I loved the outside seating and the décor. The people were friendly too. I ordered fish tacos and a beer. Beer was cold and perfect. The grilled tacos were just okay, bland with not much to them. I would go back and try something else... read more

This place was legit! The emkdhfoiwe chicken burrito was in freaking credible. The food was fast. The line moved fast! The drinks were strong. All things I like. Everyone seemed to like their meal. They made their own tortillas! Yes! read more

This is the best authinic Mex food except the Mission in SF. Perfect place to eat when you go to 4th st in Berkeley. read more

Picante - Chips and Pico de Gallo - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We went there on 01-09-2022 dinner after seeing good reviews. However we were greatly very greatly disappointed. The enchilada was cold, tasteless, no flavor no nothing. The chips were cold. The Avacoda and Tomato dip they gave was solid ice, it must have come out of deep freezer and just thrown into our package. All in all it was miserable and we took one bite dumped all of them to garbage and walked out. I cook Mexican and it is very easy to make good tasting Enchilada's It must take special talent to make it so tasteless!! read more

While you might have to put up with large crowds of families coming back from little league or soccer on Saturdays, brunch at Picante is a great way to spend a weekend morning. The line moves relatively fast and having the option to look through the menu prior to ordering makes it bearable. They have a self-serve setup with silverware, salsa and boxing up leftovers which keeps service fast and the prices affordable. The frescas are great as they have all sorts of flavors from papaya to pineapple. As for the food? I've tried both the chilequiles verde and rojas for breakfast and while the rojas is good, the verde has an extra level of tang that makes it better. The tamales are also really good as well. The norteno tamales (pork) come with a great creamy mole sauce. The squash tamales come with a spicy guacamole sauce. If I had to choose between the two, I'd go for the pork. For the best dining experience, I'd suggest going on a Sunday morning, order your meal with the hot chocolate (so good!) and find a seat outside on the patio. That way you can avoid obnoxious crowds and dine in peace. read more

Tasty tasty mexichow. Parking seems to be near impossible here, so it should be known that two dedicated parking lots can be found about a block away from the restaurant. This speaks well to the demand for their grubbins. Really top notch beans, rice, and pork was what puts these guys ahead in my experience. Great sauce as well. read more

This place is way modern. Everything from the fact that you order at the counter (although that part is annoying because you have to tip before you know the service experience) and then you use these crazy tags that you stick into a sensor on the table so they know where to deliver your food. They had a bunch of staff. Service was FAST! Food for a place like this was actually surprising. It was good, but the selection was average. You could pick any salsa you wanted by taking a bottle out of a little fridge. The water had its own fancy tap. Everything was also very clean. read more

HUGE fan of their Mexican Hot Chocolate.... I mean I am a serious enthusiast! This stuff is unreal. I crave it anytime I awake to a chilly grey morning. Sadly, it's only available during brunch on weekends, & holidays. I really can't fairly review the food yet. I have had their Huevos Rancheros & chips/guacamole. The Huevos Rancheros sauce was great... but the eggs were underdone for MY taste (when I mixed everything up - it still taste good). No frills, just basic eggs, beans, sauce, tortillas for $8.95. Also, tried chips/guac... pretty good. A little intense on the onion (or is it garlic??) for me. Still - alright in my book. Saw plenty of people enjoying nice looking plates of food. Will have to come back & try the rellenos - that's my favorite food in the world & sets the standard for me - so we'll see! :) Clean place, tons of room to sit, super nice people behind the counter. I can confidently say: Go get the Mexican Hot Chocolate! You will NOT regret it! read more

Picante's alright. I enjoyed a chorizo breakfast burritos yesterday. The eggs were well cooked, and the itself chorizo was solid. Still, the burrito wasn't mind-blowing, nor was it a particularly good value. Also, special props for some truly spicy salsas. Picante itself sports some cool decor, and is very kid (and dog) friendly as well. read more

Being from So Cal, as I am, I find this a rather unspectacular Mexican restaurant. Nothing was spicy enough, even the "spicy" salsa. Even the Margarita (we got the "gold" one) was untasty. I thought the quality was pretty good, however. So, I'm giving it 4 stars because of their vegetarian menu. Being from So Cal, as I am, I usually don't expect anything vegetarian in a restaurant. This place had a whole menu dedicated to veggie stuff, with items for all the different varieties of vegetarian. read more

