Looking for a spot with specials on Cinco de Mayo, my friends and I found Montecristo Taqueria on University. With busy days, we were looking for something open after 9p, and this spot had late hours...I believe until midnight! With drink specials and complimentary chips, we liked the sound of that. We had a vegetarian eater in our group and they loved having a variety of healthier and palate pleasing options. We ordered a chorizo quesadilla, chicken nachos, and a veggie enchilada plate. Drink-wise, they have beer/wine and yummy sangria. So of course we went with a pitcher of the sangria :) The portions were large and ample. Food was solid. Staff were friendly, plenty of indoor seating, a small adjacent parking lot and exterior street parking. Quick service, order at register and grab a number upon finding a table. Prices fair. read more

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The service here was okay--nothing terrible, but not super welcoming either. The woman at the counter kept asking a lot of questions about what we wanted in our burritos, and it felt like each add-on might have been an extra charge. We ended up paying about $40 for two burritos (both with mole sauce and extras like cheese on one ) plus one horchata, which felt a bit high for what we got especially since it's advertised as $13 for a burrito. That said, the food itself was good. Everything came out nice and warm, and the mole sauce was really flavorful. My burrito (without cheese) was just okay, but my husband's--with cheese--was definitely more tasty and satisfying. One thing that was disappointing: their website shows a margarita which is part of why we walked over, but they only had bottled beer available. That felt a little misleading. Overall, decent food, but between the pricing, service, and drink situation, it didn't fully hit the mark. read more

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excellent food, nice decor GREAT chicken burritos, and the guacamole is really good they make their own corn chips, the chips are much better than average I've been there multiple times, I'll go back....definitely a good Mex spot read more

As someone who flies a lot, I have a short list of spots that offer exquisite cuisine at ungodly hours and this taqueria is at the top of my list for midnight tacos in Berkeley! I've been coming here for years (RIP to the salsa bar that existed before COVID stole it from us!)--but I remain loyal because of their fresh ingredients, succulent meats and authentic cuisine. This legendary spot is basically like the Abuela I never had who is always down to make me tacos whenever I'm coming back from Oakland airport and find myself driving down university avenue in the middle of the night read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Omg the tacos are BOMB!! - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place has great food. Only downside is service/hospitality is severely lacking. Outside of the owner, the other employees who work the register are not pleasant. Again the food is great. Note that you will pay $20 for a "super" burrito. Not super in size just ingredients (guac, sour cream and cheese). If you don't mind looking away from the service and price, you can't go wrong with the mole. read more

This place always reminds me of my dear late friend Brenda, who introduced our boss and me to it shortly before she died. That first visit almost didn't happen, because we had driven here from work, but their parking lot was being repaved at the time, so there was literally no way for us to park in the lot, even when we came from the other side. Fortunately, we quickly found a spot on University, and the three of us filed in and were soon gawking at the menu. The interior is beautiful, in a mildly run-down, understated way. I didn't notice this on that first visit, but on each subsequent visit, I have grown to like the feeling inside more and more. It's bright but dark at the same time. That doesn't make any sense, but I don't know how else to describe it. My first meal here was fairly mediocre, but I gave the place the benefit of the doubt--mainly because Brenda liked it--and I've really enjoyed everything I've ever ordered from here since. When we first came in 2017, it was very cheap. The prices have crept up and aren't bad relative to other Bay Area taquerias, but it no longer feels like as good a value as it used to. All the workers I've ever dealt with have been friendly, and your order comes up fast. I think Brenda used to order the flautas, but I've never had them, because they only have chicken. If there were a vegetarian version, I'd definitely try it. They do have more expressly veggie options than most taquerias, especially among the combo plates. The veggie torta is OK, but it's way too expensive for what you get. It was too far away from our office in Downtown Berkeley to walk here regularly during my lunch break (we/I usually drove at first), but after Brenda passed away, I would find myself coming here alone sometimes for dinner after work. It felt sad in its own way, but I also felt good to be eating somewhere she liked, and maybe she was right there with me, complaining that I had ordered the wrong thing. I can't believe that later this year it will be nine years since she died. read more

We stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant one day and luckily got in just before the lunch crowd. The line was OUT THE DOOR, which is always a good sign. The ambiance is well done and the establishment is fresh and clean. I had the fish tacos and my friend had the quesadia plate. The presentation of the food? A work of art! The flavors of the food? Outstanding! The different salsas? They may have been some of the best salsas I have ever tasted. We cannot wait to go back! read more

I was anxiously waiting on a call and realized I hadn't eaten so I headed into Monte Cristo Taqueria on a whim. The person who took my order was very attentive from the moment I stepped up to the counter to order. I ordered a carne asada burrito with spicy salsa. I was a bit indecisive but the person taking my order gave me a suggestion that worked well for me. The place was clean and the prices actually seem reasonable, which was a breath of fresh air. I got the call while I was waiting and the person who took my order was so kind to bring my order out to me which was completely unexpected. That kindness meant a lot to me during a not so great moment. I picked up a few salsas before I left. I was so pleasantly surprised by the burrito it was very good and full of flavor. The spicy salsa actually added a nice bit of spice. The salsa verde was nice and had a light flavor. The "spicy" salsa was also good. The more mild red salsa wasn't my favorite. I would definitely eat here again and recommend it to others. I might try some of the other items next time. read more

