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    Aqui Cal-Mex

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Aqui Cal-Mex Takeout or Delivery

    Aqui Cal-Mex Photos

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    AQUI CAL-MEX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Aqui Cal-Mex

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    Crab Cake and Chicken enchiladas
    Kay G.

    We go to Aqui at least once a month because they always have new menu items and the food is pretty healthy and tasty. This time I tried a new Swirl Flavor, the Hennessy Blackberry Swirl -- wow it was amazing! I will definitely get that flavor again. Food - I had the "Crabcake and Chicken enchiladas" main entree. Large helping, I finished half and my husband took care of the rest. Large crab cake on top with tomatoes, zucchinis and a really good sauce over the chicken enchiladas. My son had the Adobo Chicken Fajitas which he said were delicious. My husband had the Grilled Shrimp Supreme bowl which I tasted, very yummy with cilantro rice, pinto beans, avocado and salsa. He also always gets an Aqua Fresca there. Service - this is not table service, you order at the counter and get a buzzer. Usually food is ready in less than 15 minutes. Ambiance - mostly families with some regular tables but also high top tables (my preference) plus an outdoor covered patio with heaters. Highly recommend.

    805 swirl
    Johnny V.

    Swirl city just found out you can use any Y beer in the michelada swirl a must try Voodoo ranger and margarita swirl

    They have Hennessy hibiscus berry swirls now, y'all. Delicious yet dangerous
    Don L.

    If you want to party in Cupertino, this is the spot. Order yourself a bowl of fresh chips & salsa with unlimited refills and a swirl, and you got yourself a fun time for less than $20. I went here after work with my coworkers almost every weekend over Summer 2025, and it's such a fun vibe. Families and working professionals come here to enjoy good, affordable food and drinks. The patio has an awesome view of De Anza Blvd, so it's nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the nice Cupertino weather. Aqui really is the only spot that serves food and alcohol for a reasonable price in Cupertino; I hope they stay open forever lol.

    Inside
    Anusha S.

    Had a good experience at Aqui Cal Mex! Came here on a Saturday around 12:45pm and it was fairly busy, but still lots of seating available inside. It's all self serve so once you order at the front, you'll be given a buzzer to notify you when your food is ready. I got the California Enchiladas and my friend got the Chicken Taquitos and our order was ready within 10 minutes. The salsa bar was amazing! There was sour cream, pico de gallo, firecracker sauce, etc and I loaded up my plate with everything California Enchiladas (5/5): Thoroughly enjoyed this! Usually not a potato fan but the mashed potato inside the enchilada worked well. The sauces from the salsa bar really enhanced the flavors of the dish! Big portion size as well, I was stuffed afterwards Friend was not a huge fan of her chicken enchiladas as she thought it could have used more seasoning and cheese Overall, I liked Aqui Cal-Mex! Casual spot with tasty and affordable dishes and good amount of vegetarian options. Will return (especially for the salsa bar)!

    Thai Peanut Organic Tofu
    Simpreet K.

    Aqui is our go to whenever we are in the mood for Mexican food in the South Bay. I have been known to drive to South Bay just to eat at Aqui. They deliver on taste, presentation, innovation and quality. I love the vegetarian options and just found my new love in their bowls. The Thai peanut bowl is so delicious if you don't want the usual Mexican dishes at Aqui. This time I ordered ahead of time and just picked up my order before a hike. Can I say my hike was better because of my yummy lunch. Service is never lacking. Day time the restaurant is quieter, but does get busy and a lot of life in the evenings. The margaritas are pretty solid, I dare not touch them lunch time. But if you find yourself at Aqui in the evening, just go for it.

    Wild Crab Cake and Enchiladas
    Fumika T.

    I used to go to the Aqui near the FLEX SAT prep classes so I have fond memories, but I do remember it being a lot more flavorful a decade ago. Aqui is now very healthy upon ordering, and because of that there's not much flavor. But grab some sauce and you can make it your own! My favorite is the firecracker, habanero mango should not be messed with if you don't do spicy. I came here with 9 coworkers, took a minute to order behind a line of 10 people but it was also because we were deciding. Moments after sitting down and getting utensils and salsa, we were served super quickly. For $17, I was so impressed with the amount of crab cake I got, plus enchilada. There's plenty of space and mobile tables so we had some good conversations while watching basketball. Efficient, chill, healthy, and cheap!

    Southwest Chicken Taquitos
    Pranathi B.

    I enjoy this place as it has a lot going for it. *Great ambiance *Varied menu with lots of choices to satisfy even the pickiest of people. *Amazing salsa bar, one can be sure to find something they like as they have a ton of options. *great food presentation, the fruit on some of plates is confusing but surprisingly delectable and somehow works with the savory elements, We have been here several times and tried the sampler, bowls, taquitos etc.

