Another amazing experience here at El Comal. We're usually enjoying our food too much to stop and take pictures but this review is long overdue. Coming from Mexican & Afro-Latin families that COOK, my partner and I are rarely impressed enough to write one. However, the ambiance, quality of service AND food at El Comal are worth the visit! Tacos, sopes, soups, birria all delicious. Tortillas are handmade fresh when ordered and their menudo & posole are about as authentic as you can get. The staff is phenomenal and responsive, even when they're super busy. The menu changes to reflect what they have fresh/on hand which is commendable & more sustainable [wish more places did this]. The only downsides are chips n salsa are extra (understandable with the cost of things right now), they don't always have hominy or cabbage on hand for the menudo/posole, no dessert options without wheat/GF. Still, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

El Comal - Fresh handmade tortillas, Sopes de pollo, Sopa Azteca y menudo - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

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For the last dinner of my visitors from out of the country, I decided to take them to El Comal in Los Altos. My partner and I had a great experience back when they first opened in early 2025. I was one of the first Yelpers to review them and enthusiastically recommended El Comal to quite a few friends and work colleagues this past year. Last night got off to a bit of a strange start when our reserved table for five was not prepared in advance unlike the two seat table by the window which already had a reserved sign on it, ready for a couple that arrived 10-15 minutes after my party. They dragged over a 2 top and a couple chairs to complete our table. Once seated, we noticed right away that the menu had changed significantly. The beet salad that was the main dish my partner wanted to order...gone from the menu. The Sopa Azteca that I was looking forward to...also gone, and the "Soup of the Day" listed on the menu was not available at all. The light and airy tricolored tortilla chips were also gone, with denser and less crispy chips in their place. Even the mashed avocados in the guacamole had a slightly darker greyish color rather than the bright green you'd see in a fresh guacamole. My partner asked for a salad with no onions or cucumbers. Unexpectedly, the waitress quickly brought out a salad that had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onions. With no Sopa Azteca available, I ordered Enchiladas with Roja sauce. I was really puzzled when what was served was a cooled dish of Enmoladas topped with Mole sauce. Now I may not be Latino, but I know there's a huge difference between a roja sauce and a complex mole sauce. At first, I thought they may have misheard me when I ordered enchiladas. So when the waiter, who I believe is also one of the owners, tried to explain to me that they were similar and that they substituted enmoladas because they ran out of enchiladas, I had a few thoughts that I kept to myself. To his credit he offered to take the enmoladas back and let me order something else. But I very rarely send fully-prepared dishes back to the kitchen because it is wasteful and I'm not the type to openly complain. But if they had run out of enchiladas, I would expect that most restaurants would send someone to let me know before preparing and serving a completely different dish. That way I would have been able to order something else instead of getting a fully cooked dish that I wouldn't have ordered. I also didn't want to cause a fuss in front of my visiting guests so I kept the enmoladas and ate them in disbelief. The waiter brought by another dish (Bocolitos, I believe) on the house as we were nearing the end of our meal, which was a kind gesture. But the whole experience was such a letdown compared to the previous visits that I felt the need to update my review to better reflect the current state of the restaurant. One can only speculate about what's happening behind the scenes but based on our experience last night, there's been a noticeable decline in the selection and quality of the dishes as well as the service. In all likelihood, we won't be returning to El Comal after this sad turn of events. read more

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We've been wanting to try this relatively new Mexican restaurant in Los Altos downtown. We ordered the guacamole for appetizer and it was very good. I had the shrimp tacos. It was like a quesa-birria where the shell was pan fried and stuffed with cheese. It was a bit on the salty side though. I also had an octopus taco which was very tender. My boyfriend had the chicken enchiladas with the red sauce. I thought it was good but he thought it was bland. Overall, the ambience is nice and server was very courteous. read more

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Great lunch of enchiladas and chilaquiles. Service was warm and friendly. Love this place! read more

