Los Cilantros

Quite simply the best home-cooked Mexican restaurant in memory. Cozy, family-run, every dish clearly made with love. Fresh, true to style (homemade blue corn tortillas!) thoughtful menu and a nice little selection of beer, wine and sangria to go with. It was our first time trying it tonight, and we already know we will be back soon to try the whole menu. Highly recommended!

I moved down the block just over 2 years ago, and I was so sad this place was closed because I always heard wonderful things about it. When they finally reopened this September, 2023, I was so excited to go! I was not disappointed and I’m happy to say and I can’t wait to come back! Everything was delicious, extremely fresh, and really high quality. The chicken enchiladas were perfectly seasoned and a great portion size. The refried black beans that come with the dish were so good! The pescado taco was also wonderful, a huge taco and the fish was perfectly cooked. Hands-down though, the best thing we had was the ceviche tostada and the esquite! The ceviche had sooo much flavor. I can’t stop thinking about it! Also a ton of fish and avocado for the portion. Yum! The esquite was also a highlight. Just so many wonderful flavors and everything complimented each other so well. Blown away, definitely a new favorite spot in Berkeley and so glad you’re back! Service was wonderful too, and the food comes out really quickly. So glad you’re back, I’ll be back soon.

The food was very good, a little on the pricey side but worth it. Got the barbacoa lamb, and it was very tasty. Loved the homemade tortillas. The flan for dessert was very tasty and came with some strawberries on the side. Very good food, all gluten free.

We have been meaning to eat at Los Cilantros for years, and just never made it there. I am so glad we finally went, a hidden gem. Everything we had was delicious. The chips were crispy but not greasy, the guacamole flavorful and you could still taste the avo. The Cesar salad had wonderful complex but not overpowering flavor. The Ensalada de Col was simple, tasty, a perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal. My daughter had tacos, 2 asada, 1 mushroom. She said the mushroom were delicious, she wished she had room for more, and the asada was as good as her favorite Mexican restaurant. The chicken enchiladas were delicious, authentic tasting verde sauce, simple black beans on the side. Wow, not sure why we waited so long, can't wait to go back and try more! (PS The restaurant itself is lovely, quiet environment, good service. We did not feel rushed, we felt encouraged to enjoy)

The food was good, but a little too overpriced, especially considering the vegetarian options weren’t that fancy.

This place is awesome, fresh ingredients, authentic, well made food. This is one of my go-to spots in the Bay! They have a lot of veggie options which is great also.

The tortillas & salsa are homemade and the food tastes fresh and yummy! The space is charming, clean, and smells good.

Dedicated GLUTEN FREE Mexican food. A rare find indeed. They have delicious food and wonderful individualized service. If there are other ingredients you cannot have they will happily substitute if they can. Each dish pictured below was delicious. The Ceviche is normally prepared with serrano peppers, but since I can't eat hot peppers they prepared a Ceviche without the peppers and it was wonderful! The salad had an orange juice dressing that was delicious! And the bottom layer on the taco was a very thin layer of black beans, YUM. They are located on Shattuck in Berkeley and I will return.😋♥️🦋🙏

Delicious food, beautifully handmade tortillas. Service is quick and kind - they check in with you but are not overbearing. Quiet south Berkeley location near Ashby BART and Berkeley Bowl. Lamb Barbacoa and Chips Salsa Guac were too much food for this ambitious eater. Would repeat this combo after I eat my way through their entire menu.

I got a taco plate to go, but from what I saw, it looked very nice and cozy without being very dark. It was actually very soft and warm and its brightness. It is a nicer, sit-down place, I was specifically looking for a more street-taco taqueria. They accept Apple Pay, but yet another POS that starts at 18% tip. I got my order to go. I didn't have water; no one had to bring or take away a plate. My box wasn't specially plated (nor should it be). Why am I being asked for such an exorbitant tip on an already expensive place for a takeout dinner that I cleaned up after?

