Nelson's Taqueria + Nelson’s in the Whit

We came in for dinner our first night in Eugene. We were promptly greeted and seated outside which had a great atmosphere. I enjoyed the lighting inside as well as the string lights outside and the heaters. Our daughter said that the margaritas were wonderful so we ordered a pineapple margarita, a strawberry margarita and a blackberry margarita. All were very delicious. Our meals were ok. Nothing special about the burritos or the chicken taco salad. The taco salad was very light on chicken to where I had to use the light on my phone to make sure it was in the salad. The service itself was outstanding, very attentive. What I found interesting is that they charge you for every little thing you ask for, such as I asked for some sour cream for my salad. I was given a small container of what seemed to be a watered down version of sour cream, the same with the chipotle sauce. I've never seen that before in other Mexican restaurants I have dined at. It all adds up!

I don’t normally leave reviews for places, but the food and service here tonight was exemplary and I felt compelled to. It was our groups first time at Nelson’s, and we couldn’t have picked a better spot for a birthday celebration. The food was DELICIOUS. It tasted fresh and flavorful - we had the birria taco specials (per our servers recommendation) and the hard taco combo plate, as well as the blood orange margarita, and virgin fizz for drinks. You can tell that they use high quality, fresh ingredients throughout their entire menu. Also, their salsa and guacamole are fantastic! This is the best Mexican/Latin food I have had in a long time! What took everything to the next level was our incredible server, Jordan. He had several other tables but still made us feel like we were the most important table there - I imagine he makes all of his tables feel this way. He explained everything thoroughly, with a joy and enthusiasm that elevated the entire experience. We’d go back there just to have him as a server again. Will definitely be coming back here the next time I’m in town!

Happy hour is banging and Tawny is phenomenal! She's such and sweet soul and amazing server! This place has some of the best margs in town and definitely the best chips and salsa in town. Definitely recommend Tawny for the best experience 💜

Could just be our favorite New Mexican restaurant. Went early for happy hour. Staff met us as the door. Jordan our waiter was very kind and helpful. The food was Amazing! Not your typical Mexican food. Much more flavorful and still very generous portions. Other staff helped with service and the bartender ran to open the door to send us off. These folks understand how to care for their clients and provide top-notch food and a first class experience!

So, we broke down and were stuck in Eugene for the night and the hotel we were at gave us a pamphlet they put together with restaurant recommendations. We were feeling for Mexican food and Nelson's was one of the 3 listed so we decided to give it a try and it was AMAZING! The atmosphere was great and the staff were all super friendly. Our server, TJ, was a 5 star server for sure! He was prompt, helpful in recommending menu items and making sure we knew all of the faves. I was looking for a good cocktail and his recommendation for the peach paradise was exactly what I was looking for. Peach infused vodka, fresh strawberries and mint. It was unique and refreshing. One had a sampler platter with taquitos, tacos and enchiladas, and 2 of us had the chile relleno plate. Chile rellenos are one of my favorite things and I have had them at dozens of restaurants so it is a big deal for me to say these were FIRE! I know, such a simple thing, right? But that is exactly why it is so hard to make a child relleno that stands out and is perfection! The uniqueness of the addition of potatoes in the filling.... And the sauce! So so good. The chef really brings the flavors of the Oaxaca region to your table and gives you something different than the typical Mexican food you get most places. We also shared an order of birria tamales and these were the highlight of the meal. We ordered them as an afterthought and were already full, but everyone enjoyed them so much they wished they had ordered them as their meal. I literally drank the rest of the broth like a cup of soup after the tamales were gone. There was this flavor, none of us could place it, but it pushed the flavor of the broth over the top. Everything down to the chips, salsa and guac was perfect, and there was so much food we had to get our flan to go. I live out of state, but every time I travel through Eugene I will go out of my way to stop in for a bite and a drink at Nelson's . 5 stars all the way around!

Best Mexican food in Eugene! Awesome burritos and Margaritas with wonderful staff. You can opt to dine inside or sit in their large outdoor yet covered seating area. There is also an open-air patio with beautiful string lights for a cozy atmosphere when clear skies permit. First basket of chips y salsa are on the house. As always, make that burrito “wet”, y’all. And, thank you, Jordan!

