If, smartphone-less and wedged under a rock in tilden park's desolate wilderness for 127 hours, I emerged emaciated and requiring the sustenance of the absolute nearest burrito for survival....yeah, I'd prolly accept one from Taqeria Talavera. In any other conceivable scenario, though, gimme a carnitas wrap from Gordo's down the street. read more

Taqueria Talavera - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is just . . . bizarre. Here's why, Nicky, here's why: The food itself is very high-quality, tasty and fresh, and yet their ability to combine said food into dishes that make sense to the human palate is iffy. Each individual aspect of my fish taco was delicious, but all put together, it made no sense. The pickled cabbage and onions overpowered the fish, and listen, I love vinegar-- I would eat my own head if it had enough balsamic on it-- but it was too vinegary even for me. And can we all decide, together, as a people, that cilantro TASTES LIKE SOAP???? Who fucking decided this shit is edible? What region of Mexico is responsible for introducing this nastiness to the rest of the world, and how do we make them pay? Anyway-- back on track--The chips and salsa were SUBLIME. The salsa bar was loaded with fresh salsas, all of which were unique, flavorful, and delicious. It was effing COLD in there, partly due to the fact that the front door doesn't close all the way. Douches who come into public places always forget to close the door, and a gale-force wind was blowing through it about half the time we were there. PS Horchata is awesome. PPS Cilantro tastes like fried ass read more

Muy muy bien! I had been at solano cellars and my bf was starving. He's Mexican and so we took the half block walk to taqueria talavera. I am glad we did. I had the house nachos( my go to for a new Mexican place). Jack cheese, poco de gallo, add guacamole, and a chipotle creamy sauce all atop the house made chips. Placed under the salamander and broiled. Yummy! My bf had the chicken mole burrito. Delish! He couldn't finish it(I was shocked). I had a glass of house made sangria(green apples,in this case) and he had the house made horchata. Very good. Avoided 5 stars because yelpers give them to frequently . read more

Amazing Guac Amazing Chips If you get the little street tacos, I highly recommend al pastor, or the chorizo Also, the baja fish taco is great. read more

say something nice, say something nice... I like the salsa bar and the agua fresca selection :) Maybe I didn't order the right thing? The quesadilla was ok. It came with cilantro pesto and chipotle sour cream, which were tasty and unique additions. The restaurant was cold, so therefore the food became cold quick. My boyfriend ordered enchiladas which he said were "Good" but he barely ate half. For the higher than average prices I expected to be wowwed. I mean you PAY for the chips... I'm going to call Do-Over. Next time I'm going to go for the burrito or a sope. read more

The Food Was Super Good And The Steak And Beef Was Juicy! The Place Is So Clean And The Food Was Served Right Away! They Have 2 Floors.... Loved It I Definitely Recommend It ... read more

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Ok, I thought it was hype: "Best mole in the East Bay." Uh huh, that's called marketing. But dress me like a puppy and stuff me in a hand bag, I am converted! That is pretty damn good mole! In comparison to the mole at La Mission on University (which is also pretty damn good), Talavera's wins by a mile and a half. We weren't as impressed with the bean and cheese burrito b/c it has a smoky flavor but the vegetarian taco (vegan, really because we opted for no cheese) was massive and yummy. The guacamole's pretty bomb and the salsa's not too shabby either. If you're also debating on whether the carbs are worth it, YES, get the chips!!! I have convinced my office mates to go back next Tuesday with me to give it a try. We'll see what they say, since they too are mole aficionados. read more

Everyone likes their tacos a certain way. My way: meat, onions, cilantro, small corn tortilla, all topped with the house sauce and a lime on the side. I've tried the carnitas and chicken. Ditch the carnitas and get the chicken! That's exactly how they make it here, with a little garnish on the side. It's a little pricey at $7.50 for three small tacos, but the quality product is what you are paying for. read more

Hands-down the bestMexican restaurant on Salano Avenue. We've been coming here for years. Huge portions, lots of flavor, good service, basically amazing food. The only reason this is not a five star review is that I would like to see them use real ramekins for their salsa is instead of plastic that goes straight to landfill (#6). At the very least the plastic could be recyclable (#1 or2). read more

