My favorite place for tacos for the last 30+ years. Whittier High open campus days. "Dang it's Monday Chemas is closed"

*** Cash only & raising taco price to $2.50 starting in mid August *** Chema's Tacos is a mom-and-pop + brick-and-mortar taco shop in Whittier and was established in 1986. They only sell taco - no burrito, no beans & rice, and no chips. [Parking]: Limited and few spots available right in front of the taco shop. However I had no issue finding a spot on Saturday night. [Ambiance & Amenities]: This taco shop doesn't have the sexiest decor. There are 7 indoor tables, one ATM, and old-school toy vending machines. One unisex restroom available. [Menu]: 7 meat options for taco - carne asada, al pastor, tripas, pollo (chicken), sesos (brain), buche (stomach), cabeza (head), and chorizo (sausage). *** Carne asada taco + Al pastor taco (with everything, dine-in - $2.25): One of employees brought a plate of tacos to my table. Unfortunately I thought both tacos with double-layer tortilla tasted just alright - salsa had a hint of spicy kick, but flavor profile was bland. *** Feels like this is one of those nostalgia spots for locals who live in Whittier for decades, but there are just too many good $2+ street tacos in LA in 2025. read more

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The tacos are so good! Service is fast as well. Definitely recommend the Al pastor tacos.

I stumbled into Chema's Tacos a year ago, picking it over many other Mexican restaurants along Whittier Blvd that had a newer aesthetic and because I liked the look of it! Old school, simple exterior and interior, a family business since 1986 I am told. It also just reminded me of good taco places I'd eaten at along the highways and in the cities and towns of Mexico that I remember fondly. Well I'm glad I did choose Chema's a year ago and again today after having to pick something up at an estate sale in Whittier. You enter and it's a simple and small place of maybe 6-8 booths with an order window and a sweet young lady who in fact takes your order. The menu is simple, like 10 different kinds of tacos and that's it. I got carne asada, chorizo, pollo, and pork carnitas style tacos with all the fixings (here that's onions, cilantro, and salsa), and I had 6 of them this visit... At $2.25 each, the tacos are fairly priced for what you receive and I just love the soft, lightly seasoned meats, the distinctive Chema's salsa, and overall quality of the toasted corn tortillas. Hit them with a spritz of lemon and put a fire grilled pepper atop one and you're in for a few delicious bites... This is how I like my street tacos and I bet you will like them too. (** WARNING: Chema's is cash only so come prepared!) read more

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Amazing tacos! I had 2 asada and 2 pastor! These were Soo good! I'm from outta town so I'm glad I took a chance and stopped by, you will not be disappointed! Flavorful meat and the salsa rounds it out! If you're looking for little tacos packed with flavor do your stomach a favor and stop by! Services was prompt, dining area small but I was in and out within 20 minutes! Thanks I will def be back!! CASH ONLY!!! read more

Chema's Tacos - 2 asada 2 pastor - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California

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These are the type of tacos that will transport you to childhood. Simple and good. No guacamole. No Tijuana style, no nothing. Tacos are delicious. The spot is old school lol but it's cute. One shareable bathroom for everyone. Plenty of seating. A few parking spaces. Service is good and straight to the point. The young man also gave us salsa on the side. A taco spot for a quick grab & go. Those are the best in my opinion. read more

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Tacos are really good especially their salsa. The customer service is always great! Good taco spot!

The BEST tacos ever....been incredibly consistent since day one. Been coming here since 2005 it's just crazy how good they are. Please don't ever change!! read more

Highly recommend Chema's! Tacos are simply delicious, today we got the carne asada and al pastor, to go. I forgot about cash only, it's been a while since I was here, only had $15, and I was pleasantly surprised when I got home there were several extra tacos, made my day! I do love the house salsa and the help-yourself carrots, turnips, onions and roasted jalapeños fixins are a bonus! read more

Tacos very delicious. Tasty satisfying to the stomach. It's a fast dinner night or lunch.... Workers very friendly, kind and clean

OG taco spot in Whittier. Nothing fancy, Just Tacos! I get nostalgia everytime I step inside. Again, you won't be blown away by the decor or even the location (barley any parking) but the tacos hold their own here! read more

All they serve are great street tacos and lots of the usual condiments like freshly cut radishes, carrots, cilantro and chopped onions to taste good and so scrumptious that you can't just eat only two tacos and order six tacos to go read more

I went here a few months ago and it definitely wasn't the same. I always bought all pastor tacos and I ordered them again and I noticed the price they charge for tacos was higher and less meat. The taste of the meat was different too. Not so good anymore. The lady who took my order was rather rude. I won't be coming back. Sad. read more

Best tacos in Whittier I been coming here 30 years like 2-3 times a week. Everything is good, it's always been the exact same too.

