El Mezcalito

Quaint little hole in the wall with great flavors from Oaxaca. Very much a local fav vibe by the amount of traffic coming in and out. Ordered the Pozole and it was loaded with intense flavor and the pork was super tender. I’m a mezcal fan so they offered some good mezcals to sample. Ordered the Rey Campero flight and it didn’t disappoint. The tostadas with avocado salsa were a great appetizer. Light but could be a meal in itself. Our server was great but it was a bit clunky getting seated and our host didn’t say much. Still worth a visit.

I thought I was going to have to run and eat, so excuse the box. I picked up some quesadillas and had em swap the red salsa to green. It was superb. I'm also kind of glad I stopped and took time to eat there as it was just a relaxing ambiance of people making tiny tortillas near me and the cool stuff on display. Worth it to sit down and get your food served on a plate if you're not busy.

I loved this place! Food was sooooo delish, the mole dish is freaking beyond, and the cocktail with their house spicy tequila…omg!!! 😍😍😍The music caught my attention from the outside! The vibe inside is really authentic, music is perfectly loud for the atmosphere but also doesn’t destroy the ears and allow for a nice conversation 💫💫💫

One of our favorite Queen Anne neighborhood spots. The food is fresh and absolutely delicious — authentic Oaxacan cuisine you won’t find at a typical Mexican café. Always a treat to eat there.

Overall a nice place. We tried the fish tacos with halibut which was pretty good and I would definitely recommend it. We also got the carne asada which was nice and I also tried molotes which would have been a nice appetizer but I ended my meal with it. Nevertheless I liked the food and the service was good.

What a great place. The bartender was friendly. It's always nice to be acknowledged. Had some laughs. Drinks were so yummy. 🤤 Will be back next time in town.

The real deal for Mexican food. Great quick service and delicious food. We had Carne Asada plate and the Mole with pork. Both delicious along with a beer and margarita. Prices are very reasonable. So glad we chose this place plus Queen Anne has a great vibe. Were luck to catch the farmers market as well and top off our meal with a piece of pie.

Food is notable for how bad it is. Very very bland. The more you eat it the worse it gets. Very small portions. If I had made what I got there at home, I would have said to myself wow I messed this up. I am not exaggerating. Service was very slow and they messed up our order. Other than that it was great.

Solid mexican food! I got the Gringas Oaxaqueñas on flour tortillas and they were very yummy, a friend got the Pozole and it was a really good size! I wish they gave free chips but the guacamole we ordered was also very good

We were really craving Mexican food and walked into this quirky little Mexican spot near our area. The restaurant is kind of tight inside, but they have several tables and even some outdoor seating. The service was quick and staff were friendly. We ordered drinks and chips and guac right away. The margaritas were tasty and the bottled beer was only $5. The guac was good, but the chips were phenomenal! They had a salsa bar in the back and we were able to sample a few kinds. We gorged ourselves on chips before we even ordered food. Yum. We enjoyed the carne asada plate and tacos. You could definitely tell everything was homemade including the tortillas. Lovely dinner, a little spendy, but the food was great.

Stumbled upon El Mezcalito on Yelp! We ordered chips and guac, asada tacos, and tacos al pastor. The chips and guac were pricey at $10, but the chips were so good! Piping hot! Tacos were good as well. They have a salsa bar in the back. The space is huge. We came for lunch and it was relatively empty. Parking was a bit difficult to find. Shoutout to Raul for taking care of us that day.

Local go to spot when I'm In town. Cadillac Margaritas are hands down the best I've ever had.

Long ago we tried El Mezcalito's sister restaurant La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard, which we loved for their mole. So now that we're back in Seattle for a weekend, we learned about El Mezcalito and decided to give it a go. It was a short drive from our hotel and it was relatively easy to find street parking. The interior has a nice ambiance and the staff were friendly and attentive. We got an assortment of entrees to share, including their signature mole dish (great flavor, but didn't like the bones), the gringo pork tacos (yum), the carne asada tacos (really good), and the carne asada plate (really good). We also ordered chips and guac (cost was $11, and then chips were unlimited). They also had a salsa self serve station, so we loaded up on that. All in all, we really liked the flavors, but we felt like the price was high for what you get.

