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El Carboncito

4.8 (110 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican

El Carboncito Photos

EL CARBONCITO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - El Carboncito

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Reviews With Photos

Lisa C.

We just happened on this place . It was busy and we actually ended up sitting at Pez taco (specializing in seafood) next door, but we're told we could order from both. The Al pastor tacos were good and the price was right. Service was okay. It says that they take credit cards but we had to pay in cash.

Al Pastor
Kimberly S.

Bomb diggity pastor!! So yummy!! The family who runs this place is super sweet! Get there right at 7pm, when they open! It fills up fast!

Tacos, patio, amazing service.

BEST. TACOS. PERIOD. I've tried them all. The service was absolutely incredible. Food comes out quickly and the staff is absolutely amazing and very attentive. I am not your normal person leaving a review... we live in Puerto Vallarta and I'm pretty sure we have tried every single taco place including the little taco stands on the street corners as well as all of the other restaurants. It's located very close to the beach so when your belly is super full after eating too many tacos, it's nice to take a little walk on the beach.

Al pastor taco meat

Best al pastor tacos. Nice to sit outside. Friendly staff. Seems like lots of locals eat there.

Chris S.

Very good tacos. Less expensive than nearby street vendors and much tastier. About 10 tables total. Good service too. Definitely would return.

2 asada 1 al pastor
Donovan T.

Very nice and quick service. Super cheap especially for the location, but don't be fooled, these tacos are so freaking good. I ordered the tacos al pastor and arrachera. Both were good but their al pastor was so freaking amazing, specially paired with some of their spicy sauce. Around $1 per taco. Highly recommend

Quesadilla
Valerie H.

My life was changed by their flank steak quesadilla, delicious! This place like many restaurants is tucked away but once you find it you're in for a treat. We tried a little bit of everything but their quesadilla was by far the best, their tortas were also filling and tasty. Seating is mainly outside along the side walk but there are a few tables inside. Definitely give it a try if you're in the area.

Mar L.

There is pastor and then there is pastor. Now, this isn't the best pastor taco (including sauce and toppings) I have ever had, BUT it is probably the very best pastor meat I have ever had. The charcoal is definitely putting its flavor in the best possible way into the meat and it is beautifully carved straight from spit to tortilla. Then there is the whole open concept where you see the whole process of the end-stage of preparation including that nonchalant cut of pineapple as a final touch. This is a place I will most definitely return to.

Al Pastor taco, get the onion bulb!

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1 year ago

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11 months ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Delicious authentic mexican tacos! Best I've had maybe ever! Great prices! Fast service! I'll definitely be back before I leave

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

By far my fav taco spot in puerto Vallarta and ice cold beers! Service is always fast and friendly!

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1 year ago

Love the pastor tacos. Tried Tio Pepe's and prefer here. We had pastor tacos and agua fresca. Ate here three days in a row.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

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3 years ago

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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2 years ago

We always go here! The food and ambience is amazing. The price is very good and the Jamaica is to die for.

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3 years ago

Coming from LA and spoiled by good food galore, we all agreed that this was the best taco spot in PV. The end.

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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8 years ago

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El Carboncito Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - El Carboncito

“I like double Tortillas on my Tacos but here they serve Diet Tacos ( 1 tortilla) its $14 pesos per Taco.”

Mentioned in 6 reviews

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Pepe's Taco - Carne asada

Pepe's Taco

4.6(621 reviews)
0.1 km
•$

A must-visit in Puerto Vallarta! Some people at the club we were at recommend Pepe's…read more A large group (bachelorette party x bachelor party combined) trekked over here at 3am and it was 1. cash-only and 2. very hot!! At first, we panicked, but we persisted. The tacos were delicious and the service was attentive. Bathrooms were not clean, but you don't go there for the bathroom. The al pastor were fresh, juicy, tender, and delicious. Great flavor and lots of spice.

