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    Big Sur Taco

    3.7 (51 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Big Sur Taco Photos

    BIG SUR TACO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    6 tacos: 2 shrimps, 2 carne asada, 2 al pastors
    Lynn H.

    $4 per taco is on the pricier end. We got to try their shrimps, carne asada, and their Al pastors. Their corn tortilla was deliciously made, crispy on the edges with lots of cilantro, onions, and cabbages added. The shrimp and the carne asada were decent. My favorite was the Al pastor tacos. They were juicy and had pineapples in them too. When I come back, would definitely get another plate of all Al pastor tacos. 5/5 for the Al pastor tacos. Their orange/red sauce was definitely spicier than their green sauce. I preferred the green sauce, which complimented their tacos well. Overall, a great experience trying the food from the taco truck with many picnic tables out front to sit and enjoy at.

    Kalie B.

    Service was fine, nice people. I only ordered tacos, so this is purely a review for the Al Pastor tacos. Everything taste old; the tortilla fell apart and was hard like cardboard. The Al Pastor had zero flavor. I was disappointed because the presentation was looking like the tacos were going to smack, and they absolutely did not. The cutlery was nice.

    Kristina K.

    We chose the tacos specifically so that we could have handmade corn tortillas . They did not disappoint! My chicken tacos were very tasty . However, the pastor pork left something to be desired . It wasn't very flavorful , almost as if they hadn't roasted it on a spit but rather added some kind of pastor sauce later , which made the pork plain tasting . I would definitely order again from them but would skip the pastor. We ordered from one of their trucks , and I'd like to suggest that they put out a sandwich board with a bigger menu so that people don't need to crowd and squint at the small letter sized menu by the ordering window.

    Menu
    Tiffany C.

    It was okay. They don't take Google pay. We got the al pastor big sur burrito and it tastes like a veggie stew inside a tortilla. I think it needed sour cream.

    a sign for a mexican restaurant
    Henry L.

    Legit Taco truck off of Del Monte Ave. recommend it to anyone in the area for a few reasons. First of all the Burrito has amazing and generous ingredients, and finely wrapped too. I especially enjoyed the shrimp tacos which had generous portions and flavored with just the right amount of onions, cilantro, and tomato. I also recommend the steak tortillas, which are just loaded up with beef and cheese, and include some good side items. Prices are reasonable and the service is quick. Don't miss this one.

    Big Sur Tacos at Lucia in Big Sur.
    Laura R.

    Delicious food, tortillas hechas a mano! It was an unexpected delight during a long bike ride in Big Sur.

    Next to Lake El Estero off of Del Monte Ave
    Miss E.

    You can't go wrong with the handmade tortillas. One of my new favorites. Their located on Del Monte near Dennis the Menace Park most days. Late evenings they make their way to Seaside next to Bank of America on Fremont street. Make your way at least once and you'll be hooked.

    Carne asada torta from Big Sur Taco

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Best tacos in the known universe. Carnitas to die for! And everyone who works here is super friendly.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

    The best worker there is named tino, he was very nice to me. Also gave me a birthday present. Good food, Alright ambiance.

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    4 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Sooo delicious! We had tacos and burritos and loved everything. Those handmade tortillas were amazing too.

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    I had the Big Sur burrito. It was good and service was okay. I'd go there again but not in my top 5 taco trucks

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Super good tacos, the tortillas were fresh and the meat tasty.. they were parked outside of Ryan ranch and made my lunch time better!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

    I give Big Sur Taco a five star review. They are truly superb! Great tasting taco's and very clean. In addition friendly staff!

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    Nicolás Cocina de Herencia

    Nicolás Cocina de Herencia

    4.2
    (351 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$$

    Oh my gosh, I had the best meal here and I'm still thinking about it! I had the white mole with…read morebraised short rib and it was fantastic! The flavor was so amazing and nothing like I've ever eaten before. I usually don't finish my meals, but I couldn't stop eating this delicious meal! The homemade corn tortillas were so sweet and flavorful as well. I live in Southern California so, unfortunately, I can't come here very often, but I will make a special trip to come here again in the future. PS: My husband had the birria tacos and he said they were amazing as well!

