Donkey Taqueria

Really good tacos, delicious! Amazing Margarita! I got the flavored Margarita with prickly pear, it was really good, perfect amount of sweet and salty, the quality salt on the rim really brought out the flavors in the tequila, which also tasted high quality. Server (Nate) was knowledgeable on the menu and was very helpful and nice 😊 The decor is cool, I like that they have the heated igloos outside, though you may need a reservation for those specifically. Food was fresh.

Seven friends and I had a late lunch in an igloo today. We all enjoyed our time immensely, not only because we were together, but also because of the delicious food, wonderful service, and fun ambience. Reserving an igloo is necessary if you want to guarantee access, and there is a nominal charge of $2 per hour. We started with chips, queso, guacamole, and salsa. My friends and I then had a variety of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. We were all pleased with everything we had.

No complaints here. In fact, I've only got good to report after my first visit. The atmosphere has a hip, downtown vibe. The service was friendly, prompt, professional, and helpful. Between an appetizer and two taco options, I can confidently say the food is on point. Plenty of outdoor seating for the warm months is clutch as well.

This place was actually recommended by a friend who came into town with me. We both decided to go get some food and it was such a lovely day we decided to sit outside. The inside is a nice modern atmosphere but earthy feel at the same time. With a nice long bar that extends in an l-shape around the inside of the building. Outside there's a nice seating area with gravel underneath your feet and several different ways of sitting with either bench seating or circular tables with a standard stools. They did have a nice cover over most of the outdoor area to keep you out of the sun or the tables had sun umbrellas to help and that was why we chose to sit outside. Our server Claire was amazing and made sure that our food and drinks were not only on time but delicious as well. The menu isn't vast but it's also not super expensive either. The ingredients were definitely fresh and most ingredients if not all are made in house which is a tough find these days. My two tacos and one drink was under $20 which is amazing for the service and the atmosphere that was provided. I strongly recommend this place for a lunch or dinner atmosphere with a friend, partner, or family.

We drove from Kalamazoo to have a late lunch. The service was fantastic, the drinks were very good, and the food was very flavorful. The helpings are not huge, but if you want to order something more, it is out in minutes. Our party of 4 had a wonderful time. We loved the food and drinks and laughed for hours. It is a fun place to eat. Highly recommend.

Great neighborhood Tequila and Taco place. Food was good, however the tortillas were undercooked. Limited beverages. No coffee or tea.

The ambiance was good, with a lively atmosphere. The service was friendly but a bit slow, which might have been due to the busy evening rush. As for the food, the tacos were good but not exceptional. It's a decent spot for a casual meal, especially if you're in the mood for tacos.

Started off good. Hostess was really nice but waited way too long for the food...which was simply just burrito orders....there are no sides involved so not sure why it took so incredibly long. On top of that we were waiting to even get a table to begin with and waitress took awhile to come around to even place the order. I feel like this place is just aesthetic and not much else... Would not recommend.

Amazing margaritas and tacos. My wife and I have been long time fans. One complaint: removing the barbacoa tacos is CRAZY... please bring them back!

Great place! Absolutely adorable setting especially outside patio. I'll be moving to the area from Chicago and definitely gave me the fun neighborhood vibes we left behind. Some service was a tad slow for it to be mid afternoon on a Friday but it was busy so not a bad problem to have! Friendly staff. Still not THE BEST carne asada tacos I've ever had but still a solid choice.

Donkey is one of those spots that becomes a staple in your monthly rotation, from the guac, the family style eating, to the style of the restaurant itself, Donkey brings it all to the table. I love the casual taqueria vibe, mixed in with a little upscale feel. The margarita price can hit you where it hurts, but the price of a modelo and a taco will ease the pain.

