Very disappointed, we walked over 2 miles trying to buy Mexican food in Paris. When we finally arrived, 13 minutes before closing time the lady behind the bar wouldn't not take our order. Sorry for being American, at least that's the impression I received. Before we spoke with her, we spoke with the lady and gentleman cooking the Mexican food. They were nice and said we needed to order at the bar/lounge area. We tried and got turned down. I wish I would have tried this place but ate at the Argentine food place next to this location and it was delicious. "Empanadas" many of them. read more

Finally! A great, authentic taqueria in Paris. The menu at Candelaria is simple: 2 choices of soft taco, 2 choices of hard taco, guac, tequila and three beers. On top of it all, the service is friendly, despite the chaos of serving the lingering, meandering crowd. Get there early to snag a seat, but be sure to eat quick, the bar in the back is calling.... ....Beautifully designed, romantic, electric, mysterious, exciting, not to mention the extremely well crafted cocktails! The bar menu isn't overwhelming and offers a cocktail to please everyone, plus a few added brew selections. The punch bowl for 4-6 people is pure genius. NB: The restaurant is cash only so be prepared, 20€ should get you about two beers and 3 tacos. The bar in the back does, however, take CB. Bouffe: 10/10 Boisson: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 read more

Some of the worst customer experience ever in Paris. She was rude and didn't want to take our orders. She said, "we where late and the kitchen was closed. "Even though we had ordered margaritas, and where waiting to place the rest of our order. She then she proceded to take another customer order who got there 15 mins. after us, even though the "kitchen was closed". We left and proceded to go down the street to an empanada place. They where great and delicious. Not this joke of a place. read more

3 stars for the food. 4 stars for the back room. Food was tasty although not the best I've ever had. We didn't know there was hardly any seating, so the wait to sit down with our group of 4 was a little unfortunate, but people were cool about it. The guacamole was a highlight -- some places in Paris weirdly put lots of crême fraîche in it as if that's sour cream, but not here. What I enjoyed most of all was the bar. It's a lot less cramped, and I loved the inventive cocktails they had on the menu probably more than any other "craft" cocktail place I've been to in Paris. Yeah, they are expensive. But in the States I regularly chose to frequent places with drinks of that price and caliber, so I've already made my peace. I'll pay that price if it's that good, and it was. If you're a cocktail snob, this place is a great for some relief from "une pinte" of whatever's on tap. read more

You don't expect to understand the conversations around you when you are in a foreign country and in an unfamiliar place. So when you realize that you can in fact listen to and understand the dirty deets about the guy sitting next to you, you find yourself filled with welcomed annoyance. Ex-pats, visiting Americans - this place is for you. 3 STARS - FOOD - The place is small, casual, and seats around 15. Come on the earlier side if you don't want to wait too long. We had to wait for seats to eat, but we were still able to drink some margs and eat some chips while we waited which was nice. The guacamole is good. The margaritas were not. And the tacos in the front were average. Being from Southern California where there's practically a taco truck on every corner, I was frustrated with how ridiculously expensive we were splurging on decent tacos. 4 STARS - BAR - The bar, hidden behind a nondescript white door in the back, is much more spacious (though still small) and trendy. The drinks are expensive, but the cocktails are pretty strong. More than anything, it's really an effective speakeasy. You would never expect to find a bar from the super tiny taco storefront. There's a nice contrast which makes you really feel like you are in a sub-culture Parisian adventure. read more

Decent for what it is, but it's not *wait for it* **removes sunglasses** ***leaves coyly*** *****returns***** GUTTER TACOS! read more

From California, I've eaten Mexican food my whole life (the real stuff, not Taco Bell). We won't go back. 1. The chips and salsa were corn tortilla chips, squirted with a very watery sauce, topped with a generous dollop of crema and a load of homemade chopped pickles. Pickles. Really strange. 2. I asked the server if I could have my order without cilantro/coriander. She understood me, and said yes. At the end of our order, I confirmed there would be no cilantro in my plate. It was covered in finely-chopped cilantro, which she admitted to forgetting and apologized, and asked if it was ok anyway. I asked nicely if it was possible to remake my two tacos, and she just looked at me like I was crazy. 3. Don't go with a group. They've got two or three small tables and a bar that seats 6. read more

We've been twice - the tacos and salsas are okay, but the staff makes things awkward. It seems they prefer to speak English but some do speak French. I know because our server took the time to correct my French when we ordered - a truly cunning linguist! The second time we tried the bar but couldn't get anyone to talk to us, so we took off. It was around 6 pm on a Friday evening so it was getting busy but not that busy. The server was able to glare at us, but couldn't share a drinks menu. Try Mary Celeste down the street - much friendlier even when they're more crowded and if you can believe it, their tacos are better. read more

