El Talpense Mexican

I'm glad they have a vegan menu! I got the vegan enchilada and the vegan taco.

Great location and seating! Interior settings are very pleasant! Food selections are large and big plates and taste authentic. What is the best is its big vegan selections! Very nice and friendly staff too. If we come to this area again, we will come to this restaurant again.

A great place to get your Mexican food cravings satisfied! Potent and tasty margaritas and salsa. Huge menu. I like the carne asada burrito. My family goes for the varied enchiladas. All good. Just go!

Five stars is not enough! The food is great and affordable! The servers are awesome and friendly. Service is fantastic especially for for people with allergies. Even the food is packed neatly when you get takeout. I wish I could give more stars for this place!

This is a great little mexican restaurant that hits the right price point for a *nice* but not *expensive* lunch next to campus. The food is good, the quantity is excellent, and the dining space is reasonably quiet if you're just off a rush space. It can get rowdy in the evenings if there's a game people are watching, but it's generally just great all around. For a coouple hucks more than everything else in the area the quality can't be beat.

Amazing vibes & food, thank you Eric for the great service!!

Great food, I had the quesabirria tacos. There is an 18% service charge for parties of 5 or more and 3% credit card fee. Limited street parking nearby.

Amazing Mexican restaurant! Very generous portions for a very reasonable price which makes it very student friendly. The staff is particularly amazingly nice! First time going and I already felt like part of a family!!

Great food, good service. I genuiley think this restaurant is a good deal. I love a good California burrito and this place nails it. Try the Birria Quesadilla if you want heartburn. Angel Rodriguez, the owner from Cabanas Cafe, told me I should post more 5 star reviews. So here it is. Check out El Talpense for quality mexican food. 5 stars.

Eric at El Talpense might be our favorite person ever. He made my friend’s birthday so special, and we had such a good time. The food was delicious, highly recommend :)

Taco Tuesdays is amazing. Wonderfully friendly staff, fast service, family friendly outdoor seating. I loved this place. Definitely get the horchata!

Great portions on all the dishes my friends got, and the quesebirria combo I got was delicious. Lots of seating, pretty nice for a larger party.

I absolutely loved the Fajita Suprema! We ordered one fajita and two tacos, and the portions were generous enough to share. The staff was friendly and attentive, and our food arrived quickly. I also appreciated that they served chips and salsa as a complimentary appetizer while we waited. We’ve definitely found our go-to spot for fajitas!

This place was incredible! Owner was very welcoming and very hospitable. If you are in Berkeley or even the Bay Area I would recommend this place!

This place was a nice find. I enjoy my time talking with the staff. The food was so good. I will definitely be back.

This place is the best! I go here all the time, it is my go to Mexican spot. It is great comfort food, and all of their salsas are truly exceptional. My favorite is the enchilada with red sauce. Wonderful vegan and gluten free options as well!

Absolutely love coming here for quick Mexican food. I am a big fan of their super burritos and chicken mole enchiladas.

This old school throwback pulls No punches when it comes family style Mexican food serving up giant plates of excellent Mexican comfort food that has its origins in Jalisco. Opened by two former brothers who ran Celia's, this place keeps their tradition alive with rich tamales, tacos, and enchiladas, and if you ask, they will bring out some of their habanero sauce, but be careful. I recommend this place for people who love old school style Mexican American cuisine, it's not light on calories, but it's not light on flavor either. Good stuff.

Delicious tacos!! Not to mention they hook it up with mouth watering grilled onions that are so perfectly caramelized, I'm getting sweaty just thinking of them! The salsas are equally amazing -I'd recommed the verde which has some decent 🤌 spice 🤌. The Northside establishments have really been hit hard by the pandemic and most foot traffic is focused on Southside, so if you can make the trip and want to support a local business, you won't be dissapointed. The staff are wonderfully attentive and the food is top notch, El Talpense has my SoCal endorsement!

This is the sort of restaurant I hope never changes. It’s the sort of authentic Mexican restaurant that I grew up with, and I hope will grow old with, with the same good comfort food in a familiar comfortable environment. Experienced points of service here as well!

Nia, Lens Go

Taco Tuesdays is amazing. Wonderfully friendly staff, fast service, family friendly outdoor seating. I loved this place. Definitely get the horchata!