I definitely don't frequent Donkey as much as I used to back when they first opened and I lived in the neighborhood, but I still have good experiences when I do stop in. My most recent visit was for a get together in one of their igloos, which was fun and quite toasty. A reservation is needed for the igloos as well as a booking fee of $10 per hour for a two hour reservation. An additional $1 fee is included when booking online as well. The igloos can seat up to eight people but I think that would be pretty cozy. We had five in our group and it was comfortable. The igloos include at least one electric heater as well as a fun loteria game (bingo) and some candies. Be sure to bring a blanket and bundle up in cold weather! The menu includes tacos, tortas and a burrito, a couple desserts, and botanas (or "snacks"). The tacos I've tried are all really delicious but my favorites are the carnitas, bruselas, and pastor. Be sure to remember which ones you order, because they're served family style on one plate. They will point out which ones are which, but if you've made any modifications it can get a little trickier. On that note, our server was great at handling requested modifications and clarified about allergies vs. preferences which was thoughtful. On my last visit I got the ensalada central (romaine, avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, seasonal roasted vegetables, macha corn, pepitas, and carrot-morita vinaigrette) and added carnitas. The salad was super fresh and really tasty, with some great textures and flavors. It was a generous portion so I had leftovers to take home. Donkey is known for their flavorful margaritas, including their prickly pear and spicy options. Some can be ordered without alcohol and they also have beer, wine, and a full bar. Pitchers of margaritas are available to order if you have a group - I remember plenty of sunny patio days at Donkey having a pitcher of margs with friends! Speaking of patios, theirs is super popular so get there early on those sunny summer days as they don't usually take reservations for regular (non-igloo) seating. Brunch is available on the weekends, and they have Donkey hour (happy hour) Monday through Thursday, 2-5 pm. Donkey is a fun spot for some twists on street tacos and a great place to gather with friends or for a date night. Parking in the area can be a bit of a challenge so be prepared to find street parking.

Come because your white friends invited you. Stay because you have to finish your $14 margarita. Leave having spent $30 on maaaybe $4 worth of food/drink. This place is trendy and in a great location, which allows it to be pretty underwhelming in every other aspect of a restaurant. If you're looking for good tacos, leave the Lululemon and look for the rusted out 2005 Ford Escapes on the outskirts of downtown.

Brussel sprout tacos... the best taco in GR! Margaritas are amazing, as is the guacamole! Service is ok; long waits, quickly served when seated but seems rushed. I have been here more than 20 times & have the same experience!

5!!! This place and food is unlike any other. We drive over an hour each week to enjoy a meal. The staff, tacos , salad, unbelievable. Best fish tacos and the Barbacoa are a must. Save room for the made from scratch churros. All served by a top notch staff. Our favorite

I ordered Carnitas and Carne Asada's. I did not enjoy the Carnitas but the Carne Asada's were very good. A friend who came with ordered the Biria and enjoyed it. A person I went with ordered a prickly pear margarita, and found it delightful. The service was very kind to everyone waiting and those seated. Our waitress was so kind to our whole group, was so polite about our changes to our meals. The whole vibe of the restaurant was so welcoming and warm. Overall, this place was very nice and friendly. Food- 2.8/5 Service- 5/5

Great food and Atmosphere. Sierra was an excellent server! We always have a great experience at Donkey

Trendy Mexican spot with plenty of people inside on a Monday afternoon. Supremely hot outside, so opted for the indoor seating which didn't have a wait. Started off by sharing the Chips & Guacamole ($11.50). Guac is chunky with lots of cilantro and pickled onions on top. Overall a good amount of citrus, could have used some jalapenos for that extra kick. For the entree, settled on a Pescado Taco ($5) and Barbacoa Taco ($5). Tortillas are thick and sturdy, keeping the ingredients inside very well. Barbacoa is well marinated so that the taco didn't feel dry. Fish taco is cooked well, but needed some hot sauce for extra flavor. Also got a Jalapeno Margarita ($10.50) to wash it all down - easy to drink and not overtly strong. Service here wasn't the best - we weren't checked on as much as the tables around us, and it took a while to get our order in/bill out. Bar seating would be a good approach if stopping by.

Great service, I love the outdoor seating, and their menu was extensive. I wanted to love this place more though as it was highly recommended so maybe I just expected more. The excessive ring of salt on my margarita threw me off, as you can see I wiped it off. The tacos were okay. I did really like the staff shirts that, I'm assuming, were a knock off DKNY's classic font that said DNKY. Overall I'd go again, but I'd only go back during the summer when I can enjoy their outdoor seating which was the highlight of my time there.