Food was alright, however we were very excited due to the lack of Mexican food in our area and all the rave about this place. However the tacos were just okay and me and my girlfriend got awful food poisoning and were sick for the next 24 hours. Wish we could blame something else but only had a baguette that day. Ps good margarita though read more

Stopped by for drinks on a Friday night after hearing about this place from several sources. We got in without having to wait, walking past the bright front room that sells tacos through the back door to a completely different scene. You would have no idea from the street that there is this dark, crowded and jumpin' bar scene behind the restaurant! The DJ was playing old school hip hop and the bartenders were friendly and make a mean cocktail! We did have to wait ~15 mins. because it was really busy, but we didn't mind. Great people watching as the crowd is really mixed with locals, expats, and the odd in-the-know tourist. You can hear several languages being spoken and in terms of dress code, anything goes (some girls were dressed up, others in jeans and hoodies). Be prepared to get cozy and the space is small and it gets really hot! Will have to come back to try the Mexican food, but the bar alone was definitely reason to go. A cool find in the Marais! read more

COMPLETE DISREGARD OF SEVERE ALLERGY AND ALLERGIC REACTION DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES. I ordered two tacos I've had before and knew were safe to eat with my severe peanut allergy. The server gave me the wrong order and after one bite I was incredibly sick. Accidents happen but the staff handled this horribly. My friend and I were in a rush to leave and the server insisted I pay for the wrong order that literally endangered my life. Even though I told him I didn't order it and I was visibly sick and wheezing. His response was basically just that's too bad. The other customers in the restaurant were literally more concerned than the staff who could be described as less than sympathetic. To add insult to injury when I reached out and emailed the restaurant explaining the dangers of this, they didn't reply. Clearly this establishment doesn't care about their customers or realize how the first minutes of an allergic reaction can be a matter of life or death. So don't go here if you have an allergy. They don't care and will still charge you after they poison you. read more

Just great in every way. Delicious tacos and not to mention salsa. Pop by the lounge for a cocktail after a bite. Or the other way around. Its a hidden treasure. read more

After a few years of coming here, it was about time to come out of the closet about this Paris gem hidden behind a tacco joint. Clearly, don't come here for the TexMex. Come for the tequila inspired drinks in the back. If you come on a slow weeknight, the owner will be there - look for the American guy with the computer. BTW, you ay see a bouncer sitting indoors - that's a sign you've found the right place. read more

We heard so many reviews about this place, that we had to check it out during our stay in Paris. This place is Cash Only. They don't have menus as it changes daily, so you'll order whatever is on the blackboard. One con is there is no guacamole, but the sour cream which seems to be home made was the best sour cream I had in my entire life. It has a whipped texture. We had barbacoa tacos, which in the states is from the cow with a little kick to it. There it was made out of lamb which is not my favorite but we were already here so we tried that along with the squash tacos. Which weren't bad. My final con I would say is that we came around lunch time 1-2ish and they already ran out of the quesadillas we wanted to try. This place is kind of hidden so you will have to look for it but it's worth a try. read more

Ok, so I am a lemming and if Gwyneth Paltrow says to go somewhere I go. First off lemme say that this is 4 stars for a taco place *in Paris*. In the U.S. I would have looked at the prices and walked out, because €5 for a side of black beans and €4.50 for a tiny taco is LOLZ not happening. So don't come at me with your "tacos in Baja or Texas or Mexico" are better or whatever. Paris has kinda always been completely bereft of any good Tex-Mex or any semblance of it, so Candelaria is a welcome addition. That said , the blue plates they use are legit from Mexico and they gave me a flashback to my grandmother's kitchen. So there is some authenticity to this place. Here's what I ate: Tacos de Chorizo: had it been midnight and I was drunk, I would have said that they were amazing. Alas it was 1pm and I was sober, so I'll rate them as pretty good, but small. I wish the chorizo had been less greasy and a little spicier. With the crema it was all just too liquidy. Hands down the most redeeming thing about these tacos were the legit corn tortillas that tasted like Mexico, hand to God. They said they import the corn from Mexico (sure, why not?) Torta de Tinga: This was really good. I wish I had eaten 3 of these. No complaints. SO GOOD! Order this. Guacamole: a little salty, but again, would not be out of place in Texas. The totopos were crunchy and fresh. Not bad The Frijoles: Oof, they broke my heart. How much does this Mexican love beans? A lot. And these were like the bad report card you didn't want to show your mom. They were not only overpriced but waaaay too soupy and needed seasoning. Very sad. Total bill (with 2 beers) was €42. Yeahhhh. Not exactly taquería prices, so be forewarned. Also the place is tiny. It seats maybe 15 people at a time in front. During the day you can also eat in the back, which becomes Da Club at night. Also, ladies, you pee thru the green doors downstairs (you're welcome). I will def go back :) read more

