Tacubaya
Mexican restaurant · 4th Street ·
Sophisticated Mexican staples with quality meats & vegetarian options
Sophisticated Mexican staples with quality meats & vegetarian options
"Fast-casual sister restaurant to Dona on Piedmont Avenue, Tacubaya has anchored the Fourth Street dining scene with all-day Mexican dining for 20 years, and for the last five in its roomier, pinker space just two doors down from the original. Though the restaurant offers a kid-sized scrambled eggs dish, it’s a great spot to let your little one taste more adventurous flavors. Bright ceviches, sopa de tortilla, and seasonal tamales are superb gateway foods, and the atmosphere is easy for managing the ups and downs of dining out with kids — especially when softened with a margarita or mezcal paloma for the grownups." - Justine Jones, Laura Smith Borrman
"Tacubaya is so beloved by locals that they moved a few doors down to an expanded space in an attempt to accommodate its enlarged fan base. This taqueria in the Berkeley shopping complex is where families flock to grab a bite during errands. In fact, there is a perpetual line of patrons ordering limeade at the counter and claiming seats in the festive dining room (look out for the hanging pink papel picados) or sunny front patio. They are here for chilaquiles and churros at breakfast; then transition into chorizo-and-potato sopes with black bean purée at lunch. Other standbys unveil beef enchiladas doused in a smoky guajillo-tomatillo sauce and covered with melted cheese; followed by tamales de verduras bested with spicy salsa verde and cool crema." - Michelin Inspector
"This East Bay-based tamale powerhouse puts up a stand at the Tuesday and Saturday farmers' markets in Berkeley. This outlet has been a favorite for a few years for its chicken and black mole and pork with red mole tamales, $60 for a dozen of either. Hit up owners Rosa Oliva and Carolina Santos directly at tamalesoaxaca@gmail.com to place your holiday orders." - Annelies Zijderveld, Dianne de Guzman, Paolo Bicchieri
"Settled into a new Fourth Street space just a couple of doors down from its original location, I found Tacubaya, the 15-year-old counter-service Mexican restaurant, has doubled its size after moving into the spot vacated by Pompette (and Cafe Rouge before that). It brought along the old space’s color scheme—freshly painted pink walls, enormous iron chandeliers, leather banquettes, Mexican tile, and papel picados strung throughout—while keeping most of the same menu and staff. New additions include a full bar stocked with tequila and mezcal, an outdoor seating area that allows cocktails, and a mezzanine seating area. It also offers full dinners to take away, featuring rotisserie chickens accompanied by beans, rice, tortillas, salsa, and guacamole and chips. The new location is at 1782 Fourth Street and is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m." - Ellen Fort
"I learned that Tacubaya is moving two doors down on Berkeley’s Fourth Street into the space originally occupied by Cafe Rouge and, most recently, Pompette; the new, much larger location will include a full bar with mezcal and tequila and an expanded menu, though otherwise things will remain largely the same." - Ellen Fort