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    Taqueria El Cruzero

    3.6 (175 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Taqueria El Cruzero Photos

    Business Info

    TAQUERIA EL CRUZERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Taqueria El Cruzero

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    Reviews With Photos

    Deena D.

    I walked here to grab some lunch while waiting for someone to finish with their surgery at the nearby hospital. The inside of the restaurant is small but colorful and full of life. The staff were very kind. I ordered the enchilada plate and it was very tasty. I wish I had a bit more beans but other than that it was good. I would come again!

    Interesting decorations
    Ernest M.

    I would recommend this place. They have a decent variety of choices--beyond the typical burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, they also offer cheeseburgers, steak fries, and full plates. Impressively, they have 13 types of meat, including options like cabeza and lengua. So far, I've only tried their super burrito with steak. It was very large and cost about $15, though that included an extra $2 for both avocado and cheese/sour cream. It was super filling. They did skimp a bit on the salsa and radishes, but probably you could ask for more if needed. Prices are overall okay for the portion sizes. The ambiance is... interesting. Definitely a bit of a hole-in-the-wall vibe with unique decoration. Portions were generous, the food was tasty, and it didn't feel too heavy. Salt levels were just right. I'd definitely come again to try out their other options.

    Menu
    Jim D.

    I have decided to check out this Taqueria. Very pleasant customer service and quick. Fish tacos on a hard shell will probably some of the best taco. I've had here in the bay area. Lingua and Cabeza. We're delicious as well. 10 out of 10.

    Carne Asada Fries
    Nae M.

    I can not tell you how I've discovered this place but I've known about it since middle school... (don't calculate my age..) and I have been obsessed with them since. They are the ONLY location I know that seasons their carne asada and seasons their fries. They are not stingy with not a single topping. You want extra cilantro? Add cilantro. Tomatoes- yaaaasss. Sour cream? Add more drizzle drizzle. But most importantly they are not afraid of flavor. If you're a big fan of those meats that just have salt and pepper? This ain't for you. They have a full seasoning cabinet and the main ingredient is not salt! Listen.... Listen... this is the itis "I'm eating because I deserve it" and do not tell your personal trainer vibes. This is that food. Cilantro freshly cut Now other items on the menu. Burrito is amazing - get the salsa... add it on to every bite and just know you will be in love. If you have an addictive personality? Then you will be good for business. But heads up- this is not a late night hype- they do close early. I respect their hours and plan accordingly. Enjoy!

    Super burrito!
    Jessica U.

    We've come here around 4 times already, and every time we've grabbed a burrito it's been bomb. I always grab a super burrito de asada and al pasto and my husband of asada. There horchata is good too. It's small shop but flavor is there. We grab it on our way home since it's right off the freeway and quick to pick up and hop back on the freeway to get home. I'll call 5 mins before I get there and our burritos are done right as I walk up. Give it a shot you'll enjoy it. The red salsa is bomb.

    My favorite pic in the place.
    Larry D.

    Place is old school "bomb!" Hella delicious. Smells scrumptious. Personally, I only get either the cheese burgers (with them tasty fries and a canned pepsi) or the steak nachos. Just cause. That's all I eat. Also, the decor is dope. From the classic pictures of the Latino homies to the little bull horns. Hit'em up, yo.

    shrimp tacos
    Aleanna S.

    Long time running business. I used to pass by this establishment all the time until my boyfriend suggested it and has been a customer since middle school. Very cute, nice staff, delicious food, and decent prices. The steak fries are so yummy. Nacho cheese on it is the game changer. The shrimp tacos were really good too. They cut up the shrimp so you're not getting big 'ol chunks. I would've asked for double tortillas on the tacos because they got soggy and broke on me but I had some chips helped. I'll be coming here more often.

    Steak Cheese Fries

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    2 months ago

    Been a couple of times for steak burrito and carnitas. Carnitas is my favorite. The service is great and I have never had a complaint!

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    11 months ago

    The very best in the entire bay area i highly recommend this place! Price is right food is even better!

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    10 months ago

    when my mom went to go get me steak fries with shrimp the guy was so rude to her he decides to give me food poisoning in revenge

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    2 years ago

    Great food quality, generous portions and very friendly staff. Ordered numerous times from this place and never got disappointed.

