Canasta Kitchen

Mexican restaurant · West End

Canasta Kitchen

Mexican restaurant · West End

3

1544 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501

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Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by Lani Conway
Canasta Kitchen by @TheInfatuation
Canasta Kitchen by Lani Conway
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null
Canasta Kitchen by null

Highlights

This laid-back spot serves a mouthwatering array of tacos and burritos all day, boasting a charming patio and a loyal following for its flavorful offerings.  

Featured in The Infatuation
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1544 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501 Get directions

canastakitchen.com
@canastakitchen

$$$$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

1544 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501 Get directions

+1 510 217 8458
canastakitchen.com
@canastakitchen
𝕏
@canastakitchen

$$$$$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
wifi
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 5, 2025

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@infatuation

"The Alameda outpost of this Concord-based Mexican restaurant serves everything from ceviche to burritos and antojitos, which are all totally solid—but this spot stands out for their excellent quesabirria. The meat is textbook perfection (flavor-packed, tender, juicy), complemented by gooey cheese and crisped tortilla shells. It’s $15.95 for three, including the small cup of dipping broth. A no-fuss meal at Canasta Kitchen is quick, laid-back and made even better by one of their stellar margaritas. " - julia chen 1, lani conway

The 25 Best Restaurants In Alameda
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@infatuation

"The Alameda outpost of this Concord-based Mexican restaurant serves everything from ceviche to burritos and antojitos, which are all totally solid—but this spot stands out for their excellent quesabirria. The meat is textbook perfection (flavor-packed, tender, juicy), complemented by gooey cheese and crisped tortilla shells. It’s $15.95 for three, including the small cup of dipping broth. A no-fuss meal at Canasta Kitchen is quick, laid-back, and made even better by one of their stellar margaritas." - Lani Conway

Canasta Kitchen Review - Alameda - San Francisco - The Infatuation
View Postcard for Canasta Kitchen
@infatuation

"This Mexican restaurant based in Concord expanded into Alameda, and serves everything from ceviche to burritos and antojitos. They have excellent birria tacos, too. For $5.98, you’ll get a takeout box packed with two cheesy tacos (cheese is a $1 extra), a ton of limes and radishes, and a small cup of broth. Chips and salsa are included on the side. If you’re looking for a solid birria deal, this is it." - julia chen 1, lani conway

Best Birria Tacos In SF, Oakland, And Beyond
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Carlo De La Cruz

Google
Food is pretty average and decently priced. I usually order the Birria Tacos or Tacos Mamalon. What bugs me is that I usually call ahead and am given a wait time of around 15-20 minutes. I get there after the wait time and pay just to be hit with “5 more minutes” which balloons to 15 minutes with no explanation. It seems like they don’t start making the food until after I pay. This has happened almost every single time and it’s really frustrating because I want to go here but this has irked me and my wife time after time. The whole point of calling ahead is so that just I walk in, pay, and walk away.

M G R

Google
I dont know if this is a joke. others on here say this is a scam restaurant? i walked up and saw this sign posted twice on their entrance and didnt know what to think. I rarely if ever see tacos and the heritage behind them being used to make political statements disguised as a joke about immigrants being terrorists. I dont know why the owner would post this business promotion that mimics Homeland security/Border Patrol in their symbols with a border patrol van driven by Donald trump driving what looks like Vladimir Putin, KimJong from North Korea, Saddam Hussein and El Chapo. The poster seems to be an advertisement for a taco catering company. I tried looking up the website, a bit hard to find, and it led to a business at Mt. Diablo and their website doesn't reflect any of this imagery, as if I was looking at the wrong business than what was portrayed in the poster. So it's a bit confusing and hella sus. I dont know what tacos have to do with Homeland Security. Id hate to think this is a tone deaf joke about immigrants that people should just accept as a joke and normalize the stigma of being stereotyped and discrminated. None of this advertisement was about the food or an appreciation of the craft and heritage behind it. UPDATE: Yeah so I guess after reading the owner's response it does confirm that these posters are a joke and they emphasize that it is not political at all its just a cartoon, like the muppet babies, and they are using images of political figures with symbols and colors mimicking political law enforcement agencies in a political satire about terrorist immigrants. Not political at all. Read their response to get a sense of where they are coming from. Not sure if they assumed i associated with one of the 2 major political parties in this country (keeping in mind that none of this is political to them, its a joke right?) thats a narrow shot. There are more than 2 ways to view things in life. More than blues and reds, there are a plethora of perspectives out there thats what makes us all great. I see your perspective now,Basket Kitchen Owner, and where your humor is and how much ya'll love this. Keep feeding the people, as long as you feed and donate you can make all the jokes and cartoons you want right? The magic of charity these days. So does this also mean the Mt. Diablo Taco Patrol catering company with the same website is also a part of this marketing ad? I wonder how the tacos in Mt. Diablo might be. This is about the food after all.

