El Sancho Taco Shop East

What a great local find! I can see why this is such a popular place with the locals in Bend and the neighborhood. The service was excellent and full of friendly people. The food was out of this world. So fresh and delicious. Be prepared to wait for a bit. We were there on a Tuesday night and had to patiently wait for our food. It was worth the wait. The food was so delicious and fresh. I highly recommend the chips and guacamole, as well as the shrimp tacos. So many great margarita varieties as well.

Come here every time I visit Bend! Their fried plantains are the BEST and I crave them all the time. The outdoor area is dog friendly and the food arrives super fast after ordering! The tostadas are my go-to every time! Will be back soon 🌮

*not authentic, poor service, over priced, over hyped* This place is not at all an authentic Mexican restaurant! Don't know who is the brainchild of this place and invented all the weird cuisine. But definitely they are good at hyping it and getting positive review (HOW?!). Here is the details of my experience: Food: Foods were very bland and didn't taste good at all. They were salty, without much spices. The tacos I ordered were very tiny, spreaded with some kinds of cold white shredded cheese on top! Chips were fresh but salsa seems old and bland. Have to pay for chips and salsa. My girlfriend got their rice bowls, which was another nightmare! It was made with Jasmin rice! Which Mexican restaurant serve Jasmin rice ?! The guacamole in that bowl didn't even feel like had salt in it, forget other ingredients. It tasted plain mashed guacamole. It also comes with some sorts of white cheese on top. They had radishes as side in every items. I don't get it! Never seen it in any other Mexican restaurant. The fried plantains were sweet and mushy!! You would expect something crunchy, salty and spicy, if you go to a real Mexican/Puerto Rican or south American place. The food was expensive compared to their quality! We paid 15$ for a tiny bowl and 4$ for super tiny size taco and 5$ for tiny serving of "sweet" fried plantain! Drink: The drinks looks super smaller size just like their food and also were expensive. After the awful food, we didn't even feel like wasting our money on it! Service: We didn't feel welcome at all in this place. They have a red/green lights outside door in front of which all people have to wait for self-order. We felt like a cattle, other than human. Then they messed up our order and served it to other people!! We literally waited like half an hour for food after getting inside the restaurant. (Not making it up!) They also expect people to bust their own table, even though getting tip when ordering food. The tip start with 15%. If you are taking tip, then better give some service for it. Some people beside us made a big mess in their table and left. We hear them complaining about the food too and may not clean up out of anger. The server didn't clean it up for long time and we had to eat our food in that environment. We didn't t noticed any Latino/Hispanic people working there. Pretty much everyone was white! You wouldn't expect it in any authentic Mexican restaurant. Atmosphere: I have to honestly tell that the outdoor sitting environment was very cool. The only good thing I can tell about this place. Indoor sitting was crampy and dark! This is an honest and real review. I am a food enthusiast and regularly review places (check my profile). It was bit late at night and we were craving Mexican food. That was one of the places open. It looked good from review. But I guess we got decevied like other tourists who will visit that area. Locals probably will go to that place one time out of hype and never go back!

I’m not sure how this place has so many good reviews. The food is fast food and not authentic or quality, there is no table service and to order you have to wait outside the door in a line till the light goes green and then order right away at the till. I’ve been to many more delicious taco places and I do not recommend this one. Wasn’t feeling the vibe as well. Large outdoor patio.

We have lived in Bend for over 2 years and this was my second visit. Honestly, I don't know why. This place should be a once a week visit. The food is soooo good! The barbacoa is delicious, the kids tacos were perfect for my lunch buddy. The staff is friendly and helpful.

