Arturo's Puffy Taco

Cash Only. Plan ahead or use their ATM inside. This is a local fixture with much the following. We have e lived here 20 years and this is our second visit. Flavors are good. Wifey had carnitas taco and I had picadillo (ground beef). We had the order to go because we are a mile away. Hate to report the puffy taco shell gets a little soft after a ride home. Fries are good as are the taquitos. The green salsa is phenomenal. Over solid tastes good service and a local icon definitely worth a visit, but for us it’s not going to be a monthly thing.

This place is a staple in the community. The food is good, the employees are friendly and its always a good choice when craving something crunchy! The puffy tacos are so good. We usually spend about $45 between me and my bf. I think this is reasonable since we order a few items. If you have some cash on you, stop by! And if you dont but have a debit card they have a ATM inside!

California’s only puffy taco spot and a fun piece of Tex-Mex history. The puffy taco is more of a novelty than a standout—it tastes just like the shell of a taco salad, with the same texture and flavor. The taco plate is the real winner here. For $13, you get two puffy tacos, rice, beans, and chips—a hearty meal and a great value compared to ordering tacos individually. Tips: *Cash only!! *Plenty of parking *Indoor counter seating and outdoor tables available *Quick, friendly service makes it an easy stop for lunch Worth visiting once to experience California’s only puffy taco and grab a filling plate without breaking the bank.

Arturo’s Puffy Tacos are absolutely delicious! The tacos are perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy inside, creating the perfect texture with every bite. The fillings are fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned, making each taco satisfying and memorable. The staff is friendly and welcoming, adding to the overall great experience. If you’re looking for a tasty, authentic taco experience, Arturo’s is definitely the place to go.

Been.going here since the 80s. Don't know how they get the taco shells to puffy up and be so crunchy, but so good. Good beef and chicken tacos are delicious.

During a recent trip to LA, i had the distinct pleasure of meeting the staff and also eating at this landmark restaurant. I can say hands down delicious tacos but for certain the best cheese and bean burrito i have ever eaten. Food- Excellent. Simple Mexican food done with years of mastery and passion. The namesake Puffy taco , comes in a fried crispy tortilla , packed full of carne or pollo. Delicious slow cooked chicken or rich beef. Large portions as well: The stand out to me however was that burrito , and after talking to the staff it made sense. Slow cooked beans , stirred together with the melted fat of all that delicious beef!! Outstanding. Service- Staff were fast and couldn’t have been friendlier. I had a chance to talks with them and learn about this restaurant and its rich heritage in the area. Warm and welcoming. Value- I mean it’s LA but this was by far one of the cheaper eats i had. Well worth the money. Go/No Go—- GOOOOOO!!! Can’t wait to get back there.

Not many parking spaces so we had to park around the block on a neighborhood street. Ordered, then saw their sign that said "cash only". Lucky I had enough cash on me. There is some indoor seating but there were at least 1/2 dozen tables outside so people like me can bring our pets:) The food was great, the puffy tacos, beans, rice and salsas, but my tacos had split on the bottom so it was like a messy taco sandwich! I would definitely go back because the staff is friendly and the green salsa was so tasty, reasonable prices, and I search out places where I don't have to leave my dog at home:) Make this place a chain!

Very unique tacos - light and tasty! Tried a few different ones but the original beef was my favorite. Very friendly owners who are proud of their long history! Definitely worth a try if you haven't been yet.

Bomb. Just bomb. Asada is perfectly seasoned. The texture of the puffy taco, crisp with a soft center and wraps just right around the asada, lettuce, cheese and salsa. Always greeted and welcomed by the owner(s). Been coming here for years and will continue to do so.

Puffy tacos for the win! Thin crunchy shell filled with meat of choice with lettuce, cheese and salsa loaded on top! I got the carne asada, nice and grilled! I also got the carnitas, nice n juicy. There's only like 5 booths inside. A few picnic tables outside. You order at the front.