Cee Rose

Google
OMG Stop it. Been in the bay 6 or 7 years and haven't had Mexican food this good. I've gotten close but no cigar. The bean dip for the plantains was sending me over the edge. I was in heaven. It was very Cuban-esque. Transported to Miami. The guac was delicious and on day 2 with left overs the chips are still crunchy as hell and guac is solid good. On TOP of all the deliciousness, the service was super great. They were very friendly and came to check on us twice. Food came out super quick. Good prices and the horchata oh man..... sprinkled with freaking delight. I'm dead. I could go back just for the horchata alone. Ordered a taco salad and the shell was impressive and the flavor was perfect and really brought back good memories though there wasn't a lot of meat inside. I ordered carne asada. Small little bits there. Parking was free after 6 I think. Plenty of parking on side streets and some bars that are walking distance if you wanna go for a drink and music after. Such a good location.

Ari Bluer

Google
I always order from Canasta because of the location, price, and quality. Sometimes I get the double burrito after a good work out at the gym down the street. And Crab Cove Beach is nearby as well.

Abby AA

Google
Canasta kitchen is one of my favorites in contra costa county and alameda wow 14 years they said been running business and one of 9 best taco places in the Bay Area WOW, I recommend the happy hour, the taco Tuesdays and I believe the have great brunch !!! Please give a try

Israel Madera

Google
The margaritas were to die for and that burrito must've been at least a foot long. The meat was delicious but I had to cut it in half because it was too much food for one sitting.

Pako Herrera Hernandez

Google
This was the first time I visited this place and I loved it. Their mole is authentic, really good I would say from Puebla. The michelada was good, a bit too much chile on it though. The baja style tacos were ok, I was expecting fried shrimp and coleslaw instead of arugula. The quesabirria is huge, a full meal and it comes with the consome, the habanero salsa was good with it. The waiters were really nice and friendly. I would totally come back and try more food

Chris Miranda

Google
Sorry, but this food was NOT good. Steak was tough and lacked flavor.Drinks weren't that great either. Limited to only tequila. My margarita was basically mango juice and ice.

Steve D.

Yelp
1544 Webster St Alameda, CA 94501 It's Dec 2024, and Canasta Kitchen rebranded itself as "Taco Patrol." I was told it's the same restaurant, same food, just with a fresh new name. I was there on Dec 19th, and the interior looks the same. I ordered to-go: Baja Fish Tacos (2 per order), includes rice. beans, chips, and sauces/ salsa. Price $17.50. The Baja Fish Tacos were very filling. Not too spicy, and not salty. Very much the same as what I ordered before. So I guess the menu is exactly the same. So if you liked Canasta Kitchen, you will like Taco Patrol.

Mindy L.

Yelp
Was confused trying to find this spot. We walked past the entrance a couple times and just ended up going in to Taco Patrol which after reading here is just their new branding. It was early ish and we ordered breakfast burritos. They brought out chips and salsa while we waited; the salsa selection was nice but the chips were very stale. Burritos were good. May come back to try other things since people seem to like it

Clayton T.

Yelp
I've been coming here for over two years, sometimes multiple times a week because their food always satisfies my cravings. Everytime I come here I'll get their Enchiladas, Burro no Mamadas or the best thing on the menu: Quesabirrias. Its just SOOO unbelievably good. Sometimes I spend the morning of studying thinking about getting lunch here - and its rewarding everytime. Within minutes of ordering that piping hot quesabirrias is mine!! shredded beef stew wrapped within the melty oaxaca cheese - its nothing short of food heaven. Dip that into their consomme and oh my goddd its AMAZING. Its so good I could burn my fingers and mouth eating it so fresh! I also treat myself to one of their yummy horchatas now and then. The service here is always immaculate and I love both getting take out and dining in. Its also conveniently got indoor and outdoor seating. I highly recommend this place because the food is to die for!! Seriously, just thinking about the crispy tortilla holding in all of that melty cheese and savory birria, dipped in the consomme is making my mouth water..

Vi T.

Yelp
This rating is for the order I received from the Too Good To Go app. It was a small serving of refried beans, topped with some shredded beef and cheese. I wanted to try the app to get a sampling of their food to see if I would return to try their main menu items. Not sure if I would. The refried beans were fine, yet the beef was overly salty, dry, and oily. Compared to the multitude of mexican and mexicali venues in the area and around the east bay, unfortunately it didn't stand out as much.

Jordan Aaron C.

Yelp
WALK ON BY (1/5 stars) Keep on scrolling on Yelp or walk past this place. Two blocks away is Calafia Taqueria that serves amazing food, great customer service and a lot of food for the price you pay. This place scams you for your money, over charges you and stands by the price of their food. Customer service lacks alot and when they tell you 10 mins, they mean 30. Their costs are tripled & Wait time is tripped. Never going back here

Suechu T.

