Tacos Don Rafa

I live in a much bigger city with a huge Mexican immigrant population, so I have no shortage of great Mexican food at home -- traditional, regional, modern, fusion. So when I say this little cart has some of the best tacos I've ever had in my life, I know what I'm saying! These are more CDMX style (I think) so they're a little smaller and on lighter tortillas than what we get in other parts of the country. I ate 5 and was still hungry, but they're priced well so no problem. They're served just meat on tortilla; take your plate from the counter and walk around to the side, where you can put your toppings on from the self-serve cooler while also paying an employee (you might need to wait a minute if they're getting supplies from the truck). They take cash and card, no apps. Amazing food. I'm only in town a few days and have a busy work schedule, but Google says this stand is open until late at night, so I might very well come back every single night!

No frills taco cart in the middle of Salt Lake City. The food is first rate, the toppings are crazy fresh, and the horchata is tasty and cold. Super nice staff. Totally affordable. I had the quesadilla with chicken mole. Highly recommend!

Found this taco stand by chance and woooooo it was sooooo good. My daughters ordered the buche tacos and buche burrito. I got the asada tacos. Very cool spot to eat as well.

This taco stand has great tacos. I do believe these are the best quick and reasonably priced tacos in downtown Salt Lake. Great customer service, and there’s plenty of parking inside the lot. It works better if you bring cash.

I have been to this truck once, I was burned by the side of the truck and brought it to the owners attention that they should put up some caution hot signs. I was told that they would put them up, and they never did. I decided to just talk to the owners in person, and I have never been treated with such lack of empathy, the lady working the truck kept telling me it was my fault and that they wouldn’t put signs up. I was trying to help their business from someone else being hurt, and was talked down too. They do not care for customers safety, and kept arguing with me on a sign that would help protect their business. Do not support these people.

Tacos Don Rafa catered my wedding this weekend and I cannot say enough good things about them. In the months leading up to the wedding they were very responsive and always got back to us so quickly whenever we had questions. On the day of, they handled everything without a single hitch, and both the food and the service were so professional! Our chef for the day of was JJ and he was so wonderful to work with (as were the staff he brought with him) and we got SO many compliments on the food! Everyone was so impressed! Would definitely recommend them as a delicious (and affordable!) option for weddings and events in the Salt Lake area.

Best tacos for sure. Had 1 of each and sucked em down. Fast, cheap, and tasty. Thank you, Don Rafa!!

I photographed a wedding and they had Tacos Don Rafa cater and I was so impressed, the food was so so so good, the service was great, the line of people went quickly and they were some of the best tacos that I had had in a long time from a business!

Definitely in my top 5 in favorite taco trucks! Very authentic and flavorful! Went 2 days in a row! Service is quick and everyone is really friendly! Def check them out if you're in SLC!

ALWAYS ASK TO SEE THE SCREEN BEFORE THEY CHARGE YOU. The burritos are great and well priced, but they like to overcharge you. They will tell you one price and put a larger charge on your card. OR they will just try to up charge you from the get-go and hope that you don't ask to see a price breakdown. Great food, but please don't let them charge you before seeing the screen.

Went to the Latino Arts festival in Park City and tacos Don Rafa were here. I had heard good things about their food and decided to give them a try. Staff wasn't the friendliest but hey it's a hot day with a huge crowd so no big deal. The orders were limited to burrito and taco combos, that come with a canned soda, rice and beans. The taco combo comes with three. Went with the asada and boy were these mediocre. Cheapest cut of chewy meat drenched in oil to help enhance the flavor nestled inside of a store bought tortilla. Tiny tacos with subpar meat filled with the sort of gristle you won't enjoy. For $15 I felt ripped off. The burrito was mostly bright orange rice, not the usual light red rice an abuela makes, filled with half melted cheese, and what appears to be canned beans with a sprinkle of that ghastly meat. Not sure what the hype is about but this place is substandard at best. If you're hungry with no options it's better than nothing but really not worth your money at $5 a taco.

