Taqueria Lorena's

Incredible -- unusually good: maybe the best. I'm allergic to onion and there wasn't a stray onion anywhere, thank you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This Taco Spot is Amazing! The customer service was outstanding, and the location was super clean. But the star of this place are the Tacos!! I tried Taco de Asada, Alpastor, Camaron, and Chorizo. Everything was delicious. I also tried the "Grande" Taco de Asada, which has beans and cheese, and it was 💣

I highly recommend Taqueria Lorena's! They’re fast, friendly, and serve great quality food. I had a chicken burrito for lunch, and it was delicious and satisfying. Perfect for a quick, on-the-go meal—I’ll definitely be back!

Dropped in here quickly recently and had an Al Pastor super burrito. Was delighted, the burrito really hit the spot! The workers there had a good vibe also, and later hours (until 11pm I think) than nearby taquerias is great.

The menu is sort of confusing because there is the original burrito (only the veg version comes with avocado, sour cream, and lettuce) and the regular burrito but no listing for a super burrito with all the fixins. They told me it wasn't on the menu but they sell it. In the end, I got the chimichanga which came with a great, refreshing green sauce. Also tried the ahogado. Now, I don't love wet burritos so I don't eat them often but a more experienced taster told me that it came with the good cheese. The tacos came with a good amount of meat. I didn't love the cabeza and the carne asada. I think the meats are a hit or miss for me. No free chips or salsa bar. I have never found parking except on the side streets every time I went.

I’ve been here a few times, but honestly, this was probably my last. I got the super nachos with asada and a side of fries. The nachos tasted alright, but the portion was way smaller than what you’d get at most other taquerias for the same price. The fries were kinda mushy too. The worst part was the staff - they were rude and disrespectful just because I didn’t speak Spanish, not realizing I actually understood what they were saying. I personally wouldn’t recommend this place.

What a low key and hidden place! Definitely slept on in the area!! I ordered 2 Asada, 1 Barbaca, and 1 Carnitas taco. The asada were super tasty, and with a tad of lime juice, they didn’t miss!! The carnitas also were not dry, and was the perfect amount of food! The Barbaca they me for a loop, I’m not used to the “carne guisada” style, of dish. It was flavorful and reminded me of a mole style dish. But I tried it, it wasn’t my favorite but if you are looking for a low key place! This is it!

Top notch tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. They have the best quality meats in the area from my experience. The only one that beats them in tacos al pastor is Metrobalderas for my taste. Their salsa roja is damn good! Use that all the time on your food.

The best fish tacos in the south bay. They're on point with all their food. I have never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. It's all good. Friendly, fast service, and fair prices.

Taqueria Lorena's is a quick, no-frills taco spot that delivers fast service and solid value, but the flavor fell a bit short of expectations. While the place is clean and staff are kind, the food itself didn't quite hit the mark for us. ---What I Had: --- Cabeza Taco Original Burrito w/ Al Pastor Original Burrito w/ Asada ---Food Impressions: --- Let's start with the positives: the burritos are generously packed with meat, making them a great deal for the price. I thought the al pastor had a solid, savory flavor- not overly sweet and nicely seasoned. The cabeza taco was fine, but nothing memorable. Where things fell short was in the overall burrito experience. Both burritos were on the dry side and noticeably lacking salsa, which really impacted the flavor balance. The salsa they gave us also was not great. I know that you shouldn't base a good burrito off of how good the sauce is, but I personally feel like sauce can elevate the experience especially when the burrito is dry (which they were). It's not your typical green/orange sauces served with tacos or burritos, but it was the darker green and red sauces that is usually accompanied with chips. ---Ambiance/Seating/Parking/Service: --- Service was quick and friendly, and the interior was clean with a semi-modern feel- not run-down, but not flashy either. Great for a fast, casual meal. I was able to park on the side in the single 'take-out' spot on the side street. ---Star Rating: --- 3 stars TLDR: Taqueria Lorena's is okay for a quick bite with generous portions and kind service, but the food itself was just alright. The meats were decent, but the burritos felt dry, a bit flavorless-overall, and salsas were not amazing. I'd return if I was nearby and wanted something fast, but I wouldn't go out of my way. ---How I Rate on Yelp:--- (5 stars): Exceptional!! -- food, service, and atmosphere all outstanding. Worth going out of your way. (4 stars): Great! -- very good experience overall, minor flaws but nothing major. (3 stars): Good -- decent, acceptable, but there's room for clear improvement. (2 stars): Poor -- disappointing experience, multiple issues (food, service, or setting). (1 star): Terrible -- very bad experience, would not return or recommend.

