La Palapa

***WARNING*** FOUND A METAL WIRE IN MY FOOD, AND WAS DISREGARDED BY STAFF. I would give them a negative score if I could.
When I brought it upto the front to address the issue, the staff threw the chip back and forth to each other in a joking manner as I stood ad the counter and watched. After about 5 minutes of wasting my time I was issued a refund.

Sadly, my wife and I discovered that La Palapa is closed (as in gutted and fenced off). Super burrito with mole… I will miss you terribly. You danced across my taste buds and always left me wanting more. T-​T

Decent food. . Drinks WERE AWESOME! After a hard day at work, this place makes it better! Local hangout

Ur butt will hurt the next day, like maximum security prison

No A/​C. Just really big fans.

Burrito is ok but prices are a little higher than normal. Every time I am here it’s empty. Service could be better is bad as i always have to wait and track down the cashier or cook to place an order.
One time I had to wait 5 min to even place an order as the cashier was gone and the cook told me it «hold on». I only come back because its close. Don’t make a special trip.

Came here late on Cinco de Mayo (last night) and the place was pretty empty… I guess no one in Dublin parties on Sunday nights. They had a pool table and played pretty good music. Some drunk people were dancing and singing loudly by the jukebox. Boyfriend ordered a carne asada medium burrito. Immediately after, I ordered a small carne asada but the man making my burrito told me I should probably get something else since the carne asada was pretty dried out. I appreciated that, so I took his advice. I liked my burrito! I had been drinking, so that may have influenced my taste buds. My boyfriend said his burrito was dry, so I guess the man who made my burrito was right about the carne asada at that point! Boyfriend is convinced the guy didn’t wash his hands before making our food after counting money, but I didn’t see it personally so I have no idea. I honestly didn’t really care anyway.
Bottom line, it wasn’t AMAZING, but if you’re nearby and craving a burrito, I’d go here again.

Best Burritos in the tri-​valley hands down. If you LOVE burritos like I do, then you have to try them for yourself. Pepsi Challenge any place in the area

3 weeks ago I decided to take my 2 year old daughter out to lunch to get some takeout burritos. From the second I opened the door I heard a man screaming profanities from the back. As the shouting drifted from the back to wear my daughter and I were standing the language only got worse! The man, who was wearing a yellow beanie and had a long beard reeked of alcohol, didn’t even notice we were standing there until I asked him to stop. The poor girl behind the counter with very apologetic. On my way out I approach the man saying that his behavior was appalling and inappropriate. He gave me a rather crude apology and brushed me off. I left my name and number to speak to the manager and never got a call back. My family and I have been going there for years but after this encounter we will never be going back!

We are fans of La Palapa! We’ve been coming here for the past five years (previously El Balazo). Come down to stay and go to Giants games and this place is our after-​game hangout. Sometimes it’s hit or miss for late food/​drink, but we’ve rarely been disappointed. Bloody marys morning after are on the hit!

La Palapa had a ready to scoop assembly like ordering system. (ala el Faro)
décor looks dated.
eats: carna asada med burrito (5.95)
–choose tortilla (reg, wheat), beans, meats, salsa. extras
–with extras (+.50, +1), could get pricey
–salsa added burrito just so so, salsa bar available.
–food slightly above average, meat slightly chewy
drink: negra modelo (3.25)HH
–sign said 2.5 bud drafts, all others 3. didn’t complain about the extra .25
leftovers:
–service pretty good, (tip jar at counter)
–not many people here
–lots of parking.
–pool table available in separate room
–inprobable repeat.

