Came here with a few co-workers - I basically ordered all of their non-vegetarian tacos and an horchata (we shared the tacos). The tacos were good and flavorful and I really liked the crispy ones. Service was fast and efficient. Horchata was good and had the appropriate amount of sweetness. Overall, I would rate this place as a 3.5 - it's standard Mexican fare and I'm happy that they are open near my office. I am rounding down to 3 because of the competition in the area (for about the same price, you have better options nearby). read more

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This place is conveniently located, right in the "Uptown" area of Downtown Oakland. I've been here a few times and notice that the prices were recently increased, by something like $1.50 per menu item (please see most resent menu as of 111/23/2021)... but it's centrally located, so we pay for ease. The food is good; it wouldn't be my first choice for Mexican food (it could be better seasoned) but I would absolutely continue to go back and would certainly recommend it to others. By the way, their green salsa is on point! read more

Xolo - Updated menu 11/23/2021 - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Best taco on my taco tour tonight. Al Pastor with the spicy salsa. *Chefs kiss*Al Pastor Taco

Dropped by for lunch and got a chicken quesadilla with a side of rice. Loved the rice with my own hot sauce from home (from Mexico). The chicken quesadilla has wonderful filling, I wish the tortilla was softer and more flavorful. Surf and burrito was yummy, good combo of meat and seafood. I wish Xolo had better (hot) sauces, the 1 that came with my quesadilla didn't have much flavor to me. Will be back to try other items of the menu per other positive reviews. read more

Xolo - chicken quesadilla, surf & turf burrito, side of Rice - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Thank you Xolo! I ordered 2 vegetarian burritos with chips and salsa and had Caviar deliver. I can taste that they were made with love. My tummy is happy and my mind and body are grateful for the nourishing food. Much love to you Xolo! P.S. I used to work in the area several years ago and I painted this cabinet inspired by your interior! read more

Xolo - A Xolo inspired cabinet - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I went there for lunch today. I'd been there before and the food was prepared okay. I ordered the chicken burrito. It was supposed to have black beans and rice along with the other ingredients on the menu. It was a very slim burrito. The tortilla was tough like rubber, the chicken and sauces tasted fine but, where's the rice and beans?? Haha! In the bottom one third of the burrito was the rice but no beans. I really dislike it when the ingredients of a burrito are not distributed at least, somewhat evenly throughout a burrito.. It's disrespectful food service! It says that they don't care about the food or the customers. You can't enjoy the food as it was meant to be enjoyed. Who the hell wants someone to make them a sloppy burrito like that. I won't be back. read more

I went to Xolo for lunch today, and the food was excellent. I had the Beyond Taco, the Vampiro Taco, and the Hongos Taco. Each were flavorful and expertly made. Of course, Beyond meat crumbles have such a distinctive flavor that can dominate, but still the other flavors (like pickled onions, tomatillo arbol salsa) held their own. I particularly enjoyed the Hongos Taco (Crimini mushrooms, avocado, pico) and the Vampiro (Al pastor, salsa ranchera, red onions). Would definitely go back and try some of the other amazing sounding items in the menu! read more

Xolo - Sign - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Today was my first time ordering take out, I heard good things via some coworkers and finally gave it a try. Tbh I was worried the tacos would be on the skimpy side and not up to my standard for tacos. MAN, WAS I WRONG.. Xolo crispy beef tacos were big, loaded with shredded beef, cheese and toppings. The shell wasn't a generic Taco Bell shell like other taquerias , it was actually fried up and crispy ! One of my favorite tacos. The shrimp taco was a great balance also 4 plump shrimp cabbage and sauce topping my second favorite taco and finally the Vampiro, I usually don't order pastor but this was pretty smackin' also, stuffed with pastor (I cut the sweet with the lime made the perfect balance imo) and enjoyed that as well. Due to my preferences It wasn't my fav but still really good and worth the try for you non pastor lovers. Excited to come back, ride on XOLO. read more

Xolo - Vampiro, shrimp and 2 Crispy beef tacos - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a cool spot! It's weird because some stuff is overpriced and other items are priced just right. Like the burritos are waaayyy to small but it's VERY good quality. There's lots of things to choose from on the menu so that's a plus for picky eater like myself. Only thing I don't like is you can tell when the staff and the owner are overwhelmed with orders on a busy night. They should brush up on some team building exercises. read more