We just left Nelson’s and after many rave reviews on reddit, yelp and google maps I thought it would be a safe bet, however I was gravely wrong. My food was quite good and flavorful, however my partner ordered taquitos (you know, a dish where dipping sauces are kind of necessary…) and specifically requested sour cream. The plate came without sour cream and I had to remind the waiter who while kind was abysmally inattentive, and even after a reminder it took 20+ minutes to get the sour cream. Our daughter didnt like her nachos, presumably because they were served in a paper basket with the cheese congealed into the paper and thus were mostly inedible, so she had my partner’s dry taquitos. We also did not receive a single refill on our sodas, and the horchata was watery and bland. Also important to note was they were not busy. At most including our party of 3 there were ~14 people there; with 2 waiters, a bartender and back of house staff they should have been able to manage that without issue. Our waiter seemed to only be working two tables, ours and a party of two. You mean to tell me in ~35 minutes you cant handle five people? The worst of all was because we had inedible nachos and fed our daughter the dry taquitos to make up for the nachos, we had to pick up my partner dinner somewhere else on the way home. The hallmark of an awful dining experience is unquestionably when you have to get dinner somewhere else afterwards. All in all, I had sincerely hoped to support a local business to celebrate a promotion at work. Instead my family had to buy dinner twice. For over 50$ for 3 people this was incredibly disappointing. I will not be back. Horrible first impression.

WONDERFUL FOOD AND TOP NOTCH SERVICE! How great that the owners are right there to serve and greet! Salsas and warm chips to start, burrito was perfect! Carnitas had delicious flavor. prices are very fair and A+ quality. Had a virgin margarita and it was yummy too. Thank you Nelson and TJ for putting a smile on our faces after a really rough day for our family. You reminded us that no matter what, there are still beautiful people out here and reasons to cherish time enjoying a meal together. Wishing you many years of success. Li and Sam Mowry

The Food was good as was the service . The staff were friendlily even though there very busy I've only eaten there twice but I've been pleased not times.

Food was fast and they had outdoor patio and indoor seating. Food come out fairly quick and servers were nice and friendly. Supreme burrito was good although the food was spread unevenly through the burrito. The sauces were very nice. Green was mild and red and spicy, which was described by the waiter. The chips and salsa was good, the salsa might be a tad bit more spicy than what people are used to. The tacos were very good and had a good portion of meat inside them. Personally, the grilled pork was the best out of all the taco meats.

We love nelson's!' The owner is the sweetest person ever and amazing service. Bring from LA, the Mexican food is up to par. Great veggie options and ambiance. Come here!!

DISGUSTING They serve greasy meat over overfried tortilla, mamamia! I had high expectations after the reviews too

Let's start with the good news - service is great, location and ambiance are good and prices are mostly fair. Unfortunately, the food here is below average especially as Mexican food. The chips (free!) are tasty but over-salted. The guacamole seems fresh and is tasty but with too much lime. We had the mixed fajitas (beef, chicken and shrimp) on a sizzling cast iron platter. The biggest issue was the complete lack of flavor - it is as if nothing was added to the meat as marinade or during cooking. Quite bland. The sizzling hot platter burned most of the tiny shrimp charred black - not appealing. We had a side of rice and it was totally dry and bland - no chicken stock flavor whatsoever. Nelson's seems to be a "Eugenized" blanded-down version of Mexican food for the lowest common denominator in the area, unfortunately. Can't say we would return.

Love love love to visit whenever we're in the area. Fresh, tasty, authentic. Would recommend if you like breakfast burritos. Amazingly quick service as well. Can't say enough about the place. Just a great spot.

Food is excellent, portions are large and hot food comes out of the Cocina pretty quick!

Today was my first time ever visiting and it will not be the last! Everything was so fantastic and authentic and everyone was so great, service was fast and super friendly. Our server kept our waters full and our tummy's full!! Was a fantastic experience and I will be going again!! Jordan was the server and they were fantastic!! Thank you Jordon!

i had Nelson's delivered today. The food was horrible! the enchiladas had zero sauce. The corn tortillas were raw and the chicken was weird cubed and dry. The rice was hard and the beans seemed undercooked.

Like a lot of people in Whiteaker, we've been visiting Nelson's cart for years and loving it. So we're thrilled to see him open a full restaurant just steps from where his cart was. The food is delicious. You really need to try the fish burrito with green sauce. I just keep ordering it and ordering it. It's that yummy. Plus, Nelson is a delight. He has a positivity and smile that are delightful.

live yelping currently chips are quite nice *chewing noises* mhm yep salsa is ALSO quite nice *slurping noises* blessings water pour was quite satisfactory flavors of the whitaker boy are splended and let me just say wet that thang up you will not regret it each ooey gooey bit gets better eachtime #yumgasmic

Food was delicious. Service was some of the best service I've ever had. Staff was beyond nice will definitely be back.

FANTASTIC food and drinks, service was phenomenal and responsive. It was also beautiful in the inside!

Ordered online they lost my order waited patiently after saying it would be 5 minutes meanwhile after waiting over 45 minutes some address me stating they hadn't started the order. Kindly I ask well is there anyway you could compensate me the manager said " hey we're busy it's cinco de mayo" want a water! I became very upset asking for a refund and they kicked my out. Terrible service will never go there again! Service and management is terrible

Jordan was nothing short of amazing!! My friends and I came to this place after other restaurants were closed and honestly it was a blessing in disguise. We will be back!! We love Jordan

For Eugene, this is pretty great Mexican food! And for the price and quantity, I would definitely come back here again. Try the wet burritos! Very tasty!

