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    Arizona Cafe

    4.1 (258 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Cafes
    Closed 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Arizona Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ARIZONA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Arizona Cafe

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    Machaca, Beans and Potatoes
    Ricardo M.

    Arizona Cafe is always a must-have breakfast spot. The staff is incredibly friendly and makes you feel genuinely welcomed the moment you walk in. We came in on a Saturday morning, and even though it was fairly busy, our wait for a table of three was less than 10 minutes. Our dishes were all great but I highly recommend the Machaca! All the food taste very much like a homemade dish. The atmosphere is warm, the service is consistent, and it's the kind of place you can count on for a great start to your day. Definitely recommend stopping by!

    Jennifer J.

    Throughout my various travels across our beautiful nation, I'm always on the hunt for that special place that serves a truly magnificent breakfast. And on a recent trip to Bakersfield, I found that at the Arizona Cafe. My colleague recommended it, and when I first showed up to meet her this little hole-in-the-wall joint was closed up. I thought I was at the wrong place. Turns out, I had just gotten there a few minutes before they opened. By the time my co-worker arrived, they were open for business. We quickly grabbed a booth and a couple of Micheladas (hello, morning!), and both of us opted for their signature chillaquiles with housemade green chile sauce. (Insider secret: their chile verde is actually red!) It was allll delicious. And, tbh, it was a LOT of food. We could easily have shared one plate. Service here was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere inside was pleasant and cozy. I would definitely go here again so I can try out some of their other tasty-looking brekkies!

    Van D.

    Lunch outing with the broworkers at Arizona Cafe. A lot of the other businesses in the area seemed to be closed on a Monday, so we were glad to see that Arizona was open. They seem to be a local favorite and busy when we got here. It took staff a while to get us menus, but quick to come back to take our orders. The meals here all come with rice, beans, and tortillas. 2 of us asked for flour and 2 of us asked for corn, but they came out as all flour tortillas. The broworkers had Asada w 2 Eggs ($19), Chile Verde ($19), and a Chile Colorado ($19). I also had the Chile Verde ($19) since it was the top house special. There is currently a $0.50 increase on egg orders due to eggflation. The portions are huge and the food is also heavy. The chile verde definitely had a kick to it, but very flavorful. Food coma! It's a miracle I was able to be productive ater returning to work.

    Chile Verde Chilaquiles

    I ordered the chile verde chilaquiles, though the presentation of it leaned more red than verde. While the dish was enjoyable, I've had stronger chile verde elsewhere. The preparation reminded me a bit of migas, with the egg scrambled into the tortillas. The cheesy beans and rice complemented the overall flavor of the plate nicely and made for a satisfying meal. The lemonade was notably sweet, which may not appeal to everyone, but it was right up my alley. Overall, there were some enjoyable flavors here, though a few inconsistencies kept this experience at a solid 3 stars for me.

    Chorizo and potato with egg
    Jaz M.

    Hands down they are serving some of the best Mexican food in town. They have been around forever and are a true Bakersfield staple. If you haven't had them yet, come on over and enjoy a flavorful dish. My sister brought me home chorizo with potatoe and eggs and it came with a side of rice and beans and 3 fresh flour tortillas. This dish was a 10/10, JUST OUTSTANDING. So much flavor, the tortillas were fresh and soft, the quality of my meal was just superior. For it being to go, my meal was still hot after a 15 min drive. Lol Do your life a favor and come by. You will not regret it. Thanks Arizona Cafe for the amazing lunch, till next time!

    Dolores P.

    If you want the best chili verde in Bakersfield congratulations you just found it. I'm not exaggerating when I say I ask for a side of the chili verde sauce and eat it with a spoon like a soup. It's consistently delicious. It's a small restaurant not out gets super busy and the service keeps up really well. It's family friendly inside. The only thing is I do wish they had a better location with better parking. Still, so worth it.

    Chile Colorado
    Tara G.

    My husband and I had lunch at Arizona Café in Bakersfield, and it was absolutely delicious. From the moment the food came out, I felt like I was eating at my great-grandma's house--true comfort food made with love. I had the chile colorado and instantly fell in love; the flavor was rich and perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the chilaquiles and couldn't stop talking about how good they were. Everything from the welcoming atmosphere to the incredible food was amazing. You can truly feel the heart behind this family-owned restaurant. We highly recommend Arizona Café and will definitely be back!