A brief business lunch at the Donkey meant no fun beverages, so I was not even going to tackle a review but let me just say, believe it or not, you don't need alcohol to give this spot five stars. They could lose their liquor license and I'd still stop by once a week or more. You will love the decor. You will love the tacos--could they be more inventive with ingredients and combinations? No, sir, they could NOT. And then there's that one item on the menu that I tried last time I was there, the "Quesabirria". Can you pronounce that? Just say "case a'beer-a" and you're good. Maybe you'll get a case of beer and maybe a quesabirra (SO good) and either way, you win.

Donkey never disappoints! To start, the Paloma was so refreshing on such a hot summer day. The chips and queso is a generous portion even though the queso looks small in the picture. They bring 2 types of salsa in squeeze bottles to the table, free of charge which is nice. The chicken Flautas were delicious and they come with a small salad on the side that helps to balance the mildly spicy salsa on top. Our server was very friendly and attentive. He had multiple tables but was always available if we needed him. We sat outside on a very hot day but our table was in full shade so it wasn't bad. Some tables were in full sun though so if it was busy and those were all that was left, it could get hot! I would absolutely recommend Donkey to anyone!

The margaritas are delicious! Food is good, not my favorite birria taco but it was okay. Service is kind of slow- but everyone is very nice. Love the atmosphere of the place as well!

I had high expectations for Donkey Taqueria because so many people had recommended this restaurant to me. And I have to say, I'm not sure it was worth the hype. The food wasn't bad by any means, but it did not make much of an impression on me. I got the Al Pastor and Pescado tacos. The pork in the Al Pastor (roasted pork shoulder) was a bit stiff and was more chewy and soft than soft and juicy. I've had Al Pastors in other restaurants and they have definitely been softer and moist. The flour taco skin was good - it was nice and soft. For the Pescado (beer batter fried cod), it lacked flavor, even when it had been deep fried. I usually like to try tacos without adding extra sauce on to see how it tastes naturally, and was surprised to see how little flavor the cod had. I had to add verde sauce over it which, of course, helped. We also got two different flavors of the Jarritos sodas - pineapple and grapefruit. They were sparkly and delicious!! I really loved my grapefruit. It wasn't too sweet. It was light and delicious. The ambience was quite nice - the tables were clean, and I liked how there were options to do indoor or outdoor seating. The bathrooms we used were clean. The service was great, we were tended to right when we got our seats, and did not have to wait long at all for our food to come. The waitress we had was very sweet and attentive. Overall, I was slightly disappointed at the quality of food (not that it was bad - more like because I had heard so many positive things about this restaurant, I expected more), but I will try this place another time to see if it just so happened that I got unlucky the first time!

In the heart of flavor, Donkey Taqueria stands tall, A culinary adventure, a fiesta for all. Tacos de barria, a symphony in a tortilla embrace, Each bite tells a tale, a journey through taste. Flautas dance with crisp delight, A crunch that whispers, "savor the night." Queso with chorizo, a molten delight, A cheese river flowing, igniting the appetite. Prickled pear margaritas, a sip of pure bliss, Sweet and tangy, a spirited kiss. Oh, Donkey Taqueria, a haven of delight, Where every dish feels like a culinary flight. In the realm of flavors, you've won my heart, A love story written in each culinary art.

Was in town visiting my brother and he took us here. I admit I had my doubts about eating Mexican food in Grand Rapids, but this place was really tasty. I also loved the outdoor seating in the "igloo." I had the Torta de Milanesa de Pollo, Hongos taco and Al Pastor Taco. All really incredible but the Hongos and Torta were my favorite. Great vibe, great food, and great service (even with our four little kids running around).

Been here a few times now and have seen multiple changes to the menu. The current menu, in my opinion, is fantastic! The Summer selections had a little too much of a fruity profile for my tastes but I LOVED the Macha mushroom taco and the Shrimp and the shrimp and pescado tacos were bomb as well! Love their hot sauces/salsa from the bottle... I down them on some fresh tortilla chips! Thanks also for carrying the Athletic beers... we love that you have them!

Overall the ambiance inside was great, cute hipster joint on the popular Wealthy Street. It was a rainy day so it was crowded when we got there around 5:45 on a Thursday. Nice to see some businesses are still busy! Staff was super friendly and checked on us frequently. Watching the bar tender was a show in itself! She was making the prickly pear margaritas practically with her eyes closed! And they were ridiculously delicious! We ordered about half the tacos on the menu to try. My one complaint was most of them were too spicy for me! I don't really do spicy and they each had something that was spicy in it! Honestly the Brussels sprout tacos were some of the best I tried- and I like my meat! Homemade churro desert was amazing! Crispy on the outside but warm and soft inside!

