many great menu options. Sooo popular - get there early, parking is always scarce. Patio is nice too. You can get it all to take out.... read more

Picante survived the Covid pandemic. They innovated and tu ned one of the outdoor parking lots into a covered eating area complete with heaters and touchless ordering and payments fine-tuning the drive up/To Go station. In the interim they remodeled the interior, sadly the visible hand-making tortilla station moved inside the kitchen;. kids and customers could appreciate seeing the cultural tradition of handmade tortillas. I had "heard" Picante was an offshoot of Chez Panisse/ Alice Waters former employeesbringing fresh in-season flavors of Mexican food to Berkeley. Marketing is creative and keeps a pulse on what's going o. Picante was the first if I recall to have a kids' menu and distinct Vegetarian and Vegan Choices. Their catering menu is a plus. Who has time or kitchen space to prep and make party platters of burritos, chicken skewer,and colorful fresh fruit platters for festive social gatherings these days? Staff-- all very friendly--will even load partyplatters in your car at the Drive Through. Bravo and Ole! When my siblings come to visit from the suburbs- there's nothing even close to what Picante offers and we go there specifically. During Super Bowl weekend shopping everywhere was crowded and busy. On Election Day they offeted a nacho special. There are zero alcohol beverages offered to still raise your glass to toast any occasion. Extensive brunch menu. The new space still allows for families fto gather. The parking lots and Pickup-drive through remain.Picante continues to innovate and remain current . read more

Major redesign since Covid 19. New facility in 2024 is much more modern and upscale. Unfortunately, it seems like prices are way up too, including charging for salsa by the ounce. read more

Picante - Outdoor patio - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Basically, in a word, perfect. Picante is home. It was a regular part of family milestones and special memories throughout the years. Now it is an old friend. The food has always been great, fresh, delicious, healthy and authentic. The curbside pickup is easy. The vibe inside was great and now, with the new remodel, it's even better. I love the new compostable take-out containers. Makes me think they care about who they are and what they are serving. (Corny but true). read more

I used to love the ambiance, and haven't been back since the remodel. Judging from the photos I won't bother. It reminds me of an institutional cafeteria, rather sterile and unwelcoming. During the covid shutdown we would often go for takeout at the curb. I've always liked their food, but was hoping the more charming restaurant of old would reopen. read more

Four plus plus. I have been coming here for years. This place got me through nursing school and I live on the other side of the freaking bay! To go through the heartache that I did and walk in here 13 plus years later with my fiancé was surreal! Kudos to the owner for making this place Aaaaaaamazing and beautiful. (R. I. P. Bernard James Tyson Sr). Brother you sent your men to get you food from this Mecca read more

Amazing food & friendly staff! Clean and nice interior. Would highly recommend. One thing I also like about was enough parking spaced designated to the restaurant visitors. read more

Picante we went to the other day, hoping it had reopened the main dining area after the dark years of the pandemic shut it down, then they reopened it kind of temporarily until they could do a full remodel, which is done. Nice job. Big inside and outside dining areas, very modern and clean, we came when it was relatively quiet and this is a place made for big crowds. The food was as it was before, we have been going there for many years. What we had, Chile Relleno, chips which came with three salsas one of which was guacamole, and two street tacos, was like the space, clean and simple. Glad to have Picante back the way is should be. read more

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Not sure why, but We ( my partner did) bought 2 sets of tamales for Christmas dinner. Butternut squash for vegetarians and mole chicken for my partner and friends. Love picante, by HATED these tamales.... ESPECIALLY FOR $84 for 12. Veggie tamales ...the masa was so GRAINY and they had no flavor. The mole chicken masa was much better, thinner, but still no flavor. The chicken inside had mole, but you could barely taste it. Again, love Picante, but won't pay this price for these tamales again... luckily we had other things for Christmas dinner. Still have 9 tamales left out of 12. Very unhappy, and even unhappier to write this review. read more

Dear Picante: We love your food so much! But the portions are now 1/3 smaller than in the past and we have noticed this in the last three months. We know the economy is tight, and it would be nice to have an option to increase the portion amount for a reasonable charge. We hope you will consider this. Thanks so much, read more

I am not well-read on what the situation is with their space, but paying that much money to eat out of containers, in the cold, is just not right. Also, not everything is compostable and it seriously is A LOT of waste. Service is indifferent and unfriendly, which maybe is just a symptom of the moment or could be a bigger issue. Tacos are pretty decent, pozole was all intensity and none of the lovely layered warmth. Kids meals are nice albeit too expensive for what they were. We had two picky 5 year olds who were not satisfied with the food. As we were leaving I saw a notice about a fire and about rehabing their space, but didn't get to read it. Here's hoping they get their space back and change course. read more

Love this food but on my last visit I waited over an hour for dinner to be served. I asked several waiters staff to help but only the manager got the food delivered. It seems less efficient since the remodel. read more

Order online. Drive up. Check in. They drop food right on your seat. You never have to get out of your car! So I drive home. There in less than 5. Pull into driveway. Get out. Walk around to passenger door. Get food. Close door. Take 8 steps. Bottom falls out of wet paper bag. Not a total loss. THE FOOD: COLD. VERY. Yummy hot and spicy low (as in NO) sodium guacamole =0 Chips good texture=2 Pork =3 Beans. Typical always bland=1 Value for money=1. I know this is what passes as Mexican. I've been here many times. This just happens to be the worst I've ever had. And the bag thing? 3 leaking plastic cups of pickled veg make a big whole in a paper bag. Think folks read more

Picante - Damages - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California