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    El Buen Pastor

    3.8 (136 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    El pastor tacos lunch special

    Service was bad because they messed up our order and didn't check on us for refills or condiments at all. however the food was amazing. If I could give the chef one hundred percent of the tip and the server zero I would. The ambiance and food is great. If not for the server this restaurant would be 5 stars.

    Caesar salad + kids tacos
    katey a.

    I wish this place had better food or maybe it was the chef of the day. Everything was quite expensive and lacked flavor. I really want to give this another try but I wasn't very happy. The one thing I enjoyed the most was the free salsa and chips. I couldn't get over it. We got 4 shrimps for $30.... I think they should make sure we know how much we're getting. A lot of our food tasted pretty bland. We spent over $500 and left feeling hungry because we didn't really enjoy it. I booked this place for my birthday we had about 25 people and they gave us the back room. It had lots of privacy and we got constantly were getting checked on, it was great! Refills and food coming Constantly.

    Dessert sampler platter. Order it, you'll love it
    Matthew C.

    My wife and I were excited to try this spot as we pass by regularly on our commute. We specifically came in a bit earlier on Saturday just to avoid the crowd and we must've timed it just right as there were only a few people dining. Very nice restaurant. Seating was very comfortable with outdoor seating options as well. Very nice bar, the decor was especially nice. We were warmly greeted as we walked in and promptly seated. I had to try the arroz con leche cocktail (great flavor, just what you would expect without being too sweet) and also put in an order for their "21+ over guacamole". To start they brought us a basket of tortilla chips drizzled with a mole sauce topped with cojita cheese Super good, very tasty. The salsa on the other hand was way too spicy. The server was nice enough to offer an alternative salsa, but again, also way too spicy. ‍ For some reason despite how slow business was, we were halfway through our drinks and had completely finished the chips before our guacamole was prepared. You have to try this blend of guacamole though! They make it fresh at your table with added pineapple, jicama, jalapeno, lime, watermelon and a shot of tequila. My wife and I both loved it! A very refreshing bite with added sweetness, super good. I ordered the combination pastor plate. I really enjoyed the shrimp poblano enchilada, very good. The black beans were also very good. Unfortunately the chile relleno was way too spicy and the pastor was disappointing. Lacking both flavor and seasoning with the same texture of sliced ham. For dessert we shared the dessert platter. Great choice! I loved the tres leches cake and coffee flan, and we both enjoyed the crepes and flautas. Perfect portion and sharing size. This place is definitely worth trying and I would definitely return for drinks, dessert, and appetizers. Each plate was really beautifully presented, and I loved the added aesthetic with the flower. I really wish they would take the spice down a notch though, some of us prioritize taste and flavor over spice, both of which can't be enjoyed when the food is just too spicy. Staff was very friendly but as slow as business was, service was equally slow which could definitely be an issue.

    Sandra M.

    Everything was very good! The service was good and the atmosphere was great! I think they were a little understaffed as we did have to wait a while for our drinks, to take our order as well as to get to go containers. But they had two large groups in for lunch and other lunch patrons. Maybe they weren't expecting that many people.

    Pastel de tres leches made from scratch a must try

    Servers are always very kind and helpful, even if they are a little busy. Very attentive.

    El Buen Pastor Mexican Restaurant, Bakersfield, CA - December 10, 2024 - Chips with mole sauce
    Bruce O.

    El Buen Pastor Fine Mexican Cuisine - Bakersfield, CA December 10, 2024 We came in a little after noon on a Tuesday. We were traveling west from the Lancaster area and were ready to eat. It just so happened that where we pulled off the freeway there was El Buen Pastor Mexican restaurant. We got very lucky to just happen to chance onto it. It is a very nice restaurant with an upscale bar, a modern cheerful dining room with both booths and large tables and chairs. We got a nice booth set up for two. All the staff we met were sharply dressed and very courteous and attentive. I could hear the Spanish accents in their voices and I knew we were about to be treated to some authentic Mexican food. First up, the chips and salsa. This wasn't any old chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and came in yellow, red, and green colors with a nice dark molay sauce and grated cheese on top. The salsa was very unique as well. It was almost like a sweet enchilada sauce. We liked it! My wife and I took a look at the menus and each decided to try a lunch special. She got the beef quesadillas with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. I ordered the three taco plate (Al pastor) with rice and beans, Both meals were very tasty! And the price was very reasonable - $12 for each plate. Deal! I think we'll be making this a regular stop next time we come through town!

    Horchata agua fresca
    Lydia V.

    I have an update... I recall when we ordered the Tlayuda... it came with three meats. However, when we ordered ours on Father's Day, it only came with two. I called the server over to ask her to confirm that it came with three meats as the menu specified, specifically I was looking the cecina and I let the server know that in the menu, it calls out the former, marinated pork, and chorizo. She looked at the play and said, pointing to the marinated pork that that was the cecina... it was pork cecina. Maybe it was an oversight or maybe they were too busy to care... but that is not sitting well with me now. Keep the menu when you order and verify that it comes with everything it says in the description!

