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Calli Restaurante Mexicano
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
1102 Davie StreetVancouver, BC V6E 1N1
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 633-9950
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
31 reviews for Calli Restaurante Mexicano
Review Highlights
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"My partner enjoys the mole enchiladas and the stuffed..." In 5 reviews -
"...comes with more stuff - refried beans, Mexican rice and the..." In 4 reviews -
"Cute, clean family-run Mexican hole-in-the-wall." In 3 reviews
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31 reviews in English
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Review from Kat D.
Updated - 1/10/2012
This place is now closed at last after limping along for at least 2 years. It could have seen so much more than it was. There is regularly a lineup of people just a few doors up waiting for some mediocre Greek food and they should have been tempted to try something Mexican, close enough to hand out samples of those tasty, crispy tacos. The owner was hiding behind his laptop far enough away so that you couldn't see him if you walked by. We all lost.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/20/2011
Run by a mother and son from Mexico City, the mother was in the kitchen when I ate at Calli. This… Read more »
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Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ole! Had about two hours to find a place to eat before watching the movie Immortals, which was half a thumb up, if you ask me. With the help of the yelp app on my android we found ourselves at the entrance of this quaint Mexican restaurant.
I was really impressed! They have a good selection of mexican cuisine and the prices are ultra cheap. I ordered the chicken taquitos which came with three soft tortilla chicken tacos, a side of spanish rice, a salad and tortilla chips with re-fried beans. It was delicious and satisfying! The restaurant even had an authentic quality, it was super warm and humid inside. Reminded me exactly of what Mexico is like, I really need a vacation. One of my friends ordered a veggie mole enchiladas which was super delicious. It came with enchiladas drenched in this black mole sauce. Their mole is muy bueno!
St3Fin -
Review from Evilyn T.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
After checking the rating for this place on Yelp, I suggested it to the ladies, since we were feeling Mexican on Sunday. The place was nothing spectacular, definitely a mom and pop shop, with a special bag of hanging water under the doorway entrance (I'm assuming it has something to do with the air conditioning unit above it.)
My friend ordered some chips and salsa to start, which came with guacamole and was super yummy. There is nothing better than fresh home-made salsa, and this salsa and guac was awesome, I will be back for that if nothing else. I ordered the veggie mole enchilada, since I have never found a veggie dish with mole sauce on it before, usually mole is reserved for meat dishes, and now that I have tried it with veggies I understand why. The mole sauce was good, but I found it too heavy for a veggie enchilada, I think I should have stuck with the veggie fajitas instead. Ah well, next time.
My only concern about this place, and I know it may seem a bit picky of me, but when we got the bill, it looked like the kind of receipt you get at a dollar store, or the gas station. It didn't list any of the items, just the amounts, taxed and totalled. So we had to try and figure out who had what, and how much everything was. The confusion started when we had some extra charges that we couldn't figure out, so we had to ask. Apparently the salsa and chips were one charge of like $3 and the guacamole was another charge of like $4 or something like that. Other than that everything was great, and I will be back to try the nachos soon!Listed in: Beers, Steers and Queers
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Review from D K.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2012
Callis is out of business.
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Review from conrad y.
Vancouver, BC
6/28/2011
This is a wonderful little place to eat authentic Mexican food-a step up from a classic hole-in-the-wall but with the same cozy feel.
I had the veggie enchiladas for lunch and they really hit the spot/got me through a rough patch this afternoon.
The service is fast & friendly and the overall atmosphere calming.
As to the bag of water that's an old trick from tropical countries-a plastic bag partially full of water keeps flies away-I mean houseflies/mosquitoes you name it. -
Review from Joshua N.
Updated - 1/5/2012
Walked past Calli today (Jan 5, 2012) and noticed they were closed down. Unless they are renovating? They were definitely not open for business.
Listed in: Davie Street's Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/7/2011
Why is it that Mexican food is so plentiful and affordable and delicious in the US but practically… Read more »
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Review from Emily H.
Vancouver, BC
12/19/2010
Excellent! Vancouver really needs more quality latin american fare, and this place gets it right. Service is extremely friendly. It's also nice to see a wee nod to mesoamerica... I find that a lot of Mexican restaurants here dumb down their menu descriptions and marketing with the result of this very essentialized image of Latin America that corresponds with the streotype that many people may have. (It's probably a necessary business move.)
