Mexicali Restaurants

There for lunch and they decorated very beautifully for Christmas time.

This is a time capsule. Very surprising. The food was amazing, plentiful, and fast. You gotta visit here!

Always great food and strong drinks. Mexicali is that iconic local brand of Mexican food that is made with the best ingredients. Warm Chips & Salsa welcome you within a minute of seating. A top restaurant to work at because their committed staff have been there for a decade plus. Thank you for the consistently awesome food and drinks with wonderful atmosphere to dine in!

We love coming here. We really enjoy the food and service.

While visiting in Bakersfield me and my sister-in-law enjoyed food and margaritas several times at Mexicali. I haven't been there since I was a kid. We ordered an enchilada, taco, rice and bean plate. It was pretty darn big and delicious. Just like the margaritas! We were lucky to always get the same waitress. She is wonderful. Until next time!

Our favorite restaurant in Bakersfield. Whenever we travel from Washington to the Bakersfield area…it’s a must to stop and get their nachos and their enchiladas. We dream about it when we go home waiting until we can visit again.

Visited the Downtown Mexicali recently. Excellent lunch and fantastic service. Melon margarita was excellent as well.

The salsa tastes like ketchup. I ordered fajitas and it came in a serving bowl, like a stew. Nothing had any taste. I think Taco Bell would have been a better option. My husband that never complained said he would have asked for hot sauce if the waitress ever came back.

I was in Bakersfield on a connecting train, and only had half an hour to get food for my 3 year old, my wife and I, and so I sprinted to the nearest place. Out of breath and in a hurry, I quickly explained that I needed my food fast in order to make the train. Yvonne was the server I spoke with, and she offered me ideas of what could be done quickly. surprising even me, the food was ready in a matter of minutes, hot and fresh. I only wish I had tipped more, but hopefully I can make up for it with this absolutely glowing review. We all loved the food we got, two beef burritos and a quesadilla!

I went to Mexicali with my parents and my son for my father's birthday. It was a Saturday around 4:30 when we got there and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The waitress was friendly and took our orders without writing anything down. She proved to be great at her job because everything was correct when we got our food. The chili colorado is so good! Maybe too good, because I couldn't stop eating it. The portions were good sized and the meat was nice and tender. I think I found only one fatty piece that I didn't eat. The wait for our food wasn't long at all. Mexicali is a true Bakersfield original. Can't go wrong here. And if you like margaritas, you need to go here! Also, don't plan on driving yourself if you do! It sneaks up on you! This is actually where I learned that my son is willing to eat cheeseburgers! In fact, he begged to go back the following weekend for one!

The wife and I decided to go have lunch at Mexicali restaurant this weekend. Order the famous Kenny Burger with onions on the side and cut in half as we were going to share. Food came out and the bun was soggy like it was dipped in water and grilled oinion all over the burger. Sent that back and asked them to make another the way we ordered it. Got the second plate, fries were cold as they were from the previous plate. The burger had a great but but it was not cut in half however, the patty was the same "now cold" patty fromt eh previous burger and not onions on the side to be found. When we tried the burger and fries we were very dissapointed due to the cold food and the lack of effort to make a new plate that we had asked for. The drinks as usual at Mexicali were great as the bar staff never fails to come through. If you want a great drink this is your place. If you want great food I would suggest another restaurant for sure. 40 years Ive been going here and fo rthe $$ they charge it is no longer the place to eat!

Years ago the food was top notch but not so much now. Went there for dinner yesterday and the food was horrid. Thick tasteless dark brown Mole sauce over everything. Salsa was a can of tomato sauce with something green floating around in it. Sky high prices! Will not go back ever. Bill our server was the best. Very attentive and friendly.

Came in today for lunch. I have fond memories of this place growing up and wanted to love it. Sadly, it felt so underwhelming and generic compared to the more authentic places in town. Service was attentive and on point. The food left a lot to be desired. My tastebuds were like, "Come on, Jess- you know better than this."

Service and atmosphere were good but the food was mid at best. Salsa was bland and the food was bland with only salty predominate flavor. I got a mix plate with tamale, enchilada and chili relleno. Would not recommend or visit this place again.