Yelp
I came here yesterday with my husband around lunch. We walked by it a few times on accident and finally found the restaurant. The food is really good and the portions are pretty big. My husband got the burrito and I got the birria quesadilla. Super delicious. As you can see in the photo, it was a huge portion so we took half of it home. I would definitely come back.

tai t.

Yelp
Horrible customer service and did not get what I paid for. Their super burrito is tiny! Terrible!

April B.

Yelp
Food was good I enjoyed it! They couldn't serve alcohol when I went because it had to do something with their license. Another odd thing is that my work credit card got declined because the agent said their code was under a photography studio and not a restaurant.. Would go back if I'm ever up in the area though and they have those problems resolved

Nancy L.

Yelp
Birria tacos, quesabirria and tacos are all great here! Happy Hour deal for Tacos on Tuesday!

Tatiana C.

Yelp
I came here with my friend and they did not disappoint. I ordered a steak burrito and it was good. The only problem was the burrito was really greasy. Grease was dripping heavily out of my burrito but other than that my burrito was fine. They have indoor and outdoor seating with a bar next door so you can definitely grab a drink and food to sit outside.

Brenton E.

Yelp
Officially my favorite place. Upon our return, we were greeted by one of the staff to inform us that she had OUR BABIES LOST SHOE. I WAS SO HAPPY. This is in our regular rotation for dine in restaurants. Everything was still delicious, but we felt like family this time around. We even brought family from out of town and they absolutely enjoyed it, and took delight in watching me destroy the MAMADO

Dana S.

Yelp
Service - 5/5 Food -5/5 Ambiance - 3/5 Love this place for a local bite! Abigail has been my server twice now and she is so funny and sweet. Always offering delicious suggestions and great service. My go-to are the canastaco fish tacos

Inverleith F.

Yelp
First time visiting here after some time at the Pinball museum. The place is airy and clean with qr codes to view the menu. I'm going to say right up front that my middle rating is because they said my check in Yelp discount of 10% was only for to go orders. I didn't see anywhere that said that. Our food orders:. Baja fish tacos, carnitas fajitas and chili relleno. When the waitress came over, the first thing we were asked is if we wanted guac. Suspecting that this would cost extra, we passed. Then she asked about chips and we said no but then she said, "are you sure?". My recommendation is to have the wait staff be clear. Chips and salsa are complimentary and guac is $x. The fajitas came first and a few minutes later, the fish tacos. 5 minutes later came the relleno. The fajitas looked fine, served with a bowl of beans, scoop of rice and a side of flour tortillas. My friend asked for salad in place of the beans and rice or if she couldn't do that, just bring it all A little salad came with the beans and rice. My fish tacos were a nice portion of fish served on arugula a bit of cheese under the fish and a dollap of guac topped with what tastes like ranch dressing versus jalapeno crema. I enjoyed the tacos but quite difficult to hold due to the size of the fish and the wetness of the toppings. Fish is fresh. The beans are good as the are typical refried beans which are more mixed up. The rice is nothing special. The chili relleno is not the typical fried item. A pepper filled with veggies, meat wrapped in an egg omelet. Different. Friend are it all. I'd come back to try other items definitely. Street parking is available.

Busy Bec b.

Yelp
Good food great customer service enjoyed the choice of meats and that they serve tamales year round!

Ultima M.

Yelp
First time here Check in on Yelp and get 10% off Venue is clean There is indoor and outdoor seating Our waiter/server was friendly and efficient Prices are reasonable Food quality is decent I had one taco of Lengua $2.50 They have a sign that says EVERY DAY IS TACO TUESDAY All tacos are $2.50 every day I had 2 margaritas...... They were ok.... Could have been a bit stronger Parking is hard to find, no private parking lot Street parking only. A light over our table kept flickering that was kinda annoying Door to the restaurant stays open and it was kinda cold inside Would I come back here again..... sure why not

Ontario E.

Yelp
The owner literally just tried to tell me i was a regular customer to a restaurant i never been to lol and on top of that how tf i would be mad i paid extra for sour cream when i asked for sour cream n cheese smh i know u pay extra for that the owner obviously cant read or make good food! Like i said i paid extra money for cheese that wasnt on my tacos and was gave watery sour cream on my tacos it clearly shows on the pic only reason im mad is cuz i paud for some weak asz food n your staff dont follow simple instructions

Michelle T.

Yelp
The people were nice. The drinks were great. I can't say I was super impressed by the food. The birria was the best part. It wasn't bad food by any means, but I probably wouldn't visit again.

Ann L.

Yelp
Came here because the Thai place nearby was closed on Monday and CK was still open at 8:45pm. Glad we did. Ordered the quesabirria and mole-topped wet burrito. Both were great, but the quesabirria was superb. The cheese was fried and crispy on the outside, gooey goodness with a good portion of birria on the inside. Who doesn't love fried cheese?! But probably best to eat it there, not as takeout.

Scott H.

