Tacos 1986

Best Taco and Vampiro closed to Santa Monica Pier. I could taste the freshness and warmness of the corn tortillas, hence they are making it immediately from a dough instead of using industry ones. The taste of items were very good. Personal and Service really friendly. I loved it. Best Taco and Vampiro, located near Santa Monica Pier, offers exceptional tacos and a delightful atmosphere. The freshness and warmth of the corn tortillas are evident, as they are prepared immediately from scratch rather than using industrial-grade tortillas. The flavors of the dishes are exceptional, and the staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience.

Excellent food and service. I was looking for a vegetarian option and the person at the counter helped me with a Cheese Enchiladas with guacamole and salsa. I topped it with the amazing range of different sauces ranging from non spicy to flaming hot spicy. They all are super yummy. A must try place for anyone coming to Santa Monica.

Great tacos! Legit like ones I've had in Mexico. Good salsas, guacamole, rice, and beans too. Definitely recommend for authentic tacos!

Went on a Sunday noon and the young man that served us was so nice! Also, not to mention, super great Tacos! I especially love the breakfast bacon, egg, and cheese taco!

First time for everything! The staff were amazing, the food was pretty good! The kids ate it all, so that’s shows they are tasty! New Mexican Approved! Try the VAMPRIO-steak!

A great discovery in Santa Monica! Naomi and Lorenzo welcomed us with a smile and were extremely friendly and efficient! Very little waiting time and a Mexican musical atmosphere complete the experience! Thank you: we really enjoyed your tacos and burritos!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emmanuel greeted us as soon as we walked into the establishment. His service was excellent, and the food was outstanding! So delicious that we had to order twice. I will definitely be stopping by again for some delicious and fresh tacos and quesadillas. The agua fresca de limón was spectacular.

my boyfriend and i came here to eat. the portions of the food are so small, i was expecting a cheese tortilla that was bigger like usual tortillas are but instead the tortilla was the size of my palm (without fingers included obviously) honestly i’m not sure if there even was cheese because there was more guacamole and sauce slapped on it than the actual “cheese” if there even was any. i’m not hispanic, or am not familiar with authentic mexican food but from the restaurants i’ve been too quesadillas have always had a bottom tortilla and a top tortilla with guacamole and sour cream on the side. anyway, moving on to my boyfriends taco, the size was smaller than his own hand, i believe the total was $17 unfortunately very disappointing. if the portions were better it would be a favorable place to eat.

February, March, April & May 2024/Santa Monica: What can I say, I absolutely love this place & come often! There's nothing like the Mushroom Tacos at Tacos 1986! They are out of this world delicious!!! Popular: Each time I've been to this place, it's been crowded, as it's very popular, because the food is so so yummy! I've introduced several friends to this place and they love it as well and they ate the meat tacos! However, they enjoy the mushroom tacos as well! Friendly: Customer service is top-of-the-line, always friendly & with a smile!! The line was once again out the door when I ate there today! Order Up: You order at the counter, there is indoor seating, great music playing and they will bring you your order and/or call out your name! Overall: I truly love this place, easily my favorite tacos! Tacos 1986 makes phenomenal mushroom tacos, always excellent customer service, steps away from the Santa Monica Pier and just thinking about the tacos makes my mouth water & I just ate there... Yes, they're that good!! Yum!

very much a hole in the wall!! passed this place as we were walking by and decided to take a shot. Tacos were really good- absolutely no complaints. Service was great as well!

Yummy tacos and quesadilla! Really enjoyed the food here it was cheap authentic and tasty! The guac was awesome but the salsas and sauces were too spicy for me. The experience was good overall fast service great prices and good food! Located minutes from the big Santa Monica pier!

Great food and lots of salsa options. Highly recommend this - awesome value! I choice the mushroom and pastor option which did not disappoint. Attentive customer service, clean, and cured my taco fix.