    "Grilled Organic Tofu Supreme Bowl Grilled Organic Tofu Supreme Bowl" : Avocado, grilled tofu, lettuce, ...
    Grace W.

    We ordered supreme tofu and Thai burrito with green salad. Everything is so fresh and delicious. I particular like my grilled tofu, very healthy and light. The restaurant is clean and neat. Servers are friendly. We will go back for sure.

    Salmon taco
    Elena D.

    Coming here (Cupertino) and Campbell and Willow Glen for years! Love the food! Always fresh and delicious. My favorite was BBQ Chicken Quesadilla with pumpkin seeds, unfortunately it was taken off the menu some years ago... Hope one day it will return. Ordering Crab Cake salad or bowl now. Or something from special or seasonal menu.

    Rock in my salad
    Wendy N.

    Well I come here at least 2x a month because I love the southwest Caesar with salmon. However tonight for the very first time, I found a small rock in my salad! I thought at first my tooth had broken but upon spitting it out, discovered it was a small rock! Not good!

    Anish A.

    Aqui is great if you want tasty food fast. It has good outdoor seating that is shaded. Service is fast and their vegan menu is growing! Highly recommend. Relaxed ambiance.

    Free Range Chicken Enchiladas and Grilled Shrimp Supreme Bowl
    Cecile B.

    Efficient, tasty, and reasonably priced and efficient. Aqui isn't the most glamorous spot, but it's been a consistent staple for many years now. I generally get one of the Supreme Bowls, which feel like elevated Chipotle bowls with better flavors, and my mom is very fond of the grilled salmon bowl with sweet mashed potatoes. Also appreciate the self-serve salsa bar!

    Adobo chicken supreme bowl
    Linda M.

    There was plenty of parking in the large lot, and I never knew from looking at the restaurant from the outside, but plenty of seating indoors too! We ordered at the front, very friendly and efficient service! We took our number and very easily found a place to sit. We decided to split an adobo chicken supreme bowl between the two of us. Super delicious and fresh! It was the first time either of us had been to an Aqui Cal-Mex and we will definitely be back! There is also a salsa bar and self serve utensils. Pretty casual place!

    Crab cake + enchiladas

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    3 days ago

    Food is good but they had a change of menu recently and i frankly prefer their older menu.

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    3 months ago

    Great food. Service was quick and friendly. Even during peak hours the service was good.

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    Aqui Cal-Mex Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Aqui Cal-Mex

    Does Aqui have free wi-fi?

    I don' t recall free wifi at Aquis.

    Does a reservation needed to dine in the evenings or not?

    You do not, it's a casual setting you find your own table.

    Are dogs welcome on the patio?

    No- I went after a hike on a cold/windy day- no one was on the patio. I have a well behaved lab and we could not. I suggest Lazy Dog down the street. They are very accommodating to dogs! It's a great experience!

    When is happy hour here?

    SORRY Siobhan, I don't know the answer (though I love all the Aquis in the area) but I wanted an excuse to say hello!! All the best!!… Read more

    Does the bar close at 10 or 9?

    Hello Danielle, I'm not sure what day you are referring to so I've attached the Cupertino link… Read more

    View All 10 Questions

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    Bloom - Churro Waffle

    Bloom

    4.3(1.8k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    That would be our server, Emily. She was outstanding, no matter how busy she was, she made us feel…read moreHeard and appreciated she was terrific. Now, a couple of points to cover. 1. It will be busy you will have to wait, but let me tell you the turnover of the tables by the staff is its own ballet. And once you are shown to your table the wait will be worth it. Point number two order potatoes that are fried in duck fat and sprinkled with garlic and parsley. *if all. I did was return in the future for those potatoes and nothing more the trip is worth it. Now the place is loud and busy and you would not want it any other way the energy is contagious the "Ambiance" is simple you are glad to be there and the employees are glad you are there too.

    Popular American brunch spot, well-lit and decent indoor and outdoor seating. Servers are friendly…read moreand helpful. Didn't need a reservation to sit, but I assume it's much more crowded on the weekends. Parking was fine. Ordered French toast, avocado toast with poached egg, carnitas Benedict, and Churro waffles. Honestly, everything was a bit average and lacking flavor. The churro waffles were by far the favorite and the best deal, price to taste-wise. Definitely get it if you're gonna try anything here. Otherwise, Bloom was slightly lackluster for me. Nothing terrible, but I prefer Sweet Maple as a brunch spot.