Such a gem on an unassuming street. We walked past it three times before realizing we found the right place. The tacos were good, but don't expect to be blown away as you would in other areas with a stronger spanish influence. The backroom bar is warm and welcoming. Drinks are loving made, and the ingredients are fresh. I could have spent all night there, but it does get quite packed. Pros Drinks, vibe, food, and killer bartenders Cons Gets Slammed and about 2 more euros than I like to pay for a drink read more

The tacos here are SUPERB. They're small and creative and absolutely delicious! Like the tacos, the margaritas are petit in size but they are pretty strong. I loved that they were rimmed with cayenne pepper instead of typical sugar or salt. The staff are very friendly and speak English. The venue itself though is a real tiny hole-in-the-wall. As I understood it, the bigger, nicer room is for the bar/cocktails only, while the seating area/"restaurant" is a separate room that consists of a long narrow hallway and just ONE table to eat at. The table seats 6-8 people and you share the table with others. If you want to eat, come early because once the bouncer is needed you'll be waiting awhile for a spot at the table. Candelaria was definitely a highlight of Paris dining, a gem off the beaten track. read more

The mezcal drink on the menu is amazing and the chips/salsa really hit the spot. Great secret bar. Just a block away from Little Red Door.

Food was excellence. You will find a small quaint setting with just one table and counter seating. We had the night special of tacos and guacamole. All very tasty. Great margaritas as well! read more

Candelaria offer BRUNCH! Need I say more?! I've been to this place quite a few times before but after discovering they serve brunch I ran there as fast as I could when Sunday finally arrived. The Mexican food is as good as ever only with the added bonus of eating it in the clandestine cocktail bar. Normally it's reserved solely for drinking so it feels like a really luxury being able to eat in the much more spacious back room. Brunch starts at 12.30 although they seemed late opening as there was a stream of people waiting to enter just before 13.00. I would definitely recommend getting there at a decent time as the tables fill up very quickly, in fact there weren't any tables left when all of us were let in and seated. The Bloody Maria's they serve along with the incredible Mexican feast are reason enough to get up early and out of the house on a Sunday morning. Whilst this place seems to only be getting more and more popular it has still retained all of its shabby charm which is one of the reasons I fell in love with it in the first place. read more

This place is mosty known for its cocktails and for apero/dinner. We have been here for lunch, so everything is quite different. While we could not get in a few nights before because it was too crowded (in a good way!), at lunch there is not so many people, and that's quite confortable. The ambiance is good, the entrance is very well hidden inside a taqueria, easy to miss! The menu is quite (too) short (mainly tacos) and simple. The guacamole (my personal benchmark...) is good, chunky and not spicy, the staff is very nice. It's 3 stars for our lunch experience, I will probably add another star for apero if I can get in sometime! read more

Amazing authentic Mexican tacos in Paris.... When I was recommended this place I was hesitant because I'm lucky to have eating real Mexican food cooked by the best but when I sat here and the tacos AL pastor arrived they blew me away. Authentic tortillas Authentic Frijoles The salsa Verde is spicy and tasty And where else can you find jarritos 5 stars for delicious food and great service read more

We went there late at night and the taco store was closing alrdy, so cant tell anything about that, but the speakeasy bar in the rear is really cool. The drinks were good (we ordered a sidear and a mint julep, so no drinks from the menu) and the bartenders were fast and knew what they were doing. It was really packed and many business guys and other parisian chic were drinking and laughing, it was fun. Definitely going to visit them again. read more