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Absolutely delicious flan. Best I ever had. The taste of sweetened condensed milk and that caramel sauce Besides that I had the chimichanga plate with heaping piles of guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. The chips were also really good! They tasted house-made and were thicker than other places. Only critique is that it would have been good to have the salsa in a bowl to dip but they came in sauce bottles instead. I'll definitely be back! read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Chimichanga Plato - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Open late! Order at the counter and they'll bring it to the table. Plenty of vegetarian options and they're clearly marked on the menu. We particularly recommend the enchiladas and the horchata, as well as all of the desserts (mmmm flan!). Not sure what it means that smiles are free on Wednesdays? Don't park in the lot, that's for customers of target and other places on that lot. There's metered street parking on university Ave but if you're here late enough it's free :) Plenty of room for big groups and you might even hear some live music. Restroom in the back. read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I have been here twice with friends. Food is always fresh and delicious. I've enjoyed both visits.

My favorite meal is guacamole and chips and a nopales burrito made vegan. The pastry case looks delicious. The employees at the counter are friendly. I've been there about 4 times and I feel like they recognize me. Most importantly, they are open late. It is one of my new favorite spots. read more

Horrible service middle age lady had some attitude for simple service request, very disappointed

Good food, good prices , nice place for family. If you are looking for good tacos this your place to go. read more

Monte Cristo's is close to my house. Have been going there a long time. Usually i get the nachos, without meat, and they are delicious. But I needed to have rice so I got a burrito which I never order, a carnitas burrito. It was fantastic. Packed with carnitas, so delicious and well made. I can't wait to get another. read more

The food was good, but I ordered 2 Colorado burritos (and it was on my original order) but we received platos instead.

Grilled fish taco - so big and full I had to use a knife and fork. Very fresh and tasty. Made it a plate - rice and refried beans were delicious. Quick and friendly service, great ambience. Highly recommended! read more

i've lived so close to here for almost a year, and just now finally got to try it out! i can definitely say i've been missing out! i got a carne asada burrito, and it is huge! it can easily be split into two meals! the only downside is that they do kind of skimp on the meat hahaha the service is great! they prepared my food fast for pickup, and i can also see this as a great place to eat at with family. plenty of seating and a super fun vibe. read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Carne Asada Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I order posole verde for delivery. delicious food, a lot flavor and delivery on time. read more

Montecristo Taqueria is a place that we should visit more often since it is only 5 minutes from our North Berkeley home . It has enchiladas that I really enjoy. Their salsas are all good. Mild, medium and fiery depending on your palate. read more

First time customer here and I would return for sure! Tried the Chicken burrito and it was very flavorful! A little bit on dry side but it wasn't a big deal. Still very good and portion is huge! read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

post covid lots of taquerias have either reduced food quality and increased prices but this restaurant is a breath of fresh air. Modest prices with some of the best meat quality i've had from a taqueria in YEARS!!! Amazing i will be back read more

This taqueria has been on University for quite a few years, and I've noticed a lot of traffic coming in and out of their parking lot when I strolled by, especially cops for some reason. Well actually, I can see why since they serve old school, straight-ahead Mexican food with no frills. I decided to get a delivery from them for Jamie W. and me. Jamie went for the $10.80 Pollo Asado Burrito which was quite a stuffed monstrosity with adobo-marinated grilled chicken, black beans, and green tomatillo salsa (photo: https://bit.ly/3xsvoN3). Judging from the way he was gorging it, the burrito appeared to hit the spot for him even if it didn't have any veggies to complement the filling. I decided on the $17 Pozole Verde, which featured plenty of chicken and hominy in a tomatillo-infused soup filled with shredded cabbage, onion, oregano, and lime wedges (photo: https://bit.ly/319Itys). It would have been satisfying if it weren't oversalted. Oh well, I can think of worse sins...like a real Monte Cristo sandwich which they don't serve here. Gratefully. I would probably trust what the cops order. FOOD - 3 stars...sturdy and salty Mexican fast food AMBIANCE - n/a...just a delivery this time SERVICE - 3.5 stars...no complaints TOTAL - 3 stars...follow the cops here RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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Horrible customer service and overpriced food that I could make better at home. The nachos alone are $20+- Wasn't expecting that. Also, she never repeated my order or clarified anything. I repetitively said I wanted to try their arroz con leche and wanted to order a canned soda- then she only brings a plate of nachos??? and then reprints my receipt as if that meant anything other than she wasn't listening or doing her job. On top of that, it has onions- which I don't eat. She started to dispute with me about it saying it on the menu. I say, "it says salsa fresca which means fresh salsa. Not pico de gallo." I didn't come here to have a spanish and cultural debate. If i ask for a refund, that's what I expect. Not an argument which a cashier that talks sly in spanish as if I don't understand the disrespect. When I ask for a refund, it was due to the customer service, not just the food. I will be disputing with my card as I felt forced to do business with them. New to this city and this restaurant- horrible experience. Had she said aloud the extra charges and that my dessert and soda was never added like i asked- i would have never paid in the first place. read more