Staying nearby at a charming B&B so we decided to walk to dinner. This place appears to be an old service station on the corner of Henry and Wealthy Streets. We tried the papas verde, carne asada and pollo tacos. Corn tortillas were made in house - fresh and delicious. We waited a bit to be greeted but then received attentive and kind service from Devon.

Best tacos around, always have so much fun here! The al pastor is my favorite, but they have a rotating menu which is nice. The prickly pear Margarita is amazing as well.

Loved the open air atmosphere. Sat at the bar and was blown away by how friendly the patrons were. Bartenders were attentive and the margs were good. Tacos were good enough- not the best I've had but definitely good. Had a great time and would definitely come back!

A decent restaurant overall. We got 3 tacos, al pastor and carnitas were pretty good. The papas verde was more bland, we needed to add more sauce to bring up the flavors. They highly recommended their sandwiches, and we got Cemita Poblana, which my husband really enjoyed. The burrito add mushroom was wonderful, if mushroom is your thing, it's a great addition to the burrito. The portion is not on the big side, we needed this burrito to make the two of us full.

We have eaten at Donkey a handful of times over the last year or so, and I've never been disappointed. Everything is very flavorful and we've always had good service. The thing I want to make sure to highlight: the brussel sprout taco!!! It's not often that a brussel sprout item is my favorite on a menu, but it's so packed with flavor. For this year they are also doing a limited Lent menu and it's amazing. We got both the Squid and Alligator since they happened to have both in stock and both were incredible. Their margaritas are also great, but if you don't drink, I recommend the spicy lemonade. It's spicy but super refreshing. Highly recommend!!

Literally so good! I went alone while my husband was at a work event and just sat at the bar. The guac was great, the tacos were great, and the margaritas were amazing! And this is coming from a Texas gal! Loved the vibes there and the employees were super friendly, great service!

My work group made a pit stop here for a quick lunch. You're immediately immersed in a chic atmosphere; completely different vibe than other taquerias I've been to. I've been on a major birria kick lately, trying every rendition of it as much as possible. This visit was no different when I saw the quesabirria. Chile fried tortilla, house quesillo, birria de res, salsa asu, onion, cilantro, consomé. I could've eaten three or four more. Pairing that work of art with a draft El Pacifico was a no-brainer. Light, crisp and a touch of lime. Loved the vibe at Donkey Taqueria, see you again soon.

My new favorite hangout! Amazing drinks food and atmosphere! Such a fun place to hang with friends. We loved all the tacos we got!

Located in a quiet but interesting area of GR. Always a fan of outdoor seating options. Service was decent. Chips and salsa actually were the highlight of the meal, the salsa was really addicting. Would recommend it if you're looking for a cold margarita or beer, but not if you're picky about your tacos.

I think this was the best Mexican food place that we've eaten here. All the food that we had was so good and so flavorful. The jalapeño margarita hit the spot. The chips with guacamole was great. Service was good too!

Okay - hear me out. Donkey used to be the SPOT. Pre-COVID I used to come here weekly living right down the road. I have never wanted to leave a negative review, because I honestly love this place. BUT... before COVID their margarita pitchers were $26. "After" COVID they rose to $36. Today, I ordered queso take out & saw they did to-go margaritas and ordered two. THESE WERE WHAT THEY GAVE ME, after waiting 20 minutes at the window telling me the bar was backed up. Also- the guy at the window told me a pitcher is now $45. They're increasing their prices sooooo much for the same products. I know we see inflation everywhere but when I got those little cans for like $20 I was shocked. I'll be back for the tacos but NEVER alcohol again.

Really good tacos! I recommend the el pastor! I'm not much of a pork eater, and they're delicious. Order them every time! Can be kind of busy at times, but worth the wait! Good atmosphere every time I've been there. Can be kinda loud at times. Great place to meet friends and they have great outdoor space in the summer.

Love the food and the ambiance. Never disappointing. Best margs in town. Try the black bean dip & queso.