My husband and I were visiting Berkeley today and in need of lunch. He has Celiac, so having a facility that is as close to dedicated gluten free as possible and I am grateful that Los Cilantros came up on find-me-gluten-free. We arrived about 1:30pm and were greeted by a kind young man and our pick of any table. My husband ordered the Carnitas plate (his favorite!) and I had the chicken enchiladas. Both dishes were absolutely fantastic. The carnitas were perfectly cooked and crisp, the warm handmade tortillas were heavenly, and the salsa was balanced and flavorful. The chicken enchiladas were delicate yet filling. The verde sauce was luscious and tangy (the best verde enchilada sauce I have ever had), and was expertly paired with the earthiness of the black beans. The portions were great, and we left full and happy! So much so that we actually came back several hours later for dinner! My husband doubled down and had this carnitas plate again, this time it came with fresh and aromatic blue corn tortillas (lunch had white corn tortillas, and I went with the tostada trio. The tostada shells themselves were crispy and thick, not those off the shelf tostadas that crumble before you can even take a bite. The chicken tinga was juicy and savory without being heavy. The ceviche was light and refreshing, and a great palate cleanser, and the nopales tostada was again some of the best nopales I have had, and I grew up in LA! If you are looking for a fantastic meal made with love and care in the Berkeley area, look no further. I am a professional chef and the amount of refinement and care taken in all their offerings is a rarity in food like this. They will treat you like family, and I already look forward to my next visit! Muchas Gracias to the wonderful staff at Los Cilantros!!!

Great, locally made authentic mexican food. All of the tortillas are handmade and every thing is fresh and flavorful! Evey think on the menu is gluten free so a really great option if you have that requirement.

We came to this restaurant's to attend my husband's aunt memorial. Our first time here, they were serving different kinds of tacos. Tacos were so delicious. Can't just eat one. Definitely will come back soon for lunch. Thanks cousin Malcom and Jen for choosing this restaurant.

We have been meaning to eat at Los Cilantros for years, and just never made it there. I am so glad we finally went, a hidden gem. Everything we had was delicious. The chips were crispy but not greasy, the guacamole flavorful and you could still taste the avo. The Cesar salad had wonderful complex but not overpowering flavor. The Ensalada de Col was simple, tasty, a perfect accompaniment to the rest of the meal. My daughter had tacos, 2 asada, 1 mushroom. She said the mushroom were delicious, she wished she had room for more, and the asada was as good as her favorite Mexican restaurant. The chicken enchiladas were delicious, authentic tasting verde sauce, simple black beans on the side. Wow, not sure why we waited so long, can't wait to go back and try more! (PS The restaurant itself is lovely, quiet environment, good service. We did not feel rushed, we felt encouraged to enjoy)

Wonderful food! It was well prepared, homemade and healthier than many restaurants. The wait staff were lovely and very kind. I would recommend them any day!

Delicious! Wonderful food and service. Amazing enchiladas and guacamole. And live music too!

The food was fabulous! This is a great local restaurant to support. The Chile Relleno was especially good and the servers were great and friendly. The inside is beautifully decorated. Highly recommend.

Posting a review to get the new menu up, but the food is fantastic and everyone is so kind! Glad to see the spot has opened again.

I have many years of enjoying the authentic, fresh and delicious offerings of Senora Dilsa Lugo, Owner/Chef. First review in 2014 and the food is as good as ever. Today, Saturday open at 10AM, I called at 9:45, greeted by Senora Lugo ready for my take out order. Twenty minutes later ready as promised. Brunch to serve 4 adults and a child. My daughter lived in Cuernavaca volunteering and came to love the children, people, city and food. This was a meal for us to take to her this morning. She lit up delighted with a fav dish of Chilaquiles. Grandest of grandsons loved a taste of Tiacoyitos and Quesadilla Para Niños, his parents finished what he did not like. Order included Pozole de Pollo (brought home for our dinner) and Sopes. All fresh, good to eat as take away, and we all pushed away from the table satisfied and tickled too. I look forward to returning sooner.

Delicious, interesting twists to familiar dishes, friendly ambience, and great service.

The food here is amazing. The staff is very friendly. It is recently reopened and the food is as good as ever. We had the mushroom tacos and fish tacos and the chile rellenos. All were served with delicious and fresh handmade blue corn tortillas. The black beans served with the chile rellenos were creamy and flavorful. I am going back as often as possible to support this local spot. Can't wait to try their pozole and enchiladas.

