CAFE ESPECIAL Köln in Köln

Unfortunately, we are very disappointed with this restaurant – or rather, the food. My son and I each ordered different dishes (Enchilades verdes and Quesada grande). When the food arrived, we had to guess which was which – they both looked the same. The menu says the quesada is filled with cheese... no, the cheese was a dried something on an unidentifiable mush. The food was lukewarm. The rice was very dry (reminded me of instant rice from a prominent manufacturer). In short: It was disappointing and we didn't like it. It was bland and tasteless, too. The restrooms aren't exactly great either – both in terms of cleanliness and ambiance. The waiters are nice, friendly, and attentive to the customer. The beer garden is nice, but it's located on a very busy street across from Deutz train station. But we knew that beforehand. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll eat there again. What a shame.

Cocktails were really great despite the late hour.

The food was very good. We sat outside, which may have caused us to wait a bit to order.

The best Mexican food I ate in Germany in the last 2 years I’ve been here. We were sat the second we arrived and at the table we were greeted with chips and salsa. We had the mixed starters plate and 2 things that jumped to me were the chicken wings that were perfectly crispy and salty as I like it and the chicken salad from the same plate that was perfectly seasoned and slightly cool. For dessert we had the flan de caramelo and it was divine, took me back to when I lived at home and my grandmother would do it for me. The only thing missing for me was Horchata :( please add it to the menu 💗 The staff was attentive but not overbearing which we really enjoyed :) Overall this is definitely a place we are coming back to because every single box was checked out for us Thank you for having us ☺️

It's so popular, you'd better make reservations for the evening.

Recommended by a colleague, I decided to give Cafe Especial a try with my recent visit to Cologne. Upon entering, you are greeted by a plethora of sensations: from the vibrant colors of the restaurant, to a wonderful aroma of the food filling the restaurant. There’s also an outdoor seating area which, paired with the Cologne Summer Time is quite the treat. Albeit it being a bit noisy, however it was during the afternoon rush hour and no fault of theirs. I myself had on three things: the Beef-filled Chimichangas, a Long Island Ice Tea and a Caipirinha. I wasn’t overly impressed with the cocktails (but that’s just from a personal preference where I expect them to taste a certain way), but when it came to the food, one word sums it up: spectacular! Overall, great food and service. If you’re in Cologne next time and are in the mood for Mexican, give Cafe Espacial a visit. Absolutely worth it!

I'd like to emphasize up front that my review is solely due to the German waitress (a bit overweight and blonde with a ponytail) and not to the actual staff at the restaurant. The staff there are always very friendly and relaxed, and over the past few years, they've also been pretty cheerful at the bar. When this waitress came to me today, she spent an hour talking to me about tortillas and what she thought quesadillas were, as if I didn't know Mexican cuisine! I actually just wanted to order tacos. Instead of taking my order, she gave me a lecture! She then claimed that the base of everything is always tortillas. That's only partially true, since it always matters, especially with quesadillas, whether they're made with corn flour or wheat flour, and whether the quesedillas are baked or not. And anyway: If I want to know something about Mexican cuisine, I'll ask the Mexican staff, definitely not her! This waitress didn't want to take my order, she just wanted to give me a know-it-all lecture about her German tourist knowledge of Mexican food! After having to listen to all that nonsense, I wasn't hungry at all! I ordered a beer and was just about to relax; the rest of the staff were also totally relaxed, when she came up to me again and asked me in such a rude and disrespectful manner: Do you finally want something to drink or something to eat? I just looked at her and said that I was just having a drink. Then she said again in the same disrespectful manner: Yes, do you want something to eat now? I was at a loss for words! I left immediately and of course reported it to the staff. I was the only person sitting inside the restaurant and they chased this waitress away. With such customer-unfriendly service, someone like that should be fired immediately!

The coffee was nice. We loved it, thank you.

We were a small group and were served very well.

Friendly, loud and delicious. Everything goes smoothly - boom, you already have your food. This... looks rather routinely prepared. The atmosphere is great, the staff is friendly. The whole thing is sympathetic. Perhaps less suitable as a place for quiet exchange, at least during rush hour.