I came in for lunch, I've come here before. The lady that usually works the front is super nice. Today was ridiculous though. I order the $9 tacos with like a plate with beans and rice. All came to $13. Then a drink that was $4. I saw them giving chips to some people so I asked for chips. This dude tells asked if I ordered a burrito . I'm like no and she says I have to order a burrito to get chips . Other than that they are $4. I paid $17 for this and I can't get free chips. I said I'll trade my drink I already had touched and all, not drank just touched, but it was in my possession. I had to trade my drink for chips . I'm sure they have given away chips for less. Anyway I'll never come here again and support after coming here for years. I will come back just to tell the lady. read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bad value on the tacos but the meat is great. 1 taco was $7-8 and they were so small. The mole burrito is great here though. There's a reason the burrito has accolades from the East Bay Express. read more

I've always wanted to try mole and heard that this place is known for it (best mole in 40 years "East Bay Express"). I tried the chicken mole burrito with chicken in a mole poblano sauce, black beans, pickled onions, jalapeños, and cheese added on. The burrito was absolutely delicious and fully packed with all the ingredients. The mole poblano sauce was full of flavor and a little bit on the sweeter side. I ended up enjoying the sauce more than I expected -- I would definitely get it again. As a plus, the chips and salsa were also yummy. I think this burrito was a bit on the expensive side, but it was unique and worth trying. read more

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Most consistent taqueria in Berkeley. Best chile verde in my opinion and the chips are super fresh.

Usually I get the quesadilla Monte Christo here, it's so good that it's hard to consider anything else. It's perfectly browned, oozing melted cheese, and filled with your choice of meat. Two sauces come with it, one spicy herbal green, the other pink and piquant. The chicken mole and chili rellenos are also excellent. Their flan tastes homemade, thick and rich. read more

Late night, I was craving a burrito and this place was open. I ordered a carne asada burrito to go, and it was alright. Not the tastiest burrito, but not horrible. It's nice that they also put chips in your bag as well. I like that the restaurant is spacious and being open pretty late (as most spots in the area close at 9 pm or earlier). Cons, food didn't taste that great. Pros, open pretty late, order made quickly and a good amount of tables/seats. read more

It was good for curing my enchilada craving but I will never get their mole again. Horchata was good!!! And I liked their salsa bar. The lady was nice read more

I'm always on the hunt for new burrito places near my house for a quick lunch grab. I ordered the carne asada super burrito which came with a side of chips + fresh salsa (loved the to-go salsa options). The burrito was solid! Nothing fancy but great flavor. Very filling, and the salsa was good too. For under $11, you really can't go wrong. I will try the carnitas burrito next time! The space is cute, with both indoor and outdoor seating (a small patio on the walkway). Very relaxed and chill atmosphere. I called in the order and it was ready within 10 minutes for pick-up. The service staff was friendly and efficient. Parking was easy as there's a small parking lot attached to the Target parking lot, so get lunch and some shopping done! read more

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Delicious! Order at the counter. We loved the tortilla soup- very big bowl! The shrimp tacos were delicious. My husband loves the meat in his carne Asada tostada. We will be back. Also, props on the way they handled a disgruntled homeless man yelling at people in the restaurant. We left as he came up to our table But the staff was handling it well. Thank you! read more

Won't be going back after ordering pupusas and getting toasted masa with two or three little bits of meat in the middle read more

Montecristo Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

i have been going here for over a decade. recently started going more often. still, in the year 2025: great food, good prices, friendly staff. read more

A super reliable, good quality local burrito place for us. Some things we expect to normally be in a burrito - for example, cheese - are extra and so our 3 takeout veggie (no meat) lunch burritos with tax and tip came to $44. At that price we may save this place for times when we want to dine in, to get full value, and grab take out from any of the more affordable nearby places for a grab and go. read more

Bomb service! Super quick to come out with food!!! Ordered beers as well Papas con chorizo burrito had so much flavor! Carnitas taco was really tasty as well! read more

App is buggy online ordering is not accurate. We selected carne asada and got chicken. Prices were 60 cents higher than expected. $21 for the wrong nacho order. Very disappointing. read more

The food was good. Prices are steep. They charge for chips and salsa. Sticky tables. They require tip recommendations at checkout with debit/credit. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped by on our way home from Target. I was hungry after work and he said the burritos here are good. I noticed the sign coming in for Taco Wednesday and it was fate. I ordered one Marinated Beef taco, one Al Pastor, and one Chorizo con Papas all without cilantro. The guy at the counter was nice and told us it'd be about 5 minutes. It was around 8pm and the place was mostly empty except for a few other people waiting for their to-go orders and a group sitting out in front. The tacos were good. The portions were decent for the $3 taco special and came with salsa on top, besides the added salsa you can take to go. There were way too many onions for me so I had to brush some off. The tacos did the job and didn't even make it home haha. I would stop by again if we're in the area! read more