    Chile verde huevos ranchero
    Joe G.

    Been hearing about this place for sometime now so came to give it a try. Haven't been to this side of town and was nice to explore Bakersfield. Place was quaint and place was packed which is a good sign. I tried the huevos ranchero with the chile verde. The Mrs tried the menudo and we also got the chile verde burrito. Food was good and service was great. The huevos ranchero were good but I wasn't used to having them like that so threw me off a bit although it tasted good.

    Salsa for chips and chile verde salsa for the food. Both are delicious!
    Lydia V.

    I had heard about this place when I first moved to Bakersfield back in July 2021. I finally got an opportunity to go enjoy breakfast this morning. When I was driving up to the location, it looked a little sketchy... It is right in the middle of old Kern, which is part of the old downtown area. There are a lot of homeless people, but mainly because there are a lot of Resources for the unhoused such as the mission and other places where they can give food and water. The area was pretty safe and I easily found parking right in front of the place on the street and I noticed they have parking across the street. The place is very small and the waiting area fills up fast. When you walk in, you have to put your name on the waitlist if you want to eat at a table. They have a bar area and you can walk right up to the bar and sit there to enjoy your food and beverage without waiting. I went in hungry for chorizo and eggs and this place had a plate and it was accompanied with rice and beans and your choice of tortillas, corn or flour. The place is known for their chile Verde plate however the chile is not green, it's red. It's made with pork meat, including the small ribs, and I know this because the man sitting next to me on my left, offered me a taste when I asked him what the plate was. It is quite delicious. However I had already ordered my plate so I will have to go back and get a plate of this chile verde. Besides the food, I had the most amazing experience there this morning. At the same time, two gentlemen and I walked over to the bar and sat next to each other as we were all singles. I thought the two gentlemen came together because they exchanged a few words and it looked like they were sharing tortilla chips. The two men ordered the same plate, which was the chile verde. I didn't think anything about it as I was enjoying my breakfast too much to pay attention. The man sitting in the middle got up and walked towards the back towards the restroom... And then I saw him at the cashier, which was on the way back from the restroom. Didn't think anything about this... Until... I finished my breakfast and I asked the server if I pay at the bar or if I had to walk over to the cash register. She stood between me and the other man and told us that the guy sitting in the middle had paid for our meals. I was speechless and very humbled... I was surprised and I felt a wave of emotion come over me because I was feeling a little lost today. I am so honored and flattered that somebody out of the blue would do that for one person let alone two. Whoever you are...the guy that sat between me and another other guy at the counter at the Arizona Café, you are an angel! You made my day and my entire mood changed and I have been so productive and happy the entire day. Thank you for what you did and I will pay it forward... always! Sorry, peeps for getting a little emotional there... Go to this café... And go early so you can avoid the wait... They are open from 8 AM to 2 PM so you have a short window to make it happen. I highly recommend it... everything on the menu looked delicious and my breakfast was amazing. Enjoy!

    Albert M.

    This place is a local icon. I have photographed the outside multiple times. Finally decided to try the food. I am a massive menudo fan, I heard this place is one of the best. The entrance is unassuming, but inside is full of charm, like a time capsule. The bar is simple and worn, green neons, green leather booth. The wait staff is wonderful. I ordered the menudo, it came with chopped white onion, órgano, pepper flakes, and half a lemon. Every bite was a perfect bite. I loved everything about this place.

    Papas con chorizo
    Heidi L.

    Another morning where I woke up and wanted nothing more than to go to Arizona for breakfast. I had albondigas soup but also got the Chile verde chilaquiles and never a disappointment. I got it to go this morning, it's my comfort food during the winter months. It was a packed house when I showed up to pick up my food which always makes me happy. Such a relaxed and chill environment, and always see familiar faces there. The albondigas is my favorite in town, it is much more basic then other places having always, a quarter of a potato, and 4 balls of meat, but their broth is what I enjoy. I always add rice to mine and have to put the signature chile verde sauce in it and my favorite is with their flour tortillas. It's enough for me to snack on all day.

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    6 months ago

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    9 days ago

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    2 days ago

    Stop by if you get the chance. It's a must see. Food is great and overall great experience. We love the staff and the decor.

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    1 year ago

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    24 days ago

    fantastic spot. great foos fun atmosphere. will definitely be back next time in bakersfield.