We were guests with four people on April 19, 2025 and unfortunately we can only give poor feedback. We ordered the following dishes: Quesada and flan de caramelo Chimichanga and flan de caramelo Mexican chili steak Flautas and Tacos California After eating we all felt very sick – accompanied by severe stomach pains. The complaints continued for hours and suggested that the food was not prepared properly. In addition to this very unpleasant health experience, the overall condition of your restaurant was extremely disappointing. The guest room appeared dingy and unkempt, and the toilets were in an unacceptable condition - dirty, uncleaned and obviously not regularly checked, as the women's toilets in particular smelled strongly of urine. We expect a minimum level of hygiene and care from a catering establishment - both in terms of the preparation of the food and the cleanliness of the premises. In this case, unfortunately, neither was the case. The price-performance ratio was in no way justified. It's all the sadder that there was no comment from the restaurant after contacting us twice by email. Definitely not a recommendation!

Wir waren am 19.04.2025 mit vier Personen zu Gast und können leider nur eine schlechte Rückmeldung geben. Wir bestellten folgende Gerichte: Quesada und Flan de Caramelo Chimichanga und Flan de Caramelo Mexican Chili Steak Flautas und Tacos California Nach dem Essen wurde uns allen sehr übel – begleitet von starken Bauchschmerzen. Die Beschwerden hielten über Stunden an und legen den Verdacht nahe, dass die Speisen nicht einwandfrei zubereitet waren. Zusätzlich zu dieser gesundheitlich sehr unangenehmen Erfahrung war der Zustand Ihres Restaurants insgesamt äußerst enttäuschend. Der Gastraum wirkte schmuddelig und ungepflegt, und die Toiletten waren in einem inakzeptablen Zustand – dreckig, ungeputzt und offensichtlich nicht regelmäßig kontrolliert, da gerade die Damentoiletten penetrant nach Urin gestunken haben. Wir erwarten von einem Gastronomiebetrieb ein Mindestmaß an Hygiene und Sorgfalt – sowohl was die Zubereitung der Speisen betrifft als auch die Sauberkeit der Räumlichkeiten. In diesem Fall war beides leider nicht gegeben. Das Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis war in keiner Weise gerechtfertigt. Umso trauriger, dass es seitens des Restaurants keine Stellungnahme gab nach zweimaliger Kontaktaufnahme per Email. Definitiv keine Weiterempfehlung!

The employee Camilo is the best

Group booking during the trade fair, very professional process, pleasant employees, delicious food

Excellent cuisine, very friendly, cheerful and attentive staff! Unreservedly recommended!

The staff are very attentive and friendly, even in the most stressful situation

Great food, wine, service, non-alcoholic cocktails. Simply everything. Bravo!!

Great food, great cocktails and friendly staff

Absolute recommendation! We've been there several times. It's super delicious! For me the best Mexican😍 in Cologne

A really great restaurant. Super nice staff, delicious food. A great ambience and original Mexican specialties. We are pleasantly surprised that we were able to bring our dog with us. Only recommended. We feel very comfortable here. Nothing more is possible. 👍👍👍 - Great for great evenings with a terrace. - Everything is included for small or large appetites. - Great ambience. - Tasty doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. - Friendly service. We'll be back 👍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️10 out of 5 stars!

Rice and beans can change to Salad and fries, the fries tasty is really good. The homemade corn chips is awesome!

Please never sit at the bar, and if you do, do your math carefully... Simply unnecessary and annoying

I like it better every time. Top food and drinks.

I think 6 euros for a few nachos is really cheeky!!!

Leider war der Barmanager heute entweder mit dem falschen Bein aufgestanden oder er ist einfach nur ein unangenehmer Zeitgenosse. Während die Servicekräfte ihr Bestes gaben und das Essen ok war, zeigte sich der ‚Chef‘ nicht kundenorientiert, eher provokant oder sogar agressiv. Leider nicht das erste Mal…..

Nice Mexican-Cuban atmosphere, delicious selection of food and drinks with and without alcohol, fast and very friendly service with good Latin American music. That was a very nice evening🍹🥗🥙. You can park easily at the lanxess arena

The cappuccino tastes really excellent! And a very nice atmosphere here 👍

I love it here. I feel the ambience; it's a little louder and crazy, but that's exactly what makes it so special. The food is always delicious. And there has never been a problem with the service. It's not a cheap shed, but I'm happy to pay here. If you're interested in tequila or mezcal, you've come to the right place; There's also Corona on tap. I've been here many times, whether for dinner or just for a drink or two.

If you are in Cologne and like Mexican food, you should definitely go there.

I ordered an overpriced flauta that was nothing more than a flour burrito with something similar to a chicken tinga filling, accompanied by a mayonnaise, ketchup and chipotle chili sauce. Very disappointing. The drinks have little Mexican too. At least the decoration of the place is good.

