After washing our cars my husband and I decided we could conveniently eat here as the restaurant was right next to us. They're pretty small but they are mighty. We sat down and were brought chips and salsa; then we ordered two tortas and our drinks. Drinks were sent to us within seconds and the tortas were on the table in less than 10 min after we ordered them! Their salsa bar was small but had the essentials. We really enjoyed the food we had and how quickly everything was done since we were on a time crunch. The price was very reasonable for the food we had; we spent less than $25 after tip for 2 entrees and 2 drinks and even took a bit home for our pet. The portions are also reasonable. Their parking was good. Their restaurant was clean and I was happy with the music choice. Overall, 10/10! We will definitely be back read more

This is my new favorite quick Mexican joint. Service was super friendly, prices were affordable for quality and quantity and the food was absolutely delicious! Not over salted and not greasy at all. Flavorful, hot and fresh! I am so impressed and can't wait to go back. read more

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Legit one of the best restaurants in the city. Been coming here for years and they have the best authentic carne asada tacos I've had period. Everyone here is always friendly and the food comes out quickly. The biggest reason I love this spot is because the food is always consistent! It's not one of those restaurants with all the frills to cover up bad food, They just get straight to. Definitely recommend everyone try it! read more

These are the best "takos" I have had in Lexington! The salsa bar elevates the whole restaurant! This has the typical Tex-Mex atmosphere, and decent service. You can't go wrong with the menu! read more

El Gran Tako - Longaniza and Campechanos Takos!!! - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Delicious! This place is truly a hidden gem! A little corner restaurant next to a a flower shop with some of the best Mexican food you can get in Lexington. The staff was very friendly and attentive. read more

El Gran Tako - Torta el pastor - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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This is great authentic Mexican cuisine was looking for street tacos on my to TN and found this place

The best authentic Mexican tacos in town hands down. I have had every taco on the menu and I can't find one I don't like. My favorite for those who like a little spice is the Takos Bravos. Chips and salsa is always good and the chips are always warm. Service is great as well. Love this little hidden gem! read more

El Gran Tako - Chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Well after reading the previous reviews I was very excited to try this place. Once we arrived we walked up to see some sort of meat on a rotisserie out front, no cover nothing to keep bugs or wondering hands from touching it.. I thought it odd but we went on in. The hostess was very nice and explained her favorites at that point I ordered three Tacos, 2 steak, one pork. (Found out the "out-front-meat" was pork.. being the brave man I am I proceeded) We waited about 20+ minutes to get our order, which seemed longer because it was approx 119 degrees in the restaurant, got home to find the two steak tacos very very dry. The "out-front-meat" one was actually very good, moist and had pineapple throughout.. Final verdict: one out of three tacos were good, however that will not get me back, after all we r talking about tacos, and taking that long to get a dry taco... yeah I will pass. read more

El Gran Tako - "Out-front-meat" - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I love Mexican food! Tacos are my jam. So of course I had to check out this place to see what they were working with. I enjoyed their taco selection ALOT!!! They have tons of choices for tacos, some that I've never heard of before, but hey as long as its beef I'm down... I like pork tacos too... well I like them All... I just like my carne asada over all... anyway, I've also gotten the fajitas and the flavor of everything always comes out wonderful! I even got a ton of food when I order fajitas!!! Man oh man oh man!!! It's super close to my house so when my husbands not home, I run over here for a quick bite!!! Seating is very limited but hey, it's a mom and pop, you just make due cause the food is definitely the prize in this joint!!! read more

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Nice selection of various tacos from typical to unusual (cow's head). Serving size was generous but the overall flavors and seasoning were lacking. Service was friendly and prompt. read more

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AMAZING. By far some of the best Mexican I have had in Lexington. True and authentic flavors. The steak burrito was mouth watering. A new favorite place for sure. read more

Great authentic Mexican food. Will definitely go back and recommend to friends. Prices are good and portion sizes are good! read more

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My first visit and I'll come back. This is a small, 12-table strip mall space. Quite Busy at lunch time. A large menu of Authentic Mexican food. I tried the Burrito Mixto and a Tako al Pastor. Both were very good. Large portions at very reasonable prices. I've had better chips and salsa. But the chicken and beef burrito was delicious and filling. read more

Tacos were really good salsa was spicy just how I like got 5 Al Pastor tacos they were big if in town you need to visit if you want some authentic Mexican tacos read more

The food is warm your heart, flavorful, comfort food. The service was prompt, pleasant and the perfect amount of attention. It's cozy, the chairs and tables could be a little more comfortable. I will definitely be back. read more

El Gran Tako - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Greta tacos! Stays busy so prepare to wait during lunch, excellent prices and good food! A+ read more