The best Mexican food in town! It's authentic, delicious and more delicious! Love the ambiance too

The BEST Mexican restaurant downtown period!!! If you love mole, this is place, all other dishes excellent as well. Friendly staff. Raul is the best.

I will say that the drinks were excellent. The 309 (Sauza, house infused spicy tequila, muddled orange, triple sec, fresh lime juice, Mezcal float) was not messing around with the heat! I ended up preferring the Paloma which helped squelch that fire. Most cocktails were about $13. The food was rather disappointing from a vegetarian standpoint. I went with one of two options: the tostadas vegetarianas, $15 (three fried corn tortillas topped with black beans, lettuce, pico de gallo, crema, queso fresco and avocado). I'm accustomed to the beans being at least warm, but it was all cold. These were very unexciting. There wasn't even any salsa to dress them up. I would not order them again. J. had their house specialty Mole Negro Oaxaqueño, $20, with chicken, white rice, and corn tortillas. He said it tasted good but was literally just a fairly small piece of chicken and some rice. The bar when we came in was packed, but we were seated right away in the back room which was less lively, brighter lit, and had more of a family dining vibe. It would be a good space maybe to reserve for a larger party. Service was busy, but the kitchen was quick. We ordered food and drinks at the same time and actually ended up getting our food first. I don't remember anyone coming back to check on us until our bill arrived. I'd come back for drinks and maybe chips & guac in their bar up front, but I'll make sure I come fed or find someplace with better vegetarian options for dinner.

One of the best! Great tequila and mezcal selections as well. Love the self service salsa bar too!

This is a hidden gem tucked away in Upper Queen Anne. The food is made with the highest level of integrity. They make an excellent Mole and their Tamales are moist and flavorful! The margaritas are excellent as well and if you're a Mezcal fan this is a place to put on your radar! Every time I dine there I meet friendly people and the ownership and team that make it all happen are kind and professional! One of my favorite places in Seattle!

Was out delivering with some co-workers and stopped by for a quick bite. Service was extremely friendly and the food was very good. The chips and guacamole tasted so fresh, we had to order another batch. Rookie mistake and didn't take a photo of the chips. I was very pleased with the Taco Carne Asada. It's the fat man in me saying this but I wish there was more on the plate. However, after eating, I wasn't feeling so bloated and tired like I normally am after a good meal.

Fresh, hot chips! Salsa bar! Everything I've ever had here is so good. Authentic and fresh and just delicious. The drink menu is so fun! Tahin rims and actually spicy when they say it's spicy. Love this place and can't wait to go back

POZOLE TASTE TEST #5: El Mezcalito ***Ok. A little background to what this whole taste test ordeal is about. After a night of drinks amongst other fellow bartenders from town, one questioned where the best pozole in town could be found. Another responded with somewhere in the south end. Patrons chimed in, and said Beacon Hill. I said, White Center. Thus, POZOLE TASTE TEST was born. We hit up 5 restaurants, solely for their pozole (ha). Located in a cozy part of Queen Anne, you'll find El Mezcalito tucked off in the shopping/dining strip of the town. It was fairly busy in there but we found seating at the bar top, no problem. The gal sitting next to us, had a bowl of pozole in front of her, and recommended we try it (we later told her what we've been doing that evening with our pozole mission was 100% for it). The pozole was really good, authentic zings to it. The portion was hearty and meat was very tender. We also ordered a side of crickets; it was prepared a bit differently than how we're used to, but went hand in hand with their chips and fresh guacamole.

We got the carne asada tacos, the chicken taquitos (x2), chips and guac, and ceviche. Everything (with the exception of the ceviche) had very little flavor. For $100 not including tip, we were very disappointed. Definitely would not go back here.

Came here after grappa had a super long wait. As we were walking, we passed El Mezcalito and they had a spot so we decided to dine there. It ended up being a great decision! The food was phenomenal and the potions were perfectly sized. I finished everything on my plate! The spicy margaritas are delicious and they have a mild and a really spicy margarita if you like a kick! The ambiance was very well decorated and welcoming.