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I finally made it to El Comal, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. I came with a friend and her son--both originally from Mexico--plus my own son, so this was a table with very high standards for Mexican food. Everyone left happy. We started with the guac and chips, which were incredibly fresh with the perfect balance of lime, salt, and cilantro. The ceviche was bright and vibrant--clean citrus, just the right amount of heat, and beautifully balanced. You could really taste the quality of the ingredients. For mains, we ordered a bit of everything: chicken mole, salmon, and a mushroom taco. The mole was outstanding--deep, complex, and rich without being overly heavy. You could taste the layers of spice and chocolate the way a proper mole should be. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the mushroom taco was surprisingly one of my favorites--earthy, savory, and packed with flavor. The micheladas were spot on--refreshing, tangy, and perfectly spiced. Even the kids' meals impressed us. The chicken tenders and fries were actually good quality (not an afterthought like at a lot of places), and the mocktails made the kids feel special and included. The service was excellent. We were checked on personally by the owner several times, which really added a warm, welcoming touch. Dining out with kids can sometimes be a bit chaotic, but the staff handled it with such kindness and patience. They brought the kids a coloring mat, which kept them happily occupied for a while--always appreciated by parents. The restaurant felt very family-friendly and even dog-friendly, which made the whole experience relaxed and comfortable. What really stood out was how authentic everything tasted. The seasoning, spice level, and flavor balance were exactly right--nothing watered down, nothing overdone. When you're dining with people from Mexico and they're nodding approvingly after every bite, you know the kitchen is doing something right. Great food, great drinks, fantastic service, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!!! read more

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We really enjoyed this very welcome addition to Los Altos downtown! We started with the chips and guac. The chips are made in house and excellent. The various house salsas were delicious, esp the the salsa verde and the guajillo. We also ordered the days special - a salmon sashimi tostada with a delicious sauce, chilies and orange zest - very delicious! For our entrees, we had tacos (huitlacoche, quesabirria and veggie) and the veggie enchiladas. The red sauce on the enchiladas was amazing. The only let down was the tres leches, but the rest of the meal was excellent! Friendly service, too! read more

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Quality food & service. Found this place walking around Los Altos looking for traditional Mexican food that isn't just a taqueria. read more

El Comal - Delicious food & great service. Found this place walking around Los Altos looking for quality Mexican food. - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

Looking for authentic high end Mexican food? You've come to the right place! On Saturday morning, we finally made it to El Comal where we were greeted by Fernando who provided us with exceptional service. We were in search of a nice Mexican brunch and saw their old menu showed chilaquiles. While no longer on their actual menu, we asked if they still made them. They whipped us up two fresh batches! They were delicious and very authentic. The best chilaquiles I've had recently in the Bay Area. Our only suggestion since they open at 10am on Saturdays: it would be great if they did offer a weekend brunch menu from 10am-2pm before changing to their dinner/day menu. They could keep it simple with typical Mexican brunch food items and offer fresh squeezed orange juice, mimosas, etc. We'll definitely go back! read more

El Comal - CHILAQUILES - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

El chile relleno is exactly how it should be made and taste. You can tell the tortillas are freshly made as well and we really enjoyed their rice, tasted very home made; even brought back memories of my family's cooking. Well done El Comal. Service was great and respectful. We even got to see their machine that makes the tortillas on the spot as our waiter was very kind to give us a mini walkthrough. We did arrive on a Saturday around 1pm so it wasn't busy, as they close at 2 and re-open at 4. Sat outside, it was peaceful and you are able to carry a conversation without any noise distractions. read more

El Comal - Their Chile Relleno is delightful - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