Food is out of this world. I am Mexican and these dishes are 100 percent authentic. Won't find a burrito or nachos so don't ask. This isn't that kind of place. This is real Mexican food that taste like my grandmothers. I grew up here in the Bay Area and in my 35 years of living here I have never tasted Mexican food like this in the Bay Area. Please do you self a favor and take a trip to Mexico/ my grandmother's kitchen.

So glad that Los Cilantros is open again! Truly an important part of the neighborhood. The menu is a bit limited. I assume that they're starting off slowly, which makes sense for a reopening. However, everything we've tried has been tasty.

Been meaning to try this place for a while because of its proximity and just the great things I've heard about it. It's tucked away next to a culture center which makes it really integrated with its community which is something you have to love and support. I called in the order for pickup and the order was a little late, but it's fine. FOOD: I got the 3 tacos plate. I got the hongos, the mole, and the tingas. First off, you can immediately tell from the first bite that these tortillas are hand made in house. You simply can't find these types of tortillas in stores. Not only that, but they do it well. Everything else is just an accessory at this point, but they clearly use good fresh ingredients and the technique is there. I would probably personally skip the tingas taco next time as the chicken was a bit on the dryer side. Everything else was pretty good. As a whole, it feels a little difficult to justify paying $4+ per taco. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it, but I will want to come back to try their actual entrees like the pozole, which I've been craving for some time. Just know that their prices are on the higher end, but you get what you pay for: Quality.

Quick service, lovely space, and decently sized portions at a good price. Plus plenty of vegetarian options. Glad to have this place back in the neighborhood!!

It was absolutely horrible. The ladies demeanor, when asking questions about the menu was just so short dismissive. She came off as irritated. I ordered being in cheese tostada, which she first told me I couldn't order when I got it. It was a very thin layer of black beans just like I need to bury in later with some very hard cheese on top it was just discussing it was horrible. You get no chips and get another salsa and you have to buy everything. It was very disappointing. I will never ever visit again.

Very good Mexican food near Berkeley campus. The menu has a good mix of all your favorites as well as a good selection of vegan and vegetarian options. Adult drinks are lImited to beer and wine so no margaritas. The carne asada tacos were excellent. The corn tortillas were perfectly cooked and delicious as was the carne. Chicken pozole was outstanding. Spicy goodness with big chunks of chicken in a flavorful broth. The hot sauces are very very good as well. Service was friendly and prompt.

Cilantros is back! Absolutely kick ass. If it was in a high traffic location, you'd never get a table, but here it's an east bay ninja spot.

Really amazing local spot. Family owned spot with great food and service. Definitely recommend.

Uuuum no. Just.... NO. If you wanna market yourself as a "high end" Mexican food restaurant then you better BE about that life. There is no room for bland food and subpar service when I'm already spending waaay more coin than I need to be spending. For the life of me, I'll never understand how a place can justify such a steep price for their food merely because of the fact that it's a "sit down" restaurant. I mean... if the ambience was immaculate, the food was of superior quality, and the service was exceptional, it might be enough to justify it. But, not here. I've been looking for a good Mexican food restaurant in the Berkeley area and decided to come here based off of the glowing reviews that I had read. Unfortunately, I ended up having a less than glowing experience. I came here on a weekday during lunch. The interior was clean, spacious, and festive. They have a small stage in the adjoining dining room, so I assume that they have live music here on certain days. The menu appeared to be more on the limited side, but still an adequate selection for your average Mexican food restaurant. When I walked in, there was nobody inside the restaurant and nobody at the front counter. I started shuffling the menus around until someone finally heard me and told me to seat myself anywhere to which I did. In looking at the menu, I noticed that they had 2 different types of tostadas; one with chicken and one with cactus. I had never had cactus before and asked the lady at the front counter what it tasted similar too. She was actually sweet enough to let me sample it. It was just okay, so I decided to go with the chicken tostadas instead. My actual server was very slow and unaccommodating throughout my time there. When I asked for salsa, she gave me the tiniest little cup known to man. When I asked for napkins, she only gave me ONE. I was the only person in the restaurant until another couple and one other person came in much later, but she was extremely slow. At one point, she was sitting at the table across from me with other people eating with them. It was kind of awkward because she made the people who came in wait until she was done having a conversation with the people that she was eating with. Bad business practices in my opinion. She didn't check to see how was I doing. And even after I had finished my meal and waiting for my check for almost 10 minutes, I finally got up and walked to cash register and asked for it. I don't know what the hell they were doing back there, but service was completely inattentive. As far as the food went, that wasn't much better either. Probably the most blandest tostadas that I've ever consumed. The ones from Taco Bell tastes better than that ish that they served me. And, to think that I spent $13 for 3 tostadas with no complimentary chips or salsa? Get the ef out of here! Unreasonably pricey! The chicken tasted like it had been boiled in hot water with NO type of seasoning whatsoever. Even the little bit of salsa that I was given couldn't help this tasteless meal. In the end, I was left unsatisfied and felt like I had wasted my time and money. I most likely will not be returning in the future.