Recommended to us by a local, and everything was great! We had lunch here on a Saturday (right around noon) and from other reviews were worried about having a long wait, but it wasn't crowded and had several tables available both inside and outside. The atmosphere was casual and lively but wasn't loud, so we could still chat amongst ourselves. Our waiter was super sweet and gave on point recommendations for us with the very flavorful agua fresca, and bruselas tacos. We splurged a bit for the chips and guacamole, which was a little pricey but was a good portion for three to share. The table salsas were both tasty and would have been fine with a plain order of chips as a starter if you don't want to get the guac. The tacos were reasonably priced and medium in size (not super small like some street tacos), two tacos were enough with chips for each of us. TRY THE BRUSELAS TACO!!! As odd as a brussel sprout taco sounds, it was the BEST of everything we ordered. Overall, a lovely lunch spot, and I can only imagine it has a fun and casual vibe with margs in the evening!

I really love Donkey, the food is great and margaritas are fantastic. But when you are at the restaurant at 10PM on a Friday night, and the second it turns 10PM they turn the lights on full blare and turn the music off it is an awful vibe; the server and staff very clearly wanted everyone to leave. Not great service and not welcoming. Donkey deserves better!

We had a very nice dinner here! The service was great and they were busy. Our food was delicious, I highly recommend the Brussels sprout taco and the pickled veggies.

The vibes, the food, the drinks, the service - Donkey is the best! My go to spot whenever I am bringing a friend or family member out to dinner.

Best tacos + margs in GR! Love love love The Donkey! +great hipster vibe for the inside and outside seating +easy online ordering for takeout including margs! +salsas are housemade amazingness -can get crowded so go early, put your name in before your are starvin' -no one, including small kiddos, under the age of 21 allowed at all after 9pm (we learned the hard way when we went for a late dinner and had to eat takeout in our car instead because we have a kiddo) Occasionally they have enchiladas by the pan to pick up and take home to bake (like for new years eve) so follow them on FB or Insta for those. I still dream of those enchiladas.

Excellent food and drink options. Can't go wrong with any of the margarita options, tacos, or birria. Service was great and super cool spot.

Solid no frills spot for tacos and good drinks. Chips and salsa were delicious and flavorful while the bean skillet was good but nothing to write home about. We got a variety of tacos - 2 fish, 1 Al pastor, 1 carnitas and 1 Brussels sprout. All were extremely overfilled, not a bad thing. I did eat some of the filling before folding and going in like a regular taco. All very flavorful and the meat was nice and juicy. Fish was a little dry but still yummy. I got a mezcal Paloma which was delicious and refreshing. Service was attentive and atmosphere was chill.

This was some of the worst queso I've ever had from a Mexican restaurant. It was comparable to Taco Bell nacho cheese. Margs were also SO tiny for the $$. Food was underwhelming.

The tacos are so good! It's got a great little atmosphere and it's pretty affordable for what you get. Bruselas is my go to but Pescado is yummy and I've not had a taco I haven't loved. Service is always solid for how bustling it can be.

While visiting family I always take the opportunity try out the local cuisine. I've been to some spots in and around downtown Grand Rapids. This place is now on my list to revisit. The tortillas are made fresh, and it's noticeable. The tacos are packed with meat. I had the pastor, potato, and carnitas, my wife had the torta. The torta de jamon had pork two ways and was rich and delicious. All of it was great and super flavorful. We also had the guacamole. It's made fresh, just needed some more lime and spice, but still good with fresh made chips (it makes a difference). The waitstaff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. I would definitely recommend this place.

My wife and use to come here all the time. We moved away from the area and recently came back to visit. The service was good and ambiance was just like we remembered. We were saddened by the decline in quality and flavor of the food. Dishes we use to love were dry and bland and no longer had the quality we use to enjoy. Sad to say but that was probably the last time we will be dining there.