    Photos
    Bloom - Brunch with my girl! Hee

    Brunch with my girl! Hee

    Bloom - Croissant French toast

    Croissant French toast

    Bloom - Carnitas Bene w/ avocado, pickled onion, house English muffin, poached eggs, salsas, house potatoes | $25

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    Carnitas Bene w/ avocado, pickled onion, house English muffin, poached eggs, salsas, house potatoes | $25

    Lira

    Lira

    4.1(212 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    Wow! Everything was so good here and the service was amazing too. The owner took the time to…read moreexplain to us the inspiration behind the dishes and that really made the restaurant super inviting. We started with the crab crostini and the Brussels sprouts. The crab was very fresh and each crostini had a large portion of crab on top. The Brussels sprouts were very crispy and very umami with the cheese and bacon combination mixed in. The empanada was honestly a showstopper. I don't know how to describe it other than you have to try it. Both pastas were good but I prefer the mushroom one over the short rib ragu. The halibut was also good, and the basil sauce made it even better. I was already super impressed with everything but I think the stars were the 2 desserts. The Dubai cheesecake was an Italian style cheesecake, so it was a lot lighter than I was expecting (which was welcomed) and captured the essence of Dubai chocolate without being too overwhelming. The Lira in Wonderland was also SO good. It had a crown of cotton candy and was a mix of biscoff cookies, dehydrated red velvet cake (don't knock it till you try it), butterscotch sauce, and strawberries. I was honestly blown away by this meal.

    This was supposed to be a special birthday dinner date that my husband meticulously planned for me,…read morebut it turned into the most horrendous dining experience I've ever had. We dined at Lira on November 14th. The Service (or Lack Thereof): The Menu Shortage: We arrived for our 6:45 PM reservation only to be told by the manager that they didn't have enough menus. We were told they'd bring them "later." Ignored for 35+ Minutes: We sat with nothing but water for over half an hour. To make matters worse, a table of six was seated after us and received their full entrees while we were completely ignored. The Drink Mess: After 40 minutes, the server told me they were out of ingredients for my drink. When I picked a second option, she tried to insist I wanted a drink with celery (my most despised vegetable). We thankfully stopped her before it was made, but the incompetence was staggering. The Food Fiasco: An hour into our reservation, someone dropped off a scallop dish. A while later, a server asked if I'd "received the scallops yet," and I realized the plate I was eating wasn't even intended for our table. We were so starving that my husband and I just shared them. Once we finished, the server finally asked my husband if he "still wanted his meal or if he wanted to cancel it." I finally lost my cool - of course he still wanted his dinner! The Aftermath: My husband didn't realize that my friends had actually made a separate reservation to take me back to this same spot the following night for a second birthday celebration. After this performance, there was no way I was going to step foot in this building again or give them another cent of our money. I texted my friends from the table to cancel those reservations and book elsewhere. With service this disorganized and insulting, this restaurant won't be in business long. Super disappointing. Don't waste your special occasions here. *Edit - it looks like Lira has closed. With the service we experienced, I am not surprised in the slightest. I am hopeful that whichever future business occupies this space is more successful.

    Photos
    Lira - Bone marrow from soft opening

    Bone marrow from soft opening

    Lira - Large bites menu from soft opening

    Large bites menu from soft opening

    Lira - Death by choclate

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    Death by choclate

    Eureka!

    Eureka!

    3.9(1.2k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Makayala & Mariah!!…read more They took care of us tonight! Even tho we came at close. I arrived at 930pm...I ordered a wild child and truffle fries and the service was so quick. I appreciated them and will definitely return!!! Thank you Eureka! You never fail, especially with wild child in a carafe

    Went in today to support the Bay Area Cats fundraiser. We were seated fairly quickly but decided to…read moreswap tables to get more sun. The server was very kind and told us it was okay. I noticed other tables had a carafe of water, so while we waited for our food, I asked someone to bring us some too. It would be cool if it was standard to bring it by so I didn't flag someone down to ask for it. I got the tofu lettuce wraps with a side of fries and a passionfruit lemonade. The lettuce that came with my order was dirty, you could see the actual dirt on it. It's good that it's fresh, but I'd prefer washed lettuce. I mentioned it to a server, and she happily took it away to replace it with fresh lettuce. The new lettuce was wet, so at least I know it was washed. The sauce with the tofu was really tasty, but I wish they marinated the tofu overnight so it could soak up more flavor. The fries were crispy, and the lemonade was refreshing, though I think it could use more passionfruit flavor. My friend got the spicy fried chicken sandwich. She said the chicken was very moist, the coleslaw was good, and she really liked the sauce. The only thing she didn't like was the bun, she said it tasted like low-quality bread and was too crumbly. We had to wait a while for someone to come by so we could ask for the check. My friend pointed out that they didn't check on us much after we got our food. I think the servers are very kind when you can flag someone down, but they could probably benefit from QR code ordering or checkout, since it seemed like only two people were serving the entire restaurant (inside and out).

