Love the atmosphere here. Service is great. Food is wonderful. We stop here every year while we are on vacation. It is a tradition.
(5)
Adam M.
Chips and Salsa were really good. The white Queso came out barely warm so it hardened before we could get half way through it. The root beer was fine and the smothered burrito was really good! The waiter was nice but seemed very rushed despite there only being two tables served.
(3)
Stacy P.
This the worst Mexican I have ever tried to eat... $9.00 margarita that had no taste of tequilla, warm flat beer, and food that was Luke warm . I don't usually complain... but this was bad.
(1)
Donna H.
Our favorite restaurant well worth the drive from Sarasota. The food is outstanding and the biggest and best margaritas are served here. Saturday night was so much fun - love the atmosphere, Joe and staff. See you again soon!
(5)
Jonelle S.
The food is great. We've been numerous times. We have 1 complaint. There seems to be something wrong with the soda machine. We have tried multiple sodas & all of them seem to have the after taste of sewer water. It's unbearable to drink. We always tell our servers to see if there's something they can do about it, & they always seem so dumbfounded. They say no one ever complains of the soda. I don't know how no one else tastes it. Please fix the machine!! It's deterring us from wanting to return.
(3)
Matt P.
Yeah I won't be here again... food was bland.
(1)
Brian A.
We came in on Monday night to eat. There was only one table sat in dining room. This should have been our first warning. Took 5 minutes to get sat and 30 minutes for food to come out. I had chicken fajitas and could not even eat them. The refried beans were not eatable. Do not was your time here. We ended up having to go somewhere else and eat dinner. Now we know why no one was in the restaurant.
(1)
Emily S.
The food was barely average, and it took forever to get our food! The waitress was extremely nice, but that didn't really make up for the other downfalls. I won't go back if I ever come back to this area.
(2)
Amanda C.
This place is right by our house so we were hopeful it would be good. I'd heard negative comments about the food before, but figured it might be worth just one try. I was totally wrong. This place was the first time I've ever sent food back and the first time my husband didn't bother to keep his generous amount of leftovers. The burrito was seriously something I could have easily made better at home. It was just a bunch of beans that tasted as if they were scooped straight out of the can and rolled up. I felt like it was about to burst open on my plate because of bean power. And my husbands enchiladas tasted like they just rolled up cheap mozzarella cheese and heated it up in the microwave. I don't think a single thing we ate didn't come pre-made from cans and bags. And if they actually are making it themselves, well, then they should probably stop. It's expensive too considering how incredibly cheap the food tastes. The only good thing I will say about it is that the waitress was very nice. So go ahead and try it for yourself if you want. But, just be prepared to end the night with less money and more nausea and regret.
(1)
Steve A.
Food was decent and affordable. They had a good mixture of items on the menu to choose from. Doubtful that I will go back because it simply "so so" food, I've made better at home. The service was a little slow and not overly friendly.
(2)
Clair G.
Came here with high hopes because I love authentic Mexican. Ordered a margarita. Okay. Super salty. Wish I would of known about the 2-for-1 sangrias. Boyfriend got the chicken enchilada soup for an appetizer. Tasted like peppery gravy. It was alright. Not soupy at all. Be better for breakfast on a biscuit. We ordered the 2-for-1 fajitas that they have on Tuesday. They brought us out one tortilla shell. I guess they assumed we'd split it? Huge chunks of onion and peppers. Would be better if they were cut in slices. Steak was real chewy. The waitress brought out more tortillas but it took a very long time and our food was cold by then. Good white queso. Should of stuck with that and drinks only. Won't be back.
(2)
Bill B.
Great Food, Service, and Atmosphere. We are a regular and have always had a pleasant experience!!! The special Margarita's are a must!!!
(5)
Jennings S.
1 star is generous for this most miserable of any Mexican restaurant I have ever eaten at. Service: atrocious. Server was rude, acted inappropriately, insulted our family, had baggy pants down that showed his butt crack...not kidding it was unreal how mismanaged this restaurant is. Advice to owner: get new manager and menu Tables and chairs are cheap, dirty, the entire place is tacky and filthy. Food: I am very confident the beans are from a can, tortillas from a bag, rice also from a bag (worse spanish rice ever tasted) Had the fajitas, which are really hard to get wrong-awful. Would never come back
(1)
Michael H.