I came here for the first and wasn't disappointed. The spot was well maintained, clean, and staff very friendly. The food was so delicious, I had the puffy taco with picadillo and it was flavorful and taco crunchy. I'll definitely be back!!

Old school since 1978. This is cash only establishment. It's been years since I was last here trying out their puffy tacos. This time around we ordered a bean & cheese burrito with onions and a bean & cheese veggie tostada and requested the hottest chili. There are plenty of tables inside and outside where you can enjoy your food. The burrito was a good size and the flavor was pretty good I enjoyed it.

Note: Cash only, but there is an ATM inside. There's also a bathroom and a few seats if you want to eat in. What We Ordered: -Taco de Carne Asada $5.00 -Taco de Carnitas $4.75 -Taco de Carne Guisada $4.75 -Taco de Pollo $4.75 -Taco de Picadillo $4.50 I've had Arturo's on my list for a while. I called ahead to confirm their opening hours, as you never know with restaurants. The person who answered was very nice. I had a meeting nearby and brought my wife along to try their tacos afterward. I asked for recommendations, and the staff member was patient and suggested some popular items. I was told the Taco de Carne Asada and Taco de Picadillo were their best sellers. We were also recommended something with Guisada, but we opted for the Taco de Carne Guisada instead. My wife and I were very hungry and decided to order every puffy taco to see what we liked best. Here's how we ranked them: Our favorite was the Carne Guizada, followed by the Carne Asada. The Picadillo was also good; we enjoyed the seasoned ground beef. My wife was neutral on the chicken, but I personally liked it. Surprisingly, the Carnitas was our least favorite; it wasn't seasoned as well as we expected, but the other four were great, and I recommend trying them. They come with "works," which include lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, thick-cut sharp cheddar, and a red sauce. They also gave us a green sauce on the side with a nice kick. I absolutely love the puffy tacos. Let's be honest, frying food is always a win. The fried puffy taco shell was unlike anything I've ever had. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. As a special welcome, they brought us two complimentary, homemade lemonades while we were enjoying our tacos. I recommend visiting Arturo's Puffy Tacos; you'll leave with a full belly and a smile. We ranked the Puffy Tacos in the following order: 1. Taco de Carne Guisada 2. Taco de Carne Asada 3. Taco de Picadillo 4. Taco de Pollo 5. Taco de Carnitas

My friend decided we should come grab our lunch after pickleball at Leffingwell park. The taco shop is right inside a plaza with U-Haul. It's a store with long history and for its puffy tacos! Service is very friendly. Please note the parking is limited, and cash only! Vibe is traditional taco store with diner feel. We ordered taco de asada (beef), and taco de carnitas (pork)! Both are tasty and great for five bucks each. The taco is crunchy, and the ingredients they have is fresh and the meat is not the cheap one. Will be coming back for other yummy food when I am around this area!

Had a great time and the food was pretty good. The best part was the service. The daughter-in-law that worked the register was the BEST!! I would recommend you eat the Puffy there. By the time I got it home it was soggy and fell apart. There may not be many places to sit, but the parking is plentiful and you can eat in your car. The place is small, but it's cozy and you can just pick up your order and have a seat. It's a place you can eat some good Tex mex and just connect w friends n fam.

The ground beef puffy tacos are so good! This is a great neighborhood Mexican restaurant in the Whittier area. Shares their parking lot with U-Haul, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Staff were super friendly and we will definitely be back!

Cash Only. Plan ahead or use their ATM inside. This is a local fixture with much the following. We have e lived here 20 years and this is our second visit. Flavors are good. Wifey had carnitas taco and I had picadillo (ground beef). We had the order to go because we are a mile away. Hate to report the puffy taco shell gets a little soft after a ride home. Fries are good as are the taquitos. The green salsa is phenomenal. Over solid tastes good service and a local icon definitely worth a visit, but for us it's not going to be a monthly thing.

