A true Bakersfield gem. Great food and atmosphere. Beautiful interior in both the main restaurant and the bar.

It is a great family friendly restaurant with a bar and good parking friendly staff good prices good seating been a staple in the community for years highly recommend

Mexicali is and will always be my favorite restaurant. I went back after being gone from Bakersfield for 14 years and nothing has changed - incredible food, exemplary friendly staff, great atmosphere. I've never had anything bad there and I'm sure if I did, the team would make it right. I recommend enchiladas, tamal plate, any of their burritos. Still my favorite salsa in the whole of the US.

The food was expensive the staff was awesome in the parking was Great. Regards Johnson Michael

Mexicali was busy but quickly got a table on a Sunday. They have a brunch menu separate from their regular menu. You have to try it...amazing food. I ordered small menudo and it was honey combed and delicious. The tamale was juicy big and flavorful . Brunch orders come with fresh mexican bread and choice of dessert. The meal is your pick of four choices. Yummy. Champagne is also offered with brunch. Our server was Marianne and she was very attentive. Will be back. Best in Bakersfield.

The margarita chicken was incredible. The atmosphere was perfect. They accommodated our large party easily, but would also be great for date night. The food came out quickly and was done well.

The food is always consistently great. The service is the BEST. The Ambiance & Atmosphere is very refreshing and relaxing. It’s a Family Owned Restaurant & they make you feel like you are a part of the family. I’ve been going there Mexicali West ( which has been sold ) & the original Mexicali Restaurant on 18th Street for more than 45 years. They do get very busy so I highly suggest you calling them to schedule your appointment with them for a table whether it’s during the week or the weekend. Call for an appointment or you might have a long wait for a table BUT, they will accommodate you no matter what & they do it with a smile.

Fast friendly service food was so good and very reasonable prices

Love this place! Fantastic food and amazing customer service! Bartenders are always extremely friendly!

Nostalgia. Nachos are always a standout. Much different and spicier than ordinary nachos. Going here almost 60 years.

The interior design is very stylish

I love stopping here for the chorizo and egg plate during lunch time. The staff has always been kind and quick to bring water and take my order. Parking isn't great, but it's not a deal breaker.

I had the beef enchiladas, with beans and a chili reinello. The food was very tasty, service was delightful, friendly waitress, and good drinks. Also priced very good 👍

Mexicali is by far the best Mexican Food I've Had In Bakersfield.

Great food! Always the flan is on point and celebrating your birthday! So many items of fresh food to choose from!

+1

Delicious food!! Love this iconic restaurant. ❤️

Food was great.. thank you Nichole for taking care of us 😉

My fave spot in town for Mexican! It’s always so good. Everyone is so welcoming and loving. I have been coming here for as long as I can remember. It like home. Definitely try it!

My first time experience. Great service and atmosphere.

A bakersfield institution. It's been here forever. Synonymous with bakersfield, if you mention Mexicali to bakersfield, native, they will know where it's at without question.

Excellent food and plenty of it! Service was great as well.

The food and service are great and it's a nice place to meet friends. The drinks are strong, food portions are generous and the staff aims to please !

This is one of the few things Bakersfield can be proud of. The food was excellent and flavorful without being "hot for the heat" that a lot of Mexican restaurants aim for now. The staff accommodated our family party and the service was excellent. We'd used to go to their second location, now closed, but it makes me happy the original restaurant is still there doing things the Bakersfield Mexicali way. Much respect.

Same delicious food since I was a kid! Waitress was friendly and attentive! Always a lovely experience ❤❤❤

Family and friends should be going there since the 60s. The tradition of it is unbelievable that's why everybody loves it. Whenever we're in Bakersfield we try to stop there for lunch or dinner. The whole family has their favorite number on the menu. And always the service has been excellent they do everything they can for you never make you wait for anything. And are always gracious I think this is the third generation of this family that runs it. Here again the tradition of going there brings back so many memories for my family and friends we try to even introduce our next Generation to that tradition so it will continue.

I've been here twice since visiting bakersfield,the food is very good and what I would consider texmex lol but I don't think that applies to California foods, all in all the waitress was kind and very attentive,the food was delicious and the atmosphere and music were a solid 10. I really enjoyed myself, and I absolutely plan on coming back.