Food was delicious!! Had a great time for my first time Definitely recommend the vampiro

Highly recommend! Not a lot of meat selection but quality all around. That Al pastor tho.... Quesadilla may be heavy

I loved their red salsa -- it had a unique smokiness to it that paired well with their tacos. I got a combo of the adobo pork, carne asada, and chicken, and enjoyed all three of them, though the pork may have had a slight edge. I also enjoyed pairing their cucumbers from the salsa bar with their green chili. Their horchata was very sweet but still enjoyable

Ahh,Tacos 1986. What can I say? They sure have interesting food. But what I really like is that you can find a special surprise, in the form of glass, in your burrito. It's really something when you take a bite out of your meal and have it cut your mouth and throat on the way down. But really, really, what I love even more about this place is that when you let the staff know that you found this special surprise in your food, they respond nonchalantly with the following " Oh yea, some glass broke over the counter. I guess it fell into the meat." And don't make any intent to get rid of possibly contaminated meat. Oh, top notch service for sure. I really love a spot that immediately upends your day and lands you in the ER to make sure there is no glass lodged in your throat or stomach. You really can't top that! Proceed at your own risk. Seriously.

Tacos 1986 is a taco shop with tacos that are out of this world! * Carne asada taco - this is the stuff that makes you crave it from time to time. Carne asada meat was so flavorful but it was the guacamole that took this taco to another level. But wait....there's an even better taco than this one.... * Al Pastor taco - this was the true gem of Tacos 1986. My wife was the one that got this and I only took one bite to try it and wow, this was sooo good. I thought I love the carne asada taco but this is the one I'd marry. Best al pastor taco I've ever had. * Hongo/Mushroom taco - wife got this and said it was good, but all she wanted was to keep eating the Al Pastor tacos. Besides the food, the service was top notch, very friendly and helpful. Pro tip - come here around 5-6pm and there is no crowd. We went around this time had the whole place to ourselves. We passed by around 9pm and the place was packed. What are you doing still reading this review, go to Tacos 1986 and get some Al Pastor tacos!!

Randomly bumped into this taco place I had heard of while in Santa Monica. I ordered 2 carne Asada tacos. I also ordered 2 tacos from the kids menu, beans and guacamole on the side, good price. But the Asada had all the fat, we basically had to pick out all the good parts. They look great, but the flavor was just not there. Simple menu, easy to make a choice. Need more protein choices that's for sure. 3.7 stars, Might try out it again, just at a different location.

BEST TACOS ON THE WESTSIDE! (Or maybe all of LA?) Here's why: 1. Fresh meat and lots of it for the price. 2. No upcharge for guacamole 3. You can get yours with NO CILANTRO and still enjoy the salsa (mild) and onions. (All others serve pico de gallo with cilantro) 4. MUSHROOM tacos -- best I've ever had! No outside seating but counter space inside to eat. Wish they had lower tables/chairs instead of metal stools but they are limited in space. Now I don't have to go to Westwood or DTLA to get my fix.

Had 3 meats asada was good, pollo was pretty bland, al pastor was decent. Service was fast. Had some counter space eat, wasn't loud when I went there. I could give it another try

Tacos 1986 is a taqueria chain specializing in Tijuana style tacos, with locations all around LA now. This location is about a minute from the Santa Monica pier, so very good real estate. The tacos were very solid and decently priced, I especially liked the guacamole here. The meat and tortillas and salsas were good as well. Service was actually especially good here, so they get a plus for that. Food came out super quickly too, to the point where a line barely formed just because they were getting food out that fast.

Holy cow! These tacos are delicious! I went there for their grand opening as they were doing a free promo and you bet I'll be coming back! I got the Hongo mushroom taco with everything on it which includes onion, cilantro, guacamole, and salsa. Shout out for not charging for guacamole! Super delicious and tastes like a homemade street taco but located in an In-N-Out style casual dining restaurant. This is a really good stop if you're looking for a quick bite to eat and a great alternative to a fast food restaurant. Heck, order some tacos and bring them down to the beach for a picnic. Enjoy and welcome to the neighborhood!

Mis tacos do hongo (veganos) con todo estuvieron deliciosos como siempre! Me encanta que hay bastante mesas y banquillos y el espacio está muy amplio. Buen servicio y comida deliciosa a unos pasos de la playa!

Friendly people and great tacos. Options are a bit limited but I think that makes it good

This place is right across the street from The Santa Monica pier. It is a affordable food option near the beach where most things are expensive. The place is small but neat and clean. The customer service was great and the food came out fast and fresh. The food had great flavor and was cooked well. They had a few sauce options. The menu was pretty simple Mexican food like burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and bowls. The tacos I had were $ 3.75 each. I recommend stopping if you are in the area and in the mood for tacos or Mexican food.