I echo the sentiments that Los Cilantros is delicious. A nice bright and open space, I'd imagine great for a larger group. I've had brunch here awhile ago and remember enjoying it immensely. The food is elevated than that hole-in-the-wall taqueria, but so are the prices! Most recently, dinner for 2, which left us very full, but was also $50+ with tip and no alcohol! The freshly homemade tortillas shine here and are the main reason I'd come again and again. The base of any Mexican meal, these are perfect and warrant the slightly higher prices alone. The alambre which was carne asada, pineapple, peppers smothered in cheese didn't quite hit it out of the proverbial ballpark. The small bites of carne were completely over cooked and so tough. I think this would be better served with larger pieces of steak. The carnitas on the other hand was juicy, flavorful and a nice portion of pork. The chips, salsa and guac at $9 was delicious, but overpriced. Sadly, just a small scoop of guac. Service is so nice and was great while we were there, although the place was empty. No alcohol on the patio, but they have beer offerings inside.

Update: I miss this place so much!! :'( I feel bad for giving 2 stars to be honest. Their food was super good and I wish I'd gone there more often. I did try to go at least 1-2 times a week. Very sad that it's gone.

When I moved to Oakland, it took me a while to find some great Mexican food that was located near my neighborhood. I tend to stick to taquerias, and I'm so used to getting a quick taco when I'm in the Mission that I was looking for something similar in my neck of the woods. Los Cilantros is definitely more of a sit-down type of place, but I've enjoyed my meals there so far. One dish that stands out to me is their carnitas plate, which gives you a heaping amount of pork along with tortillas for your dining pleasure. The meat is juicy and flavorful, and you definitely get a sizable portion of food. I've also liked their chorizo sopes, with the chewy, corn-based dough being a sturdy base for the potato and sausage. Service is friendly, though I've felt it was inattentive when the restaurant is very busy; it seems somewhat short-staffed. I also find it a bit on the pricy side, but these minor shortcomings would not prevent me from coming back.

Fresh and flavorful mexican food in a great atmosphere. 5 star service. Glad to see them open again!

Good food, as described in other reviews. What's unusual is that it adjoins/includes the Pena cultural center. Every third Friday there is live Jarocho music. As described here: "Enjoy a lively evening of son jarocho music, dancing, and zapateado- bring your dance shoes and instruments, or just come and enjoy the music and dance! There is no entrance fee, but any monetary donations are accepted in support of programming at La Peña. Son Jarocho is a lively traditional art form from the southern Mexican state of Veracruz that sits on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.It is a lyrical and danceable music genre that formed in the melding of three cultures: Arabic-Spanish, African and indigenous Mexican. It is at the same time highly improvised and highly structured--filled with complex poly-rhythms and musical dialogue in its dance, song, poetry and music. The basic instrumentation of the son jarocho includes the jarana jarocha, guitarra de son (both guitar-like instruments) and zapateado (percussive footwork). Regional variations include the harp and various percussive instruments such as quijada, pandero, marimbol or cajón, with the latter two instruments being contemporary additions." It's a mellow family crowd with dancing kids and people joining in on their own instruments. Interesting artwork and murals on the walls, with a big bas relief mural outside. Other events at the Pena Center are found at Lapena.org

