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    Madre

    4.3 (29 reviews)
    Closed 2:00 pm - 7:00 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Madre

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    Eleana S.

    Madre in Ensenada, Mexico, is amazing with such delicious food! The atmosphere is intimate, with beautiful design, friendly servers, and incredible dishes. We tried the fried octopus, grilled oysters, cevishake scallops, seafood pappardelle, yellow corn flan, and non-alcoholic mojito mint and rosemary lemonade. The only dish we liked slightly less was the crab potato croquettes, but they were still tasty. Just keep in mind that the food takes a while to arrive, but it's worth the wait.

    Whoisoctmarc E.

    Wow this spot was so good!!! is literally walking into a house with some interesting Mediterranean style, art and decoration! The food was fresh, they also do their homemade bread and pasta which adds more value to the freshness and quality in the food, is a seafood related spot so if you love seafood im sure you'll have a good time there. Also prices are so reasonable for the place which it looks like a fancy spot. Perfect to take someone for a date :) Este lugar está increíble!!! Es literalmente una casa con una decoración muy interesante un tipo estilo y decoración mediterráneo! El servicio estuvo increíble. La comida súper fresca y rica, ellos también hacen su propio pan y pasta lo que hace que agrega mejor sabor y calidad en la comida, por cierto sin platillos a base de mariscos y están riquísimos, si te encanta el marisco y quieres probar algo más Gourmet este es un excelente lugar, te gusta pasar el rato ahí. También me sorprendió los precios son muy razonables , perfecto como para llevar a alguien para una cita :)

    Outside of Madre...perfect little casa
    Mark B.

    What a Gem, on a low key side street nestled into Ensenada's hustle and bustle is Madre. The restaurant is an old house that's been perfectly converted into an indoor-outdoor oasis that gives a relaxed but upscale vibe. It gets better, Chef Miguel is crushing it with his take on Baja Med - with handmade pastas and some of the freshest fish you'll find. We started with clean simple cocktails done perfectly and had the black scallop ceviche and the yellowtail sashimi - both super fresh and wonderful starters!! For entrees we had the fish of the day - done to perfection and the black ink seafood pasta - the hand rolled pasta and abundance of shrimp, clams and squid was appreciated...both dishes were amazing but the seafood pasta was a standout in my opinion. Plenty of options in the Ensenada area for seafood but what makes the dishes special to me is the light touch - the sauces let the seafood shine with just the right amount of sublime flavors added...really dig it. I would strongly recommend to anyone in Ensenada or even the Valle to visit Madre, you won't be disappointed. One final note, our server Priscilla was awesome as well, just the right blend of casual and upscale - with real, authentic guidance on questions about each dish, she's an absolute joya. It's a bit of a drive for us from La Mision but I see us making the trek many times to visit Madre in the future - it is that especial.

    Amazing service, great atmosphere, and incredible food.
    Sarah F.

    We came here mid-week and enjoyed the patio. The service was excellent. The fresh salad is not to be missed! Also, the tomato pasta and hot pot went perfect. Followed up with flan, made for a special evening to remember.

    Pork shank and ribs gnocchi. Incredible.
    Andrew M.

    Our local friend recommended Madre and it was one of the best meals we've had in recent memory! Great vibe, service and the food ... it was unbelievable. We had oysters with chilli butter, a pork shank/ribs handmade gnocchi and seafood with squid ink handmade pasta. I can't describe how good it was. Absolutely outstanding. Also had a mini pie for dessert (even though we didn't need it). Thank you Madre team and thank you Tomiko from ES Concierge for the tip!

    Madre!
    Kate G.

    Very cozy restaurant with fresh and well prepared food. We got the catch of the day with pickled vegetables wrapped in a banana leaf and the quail in mole with chopped beets. Both were excellent. We got a couple cocktails which weren't our favorite but the michelada was great! Staff was really attentive and nice. Would definitely come back.

    House ceviche
    Brittney K.

    Amazing food, the house ceviche is to die for! We loved everything and while everyone was nice the service was a little slow. Would definitely come back and recommend

    Dinner Menu Entrees: Cavatelli and tagliatelle. So delicious and freshly made!
    Dominique P.