I remember Mexicali used to be the place to be back in the day. I can't believe that it's still hopping. We went there recently and it was just packed full of people saw some celebrities and had a pretty good time. Food it's your typical Mexican food. Everything was good nothing to complain about. Drinks were great. Great service.

Iconic space, nice almost historic atmosphere, menu food is decent but drinks are good. Mexicali piqued my interest as we were driving through area and noticed this large, estate like restaurant restaurant with a characteristic sign with a palm tree and neon lights. You can tell upon first enter in the restaurant, the place has a lot of history; if only the walls could speak the stories they would tell. There are two choices you make when enter in the restaurant, cocktails or restaurant. The cocktails side is more lively and vibrant, by that I mean it feels like a bar with food and the other side is the restaurant which feels more low key, despite there being interesting architectural elements (like exposed beams and high ceilings and interesting artwork on the fountains). We ate at restaurant, if I were to go back would probably pick the cocktails side (what's not to like about the Bar tenders taking shots with each other). Service was very friendly. Bea was great. Although I wish there was a cocktail menu. The food was like slightly glorified Chevys. We got the fajita and Esther's plate. But we're decent but not something to write home about. I wouldn't come here for the food, but the vibes and drinks. The spicy margarita was quite nice, not sweet and spicy for sure.

This is a busy spot for great Mexican food. Staff is friendly & it's worth the wait. The drinks, especially their margarita game is amazing. Family friendly environment the food is fresh & tastes great. The chips & salsa are addicting.

One of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to. Ordered the Mexicali burrito and it did not disappoint! Cadillac margaritas are some of the best in town.

This place has been great ever since they first opened back in the day!! The Owner IRENE and Her daughter Nicole do a FANTASTIC job keeping the food consistent and so delicious the place has beautiful old world charm and ambiance in the downtown area of Bakersfield. We eat there whenever we can and have for years it feels like going home and having some good family food. Keep up the great work Irene and Nicole you girls are amazing! Thank you everybody for being so kind and taking good care of us when we come in we appreciate it so much. Blessings and best wishes to all and thank you for being there all these years!

Don't have a full review, but we stopped in for a drink on a Sunday afternoon. The bar area is cozy and dim, a nice refuge on a warm day. Service was friendly and cocktails were large (not necessarily strong). Full meal service is available in the bar, and it was busy. It seems to have a number of regulars.

The food was so bland. I honestly did not enjoy it. I sometimes take my leftover food home, especially at those prices but decided to leave it behind as I won't even touch it again. Disappointed.

First time coming here!! I've always heard of this restaurant but I just never had the chance to try out. My friend really likes this restaurant and so we all chose this as our place for dinner! I ordered the Burrito Especial and our dishes came out probably 10 minuted later? It was pretty quick or maybe my friends and I were so busy catching up that lots of time has passed. But still, the food arrived 10-15 min later and it was delicious oh my. I jusy love burritos so much. Their chips and salsas were really good. Especially the salsa and I'm not really a salsa typa person but that salsa was addicting. The interior of the restaurant was also something i liked. It felt very home-y :) the only thing i noticed was lack of ?? Air conditioning. Or maybe it was just me. I felt like I was slightly sweaty through out the meal.

Way over priced! Small glass Margarita drinks are $13 and made with rot got tequila. Got a chicken tostada with no sour cream or guacamole for over $17 No wonder the place was completely empty. Server was nice. Only reason why it's two instead of one star. This will be the last time we go there.

Bartender was cool friendly i had a good time. The drinks were delicious. Salsa was good.

I'm going to start by listing the positive aspects of Mexicali... the atmosphere is great and they seated us quickly. The server was friendly, fast, and efficient. Now for the negative aspects of Mexicali... the chips were served in a comically small bowl, I love ruining my meal by over indulging in chips and salsa. So that was pretty annoying. The chips themselves were also subpar. The salsa was basically tomato sauce with a couple of green chilies in it. The food itself was underwhelming and lacked flavor. If you like Mexican food that is a little more flavorful then there are so many better options.