    This was a tough review because there were things I really liked and things that bummed us out…read more First off, service was great, no issues there. They were incredibly nice and let us bring in our lovely puppy who behaved greatly. The ambiance was wonderful, lighting was nice, not too loud, and good vibes in general. The singular best thing we got was the Queso Fundido. Literally the best one I have ever had. I'm from Texas and have had a embarassing amount of Latin/Mexican food. We were so incredibly hopeful that everything was going to be at the same level. We also got the Salsa Trio to start which was great. We got some house margs, and a Pinada which were all great flavor, the margs seemed a little light on the alcohol, but overall good. For entree's the adults got Short Rib and Molcajete. The short rib itself was cooked great, but the sauce was very sweet and the chutney like topper was also sweet. I think it would have done a lot better with some more acid or heat or something. The Molcajete was very average and a bit overcooked. The kids got the tenders, which I wouldn't judge any restaurant on, that's just nice for kids to have. The other kiddo got the bean burrito. The flour tortilla was great but it was mostly cheese and just a few beans. We decided to send it on desert for some redemption and got Tres Leches, Flan, and Churros. The Churros tasted freezer burnt, the Flan was extremely over done and hard (not a Flan texture at all), and the Tres Leches was dense and pretty dry which was a bummer. All that being said, I would give it a shot. My sister was with me and said they had been before and really liked the enchilladas. I would go back and try some other things to give them a shot. The Queso Fundido was so incredible I would go back just for that to be honest. Anyways, we will be trying something else around the area tonight and hoping for the best!

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    10 oz Short Rib Mixteca w/ xoconostle glaze, mole blanco, rice, handmade corn tortillas (not shown) | $55
    10 oz Short Rib Mixteca w/ xoconostle glaze, mole blanco, rice, handmade corn tortillas (not shown) | $55
    Short Rib

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    Short Rib
    Cultura

    Cultura

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    I visited Cultura with my greyhound, so we sat outside in the courtyard near the firepit tables…read moreshared with Vin, next door. It was a cool, breezy night, typical when the summer marine layer moves in over Carmel, but the propane heaters kept us toasty. If you prefer dining indoors, the interior bar and dining spaces had an intimate, funky, but very cool vibe. The host and servers were all extremely friendly and helpful. Despite being outside in the courtyard, they were also incredibly attentive, checking frequently to see if we needed anything. Their recommendations were spot on, too. I was wowed by the cocktail menu. I'll have to return to try more of their bar offerings. This trip, I took advantage of Happy Hour to order the blood orange margarita, and I was not disappointed. I ordered the ceviche appetizer. My greyhound thought it smelled as wonderful as I did. He rested his head between my feet in hopes of catching any ceviche dropping from my hands. This was so tasty, he was out of luck on the table droppings. I also had the chicken enchiladas for my entree. It was one of the best enchiladas I've had in a couple of years. My server, Mario, brought me out a small cup of their take on Mexican hot chocolate, made with oat milk, as an aperitif. It was so delicious, I almost wished I'd ordered a full cup as dessert.

    Stopped by Cultura for a light dinner takeout order after over overindulging in seafood during the…read moreday. Everything I ordered --Lime/hibiscus agua fresca, guacamole, house made tortilla chips, salsa and smoked mushroom taco, was on point and I enjoyed chatting with Gladys and Mario. Definitely plan to enjoy a full meal here the next time I'm in town.

    Photos
    Another side of the bar seating area
    Another side of the bar seating area
    NY steak, black beans, & assorted vegetables.
    NY steak, black beans, & assorted vegetables.
    Wine & Warm Water

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    Wine & Warm Water
    Brophy's Tavern

    Brophy's Tavern

    4.3
    (826 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    Stopped in on a whim while passing through Carmel and so glad we did. The ambience is fantastic,…read moredimly lit with great music and TVs everywhere, the kind of place I'd love to come back to and watch a game. Service was excellent. Our waitress Rachel was great and took good care of us. We ordered the French dip (added Swiss, onions, and mushrooms) solid sandwich, though it could've used a touch more salt. The real star though, was the fish and chips. Genuinely some of the best I've ever had. Lightly battered, flaky, perfectly cooked. The vibe lands in that sweet spot of upscale casual without crossing into fine dining, comfortable but elevated. Highly recommend if you're passing through Carmel. We'll definitely be back.

