I was staying in downtown Berkeley for work and was looking for a place for a birthday dinner for a friend. This place came highly recommended and I can see why. It has a unique menu, delicious food, and a trendy ambiance. Because she decided on this place the day of, she couldn't get a reservation but we showed up at 6 pm on a Thursday and had a table for five inside by 6:30. We waited at the bar and had drinks including a spectacular paloma-esque and local beer on tap. I can't have dairy but the chef made modifications on the duck enchiladas rojas. Everything was a flavor bomb in the best way except the duck had bones inside the enchiladas which made me think it was chicken thigh (looked the same). The rest of the guests loved their plates but we found the sizes of the plates odd. For example, the Mexican street corn was a huge plate of about 3 ears of corn but the tamal was just one tamal (for $15!) The service was very attentive despite a busy restaurant. They automatically charge a 20% service fee regardless of size of group. I appreciated that they didn't rush us out but I didn't like that they charged us for the birthday flan. read more

Comal - Tlayuda was the size of a 14 inch pizza - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This review is for Comal's catering service. We ordered burrito bowl kits and chip plates for our daughter's birthday party, and the experience was excellent. They accommodated an earlier delivery time and brought everything directly to the park where we hosted the party. Both the kids and adults loved the food, especially the guacamole. Everything was delicious, and the whole experience felt stress free since they also included serving utensils and bowls. Highly recommended. read more

The service in ambience was amazing! We were early for our reservation and they let us in to our table. I loved their limited menu because I feel it was it made choices very easy.. I had the con tacos and they were just amazing. I would definitely go back again. read more

Had an amazing dinner here. We read really good reviews online and of course the Michelin Recommendation, so we had to give it a try. The menu changes daily, we got the chips and guacamole with the salsa trio. The tacos and the quesadilla. Everything was exceptional. The flavors were so clean and crisp. You see exactly the vibe they were going for because they nailed it. The restart itself was super cute. Definitley giving industrial rustic. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. We arrived 20 minutes early and lucky for us they sat us right away. 10 out of work would go back. read more

Comal - Guacamole Fresh tortilla chips Salsa Trio - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Have always walked past this place and finally got a chance to try this evening! Walked in and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere. Fun lights, Mexican music, lots of people. There were no tables open so we decided to sit at the open bar at the outdoor patio. Very cute lighting and decorations. Our server had great recommendations. We got the fish tacos, chicken tamale, and tlayuda to share between two people. Fish tacos: Great dish to start with! We each had one and we put the pickled jalapeños and carrots that came with them on top for an added kick. Had the perfect ratio of wood grilled cod to spicy pickled cabbage to avocado aioli in each bite. Chicken tamale: The mole negro sauce was FIRE. Really unique flavor and loved the texture of the masa. Good amount of rotisserie chicken too. Tlayuda: THIS WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW. If you don't get anything else get this dish. Never had anything like it before. Like a pizza but with black bean puree instead of tomato sauce. The crispy Brussels sprouts on top were sooo yummy too. This was also very filling, we had to box the other half. Great dish to share. Overall, had a great experience and loved trying two dishes for the first time! read more

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Visited this place with my friend after a bad experience at a wine spot. We just walked and found it while looking for another wine spot. This place is very cute. I loved the employee that greeted us, her hair, her glasses and her overall look. It was very chic. She was very warm and welcoming. She slay provided nice small talk. They have a Happy Hour that begins at 4 pm, but we were too early. We both decided on an alcoholic drink. I can't remember the drink, but the menu had the liquor that we ordered as an option for the same drink. I had mezcal in mine and she had white rum. We also ordered 1 order of church's (3 for $10). Church's were made fresh. They came out nice and hot. Our drinks were so so so delicious. Very smooth blend. The seating is cute too. Oh.. they do have outside seating as well. The music was a great feature. We will most definitely be back to try the food options and have more drinks. This might become one of OUR spots!! read more

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9 years and the review update is literally read my previous review. Nothing has changed. I still really enjoy Comal. The drinks and ambiance shine for a more upscale, yet casual evening. The outdoor patio if you can find room, on a beautiful day, is where it's at. The food is solid. I've had better upscale Mexican. The homemade salsas are delicious and needed, because you have to slather most of the food with it. I have found that the beans and rice, and much of the meat tends to be on the bland-er side. We recently did the steak entree for 2/3, and it was a good portion for 3 light eaters. The homemade tortillas are the best carby touch. Overall, it's pricey, but the food is quality, the ambiance is lively and the drinks are well made! PS: Reservations are needed! read more

