CAFE ESPECIAL Köln in Köln

Arrived by chance while walking, good atmosphere, menu with a lot of choices. The menus are in German and not very quickly in English. The service is quite slow. You have to look for a server to order. Other than that, the seats are quite generous. The food is not bad, it even feels more like you're in Germany. In short, they're peasants and it's quite a change. I find the prices a little expensive, but I recommend it.

This is not mexican. I’m Mexican. Not even close. You can expect the worst kind of tex Mex. It took over 45 min to get our drink & meal order. And then an order 35 min for the food. A friend ordered the chicken salad and it was raw. The guacamole has garlic, not authentic. The music is alright, it’s Latino genre.

Quite loud and hectic, but the food is delicious

I enjoyed this place. While I don’t know if it’s super traditional Mexican, I really enjoyed my burrito and sitting outside on the street. Worth it to check out.

Warm welcome, warm cuisine, a festival of taste and colors, I loved it!

Sorry, but it used to be much better.

Sooo delicious and super friendly staff ❤️

Yes, very tasty food and nice location

Great food! And after 10 p.m., that's how it should be.

A very good restaurant; you feel like you're in Mexico. We'd be happy to come back. It's best to make a reservation...

Extremely loud. Food below average. Staff okay. Unfortunately, I can't really say anything positive.

Food was really good, portion size was more than big enough (neither me or my partner could finish it) and staff was friendly. Certainly recommended if you're close by and like Mexican food!

Ordered the chicken fajita salad and it was nad hoenstly Shredded lettuce with a lottt of oil on it and some chicken spiced. For 18,50€ Pricy not tasty.. The staff and atmosphere were good though

Very tasty.. really recommendable and very friendly service

I was here when I was 18! Still a great place with delicious food and great drinks. They have Corona on tap! 🍻

This Mexican restaurant is perfect for any occasion: whether you're looking for a larger meal, a quick snack (delicious nachos!), or just a drink. You'll feel right at home here. It gets crowded during concerts at the LANXESS Arena (reservations are essential).

We were there with a group of 10 people and had reserved a table for Sunday. As we had requested, we sat outside. Unfortunately, I had underestimated the noise level of the busy street directly in front of the restaurant, which sometimes affected our conversations. Otherwise, the service was good and attentive but not intrusive. We were all able to eat together at the same time. The price/performance ratio was reasonable. I would come back if the opportunity arises.

The nachos were very good, although I would have preferred cheddar cheese on each layer. For my main course, I had the Chicken California, but unfortunately, I didn't like the seasoning in the chicken at all.

A lovely Mexican oasis hidden away in Germany. Can highly recommend the Chili Colorado in a burrito.

Very nice ambience, friendly service, delicious Mexican food

I went back after years, the food was still very good, and I got a table even without a reservation on Sunday. The service was again very attentive. Excellent food, normal prices, ALWAYS very friendly staff... Only one small drawback: it's too loud... I've been back now and again... still delicious food, it was very empty on the weekend, so definitely reserve a table, as it always gets busy. The ambiance is always lovely to look at.

Casa Especial is definitely not authentic Mexican. It's acceptable Tex-Mex, perhaps, but unfortunately quite tasteless, and very expensive. €14.90 for a small bowl of guacamole with a few nachos (which were also stale)? And main courses start at €22. It's very popular, but I wouldn't go there again. The service was okay.

Ordered a burrito, plate was hot, rice was cold, beans and burrito were clearly microwaved. A 20+ euro burrito and it wasn't fresh. Service was good.

The food was delicious, but rather poorly presented. It wasn't particularly cozy.

We were there on a Friday evening. We sat outside because it was too loud inside. There were a total of 12 employees there, and none of them managed to use a tray for the drinks, apologize when they spilled something, or even clean it up. I've rarely experienced such poor service – it really ruined the evening and the mood for me and my husband. No one asked for more drinks, if everything was okay, etc. They were far more concerned with reapplying makeup, chatting among themselves, or making their t-shirts even more revealing. Extremely unsuitable for service staff. The food was delicious, but very expensive. I wouldn't eat there again.

We only stopped here for drinks while we waited and were very satisfied. The café is atmospherically decorated, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Since we didn't forget, the review applies to our drinks. There are monthly specials, so it's worth a repeat visit. We'd be happy to come back.

Café Especial in Cologne is a beautiful, lively and authentic Mexican restaurant. The welcome was warm and getting a tabler was uncomplicated. However, reservations can be recommended. The service was very friendly. The food was very flavorful and fresh, just delivering food and first drinks took to long time, therefore deduction of one point. The atmosphere was authentic, vibrant, lively and friendly if you like this style of restaurant. A nice trip into mexican food world.

