El Nopal was delicious. My chicken burrito was divine. I plan to go back for more of a Mexican fix. A great find in Paris!

Authentic Mexican in Paris? Yes, please! I visited this delicious little take-away, hole-in-the-wall sort of place (which are seemingly rather common in Paris) on a Friday night with a couple of good friends before going out for the evening. My extensive internet research in preparation for my vegetarian visitor had led me to discover this eatery, and, in the mood for authentic Mexican food before our evening commenced, we ventured to check it out, and boy am I glad we did. They don't have a lot on the menu, but what they have is more than enough. When we visited, the place was being run by only two people, perhaps a mother and son team. They spoke to each other in Mexican Spanish, and I had to suppress a smile, because I knew we were in for the real deal. So, we ordered our meals, and hung around chatting and laughing until our food was ready. I know I asked that they put something special IN my quesadilla, and that they thought that it was a bit odd, but I don't remember now for the life of me what it was...maybe creme fraiche. Anyways. I loved how reasonably priced it was (under 20 Euro for me and my guest), and I loved how delicious and authentic the food was. I had made myself some fajitas a few times while I was in Paris, but nothing compares to Mexican food prepared by actual Mexicans, and since I had been told that Mexican food in Paris was going to be hard, if not impossible to find, I'm glad we found this place and that my craving for proper Mexican was satisfied. When our food was ready, they served it up in little syrofoam containers in a plastic bag, and we walked across the little canal located nearby (I've forgotten what it's called) to sit on a bench and enjoy our food amidst the ambiance of the great outdoors, replete with a single skateboarder across the street imrpoving his skills in a little skate park, and an angry cuckholded Italian man yelling angrily at his girlfriend on his cell phone. Ha! The food! The food was absolutely fantastic, and I was further satisfied in knowing that they had an appropriate and very filling vegetarian option for the vegetarian I had brought along with me and whose satisfaction I had made my mission. She got a vegetarian burrito that looked huge and was filled with all sorts of veggie goodness...cheese, peppers, salsa, creme fraiche, and other assorted veggies. My friend and I got the quesadilla, and I honestly can't remember if it was a chorizo or a chicken quesadilla (I'm leaning towards chorizo), but I do remember that it was spectacular. Super cheesy, filled with delicious vegetables and spices, and completely filling. When I had finished, I remembered discussing with the others whether or not to go back and get another one, but it was more because of how tasty the first one had been, not due to any remaining space in my stomach. Make sure you check out their hours. I'm pretty sure they're open longer than the "only open for lunch and dinner for 3 hour bursts" type of restaurants that are common in France, maybe even open late at night on the weekends, but don't quote me on that. A final note: they served it with a small cup of what might as well as well have been liquid fire, so if you are disappointed in the lack of spicy food in Paris, this place will definitely not disappoint. How do you say "Aye Carumba!" en Francais? For people who miss the ubiquity of the Mexican restaurant in the States, make sure to check out El Nopal. I'd be surprised if you didn't wind up singing it's praises like I am. read more

While I can't say it's authentic Mexican flare, I will say that it's damn good Tex Mex style. I had the Burron. It was full of flavor and spice. Well portioned, fresh and tasty. They get extra points for blending it all up so you get even bites of goodness. The staff is friendly. Grab and go and sit by the Canal for a splendid afternoon. read more

Heavenly! I always tell people one of the few things I miss being away from California is real Mexican food...now I have found my fix. These guys are legit. I had the 3 tacos (7.70 eur) and friends had the burritos (8.90 eur)...we were all more than satisfied. The chicken, carnitas, and chorizo were cooked to perfection. As I write this, I am craving some more. But beware, this literally a hole in the wall. All orders are takeaway so if it's cold out, you better think twice about enjoying the goodness on the canal. (I'm sure after the winter it's a perfect way to spend time on the canal). I asked the guy taking my order (from Monterrey, Mexico) about the history of the place and said that his friend came to Paris a few years back and realized there was need for good Mexican food. They also said they have plans to open a place in Pigalle. Can't wait!!! read more

Best Mexican food you will find in Paris. 5 stars because this is as good as it gets...in France. The salsas are made fresh and the guys working there are pretty chill. I talked to them for a while about how they started and I get the feeling they really care about their tiny whole in the wall restaurant. read more

I had the 3 tacos and the Guacamole. The guacamole was ok but small for the price. The chips were good though. Tacos were good but nothing great to remember. I recommend the place for a casual lunch/dinner read more