Enjoyed my meal at El Sancho. There is street parking nearby, but they also have a parking lot behind the restaurant. The drivway is sort of hidden by trees and ither vehciles depending on which direction you come from. They have a minimal contact system set up, I assume as a response to COVID. You get in line at the stop sign on the ramp. When you look up there is a "stop light" with a red and green light. When it turns green you can go inside and place your order and pay. You can eat inside or outside. If you're eating outside, I suggest you secure a seat first, or if it's not busy, identify a table # you want to sit at bc they'll ask you. There is also a menu at the stop sign so review that bc they want you to have your order ready. Once you order, if you're eating outside (like I did) you can get your utensils, napkins, and cold water on the deck. They have sauces, etc. there as well. They'll bring your food to your table, but you need to bus your own dishes. Bins for your plates, etc. are at the same area where the water is. I ordered 3 tacos: Oaxaca cheese, Hobo Potatoes, and Mushroom. As soon as I bit into the Oaxacan cheese taco, I almost jumped for joy. It was flavored so well, I was in heaven. I wish I had eaten the other tacos first bc that one was THEE best of the 3. It's a neat place with a nice vibe. The bathrooms are decorated to match the restaurant. One had a black light. I'd definitely go back for that Oaxacan Taco!!!

So Bend must be the taco capital of Oregon! I drive through this town a couple times of year and stop for tacos at different locations and El Sancho has been the best with the best varieties! The cheese taco was so different and so good! The Bowl was my favorite with carnitas on top. Awesome crema sauce on the bowl. Perfect salt, no needed to add any. You don't get that many places. The corn off the cob was very limey but super delicious and easy to eat. The atmosphere was off the charts! We didn't get to stay but if we could, outside seating and 10 margaritas to choose from is awesome! Definitely recommend! Oh and the bathrooms w were wild. Take a look at pics!

Delicious food, just not filling. I ordered 3 tacos and when they came I realized that I would have to have ordered 9 in order to satisfy myself, but I couldn't afford that. I enjoyed sitting on the porch, watching the sunset while sipping a cold beer and chatting with the friendly people I was beside.

We kept seeing a lot of taco places on our visit and we landed here our last night. Their system of waiting outside is nice because it is a small place and when you get inside you order before you go to your table. The chips and queso were good. I had 2 tacos, one green chile and cheese and one chicken. Both were very flavorful. My husband had 3 different kinds and liked them as well. My hibiscus margarita was delicious.

Now that I've done the rounds on taco spots in Bend El Sancho is officially my favorite. Great variety. The shrimp is cooked perfect. Great kids options. The parking lot can be a little tight so street parking is easy. The ordering and seating is very organized. Food comes out quickly. Nice & helpful staff. I love their guacamole, the queso is not my favorite, the chips are awesome.

I was visiting from out of town when I noticed this place was highly rated. Having been raised in San diego, I'm always on the lookout for good Mexican food. When I got out of my car, I noticed an extremely long line leading from the front of the restaurant, along with a very full patio. It wasn't entirely clear if the line was for the inside or the outside. There was a sign offering beverages to those who approached the bar, which wasn't visible from where I was standing. The menus were listed outside for convenience, and the items sounded thoughtfully crafted. They also had a wide array of adult beverages, like margaritas, in the newly popularized Ranch Water. There is a stoplight at the end of the line letting customers know when it's okay to step inside and order. The ordering process was quick, and we were advised to take a seat at our table, which was numbered on the wall. There is a water bar that is self-serve. I ordered the chile and cheese taco as well as the potato taco. They were tasty, albeit small for the price. The Michelada could have used a bit more oomph in the mix (either more seasoning or more lime). I might return if someone is having a gathering there, but I don't feel like I will be back on a casual visit basis.

Recommended by our chiropractor, it was good. I love the tacos how they are semi hard but don't break when you take a bit, just right. The barbacoa and chicken were both good, definitely do a variety to try, we will definitely try a variety next time!

Came here on a recommendation and really enjoyed it! It's a fun ambiance and great for groups. Ordering was a little slow even though they weren't that busy but it was fine. I tried the mahi mahi and mushroom tacos. The mushrooms were meaty and had a nice sauce. But I especially liked the slightly-fried tortillas that gave a good structure and texture to the taco. Beautiful views too!

