great vibes and atmosphere as well as wonderful service from all of the staff that was there. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for good food and drinks and vibes, ask for arnaldo read more

Came here for lunch on my quest of trying all locations for Cali Spartan; 2/3 so far. This is the original location and it did not disappoint! 5/5 stars had a wonderful experience! Servers were attentive and were ready to take our order immediately. The interior decorations are very beautiful, but it is a bit smaller than the blossom hill location. Parking can be difficult during peak hours so keep that in mind. The food was delicious and HIT the spot. The quality of their food is very consistent and is jam packed full of flavor & fresh! Al Pastor Fajitas 10/10 Carne Asada Fajitas 9.5/10 Chips and Guac 9/10 Tried some new items on the menu instead of what's usually ordered and it did not disappoint! Their sauce bar and mango salsa/condiment availability is better than the blossom hill location. Both the Al Pastor and Carne Asada were scrumptious, they were cooked to perfection and had some crunchy pieces too! Flavor was superb, but the Al Pastor did taste better than the Carne Asada. Chips and Guac was excellent, and they also do have the chip seasoning to boost the flavor! Overall the fupa is very happy with this experience and only have 1 more location to try! Big Back Tip: Extremely satisfied with this order because the sheer amount of protein you get for the price point has got to be better than any other item. Will definitely return to indulge on this again. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Carne Asada Fajitas (Sizzling Plate) Al Pastor Fajitas (Sizzling Plate) Chips and Guac - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Authentic Mexican food, very tasty and made with fresh ingredients. Friendly staff...if you can get their attention. The dining area has limited seating. This place is very busy, so take any table you can get or order to go. The food is very good, always made fresh daily. One complaint I have is the music is WAY TOO LOUD!!!! It's an unbearable level that eliminates all the enjoyment of eating in. Better to order to go. read more

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I crave the big crispy tacos every other month. came on a Wednesday 530ish, the restaurant was not busy at all but we took the last parking spot in the lot. restaurant was clean with many tables, indoors and out. it was quite stuffy inside though so we waited for our takeout order outside. ordered the big crispy tacos with lengua, brisket, and pastor. also got an asada dopes. asada is fine, but just get brisket. the sopes is the best I've ever had, but also don't need to get every time, just when the craving hits. their PB horchata is good, but IDT better than a reg horchata or strawberry agua fresca. they give a random assortment of salsas if you get takeout, not sure if you get to ask for any specific salsas. their mango salsa is still my favorite. they do in fact take card, but there is a cash discount. read more

Cali Spartan never fails to blow me away. It's delicious and reliable, and it's always a good spot to take visitors to or dine at with friends. I've been to all of the locations multiple times and they are all fantastic. The parking lot is pretty small for this downtown SJ location compared to the other Cali Spartan locations in the suburbs. They have indoor and outdoor (under tent) seating available. The music is usually pretty loud and sometimes it can get pretty hard to hear people when seated inside. I always get the big crispy tacos here, and I've tried their carne asada, al pastor, fish, shrimp, chicken, cabeza, etc. and all have been delicious! My favorites are probably the carne asada, shrimp, and al pastor. Their regular fries are tasty and crispy, and the loaded Cali fries are amazing too. Their food is just loaded with so many toppings and bursts of flavor. Always a good time eating here. One time I did try their super burrito though and I wasn't a fan of it. It was super plain and seemed to skimp in almost all of the ingredients and had mostly just rice and lettuce. It even had some tiny shredded carrots which was interesting because it looked like a salad mix type and was not the move for a burrito. Wasn't up my alley but I'll continue ordering and loving the big crispy tacos and Cali fries! read more

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These tacos are addicting - every time I think about this place, I start getting hungry. I ordered on the phone prior to pick-up on a Wednesday night, and thank goodness I did because it was so busy. There is extremely limited parking, so be prepared to circle a couple times before you find a spot. The actual store is quite small but has a nice patio area. There's a whole bar dedicated to toppings, ranging from pickled onions to lime wedges. I ordered a bunch of crispy tacos maybe fifteen minutes before arriving and waited an additional fifteen minutes in the restaurant. This was understandable given the crowd. I can't get over how delicious the crispy tacos were. The crunchy shell was the cherry on top of a fantastic, filled taco. I highly recommend al pastor and lengua for the filling. It was a flavor explosion, with savory meat, fresh vegetables, a smoky sauce, and a perfect crisp. The crispy taco is definitely not cheap, but for the amount of food you get, it's worth the price. I devoured all of my tacos and immediately started craving more. I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

