Teocali Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

I hate to write this post, but..... we went to a Mexican restaurant & I didn't see 1 Mexican! The menu is heavy Mexican with no pictures. The server Jalin, the black guy, was so unenthusiastic! Not welcoming at all. No Mexicans & no Mexican music inside a Mexican restaurant 😕! We ordered the spinach queso with beef, it came out with no visible beef & when asked about the beef, instead of bringing out another 1 made correctly, they brought out a bowl of beef! It tasted like it been cooked for days. The hard tacos came out with stuff all over it & the beef tasted old! (I paid for everything & didn't want anything taken off the bill). My main dish was OK but after the service I was already ready to go! Oh, the drinks were good😳! I think I can cross this place off my list. The balcony was peaceful as well.

Came for the show and stayed for the food. Our server Rosa was top notch so friendly and inviting. Her presence made it feel like home and that we were in a safe space. The food was so good. The torta was filling. The baguette bread was crispy on the outside, soft inside and stuffed to the brim with juicy, flavorful al pastor. And the tamales? The masa was soft, tender, and full of flavor not dry at all, which is surprisingly rare.

I really enjoyed my experience here! I was simply on a work day, but the staff were attentive the whole time, checking in on me even after I completed my meal. They made it feel really welcoming and comfortable. The food was really good! I got the fried taco and birria quesadilla both were well prepared🙂 The patio seating is nice if you want to be a little isolated.

Can I give Teocali 10 ⭐️ vs just a 5? We recently hosted a #KCBOC business event at Teocali Mexican Restaurant with over 150 attendees, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. 🙌 From the planning stages to the end of the night, the staff went above and beyond. Dustin, Hunter and Enrique were incredibly helpful with coordinating the event details and ensuring everything was set up perfectly. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Dustin handled the bar areas with ease and not one person had to wait more then 3 minutes for a drink. After the event wa la over, quite a few guests stayed a bit past our scheduled time, the team was more than willing to accommodate. Stephanie, our bartender/server, was attentive, friendly, and handled the extended hours with a smile. The private areas were ideal for our needs, and the catering was a huge hit—delicious, well-organized, and perfectly suited for a large group. My only regret is that we didn’t get to use the rooftop — but when you schedule a rooftop event in March in KC what do you expect?? 🤣 🤦🏼‍♂️ Teocali truly delivered on all fronts, and we look forward to working with them again for future events.

This place is hopping! They’re doing a brisk business on a Wednesday night. My server, Grace, was excellent! I had El Dueto. It is two enchiladas and a tostada. No substitutions or I would’ve had a taco instead of the tostada. Chips and salsa here are excellent! The chips are very thin and light and the salsa has amazing flavor! I also got some cheese dip that was very thick and lovely. It was delicious! For dinner, I very much enjoyed the rice and beans which are better than most. Also, the pork chili enchilada is fantastic! I also loved the cheese enchilada, though it could’ve been warmer with the cheese more melted. That’s a personal preference thing for me. Not a dealbreaker at all. Enrique, the owner is present and active. He is supervising the staff and making sure everything is expedited. Ed, the general manager, is large and in charge. He was running food to tables when servers got overwhelmed. I love the team effort here! It’s three stories of fun including a rooftop patio all on Hospital Hill. What a treat this place is. Stop by here as soon as you can for lunch or dinner.o

My first time at the Briarcliff location. Food is sensational, atmosphere is fantastic. And the service was very good. We were there for Cinco de Mayo and had a wonderful time. I highly recommend you try Bario Located in the Briarcliff shopping center.

This place is literally vibes. The food is amazing! The atmosphere feels like home. Our server though, let’s be so for real: Liz was the sweetest and she checked on us diligently. I don’t think I’ve laughed that much with a server before. The bartender was also very friendly, very inviting personality and his drinks were phenomenal! We will visit every time we’re in the KC area.

When you think about good food, this place should be at the top of your list. The experience here is exceptional, starting with the service, which is consistently attentive, friendly, and professional. The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome, ensuring every detail of your visit is seamless. As for the food, it’s nothing short of superb—each dish is crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients, bursting with flavor, and presented with care. Whether you’re craving a comforting classic or something more adventurous, the menu delivers variety and excellence. The ambiance complements the meal perfectly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes every visit memorable. From start to finish, this spot sets the standard for what dining out should be.

