Picante

The food is great here. The server is fast/average, but the register was is SLOW. They could probably handle a slightly faster pace. There is a hot sauce refrigerator where you can get three different levels of "hot". Be bold, try the habanero! It doesn't hurt going in or out! They recently completed a remodel, but unfortunately the atmosphere changed. It seems a bit too "upscale", even if it looks REALLY nice inside and out.

Picante is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Berkeley. Their food is good and tasty, but it’s a bit pricey, which is why I knocked their rating down a star. Street parking is difficult during most of the day, but there is a small parking lot across the street and to the south about half a block. That often fills up too though. They have a bar and a lot of alcohol to select from and I see people drinking margaritas, but I’ve never tried them. The chips are just so so, they’re thick and a little greasy. I suspect there are some people that like them as they are not the normal chips you’d get in a Mexican place, but they’re just too greasy. The salsas are in the fridge by the door and they are pretty good. Everything else I’ve had here has been good, my favorite are the mole enchiladas, which are probably some of the best mole that I’ve had. They make good guacamole, and good salads as well. If it’s not too cold out, there’s an outdoor seating place.

First time here with my boyfriend well for me my boyfriend been here before, but I like it. Everything was good and fresh. I love your guacamole has a really good flavor and freshness

They have completely remodeled it after many years ago of just takeout (or eat in a tent) model. In its previous incarnation I loved the colorful decor, the paper cutouts, the lady making tortillas and giving samples to kids. The updated decor makes it look classier but it is still same model of order and go sitdown with fast service. During the takeout only gap years I missed their salsa bottles. I am glad the bottles are back and I love all three options. Prices have gone up and I think the flavor has come down a notch. Of course they specialize in Mexican cuisine with many vegan options.

When you buy a super burrito for $19 and it’s anemic and not super. My family and I went here for the second time since it redid the interior. Before the remodel, we have been going here and loveddd the burritos, chicken tortilla soup, chips/guacamole, the list goes on. This time we enjoyed the Agua Frescas, chips/guac, and empanadas. The only thing is my husband and I both got burritos and the tortillas didn’t seem cooked, there was barely any meat, we ordered “super” and no ingredients were in our burrito (maybe they forgot even though we were charged and there was a sticker). It’s disappointing to spend $19 on a burrito without what is ordered. I ordered the shrimp burrito and there were 4 shrimp total which seems like not much compared to other places I have ordered shrimp burritos. I didn’t realize my husband had the same experience with his burrito until we were headed out. Unfortunately I don’t think we will return. Our previous visit we had similar thoughts so now this is the second occurrence.

Hit this spot up with my family last Sunday and so glad I did. While my order was made wrong my server quickly fixed no charge. The chicken was cooked perfectly and my black beans and rice were delicious! The stand out was definitely the guacamole and my margarita! Unfortunately I was able to take photos but will be back. Soon.

I knew I picked a winner the moment I walked in and breathed in through my nose. My god that smell was evil. Tantalizing. Tortuous. Before I knew it. my wallet was wide open and money poured out faster than I could say "paycheck." Oh, what's that... a bar? What's another ten dollars... I think I should really blame the staff. Too warm. Too welcoming. If only they were a bit more standoffish... maybe I wouldnt have tipped so much. Thanks a lot Picante. Now I'm fat AND broke. But at least I'm happy.

It's a legacy Mexican restaurant in Berkeley. I've been there many times during pandemic in outdoor parking lot seating and take aways. Location is great with huge settings and now renovated beautifully inside. Staff are welcoming and attentive. Operations stays the same as before renovation (order to seat) where IMHO doesn't fit with this renovated restaurant anymore unless they want to keep it cheap / loose otherwise it's a pricy place for the quality of the food you get. This place has a potential to be fine dining Mexican (given highly improve the food and operation). Food look and taste cheap but pricy! Perhaps burritos are the best out of everything else. Nachos are oily. Generally foods are salty and oily again look and taste cheap. Decent amount of chic indoor and outdoor seating. Exclusive parking lots. Easy accessible inside and outside. Separate vegan menu with many veggie options. I'll for sure be there just because my niece loves the place and I occasionally take her there but I don't enjoy the operation and food.