Every time we go to Bend I have to go to El Sancho! The food is very delicious and their margaritas are the best! Counter service and they bring you the food which is great! Very old school in decor, heated patio, but I prefer the indoor booth or table seating. Going back to Bend soon and will definitely come by for lunch!

Order at the counter. Quick service. The fish was cooked a little too long but the flavor was good. The Habanero sauce is spicy! Good sized. Indoor and outdoor seating. Other tacos were worth the stop!

I grew up in Bend, and though we live in PDX now, I still feel very emotionally connected to the sights, sounds, and snacks. Whenever we happen across a new restaurant, my heart races and we immediately pull over to try one of everything on the menu! Just kidding, we don't do that. But on this particular day, we were looking for lunch #2 after having spent some time up at the mountain. We happened past El Sancho, and we decided we had to see what this big mustache was all about. Per recommendations from the staff, we ordered 4 slam dunk items (the fried plantains, carnitas taco, barbacoa taco, and the chorizo beans). The restaurant is cute, has efficient seating, and is very fast. Pair that with delicious food, and this spot is a must try!!

After attending a bridal shower, my fiance and I decided we needed some Mexican food. This place had been recommended by the hotel staff where we were staying, so we gave it a try. They offer to go and dine in. And we decided to do a to-go order. We quickly ordered and paid online, and waited less than 10 minutes for our order. I was quite impressed. Everything we had was delicious! The horchata is similar to what I've had in Mexico. I really enjoyed the side of rice and beans. They are not shy on portions or flavor! I will definitely be back if I'm in town.

My favorite place in Bend!!! I'm from SanDiego and know how to make pretty awesome Mexican food -- these guys have their own special take on tacos!!! I love everything they cook and mix to eat and drink :) Consistently great food!!! I call it hippy Mexican food and it will totally rock your buds!!!!

Every single person that comes to Central Oregon to visit me, experiences El Sanchos. It is a staple in my life. This is my favorite taco shop. They have amazing margaritas too. The atmosphere is super hip and chill with outdoor and indoor seating. Even the bathroom is cool. Super friendly people serving fast, amazing food. A must try for everyone!!! This picture Is one I took of my brother, in from California, trying El Sanchos for the first time. He loved them!

Definitely a big fan of Mexican cuisine, but if your looking for Mexican cuisine look somewhere else. Ordered tacos, grease dripped and coated the bottom of the basket at least a 1/4 inch. Guacamole was a little too creamy for us, but lacked flavor. Definitely missing onions, tomatoes and cilantro for that Mexican flare. Chips were good, but the over service and hospitality by their staff could use a redo.

I was told this is the best taco shop in Bend and despite those high expectations this place did not disappoint. Cute setting, great views from the deck, organized system of lines, seating, re-and ordering -- these people have their logistics down, I suspect due to big summer crowds. I came mid-afternoon in October so the crowd was light and the weather pleasant. I had two tacos (fried shrimp and mahi) with the toppings and both were great. I had a nice side plate or rice and (black) beans. Overall a great lunch and the service -- not only organized but friendly, friendly, friendly.

Visited this quaint, lively taco shop in Bend, Oregon. I had three street tacos; carne asada, carnitas and green chili cheese. They were so delicious that I ate them before I thought of taking a picture. The staff was courteous and quick.

We had high hopes for this taco shop due to the high reviews. Unfortunately, everything was pretty underwhelming. The tacos were very tiny for the price. I ordered 2 tacos, but should've ordered 4. My boyfriend ordered 3, but could've eaten 6. We ate our tacos in a couple minutes and said, "What's for dinner?". Our favorites were the Oaxaca cheese, barbacoa, and carnitas. We didn't care for the carne asada and lengua as much. The shell is semi fried, but I'd prefer it to be either crunchy or a soft corn tortilla, not in between. We also ordered chips and guac, which was my favorite part! Really thick, fresh chips with flavorful guacamole.