It was a wonderful place to gather with friends for a goodbye party. Each person or family was able to order directly from the bar. read more

Comal - Friends and family came out for our goodbye party. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The food needed salt. The quality was great, but unsalted food is just unacceptable, especially when there isn't any on the table. Service was solid and ambiance was nice however. read more

Comal - Fresh tortilla chips - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love it. comal is always a good idea. Happy hour with friends, dinner date? Menu changes and it's a great place if you're sharing meals. Prices reasonable. I really like the drinks. Service is great recommend if you can make a reservation although not required read more

Got a bunch of things on the menu. The cauliflower quesadilla was the best. Great flavor. 10/10 Chips salsa and guac were very yummy 9/10 Fries 9/10( the dip was very weird ( fatty greasy texture... intriguing... I was eating for the texture not the flavor... none of us liked it much) the salt and flavor on fries were good though. Chile relleno was gross the sauce was just NOT it. Vegetarian taco was 6/10 filling was good. Salad was good 8/10 Flauta was good but flavorless without the toppings mixed in. 7/10z Overall everything kinda tasted and was a served like a salad. It was not bad... only thing I really didn't like at all was the relleno. That sauce was just a huge no go. Tasted cheap and bland and weird. Negative out of 10 for me. Margarita 10/10 very refreshing Service was as expected. They did their job. Not overly friendly but food came out when it was ready. They automatically charge 20% to any bill which is annoying but they don't trick u and ask for extra tip. Ur bill is your bill. Loved the vibe. The inside is dark... not a fan... during the day time. But the back side in the out doors was wide open and beautiful! The out door bar was gorgeous with a little fire pit. Could def host a large party of or event there. read more

We were really excited to try Comal after it was recommended highly but our experience was pretty underwhelming and sort of mid. We started with margaritas and chips and salsa which were okay. Not very deep in flavors, chips were really crunchy though! Margaritas were very nice and came out quick! We also got the papas fritas which were really disappointing. The essentially fries were really soggy and greasy. Me and my partner both got tacos, one fish and one pork. Both were really bland. The fish seemed to be a little too peppery for us but the tacos didn't really have any distinguishing flavors that stood out it was pretty bland. We were disappointed most that our tacos were very wet making it hard to pick up the taco. The tacos took also took quite a while to come out so we weren't really hungry by the time the tacos came out because it took over thirty minutes to come out. The server was kind but at the end when we had leftovers on the table didn't even bother to offer a box and was about to clear our table. Overall I'd say it was okay, food wasn't bad but it wasn't special or particularly good either. read more

Comal - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best burritos in the East Bay I've had lately. I love how the flour tortillas are crispy, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh. I've only ordered food to go but look forward to dining in sometime soon! read more

I went there with a friend on a busy weeknight. There weren't any empty tables, so we ended up sitting at the bar. The service was amazing! They took our order quickly, and the food came out very fast. Everything was delicious -- we had the fish tacos, chips with avocado dip, and a couple of drinks. It was a bit expensive, but definitely good. The only downside was that the bar chairs were extremely uncomfortable, and parking was very hard to find. Overall, I recommend it read more

An eaters' restaurant: Great vibe in downtown Berkeley, this pre-show hot spot serves up some of the most delicious margaritas and guacamole (I am never excited about guacamole...this one I am). Service is friendly and fast, and they work to get you out in time for your walk to The Greek! The menu rotates by day, so it's not always the same, but make sure you check out the Fuertes Platios (for 2-3 people). We got the pork shoulder with grilled corn. I'm currently napping in the floor in a coma...so good. read more

Very disappointed after receiving high recommendations from locals and internet search. Everything was swimming in sauce and blanketed in Cota cheese and lettuce. Mediocre flavors at best, it does not live up to the hype at all. I also asked for their good mezcal flight and was given the non-Oaxaca (cheap) flight as read more

Didn't realize this was a Michelin rated restaurant until after the fact, however I could see why as the food and drinks were excellent. The fresh tortilla chips with the 3 sauces are addictive--so be forewarned and save room for dinner. Had the pork shoulder for 2 = super delish and tasty. All about the sauces! Grilled corn was a treat as well. Good value for the money--can't wait to go back and try more dishes. Oh, drinks and wine superb as well. Bonus: included is sparkling or still water!!! read more

