I eat here often and I've finally decided to award this branch of La Penca Azul four stars because it is the top Mexican restaurant in town. It's a nice, newly expanded restaurant with a nearby parking lot only steps away. It's big enough so that you usually don't have to wait for a table. It has good service and the price is right. But the main thing here is that the food is good and the menu is quite extensive. It's better than other Mexican restaurants in town because of the quality of food and the extensive menu. For this reason, it's even better than the mothership La Pinata location in Hayward. It's even better than their sister restaurant on Park Street in Alameda because unlike the rabbit warren/Winchester Mystery House ever-growing additions to that location, this location is much nicer and less crowded. Rumor has it that the Alameda locations were so much more profitable than the original Hayward and the West San Leandro locations, the family had to split up the operation.
(4)
Susan Z.
Great local Mexican restaurant. Street tacos are delicious! Combo plates are generous in size. Quick service. We always have a great experience.
(4)
Cyndi G.
Can really go wrong with the food here. I prefer this location over the one on Park street because it's less busy and much easier to find parking. If you check in on Yelp, you might be lucky and catch a coupon or deal.
(3)
Carlos G.
It's very obvious to me that la penca azul caters to it's customer base ....I'll bet the folks that work here don't eat what they are serving. Bland,under spiced sauces and small portions. I had the steak enchilada's which had the most blah enchilada sauce I've ever had and rice and beans that were in the same ballpark. I reluctantly went here and regretted every bite of it. Do yourselves a favor and venture over to International blvd to Mariscos La Costa or La Mexicana if you're not "freaked out" by leaving Alameda for good mexican food. La Penca is awful ...... meh
(1)
Kai C.
I love this place. I don't understand why it only gets three and a half stars on Yelp, becasue I'm a firm believer in the truth. I like this location more than their Park St. location because it's closer to my house and it's not as busy. My friends and I come here at least three times a month, mainly for their Super Famoso Burritos and guacamole (mind blowing, by the way). Their burritos are absolutely HUMONGOUS, and even though I'm really hungry and tell myself that today is the day I'm actually going to finish a Super Famoso, I never do! I can only eat half, and I take the rest to work the next day (and it manages to stay delicious!!!!) Also, don't miss out on their street tacos! Their chips are always fresh, and the guacamole, again, is to die for. They have a great special on Saturday and Sunday nights--for five bucks, you can get rolled tacos or flautas (and something else that escapes my memory). They also have five dollar margaritas! Their happy hour during the weekdays are great, too--drinks are four dollars each. The service here is very friendly, and very attentive. This place never gets as busy as the Park St. location, and I love that. I've never had to wait more than ten minutes for a table, and whenever I get take-out I can expect it within fifteen minutes. The food and drinks are excellent, so there's not much else I can ask for.
(5)
Nick S.
The food was terrible. The service was not good. The food was cold. The music is too loud that sometimes can hear it outside. This place does not need a 1 star.
If you're looking for a lively dinner spot on a Saturday night, you've come to the right place. La Penca Azul (formerly known as La Pinata #4) possesses the 3G's: Great food, great drinks, and great service. (Why 4 stars? Well, good things often aren't cheap) Now everything about this place is amazing, but I must devote the rest of this review to the highlight of my experience: my meal I don't know about you, but when I go out to eat I always pick something that I know I can't cook on my own. Right away the Cazuelas grabbed my eye. In a nutshell, a cazuela describes the type of hot plate used to cook a mixture of "stuff". I chose the Combination Cazuela that included shrimp, steak, chicken, cactus, chorizo, grilled onions, avocado, cheese, and some special sauce. It was served with rice, beans, and tortillas. It's a dish that can easily serve two. Now I have to say that this dish was unlike anything I've ever eaten before! Thank god I stopped myself before I doused my first bite with hot sauce because the sauce used to simmer the ingredients in was out of this world! Seriously the flavors on that dish were absolutely tantalizing! I can't wait to go back and get myself another cazuela! (And I suggest you do the same!)
(4)
A J.
Their Mexican food is ok. One thing I don't like about them is that they put the old cheaper price outside and, when you get inside, you will find a bit higher new price on the menu. I hope that they fix it now.
(3)
Zulu Q.
I haven't even been back in California for three weeks, but I've already been to this place THREE times! It's coincidence (and a super bonus) that it's so close to my work. Their three street taco lunch special is amazing. The carnitas are the right amount of crisp. The salsa is the right amount of spice. They actually get the tortillas a little greasy and crispy. The chips and salsa always hit the spot. The service is prompt and friendly. AND, it's also right on the water at Harbor Bay. If I ever get out of work early enough, I'd love to just chill for the night with their margaritas. (I've had them at their Park Street location). I mean, they may have to fish me out from under a table and shove me into a very expensive taxi back to Oakland because I'm sure two of their tasty houses will do me in, but it would be worth it. I've been torn about moving back home, and then I remember that places like this exist...and that makes it right. (Well, that and the jobs are back here). So, you know, to all you East Coast friends who get annoyed with me bitching about Boston's Mexican food, I'll take you here if you visit me.
(5)
Henry G.
I love it here, its open until 3 am so i can go grab a bite right after work. They food is hecka good
(5)
A C.
Ordered the carnitas. They were dry and no flavor. Menu says they are marinated. I ordered flour tortillas and they game me corn. Had to wait while they went and made the tortillas. Food got cold it took so long. Rice was bland. Some of the beans were hard, like they were not cooked properly. Would not come back again unless all I wanted was tequila. I guess they are fixated on the tequila and not the food.
(1)
Shamina K.
This place never disappoints! I recommend you try the enchiladas suisas (sp?), the sauce they pour over these enchiladas is delicioso! I also like their spicy chicken soup, it's super good on a cold day. I've been here a couple of time for breakfast as well and surprisingly the breakfast menu is pretty extensive and good as well. My favorite dish though is the Pescado Especial, which is a whole fish dipped in a light batter, fried and served with some garlic and chili sauce. I honestly haven't had anything that tasted bad here. Even the chips and salsa is pretty good!
(4)
Cece C.
Went here for lunch during our spring break vacation and it's one of the best mexican restaurant I've ever been to. Their nachos with refried bean dipsis the best! Their street tacos is just super delicious. Overall, good restaurant. Highly recommended!
(5)
G A.
I got 3 street tacos with carne asada, carnitas, and al pastor. Pretty good!! I left satisfied and will return. Tip- don't let the corn tortillas get soggy. Put a napkin under it?
(4)
Miss H K.
I'm definitely a fan of La Pinata in San Leandro but La Penca is closer to my work so I come here for lunch or to go more often. Service/food here is not bad but not as good as La Pinata. I usually order the chicken enchiladas which is filling. The rice is kind of dry I've found but the chips/salsa are good. I like the location near the water and the inside is festive and good for group or small dining. They also have a lunch specials (my coworkers like the street taco lunch) Overall, not bad.
(3)
Armando Z.
Official Mexican here... This place is pretty good. It's not gourmet, the music is wrong but the food is B to A+ , they serve Micheladas and excellent tequila . Try to wander off the taco/ burritto's most Americans think is the only Mexican food.
(4)
Warren W.
My wife and I have come here many times for both dinner and Sunday breakfast, and this place is definitely one of our favorites in Alameda! Our favorite thing to do is to come during the weekends and request the Happy Hour menu. On that menu are some smaller dishes for a great price ($5). The shrimp tacos they have are amazing. You get two of them, and they leave your fingers smelling like heaven for the next few hours. The pork tacos are a bit salty for me, but still taste pretty good and is a great deal as you get three of them. We also really like their pescado, and their chips and salsa definitely rank up there among the best we've ever had. I think their specialty dishes are much better and more interesting than their generic entree plates (like burritos and enchiladas). For regular burritos, I think I'd rather just go to a taco truck. There are also many incentives to dine here, such as the VIP card (every $100 spent you get a free meal), and discounted gift cards that you can buy from their website for discount ($100 gift card for $75). I'm not sure if you can combine the two or not, but regardless, it's a great deal. The service here, from what I've experienced, is adequate, although there are occasions where it's a bit slow. The only other cons I can think of are that some of the dishes are saltier than I like, and that some of the meat is also a bit dry. However, when I'm scarfing down those delicious, juicy, perfectly seasoned shrimp tacos, who cares?
(4)
Daisy M.
Well maybe i got the wrong plate. the flavor was not as good as i was expecting. their vegetables were not so fresh i could feel it in my mouth. I got the chicken mango salsa bowl. Maybe next time i get something else and ill update this review. Oh but their prepared mirenal water was delicious.
(3)
Caroline C.
My family and I were diehard Acapulco fans, so naturally, (then-) La Piñata on Park Street was the enemy -- a bitter rival of sorts. Tragically, Acapulco is no more, and in the interim La Piñata opened a branch on Bayfarm Island (where I live), replacing the atrocious Mexican restaurant that preceded it, and renamed itself La Penca Azul. All in all, we're cool now. Lots to like about this restaurant. Proximity is unbeatable (5 minute drive; 15 minute walk now that I know about their happy hour prices..). Their chips are light with just the right amount of salt, and the salsa is an appropriate level of spicy. Refills are frequent; luckily the turnaround time between ordering and receiving one's food is minimal because my stomach morphs into an endless chip-eating vat when I come here. I'm usually seated right away, but if they're busy -- fear not -- ESPN is always on at the bar's multiple TVs. Food-wise, portions are large. Their rice and beans are solid -- I like to pour some salsa on my rice (maybe this is weird. I just really like that damn salsa.) -- and I typically order something simple like a chicken quesadilla (excellent gooey cheese to chicken ratio, even if the chicken's a little dry) or a chicken burrito (not as good as a taqueria burrito, but good). Open late(r than pretty much anywhere in Alameda), so it's a favorite destination after Warriors games or other evening engagements. And if you're having a Mexican craving and don't want to feel like a loner at a table for one (i.e. me a few days ago), phone orders are ready to be picked up in 10-15 minutes. As a side note, I love ice water and down it embarrassingly when I go out to dinner, particularly if there is any hint of spiciness involved. Nothing irritates me more than a prolonged empty water glass, and this never happens at La Penca Azul! Cheers to that.
(4)
Justin A.
This is what me and my friend call the "under spot" because nobody knows about this location but yet it is the best of all them. The owner and employees are very sociable. The food is pretty good. And it doesn't smell unlike the one in Alameda. If you go here and your drinking, ask for the special drinks that they make. The Traffic Light consist of 3 drinks and the Blackout is there newest one.
(4)
Fred B.
Hands down the BEST La Penca Azul out of all of them! The location is a little bit difficult to find, but there's always seating, and you never have to wait for a table! I'm not quite sure but I think this place may have a few things on their menu that the other places don't have! The staff here is the real reason why I pass 2 La Penca Azul's just to come here! Their very down to earth, and makes you feel like your apart of the crew! The bar!!!!!..... GREAT!!! The only place you can get a D.U.I special! ( its a red drink, yellow drink, and a green drink) I walk in one day while they were coming up with this drink. I'm officially the first customer who ever had the 3 drink special! And I must say its a must get! The food!!!!!.... GREAT!!!! I like the different styles of plates they use, gives it a more classier feel. And also; the bacon wrapped shrim/ with the cilantro ranch dipping sauce! A must get! Overall great place, and my fav place to watch MNF. Up stairs has a nice tv with a small seating section.
(5)
Dennis S.
I was excited about this location when it first opened. But, was disappointed in the end. I've been a long time patron of La Pinata's other locations. The San Leandro and Concord off-top are their best bets. The first couple of meals at Bay Farm were good, except their service was a little slower. They were still working out the kinks, so this got a pass. But, overtime the service and restaurant have failed me and my family of hungry customers. Even when they're not busy they ignore the customer. Their Pescado, clearly says "LARGE", we got a deep fried dry guppy on a platter. When we brought it up to the servers they just said, "oh sometimes they are big and sometimes small." "If they're really small, we give two." So where's the other one? Check please, and what's your managers' name? Better off in San Leandro or Concord: They have plentiful portions on everything, the food has flavor and isn't old. Everything Bay Farm isn't!
(1)
Brent T.
So I went there for lunch today. I'm just starting to play with Yelp when I'm at places and thought I'd check in there at the restaurant to play around. Well they offer a 15% discount when you check in. It said to show your server which I did and she clicked on 'use now' on the yelp app. Well what's the use for them to offer it when she never took it off my bill? I didn't realize until after I had paid and she bought back my change. I just left without saying anything. Disappointed by that!
(3)
Internet S.
Stopped in again while in town. They were busy. I had the chicken flautas full dinner which came with refried beans and rice. Complimentary chips were also served. Food was good and service was quick. Would recommend going.
(4)
Justin R.
Food is starting to fail. Order the street tacos but NOT the regular taco that goes with the combos. Some guy that worked there intentionally threatened to hit me with his truck. Service is up and down.
(2)
Michael F.
Can't beat their breakfast chorizo burrito for 6 bucks and if you call ahead it will be ready in 5-10 minutes. And it is HUGE.
(5)
LL T.
It's nice to have you on Bay Farm. And I love the fact that you serve similar food like the one on the main island. My favorites are your flautas and el pastor tacos. Lately I've noticed that your service has gone downhill. First the food was slow in coming out. Then tonight we had to search out a waiter to take our order (after waiting 10 minutes) AND had to find a waiter - any waiter because we didn't know who our waiter was and no one came by - to get us our food. This was bad enough that I'm not sure I'm coming back here ever again. If you want the Bay Farm crowd to keep giving you their business, please do something about the service. This may be your downfall.
(3)
Alison S.
I gotta say I don't really know Mexican food. You have to forgive me; I'm from Canada, which is pretty far away from Mexico. Growing up I had one friend who spoke Spanish at home; her family was from Nicaragua though. Anyway, I digress. Food: HUGE portions!!! I ordered the carnitas plate and was greeted with huge chunks of marinated and bbq'd pork, a large pile of rice, a large pile of beans, and a big scoop of guacamole. One of my friends had the carne asada, equally humongous, and the other had a half portion of what I think was an enchilada that she ate half of. Lunch tomorrow for everybody!!! It all tasted pretty good, I liked my friend's carne asada better than my carnitas though. Also I was not crazy about the pickled veggies. Service: Our server was really attentive and on top of things. He made sure to always ask if we wanted coke refills when the glasses were half full as well as if we wanted any refills on the complimentary chips and salsa. Oh yeah the salsa...yummy! Nice chipotle and cilantro flavour to it. Ambience: It was really noisy because there was a basketball game on TV (Lakers vs. Celtics). Tables are a little close together, but I didn't knock anything over getting up and sitting down. Bathrooms are nice and clean, yay! Always a plus anywhere. I enjoyed my meal here; not sure when I'll be back since I'm not a big eater of Mexican fare, but from the sounds of some of these reviews I need to come in and have some drinks during happy hour...how could I say no to that?
(3)
Patty A.
Being a native of SoCal but now living in Tahoe I've missed good Mexican seafood...This place was beyond amazing! Bacon wrapped shrimp with homemade corn tortillas and that cilantro sauce it comes with...WOW! to top it off the service was wonderful, we had fresh chips and salsa at the table as we were being seated. Best Mexican Seafood I've had in years! Will come back here anytime I visit the Bay Area!
(5)
Carol V.
I've been here for lunch, dinner, HH, late night, you name it. Open early for breakfast and late for the drunkards. Good burrito, good food, big portions. Their chips and dip are to die for and its free (WHAT?). When I walk in, they always have great service too! I just love how when I would get off work in Alameda, this cute little town everyone would just meet here. It's just a good family feel to it and I really applaud them for their contributions to the community. Oh and your crazy meatball soup, yummy! I miss you, come down to LA please.
(4)
E-man A.
Service was excellent! They were busy but the food came out in a timely manner. The waiter gave us what we needed with out us asking. Wish I asked his name so I can give him credit. Food was good. Not the best I tasted but good. Missing 1 star in rating just because the plate that my soup came with was dirty., That to me is simply not acceptable. Made the soup a complete turn off. We'll return for sure. In hopes that the plates come out clean next time.
(4)
H T.
Noticed this restaurant a while ago, but remembered it when it was La Piñata. Never tried it because never really experienced much good eats on Bay Farm Island. Saw Yelp reviews and decided to try it out, after reading the positive reviews. So glad I did! So delicious! The ambiance was good, the free chips/salsa were tasty, the service was friendly/prompt and the freshness of our food was impeccable! I had a variety of tacos (tongue, carne asada, and pastor). My kids both had a breaded fish kids menu dish and my wife had carne asada, chicken, carnitas tacos. All VERY tasty. They had a Yelp 15% discount for checking in, so even better! My only complaint and not enough for a star deduction was their margaritas. I had 2 but they were very weak. No biggie, Pacifico draft next time instead. La Penca Azul is a real winner! I'm definitely a fan.
(5)
Tasha W.
Ok I have to update my review, La Pinata was one of my favorite places to get good Mexican food. I would go there often and the place stayed packed. They sold the place and changed the name. I had been there since and it was still pretty good. I moved to Los Angeles and could not find good mexian food to save my life who'd have thunk. Anyway I was craving some good enchiladas and ordered, I was so Disappointed when I got home and ate it. My mouth was so ready for the nice cheesy deliciousness I was craving. Next time I will be going to the La Pinata out in San Leandro
(2)
Chase W.
8-24-11 VOID AT ALL COST!!!!!!!!!!!!WORST SERVICE EVER!!!!!!!!! Last night A friend an i walked in at 9pm an got promptly seated...She ordered the Chicken Salad as i ordered the Chicken fajitas...She got a class of wine while i had my Corona...My plate came first Which was completely wrong as they completely forgot about my Friends Salad...I asked the waiter wheres her Salad an he gave us a blank stare then ran in back..Then i noticed my plate wasnt what i ordered at all...Its was a Fajita plate but it was a mix of steak chicken an Shrimp in which i am allergic too.. So i grab the waiter again an tell him..Hey Wrong plate an still waiting for my friends Salad... Again Blank stare he took the plate an ran in back..After waiting another 15 min for or correct food that we ordered and still have not gotten even the damn salad. I finally asked for the Manager.. As i tell the manager whats going on His excuse was..Sorry for the confusion you came in when there was a rush of people..I reply a rush of people theres only 4 small tables of familys in here besides us an nobody walked in at the same time as us.. That place is completely lost in general..Lack of service Lack of Commication.Lack of Customer service..They clearly do not know what they are doing there..The worst service i have ever experienced ever..We Walked OUT after she finished her wine an i finished my Beer What i complete Disapointment in the Quality of Service in this great place of Alameda...VOID AT ALL COSTS!!!! Chase Wilson Bay Farm/Alameda Ca
(1)
Ts S.
Average Mexican food place.. Try their Mexican breakfast.. Something different and I definitely loved it!
(4)
Bob M.
We were a group of eight, one that have dined monthly since we all worked together twenty years ago. And all food service people as well: managers, chefs and nutritionists from healthcare backgrounds. Due to the size of the party and the generous amounts of beer I personally consumed, I can only comment on my own items. They were, in fact, great. I did discover a cocktail called a Michelata or a Michelinda or maybe a Michelin (no, that's a tire) that was a bunch of spices, cucumbers and stuff into which I poured a Negro Modelo. Served in a huge, thick bowl-like stemmed glass, I enjoyed a coupla these whilst feasting on some guacamole, chips, nachos and empanada appetizers. And a pitcher of Pacifico. My main course was sort of a casserole with loads of tasty carne asada, the name of which escapes me. My wife had a selection of the Taco Truck Tacos and seemed less than ecstatic. I haven't a clue what the other six had but everyone seemed happy as hell. I believe dessert was served, I do remember something with ice cream that tasted quite good. My wife drove home. The selection of restaurant and payment of these monthly dinners rotates and this was my wife's turn. The bill was a lot (somewhere between a hunnert bucks and five thousand bucks, I'm not sure) so it's never a cheap event but it was good value here at La Penca Azul. We will definitely come back if we can find it again.
(4)
Isabel G.
Huevos rancheros!
(5)
Emme C.
Really happy that there's a location on Bay Farm island. Family-friendly, not as crowded as Park St. location, delicious food. Plus ample parking!! Our favorites are the street tacos--we've tried the carne asada, fish, lengua, carnitas. All yummy. And cheap! Chimichangas, nachos, horchata are very good too.
I can say they have good margaritas and an extensive tequila collection. I tried several flavors I have never tried before, including tamerind, coconut, pineapple, blackberry, and possibly one or two others I can't quite remember the names of... My only complaint is that the spicy food could be spicier. Of course, this is my usual complaint, but when something has that little red pepper next to it on the menu, you expect it to be spicy...ah well. The service was great, nothing to complain about. Four solid stars for non-taquiria mexican food!
(4)
Thomas L.
This restaurant changed names form the La Pinata but it's still pretty good. The food is tasty but is not authentic like some restaurants in SF but I will go back again. The best part is the bar.
(4)
Nihaar G.
Quality mexican food and ambience in Harbor Bay. Festive vibe, great selection and super friendly staff.
(4)
Lena L.
I was here last Friday night working an event and the employees are extremely accommodating and nice. The manager was extremely helpful and the bartenders were a pleasure to work with! They have this great looking alcoholic drink that comes in a clay pot! I would def come here to dine in.
(4)
Maria L.
YUMMY is all I have to say for this place. Not just great bang for your buck but the customer service is excellent. We have always had a great experience and great food when coming here. ENJOY
(5)
Chris R.
Love their chips, salsa, soups, Mexican street tacso and burritos. They open early for breakfast. So good.
(4)
Casey D.
what a fun place! go alameda for providing me with some solid mexican food and rad atmoshpere. it was rather busy for a thursday rainy night. the line to sit in the main dinning area was out the door so my main squeeze and myself opted to sit in the bar. the bar turned out to be just as packed but we found a spot by the window..sweet! the bar staff was super on it (refilling chips, salsa, drinks) even though we werent physically at the bar, which meant they had to leave their busy post to serve us. our food arrived, promptly, and it was the biggest burrito ive ever seen!! yikes was i being entered into a surprise eating contest! i looked aroud for cameras to document my taking down of this entire but there was none. so i guess this oversized gigantic burrito was not a joke but a meal. it had average flavor and didnt host too much excitement to my tastebuds. over all the staff was rad, atomophere was fun, but the food (the most important aspect for customer return) was flavorless.
(4)
Ashley J.
You better be starving when you come here! The portions are ridiculously huge. This is a fun mexican joint with authentic mexican food! The tequilla bar is also impressive. I have been here several times (always get a pitcher of margaritas) with friends. They have awesome quacamole and the burrito fed me for like 3 days!
(4)
John K.
Good local Mexican food. Great tacos al pastor, carnitas dinner and salads. The whole fried fish looks delicious. Loud and kid friendly.
(3)
Annie D.
i'm so happy that la pinata opened in walking distance of my house. I dont have to drive all the way to park st and search for the limited park they offer. The food is great as always and friendly service.
(4)
Charlie W.
I would say this is the lesser known la piñata in the area. When people say la piñata they generally think of the one on park st. However, little do they know that this is the hidden one on the bay farm island. The food here and the drinks are pretty much identical-- reason being, they are run by the same owner. However, because this one is in the neighborhood setting, the wait usually is a lot shorter. Like all other restaurant of this sort, you don't really come here for quality or authentic Mexican food. If you are shocked by the previous statement, you may stop reading this review now. Still with me? Ok.. La piñata is really a place to come for wannabe Mexican food and margarita. Their food are pretty descent in taste, but nothing out of this world. At times some of the food can be on the dry side, especially the red sauce enchilada. I really don't mind because like I said I didn't come here for the food. Their margarita on the other hand is pretty good. I usually order a pitcher with my friends and serve it on the rocks. Their top shelf selection is better. Bartender also very nice. Don't forget bout their happy hr special neither. I believe it's before 6pm. Check for specific details. I will give them 1 star for food.. One for their alcohol and one for service.. Totaling three.
(3)
Ash S.
If you don't get the new mexico enchiladas with a fried egg on top, you're really really missing out. Seriously, just try it. Great food, reasonable prices, fast service too. Try the house tequila, it's great.
(4)
Jose O.
I have given La Piñata so many opportunities (over five) I'm disgusted with myself. I really wish they would serve Mexican food, but the junk that comes out of their kitchen is not real. I have tried their breakfast, lunch and dinner. All their meals have been disappointing and I'm always left saying "why do I come here?". If you headed over to Safeway purchased a frozen Mexican burrito, nuked the sucked, drowned it in cheese and ignored yourself; you would have had a better experience. I understand La Piñata has been around for over 20 years but come on people it's definitely not delicious, it's not good and it barely borderlines "ok". I attribute the zombies that dine at La Piñata to pure convenience. The Bad: - The seating arrangement is tight - The Mole enchiladas are a disgraced, the mole was obviously from a can. The sauce had no trace of chocolate. -The Piña margarita was nasty; it had no flavor of piña and very little alcohol. -The coke syrup ratio was off (sweet). I'm a hardcore coke fan and I know my shit. This really bugs me because it's such an easy fix. -The Staff was not responsive and on many occasions our table was just over looked. The Good: - Fast food, my party of four had all its food in less than 10min. w/a packed house. - The tacos are on the healthy end and had almost no grease. - Salsa & Chips - Plenty of parking -The decor is entertaining, the type of crap people come to expect of Mexican restaurants. It's such a stereotype it's sad...and funny. There really isn't a good reason to dine at La Piñata, the Bay Area offers sooo much more, don't waste your time and money on barely noticeable "Mexican" food. Last visited: 04/9/2010
(2)
Thomas P.
What can I say about this place??? I frequent the Park st location as well as the Bay Farm one (since I moved to Bay Farm). I love it. It's a great place to go after a rehearsal or if my wife and I are too tired to cook and want good service. The service has always been outstanding and the quality of food is awesome. My wife and I always have our favorites to order and it's always as good as we hope it will be. Get to know the staff too and I guarantee you'll be taken care of. Omar and Ramon are of our favorites but if they're not there, the staff is always outstanding.
(4)
Piper m.
I have been coming here for years and I always have a good time, possibly because I always come with friends I love talking to over a pitcher (or 2) of margaritas! The chips and salsa are good, there is plenty of selection of fruit options for margaritas and recently I discovered their mango mojito which was quite good..I have enjoyed their fish plates, though on the pricier side for what they are. I will say that I wont be ordering the appetizer sampler again- not that it was terrible but I prefer the lighter dishes to this greasy tower of typical pub snacks..they weren't bad, they just left me feeling greasy without having eaten anything outstanding. Again, this is a place I love mostly for the fact that its a great place to get together with friends late night after work!
(3)
Jerry J.
OK, big fan as the food is excellent! Ton's of great Tequila's, good location on Park St. and fun decor. Now the bad part...drove out from Castro Valley for "brunch" based on good reviews. The service was a disaster, rude and rushed to start. I had to question why the 3 of us all had very different breakfast menus with different items! She looked at them and told me I was wrong then I proceeded to point out the many differences. They were not just font and layout but prices and actual menu items. She said "oh well" what do you want? I then had to ask what was the buffet set up in the front and how did that work. She again seemed a little miffed but finally explained it was $12.95 brunch....no other explanation. Well now, my Chorizo and eggs were fantastic and food and price excellent but WTF! I must admit I'm still shaking my head but you know it's all worth it for food this good.
(4)
Mace M.
This place is super cutty. I would've never known it was here if I hadn't come here with a friend. The place is pretty nice, more spacious than the La P#1, but smaller than #3. They have an amazing list of tequilas, and a full bar. I had a "Purple Long Island", basically a long island with Chambord in it. For $7 it was well worth it, more or less it was pure alcohol. Among our friends we had a burrito dinner, taquitos, enchiladas and carnitas. I had the carnitas, and they were pretty good, but the beans and rice were okay. The chips here are amazing, and fresh, as always. The salsa, on the other hand, wasn't the best I've had. To me, it didn't have enough flavor or heat. Service was alright, though we got forgotten about a couple of times. I'd come back again to give it another shot, as it has some of the better food out of the La Pinatas I've been to.
(3)
Lauren L.
I love the feeling I get when I walk into a Mexican Restaurant and have no idea how the night will turn out to be. Luckily for me, this was a TOP NIGHT. My cousin brought me here on a busy Friday night and we managed to squeeze our way to the bar. After awhile we gave up the idea of a table and decided to stay @ the bar. This was the best decision yet. The bartenders were beyond attentive and gave us numerous "tasting shots" of their own La Pinata tequila they have for sale. At this point everything sounded good on the menu. I went with the carne asada taco. They have a single, half and dinner portion all reasonably priced. I got the half which includes rice and beans. Even without my tequila shots this taco had great flavor. The only reason for 4 stars was because of the tasteless chips and salsa. Just FYI, The place is tucked in the corner of this shopping center and not easily noticed from the street.
(4)
AJ C.
I actually think it's 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. Good Food, Great Service. I tend to always order a seafood dish, which always seems to be on the pricier side... The portions are huge, but so is the price. If you pack leftovers, as I always do, then I guess it comes to about $7/meal - which sounds like a better deal. I love the place cause it's loud and kid friendly.
(4)
Tania H.
Other than there liquor drinks the food isn't good at all. It doesn't have that Mexican flavor (coming from a mexican) with the rite ingredients/spices. Very disappointed thought it would be more tasteful.
(2)
Camille K.
This La Pinata features a small waiting area, a small bar and a small dining room with a small view of the lagoon. The alcoholic beverage menu is also small, with vastly different selections from the Park Street location. While I liked the Smokey Margarita (made with mezcal!), I have had better huevos rancheros. The spicy pickled carrots, which are served with most meals, are cut into large slices, unlike their shredded primos on Park Street. Kudos to the traveling waiters for remembering me from their Park Street locale! About those waiters. There are so many men in black zipping around that it's hard to tell who is exact your waiter. We had at least five men and one woman taking care of us, if you can call it care. That said, I would still take friends and family here. It's La Pinata after all. You can't beat chips and salsa with booze and good conversation!
(3)
Josh A.
Very impressed by their tequila selection, so I had to try one with my cousin. I got the aged Cazadores and it came with a little glass of spicey tomato juice, which was a nice touch. The food wasn't too bad either. I was kind of disappointed with the tamales, which I was hoping would be more authentic and not drenched in red sauce, but oh well. Still was a pretty good place with great service.
