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Discover the city's best restaurants. From fresh seafood and traditional Mexican food to the legendary Chinese food of La Chinesca.
Mexicali is known as one of the culinary capitals of northwest Mexico, with food influences ranging from Sinaloa-style cooking to the Cantonese tradition that arrived with Chinese immigration in the early 20th century.
Thai food and tea house on Av. Molino del Rey: pad thai, khao soi, curries and mango sticky rice, with spice levels 1 to 5. Tuesday to Sunday from 1 PM; closed Mondays. 4.9 from 634 reviews.
Vietnamese food in Plaza Mandarín (Sánchez Taboada): beef and mixed pho, curry, bao, gyoza and sushi rolls, in large portions. Open every day from 11 AM. 4.6 from 969 reviews.
Thai food in Plaza Cataviña (Calz. Cetys 1800): tom kha kai, satay, pad thai, khao soi and curries, in portions to share. Tuesday to Sunday from 12 PM; closed Mondays. 4.6 from 403 reviews.
Juice bar with a restaurant on Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas (4.6 with 708 reviews): natural juices and coffee in front, and breakfasts like chilaquiles vaqueros, omelettes and pancakes in the back. Mon-Fri 6 AM-3 PM, Sat 7 AM-2 PM, closed Sunday.
The Chinese restaurant on Av. Madero with the red-portico storefront and koi pond: carnitas coloradas, set meals by package and specialties like Sichuan fish. Open daily 11:30 AM to 9 PM. 4.5 from 3,901 reviews.
Home-style Mexican food in Cuauhtémoc Norte ("Food Paradise" sign): mole, chiles en nogada, flautas in green salsa and breakfast. Mon-Sat 8:30 AM-7 PM, closed Sunday. 4.5 from 300 reviews.
Sushi and ceviche bar with 3 locations in Mexicali; the Calzada Cetys one has 4.9 from 5,543 Google reviews. Specialty rolls from $259 MXN, aguachiles at $199 and seafood tacos from $75. Opens at noon.
The most-reviewed seafood restaurant in Mexicali (6,545 Google reviews, 4.5). Shrimp cocktails by size, from the $109 mini to the pitcher, ceviche tostadas, oysters and tacos from $45 MXN. Centro Cívico, opens at 9 AM.
Traditional Mexican food since 1945, run by the third generation of the Vieyra Robles family (4.5 with 4,570 reviews). Mole poblano, machaca, grilled fajitas, weekend buffet and a live saxophonist on Fridays. Colonia Nueva.
Ice cream parlor and restaurant on Av. Reforma since 1948, next to the Cathedral (4.4 with 2,549 reviews). Northern-style breakfast, chilaquiles with machaca, pancakes, milanesa and, for dessert, sundaes and milkshakes. Third generation of the Galindo family.
Brazilian rodizio with charcoal-grilled cuts on skewers and a salad bar. Adult rodizio $450 MXN, kids $295 (official menu, Sep 2026). 4.5 from 5,342 reviews at its Plaza El Caballito location.
The most-rated breakfast in Mexicali: 6,729 reviews across its 3 locations and 4.7 at the flagship. White or red menudo with hominy, tamales and flour tortillas, inside a Wild West museum with a dirt street and wooden buildings.
Mexicali grill-taquería with nearly 10,000 reviews and a Travellers' Choice badge: big tacos on hand-made flour tortillas, charcoal-grilled adobada and carne asada, grilled platters and a salsa bar to build your own taco. From morning into the early hours. 2 locations.
The most-reviewed restaurant in Mexicali: 16,141 Google reviews at 4.5. Carne asada tacos on flour tortillas with beans, and a topping tray with more than ten salsas. Open 24 hours, with a drive thru.
The most-reviewed Chinese restaurant in Mexicali: 4,666 reviews at 4.5 on Google. White-tablecloth Cantonese cooking with set meals for sharing, carnitas coloradas, chow mein and fried rice. Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM.
Traditional Mexican restaurant since 1991, famous for its chiles rellenos and breakfasts. Classic atmosphere with piano, mission-style building on Calz. Justo Sierra.
A Mexican home-cooking institution since 1971, across from UABC. Famous for its beef broth, daily set lunches and the Sara's torta with fries. Free coffee refills.
Family-run charcoal taquería since 2005, famous for its carne asada stuffed-chile taco. Tacos of asada, al pastor, suadero, cabeza and tripe, plus queso fundido, burros and aguas frescas. A late-night spot, "tacos go with everything!"
Steakhouse-grill with grilled platters, asada and arrachera tacos, al pastor and burritos. 24-hour drive-thru and home delivery. 2 locations.
Steakhouse-grill with 20+ years: charcoal-grilled carne asada tacos, al pastor, grilled platters, cheese-gratin stuffed chiles and queso fundido. 3 locations.
Charcoal-grilled tacos since 1976. The famous Súper Taco Huarachón (asada, tripe and al pastor), huaraches and vampiros. Open until the early morning.
The steakhouse with the longest tradition in Mexicali. Premium grilled cuts, breakfast and afternoon buffets, a wine cellar and live music. A Centro Cívico institution.
A Mexicali dining tradition: breakfast and afternoon buffets daily, cenaduría Monday to Friday. Premium cuts, Friday paella, and a private room for events.
A Mexican institution since 1903. A restaurant with iconic Swiss enchiladas, molletes, chilaquiles a la Sanborns, tacos al pastor, its own coffee, and sweet bread. Live music in the evenings.
The most renowned Pacific seafood restaurant since 1977. Rated 4.7, with valet parking and a supervised kids area.
Casual sharing-plates spot by Grupo Los Arcos. Fire show, creative cocktails, and a beach-lounge vibe.
Pacific cuisine: tostadas, ceviches, grilled octopus, and mezcal cocktails. Born in Tijuana.
Sinaloa-style Pescado Zarandeado grilled over coals. Kids play area, sushi bar, and nighttime karaoke.
American all-you-can-eat buffet with grill, tepanyaki, USDA Choice cuts, pizza, pasta, Mexican food and an in-house bakery stations. A family franchise at Plaza El Caballito.
Each guide has the dish to order, opening hours and directions.
Seafood6 places · Pescado zarandeado, shrimp cocktails, aguachiles, ceviches and more. The best of the sea in Mexicali.Mexican Food8 places · Fondas, buffets and traditional Mexican food. Chilaquiles, machaca, pozole, menudo and authentic antojitos.Steakhouses & Grills3 places · Steakhouses and grill restaurants. New York, arrachera, rib eye, filet and the best premium cuts in the city.Tacos6 places · Carne asada, birria, adobada, fish tacos and more styles that make Mexicali taquerías famous.Breakfast11 places · Chilaquiles, machaca, huevos rancheros and the classic Mexicali breakfasts to start the day right.Chinese Food2 places · Mexicali's legendary Chinese food, the city with the most Chinese restaurants in the country. Cantonese cooking born in La Chinesca.Asian Food3 places · Asian kitchens beyond Chinese: Thai food with pad thai and curries, and Vietnamese pho.Mexicali is a city where culinary traditions from all over Mexico and the world come together. The Sinaloa influence brought seafood and pescado zarandeado, while Chinese immigration in the early 20th century created the famous Chinesca, the largest Chinatown in Mexico.
Charcoal-grilled carne asada tacos are an emblem of the city, as is machaca with eggs for breakfast. Mexicali cooking is a unique fusion you will not find anywhere else in the country.
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