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    El Buen Pastor

    4.0 (148 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Order El Buen Pastor Takeout or Delivery

    El Buen Pastor Photos

    EL BUEN PASTOR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Buen Pastor

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    $13 chicken torta
    Sylvain B.

    My first issue is that prices are not displayed so I found out the hard way that a chicken Torta is $11.5 and birria ramen $13.5. Slightly overpriced in my opinion compared to what we get locally. The torta was good (as it should for that price) but the birria meat was so hard... I couldn't chew on it. Lot of fat (too much!) as well on top of the broth (see my photo). This food truck is OK for a quick bite if you have no other options. I could go back and try the tacos that looked delicious.

    Had a reservation at 8pm, multiple phone calls for confirmation, once we got here said it was 30-45 min wait, but letting people from 8:30 reservations know it was a 10 Min wait. It is 8:40 & we are still waiting. Definetly a disappointment! Lady upfront was rude, we understand it is Valentines but our reservation was made 5 days prior. Everybody around had been waiting 30 minutes. Tables were available! Had to ask for chips, customer around us that got seated after us had drinks food & chips before us. Had to walk out, we had plans for tonight & couldn't even enjoy a meal. Our server overcharged us at the end of the day. 0/10 recommend sad to say.

    My only goto Taco truck in Bakersfield for Taco a Taco Trio plate. Melissa always has a smile, and she always brings a smile to my face.
    Larry R.

    Love "my" Taco truck. Melissa is one of my favorites. It's hot as sin, but they are still smiling. The food is delicious and affordable.

    TRIPA taco with Everyting on it
    George C.

    Well, I've been Yelping for many years now and this one hurts. I have been coming to El Buen Pastor for 10 years or more and today was our first bad experience. So i took my family like I do some Sundays after church to grab our favorite tacos and found these tacos reduced in size by at least 50%. While the price of them went up some. The tortillas were never toasted to a crisp and today they were and they hardly had any tripa. Yesterday on my way to work I ordered a tripa burrito and I asked for extra meat and I paid for extra meat and the burrito was so mediocre and bland. I only ate it because I had no food and everything else was miles away. I am so saddened by the changes now and I unfortunately will not be taking my family there again. Good luck with the business guys I really mean it. I hope things get better for y'all. As for ambience, well it's always busy and there's lots of semis around. Regardless of that we still went but now that will end.

    Underwhelming michelada
    Mara A.

    I really wanted to like this since the east side is growing and this is a nice restaurant on that side but unfortunately I did not. The wait to even get chips and drinks was so long and we got here before the lunch rush. The wait was so bad a table neighboring us left before getting drinks. The michelada was very underwhelming with zero garnish. I'm posting a photo of my food, it is MISERABLE that I paid $25 for two burnt eggs (when the menu said three and I asked for over medium) and the size of the steak is literally laughable. The owner was really nice though and appreciated the honesty, which was refreshing and he even threw in a free flan, so they get 2 stars instead of one. I hope this place gets it together since they're so young and have a lot of potential to make the east side happy.

    Really good agua de fresa (strawberry water)
    Saray O.

    Excellent Mexican food! We ordered the chilaquiles with chorizo on the side and tacos de lengua, tripa and chorizo. Chilaquiles-The sauce that comes with them was delicious and very flavorful. The egg I ordered over easy and it was over hard lol. The rice and beans were really good too. My fave part tho was the chorizo. Omg Delicious! Greasy and full or spices and flavor. The tacos were delicious as well. The tripa was crispy, the chorizo flavorful and not overcooked and the lengua really soft. We also ordered agua de fresa and it was my fave thing overall. It was so fresh, fruity and natural. It had the perfect balance of fruit and sugar. A fave place in Bakersfield for sure :0)

    Original burrito

    My husband and I stopped in Bakersfield for the night on our road trip and wanted to try a local spot. He ordered 3 asada tacos and I got a supreme asada burrito and a horchata. The horchata was smooth and creamy. So yummy and refreshing. The burrito was a great portion size. Meat is well seasoned and a good proportion of protein to the fillings. My husband enjoyed his asada tacos too. A cute spot with quick and friendly service!

    Cindy H.

    I went there for Mother's Day with my family. I will say it was busy. But I loved how the waitress kept checking in on us. The food was amazing. I got mole negro and it came with a side of beans and rice. I really recommend to get the agua de horchata it was delicious . I loved everything about this place. You should definitely come and visit

    5 Stars All the way. 3 Asada. 2 Pastor. 200 taco places in Bakersfield. Yelp'Rs say this place is the BEST

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    6 months ago

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    11 days ago

    The food was very good and the service was excellent. Will definitely go again. Ambiance was very relaxing

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Great food! Service is okay location wasn't too bad. definitely try the birria tacos!