Visited on a Friday night. Had two chicken enchiladas with a side of rice and beans. Enchiladas were flavorful, a good amount of chicken and not overly cheesy. I enjoyed the red sauce. Also, had a side if chips that were surprisingly good. This place is one of the better Mexican establishments in the Bay Area. I will visit this place again in the near future. read more

Taqueria Talavera - Chips and guac. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for chips and guacamole, three burritos, and a glass of sangria. Left so full and super happy!! The chips were hot and fresh, guacamole creamy and cilantro-y. The burritos were packed with awesome flavors and textures. I would 100% come back and recommend this to anyone looking for quick-service mexican food in the Berkeley-Albany area! read more

Oh my god! Talavera is a little slice of heaven! I would give them a million stars if I could. Now, it's not a fancy place. There's not a ton of seating. It's not the most conveniently located. But I'll be darned if this isn't the most reliably delicious burrito in the East Bay, hands down. The pollo asado burrito is awesome. Carnitas: woo hoo! Oo, and the pescado burrito with fajitas veggies? Wow. And their salsa bar?! Holy holy, guacamole! It's awesome! As is the guacamole, for that matter: the guac is simple, not a lot of ingredients. But is so, so perfect. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Plus, their staff is always really nice. Good service shouldn't go under-appreciated. I spent a year abroad for work in a place that doesn't really understand Mexican food. After a year of withdrawal, Talavera was the very first place I went when I got back. So, make haste and get thyself a burrito from Talavera! You won't regret it. read more

I eat here all time, I'm partial to the carnitas torta. It's fast, friendly and delicious. I usually park around back if there's no spots on Solano. Great Mexican food at a good price. read more

Called in an order and when my bf picked it up he said how dirty the place was, my chimichanga looked like halfa Gordos burrito and the one thing I asked for was xtra hot sauce on the side and none was given. With that food was ok but very disappointing. read more

I started coming here a couple times with some coworkers then i took my family here. I really liked it. The food was great fresh & very tasty. Nice casual seating. read more

There are a few Mexican places along Solano and down San Pablo, but this is our #1 go-to spot. Taco Tuesday is great. So is Taco Monday, Taco Wednesday, Taco Thursday, Taco Friday, Taco Saturday, and Burrito Sunday (had to throw some variety in there). Best carne asada and carnitas in town. read more

Everyone knows that I love me some Mexican food especially when it's hearty and great price. Look no further this is the spot! Has outdoor seating which is wonderful since this location is located in a downtown area where there are a lot of shops surrounding it. But like a ma and pop shops not the typical Macy's. You can see the chef cooking your food which is fantastic so you're ale to see how your tacos or fajitas are made which I liked! The food was superb, I got a steak burrito very delicious and the steak was juicy :) also got guacamole it was perfect!!!! To quench my thirst i had some sangria which I recommend specially on a hot day while sitting outside. Aside from the delicious food ad yummy drinks this place has great pricing, your dollar goes a long way! Totally recommend :) read more

I am happily surprised to say that I really enjoyed three fresh authentic, street style tacos here.. for $6.75, a little pricey for the small street style tacos, but they were delicious and satisfied my Mex food cravings immediately! I had the carne asada, which was seasoned and grilled perfectly; the carnitas, which were not the best I have had but definitelly passable with some extra tomatillo salsa; and finally the El Pastor.. which was my absolute favorite and the reason I will be back again and again! The el pastor sauce, was spicy smoky and delicious.. yumm, next time I am ordering three of those with a Corona. The salsas were also super fresh and authentic. Loved the spiciness of the chipotle salsa! Props to the counter guy who was super friendly and kept the line moving fast, all the service from the cooks to the counter were friendly and efficient! read more

The food is good however the service isn't always. People pay for food and an enjoyable experience. Last time was the final straw as we called in to make a take out order. This was 20 minutes before closing and they told us to wait a minute. They set the phone down and never came back. We could hear the employees talking amongst themselves but nobody picked the phone back up. Arrived there right at closing still on the phone and the response I got walking into the store was "We just closed". I explained that I have been waiting on the phone for 20 minutes and was told "Not my problem". The good news is we found Taqueria Monte Cristo that night just a few blocks away and had food that was better than any meal I have had at Talavera and the customer service was excellent. We won't be back read more