"The Fluffiest Tacos in the Game!" If heaven had a drive-thru, I'm pretty sure they'd be serving Arturo's Fluffy Tacos. These things are next-level golden, crispy-yet-pillowy shells that hug that seasoned ground beef like it's their job (and they do it well). I ordered the ground beef fluffy tacos and I swear, the first bite had me questioning every other taco I've ever eaten. 10/10 The vibe inside? Straight-up good energy. The staff aren't just friendly, they're hype, like they actually want you to have the best day of your life while eating tacos. You walk in and instantly feel like family. If you've never had a "fluffy taco," prepare to have your taco standards permanently raised. I came for lunch and left plotting my return before dinner.

Food is always spot on, and fast service chicken wet burrito and the puffy signature tacos are my fav

When in the area Arturo's Puffy Taco always hits the spot when you're craving Tex-mex. It's a humble taco stand with limited seating and a walk-up window to order your food. The prices are reasonable and there's always a line of people waiting to satisfy their craving.

Amazing food! Definitely recommend to anyone. Only down fall is they are a cash only business.

Amazing fresh Mexican food and service with a smile. The beautiful owner is so kind and takes pride in the food she serves. The tacos are the best! Had a puffy taco w ground beef which was perfection and a hard shell chicken taco. Fantastic!

Good and friendly service. Food is fresh and may take a bit but not long. Very casual place with a few indoor seating and tables outside.

3.85768 stars I've been waiting a very long time to go to Arturo's Puffy Taco and here I was in Whittier ready for Arturo's. It's a fast casual situation where you order at the window and seat yourself. Indoor seating is very limited where the tables and seats are interesting, but charming, and a little dilapidated? We ordered two infamous puffy tacos with picadillo or ground beef ($3.70). They come heaped with lettuce, cheese, salsa. They're quite substantial in size. Taste wise - they're a lot like Americanized tacos sans the sour cream, etc. The puffy tacos were giving what they needed to give - crunchy, cheesy, ground beef-ing. They're good and flavorful with a soft crunch from the puffy shell. Arturo's Puffy Taco was everything I thought it'd be and more.

If you come to Whittier, this is the spot. Says Food Network. Pretty good but very messy! Be careful ask for napkins!

Cashier was nice and respectful- establishment was clean- service was quick- I ordered the red burrito with rice- the flavor was good but tooooi salty!! It would be delicious if it wasn't so salty! I tried both the red and green salsa on tortilla chips we had at home and both were spicy and delicious. I've tried their tacos in the past and they were pretty good. Would I order the burrito again? Probably not.

Puffy tacos remind me of Navajo tacos aka Indian tacos but crunchier, we decided to give it a try. We ordered every flavor meat except the carnitas and by far the carne guizada was the best. It's described as stew meat, or in my opinion beef in red chili sauce (not spicy at all). Simple establishment with a small seating area inside and one outside. Glad we finally stopped by.

Burrito, puffy tacos and crispy dogs... got home and no salsa or no quack salsa... that's what make it even better

Since 1978, Arturo's Puffy Taco has been serving up its own version of Tex-Mex, with a unique twist on the tortillas. Quite possibly, the most well-known eatery in Whittier. Their puffy taco is famous. The ground beef puffy taco is the number one bestseller, followed by the carne asada. I ordered both with salsa on the side. i also got the Bean & Cheese Burrito. Everything was good, including the salsa. There is an atm inside, which is convenient because its cash only here. The service is friendly and there's plenty of parking. Arturo's is worth a visit.

First thing to know, this is a CASH ONLY food stand, but they do have an ATM inside if you need it... If it's your first visit to Puffy Taco you MUST get their famous Puffy Taco! They are sooooo good and unique! They also have the best avocado cream sauce! This place has been here forever and was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's a small walk up place where you order through a window, and everything they serve is delicious! It's family owned with long time recipes that are really good! We love the Puffy Tacos and the Taquitos Texanos! Then we usually get something else different each time! Definitely worth the trip!

