Great food and even better service. I love their tortilla chips so much that sometimes I'll just order a pound of fresh chips to go.

A day or two ago I received an email from Picante letting me know that they were extending their brunch menu to today, a Friday, as they did on the Monday of Indigenous Peoples Day. Kathy and I met here for brunch today. I arrived on time, a little before noon. and found street parking close by. Kathy was held up by a train and had to detour, so she was later. She called and asked me to order chilquiles for her, everything the same as mine except the eggs over easy. I got in line and Nick helped me. I ordered both dishes and a cup of English breakfast tea for me, requesting low fat milk--or oat milk, I forget now--and Stevia for me. He gave me one of those locator gadgets to put on the table. I put it there and then gathered napkins and silverware, My tea was brought and then the chilaquiles, much quicker than I expected. Kathy arrived not too long after. She went to the counter and ordered a horchata to drink. I ate some of the chilaquiles before Kathy arrived to try them fresh and hot out of the kitchen and they were fabulous, much better than the ones I brought home last time. Kathy enjoyed hers too, as well as the horchata. My tea was delicious and most welcome in today's chill. After I left I was feeling miffed that I had not been offered a refill, then realized it was self service and that it was on me to find hot water to refill my cup. Oh well. Lesson learned. Before I left the restaurant I found Nick behind the bar and asked him how crowded it got for weekend brunches because Kathy and I wanted to come back for more chilaquiles. He said it was busier than today but there would most probably be room inside. I expect I be back during the week for empanadas, but I will definitely be back for my chilquiles fix on a weekend! read more

You know.... Everyone can have an off night sometimes, and when the person on the phone takes your order and forgets to submit it .... That's bad enough... But when you get home and your Chicken quesadillas were not Chicken at all but Al Pastor... Well I have no words! Good help is really hard to find! OMG!!! Forget to submit my original order so when I get there, my food isn't even ready and then you make me wait some more and you still don't get my order right!!! read more

Food is great. Service terrific. Ambiance is fun. And if you order pick up, you can drive up to get it rather than finding a parking space.

Good convenient high end Mexican food at a kinda reasonable price. I say high end because it's what you would find at a nice cloth napkin Mexican restaurant or cantina. My grandma and I went for lunch the other day, I got a tostada salad and she got a fish taco with rice and beans. I also got an Agua. Everything was suuuper tasty but it was about $55 for the both of us, which seemed fairly steep for what we got. The food is great though and I would go back just for the green salsa. The searing area is really nice, recently renovated. They did a great job!!! They also have a drive up order pick up area which is super convenient, they bring the food right to your car. It's good food, just not your hole in the wall Mexican taqueria and the prices reflect that. read more

This place has not only great, fresh food, but most of the menu is gluten free and celiac safe. If your celiac, I'll just say two words, and you need not read further: dedicated fryer We got the large super nachos with steak. It came out super fast, and was huge. My wife and I got plenty for dinner with just this one dish. For desert we got the organic soft serve vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. The ice cream had a great flavor, like French vanilla ice cream, and was actually creamy, not like your usual fast food soft serve. The caramel sauce was deep brown, thick, and flavorful. It was clearly made in-house. The atmosphere is open air, clean, and comfortable. The service was excellent. I wish we could go back and try more stuff, but we're only in town for a few days. read more

Picante - Large Suoer Nachos with steak. - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food was great but less than what i was expecting , Ordered online to get order smoothly & went well tipped cash maybe that was the issue but i didn't receive any cheese , avocado , or sour cream after paying 5$ extra , already over priced extras & to not receive was a disappointment to say the least . No Ambiance just a line of cars read more

Picante - Payed 5$ for quac ,cheese ,& sour cream but nothing was included - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Lied about their hours. Not open, despite the sign outside and their web page. Try Trumer Brewery nearby instead. They serve food as well as great beer. read more

I was brought here by a friend who loved the Picante he remembered from pre-Covid days. When we entered the building he hardly recognized the place: what had been a very cozy and classy ambience, like eating in someone's house and attractive garden, had been turned into this big, paved over, shiny and chrome fast-food style space with zero soul. To say we were disappointed by the remodel would be an understatement. I enjoyed my order of Cochinita Pibil, but my companion found his carne asada dry and bland. Luckily salsas are good here, and they were an easy fix for the carne asada. I feel like this place doesn't know what it wants to be. My friend recalls this joint as once being a more fine dining experience. It's now designed like a fast food place, but with high prices, and everything served more cafeteria style. Strange. read more

