Mad Mex

Having tasted great Mexican food in California and Texas, I have to say - how is it possible that Mad Mex has received anything above a 2 star? I??m not saying the only good Mexican food is found near the border, but these 5 star reviews for Mad Mex are way too high. Not only is it not good MEXICAN food, it??s not good food! I've tried this place more than once to give it a fair chance. After trying Mad Mex a second time, I feel confident in writing the following: Bland! And more bland! The basic staples - burritos and enchiladas ?? are so tasteless I thought the first time had to be a mistake. This time around, there was no mistake ?? they really do make the food with the same blandness each time! As though flavors, spices, zing, and zest are foreign to this restaurant. So sad for the guacamole, it was prepared carelessly; it tasted like mashed avocados, yes, but minus the lime, salt, red onions, and chiles that make guacamole what it is. And at $9.00 a pint? Pretty pricey. On a positive note, their chips and sour cream were edible - because they came pre-packaged and required no preparation on the restaurant's part. Again, I have to stress how overpriced this place is for what you receive. $9.75 for a bone-dry enchilada?? That??s painful! This place is so bad that it??s come to me saying this: Chipotle and Veracruz are hardly authentic or worth writing home about, but tastes much better than Mad Mex.

The food is so bad I would not even enjoy it at half the price, and I??m usually someone who goes ga-ga over half-priced eats!

Pros: The name fits so in a sense they are forewarning you a bit

Cons: Food is disgusting

I've been going here for 15 years. Great wings and the best bleu cheese in the city...yes you read that right....bleu cheese. I've ordered celery and bleu cheese to go it's that good. This place is hit or miss. If you go when it's not crowded it's awesome. You get the ambience of the original without having to bump elbows with strangers. When crowded you have no privacy, no room, and have to watch dikes with nose rings canoodling.

Pros: Great food, great beer selection, nice spot

Cons: Too crowded and packed in, too many gays

In Oakland where we've had our share of sub par food, Mad Mex certainly stood out. The service may not always be the best, and it can get pretty crowded, but I've never had anything I didn't enjoy (same for the people I've gone with). I personally love the Chicken Chimi, but I'd say, having tried 1/3 of the items on the menu, you really can't go wrong with anything you pick!

Pros: Food, and great bar service

Cons: Can get really busy and crowded

I am usually not a very tough critic, but this place is just confused. I should have known from the time I entered the door and they scanned my ID that it was more of a bar than a restaurant, but I thought since it was rated so highly that it was worth a shot. I don't mind restaurants that have bars but it would be nice if they could have their respective places i.e. the bar and it's people in the front and the diners in the back. In fact the bar was so close to where we were seated that I was in jeopardy of getting a drink spilled on me at any moment. The music was also blaring so I couldn't even have a conversation with my girlfriend. I shouldn't have been so adventurous to have ordered the thai curry burrito since you should really order simple items when trying out a new place. The food was lukewarm and the flavors were really muddled. Additionally, they pack people into tables like sardines so you need to not only talk over the music but over the table that sitting right next to you. This is more of a bar than a restaurant so if you're going to eat the food get smashed first maybe it'll taste better.

Mad Mex is wonderful. As a vegan, they are so incredibly accommodating. The food is delicious with so many options. The service is usually WONDERFUL (there's one bitchy bartender). The drinks are great, and their happy hours are well priced.
It can get crazy crowded, but what do you expect from a great bar with half price food and drinks in a college area. C'mon. . . use your head.

Pros: Vegan yum yums and food for my carnivosous friends!

Cons: A little crowded.

This is our least favorite restaurant in the Big Burrito group. The quality of ingredients is high, but the food is not particularly authentic. Most locals must disagree with us, because the place is pretty popular.

We've been big fans of the Big Burrito restaurants and had a craving for some Tex-Mex food. Mad Mex certainly lives up to its fine-dining siblings like Casbah and Soba. The food is terrific (we can't stop talking about the guacamole we ordered with the chips for an appetizer) and decently priced. The service was good for a casual restaurant, and everything really jells. The beer selection is extensive, and most drinks are great. There's also a tequila selection, although we haven't tried the tequila samplers yet.

Our minor complaint is that they seat people too close to each other, but both times we've gone, it's been packed, so it's somewhat understandable.

Pros: Great food. Cool atmosphere

Cons: Tables a bit too close together

I don't go to mad mex for the food, because its awful! Everything always has no flavor and its always over cooked. It doesn't matter what I order it has been a disapointment every time. I recently met an employee of mad mex and he informed me that all of the meat that they claim is freshly grilled is only grilled for a minute (usually a few days before you eat it) and then it is microwaved to order. Gross!