    Lunch after a beach walk was just what we were looking for. Walk in and find a seat. Music and…read moreambiance brought a nice vibe the whole time we were here. Food is tops. The fish and chips is the ultimate meal. The burger was savory, soft and creamy just he right amount. It perfectly paired with the Talbott pinot noir they recommended. The only comment is make is the amount of French fries that were served with the burger. The plate was a lot larger looking because a sparse amount of fries was served alongside. Maybe add a little more next time just to balance it off. The servers/bartenders knew their stuff. They provided what they could in terms of what was popular and well liked. They said both items we ordered were the most popular. The fish and chips have won best fish and chips 3 years in a row. I would agree with this since I usually am not wowed with this dish. I couldn't resist ordering a dessert. The applied tart with vanilla ice cream was so satisfying. Overall service, food quality and experience was very good. If return over and over again for this same food and experience. If I could give 10 stars I would. Carmel and Brody's is a new destination.

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    Brophy's Tavern
    Brophy's Tavern
    @feedmeimei

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    Mission Bistro

    Mission Bistro

    4.5
    (595 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$$
    Outdoor seating
    Pet friendly

    I almost didn't make it to my 7:30 reservation. Another frou-frou establishment with lackluster…read moreexecution and catchy titles like "locally sourced", blah blah blah. Send me home hungry and bill me $$$ for 2, at least i get to stay in my PJs. I'm glad I stuck through with the original plan and was blown away by the endless mindfuck of plates that permanently altered my brain chemistry. In all seriousness, the menu itself doesnt seem too special: crabcakes, ceasar salad, creme brulee. Very unassuming and no real twists to it. BUT -- everything was executed to PER-FECT-SHUN and I found myself just shy of licking every. frikkin'. plate clean. No stone left unturned - in this case, not a single kernel of corn or garnish was left uneaten. I'll jump right to the food: - Half dozen raw oysters: honestly might be the more underwhelming dish of the meal only because the oysters didn't have much flavor. No brine. No sweet. The mignonette was so great though! it gave the oysters what it needed. Add a flake of salt and we're cookin'. - Caesar salad: Good all around. The assembly is what made it so over-the-top. The classic caesar but with ribbons of parm, light and fresh anchovies, whole thinly sliced loaf of crouton that held that salad up like a house of cards but crumbles to touch. I was picking up every crumb that tumbled off to the table and was audibly slurping the ribbons of parmesan. - Crabcakes: Not just another crabcake. The batter was crunchy but didn't make the dish heavy. a cooling and smooth avo creme. but OH MY GOD the grilled corn on the plate really made the dish shine! It added a nice sweet pop and smokiness that made the dish more complex. Not even assembled in a cute pile, just scattered little kernels on a plate got me out here picking them up one-by-one like a mere peasant dusting the sidewalk for nickels. yes, humble me chef. I had to apologize to the waitress who cleared my plate for how embarrassingly clean my plate was. - Thai mussels: A cliche of a mussel dish on every modern menu. I've had a lot of versions of this dish and this plate wowed me in that the mussels were simply cooked perfectly. the sauce was not thin, not too pulpy nor salty. The sauce actually penetrated the mussels. The mussels were fresh, and no empty shells, which is a low bar but so common to see these days. There might even be a couple straggling that i was able to fish from the bottom. Just a clean dish overall. The fries were the perfect accompaniment. The walls of the extra starchy and crispy fries grabbed alot of the sauce for dipping. So smart. - Beef cheeks: Perfect textures all around. It feels wrong to complain at this point but I wanted more unctuousness from the protein. The beef was actually a backdrop to the polenta and mushrooms. i wanted more fat, more melty gelatinous tendon bites. what it produced though was a perfect fancy gravy for the polenta - so creamy and perfectly seasoned. A leafy green here and there. The maitaki mushrooms were cooked perfectly, not greasy. I was really just scraping the plate for the polenta and grabbing a bite of beef cheeks as sauce. Not a bad way to live by any means. - Acai sorbet: I almost never order dessert at a restaurant. It tends to disspoint and overpriced but i have never trusted a chef so much with a full meal so of course i got TWO desserts. The acai was accompanied with raspberries and granola. Super fresh and light. The acai broke apart upon touch, didnt slide around eventhough it's on a plate, but the plate choice was nicely textured to grip the icy sorbet (WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THEIR PLATE CHOICE??) Gronola was not clunky and added a (rice) crispiness rarely found in granola. Such great care and attention to detail. - Orange and Tarragon Creme Brulee: I looked at the creme brulee with distain. Why did we order a 2nd dessert when the acai sorbet was already perfect. Orange and tarragon sounds like they're trying to sound "complex" but rarely delivers on balance and impact. I cracked the torched sugar top and gave it a chance, knowing that i havent been dissapointed tonight yet... and CUE the hallelujah angels choirs. I looked my partner in the eye and audibly said "YUMMMM... TRY. THIS. NAOOO.". We switched from the acai to the creme brulee and never stopped until the sides were hallowed out and every crystal of torched sugar was scraped off the walls. The torched sugar top cracked with ease and stayed CRISPYYYY the whole time. The custard was smooth, thick but light, and packed with orange flavor that was fiercely tempered by the herbaceous tarragon. The one sliver of orange peel candy was not supposed to wow me with it's texture and left me wondering how they managed to get the cracker-like crackle without too much sugar and not leave it leathery?? What a way to end a meal. On my way home, I got a twinge of the orange peel left in my teeth and it instantly brought me back to the magic that was the Mission Bistro. and it was HOT.