A day or two ago I received an email from Picante letting me know that they were extending their brunch menu to today, a Friday, as they did on the Monday of Indigenous Peoples Day. Kathy and I met here for brunch today. I arrived on time, a little before noon. and found street parking close by. Kathy was held up by a train and had to detour, so she was later. She called and asked me to order chilquiles for her, everything the same as mine except the eggs over easy. I got in line and Nick helped me. I ordered both dishes and a cup of English breakfast tea for me, requesting low fat milk--or oat milk, I forget now--and Stevia for me. He gave me one of those locator gadgets to put on the table. I put it there and then gathered napkins and silverware, My tea was brought and then the chilaquiles, much quicker than I expected. Kathy arrived not too long after. She went to the counter and ordered a horchata to drink. I ate some of the chilaquiles before Kathy arrived to try them fresh and hot out of the kitchen and they were fabulous, much better than the ones I brought home last time. Kathy enjoyed hers too, as well as the horchata. My tea was delicious and most welcome in today's chill. After I left I was feeling miffed that I had not been offered a refill, then realized it was self service and that it was on me to find hot water to refill my cup. Oh well. Lesson learned. Before I left the restaurant I found Nick behind the bar and asked him how crowded it got for weekend brunches because Kathy and I wanted to come back for more chilaquiles. He said it was busier than today but there would most probably be room inside. I expect I be back during the week for empanadas, but I will definitely be back for my chilquiles fix on a weekend!

I was brought here by a friend who loved the Picante he remembered from pre-Covid days. When we entered the building he hardly recognized the place: what had been a very cozy and classy ambience, like eating in someone's house and attractive garden, had been turned into this big, paved over, shiny and chrome fast-food style space with zero soul. To say we were disappointed by the remodel would be an understatement. I enjoyed my order of Cochinita Pibil, but my companion found his carne asada dry and bland. Luckily salsas are good here, and they were an easy fix for the carne asada. I feel like this place doesn't know what it wants to be. My friend recalls this joint as once being a more fine dining experience. It's now designed like a fast food place, but with high prices, and everything served more cafeteria style. Strange.

I haven't been here for probably 15 years. It's changed a lot. Used to be a small place with a patio, no parking. Now it's huge and sleek with two parking lots and a separate To Go building. Prices have increased of course too. I had the battered shrimp burrito, way too much beans and not enough mango-jicama salsa. Order at the counter and they bring the food to you, do not really any service. The restaurant was beautifully renovated, lots of outside patio space with twinkly lights. If I came again, I know how to modify the shrimp burrito more to my taste.

Handicap parking too far for comfort. Food choices were great but the prices and taste of food and portion size didn't match the price points. Tamales really $7 each? Wow, dry, over cooked and bland in taste (chicken). No Mexican restaurant in the Bay Area charges that much for a measly small single tamale. If you charge that much we would expect more or at least included toppings of cream and cheese. Really over priced for almost every item. Your already saving on no wait staff and self serve cafeteria style dinning, why over price your items. A bad expensive experience for us. First and last time.

I only had the nachos with carne asada added. Visually it's most impressive. I like the idea you won't leave the table hungry. I took a while to finish this and I think it's better to eat it when it's still warm. After a while it seemed that it looked better than it tasted. I literally have not been here in several years. My previous impression was that you didn't get enough to eat. That wasn't the case this night. They had renovated this place a year ago according to the woman who took our order. I must say they did an impressive job of remodeling. Seems like a complete do over. I like the interior and it's most airy. There are tables outside too. I should give it another chance and try something differs next time.

