Comal

Had heard about comal for ages but didn't really know what to expect coming to it for the first time. The outdoor patio was amazing! Heat lamps up top so basically every seat was a warm seat. Menu felt kinda fancy, but I got a Chile relleno which was super saucy and pretty good. Other pictured dish are the lengua tacos. Also got margaritas, they were super strong! Came on a Thursday night and there was salsa music and people dancing. Super fun ambiance and will def come back again.

Amazing food and fantastic bartenders with cocktail skills! Definitely worth stopping in. If you order appetizers, it's fast and amazingly good without the wait of a whole meal!
I knocked one star off because of the hostess's lack of communication skills. We walked in to a mostly empty restaurant at 5:15 pm on a Saturday. And her first words to us are, let me put you on the waitlist . Needless to say we were massively confused. We were going to walk out because we had a show to catch and didn't have much time to waste, but we gave the back bar a shot. According to the hostess, we could do "drinks only" back there. It took her a while to finally explain that the kitchen opened up at 530, which is when we could order food from wherever we sat. So strange. I guarantee this place has lost business because of that lack of communication skills.
Anyway, the bar turned out FANTASTIC, because of Zoe & Olga. Major shout out to those ladies for giving us the scoop on ordering food, being fantastic bartenders, and overall great people to be at the bar with!

I wanted to love this place. I really did. I mean, it's a recommended Bib Gourmand after all!

However, my honest review is that it tastes like Mexican food made by someone who has.. never had Mexican food before for a $15 taco, I expected something flavorful and high in quality, but instead I got a plate of food that tasted like a few too many Karens complained it was "too spicy" to the point that the chef gave up on seasoning altogether.

I'm 100% convinced the slaw on top of the fish tacos was just cabbage, mayonnaise, and some salt -- even a bit of lemon juice or vinegar would've added more dimension to an otherwise flat flavor profile. The carne asada tacos were topped with cooked cactus, which added a lot of volume but not a lot of flavor.

For as disappointing as the tacos were, the guacamole was DELICIOUS, creamy and tart in all the right ways. The tortilla chips were clearly made in-house (which I really liked), although you had to be careful to avoid getting one that gushed oil when you bite into it. A bit thinner and they would've been perfect.

My dining partner had the shrimp ceviche, which they really liked (I didn't try any). The cocktails were refreshing and very high quality.

My favorite part of the dining experience was the atmosphere -- it had an industrial-chic ambience with lots of black metal, dark wood, and exposed concrete. It was also surprisingly spacious, with lots of dining space deep into the back of the restaurant, paired with soaring ceilings and exposed beams (if you're pressed for a place that can accommodate a large group, this space is up to the task!)

I would come again for a cocktail before a show or a nightcap after dinner somewhere else in downtown Berkeley.

Our server was very kind and attentive and made sure we had our food in time to wrap up and make our concert.

Overall, I didn't HATE it, but I expected a lot more for Mexican food in California (especially one with these price tags! ).

Comal is an upscale, Mexican restaurant located in Berkeley'e theater district. Dark, trendy, huge interior that's great for drinks and eats before a show or after work. I came here with coworkers in a cold, rainy evening after an all-day meeting. Parking in downtown Berkeley id always tricky, so use the Center Street Garage for safe, inexpensive parking.

The food here is surprisingly affordable, and you should order lots of dishes to share. They do use cilantro in many of their dishes, so be wary if you have an aversion. I found most of the apps and dishes 5 stars worthy:

1. Brussel Sprouts will make a veggie fan out of you - roasted to the point of being sweet, not bitter. 5 stars

2. Sikil Pak is fried plantains with an eggplant-pepitas spicy dip and is a fine alternative to nachos. 5 stars.

3. Duroc Pork Tacos (carnitas) was my main dish, and was very good. Seasoned, juicy meat. 5 stars. My other colleagues all got the rock cod tacos which were also popular.

