Comal

Comal - Review - Berkeley - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Comal is upscale Mexican at its best: awesome tamales, ceviche, and enchiladas with sauces that took 5-7 hours to make. The cocktails are great, mezcal flows like water and the huge outdoor patio is perfection. There’s a margarita cart. Heaven in restaurant form, right? First, the food is consistently excellent across the board. The sauces and salsas are rich, the enchiladas aren’t drowning in cheese, and the meatballs are some of the best we’ve ever had. Everything is good to share, and some things are so good you may need to fend off people from taking more than their portion. Also, maybe stop being friends with that person if they try to eat all the ceviche. Sharing is caring. Cocktails, also great. We’re partial to the Palomaesque and/or a mezcal flight. Then there’s the back patio. Where to begin with this magical place. There are fire pits, there is a cart and someone pushes it around and you can get chips, salsa, beers, and margaritas to your spot. If you are looking to grab drinks and snacks (there’s a smaller menu for the outdoors), this is the best spot in all of Berkeley. It’s a place you never want to leave. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Chips & Guacamole You’re at a Mexican restaurant. Don’t ask questions, order this. Thick salty homemade chips with bomb salsas and guacamole. Shrimp Ceviche A sizable bowl of spicy, cilantro-y white shrimp. Eat this. Yellowtail Crudo Citrusy, salty awesomeness. The fresh peas make it taste even brighter. We dig. Beef & Pork Albóndigas Mexican meatballs that aren’t to be missed. Super tender, and the rich adobo sauce is unreal. Sometimes we eat these first, eat a few more things, and get another order. They’re that good. They come with house made tortillas with the intent of sopping up the sauce, which sounds good, but turns out to be somewhat technically unfeasible. Enchiladas The filler meat varies, but the results are always delicious. We’re partial to the duck option - so look out for that. Killer sauce, doesn’t feel too heavy, and they don’t skimp on the meat, whatever kind it may be. Chicken Tamales There is a lot of mole sauce involved in this dish and we fully endorse it. We love this dish. Pork Tacos Good, not great al pastor tacos. The pork is decent but not wildly flavorful. Save your stomach room for everything else." - Taylor Abrams

"For bold and zesty Mexican food crafted with pristine ingredients, Berkeleyites pack this industrial-chic hot spot, where an excellent cocktail program and an extensive tequila and mezcal selection keep things buzzing. The large flat tortilla griddles for which Comal is named are on full display in the open kitchen, while a covered and heated back patio draws locals for year-round outdoor diningFryer-fresh warm tortilla chips paired with perfect guacamole are irresistible; summon an order as you peruse other options like the refreshing white shrimp ceviche and earthy hen-of-the-woods mushroom quesadilla. Just make sure that those smoky wood-grilled rock cod tacos, with creamy avocado aïoli and spicy cabbage slaw, are on your must-order list." - Michelin Inspector

Where To Eat And Drink Near SF’s Music Venues - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"Comal is one of our favorite restaurants in Berkeley, and if you don’t live in the area, you can get a two-for-one trip in by going here before a concert. Everything on the menu is good for sharing, and if it’s nice outside, the back patio is ideal. Make sure to get a few mezcal cocktails in too, so you’re not stuck paying concert prices for drinks that aren’t half as good." - will kamensky

The Best Lunch Spots In Denver - Denver - The Infatuation

"There’s no shortage of Mexican food in Denver, but this fast-casual, lunch-only spot stands out because of its mission to highlight the food cooked by immigrant and refugee women from countries like Mexico, Venezuela, and Syria. The menu changes daily, but if the Mexican-coke braised carnitas are on the menu, order them, grab a picnic table out front, and avoid answering work emails." - allyson reedy, chelsea thomas

The 27 Best Restaurants In Denver - Denver - The Infatuation

"There’s no shortage of Mexican food in Denver, but this fast-casual, breakfast- and lunch-only spot stands out because of its mission. The restaurant doubles as a social enterprise, with an earn-while-you-learn model. Meaning that while the immigrant and refugee women from countries like Mexico, Venezuela, and Syria whip up your incredible Mexican Coke-braised carnitas, they’re also receiving money, education, and training so they can one day open their own food businesses. As of last summer, Comal’s bigger new home in RiNo ArtPark means more space to spread out with your tacos." - allyson reedy, patricia kaowthumrong