Listen- this was one of our most favorite places for a quick bite to eat, great quality, unique dishes, and decent value in Bend. Been at both locations several times since my original review with a 4 star. But this time around, boy was it disappointing! I mean the driest carnitas ever served, minimal quantities in both dishes ordered, and super disappointing! The workers up front still rock. I still tip 15% for a place that you pretty much have to clean after yourself. No worries if the food is good. I just hope this was a fluke and the disappointing experience was just for us on this day! I may give it another try to se for myself. Nevertheless, this dramatic lower quality experience hurt a lot! I looked hard in my Gordita sandwich to find meat!!!! Really! 10 bucks for lettuce, fried tortillas, cheese and sour cream!!!

Great taco shop in Bend. Have had several types of their tacos and all are so good I can't tell you my favorite. Last time out, had a taco bowl with chorizo. Fantastic! Service is always friendly and fast. If you can walk there, do. Parking can be tight sometimes.

Extremely quick serving place. The food is tasty. It's mostly tacos on the menu as the name says it. A place to get a quick grab for sure.

The food is good, the service is fun, and the ambience is cool. We've been coming to the east side location for many years, also spent a little time at the west side, as well as their food truck. They have a fun and creative atmosphere that really works in Bend. The tacos are I'd say an 8 out of 10 but are a bit small and expensive. That's really my only challenge with El Sancho but that's a well known phenomenon and easy to get over as Bend has become fairly expensive for everything. Come in and try some tacos that you might not normally order. Bring a few friends and share some tacos; there's not a better way to hang out. Beers and tacos really both go so well together it's hard to not love them almost anytime.

Fun stop for our first dinner meal upon arriving in Bend to visit family. Definitely fulfilled the taco craving. Great flavors! We ordered a great variety between the 4 of us: mahi mahi, chipotle chicken, carne asada, carnitas. Oaxaca cheese, and Barbacoa! We also ordered the fried plantains! Everyone loved their tacos! It's a comfy place to hang out and the service was so very friendly from the cashier guy! He should get a raise!! We'll be back!

OK, this review is NOT based off of one visit. My husband and I recently moved to the neighborhood from a different part of town and were excited to be a few minutes' walk from tacos. Our excitement, however, has wilted. But let me begin by saying what I like about the place. -Very well organized and set-up. Things make sense, and it's designed with a good flow so people can get what they need efficiently. -It's got a good vibe. The employees seem well-treated and it's an aesthetically nice place to be, inside or out. Now what we don't like, and the reason for the 2/5. -Ridiculously expensive for what you get. Anything you order- tacos, other dishes, even margaritas- makes you think, "really, that's it...?" I understand that things are more expensive, but servings are tiny for what you pay. -Tacos and other dishes are pretty mid. Nothing's every bad, and the presentation is nice, but my usual reaction is, "ok, not bad I guess". As expensive as it is, "small and ok" are not worthy descriptors. I feel much more fulfilled in terms of quality, bargain, amount, etc. at Lucy's or any number of other establishments. -Margaritas are among the worst in town. Overly sweet, weak AF, tiny, and not cheap. Lastly, Happy Hour. They had it, but it disappeared 5/24. Seems petty to get rid of Happy Hour just because it's tourist season. "Hey, locals, thanks for getting us through the winter, but we don't need you now!" We stopped going because there are so many other places that play the same game better, even if we have to get in a car to get to them. Genuinely hope things improve, but that doesn't seem to be the way restaurants are going.

Love this place. Barbacoa tacos! Delicious! Great atmosphere. The people at the front counter were so friendly. They complimented me on my glasses. I said they glow in blacklight. They suggested taking a picture in the bathroom, so I did. I've loved El Sancho for years. Yummmmmm

Food is really good! Look at the title... taco SHOP. Don't expect a full service restaurant, it is what it is and it flows nicely! We got tacos: barbacoa, chicken, carne asada, mushroom then carnitas, beans and rice, queen and chips as well as elote. Mushroom taco was a little fungi, but everything tasted really good!

