Mexicali Fresh

As an American who is also a Mexican food Enthusiast (seriously one of my top 5 hobbies), I must say this is pretty authentic and DELICIOUS! It’s probably not a big place for ambiance, but if you want to satisfy your craving for delicious, authentic, California Mexican food this IS THE PLACE! Having lived in CA for 7 years prior to moving overseas, I can honestly say these guys have hit the nail on the head.

Came in for some chips, guac and happy hour drinks. Only problem, the guac serving was really freaking small and they only put a half shot in the drink. I know it’s happy hour but I still felt pretty sad after that drink.

Yeah, it was fine.
Pros:
–quick food,
–taco salad with ground beef was decent portion size. I couldn’t finish it.
–outdoor patio overlooks the water
Cons:
–spicy salsa was a little too ketchup-​y
–plastic plates
Overall, nothing stood out, but it wasn’t bad either. I enjoyed the location.

Perfect stop for a quick bite to tie you over until dinner.
It is what is it. Fast food, prepared to order, counter style. Good eats, quick, inexpensive.
I was there on a Tuesday which has a «taco Tuesday» special for $ 3 tacos, but wasn’t in the mood. I wanted spicier, so I order the chicken, jalapeño quesadilla with hot chipotle pico, cheese and more hot sauce to top it off. It was perfectly grilled, melted cheese, enough heat and the chicken (more than enough) was flavorful. Portion was actually larger than I needed and didn’t end up finishing it, but good nonetheless.
They also have a Pacifico special (not sure if it was because it was taco Tuesday) for $ 5, which is cheaper than any other place in the area. God… why is alcohol so expensive in NZ?
Worth a stop. Sit outside and enjoy the waterfront view.

Measly two tablespoons of meat in each of my two tacos. Barbacoa tasted like beef jerky (no wonder it looked like it hadn’t been touched) and carnitas were only marginally better. Then again, I’m from the US where we have Chipotle, so maybe I’m spoiled. Service could’ve also been better; the ladies struggled to hear us over the glass partition even when it wasn’t busy with people.

It’s just a fast food restaurant, I don’t understand why the comments r not good. Service is not rude because the staff paid a lot of patience for me. Nothing to complain for the price and the food.

Recovering from a cold, I was feeling a salad. Walking around, I stopped in Mexicali Fresh for their Paleo salad. Delicious chicken, fresh guac, tasty spicy sauce and jalapeños. Nice to see that a restaurant had a Paleo option as a permanent fixture on their menu.

Meh… literally. At first glance I expected this to be along the lines of a Baja Fresh — tasty Mexican style fast-​food. The menu has the usual fare, tacos, burritos, taco salads (seriously folks. it’s called a Tostada), no quesadillas. I really wanted a vegetarian burrito, but the veggie option had eggplant in it, which is on my do not like list. So I went for the California burrito which had chicken. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t very good either. With everything that was put into it, cheese, chicken, guacamole, supposedly hot salsa, re-​fried beans, and cabbage it still lacked any flavor. How is that possible? Also the chips, all 6 of them, were stale.
The salsa options tasted like ketchup and the Cholula smelled like barbecue sauce was mixed with it. At $ 14.00 (I ordered a Canada dry Ginger Ale) I would rather go to the Subway around the corner.

Bad bad bad. Rude service, overpriced mince on stale tortillas, $ 10 corona. Avoid!!!

My husband and I didn’t care for it. I had the tacos and he had a naked burrito.

two words — chilli beers. There is something about drinking an ice cold beverage, while at the same time getting dosed up with a good chilli spice that really makes the day better.
However, the spice in the chilli beer seems to be the hottest thing Mexicali has to offer, with their «extra hot» salsa not quite managing to reach the lofty heights hinted at by the name. Mexicali do have good teals — my favorite is «Taco Tuesday,» and I quite like to get that deal with a side of corn chips — great value at 2 dollars.
Mexicali is a pretty standard «not-​quite» mexican restaurant — there are vague attempts at being authentic but at the end of the day you are sitting next to Princes Wharf being served by someone with a very New Zealand accent. However, the food is good and filling, and as mentioned before, the chilli beer is really very good.

Mexicali was once described by a friend of mine as «Mexican Subway». It’s a harsh description perhaps, but there’s also an element of truth to it — ordering here is a little like ordering a Subway sandwich. Otherwise, it’s much like any other Mexican place you’ve been to — tasty nachos, quesadillas, burritos and tacos all on offer. Servings are very generous, and pricing is very reasonable.
Finally, it’s worth noting this place has two aces up its sleeve compared with other Mexican spots. First, they do awesome Margarita Slushies. Second, the location — perched on the lovely Princes Wharf, there’s nowhere better to watch the harbour, the coming and going of the ferries or the giant cruise liners that frequently dock here.

I just tried Mexicali Fresh for the first time a few days ago. It was a midday, mid-​week dining experience, and I was very impressed. I’m always looking for somewhere close to the CBD and by the water for a cheap and tasty lunch, and Mexicali delivered just that. For $ 13.90 my chicken taco salad had rice, black beans and a heaping helping of salady type ingredients, the combination of which was incredibly tasty. They also have a little condiments bar and water you can help yourself to, and a casual seating area where you can look out over the water and see the ferries coming in and out. I’m not sure I’d come here for dinner as it is quite casual, but think I’ve found a new regular lunchtime spot.

It’s no secret that Mexican food has boomed in popularity in the last few years. Mexicali Fresh was here first and they know what they’re doing. Plus, they have possibly one of the best locations for a restaurant in Auckland. Situated on Princes Wharf, Mexicali Fresh feels like an escape from the city while still being close enough for a workday lunch or to hit the town afterwards. I went here for a friend’s BYO birthday dinner (which turned out to be the last BYO they ever had. Sorry). Yes, it got rowdy, but it was a very fun night. The service was friendly and attentive, even when things got a bit out of hand. We had a big table out front and spent the day sipping on margarita slushies in the sun looking out over the water. But the thing I love most about Mexicali Fresh is how, well, fresh, the food is. Seriously, the vegetables are crisp, the meat is juicy and the tacos are perfectly crunchy. Plus the colours are divine. Great food, great drinks, great view — great choice.

An eatery that me and my wife simply can’t get enough of. I always go for the beef burrito and she goes for the veggie one. The ingredients used are fresh and of good quality. It’s a little pricier than the California Burrito Company but well worth the bit extra. Make sure you include the hot sauce as this really gives it kick but is not overpowering. The last time I was there, I ate my burrito so fast my wife asked me if I was in a Burrito Eating Competition! That’s simply because it tasted so good. Mexicali Fresh is a good place to start if you want to kick off a good night out in the Viaduct.