Xolo - Might look weird but the surf & turf burrito is awesome - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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My standards for good Mexican food are: al pastor as a meat choice, horcata, and free chips and salsa. Xolo has all except free chips and salsa. I came on a Sunday (they're open Sundays now) around 5:30 before I had to work a show at the Fox across the street. You order at the register and they walk the food out to you. It's a pretty big space with a downstairs and and upstairs. I ordered the vampiro (al pastor) and the impossible taco. I loved the vampiro and was pretty full from both. I've had veggie meat before but never the impossible brand. I personally wasn't much of a fan for the impossible taco, and I'm not sure if it was that day or if I'm a wimp when it comes to spice but the impossible taco salsa was SPICY. They also have Mexican Coke which I love. If you're in the area and want good Mexican this is the place to be. Parking is definitely challenging but if you take BART you can get off at the 19th street station and walk a block to get to Xolo. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! read more

Let's be honest. This place is is mid. But I'm not going to be an a**hole like the other reviewers and give one star. Calm down gabachos. This place has some good carne asada. Don't complicate things like the gabachos. Just order three carne asada tacos and a few beers (at least three modelos). The carne asada tacos here are flint and tinder (fire). read more

Charming ambiance. They offer a sweet peacful little patio filled with vines and tropical plants. Food was pretty tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the back patio more than anything. It was not very busy when we were there. Very cute Mexican taqueria. Nece place to take respite from the bustle of the city. read more

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Dropped by on a Friday evening after work on a whim, having read nothing about Xolo beforehand and needing to cure a craving for Mexican. The line was only about two or three people deep, but at soon as we ordered a line of people started filing in and remained pretty steady for the rest of the time I was there. Bear in mind this place can get pretty busy. I went with the chile verde burrito ($10.10; pork stewed in tomatillos and chiles, black beans, red onion, cilantro, crema, cheese) and my boyfriend got the machaca burrito ($10.10; shredded beef cooked with red bell peppers, pinto beans, rice, onions, tomato, cheese). I was impressed by how delicious and flavorful the meats were in both burritos. Of the two, I preferred the chile verde, but you won't go wrong with either choice. Both were stuffed with meat, the juices of which were so good, especially mixed with the other fillings. These aren't tiny burritos either, so even though ten bucks for a burrito might sound pricey to some, the size and quality make up for it, in my opinion. I tried Xolo a second time via Caviar and ordered the chile verde burrito and a pollo burrito ($10.10; grilled achiote-marinated thighs, avocado salsa, black beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro). While the chile verde was as good as the first time, the pollo was bordering on dry. There were some good flavors in the chicken, but I didn't really see much avocado salsa in the burrito, which was a shame given that I was excited by the prospect of it and the burrito really needed some kind of salsa. Overall solid option for burritos and I can't wait to come back to try the tacos, which many Yelpers have raved about. read more

When I read the 3 star reviews... I get it. But, I still enjoy my food from Xolo every time and it does have the Mexican food game squared away for this area of Oaktown. It's clean, it's good and it's convenient. Is it the best Mexican food ever? Nah. In Oakland? Nah. But I still appreciate it. It can be greasy and it is expensive for Mexican eats, especially in a city where Mexican food is aplenty and at cheap prices. But if you can get past it, I think you'll enjoy your fare. Most recently I had the al pastor burrito and at $13 it was pricy, but it was damn delicious. Not stuffed with rice filler, but delicious meats and beans and avocado. I'll take it. It was a wee bit greasy, but I mean delicious pork can be greasy, eh? Not wanting to gorge on tortilla? They'll make any burrito into a bowl and they have a plethora of tacos to choose from. Veggies - looks like they have 1 veggie option for you and they just launced a breakfast taco/burrito that I'm sure is delicioso. Xolo, I crave Mexican all day every day and you bet I'll be back. read more

It was the worst burrito I've ever had. I ordered the Surf & Turf. Ate 1 quarter in and realized it was only shrimp, cilantro, rice, and a huge lump of onions in the middle. Nothing else. Very disappointed and never going back. read more

We came here before a concert at the Fox and were not disappointed with the food. I couldn't get over there price of their Guacamole and Chips but nonetheless we ordered it and enjoyed it. Everything we had was delicious. We also liked the atmosphere and decor. The service was friendly. read more

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Delicious. I almost never pass up a chance to eat here when I am in uptown. The Beyond tacos are my go-to.