I haven't been to Picante in Berkeley in years and dare I say, I can't wait to be back asap? Finding spots that have a more open indoor/outdoor concept to bring the baby, while staying consistent to their food, flavor, and portion sizes are hard to find in the East Bay sometimes. I'm a bit surprised by the other reviews for this spot because our meal and service was nothing less than stellar. The new renovations to this spot are beautiful. They still operate by register ordering, including beverages/bar service. We ordered margaritas, but would love to explore other speciality drinks next time like their piña colada. To start we had chips, guacamole, and an array of their salsas including a pumpkin seed dip and mango-jicama salsa. Chips were crispy and super sturdy, guacamole fresh and hearty, salsas all so flavorful. My main dish was a burrito bowl with manchamantales chicken (chicken in a grilled pineapple-chile sauce) served "super" with the works..sour cream, guac, cheese, over pinto beans and rice. For the portions, pricing, and palate pleasing taste, this alone has me coming back. Other dishes our party ordered: the manchamantales chicken plate served with rice, beans, and delicious tortillas, the grilled skirt steak plate, and the shrimp diablos plate (this dish is served with white rice and squash, diablos sauce isn't too spicy but packs a punch). For dessert we had the Straus soft serve with chocolate and caramel sauce. We got married on a Straus dairy farm, so anytime we see it on the menu, it's ordered! Lovely people. Lovely atmosphere. Baby friendly, dog-friendly. I noticed there is a kiddos menu and vegetarian/vegan menu as well. One huge plus is that Picante also has a take out menu available for curbside pickup, grab & go, or doorstep delivery. Anywhere that can help a new mom out and bring food to the car door, is a WIN in my book. Stay tuned for the next review when I try it! If you know of other spots besides Masa that do this, open to any and all new parent foodie suggestions!

I recently had dinner with my family at El Picante in Berkeley, and I'm glad we chose to go. It had been a while since my last visit, and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes. The restaurant has been completely renovated, with a refreshed dining room and a new outdoor seating area, giving it a much more modern feel compared to what I remember. The updates didn't stop at the decor--the food felt revitalized as well, with fresh, bold flavors. Despite having a large party, our food arrived quickly. If you're expecting a traditional sit-down experience where a server takes your order, this might not be the place for you. Instead, you order at the counter, find a seat, and the staff brings your food to the table. This approach seemed to speed up the process without compromising the dining experience. The service was polite and attentive throughout the meal. The servers promptly cleared empty plates and ensured the space remained clean. I would recommend El Picante for both dine-in and takeout if you're in the mood for great Mexican food. The inviting atmosphere, diverse menu, and full bar make it a solid choice.

It's been a few years since we have been here and they remodeled recently. The remodeled space has been open for 10 months. The indoor seating has been pretty dramatically reduced in favor of patio seating. Delicious food, just as before. I had the chicken mole enchiladas and their mole is among my favorites. We also had chips and guacamole which tastes so fresh and yummy. Hubby had cochinita pibil burrito and the flavor was so good he didn't add anything, which is very unusual for him! The employees are friendly but if you are looking to be waited on, this is not the place.

Good convenient high end Mexican food at a kinda reasonable price. I say high end because it's what you would find at a nice cloth napkin Mexican restaurant or cantina. My grandma and I went for lunch the other day, I got a tostada salad and she got a fish taco with rice and beans. I also got an Agua. Everything was suuuper tasty but it was about $55 for the both of us, which seemed fairly steep for what we got. The food is great though and I would go back just for the green salsa. The searing area is really nice, recently renovated. They did a great job!!! They also have a drive up order pick up area which is super convenient, they bring the food right to your car. It's good food, just not your hole in the wall Mexican taqueria and the prices reflect that.

Picante has been a family favorite for a very long time. They did a big remodel with lots of nice outdoor and indoor seating. Good for doggies if necessary. Straightforward Mexican food well executed. Lots to choose from.

Haven't visited since before the remodel, everything is so different but in a good way! Very modern and open interior with ample indoor/outdoor seating (yay heatlamps!). The menu is pretty much the same, prices have raised a bit but portions are still the same. My family ordered 3 burritos- our favorite. We were pleasantly surprised to see that chips now come free with the burrito. Delicious as usual, the flavors have stayed the same thank goodness. Only thing to note- we had added on guacamole and cheese to all our burritos and the distribution was very uneven. One of us ordered chile verde, and there seemed to be only a few chunks of meat which was pretty disappointing, the rest of us got chicken and there was enough. The employees offered us free soft serve, it was pretty good! Nothing special but fun to try. Picante is still my favorite Mexican food in Berkeley. Excited to come back!