A long lost friend of mine… decides to invite me out to the area. Sure?! Why not. I am forewarned that its not at one of our usual spots, it’s at this divey Mexican bar down the street. I’m hesitant, but sure why not, as I agree en route.
Giving a place a shot in the dark, in the past, has proved to bite me in the a**, so I decide to take a looksee on Unilocal before I take a walk through the doors. What if there were food poisoning stories or cockroaches running rapid?!! I would’ve never known.
Two Stars? Uh oh, I knew what I was getting into, but still took the plunge.
I walked in thinking «what a great interior design!»
The place looked like it could’ve been in the Caribbean or deep in the jungle of Costa Rica with the entire interior covered in wood planks from wall to ceiling giving an aidrondack or something similar to an old pirate ship type of feel. All they were missing were some more tropical plants, island music and perhaps some monkeys to serve us some drinks. Oh wait there was a monkey behind the bar! (Not really, I’m only kidding…)
As I approached my friend at the bar, I was once again, forewarned, the food was definitely a risk, that was entirely up to me, to take. I saw his nacho platter that looked like it had been grazed very lightly and covered with a napkin, but turned my head the other way, I was famished. A girls got to eat, right? To stay on the safe side, I ordered a Margarita for medicinal purposes of course. They say Tequila kills bacteria right?
Not much of a menu to chose from, so I opted for the veggie tacos with Nopales. They came out overcooked and not anywhere close to fresh, simultaneously throwing the idea of any flavor or taste out the window. Quickest fixer upper around was the salsa bar. Uewwee! Everything looked like it had been sitting out for days, so I went for the safest looking items (the jalapeños). I even ordered a side of beans to fill me up more and they came out stale, like they been sitting in the restaurant all day long :-(
The restrooms, looked like they were the last thought on anybody’s mind. Now I can understand if it’s a huge rush, and no one’s had the time to maintain it for a minute, but it looked like it had been deserted for days!
Now, seriously, these minor things could be improved. The building has got so much potential! Margaritas were decent, the bartender was a sweetie and the environment has some authentic charm. The food, hmmm not so sure.

Simply put: Don’t Go here! I don’t think your dog would even eat the food here. Sadly, I did.
Worked 11 hours, and was craving Mexican food. Was not impressed when I walked in, but wasn’t there for the ambiance. Thought it was sketchy when we ordered enchilada’s and they prepared it from the stuff sitting out all day by the counter, dumped sauce on it and then what appeared just heated it up. But remained hopeful.
One bite of the food once I got it and that was it! Food was not even near warm, and tasted horrible!
once I took a bite, I pushed my food aside, then jumped on Unilocal to see what decent place was still open, called them and put in an order for takeout. Yes, that’s how bad it was… Had to call another place for take out!
Now pay attention: everything commented on the 1 star rating is all true!
Wish I read the reviews before coming vs. after.

It is what it is. Never disappointed.
I used to come here when it was El Balazo. I love their burritos. I have had better but I have no complaints. The food is served up hot, full of flavor, and a salsa bar with all the fixings. Not to mention multiple TV’s at the bar which are always running some sort of sports event.

Still a fan but I am sad to say that the wings have changed. They now look more like pigeon wings vs. chicken wings. They are quite a bit smaller. The sauce is the same but the smaller wings just don’t taste as good. Since I had to find a new favorite I tried the freshly made chicken taquitos. Very good! I do plead with the owners however to «BRING BACK MY FAVORITE CHICKEN WINGS!»

La Palapa = «La Never Again» — direct quote from my husband.
Being 3 months pregnant and craving tacos, my husband and I decided to give La Palapa a try since 1) our normal «go-​to» taqueria was closed and 2) our options for late night Mexican eats were limited (La Palapa has a big neon sign outside that states «Serving Food Until 2AM»)
First impression after walking in — a little dark and grimy; knowing La Palapa was formally El Balazo (big, young crowds, alcohol, music, pool, drunks) I thought maybe they would have changed the interior. It’s still the same grimy looking restaurant. But some of our favorite places are literally holes in the wall, so I wasn’t quick to judge by appearance.
After a few minutes looking over the menu, we made our decisions. My husband went for the chilaquiles, and I chose carne asada tacos.
The kitchen is big and open so you can see your food being cooked — err — more like «assembled». I really can’t speak for how «fresh» the food is though because everything is laid out, pre-​cooked, cafeteria style — you point, they plop it on the plate.
My husband’s chilaquiles were pretty typical; tortilla chips, green sauce with pork which was then pan simmered and sprinkled with cotija cheese and cilantro. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either. It was a little on the spicy side for my husband’s liking though. The whole beans served alongside… my husband never touched, it wasn’t very pleasant looking — I’ll just leave it at that.
My taco platter consisted of two corn tortillas topped with carne asada, cilantro and onions, plus a side of Spanish rice and black beans with a scoop of coleslaw. Uhm… yea. My tortillas weren’t heated on the flat top, the carne asada was extremely dry and chewy — also not re-​heated/​crisped on the flat top, even the onions and cilantro were dry and lacking flavor. I had to douse my tacos in lime juice to help force them down. After a few bites, I gave up. There was no point. My craving wasn’t going to be fulfilled and honestly, I didn’t feel very comfortable eating whatever was on my plate. The black beans were normal, edible… nothing special. The rice was very sticky and clumpy vs. fluffy. The coleslaw went untouched.
Salsa bar — messy but otherwise average.
So, sorry La Palapa we won’t be returning customers. The service was very nice and friendly, but unfortunately the food isn’t what I would call… food.

