Mexicali Cocina Cantina

Parking: On Site, Metered, Street
Take Out, Specialty Cocktails, Live Music, People Watching, After Hours, Catering, Happy Hour, Outdoor Dining High Energy, Bar Scene Bustling All Ages Wheelchair Accessible, Outdoor Seating

With the motto “Home of the Margatini,” Mexicali draws a young singles crowd looking for something a bit stronger than the average tropical blended drink, but it's also a favorite among families with children. While the libations are heavier, the food is lighter than typical refried fare. Healthy, “California” Mexican offerings include citrus rotisserie chicken and grilled ahi tuna. Classic dishes like enchiladas and tacos get reinterpreted with novel ingredients like Alaskan snow crab, goat cheese, and rib-eye steak. As far as décor, this is also Mexico lite: no pottery in primary colors or kitschy knickknacks. Instead, the dining room keeps to earth tones and lots of dark wood. Mission-style arches with iron lanterns separate the bar from the main eating area, but they don’t keep out the noise. As the margatinis keep rolling out, the volume only gets turned up.

Know something we don't? UPDATE LISTING