I have always been very satisfied when I've gone to Xolo. This time I went on a Sunday night about half an hour before closing. I was cutting it close and had a concert to go to that night. Anyway, when I went to order my favorites they were all out! They didn't have their vegetarian pozole, the impossible taco "meat" was sold out and they had no avocados! I felt like walking out but my friend had already ordered her Caldo soup. She absolutely loves that chicken soup. Well when my order came the tacos consisted of beans and pico de gayo. They were pleasing to the eye but not ideal for someone who doesn't like raw onions. I tried to be an adult and not pick out all the onions...failed at that. The michelada was delicious and we got some chips and salsa to read more

Xolo - Vegetarian tacos (minus the avocado:( ) and my delicious michelada. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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The tacos were delicious, and ready and brought to the table so unbelievably quickly! I tried the beef and the chicken tacos. They just melted in the mouth. They were loaded up with meat and onions and cilantro. Other people were happy Witt their tacos, including shrimp. The menu isn't huge, but it offered a good selection of burritos and tacos, with a good selection of beverages. There's plenty of seating. The bathroom was clean, which is always a good sign for the place overall. The staff were friendly. The place was busy pretty late on a weekday, but not too loud to have a conversation. I'd want to try more before giving it five stars, but I'm definitely open to the possibility. They also have a big bike rack out front, so bonus points for that! It's close to BART. read more

Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Dang this place is good. I was (temporarily) working in Oakland and ordered from here for lunch. WOW. I've tried a variety of things, but my favorite thing is their chicken tacos and chips/guac. I'm bummed that I don't live closer, but that's how it goes huh? A definite must try if you're in the area and want a great taco. read more

I would give a 4 star rating because the food in general was very good but the guac and chips were super old and soggy. I recommend the vampiro tacos and the burrito read more

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Loved this place. Carnitas burrito was awesome, as was the elote and vampiro taco. Big fan for sure, will definitely be back!

I find myself eating here due my wait of my teenager attending a concert across the way at the Fox Center. It is rare for me to come into Oakland so I didn't want to get to far from the venue. This is a hidden gem. I'm Mexican and am picky as you may see by my other reviews. Now this is authentic. Down to the horchata. I don't eat spicy so I don't ever expect too much flavor from most places but I did not expect the buen sazón that i got. Really good food, clean and nice people taking orders. read more

Normally, I go to the kind of burrito joints where you order and customize your burrito as you walk down the counter. But Xolo is the kind of place where you look at menu boards on a wall, order at the register, and your food comes to your table. I scanned the menu looking for something with carne asada and pinto beans, but I didn't see any carne asada and the pinto beans were a no-go due to being cooked with chorizo. So I ended up picking the pollo burrito - grilled achiote-marinated chicken thighs, avocado salsa, black beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro The burrito was made the worst way possible - rolled such that the ingredients were in sections, rather than spread throughout. The first few bites were delicious - lots of flavorful chicken and salsa and cheese. But then the last part of the burrito was only black beans. The beans were tasty, but I don't want to eat bites and bites of a burrito and only get beans. Overall, it was good, and I'd be willing to explore the menu further to see if it's 4 stars great. But if they keep rolling the burritos wrong, it could become 2 star bad! read more

Xolo - Pollo burrito, with chips and guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

We came here to pick up a quick breakfast burrito. There were a few people eating inside, but the weather has been so smokey lately that it was a lot less busy than I imagine this place gets. There is plenty more seating than it looks like from the outside, and they even have upstairs seating as well. We split a steak breakfast burrito, the burritos here are pretty small and I think I could definitely have eaten one by myself. It had red bell peppers, salsa, cilantro, cream, cheese, pinto beans and rice. It was really tasty, and after having that, I wanted to try all the other burritos they had. I will be back to try their chile rellenos and hongos burritos. read more

The carne asada tacos are fire. Ill definitely go back and be happy eating only those tacos. Based on the carne asada tacos, it's safe to assume everything taste just as good. read more

I eat here all the time. I usually get the chicken burrito and salad. Sometimes I get the black bean burrito. My kid loves the chicken tacos. The people are nice. The prices are kind of high though. I usually go in the evenings and always check if there's a concert at the Fox theater across the street. If there's a concert I usually skip it because then it's too difficult to park. I'm almost always pleased with my experience. read more

Woke up early Sunday morning craving a bfast burrito and this place was open. Ordered the steak and eggs bfast burrito and it was bland AF. No flavor and the burrito was small in size. Maybe I should of customized it but it can be better. read more

The best burrito I've ever had in my life. Super flavorful, high quality, and fresh. Also, I highly recommend getting their churros. I have never tasted churros like that before - you can tell that they were just made here. Super amazing food, and decent price, too. read more

Great food, cute place, close to the local theater, friendly staff. I can't get enough of their food. Que yummy!