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DONT LISTEN TO EVERYONE - this is the same as the taco truck that is located across the street. Skip the line and eat here LOL! Also there is guaranteed seating, its the parking that is difficult! My go to is always the big crispy tacos or the quesabirria! We love coming here! Its great food for a low price! I also always see people oreering their giant drinks here... maybe one day i will order it! Seems like the spot for college students. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Big crispy tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Oh this was so good!! My husband and I went for lunch and while the restaurant is a bit small, we were able to sit down immediately. Our waitress was kind and showed up to take our order within minutes. Once the food arrived the flavors were immaculate. Everything we had was seasoned well. I can't wait to come back to go back. My favorite was the super tacos! read more

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Still a regular at this location and still on support of all the great things you read about their crispy tacos. But back to share something new that I haven't seen anyone mention yet; their tamarindo flavored chamoy rims! Yes you probably heard mention of it but did you know it's their OWN recipe?! I LOVE their chavelas. It's actually the first place I tried it and no wonder I've never liked them anywhere else. Their IN HOUSE CHAMOY rim blends with Pacifico beer, lime and tajin in a way no other location can do and I finally got tired of wondering what brand chamoy they used to I asked and discovered it's their own recipe which leaves me only being able to have it here. I don't mind! But do hope they'll consider selling it! Would be cool to have some Cali spartan merch besides shirts. Wait for food is hit or miss these days. Some days, service is fast! Others it's notable slower. They still have their own parking lot but since this place is so popular, you can't count on always finding a spot. This does lead to people double parking or parking in ways that could block you. Employees will take a picture of cars and go around asking whose it belongs to and if they can be moved. Parking is hard in downtown but the people make it work for their tacos! I don't mind any of this. I'm a certified fan read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Chavela and michelada - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

We came here on a Monday night and got sat down for service. The food here is really good, I have not been here for years and it was better than I remembered. I love all the toppings and the sauces they have and everything tasted so good! I would definitely come back, they have a large variety of foods and drinks here. I recommend this place, I know they have food truck down the street that serves food as well. read more

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I've been here twice now with my brother and the crispy tacos are EXCELLENT! We were fortunate both times to find parking in the lot out back, but during peak dining hours I'm sure it's harder to find. I've tried the little and big crispy tacos now, their wide selection of meat is excellent and what other spot lets you pick different meats for a set of 3?? Feels rare! The pastor is solid, and cabeza is really tender. I'm curious about their braised beef next time! I also had a large strawberry/horchata agua fresca (32oz!) for only $8, what a steal! I'm not local anymore and this hit the spot so well that I'm considering picking some up next time I fly into SJC. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Big crispy tacos (pastor and cabeza) - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

It's a solid choice for food and drink. It's not the best I've ever had, but I could see myself craving this place once in a while, and I know I'll be back at some point. Everyone talks about the "orange sauce;" I just want to be clear, it doesn't taste like oranges, haha! It is an orange-colored sauce that some find a little spicy, but I didn't feel that it was spicy at all. I do love spicy food though. The mango tajin lemonade came in a huge, glass stein (you do kind of pay for the amount though, since I felt it was expensive for a drink). The parking can be tough sometimes, but it is an off-street lot that's free, so I appreciated that. Overall, would recommend! read more

My friends and I came in on a Sunday afternoon for lunch, and it was relatively busy. I got 3 little crispy tacos--my go-to--with steak as my choice of meat, and it was sooo good. Honestly they never miss with these tacos; I also love their orange sauce as well though it can get spicy. Atmosphere was great with musics in the background. I would definitely come back. read more

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It took us long enough to finally try this place! There is a parking spot, as well as street parking. As soon as you walk in, you can either sit down and enjoy or order to go. The service is great, quick and attentive! We ordered a few items - they came out probably 15-20 minutes after we ordered but food came out tasting delicious. There is seating both inside and outside. read more

burritos are good but $10 tax for 3 items is crazy. 2 burritos and sauce bottle being $50? i recommend just buying the sauce and get cheaper burritos elsewhere. a popular restaurant near a college overcharging like dang okay take advantage of the students LOL read more

How did I not know about this place sooner? Small lot, friendly service, and excellent food! Got the Cali Crispy Tacos--they have a variety of protein you can choose from. I got the fish, shrimp, and pastor--all delicious! My friends got the lingua and cabeza and also liked what they got. Their horchata is sweet and dairy free. I can't wait to go back! read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Cali Crispy Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Mermaid burrito 4/5 - this was decent but nothing amazing. Good amount of protein but I would get a different meat next time. The burrito is huge and good for two people I think Chips and guac were really good. They took a really long time to bring our food out. But the workers are really nice read more