Mexicali is not a true Mexican restaurant. I would describe it as an Americanized version of a Mexican restaurant, or perhaps a sports bar Chili's with a Mexican theme. Maybe an "Over the Border" with worse food. The server was very nice and attentive. The atmosphere in the bar was inviting. My wife and I had lunch there and didn't have high expectations other than craving good Mexican food. That was the largest issue. The food lacked flavor and seasoning and it definitely isn't Mexican. The waiter brought chips and salsa, which was OK but clearly from a can. We ordered the guacamole, which again was from a can. Nothing really homemade here. The chicken tacos were bland and boring, and quite dry. The chicken enchilada was little more than a piece of chicken wrapped in a tortilla. No finesse in the kitchen, that's for sure. Bland, bland, bland. I asked for hot sauce and the kind waiter said, "Tabasco or Cholula?" Not even a homemade hot sauce. Truly not a Mexican Border Cantina as they are going for. I'm tempted to go 3 stars because the server truly did a good job and the place looked sort of fun, cool atmosphere, but the food really brings it down.
(2)
Mike R.
Nice New Mexican restaurant right next to Rice Bowl Asia house. The wife and I ordered the Mexico City Tacos, and strangely enough they seemed authentic. Great Cilantro flavor with just the right tang on the pork. Added bonus; the owner is from Chicago and great at customer service. Plenty of food for the not to brave as well. Highly recommend.
(4)
Chris W.
Excellent authentic Mexican food at excellent prices. Check the lunch specials! We found this at a whim through reviews on Yelp and will definitely be back for more!
(5)
Kate B.
Second trip here in one week...food is fabulous but exceptional service brought us back. Very friendly, fast, attentive staff here - makes for very comfortable experience. Amazing ribs and pork tacos, generous portions (understatement), and the salsa - had to get a pint to go! Excellent appy w/chips but added to the main course - so wonderful! Not so fond of the machine-made 'Rita's but there are other options and of course, frosty beers! Save us a seat at the bar, this is our new favorite local gotta-go-to.
(4)
Jeanie B.
Wasn't that impressed with my burrito experience. The first time it came out it was wrong. Then it was cold. You'd think you'd try and improve the experience not make it worse. They do have really good salsa and love the thin crispy chips. I could have done better at home for half the price.
(1)
Ren H.
The place blows!! This was not a good restaurant experience. My boyfriend and I went there for dinner on a Saturday night. The service was beyond slow. Our food showed up 30min after the waitress said it would be up "shortly". Total wait time before food arrived was approx 45-60min. Both our dishes were cold. I had requested grill marks on the tortillas, since I am not a huge fan of raw corn tortillas. Everything was cold and no marks were present. My boyfriends' burrito was inconsistent in the fillings of the burrito. One whole half of his ice cold burrito did not contain any meat what so ever. The cheese was gelling. I just wanted to leave. Never going back. Salsa was so-so, chips pretty stale. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(1)
Angie S.
Despite the so-so reviews I gave this place a try. We were greeted and immediately seated. Our server was a nice woman who was friendly and prompt. We were given chips and salsa while we waited for our food. The chips and salsa were very good. The food did take a while to arrive. I ordered the chicken tacos. My dish came with rice and beans. The presentation was nice. The rice was not authentic. It looked like parboiled which is not used in Mexico. The beans were ranchero beans made with smoked bacon. I kept getting a strong flavor of celery in my beans perhaps from their stock (?). The chicken in my tacos was a bit dry but I added salsa and they were great. If I am in the area I would return. Compared to Mr. Tequila, this place is WONDERFUL.
(3)
Nancy C.
This is the BEST Mexican food we've had in FL! Joe runs a great place - he values his staff so they stay and are GREAT. They even catered our wedding on the beach at AMI. Our California relatives enjoyed the food too, and they KNOW Mexican! It was worth the trip from Atlanta to spend another Cinco de Mayo with them!
(5)
Elizabeth E.
I wish I could give zero stars. My husband and I went here for the first time last week and we couldn't believe how terrible the food was. The chips and salsa were good, but our dinners were just bad. I got a chicken chimi and he got a beef burrito. There is nothing fresh about there food. It all tastes old and like it came from a can. We didn't even eat. Bad bad bad.
(1)
Ray O.
A great American Mex. style food and atmosphere Fresh chips and salsa right when you get greeted. Staff seems attentive and well paced. My family and I have been coming here for years and love that they are expanding their business. Try the Guadalajara fajitas or Fish tacos!!!!
(5)
Savira R.
