Mexicali Blues

This place was okay. I got the fajitas. The portion was massive but they weren’t the best fajitas I’ve ever had. The inside was really small and cramped. It’s winter so I don’t know how the outdoor seating area changes that. We got okay service. The drinks were the best part. We got margaritas and mojitos, both very good. Prices weren’t outrageous.

Haven’t been there in years but based on the meals i ate there I have no idea how this place is still in business.

The worst experience ever! Food is bad, feels like chicken died of old age before it turned into enchilada! Hot souse is dangerously hot ! Prices is unexplainable high. I regret coming here! Stay away.

Bland and subpar Mexican food. Even the guacamole and salsa is barely average. So much potential lost, especially since there aren’t really many good Mexican places in Arlington.

My friend and I decided last minute to do take out. The owner so graciously brought the check out to our car (in the rain) and then our food. Keep this in mind when needing a quick Mexi-​fix in the winter months!

Not great! Mexican is almost always a safe bet, but I was really disappointed with this place. Chips weren’t great, my dates Sangria had too much Apple, even the carne asada didn’t have much flavor. Go to Guapos or Uncle Julios or even California Tortilla.

I really like this place. The prices are very reasonable, the location is great, and it isn’t too crowded (unlike a lot of Clarendon bars).
However, the service is often bad and seems to be getting worse. You often end up waiting too long and they frequently run out of some of their most popular products. Plus on my most recent visit, they charged me for items I hadn’t ordered. Despite these problems, I still highly recommend checking it out. Despite my frustration with the service, it isn’t enough to significantly bring down my overall opinion of the place.

It seems like every Clarendon resident I know has mentioned Mexicali Blues one time or another, but I don’t get why. The food is so bland and flavorless. I had to heap inordinate amounts of salsa on my spinach quesadilla because it was so blah. Even that couldn’t really save it because I wasn’t a fan of the salsa either (too watery). The chips and guac were not good, both tasting less than fresh. The bar scene was lively and loud, which is what most people come here for. It was a busy Saturday night when I was here and the service was harried and the restaurant in general was a little too hectic for my liking. My margarita was decent enough but I was so disappointed in my food that it couldn’t make up for it.

Forget the less than perfect service (which is hard to find anywhere in the DC area) and you can appreciate this place for its truly authentic Mexican food with pretty cheap prices (compared to the area) and awesome homemade tortillas. Come here for brunch with your friends for plates you can’t find anywhere else in Arlington. It’s truly the best Mexican food in northern Virginia hands down. Salud!

My husband and I were craving Mexican food and a patio close to home, so we decided to try out the colorful Mexicali Blues.
Pros:
Big patio, large menu, authentic menu, pretty good service.
My husband enjoyed the size and «authentic» Mexican burrito. To me, I interpreted aiuthenic as poor quality meat and toppings… but…
Cons:
Chips were stale, salsa came in a very small bowl and it was never refilled, my taco plate was a large portion but the meat seemed a little overcooked, the toppings on each taco were nothing special and kind of bland. I asked for extra salsa to give them some flavor.
If we ever go back here it will be for the drinks — not food.

NO NO NO — WHAT DID YOU DO TO THE GUACAMOLE?! Seriously the worst guac I have ever tried at a restaurant and even worst than most pre-​packaged guacamoles that you can purchase at the grocery store.
Went here for happy hour with a friend on a Friday night. They have happy hour specials on Fridays and the special runs through 7pm. The host was also generous and talked to the manager about extending our special until 7:30 since we sat down around 6:50. There were a few patio tables left at the time and the outside space has good ambiance.
Unfortunately, the food does not deliver! The chips were meh, the salsa was nothing special, and the guac was downright awful. We had ordered 2×1 guac, so we were stuck. The server didn’t ask us about the app, even though we didn’t touch most of it. Based on this, we did not end up ordering dinner and chose to go elsewhere to finish off our meal.
The margaritas were $ 5 during happy hour and did the job. Not too weak, not too sugary, and cheap. We stuck to the on the rocks version because our server told us that the frozen ones come straight from a mix while the on the rocks ones have real lime juice. (allegedly)
If you just want a cheap drink, want to sit outside without a wait on a Friday night, and aren’t looking for anything special food-​wise, Mexicali Blues might not be a bad option.

Most excellent food and service, really enjoyed sitting outside on the street and just watching the people flow past.

Mexicali Blues has a lively fun atmosphere. The drinks are really good here. They know what they are doing here. I don’t get heartburn from any of their tasty margaritas.
My only complaint is that if you eat outside, the service is significantly slower versus eating inside. Have had no problems with the food here.

I used to give Mexicali Blues a really hard time when I first moved up to Arlington. I thought it was slow, lacking of flavor in most foods, and just sort of Meh overall. Little did I know, that was basically the description of every Mexican restaurant in Arlington.
I’ve been here probably 3 or 4 times and have sort of gotten a soft spot for it. When I’m here it’s usually for margs and to hang out with some friends. This place is great for that! The happy hour goes until 7 pm and there are specials on margaritas, mixed drinks, beers, and appetizers.
The margaritas are made pretty well and have got a little punch to them so I appreciate that. My favorite appetizer is the trio of dips. It comes with salsa, guac, and queso. There is a ton of queso in the bowl they bring you so it’s pretty satisfying.
I’m not sure if I could recommend MB to a friend to have a full meal there but if you’re looking for a few drinks on HH or a small bite, this is as good a place as any!

