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    El Sazon Oakland

    3.9 (111 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Truck!
    Donyae L.

    In the hood , every time I come more barriers along the street limiting parking but the food and lemonade don't miss!!!! If u can think outside the neighborhood your tastebuds will thank you - Happy Yelping!

    Surf and turf tacos
    Marquitta H.

    This used to be my go to spot for surf and turf, birria tacos. After this last visit, I doubt that I will be going back. The portions were perfect. My tacos were packed with meat so I was excited about that. But I noticed something different about the meat. It seemed like a cheaper cut of beef that has a nasty aftertaste. Presentation was nice, but again the flavor was lacking. I hate this for them because they used to have the best birria tacos in the East Bay.

    QuesaSurf N Turf (Steak Shrimp)
    Tanisha L.

    Order: 3 Surf & Turf Tacos Rating: 6/10 I pulled up to El Salzon after seeing them on IG yesterday, those tacos looked like they were gonna change my life. I ordered the Surf & Turf tacos, and they definitely came loaded: carne asada, shrimp, melty cheese, cilantro, and onions. On the side? Jalapeños, lime, and pickled carrots. The tacos were large, and the crunch was on point (shoutout to crunchy shells), but the flavor? Not so much. I was really expecting that meat to pop, but both the carne asada and shrimp were giving... mid. Just okay. Would I go back? Probably not for the Surf & Turf. The size and toppings were solid, but the flavor didn't back it up. Overall vibe: Mid. Smack level: 6/10. I taste it so you don't have to.

    Surf and turf tacos
    Nakeisha P.

    I love this taco truck these are the best tacos ever the meat is so tender and flavorful !! Anytime I'm in Oakland I'm hitting el Sazon !! Delicious

    Theresa S.

    El Sazon is a food truck I've been wanting to try for some time due to word of mouth..well today was the day. I worked 1/2 day and I was on my way!! and let me tell you El Sazon did not disappoint. Great service and the food was A-1. What you see in the pic is called a grill cheese turf and surf. I believe the bread was either brioche or Texas toast smothered in cheese topped with tender seasoned steak and juicy shrimp was something I have never had before..chefs kiss I also chased it down with passion fruit (which was a little sweet) but still delicious. Next time I visit I will be trying the tacos. 8/10.

    Their menu!

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    9 days ago

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    4 months ago

    This place has the best tacos in the bay hands down it's a little pricey but totally worth it.

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    4 months ago

    the food is amazing and fresh. Best I've ever had. I highly recommend them. You won't be disappointed.

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    1 year ago

    Food is over priced, you pay so much for a burrito. And it has more rice than any meat. It's super salty too

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - El Sazon Oakland

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    Doña

    Doña

    3.9
    (615 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$

    One of the best Mexican places in The Town - and it's a fiercely competitive landscape too! We've…read morebeen coming for a while now and this place never disappoints. The menu does change up seasonally. I've had countless mouth watering chile rellenos with their ever changing sauce and filling. And my to go to nowadays to ensure I get plenty of protein is ordering one of their bowls, usually with pescado frito (fried fish) with black beans. My husband enjoys their barbacoa shredded meat. The bowls are filling, nutritious and flavor bombs. I also love indulging in their agua frescas. Our personal favorites are the strawberry horchata (a MUST if it's available) and their coconut ice coffee. Refreshing beverages to help soothe your tongue because the sliced fresh chiles on fried fish bowl are indeed lethal. Overall consistently delicious. It does get packed but if you come early around 4-5pm you will beat the crowd.

    Double dated with my friend and her partner. It was my partner's and my first time visiting Dona…read more Ambiance coming in was welcoming and well decorated. They welcomed dogs on their patio, loved seeing all of the pups. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Food promptly came out and was delicious. We'd definitely come back in the future! We got the nachos and french toast....delicious

    Photos
    Outside. Dona is located in a two-story building with a cool outdoor deck. Restrooms are located upstairs (code required).
    Outside. Dona is located in a two-story building with a cool outdoor deck. Restrooms are located upstairs (code required).
    Pescado Frito Bowl. The cod was perfectly fried and tasty!b
    Pescado Frito Bowl. The cod was perfectly fried and tasty!b
    Margaritas for 2. This one is their passion fruit one. It's tasty!

