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Snowtea Book Club

El buzón de las impuras

Francisca Solar's novel about the 1863 Church of La Compañía fire and the mailbox that kept its faithful's secrets. The session date is set.

Thursday, August 27 · 7:00 PM · Snowtea UABC
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Food & Dining Guide 2026

🍽️ Restaurants in Mexicali

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.

14
Restaurants
4
Active categories
6
Planned categories

All Restaurants

14 restaurants listed in our guide

Restaurant Las Campanas - traditional Mexican food since 1991 in Mexicali, mission-style building
New⭐ Featured
🇲🇽 Mexican
$$

Restaurant Las Campanas

Calz. Justo Sierra at Honduras, Col. Cuauhtémoc
4.4

Traditional Mexican restaurant since 1991, famous for its chiles rellenos and breakfasts. Classic atmosphere with piano, mission-style building on Calz. Justo Sierra.

Stuffed Peppers (Chiles Rellenos)Mixto MéxicoHuevos Espinados
Mon-Sat 8:00 AM - 10:30 PM · Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Sara's Restaurant - Mexican home cooking since 1971 across from UABC in Mexicali
New⭐ Featured
🇲🇽 Mexican
$$

Sara's Restaurant

Across from UABC (Blvd. Benito Juárez)
4.3

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.

Beef Broth (Caldo de Res)Daily Set Lunch (with broth)Sara's Torta with Fries
Daily 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM (may vary on special days)
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Asadero Tres Pablos Mexicali - Storefront of the charcoal taquería on Calz. de las Américas
New⭐ Featured
🌮 Tacos
$$

Asadero Tres Pablos

Cuauhtémoc Sur
4.4

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!"

Carne Asada Stuffed-Chile TacoCharcoal-Grilled Carne Asada TacosTacos al Pastor
Tue-Sat 4:00 PM - 1:30 AM · Sun 3:00 PM - 11:30 PM · Closed Monday
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El Fuerte Asador Mexicali - Grilled platter and carne asada tacos
New⭐ Featured
🌮 Tacos
$$

El Fuerte Asador

2 locations: Novena (Fracc. Nuevo Mexicali, main) and Villafontana (Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 1750)
4.4

Steakhouse-grill with grilled platters, asada and arrachera tacos, al pastor and burritos. 24-hour drive-thru and home delivery. 2 locations.

Parrillada El FuerteCarne Asada TacosArrachera Tacos
Daily 8:00 AM - 2:00 AM (24h drive-thru) · Novena location
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Asadero Las Brasas Mexicali - Charcoal-grilled carne asada tacos
New⭐ Featured
🌮 Tacos
$$

Asadero Las Brasas

3 locations: Novena (main), Aviación (Av. Cuauhtémoc 328) and Anáhuac (Blvd. Anáhuac, Monte Albán)
4.2

Steakhouse-grill with 20+ years: charcoal-grilled carne asada tacos, al pastor, grilled platters, cheese-gratin stuffed chiles and queso fundido. 3 locations.

Carne Asada TacosTacos al PastorParrillada
Daily 12:00 PM - 12:30 AM (approx.)
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El Huarachón Mexicali - Charcoal-grilled carne asada tacos - Taquería since 1976
New⭐ Featured
🌮 Tacos
$$

El Huarachón

3 locations: Independencia (flagship), Lázaro Cárdenas (Jardines del Lago) and Periférico (Las Hadas)

Charcoal-grilled tacos since 1976. The famous Súper Taco Huarachón (asada, tripe and al pastor), huaraches and vampiros. Open until the early morning.

Súper Taco HuarachónCharcoal-Grilled Carne Asada TacosTripe Tacos
Mon-Thu 11AM-1AM · Fri-Sat 11AM-4AM · Sun 11AM-12AM (Independencia flagship)
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El Vaquero - Traditional steakhouse in Centro Cívico, Mexicali
⭐ Featured
🥩 Steakhouse
$$$

El Vaquero

Centro Cívico · Next to government offices
4.3

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.