My family of 4 used to love Picante. I don't know what happened but it's really gone downhill. Orders are incorrect and burritos are just rice despite price increases. It makes me so sad.

Wow, I can't believe I hadn't tried Picante sooner! Don't be like me, and head over for a dish! I came on a Sunday afternoon, the back doors were open on this nice day. Plenty of seating inside and outside on the patio. Order first at the counter and then find a table. We ordered the tostada salad, nachos, and burrito. All vegetarian! The food came out quickly. I asked for several sides of salsa Verde, and had no issue. I heard they used to have a salsa bar, and I hope they plan to bring it back. Service was very friendly. Tables are cleared quickly for the next customers. Will definitely be back and try other dishes!

Well, if the saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it' was an operating model, it wasn't followed here. I hadn't been in years so when I arrived I found that all the funky Mexican Eatery type charm has been completely extinguished. It was as if the designers from Chipotle rolled in and said, "Everything! Gone!" The food was fine but the atmosphere was sterile to the point of distraction. Too bad.

Picante survived the Covid pandemic. They innovated and tu ned one of the outdoor parking lots into a covered eating area complete with heaters and touchless ordering and payments fine-tuning the drive up/To Go station. In the interim they remodeled the interior, sadly the visible hand-making tortilla station moved inside the kitchen;. kids and customers could appreciate seeing the cultural tradition of handmade tortillas. I had "heard" Picante was an offshoot of Chez Panisse/ Alice Waters former employeesbringing fresh in-season flavors of Mexican food to Berkeley. Marketing is creative and keeps a pulse on what's going o. Picante was the first if I recall to have a kids' menu and distinct Vegetarian and Vegan Choices. Their catering menu is a plus. Who has time or kitchen space to prep and make party platters of burritos, chicken skewer,and colorful fresh fruit platters for festive social gatherings these days? Staff-- all very friendly--will even load partyplatters in your car at the Drive Through. Bravo and Ole! When my siblings come to visit from the suburbs- there's nothing even close to what Picante offers and we go there specifically. During Super Bowl weekend shopping everywhere was crowded and busy. On Election Day they offeted a nacho special. There are zero alcohol beverages offered to still raise your glass to toast any occasion. Extensive brunch menu. The new space still allows for families fto gather. The parking lots and Pickup-drive through remain.Picante continues to innovate and remain current .

Food was amazing and staff was very friendly, highly recommend! Spacious with plenty of seating too

First time visiting since the interior remodeling and it's beautiful! The staff are friendly as always and very quick with serving food. My all time fave dish is the Sopa Azteca. Best comfort meal ever

It's a legacy Mexican restaurant in Berkeley. I've been there many times, specially during pandemic in outdoor parking lot seating and take aways. Location is great with huge setting and now renovated beautifully inside. Staff are welcoming and attentive. Operations stays the same as before renovation (order to seat) where IMHO doesn't fit with this renovated restaurant anymore unless they want to keep it cheap / loose otherwise it's a pricy place for the quality of the food you get. This place has a potential to be fine dining Mexican (given highly improve the food and operation beforehand). Foods look and taste cheap but pricy! Perhaps burritos are the best out of everything else. Nachos are oily. Foods are salty and oily, again look and taste cheap. Decent amount of chic indoor and outdoor seatings. Exclusive parking lots. Easy accessible inside and outside. Separate vegan menu with many veggie options. I'll for sure be there again just because my niece loves the place and I occasionally take her there but I don't enjoy the operation and food.

I have gone to Picantes since I was a little girl. It was always my go to place. I don't frequent it as much due to my schedule, and haven't been in since the remodel. Luckily due to a holiday party, I got to see the remodel first hand. Gone were the beautiful, vibrant colors we all know and love and in its place is a more modern color and feel. I guess it's nice to have more chairs and places to sit before, so I'm a bit on the fence. It felt very strange being in there. Nonetheless, I ordered a pozole and an agua Fresca. The food came fairly quick and I was actually very shocked when I had my first bite. It was DELICIOUS. Their chips are also still addicting so I'm glad that has not changed.

