Mazatlan Cafe

This tiny Madre & Padre restaurant is NOT vegetarian or vegan friendly I ordered a vegetarian burrito on the menu it does not express that there is cheese or sour cream I asked them to not put cheese on my food on the beans or anything I got the beans without the cheese then I got the burrito that had the cheese ask them to please take off the cheese I was allergic to dairy the woman took back the burrito and her grandma remade a burrito and this time for sour cream the grandmother also came out who is the chef and yelled at me and told me to just no charge and leave so I paid my $ 5 for the rice and beans and tortilla I ate and the Dr Pepper I barely drink and the two cups of water I will never go back there as me not to come back this load I place does not make me feel welcomed

I have eaten at most Mexican joints in town and this one has many things that put others to shame. First the positives. Portions are what Mexican food should be, I do not want a scoop of rice and beans, I want my plate covered since it only costs the restaurant 5 cents more to cover a plate. Mazatlan covers the plate with delicious beans and rice. Love the ground beef tacos with potato and lots of pepper seasoning, along with the super burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and chili colorado.
As for the atmosphere all I can say is you only go here with the ones you love, the ones you have no interest in loving, but never someone you are hoping will fall in love with you.
Been coming here since the two, short, silver-​toothed Mexican twins owned it 40 years ago.

Had the fish taco last Friday. Was really stuffed full, came with rice and beans. Tasted great! I come here often, I just don’t look too closely at the ceiling, walls because it’s kind of dirty. I like to think the hot salsa kills all the germs.

Giving this place half a star would be giving it too much credit. We came here quite often but after getting ripped off every single time, we’ve stopped going. They charge you different than what the menu says than give you wrong change and won’t correct their mistake. They are overpriced cheaters and food is mediocre at best.

Stopped by this Resturant after I went to a movie, tried it out for first time. Food was horrible, you have to be really bad to mess up Mexican food, won’t ever ever ever go back, you have been forewarned.
Ordered:
chili relleno lunch (too much gravy)
Fish taco al carte (disgusting, took one bite only)
Chicken quesadilla al carte (chicken tasted like canned tuna, dry dry and more dry)
Horchata and coffee (descent)

I was hungry and hot and on my way to estate crush — saw this place on Unilocal and gave it a try.
The flavor of the food was not that good. I have been to lousy Mexican restaurant and this rates about the same.
The only thing good here was the exit was close to my table, suitable for my quick exit.

I came out to Lodi to help my girlfriend’s mom move some furniture. On this day it was 109 degrees. I was thinking this is really hot, I mean really hot.
After moving the furniture, my girlfriend’s mom told us about this Mexican restaurant in Lodi which was a favorite of locals. I was thinking 109 degrees and I’m going to being eating Mexican food with hot sauce. What was everyone thinking? The décor appeared to be a Mexican set from a Quentin Tarentino movie-​old funky Mexican restaurant in a small town where everyone is staring at you. One wall had this large map of Mexico, the other wall had soccer posters and Pacifico Beer flyers.
I saw the specials — fish tacos, ceviche, chiliquiles but I wanted to see the menu which featured all of the homemade Mexican specials. Everyone ordered chili rellenos except for me, the Mazatlan Café is famous for these. I ordered the enchilada suizas ($ 8.00) –shredded chicken with green sauce plus it had rice and beans. It was very flavorful. The dishes were reasonably priced plus they served diet Dr. Pepper. The homemade salsa was medium hot but very good.
When I come back to Lodi I will definitely check this place out again.

I really hate to say anything bad about this place because the people who helped us were very sweet. HOWEVER, this place was disgusting and dirty. The chicken burrito I had was not edible. I asked for Tapatio and was served a old fashion red plastic ketchup container and I will just say it was very dirty. Sorry Mazatlan.

Great home style Mexican food! By far my favorite Mexican food in Lodi, hole in the wall but very tasty! The chicken enchiladas are to die for!!!

My wife and I ate here for lunch. Not too bad, but unremarkable. When we finished, my wife said, «Doesn’t it seem like all Mexican food tastes the same?»

Amazing home cooked meals. Taste close to home. It is hard to find good mexican food and here I found it. Posole is amazinggg! Chorizo con huevos it is yummy and made by hand by the owner. I am impressed. I enjoy breakfast here!

Best chicken enchiladas in town. And a great chicken tostada too

This place definitely has a greasy spoon vibe, love it. Stopped by on a Sunday and they were fairly busy. Dining in this time and had a Chile Colorado Quesadilla. Hadn’t had one like that before with the meat and sauce poured over the top of the quesadilla. It was really good. I’ll be back.