Sid Shah

Great portions on all the dishes my friends got, and the quesebirria combo I got was delicious. Lots of seating, pretty nice for a larger party.

Hanna Kang

I absolutely loved the Fajita Suprema! We ordered one fajita and two tacos, and the portions were generous enough to share. The staff was friendly and attentive, and our food arrived quickly. I also appreciated that they served chips and salsa as a complimentary appetizer while we waited. We’ve definitely found our go-to spot for fajitas!

Peytin Ackerman

This place was incredible! Owner was very welcoming and very hospitable. If you are in Berkeley or even the Bay Area I would recommend this place!

Alex Vinogradov

It's my first time here, and I think this restaurant is fantastic. Server Roman provides insightful advice and insights. My aim was to obtain something attractive, affordable, well-liked, and sizable. I believed I had received my request. Suggested!

Raquel Ramsey-Shelton

This place was a nice find. I enjoy my time talking with the staff. The food was so good. I will definitely be back.

Setu Upadhya

This place is the best! I go here all the time, it is my go to Mexican spot. It is great comfort food, and all of their salsas are truly exceptional. My favorite is the enchilada with red sauce. Wonderful vegan and gluten free options as well!

Isabelle Peloso

Absolutely love coming here for quick Mexican food. I am a big fan of their super burritos and chicken mole enchiladas.

P. I.

This old school throwback pulls No punches when it comes family style Mexican food serving up giant plates of excellent Mexican comfort food that has its origins in Jalisco. Opened by two former brothers who ran Celia's, this place keeps their tradition alive with rich tamales, tacos, and enchiladas, and if you ask, they will bring out some of their habanero sauce, but be careful. I recommend this place for people who love old school style Mexican American cuisine, it's not light on calories, but it's not light on flavor either. Good stuff.

Katie Alducin

Delicious tacos!! Not to mention they hook it up with mouth watering grilled onions that are so perfectly caramelized, I'm getting sweaty just thinking of them! The salsas are equally amazing -I'd recommed the verde which has some decent 🤌 spice 🤌. The Northside establishments have really been hit hard by the pandemic and most foot traffic is focused on Southside, so if you can make the trip and want to support a local business, you won't be dissapointed. The staff are wonderfully attentive and the food is top notch, El Talpense has my SoCal endorsement!

Just off the Berkeley campus. The tastiest Mexican food in the Bay area. Atmosphere is casual and can be a bit noisy when they are busy.

[longtime student opinion] Really tasty food, one of my favorites around campus. If you choose to dine in, you should tip, but the burritos they serve for dine-in are enormous and sometimes even last me 1.5 meals. Also a great place to bring large groups. Chips are free (but not unlimited). A bit more expensive than northside La Burrita but wayyy better. Personal favorite is the California burrito.

Kenny Wang

[longtime student opinion] Really tasty food, one of my favorites around campus. If you choose to dine in, you should tip, but the burritos they serve for dine-in are enormous and sometimes even last me 1.5 meals. Also a great place to bring large groups. Chips are free (but not unlimited). A bit more expensive than northside La Burrita but wayyy better. Personal favorite is the California burrito.

Peter Geoghegan

Made a quick visit for lunch. Delicious food, great environment, and friendly staff. Guacamole was so fresh. I loved the al pastor taco with pineapples. Grilled chicken was juicy and flavorful.

Ryan Dalzell

Eaten at this place many a times as a college student here in Berkeley. Some of the most authentic Mexican food anywhere in town. The staff is very nice and always friendly every time I’ve gone. The portion sizes can be a bit large at times but if you want good Mexican food in Berkeley, this is certainly the place to be!

I was taking my son and some of his friends out for a meal. El Talpense always has solid food and can accommodate larger parties pretty easily. Son and friends loved their quesabirria tacos!

I picked mine up, so atmosphere is less important. But as a lifelong El Charro diner, as well as El Tapatio in Pleasant Hill across from DVC, I can say this is the real deal!! I had a chlli rejelleno, shredded beef enchilada, and ground beef taco, all of which were fabulous. Don't miss the traditional lightly pickled slaw - it's great! Thanks for coming to Lafayette.

I really missed MexiCali Rose. So this was the only Mexican place I found that served ground beef. Margaritas do the job. College town with decent parking. Food is good like home style.

We like this place quite a bit. There aren't many sit-down restaurants with table order and table service in the Berkeley area. The wait staff is friendly and treat my young kids really well. The food is good and the portions are large. The prices are very reasonable.