I've worked on the hill for years and this was my almost daily lunch spot for a long time. The food has always been good to great depending on what you order. But, I gotta say, this place has gotten prohibitively expensive. I'm a small person, and feel many of the portions sizes are on the just barely too small side. So you're kinda always in that spot of having to choose between leaving a little hungry still, or be willing to shell out $35 for lunch, which gets you 3 small tacos with chips and guacamole, after tax and an appropriate tip. Food is still good, but I'm leaving still hungry today, which is annoying since I just spent $20 for lunch.

This was an unexpected pleasure. I stopped in solo and was well served. Generous margarita and the camarones con mojo de ajo was delicious. It was fun to watch the flour tortillas that come on the side being made. Great little neighborhood gem with decent prices.

I think it was the best Mexican food I have had in the United States. Our service was friendly, and we loved the vibe. We will be back often.

El Mezcalito is incredible. It looks like a tiny restaurant when you walk by, but they have lots of seating inside and even a back patio. Food is delicious and service was great!

Went here for a friend's birthday. My husband and I ordered Micheladas. The server poured the beer into mine, and then poured my husbands which spilled all over his lap (and light colored shorts). He barely whispered a "sorry" and didn't even offer napkins. I ordered a Tlayuda made vegan which was nothing like the real ones in Oaxaca, and was absurdly overpriced (even though all I had was beans, cabbage, tomato and avocado) no chorizo or chicken. Speaking of the avocado, my husband (and myself) was mortified by the lack of freshness of the avocado (see picture). They could have at the least removed the oxidized part to make it look fresh, or for $24 could have used fresh avocado! I love real Oaxacan food but sadly this doesn't come close and was very over priced.

I want my reviews to be honest in spite of Covid's effect on the restaurant world. All restaurants should survive, but my Yelp reviews should help people discern how to spend their money. Thus, not all my critiques are positive, and I choose not to be a cheerleader. The last two times we did take out at El Mezcalito, the food just wasn't as fresh or tasty. I don't know if the kitchen staff is new, or purveyors have changed, but El Mezcalito's moles have tasted stale, and the tamales are mushy. Chile Relleno was a mess. I loved El Mezcalito in the past. The food was fantastic. I sincerely hope the kitchen returns to greatness, and that this drop in quality is temporary.

Came to visit Seattle from LA and wanted some good Mexican food. This place was sooooooo good. Their food, drinks, customer service, all 10/10. The workers are so friendly and always make sure everything is good at your table. The ambiance is great, with the lighting and the music. I got the chile relleno plate and a strawberry margarita and it was so good! I definitely would recommend to anyone coming to visit seattle :-)

Way too overpriced. Chips were ELEVEN dollars. Almost 70$ just for chips and 2 meals. This isn't even a tourist trap, this is just bar food. Sorry but I'm not coming back.

Will definitely be coming back again. Pasole was amazing. Hard to do in a restaurant, I've never been to a place where every single thing was just mouth watering.

$18 for 2 small taquitos and $17 for a small tamale! The prices here have more than doubled since my wife and I started dining here and the portion size has shrunk considerably. Gone are the lines of people waiting to dine likely because the prices are so high. I like the food and the wait staff are always friendly but I feel ripped off every time I dine here so I won't be back. I miss the days when the family who owned it were present and the prices were reasonable.

El Mezcalito is a smaller scale restaurant that definitely gives a home like, intimate feel. I ordered the Mole' Negro and strawberry margarita and was pleased with both. My friend, who I met with, was able to order a specialized quesadilla. I was very happy that they were willing to accommodate it for her as it was not on the menu. The staff was friendly and kept an eye on how we were doing as well as making sure to fill up our waters when they noticed our glasses were reaching empty. The only thing I would keep a note on is that the chips and salsa/guacamole do cost $8. So when asked if you'd like the chips and salsa/guacamole, know it's gonna be the extra $8. I was aware of it beforehand from perusing the menu. All in all, my experience was very comfortable and enjoyable. A fun dinner place to have dinner with a friend.