This place is hopping! They're doing a brisk business on a Wednesday night. My server, Grace, was excellent! I had El Dueto. It is two enchiladas and a tostada. No substitutions or I would've had a taco instead of the tostada. Chips and salsa here are excellent! The chips are very thin and light and the salsa has amazing flavor! I also got some cheese dip that was very thick and lovely. It was delicious! For dinner, I very much enjoyed the rice and beans which are better than most. Also, the pork chili enchilada is fantastic! I also loved the cheese enchilada, though it could've been warmer with the cheese more melted. That's a personal preference thing for me. Not a dealbreaker at all. Enrique, the owner is present and active. He is supervising the staff and making sure everything is expedited. Ed, the general manager is large and in charge. He was running food to tables when servers got overwhelmed. I love the team effort here! It's three stories of fun including a rooftop patio all on Hospital Hill. What a treat this place is. Stop by here as soon as you can for lunch or dinner.

Two Ali is a mom and pop restaurant in downtown Kansas City near Children's Mercy hospital. I got to meet the owner and he told us the story of how the restaurant was named and where is inspiration comes from. The location is great if you are around the area and want a chill outing. The food was good but don't know if I would go out of my way to come all the way down from North Kansas City to grab a bit. I will say staff were friendly and they do a good job of being attentive the customers. The experience here is going to be good. If you visit definitely try to sit outside they have great views of the city

Enjoyed some yummy tacos- 2 for $5 on taco tuesday and loved the wonderful service Stephanie provided. The view from the rooftop patio, AMAZING.

I went here with a group of friends that suggested we eat here. I was not disappointed with the food or the margarita. Service was very quick throughout the night and we were really waiting on anything. Food had good portion size and can out hot. The flavors were good and there was a good balance of all ingredients. Salsa had a really good flavor and it was hard not to eat it all.

My friends and I were in town for a girls trip and had reservations at the Antler Room next door. We had one more person fly in as a surprise and the Antler room could not accommodate one extra person, but luckily Teocali saved the day!! Karen was our waitress and the service was immaculate. She went over and beyond and was so much fun! They put us on the rooftop and the GM Ed stopped by to say hello! He was so friendly and even asked if we liked the music selection! Our drinks were never empty, the food was great and I can't say enough good things about this place! Cheers to Karen and Ed!!

I can't believe I did not know about this AMAZING Mexican food till now. What a hidden Gem!!! The BEST Spicy Margarita I've probably ever had. Their guacamole was the BEST and loved their fish tacos. They have really great lunch options and happy hour. This place was fantastic and great service. I will 10000% be going back. If you love Mexican food and honestly even if you don't you will love this place

Reservation for 6p -- Saturday. Place was overbooked, service was shoddy. Apparent bar manager working there got liquored up with an engagement party. Very poor form. Private party upstairs- big party downstairs- should not have taken more than they could handle. Won't go back based on this experience.

The best part about this experience was being able to eat outside on their patio. The servers were very attentive and checked on us many times even though we were sitting in a corner. I HIGHLY recommend the Flautas Nortenas! They were the perfect portion size for dinner, and the homemade chipotle sauce it comes with was perfect (I asked for sour cream and didn't end up needing it because the chipotle sauce was so good). Their cocktail prices are great, and food prices are average for a Mexican restaurant in this area. The guac was very heavy in tomatoes, just FYI (I'm not a fan but my brother enjoyed it). The fajitas had plenty of sliced meat on top, enough to take home for left overs. The only reason this restaurant didn't get 5 starts was because the cheese dip and salsa was pretty basic, but not bad! I would definitely come here again!

Teocali has been added to my list of top Mexican restaurants in KC to visit! The guacamole is incredibly fresh as well as with the house-made salsa. If you are fan of light chips, this is the spot to visit. Along with fresh dips, the margaritas pack a PUNCH! Teocali offers a very affordable lunch menu. If you work in the area, make sure to pop in for a tasty lunch! Top items to order: the chimichanga plate and the tamales plate. Add this spot to your KC restaurant bucket list today!