First off, food. The food there is good. Compared to the other taco places, this one is much cheaper and very good portions. I won't say these are the best tacos, but they are definitely tasty and filling. Service. The service is always friendly. The cooks are usually talking, and will gladly let you into their conversation. The cashier during every visit I've had is always a lady, and she is nice. Very simple, nothing extra. Ambiance. Tables are always clean, the floor is typically clean or being cleaned. One thing I appreciate about this place is even during down time, the employees are always doing something. Makes me feel better knowing they care about the cleanliness of their work place. I come to this location every 8 weeks, due to me being out here for work every 8 weeks. I've never had a bad experience at this place, and I've also never seen it empty. I will keep coming back, and I recommend this place to anyone that's looking for some good tacos. So hard to find good tacos out here that are under 5.95 each. These are half the price and twice the size. Never change Taqueria Lorena's

I've been here a few times since I moved to North SJ. It's definitely one of my favorite taqueria in this area. I know there's a few other Mexican restaurants in this area but Taqueria Lorena's always hit the spot and the prices are affordable. I appreciate the speedy service. The food is tasty with great flavors and they have salsa. Great portions too. My favorites are the tacos and burritos. Nachos are good and I need to try their San Diego fries next. Horchata is refreshing too. Very simple taqueria. Lots of seating indoors with a few seats outdoor too. Even have a restroom. I also appreciate the parking lot in the back although it's a bit tight so be careful.

My go to Mexican place! Sooooo good! Tacos, burritos, nachos, fries! It's all tasty. We usually order ahead and come pick up but then have seating as well. There is also a few parking spots in the back which makes pick up easy. Will definitely continue to enjoy food here!

Ahhh...Taqueria Lorena's located on the corner next to Mesquite & Oak BBQ on 13th Street and Vestal Street. It's a very busy and popular place that opens fairly late. Street parking only but a small parking lot in the back. The restaurant is simple, plain, and modest. They do have indoor and outdoor seating available. It's a hole-in-the-wall place that they turn out delicious and authentic food. I got two tacos with Al Pastor (Marinated Pork) and Tripas (Beef Intestines). The pork was flavorful with a hint of spice. The intestines, I usually like when it's deep-fried and comes out crispy and crunchy. However, they don't make them this way. They are stewed and soft. Well, some pieces were good, and some were chewy/hard. Horchata - a bit chalky like another reviewer said. Which I agree with. I'll try another drink next time. I am glad I revisited this place.

I love this place because of the San Diego Fries; I haven't tried any other items in the menu but man the SD fries are really delicious. Its my 2nd favorite spot for a good Carne Asada fries. Sooo I suggest getting the SD fries the next time you're here, it's definitely 10/10.

Located on the corner of 13th and Vestal. Not too sure if there's a parking lot but there is street parking if you get lucky. Found this local place on Yelp when looking for nearby Mexican food. I called in and placed an order for 4 items. It was estimated 10 mins for the order to be ready. We got carne asada fries which was the main dish to share with my sister and we really enjoyed it. The fries were still crispy by the time we got home. The vegan crispy taco was overly fried and oily so I didn't finish that. The soft taco was good but really spicy, they used some jalapeño or chili pepper in the pico de gallo. The sandwich/torta's bread was underwhelming but the stuffing was good.

Been awhile since eating here , last time wasn't memorable either , it used to be people with great attitudes, laughter, and such .... I do know we all have bad days ,but in the service industry, you can't bring that to work , as for the food : - Carnitas dry af - chicken quesadilla was ok You want chips ? - its extra ! You want jalapeños ? - it's extra ! I used to crave coming here ... unfortunately, this may be my last time

To start the tortilla was lightly toasted which added a nice subtle crunch to the burrito- was not expecting this but was pleasantly surprised. The meat was flavorful, it had a hint of lime. The most stand out part of this burrito is that there was virtually no grease, the whole thing from top to bottom was NOT oily - typically I feel pretty heavy after a big burrito but I feel really good/not bloated at all - and I scarfed it down. Loss of one point for the distribution of ingredients throughout the burrito-rice was really only in the bottom half of my burrito and the top was a little empty. But great place would go back. Made the burrito so quick - zero complaints about service.

