Mexicali Cocina Cantina

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12161 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604

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(818) 985-1744
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Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Mexicali Cocina Cantina - Studio City, CA
Reviews
( 34 )
( 51 )
( 24 )
( 22 )
( 36 )

Best

Been a regular at Mexicali for over 8 years and have never had a bad meal or a bad drink...great in the spring or summer to sit outside with friends...a great place Pros: grea...

Worst

All I can say is ""meh""... Food is kinda bland. Not enough meat, drinks are expensive... Wait service was nice though... Pros: Nice atmosphere Cons: everything else

I don't know about you, but I loved this place! 6/12/2006

I read a bunch of reviews here before checking them out last night, and almost didn't go because they all seemed so negative. I'm so glad I gave them the benifit of the doubt! Maybe people only write reviews when they have something to complain about, I don't know. I went on a Monday night, which means that all the food was 30% off, my group of 6 got a table on the patio in about 3 minutes, and the food was unbelievably good. Strawberry margarita was decent (pretty sure it was about 50% tequila!), the entrees were good, but best of all: The queso appetizer. I was ready to just have that as my meal and take my fajitas home in a box for tomorrow's lunch!\r \r Don't believe all that you hear about how terrible the service was. We went, had a great time, and got great food at a great price. I did notice that the inside was pretty loud as we walked through, but...lighten up people! It's a restraunt, not a library! more
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I don't know about you, but I loved this place! 6/12/2006

I read a bunch of reviews here before checking them out last night, and almost didn't go because they all seemed so negative. I'm so glad I gave them the benifit of the doubt! Maybe people only write reviews when they have something to complain about, I don't know. I went on a Monday night, which means that all the food was 30% off, my group of 6 got a table on the patio in about 3 minutes, and the food was unbelievably good. Strawberry margarita was decent (pretty sure it was about 50% tequila!), the entrees were good, but best of all: The queso appetizer. I was ready to just have that as my meal and take my fajitas home in a box for tomorrow's lunch! Don't believe all that you hear about how terrible the service was. We went, had a great time, and got great food at a great price. I did notice that the inside was pretty loud as we walked through, but...lighten up people! It's a restraunt, not a library! more
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L-O-N-G WAIT 5/11/2006

You have to wait so long for a table, there is no where to wait, the service is rude, they don't ask you move they just push to get you out of the way. They take reservations, but don't honor them, even if you have a reservation they make you wait and the wait is long. The hostesses give way to much attitude, they act like they are doing you a favor, excuse me! You have a job because of us customers. The margarita's pitchers are good, but not the best. Pros: parking Cons: service, laud, crowded more
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L-O-N-G WAIT 5/11/2006

You have to wait so long for a table, there is no where to wait, the service is rude, they don't ask you move they just push to get you out of the way. They take reservations, but don't honor them, even if you have a reservation they make you wait and the wait is long. The hostesses give way to much attitude, they act like they are doing you a favor, excuse me! You have a job because of us customers. The margarita's pitchers are good, but not the best. Pros: parking Cons: service, laud, crowded more
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Good food, okay experience 4/21/2006

Since Mexicali is about 2 minutes from my house, I find myself here frequently. The food is satisfying, and is a particularly good value on Mondays, when everything is 30% off. The service is decent - the waitstaff are earnest and generally attentive, although they seem overworked/understaffed most of the time. For a more casual, low-key evening, I'd recommend going on a weeknight - the weekend brings out too many generic LA blondes and over-cologned man-boys. Also, there is nowhere to stand if you are waiting for a table - you're kind of standing around right inside the front door trying not to get in the hostess' way. Bottom Line: For a decent night out, give Mexicali a shot, but be prepared for minor hassles. Pros: good value on Mondays, decent food Cons: VERY loud inside!, awkward wait more
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Good food, okay experience 4/20/2006

Since Mexicali is about 2 minutes from my house, I find myself here frequently. The food is satisfying, and is a particularly good value on Mondays, when everything is 30% off. The service is decent - the waitstaff are earnest and generally attentive, although they seem overworked/understaffed most of the time. For a more casual, low-key evening, I'd recommend going on a weeknight - the weekend brings out too many generic LA blondes and over-cologned man-boys. Also, there is nowhere to stand if you are waiting for a table - you're kind of standing around right inside the front door trying not to get in the hostess' way. Bottom Line: For a decent night out, give Mexicali a shot, but be prepared for minor hassles. Pros: good value on Mondays, decent food Cons: VERY loud inside!, awkward wait more
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cool place, love mondays! 2/12/2006

besides the awkwardness of having practically sit in other diners' laps while waiting for our table, we loved mexicali. it was a little dim in the back, where we sat, but it added to the atmosphere. monday nights are discounted nights, so we splurged with a pitcher of margaritas on a work night. they were great, my food was great, no complaints! Pros: great food, great atmosphere Cons: dim lighting, no space for waiting, busy more
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cool place, love mondays! 2/12/2006

besides the awkwardness of having practically sit in other diners' laps while waiting for our table, we loved mexicali. it was a little dim in the back, where we sat, but it added to the atmosphere. monday nights are discounted nights, so we splurged with a pitcher of margaritas on a work night. they were great, my food was great, no complaints! Pros: great food, great atmosphere Cons: dim lighting, no space for waiting, busy more
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ok for lunch, if you have extra time to wait. 11/21/2005

been here for lunch and for dinner. definitely more of a lunch place, as i don't consider it nice enough to go out to for dinner. the service is VERY slow, so be prepared to wait. the best thing there is the crab enchilada, and the pomegranate margatinis aren't bad either. the accoustics in the place are a bit hard on the ears too, LOTS of noise, especially when it's busy. Pros: drinks, enchilada Cons: loud, slow service more
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ok for lunch, if you have extra time to wait. 11/20/2005

been here for lunch and for dinner. definitely more of a lunch place, as i don't consider it nice enough to go out to for dinner. the service is VERY slow, so be prepared to wait. the best thing there is the crab enchilada, and the pomegranate margatinis aren't bad either. the accoustics in the place are a bit hard on the ears too, LOTS of noise, especially when it's busy. Pros: drinks, enchilada Cons: loud, slow service more
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bad service, l-o-n-g waits 7/25/2005