This is a difficult one to review since there are actually two venues, deserving two different ratings, smashed into one Yelp venue. For the taqueria in front, I give a full three stars. My husband would probably say it was only deserving of two but I actually enjoyed the guacamole and beef tacos but now that I think about it, I remember us having a conversation about how the beef looked like ground turkey as it was white. The taqueria is small. Very small. There is one table which seats four I believe and then there are five stools at the "counter" which isn't a full bar-style counter. It's very narrow and the stools are terribly uncomfortable. For the bar in the back, I give a full five stars. Great staff. Great cocktails. Great decor. I could have sucked down 1,000€ in drinks had I had an endless bank account. My husband and I chatted with two of the bartenders (one from Minnesota and the other from Montreal), comparing some of the highest rated cocktail bars in London to Candelaria. In short, we decided that the cocktail bars in London are mostly terrible and Candelaria is the best! What I liked most about our discussion was how in tune the bartenders were with the boutique cocktail scene. They liked that we absolutely hated 69 Colebrooke Row but had a good time at Happiness Forgets. We didn't have a reservation but we happened to stop in early, around 6:30pm after eating in the taqueria in front. The bar in back opens at 6pm and people started packing in right at 6pm while we were eating tacos. The bar does take reservations and all of the tables were taken by the time we entered the bar - we were able to snag the last two bar stools. One quick note about the bathroom downstairs... After you descend the stairs, you will find yourself walking through a narrow hallway. The first thing you will see is the sink. You will then think to yourself, "OK, there is a communal sink." After you pass the sink, you will continue down the hallway and if you go all the way to the end, you will end up at a urinal. There is no door, just a urinal around the corner. And if you are as lucky as I was, you'll walk up to the urinal as a stranger is urinating. So, where is the women's toilet? Good question and a question that had to be answered for me by the man who I'd just seen pee'ing. The women's toilet is behind the two blue/aqua doors, just past the sink and on the left-hand side (before you get to the dead end urinal). Good luck! read more

Although this is a very trendy place and is quite busy most of the time, I was disappointed by the limited menu. During the week they only sell 3 different flavours of tacos for mains and guacamole and chips. They have a wide range of cocktails and drink beverages to choose from. I think the taco flavours were a bit specific. One chorizo option, one cactus option and one capsicum option. They didn't really sing in my mouth. I believe these options change regularly, however, when I was there, I wasn't too excited by the options presented to me. read more

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The staff was super nice + friendly and the the food came out very fast. Review on the food only: Had a craving for mexican so trekked across the city for Mexican. Could not even finish the food. Used to the Mexican food in California, the food was very fusion. The chicken mole tacos were very sweet which was weird. The guacamole was good. No lettace or tomatos or cheddar cheese on tacos. The bar in back looked very fun. Would come back for the bar.. but not the food. read more

There is no reason not to give this place 5 stars. The food is so good and the drinks are delicious. Go for dinner in the front and order a nopal (cactus yumminess) and a margarita, then slide to the back and join the Parisians enjoying the creative cocktails. This place has a great vibe anytime of everyday. read more

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Had chicken tacos and beef tostadas, marguerites. This place is a great curve to all the standard French fare. A visit is worth it. Purveyor is from Mexico hence the authentic favors. They have a cocktail lounge in the back with a good cocktail menu...try the green hornet (spicey marguerita read more

One of my favorite spots in Paris. The tasty, tiny, taco station is a front for a slick speakeasy cocktail bar in the rear. They're tourist-friendly, English fluent. After a bit of a wait to get a seat, start off with some legit tacos (though they're unfortunately quite pricey) and a margarita. The margaritas are strong and have that mexican spicy salt along the edges of the glass. Afterwards, make your way through the back door into the speakeasy area. You'll find great artisinal cocktails in a small, dimly lit, relaxing setting. I have to admit, unfortunately, that in the past few months I've noticed a dip in the quality of the food and margaritas. It's possibly linked to a shocking boom in the amount of tourists discovering the joint. Crossing my fingers that it was just a series of flukes for me. read more

Went with my partner for a few cocktails tonight but unfortunately we were incredibly disappointed. My partner doesn't speak much french and approached some of the staff at the bar to ask for a menu - they spoke to him in French for a bit but once they realised he couldn't understand them were entirely dismissive, angry, and outright refused to give him a menu. When I went over to the bar with the intention of asking for a menu in French I was glared at and had one very begrudgingly shoved in my face before I had a chance to properly ask for one. After this we didn't really want to have to interact with the staff again so we went to Little Red Door instead which I would absolutely recommend if you're looking for a nice night out! read more

Surprisingly really good. It's a really small place but it's worth the wait. The ceviche tostadas were excellent and the chicken ones were very flavorful. Don't leave without having a margarita. read more

Strong drinks, an amazing array of authentic food, a cozy location-- what more can you ask for? This place is a stop for me every time I'm in Paris; I love the guacamole, the beers, the margaritas-- and the cozy ambience hidden behind the restaurant itself. The restaurant isn't anything fancy, and I think that's part of what makes it so great-- the contrast between the eating area and the lounge is marvellous. Get a cactus taco and a margarita; you won't regret it! read more

Candelaria is a hidden gem in Paris. With authentic Mexican food, gluten free and vegan options it was exactly what we needed after a morning of travel. The staff was amazing as well. Especially Jesus who is the best bartender i encountered in Paris. He even made food/drink/entertainment recommendations for us for the rest of our trip!! The margarita and "Mexican" Bloody Mary here rival any I've had around the world and should not be missed. read more