If you're in the mood for Mexican street tacos, look no further than Taqueria Lorena's. The restaurant is nestled on a bustling corner just two blocks right off of 13th Street/Old Oakland Road exit of 101 freeway South in North San Jose. The menu offers a variety of Mexican food including a variety of meat fillings in their tacos, from tender carnitas to chile rub grilled al pastor, all served on fresh tortillas. The meats are seasoned, grilled to juicy perfection, and topped with a sprinkle of onions, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime - each bite is packed with flavor. And don't skip the homemade salsas! The green salsa is tangy with a touch of heat, while the smoky red salsa adds a delicious kick. Each taco is assembled with care, and you can taste the freshness of every ingredient. For this visit, I ordered 4 tacos: lengua (beef tongue cooked in broth & spices, tripas (intestines seasoned & grilled), buche (pork stomach seasoned & slowly braised) and chorizo (handcrafted Mexican pork sausage). It's a no-frills spot with a casual vibe, but the flavors are absolutely top-tier. Their fast service and satisfying tacos will keep you coming back.

I miss this place. One of the best carne asada burritos in the world. Yes the world

Came here after church as I was craving a carne asada burrito and it did not disappoint. I do wish their sauce was a bit hotter but overall the taste is great. Since it's early in the morning service is quick and the area is quiet inside with plenty of tables. Can't wait to go back to get another burrito.

Bomb.com carne asada fries and tacos dorados de papa! Fireee! Mostly men behind the counter and they know what they're doing. Their barbacoa taco are delicious delicious!

For the people , great prices in 2024 . You can. Get all the essentials here . Burritos, tacos, champurrado!!! tamales preparados, platos, cerveza, tortas, ceviche, pozole, menudo... They get 5 stars because they do it all! And it just feels like the staff here is just walking in the presence of God! They're soooo friendly all the time and just willing to go above and beyond.

There seems to be a taqueria on every corner in this area, but Taqueria Lorena's is THE place to go, serving up some good tacos, burritos, and other classic mexican dishes in a casual setting with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. I got a steak and shrimp quesadilla minus the guac, on a large flour tortilla, and it was massive! I probably could have been full off the regular size, especially since they stuff it like a giant burrito (wrapped in foil for takeout), but it's all good cuz it was so delicious, I didn't mind having leftovers for later. The shrimp and steak were juicy and seasoned well, and created the perfect balance of flavor with all the other fresh ingredients. It didn't need any additional sauces on the side, but they were good too. I especially liked the green sauce, which I thought had better flavor and was milder than the red. Parking kinda sucks. The tiny lot in the back was full and street parking in the neighborhood was limited on a Sunday evening (though I got lucky and found a spot just a block away). It may take longer to find parking than to get your food. The service here is quick and efficient, with friendly workers. Even though there seemed to be an ongoing line of customers, they kept the order line moving, and the wait for my food to be ready was no more than 10 minutes. Note, this restaurant doesn't have the most inviting environment, and it isn't located in the cleanest or safest neighborhood, but the value of what you get here makes up for that.

Went here on a whim with a friend and the food was great. The service was quick and friendly, the food was made quickly and everything was correct. The restaurant is a small place, but lively with locals. Would go again if I'm ever in the area

My favorite taqueria! They never fail to disappoint! My absolute favorite is their flour quesadilla with carne asada, it's hella cheesey, meaty, and perfectly toasted . I really love the meat they use , it's always seasoned well and cooked to perfection with a lovely texture. Their San Diego Fries are also delicious. All of their portions are very generous . Their service is always super quick and friendly! It's a no-frills seating area with lots of room and I appreciate that they keep it tidy. Make sure to order chips and pickled carrots, they're both homemade and pairs perfectly with all their tasty food!