Yelp
Absolutely filthy dining area. Probably violating health codes. The food here is darn good. If I were only rating the food it would definitely be a five star dining experience. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were perfect. The chips and salsa also exceeded expectations. But oh my god, why would any restaurant operator pile garbage up at the host stand? There is a gray bin overflowing with filthy dishes and piles of organic garbage. On the bar there are multiple stacks of filthy glasses containing everything from backwash to spit. Just to the left of the pile of dirty dishes is a filthy green garbage bin. Then there's a tip jar and the host stand. Sandwiched between the garbage and a couple of igloo coolers are the baby high chairs. And they are absolutely filthy too. If conditions behind the scenes are as filthy as they are at the host stand, I'm surprised there aren't cases of food poisoning. A restaurant only gets one chance to not gross out the customers as they're walking in the front door.

Jennie L.

Yelp
Ubereats review; The food was delicious called the restaurant to make some requests for our order. The man who answered the phone was Kind and accommodating. We enjoyed every bite. Look forward to seeing the restaurant one of these days.

Stacy L.

Yelp
Love this place! I ordered the vegan burrito and my partner had the shrimp and fish taco platter. Both were delicious. We shared the churros, which were vegan without the caramel sauce. Overall a little spicy for my wimpy palate, but the flavors were definitely there! The service and the smiles were the best though. I have all but given up on good service, but not to worry, I found a friendly face here.

Aaliyah J.

Yelp
me and my boyfriend came here today and wanted to try the Birria pizza and omggg 10/10!!! we could barely talk lol so cheesy and hot

Tracy R.

Yelp
So... Canasta kitchen. I've been meaning to try this place forever. It was hit and miss for me. I thought the food was good - the salsa slayed. There were three kinds they gave us, tomatillo, a regular red salsa, and a creamy hot salsa. They didn't give us much of any of them though, so we had to ask for extra. I had the taco salad and it was flat out delicious. The shrimp for perfectly cooked and there were a lot of them, with a lemon dressing that was very light, a lot of cilantro and pico de gallo with shredded lettuce. Healthy and light. Total thumbs up. Altho the shell was funky but who eats that. Husband had the empanadas which were dry but of course he asked for no cheese - so - I would discount his opinion. The drink thing is confusing. I asked for a Mojito and my husband had a beer - pretty straightforward. The menu is super unclear as to what they're doing on the drinks. It rambles about how they use some random combination of sake and something else but then it says the mojitos are made of rum, so I don't know what the hell they're doing. I said can I have a Mojito with light sugar and I got a Mojito full of sugar. The main issue... The ambience was awful. I don't understand why restaurants can't get their stuff together. They have a bar, which is basically a storage unit. They store a lot of stuff at the back, which you can see right below the window to the kitchen. Some delivery guy came in and brought a bunch of toilet paper, and just threw it in the front near the bar. This is all extraordinarily unpleasant. What they need to do is spend a few bucks and put booths in there, set up the bar like a real bar. They will make a ton more money, and it would be great, because the food is pretty good. Like so many restaurants, they are woefully understaffed. It was dinner time on a Thursday and there were literally two people working in there. The lady was running around, trying her best but it took us half an hour just to get the check. It was a little frustrating. We sat there and looked at other people's piled up food plates all around us. Oy. Unless they decide to step up their game on the interior, I won't be back, but I might order takeout.

Lily S.

Yelp
Food Delivery Review: I was craving some fish tacos, but thought I'd take a break from my Cholita Linda, which serves the best fish tacos. So we decided to give Canasta Kitchen a try, and unfortunately, they fell short. Some of the food might have suffered from long delivery time, and the food would probably be better at their restaurant. Overall, the food was greasy, soggy, and stiff. What we ordered: + Street tacos - we had a combination of carne asada and chorizo street tacos. They are a fairly nice size. The chorizo was very greasy though, and filled my plate with grease drippings. + Canastaco 2 Fish Tacos - these were just ok. The description read that they were served on soft tortillas, but they griddle the tortillas, and by the time I got them, they were stiff and hard. The fish was good and flakey though. However, the avocado and cabbage were cut into large chunks. It made the entire taco more like a small tostada. + Quesabirrias - this arrived really soggy. There's a pool of sauce at the bottom of the container (see pic). I thought it was too salty, but hubby really enjoyed it. + Chips & Gauc - they give you a lot of gauc. It was pretty good. I believe most of the issues I had with the food was a result of the long delivery time.

Marvin F.

Yelp
1/12/24 I came in today for dinner and when we walked into the restaurant there was no one there to greet us. I had to find the cook in the back just to get there attention. Then while waiting for the server to come to our table we notice a COCKROACH crawling on the ground. Then when I pointed it out to the server all she said was "oh haha" and then stomped it out and swept it up. That is SO GROSS! I came here about 10 times already and won't be going back after this experience. Truly disappointed this place was good but after this I won't be going back.