Living in Paris for a summer, I discovered this hidden gem with friends looking for more "Americanized" places to eat and stumbled upon this place! The food is amazing and is usually crowded with other Americans! The space is a little narrow, especially when packed, but so worth it! They even have Jaritos, you know it's pretty authentic! read more

First off I'm a tourist without being too much of a tourist. I just moved to Paris and heard there was no such thing as good Mexican food in Paris. Candelaria proves those who uttered those devastating words to me inaccurate. Candelaria provided me with some of the best tacos I've ever had. There is greater Mexican food in other parts of the world, obviously, no one comes to Paris for the tacos, but the only great place to get great Mexican food in Paris is Candeleria. The restaurant is scooped out of the underwhelming building and like most places worth going in Paris, it's cramped. It's perfect for rubbing elbows, chowing on some nopales tacos and letting some 7 euro margaritas slide down your throat. Yes, apparently the margaritas used to be 5 euro, but dude a 7 euro cocktail in Paris is unheard of- get over it. The tacos are more expensive than I would pay for in the states but still cheap. The menu changes often and the tacos range from very well seasoned and marinated meat to well juxtaposed & cooked vegetables. The dudes making the tacos are friendly, know what they are talking about and care about the food they serve you. That's very important. In the back of the restaurant is a speakeasy with great cocktails. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'm not in love with the decor, it feels like they started to give it an aesthetic but then didn't finish it. That's not very important but it's something I care about. I think the food and people who work there give it an inviting atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys Mexican food and to prove all those nonbelievers & pessimists wrong who misspoke about the presence of great Mexican food in Paris. Shame on you. read more

My boyfriend and I went to Candelaria last saturday. He's from southern california, he was raised eating Mexican food and therefore has really high standards. I'll keep this short: Candelaria was simply the best and most authentic Mexican place we have tried in Europe (we have been living here for many years). Their food is not only good, it's perfect. And the service is great. It can get really full, but the team deals very well with the crowd... we didn't have to wait much... Moreover the kitchen is very clean and the prices are normal. I'll definitely come back! read more

C'est très fantastique! J'aime bien que il y a un bar caché ici. La déco est vraiment cool. Il y a bcp de bougies et des murs en pierre. J'aime beaucoup les tacos champignons. J'ai mangé un taco avec 'queso fresco' mais, il était très différent que le fromage typique. Peut être c'est difficile trouver queso fresco authentique ici à Paris. J'aime beaucoup l'ambiance aussi. Le bar à l'arrière est très sympa. J'adore la boisson avec concombre et tequila. C'est épicé! Oh, dans les tacos, j'ai mis nopales. Ils sont très délicieux. C'est un bon goût du Mexique! ___ Spicy. Cucumber. Drink. it is amazing. Also there's some drink called daisy something that isn't bad, and I also had something else in a martini glass and I have no idea what it's called- except for that the moral of the situation is all the drinks are fantastic. Also sometimes an american girl works at the bar, so if you can't speak french then keep an eye out. Also don't expect to sit down unless you go early...I must go out really late because I have NEVER been able to sit down there. The taco bar in front is awesome too, it's cool to see some delicious mexican food in Paris. The chef speaks spanish too, if you happen to know any. I wanted to try their carnitas but they were all out and had just switched to tongue....and that's not really my style. So i had mushroom and queso fresco. They also have good hot sauces. read more

TACOS. WERE. SO. FREAKIN. DELICIOUS! Came here around 12.30pm so no review of the place as a bar, but the food was seriously so good. Slightly overpriced, but I guess I'll have to survive. Can't wait to be back. read more

Went last Friday night pretty late and a lot of things were sold out, but what we had was very good! Mushroom tacos, nopales, and chicken, salsa was tasty and the beer from the bar in the back was great (Demory Roquette Hefeweizen, not sure why they didn't sell it upfront). Yes you have to suffer through waiting outside, then waiting crushed in line, and getting smushed by people going to the back bar while you eat, possibly getting to sit at the one communal table, but if you're like me and from CA and need your taco fix, this is the only one so far in Paris I've found worth eating. And the bar is great too! read more

We had a really fun time here eating tacos and drinking the best michelada we've ever had! Unfortunately, my fiancé and I got terribly sick a couple hours later. Looking back at the reviews, another couple got food poisoning here too. I hope the owners see this and consider their food safety practices and cleanliness. And if you're considering eating here, I wouldn't chance it. I hate that such a fun time and great meal ended that way. read more