A bit of a lunch fiasco. I ordered the shrimp bowl. It came deep fried, which is off my diet. I never imagined a Mexican restaurant would deep fry shrimp. I was convinced to switch to the shrimp Diablo, which tasted OK but when it arrived I learned it was was 4 shrimp.....for $26 (!!!!)... with rice and beans. I felt ripped off . The cashier was very kind to come check in how I was doing and offered me a fish taco as compensation. I asked for enchiladas and was brought a single enchilada. So for $26 I got four medium shrimp and an enchilada. I left hungry. read more

Used to be our go to.....Beautifully renovated and great customer service but food portions are way too small and the quality (tamales hard; cold burrito) was disappointing especially at the current price point. Won't return. read more

Haven't visited since before the remodel, everything is so different but in a good way! Very modern and open interior with ample indoor/outdoor seating (yay heatlamps!). The menu is pretty much the same, prices have raised a bit but portions are still the same. My family ordered 3 burritos- our favorite. We were pleasantly surprised to see that chips now come free with the burrito. Delicious as usual, the flavors have stayed the same thank goodness. Only thing to note- we had added on guacamole and cheese to all our burritos and the distribution was very uneven. One of us ordered chile verde, and there seemed to be only a few chunks of meat which was pretty disappointing, the rest of us got chicken and there was enough. The employees offered us free soft serve, it was pretty good! Nothing special but fun to try. Picante is still my favorite Mexican food in Berkeley. Excited to come back! read more

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My favorite Mexican restaurant continues to impress. Today I ordered three norteños style pork tamales with guajillo chile sauce. The plate came with refried beans and rice. I've made tamales before. These tamales are perfect. An amazing balance of textures and flavors. Order at the kiosk outside the entrance and they will deliver to a large outdoor area. Matt says check this place out read more

Picante - Three norteños style pork tamales with guajillo chile sauce - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Been going to Picante for years but this last visit made me want to leave a review. The portions were huge! The large nachos fed 3 people! It might be on the pricier side but seems worth it for me. Big portions, super clean, great service, and quality ingredients. Every time I come it's consistently good and I appreciate that. Love the nachos, burritos, and shrimp tacos. They also have soft serve now and it is delicious. read more

My family of 4 used to love Picante. I don't know what happened but it's really gone downhill. Orders are incorrect and burritos are just rice despite price increases. It makes me so sad. read more

Disappointed: Picante has been a favorite for around 20 years. I almost always ordered one of their "platos." I visited the other night, after a few months away, with a friend. They had simplified the menu tremendously, such that my favorite carnitas plato was gone. I ordered the enchilada plato, but they only offered a choice of cheese or chicken. I ordered the cheese, as I don't care for chicken. The $22 dish was relatively large, but the sauce was obviously canned, the filling was skimpy and not properly melted, to my mind (my microwaved version, with canned sauce, is far superior). My friend had a chicken burrito, which he described as merely "fine." Both of us were disappointed in the skimpy menu, which amounted to the demise of a long-time favorite. Will not return. read more

I have gone to Picantes since I was a little girl. It was always my go to place. I don't frequent it as much due to my schedule, and haven't been in since the remodel. Luckily due to a holiday party, I got to see the remodel first hand. Gone were the beautiful, vibrant colors we all know and love and in its place is a more modern color and feel. I guess it's nice to have more chairs and places to sit before, so I'm a bit on the fence. It felt very strange being in there. Nonetheless, I ordered a pozole and an agua Fresca. The food came fairly quick and I was actually very shocked when I had my first bite. It was DELICIOUS. Their chips are also still addicting so I'm glad that has not changed. read more

Picante - pozole rojo - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Disasterous remodel destroyed one of the most successful Mexican restaurants I'd ever seen. Very Berkeley tho to continue riding the $$$ to the sky and suddenly you're as sterile as a hospital or tech data center. Id feel bad for the owners except they've probably long relocated to second homes the world over. This place used to be gran central. Maybe it was a way of remaking it in the image of the world they actually inhabited. Who knows. But they also raised the prices even more. Business destroyed by too much success. read more

