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    El Mexicali Cafe

    4.2 (420 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order El Mexicali Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    El Mexicali Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    EL MEXICALI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - El Mexicali Cafe

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    Chavela modelo negra
    Rosa C.

    The food was delicious and served fresh. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure our table had everything we needed. The restaurant was clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. Overall, it was a great dining experience and I would definitely come back

    Paloma 3/5
    Monica A.

    Really enjoyed my meal here! The flavors were fresh and authentic, the portions generous, and the prices very reasonable. The service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Everything came out hot and well-seasoned -- you can tell they care about the food they serve. The only reason it's not a full five stars is that I actually did not care for their tortilla chips - might even be store bought, and stale, and a few fatty pieces of asada in my tacos - but overall it was a great experience. If in the area again, might go back

    chicken 2 Tacos

    Amazing food, Amazing service. so accommodating especially during coachella/stagecoach weekends. Genuinely knows so much about the food/drinks and wants to make a good experience for your party. 10/10. Ask for Angel!

    Chile rellano plate
    Al M.

    Woke up hungry on a Saturday morning looking for a good Mexican breakfast, and it was pleasantly surprised to what I had found and the quality of the food. The lady that took my order over the phone, which I'm assuming was the owner was really friendly and really helpful in helping me make a decision on what to eat. My wife had the chili and no plate which was great and I opted for the Chile Colorado breakfast burrito, which was a special order but the owner had no problem making for me. My son had a breakfast burrito, which was also good impactful of quality ingredients. This place is good for sure. What stood out to me the most was the quality of the food the time that it was delivered and how friendly the staff and owner was at this place if you're out in Indio and looking for some great Mexican food give this place a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Keep up the good work guys excellent food

    Fidallo before mane course
    Adolph A.

    Food is always great service always and I've been coming here since early 70s it's family here it's like grandma cooking breakfast Huevos rancheros with a chavela just can't beat that

    Sampler platter
    Rachel C.

    This food! It was unexpected but absolutely what I needed! We came to this small family run place on a Saturday around 11am for a light snack and got sat at the bar. There are less than 10 tables inside of the restaurant and a patio outside. The menu was full of great options and we decided on the Carne a la Tampiquena (Sampler Plate) and it was delicious and filling. El Mexicali is known for their peppers stuffed with shrimp, which was a nice surprise! They had a great assortment of beers, which was a great compliment with the sampler. We split between 2 of us since there was 2 tacos, 2 quesadillas, 2 flautas, ceviche, and the peppers. Also the chips and salsa were so good and fresh with a nice little kick. The service was fantastic and friendly, which was much appreciated. We can't wait to visit on our next trip out to the area.

    Chile Gueritos

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    4 months ago

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    20 days ago

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    23 days ago

    This is the best mexican food yet!!! They have 3 locations and Indio is the best. I ate there 3 times in roll its so yummy.

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    2 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Juan V.

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Authentic like your Abuelita makes it. Homemade tortillas, friendly service, and the salsa is not gringo style.. Will definitely be back!

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    4 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    Photo of Magnum P.
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    6 months ago

    Awesome food and service. Definitely worth the stop off the highway. Skirt steak mexicali. Don't miss this place!

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    Off the chart! Yummy stopped by on our way back from Arizona. Will definitely be back! Service is amazing as well!

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    5 months ago

    Best shrimp stuffed peppers in the WORLD! So unique and different a splash of soy sauce just right, total delight.

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    7 months ago

    Most authentic and delicious Mexican food in the Desert. There truly, in my opinion, not a bad thing on their menu.

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    1 year ago

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    Page 1 of 11

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    Casa Mendoza - Fried ice cream

    Casa Mendoza

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    SHORT ANSWER: Just an update, but Casa Mendoza seems to be just getting better. Some new staff but…read morefood quality and people here are very welcoming. LOCATION: In Old Town La Quinta, OTLQ easy to find, tons of parking but at times it gets busy so you may have to walk a bit. FACILITY: very traditional inside and out, clean, and lots of space between tables. MENU: rather massive, we usually order the same things so all the other options makes my head hurt so we just go with what we know. FOOD PREP: excellent, always looks the same which is a good things. FOOD QUALITY: some of the best in the valley. LIBATIONS: lots of choices and not too expensive, wish they had a locals city of LQ discount like some of the other options in OTLQ.. WAITSTAFF: very nice, everyone. OVERALL VALUE: if you order the right things, it is a great value but you can go nuts and spend a lot, tourist dollars spend well, upselling happens for those who want it and deserve it! TIP: Sitting outside is great most all year, we don't go out when it is crazy hot, but have dined outside in 100+ temps, we prefer the front outdoor space.

    *Mi Casa es Su Casa*…read more My buddy had a small casual bday get-together with his family and invited me to join the celebration. I saw all the favorable reviews on Yelp and was looking forward to my first visit at Casa Mendoza. Very chill & lively family owned Mexican joint in Old Town LQ. The place was kinda busy @6:30pm on Hump Night ~~ always a great sign when I see this. Felt more like a Sunday Evening. It took an hour to receive our meals. Ordered @6:45 arrived @7:45pm. Good thing the Chimichanga & Gauc apps arrived pretty quickly. The Gauc was Excellente. All their food was very good. But all our meals arrived cold/lukewarm. Took forever to receive our food and we knew for a fact it's because all our plates sat a while until we were served. The actual plates weren't even warm and the sizzling fajitas had sizzled out and lost its dazzle. Because it was still 95 degrees when dinner was finally served, our lukewarm meals were doable on a hot night. Everyone did enjoy their meals tho. I was very pleased with my Mahi Mahi in Garlic Butter Sauce. The refried beans were outstanding. The rice very good...and I made tacos with the 3 corn tortillas. But would have enjoyed it even more had all the food been a little warmer. I stuck with H2O but all margarita drinkers said their drinks were good and hit the spot on a warm night. The service in general was also inconsistent for our small party of 8. The Birthday Boy was a little frustrated and got up a few times from his throne seeking assistance -- such as missing tortillas for meals, water refills, extra napkins. We even had to wait longer than anticipated for them to acknowledge the bday boy with a celebratory bday song & sombrero...and the fried ice cream, which didn't include a candle. Tho we all enjoyed ourselves and time together...a 2 hour dinner at a Mexican joint on a Wednesday night wasn't what we anticipated. Especially with one restless 7 year old ;-) But everyone working at Casa Mendoza is very friendly with great attitudes. Hostess team, waiters, servers & runners too. So that made up for the spotty service, just a little bit. Since I'm closer to the other Casa Mendoza in Palm Desert, I'd go there in the future with my wife, and order the exact same thing. But hope for much better service and warmer food.

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    Casa Mendoza - Mango and a skinny cucumber margarita are strong and tasty and these are the small size!

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    Mango and a skinny cucumber margarita are strong and tasty and these are the small size!

    El Mexicali Cafe - mexican - Updated May 2026

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