I live right down the street from mexicali and it's very convenient for after-work drinks. BUT as far as eating goes, that's a whole other story! Every time I have gone to eat, I have waited about 20 minutes for a table, even with reservations!! As they say ""We dont hold tables for reservations."" So..., what's the point of taking a reservation then??? The service is very very slow as well, and I've often been left having to ask other servers to find my server, or to get something I need. Overall C-. Pros: margaritas Cons: slow service, long waits, crammed and loud more
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bad service, l-o-n-g waits 7/24/2005

I live right down the street from mexicali and it's very convenient for after-work drinks. BUT as far as eating goes, that's a whole other story! Every time I have gone to eat, I have waited about 20 minutes for a table, even with reservations!! As they say "We dont hold tables for reservations." So..., what's the point of taking a reservation then??? The service is very very slow as well, and I've often been left having to ask other servers to find my server, or to get something I need. Overall C-. Pros: margaritas Cons: slow service, long waits, crammed and loud more
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Great After Work Spot 6/1/2005

A great place to go for drinks with friends after a hard day at work. Their margratinis are strong enough to make you forget your own name, and I've yet to have a bad meal there. I reccomend their carne burritto with goat cheese and avocado. It does get crowded, but the servers have always been nice and attentive to us. more
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Great After Work Spot 6/1/2005

A great place to go for drinks with friends after a hard day at work. Their margratinis are strong enough to make you forget your own name, and I've yet to have a bad meal there. I reccomend their carne burritto with goat cheese and avocado. It does get crowded, but the servers have always been nice and attentive to us. more
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Wouldn't recommend 5/7/2005

I have been to Mexicali 4-5 times, normallly by request of others who always praised the restaurant. I found it to be extremely loud so don't plan on having much of a conversation. The drinks were fine but nothing that can't be found elsewhere. The food seems to be much more cali and not so much mexican. I found the taste of onions to be so overwhelming that I could not finish my meal. They have a few decent items but nothing that can't be made in 5 minutes at home. If you want mexican food I can recommend a dozen places in the midwest and southeast that are 10 times better and cheaper at that. If you don't like true mexican food you may find a fit at Mexicali. Pros: Parking is good Cons: Extremely LOUD!, crowded more
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Wouldn't recommend 5/6/2005

I have been to Mexicali 4-5 times, normallly by request of others who always praised the restaurant. I found it to be extremely loud so don't plan on having much of a conversation. The drinks were fine but nothing that can't be found elsewhere. The food seems to be much more cali and not so much mexican. I found the taste of onions to be so overwhelming that I could not finish my meal. They have a few decent items but nothing that can't be made in 5 minutes at home. If you want mexican food I can recommend a dozen places in the midwest and southeast that are 10 times better and cheaper at that. If you don't like true mexican food you may find a fit at Mexicali. Pros: Parking is good Cons: Extremely LOUD!, crowded more
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totally NOT worth it 4/2/2005

waited an hour, despite having reservations. service was really slow. it was dark and noisy inside, and not really that cute. the food is greasy and americanized. the drinks and salsa weren't great either. it's not offensive, but i wouldn't recomond it to anyone - just not worth the time and hassell. Cons: waited forever, crowded more
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totally NOT worth it 4/2/2005

waited an hour, despite having reservations. service was really slow. it was dark and noisy inside, and not really that cute. the food is greasy and americanized. the drinks and salsa weren't great either. it's not offensive, but i wouldn't recomond it to anyone - just not worth the time and hassell. Cons: waited forever, crowded more
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OK For Hanging Out 10/15/2004

The food is not authentic mexican. It's ok, but I wouldn't go for the food. The cocktails are not bad or terribly pricey. The crowd is more casual and less pretentious than most. But there are still a good number of posers in this place. It tends to get really crowded during the weekend and people end up on the sidewalk trying to smoke cause the patio is small. They have lots of parking at least in the back. Otherwise, nothing to get too excited about. Pros: Easy Parking more
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OK For Hanging Out 10/15/2004

The food is not authentic mexican. It's ok, but I wouldn't go for the food. The cocktails are not bad or terribly pricey. The crowd is more casual and less pretentious than most. But there are still a good number of posers in this place. It tends to get really crowded during the weekend and people end up on the sidewalk trying to smoke cause the patio is small. They have lots of parking at least in the back. Otherwise, nothing to get too excited about. Pros: Easy Parking more
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Menu for Mexicali Cocina Cantina


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Dark wood, dim lighting and tables shoved close together make this cantina feel quite cozy. In the loud, crowded bar, 30-somethings sip margaritas. In the dining room, they nosh...

  • 3/31/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Open daily 11:30am, dine till 1am & drink till 2am
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Studio City
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