Comal - Pork shoulder for 2 that includes: grilled corn, rice and beans with corn tortillas. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I am from Texas and judge by Tex-Mex standard normally I went here due to a friends invitation. There is no attempt to emulate Tex-Mex but the food is excellent. Started on rear patio with chips, 3 salsa, a nice guacamole and margarita. The salsa had little spice but nice, developed flavors. Service was unrushed and the atmosphere was perfect. A chicken tamale with mole really set the tone. The a lightly battered poblano , stuffed with cheese and then a heavy topping of a light fresh salsa. Different and excellent. The elite was also memorable. Fun relaxed place well worth visiting. read more

Roasted chicken still slaps! It's been a few years, went back with my wife and her family. The comal swizzle is still swizzling...yeah still a place i would recommend in Berkeley! read more

Fairly awful experience, but maybe just a bad a day (2/5). I brought a visiting friend to Comal, as I'd never been and figured it would be a nice place to try out. There were plenty of people having a great time out back, dancing to music under strings of lights in the lovely garden. Alas, we were having a not-so-great time inside. The hostess was laughably rude. We seemed to interrupt a little tiff she was having with some dude and she was clearly unhappy having to pause her drama to deal with us. As we walked up she looked over and said "Yes?" in a very irritated tone. I felt like saying, well surprise surprise, we'd like a table! What do people who walk in normally want? Even though it was later in the evening and there were plenty of tables, she sat us right beside the bathrooms, as if to make it clear that she was unhappy with us interrupting her night. The server was okay but honestly pretty cold. I guess he was a bit burned out after a long night. It also would have been nice to get some input on our order as we ordered chips & guac but also fried cassava. I was thinking that the cassava would be in chunks but they were actually shaved into chips. So we had chips and then more chips! The regular chips were not great (we were divided on the guacamole), the cassava chips were superfluous, and the mushroom quesadilla was, unfortunately, unremarkable. And it cost a lot. For just a quick drink and bite (2 x beers, 1 x guac and chips, 1 x cassava, 1 x quesadilla) it came to around $80 total. Also, I'm scoring Comal 3.5/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on these factors: * Comal's menu caters reasonably well to vegetarians and also has a few vegan dishes. * The biggest thing Comal could to do improve its impact is to remove beef from the menu - it's well known (esp. since Poore & Nemecek's seminal 2018 paper) that the environmental footprints of beef (carbon, land, etc.) dwarf those of other meats like chicken or pork (which in turn dwarf legumes). Shrimp also has large environmental footprints and impacts on ocean biodiversity, so that would be second in line to find a good substitute for. * Comal is known for efforts to ensure a decent pay for staff (e.g., a fixed 20% service charge). * The building was designed with sustainability in mind (re-use of materials, etc.) * I believe that Comal does its best to reduce single-use plastic, for example in to-go orders. * Decent selection of local draft beers, Numi tea. * There's no info on menu or website regarding ingredient sourcing. * It is a nice gathering spot that also supports the community. read more

Bad service from the moment we walked in. Long waits for taking orders, server came once to our table in 30min. Horrible, simply horrible.

Food has good flavor and seasoning, drinks are balanced, ambiance is perfect for date night. Service was quick and attentive! read more

Comal - I got the spareribs with beans, 5/5! - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I understand the Mexican theme, but it's lost in translation. Food was alright. Service was great.

Delicious! I will be dreaming about the chili quesadilla forever now, that was the standout dish for us. We loved everything we had. A little bummed they were out of the ribs by the time we ordered as they looked so good. The steak was ok, but needed salsa forever flavor. The flan was amazing too. Normally not a huge flan fan but there's was great. Great cocktails too! Will look forward to going again. read more

Comal is an upscale, Mexican restaurant located in Berkeley'e theater district. Dark, trendy, huge interior that's great for drinks and eats before a show or after work. I came here with coworkers in a cold, rainy evening after an all-day meeting. Parking in downtown Berkeley id always tricky, so use the Center Street Garage for safe, inexpensive parking. The food here is surprisingly affordable, and you should order lots of dishes to share. They do use cilantro in many of their dishes, so be wary if you have an aversion. I found most of the apps and dishes 5 stars worthy: 1. Brussel Sprouts will make a veggie fan out of you - roasted to the point of being sweet, not bitter. 5 stars 2. Sikil Pak is fried plantains with an eggplant-pepitas spicy dip and is a fine alternative to nachos. 5 stars. 3. Duroc Pork Tacos (carnitas) was my main dish, and was very good. Seasoned, juicy meat. 5 stars. My other colleagues all got the rock cod tacos which were also popular. 4. Be sure to save room for dessert, like the Chocolate Budin - thick, sweet, and bitter! 5 stars. They also have a good variety of vegetarian options too. read more