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Needed a California Mexican food fix while in San Jose. Found this promising remedy on Yelp. Small place with both inside and outside seating. Chose an inside table which was nice because they've done a good job decorating for Christmas. Fun, cool vibe with music playing inside. Waitress was quick and good. They have a lunch special with three tacos and a drink for $10. You pick the type and I went with pastor. We also ordered some chips and salsa to hold us over. Good portions and flavor, A+. Tacos were street style and good, not great. Would try something different next time. Would also like to try some of their cocktails too next time too. read more

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There's a reason this place is famous in the bay. love the lively, colorful, decorations, and loud atmosphere families friends, the diversity, that comes here to enjoy saucy, flavorful, Mexican food food. Famous for its super Cali crispy tacos, the crunchy shell with creamy avocado, fat fries, and the superior orange sauce. Insane best quesadilla I've ever had as well, so fat it was like a burrito, good meat, saucey like I like it! Waitresses can be a bit slow because they're constantly overworked. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Super cali crispy tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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You can never go wrong with spartan tacos! It definitely gets super busy late at night as this is a late night spot for many people in the area. Keep in mind they only accept cash so bring cash!! Be sure to try their crispy tacos so good! read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Really solid taco spot located right next to the SJSU campus in downtown San Jose. Came in on a warm day to get some tacos before heading to the Sharks game. To my surprise, this is actually a sit-down establishment as opposed to a taqueria style counter order. The menu was very extensive and had so much variety in food and drinks. Service was nice and we got our food fast, as it wasn't too crowded when we came in on a Thursday around 6pm. There is also a self-service salsa bar with all the taco fixings. Big Crispy Tacos: one of their best sellers, basically a tostada with a heaping mound of taco meat, cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream. We got pastor and lengua and both were great! Quesabirria Tacos: served in a set of 3 tacos and these were also great! I actually preferred them over the big crispy tacos, but I'm just a sucker for quesabirria I think. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Big crispy tacos and Quesabirria tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Living in San Jose, there are a lot of Mexican restaurants, and I've been to most of them. I always wondered why they're all so disappointing. It really bothered me, every single restaurant, every single taco truck, is terrible in San Jose. Then I discovered Cali Spartan, that's when everything changed. This place is amazing, so amazing that even little issues are easily overlooked by me. The food is delicious, it tastes like Mexican food I've had in San Diego, which is the best in California. The moment you walk in, you can just tell by the smell. The portions are gigantic too! You WILL be full, and you WILL have leftovers. The kind of leftovers that still taste good the next day too. Everything was hot and delicious, but my burrito (GIGANTIC) was cold, but it was easy to overlook because it still tasted delicious! The service is excellent, I can't believe how nice the servers are. It is a very stressful work environment because of how busy they get. I watched them literally SPRINT back and forth between groups of broccoliheaded college kids, it looked like a nightmare. There's a nice clean condiment area that's self serve with fresh onions, radishes, and other items to accompany your dishes. Their homemade sauce is out of this world, and that is an understatement! Parking is an issue, it's a small parking lot that's packed. Like I said earlier, the broccoli children are entitled and selfish, so they park in areas they're not allowed and block cars in. While I ate, I watched a waitress go to each table and show a photo of the car in question, and ask everyone if that was their car. I think she should've popped the tires and smashed the windows to teach the little runts a lesson, 90s style. All in all though, this is the Mexican restaurant I was looking for. A real Mexican restaurant with authentic Mexican food. Forget everywhere else you've been, this is the one. read more

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Cash or Venmo only! Good amount of parking in the lot for weekday lunch. Cabeza comes a little crispy, pastor good flavor just doesn't come with pineapple. Cameron shrimp is smaller size but still good. 3 tacos for $9 read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

D2 has been having a mad craving for birria tacos since her trip to Southern California and every chance she can get them, she will. D1 and my SonShine have been to Cali Spartan before and we had been in the area so they suggested we come here. It's in the SJSU area, so no wonder it's called Cali Spartan. There's a small parking lot on the side and back which makes it convenient. Nearly every space was taken though, surprisingly there weren't many tables taken inside though, so I'm thinking people are using the parking lot for other businesses. We were greeted instantly and asked if we wanted to eat inside or out. It didn't matter to us, whatever was available first. We got our table and were given menus. It's a pretty extensive menu with lots of offerings. D1 and D2 both got the birria tacos. SonShine had the Cali Tacos, all carne asada. And I ordered the Super crispy tacos, 1 carne asada, 1 pollo, and 1 pastor. The food took a bit to come out, but at least we know that it was freshly prepared. In that meantime of waiting, we decided to order chips and salsa. The chips had a yummy seasoning on it. The salsa was super spicy, so D2 and I decided to eat our chips with their yummy Orange Sauce. And IMHO, Cali Spartan's Orange Sauce is better than the other popular Mexican eatery with the initials, L.V. D2 loved her birria, D1 said it was just okay. D1 said she prefers her birria on flour tortillas, however she's comparing it to something she's eaten in Tacoma, WA. We all told her this is legit Mexican food, and what she's been eating in WA is gringo-fied. AHahah.SonShine has had his tacos before, so he already knew what he was getting. I needed to have a taste of each, just to be sure and hands down the carne asada was the best. The vibe inside is hella chill, there's tv screens, bright lights, and they were already decorated for Christmas on Black Friday. CASH ONLY so come prepared. read more