You truly can't go wrong heading to Mexicali for a great Mexican meal. We go often and most recently had lunch after church. We appreciate that they are downtown and open on Sundays. I typically keep it simple with a relleno or fajita salad, but whatever I order, it's just the best. The chips are perfect and so are the margaritas. I actually ordered a pint of margaritas to take home. I must learn how to make them as well as they do. We never seem to wait long for a table no matter how many people are with us. They take reservations and have spaces for large celebrations as well. I always feel a special familiarity when walking in and just feel at home.

My husband and I like to sit in the small, cozy section near the bar, away from the main dining room. This gives us a more intimate and personalized experience. He always orders Esther's Delight, which consists of a chili verde taco and a chili reno served on a hot plate with a salad topped with avocado dressing. It always looks delightful, and I suppose that's why it's named Esther's Delight. I usually order the number 14, which includes two cheese and onion enchiladas with a salad topped with the House Thousand Island dressing. I absolutely love the Mexicali enchilada sauce, as no one else makes an enchilada sauce like it! Unfortunately, I can no longer have dairy products, so I ordered the chili verde tostada without cheese. It looked good and tasted delicious and has become my new favorite dish at Mexicali. As soon as we were seated, the busboy brought water to our table. Our waitress, Maria, was cheerful and promptly took our food and drink order. Before we left, the manager stopped by our table to check if everything went well and to tell an amusing joke. We enjoyed our dinner and highly recommend Mexicali Restaurant to everyone, and we plan to go back for more!

This is Bakersfield at its best. In all the years it hasn't changed and it was great!! Passing through on a trip to see mom, used to live here. We met some friends for lunch. Thought I'd give my Montanan fiancé a true Bakersfield experience and it didn't disappoint. Bill our server was super friendly attentive and quick to check on us but not in a hovering way. Food was hot, tasty and good size portions. If you are looking for Bakersfield Mexican food you need to try here. Their chips and salsa are on point as I filled up on them as usual. Good job Mexicali after all these years!! Same decor as before lots of tables and they were all full as it was a weekday at lunch.

I love Mexicali as a kid we would go to the Nile's location which is now Rusty's pizza..I went to the west location on prom night and then when I was 20 in 1988 I worked at the west location for 5 years.. best years of my life! We were always packed and the food is still just as delicious! I miss Ester and all the sisters.. Rachel and lily.. didn't know Ruth too well.

The food tasted like a fast food mexican place. Very overpriced. The salsa was like pace at walmart. This place has gone down to what I remember. I won't be back.

Mexicali is one of Bakersfield's few remaining long standing, old school, family owned restaurants with a loyal clientele. The atmosphere is warm and cozy. They have provided delicious food and good service for many years. This evening I was tired after work and I wanted warm & tasty comfort food. Bill was my delightful server, very friendly and attentive. I ordered a bowl of their scrumptious Chili Colorado with corn tortillas. No one does it better in my humble opinion! Mexicali is one of my favorite go to's for an inviting ambience and delicious food.

We decided to go to Mexicali for the first time in a long time since we always like to venture out and see other places and other venues and styles of Mexican cooking . We were quite pleasantly surprised by the "at home" feel that this old place still gives after all these years, they are a staple of Bakersfield and have pulled back to the basics and the old building on 18th St. which is where they do well. The food was absolutely phenomenal starting with the salsa which was very good and tasteful and not too hot to which my wife could eat. , the chips were fresh and the service was great. I did get a laugh when I started speaking Spanish to the server and she replied. "I don't speak Spanish" lol. The food was like coming back to mom's kitchen. In many ways. It was faithful and good and just like it was when we remembered the last time we visited and it has been 2years or 3 years.

Food, atmosphere and service was top tier. Had a wonderful lunch. Our ice tea glasses never went below half full. Israel was our server and was very friendly and attentive. Food was tasty and came out super quickly! Pretty busy crowd for a midweek day. Will be returning!