4. Be sure to save room for dessert, like the Chocolate Budin - thick, sweet, and bitter! 5 stars.

They also have a good variety of vegetarian options too.

Very pleasant experience eating here. Saturday evening was busy so reasonable wait, but server was very friendly so no issues there. The set up is pretty nice and lively vibe inside. Food was very well seasoned and even the kids were not picky at all. They actually ate everything so they really enjoyed it too.

Food and atmosphere are still great.

Unfortunately, the service has fallen dramatically.
I had to get up from our table to ask the bartender to send drinks to our table. I had to go to the bartender again to have him find/send our server to the table with to go containers and our bill. She was socializing with her co-workers.None of them made any effort towards attending their customers.

I've taken several out of town guests to Comal to impress them on Berkeley's fun and unique culture. Sadly, Comal no longer fits that.

Came here for an invite-only after-party, and it was an absolute delight. The ambiance was nothing short of amazing, setting the perfect tone for a memorable evening.

The staff were attentive, friendly, and always ready to cater to our needs. It's evident that they take great pride in ensuring their guests have a wonderful experience.

The taco bar was a standout feature of the night, offering mouthwatering options like pork and chicken. The flavors were sensational, and I couldn't help but go back for seconds. Alongside the delectable tacos, I also enjoyed a well-crafted drink that perfectly complemented the meal.

I can't wait to return for personal meals. I'm excited to explore the full menu and enjoy the same level of excellence that I encountered during the event.

Comal was our favorite date spot when we lived in the Bay. The upscale dining vibes and vibrant menu items were the main reasons we kept coming back. Comal is in the heart of Berkeley, not for from the University and walking distance from BART and several bus lines.

The guacamole was an amazing appetizer, just a bit spicy and hella fresh. On our most recent visit we both ordered fish tacos and found them to be good but didn't like the strong fishy aroma (I know...but..)

Our server was attentive which is always great, food and drinks both came out in a timely manner even on a busy evening. The music playing fit the mood and the energy of the restaurant said we were in great company.

WOW!!! Amazing Comal - thank you so much. We had reservations for 10 and really had a great time creating new memories. The ambiance, service, and food were all spectacular. Comal provided a phenomenal experience and we all thank you!
Hen-of-the-wood mushroom quesadillas - WHAT???? Truly my favorite

Came here for dinner on a Monday night! I had never seen this place but we walked by and thought it looked good. The service was good and loved the vibes inside!!

Chips + Salsa Trio - solid chips & loved the different salsas + the cute spoons haha. great appetizer and can't go wrong with it

Beef tacos - the waitress recommended these! They were literally so good and perfectly filling. The meat was so tender and it paired perfectly with the slaw + cheese.

10/10 recommend and would for sure come here again.

Comal is a nice restaurant but there are a few improvements that need to be made.

It's easy to access via the 51B, 79, and 18 bus lines and BART since it's just a stone's throw away from the Downtown Berkeley stops/BART station. There's street parking nearby but it can be sparse on busy nights so definitely account for that.

I ordered some pork tacos and they came with avocado, corn, and cilantro. My partner ordered the rotisserie chicken tamale with mole. We also got some chips and salsa for the table. Everything was decent but the issue was just that -- the food was only decent. There was barely any avocado on my tacos (only one of them had a slice) and the tortillas were so soggy that I had to eat the rest of the tacos with a fork... The flavor of the pork was good but not good enough for me to justify spending $15 for two tacos. The chips and salsa were good as well but it's kind of egregious to me that they can tack $5 onto the already $6 cost just for pico de gallo.

The service was speedy and friendly and the ambiance is great. If anything, I think it's worth checking out if you're in the interior design/architecture field because it's such a well-designed restaurant with great audio engineering (arguably, the interior is better than the food).

I may or may not come back. It's nice enough to visit for the ambiance alone but the cost and quality of the food may make me just choose another (cheaper) taco spot nearby... Perhaps I'll go to Comal Next Door to try out some of their less pricey options.