Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: Casa Latina
Address: 1805 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94702
Telephone: (510) 558-7177
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.12

Casa Latina

1805 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94702

(510) 558-7177
Store is closed

Get Directions

Casa Latina Menu

Salad

Caesar Salad
Meats

Lengua

Pollo Asado

Carne Asado

Carnitas

Barbacoa

Chorizo

Jamon
Burritos

Regular

Vegetarian

Super

Fajitas
Platos / Plates

Platos / Plates
Veggie - Plate

Rice Beans Salsa & Four Corn Tortillas
Tamales

Verdes

Rojos

Rajas

Plato/ Plate
Quesadillas

Regular

Suiza

Vegi
Nachos

Regular

Super
Turtas / Sandwiches

Freshroll

Tostada
Side Orders

Jamon Ham

Meats

Rice And Beans

Cream Salsa Cheese Chips

Healthy Meal suggestions for Casa Latina

Salad

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meats

Lengua [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Asado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carnitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Barbacoa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jamon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Burritos

Regular [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Super [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fajitas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Platos / Plates

Platos / Plates [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Veggie - Plate

Rice Beans Salsa & Four Corn Tortillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tamales

Verdes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rojos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rajas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Plato/ Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Quesadillas

Regular [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suiza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nachos

Regular [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Super [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Turtas / Sandwiches

Freshroll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Side Orders

Jamon Ham [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Meats [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice And Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cream Salsa Cheese Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Amy G.

I got the veggie breakfast burrito but with no sour cream or cheese (no dairy), which may be why it came out to only $8 not $9. They offer the options of a normal, spinach or whole wheat tortilla, and I opted for spinach. Burritos come with chips and salsa, although sadly when I doggybagged my leftover chips I could not find a small container cover for my salsa. While a woman behind the counter prepared my burrito, I drooled over the cabinets full of Mexican pastries, and delighted over the fact that the man who took my order donned oven gloves and became busy pulling freshly baked treats from ovens in the back. Wow, not only does Casa Latina sell authentic Mexican pastries, but they bake them themselves! My friend ordered a pastry and the woman cook automatically warmed it in the press, which is appealing. I noticed that many people came into the restaurant just to pick up food, so I imagine it is possible to call ahead of time to place one's order. Because cheaper burritos can be found elsewhere but authentic Mexican pastries are much more rare, I would not come back to Casa Latina for the former but would definitely visit again for the freshly baked goods. I want to try them all, starting with the brightly colored cookies.
(3)
Jenise P.

Good prices. Delicious food. Friendly staff. Frida Kahlo photos everywhere! The staff even offered to help take a photo for me next to her portrait when they saw me instagramming everything I saw. Lol. Went in for a tamale and some orange juice for breakfast and came out with a huge smile. Highly recommended neighborhood business :)
(4)
Annie J.

Terrible food poisoning me and my boyfriend both experienced! Our friend ate here a few weeks later and also got food poisoning! Beware!
(1)
Mike P.

Best place for tortas. Never fails here, fresh ingredients and that family owned atmosphere and love put into the food. All the pastries here make my mouth water, I've only tried a few of the many they have and like them all, some better than others but none are bad. This place doesn't get packed but there's a constant flow of customers. I never leave this place without a smile nor an empty stomach.
(5)
Lizzy D.

I've been living in the East Bay for 4 years now and we have been on the search for a great taqueria type joint, and believe me we have had some BAD ones. But today we ordered from Casa Latina and I promise you I will never order from another as long as we live here! The lady I ordered from was nice and a big plus is we always have restrictions on our order (allergies etc) and everything came out perfect! Other than that the food is awesome cheap and HUGE, so leftovers the next day. By the way, if you get the nachos, make sure you have someone to share them with, cause you won't be able to finish them in one sitting and they're kinda soggy the next day. A big A plus from us!!! Can't wait to try everything on the menu, I might even give the tongue a try!
(5)
Joanna S.

I'm from LA, and ever since I moved to the Bay, I've missed my Mexican bakeries. But now, I have finally found my replacement in Casa Latina Bakery! This is a wonderful bakery, and has all the staple Mexican pastries I remember back in LA, such as pan dulce and elephant ear. Super affordable, too! I got three baked goods and spent about $3.50. In a typical American/French-style bakery, three items will usually run you at least 2 or 3 times as much. If you've never had Mexican baked good, you must, must, must try this place! You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain (I don't just mean weight ;-) ).
(5)
Keith M.

I came here since tortas from bakeries are usually some of the best. My family also tried a super burrito and taco plate. The burrito was decent but pricy and a bit too soupy. The flavor from the meat was lost in the mix of salsa verde, guacamole, and crema. The taco plate was perfect for my three boys. They even let me get two meats. My quest for a good torta was met for the most part. The bread was great and the meat (carne asada) was flavorful and tender. My only complaints were the pickled jalapeÃ±os and the heavy use of lettuce (though it was fresh and crisp) as filler. I would go back if in the area but probably wouldn't make a special trip to go there again.
(3)
Bill H.

Good Lord! Amazing pastries! My girlfriend and I pigged out on Casa Latina pastries last Sunday. We split two empanadas de manzana (strudel-type pastries filled with apple and sweet potato), ojo de buey (a cake wrapped in a delicious crusty ring) and what I think was pan de anis (a dense pastry that had the scent of anis). At least, I think that's what I ordered. I didn't really ask for details, as everything looked delicious. I did research after the fact on what we ate. I suppose a menu would have been helpful to folks like me that are clueless on Mexican pastries, but the lady at the front was super-helpful with the items I did order. I'd definitely be back. If you're bringing breakfast food to an early engagement, I'd recommend hitting up Casa Latina if you're in the neighborhood.
(5)
Fabien-Pierre N.

First, try the Horcha - Latte, a mix of horchada and expresso. Genius! Then their bread pudding and some of their pastries as very good and suoer cheap. And of you are really hungry, go for one of their savory dishes: burrito with fajitas (yummm) or quesadillas with chorizo. Add to that overall a nice service and you can undwrstand why I keep going there during my monthly roleplaying game in Berkeley.
(5)
K D.

Great Mexican in general, feeling some kinda way about them microwaving my enchilada. Not cool. At least make the attempt to hide the damn thing.
(3)
D H.

First of all the flavors are wonderful & you cant say they dont have the authentic taste down. You will however pay for that flavor. A regular burrito is now $7.26 ( prices for all items have increased since pic of menu was posted), rice beans meat salsa, which seems a bit high for a grab & go. I had the breakfast burrito, rice beans eggs, for $9 (extra if you want cheese). This seemed very expensive for an average size burrito with 2 eggs and no pico de gallo or cheese or guac or anything fancy & again it is to go so you are not paying for a table, service & a warm plate. I give them 3 stars because I will return for bakery items.
(3)
Debora L.

This time, the review is for the veggie burrito. Price: $6; steep Size: huge, definitely 1 - 1.5 meals Tortilla: option for wheat, which is nice but makes for a less chewy burrito Filling: black beans were decent; cheese was just right, lettuce got in the way sometimes; avocado was scant; proportions were just okay, I could have used less lettuce and more beans + cheese. Rice didn't add or detract, but could have been fluffier. Overall: I would go here only because it's close to where I live, and if I wanted a baked good as well. Otherwise, it's a pass.
(3)
Rita H.

Wow all I can say!!!! How can any body say that their pastry are good!!!! Very bad, no taste and day old bread. Won't be back ever the cashier was nice that's why I gave it one star
(1)
richard d.

I just had a carne asada burrito and it was a hefty one. It was soooo goood. Yum! The salsa and chips I never tasted anywhere. Very unique spot. I'll try the bakery soon.
(4)
Daniel S.

This Place is very delicious. I'm a regular here and everytime I order the nachos they always come out really good. Definitely stop by and pick up some food.
(5)
Andrew R.

Great, fresh Mexican food. A bit on the pricey side, but this is a favorite for sure.
(4)
Nicole B.

We come here for the pastries and the horchalatte. My husband likes his hot, I prefer it cold! As far as the pastries go, go early (while they're still warm!) and get anything that has a flaky crust (I like the flaky crust filled with custard.). I can't speak much for the savory food here, but the sweet stuff is amazing! Oh and remember to tip the staff. They work hard there and have to deal with a lot of crappy people on the daily! :-)
(5)
Mick A.

Delicious Mexican food and Pan Dulce . . . . very "down to earth" ambience, friendly staff. Reminds me a bit of one of my favorite taquerias on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Total self-serve style, quick and easy, and tasty too.
(4)
Adela A.

OMG! This place has authentic Mexican food, delicious drinks PLUS amazing pastries!!! I always get tamales because they're so inexpensive and they have a variety! Try the ones in the banana peel, they'll melt in your mouth and they have the perfect kick! I've tried all the flavors, but my favorite ones are the pork (Rojos) ones. Their horchata is my favorite too! Plus their Mexican hot chocolate and horchata latte! So bomb, and pretty cheap! The reasons why I don't give them 5 stars is because their pastries are a bit on the pricey side, they're delicious tho. They also don't have very much seating, it is NOT a place for a large group! They have three tiny tables that barely fit 2 people. Anyways this is my third favorite reasturant in Berkeley so, check it out :D
(4)
Zack F.

One of my all-time favorite taquerias in the bay area. Great fresh tacos and burritos, a nice selection of Mexican baked goods (breads, cookies, cakes, etc.), and a really cozy spot. Personal recommendation: chicken or steak tacos with cheese and guacamole. Not a family dinner kind of place, but perfect for a casual meal or snack.
(5)
Andrew R.

This place was awesome I had the torta. A lot of comments were complaining about price... look at where you are. You are in Berkeley you should no that it's not going to have taco truck prices. I'll be back again.
(5)
.Alan Y.

Even though Casa Latina is technically a bakery, I have no idea what their pan dulce tastes like. I've only come here to have their nacatamals or tamales. Verdict? The tamales are bangin'. It's not as cheap as buying them from the Mexican granny surreptitiously slinging tamales in the FoodMaxx grocery parking lot, but I'd bet these are made more closely in accordance with food safety regulations in mind. Casa Latina, yes please.
(4)
Amy C.

Looking for a snack or meal to take to Albatross? Look no further! Casa Latina's got you covered whether you're looking for something salty or savory to nibble on or to devour. They have tacos, tamales, tortas, burritos, quesadillas and a large variety of baked goods, many of which are giant. I really liked the puff pastry filled with sweet potato and can't wait to try more. The store is very clean and has a good amount of seating. They even take credit cards!
(4)
B. R.

Oh man! This place definitely fills the void of good Mexican food in Berkeley. Casa Latina is, from what I hear, fairly authentic. I'm not a connoisseur of Mexican food, but I can tell you that everything on the menu here is delicious, and beats out places like La Burrita or Taqueria Cancun by a long shot! Everything is flavorful, cheap, and carefully prepared. You can get a large plate of food here for under $10, making it one of the more affordable dinners I've had in the area. There's a cute, small room for seating in the back, though everything is self-serve-- you pay and pick up at the counter, get your own utensils, and bus your own dishes. There's an assortment of Mexican pastries, and I've tried enough of them to know that most are super-sweet and tasty. Best of all, the staff will always greet you with a smile and make sure you're taken care of.
(5)
Vanessa I.

You must try the Oaxacan Pork Tamales. I grew up eating homemade tamales that my mom and aunts used to make and I have to say that these are some of the best tamales I have had outside of my mother's kitchen. The masa is tasty and perfectly seasoned, the meat is juicy and delicious and the sauce ... the sauce makes these tamales FANTASTIC. Try them, you won't be disappointed! They also have Nicaraguan style tamales which I can't comment on because I haven't had it but the Oaxacan ones, YUM. The burritos are also super delicious and they have so much flavor yet taste incredibly fresh. At about $9 or $10 for a super burrito which I find quite high, the price seemed incredibly reasonable given the huge size of the burrito and the incredible flavors and freshness. In total, the BF and I got one super carne asada burrito, one pork tamal, one watermelon agua fresca (sooo good) to eat-in and two pastries to go for $18. Gordo's and Montecristo in Berkeley are our regular Mexican go-to's in Berkeley but this one will be definitely be added to our rotation, if not the first option.
(4)
Arnold H.

Decent bakery. Mexican pastries are tasty, although I'm more of a fan of the ones around Fruitvale. (But it's so far away that I'd much rather just come here). I also had the horchata latte which was pretty damn delicious. It's like two things I liked combined in a refreshing mix. You can definitely taste the horchata with the caffeine kick. I'd recommend it just for something new (at least the concept was new to me). There are also tamales sold and some other real food, but I have yet to try them. The lady behind the counter was nice and explained some of the pastries displayed. This is also one of the closer places to get a decent slice of bread pudding. Which of course is the bombest desert. There is some seating a little farther into the store. Just some small tables and seating. I don't know of any other pan dulce selling places around here, so it's a good option. yay
(4)
Emmanuel M.

Love this place! I recently moved to Berkeley and this has easily become my go-to spot in the area. The fresh bread and pastries are absolutely delicious but don't be afraid to order their lunch dishes. The burrito by far my favorite. Overall this place is clean and serves good tasting food. The staff are the friendliest and are always courteous no matter how busy they are at times.
(5)
Bobby D.

Pretty good coffee, but very pricy Mexican food for the quality. The tacos are great, but most of the other things on the menu are just average. They did recently get new ownership and remodeled, and I Was hoping they'd change their menu at that time. But they didn't.
(3)
Jana C.

late lunch in the 'tweener hours... so shockingly bad....we were eating in disbelief. Empanada de puerco was so dry... the shredded meat was dessicated, and the crust was flat flat flat.. no buttery flakiness to be found, anywhere. My tostada was more lettuce than anything. They didn't even bother draining out the liquid from the black beans; hence, what would have been a crispy corn shell disc was a soggy mess. His chicken tacos looked so bland..... Not what we were hoping for, which was pretty simple: flavor. Shoulda done taco truck by Hotsy Totsy instead---
(2)
Vittorio L.

Truly a little gem in Berkeley. This place has a little bit of everything. Coffee, delicious Mexican baked goods, GREAT tacos, burritos, and Tortas, and fresh carrot/orange juice. Best of all, they're open late for those, like me, might feel like a little dessert and coffee but don't want to be seated for dessert or want something low key. Recommended: Sweet empanadas, especially the custard or pineapple with coffee. The pound cake (with coffee) is good too. Carnitas Torta is HIGHLY recommended. Overall a nice neighborhood spot. Not really for a sit down dinner. More like a taqueria with baked goods, but you can always take out dinner and sweet bread to devour when you get home.
(5)
Lucy P.

I come here for their Oaxacan tamales and Mexican hot chocolate ( abuelita). Excellent place and very friendly staff. I love the decor!
(5)
M a.

Incredible. Great tamales and bread pudding. I was happy they had pellegrino sodas too. Friendly, easy parking, interesting decor, quiet on a Monday afternoon.
(5)
Lori W.

I'm staying in Berkeley for a short time and decided to venture out looking for a burrito and I found this place on Yelp. I had a veggie burrito with black beans. It was delicious! Exactly what I was hungry for. The place is charming, clean, and the staff are super friendly. I will definitely be back! They also have a huge selection of scrumptious looking pastries that I will try next time I go in. :)
(5)
Caroline S.

There is a serious lack of good Mexican eats in Berkeley--and the Bay Area in general. This makes Casa Latina relatively unique to the area. I can't think of any other traditional panaderias within the immediate surroundings. Casa Latina is a bit of a hybrid (or "tri-brid") between a Mexican bakery, cafe, and taqueria. On one whole wall, you've got your traditional display of pan dulce complete with self-serve trays and tongs; on the other end, you've got a cafe counter set up; and the otherwise non-obvious taqueria persona is present within several large chalkboards scrawled with an impressive selection of burritos, tacos, and otros platos. I cannot speak for the savory food here, but while I was visiting (on a Saturday morning), it appeared as though the majority of patrons wheeling in and out were purchasing some sort of breakfast burrito. Seeing as this seems to be the dish of choice, I will certainly be back to try one. This morning, I stuck to the sweeter side of Casa Latina, and after sampling several different panes dulces, settled on the Canasta de Cereza ("Cherry Basket"), which was recommended by the baker. The pastry was pretty good--typical as far as pan dulce goes, with a dense texture and a general lack of sweetness. The cherry filling was super tart. I like that. I didn't leave feeling like I could obviously sense my insulin levels soaring through the roof. I also ordered a small espresso, and the total came out to well under $3. That's a decent bargain, but from what I understand, their "real food" totals up quite fast.
(3)
Taylor S.

Stumbled upon this place while walking down San Pablo trying to kill some time waiting for my car to be done with the smog. I have to say I'm a new fan of the place, I got the nacatamale and i loved it!!! The tamale is filled with about 8 different kinds of things, from meat to some dried fruit that adds a little sweetness (i think it was plums). The tamale came with 5 huge ass pieces of bread to eat it with, I came in the morning so I am not sure if this is only for the morning but either way it was much appreciated! I think the tamale set me back about 5 or 6 bucks which isn't the cheapest tamale, but is worth it. You get a great bang for your buck, I devoured the tamale and thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast. They have a ton of pan dulce and other pastries, cakes, and baked goods. I didn't check out any of those because I was set on this tamale. Location is pretty easily accessible and the price is reasonable. Get your nacatamale on, but be prepared to be stuffed because that thing is huge!
(4)
San J.

Skippy on the meat up charged me for everything.. Much better places to go in Berkeley and Albany.
(2)
Marck N.

In search of Mexican pastries, I came here. After looking at the day's selection, I decided on the cinnamon roll. Glazed with a sugar frosting, it was the most appealing pastry. Though I did tell her that I was going to eat it there, the server heated it up in a paper bag, under a flat grill. With my cup of coffee, I descended into my sugar breakfast. The roll was sweet, though hard to eat. It would have been easier on a plate with a fork. I also like my rolls to be gooey and sticky. This roll was not like that. Tasty yes, but not what I expected. The sugar stuck to the bag after the heating under the press. I will give this place another chance as the other goodies looked good. Their food menu looked good as well. While there a person was ordering nacho's that sounded and smelled real good. Worth a return.
(3)
Andrea P.

I was staying with friends that lived across the street from Casa Latina and stopped in for coffee and breakfast for a solid week. They have a huge selection of freshly baked delicious pastries and strong coffee. The chorizo tacos were tasty but the carnitas torta was amazing! The bread is baked fresh in house and it shows while the meat had been slow cooked to perfection, topped with cheese, jalapenos and fresh veggies it was pure heaven. Word to the wise though, if you're a small girl like me you'd best be splitting that torta with a friend. It is huge! It was far to big for me, but since it was so delicious I couldn't help but eat the whole thing and gave myself a bellyache!
(5)
Tim O.

El gringo loves a good tamale. Casa Latina makes delicious tamales at a good value considering the size. The ladies behind the counter are always helpful and really sweet. Yes, El gringo asked what was in every pastry on display.
(5)
Tobsen J.

Oh! MY! God! Everything here is made with love. Starting from the wonderful decoration until they great food! Try the chocolate....is the best I ever had!
(5)
Matt G.

There are not too many places in the Bay Area that a business offers both Panderia (Mexican Bakery) and a Taqueria combine in one roof. In most cases, the bakery usually is the money-maker of the two options. With the name Casa Latina, it means "House of Latin-ladies. And this is what the majority of the workers are and they are a friendly bunch of sweethearts. But can these ladies make a good Burrito like some of the better taquerias in the Bay Area? I had the Carnitas Super Burrito. Though pricey for $7.50, the super burrito comes with the usual filling, a choice of meat and choice of tortillas, in which I chose the Wheat Tortilla. The filling was fresh and Carnitas was lean, but a bit arid and too salty. Though a nice fat size, I need to drink a whole bottle of Jarrito and many cup-full of water to quench my salty burrito. What an adventurous burrito I had and I acutally had enough room in my stomach to redeem myself and check out one of the many desserts offer here. I also had the Tres leches cake (three-milk cake). For $3.50, the slice of pound-cake with a cream topping and is soaked in three different kind of milks: Evaporated, Condensed and Heavy Whipping Cream. My goodness, that is one of the sweetest cake and dessert I've had in a while and definitely a trip to Berkeley to have for dessert. Defiinitely skip the burritos and listen to Matt G and eat the Tres leches Cake with a cup of coffee.
(3)
Michelle K.

One Saturday morning, many many moons ago, I was brought here strictly for the baked goods. Perhaps my hopes were too high. Perhaps the treats just weren't that great. Either way, I wasn't hearing the dulce-t tones of singing angels that were supposed to be evoked upon tasting this supposedly amazing pan dulce (ha! lame pun!).
(3)
Wolfy W.

Who would think you can get authentic Latin American Tamales from a bakery? Not only a Latin Bakery but with much more other offerings. Tortas, tacos, burritos, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and out of this world banana leaf wrap tamales! I had the Nicaraguan Tamales which had a wonderful combo fillings of rice, potato, tomato, bell peppers, olives, capers, pork meat, mint leaves, prune, bacon, onions in a creamy corn meal wrap and steamed in banana leaf. A complete meal on its own and filling. The Oaxacan Tamales was a little smaller, but just as robust in taste with chicken, tomatillo salsa with a delicate corn maza wrapped in banana leaves also. The owner was very nice and helpful and even tossed in a Latin biscuit with my order.
(4)
Christopher B.

In my experience the food is generally a four star and the pastries a two. The pastries don't taste bad. They just all taste the same. The service has always been adequate.
(3)
I M.