(3)
Ramon V.
Having grown disenchanted with La Pinata 3, we decided to try this one, which gets better reviews. The wife enjoyed her meal (I think the tequila helps), but mine was mediocre. I ordered the appetizer platter, which was so much food! It was all pretty good, but the wings were cold, and none of it was anything special. It was happy hour, so it was a good deal for all that food. I also ordered one al pastor taco (of course), and it was ok. A different menu than the other La Pinata we've been to, and that was a good thing, but still the food was just so-so. Service was good.
(3)
Siu Mei M.
the park st la penca azul was disappointing me again and again so i decided to try out the bayfarm location. my cobb salad was supposed to come with avocado. that was the reason i ordered it. there was no avocado. the waiter took forever to get us the check. in fact he didnt come by the table at all after food was served... even though our drinks were empty and we kept trying to wave his dumbass over. they sat us down in a corner right next to a big party going on... the back of my bf's seat was touching the party guy's seat... not cool. and i dunno if the bar tender was hitting on me or just liked to ask a bunch of questions... cuz all i wanted to know was where the restroom was. wont come back. i miss la pinata.
(2)
Sharee g.
Talk about a hidden gem!!! I'm suck a dork I drove around for a good 15-20min looking for this place. I wish there was better signage for those looking for this place at night time. but anyways I FOUND IT!!! And I like it...yah it's small, the drinks aren't as great as #2-San Leandro (maybe it was just the bartender) but eh' they ALL can't be great. I think that they place could've been designed a little better, but considering the area I guess that was the best that they could do. I'm not too worried about this one being too over crowded, like the others, because it's soo small even the bar area. It's kinda odd to crank your neck to either the right or left side just to watch t.v. In any event I'll definitely be back.......maybe, just maybe this week!
(5)
Tina L.
I always forget how many La Pinata's there are. I started eating at them years ago at the Hayward location that had the burro and cart top. It was one of our favorite places to go for mexican food and the prices were great. Then I started to go to LP in San Leandro which I did not think the food was as good as in Hayward but it is bigger and they do have a large bar with many tequila choices so that was a plus. Last night I dined again at LP Alameda have not been there in while. It was busy early but they seated everyone promptly. Our servers, yes servers we actually lost track there were so many that came to our table. Not sure if that was normal or due to two females dressed for the evening and dining so service was good. One server took our drink order and left then another server came and took our drink order which we told him we already gave. Then we were each brought two glasses of water, not sure if we looked very thirsty. In some countries you have to ask for water do to shortages but we had plenty. Then one drink came and not the other one. Probably took longer to crush the fresh blackberries for my Mojito, yum! It was flavorful but I think they may have forgot the rum is a part of the recipe because I could not taste any. We then order or food which came hot and quickly. We both received just what we ordered and it was fresh and we enjoyed our food. I was a bit surprised in regards to the increase of prices. Even thou this place is a-okay it is not top notch mexican food with great ambiance and with the high prices you would think it should be. There are so many good mexican restaurants that have great prices with flavorful food that can be selected. Our bill for one half dinner, one ala carte item and two drinks was $32 this is high for what we had. One Tostada Ceviche which usually runs under $3.00 at most places was over $5 here.
(3)
Charlie H.
La Penca Azul is one of my favorite Mexican restaurant in Alameda. I would come here when I want a yummy meal. This place often stayed pack with people, their food is always fresh and tasty. Burrito here is so big it can last me 2-3 meals. I also love their seafood soup!!
(4)
Kevin W.
La Pinata catered a Cinco De Mayo party at one of my former employers a couple years ago, they were over an hour late and when they did arrive they had half of what we had ordered. Never the less - their restaurant will never have me stepping through their doors since they couldn't get a large group party of food to feed 150 people under their belt.
(2)
David W.
I actually don't like Mexican food that much... but when they opened LP on Bay Farm, we tried it out several times because of fond memories at the main island LP. I think it was better when the Famosa burrito wasn't as expensive, since it was such a great deal because of the size. The restaurant has a good atmosphere and it good for groups, and very convenient if you live on Bay Farm, as well as for late nighters, since very few places open late night...
(3)
Jennifer T.
I've been here a few times for lunch and dinner. I liked the happy hour food special deals, but you have to order before 6pm. Good Mexican food and I like the free chips and salsa!
(3)
Ready To Be S.
Suzy the hostess is bold face LIAR. Called to make reservations to which she states over the phone, wait time is 15 minutes. I live in the neighborhood and arrive in 10 minutes. She doesn't ask for my name and hands me a pager. I ask her again for the wait time and she looks at me without blinking and states less than 15 minutes. I'm skeptical so I go grab a cup of coffee and pastry at the cafe. One hour later, I walk in to drop off the pager. She grabs it without question to place in the pile of pagers. When I tell her my pager never went off, she grabs a menu and states she called my name. Really? My pager doesn't go off and you called my name? What's my name, I ask. She ignores my question and states she has a table ready for me. If I wasn't with my son, I'd have caused a huge scene and asked for a manager. I wasn't the only irritated one as another patron walked in immediately after witnessing my situation. I told him good luck! I can't believe they have such incompetent staff. Sorry folks there are definitely other Mexican restaurants within 15 minutes of Alameda, but I'm banning this place for wasting my time.
(1)
IQ I.
good accommodating service, plenty of food with reasonable price except seafood items. For instance, $3.59 for fish tacos, nice presentation but with very little meat. Loving their colorful take out menu has QR code printed which means the complete menu can be viewed and stored via iphone in no time after scanning.
(4)
Michele W.
Love the chips and salsa! A Mexican place has to have good salsa or they'll lose my business forever. Tried a few different dishes and they are all good. Gotta get a Cadillac Margarita too!
(4)
Erica R.
Great location considering there is not many lunch options for those of us who work off of Bay Farm Island. Food is always good, lunch specials are great and the waiters are always friendly and quick! Couldn't ask for anything more :)
(5)
David L.
The first thing I noticed about this La Pinata is their small dining room. Our party of 9 has to wait 40 minutes for our table at 6:30 on a Saturday night, but we were able to browse through their extensive menu and picked out what we wanted. I ordered the Tacos de Pescado ($13.89), which comes with a very generic green salad, two grilled fish tacos, beans and rice. The fish was good but everything else was just so-so. The wait staff did okay for a group of our size but at times forgetful and not proactive enough. Bottom Line: Decent eats for Bay Farm residents, but wouldn't go out of my way for this.
(3)
Legal C.
Came here to the Bay Island location, first time and it was a great time. 1) Any Mexican place has to have great salsa & chips to begin with, and this place has done them very well. Crisy, thin, with really good salsa (not to thick, not too thin). 2) Excellent menu choices, I went with the street tacos, and they tasted as good as in the Mission. They even chop up the shrimp so you get a little bit in each bite! 3) Excellent happy hours, great service, and friendly staff. I'll be back soon.
(5)
T.J. P.
I didn't realize there's two La Pinata in Alameda until recently. This one was really hard to find. My friends and I took a few minutes to find this place. Parking is not hard to find since it's part of outdoor mall and you have a nice view of the Lagoon. This place is much smaller than the one at Park St and from what I saw, it's not as busy. It's the same great food and friendly staff. The only thing I didn't like about it was the atmosphere. I don't know why, but I prefer the bigger and busier one at Park St.
(4)
Eve B.
Wow, this place was packed! We had so much fun here! The food was great, the service was great (It was a lil slow at times due to the amount of people they were serving). It was just fun all around. Our whole group left there very satisfied.
(5)
Pat S.
The only thing that I order here is the regular steak burrito for about $7. The burrito contains plenty of rice and meat, and is tasty. The actual size is more than enough for dinner, and is certainly too much for lunch (to the point that you would have enough left over for a second lunch on the next day). From what I hear, their quesadillas are quite good too. And from what I see, their burgers are pretty good as well. Even though you are at a Mexican restaurant, there is no shame in ordering American food there from time to time! The service here is great. The waiters are always very nice and will meet your demands (e.g. if you ask for more chips) within a minute or two.
(4)
Christina K.
An obvious choice for kid-friendly dining on the Island. Margaritas are strong, chips and salsa is plentiful, service is quick and efficient, and there is an extensive kids menu. We prefer the Bay Farm location when dining with out little one just because it's a little quieter.
(4)
Ted R.
Solid lunch spot, with good food and a pleasant-enough strip mall location that's redeemed by being waterside. Prompt, courteous lunch service keeps the business crowd happy. The fish tacos are tasty, with yummy corn tortillas.
(3)
Ronnica E.
A few weeks back on my off day, a Tuesday, I had got all Lady GaGa dressed up and decided to treat myself. That same day I'd learned about happy. I went over to La Pinata and ordered a whole Redsnapper and a pitcher of their house margarita. Man did I feel like a Queen. the service was excellent. Food and drinks were Great. I'm off tomorrow and that's where you will find me... ; )
(5)
Melissa G.
I dropped in for a business lunch with a group and we are pretty darn happy by the time we got to the bottom of the margarita pitcher... ;) That may have been part of the reason, but we really liked the food too! The chips and salsa were tasty, with a nice kick! We had chicken mole enchiladas, combo plates of tacos, chile rellenos and enchiladas, and quesadillas...a little sampling of everything and it was really good with huge portions! I was kind of overwhelmed by the huge serving plates, but several of us took home doggie bags for the next day. Good stuff!
(4)
Christy S.
Wow.. where to begin. I'll start with AWFUL! I have *Never* been to a place where I/we received such poor service.4 drink orders and only one was correct.. a margarita..go figure..NO Tia Maria ...at Bar..not to mention a *Mexican* bar/restaurant. We were actually asked..by the bartender..."whats that?" Seriously? a second waiter came to try and get the drink orders..finally thought they had it.. but, nope. I went to the bar twice to get our orders correct, *after" placing them with the waiter, and even after all that.. one never arrives.. it *was* a special and unusual order...a beer. Now the meal.. 2 dinners were cold.. I sent mine back.. it was re-heated.. not replaced w/ fresh hot food. I asked, on the sly, to speak with a manager..on the sly..so as not to embarrass or guests..so what do they do.. send 2 different 'managers' over to the table. Embarrassed. I explained our disappointments and said that I hope out final bill reflects some compensation. Oh, the explanation for the poor service... by the manager.. was that there was a language barrier...Yes, our guests were not American (nor Mexican)..they were....get ready..from ENGLAND!! Language barrier??? really??? Got $10.00 off..no offer of dessert or anything (in fact we were never even asked if we wanted dessert.)..big whoop! The place was noisy.. it was Raider game night, clientele was loud, rude and pushy.. Staff was not much better...unless you were at the bar, getting drunk and shelling out cash. so.. nope.. won't be recommending it or EVER going back...sorry La Penza Azul.. you lose...
(1)
L P.
Authentic mexican food but also with an updated flavor. Service is great and buffet Sundays as well. My family and I are regulars! Great anytime of the day.
(5)
Jen W.
love the happy hour 1/2 price appetizers, that they have niman ranch meat and PARKING!
(5)
Gabby H.
my food is always perfect, my order is always correct and my chip basket is always full...what more could a gal want? margaritas? I hear theirs are the best...try one and see! Happy hour menu? it's last all night long, all weekend long. 4 flauntas for $5.
(5)
Charlie C.
I was really excited when they opened at this location. For awhile, it was every bit as good as the Jefe spot on the main island, but the place has really fallen off. The food is still very good, but the service is terrible. I used to think it was just a lull, but I honestly can't remember the last time I got good service here. Waiters disappear, I always have to ask for everything, and there seems to be no delegation of duty among the front-of-house staff. It used to be a no-brainer to come here, now I'll think thrice.
(2)
NandK O.
Love this place! The BEST margaritas we have EVER had and the best mexican food in the East Bay. Yum!!!
(5)
Sandy L.
I have been a long time customer of the other La Pinata locations and have always been pleased. When they moved into this new location I was very happy and looked forward to a nice meal and a Margarita. This resturant is smaller than their other locations which makes it special. There is a real feeling of a neighborhood gathering place. The food is still excellent, the staff is very friendly, and the Margaritas are fabulous. Recently, we went in on a busy Saturday night. The service was still excellent and there was no delay in getting our drinks and food. It felt like a party and everyone was welcome. Welcome to Harbor Bay, La Pinata.
(5)
R Y.
Just got home from dinner here with the family, one of the best Mexican meals we've had in a long time. Great food and service, so much food on our plates we brought home "another meal" for the weekend! I had the combo fajitas that were so tasty, lots of tender beef, chicken and shrimp; don't even remember what the wife and girls had, but no complaints about anything. To me, a potentially great Mexican restaurant must have good rice and beans, and they have the best here! I'm so happy they are here in "the neighborhood", so close to home, check it out if you get the chance, you won't be sorry!
(5)
Tracy A.
Mini-Pinata. Same great taste, much smaller package.
(5)
Charles S.
Everyone in Harbor Bay was atwitter when news of an outpost of La Pinata was coming. I have to say these guys have the business wired. Consistantly good food from location to location and drinks to die for. I really like the carne asada and carnitas tacos. So good while being so simple. Currently it's quite small, but they're expanding into the vacated space next door. It's too bad they didn't take over the space that crappy Enrico's once occupied with its water views.
(4)
Patrick G.
Please see any review of La Pinata on Park St. It's almost exactly the same. The service is a little....different. Where on Park St. you don't really know who your server is because the entire wait staff will all help you during one sitting, this one on Bay Farm actually has set servers. All the La Pinata and half the scene.
(4)
Kevin K.
I've lived in Bay Farm all my life and La Pinata might be the greatest thing thats ever hapened to our small little community. The service was amazing and the food might even be better than the one on the main island.
(5)
Jona C.
I wanted to get a steak torta but paying double the price for it didn't seem reasonable so I just ordered a super burrito. I guess you pay for the atmosphere vs. eating your torta on a picnic table atop some loose gravel with debris and dust floating off of the 880 freeway. Food is good, service is very accommodating to my needs, eg. more water, lime, pickled carrots/jalapenos, radishes etc. Their taco truck is still my favorite La Pinata!!
(4)
Anna G.
We came here to celebrate my cousins B-day last Friday night. My cousin said she made reservations for 8pm so we arrive like 5 min to 8pm and I see our group sitting by the door not even seated. It takes them about 20 min to seat us after the fact that we had reservations. NO BUENO! Boo! While we are waiting for our table, I decided to order a drink. I ordered a Mai Tai and paid 9 buckz for a weak as drink tasted like Kool-Aid. I was very disappointed. I thought well maybe its just the guy that served my drink but my sister also ordered one and it taste the same. No Alcohol what so ever. So then we go to order and I ordered the Camarones Puerto Vallarta, Prawns stuffed with cheese and then wrapped in bacon with rice n beans. The prawns were good but the rice was not all that great. My daughter had the Half Order of Enchiladas de Mole and when she got them she did not like at all the sauce. I tried it and it was not good missing some flavor, and its not like she just didn't like em because she loves mole but sauce was gross. Im Mexican and I know good Mexican food when I taste some but this Mole was not good and even the color was off. My husband said he supper burrito was just ok. Overall I dont't think I will be coming back to La Penca Azul for food nor drinks....LP in San Leandro is way better than this place. The drinks are actually strong and at least you are getting your monies worth.
(2)
Mike D.
This is a bay farm island gem. Newly built just last year, building off the immense popularity of LP on Park St. in Alameda. The staff are great, super fast (they work a tight, professional rotation where everyone knows their role), and the food is 2nd to none. Exceptional top shelf tequila bar, they also serve their own LP brand. I live on bay farm which is quite exclusive. We aim to keep it that way. So if you're interested in LP, visit the one on Park St. That way there will be less wait for me and my family. Godspeed.
(5)
Winnie H.
Reason for low rating - bad services. Better off going to the Park St location. Much friendlier wait staff.
(2)
Ian R.
I love the salsa. The food is excellent. The food comes out fast. I have been here several times and I have enjoyed everything I have tried..
(5)
monica s.
This is my first and last time here. I have been to the LP on Park,SL and Hayward over 50 times in the last 15 years snd have never had such a bad experience. There is no one in here but service is horrible. (they are all busy watching a game in the bar) No water refills, forgot part of the order and completely got my order wrong. When I informed them of the error they applogized removed the plate and returned with the bill. The waitress said she spoke with the manager and the would only charge 50%. I didnt even get the food back. I took two bites of the rice and beans before I realized the flautas were the wrong filling.
(1)
Sarah W.
We had a fun dinner here last night. My margarita was great. The chips, salsa, and guacamole (a huge appetizer) were super. Our dinner plates had very large portions, and my enchilada had tons of good chicken. The service was alright. I love the location, too.
(4)
Anon Y.
Food was good & Big portions but that is all I can say that I liked at this restaurant. The service was HORRIBLE. We walked in and were not even greeted. We had to ask if we should seat ourselves before someone would show us to a table. Our server? Oh don't even get me started. ELY WAS THE WORST SERVER I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. She disappeared into the back several times for no less than 20 minutes at a time and I asked her for sour cream for my quesedilla and she charged me. REALLY?! For a dollar fifty I could go buy my own damn container. Then, I ordered a watermelon margarita and she tried to charge me for the strawberry saying that they were the same price but she couldn't find watermelon on the POS system!( when there clearly was obviously a $5.00 difference) I couldn't believe it. The bartender, however, was nice and very knowledgeable of all the drinks. I will definitely think twice about going here of La Pinata ever again.
(1)
Patrick C.
I came here after a recommendation from a colleague. I must say that the taco had some great Mexican taste that I cannot explain...it was tasty! Definitely not a regular taco taste...it was better. At least I enjoyed it very much so!! The enchilada was good as well. However, I heard to get the seafood plate next time...I will...
(4)
m b.
Great food period... Try the "Joyce special" very healthy choice
(5)
Amanda Y.
The food is just as delicious as the Park Street location and I love how this restaurant is secluded. It's like Bay Farm's little secret! The wait staff is incredibly friendly and make sure you have everything you need and if you're enjoying your food. The owner has been around to supervise the activity, and he will personally visit your table to make sure you're alright. The margaritas are pretty good too.. Full of tequila!! I suggest the strawberry and pomegranate ones. I think this may become one of my go-to restaurants because it's so close to home! Bountiful free parking and families can take their kids to the park nearby to burn off the calories from the Burrito Famoso ;)
(4)
Charles O.
Good food, which is why this place is always busy. Pickled carrots are a great addition to the plates. I really enjoyed the carnitas taco. The beef enchilada was tasty. The pork tamale was the only downfall. The tamale was too thick and lacked much of an interior. The margaritas were tasty, but not very potent. The price is a little more than Otaez on the north side of the Alameda, but the food is just as good. It is tough so I give both 4 stars. Overall, if you are in Alameda you should stop by and eat at La Pinata.
(4)
alamedabrian m.
Just like LP3 on the main island, and like the other five LPs around the east bay. In other words, good food, extensive menu [although I personally like ground beef and miss it at the LPs], and a great selection of tequilas. The wait is generally a little long, again as at LP3, but I try to go at odd hours to avoid it. All in all, another LP success.
(4)
Kevin M.
Sometimes I don't even order dinner because the chips + salsa are so D*** good!
(5)
Nancy W.
We are regulars at La Pinata on Park Street and so decided to try the new Bay Farm location. What a great decision! It had everything we love about the Park Street locale but with none of the crowds and frantic-ness. Our server was excellent and the food was equal t Park Street (and the chimichanga we better). The bonus was a view of the water, more space, and a mellower feel. Even though we were dining with two small children, we noticed that we felt relaxed half way through dinner. For La Pinata fans, I would def recommend trying the BF version - even if it is a little hard to find - and the kids can run around on the decks afterwards!
(5)
Don P.
Found this restaurant yesterday (7/4) by chance just getting out away from the tri-valley heat. The food and drink selection is extensive (mucho tequila) and reasonably priced. Staff is friendly and pleasant as is the view.
(4)
diana n.
This a great place for me and my boyfriend to hang out and have some drinks. The food is good....i like their enchiladas.
(5)
Eric B.
This is a new location in Alameda which is very nice but much smaller then the other location on Santa Clara. They were very busy on Sunday night and that caused their service to lack. I ordered a Horchata (Mexican drink) and when they delivered the my friends drink I never got min. I asked again for it and they said sorry and would bring it. They never brought it. The tacos I had were not so great, more so b/c I never received my drink. Our server never even notice I was without my drink and it upset me more. The food is ok but I would say try to go when they are not so busy becasue maybe the service will be better
(2)
casey j.
I don't know why people think La Pinata is so much better than other Mexican restaurants. Is it the booze? The portions are huge so you do get your money's worth. I also thought the service was overwhelming. A waiter should be assigned to certain tables so you don't have waiter after waiter asking the same questions. While the parents are enjoying their food and drinks, I was annoyed by their children storming back and forth down the walkway.
(3)
Colleen P.
So we came in here after our softball game at Leydecker fields & I have to say I was pretty disappointed with a few things. For one, we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas to start with and it took 15 minutes to get the pitcher. We ordered appetizers after the pitcher & they came out before the drinks. It was not packed, there were not pitchers on every table so I have no idea why it took the bartender 15 minutes to make a pitcher, there were only 2 people at the bar too. As far as the food goes, I found it to be e bit bland and not authentic Mexican food. Who serves ranch with a chimichanga? I have never seen such a debauchery. When we got our bill, the waitress conveniently added a 10-14 person gratuity to the bill, there were only 7 of us the entire time eating so why she added a 20% gratuity for a party of over 10 is beyond me, I did not appreciate that nor find that to be in good business ESPECIALLY since I went to the restaurant with the La Pinata softball team. I would not recommend this place for drinks, authentic Mexican food, or customer service.
(1)
n n.
If you've been to the one on Park St. Alameda then you know about the wait to get a table on weekends. This location is much smaller so you'll have to wait too but not as long. The menu is pretty much the same and is just as good.
(3)
LARS R.
Service was erratic but it was the second day they were open. We actually had too many people taking care of us and weren't sure which one was actually our server. Food was great and we will be there a lot. Didn't try the bar, but it looked wonderful. Seemed like a great place to have a drink and catch a game.
(4)
Christopher T.
With as many people that seem to go to this restaurant I'm surprised that it only has two reviews. I've been to La Pinata a number of times back when I was a wee old chap and have had generally good experiences (what?) Anyway, obviously I couldn't review this place based off that so I went back to La Pinata the other day and ordered the Tequila Shrimp with vegetable platter and it was simply amazing. Wow, I can taste the creamy concoction as I type this. Service was great and the Horchata was good too. After finishing the Horchata, I asked for a glass of water and they gave me a small glass (big mistake). People who know me, know how much water I like to drink so in a matter of seconds I ask for some extra water, a bigger glass to boot and as fast as I finish the water the server has another server fill my glass and what does he do? He leaves the pitcher of water, tout de suite earning them an extra star.
(5)
Tiffany R.
Great food and great margaritas! I love this place. They have awesome chips and salsa and the service is always good. It is very busy and sometimes there is a bit of a wait but it is well worth it.
(5)
Billy S.
my food was mediocre here and the waiters were pretty non attentive. so that sucked. i probably could have dine and dashed. but as that is against my moral code i did not. my friend and i sat at our table and waited for our checks as well as any hopes for refills in our beverages. c'est la vie.
(2)
Steven C.
La Pinata is a great place with great atmosphere, and great food. I usually go to the one in concord since I live closer to that one, but I've been to the one in Alameda a couple of times. an excellent place, and the service is great. I would recommend the La Pinata especial, but anything you order there is bound to be excellent.
(5)
julie s.
very good food and services..good
(4)
wanda f.
7 of us went there after grad ceremonies. It was crowded and we waited about 45 min. It was worth it. The wait staff were so friendly and catered to us. The food was wonderful. I had the chicken Famoso which is a big burrito with enchilada sauce on it. It was so huge and yummy. I can usually eat everything on my plate..not this time. 2 guys in our group also ordered carnitas big burrito. They too couldn't finish it. I don't live in Alameda, and tho there are 2 other La Pinatas closer to me, I would go to this one. Excellent servers, great chips& salsa and delicious food.
(4)
Dorene K.
La Pinata has taken over where El Caballo used to be. Same wonderful food that you're used to - just without the wait. Not to mention lots of free parking in the lot. Hooray!
(5)
Bill S.
I have been a regular at the Park Street location all the way back when I use to live in Alameda. I heard about La Penca out on Bay Farm Island six months ago. It took one visit and I frequent at least once a week. Noel the Bartender makes fantastic drinks. The Bar area is bigger than Park Streets and the food is much better. The manager always comes around to check on people to make sure everything is perfect. Give it a shot go see Noel and the rest of the gang. You will not be sorry. By the way I drive all the way from Hayward to Eat here, so it has to be worth my drive. It always has been.
(5)
Shauna A.
The food is okay, but the service is bad. The waiters don't check in with you or give you updates. It makes me sad.
(2)
Anna W.
I'd never know there was a restaurant tucked away in this little shopping area. This Penca location is picturesque, located on the bank of a little stream. It reminded me a lot of its' sister location on Park Street, so if you're familiar with that location then you're going to already be familiar with this one. The food and level of service were really similar, in that it wasn't extremely memorable to me. I came here with a group of friends and the staff were super accommodating for us as we navigated the menu, drinks and the tab at the end of the meal (I love it when waitstaff are flexible about tab-splitting). I would come back, but I also wouldn't come out of my way to go here. If friends wanted to meet up, then I would pick this location over the Park Street location -- if only because the parking situation would be a lot less stressful!
(3)
Mark C.
The food was very mediocre tonight. The worst part was the service. The icing on the cake was they would not take our gift card because they couldn't verify the amount on the cards due to a problem with their computer. We probably won't even go back to use the cards because experience was so bad
(1)
Angela H.
Very very happy again with my takeout meal of the chicken quesadilla dinner. There's so much good, so it's nice to have leftovers to last awhile. I also really like the chips and salsa. The chips are crispy and thin, and the salsa is spicy and smokey.
(4)
Ben B.
Our go to mexi place whenever I come down to Alameda. The highs: food is consistently delicious, dishes are prepared pretty fast, wait staff have mostly been on point. The lows: Restaurant is INCREDIBLY noisy (there are no booths, and every time a large party enters they get set up right in the middle of everybody so that everyone gets to hear them yelling and being drunk.). Other than the bad design I have no complaints, plus they have pretty good salsa and chips.
(4)
Saul R.
Bad service, food was just ok. When my wife showed the waiter that the salad was limp and wilted his answer was "well it comes with the meal." OK. He didn't replace it was placed aside amd left there. Drinks were only refilled when the check was dropped off. Expected better service considering the location. Park st. location has never disappointed. Never going back
(2)
Nicole W.
4 stars for food. Get the steak fries or a burrito. Huge portions. 2 stars for service. I went around 11pm and service was slow. I had to wave down a waiter to get anything done.
(4)
Mischa M.
Every time I venture up north to visit my sister, this becomes our go to late night Mexican spot. I always leave beyond full but the food is decently priced, the drinks are strong and the food tastes pretty good. I love that they are open late and have a lot of options to choose from both the menu or at the bar. Great spot!
(4)
Cara L.
I attended a tequila fest last night.It was awesome. First off it is an outdoor setting and there was about 12 different tequila vendors with different booths and a taco vendor with 3 kinds of meat to choose from (carne asada,chicken& pork) and bacon wrapped hotdog vendor.The ticket was $60 a person but it was all you can eat and drink.The mariachis were there to set the musical tone.When you arrive you get a raffle ticket.The event takes place from 5pm to 9pm.At 8 pm the tequila shots stop but all u can eat food keeps going til 9 pm. At 8:15 the mariachi band stops and they have 30 mins of dj dancing to current salsa music.Then the last 15 minutes the raffle takes place and 5 guests each win a bottle of fine tequila.The age group was 20 to 50.Good time and no fights occured
(5)
Jennifer A.
A solid sit down Mexican restaurant experience. Full bar, tvs (in the bar area mainly though), large selection of margaritas and tequilas, and a very extensive menu (maybe a bit too extensive). Seemed very crowded and all the waitstaff were hustling, which I appreciated. Mexican Cobb Salad came in a very generous portion size, crisp romaine, grilled chicken (a little dry, but okay), eggs, bacon (nice and crisp), pico de gallo, and chiles. Cilantro dressing (I think there was some cucumber in it too) was pretty good, but not as good as El Toritos. Slight spice from either the pico de gallo or chiles. Hearty, couldn't finish it all. Chips and salsa were good and refilled promptly.
(3)
Osman G.
Last Sunday I went whith my family services food tasting is not good they need we order wet burrito beef not good price is almost $20 the only thing taste good is shrimp tacos not recommend
(2)
Damara M.
Terrible service today. Had to literally ask for everything...Refill on the chips, drinks, more tortillas, to place another order. Soccer game on... Mexico playing... All the waiters standing around staring at the Tv. Not cool. It's not even busy. Update... Our bill was $82, we gave him $90, never gave me any change until I asked (and I also had to remind him of the tacos I ordered to go). He said he asked us if we were all set and we said yes, so he assumed the change was his tip and didn't feel the need to return my change. He argued with me despite his manager agreeing with me. The change is MY money and should have been returned to me to leave a tip at my discretion. I am shocked that he would assume he could keep my change and when I did ask him for the change back, he got it out of his wallet! Something shady going on over there and I'll never go back.
(1)
Steve G.
Been eating a La Penca Azul since the La Pinata days, usually at Park St. Tonight we felt like Mexican and felt to lazy to drive the 3 miles to Park St, so we went to the Harbor Bay location. Parking is usually easy and the restaurant is usually full, as it was tonight a Saturday around 7:30. 10 minute wait for table. No problem, sat at the bar and watched the Warrior game. Seated at about 10 mins, server came quick and took our order. I had a Combo #2 - 2 enchiladas and a taco, the wife the shrimp bowl. Server brought a big bowl of chips and salsa. Chips are A-OK, not great. Next came the entrees, again A-OK, not great. The enchiladas were OK, a little on the small side. The shrimp bowl was good sized, flavored OK. Service is good, give them a 1/2 star for that. A little on the expensive side so -1/2 for that. But the food, just A-OK so its 3 stars this time.
