States Coffee
Coffee shop · Oakland
About States Coffee
At States Coffee, we invite you to experience the vibrant flavors and warm ambiance of our Oakland café. Our outdoor seating area is nestled between two buildings, offering a unique and cozy space to enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine. Our Tacos Oscar menu features authentic dishes like barbacoa, tacos...
At States Coffee, we invite you to experience the vibrant flavors and warm ambiance of our Oakland café. Our outdoor seating area is nestled between two buildings, offering a unique and cozy space to enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine. Our Tacos Oscar menu features authentic dishes like barbacoa, tacos de huevos, and papa, all made with tender love and care using the freshest ingredients. With a focus on bold flavors and creative toppings, every bite is a taste of Mexico with an Oakland twist. Our friendly staff welcomes you to our laid-back café, where you can savor fresh, homemade tortillas and indulge in our signature street food-inspired dishes.
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around States Coffee
States Coffee is located in Oakland, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Museums
- Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (A 767m) — Museum in Oakland, California
Parks & Gardens
- Mosswood Park (A 537m) — park in Oakland, California
- North Oakland Recreation Center (A 559m) — park in Alameda County, California, United States of America
- Oak Glen Park (A 843m) — park in Alameda County, California, United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- The Saw Mill (A 763m) — building in Oakland, California, USA
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Frequently asked questions about States Coffee
States Coffee Oakland Reviews
An absolutely soothing hip taco place that I went with a friend while in Oakland. There is plenty of outdoor seating and an overall serene moody ambience to the place, sophisticated but Bohemian and stylish. The tacos are delightful and the prices are reasonable, and they come with a satisfying mix of flavors. There is a casual rustic chicness here that strikes me (native Coloradoan currently living in Seattle) as being very distinctly California. This is one of my friend's favorite places to eat in Oakland, and I can definitely see why. The strings of exposed lights add a fitting rustic-cool touch.
One of those spots that truly lives up to its reputation and star rating. Excellent brunch tacos as well (we preferred the tacos over the burrito). Definitely grab some of the habanero sauce too.
Tacos Oscar in Oakland is a delightful spot for anyone craving authentic Mexican food. The barbacoa taco was a standout, featuring tender, slow-cooked beef that was rich and flavorful, perfectly complemented by fresh cilantro and onions. The chile verde taco, with its zesty green sauce, offered a nice kick and a bright contrast to the barbacoa. Both tacos were served on warm, handmade tortillas, adding to the overall experience. The casual atmosphere and friendly service make it a great place to enjoy a quick meal. If you're in the area, Tacos Oscar is definitely worth a visit for a taste of delicious, hearty tacos.
What a find! Very refreshing! Flavors are so full of life and vibrant. Will definitely come back for more!!!
The chile verde pork tacos were great. Decided to try the broccoli taco upon suggestion from many people in line. It was pretty good. Definitely worth a try
Such a cute spot with delicious, authentic tacos! We tried the charred broccoli, camote, and the puerco en chile verde—all incredibly flavorful. The dishes tasted like Mexico with a distinct Oakland twist. The decor gave major Mexico City vibes, even the taco plates were colorful. It’s a simple, chill place with thoughtful details throughout.
Very nice place, the tacos were weird and amazing. Loved the differenct flavors and mixes. Must try in Oakland.
What could be better than "permanent" street food! No overly fancy Father's Day brunch for us, just delicious Taco de Huevos (egg) and Tacos de Papa (potato.) The fried eggs were perfectly cooked and both kinds were seasoned just right. Our group decided we need to make time to visit during the week to try their regular menu.
Back again and still awesome. Chips and salsa are fresh. The back patio area has heaters so don't let the cold weather keep you away. Fantastic tacos, laid back vibe and friendly service. We'll definitely be back.