Quite Friday, mid afternoon only 5 tables in use. Food good, waiter personable. Nicely hot, hot sauce. Flautas a little dry. I'd go back.

6/25/22 Today I had the Surf&Turf Burrito wet with salsa verde, this burrito is HUGE! Delicious and filling, don't eat too many chips or you might not finish it? 6/11/22 I tried the Camerones A La Plancha for lunch today, lots of delicious pan fried shrimp, rice and beans, salad and shredded lettuce. 6/4/22 We went there for dinner for the first time. I had the Chile Verde dinner, tender pork and lots of good food! 5/21/22 The Abondigas Soup is really good and tasty with 4 delicious meatballs. 5/8/22 The Birria really hit the spot on a cool spring day! This is a big, filling bowl of beef soup, lots of beef and with the delicious hand made tortillas no room for dessert! 4/24/22 The Super Tacos are just that and even better on Sundays when you can get them with the home made tortillas, they only make the tortillas on Sundays. Just to let every know this is a new restaurant that opened 10-11 months ago. Any reviews older than that seem to reflect the previous restaurant. 4/3/22 I had the street tacos, 4 different fillings, very good! Next time I'll try Super Tacos made with their own tortillas! The owner said that they could make the strret tacos with their own tortillas. 3/20/22 I tried the Carne En Su Jugo, a special dish from the owner's home state of Jalisco and it was delicious! It's a Beef Stew with Bacon, beans and some diced onions and avocado. It also came with some fresh tortillas. They showed me how they made them to order in the kitchen. See the pictures of the process that I took today. 3/13/22 I believe this is a new business that recently opened in place of another Mexican restaurant that closed during the pandemic? So any older reviews shouldn't reflect on El Tapense. 3/13/22 We like the place so much last Sunday that we came back to try some more items that caught our eye on their Menu! First up today was the Vegan Sopa Aztecs, wow, this is creamy and rich soup, more like a stew. Next up was the Abondigas Soup, perfect for a cool and cloudy day. I would order it again when I have had a chance to try other items from their Menu. Last but not least, making a return to the table was the Two Vegan Enchiladas! We can't wait to return next Sunday to try something else from the Menu and we might get to try some fresh house made tortillas! 3/6/22 Our first time eating here at El Talpense. We got there as they opened Sunday. We were drawn to trying out the food since their Menu was 7-8 pages total and included a page of Vegan items, plus everything you would hope to see on a menu for this Mexican restaurant! Single Tacos, Burritos, Huevos Rancheros to entrees and big Combo plates. I had the Chorizo Con Huevo, Al Pastor Taco, chips and guacamole. We have to go back next week to try more items from that big menu. I asked the owner if they are going to have a Vegan version of the Chorizo Con Huevo? They are working on it to get the results same as the one I had today!

The waitstaff at this restaurant were very friendly and frequently came by to check on how our meal was. They were proactive in refilling our complimentary chips and salsa, which were incredibly delicious and hard to stop eating. I ordered their Mexican tamale, which was extremely tasty. It had a good balance of lean meat and not too much fatty pork. Additionally, the addition of cheese on the outside added a lot of flavor to the dish.

Birria tacos were the best I’ve ever had!