Food was excellent, ambience is good, unfortunately the service was horrendous. I'd been to Teocali once before a few years ago and remembered it as a good experience. My friend and I wondered at the restaurant and afterwards if we had done something wrong or didn't look like acceptable customers to have been ignored from beginning to end when people next to us were being served. The restaurant was not busy but maybe there was a staff shortage?.. who knows, but I do know I'll never return after an embarrassing experience like that.

Got food delivered. The albondigas had layers of flavor! Its the best I've had thus far. This soup is not tomatoey compared to others, which I prefer. And for delivery they packed the soup very well. Highly recommend.

Not much as far as healthy food other than a couple lackluster salads however they do have a $42 entree which feeds 2-4 people with a pile of tilapia, huge beautifully grilled shrimp (fantastic flavor!), and mussels over a bed of onions. The margaritas all have Tres Agaves margarita mixer in them which is sad and not necessary especially for the skinny margarita which only lists other ingredients on the menu in it and doesn't mention the mixer which is 16 grams of sugar per ounce and about four ounces is used per "skinny" marg rendering it not a "skinny" drink at all and quite misleading for folks w sugar problems like me! Luckily the bartender remade me a marg with only the necessary triple sec, tequila, and lime juice and allowed me to not wreck my glucose too bad that evening.

If anything, you need to come here to experience the rooftop patio on a fall night. They have lights strung up and it is an ideal location to enjoy some Mexican food. The salsa is delicious, chips are okay. My margarita wasn't my favorite but that's not to say that I won't have another one.. just tasted kind of like juice. I liked that they unwrap the tamales and put sauce on them! I haven't had them that way and I really enjoyed the sauce that they add. I will be back for more patio excursions!

I'm not one to leave reviews, but after the experience my group had tonight, I feel obligated to leave a review. Especially since I chose this place tonight based off their 4 stars. If I could give it a zero, I would. Margaritas were bland no alcohol at all. The queso tasted like it was bought and warmed up from a gas station. And almost all meals were brought out with some kind of mistake. And the food prices do not match the quality. Also, we had a group of 8 so don't get me wrong I understand why gratuity is included, but the server definitely did not earn any of it. She didn't fix any mistakes, she rarely checked on us, and when she brought out our order tickets she handed a pile to me and said if anything is wrong let me know. All tickets were wrong.

Teocali has long been the place to hang out after exams and hard days for the hospital bill students. It has great $4 sangrias and margs during happy hour and chips and salsa. It's affordable and fun, but the service lacks. Pretty understandable considering they are often understaffed and having to deal with huge rushes of students. The upstairs patio is perfect for spring/fall nights! Enjoy coming here as a student, but probably wouldn't go out of my way to visit once I graduate. It's a great place of trauma bonding though. Also happy hour nachos are huge and great for $8.

Chips and salsa, remain good. Wait staff is friendly. Service however for food is extremely slow. Item I ordered "beef, chicken or combo" fajita. Somehow that also includes shrimp, which I'm allergic to and cost $2 more than the item ordered. Added bonus the fajitas were covered in chopped garlic (I'm assuming) to the point it was not edible. "Do you want a box", absolutely not, but thanks. We have been going here since back when they had salsa days at Kauffman stadium, however many years ago that was. After tonight, we won't be back. To many other options in town vs paying 65 bucks for two meals, one that didn't get eaten.

Really great. I love that their seating is primarily upstairs and semi outside. It's a super cool space and the food was great. We loved the margs and the chips/salsa/guac/queso (obviously) had us full before our meals ever showed up. I will definitely be going back here, specifically for the setup with various patio options available and inside seating galore. I really don't have any complaints! They even have non-Mexican options, which I found strange but see value in, so go here even if this isn't your cuisine of choice.

TLDR would not recommend. Unsanitary and unprofessional owner. Service is mediocre. They serve a cocktail menu without offering a food menu until 10 mins later after going to ask. The food was good until a HAIR was found! The waitress brought the owner to our table and his response was "Sorry that happened. Sir, you don't need to advertise it!" He completely deflected to admonish my friend for dangling the piece of hair and then ask about bringing in soda flavoring from home rather than addressing the issue at hand and offering a solution for our harrowing experience. When this was brought to his attention that he deflected from the issue, he became loud and unprofessional. Disappointing.

Owner is getting carried away with the price increases, especially for how unremarkable the food is.