Fantastic! My son and I had supper here tonight - we each had tacos. He had three shrimp tacos; I had one each: carnitas, campechanos, and chile relleno (yes! A taco made out of a chile relleno!). They all were delicious! And we loved the salsa bar. (And they gave my son a discount for being active military.). We will be back! read more

Got these tacos take-out for the first time. The best, authentic carne asada tacos! Full of meat and the sauces were spicy and so good. I walked in and ordered and my food was ready to go in less than 10 minutes. I would definitely recommend their food and will be eating the tacos again!! read more

El Gran Tako - a variety of mexican food - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I have been wanting to try this restaurant and I was not disappointed at all! I got the pork torta. The meats were very well-prepared, and everything was so fresh and piping hot. You can either use the red (rojo) sauce or the green (verde) sauce; the rojo can be EXTREMELY spicy, so watch out for that. The verde is nice and tangy with a little spice. If you like avocado, it's a nice addition to the tacos/ read more

El Gran Tako - Pork Torta - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Fantastic and Authentic! If you are looking for an authentic Mexican experience, this is the place! I went there with a couple of friends for the first time as we were looking for something different but Mexican food. The place is quite literally a hole in the wall...Latin music playing, a novelty desk for the cashier looks like an old caddy. Both booths and tables. The menu is entirely in Spanish minus the description. Unfortunately our waitress had just started there so getting recommendations on the food wasn't possible. However I had the shrimp fajitas They were great, perfectly spiced, sizzling hot and it came with all the accoutrements. Wait staff very attentive. I will def be going back to try more items. Come here for an authentic experience with a bit of flair. read more

You gotta be kidding me. I can't believe i just found this place. I can say without a doubt that this is the best authentic Mexican food I have had in Lexington or even in Kentucky. This place is killer. They easily have the best tacos, tortas, and tostadas. This place makes the most cravable food. When you walk in, you will immediately notice that the place is small and unassuming. It is clean but it is very quaint and simple in the decor. The four TV's are always playing Spanish music videos. Love that. The servers speak both English and Spanish (and they are very hospitable and kind) and so you are covered if you speak either of those language. The menu is vast....but STAY FOCUSED. You only need to look for the taco menu, the tortas, or the tostadas. My personal favorite are these tacos, in this order: the steak taco, the tacos de pastor. All tacos are $2.50 each (WHAT?!) and come with onions, radishes, and cilantro. They come on homemade fresh corn tortillas. Crap, now I want one right now! They also have a delicious salsa, it's spicy and green but really flavorful. Their verde and rojo sauces are also a must on any dish! Mucho gusto! Estaba todo delicioso! read more

We're not in north side often, but found ourselves there this evening around dinner time. We were both in the mood for Mexican food, so of course I went straight to Yelp to find a place. El Gran Tako was the closest and had great ratings, so we ended up there. Located at the end of a strip mall, the restaurant is small but clean. The majority of the patrons were Spanish-speaking and most of the signage inside is in Spanish. We took that to mean we would be getting authentic Mexican food (which we did). As soon as we walked in, we were instantly greeted with a smile. The service was very good throughout our meal. When I say I'm in the mood for Mexican food, that's generally code for "I want a good margarita." Alas, no alcohol. I think my lower lip actually puckered into a pout when they told me I couldn't have a margarita. No chips & salsa either. But holy moly, the food is good. I ordered the Burrito Fajita with chicken, which comes with rice & beans for under $10.00. It was enormous. The burrito is cut in half for easier eating -- or to make it easier to take half home with you, because it's nearly impossible to eat the whole thing. That said, my boyfriend managed to finish his gigantic torta (stuffed with ham & chorizo & more). read more

The tacos are great. Bigger than the normal taco truck tacos so when I ordered 4, I was shocked at the price but when I got my food, I realized why. I only needed two lol. read more

Did not expect to find tacos this good in the outskirts of Kentucky in a little hole in the wall. Their tacos are AMAZING!! The al pastor is to die for! Fantastic horchata and great people running it. Would come back all the time if I lived closer, 5 stars easy! read more

Pros, it's very authentic. The food is incredibly good. Everything is fresh. It is damn good. Cons, no free refills on soda, or chips. The chips are made fresh to order and they are good though. read more

Yes! This is amazing- highly suggested! Everyone left very happy and very full!!! Everything was perfectly prepared, it's not fancy but it is delicious!! read more

