The Chili Verde taco is very good here. The atmosphere is sociable but also offers you take out in as well. It's located in a fun part of the Uptown and is a great place to go to after a concert at the Fox Theatre. I come here regularly. Love the $2.95 tacos most. The portion size is perfect. The horchata's not bad here. read more

Xolo - Exiting out of Xolo's into The Uptown. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I have mixed feelings about this place only because i'm confused about what type of food i'm supposed to be eating. It's a really popular spot so I was under the impression that they had some fire ass Mexican food, but really I had no clue what kind of food I was eating. Maybe some kind of gentrified fusion Mexican influenced situation, but definitely not good authentic mexican good. I see another comment saying this place gives off SoCal Mexican food vibes so that makes sense. Ambience is cool and it's in a great location. The service is mediocre, they know what kind of crowd they're serving so they don't have to be extra. read more

Was over on the East Bay and followed my trusted TastingTable's recommendation to Xolo Taqueria. Glad I came, but it's not so spectacular that I would go out of my way to eat here again. If I'm near Oakland and have a craving for tacos though.. I'll know this is the place to go. Also - a hidden gem. You wouldn't noticed it, tucked away between something random like a jewelry store and a laundromat. Surprisingly nice space, bright colors, and even with an upstairs overlooking the street. * Tortillas In general their tortillas are fairly fresh & good quality. They could be a little softer, being a bit on the harder side. * Pollo taco - 3 stars (grilled achiote-marinated chicken thighs, avocado salsa, pickled red onions, cilantro. $2.75) Usually don't like chicken tacos - they end up being too dry & not very flavorful. This was probably the only decent chicken taco I've ever had. The chicken was fairly tender, though still a little on the dry side. Overall enjoyable though. * Vampiro taco - 4 stars (al pastor, salsa ranchera, red onions, cilantro on a fried cheese tortilla. $2.75) Very nice! * Danger dog - 2.5 stars (bacon wrapped hot dog, mayonnaise, mustard, pinto beans, cheese, pickled jalapenos, avocado on a bolillo roll. $6.50) Big disappointing, considering this was the ONE item all my food blogs recommended. The dog itself was plain, nothing special. The bacon lacked crunch and really didn't have an intense enough flavor. The bread, while toasted and warm with a good crunch, was still a little stale & clearly not fresh. The only redeeming part is the toppings, which are plentiful, combine everything you love about Mexican food, and pretty awesome. * Chile verde taco - 4 stars (pork stewed in tomatillos & chiles, diced onions, cilantro. $2.75) Also very nice! read more

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This was my second time eating at this restaurant, and I have to say, I was disappointed... The first time I had their food was when I went to have drinks at First Edition. They serve food both at their restaurant and the bar they are connected to. I ordered a Hongos (Vegetarian) Burrito which is a meatless mushroom burrito. It didn't have cheese and sour cream. The burrito was delicious. It was hearty with mushrooms, the onions provided a nice crunch and it had a perfect amount of (refried) beans. I said to myself, I must try it again another time. I also ordered the churros, but was very disappointed in those. They were pasty, soggy and flavorless. I was highly disappointed because I love Churros! But churros are hit or miss a lot of times. I went to Xolo's a week later, except this time I ordered through the actual restaurant on DoorDash. The food was ready pretty quickly, however it is very difficult to find a park. You will probably have to double park or park somewhere and place your hazards on. I ordered the same thing, the Hongos (Vegetarian) Burrito except I added cheese and sour cream this time. My food was ready when I arrived so I picked it up and left. I was so hungry I started eating it in the car. A few bites in I begin chewing on something tough and a little salty. It was meat, like a small piece of steak! I spit it out and continue eating my burrito because I thought maybe a piece accidentally got in there, wasn't a big deal to make a huge fuss over one little piece. I'm not vegetarian, but am slowly transitioning to being something close to that, however I do not eat beef or pork at all. Anyways, I take a couple more bites, another piece of meat, and another! It's to the point where every bite has a small piece of meat. I suspect the mushrooms were cooked on the same grill with the meat but the grill was not properly cleaned off. At this point I have to call and take it back, because that's not okay. I call them and tell them the situation, they are cool about it and apologize and they make me another burrito in which I go pick up. Same process, I get in the car and begin eating it. I did find like one piece of meat but nothing like the last one. I was kinda over it at this point, so I continued eating my burrito. I did not enjoy it. There was way too much cheese and sour cream , and the cheese wasn't even melted all the way. I could barely even taste rice in my burrito too. It had me questioning if there even rice in it at all. All and all I was disappointed with my second experience at this restaurant. Maybe it was a bad night, or they were short staffed, but whatever the situation was, it wasn't up to par. Finding meat in a veggie burrito is very problematic especially for those who are actually vegetarian/vegan. That's not okay at all. All and all I would like to try one more time, since my first time was a good experience. However I will be going in the restaurant to order and will not get sour cream + cheese. I may try something else on the menu (something veggie) to see how some of the other menu items taste. I hope my experience is better next time. If not, this may not be the spot for me. Will update my review once I try again. read more

