Taqueria El Tapatio

Mexican restaurant · Glendale Galleria

Taqueria El Tapatio

Mexican restaurant · Glendale Galleria

5

1266 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205

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Taqueria El Tapatio by Jakob Layman
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Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null
Taqueria El Tapatio by null

Highlights

Classic Glendale taqueria serving late-night Mexican staples like cheesy tacos and burritos from a colorful walk-up window with outdoor seating.  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

1266 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205 Get directions

taqueriaeltapatio.shop

$10–20

Information

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1266 S Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205 Get directions

+1 818 549 4167
taqueriaeltapatio.shop

$10–20

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : El Tapatio

"This is your classic “go-to” Mexican food spot. It has all the character and charisma one could ask for from an honest burrito joint. The food is simple, affordable, and always incredible. Plus, they’re open until 2:30 in the morning, so if you need a guilty late night meal after the bars let out, El Tapatio is the place for you. When you visit, be sure to try a wet burrito, a cheese taco, or the Torta!" - Forth + Back

https://onthegrid.city/los-angeles/glendale/el-tapatio
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@eater

The 19 Essential Restaurants in Glendale

"Look for the brightly painted a-frame on Glendale Avenue to find Taqueria El Tapatio, a small taqueria serving some of the best Mexican food in Glendale. The constantly busy restaurant serves up tacos, burritos, nachos, and more out of a take-out window. While there are a few tables on-site, during peak hours the best bet is to take the food to go." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff

https://la.eater.com/maps/best-glendale-california-restaurants
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@onthegrid

"El Tapatio, Glendale. This is your classic “go-to” Mexican food spot. It has all the character and charisma one could ask for from an honest burrito joint. The food is simple, affordable, and always incredible. Plus, they’re open until 2:30 in the morning, so if you need a guilty late night meal after the bars let out, El Tapatio is the place for you. When you visit, be sure to try a wet burrito, a cheese taco, or the Torta!"

Los Angeles
View Postcard for Taqueria El Tapatio
@infatuation

Taqueria El Tapatio Review - Glendale - Los Angeles - The Infatuation

"If the idea of having a slice of American cheese wrapped around your taco is incalculably repulsive, we’ve got news for you - Taqueria El Tapatio does it and it’s great. Are these the best tacos in the universe? Of course not. But for $2 a piece, this old-school, order-at-the-window spot on the south side of Glendale is one of our favorite taco standbys in the area." - Brant Cox

https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/taqueria-el-tapatio
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@davisinternet

Rice/beans style

Brad’s Breakfast Burritos list
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Gary Gaviola

Google
Wow most likely the very best and affordable Mexican food south of Glendale. You've gotta have the quesadilla with you choice of meat and you'd be impress with the size of this thing. Great service on top of it.

Frank Reza

Google
I love places like this. They are not pretentious. It’s just tasty Mexican food at a fair price. This is my new lunch destination when working.

Alex

Google
This place is chill, open tables and it’s clean! Great service and food. Try their fish taco and beef tongue taco. Highly recommended, price is very reasonable for the quality.

Dylan K. Harriman

Google
Great Tacos at an affordable price! Got the taco plate and horchata, it was ready quick and both were fantastic.

Sean Finley

Google
I live right sing the corner and have eaten here many times but each time I see the food quality ingredients level go down while they charge more money. They only have a decent cook on certain days, the other days the Cook is under age and they have underage kids running the front. There’s been many times where the person taking the order doesn’t speak English.

ADAM JONG

Google
Great prices, great portions and most of all great food. They are also open until fairly late.

Lauren Nguyen

Google
Best tacos and burritos in glendale. Been coming here since I was a kid, quality has always help up. Order the lengua, or anything with cheese. Shrimp is also great.

Adrɪana Apolonɪo

Google
Loved their tacos de al pastor... and it's a great location (near the cemetery)... after a visit with my Grandparents there, we can go eat some tacos🥰🥰
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Justin G.

Yelp
wanted to update that they now do take cards! Still an amazingly solid and consistent spot. Still eat here almost once a week because of its proximity. If you're close to this spot, this should be your go to quick and cheap dinner spot!!
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Asia E.