Holy Mole Brand-new Mexican restaurant located along the main drag in Downtown Los Altos, and features dishes from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Yucatán. The owners are the furthest thing from the restaurant biz, as one owns a plumbing company and the other owns a construction company. Oddly enough they met after both being scammed out of money by the same man, and a partnership was born. Normally restaurants that are owned by first-time restaurant owners don't fare well, but they seem to have done a good job hiring the right people. The Good: *Gorgeous interior décor *Dog-friendly shaded outdoor dining *Terrific service by "Server H" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ *For being open less than a month, they had a pretty smooth operation. *They just got their liquor license so they have beer, micheladas, wine, and cocktails. *Complimentary Chips and Salsa! Their salsa is really good fwiw. *Mole was fantastic and had a nice depth of flavor with just the right amount of chocolatey sweetness. I also really appreciated the fresh, well-dresssed salad that accompanied it instead of rice or beans. My one complaint was the chicken breasts were a touch dry, but otherwise an almost flawless dish. *Carissa really enjoyed her salmon salad, but we wish it had a little more Mexi flair to it. *Molletes were fantastic! Right ratio of cheese to beans, and the bread had a nice sourdough flavor. The Meh: *Street parking is free but can be tough to find. *It would be nice to see some craft beers available, beyond the stereotypical Corona, Modelo, and such, but I get it. The Ugly: *They need better exterior signage so that diners can know they exist as they walk across the street or drive-by. Conclusion: Fantastic authentic Mexi eats in a great location. Highly recommended. read more

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I found myself in Palo Alto at dinner time, and Mexican food sounded good, so I gave El Comal a try. I got enmoladas and a michelada. The michelada was very tasty, with tajin on the rim and a lime wedge. I'd never had enmoladas before, so I was excited to try them. They're essentially chicken enchiladas with mole on top. The mole was one of the tastiest I've ever had, and the meal was really good. My only complaint is that the enmoladas were not as warm (physically, not spice-wise) as I would expect, which detracted a bit from the meal. I look forward to eating there next time I'm in the area to try some more things on the menu. read more

El Comal - Enmoladas and michelada - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

Great new addition to Downtown Los Altos. Service was great. Restaurant was clean and super cute inside. Food was good. Portions are smallish, and not cheap, but it's to be expected in Downtown Los Altos. The server chatted with us a bunch and I suggested that the huitlacoche taco needed a grilled jalapeno. To our surprise, he brought us another taco with a grilled jalapeno to try! It was perfect. -1 star for portion size vs price, but will be back for sure. read more

We were excited to welcome a new Mexican restaurant to the neighborhood. Positives Cute interior Nice service Tortillas were very good Moles was tasty Negatives Restaurant was empty when we got there at 7pm Menu was limited. Not the menu pictured on Yelp My entree was luke warm. Not hot at all No chips, no salsa, no rice, no beans. You can get chips and guacamole for $14 $72 was steep for what we ordered Also, they turned away a single diner at 7:30pm so not sure what time they really close. I'm not sure they are building a local, regular customer base which is what a Los Altos neighborhood restaurant needs in order to survive read more

El Comal - Enmoladas - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Casually walked by on a wednesday and they had taco specials, I had three different kinds all for under $25 a Paloma, which they specially made for me not being too sweet and honestly, I went at a slow time so the one Server was taking care of the entire restaurant and she was very attentive. Join in at the patio, it's beautiful. read more

El Comal - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

Delicious food, customer service friendly servers and amazing atmosphere and selection. Enrique and Monica so personable and genuine. Flavors and Mole sauce is the BEST. Recommend to all that want To enjoy the tastiest and original food and spices!! read more

We brought our son who is visiting from his home in Barcelona for Mexican food. He loves Mexican food (no, Spanish is not even close). We sat outside, very lovely evening, great service, and really delicious food. We came at the happy hour time (3-6) and have 5$ taco's. Also the tuna salad was delicous and crude ? It was raw Halibut and really delcious! This is our second time here, we love it. The service is also excellent. read more

El Comal - Same - mushroom/corn fungi and a shrip taco. - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Disappointing Experience -- Two Tries, Still the Wrong Dish I came specifically for the Chile en Nogada -- a dish I was genuinely looking forward to. Instead, they first brought out Cochinita Pibil. I let them know it was the wrong order, and they replaced it... but with a different chile dish, not the Nogada. At that point, my family had already finished eating and gone to the farmers market. I didn't say anything the second time. I just ate the wrong dish. It tasted good -- but what's the point of good taste if it's not what you ordered? No one checked in. No apology. No acknowledgment of the mistake. Just silence. And a bill that still hadn't arrived by the time I finished. Mistakes happen, but the lack of care or accountability left a bad impression. read more