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I love this place. It's our go-to neighborhood Cheers vibe and never disappoints. Sitting at the bar is the best seat in the house, the bartenders are always great and the service is fast. My favorite bartender that keeps me coming back for the vibe is Olga(?) with the pink hair. Always lovely, always makes us feel welcome and taken care of. Including explains menu items I can't pronounce without offending someone. Thanks Olga for keeping us coming back! read more

Drinks are always excellent at comal- you can't go wrong with a comal swizzle. The vegetarian tamale was the best dish of the night. We also had the quesadillas with broccoli rabe, and the rabe has too strong of a flavor. read more

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We had such a wonderful time. Our bar tender (Olga with the pink hair) brought fun and lively conversation to our delicious meal. It was such an enjoyable Friday evening out! Thanks Olga! We'll be back read more

The atmosphere in Comal is comfortable and not overdone. Lot's of medium tone wood. There is an outdoor seating area but we were there on a rainy night so stayed inside. We tried the cod and sweet potato tacos. Both were delicious. We also had the guacamole for a starter again very tasty. The star may have been the flan. One of the creamiest I've ever had. Extensive list of tequila and mescal. The biggest I've ever seen. Had two delightful servers who didn't rush us but made sure we had what we needed. I'll definitely be back. read more

Comal - The tequila and mescal list from Comal. Sorry about the phone shadow. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food, ambience, and *usually* wait staff are so excellent here, it's always my go-to for friends visiting from out of town. I still feel that way, but recently I reserved a table for 4 and two things really stuck in my mind negatively after spending the evening there that wanted to alert the restaurant to. I worked in restaurants for 15 years so I know not every day is your best, and that getting things right is the first priority, not schmoozing, so this isn't about friendliness. The server was fine in terms of checking up on us, but didn't engage our request for recommendations for dinner or wine; no biggie, but when the check came she a) didn't mention that the tip was included, and my generous boyfriend (who wanted to snag the card and pay quickly without letting others get a chance) would have tipped another $80 had I not gotten up from the table and asked whether tip was included. On large checks the server should tell the group immediately not to worry about calculating the tip, and still act like she is earning it by taking good care of the table, refilling wine glasses when we ordered a bottle, etc. what really got me though was when we requested -- she didn't offer-- the remaining food on the table to go, she came with two piles of boxes and put them on the edge of the table. Again, my no-fuss boyfriend said he didn't mind packing the food up, but I think if you spend $450 on a dinner they could at least offer to neatly pack the food to go. It's a chore that I want to leave at home, plus it can be messy. It annoyed me a lot that the money we spent didn't seem to be appreciated and we had to basically clean up our table at the end. Not a good service night. Can you make it a policy to at least offer to pack the food? Comal isn't that type of pandemic restaurant that drops customer service in favor of pretend hygiene, and I just wonder if the standards are slipping or it was just a one off read more

I wanted to love this place. I really did. I mean, it's a recommended Bib Gourmand after all! However, my honest review is that it tastes like Mexican food made by someone who has.. never had Mexican food before for a $15 taco, I expected something flavorful and high in quality, but instead I got a plate of food that tasted like a few too many Karens complained it was "too spicy" to the point that the chef gave up on seasoning altogether. I'm 100% convinced the slaw on top of the fish tacos was just cabbage, mayonnaise, and some salt -- even a bit of lemon juice or vinegar would've added more dimension to an otherwise flat flavor profile. The carne asada tacos were topped with cooked cactus, which added a lot of volume but not a lot of flavor. For as disappointing as the tacos were, the guacamole was DELICIOUS, creamy and tart in all the right ways. The tortilla chips were clearly made in-house (which I really liked), although you had to be careful to avoid getting one that gushed oil when you bite into it. A bit thinner and they would've been perfect. My dining partner had the shrimp ceviche, which they really liked (I didn't try any). The cocktails were refreshing and very high quality. My favorite part of the dining experience was the atmosphere -- it had an industrial-chic ambience with lots of black metal, dark wood, and exposed concrete. It was also surprisingly spacious, with lots of dining space deep into the back of the restaurant, paired with soaring ceilings and exposed beams (if you're pressed for a place that can accommodate a large group, this space is up to the task!) I would come again for a cocktail before a show or a nightcap after dinner somewhere else in downtown Berkeley. Our server was very kind and attentive and made sure we had our food in time to wrap up and make our concert. Overall, I didn't HATE it, but I expected a lot more for Mexican food in California (especially one with these price tags! ). read more