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Best Mexican restaurant in Bakersfield open for breakfast too only thing that sucks is parking

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    3 years ago

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    4 months ago

    Food is always always always excellent. I have literally never had a staff member be anything but friendly, kind and attentive.

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Always fresh and super good taste. Chilaquiles or menudo are my go too. Cant forget out the chili verde oh yes.

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    1 year ago

    Their menudo is pretty good, service is always good. We like to come here occasionally but the area is not the best.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Really good authentic Mexican food best in town check them out my favorite is the chile verde chilaquiles!

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    Page 1 of 7

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    La Costa Mariscos

    La Costa Mariscos

    4.0
    (948 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    We came in to celebrate my 38th birthday today. I was on the mood for some shrimp fajitas…read more We'd been to the other location and didn't have as good experience as this. First off it was a steady flow of customers for a Wednesday evening. Many birthdays! We were sat immediately and waiter came to take our drink order. I had a mango chamoy margarita, while my husband got a roasted chili cucumber margarita on the rocks. His drink was SPICY! I ordered the shrimp fajitas and my husband ordered the chicken and steak molcajete. Our food was brought out super fast! The portions - humongous! But the food is so good! My husband is super picky when it comes to Mexican food, and he said this molcajete is his favorite so far compared to other Mexican restaurants we've been to. The bright colorful colors and great music selection really make it joyous and fun dining experiences. Highly recommend.

    Stopped here after work. We sat at the bar area but got a table back there. The service was lacking…read morejust a bit, the girl seemed overwhelmed and didn't check on anybody for a min. Some showed their displeasure. Since I was willing on a drink I was just watching. I ended up getting the chile verde plate and my wife got the chicken quesadilla. My chile verde was ok, the beans were cold. The quesadilla was not great at all. The ambiance in the room was good with the decor and natural lighting.

    Photos
    La Costa Mariscos
    La Costa Mariscos
    Michelada con Pacifico

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    Michelada con Pacifico
    Ay Mi Pa

    Ay Mi Pa

    3.3
    (146 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Me and my best friend decided to meet Monday night for dinner and she choose this spot. I called to…read moresee how long the wait was and It's was recommended that I make a reservation and so I did but when we walked in the restaurant it was empty. The server was patient and we tried to decide what we walked to drink and eat. The restaurant had a quiet atmosphere even though they are located at the Valley Plaza and it was the beginning of spring break. We both ordered the same drinks and food. Both drinks and entree (it was actually a shareable plate) tasted great but the salsa that came with the chips was a bit ordinary with no spice. Another staff member brought out two more salsas and jalepenos torneados. These salsas had more bite to them.

    My bartender was cool until I asked for my bill and he decided to entertain the ladies on the other…read moreside of the bar. I couldn't really taste the difference between the Paloma and the margarita ‍. The place is decorated really nice but what they should've focused on was making agood food. I'm so glad I only ordered appetizers because had I ordered food I would've wasted so much money. Birria tacos simply taste like red beef tacos, no real authentic flavor. Shrimp skewers I was told was okay but even that had more veggies than actual shrimps. The rice wasn't cooked all the way. The presentation on nachos was excellent but the nachos were gross. No flavor in guacamole. Beans were plain beans bland af. The chicken wasn't seasoned and had an awful charbroiled taste, just awful! The salsa weren't spicy or tasty. I can only recommend this place for a good happy hour spot because prices are outrageous for drinks. Once again they should've focused on the food than the decor.

    Photos
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Ay Mi Pa
    Bad girl

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    Bad girl
    Sancho's Tacos

    Sancho's Tacos

    4.1
    (361 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I feel as though Sancho's Tacos has been coming up in my feed, or I hear about the place from…read morefriends. I finally had an opportunity to stop in myself and was not disappointed. So good! The place is pretty easy to find on the corner of 18th & R. There isn't a lot of seating for more than parties of 4. We were a party of 6 and we all smooshed into a horseshoe booth inside. There are only 2 of these booths available and they indicated they are not able to place additional seating at the booths. I imagine you might be able to put tables together outside for a larger party. We were greeted warmly, and while I felt overwhelmed by the amazing choices, the gal taking our order put me at ease by walking me through the menu board. We got amazing carnitas quesadillas and tacos and another dish that came on top of a mound of delicious fries. It's the kind of place where you order, then sit down and they bring you the food. We were well taken care of. Our drinks were refilled and they brought us 'to go' boxes. Their portions are generous and just tasty. And the iced tea was perfect! We ordered a full order of chips and salsa. That is extra. It was $6 for a full order ($5 for half) and these chips were well worth the cost. We will be back!