I don’t know which Julie you guys are talking about, but I literally only go there for her. She hooks us up with special deals. She could not be nicer to us and it’s not like we know her outside of La Palapa. I go there, get cheap drinks and free chips and yeah, we do tip her pretty nice, but its because she gives us great service. She remembers us and treats us like kings. So maybe you go there with an attitude and expect her to be über nice, but we go there to have fun and that’s exactly what we end up doing every night except last Saturday. All I know, they had 4 white people working, who’ve I’ve never seen and each of them went from the kitchen to the bar… that is not how a Mexican restaurant should be ran. I am not trying to be racist, but it was just slow service and it was the first time I did’t tip.
Man, I don’t know, go there to have fun and you will, if you don’t you won’t.
Green Lava

Yuck. La Palapa, you are gross. You serve sub par Mexican food and expect me to eat it with plastic cutlery when I am clearly here for sit down meal. You were out of two of my first choices for appeteizers, and your cafeteria style ordering made me feel like I was in a middle school lunch room. You even serve beverages in styrofoam! Why?!
This spot used to have a little something going for it, but apparently after the name change it was all just a spiral down into yuckiness. I am holding out for better things with a new shift in ownership or management. Change for the better could be on it’s way!

A Mexican cafeteria open with club hours…
Think hospital type of cafeteria, except replace the sterility with grimy old school wood, bar themed paneling. Complete with the salsa bar at the end, by the soda machine. They even serve up the special-​of-​the-​day fresca!
I knew from the outside, it wasn’t going to be good. But, it wasn’t my choice, so we went in. Right when you walk in, there is a cafeteria style ordering system to your right. To your left, is a dungeon looking room, with a pool table and a few stools. Your middle view is a bar, not a fully stocked bar, but a bar.
This place is beyond run down. Given that, I had to decide what I’d tolerate for my meal. After seeing the food displayed, sitting in chafing dishes, just waiting there… pick your poison!
I went with the «chico» size burrito. The server tried to warn me about how small it was, but I was okay with its size. I ordered it with Carnitas, Spanish rice, and guac. Let’s just say it was average. It wasn’t good, per se, but it wasn’t bad. It was tolerable, not good enough to come back, but okay to satisfy my post soccer game hunger. The chips weren’t bad, nor the pico de gallo. It was all just average.
Service is minimal. The nice guy will make your food in front of you, ring you up and you are on your own after that. The bartender will help those sitting at the bar, but beyond that you fend for yourself. You get your own (non-​alcoholic) beverage refills yourself. We took our plates to the server guy, but I’m not actually sure of the protocol here.
There are plenty of TV’s to watch the Niners dominate their opponent, but other than that it’s just gimmicky sports bar paraphernalia surround the walls.
Mix in the aging décor and grimy feeling, and you have La Palapa.

Your kidding right? For a while I was actually looking around for the hidden cameras recording the reactions of the patrons inside this place.
I don’t even know where to start. The carne & pollo asada both looked like they had been festering in their respective vats since sometime late Saturday afternoon (it was Monday btw) & the chicken tasted suspiciously ammonia like. From the slightly brown-​ish cilantro to the mushy pico de gallo & (again) ammonia-​esque aroma now coming from the black beans these guys simply dropped the ball in all departments today. Sad too, El Balazo USED to be… ok then they too dropped off the taqueria cart & fizzled out.
La Palapa, I give you 60 days until your doors close.