Mexicali Rose Restaurant

The bartender was very rude and standoffish. I ordered a drink, he replied that they were out and he walked away, didn’t offer any alternatives nothing! The manager acted as though he did not want our business! He gave us $#!+ about having to put our orders on one card, we were here to celebrate a co workers birthday. We were a diverse crowd. We were not rude! We were Very respectful! They, the staff kept looking at us frowning, giving us attitude, this restaurant will NEVER SEE MY BUSINESS!!!

This has been my second time trying here and will be my last. When my food arrived last and cold to the table and you are given water glasses the size of a juice cups (just leave the pitcher), in a not safe part of town, even thought the police dept. is across the street, I will go else where for my Mex food cravings.

Came here in the afternoon during lunch hour. +1 star for the warm and delicious tortillas that came with our meal, –1 star for the inattentive service.
The food overall seemed gouged in too much cheese for me to say it was a great choice. Probably will not come again.

To come eat here and enjoy the place, you must understand that this is an old school Cal-​Mex restaurant. It is indeed quite old and an Oakland institution. That gives it cultural and historical value like any old diner. With La Borinqueña closing, I’m especially glad and grateful that this place is still around. It’s a piece of food and culture history!
The food is old-​school. Big, hot plates of greasy stuff with lots of melted cheese. The salsa is quite good and a bit spicy. If you choose to be snobby, well, you might choose to be snobby about this food here. I LOVE Mexican food, all types, from the fancy upscale stuff to the cheapest street tacos. And I love this place.
And yes, the enchilada is awesome!

Man, the green chicken enchiladas, ground beef hard shell taco, and the chili relleno was off the Hook! Just welcoming some good Mexican food after our last experience in Alameda, Ca @ la penca azul don’t waste your time!

The chicken tacos are just a mess!
I didn’t have a hard time order, it was pretty easy so I had no service problems. I order 2 chicken tacos with a half order of enchiladas… they were terrible. I didn’t mind that they were shredded chicken but it was tough. I felt like I was chewing on nylon rope but the worse part it was bland, no seasoning. It only had some sad looking salsa that looked like ketchup. They can’t seem to afford to make real salsa or something, even cut up onions with cilantro would have been a huge help. The enchilada (half order is one enchilada) were forgetful, but you do get refried beans and rice. It was also chicken, since it was smothered in sauce and cheese I didn’t notice the nylon rope I was eating. I don’t remember this place being so horrible but I had good customer service and waited all of 15 minutes for my food.

Great food! Wonderful service! Left very satisfied! I can’t wait to take my fiancé there! He will love it just as much as I did.

Mexi-​Cali Rose has the best enchilada’s in the East Bay, bar none!
(Beef enchilada’s w/​red sauce) !!!
Their Deluxe taco’s are good too!

Food is always piping hot will burn your tongue. Love the salsa and chips and my favorite is the beef enchiladas with rice and beans

Bleh. This place is no where as good and the food just isn’t appetizing as other places.
I got a burrito for takeout here once. Rather than wrapping it up like other places would, they just put inside a box. It was shaped to fit perfectly into the box, so it wasn’t even possible to hold it and bite it properly because it was like a brick. I just had to eat it with a fork, which was no where as satisfying. What made it worse was that it was bland.
The place is pretty empty around lunchtime, which is unfortunate given how much bigger it is than most places.
If you want Mexican food, go next door to La Borinquena.

Mexicali Rose is an Oakland fixture. Like sideshows, Swisher guts on the sidewalks and the rich, cultural diversity we are so well-​known for, Mexicali Rose’s roots reach deep. And for that reason, folks clamor in – be it to sit on the bar stools or in the big, vinyl booths overshadowed by beautiful wall hangings that feature Mayan depictions.
Often, if I have a hankering for a monstrous serving of huevos rancheros or when a girlfriend breaks up with her man or when I just need a quick gut expansion by way of rice, beans, cheese and the ever-​enticing lard used to cook whatever meal I order, the ladies and I will make our way over to Mexicali for the same consistent flavor, love and deliciousness we’ve been getting treated to for decades now. Mexicali never misses the mark. Does it annoy me that they don’t have black beans? Yes. Am I going to hold it against a place that is the restaurant equivalent of my great-​aunt? Um, not unless I want a whoopin’!
Just make sure you don’t touch that plate when your food comes out! It’s hotter than Hades, ferreal ferreal.

One of my favs their drinks are nice and strong and the portions are great worth the money very good I love this place

I wanted old school, no frills, regular, not chi-​chi, not weird tacqueria, mexican food for my birthday! Mexicali Rose delivered. Huge portions, spicy and mild homemade salsa, fresh fried chips, yummy enchiladas and crispy tacos. Not the greatest for vegetarians, however one of our party ordered the tostada vegetarian and it was huge and yummy. Home pickled onions.
Margaritas were strong! And a great slice of oakland flava!
Love it!

Went to this restaurant when in CA for work. Ate in once and got take out for me and a bunch of friends. It was good, large portions, good drinks, easy parking.
I would go again if I was in the area.

Nasty!!! No real mexican flavor or soul… just boiled meat, nasty sauce, and bland beans even with cheese… smh…tamale was the worst…25 dollars for meal and a cadillac… what a waste! I must say come for the drinks only!!!

Mexicali Rose is definitely a good bang for your buck. It is a clean, no-​frills restaurant with adequate service and excellent food. The portions are quite large, and extremely tasty. The alcohol is also especially cheap (aka you can get a carafe of sangria for $ 9).
Why 3-​stars then?
Mostly to manage expectations. Don’t go expecting refined Mexican food with locally-​sourced vegetables, organic meat, or fair-​trade coffee. Do go expecting a hearty meal that’s easy on the wallet, and not-​so-​easy on the thighs. :)
Also, the complementary salsa is absolutely delicious, incredibly addicting, but super spicy. Consider yourself warned!

I have been here so many times over the years and I am finally reviewing them after coming with co workers for my early birthday lunch/​celebration. Our waitress was really attentive considering the lunch rush. I realize after coming today that in my previous visits I have only really drank considering that I prefer to drink when out dinning. Everyone laughed at me for ordering the cheese burger today, but it was soooooo good! Id usually order nachos which are my go to when drinking, but they have never had nachos here. No nachos is not a problem here as their food is amazing and service is great.
I greatly enjoy myself everytime I come here, and would definately reccomend it to all.
Cheers to Mexicali!!!

Best Mexican food ever! You get full servings and it’s not TOO expensive. This is the neighborhood spot for food any service after dark. I know everyone here and it’s a really friendly place unless the waitresses want to be bitchy.
Overall great place to grab unhealthy greasy Mexican food when you’re craving.

The food is always piping hot and filling but be careful of those HOT plates. I have to admit I keep wanting to try something different when I’m here but I always end up ordering the Chicken Taquito dinner with beans and rice.
Next time I’ll try something different or at least that’s what I keep telling myself!
Tasty food, filling portions, decent prices and I love their strawberry margaritas. The bartenders tend to make very strong mixed or call drinks but I think that detracts from the meal so I tend to stick with the strawberry margaritas with dinner. They’re sweet and refreshing which is a nice balance to all of the sauce, rice and beans that come with the meals.

We have been coming here for years! I can’t believe I am now just writing a review after tonight’s visit.
2 people can share a ground beef super burrito. The food here as always been good! Strawberry Margaritas are super yummy!