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    COOL!NARIA

    3.9 (47 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Order COOL!NARIA Takeout or Delivery

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    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Small, very little filling.
    Nicole J.

    I encountered them while visiting the area and they had a truck at the Saturday Oakland farmers market. So of course this jersey girl had to experience as many tacos as she could while on the West Coast. These were just OK. I wasn't wowed, the tortilla was dry, it was very little filling and the flavor was just mediocre. I can't say that I highly recommend this. Also, the Agua Fresca was not sweet or flavorful. It's definitely a different taco experience but not to my liking.

    Chicken Pibil Taco, Pork Carnitas Taco and 3 Pieces Shrimp Costra tacos.
    Jeanette L.

    I had the opportunity to try this place tonight because they were a part of the Oakland Turkey Trot 2021 bib pick up event. I have to say I did not expect much and did not expect to be impressed. I was completely blown away! The salsa was spicy just the way I like it. The shrimp was cooked to perfection and very plump the meat was great. Everything was a little bit smaller than what I'm used to for tacos with this may have been due to this event. I will definitely come back here and try to find this location just because of those shrimp tacos.

    Oct 2020 menu
    Kay D.

    I've been eyeing this Elote taco trunk by lake merritt for a while. I finally stopped by to order some Mexican corn elotes. The food truck is mask and social distance enforced. I went on a Friday afternoon, it wasn't busy at all. Their menu is right on the truck. It was easy to order, service was great, price is a bit pricy considering it is a bougie taco truck by the lake, the food was delicious overall. I ordered Mexican corn, and it was ready within 5min. The order process was simple, and the truck takes Apple Pay, credit card over $5.

    Blue Corn Huarache w/ Beef Tinga
    Adam B.

    Like a taco truck 2.0. Fancier presentation, more nuanced ingredients, smaller portions and a steeper price tag. It was fun to try, but I may just hit up a Tacos San Buena truck next time I get the lunchtime craving. Blue Corn Huarache w/ Beef Tinga: First things first, there was a lot of great taste going on. The beef tinga was tender and nicely spiced. Tons of thinly sliced veggies and herbs to add some great texture and flavor contrasts. And like three types of sauces. The actual huarache itself was bit of a letdown, kinda like the texture of a store bought tortilla. They might have made it fresh on the griddle, but it didn't come across that way. Also, this seemed pricey at $14. Definitely higher priced than a meal from other Mexican food trucks around town. Fresh Mango Agua Fresca: Was a tad disappointed. I'm used to agua frescas being real sweet, either by virtue of lots of fruit juice or lots of sugar to make up for the lack thereof. This was quite watery, almost as if La Croix got into the business of selling agua frescas. Also, they served it in an awkward plastic bag as an homage to Mexico City or something. Could have really benefited from some ice in the bag since it was bordering on room temperature.

    Baja Shrimp tacos with spicy salsa
    Parisa Z.

    Incredibly friendly staff working at the truck during Pridefest! Those Baja shrimp tacos with the spicy salsa were absolutely incredible! Spicy, flavorful, juicy, tangy, and fresh!

    Chicken and pork sandwich
    Erick P.

    The food truck was parked outside the Walt Disney Family Museum so we decided to try it. We purchased the Chicken and Pulled Pork Sandwich, but if I had to choose, the sandwich is more filling. The Chicken is the healthier option and it came with potato and beans on the side but whichever you choose, it's one of the few places to eat at this site. My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the price. Although the pulled pork sandwich is flavorful and has an abundance of meat, it is high in price.

    Cocina Del C.

    ¡DELICIOSO! I enjoyed everything about the experience. From the cool rustic truck, to the wonderful customer service to the promising menu. This duo is passionate about what they do, and it shows. We got to enjoy our meal while social distancing at Lake Merritt and it was truly the highlight of our week. The shrimp was juicy and plump, the carnitas were perfectly crispy. You can't go wrong checking them out!

    "Gringas" pastor tacos from COOL!NARIA and Gravity Chai from Smoothie Operator
    Jason V.