Yelp
got five tacos and an asada burrito which was such a great decision. We were looking for a spot to eat after going to the Glendale mall and found this place. This was better than any places I've eaten in that mall!!! Super tasty and affordable, something quick. service was great! The guy who handed us our food gave us everything we needed in a heartbeat.
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Cindy S.

Yelp
The breakfast burritos and carnitas (tacos/burritos/torta) are very good. Prices here are cheaper than street vendors. Taqueria El Tapatio has been serving the Glendale community since 1979! They are welcoming here and the tasty food comes out fast. Good spot if you are in a hurry. The ambiance and location is a total shack, but it's SAFE for the most part. I been coming here for years. Most people do takeout, but if you decide to eat there bring a jacket. The mysterious wind breeze will definitely be felt. Credit Cards and Apple Pay now accepted; it's no longer cash only.
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Melissa M.

Yelp
Ordered a carne asada quesadilla with a medium Jamaica. It was delicious. Service was fast and friendly, location is walking distance from Glendale Memorial his.
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Xenia O.

Yelp
Went here after the Twice show and it was straight fire. Ordered the lengua and fish tacos, both amazing !
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Azure F.

Yelp
Literally the best birria tacos ive ever tasted. They came out quickly and the toppings were perfectly portioned. Not to mention the sauce was bomb asf
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Michelle A.

Yelp
Best carne asada I've ever had! We placed a huge order for a 10 person corporate lunch and everything turned out fantastic! The service was great, very accommodating and they gave us plenty of extras and salsas.
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Aro H.

Yelp
The smell of the baked beans is what samples this place unique. Over 20 years eating here as a Glendale resident some of the employees are the same.
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Chalee T.

Yelp
No problem with finding a parking space at 330 pm on Saturday afternoon. There is no indoor dining room, only outside table and chairs. This is a walk up window type of fast food joint. Not sure if it was an old Der Weinerschnitzel as it has the classic steep A-framed roof. I browsed the menu board for a minute, stepped to the window, and ordered a bean-cheese burrito, a pastor burrito, and a double bacon cheeseburger togo. It seemed that I wasn't sitting too long, about 10 minutes, when she called me to pick up my order. Carolina offered me the radishes, pickled jalapeno, carrots, and she put two of red and green salsas in the bag. I was out of there in under 15 minutes. YMMV. The two burritos will be leftovers as I chose to eat the burger first. I wish the bacon was crispier but they were not. It's a good burger, would have been much better with crispy bacon. I will update this review when I eat the burritos.
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Nityanshu S.

Yelp
Sooo good! The meat is fresh and the price is so affordable. I mean that's it yelp: why do I have to fill this with 85 characters.
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Ricardo M.

Yelp
Torta De Asada 9.80 Horchata 2.50 Total 13.56 Customer service Priceless Plenty of seats and very open atmosphere. No idea how they have a B rating when this is pure fire. Haven't been here for at least 10 years but it's clean outside and parking lot has plenty of spots even though they share it with other businesses. Also besides the friendly service I received another customer too had a great smile when they walked away from here. 100% recommend what I got. The torta just melts in your mouth. I first started coming here back in 2002 and it's almost 2024.

Brea B.

Yelp
This place is delicious and so affordable!!!!! Came here for a late night snack and it was good. When we pulled up at 11:15pm and it was completely empty and we were pretty skeptical but then people starting showing up and we decided to stay. Thankful we did. I got two birria tacos and two carne asada tacos, the birria tacos were my favorite and I would definitely order them again. I wish they had come with consume but they were still good. This is a great late night spot! If you're in the area, looking for good Mexican food, definitely go here!

Nancy Q.

Yelp
We visited and ordered Carne Azada fries when I tell you they were nasty I mean it ! The meat was old the chips were soggy full of tomatoes and unions. Never again
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Jack O.

Yelp
I've been coming to this place for over 35 years: before they opened this physical location: Food truck on San Fernando Road by Chevy Chase. For me: it's like time just stood still. The Tacos are exactly the same: I will drive out of my way anytime I'm near Glendale. Burrito: the item you HAVE to Get!!! They add one small slice of cheese that like nothing you can compare it to. Sounds odd however it just makes it all come together. How to Eat Burrito: yes there is small science to get the right taste. 1) take small bite to crack open burrito 2) little squeeze of limón 3) dash of salt 4) little salsa (green) ENJOY ... Highly recommend: order few burritos to go. No one will believe you when you get home that you just had the best burrito in Los Angeles County. If my kids know I stopped by and didn't bring home burritos; I get silent treatment for two weeks. My adult daughters grew up on dad brings these home when in Glendale. Post your Comments; let me know what you think.
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Anthony M.

