Calavera

Welcome to Calavera, a vibrant cocktail bar and Mexican restaurant located in Oakland, California. This trendy establishment offers a unique dining experience with a variety of amenities such as outdoor seating, happy hour specials, and a full bar.

Upon entering Calavera, you are greeted with a rustic atmosphere adorned with eclectic decorations that add to the charm of the place. The friendly servers and women-owned establishment make you feel right at home.

One of the standout features of Calavera is its diverse menu with options for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-lovers alike. Customers have raved about the freshly made Oaxacan dishes, including the Mushroom ceviche with peaches and the Fried octopus.

For those looking for a culinary adventure, the Steamed cod with butter, fungi risotto, and bone marrow salsa is a must-try dish that will leave your taste buds dancing with delight. The Pork chop with sweet potato puree, orange chipotle glaze, and dijon mustard has been hailed as the best pork chop ever tasted by many patrons.

For dessert, indulge in the Churros with passion fruit curd and chocolate dipping sauce, a sweet treat that will satisfy your cravings.

Overall, Calavera offers a blend of authentic Mexican flavors with a modern twist, creating an unforgettable dining experience for all. Whether you're looking for a casual lunch spot or a venue for a special event, Calavera is sure to impress with its delicious food, innovative cocktails, and welcoming atmosphere.

Calavera Menu

Location

Address: 2337 Broadway St Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 338-3273

🕓 Work Hours
MON 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
TUE 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
WED 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
THU 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
FRI 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM
SAT 10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
SUN 10:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Business info

  • Takes Reservations
    Yes
  • Offers Delivery
    Yes
  • Offers Takeout
    Yes
  • Walk-ins Welcome
    Yes
  • Vegan Options
    Yes
  • Many Vegetarian Options
    Yes
  • Wheelchair accessible
    Yes
  • Accepts Credit Cards
    Yes
  • Accepts Apple Pay
    No
  • Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Trendy
    Yes
  • Moderate Noise
    Yes
  • Casual Dress
    Yes
  • Offers Catering
    Yes
  • Good for Groups
    Yes
  • Good For Kids
    Yes
  • Good for Lunch, Dinner
    Yes
  • Street Parking, Private Lot Parking
    Yes
  • Waiter Service
    Yes
  • Free Wi-Fi
    Yes
  • Happy Hour Specials
    Yes
  • Full Bar
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • TV
    Yes
  • Women-owned
    Yes
  • Heated Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Covered Outdoor Seating
    Yes
  • Open to All
    Yes
  • Smoking
    No
  • Drive-Thru
    No
  • Bike Parking
    Yes
  • Provides reusable tableware
    Yes

Last Reviews

  • Author: Didi N.