    Chicken tacos

    They have some good choices for food and everything is tasty! The inside is pretty and the customer service is great as well.

    Chips and salsa. Chips have mole sauce and cheese.
    Jessica C.

    The area itself in Bakersfield isn't ideal , we stumbled on the restaurant after cleaning our storage down the road. But I'm so glad we did, this place is a Gem!!! It's a must visit!! Staff and service were courteous and friendly. The ambiance and dining experience feels more upscale than similar restaurants. Food was amazing every time I have gone, which is 4 times now. If you enjoy seafood, they have a great selection on the menu.

    Mixed fruit
    Alfred B.

    Food amazing. Service amazing. Atmosphere amazing. First time here amazing. This buffet after Sundays church. Was just a blessing highly recommend if you like fine dining and amazing Mexican food However upon leaving. And let me say it was me my woman and our son 3 people. Upon paying the waitress very fast on the tip menu picked the highest percentage of tip like without me seeing the menu and just wanted me to pay 134.00 when 3 adult is 29.99. This lady wanted to tip herself 35.00 for pouring soda just once and did nothing else and I had already left a tip on the table for her. So unhappy with that.

    The absolute best flavor I've ever tasted!! From the refreshing cucumber water to the chips and salsa... to our meal, VERY VERY GOOD! We got the molcajete after asking for recommendations from our server and it did NOT disappoint! So glad we decided to stop as we passed through on the freeway. Great service and even greater food!

    Tacos Pastor- sampler
    Michele T.

    We stumbled upon this place as we were passing through Bakersfield overnight and Wow were we surprised! The restaurant itself is modern and beautiful- ambiance on point. The staff was very welcoming and extremely attentive. The food far exceeded our expectations- absolute perfection.. We live in Scottsdale, Arizona and this place was on par with some of the finest restaurants we frequently dine. The attention to detail, the authentic flavor, the presentation, service and atmosphere meet all the upscale dining requirements. You will not be disappointed! It also gave high end Tulum resort vibes. Lastly, it was an exceptional value and experience.

    Chilaquiles divorciados
    Karen E.

    The lack of flavor on this dish was ridiculous. The server was great but the food was not good. Had came a few months back and decided to come back again. Definitely won't go back again. I also think the food is very overpriced.

    Muy buen servicio y la comida excelente

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    This place is awesome!! Service was incredibly friendly. Food was delicious. Best part was the live music! Cannot wait to return.

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    Tiki-Ko - Inside decor - Tiki-Ko

    Tiki-Ko

    4.5(285 reviews)
    5.9 mi
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    Nobody plans to spend an evening in Bakersfield. You pass through it on the way to somewhere else…read more-- Mammoth, the Sequoias, the long flat grind up the 99 to Sacramento -- and if you stop at all, it's for gas or a bathroom or because your BMW's brakes have decided, somewhere around the Grapevine, that they'd rather not. Thank you, Weatherford BMW of Berkeley, for the near-death experience and, inadvertently, for one of the best nights out I've had in years. Stranded and waiting on repairs, we checked into The Padre, the only hotel in Bakersfield that feels like someone with a subscription to Dwell had a hand in it, and set out walking through a downtown that time has treated with more kindness than reputation suggests. There's a Woolworth's luncheonette still hanging on. There are old brick facades and wide sidewalks and the particular quiet of a Central Valley evening when the heat finally breaks. And then, on 18th Street, there is Tiki-Ko, and suddenly you are no longer in Bakersfield at all. You are, instead, inside someone's magnificent obsession. Tiki-Ko is a proper tiki bar -- not a tiki-themed cocktail lounge, not a place that bought some bamboo at a craft store and called it atmosphere, but a genuine, committed, floor-to-ceiling shrine to mid-century Polynesian fantasy. The carvings are real. The lighting is correct -- which is to say, barely there. The mugs are serious. There are pufferfish lamps and carved totems and the whole glorious taxonomy of tiki ephemera, accented here and there with a skate-culture edge that keeps it from feeling like a museum. It's reverent without being precious. The drinks are the real thing. Mai Tais built with actual orgeat. Zombies that earn the name. The bartenders make them with the kind of care and enthusiasm that tells you this isn't a gig -- it's a calling. They want you to be here. They want to talk about rum. They want you to try the Painkiller. In a city that most Angelenos regard as a punch line, somebody built a world-class cocktail bar and filled it with joy, and the regulars clearly know it. You will not plan a trip to Bakersfield. But if you find yourself there -- by mechanical failure, by accident, by the peculiar mercy of a bad brake job -- walk downtown. Find the tiki bar. Order a second round. Stay longer than you intended. Bakersfield has been underestimated, and Tiki-Ko is the proof.