This is a fast food taco place with a small seating area. It's at least the third Mexican restaurant in this location. The burrito I had--mix of carne asada and mushrooms--was good. I really liked the mushrooms. And enjoyed the beans and guacamole in the burrito. If you are looking for take out, or a quick meal, this is a good choice.

Tacos 1986 is great place to stop and take a break if you are hanging out at the beach or in my case charging my electric car. I love the carne asada tacos and the service is very friendly! The store is right in view of the Santa Monica Pier.

I got a taco and a mulita, both were not good. Especially for the price. Very little meat on both and the mulita had very little cheese. Just go somewhere else

Bad service, worse food. I waited for over 5 minutes before being acknowledged, and my crappy taco took forever too.

Tasty Mexican spot that has good carne asada tacos. The tacos automatically come with guacamole. Came here for dinner around 7:30pm on a Saturday and there was no line, but there's a steady stream if people coming in and out. Indoor seating is available. There's a self-service salsa bar and they have cucumbers and radishes as well. I opted for the combo that came with three tacos and a drink. They have premade horchata and juices (including jamaica) in the fridge. They do have a vegetarian option (mushrooms - hongos). For those that eat pork, the adobada is also on point. The workers were friendly and it's a good casual spot to grab a quick bite.

3 tacos for $10!!! Yasss! This location is so much better than the DTLA location. It's larger, cleaner and they serve cucumbers as a side garnish for your tacos!

Great Al pastor tacos . Love the salsa macha. Highly recommend. Burritos are a bit on the smaller size but taste great.

LA is known for excellent tacos. unfortunately this place had the worst tacos. the meat was not fresh and the tortillas were not heated up. just a high traffic tourist spot you would think the restaurant would serve better quality food. to me it just seemed like left over from the night before. I had much better tacos at the food trucks where they are cooking everything fresh. recommend skipping this place!

Place ran out of asada .bad service. The food sucks The worst 50bucks spent. I kids quesadillas was burnt and I could've made that myself

Tacos 1986 is such a good deal: great prices and yummy tacos. They are simple but insanely tasty. It is an LA staple that I keep coming back to.

I chose to come here mainly cause Mexican food is always good, quick and easy ( at least i thought it would be especially with a menu including: tacos, burritos & quesadillas.) Anyways, I was wrong and placed an order for pick up. I got a confirmation text saying that the order is ready for pick up and headed to the restaurant. It wasn't until I walked in had the guy told me that they had ran out of chicken burritos. In my head I was wondering well then why did i just get noticed my orders ready instead of a message saying the item was out of stock. Slightly frustrated by the situation, i ordered 3 tacos instead. Three employees were working and the foods served cafeteria style (or chipotle) but i still waited an additional 10 mins for the tacos. More so, I wasn't even offered a refund for the burrito or given the difference of the items. The food ended up being average but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

I wish there was one closer. I'm always looking for TJ style tacos and can't find much out there. The food and service is solid. A date night favorite.

Stopped by after visiting the pier and thoroughly enjoyed it. We tried the asada and adobada tacos and were very satisfied with the taste but topped it off was the HAND MADE tortillas. The horchata was very good as well.

Place is hit or miss. First time the asada burrito was good but expensive. Second time the meat was all fat and not trimmed or cut properly. For $14 a burrito thats a negatory. Employees are nice but whoever is preparing and cutting the meat needs to do way better. Serving people cuts of meat you cant eveb chew through because its too much fat is unacceptable in the restaurant business.

Execellet reasonably priced tacos! Great choice if you are looking for a quick meal near the beach.

Yes Yea Yes !!! I have been waiting for soooo long for Tacos 1986 to open in Santa Monica and the wait was worth it because the food is amazing !!!!