Michael L.

Yelp
I wish I could give a more well rounded Yelp review for Canasta Kitchen, but my first trip here was just a quick to-go order. Visually, the restaurant is nice with an outdoor dining option with heated lamps. Indoors provided enough room for social distancing for patrons to eat comfortably. But I didn't experience any of that because I had to get home to my cats, so I ordered: Birria & Asada Burro no Mamadas: these are double sized super burritos. I thought all the ingredients made for a solid burrito. The Birria was tender and had good flavor. The steak was satisfactory as well. Overall a burrito worth the price both in quantity and quality. My food took about ten minutes to prepare. My one big knock on them is they offer 10% discount upon check-in and didn't honor it. I don't really care about the money but don't put offers on Yelp and renege. As the scriptures say: "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." But I also believe in forgiveness and the offense is small, so I'll be back to eat here soon.

Kaitlyn B.

Yelp
Thank you for a great (late) lunch!! Swung by during the power outage today after learning the hard way that the east end of Alameda was out of power. Came in around 3pm and while you could tell they were busier than anticipated for this time of day, the staff was definitely trying their best. The food was so yummy and it's a clean & casual spot. We got the super burrito and some tacos - both very good!! Also the margaritas are very good and they have lots of flavor options. We will definitely be back! Thanks for feeding our hangry booties.

Britany L.

Yelp
One of the Alameda best kept secrets. The food is affordable and the quality is phenomenal. They also have a variety of margaritas... DELICIOUS! Truly amazing experience, Abby was an amazing host and made our visit extremely pleasant by being friendly and very attentive throughout the night. Normally, I don't write reviews, but this place deserves an A+ for the amazing service and food!

Daniel P.

Yelp
Don't waste your money here - this place is run by grifters and they won't hesitate to steal your money and tell you they can't do anything about it later. And if you insist, please check your receipt before paying. They won't show it to you unless you ask. I first discovered this restaurant in 2021 and thought they were a nice spot to get a quick DoorDash delivery. Their food was consistently good then, and DoorDash even guarantees transparency about what you're buying and how much you're paying...that was pretty nice. More recently, having dined indoors a few times, I've learned that they are essentially operating a lowly scamming operation. Their most prominent server, who goes by Abigail, is a practiced grifter. She will try to upsell you on nearly every order request. Would you like shrimp with your michelada? How about extra alcohol with your margarita pitcher? Cheese with your birria tacos? It's mostly a surprise what it'll cost you, cause much of it is not listed on the menu. Want a margarita? We'll just assume you meant to ask for our "premium cristalino margarita" instead of a regular margarita. Well? You didn't clarify. During a recent dining experience, we noticed we were charged an unusually high amount for what we ordered. When we approached Abigail to ask for an itemized receipt and noticed our three birria tacos with cheese ($6 each on the menu) cost $36, she said that "things sometimes appear differently when we enter orders into our new system". I even called the restaurant the next day and was told by someone else that they couldn't do anything about it because of "the new system". Also, they are issuing non-itemized receipts - I only saw ours on their payment device. When they texted the receipt, everything was missing except the total cost, so there's really nothing you can do about it later. The food quality has become inconsistent as well. I got a mulita with a floppy tortilla and consume with my birria tacos that was wayyy too spicy. I enjoy eating raw peppers with my food, but isn't consume supposed to be soothing? The enchiladas were subpar as well. Even without the scamming, this place is overpriced for the quality anyhow. Ambiance is absent, save for some photos of their easiest marks on the wall.

Gaylord G.

Yelp
Food 5 stars Service 5 stars Ambiance 4 stars A super hidden gem on Webster! Will now make the effort to come to Canasta our go to! Birria Tacos full of meat and the consommé to die for. A hint of kick but worth the effort Quesobirra was huge and off the plate! Again the consommé on point Alambre was something different but great meal! The staff was awesome and they brought out the chips and 3 salsas! Forewarned about the orange sauce and one drop WOW. A must try!

S G.

Yelp
I placed an order through the website last weekend & I was missing two orders of side beans. ( I ordered 2 rice & beans combo for $5.00 each) Unfortunately, I did not notice that I was missing two items, until I was home. The rest of my order was correct. Once I notice, the items are missing, I did call the restaurant and request a refund for the missing items. The restaurant did offer, if I wanted to come back and pick up the two side of missing beans but unfortunately, I did not want to return to the restaurant for two missing sides, I would've rather just had a refund. With parking being so limited, and difficult to find on Webster Street, I felt a refund would be easier. I also did not want the rest of the food to be cold by the time I would have when back and forth. I was informed by their staff this was something they could not do and I needed to email the manager. I have emailed the manager twice this week regarding the missing items and requested a refund. But unfortunately management has not gotten back to me. I was hoping, the management would get back to me and we could resolve this issue over an email instead of me turning to yelp to write a negative review. My advice, check your order before leaving the restaurant because if not your not going to get a refund. Besides missing the items, the rest of my order was OK. To be honest, the meat was a little too spicy for me and my husband. With that being said, we will not return to this restaurant.

