El Comal

We hosted our barbershop holiday party at El Comal Restaurant in Los Altos, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was top-notch. David and Jaime, the owners, along with their entire staff, went above and beyond to make sure our group was taken care of. Everything was well-organized, welcoming, and seamless, which made the night even more enjoyable for our whole team. We truly appreciated the hospitality and attention to detail. Highly recommend El Comal for group events, celebrations, or just an amazing meal.

El Comal Restaurant offers the best customer service along with outstanding food quality that truly can’t be compared to anywhere else. The environment is great—welcoming, clean, and comfortable—and the people are incredibly kind and attentive. From the moment you walk in, you feel valued as a customer. Amazing food, amazing service, and an overall excellent experience. Highly recommended! They hosted our holiday party for our company and let me tell you the best experience

This restaurant delivers the perfect balance between traditional Mexican home style cooking and a high end dining experience. Every dish was outstanding the beef and chicken fajitas were tender and flavorful, the pozole was rich and comforting, the quesabirrias were crispy, cheesy perfection, and the tacos gobernador (shrimp, cheese, peppers goodness 🤤) were absolutely next level. One detail I’d highlight is that chips and salsa are not automatically served yet they’re still available if you want them. This intentional choice keeps the experience rooted in authentic Mexican dining, where the focus is on the main dishes, while also elevating the vibe by moving away from the typical “default appetizer” most local Mexican restaurants rely on. It feels thoughtful, refined, and culturally accurate. The ambiance is just as impressive. Classic copper Comales and custom Aztec copper pipe engravings crafted by the owners/contractors themselves, give the space character, warmth, and a powerful connection to heritage. What made it even better was the family atmosphere and incredible hospitality from both the owners and staff. This meal genuinely felt like being transported back to my hometown in Mexico with the added bonus of a polished, classy dining experience. An absolute gem that Los Altos desperately needs, Authentic, elevated, unforgettable. Highly recommend.

Updated review 12/30/25: For the last dinner of my visitors from out of the country, I decided to take them to El Comal in Los Altos. My partner and I had a great experience back when they first opened in early 2025. I was one of the first diners to review them and enthusiastically recommended El Comal to quite a few friends and work colleagues this past year. Things got off to a bit of a strange start when our reserved table for five was not prepared in advance unlike the two seat table by the window which already had a reserved sign on it, ready for a couple that arrived 10-15 minutes after my party. They dragged over a 2 top and a couple chairs to complete our table. Once seated, we noticed right away that the menu had changed significantly. The beet salad that was the main dish my partner wanted to order...gone from the menu. The Sopa Azteca that I was looking forward to...also gone, and the "Soup of the Day" listed on the menu was not available at all. The light and airy tricolored tortilla chips were also gone, with denser and less crispy chips in their place. Even the mashed avocados in the guacamole had a slightly darker greyish color rather than the bright green you'd see in a fresh guacamole. My partner asked for a salad with no onions or cucumbers. Unexpectedly, the waitress quickly brought out a salad that had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onions. With no Sopa Azteca available, I ordered Enchiladas with Roja sauce. I was really puzzled when what was served was a cooled dish of Enmoladas topped with Mole sauce. Now I may not be Latino, but I know there's a huge difference between a roja sauce and a complex mole sauce. At first, I thought they may have misheard me when I ordered enchiladas. So when the waiter, who I believe is also one of the owners, tried to explain to me that they were similar and that they substituted enmoladas because they ran out of enchiladas, I had a few thoughts that I kept to myself. To his credit he offered to take the enmoladas back and let me order something else. But I very rarely send fully-prepared dishes back to the kitchen because it is wasteful and I'm not the type to openly complain. But if they had run out of enchiladas, I would expect that most restaurants would send someone to let me know before preparing and serving a completely different dish. That way I would have been able to order something else instead of getting a fully cooked dish that I wouldn't have ordered. I also didn't want to cause a fuss in front of my visiting guests so I kept the enmoladas and ate them in disbelief. The waiter brought by another dish (Bocolitos, I believe) on the house as we were nearing the end of our meal, which was a kind gesture. But the whole experience was such a letdown compared to the previous visits that I felt the need to update my review to better reflect the current state of the restaurant. One can only speculate about what's happening behind the scenes but based on our experience last night, there's been a noticeable decline in the selection and quality of the dishes as well as the service. In all likelihood, we won't be returning to El Comal after this sad turn of events.