    I tried their "gringas" pastor tacos they were super tasty/delicious; highly recommended for sure. They're usually located off Grand Ave near the Pergola @ Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA

    Shrimp tacos two ways
    Gravity W.

    This is a truly artisan food truck! You can taste the fresh ingredients and practiced care that goes into their creations. I was blown away by both of their variations on the shrimp tacos, and returned to try the carnitas, al pastor and tinga tacos. What a mouth party! I am looking forward to trying their house made mole on my next visit. They are often parked on lake Merritt on Grand Avenue. Do yourself a favor and check then out

    Gorgeous ceviche in coconut shells for my wedding cocktail hour at Reinstein Ranch in Livermore, CA.

    Coolinaria brought their beautiful truck to our ranch-style wedding and served up the classiest food for cocktail hour: ceviche in gorgeous coconut shells, three types of tacos (including delicious vegan tacos - purple potato with a kale slaw), guacamole/chips and they were thoughtful enough to think of making cheese quesadillas for the kids! Everyone was in love with the food and Beth and Beto are so easy to work with and just very kind, warm people. We met with them a couple times at their pop-up spot at Federation Brewery and they always took the time to sit down with us and talk through details and ideas. I feel like there aren't many high-end options for mexican food trucks, so Coolinaria is who you want for a stylish event. You get restaurant quality food with the fun atmosphere of having a truck. I can't recommend them highly enough!

    Bring a blanket, enjoy your meal on the grass by the lake!

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    Beto A.

    Hi Kia, our happiness is when you are happy and a full belly :D

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    One of the most authentic Mexican food trucks in the Bay Area. The food is a work of art and it's taste reminds me of Pujol in Mexico City.

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Best tacos in Oakland highly recommended. Flavorful and excellent quality, super friendly staff.

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    7 years ago

    Great authentic Mexican food in the bay area!!! We loved the carnitas and the tinga! Thanks for the friendly service! Highly recommended!

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    9 years ago

    The tacos are tasty, but they're 5 bucks a piece and you only get 1 corn tortilla. They take a long time to prepare.

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    Taqueria El Paisa - Tacos!

    Taqueria El Paisa

    4.4(551 reviews)
    3.4 miEast Oakland
    $$

    Came here for lunch on a Tuesday around noon and it was pretty busy. We finally lucked out and got…read morea parking spot in the parking lot. We tried coming here on a Sunday and couldn't find parking for 15+ minutes so we ended up leaving. There is some street parking but we prefer to park in the lot. Once you get inside you order at the counter. If you're getting tacos they're all the same price so the cashier will write the number of tacos you bought and you take that receipt and get in the line. Once you get called up you put your receipt in the basket that the worker hands you and tell them what kind of meat you want in your tacos. Today I tried the asada, carnitas, Al pastor, and tripa. They all were delicious, my favorite was the tripa. Portions are good ($4.50/taco) and they have a variety of salsas, jalapeños, limes, etc in the seating area once you exit. I also got a hibiscus (Jamaica) agua fresca that was good. They do accept credit card but they'll charge a $1 fee so try to bring cash if you can. Definitely recommend, this is now one of my top taco spots in Oakland.

    This is certainly one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to. Each taco is $4.50 and…read morethey load each up with meat. The meats are all juicy and cooked perfectly. The pina colada drink was perfect to balance out the salty/savory flavor of the tacos. You self serve cucumbers, carrots, and radishes which is always cool. Finally, there's live Mexican music playing and the overall vibes are fantastic. 4.9/5

    Photos
    Taqueria El Paisa
    Taqueria El Paisa - Torta de asada!

    Torta de asada!

    Taqueria El Paisa - Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)

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    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)

    Tacos Oscar - chips & salsa morita

    Tacos Oscar

    4.4(296 reviews)
    1.5 miTemescal, North Oakland

    Amazing. Purely delicious, cuuute ambiance…read more They make their own tortillas, which is always a plus. The flavors of each taco were outstanding. I ordered everything on their current menu. Tostada beans gigante, the pork shoulder, barbacoa, charred broccoli, mushroom, and chicken tinga. Just a lil lime on top, and enjoy! I didn't even need to add more salsa, which I would usually add to my tacos at other places. Tostada vegan was my fave. All the meat tacos were also fantastic, all were tender and juicy. Your taste buds bout to be blown away. They have patio style seating in the front and the back. cute for a lil date night without breaking the bank, or to go out and entertain friends outta town, or just to treat yo'self real good. so happy.