I just went to the newly remodeled Picante restaurant last night. It took them 4 years to remodel the inside. Amazing nice. Feel like a pretty cool restaurants. Food is very good also. They redo the outside seating in the patio also. Will upload photos to show. 1) inside, decor is nice 2) clean and modern look 3) Food is also very very good as usual 4) super nice employees working there. 5) saw their new outdoor pickup food area also, very nice.

One of my fav Mexican restaurants in the Bay Area, hands down! This place has grown and evolved considerably since my first visit about 15 years ago, but the food and drinks have remained as good as they've ever been.. a testament to the growth of their physical restaurant space. Everything here is so fresh, and the little things like chips, salsas, and tortillas real look y make their main dishes shine.

You know.... Everyone can have an off night sometimes, and when the person on the phone takes your order and forgets to submit it .... That's bad enough... But when you get home and your Chicken quesadillas were not Chicken at all but Al Pastor... Well I have no words! Good help is really hard to find! OMG!!! Forget to submit my original order so when I get there, my food isn't even ready and then you make me wait some more and you still don't get my order right!!!

I live in the neighborhood and used to love Picante. The last time I went there on $2 taco night it was an unmitigated disaster. I think I waited about 1:20 for three tacos and nachos. Their prices are absolutely bonkers, too. Went to order tonight and I see their once ridiculously-priced $6 street taco is now almost $7??? I canceled my order and will not go back again. Bummer. I like their chips, but other places have chips, too. Check out Sol Taqueria up the street-it's what Picante used to be (plus free chips!)

My wife keeps asking me why I keep going back. I'm done. 8 times out of 10 there will be no avocado in the burrito. Despite paying for it. Drive up pick-up is routinely staffed by 1 person who is completely overwhelmed. I guess La Mission is my new go-to.

I haven't had a wet burrito in YEARS so I finally decided to give this spot a try. I came here for a work holiday party and honestly I don't understand why people are bashing on this place. First off, wet fish burrito was a hit. The sauce for it really helped pull all the flavors together compared to it being a plain burrito. I can still taste the crunchiness of the fish as well. My only thing is, it's too much sauce even thought it's "wet" for a reason. The compostable containers kinda got mushy when I let my burrito sit. Guacamole wise, pretty comparable to Chipotle. They are very generous with the portion. Chips were shaped differently which excited me. NOT PICTURED: Margarita and watermelon agua fresca. Watermelon agua fresca wasn't too sweet but a great chaser for my margarita. Marg was super strong oh my! Definitely a solid spot for when you're in the area!

They finally opened the dining room after making renovations. It's so plain and boring inside. For 3 tacos, a side of refried beans (because they no longer have 3 taco plate with beans), and a side of chips was 28$ wtf? They got rid of the bottles of salsa and bring you tiny little containers (only 2) for a side of chips. The manchamanchalas tacos didn't have much flavor. So bummed.

Holy crap!!! Picante is terrible now. The food quality is nothing like it was 6 months ago. I don't know what the heck happened. After 20 years this is my last visit. I feel bad because they dumped ALL their money into renovation and didn't seem to leave much for food quality. 2 burritos and 2 margaritas for $62.00 without tip?! I expect FAR better than this. Sad day.

Stopped by here for an impromptu lunch since we were in the area. We were pleasantly surprised as Picante has totally remodeled the entire dining establishment. WOW!!! It's been a little while since we've been here but what an amazing transformation!!! Payment was quick on an electronic IPad device with tipping, if so desired. There's self water station. We had pork tamale, steak taco, carnitas taco with rice and beans. The rice & beans (pinto & black) came in two separate bowls that were heated, loved that touch. Indoor Dining Room was nicely accommodating as well as the decorative wall pieces. Outdoor tables as the weather gets warmer. Will be back soon to try other items on the menu. Private parking lot for your convenience. There's even a separate pickup area next door under a different roof.

My family and I enjoy coming here when we can. I have ordered their soups and their carnitas bowl---I'm always very satisfied with the flavors and portions. Other family members have ordered the raja and papas, chili verde, chili relleno, and salads. Everyone loved their food items that they ordered. Their chips are super thick and crunchy. Guacamole is delicious and spicy. They have their own parking lot if you aren't able to find parking on the street.