I had business in the area so i thought I'd check it out. I had the super chicken burrito and a horchata, it wasn't fantastic but I've had worse. Mexican food is one of the easiest to mess up and they didn't, I'm sure many have gone to a taqueria only to find balljoint and gristle in their burrito. Let's put it this way, if it set me back say 7 bucks I would have said it was a great meal, but $11.90 for a burrito and a watery horchata? That's kinda pricey. I doubt I'd go back. read more

This restaurant is my go to restaurant during lunch hours for mexican food. Although I think the food is a bit pricey, I got to say the burritos (carnitas and pollo asado) and sopa azteca are delicious. Their chips are the best restaurant chips around! But the downside is that their salsa could use some more kick and salt and sometimes it smells a bit fishy. What I absolutely love is their three hot sauces they offer and you can use as much as you want without having to ask for "more". read more

My friend recommended this place and I was super excited to go but was disappointed to discover that the food wasn't memorable, nor was it spicy enough for my taste. ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant itself is very cute and you can tell they put a lot of thought and effort into decorating the place. I loved the blue and white tiles all over the restaurant and it gave it a lot of "flavor." (I cant say the same about the food...) It doesn't look like a big restaurant from the outside, but there's actually a ton of seating inside. I was surprised to find a lot of kids there. I had to control my words during dinner because there was a 5 year old sitting at the adjacent table. That was a little frustrating... The waiters don't do much besides bring you your food once its ready, but I do have to give Picante props for having really cool technology. After we ordered, they gave us these number cards that electronically notified the waiters where we were. It was pretty cool! FOOD: 1) Chips and guacamole 2) Manchamanteles ("tablecloth stainer" chicken in red mole) plate The chips and guac were superb. I loved how fresh and green the guacamole was. It was the perfect mix of avocado, chile, cilantro, onion, and tomato. The chips were cute and shaped like Fritos, but bigger, making them good scoopers. I'm just sad that the portions were so small. There wasn't enough guacamole for 2 people, that's for sure. Although the portions for the chips and guac were small, I can't say the same about the main entree. There was a lot of food and I ended up bagging up some to go. My friend recommended that I try the manchamanteles, and I naively thought that it would be spicy. Don't be fooled by the red mole! Apparently mole is a sweet sauce. Oopsie. The plate came with generous portions of chicken covered in the red tablecloth stainer sauce (mole), rice, and a tortilla bin with 4 hot corn tortillas. I substituted the beans for extra rice. The chicken was tender, but it wasn't very flavorful. The mole sauce was disappointing. They have dozens of bottles of salsa with varying degrees of hotness. My friend and I brought over 1 of each and found ourselves drenching our food in the hottest salsa but not breaking a sweat. The salsa was NOT spicy and we were very disappointed. The rice was kind of bland and tasted very healthy, which wasn't a plus in this case. Picante is VERY far from campus (you can only access it by car) and the food is average. I've definitely had better Mexican food. I wouldn't make a special trip out here for this place. I would come back if I was in the area, but I wouldn't get the manchamanteles plate. I'd probably try the tortilla soup or nachos. read more

I often stop at Picante, but after eating the food at least twice a month for the last half-year, I've become aware of some glaring deficiencies. Some items are really good, like the Sopa Azteca (tortilla soup), but others such as the flautas (which are only available with chicken, suggesting that they aren't fresh if there is only one filling option) are inconsistent and sometimes not evenly heated throughout. My only conclusion would be that they pre-make a lot of their food, which negates the freshness offered by what appear to be pretty solid ingredients. I'm not going to stop eating here, but I think they can and should be able to do a little better on the food. That said, they're wildly popular. You can't get a seat on weekend evenings without waiting in a long line. Another annoying feature; there is no table service, you have to order cafeteria-style and then take your number to your table. So let's review: GOOD: Quality ingredients, nice patios, friendly staff. BAD: Inconsistent preparation of food, long lines at peak hours rather than table service where one could wait with a drink/chips to order...To go orders don't have plastic forks/spoons/knives included...you have to grab them yourself and they're not readily apparent (they're in the corridor between the dining room and the bar...) read more

Normally I go to Gordo's, occasionally Cactus. Picante is sometimes a bit too "Berkeley" for me. Stopped by here for a lunch, though. Still pretty Berkeley, filled with aging hipsters. Burrito is better than I remembered, though significantly more expensive than, say, Gordo's on Solano or College. They bring it to your table now. Anyway, I'll try it more often when in the area. read more

Over priced Mexican food this place is robbing you $13 for a Super Burrito get the French out of here. I pay $8 for a super burrito at a taqueria near my house and the al pastor meat is actually cut diced not shredded like this place and full of flavor. I was not happy with the seasoning of their al pastor. I was really disappointed for the price I paid and quality of the food. Go at your own risk for having such great ratings I gave them the benefit of my doubt and got disappointed. I do not recommend, but then again I have not tasted the rest of their food maybe other plates are better!? read more

