Review Otaez Mexican Restaurant - Oakland

Tried this place for the first time. It was recommended by a local business owner. Anna was very attentive. Upon entering there are tables and you can sit wherever. A server will bring you a menu to order. You might have to ask them to wipe the table down. The menus need to be wiped down as well. There is hand sanitizer on every table. The walls need to be cleaned really good. The bathroom was very clean. I ordered a full taco order. Comes with two tacos , beans and rice. I was told the beans will be refried but it was a mixture of refried and whole beans. The tacos were ok. They were dry so I asked for some green sauce and sour cream. I also ordered a guava margarita. It was OK it tasted like it was previously mixed. It didn’t taste fresh at all. After finishing the drink I noticed there was food on my cup from being half washed. Overall, I’m glad I gave them a try to cross them off my list.

Do not recommend this place at all, which is sad bc we used to like it here. We forgot to take a pic of a plate of pozole that was also ordered. It was too hot, watered down, and no taste. The burrito was asada and the meat was hard and not good, like it was meat that had sat there all day. The torta had too much of refried beans but was ok besides that. The enchiladas were covered in green sauce that looked good but wasn't- it seemed watered down and I had to add the table salsa to give it flavor. Flautas were ok but a little burnt. The only tasty thing was the salsa they gave with the tortilla chips. We ordered them because they are not complimentary anymore and one has to ask for them. The very worst part was the gratuity fee added to the bill. We always tip when going to a restaurant, but to be told what we have to tip is wrong especially if the wait staff isn't really waiting on you except for when they take the order and bring the food out. She came once after serving and seemed more interested in the noisy patrons at the other end of the restaurant, who were acting like it was a bar with all the yelling and drinking they were doing. When I asked about the fee, she said the owner said to add to tables of 6 or more. We were 6 with no children. I called Alameda Co. Commissioner ofc and was told restaurants are not supposed to put how much tip one should have to pay, but may suggest how much. This was not a suggestion at Otaez and I have my receipt to prove it. Will never suggest anyone to go to this establishment.

Huge menu, good food at reasonable prices. Restaurant has lots of interesting art works on display everywhere including on walls, tabletops and chair backs. Street parking only.

We used to come every week but the food changed. Maybe I’ll try once more

As soon as me and my finance walked in we were greeted with grins from all the customers and staff who had on NO MASKS, then while the waitress was on her phone we had to grab someone's attention to give us our food. While I'm trying to get some extra salsa togo this rude lady's says, "don't touch that I already put some in for you." It was just really embarrassing and I will never ever eat there again. And don't advise anyone who isn't 1000% Mexican to eat there either. Guadalajara is way better with more trained and friendly staff.

I love their pozole here Mexican soup type with pork meat and hominy had entertainment while we ate had live mariachi it was great

Food was ok, we loved their hot sauce, service was very slow, they were not able to coordinate what my son and I ordered to bring at the same time (my guess is they forgot the order) - although all this was during a very busy weekend of Los Dias de Los Muertos

I ordered large tray of food. Went to pick and they gave me half tray of what I ordered. Told waitress that was wrong amount compared to what I ordered. She told me they'll make me another one. Found out they just switched trays to make it look like what I had ordered. I'm so angry that I'll never order from them again if I'm paying. Surely missed the Alameda one, that's closed permanently I think. Bad 👎