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    Margaritas for 2. This one is their passion fruit one. It's tasty!
    Taqueria El Paisa

    Taqueria El Paisa

    4.4
    (559 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    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
    Torta de asada!
    Torta de asada!
    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)

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    Tacos de Cabeza y Campechana (Carne Asada y Chorizo)
    Agave Uptown

    Agave Uptown

    3.9
    (786 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    We went to Agave Uptown for a dinner before seeing Poppy at the Fox Theater. When we arrived, we…read morewere pleasantly greeted by the host and sat at a table for two. Very quickly someone came to give us water. We looked over the menu and were able to decide what we wanted pretty quickly so with in a couple minutes our server came to take our drink order. Since we were decided, we ordered everything at that time since we were on a schedule for the concert. My wife ordered the Chef Salad and I ordered the two tacos plate. We also ordered shrimp ceviche to share. With in a few minutes, our server brought our drinks to us. A couple minutes later, the ceviche was brought to the table and it was absolutely delicious. Just about the time we finished off the ceviche, our meals were brought out. They visually looked stunning and smelled wonderful. The first bite of a taco was so good. The chicken seasoned perfectly, the ratio of onion with cilantro was spot on and the salsa was delicious. The plate included Mexican rice and black beans, both of which were excellent pairings with the tacos. My wife's chef salad was outstanding as well. We determined that if ever in Oakland, this is our go to place to grab a meal

    Update: I came here about twice after last time and thought "Okay, even the lady who was hostile…read morelast time is now cloyingly sweet, even if just to mock me, but its still good food and a nice time, I'll update the review" and enjoyed myself here on a date recently.... Until tonight. I came tonight with my autistic friend for their birthday and the staff kept giving me mocking eyes, as if he thought I was on another date, (and of course mere seconds after approaching me, talks of "puta" and overtly derogatory slutshaming terms all while still glancing at me with a smirk as he talked to his friend at the bar was quite irritating,) and the evening continued with a pretty heavy tone of dude giving me a mocking look, as if barely able to hold onto his laughter seeing me with a more poindexter looking openly autistic looking friend of mine, assuming I was just some hoe having hella dates, I get it, I was here a few days ago for an actual date. God forbid I think "What a pleasant spot, and I like their agua frescas, let me take my autistic friend who doesn't drink for a little bite since it's their first night in Oakland after an hour long drive, after a nice outing today, and to end an evening on a high note." And the mockery didn't help set a tone for a fun evening at all, we left pretty fast from the discomfort and bro triggered my migraines with the passive aggressiveness. Delicious food, and the woman server was pleasant, the guy? Not exactly. And its a shame, I liked the pork loin and agua frescas here a lot, not the ableism and weird commentary and vibes.

    Photos
    Bar Area
    Bar Area
    Tostadita de chile ajo - potato tostada
    Tostadita de chile ajo - potato tostada
    Molotes|Masa|papas
choriso|Epazote
black bean paste|cabbage|queso|
tomatillo salsa

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    Molotes|Masa|papas choriso|Epazote black bean paste|cabbage|queso| tomatillo salsa
    Mesa Maguey

    Mesa Maguey

    4.5
    (212 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $$

    My wife and I tried Mesa Maguey for lunch last Sunday. We walked in...it wasn't crowded on a…read moreSunday. We loved the decor. Very comfortable tables/seating. Friendly staff. We ordered rose sangria and 3 plates to share: ceviche, flautas, and empanadas. We didn't wait long for the drinks and food. The ceviche was excellent. The flautas and empanadas were good (we've had better elsewhere) so we'll likely try other dishes when we go here again. Good quality food at reasonable prices. Again, friendly, attentive staff. We enjoyed our lunch and visit to this restaurant. Looking forward to returning. Definitely going to try their mole.

    Came here for dinner and a comedy show Monday night. First impression, it's a really cute spot. I…read morelove the decor, the colors, the ambiance, and the artwork in the back where the comedy show was held. Even the bathroom is so cute!! And that is saying something because I never take pictures of bathrooms for reviews lol. The food is just as pretty as the decor. Every plate we ordered came out looking beautiful. The 4 stars is really because although the food looks pretty, I would say everything tastes okay, nothing really stood out particularly in taste. If this review was based on food tastes alone, and not looks, vibes, and the great show, it would've been 3 stars. The flautas were a bit too hard for me. Ive had way better flautas at El Torito's in San Leandro. Although there were only like 6 of us total in the audience for the show, it was still really enjoyable. The host, Tony Parker has great energy, and a lot of the comics (I think were like 5 or 6) had us laughing throughout. No one was safe lol. All in all, a really cute place for date night and comedy show. Apparently they have them Sunday-Thursday nights, and they're free!