Theresa A.

Yelp
Excellent everything! Fish tacos and margaritas! Fast and kind service! Casual vibe was perfect!

Carol C.

Yelp
Date: 11/26/2021 Time: 1:20 PM 62° Sunny My birthday lunch was supposed to be at another restaurant on Webster Street. However, they were closed, which meant a quick search on yelp for another venue close to home. Result: Canasta Kitchens. Perfect! I always wanted to dine here. Today is my birthday and my oldest sister is treating me to lunch. My husband and my younger sister are also here to celebrate the occasion. First time here, and I have to thank my fellow yelpers, Steve D and Emma W, for their reviews. There is a sign on the front door that vaccination cards are required to dine in. However, outdoor seating in front of the restaurant is available and vaccination cards are not required. Our waitress was quite patient with us, as we could not decide what we wanted to order. Their menu is mounted on the wall and the description of their entrees seemed yummy good. She was also courteous and pleasant. Eats: Two orders of Canastaco fish tacos with rice and beans for husband and me. Wow, both my husband and I were impressed with our meal. Everything was on point. My two sisters enjoyed their quesadillas. We all agreed the beans were excellent - not mushy nor undercooked. Seating capacity indoor: at most 35 people. Outdoor patio dining: guesstimate 20 people. Definitely my husband and I will return in the future to order their taco salad, quesabirrias and agua fresca (hibiscus). Rating: 4 stars, not 3 stars.

Paul C.

Yelp
So I get that restaurants want to branch out. This was not it. I ordered a steak wet burrito...the presentation was was on point but the flavor was lacking. I said so sour cream which I got but ok scrapped that off. The salsa verde was cool but the flavor is what did it for me. I could've gotten a wet burrito anywhere in Oakland and been satisfied. The meat to everything else ratio else was on point..it was the flavor..super bland. I also got a shrimp taco. It had a a lot of shrimp I was surprised cause I never had that except at Taco Sinola. But the shrimp was dry and not flavorful at all. Last not but not least the birria tacos..man! The beef was dry not tender but consume is want save it! Would I go back? Probably not. But I seen a lot of taco spot go to these areas where the are not used to the way Latino cuisine is supposed to be cooked and fall off. I think that's why LaPinta has always been the go to spot. I really wanted to like this place. It is a no go for me.

Susana L.

Yelp
Birria quesadilla was paired with what seemed to be an old salad and it made the quesadilla really soggy. You get complimentary chips and salsa but the chips were stale . Also ordered a shrimp and steak burrito and there was no steak in it at all. Asked the waitress for chicken plate options and we really didn't get any help so we had to scan the menu and ask for alternatives . When we got the chicken plate the chicken was cut up into cubes and just looked burnt like from when you scrape the bottom or a pan. For the items we ordered and still having to pay over $60 for everything . Not worth it honestly

Cassandra W.

Yelp
I came on a Saturday for bottomless mimosas. I got here before my friends so I was taking my time drinking.. once they got here, my friend asked what time bottomless mimosas ended and the server told her it's by the hour. Very disappointing, had I known that, I would've drank faster.. and also most places have set hours, so that was unusual. The server took a long time to bring the drinks out, too, so an hour is ridiculous for bottomless. The food was delicious at least - I got birria tacos with cheese and that did not disappoint.

Eric S.

Yelp
5th visit. Seafood and baja tacos, asada burritios and birria. All wonderful. Each time. Fast and friendly service. Yum. Worth it.

Jack R.

Yelp
First off, WRITE DOWN our orders so you don't mess it up. Each of the tables around us, including our table got the wrong order. The table next to us got the the wrong drink. We got the wrong tacos and the wrong drink. The table behind us got the wrong chips when they ordered nachos...everything was a disaster. Also one star for not following cleanliness protocols. The woman next to us ordered a drink and they gave her Jamaica instead and she touched it and touched the straw and yet they gave it to the guy who ordered it to go rather than throw it away. The quesabirras was super plain with super salty broth on the side. We just did not understand the hype. They give you plenty of this dry flavorless beef but why bother when no one wants to eat it. My friends who got the tacos with the birras also didn't like it. Super dysfunctional service and super slow. 10 stars for the Horchata. Really good horchata and good guacamole but that's about it.

Nadav M.