Yesss! Finally had my taco craving fixed here. I came for tacos, but came out loving the sopes and tostaditas. The sopes had a great flavor and tasted not too overwhelming. I didn't know what I was eating at the time, but I've come to appreciate the nopales aka the prickly pear in the tostaditas. The cactus tasted like slightly sour green beans (very similar texture), and I was surprised everything works so well together! The crunchy shell and creamy avocado helped to pull the flavors together. I enjoyed the tacos just as much, and I was so surprised to see that they offer mushroom tacos! I'd never had a taco with just mushrooms before!! Steak and chicken tacos were delicious as well. 10/10 would come back. Super hole in the wall place. Seems very authentic as I was the only Asian there when I went. (That's when you know it's legit) They do cultural celebrations and special events here, which I find interesting. The night I came, they happened to be hosting a celebration type event for the Mexican and Chilean independence day. Party it up! Also, this place is more on the pricier side, but I guess they're also trying to sell their ambience.

Dial me impressed with the food, beginning with the cabbage salad. Yes there is lime and avocado but there's also a something-something they do with the cabbage salad at Los Cilantros. The tortillas here are house-made and come with many dishes. I was also very happy with my Carnitas. A good value at $16. You pay more at fancy restaurants, but only the really good kitchens consistently make it better. Los Cilantros has a fairly simple interior brightened with the hues of Americas south of the U.S. Nice to sit at one of the four sidewalk tables. The only bummer is that you can't have beer, wine or sangria if you sit outside. Often sunny, set back from Shattuck. Next to La Peña.

We love this place so much, have tried every dish and it's always been perfect. So authentic!!!!! The tlacoyos are hard to find and they have them here, not only do they have them, they're delicious! The chilaquiles are perfect.

I've been to Los Cilantros twice now, once where we dined in, the other time we took our order to go! If you're looking for non-greasy, fresh Mexican food, this is your spot! You can just tell that they use high quality ingredients. In fact, the woman working there told me everything is organic! Their chips are soooo good! So crispy and fried haha. But not overly greasy! I had the mole sopes which were good! I've also had the chicken tinga tacos! I think they use chicken breast, but I wish it was thigh so the chicken is more tender! But both sauces of the mole and tinga were so flavorful! The tortillas are also clearly handmade! My partner got potato enchiladas both times, and loves em! This place is a little bit pricer than your standard Mexican joint, but you're paying for quality!

Closed not sure why or when by came by today at noon and nothing! It's hard to rely on yelp when their businesses don't update their hours or whether they're open and closed a lot of wasted time

The food was excellent, they even have nopales which is not easy to find in a typical Mexican cantina . The tortillas are made fresh which is felt in the texture and flavor. I had the special for valentine shrimp tomato soup and it was delicious. The jicama salad was fresh , the panacota dessert wasn't . The ambiance could be better simply by canceling some bright lights . Overall I will be back.

Good food, good ambiance, but waiting time was bit long as we there in valentine's day. We booked a sit for 7:15 and I think we sat down around 7:30

I have had Los Cilantros bookmarked for almost 4 years, but reading Ted R's review today was what moved us to come here tonight for dinner. The restaurant is sandwiched between The Starry Plough and La Peña Cultural Center and we were fortunate to find a parking spot right in front. There are a few tables on the patio in front and more inside. We were greeted and seated at a 4 top by a young woman who cautioned us that they were out of two items on the menu, although I didn't hear which ones. We knew from Ted's description that we wanted to order the cabbage salad. We also agreed on chips and salsa. Alan was disappointed not to see any shrimp dishes on the menu. I knew I wanted carnitas. He decided on barbacoa. I requested sangria and Alan drank water. The young woman took our order and then we saw her leaving as we were eating our salad. The salad was marvelous. We both loved it. It has a piquant lime-based dressing and small chunks of avocado. The salsa and chips never arrived, but our mains did, accompanied by three homemade tortillas each, salsas, finely chopped red onions and cilantro. Another woman brought them. My carnitas had a green salsa and Alan's barbacoa had a reddish sauce that he really liked. The carnitas was luscious, not as crispy as others I've had, but wonderful. I didn't receive my sangria, so I asked the man working there about it and he brought it. It was delicious, slightly sweet, w/ finely chopped fruit in it. Alan was less happy w/ his barbacoa, which he found dry. We took it home to add to a leftover pot roast we'll be having in a couple of days. When our server brought the bill I noticed the chips and salsa were on it. I told her we hadn't gotten them. She explained apologetically that it had gotten lost in the hand-off between our first server and her. I indicated it wasn't a problem and then headed off to the bathroom, which is in the adjacent room, toward the back. When I got back to the table I found a small flan topped w/ three blueberries, w/ two spoons. Flan is one of my very favorite desserts, even better than crème brulée, and this one had a wonderful taste and texture. Alan didn't share it and I enjoyed every bite. I went back to thank her for it. We will return.