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My first time ordering food from their actual restaurant because I usually go to the food trucks for the late night munchies or when I'm by Costco. We placed our order and 30 minutes had passed by, I began to notice that the customers lined up after us were receiving their orders first and started to question when we would receive ours. It must've been forgotten because none of the staff was able to find our order and began scrambling around just to check up on it. It wasn't a busy day either, and I was a bit bummed when we asked for mango salsa (we ordered 8 tacos btw) the waitress only gave us one tiny container. On another note, I did try the super soft tacos for the first time and they were yummy! Aside from that, I most likely wouldn't return unless if I dined in. For my future takeout orders, I would lean to ordering from their food trucks. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Tripas Big Crispy Tacos 10/10 - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

The food here is great and the service pretty good. My reason for the 3 stars is if you do not dine in you can't use the salsa bar. They do provide to go sauce however you are not able to get the pickled veggies, radishes, limes etc. In my opinion they should offer small bags of these items even for a small fee but to be denied these items because I don't have time to dine is very unfortunate and leaves a negative experience. read more

I never been here but i know it's a Bay Area staple. There is a parking lot and it was early Saturday afternoon. We were surprised it wasn't as crowded but they had a table inside for us. Everyone ordered different style tacos. I got the little crispy tacos with asada and al pastor. We waited for about 10-15 minutes and our whole group was served (group of 7). The food was hot and so good. I loved my tacos and couldn't even choose my favorite meat (asada and al pastor). My friends liked the fish tacos also. The nachos were a good shareable portion. The chips were crispy even after sitting for a while. 10/10 great first experience! read more

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Guacamole: good portion but bland. Had to add a ton of lime and salt Regular tacos: cabeza was tasty. Not wet like I expected. Al pastor was aite. Fish was pretty good. Crispy tacos: very good with carne asada. Little heavy on the sour cream but obviously that's a personal preference. Very efficient service and overall enjoyable experience eating here for 1. Would come again. read more

Started going to Cali Spartan after a recommendation from my girlfriend who had it one time and said it was one of the best tacos she had ever had. Cali Spartan specializes in "crispy tacos" which are essentially what Americans know as "tostadas" rather than my intial thought being the crispy shell tacos from Taco Bell. The location is right in downtown san jose with a good amount of seating that we almost never have an issue when there. The parking situation is weird though, as the lot is pretty poorly maintained and depending how others are parked, you might be diagonal next to a dumpster. The crispy tacos: they are legit. Freshly made and every protein I have tried has been a banger. The pastor, carne asada, papa con chorizo, saudero; all are great especially once you top it off with their hot sauce and pico. They also have loaded fries which are also awesome and hits the spot. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Aguas Frescas and Crispy Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Heard this is one of SJSU's goto spots though maybe overhyped simply because of convenience. Realistically fairly average, maybe arguably a 3.5 rounded up if I had ordered different tacos, but the Cali-Tacos weren't anything to write home about. Okay value for portions but seems solid for college students. Small parking lot though, so recommend trying to park further out and walk a bit. Getting steps in before tacos isn't a bad idea anyway. Large menu that can be overwhelming but most items are standard and expected. I tried the Cali-Tacos that come with the fries but honestly, they don't add much to the actual tacos. More like an appetizer, great on the side, but gimmicky with the tacos. They also kind of hide the main contents and protein, which weren't too loaded. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Cali-Tacos (front) - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

The burritos are worth the wait and have great flavor! They're not too heavy or oily and are well balanced while still having that satisfying and filling bite. Highly recommend their strawberry mixed horchata but is on the expensive end for a drink. This place overall is worth the hype! (Remember they are cash only) read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - lengua super burrito + al pastor cali burrito - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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The Cali tacos were really good and generously loaded with toppings. Our order came with plenty of sauces, which was appreciated. They are cash-only, but there is an ATM inside if you do not have cash on hand. Service was a bit slow, though we did come right at opening on a Sunday morning, which is understandable. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Cali tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