Absolutely horrible! First of all, they can't control their fruit flies. I ordered what I thought would be standard fare for a Mexican restaurant, which was chicken fajitas. Kind of hard to mess those up, but the chicken tasted freezer burned and had no seasoning at all on it. I'm sorely disappointed because it is close to my home, and I was hoping to find a Mexican joint to enjoy on a regular basis.
(1)
David S.
Very fresh ingredients all made in house. Best salsa in town. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgable server. Top choice Mexican Restaurant. I will be a regular.
(5)
Bill W.
The food was descent but everything else was boarderline. Service was slow, bathrooms were messy, and wait (on a Tuesday evening) was long. The food was the saving grace - it is really good.
(2)
Jackie P.
Just ok. The only thing that is good is the fajitas and I can make those at home better.
(2)
Philip T.
What a surprise. It's been quit a while since I ate here. I remember they had one of the best tasting salsa in the area. It was so fresh tasting. What a disappointment the salsa was the worst I've had. It was brownish orange in color. Had no fresh flavor like Problano's. The salsa is how I rate a Mexican restaurant. If its of high quality then you know your meal is going to be great. Just like ketchup. If you see Heinz on the table you know they have quality in the kitchen. Bye bye Mexicali.
(1)
Alex S.
Eh. The food is rather bland. I had never been to a Mexican restaurant and then needed to use the salt and pepper on the table until I ate here. The servers are always nice and the food comes out quickly; but the food is tasteless. If you can't think of anything else to eat, this is a place where you might settle for....it is on the cheap side.
(2)
David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=3 // Service=4 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=N/A // Bathrooms=Not Really // Overrated=No Supposedly the best Mexican place in Bradenton. It is a bit banged up inside, however the people are nice, they serve warm/good chips and it is inexpensive. The portions are fairly large - enough to split. Good place to get some fast food with the family.
(3)
Joey Y.
Don't know if the foods good or not...went in to order take out. Must have been when the manager sent most of the servers & hostess home. So they all bolted by me at the hostess stand like rats leaving sinking ship. I stood there for a minute and noticed only one server cleaning tables. The Hong Kong restaurant next door was a great find! I'm some glad they all had something better to do.
(2)
Renee H.
Amazing! Food was fantastic! We had Tuesdays deal...2 fajitas for 10.99 omg so good! Margaritas were really tasty and so was the sangria! Highly recommend
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Becki W.
Love the atmosphere here. Service is great. Food is wonderful. We stop here every year while we are on vacation. It is a tradition.
(5)Adam M.
Chips and Salsa were really good. The white Queso came out barely warm so it hardened before we could get half way through it. The root beer was fine and the smothered burrito was really good! The waiter was nice but seemed very rushed despite there only being two tables served.
(3)Stacy P.
This the worst Mexican I have ever tried to eat... $9.00 margarita that had no taste of tequilla, warm flat beer, and food that was Luke warm . I don't usually complain... but this was bad.
(1)Donna H.
Our favorite restaurant well worth the drive from Sarasota. The food is outstanding and the biggest and best margaritas are served here. Saturday night was so much fun - love the atmosphere, Joe and staff. See you again soon!
(5)Jonelle S.
The food is great. We've been numerous times. We have 1 complaint. There seems to be something wrong with the soda machine. We have tried multiple sodas & all of them seem to have the after taste of sewer water. It's unbearable to drink. We always tell our servers to see if there's something they can do about it, & they always seem so dumbfounded. They say no one ever complains of the soda. I don't know how no one else tastes it. Please fix the machine!! It's deterring us from wanting to return.
(3)Matt P.
Yeah I won't be here again... food was bland.
(1)Brian A.
We came in on Monday night to eat. There was only one table sat in dining room. This should have been our first warning. Took 5 minutes to get sat and 30 minutes for food to come out. I had chicken fajitas and could not even eat them. The refried beans were not eatable. Do not was your time here. We ended up having to go somewhere else and eat dinner. Now we know why no one was in the restaurant.
(1)Emily S.
The food was barely average, and it took forever to get our food! The waitress was extremely nice, but that didn't really make up for the other downfalls. I won't go back if I ever come back to this area.
(2)Amanda C.
This place is right by our house so we were hopeful it would be good. I'd heard negative comments about the food before, but figured it might be worth just one try. I was totally wrong. This place was the first time I've ever sent food back and the first time my husband didn't bother to keep his generous amount of leftovers. The burrito was seriously something I could have easily made better at home. It was just a bunch of beans that tasted as if they were scooped straight out of the can and rolled up. I felt like it was about to burst open on my plate because of bean power. And my husbands enchiladas tasted like they just rolled up cheap mozzarella cheese and heated it up in the microwave. I don't think a single thing we ate didn't come pre-made from cans and bags. And if they actually are making it themselves, well, then they should probably stop. It's expensive too considering how incredibly cheap the food tastes. The only good thing I will say about it is that the waitress was very nice. So go ahead and try it for yourself if you want. But, just be prepared to end the night with less money and more nausea and regret.
