Mesa Maguey

Dr. Amanda Cummings 4 months ago

The food is a 1 The service and atmosphere is a 5 The only thing my husband and I enjoyed was the beef barbacoa- but all by itself. The taco shells were soggy and the queso….was a giant glob of cheese. I don’t know what we were supposed to do with it? I never seen queso like that before. They spent more time on the presentation than the food. I don’t need flowers on my queso I just need it to be liquid gold.

J Allen a month ago

If you are searching for authentic Oaxacan cuisine in Oakland, incredible handcrafted cocktails, and one of the best Mexican dining experiences in the Bay Area, Mesa Maguey absolutely delivers. This restaurant deserves more than a 5-star review for its outstanding food, amazing drinks, warm hospitality, and unforgettable atmosphere. From the moment you walk into Mesa Maguey, you can feel the passion and authenticity behind everything they do. The restaurant has a welcoming energy, beautiful ambiance, and a true appreciation for traditional Oaxaca culture and cuisine. Every detail — from the presentation of the dishes to the expertly crafted cocktails — reflects quality and care. Leo, the owner, is one of the best hosts and restaurateurs in Oakland. He is extremely knowledgeable about Oaxacan cuisine, mezcal, tequila, and authentic Mexican flavors. Leo takes the time to educate guests about the menu, ingredients, and agave spirits while making everyone feel like family. His passion for authentic Mexican food and exceptional customer service is what makes Mesa Maguey stand out from other Oakland Mexican restaurants. The food is absolutely incredible. Mesa Maguey serves some of the best Oaxacan food in Oakland with rich, authentic flavors that are hard to find anywhere else in the Bay Area. Every dish tastes fresh, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully prepared. The mole dishes are deep, complex, and packed with traditional Oaxaca flavor. The tacos, birria, enchiladas, ceviche, and house specialties are all amazing. You can tell the kitchen uses high-quality ingredients and authentic recipes that honor true Mexican culinary traditions. Their drinks and cocktail menu are equally impressive. Migel, the bartender, is exceptional and incredibly talented. The margaritas, mezcal cocktails, and tequila-based drinks are expertly balanced, creative, and made with fresh ingredients. Migel provides outstanding customer service, makes excellent recommendations, and creates a fun and welcoming atmosphere at the bar. If you appreciate craft cocktails or premium mezcal, this is easily one of the best cocktail spots in Oakland. Mesa Maguey is perfect for date nights, birthdays, celebrations, happy hour, or simply enjoying amazing Mexican food and drinks with friends. The atmosphere is vibrant, stylish, and authentic without feeling pretentious. Great music, excellent service, beautiful presentation, and incredible flavors make this restaurant a must-visit Oakland destination. Mesa Maguey should absolutely be at the top of your list. Huge respect to Leo, Migel, and the entire Mesa Maguey team for consistently delivering one of the best restaurant experiences in Oakland. Incredible food, exceptional cocktails, authentic Oaxaca flavors, and genuine hospitality every single time. Highly recommended — easily a 5-star plus restaurant experience.

Jeremy Laurin 6 months ago

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Mesa Maguey is a lovely little hometown Mexican spot that totally hit the mark. I had the veggie burrito and it was incredible — huge, super vegetarian-friendly, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of beans and guacamole. So satisfying without being heavy. We also shared chips and salsa, which came with three different salsas — all tasty and a nice variety. My friend ordered the pulled pork nachos and absolutely loved them. Bonus points: they have happy hour every day, which is always a win. 🌮🍹 Definitely recommend stopping by if you’re in the neighborhood!

Christopher Beaty 5 months ago

With the amount of taquerias and Mexican restaurants in the area, it's often difficult to find the motivation to visit a new one. I am glad I took a chance and paid them a visit this past weekend. Nestled in the former Copper Spoon space, Mesa Maguey specializes in Oaxacan cuisine, so some dishes are familiar, while others are a bit more uncommon at other local eateries. Their salsas and chips were excellent, the tlayuda we shared was like a top notch Mexican pizza, and the memelitas were super flavorful, and like sopes but softer. The service was a tad on the slow side, but the food will definitely bring me back to this place.

David Smith 7 months ago

Exceptional experience at Mesa Maguey. The chips and salsa for a few choices were solid, personally not my style of salsa but still enjoyable. The salsa verde in the top right felt the most mild, the salsa rojo left was slight more heat, and the verde on the bottom I think would be the highest. I could be wrong on those, none of them were really “hot” but felt mild to moderate for the average person. If you’re someone who hates heat, this is very different than the standard expected chunky non-spicy salsa and I would probably stay away. The tacos, especially being 2 for $9 during the happy hour are exceptional, so far being the best tacos I’ve had in Oakland. The corn and flour shell mix is strong and holds up beautifully with great texture, flavor and bite. This is a great solution to the issue of having to double up on store bought corn tacos due to them tearing I see a lot of restaurants use. I tried the Barbacoa, Asada, and Carnitas tacos of the three I would rank them from best to great Barbacoa, Asada, and Carnitas. All of them were great and honestly the Barbacoa and Asada could be tied for best. I would recommend 2-3 tacos for the average person, 2 is good, 3 (if they allow it) would be great. I eat a lot and was very hungry so I went with 4 and stuffed myself and do not regret it. The vibe is fun and relaxing, I will absolutely be back for more tacos and to likely try a drink next time. This is a must stop for tacos in Oakland