Hands down my favorite taqueria! This place isn't pretentious nor trendy, but it is AUTHENTIC. Taqueria Lorena is a favorite local spot located in an area with plenty of options for Mexican cuisine. Their food is delicious and is slightly on the spicy side. Service is both friendly and fast. The staff does a great job keeping their customers satisfied. Portion sizes are generous and prices are excellent. My favorite is a burrito sin frijoles with carnitas.

I've been going to this place for years, there asada fries will always have a special place in my heart. Their service is always quick and easy. It's definitely a great place to go late at night.

I was very pleased with this being clean and in a central Area in willow glen. It's open late thankfully! My sister just had a baby so I needed something for dinner at 10pm lol.I wish there were more parking options and at night some people can be a little sus. The ceviche was to die for and was super fresh and with great portion of shrimp. Horchata was okay but the fish was for sure yum! The food came out super quick and my hubby and I downed the food fast.

The service and the food are excellent!! I highly recommend every single item! My son recommended me this place and we are regular customers now. Highly recommended if you want delicious Mexican food!

The San Diego fries are the best thing on the menu. The service is always amazing and I constantly go back because the fries are just that good!

As a native son, my friend Carlos knows how to pick the good taquerias In San Jose. Coincidentally I spent my high school years in the same city, but all I remember is devouring a half-dozen at Winchell's Donuts and going to the Peppermill before the junior prom. Im not sure how old Lorena's is, but it definitely has that sense of formica familiarity from my adolescence although I was more into pizzas than tacos back then. Carlos knew exactly what he wanted and ordered the $6.90 Three Flautas with chicken topped with shredded lettuce and green peppers and plopped with a big dollop of sour cream (photo: https://bit.ly/3TLQUqz). It was crunchy good and not too oily from the fryer. We shared the $2.50 Tamal with pork as they were huge for the bargain price and quite meaty with the masa just right (photo: https://bit.ly/3wYA9ij). I ordered the $12 Large Flour Quesadilla with Lengua. I really like tongue a lot. Oh stop that. I mean to eat, and I rarely see it scooped so liberally into a folded grilled tortilla (photo: https://bit.ly/3AR5X9Z). Worked for me, and Carlos thought it was pretty tasty, too. The friendly place was pretty popular with hungry locals as the formica tables turned over quite a bit while we were there. Their parking lot was one of those collision courses just waiting to happen, but that's Downtown San Jose for ya. FOOD - 4 stars...solid Mexican fast food executed well AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...at least the formica had a wood grain SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly and efficient TOTAL - 4 stars...I still like a lot of tongue RELATED - Exploring the South Bay? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2uv12JY

This place is so good that I went on a Tuesday then back again on Thursday. The nachos are magical. How on earth do they put so many amazing toppings and the chip stay crispy?!?!? Everything was phenomenal and the prices are so good it's ridiculous. It has the classic taqueria vibe and there is plenty of parking in the back. The service is quick and helpful. They even helped my friend and I to practice ordering in Spanish. We've been hitting Duolingo hard and they were so kind. Long story short... this is my new number one taco joint.

Well, the Carne Asada, fry portions and all of the portions were commensurate with the price as it was relatively cheaper, but the portions were sized accordingly, which could be good. The hot sauce, red and green you can only get my request and they are a bit stingy with it and it's a very heavy chipotle flavor for both the red and the green. The Horchata is very heavy cinnamony very grainy. The guacamole was more of an avocado type of green sauce, so not real guac. The sour cream and cheese was good fries were good and crispy for the Carne Asada fries. The meat for both the Carne fries and the Carne Asada quesadilla was very Burnt like small bits of Carne Asada not the full bigger chunks that you'd want. So overall three and five.

Menudo was way too tough. Got it for takeaway and all the meat seems low quality and tough.

Hidden hole-in-the-wall near DTSJ! I was on the look out for a quick lunch spot and this place did the trick. They were FAST. I got my order in less than 5 minutes. If you stop by, I would recommend trying their Chicken Flautas or the San Diego Fries. Pros: + They are very generous with their sauce! My flautas and fries were COVERED in sour cream, guac, and green sauce. + Menu was very easy to navigate! Organized and lots of options. + Quick and straight forward customer service. You can pay with Apple Pay here too! Cons: + The horchata is very chalky, but light and sweet. Meh for $2.70. They also use paper straws... which are the worst. + Very minimal street parking. If you are doing takeout, they only have two parking spots for 15 minute parking in the front.