Excellent service, delicious food from Mexico to Germany

Unfortunately, this restaurant has no other advantages to offer apart from a rustic and cozy atmosphere and really friendly staff: it is almost outrageous that a restaurant in this price range, whose starters start at €15, allows itself to serve ready-made meals. The “patatas” advertised on the menu are fried potato slices purchased from Metro that are deep fried. The chicken wings are purchased chicken wings that are also fried. the rice is a culinary imposition. The chicken burrito is the size of a small palm. There is no trace of the zucchini-pepper-corn filling!!! I'm really at a loss for words, I don't even know where to start... I won't come again.

Food: delicious; Atmosphere: loud and narrow; Service: we were forgotten for 45 minutes

At some point, guests will notice that people eat differently in Mexico. For example, several "infusions" in the deep fryer make chicken wings unedible, cheap dough cakes with mushy beans and sour cream from Lidel no tastier, etc. Everything is garnished with cheap, undressed iceberg lettuce. Very irrelevant, unloving and not typical of the country! What a shame!!

It wouldn't be fair to judge the restaurant solely by the service. Changes often anyway. Very tasty food and Latino atmosphere, the way I like it. Update March 2025: nice restaurant in a good location in Cologne-Deutz. Extremely many waitresses. It's more like an employee routine. There is no fixed assignment...someone else is always bringing you something to drink or eat. There were 13 of us there...a long wait...over Waited 1 1/2 hours for the food. It felt - it felt - faster at the next tables. Very nice and authentic atmosphere - but very loud! Nicely meant 3 stars

Delicious dishes, large portions, very friendly staff, cozy restaurant - I felt completely at home and would be happy to be your guest again. Thanks for the great service.

Café Especial in Cologne is a fantastic spot for authentic Mexican food. The atmosphere is warm and vibrant, the food is flavorful and fresh, and the staff is friendly. A must-visit for Mexican cuisine lovers!

After the event in the Tanzbrunnen at 10 p.m. I got hungry and then stopped by Café Especial by chance. Very friendly welcome and the nice hint that we still have 15 minutes to study the menu! The service was super nice and friendly. The drinks were on the table in no time and the food came quite quickly. The quality and quantity of the food was really great. The prices for the drinks are a little higher, but I think they are reasonable for the food. The ambience is harmonious and well accompanied by music, the Mexican flair shines through! I thought it was great on all the tables, even the unoccupied ones! Thanks for everything to the team!

The large selection of different types of tequila that becomes visible at the cocktail counter when you enter Cafe Especial makes it clear that you are in a Mexican restaurant. The large menu and the lunch menu are available in German or English as required. If you read the menu, you feel like you've arrived in Mexico. It is traditional Mexican cuisine such as: tacos, enchiladas, burritos with fillings such as chicken, beef, Mexican goulash or even vegetarian. Side dishes such as pepper rice, bean puree or freshly baked thin flatbread. The dishes are typically Mexican, spicy and hot, depending on which type of chili 🌶️ is used. I enjoyed it very much. It was so authentic in taste that I was happy to have discovered this restaurant. Not to forget the caring and friendly staff, who were also bilingual (German/English). A real hit for anyone who loves Mexican cuisine! 🌵🍋🌶️

Sweet restaurant and real veteran on the right side of the Rhine. It tasted very tasty, service was also great (nice staff). I just find prices now way too expensive for what you get. Over 20 EUR for rice, hummus and 2 mini tacos. Paid the bill in full and had the wrong drink on it. Noticed too late :P

If you like Mexican...unfortunately no longer an insider tip. Reservation recommended. A must go for me when I'm in Cologne. Quaint decor, international service, good Mexican food. Service only weakens when it's full. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it is often full. The only pub I know that serves Corona on tap, with unique glasses (I'm a sucker for that kind of thing!). The Kölsch is Früh (my Kölsch brand!) on tap. Beer-wise, everything is great. Food: I recommend the mixed starter plate and the main course fajitas served hot in the pan directly at the table. It's an experience if you like meat! In terms of price, we are in the middle segment between 23 and 33 euros. Insider tip goes at happy hour, the cocktails are great. Attention the LongIsland Icetea tastes fantastic but is strong! Between the Cologne Arena, the Deutzer train station and the youth hostel, a jewel on the “schäl Sick”. Enjoy it...

The super-loving crew made an extra last round possible for us on the difficult Ash Wednesday in Cologne at 12 so that we could properly celebrate a birthday :) The quality of the drinks was very good, I only know the food from Bonn, I assume it is similarly good

Relatively authentic Mexican cuisine has been served here since 1986. Friendly service and nice atmosphere. Unfortunately it's not as cheap as it used to be.