(3)
Christina H.
1. Bottomless chips & salsa. 2. Okay food, great waitstaff. The burrito we got was huge, but unfortunately underwhelming. Best part of the meal was definitely the bottomless chips & salsa that out server repeatedly refilled way before we could ever finish it. Did I mention the chips come warm/hot? Gives the (delicious) illusion that they're super fresh. Amazing. Fan of the chips and dip. Not a huge fan of the place meal-wise, but might come back to try the tacos people seem to rave about.
(3)
David S.
This is just a great Mexican Restaurant.The food is prepared fresh always and is very tasty. The menu has scores of items. The staff hustles to provide service and the Margaritas put you in the right frame of mind to enjoy the meal. There are some nice tables overlooking the lagoon. Just a great place to pop in on a Sunday, for example, to linger and have a great meal. This version is not a madhouse like the La Penca on Park street.
(5)
Bunny D.
Great food. Service has went completely down hill lately. Ordered food to go and the cashier didn't hand it to me when it was sitting there ready and getting cold. 30 minutes later the bartender realized what he had done handed it to me and apologized. When I got home my order was completely wrong. It was pork which I don't eat and I ordered chicken. Was told he would compensate me next time I came in and they didn't. If you can go to the one on Park Street. Better service and more attentive.
(2)
ken c.
The margaritas are to die for!! The service is great! The food is excellent and the portions are more than you can finish. The Famosa Burrito can last for a couple of meals. I have to admit that i frequent there place quit a bit (like every other day) because it's close to my house.But just the same it's my favorite restaurant in Alameda.
(5)
Brenda M.
The big chunks of purple onions ruined my salads. Two times! I'll have to try a soup next time
(2)
Scott F.
Visited on Labor Day and they were really busy. There was confusion to if a table was ready or not, then it was about a 10 minute wait in the small waiting area. But we waited oustide near the water. After being seated the waitress took our drink orders and from then on for some reason service got really slow for everything. Of the 5 drinks ordered only the corona made it out with the others following upon request about 10 minutes later. The two ladies ordered the half enchilada verde, our friend's mom had 3 street tacos and pops had the massive plate of fajitas. More waiting entailed, but our server was gracious enough to bring out a couple orders of tasty guacamole to go with chips and salsa The half serving of enchilada verde was one enchilada, rice and beans. Ideal for lunch or those not with a big appetite or even kids. The verde sauce was killer, and made me wish I ordered it. My full tamales plate had 3 tamales, and were good, but the meat was a little dry. The street sized tacos were enjoyed, and the sizzling fajita plate came out last. Did I say it was massive? They ended up taking it home even after both parents tried to take a stab at finishing it. We had to wait quite a while for a box, bag and the check. We weren't sure why it was taking so long so we just did it at the door. Food was good, menu extensive but service was slow. This is uncommon according to our friend, since she and her family come quite often. But they do have a bar to hang out in while waiting for your table.
(3)
Marvin W.
The best experience for me is having the grandchildren and family visit on a Sunday and I meet them here for their breakfast/brunch buffet. It is the most varied and bountiful buffet outside of a Las Vegas buffet. I have also come here on weekday mornings many times for their breakfast specials. It's never disappointed me. I love that it is just a few blocks from where I live. The lunches here are especially popular, judging from the many people I have seen whenever I come between 11 and 12.
(3)
Cindy S.
My husband and I were spending the night in Alameda so we decided to have dinner with my bff and her parents at La Penca Azul. It was nearby and they really liked the food there. La Penca Azul is located in a small shopping center in the Bayfarm area of Alameda. We visited on Labor Day and to our surprise they were pretty busy. There was about a 10 minute wait before we were seated. After being seated the waitress took our drink orders and from then on for some reason service got really slow. Of the 5 drinks ordered only the corona made it out with the others following upon request about 10 minutes later. I decided to to copy my bff and order the enchilada verde (half) while her parents had tacos and fajitas. The food actually took a little longer to come out than expected. We snacked on chips and salsa and when the server realized we hadn't got our food she brought out complimentary guacamole and another upgraded classic guacamole on the house. The half serving enchilada verde (1 enchilada, rice and beans) was the perfect size for me. I was still a little full from lunch and didn't want to be overstuffed. The enchilada verde tasted good. I liked the sauce and big chunks of pork. The rice and beans were also pretty good. I don't usually eat my rice and beans but last night I came pretty close to finishing. The street sized tacos looked delicious and sizzling fajita plate was huge! We ended up taking home the majority of the fajita stuff. We had to wait quite a while for a box, bag and the check. We weren't sure why it was taking so long so we just grabbed the boxes and got a bag at the door. Overall the food was good but service was slow. If we're in the area again and looking to stay closer to home I'd eat here again. I'm not sure if service was just slow the evening we showed up or if that is their norm. I suggest arriving early to account for service time if you have any major post dinner commitments.
(3)
Joe C.
Can't understand why this place isn't more popular for breakfast. Portions are big, quality is good and the coffee is good. Why stand in line somewhere else?
(4)
PatrickJ T.
La Penca Azul is conveniently close to my sister's place. So, we have been here on a few occasions. It is hidden away so you will not see it from the street. Pretty good Mexican food is served here. These are some of the food that I have had here: Mexican Cobb Salad was decent. Was a generous portion that filled me up. Regular Fish taco and Al Pastor fish taco were also decent. Assorted street tacos (carne asada and carnitas) were okay. Chicken chimichanga was fairly large and tasted fine. Everything that I have ordered here has not been bad. Just nothing special either. So coming here is more out of convenience rather than visiting here because I really want to. Still, La Penca Azul in Bayfarm is a solid 3 star restaurant with a good ambiance and service. Oh, sometimes they have Yelp check in offers!
(3)
David B.
A favorite stop for whenever we're in Alameda. Their street tacos are amazing and always consistent. Great selection of Margarita's always served with a sugar cane which makes it unique to most Mexican restaurant Margarita's. Fun place, great food.
(4)
Mary H.
I've been to this location several times for lunch and now for dinner twice. The service has always been spot-on: quick, but personable and efficient. The salsa is to die for! If they sold it for take-out, I'd scoop some up for sure. No matter what we've ordered, the food has always been fresh and tasty. The portions are large and the prices are very reasonable. This has quickly become our go-to Mexican restaurant in Alameda. So why not a 4-star rating? I know others have raved about the margaritas and other drinks, but they just haven't done it for us. I had to send back Friday night's margarita because it was just awful. The replacement was a little better, but I wouldn't go back for drinks only. And then second, the ladies' room is just hideous. It needs some clean-up, folks. Ugh!
(3)
John S.
This restaurant provides the best service. They have an "all hands on deck" attitude. Our drinks were constantly refilled, we always had chips and salsa, and our food came in a reasonable amount of time. I have been to this restaurant many times, and I have enjoyed every meal.
(5)
Paula H.
Yummy! This place is great! Chips and Salsa are MY FAVORITE! Also looove their street taco's, carne milanesa plate, and Carne ranchera plate are my absolute favorite on the menu.Not too big on their margaritas but they make a delicious Tamarin lemonade! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Lol. Over all this place is awesome! And I love that its not as crazy packed as the one on park st. ALWAYS A PLUS!
(4)
Amy A.
The Perfect Margarita absolutely loves up to its name. Best margarita I've ever had! Great food, cute ambience and an amazing server, Esteban. I had the Pollo a la Diabla and it was deliciously spicy. I can't wait to come back here and try something else!
(5)
Key D.
Still amazing, great service great drinks great food. The cazuelas OH Lordy tasty treats and not all greasy from the cheese like most places. Reasonable prices on their awesome tequilia tastings too. Just love this place.
(5)
Samantha T.
I love La Penca. Great festive yet homey atmosphere, pretty clean and decent service and decent price. But come on, those are frills. What you really go to a restaurant for is the FOOD. Chips always come out warm, complementary with your sit-down or to-go order. I have to try really hard not to get full on ships before the real food comes. My favorites are: #1 Fish Street Tacos- This is what I get 90% of the time at any La Penca visit. They're not battered so it's all delicious white fish meat (must be some drugs in their seasoning because I'm so addicted... ) #2 Chicken Tortilla Soup- with fresh mozzarella, red onion, avocado, cilantro, huge chicken chunks. Crispy tortilla strips. Omg, my mouth is watering... #3 Famoso Burrito. Everything you could ever want in a burrito. Enuff said.
(5)
Andrew C.
From my experience, it's all about the Super Famosa Burrito, the Carne Asada Fries, and the Guacamole con Camaron (Guac with Shrimp and Bacon). Stack on chips and honestly you can get a pretty cheap meal if you order right. Plus there's the check-in deal on yelp that gets you 15% per table. Super crucial. La Penca's service seems slow no matter when you go, but it's passable. The restaurant is good with handling large groups and I've come with a group of 20 before and they handled our orders well. Just so you know, this place's hours are very different than the other La Penca. It closes here at 11pm while the other LP closes at 3am.
(4)
Kim B.
We've been frequent diners at La Pinata--now Penca Azul--since before my first child was born, 25 years ago. It was our go-to for family meals and drinks with friends, and it used to be reasonably priced, with really good house margaritas. But over the years, the prices have gone up and up and up, to where it's really not a good deal any more, especially the margaritas. The one my husband had tonight was watered down and weak at best. Our server never came back to ask if we wanted more chips or if my daughter wanted a soda refill. My entree was $17.99; my husband's regular burrito was nearly $10, with an extra $2+ for carnitas. Really? $13 for a small burrito???? Ramiro and Sons, here we come. So, so sad...we used to love this place....
(2)
Casey S.
As a gringo, I'm not into the exotic Mexican stuff -- we're talking Chipotle-tier here. La Penca Azul manages to satisfy my tame palate with staples like burritos and fajitas -- nothing too fancy, but still fresh and plentiful. I love how they have an extensive breakfast menu too -- who would have thought you'd be able to get French toast at a place like this?
(4)
Tuncer T.
Experience at Park Street location in Alameda: Terrible food, drinks, atmosphere and service......... Being a decent expert on Mexican food, this place is simply terrible..... Will not patronize this food (?) chain ever again.
(1)
Chris L.
I had the burrito and it was larger than life. It could have fed 3 people. The waitress was not in a good mood and they rejected my check-in yelp coupon. The horchata was ok. Plenty of parking. Overpriced Mexican food.
(1)
A L.
Horrible service we waited 30 min to get seated which was fine then waited to get our order taken for another 20 and finally just got up and left after they took another tables order that came after us
(1)
Samir K.
This place is great because it's walking distance away, and is one of the few places on Bay Farm to get a drink. The food is the same as the main island one, and the wait is usually shorter. They're also open pretty late, surprising for Bay Farm. Solid drinks, good food (though if you start exploring the menu it can add up!). A definite favorite.
(4)
W L.
The best time to try out a restaurant for the first time may not be at 3 in the afternoon. The food may not be fresh, it may be reheated from the noon rush, so my meal may not be representative. BUT I could detect glimmers of greatness, and I would definitely give this place another go, perhaps closer to standard meal time (SMT). After reading reviews of various places to go for lunch, I got a craving for street tacos, and La Penca came through. These are $2.50 each, so I got three (it's $7.29 for three if you go before 2 pm): the pastor, the pollo and the carnitas, and the pastor I could eat all day long; so flavorful, with just a little fat for richness and crispy bits. The portions were more than generous. The corn tortillas were tender, and didn't crumble or fall apart, although there wasn't a lot of juices to break them up. Again, maybe bad timing on my part. These come with onions and cilantro (which I declined) and on the side, a little serving of pinto beans, grilled onions, pickled carrot and radish slices. And I could hardly stop myself from eating the crispy, light chips and salsa. It's a small restaurant, but feels big inside. There is a full bar. This review is for the Bay Farm location, and I had a little trouble finding it. DO NOT follow Google directions to this place, or you will end up at Union Bank across the street. The restaurant is located within Harbor Landing Shopping Center, which is on the corner of Island Drive and Mecartney Road. You can't see La Penca from the street, and you can't even see it from the parking lot. There's a Safeway in this shopping center, and a map display nearby to help you find it. I'm also posting a map here. Because: it's worth seeking out. The menu is extensive, and I hope to go back and sample more of their offerings. This is nicer than a taqueria, and nicer than our La Piñata in San Leandro, but not overblown, and affordable. Service was prompt and courteous. One of the servers didn't even flinch when a customer snapped his fingers for service (Really? Who raised you, Cretin?). There is ample parking. You should go here!
(4)
Joe P.
There are two locations: One on the main Island of Alameda on Park St, and one by my Mom's on Bay Farm Island. I have been to both with OK results on the food, but great results at the bar - LOL! I met my friend for brunch ($13.25). The spread included the following hot dishes - Rice, beans and potatoes; Chilaquiles, eggs, shrimp, beef and pork; Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, ham, chicken wings and menudo. Cold dishes included salad, cheese, peppers and onions, pastries and fruit. The food was OK. Nothing really stood out except the menudo and handmade tortillas. The menudo was perfect after a heavy night of drinking. However, it could have benefited from more tripe and hominy. The tortillas were nice and hot. The remainder of the food was boring. Overall: 3 Stars. The ambiance is basic. There is a lot of blue (hence the name La Penca Azul). The service was initially slow, but became over-attentive towards the end: Both 3 Stars. I like to grab a cold beer here, but the food is just OK. I don't understand why the Park St location is always packed. However, there are better places that have more authentic cuisine right across the Park and High St bridges in Oakland.
(3)
Jess C.
La Penca Azul bar staff, you are by far the coolest people ever. Nothing like sitting for a drink and getting schooled on how to make drinks. I felt like I was at a mixology class watching them make those drinks. Although this place is always packed and you have to wait a good 15-30 minutes, it's worth it. The food is AMAZING. The salsa is good and has a little kick to it. I tried the chicken soup and it was tasty as my nextdoor abuelita's. I have to give it to this place, the food is always hot and tasty. The bathrooms are clean and smell good. A little pricey but it's worth every dollar. A+ on price, diversity not to mention an amazing margarita and michelada with HUGE shrimp.
(5)
Al L.
Was here for Happy Hour and surprise! Their Monday thru Friday before 6pm Happy Hour specials has been replaced by a new Happy Hour menu. Under their old menu, all the appetizers were one-half off and their house margaritas were $3.50. Now the appetizers menu is limited to 12 items and our favorites are no longer part of the fare. Plus the prices are no longer one-half off, but are about 20 to 30% off the regular price. The libations offering appears to have broadened but the prices appear not to be as "happy" as before to the customer. Our stand-by house margaritas, which were $3.50, are now $5.00. Still love La Penca for its food and drinks. But can't say it's the place to go for that great inexpensive Happy Hour food and drinks.
(4)
Jenn D.
Still a great Sunday brunch, but poor handling of their Yelp 15% check-in deal. No signage saying they no longer accept it. It's not until you get your check, the server has marked the offer as used, and says you can speak to the manager but they no longer have the deal (supposedly as of a few months ago) that you find out. I understand that if they stopped the deal, Yelp should have taken it down. The restaurant could do its part, though, so you don't feel cheated or tricked when you get your receipt without the discount on it. Especially if it really has been a few months that Yelp has not taken it down (Shame on Yelp!). It only takes a few minutes to make a sign saying you don't honor the deal anymore. Probably will be back because their Sunday brunch is good & they are good for larger groups, but it will NOT be a go-to spot due to poor handling of the situation.
(3)
Christina J.
Best restaurant ever ! Best food and everything and people are very nice! Great vibe !
(5)
Christopher C.
Not my favorite place to frequent for Mexican food but there is a bar and this restaurant is open relatively late. The Mexican food here is really overpriced and is very bland - you are better off going to a taco truck in Oakland. I have been here several times and never seem to get good or even relatively decent service. When they do come to your table the servers have the most unenthusiastic look on their faces. However I would recommend trying their Sunday brunch buffet which runs around $13 for all you can eat breakfast and all you can drink mimosas. But do not expect your waiter to ask if you want a refill of mimosas. Last time I was there the waiter gave me my check but did not return the credit card - I had to track her down and ask for my credit card back. She acted as if I was bothering her and did not apologize.
(2)
Donna B.
Ok I love pickled carrots and jalapeños......but theirs is not good at all. Taste like strong vinegar. I had chicken enchiladas, chili relleno rice and beans . Enchilada sauce had very little flavor :(. The rice ok, the beans great, the hot sauce great. The chili relleno was impressive looking but again almost no flavor and covered with those strong vinegar carrots and jalapeños instead of a silky sauce. Did I mention that there was no cheese in that relleno!! I'm giving 3 stars because I will go back and have beans with salsa and chips. The food is expensive and not great.
(3)
Kimberly C.
As always, love the food and the atmosphere. The servers hustle and are attentive without being annoying. However, tonight we had a problem - an almost $50 problem - and the teddy bear of a man that is usually manning the front fixed it for us. He was kind, gentle, and incredibly gracious. Really appreciated his help and the food is awesome.
(5)
kevan h.
Couple things here I tend to get because they're the best. If you're there for breakfast, get one of the skillets (meat lovers or Santa Fe), and ask for tortillas and salsa. Can feed two easily. The coffee is like tea, but that's not the reason we come to LP. if you come here late night, get the dessert menu and ask for the churros and ice cream. Also a two person dessert. Comes with sliced strawberries and sprinkled strawberry and chocolate sauce.
(4)
Michelle K.
If you have a choice, go to the penca azul on park street as this location is impossible to find. Well, maybe not impossible, but pretty close. It's inside a courtyard area, so when you're driving, you have to look hard for a white fold up sign near the market entrance that says la penca azul on it. Best to park toward la vals in the back past cvs and near where the library is; just walk toward la vals into the courtyard area, stand in the middle, and spin around until you see it. When I came here, I had made a reservation earlier that day for 15 people at 8 pm. I arrived at 815 after searching for the place and my reservation had not been made. The guy up front asked if it was for 13 under Gustavo. I am not Gustavo. However, it all worked out, so no problem. The service was pretty horrible, though. After they pushed some tables together to accommodate my party, it seemed like some of the servers didn't even want to be there... when I told a guy who brought us chips that we were ready to order he flat out ignored me. I'm pretty sure he heard me as I'm definitely not a mumbler, and probably could adopt to speak more softly. I asked another guy and he was nice enough, but I was still pretty annoyed by the first guy. I got a combo dish with a cheese enchilada and pork tamale dish. The plate was covered in red enchilada sauce, which I thought tasted pretty bad. Not sure how to describe it, but it had an odd texture. On top of that, the pork tamale was dry. I had two bites and couldn't eat it. Literally two bites. Despite/because of the enchilada sauce. You can't really mess up a cheese enchilada, but the dish over all was too salty. As for the refried beans, which I usually gobble up, I touched maybe a fifth of. The rice was super dry. Overall, I agree with some of the other reviews that the park street penca azul is better. Also, some of my party was confused because on the directory, it still says la pinata. Perhaps this is something that can be fixed?
(2)
Cheli C.
I like the Sunday Brunch. The Buffet has American and Mexican breakfast. It seems like they are a little unorganized but overall a good place with good food.
(4)
Nora M.
La Penca is wonderful! We come to the Bay Farm location all the time. The service is generally prompt and always friendly, and the food is amazing! Great burritos, street tacos, and anything that includes shrimp. (I'm sure all of the menu is great. These are just the things we get most!) Also the Mexican Cobb salad is delicious. You might want to share because it's big. The cocktail selection is very nice, and they have more tequilas than I have ever heard of! La Penca Azul has a wonderful friendly atmosphere. It's a great place for happy hour, to catch a game at the bar, and to bring the family.
(5)
omaid h.
Two stars for the pickled carrots, chips and salsa. The quesadilla appetizer doesn't come with any sides (no guacamole and they charged $1.50 for a side of sour cream). Iced tea is nasty and out of the tap, used to be fresh brewed. The street tacos had a strange pork flavor, I think the carne asada was cooked over pork on the grill. There were two tables in the whole place and the service was inattentive. Would not return here, but will go back to the La Piñata in Concord for sure.
(2)
Sarah H.
I ordered chicken enchiladas and there was a piece of bone in it. I have posted a photo as well. The enchiladas tasted pretty average but the finding a bone inside the tortilla made me loose my appetite.
(2)
Jen C.
1/2 off house margaritas and 1/2 off ALL appetizers during happy hour?!?!? So that's $3.50 for a house margarita, and they even do it right: on the rocks with salt??? YES! YES! YES! That's my kind of happy hour!!! Complimentary chips & salsa - It was so good I wanted to tell the server to keep filling up the basket! But I had to take it easy on the chips, there were appetizers coming! Gloria's Quesadilla (reg. $11.99) - Superb! I like this dish so much because the Dungeness crab, mushrooms, and mexican cheese are so tasty together! Chorizo Fundido (reg. $9.59) - Scrumptious! Chorizo, melted cheese, mushrooms, chile pasilla, pico de gallo are very good with those chips! Their regular happy hour (Monday-Friday 3-6pm) also includes: $4 off house pitcher $3 off house half pitcher $2 off top shelf margarita $4 off top shelf pitcher $3 off top half pitcher $3 ALL beer (bottle & tap) They also have late night happy hour (Monday - Tuesday 9pm-closing): $5 Tequila & Rum $5 Classic house margarita $5 tacos $5 beer bottle & tap $5 La Penca Azul pale ale Now is that awesome or what??? But be careful, though! Prices are so good that you might get so excited you wanna order hella stuff. Next thing you know you're bill comes out to like $100. YIKES! But it's all good! Great HH prices, excellent service, plus food and drinks are really yummy...yes, that will make me super happy during happy hour! I wish the La Pinata in downtown SJ was La Penca Azul instead!
(5)
Seth G.
I hope you know where your going because if you don't you'll have a tough time finding this place. Not the worst food but close to it. The carne asada chimichangas had no flavor, if it weren't for the guacamole on the side it would have been inedible. Service wasn't bad but I had to ask three times for lemon for my water. The guacamole appetizer comes on a plate with a ton of jalapeños if your not careful you can make it to spicy. To top it all off u received a yelp coupon and when I tried to use it, the waiter told me that they don't accept them. Won't come back, I would have been better off at the subway nearby. The best part was the view of the lagoon that I had.
(1)
Marie F.
I really hope they don't mix the reviews with this Bay Farm one and the park street one. This one is so much better! It is worth the extra drive because: It is much cleaner (can I emphasize the much!!) The servers are much better (they know the menu very well) The food has always been way more stellar at this location (my recommendation: the chicken street tacos..never had chicken here before? It's a must!) the people (the crowd at the other location can get a tad overwhelming) they are VERY child friendly at this location! My only complaint is that it can be pricy when you add up all the amazing drinks and food but you do get an amazing bang for your buck! I am more than a fan.. I'm a regular!!
(5)
eric h.
Second time here on a Friday night...had to wait about 20 minutes. Food was good, service was good. Will be back.
(4)
Hal D.
Order the big burrito only if you're really hungry. It was almost too much to eat. The shredded beef came with a huge portion of really delicious tender moist shredded beef. I asked them to leave the rice and cheese out of the inside and it made a great meal. It's a little noisy as there isn't much inside to absorb noise. Right next to the water, so window tables have a nice view.
(3)
Adriana L.
This is my favorite place to come for drinks! My all time favorite go to drink is the Charlie Cash- only this location makes it! It is muddled cucumber, lime juice, tequila, topped off with some pacifico and tajin. Delicious! From my experience, their oysters are good, their papas con chile are great appetizers, and their tortas are okay. Pretty okay service. I always prefer sitting at the bar. I've noticed that sitting at the bar gets you 10 times better service than if you sit in the dining area. Over all, great place for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)
Andrea C.
This location does not uphold the yelp deal. We were not happy when we went to pay our bill and we were told the yelp deal was no longer valid. If it's not valid, they should contact yelp to take it off. Plus, service was slow and we had little to no attention from our waiter. I prefer the Park street location.
(3)
Paul L.
Hey La Penca! You are literally the go-to place for me and my friends when it's late and we need a place to eat! You are one of the few decent places in bay farm with plenty of seating for big groups. Party of 4? Party of 8? Party of 12? Too late and everything closed? let's go La Penca! My favorite? Carintas Plate. Oh yea, gimme my caritas with all the fixin's so I can make me my little tacos. So much I never finish. Need a soup? Chicken Soup is solid. Chunky, Good broth - you can even make chicken tacos with the tortilla they give you. Need something smaller/cheaper? Tortas Asada - Their tortas are pretty good and it comes with my weakspot - fries. Need something new & different? Deep Fried Red Snapper - Yes. Share it with a friend & the price is ok. It's deep fried, precut so you just pluck out the meet with no bone fighting and dip it into either garlic goodness or marinara sauce. Tried it once. Pretty good. Oh and don't forget those unlimited chips & salsa. You add to my fatness. I seriously would appreciate it if you said "no more chips for you! too much!" I would be shocked but thankful. Tip: Don't forget to ask for extra salsa & limes for your food. They have the juiciest limes I've ever seen (most times), they definitely aint organic Thanks Penca for just being there. Wish your prices were a little cheaper... but what can i do...
(3)
Lisa F.
Visited last year, review was stuck in drafts. The portions were generous and the food was tasty, and we would return BUT two strikes with the Yelp discount being "discontinued" and a very HOT dried Chile hiding in my daughters' mild bean burrito.
(3)
Dan K.
Excellent Shrimp Burrito. Green Salsa was amazing
(4)
Dick S.
I really liked this place, they have good lunch specials, for something like $13.00 you can get a plethora of food options (each more than you will probably eat) and a lunch sized mojito or margarita. It is a great deal, especially on a Friday when work is slow, and you want a decent break for lunch. The problem is in the speed. I have an hour lunch, it takes me about 5-7 minutes each way to get here. That leaves 45-50 minutes to sit down, order, eat, and be gone. At first, my co worker and I had no issues. For months we would go, about once a week. Then, suddenly, it got closer and closer. They took longer to take our orders. We sat there done eating, drinks gone, for FAR too long before we got a check. They took the cards and forgot to bring us anything to sign. Sadly, I have had to stop going. Do not mistake me, the food is good, the lunch deal is great, it is the service I find to be lacking. Hopefully you have better luck, because if it were for everything but the service, they would have a 4.
(2)
Jenn C.
Kudos to La Penca and their awesome service! Ordered a chicken tortilla soup last night for a sick friend, came by and found out they didn't get the order. Jessie apologized profusely and got my order to the kitchen right away and came out 5 minutes later with everything. He apologized again and told me there would be no charge. As someone who has worked in customer service before, actions like this are super memorable and make any business stand out. Thanks so much, guys...I'll be back!
(5)
Teena L.
My coworkers and I come to eat here often for lunch because it's minutes from our office and the service has always been quick and friendly. We usually come in a large group but they have always been able to accommodate us and able to serve our drinks and chips and salsa within minutes of seating us. They get pretty packed during lunch so I'm impressed that the wait staff still check in with our group every 10 minutes or so while we're there. My water is always filled as well which I like because I drink lots of water and hardly order anything else unless we decide to share a pitcher of margarita. The food is pretty good as well. I usually order the shrimp street tacos. Sometimes I'll order the beer battered fish tacos just to change it up. My coworkers either get the burritos or enchilada lunch specials and they seem satisfied with it since they usually order the same thing as well. I prefer the food quality here over the food served at La Pinata off of Merced In San Leandro. So with consistent good food and good customer service, I'd definitely recommend!
(5)
Mike C.
Too bad. This used to be our favorite Mexican restaurant in Alameda. Well last 2 times they only had one waiter for the whole restaurant. We walked out both times. Wish us luck. Update-Much better service tonight (Friday night). We'll try again on a weeknight.
(3)
Tanya H.
I had the chicken mole enchilada with rice and beans and house margarita . The drink was good ,the food was not .Service was nonexistent !
(1)
Michael C.
I love this location, it's a hidden treasure and not many people on the main island (ha ha I sound like I am in Hawaii) know about this location). Great fast service, love the lunch time menu so you can get in and out within 45 minutes. My running group comes here on the first Saturday of the month and always has a good experience. Whether your are a La Pinada or a La Penca Azul fan (pppssstt it's the same family company) you know what to expect.
(5)
Ashley O.
Went there for dinner last night, place was packed but they were able toget us a table with in 5 or so minutes. waiter came over and gave us water asked if we wanted drinks, we said yes and he said someone would be right with us, 10 or so minutes later he came to drink chips asked if someone had been over to help us we said no but that we were ready to order he said he would send someone over and walked away. never came back neither did anyone else. we waitied 15 more miuntes and then decided to just leave. too bad this was my go to for mexican food, not any more.
(1)
O J O.
I enjoy this place. The drinks are great, the food is yummy. You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by its chips and salsa -- and I think the chips were crisp, perfectly salted with freshly made salsa. I especially like the homemade guacamole. Its a little high on price, but I do think the dishes were excellent. They have quite a selection of tequila, but some of the tequila they offer are just ok, nothing special. It is in a cute location, and the tables are spaced nicely so you aren't crammed. After a hard day at work or a nice evening out order the house margarita and relax.
(4)
Liv A.
Before heading out to the Warriors game, bf and I decided to grab a quick bite at La Penca Azul on Bayfarm. We knew that it wouldn't be as crowded as the Park St. one and also seemed closer in terms of drive time/traffic. Convenient! I ordered the combo plate of pork tamale and mole chicken enchilada with rice and black beans. Bf got the grilled white fish (basa) plate with rice and black beans. It also came with some cooked veggies which consisted of green bell peppers that he didn't care too much for. The portions were huge and neither of us could finish the rice and beans. We also polished off the basket of chips! The salsa was spicier than usual, which was ok with me. Good meal overall....very filling. The service was fine but a bit slow. It took a while for use to put in our orders and get our check. Restrooms were clean as well.
(3)
T M.
Nice server and the place would be OK to kill some time and watch a game and have a few beers. Food was pretty weak. Had a chicken and a carnitas burrito along with some rice and beans. Not much to say other than it was pretty uninspired and bland all around.
(2)
Jocelyn L.