Xolo - Hongos (Vegetarian) Burrito with cheese + sour cream - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Update. The food is GOOD. And it's made fast. This must be a difficult location with the paramount theater, fox theater and a cluster of restaurants, so it is GOOD to have the Mexican option. The problem is the portions are small, the food is expensive and the staff seems irritated. read more

The service is fast and the salsa is good. The ambiance is nice and clean. Great spot to go to when in the area.

Great food and atmosphere in a good location on Telegraph. Perfect place for lunch or before a show at the Telegraph. Vibe: Friendly, Colorful, Popular Tips: Get the mushroom and chile verde , all-day breakfast , or churros. Sit out back on their patio, which has a perfect amount of shade. read more

Xolo - Outdoor patio - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Got take out for a family dinner "out" (picnic at the lake). Honestly didn't expect anything different from what I'd get elsewhere, and I was wrong. It was so good. Nice portion sizes, very fair pricing, excellent flavor and textures. Really nice to have approachable food that's not completely whitewashed. It's a new go to for us. Eater was right, it's a must visit. read more

Xolo - Picnic at the lake from Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Crunchy beef tacos hit the spot every time highly recommend those over any other tacos

We ordered a chicken quesadilla, chili verde burrito, bean and cheese burrito with salsa verde, and their 2-taco option. 1. The chicken was very dry. 2. The chili verde burrito had nothing but black beans and maybe a few pieces of pork. It was supposed to have cheese, red onion, crema, and cilantro. Didn't have any of that. 3. The bean and cheese burrito with salsa verde was also pretty much just a bean burrito with a sliver of cheese, no sauce at all. 4. The tortillas were all very soggy except my crunchy beef taco (that beef taco was actually decent) 5. We asked for extra sour cream -- actually didn't get any at all (except the tiny amount in my quesadilla which is supposed to come with it). The only reason I give it 2-star is bc it makes food that isn't rotten and the beef taco was decent. How are they in business?!?! read more

I'm vegan and the Impossible Tacos here are so tasty! They're so well seasoned. The chips are also amazingly addictive.

This place is great for both meat lovers and vegans. As a vegan I really like their mushroom tacos and burritos. My daughter and I go out of our way to eat here. read more

This is my current favorite Taqueria in Oakland. I am an old, boring woman so I started with a bean and cheese burrito. Excellent. Flavorful but not adventurous. Then I tried the Machaca Burrito. I was amazed. It's like the best beef stew your mom made rolled into a tortilla. I ordered that three times then, last time I adventured to Frijoles con Todo. Rich soup beans with avocado cheese and pico. Can't wait to work my way through the menu. Thank you so much for the consistently excellent food. read more

We both really enjoyed the burritos we tried here. It was near the fox theater and California theater and was a great place to stop after an event. I had the hongos burrito which was a really great vegetarian option and my partner had a breakfast burrito. We liked the size of the burritos as well. They didn't fall apart but were a good amount of food for the price. There is a lot of space in their restaurant for how small it seems to be from the front. Service was quick. read more

I have tried their Breakfast Burrito with bacon, the shrimp tacos and shrimp Burrito. They all were pretty good so there is nothing to complain about as far as the food and the taste. It is pretty good food and the staff's energy is nonchalant. It is not a long wait time to get your order when they are busy. They also have an outside seating option which is nice on warn day. read more

Beyond meat tacos, which used to be impossible meat tacos. Delicious. I come here maybe every couple weeks. Obsessed with these hahaha read more

