Frausto’s Restaurant

I’ve been here a bunch of times and the food is always pretty good. Today, the burrito tasted like someone urinated in it. I don’t mean figuratively, I mean it literally tasted like there was urine in my burrito. The burrito was much soggier than normal and tasted very bitter and nasty. I’m contemplating contacting the Food Safety Board.

Ordered carnitas super nachos for lunch. Once i got my food noticed i got more lettuce than chips and meat. Plate not even filled half way and for 12 bucks?! For that same price I could’ve went to Cancun Taqueria and get twice the amount. Don’t recommend this place.

To bad it’s impossible to not leave a zero star rating!
Manager Jose is an A-​Hole and his staff assistant Maria needs to learn better English so she can better assist customers without getting there order wrong!
Will NEVER return and I urge you strongly to never go there!
They’re rude and obnoxious individuals and argumentative!

This place has solid nachos and chimichangas. And their Agua Fresca is out of control!
I don’t understand people complaining about service. This is a hole in the wall Mexican place, not a new American cuisine restaurant

I have come here a few times over the passed couple of years with no complaints. I will more often than not order a burrito with carnitas, and then wash it down with a coke. However, today was different. I am a little confused as to why I was served after everyone else in the restaurant, despite the fact that I came in here first. There were two tables that were served before I was. Also, I was given my food with no cutlery. What’s up with that?

My mom receiving treatment around the corner at Alta Bates Harick, and I need a bite to eat and noticed this place on the drive in. I walked the block and a half over here to grab a Carne Azada burrito and a Cerveza.
Not the best I have had in the east bay, but far from the worst. A solid 7 on 10 scale Taqueria meter. One must always judge Taqueria by its salsa, and this one had a nice bite texture was a little on the smooth side for my taste but the heat makes up for it. The burrito it was good maybe lill more Carne Azada would be nice but over all good.
The space is pure dive, but serves is pleasant and fast. Would I make a trip to Berkeley just for this? No, but i will eat if I am here taking care of the momz.
PS…3.5 would be a correct star rate but I cant, and I see some low rankings that I think are undeserved hence the 4 stars.

If you’re looking for a mediocre lunch time Mexican food fix, this is the place to go. Service is slow, food is bland, but it’s conveniently located a block away from my apartment so I can’t complain.

It said ‘rotisserie’ outside and that sounded great. I had passed by the place several times and was really looking forward to trying it. We went in earlier in the day to check it out, but decided based on the menu that it would be better for dinner. When we came back for dinner they said that there was no chicken. Earlier in the day there was also no chicken, but they did not say so. I cannot ever return to this place. What makes a one star review more than an experience so bad you would never return?

After dining here I was inspired to cook my own Mexican food at home. I’m not sure if it’s usually busy, but the waiting time was a little more than I would have liked. When the food arrived it was mediocre, maybe I would come here for a greasy hangover meal, but for now I’ll cook at home.

They try, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but I think the food is better than most of the Mexican options in Berkeley. It’s also not cheap and the service is hit or miss, but the food is consistently good.
Most Mexican food, the kind Mexican-​Americans eat is more similar to this type of cooking and fair than lets say Comal or Gordos.

We had a family birthday party here last Saturday, for 11 people. The owner/​manager was fabulous. First he agreed to open up AN HOUR EARLY for us, as we needed to start by 10 am.
Then he did a great job with our orders. For example, one of our party is allergic to cilantro, a real challenge at a Mexican restaurant. He brought her pico de gallo specially made without cilantro, which was great! He was flexible about our having people arriving at different times, taking more orders, creating something I can eat (I have a lot of restrictions). The food tasted great. When it was time for cake, which we had brought, he brought a knife and small plates.
Then he came out with a guitar (his own idea) and sang Happy Birthday in English and Spanish, leading us. When I indicated that we had 2 birthday people, he picked up on this quickly and sang again to the 2^nd. The restaurant was quiet enough that all 11 of us could hear each other talk, which we appreciated as so many places are too loud to hear anyone besides the person next to you. The tab was very reasonable. We gave him a big tip.

This is a cozy place to get cheap comfort food if you need a fix. If you’re looking for upscale, super fresh, authentic Mexican, this isn’t the place for that. BUT, if you just need a super cheesy, hot chimichanga to aid a hangover this is a good source.
We live around the corner and order takeout on weekends every once in awhile because it’s so cheap and you get a lot of food. Definitely has a «hole in the wall» atmosphere.
Pros:
— Excellent salsa (which you can order for takeout in larger sizes)
— Affordable w/​good portions
Cons:
— Not the freshest food
— Food overall is nothing special