Anyway. No complaints. Que rico! -
Review from Brandy W.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2011
As an ex-pat from the country of Los Angeles, CA, I am pretty picky as far as Mexican goes. Like other annoying SoCal migrants, I bitch and moan about Vancouver's near absence of tasty Mexican morsels. After extensive research, I can conclude that Calli is among the best Mexican restaurants at which I've eaten, here and in LaLaLand. Calli's five-star beef burrito is worthy of five eyerolls and deep sighs. And their Tres Leches Cake? Three words: OMG. They marinate their meats just right, have the right balance of smoky/spicy/fresh, and their rice, cheese, and tortillas are cooked to a melty mishmash of perfection. Me gusta mucho!
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Review from Thu N.
10/20/2010
Thank you Yelp and Janice for the recommendations to come here!! I had come before but it was closed with no sign on the door to show the hours! So on a leap of faith, I came again! This time it was open AND had operating hours at the door. Score.
We were the only ones in the restaurant for most of the time and got a chance to talk to the owner about popular dishes in the restaurant and what is authentic and popular in Mexico. He mentioned that they took over the place 3 months ago and added a few dishes to the menu but mostly it's intact. He also has changed some recipes based on the feedback which is cool. It is definitely a cute restaurant tucked away in the West End.
Anyway, everything on the menu looked good and reasonably priced!! We shared the guacamlole and chips, I ordered the chicken taquitos and my friend ordered the enchiladas! I was very tempted to also order a soup, tacos, burritos, fajitas - but I'm glad we stuck to our orders!
I've been highly critical of Mexican places in Vancouver only because I used to live in San Diego and San Francisco which had amazing and cheap Mexican food! So 4 stars in a Mexican restaurant in Vancouver means a lot to me!
The guacamole was a little different - a lot less avocados than I'd expected but still very flavourful, I'd call it more of a salsa than a guac. The 3 taquitos were good, not "too" deep fried but delicious, it came with rice, refried beans and a hot salsa sauce which was really hot but so good. The enchilada came as 3 small ones which were perfect for sharing! They seemed pretty freshly made and had the same hot salsa sauce which made it delicious.
I had to ask for water about 4 times to cope with the spicy but the owner was so nice about it. We both agreed that we'd come back to try everything else in the menu! I'm intrigued at the tamales they have, Mexico has hundreds of different tamales, along with South America, Phillipines and the owner swears by his, its one that's rolled in banana leaf and reflects one found in Mexico City! So, that'll be next on the list of things to try! -
Review from N C.
Burnaby, BC
This place has decent enchalada's. Both the tomato red and mole are very good. The red tomato is sweeter in taste. The hot sauce is VERY hot and has a good kick to it when you order it Hot.
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Review from Doug G.
Updated - 10/6/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Great business people listen . . .
And respond. After my last visit, I commented that the frijoles were bland and tasteless. I returned today, ordered the Chicken Tamal again, and this time really enjoyed the frijoles. Turns out that after receiving feedback from several customers, the owners have changed the recipe for both the frijoles and the rice, and the improvement was indeed noticable. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal - so add one star for great food, and owners responsive to their clients suggestions.
And I agree with Crystals review - I was dying to know why there is a bag of water hanging over the door. Turns out there is a very interesting story behind it. Never hurts to ask.Listed in: Eating Mexican in Vancouver
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/19/2010
A neighborhood gem! Calli offers decent Mexican food at a reasonable price.
The Chicken Tamali was… Read more »
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 9/4/2010
Thank you Doug for your comments. We work always to improve… More » -
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Review from Peter S.
6/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
Holy moley that's damn good Mole!
I am happy to see Calli still alive and serving up proper Mexicano on Davie.
Definitely the best in the neighbourhood.
Order up a plate of mole enchiladas and a Sidral Mundet and settle in for a proper feed.
MmmmmmmmListed in: West Ender, Mexican
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
5/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Arriba arriba! Tortilla Soup! Mole enchiladas! Chicken Taquitos! Ole!
Flavour and friendly, this little space makes Mexicana possible in the West End. The staff ensures you know what's on your plate, which comes heaping with extras like refried beans and rice. For the price point and the convenience, it's hard to beat!
I will admit, I'm baffled by the baggie of water hanging over the door... but I can't wait to go back to solve that mystery :p -
Review from Kelsey P.