Xolo - Beyond Meat Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I've ordered more Xolo to-go in the past 6 months more than any other food, because I simply crave the Chile Relleno burrito every single day. It's crispy, cheesy perfection is VERY hard to find anywhere else. read more

Crispy beef taco is life changing. Even just a chicken taco is out of control. This place is so consistent, so fast, just an absolute favorite ever. Love you Xolo!!! read more

Just started working downtown and I'm a taco/Mexican food fiend so this place was recommended to me. Its just about 3 blocks from my office and I've already gone twice this week! So far I've tried just the tacos, but I've had 4 different kinds--Vampiro (al pastor), Machanga (shredded beef), Pollo (achiote chicken), and Camarones (lightly fried shrimp). They were all delicious but my favorites so far have been the Vampiro and Camarones. The al pastor and shrimp are so perfectly crispy and tasty! Really great flavors and textures overall. I usually get 3 and it's a good amount but 2 would be fine if you aren't as hungry--they arent huge but they arent itty bitty either. Seating is actually fairly plentiful, when you walk in you see just about 4 tables but there is a large back room with many more seats. The decor is bright and I like eating here rather than just always taking to go. Service has always been fast and friendly. Glad to have found a solid Mexican food spot near my new place of work! read more

Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

While my tacos and cookies were slightly (very) strewn about the overall quality of food from Xolo is worth re-assembling a few tacos. Added the red bean burrito into the rotation and it has the structural integrity of a redwood tree. I'm halfway through and able to sit the dense, swaddled fiber filled deliciousness upright like a cabbage patch doll. Thanks for the reliable comfort food in unreliable times. read more

This is a very casual taco spot with a great proximity to BART and the FOX theater. You order at a counter when you walk in, and they take the food to your table. The al pastor taco was delicious! They pile it up with meat and the flavor is fresh and tender. The fried shrimp taco was much too fried. I couldn't even taste much shrimp because of all the batter surrounding it. We ordered 5 tacos total and it was around $20-$25, so these are a great deal for tacos. They really load up the meat and I even had to use a fork afterwards to eat all the extra meat that had overflowed. Simple, authentic tacos. The reason I am giving 3 stars is because one of my tacos was great, while the other was quite gross. read more

As far as taquerias go, not so bueno. The kitchen and servers move at an extremely fast pace, and the result in this instance are tacos less satisfying than Taco Bell's. I ordered 2 vegetarian Hongos tacos at $3 per. Next time I'll get my money's worth with a meat taco: Some pan-sauteed button mushrooms, pico de gallo, avocado and what sort of looked/tasted like Kraft Mexican cheese blend just didn't cut it. They were quite tiny. While no free chips was a huge bummer, $3.50 for horchata just felt like Xolo was mocking me. As far as the tacos go, I'm going to say I just ordered the wrong thing, but regardless the prices are too damn high. read more

Xolo - Hogos tacos - vegetarian, $3 per. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been craving Mexican food for the longest time now, since Mexican cuisine is quite scarce in Brisbane. I was excited to hear that Xolo, a Mexican taqueria in Uptown Oakland, was my lunch date destination with a friend. I'm a little bit in love with the old taqueria style ambience and their choice of color theme, which I unfortunately didn't get a chance to snap some photos of. I went for the Surf-n-Turf burrito (8.95), which includes grilled carne asada, pinto beans, little shrimp sauteed in butter, and the works. The burrito ended up being a little bit too much for me - and I wasn't taken by the tiny shrimp that they used, which only took away from the burrito. I enjoyed the carne asada, but the whole burrito was a little too texture-less for me, and ended up falling apart really easily. The guacamole, on the other hand, was delicious with the chips (6.75). Oh, how I have missed California avocados! The guac was seasoned well, with a hint of spice (jalapenos, perhaps?). I was a happy camper - well, eater - as this is probably the first time in half a year that I've had guac that wasn't made by me! I didn't have the chance to snap more photos, but here are the guac & chips and my Mexican coke (3.25)! read more

Xolo - Guacamole & Chips - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I was very surprised I was in the mood for a burrito and I wanted to try a new spot and I am very judgmental about burritos in the bay it's our staple and I was a lil hesitant but I was pleasantly surprised the restaurants looks like I was back in Mexico City and the staff was amazing very welcoming and I had a steak burrito and beer and it was great the steak was very different it was thicker longer cut than I'm used to from other taco trucks and restaurants but it was delicious the meat had so much flavor I can tell it was marinated and the sauce is spicy you can feel it but it doesn't hurt you I can't wait to come back and try more of this place and they play bangers puro chente read more

Best burritos ever! Favorite is the Humcho filled with mushrooms and full of flavor! Everything I've tried is excellent!