So many awesome reviews, so I had to go check it out..... and I'm sorry, but it was underwhelming. The pastries were decent, but everything else was medicore. The service was scattered. It was hard to place an order.. it was unclear who was taking the orders, where the line started, etc etc. When our food came out, the nacatamales seemed undercooked (mushy/slimy). My mexican hot chocolate never happened. Anyone claiming that this is the 'best burrito in the east bay' needs to get out more. It may be the best burrito in that part of Berkeley, but there are countless East Oakland taco trucks and taquerias that put this place to shame. Better tortas, burritos, chips and salsa (the chips tasted stale.. the salsa was nothing special) And tamales in a bakery aren't rare. I had some AMAZING tamales in silverlake a few months back. Half the price and double the flavor. lamascotabakery.com Sorry. I really really wanted to like this place.. but I could have gotten far superior food for half the price :(
(3)
Alex M.

Great service, Great food, and Clean. This place is way better than Picante just down the street!
(5)
Jed D.

Probably 4.2 stars. Tried it for the first time today. I ordered a quesadilla with carnitas. They got the order wrong initially (it came without carnitas), and it required 2 trips to the front counter to get things straightened out. I think part of the problem was the place is so LOUD that they may not have correctly heard the order, initially. Anyway, once things were straightened out (and I paid an extra $3) they brought out the correct version. The 4.2 star rating is based on the quality of the final dish, and their polite and professional handling of the misunderstanding. We also tried the Oaxaca tamale, which came with rice and beans, and also an horchata. It was all great. I would definitely return.
(4)
Meg L.

Stopped in for a bite to eat with friends in the evening, service was quick and friendly. I had the nachos and they were very good (the plate was loaded) and a piece of flan (my friend had the tres leche) The only problem I had was that the bakery items seemed like they had been there all day, probably made earlier that day or so, tasted a little bland and soggy due to sitting in a refrigerated case for so long.
(4)
Tom I.

Generous portions, nachos were good, need to try more pastries, tacos good although the chicken was just a little dry
(4)
Aki N.

Yummy hole in a wall in Berkeley. I stopped by for a quick lunch on way back from Tahoe. Delicious Mexican hot chocolate, a rajas tamales and carnitas tacos was a perfect lunch. They have maybe three tables inside, a few outside, but not really a sit-down place. Their baked goods looked great, will have to come back for those
(4)
Alice L.

After interrogating my Hispanic friend thoroughly about the array of Mexican baked goods sitting behind the display cases, I picked up a metal tray and prongs to procure my pastries. Four of them, in fact. The bigote and the concha were both quite dry with their sugar swirl innards. The outer shell of the concha was quite delicious though, just like those Chinese pineapple buns but coffee flavored. The empanada had a thick flour crust, which I liked but there was little filling. The best thing was the miniature pie with the Mexican custard. The custard wasn't too sweet and the crust crumbled beautifully as I bit into it. They have quite a selection of baked goods: raised donuts, shortbread cookies, bread pudding, etc. but it's a pity that they are not as colorful as your typical panaderia. It makes me so happy to see conchas, cake rolls, and cookies come in all different colors, but I suppose there is the unhealthy aspect of food coloring...ahem. I finished off my pastries with an agua fresca. There was a choice of tamarind and hibiscus. I got the tamarind and the flavor was quite strong, a refreshing drink on that hot, hot day. I had the tres leche cake to-go. The 3 types of milk were spilling out of the box and good thing I had it in a plastic bag. So most tres leche cakes should be very fluffy, despite being drenched in milk, but this one became a tad too soggy, which might be because too much oil was used. It still tasted very fresh though and not too sweet at all!
(4)
Dirk W.

What a delicious discovery in Berkeley. Both the Mexican food and pan dulce were the best we've tasted in a long time. Amazing how many times we've driven by this place and never stopped in. We finally noticed it while walking down San Pablo, walked in to the wonderful aroma of Mexican food, and had a great time. Also nice to now have a "go to" place for pan dulce.
(4)
Renee S.

Moving away from San Jose and its awesome choices for Mexican food has been sad indeed, but luckily I moved into a place that is walking distance from this awesome bakery. I like to go in and experiment with the different breads and pastries. I can safely say that I have never been disappointed in any choice I have made. The conchas are fluffy and delicious! I have also tried the tostada and torta. The tostada was delicious and stacked high with meat, lettuce, crema, queso, etc. In my excitement over this, I broke my fork (I couldn't eat it just by hand it was piled with too much food!). Despite the delicious tostada, the torta is my favorite. The meat was juicy and flavorful and the bread was perfect. It was also packed pull of veggies, crema, jalapenos, and more. I'm salivating just thinking about it. Having been spoiled with quality Mexican food all my life (being form Modesto and moving to San Jose) I am wholly impressed by this place. Though it is definitely on the pricy side, it is worth the splurge ever so often!
(5)
Lanette H.

Amazing Tamales! Tried the oaxacan tamales with pork & the regular pork tamale and they were delicious. Cafe Mocha very tasty as well. First stop in Berkely and Casa Latina did not disappoint.
(5)
Paul E.

I love Casa Latina, however its sadly another restaurant I haven't been to in a while. Its really more of a cafe/bakery than a restaurant, with lots of pan dulce on display and a fairly diverse menu. Everything I have ordered from Casa Latina has been good so far! I think I would frequent it more if the food was priced a little more reasonably. The burritos are overpriced for what they are, it went from about $5-6 to $7-8 which is kinda steep compared to other Mexican restaurants. I loved their chicken tamales, which went for about $2 each. The biggest appeal is of course Casa Latina's pan dulce and desserts. My mouth waters when I think of their pineapple empanadas and cakes. Like other Mexican bakeries that sell pan dulce, they are priced very reasonably. You can easily spend $5 and get enough pan dulce for 4-5 people. My only gripes with Casa Latina are their prices. Because of what they charge for meals(not baked goods mind you), I refuse to get burritos here. However if you are in the neighborhood and want to bring back some pan dulce, this is where I'd go. P.S. This isn't Casa Latina's fault but the area it is located in can be somewhat sketchy. A few times I've gone here there were some pretty suspicious folks hanging around the corner who gave me the stink eye. Keep your guard up and be aware of your surroundings.
(4)
Dale E.

I asked the woman what taco she recommended, and she said, "Barbacoa". I said, "How about the Carnitas taco?" and she said that was good too. So I went with the something I had never heard of------Barbacoa. Very, very delicious-----next time I'll order three at about $2.50ea. Order it spicy (they will give you the option of mild if that is what you prefer however). If the rest of the menu is as good as these tacos, then I will be a happy guy! Very friendly people behind the counter by the way.....
(5)
Jessica L.

TORTAS TORTAS TORTAS!!!! the BEST TORTAS EVERRR.. omg.. drooling just thinking about it... I have had their carnitas and another one of their tortas.. AMMMAAAZINGGG.. I have also tried their tamales, their tres leches cake, and a carnitas burrito along with cookies and sweets in their convenient bakery.. I am not a huge fan of their tamales so I would not get those again.. and their tres leches cake had too much milk.. as in there was a pool of milk around the cake.. but the taste was amazing.. their burrito was typical.. so when you come here.. just get the torta.. you will not be disappointed service is great here as well.. she remembered that we came that past week and always offers samples of their bread.. just stop by.. you will not be disappointed!!
(4)
Simon S.

I go here all the time and they are awesome people who make great stuff! I really appreciate them making me a mocha every single time I go in there.
(5)
Pauline L.

Only tried the jalapeno cheese braid, horchata, and some tamales. All were really yummy and cheap. The horchata was spot on and not too sweet. Tamales seem kinda small, but good. Jalapeno cheese braid. Had a bite of a friend's. Pretty yummy. I'd probably eat the whole thing if it didn't belong to my fried, lol. Price for tortas seems high though, nearly $7 I think?
(4)
Dora S.

Omg, I've been wanting to come to this place FOREVER and am soooo glad I finally did! I had the carne asada quesadilla in a spinach tortilla. Yummo! The quesadilla is served with pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. Also tasted the al pastor tacos, which were tasty! According to their menu, all their meats are baked, which you can really taste the difference! Their prices are reasonable and their servings are just right. You order at the counter and then take a seat to wait for your food. The place is pretty small, with only about 3 tables of 2-3 chairs each. But if you're eating in, you'll get to enjoy the quote of the day on the little chalk board they have. I'm only bummed bc I didn't get to try their pastries/pan dulce! (I had a box of pastries from Mazetti's in Pacifica waiting for me in the car.) Instead, I took a Mexican hot chocolate to eat with my cream puff -AMAZING! I can't wait to go back. I'm just worried I'll want to order one of everything!
(4)
Chantal C.

Legit authentic Mexican/Latin American food EVER! They have delicious tacos, quesadillas (monstrous!), and tamales! And oh, their pastries remind me of home, especially on a rainy cold day (Conchas, anyone?). I cannot wait to come back soon as the food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. :)
(5)
Michelle C.

Not bad. I liked this place. We went here for dinner. Got a refried bean and cheese burrito. Not the most amazing burrito I've ever had, but it was good compared to the kind Berkeley offers. Usually healthy pinto beans, super bland stuff. Not my cup of tea. Pan dulces I thought were good. Not sure what some of the other yelpers are complaining about on that spectrum. Perhaps it was my cookie that was super good? Didn't try all their other pastries. Trying to keep the love handles down. Oh they get busy here and take forever to keep the line moving.
(4)
Sarah W.

Cheap and delicious. That is all I have to say. Prices are super good here. $.75 for most baked goodies! The only bad thing is that they never have churros when I want one. Man they run out quickly. Though they offer Taqueria foods in addition to their baked goods I've never ventured to try them. I stand by the baked goods. They're fresh and delicious. My first time in the lady behind the counter was very attentive in telling me about each item I asked about (er..I asked like 20 questions foreals). I highly recommend any of the pastries containing the soft, white, custardy cheese! Delicious. I do not recommend any of the "hard" pastries. They're too dry for my tastes. You can easily tell which ones those are, or if you don't, just ask. Most have "soft" equivalents. How do I know this? Because of the nice lady at the counter. Ya know, people are so nice. I love the restaurant (cafe/bakery/etc) experience (9 times out of 10)!
(4)
Varada G.

If this weren't far from campus/my residence I would come here every time I craved Mexican food. It's essentially dirt cheap for the quality of the food, a very good value. I've tried the quesadillas, empanadas, tamales, and tacos, and I would order all but the tamales again (taste too corn based, like they weren't properly cooked. I'll update this review if I go again and try them) but as it stands that's my recommendation. Stay away from the plates, they're pretty bland, but giant food portions if you're really hungry. The rice is dry and the beans tasted old. But the cooked entrees were very good, stick to those. Desserts (flan and those cookies that remind you of triple highlighters) and horchatas were splendid. Highly recommended you get either or both with your meal. It's tiny, but there's sufficient seating. Probably not a good place to work because not only is there no wifi but my 3G cut off also. Anyway, good food, decent service.
(4)
Carla L.

The burritos here are so tasty! So tasty that I can't get myself to order anything else. Love the fact that they have horchata lattes (something really hard to find in the east bay). Also love the pastries, definitely a must to complete your meal. Staff is always super friendly and the place is always clean.
(5)
Kate Marie G.

I had nachos that were actually good here! I'm usually disappointed in nachos--they end up being a greasy, flavorless mess. Tamal was also flavorful. Nice staff, tiny place, inexpensive. I wish I could eat gluten so I could try the delicious-looking pastries. My gluten-eating husband assures me that they're delicious. THANKS.
(4)
Amy L.

I used to stop by here quite often to get their pastries. happend to stop by this afternoon and got a bun with some sort of sweetened topping. It was pretty good. The prices here are also pretty reasonable and the younger gentleman working here was very nice; he didn't mind at all that I paid for it with dimes and pennies. They have food here too like tacos and tamales and they even have a horchata latte.
(4)
Laura L.

We just moved from San Diego, we were looking for rosca for dia de Los Reyes. We decided to visit Casa Latina bakery and they had exactly what we were looking for. It came right out of the oven and she even gave us a deal. It really made me feel at home! Rosca was delicious and I can't wait to go back for some pan dulce!
(5)
Gary P.

Mexican pastries typically taste like bad bread encrusted with chunks of sugar, and Casa Latina doesn't distinguish itself in this regard. I had a few tasty burritos there some years back and thought I would enjoy them again. I've eaten there three or four times in the last couple of months, and have found the food to be generally adequate, even tasty in some ways. Still, it isn't worth the price. A burrito is $8, for example. Where I'm from, a burrito is generally $5. Sometimes you luck into a $3.50 burrito, (e.g. Little Pablo just two blocks down San Pablo) and often those taste just as good. Sometimes you pay $6.50 and the place gives you something a little special. Not so with the Casa Latina $8 burrito. I tried different things, thinking that it was just a matter of trial and error before I figured out which particular dishes are worth the premium price. Meh, not by my standards.
(2)
Charles F.

Man, I really used to like this place for a dessert and a coffee but last week I had the lamest experience. I ordered a flan and a single americano in a large cup from the nice lady and somehow the snarky owner steps in to make the coffee. She relays my order of a single americano in a large cup to which the owner replies in Spanish "single americano but complicated" as if Spanish is some clandestine language that gringos like myself are incapable of understanding. It's not the biggest deal but it's just rude to say something that you ordinarily wouldn't say about the customer right in front of a customer in what you perceive to be a language foreign to the customer in order to secretly poke fun at the customer. And to top it off, he charged me 50Â¢ extra for the large cup...and the coffee sucked! I must add, the flan is always top notch. Maybe try P'urhÃ©pecha next time!
(4)
R R.

Love Love Love this place. I was in Btown on business and this was on my walk to the office i was going to everyday. I stopped every morning for awesome coffee and some of the best pastries I have ever had. So reasonable on $$$$. Wish i had this place close to me in Dallas.
(5)
Yvette G.

I only frequent this place for the bakery. I live in North Oakland and it's a lot closer/easier to come here than drive to East Oakland for pan dulce. I've been coming here before the renovation, when the added space was, I think, a Brazilian dance school. The place is clean, the service is cordial, and the bread is good. My husband loves their puerquitos/marranitos. However, I'm sad that it looks like they discontinued the cheesecake bars. They were so good and moist! Reminded me of Japanese cheesecake. Minus one star for their spotty availability of Oaxacan tamales.
(4)
Howe L.

Impressive food - nonchalant service. Awesome selection of sweets.
(4)
Cross S.

Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom, Nom!
(5)
Ashley D.

I came here during lunch and it wasn't very busy. The inside is very nice, clean, nice clean bathroom. I ordered a burrito, very clearly. Carne asada burrito with everything, then I listed the items I wanted included just to be extra clear, black beans, rice, pico de gallo, guac, cheese, sour cream. I got the burrito and walked back to my car. Upon biting into it I found the burrito was missing salsa, sour cream and the guac I had been charged extra for. I walked back with my partially consumed burrito (it cost well over $10 for the burrito so I expect what I pasig for). I stood at the counter with my burrito out, having just been in 5 minutes ago and was intentionally ignored by 3 women who were working in the immediate area. I had to literally flag someone down and force eye contact to get some help. When I told he woman that my burrito was missing stuff she tried to say I didn't order it when she didn't even take my order. I know what I ordered, I ordered clearly and specifically. She begrudgingly took the burrito and went to the kitchen (which is in plain site). She proceeded to speak rudely in Spanish about me ( yes, I understand you and speak Spanish as well) to the kitchen staff. I Waited as the glared at me and talked sh*** . I should have just asked for a refund. Rude, rude, rude. I won't be back.
(1)
Giuseppe M.

AMAZING!!!! Authentic foods!!!! Best Nachos Platter, a must see!!!! Steak Nachos were the best we ever had, the Platter was so big two or three people could share, the service by the staff was excellent and the food came out quickly and we were impressed with the quality and amount of food, AMAZING!!! Pricing also was on point, this going to be our new place!!!!
(5)
Grace N.

Horchata-latte and chicken nachos! yum yum yum :)
(4)
Melissa C.

I was thrilled to find this gem near where I live in Albany! The pan dulce was fresh and delicous, maybe the best I've had and I'm from LA and Latina. I've tried to find good Mexican bread in SF and East Bay and failed, that is until Casa Latina! Also I had the torta with carne asada and it was perfect! Juicy, flavorful and the bread was the perfect texture: soft yet firm. Mmmmm! The concha was bomb!!! Flavor was sweet and delightful and I could feel the dough mold softly around my finger tips when I held it, due to it being so soft and fresh. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Willa P.

My laptop crashed. The Apple Store couldn't provide immediate help. And to top it off, I couldn't find my keys. It was a terrible day. Which really has nothing to do with this review. Or maybe it has everything to do with it. Because eating here was the highlight of a seriously shitty day. And I needed SOMETHING good to happen after each unfortunate event piled on the other. So I trudged into the bakery, totally expecting a cartoon piano to fall on me at this point, but I survived and was pleasantly surprised by this place. The ambiance is bright, airy, and best of all, you're surrounded by walls of freshly baked bread and pastries a.k.a my favorite food group. Ordered a Carne Asada Quasedilla, which came with sour cream, guac, and chunky salsa. And you can even order it with a whole-wheat tortilla to pretend that you're being somewhat healthy!!! It was the size of my freaking head. So yah, it was big. And I scraped every last bit of it, because when you have a bad day, you deserve every single bite. All in all, this place really needs to advertise itself as more than just a bakery. It's basically food therapy, and in my experience, with a 100% cure rate for shitty days.
(5)
Jenika B.

Go here..NOW! Their food is amazing!! We got asada nachos and a pork and cheese papusa. Best I've had of either in a LONG time. They also have pastries, we didn't buy any but they also look stupid legit. EAT HERE
(5)
Steven C.

Wow. I've lived next to this awesome place for almost a year and never tried it until recently. This place is literally a god send, especially being that it was finals week. Their barbacoa nachos. Beef was so juicy and tender. The chips were fried right there, topped with jalapenos, a good amount of guacamole, and all the usual. The tamales are so bomb as well. Tried both chicken and pork, pork is the winner. Torta comes with chips on the side as well. Spread with guac, oh man.. Don't get the pollo asado haha. I would get the torta next time barbacoa or pork. They also have horchata latte, off the menu, but it's kinda expensive and now worth it. Will definitely come here for as long as I live here!
(5)
Binger C.

I live in the neighborhood and come here way too often- "too often" because pan dulce is not good for the waistline and the place is somewhat overpriced. But, the food rarely fails to be tasty, well-presented and (appears to be) made with higher quality ingredients. Also lots of room to sit in a pleasant space. I have yet to find better pan in the immediate area, but the ones here are hit or miss- look for types that are packed into full trays and thus appear to be freshly produced. Stay away from ones where there are just a few left, because they are likely day-old or several-days old and dried out. I do wish management would be more honest about this, and put out prices so you know what you're getting into.
(4)
Manny H.

Newly remodeled, Casa Latina continues to be the best Mexican food place in Berkeley, and it continues to be super-affordable! Had two tacos (beef and barbacoa) today and loved them again!
(5)
philip b.

Two stars for the decor and service. Half star for the food. Ordered the poached eggs on toast with avocado and spinach salad. Eggs-hard as rubber. Toast-1 inch thick with burned edges and raw center. Spinach-right out of the bag with no dressing. Bland, boring and overpriced.
(2)
Jack S.

I love this place! I've been eating here for years, and the food has always been great. With the recent renovations they've seriously upped their game. There's a nice cafe atmosphere, spacious, clean, and pleasant. They've also added a number of excellent new items to the menu and the food is even better than it used to be! Try the Super Torta for an amazing sloppy mexican sandwich experience. So good. The quesadillas are also totally bomb. Today I had the Spicy Breakfast Enchiladas and they blew my mind. Possibly the best enchiladas I've had anywhere, in any country. They're made with fresh, handmade corn tortillas that were delicious and supple, with some nicely picante salsa. I will definitely be having those again! I also recommend the breakfast scrambles. To drink they have good aguas frescas and horchata, or you can get fresh orange and carrot juices. And the "Horchalatte" totally is over the top, a latte made with horchata instead of milk. The pastries are hit or miss. A lot of them are dry and not very flavorful. Some are great though. YMMV. I mostly come for the food and the good atmosphere.
(5)
A A.

I'm impressed with the food. Realy good good , this is not a restaurant and it seems like they care about food as mush as a restaurant does.! The place is clean and the decor is just so interesting in a beautiful way.
(5)
Harvey B.

$16 for a pastry, 2 tamales, 1 papusa, and a soda. Wanted to try it since it was one of the few Mexican places I haven't tried. Too much masa not enough filling. The plating was amazing and so was the hot sauce but lack of flavor.
(2)
Kelvin Y.

Reid their new breakfast menu. It was good with a variety of more authentic dishes but what really made it for me was the decor of the place! Absolutely fun! The colors and open space made this place a comeback restaurant for me!
(4)
Christine S.

When we first moved to Berkeley, we tried Casa Latina and we weren't impressed. The nachos were mediocre and my husband didn't like his burrito. Whenever we wanted good Mexican food, we'd just walk over to La Mission. Fast forward three years to today. It was recently renovated and I can't say for sure but the menu seems different. I found out they are owned by the same people who own La Mission. I'm not sure that's always been the case though. In any case, they have some delicious *Mexican* tacos and tonight we got a torta and tostada that was pretty damn good. We'll be back!
(4)
Timothy D.

Mediocre food. We got nachos and the Cuban sandwich. It was edible. But the nachos cost $12 with carnitas (+$2) and guacamole(+$1.50). They were $5 nachos at best. Like the kind of food you would get at a high school sporting event. The bathroom is like a dungeon. Too dark. Altogether not a great experience. Overpriced for what you get.
(2)
Jenny S.

Loved the experience of eating here. The staff are so friendly and helpful, the restaurant is so beautifully decorated and the food and drinks are delicious. We are visiting Berkley from out of town but I wish I had this at home.
(5)
Jonathan T.