This taco stand has great tacos. I do believe these are the best quick and reasonably priced tacos in downtown Salt Lake. Great customer service, and there's plenty of parking inside the lot. It works better if you bring cash.

Be on the look out or you'll pass right by this amazing little taco cart. Tacos don Rafa delivers quick and delicious tacos burritos and quesadillas. The folks running this small cart at lightning fast so even if there's a line go ahead and wait a few minutes. Sauces are in a cooler next to the cart and range from a spicy red salsa, a medium verde, to a fantastic guacamole salsa. Only downside here is that there's no way to take the sauces to go so I had to smother my quesadilla in it. There is some picnic tables setup behind the cart in the old sears parking lot but if it's a cold day like it was today, this is a take it to go kind of place. Just be wary you're probably my gonna crush the tacos before you even pull out of your parking spot

Super cheap and chill, fresh ingredients, including salsas. Great for a late night bite. This should be a Salt Lake City staple.

TDR is life! I'm a frequent visitor here and am always met with quality, quick service. It's affordable and makes for a wonderful late night fixing. Every ingredient is fresh and they have an outdoor seating section if you want to take your time with your tacos on a warm day. I'd seriously rent this taco cart for a big occasion if given the chance - they're really that good!!

This place is legit. There is nearby street parking and there are places to sit behind their stand. I went around 6ish pm and the line was not long at all. The people were super nice and they were quick to give me my food. I loved that I was able to add the toppings and condiments I wanted and they wrapped the burrito for me afterwards. The meat was super flavorful. Would recommend and I'll definitely go back next time in the area.

Mistake on my previous review. Fat thumbs so I'm not sure how that happened but it's time for this lovely little spot to be appreciated. This place deserves its 5 stars.

Tacos were ok, your average street taco nothing special. Burritos where trash hardly any meat and the beans and rice are tasteless. The rice was the worst. They no longer take apple pay so I had to leave after my food was made and get cash, huge inconvenience for such mid food. Will never come back definitely not for me.

This is a little food truck in SLC with bangin' tacos. We tried the carne asada and al pastor. Both were great! I tried the mild green sauce and got all the toppings on my taco and it was excellent. 1.50 for a taco is a great price and they're the perfect size to be eating when your on the side of the road. Love that they're open late!! Loved the kind lady who helped us!! Will definitely be returning. Not sure if they park in the same place every time they open but the lot behind the truck was very convenient for parking.

You can't go wrong with this place. I always let them make 4 different tacos of their choice and am never disappointed.

The best Mexican food in Salt Lake hands down. As a native Angeleno, my bar is set pretty high and this taco cart nails it every time. Amazing Al Pastor and their horchata is great too.

I called the Millcreek store yesterday (3/10/25) around 3pm to check prices for a pick up order that we wanted to place. No one answered the phone. I later got a text asking me to text them. I did as requested, but no response for at least 3 hours. When they responded, it was only a link to a web site, but not their Millcreek store. By that time we ended up going somewhere else. Service is very poor. It's best to avoid Tacos don Rafa.

Pro-tip: There's actually two trucks on the same corner, so make sure you're going to the one you intended. Keep an eye out for homeless people nearby. Highlights: It's open late! It's pretty affordable at $1.50 per taco. We got almost all the meats and they were all flavorful, but I really think the most delicious item was the spicy pork quesadilla! The flour tortilla was soft and chewy, the pork had the right spices and was a little fat so it made it juicy and combined with the cheese and fixings, it was perfect. I would go again just for the quesadilla. Lowlights: They were running out of cabbage and I love my tacos to be basically more like a salad than a taco, so I wish there was more cabbage. They just squeeze the salsas right on top of the tacos and I wish they could give out containers of them instead so you can mix and match and the tacos wouldn't get soggy.