Great food and service. Cute interior and very clean. Definitely will be back for more.

We had a large group for dinner, it was a beautiful evening and we were able to open the garage door to enjoy it. The food was delicious! I had the tacos Fritos, super tasty. Service was great!

We stopped by teocali for drinks on a Wednesday afternoon. Only the upstairs was open for seating. They have a small terrace with some outside seating as well. The place was pretty empty, and we grabbed a table. Our server was friendly and quick. I got the spicy cool margarita and my husband got a Mexican mule. Both were good, but the spicy cool was my favorite on our margarita tour that day. I'd like to go back and try the food sometime!

Love it here !! Great food great environment.. Love all the wait staff and drinks are ALWAYS ON POINT

We ordered catering from TeoCali for a meeting at my work. I ordered in advance and gave a specific time we needed the food. About 10 minutes after the food was supposed to arrive, I called and they said that they would be running a little late. No worries, I understand things happen. 20 minutes later, I get a call from them saying that they were out of some of the food I had ordered so they may have to substitute. Finally after waiting for an hour past the expected time, the food arrived. As I said earlier, I understand that things happen, but this was somewhat unacceptable. The only good thing I can say was that the staff was apologetic and nice.

A unique spot in KC for great Mexican food! We sat on the porch and really enjoyed the view down the tree lined street. Our server was very nice and checked on us often. Our food was brought quickly and drinks were priced well. I ordered the Fajitas which were very good and my girlfriend had the sampler which was a good way to have a lot of different choices. I've tried a lot of Mexican around KC and this will be a spot I come back to

Okay, I'm visiting here and born, raised and live in San Diego where we have the best Mexican food in America. I usually try Mexican food when I travel to compare to what I've known my entire life and am often disappointed. However, this is not the case here at Teocali. I must say that I am thoroughly impressed and this is by far some of the better Mexican food I have had outside of San Diego. The homemade salsa, guacamole and chips are all very authentic I don't usually like cheese dipping sauce for chips but this sauce was outstanding. The service was also top notch and Mary was a wonderful server. I will definietly be back next time I'm in KC. The only reason i don't have 5 stars here is because the fajitas were a bit salty but the seasoning on them was great and helped to make up for it. Definitely give these guys a try.

Cute little Mexican joint. I've read mixed reviews on this place, but it's walkable from our new house so of course we had to give it a chance. For a #tacotuesday I was expecting more of a crowd, but there were plenty of open tables around 6pm...when we left though, it was starting to fill up. I got the Enchiladas Rojas and thoroughly enjoyed them! Since we left Indianapolis I haven't found a cheese enchilada that steals my heart the way my favorite joint in Indy did...these came pretty close! Extra hot (temperature wise), extra cheesy, extra yum! The husband got the Tacos Fritos and said he might possibly have liked their tacos a little more than Manny's. The chips were delightfully light and crispy and the salsa was more flavorful than Manny's for sure. We'll definitely be back, but this place might be a bit pricy for a regular #tacotuesday spot.

One of my favorite spots in KC. The food is always great, the service is awesome and if you get a chance to sit across the bar from Nick, you are in for a treat. He's awesome!

Place is AMAZING! Great open air vibes. Great food & drink. Nic & Jannah are the best!!

Let me start with the atmosphere, OK. Their playlist is so bomb. Very hype and lovely. Next, the appetizer. Wow. Those chips and salsa just keep coming man. Refill after refill. My God I don't think I've ever seen somebody refill my chips and salsa so quickly LOL I think we went through four bowls of chips. That is insane. What a great deal. And finally the main meal. Got the chicken quesadilla and boy those things were stuffed. Everything tasted so fantastic. Honestly great place love it. Would come back.

If you're looking for truly authentic Mexican food, Teocali might not be the place for you. But don't let that discourage you--the food is still rather good. I spend a lot of time on hospital hill, and Teocali is one of my favorite places to stop by for a quick lunch or for happy hour. For lunch, I often get whatever the daily special is. I've not been blown away by the food, but I've also never had a bad meal here. The restaurant also has a balcony overlooking Holmes, which is my favorite place to sit and chat during happy hour. I don't think I'd make a special trip to come to Teocali, but if I'm already in the area, it's always a pretty solid choice.

