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Welcome to El Paisa

“El Paisa” is a vibrant Mexican restaurant located in Oakland, CA, offering a plethora of amenities including takeout, delivery, and outdoor seating. Known for their incredible tasting tacos, especially the saudadero and birria, this spot has garnered praise from customers for its fresh, flavorful meats. With a diverse menu and live music, El Paisa provides an authentic taco restaurant experience. The friendly staff, efficient service, and generous portions make it a must-visit for taco enthusiasts. Overall, El Paisa stands out for its delicious food, inviting ambiance, and exceptional customer satisfaction.

LOCATIONS
  • El Paisa
    4610 International Blvd Oakland, CA 94601
    4610 International Blvd Oakland, CA 94601 Hotline: (510) 368-5403

Allow me to introduce you to the vibrant and flavorful world of El Paisa, a Mexican gem located in Oakland, CA. This restaurant offers a plethora of dining options, including takeout, reservations, delivery, and even outdoor seating for those who prefer al fresco dining. The menu at El Paisa boasts limited vegetarian options but caters to a wide range of dietary preferences, making it a versatile choice for any food enthusiast.

Customers rave about the sensational tacos at El Paisa, with highlights such as the saudadero and birria receiving high praise for their incredible taste and freshness. The pricing is reasonable, with six tacos for $24 inclusive of all the fixings, making it a great value for the quality of food served. It comes as no surprise that this spot has been recognized by the Michelin guide with a bib gourmand.

Visitors also appreciate the relaxed and casual atmosphere at El Paisa, with options for outdoor seating, live music, and a salsa bar with an array of toppings to enhance your dining experience. Whether you're in the mood for brunch, lunch, or dinner, El Paisa has got you covered with their generous portions and delicious offerings.

For those seeking an authentic taco experience with a touch of flair, El Paisa is the place to be. From the friendly service to the mouthwatering dishes, this restaurant truly captures the essence of Mexican cuisine in the heart of Oakland. So why not indulge in some of the best tacos in the Bay Area at El Paisa?

START YOUR REVIEW OF El Paisa
Soroosh P.
Soroosh P.

Really incredible tasting tacos in particular the saudadero and the birria were excellent. Six tacos for $24 inclusive of all the fixings. I would argue that these are the best tacos I've had in the Bay Area, and it's no surprise the Michelin guide gave this spot a bib gourmand. Food is simplistic but the freshness of the meats and overall taste are incredible. They have a versatile taco bar as well and portion size for price hits the spot. The only knock to this place is the location and relative safety of the spot, they have onsite security but I wouldn't recommend going here when the sun goes down. That being said the food is worth the journey to get there.

Vijay N.
Vijay N.

On the recommendation of my girlfriend , this was my first Taqueria i visited after moving to the East Bay. And I have to say, this place was an absolutely fantastic introduction to the East Bay taqueria scene. Ordering is done at a counter where you request a specific item (no meat specified) - You then go to the preparation station where you can provide details for what you want. I got my standard taqueria order - a Carnitas burrito. We ended up getting our orders to go but before we left, we decided to stop by the salsa bar. The amount of variety at the sauce station was pretty great. There was tomatillo salsa, salsa roja, and avocado salsa. They also had other accoutrements you could get like radishes, carrots, etc.. When we got home, I dug in and I was not dissapointed. The burrito was no frills in the best way possible - everything was done very well. The carnitas in the burrito was perfectly crispy and flavorful - you could even taste the citrus (orange) that it was cooked with which I find is a rare occurence when eating carnitas. The addition of the salsas made the meal even better Overall, El Paisa Taqueria offers fantastic food with large portions and an excellent sides. I would definitely come back and even try and dine in next time. 5/5

Sophia L.
Sophia L.

Outdoor seating and live music. Small parking lot in the front. Pay and then order system. Salsa bar with a lot of toppings. Great tacos and burritos.

Shellyann Marie A.
Shellyann Marie A.

Best tacos hands downn! This is our go to taco spot in Oakland. Worth the drive every time and worth the wait! Line is sometimes long , sometimes there's NO parking but hey WORTH IT! We come here for cabeza and I recently just tried their tripas tacos and it's the bessssst. They always give you cactus and cebollitas. There's a salsa bar with cucumbers lime jalapeños and different salsas. Lots of table seating place is always clean no matter how busy it is. Get a plate of rice and beans for the little kiddos! The aguas here are very good too!!!

Tiffany S.
Tiffany S.

Great tacos! Love the side of onion and nopales in addition to the salsa bar. Huge portions for a taco. Easy parking in the lot. Would come back again!

Michael M.
Michael M.

Just smacked 3 tacos , trying to watch my figure so I didn't over indulge. Place is charging 4$ for a taco so you would have to be the judge ‍ , I will definitely be back for some more. Very quick and I like the ambiance / cart set up. - Food god

Chloe H.
Chloe H.

El Paisa is such a great taco spot. If you're looking for less of a taco truck experience and more of an authentic taco restaurant experience check this place out. They often have a singer and guitarist playing during their open hours which adds to the authentic ambiance. You pay at the cashier and then wait in line to order at directly from the chefs. They cook and assemble right in front of you. My favorite are the carnitas and al pastor tacos. I also like the shrimp and carne asada, just not as much. They have a great salsa bar with salsa and other things like pickled veggies, radishes, lime, marinated cucumbers and peppers. Hot tip: if you like really spicy salsa ask them for one of the salsas they keep behind the counter. The chefs can grab you one. It super duper hot so beware. I like that they have onions and nopales on every plate. Nice touch flavor wise.

Jason L.
Jason L.

Wish this place was closer to my house.. it's been a bit since I've had a plate of tacos that tasted this good! My wife called in our order 15 minutes ahead, we pulled up and there was a line of cars down the street trying to get into their main parking lot. Line inside may be intimidating but it moves fast and they're efficient. Lots of seating and live music outside... one of those places where you want/need to have a couple of beers and tacos until you go into a food coma. The salsas are delicious, especially the green one that could pass as a guacamole...but it's not! It's spicy in all of the best ways! I had pastor, lengua, and suadero and they did not skimp out on the amount of meat on my plate! Kids had asada and had meat falling out of their tacos with every bite. The grilled nopales, onions and jalapeño was a nice touch to just complement the tacos. My mouth is watering as I'm writing this. I need to go back.

Ray T.
Ray T.

The pastor burrito is good! The rice and meats are flavorful and had a nice texture. The burrito itself is a bit expensive though. Their avocado-based salsa is well made! Delicious, nice kick of heat, and good consistency. You order from the cashier and then bring your order to the cook, you tell the cook if you want any modifications to the order (like no beans). There's also a salsa bar for you to grab your salsa and sides.