Hands down my favorite street tacos. Doesn't matter where I travel to, I still find that TDR has the best quality and flavor. The carne asada and chicken fajita are my go to. They've done a good job with their outdoor eating area despite all the construction going on next to them. It's a great spot to grab some tacos and hangout during a summer night.

Authentic street tacos from hard working staff. This place was always a go to when I lived nearby. Great prices for fresh and delicious tacos.

BEST street tacos in Utah!! The best service and has the best horchata & condiments!!

Stopped by on my run while on a layover and got a Pollo Mole Burrito - Freshly made, quality toppings, lots of options to add. I wanted more than Street Tacos. There was a line, so I had to wait. It gave me a chance to see what the items looked like and what folks were ordering - most getting tacos. Get the Cilantro, Tomatoes, and Onions, Avocado Sauce, Sour Cream, and Hot Sauce. Other customers warned the Red Sauce was too hot...I don't think so. The Avocado Sauce was excellent. The Chicken didn't hold up well to everything I added and got lost in mix; I'll try the Pork next time...or maybe the Tacos.

We had the pleasure of having Tacos Don Rafa at a local event. We tried all of their meat options and each taco we had was DELICIOUS! The meat doesn't need any toppings - it is so flavorful and perfectly cooked. Their house made salsas are delicious - fresh, authentic, perfectly textured and zingy. I didn't get a photo as we devoured them too quickly! I recommend getting 4-6 street tacos for a meal. Fairly priced, delicious and authentic. Can't go wrong!

The tacos from this stand are delicious. Every time the tacos are really good and there is fast service and honestly the best tacos in Salt lake. Best bang for your buck.

Just got to SLC and I walked to Don Rafa's from my hotel. I got some carne asada, barbacoa, carnitas, and al pastor tacos. It was perfect!

I had the yummiest street tacos here today!! I had to try out one of the chicken, beef, and pork and honestly couldn't pick a favorite between them. They were all delicious and full of flavor! I love all the toppings you can put on them as well. I'll be back!

A must try! They are sooo goood and only a $1 for taco. Yes, only $1 a taco and $4 for a huge burrito. The employees are very nice with and fast. The line was huge at almost 11 pm but they were so fast than in less that 5 minutes I was in and out of the line. They have a lot of meat options as well as veggie options like rice and beans burrito. I tried 8 different kinds of tacos and they were all good. My favorite was the carne asada. The toppings and salsa, in the fridge next to the cart were awesome. Lost of fresh and crispy veggies, pico de gallo, crema, and at least 3 salsas. The red salsa was very spicy for me but one of the green salsa was perfect for me. Highly recommend!

Sketchy but that comes with getting good street tacos. When I thing Utah I don't think Mexican food but we were pleasantly surprised. We got fajita chicken, carne asada & pastor. I couldn't pick a favorite they all were good & hit the spot!

So good, and a great late night eat! The food was fast and there were lots of options for toppings. I love Al pastor, and this was pretty good! I was surprised by how amazing the barbacoa was-- I definitely recommend that one! My tortillas were pretty wet and completely fell apart, but they tasted great!

Was walking around downtown to grab food at Oh Mai Sandwich (which was delicious) and as we were walking we stumbled upon this taco cart. We were very intrigued after seeing so many cars drop by for this little cart. Located in a corner street in the parking lot of Sears. Simple menu: tacos, burritos, quesadilla. Got their al pastor, carne asada, and Cabreza taco. All are so good and tasty. Their fixings and toppings such as guac and crema was perfection. Simple yet perfect. Good authentic Mexican food under budget. Do yourself a favor and try this taco stand any time of day. That's a lot coming from someone from SoCal! Thanks Tacos don Rafa!!!

The food and service is really bad. They treat Latinos different. I felt discriminated. Who puts sour cream on tacos?????? I do not recommend! If I wanted onions tacos, I will make myself.