Wow! Heard of this place from another trade I was working with. It's been six months before I was able to try it and boy was it worth the wait and drive (Santa Ana). When you think crunchy or crispy tacos two things come to mind. Taco shell jabbing your gums or a disintegrated shell. Not here. Crispy outer and softer inner. Taco has a nice crunch and holds together. Choice of protein ( asada, carnitas, chicken, ground beef and a stewed beef) lettuce, tomato, cheese and choice of red or green salsa (spicy). IMO they're all delicious. Just depends on how you feel. I also ordered two all meat burrito, cheese and salsa. 8 for an all meat burrito. That's a bargain and it will fill you up. Well, it filled me up anyways and 2 tacos lol. I will say this. If you can dine in, do it. Tacos are fresh and crispy. I came back and ordered to go. Tacos were still delicious, but lost their crunchiness. Anyways, I highly recommend this place to all that love crispy tacos. You will not be disappointed.

8/1/2025 today I went to Arturo's puffy taco and order the all meat burrito and the giant burrito. My father was eating the giant burrito. Halfway in the burrito my father found this piece of plastic in it. I gathered all the food we bought and drove back to the restaurant. When I showed the food and plastic to manager he was surprised. He did apologize. I asked for full refund and they grant it. Do be cautious when you eat there.

My daughter and I gave this spot a go for the first time and we both liked it! Their green salsa is delicious and spicy! Asada is well seasoned and delicious as if it was home cooked; very clean bathroom including the inside dining area and the outside too, friendly workers/service. I strongly recommend you give this restaurant a go. *During my next visit I'll be sure to upload pics of my order.

The food is good very tasty. I just noticed that lately. The puffy tacos have been extremely soggy. The service is always pleasant. The ambience is just an old.

Best carne guisada or chicken crunchy tacos in the world there so delicious and there salsa is really tasty they put a good amount of meat with all the toppings cheese tomatoes onions salsa omg there so good always our spot for crunchy tacos or taquitos or other foods they serve but I just love the carne guisada tacos

I've been wanting to try this place for years and I was excited to finally try it. The food was just ok... I was honestly and sadly a little underwhelmed. I think it is a little over hyped. I love crispy and hard taco shells so I was excited to try them. They were a little soggy and didn't stay together as best I'd hoped. Carne asada was just ok as well.. Ambiance is extremely fast casual. Either take them to go or eat at the 10 tables they have indoor or out. Everything was just ok.

While the Tacos are very good and even though I think the Price compared to the size of the Taco is off to me, I would stop by if I was looking for good Tacos. I had the Picadillo Tacos and they were very good. My Son had Tacos as well and said his were excellent but I forget what he had. It was good. 9.0 on the Tacos. 3.0 on the price. YALLHOLLAATCHABOY

4+ This place is known for their puffy tacos - a popular Tex-Mex food item invented by the family in San Antonio and the item (and a some of the family) eventually found their way to Southern California. I'm not a historian, so I will get back to the restaurant/ food. The shell of the puffy taco is a fried disc of masa until it puffs up and out so it could hold the fillings and toppings. If you like crispy hard shell tacos, but wish there was a slight chew, this is probably the food item for you! Been on my list of (taco) places to try for awhile. It's a bit far from where I live, but not too far from where I'm working at the moment. Decided to come here for dinner one night. The place itself is kind of a small restaurant/ food stand complete with ordering window. There's some seating on the inside/ outside, but not a lot. Because it is like a fast casual / ordering window spot, the interaction with the folks was limited, but they were friendly and helpful. I ordered: A taco de Picadillo (ground beef) and a taco de carne asada. I figured these were the most popular items. I enjoyed the different texture this taco has and the tacos here had definitely an old school taste /flavor to them. I could see why this place is popular for this unique take on one of my favorite foods. I also got the taquitos w/ avocado sauce. Freshly prepared and crispy. Great flavor and the mild sauce is such a great pairing to this. A little difficult to get out here from where I live but definitely a great spot I would go to if I were in the area.