Great service and food. The margaritas (especially the spicy ones) are always solid and I LOVE the birria tacos served on Tuesdays and Fridays!

This is by far the best Mexican restaurant in Eugene and also one of the best restaurants in the area. I have been going to Nelson's for almost two years and it's always a delight and always consistent. The atmosphere is incredible and the service is always impeccable. The food is the true treasure though. I highly recommend the Sampler and Whiteaker Burrito. The food has never let me down in quality, taste and presentation. Do yourself a favor, make sure to stop here and make it a regular haunt. It's important to support local businesses, especially the ones that are invested in their neighborhood and customers.

I had delivery. I'm sure my experience would be better if I ate in house. I'm hoping I'll be able to eat there

This is a difficult review for me because the food was meh, Nelson was so genuine and caring and the staff was everything I thought it shouldn't be. Long story short, I want to support Nelson, but I'll go to a more authentic Mexican restaurant as Eugene has so many. I don't want to discourage anyone from trying their food. In fact, I say give it a try. Then I'd love to hear what you think.

Went here last night and was very pleasantly surprised! My friend and I sat at the bar and enjoyed having nice conversations with the various bartenders and servers. Everyone was SUPER nice and the service was great! They have a very nice drinks menu. My friend and I ordered the jalapeno margarita. It was the perfect amount of spice (not blow your socks off but just enough to let you know there's some kick). All of their drinks looked good though, and they're well priced between $8-$12. Ok. The food. Very good food, large portions, affordable. We shared the Monster Burrito that comes with chicken, steak, AND carnitas. It was amazing. Because I'm fat, I had to try their tacos, too. We got an order of the Al Carbon (delicious!) and the street tacos with carne asada (also good). 3 tacos for $10 I feel is a good deal, and there was no skimping on the filling (and they come with the REQUIRED two tortillas). If you haven't been here, please give this place a try!

The food was deeelicious! So good! Our drinks were perfect. The ambiance of the new place is wonderful. Everyone was friendly, attentive and all had smiles and made one feel very welcomed.

Delicious food and cocktails. Excellent service! I love Nelsons! Live music and great outdoor seating.

Everything was perfect. Madi was amazing! She made me a wonderful mojito and was very sweet. Had she not told me she was training, I'd have thought she had been there for a while! Enchiladas were to die for. Great Monday specials!

A popular lunch choice, there was a little bit of a line around 12:30 on a weekday. The truck had a decent-sized menu, and lots of things that sounded appealing to me. They had many standard Mexican food items, like tacos and quesadillas. They also had more unique soups and tortas. The man taking the orders was Nelson himself I believe, based on how many people he knew by name and how friendly and personal his chats with customers around me was. He was friendly seemed genuinely interested in providing a great experience. The tacos themselves (birria) were fantastic. Piping hot and gooey cheese with a delicious dip/au jus in a to-go cup to dunk them in. The lime added a nice kick of flavor, and the hot sauce he recommended (red) paired perfectly. For a quick, friendly, and under $10 meal in the 'hip' food district, you can't beat this.

There's a reason that Nelson's is a Whiteaker Neighborhood favorite. More than any business in my lifetime, and I am a senior, they excel in kindness and inclusion. That makes their delicious food taste even yummier.

If they have the tamales (almost as good as Jordan's mother's), by all means order them. They ARE superior! But so was my wife's taco salad. So maybe you should order that. We are eager to go back and let Jordan suggest some other items on the menu. Jordan was our waiter though waiter seems like such a weak term...more our brother, our friend welcoming us into his home. He will be our reason for returning as much as the food will be. Sounds corny doesn't it? But allow yourselves to be transported, and you'll have one of the most delightful dining experiences Eugene has to offer.

I wanted to try this place out as a quick grab and go lunch during my workday. I was definitely very disappointed in the al Pastor tacos that I ordered. Usually they have a sweetness to it from the pineapple, but the flavor was mostly just charred from the grill. It lacked what I was craving for your typical hit the spot street taco. The hot sauce that they claimed to be their spiciest lacked flavor the whole meal with missing acid and sweetness. The beans and rice were okay and it was nice to sit outside. But overall this was a miss.

The food is authentic. The service is amazing we always feel like we are VIP. Dining inside or outside, Nelson's is family friendly. They host themed events and are 100% lgbtqia+ friendly! If you haven't, you must give them a try!