First off, awesomely addictive chips and salsa when you first sit down. We started eating them without realizing until there was one chip left. Then I forgot how big the burritos were. It was kind of the size of a football doused in red sauce and guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo on the side. So definitely worth what you pay for. Everything was super flavorful, and the chicken was done the way I like, which is boiled. Definitely close to the Tex-mex side of cuisine, but delicious neverthelless
(4)
J M.
Place has gotten way over priced. Protest it and don't come. Just because they're on Bay Farm doesn't mean to charge $13 for a super burrito then add on an additional $1 for carnitas.
(1)
Jessica F.
I love la penca azul it's a very clean restaurant and this location is quiet, perfect place to have dinner with the fam or just come to have lunch. All the meals are delicious not to mention the drinks are great! Enchiladas, fajitas, wet burrito you name it their all delicious
(5)
Esther K.
Pros: Solid Mexican food in Bayfarm (the only Mexican food in bayfarm :(. Burritos are HUGE. Tortas Callejeras (Street Style Tortas) are really really good. Diced sirloin, marinated perfectly and very tasty. Chips are light and tasty, salsa is really good with a little spicy kick. Cons: Some complain that their burritos aren't tasty but a mash up of ingredients.
(3)
R K.
Oven baked oysters are awesome. Nice CS too. Great location on bayfarm :-) Please go and visit this place if you are looking for a neat, creative Mexican place to chow!!
(5)
Wataru M.
I was happy when this opened on Bay Farm (originally as La Piñata) and have been going here ever since. Food quality seems about the same as park st, maybe slightly less, but still good. Service is generally good although it can be slow sometimes. The Sunday brunch is amazing. A huge variety of traditional breakfast fare and standard Mexican favorites. It's pricey, but worth it every now and then.
(4)
Susan S.
I've been reluctant to post this review because I've had so many meals here and I still do not know what to say because it feels like playing that game of "Mad Libs" where you fill in certain words in sentences from just a few paragraphs as a kid. Those "Mad Libs" games for me (youngest kid) started while playing it growing up on long 8 hour car rides where my Mum put up with us four bratty kids bickering in the: _________(adjective) family station wagon on the way to visit our grandparents and us kids were squabbling about __________(adjective) ______(plural noun)! This restaurant I'm ______(annoying expletive bark sound verb) about, what used to be called La _______(noun) which is something that is typically (hint, hint, hint) fun but also annoyingly impossible to break apart in order to get party gifts without using a ______ (noun). So, historically my own _____(adjective) and equally ________(adverb) kids plus last minute dozens of their sudden showup friends order anything ____________(adjective) ______(excessive plural noun) on the menu at this location. I, personally am partial to the spicy _________ (descriptive Mexican Chicken adjective) soup . You might need a large _______(noun) in order to _______(verb) up the large pieces of _____(noun) so be careful! I've known many of the delightful staff since they were all ______ (plural noun). They are all still amazingly sweet, attentive, and ________(adjective). Go early or it will be a _______(expletive adjective of your choice) ________(noun)! ;)
(4)
Dor H.
I think the look of two stars looks a lot worse than the "Meh. I've experienced better." rating. I went here with my parents for the first time. Usually our family goes to the one on Park street, but alas, we were lazy and didn't feel like crossing the bridge...as if it took that much effort. I felt like things were off here. SOME people were nice, but some people gave us attitude. Some parts of the meal were fine but the meal felt off, like it was lacking the usual flavors. Like our street tacos were really plain even though there was an unusual excess of cilantro. Tasted more like a salad than a taco. My mom's "blended" margarita was about 20% blended. As a bartender, this concerned me. The worst part was that it took a good 45 minutes for some tacos, and it was't even that busy when we first ordered. Strange. If you choose to sit upstairs, bring a sweater, they like to blast the AC up there.
(2)
Taylor E.
This place has a ridiculous amount of tequila and that is just plain awesome!!! Get the pitcher of margarita, it's goooood! Oh, the food is good too!! I love the street tacos, all of them are legit!!! I go here every time I visit my Dad and Cousin, we walk there and it's beautiful and the service is always super good!
(5)
Aly M.
I really wanted to like this place as it was recommended to me by a fellow Tequila-connoisseur, however it was disappointing. While they did have a very nice selection of Tequila, that's probably the only thing I would come back for. The food was NOT bad but it wasn't good either and certainly not worth the hefty price tag. That is pretty much my reasoning for the two stars. Zero texture or balance of flavor, nothing tasted like it was made fresh (except maybe the salsa) and the dishes were just generic American Mexican dishes you can get anywhere. I was hoping for some fresh, creative takes on traditional dishes maybe some fresh-made tortillas at least? SOMETHING to rationalize the prices..but no. Just bland mush, with mushy beans and rice and everything drenched in cheese. To clarify: I am a native Californian and grew up on homemade Mexican food and I love me some greasy taqueria food - But I would not pay $18 for a plate of greasy taqueria food. It's essentially fast food, and at La Penca Azul you're just paying extra to sit in a gaudy, expensive building. Not worth it. In the bay area alone there are probably a thousand family-owned, awesome taquerias to try. Forego the frills and decor and try a place that's more focused on the food .
(2)
Raquel F.
This review is for their Sunday Brunch. Amazing! I love coming here for Brunch. Mexican, American, and healthy food choices. This Sunday brunch is buffet with bottomless Mimosas. I highly recommend trying out the Buffet-Sunday Brunch. You definitely will not be disappointed! Chorizo with eggs, scrabled eggs, pancakes, bacon, carnitas, carne asada, fruits, chocolate covered strawberries, oatmeal, sausage, I'm definitely missing a lot of their food choices on this list. Like I said, a lot of food choices with great variety and amazing flavor!
(5)
Dennis K.
Rhyme #84: Torta heaven This is coming from a taco truck lover, but I have to admit that La Penca's tortas (steak to be exact) is extremely legit The meat is delicioso, and is enough to make you salivate deciding on here or taco truck? It'll make you contemplate But I must say my two favorite dishes at this place are the tortas and nacho fries; delicious at a table, home, or car So in my next visit, you know what I'm gonna get Tortas and nacho fries, you best not forget. Nacho fries (or carne asada fries) at La Penca are OK. K, not the best not the San Diego carne asada fries, but they're decent. Grew on me actually. BUT, the tortas, are amazing. The bread is light and crispy, the meat is tender and juice, and delicious! The fresh veggie and the guac puts this sandwich over the top my friends. So feast, and if you like it, give me a shout out!
(4)
Anthony M.
The food here is amazing. When we moved here the first thing my wife asked me to look up was a good Mexican food restaurant. We looked this up on yelp and thought we should give it a try. So glad we did. We have been here too many times to count now. I usually order the same thing but my wife tries something new each time. She said everything is always great. The service is awesome. They get really busy here so expect some waiting.
(5)
Eating And Living Well U.
We went here for a b-day bash with around 20+ people. First off, everyone arrived at different times, at least 15 people in our party came and then we arrived. We were not greeted by anyone or offered water. We were given water after waiving down at least 2 people and then, still no water. We then had to waive them down again before we got water. So the service is definitely lacking especially since gratuity was tacked on since we had such a huge party. The food: VERY LAME. This is sad because we drove one hour to this restaurant. My fajita had dry as a bone chicken. one star for this chicken. The tortillas they came with, I requested FLOUR and they gave me corn. I didn't realize it until I waived someone else down who gave me another set tortillas since when they brought out my food, I hadn't gotten any, I requested them. Another personcame and gave me the flour tortillas. They are a lot better ,the corn ones are dry and not good. I have had waaaayyy better fajitas this is definitely not good. My date got the chile verde and he didn't like how dry his meat was either. Here's the kicker: My date also saw a fly in his water and another one of our friends was served raw mole, the chicken was blood shot red/raw. Wow. This restaurant is terrible due to the bad food quality, the dry food I was served, their hygiene since there was a fly in our water, and the poor slow service.
(2)
Austin W.
Came here today to pick up an order of burritos for 70 and I was impressed. They totally delivered (to my knowledge), and was very prompt with service when we arrived. We ordered chicken, carne asada, and steak burritos and from what I heard (because I had the steak), the chicken and carne asada were very good. The steak I felt lacked a little flavor, but they were very generous with the filings -- lots of meat, not too much rice or beans. I really love their guac which is really fresh as well as their pico de gallo. I only had half a burrito but with a serving of chips, I was pretty satisfied so serving size is definitely on the large size. I would definitely come here again to try out their other dishes. I hear their breakfast is pretty good. Misc: The restaurant itself looked fairly fancy, with a full bar and nice atmospheric lighting. Parking is a bit hard to find though.
(4)
Bryce D.
Went this past Saturday with the fiance as we were craving some mexican food. She loves this place so we decided to make the trek to Alameda. The place seemed to be a bit unorganized upon arrival and it stayed that way for the next 45 minutes or so. There was a table close to us in which one person didn't even get their meal, she seemed really happy about that. Our service was fine, nothing to write home about. Our meals were good, we stuffed our faces and bounced. We will continue to come back here
(3)
Yoly L.
I LOVE LA PENCA AZUL!! Their margaritas are to DIE FOR!!!!! My co-worker, Rachael, says the chicken soup aka caldo de pollo is FANTASTICA!!! The service is great and fast. The location is serene and delightful.
(5)
Sinoti I.
I try to come after work on Sundays for the breakfast buffet because they have a good variety of fruits, sweets and breakfast options. Price range is about $14 which is a great price for an all you can eat!
(5)
Jason C.
Great chips and salsa! Beans and rice tasted great also. The rice was not hard and the beans were smoooth. Cheese was melty and gooey. Sauces were not over powering but not bland. good balance. I had carnitas tacos and enchilada. The meat was flavorful but on tad on the dry side. Maybe a lil more fat would help. The tacos were huge. Carnitas was falling out of the sides of the tacos cuz there was so much meat. Service was so so. When the waiter served our food, he placed our plates on top of our napkins and utensils. Our glasses stayed empty for 10+ mins. No, they were not busy. -1 star for service, -1 star for dry carnitas, +1 star for yelp check in discount. At the end, not bad, but could be better. 4 stars due to 15% discount, but 3 if I had to pay $13 for 2 dry tacos and an enchilada.
(4)
M W.
Food 4 out of 5 but service sucked! Took them 20 minutes to take our order and then they brought out the wrong beverages and forgot a few of my wife's minor requests. Waiters did not seem to concerned about the errors. Got the bill and it was incorrectly calculated but they fixed it. Like I said, food good, service lacking.
(3)
Nerick M.
Great service, great lunch value, delicious food, and fun, casual atmosphere. I love that they bring you unlimited hot chips and salsa before the meal. Try any of the hearty, fresh soups or the street tacos. Won't break the bank and will keep you full and satisfied.
(4)
Glenn F.
wow everything was good, had the al pastor, yummmy, party of five, service, food , liked it all
(4)
Renee W.
May be the sister to La Piñata but honestly La P is better! La Penca Azul had shitty service & ok food! If you just need to get drunk and don't care about anything else, then by all means come here but I would go elsewhere if you have a choice!
(1)
Diner Revue F.
How can you enjoy your dinner when you can't find the waitress to order it on a slow night Tuesday. The management either is not aware of the staff's negligence or does not care .I thought I would give this place a second chance since the location on park street is well maintained. Forget it will never return it is never worth bad service and subpar food save your money.
(1)
Greg R.
I love this place -a nd my wife and I are regulars here. They have a great couple of happy hour selections. There is a late-night happy hour on Mondays and Tuesdays. The best happy hour is Saturday and Sunday nights - only $5 house margs, $5 on the La Pinata shots, and a $5 appetizer menu! Come on, you can't beat that! Food is solid good and there is plenty of parking. This isn't authentic mexican, but great Tex-Mex with good service in a great location for Alamedans.
(4)
Alo A.
I've been in customer service for a while. So I can tell when something is not going right. Off the bat you could tell that some workers did no shows or called in sick. So props to them for handling the situation the best they could. Even though they couldn't show everyone the attention they should've I definitely understood the situation. So they are excused from that. As for the food though thats another story. Here's what we ordered: Sampler Platter Chicken Mole Super Burrito with Whole Wheat Tortilla and NO rice The Sampler Platter was okay. It consisted of Fried Zucchini, Buffalo Wings, Jalapeno Poppers, Cheese Quesadillas, Potato Skins. Nothing special about it except for the blue cheese hot sauce. That platter gets a 3/5 stars My partner had the Chicken Mole. He said it tasted like they just took the chicken from a salad and added it to the sauce. Also the mole (which I tasted as well) tasted like it was from a can. Not very tasty at all. My partner said Guadalajara on Fruitvale still has the best Mole. He gives it a 1/5 stars. I had the Super Burrito. I always have a Super Burrito and I was extremely happy they offered Whole Wheat Tortillas but they obviously don't make their own tortillas because it was the Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas that I end up buying at the store. Also I asked for a super burrito with steak and NO RICE. It was more like a SUPER BEAN burrito with a spoon full of steak that was overcooked because it was chewy as hell. 1/5 The only thing we actually liked was the salsa they served with the chips. So sad because we really wanted to like the place since we enjoy La Vals next door but I guess we'll only go out that way for La Vals.
(2)
Nathan W.
For those of you who've given this place less than stellar reviews, you might want to come back on a weekend and take advantage of their $5 menu... They not only have food specials, but drink specials as well, including a three-shot tequila sampler for $5. I came in on a recent weekend with some friends after a Warriors game and was pleasantly surprised when I saw everything on those menus. We ended up with a variety of taco plates, flautas, quesadillas, and margaritas for $5 each... I highly recommend the crab and shrimp jalapeno appetizer. There is no way they make money on this thing with all of the meat on there. Yum!!!
(5)
Nate K.
This place is one of the best mexican restaraunts in the bay hands down.. food always great.. service excellent and a great tequilla bar with knowledgeable staff. Both locations are always packed for a reason. Never had a bad experience here . Dont be fooled by the name change.. it still has all the same quality and service as it always has. PS They recently purchased the building next door and expanded.
(5)
Michael T.
I have always been a fan of this restaurant, whether it is the one on Park St. or this BFI location. The service can be spotty, but everyone is very friendly and does try. They use sort of a tag team approach which is better suited for wrestling than food service. The take out service is 5 stars. The Chicken Taco Salad is highly customizable so you receive exactly what you like; no sour cream - no problem, extra guacamole - Si. The Chicken Soup is off the hook! There is nothing better on a dark and stormy night or if, you are battling a nasty cold. Yes, it is curative and oh so good. Not too salty on my last trip, that made it perfect. There is more on the menu than the usual Mex / American faire - read the whole menu.
(4)
C R.
I went to this place for lunch because like everyone else we only have a certain amount of time. I have been here before about a year ago and ordered the chicken super formosa burrito. I don't know how the cook their chicken but it is the worst i have ever had in a mexican dish. DRY,DRY, DRY it was like chewing on wood chips. I won't be back, but for the other customers sake please find a different way of retaining moisture in the chicken. There were absolutly no juice at all. Good luck with this one.
(1)
Nayomie Z.
This place is a for sure fav spot of mine all their food is delish chips and salsa are yummy while you wait and drinks are always yummy. I would give it 5 stars but the wait is long most of the time its my only complaint but worth it :)
(4)
Missy L.
This was was just ok... Which makes me sad because I LOVE the Park Street location. The food didn't taste the same, the wait staff were less than enthusiastic and the restaurant wasn't even that busy. I'll stick to the Park Street location for my future visits.
(2)
MJ A.
It's Mexican food, what else can i say. But, the extra stars go towards the Tequila selection, and good deal on lunch platters. I'm always game for some Mexican at lunch.. especially when budgeting.
(4)
Christine T.
YUM! Bestest Shirley Temples evah! The usual plus a splash of citrus deliciousness. Also, really, really good chips. Not sure if they make their own chips or not, but they sure taste like they do... Onto the food. I ordered a plate of three different tacos: pescado, carne asada and carnitas. The carnitas were the tastiest of the three. Maybe they could have added more onion/cilantro. So, yeah... Yay! I'm a fan! I can't wait to return for chips and Shirleys!
(4)
Jessica T.
I threw my brother a surprise birthday there and service was excellent, especially for 30 adults and 10 children. Prior to the festivities, I got together with one of the co-managers Sergio and he was great. He helped me with my special menu, and considerate of my budget. Food is always consistent and good. We always go there for street tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Great Spot!
(5)
Dan O.
I really like this place. Good and cheap with so much food that you almost always have to take some to go. Quick service too.
(4)
Jesse G.
Went here for breakfast one morning. I was really impressed. We were served fresh fruit instead of chips and salsa, the wait staff was very attentive and polite, the food was tasty... All in all a good experience. I have to say this one is better than the one on Park St.
(4)
Craig B.
On August 20, 2011, after walking out of Jim's on the Course after being ignored for way too long, Better Half, my mom, and I ended up at La Penca Azul on Bay Farm Island. BH and I hadn't been to this restaurant for years (back when it had different ownership) and we were a little hesitant to go here, concerned that it would have the same roudy and crowded atmosphere as its sister restaurant on Park St. in Alameda often draws. Fortunately, that wasn't the case when we were there, though we'd heard it can get a bit unruly at times. After being promptly seated at a window by the lagoon, we ordered a half pitcher of house margaritas ($16.50) which provided six glasses of beverage and turned out to be a great bargain. If we'd ordered six house margaritas at $7 each, they would have cost $42. The chips and salsa that were brought to us were excellent. BH ordered the carnitas, which were mounds of porcine deliciousness, crunchy and succulent. The presentation, on a rectangular dish filled with guacamole, pico de gallo, pinto beans, rice, and the pork, as well as some homemade tortillas, was attractive and appetizing. Mom and I both got cheese enchilada dinners, which were very tasty. The corn tortillas used in the enchiladas were both tender and had a little crunch; very difficult to achieve. Service was attentive, with different workers checking in on us from time to time, but was not pushy or intrusive. Everyone working there seemed happy to be doing so and it showed. The crowd was a bit older than the one on Park St., with several families with quiet children (thank you, parents!) present. Before writing this review, I asked BH if there was any reason not to give La Penca Azul five stars. We couldn't think of any deficiencies or problems, so five stars it is! If you want great Mexican food, but don't want to fight for downtown parking and deal with the party crowd at its Park St. location, La Penca Azul on Bay Farm Island is a great bet for a delicious meal in a relaxed atmosphere. We will be back - soon.
(5)
Melissa K.
When here on a Wed at 12:30 with coworkers (3 people). I give 5 stars for the following: *Got seated Quickly *Large menu and lunch specials, atmosphere was nice *Service was prompt and helpful *Food tasted great, chips are warm with good salsa, Street Burrito * Leftovers tasted great. And I can't ask for anything more.
(5)
Mae Mae P.
great location! love the whole menu! i'm a big Mexican food fanatic! this is one of the best in the east bay. wonderful staff, clean environment and the food is just WOW!!!!! i take friends and co-workers here and every time is a wonderful experience! drinks, food and friends enough said! i am no doubt eating here until i'm 90 years old!!!!
(4)
Janis Y.
Ate here last night and had really high expectations since all the good reviews! But TOTAL LET DOWN!! The staff was inattentive. I ordered the pork tamales and they were dry and had no meat in them! The side of rice was also dry. My boyfriend ordered the super famous burrito (or something like that). His was GOOD and tasty. The chicken was seasoned perfectly and moist. I also read that they serve carne asada fries upon request- THEY DO NOT! I was looking forward to this, and no go!! However, the servings are huge and they offer a half order option.
(2)
Christopher C.
If you own or run a restaurant, you need to come to this place to see how they do their service! You could learn a lot from them. This place is a little hard to find, tucked away in the middle of what looks like a bunch of offices. Park at Safeway and as you're facing Safeway, La Penca Azul is on the left side, in the middle of the offices, right near the water. I came here for happy hour with a friend and WOW! I've been going to La Pinata since the mid '80's and I've always been a big fan. This is the 7th of their stores that I've been to and they are all great. No, this is not the owner writing this review, just a big fan. I lived within walking distance of their Hayward store for 8 years and I'm within walking distance of their San Jose store ever since they moved here last year. (Now if we could just get Zachary's Pizza to move in next to La Pinata....) The food we had at La Penca Azul (The Blue Leaf) is great and their service is superior! During happy hour, appetizers are half off and we shared Tim's Special, chips & salsa and we had some house margaritas. Tim's Special is a bean dip with tasty carnitas chunks in it, topped with cheese. It's served with chips and I was really impressed. You can't beat their happy hour prices! 5/5 More impressive than the food tonight was the service. This place has got it down! We came in and were quickly greeted and seated and placed our first order within about 3 minutes. The waiters are always around to be flagged down but they don't harass you every 3 minutes, asking how your day was and how your mom is doing, and since you're missing 1/2 inch of water from your glass, would you like a refill?? I appreciate that! I get annoyed when somebody I just met pretends to care about how my day was, that is some fake ass BS! I don't come to a restaurant with my friends to talk to the wait staff. We were there almost 2 hours and placed orders 3 more times. Each time we decided that we were going to order something else, within a minute there was somebody to flag down. Amazing! We didn't sit in the main dining area, there were just a few tables in our area but I noticed that the wait staff was always around, looking at people's tables to check if their drinks were empty or if something needed to be cleared off the table. I could see the front door from our table and even though it was busy, nobody waited more than a minute for a table. The only people waiting were those who ordered food to go. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Great job!
(5)
Eugene L.
I wandered over to LP because we were having a Business lunch there. I wander in had a seat and perused the Lunch Menu . I ordered a Coke for a beverage and a Grill Shrimp Burrito with Sour Cream and Guacamole. They kept us stocked with Chips and Salsa. 20 Minutes later our food came out I was quite happy with my Burrito it contained a good amount of Shrimp and it was filling. Best part it was free ,because my Employer was footing the bill.
(3)
Henon H.
I got 15% off from Yelp by checking in and it was a bargain. I also ordered the carnitas nachos. The food is at it's par and the service was nice since it's only a few of us early morning. Their highchairs for babies and toddler are fairly new and up to date, buckles are safe. Seats are usually dirty and we always use sanitizing wipes to clean it.
(3)
Lourdes G.
Totally messed up my first mother's day. We came here and there were 6 of us. We were told the wait was one hour. So we decided to wait. One hour went by and I went to ask what our status was and they said 10 min. Well20 minutes went by and nothing. We noticed people were coming and putting their name down and they were getting seated before us. I went to go ask again on my status and they said 10 minutes and they also said they were seating the other people first people it was a smaller party. I waited 2 hours!! And nothing we decided to just leave. The guy was really rude to us. I was actually looking forward to eating here too. Never again will I ever come here. I was so disappointed in their customer service.
(1)
Johnson N.
Call me crazy... but this place was hard to find. Google Maps sent me on a topsy turvy adventure looking for this place. When I finally found it, I realized how nice the view would be had this visit been during the daytime. Well, as I sat down, my party of 9 (now including me) had already finished their drinks and eats. I sat down and downed two glasses of water straight away. Having been at work all day, doing a lot of talking, I was parched. I ordered a delicious burger... not your conventional kind. It was on a Mexican roll with lettuce, LOTS of bacon, mayo, grilled onions, and other great fixins. DEEELICIOUS! And! the portions were good. The ambiance.... well, there wasn't much of that. It was pretty much a restaurant... one you'd expect from a place that doesn't feel so special. Since my party was all done with their drinks and food, I guess the waiter felt he didn't need to follow up with us any further... even though I made an order as I sat down. When he brought me my food, he gave me my bill and never gave me anything to drink to start with. Even though I downed two glasses of water prior to this interaction, those were two glasses belonging to other people in my party! 4 Stars for good food, -1 Star for sub-par service!
(3)
Josh L.
This review is the LPA Catering. They do a great job and the portions are amazing. I ordered for my son's party about a week before for a Saturday 10:30 a.m. pickup. There was a mixup in the order and so when I arrived it was not ready. Jesse was really sorry and offered $75 off my order immediately and provided a huge amount of chips and salsa for my party and the food would be ready in 30 mins. We ordered fajitas, beans, rice and and quesdillas for the kids. All the food was prepared well and tasted great. The hit with the party though was the chips and salsa. Highly recommend LPA for catering. Reasonable, great portions, fast and convenient if your party is in Alameda or BFI
(5)
Rochelle P.
Yummy Fresh Chips and Salsa Festive Ambiance. La Penca Azul, the sister restaurant of La Pinata. The festive environment and prompt service. As soon as we were seated the staffed served their fresh, warm and crisp tortilla chips and their moderately spicy salsa! The salsa is amazing and addictive- blend of tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili and cilantro. For lunch I opt for a healthy choice- Vegetarian Sandwich; crisp thin sliced cucumber, cool ripe red tomatoes, smooth creamy sliced avocado, lettuce, pickles and melted Monterrey Jack graced on warm whole wheat toasted was delightful and served with fresh salad! A great choice, as simple as the ingredients are the flavor the freshness of the vegetables and the warm melted Monterrey Jack turned this dish to a pleasing meal. They were well staffed during the busy lunch hour so our service was prompt and friendly.
(4)
Stefi C.
A nice place to catch up with friends over drinks. I def prefer this Bayfarm location over Park St.--the seats are plentiful and service is attentive. I can actually sit down and enjoy my conversations, rather than shoving through crowds and getting beer spilled on my feet. Woo! Their complimentary chips and salsa are strangely addicting. Tons of margarita and mojito flavors, and each comes with sugarcane...yum!
(4)
Rick B.
Thanks for the yelp deal. Nice place, friendly atmosphere, good service. Shrimp burrito was good but not spectacular. The chips and salsa are great.
(4)
Steven N.
really enjoyed this place. I come here before heading out to the warriors game. the margaritas are always good.
(4)
Mario M.
I'm a regular and the reason I am is because it's like l'm at a family affair. They contribute without a question to worthwhile causes in Alameda Octavio and his family are great for the city.
(5)
Mocha G.
Always good service and consistently good food. We came here for the Sunday buffet. However we ran out of time and decided to order a regular American breakfast. It was delicious. I has graham cracker crusted French toast.
(5)
Cath M.
After watching a flick, bro and I were kinda hungry. I told him that I've been craving burrito - so he suggested checking this place out. I've been to the one in Fremont and the one on Park St. but not here... We were afraid that it was going to be close but it was open until 1 am that Saturday. We arrived and the place had a couple of people in. We were about to order then we saw the "$5 weekend happy hour menu" Curious, we asked our server where that is... he pointed to the menu that neither my bro and I touched. Duh! I ended up getting their classic margarita for $5 and a half-order of their chicken quesadilla and I forgot what the bro ordered. Service was prompt (considering there were less than 10 folks in the venue) and food came out quickly. Food was good... huge portion. Drink... definitely not watered down and very stiff for $5! Will probably check this place out for cheap drinks and food.
(4)
Ivy R.
I didn't know that this place was affiliated to the one on Park St. until I sat down and looked at the menu. I was sat at a table next to the window that faced the water. Nice view on a very nice day. I love the Park St. La Pinata and this place is pretty much a smaller version of that. The decoration inside is so cute and very well thought out. I had the #7 combination, one enchilada one taco, both being Chicken filled. At least their chicken has flavor which is something I judge restaurants on a lot. Their enchilada sauce was good and didn't even have a hint of canned like essence. Very fast and efficient service. I wish I could have had an adult beverage but it was the middle of a work day. I really liked this new spot and will probably come back for lunch again. It is pretty expensive though, so I'll have to save up my pennies or just be incredibly hungry to come back here.
(4)
Isabelle L.
I am giving 5 stars for this place... nice environment, fast servers and delicious food. Once we have a table, the waiter gave us water and chips & salsa immediately . The waiters are really friendly . there are two locations.. I think i like this one more than the one @ Park street. This location is more family friendly and the other one is more for people who wants to hang out and enjoy their drinks.
(5)
Immortal S.
Wow, I am amazed at this place compared to it's sister location. A manager was kind enough to offer a second chance at their restaurant. However, I couldn't make it to the other location.I originally only came to before because we were visiting the area. So when I finally had a chance, we came to this one. (So my apologies as it's not exactly a comparison to the exact location) Anyway, we walked in and there was nobody around to seat us. We were pretty confused, couldn't even find any waiters. Finally, one of the bartenders was going to seat us but then a waiter came up and took us to our seats. That was the only minor annoyance in a wonderful dinner. After that, we have an attentive, sweet waitress named Kary. My strawberry daiquiri was amazing, the food was such a huge portion, I took almost all of it home. It was great! I'm so happy that I was able to try them at a different location because not only did it change my mind, it made me want to come back. In a strange twist, it turns out this place is located where I use to come to see my old orthodontist right on the water. It's a beautiful location. We were even able to catch a sunset together to end the evening!
(4)
Kenny L.
The Alameda La Pinatas may have put on airs and change its name but it is still La Pinata. Meaning, good Mexican food but not necessarily gourmet. It does get a little annoying at times s they are trying to yuppify itself from its humble beginnings in Hayward, but what redeems this location, as well as the Park Street "flagship" is the house label tequila is awesome. Jose Cuervo is bad word at this place, as it should be.
(4)
Derek N.
Out of the locations of other La Penca's/La Pinata's this one is by far the best. The food is pretty much the same between them all with the exception of the Hayward La Pinata. Be careful leaving if you've been drinking..(it is Alameda) and its not close to any freeways..
(4)
Havsa H.
Mexican food late night after an all day of starvation and lots of work, we found this place. I went here with my model friends, after just finishing a show and on a desperate hunt for place to eat that's open late at night and is in a fairly decent locale. And boy were we glad! I give it 5-stars for being open so late for dinner. I'm only giving it 3-stars b/c of my healthy eating habits, I ordered the checken minus the rice and sour cream and it was served in a ton of tomato sauce, that tasted straight out of a can. But hey can't complain, it was still decent food open at that hour. My friends ordered steak and fish tacos and semmed to have no complains, infact seemed to really enjoy their food. This place was packed at 10:30pm, so is apparently a popular hangout and I am so thankful that us hungry models got to eat a meal at an absolutely odd hour.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Doctor G.