Great place, and we're hoping to go there tomorrow night! We're heading to crown center tomorrow night, and hopefully we can dine in!

Ordered carry out from Teocali, due to rising COVID cases. I ordered the frijoles con queso & chips starter and the enchiladas verdes. The starter is a bowl of refried beans topped with queso. The chips are thin and not overly salty which I enjoyed. Hard to go wrong with a queso/bean dip combo. The enchiladas verdes are served with refried beans & rice. For the enchiladas, I opted for the cheese filling which was nearly nonexistent. There was hardly any cheese inside and it was basically just layers of tortilla. Probably wouldn't order again unless I maybe tried a meat inside. The meal was ready for pickup super quick and ready to go once I arrived making it an easy carry out process!

Good fajitas and the salsa is delicious. Place was very clean and the beer was cold so definitely will be back.

Can't say enough good things about this place. Excellent margaritas "on tap" customizable with several different flavors. Very friendly atmosphere. Lots of menu options, too.

A locally owned Mexican restaurant in the Longfellow neighborhood, just south of Children's Mercy campus. I've been wanting to visit this restaurant during the summer months to explore their patio space. With cooler temperatures, we opted for a dinner indoors. Be aware, parking is a challenge. One reserved lot for 5 cars is available a half-block from their door. Street parking is available along the one way street outside the business. During busier days, one could expect to walk a few blocks to find a suitable parking space. The venue is quaint. Tightly packed tables and chairs cover the main floor. When these tables are occupied, the room is difficult to navigate. An ornate bar lines part of one of the walls. Service wasn't stellar for this visit. While our server was polite and friendly, she could have been more attentive and vocal. It was often hard to hear her because of how softly she spoke. Chips and salsa were given after ordering. Chips were freshly made and salsa had good seasoning. Ordered a grande burrito and a fajita quesadilla with chicken. The food was delivered in a reasonable amount of time and was hot and fresh. Unfortunately, the meat wasn't seasoned very well. Would be interested in trying their appetizers and seasonal drinks on a future visit. Still interested in checking out the patio.

I'm not doing to rip Teocali during the Delta Covid breakout. I'll just say this. If you are going , they have a limited menu, but don't tell you. My waitress quit mid shift. My food never came, 40 minutes later, I left. After asking a third time, they finally bright my cocktail. The chocolate margarita sounded bad, but it was delicious. I then left. When things get back to normal hopefully, they will as well. Just a heads up.

If you order on Grubhub they will just put any old shit in a box and charge you way too much for it. There "Birria" that I ordered in a burrito was nothing more than flavorless shredded beef. There was no salsa or consume to accompany the burrito and it had shredded lettuce inside the burrito. Who the fuck puts shredded lettuce inside a birria burrito? To call this a lousy meal would be an understatement. If I could give zero stars I would.

This is a fun little gem on the border of Hyde Park and downtown KC! Cute little restaurant, tucked away inconspicuously at 25th and Holmes. Stopped in for a bite of dinner on a Friday night. The place was hopping and a private party was being hosted upstairs... instead of waiting, we opted to sit at the bar. Barkeep was so super friendly. Wine choices were pretty darn good for a Mexican restaurant! Loved all the menu options... even opted to share fajitas and enjoyed every bite. Facility is clean. Parking stinks but it is worth the walk. Try it out folks!

Had a fabulous time here! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is AHmazing!!! Beautiful old building with a warm welcoming and open vibes. We had a party of 14 on the rooftop and had a blast!!! View was beautiful & set up was casual. They even had a section of games and a DJ. The food was good and authentic. We will def be back!!!

the waitress was awful. she was extremely rude, and didn't bring us our change back. we had to go ASK for our change, as the tip would have been extremely too large for the crappy service we had. the waitress slammed down the dishes and was extremely rude about taking our order.

Stopped here on a layover. Big Mistake. The best part about the meal was the waiter and the water. The fact that they call themselves traditional Mexican is a stretch... we all ordered different things and was disappointed. Avoid. At. All. Cost.