I phoned in my order for take-out as I was staying at the Best Western just behind the restaurant. They just opened their outdoor seating if you wish to dine in. The lunch special was great. I ordered a few extra tacos to eat later that day but the sauce they used for the enchiladas is my favorite - same that my grandma uses. Staff were very kind and speedy. I’ll definitely order again when I’m back in the area.

Mexicali has been a Bakersfield tradition for generations. Delicious food. Wonderful staff. A beautiful restaurant. We've never been disappointed. Very highly recommended.

I discovered it on Google Maps today. It was decorated in cute Valentines’ Day decorations. The food was excellent and our waitress was very nice. Check them out. Oh - and order the Enchiladas Suizas. So good!

Stopped be for lunch today with a friend, the food was good and the server was nice however the manager Santos was an absolute sweetheart. You can tell the restaurant is ran by someone who genuinely cares about the success of the restaurant and happy customers and staff. 10/10!

I tell people that I went from milk to Mexicali, Chinese and Basque. All three of the restaurants have been here well over 50 years and still going! Thanks for the memories.

I love this restaurant The food is amazing and the service is even better.

Alisha Blake

We love the bar area best margaritas and bomb salsa chesse enchilada with onion yum!!

Patricia Leal

We had a cozy dinner together last night on a drizzly Bakersfield night and the inviting decor makes you feel welcome. We were greeted with a smiling employee and were seated at once in a quiet area near the front windows which made our visit seem more pleasant and intimate. We had chips and salsa (red and green). I ordered a margarita rocks, refreshing! Steve had a plate of chorizo and eggs with beans and rice on the side. I ordered enchiladas suizas with shredded beef with rice and beans. We both enjoyed our experience and intend on returning to order different things on their extensive menu in future. The Muzak playing is a great mix of 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. This is a great place for larger groups or the intimate 2 person party.

Aaron Carter

Was having a rough day. It was Christmas Eve, dad was in the hospital with no ticket home in sight, everything was closed, and I was alone. Sat at the bar, and I don't think I was there more than a couple minutes before being invited into multiple conversations and treated like a friend. And I didn't tell anyone why I was there. Good people make life worth living... worth loving.

Jeff Allmon

Always great food and strong drinks. Mexicali is that iconic local brand of Mexican food that is made with the best ingredients. Warm Chips & Salsa welcome you within a minute of seating. A top restaurant to work at because their committed staff have been there for a decade plus. Thank you for the consistently awesome food and drinks with wonderful atmosphere to dine in!

Heather Slay

Always a hit, the "old lunch special" taco enchilada rice n beans is excellent. Tacos always crunchy never soggy! Try the beans extra refried you will not regret it!

YaquiGirl American

We love coming here. We really enjoy the food and service.

+17

Frances Madrigal

While visiting in Bakersfield me and my sister-in-law enjoyed food and margaritas several times at Mexicali. I haven't been there since I was a kid. We ordered an enchilada, taco, rice and bean plate. It was pretty darn big and delicious. Just like the margaritas! We were lucky to always get the same waitress. She is wonderful. Until next time!

Tony DeMarco

Visited the Downtown Mexicali recently. Excellent lunch and fantastic service. Melon margarita was excellent as well.

Anne Oakes

Our favorite restaurant in Bakersfield. Whenever we travel from Washington to the Bakersfield area…it’s a must to stop and get their nachos and their enchiladas. We dream about it when we go home waiting until we can visit again.

Kathryn Parker

This is a time capsule. Very surprising. The food was amazing, plentiful, and fast. You gotta visit here!

+5

Katrina Ashworth

We stopped for some dinner at Mexicali before a long journey up to Sequoia national park. Enjoyed my margarita and chips while waiting for our to-go order. Had a great conversation with the owner too!! The restaurant was super busy with locals and visitors but everyone felt like family!!

John Haberkern

Been coming here for years and I've always had a great meal. It's always fresh and hot. The workers are always very nice and give excellent service. Mexicali makes one of the best margaritas you'll find anywhere! Their salsa is mild, I like to mix it into an order of guacamole, it’s really good. Mexicali has been a staple in Bakersfield for over 65 years, they always do it right.