My favorite taco place in GR! They use corn tortilla which makes all of their tacos gluten free. Each taco is pretty big so it's really filling. I love going to donkey for date night and girl's night out. The ambience is very "chill" and they play Spanish music which always puts everyone in a good mood. All staff are very friendly and interactive. Food comes out pretty quick and the food food quality is always good

Cute spot, bland food. Outdoor seating was great, fast drink and food service. The guacamole was $8.50 and chips were an additional $3, the guacamole was good but had a rotten smelling pickled onion on top. The chicken mole taco had a fresh tortilla, tender meat, but really no flavor to speak of. My partner said the same of the quesabirria. I also had the cauliflower tostada which had a nice assortment of greens, brussels, and a bean base... but it was served on Parchment paper that became stuck to the tostada.... the flavor was mostly vinegar... could have been better. Margaritas tasted like a mix, not up to par with the $9.50 price tag. Server was attentive, almost overly attentive, asking if we wanted anything else about 15x. Once the sun went down around 8:30 there was minimal patio lighting despite being open until 10. I guess the young kids would go back for a cheap can of beer, but I wouldn't recommend this spot to the 30 year old plus crowd.

LOVE: * Torta de Jamon: So flavorful from your first bite! Could easily eat just half of the sandwich with chips and salsa. * Chipotle and Salsa Verde: Love the combo of these together - the smoky chipotle and spicy salsa verde. I like a medium heat level and the salsa verde was a kick up from that, where you inhale/exhale to air out your mouth! LIKE: * Taco Al Pastor: Flavorful pork shoulder with small diced pineapple for an accent of sweetness. * Taco De Papas Verde: A nice alternative of potato and sweet potato. * Taco De Bruselas: The brussels sprouts were sweet! I've never had them like this and liked it. Just a hint of bitterness at the end, bc they're brussels sprouts! OKAY: * Taco De Carnitas: Mine was a little too salty, and could use more flavor - use salsas provided. * Taco De Pescado: Not much flavor - use salsas. It came with a bigger piece of fish and a smaller piece - the bigger piece made it harder to eat the taco. * Guacamole: Liked the pickled veg garnish which helped add flavor. It could use more salt. Some heat, but inconsistent with each bite. We had our own chips and didn't order from the restaurant. * Vegetales En Escabeche: You can smell the vinegar the instant you open the container! It was a nice way to add more veggies to the meal. Prepare for a lot of acid. Wish they were spicy! Online ordering and pick up was super easy and everything came well packaged. I believe they only have outdoor seating right now with limited capacity.

SO so good!!! Went on a Monday night so it was quiet. Our waitress was so sweet & answered all of our questions. I got the Al Pastor taco & one other with the potatoes (cant remember the name). Also had the guava margarita & it was great! Definitely recommend!!

This has been my go-to since 2020. Great margs, great tacos and used to be great chips-queso. Past two times the chips are the equivalent of a salt lick. Holy cow Batman, reduce the salt on the chips so our arteries can survive. Simple change needed to keep a few loyal customers coming back.

It's our first time dining out since.....the end of February! I almost forgot how to dine out ha, so I tried to be patient in understanding that it probably wouldn't be the same. Annddddd it was a little bit different - but I've heard good things from Donkey from co-workers, so I'm still glad I got to try it! Only their patio is open and even with outdoor dining only, they're only at 50% capacity. Their menu seems to be slightly adjusted to accommodate as well. We walked up around 2pm (no reservations taken during this time) and were quoted a 45min - 1hr wait. We probably waited about 40 minutes, but I think we were just lucky as tables looked like they were turning pretty slowly. Lunch was off to a good start with FANTASTIC margs + pretty tasty chips & guac (good portion too!). However, what we thought was just a slower kitchen due to new ways of operation, was just a lost ticket. So, we didn't get our entree food until almost 45-50 minutes later & it's after we asked. I appreciate that the manager made it right & comp'ed our chips & guac. run down on the comida: *Al Pastor Taco: I'm a bit picky about my al pastor as I'm from Southern California where it's true to its Lebanese roots, so ground pork is sacrilegious to me. I'm glad Donkey's is NOT ground pork & it was actually really good. I was also really impressed by the uniform dice on the pineapple garnish. *Ensalada Central (greens, avocado, queso fresco, green beans, cilantro, carrot, cucumber, pepitas, red onion, tomatillo vinaigrette) - Can't complain about a salad! I added carnitas on here. The carnitas was good, but not the best I've had (e.g. crispy edges but still melt in your mouth) so I would go 100% al pastor next time! Could see myself coming back to enjoy more margs, chips & al pastor tacos!