Picante

1328 Sixth St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States
+1 510-525-3121
$$$ Mexican restaurant
(1845 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

Welcome to Picante, an enchanting oasis of Mexican cuisine nestled in the heart of Berkeley. Located at 1328 Sixth St, this restaurant captures the vibrant flavors and lively spirit inherent to traditional Mexican dining. With a commitment to fresh ingredients and bold flavor combinations, Picante delights food enthusiasts and offers a culinary experience that resonates long after your meal.

One of the standout features of Picante is its robust menu that caters to different occasions, from casual family lunches to festive taco parties. The newly introduced Taco Party Chicken For 6 is a hit, serving succulent chicken asado alongside expertly crafted housemade tortillas, beans, and Mexican red rice – all beautifully served with zesty salsa verde and refreshing cilantro-onion relish for just $89. If steak is your passion, the Taco Party Steak For 6 offers the same delightful spread with perfectly cooked steak asada.

For those looking to share the love of Mexican food in larger gatherings, the Super Burrito Platter is an absolute crowd-pleaser. This platter features twenty burrito halves with your choice of fillings paired with guacamole, cheese, and crema, beautifully arranged to serve 10 to 20 guests for $179. And don't forget to delve into their range of salsas, from the smoky Salsa Chipotle to the spicy kick of Salsa Habanero, each crafted to elevate your meal with layers of flavor.

The atmosphere at Picante is a compelling backdrop to your dining experience. Recently remodeled, the restaurant marries colorful décor with a sleek, modern aesthetic that is inviting and warm. The ambiance is lively yet comfortable, making it ideal for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings. Customers like Cynthia E rave about the incredible flavors and variety available, emphasizing the restaurant's commitment to providing a fantastic culinary experience.

Real customer reviews highlight the inviting staff and the fast service that accompanies each meal. As Rags Srinivasan noted, the transformation of the restaurant makes it look classier while retaining its lively essence, ensuring that a visit to Picante is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food. Patrons appreciate the dining options, both indoor and outdoor, which allow for a pleasant experience no matter the weather.

In addition to delicious food and a welcoming environment, Picante also prides itself on eco-conscious practices, facilitating composting and recycling, which adds a layer of responsibility to your dining experience. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or dining in for a special occasion, Picante stands out not only for its menu but also for its commitment to community and sustainability.

In conclusion, Picante is more than just a restaurant; it's a celebration of Mexican culinary arts, an experience enriched by excellent service, and a community hub where flavors and traditions come together. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, savor the taste of Berkeley’s vibrant food scene at Picante – where every meal tells a delicious story!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Offers kerbside pickup
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Has drive-through
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves healthy options
Serves organic dishes
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Has counter service
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly
Good for groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Popular with tourists
Transgender safe space
Popular with university students
Planning
Doesn't accept reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 9:00 PM

1845 Reviews
Steve Takata

01 Sep 2025

Picante is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Berkeley. Their food is good and tasty, but it’s a bit pricey, which is why I knocked their rating down a star. Street parking is difficult during most of the day, but there is a small parking lot across the street and to the south about half a block. That often fills up too though. They have a bar and a lot of alcohol to select from and I see people drinking margaritas, but I’ve never tried them. The chips are just so so, they’re thick and a little greasy. I suspect there are some people that like them as they are not the normal chips you’d get in a Mexican place, but they’re just too greasy. The salsas are in the fridge by the door and they are pretty good. Everything else I’ve had here has been good, my favorite are the mole enchiladas, which are probably some of the best mole that I’ve had. They make good guacamole, and good salads as well. If it’s not too cold out, there’s an outdoor seating place.

Olivier Sauquet

12 Aug 2025

Such a nice place to taste excellent Mexican food. Extremely nicely presented, with an amazingly nice staff. We enjoyed this great and affordable family lunch very much!

Max Kay

23 Jun 2025

It's a legacy Mexican restaurant in Berkeley. I've been there many times during pandemic in outdoor parking lot seating and take aways. Location is great with huge settings and now renovated beautifully inside. Staff are welcoming and attentive. Operations stays the same as before renovation (order to seat) where IMHO doesn't fit with this renovated restaurant anymore unless they want to keep it cheap / loose otherwise it's a pricy place for the quality of the food you get. This place has a potential to be fine dining Mexican (given highly improve the food and operation). Food look and taste cheap but pricy! Perhaps burritos are the best out of everything else. Nachos are oily. Generally foods are salty and oily again look and taste cheap. Decent amount of chic indoor and outdoor seating. Exclusive parking lots. Easy accessible inside and outside. Separate vegan menu with many veggie options. I'll for sure be there just because my niece loves the place and I occasionally take her there but I don't enjoy the operation and food.

Cynthia E

19 Jun 2025

So so so good!! Been coming here for many years. Food is INCREDIBLE! The flavor!! The choices! Can't say enough good things about it!! UPDATE: Restaurant is open inside and out! Re-do is finished! Outside dining in patio. They also do an incredible job of offering composting and recycling on site and keeping it as low waste as a restaurant can reasonably be. They have two parking lots. One is next to restaurants at the corner and the other is across the street - one hour free parking. And there is street parking. Of course, this depends on what's happening, time of day, etc.

Rags Srinivasan

12 Jun 2025

They have completely remodeled it after many years ago of just takeout (or eat in a tent) model. In its previous incarnation I loved the colorful decor, the paper cutouts, the lady making tortillas and giving samples to kids. The updated decor makes it look classier but it is still same model of order and go sitdown with fast service. During the takeout only gap years I missed their salsa bottles. I am glad the bottles are back and I love all three options. Prices have gone up and I think the flavor has come down a notch. Of course they specialize in Mexican cuisine with many vegan options.

Melissa Gonzalez

30 May 2025

Stopped by for a quick bite — the Mexican food was okay, nothing particularly special, but it got the job done. What really stood out was the beautiful remodel of the restaurant — clean, modern, and very inviting. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which made the experience more enjoyable. Overall, a nice place to sit down and eat, even if the food wasn’t super memorable.

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