+9

Great food and good service. Sat at the bar and had a very good drink. It did take a while to have someone offer us food, but once we ordered, it went fast and the chips and salsa were good. Definitely an older spot, and parking is tough, but worth it.

Very nice restaurant, food is good. Not as much fine as my expectations but can say good. Service is really nice. Warm welcoming and serving lady was taking care of us completely fine as professional way.

Good food & great margaritas

The food and service are completely on point. This place is quite popular and the only part I found to be irritating was the 45 min wait to be seated and only because I was hungry. The staff were friendly, quick to serve and efficient. Margaritas were good though a little weak in my opinion, others may find them just right. The restaurant, parking lot and bathrooms were clean and stocked. I have since gone back for lunch and it was a better experience with less people. I realized in that 2nd visit the dinner crowd are quite packed in.

Last week, I met a friend at Mexicali for lunch. I haven't eaten at Mexicali in a few years and as before, everything was great! I had beef tacos, rice and beans. I tend to stick to the basics. Our server was wonderful, she was on top of everything. I was somewhat surprised how quickly our meals arrived, given it was a little after noon. Because it was lunchtime on a weekday, parking was a bit of a challenge and that says something about Mexicali. If you approach a restaurant during the lunch hours and the parking lot is full, you know you are at the right place.

Food was good but a little overpriced. Service was good too.

Went on a Tuesday night. Popular place with locals. They seemed to be seating all the parties toward one end of the room, so things got noisy. Food was ok. Salsa was thin and non-descript. Food offerings were typical, but well made and portions were good. Seafood enchiladas were well filled, as were the tacos. Wine selection is limited but very well chosen (including a Mexican chardonnay, which was excellent), and very reasonably priced. Appetizers seemed expensive, but entrees were about normal for this kind of place. Decor was a little much, Christmas stuff the first week of November!

Even though this was my 1st trip to Bakersfield. I made it to Mexicali twice. the staff was very friendly. The food (chimichanga and fried burrito), margaritas were pretty good.

Tried this place for first time. It was decent. I got an appetizer of chicken flautas that was really good, ordered the 2 burrito combo plate, got ground beef for both. The burrito meat was bland, would be nice if something other than meat was in burrito as well, maybe cheese or beans or rice. The side of rice was bland, had to add salt and pepper, same with beans. Overall food wasn't bad, but it wasn't what i was expecting. The service was outstanding, the server was kind and very knowledgeable of the menu. The restaurant looked clean and organized.

Marianne Gray

There for lunch and they decorated very beautifully for Christmas time.

+1

David Sanders

We have been to a few Mexican resultants n Bakersfield had mixed results! This restaurant has an all around good flavor and generous portions ! We ordered guacamole! OMG it has great flavor and garish on top “no fillers”!! Good place to eat!

Angie SD

I got the molé as a recommendation by staff and they were NOT wrong! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I was told the molé is a seasonal dish only here for the month of December, annually. Our waiter was excellent. We were able to be seated immediately upon arrival on a Sunday during typical peak hours. For dessert we had the Buñelo Supreme ( whipped cream, ice cream in a Kahlua bath) Fantastic!

Friend found a nice long THICK hair under his burrito and rice. Service was great, however food safety needs a bit of work there.

Nice place to grab a bite the drinks are very good But go there for the chips and salsa!

Good but it felt like they are not even trying anymore to be popular. The huge signs probably attract enough of a crowd. Food was decent, although I've had better. $11.50 for a simple guacamole is too much. Service was good and fast, but my waiter acted a little arrogant and very routine. Ok, just not something to write home about.

A lot of the negative reviews complain about it not being “authentic” Mexican food and I feel the regulars who come here know that. Food is ok but the prices don’t justify it anymore. My parents said it used to be better in the 90s and I believe people come here mainly for nostalgia.