Erik H

6/25/22 Today I had the Surf&Turf Burrito wet with salsa verde, this burrito is HUGE! Delicious and filling, don't eat too many chips or you might not finish it? 6/11/22 I tried the Camerones A La Plancha for lunch today, lots of delicious pan fried shrimp, rice and beans, salad and shredded lettuce. 6/4/22 We went there for dinner for the first time. I had the Chile Verde dinner, tender pork and lots of good food! 5/21/22 The Abondigas Soup is really good and tasty with 4 delicious meatballs. 5/8/22 The Birria really hit the spot on a cool spring day! This is a big, filling bowl of beef soup, lots of beef and with the delicious hand made tortillas no room for dessert! 4/24/22 The Super Tacos are just that and even better on Sundays when you can get them with the home made tortillas, they only make the tortillas on Sundays. Just to let every know this is a new restaurant that opened 10-11 months ago. Any reviews older than that seem to reflect the previous restaurant. 4/3/22 I had the street tacos, 4 different fillings, very good! Next time I'll try Super Tacos made with their own tortillas! The owner said that they could make the strret tacos with their own tortillas. 3/20/22 I tried the Carne En Su Jugo, a special dish from the owner's home state of Jalisco and it was delicious! It's a Beef Stew with Bacon, beans and some diced onions and avocado. It also came with some fresh tortillas. They showed me how they made them to order in the kitchen. See the pictures of the process that I took today. 3/13/22 I believe this is a new business that recently opened in place of another Mexican restaurant that closed during the pandemic? So any older reviews shouldn't reflect on El Tapense. 3/13/22 We like the place so much last Sunday that we came back to try some more items that caught our eye on their Menu! First up today was the Vegan Sopa Aztecs, wow, this is creamy and rich soup, more like a stew. Next up was the Abondigas Soup, perfect for a cool and cloudy day. I would order it again when I have had a chance to try other items from their Menu. Last but not least, making a return to the table was the Two Vegan Enchiladas! We can't wait to return next Sunday to try something else from the Menu and we might get to try some fresh house made tortillas! 3/6/22 Our first time eating here at El Talpense. We got there as they opened Sunday. We were drawn to trying out the food since their Menu was 7-8 pages total and included a page of Vegan items, plus everything you would hope to see on a menu for this Mexican restaurant! Single Tacos, Burritos, Huevos Rancheros to entrees and big Combo plates. I had the Chorizo Con Huevo, Al Pastor Taco, chips and guacamole. We have to go back next week to try more items from that big menu. I asked the owner if they are going to have a Vegan version of the Chorizo Con Huevo? They are working on it to get the results same as the one I had today!

Senwei Liang

The waitstaff at this restaurant were very friendly and frequently came by to check on how our meal was. They were proactive in refilling our complimentary chips and salsa, which were incredibly delicious and hard to stop eating. I ordered their Mexican tamale, which was extremely tasty. It had a good balance of lean meat and not too much fatty pork. Additionally, the addition of cheese on the outside added a lot of flavor to the dish.

Lysha S

Birria tacos were the best I’ve ever had!

Great service. Respectful staff. Food was amazing. Free chips and salsa.

This is one of the few sit down restaurants with wait staff service that is super close to UC Berkeley's campus, which is a big plus. They've got a to-go window as well, if you are jonesing for a burrito and want to leave quickly. The menu is a very standard Mexican restaurant menu. There are various combos to mix and match for a meal; taco, tamale, enchilada, flautas. Up to three items on the large combo plate with a good amount of rice and beans as well. The only downside is the price of those combos, which can get pretty high. Burritos will run about $15-20, which is a little high, but makes sense considering you're also getting help from wait staff, and complimentary chips and salsa. Most recently, I sat for lunch and ordered a chicken fajita burrito and an iced tea. The team was refilled multiple times, and they brought some extra types of salsas for the burrito if I wanted to try them out. I paid around $30 total after tip. I frequently see large groups of people dining there, as well as small groups and single diners.

Located in northside, this restaurant provides the best Mexican food in Berkeley. I have gone around and tried all the restaurants around campus but come here for their well seasoned meat, delicious chips, and the fun atmosphere for Taco Tuesdays. Their margaritas are huge and delicious, and enchiladas and al pastor quesadilla were my favorite. Not all menu items are created equally; the tacos were alright but better for the area, and the sopes were not seasoned well. But they have great comfort food that is on par with street vendors in LA. It is hard to request a catering order though. Their seafood is good. Decent bathroom.

Pete Marsden

This is one of the few sit down restaurants with wait staff service that is super close to UC Berkeley's campus, which is a big plus. They've got a to-go window as well, if you are jonesing for a burrito and want to leave quickly. The menu is a very standard Mexican restaurant menu. There are various combos to mix and match for a meal; taco, tamale, enchilada, flautas. Up to three items on the large combo plate with a good amount of rice and beans as well. The only downside is the price of those combos, which can get pretty high. Burritos will run about $15-20, which is a little high, but makes sense considering you're also getting help from wait staff, and complimentary chips and salsa. Most recently, I sat for lunch and ordered a chicken fajita burrito and an iced tea. The team was refilled multiple times, and they brought some extra types of salsas for the burrito if I wanted to try them out. I paid around $30 total after tip. I frequently see large groups of people dining there, as well as small groups and single diners.