They just serve tacos. They crossed off the lengua (Tongue) off the menu. That being said, for the price the tacos are very good. Salsa was a little spicy for my taste. Indoor seating is limited and so is the parking. Great place to grab some quick tacos for a fair price read more

The tacos at Chemas are the best I've been coming here for over 30 years and they still taste the best.service is always good.

Street Tacos are good they have different kinds of tacos, burritos, rice and beans and more! They have aguas frescas which are pretty good as well! read more

Of course I had to try this place , it is just around the corner and my son's name is Chema. Well it is great Mexican food specially in that morning Saturday or Sunday morning. read more

Best tacos in Whittier! Simple menu and fast service! Order your tacos and sit down and eat. read more

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Very good tacos! This has always been a go to for me and my family. The only issue I encountered this time around was that it was much more salty than other times I have had it. I did not mind too much, but I think it might be too much for some customers. The meat I also noticed was not as finely chopped as I was used to. Still good and will continue to order here! read more

i really wanted to like this place but cmon y'all lol uhhh idk why everyone is hyping the tacos they're honestly not it at all. the tortillas tasted warmed up in a microwave & quickly touched the grill. the meat was alright nothing great. i wish i would've loved them but i live for tacos.. but.. what... ? lol the service was normal. but it's mainly about the food for me :( read more

Thai is our weekly tacos spot. At least one night a week. Menu is simple. Tacos are basic but good and service is friendly. We call in our order with all the fixings on the side. Been coming since I was a kid. Flavor and quality has never changed. You won't fine any chicken, cheese or any variety of salsas. It just simple easy cheap tacos. Sometimes when I want the cheese and guacamole stuff I hit the taco trucks near by. This is a cash only mom and pop place. read more

If you want delicious tacos, come to Chemas Tacos. Craving something else? Don't come here. Chemas tacos specializes is their meats and subsequently, their tacos; that's all they sell. It doesn't get more hole-in-the-wall than this pace so don't expect fancy tables or chairs. Slow down when driving here as you can easily miss their tiny parking lot, or just park around the corner on the residential street. They only have one salsa which is a mild to medium sweet salsa. You can ask for hot salsa but they may give you the same salsa with less sweetness. Nonetheless, their house salsa is unique and delicious and its what keeps me coming back for more. Their service is amazing, very fast and friendly. The guy comes out to serve you the food and always does so with a smile. They know how to wrap your tacos to go, individually wrapped and in a very organized way; they seem to take pride in their service and delivery. The ambiance is very relaxed, a little uncomfortable and cramped due to the small dining area but I don't typically lounge around at any taco spot for more than 30 minutes. read more

Pros: Good carne asada, just ask them to cook it 2min longer. Solid salsa and tortillas are good. Al Pastor is just OK here had better.......but you CANT beat the price here. Almost 2023 and it's only 1.85 a taco! Support this small business!!! Their squad works hard super quick service Cons: one salsa option, no avocado, parking is minimal, and CASH only. read more

Tacos were over salted and the chicken was old and a little smelly. Service was good, friendly staff. Ended up throwing most of the food away, meat tasted old and reheated. Some of the meat was hard. read more

You need to have tacos here. Not only are they delicious but the service is fast. The menu is easy and very inexpensive. You can't really beat $2 tacos that taste like ur eating them from a taco truck. The aguas are refreshing; we had pineapple and horchata. The place is small and was crowded when we got here but we found a table. It was not noisy, people just just enjoying their tacos. We had chicken, al pastor and carne asada. All super tasty. read more

Great and faster service, the tacos , Woww the tacos are super good, yummies , very generous meat. The prices is very reasonable, but honestly the best of all is the salsita, That's the secret touch. Totally recommended. The pastor are my favorite. Very traditional place like a real Mexican taqueria. read more

Chema's Tacos - Delicious tacos - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California