I eat here often and I've finally decided to award this branch of La Penca Azul four stars because it is the top Mexican restaurant in town. It's a nice, newly expanded restaurant with a nearby parking lot only steps away. It's big enough so that you usually don't have to wait for a table. It has good service and the price is right. But the main thing here is that the food is good and the menu is quite extensive. It's better than other Mexican restaurants in town because of the quality of food and the extensive menu. For this reason, it's even better than the mothership La Pinata location in Hayward. It's even better than their sister restaurant on Park Street in Alameda because unlike the rabbit warren/Winchester Mystery House ever-growing additions to that location, this location is much nicer and less crowded. Rumor has it that the Alameda locations were so much more profitable than the original Hayward and the West San Leandro locations, the family had to split up the operation.
(4)Susan Z.
Great local Mexican restaurant. Street tacos are delicious! Combo plates are generous in size. Quick service. We always have a great experience.
(4)Cyndi G.
Can really go wrong with the food here. I prefer this location over the one on Park street because it's less busy and much easier to find parking. If you check in on Yelp, you might be lucky and catch a coupon or deal.
(3)Carlos G.
It's very obvious to me that la penca azul caters to it's customer base ....I'll bet the folks that work here don't eat what they are serving. Bland,under spiced sauces and small portions. I had the steak enchilada's which had the most blah enchilada sauce I've ever had and rice and beans that were in the same ballpark. I reluctantly went here and regretted every bite of it. Do yourselves a favor and venture over to International blvd to Mariscos La Costa or La Mexicana if you're not "freaked out" by leaving Alameda for good mexican food. La Penca is awful ...... meh
(1)Kai C.
I love this place. I don't understand why it only gets three and a half stars on Yelp, becasue I'm a firm believer in the truth. I like this location more than their Park St. location because it's closer to my house and it's not as busy. My friends and I come here at least three times a month, mainly for their Super Famoso Burritos and guacamole (mind blowing, by the way). Their burritos are absolutely HUMONGOUS, and even though I'm really hungry and tell myself that today is the day I'm actually going to finish a Super Famoso, I never do! I can only eat half, and I take the rest to work the next day (and it manages to stay delicious!!!!) Also, don't miss out on their street tacos! Their chips are always fresh, and the guacamole, again, is to die for. They have a great special on Saturday and Sunday nights--for five bucks, you can get rolled tacos or flautas (and something else that escapes my memory). They also have five dollar margaritas! Their happy hour during the weekdays are great, too--drinks are four dollars each. The service here is very friendly, and very attentive. This place never gets as busy as the Park St. location, and I love that. I've never had to wait more than ten minutes for a table, and whenever I get take-out I can expect it within fifteen minutes. The food and drinks are excellent, so there's not much else I can ask for.
(5)Nick S.
The food was terrible. The service was not good. The food was cold. The music is too loud that sometimes can hear it outside. This place does not need a 1 star.
(1)Candice J.
Only my 2nd time in this location since the other location is always crowded but it's been good on both occassions I visited here. Their Women's restroom was out of order so I had to use the Men's & one of the servers even guarded the door for me so that was a nice. Fiancé & I always share a Famoso Burrito (Wet burrito) and it has never failed us. Sangria is bomb as hell so it's a must try if you decide to go!
(4)Kristen D.
If you're looking for a lively dinner spot on a Saturday night, you've come to the right place. La Penca Azul (formerly known as La Pinata #4) possesses the 3G's: Great food, great drinks, and great service. (Why 4 stars? Well, good things often aren't cheap) Now everything about this place is amazing, but I must devote the rest of this review to the highlight of my experience: my meal I don't know about you, but when I go out to eat I always pick something that I know I can't cook on my own. Right away the Cazuelas grabbed my eye. In a nutshell, a cazuela describes the type of hot plate used to cook a mixture of "stuff". I chose the Combination Cazuela that included shrimp, steak, chicken, cactus, chorizo, grilled onions, avocado, cheese, and some special sauce. It was served with rice, beans, and tortillas. It's a dish that can easily serve two. Now I have to say that this dish was unlike anything I've ever eaten before! Thank god I stopped myself before I doused my first bite with hot sauce because the sauce used to simmer the ingredients in was out of this world! Seriously the flavors on that dish were absolutely tantalizing! I can't wait to go back and get myself another cazuela! (And I suggest you do the same!)
(4)A J.
Their Mexican food is ok. One thing I don't like about them is that they put the old cheaper price outside and, when you get inside, you will find a bit higher new price on the menu. I hope that they fix it now.
(3)Zulu Q.
I haven't even been back in California for three weeks, but I've already been to this place THREE times! It's coincidence (and a super bonus) that it's so close to my work. Their three street taco lunch special is amazing. The carnitas are the right amount of crisp. The salsa is the right amount of spice. They actually get the tortillas a little greasy and crispy. The chips and salsa always hit the spot. The service is prompt and friendly. AND, it's also right on the water at Harbor Bay. If I ever get out of work early enough, I'd love to just chill for the night with their margaritas. (I've had them at their Park Street location). I mean, they may have to fish me out from under a table and shove me into a very expensive taxi back to Oakland because I'm sure two of their tasty houses will do me in, but it would be worth it. I've been torn about moving back home, and then I remember that places like this exist...and that makes it right. (Well, that and the jobs are back here). So, you know, to all you East Coast friends who get annoyed with me bitching about Boston's Mexican food, I'll take you here if you visit me.
(5)Henry G.
I love it here, its open until 3 am so i can go grab a bite right after work. They food is hecka good
(5)A C.
Ordered the carnitas. They were dry and no flavor. Menu says they are marinated. I ordered flour tortillas and they game me corn. Had to wait while they went and made the tortillas. Food got cold it took so long. Rice was bland. Some of the beans were hard, like they were not cooked properly. Would not come back again unless all I wanted was tequila. I guess they are fixated on the tequila and not the food.
(1)Shamina K.
This place never disappoints! I recommend you try the enchiladas suisas (sp?), the sauce they pour over these enchiladas is delicioso! I also like their spicy chicken soup, it's super good on a cold day. I've been here a couple of time for breakfast as well and surprisingly the breakfast menu is pretty extensive and good as well. My favorite dish though is the Pescado Especial, which is a whole fish dipped in a light batter, fried and served with some garlic and chili sauce. I honestly haven't had anything that tasted bad here. Even the chips and salsa is pretty good!
(4)Cece C.
Went here for lunch during our spring break vacation and it's one of the best mexican restaurant I've ever been to. Their nachos with refried bean dipsis the best! Their street tacos is just super delicious. Overall, good restaurant. Highly recommended!
(5)G A.
I got 3 street tacos with carne asada, carnitas, and al pastor. Pretty good!! I left satisfied and will return. Tip- don't let the corn tortillas get soggy. Put a napkin under it?
(4)Miss H K.
I'm definitely a fan of La Pinata in San Leandro but La Penca is closer to my work so I come here for lunch or to go more often. Service/food here is not bad but not as good as La Pinata. I usually order the chicken enchiladas which is filling. The rice is kind of dry I've found but the chips/salsa are good. I like the location near the water and the inside is festive and good for group or small dining. They also have a lunch specials (my coworkers like the street taco lunch) Overall, not bad.
(3)Armando Z.
Official Mexican here... This place is pretty good. It's not gourmet, the music is wrong but the food is B to A+ , they serve Micheladas and excellent tequila . Try to wander off the taco/ burritto's most Americans think is the only Mexican food.
(4)Warren W.
My wife and I have come here many times for both dinner and Sunday breakfast, and this place is definitely one of our favorites in Alameda! Our favorite thing to do is to come during the weekends and request the Happy Hour menu. On that menu are some smaller dishes for a great price ($5). The shrimp tacos they have are amazing. You get two of them, and they leave your fingers smelling like heaven for the next few hours. The pork tacos are a bit salty for me, but still taste pretty good and is a great deal as you get three of them. We also really like their pescado, and their chips and salsa definitely rank up there among the best we've ever had. I think their specialty dishes are much better and more interesting than their generic entree plates (like burritos and enchiladas). For regular burritos, I think I'd rather just go to a taco truck. There are also many incentives to dine here, such as the VIP card (every $100 spent you get a free meal), and discounted gift cards that you can buy from their website for discount ($100 gift card for $75). I'm not sure if you can combine the two or not, but regardless, it's a great deal. The service here, from what I've experienced, is adequate, although there are occasions where it's a bit slow. The only other cons I can think of are that some of the dishes are saltier than I like, and that some of the meat is also a bit dry. However, when I'm scarfing down those delicious, juicy, perfectly seasoned shrimp tacos, who cares?
(4)Daisy M.
Well maybe i got the wrong plate. the flavor was not as good as i was expecting. their vegetables were not so fresh i could feel it in my mouth. I got the chicken mango salsa bowl. Maybe next time i get something else and ill update this review. Oh but their prepared mirenal water was delicious.
(3)Caroline C.
My family and I were diehard Acapulco fans, so naturally, (then-) La Piñata on Park Street was the enemy -- a bitter rival of sorts. Tragically, Acapulco is no more, and in the interim La Piñata opened a branch on Bayfarm Island (where I live), replacing the atrocious Mexican restaurant that preceded it, and renamed itself La Penca Azul. All in all, we're cool now. Lots to like about this restaurant. Proximity is unbeatable (5 minute drive; 15 minute walk now that I know about their happy hour prices..). Their chips are light with just the right amount of salt, and the salsa is an appropriate level of spicy. Refills are frequent; luckily the turnaround time between ordering and receiving one's food is minimal because my stomach morphs into an endless chip-eating vat when I come here. I'm usually seated right away, but if they're busy -- fear not -- ESPN is always on at the bar's multiple TVs. Food-wise, portions are large. Their rice and beans are solid -- I like to pour some salsa on my rice (maybe this is weird. I just really like that damn salsa.) -- and I typically order something simple like a chicken quesadilla (excellent gooey cheese to chicken ratio, even if the chicken's a little dry) or a chicken burrito (not as good as a taqueria burrito, but good). Open late(r than pretty much anywhere in Alameda), so it's a favorite destination after Warriors games or other evening engagements. And if you're having a Mexican craving and don't want to feel like a loner at a table for one (i.e. me a few days ago), phone orders are ready to be picked up in 10-15 minutes. As a side note, I love ice water and down it embarrassingly when I go out to dinner, particularly if there is any hint of spiciness involved. Nothing irritates me more than a prolonged empty water glass, and this never happens at La Penca Azul! Cheers to that.
(4)Justin A.
This is what me and my friend call the "under spot" because nobody knows about this location but yet it is the best of all them. The owner and employees are very sociable. The food is pretty good. And it doesn't smell unlike the one in Alameda. If you go here and your drinking, ask for the special drinks that they make. The Traffic Light consist of 3 drinks and the Blackout is there newest one.
(4)Fred B.
Hands down the BEST La Penca Azul out of all of them! The location is a little bit difficult to find, but there's always seating, and you never have to wait for a table! I'm not quite sure but I think this place may have a few things on their menu that the other places don't have! The staff here is the real reason why I pass 2 La Penca Azul's just to come here! Their very down to earth, and makes you feel like your apart of the crew! The bar!!!!!..... GREAT!!! The only place you can get a D.U.I special! ( its a red drink, yellow drink, and a green drink) I walk in one day while they were coming up with this drink. I'm officially the first customer who ever had the 3 drink special! And I must say its a must get! The food!!!!!.... GREAT!!!! I like the different styles of plates they use, gives it a more classier feel. And also; the bacon wrapped shrim/ with the cilantro ranch dipping sauce! A must get! Overall great place, and my fav place to watch MNF. Up stairs has a nice tv with a small seating section.
(5)Dennis S.
I was excited about this location when it first opened. But, was disappointed in the end. I've been a long time patron of La Pinata's other locations. The San Leandro and Concord off-top are their best bets. The first couple of meals at Bay Farm were good, except their service was a little slower. They were still working out the kinks, so this got a pass. But, overtime the service and restaurant have failed me and my family of hungry customers. Even when they're not busy they ignore the customer. Their Pescado, clearly says "LARGE", we got a deep fried dry guppy on a platter. When we brought it up to the servers they just said, "oh sometimes they are big and sometimes small." "If they're really small, we give two." So where's the other one? Check please, and what's your managers' name? Better off in San Leandro or Concord: They have plentiful portions on everything, the food has flavor and isn't old. Everything Bay Farm isn't!
(1)Brent T.
So I went there for lunch today. I'm just starting to play with Yelp when I'm at places and thought I'd check in there at the restaurant to play around. Well they offer a 15% discount when you check in. It said to show your server which I did and she clicked on 'use now' on the yelp app. Well what's the use for them to offer it when she never took it off my bill? I didn't realize until after I had paid and she bought back my change. I just left without saying anything. Disappointed by that!
(3)Internet S.
Stopped in again while in town. They were busy. I had the chicken flautas full dinner which came with refried beans and rice. Complimentary chips were also served. Food was good and service was quick. Would recommend going.
(4)Justin R.
Food is starting to fail. Order the street tacos but NOT the regular taco that goes with the combos. Some guy that worked there intentionally threatened to hit me with his truck. Service is up and down.
(2)Michael F.
Can't beat their breakfast chorizo burrito for 6 bucks and if you call ahead it will be ready in 5-10 minutes. And it is HUGE.
(5)LL T.
It's nice to have you on Bay Farm. And I love the fact that you serve similar food like the one on the main island. My favorites are your flautas and el pastor tacos. Lately I've noticed that your service has gone downhill. First the food was slow in coming out. Then tonight we had to search out a waiter to take our order (after waiting 10 minutes) AND had to find a waiter - any waiter because we didn't know who our waiter was and no one came by - to get us our food. This was bad enough that I'm not sure I'm coming back here ever again. If you want the Bay Farm crowd to keep giving you their business, please do something about the service. This may be your downfall.
(3)Alison S.
I gotta say I don't really know Mexican food. You have to forgive me; I'm from Canada, which is pretty far away from Mexico. Growing up I had one friend who spoke Spanish at home; her family was from Nicaragua though. Anyway, I digress. Food: HUGE portions!!! I ordered the carnitas plate and was greeted with huge chunks of marinated and bbq'd pork, a large pile of rice, a large pile of beans, and a big scoop of guacamole. One of my friends had the carne asada, equally humongous, and the other had a half portion of what I think was an enchilada that she ate half of. Lunch tomorrow for everybody!!! It all tasted pretty good, I liked my friend's carne asada better than my carnitas though. Also I was not crazy about the pickled veggies. Service: Our server was really attentive and on top of things. He made sure to always ask if we wanted coke refills when the glasses were half full as well as if we wanted any refills on the complimentary chips and salsa. Oh yeah the salsa...yummy! Nice chipotle and cilantro flavour to it. Ambience: It was really noisy because there was a basketball game on TV (Lakers vs. Celtics). Tables are a little close together, but I didn't knock anything over getting up and sitting down. Bathrooms are nice and clean, yay! Always a plus anywhere. I enjoyed my meal here; not sure when I'll be back since I'm not a big eater of Mexican fare, but from the sounds of some of these reviews I need to come in and have some drinks during happy hour...how could I say no to that?
(3)Patty A.
Being a native of SoCal but now living in Tahoe I've missed good Mexican seafood...This place was beyond amazing! Bacon wrapped shrimp with homemade corn tortillas and that cilantro sauce it comes with...WOW! to top it off the service was wonderful, we had fresh chips and salsa at the table as we were being seated. Best Mexican Seafood I've had in years! Will come back here anytime I visit the Bay Area!
(5)Carol V.
I've been here for lunch, dinner, HH, late night, you name it. Open early for breakfast and late for the drunkards. Good burrito, good food, big portions. Their chips and dip are to die for and its free (WHAT?). When I walk in, they always have great service too! I just love how when I would get off work in Alameda, this cute little town everyone would just meet here. It's just a good family feel to it and I really applaud them for their contributions to the community. Oh and your crazy meatball soup, yummy! I miss you, come down to LA please.
(4)E-man A.
Service was excellent! They were busy but the food came out in a timely manner. The waiter gave us what we needed with out us asking. Wish I asked his name so I can give him credit. Food was good. Not the best I tasted but good. Missing 1 star in rating just because the plate that my soup came with was dirty., That to me is simply not acceptable. Made the soup a complete turn off. We'll return for sure. In hopes that the plates come out clean next time.
(4)H T.
Noticed this restaurant a while ago, but remembered it when it was La Piñata. Never tried it because never really experienced much good eats on Bay Farm Island. Saw Yelp reviews and decided to try it out, after reading the positive reviews. So glad I did! So delicious! The ambiance was good, the free chips/salsa were tasty, the service was friendly/prompt and the freshness of our food was impeccable! I had a variety of tacos (tongue, carne asada, and pastor). My kids both had a breaded fish kids menu dish and my wife had carne asada, chicken, carnitas tacos. All VERY tasty. They had a Yelp 15% discount for checking in, so even better! My only complaint and not enough for a star deduction was their margaritas. I had 2 but they were very weak. No biggie, Pacifico draft next time instead. La Penca Azul is a real winner! I'm definitely a fan.
(5)Tasha W.
Ok I have to update my review, La Pinata was one of my favorite places to get good Mexican food. I would go there often and the place stayed packed. They sold the place and changed the name. I had been there since and it was still pretty good. I moved to Los Angeles and could not find good mexian food to save my life who'd have thunk. Anyway I was craving some good enchiladas and ordered, I was so Disappointed when I got home and ate it. My mouth was so ready for the nice cheesy deliciousness I was craving. Next time I will be going to the La Pinata out in San Leandro
(2)Chase W.
8-24-11 VOID AT ALL COST!!!!!!!!!!!!WORST SERVICE EVER!!!!!!!!! Last night A friend an i walked in at 9pm an got promptly seated...She ordered the Chicken Salad as i ordered the Chicken fajitas...She got a class of wine while i had my Corona...My plate came first Which was completely wrong as they completely forgot about my Friends Salad...I asked the waiter wheres her Salad an he gave us a blank stare then ran in back..Then i noticed my plate wasnt what i ordered at all...Its was a Fajita plate but it was a mix of steak chicken an Shrimp in which i am allergic too.. So i grab the waiter again an tell him..Hey Wrong plate an still waiting for my friends Salad... Again Blank stare he took the plate an ran in back..After waiting another 15 min for or correct food that we ordered and still have not gotten even the damn salad. I finally asked for the Manager.. As i tell the manager whats going on His excuse was..Sorry for the confusion you came in when there was a rush of people..I reply a rush of people theres only 4 small tables of familys in here besides us an nobody walked in at the same time as us.. That place is completely lost in general..Lack of service Lack of Commication.Lack of Customer service..They clearly do not know what they are doing there..The worst service i have ever experienced ever..We Walked OUT after she finished her wine an i finished my Beer What i complete Disapointment in the Quality of Service in this great place of Alameda...VOID AT ALL COSTS!!!! Chase Wilson Bay Farm/Alameda Ca
(1)Ts S.
Average Mexican food place.. Try their Mexican breakfast.. Something different and I definitely loved it!
(4)Bob M.
We were a group of eight, one that have dined monthly since we all worked together twenty years ago. And all food service people as well: managers, chefs and nutritionists from healthcare backgrounds. Due to the size of the party and the generous amounts of beer I personally consumed, I can only comment on my own items. They were, in fact, great. I did discover a cocktail called a Michelata or a Michelinda or maybe a Michelin (no, that's a tire) that was a bunch of spices, cucumbers and stuff into which I poured a Negro Modelo. Served in a huge, thick bowl-like stemmed glass, I enjoyed a coupla these whilst feasting on some guacamole, chips, nachos and empanada appetizers. And a pitcher of Pacifico. My main course was sort of a casserole with loads of tasty carne asada, the name of which escapes me. My wife had a selection of the Taco Truck Tacos and seemed less than ecstatic. I haven't a clue what the other six had but everyone seemed happy as hell. I believe dessert was served, I do remember something with ice cream that tasted quite good. My wife drove home. The selection of restaurant and payment of these monthly dinners rotates and this was my wife's turn. The bill was a lot (somewhere between a hunnert bucks and five thousand bucks, I'm not sure) so it's never a cheap event but it was good value here at La Penca Azul. We will definitely come back if we can find it again.
(4)Isabel G.
Huevos rancheros!
(5)Emme C.
Really happy that there's a location on Bay Farm island. Family-friendly, not as crowded as Park St. location, delicious food. Plus ample parking!! Our favorites are the street tacos--we've tried the carne asada, fish, lengua, carnitas. All yummy. And cheap! Chimichangas, nachos, horchata are very good too.
(5)Teh A.
Pretty much the best place evar :P
(5)Joe T.
Best Mexican food in the bay, hands down.
(5)Egan B.
You guys bummed me out. I know I live in Oakland and I'm spoiled with great Mexican food. I'm not sure why I thought I'd find it in Alameda, but I thought I'd give it a try. The meal wasn't bad to be fair, but it wasn't all that great either. The portions are big and the food tastes fine but less than amazing. Charging in the neighborhood of $15-$25 for your entrées is not reasonable. Especially when you won't honor my restaurant.com since your silly restrictions say "food only." Restaurant & Tequila bar right? Come on, what a cop out. Maybe if you change the terms on the restaurant.com I might come back, but my experience left me feeling a little taken advantage of so I'm staying away for now.
(2)Danielle L.
I can say they have good margaritas and an extensive tequila collection. I tried several flavors I have never tried before, including tamerind, coconut, pineapple, blackberry, and possibly one or two others I can't quite remember the names of... My only complaint is that the spicy food could be spicier. Of course, this is my usual complaint, but when something has that little red pepper next to it on the menu, you expect it to be spicy...ah well. The service was great, nothing to complain about. Four solid stars for non-taquiria mexican food!
(4)Thomas L.
This restaurant changed names form the La Pinata but it's still pretty good. The food is tasty but is not authentic like some restaurants in SF but I will go back again. The best part is the bar.
(4)Nihaar G.
Quality mexican food and ambience in Harbor Bay. Festive vibe, great selection and super friendly staff.
(4)Lena L.
I was here last Friday night working an event and the employees are extremely accommodating and nice. The manager was extremely helpful and the bartenders were a pleasure to work with! They have this great looking alcoholic drink that comes in a clay pot! I would def come here to dine in.
(4)Maria L.
YUMMY is all I have to say for this place. Not just great bang for your buck but the customer service is excellent. We have always had a great experience and great food when coming here. ENJOY
(5)Chris R.
Love their chips, salsa, soups, Mexican street tacso and burritos. They open early for breakfast. So good.
(4)Casey D.
what a fun place! go alameda for providing me with some solid mexican food and rad atmoshpere. it was rather busy for a thursday rainy night. the line to sit in the main dinning area was out the door so my main squeeze and myself opted to sit in the bar. the bar turned out to be just as packed but we found a spot by the window..sweet! the bar staff was super on it (refilling chips, salsa, drinks) even though we werent physically at the bar, which meant they had to leave their busy post to serve us. our food arrived, promptly, and it was the biggest burrito ive ever seen!! yikes was i being entered into a surprise eating contest! i looked aroud for cameras to document my taking down of this entire but there was none. so i guess this oversized gigantic burrito was not a joke but a meal. it had average flavor and didnt host too much excitement to my tastebuds. over all the staff was rad, atomophere was fun, but the food (the most important aspect for customer return) was flavorless.
(4)Ashley J.
You better be starving when you come here! The portions are ridiculously huge. This is a fun mexican joint with authentic mexican food! The tequilla bar is also impressive. I have been here several times (always get a pitcher of margaritas) with friends. They have awesome quacamole and the burrito fed me for like 3 days!
(4)John K.
Good local Mexican food. Great tacos al pastor, carnitas dinner and salads. The whole fried fish looks delicious. Loud and kid friendly.
(3)Annie D.
i'm so happy that la pinata opened in walking distance of my house. I dont have to drive all the way to park st and search for the limited park they offer. The food is great as always and friendly service.
(4)Charlie W.
I would say this is the lesser known la piñata in the area. When people say la piñata they generally think of the one on park st. However, little do they know that this is the hidden one on the bay farm island. The food here and the drinks are pretty much identical-- reason being, they are run by the same owner. However, because this one is in the neighborhood setting, the wait usually is a lot shorter. Like all other restaurant of this sort, you don't really come here for quality or authentic Mexican food. If you are shocked by the previous statement, you may stop reading this review now. Still with me? Ok.. La piñata is really a place to come for wannabe Mexican food and margarita. Their food are pretty descent in taste, but nothing out of this world. At times some of the food can be on the dry side, especially the red sauce enchilada. I really don't mind because like I said I didn't come here for the food. Their margarita on the other hand is pretty good. I usually order a pitcher with my friends and serve it on the rocks. Their top shelf selection is better. Bartender also very nice. Don't forget bout their happy hr special neither. I believe it's before 6pm. Check for specific details. I will give them 1 star for food.. One for their alcohol and one for service.. Totaling three.
(3)Ash S.
If you don't get the new mexico enchiladas with a fried egg on top, you're really really missing out. Seriously, just try it. Great food, reasonable prices, fast service too. Try the house tequila, it's great.
(4)Jose O.
I have given La Piñata so many opportunities (over five) I'm disgusted with myself. I really wish they would serve Mexican food, but the junk that comes out of their kitchen is not real. I have tried their breakfast, lunch and dinner. All their meals have been disappointing and I'm always left saying "why do I come here?". If you headed over to Safeway purchased a frozen Mexican burrito, nuked the sucked, drowned it in cheese and ignored yourself; you would have had a better experience. I understand La Piñata has been around for over 20 years but come on people it's definitely not delicious, it's not good and it barely borderlines "ok". I attribute the zombies that dine at La Piñata to pure convenience. The Bad: - The seating arrangement is tight - The Mole enchiladas are a disgraced, the mole was obviously from a can. The sauce had no trace of chocolate. -The Piña margarita was nasty; it had no flavor of piña and very little alcohol. -The coke syrup ratio was off (sweet). I'm a hardcore coke fan and I know my shit. This really bugs me because it's such an easy fix. -The Staff was not responsive and on many occasions our table was just over looked. The Good: - Fast food, my party of four had all its food in less than 10min. w/a packed house. - The tacos are on the healthy end and had almost no grease. - Salsa & Chips - Plenty of parking -The decor is entertaining, the type of crap people come to expect of Mexican restaurants. It's such a stereotype it's sad...and funny. There really isn't a good reason to dine at La Piñata, the Bay Area offers sooo much more, don't waste your time and money on barely noticeable "Mexican" food. Last visited: 04/9/2010
(2)Thomas P.
What can I say about this place??? I frequent the Park st location as well as the Bay Farm one (since I moved to Bay Farm). I love it. It's a great place to go after a rehearsal or if my wife and I are too tired to cook and want good service. The service has always been outstanding and the quality of food is awesome. My wife and I always have our favorites to order and it's always as good as we hope it will be. Get to know the staff too and I guarantee you'll be taken care of. Omar and Ramon are of our favorites but if they're not there, the staff is always outstanding.
(4)Piper m.
I have been coming here for years and I always have a good time, possibly because I always come with friends I love talking to over a pitcher (or 2) of margaritas! The chips and salsa are good, there is plenty of selection of fruit options for margaritas and recently I discovered their mango mojito which was quite good..I have enjoyed their fish plates, though on the pricier side for what they are. I will say that I wont be ordering the appetizer sampler again- not that it was terrible but I prefer the lighter dishes to this greasy tower of typical pub snacks..they weren't bad, they just left me feeling greasy without having eaten anything outstanding. Again, this is a place I love mostly for the fact that its a great place to get together with friends late night after work!
(3)Jerry J.
OK, big fan as the food is excellent! Ton's of great Tequila's, good location on Park St. and fun decor. Now the bad part...drove out from Castro Valley for "brunch" based on good reviews. The service was a disaster, rude and rushed to start. I had to question why the 3 of us all had very different breakfast menus with different items! She looked at them and told me I was wrong then I proceeded to point out the many differences. They were not just font and layout but prices and actual menu items. She said "oh well" what do you want? I then had to ask what was the buffet set up in the front and how did that work. She again seemed a little miffed but finally explained it was $12.95 brunch....no other explanation. Well now, my Chorizo and eggs were fantastic and food and price excellent but WTF! I must admit I'm still shaking my head but you know it's all worth it for food this good.
(4)Mace M.
This place is super cutty. I would've never known it was here if I hadn't come here with a friend. The place is pretty nice, more spacious than the La P#1, but smaller than #3. They have an amazing list of tequilas, and a full bar. I had a "Purple Long Island", basically a long island with Chambord in it. For $7 it was well worth it, more or less it was pure alcohol. Among our friends we had a burrito dinner, taquitos, enchiladas and carnitas. I had the carnitas, and they were pretty good, but the beans and rice were okay. The chips here are amazing, and fresh, as always. The salsa, on the other hand, wasn't the best I've had. To me, it didn't have enough flavor or heat. Service was alright, though we got forgotten about a couple of times. I'd come back again to give it another shot, as it has some of the better food out of the La Pinatas I've been to.
(3)Lauren L.
I love the feeling I get when I walk into a Mexican Restaurant and have no idea how the night will turn out to be. Luckily for me, this was a TOP NIGHT. My cousin brought me here on a busy Friday night and we managed to squeeze our way to the bar. After awhile we gave up the idea of a table and decided to stay @ the bar. This was the best decision yet. The bartenders were beyond attentive and gave us numerous "tasting shots" of their own La Pinata tequila they have for sale. At this point everything sounded good on the menu. I went with the carne asada taco. They have a single, half and dinner portion all reasonably priced. I got the half which includes rice and beans. Even without my tequila shots this taco had great flavor. The only reason for 4 stars was because of the tasteless chips and salsa. Just FYI, The place is tucked in the corner of this shopping center and not easily noticed from the street.
(4)AJ C.
I actually think it's 3.5 stars, but I rounded up. Good Food, Great Service. I tend to always order a seafood dish, which always seems to be on the pricier side... The portions are huge, but so is the price. If you pack leftovers, as I always do, then I guess it comes to about $7/meal - which sounds like a better deal. I love the place cause it's loud and kid friendly.
(4)Tania H.
Other than there liquor drinks the food isn't good at all. It doesn't have that Mexican flavor (coming from a mexican) with the rite ingredients/spices. Very disappointed thought it would be more tasteful.
(2)Camille K.