Three friends and I ate here for lunch on Sunday, June 14. My bill came to $15, which I remember clearly because it seemed surprisingly high for what I had ordered. As I do not tip for takeaway, I signed the slip and went on my merry. The next morning I saw that Casa Latina had actually authorized my card for more than $18. I checked with my friends and they had also been overcharged by a similar amount. I returned the next day and (clearly, patiently) asked the restaurant to please correct the mistake. The staff were evasive and refused to help me in any way. They did not seem particularly shocked by the accusation, either. To summarize: multiple members of our party were overcharged in the span of ten minutes. Restaurant refused to right the wrong. Draw whatever conclusion you want from that. Update: To Juan (the owner): I have better things to do than fabricate random stories about how the ninth-best Mexican restaurant in Berkeley stiffed me for three bucks. I am dead certain as to what happened. Spend your $1000 on hiring honest employees. Update #2: The charge on my credit card has magically reduced to the correct amount. Also, the owner Juan messaged me threatening to sue if I did not take down this review. After I finished laughing, I edited it to contain just the facts as they happened, and no personal opinions.
(1)
K K.

Decor and whatnot are nice, but the food lacked soul. And by that, I mean it caters to people who are afraid of flavor and spice. Everything was beyond bland and the Oaxacan tamales were a massive disappointment. Very dry and had the texture of old and desiccated idli, the South Indian food. Wrong wrong wrong. Masa should be creamy. Meat was flavorless, salsas were useless. On a hilarious note, we came in with a large group and a person who worked there was seated at our table for some reason. It was a cute little Cold War of sorts. We are a friendly bunch (she was decidedly not) but next time, vamoose. Odd. Eating here is a waste of time and money, to be frank. But maybe the pastries are good? Still, there are hundreds of better Mexican places around. Here's one in the area: Tacubaya.
(2)
Christopher J.

Don't let the name fool you, this is not a simple bakery! I came here for lunch by myself while out running errands and I have to admit I was quite surprised with how wonderful the food proved to be. Their signature dish was a unique and wonderful Carne Asada which does not disappoint, so I recommend it if you're not certain what you want. As a drink, I ordered and truly enjoyed their Horchata, so I encourage you to try it as well. The atmosphere is very casual and there is plenty of seating; even during lunch time. The staff are very friendly and helpful, as well as quick to smile. I will be coming back here to try more dishes in the future!
(4)
Dianna M.

Delicious! Get the pork tacos! One is plenty, but the 2 for 9.50 is a hard deal to pass up
(5)
Al M.

I've been here about five times, each time Im a bit less satisfied. First time- Carne asada super burrito: amazing Second time- brought a friend, ordered the same thing, both of us thought it was really good. Third time- ordered carne asada and instead they gave me barbacoa. Wtf. Thankfully I like barbacoa Fourth time- chicken super burrito: I thought it was gross honestly. Fifth time- Still chasing that perfect carne asada super burrito, and it just doesn't exist. The meat was extra tough and chewy. I got it to go and ate it right away while driving. It seems that they didn't bother to heat any of it up after assembling it on the line. $9.80 for a lukewarm burrito! I think they're close to getting it right, but like someone else said "this place has no soul." Props on the interior decorating, but that doesn't make food any better.
(3)
Hilda Z.

After Pepito's closed.....we were at a loss for a good panaderia in Berkeley. *You have to be hard core Berkeley person to know about Pepito's on San Pablo* I cannot say how long I've known about Casa Latina, but it's always been the spot for tasty pan dulce and the occasional burrito. I feel like in the past year I have found myself here at least once a month, getting my carb fix. Apparentlly within the last 3 months they have taken on the task of EXPANDING the place and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. While I will miss walking through the kitchen to use the bathroom (I am guilty of always striking a conversation with the "panadero" in the back), Casa Latina is looking mighty swanky!!! The staff is--always--attentive and they make the best horchata latte that my taste buds dance everytime I have one. I hope it stays family friendly and they continue to provide the treats I've grown to love. I'm also excited for the changes (looks like they have a stage set up in the back) to come!
(5)
Elena Y.

What a nice place. I love the gothic/rustic ambience the decor gives off. Pleasant atmosphere, clean and open feeling space, very friendly staff, and tasty food! This food definitely picked up my mood after a tiring day. I tried the tostada with carnitas--it's delicious! I recommend it! I will be coming here again, for sure.
(5)
mark b.

We stopped off on Sunday on our way home from a nice walk and boy, was it awesome!! My wife is from SoCal and grew up on good Mexican food, and this is our new go to place. Great value for money and everything - from the chips to the service - was awesome. Two thumbs waaay up!
(5)
Jennifer D.

Be sure to add chorizo to your breakfast burrito, sandwich or whatever you order. Delicious strong coffee, friendly fast service, simple modern atmosphere with current Latin pop music playing. Traditional Mexican pastries- choose your selection and they will wrap to go! I'll definitely return for lunch!
(4)
Janette R.

Tried the carnitas super burrito. It was just average. I prefer the San Francisco taquerias, like El Farolito, with their salsa bar. I had to ask for extra salsa. The chips were good. While I was waiting, I selected a few pastries for dessert and breakfast the next day. The Mexican wedding cookie was awful. Hoping the strawberry filled giant pink coconut ball is better. The decor is nice, and the place looks clean.
(3)
Angie W.

No refills on coffee for dine in customers anymore (key word: "customers")!?!? That's like blasphemy for a "restaurant" and they don't even fill the cup all the way and charge $2.25!!!! Poor decision by owners. You don't mess around when it comes to coffee drinkers. If you have people who abuse the refill system, you should address them individually with a limit if they sit there all day siphoning your coffee supply. They remodeled and it looks way nicer now, sure, but where's the heart of this place? The thing that makes people come back to support your business? It's sad... Manager wasn't in and staff didn't seem to care, saying it was out of their hands. Staff said the menu is changing. Did the owners change too? Foods ok. I really miss the natacamals. Casa Latina just lost two regulars. I hope they see the evil in their ways and make adjustments.
(2)
Allen S.

Another great authentic neighborhood resturant bites the dust. It's twice as "nice" on the inside and the food is now 1/2 as good. Carnitas cooked to a leathery consistency and unseasoned. Guacamole and sour cream tasteless and from a can, salsa fresca bland and I'm pretty sure every veggie on my plate in anything was delivered by sysco. Service was not terrible because it was mostly absent. Table was dirty. I didn't try a pastery because I want any remaining memory of this place to be good. May as well just change the name to Chipolte, this place used to be where food was made with love not a can opener. You get 1 star new owners, because you can't ruin a Mexican Coke and the art on the walls was at least pretty good.
(1)
Karen W.

I come here for my weekly coffee and the place is usually very busy! They have expanded and remodeled and it is very nice now. However, their prices for tamales has gone up for a plate of two tamales, beans, rice, salad for over $12. A bit on the high side for lunch. But the tamales are still delish
(4)
Isabelle M.

Beautiful place! They have such a great selection of baked goods, and their nachos are delicious! It's really clean, too and looks as though it has a nice seating area, although I have never sat there. I like to order dinner there and take it to the Albatross across the street. I've been there twice so far and will be coming again!
(4)
Summer M.

Before remodel and expansion we would come here for pan and coffee, good pan and great coffee. After the remodel and expansion we have trying different plates and are satisfied with every visit. The deco is awesome, good clean vibe...music and art. A must try!
(4)
Rosy G.

Love this place! Cute cafe and friendly service. Plus the food is delicious. Make sure to get some pan dulce.
(5)
Michelle C.

I visited this place on Tuesday around 7pm. It's a tiny place! You walk in. There are a few mexican bread displays, you can pick some out on a self-serve tray and/or order your food & drink. I really wanted to try a torta, but I decided to try the tamales plate with one green chicken tamale and one red beef tamale. They were decent. The rice and beans were decent too. My SO had a burrito and he liked this place more than Taqueria Talavera. (But I disagree). I also ordered a pineapple aqua fresca. It was a little watery but still good. We were too full for bread. Maybe next time :) Ps- when we left around 8pm all the shady characters came out! The bums and creepers. I wasn't comfortable walking back to my car (luckily I was with someone). So please go when it's still light outside or have a friend! Pps- I originally had a window seat until some guy started smoking outside. The business door was open and the workers didnt mind, but I did. So I walked back to the 3 tiny table area and finished my meal there. I'd visit again for a torta.
(4)
Nlza G.

2 tacos de papa-Potato, and a coke was 10 bucks. 30 mins later in an empty restaurant and I'm Still waiting? You've Got to be kidding me. This isn't the first time I've waited too long for this place. Never again
(1)
Prabisha T.

I've only tried their tres leches here but oh my god this bakery would thrive selling only that. So delicious!!!! They don't have it everyday though so if you are looking to try it, make sure to call in advance and see if they have it that day!
(5)
Lutetia L.

They changed their interior lately and the whole store got a LOT bigger. I have to say I still liked it more before when they were a small store front. It was just much homier...Now it feels like a posh Cafe rather than a small burrito and bakery place. I first started coming here when I learned that they had Lengua Burrito. Think about it, lengua, in Berkeley!!!! It was really good! Almost as good as the ones I have had in the Mission. However, a few months ago they stopped serving lengua because they said it was too expensive. Now thinking about it, they wanted to save money so they could expand their store? I basically stopped going after their lengua was gone. The most recent time I went was because I suddenly started to crave their Mexican pastries. They used to have so many choices that are so delicious and even fullfilling to just to look at. However, this time besides discovering they have a new store look I also felt their pastry selection became smaller. And they started serving donuts...I don't recall seeing donuts there ever before... I guess the 4 star rating is really a nostalgic rating for what Casa Latina was in my memories.
(4)
Erick Z.

Insanely good brunch! Fresh and delicious. Chilaquiles and enfrijoladas I've had in the Bay Area!!! And the sweets........ Holy cow.
(5)
HW Y.

Awesome burritos and tamales! The tortilla and all other ingredients were in pretty good harmony. Unfortunately, the carne asada in my burrito was relatively dry compared to most five star burritos i had before in the bay. The meat in the tamales was also a bit dry. Other than the meat being somewhat dry, the restaurant was clean and organized unlike most taqueria.
(4)
Tran H.

Love the interior of this place! Could be a nice study space if they have wifi. I ordered the carnitas burrito, which tasted very healthy and bland. The best part was the chips. Hopefully the pastries will not disappoint as well...
(2)
Darth M.

i went back to grab a chicken salad .....and wow they raised the price from $8 to $10 so i was going to go with another dish and that was raised a few dollars also id think with the bad customer service they have they would leave well enough alone i wont step foot into there again i remember when the other guy owned it he was a very " one of the people kinda guy" had great prices and great customer service i dont know who owns it now but with the way its going i doubt he will have it long
(1)
Peggy P.

Love their nachos and vegetarian tamales. Will definitely be visiting this place a lot.
(4)
Rick S.

Carne Asada plate. Ok I've had this a million times since early childhood, even at awesome taco stands in the heart of Mexico, but have never had it served where the meat was broken up like barbacoa but smelled like carnitas. This was not the carne asada I was expecting. That said it wasn't bad enough to reject, and they did heap a bunch on the plate along with decent rice, beans, and guac. Will try another meat or tamales next time. Grilled chicken tacos. Tender all-white meat, and had good flavor. Tortillas are really small but typical of true Mexican tacos. This is a keeper. Agua fresca made from cantelope. Seriously good. I'd go back just for that.
(4)
Barbra I.

Got the super nachos with Barbacoa and mmmmmmmmm! Only $9 and the meat was excellent. Coming back for more. So excited about this place!
(5)
Julie M.

I love this place! Their tacos are my favorite in Berkeley, simple, delicious, and served with a lime. Staff is friendly and helpful. Try the Horchata Latte (cold or hot) and you'll be converted for life. Their pan, tamales, and everything I've tried from here is delicious. I've been coming here for years and am so impressed with the remodel. It's BEAUTIFUL inside and I can't wait to see it when it's all done.
(5)
Joann L.

I absolutely LOVE this place! I moved to the area over a year ago and I was hooked after my first visit. The staff is great! They greet you with a smile every time you walk in. If they get an order wrong, they instantly remedy the problem with making you exactly what you want. Oh, and the food! The food here is amazing! The pastries are to die for! If you're ever in the area, come to Casa Latina. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Misha T.

Great oaxacan chicken tamale, sort of mehh carnitas taco. But they're open reasonably late and it tastes authentic, at least to my palette. Next time I go I'll probably get a torta b/c this place is technically still a bakery so i figure their bread should be boss.
(4)
Jenn T.

This is the cutest little bakery with such good food and all kinds of yummy bread! I first came here because me and the boo were looking to eat some tamales on a sunday morning after church.. not sure how we ended up in Berkeley but I'm glad we did! Seriously.. most bakeries that serve food really isn't that great.. but OMG.. Tamales were on point! we came here a second time and ordered nachos.. I DIE.. i usually order nachos everywhere I go who serves them and I already had my heart set on one place thats my go to.. but now it belongs to Casa Latina.. lol.. nachos were fresh, tasty, good size portion and made with love! BREAD! my total weakness.. it doesn't help that everything in their store looks so good!! I usually get something that is smothered in butter and sugar but I realized now that I have to get something plain to eat to drink with my mexican hot chocolate. They recently remolded the inside and its lovely! so much more space and plenty of tables to eat! if you're the type that like to eat and have something sweet after every meal you have to try this place out! food, dessert, coffee and more! all around great find and the staff is super friendly.. cant beat that!
(5)
Julie L.

I miss cheap Mexican food. I have yet to find anything that really replaces what I've had in LA, but it is nice to see that I have some options in Berkeley. But Casa Latina is definitely not cheap. A burrito will be about $8 and a taco is $2.50. They also serve tamales, tortas, nachos and salads. Not a fairly large menu, but popular items. But they do have a good menu of drinks. Juices, aguas frescas and a good selection of coffee drinks. We ordered a carne asada burrito and two pan dulces. The pan dulces I got ( a coconut macaroon and a tri-colored sugar cookie) were pricey too. About $2.25 for both. They were fresh and pretty sweet. The coconut macaroon was very sweet. Good with coffee or hot chocolate. The carne asada burrito was HUGE and came with a small side of tortilla chips. Oh and the best part was that you can customize the burrito to make it healthier. We got our burrito with a whole wheat tortilla and black beans. Guacamole and sour cream is an extra 50 cents. But I found it odd that the beef was shredded. Usually when I eat carne asada the meat is cut into cubes. Overall the burrito was very hearty. Limited seating inside and they do have free wifi. But it isn't advertised. You have to ask for the password. Not a great place to study because of the limited seating, but a good place to come if you are craving mexican food and pan dulce.
(3)
Brian C.

Walked in to grab a quick snack. It is a good sized Mexican bakery and restaurant. They have a lot of good dishes, but the tacos were some pretty good stuff. The carne asada is really tender and the salsa makes the taco so good. Will have to come back to try out the baked goods and the nachos.
(5)
Cake M.

I was pleasantly surprised by Cafe Latina. Last night I had left nearby Everett & Jones BBQ with my head hanging because they were out of what I wanted (boo), so as I was driving north up San Pablo I spotted Cafe Latina and pulled over, figuring I'd give it a try. When I walked in I was a little skeptical since it was doing double duty as a panaderia AND taqueria (I never trust double duty, be that a TV/DVD combo or a panaderia/taqueria), but I once I got home and tucked into my Super Carne Asada burrito I was impressed. It was delicious and the ingredients tasted very quality. I found the prices, while not super bargains, were fair enough for the quality of product I received. The service was good, the paintings were fun to look at, and I especially enjoyed the little ofrenda area and the candle next to the cash register. The pastries looked beautiful. I would definitely go back here, and trust me, if a taqueria isn't really good, I'm not making the same mistake twice.
(5)
Alixx O.

Try the trece leches cake...
(4)
Doug F.

Love this place. Had the breakfast burrito and Abuelita's hot chocolate. Definitely my go to Mexican restaurant for breakfast.
(5)
Caz V.

I love this place! Once they were rather late w my order and gave me an extra taco for free. My friend and I go there once or twice a week. We always get the "barbacoa tacos" we've tried this dish at other Mexican restaurants and it had never been so good as Casa Latina. The prices are good and the bakery is awesome. Extra bonus: they recently renovated, it's spacious and pretty. The folks who work there are nice too.
(5)
Jason T.

If you're craving for no frills Mexican food, Casa Latina Bakery will not disappoint, and especially not its quesadillas. On a weekend, you will hardly find anyone here. There's not really a reason to be here though - there's not enough chairs and tables for everyone, and even if there are seats, something about the interior puts the place in between a restaurant/tacqueria and a home, so it's honestly a bit odd. You come here for the food though, and the beef tongue is as good here as it is anywhere else. My quesadilla came with lots of meat and had great portions of other ingredients as well. Tortilla chips are complementary, though I could hardly eat any of mine as my quesadilla was so large.
(4)
Michelle T.

All of the yummy looking treats made it hard to decide what to get. The worst part is that I didn't even come in for any of the bakery items. I searched on Yelp for Mexican Hot Chocolate and boy were they on right. I truly enjoyed my beverage and my bakery treat.
(5)
Bob S.

nowhere else can i find Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡Â¡barbacoa burritos!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Rayne H.

CONCHAS!! The best in the bay! After living my whole life in Southern San Diego, I had a high standard for my Mexican pastries. I was pleasantly surprised that we found such wonderful conchas in Berkeley. It eased my feelings of being homesick whenever I needed a pick me up! The staff were also always very sweet as well.
(5)
Chris J.

Another example of how a single off night can impart a negative review. I have often eaten at Casa Latina, getting a late evening dinner or snack for my wife and I, but of the past few times I have eaten there, it's been a service hit or miss. I don't quibble over the food--it's decent and reasonably priced, but the service? Ordered two pork tamales with red sauce. Got these tamales with green things in them...with GREEN sauce. While it tasted fine I'm really pretty tired out of not getting what I ask for. Am I going to go back there and whine about it after getting home to find the order screwed up. Anyway, it won't happen much more often. Wife prefers La Mission at Chestnut and Uni even though they are pricier...though a bit tastier. Sorry, Casa El...
(3)
Arthur Y.

Solid baked goods and solid burritos. Cheap. What isn't there to love? I personally like the baked pastry with the pineapple filling - somewhere between a turnover and a cookie. Shaped like a turnover, with a bit of a crunch. Burrito was a burrito....nothing crazy or extra amazing, just solid. Comes with some chips and salsa which was a nice touch.
(4)
AnneMarie W.

Every pastry tastes the same. And, one of the guy employees looks at you like a hungry dog for a tip.
(2)
Ivan R.

This place has a very friendly staff, their tamal is out of this world. Delicious! The place is very authentic always has nice Latin music playing and beautiful art everywhere. if you want a peaceful and delicious cup of coffee, a very friendly customer service, that is your place.
(5)
Aaron R.

This place has been completely remodeled. There is a lot more space with a larger dining area. The food was good. THEY DONT HAVE COFFEE REFILLS $2.25 for a cup of coffee only 2/3 full is a deal breaker for me! Probably won't be back.
(2)
Mido E.

Friendly staff and great fresh Mexican good! I like this place! They have a great customer service ! Which makes u enjoy the food even better! Tasty big burritos
(5)
Sally A.

Darn! I was hopeful that the new owners would not completely destroy everything about this great neighborhood taqueria. First to go were some of the delightful employees, then the cozy atmosphere, but alas the food was still the same. But now, they switched form their incredibly tasty, grilled chicken to bland, chopped-up, over-cooked tasteless chicken. At about $8 for a chicken burrito, why bother? After being a regular for about four years, and having given the new owners a chance, I too will be spending my money elsewhere.
(2)
David D.

I absolutely love the tacos here. They're cooked with olive oil, feel fresh, the meat is nice and crispy, and always, always delicious What keeps this place from a 4/5 star rating, in my opinion, is the price of the food. It is definitely worth the quality, but it's not the cheapest taco or burrito out there. The second thing is the almost always longer-than-usual wait that I experience after having ordered my food. They can get really backed up, and it can sometimes be more than 15 minutes before you get your order. All this to say, if you have time on your hands, they're not busy, and you want a solid taco or burritos, this is the place to stop by.
(3)
John F.

Came in today after hearing all these great stories about their homemade tomales. Asked for a dozen pork tamales to go and the lady smiled and said "they are $3.98 each" I was shocked but decided to order anyway. The gal came back and told me were out of pork. I asked if they had had chicken and was told again, "we're all out". This was enough for me spending potentially $3.98'per tamale. I'll look somewhere else for sure
(1)
Frank M.

Good coffee! Great pastries..! "Panaderia" well heck I'll give it a try I've been here only twice first time around had the pastries, amazing can't complain one bit it's not easy to come by good Latin pastries in the Bay Area cheers Casa Latina, yet second visit not so cheerful the tamales masa was bad seemed reheated, and dry made up 95% of the tamale, black beans bland.. I hope the oaxaqueÃ±os aren't as tasteless, I had a bite of the chorizo croissant and that was good..all n all I'll come back for the bread n hope for menu improvements..
(3)
Natashia F.

Casa Latina is a wonderful and delicious place to go that is not crazy crowded. The food is priced very reasonably and it's totally delicious. Our kids love it also, because when we are done with dinner or lunch, they get to choose from an amazing display of baked goods!
(5)
Adam B.

Came here to try the tortas after reading a good review online. I was not disappointed! The sandwich was very flavorful, fresh, and sat well in my stomach. The staff was friendly and the space was very open and relaxing. I look forward to returning!
(5)
Ian C.

Some of the best, most tender meats I've had at a taqueria, hands-down. The quesadilla suiza with carne asada is one of my favorite Mexican dishes ever. Barabacoa and carnitas are both really good, too. Tres Leches cake & flan also great.
(5)
Lily L.

Love the staff. Love the food. Love the atmosphere. Jenny is super nice and friendly. It's awesome that she remembers me by my name! I love their breakfast burrito and chicken plate. Yummmmm
(5)
Cameron J.

The best tacos in Berkeley, the best Barbacoa. We would make a trip in to Berkeley just to visit. And oh yeah, the best macaroons in the history of the universe, on a different level than the rest of the pastries.
(5)
Sarah B.