Just as I suspected, the remodel now leaves the interior of the once epic restaurant bland and devoid of flavor. Ya'll really ruined a good thing. The old interior was gorgeous and colorful. Now it is just following the bland minimalist trend. I could get past the remodel if the food was restored to its previous glory, but no. Still overpriced, smaller portions and taste nothing like what made this spot famous. Bummer.

My family has been consistently coming here for 35+ years, they've consistently had good fresh Mexican food. If they've ever made a mistake they correct it right away. They forgot my flan once in a to go order and they gifted us with a dinner for two. I've tried everything on the menu but my favorite is the steak plate with black beans and green salsa with a watermelon agua, They've recently re-opened the inside of the restaurant and it looks completely different, very slick and modern. The service was just as good as I remembered. I will always refer everyone to this restaurant one of the best in the bay with consistent good service and food. 10/10

Newly remodeled space is clean, airy, and spacious. Location has always been in an odd space next to a mill and still order at the counter. Tried a few of their many selection of tacos but unfortunately all of them were lacking seasoning and too mild in flavor. (Insert sad face) No salt on the tables. No free chips and salsa. Sides such as rice and beans are charged separately. One positive, tortillas appeared to be fresh and home made.

Not sure why, but We ( my partner did) bought 2 sets of tamales for Christmas dinner. Butternut squash for vegetarians and mole chicken for my partner and friends. Love picante, by HATED these tamales.... ESPECIALLY FOR $84 for 12. Veggie tamales ...the masa was so GRAINY and they had no flavor. The mole chicken masa was much better, thinner, but still no flavor. The chicken inside had mole, but you could barely taste it. Again, love Picante, but won't pay this price for these tamales again... luckily we had other things for Christmas dinner. Still have 9 tamales left out of 12. Very unhappy, and even unhappier to write this review.

Amazing food & friendly staff! Clean and nice interior. Would highly recommend. One thing I also like about was enough parking spaced designated to the restaurant visitors.

We have long frequented Picante. During Covid they had ace curbside service that always included a biscuit for our dog that we jokingly called his $40, treat. Of late the portions have gotten smaller. The tostada salads lack the elegant presentation they formerly had. The chips remain one of the finest sides. Picante has never been a bargain compared to other Mexican restaurants on Solano Avenue and around town. The quality justified the greater cost; now, not so sure. We hope Picante will turn things around. Our dog would especially appreciate it, If that happens, I'll gladly revisit my rating and commentary, ¡Los mejores deseos!

I eat outside at all times because of my autoimmune issues. Easy to eat outside because there are heaters on the north patio. No sun in winter tho. The restaurant is a remodel from earlier days. No more cozy booths. The architecture remodel is top notch. On a warm day the whole restaurant is inside outside. Glass walls that opens on the north side. It was easy to order an affordable meal ....now you have a burrito bowl option. Whoever runs the place is definitely on the ball.

We ordered takeout from Picante and got the fish burritos, and they were absolutely amazing! The fish was perfectly seasoned, and the addition of mango gave it a delicious touch of sweetness. The green salsa is to die for--so fresh and flavorful! We brought the burritos to my partner's parents, and it was their first time trying Picante. They were thoroughly impressed. We'll definitely be coming back for more!

They ripped out the beautiful fountain made by locals, and did some remodeling. "Let's charge our customers double and shrink the portions", seems to be their motto. "More money for us, less food for them." This is a classic case of a business ripping off locals. I could see raising prices 20 % because that's what inflation actually was. Picante raised their prices more than 100% while reducing portion sizes. The food is not bad but make no mistake about it. You are overpaying.

Ordered online and picked up. Burrito is a smaller than most restaurants but packed with flavor and dry at all! The guacamole was thick and it's not the watery cream kind, definitely had chunks of avocado and tomatoes. The red salsa was spicy but the extra sauce (roasted tomatoes, habanero, and Smokeyness) on the side mixed with this burrito was top notch! The nachos were crunchy, I think it was the home made tortillas then deep fried. The tacos were fresh and well balanced. The fried fish and shrimp had the same condiments, the mangos and thinly shredded cabbage defi no they cut the fat, sauce inside is recommended, not dry tho. The asada was marinated and cooked very well, not dry and burnt, perfect with the onions and cilantro, side salsa is a must! I'd go back again but try different item on the menu. The salsa doesn't taste spicy on your first few tries but man, it creeps up on you! Love habanero peppers, the creepers!