    Visited The Sinking Ship with friends and enjoyed ourselves very much. The drinks were good and the…read moreatmosphere was really cool. It was a fun evening in a laid back environment, the bartenders were nice and the lady clearing tables was pleasant. The only thing I, personally, didn't enjoy was the weird ambient soundscapes. A little music would have been nice, rather than the creaking ship noises and ghostly wailing.

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    Interior booth

    Tiki-Ko - Sunken Ship

    Sunken Ship

    Tiki-Ko - Interior. bar area

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    Interior. bar area

    Mango Haus - Tortilla Española - omelette loaded with veggies served with side salad w/mango vinaigrette - delicious

    Mango Haus

    4.4(299 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    Service was great! Johnny our server was so helpful and attentive. The ambiance is welcoming and…read morerelaxed. I enjoyed the food and the stay. I met up with my lovely Yelp friend. She comes from LA so we meet halfway. She is so nice and so friendly. She really won my heart! This is the second time we meet in Bakersfield. I had this place saved for a while now so I was excited for the visit there. We got there and they sat us almost right away. They have a cute lobby before the entrance to the restaurant. There is an old telephone booth and Christmas decorations. Johnny brought us the menu and it was the lunch menu. I saw on line that they had some great food for breakfast and Te-see asked him about it. He told us they were still making breakfast so I got happy. I ordered a coffee with cream and he brought it in a little tray with the creamer on the side. The table was a little wobbly and the coffee spilled all over the tray. Luckily Te-see got that fixed with a sugar packet. Jonny brought me another tray with coffee and cream. Almost everything was plant base, some egg and chicken but definitely no red meat. Unless I didn't see it. So I ordered the chilaquiles rojos and my daughter the Happy-go-Lucky-bowl. Te-see got the torta española and slew got a pancake to shared. All the food came very fancy well presented. Almost like magazine perfect. I loved them. We were taking videos and pictures as we should like a truly Yelpers that we are. Haha! The food was so tasty and flavorful. I loved my chilaquiles. They were perfect for my palate. They were crunchy and still with the flavor of the sauce. So delicious. They came with a little bowl of beans from the olla. (Freshly cooked) Te-see mention that her torta española was great as well. It came with some green salad. And it did really look so good. My daughter got the Happy-go-lucky-bowl. I was surprised she liked it. It was so beautiful presented. Sorry I already mention that. But yes it was pretty. There was berries melon, pineapple. She said it was really good and filling. She couldn't finish it. The pancake we order to share was so healthy made with all the good grains like chia, hemp seed, brown rice, oat flour. So good. It had some bananas and berries on top. Really delicious. I want to go back again just writing about it. I may go back and order different things from the menu. The bathrooms are very clean. Also maybe restaurant is part of the hotel

    Cute atmosphere hostesses took a while to come to the front…read moreto seat us. Ordered the Chilaquiles, came out cold somehow & the flavor was okay. Pancakes were mid. Small water cups & had to flag down waitress to get more water multiple times . Honestly wont be coming back.

    Photos
    Mango Haus - Dining room

    Dining room

    Mango Haus - Patatas Bravas Dinner

    Patatas Bravas Dinner

    Mango Haus - Chilaquiles rojos.

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    Chilaquiles rojos.

    Casa Mariachi

    Casa Mariachi

    3.6(11 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    Speaks Spanish
    Family-owned & operated

    Stopped in today for a bite to eat. This place seems to be getting busier all the time. Its not a…read morebig place but they do offer a buffet and fresh made corn tortillas. I ordered menudo, it was okay. Price seemed a little bit elevated but everything is getting pricey. I didnt want a big bowl but there is only one option. Staff is friendly, so thats a plus. Loved the fresh made tortillas. That was my favorite part.

    A TRANSITIONING JOINT... would be the best description of this Mexican restaurant. It's got a big…read moresign out front stating "under new management". I saw fairly positive reviews from locals so I thought my Mom and I would check it out. Unfortunately, we came out underwhelmed. My Mom's order was totally hijacked. She ordered a specific meal alongside mine. Later, when my meal was ready and served, we get a surprise. Our waiter states he forgot to tell her they ran out of the meal she wanted! So here I am with my hot meal and I have to pick at it in front of my Mom while she has to wait all over again! My food started getting cold because I didn't want to be a jerk and eat my whole meal in front of her. Unfortunately, my Mom had to order something she didn't want. Once the food finally came out (shrimp fajitas), we find that her shrimp was NOT properly cleaned. I thought they were tightwads with the amount of shrimp they gave her, she could've received more. Our waiter apologized, but he started to avoid us out of embarrassment, this wasn't very professional. Our meal was awkward because it sucked seeing my Mom disappointed and unsatisfied. The ambiance was pretty quiet, so this made it extra uncomfortable. Overall, I won't be back soon as I don't live near Bakersfield. My food wasn't bad (green enchiladas), it was actually pretty good. However, due to the bad impression from the service and weak communication of the staff, I wouldn't be back soon even if I lived close. Casa Mariachi really needs to work out the kinks.

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    El Buen Pastor - mexican - Updated May 2026

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