Yelp
Great time good vibes decent food can't beat it I can say I would go back. Thank you
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Noel C.

Yelp
This place's carne asada is delicious - I always get the burrito. Fair prices and open late. Try to come here whenever I'm in the area
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Monica S.

Yelp
This place was terrible could've been an off night -- The one thing I asked for was no rice in my burrito and they gave me extras rice so incredibly dry. They in-fact do not stay open till 3:30 AM on Saturday I think I left there about 1 AM and they were closing up very big misconception especially if you're looking for somewhere to eat after hours and you see that they're open until 3:30 AM and get there at 1:15 to see that they're closed it's very deceiving. Definitely will go to their competitor El Sauz when I go back to Glendale, which is no time soon
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Nikki M.

Yelp
I've been eating at this on the go fast El Tap since my college years . Best midnight , grab , snack and go. I love everything on the menu and have tried and sampled most of their dishes. Very affordable and you get A LOT for what you pay for and it's sooooo goooooood , very mom and pop and very authentic. The service is always excellent and they always give you extra of everything . The meat is fresh and the chicken flautas are crunchy and fresh . My favorite is the cheese quesadilla... not cheap on the cheese it runs cheesy and so delicious. They have seating outside , parking is a bit of an issue but the food is totally worth the hassle .
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Martin T.

Yelp
Just here to add the breakfast burrito photo. Which was great btw, different from other spots - has beans, onions, cilantro in it, and I love it.

Dahyun Y.

Yelp
최고! 최고! 엄청나게 많이 먹어본 건 아니지만 엘에이에서 먹어 본 타코들 중 단연 독보적 압도적 최고! 타코 트럭 타코보다 맛있다. 테이블도 많다. 밤늦게도 연다. 뭔가 그 분위기마저 좋다. 타코 선택지가 짱 많은데 치킨 포크 비프 우설 먹어봤고 정말 다 맛있다. 단골 예정입니다.
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Glenn M.

Yelp
I've been here several times, and while everything has been good, I just want to call out that they make one of the best carne asada burritos around. Also, they have a shared parking lot so it's an easy quick stop.

TY H.

Yelp
A solid breakfast burrito. I had mine with chorizo. Had a good ratio of ingredients. I've never had a breakfast burrito with rice and beans so was an interesting and welcomed change. I will say it doesn't hold together very well toward the end but I had no problem scooping up the remains with my hands. I appreciate that there's plenty of napkins and a hand sanitizer dispenser on-hand. Easy parking in the lot plus some on street.
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Rondi W.

Yelp
Best burritos in Glendale! My "usual" is their bean and cheese burritos. They are large and the ingredients are fresher than what I find at fast-food chains. Family owned and operated with courteous staff. I have been a customer for almost 20 years and have never had a bad meal. No indoor dining, but they have several tables on the covered patio along the front and side of the building. Currently they are open until midnight every day. In addition to their vast array of authentic Mexican tacos and burritos, they also have an "American Menu" featuring burgers and fries. El Tapatio also has a "Vegetarian Menu" that includes veggie tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, and sope. They have three kinds of salsa, plus pico de gallo. Be sure to tell them what level of heat you want.
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Ralph B.

Yelp
A great taco stand with a classic selection of Mexican food as well as burgers etc. Aside from seafood, they've got any taco you can imagine; from asada to lengua. The only real bummer is it being cash only. Please, take Venmo or something!
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Nancy D.

Yelp
We've gone here twice and loved it each time. My husband usually orders their carne asada burrito, then we get a few asada tacos, lengua tacos and we tried a carne asada tostada for the first time there. We love the sauces and they're very generous when you ask for the pickled carrots, jalapenos and sliced radishes. So nice of them! Ordering is pretty simple, they have a large, simple sign and you order at the window. We've never had to wait long to order or to grab a table. It's all outdoor seating, so be prepared for weather and street traffic driving past you! It's shaded, but there's no protection from the wind! It's a no frills kind of place. I wish I had photos to share, but we've always eaten it too quickly!
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Iliana A.