(1)Steve A.
Food was decent and affordable. They had a good mixture of items on the menu to choose from. Doubtful that I will go back because it simply "so so" food, I've made better at home. The service was a little slow and not overly friendly.
(2)Clair G.
Came here with high hopes because I love authentic Mexican. Ordered a margarita. Okay. Super salty. Wish I would of known about the 2-for-1 sangrias. Boyfriend got the chicken enchilada soup for an appetizer. Tasted like peppery gravy. It was alright. Not soupy at all. Be better for breakfast on a biscuit. We ordered the 2-for-1 fajitas that they have on Tuesday. They brought us out one tortilla shell. I guess they assumed we'd split it? Huge chunks of onion and peppers. Would be better if they were cut in slices. Steak was real chewy. The waitress brought out more tortillas but it took a very long time and our food was cold by then. Good white queso. Should of stuck with that and drinks only. Won't be back.
(2)Bill B.
Great Food, Service, and Atmosphere. We are a regular and have always had a pleasant experience!!! The special Margarita's are a must!!!
(5)Jennings S.
1 star is generous for this most miserable of any Mexican restaurant I have ever eaten at. Service: atrocious. Server was rude, acted inappropriately, insulted our family, had baggy pants down that showed his butt crack...not kidding it was unreal how mismanaged this restaurant is. Advice to owner: get new manager and menu Tables and chairs are cheap, dirty, the entire place is tacky and filthy. Food: I am very confident the beans are from a can, tortillas from a bag, rice also from a bag (worse spanish rice ever tasted) Had the fajitas, which are really hard to get wrong-awful. Would never come back
(1)Michael H.
Mexicali is not a true Mexican restaurant. I would describe it as an Americanized version of a Mexican restaurant, or perhaps a sports bar Chili's with a Mexican theme. Maybe an "Over the Border" with worse food. The server was very nice and attentive. The atmosphere in the bar was inviting. My wife and I had lunch there and didn't have high expectations other than craving good Mexican food. That was the largest issue. The food lacked flavor and seasoning and it definitely isn't Mexican. The waiter brought chips and salsa, which was OK but clearly from a can. We ordered the guacamole, which again was from a can. Nothing really homemade here. The chicken tacos were bland and boring, and quite dry. The chicken enchilada was little more than a piece of chicken wrapped in a tortilla. No finesse in the kitchen, that's for sure. Bland, bland, bland. I asked for hot sauce and the kind waiter said, "Tabasco or Cholula?" Not even a homemade hot sauce. Truly not a Mexican Border Cantina as they are going for. I'm tempted to go 3 stars because the server truly did a good job and the place looked sort of fun, cool atmosphere, but the food really brings it down.
(2)Mike R.
Nice New Mexican restaurant right next to Rice Bowl Asia house. The wife and I ordered the Mexico City Tacos, and strangely enough they seemed authentic. Great Cilantro flavor with just the right tang on the pork. Added bonus; the owner is from Chicago and great at customer service. Plenty of food for the not to brave as well. Highly recommend.
(4)Chris W.
Excellent authentic Mexican food at excellent prices. Check the lunch specials! We found this at a whim through reviews on Yelp and will definitely be back for more!
(5)Kate B.
Second trip here in one week...food is fabulous but exceptional service brought us back. Very friendly, fast, attentive staff here - makes for very comfortable experience. Amazing ribs and pork tacos, generous portions (understatement), and the salsa - had to get a pint to go! Excellent appy w/chips but added to the main course - so wonderful! Not so fond of the machine-made 'Rita's but there are other options and of course, frosty beers! Save us a seat at the bar, this is our new favorite local gotta-go-to.
(4)Jeanie B.
Wasn't that impressed with my burrito experience. The first time it came out it was wrong. Then it was cold. You'd think you'd try and improve the experience not make it worse. They do have really good salsa and love the thin crispy chips. I could have done better at home for half the price.
(1)Ren H.