Best tacos in Oakland!!! I like the great customer service, too. I tried the "impossible" and camarones (shrimp) tacos, and it was AMAZING! Great flavor and texture. I wished I had ordered more because those tacos were that delicious. Overall, I love this place. Xolo will be my go-to spot for tacos and late night food. read more

Xolo - "Impossible" + Camarones Tacos. (~ $3.95/per taco) - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I came in to get a simple breakfast burrito with eggs,beans,potatoes,salsa or jalapeños,cheese, rice,no meat. Shouldn't be hard right? So my options were a Bacon Burrito bacon,eggs,avocado,corn,tomato,jalapeño salsa,scallions, cheese,black beans,rice I asked if I can take the meat out and add potatoes and he said no they can't. Jokingly I asked how hard would that be and he replied "I don't know with a smile" I didn't get the vibe that he was being rude, just friendly small talk. So I went to my next option Chorizo Burrito-chorizo,eggs,potatoes,black beans,cheese,pickled jalapeños, cilantro Again, I asked to take the meat out and he seemed hesitant bu t eventually he said they would be able to do that. I asked to add sour cream and avocado again he hesitated but said okay!! Well I pretty much got a bean burrito with 3 pieces of potato, a small spoon of eggs,minimal cheese, a hint of cilantro, and no sour cream or avocado. I find it hard to mess this up but they did. Sadly my co worker was let down as he also had a similar order to mine. Idk how the rest of the menu is but for my first experience I was let down! read more

Xolo - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

FANTASTIC TACOS !!! Tried the pork, beef and shrimp ( the most famous ones) and they are so so good! Wash that down with a Mexican beer of choice and don't forget to order the nachos with guacamole. It's homemade and so fresh you can taste it ! Honestly, I can't wait to go back and highly recommend it when you crave flavourful tacos which are also well priced ! read more

Xolo - Street view - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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I have mixed feelings about this place only because i'm confused about what type of food i'm supposed to be eating. It's a really popular spot so I was under the impression that they had some fire ass Mexican food, but really I had no clue what kind of food I was eating. Maybe some kind of gentrified fusion Mexican influenced situation, but definitely not good authentic mexican good. I see another comment saying this place gives off SoCal Mexican food vibes so that makes sense. Ambience is cool and it's in a great location. The service is mediocre, they know what kind of crowd they're serving so they don't have to be extra. read more

Update. The food is GOOD. And it's made fast. This must be a difficult location with the paramount theater, fox theater and a cluster of restaurants, so it is GOOD to have the Mexican option. The problem is the portions are small, the food is expensive and the staff seems irritated. read more

The service is fast and the salsa is good. The ambiance is nice and clean. Great spot to go to when in the area.

Crunchy beef tacos hit the spot every time highly recommend those over any other tacos

The food here is pretty dang good! I felt there were a couple blemishes but my dad and I overall enjoyed our experience and would come back. We came here on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. There was a decent line that took about 7 minutes to get through - this place is rightfully popular! The interior is vibrantly colored and decorated, and spacious enough that with all the people there it felt bustling and energetic without being crowded or uncomfortable. My dad and I found a seat upstairs as the ground floor tables were full. (You order at a register when you come in and they give you a number, and then you find a seat and they serve you.) We both ordered 2 pollo tacos, his without cheese. They got that right when the food came, but for whatever reason forgot the pickled onions on mine. We notified our waitress and she brought me some in a small container pretty promptly. Not a big deal that this hiccup occurred but it did delay us eating and we were pretty hungry. The other minor disappointment was that the "cheese" is the shredded type you'd get in a plastic bag from the grocery store. It wasn't melted, and generally (I thought) not very artfully nor thoughtfully integrated into the tacos. All other parts of the taco were phenomenal, and we both quickly devoured them. The chicken was flavorful and slightly crispy, the dab of guacamole was thoughtfully proportioned, and the soft tacos were just that without getting/being soggy. Overall, delicious and reasonably priced (a couple bucks for each taco)! This place would get my business again for sure. I hope they reconsider the quality/type of cheese they use though! read more

Xolo - Pollo Taco - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I'm vegan and the Impossible Tacos here are so tasty! They're so well seasoned. The chips are also amazingly addictive.

This place is great for both meat lovers and vegans. As a vegan I really like their mushroom tacos and burritos. My daughter and I go out of our way to eat here. read more