I think 2-stars is being merciful.. from the start, our server could not bear the sight of 12 girls walking in.. the entire 1 hour he took his sweet time and gave us the most flaccid stares with the full sulky walk -- limped arms, and flat-tire look. he mixed up our orders and took very long completing any sort of service for us. he did not find it within his capacity to give us our waters and take our order or at least answer a question or two. everything was, "yeh.. hold on a sec." Service aside (i really didn't want to tip.. much less pay for anything!!) Food was terrible. The poor girls, they piped about the cafeteria-quality foods here "great!", "delicious!", "heard so many good things about this place!" But, from who?? other medical or dental students who have never heard of Yelp? well, they are in for a treat if i eat out with them again... My table of girls picked from the "Lunch Special", which stated below: "*All dishes below served with rice, refried beans, and garnished with lettuce and tomato. (10:30- 2pm, after 2pm please add $1.50)" [ take a look at their menu here: http://www.teocali.com/menu.html ] I ordered the Ensilada Mexicana (con Carne Asada). Disregard the fact that the strips of beef tasted like processed, sodium-saturated.. plastic. I did not receive the afore(promised) rice. i had some canned pinto beans and sparse shredding of lettuce ( i want to rant about how unresponsive my server was in responding to my surprise, but i can save this for another time) Here is my ultimate conclusion about their food: Teocali will give you the bare minimum (quantity and Definitely quality) in exchange for what you pay them. What do you get for your money? Well, if the weather is nice, patio seating is pleasant. Food? forget the food.. enchilada, quesadilla, chicken sandwich, or whatever they offer you... go to Taco Bell. I really don't joke here. ---- Could it be I just had the most unfortunate experience by chance? Could it be that they can do better? I am highly sceptical at this point, but I am willing to admit that this could (very unlikely) be the case. ** Disclaimer: our girls went above and beyond to say thank you's* and please*, and we held off on requests so long as we thought it inconvenient our server. as far as he was concerned, we were very kind and forgiving. We showed no signs of disrespect whatsoever. by the way. talk about dirty wash job on their dishware? i think i am going to post a picture of one side of the mug my server reluctantly admitted he saw.. and, again, reluctantly took back for me.

The Margaritas are very disappointing. If your coming here for a nice lil marg - try again; imagine sink water fermented in lime juice. The ground beef doesn't taste good & don't waste your money on the queso - you better off at chipotle ‍

Once I got over being a ball of stress due to the parking fiasco, I found the space I entered very peaceful and welcoming. We were the only ones at first but others followed later. Staff were warm, and quickly helped us to our table. If it's available an order of guacamole is promptly put in. Also ordered "Bottle caps", intrigued by the name given, sliced jalapeno battered and fried served with ranch were ok but no match to the fresh guacamole. Red enchilada entree was bland tasting of watered canned tomato sauce, salt and cumin. What happened to the garlic let alone the other spices. The tasty happy hour beef tacos, now those I would come back for, especially at 1.50. Waitress was kind, and did a great job making sure she we felt well taken care of. Hispanic music softly playing was a nice touch, as was the art. If your in the area due to a hospital visit it's a good meal option.

I Called to order a dozen tamales for Christmas Eve. When I got home I realized that I only had 10. Not sure what I was charged for, but the communication was an issue. The tamales were just ok. I think there could have been more filling.

Eh. It wasn't bad. But I prefer a little more TexMex than the traditional Mex. I might do it again in a pinch. The taqueria were a little dry and the quesadillas were a little greasy. The jalapeño pinwheels were without flavor. The chips didn't seem very fresh. Either oily or stale?? All in all it satisfied my hunger. But I needed an antacid.

Update time... The food is perfectly acceptable. There's nothing on the menu that is wild or crazy, but they understand the basics and cook them well. They also have a fairly decent and laid back happy hour. Service is a completely different story. During my last couple of visits, my group has had to wait for pretty much everything. We've had to wait to be greeted, place our orders, get drink and chip refills and more. Sometimes our food orders have come out after other tables' who have ordered later. Lunches that should have been 45 minutes or so have lasted well past an hour. Eating here has become quite the ordeal. Like I said above, the food is perfectly acceptable. I just think the service should be better.

The rooftop patio is extremely cool, service was pretty good (especially considering they were understaffed). The drinks were solid and enjoyable but the food was incredibly average. Definitely not traditional Mexican but a decent place to go for drinks. If you want good Mexican food just go to southwest blvd.