I seriously love Nelson's taqueria. Great staff! So friendly!! The prices are good too! They have a cute sitting area. Occasionally the pork tacos can be a little dry, but the beef is always spot on and juicy! Another foodie told me to get the beans...so glad I did. They are really some of the best beans I've had in town. Not the biggest fan of their tortilla chips, but I do love their salsa. A nice medium heat. Their habanero hot sauce is on point and I really also enjoy their green sauce if you like low heat!

First time for breakfast here and it's awesome. Roll up and there is a regular flow of regulars all seemingly getting their usual meal. Delicious burritos! Nelson's is an awesome way to start the day!

Fantastic food, we both had the burritos. We will be going back soon! Hope for a bit of covered seating so we could stay and eat in the rain.

Nice people, open early for breakfast. I'd try anything on the menu. Tasty, fun neighborhood spot, I wish they served coffee but I walked across street and got some while they made my food, all good.

Hands down the yummiest and best priced street tacos in Eugene. The service is unbeatable too!

Service was outstanding. Seated in the outdoor patio and our server never forgot us. We each had burritos which were large, packed with quality ingredients, no fat on the meats or stringy chunks...so tasty! Wish we had room for dessert. We will be returning as this Is a fav place for Mexican food. You have to try this place!!

OK so I been hesitant on certain places tacos since I moved here from LA 8years ago and finally went to Nelson's today and hands down... some of the best carne asada tacos I've had in Eugene/Springfield... I have high expectations and they hit the mark and their salsa is amazing too! Just the right amount of heat and the habanero is the fire on top! Takes a lot for me to knock this down in 15 mins but couldn't stop once I started ‍

Nelson Nelson Nelson a day one always got fire tacos very good and enjoyed very much recommend to check them out

Haven't had a bad meal here yet. Fish tacos are delicious, the adobada is good, the chicken is amazing.!great prices, great food, big portions, good hot sauce. Can't wait to try the burrito, torta, and a breakfast item eventually. But we've had the tacos and a chicken quesadilla several times now and it's always consistent, and consistently good. Plus Nelson is really nice, and I'm always happy to support that! They are also happy to make changes to items to suit dietary needs, which is appreciated. If they had a place that sold cold beer/cider right there, I'd be here way more often. An ice cold La Familia Jamaica/hibiscus cider and a chicken quesadilla would be perfection. But even without an adult beverage, it's still tasty and I'd highly recommend it!

No salsa? Terrible service. The food is decent, but overall pathetic. I won't come again.

Food was super good and our server Louis was super fast and friendly! Best Mexican food in Eugene don't waist your time going anywhere else definitely come for the birria tacos only on Tuesdays and Friday hella fire!

Came in for drinks and Louis was my bartender, he suggested a blackberry margarita and made it beautifully. Wish I took a picture but I drank it too fast I'll definitely be back for more and to enjoy their outdoor patio more!

Terrible food ""If your gonna use a Microwave I suggest you master it" .I will not come back here for multiple reasons and I have lived in the neighborhood for going on 12 years! Food burnt in a microwave"OMG" and when I called to communicate the issue the other half treated me like an idiot questioning me like I have motive that ridiculous! As for you for selling out to a building and producing a sub-par food now , I'll go to Super Tacos or Dos Banderas from now on to fulfill my authentic cravings.

Had the Nelson burrito and it was amazing! Staff was extremely friendly and very fun to talk to. The burrito was super good, the tortilla was amazing. Overall would definitely recommend and I will be coming back

This is the best mexican food ever tied with nelsons in the whit!!! Its awesome for when you want nelsons but its lunchtime!!!

Overpriced street tacos made by college kids. I'm not saying the food was bad, but it was "just ok" and not worth it for the price. Definitely going to a legit taqueria next time.

Delicious! and not only great service but incredibly sweet humans! I try to get by the taqueria or restaurant when I'm in Eugene!

I've lived in the neighborhood where this Taqueria is located. Nelson and his crew have consistently been so great and reliable for delicious Mexican cuisine. And to mention food cart life is hard work.. Their menu is amazing and so affordable. I personally like to order a chile relleno wrapped in a burrito, it is the best with a side of their habanero salsa! Visit Nelson soon and you'll find out what I mean! He is so kind.

Tasty taqueria! Stopped here with my sister for lunch today. There were about 8 people waiting for food around noon--always a good sign! My sister got an order of birria tacos and I got an al pastor torta. The wait was short, the service was friendly, and the food was delish. I think this place has the best birria tacos I've tried in town. This was my first visit and it surely won't be my last. Next time, I'm looking forward to trying a burrito!

I love the food! The ambience and the owners! This is the place to go for good Mexican food. Did I mention drinks? Oh my!! Love it here. Having lived near Mexico and been to Mexico more times than I can count.. this is the place to go for the real stuff! THANK YOU for bringing Mexico to Eugene! God bless you guys!!!