Vancouver, BC
8/5/2010 1 photo
All too many times I've gotten excited to go to a Mexican restaurant in this city, only to find myself eating something reminiscent of Taco Bell. I HHate that. Hate with two capital H's.
Calli Restaurante is not one of these places. Calli Restaurante is a little gem of delicious Mexican fare.
Trying to live your life without the presence of gluten? Worry not, almost everything (burritos excluded) is made with corn flour tortillas, believe me - I've probably asked the poor man twice for every item. -
Review from Shamus R.
Montréal, QC
5/13/2010
This is my first and maybe only review, inspired as it is by an overwhelming desire to see this little gem succeed.
At 8:00 PM Calli only had one couple seated when my partner and I stumbled across it. With very limited seating, no liquor license, and a small storefront that disappears into its surroundings, I fear that Calli may not make it (though who knows, maybe the money's in the lunch crowd). It would be a real shame to lose it.
The scrambled egg torta was incredible--bigger, better, and cheaper than Las Tortas on Cambie. The guacamole was also delicious, with equal parts cilantro and avocado, plus onion and tomato. There were plenty more vegetarian options on the menu that I'm looking forward to in the future, and plenty for the meat-eaters as well.
To sum up, there's no shortage of value-for-dollar lunch and dinner options on Davie, but Calli has most of 'em beat, both in deliciousness and price. It's only been open for seven months, so go now and keep it open for the longterm. -
Review from Jayne K.
Vancouver, BC
8/7/2011
I think this is pretty much as good as it gets for Mexican food in Vancouver (I don't know about the outskirts). And it's pretty good. The place is small and rarely busy, but if you dine in your meal will end up taking a while anyway. It's nice if your in the mood for a leisurely dining experience. I really like the red enchiladas, and the guacamole is really good. My partner enjoys the mole enchiladas and the stuffed poblano pepper. We are vegetarians and we don't feel limited by the options. The salsa picante is very delicious and super hot. You can tell everything is homemade. Altogether a solid dining choice, especially if you're already in the west end. The only downside is they don't serve alcohol, but it's cheaper to get takeout and have beer at home anyway.
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Review from Ian B.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Best value for Mexican food in Vancouver. Stupid affordable and delicious.
I was told Vancouver washroom bylaws prevent this place from being licensed. A shame. Can Van support a small unlicensed restaurant on Davie? I guess time will tell. I'll be back, that's for sure. -
Review from Edward B.
Vancouver, BC
7/13/2010
AIIIII CARAMBA!!!
I'm not entirely sure if that's a Mexican thing but... same thing.
I went here for dinner a week ago. The owner was cleaning up the place and he welcomed me warmly.
I ordered the uhh.......... I forgot (like I always do). It's this potato dumpling with mole sauce. It's not actually a dumpling, but it's this kinda huge lump of potato with chicken in it. Forgive me for the weird description. It tastes good though, and the sauce is slightly sweet and savory. I liked the sauce.
The dish came with some rice, beans and nachos. The portion was quite big and satisfying.
The price was reasonable. My dish cost $10, and service was really friendly and fast. Looks like this joint is owned by a Mexican couple, which both are very friendly!
I am interested to try other awesome Mexican dish... maybe I will come back again some other time!Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 9/4/2010
Hi Edward (and everybody reading this post,) Quick… More » -
Review from Matt S.
Vancouver, BC
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found this spot using the Yelp App and am so happy we did. Great food, service, and will definitely head back. The owner was there and acted as our waiter and cook - really friendly spot and worth a look (and in our case going back).
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 6/17/2011
Matt. thank you for your preference and your feedback. I am… More » -
Review from Jordan H.
4/15/2010
Just noticed this place today. I stopped in and grabbed a chicken torta to go. Fantastic. Way better than Las Tortas up on Cambie.
Can't wait to try more. -
Review from Kate S.
Vancouver, BC
8/20/2010
The string of good Yelp reviews below led me to Calli for lunch today. I was not disappointed!
The restaurant is super cute, and is run by a lovely couple. I ordered the red enchiladas, medium spicy. The wait wasn't too long for the food - less than 15 minutes. The meal was huge! Three enchiladas, rice and beans. The whole meal was piping hot and delicious. The red sauce was perfectly spicy. I ate until I felt sick (and I still didn't quite finish everything).
This place is definitely going to become a regular for me - the menu looks great and there's so much more I want to try! I haven't tried too many other Mexican places in Van yet, but this is going to be hard to beat. -
Review from Janice F.