Food is really white wash very disappointing

Mexicali offers an affordable, casual Mexican food fix in Bakersfield, albeit with mediocre execution on the actual cuisine. What the restaurant may lack in authentic flavor and cooking finesse, they compensate for with huge portions, low prices, and stiff margaritas that don't hold back on the tequila. Given the cheap prices and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, I would gladly return to this neighborhood favorite.

I came here with an open mind. The service was amazing and our waitress was kind whenever my party and I would ask for something. The issue is the food, which I’ve seen be a common problem in other reviews. I tried the albondigas and fajitas. The soup itself was decent, but the tenderness of the meat was overshadowed by how salty it was. The fajitas came out in a very anticlimactic manner, one I wasn’t used to as they were lightly warm. Again, the service was amazing but the food lacks authenticity. Even the salsa they gave with the chips wasn’t that good. It tasted bland and was super watery.

This is my favorite, bar none, Mexican restaurant ever. We go here at least weekly, if I have a birthday or occasion, this is my choice. We met friends for lunch today, four people total, we ordered the smooth guacamole got the chunky, no biggie. We asked for a replacement and they brought the creamy but no extra chips, we had to ask for extra chips. Ok, ordered two double margaritas blended with salt, one regular margarita blended with salt, and one regular margarita on the rocks with salt. We got two double non blended margaritas, and the one on the rocks had no salted rim. We got 3 out of 4 drink orders right. If you go to Mexicali on a regular basis, their drinks are expensive. I’m ok paying the price but please bring what we order. We asked for separate checks but asked that drinks be put on our tab. Got the check on one tab, everything on our tab. Now our lunch tab was $225 which is kind of up there without a tip. We just don’t habitually spend $225 plus tip on lunch but if we do, we expect excellent service, excellent food, and an elevated dining experience. This was nothing that I would expect from this establishment that I have loved for years. If your service and quality continues to decline, we will lose the last of the Mexicali restaurants. Please remember Stella, Ruben, Luis, and the old time servers that brought personality to your dining experience. It all makes your restaurant above just a regular Mexican restaurant. Please do better so us loyal customers can continue to enjoy your restaurant. These hiccups are inexcusable at 1:30 non crowded lunch.

Mexicali came highly recommended, but unfortunately, our experience didn't meet expectations. The salsa leaned towards a canned crushed tomato flavor with medium heat, and the guacamole seemed to lack depth and additional ingredients. The tacos tasted good but not traditional. The rice was kinda dry. The beans were nice. The frozen strawberry daiquiri was in the wrong kind of glass with no whipped cream or any kind of decoration, etc, and had 2 coffee straws in it. The location and decor are nice. The service was pretty good. The waitress was nice, and I tipped.

Dorothy Keenan

Mexicali came highly recommended, but unfortunately, our experience didn't meet expectations. The salsa leaned towards a crushed tomato flavor, and the guacamole seemed to lack depth and additional ingredients. The queso, unfortunately, arrived slightly burnt. We ordered both an on-the-rocks and a frozen Margarita. If I were you, I'd recommend sticking to the frozen option. On a positive note, the enchiladas were a redeeming factor and the service was good.

Brittany “Bee” Rivera

I hate not being able to give restaurants with good food 5 stars. This restaurant is so nostalgic and has pretty good food for the most part! We've come here for years, but have limited it to only a couple times recently because of poor service. Our waitresses have been unfriendly and slow. The food is good - my only real complaint is the guacamole and salsa (not the pico) taste like they come from a tube. C'mon Mexicali... Would love to update this review the next time we visit!

My boyfriend told me about this restaurant and how much his family used to enjoy it, so we chose there to eat for our date night. Beautiful atmosphere, things were great until we got our food. My boyfriend ordered a burrito which was just shredded beef in a soggy tortilla, to which be could only eat half before calling it quits. So we shared my plate until the light at our table went out. The waiter came over and trying to be kind started messing with the light fixture which resulted in my plate being covered with some dust. My boyfriend and I just decided to leave at that point. The staff was helpful and voided my meal that was covered by dust. The situation was handled well. I wanted to have a good experience and believe it can be achieved, first with the quality of the food.