    I have been wanting to try Tacos Oscar for a while, and finally got to try it. It was Sunday around…read more11am and there was already a line, but it moved fast. They have outdoor seating both in front and in their back patio, the front being sunnier while the back was cooler and shaded. It does seem like it can get crowded there due to the amount of customers who may choose to eat here instead of takeout, though. The food came out within 5 minutes. They also have a self-service water pitcher, and pitchers of half-and-half and oat milk next to it, which I assume is provided for those who get coffee (I didn't read through the entire drink menu). I got the vegan breakfast burrito, which has pan fried potatoes, roasted peppers and onions, mayocoba beans, chile morita mayonesa, avocado, corn, cilantro in a flour tortilla and it contains soy. It was savory, just a little bit spicy but tolerable for someone who can handle just mild level so I felt it was a good addition for providing more flavor given vegetarian burritos can otherwise often end up very plain. Quite a bit of avocado. I liked the potatoes and beans, and the insides didn't feel too mushy texture-wise. Admittedly not the hugest quantity for a burrito of this price ($15 before tax/tip) but I appreciate that they have several vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. I also ordered the strawberry agua fresca - listed as agua de fresca on the menu and this is the only flavor available, for $6. It was pretty good, fruity and sweet but not overwhelmingly so. I tried some of the chips and salsa morita that a friend shared with me, and thought it was decent - they give a massive quantity of chips (it would be good for sharing with a group) which are crispy and lightly salted, and the salsa is tasty and very mild in spice level.

    Photos
    Tacos Oscar - Side seating entrance

    Side seating entrance

    Tacos Oscar - Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system

    Don't be like me. provide your tostada with a strong support system

    Tacos Oscar - Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating

    Bombera - Pozole: comforting and tasty

    Bombera

    4.1(526 reviews)
    2.1 miDimond District, Lower Hills
    $$$

    Such a beautiful place! The vibes, the food, the people - all 10/10!…read more First off - I'd suggest to make a reservation! We sat indoors but they do have an outdoor tented area. Second - we didn't have any issues parking on the street. The restaurant is tucked away in a semi-residential area. Third - the experience start to finish: Staff - super friendly, and welcoming! There was a seamless handoff between checking in, to the person helping with our order, to receiving our order. Drink - I had the house fermented soda and at that time - it was featuring dragon fruit. OMG - incredible, tasty, and refreshing! Food - we had SPICY CARROTS TOASTED ALMOND MISANTLA (11/10), BLUE CORN QUESADILLA (10/10 - everything handmade/fresh), and BLACK MOLE ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (11/10 - whoever's came up with this combo - chefs kiss!) and more! I recommend this place for date night, family dinner, or a birthday/hang with some friends!

    Summary: Delicious food with explosive flavors…read more Details: I can't recall how we landed on Bombera while we were looking for anniversary dinner options, but we were sure happy it did! I'll be honest: I came in to the dinner a little skeptical at the slightly lower reviews, but seeing that most of them were chalked up as service qualms (and being used to Chinese restaurants), we opted to give it a go. And boy, the food was t.a.s.t.y! Pozole and the carrots and beans were the highlights of the meal, both coming with a super smokey and fiery chili that we absolutely adored, but everything else we had was enjoyable, and not overly seasoned, which is always the concern when we go out these days. I can see where some of the service complaints might have come from because the staff seemed pretty slammed and harried, but we actually found the service to be quite friendly. Accessibility: Outdoor seating is technically accessible, not not always comfortably so. Some tables are situated on slightly-too-steep inclines, which means you may be scrunching or bracing for the entirety of your meal.

    Photos
    Bombera - Inside main room

    Inside main room

    Bombera - Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better

    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better

    Bombera - Interior looking out

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    Interior looking out

    COOL!NARIA - mexican - Updated May 2026

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