Cafe Valparaiso, I miss you so much!!!! I originally came here after reading an article about the owner and how she got started. It was interesting and inspiring and I couldn't wait to try it out. Now, this place is in La Peña Cultural Center, which was a major hang out spot for my husband and I when we were dating and I was there on almost a weekly basis at times checking out the music, seeing old friends, and enjoying the good times.At that time there were some restaurants that came by. One opened and closed. Another one moved to a fancier part of town and closed some years later. Still another one is still around in Albany. I really miss them. Here is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in reverse order. The Ugly - The thing that we loved about this place is that there was a community atmosphere. We knew the folks, some people had a tab, there were regulars. If I couldn't find my husband (before cell phones) and didn't know where he was, chances were I could find him there with his buddies. This place has no sense of that and I'll tell you in three scenes. 1) My cousin was having a book launch. She wanted to provide food for close family members and friends. They (she, her mom, and her husband) were imagining a catered affair where you pay $10-15 per person and people scoop up the food they want. Not unheard of. But they wanted a $35 per head deal with a fixed plate. Going there doesn't cost $35 per person. They lost a lot of business. We just met up at other places that actually wanted our business and our money. 2) My husband and I went there for a Black Panther Event. After the even, we were starved. The event started at 5:30-6 and we were there at 9. Many of us hadn't really eaten, expecting to get a meal there. They weren't even open, even though their regular hours suggested that they should be. Again, many of us left with our money in our wallets. Many of the folks went to the Starry Plough for a meal, but to avoid the rush, my hubby and I (along with several other people) went to Phil's sliders. 3) There was a fund raiser for a DJ and my husband and I went. They were open and had a special drink, a sangria. I thought the money being raised was going to the DJ who has cancer. But no, they donated $1 from each $5 drink. And I have to say, it was the tiniest sangria I had ever tasted. And it was filled with these perfect "Mango" cubes. Tasteless cubes, like the ones kids use when they learn how to count and add. My sangria was mostly cubes. That was insulting. I would have just walked up to him and given him a dollar, rather than pay money for that drink. The Bad - They had an almond salsa and my husband was curious. He wanted to talk to the person about it and she had kind of an attitude. He was curious because it tasted like something from another region of Mexico, but he wasn't sure. From the reaction of the person serving us, she could have said, "I don't know." or "It's a secret." but she had a full on attitude. It really upset me and is a large part of the reason why we haven't returned and why we haven't told anyone to go there. He wasn't trying to start a competing business, he was actually trying to see if this salsa was like the one he remembered as a small boy and the woman was a totally jerk about it. The Good - the food is decent. Now, a lot of plate and a tiny amount of good food doesn't make me a happy camper. It's bad when you pay for an appetizer and get an amuse bouche sized portion. The entree portions weren't much bigger. All and all, the energy of the people is disappointing and that's the real reason why I want nothing to do with them.