5 stars is not a high enough rating for this place. I came here on a Wednesday afternoon around 12:30 and was seated right away. I've heard this place can get pretty busy and packed so be wary of that! Once you order, the food comes out pretty quick. Also, of note... this place is cash only! THE FOOD 〰  Chips + guacamole (5/5): SHEESH. The seasoning on the chips is sooooooo goooooooood. Even if you just got the chips, you would leave satisfied. A DEFINITIE MUST-HAVE. 〰 Super Soft Tacos (5/5): Incredible, no notes. These are easily some of the best tacos I've ever had. You can choose what meat you get with the tacos, I opted for pastor, cabeza, and lengua. All three were so delicious but the CABEZA, the best meat you can get for sure. 〰 THE orange sauce (1000/5): I wish it could flow through my veins, this stuff is so good. The orange sauce comes with all tacos, and if you eat inside, they have bottles of it free for use. It's so gooooooood. I get why people say this is an SJ staple, I'd move here just for this place. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Chips and guacamole - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Pretty average. Good meal, but nothing to write home about. I heard the crispy taco is their specialty, but it was a tostada. A flat crispy fried tortilla that could not fold together like a taco. Overall, I was not impressed with the pastor, asada, or carnitas. They were all meh. The birria consommé lacked flavor and seasoning. The beef birria was tender, but bland. The cheese was there, but not flavorful. The pastor burrito was packed with ingredients, had everything in it, but didn't knock my socks off. I didn't like the non-refill soda, I got a single can. The service was just okay. We had to call the servers over for everything. They never stopped by just to check on us. Overall, the food was nothing special, but prices were very reasonable. read more

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Came by here a couple times and every time the food is delicious. The portion is large so I typically take some leftovers home. I like their salsa bar. The restaurant can get busy, but their service is fast and they have their own parking area so that's a plus. read more

Cali Spartan... Where do I even begin. You're the coffee that I need in the morning. You're my sunshine in the rain when it's pouring. IT'S GOOD. I usually dine in, and they seat you and take your order like a restaurant. Usually, we sit down and snack on some of the veggies at the self-serve station and grab some orange sauce. The ambiance is great. The cute wall where you can write anything you want is a lovely feature. It's always very lively inside. The staff are nice and attentive even despite any language barrier. My family of 3 usually gets the same thing every time: an order of the Cali fries and three super crispy tacos. It never fails us. The fries are so crispy and the portion is huge. The cheese and the pico de gallo and avocado so good especially with pastor. One thing though is that the last time I went they replaced their battered fries with some sort of non-battered one? Bring my battered goodness back The crispy tacos are great. The crispy tortilla is sooooo good. As a lover of crunchy foods I love the texture of the crispy tortilla combined with the chewy meat and crisp vegetables. The meat is soo good and always has this to-die for smoky flavor. They don't skimp out on the meat and the veggies that come with it too. The lime is a great garnish that pairs nicely as well. The orange sauce. Oh my god. Better than (you know who) and it's not even close. Just sooo spicy and good I could honestly drink it for a meal. It has this smoky creamy SPICY flavor I dream about it. This is my go-to Mexican place and I'll come back here forever. Live laugh love orange sauce. read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - Crispy Tacos Pastor & Carnitas - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Good service very friendly & kind. They are always busy always patiently waiting for the food because it was worth to wait, they crispy taco the best on the menu highly recommended read more

I got two super soft tacos and the tacos were substantially sized and filling. I thought the shrimp tasted weird (too puffy and felt like they had been put in some kind of solution), but the tilapia was tender and not chalky. I didn't add salsa or sauce because there was already a lot of sour cream on top and texturally that would've been overstimulating. The flavor was lacking without sauce, though, so I wish the sour cream was also self-serve. They have a parking lot, but it can fill up very quickly! read more

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I always try to stop by when I'm in the area! I've been loving cabeza recently and it was sooooo yummy here! The crispy tacos are truly undefeated and I love the orange sauce here!! read more

Cali Spartan Mexican Kitchen - birria super quesadilla, crispy tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Spartan Tacos is always a go-to whenever we're in San Jose, and this visit reminded us exactly why. Their crispy carne asada tacos are the star of the show: perfectly seasoned, packed with meat, and that signature crunch is unbeatable. Truly one of the best crispy tacos you can get. We also tried the shrimp burrito, which was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely something I'd order again. The carne asada burrito was good as well, though the asada didn't seem quite as bold in flavor as the meat used in their crispy tacos. Just a heads up: this spot is cash only, so make sure to come prepared. Overall, consistently delicious and always worth the stop. read more