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

    This taco truck is fire the burrito and the birra taco are fire. The service is on point and plenty of parking

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Love everything about this place!!! their food and music is amazing and of course their drinks are delicious!

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Tortas and tacos are good would recommendation just that it does get pretty busy but worth the waiting time..

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    8 years ago

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    Page 1 of 4

    El Buen Pastor Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Buen Pastor

    Do they accept card?

    Yes we do

    Can I buy raw meat by the pound here to cook at home?

    Yes please call 661-440-2013

    Are they open on Sunday's?

    Yes

    Do they sell drinks? Or do you have to go across the street for them?

    They sell drinks

    What are the hrs?

    If it's the one on the East Side....8am - 10pm

    View All 6 Questions

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    Mas Bella Restaurant & Lounge

    Mas Bella Restaurant & Lounge

    4.3
    (182 reviews)
    12.4 mi
    $$

    Top quality authentic Mexican food with great service and atmosphere! Please give it a try if…read moreyou're in town

    A Delicious Stop After the Farmer's Market!…read more Stopped by Mas Bella after the farmer's market and had such a great meal! We started with three drinks: the Tullum Bloom, Strawberry Margarita, and Strawberry Lemon Drop. All three were delightfully fruity and refreshing, making it hard to pick a favorite! For food, we ordered the birria bao buns, shrimp bao bun, chile relleno, crispy beef taco with refried beans and rice, and camarones with refried beans and soft tortillas. The birria bao bun was my absolute favorite! The mini bao is packed with flavorful birria, and I absolutely loved the consommé they serve alongside it for dipping. It's such a fun combination, and that consommé takes the bao to another level. I also really enjoyed that they make their salsas in-house. They served both a verde and a roasted red salsa with the buns, and both were delicious. The chile relleno was another standout. That melted, cheesy goodness inside was everything you want from a chile relleno! The crispy beef taco was an unexpected winner. It was served with what seemed to be the same delicious birria-style beef, so it was instantly a favorite. The crispy shell paired perfectly with the tender, flavorful meat. The camarones with soft tortillas were also really good. The shrimp were well seasoned, and the soft tortillas made them perfect for building little tacos.

    Photos
    Interior decor
    Interior decor
    Bao bun tacos
    Bao bun tacos
    Interior

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    Interior
    Ay Mi Pa

    Ay Mi Pa

    3.3
    (153 reviews)
    6.9 mi

    Me and my best friend decided to meet Monday night for dinner and she choose this spot. I called to…read moresee how long the wait was and It's was recommended that I make a reservation and so I did but when we walked in the restaurant it was empty. The server was patient and we tried to decide what we walked to drink and eat. The restaurant had a quiet atmosphere even though they are located at the Valley Plaza and it was the beginning of spring break. We both ordered the same drinks and food. Both drinks and entree (it was actually a shareable plate) tasted great but the salsa that came with the chips was a bit ordinary with no spice. Another staff member brought out two more salsas and jalepenos torneados. These salsas had more bite to them.

    My bartender was cool until I asked for my bill and he decided to entertain the ladies on the other…read moreside of the bar. I couldn't really taste the difference between the Paloma and the margarita ‍. The place is decorated really nice but what they should've focused on was making agood food. I'm so glad I only ordered appetizers because had I ordered food I would've wasted so much money. Birria tacos simply taste like red beef tacos, no real authentic flavor. Shrimp skewers I was told was okay but even that had more veggies than actual shrimps. The rice wasn't cooked all the way. The presentation on nachos was excellent but the nachos were gross. No flavor in guacamole. Beans were plain beans bland af. The chicken wasn't seasoned and had an awful charbroiled taste, just awful! The salsa weren't spicy or tasty. I can only recommend this place for a good happy hour spot because prices are outrageous for drinks. Once again they should've focused on the food than the decor.

    Photos
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Full Beautiful Bar
    Ay Mi Pa
    Bad girl

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    Bad girl
    Sancho's Tacos

    Sancho's Tacos

    4.2
    (364 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    Absolutely floored by this place--it's a hidden gem!…read more Seating inside is pretty limited, but they do have outdoor tables and chairs, which honestly adds to the vibe. Parking is street only, but trust me... it's 100% worth the hassle. From the moment we walked in, the experience was great. We were warmly greeted and given the option to get recommendations or browse the menu ourselves, which I appreciated. After taking our time, we ordered the chicken quesadilla, nacho fries, and a California burrito, along with salsa verde, chubbie salsa, and chipotle salsa. The food? Incredible. A solid 10/10. Everything was packed with flavor, the meat was juicy (not dry at all), and the salsas absolutely stole the show. On top of that, the staff really made the experience stand out. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and kept checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Great food, great music (nothing but bangers the whole time), and amazing service. I'll definitely be back!