A spicy little Mexican cuisine spot in Berkeley that is pretty awesome if you love some serious spice and good vibes. Should you try it? Yes, if you can tolerate spice to a decent level. You can tell that I had some trouble. Favorite thing about this place: I really like the vibe. They have some larger community tables available, and also some 2- and 4-top tables. The menu is concise, the drinks are delicious, and the chips and guac are awesome (not free though). I'd love it more if: I wasn't warned about the spice at all, and really struggled with even the spiciness of their guacamole. Seriously hot! I loved the guacamole though. The one thing I did wrong is that I let the server talk me into pork tacos that were really weird and wet and totally not what I expected. That's authentic Mexican I think, but I didn't like it really. I just felt really uncomfortable after I got the meal as it wasn't cheap - and I just feel like there wasn't any warning of what I was really getting! Kinda a weird experience. I got a box and took the dish home to my husband to enjoy (since he likes everything Mexican). Ambience/Location: The ambience is lovely and positive. Very cute and well-kept. It's not divey at all - a tiny bit more on the upscale side in my eyes per their pricing. Service: Very good and friendly - however I'm nervous because the high level of spice in the various foods was never discussed and I was overwhelmed. I like the spice level of standard level buffalo wings plus maybe max 2 levels higher. Their guac was at least a 5 on the spice scale. Tips: 1) Be into spicy foods big time when you come here. 2) Order off the menu based on what you love and don't trust their recommendations if you aren't totally sure you would love it. Recommended Dish: Despite the spice, I'd still recommend the chips and guac! And the sangria - yummmmm. Nice and strong too.

Such an amazing place. The food has a great flavor, the portions are good and the prices are reasonable for one of the best mexican places in the Bay area.

Ordered on Postmates.Ceviche came with crispy tortilla chips. Was delicious and fresh.Textures are wonderful. Flavors were amazing as I loved the tangy, lime heavy taste.

Dilsa and Barbara at Los Cilantros hosted my 50th birthday party last month and they coordinated a lovely, memorable event. We rented out the restaurant for an evening. Dilsa helped me plan a menu that appealed to both omnivores and vegetarians. On the day of the party, they up family-style tables with bouquets of tulips spread throughout. So many guests complimented Los Cilantros on the food! Most had never eaten there before and they were so pleased. The decor was great (as always) and they timed each course all just perfectly. The only thing that could have been better was the planning before the event. Email is not very useful here, but if you go and talk with them in person and verify the menu and counts before the event, they will surprise and delight. They absolutely delivered excellence on the day of the party and I would not hesitate to plan another party there!

Can I just say, I am a life-long vegetarian (do eat cheese). It was eight of us here today. Most of us vegetarians. There was a broad selection of veggie items. Yet, there was so much more to eat. Their menu was huge and most of the selection was authentic Mexican food. The only reason why it doesn't deserve five stars is because they give you limited chips and you have to ask for the salsa ( no chips bar). Maybe giving it a 4.5 . I will for sure be back and recommend it to my family and friends.

Food: 5/5 Price: 4.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 *** MICHELIN Guide 2016, 2017 *** Easy to miss on the street, Los Cilantro is tucked down a little covered alleyway. Simple decor and tables, small outdoor seatings, interesting traditional food, and good service. This neighborhood restaurant isn't a taqueria or a burrito joint, but has a nice variety of dishes and entrees, and everything we had was delicious. Carnitas - Juicy fork tender pork served with a side of cilantro, onion, homemade tortillas, and tomatillo salsa. SO GOOD!!! Huge portions of carnitas, it was soft and juicy (braised!) rather than crispy fried, which I preferred. Homemade tortillas (3) were thick and fresh, soft, delicious! Sopes de Mole - (3) Chicken mole, beans, queso, sour cream and onion served on homemade thick tortillas. WOW! This is my first time having sopes and it was amazing! The base is made from a circle of fried masa (like corn tortilla but thicker) with a soft interior and crispy bottom. Chicken mole was one of the best I've had - juicy, nice smoky flavor without an overpowering sweetness. I loved the assortment of toppings, it was a nice medley of flavor. The pickled cabbage on the side was very nice too. LOVED IT!! I'll be back:) Favorites: * Carnitas ($16) * Sopes de Mole ($10)

I had the Alambre and my partner had the Sope de Hongos. Both were excellent. In addition to the friendly staff, the food is great, healthy, and doesn't leave you feeling weighted down. Don't get me wrong, I love my rice and beans! But gems like Los Cilantros that offer a menu that expands the varying and eclectic regions of Mexico are fantastic places to eat. We'll be returning.