    31 October 2023

    Not sure why the reviews are on the lower side but we had a wonderful time here! We did a private event here and everything went perfectly, from the communication with Sarah (events manager) to the food, it was divine! The atmosphere was very rustic, lovely, and I loved the decorations on the walls. There's a full fledge bar and also you can peep inside the kitchen too. The servers were wonderful! Since every dish is made fresh, it does take a bit of time to come out sometimes. We came at 5:30 and didn't get out until about 8:50ish. But then again, we had alot of food! It was served family style We had a prefix menu of food and drinks. The food was probably some of the best Oaxacan food I've ever tasted. I'm going to try to list all the foods we had by memory: Appetizers: Mushroom ceviche with peaches: 9/10 - it was so wonderfully tart, citrusy, a little kick at the end, and oh so refreshing. One of my favorite appetizers by far! It went along with their house made corn chips! The corn chips were outstanding! They were fried to the perfect crisp, salted just right, and a little bit of char at the end. I had like two bowls of the corn tortilla chips alone. Guacamole: 9/10 - fresh, creamy, and also had a bit of of a kick at the end. I enjoyed the guacamole very much so. It also came with dipping sauces (Verde sauce and a red sauce and some cotija cheese). Limeade mocktail: 6/10 - It was super tart, too tart in my opinion as I made a face each time I drank this. The flavors were good and it came with a dried lime but I probably won't get this again. It was just way too sour for my taste. Courses: Fried octopus: 9/10 - the octopus was tender, crispy, and reminded me of a great calamari. Octopus can be very tough and chewy if not cooked correctly, but this one was done just right. Ensalada: 9/10- we had a fresh salad that had some type of lime dressing on it. It was essentially like a deconstructed salad with tomatoes, lettuce, fresh avocado, and corn I believe. It was one of my favorite things to eat! The salad was so fresh, all the flavors went together, and I found myself coming back for more. Carne Asada tacos: 6/10-the beef was tender, smoky, and cooked well but it was way too salty for me. I didn't enjoy it as much to be honest and only picked out the tortilla and ate it. Steamed cod with butter, fungi risotto, and bone marrow salsa: 9/10 - one of my favorite dishes! The fungi risotto was decadent and creamy. The server told us that it was a type of fungi that grew on trees. It was very earthy but warm and inviting at the same time! I loved the risotto but the bone marrow salsa was the star. It was meaty and the little hint of spice at the end really set it off. Combined with the perfectly cooked cod, it had my eyes rolling in the back of my head. The cod was steamed perfectly and melted like butter in my mouth. I added additional butter and I found myself trying to eat all the cod!!! This dish was simply divine and the flavors all danced around on my palette. I never had cod before and this was quite an enjoyable experience. I can't explain how much I loved this dish but try it out! You won't be disappointed. Chicken enchilada with mole sauce: 6/10: this wasn't for me. There was a flavor in there that I did not like. It had a weird aftertaste for me, kind of like star anise and I don't like star anise. If you like star anise or similar flavors, then this is for you. The mole sauce is okay, not my favorite. Pork chop with sweet potato puree, orange chipotle glaze, and dijon mustard: 10/10 HOLY COW was this the best porkchop I've put in my mouth. The pork chop was so tender that I literally mouthed the words "WOW" while eating it. The tanginess of the mustard and orange chipotle glaze went perfectly with the meatiness of the porkchop. It provided that hint of acidity that was needed. There were so many flavors and dimensions to this pork chop that I could not believe what I was eating. I would 100 percent come back for this dish alone. At least five other people at my table were exclaiming how wonderful this dish was. I probably missed like two more courses, but lets move on to dessert: Churros with passion fruit curd and chocolate dipping sauce: 8/10- I expected it to be the tube shaped churros but it was in a ball. No biggie. It tasted like a fried, cinnamon sugar donut (in the best way possible). I loved the passionfruit curd that came with it because it added that pop of brightness on something fried and dense. The chocolate dipping sauce was rich, creamy, and smooth. You can tell it wasn't cheap chocolate because of how smooth it tasted. I had like three churro balls and don't regret it one bit. Flan: 7/10 - It was silky and smooth and had a good caramel taste but it wasn't my favorite. The flan itself reminded me of a very light pudding. Overall, great place, good vibes and atmosphere, friendly service, and great food!! I would try this place at least once in your lifetime!

  • Author: michelle a.

    03 September 2023

    Great vibe and lovely spot for any occasion. I specifically went for my 1 year anniversary and because my sister Amanda (People's Barber Shop right next door) always raves about the service, great staff, amazing drinks and delicious food. She was absolutely right. The choices are authentic and innovative. For me, each bite was like an orgasm for my mouth...haha. My taste buds were in heaven. Honey and I plan to come back every 6 weeks (he will get a trim next door) to try something new!!!!

  • Author: Becca T.

    22 June 2023

    Finally got time to check this place out It's big, they went all in with decor. Service was attentive, food was okay. The chicken taco was the best. Ordered the chicken salad and the chicken was moreso boiled than grilled. The green rice reminds me of Liberian check rice so I liked it. LOVES THE DRINKS. Would be back off the strength of the drinks and because I would've already been there for drinks would have to get something to eat like the tacos. Adding to my rotation of a nice space, roomy and strong but good drinks. Thank you to who I assumed was management for helping me get that order to the gentlemen, that also swayed my decision of coming back. Food is 2.5/3 out of 5 stars Drinks 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Author: Rebecca C.

    01 May 2023

    Solid Mexican place for brunch. Not too hard to get reservations. MUST GET: Mexican baked eggs with mole and masa. Interesting texture with masa with smokiness from mole. Loved it SOLID: Guacamole - with a bit of kick Mexican french toast - very big. Best to share. Ask for whip cream on the side Mushroom ceviche - my toddler loves the mushroom in here Carnitas quesadilla - flavorful. Put some salsa on We also liked the passion and ginger limeade which is not too sweet. Great drink for a little one

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