Pros: Very good happy hour

Cons: food is disgusting

I have always been a huge fan of Mad Mex in Oakland but lately the drinks and meals have been below average and I am now compelled to write a review. Several times I have ordered burritos and they have been 99% beans and rice with 1% of the promised ingredents of portabella mushrooms and spinach on the inside. its been a disappointment time and time again. friends of mine ordered the nachos and were disappointed with the small amount toppings. the waiter asked how the meal was and they showed him the broken up dust of chips and small amount of toppings. he said 'sorry' and that was it. no discount, no additional toppings, nothing. and lastly, mad mex is known for their margaritas. they are usually soooo good. last time i was there (last week) i think we got a batch of nonalcoholic ones or something because we drank 1-2 big azz ones each and everyone left sober. what a waste of $12/drink!
i think i'm done with mad mex for a while. the only thing that still rocks is the black bean dip!

My wife and I loved the concept, menu and ambience. We ordered 2 different enchilada dishes each with a side of guacamole for 99cts extra. The guacamole was about 1oz and was brownish in color. It had way too much salt and lime juice and was entirely inedible. We felt cheated. The beans were so oversalted I couldn't eat them, nor could my wife. The chicken in both our dishes was so dry you could barely cut it and were obviously precooked! They were so concerned with their food cost on the guacamole but weren't concerned about the 6oz or so of cheese they loaded in the middle and top of each of our dishes, an expensive ingredient. This was a terrible meal and we wouldn't recommend you go and try it.

Pros: Vegetarian menu choices

Cons: Poorly prepared food.

Along with Primanti Bros., Pamela's, and Dave and Andy's, this is another one of the places that I fondly miss since leaving Pittsburgh. It's the best mexican around, and the tiny loud atmosphere always makes for a fun night out. They also used to have great late night specials, although that might have changed..

Pros: Big delicous margaritas and food

Cons: can get crowded, loud

I realize there are not that many good mexican restaurants in Pittsburgh - but Med Mex is the best Pittsburgh has to offer. It gets crowded and it is a smaller restaurant (in Oakland) but it is worth it for the food, just try to go during off-hours.

There are unfortunately not many good Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants in Pittsburgh. This is arguably one of the better ones, but certainly not distinctive in any way. While the service was courteous and quick, the food tends to appeal to those looking for comfort food instead of more genuine and traditional fare. It's a well-stocked bar that serves Tex-Mex, but that's about it.

I visited Mad Mex over the weekend from out of town. Its good but a far cry from Mexican. Mad Mex seems to have some traditional Tex-Mex (I can now say this with some authority having lived in south Texas for 8 years now, I think) dishes, and I imagine some Cali-Mex dishes, but there is not a trace of interior mexican on the menu, which might be the reason it doesn't win best mexican.

That being said, the chick pea burrito was a decent and different burrito, if a little on the mild side. The margaritas were skippable; they're made with a sour mix which really wreaked havoc on my digestive system. A little crowded and way too smoky for my taste. Good eats for the price though.

Pros: Good and filling for the price

If Mad Mex's food were actually Mexican, it could well be the best Mexican restaurant in Pittsburgh (more by default, as the competition is hardly stiff). Mad Mex's fusion cuisine is a tick above average, and caters well to vegetarians and vegans. The atmosphere at this particular locations ranges from a pleasant, but dark, open setting during the late afternoon to smoke-filled crowdedness during the 11PM half-price time.

The food is a bit overpriced at menu prices, but becomes an amazing deal during any of the half-price times, which are quite plentiful at this location.

Pros: Half-Price Specials, Good Margaritas, Veg/Vegan Friendly

Cons: Dark atmosphere., No Parking

I LOVE this place! The food is great, and they use their own twist with traditional Mexican dishes. They will often have great price specials, whether it's for lunch, late night or for those with student IDs. You MUST get one of their margaritas while you are there. While the average "pre-made" margarita is synonymous with "weak", a Mad Mex Margarita will certainly beat your expectations! Blended or on the rocks - the drinks are subtle, but quite strong! Enjoy!

Pros: Yummy food, Stong & tasty drinks, Good music & crowd

Cons: Staff could be nicer, Bad for big groups

Great Great Great.... One large margarita is enough to knock you off your feet... two makes the evening... they have delicious flavors... try kewi strawberry!.. lime is fantastic too

Being a Californian, living in Pittsburgh has been trying for my experienced and picky Mexican food loving palate. I had given up all hope until we tried Mad Mex. While not actually being Mexican food, it is quite good most of the time and is at least satisfying to my Mexican food cravings. I do really like the avocado-tomatillo salsa which is something I've found nowhere else. The biggest drawback is that they don't make their margaritas from scratch- they have a "slurpie" type dispenser. BIG MISTAKE! They taste okay frozen, but don't try them on the rocks. It also means no virgin drink versions. I prefer the North Hills location because the parking is easier and the room is A LOT less smoky. They have some of the nicest servers I've come across around here. If you really want "Mexican" in Pittsburgh, don't bother going anywhere else.

Pros: Good, Inventive Food, Great Service

Cons: Limited parking, Really Busy, Smoking Allowed

The best Mexican food we can find in Pittsburgh (and we've lived in California extensively, and traveled through New Mexico specifically for the food). Sure, they have cool other stuff like veggie dinners and low carb, but this is STILL excellent for core mex food.