4/10/2010
Cute, clean family-run Mexican hole-in-the-wall. Beware, I think they close at 8 pm on a Friday night. I think I squeaked in just before they closed but never felt rushed to leave.
Warm, fresh tortilla wraps - yay ! I enjoyed the chicken mole here so much more than Taqueria. You can make 3 decent sized tacos out of their chicken mole for $8.90. It beats 4 dry, two-bite sized tacos from Taqueria. And it comes with more stuff - refried beans, Mexican rice and the yummy chicken mole. Warning though, the chicken did have some cartilege and inedible parts in it.
I also really liked the beef torta - buttery, toasted bun. Cheese, guacamole, lettuce - all good.
And their Mexican hot-chocolate was delicious - not hot-spicy, but subtly cinnamon spicy.
I think this is my favourite Mexican restaurant in town.Listed in: Restaurants worth a second…
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Review from Ashley S.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2010
My new favourite Mexican place! Really decent food for super reasonable prices! It is a small family-run place with limited seating, but I've rarely seen it full, so you're likely to get a seat anyways.
I've found service to be slow-but-with-good-intentions. I mean, they don't have hired, professional "servers", so service can be really slow, but they're super friendly and will help you out with anything if you ask.
The mole sauce is amazing, and quesadillas are delicious, all with fresh ingrediants, "homemade flavour, no cans, no preservatives"!! Awesome. -
Review from Denni P.
Vancouver, BC
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Mexican scene is gradually improving in Vancouver
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Review from Annie D.
8/26/2011
Zero stars! My sisters and I had lunch here. We ordered the chips and salsa, the chips were stale and the pico was ok. I ordered the stuffed poblano, it came out smelling sour, I took one bite and had to spit it out it was so gross. My sis ordered cheese enchiladas, the sauce tasted like marinara. All of our food came out of a microwave and the guy was on his cell phone the entire time, even while taking our order. We had to ask for the check twice and I finally got up and paid. Not recommended.
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 8/26/2011
Hello Annie, First and foremost I apologize for your… More » -
Review from Andy K.
Vancouver, BC
5/30/2010
I really, really like the food at this restaurant. They make very nice traditional Mexican food that is cooked with care and is never greasy. The owner? is a quiet spoken gentleman who I think is a bit hard of hearing but is very nice and really cares about his customers and the food... it shows. I like Don Guacamole's too, but this place is just as good, the prices are a lot better, and the service is much better.
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Review from Harvey O.
Surrey, BC
8/7/2011
After reading the excellent reviews for this restaurant, I looked forward to some good Mexican food. This was a mistake. The food was bland and the sauce was tasteless. Disappointing to say the least.
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 8/9/2011
Harvey, sorry to hear that we disappointed you. I do not… More » -
Review from Graham C.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2011
Great, simple food that tastes like how (I imagine) a home-cooked meal might taste in Mexico (i.e. delicious but not fancy or pretentious). Friendly service, very affordable.
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 6/17/2011
Thank you Graham.. We are here for our customers and our… More » -
Review from Samantha M.
Vancouver, BC
9/5/2010
This place is really cute, the atmosphere is nice, the staff are friendly and the presentation of the food is lovely. The food is meh. I wish I could say something better about it but there isn't much flavour. I don't know why it's listed as being cheap, because it isn't cheap, especially for the portion sizes. But i think the couple that run it are so freaking cute I'll probably keep eating here.
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Review from Brad B.
Updated - 5/6/2010
Tried the red chicken enchiladas this time. Ordered spicy, and they were excellent. The guacamole came with lots of cilantro -- nice -- and the Mexican hot chocolate was a treat (cinnamon and chile peppers, I think).
I'm still, of course, completely sold on the Mole sauce (see my previous review).
The service, too, is consistent. As before, the owners are the wait staff, and they're friendly as you could hope for. Maybe it's just that it was Cinco de Mayo, but it made for a nice lunch.
This place just never disappoints, and the price is right too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/11/2010 First to Review
Calli is a new cute little family-run Mexican restaurant on Davie Street deserving of my appetite.… Read more »
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Review from Sara K.
Vancouver, BC
5/31/2011
horchata from a powdered mix, mole from the glass jar. enough said.
Comment from Tomas R. of Calli Restaurante Mexicano 6/17/2011
Hi Sara, We understand that different people have different… More »