Thirty five years in the game and Pepe's runs like a well oiled machine. The dining room is its own…read moreecosystem, a natural choreography of service where everything flows without friction. Out front, the trompo spins over charcoal fire, hand turned, on display to the street. The man at the blade is a performer, part craftsman, part showman. He hones his knife between razor thin shavings of al pastor, then in a reflexive flourish nips the pineapple crowning the meat, sending a sliver flying only to catch it with a tortilla. It is theater, but it is also instinct. Inside, the crowd looks like the United Nations. A tour group from India next to a Dutch family with half a dozen kids in tow, the Canadians eye the Americans with deserved suspicion, and a few locals whose plates are piled high while tourists settle for modest portions. It is the natural order of things, and nobody complains. The charcoal scent in the meat makes clear this is al pastor's intended preparation. I have never had the pleasure of eating from a coal fired trompo before, and it is instantly apparent that this is the way it was meant to be. Someday, somehow, I will rig one of these up, because I need this in my life. Pepe's is not just a taco shop. It is a master class in tradition, theater, and flavor, with a dining room that feels like the world gathered around one spit.

Photos
Pepe's Taco - @endoedibles on Instagram 10/11/24

@endoedibles on Instagram 10/11/24

Pepe's Taco - Al pastor! Killed 21 of these and 3 carne asada for 3 people!

Al pastor! Killed 21 of these and 3 carne asada for 3 people!

Pepe's Taco - Cebollitas Asada - delicioso

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Cebollitas Asada - delicioso

La Madalena - Fresh Bread

La Madalena

4.5(392 reviews)
2.1 km
•$$$$

Take note that I am notoriously a miser when it comes to giving 5 star reviews because I think 5…read morestars = perfection and there's almost always something that can be done to improve the experience. But. But, but, but... I would actually give La Madalena SIX stars. Service and ambiance were truly outstanding. Food was equally exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were treated like honored guests. Servers were plentiful, professional, humorous and attentive. Our primary server was Alexis and his service was stellar - not only did he attend to our every request with a smile - he anticipated and was proactive. We also had a table side mixologist whose name escapes me (sorry!) but he was wonderful as well - making suggestions and creating specialty drinks on the fly. The staff made us feel like the only customers in the restaurant. Five of us succumbed to "eyes bigger than stomach" and ordered way too much food. We found the extensive menu both challenging (because *everything* sounded delicious) and exciting. Our favorites included (but were not limited to these because every dish we tried was outstanding): the Ceviche de Coliflor, Queso Fundido, Queso Quemado, Ensalada Verde con Vinagreta de Aguacate, and Beef Tenderloin for 2. Note that the presentation for the vast variety of steaks is quite impressive. All in all, they surpassed every single one of our expectations on this special night. I highly recommend you get yourself there and let the fine folks at La Madalena treat you right!

Great service and food. Alex and Christian P were great. Everything our group had was wonderful,…read morehighly recommend!

Photos
La Madalena - Really nice decor and ambience.

Really nice decor and ambience.

La Madalena - Meal

Meal

La Madalena - Lemon drop

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Lemon drop

Sonorita

Sonorita

4.6(276 reviews)
1.8 km

This was our family's favorite spot to get tacos! The food was amazing and so was the service. They…read moreare a cash only restaurant so keep that in mind before going. We've gone every time we've visited Puerto Vallarta and will definitely be back our next visit.

I was honestly surprised to see this place rated so highly because our experience was pretty…read moredisappointing. We ordered the ribeye, al pastor, and chorizo tacos. The ribeye had so much fat that we had to pick through it just to eat it. The al pastor was very average - I've had much better at plenty of other taco spots. The biggest disappointment was the chorizo. It wasn't traditional chorizo at all; it looked and tasted more like chopped-up hot dogs. We barely touched it because it wasn't what we ordered expecting, and it just wasn't good. The presentation also wasn't appealing. The meat was simply piled on top of two tortillas, making everything messy and difficult to eat. They were also pretty stingy with the grilled jalapeños. The salsas didn't do the food any favors either. None of them really stood out, and the green guacamole salsa actually tasted like it had gone bad, so we stopped eating it. Service was attentive, but almost too attentive. Staff kept coming by every few minutes to ask if we were finished or if we needed anything. While I appreciate good service, it made us feel like we were being rushed through our meal instead of being able to enjoy it at our own pace. Overall, I don't understand the high ratings based on our experience. With so many amazing taco spots in Puerto Vallarta, this one didn't come close to meeting the hype. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back.

Photos
Sonorita - Cool atmosphere

Cool atmosphere

Sonorita - Their salsas are legit

Their salsas are legit

Sonorita - Virgin Margarita

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Virgin Margarita

El Carboncito - mexican - Updated October 2026

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