Got the half chicken and the nachos! Huge portions and more than enough for three people. Chicken was crispy and juicy, rice was well cooked and flavored but unmemorable (when you have chips), and pepper wasn’t spicy but added a nice flavor to the chicken. Nacho chips were crunchy but a bit salty (and after awhile my jaw started to hurt from the chewing lol), and the steak came on a bed of mashed black beans, which was tasty. Guacamole was good but had that slight overripe flavor to it. Salsa was too sweet for my liking but overall really filling dishes with huge portions. Ambiance was cute and cozy although the heat lamps were turned off already so it was a bit cold tonight. Service was great and friendly - didn’t try the drinks but they did look good!
I've been here for Sunday lunch a couple times. The first time was mind blowing. It was just after it opened. I had the Jalapeno poppers and psychedelic pork. The pork was a delicious but the salad accompanying it was a little odd but it somehow worked. The 2nd time the lunch menu had changed a bit which I wasn't really happy with, but my burger was great. Happy to do a long lunch here anytime. The only downside is the service can be slow when it is busy.
My boyfriend and I had dinner at the California Native Saturday night and it was delicious! We luckily rang to make a booking but were told there next table wouldn't be free until 8:15pm, when we got there the place was packed and all tables full. The staff were great with monitoring all the tables and were prompt with taking our order. For an entree we shared beef taquitos and a side of chips with chipotle. I don't know that they but it in the chipotle but it was amazing! We also were given some corn chips and salsa on the house. For a main I had a beef enchilada and my partner had the chicken tacos. By this stage we were pretty full but couldn't resist more. The enchilada was really nice but the rice served with it wasn't the best I had before, the black beans served with it though were nice. The tacos where a bit powdery and meat a bit bland but overall still an ok meal. We will be back here again to try more from the menu.
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We just got home from visiting California native and it was amazing!
Service: fantastic! My friend is actually from California and he really wanted cheese sauce (taken from another dish) with some corn chips with our entree. They were so accommodating - they were happy to do this for us and were so lovely and helpful throughout the whole night.
Food: huge! A bit expensive but the food totally outweighed price. Super generous portions and the test was exceptional. It takes a lot to impress my Californian friend with American food however he was especially impressed and said he would come back again.... That's a lot coming from him! We both had the enchiladas, mine being both chicken and my friend ordered the beef and pork. Both amazing! Another highlight - the dessert.. The banana split was huge... And incredibly yummy!
Experience: the Resturant is lovely .. The feel of the place is warm and invited and like no other place we have eaten before.
We will be returning and bringing out friends!!! thoroughly impressed - well done California native .. Do not look any further if you are after a good, hearty Mexican meal !
Went here for dinner on a Thursday night, was reasonably busy for a weeknight! Cool decor inside. Seated quickly and service was attentive all night. Very friendly waitress. We had the wagyu burger and chicken enchilada, both were delicious! Finished it off with the banana split which was super decedent and amazing. Good food, good service, nice atmosphere (bit noisy) only real negative was the prices which were on the higher side. Overall great experience though and I will be going back to try other dishes!
We enjoyed a delicious lunch here with some friends. We had jalepenos and chilli fries for entree which were both lovely. We had a good variety of foods for our main meal which everyone enjoyed. Portions are enormous-possibly a little too big!!
Valentines Day dinner with amazing service, great food and they do know how to make a cocktail! So good to have a quality suburban restaurant in my neighborhood.
Amazing atmosphere and interior design. Authentic, delicious fresh food. Friendly and helpful staff. Options available for gluten free/vegan etc. Great for special occasions. Watch out for the super hot sauce!! :) Delicious but WHOA!
Great food, great service. Have been a twice since they opened and have great experiences both times. The menu is full of surprises, and seasonal goodness. They also have a great sangria and selection of beers and wine!!! The food and drink is REALLY well priced, and the kitchen is open relatively late and we were told they are going to extend that further which is a god send in Brisbane south side!!! The staff are a credit to hospitality industry!!! Customer service is not dead!!!
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Went with the family for my son's birthday. The restaurant replaced Le Classic French restaurant, opposite Loretto Girls school on the major Cavendish Road. It is very easy to find so I do not agree with a previous reviewer saying it may be in an "obscure" location for some people.
Upon entering we were promptly greeted and offered a complimentary small serving of tacos with salsa. Drinks order was promptly taken and served.
The menu has changed slightly from that which is uploaded presently. Our group ordered individually Vegetarian Taco's (which was very large in serving size but VERY tasty. Too much for one person, better suited as a sharing plate), 2 x Malibu Wagyu Burgers (really good) and 1 x baked chicken enchilada and 1 x baked vegetarian enchilada ( both were well rated by the family members). Ordered a side of Rattlesnake Jake's Salsa as I am a chilli head. Nice amount of kick in this little baby.