We stumbled on this place for lunch and I ordered the carne asada torta. It was packed with delicious goodness: lettuce, refried beans, guac, tomatoes, raw onion rings, and crema. The bread was nicely grilled to perfection, however the meat was just ok and a little tough. :( I also had a horchata and it was ok...could've used a lil more cinnamon and maybe not so thick. I may not be Latino but I know good horchata. BF ordered a chx burrito and it fell apart at the bottom after 4 bites in. Although I would like to give this place credit for the large menu options, good salsa selection, and made to order meals. Lunch still cost us $19. However, the search continues for a delicious and reasonable taqueria in North Berkeley. read more

Love this place. And I love me some Mexican food-- I love hole in the wall food and taco truck food, homemade and upscale. This place fares middle of the road. It's definitely not home in the wall, it's on Solano Ave for goodness sakes, so when you're reading the reviews where people are complaining about prices, I just kinda laugh. If you want cheaper Mexican food, then go down the street to Richmond to the hole in the walls or trucks. The meat here does not get chopped up into small chunks. Chicken breast pieces on the tostada are sliced. Same with the beef, it's flank or flap that's cut in large pieces. The mole poblano is delicious. My husband doesn't really eat burritos. He's more of a taco enthusiast. But when the mole calls-- he gets a pork mole burrito from this place and this place only. It's rich and tasty! Chips are fried there in the restaurant, they don't come for free-- but they're good. Make sure to help yourself to the salsa bar. The pickled veggies and grilled chiles are the best. Also the aguas frescas are good, we've had jamica (hibiscus), sandia and horchata. Again, you want cheap eats, this isn't quite it. But it's good Mexican food. read more

This place is excellent! Clean, good service, and most importantly DELICIOUS FOOD! I ordered the chicken tostada and not only was the chicken breast meat that was grilled (not stewed rib meat as you might find at other places), it was seasoned perfectly, and the tostada was loaded with a variety of fresh greens, cojito cheese and really tasty refried beans. Salsa was delicious as well. I can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu. read more

Had chicken taquitos with a side of rice, using the medium smoky chipotle salsa as a dipping sauce. The taquitos were piping hot, not too greasy, and contained strictly chicken (no filler). Also had a bite of a carne asada burrito (came with a choice of beans and optional sour cream and guacamole). It too was good, but the salsa fresca was a little heavy on the onions; could have used more tomatoes for balance. Didn't care much for the corn chips. The use of bright tiles and pottery makes the restaurant attractive. However, the wooden benches and chairs are a bit uncomfortable (I was at a table closed to the cash register that had very little legroom). The table was sticky and there was a damp rag on one of the tables, I guess they were short staffed and clean-up tasks never got completed. It might have been better to order food to go. read more

Some of the best authentic food I've had in awhile. The portions are huge and the prices for them are so affordable. And if you want great tortilla chips, oh man are you going to love them! read more

Taqueria Talavera - Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best michelada I've ever had. Best mole I've ever had. Service is excellent. You won't regret eating here.

One of the most unique, flavorful burritos I have ever had. It was a chicken guajillo mole and could not have been better. Very authentic taste and preparation. Very friendly staff. Great chips and salsa. Rest of the menu looks enticing. I'll definitely be back. read more

I just had a lunch special - burrito mojado - red chile sauce, like a mole. Chorizo and nopales (cactus) burrito. Delicious chorizo, great mix of textures and flavors - rich and smoky. Yum. The fresh squeezed oj was ok but a bit weak and watery. read more

Why do I keep trying burritos in the bay area? Well, because some places are ok, I guess. It's a bit pricey to eat here, but as far as a veggie burrito goes you should expect the usual gigantic burrito-log you can get all up and down the coast. The rice/beans were ok, not great. The salsa bar was great and so were the really nice and friendly staff. Almost $14 for a burrito/beer? Well, at least the second half of the burrito will make a quick dinner so I guess it's not too bad. read more

Came here for a burrito and got the grilled vegetable burrito. My friend got the steak burrito. She really liked hers. Mine was good, but it wasn't put together very well because it fell apart at the bottom and I had to use a fork to eat it!! One thing positive was the burrito was HUGE!!! I couldn't even finish it and so I am going to eat the rest for breakfast tomorrow morning. The guy at the cash register was super friendly. He kept on smiling and was so nice I couldn't help but tip him in the tip jar. I think I will rate this place a 3.5 stars. I will probably be back, but will most likely try something different like their tamales. read more