Yelp
Delicious tortas ....Carnitas Tortas with everything!!! .... Always clean great serví
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Bianca L.

Yelp
Wasn't the biggest fan. Carne asada torta 5/10. Bread was good, asada was tough, had yellow American cheese. Asada sope 6/10. Sope was really tough I had to cut it with a knife to eat it. Salsas were good. I liked that I didn't have to ask for salsa or jalapenos. Food came out quick, nice parking lot.

Anon A.

Yelp
Was craving Mexican Food and decided to give this place a try and it was delicious satisfied my cravings. I got the carne asada Torta which was full of flavor. Not to greasy just in between. Service was great they were very nice and attentive. Atmosphere was also nice and calm where you can sit and enjoy your meal in peace. If your craving a Torta that is tasty highly recommend this place.
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Brittney B.

Yelp
Delicious! Tacos had a ton of flavor. Food arrived quickly and quite hot. This location's health code rating and cash only policies are its only drawbacks.
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Nick I.

Yelp
I've been frequenting this joint, since I can remember. The food here, falls into that "late-night" category. They have an extensive menu featuring tacos, burritos, nachos, tortas, quesadillas, mulitas and more! I usually get their cheese tacos(asada). They're delicious! The atmosphere here is nothing short of your typical "hole in the wall," taco joint. The salsas range from mild to spicy, and they even offer Pico de Gallo! Be sure to ask for pickled carrots, sliced radishes, and chips with your order. If you're in the mood for a burrito, the combinations are endless. You can specify anything you want in it, really! They'll even make cheese tacos with questions blanco! The drinks options consist of traditional Agua Frescas, such as Horchata, Jamaica, and Piña. The portions are hearty and, satisfying, at a convenient price, so come hungry!
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Carlo And Thonie C.

Yelp
Going from 5 stars to 1 stars. Please ask the young cashier employee to know basic maths and not to be a smart ***. Even the machine was providing us the actual cost right in front of us but I guess the business want an additional $6 out of their behinds. How did 8 asada tacos (no cheese) and 2 large horchata become $28? Unfortunately you guys cost more than Frida, Disneyland and everyone else now. So no more business from us. Poor and rude experience. Please follow the machine computation or know basic maths. Not hard. I prefer the gentleman with the glasses as the cashier.

Eryn M.

Yelp
I've been to this place before and it was so good! I'm in the area again and went here Wednesday night. Ordered carne asada fries and a quesadilla and only ate some of each. The next morning my stomach is bloated, in intense pain, and I was getting sick (if you know what I mean). I went to urgent care and the doctor felt my stomach and immediately diagnosed me with food poisoning. He said since it recently got very hot in LA, restaurants aren't storing food properly. This is more of a warning than to tear this place down. Day 3 and I'm still in pain! So sad :( I do hope they pay better attention to hygiene and storing ingredients properly!

Silvia K.

Yelp
I called just to see what time they close and the person who answered asked if I spoke Spanish, so when I asked in Spanish he said "stop bothering us you motherf*cker" and hung up. I'm shocked at the level of unprofessionalism presented. Definitely not the right way to handle business.
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George N.

Yelp
I've been going to this place for over 20 years, because it's my go-to spot for Mexican food in LA. It originally started out as a taco truck that was so popular they moved into a permanent hole in the wall building on Glendale Blvd that is always busy, regardless of when you go.... day or late night. While you will often see 10+ patrons dining at a time, the parking lot only holds 4 cars... 6 if you count the cars parking in the driveway. You may want to avoid parking in front of the laundromat, as I've had the owner come out and yell at you. Everybody knows people are there for the tacos, not the laundry. The food here reminds me of a sidewalk taco in Mexico, but with higher quality ingredients. Prices are reasonable. I recommend the carne asada burrito, which also comes with melted cheese, beans, rice, onions, and cilantro.
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Linda W.