    10 out of 10! We've been here multiple times now, and the experience is consistently fantastic. This place deserves a great review and it's been long overdue. If you appreciate fresh, unique and well crafted Italian food, and a charming environment, and a romantic or intimate dining experience, this is the place for you. Every dish and drink is beautifully presented and thoughtfully prepared. And they even prepared drinks that included ingredients straight out of their garden. I appreciated the sustainability! ---- Recap: Even with COVID accommodations, we had a delightful time. We had the dinner menu each time we've gone. We had the Ceviche de la Casa to start (though our favorite is the Pulpo Frito -- a must try!) Beatifically presented. Light and fresh starter. For entrees we had Cavatelli and Tagliatelle. Incredibly delicious and highly recommended! Savory, delicious, and perfect amount. Not heavy and just the right amount of food. I wanted to have a mock-tail; they didn't have it listed on the menu, so the waitress offered to make me one based off my preferences! How amazing! I told her I wanted light and refreshing with a hint of citrus. She made the most delicious and refreshing lavender drink! Exceeded my expectations! And she prepared it off the top of her head. Lavender, slight hint of cucumber and guava and honey. It was spectacular and relaxing. I can't say enough how impressed I was. I also want to mention how consistently great this teams customer service is. Each time we've been here, they've always been so patient, sweet, and timely. Always checking in. This team has mastered it all! Keep doing what you are doing. We can't wait to try your brunch menu next time!

    Fish filet wrapped in banana leaf and ceviche
    Luis J.

    First of all, i consider myself a foodie, i eat from street vendors to fancy places that have dress codes as long as theres a correlation between quality of food and price.Was UBER disappointed in this restaurant. The only good thing that i can say was the waitress was excellent. I ordered a Negroni alcoholic veverage and ceviche tostadas to start off. I couldnt even finish the drink because it was horrid and as far as the ceviche it was utterly below average. The main course which was a filet of fish was quite tasty. My meal came out to $37, now i dont mind paying a bit more for upscale, but this just wasnt upscale in any way (except the waitress CS). Either the quality of food and drinks needs to go way up or the prices need to go way down, *sigh* i dont like leaving bad reviews but hopefully this review will steer people away from a horrible experience. Do yourself a favor, go to la gurrerense, or el guero you will eat amazing food for 1/4 the fraction of this place.

    Spinach pasta. Super good
    Chris O.

    I took my parents to this restaurant and we loved it. In fact, so much so, that we came back the next day. The food was so good and they have a good wine selection as well as mixed drinks. The service was great and we really liked how the restaurant was decorated. We ordered the fish tiradito, pulpo frito, a salad and a spinach pasta with bacon. Everything was great but our favorite was the pasta.

    It's an octopus appetizer!

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    3 years ago

    Stumbled in here and took out gorditas. Wow. Never imagined a Gordita this good. Cheese so fresh. I'll be back!

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    Very unique dishes. One better than the other. This is a must to visit if you're in the area. Very friendly staff and great service.

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    Madre Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Madre

    We had the Ceviche de la Casa to start (though our favorite is the Pulpo Frito -- a must try!) Beatifically presented.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Birrieria's La Guadalajara - Condiments were brought to the table upon our arrival.

    Birrieria's La Guadalajara

    (300 reviews)

    $$

    Trust me if you're in town try this place out. I always enjoy going where the locals go and just…read moreoff the main road this place is nestled. Lots of seating , friendly staff, fresh ingredients and delicious tacos. These were authentic, flavorful and pure goodness. Complimentary chips and salsa to start and although it was piping hot the consome was packed with flavor and a tad bit of spice. The meat so tender in the tacos. I ordered the birria taco plate 1 lamb 2 beef and I should have got 2 lamb. The cook was phenomenal the meat was so juicy and tender.

    This Birrieria came recommended by our fellow Yelp community. Located central of Ensenada and near…read moremarketplaces and shopping centers. I came here during lunch hour on a Monday and it seemed moderately busy. Quite the cozy place, very comfortable and it was decorated with Christmas decor. I was seated quickly, and my order was taken efficiently. Chips and salsa quickly came out along with the condiments I would later use on my meal. Overall, I received excellent table service. The focus of this restaurant is on Birria, both beef and lamb. There isn't a variety of other Mexican dishes here such as enchiladas, burritos or seafood. There is instead a plethora of ways to eat the Birria including tacos, quesa-birria, and stew bowls only in beef or lamb. No chicken or vegetarian options available. I ordered the lamb Birria, which came in a standard sized bowl. The portions were modest, and the ratio from broth to chunks of meat was reasonable. While this place was highly rated, I found my meal to be average in both size and taste. When it comes to this delicious dish, I am a bit of a connoisseur, and I've had birria in different parts of Mexico, including Mexicali, Guadalajara, Ensenada and outside of Mexico- restaurants throughout Los Angeles and all the way up to northern California. This was not the best tasting birria I have experience up-to-date but it also was not disappointing. The flavors were standard and fair yet not memorable. I would recommend this establishment. Tip: my usual order at these places is the stew in a bowl with a side of corn tortillas. For those with larger appetites, I would suggest ordering the same thing, but consider adding one-to-two quesa-Birrias to reach satisfaction. I would return here but also leave my options open to try the competition.