Feb 2012 Update: The food has declined a little here. Skimpy sandwiches with not very fresh rolls are too common. Sopa Azteca is usually pretty good. It's still fast and cheap if you're looking for a quick bite between 9 and 10, after Tacubaya is closed. But I am downgrading from 4 stars to 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Picante is fast, tasty and cheap. I am addicted to the tortas (Mexican sandwichs with beans, grilled onions, tomato, sour cream, avacado and your choice of Carnitas, Pollo, Carne Asada. I like the carnitas and as well as the hot sauce. Not everything hits the spot, but my wife likes the tostadas. There are certainly better places in the Mission, but its a good place for a torta and a drink. The tortilla soup is good, too. I do have one bone to pick with Picante, and about 85% of the other burrito shops in the Bay Area. Why do they steam the tortilla instead of throwing it on the grill for a minute or two. It makes for a gooey burrito. No one in Los Angeles would stand for a burrito made this way! Bleah! There are items for vegetarians, and Picante is very kid friendly. read more

My family and I have been coming here for years. It is still tasty. We are sad that we don't live closer to it anymore. I always order the chorizo y papas burrito. I've ordered the other items, and they are good too, but the chorizo y papas burrito is my favorite. Dessert is not the strong suit. They pretty much only have cookies that are just OK. read more

Picante is not bad, but it is not great. Yes, there is always parking, yes the walk up to order service is nice, and yes, it is decent Mexican food. Maybe I am just ordering the wrong thing each time I come here? First I had the carnitas plate, which I was really looking forward to, which is also why I was disappointed when I tasted the pork and it was bland. Now I'm picky when it comes to carnitas, I'll admit that. But this was just bland! I went back a few months ago, and to be honest I don't remember what it was that I ordered. I do remember that I desperately wanted to enjoy it, because I've been looking for GOOD Mexican food in Berkely. Nope, not this time. It was bland again. I went back yesterday and I finally hit a good plate. I had the picadillo plate, and there was a presence of flavor! I would actually order this dish again. Their chips and guacamole are as well very tasty, however just a tad bit too salty. I wish Picante wasn't so hit and miss, because it really is a nice restaurant. The workers are nice, and they have patience when you want to modify your order. Picante gets 3 stars, but only because I really want to like this place, and it's a cute restaurant. But if this were based on food alone I would give 2 stars. read more

I hadn't been to Picante for about six years, and never for breakfast. My sweetheart was craving breakfast burritos one foggy weekend and so, humming the theme from Mission: Brunchpossible, off we went! I got the breakfast burrito with eggs Mexican style, my omnivorous sweetheart got the breakfast burrito with rajas and eggs. Both were pretty salty and very generously sized, I couldn't finish mine. The Mexican coffee was too sweet for me and tasted overly of cloves. Then again, I once had a mouth-numbing clove incident with a pot of stew, so I am perhaps overly sensitive. I like the fact that there is a seperate vegetarian menu with symbols clearly noting which items are vegan, ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, or veganizable. The brunch menu also notes which items are (ovo-lacto) vegetarian. As an awesome bonus for veg*ns who like Mexican food: the black and pinto beans are always vegan, and the rice is made with vegetable broth. 2 stars for the food + 1 star for the menu rubric = 3 stars in yelprithmetic. read more

I have been on this earth for 23.5 years. I have been a patron of Picante for 24.25 years. My math may seem a bit fishy, but the only thing I can say is that Picante is in my blood. I first tasted its goodness through my umbilical cord, and have yet to be disappointed. Yes, it's contstantly crowded. Yes, It's like a cafeteria. Yes, the food isn't *real* Mexican, but it's pretty darn close. I have memories of this place from years ago when there was a stage in the SE corner of the restaurant and Mariachi bands played on weekend nights. It will forever be a staple in my restaurant book. If I'm craving Mexican and happen to be in this part of Berkeley, this is where I am. read more