Yelp
Taqueria El Tapatio serves decent Mexican food in Glendale. I mainly find myself coming back to Taqueria El Tapatio on a weekend night around 1am after some drinking with friends and no other Mexican food spots being open. That's the best part - they're open till 3:30AM on Fri & Sat nights, otherwise 2:30AM on other nights which is pretty good. Their tacos are around $2 each, not the cheapest but they do give a generous portion of meat. The tacos are tasty enough albeit a bit on the too greasy side, which can be mitigated by adding a large amount of spicy red salsa (their red salsa is OK, not quite spicy enough but passing in grade). Overall, I wouldn't particularly recommend coming here unless it's late and you have the munchies for some Mexican food. CASH ONLY. They have outside seating only as well. Solid 3/5 stars.
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Jordan W.

Yelp
Visited this cute little outside taqueria spot tonight and was thoroughly surprised at how bad it was. First things first i walked up and was greeted by no one, keep in mind the whole front is nothing but windows, they continue to have a conversation and left me standing there for around 3 minutes. He slowly walks up opens the window and says nothing. I assume he wants to start ordering so i do. When it's time to pay i hand him my card and he just stares at my and points up to the "cash only" sign. i pay with cash and the food came out pretty quickly, just to find that my chicken was extremely undercooked, my stomach is cramping as i type this.

Gag D.

Yelp
Today, I ordered Nacho Style Fries from Taqueria El Tapatio, and I have to say, the meat quality was just awful. It had this terrible smell and taste, and I couldn't stomach more than a few bites before I had to toss it in the trash. It's such a disappointment because a couple of years ago, their food was good and had much better quality.
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Ticha B.

Yelp
Maybe I got the tacos to go that's why the tacos weren't good?? The asada tacos were okay and the al pastor weren't sub par. I took 4 tacos home after a late softball game and the tacos were just okay. I've had better, and the tacos here were $2. Even the pineapple drink was just average. I've had better. It's a generous 3-stars.....
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Rocio A.

Yelp
Came here after a Dodgers game. Found this place on Yelp and because of its high overall rating we decided to come specifically here. I orders simply, two chorizo tacos and two al pastor tacos. These are tacos I order frequently so I know what's good and not. The chorizo was over cooked and tasted like the soyrizo I get at the grocery store. The al pastor didn't have much flavor at all. It was hard to eat, I honestly didn't eat it all, it was hard to because it didn't taste good. I'm not a picky person so it takes a lot for me to throw food out. Their service was good. Maybe some of their other meat choices are better.

Meem A.

Yelp
I really love their burgers! They are actually better than almost all the fast food burger places! I've been coming here for a long time and it's consistent in terms of flavor.

Alberto C.

Yelp
The burrito had cheese in it and i wksed for the regular one, not only that it was nasty. Never coming here again.
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Hamlet O.

Yelp
Great place to come when your really hungry at 12am. They are open late all of the guys working in the back are nice not to expensive and it's good decent Mexican food. They are known for there cheese tacos and tortas very good.

Roy P.

Yelp
The food was great especially the burrito. The service was excellent. The cashier Luis was awesome little bit of English but good Cx Service. I do recommend this spot
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Alan S.

Yelp
Classic taco spot... I actually crave the lengua and carne pretty often... carne asada is good, lengua is tender and very tasty. The only downside is they often try to skimp / not give you jalapeños and radish with orders (if you're not a familiar face and you don't ask, they don't give).. but other than that, this place is really good. Employees are nice. Its only outdoor seating, which is pretty cool actually... just wish it was a tad bit cleaner - the food makes up for everything though I must say :) going back for some carne and lengua again tomorrow. Much love

Armen A.

Yelp
Absolutely the worst experience my chicken torta had a sharp bone in it and taco had hair in it. And the quality was bad on top of all that. Horrible never going again. Would leave 0 stars if I could

Juan R.

Yelp
super greasy al pastor taco, and this place is definately not a bean and cheese joint at all! minimal cheese, beans were gritty and flavorless.
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Katherine C.

Yelp
This place has been my spot for years! I love their new added items! The Birria tacos are
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Diyan G.

Yelp
They were good before the owners changed now they have bad hygiene they mix meat without gloves, meat is low quality and they charge for every little thing it's like modern day robbery.
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John O.

Yelp
Pretty good authentic tacos for a fair price. Outdoor seating could have been kept cleaner. Parking is tight and I got yelled at by the owner of the laundromat for parking in his space! He threatened to tow my car next time. I had no idea there was separate parking for the laundromat and the taco spot.