After a long journey from CA to help our daughter relocate...we were happy to see a table awaiting us at this local neighborhood eatery. The service was attentive and friendly. The drinks were plentiful and Paloma was delicious. The quaomole and salsa variety with chips were tasty. I ordered the shrimps with ajo and rice and beans...very good. Small tacos and fried tortilla dish good as well. Firepits were available for those choosing to dine around! A nice touch.

The food offerings here are generally on the spicy side. The menu is small, and the options feel more authentic than other run of the mill American style Mexican food. It's not Azteca. Enchiladas are not on the menu. You'll find Ponzole and Estofado con Pollo - very good. The service is quite nice and the ambiance is Family oriented. The walls are covered in pictures and Mexican decor. It's a small space in the front of the restaurant with additional seating in the back. The seating in the back makes it a bit more family friendly although seating is close and it may not be a fun place for the little ones. The beans (black and refried) are good. They have a little kick to them and are topped with a bit of crema to cool it down. Carne asada tacos come with everything you want them to - cilantro, onions, and salsa. We also like the guacamole here. It's got tomato's, onions, and cilantro with a decent spicy kick. There are lots of onions in the dishes served here. The food is good, and we would recommend it. If you have an aversion to spicy food, or lots of onions this might not be the right restaurant to try. 3 stars for being solid but not knock your socks off kind of good.

Good flavor. Genuinely nice service. Really not that impressed. Pricey. If you're in the Queen Anne area...nice place for a snack.

We've been regulars weekly at this family owned Oaxaca restaurant and bar for the last 5 years, from date-nights to family-playdates. During this conoravirus-y shelter-in-place times. El Mezcalito is doing HOME DELIVERY (!!) and take-out, as eat-in is temporarily banned. Support your local favourites during this tuff rocky road.

Great cocktails and super nice people. The michelada and palomas were super tasty. The michelada is SPICY!

A constant go to reliable and safe choice for us. We love our neighborhood Mexican spot!

There's one thing that makes a Mexican restaurant in my eyes: Good. Chips. Get them. Love them. Guac them. Got the al pastor tacos (three of em). Juicy as hell, yummy pineapple. Service was quick and friendly. Nice atmosphere and can make any cocktail into a mocktail for your nondrinking friends.

I was looking for a quick bite to eat on Queen Anne and popped in here for a late lunch and found it a delightful and affordable lunch menu. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing and very well crafted.

Started out at 3.5 stars, but slowly lost stars during the evening as I was continually neglected by staff and had to flag someone down every time I needed something. My drink order took forever and I had to remind them about it. No one stopped by to ask me how my food was or if I wanted another drink (I did). After 20 minutes of sitting with empty dishes, I flagged the bartender down to get a box and the check. Chips were great, light and crips. Salsa bar is a neat idea, but it was messy and low on salsas. Guacamole tasted like the premade store-bought kind. I ordered the al pastor tacos, which were not labeled as such on the menu; they're called something else. It had great flavor like traditional al pastor (savory, seasoned pork + pineapple), but was previously cooked meat skewered with pineapple to look like the traditional pig shank spinning over the grill. I imagine it helped with cutting pieces off, but the meat didn't cut off quite the same and was a tad dry. I was asked if I wanted rice and beans (nothing mentioned about that on the menu), and I said yes. When the check came, $7 was added for the rice and beans!!! The two cheapest, easiest things on the menu that were flopped onto my plate out of the vat that kept them warm cost me $7. Rice and beans do NOT cost $7 on top of the entree, which made it $18!! Had the service been good, they would have gotten a 20% tip and this would have been a $50 meal, which seems outrageous for a solo dinner with one drink at a Mexican restaurant. While Seattle may be low on good Mexican restaurants compared to my old home in LA, I won't be back here and don't recommend. The two stars were for the good chips and flavorful tacos.