The place blows!! This was not a good restaurant experience. My boyfriend and I went there for dinner on a Saturday night. The service was beyond slow. Our food showed up 30min after the waitress said it would be up "shortly". Total wait time before food arrived was approx 45-60min. Both our dishes were cold. I had requested grill marks on the tortillas, since I am not a huge fan of raw corn tortillas. Everything was cold and no marks were present. My boyfriends' burrito was inconsistent in the fillings of the burrito. One whole half of his ice cold burrito did not contain any meat what so ever. The cheese was gelling. I just wanted to leave. Never going back. Salsa was so-so, chips pretty stale. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
(1)Angie S.
Despite the so-so reviews I gave this place a try. We were greeted and immediately seated. Our server was a nice woman who was friendly and prompt. We were given chips and salsa while we waited for our food. The chips and salsa were very good. The food did take a while to arrive. I ordered the chicken tacos. My dish came with rice and beans. The presentation was nice. The rice was not authentic. It looked like parboiled which is not used in Mexico. The beans were ranchero beans made with smoked bacon. I kept getting a strong flavor of celery in my beans perhaps from their stock (?). The chicken in my tacos was a bit dry but I added salsa and they were great. If I am in the area I would return. Compared to Mr. Tequila, this place is WONDERFUL.
(3)Nancy C.
This is the BEST Mexican food we've had in FL! Joe runs a great place - he values his staff so they stay and are GREAT. They even catered our wedding on the beach at AMI. Our California relatives enjoyed the food too, and they KNOW Mexican! It was worth the trip from Atlanta to spend another Cinco de Mayo with them!
(5)Elizabeth E.
I wish I could give zero stars. My husband and I went here for the first time last week and we couldn't believe how terrible the food was. The chips and salsa were good, but our dinners were just bad. I got a chicken chimi and he got a beef burrito. There is nothing fresh about there food. It all tastes old and like it came from a can. We didn't even eat. Bad bad bad.
(1)Ray O.
A great American Mex. style food and atmosphere Fresh chips and salsa right when you get greeted. Staff seems attentive and well paced. My family and I have been coming here for years and love that they are expanding their business. Try the Guadalajara fajitas or Fish tacos!!!!
(5)Savira R.
Absolutely horrible! First of all, they can't control their fruit flies. I ordered what I thought would be standard fare for a Mexican restaurant, which was chicken fajitas. Kind of hard to mess those up, but the chicken tasted freezer burned and had no seasoning at all on it. I'm sorely disappointed because it is close to my home, and I was hoping to find a Mexican joint to enjoy on a regular basis.
(1)David S.
Very fresh ingredients all made in house. Best salsa in town. Friendly, attentive, and knowledgable server. Top choice Mexican Restaurant. I will be a regular.
(5)Bill W.
The food was descent but everything else was boarderline. Service was slow, bathrooms were messy, and wait (on a Tuesday evening) was long. The food was the saving grace - it is really good.
(2)Jackie P.
Just ok. The only thing that is good is the fajitas and I can make those at home better.
(2)Philip T.
What a surprise. It's been quit a while since I ate here. I remember they had one of the best tasting salsa in the area. It was so fresh tasting. What a disappointment the salsa was the worst I've had. It was brownish orange in color. Had no fresh flavor like Problano's. The salsa is how I rate a Mexican restaurant. If its of high quality then you know your meal is going to be great. Just like ketchup. If you see Heinz on the table you know they have quality in the kitchen. Bye bye Mexicali.
(1)Alex S.
Eh. The food is rather bland. I had never been to a Mexican restaurant and then needed to use the salt and pepper on the table until I ate here. The servers are always nice and the food comes out quickly; but the food is tasteless. If you can't think of anything else to eat, this is a place where you might settle for....it is on the cheap side.
(2)David C.
My rating system (5 is the best) Food=3 // Service=4 // Attitude=5 // Crowd=Locals // Consistency=N/A // Bathrooms=Not Really // Overrated=No Supposedly the best Mexican place in Bradenton. It is a bit banged up inside, however the people are nice, they serve warm/good chips and it is inexpensive. The portions are fairly large - enough to split. Good place to get some fast food with the family.
(3)Joey Y.
Don't know if the foods good or not...went in to order take out. Must have been when the manager sent most of the servers & hostess home. So they all bolted by me at the hostess stand like rats leaving sinking ship. I stood there for a minute and noticed only one server cleaning tables. The Hong Kong restaurant next door was a great find! I'm some glad they all had something better to do.
(2)Renee H.
Amazing! Food was fantastic! We had Tuesdays deal...2 fajitas for 10.99 omg so good! Margaritas were really tasty and so was the sangria! Highly recommend
(5)Todd S.
margaritas!! :D
(4)