    Photos
    Eureka!
    Eureka!
    Eureka!

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    The Stand - American Classics Redefined

    The Stand - American Classics Redefined

    4.2(398 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    My friend and I came in for some food and to watch a game in the bar area. I ordered the Havarti…read moreShroom burger on a gf bun, a large sweet potato fries to share, and a spiced cider cocktail. My friend ordered their southwest chicken sandwich and fountain drink. We sat at one of the many stools to watch a game while our food was being made. Everything came out in about 15 mins since it was slow when we came in. We both enjoyed our sandwich/burger and devour the sweet potato fries. I always love getting the food here as everything is fresh. The drink was good and I got their seasonal special frozen Paloma while we continue to watch the game. The bartenders were attentive and made sure we were doing alright.

    I loved the decor and overall atmosphere. A spacious area with everybody being happy and getting…read morefat. The cashier was extremely nice, and she was very patient as I took a long time to read their GIANT MENU. They have Thai Iced Tea milkshakes, I have never heard of such a thing, and I will definitely try it next time. This time I got a strawberry shake. It was my first day quitting cigarettes cold turkey after 25 years, so I wasn't about to risk my shake experience with a possible dud. The strawberry shake hit the spot, or as the youngins say "It hits." The burger and fries were delicious too, or as the youngsters say "Mad fire bro." I would pass on the firehouse fries next time, they were not fire, they were lowkey nasty, as the kids say. Check out my photos, you won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    The Stand - American Classics Redefined
    The Stand - American Classics Redefined
    The Stand - American Classics Redefined - We Cater!

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    We Cater!

    Restaurant Gish - August menu 2024

    Restaurant Gish

    4.6(344 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$$$
    Healthy dining
    Romantic vibe

    Absolutely incredible execution on the April menu. This was our first time thinking that it's not…read morejust a fine dining meets Korean influenced cuisine but this is almost like creating a new genre of New-Asian American cuisine. A blend of learned techniques from the Western influence of French and Californian sourcing and techniques, with inspiration in ingredients textures and influence of what high end Asian American dining looks for. I genuinely believe the restaurant has such a high bar and it just takes one big publication to recognize and the fireworks can begin. And I just want to specifically call out the 3 pearls dish. What an incredible dish. Three pearls where you find a match between the crunch and pop between the peas razor clam and roe. The texture between the tapioca and roe. The salinity from the roe to the oysters and clam. The idea of "pearls" with oysters and clams. The whole dish is so harmonized on so many levels. This is a stunning dish. Could be served at the best restaurants in the world.

    A hidden gem This…read moreunassuming restaurant is tucked away in an alley. With a tiny sign denoting the restaurant, not sure if one would be able to find it if they didn't know what they were looking for. The interior feels like a cozy home, with warm lighting and just a few tables, surrounded by bookshelves. You get a clear view of the inner workings of the kitchen and the staff are super friendly. The head chef and wife were also working in the back and come out to greet the customers. The concept is quite appealing - Korean food, reimagined with Western influence. Their ingredients are high quality and many of the vegetables come from the farmers market. The menu when we visited was: *Pearl Trio - Raw oysters and roe on a bed of tapioca. I have never had savory tapioca before, but I really enjoy the pairing. The pearls had just the right amount of bite and absorbed the sauce quite nicely. *Braised pork belly - Extremely tender and glazed with doenjang. *Caviar and razor clam - This was a supplement and I was glad we got it. The base was a pillow of steam egg. The pickles on top paired well with the savory caviar. *Organic chicken and gravy - Probably my favorite dish. Doesn't sound that crazy, but they really executed on the chicken. They injected it with brine so it was very juicy. They also air-dried the skin overnight (kinda like Chinese duck) to create a crispy exterior. The charred green onions on the side was a nice touch *Strawberry tart - The spiral design was eye catching. The strawberries added a nice tart flavor and the sweetness was just right. What I find most impressive is that they change their menu every month. How they maintain the quality despite this change really shows how much work they put into it. And the price point is just a fraction of other fine dining restaurants. I think they are able to do this by keeping the food relatively simple while focusing more on the flavors. I will definitely be coming back to try the other menus.

    Photos
    Restaurant Gish - Bar sitting set

    Bar sitting set

    Restaurant Gish
    Restaurant Gish - COVID OUTDOOR DINING: Course #3 - Panfried Burdock in rice flour

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    COVID OUTDOOR DINING: Course #3 - Panfried Burdock in rice flour

    Aqui Cal-Mex - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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