El Comal - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

We came here for brunch and the place is beautiful and a unique highlight in Los Altos. We ordered the chilaquiles which are not on menu but Fernando was super nice and accommodating. It was top tier execution and quality. I wish they would have a dedicated brunch menu on Saturday or Sunday. Definitely want to return for their dinner menu! read more

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A great new addition to downtown Los Altos. Solid tacos but I would prefer the chips they serve with the guacamole were the same as the complimentary chips offered. The complimentary chips are multi colored tortilla chips and the chips that come with the guacamole are not and taste better. read more

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Upscale Mexican authentic Mexican food with super friendly service. Located right next to Tre Monte makes a nice add to downtown. Don't sleep on the agave cocktails (my wife loved hers!), but sounds like they will have a full liquor license soon. read more

Great food and service! Loved the Enmoladas. The mole is so delicious, you can taste the home flavors.Very authentic Mexican food! Looking forward to returning! read more

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I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Comal Los Altos, and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the rest of the evening. The menu offered a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes, each bursting with flavor and made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. I tried the enchiladas, and they were absolutely delicious - the perfect balance of spices and textures that left me wanting more. What truly set El Comal Los Altos apart, however, was the exceptional service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, making recommendations that were spot on. They went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of perfect. Overall, I highly recommend El Comal to anyone looking for a taste of Mexico right here in town. The food is outstanding, the service is top-notch, and the atmosphere is welcoming. I can't wait to return and try more of their delectable dishes. A truly memorable dining experience that I won't soon forget. read more

First off, it's been a long time since I have written a review! With that said, my husband and I came here for lunch today (he saw something on social media about this place so we checked it out). So, here's my review- it was neither bad nor good. It was what to be expected- the location, great. Staff, great. However, I agree with the not so great of these other reviews now- not worth the price. The 2 single tacos my husband ordered- looked good, but he had me try a piece of the carnitas- so bland and dry, salsa verde and lime on the side doesn't cut it. Also, not enough chips being served with the guacamole for $14 After tip, including chips/guacamole, burrito bowl (and two tacos) and one drink each- $100. They need to lower their prices and expand menu. And offer Modelo! read more

so glad to have a healthy, fresh Mexican restaurant with many gluten-free options in downtown Los Altos. Service was excellent, ceviche, guacamole, and burrito bowls were outstanding. it was so good, we came back the next day. read more

The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was outstanding. The tres leches cake was heavenly and truly unforgettable. I highly recommend this place! read more

Encouraged to try this place by a friend and must've missed the old chef. Was told cuisine was similar to Mexico City. It was not. Really nice inside but menu should be redone completely. It's limited and needs revamping. read more

For months, I had seen the coming soon sign, and they just opened a few weeks ago in downtown Los Altos. El Comal here is not to be confused with the East Bay El Comal. Drinks: beer and wine only. I got a house sangria, which was good, and it sounds like they're hoping for a liquor license. They start you off with colored tortilla chips and house salsa, and they have a kids' menu with crayons and an activity page, which is a nice touch. The menu has standard items like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, but they also have dishes like mole and cochinita pibil. Per an article, the focus is Oaxacan and Yucatán cuisine. - Mole: chicken breast with mole, salad, and rice. The mole was great, but I wish I had more of it! - Cochinita pibil: great flavor, extra complex with the salsa, comes with corn tortillas - Kids' chicken quesadilla: comes with rice and beans They have lots of vegetarian options and an appealing brunch menu. Reservations are currently by phone, and it was actually mostly full inside on a Saturday night, but they had some outdoor seating available (with heat lamps). El Comal is a welcome new addition to downtown Los Altos! read more

Food was well presented and with generous portions but unfortunately pretty bland. Did not particularly care for the chips and salsa, either. Attractive restaurant with attentive service, though. read more