We did not try desserts / coffee as we all were well and truly satisfied.
There are a couple of previous negative reviews concerning service, but we only experienced fast and friendly service. We did arrive relatively early at 6:30pm though. When we left, the restaurant was packed to the rafters so maybe staff become a little more stretched during busy times??. DEFINITELY book ahead, as this restaurant has become very popular.
We'll be back for sure!
I dined here with a small group on 6/9/15.
From the exterior to the window plants and then the relaxed interior, I felt like I was back in California.
The staff were friendly and welcoming and presented us with a generous complementary plate of corn chips and salsa dip.
For my main, I had the Monterey Bay Toasty Fish Sandwich, which had a small side of fries. The fish was lovely and tender and the red cabbage slaw provided a beautiful balance to the dish. I'd come back for that dish alone however there is so much more on the menu.
I didn't really have the room, so foolishly I had the Mexican date cake. It was moist and delicious. We really enjoyed the experience and we'll be back.
----31 Oct, 2015----
Another fantastic lunch today. The service was very attentive and the meals were fantastic. The enchilada had just the right amount of spice to make it interesting. The coffee was good and was all we could fit in after our substantial mains.
---- 6 Sept, 2015----
What a fantastic lunch we had at California Native. The staff were friendly and provided great service in true Californian style. The decor was typically Californian. The food was fresh and fantastic Mexican style food with generous serving sizes. I'd like to see a few more Californian wines on the menu and for them not to be sold out at the beginning of lunch service. We decided to try some beers instead and they were lively and full-bodied. The Sunday afternoon jazz provided a great mood but doesn't start until 2pm so don't rush if you want to catch it. The desserts are big enough to share - you have been warned! This place is definitely worth trying and we plan to return to sample more menu items.
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Went without booking on a very busy Sunday night. Staff did everything they could to accommodate us and ended up sitting on the room divider/railing section. Tiny space not great for anything but a drink but still grateful to be seated.
Owner was extremely friendly and gave us some background to the restaurant which I found very cute, friend found wordy and annoying. To each their own? Owner's husband is from California and some menu items are old family recipes passed down from his mother.
Not a beer person but boys seemed impressed with their on tap selections.
Our order: Chilli Fries; Nachos; Fish Tacos; Pork tacos; Steak
Everything was delicious. Highlights would be nachos & tacos (preferred pork).
Tacos were different, soft and deep friend shell? Probably not the healthy option you'd expect but hey it's American. Who is expecting to lose weight eating this?
Ambiance is casual, charming, fairy lights galore. Great place for friends, family, comfortable 10th date. Nothing else close by to escape to in a 1st date scenario therefore would not recommend.
Kat and I greatly enjoyed our dinner at California Native. The location may seem obscure to some but it's near our neck of the woods so we found it to be quite convenient. The restaurant is large and I love the casual and fun decor with wood accents and fairy light trees. It would be a great venue to host a party. The food was so filling and delicious and our cocktails made the meal all the merrier.
Staff were great, very attentive and friendly.
Food was incredible.
Fish tacos - honestly best fish tacos we had ever had. Absolutely perfect.
Beef nachos - delicious. Would definitely recommend this as a share as it's very big. Plenty of delicious melt in your mouth steak. To die for.
Jalapeno poppers - if they sold only this they'd have a loyal customer. I've had jalapeno poppers all over the world at countless places and this is hands down the best I've had. Most places cut the jalapeno in half or skimp on the batter. This place batters them and does it whole.
Habanero roja salsa - smoky, spicy and overall delicious would personally rather an option to just have a pot of this without the tortilla chips as just wanted it for my nachos but was still great.
Will be back for sure.
Best and most authentic American in Brisbane by far
Lovely setting, enjoyed the music & ambience inside & among the settings adjacent to the garden. Hearty TexMex food, not a huge variety, but plenty of good cocktails & beers. Standard kids menu, excellent family night out.
We LOVE this place, man the food is so good. WE have been coming regularly to Cali Native for several years - which all started when I googled 'best nachos in Brisbane' and they were at #1. They are massive with different options available. Their menu isn't huge, but it does have offer plenty of choice, and what they do, they do really well. You can taste the fresh, quality ingredients in their food and drinks and oh boy, if you can fit in dessert at the end of your meal, go for the date cake, its a family recipe and unbelievably good!
Relaxed family atmosphere. Food was good with friendly and helpful staff.
Best 'traditional' Tex Mex food I've had outside of California. Food is amazing and you get lots of it. Make sure you go there when you're really hungry. Lots of choice of imported Mexican and California beers and other drinks. Highly recommend this gem hidden in the suburbs.
Best Mexican in Brisbane in my opinion. The Grande Nachos is a spectacular indulgence. Carl and Anna are the perfect hosts and the experience is well worth the 40 minute drive as we live in the bay area. Only thing missing. A big chocolate sundae for dessert.
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