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Came here as part of a reception after a movie screening. They have excellent guacamole! The salsas were pretty great too! I loved the pickled veggies! The bartender makes an amazing Lemon Drop cocktail! read more

One of my favorite casual yet elevated sit down dinners in the bay area!! All cocktails are great (though my favorites are palomesque and jicamama) and fun that they have seasonal summer / winter specials too The salads are obviously fresh produce. I generally get a salad and their tlayuda with cocktails and that's good for 2 ppl. Quesadillas and chips dip are a hit too Outdoor patio in the back is chef's kiss amazing vibes with a big fire pit. The only annoying this is there are two types of seating in the back and the non-table service seating doesn't have access to the full menu Indoor and backdoor bar are first come first serve read more

Food is so delicious, from the fresh guacamole and homemade chips to the pork ribs... we had two salads that were off the chart fresh and tasty. My cocktail was also amazing: spicy and sour and well balanced. Our server was very friendly, attentive without over doing it (she returned to the table the right amount of times!). The place feels cozy and clean, with a cool patio at the back. Highly recommend for a casual get-together at the bar (where you can watch the cooking!) or a group meal or a date. read more

Comal - Salad with beets, snap peas, avocado... - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A bit overpriced but great flavors! i would not consider this super authentic mexican food but the dishes were great nontheless. this salted chocolate mousse sort of dessert was great but could be a tiny bit too salty for people who avoid salted desserts. The mole tamal is great but a could be too spicy for those who are sensitive to spice read more

Comal - chips - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Check the opening times so you aren't waiting outside Food was good We had the guacamole and chips The guacamole was on the spicy side and the flight of salsas were all tasty I had the chicken tamale with mole sauce delicious I'm not a big eater so it was a good size for me Must admit that was the most attentive service I have had in recent memory and the restaurant was very full read more

Don't waste your time unless you just want the ambiance. This place is the absolute worst. You would've thought asking for a double drink was like asking to witness the second coming of Christ. The bar patron's only job was to say "no" and "we can't." His interest was not on customer service but chatting up the lone female at the bar. I've been to many places in Berkeley with outstanding customer service and I can say with confidence my experience here was garbage. I had high hopes for this place but ran into disappointment. My intent was to order food but the service was so bad I couldn't stomach another disappointment. As terrifying as it sounds, I intend to return to this place again for food (absolutely not drinks) and will write a thorough review on both google and Yelp...I owe viewers more than just my bar experience. read more

Had heard about this spot for many years, was excited to try it out. Outdoor covered patio was cozy even though it was a little chilly out. Waiter was really nice and helpful. Drinks were amazing, lots of fun n/a options. Unexpectedly the chile rellenos were the hit around the table - flavorful and fresh, not dense or greasy like some places. Fish tacos were good but could've used more flavor (note: we'd just gotten back from so cal where we had the best tacos ever, so hard to follow that!) The tequila salmon tostadas were very good but a little too salty. And the tamales were fine - the filling was tasty but the masa was too thick and a little dry. We topped it off with the chocolate budin -- delicious!! Overall a good experience. Would come back here again for a happy hour or to try other food -- would def get the chile rellenos and budin again! read more

Comal was our favorite date spot when we lived in the Bay. The upscale dining vibes and vibrant menu items were the main reasons we kept coming back. Comal is in the heart of Berkeley, not for from the University and walking distance from BART and several bus lines. The guacamole was an amazing appetizer, just a bit spicy and hella fresh. On our most recent visit we both ordered fish tacos and found them to be good but didn't like the strong fishy aroma (I know...but..) Our server was attentive which is always great, food and drinks both came out in a timely manner even on a busy evening. The music playing fit the mood and the energy of the restaurant said we were in great company. read more

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Came here for dinner on a Monday night! I had never seen this place but we walked by and thought it looked good. The service was good and loved the vibes inside!! Chips + Salsa Trio - solid chips & loved the different salsas + the cute spoons haha. great appetizer and can't go wrong with it Beef tacos - the waitress recommended these! They were literally so good and perfectly filling. The meat was so tender and it paired perfectly with the slaw + cheese. 10/10 recommend and would for sure come here again. read more

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