First, I want to say that I LOVE Tacos 1986 personally but was very disappointed and a bit embarrassed ordering food for the office and not everyone was fed. I ordered TWO 20 Person Platters. And we ran out of food after the 26th person. I chose this place because I wanted to introduce my coworkers to one of my favorite places after hearing about their store opening in Santa Monica. While the food is delicious, I was very disappointed with the party platter portions. I was also disappointed that I reached out to 1986 online last week and still haven't heard anything. I'm not one to do yelp reviews often, but it really bummed me out when coworkers were coming up to me saying they didn't get a chance to eat lunch. I felt like it was on me.

The quesadillas and tacos were amazing! Also the customer service was phenomenal and we got our food in a blink of an eye! Definitely would recommend for some Mexican food!

Excelente servicio, muy buena atención y muy buenos tacos, volveré cada vez que tenga la oportunidad garantizado 100%

BEST TACOS IN SANTA MONICA! Quesadilla tacos unmatched! Prices are super fair and right off the pier! such a Great spot and very great service! My bf is mexican so you can trust us!

Taco and Malita were delicious and the music made it feel like home. The service was friendly, quick and professional.

Meh. That about sums it up. These 5 star reviews must all be from tourists and transplants. Pros Good price Cons Mediocre Tons of better taco spots in south side Santa Monica and Venice Just wouldn't go out of my way to eat here unless I'm at the promenade. I live in Venice only a 10 min drive away so that should tell you something. Updating this to 1 star the carne asada was inedible and chewy. The horchata was the best part of the meal. So lame , they just rely on tourist traffic. Good luck

By far the BEST tacos in LA. Fresh, lots of gauc, great service, and amazing salsas. The mushroom taco is out of this world. I'll definitely become a regular here. And great prices.

Food was mid. Good portions. Kinda salty. I asked for a fountain drink lady with orange hair didn't even fill my drink gave me half a cup of coke and got my drink wrong the first timd.

Honestly I am speechless! The food was a 9.5 out of 10, I got a carne asada taco, a taco de adobada and a quesadilla de asada, they were juicy, well seasoned and cooked and overall amazing, I loved that the tortillas were fresh and that its all made to order. The service was INCREDIBLE! The order didn't take long and Benjamin is the absolute sweetest, super welcoming, understanding and patient, I work in the food industry and I love to see great service so thank you Benjamin!

The food was delicious, although their menu is a bit small, they have some great choices for a great price. The cashier was super nice and helpful, something small but awesome that they do is they bring your food to you! The only drawback is that they have very limited seating. Would highly recommend if you're going to see Santa Monica pier.

Not going back to this place. I ordered online for Curbside pickup because parking is hard in Santa Monica. When you go to pay your order online, it gives you the option to select Curbside, and then it asks you to write your car's make/model/color. I go pick up my food, and the girl inside clearly sees me outside and ignores me. I lightly hunk my horn and I say, pick up, and she ignores me again. I get out of the car, which is in a very bad location, and I tell her the order was for curbside pick up, and she said, I'm NOT GOING OUT THERE!! And started saying things like, I don't get paid to do that, you got out of your car and nothing happened, ***in a very rude way,*** while I kept telling her that is offered on their website. Either she didn't want to do it, or she doesn't know they have that option, and if you don't want to offer that, please don't have it as an option. Oh and please you need to train your employees in customer service, or don't hire rude people.

Always a great meal at Tacos 1986!!! very busy but we were served quickly. Don't worry about the lines, the team is working hard to make sure you're served with quality! Even though it was busy we got seats and people tend to keep moving

Horrible service! There was no line to order and I stood there waiting for someone to take my order. Not even a 'hold on I will attend you in a minute' nothing!! As for the food, it is stale! Definitely not fresh!! And as for the ambiance, terrible!!!

Food was good. Service was horrible lady at the register had a bad attitude cook tried to help the situation. She just told him to go away, I bought a pound of meat wouldn't give me salsa in a bigger container just wanted me to take those little ones from the self-service station. Looks like she did not want to be there.also stated talking crap about me to the Cook in Spanish, thinking I didn't understand Spanish.

The place had some really good food and it was super convenient since we planned to go to the beach straight after. The service was quick and they were super nice. Overall it was a good experience to eat here. Will be coming again.

I go to the Westwood location frequently. Won't be coming back to this one. It was filthy inside, salsa bar was not being restocked, tacos looked about half the size of the Westwood ones, taquero was very slow, employee prepping tacos rubbed hands through their hair, etc.