Great hole in da wall Kine of local Mexican Establishment with fresh had made & rolled corn taco…read moreshells. Service friendly & bilingual. Seating at bar type along wall and additional seating in room at back entrance. Food was freshly made and very tasty. I also tried a side of their beer battered fish. Good but a bit salty. No tartar sauce. Their guacamole was a great addition to their house made mild salsa & chips, for my gringo tastes. Four Fabulous Stars for their local vibe and quality ingredients. I'll be back!

We have eaten here on and off over the past 15 years. And I have never experienced any issues until…read morenow. This past Friday evening we picked up dinner. I had ordered the 2 Quesabirria with Consome. Unfortunately, the consome sauce was missing. But that was the least of my problems. I found a large Rubber Band in my taco! Yes a rubber band. I bit into my taco and was chewing on it and had a weird taste so I spit out my food and found a large rubber band. I immediately called the restaurant. I spoke with the owner/manager, and he was extremely apologetic and sincere. Even though I accept his apology and appreciate him trying to make things right. Unfortunately, I am too disgusted and grossed out to see myself returning anytime soon. I appreciate the professionalism of handling this issue and I was hesitant to write this review and post this picture. The attached picture is the taco and a picture of the rubber band. Per my call with the owner/manager he thinks the rubber band came from the bundle of cilantro. Regardless of where the rubber band came from, I still feel completely disgusted and grossed out.

Huge shout out to Mi Burrito for an epic catered build your own taco spread. Super affordable,…read moredelicious, and definitely twice the food we expected... Every one of our guests was raving about the food and we have eaten tacos for days! Birthday boy was so happy! Highly recommend to dine in or have them cater your next event.

3.5 stars The…read morelocal vibe was heavily present. As a first timer, it was nice to see the folks behind the counter know peoples orders without them ordering... we came end of day and didn't get any of the meats we wanted. No more chicharron or chile verde. Another usual customer was surprised to hear chile verde sold out and muttered "but that one never sells out..." Good enough deal to get the burrito and can soda for $14. Burrito itself was good enough. Not something i would crave for though. The tortilla was my favorite part. I wish they tightened the burrito roll. They don't give a lot of meat. The steak one was basically falling apart while eating it. The Carnitas was not chopped up, just few big dry chunks to work on... no slurpability to my burrito which knocks off a star... the salsa was definitely medium to hot heat level spice. I for sure needed the coke to help me finish my burrito without suffering from the heat too much. I will definitely want to try coming again for the chicharron. Hopefully it will be a better experience considering we went closer to the closing time. It's nice that their front is open for folks to just enjoy the space without cars, so that ups the appeal a bit more.

BEST D*** TAQUERIA IN ALAMEDA, IN MY VIEW. Fresh ingredients, well-seasoned meats, and not overly…read moresalty. Plus, friendly staff and reasonable prices. Everything I have had here was delicious, but I especially like the Carnitas, which are lean, sometimes a bit crispy, and have a rich, kinda beefy flavor (even though I assume they are not beef ). The restaurant is conveniently close to downtown Alameda, and I have never seen it overcrowded or had a very long wait for my food. Highly recommended!

I hate to give a bad review. It's hard to be a small business, and even harder to be a restaurant…read more But the super nachos were bad. I'd read other reviews saying they were good, and that CRT made their own chips and had good portions. So we tried it when we were nearby. It was a "cheap" ($17) dinner fail. The chips were good. The portion was pretty good, but the nachos were bad. The salsa, separately, was also bad. You picked from tasteless pico de guyo (sp?) or overly hot salsa. No in between. Mouth on fire vs tasteless tomato chunks. The chicken was really bad. Was it old, or just NOT my flavor? Hard to tell the guacamole was thin and too lime-y. I almost wondered if it was from Costco. Cheese was also not good. We had also just exercised, and we were really hungry. This should have tasted good based on our previous exercise. But nope. I would bear loud bad music on repeat and too-bright fluorescent lights if the food was good. But you couldn't get me to go back to CRT ever again. :(

Trek to the isla (that's the Island in Spanish) and celebrate your flair for Mexican food at…read moreAcapulco in Alameda. Home to some traditional and familiar Mexican favorites, including oversized burritos, and of course the Acapulco enchiladas. Add some unique drink selections, like the Mexican coffee, the Michelada, or Mimosa; and play Madonna's song La Isla Bonita. Before you know it, you have your next spot to dine in Alameda.

The current owner/manager has a serious attitude problem. We didn't' get what we ordered, and…read moreinstead of making things right, and addressing customer concerns professionally, Miguel got defensive and argumentative. I grew up in Alameda, this is not the same restaurant the Quintero family ran. When people pay you for a meal, the bare minimum is expectation is basic respect.