    I feel as though Sancho's Tacos has been coming up in my feed, or I hear about the place from…read morefriends. I finally had an opportunity to stop in myself and was not disappointed. So good! The place is pretty easy to find on the corner of 18th & R. There isn't a lot of seating for more than parties of 4. We were a party of 6 and we all smooshed into a horseshoe booth inside. There are only 2 of these booths available and they indicated they are not able to place additional seating at the booths. I imagine you might be able to put tables together outside for a larger party. We were greeted warmly, and while I felt overwhelmed by the amazing choices, the gal taking our order put me at ease by walking me through the menu board. We got amazing carnitas quesadillas and tacos and another dish that came on top of a mound of delicious fries. It's the kind of place where you order, then sit down and they bring you the food. We were well taken care of. Our drinks were refilled and they brought us 'to go' boxes. Their portions are generous and just tasty. And the iced tea was perfect! We ordered a full order of chips and salsa. That is extra. It was $6 for a full order ($5 for half) and these chips were well worth the cost. We will be back!

    Photos
    Comfortable seating.
    Comfortable seating.
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Burrito bowl (i think this was a burrito with tri tip, but he was able to make it without the tortilla)
    Tri Tip Burrito

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    Tri Tip Burrito
    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    El Puesto Cocina y Cantina

    3.5
    (337 reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$

    We went to El Puesto Cocina y Cantina without a reservation and it seemed pretty crowded. I don't…read moreeven know if they take reservations. We had our order to go and went back to our hotel. It was just the best. Next time we will eat there. The place is spotless and really pretty. It is festive looking and ever so comfortable. We loved everything about it. Parking is easy. The prices are super fair. The food is amazing. We had burritos that were just packed with meat. We had chicken and beef. We also had chips and coffee to go. I have to say, their coffee is great. The service is so nice. This was our first time here so they were so helpful with the menu. We also took Papa Tacos and wow were they great. We loved the rice and beans. The rice was perfect, not dried out like some places. We will be back. Try it.

    I came in expecting a relaxed dinner where I could actually sit and catch up, but the experience…read morefelt rushed and poorly handled from the start. Before my guest even arrived, I was told the kitchen was closing in 10 minutes, which made it impossible to plan or order properly for both of us. About 30 minutes after being seated, the waitress asked to close out my tab and mentioned they were closing an hour and a half early, something that should have been communicated when I walked in so I could have chosen to go elsewhere. To make things worse, about 10 minutes before closing, they turned the lights all the way up and shut the music off, which made it very clear we were being pushed out. No one came by to offer boxes for our food (I had more than half my meal left), and my guest didn't even get to finish her drink. We were essentially rushed out before the already early closing time, with no proper send-off. Overall, the experience felt very unprofessional and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Eating area
    Eating area
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Not your regular Chips and Salsa. YUM
    Lunch hour margarita

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    Lunch hour margarita
    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    Buena Vida Tapas Lounge

    4.1
    (204 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $$

    Food was plated so beautifully and the flavors were so authentic !…read more we had dinner at the bar area the bartenders we're awesome making us fill welcome and comfortable watching them make they're signature drinks from scratch and maid with love it's all in the little details the entire restaurant is definitely a vibe! From the music to the decorations everyone in there was in their own energy I'd say it's a must try!

    We came here for breakfast with my parents and my husband, and every single dish was amazing!…read more I ordered the Flauta manana, and they were hands down my favorite. They were stuffed with chorizo, potatoes, and eggs, then fried to perfection so they were crispy without being greasy. The salsa on the side paired perfectly with them, and I even dipped them in the consommé from my mom's meal, which took them to another level! My husband ordered the A Huevo Que Sí and it was packed with flavor. The birria was incredibly tender, and the combination with the eggs and sauce was absolutely delicious. My mom isn't usually a breakfast person, so she ordered the quesabirria tacos, and they did not disappoint! The tacos were cheesy, flavorful, and the consommé was rich and perfectly seasoned. I definitely stole a few dips for my flautas! My dad had the Huevos Rancheros, and they were also excellent. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were generous, and every plate looked just as good as it tasted. The service was friendly, the food came out hot, and you can tell they put a lot of care into every dish. The photos speak for themselves, everything was fresh, colorful, and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Taquitos Dorados
    Taquitos Dorados
    Margarita flight!

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    Margarita flight!

    El Buen Pastor - mexican - Updated August 2026

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