$6 dollars gets you a bag of pastries, and iced tea and an afternoon of snacking! I've never had their tacos or tortas----just baked stuff. Always solid!
(5)
Marco M.

The nacatamal is fantastic - moist as can be and stuffed with pork, prune, onion, pepper and much more. Succulent texture. Their puddin pan (bread pudding) was also excellent.
(4)
K M.

A local favorite! Love everyone who works here and the super nachos, while not traditional, are just too yummy to pass up!
(5)
Jasmine T.

Ahhhhh! I love this place! Everything is so fresh and tastes like it's cooked with love. Had the chorizo breakfast burrito with everything and black beans. So huge and good! Fresh squeezed OJ is the bomb too!
(5)
Erin G.

What I ate: Horchata, assorted pastries Visit date: January 12, 2012 First time? No. Horchata - whoa. That's good stuff. I enjoyed all the spices and the sweetness. I tried the pastries today -- I'm a big fan of the chocolate chip cookie. On other days, I've enjoyed their burritos and watermelon aguas frescas when they have it. This is a great place for a quick savory or sweet (or both!) bite.
(3)
Cindy C.

Good food and nice staff. Very excited for their nacatamales and Frida Khalo portraits.
(5)
Kim l.

Met up with the cousins for lunch at CL on Saturday. There is some seating inside and outside in the front. Free street parking on the side street. I ordered the $2.30 tacos which came with green sauce, onions: Carne: 2.5/5 meat was dry Carnitas: 4/5 good texture and flavor, not too salty Barbacoa: 5/5 great flavor! Baskets: custard 3/5, strawberry 4/5, peach 5/5, pineapple 4/5 Orchata: 3/5 not the traditional flavor I am used to. Friendly service, cute place, decent food.
(4)
Ben W.

I freaking love this place. Quick service, reasonable prices, and most importantly great tasting food. Best taqueria in Berkeley. Their recent expansion made a bit more room for dining in also. Thanks, I'll keep coming back!
(5)
Eddie T.

Love this place for their Mexican style drinks (hot chocolate), tamales and sweet bread. Best of its kind in the area without having to go over to Alameda or SF. I appreciate it's proximity which is a plus. Parking is sometimes a challenge, but you will manage.
(3)
John P.

I've been here twice to make sure the burritos are always good. They are! This is the best burrito in Berkeley. If you want some salsa and lime on the side of your burrito just ask. Their horchata is good as well. I usually get the carne asada burrito. The staff is always friendly and the tables are always clean. They have interesting art on the wall and I love to make table conversation talking about the intentions of the decorations. The meat is soft and tasty. The burrito isn't all wet at the bottom. They care about their creations and it shows.
(5)
Adel A.

Their burrito, especially the chicken, is pretty good. But every one should come here for their pastries.... The variety and freshness is ... Just wow. They remind me by the bread workshop that closed a couple of years ago on university.
(4)
Kat W.

Casa Latina has had a makeover and it looks fabulous. Bring your group party now cause there's plenty of room. Food's still excellent.
(5)
Jenny M.

Breakfast burritos are one of my favorite breakfast meals, so I knew I had to come here and try theirs! My boyfriend and I visited on a weekend afternoon for brunch. I was surprised by how small the bakery was - there weren't many seats to sit at so it was kind of a competitive scramble to wait by tables until people were finished. I did end up getting my burrito - it was HUGE!! It was $9 which is a little steep, but it turned out to be enough for 2 meals for me, so that was definitely worth it.
(4)
Me J.

amazing selection of baked items. adorable shop.
(5)
Erin W.

FAVORITE TAQUERIA!!! The rows of pastries and treats always look amazing, but I come for the chicken nachos & steak burrito. Everything is so fresh, great quality and portion size. Other must haves: bottle of mexican coke or a grapfruit izzy, and a rainbow sprinkle cookie to take home. Love this place.
(5)
Bernie L.

Green chicken tamales were disappointing. I see one reviewer here says they offer more than one kind. Whatever kind they served me, they were 5/6 cornmeal, with a sliver of chicken in the middle. As I got the plato with rice and beans, I ended up with a whole lot of carb and very little to flavor it. Ended up leaving most of it there. At around $9, a pretty lousy value. Doesn't reflect on the rest of the menu, but I'm not inclined to try other offerings, based on that experience.
(2)
Jessica X.

The tacos are solid tacos. They are not going to change your world. Sadly if you are frequenting this stretch of San Pablo, that might be what you need. The neighborhood, specifically this block is full of shady people, most likely due to Bing's Liquors next door. Be prepared. Two tacos are not $2 as you might suspect from a quick glance at the menu. No, it's two tacos for $2.30 each which means you get one taco for $2 or two for around $5 after tax. I call bullshit on that. If you don't want onions, apparently you should be explicit. Mentioning that as you order doesn't count. Also the hot salsa is pretty much hot sauce, a distinction that might be lost on many but here? really? Also they do not have carry-out containers. You will receive a plate with foil over it, and a plastic bag if you wish. Your chips may be soggy when you get back to work or home. It's not a good system. Overall, I'm bummed not so much with the food but with the whole experience. I'd return but only out of desperation. QuÃ© lastima.
(2)
JR S.

I've been in Albany for a few years and can't believe it took me this long to find this place. Amazing pastries that are unique baked fresh and not overwhelmingly sweet which is Just perfect. Great service. Leave with a horcha-latte. Delicious!!! I love this find!!!
(5)
Laura F.

This should be the official "fast food" of busy, looking for cheap good food people. Great atmosphere, Luz greets us everytime with a big smile and the best quesadillas! I love going there with my 3 y.o. and friends. I have ordered plates for parties and it is always a success; rice, beans and salsa fresca do the trick. So if you are looking for a great treat, try Casa Latina.
(5)
Christina C.

Tres Leches Cake. Otherwise known as Not-For-Asian Cake. That stereotype, about Asians not being able to handle a lot of dairy? It's mostly true. It doesn't create the same type of hell for all Asians. For me, it showed me the face of god. A few weeks ago, I had this suicidal urge to eat as much tres leches cake as I could get my hands on. I plotted about where to purchase it. I planned. I schemed. I almost lied to my BF in order to make a slight detour to pick up a slice of this cake. The Tres Leches Cake from this location was much more affordable. It was about $3.25 for a huge square, packed tight into a plastic take-away container, swimming in milky juices. Yes, take all the descriptive terms for a freshly shucked oyster and apply it here. Ha. That's right. That is exactly how my stomach felt after I ate half of this cake. The cake was firm even though it was soaked within an inch of its life. It would have been a terrible, dry, nasty cake if not for the milk mixture. The milk mixture was sweet but not putrid. It was not sticky. A plus. But. It lacked that sweet, delicious vanilla scent. The cake tasted authentic, and not at all bourgeois. The two or three times I've had tres leches cake (from different stores), I've suffered a terrible stomach ache. I mean really really bad. I saw the face of god. And yet, it took a few more stomach aches before I learned my lesson. Who knew?
(3)
Sean B.

Little hole in the wall I passed a hundred times and never stopped. My friend told me about it, said to meet her there after work. Didn't know what to order, so played it safe. Steak burrito. OMG. It was HUGE and I'm a big dude... 6'6 and 215 lbs. Well, 220 lbs. after the burrito. It was tasty, reasonably priced, and convenient. Just not at all helping the diet.
(4)
Daniel B.

I have been coming here about once a week for almost two years. Every time I come, we get a variety of treats. We try to mix in one "new" pastry every visit. And still, we continue to encounter new and wonderful additions to the menu. As a family of gringos it was daunting at first. Everything was unfamiliar. But now we are experts. Regulars. I cannot vouch for authenticity, and I still don't know the names of the pastries. But I can vouch for deliciousness. Every time we go, I feel like we are robbing the place. Breakfast for 3 rarely exceeds $5 including coffee. It's a similar feeling that I used to get at the Downtown Bakery & Creamery in Healdsburg many moons ago. Why not 5*? There are a few places I think casa latina falls short. Their burritos are lackluster and expensive - mostly at fault is their rice. And while the pastries are very delicious, they are not flawless. My favorites: A sheet of baked custard on a pie like crust (even though the crust is a smidge thick). Crispy flaky pockets filled with pastry cream. Bread pudding - especially the day after roscas (even though it is on the overly sweet side) Peanut butter cookies that have an otherworldly texture (crisp, then sandy, then silky) Egg yolk enriched rolls, stuffed with sweetened cheese Their carnitas torta is magnificent. MAGNIFICENT. I could eat them all day, every day, if I had no heart and did not need to wear pants. It's my favorite meat there. The taco's are super tasty, driven on the strength of the carnitas. You must go. Be brave, bold robot. Just please don't come on Saturday mornings between 8a and 10a. That's when I am there, and it is hard enough to get one of the 4 tables already. But take out is good too.
(4)
Rinky N.

We still LOVE this place. We go here at least twice a month. Just a heads up. On our last visit we parked around the corner from the liquor store. There was a group of 4 or 5 adults who were drunk. They asked us for spare change. My son politely said, "no, sorry." I was ahead of my husband and son and I saw this one guy starting to swing a fist at my son. His friends just laughed. I know nothing happened but just be aware of some of the people who seem to be constantly hanging out near the liquor store next to Casa Latina.
(5)
Jane Q.

Great food and bakery items. The staff was very friendly and answered all questions with a smile. It was a little expensive, really more than you would think. My boyfriend had a super burrito and I had a tamale. We each had a soda and we bought some bread pudding (which was heavenly by the way) to go. My bill came to $17.00. We didn't buy dinners, simply ala carte. I don't think I'll go there often, but I will go again. And especially when I'm in the mood for bread pudding!
(4)
Jenny S.

I love it! + very decent prices + beautiful cafe with a great vib. + pastries look so amazing! + nachos are crazy good - Service was okay
(4)
Captain P.

I normally just go for a burrito, but I got a torta last time instead, and OH MY GOD IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD!!! Super fresh bread roll (I'm very picky about bread), great mix of ingredients, and at least as big as a super burrito. I expected it to be good, but it was way better than the burritos which are already great. Go for the spicy shredded pork with chiles. You don't be disappointed!
(5)
Clair F.

DE-LISH!!!! I'm a LOVER of pastry and the pastry here puts a bounce in my step! I bought over half a dozen for just under $10 and did a late night sampling with my roomy, it was delectable :D Each pastry is the size of my fist or bigger! It's dangerous that I live only 4 blocks from this place.
(4)
Christopher W.

Had a second "game night" with co-workers at Albatross Pub. Last time we got baked goods from Casa Latina to go along with our Popeyes chicken. This time I suggested we check out the hot food here. Unfortunately as the name would imply, Casa Latina really is a bakery. The hot foods must have been an afterthought to appeal to a wider variety of customers. A little disappointed that the burrito was just "warm", not hot. Salsa was also placed on the side instead of directly into the burrito. Brought some bizcocho home and that was good. The folks that work here (assuming they are the owners) are super nice though!
(3)
Nina Y.

We moved from living above a bakery to across the street from one. I am never going to lose weight! Casa Latina is reasonably priced and convenient. Their tamales are excellent. We always get the chicken/verde and the chicken is moist and tasty. The service is friendly and efficient, and the coffee was good (soy cappuccino). The pastries vary - sometimes I like them and other times they aren't to my taste.
(4)
Joyce D.

I came here - probably because one of my friends reviewed it and I am so glad that I did! Came for breakfast and had the tamales and torta. Delicious. They have a few tables inside if you want to eat there, in which case I was glad I did because I ended up ordering more tamales. And then got some horchata - which was a little thicker than what I've had before. And thennnn got some pastries! Be careful with the sugared ones, they will get all over your face, clothes, car, table, living room. It's impossible to eat it without getting specks of sugar everywhere. That being said, this would not stop me from devouring it again. I think that the only thing I would ask is to have descriptions of the pastries they offer. Like, I remember just picking what I thought looked good but I don't know what's in it... so it's like a surprise! I'm more of a savory person than a sweets person, but I really enjoyed both and would go back for both!
(4)
Joy S.

I lived for 20 years in SF's Mission District and then lived for awhile in Central Mexico, so I think it's safe to say that I've eaten a LOT of Mexican food, some good, some bad, some authentic, some not so much. After reading the other reviews, I was expecting at least good things from this place. I definitely wasn't expecting what I got! First, I ordered a carne asada quesadilla suiza. I liked that it automatically came with crema and guacamole as well as having the salsa fresca and salsa verde on the side. It looked meaty and smelled great. but... What I most certainly didn't like was the enormously salty carne! Dear God, I have never encountered anything that unexpectedly salty since the time Aunt Nancy dropped the salt shaker in the turkey soup and didn't tell anyone until we sat down to eat! Maybe the cook had an accident. I surely hope so and that they don't routinely feed Berkeley a month's dose of sodium with every entre! I managed to eat lunch by dumping out most of the meat (yes, there was a lot) and dousing the remains in the unsalty condiments and crema. Okay, the I tackled the custard empanada. These are, from living in the Mission, one of my favorite baked items on the planet. There are a couple of panaderias on 24th St that make empanadas particularly well. Sadly, Casa Latina was NOT up to that level. The pastry was over process and over baked so that it was hard, dry and crumbly. I mean, I had to break it using both hands! Lots of custard inside, which was nice, but what the heck is it made out of? It tasted like nothing natural, more like it was made from thickened antifreeze! Yuck. I should have tried the cochas instead! I guess I'm just going to have to keep going into the city if I want good pastry and decent Mexican. At least I don't have to go all the way back to Guanajuato!
(2)
Jonathan H.

This place is great. I ordered the Pork Oaxacan Tamal and a regular Pork Tamal with spicy salsa and sour cream on top. Sooo good. Add to it the Cafe Mocha and this was a perfect brunch. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone who knows and appreciates this kind of Latin food.
(5)
Cesar G.

This is a wonderful hole in the wall. Great relaxed atmosphere plus solid, inexpensive food. The tamale de rajas was tasty but the masa to filling (rajas and cheese) was off--too much masa. The salsa picante was definitely hot but it wasn't too high on taste. The side of rice and black beans was just right. I would've given it three stars based on the food and atmosphere alone but I can't ignore that I paid $4.40 for this meal. For that price it gets a bump to four stars. I'd gladly return.
(4)
Jim P.

Super secret spot: burrito, salsa.
(4)
Laurie H.

The best, most affordable horchata in the Oakland/Berkeley area. For reals. Plus a plethora of unbelievable Mexican baked goods at a great price - yum. What's not to love? Five stars after I eat some cooked items and love them.
(4)
e m.

I want so badly to give this place a five star review. Pros: Exceptional food. I mean delectable. We've ordered quite a few things off of the menu and have always considered it all a masterpiece of nearly traditional Mexican food. The only real difference from traditional Mexican is that is is not nearly as decadent. The food feels and tastes much lighter which, for me, is a huge plus. The pastries are more irreverent. But who doesn't want their pastries dripping with calories and yum? Cons (and the reasons for the lost star): Seating is limited. Service can be slow at times. And, as far as water, don't serve me a doctor's office dixie cup and a provide a miniscule room temperature water dispenser. That is just tacky and totally inconvenient. When I'm eating hot Mexican salsas, I don't want to have to refill my water 47 times. It just doesn't make for the most comfortable dining experience. And, if this is a ploy to make me buy a drink, guess what - I LIKE WATER and I don't like wasting plastic when the bay area has the safest tap water in California. This place really is lovely. I still don't like taking that star away but the water thing is a big deal for me. I still eat there often. The 47 water trips have made for great cardio.
(4)
Corina V.

Oh. My. God. THIS PLACE. After several months of not having anything even remotely Mexican (seriously, chipotle..la burrita....go jump off a cliff, for real) in Berkeley, I came across this place. Right in a shady, dirty area fit for a 99cents only store?? I am Home. (yeah... I am from the ghetto.. but that's where the best food is at !) Casa Latina Bakery is amazing. The lady speaks Spanish. Yes everyone. Spanish. There is no Asian or white person trying to sell me a burrito here. For real Latinos serving up delicious pan dulce, tacos, quesadillas! Even one of my friends from Mexico (as in, she just moved here, I haven't been back in years) approved of this place! They have CONCHAS. Conchas. I would approve of a drug dealer if he offered me some great, freshly made conchas.The only place I found them before here was Seven Eleven. That is just depressing. The lady behind the counter was nice, the food was delicious, and the shop is just so cute! I had carne asada tacos, and friends had quesadillas, loved it to bits. Would've licked the plate. Funny thing.... everyone else here (as in customers) was white or black.... which makes me think, maybe the serious lack of Mexican food in Berkeley is because there's a serious lack of Latinos here! I want to come again now. Will do. Conchas.
(5)
Bea B.

Morning fare: the bounty of baked goods is very reasonably priced and of good quality. I love their macaroons; they are huge and around a dollar per. The only bummer is that if you order a huge amount of goodies, and request that they be boxed, the chick behind the counter disappears into the nether regions of the shop (for days!!!) looking for a box. One is left standing at the counter feeling like a goober. But, I'm sorry, twenty pastries for a huge group of folk are best accessed by a box and not a bag, so I ask each and every time. The coffee is tasty and less than what one would pay at one of the "third wave" PDX-like coffee houses. They'll also whip up a freshly juiced cup of carrot goodness, if one is so inclined. I love fresh carrot juice. :) Lunch and dinner fare: the tamales are rad and two bucks each. :) The burritos are tasty, but pricey. I recall them being around seven bucks. If one is in the area, then this place is definitely worth a stop-in.
(4)
Stephanie W.

My new apartment is only 3 blocks away from Casa Latina. I sense this may be a problem in the near future... I've gone to Casa Latina twice already (in the two weeks I've lived here). The first time I had their carnitas torta and a delicious sweet roll filled with custard. The torta was the style that I prefer in my mexican sandwiches: soft bread, the great thin sour cream sauce and generous amounts of avocado. The sandwich is $7, but it is big and quite filling. The pastry was equally amazing and quite dense, though perhaps not the best thing I could have ordered. The second time, I asked for a chicken tamale. They old me they were out of Mexican style tamales, but still had Guatemalan style tamales and Nicaraguan style. Mexican style is made with a more dry cornmeal while the Guatemalan is more wet (which I prefer) and the Nicaraguan is full of savory items like olives and capers and mint and so much other good stuff. I haven't encountered any other place that sells those two types, and I love how different a real Nicaraguan tamale is from everything else out there. I ended up going with the Guatemalan tamale, which was $2.50, hot, with the perfect corn to filling ratio. The Nicaraguan is $5, which I intend to try eventually. And even though the sweet and savory foods at Casa Latina are great, the best part about it is the service. The owner is so sweet and will explain what all their baked goods are and give you the best recommendations. The prices are a bit more than most Mexican bakeries, but the quality really comes through in everything they do. For good or bad (good for the soul, bad for the pocketbook) I will be a new regular at Casa Latina.
(5)
diana s.

I'm tickled pink to live around the corner from Casa Latina. I don't know what any of the baked goods are called (except the obvious ones like muffins or cookies), but I DO know they're ALL delicious. The chocolate and sprinkle topped muffin especially (topping a muffin with chocolate? Genius!). I've also tried the carnitas burrito, carnitas torta, and chorizo torta--all muy delicioso! They use their own rolls for the tortas, soft and chewy and perfect. Definitely try the horchata, it's very smooth and fresh!
(4)
Adrian K.

love the local taqueria spot. $10 dollar burrito, sure. But where its AT is the Torta ($9), asada or pollo or chorizo - doesn't matter either way it's going to make your day that much better (pair it with Coke in a bottle.) Silver Medal: Breakfast Croissant Torta with the works (pair with Chai Lattee) Bronze Medal: goes to the pink biscuit topped with coconut confetti and filled with random sugar fruity blend (i call it the "bisquet de bueno"). Pair that with a couple grilled pork tacos.
(4)
Anisha D.

We were looking for a bakery to make our wedding cake at the last minute, and Casa Latina came through for us. They made a delicious strawberry tres leches cake for us- one 13 inch round and two sheet cakes. It allowed us to save a lot of money, it was beautifully done and was easy for us to pick up. The owner is super sweet and really quite lovely. So proud to support this local business.
(5)
Andrew L.

this place is open early, their nachos are amazing. their jalapenos are big and taste amazing. i have only tried the burritos and nachos here, both very large and good, service is friendly. i do not like the neighborhood so much, it is not so bad, but it is near a liquor store. i used to come here to grab some food early if i pulled an all nighter, as most places open around 10 or 11, this place opens much earlier and has a place to sit down and eat.
(4)
Maninderpal M.

I walked into this place hungry! Some guy starts talking to me about how's he's seen hella Indians in the Bay Area, then tells me he's from New York visiting and has been coming to Casa Latina everyday. The guy (name is Nick) was totally cool, we started talking about politics, sports, racism towards Sikhs, all kinds of things, he asked me about some touristy things to do, all the places I told him about he had already gone with his wife, but he also paid for my food so that was super cool of him. I ordered some veggie tacos with black beans and some mexican bread, everything was good, i wouldn't say they were the best tacos i ever had but they were definitely good. I heard that the veggie burrito is supposed to be really good. I will definitely go back and try it. Mp's take: if in the area give it a shot
(3)
Jace D.

Get a pan dulce and try to get to the register before munching it all. Get the tamale plate and think you are at some hoity toity zagat rated trap. Get the Mexican hot chocolate and feel like you are in Oaxaca. Or just get a coffee and walk out. Any way you slice it, this place rocks!
(5)
Miranda E.

Surprisingly delicious for where it is! Totes recommended, food is yummy. Get it and take it over to Albatross and everyone will be jealous. They have tres leches cake !!
(4)
Jen R.

