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Hola! Mexican Restaurant (Mexican cuisine)  $$$

 8.5
JaT Rating

1448 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame, 94010  (Directions)


650.375.1000


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The most unique Mexican place on the peninsula


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 4/4/2004
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery 		Hola! Mexican Restaurant and Cantina is really a unique place to go. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the beautiful mexican decorations; tile floors, ceramic plates, steel sculptures, traditional paintings, leather menus, and pastel colored walls. The restaurant is extremely big and noise level is almost deafening. We had the pleasure of sitting next to some spoiled brats who were nearly screaming at the top of their lungs. Holding a conversation can be difficult at times as the music is set pretty loud. My last complaint is eating upstairs is like eating next to an over...it wasnt the margeritas, I only had 1.

It might sound like I'm complaining but this place is definitely a good place to visit. The menu boasts traditional and exotic mexican dishes not found at other restaurants and an enormous tequila menu. I ordered the house margerita and "Camarones al Ajillo"; shrimps served with cilantro rice and black beans. Damm that was tasty...they didnt skimp out on the shrimps. They serve the big ones and give you about 6 of them. I also got to try the Al Chipotle shrimps and Chicken Quesadillas.....hhhhmmmmm...sooo goood. Its pretty hard to describe...you just have to go there and try it. I'm not used to having mexican food served "gourmet" style and look forward to trying other dishes.

I want to give this place a 9 but a 8.5 will have to do for right now...the place was just too loud for me. I'll be back though...I'm dying to try a carnitas plate.

**Update 7/7/04**

Its been 3 months since we've been back to Hola and were delighted to see the food was just as good as the prior visit. From the dishes I've seen at Hola! the portion sizes are GIGANTIC. You can share each plate with 2 people or take home leftovers.

Tonights order was the Especial de Pollo and Carnitas Piaxtla. The Especial de Pollo is a grilled chicken quesadilla with potatoes. Im not used to eating potatoes in any of my mexican meals and wish I would have tried it earlier. It is soooo goood...reminds me of those cast iron hash browns you get in the morning side dish..hmmmm. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately for my order, the Carnitas Piaxtla was not as impressive. The presentation of the plate was not appetizing to look at. Imagine 3 x 3 inch cubes of pork pile up like a tiny little meat mound topped off with PINK onions(I hate pickeled stuff..sigh). The meat wasnt too bad but it felt like a chore tearing the cubes down to eatible sizes. This plate could be shared with 3 people!! I only ate 1/3 of my meal and shoveled the rest into a togo box. I'll have to give a pass on the Carnitas Piaxtla - personally, I would serve small portions, make the carnitas crunchier, and get rid of the PINK onions.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable dinner and will return again for a new dish to try. Hola! Mexican Restaurant holds a solid 8.5 for their enormous portions and exotic atmosphere.
 
6.5
Agent Rating


Reviewer: Michael
Total Reviews: 40
Reviewed: 9/21/2004
Rating: 6.5
My photo gallery		 Sept 21, it's my birthday!. Thought that I would celebrate it a Hola's with my wife.

I have always been a fan of this place. They have great margaritas and a pretty decent tequila list. My wife and I first off got 2 shots of Don Julio plata and 2 Cadillac margaritas. The shots went down great. Chips and salsa was also there to fill the void while waiting to order our meal.

When the waitress came I ordered the assorted tamale plate and my wife ordered a chicken enchilada. By the time the food came we had downed our shot and finished half of the margaritas.

The tamales that I ordered were 1 chicken, 1 pork and 1 corn. Well I have to say that I wasn't all that impressed. My dish was very bland and I needed to add extra salsa to spicy it up. On the other had my wife's enchilada was amazingly good. This is the first time that i ordered something that I didn't like from Hola'a.

So I guess I didnt order the right dish tonight. But don't let my experience persuade you to much. You should still try it out. At least stop by and get a margarita in a spiral glass!

Previosly coming here I would have scored this place with a 8.5 but tonight is a different story. I wish I could give this place a beter rating but I have to be honest here, my meal rates at a 6.5
 
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nkedel ate...

Mole chicken

“I found the Mole chicken too spicy to enjoy, although I did finish it with the help of much water. I don't remember what my wife got, but she liked it better. Was very busy on a Sat night, don't plan to return.”

10/4/2007 10:04:13 PM