Came to lunch with my friend for some good burritos. My friend got the carnitas burrito and i got the super carne asada burrito. The burritos were good and big. Very tasty! We also got agua fresca. It was refreshing for this weather. In addition we got red and green salsa. The red salsa wasnt as great, but the green one was good! If you ever feel like getting a burrito this is your spot!

Food Quality and quantity. Amazing portions sleepy and stuffed post meal lol. The quality of the meat and ingredients, top tier. Easily chewable and savory. They add this unique lime hint to their foods, that makes it stand out and so freaking good! (Especially the asada fries) The asada fries -right amount of crispy and combination of everything-best Asada fries in the Bay. Price -very very reasonable for the quantity and quality you get -(I'm a little stingy) I wish the refills on the horchata (solid horchata) was free haha. Service Kind workers! Clean place. I feel like this is one of those spots before it's a matter of time till it has 2-3k+ reviews.

I wouldn't suggest eating here , one of the Mexicans inside tried to act funny thinking I didn't hear what he said under his lip. He should speak up with his chest next time.

I love coming here to get their San Diego stake fries they are amazing! Whenever I come here the staff always treat me like I am family would definitely recommend coming here for their food and service.

I was craving a burrito and on the lookout for a good taqueria. Yelp recommended this one in San Jose, and it had amazing reviews so I knew we needed to check it out. I really like that it was open until 11 PM, because after a long day of driving, this is just what we needed to round off the journey. I got the Super Burrito (asada, lettuce, beans, sour cream, salsa). They asked if I wanted spicy or mild salsa in the burrito ahead of time, which I appreciated, because it's so much better when they prepare it with the salsa! I love spicy things too, so this made it all the more flavorful. The burrito is also MASSIVE! I wasn't able to finish it all and packed it up for a midnight snack later. This was most definitely worth it for the price. My mom got the Regular tacos with asada, and said they were a savory heaven! The person taking our order also recommended we get their Jamaica agua fresca, and that was an amazing recommendation. The drink had the perfect level of sweetness to offset the savoriness of the burrito and tacos. P.S. At night it can be a little challenging to find parking. We had to wander around for 5-10 minutes to even find street parking. But it's definitely worth it to try this place out!

Such a find in San Jose if you're in this area. Lots of other restaurants around, but I'm glad others posted and have this spot good reviews. The carne asada torta was yum! As well as the carnitas burrito. Friendly staff who still wear masks while cooking (yeah!) and very helpful/patient when ordering. I plan to be back!

A hole in the wall place that has its own parking spot which is a big plus for an overall demanding street parking situation. The menudo, which is beef tripe soup is only available on weekends and it's sumptuous and delicious! Not spicy at all unless you put in the chili that came on the side along with raw chopped onions, cilantro and oregano. Also hot tortillas for the soup. The dorado which is cheesy potato vegetarian taco is delightful for kids. The shrimp soup is cold but delicious. It's a very good value restaurant. The best experience we had is also how helpful the other customers are because 90% of the diners are Mexicans and look like they frequent this place a lot. That proves the authenticity of this place.

I picked this spot because it's was starving and w/only $26 in my bank account. I filtered for nearby " lowest price" this one came up. Parking on front & side street as well as back parking lot. Service was FAST/FRIENDLY/NICE! They have 3 size tacos to choose from Mini- $2.35 Regular$2.75 (my choice) Grande $3.20 & $4.30 The tacos were pretty loaded w/meat which was nice 4 tacos filled me up ... This is not a luxury place it's just a grab n go place. Taste & flavor (was ok) But I appreciate the service & portions.

Updating to 5 stars bc this place has never failed me! Solid tacos, fries, sopes, chips. Everything's solid and they take card. Go go go!

I enjoyed their freshly cooked asada, and their burritos deliver because of it. Their tortillas are well toasted too!