Pros: Excellent menu, Good portions

Cons: , A bit crowded

Oh boy, this food is incredible. In the past there were stretches where I would go to Mad Mex literally every day for a week. The servers are friendly, especially when you become known regulars. And of course, you can't beat post-11 PM half-price food of this quality. How any other place in Pittsburgh could win Best Mexican over Mad Mex is beyond me. La Fiesta and Cozumel (essentially the same restaurant--go there and you'll see what I mean) are just a joke in comparison.

Pros: awesome food, decent service

Cons: late night noise, no parking

The food there is SO good. They offer student lunch specials, and half price margaritas during happy hour - TO DIE FOR! Plus, from 10-11, food AND BigAss Margaritas are both half price, at least they used to be when I was a student a year ago. The food is good, but it always washes down better with the right margarita... Enjoy!

This restaurant is sublime. Impressive beer selection, dimly lit cantina ambience, and the food is sublime! Fresh and inventive yet it sticks to your ribs. I went there years ago and still reminisce longingly. Oh yeah, and very very reasonable$.

Pros: inexpensive, delicious, ambience

Cons: parking, crowded, sometimesfullofdrunks

I think that it has the best Mexican food in PIT. Value is very good. Quick in and quick out at lunch. Very Good.

I've been going to Mad Mex for many years and the food is always incredible. The Chips and Salsa are amazing (I actually bought $20 worth to serve at my wedding reception!) and the Burritos are delicous and reasonably priced. But I recommend that you go during the daytime for lunch or an early dinner. Otherwise, be prepared for deafeningly loud music that makes talking impossible and enough 2nd hand smoke to instantly give you cancer. ** NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY **

Pros: Big portions, Free Soda Refills, Huge selection

Cons: Bad Parking-by UPitt, Expensive Alcohol, Noisy/Smokey

then you came to the right place! I do not know why everyone goes on about how good Mad Mex's margaritas are. I had the regular (on the rocks) and thoght it was awful. I was told that I had to have the frozen kind to enjoy it. Then I tried the frozen one on my next visit. It did taste better, but I ended up with a sour stomach and heartburn for 2 days. The reason? The MIX they use. Just an FYI - good margaritas are made from scratch. The food at the Atwood location was good, but the North Hills was awful. Nothing like a burrito filled with white rice to tantalize your tastebuds...

Cons: loud, smoky, crowded

Mad Mex (S. Oakland) margarita specials are always a good way to kick back and I've frequented this place for years. However, while all the other waitresses I have had at mad mex have been pleasant and relatively attentive, there is ONE waitress that is, hands down, the most malevolent server I have ever had. She is not simply content to be apathetic towards the needs of her customers, she must also be aggressively rude. Of course by the time one finishes a mad mex margarita thoughts like "get her name and talk to the manager" aren't usually the first to come to mind. I wish I had saved my receipts with the server name. As it is, I can only hope that the management will seek out her cloven-hoofed form and banish her from the premises.

Pros: good margaritas

Cons: the one evil waitress

We try to stop into Mad Mex everytime we are back in town. Although it is in a run-down college part of Oakland this should not deter you from checking out the food! The wings are the best and the food is very tasty. Excellent margarita (actually has a "kick" unlike some other mexican restaurants). We spent $150 on dinner the night before on Mt. Washington and didn't enjoy the food near as much as we did our $45 dinner at Mad Mex! Bravo!

The food at Mad Mex is SO EXCELLENT. And the decor is so much cooler than most places in Pittsburgh.

But it is always SOOOOO FREAKIN LOUD in there. I don't understand why they turn up the music so much....

If you come for happy hour things are usually a bit more calm tho.

Definitely try the chick pea chilli burrito! SOOOO GOOD!!!

Pros: Delicious food, Happening, Cool Decor

Cons: Loud, Smoky, Service not attentive

Mad Mex is THE only restaraunt in all of Pittsburgh that can even claim to have MEXICAN. And not only that the prices are cheap to. Most of Pittsburgh's so called Mexican is really Italian-Mexican. Mexican food with spagheti sauce. Big Burrito Restaruant group deserves all of our money. The $5 margaritas are the best values in town. Two of these mamoth drinks will but you down.

Pros: Great Food, Great Drinks, Inexpensive

Mad Mex--while not exactly Mexican--is great for after 11pm. Half-price on most dishes. Plus get all-you-can-eat chips and salsa for just $1!

The food is good and the drinks are even better. But the bar is so loud! If you're going with old friends, it's great and cheep food. If you're looking to meet people or have good conversation, go elsewhere.

Pros: Price

Cons: Noise

I enjoy the food from Mad Mex, but the would probably only order out from the South Oakland location. It is just way too crowded. I enjoy the location in the North Hills much better. Back to the food... the burritos are truly amazing and are worth the wait, even if you decide to go to S. Oakland. Enchiladas are probably the best thing on the menu that is full of great eats!

Pros: Food, Price after 11pm

Cons: dining apace

Take one part South Oakland grunge, add one part back street bar, mix spicy mexican food to taste and you've got Oakland's hottest new spot since the opening of the Electric Banana.

Pros: Spicy Chicken Taco