We ate here last week and loved it so much we went back last night. We have tried many of the dishes they offer and all of them have been authentic and delicious. My husband can’t stop talking about how delicious the mole sauce is. The owner and his mother who created the mole sauce stopped by our table for a quick introduction. Lovely people. I would highly recommend giving this noce little restaurant a try.

My shrimp taco was delicious. But I can’t say the same for the chicken and beef fajitas. The meat was very rubbery and very bland. The seasoning was missing and we didn’t enjoy the fajitas. Also surprising that it didn’t come any salsas or dips.

Visited on a weekday for lunch. Chips & salsa arrived quickly. The red and green chips shocked me but the salsa was delightful. We ordered the pulled pork (generous portion and delicious) - 5 stars and the veggie fajitas. Unfortunately the veggies in the fajitas were not the asparagus, broccolini, mushrooms, etc. as described in the menu but squash, bell pepper and onion. I remarked on this to our friendly and kind server and they allowed me to change my order to a veggie chile relleno - 4 stars. I knocked a star off the atmosphere score because the chairs have these metal bars on the sides that make it difficult to sit against the back support unless you are a size 4 (or have smallish hips).

I thought the food at El Comal was okay. We have been to several Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area and I like the ones in East Palo Alto a little better. This restaurant was good though. The selection of items was limited

I recently had the pleasure of dining at El Comal Los Altos, and I must say, it was a delightful experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the tone for the rest of the evening. The menu offered a wide variety of authentic Mexican dishes, each bursting with flavor and made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. I tried the enchiladas, and they were absolutely delicious - the perfect balance of spices and textures that left me wanting more. What truly set El Comal Los Altos apart, however, was the exceptional service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, making recommendations that were spot on. They went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of perfect. Overall, I highly recommend El Comal to anyone looking for a taste of Mexico right here in town. The food is outstanding, the service is top-notch, and the atmosphere is welcoming. I can't wait to return and try more of their delectable dishes. A truly memorable dining experience that I won't soon forget.

We've been wanting to try this relatively new Mexican restaurant in Los Altos downtown. We ordered the guacamole for appetizer and it was very good. I had the shrimp tacos. It was like a quesa-birria where the shell was pan fried and stuffed with cheese. It was a bit on the salty side though. I also had an octopus taco which was very tender. My boyfriend had the chicken enchiladas with the red sauce. I thought it was good but he thought it was bland. Overall, the ambience is nice and server was very courteous.

For the last dinner of my visitors from out of the country, I decided to take them to El Comal in Los Altos. My partner and I had a great experience back when they first opened in early 2025. I was one of the first Yelpers to review them and enthusiastically recommended El Comal to quite a few friends and work colleagues this past year. Last night got off to a bit of a strange start when our reserved table for five was not prepared in advance unlike the two seat table by the window which already had a reserved sign on it, ready for a couple that arrived 10-15 minutes after my party. They dragged over a 2 top and a couple chairs to complete our table. Once seated, we noticed right away that the menu had changed significantly. The beet salad that was the main dish my partner wanted to order...gone from the menu. The Sopa Azteca that I was looking forward to...also gone, and the "Soup of the Day" listed on the menu was not available at all. The light and airy tricolored tortilla chips were also gone, with denser and less crispy chips in their place. Even the mashed avocados in the guacamole had a slightly darker greyish color rather than the bright green you'd see in a fresh guacamole. My partner asked for a salad with no onions or cucumbers. Unexpectedly, the waitress quickly brought out a salad that had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and onions. With no Sopa Azteca available, I ordered Enchiladas with Roja sauce. I was really puzzled when what was served was a cooled dish of Enmoladas topped with Mole sauce. Now I may not be Latino, but I know there's a huge difference between a roja sauce and a complex mole sauce. At first, I thought they may have misheard me when I ordered enchiladas. So when the waiter, who I believe is also one of the owners, tried to explain to me that they were similar and that they substituted enmoladas because they ran out of enchiladas, I had a few thoughts that I kept to myself. To his credit he offered to take the enmoladas back and let me order something else. But I very rarely send fully-prepared dishes back to the kitchen because it is wasteful and I'm not the type to openly complain. But if they had run out of enchiladas, I would expect that most restaurants would send someone to let me know before preparing and serving a completely different dish. That way I would have been able to order something else instead of getting a fully cooked dish that I wouldn't have ordered. I also didn't want to cause a fuss in front of my visiting guests so I kept the enmoladas and ate them in disbelief. The waiter brought by another dish (Bocolitos, I believe) on the house as we were nearing the end of our meal, which was a kind gesture. But the whole experience was such a letdown compared to the previous visits that I felt the need to update my review to better reflect the current state of the restaurant. One can only speculate about what's happening behind the scenes but based on our experience last night, there's been a noticeable decline in the selection and quality of the dishes as well as the service. In all likelihood, we won't be returning to El Comal after this sad turn of events.