Yelp
Taste buds are beyond words that I can't taste anymore. They're that blown away. The place is very comfy and inviting as you can go inside or have warmers outside as well on a chilly day or evening. On a warm hot day, the outside is marvellous. The tacos mamelon were more than enough for one person. Two homemade tortillas it's to my assumption because they were not storebought. You get 2 of those somewhat thick so it can hold that abundant amount of shrimp, steak, and chorizo, on top with pico de gallo, guacamole, and some sprinkled cheese. Totally recommend it. Worth the price and the experience. I had to eat some with the fork and then some tortilla crisps which were quite awesome even at is. We were served ice cold water and refilled as our time there went by. The service is great. Very much enthusiastic has good social skills and a sense of urgency in the surroundings of the guests for service. My brother got a basic steak burrito which he enjoyed very much. Overall a nice place for solos, couples, or groups. Didn't try the drinks, but they look yum. The nearest BART station is 12th Street/Oakland City Centre and AC Transit buses 51A, 96, 20, 78, night bus 851, and W are accessible.

Kent W.

Yelp
We were looking for a restaurant in alameda for lunch and found this on on yelp. Decided to try. I had Mole en Apollo. One of the best ever. The mole out of this world. Scratch Made. Great cacao flavor. Just the right blend of sweet and spice. Chicken a little dry but tasty. Beans and rice perfect. My friend had enchilada with tomatillo mole. Excellent. Server very sweet and helpful. Atmosphere good. Outdoor seating but we chose to stay warm inside. Will return.

Craig Y.

Yelp
Really good food, but a bit overpriced. Solid 4 stars. For the quality of food, it's hard to go wrong at Canasta Kitchen. The food is yummy and the quantity is good, but the price is a bit steep. Plus, I'm always a little disappointed when a restaurant upcharges to use a service like GrubHub. We didn't get it delivered but used it to pre-order take out and the charges were higher than if we ordered in person. Don't understand that at all. Ordering in advance saves me time which makes me happier which makes it more likely for me to come back. But instead I get charged nickel and dime for ordering online? Not cool. Still the food is so good, I'm sure to come back. FOOD: Delicious! I ordered the queso fundido which was EXCELLENT. Would have been better had it been served in a more appropriate container but it was so yummy. If you don't know, queso fundido is a cheese dip/sauce with meat and onions (in this case asada) and boy was it good. I also ordered the Canastaco fish tacos. Good helping of fish, but a bit too much cabbage. Still the flavor profile was amazing. Not too much sauce, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, all done just right. And a good portion of rice and beans packaged perfectly. SERVICE: Very easy to order and easy to pick up. Now with pick up parking on Webster, it was finally easier to find a spot and grab my food. The staff was super nice. Only gripe would be the packaging of the queso fundido. Otherwise great! COST: A bit pricey for what you get. And like I said, I did not appreciate the upcharge on GrubHub. Still, it was so good! I will likely be back - soon.

Eugene L.

Yelp
It's April 1 - April Fools Day and I'm a Fool because I'm happy to be Alive!!!! The Covid almost Killed me for good!!! Thank God it Didn't!!! So in 2021 I'm on a Search for the Killer Super Burrito!!! Big Portions, Flavorful and Quality ingredients!!!! So I rolled to Canasta Kitchen in Alameda to try their Super Burrito Carne Asada!!! They have a nice Sidewalk Dining Area's in front of their Restaurant! My Waiter brought me a Nacho Appetizer and a Glass of Water. I ordered a Carne Asada Super Burrito!!! Fifteen minutes later I was Presented with a Nice looking Burrito!!! It had Awesome Girth and Length!!! But the Biggest Surprise was the Flavors Packed in the Burrito!!! Let me say Tons of Flavors!!! Sublime!!! Each Bite was a Treat and a Party in my Mouth!!!! I enjoyed every Morsel of that well crafted Burrito!!! I paid by Credit Card and rolled out. That has got to be the Best Super Burrito I've had in Alameda in ages!!!! For this reason Canasta Kitchen is a Baller On a Budget Approved Establishment!!!!

Tu-Anh N.

Yelp
WHEN: Friday @11:45am I'm honestly motivated to try this place out because Cookiebar Scoop Shop has a special offer where if you purchase $30+ from Canatsta, you will get a Cookiebar pint for free! Besides, it's been awhile since I had Mexican food, and I've been wanting to try Birria tacos! I ordered via caviar, and although it will give you an estimate on when it would be ready, it will not text you when it's actually ready. I was able to beat the lunch rush! When I got there at 11:45am it was already there for me to take home! Not sure how long its been sitting there though. As for parking, I was able to find residential parking around the corner instead of on Webster (that would be impossible to find a spot). Here's what was ordered online: BIRRIA TACOS COMBO (3) - $16 3 tacos, the traditional Mexican beef stew. 1 soup Included. Luckily I had my air fryer to reheat this since it took me 15 min to get home. Overall it was bland. I should have added cheese which I did on my own. I appreciate that it was jam packed with lots of tender beef stew. But both the soup and tacos lacked flavor. I liked the amount of onion and cilantro though! SUPER BURRITO - $12.50 Flour tortilla, your choice of meat, rice, beans melted Jack cheese, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. I chose the chicken as choice of meat to be balance off the beef in the barrio tacos. This was a big disappointment. I don't think I've ever had such a dry burrito--I barely see any sour cream and salsa. Also, I don think I've every had a burrito with lettuce in it? Maybe I chose the wrong choice of meat...I should have chosen the pork where it may ooze some orange goodness from it. GUACAMOLE & CHIPS - $9.00 Fresh guacamole with pico, cotija and tortilla chips. This was the favorite out of everything ordered. At first I didn't understand why it's so expensive for guac and chips, but when I opened it I can see why: its topped with pico and cotija. It was so refreshing and delicious! Oh I appreciated the complimentary chips! The sauces too! This was my first Mexican restaurant experience in Alameda. Sadly not a great impression. Oh I appreciated the complimentary chips! The sauces too! This was my first Mexican restaurant experience in Alameda. Sadly not a great impression.