I usually don’t eat Mexican food a lot but a local friend of ours suggested this restaurant to us and we decided to go here before catching our train. They had a lunch card with so many options and the dishes were only 14.5€. I never liked Mexican food but this place changed my mind, I had the best grilled salmon in MY LIFETIME😍

As always, a real class of its own!

Service was good and food was ok (neither bad nor outstanding). Price-performance quite expensive. Atmosphere rather uncomfortable and quite loud, so that conversation is only possible with the person directly next to you.

Food was very nice and staff super friendly.

Very tasty food and cozy. Highly recommended....

I came here by chance while changing trains and waiting for the connecting train. I immediately received a very friendly welcome. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Gracias Fermin!

Very tasty, great service, very nice restaurant

It was delicious! I didn't even expect it! The portions are really big! Service - friendly and fast! We hardly waited! The atmosphere is colorful, but a little noisy, not suitable for romantics, but the food is worth it!

Very nice. I can only recommend it.

The restaurant is located in Cologne Deutz opposite the train station. You just have to cross the street and you're at your destination. The location of Cafe Especial Cologne is simply perfect. The space is cool, the staff is very friendly and attentive, the food is delicious and we liked it, but the prices...

I find it difficult to find a good Mexican restaurant in Europe, but Café Especial convinced me. We were greeted with free tortilla chips with salsa, adecuate Latin pop music was hearable and the service was great. Our food came pretty fast and was very fresh and delicious! Together with a Corona beer from the barrel it was overall an enjoyable experience.

We only went for a quick coffee. Very nice staff. Great ambience. Well attended even after 4 p.m

The best Mexican Restaurant ever!

The food was very good. You should definitely try the cocktails. An evening with friends is worth it here. Service is friendly and attentive without being intrusive.

leider nach 3 versuchen immer noch das falsche essen bekommen. zu viel los, um sich um den einzelnen zu kümmern. schade, kenne den laden schon lange.

Highly recommended. Service and staff are friendly and very attentive. Food is fantastic

Feel-good place with good food and fast and friendly service, harmonious furnishings. Will definitely come back!

Food is really delicious here! In my opinion, the portions are a bit too small for the price.

Very nice restaurant, unfortunately very loud.

Hatten hier unsere Weihnachtsfeier. Nach 5 Jahren hat das Essen schwer nachgelassen. Der Reis war versalzen, der Wrap durchgeweicht, das "Gulasch" voller Sehnen und nicht essbar, das Beste war noch der gefüllte Taco und das für über Euro 20,00. Mich wird dieser Mexikaner nicht mehr sehen.

All good! But the service is poor, I went with a Mexican friend and we really felt that the treatment with us was different and the attention above all. Regarding food, what's up with the green enchiladas stuffed with spinach???? To begin with, that does not exist in Mexico, the flavor is very delicious but the filling is a disappointment 😒

Very tasty Mexican food in a nice atmosphere!

Very nice staff. Met the boss personally. Very friendly and competent! Greetings from East Belgium!

Very tasty food and great service

Classic Mexican cuisine and friendly service👍

Really delicious food and lovely service staff! Definitely worth 5 stars!

Really nice shop... Drinks were also great and nice and strong but still tasty... the food isn't really very authentic but it's okay too.

Great...very good and very tasty...everything to our complete satisfaction...we'll be back!

Great ambience, the food is special. Unfortunately no cocktails before 5:30 p.m.

Delicious food Fast and attentive service Always happy to come here!

Amazing and lovely ambiance, friendly service with authentic, delicious food. This quickly became my favorite Mexican restaurant in all of Cologne!

I don't live in Cologne, but the ambience and feeling of the Mexican fleer is simply great. And I haven't seen the selection of tequila in this size before. I can only recommend it

Very nice shop with lovely staff :) The prices for coffee are very cheap, but the dessert is a bit more expensive for what you get. Good stopover at the train station

Food was good, but not outstanding is a matter of taste. With the restaurant a third full, it simply took too long. Service always had to be addressed. And if possible, avoid the two tables for two on the wall on the right, it's like a flight path at the airport. Service staff and guests are constantly walking past your plate... it's also pulling out of the entrance door, and the toilet door is right next to it... very unpleasant. The operator should think about it here. Conclusion: I recommend it to try it out.