I love their puffy tacos and the service is always on point! It's been awhile since I have gotten lunch from here, but it's never a disappointment.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while. We happened to be driving through the area and finally stopped. We got a taco plate with a carne asada taco and a chicken taco. It came with beans and a huge portion of rice. The tacos were pretty good, but they were small. In fact, my husband had to order two more tacos because he was still hungry. I'd give this place four stars if the prices were more reasonable. I was expecting them to taste more like Navajo tacos, but they didn't come close.

I've been coming here for about 20 years now and they are always amazing. My favorite is the carne guisada Puffy Taco plate and the rolled corn dogs are yummy too. The horchata today was also very yummy!

The food is tasty! I came here as Arturo's was featured in the recent LA Times 100 Best Tacos is LA. The puffy taco was wonderfully crunchy; in a crunchy taco girl. The only thing that was average was the ground beef filling. I know these are fighting words, but I prefer shredded beef in crunchy tacos. However, the enchiladas are AMAZING! The combo plates are filling as you get enchiladas, tacos, beans and rice. This is a no frills place and they only take cash. There's a small parking lot in front so be prepared to wait it the spots are taken. While not my favorite taco place, it's a solid option if I'm craving enchiladas.

We ordered our usual, regular ground beef tacos and noticed they were not like before. The ground beef looked and tasted like lower quality meat. The price per taco is almost 5 bucks. Not worth it.

One of the best tex-Mex food, the service was good and the employees were friendly, they do not travel well, the ambiance was not that good but thats because it's next to the main road.

The food is great! We came years ago and had to go back when we came back in Nov 2024. The service is even better and so friendly! Love this spot!

I've been here a few times because my husband is obsessed with hard-shell tacos, especially puffy tacos, and there aren't many places in LA that serve them. There are days when we'll make the drive just to get Arturo's Puffy Tacos. So, my review isn't really about the food. The food is good, and we've never had an issue--until our last visit about a month ago. We got our food and started eating when I realized we needed some extra utensils and plates. I went up to the counter where an older gentleman was preparing orders, and the younger guy who had taken our order was there as well. I asked the younger guy for a couple of forks and an extra plate, when the older man looked at me and said, "Say PLEASE." It caught me off guard; I thought he was joking, so I asked, "Excuse me?" He repeated it, this time more seriously. I wasn't rude--I thanked him for the extra items--but I was surprised by his comment. I wondered if it was just his personality or a quirk, so I listened to other customer interactions since I was sitting close to the counter. Most customers didn't say please, he didn't comment, and in fact, he was actually friendly to them. So, was he joking just to me? Was there some other reason behind his remark? Whatever it was, it felt demeaning and left a bad taste in my mouth about Arturo's. I'm sure it won't make much difference to your business since you're doing well, but you've lost us as customers.

I have always wanted to try this Whittier landmark: Arturo's Puffy Tacos. I am never in the area enough to stop by until last week. Puffy tacos are good! Do yourself a favor get the salsa "on the side". Less messy and won't get as soggy if you add the salsa yourself. Green salsa is spicy and pretty good. The red salsa taste like a fresh version of Pace Picante jar stuff; not bad, it works for this type of Americanized Tex-Mex tacos. Cash only and there is an ATM inside. Service was polite and food comes out quickly.

This has been on my "wish list" for so long! Finally I decided to stop by and I am so glad I did. To start, the staff is super friendly. The woman who took my order was great and the man who gave me my food was so nice. I ordered the picadillo taco platter that comes with 1 taco, beans, and rice. I also got some horchata and a side of the avocado sauce (it is not guacamole; it's a creamy smooth avocado sauce). They only take cash, so please come prepared. It didn't take too long to receive my order but the food was hot and fresh. The taco was delightfully crispy and reminded me somewhat of the way my parents used to make tacos growing up. I had the red salsa on the side instead of on the taco since I don't like "wet" tacos and wanted to add however much I need. It was perfect, not spicy but flavorful, and the extra salsa was delicious poured over the rice. I really enjoyed my meal and was so happy to finally try this place! Great food, great staff, and fair prices. I will definitely be back!