Let me preface this by saying I am not much of a critic. I am generally pretty easily pleased, and I have to feel pretty unhappy about something before I write a negative review. After my lunch at Frausto’s today, however, I definitely feel unhappy enough to write this.
First, the worst: There was a lady sitting in the kitchen, watching TV and eating. This would be fine, except for the fact that she was also chopping vegetables. She had her plate of food on the cutting board, and was eating tortillas and beans with her hands. Every now and then she would pick up the knife and chop some onions.
I have a strong stomach but this made me feel pretty sick. I had just paid for our overpriced and thoroughly mediocre lunch when I saw this in plain view from in front of the counter.
Besides that whole thing, the food was just OK, and it took way too long. We ordered nachos and there were maybe 10 or 12 chips on the plate for $ 7 or $ 8. They were pretty good, but I could make those at home for $ 1 at the most.
The quesadilla was the best part. Very cheesy and greasy and crispy like I like them. No complaints there.
My wife’s burrito was just kind of boring, and it didn’t even have any cheese. My enchilada was just so so. The iceberg lettuce (salad) piled on all the plates was kind of sad.
There were at least 4 people working there, but most of the time nobody was in the dining area, and nobody ever refilled my water and asked how the food was. They did not bring sour cream until after I had finished my quesadilla. They tried to give us the wrong order… when there was only one other diner in the restaurant. The food took forever. I don’t know what all those people were doing back there, because it does not take that long to make a burrito and a quesadilla.
Yes, it was early (11:00 am just after they opened), but if you are not ready to open, don’t open! Or at least give us a warning that you are not ready.
Terrible service, average to below average food, way too pricey, and a healthy amount of saliva from the prep cook lady, all add up to me never ever coming back here again.
And FWIW, my wife just read this and says I am being too nice.

My review is more about the customer service rather than the food (I ordered a bean and cheese burrito so I can’t say I have sampled really anything on the menu).
So I was craving Mexican food on my way home from UC Berkeley and decided to try to find a Mexican place that was along the F bus line. As I was about to give up I found this place on Shattuck. I walked in and there were a few people dining but I wanted my meal to-​go since I was trying to hop on the bus. I went to the counter and a lady saw me and looked at me confused. I asked her if I could place an order to-​go and she didn’t understand. After a few attempts of trying to rephrase my question and her still not understanding, she got another employee. I asked him the same question and he said yes. So I asked for a bean and cheese burrito (okay yeah I know lame order but that’s all I like). He rang me up for $ 6.53 which yes is freakin expensive for a tortilla, refried beans, and cheese but I understand some restaurants will charge their ‘veggie’ burrito option if they don’t have it explicitly on the menu. So this is when things go downhill. I pull out my credit card but he informs me there is a $ 7 minimum on credit cards. I look all around the register and on the walls to see if there is a sign that mentions that since $ 7 seems kinda random but also coincidental. There wasn’t a sign but if that’s there policy then whatever. I was about to add possibly chips to my order to reach $ 7 but he then he suggests I add a drink. I said sure and he runs my credit card without telling me my total. I figured he just made the drink an additional .50 since he already charged me 6.50 for a basic burrito. He hands me my credit card slip and it says $ 9.03! The drink he suggested was an additional $ 2.50! I felt like at that point I couldn’t make adjustments since my credit card was charged. I just felt so taken advantage of. The burrito was pretty big, nothing special, I just can’t believe how much I paid for it. I’m obviously not giving them my business again and I’m wondering if anyone else has had an experience with the credit card minimum.

Went here with the wife a few weeks back. It wasn’t bad, but not terribly special.

The food is alright. I like their crispy tacos. The service could be better. This is the closest mexican food to my house, and I honestly don’t mind walking a little farther to la cascada or la familia.

I’m originally from West Texas, and I know good Tex-​Mex as well as good traditional Mexican food. This place has neither.
I tried the chicken suiza enchilada plate the one time I went there. It was horrible. The chicken was bland, and the suiza sauce was basically just sour cream. There was absolutely no spice or flavor in the dish at all. The salsa that I had with the chips was nothing special either. I’m definitely never coming here again. All that eating at this restaurant did for me was to make me miss Texas.

I don’t care how good or how cheap there food is. This place sucks. I got there 1130 to avoid the rush and it took them 45 minutes at least to get me a carne asada burrito. Then it came out cold. Plus I ran out of time on my one hour parking. Don’t ever go here if you want service!!! Do yourself a favor. Bake a lasagna from scratch it’s faster.
This place sucks. Took me 45 min to get a car

Everytime I come in here the place is empty but they have such good food I feel like I need to give them a shout. It’s a family owned place and very cozy.
Favorite Plates:
1) Tres Steak Tacos
2) Carne Asada Quesadilla
3) I ordered a taco once but it came with only a pinch of meat, the taco shell was good.
Most importantly:
1) Their chips are never stale
2) Their carne asada is super juicy
3) They actually serve salsa with the chips, not pre-​canned pico de gallo!
4) Be careful bc the guac will make you smell like onions all day
Unfortunately, I saw them grab their bread pudding from a box but I haven’t tried it so I can’t speak ill:)

The burritos are not bad. Tacos are pretty good. The place is not mind blowing.