I am not well-read on what the situation is with their space, but paying that much money to eat out of containers, in the cold, is just not right. Also, not everything is compostable and it seriously is A LOT of waste. Service is indifferent and unfriendly, which maybe is just a symptom of the moment or could be a bigger issue. Tacos are pretty decent, pozole was all intensity and none of the lovely layered warmth. Kids meals are nice albeit too expensive for what they were. We had two picky 5 year olds who were not satisfied with the food. As we were leaving I saw a notice about a fire and about rehabing their space, but didn't get to read it. Here's hoping they get their space back and change course.

For these prices, you'd expect table service. Warm ambiance. Hot, tasty food. What you get is a cafeteria style experience. Cold to lukewarm food that seems to have been made hours earlier and kept on a barely functioning steam table. When you walk in,it takes time realize that what looks like a bar at the end of a hallway is actually where you order and pay, like fast food only way more expensive. They give you a number and you find a seat at a cafeteria style table in a cavernous room. A few minutes later, your order is dropped off. Utensils, water, napkins are somewhere else. A glass fronted cooler containing sauces in squeeze bottles sits across the room. Would love to find a local Mexican restaurant for "date night." This isn't it.

Love this food but on my last visit I waited over an hour for dinner to be served. I asked several waiters staff to help but only the manager got the food delivered. It seems less efficient since the remodel.

I just literally left the restaurant a couple minutes ago because I saw a HUGE rat run into the kitchen and nobody noticed. Don't eat here!!!

Gone down hill. No longer the ultra fresh beautiful food it used to be. The "fresh" salsa was withered and old. Iceberg lettuce instead of the romaine salad of before. The fish burrito was bland, lacking both spices and ingredients. The food is completely different than before the remodel. I wrote to the owner about the quality decline as a heads up. When I said the old Picante's freshness and quality was influenced by Alice Waters, he asked "who is Alice Waters". Clearly ownership has changed. The new owner has veered away from fresh seasonal foods. He seems unaware that old or bland ingredients will alienate the loyal foodie customer base. It is so sad. My family ate there all the time. I will miss it.

My favorite Mexican restaurant continues to impress. Today I ordered three norteños style pork tamales with guajillo chile sauce. The plate came with refried beans and rice. I've made tamales before. These tamales are perfect. An amazing balance of textures and flavors. Order at the kiosk outside the entrance and they will deliver to a large outdoor area. Matt says check this place out

I use to eat at Picante often (almost every week) and the quality was excellent. Now they've increased prices and the quality has decreased drastically. I always ordered the tostada salad, but now there is barely any ingredients for the pick up orders. I ordered 2 salads and it was missing the salsa verde, beans, cabbage, carrots, radish and jicama. I only got lettuce and the tostadas. I complained to the manager and they made me another one, but it was just as bad. Barely any ingredients were added, it was just sad. I understand the price increase, but when quality goes down also, I cannot eat here anymore.

What an institution! I always run into other chefs here in the industry, that's how you know it's well respected and trusted. I've had the fish tacos, burritos, guacamole and chips, and also their brunch items--and you can tell they make everything fresh daily. Love their salsa bar, too! The new space is so welcoming, there's really no where else that will accept you with such gracious open arms and as a party of 1 or a party of 20! They can do it all. Most of all, their team truly cares. Many have there for decades. It's just a special place. And I always say this when I get there, every neighborhood should have a Picante.

Major redesign since Covid 19. New facility in 2024 is much more modern and upscale. Unfortunately, it seems like prices are way up too, including charging for salsa by the ounce.

Four plus plus. I have been coming here for years. This place got me through nursing school and I live on the other side of the freaking bay! To go through the heartache that I did and walk in here 13 plus years later with my fiancé was surreal! Kudos to the owner for making this place Aaaaaaamazing and beautiful. (R. I. P. Bernard James Tyson Sr). Brother you sent your men to get you food from this Mecca