First time trying Arturo's Puffy Taco. It wasn't bad but it wasn't what I expected. I'd heard the taco shells are fried in a way that makes them....puffy. Sounded interesting, the two tacos I had didn't have puffy tortilla shells. They were still good. The taquitos were ok, obviously not real guacamole but still good. Glad I tried Arturo's but not sure I'd rush back. The young lady who took my order was very nice and very polite, always a plus. The lady who gave me my order was also very nice. There are a few tables outside and tables in the small dining room which was clean. This place only takes cash but they have an ATM in the dining room if needed. The service fee to use this machine is $3.50. As I said, glad I stopped by Arturo's and would possibly stop in again and try something else.

Was in town today and I decided to stop by Arturo's Puffy Taco. My very first experience here was was over 30 years ago and it was just as amazing today as it was 30 years ago. The taste of the taco's brought me back to many years ago and I look forward to visiting them again soon.

If it wasn't such a drive to get here, we'd come more often. Owner is very friendly and still runs the store. Very decent prices and a nice selection to choose from. Arturo's puffy beef picadillo tacos is where it's at. Get the red and green salsa's. Solid taco shop

We have been eating at Puffy Taco since 1979! Can't beat that puffy taco shell! Add the all-beef burrito - both my go-to forever! -Corvette guy

First, service was excellent. A sweet order taker that went out of her way to help you with questions and second, excellent food. Kind of a run down place with very little seating but when it comes out, you are glad you chose this place.

I have wanted to eat here for many years but since I don't live nearby it just never worked out. Happened to be in the area so gave the place a try...... that being said WHY THE F**K DID I WAIT SO LONG?!??!? the carne asada tacos were absolutely delicious and the green salsa I would fight someone for the last container. Now I might need to route all my weekend errands near this place so I can get my puffy taco fix! by the way they also sell something called crispy dogs... hotdogs with cheese wrapped in corn tortilla and fried, my husband loved them. They have something for everyone on the menu, don't wait as long as I did to eat here!

This place felt like some sort of time capsule to me. Everything about this place felt very nostalgic- the interior seating, old pictures on the wall, uncomfortable seating, simplicity of the menu and the puffy taco itself- all of the flavors- chicken, ground beef, carnitas & stewed beef. My favorite was the ground beef. I would recommend getting the sauce on the side because my taco fell apart so I couldn't eat it the way a taco is supposed to be eaten, by hand. I also tried the taquitos that had this green "guacamole" sauce and tasted just like taquitos I used to have in school from the cafeteria- I haven't tasted that for so long and it took me by (pleasant) surprise. The food is fresh and has unique flavors. It's worth trying at least once so go get your puffy taco today. And don't let the area scare you away.

YUMMMMM!!! the best taco and the service was good! i have been thinking about this taco since i first saw it on socials. we were coming by to drive to the last remaining sears in socal and oh my god i'm so happy we stopped by. the tacos were sooo fresh and flavorful and delicious... they got me perfectly. these tacos seriously hit the spot. we got a chicken, ground beef, carne asada, and al pastor taco. their ground beef tacos are sooo good, the meat is marinated and it's so delicious. i have stomach acid issues and they happily put the salsa on the side for us. the side of fries we got were so hot and fresh, a great pairing. i understand what some of the other reviewers mean with the cash only policy. there are signs at the ordering window but i didn't notice them until i tried to pay by card. lucky i had two twenties on me! they also have an atm inside which i would've happily ran to. everything was so DELICIOUS!!! i constantly think about these tacos now that ive had them and i'm really obsessed with them. i'm excited to stop back in, but remember, cash only!

The food was pretty good but the place inside and out needs a huge makeover. I grew up in Whittier and never visited Puffy Taco before.