#1) Been coming to CHEMA'S since 1987 (35-years) when the main Man Mr. Chema would work the back & front... These days he's older and only comes in 2 days a week.... #2) When ordering most of their tacos remember to ask them to cook the meat for 2-minutes extra..... Their Asada and Tripas are NOT cooked well enough... #3) They have generous serving of meat per taco $1.85 each ( tax included) , cool people, and Yes! the parking is still tight and a mess... #4) CHEMA'S 2022 Grade is now a 3.9 out of 5 read more

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I came here today for the first time since I was in middle school and WOW it totally hit the spot. Chema's is a Whittier staple, and for good reason. The tacos are always fresh, delicious, and the salsa is like no other. I can't believe I've gone all these years without eating here. Definitely coming back soon! read more

Not sure what all the hype is about this place. Pros: very friendly and efficient staff. Tacos are cheap $1.75 each. Cons: extremely small and difficult to maneuver parking lot. Tacos were just meh. Al pastor tacos were lacking flavor and each taco had a big chunk of fat mixed in with the meat. The kind of fat that gets stuck in your teeth. Carne asada tacos were more flavorful, but nothing to write home about. read more

Got cash? They've got tasty tacos and fast, friendly service for reasonable prices. ($2 per taco as of this writing.) The other reviews are spot-on. It's a tiny hole in the wall with religious optical illusion paintings on the walls. If you're looking for a vast menu, Apple Pay, and upscale vibes, look elsewhere. Meanwhile, I'll be enjoying the simple perfection of Chema's Tacos. read more

Best Tacos in Whittier! Me and my family have been coming here for years! Great service tacos are so good!

So good so cheap bring cash tripas are delicious Parking really small Al Pastor TacosAl Pastor Tacos read more

Chema's Tacos - a menu on the wall - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California

Great food, fast service, and a fair price for delicious food. Love their simple menu that they specialise in! read more

Chema's Tacos - Menu update Apr.27.2023 - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California

Hole in the wall, but you know that's where the best food comes from! Greta flavorful tacos. You don't break the bank either!

Chemas is favored if you're a Whittier local. I've heard people say best Tacos in Whittier, I like to add Tacos are a way of life for me and I tried Chemas today for the 2nd time with an opened mind and mouth.. lol I just can't agree. Like others have mentioned the meat alone is not that good. It's a little under cooked with not much but the grill(metal) taste. Asada Tripas Al pastor were all a little light colored and the tripas alone were way to soft and slimey. Tacos come topped with the goods so be warned you need to ask if you want plain. The Horchata started off good but the refill I had to open and check inside it because I got an off taste. It's small spot and parking is a b****!! Atm inside pretty convenient.. Booom! They only sell tacos and drinks, so I wish they'd put a little more Respeck on TACOS! The salsa was good! Yelp review challenge 49/50 read more

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I've been eating these tacos ever since they were making them out of a food truck. And I'm happy to say that they have not changed. They have a limited menu, but everything they have is fantastic. It's a small, old school taco shop and service is good. read more

WONDERFUL FOOD. Service is great and respectful. Overall I would come again and suggest this to others. Especially I've been going to chimas since I was a kid so this is childhood and complete satisfaction. read more

Chema's Tacos - Horchata - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California

i love this place it has a special place in my heart the people are always so nice! The salsa is sooo good! ive been coming here for years!!

My coworker recommended this place to me and claimed that they were the best tacos in the OC. A bold claim that I had to verify for myself. What he forgot to mention was that if you use Waze to get here, it leads you to the back which looks like a place you could get shot next to the dumpster. Man, definitely come here in the daytime if you're unfamiliar with the area. Otherwise, it faces the main Street so hard to miss. So it's definitely the definition of a hole in the wall because it's not exactly renovated, just the way I like my authentic joints. Parking is also slim, like 5 spots, so watch out or just park in the nearby neighborhood. I walked in expecting the worst, but was greeted by a nice young man and a simple menu. I ordered the Al Pastor and it came out fast. What surprised me was that my taco didn't come out dry like most places. It was already covered in this tangy sauce that made the lemon kind of irrelevant. They also provided a generous serving of their house salsa. The little condiments stand didn't have much except a fee pickled vegetables and maybe one other thing of salsa. I think that was pretty impressive. Tortilla was good as well. I actually bought so more to eat for lunch the next day and it was still really good. Meat was tender and lean. I honestly could have mistaken it for beef. I'll definitely risk getting shot when I'm craving for "OC's best taco." read more

Chema's Tacos - Menu 1/24/18 - Tacos Near Me - Whittier, California