So happy to find a Mexican Bakery in Berkeley! I went in expecting the traditional sweet bread that is the more dense variety as opposed to the lighter bread with the pink or white sugar on top, they did have this kind, but not the denser one. I spent a lot of time looking at each pastry guessing what they might taste like and decided on a large slice of dark bread with frosting looking stuff on top and a dense looking pudding bread with raisens. I also ordered a caffe latte. Both breads were delicious. The one with frosting is actually a butter/sugar concotion that is very tasty and creamy. The bread pudding is very dense, even heavy, and has a really unique taste. I have never seen this variety at a Mexican bakery before. The helpful lady behind the counter told me they mix pudding and many types of sweet bread to make it. The caffe latte wasnt too tasty, but Im not a huge fan of non sweetend lattes and only got it to counter the sweetness in the breads. Everything else in there looked amazing. I cant wait to go back and try their veggie burrito and nachos. They have fresh fruit cups and agua fresca that looked amazing. Everything seems fresh and well done. Most of all I am looking forward to late October for their dead bread!! Also , very friendly workers who were cool with me asking many questions. No credit card minimum.
(4)
Kimberly F.

A solid 4 stars. One of my favorite taco places to go to in Berkeley. I always get the carne asada and carnitas tacos. The meat is marinated well and is juicy - just the way I like it! You can also get a fresh array of baked goodies. Service is quick and good.
(4)
Jen S.

Great baked goods! Pick up a platter and tongs and start loading those baked goodies. I highly recommend their macaroons and their rolls. They are fantastic for sandwiches. Their cookies are not too sweet which is a plus for me. Prices are so cheap. I haven't tried their food yet but it seems like a popular neighborhood spot.
(4)
Mochi N.

I adore this place. It's both a panaderia and a taqueria. I ordered two tacos, lengua and stewed beef, and they came served on extremely fresh corn tortillas. The freshness of the tortillas is key for me. The meat was fresh and plentiful. They have a sign on the menu that says that they only use good olive oil to cook the meat with, and the meat was not greasy at all. Two tacos--$5. I then bought three baked goods ($4). They have a huge variety--pastries filled with pumpkin, custard, apple, pinepple, etc. It's extremely fun just to browse through. The couple behind the counter was really nice on top of all that. Check it out.
(4)
Skylar S.

This rating is purely based on their pastries: Cheap, tough and overly sweet. I have nothing more to say about their pastries. I hear their "real food" is great, however.
(2)
Kathleen W.

Nom nom nom nom nom nom. Giant Burrito. Awesome selection of baked goods. Burrito was delicious, carnitas are a-typical but worth trying. Vegetarian selection as well. Very cute and tables outside if you want to ingest the smog of San Pablo. If you come with a friend, split the burrito and treat yourself to some very reasonably priced sweets.
(4)
Ori S.

We always take our 3 year old daughter here along with her friends after gymnastics class. Kids love the food, it's quick and healthy, and they can make a racket without getting mean stares from the other patrons. Great place!
(4)
Erika W.

The food was decent and the price was certainly right. I had a veggie quesadilla and they accomplished the impossible...too much cheese. My friends seemed to be satisfied with their various tacos although nothing was WOW. I was planning to get some baked goods to go, but a line of people accumulated while I was eating so I will have to come back for a turtle-shaped bread someday. I would recommend coming here if you need some interestingly shaped baked goods, perhaps for decorating a table at a party if you are serving buffet-style? Anyways, they have cute little alligators and turtles, etc. It could make a fun centerpiece.
(3)
Arielle G.

I was here getting my car worked on nearby and was desperately hungry, so I walked in with no expectations. I got a single taco to go, and it was a hefty portion complete with chips and salsa. I was really impressed by the speedy service and the good quality meat. Next time, I'm definitely trying their pan dulce.
(4)
Nicholas M.

It's good. I get burritos here all the time because I live in the neighborhood. But I'll never give a NorCal taqueria more than 3 stars because their burritos just don't have that same authentic, gut-wrenching, gastro-intestinal cancer-inducing taste as the burritos from back home in SoCal. HOWEVER! Casa Latina is more than just a taqueria. It's a cafe and bakery, too. So I'll give it 4 stars because of the bomb pastries and delicious, delicious horcha-lattes they serve. It's texmexcellent.
(4)
Danny Z.

Baked goods, S U P E R burritos, horchatas - a Mecca for those experiencing elevated hunger levels! The staff is always friendly and everything is fresh and baked right there. I highly recommend Casa Latina. Game recognize game.
(5)
Nathan M.

Horchata latte. That should tell you a little bit about what kind of panaderia this is. Had a regular breakfast burrito with medium chorizo for the food part. I would recommend getting the spicy option next time. The burrito did skew more "San Francisco" than not, i.e. with fresher, less salty ingredients and a foil wrap. If you still don't get the picture, think Chipotle. I definitely got the sense that the Spanish speaking proprietors did a substantial amount of culinary research in order to Bay Area-fy the food a bit, so there was a slight collision of authenticity metrics at play here. The horchata latte was a wonderful dessert-like drink. Otherwise, it was a filling breakfast with great customer service. I also grabbed some pan dulce, but the fact that it was late morning (~10AM) made it dryer than it probably was originally. The counter man even gave me and the man behind me a free pastry. It might have been because it looked overcooked, but it tasted fine to me. At the time I went, there was adequate metered parking, fortunately. I will likely return.
(4)
Maryam d.

I figured most spots would be closed on Xmas so I stopped to get my sugar fix yesterday and Casa Latina's flan is what I was craving. It is perfectly dense, custardy and painfully good as it should be, without being over sweet. You will find yourself moaning at this gruntingly good jellay.
(4)
Dreamer K.

Do not be confused by the restaurant name; they are not only a bakery! I have not had their baked goods yet, so i can't speak to that (just yet), but their savory offerings are SO good! one of the best mexican food restaurants in the east bay. I tried their "plate" with chicken...soo much food; delicious. I've also had their chicken tacos, which are doubled-up corn tacos. everything is grilled with olive oil, which I prefer for both taste and health reasons. the medium spicy is the best salsa; the hotter salsa was a little too hot. I like that they have a tiny "learn Spanish" station in the seating area : ) I know Spanish, butt the spanish-English dictionary and a chalkboard is just a sweet detail : )
(4)
Ryan M.

I went to this little gem early in the morning for some pastries. But their food smelled so good I walked out with some amazing tacos. Good price, friendly and fast service.
(5)
Ashley O.

Casa Latina is a restaurant after my own heart. Mexican food + baked goods = bliss. Even though I'm a huge fan now, my first experience at Casa Latina was somewhat disappointing, especially since I had such high hopes from yelp reviews. Mistake #1: Didn't order the right items off the menu Mistake #2: Ordered it to go Fortunately, I gave Casa Latina a second chance. My stomach would never forgive me if I let this one slip away. Casa Latina has won me over and is now my go-to eatery for nachos. And let me tell you, this place makes some crazy delicious carne asada super nachos. This scrumptious creation begins with a generous heap of freshly made tortilla chips, topped with carne asada, beans (pinto or black), shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, garnished with jalapeÃ±os. Each bite is better than the last. It's big enough to serve as a meal for two, so bring your A game. Definitely order this one to eat in-house to avoid the soggy chips and luke warm toppings that result from sitting in a styrofoam to-go container. The rows of freshly baked Mexican goodies transport me back to relaxing days in Puerto Vallarta. They even have the familiar metal trays and tongs so you can pile high whatever your heart desires. The treats are authentic and fresh - you can't go wrong for breakfast or a sweet treat after dinner. The prices are reasonable too, so splurge and try a few. Seating inside is limited, but it doesn't take too long to snag a table. There are also a few tables outside when the weather is cooperating to soak up the sun and people watch while scarfing down your food. The staff is really friendly, and will give you their pastry recommendations/favorites if you're having hard time deciding because everything looks so good. If you're in the mood for some tasty Mexican fare to satisfy your taste buds, make your way over to Casa Latina. Just make sure you bring your appetite and a friend to help you polish off a plate of super nachos.
(4)
Danie R.

This place is right around the corner from me and ever since they opened I find myself being drawn to thier food and/or sweets once a week. They have wonderful marinated meats that go well in any way they serve it. But there bakery is what really makes this place special. They have this bread pudding that is out of this world, the flan is the best I have had (even in Mexico), and my fiance is addicted to their sweet cheese rolls. This place is great for a Horchata latte and a sweet or just a really good burrito for lunch. Did I mention that the staff here are some of the nicest people I've met!
(5)
John J.

Good local taqueria when I'm driving up San Pablo and don't have time to sit and wait for a slow waiter to bring me my tacos, since I'm hungry, you know, and I could really use some tacos right now. So I go to Casa Latina and am very satisfied. I don't know about the pastries there since they're mexican style and I can't figure out what they are, but I'm sure they're good too.
(5)
Carrie M.

Casa Latina is a great neighborhood taco shop and Mexican bakery. The tacos are awesome, especially the barbacoa. The veggie tacos are really good, too, and huge. The nachos are decadent. Burritos satisfying. Guac is fresh and tasty. I think over the years I've tried ever pastry this place makes, because I keep hoping to find one that satisfies my western palate, but most of the gorgeous pastries are bone dry. It's been explained to me that the pastries are dry because they are supposed to be dunked into coffee. But sometimes I just want a tender, moist pastry. The macaroons are delicious and not dry, and ginormous, big enough for two or three. The ladies who work here are so sweet. Thank you Casa Latina, for making my neighborhood better.
(4)
Sheila C.

I love this place. I've been a patron for the past 5 years way before my son was born. Now he's a big fan. Every time we drive by this place he expects to stop by and grab his favorite cookie. I love their chorizo breakfast burrito which I always have to share with my husband or my younger sister. I also love their tamales. Big ups to their coffee.....I LOVE MR. ESPRESSO. yay! Pastries....I love! some people think it's dry but that's why you gotta eat your pastry w/ coffee. I gotta mention though that there were times where I've ordered drinks and had a difficult time ordering because the ladies behind the counter didn't speak much English. It's all good because they are all really sweet and accommodating.
(5)
Fred W.

Where else in the Bay area can you get an amazing, full meal, made on the spot with all fresh ingredients and incredible, authentic Mexican flavors, for under $5? Fabulous $2 tacos are far more filling and tasty than they'd appear. Ask for the "pico de gallo" (the fresh salsa). That's the BEST stuff, and they'll give you plenty. Also, their "Agua fresca" fruit drinks are AMAZING.
(5)
Sonia G.

I love to come here when I want to treat myself. I ordered the torta de lengua (of course), and it was great! Their ingredients are fresh and the meals are authentically mexican. Their pan dulce is amazing and has that soft fluffy feel to it. It also has the actual bits of cinnamon in it which makes all the difference. The place is small, maybe 4-5 tables and some outside seating. Overall friendly and tasty.
(5)
Chris H.

Their barbacoa tacos are on par with some of the best places in South Texas. They were so good I did the 2 mile round-trip walk the very next night for 3 more. 2 bucks each is a good price in my book. We bought our pastries late in the day. They were oId, but could tell they might actually be good when fresh out of the oven.
(5)
Shushan D.

i live near this place and it is amazing. It is far more than a bakery... they have delicious fresh food with lots of vegie options, the best and cheapest squeezed on the spot orange juice and carrot juice anywhere, very pleasant atmosphere but not much seating. the staff are sweet friendly and helpful. Lots of people get take out here. I don't eat pastries myself but they have a large selection of traditional mexican buns and cookies and people seem to like him. best place for breakfast in berkeley as far as i am concerned but then i don't like the regular american bacon and eggs thing. the portions are enormous and u can get one portion for 2 people even if you are a big eater. they have some unusual things like horchata lattes and my friend raves about their mexican hot chocolate. very nice place to go after a movioe for tea and a snack. They really should expand the seating and advertise as a restaurant... such good prices and economical prices
(5)
Tyler B.

When we walked in hipsters immediately gawked. I think they were mad that some college kids discovered their "taqueria". "That's spanish for taco restaurant" jaja congratulations hipster on your nominal comprehension of the Spanish language. You're dressed like a jackass, then again this part of Berkeley is infamous for smelly white kids with tight pants and bad fashion sense so can't blame the establishment, although many people do =). The lady was a peach and very friendly, didn't even charge me for the chips and salsa. The panderia smelled really good and I liked the concept. The burrito was huge and filled with alot of steak. The steak was cooked on a pan though, dammit !! Loved everything besides the hipsters and the non-grilled steak.
(3)
Christopher M.

Mouthwatering $2 Barbacoa Tacos were excellent! (Barbacoa is a slow-roasted shredded beef smothered in Chile Colorado sauce, bursting with flavor without the overpowering spicy heat). They also have an extensive selection of pastries. They DO accept cards. Seating is minimal, with about 3 small tables inside & 3 outside = great for take out. Ps. The guy at the counter was HOT!
(4)
Nancy S.

Had lunch here about a week ago. I chose the tacos with carnitas. Not a good choice. There were so many large chunks of fat that there was more fat than meat in my tacos. Might try the place again, but definitely not the carnitas. The agua fresca was also excessively sweet.
(2)
Michelle M.

What a great find, and, now that the weather is warming up, a really nice 10 minute walk from the office through North Berkeley's flowering gardens. C D. and I have been visiting one new area restaurant a week on our lunch hour, with intent to review. Last week it was my turn to choose the spot again and I selected Casa Latina based on my favorable drive-by opinion of it. (C D., turns out, had already been once, and was made an instant fan.) This neighborhood panaderia and restaurant is cheerfully painted and adorned on the inside and out and is very tiny -- 3 small interior tables at best. But the counter service is exceptional, the wait not very long, the choices many and the food very tasty. Reviewers give the place high marks for the meat entrees but I want to recommend the place for vegetarians. They use vegetable oil only in their dishes here (including their abundance of pastries) so order away without the usual skepticism that accompanies! For lunch I suggest the veggie fajitas quesadilla served on a whole wheat tortilla. "Authentic" Mexican? Wouldn't say that, but delicious all the same. Their perfectly grilled strips of bell pepper (usually a bland and mushy mess which I avoid) even won me over. Your other tortilla options are regular wheat tortilla and spinach tortilla. Also, the vegetarian burrito is far better than most I've had lately. Choose a pastry made with cornmeal. I recommend the little cornmeal thingy filled with a very fresh tasting apricot filling. Wash it down with a glass of tamarind agua fresca. Nice and very invested owners/servers here who can really talk up the great food they have to offer.
(4)
Marian C.

Yum mexican breads and tacos! Friendly service, clean place. the down side is that the cantalope juice was a-ok and there's no description for any of the breads... this place doesn't have seating.. just a few table/chairs outside. it's more like a bakery that sells tacos and other foods...
(4)
Edi B.

Nice cup of joe. Every mexican baked good you can imagine. Cheap prices $6 = 2 large coffees, 2 baked goods Beautiful interior and classy exterior. Service....could have been friendlier. But I will return
(4)
Ryan L.

Pretty good, inexpensive tacos. The carnitas and barbacoa have been particularly good in past trips. Being able to get a pastry for dessert is always a plus. I like the apple cake (spanish: cake de los apples) and the cheesey pound cake (cakesadillas). They claim to cook using olive oil, which is OK, but it'd be better if olives were made of pig fat.
(4)
Alex N.

This place is excellent for the tacos. I have been a customer for at least a few months now. The tacos barbacoa are delicious. Shredded beef with a hint of barbecue flavor and spices. Nom. The lengua tacos are also quite good. As for burritos, I am not a big fan. Then again, I don't like Burritos in general. Too much extra stuff with the meat. As for service... well some of the server ladies don't speak very good English. They are, however, extremely nice and accommodating. One word: Go.
(4)
Meg B.

Mouth watering pastries, friendly staff, easy location. They are great!
(5)
Ada T.

I feel like a fraud for writing a review of this place because I know absolutely nothing about Mexican food. Yes, I grew up in Los Angeles, but (and I know I'm going to be vilified for this) I don't like beans, I don't like guacamole, and I don't like salsa. It makes eating Mexican food a little bit difficult. But because of the many positive Yelp reviews, I decided to come here for lunch with a friend on Sunday. I ordered a regular burrito with just carnitas, rice, and the tortilla -- yes, it was slightly embarrassing to make that order. It was really, really delicious although I wonder if they added even more meat to my burrito to compensate for the fact that I wasn't getting any salsa or beans. It was also absolutely dripping in grease. I wrapped up half of it to go in a piece of foil, placed it in a paper bag, put it in my cloth tote bag, and by the time I got home I found that it had soaked through every layer. None of the bakery items are listed with any kind of name of description, but when they're so cheap, you can afford to try whatever catches your eye. I ended up with four items for $3.60. My favorite was a custard-filled pastry. I wouldn't really recommend the foot-long pastry-like thing though -- there's no filling so it's a kind of dry and bland. The space is clean and bright, with ample seating both inside and out. It definitely makes for a nice, relaxing lunch.
(4)
Nat H.

This is my favorite spot in the East Bay, and I'm glad I don't live within walking distance because I'd eat here at least twice a week and then I would have to start exercising again. Why I Keep Going Back : -Friendly service! -Huge selection of delicious baked goods -Best tacos in the East Bay (in my humble opinion) -Really fresh ingredients What You Should Try: -Vegetarian Burrito -Any of the tacos, but especially the carne asada or carnitas -Any baked good with their tasty custard in it that almost certainly contains crack, or might possibly is where crack comes from And one more thing...holy sh*t....if you ever go here and they have churros, get one! Get two or three and save yourself the trouble of going back up to the counter.
(5)
Victor G.

this shop is impressive. they sell burritos, sandwiches, mex pastires and organic coffee as well as breakfast. sampled the organic coffee(2), it was pretty good. the flaky pastry(1) that resemebled a apple turnover sans apple was very tasty and crispy. i will repeat if i'm in this hood again.
(4)
Chris O.

An ok taco, but I think taco trucks do better for less money. The meat wasn't grilled so not very tasty.
(3)
Alicia P.

I wish this place had better parking, because i would be there every morning getting my pan and fresh orange/carrot juice. When I'm feeling naughty though, I get myself their breakfast croissant sandwich. That thing is dripping with sin it's so good. All their meat is baked, and fresh. Salsas are simple and tasty. Please try their nachos plate with steak. I like this place because you can pretty much get your breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one stop.
(5)
Elena C.

Everything is great at Casa Latina! the food, the people, homy, casero! And the best is their wonderful heart and solidarity with the community.
(5)
Anisha H.

Came here last night with two friends after finding out that La Palmita was closed at 8pm on a Thursday night (really?!). Walked in and enticed by the huge array of pastries in the front counter and back wall. Everything look so delicious! But, we came for burritos and burritos we got. I got a Carnitas Regular Burrito. The meal was a bit pricey ($7.68) and came with some okay chips and salsa (mild was more flavorful than the hot). The burrito was massive and I could only eat half! And the star of the show was definitely the carnita: nice, tender, and juicy with a great flavor. My only criticism was that they put way too much meat in my burrito. The rest of the ingredients (refried beans, rice, pico de gallo) were great but nothing special. I never post reviews (I know, i know...) but I decided to post a review for this place because the service was really great! We sat in the back room eating and chatting for almost 2 1/2 hours and the guy who took our orders was busy cleaning the tables around us (once in a while he'd stop to chat/dance with the regulars) and then he came over and said "Guys, this is your home, stay as long as you'd like" and he said it like he meant it. It was great to be in such an inviting environment. I'd definitely go back again just because of the service...but also because I didn't get a chance to try any of the pastries and they looked delish! They also have a full service coffee/espresso station so this seems like a great place for breakfast too.
(3)
Glo P.

As promised I am rating on the following three things. Location, people and food. So here's the scoop. Convenient location usually pretty easy to find a place to park. It's less than a quarter of a mile from cedar rose park, and ohlone park if you want to lay in the sunshine while your eating. VERY NICE people, always fast service. I am friends with the owner he treats the women that work for Casa Latina very respectfully, he's a nice guy. DELICIOUS food. Hands down best burrito in the Ebay. Unless you have a big appetite this is always a two meal burrito. Cheese tamale plate is amazing as well. Homemade backed goods are damn tasty.
(5)
Reina G.

This is one of those places that's so convenient, I come here even though I don't like the food. The carnitas might be the worst I've ever had. They're so tough, stringy, and dry that they scratch your throat on the way down. The refried beans taste like they're straight outta the can, and the rice is repulsive. If you get your burrito with rice, it's pretty much a rice burrito; you won't taste anything else. Don't eat the rice!! The pan dulce are dry and bland for the most part. The one exception (depending what time you get it) is that coconut covered jammy one that looks like a hostess snowball. That one's pretty good sometimes. Casa Latina is my bakery/taqueria with benefits. Damn you Casa Latina for being right across the street from my favorite bar and on my way to work! I feel so dirty using you like this. I know I'm friendly to your face and pretend to like you better than the rest, but the truth is I'm just not that into you.
(2)
Ryo M.

I really like that it's a panaderia-taqueria. It's like the Mexican equivalent of those crazy donut shop/Chinese take-out hybrids. I've tried seven of the Berkeley-area taquerias, and this place has the best carne asado super burritos, by far. I'm most impressed by their guacamole -- it tasted richer than guacamoles in other Mexican eateries, since it actually had small chunks of avocado in them. It's slightly pricier ($7) than the meat-rice-cheese-salsa-guac-cream burritos at other places, but I think it's worth it. The only complaint I'd have is that they could work on distributing the various components in the burrito better. I know it's a pet peeve for some of you to have a mouthful of rice followed by a mouthful of meat, so it's something to keep in mind, I suppose. Their $4 tostadas are also quite impressive, since what you get is a huge mound of lettuce and meat. However, avoid ordering it to-go since the tortilla beneath that mound gets soggy really, really fast.
(5)
Dale C.