Dilys Y.

Yelp
Great service and huge portions. The margaritas were tasty. We ordered the passion fruit and guava flavor! For our meal, My friend and I ordered flautas and ceviche to share. I also ordered a tripas taco and she got a birria breakfast burrito. Yay they serve the breakfast menu all day. Tripas were cooked to perfection. Very good. Def will come back and order this. As I mentioned, the portions were huge and we went overboard for two people. Cant live the youtube mukbang life. We gave up and took the items home.

Tabitha C.

Yelp
Quesabirria is my favorite food trend of all time. This place does it right! They have both classic quesabirrias tacos and a unique menu item called the quesabirrias quesadilla. The quesadilla is definitely their standout item and one of the driving forces that keeps me coming back over and over again. The portion size is very generous and the rich, umami flavor is so savory! It is absolutely delicious. I prefer this quesadilla to the tacos, but both are incredible. The service for outdoor dining is really good. They have the nicest waiters I've ever had in the Bay Area. Every time I go they are SO nice. On my last visit for lunch with my mom, the staff didn't know about the 10% off Yelp check-in offer. Our waiter ended up giving us a 15% discount instead! Again, nicest servers ever! I am consistently blown away by their excellent customer service. They definitely give you your space when you sit outside, which I like. However, this can make dining here take a little longer, so be mindful of the time you need to allot here. Quesabirria doesn't keep very well as to-go, so I would recommend stopping in for outdoor dining. I think most of the more negative reviews were based off to-go experiences. I have never tried their takeout, but I think I'll stick to their outdoor dining. I was hopeful about reheating my leftover quesabirrias in the air fryer, but I'm sorry to report even that can't successfully revive them. I recommend eating their quesabirrias IMMEDIATELY and in-person to get the best experience. Overall, this is a great place for a relaxed patio environment, incredibly kind service, and fantastic quesabirrias.

Liz B.

Yelp
I have mixed feelings on this one. Great customer service, so nice and patient while we stared down the huge menu. Place looks nice inside and you can dine outside, they have heat lamps for the cold and it's covered too. However, it's way overpriced for the taste, quality and SIZE. These street tacos were so tiny. Got shrimp, beef, chicken and chorizo. Only one that tasted amazing to me was the shrimp. The others were unfortunately dry. Probably why they included so many salsas (those were fire though). The side of plain tortilla chips were honestly better than most of these tacos. Oh and the horchatas were good too. Sigh. Either up your cooking or lower the prices. Y'all will do so much better in finding a random taco truck for a BOMB ASS MEAL than come to this restaurant.

Ricky M.

Yelp
This is a nice place to eat, indoor and patio seating. I was not impressed with the nachos, I do not like lettuce on my nachos, that's just weird and crazy. Also they added something in the cheese that mleft a tangy weird taste. Also the way it is severed ID bad, it's a wire basket with tin foil. It leaks and tears easily. I will not be returning to this place. I thought the Barria Taco was okay, not enough cheese ant it fell apart after the first bite. I did however like the complimentary mini nachos appetizer.

Mary F.

Yelp
Don't waste your money at this place! I spent over 150.00 on food here only to receive food that seem like it was days old and they just reheat to sell and gave to us!! Large Ceviche was nasty, shrimp in it taste awful, and the chips were staled! All the bags of chips were staled! Their steak burritos (we ordered 3) tasted nasty! Literally we could not take another bite! We had to trash everything! The only thing that was OK was the 2 chicken quesadilla we ordered for our kids! Their rice was not cooked all the way it was literally crunchy, also went to trash! Their Baja fish taco...in the garbage as well. Never again will we eat here, ever!!

Alexis P.

Yelp
To start off-I lovvve chilaquiles they're everything and more-savory, flavorful, and when done correctly simple but delicious. My dad and I both ordered same, though I chose mine with mole and my dad chose salsa verde. I truly enjoyed mine, however my dads' was incredible. I was jealous I didn't get those. The service was ok, but it seemed the server was in charge of each table which meant the service was poor-to no fault of her. She was even making the drinks, and was awesome when we did get to see her. I think with another server this place will be a slam dunk.