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    2 years ago

    Terrible customer service. Did not understand what I ordered and charged me for an item I never received. The food was trash.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Taqueria El Cruzero

    Review Highlights - Taqueria El Cruzero

    I usually get the carnitas tacos or the carne asada ones (I don't recommend the fish though, sorry).

    $11 Carne Asada Plate

    Read more highlights

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    Molcajete Cocina Mexicana

    3.8
    (758 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    This place was walkable for my work and was good so I went there a second time grab the food to go…read moreand decided to put the lettuce on top. That was a good move to do would come back if I'm back in Oakland visiting from Southern California California grid place to grab a bite.

    I'm honestly annoyed I spent money here. Molcajete Cocina Mexicana was a huge letdown from start to…read morefinish. The menudo was completely bland and tasted like it came straight out of a can definitely not fresh and absolutely not worth ordering. The chips and guacamole were just "okay," but even that's being generous since the chips were clearly old and stale. The steak nachos were the final straw. They were straight-up gross. I ordered steak nachos and somehow got nachos covered in rice, barely any meat (if any at all), and a laughably small portion for the price. On top of that, they were made with the same stale chips. For what they charge, this level of food quality is unacceptable. I won't be coming back. The server was rude and short didn't care to answer any questions. Sinceramente me molesta haber gastado dinero aquí. Molcajete Cocina Mexicana fue una gran decepción de principio a fin. El menudo estaba totalmente desabrido y sabía como si saliera directo de una lata, nada fresco y definitivamente no valía la pena. Las papas fritas con el guacamole estaban "más o menos", y eso siendo generoso, porque las totopos estaban viejas y rancias. Los nachos de carne fueron la gota que colmó el vaso. Estaban horribles. Pedí nachos de asada y me los sirvieron llenos de arroz, casi sin carne (si es que tenía algo), y con una porción ridículamente pequeña para el precio. Para colmo, los hicieron con los mismos totopos viejos. Por lo que cobran, la calidad de la comida es inaceptable. No regresaré.

    Photos
    Molcajete Cocina Mexicana
    Guacamole, chips & salsa trio
    Guacamole, chips & salsa trio
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    Taqueria El Paisa

    Taqueria El Paisa

    4.4
    (554 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    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.

    This is certainly one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to. Each taco is $4.50 and…read morethey load each up with meat. The meats are all juicy and cooked perfectly. The pina colada drink was perfect to balance out the salty/savory flavor of the tacos. You self serve cucumbers, carrots, and radishes which is always cool. Finally, there's live Mexican music playing and the overall vibes are fantastic. 4.9/5

    Photos
    Taqueria El Paisa
    Torta de asada!
    Torta de asada!
    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)

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    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)
    Mesa Maguey

    Mesa Maguey

    4.6
    (207 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I was here last night(Thursday night) for the Comedy show! The comedy, the crowd, the cocktails,…read moreand the host made the drive worth it! Order dinner 30 minutes before the show starts and get their margarita flight; that should last you the entire show. The comedy happens in the very back of the restaurant.

    Came here for dinner and a comedy show Monday night. First impression, it's a really cute spot. I…read morelove the decor, the colors, the ambiance, and the artwork in the back where the comedy show was held. Even the bathroom is so cute!! And that is saying something because I never take pictures of bathrooms for reviews lol. The food is just as pretty as the decor. Every plate we ordered came out looking beautiful. The 4 stars is really because although the food looks pretty, I would say everything tastes okay, nothing really stood out particularly in taste. If this review was based on food tastes alone, and not looks, vibes, and the great show, it would've been 3 stars. The flautas were a bit too hard for me. Ive had way better flautas at El Torito's in San Leandro. Although there were only like 6 of us total in the audience for the show, it was still really enjoyable. The host, Tony Parker has great energy, and a lot of the comics (I think were like 5 or 6) had us laughing throughout. No one was safe lol. All in all, a really cute place for date night and comedy show. Apparently they have them Sunday-Thursday nights, and they're free!