Very special shop definitely recommended

Great restaurant with friendly service. The food was very tasty... Some dishes that are not labeled as spicy are still spicy. For one dish we asked if we could get it not spicy and the waitress said "no problem". Unfortunately it was still spicy. The waitress then asked in the kitchen and found out that the meat was already marinated spicy. We got a replacement dish quickly and without any problems :) Your cocktails are very well mixed

....tasty Mexican dishes. Good service and also a good choice of drinks.

Amazing food and service. The enchiladas suizas dish was really good with a delicious meat

Great restaurant, also for spontaneously going out for a drink.

Had our Christmas party here and I wouldn't come again. Really really bad selection for vegetarians. When asked if there was a vegetarian alternative to the starter plate, they just shrugged their shoulders and turned away with the words "the nachos are vegetarian". Burrito was also very sad (and you have to manage that with Burito). Cocktails weren't tasty either. The strawberry lime suddenly became a strawberry margarita. I really don't need it again privately.

The food was very good and the staff Was very friendly and highly recommended.

Super good atmosphere...Many people from the Lanxess Arena were still here

Great kitchen. Everything makes a fresh impression.

The food always tastes good and the staff is attentive and friendly.

We have been there twice now (unfortunately we live 200km away from Cologne) and are always thrilled. The atmosphere is great, the service is great and the food is very, very tasty. Unfortunately the cocktails taste good too 😜🫣. The price is right for the service and quality. The next time we visit Cologne, we will definitely eat there again.

Authentic Mexican food, with abundant dishes

Very good food and good music with a very good atmosphere.

Just like you imagine a Mexican “cucina”. Lunch menu is extensive and good, staff is helpful and friendly. Kitchen quickly despite the house being full.

De regreso de Darmstadt a Bruselas, nuestro tren se quedó atascado y nos vimos obligados a pasar tiempo esperando en Köln - Deutz. Decidimos aprovechar para tomar algo en la Deutzer Brauhaus de la estación de tren. Desafortunadamente, el camarero nos trató con tan mala educación que huimos a una cafetería justo enfrente. Café Especial es un lugar enorme con una zona al aire libre muy grande. Pero preferimos sentarnos dentro porque nos encantó el interior colorido y acogedor. Compartimos una buena y abundante porción de guacamole con chips de tortilla con nuestra bebida y lo pasamos bien. El personal era amable.

Were on the way to ice hockey. Stopping there is a must !!!

The food is very tasty. Only the bean salad was a bit dry (but that's probably how it should be). The beef is also highly recommended and very tender. The service is very friendly and can guide you through the menu well. The ambience looks good too, but it is extremely loud there. This is due, among other things, to the very loud music.

Spontaneously went to the restaurant for dinner. You were greeted very friendly and shown to the table. When we asked, we received very good advice about the company's recommendations. I decided on the California Tacos. At the beginning there was a bowl of Natchos with dip on the house. The food was also really tasty. Unfortunately, the round meat in the tacos was a little stringy/tough and got stuck in your teeth. It probably should have been more tender. As a result, the tacos tasted a bit dry and were missing a dip or something similar. As a side dish there was rice with a bean puree, which also tasted a little dry. But the rice was very tasty. In summary, the food was very tasty but it still lacked a certain flavor kick. California tacos €19.70 Taste 6/10 Optics 7/10 Service 8/10 Ambiance 3.4/10 Price 4/10 Card payment 2/3

Even though there were free tables without appropriate markings, they didn't want to let us sit there, such an unfriendly shop, never again!

Today I was there with colleagues and I noticed that it was really well attended. The food tastes quite good but is not particularly suitable for people who have had bariatric surgery. Since it is really spicy 😞 the dessert was also super sweet. It would also be even better if the ceiling lights were cleaned better and dust was removed, and a nicer, warmer ambience could be created in the toilet area. I was hoping for more after researching online.

Very easily accessible restaurant near Messe Deutz train station. Parking by car is possible, for example, in the Lanxess Arena or other parking garages. Restaurant itself offers typical Mexican food and drinks. Was there for the second time and certainly not the last time. Atmosphere is relaxed.

If you are looking to have nice food and have a nice time with your loved ones in cologne, this is definitively a place to consider. I was in Cologne for a couple of days with my family and we ended up finding this Mexican restaurant which was fairly close to the centre of Bonn. The ambient was so welcoming with the hispanic music in the background and all the Mexican decoration surrounding you. All the staff are hispanic and they all speak German and certainly english too. The food was value for money since the food portions were big enough to make you full. I highly recommend this place. As a recommendation though, book a reservation for your table, otherwise you might have to wait 20-30 mins for your table like I had to.

Highly recommended because the food and drinks are consistently very tasty.