Looking for authentic high end Mexican food? You've come to the right place! On Saturday morning, we finally made it to El Comal where we were greeted by Fernando who provided us with exceptional service. We were in search of a nice Mexican brunch and saw their old menu showed chilaquiles. While no longer on their actual menu, we asked if they still made them. They whipped us up two fresh batches! They were delicious and very authentic. The best chilaquiles I've had recently in the Bay Area. Our only suggestion since they open at 10am on Saturdays: it would be great if they did offer a weekend brunch menu from 10am-2pm before changing to their dinner/day menu. They could keep it simple with typical Mexican brunch food items and offer fresh squeezed orange juice, mimosas, etc. We'll definitely go back!

I found myself in Palo Alto at dinner time, and Mexican food sounded good, so I gave El Comal a try. I got enmoladas and a michelada. The michelada was very tasty, with tajin on the rim and a lime wedge. I'd never had enmoladas before, so I was excited to try them. They're essentially chicken enchiladas with mole on top. The mole was one of the tastiest I've ever had, and the meal was really good. My only complaint is that the enmoladas were not as warm (physically, not spice-wise) as I would expect, which detracted a bit from the meal. I look forward to eating there next time I'm in the area to try some more things on the menu.

We really enjoyed this very welcome addition to Los Altos downtown! We started with the chips and guac. The chips are made in house and excellent. The various house salsas were delicious, esp the the salsa verde and the guajillo. We also ordered the days special - a salmon sashimi tostada with a delicious sauce, chilies and orange zest - very delicious! For our entrees, we had tacos (huitlacoche, quesabirria and veggie) and the veggie enchiladas. The red sauce on the enchiladas was amazing. The only let down was the tres leches, but the rest of the meal was excellent! Friendly service, too!

Holy Mole Brand-new Mexican restaurant located along the main drag in Downtown Los Altos, and features dishes from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Yucatán. The owners are the furthest thing from the restaurant biz, as one owns a plumbing company and the other owns a construction company. Oddly enough they met after both being scammed out of money by the same man, and a partnership was born. Normally restaurants that are owned by first-time restaurant owners don't fare well, but they seem to have done a good job hiring the right people. The Good: *Gorgeous interior décor *Dog-friendly shaded outdoor dining *Terrific service by "Server H" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ *For being open less than a month, they had a pretty smooth operation. *They just got their liquor license so they have beer, micheladas, wine, and cocktails. *Complimentary Chips and Salsa! Their salsa is really good fwiw. *Mole was fantastic and had a nice depth of flavor with just the right amount of chocolatey sweetness. I also really appreciated the fresh, well-dresssed salad that accompanied it instead of rice or beans. My one complaint was the chicken breasts were a touch dry, but otherwise an almost flawless dish. *Carissa really enjoyed her salmon salad, but we wish it had a little more Mexi flair to it. *Molletes were fantastic! Right ratio of cheese to beans, and the bread had a nice sourdough flavor. The Meh: *Street parking is free but can be tough to find. *It would be nice to see some craft beers available, beyond the stereotypical Corona, Modelo, and such, but I get it. The Ugly: *They need better exterior signage so that diners can know they exist as they walk across the street or drive-by. Conclusion: Fantastic authentic Mexi eats in a great location. Highly recommended.

