La Mexicana Restaurant

Hello all, My buddy and I dropped into this little gem of Oakland history for the first time last night. The business has been in Oakland since the 30's and the wonderful host maybe owner has been there for 42 years and she's great to chat with, now before I get to the food there was a gentleman sitting to the right of us that had been coming there for 32 years moving on to the food great service, chips hit the table with two different salsa's and refried beans and Molay sauce "yummy" I had a number #2 on the menu and when it should it was a lot of good food, then came the in house homemade corn tortillas with were killer so good and our host should us the corn that they were made from. Great little find will be going back for sure Wednesdays thu Sunday 11am to 8pm closed Mon & Tues. please enjoy we did

I've been coming here for years in fact this place was one of my first Yelp reviews. Always the same good people. Always very delicious food. Parking is convenient and they're easy to find, just minutes from the freeway. They offer dine in and take out. You can also order delivery. You're missing out if you're not coming here.

Emma is the owner and always offers a warm welcome. You're greeted with fresh made chips and salsa to start off your meal.I would consider La Mexicana a hole in the wall. Located off the very busy international street, this place is easy to pass. But those who know, know! The mole here is a 10/10 for me. With your order, they'll bring out a stack of thick homemade corn tortillas with butter. You won't get tortillas of this caliber anywhere else! The beans and rice are to die for and are a meal themselves! The enchiladas here are also top notch. Instead your typical order of two or three, you'll get one giant enchilada wrapped in their homemade tortilla. The red sauce is amazing, but the mole will always be my go-to! Street parking is crazy, but luckily there is a tiny lot in the back. Enjoy!

I was guided here by an Oakland native that knows this place since the 80's! So it's been here in business for like 40 years. I'm on assignment to locate and document local Oakland iconic restaurants that have character and flair, compared to boring old chain restaurants. Located on East 14th street (what the "OG's" call this street) in East Oakland, I'd maybe not wanna come here at night. daytime is OK, just don't park a high end car here. Entering we're seated fine and menus given. Looks like the standard Mexican fair you see at most restaurants. I get a combo plate of chili releno and enchilada, served with rice and beans and we get some tortillas. These tortillas are hand made right here, so no mass produced in a bag tortillias like a lot of Mexican places have. They're thicker and cheweyer than the machine made ones ... I like them, esp. with butter slathered on it rolled and dipped in the lard laden beans ... the real deal here!Yes, you can order in English or Spanish, both work here. I'd come back just for the tortillas! The food was good too, just what you expect, so no weird things going on.

I've been coming to La Mexicana Restaurant since SF Chronicle restaurant reviewer, Stan Sesser, wrote his fantastic review of this place in the 1980s. It has been, and continues to be, my favorite Mexican food in the Bay Area. The quality has remained consistent for over 40 years because the owner/ proprietor, Emma, is always watching over things. If your search is to find fantastic Mexican food, you have to try this place out. The atmosphere is a bit like a diner. You are immediately greeted and told to sit wherever you like, while menus, water, housemade chips and two salsas (one quite delicious and spicy) will be plunked on the table to enjoy while you decide what you want to order. One of the problems I encounter here is sampling a wide variety of the menu, since I always go back to one or two of my favorite dishes. Not to be missed in my opinion are the chile relleno, enchiladas or the chicken molis absolutely the best anywhere-- It has the perfect ratio of cheese to poblano, isn't the least bit greasy, and it sits in the most delicious tomato based sauce, full of flavor yet elegant. The chicken mole could very well be the best in the Bay Area; deliciously complex, sultry, and packing some heat. They have parking in the back of the restaurant. Go meet Emma and have some great food.

The food at this restaurant is authentic and amazing!! The tortillas are fresh and made by hand. You can see and taste the quality in the I gradients they use. Everything is great!! But the Chicken Mole is the absolute very best we have ever had!! My husband is from Mexico and ever since we found this place he doesn't want to eat anyplace else. We are treated like family here!! Go!! You will not be disappointed!

Traveling through Oakland, on our way to our destination, and stopped at this gem! The food is DELICIOUS! One of the best Mexican food restaurants I have ever eaten at. My husband and i had the chicken enchilada, tacos, chili relleno and it comes with fresh homemade tortillas with butter. The refried beans and rice were good too. Reviews say this place has been in business in excess of 40 years, no wo Der they still are! It was clean and the owner was welcoming. If you are looking for current and updated decor, ambience not for you. However my husband and I love the old, taking us back in time. The tables are definitely from the 50s, soooo cool. Wish we took pics......

A very long overdue 2022 update. My husband and I was at the Dios De Los Muertos Festival and were hungry. So this was the first time we've been to La Mexicana since the pandemic shuttered everything down. Everything is still the same great service as before and Emma is a delight to talk to in the restaurant when visiting. They are wheel chair friendly.Not related to La Mexicana - Our favorite panaderia, Pena Bakery had their hours reduced and now is open 8am to 12pm so we missed getting their bread as we would always stop here after visiting this restaurant. (It's next door) Overall this is a great place to eat in Oakland and you'll be happy with the great food and service here.

Been coming here for 35 years. Always consistent always delicious. It is as if you're Mexican grandmother cooked for you. And the tortillas! Plenty of places make them by not as good as these. And the house made salsa is the best.

Food is always amazing and the owner is fantastic. I try and support them at least once per month. The best homemade corn tortillas you will ever have.