March 19, 2009
Ambiance and character for sure, but dark edgy college scen may put off some. Go in any way and have some of the always good variety of beers and fun Mexican American food. Congrats to Nikki on Beer choices

January 4, 2008
a good place to go to enjoy a good beer or margarita, and some excellent food, but only when school is out. i pretty much don’t venture here when there are students nearby, as parking is nigh impossible, and the bar tends to be almost impossibly crowded any time i’d likely go. additionally, there are times when the loud music makes it difficult to enjoy a companion’s company. however, still a good place for an occasional beer or meal, and a great college bar (if you’re into that sort of thing).

August 19, 2007
Not a bad place for good beer and food. For ratebeerians, not a place to go for crazy new beers that you’ve never had before. I was lucky last time I went and was able to try a few new beers. Gets really crowded and uncomfortable during peak hours. The decor is pretty cool though. Check out the mason jar "moonshine" lighting over the bar. :)

July 7, 2007 [ Updated July 22, 2008 ]
Visited during the July 2007 beer walking tour of Oakland. This is a very small place on the corner. I’m not sure how they can be profitable considering the size of this place. Small bar, small dining area, small and kozy. Dark inside for the most part with mexican and inca stuff decorating the walls. Served free chips and salsa when I sat at the bar. Jukebox is playing some kinda cool college kid music. One of the girls has lots of tattoos and another, who is wearing a flowery blue dress is devoting all her time on one dude at the bar. My barmaid was very helpful and friendly. All employees were wearing green T-shirts. Overall, just a small, welll used, old style steeltown bar.

December 7, 2006
This place would get a lot higher score if it had a better beer selection. It is here that I discovered Sierra Nevada Pale Ale helped neutralized the heat that their incredible buffalo wings (wild) created. After being back there 10 years later, I see that it is packed in and on busy nights it is a ridiculous long wait, but your first is always your best. I discovered pale ale/buffalo wing combo here and for that it will always be special. If you are a fan of the others (as I am) go back to the source.

September 7, 2005 [ Updated September 10, 2005 ]
There’s two ways of looking at this place: A bar with an okay beer selection, or a restaurant with an unusually good beer selection. Last I went there they had 10 taps, 4 of which were occupied by standard pub fare (Miller, Guinness, Bass, forget the 4th), locals like Troegs Hopback, Heavyweight Lunacy & something from Penn, and Rogue Imperial IPA. Bottle selection was decent at 70 or so, most of them quite easy to find around town. If you’re coming here to find unique beers, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re looking for a place with dependable beers, cheap/fun/great food and a relaxing atmosphere to hang out with pals, here’s your place. Service is dynamite. Bartendress Liberty is a feisty little goddess.

June 12, 2005
For mexican food and craft beer, you can find no better. Autentic mexican this might stray from a bit, but its damn good. Expect to have a good selection of vegetarian option as well as some seafood. You can always count on one thing being hotter than the food there, and its almost as good as the beer to go there for; the servers. Quite a dark and ’happening’ restaurant, so go early for better/friendlier atmosphere.

June 11, 2005
You’d never know about the beer selection unless somebody told you, but it is damn good. Pull in for a few pints, they give you chips and salsa liek any godd mexican joint. You don’t even have to order off the menu, but if you do you won’t be disappointed.

March 3, 2005
Small, loud, dark, always crowded and smoky ... if that is your scene you will adore Mad Mex. A decent beer selection but really if you’re going there you should get a big margarita. Personally I don’t like the food but I have friends who adore it.

February 29, 2004
Main location in Oakland is small, loud, and smokey. Food and beer selections are good.