I've had their quesadillas, tacos, burritos, and tamales, though I have yet to try their nachos. Without exception, everything was incredibly delicious. The carnitas boasted rich flavor, the barbacoa was exceptional, and the asada was perfectly cooked without being overdone. The restaurant offers ample seating and exudes a vibrant Mexican atmosphere. Convenient parking is available both in the back and on the street. Service is prompt, and while it's mostly self-serve, the establishment is kept impeccably clean. In terms of pricing, this place offers much better value than its food truck counterparts. However, the only downside is their packaging for to-go orders. Tacos are simply wrapped in aluminum foil without being placed on a plate or any other container. Personally, I prefer dining in and enjoying the food with friends anyway.

Food and service was good I had a torta de carne asada with refried beans, cheese, salsa and sour cream. The grilled fish tacos had a chipotle sauce on them. The Bean and Cheese burrito was huge!!

Wish I took some photos but this is the third time I've been back here after my friend first showed me 3 weeks ago. Every trip after has been introducing a new friend to this spot. My go to has been their beef flautas and cabeza tacos with a side of their amazing guac. You can eat that guac with anything. I also get a dorado every time as well. I think it's just a great small bite for any time of the day. Soft scalloped potatoes in a crunchy taco shell loaded with veggies just makes it really refreshing. The hot sauce is there is spicy so for those who aren't too keen, go easy. Lots of space to sit down and enjoy your meal. The only thing I wish they did was have more options for agua frescas but other than that, their drinks they do have are solid. Their service is great and quick, English is not their first language so be sure to speak up as they are very friendly and ready to serve you and your hungry needs!

This is for sure my go to for Carne Asada/Pastor fries. Love supporting businesses in the neighborhood. Great employees & great flavor ! Only down side is they're not on DoorDash . Besides that, always great !

The man that took my order over the phone, needs to not take orders over the phone. He talked to me as if I wasn't a customer. Unprofessional. I believe he works in the kitchen. I said something and he cuts me off and says in Spanish "oh god" and hangs up. The food was not good. The asada fries was a big amount but what good is that when the fries aren't fresh tasting and they piled on top a guac salsa concoction that tasted sour and lime-y. Parking stinks here, busy street. Next!

Definitely one of our favorite local places here / near Japantown. We got 2 breakfast burritos that were huge and delicious, a tamale, and 3 carne asada tacos. (Our eyeballs were hungry too.) They have so many great options to choose from the menu. The carne asada tacos were loaded with meat, definitely don't skimp here! Salsas we're so on point. My mouth is watering just thinking about them! And the Zanahorias en Escabeche are so perfect, I eat them like chips. My mid afternoon fridge visit low carb lil snacky. Highly recommend and we can't wait to try the tortas!

I always get me a torta with carne asada and lengua. You have to get some pickled carrots, chips, & salsa as well. So damn good!

Taqueria Lorena's is my go to spot for good cheap Mexican food. It's by no means a fancy place, definitely a small mom and pop operation. It literally used to be a hole in the wall, but got a remodel and looks far more presentable now. Lorena's has been around forever...well as long as I can remember! Open late, but in a sketch part of town, not the best neighborhood... but to be fair the neighborhood is getting gentrified. It's by far safer that it was a decade ago... Parking is challenging, there is a tiny lot in the back, but it's shared with the neighboring restaurants and the spots fill up fast during peak times. Good luck hunting for street parking! I haven't had anything bad here. ~ Tripas Burrito. Ahogado - 5/5 This is my go to burrito here. Ask for the Tripas to be Extra Crispy. You will get way more flavor and the texture will be Crispier on the outside and Chewier as well. ~ San Diego Fries w/ Tripas (Extra Crispy) 4.5/5 Can't believe it took me forever to discover the Fries. Generous portions, filling and tasty. This is a meal, not an appetizer ~ Carne Asada Burrito. Ahogado - 4/5 Basically a Carne Asada Super Burrito. Tasty and filling. Come on down and satisfy your late night cravings...

1st time here and will be back! The staff were friendly, allowed us to take our time or order, and the food was delicious! There is a parking lot and street parking as well. Very reasonably priced too. Highly recommend!

Solid 3.5 stars. Carne asada fries without sourcream was a good portion. A bit on the plain side but I think San Diego fries are like that. The red and green salsa were good, on the lime heavy side. Will skip the tamale next time a bit on the dry side.

One of my favorite go to taco spots in San Jose. We have been going here for 25 years. I always get the Carne asada but they also serve pozole!