El Comal - Chips and salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Such good food! We had Huitlachoche tacos which we enjoyed in Mexico City, plus some other authentic mexican food, and everything is made fresh right then. Friendliest staff as well. I totally recommend...lovely decor and a perfect lunch or dinner spot. read more

The food and setting here are top notch. Ingredients are always very fresh and authentic, and the service is fabulous, particularly a server named Lea. She is so friendly, hard working and creates a wonderful experience. Being located in Los Altos on Main Street is a major plus as well, and I will return again. read more

Food is tasty and spicy which I like. But if not, there's no description or choices. Rice could be a more moist. I also suggest photos of what is on menu as the descriptions are brief. I had the chilling relleno meal and I enjoyed all of it. Very different than most that I've had here in California in a good way. read more

Tastefully decorated New Mexican restaurant! But, looks like the food lacked Mexican-ness The Everyday salad was meh, very well arranged, on the plate, but the salad leaves hidden below were warm. The chicken enchiladas ordered with green sauce were a huge disappointment!!!! Stuffed with tasteless boiled chicken meat, 3 corn tortillas doused with some sauce and topped with cheese and stuff didn't taste good at all!!!! Please make the food tasty and flavorful - for this restaurant to survive - the main attraction should be 'delicious' food not run of the mill items!!! The staff is very friendly, our waitress was super helpful and attentive but, the food is meh. read more

Fresh , flavorful food. Friendly service. We will definitely be back. Can't wait for them to get their alcohol license! read more

El Comal - Carnitas burrito - Mexican Near Me - Los Altos, California

Came in for the grand opening of the restaurant tonight and will definitely be back. The food was PHE-NO-ME-NAL. Everything tasted so flavorful and fresh. We got the Quesa Birria tacos and the enchiladas suiza, both were soooo good. We also got the beet salad which was so fresh and beautifully plated but we were too full to finish. Oh and the jimaica aqua fresca was so refreshing, it was just lightly sweetened and went so well with the flavors of the food. The owner of the restaurant came by our table several times to check in on us and the service was great. It was really packed for a first night so a bit of waiting was to be expected but the food more than made up for it. We came with 2 young kids and they were entertained with coloring pages and crayons. The ambiance was lively and the restaurant was well lit and beautifully decorated. There is an open kitchen so you can see the food being prepped which was cool. Overall, we had an amazing experience and I can't stop thinking about the food! Will definitely be back and will be recommending to friends! read more

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Absolute disaster. Their huevos rancheros dishes have avocado and after serving the dishes and we asked about it, they were confused and said they didn't have any. They also took 30 mins to serve when we were the only people in the restaurant. We spent 24 bucks each for huevos rancheros and the food quality was very poor. server was nice though read more

We tried this place twice. Food was very average. The desserts were pretty bad. Service was extremely slow.

Superb Meal. Excellent. Service. we had the enchiladas and carne asada. Beautiful outdoor seating. I can't say enough about this restaurant. read more

BEWARE! Management just changed and now there is a very limited menu and poor quality food. Also, this is a total ripoff. We ordered the guacamole, which clearly had sour cream mixed in and was bland. The chips had a burnt flavor and the salsa was quite weak and liquidy with no flavor. Since the brunch menu was so limited, we asked for tacos with the enchilada proteins. The restaurant accommodated and gave us shrimp tacos smothered in cheese and "carne asada" tacos which was chewy, fatty ground beef. They charged us $45 for three carne asada tacos. When I asked how the tacos could possibly be $15 each, the owner said they were now $9 each on the dinner menu. I asked to look at the dinner menu, and there were no tacos. Not only is the quality and flavor of the food quite bad, the owner seems to be trying to rip you off. read more

Average food. Suboptimal service. Unimpressed. Los Altos is still lacking a high end Mexican restaurant

New place in downtown, and a very good mexican option. Food is on the authentic side, rather than the typical texmex / burritos style of food. The quesito was the highlight, a good portion of seasoned melted cheese to make your own cheesy quesadillas. Tacos were also well served and very tasty. read more