Awesome food and drinks featured during a killer happy hour. The tacos are a highlight and a nice value at only $6 (for three). The quesadilla is incredibly filling and loaded with either chicken or steak. The margaritas are boozy, and they offer a bunch of different options. One must order are their chips and guac. I know it seems like a little thing, but the fresh made chips are really well seasoned and the guac is creamy and delicious. Staff is beyond friendly, Cesar and crew make for an enjoyable experience to go along with the great food. If you're in upper Queen Anne and looking to satisfy a craving for some Oaxacan food, this is the spot for you!

If you're in the area & craving Mexican food, it'll suffice. With the 5 of us we all had a variety of dishes & didn't agree with the price for any of them. 2 corn tortillas & some radish garnish was a $17 quesadilla?? Carne Asada Plato was 6/10 but not worth $20. Camarones Al Mojo de Ajo with 4 prawns for $20?? Drinks weren't anything special, overpriced if anything. I came here having a higher expectation especially for all the great reviews! Small little place, bathrooms are storage closets, limited seating. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again:(

We were staying at an Airbnb in the Queen Anne neighborhood, craving some Mexican food and after a little searching decided to try El Mezcalito. We made it in time for happy hour and were seated at the bar which made for good service. The beers were cold and cheap, and the tacos and carne asada were delicious. There are tons of mezcals and tequilas to be had if that is your bag, not to mention lots of great Mexican beers.

Daughter (8) and dad (old) doing father daughter date night. Every Wednesday mom and son have soccer. Our dinner was AMAZING. Sloan, "I want to come here every Wednesday!" Their mole is delicious. This is not your run of the mill Mexican food. Be sure to ask your server for their favorite dish.

This was one the best dinners we've had in a long time. Service was warm, flawless and abundant. The restaurant's wall art is amazing - and there's lots to see. I thought it was cool in the men's room that there were two little mirrors whimsically attached to the wall (by metal accordian arms) next to the main mirror over the sink. You know those mirrors, the ones that that allow you to manipulate them so that you can see the back of your head. The drinks menu overflows with thirty plus mezcal options, and nearly as many tequila and cerveza choices. Sotol is available. A side note: pulque, tequila and mezcal are all maguay (agave) plant distillations. Pulque is a cheap inexpensive raw form of tequila made from agave sap. Tequila and mezcal are derived from the heart of the agave. Contrary to legend, mezcal does not possess psychoactive properties. Agave distillations are categorized according to how long they've been aged. Blanco has been aged the least, reposado longer and añejo the longest. The longer the aging, the smoother and darker the finished product. The difference between tequila and mezcal is a little more arcane. Per Mexican law, tequila can only be called tequila if it is derived from blue agave, which is grown in the state of Jalisco. Mezcal can be derived from any variety of agave. Still, they're essentially the same liquor. And then there's sotol. It's also made from agave, but specifically from agave grown in Chihuahua. Sotol is the state drink of Chihuahua. Chihuahua is an interesting state. Part of the state is a high elevation plain, similar to Idaho. Yes, this is Mexico, but it snows here regularly in the winter. The plain is farmed and was settled with many Europeans seeking religious independence. As a result, many of homes and buildings here have a European/Western design. The first word that comes to mind in describing sotol is "smooth". It sweetly slips down, not burning like tequila. Sotol at Mezcaleria Oaxaca comes in a little bowl along with two lime wedges. Being inexperienced in the ways of tequila, I didn't know what sequence to use the lime wedges. One wedge was fresh, the other lightly lined with chili and salt. For an appetizer, we picked Chayote con Queso, egg-battered chayote (squash) stuffed with cheese, then fried. It was outstanding, the best dish of the night. I ordered the Barbacoa de Cabrito, or more simply, barbecued goat. The pulled-style meat was delicious. The side was a wonderful saucy corn (or more accurately, cornbread stuffing-like) dish topped with a ribbon of green salsa and another of red salsa. JP liked the pozole, noting that Mezcaleria Oaxaca's pozole is generous with the pork. For dessert we split a dish of toasted plantain strips with a scoop of very good vanilla ice cream.