I have to say, Tacos Oscar is a VIBE n’a HALF. Imagine being outdoors between two buildings, with storage containers as functional structures with wood and plastic overhead covering. The way they’ve structured the environment, you are partially indoor with all the perks of eating outside! I’m a nerd for strategy and I noticed that the entry is diagonal to the hallway leading to the bathroom, so no wind tunnels! That’s always tough for outdoor spots and they FIGURED IT OUT. The food is incredible, I ended up trying every taco over two separate trips. The first time, Mara Hruby was spinning vinyl records, and Oscar was serving up food! It was cool to see him in action with amazing music to set the mood for taco success. They are super family friendly so I brought my niece and nephew the following week and they loved the food too! I ended up giving my nephew my fourth taco after he finished three and he wanted more! He just turned 10 and he was about to out eat me! It says a lot because he’s a picky eater. Don’t eat meat? NO PROBLEM. The plant based mushroom taco was so savory and the mole was so good, don’t forget about the chard broccoli (yeah, I said it)! The first time, they sold out so naturally the second time I had to get at least two. All in all, if you are in Oakland and want a chill upscale, taco spot, look no further. If you live in Temescal, shame on you if you haven’t eaten here yet! Juuussstt kidding, but seriously, get up and get tacos. It’ll be worth it. Review, OUT 🚀🌮🥳
I cannot emphasize how good the food here is enough. It’s cooked with so much love by the most talented folks using the most beautiful ingredients. Every time I come here I know I’m in for a really special meal. Thank you to the chefs!!!!!
Tacos Oscar is such a cool little spot — laid-back vibe, friendly staff, and seriously good tacos. Everything tastes super fresh, with creative toppings and bold flavors. It’s the kind of place you stop by for a quick bite and end up hanging out longer than you planned. Simple, tasty, and totally worth it.
The tacos were amazing! I had the chicken, pork, and broccoli which were all amazing! The tortillas are home-made and phenomenal! The broccoli taco was all of our favorite and it had amazing peanut chile oil! We brought our friend’s dog Oscar and the staff brought him a cookie. 10/10 will be back!
Best tacos, rudest cashier (consistent with some of the other reviews). This is based on eating there 11 times in 2025. Came back in 2026 and still the same rude behavior. Shout out to the woman that hands me my take out order with a big smile every single time.
Really appreciate this place for generally having a variety of tasty vegetarian tacos on the menu, a nice interior, and commitment to a "dining for justice" charge to support houseless neighbors. But my food last night was a real disappointment. Mushroom and broccoli tacos were one note and left huge puddles of oil as I ate. The pumpkin on the tostada was cooked to mush and extremely salty. I think I'll take a break for a while, and hope they can make some adjustments.
The dishes were flavourful, but could be unbalanced. For example, in the Charred Broccoli Taco, the taste of the peanuts dominated all other ingredients. The Fermented Habanero Hot Sauce was disappointing. It was just raw spiciness with none of the usual smokey and fruity complexity of habanero.
I’ve visited this restaurant three times. During my first visit, the cashier’s attitude was noticeably rude and unwelcoming, which negatively affected what could have been an otherwise great experience. While the food was excellent, the interaction made it difficult to fully enjoy the visit. My second and third visits were more neutral, but the service still felt underwhelming. This place has the potential to be one of my favorite spots—the quality of the food is genuinely outstanding. However, consistent and welcoming customer service is just as important in creating a great dining experience. As someone who works in customer service, I understand how much atmosphere and attitude matter, especially for a restaurant that has received Michelin recognition. The product is there, but the service needs improvement. I truly hope this is something that can be addressed for future guests.
Haven't had a chance to try the food there because of the rude lady who was taking my order. She gave me an attitude just for asking how spicy taco is! It was an unpleasant experience and I left to eat at another restaurant! I wish this place have different customer approach! I am sure the food is amazing here but be friendly is important as well!
Super trendy (i.e wait in line) taco spot. At lunchtime they only have "brunch" tacos which skew very breakfasty(eggs, potatoes, no meat tacos). Extremely un kid friendly (no high chairs, bean and cheese tacos had a lot of spicy sauce). Tacos were good but tortillas were a little chewy.
The cashier was extremely rude and openly irritated when I asked a simple question, acting as if customers were an inconvenience. The tacos were good, but the burrito was very bland and disappointing. With service like this and uneven food quality, I honestly don’t understand the hype around this place.
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About States Coffee
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420 40th St, Oakland, CA 94609
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420 40th St, Oakland, CA 94609
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