Testimonials

One of the best Mexican restaurants in California! As someone who travels for work and knows a thing or two about restaurants, I’m always on the lookout for great spots. I’ve had my fair share of amazing Mexican food experiences, but this restaurant truly stands out. The food, the people, and the atmosphere are all top-notch. It’s a welcoming and friendly place that makes you feel right at home. Very inclusive. The food is absolutely fantastic—some of the best I’ve ever tasted. You won’t be disappointed!

We went to Lena this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived around 5:45 and were promptly seated. The restaurant is pretty spacious. My wife, kids and I shared the siete tacos appetizer and three tamales which came out quick. Both appetizers were great. Definitely a cut above the other Mexican restaurants in town. For the entrees, my wife shared the ribeye with the kids and I had the Cornish hen. We enjoyed the entrees as they were grilled to perfection. The sides were pretty good too. Everyone enjoyed the creamed corn in particular. We found the potatoes a little bit too spicy but everything else was great. It took quite awhile to get the entrees as the restaurant was busy by this point. Given the recent opening and amount of people I can understand. Hopefully it'll be a bit quicker in the future. The food was worth the wait at least.For dessert we tried the bunelo which was great. Overall, the restaurant is a unique addition to Alameda.

We went for an early dinner last night. The food was outstanding and the service warm, attentive and knowledgeable. The sunny seats near the window were comfortable and inviting. Welcome to the neighborhood!

I have recently had the chance to dine at Leña in Alameda, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The concept really stands out—everything feels centered around bold, fire-inspired flavors, and you can taste that care in every dish. The food was the highlight. Each plate felt thoughtfully prepared, with rich, smoky flavors and a great balance of textures. You can tell they’re aiming for something elevated yet still comforting. Everything came out beautifully presented. The atmosphere was stylish and lively without feeling too loud. It strikes that perfect balance between a fun night out and a relaxed dinner. The service was friendly and attentive, which made the whole experience even better. Overall, Leña feels like a great addition to Alameda’s dining scene. Whether you’re going for a date night, drinks with friends, or just trying something new, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Great food! Food came fast and great service! We will be back to try the other menu options.

The food was excellent, the dining room was beautiful and the staff was warm and welcoming. Will be back soon to try more of the menu.

Such a cute place! Love the exterior and interior decor. The food was wonderful! Satisfying portions and tasty. Our server Mayte and everyone we interacted with were friendly and attentive. We asked for recommendations and Mayte was helpful and knowledgeable. It's a bit pricey but we think it's worth it. 2 Appetizers, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and 2 alcoholic drinks over $200 incl tip. There were 3 of us. But we will definitely be back.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. We needed a good Mexican restaurant on the island. Great vibe. The Mole and home made tortillas were unreal!! Already saying I’ll be back tomorrow to try something else. 😉

Great food, service, drinks and atmosphere! Highly recommend!

Food here is high-quality--honestly, "amazing" is the best way to describe it. It's family-friendly but also perfect for a date night. OMFG... this has got to be the Mex-Food in the Bay Area, hands down. Nothing beats it--and I was born and raised here, eating Mexican food my whole life.The staff greeted me right when I walked in and seated us almost immediately. Our waiter made sure my guest and I were taken care of throughout the entire meal. At one point, I heard a nearby customer complain about the lighting being too bright (it really wasn't), but I let the waiter know, and they dimmed it almost right away.We ordered the fish and the birria. The side of potatoes was a 10/10--holy smokes, I've never had anything like it. The fish tasted like it was cooked over a wood fire, straight out of someone's mom's kitchen in Mexico--absolutely finger-licking good. My guest had the birria plate and didn't even bother to share, so I can only imagine how incredible it was. The mechiladas were amazing too.The vibe, decor, and overall experience aren't a hole-in-the-wall or boujee--it's that perfect in-between: a legit mom-and-pop spot that's leveling up fast. They also have a bar area, which I can't wait to swing by for. Plus, they've got outdoor seating too, which is a nice bonus as I often organize outings with friends and looking to pregame.

Food was amazing, authentic mexican food ! Delicious and fresh!! Customer service was top tier . Loved the ambiance and the cleanliness of the restaurant. Lastly very family oriented and kid friendly we went with a 13yr old, 7 yr old and 1 yr old. Definitely will be going often for date nights and family day out !! So happy to have this new addition in Alameda.

Leňa was a great surprise from the entrance with a beautiful mural of the owners' family to the warm ambience within, the friendly service and the high quality food. Everything was tasty, and we'll be sure to order the perfectly seasoned grilled branzino, the smoked-turkey black beans and the bread pudding again. As someone who has high expectations when I eat at a restaurant, I enthusiastically recommend Leña. It is a great addition to the Island!

Love the Food!¡Authentically Mexican !Great cocktails with an upscale experience and an amazing cuisine.