Voted by my son as the "BEST" tacos. We actually had lunch somewhere else, I know that's a funny lead but I was stuffed and my son wanted a taco...for dessert. A few drinks and a taco, I was sold on the tacos. We only had tacos, they are great tacos, I think they have more than tacos but they're really good tacos. It's a taco joint, bigger than a taco truck. Can you say taco, taco, taco without thinking of the word bell. This ain't no Taco Bell and did I mention they have tacos?

Nice staff, good prices, fast service, great food. We became regulars at the Eastside location about four months ago and now it's our Friday night spot, every Friday. Definitely something we look forward to. First off, get the house margaritas. We generally do tacos, but we will sometimes branch out and have the specials, or chilaquiles. We love the charro beans and queso. Our go-to's on tacos are the barbecoa, Chorizo and carnitas. We have tried them all and there is not wrong choice. Occasionally they will even have a taco special like pork belly, or ground beef. Simply prepared, toppings of things like onions, cilantro, salsa. No problem with special orders. There's a system, wait for the green light before entering, order at the counter, they assign seating and the food comes our very quickly. To get more while you are there, you are able to go to an in-house register, no need to wait in line again. It's definitely a locals spot, but the word is out and everyone is coming to El Sancho. More good news is that in the 25 times I have been here, I have never not been seated when I ordered. They keep things moving along.

closed, according to a local lady walking her dog past the address, it had a bad kitchen fire and burned down.

It's NOT authentic Mexican recipes. Visiting Bend from Los Angeles and having high hopes for a taco. For the familiar. Very disappointed . The best I can describe this locale to be is a high end Taco Bell or Del Taco. The recipes are just not there. It is not Mexican at all. So it sucks that they call themselves Mexican food.

This review is just for the tacos, if you looking for authentic street tacos, skip this place :(

My taco socks weren't blown off. The service was great and viva los ambiance but not super delicioso for the price.

Nice presentation, and quick but pretty bland all around. We ordered the pork belly and shrimp tacos. Fast food style, order at the counter, bus your table, all condiments are an extra charge. Smelled really good but lacked flavor. Fits with the hipster Bend vibe I guess. I would not go back or recommend. I definitely think people who are sensitive to spices would enjoy it though.

Fairly overpriced tacos. Street size tacos so you may want to order sides or be prepared to order more because they were worth it. Love the ambiance of the set up and service was quick and fast!

Outstanding! Amazing food and margaritas, fast and friendly service, super cool ambiance! Makes me feel like I'm back in San Diego! :-)

While pricey, these tacos are worth every bite and have me going back multiple times each summer. Definitely give em a go! They're the tastiest in Bend!

If you love rules and signs with rules, this is your place. More rules than a military boot camp. Food good. Also, questionable on what or if to tip..I arrived at $0. After all, I order at the counter and bus my own table...what am I tipping for?

Pretty fantastic Mexican street tacos here, especially considering this is run by people with European ancestry. It also was the first real Mexican street food place to hit Bend some years ago. That being said, they are definitely proud of themselves. Expect prices close to double what you pay at typical real Mexican food establishments. Plus they of course want a tip up front. Every time I eat here I always comment how tasty it is but how much it hurt to pay what I did for it. Mixed emotions for sure.

We found this legit taco shop with an amazing variety of tacos! We tried Mahi mahi, fried shrimp, Carnitas, carne Asada, fried Oaxaca cheese and chorizo tacos. We also ordered the fresh Chicharones and fried plantanes. We washed it all down the a Mango marg and a strawberry watermelon marg! Cute outside dining area with covered picnic benches. Also a walk up re order window. Great stop while visiting Bend for a quick lunch. Definitely will be back on our next visit!

Super popular taco place in Bend and worth checking out if you like tacos and margaritas! Unfortunately they got rid of happy hour, which was awesome :( the margaritas here are super tasty and there are lots of different flavor options! I like that there are 3 different veggie tacos- veggie, mushroom and a potato. They're all good and pretty spicy. The guacamole is good, I just wish there was more to accompany the delicious chips.