    Cute quaint dinner spot in Carmel. I'd give it between a 3.5 - 4 stars, depending on what you…read moreorder. Food: charcuterie board (jalapeño pepper jam was the best I've ever had), burrata appetizer & beet salad were excellent. Mussels were amazingly good. The steak frites & uni pasta were mediocre. Felt like it was missing something. Service: waitress was a little odd and unpleasant. She questioned some things we ordered and seemed judge mental. I would come back for the mussels! Everything else was good but for the price, could be better.

    Photos
    Crab + Pea Risotto
    Crab + Pea Risotto
    Heirloom Leaf Salad
    Heirloom Leaf Salad
    Mission Bistro

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    Sur at The Barnyard

    Sur at The Barnyard

    4.4
    (2.1k reviews)
    2.1 km
    $$$

    We have been here twice now, and this time brought some friends who absolutely loved it. Between…read morethe group, the seafood pasta (one with each type of sauce) was a huge hit. I had the rice bowl with tempura tofu and it was amazing. The sauce was perfect and the vegetables were flavorful and it was a great vegetarian option. Our friend had jambalaya and loved it, and my oldest had a burger and fries which was perfect, good size and great quality. They have a really fun (and delicious) dessert with chocolate dipped ice cream scoops with toppings on the side that are served with a dry ice effect that everyone loved. The restaurant has a family friendly feel and great service with some fun drink options as well. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town.

    After multiple failed attempts to find somewhere to eat with our dogs in tow, we arrived at Sur at…read morethe Barnyard hungry, tired, and a little defeated. What a wonderful surprise. It was just me, my two girls, and our two dogs, and from the moment we arrived, we were met with genuinely excellent service. The staff was kind, attentive, and welcoming. The food was absolutely fantastic, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Sometimes a meal is more than just a meal. After a long day of searching for a place that would work for our little crew, Sur felt like exactly where we were meant to end up. We left happy, full, and already looking forward to coming back. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Signature Beet Salad and Fried Artichokes
    Signature Beet Salad and Fried Artichokes
    Chocolates

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    Chocolates

    Big Sur Taco - mexican - Updated August 2026

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