This La Pinata features a small waiting area, a small bar and a small dining room with a small view of the lagoon. The alcoholic beverage menu is also small, with vastly different selections from the Park Street location. While I liked the Smokey Margarita (made with mezcal!), I have had better huevos rancheros. The spicy pickled carrots, which are served with most meals, are cut into large slices, unlike their shredded primos on Park Street. Kudos to the traveling waiters for remembering me from their Park Street locale! About those waiters. There are so many men in black zipping around that it's hard to tell who is exact your waiter. We had at least five men and one woman taking care of us, if you can call it care. That said, I would still take friends and family here. It's La Pinata after all. You can't beat chips and salsa with booze and good conversation!
(3)Josh A.
Very impressed by their tequila selection, so I had to try one with my cousin. I got the aged Cazadores and it came with a little glass of spicey tomato juice, which was a nice touch. The food wasn't too bad either. I was kind of disappointed with the tamales, which I was hoping would be more authentic and not drenched in red sauce, but oh well. Still was a pretty good place with great service.
(3)Ramon V.
Having grown disenchanted with La Pinata 3, we decided to try this one, which gets better reviews. The wife enjoyed her meal (I think the tequila helps), but mine was mediocre. I ordered the appetizer platter, which was so much food! It was all pretty good, but the wings were cold, and none of it was anything special. It was happy hour, so it was a good deal for all that food. I also ordered one al pastor taco (of course), and it was ok. A different menu than the other La Pinata we've been to, and that was a good thing, but still the food was just so-so. Service was good.
(3)Siu Mei M.
the park st la penca azul was disappointing me again and again so i decided to try out the bayfarm location. my cobb salad was supposed to come with avocado. that was the reason i ordered it. there was no avocado. the waiter took forever to get us the check. in fact he didnt come by the table at all after food was served... even though our drinks were empty and we kept trying to wave his dumbass over. they sat us down in a corner right next to a big party going on... the back of my bf's seat was touching the party guy's seat... not cool. and i dunno if the bar tender was hitting on me or just liked to ask a bunch of questions... cuz all i wanted to know was where the restroom was. wont come back. i miss la pinata.
(2)Sharee g.
Talk about a hidden gem!!! I'm suck a dork I drove around for a good 15-20min looking for this place. I wish there was better signage for those looking for this place at night time. but anyways I FOUND IT!!! And I like it...yah it's small, the drinks aren't as great as #2-San Leandro (maybe it was just the bartender) but eh' they ALL can't be great. I think that they place could've been designed a little better, but considering the area I guess that was the best that they could do. I'm not too worried about this one being too over crowded, like the others, because it's soo small even the bar area. It's kinda odd to crank your neck to either the right or left side just to watch t.v. In any event I'll definitely be back.......maybe, just maybe this week!
(5)Tina L.
I always forget how many La Pinata's there are. I started eating at them years ago at the Hayward location that had the burro and cart top. It was one of our favorite places to go for mexican food and the prices were great. Then I started to go to LP in San Leandro which I did not think the food was as good as in Hayward but it is bigger and they do have a large bar with many tequila choices so that was a plus. Last night I dined again at LP Alameda have not been there in while. It was busy early but they seated everyone promptly. Our servers, yes servers we actually lost track there were so many that came to our table. Not sure if that was normal or due to two females dressed for the evening and dining so service was good. One server took our drink order and left then another server came and took our drink order which we told him we already gave. Then we were each brought two glasses of water, not sure if we looked very thirsty. In some countries you have to ask for water do to shortages but we had plenty. Then one drink came and not the other one. Probably took longer to crush the fresh blackberries for my Mojito, yum! It was flavorful but I think they may have forgot the rum is a part of the recipe because I could not taste any. We then order or food which came hot and quickly. We both received just what we ordered and it was fresh and we enjoyed our food. I was a bit surprised in regards to the increase of prices. Even thou this place is a-okay it is not top notch mexican food with great ambiance and with the high prices you would think it should be. There are so many good mexican restaurants that have great prices with flavorful food that can be selected. Our bill for one half dinner, one ala carte item and two drinks was $32 this is high for what we had. One Tostada Ceviche which usually runs under $3.00 at most places was over $5 here.
(3)Charlie H.
La Penca Azul is one of my favorite Mexican restaurant in Alameda. I would come here when I want a yummy meal. This place often stayed pack with people, their food is always fresh and tasty. Burrito here is so big it can last me 2-3 meals. I also love their seafood soup!!
(4)Kevin W.
La Pinata catered a Cinco De Mayo party at one of my former employers a couple years ago, they were over an hour late and when they did arrive they had half of what we had ordered. Never the less - their restaurant will never have me stepping through their doors since they couldn't get a large group party of food to feed 150 people under their belt.
(2)David W.
I actually don't like Mexican food that much... but when they opened LP on Bay Farm, we tried it out several times because of fond memories at the main island LP. I think it was better when the Famosa burrito wasn't as expensive, since it was such a great deal because of the size. The restaurant has a good atmosphere and it good for groups, and very convenient if you live on Bay Farm, as well as for late nighters, since very few places open late night...
(3)Jennifer T.
I've been here a few times for lunch and dinner. I liked the happy hour food special deals, but you have to order before 6pm. Good Mexican food and I like the free chips and salsa!
(3)Ready To Be S.
Suzy the hostess is bold face LIAR. Called to make reservations to which she states over the phone, wait time is 15 minutes. I live in the neighborhood and arrive in 10 minutes. She doesn't ask for my name and hands me a pager. I ask her again for the wait time and she looks at me without blinking and states less than 15 minutes. I'm skeptical so I go grab a cup of coffee and pastry at the cafe. One hour later, I walk in to drop off the pager. She grabs it without question to place in the pile of pagers. When I tell her my pager never went off, she grabs a menu and states she called my name. Really? My pager doesn't go off and you called my name? What's my name, I ask. She ignores my question and states she has a table ready for me. If I wasn't with my son, I'd have caused a huge scene and asked for a manager. I wasn't the only irritated one as another patron walked in immediately after witnessing my situation. I told him good luck! I can't believe they have such incompetent staff. Sorry folks there are definitely other Mexican restaurants within 15 minutes of Alameda, but I'm banning this place for wasting my time.
(1)IQ I.
good accommodating service, plenty of food with reasonable price except seafood items. For instance, $3.59 for fish tacos, nice presentation but with very little meat. Loving their colorful take out menu has QR code printed which means the complete menu can be viewed and stored via iphone in no time after scanning.
(4)Michele W.
Love the chips and salsa! A Mexican place has to have good salsa or they'll lose my business forever. Tried a few different dishes and they are all good. Gotta get a Cadillac Margarita too!
(4)Erica R.
Great location considering there is not many lunch options for those of us who work off of Bay Farm Island. Food is always good, lunch specials are great and the waiters are always friendly and quick! Couldn't ask for anything more :)
(5)David L.
The first thing I noticed about this La Pinata is their small dining room. Our party of 9 has to wait 40 minutes for our table at 6:30 on a Saturday night, but we were able to browse through their extensive menu and picked out what we wanted. I ordered the Tacos de Pescado ($13.89), which comes with a very generic green salad, two grilled fish tacos, beans and rice. The fish was good but everything else was just so-so. The wait staff did okay for a group of our size but at times forgetful and not proactive enough. Bottom Line: Decent eats for Bay Farm residents, but wouldn't go out of my way for this.
(3)Legal C.
Came here to the Bay Island location, first time and it was a great time. 1) Any Mexican place has to have great salsa & chips to begin with, and this place has done them very well. Crisy, thin, with really good salsa (not to thick, not too thin). 2) Excellent menu choices, I went with the street tacos, and they tasted as good as in the Mission. They even chop up the shrimp so you get a little bit in each bite! 3) Excellent happy hours, great service, and friendly staff. I'll be back soon.
(5)T.J. P.
I didn't realize there's two La Pinata in Alameda until recently. This one was really hard to find. My friends and I took a few minutes to find this place. Parking is not hard to find since it's part of outdoor mall and you have a nice view of the Lagoon. This place is much smaller than the one at Park St and from what I saw, it's not as busy. It's the same great food and friendly staff. The only thing I didn't like about it was the atmosphere. I don't know why, but I prefer the bigger and busier one at Park St.
(4)Eve B.
Wow, this place was packed! We had so much fun here! The food was great, the service was great (It was a lil slow at times due to the amount of people they were serving). It was just fun all around. Our whole group left there very satisfied.
(5)Pat S.
The only thing that I order here is the regular steak burrito for about $7. The burrito contains plenty of rice and meat, and is tasty. The actual size is more than enough for dinner, and is certainly too much for lunch (to the point that you would have enough left over for a second lunch on the next day). From what I hear, their quesadillas are quite good too. And from what I see, their burgers are pretty good as well. Even though you are at a Mexican restaurant, there is no shame in ordering American food there from time to time! The service here is great. The waiters are always very nice and will meet your demands (e.g. if you ask for more chips) within a minute or two.
(4)Christina K.
An obvious choice for kid-friendly dining on the Island. Margaritas are strong, chips and salsa is plentiful, service is quick and efficient, and there is an extensive kids menu. We prefer the Bay Farm location when dining with out little one just because it's a little quieter.
(4)Ted R.
Solid lunch spot, with good food and a pleasant-enough strip mall location that's redeemed by being waterside. Prompt, courteous lunch service keeps the business crowd happy. The fish tacos are tasty, with yummy corn tortillas.
(3)Ronnica E.
A few weeks back on my off day, a Tuesday, I had got all Lady GaGa dressed up and decided to treat myself. That same day I'd learned about happy. I went over to La Pinata and ordered a whole Redsnapper and a pitcher of their house margarita. Man did I feel like a Queen. the service was excellent. Food and drinks were Great. I'm off tomorrow and that's where you will find me... ; )
(5)Melissa G.
I dropped in for a business lunch with a group and we are pretty darn happy by the time we got to the bottom of the margarita pitcher... ;) That may have been part of the reason, but we really liked the food too! The chips and salsa were tasty, with a nice kick! We had chicken mole enchiladas, combo plates of tacos, chile rellenos and enchiladas, and quesadillas...a little sampling of everything and it was really good with huge portions! I was kind of overwhelmed by the huge serving plates, but several of us took home doggie bags for the next day. Good stuff!
(4)Christy S.
Wow.. where to begin. I'll start with AWFUL! I have *Never* been to a place where I/we received such poor service.4 drink orders and only one was correct.. a margarita..go figure..NO Tia Maria ...at Bar..not to mention a *Mexican* bar/restaurant. We were actually asked..by the bartender..."whats that?" Seriously? a second waiter came to try and get the drink orders..finally thought they had it.. but, nope. I went to the bar twice to get our orders correct, *after" placing them with the waiter, and even after all that.. one never arrives.. it *was* a special and unusual order...a beer. Now the meal.. 2 dinners were cold.. I sent mine back.. it was re-heated.. not replaced w/ fresh hot food. I asked, on the sly, to speak with a manager..on the sly..so as not to embarrass or guests..so what do they do.. send 2 different 'managers' over to the table. Embarrassed. I explained our disappointments and said that I hope out final bill reflects some compensation. Oh, the explanation for the poor service... by the manager.. was that there was a language barrier...Yes, our guests were not American (nor Mexican)..they were....get ready..from ENGLAND!! Language barrier??? really??? Got $10.00 off..no offer of dessert or anything (in fact we were never even asked if we wanted dessert.)..big whoop! The place was noisy.. it was Raider game night, clientele was loud, rude and pushy.. Staff was not much better...unless you were at the bar, getting drunk and shelling out cash. so.. nope.. won't be recommending it or EVER going back...sorry La Penza Azul.. you lose...
(1)L P.
Authentic mexican food but also with an updated flavor. Service is great and buffet Sundays as well. My family and I are regulars! Great anytime of the day.
(5)Jen W.
love the happy hour 1/2 price appetizers, that they have niman ranch meat and PARKING!
(5)Gabby H.
my food is always perfect, my order is always correct and my chip basket is always full...what more could a gal want? margaritas? I hear theirs are the best...try one and see! Happy hour menu? it's last all night long, all weekend long. 4 flauntas for $5.
(5)Charlie C.
I was really excited when they opened at this location. For awhile, it was every bit as good as the Jefe spot on the main island, but the place has really fallen off. The food is still very good, but the service is terrible. I used to think it was just a lull, but I honestly can't remember the last time I got good service here. Waiters disappear, I always have to ask for everything, and there seems to be no delegation of duty among the front-of-house staff. It used to be a no-brainer to come here, now I'll think thrice.
(2)NandK O.
Love this place! The BEST margaritas we have EVER had and the best mexican food in the East Bay. Yum!!!
(5)Sandy L.
I have been a long time customer of the other La Pinata locations and have always been pleased. When they moved into this new location I was very happy and looked forward to a nice meal and a Margarita. This resturant is smaller than their other locations which makes it special. There is a real feeling of a neighborhood gathering place. The food is still excellent, the staff is very friendly, and the Margaritas are fabulous. Recently, we went in on a busy Saturday night. The service was still excellent and there was no delay in getting our drinks and food. It felt like a party and everyone was welcome. Welcome to Harbor Bay, La Pinata.
(5)R Y.
Just got home from dinner here with the family, one of the best Mexican meals we've had in a long time. Great food and service, so much food on our plates we brought home "another meal" for the weekend! I had the combo fajitas that were so tasty, lots of tender beef, chicken and shrimp; don't even remember what the wife and girls had, but no complaints about anything. To me, a potentially great Mexican restaurant must have good rice and beans, and they have the best here! I'm so happy they are here in "the neighborhood", so close to home, check it out if you get the chance, you won't be sorry!
(5)Tracy A.
Mini-Pinata. Same great taste, much smaller package.
(5)Charles S.
Everyone in Harbor Bay was atwitter when news of an outpost of La Pinata was coming. I have to say these guys have the business wired. Consistantly good food from location to location and drinks to die for. I really like the carne asada and carnitas tacos. So good while being so simple. Currently it's quite small, but they're expanding into the vacated space next door. It's too bad they didn't take over the space that crappy Enrico's once occupied with its water views.
(4)Patrick G.
Please see any review of La Pinata on Park St. It's almost exactly the same. The service is a little....different. Where on Park St. you don't really know who your server is because the entire wait staff will all help you during one sitting, this one on Bay Farm actually has set servers. All the La Pinata and half the scene.
(4)Kevin K.
I've lived in Bay Farm all my life and La Pinata might be the greatest thing thats ever hapened to our small little community. The service was amazing and the food might even be better than the one on the main island.
(5)Jona C.
I wanted to get a steak torta but paying double the price for it didn't seem reasonable so I just ordered a super burrito. I guess you pay for the atmosphere vs. eating your torta on a picnic table atop some loose gravel with debris and dust floating off of the 880 freeway. Food is good, service is very accommodating to my needs, eg. more water, lime, pickled carrots/jalapenos, radishes etc. Their taco truck is still my favorite La Pinata!!
(4)Anna G.
We came here to celebrate my cousins B-day last Friday night. My cousin said she made reservations for 8pm so we arrive like 5 min to 8pm and I see our group sitting by the door not even seated. It takes them about 20 min to seat us after the fact that we had reservations. NO BUENO! Boo! While we are waiting for our table, I decided to order a drink. I ordered a Mai Tai and paid 9 buckz for a weak as drink tasted like Kool-Aid. I was very disappointed. I thought well maybe its just the guy that served my drink but my sister also ordered one and it taste the same. No Alcohol what so ever. So then we go to order and I ordered the Camarones Puerto Vallarta, Prawns stuffed with cheese and then wrapped in bacon with rice n beans. The prawns were good but the rice was not all that great. My daughter had the Half Order of Enchiladas de Mole and when she got them she did not like at all the sauce. I tried it and it was not good missing some flavor, and its not like she just didn't like em because she loves mole but sauce was gross. Im Mexican and I know good Mexican food when I taste some but this Mole was not good and even the color was off. My husband said he supper burrito was just ok. Overall I dont't think I will be coming back to La Penca Azul for food nor drinks....LP in San Leandro is way better than this place. The drinks are actually strong and at least you are getting your monies worth.
(2)Mike D.
This is a bay farm island gem. Newly built just last year, building off the immense popularity of LP on Park St. in Alameda. The staff are great, super fast (they work a tight, professional rotation where everyone knows their role), and the food is 2nd to none. Exceptional top shelf tequila bar, they also serve their own LP brand. I live on bay farm which is quite exclusive. We aim to keep it that way. So if you're interested in LP, visit the one on Park St. That way there will be less wait for me and my family. Godspeed.
(5)Winnie H.
Reason for low rating - bad services. Better off going to the Park St location. Much friendlier wait staff.
(2)Ian R.
I love the salsa. The food is excellent. The food comes out fast. I have been here several times and I have enjoyed everything I have tried..
(5)monica s.
This is my first and last time here. I have been to the LP on Park,SL and Hayward over 50 times in the last 15 years snd have never had such a bad experience. There is no one in here but service is horrible. (they are all busy watching a game in the bar) No water refills, forgot part of the order and completely got my order wrong. When I informed them of the error they applogized removed the plate and returned with the bill. The waitress said she spoke with the manager and the would only charge 50%. I didnt even get the food back. I took two bites of the rice and beans before I realized the flautas were the wrong filling.
(1)Sarah W.
We had a fun dinner here last night. My margarita was great. The chips, salsa, and guacamole (a huge appetizer) were super. Our dinner plates had very large portions, and my enchilada had tons of good chicken. The service was alright. I love the location, too.
(4)Anon Y.
Food was good & Big portions but that is all I can say that I liked at this restaurant. The service was HORRIBLE. We walked in and were not even greeted. We had to ask if we should seat ourselves before someone would show us to a table. Our server? Oh don't even get me started. ELY WAS THE WORST SERVER I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. She disappeared into the back several times for no less than 20 minutes at a time and I asked her for sour cream for my quesedilla and she charged me. REALLY?! For a dollar fifty I could go buy my own damn container. Then, I ordered a watermelon margarita and she tried to charge me for the strawberry saying that they were the same price but she couldn't find watermelon on the POS system!( when there clearly was obviously a $5.00 difference) I couldn't believe it. The bartender, however, was nice and very knowledgeable of all the drinks. I will definitely think twice about going here of La Pinata ever again.
(1)Patrick C.
I came here after a recommendation from a colleague. I must say that the taco had some great Mexican taste that I cannot explain...it was tasty! Definitely not a regular taco taste...it was better. At least I enjoyed it very much so!! The enchilada was good as well. However, I heard to get the seafood plate next time...I will...
(4)m b.
Great food period... Try the "Joyce special" very healthy choice
(5)Amanda Y.
The food is just as delicious as the Park Street location and I love how this restaurant is secluded. It's like Bay Farm's little secret! The wait staff is incredibly friendly and make sure you have everything you need and if you're enjoying your food. The owner has been around to supervise the activity, and he will personally visit your table to make sure you're alright. The margaritas are pretty good too.. Full of tequila!! I suggest the strawberry and pomegranate ones. I think this may become one of my go-to restaurants because it's so close to home! Bountiful free parking and families can take their kids to the park nearby to burn off the calories from the Burrito Famoso ;)
(4)Charles O.
Good food, which is why this place is always busy. Pickled carrots are a great addition to the plates. I really enjoyed the carnitas taco. The beef enchilada was tasty. The pork tamale was the only downfall. The tamale was too thick and lacked much of an interior. The margaritas were tasty, but not very potent. The price is a little more than Otaez on the north side of the Alameda, but the food is just as good. It is tough so I give both 4 stars. Overall, if you are in Alameda you should stop by and eat at La Pinata.
(4)alamedabrian m.
Just like LP3 on the main island, and like the other five LPs around the east bay. In other words, good food, extensive menu [although I personally like ground beef and miss it at the LPs], and a great selection of tequilas. The wait is generally a little long, again as at LP3, but I try to go at odd hours to avoid it. All in all, another LP success.
(4)Kevin M.
Sometimes I don't even order dinner because the chips + salsa are so D*** good!
(5)Nancy W.
We are regulars at La Pinata on Park Street and so decided to try the new Bay Farm location. What a great decision! It had everything we love about the Park Street locale but with none of the crowds and frantic-ness. Our server was excellent and the food was equal t Park Street (and the chimichanga we better). The bonus was a view of the water, more space, and a mellower feel. Even though we were dining with two small children, we noticed that we felt relaxed half way through dinner. For La Pinata fans, I would def recommend trying the BF version - even if it is a little hard to find - and the kids can run around on the decks afterwards!
(5)Don P.
Found this restaurant yesterday (7/4) by chance just getting out away from the tri-valley heat. The food and drink selection is extensive (mucho tequila) and reasonably priced. Staff is friendly and pleasant as is the view.
(4)diana n.
This a great place for me and my boyfriend to hang out and have some drinks. The food is good....i like their enchiladas.
(5)Eric B.
This is a new location in Alameda which is very nice but much smaller then the other location on Santa Clara. They were very busy on Sunday night and that caused their service to lack. I ordered a Horchata (Mexican drink) and when they delivered the my friends drink I never got min. I asked again for it and they said sorry and would bring it. They never brought it. The tacos I had were not so great, more so b/c I never received my drink. Our server never even notice I was without my drink and it upset me more. The food is ok but I would say try to go when they are not so busy becasue maybe the service will be better
(2)casey j.
I don't know why people think La Pinata is so much better than other Mexican restaurants. Is it the booze? The portions are huge so you do get your money's worth. I also thought the service was overwhelming. A waiter should be assigned to certain tables so you don't have waiter after waiter asking the same questions. While the parents are enjoying their food and drinks, I was annoyed by their children storming back and forth down the walkway.
(3)Colleen P.
So we came in here after our softball game at Leydecker fields & I have to say I was pretty disappointed with a few things. For one, we ordered a pitcher of Margaritas to start with and it took 15 minutes to get the pitcher. We ordered appetizers after the pitcher & they came out before the drinks. It was not packed, there were not pitchers on every table so I have no idea why it took the bartender 15 minutes to make a pitcher, there were only 2 people at the bar too. As far as the food goes, I found it to be e bit bland and not authentic Mexican food. Who serves ranch with a chimichanga? I have never seen such a debauchery. When we got our bill, the waitress conveniently added a 10-14 person gratuity to the bill, there were only 7 of us the entire time eating so why she added a 20% gratuity for a party of over 10 is beyond me, I did not appreciate that nor find that to be in good business ESPECIALLY since I went to the restaurant with the La Pinata softball team. I would not recommend this place for drinks, authentic Mexican food, or customer service.
(1)n n.
If you've been to the one on Park St. Alameda then you know about the wait to get a table on weekends. This location is much smaller so you'll have to wait too but not as long. The menu is pretty much the same and is just as good.
(3)LARS R.
Service was erratic but it was the second day they were open. We actually had too many people taking care of us and weren't sure which one was actually our server. Food was great and we will be there a lot. Didn't try the bar, but it looked wonderful. Seemed like a great place to have a drink and catch a game.
(4)Christopher T.
With as many people that seem to go to this restaurant I'm surprised that it only has two reviews. I've been to La Pinata a number of times back when I was a wee old chap and have had generally good experiences (what?) Anyway, obviously I couldn't review this place based off that so I went back to La Pinata the other day and ordered the Tequila Shrimp with vegetable platter and it was simply amazing. Wow, I can taste the creamy concoction as I type this. Service was great and the Horchata was good too. After finishing the Horchata, I asked for a glass of water and they gave me a small glass (big mistake). People who know me, know how much water I like to drink so in a matter of seconds I ask for some extra water, a bigger glass to boot and as fast as I finish the water the server has another server fill my glass and what does he do? He leaves the pitcher of water, tout de suite earning them an extra star.
(5)Tiffany R.
Great food and great margaritas! I love this place. They have awesome chips and salsa and the service is always good. It is very busy and sometimes there is a bit of a wait but it is well worth it.
(5)Billy S.
my food was mediocre here and the waiters were pretty non attentive. so that sucked. i probably could have dine and dashed. but as that is against my moral code i did not. my friend and i sat at our table and waited for our checks as well as any hopes for refills in our beverages. c'est la vie.
(2)Steven C.
La Pinata is a great place with great atmosphere, and great food. I usually go to the one in concord since I live closer to that one, but I've been to the one in Alameda a couple of times. an excellent place, and the service is great. I would recommend the La Pinata especial, but anything you order there is bound to be excellent.
(5)julie s.
very good food and services..good
(4)wanda f.
7 of us went there after grad ceremonies. It was crowded and we waited about 45 min. It was worth it. The wait staff were so friendly and catered to us. The food was wonderful. I had the chicken Famoso which is a big burrito with enchilada sauce on it. It was so huge and yummy. I can usually eat everything on my plate..not this time. 2 guys in our group also ordered carnitas big burrito. They too couldn't finish it. I don't live in Alameda, and tho there are 2 other La Pinatas closer to me, I would go to this one. Excellent servers, great chips& salsa and delicious food.
(4)Dorene K.
La Pinata has taken over where El Caballo used to be. Same wonderful food that you're used to - just without the wait. Not to mention lots of free parking in the lot. Hooray!
(5)Bill S.
I have been a regular at the Park Street location all the way back when I use to live in Alameda. I heard about La Penca out on Bay Farm Island six months ago. It took one visit and I frequent at least once a week. Noel the Bartender makes fantastic drinks. The Bar area is bigger than Park Streets and the food is much better. The manager always comes around to check on people to make sure everything is perfect. Give it a shot go see Noel and the rest of the gang. You will not be sorry. By the way I drive all the way from Hayward to Eat here, so it has to be worth my drive. It always has been.
(5)Shauna A.
The food is okay, but the service is bad. The waiters don't check in with you or give you updates. It makes me sad.
(2)Anna W.
I'd never know there was a restaurant tucked away in this little shopping area. This Penca location is picturesque, located on the bank of a little stream. It reminded me a lot of its' sister location on Park Street, so if you're familiar with that location then you're going to already be familiar with this one. The food and level of service were really similar, in that it wasn't extremely memorable to me. I came here with a group of friends and the staff were super accommodating for us as we navigated the menu, drinks and the tab at the end of the meal (I love it when waitstaff are flexible about tab-splitting). I would come back, but I also wouldn't come out of my way to go here. If friends wanted to meet up, then I would pick this location over the Park Street location -- if only because the parking situation would be a lot less stressful!
(3)Mark C.
The food was very mediocre tonight. The worst part was the service. The icing on the cake was they would not take our gift card because they couldn't verify the amount on the cards due to a problem with their computer. We probably won't even go back to use the cards because experience was so bad
(1)Angela H.
Very very happy again with my takeout meal of the chicken quesadilla dinner. There's so much good, so it's nice to have leftovers to last awhile. I also really like the chips and salsa. The chips are crispy and thin, and the salsa is spicy and smokey.
(4)Ben B.
Our go to mexi place whenever I come down to Alameda. The highs: food is consistently delicious, dishes are prepared pretty fast, wait staff have mostly been on point. The lows: Restaurant is INCREDIBLY noisy (there are no booths, and every time a large party enters they get set up right in the middle of everybody so that everyone gets to hear them yelling and being drunk.). Other than the bad design I have no complaints, plus they have pretty good salsa and chips.
(4)Saul R.
Bad service, food was just ok. When my wife showed the waiter that the salad was limp and wilted his answer was "well it comes with the meal." OK. He didn't replace it was placed aside amd left there. Drinks were only refilled when the check was dropped off. Expected better service considering the location. Park st. location has never disappointed. Never going back
(2)Nicole W.
4 stars for food. Get the steak fries or a burrito. Huge portions. 2 stars for service. I went around 11pm and service was slow. I had to wave down a waiter to get anything done.
(4)Mischa M.
Every time I venture up north to visit my sister, this becomes our go to late night Mexican spot. I always leave beyond full but the food is decently priced, the drinks are strong and the food tastes pretty good. I love that they are open late and have a lot of options to choose from both the menu or at the bar. Great spot!
(4)Cara L.
I attended a tequila fest last night.It was awesome. First off it is an outdoor setting and there was about 12 different tequila vendors with different booths and a taco vendor with 3 kinds of meat to choose from (carne asada,chicken& pork) and bacon wrapped hotdog vendor.The ticket was $60 a person but it was all you can eat and drink.The mariachis were there to set the musical tone.When you arrive you get a raffle ticket.The event takes place from 5pm to 9pm.At 8 pm the tequila shots stop but all u can eat food keeps going til 9 pm. At 8:15 the mariachi band stops and they have 30 mins of dj dancing to current salsa music.Then the last 15 minutes the raffle takes place and 5 guests each win a bottle of fine tequila.The age group was 20 to 50.Good time and no fights occured
(5)Jennifer A.
A solid sit down Mexican restaurant experience. Full bar, tvs (in the bar area mainly though), large selection of margaritas and tequilas, and a very extensive menu (maybe a bit too extensive). Seemed very crowded and all the waitstaff were hustling, which I appreciated. Mexican Cobb Salad came in a very generous portion size, crisp romaine, grilled chicken (a little dry, but okay), eggs, bacon (nice and crisp), pico de gallo, and chiles. Cilantro dressing (I think there was some cucumber in it too) was pretty good, but not as good as El Toritos. Slight spice from either the pico de gallo or chiles. Hearty, couldn't finish it all. Chips and salsa were good and refilled promptly.
(3)Osman G.
Last Sunday I went whith my family services food tasting is not good they need we order wet burrito beef not good price is almost $20 the only thing taste good is shrimp tacos not recommend
(2)Damara M.
Terrible service today. Had to literally ask for everything...Refill on the chips, drinks, more tortillas, to place another order. Soccer game on... Mexico playing... All the waiters standing around staring at the Tv. Not cool. It's not even busy. Update... Our bill was $82, we gave him $90, never gave me any change until I asked (and I also had to remind him of the tacos I ordered to go). He said he asked us if we were all set and we said yes, so he assumed the change was his tip and didn't feel the need to return my change. He argued with me despite his manager agreeing with me. The change is MY money and should have been returned to me to leave a tip at my discretion. I am shocked that he would assume he could keep my change and when I did ask him for the change back, he got it out of his wallet! Something shady going on over there and I'll never go back.
(1)Steve G.