This is a solid player in the mexican food genre in Berkeley. I've been here a number of times, and all of my experiences have been consistently good. I would say that if you're from an area with realllly good hole-in-the-wall mexican food (ie. LA, SD) remember to compare this restaurant with its surrounding competitors. You aren't going to find the cheap prices for amazingly artery-clogging lime-saturated carne asada burritos here. But what you will find is a clean, friendly environment with food made from fresh ingredients that'll hit your dirty-mexican-food spot. I've always ordered the carne asada super nachos, which has been my go-to meal. It's a large dish that can cater to two hungry men, so the higher price of the dish can be justified a bit with that logic. The pastries I think were just alright. I didn't think it was anything amazing. I've tried mexican pastries in Mexico and other mexican restaurants and I would say this place makes average pastries but worth giving it a try. They're reasonably priced, so if you're experimenting, splurge on a few favorites and see if any tickle your pickle. Their isn't a lot of space of groups as their is limited tables in the back, and parking is limited to street meters. It's also next to a liquor store in a potentially shady area, so if you come later at night, carry your gat.
(4)
Alex D.

. I like this welcoming, quaint little shop. I enjoyed their pan dulce and filled empanadas (pineapple and custard were yummy). Their bread pudding was nice and sweet as well. Service is quick! I am happy that I have a nice spot to pick up pan dulce easily!
(4)
Andrew K.

So after the latest Yelp outing at the Albatross I realized that this place was directly across the street. I ordered the carnitas, asada and lengua tacos. The lengua was ok, wasn't as tasty as I am used to, and the carnitas was even more bland. The asada was a reminder of better times; however, and salvaged my experience. They were super nice too. Also, I do realize this is a bakery, but Mexican bakeries are exciting to me as that Tonya Harding sex tape. Bottomline: Again proving that Berkeley sucks for Mexican, I will venture back if I am in the stumbling back from the Albatross mood, but aside from that I have no plans to come back otherwise. I will stick to the Asada though. Value: Good, I think it was $6 for the three tacos, the burrito might have been a little more, so again not anywhere near Taco Truck levels.
(3)
Troy M.

To do it right: $9 Made it over here last night with the roommate and her boyfriend. They're open until 8p on Saturdays if anyone cares. Anyway, ordered a carne asada super burrito--twice--because when he read back my order, he said pollo asado. After the easy correction had been made, I grabbed a comfy seat and waxy dixie cup of water. Five minutes later, I went to get my carne asada burrito, which was actually pollo asado, which was unfortunately not that good. I didn't make a correction; I was starving and I like pollo asado. However, this was a bit dry, a common problem, and a great reason to go w/ a higher fat meat when you're already that far down the Mexican food path at a new restaurant. Burrito was meh and overpriced ($8). The panaderia aspect of this place, however, was much more impressive. Excellent, semi-traditional selection of pan dulce. I tried a non-traditional donut like creation and an apple fritter. Both were pretty good and the price was right (~$0.90 each). Summary: I'd go back for the bread, but Berkeley again fails at making good Mexican entrees.
(3)
Alyssa M.

by far the absolute best super nachos I've had in berkeley. and its plenty of food for two.
(5)
Anj M.

I've been to Casa Latina/Panaderia several times, most recently this evening for dinner. The staff are SO friendly, helpful and polite. The food is inexpensive and tasty, served hot and quickly. The other night I was there after leaving The Albatross, so it was pretty late. They were open! And I was able to get a late-night cookie plus a snack to take to work the next day... Tonight I had a rajas tamale (grilled green pepper and queso inside masa) for two bucks; and a huge plate of nachos for four dollars (real cheese, not that sauce stuff). When they steamed my mexican hot chocolate, there was almost another whole cup left over so they asked me if one of my friends wanted it (for free). I also bought several pastries for later - YUM! You order your food at the register and they bring it out to you. If you're getting pastries, there are large platters that look like pizza pans located below each pastry case. You grab some tongs then load up your platter and deliver your choices to the front register, where they bag them and ring you up. There are about three tables on the sidewalk out front, one inside in the front window of the cafe, and several more to the rear of the main room with the pastry cases and the counter you order at. It might be tricky finding seating for a large group. This evening, when I complimented the guy at the counter on being so helpful and friendly, he asked me "how else are you going to build community?" That's the type of establishment I like to support. I'm so glad they are in my neighborhood.
(5)
Mari H.

Mmm burrito! Absolutely delicious, this place is a real find. If you're looking to eat some authentic Mexican food, this is where to do it. I also hear the torta's are amazing, and can't wait to try.
(4)
Michael C.

Serviceable but limited choice of Mexican food items, but for being a bakery, that's understandable. I've tried everything here(except for the sweets), and must say that the torta is my favorite with the super-nachos a close second. And the excellent bolillo breads have become my default bread for sandwiches, and a steal at .50c. Only thing I don;t like is the arroz mexicana which is bland with the rice having a strange texture to it, sort of Uncle Benish. And if you eat-in, they'll kindly let you bring some liquid smile in from the adjacent liquor store. After all, how can anyone eat Mexican food without beer?
(4)
Jose O.

Casa Latina is the friendly neighborhood panaderia that everyone wishes they had in their barrio. The service is great and the tacos de carne asada are amazing. This is a great place to stop in on a Saturday morning and indulge in the wonderful colors and smells of a Mexican bakery (of which I don't think there are too many in the Berkeley area.) I would give it five stars but the burritos aren't the best. Still, do yourself a favor. Head over to Casa Latina and grab some horchata and a couple of tacos and enjoy one of Berkeley's best taco-derias. (Made that one up myself!)
(4)
Emily P.

The super burrito is good for your soul. Seriously, I've been all smiley and relaxed since I've eaten it - my skin even has a nice healthy glow. I'll be damned if I know what that's all about, but I do know that their burritos are magical beacons of happiness. And they're delicious, too. The service here is always super-friendly, and fast! The girls made my meal in less than five minutes, and they let me borrow a pen so I could jot down a few notes while eating. Looks like I'm gonna be a regular here.
(5)
Farah S.

Everything I've had here is delish! The tamales, the pastries, the tacos. yummy and fresh and cheap!
(5)
Katie S.

A friend and i stopped by for a snack on the way home. I've had food from there once before and pastries more frequently than I should...but we ordered a dozen tamales to go this time. They are *huge* and delicious! We got pork and chicken..I can't decide which I like better. We ordered the hot salsa (which got us dubious looks momentarily), but it is some of the BEST red salsa I have ever had.
(5)
Dugga P.

Super burrito me up! Yum! Authentic and fantastic.
(4)
Michael C.

I used to go to this place regularly when I worked in Berkeley. It's still worth the drive out there for me every now and again. Being from San Antonio I miss little bakeries like this that my grandfather used to take me to in his neighborhood. The carnitas and barbacoa tacos are the best tacos I've had in the bay area, hands down. The people that work there are always smiling and inviting. This place is a gem.
(5)
Andrea D.

It was only ok. I went there because I was getting my oil changed next door. The people who were working there were friendly, but not interested in talking much, just getting people through the large line. When the food came up I was really excited, but unfortunately the food was only ok. I got nachos (as I love all nachos and strive to find the best) and they were ok. I asked my friend about her burrito and she said it was ok. I didn't try any of the desserts, but they looked alright. Therefore I give this place an OK rating. Nothing exciting here, I wouldn't go again, unless I was getting my oil changed next door again.
(3)
Denise B.

Oh my god, I love this tacqueria. After being spoiled by the large number of delicious tacquerias in San Jose, where I once lived, it was hard to find anything comparable in my new haunt. Well, here it is, the best tacqueria food in the east bay. The prices are unbelievable for large quantities of delicious, traditional Mexican food. Casa Latina is family run, and you can tell by the warm, friendly atmosphere. This is a place where regulars are remembered. Fortunately, friendliness is not a replacement for punctual, on-the-ball service. There's options for small groups of people to eat in the tacqueria, or you can order take out. Also, while I normally just get hot food, everything in the bakery that I've tried is just as affordable and tasty as the other food. It's definitely a plus that Casa Latina has both in one little restaurant!
(5)
Devon S.

There's something very sweet and very admirable about two women manning an entire taqueria and panaderia by themselves. Who needs penii when these women ROCK the Mexican food? Perhaps it was the 10 mimosas I had earlier in the day, but I haven't had such an awesome quesadilla in ages. $7 got me a carne asada quesadilla with heaping portions of gaucamole, salsa verde, and sour cream. As each of us vacuumed up every last lick and taste of cheese and spice, we noticed the saying written on the chalkboard on the wall: "La mentira es la verdad esperando salir." Lying is the truth hoping to escape. With the urge to toss out a cliche becoming overwhelming, I can only say that the East Bay is so very lucky to have such a fantastic Mexican stop within a stone's throw of some wicked pubs, and that I sincerely hope that it isn't ruined by a sudden spike in popularity. So go away. Walk on by. This place really blows. It completely sucks. I've never had worse Mexican food. Honestly.
(5)
Hannah S.

If this is considered the best tacos in the east bay, that bodes very very ill for the east bay. I moved up to Berkeley from Los Angeles two weeks ago and decided to begin my quest for some decent tacos here at Casa Latina Bakery. Very disappointed. Tried their carne asada tacos as well as the chicken fajita burritos and both were fairly mediocre. The hot sauce was pretty weak as well. None of the food was BAD. It all tasted ok, but nothing special. Ate the food and afterwards thought, "eh." The place does get points for having very friendly service. The girl at the counter was nice about explaining the menu to us.
(2)
Rebecca H.

Wow, first weekend living in Berkeley away from the Mission and this place hit the spot for burritos. The super grilled chicken burrito was delicious. Grilled chicken seemed more like bbq'ed and baked, then shredded, but whatever it was, it was really tasty. Expensive compared to the Mission burrito, but tasted authentic and was huge so you could probably eat twice. The pastries look great too, so I'll definitely be back to sample all the things in the cute little place.
(4)
Gregory L.

This is the best Mexican food around because...no lard! It makes a huge difference when they use olive oil and fresh ingredients. You can feel it when you eat it and especially afterwards. By the way, I am a Mexican food scholar (self-appointed) who has worked all over Mexico and eaten both the real deal and the U.S. versions, Papalote in SF and Casa Latina in Berkeley are follow the healthy ingredient trend that you see all over Mexico now as people are becoming conscious about eating greasy food and substituting healthy ingredients for the traditional (but unhealthy) ones.
(5)
Katie U.

My Australian family was in town and had a hunkering for Mexican food since those Aussie's don't get much of it down under, and what they do get isn't exactly what a Californian would call Mexican food. So I took 'em to Casa Latina and the food was Â¡muy bueno! We ordered carne asada burritos, vegetarian burritos, tostadas, quesadillas and chile rellenos, plus my Uncle just couldn't resist the pastry counter. Everything we ordered was fresh, of monster proportions and flavorsome. It's also easy to find parking and has a few tables on the sidewalk for outdoor seating. Ever since then, this has become one of my favorite places to get Mexican food in Berkeley.
(4)
Tiffany O.

By far the best vegetarian burrito I've had in the Berkley area. It's the closest thing I've found to a Mission District burrito in the East Bay (and trust me, I've been looking). The green sauce is also the best green sauce I've had, anywhere.
(4)
Ciara S.

I used to pass Casa Latina several times a week on my morning walk to work, and it always looked like a charming little place, so I kept making and re-making a mental note to check it out. After I finally managed to stop by a few months ago, it's my new go-to taqueria whenever I'm in the neighborhood. It really hits a sweet spot for value: good food, decent portions, and reasonable prices. All of the food I've tried has been quite tasty (usually tacos or burritos; I've tried most of the meat fillings and enjoyed them all, though my favorite here is probably the carnitas). I appreciate their emphasis on high-quality ingredients, e.g. using olive oil in all their cooking, and eating here never gives me the slightly queasy post-meal food-coma feeling I get from a lot of taquerias. I've not yet tried any of the pastries, because the bright colors scare me a little bit, although today the raisin bread pudding was almost tempting enough to try. The people here are always friendly, and I really like the neighborhood feel of the place. Their food is good for takeout, but even better if you sit in the little dining area tucked in the back. The quote on the little blackboard on the wall there always makes me smile, too: "Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow."
(4)
Turquoise R.

This has become my favorite Mexican Joint in town. Fresh ingredients, delicious Tamales, good menu and prices. I just love it!
(5)
Angellica Y.

I love the tamales here- the cheese tamales are my favorite! Casa Latina offers a range of bakery treats, but I come here for the tamales because you don't find many Mexican places that offer these so fresh and tasty unless you have family who makes them for you. The employees are super friendly too. I'll be back for more!
(4)
Clifford P.

If I could live above a bakery, a coffeeshop, and a taqueria...this place would be it. I ordered a chicken taco, a side of rice and beans w/chips, and can of soda for about $6.53 including tax. My friend ordered carnitas, and I was too full to eat her leftovers although I wanted to soooo badly. While feeding my face I also noticed that the hours run late. 10pm in Berkeley is not so bad in my book. I'm very sad that I didn't get the pastries, the fresh juices or horchata...BUT I WILL RETURN!
(4)
Dee C.

like i said to a friend today, i have xray vision when it comes to baked goods. i like breads and desserts from all countries, china, italy, france, mexico..you name it. we've driven by casa latina many times and i could only imagine what was in store for me inside. today we happened to be strolling right by (and pretty hungry) and finally got a chance to go in - and they also have food ($2.29 tacos everyday, tortas of all kinds (but probably not egg), burritos, etc)! the only other place i've seen such an assortment of mexican pastries was in the 24th st part of mission. haven't had the pleasure of looking for my next dessert in the fruitvale district...but now i don't need to. (we got a torta, perfect "linner" for two, and a chocolate chip cookie, not super buttery).
(4)
Tracy S.

This is one of those places you don't forget. "Remember those great burritos from..." well yeah. Came here after getting lost and ending up at a bar across the street. We had already had a big dinner a few hours earlier, but after a few drinks, I had the drunk munchies so I skipped across the street to Casa Latina Bakery. I did not get to try the pastries, but they looked appetizing. My review is on the burritos. It was yummy, saucy and filling. I will be back for sure.
(5)
J M.

I used to come here only to buy their excellent pan dulce, but I have now become a fan of their excellent tacos. While you can eat much cheaper in dives, the food preparation standards here are higher. The carnitas and lengua/beef tongue is delicious. The staff is very friendly. People should patronize this awesome business!
(4)
Lydia W.

My friend brought us here for breakfast and it was such a pleasant experience. We got a bunch of various breads/pastries, Mexican hot chocolates, and found sat outside to enjoy it all. It was especially fun dipping some of the harder pastries in the hot chocolate. I forget the names of some of the breads we got, but we did have an apple empanada in a puff pastry, and a danish-like pastry which was alright but by the time we got to it, was too much to handle. Plus it didn't really suit the theme of our Mexican pastry assortment. But yes, breakfast at Casa Latina is perfect for a relaxing weekend morning!
(4)
Thomas P.

Some of the best authentic Mexican food in the east bay. I moved up here from Santa Barbara where they have some truly amazing Mexican food, so finding this place has been a relief. They have some damn good nachos with or without meat, their Tacos and Tamales are great too. My personal favorite, the Carne Asada Burrito, makes it hard to pick anything else though. The prices are also quite reasonable with everything being between $4 - $7. They even have coffee, espresso, tasty hot chocolate and a good breakfast burrito. I've uploaded a picture of it for all to see. CASH ONLY!!!!
(5)
Raymond Q.

Americano is on point!
(4)
Carrie S.

Had I known this place before!!! Although its a hole-in-a-wall establishment, it seems to be popular with locals so the wait can be long during rush hours. The cheesecake is solid and is only 1 dollar! I dont know whether its Mexican style but it does remind me of the cheesecake I had in Europe, which is a way healthier version of the so called NY cheesecake. Then it comes the breakfast burrito, with carne asada, salsa and two scrambled eggs!!! Everything is so tasty and juicy. Although the burrito is on the expensive side (8 dollars, and add 1 dollar for guacamole), it worths the prices. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Bryan M.

Came her once and had tacos. I wasn't blown away so it took me a while to come back. This time I went for a carnitas burrito. Goddamn thats one hell of a tasty burrito. Easily the best burrito I've had in berkeley. Everything was very fresh. The carnitas was dynamite and they don't hold back on quantity. Kudos on the guacamole too. I just wish they gave you a bigger side dish. Those chips don't fit very well, so I ended up spooning it out with my finger. I have no shame. P.S. the spicy salsa is actually very spicy not just gringo spicy.
(5)
Jamie R.

Y'all should try the horchata latte. Very interesting. I just wish they could make it hot.
(3)
Karen Z.

Great bakery product! My friend recommended me to go there and I enjoy it very much! Will definitely go for another time!
(5)
Dan G.

Burritos, either chicken or barbacoa are excellent. Tamales are good. One day they had special tamales wrapped in banana leaves that were great. I like this place. When I'm on my way to the airport I stop off here and buy two burritos, one for me and one for my honey back home. Then I eat 1/2 of hers. This food is better than any chain, not to mention better than anything at the airport. Don't forget the fresh orange-carrot juice. To correct what some other posters have written: - There iS seating inside, just not much. - The burritos are loaded with meat, not just rice.
(4)
Justino C.

A REALLY GOOD PANADERIA & BREAKFAST BURRITO!!! THE GOOD: -Freshly baked Mexican style breads and pastries. -Good cafe too (Mr. Espresso beans) -Buena Jente...good people! -Clean place and set up -Some outdoor seating -Breakfast burritos are off the chain! (hard to find in the bay) THE BAD: -Only one location...that's loco! -Can get pretty packed and it's a small place. -Limited seating THE DECISION: I've been searching for a good breakfast burrito ever since I moved up to SF. Trust me, I've been to most of the places that claim to make them in San Francisco. I've even been to Oakland/Berkeley and Alameda on journeys for them. Finally, I stumbled upon Casa Latina at 9am last Saturday. I thought it was just a panaderia but as soon as I asked some people in line what to order...3/3 said, "Breakfast burrito". I didn't see it on the menu though I saw it in people hands and mouths! Freakin' amazing...I kid you not! Finally a BB worth talking about. But Casa Latina does not stop there. They also have baked Mexican style pastries, cookies and breads that remind me of my childhood roaming the eastern parts of L.A. Dude, this place does it pretty much better than any other place I've been to in the bay and 90% of the places I go to in SoCal. Seriously, Casa Latina is the BEST in the bay, if you ask me. Always, soft...always fresh. Not to mention tasty and they have a vast selection. Unlike a lot of the places I've seen that have the "typical" selections. Casa Latina puts their own spin on the sweets too. For example, their Tres Leches cake doesn't seen to use condense milk, I wasn't use to that but it was actually very good! A lot lighter taste! I could dig it...a lot! Plus, they already get two thumbs up from me because they don't use fresas (strawberries) in their tres leches. I dont' know why but 98% of the places up here use strawberries. I've never seen that in my life growing up. It doesn't taste too good either. If you want a really good panaderia with some good coffee come here. If you want some really freaking good Breakfast Burritos that rival some of the best of east LA, come here. IF you want really good atmosphere and good people, come here. This place is a family place too. It definitely seemed like most of the patrons were regulars which goes to show how good they really are. 5 stars por siempre!
(5)
John D.

So I was stuck on San Pablo looking for lunch while my car got looked at by the insurance dude. I spotted Casa Latina which ive driven by 100 times and decided to pop-in. I felt like I was in small town Mexico with the baked goods lining the walls. But, imsaving that for my next visit, this time I had a killer Chicken Taco and got a chicken quesa' to go for the fam. Good stuff, fresh ingredients and super nice folks. The taqueria debates rage-on but this place is the closest ive scene to the usually pretty plain but fresh and good fare youll find in Mexico (So.of Cancun at least). They also get Berkeley cred for use of Organics, fairtrade etc.... I will be back, i will go out of my way to go there.
(4)
Kyoko J.

I LOVE this place! Their meats are flavorful, tender, and fresh; their tacos are hardy (read: lots of meat) yet authentic (corn tortilla, meat, onions, cilantro, lime, salsa); and the people who work there are SO nice. At $2 a pop, the tacos are one of the best deals around: where else can you get dinner for under $5 that will make you do the happy food dance every time?
(4)
Jonathan P.

Still super good. God the carnitas are good and all the baked stuff is awesome. Way to stay awesome guys/gals.
(5)
Howard C.

Great quality baked goods. They aren't something to die for, but they are tasty for the price. I go there often and am a repeat customer. It's a walk up counter; and there are a few tables around. I haven't tried their coffee.
(4)
Huong T.

I've only had bake goods & tacos. The cookies are light and perfect not too sweet as I imagined. Oh I'm a HUGE fan of their flan. So creamy yet light, reminds me of how my aunt use to make them when I was a kid. The tacos were good also. I'll be here often this summer
(4)
Thomas E.

Excellent and awesome staff. Fast, fabulous, fun, funky good
(4)
sara p.

This place rocks! The sweet breads, pastries, and cheese/jalapeno bread are such a good deal if you're looking for something on the go in the morning. Wonderful macaroons when they make those infrequently, too. The platos are excellent, thus far I've tried the carne asada, the pollo and rajas tamales, and the plain ol' veggie plate. The hot salsa here really is hot, way better than the 'very hot' at Picante down on 6th. Service is friendly, the horchata is fab, and you feel good coming here regularly because it's a small business that is definitely part of the community. Cash only, but who cares because the pricing is so dang reasonable.
(5)
Joyce B.

haven't had mexican pastries since high school when i volunteered at a mexican celebration event. definitely brings back memories. once again, on a random foodie adventure, my friend and i decided to try casa latina bakery since i've heard a lot of good things about this place. the bakery is pretty small but they have some space in the back and a nice table in the front. they have a HUGE variety of pastries, coffee drinks, and solid food! i got a bread roll with custard and this raspberry coconut jelly bun thing. my friend got the sweet empanadas with apple and custard and the mexican mocha. their custard here is amazing!! the pastry is a bit dry, could've been more moist. and the mocha here is amazinggg! they added chocolate milk that's very rich and creamy and blended perfectly with the espresso shot. definitely worth a try!
(4)
Julia S.