Went to Lena after hearing great things on our community page! We arrived around 8:45pm on Friday night and it was busy but there were seats for two available.We were seated quickly and not that long after we'd welcomed and asked for what we wanted to drink. There were so many amazing cocktails, and we went with the La Veladora, which was sweet and yummy, and the top shelf margarita which had the great balance of flavors.Then we ordered our dinner. I chose the vegetarian option of the Tetalas, which was savory, with cabbage, cheese, and a crisp on each Masa. My partner got the 7 tacos and it was so fun asking how he enjoyed each flavor, the carnitas and steak were his favorites.Everyone was so friendly, checking in on us, and the owners, chefs walked around and welcomed us as well. The energy was vibrant with so many happy people there for birthdays and celebrations. It was a joyful place to eat with amazing food! Please check it out (next time we are going to their brunch!)

It felt like I was back in Acambaro when I took a bite of my pambazo, It was perfect! The bread was soft and chorizo was so flavorful and the salsa was super fresh10/10! The ambiance is wonderful mariachi playing in the background I love it!!! I went for brunch but I can't wait to go back for the dinner. We also tried the rapado flight I definitely recommend it. The concha toast was a first for me and fell in love definitely ordering that next time again. The service was super friendly and welcoming. Im telling all my friends and family to come.

Amazing menu that tastes like the best cuisine from Guanajuato/Jalisco/Michoacán. The menu offers dishes you won't see at other Mexican restaurants--such as the tetelas which is a star vegetarian dish! The birria is oxtail and goat so it is the real deal and the carnitas are a family recipe that comes with delicious black beans cooked with turkey bone. This is a family owned restaurant built with love, style and excellent flavor...perfect for an elevated night out in Alameda.

I had the most amazing time at Leña last night 😍✨ From the moment you walk in, you feel it, the warmth, the care, the intention behind everything. The team is so kind and welcoming, they make ordering feel easy and comfortable 💛 The food… wow. You can truly taste the heart and passion in every bite. The oxtail was incredible, the taco sampler was such a fun and delicious experience, and I’m still thinking about those garlic grilled prawns 🤤🔥 They also have a great selection of drinks and cocktails 🍹✨ Even the chef came out to check on us, which made it all feel even more special. I already can’t wait to go back and try more 💫 Also, I’m uploading pictures of the menu because I noticed some reviews mention they don’t have it online. Just sharing in case it helps someone 💕 Honestly, do yourself a favor and go experience it in person 🔥🔥🔥

Food and drinks were amazing.... 100%recommended for an authentic Mexican restaurant.Staff was sweet and helpful always keeping us updated with our wait time and thanking us with our patience as it was opening day.

Went to the grand opening yesterday and found an elegant and spacious but crowded first night event in what was a former comedy club plus other businesses.The decor was bright with wood paneling along the wall to reflect the leña image which in Spanish means "Firewood" .Plenty of servers for the first night festivities and I enjoyed a tender and tasty order of pork ribs with tamarind BB_Q sauce along with my choice of side orders , I passed on the rice and beans for nopales (cactus) and Mexican Slaw , plus a side of garlic bread accompanied by an unknown pilsner which I enjoyed . My buddy had a lobster with rice , beans and tortillas which he rated as execellent . For first night entertainment there was traditional ballet folklorico , Mariachi and a young Banda group. It was lot for one night but we all had a great time and I'll return to taste somme oof the other dishes they have . Not one burrito on the menu which makes me like it all the more

I stopped here today. It was the grand opening and a lot of people stopped by. We did have to wait a little, but given the crowd of folks wanting to try it, we expected the wait and had a couple drinks in the meantime. The staff were friendly and welcoming. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the items on the menu!

I had a feeling the ribeye asado was going to be my favorite thing we ordered, yet we wanted to try as much as possible and succumbed to our gluttony. We came on their grand opening event so it was very crowded with a great vibe and a mariachi band that made it even better. The space is also done so thoughtfully and curated a little getaway from the bay. For drinks I had a cantarito and it was amazing -- tasted like fresh squeezed juice from all the ripest fruits with a side of suddenly I know Spanish. Next I ordered the la veladora and wow that was decadent without being heavy at all. We started with the tatemaditas. Our favorite salsas were the verde and macha. The macha had a really good heat to it. My spice tolerance is pretty decent but that one definitely made me feel like I was on a hot ones challenge. Next is where our downfall happened. The 7 mini taco sampler did not have mini tacos. They were very-generously-almost-normal-sized tacos that my boyfriend and I split, didn't even finish 2, then we were already almost full. Yeah we could've taken smaller bites but they were all so good and different from each other that we couldn't help it. The ribeye asada and halibut were our favorites. Then finally came the ribeye asado... perfect cook on it, amazingly seasoned, so juicy and tender. Could we power through and give it the savoring it deserves? No. We did not finish it as you expected but we are so looking forward to eating it as leftovers and I WILL be coming back to give my full attention and empty stomach to this dish.

Best mole ever I could taste all the spices and flavors. So good. Service was great. Tacos so good. Can't wait to try more!