Been eating a La Penca Azul since the La Pinata days, usually at Park St. Tonight we felt like Mexican and felt to lazy to drive the 3 miles to Park St, so we went to the Harbor Bay location. Parking is usually easy and the restaurant is usually full, as it was tonight a Saturday around 7:30. 10 minute wait for table. No problem, sat at the bar and watched the Warrior game. Seated at about 10 mins, server came quick and took our order. I had a Combo #2 - 2 enchiladas and a taco, the wife the shrimp bowl. Server brought a big bowl of chips and salsa. Chips are A-OK, not great. Next came the entrees, again A-OK, not great. The enchiladas were OK, a little on the small side. The shrimp bowl was good sized, flavored OK. Service is good, give them a 1/2 star for that. A little on the expensive side so -1/2 for that. But the food, just A-OK so its 3 stars this time.
(3)Christina H.
1. Bottomless chips & salsa. 2. Okay food, great waitstaff. The burrito we got was huge, but unfortunately underwhelming. Best part of the meal was definitely the bottomless chips & salsa that out server repeatedly refilled way before we could ever finish it. Did I mention the chips come warm/hot? Gives the (delicious) illusion that they're super fresh. Amazing. Fan of the chips and dip. Not a huge fan of the place meal-wise, but might come back to try the tacos people seem to rave about.
(3)David S.
This is just a great Mexican Restaurant.The food is prepared fresh always and is very tasty. The menu has scores of items. The staff hustles to provide service and the Margaritas put you in the right frame of mind to enjoy the meal. There are some nice tables overlooking the lagoon. Just a great place to pop in on a Sunday, for example, to linger and have a great meal. This version is not a madhouse like the La Penca on Park street.
(5)Bunny D.
Great food. Service has went completely down hill lately. Ordered food to go and the cashier didn't hand it to me when it was sitting there ready and getting cold. 30 minutes later the bartender realized what he had done handed it to me and apologized. When I got home my order was completely wrong. It was pork which I don't eat and I ordered chicken. Was told he would compensate me next time I came in and they didn't. If you can go to the one on Park Street. Better service and more attentive.
(2)ken c.
The margaritas are to die for!! The service is great! The food is excellent and the portions are more than you can finish. The Famosa Burrito can last for a couple of meals. I have to admit that i frequent there place quit a bit (like every other day) because it's close to my house.But just the same it's my favorite restaurant in Alameda.
(5)Brenda M.
The big chunks of purple onions ruined my salads. Two times! I'll have to try a soup next time
(2)Scott F.
Visited on Labor Day and they were really busy. There was confusion to if a table was ready or not, then it was about a 10 minute wait in the small waiting area. But we waited oustide near the water. After being seated the waitress took our drink orders and from then on for some reason service got really slow for everything. Of the 5 drinks ordered only the corona made it out with the others following upon request about 10 minutes later. The two ladies ordered the half enchilada verde, our friend's mom had 3 street tacos and pops had the massive plate of fajitas. More waiting entailed, but our server was gracious enough to bring out a couple orders of tasty guacamole to go with chips and salsa The half serving of enchilada verde was one enchilada, rice and beans. Ideal for lunch or those not with a big appetite or even kids. The verde sauce was killer, and made me wish I ordered it. My full tamales plate had 3 tamales, and were good, but the meat was a little dry. The street sized tacos were enjoyed, and the sizzling fajita plate came out last. Did I say it was massive? They ended up taking it home even after both parents tried to take a stab at finishing it. We had to wait quite a while for a box, bag and the check. We weren't sure why it was taking so long so we just did it at the door. Food was good, menu extensive but service was slow. This is uncommon according to our friend, since she and her family come quite often. But they do have a bar to hang out in while waiting for your table.
(3)Marvin W.
The best experience for me is having the grandchildren and family visit on a Sunday and I meet them here for their breakfast/brunch buffet. It is the most varied and bountiful buffet outside of a Las Vegas buffet. I have also come here on weekday mornings many times for their breakfast specials. It's never disappointed me. I love that it is just a few blocks from where I live. The lunches here are especially popular, judging from the many people I have seen whenever I come between 11 and 12.
(3)Cindy S.
My husband and I were spending the night in Alameda so we decided to have dinner with my bff and her parents at La Penca Azul. It was nearby and they really liked the food there. La Penca Azul is located in a small shopping center in the Bayfarm area of Alameda. We visited on Labor Day and to our surprise they were pretty busy. There was about a 10 minute wait before we were seated. After being seated the waitress took our drink orders and from then on for some reason service got really slow. Of the 5 drinks ordered only the corona made it out with the others following upon request about 10 minutes later. I decided to to copy my bff and order the enchilada verde (half) while her parents had tacos and fajitas. The food actually took a little longer to come out than expected. We snacked on chips and salsa and when the server realized we hadn't got our food she brought out complimentary guacamole and another upgraded classic guacamole on the house. The half serving enchilada verde (1 enchilada, rice and beans) was the perfect size for me. I was still a little full from lunch and didn't want to be overstuffed. The enchilada verde tasted good. I liked the sauce and big chunks of pork. The rice and beans were also pretty good. I don't usually eat my rice and beans but last night I came pretty close to finishing. The street sized tacos looked delicious and sizzling fajita plate was huge! We ended up taking home the majority of the fajita stuff. We had to wait quite a while for a box, bag and the check. We weren't sure why it was taking so long so we just grabbed the boxes and got a bag at the door. Overall the food was good but service was slow. If we're in the area again and looking to stay closer to home I'd eat here again. I'm not sure if service was just slow the evening we showed up or if that is their norm. I suggest arriving early to account for service time if you have any major post dinner commitments.
(3)Joe C.
Can't understand why this place isn't more popular for breakfast. Portions are big, quality is good and the coffee is good. Why stand in line somewhere else?
(4)PatrickJ T.
La Penca Azul is conveniently close to my sister's place. So, we have been here on a few occasions. It is hidden away so you will not see it from the street. Pretty good Mexican food is served here. These are some of the food that I have had here: Mexican Cobb Salad was decent. Was a generous portion that filled me up. Regular Fish taco and Al Pastor fish taco were also decent. Assorted street tacos (carne asada and carnitas) were okay. Chicken chimichanga was fairly large and tasted fine. Everything that I have ordered here has not been bad. Just nothing special either. So coming here is more out of convenience rather than visiting here because I really want to. Still, La Penca Azul in Bayfarm is a solid 3 star restaurant with a good ambiance and service. Oh, sometimes they have Yelp check in offers!
(3)David B.
A favorite stop for whenever we're in Alameda. Their street tacos are amazing and always consistent. Great selection of Margarita's always served with a sugar cane which makes it unique to most Mexican restaurant Margarita's. Fun place, great food.
(4)Mary H.
I've been to this location several times for lunch and now for dinner twice. The service has always been spot-on: quick, but personable and efficient. The salsa is to die for! If they sold it for take-out, I'd scoop some up for sure. No matter what we've ordered, the food has always been fresh and tasty. The portions are large and the prices are very reasonable. This has quickly become our go-to Mexican restaurant in Alameda. So why not a 4-star rating? I know others have raved about the margaritas and other drinks, but they just haven't done it for us. I had to send back Friday night's margarita because it was just awful. The replacement was a little better, but I wouldn't go back for drinks only. And then second, the ladies' room is just hideous. It needs some clean-up, folks. Ugh!
(3)John S.
This restaurant provides the best service. They have an "all hands on deck" attitude. Our drinks were constantly refilled, we always had chips and salsa, and our food came in a reasonable amount of time. I have been to this restaurant many times, and I have enjoyed every meal.
(5)Paula H.
Yummy! This place is great! Chips and Salsa are MY FAVORITE! Also looove their street taco's, carne milanesa plate, and Carne ranchera plate are my absolute favorite on the menu.Not too big on their margaritas but they make a delicious Tamarin lemonade! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Lol. Over all this place is awesome! And I love that its not as crazy packed as the one on park st. ALWAYS A PLUS!
(4)Amy A.
The Perfect Margarita absolutely loves up to its name. Best margarita I've ever had! Great food, cute ambience and an amazing server, Esteban. I had the Pollo a la Diabla and it was deliciously spicy. I can't wait to come back here and try something else!
(5)Key D.
Still amazing, great service great drinks great food. The cazuelas OH Lordy tasty treats and not all greasy from the cheese like most places. Reasonable prices on their awesome tequilia tastings too. Just love this place.
(5)Samantha T.
I love La Penca. Great festive yet homey atmosphere, pretty clean and decent service and decent price. But come on, those are frills. What you really go to a restaurant for is the FOOD. Chips always come out warm, complementary with your sit-down or to-go order. I have to try really hard not to get full on ships before the real food comes. My favorites are: #1 Fish Street Tacos- This is what I get 90% of the time at any La Penca visit. They're not battered so it's all delicious white fish meat (must be some drugs in their seasoning because I'm so addicted... ) #2 Chicken Tortilla Soup- with fresh mozzarella, red onion, avocado, cilantro, huge chicken chunks. Crispy tortilla strips. Omg, my mouth is watering... #3 Famoso Burrito. Everything you could ever want in a burrito. Enuff said.
(5)Andrew C.
From my experience, it's all about the Super Famosa Burrito, the Carne Asada Fries, and the Guacamole con Camaron (Guac with Shrimp and Bacon). Stack on chips and honestly you can get a pretty cheap meal if you order right. Plus there's the check-in deal on yelp that gets you 15% per table. Super crucial. La Penca's service seems slow no matter when you go, but it's passable. The restaurant is good with handling large groups and I've come with a group of 20 before and they handled our orders well. Just so you know, this place's hours are very different than the other La Penca. It closes here at 11pm while the other LP closes at 3am.
(4)Kim B.
We've been frequent diners at La Pinata--now Penca Azul--since before my first child was born, 25 years ago. It was our go-to for family meals and drinks with friends, and it used to be reasonably priced, with really good house margaritas. But over the years, the prices have gone up and up and up, to where it's really not a good deal any more, especially the margaritas. The one my husband had tonight was watered down and weak at best. Our server never came back to ask if we wanted more chips or if my daughter wanted a soda refill. My entree was $17.99; my husband's regular burrito was nearly $10, with an extra $2+ for carnitas. Really? $13 for a small burrito???? Ramiro and Sons, here we come. So, so sad...we used to love this place....
(2)Casey S.
As a gringo, I'm not into the exotic Mexican stuff -- we're talking Chipotle-tier here. La Penca Azul manages to satisfy my tame palate with staples like burritos and fajitas -- nothing too fancy, but still fresh and plentiful. I love how they have an extensive breakfast menu too -- who would have thought you'd be able to get French toast at a place like this?
(4)Tuncer T.
Experience at Park Street location in Alameda: Terrible food, drinks, atmosphere and service......... Being a decent expert on Mexican food, this place is simply terrible..... Will not patronize this food (?) chain ever again.
(1)Chris L.
I had the burrito and it was larger than life. It could have fed 3 people. The waitress was not in a good mood and they rejected my check-in yelp coupon. The horchata was ok. Plenty of parking. Overpriced Mexican food.
(1)A L.
Horrible service we waited 30 min to get seated which was fine then waited to get our order taken for another 20 and finally just got up and left after they took another tables order that came after us
(1)Samir K.
This place is great because it's walking distance away, and is one of the few places on Bay Farm to get a drink. The food is the same as the main island one, and the wait is usually shorter. They're also open pretty late, surprising for Bay Farm. Solid drinks, good food (though if you start exploring the menu it can add up!). A definite favorite.
(4)W L.
The best time to try out a restaurant for the first time may not be at 3 in the afternoon. The food may not be fresh, it may be reheated from the noon rush, so my meal may not be representative. BUT I could detect glimmers of greatness, and I would definitely give this place another go, perhaps closer to standard meal time (SMT). After reading reviews of various places to go for lunch, I got a craving for street tacos, and La Penca came through. These are $2.50 each, so I got three (it's $7.29 for three if you go before 2 pm): the pastor, the pollo and the carnitas, and the pastor I could eat all day long; so flavorful, with just a little fat for richness and crispy bits. The portions were more than generous. The corn tortillas were tender, and didn't crumble or fall apart, although there wasn't a lot of juices to break them up. Again, maybe bad timing on my part. These come with onions and cilantro (which I declined) and on the side, a little serving of pinto beans, grilled onions, pickled carrot and radish slices. And I could hardly stop myself from eating the crispy, light chips and salsa. It's a small restaurant, but feels big inside. There is a full bar. This review is for the Bay Farm location, and I had a little trouble finding it. DO NOT follow Google directions to this place, or you will end up at Union Bank across the street. The restaurant is located within Harbor Landing Shopping Center, which is on the corner of Island Drive and Mecartney Road. You can't see La Penca from the street, and you can't even see it from the parking lot. There's a Safeway in this shopping center, and a map display nearby to help you find it. I'm also posting a map here. Because: it's worth seeking out. The menu is extensive, and I hope to go back and sample more of their offerings. This is nicer than a taqueria, and nicer than our La Piñata in San Leandro, but not overblown, and affordable. Service was prompt and courteous. One of the servers didn't even flinch when a customer snapped his fingers for service (Really? Who raised you, Cretin?). There is ample parking. You should go here!
(4)Joe P.
There are two locations: One on the main Island of Alameda on Park St, and one by my Mom's on Bay Farm Island. I have been to both with OK results on the food, but great results at the bar - LOL! I met my friend for brunch ($13.25). The spread included the following hot dishes - Rice, beans and potatoes; Chilaquiles, eggs, shrimp, beef and pork; Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, ham, chicken wings and menudo. Cold dishes included salad, cheese, peppers and onions, pastries and fruit. The food was OK. Nothing really stood out except the menudo and handmade tortillas. The menudo was perfect after a heavy night of drinking. However, it could have benefited from more tripe and hominy. The tortillas were nice and hot. The remainder of the food was boring. Overall: 3 Stars. The ambiance is basic. There is a lot of blue (hence the name La Penca Azul). The service was initially slow, but became over-attentive towards the end: Both 3 Stars. I like to grab a cold beer here, but the food is just OK. I don't understand why the Park St location is always packed. However, there are better places that have more authentic cuisine right across the Park and High St bridges in Oakland.
(3)Jess C.
La Penca Azul bar staff, you are by far the coolest people ever. Nothing like sitting for a drink and getting schooled on how to make drinks. I felt like I was at a mixology class watching them make those drinks. Although this place is always packed and you have to wait a good 15-30 minutes, it's worth it. The food is AMAZING. The salsa is good and has a little kick to it. I tried the chicken soup and it was tasty as my nextdoor abuelita's. I have to give it to this place, the food is always hot and tasty. The bathrooms are clean and smell good. A little pricey but it's worth every dollar. A+ on price, diversity not to mention an amazing margarita and michelada with HUGE shrimp.
(5)Al L.
Was here for Happy Hour and surprise! Their Monday thru Friday before 6pm Happy Hour specials has been replaced by a new Happy Hour menu. Under their old menu, all the appetizers were one-half off and their house margaritas were $3.50. Now the appetizers menu is limited to 12 items and our favorites are no longer part of the fare. Plus the prices are no longer one-half off, but are about 20 to 30% off the regular price. The libations offering appears to have broadened but the prices appear not to be as "happy" as before to the customer. Our stand-by house margaritas, which were $3.50, are now $5.00. Still love La Penca for its food and drinks. But can't say it's the place to go for that great inexpensive Happy Hour food and drinks.
(4)Jenn D.
Still a great Sunday brunch, but poor handling of their Yelp 15% check-in deal. No signage saying they no longer accept it. It's not until you get your check, the server has marked the offer as used, and says you can speak to the manager but they no longer have the deal (supposedly as of a few months ago) that you find out. I understand that if they stopped the deal, Yelp should have taken it down. The restaurant could do its part, though, so you don't feel cheated or tricked when you get your receipt without the discount on it. Especially if it really has been a few months that Yelp has not taken it down (Shame on Yelp!). It only takes a few minutes to make a sign saying you don't honor the deal anymore. Probably will be back because their Sunday brunch is good & they are good for larger groups, but it will NOT be a go-to spot due to poor handling of the situation.
(3)Christina J.
Best restaurant ever ! Best food and everything and people are very nice! Great vibe !
(5)Christopher C.
Not my favorite place to frequent for Mexican food but there is a bar and this restaurant is open relatively late. The Mexican food here is really overpriced and is very bland - you are better off going to a taco truck in Oakland. I have been here several times and never seem to get good or even relatively decent service. When they do come to your table the servers have the most unenthusiastic look on their faces. However I would recommend trying their Sunday brunch buffet which runs around $13 for all you can eat breakfast and all you can drink mimosas. But do not expect your waiter to ask if you want a refill of mimosas. Last time I was there the waiter gave me my check but did not return the credit card - I had to track her down and ask for my credit card back. She acted as if I was bothering her and did not apologize.
(2)Donna B.
Ok I love pickled carrots and jalapeños......but theirs is not good at all. Taste like strong vinegar. I had chicken enchiladas, chili relleno rice and beans . Enchilada sauce had very little flavor :(. The rice ok, the beans great, the hot sauce great. The chili relleno was impressive looking but again almost no flavor and covered with those strong vinegar carrots and jalapeños instead of a silky sauce. Did I mention that there was no cheese in that relleno!! I'm giving 3 stars because I will go back and have beans with salsa and chips. The food is expensive and not great.
(3)Kimberly C.
As always, love the food and the atmosphere. The servers hustle and are attentive without being annoying. However, tonight we had a problem - an almost $50 problem - and the teddy bear of a man that is usually manning the front fixed it for us. He was kind, gentle, and incredibly gracious. Really appreciated his help and the food is awesome.
(5)kevan h.
Couple things here I tend to get because they're the best. If you're there for breakfast, get one of the skillets (meat lovers or Santa Fe), and ask for tortillas and salsa. Can feed two easily. The coffee is like tea, but that's not the reason we come to LP. if you come here late night, get the dessert menu and ask for the churros and ice cream. Also a two person dessert. Comes with sliced strawberries and sprinkled strawberry and chocolate sauce.
(4)Michelle K.
If you have a choice, go to the penca azul on park street as this location is impossible to find. Well, maybe not impossible, but pretty close. It's inside a courtyard area, so when you're driving, you have to look hard for a white fold up sign near the market entrance that says la penca azul on it. Best to park toward la vals in the back past cvs and near where the library is; just walk toward la vals into the courtyard area, stand in the middle, and spin around until you see it. When I came here, I had made a reservation earlier that day for 15 people at 8 pm. I arrived at 815 after searching for the place and my reservation had not been made. The guy up front asked if it was for 13 under Gustavo. I am not Gustavo. However, it all worked out, so no problem. The service was pretty horrible, though. After they pushed some tables together to accommodate my party, it seemed like some of the servers didn't even want to be there... when I told a guy who brought us chips that we were ready to order he flat out ignored me. I'm pretty sure he heard me as I'm definitely not a mumbler, and probably could adopt to speak more softly. I asked another guy and he was nice enough, but I was still pretty annoyed by the first guy. I got a combo dish with a cheese enchilada and pork tamale dish. The plate was covered in red enchilada sauce, which I thought tasted pretty bad. Not sure how to describe it, but it had an odd texture. On top of that, the pork tamale was dry. I had two bites and couldn't eat it. Literally two bites. Despite/because of the enchilada sauce. You can't really mess up a cheese enchilada, but the dish over all was too salty. As for the refried beans, which I usually gobble up, I touched maybe a fifth of. The rice was super dry. Overall, I agree with some of the other reviews that the park street penca azul is better. Also, some of my party was confused because on the directory, it still says la pinata. Perhaps this is something that can be fixed?
(2)Cheli C.
I like the Sunday Brunch. The Buffet has American and Mexican breakfast. It seems like they are a little unorganized but overall a good place with good food.
(4)Nora M.
La Penca is wonderful! We come to the Bay Farm location all the time. The service is generally prompt and always friendly, and the food is amazing! Great burritos, street tacos, and anything that includes shrimp. (I'm sure all of the menu is great. These are just the things we get most!) Also the Mexican Cobb salad is delicious. You might want to share because it's big. The cocktail selection is very nice, and they have more tequilas than I have ever heard of! La Penca Azul has a wonderful friendly atmosphere. It's a great place for happy hour, to catch a game at the bar, and to bring the family.
(5)omaid h.
Two stars for the pickled carrots, chips and salsa. The quesadilla appetizer doesn't come with any sides (no guacamole and they charged $1.50 for a side of sour cream). Iced tea is nasty and out of the tap, used to be fresh brewed. The street tacos had a strange pork flavor, I think the carne asada was cooked over pork on the grill. There were two tables in the whole place and the service was inattentive. Would not return here, but will go back to the La Piñata in Concord for sure.
(2)Sarah H.
I ordered chicken enchiladas and there was a piece of bone in it. I have posted a photo as well. The enchiladas tasted pretty average but the finding a bone inside the tortilla made me loose my appetite.
(2)Jen C.
1/2 off house margaritas and 1/2 off ALL appetizers during happy hour?!?!? So that's $3.50 for a house margarita, and they even do it right: on the rocks with salt??? YES! YES! YES! That's my kind of happy hour!!! Complimentary chips & salsa - It was so good I wanted to tell the server to keep filling up the basket! But I had to take it easy on the chips, there were appetizers coming! Gloria's Quesadilla (reg. $11.99) - Superb! I like this dish so much because the Dungeness crab, mushrooms, and mexican cheese are so tasty together! Chorizo Fundido (reg. $9.59) - Scrumptious! Chorizo, melted cheese, mushrooms, chile pasilla, pico de gallo are very good with those chips! Their regular happy hour (Monday-Friday 3-6pm) also includes: $4 off house pitcher $3 off house half pitcher $2 off top shelf margarita $4 off top shelf pitcher $3 off top half pitcher $3 ALL beer (bottle & tap) They also have late night happy hour (Monday - Tuesday 9pm-closing): $5 Tequila & Rum $5 Classic house margarita $5 tacos $5 beer bottle & tap $5 La Penca Azul pale ale Now is that awesome or what??? But be careful, though! Prices are so good that you might get so excited you wanna order hella stuff. Next thing you know you're bill comes out to like $100. YIKES! But it's all good! Great HH prices, excellent service, plus food and drinks are really yummy...yes, that will make me super happy during happy hour! I wish the La Pinata in downtown SJ was La Penca Azul instead!
(5)Seth G.
I hope you know where your going because if you don't you'll have a tough time finding this place. Not the worst food but close to it. The carne asada chimichangas had no flavor, if it weren't for the guacamole on the side it would have been inedible. Service wasn't bad but I had to ask three times for lemon for my water. The guacamole appetizer comes on a plate with a ton of jalapeños if your not careful you can make it to spicy. To top it all off u received a yelp coupon and when I tried to use it, the waiter told me that they don't accept them. Won't come back, I would have been better off at the subway nearby. The best part was the view of the lagoon that I had.
(1)Marie F.
I really hope they don't mix the reviews with this Bay Farm one and the park street one. This one is so much better! It is worth the extra drive because: It is much cleaner (can I emphasize the much!!) The servers are much better (they know the menu very well) The food has always been way more stellar at this location (my recommendation: the chicken street tacos..never had chicken here before? It's a must!) the people (the crowd at the other location can get a tad overwhelming) they are VERY child friendly at this location! My only complaint is that it can be pricy when you add up all the amazing drinks and food but you do get an amazing bang for your buck! I am more than a fan.. I'm a regular!!
(5)eric h.
Second time here on a Friday night...had to wait about 20 minutes. Food was good, service was good. Will be back.
(4)Hal D.
Order the big burrito only if you're really hungry. It was almost too much to eat. The shredded beef came with a huge portion of really delicious tender moist shredded beef. I asked them to leave the rice and cheese out of the inside and it made a great meal. It's a little noisy as there isn't much inside to absorb noise. Right next to the water, so window tables have a nice view.
(3)Adriana L.
This is my favorite place to come for drinks! My all time favorite go to drink is the Charlie Cash- only this location makes it! It is muddled cucumber, lime juice, tequila, topped off with some pacifico and tajin. Delicious! From my experience, their oysters are good, their papas con chile are great appetizers, and their tortas are okay. Pretty okay service. I always prefer sitting at the bar. I've noticed that sitting at the bar gets you 10 times better service than if you sit in the dining area. Over all, great place for a Friday or Saturday night.
(4)Andrea C.
This location does not uphold the yelp deal. We were not happy when we went to pay our bill and we were told the yelp deal was no longer valid. If it's not valid, they should contact yelp to take it off. Plus, service was slow and we had little to no attention from our waiter. I prefer the Park street location.
(3)Paul L.
Hey La Penca! You are literally the go-to place for me and my friends when it's late and we need a place to eat! You are one of the few decent places in bay farm with plenty of seating for big groups. Party of 4? Party of 8? Party of 12? Too late and everything closed? let's go La Penca! My favorite? Carintas Plate. Oh yea, gimme my caritas with all the fixin's so I can make me my little tacos. So much I never finish. Need a soup? Chicken Soup is solid. Chunky, Good broth - you can even make chicken tacos with the tortilla they give you. Need something smaller/cheaper? Tortas Asada - Their tortas are pretty good and it comes with my weakspot - fries. Need something new & different? Deep Fried Red Snapper - Yes. Share it with a friend & the price is ok. It's deep fried, precut so you just pluck out the meet with no bone fighting and dip it into either garlic goodness or marinara sauce. Tried it once. Pretty good. Oh and don't forget those unlimited chips & salsa. You add to my fatness. I seriously would appreciate it if you said "no more chips for you! too much!" I would be shocked but thankful. Tip: Don't forget to ask for extra salsa & limes for your food. They have the juiciest limes I've ever seen (most times), they definitely aint organic Thanks Penca for just being there. Wish your prices were a little cheaper... but what can i do...
(3)Lisa F.
Visited last year, review was stuck in drafts. The portions were generous and the food was tasty, and we would return BUT two strikes with the Yelp discount being "discontinued" and a very HOT dried Chile hiding in my daughters' mild bean burrito.
(3)Dan K.
Excellent Shrimp Burrito. Green Salsa was amazing
(4)Dick S.
I really liked this place, they have good lunch specials, for something like $13.00 you can get a plethora of food options (each more than you will probably eat) and a lunch sized mojito or margarita. It is a great deal, especially on a Friday when work is slow, and you want a decent break for lunch. The problem is in the speed. I have an hour lunch, it takes me about 5-7 minutes each way to get here. That leaves 45-50 minutes to sit down, order, eat, and be gone. At first, my co worker and I had no issues. For months we would go, about once a week. Then, suddenly, it got closer and closer. They took longer to take our orders. We sat there done eating, drinks gone, for FAR too long before we got a check. They took the cards and forgot to bring us anything to sign. Sadly, I have had to stop going. Do not mistake me, the food is good, the lunch deal is great, it is the service I find to be lacking. Hopefully you have better luck, because if it were for everything but the service, they would have a 4.
(2)Jenn C.
Kudos to La Penca and their awesome service! Ordered a chicken tortilla soup last night for a sick friend, came by and found out they didn't get the order. Jessie apologized profusely and got my order to the kitchen right away and came out 5 minutes later with everything. He apologized again and told me there would be no charge. As someone who has worked in customer service before, actions like this are super memorable and make any business stand out. Thanks so much, guys...I'll be back!
(5)Teena L.
My coworkers and I come to eat here often for lunch because it's minutes from our office and the service has always been quick and friendly. We usually come in a large group but they have always been able to accommodate us and able to serve our drinks and chips and salsa within minutes of seating us. They get pretty packed during lunch so I'm impressed that the wait staff still check in with our group every 10 minutes or so while we're there. My water is always filled as well which I like because I drink lots of water and hardly order anything else unless we decide to share a pitcher of margarita. The food is pretty good as well. I usually order the shrimp street tacos. Sometimes I'll order the beer battered fish tacos just to change it up. My coworkers either get the burritos or enchilada lunch specials and they seem satisfied with it since they usually order the same thing as well. I prefer the food quality here over the food served at La Pinata off of Merced In San Leandro. So with consistent good food and good customer service, I'd definitely recommend!
(5)Mike C.
Too bad. This used to be our favorite Mexican restaurant in Alameda. Well last 2 times they only had one waiter for the whole restaurant. We walked out both times. Wish us luck. Update-Much better service tonight (Friday night). We'll try again on a weeknight.
(3)Tanya H.
I had the chicken mole enchilada with rice and beans and house margarita . The drink was good ,the food was not .Service was nonexistent !
(1)Michael C.
I love this location, it's a hidden treasure and not many people on the main island (ha ha I sound like I am in Hawaii) know about this location). Great fast service, love the lunch time menu so you can get in and out within 45 minutes. My running group comes here on the first Saturday of the month and always has a good experience. Whether your are a La Pinada or a La Penca Azul fan (pppssstt it's the same family company) you know what to expect.
(5)Ashley O.
Went there for dinner last night, place was packed but they were able toget us a table with in 5 or so minutes. waiter came over and gave us water asked if we wanted drinks, we said yes and he said someone would be right with us, 10 or so minutes later he came to drink chips asked if someone had been over to help us we said no but that we were ready to order he said he would send someone over and walked away. never came back neither did anyone else. we waitied 15 more miuntes and then decided to just leave. too bad this was my go to for mexican food, not any more.
(1)O J O.
I enjoy this place. The drinks are great, the food is yummy. You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by its chips and salsa -- and I think the chips were crisp, perfectly salted with freshly made salsa. I especially like the homemade guacamole. Its a little high on price, but I do think the dishes were excellent. They have quite a selection of tequila, but some of the tequila they offer are just ok, nothing special. It is in a cute location, and the tables are spaced nicely so you aren't crammed. After a hard day at work or a nice evening out order the house margarita and relax.
(4)Liv A.
Before heading out to the Warriors game, bf and I decided to grab a quick bite at La Penca Azul on Bayfarm. We knew that it wouldn't be as crowded as the Park St. one and also seemed closer in terms of drive time/traffic. Convenient! I ordered the combo plate of pork tamale and mole chicken enchilada with rice and black beans. Bf got the grilled white fish (basa) plate with rice and black beans. It also came with some cooked veggies which consisted of green bell peppers that he didn't care too much for. The portions were huge and neither of us could finish the rice and beans. We also polished off the basket of chips! The salsa was spicier than usual, which was ok with me. Good meal overall....very filling. The service was fine but a bit slow. It took a while for use to put in our orders and get our check. Restrooms were clean as well.