Order at the counter, get a number, sit down and the food is brought to you. Mostly 2-person tables, many thanks to the person who got up and gave us his seat so we could sit down together with MIL. Good: -- The salsas. A tangy green chile verde, a creamy avocado-jalapeno, and a terrific roasted tomato-habanero. They don't give you very many chips, but they're fresh and you can always request a second container. -- OJ is fresh squeezed Bad: -- Shrimp burrito. Spouse said it was "meh". Too much rice, no cheese, and a scarcity of shrimp - plus they were average-quality small Bay shrimp, instead of good-quality medium-size shrimp. -- Chile rellenos al barbacoa. My god, this was awful. Disgusting. Hideous. The lamb cubes were hard, dry and overcooked. The sauce was nothing but salt. The chile had the most grease-soaked batter coating it has ever been my misfortune to put in my mouth. When I bit down on my first forkful, the batter actually squirted oil inside my mouth. Yeeeecccccch! Talavera is the Mexican equivalent of the Black Bear Diner: big hearty portions of borderline indigestible food. That it gets the same number of stars on Yelp as Gordo's Taqueria, just down the street, is astounding. Gordo's on its worst day is twice as good as Talavera, as well as noticeably less expensive. read more

This taqueria has seriously grown on me and is a real Solano gem. The interior is charming and service is friendly/efficient. I've had their three taco plate a few times (chicken and beef) which is always excellent. What really makes this place a 5 though is the quality of the traditional Mexican dishes. Their pozole and mole poblano plate are the best Mexican food I've had in the east bay and I'll be dreaming mole always now. Chips and aguas frescas are perfect too. So glad this place exists! read more

Taqueria Talavera - Mole poblano plato pequeño and three taco plate - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great food! Love the grilled vegetable burrito and their watermelon fresca!! Great choice of Mexican food in the area compared to Gordo and anything else on Solano Ave. read more

Machaca Scramble Plate is the real deal down to the spicy bite that made my face sweat. A perfect way to end an impromptu visit with a new friend that lasted longer than expected. Cozy, make sure and take care of him until the next time we get to enjoy their tacos together. read more

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So disappointing. I used to go there all the time before. Went once after covid-19. The food was inedible that was 13 months ago. Went today and the food is subpar. I got the chicken enchilada platter. The chicken was tough and stringy the sauce that went over it was like spaghetti sauce won't be going back read more

So happy with today's lunch. Service was pretty good. Guy behind the counter was new. Tacos were great. I had the Tacos de Plaza. Got an app of plantains which delighted me and the toddler who also got a side of sliced avocado. Husband got Tacos doratos(?) which were just like fat Flautas. The chips were not really good. I won't get those again, but when we left I said we should come every Saturday. read more

I've been here several times. They have an awesome taco Tuesday, and the food in general is always delicios! Definitely go for the chipotle chicken torta if u want a gooey delicious treat! The Staff are always kind and polite. read more

Taqueria Talavera - Beef chimichanga. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

LOVE this spot. Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. The staff are always so friendly. Absolutely delish (though sometimes a little heavy). Literally have had weekends when we have went two days in a row...=) read more

Out of this world Mexican food! Having lived in the Mission in SF for a long time, I am very picky about my Mexican food and I LOVE this place. Some of my favorites: - Enchiladas verde with shredded chicken - Chicken fajitas - Torta of any kind... yum! (Very rich though) I have never had anything here that I didn't like. Enjoy! read more

Love, love, love this place. We love hot, spicy food and this place delivers. Every new Mexican place we go to i always get Chile Colorado first, this is my barometer. Off the hook! I was actually sweating while eating. Anyone who knows me knows it takes some serious heat to do that. We've been here a few times and we love everything. The dude cooking is great. He would make Gordon Ramsey happy. Cleans his area constantly and the plate does not go out without being perfect. read more

Very fresh authentic Mexican food. The salsa bar is wonderful. The tamales are so good. I always look for tamales; my girlfriend mother made fresh tamales when she visited years ago and I keep trying places to see if I can find the real thing. And the pork tamales were very close. It is a very little place and might be better to take out, but we had already decided to eat in. The Taqueria was clean and very friendly. I remember when this building site was a childrens toy and clothing store back in the 1950's and 1960s. read more