    Photos
    Got mezcal?
    Got mezcal?
    Chicken Mole
    Chicken Mole
    Flautas

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    Flautas
    Tacos Oscar

    Tacos Oscar

    4.4
    (312 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Ohhh baby we got a winner!!!…read more I had high expectations when I saw the Michilin Bib hanging over the kitchen, and boy did it live up to it. Not only was the food great but it also has a very cozy and unique vibe inside (well I guess technically it's outside.) there was no line and we got our food quick, I can't think of one thing to complain about. I got three tacos, all costing a mere 5$; Pork: absolutely blew me away. The first taco I started with and set the bar very high. I tried the first bite with all my friends and we instantly locked eyes because we knew we found something special 9.7/10 Pollo: nearly on the same level as the pork. The red onions on top gave it great texture and a unique flavor profile 9.2/10 Barbacoa: on its own it was solid! But when compared to its counterparts it wasn't quite as jaw dropping. 8.1/10 Overall: 9.4/10

    Incredible. Amazing. Fantastic. Wow…read more These tacos are some of the best tacos I have ever had. The flavors are incredible and the ambiance makes it even more special. They serve the tacos out of a storage container with outdoor and covered patio seating on either side. The place was lovely, with many groups of people enjoying food drink and good vibes. I went with a few buddies and got the chile verde pork, barbacoa, and chicken tacos. I would rank them in that order respectively. Absolutely incredible tacos with a burst of flavor in each bite. The tortillas were the best street taco tortilla I've ever had with a stable but also soft and fluffy texture. I can see why this has a Michelin bib and would recommend for anyone who wants some amazing street tacos. It's quick and easy, seat yourself and enjoy a chat with friends. 10/10 would give it more than 5 stars if u were able to.

    Photos
    Side seating entrance
    Side seating entrance
    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
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    Bombera

    Bombera

    4.1
    (547 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$

    Upscale Mexican-by-way-of-California restaurant with rich and inventive flavors. There are three…read morelegs that hold up the stool here; the masa, the mole, and the celebration of each dish's main ingredient. We ordered the duck carnitas, summer tamales, and kids' quesadilla, along with the roasted beats and a strawberry agua fresca and horchata. I cannot enumerate all of the amazing elements and flavors in this meal, but I can say that the crispy outside of the duck and the ease with which it fell apart drew a connection between duck confit and carnitas that changed the way I will think about both. The hearty masa in the tamales had a the texture of hand ground corn and was substantial enough to warrant chewing though. The beet -- tender and flavorful in itself -- was paired with a nutty, spicy mole like a thick paste, bright with its herbs. The agua fresca was a summertime blast of fruit. Yes, yes. All of the food is delicious and amazing. But what takes the restaurant over the top is that the food is comforting and familiar in equal measure to its inventiveness and flawless execution. This is not just food for the tongue and stomach but food for the soul.

    Arrived to no host so another worker had to assist and kept looking around for the hostess. We made…read morea reservation a month prior, the table wasn't ready, but we managed to get seated at a table with other diners. The woman who brought water was very welcoming. The prices on the menu are $5-10 more than the menu on their website. It's a nice dining room, but very loud and the piped-in music makes it worse: I couldn't hear what my date was saying across the table. We started with the smoked trout tostadas. This is kind of ceviche style, and they were delicious. These are "street taco" sized tostadas by the way. The portion was OK but for $20 it could've been a bit more substantial. The duck mole: the duck was nicely unctuous and cooked amazingly, but very salty. The mole had the consistency and taste of hummus. Needless to say it was thick, gloopy and tasted only of cumin. The little salad on the plate was plastered in it. The grilled swordfish Valencia style was just an overly sour salsa verde with a couple chopped green olives with the fish sitting in the watery liquid. The salsa had a kick, but tasted mostly of lime, it was also cold. The swordfish however was grilled perfectly and the portion was great--for $35 I'm glad it was. Beans and rice seemed an overly salty afterthought, and if you don't want beans, too bad, it's served in the same bowl as the rice. The service was almost non-existent--no one checked in on us or asked how things were; there seemed to be only one person taking orders in the dining room and three-four people running around. Our appetizer plates sat in front of us for 15 mins, so when the entrees arrived the runner had a hard time clearing the table and simultaneously putting down the entrees. We didn't see our server again until the end when she gave us the check. Suddenly the charm came on when the tip came up. I appreciate what they're doing, but for that price point there are far better options.

    Photos
    Inside main room
    Inside main room
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Carnitas: tender flavorful, added spicy carrots secret sauce made it even better
    Interior looking out

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    Interior looking out

    El Sazon Oakland - foodtrucks - Updated August 2026

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