I’m surprised this place received so many negative reviews, I had a lovely time and am sad I didn’t try it sooner!
We came here for dinner on a Friday night and were seated immediately. It was perfect weather so we saw outside (great spot for people watching)
Our server, Duan (unsure of the spelling) was truly incredible. His service went above and beyond and his suggestions were perfect.
We ordered the jumbo coronaritas (because why not?) and they were indeed jumbo. We had a difficult time fitting everything on our table.
The chips trio is the perfect starter – the salsa wasn’t incredible but the guacamole and the queso were delicious. I ordered the crab quesadillas, which I thought was an interesting combination. Really tasty though! Kind of like crab dip in quesadilla form.
I would for sure come back here!

Came on a Saturday afternoon. Our server was the only one on the floor. He was prompt but definitely having a hard time keeping up with his tables. We never got chips and salsa.
They do have a fantastic happy hour. $ 4 margs and buy one get one appetizers. Happy hour is everyday too! Margaritas were delicious. We got the small nachos and onion rings. Onion rings were super oily and sorta mushy. we got a whole bunch of little cracked chips for our nachos. They were also pretty cold.
I got the ensalada Fresca which was just carrots, onions, and tomatoes with a little lettuce a day avocado. It was the best tasting thing out of everything we ordered, but it is almost impossible to mess up a salad.
My bf got the shrimp burro. It was ok, it just tasted too fishy.
Overall meh food. Ok service, but I understand the fact that he had the whole floor so I’ll give him that. I would try it again at a different time of the day and hopefully the cooks and server will have more time to better take care of us.

Mexicali here I come! I LOVE this place! I’ve been a huge fan since the day they opened and after moving to California, you’d think I’d have my fill. Not so much– while we do have Mexican, we don’t have as much Salvadorean. Mexicali Blues offers both – I can have pupusas, yucca alongside my favorite Mexican dishes.
Anyway, I’m heading to VA soon and planning a party to celebrate friendship and what better way to do that than with delicious margaritas and excellent food.
Mexicali Blues is centrally located in the heart of Arlington, it’s got a fun vibe and outdoor seating for hot summer days/​nights. It’s a place to go when you’re by yourself and you want to to sit at the bar and chat it up with the bartender or at a table with friends/​lovers.
Some of my faves are: guacamole, loroco pupusa, the queso rocks my world and a chocolate pot to finish it off!

ATMOSPHERE
–Somewhat small, but still has a cool atmosphere
–Has a «beach bar» feel
— Quieter compared to some of the other Clarendon bars, and is a good place for kids.
— The bartender was really nice. He is originally from Turkey and stopped by our table numerous times to talk to us.
DRINKS
— Margaritas are great! We had the happy hour margarita not the rocks. It was strong but still had a good taste. Great size as well!
–Doesn’t have a great beer selection. Mostly american beers with a few of the common mexican options. The happy hour does offer cheap coronas though!
FOOD
–I LOVE the salsa at Mexicali blues! The chips are also great, which you get for free when you sit down.
–The happy hour deal on thursdays is buy one appetizer get one free. We ordered the trio sampler and chicken quesadillas.
–The trio sampler comes with chips, salsa, guacamole and queso dip. The guacamole was great! Sometimes guacamole can be too plain or too salty but this one was perfect. I wasn’t as big of a fan as the queso dip. The size is so big that after 5 minutes it got cold and lumpy.
–The quesadillas were awesome! The portion was more than enough to share and the chicken was a great addition.
OVERALL
–One of the few Mexican spots in Clarendon. For happy hour, margaritas are $ 4 (I think) and drafts are $ 2. There isn’t a much better spot in Clarendon for margaritas, so if you’re looking for cheap drinks and decent Mexican food, Mexicali Blues is a good option!

We ate here early one Saturday evening before going to the movies and we enjoyed the fast service and tasty food. Portions are smaller than we’re used to. Had the house margarita, some fish tacos, a beer, some enchiladas and coffee (surprisingly fresh). I didn’t think the food quality was top (e.g., tilapia fish tacos, I’m used to cod!) and the food was not as spicy as we have gotten used to in the DC restaurants with this type of menu. But it was a good stop but nothing super special. The atmosphere is kinda like a college-​town restaurant. And it’s wheelchair accessible!

On a regular visit, 3 stars. I’d bump it up to 4 stars as a happy hour spot. From 4 – 7 each day appetizers are BOGO free. At about $ 15.00 for quesadillas (crab or shrimp), it’s best to make sure you visit for the specials. Also, queso is only available after 6pm. They seemed to have switched up their recipe as well, adding some more peppers. During HH, there are also $ 2.50 Dos Equis Ambers.
In the past, I’ve enjoyed the chicken flautas, as well as the shrimp enchilada.
As a non– happy hour spot, Mexicali rates at just about 3 stars because of the high prices for what you get on the regular menu.