Cholita linda is one of my favorite places to get delicious fish tacos Baja style. Everytime I…read morefinish my tacos, I instantly start regretting not ordering more. Their fish tacos are perfectly battered, crispy, covered in a bed of cabbage cilantro, crema, & their salsa. a slice of lime to add a lil Zest & wow, I could eat 5 of them after a good workout day. We usually order rice & beans, yucca frita, and occasionally an agua fresca. This time we ordered a strawberry & lemonade, super yum & perfect amount of tart & sweet. The yucca frita was crispy with savory sauce to pair with it. The rice and beans are simple but also so consistently deliciously cooked. The white rice is the best restaurant rice I ever had, I wish I could make it like This at home lolol. Overall, the food here has always been delicious. We order here frequently for the last few years and will continue to do so. Service is always positive, seamless and straightforward. The alameda location has seating inside, perfect for small groups or solo dining too. Overall great vibe, love this place!

Ate here soo many times…read more You go to the counter, place your order, pay, and have a seat. They bring your food to you. This is hands down my favorite spot for fish tacos. They are not skimpy on the fish. It is deep fried to perfection and tender flaky on the inside. Ordered their Baja Fish Tacos, plantains, and tostones con picadillo. All very flavorful. Service was excellent.

I've been getting this more often recently since it's close by and on Grubhub. The carne asada…read moresuper burrito is my default order now. At $14, the price feels reasonable, especially for the portion. The burrito is filling and flavorful, with well-seasoned carne asada and a good balance of ingredients that holds up even with delivery. Nothing overly flashy, but consistently satisfying when you want something hearty and convenient.

Went here on a whim after checking out a Holiday Yuletide oddities market, it was right next to the…read moremarket and we were feeling snackish. There was a delious smell of grilled carne asada wafting in the air so we popped in to look at the menu. Huge menu with lots of options, as soon as I saw a good looking salsa bar and a ton of orders of menudo rolling out, I knew I needed to eat here. I ordered Birria tacos and the bestie picked sopes with carnitas. Shoutout to a taqueria that provides complimentary chips and chiles toreados! We were delighted with the huge portions and was super pleased with how delicious everything was! Birria and carnitas were fork tender, flavor was on point and not too salty. It was fresh and filling! There was plenty of seating, it was a bit cold and drafty, but nevertheless we had a great time. It was a perfect setting to order menudo and I would definitely come back to try it!

This review is for the parents out there: La Penca Azul is an incredible hidden gem for families…read more It's a genuinely family-friendly place with a great kids' menu featuring burritos, quesadillas, grilled cheese, burgers, and more. The outdoor seating overlooks a big plaza, so while you wait for food (and enjoy a margarita), your kids can run and play without bothering anyone. They offer a $10 happy hour menu Monday through Thursday, with smaller portions that are perfect for lighter meals. After your meal, stroll through the mall by the UPS store to find a lovely walking path along the canal where you can spot ducks and geese. You can also walk or bike to two playgrounds: one smaller playground is further along the path on the same side, and a larger playground is across the bridge a few blocks into the neighborhood. There's plenty of parking. You can swing by Safeway next door if you need to grab a few groceries before heading home. Penca Azul makes for a wonderful and easy outing. Our whole family always enjoys ourselves and leaves happy!

Updates 4/4/26: Today was a catastrophic experience. We came here about 12pm or so. Just FYI…read more We have come to this restaurant several times because we really enjoy their food and drinks. It is like "Our Best Mexican" spot to go to. My wife and I decided to eat outside today. Our table was dirty upon sitting down. Like you could clearly see that it needed ti be wiped down. The hostess did not. We requested lemon with our water when she asked if we wanted something to drink. She brought water and no lemons. I didn't understand the slackness because it was only 2 tables of ppl outside. No one was inside at the time. I ordered my usual which was the red snapper plate with hot sauce and garlic oil on the side. My wife ordered the shrimp/octopus entree. The food came and her's was great. My rice was cold and hard. I had to send it back. My snapper was a bit on the light crispy side. Sure also brought it big bowls of the hot sauce and garlic oil. I was a little in disbelief because normally both of them look like a oil type of sauce. Today they were both clumped because it was served cold. When I begun to eat my snapper, it was a bit wet on the inside and not as cooked as I am used to. I became nauseous because of it. It took a lil min for the waitress to come back and honestly.. I had to speak to another waitress to get it recooked. When my original waitress brought it back out.. it was so much better. She even brought the hot sauce that it normally comes with... it in the texture it normally is and the size. She took back the rice and beans again because at that point.. they were both beyond cold. When they were brought back out, they were both hot.. but the rice was a bit crunchy in certain areas. I was too hungry to complain again.. so I ate around those parts. Now for the drinks (This part pissed me off the most). So, I always order the $20 marg.. which is supposed to have Sieste Langua Blanco, host citrus blend, Grand Mariner float and a shot of Don Julio 1942. That 1sr round of drinks was so watered down. There also was salt/tajin around the part that you hold the glass AND the salt part looked like it was melted on.. no ruin at all was seen. We did not feel anything after drinking it and we should have because of what liquors were supposed to be used. So I went and spoke to the bartender about the weakness of the drinks because I did not feel that my waitress would do a good enough job. He decided to put the next round in smaller glasses with less ice (Originally, he wants me to add another shot for strength.. but I did not feel that I should of they made it right this time). When that drink came, it was light in color and the taste was like a regular marg. The color was not orange, the presentation looked bad. So I took myself back up and questioned the bartender with the hostess standing there. She did not support me at all. At first the bartender acknowledged that he did not put any Grand Marnier in it. Then I questioned the color, so he decided to make it on front of me. He put Pueblo ...resposado, triple sec and a shot of grand mariner (It should have been a floater). Nothing other than the Grand Mariner was correct. Today was when I found out that they do not put the alcohols listed on the menu on the actual drink!!! I was pissed. I asked for the manager because today we have an issue with everything. I got the runaround from the hostess because she agreed like she was getting the manager and she was not and I do believe the bartender knew he messed up to. It took the fake manager over 10 miss to meet me at the bar. The hostess, the bartender and the ways/manager a are all shady!! Only one employee ensured to get the real manager and update me on his ETA because he was not in the building. I spoke with him and he made things right. He even got behind the bar and made the drink as it shouod be presented and taste. I told him that I really love this restaurant and will return.. but i will be going to the bar to get my drinks made in my face. Thank you to him!