Run to this taco cart NOW! We moved to southern Utah from Arizona a few years ago. Street tacos are one of the main things we miss. We happened upon this taco cart on a trip up north and we were so excited. First of all, the tacos are $1.50!!! I have not seen tacos that cheap in years. Second, they taste great, especially the carne asada and al pastor. The cilantro, onions, cabbage, sauce, etc. was all on point and super fresh.

I just wanna say if you haven't heard of TDR yet you're playing yourself. These guys are the bomb and have the best quality service and food. They'll go above and beyond for you. I had a door dash driver not pick up my order and they really sent their own employee to deliver and it was fresh! Love these people and hope to see them here for generations to come:)

Delicious! Awkward service. Would be better if I could understand Spanish. No napkins. Tacos are still worth it. You should at least try this place.

If you have not been to this taco truck yet, I highly recommend that you stop in for at least a taco! The prices have gone up since I first lived here but you still can't beat the best street taco for $1.00 and the cheesiest quesadilla for $4.00. The salsa bar is inside a cooler with a variety of options to dress up your plate: pickled carrots and jalapeños, hot mild and medium sauces, sour cream, onions, cilantro, and pico de Gallo! They're in competition with the other food truck just literally around the corner, but tacos don Rafa takes the win for me every time.

Pros: The burritos are HUUUGE. Forget Betos, these burritos are the real deal. If I weren't so famished, I could've saved the burrito for another meal. Cons: The meats are dry and not seasoned well. The only thing that separated the al pastor and the carne asada were the colors and texture -- besides that, I couldn't tell the difference because of the lack of flavors. The tacos are also smaller than the ones I've gotten at other taco stands, probably because they maintain the $1 tacos rather than raise them up a few cents. Warning: There are a lot of homeless people wandering around begging for change. Not that I'm unwilling to donate a few dollars, it is annoying to be pestered while I'm just trying to enjoy my lunch. This one homeless man followed us from our car to the taco stand, while another knocked on our car window begging for the dollar he saw in our cup holder. Needless to say, we quickly drove home and enjoyed our meal in peace.

Best street tacos in SLC. The food at this cart has always been the best. I never leave SLC without visiting this cart for lunch or dinner.

DAMN. Chicken burrito, two pastor tacos, and a bottle of water $10. This was maybe the best burrito I've ever had. The tortillas were SO GOOD. Well seasoned meats, fresh pico, onions, cilantro, radishes, and salsas. The people working here were really sweet and they have a seating area with picnic tables behind the truck. If I lived in SLC, I'd be here all the time.

Wow. Wow. Wow. The best taco truck I've tried- well in Utah. I like how fresh and flavorful the ingredients are. They basically hand you your taco, burrito whatever with only the meat/cheese- you as the customer then go to the condiments and add as much and whatever you want to complete your order. Sooooo goOd. I can't stress that enough.

Really good, really cheap tacos. Cash only, in the old Sears parking lot. (. ).

Very yummy! Used their app (very easy to use and pay) We tried all three proteins! Fast! Fresh!Simple! Prepared right there, like a taco truck but no wheels. Very festive decor for folks dinning in. Lots of parking. We will be back soon...like this Saturday.

I ate here late one night and let me just say if you want to throw up and be shitting your pants this is your place.

I was wondering around SLC searching for an easy, affordable, and delicious lunch. I tried several establishments, but nothing caught my eye until I saw the crowd around this stand. Surely, it was a sign of greatness--and I was right! I got a ginormous, delicious burrito for $4. Service was fast and friendly. There was a short wall right along the sidewalk, the perfect place to nosh on a quick meal. Don Rafa saved the day!