Casually walked by on a wednesday and they had taco specials, I had three different kinds all for under $25 a Paloma, which they specially made for me not being too sweet and honestly, I went at a slow time so the one Server was taking care of the entire restaurant and she was very attentive. Join in at the patio, it's beautiful.

We were excited to welcome a new Mexican restaurant to the neighborhood. Positives Cute interior Nice service Tortillas were very good Moles was tasty Negatives Restaurant was empty when we got there at 7pm Menu was limited. Not the menu pictured on Yelp My entree was luke warm. Not hot at all No chips, no salsa, no rice, no beans. You can get chips and guacamole for $14 $72 was steep for what we ordered Also, they turned away a single diner at 7:30pm so not sure what time they really close. I'm not sure they are building a local, regular customer base which is what a Los Altos neighborhood restaurant needs in order to survive

First off, it's been a long time since I have written a review! With that said, my husband and I came here for lunch today (he saw something on social media about this place so we checked it out). So, here's my review- it was neither bad nor good. It was what to be expected- the location, great. Staff, great. However, I agree with the not so great of these other reviews now- not worth the price. The 2 single tacos my husband ordered- looked good, but he had me try a piece of the carnitas- so bland and dry, salsa verde and lime on the side doesn't cut it. Also, not enough chips being served with the guacamole for $14 After tip, including chips/guacamole, burrito bowl (and two tacos) and one drink each- $100. They need to lower their prices and expand menu. And offer Modelo!

We came here for brunch and the place is beautiful and a unique highlight in Los Altos. We ordered the chilaquiles which are not on menu but Fernando was super nice and accommodating. It was top tier execution and quality. I wish they would have a dedicated brunch menu on Saturday or Sunday. Definitely want to return for their dinner menu!

Great food and service! Loved the Enmoladas. The mole is so delicious, you can taste the home flavors.Very authentic Mexican food! Looking forward to returning!

We brought our son who is visiting from his home in Barcelona for Mexican food. He loves Mexican food (no, Spanish is not even close). We sat outside, very lovely evening, great service, and really delicious food. We came at the happy hour time (3-6) and have 5$ taco's. Also the tuna salad was delicous and crude ? It was raw Halibut and really delcious! This is our second time here, we love it. The service is also excellent.

Such good food! We had Huitlachoche tacos which we enjoyed in Mexico City, plus some other authentic mexican food, and everything is made fresh right then. Friendliest staff as well. I totally recommend...lovely decor and a perfect lunch or dinner spot.

Disappointing Experience -- Two Tries, Still the Wrong Dish I came specifically for the Chile en Nogada -- a dish I was genuinely looking forward to. Instead, they first brought out Cochinita Pibil. I let them know it was the wrong order, and they replaced it... but with a different chile dish, not the Nogada. At that point, my family had already finished eating and gone to the farmers market. I didn't say anything the second time. I just ate the wrong dish. It tasted good -- but what's the point of good taste if it's not what you ordered? No one checked in. No apology. No acknowledgment of the mistake. Just silence. And a bill that still hadn't arrived by the time I finished. Mistakes happen, but the lack of care or accountability left a bad impression.

A great new addition to downtown Los Altos. Solid tacos but I would prefer the chips they serve with the guacamole were the same as the complimentary chips offered. The complimentary chips are multi colored tortilla chips and the chips that come with the guacamole are not and taste better.

Great new addition to Downtown Los Altos. Service was great. Restaurant was clean and super cute inside. Food was good. Portions are smallish, and not cheap, but it's to be expected in Downtown Los Altos. The server chatted with us a bunch and I suggested that the huitlacoche taco needed a grilled jalapeno. To our surprise, he brought us another taco with a grilled jalapeno to try! It was perfect. -1 star for portion size vs price, but will be back for sure.

so glad to have a healthy, fresh Mexican restaurant with many gluten-free options in downtown Los Altos. Service was excellent, ceviche, guacamole, and burrito bowls were outstanding. it was so good, we came back the next day.