I've been here many times in the past several years and the last experience prompted me to write this. My wife and I took our 7month old here so we could grab a quick convenient dinner on a Saturday afternoon. There was no line, which was a bonus, as there often is. The cashier awkwardly took our order. They are usually friendly and helpful but this gal could hardly look us in the eye. You know the kind of distracted "how long are these people going to be in front of me?" kind of distracted. It was a bit awkward. Then the burrito. A chile verde super-burrito that was supposed to blow my socks off and usher me into a pleasant nap on the couch when I got home. But alas, all I got was a flaccid tortilla with guacamole on one end, rice on the other and a few pieces of chicken in between. Again, I'm being dramatic, but the overall experience was a bit of a letdown. The positive: Fast service Plenty of room Super kid-friendly (Lots to look at) Big portions Good for groups The negative: Kids everywhere (take your romantic date elsewhere) Sometimes your cashier stinks Sometimes your burrito is lopsided and mediocre Picante, you get two stars. I will probably go again because you are easy, close and my son is fascinated with your decorations. ***UPDATE***- Not more than 10 minutes after posting this review I received an email from the manager Charlie. I'm sure he was notified by YELP! but I must say, it was fast and personalized. He expressed his concern for my recent experience, assured me that this was not the norm and encouraged me to revisit. I appreciate this attention to detail and, as a result, I am changing my rating from 2 to 3 stars (A-OK). In addition, I am realizing that I should have mentioned my dissatisfaction to a manager when I was there. They are clearly on top of their systems and trying to improve their service. Charlie, I will be back. read more

I said it all in my tip. Don't take food to go. Eat in so you can send it back if you need to. I live to far to take it back. So we were pretty much screwed. read more

Picante - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came twice this week. Once for dinner and then today for brunch. I like the ambience here. It's clean, laid back and there's plenty of tables. The staff is friendly and the service is fast. Now for the food - I've tried the Cochinita Pibil. The pork was very tender and not dry with good flavor. And I really liked the pickled red onion. For brunch I tried the Chiliquiles de verde. It was different then I've had at other places. The eggs were cooked just like I enjoy, they were separate from the tortilla chips and fresca sauce. Their refried beans are really good. They are creamy and flavorful. I also really like their chips. The flavor and amount of salt is perfect for me. For a Saturday, there was plenty of parking too. read more

Picante is one of my favorite spots in all of the Bay Area. It has grown into such a beautiful restaurant I am so happy for their success! It says volumes when you go to a restaurant and the line is out the door. Their soups are good, their salads are great, their plates are delish...I really have no complaints. I also can vouch for the catering services. Last year I had Picante Catering for my parents 25th Anniversary Party. And they were exceptionally easy to work with. They actually helped ease my anxiety the day of the event. They were on time and the food was fantastic. They have three menus to choose from. I recommend requesting tray warmers for the dishes - because no one wants to spend the time warming the food during a party!! read more

Great fresh food. Amazing salsa! But the best today was José Minerva jump starting our car in the parking lot. Thank you José! read more

2 stars for the food and 4 for the beer. I have lived in the East Bay for a quarter century and roughly every five years I let friends drag me to Picante. I always think "this time I'm going to find that dish I will love and which will make me a Picante convert." And then, after I'm tipsy on a pitcher and disappointed with my food, I wonder what went wrong. Again. Please, if someone knows what I'm doing wrong let me know, because I want to like this place. People I like swear by it, but I'm never happy with it. Well, actually, when I was in high school and they would serve us beer on the patio I was happy, but the thrill of illegal beer is long gone. I will say that their tortilla soup is good, but not worth the trip, when Tacubaya's down on 4th St is phenomenal. I repeat my plea: Tell me what to order so that I can enjoy this place! There must be a secret no one has let me in on. read more

I'll start with the good parts first: 1. Good for kids/families 2. Easy/casual atmosphere 3. More interesting/authentic fare than Chevy's 4. Decent salsa verde 5. Quick service (at 6 on a Tuesday) The bad bits (which for me, overpowered the good aspects): 1. If you're not into kids, don't go here 2. My margarita was salty, though it was not decorated with any 3. My burrito was rather small (though not a deal breaker on its own) 4. My pinto beans had the essence of baked beans read more

I received an email back from a manager about my comments. I thought this was very thoughtful and that he cares about the customer and being happy with one's meal. He explained that next time, I should speak with a manager on duty to get the order the way that I like and that he will speak with the back of the house about the different portions going into the burrito, etc. I truly appreciate his email and it will definitely make me go back to try it again. read more