P.R RAY

Located in northside, this restaurant provides the best Mexican food in Berkeley. I have gone around and tried all the restaurants around campus but come here for their well seasoned meat, delicious chips, and the fun atmosphere for Taco Tuesdays. Their margaritas are huge and delicious, and enchiladas and al pastor quesadilla were my favorite. Not all menu items are created equally; the tacos were alright but better for the area, and the sopes were not seasoned well. But they have great comfort food that is on par with street vendors in LA. It is hard to request a catering order though. Their seafood is good. Decent bathroom.

Food was definitely not it when I went there. I think I ordered a mango taco/burrito (definitely one of the vegetarian/vegan options). I can’t say I enjoyed it that much though because it was pretty bland. This was a while back, though, so maybe I’d be open to try again.

Food was really good. A little expensive but hey were in Berkeley. A little disappointed in the happy hour. It started pretty late so we know next time to come later. My biggest gripe is the booths. They are WAY too small. My guest and I both had the table digging into our ribs. Almost asked to move to a table but we had requested a booth so I let it slide.

Manthan Shah

Food was definitely not it when I went there. I think I ordered a mango taco/burrito (definitely one of the vegetarian/vegan options). I can’t say I enjoyed it that much though because it was pretty bland. This was a while back, though, so maybe I’d be open to try again.

I see all the great reviews, but I thought it was just okay. And I just got back from over a month in Mexico. I also think the prices are out of whack for the location, service and food quality. I spend a lot of time in this area, but I doubt I'll be back. edit after hearing from the owner: dude, I do live in the area and I know how to value food quality and service against the cost, and I know Mexican food very well. remarking on the value of the meal has zero to do with my budget. a word of advice for you: don't disrespect your customers. now you're at 2 stars from me

TERRIBLE experience and incredibly unprofessional staff who think life-threatening food allergies are a joke, and throw temper tantrums if you ask for clarification.. My friend has a severe peanut allergy (anaphylactic), and she has been hospitalized due to cross-contamination at other restaurants. When she asked the waiter if peanuts were used in the kitchen, he was dismissive and vague, initially saying there were none, then mentioning there might be some in the mole sauce. He didn’t give a clear answer and even joked about the allergy, telling us to "relax" and that "no one has died here." He then brought our drinks and jokingly said they had peanuts in them, saying, "Here’s your peanut margarita." Who does that?? When my friend decided not to eat for safety reasons, HE THREW HER DISH in the trash in front of her and said, “fine, then don’t.” All we did was ask for clarification on an allergy!! A temper tantrum is completely unacceptable, especially from someone who may have been the manager. We wanted to be safe since we've gotten burned at other restaurants. This was an eye-opening experience. Our soccer group has been coming here for years, but after this, we will NEVER return. The staff is rude, dismissive of serious allergies, and undoubtedly unprofessional. If you have any food allergies, I strongly advise you to AVOID this place.They think life-threatening allergies are a joke and they're in the food business.

One member of our party got food 45 minutes after the rest. Then no less than 2 minutes after her food came, they asked if she wanted a to go box. Very poor service and food not too good either. Addendum - the restaurant then charged for 8x the missing dinner!! (No joke!). If you are looking for good Mexican food, I would recommend el Jarro across the street!

I have a hunch that the older gentleman, possibly the owner, might be racist. While I enjoyed the food, his behavior has been consistently rude on multiple occasions. Reading some of the other reviews, it seems like he’s just a jerk. I sent my margarita back because it was watery, and he snatched it away from me in a very rude manner, rolling his eyes at me. Despite being a loyal customer, I’ve decided to end my patronage. The high prices of the food are simply too much to endure such treatment. Also almost $30 for a burrito and side of sour cream is crazy 😂

Worst service I have ever experienced. The staff made it abundantly clear they did not want our business. We were made to feel unwelcome and completely ignored while standing at the entrance. After five minutes of being treated like we weren't there, we left. It's shocking that in this day and age, a business can be so openly discriminatory. If you are not their preferred type of customer, don't expect to be served.

Chang Liu

Worst service I have ever experienced. The staff made it abundantly clear they did not want our business. We were made to feel unwelcome and completely ignored while standing at the entrance. After five minutes of being treated like we weren't there, we left. It's shocking that in this day and age, a business can be so openly discriminatory. If you are not their preferred type of customer, don't expect to be served.