    Photos
    Got mezcal?
    Got mezcal?
    Chicken Mole
    Chicken Mole
    Flautas

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    Flautas
    Tacos Oscar

    Tacos Oscar

    4.4
    (302 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Tacos Oscar is relatively unassuming when you view the restaurant from the street. Oscar is a small…read morestand with a relatively clean menu that doles out tacos, beverages, and a a few more bites. Tacos Oscar offers up slightly more upscale Tacos with nuanced ingredients and intense flavors. During my latest outing I went with the mushroom, barbacoa, and chile verde tacos. Each of my tacos was great, but the mushroom one stood out. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly and had a slight crunch which gave them an excellent texture. They were also incredibly well seasoned. My barbacoa and Chile verde tacos were also solid with some nice topping variation that helped mix up the flavors and texture. Oscar's service is good and straightforward. Place your order up front and either grab a table there or walk to their back patio. I LOVE the back area on a sunny day and would highly recommend it. Each taco here will run you about 5-6 bucks so don't be too suprised by the sticker shock. I would say 3-4 tacos is the ideal range depending on how hungry you are. Give them a try if you're ever in the Mosswood/Temescal area.

    Upscale taco joint with thoughtfully crafted tacos and quick service…read more Each element of each dish elevates its street food counterpart. We ordered pork shoulder, chicken, and charred broccoli tacos, as well as a tostada with elote and an agua fresca. The braised pork pulled aprt tenderly to reveal the chiles that imparted their subtle flavor. The mayonnaise spread thinly across the tostada was equal parts spicy and tangy, and almost too intense if not for the corn and squash layered onto it. (Perhaps the veggies were slightly under-seasoned to balance the mayo? I was a bit underwhelmed by them.) The agua de melon was syrupy in texture with a smoothness you don't often find. If there is one caveat, it is the price tag. Get yourself two tacos and call it a light meal, otherwise the tab starts adding up!

    Photos
    Side seating entrance
    Side seating entrance
    Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system
    Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    Bombera

    Bombera

    4.1
    (534 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$$

    Upscale Mexican-by-way-of-California restaurant with rich and inventive flavors. There are three…read morelegs that hold up the stool here; the masa, the mole, and the celebration of each dish's main ingredient. We ordered the duck carnitas, summer tamales, and kids' quesadilla, along with the roasted beats and a strawberry agua fresca and horchata. I cannot enumerate all of the amazing elements and flavors in this meal, but I can say that the crispy outside of the duck and the ease with which it fell apart drew a connection between duck confit and carnitas that changed the way I will think about both. The hearty masa in the tamales had a the texture of hand ground corn and was substantial enough to warrant chewing though. The beet -- tender and flavorful in itself -- was paired with a nutty, spicy mole like a thick paste, bright with its herbs. The agua fresca was a summertime blast of fruit. Yes, yes. All of the food is delicious and amazing. But what takes the restaurant over the top is that the food is comforting and familiar in equal measure to its inventiveness and flawless execution. This is not just food for the tongue and stomach but food for the soul.

    Arrived to no host so another worker had to assist and kept looking around for the hostess. We made…read morea reservation a month prior, the table wasn't ready, but we managed to get seated at a table with other diners. The woman who brought water was very welcoming. The prices on the menu are $5-10 more than the menu on their website. It's a nice dining room, but very loud and the piped-in music makes it worse: I couldn't hear what my date was saying across the table. We started with the smoked trout tostadas. This is kind of ceviche style, and they were delicious. These are "street taco" sized tostadas by the way. The portion was OK but for $20 it could've been a bit more substantial. The duck mole: the duck was nicely unctuous and cooked amazingly, but very salty. The mole had the consistency and taste of hummus. Needless to say it was thick, gloopy and tasted only of cumin. The little salad on the plate was plastered in it. The grilled swordfish Valencia style was just an overly sour salsa verde with a couple chopped green olives with the fish sitting in the watery liquid. The salsa had a kick, but tasted mostly of lime, it was also cold. The swordfish however was grilled perfectly and the portion was great--for $35 I'm glad it was. Beans and rice seemed an overly salty afterthought, and if you don't want beans, too bad, it's served in the same bowl as the rice. The service was almost non-existent--no one checked in on us or asked how things were; there seemed to be only one person taking orders in the dining room and three-four people running around. Our appetizer plates sat in front of us for 15 mins, so when the entrees arrived the runner had a hard time clearing the table and simultaneously putting down the entrees. We didn't see our server again until the end when she gave us the check. Suddenly the charm came on when the tip came up. I appreciate what they're doing, but for that price point there are far better options.

    Photos
    Inside main room
    Inside main room
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Interior looking out

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    Interior looking out

    Taqueria El Cruzero - mexican - Updated July 2026

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