Utterly delightful place! A tiny Bakery - Taqueria combo brimming with a host of festive Mexican pastries in an amazing array of shapes and colors, like hand-held edible pinatas that greet you from both sides in huge glass cases as you enter the front door. Most of the space is devoted to baking and cooking and the 10 or so tables are scattered among three spaces - mostly in a small back dining area, and 1 just inside the front door and about 3 tables on the front sidewalk. Everything was quite fresh. I was looking for something between a snack and a meal and the 2 tacos with barbacoa (slow-cooked shredded beef) in a fresh and tasty salsa verde with a side of guacamole were very satisfying. The meat was tender and flavorful. Prices are quite reasonable as well. Wonderful selection of menu options and variety of meats. A wide assortment of beverages including Mexican Hot Cocoa, Jarritos Mexican sodas and a variety of organic coffees, horchata, Jamaica and aguas frescas. Yes, you have to buy chips if you want them (not unusual for a taqueria). I don't find this a problem, and would rather not be "tempted" with them anyway- though I do enjoy them when they are provided- and, yes, sometimes I will buy them too. Also, be aware that if an "off" time they do get busy with the baking and sometimes fall behind on cleaning the tables and, once they realize it, will apologetically clean one up for you. Tip for Newbies: Order at the register. Just wait there patiently and someone WILL come to take your order- with a SMILE! (Beware of possible delirium from being surrounded by so many fantastic-looking pastries while feeling rather peckish!) Actually, there is a bell there if you need it. On my first visit, the ordering procedure seemed a bit unclear (drink menu is on the wall behind the register, but the food menu is on the wall at the far end from the register) and the early afternoon hours made for a touch of scatteredness behind the counter - obviously re-grouping from the lunch rush. Seeing how hard they were working and how much they cared about each person there and each order that was prepared made the momentary confusion a very minor snag. The warmth and cheerfulness of the lady that took my order plus the food itself and sidewalk dining under the shade of an old Sycamore tree made the overall experience very lovely. I will be back again, and again- with friends! 4.5 STARS
(4)
Ashley S.

Casa Latina has awesome bakery!! I had a steak torta made on one of their fresh rolls and my boyfriend had a super chicken burrito that was made exactly how I always want my burrito to be made. Authentic tasty fresh mexican for a really cheap price.
(5)
Jeremy H.

5 stars for the torta alone! I havent had anything else on the menu but the carnitas torta is awesome! I was a little skeptical about Casa Latina after reading a review in the CC Times, but thought I would try it anyways since I was in the area. From what I understand the meat is slow cooked in an oven and was probably the best cooked pork I have ever had in a torta. It is not your typical carnitas, in the traditional sense, but very tender and flavorful. The torta is served on a large fresh baked roll with guac., red onion, tomato, peppers, lettuce and some kind of awsome gooey cheese. I am used to paying $4 for really good tortas down on the Richmond parkway, but at $6.50 you cant beat Casa Latina. And you wont have to eat for the rest of the day.
(5)
Maura D.

The taqueria/panderia combo with a Berkeley twist. EVOO on your meats and an vanilla latte on the side with organic milk if you please. The pan dulce looks amazing here, but I'm unavailable to comment. I'm not big on Mexican pastry, it always looks better than it tastes. Ive been here a handful of times to pick up burritos and the like. The concept is great, but the food doesn't really stand out very much, and its pricier than the average taq. Its convenient for me, so i keep on going, but it is nothing compared the glory that is the El Farolito burrito.
(3)
Maureen W.

Casa Latina is one of those places that you eat there once, and then you're hooked. I eat there about two times a week on average, always going in for pan dulce, and ending up with an entire meal. Usually, they have these pastries called "cacahuates," Spanish for peanuts. These delicious little cookie sandwiches are great when dipped in Mexican hot chocolate. Casa Latina has the best mexican food I have found north of San Luis Obispo. Their meats are slow-cooked to perfection, and their selection is great. For a great meal, get a barbacoa super burrito with a Coke. The Coke is Mexican, which means its made with sugar and not corn syrup. Makes all the difference. Oh, and bring back a cacahuate for me!
(5)
debra s.

love this place! $2 for a tasty carne asada taco is a great deal. I've tried all of their tamales and they are all first rate. Again, $2 each. The pastries are fresh and tasty. The crew is friendly and helpful. Really a good deal and nice place.
(5)
William L.

I live near Lake Merritt and there are a lot of Mexican bakeries closer to me in Fruitvale. But it's worth the trip up San Pablo for this place. I always get a Carnitas Torta (mexican pork sanwich) made on their own bolillos (rolls) The ladies who wait on you are nice, and their pan dulces, etc are very good and fresh. If you have to use the rest room, it's in the back in the kitchen so you get to say hi to the bakers and get a quick tour of their enterprise when you need to "go"! Try it out. Check out the Spanish Table across the street for Spanish books, music, groceries, wine, and kitchen supplies, too.
(4)
curtis l.

This is my go to spot for lunch. Great carnitas plates.
(4)
Colin C.

Casa Latina is pretty great. I've been here a couple times, the bakery items are range from decent to delicious. The food has also been in that same range. Items are on the pricy side, but the quality of the ingredients merits it I believe. The torta was decent. I'm not sure why it didn't strike me as being great, but something was off. The bread was tasty, all the fixings were fresh, and the meat(carnitas) was tender. But it was missing some flavor. Maybe it was the whole leaf lettuce or the carnitas which didn't have as much flavor as I'd like, but it just wasn't what I was looking for. The nachos are insane. My gf and I shared a plate, this is a major gut bomb. So tasty though. If you want a big greasy plate of nachos, you have to go here. My favorite thing here is the pork tamale with red chile sauce. Nice big, tender chunks of pork in rich masa. Grab one of these and a mexican coke and go chill outside on a hot summer day. Is anything better?
(4)
Andrew B.

Did someone say they were looking for a good breakfast burrito?!?! Cause if I overheard you correctly, and in you're in the Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville area (or feel like making the trek) you should mosey on down to this place and try their's out. Coming from UCSB, my expectations for a breakfast burrito run at quite a high standard. But I found Casa Latina's to be up to par. Greasy....but not to greasy (chorizo...mmmmm!!!) Messy....but not too messy Just the right amount of eggs, beans, and rice que delicioso! And omg pastries! I didn't get to try these but the main ordering area is chock full of freshly baked ones. Definitely gonna have to head back here and try them.
(4)
Matthew F.

After a recommendation from the bartender at the Albatross.... we crossed the street to this very quaint little Latina bakery. Fantastic baked goods, and the torta I ordered was on the most delicious bread.....moist, flavorful, I'm craving one right now. This place is a definite asset to the neighborhood. I wish this one was closer to enjoy more often. Also the two ladies working the other night, were very cheerful and welcoming.
(5)
Adam F.

Really good tortas, horchata, big burritos but not quite as good as the tortas. The baked goods are interesting, tasty, and generally fresh although some are better than others. Overall a satisfying experience and one of the better choices for Mexican in the area.
(4)
Esteban C.

This is one of the best panaderias I have been to ever! Friendly staff and a lot of vegetarian items on the menu. I wish I had stayed in Berkeley longer so that I could try more of their pastries.
(5)
lexor p.

Excellent tacos. Fajita plate is GIGANTIC, good, couldn't finish it. I'm picky about meat: they have _excellent_ quality meat. It's cheap. OH yes, that's right, the best & fastest mexican food in berkeley or oakland. The only reason I don't give them 5 stars is the salsa - it's just not bersalsa.
(4)
Edith P.

So here is my thing for Mexican places, if they know how to make a decent torta then I'm a fan. I checked out Yelp and was convinced to check it out. Went by and wasn't disappointed. Not the best torta I've had but definitely a good one!
(4)
Emmanuel Z.

Delicious pan dulce! This review is solely about the baked goods, but I am looking forward to getting a meal there some time.
(5)
Robert R.

This place is great! The people are wonderful. The food is delicious. And the pan dulce is amazing--I always go for the custard empanadas. Sure, they're probably not so healthy, but they taste so good. The only draw back, I think, is the price. Sure, overhead is probably expensive, but $2.00 for a taco is a little steep--especially, if you're like me, and you want five. All in all, it's a good place with great food. If you want good mexican food, and you don't have the time to drive to Fruitvale, this is the best place in the Berkeley/Albany area.
(4)
R P.

See how to understand my rating at the bottom. What I had: chicken asado burrito, black beans, add guacamole. Mandarin fanta. What I like: Flavorful chicken. Good portion of guacamole that i paid an extra $1 for. Spicy salsa. Cookies and cakes. Nice folks who tolerated my spanish even though I wasn't hitting on all cylinders. What I didn't: $10.50 for a burrito and soda. Burriot just too big and not wrapped tight enough, so it kind of fell apart as I unwrapped it. Salsa was the pureed kind rather than pico de gallo. I prefer the latter. Would I go back: Yes, but I'll be looking for better. Rating: Have you noticed that most standing ovations at any concert are out of felt sense of obligation rather than elation? You know, two fools stand up, then the folks on either side, then the people behind because they don't want to cause offense (or maybe they can't see). By the end of it you are on your feet clapping meekly along, mumbling to yourself about the injustice of how these clowns get the same surface response as Pavarotti did for his last concert. My point is I think 3 is good; above average, but I ain't clapping my heart out. And I'm sure as hell not on my feet.
(3)
Caroline C.

Dude, I love this place. I can't believe I haven't reviewed it before, I've been going here for years--the staff are always really sweet and totally attentive, and can I tell you how cheap it is? Their pastries aren't the best I"ve EVER had but they are definately up there for this sort of thing, they have a huge variety daily and their hot food is pretty good too, though really, really clean.
(5)
Mike B.

Glad to know that there are $2 tacos and tamales outside of Fruitvale. But, they're just so-so. I'll be back once to check out the pastries, might rethink my review after that.
(2)
David K.

Casa Latina is a short walk from my house - and I love having them as neighbors. Their burritos are reasonably priced, good quality, and come with tortilla chips. Their selection of pastries take some experimentation since they are very different from anything you'll find in Starbucks or Peets - but once you find something you like I bet you'll really like it. Their staff are efficient and friendly. Its always a pleasure to do business there. I would rate them at 5 stars if it were not for a couple of minor items that need improvement. First - their selection of pastries can be inconsistent - sometimes my favorite pastry goes missing for days at a time. Second - their coffee is not quite as good as some other venues, though for taqueria coffee it is certainly passable. I love this place.
(4)
brooke a.

a nice burrito spot but no bicycle parking whatsoever and the veggie burritos have little more than lettuce inside. it is conveniently located and the staff is really friendly.
(3)
Mike S.

So, it's nice that they're not just a panaderia anymore, and it's also nice that they have a full menu. I also like that they have whole wheat tortillas. What's not to like? Well, their side of guacamole is small and isn't that good, they consider "salsa" a vegetarian option when they call things "veggie." All in all, it's reasonably priced nice place to get take-out.
(4)
Jen W.

This used to be just a bakery, but now it has THE BEST CARNITAS SOFT TACOS AROUND. Tender and very juicy, super shreddy pork with no weird bits of yucky stuff are topped with crunchy, fresh onions and tasty pico de gallo style salsa. Piping hot, satisfying, and so tasty, I drive across town during commute traffic just to get to these tacos when I have the craving. Also, the owner is a really lovely person. I needed a huge order of food for my boyfriend's birthday party, and even though they don't usually cater, he provided a bunch of pro equipment for us to keep everything warm and even stopped by the bar to check and make sure we were enjoying the food! We were, by the way.
(5)
M T.

This bakery has wonderful cheap latin food and pastries. The tamales are filling and healthy, and the tacos are so flavorful. It's great to have a desert place nearby to grab a high quality pastry that's walkable from so many businesses and residences.
(4)
Derrick C.

I'm fortunate enough to live right down the street from this place, and it's among my favorite restaurants - I'd pay twice the menu prices gladly. Open early, open late, always serving delicious authentic Mexican food, and the freshly baked pastry treats don't hurt either! I've had every type of food on the menu and haven't been disappointed yet. The atmosphere is also warm and authentic, with a staff that's fluent in Spanish and decor like a Mexican household, along with a moving portrait of a Tejano singer named Lydia. A must visit for anyone in the area.
(5)
esther h.

The tacos are "ok" but definitely not worth the $2/taco asking price. I'd much rather go to the taco truck in oakland and get just as good, if not better of a taco for half the price. the people have been less the friendly (grumpy is a word that comes to mind)when I've gone, and yes, i've been more than just once.
(3)
Brian R.

I've had the burritos, which seemed fine but not particularly memorable. (I swear, I think that they cook them on a George Foreman grill or something of the sort.) The pastries look great, however, and muy autentico.
(3)
Ab T.

I came to write a review to warn people away from this place and find that people love it. Shock! Here's the contrarian point of view. How can you make a bad churro? I don't know but you can ask at Casa Latina, they have the secret. These are the nastiest pastries I have ever had and/or seen (and I've been to Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas/Nebraska). They are an acquired taste - the acquired taste of canned syrupy fruits, too much shortening (and we're not talking about butter) and too much sugar. Fortunately there's free water at the counter so you can start trying to remove the film of fat from your tongue while you're still in the store. The burritos are DF-authentic, made on industrial scale George Foreman grills with super-over-cooked meats, lots of added oil and, with some grilled peppers and onions, they cost $7.50 (as of 12/2007). Get the "tomatoes" because they, surprisingly, taste good. Shockingly, the coffee is actually decent.
(1)
Michele F.

I was searching for breakfast burrito, and this was one of the places that came up. The reviews were pretty good so I said what the heck. My sister and I went and got a super breakfast burrito to share as well as a pastry and coffee. She got the mocha which was absolutely to die for. I found myself going out of my way days later just to get one for myself. When we got the bag with the breakfast burrito, it felt as if there was a brick instead of a burrito. The burrito was wonderful and incredibly filling. I was 100% satisfied. A couple days ago I went back and got one of there regular burritos with carnitas, and I was once again satisfied. Despite being on San Pablo the place has a really small town feel to it, plus a really authentic menu as well as a variety of delicious looking pastries. Next time I go I am going to try there tongue (that is next time I go without my boyfriend, because he just thinks that that is weird). Great Place!
(5)
Laura K.

i'll admit i'm pretty easy to please when it comes to mexican food and pastries, but i really really like this place. the barbacoa is awesome and the horchata is goooood. a few days ago i picked up some coffee and pastries (pan dulce, pumpkin empanadas, cookies, etc) and i was thoroughly diggin everything. also, everyone that works there is really sweet. the only downside is that the seating area is kinda cramped, but that's not gonna stop me from going there.
(4)
Sarah J.

Vegetarian burrito. There was a lot of guac and a lot of sour cream. Next time I'll get it without those. The lard free beans, rice and cheese were very flavorful and warm as was the tortilla. Salsa was great, service was great and price was right. I would have loved to try the tamales but they are not lard free.
(3)
Chris K.

Really really good. I've tried the steak tacos, pork burrito, and pork plate and chicken plate. The best was the steak taco. Given how good the steak tacos were, I thought I'd try the steak plate. Well, i've tried and failed to order a steak plate twice. First I asked for a carne asada plate and was given a pork plate (carnitas). Today, I asked for a grilled steak plate and was given a grilled chicken plate. Still Great!!
(5)
T-Bag S.

burritos. beer. burritos. beer. what could be better? oh yeah, burrito shop next to liquor store in walking distance from my pad. heeeeeeeaaaaaaaven
(4)
R N.

we come here for tamales at least once a week! but you have to be quick, they are usually out of the rajas tamales by the evening. love their vegetarian options: fresh and tasty. and the agua frescas and horchata are yum too.
(5)
amanda j.

I really like this place. The staff are friendly and I enjoy the self-serve bakery. Some baked items are better than others. The cookies are only okay in my opinion but the cakes and other items in the counter case are pretty darn good. I also really enjoy the tortas. Reasonable prices too. Overall a pretty cool little place.
(4)
Allison R.

The best horchata in the east bay. The best peanut butter cookies on the planet. And a fine torta too, if you're not in the mood for sweets.
(5)
ali l.

such an amazing find. a friend and i were on our way to the albatross and were vaguely hoping to stumble upon something tasty for dinner and something sweet to present to the birthday girl, when we walked right into casa latina. not only did this wonderful bakery/taqueria have both of the items we were seeking, the woman working behind the counter was so sweet and gave us a candle for the cake (pink for a girl of course), the food was delicious, and everything was so cheap! if you happen to find a dollar under your couch cushions any time soon, my recommendation would be to hightail it to casa latina - pocket change very well spent.
(5)
Prateek B.

Excellent meat in their food, only downside is limited seating. Best Mexican i've had in the Berkeley area.
(5)
Joanna H.

Perfect. Everything is delicious.
(5)
Rina R.

Pastel de Tres Leches. YUMMMMYYYY!
(4)
Allie O.

Wonderful, authentic mexican food. Very generous portions for very little moolah. The pastry case(s) are fantastic...just grab a tray and load up. You can't exactly tell what everything is but it's delicious! Friendly staff, too.
(5)
Tom W.

yum ...go here and eat
(5)
melanie l.

i'm not that into the baked goods, but the meal items here are fantastic. i usually get a veggie taco--it only costs about $2 and is so fresh and delicious. i could eat here every day.
(5)
Tom S.

Ok, I went into this joint for dinner last night and maybe i ordered the wrong thing. i had the chicken tacos and they really didn't do it for me. personally i felt they were kinda bland. But in defense of case latina, before i walked into the restaurant i stepped in a big puddle and also spilled soda on myself like ten minutes earlier, I was hoping casa latina would make me feel better, i put them to a difficult task. I also tried the vegetarian burrito, disappointed. it had a very large portion, however just kinda bland. I did try the churro, and it was probably the best churro i have ever had. it tasted like a marshmallow, but in churro form. also cash only is kinda annoying ill give it another shot, maybe stick to the baked goods.
(3)
Erika H.

Really solid tacos. Niman ranch meats.
(4)
Jade L.

Live down the street from it, and its a nice place to stop by when you're cruising down San Pablo. Sometimes i feel like i'm out of place here when the regulars give me strange looks, but eh, whatever. the tacos i've had there were pretty yummy, with some finger lickin' sauce and meat. a really nice meat snack. the pastries are not really my thing--pretty dry and sugary (not in a good snappy way), but I don't know Mexican pastries too well. Mexican Hot Chocolate and Horchata are relatively average. But, i like the place, the convenience, and the tacos really are pretty tasty.
(4)
Carolina C.

Yum. It was a split-second decision to try this place, and I'm so glad we did. I had chorizo tacos, which were really good. The chorizo wasn't at all greasy, which is often a problem, and the presentation was great: double corn tortillas, chopped onions, and cilantro. I had guacamole added, which was also excellent (one of my top tests for taquerias). Both the mild and hot salsas were good, too. My dashing dining partner had pollo asada tacos, which he also really liked, and we split a plate of beans and rice, which were superb. Muy authentico! We also got a few of the bakery delights, and they were quite delightful. I'm actually snacking on this creme-filled soaked-cake number right now, and it's great -- tastes like a homemade twinky. Really good stuff. I can't wait to try more and will definitely be going back. I've been trying to find more great taquerias in the East Bay, and with Casa Latina I found a winner! Hooray! Very sweet and friendly service as well.
(5)
Gabriela V.

Delcious bread! You gotta try the Pan de Muerto during the month of October.
(4)
Dan L.

As far as neighborhood bakeries/taquerias are concerned, this one takes the cake (pun intended). I came across this place after a recommendation from my roommate. No more than 7 minutes walking distance from my house, Casa Latina has excelled in providing me (a) quality, home-made (and well portioned) Mexican food-fare, (b) consistent service and (c) everything at a very modest price. The lunch menu is somewhat Spartan (and I love it just for that reason). If one is desperately in need of a recommendation, try the tamales (hopefully you will arrive on a day in which they have decided to make them!-this is the sole reason why I didn't give them 5 stars). Nota Bene: The place is somewhat small and during lunch time can fill up. There are few seating accommodations-although this is relatively speaking in part due to its small size.
(4)
Annie F.

3.5 stars. This place is right down from my house so I've been there a few times. They have solid burritos that are big for low prices!! I had a cookie that was really hard and sort of bland, but otherwise, I enjoy the place. It's not the freshest, but it's authentic and a great deal. Plus, the service is quick and everyone is fairly friendly, especially since they were speaking to me in (what was for them) a foreign language.
(3)
Dennis H.

The only reason I'm not giving this place a 5 is because the burrito I got there was average. Their bakery however, is soooo good. I love their selection and their prices on their pastries. Things I've found to be especially delicious: Cheesecake Bread pudding Macaroon
(4)
Isaac A.

The barbacoa burrito (and taco) is off the hook! doesn't matter what its on/in, very tasty! coffee is ok, pastry is pretty good. I keep going back for the same thing. After weeks, I tried the pork, it was ok, some day I'll try the polo. Been back to this place several times, consistently good! The veggie/queso tamales are a great, but the meat ones I don't like as much. My wife really likes the agua fresca, I enjoy the Mexican Coke. Great atmosphere, I can't help but go to this place every time I'm in the neighborhood and sometimes when I'm not.
(4)
Stephanie S.

When I get cravings for Mexican food and danger, I immediately think of Casa Latina Bakery. The area where this little panaderia lives is pretty sketchy after dark, but it's worth it. Go here, order the barbacoa tacos, they will blow your mind. Seriously such good marinated, slow cooked beef topped with fresh onion and cilantro and all for $2. WHAT? Yes that's right. The few pastries we tried were good, but a bit stale. Then again we went right before closing (9pm), so that's hardly fair. The ladies working there are very nice and will explain what each of the items are. The service is quick too!
(5)
Blake S.