The food is very tasty and comes pretty quickly, it's just a bit more expensive!

Worst Mexican or Tex-Mex I have had. The food had zero taste, except for the citrus flavor as every dish had orange all over it. The beans were both completely pureed but also had whole beans. The rice was dry. The guacamole was a tiny portion. The salsa tasted like pizza sauce. Although the restaurant was not busy, the waitress hardly came to our table and it was a very long wait to pay. When we told her we were not happy with the food, it was clear she could care less. You also cannot order alcoholic drinks until the evening. Such a shame because the restaurant is cute with a great location. Will never come back.

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

Nice spot and handy location from station. Food was tasty although expensive!

Unfortunately, the service wasn't that good. They didn't ask for another round of drinks... The food was good. Unfortunately, cocktails weren't available until 5:00 PM... Not even a Spritzer...

Nice place… nice food.. nice staff. Thank you

Not as nice as it used to be. On a Friday night, I waited a full 40 minutes for drinks. The food was okay.

The quality of the dishes has declined significantly, but the price has increased significantly. Unfortunately, I no longer recommend it.

The nachos were a nice appetizer. The food was okay, but nothing earth-shattering. The price-performance ratio isn't right. Anyone charging €24 for a burrito should make sure it's more than 10 cm wide. The warm Kölsch beer wasn't satisfactory either. The service was friendly but very inattentive. If you don't make yourself noticed, you won't get anything. All in all, a disappointing visit, so I won't repeat it or recommend it.

I've been going to this restaurant on and off for over 20 years, but this was my last time. The food was poorly presented and only lukewarm. Service was also inconsistent. It was far too expensive.

Nice atmosphere, good selection of drinks at reasonable prices. The staff could have been a bit more attentive, but they were friendly. The food tasted okay, but nothing special. The portions were manageable. The prices for the food – even by today's standards – were too high for the quality and portion size. The value for money isn't quite right. This may be due to the location right next to Deutz train station. I'd come back for a drink, but I'd prefer other places for food.

Café Especial in Cologne is a good place to go if you want unpretentious Mexican food. I've never had a bad meal here. The fajita chicken salad is really good. The desserts and coffee are also simply delicious. The cocktails could be a bit more energetic, and if you order a spritzer, you should definitely always order it with ice. The service varies in quality but is usually on point.

I was very disappointed with my visit to this restaurant today. From the very beginning, I had the feeling that the waiter – a young man with no hair – was deliberately ignoring me. While he walked past our table several times, he brought tacos (on the house) to newly arrived guests – but didn't acknowledge us once, even though we were there before them. I'd like to believe it wasn't a coincidence. Unfortunately, I got the impression that my appearance (black hair, black beard) might have been the reason we were treated differently – even though I'm German. This experience hurt me personally. In a Mexican restaurant, I would have expected openness and hospitality – instead, I felt excluded. It's a shame, because the food itself was actually good. But the disrespectful treatment overshadowed everything. And there was a waiter with glasses who was very rude!!!!

To be honest, I'm really disappointed and angry about my visit to this restaurant. The waiter (a bald, young man) ignored us from the very beginning – while he immediately brought tacos (on the house) to other guests who arrived AFTER us, we were completely ignored. And not just once, but several times. He walked right past our table at least five times and didn't acknowledge us once. I honestly ask myself why? Is it because of my appearance? Black hair, black beard – does that make me less welcome? I'm German, but I felt completely excluded at that moment. I would have expected anything in a Mexican restaurant, but certainly not such disrespectful, almost exclusionary treatment. This experience was anything but pleasant. I didn't just feel mistreated, I felt downright discriminated against. Truly sad – because that has no place in the restaurant industry. No matter how good the food is: that's not how you treat people.

(My review only refers to the waiter with the bald head and glasses.) Unfortunately, my visit to this restaurant was a huge disappointment. I was completely ignored and treated disrespectfully by the waiter. There was no friendliness or attention whatsoever – I felt completely unwelcome. My inquiries were met with annoyance or no response at all, and overall, I felt completely unappreciated as a guest. I left feeling very dissatisfied and disappointed – this is not how paying guests should be treated. I will definitely not be coming back.

We didn't try any of the food, but the food served at neighboring tables looked good.

Service could definitely be better; the portions were large and good, but nothing special. Good location, nice ambiance.

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.

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

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 ☺️

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!

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!

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 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!!

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!

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.

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!

Food was very nice and staff super friendly.

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.

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.

The best Mexican Restaurant ever!

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

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.