I came here for Cinco de Mayo because it's probably the only east bay Mexican restaurant I found on Yelp that takes it. I came in expecting burritos, nachos, al pastor, and lots of greasy flavors, but this place is more starchy sopes, potatoes, and vegan friendly varieties. It tastes like a true madre's home cooking and not something out of your typical taqueria. Food was decent or perhaps my expectations were different. We had to knock down a couple of stars because service was sporadic and slow. Our appetizers came before our drinks and dinnerware. I said we had a reservation and they were surprised about it.

Enjoyed the food and immensely and my kind server was also awesome. I had Ceviche and guac and chips for an app. Barbacoa tacos. Sangria. Ceviche was so darn fresh, and delicious. Guac was so well done, this coming from a person who makes her own and is truly picky. Tacos were good size and yummy as hell.. so much flavor. Sangria was also delicious and I would've gotten a couple more had I not been so full after my second app. Based upon my Yelp rating system (equaling a total of 5 stars, one for each): Communication: 1-Star (my order didn't take long, the service was fantastic). Environment: 1-Star (Super cute place in Berkeley, even outdoor seating.) Quality/Consistency: 1-Star (Everything was surprisingly delicious. I left stuffed.) Unique-ness: 1-Star (Such flavorful tasty food!!!) Value: 1-Star (Doable pricing!) -------- Total: 5 out of 5 Stars. I am actually moving to Berkeley end of May so I will be returning!!

Great Mexican spot next to the famous La Peña Cultural Center with exceptionally friendly staff. Plus, what a great story of the restaurant opening with the support of the La Cocina food business incubator that supports female entrepreneurs. Everything about my Enchiladas Verdes was great, except for the potato filling, which was bland and just seemed like filler. Fortunately, the tomatillo sauce with a little kick provided plenty of flavor, the avocado was perfectly ripe, and the touch of tangy and creamy queso was perhaps the best I've had. I love that these enchiladas weren't drowning in cheese as many often are. The side of black beans was perfection. So next time I'll try the enchiladas with a filling other than the potatoes. I also enjoyed my watermelon agua fresca - fruity, refreshing, and not overly sweet. The flan was almost as dense as cheesecake (for me, a good thing), and its caramel sauce had a hint of burnt (yum).

Food is amazing! Everything was so fresh but the prices are insane! We ordered 4 tacos, chips and salsa with guacamole and water and it came out to $27!!! Would love to go back don't think I can stomach the prices unfortunately.

We were here for a show in the lounge and the restaurant let us order and eat our meal in the lounge which is part of La Pena Cultural Center. The food is very tasty and we enjoyed the food. We ordered the Lagunitas draft beer and the tacos and for dessert we had the plaintains! Delish! We have also had their guacamole and chips the first time we ate here.

I wish I took pictures, but I was too hungry, so my review will have to suffice. I'd been wanting to try to place for a while because on the weekend it always looks so busy. Decided to come here on a Wednesday night, it wasn't crowded. The space next door seemed to be holding some kind of community talk. I think it's really great that this restaurant serves as a venue for passionate community groups. Food: ( Total 30$ before tip for two, not a bad price) The Chicken Enchiladas de Mole: wow so good and so much flavor! The enchiladas were very tender, not soggy, and the portion was just right for me. Savory and a little bit sweet, I did my best to mop up the mole sauce and compose perfect bites of enchilada, avocado, and beans. By the way these black beans were on point. Tostaditas de Tinga (suggested by our waitress): I thought that this plate would have come with rice or beans on the side maybe, but it is just 3 tostaditas, crisp flat taco shells packed with a lot of chicken and very tasty. Seasoned very well, and juicy. It's a bit messy to eat, but the flavors were so well balanced. Atmosphere: Festive atmosphere, quiet on a Wednesday night, great if you want to catch up with a friend or talk with your date. Locals casual vibe, friendly service! Most things on this menu looked very delicious and I would definitely come back here again because everything tasted sabrosa AF (i believe that means delicious in Spanish). I'll be back for the carnitas.