Mexican restaurants must have a decent margarita. You would think by now this very old and established Mexican restaurant would have an excellent one. They failed miserably by using their own in-house awful tequila. It was so bad we sent it back to have it made with a Silver Call tequila that the waitress said would be great. That didn't help either. I don't think I should pay double for a margarita. So I won't be going back. PS the food was great, so if that's all you want five stars to you. Have it with water.

The manager was rude and disrespectful. The place look legit though. Prices are a bit expensive but the food is pretty good.

Worst Mexican food I’ve ever had. Had a layover on Amtrak so I thought I’d order a burrito to go instead of what’s offered on the train. I grew up in the Central Valley so I know Mexican food. This ain’t it. Bland as hell, whitewashed, and overpriced.

Probably the worst food I've ever had at a restaurant. I didn't think you could mess up rice and refried beans. The beef taco was the only thing edible. The Chile rellenos tasted old. Prices were very high as well. A "double magarita" was $24, and you couldn't even taste the tequila.

First we were told that a reservation for 8 required and automatic 18% gratuity. Then we could not be seated unless four were present. Service was extremely slow (seated by 4:30 dinners did not arrive until after six. I pointed our my taquitos were dry, waxy inedible waitresses response was "that's how taquitos come". Rice was dry, beans were glued to the plate. I gave two stars only because this place is a Bakersfield institution but please do better. Not my choice to eat here because in 40 years I have never had an outstanding meal here but I will fight harder next time to go elsewhere. Waitress: snippy, non smiling and basically unfriendly. Bus persons: chatty, engaging and helpful. They deserved my 18% TIP. Waitress did not.

We’ve enjoyed Mexicali for years. We took my nephew and his wife who came to visit from out of state here for dinner. We paid for all of our food. (1 taco rice and beans, 3 item platter, 2 item platter, cheese quesadilla, enchilada meal, and a mexican pizza. 4 of us got sodas to drink and the other two drank water. Our bill total was $170!!!!! That was without gratuity. I paid the bill without looking at the balance until we got home since we were busy visiting. I compared their online menu prices with our bill and it doesn’t add up. We were overcharged by $40. I also gave them a nice tip on top of that. I was already upset with the waiter because he was giving me a hard time when it came my turn to order. He kept saying “what?” I can’t hear you multiple times to the point EVERYONE at the table was telling him my order which was just a taco rice and beans meal. I’m not sure if we’ll ever return. Definitely didn’t receive $170 worth of food for 6 people and the food was just ok. I recently fed over 20 people for $300 at Chipotle and it was a much better experience. So sad because we’ve always enjoyed eating there. :(

David Gipson

So it’s been many years since I had Mexicali and tonight I was reminded it’s mediocre at best. It’s also soooo overpriced for what it is. My chili verde was dry and the rice looked white and didn’t have any flavor. My GF didn’t even finish hers and I normally polish off her leftovers but even I pushed it away. She said the taco was ok but hated the enchiladas. I think there’s many who enjoy this place but for me I think I’d choose any other Mexican restaurant in town before I come here. For two entrees and two drinks it was almost $100 with tip which to me is overpriced for the cuisine. Staff was nice and pretty attentive until they got way too busy but no real complaints about anything other than the food.

Great atmosphere. Had high hopes of this place. The food is not too good though. Had the pizzadilla with beans and rice, not so tasty. My wife got the Chile Verde burrito and Chile Colorado burrito (small burritos combo). This place is a landmark for Bakersfield but the food needs reevaluation.

Food was incredibly Bland. All 3 meals at our table were substantially lacking.

Terrible food and service! Ordered 4 meals over the phone and paid over the phone. When I got to the restaurant only 3 of the meals had been prepared. I reordered the 4th. The shredded beef tasted like it had been boiled. The taco shells were greasy and soggy. The enchilada was of poor quality. A waste of money. This place used to be awesome about 10 years ago.