The food and setting here are top notch. Ingredients are always very fresh and authentic, and the service is fabulous, particularly a server named Lea. She is so friendly, hard working and creates a wonderful experience. Being located in Los Altos on Main Street is a major plus as well, and I will return again.

Upscale Mexican authentic Mexican food with super friendly service. Located right next to Tre Monte makes a nice add to downtown. Don't sleep on the agave cocktails (my wife loved hers!), but sounds like they will have a full liquor license soon.

Encouraged to try this place by a friend and must've missed the old chef. Was told cuisine was similar to Mexico City. It was not. Really nice inside but menu should be redone completely. It's limited and needs revamping.

For months, I had seen the coming soon sign, and they just opened a few weeks ago in downtown Los Altos. El Comal here is not to be confused with the East Bay El Comal. Drinks: beer and wine only. I got a house sangria, which was good, and it sounds like they're hoping for a liquor license. They start you off with colored tortilla chips and house salsa, and they have a kids' menu with crayons and an activity page, which is a nice touch. The menu has standard items like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, but they also have dishes like mole and cochinita pibil. Per an article, the focus is Oaxacan and Yucatán cuisine. - Mole: chicken breast with mole, salad, and rice. The mole was great, but I wish I had more of it! - Cochinita pibil: great flavor, extra complex with the salsa, comes with corn tortillas - Kids' chicken quesadilla: comes with rice and beans They have lots of vegetarian options and an appealing brunch menu. Reservations are currently by phone, and it was actually mostly full inside on a Saturday night, but they had some outdoor seating available (with heat lamps). El Comal is a welcome new addition to downtown Los Altos!

Superb Meal. Excellent. Service. we had the enchiladas and carne asada. Beautiful outdoor seating. I can't say enough about this restaurant.

Food was well presented and with generous portions but unfortunately pretty bland. Did not particularly care for the chips and salsa, either. Attractive restaurant with attentive service, though.

Average food. Suboptimal service. Unimpressed. Los Altos is still lacking a high end Mexican restaurant

Food is tasty and spicy which I like. But if not, there's no description or choices. Rice could be a more moist. I also suggest photos of what is on menu as the descriptions are brief. I had the chilling relleno meal and I enjoyed all of it. Very different than most that I've had here in California in a good way.

Tastefully decorated New Mexican restaurant! But, looks like the food lacked Mexican-ness The Everyday salad was meh, very well arranged, on the plate, but the salad leaves hidden below were warm. The chicken enchiladas ordered with green sauce were a huge disappointment!!!! Stuffed with tasteless boiled chicken meat, 3 corn tortillas doused with some sauce and topped with cheese and stuff didn't taste good at all!!!! Please make the food tasty and flavorful - for this restaurant to survive - the main attraction should be 'delicious' food not run of the mill items!!! The staff is very friendly, our waitress was super helpful and attentive but, the food is meh.

Fresh , flavorful food. Friendly service. We will definitely be back. Can't wait for them to get their alcohol license!

Visité El Comal con mi familia y quedamos encantados. La comida estaba espectacular, llena de sabor y ese toque casero que se agradece. Probé las carnitas y el pozole delicioso. Las bebidas también estaban deliciosas perfectamente preparadas, Además, el dueño fue increíblemente amable, nos atendió con una sonrisa y se aseguró de que todo estuviera perfecto. El Comal es un lugar que definitivamente recomiendo y sin duda volveré.

I ate at El Comal a few weeks ago and have since been back twice. This is now a go to restaurant for me. I don't normally do reviews but I fell committed to making sure this place thrives. The tacos really are to die for. The quesabirriila and the Goberandor Tacos were amazing. The Guacamole was perfect. The staff is great. The happy hour menu is just a great deal for downtown Los Altos. Go Try

Came in for the grand opening of the restaurant tonight and will definitely be back. The food was PHE-NO-ME-NAL. Everything tasted so flavorful and fresh. We got the Quesa Birria tacos and the enchiladas suiza, both were soooo good. We also got the beet salad which was so fresh and beautifully plated but we were too full to finish. Oh and the jimaica aqua fresca was so refreshing, it was just lightly sweetened and went so well with the flavors of the food. The owner of the restaurant came by our table several times to check in on us and the service was great. It was really packed for a first night so a bit of waiting was to be expected but the food more than made up for it. We came with 2 young kids and they were entertained with coloring pages and crayons. The ambiance was lively and the restaurant was well lit and beautifully decorated. There is an open kitchen so you can see the food being prepped which was cool. Overall, we had an amazing experience and I can't stop thinking about the food! Will definitely be back and will be recommending to friends!