Premium Grilled CutsNew York (the signature cut)Arrachera
Mon 7 AM-7 PM · Tue-Fri 7 AM-7:30 PM · Sat 7 AM-7 PM · Sun 7 AM-6 PM
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Fonda de Mexicali - Traditional buffet restaurant at Hotel Araiza
⭐ Featured
🇲🇽 Mexican
$$$

Fonda de Mexicali

Inside Hotel Araiza Mexicali
4.6

A Mexicali dining tradition with 3 buffets (breakfast, grill, cenaduría). Premium cuts, Friday paella, and a private room for events.

Breakfast BuffetGrill Buffet (premium cuts)Cenaduría Buffet
Daily 6:00 AM - 10:45 PM (3 buffets with specific hours)
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Sanborns Mexicali - Mexican institution restaurant in Centro Cívico
⭐ Featured
🇲🇽 Mexican
$$$

Sanborns Mexicali

Centro Cívico and Comercial · Plaza Fiesta
4.3

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.

Swiss EnchiladasRed EnchiladasSanborns Molletes
Daily 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
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Los Arcos Restaurant - The Best Pacific Seafood Cuisine in Mexicali since 1977
New⭐ Featured
🦐 Seafood
$$

Los Arcos Restaurant

Fracc. Centro Cívico, near the hotel district
4.7

The most renowned Pacific seafood restaurant since 1977. Rated 4.7, with valet parking and a supervised kids area.

Ceviche 7 ChilesLonja VolcánPulpo Mongol
Mon-Thu 11AM-9PM · Fri-Sat 11AM-10PM · Sun 11AM-8PM
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Cabanna Restaurant - Beach-lounge atmosphere at Plaza La Gran Vía, Mexicali
New⭐ Featured
🦐 Seafood
$$

Cabanna Restaurant

Plaza La Gran Vía, Zona Dorada
4.6

Casual sharing-plates spot by Grupo Los Arcos. Fire show, creative cocktails, and a beach-lounge vibe.

Camarón RocaPlatter with Fire ShowTaco Gobernador
Mon-Thu 11AM-11PM · Fri-Sat 11AM-12AM · Sun 11AM-8PM
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La Corriente Cevichería Nais - Mexican Pacific cuisine in Mexicali
⭐ Featured
🦐 Seafood
$$

La Corriente Cevichería Nais

Plaza Fimbres, Zona Dorada, near Hotel Lucerna
4.5

Pacific cuisine: tostadas, ceviches, grilled octopus, and mezcal cocktails. Born in Tijuana.

Red Snapper TostadaGrilled OctopusAhi Tuna Tostada
Mon-Wed 12PM-10PM · Thu-Sat 12PM-11PM · Sun 12PM-9PM
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La Casa del Zarandeado - Nighttime facade with blue neon lights - Seafood restaurant in Mexicali
⭐ Featured
🦐 Seafood
$$

La Casa del Zarandeado

Col. Lázaro Cárdenas, along Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas
4.3

Sinaloa-style Pescado Zarandeado grilled over coals. Kids play area, sushi bar, and nighttime karaoke.

Pescado ZarandeadoShrimp CocktailFried Fish
Mon-Tue 11AM-9PM · Wed-Sat 11AM-10PM · Sun 11AM-8:40PM
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Sirloin Stockade Mexicali - All-you-can-eat buffet with grill station at Plaza El Caballito
🥩 Steakhouse
$$

Sirloin Stockade

Industrial neighborhood · Plaza El Caballito
4.2

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.

All-you-can-eat buffetUSDA Choice Cuts (Rib Eye, Sirloin, T-Bone)Grill station
Mon-Fri 11 AM-9 PM · Sat 9 AM-9 PM · Sun 9 AM-8 PM
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🌮 Mexicali Cuisine

A city with its own flavor

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 with more than 200 restaurants.

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.

What makes us unique

🥡 Authentic Chinese food

More than 200 Chinese restaurants with Cantonese recipes that have been in the city for over a century.

🐟 Pacific and Gulf seafood

Sinaloa-style pescado zarandeado, aguachiles, cocktails and ceviches with fresh catch from the sea.

🇲🇽 Traditional Mexican food

Home-style fondas and buffets: chilaquiles, pozole, menudo, machaca and authentic antojitos.

🌮 Carne asada tacos

The quintessential Mexicali taco: flour tortilla, charcoal-grilled carne asada and salsa.

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