Quality of food and customer service has decreased. I've been going to Picante for over 20 years. In the last few years the food such as nachos and burritos have not been as good in taste and presentation and the prices have increased. read more

We love Picante, let me count the ways: 1. Gluten free that is fit for celiacs. 2. Super friendly staff. 3. Absolutely fab food that is authentic and delicious. 4. Got take out today, but their cantina is gorgeous and fun. Today, the delivery guy dropped our food at the wrong address. Picante, who wasn't at fault, remade the order and the manager delivered it personally! We love this place ever since 2015. read more

Handicap parking too far for comfort. Food choices were great but the prices and taste of food and portion size didn't match the price points. Tamales really $7 each? Wow, dry, over cooked and bland in taste (chicken). No Mexican restaurant in the Bay Area charges that much for a measly small single tamale. If you charge that much we would expect more or at least included toppings of cream and cheese. Really over priced for almost every item. Your already saving on no wait staff and self serve cafeteria style dinning, why over price your items. A bad expensive experience for us. First and last time. read more

Picante has long been one of my go-to restaurants. The food is consistently excellent--fresh, made to order, and thoughtfully prepared. From the handmade tortillas and guacamole to the Christmas tamales, everything is delicious, and the grilled proteins are always perfectly seasoned. Their margaritas by the pitcher are also a fun way to kick off a Friday afternoon. I used to especially love dining in at Picante, with its colorful walls, eclectic décor, diverse community, and red pleather booths. It felt friendly and lively--on a weekend afternoon you might see a couple of youth soccer teams celebrating their match, or you could sit on the patio with the Sunday paper and a margarita. After the pandemic, Picante remodeled into a more modern space that feels more like a tech cafeteria than the warm, welcoming spot it once was. Still, the food remains outstanding, and it travels beautifully to enjoy at home. read more

My family has been consistently coming here for 35+ years, they've consistently had good fresh Mexican food. If they've ever made a mistake they correct it right away. They forgot my flan once in a to go order and they gifted us with a dinner for two. I've tried everything on the menu but my favorite is the steak plate with black beans and green salsa with a watermelon agua, They've recently re-opened the inside of the restaurant and it looks completely different, very slick and modern. The service was just as good as I remembered. I will always refer everyone to this restaurant one of the best in the bay with consistent good service and food. 10/10 read more

The service was sooooo amazing and kind. I have a gluten intolerance and accidentally ordered something with flour-- staff was so quick and kind about replacing my order. It was totally my fault for not asking, but they were really reassuring about it not being an issue. The food itself was really yummy too!! & there's lots of seating and has a great ambiance. Would definitely recommend! read more

It's been a few years since we have been here and they remodeled recently. The remodeled space has been open for 10 months. The indoor seating has been pretty dramatically reduced in favor of patio seating. Delicious food, just as before. I had the chicken mole enchiladas and their mole is among my favorites. We also had chips and guacamole which tastes so fresh and yummy. Hubby had cochinita pibil burrito and the flavor was so good he didn't add anything, which is very unusual for him! The employees are friendly but if you are looking to be waited on, this is not the place. read more

Picante - Chicken mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We had most of their veggie options and all were tasty. Although I previously had the legumbres picadillo burrito and found it on the dry side, adding guacamole and sour cream did the trick and made it really good. I also appreciate their free refills on their ice tea. So far the service I experienced during lunchtime has always been great. read more

My family and I enjoy coming here when we can. I have ordered their soups and their carnitas bowl---I'm always very satisfied with the flavors and portions. Other family members have ordered the raja and papas, chili verde, chili relleno, and salads. Everyone loved their food items that they ordered. Their chips are super thick and crunchy. Guacamole is delicious and spicy. They have their own parking lot if you aren't able to find parking on the street. read more

Delicious fish tacos! And great rajas. Love the tostada salad. And full bar- had La Hermana Margarita which was amazing. read more

Picante - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stopped by here for an impromptu lunch since we were in the area. We were pleasantly surprised as Picante has totally remodeled the entire dining establishment. WOW!!! It's been a little while since we've been here but what an amazing transformation!!! Payment was quick on an electronic IPad device with tipping, if so desired. There's self water station. We had pork tamale, steak taco, carnitas taco with rice and beans. The rice & beans (pinto & black) came in two separate bowls that were heated, loved that touch. Indoor Dining Room was nicely accommodating as well as the decorative wall pieces. Outdoor tables as the weather gets warmer. Will be back soon to try other items on the menu. Private parking lot for your convenience. There's even a separate pickup area next door under a different roof. read more