Absolute disaster. Their huevos rancheros dishes have avocado and after serving the dishes and we asked about it, they were confused and said they didn't have any. They also took 30 mins to serve when we were the only people in the restaurant. We spent 24 bucks each for huevos rancheros and the food quality was very poor. server was nice though

New place in downtown, and a very good mexican option. Food is on the authentic side, rather than the typical texmex / burritos style of food. The quesito was the highlight, a good portion of seasoned melted cheese to make your own cheesy quesadillas. Tacos were also well served and very tasty.

We tried this place twice. Food was very average. The desserts were pretty bad. Service was extremely slow.

BEWARE! Management just changed and now there is a very limited menu and poor quality food. Also, this is a total ripoff. We ordered the guacamole, which clearly had sour cream mixed in and was bland. The chips had a burnt flavor and the salsa was quite weak and liquidy with no flavor. Since the brunch menu was so limited, we asked for tacos with the enchilada proteins. The restaurant accommodated and gave us shrimp tacos smothered in cheese and "carne asada" tacos which was chewy, fatty ground beef. They charged us $45 for three carne asada tacos. When I asked how the tacos could possibly be $15 each, the owner said they were now $9 each on the dinner menu. I asked to look at the dinner menu, and there were no tacos. Not only is the quality and flavor of the food quite bad, the owner seems to be trying to rip you off.

Absolutely delicious! Fresh and tasty. I had fish tacos and husband had the bone marrow taco and the duck. Along with fantastic margaritas, we will be back!

Service was great, the food was delicious and the margaritas were incredible! There's not really a place like this in the area and it made me happy that it was bustling on a Saturday night.

Not impressed! Better Mexican options in downtown Los Altos. You are basically paying for fancy plates lacking flavor.

Nice space, but the food wasn't good, other than the guacamole. The chips were stale and overly greasy. The tortillas looked like they came from a different table, had food on them and one was bit. The server didn't care. The meat was overly seasoned, didn't taste good. Don't waste your time, there's much better Mexican places within walking distance from there.

We had lunch outdoors--enjoyed excellent service and delicious chicken fajitas, sublime torta (sandwich stuffed with yummy mysterious veggie mixture, with best French fries ever. There was so much we took home enough for dinner.

Not Mexican for sure . If you're craving for the topical Mexican dish with great flavors good portions ? This is not the place . I will compare this place to a place call Aqui in Cupertino. Mexican, American, with multicolored chips .

The server was friendly. That was the only positive... The food was bland, the portions small and prices way too high for what they offer. Finally, the menu was way smaller than what you see on Yelp. I would not go back.

Food is good. Service was not great. Can NOT believe they don't serve chips and salsa. Good luck with that one!

We dropped in on a busy Friday evening and were very impressed with the food and service. The flavors of the food were authentic and delicious. The staff were super friendly and gave us detailed explanations of the dishes. We particularly enjoyed the flautas, the Tlacoyo and the tacos. We will definitely return often!

Really love this restaurant, super nice staff and great location! Patio is lovely. Definitely recommend the gobernador (shrimp) tacos and the tlacoyo (a slightly thicker tortilla) topped with poblanos. Check it out!!

Warning: they just changed their menu and food is awful. Menu is nothing like the pictures shown here.

Stopped by the first weekend it was open - food was fresh and super flavorful. Service was great. We will definitely be back.

They finally got their liquor license, all drinks where delicious!! Will definitely be coming back soon.

Delicious authentic food, very friendly staff. We tried the mole, chilaquiles and huitlacoche taco. Recommend without hesitation. Will return!