For a bakery this place makes some pretty darn good Mexican food. The bakery/cafe is simple, clean and the staff is very accommodating. I have had lunch here about three times and I have never been disappointed with the food. Just recently, I ordered the "regular burrito" with tongue. This was my first time trying tongue and it was delicious. I am relatively conservative when I eat at any small caf ealong San Pablo Avenue, but based on my previous visits to this bakery, I had no reservation about ordering such a unique item. As usual the food was served quickly and exceeded my expectations. I agree with the previous reviewers that the seating is limited (approximately four tables) but at least the size of the place prevents families from the Berkeley Hills from swarming the bakery during the weekends. For those of you with young kids, please go or continue to visit Picante. I also had the pleasure of trying their flan at a birthday party. The flan was approximately 8" to 12" in diameter and was out-of-this-world delicious. I am not a flan expert, in fact the only comparison I can draw from is the flan made by my wife, and I now realize she was clearly serving me something other than authentic flan. Anyhow, I highly recommend ordering this dessert during the weekend. I think you have to call in ahead of time and either reserve the flan for that day, or order it for the following day. In any event try the flan, and maybe you too will realize that your significant other was fooling you for many many years.
(4)
Joe B.

Went here with a friend today and after the burrito, I just didn't have room for a pasty, though I really wanted to take something home. The veggie burrito was good, if not outstanding. Black beans were small and hard, though. The hot salsa is excellent here - don't order anything less, it's not really that spicy. (note the word PASTY above. I don't personally have room for a pasty, but my gf Jessica P. sure does - and a certain dessert here comes to mind. ;-) Thanks Tamiko J. for pointing out my Freudian typo.) I was kind of hoping for huevos rancheros . . . I think next time I'll come for breakfast.
(4)
jessica s.

So I have been here only twice, once for lunch, I had tacos that were very very tasty and I drooled at the baked goods, but i was on a date and didn't want be a fat ass. The next night I stopped by on my way home from work and got everyone in my house a HUGE burrito, they were very good, I also got the tres leche cake and a pastry which were good too....the ladies who work there are extremely nice and friendly, i will go back soon!
(4)
Leily P.

I think this is a cute, "cozy" (aka really freaking small) place but come on - paying more than $8 for a burrito is not cool. Go to a taco truck in Oakland and get a a real burrito for $4. I don't care if it's gigantic, paying more than $5 - let alone $8 something - for a goddamn burrito is lame, period. Also there is no salsa bar. That made me sad. However, if you do request salsa, the people behind the counter are super nice and will give you some weird Chipotle salsa that doesn't taste very good. I ordered a Carne Asada torta and a Horchata. The meat was delicious, but like I said - I'd be just as happy paying $4 for it at a taco truck. The Horchata was delicious too. I have no complaints about that. I know that the meat is super seasoned and delicious and the workers are super nice, but the prices are not right and therefore it only gets 3 stars.
(3)
Ginny B.

Wonderful food and great selection of pastries!!!!!
(5)
G P.

Of all the Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area, who would think that the best food is actually in a bakery? This is real Mexican food, very reasonably-prized and delicious, period.
(5)
Jayne W.

Well, it's good... but I'm not blown away, yet. I ordered my taqueria standard, the super burrito de carnitas. It's freakin' huge, that's true, and the ingredients are fairly tasty. I was not a huge fan of the guacamole - too thin and over-onioned for my taste. I also couldn't tell the salsa was supposed to be hot. The red salsa that came with the chips was hot and good, however. The chips were above average also. My other gripes about the burrito were that the rice felt oily and the carnitas, while very tender and flavorful, had no crispy edges. That of course is a matter of personal preference. Oh, and $7.75 for a burrito? I could only eat half though so for a per-meal cost, I guess that's acceptable. On the panaderia side, the cacahuete I got for my afternoon tea was just the right sweetness, nice and crumbly, very nice. I think next time I'll have a tamale or torta and try a different meat.
(3)
Nadia A.

I loved this place! Stumbled in here during some rain while getting my oil changed next door (check my review for that :-) ) and found lovely smells and lovely service. I got 2 tacos and fresh oj for only 5bucks and it was delic! oscar dotcom also loved his taco (my chihuahua pup)...i know, I'm ridiculous. I just can't resist sometimes with him...specially when it comes to his native mexican food :-)
(5)
Vanessa F.

Friendly but slow service. Went after reading the many great reviews on Yelp only to be disappointed. The nachos were massive, which they should have been for $8. Food had ZERO spice despite requesting "hot" salsa. The carne asada burrito was bland. The baked goods are not that great, but better than those you can get in the supermarket. The churros look great, but unfortunately I did not have the chance to try one.
(2)
Aaron M.

If Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin ["Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are"] were to pontificate about me, his final verdict would surely label me a doughboy. As I can hardly resist passing by the Casa Latina panaderia without stopping for a treat. Hell, I can't even resist saying Casa Latina panaderia...casa Latina Panaderia....rolls off the tongue doesn't it? Casa Latina is small bakery slash taco, burrito and plates eatery on San Pablo in Berkeley. The nonbaked-goods menu is fine but really plays second fiddle to the bakery and thusly beyond the scope or focus of my review. Small and unassuming, this bakeshop is the best place to get cheap but very good freshly baked Mexican pastries. Conches are soft, moist and topped with a uniquely rashy looking crumbled sugar infused with chocolate or other flavors. Sponge cake is spongy, pig-shaped molasses breads are rich, and both cry out for the accompaniment of a hot cup of Mexican hot coco. The daily selection can vary but roughly offers up the same regular options, mixing in deliciously festive and seasonal goodies like Day of the Dead bread [Pan de Muerto]. One is well served to go and pick up a bag of random treats for a dinner party as a simple and safe way to expose guests to a new food experience without concern for upsetting less daring palates. Who can resist fresh baked goods? Use desert as a gateway to foodiedom. The best part about Casa Latina, well the penultimate part next to the taste, is the cost of the product. A bag of treats for a group of four people generally costs less than five-dollars. Cheap but good eats rate high in my book. Couple in the fact that these are unique and hard to find, or at least hard to find finely-crafted, and you have a perfect rating from yours truly - the proud doughboy.
(5)
Chris D.

I wanted... scratch that, NEEDED carnitas today. I looked up carnitas in Emeryville and low and behold Casa Latina comes up. When you go here you NEED to get Carnitas too. They are perfectly moist with the salsa and the flavoring is so good. I didn't get any sweets this time but it won't be long before I go back. It's Wednesday and I am not sure if I will even make it through the week before I go back.
(4)
Racha L.

AWESOME Veggie Burro!!! It's a monster and super duper tasty. I will admit I haven't been in, someone brought it by for dinner for me...My friend (who is also a midwife if anyone is looking for one) If I hadn't been starvin I would beable to give a more detailed review, but I inhaled it!!! The only thing I was missing was the beer and the burp! : P
(4)
Steve K.

Yelper Daniel B. told me that his favorite carnitas came out of the kitchen at Casa Latina. So, even though dinner at Shan Dong left little room, nothing beats pork for dinner _and_ dessert. Carnitas taco: suddenly, the obvious choice. "Favorite carnitas" is a bold (and inherently subjective) statement, but these are definitely worth trying. Bonus: it's steps away from The Albatross, so if you get hungry playing darts, there's more than just popcorn to stuff down yer gullet.
(5)
Jane N.

A local friend took a bunch of us working in Emeryville to take a drive up to this place for lunch. What a great treat. The moment you walk in, you feel like you're in a little story book bakery, and my eyes just opened wide at the assortment of beautiful pastries in the cute glass cabinets. I wanted something more substantial though, and my friend highly recommended the Tortas Carnitas, which was indeeeeed heavenly. The bread was soft, the carnitas juicy and tender... I don't know if ti's authentic or not but it sure was a slice of paradise. For $6, I was so full I coulnd't finish the thing, and my dream of finishing the meal with a pastry was out the window. My friend had 2 tacs + a pastry all for $5. Next time I'll save some room for you, you sweet sugary dreams. The owner (or who I think he is anyway) came over and asked us if the food was good, and how we found the place. It was so nice. They have been there for 3 years and I'm glad quite a few yelpers have found them as well already!
(5)
Kristen R.

I love this place! Some of the best Mexican food I've found in the Bay Area! It's a bit greasy, but it's still yummy and a very good price. The Nachos are delicious and enough to split (and my boyfriend doesn't usually like splitting food). I'd recommend getting this with chicken, because it's all so rich that the not-too-greasy chicken is a nice compliment. The carne asada tacos are also awesome. Best with guacamole and a squeeze of lime. mmm Finally- the ladies of Casa Latina are super-nice. :)
(4)
Amber H.

I was looking to try something new and Yelp pointed me towards Casa Latina. I tried the chile and cheese tamale ($2) and a steak taco ($2). For that price, I expected the tamale to be small, but it was standard size. Both were really tasty and way more filling than getting two sammies at Quizno's for the same price. I'll definitely go back and try more. The bakery displays were an overwhelming vision of baked goodness. Sadly, I wussed out and just grabbed a couple cookies. I'm a few bites in...yum. Cheers to finding a new yummy place in Berkeley! P.S. Menu prices have gone up slightly from the menu picture here on yelp.
(4)
James D.

Quality home cooked tasting food. Friendly service. Tacos and nachos are awesome. I haven't tried much of the bakery food, but I go here a lot. Also, good coffee, tea and espresso!
(5)
Steve L.

Excellent staff, even better breakfast burritos, decent coffee, good pastries. An excellent stop.
(4)
George I.

Gosh, they make good food -- great nachos, burritos and tostadas. But what really blows me away and makes me a repeat customer -- is how NICE they are! Today, they made a mistake on my nachos order. It was a to-go order and I didn't realize it until I was back at work, and when I called them to tell them about it -- they offered to make it right AND DELIVER IT TO ME AT MY JOB! That's going above and beyond -- and it's so nice that a business is willing to do that.
(5)
D C.

I went there years ago and had a decent burrito, although I remember it having too much rice. I've been back a couple of times in the last couple of weeks after my Mom mentioned I should check it out. Burritos are just ok, and expensive at $8+. The biggest problem is that they don't know what carne asada / steak is. The first time I went I asked for carne asada and I got shredded / braised beef that quite honestly was pretty flavorless, my wife actually ordered and I thought there'd been a mix up or something. Second time I went I asked for carne asada and again I got shredded beef. I went up to the counter to ask if this was indeed carne asada or shredded beef, the guy who made my burrito didn't know, so then a girl behind the counter showed me a sample of shredded beef and said that I didn't have shredded beef. I pointed out that the shredded beef she showed me looked the exact same as the meat in my burrito. So I asked to see what the carne asada looked like, she then showed me another meat she claimed was carne asada / steak and lo and behold it was shredded beef again. I told her it was unlike any steak I'd ever seen and went back to my table. Shame on them for trying to tell me that their braised beef is steak, if all they want to offer is braised beef then that's fine, they should say so and not claim they're serving steak.
(1)
Colleen M.

Four stars for the regular food, five stars for the baked goods. I had the vegetarian plate, and it was HUGE and under $5. They also know what hot means, unlike most Mexican food joints around town. The owner is a super nice guy too. Come for the food, stay for the sugar cookies with the pink icing. Oh man oh man.
(5)
Katie D.

I found this place two weeks ago and have already been back twice. An authentic panderia that does double-duty as a great taqueria- I am sold! I had the quesadilla with chicken, which came with very large sides of guac, salsa (mild... I'm a wimp), and sour cream. The meat was very tender, all white. My partner-in-crime got the super burrito with carne asada, which was also done to perfection. Once stuffed to the brim we went back to buy our bag of goodies for the ride home (I live all the way past Shattuck- we could starve by then!) and settled on five- and it came to $2.50! Amazingly cheap! I have since been back and this was no fluke, the prices are actually that low. My favorite baked good thus far hands down is the custard empanada, followed by the coconut thing (sorry for not knowing what it is actually called). But all are pretty amazing. Added bonus- everyone here has been very friendly. There is an older man who works and/or owns the place who insisted we have not just more water from the cooler, but cold water... he made us wait for the ice! How can you not feel great about supporting that kind of dedication?! But be prepared to support with the green- they are cash only.
(5)
Alison C.

i never even had a torta before i came here but they are super good and i would probably eat one every day if this was closer to my work.
(5)
Kathryn C.

Yummy, yummy, yummy. I have not had better mexican food since Ensenada. I rate taquerias by their carnitas, and Casa Latina always has very tender, flavorful pork. Get it in a burrito or a torta and your eyes will glisten with tears of joy. Cash only annoys me.
(4)
Anne P.

I'm embarassed to admit that I've lived in the neighborhood for two years and walked by Casa Latina countless times and never went in until today. I always assumed it was just a bakery... even though there is a sign outside with the word "Taqueria" on it. In my defense, all you can see from the sidewalk is piles of delicious looking pastries. (OK, I should have gone in, ages ago. There is no defense.) This place knows how to cook meat. We tried the Carne Asada, Barbacoa and Carnitas. The flavors and texture of all three (glazed in sauce and falling-apart tender) could compete with the best barbecue around. The $8 platos are enough food for two people with modest appetites (5 tortillas, generous helpings of guacamole, meat, rice and beans). Their horchata was the best I've had in a long while, and they're open until 10 (Sundays too). If you live in the neighborhood and haven't tried this place yet, do yourself a favor. Don't make the same mistake I did. Even If you don't live in the neighborhood, come on out. It's worth it.
(5)
Lauren S.

YUMMY BOMBNESS! If you live in the North Berkeley 'hood, this is such a blessing for the local taqueria/Panaderia joint. Its pretty tiny, more of a take-out spot. Try their breakfast burritos, they make it on a full-on grill, fresh,a nd HUGE. Enough for breakkie and lunch. You might go in for a meal, but walk out with a full meal, some pan dulce, beer and/or a large cup of their delicious Horchata. The atmosphere is pretty small, but just enough space to relax and enjoy a little piece of casa latina authentica. I feel like a nina en una tienda de dulces.
(5)
S H.

DELICIOUS~! This place is a small little place on San Pablo and their pastries are soooo fresh and fluffy. I stopped by this place because a friend told me that it is the best mexican food in Berkeley and he was right. For my meal I had the barbacoa burrtio and a bite of my friends carne asada burrito. Burritos have a very homemade style, rice was fluffy and the barbacoa was flavorful, tender and oh so yummy. I think I love this place so much is because of the combination of having a burrito and a delicious pastry for dessert~! Staff is very polite and helpful
(5)
Sab F.

Love the Mexican hot chocolate, super nachos, and the Ninos Envuelotos. Reminds me of going to mexico as a kid. (the pastries and hot chocolate).
(4)
The Sock S.

Since it's been almost two years since I've been coming here, I should update my review. They now take credit cards. The bakery items are good. The breakfast burritos are fantastic. The meats are baked and everything is made on a press griddle. Though some items seem slightly greasy, it's usually because of the olive oil they use rather than melted fat. And since olive oil is the food of the gods and is healthy, these things taste even better than before.
(4)
Joy C.

Haven't eaten here, but I had been craving horchata, and Yelp pointed me to this place. Amazingly good horchata, with a strong cinnamon flavor.
(5)
Andrew L.

The service is top-notch, friendly and very welcoming, it really feels like home. the food is delicious, i dont particularly like sweets, so i havent had any of their baked goods, but i have tried their fine burritos, tacos, and their delicious super nachos with meat. these super nachos are huge! with large fresh jalapenos and mountains of all kinds of goodness. I was thinking about giving this place a 4/5 due to their prices being slightly high, the super nachos are probably a little more than $8, and super burrito around the same price, But the sheer quality makes it easily worth paying a little extra than to go to just any random mexican food place.
(5)
Janelle S.

Finally a place in Berkeley that serves great tasting food for the right price! Coming from Southern California I have had a hard time adjusting to the Bay Area's Mexican food. Mostly because if it is any good it is generally over priced. CASA LATINA TO THE RESCUE! Yes, this is a bakery. But do not underestimate their tacos! After the first time you eat here it will become a habit.
(5)
C D.

I had the veggie burrito on a spinach tortilla, and a pastry with apricot in it. both were good. They have a huge baked good selection. The cost of their pastries is very low, which is a welcome break from the $2.50 cookies on Fourth Street. Maybe it's because they only take CASH. service is friendly and quick I've had their coffee before, I remember it being good, but I'm not sure what I had.
(4)
Colin J.

The Casa Latina is a hidden gem in Berkeley. It has just about everything going on. There is a great bakery selection of delicious pastries, as well as a authentic and tasty selection of classic Mexican fare, including amazing burritos and tacos. You can get full and be satisfied for way cheaper than a normal place. I paid less that 14 dollars for drinks, lunch, desert all of quality. This place is great. Check it out.
(5)
sava s.

firstly, thank you Yelpers for helping me find decent food in the world! I'd been craving mexican food for like 2 weeks and didn't really want to go to a greasy taqueria (although I'm still craving that) so decided to check this place out - especially since it's run by 2 women. I was pleasantly surprised! the women behind the counter are sweet and efficient and the place is cozy with warm lighting. we got the chorizo burritos - yummy! the ingredients were very fresh and the burritos were a good size - I do wish there was a little more chorizo in it, though... most of the meat in mine was concentrated in one section and well, I guess that happens, but I missed it for the rest of my burrito! we asked for the HOT salsa - but in the burrito it wasn't noticeable. if you like it hot, get extra hot salsa on the side with the nachos to pour on the burrito as you eat it... that did the trick for me! I do wish there were labels or at least a menu of all the pastries in there - they looked so good and I was looking at all of them but had no clue what they were or how they would potentially taste. I saw a kid come in and fill up a tray with some of the stuff and was tempted to follow suit, but I just wanted burrito that night. I will go back for the pastries for sure!
(3)
L I.

Delicious platos, nachos, tacos, and pastries. Oh..and they have churros and fruit-puff pastry/napoleon things for $1.50-$2.00!!!
(4)
Lucy M.

Never had anything other then bread there so I can't comment on restaurant section. However, they have Rosca today and that totally made my day. I had one there last year and it was good. Tell me another bakery in Berkeley that acknowledges 'Dia de Reyes'? Today they are golden to me.
(4)
Kellis M.

Very delicious. $24 got us 1 nachos (HUGE!), 1 burrito, 2 taco's, large horchata and a diet coke. The amount of food was crazy... we didn't finish the nachos or eat any of the burrito. Really delicious food. I only had two complaints... they didn't give us our drinks. By the time we finished the meal, the place was PACKED, and it didn't seem worth it to get a refund. #2. I was RUNNING to the bathroom about 20 minutes after eating. But, my boyfriend was fine (we ate exactly the same stuff), so I'm not sure if this was due to the food. Things of note: this place is TINY. There are only 3 tables inside (and 3 outside, but it's cold and loud with lots of traffic). They do take plastic... I paid with an ATM card (referencing an earlier review that said the place was cash only). I'd go back. I love that it's so close to home.
(4)
Natasha S.

Fresh, flavorful Mexican food that's never heavy. They always have great horchata and another agua fresca on the menu. I love their veggie quesadillas, veggie burritos, and veggie plate. Their rice is my favorite!
(5)
Mary F.

*news flash* AFRICA DOES NOT HAVE BURRITOS If someone had told me this 6 months ago, I would've seriously reconsidered my whole trip. A really good friend of mine knew of my dire burrito deficiency and took me to Casa Latina this morning. At this point I would've S_cked A D_ck for a tortilla filled with beans and meat. (Hint for the extra slow: it rhymes with "Ducked a Brick"). Just walking in the place almost had me in tears and as the plate was coming up to me I actually yelled "JUST PUT IT IN ME ALREADY". (I'm sorry burrito lady, that was not an advance.... or was it?!?) I almost took that thing into my arms and cradled it with the same love and tenderness I held those orphans with... those same damn orphans that kept me away from this beautiful burrito. MMM..... so delicious. So ridiculously delicious. And who says burritos do not go with mexican hot chocolate? Not I, good sir. There's also an array of really good cookies. I hit the jizzity jackpot. I may never leave the bay area again... that is, unless to go to Latin America/Mexico, where I heard the carnitas flows free like the mythical milk and honey of this country. Wow, I said burrito a lot in this review. BURRITO BURRITO BURRITO! Ok, that should do it.
(5)
Brenda F.

Great, inexpensive and authentic mexican food experience. I love stepping into this restaurant. The staff is wonderful and friendly and the baked goods are oustanding. And the tacos. The tacos!
(5)
Brittney G.

They now take credit cards! This place gets better and better.
(5)
Alexander Q.

Huge burritos. The meats are delicious; the chorizo is sweet, not spicy. The employees I've talked to are very friendly. There are a couple small tables outside, and they do take plastic.
(5)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 1805 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94702
Phone (510) 558-7177
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:30 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Casa Latina

1805 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94702

Casa Latina Menu

Salad

Meats

Burritos

Platos / Plates

Veggie - Plate

Tamales

Quesadillas

Nachos

Turtas / Sandwiches

Side Orders

Healthy Meal suggestions for Casa Latina

Salad

Meats

Burritos

Platos / Plates

Veggie - Plate

Tamales

Quesadillas

Nachos

Turtas / Sandwiches

Side Orders

Amy G.

Jenise P.

Annie J.

Mike P.

Lizzy D.

Joanna S.

Keith M.

Bill H.

Fabien-Pierre N.

K D.

D H.

Debora L.

Rita H.

richard d.

Daniel S.

Andrew R.

Nicole B.

Mick A.

Adela A.

Zack F.

Andrew R.

.Alan Y.

Amy C.

B. R.

Vanessa I.

Arnold H.

Emmanuel M.

Bobby D.

Jana C.

Vittorio L.

Lucy P.

M a.

Lori W.

Caroline S.

Taylor S.

San J.

Marck N.

Andrea P.

Tim O.

Tobsen J.

Matt G.

Michelle K.

Wolfy W.

Christopher B.

I M.

Alex M.

Jed D.

Meg L.

Tom I.

Aki N.

Alice L.

Dirk W.

Renee S.

Lanette H.

Paul E.