Picante is at the intersection of really authentic Mexican and the privileged of Berkeley. It's slightly watered down and a little bit pricey for a walk-up-and-order establishment. Nonetheless, this place is quite delicious and as I mentioned, pretty close to the real deal. Two staples that always deliver are the the Picadillo de Legumbres burrito and the shrimp burrito. The Picadillo de Legumbres is a sizable vegetarian burrito consisting of well-sauteed veggies (namely carrots, zucchini and potatoes) finished off with beans and rice---the key is the tasty ancho-guajillo chile sauce that permeates this entree. I highly recommend this item if you are not in the mood for a meaty meal--it's quite possibly the best vegetarian burrito around. The shrimp burrito is always a personal favorite and it doesn't disappoint with fresh whole shrimp in their delicious handmade flour tortillas. As I alluded to, the corn and flour tortillas as well as the corn chips are all pressed by hand in front of the kitchen, in plain view of the customers. They do a great job of making consistently hearty, thick corn tortillas, bursting with that super-fresh maize flavor--and that's just the way I like them! Other notables: Their nachos and the Manchamanteles Mole pulled-pork plate are also delicious. The restaurant is set on the lower floor of what seems to once have been a North Berkeley duplex. They did a superb job designing it because the space is totally functional and open and is complete with a full bar adjacent to the order line. The decor and homemade aromas you're hit with as you walk in make this not only an olfactory dream but a very sweet experience. It's especially good for groups. read more

This place is GREAT! Everything tastes fresh & has so much flavor. I had the huarache and it was on point! The guacamole was awesome & the chips were fresh and homemade. The horchata water was also very tasty. I will for sure be coming here again! P.s homemade tortillas too! :) read more

Picante - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Overrated, overpriced, under-seasoned! Tamales- dry as the desert! Outdoor area- needs way more shade! Margarita- not bad, but very small for $8.50 So much potential with quality ingredients and beautiful location, sadly very, very disappointed. read more

This family friendly restaurant always satisfies with healthy, authentic, homestyle food, gluten free items easily identified on the menu, affordable prices for the quality, and a relaxed atmosphere. The soups are hearty and so warming on a cold bay area day, and the filet mignon tacos are a decadent treat! read more

If you've got friends with kids and want to eat somewhere, this is your spot. Decent Mexican food, plenty of space, and kid friendly. If you can't stand kids, you might want to stay far away from here. It's swarming with the little buggers. read more

I haven't been to Picante in a while, but my cousin and I stopped by on Sunday for a late lunch. I forgot how good this place is. First of all they make excellent fish tacos. I LOVE fish tacos and the combo of the fish, cabbage and quac was phenomenal. Also the plate is HUGE so come hungry. My cousin had chicken tacos and liked them very much. I've had their burritos but not as impressive as the tacos. I sat in the restaurant part (I usually sit outside but it was too windy) and I never realized how big it was. Things were clean, stocked and the wait people who bring out the food were nice and quick. Although I think it's lame to have to pay for chips at a mexican restaurant, these are nice and thick and you get a lot. It's on the pricy side, but I've been to similar caliber restaurants that have worse food and bad service. You get what you pay for here. read more

Good Niman Ranch meat for the carnitas and carne asada, which are both tasty. Good chicken soup (sopa azteca). Good corn tortillas. Great salsas. Chips are tasty, but you have to pay for them, which is especially a bummer if you don't want a huge portion and you're on your own. Prices are a bit high. Easy parking, maybe have to walk a block or two if they're busy, but who cares? Lots of children around, which is not a good point in my book, but I'm willing to overlook it for the Niman Ranch meat and tasty food. read more

This was my first review (3 stars): "This place is average. It has a lot of appeal because of its "word on the street" and "reputation", buts the hype is truly overrated. Don't get me wrong, the food here is really good, but NOTHING special. It's really clean with great service, decent prices, and the food is not greasy. The thing is that the food is good, not great. Kind of a gringo Mexican touch to the food." Second review is now 4 stars b/c I had their chile verde pork plate..... SO FREAKIN GOOD! Lots of flavor, fresh, and the pork melts in your mouth like an M & M. read more

First time here , loved my sandwich "el capitan" is what I ordered with chips and ice tea , really good and affordable read more

Picante - El capitan - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've only been here twice, but both times were good experiences. I ordered the carne asada plate the first time and the chicken flautas the second time--both were pretty good, but I liked the flautas way more. Their margaritas are only ok, which was a little bit disappointing. But overall, it filled me up at a decent price, so I'm not complaining. read more

Picante - Chicken flautas and mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - Berkeley, California

Picante makes the best nachos on the planet. I always try to order something else when I'm there---but, let's not kid ourselves. The nachos always win. The key is to go with someone else (who also loves nachos) and get a large order of super nachos with TWO, yes two, meats. I recommend steak and chicken---but you can never go wrong with pork. And don't even get me started on the house salsas. The chipotle salsa is literally my crack. I could drink it. In fact, I put so much of it on my food that I might as well as drink it or eat it like soup. read more