5 stars for service. Our lady was attentive and very accommodating. The reason for a 2 star is management. The issue is we are witnessing a transition of ownership from original ownership to the next generation. The two ladies who are taking over do not have a shared vision, and that is concerning for the future of Mexicali. The original owners were focused on family and quality. In my opinion, the second generation is focused on money. I have been coming to this restaurant for 40 years. I hope they reflect on their past and use that to plan on their future.

Stumbled upon Mexicali on Bakersfield stop. Bill was our honest server. Said fried chicken was best in town but took 30 minutes. True but worth it! We'll done, crispy & fresh! Salad was abundant and fresh. Margarita flavorful and sufficient. Husbands albondigas soup was great. His chili verde was so so. Guacamole looked cute in the tortilla bowl but was watery and flavorless. We liked the vibe and the cleanliness but would choose more carefully next time.

After paying my bill and on the way out, I questioned the manager about the $23 price for a small 1/2 cup serving of guacamole. I wasn't asking for a comp or a discount. This woman (who apparently is the current owner) jumps into the conversation with remarks like: "it is what it is", "I pay $100 for a crate", "I don't care what you think," then adding in the "I don't care if you ever came back" statement. I'm granting her wish as I won't be. If she treats a regular customer this way I can't imagine how she treats her team. I knew the sisters who started this business decades ago would have never have treated anyone, regardless of how many years they were a customer, the way I was spoken to tonight. Too many choices to be treated this way. Buh bye now.

The food was almost as delicious as the service was excellent. Jessica was gracious, beautiful, and attentive.

Service was great, but do not order the fajitas, worst in Bakersfield. Chicken fajita was just OK but the steak fajitas are like shoe leather and tasteless. Also, $30 for two regular margaritas... a bit much.

I have been coming here since my childhood and will never miss going here everytime I come back to bako. Love the red salsa, cheese crisps, and cheese enchiladas! Love you, Mexicali, thank you for all the great memories!

The burritos are packed with meat and the margaritas are to die for. Love this local spot. Also, if you get the chance order the flour chips, they're an off-menu item but well worth the trouble of asking for.

The food was excellent, and the service was just as good. I had a quiet booth in the corner, it was very relaxing. The prices on all the menus here on Yelp are very outdated. I paid $22 for the #9 2 enchilada plate with chicken. The food was very good, but I think it's a bit overpriced. If I'm ever visiting Bakersfield I will definitely come back again.

Mexicali is a Bakersfield staple. The food is decent. The service is decent. The margaritas are excellent! It's a good place to go with large groups I really like their hard shell tacos, because they are simple and tasty. If you want simple Mexican food in an old school setting, this is the place.

We go here for the atmosphere and great margaritas! The food is ok. The service is good The prices are now ridiculous I hope they can hold on to clients even though their food is mediocre and prices have gone up. it's all about the drinks and atmosphere in the Bar that keeps them going in my opinion and I've been coming here for over twenty years!

Our family has been coming to Mexicali for generations and it is truly a favorite. The food is fresh and so yummy. I wouldn't say it's the most authentic Mexican food, but nonetheless it is delicious. We love to sit in the bar area which is always cutely decorated for the time of year and a great intimate setting. The regular dining room is also great to sit in as well. Our favorite servers are Jackie and Diana in the bar area as they are truly the best and so attentive. I don't personally drink, but everyone I talk to says they have the best margaritas in town! We will continue to return.

I was hesitant about going to Mexicali but when we walked in, it felt a little bit like Mexico. The staff was friendly and the service was great. The Pollo Margaritas and Margaritas made with Don Julio and Grand Marnier was very good. The margaritas was by far the strongest I've had at any Mexican restaurant. The menu on the other hand seemed very Americanized, I was looking for street tacos with protiens like tripas, lengua, cabaza, etc.... but it isn't as authentic as I would like. Still very good.

One of my all time favorite Bakersfield spots - I was raised on their tortilla chips, salsa, quesadillas and pizzadillas and have a new soft spot for the shrimp nachos that you can get in the bar. I also love their chile verde pork (in a burrito or plain with tortillas), and cheese enchiladas. Totally crave-able!