Craving satisfied. We can all relax now. Sometimes you just get a hankering for some street food. A big fatty burrito with all the fixins rolled up tightly inside and sloppily snarfed up while hovering over a paper plate. Did I let the rain deter me from the carnitas burrito I'd been dreaming of for days? No I did not. No. I. Did. Not. That's the thing with Don Rafa. They're in it to win it. So come rain or shine they're out there hustling and making it happen. They've been around since the '90s, if memory serves, and they're not going anywhere. Apparently the cart on the south side of 800 S. is Don Rafa 2. This merits investigation. To clarify any confusion, this is the cart that faces east on State Street. It's located on the sidewalk of the Sears parking lot. To clarify any more confusion (or perhaps to create a little), Tacos El Toro is a stone's throw away, facing 800 S. Like, a small stone. A pebble. Right now the winds blow in favor of El Toro, but to be completely honest, I'd take either. After sampling a few items from each I can say they're both excellent and exactly what you want in a Mexican food cart. The carnitas was pitch perfect--tender, juicy, and full of flavor. As toppings go, they've got the standards in their cooler, but don't get carried away with anything too fancy. Enough to dress up your tacos or burritos. Never forget the lime. I once read a useful review about proper burrito etiquette, so I'm totally copying it here for any street food virgins. If you get a burrito, load up your toppings from the cooler and then hand it back to the person running the cart. They'll roll it up like a pro and hand it back. They're not too concerned about you paying right away, either. When you leave the general vicinity of the cart, you can pay. But if you stand right there to eat it, most cart vendors don't care if you pay pre-chow or post. You're welcome, newbs.

These tacos are truly amazing! Being from Cali, I was always a taco aficionado and would always appreciate a good taco when I had one lol. My husband and I booked TDR for our gender reveal party yesterday, July 20th, and let's just say that all our guests enjoyed the food!! Rafael was there about an hour early to set up and served fresh tacos right on time! We will definitely be booking em again for our baby shower! Lol Thank you so much!! One love & Jah bless

Best, most authentic tacos I've had outside of Mexico. And Cheap! I'm not really sure what else I need to tell you, other than check this place out as soon as you get a chance. I drove by this place for years without checking it out! Then, one fateful night, I headed to my Yelp App in hopes of taking care of a craving for mexican food. Boom, Tacos Don Rafa... I thought to myself, "Nooooo, it can't be that little stand I've gone by so many times." But alas, it was. And now I crave this place much more than I should publicly admit. $1.50 for 2 tacos?! $3 for a burrito?! It's going to be a struggle to resist overeating. Pick your type of meat, watch em do their thing, and then pick & add your toppings that can be found in a cooler to the side. Try it. You won't regret it. There's another stand on the same corner. It's great as well, same prices & all, but the meat isn't typically as moist as Don Rafas.

This is the best taco truck in SLC. My friends in Colorado had heard of it, but never had been. That's the first stop we made when they came to town!

Visiting Salt Lake City for the weekend, I made it a prominent factor for us to get tacos. This small taco cart was on the side of the road and ready to take all of my taco fund money. The smell of the tacos cooking will have your mouth watering the second you walk up to the cart. I ordered about 5 tacos, all decent, with enough meat in them to satisfy me, a gluttonous taco eater. There's a small cart on the side for you to mix and match your desired toppings. Be aware, these tacos are on the smaller side, but they are not bad for $1 street tacos! MAKE SURE TO BRING CASH. As this is only cash only. (If you forget there's a bank two blocks down the street... which is where we went!) Also word of advice, I'd make sure to order the pastor taco. Great flavor with a little kick!

My favorite tacos in Utah. My favorite location is the bountiful location! My husband go twice a day some days, we love it so much! So tasty.

When my food isn't good at another restaurant in downtown my go-to taco stop is Don Rafa. The food is reasonable price and it is yummy and comes with lots of sides like lemons, pico de gallo, and even guacamole which blends in nice when you get a burrito.

You can have the best tacos in the world, but if your customer service is trash your business is TRASH. Called for info about hours and dude hung up after complaining about his day lol.

Bomb.com! Great flavor!!! Best price & taste! Definitely worth coming here for your taco cravings!!! Got the carne/pastor and was not disappointed. My go to for street tacos.