    La Comadre Taquería - Tortillas

    La Comadre Taquería

    (53 reviews)

    $

    Be sure to ask how much everything costs before ordering. The guy standing outside who seats you…read moremay try to overcharge. He tried getting me to order me guacamole and chips, I asked how much, he said $14 USD, I declined yet he still tried to bring it to my table which I declined a second time. Payment is cash only (USD accepted). That said, the tacos were delicious. The meats were marinated so well and were addicting. The tortillas were handmade and had an excellent texture. Prices might not be the cheapest but it's worth it for a great meal.

    While all the cruise ship passengers are getting their drink on at Papas & Beer (we started there)…read moresave your appetite and head a block away to La Comadre for some of the best tacos you'll ever have. It's not hard to find, but unlike so any other options, it's not loud or flashy. We weren't ushered in by some guy on the street promising "the best" of anything. It's small, but clean.. you order at the counter.. my wife and I were the only gringos in there, and we don't speak Spanish. We were quickly presented with a sample plate of all the meats available for their tacos. The wife and I each got a Birria taco and I also got a chicken taco with some of the best Mole sauce I've ever had. They had a table set up in back with all the fixings and salsas you could ask for and the tacos came with beans and rice. We grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, and the whole meal came to $13 with a tip!!! I mean, that's an unbelievable value for your money. The tacos were incredible. The beans and rice were delicious and the corn tortillas were homemade and some of the best we've ever had. The wife and I often use Yelp! to find places exactly like this, and once again, it did not disappoint. If you're in Ensenada do yourself a favor and skip all the hype spots and go find this place for some amazing food at incredible prices!!

    El Güero Mariscos

    El Güero Mariscos

    (47 reviews)

    $

    Omg I love Mariscos and this spot did not disappoint. It's a small vendor posted outside on the…read morestreet with a bunch of guys, basically in an assembly line, slanging seafood. The long lines meant - it was so good and worth the wait. Honestly, it wasn't too long. My friend and I ordered 1 tostada each. She got the aguachiles and I the Guera. Great portions packed with flavor. I went back for oysters, which they shuck right in front of you. There were so many chile bottles to choose from. They also had some dark "crack" sauce that I chose to put on. I'm no sabo so I no sabo what the salsa was but it was delicious. Spicy, tangy, umami. Muyyyy ricooooo

    During our first cruise stop in Ensenada while walking back from our lunch stop back to the ship,…read morewe noticed the large crowds gathered around El Guero Mariscos. Thus we made a point to stop by for food during our second cruise stop in Ensenada, 4 days later. We discovered the large crowds were not in line waiting, but were instead enjoying their ceviche and other cold seafood while standing up. It made for a festive atmosphere, definitely ramping up the enjoyment of really great tasting seafood. The food stall is located facing the main road of Ensenada (walking distance from the cruise port) and is separated into two parts: the front serving seafood tostadas and the back serving cocktails and aquachiles. Each had different lines, with a common guy accepting payment after delivery. They have been doing this for a while (1981?) and things are efficient. I wanted one thing, which was the mixed cocktail with all the seafood available (campechano, a word I've come to love since moving to the LA area). They have 4 sizes from chico ($105) to jumbo ($360). The seafood mix is diced together ahead of time to save on time, and are mostly diced pretty fine. The mix is prepared fresh though, and was ready in about a minute. It was excellent, refreshing and just the right amount for me. I had wanted to try the seafood cocktail again from La Guerrerense (another nearby famous seafood stand), so that was our first stop during our second visit to Ensenada in 5 days. We then visited other sites in the area, saving El Guero for the end before we headed back to the ship. As expected the cocktail from Guerrerense was very good, but this version from El Guero was even better....better selection of seafood, and more finely mixed to give a better representation of the different textures of the freshness. That would make it the best seafood cocktail I've ever enjoyed.

    Madre - mexican - Updated May 2026

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