(3)T M.
Nice server and the place would be OK to kill some time and watch a game and have a few beers. Food was pretty weak. Had a chicken and a carnitas burrito along with some rice and beans. Not much to say other than it was pretty uninspired and bland all around.
(2)Jocelyn L.
First off, awesomely addictive chips and salsa when you first sit down. We started eating them without realizing until there was one chip left. Then I forgot how big the burritos were. It was kind of the size of a football doused in red sauce and guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo on the side. So definitely worth what you pay for. Everything was super flavorful, and the chicken was done the way I like, which is boiled. Definitely close to the Tex-mex side of cuisine, but delicious neverthelless
(4)J M.
Place has gotten way over priced. Protest it and don't come. Just because they're on Bay Farm doesn't mean to charge $13 for a super burrito then add on an additional $1 for carnitas.
(1)Jessica F.
I love la penca azul it's a very clean restaurant and this location is quiet, perfect place to have dinner with the fam or just come to have lunch. All the meals are delicious not to mention the drinks are great! Enchiladas, fajitas, wet burrito you name it their all delicious
(5)Esther K.
Pros: Solid Mexican food in Bayfarm (the only Mexican food in bayfarm :(. Burritos are HUGE. Tortas Callejeras (Street Style Tortas) are really really good. Diced sirloin, marinated perfectly and very tasty. Chips are light and tasty, salsa is really good with a little spicy kick. Cons: Some complain that their burritos aren't tasty but a mash up of ingredients.
(3)R K.
Oven baked oysters are awesome. Nice CS too. Great location on bayfarm :-) Please go and visit this place if you are looking for a neat, creative Mexican place to chow!!
(5)Wataru M.
I was happy when this opened on Bay Farm (originally as La Piñata) and have been going here ever since. Food quality seems about the same as park st, maybe slightly less, but still good. Service is generally good although it can be slow sometimes. The Sunday brunch is amazing. A huge variety of traditional breakfast fare and standard Mexican favorites. It's pricey, but worth it every now and then.
(4)Susan S.
I've been reluctant to post this review because I've had so many meals here and I still do not know what to say because it feels like playing that game of "Mad Libs" where you fill in certain words in sentences from just a few paragraphs as a kid. Those "Mad Libs" games for me (youngest kid) started while playing it growing up on long 8 hour car rides where my Mum put up with us four bratty kids bickering in the: _________(adjective) family station wagon on the way to visit our grandparents and us kids were squabbling about __________(adjective) ______(plural noun)! This restaurant I'm ______(annoying expletive bark sound verb) about, what used to be called La _______(noun) which is something that is typically (hint, hint, hint) fun but also annoyingly impossible to break apart in order to get party gifts without using a ______ (noun). So, historically my own _____(adjective) and equally ________(adverb) kids plus last minute dozens of their sudden showup friends order anything ____________(adjective) ______(excessive plural noun) on the menu at this location. I, personally am partial to the spicy _________ (descriptive Mexican Chicken adjective) soup . You might need a large _______(noun) in order to _______(verb) up the large pieces of _____(noun) so be careful! I've known many of the delightful staff since they were all ______ (plural noun). They are all still amazingly sweet, attentive, and ________(adjective). Go early or it will be a _______(expletive adjective of your choice) ________(noun)! ;)
(4)Dor H.
I think the look of two stars looks a lot worse than the "Meh. I've experienced better." rating. I went here with my parents for the first time. Usually our family goes to the one on Park street, but alas, we were lazy and didn't feel like crossing the bridge...as if it took that much effort. I felt like things were off here. SOME people were nice, but some people gave us attitude. Some parts of the meal were fine but the meal felt off, like it was lacking the usual flavors. Like our street tacos were really plain even though there was an unusual excess of cilantro. Tasted more like a salad than a taco. My mom's "blended" margarita was about 20% blended. As a bartender, this concerned me. The worst part was that it took a good 45 minutes for some tacos, and it was't even that busy when we first ordered. Strange. If you choose to sit upstairs, bring a sweater, they like to blast the AC up there.
(2)Taylor E.
This place has a ridiculous amount of tequila and that is just plain awesome!!! Get the pitcher of margarita, it's goooood! Oh, the food is good too!! I love the street tacos, all of them are legit!!! I go here every time I visit my Dad and Cousin, we walk there and it's beautiful and the service is always super good!
(5)Aly M.
I really wanted to like this place as it was recommended to me by a fellow Tequila-connoisseur, however it was disappointing. While they did have a very nice selection of Tequila, that's probably the only thing I would come back for. The food was NOT bad but it wasn't good either and certainly not worth the hefty price tag. That is pretty much my reasoning for the two stars. Zero texture or balance of flavor, nothing tasted like it was made fresh (except maybe the salsa) and the dishes were just generic American Mexican dishes you can get anywhere. I was hoping for some fresh, creative takes on traditional dishes maybe some fresh-made tortillas at least? SOMETHING to rationalize the prices..but no. Just bland mush, with mushy beans and rice and everything drenched in cheese. To clarify: I am a native Californian and grew up on homemade Mexican food and I love me some greasy taqueria food - But I would not pay $18 for a plate of greasy taqueria food. It's essentially fast food, and at La Penca Azul you're just paying extra to sit in a gaudy, expensive building. Not worth it. In the bay area alone there are probably a thousand family-owned, awesome taquerias to try. Forego the frills and decor and try a place that's more focused on the food .
(2)Raquel F.
This review is for their Sunday Brunch. Amazing! I love coming here for Brunch. Mexican, American, and healthy food choices. This Sunday brunch is buffet with bottomless Mimosas. I highly recommend trying out the Buffet-Sunday Brunch. You definitely will not be disappointed! Chorizo with eggs, scrabled eggs, pancakes, bacon, carnitas, carne asada, fruits, chocolate covered strawberries, oatmeal, sausage, I'm definitely missing a lot of their food choices on this list. Like I said, a lot of food choices with great variety and amazing flavor!
(5)Dennis K.
Rhyme #84: Torta heaven This is coming from a taco truck lover, but I have to admit that La Penca's tortas (steak to be exact) is extremely legit The meat is delicioso, and is enough to make you salivate deciding on here or taco truck? It'll make you contemplate But I must say my two favorite dishes at this place are the tortas and nacho fries; delicious at a table, home, or car So in my next visit, you know what I'm gonna get Tortas and nacho fries, you best not forget. Nacho fries (or carne asada fries) at La Penca are OK. K, not the best not the San Diego carne asada fries, but they're decent. Grew on me actually. BUT, the tortas, are amazing. The bread is light and crispy, the meat is tender and juice, and delicious! The fresh veggie and the guac puts this sandwich over the top my friends. So feast, and if you like it, give me a shout out!
(4)Anthony M.
The food here is amazing. When we moved here the first thing my wife asked me to look up was a good Mexican food restaurant. We looked this up on yelp and thought we should give it a try. So glad we did. We have been here too many times to count now. I usually order the same thing but my wife tries something new each time. She said everything is always great. The service is awesome. They get really busy here so expect some waiting.
(5)Eating And Living Well U.
We went here for a b-day bash with around 20+ people. First off, everyone arrived at different times, at least 15 people in our party came and then we arrived. We were not greeted by anyone or offered water. We were given water after waiving down at least 2 people and then, still no water. We then had to waive them down again before we got water. So the service is definitely lacking especially since gratuity was tacked on since we had such a huge party. The food: VERY LAME. This is sad because we drove one hour to this restaurant. My fajita had dry as a bone chicken. one star for this chicken. The tortillas they came with, I requested FLOUR and they gave me corn. I didn't realize it until I waived someone else down who gave me another set tortillas since when they brought out my food, I hadn't gotten any, I requested them. Another personcame and gave me the flour tortillas. They are a lot better ,the corn ones are dry and not good. I have had waaaayyy better fajitas this is definitely not good. My date got the chile verde and he didn't like how dry his meat was either. Here's the kicker: My date also saw a fly in his water and another one of our friends was served raw mole, the chicken was blood shot red/raw. Wow. This restaurant is terrible due to the bad food quality, the dry food I was served, their hygiene since there was a fly in our water, and the poor slow service.
(2)Austin W.
Came here today to pick up an order of burritos for 70 and I was impressed. They totally delivered (to my knowledge), and was very prompt with service when we arrived. We ordered chicken, carne asada, and steak burritos and from what I heard (because I had the steak), the chicken and carne asada were very good. The steak I felt lacked a little flavor, but they were very generous with the filings -- lots of meat, not too much rice or beans. I really love their guac which is really fresh as well as their pico de gallo. I only had half a burrito but with a serving of chips, I was pretty satisfied so serving size is definitely on the large size. I would definitely come here again to try out their other dishes. I hear their breakfast is pretty good. Misc: The restaurant itself looked fairly fancy, with a full bar and nice atmospheric lighting. Parking is a bit hard to find though.
(4)Bryce D.
Went this past Saturday with the fiance as we were craving some mexican food. She loves this place so we decided to make the trek to Alameda. The place seemed to be a bit unorganized upon arrival and it stayed that way for the next 45 minutes or so. There was a table close to us in which one person didn't even get their meal, she seemed really happy about that. Our service was fine, nothing to write home about. Our meals were good, we stuffed our faces and bounced. We will continue to come back here
(3)Yoly L.
I LOVE LA PENCA AZUL!! Their margaritas are to DIE FOR!!!!! My co-worker, Rachael, says the chicken soup aka caldo de pollo is FANTASTICA!!! The service is great and fast. The location is serene and delightful.
(5)Sinoti I.
I try to come after work on Sundays for the breakfast buffet because they have a good variety of fruits, sweets and breakfast options. Price range is about $14 which is a great price for an all you can eat!
(5)Jason C.
Great chips and salsa! Beans and rice tasted great also. The rice was not hard and the beans were smoooth. Cheese was melty and gooey. Sauces were not over powering but not bland. good balance. I had carnitas tacos and enchilada. The meat was flavorful but on tad on the dry side. Maybe a lil more fat would help. The tacos were huge. Carnitas was falling out of the sides of the tacos cuz there was so much meat. Service was so so. When the waiter served our food, he placed our plates on top of our napkins and utensils. Our glasses stayed empty for 10+ mins. No, they were not busy. -1 star for service, -1 star for dry carnitas, +1 star for yelp check in discount. At the end, not bad, but could be better. 4 stars due to 15% discount, but 3 if I had to pay $13 for 2 dry tacos and an enchilada.
(4)M W.
Food 4 out of 5 but service sucked! Took them 20 minutes to take our order and then they brought out the wrong beverages and forgot a few of my wife's minor requests. Waiters did not seem to concerned about the errors. Got the bill and it was incorrectly calculated but they fixed it. Like I said, food good, service lacking.
(3)Nerick M.
Great service, great lunch value, delicious food, and fun, casual atmosphere. I love that they bring you unlimited hot chips and salsa before the meal. Try any of the hearty, fresh soups or the street tacos. Won't break the bank and will keep you full and satisfied.
(4)Glenn F.
wow everything was good, had the al pastor, yummmy, party of five, service, food , liked it all
(4)Renee W.
May be the sister to La Piñata but honestly La P is better! La Penca Azul had shitty service & ok food! If you just need to get drunk and don't care about anything else, then by all means come here but I would go elsewhere if you have a choice!
(1)Diner Revue F.
How can you enjoy your dinner when you can't find the waitress to order it on a slow night Tuesday. The management either is not aware of the staff's negligence or does not care .I thought I would give this place a second chance since the location on park street is well maintained. Forget it will never return it is never worth bad service and subpar food save your money.
(1)Greg R.
I love this place -a nd my wife and I are regulars here. They have a great couple of happy hour selections. There is a late-night happy hour on Mondays and Tuesdays. The best happy hour is Saturday and Sunday nights - only $5 house margs, $5 on the La Pinata shots, and a $5 appetizer menu! Come on, you can't beat that! Food is solid good and there is plenty of parking. This isn't authentic mexican, but great Tex-Mex with good service in a great location for Alamedans.
(4)Alo A.
I've been in customer service for a while. So I can tell when something is not going right. Off the bat you could tell that some workers did no shows or called in sick. So props to them for handling the situation the best they could. Even though they couldn't show everyone the attention they should've I definitely understood the situation. So they are excused from that. As for the food though thats another story. Here's what we ordered: Sampler Platter Chicken Mole Super Burrito with Whole Wheat Tortilla and NO rice The Sampler Platter was okay. It consisted of Fried Zucchini, Buffalo Wings, Jalapeno Poppers, Cheese Quesadillas, Potato Skins. Nothing special about it except for the blue cheese hot sauce. That platter gets a 3/5 stars My partner had the Chicken Mole. He said it tasted like they just took the chicken from a salad and added it to the sauce. Also the mole (which I tasted as well) tasted like it was from a can. Not very tasty at all. My partner said Guadalajara on Fruitvale still has the best Mole. He gives it a 1/5 stars. I had the Super Burrito. I always have a Super Burrito and I was extremely happy they offered Whole Wheat Tortillas but they obviously don't make their own tortillas because it was the Mission Whole Wheat Tortillas that I end up buying at the store. Also I asked for a super burrito with steak and NO RICE. It was more like a SUPER BEAN burrito with a spoon full of steak that was overcooked because it was chewy as hell. 1/5 The only thing we actually liked was the salsa they served with the chips. So sad because we really wanted to like the place since we enjoy La Vals next door but I guess we'll only go out that way for La Vals.
(2)Nathan W.
For those of you who've given this place less than stellar reviews, you might want to come back on a weekend and take advantage of their $5 menu... They not only have food specials, but drink specials as well, including a three-shot tequila sampler for $5. I came in on a recent weekend with some friends after a Warriors game and was pleasantly surprised when I saw everything on those menus. We ended up with a variety of taco plates, flautas, quesadillas, and margaritas for $5 each... I highly recommend the crab and shrimp jalapeno appetizer. There is no way they make money on this thing with all of the meat on there. Yum!!!
(5)Nate K.
This place is one of the best mexican restaraunts in the bay hands down.. food always great.. service excellent and a great tequilla bar with knowledgeable staff. Both locations are always packed for a reason. Never had a bad experience here . Dont be fooled by the name change.. it still has all the same quality and service as it always has. PS They recently purchased the building next door and expanded.
(5)Michael T.
I have always been a fan of this restaurant, whether it is the one on Park St. or this BFI location. The service can be spotty, but everyone is very friendly and does try. They use sort of a tag team approach which is better suited for wrestling than food service. The take out service is 5 stars. The Chicken Taco Salad is highly customizable so you receive exactly what you like; no sour cream - no problem, extra guacamole - Si. The Chicken Soup is off the hook! There is nothing better on a dark and stormy night or if, you are battling a nasty cold. Yes, it is curative and oh so good. Not too salty on my last trip, that made it perfect. There is more on the menu than the usual Mex / American faire - read the whole menu.
(4)C R.
I went to this place for lunch because like everyone else we only have a certain amount of time. I have been here before about a year ago and ordered the chicken super formosa burrito. I don't know how the cook their chicken but it is the worst i have ever had in a mexican dish. DRY,DRY, DRY it was like chewing on wood chips. I won't be back, but for the other customers sake please find a different way of retaining moisture in the chicken. There were absolutly no juice at all. Good luck with this one.
(1)Nayomie Z.
This place is a for sure fav spot of mine all their food is delish chips and salsa are yummy while you wait and drinks are always yummy. I would give it 5 stars but the wait is long most of the time its my only complaint but worth it :)
(4)Missy L.
This was was just ok... Which makes me sad because I LOVE the Park Street location. The food didn't taste the same, the wait staff were less than enthusiastic and the restaurant wasn't even that busy. I'll stick to the Park Street location for my future visits.
(2)MJ A.
It's Mexican food, what else can i say. But, the extra stars go towards the Tequila selection, and good deal on lunch platters. I'm always game for some Mexican at lunch.. especially when budgeting.
(4)Christine T.
YUM! Bestest Shirley Temples evah! The usual plus a splash of citrus deliciousness. Also, really, really good chips. Not sure if they make their own chips or not, but they sure taste like they do... Onto the food. I ordered a plate of three different tacos: pescado, carne asada and carnitas. The carnitas were the tastiest of the three. Maybe they could have added more onion/cilantro. So, yeah... Yay! I'm a fan! I can't wait to return for chips and Shirleys!
(4)Jessica T.
I threw my brother a surprise birthday there and service was excellent, especially for 30 adults and 10 children. Prior to the festivities, I got together with one of the co-managers Sergio and he was great. He helped me with my special menu, and considerate of my budget. Food is always consistent and good. We always go there for street tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Great Spot!
(5)Dan O.
I really like this place. Good and cheap with so much food that you almost always have to take some to go. Quick service too.
(4)Jesse G.
Went here for breakfast one morning. I was really impressed. We were served fresh fruit instead of chips and salsa, the wait staff was very attentive and polite, the food was tasty... All in all a good experience. I have to say this one is better than the one on Park St.
(4)Craig B.
On August 20, 2011, after walking out of Jim's on the Course after being ignored for way too long, Better Half, my mom, and I ended up at La Penca Azul on Bay Farm Island. BH and I hadn't been to this restaurant for years (back when it had different ownership) and we were a little hesitant to go here, concerned that it would have the same roudy and crowded atmosphere as its sister restaurant on Park St. in Alameda often draws. Fortunately, that wasn't the case when we were there, though we'd heard it can get a bit unruly at times. After being promptly seated at a window by the lagoon, we ordered a half pitcher of house margaritas ($16.50) which provided six glasses of beverage and turned out to be a great bargain. If we'd ordered six house margaritas at $7 each, they would have cost $42. The chips and salsa that were brought to us were excellent. BH ordered the carnitas, which were mounds of porcine deliciousness, crunchy and succulent. The presentation, on a rectangular dish filled with guacamole, pico de gallo, pinto beans, rice, and the pork, as well as some homemade tortillas, was attractive and appetizing. Mom and I both got cheese enchilada dinners, which were very tasty. The corn tortillas used in the enchiladas were both tender and had a little crunch; very difficult to achieve. Service was attentive, with different workers checking in on us from time to time, but was not pushy or intrusive. Everyone working there seemed happy to be doing so and it showed. The crowd was a bit older than the one on Park St., with several families with quiet children (thank you, parents!) present. Before writing this review, I asked BH if there was any reason not to give La Penca Azul five stars. We couldn't think of any deficiencies or problems, so five stars it is! If you want great Mexican food, but don't want to fight for downtown parking and deal with the party crowd at its Park St. location, La Penca Azul on Bay Farm Island is a great bet for a delicious meal in a relaxed atmosphere. We will be back - soon.
(5)Melissa K.
When here on a Wed at 12:30 with coworkers (3 people). I give 5 stars for the following: *Got seated Quickly *Large menu and lunch specials, atmosphere was nice *Service was prompt and helpful *Food tasted great, chips are warm with good salsa, Street Burrito * Leftovers tasted great. And I can't ask for anything more.
(5)Mae Mae P.
great location! love the whole menu! i'm a big Mexican food fanatic! this is one of the best in the east bay. wonderful staff, clean environment and the food is just WOW!!!!! i take friends and co-workers here and every time is a wonderful experience! drinks, food and friends enough said! i am no doubt eating here until i'm 90 years old!!!!
(4)Janis Y.
Ate here last night and had really high expectations since all the good reviews! But TOTAL LET DOWN!! The staff was inattentive. I ordered the pork tamales and they were dry and had no meat in them! The side of rice was also dry. My boyfriend ordered the super famous burrito (or something like that). His was GOOD and tasty. The chicken was seasoned perfectly and moist. I also read that they serve carne asada fries upon request- THEY DO NOT! I was looking forward to this, and no go!! However, the servings are huge and they offer a half order option.
(2)Christopher C.
If you own or run a restaurant, you need to come to this place to see how they do their service! You could learn a lot from them. This place is a little hard to find, tucked away in the middle of what looks like a bunch of offices. Park at Safeway and as you're facing Safeway, La Penca Azul is on the left side, in the middle of the offices, right near the water. I came here for happy hour with a friend and WOW! I've been going to La Pinata since the mid '80's and I've always been a big fan. This is the 7th of their stores that I've been to and they are all great. No, this is not the owner writing this review, just a big fan. I lived within walking distance of their Hayward store for 8 years and I'm within walking distance of their San Jose store ever since they moved here last year. (Now if we could just get Zachary's Pizza to move in next to La Pinata....) The food we had at La Penca Azul (The Blue Leaf) is great and their service is superior! During happy hour, appetizers are half off and we shared Tim's Special, chips & salsa and we had some house margaritas. Tim's Special is a bean dip with tasty carnitas chunks in it, topped with cheese. It's served with chips and I was really impressed. You can't beat their happy hour prices! 5/5 More impressive than the food tonight was the service. This place has got it down! We came in and were quickly greeted and seated and placed our first order within about 3 minutes. The waiters are always around to be flagged down but they don't harass you every 3 minutes, asking how your day was and how your mom is doing, and since you're missing 1/2 inch of water from your glass, would you like a refill?? I appreciate that! I get annoyed when somebody I just met pretends to care about how my day was, that is some fake ass BS! I don't come to a restaurant with my friends to talk to the wait staff. We were there almost 2 hours and placed orders 3 more times. Each time we decided that we were going to order something else, within a minute there was somebody to flag down. Amazing! We didn't sit in the main dining area, there were just a few tables in our area but I noticed that the wait staff was always around, looking at people's tables to check if their drinks were empty or if something needed to be cleared off the table. I could see the front door from our table and even though it was busy, nobody waited more than a minute for a table. The only people waiting were those who ordered food to go. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Great job!
(5)Eugene L.
I wandered over to LP because we were having a Business lunch there. I wander in had a seat and perused the Lunch Menu . I ordered a Coke for a beverage and a Grill Shrimp Burrito with Sour Cream and Guacamole. They kept us stocked with Chips and Salsa. 20 Minutes later our food came out I was quite happy with my Burrito it contained a good amount of Shrimp and it was filling. Best part it was free ,because my Employer was footing the bill.
(3)Henon H.
I got 15% off from Yelp by checking in and it was a bargain. I also ordered the carnitas nachos. The food is at it's par and the service was nice since it's only a few of us early morning. Their highchairs for babies and toddler are fairly new and up to date, buckles are safe. Seats are usually dirty and we always use sanitizing wipes to clean it.
(3)Lourdes G.
Totally messed up my first mother's day. We came here and there were 6 of us. We were told the wait was one hour. So we decided to wait. One hour went by and I went to ask what our status was and they said 10 min. Well20 minutes went by and nothing. We noticed people were coming and putting their name down and they were getting seated before us. I went to go ask again on my status and they said 10 minutes and they also said they were seating the other people first people it was a smaller party. I waited 2 hours!! And nothing we decided to just leave. The guy was really rude to us. I was actually looking forward to eating here too. Never again will I ever come here. I was so disappointed in their customer service.
(1)Johnson N.
Call me crazy... but this place was hard to find. Google Maps sent me on a topsy turvy adventure looking for this place. When I finally found it, I realized how nice the view would be had this visit been during the daytime. Well, as I sat down, my party of 9 (now including me) had already finished their drinks and eats. I sat down and downed two glasses of water straight away. Having been at work all day, doing a lot of talking, I was parched. I ordered a delicious burger... not your conventional kind. It was on a Mexican roll with lettuce, LOTS of bacon, mayo, grilled onions, and other great fixins. DEEELICIOUS! And! the portions were good. The ambiance.... well, there wasn't much of that. It was pretty much a restaurant... one you'd expect from a place that doesn't feel so special. Since my party was all done with their drinks and food, I guess the waiter felt he didn't need to follow up with us any further... even though I made an order as I sat down. When he brought me my food, he gave me my bill and never gave me anything to drink to start with. Even though I downed two glasses of water prior to this interaction, those were two glasses belonging to other people in my party! 4 Stars for good food, -1 Star for sub-par service!
(3)Josh L.
This review is the LPA Catering. They do a great job and the portions are amazing. I ordered for my son's party about a week before for a Saturday 10:30 a.m. pickup. There was a mixup in the order and so when I arrived it was not ready. Jesse was really sorry and offered $75 off my order immediately and provided a huge amount of chips and salsa for my party and the food would be ready in 30 mins. We ordered fajitas, beans, rice and and quesdillas for the kids. All the food was prepared well and tasted great. The hit with the party though was the chips and salsa. Highly recommend LPA for catering. Reasonable, great portions, fast and convenient if your party is in Alameda or BFI
(5)Rochelle P.
Yummy Fresh Chips and Salsa Festive Ambiance. La Penca Azul, the sister restaurant of La Pinata. The festive environment and prompt service. As soon as we were seated the staffed served their fresh, warm and crisp tortilla chips and their moderately spicy salsa! The salsa is amazing and addictive- blend of tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili and cilantro. For lunch I opt for a healthy choice- Vegetarian Sandwich; crisp thin sliced cucumber, cool ripe red tomatoes, smooth creamy sliced avocado, lettuce, pickles and melted Monterrey Jack graced on warm whole wheat toasted was delightful and served with fresh salad! A great choice, as simple as the ingredients are the flavor the freshness of the vegetables and the warm melted Monterrey Jack turned this dish to a pleasing meal. They were well staffed during the busy lunch hour so our service was prompt and friendly.
(4)Stefi C.
A nice place to catch up with friends over drinks. I def prefer this Bayfarm location over Park St.--the seats are plentiful and service is attentive. I can actually sit down and enjoy my conversations, rather than shoving through crowds and getting beer spilled on my feet. Woo! Their complimentary chips and salsa are strangely addicting. Tons of margarita and mojito flavors, and each comes with sugarcane...yum!
(4)Rick B.
Thanks for the yelp deal. Nice place, friendly atmosphere, good service. Shrimp burrito was good but not spectacular. The chips and salsa are great.
(4)Steven N.
really enjoyed this place. I come here before heading out to the warriors game. the margaritas are always good.
(4)Mario M.
I'm a regular and the reason I am is because it's like l'm at a family affair. They contribute without a question to worthwhile causes in Alameda Octavio and his family are great for the city.
(5)Mocha G.
Always good service and consistently good food. We came here for the Sunday buffet. However we ran out of time and decided to order a regular American breakfast. It was delicious. I has graham cracker crusted French toast.
(5)Cath M.
After watching a flick, bro and I were kinda hungry. I told him that I've been craving burrito - so he suggested checking this place out. I've been to the one in Fremont and the one on Park St. but not here... We were afraid that it was going to be close but it was open until 1 am that Saturday. We arrived and the place had a couple of people in. We were about to order then we saw the "$5 weekend happy hour menu" Curious, we asked our server where that is... he pointed to the menu that neither my bro and I touched. Duh! I ended up getting their classic margarita for $5 and a half-order of their chicken quesadilla and I forgot what the bro ordered. Service was prompt (considering there were less than 10 folks in the venue) and food came out quickly. Food was good... huge portion. Drink... definitely not watered down and very stiff for $5! Will probably check this place out for cheap drinks and food.
(4)Ivy R.
I didn't know that this place was affiliated to the one on Park St. until I sat down and looked at the menu. I was sat at a table next to the window that faced the water. Nice view on a very nice day. I love the Park St. La Pinata and this place is pretty much a smaller version of that. The decoration inside is so cute and very well thought out. I had the #7 combination, one enchilada one taco, both being Chicken filled. At least their chicken has flavor which is something I judge restaurants on a lot. Their enchilada sauce was good and didn't even have a hint of canned like essence. Very fast and efficient service. I wish I could have had an adult beverage but it was the middle of a work day. I really liked this new spot and will probably come back for lunch again. It is pretty expensive though, so I'll have to save up my pennies or just be incredibly hungry to come back here.
(4)Isabelle L.
I am giving 5 stars for this place... nice environment, fast servers and delicious food. Once we have a table, the waiter gave us water and chips & salsa immediately . The waiters are really friendly . there are two locations.. I think i like this one more than the one @ Park street. This location is more family friendly and the other one is more for people who wants to hang out and enjoy their drinks.
(5)Immortal S.
Wow, I am amazed at this place compared to it's sister location. A manager was kind enough to offer a second chance at their restaurant. However, I couldn't make it to the other location.I originally only came to before because we were visiting the area. So when I finally had a chance, we came to this one. (So my apologies as it's not exactly a comparison to the exact location) Anyway, we walked in and there was nobody around to seat us. We were pretty confused, couldn't even find any waiters. Finally, one of the bartenders was going to seat us but then a waiter came up and took us to our seats. That was the only minor annoyance in a wonderful dinner. After that, we have an attentive, sweet waitress named Kary. My strawberry daiquiri was amazing, the food was such a huge portion, I took almost all of it home. It was great! I'm so happy that I was able to try them at a different location because not only did it change my mind, it made me want to come back. In a strange twist, it turns out this place is located where I use to come to see my old orthodontist right on the water. It's a beautiful location. We were even able to catch a sunset together to end the evening!
(4)Kenny L.
The Alameda La Pinatas may have put on airs and change its name but it is still La Pinata. Meaning, good Mexican food but not necessarily gourmet. It does get a little annoying at times s they are trying to yuppify itself from its humble beginnings in Hayward, but what redeems this location, as well as the Park Street "flagship" is the house label tequila is awesome. Jose Cuervo is bad word at this place, as it should be.
(4)Derek N.
Out of the locations of other La Penca's/La Pinata's this one is by far the best. The food is pretty much the same between them all with the exception of the Hayward La Pinata. Be careful leaving if you've been drinking..(it is Alameda) and its not close to any freeways..
(4)Havsa H.
Mexican food late night after an all day of starvation and lots of work, we found this place. I went here with my model friends, after just finishing a show and on a desperate hunt for place to eat that's open late at night and is in a fairly decent locale. And boy were we glad! I give it 5-stars for being open so late for dinner. I'm only giving it 3-stars b/c of my healthy eating habits, I ordered the checken minus the rice and sour cream and it was served in a ton of tomato sauce, that tasted straight out of a can. But hey can't complain, it was still decent food open at that hour. My friends ordered steak and fish tacos and semmed to have no complains, infact seemed to really enjoy their food. This place was packed at 10:30pm, so is apparently a popular hangout and I am so thankful that us hungry models got to eat a meal at an absolutely odd hour.
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