El Gran Tako (as they spell it on the sign) blew my mind. A good friend of mine, a professional chef, has urged me for ages to come here. She said it's the ONLY Mexican restaurant in Lexington worth its salt. And I just didn't listen. I went to other Mexican places, thought they were great. But finally, finally came here last night. I am filled with despair, the last six months of my life were filled with opportunities to dine here, opportunities that I squandered and will never have back. But I must look to the future. Look to dining here as often as humanly possible. I had a taco called the Gringa (indeed), loaded with bistecca, caramelized onions, avocado, tons of things I've already forgotten and quite possibly some sort of chemically addicting substance. The first bite literally caused me to push myself away from the table in astonishment. What was happening in my mouth? Why were such familiar flavors exploding into new dimensions of pleasure and enlightenment? I know this review is filled with hyperbole, but I just can NOT say enough about my experience here. My husband had a burrito mixto, and he had a similarly transcendental experience. He argued his was far better than mine. Our friend, a native of New Mexico, had the Tacos Loco and said it was the best Mexican food she has ever eaten, better than anything she ever had in Albuquerque. The only down side is that they do not serve alcohol. They have a huge range of Jarritos sodas, Mexican coke, and fruit smoothie type drinks. And you know what, honestly, I'm okay with not having a beer or a margarita, because I can devote those calories and stomach-consuming-volume to putting away more tacos. Holy crap. If you don't go to this restaurant immediately after reading this review, I can only assume you hate food. read more

You know that scene where Dorothy emerges from her house and enters the technicolor world of Oz? Yeah? Well that's how you might feel when you enter the front door of El Gran Tako. It's a whole new world, a dazzling place you never knew. Here's what you need to know: 1) Tacos are legit. SO legit. These folks don't mess around with the junk that Americans stuff in tacos. El Gran Tako serves up simple, double layer corn tortillas stuffed with juicy, well-seasoned meats. Cilantro and salsa are the only toppings you might want to add. The homemade sauces are excellent. The tacos are cheap (two bucks each) and delicious! 2) No English. Of course, some of the employees understand basic English words, but Spanish is dominant. I was the only non-Spanish speaker in the restaurant at lunchtime. Menu, TVs, signs, EVERYTHING was in Spanish. 3) Seat yourself when you go in. I made the mistake of assuming you have to order at the register when you go in. False. You actually just grab a seat anywhere and a lady gets your order. I didn't see anyone ask for a menu, as everyone seemed to be a regular. But I'm sure someone would bring you a menu if you look confused enough. You might think this area of town is scarier than a Kansas tornado, but give it a try. You'll find yourself following the yellow brick road back to El Gran Tako again and again. read more

El Gran Tako - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

As soon as I stepped in and heard banda music playing in the kitchen and saw nothing but hard core Mexican channels playing on all the T.V.'s, I knew authenticity wouldn't be an issue. I ordered a tako de carnitas (fried pork) and a tako de lomo (ribeye taco) to begin the meal. Not to say that these are small, they are of decent size and two can easily constitute a lunch for most people, I just like to sample multiple entrees. The tacos come with what you would expect, such as cilantro/pico de gallo. The ribeye taco is a sweet deal for 2 bucks, with a nicely seasoned, thin piece of tasty meat. The carnitas taco was also good but I enjoyed the tako de lomo more. I also found the green sauce they provided to go well with the extra sour cream I requested on the tacos. I decided to try La Diego Maradona torta for my second entree. If you think a Torta Cubana mixes it up, you better keep reading. This monstrosity stood out to me immediately on the menu, as it boasts carne asada, tocino (bacon), jamon (ham), pierna ahumada, salchicha (sausage), queso blanco (also known as queso fresqo), queso amarillo (slices of cheddar or american), chorizo, slices of avocado, lettuce, tomato, and even small chunks of pineapple! Now this is a gutsy torta, and although I was skeptical about the pineapple, I had to give it a shot just for the sheer guts they had to put this thing on the menu. The first bite was an explosion of flavors, particularly since they understood how to make good chorizo, but also took the care to not overpower the other meats in the sandwich, which can happen pretty easily. The bread was acceptable by telera standards, but it was obviously the innards of this thing that were memorable. Don't expect a fancy interior when you walk into this place, but if you're serious about well priced and flavorful Mexican food, it's worth visiting. read more

El Gran Tako - Carnitas and Ribeye Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Delicious authentic food, staff is always kind, I love their plantains. Go here if you like authentic experiences, this is not a tex-mex chain restaurant that are common all over, this is much more special. Try their tacos and shrimp tortas! read more

This is the best Taco joint in Central Kentucky, HANDS DOWN. When I walked in and heard the music, smelled the food and took in the ambiance, I felt as though I had been transported to a little mexican cantina. The waitress, while she couldn't speak english, did very well to get my order. I had two of the Pork Belly tacos and two of the Pork w/ Pineapple, and both were AMAZING. I ordered a Coca-Cola and it came to me in a thick bottle, with a "Henco en Mexico" on the side, BOOM - authenticity. They were playing Bandito on TV - BOOM - authenticity. They served me with a smile, and asked me to come back. BOOM - 5 Stars read more