Best tacos I've ever eaten!! A must try, call Ahead and pick up to go order if you don't want to wait when it's busy!

Great ambience and delicious tacos. Highly recommend. Friendly fast service. Good ice tea and lemonade

We actually ate here twice in to separate locations. Both times were equally great! The queso and guacamole so good. All the tacos were delicious, can't miss on ordering any of them. The drinks were great to! The Serrano Margarita was a favorite! This place was recommended to us and they did not steer us wrong! We recommend this place and we will be back next visit to Bemd!

I have never given a one star rating in my life! I own a restaurant and don't give reviews unless it's a 5 star! This place is disgusting and ridiculously priced. From the leather beef chunks, canned chicken type meat, fishy smelling shrimp, and the hand dipped tortilla in grease.... I can't believe this place has a 4 star rating! Down to the bazaar red light green light line and busing your own table I'm overly disappointed. I'm now down the street at a Taco truck (Pihuamo) thank goodness they cured my taco disappointment.

The tacos were fly. The marg was tasty and the queso was fabulous. I'd go back here many times and I would bring my friends. The food was out within 5 minutes of us sitting down

El Sancho was super cute and fun. A classic casual American Mexican restaurant nessled in the east side of Bend. I had a few tacos, tortilla soup and rice with a margarita and it was a wonderful eating experience, but nothing to write home about. Customer service was fabulous and we got everything we needed. Will be back!

Great vibe and set up! Went to the one On the west side of Bend! Very good tacos. We tried the shrimp, barbecoa & Oaxaca cheese - all were very tasty.

This was our first stop when visiting Bend, and we absolutely DEVOURED our food. We arrived around 6pm on a Sunday and it was LIT. We had to find street parking near the restaurant, it wasn't too hard to find a spot. We had to wait quite a bit to order, but barely 10 min after we ordered, our food came out. I was pleasantly surprised how good the meats were, particularly the carnitas, shrimp, lengua, and carne asada. I got the chilaquiles with carnitas and it was one of the best chilaquiles I've had, and I've had it in Mexico. Although this is on the pricier side for Mexican food, we got a lot of bang for our buck. I would highly recommend checking them out!

Very good tacos, but I don't think it's as good as the hype. Given the number of people who told me to come here while visiting Bend, I expected to have the best tacos I've ever had. I got the barbacoa, fish, and shrimp tacos; chips with guac; and a house marg. All good, quality food. Maybe my expectations were too high. I'd come back but not go out of my way to do so!

I saw this place on Yelp and saw another recommendation for this spot, so we had to try it! We ordered online one night while in town, and the wait for our food was an hour for pickup. Glad we ordered online and not at the restaurant, or we would have had to wait out front for forever. They have a pretty big outdoor patio that is open for dining. The night I went, it was under 40 degrees outside and looked cold, I think they have space heaters though, but ppl were def wrapped in blankets. We ordered: - a variety of tacos, pork, beef, shrimp, fish - large tortilla soup - chips, salsa, guac The tacos tasted fine when eating them, they weren't too die for good. Later in the night the tacos didn't sit well with me and I got a lil sick. I think they were too greasy for me. The chips were the good kind though, thick homemade chips kind. I didn't really like the fish taco that much. I liked the shrimp one better. Anyways, I probably won't come back here. The wait is long and the tacos were a lil too greasy for me.

I love this place and have devour their tacos ever since they were a tiny food truck . Great staff , great food and beverages . I love places that aren't afraid of flavor and do something uniquely amazing . Both locations are a win to me .

We've been coming to bend for 25 years from LA. Sanchos tacos was always on our hit list. But this time the pricing has gotten too crazy to come back. $4 tacos are just too small for that price, and I tried the $6 tamale, OMG, it's the size of a large steak fry, sorry but it's off the list until they come to their senses.