I want this place to be what it once was but it isn't. The service is really laid back and if you aren't a regular, you will not like this bar area. Food is whatever, nothing to crave. I've came twice in the last 2 years and I don't know why. The 3rd time I tried, I sat for 20 mins without any knowledge I existed. Had to walk out. I support local but at this particular moment in time I cannot recommend this to friends & family.

Had dinner here with a group of friends planning to have a great time but left with one of the worst experiences in Bakersfield. There were 10 of us and none were satisfied. One of us didn't get a meal until everyone was ready to leave, orders were wrong, mixed drinks were terrible and the service was the worst. I ordered a quesadilla that looked and tasted terrible. Other meals looked like they came from a can. We complained and the waiter stated we were obligated to leave an 18% gratuity. Overall, I do not recommend.

My husband brought me to Mexicali in 1971. Love the food and staff so much we are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary there tonight.

Great family restaurant, it's been a family favorite for many years. I'm meeting my friends tomorrow for lunch.

I grew up going to this restaurant. So many memories. I could eat a pizzadilla a day. I am looking forward to combining again soon so I can have some nostalgia.

I don't know how this raggedy old place has three stars when you walk in it reminds you of kitchen nightmare. It's super old and cluttered, looks like a dusty old persons house. The menu and food looks like my dogs bowl. I paid $20 for a salad that had 6 shrimp! Wtf. I counted them twice just to make sure. I asked for a water to go and tipped the guy $20 for a $20 salad that wasn't worth it. Service terrible, food terrible, restaurant old and ugly. Any place is better than that place save your money go anywhere else in Bakersfield. Also the clientele alone is made up of one demographic so that alone tells you all you need to know

When I go out to eat and all I'm thinking about is how much I spent generally means I'm not enjoying the food. Not the case with Mexicali. I enjoyed the food and just enjoyed the food not thinking about how much the meal was

Stopped by on the 24th of Jan. '24. Got my fav #9. My wife got the Chicken Tosatada. Both of us were very satisfied. Just like I remembered.

this place is actually so iconic! I've been coming here my whole life and so has my family we never even open the menus all together just great food and great vibes!

sadly enough, I'm forced to leave a very negative review based on my experience. We've been coming to Mexicali for many years and have always received pleasant service with positive attitudes. Unfortunately, today, when asking for iced tea in the "same type of glass that we've been receiving for years", we're informed that there is an up charge per customer. A larger glass that ensures a more pleasant dining experience, not running out of your beverage and saves time for the waitresses as they're not running back-and-forth to get refills. The glass requested holds 4 to 6 ounces more than the small little water glass packed to the brim with ice cubes, four swigs and you're out of tea. Any regular customer knows how the waitresses are stretched so thin and refills non stop is very time-consuming for each table and each customer. Sharing my concern of the up charge and glass size, it was suggested that I share my concerns with the manager which I welcomed. I feel that often management needs to hear the thoughts and concerns from the. " paying " customer. A few minutes later a plump grey headed older woman showed up at the table with a very nasty attitude stating "what is it you wanted". It was apparent by her demeanor and attitude that talking to a customer was a burden. Not only did she represent Mexicali poorly, she presented herself to be a burnt out employee that should've retired years ago as this is not how you greet or speak to customers. At that point I shared our experience in the past of getting a slightly larger glass and not being charged. Her response was "well there's a charge, you should've been charged and that's the way it is" I can't even fathom that Mexicali would allow her to represent them or present herself as management. What I was doing, was offering a point of view, lighten the load off of the waitress who is getting pulled in every direction. Again, I stated that the small glass size are creating extra work firm the servers refilling every few minutes only to receive a shrug of the shoulder and the arm flying up in the air....not once but twice! What so called manager does this, behaves this way, talks to customers this way, and could care less about their employees. It was apparent to us and chatter from surrounding tables that this woman was out of line and has no business working there. A woman characterized as aggressive and overbearing, most definitely not management material. Mexicali should reconsider their management choice. A little honey goes a long way.

Service was friendly and waitress was very attentive and efficient. Food was piping hot and good but nothing extra-special. It's a good place to meet up with friends for lunch. Salsa is good too!