Little hole on the wall with fantastic street tacos. I love finding little places like this around town and in my travels. Good place for a quick lunch. No frills, bells, or whistles...just great food!!! read more

Wow. 100% authentic Mexican food. Nothing fancy about this place except the food. Servers were all nice, and the food came quickly, and was DELICIOUS. Easily the best tacos I've ever had. I recommend the ribeye, chicken, and sausage tacos. Going to stop again on my next venture through Lexington for sure!!! read more

El Gran Tako - Best tacos I've ever eaten. - Mexican Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This place was a regular stop for me when it was called La Favorita, and I always liked it. I finally tried the new version last night with a friend. We tried the pork, steak, and barbacoa tacos, plus one of the huge specialty tacos (pork), and rice and beans. The food looked ok, but we were disappointed at every turn. Nothing was very hot temperature wise. Most of the meat was overcooked and dry. Some of the meat was undercooked (not raw, just not cooked long enough to break down the fat and gristle properly). We both encountered quite a bit of inedible gristle and fat in our tacos. The steak in the steak tacos was awful. I would venture to say this place does not use a very high grade of meat, nor do they have very good quality control. The rice and beans were average at best. The hot sauces were pretty good. I just received a text from my friend, and she has been experiencing major digestive issues since the meal. I can report the same. lol Her yellow/lab hound mix ate much of our leftovers, and he appears to be ok. So I guess I would rate this place somewhere between drunk food and dog food. Maybe we caught them on a bad night, but there are much better options for Mex around here. Based on my experience, I won't be back. read more

Went there after a long time ! Looks like the cooks and owners have changed. So have their prices and menu. This place was sooooooooo good before now it's a crappy place. Food was greasy and cold ( on a fajita ) which should have been sizzling hot !! The server was tired and not happy to work there kinda just there killing time. Not busy so one would expect orders to come out quickly our food was out before drinks. Overall don't go there. I spent $48 and most of our food was in touched including the shakes !! read more

I was really looking forward to this place based on reviews! We stopped in on our way back home from Red River Gorge. At first we were one of a couple tables (around 5:30 PM), but it pretty quickly picked up. There was one waitress (who also cleaned up and helped run food), so service was slow. The food was also meh. Our table had an assortment of plates - fajitas, torta, quesadilla, and tacos - but no one really enjoyed. Chips and salsa also fell flat... There was one vegetarian option on the menu (Chile relleno); however, they did offer other veg selections when asked for, which was appreciated. Overall cheap - $18 for a torta, 3 veg tacos, and coke - and I do feel like their menu is varied, with cool juices and Mexican soda options...but as other reviews have noted, alcohol is unavailable. read more

The environment wasn't the cleanest. The tacos I ordered were dry and unseasoned. I had hopes of a truly authentic Mexican meal and was disappointed with the execution. read more

The food is awesome and totally affordable. If in doubt, get the chicken tacos. And I'm pretty sure they have bootleg luchadore superheroes like all over the walls. If you've ever wanted to see Spider-Man with a weird logo on his head and like some Sonic the Hedgehog accents - you're in for a real treat. read more

I've driven by here over several late nights and been surprised by the place. Pro tip: any time there's a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with dozens of cars parked outside at 10 PM at night -- that means it's worth checking out. When I stopped in the derelict-looking strip mall I was immediately assaulted by an incredible smell: a giant self-basting wheel of pork was spinning outside of the main door, almost like the "doner kebab" places you'll see in some parts of the Middle East. I entered, stepping into a different universe. This was no longer Lexington, KY. Everyone was speaking Spanish, there was no menu to speak of unless you asked for one. And hen I got a menu, feeling like a total gringo, it was covered in sharpie edits. No one uses the menu, and you shouldn't either. Just get some tacos or a torta. I went for the basics to get the lay of the land, three tacos: chicken, beef and pork. What I received was incredible. Simply indescribably good. An assault on the taste buds and the senses. From the texture to the taste to the smell, this was something unlike every other watered-down, Americanized, Mexican restaurant in town. This is authentic, this is the real deal, and it's worth experiencing and savoring. I'll admit the chicken was the inferior of the three -- it was a bit dry. But with a little salsa verde it was still quite good. The pork and beef were simply awesome. Not just awesome, I mean totally, mind-blowingly great. Oh yeah, and they're $2. Seriously. If you love food and you want a bit of an adventure, check this place out, maybe even late at night. They're open until 4 AM! read more

This is the taco place I've been looking for in Lexington. I will definitely return for their al pastor tacos and delicious horchatas. Can't wait until next time! read more