Food is always fresh and packed with flavor the service is always great and i love the setting of…read morethe dinning room!

Date: 6/5/2026. Time: 9:30 PM…read more This is an updated review. It has been almost eight years ago since I wrote a review of La Penca Azul. The review was for the Taco Bar. My male companion and I came here for late dinner. He ordered the Pescado entree with rice and a salad. The only salad dressing the restaurant had was ranch. I would think the restaurant would have an oil/vinegar dressing. Nope! I decided to have the two items combo (beef enchilada and pork tamale) with rice and refried beans. Of course, my eyes got bigger than my stomach. I ate half of my dinner. Yep, I had leftover tamale and rice in a box to take home. Beverage: no Jamaica agua fresca, so the waitress suggested either a mango/passion fruit or pineapple/lime agua fresca. I opted for the former over the latter. My meal and beverage were good, but I believe my taste bud has changed over the years to the point that I had dined at two different Mexican restaurants recently where the food tasted better. Inasmuch as I like to leave my 5 star rating intact with La Penca Azul, I can't. At best, it is a 3.5 stars rounded up to a four star.

Stopped in for a quick snack and decided to just get 1 quesabirria ($5). Noticed they no longer…read morehave a taco condiments bar setup by the counter. Still under the same owners/management after all these years. They have a bunch of combo specials with a fountain drink, and weekend specials menu too. No specials for Taco Tuesday though. Street tacos are now $3.75. The quesabirria was good. They have a 3 quesabirria with consomme and fountain drink for $15.50 which I would get next time when I have a bigger appetite.

Been years since I last stepped foot in this spot. Used to live in Alameda and recall coming here…read moreonce or twice probably for a burrito. Fast forward to today, my son and his friend frequent this place. After a Sunday full of errands, hunger kicked in, and we were craving Mexican food. My 13 year old suggested we come here. At that moment, I had a choice...drive out to Oakland and find a solid spot or trust my teenager's restaurant recommendation. Risky move, I know lol. Walking in, the place looked just like it did years ago clean, welcoming, and with a friendly staff. The menu? Way bigger than I remember. It had so many options, I started wondering if I needed a strategy guide to order. I just wanted everything cause I was hangry lol. My son swears by their quesabirria, so I took a bite. It was... alright. Wish the shell had that extra crisp or even a cheese crust. The beef? Decent, but could've used more spice and flavor. Maybe dipping it in the consommé would've helped like a plot twist in a bad movie, it might've saved the whole thing just my opinion : ) I went for the steak fries. Now, these weren't your typical carne asada fries with thick-cut fries, sour cream, salsa, and all the toppings stacked on. These were more like shoestring fries, already seasoned, topped with cheese and steak pieces. Not bad, but let's be real I wouldn't have minded a bigger portion. And with shoestring fries, good luck trying to scoop up all the toppings without making a mess in that little food tray lol. Also grabbed a crispy ground beef taco. It was okay, but every time I took a bite, it completely fell apart like my plans to eat healthy. Could've used a bit more seasoning too (taco snob lol) Don't be shy with the flavor. I rather have it over seasoned than bland : ) Alameda doesn't have a ton of taquerias, which is probably why everyone drives out to Oakland to hit the food trucks on International Blvd (aka E-14th for the OG Bay Area folks) Yadadaimean! Would I come back? Yeah, I would. Food isn't bad, and the prices are decent like I'm not breaking the bank here. Solid 3 stars. It's good, but not quite at that 4-star level for me.....Just saying : )

Ordering was easy and quick at noon. The chips came with red and green salsa. I had a grilled soft…read moretaco and a carnitas soft taco...delicious! The watermelon juice was a huge amount and very refreshing.

I've been to a lot of Mexican restaurants in my lifetime--plenty where the food just doesn't taste…read morethe same. It's usually the small nuances that separate an okay spot from a good one, and a good one from a great one. I'd place Island somewhere between okay and good. What I've noticed is that "good" restaurants often become local favorites, places people have been going to their whole lives. Because of that, the line between good and great can get a little blurred for them. Since I'm not from the neighborhood, I don't have that built-in loyalty. I judge strictly on taste, quality, and service--and for me, this place lands right in the middle of ok and good. BB