I'll preface this review with the fact that my Mexican heritage and life experience have included a long history of amazing Mexican food so I am always a tough critic. But I stopped by this restaurant due to the amount of folks that were dining there on a Thursday night. Seemed like a safe bet. I ordered their self advertised house specialty, Mole with chicken, with white rice and two tortillas,cost $20. My order was mistakenly not put in and after 30 minutes, no food. I was seated near open cooking area. When I saw that they were starting to clean the grill and wash pots and pans I stopped a server who had walked by me several times and asked about my meal. She offered to take my order. She finally realized I'd ordered a 1/2 hour earlier. So, I asked for some chips while I waited yet again. They came 20minutes later with my food order. One small chicken thigh with white rice. The food was served cold. No server ever came back to send it back. So being famished by then I ate it. When server returned with my bill she asked how the food was- I mentioned the coldness of the food. She chuckled and said sorry. The mole was watery and flavorless. The rice steamed. Both mole, chicken and rice could have used a little salt. The owner was told about my concern and took five dollars off my bill and offered me a beer. I passed on the beer. The bill and included a $5 charge for a small basket of chips. So not a great experience and food was disappointing. For those of you looking for an authentic Mexican food experience, you can do much better.

My friends and I stopped in for dinner the other night. We tried both the house and the strawberry margaritas which were delicious and strong. I got the tacos pescados which were tasty, but a bit overpriced for the size. At $17 I expected more than 3 teensy tacos with just halibut, shredded lettuce and guac. I could have easily made that at home for half the price. The chipotle sauce was good but again not mind blowing. My friend had the carne asada plato which was actually a decent entree size for $17. Overall the food was good but not worth the price tag. Then again it's upper Queen Anne so not totally unexpected. The margaritas were great though, perhaps this place would be better for happy hour.

Another venue for the best Mexican food in Seattle, Mezcaleria Oaxaca is exceptional. Walk past the ktichen and you'll find a host of abuelas stirring enormous pots of mole, making homemade tortilla chips from scratch, and yes, even barbecuing a goat. This place is the real deal. You probably know this if you've visited their Ballard twin, La Carta de Oaxaca. The food is just as fantastic. By all means, order the mole negro with chicken --this entree is a must have plate for any order. There are far fewer crowds and jostled elbows to contend with than La Carta, although there is probably less seating overall. Don't pass on the house made chips. In fact, make them a focal point of your meal. Order the guacamole, order the hot bean dip (yes both) and then stock up at the salsa bar. You won't regret it. The food is really tasty. Legit. BTW, those new to this spot, this is Oazacan food --you are not going to find a burrito in the place. Its okay. Don't panic. The rest of the food is very, very good. Much better than the salty, ginormous burrito you were craving. Coming from San Francisco and the Mission, I take my hat off to Mezcaleria for their amazing food. Its authentic. Its delicious. The heat is fabulous. The corn tortillas are homemade. The atmosphere is fun and visually energetic. On the other hand, prices could be a better value . Still, I'm willing to pay more for quality eats and tasty, tasty goodness lives here.

I have been to Mezcalaria Oaxaca's other locations for their strong margaritas, so this was my first time actually coming in for food! My friend and I were craving tacos, and this place definitely satisfied that need. We both ended up getting the Carne Asada street tacos, which was about $8 for 3 of them, while a little pricey it was so satisfying! The service was decent and decor was nice. It was a little weird that we were seated right next to a row of kitchen sinks - they should cover that area up. I'll hopefully visit again in the future, to try their other food out! Seems like the ideal Taco Tuesday spot.

A typical Yelp four-star review might praise many aspects of a restaurant, noting that some parts of the meal could have been improved but enjoying the experience overall. We'll call that a balanced four-star; using that terminology, Mezcaleria is not a balanced four-star in the slightest. Its food is fairly mediocre: the only time I've eaten a meal here, I ordered the enmoladas, which were served in a mole I would charitably describe as "lacking kick" and crema Mexicana that made the rest of the dish soggy. The margaritas go a little too heavy on the tequila and a little too light on everything else. The ambience in the back room, where you'll probably go if you're either eating a full meal or going with a party of four or more, is similar to that of a Mexican restaurant in which the dishes cost half as much as they do here. But the chips. Holy mother of God, the chips. Mezcaleria Oaxaca's chips are the best tortilla chips I have ever had. They are so far above and beyond any other chip that it's hardly fair to even include anything else in the same sentence. These are manna from the heavens. These are Michelangelo's David, if David were made of processed corn instead of marble and served with guacamole. These are "Mr. Brightside" played at a party after four drinks. A reader might scoff at how something as perfunctory as tortilla chips would single-handedly save Mezcaleria's rating; said reader would without a doubt change their mind after even one piece of their delectable, perfectly-salted heaven. I would not recommend Mezcaleria Oaxaca for a normal meal: chips do not an entree make, no matter how transcendental. I would wholeheartedly recommend Mezcaleria Oaxaca for a happy hour. Sit down, order a four-dollar beer, and snarf down basket after basket of crunchy goodness until closing time. I cannot think of a better way to spend four to six nights a week.