Picante - Decorative wall decor - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Holy crap!!! Picante is terrible now. The food quality is nothing like it was 6 months ago. I don't know what the heck happened. After 20 years this is my last visit. I feel bad because they dumped ALL their money into renovation and didn't seem to leave much for food quality. 2 burritos and 2 margaritas for $62.00 without tip?! I expect FAR better than this. Sad day. read more

I love how easy it is to order using the kiosk, and the abundance of outdoor seating is a big plus. The food is affordable and absolutely delicious. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is that the service can be a bit slow at times. read more

My wife keeps asking me why I keep going back. I'm done. 8 times out of 10 there will be no avocado in the burrito. Despite paying for it. Drive up pick-up is routinely staffed by 1 person who is completely overwhelmed. I guess La Mission is my new go-to. read more

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Newly remodeled space is clean, airy, and spacious. Location has always been in an odd space next to a mill and still order at the counter. Tried a few of their many selection of tacos but unfortunately all of them were lacking seasoning and too mild in flavor. (Insert sad face) No salt on the tables. No free chips and salsa. Sides such as rice and beans are charged separately. One positive, tortillas appeared to be fresh and home made. read more

Picante - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Place your order at the counter- the counter helpers know the menu well and answer all the questions you may have. the guacamole was very good. they have a few specialty meats and sauces that seem like they could be worth a return visit. plenty of sitting room so larger groups have no worries. Save room for the soft serve ! read more

Just as I suspected, the remodel now leaves the interior of the once epic restaurant bland and devoid of flavor. Ya'll really ruined a good thing. The old interior was gorgeous and colorful. Now it is just following the bland minimalist trend. I could get past the remodel if the food was restored to its previous glory, but no. Still overpriced, smaller portions and taste nothing like what made this spot famous. Bummer. read more

Pickup orders are getting much better, order is rarely wrong now and the food is tasty. We do like Picante enough that we kept ordering throughout the trials and tribulations of wrong orders. read more

We have long frequented Picante. During Covid they had ace curbside service that always included a biscuit for our dog that we jokingly called his $40, treat. Of late the portions have gotten smaller. The tostada salads lack the elegant presentation they formerly had. The chips remain one of the finest sides. Picante has never been a bargain compared to other Mexican restaurants on Solano Avenue and around town. The quality justified the greater cost; now, not so sure. We hope Picante will turn things around. Our dog would especially appreciate it, If that happens, I'll gladly revisit my rating and commentary, ¡Los mejores deseos! read more

They ripped out the beautiful fountain made by locals, and did some remodeling. "Let's charge our customers double and shrink the portions", seems to be their motto. "More money for us, less food for them." This is a classic case of a business ripping off locals. I could see raising prices 20 % because that's what inflation actually was. Picante raised their prices more than 100% while reducing portion sizes. The food is not bad but make no mistake about it. You are overpaying. read more

Ordered online and picked up. Burrito is a smaller than most restaurants but packed with flavor and dry at all! The guacamole was thick and it's not the watery cream kind, definitely had chunks of avocado and tomatoes. The red salsa was spicy but the extra sauce (roasted tomatoes, habanero, and Smokeyness) on the side mixed with this burrito was top notch! The nachos were crunchy, I think it was the home made tortillas then deep fried. The tacos were fresh and well balanced. The fried fish and shrimp had the same condiments, the mangos and thinly shredded cabbage defi no they cut the fat, sauce inside is recommended, not dry tho. The asada was marinated and cooked very well, not dry and burnt, perfect with the onions and cilantro, side salsa is a must! I'd go back again but try different item on the menu. The salsa doesn't taste spicy on your first few tries but man, it creeps up on you! Love habanero peppers, the creepers! read more

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Hands down, best tortilla soup in the bay! Friendly staff, super quick service. Surprised they don't have higher ratings... A whole parking lot just for customers, and indoor and outdoor seating, with a spacious restroom and full bar. I came here for lunch every week for two years. Never disappointed. read more