A whole review based on one vegan burrito? Yes! Flavorful veggies sautéed to perfection and refried black beans. What else do you need? Bustling, bright casual space with an eclectic local crowd. Yum. read more

I've been here several times over the years and love the burritos(best breakfast burrito ever). But today my boyfriend and I tried their tacos for the first time. Their chicken was delicious, but the fish taco is so insanely good you can't not get it. My boyfriend described the flavor as a "taste bud induced orgasm," he is a big seafood guy and really loves how fresh the fish is and how well it pairs with the toppings. If you are going to try something here you should definitely get that. read more

I ordered a Surf and Turf burrito. Everything tasted good. However, it was mostly beans. They really don't put much meat in there. To be honest, it was basically a bean and cheese burrito. If I do go back to this spot, I'll save my money and just get a bean and cheese burrito or just a taco. The servings of the burrito did not justify the price at all. Again though, great flavor. read more

Really disappointed from my experience at Xolo last night. Came in with expectations of at least a solid meal to fuel me through a show at the nearby Fox Theater, and instead came out with a frown and a stomach ache. I had the Big Ranch burrito and the al pastor [pork] was fatty, overcooked, overly greasy, and not even flavorful. The burrito itself was pretty small for $12 (after taxes) and I barely tasted any cheese or avocado . It was not an enjoyable experience to get through, as each bite contained some sort of unsolicited adventure of an ingredient (chunk of fat, avocado skin, etc.). Can't remember the last time I wrote a two-star review, and it honestly would have been lower if not for the friendly cashier and server (who obliged my request for salsa roja on the side). They were the saving graces to an otherwise forgettable [and dispiriting] experience. If you're craving a burrito, spare yourself the trouble (and an extra $5) and go to an authentic taqueria where a super burrito should only run you $7 max. read more

Stopped by to grab dinner while I was in the area. The restaurant seemed pretty authentic, the service was quick, and the staff were friendly. I ordered the pollo burrito; it was pretty good, but nothing special. One thing I did appreciate was that the burrito was wrapped so that it didn't fall apart while I was eating it, which is usually a problem for me when I get burritos. Overall a solid choice, but the prices are a bit high for the quality. read more

Given my build, it's always been safer to be a lover and not a fighter... except when it comes to a restaurant bill. I've picked up quite a few tips over the year from a friend who has shown up early to give her credit card first, pretended to go to the restroom only to slip her credit card to the server, or has bested me in a good ol' fashioned tug-of-war when the bill finally comes to the table. I won't name any names *cough*Jacque C.*cough*. Those tactics are all well and good at a traditional sit down restaurant, but you need to change the game up at Xolo since your party has to order and pay first. I went with a friend this past Saturday who straight up snatched my credit card out of the hand of the cashier who took our order. He then gave her his credit card and, well, I reciprocated by snatching his credit card out of her hand, too, apologizing profusely. The other cashier notices the commotion and tells us he has a foolproof way of solving our dilemma. While he says this, he reached into his pocket and pulls out... a die. My friend thinks it's ridiculous, but I grab the die, roll and land on a 5. YES! At first he doesn't want to give it a try, but after a few moments of hesitation picks up the die, rolls it... and gets a 6. :( After the all-seeing, all-knowing die has settled the matter of who pays, my friend gives the cashier our order - two hongos (mushroom) tacos and two vampiro (al pastor) tacos. I just so happen to have been staring at the menu a bit more and decide on a horchata and full order of fried plantains, too. Before we head to find a table, the cashier offered us cups filled with ice for water and a table number. There were plenty of places to sit inside on a Saturday afternoon, but I really love their small outdoor patio with colorful tables and string lights and vines hanging overhead. After 5-10 minutes of chatting, someone brought out our food with some cutlery, too. The plantains come out piping hot so I decided to dig into those first - delicious! I polish off the hongos taco next and am just starting to bite into a chunk of al pastor when... it attacked - jumping off the fork without warning and rolling right down the front of my light blue lace dress. Of course I have a Tide pen in my purse (yes, it's exactly like a magical Barney bag without all the craft supplies) to pre-treat the stain and all is well... stupid taco. Lost die rolls and taco attacks aside, Xolo is a great spot for lunch or dinner - great service, food and ambiance - highly recommended! read more