I walked in, sat down at 7:59 & the bartender looks at me & tells me “we’re closed sorry” I asked “even the restaurant?” He said “yes we close at 8:00.” I said ok. My friend came in & I told her they were closed & we decided we’d go elsewhere but she had to use the restroom. In the meantime, the bartender & waitress start complaining in Spanish about “people standing around expecting to be served when we’re closed…how the restaurant just sends them over here when they should just kick them out…” It was a while because my friend had to wait for 3 other intoxicated women to finish in the restroom. As they came out they sat at the bar & overhead the bartender & waitress & said “but you won’t kick us out right cuz we’ve been here drinking for hours” laughing & he said “of course not.” I occasionally meet friends there but I won’t anymore. There was no need for the rude comments especially after I was completely polite & didn’t even ask to be served. The times I’ve gone I leave a huge tip…never again.

Don't get the New York steak! I ordered it medium rare and I had a hard time cutting it with the knife. And an even harder time chewing it. The portions are very small. I noticed they double plate your food to make it look like more than what it really is. I paid close to $40 for a steak I wouldn't give a dog 🤬

So disappointed me and my hubby went here and the food was not authentic at all. salsa tasted like tomato sauce, chile relleno was made with cheddar cheese inside and out. No spice in anything . This is not a Mexican restaurant hopefully they do better all around in the future. service and decor is nice tho but that’s all unfortunately.

I came in with a large party and was immediately turned off. Something about the staff was just "off" and they weren't as friendly as I expected. I've been to plenty of restaurants where the staff go out of their way to make diners feel welcome but Mexicali wasn't the place. The waitress needs to work on her attitude and customer service skills. When the orders were taken, I guess she didn't see me; she disappeared in the back and never came back to take my order. As far as the food, it was just ok. There was nothing special about my enchilada meal; it was pretty mediocre. I think people are compelled to dine here because it's a well-established restaurant but I've honestly had better Mexican food elsewhere.

This was my first time here. Service wasn't great. Had to ask for a drink after i showed up to meet a group. We then had to ask to clear some of our table from empty dishes. Once food came out the waitress put a hot plate in reach of my friends baby. The meat nachos were almost meatless. I would consider this location for maybe the bar area, but never for a dine in experience. The table next to us hardly had service as well. It wasn't that busy and there was more than enough staff to accommodate the tables throughout. Being our entire table is in the food industry and we understand that, we tipped, but it most definitely wasn't earned.

Ordered a Nacho this evening to go. As I began to enjoy my meal I found a LONG BLACK hair and a smaller hair in my Nacho. Needless to say I was disappointed. Are hair nets optional? Caution when eating at this place. So in the trash it went They were closed by the time I had my meal. No second chances.

First time trying this place never again. Over priced and food had no flavor

I sat in a chair that had a nail poking out of the side, and got injured. The manager/owner came and made light of it. And walked away. I wanted our bill taken care of, and she refused. This will escalate to the media for sure.

Ordered carne asada burrito & carne asada enchilada w rice & beans & that's all there was in the burrito & enchilada no cheese ,onion,cilantro nothing just the meat...very bland

Soup was salty, salsa was something you buy in a jar at the store and the chips had a funny aftertaste. I have been married to a Mexican for 38 years and that is fake Mexican food for people that don’t know what authentic Mexican food is supposed to taste like but not only that it didn’t taste good. Just visiting Bakersfield and won’t go back to this restaurant again. Sorry 👎🏻

Isamar Collazo

My husband was at work ,called ahead to ask if they do burritos they said yes they do but they do wet burritos. He asked if he could get one but not wet just the burrito they said we dont do that but we will this one time only but they seem frustrated about it like what is so hard you are still making the same burrito but not smothered in salsa , anyway so he placed his order got to the location earlier than expected (he was on his lunch break) so he asked if he could eat there ,the rude manager stated that no because he had ordered by phone and if he wanted to eat there he had to order at the table.(never heard of that but ok i guess) but the tone she gave off was just rude and made him uncomfortable..it was his first and last time going there ..when they gave him the food he did state he felt discrimination because maybe he was refused to eat there due to him being in work uniform.. we will never be going to this place .. plus the $18 burrito is not worth the price burrito was smaller than his hand...over priced and worst service

Paula Piltz

The salsa tastes like ketchup. I ordered fajitas and it came in a serving bowl, like a stew. Nothing had any taste. I think Taco Bell would have been a better option. My husband that never complained said he would have asked for hot sauce if the waitress ever came back.