Hey, it’s been a while since anybody has reviewed this restaurant and in my opinion it’s the best Mexican restaurant in town! I have been to them all and I’m going back to this one this week. Their food is fresh, the salsa is awesome and even though they charge $ 2 for the huge amount of chips and salsa I eat… it’s well worth it.

A dive, but a good one. No need to take a shower or get all cleaned up. Slip in, swill some Modelo’s, and knock back some chow.
Never had a bad meal here…
Maybe not the best place for a first date… Sacramento st. is still a lil sketchy.

This is another family favorite mexican food joint we love. We often alternate between here, and El Pajaro’s in downtown Lodi. Mazatlan serves great food at very reasonable prices. The atmosphere is the very antonym of ‘classy’, in fact it’s a dive, but that’s not what you’re looking for when you visit Mazatlan. They feed you well, and have great salsa and chips and you don’t have to worry about what you look like when you go in.

Great hole in the wall. I had lunch here today. Walked in and waitress gave me a pitcher of water, chips, and three kinds of salsa. Picante red sauce was good with chips, and had a great smokey taste. Salsa fresca was Chunky with more cilantro than onions, very flavorful, and not too hot, just the way it should be, and my own bowl of jalapenos, and carrots. This I loved.
I tried the enchilada suizas lunch platter. The verde sauce was tangy, and it had a good amount of sour cream, and cheese. Chicken was mostly dark meat, but it was very good. Rice and beans were standard fare.
Service was very friendly, and family oriented.
I’ve had better, but this place was great. I would definitely come back.

Sorry Lodi, this is NOT the best Mexican restaurant! Apologies to Meagan G. and Perry M., Nena’s in Stockton is the BEST Mexican in this area!
When you enter the restaurant, you will know the owner loves her soccer! The whole West wall is devoted to her soccer teams South of the Border! There is a map of Mexico on the South wall showing all the Mexican regions. It’s interesting that Mazatlan, the city, is on the Pacific side of Mexico, but Mazatlan Café only has one seafood entrée.
Just had Machaca with a side of Chile Relleno with a Horchata and, of course, salsa and chips.
Machaca — Small portions, a little bland.
Chile Relleno — Size is good!
A different kind of Ranchero sauce, little too much cilantro.
The best Relleno in Lodi so far. Not as good as Nena’s, though.
Horchata — Too watery; seems to be made from a package mix.
Not home made, like Nena’s.makes it. Fifty cent refills.
Salsa — This Salsa is what Nena’s used to serve before the owner of
Nena’s came out with their «healthy» menu.
Chips — Store bought flour that crumbles very easily when dipping.
Their chips are NOT greasy; would rather have corn chips.
Tortilla — Store bought, above average size, flour.
Don’t have a problem with the neighborhood like some people that reviewed Mazatlan Café. Just a block from School Street, one block North-​East of the renovated downtown main drag.
The owner is very congenial and conversant. Most of the clientele were regulars and the owner knew them by name; only a minority were Hispanic.
Rating would be a little bit below average, but I’ll round up. Would still travel the ten miles further to Nena’s in Stockton. But better than most in Lodi.
Update 5-​12-​2007
Didn’t want to travel to Stockton today, but still wanted Mexican…
Tried Matzatlan’s Cocido (Beef Soup) in a totally gigantic bowl! Ingredients in this soup, were four huge pieces of Beef, lettuce, carrots, broccoli, a small cob of corn, and potatoes. The Cocido came with side of Tortillas with Mexican Rice and Beans. This was VERY satisfying for a person with a big appetite!
Took back home an order of Chile Rellenos… Again, have to remind readers that Matzatlan’s Chile Relleno’s Ranchero Sauce is overspiced with Cilantro. Other than that, pretty good.
Update 6-​5-​2007
I noticed a some new faces at Mazatlan on this occasion… a new waitress and a new Caucasian cook… Should have walked out! Ordered my usual Chile Relleno. To summarize… EVERYTHING was watery! From the Chile Relleno to the refried beans to the side salad… EVERYTHING!
This Mexican restaurant is going downhill fast!

Eating at this place since the 70’s you’d think we’d change. But nooo, always chicken taco mini dinner and chili colorado quesadillas. But ooooh their chili rellenos? Ahhhhh.

Scary dirty looking from the outside. Not all that prettier inside. Don’t host here, but do come in for lunch or a hangover «brunch.» They’ll do you right with a big veggie burrito, lotsa greasy chips & fresh salsa. Yum. Meat eaters in our group were also pleased, piggies that they are.