This place was great! A couple of friends brought me here for dinner Friday night. It was walking distance from a bar we were at and it didn't disappoint! My friend got the dangerous dog which was a bacon wrapped hot dog with all the fixings and I mean ALL the fixings it was a mound of stuff all on top of a tortilla! I had three tacos which were all delicious. My favorite was the Chile verde taco but I'm just a Chile verde fan in general :) I also tried the crispy beef taco which was rly good too but a little on the unhealthier side haha. The seafood burrito was also really yummy and had a ton of flavor! read more

Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Xolo turns Taco Tuesday into Taco Wednesday! My fave taco restaurant in downtown Oakland!!! Food: the best word to describe their food - yummy!!! I recommend the vampiro taco which is al pastor, the beef taco cones with a crunchy shell and the chicken taco has pickled veggies. Xolo is very generous with meat so be ready to have meat fall out of your taco. Again, yum! Price: eh, you're in downtown Oakland if you're eating at Xolo and the prices are relatively high but the food is so worth it. I tried the restaurant for the first time on Tuesday and then came back the following day for more! Service: everyone seems friendly. They're quick or at least they're quick after the lunch hour rush which is when I typically eat. I think I got my tacos in under 10 minutes. Location: it's working walking distance from BART and the Fox Theater. Great location but I think street parking may be tough. Overall, I highly recommend! You'll enjoy these tacos!!! read more

Xolo - Combo plate of beef, chicken and al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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This taqueria was a big disappointment. Just skipping straight to the food: It was mediocre. Worst easy part of the meal that went wrong was the quality of the chips. So stale! No flavor! So thick! The salsas were not spicy at all. The tacos were so Americanized that they lost all their flavor. The hongos (mushroom) taco tasted like nobody had added spices besides oil, and the vampiro (al pastor with cheese) was better but still needed some better salsa with it. This place is overpriced and doesn't even deliver on flavor. read more

Xolo - Chips & Salsa, Hongos Taco, Vampiro Taco - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

For some reason the review I wrote a few years ago was deleted. I came into this place with high expectations after reading reviews on yelp. I ordered a chili rellano burrito and my husband ordered a taco platter. We paid and went and sat down and as I sat down my burrito was brought out to me. That fast and there is no way it could be anywhere near called fresh. The tortilla had no browning to it. I cut it open and a giant pile of oil that had separated from the cheese stuffed in the chili poured out onto my plate. This happens when cheese is heated up in a microwave which would explain how fast it was brought out to me. It was completely inedible so I felt what little money I had to treat myself to a rare dinner was wasted. We never went back. read more

Xolo - Greasy inedible chili rellano burrito - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Ordered take-out and tried a variety of the tacos. All were good. Service was fast. Will definitely try again to decide my favorites. (Pretty sure it'll be the al pastor.) read more

My first time trying this restaurant today and they didn't disappoint. The fish tacos are on point! The black beans & rice, guacamole & chips, churros, The Salad & chocolate chips cookie was all delicious! read more

Waited to write this review. Went for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Each time, I've got a different burrito each time. I've had the surf and turf, steak and eggs, Chile verde, and machaca. The carne is one of the best you can get in Oakland. The shredded beef and pork are super tender and have great flavor. The beans and rice are fresh each time. The service is solid and friendly. The pricing is reasonable considering how great the burritos are. This place is outstanding. read more

Xolo - Steak and egg breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

This was for a take-out of guacamole and chips and two crispy beef tacos and they were delish and fast! I was hungry and it came out so quickly and it was tasty! read more

Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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The burritos are pricey but so worth it- the Machaca one (shredded beef, bell peppers, pintos, etc) is amazing!!! It's cute, in a very convenient location. read more