We love this place! We end up eating here 2-3 times a week and the food and service are always great. There are multiple tables outside in a covered space out front and a few more in back, as well as inside seating. Tables are always clean, and they check in frequently to make sure you've got everything you need. Tortillas are hand made and always fresh as are the salsas. My go to dish is the Gringas Oaxaqueñas, BBQ pork with quesillo. Try it out.

The food from Mezcalaria Oaxaca brought me back to sitting in a restaurant in the city of Oaxaca de Juarez eating a delicious meal while staring out at the beautiful old buildings made from green colored volcanic stone. I haven't thought about Oaxaca in quite a long time but fond memories began to surface with each bite. When I think of food from different regions of Mexico, it's not often I've come across food from the state of Oaxaca. If you've never been, Oaxaca is in southern Mexico between Guerrero and Puebla to the west, Veracruz to the North, Chiapas to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the south. I remember having some amazing tamales with mole while there but I wanted to try something different. I was going to save the tamales for another time when I was more hungry. We ordered our food to pick up over the phone. The staff on the phone were very nice and told us that it was okay if we ordered some of the items from the dinner menu and others from the lunch menu. We ordered their chips salsa and a side of refried pinto beans with it. It was delicious. They had several types of salsa at the salsa bar as well so we could try some different kinds. The chips were warm which is always nice and the salsa was tasty and not watery. We ordered several main dishes and shared them so we got to taste everything. The Tacos Carne Asada are small tacos with sliced beef served on a corn tortilla, with onions, cilantro and salsa roja. Put cilantro on a taco instead of lettuce and you have me for life. The meat was cooked perfectly and it was juicy. The Gringas Oaxaqueñas is made of barbecued pork served in small corn tortillas with quesillo, pico de gallo and salsa verde. I really liked the salsa verde and thought that added a great flavour to the meat. With both of the tacos dishes, the tortillas are small and may not be enough for one person depending on your appetite. The Carne Asada Plato is made of thin sliced beef steak, served with rice, beans, pico de gallo and tortillas. This was very tasty and most of us liked this the best. The pico de gallo was fresh and there was a fair serving of rice and beans. I liked the taste of the beans as well. They have a huge menu of Mezcal to try including flights. Some of the drinks looked amazing but we were working, so I will have to try them one day after work. Travel and Leisure magazine named them one of the best Mexican restaurants in the country a few years back so that's saying something. I liked the food and will definitely be back!

BEST ceviche I've had and amazing, fresh tortillas! Margaritas are excellent too. Mmmm!

If you want to enjoy some authentic, delicious Oaxacan food - Mezcaleria is for you. I'm stunned by the number of negative reviews based on the reviewers inaccurate perceptions that Mexican food is a singular category of food without regional differences or styles. Or worse yet, that Americanized Mexican food is the measure of authenticity. As a native California girl, I grew up on Mexican food and the refried pinto beans here are heaven sent. The "white" rice is fried and very tasty. My favorite dishes are the taquitos (baked enchiladas) and the halibut tacos. Bonus points for the exceptional fresh homemade tortillas. The service is always warm and welcoming. My husband and I have been here for date night, brought the kids earlier in the day and often get take out, too. They also have gladly accommodated my son's food allergy. It's a small restaurant, so not the best place for a large group - but that's hardly a ding. 5 stars!