    Vibe 10/10. Caliguey burrito 10/10. The salsas too. These were made with heart…read more Love

    Photos
    Comfortable seating.
    Comfortable seating.
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Tri Tip Burrito

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    Tri Tip Burrito
    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    3.5
    (335 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    We went to El Puesto Cocina y Cantina without a reservation and it seemed pretty crowded. I don't…read moreeven know if they take reservations. We had our order to go and went back to our hotel. It was just the best. Next time we will eat there. The place is spotless and really pretty. It is festive looking and ever so comfortable. We loved everything about it. Parking is easy. The prices are super fair. The food is amazing. We had burritos that were just packed with meat. We had chicken and beef. We also had chips and coffee to go. I have to say, their coffee is great. The service is so nice. This was our first time here so they were so helpful with the menu. We also took Papa Tacos and wow were they great. We loved the rice and beans. The rice was perfect, not dried out like some places. We will be back. Try it.

    I came in expecting a relaxed dinner where I could actually sit and catch up, but the experience…read morefelt rushed and poorly handled from the start. Before my guest even arrived, I was told the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes, which made it impossible to plan or order properly for both of us. About 30 minutes after being seated, the waitress asked to close out my tab and mentioned they were closing an hour and a half early, something that should have been communicated when I walked in so I could have chosen to go elsewhere. To make things worse, about 10 minutes before closing, they turned the lights all the way up and shut the music off, which made it very clear we were being pushed out. No one came by to offer boxes for our food (I had more than half my meal left), and my guest didn't even get to finish her drink. We were essentially rushed out before the already early closing time, with no proper send-off. Overall, the experience felt very unprofessional and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Eating area
    Eating area
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Lunch hour margarita

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    Lunch hour margarita
    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    4.1
    (200 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    We came here for breakfast with my parents and my husband, and every single dish was amazing!…read more I ordered the Flauta manana, and they were hands down my favorite. They were stuffed with chorizo, potatoes, and eggs, then fried to perfection so they were crispy without being greasy. The salsa on the side paired perfectly with them, and I even dipped them in the consommé from my mom's meal, which took them to another level! My husband ordered the A Huevo Que Sí and it was packed with flavor. The birria was incredibly tender, and the combination with the eggs and sauce was absolutely delicious. My mom isn't usually a breakfast person, so she ordered the quesabirria tacos, and they did not disappoint! The tacos were cheesy, flavorful, and the consommé was rich and perfectly seasoned. I definitely stole a few dips for my flautas! My dad had the Huevos Rancheros, and they were also excellent. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were generous, and every plate looked just as good as it tasted. The service was friendly, the food came out hot, and you can tell they put a lot of care into every dish. The photos speak for themselves, everything was fresh, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

    Buenas Vidas Tapas Lounge has always been one of my favorite spots when I'm in Bakersfield for…read morebusiness or spending time with my son. The food was absolutely delicious, which is why I'm leaving this review, but unfortunately the service missed the mark during our most recent visit. We ordered our steak medium rare, but it came out well done. When our server took our order, our appetizers arrived quickly and then our entrees followed, but we had to remind him about the Starry soda that was ordered and never brought out initially. The biggest issue occurred when the Aguachile Ribeye was brought to our table. One of the plates was broken, causing food and sauce to spill all over me and the seat. While the server acknowledged something happened, there wasn't much concern shown about the spill on my shorts, and no replacement plate was offered. A simple apology and a little more attention to the situation would have gone a long way. Later, when we asked for a box for the leftover steak, it took quite a while and I ended up having to remind our server again. Overall, the food was fantastic and is the reason I continue to come back. The kitchen clearly knows what they're doing. However, the service could use some improvement, especially when it comes to attention to detail and handling issues when they arise. I'll still be back because I genuinely enjoy the food, but I hope the service experience improves on future visits.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Taquitos Dorados
    Taquitos Dorados
    Margarita flight!

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    Margarita flight!

    Arizona Cafe - mexican - Updated July 2026

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