Satisfied my craving for good tacos a month after moving away from the West coast, USA. the asada was good and flavorful. Tortillas made right before your eyes! Also delicious homemade coconut flan. Owner very nice! read more

Definitely the best place for Mexican food in Paris! Coming from the San Francisco area, I grew up with authentic Mexican food. El Nopal is as close as you will get to that. It's a tiny hole in the wall place, with only two stools to sit down at. When some friends and I went on a rainy day, we actually got 5 people eating inside!The two guys who work there are so nice and great to have conversation with while you wait! They recognized us after we started going quite often and were always super friendly. My favorite thing to get there were their chicken burritos. Their burron is deliscious as well. read more

This place is whatever. I'm from LA and Mexican food is possibly my favorite food so I take it seriously. These dudes are from Mexico but it made no difference, I was still disappointed. I want some damn good carne asada or pastor, but nope. This place is a take away spot for the most part. You cant really eat there since it's tiny but you can post up on a bench next to Canal St. Martin. It's alright especially for being in Paris but you will not be blown away. read more

Wow! What a find. This place is truly authentic. I live in California the gringo taco capital and this place is the real deal holy field. One of my favorite finds of all time in Paris. read more

i have searched for 4-1/2 years for a real taco. i finally found it! it is oh so good........a perfect taco, homemade, perfect sauce, homemade, what more could one ask for. read more

Really great take away food isn't the easiest to find in Paris, so I'm a big fan of El Nopal. The ingredients are fresh, though it is by no means the best Mexican food I've ever had. We had the quesadilla and the torta (kinda a Mexican style sandwich) with chicken. The torta was a great choice and not something I've ever tried before. I was less impressed with the quesadilla, so I'd advise trying the tacos or burritos instead. They were out of guacamole, which was a bummer but understandable since it isn't avocado season. Overall, a good deal and perfect for a nice day to take and eat by the canal (we didn't realize there was no place to sit until we got there). read more

Fast service , located next to Canal st. Martin perfect for takeaway (only available) then sit along canal. Only one or two vegetarian options and could be bigger potions for price. read more

This is a good taquería, and like taquerías in Mexico, there isn't much room to sit. The quality of the food is great, considering a lot of the ingredients are hard to come by in France. The staff is friendly and I will come back, in part because they have recently started a 'frequent customer' program. This place is great to satisfy your craving for real tacos and savory salsa. read more

Had a burron with carnitas. It was a big disappointment. I had chunks of fat, some rare ingredients apart from onions, and lots if rice in the sandwich. For 8€ you expect something better. Will go back another time and pick something else to give them another chance.. But I definitely had better Mexican sandwiches at rue mouffetard 5th for example. read more

This is seriously the best true mexican I have tasted in Paris. I am mexican, the flavors are as faithful as they can be! True mexican. Everything is home made, even the corn tortillas which are made at the moment you order. The veggie tacos are my favorite, I had some vegetarian tacos in Mexico and they were not as good as the ones at El Nopal. I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

I'm from San Diego, so it's pretty difficult to impress me with mexican food! With that being said, El Nopal is probably the closest you'll get to authentic tacos in Paris. So if you're craving it, definitely check it out. Be warned, they only take cash. read more

I live in the neighborhood but have been around to other Mexican places. As a California native, I have to say this is the one place I find has real Mexican food and it's much better than a taco truck because it's delicious like one, real Mexican (which a Colombian guy who works there too) and I have never gotten sick like i have once or twice from Californian taco trucks. What a great place! It's been my favorite Mexican place for years. A far from close second goes to candelaria, but the other Mexican places in paris are just not good. read more

Tasty tacos; can readily recommend grabbing a bunch and heading to the nearby lock and watching the bourgeoisie travel up and down the canal. Nice and spicy, and pretty quick turnaround for lunch. read more

This place is AWESOME! While studying abroad in France, my roommate and I started missing real Mexican food, being from Texas where Mexican and Tex-Mex alike were around every corner. This place is the real deal -- the lady spoke French and Spanish, so I was actually able to put my five years of Spanish courses into practice (omg learning, no way!) since I could form sentences better that way than in French. The prices are great for budget travelers and students, and even if there's not a lot of space (read: none) to sit and eat, a fellow customer pointed out a canal nearby where we could sit on a bench and enjoy our meal. read more

Truly authentic good tacos. Mexican beer selection. Great atmosphere.

I like their gorditas. the rest is ok but not super exceptional. The burrito has too much rice. The wait is often long. The guys working there are friendly. read more

Delicious and authentic mexican taco stand. The food, albeit, below average in portion sizes, is mouthwatering. But a tad over-priced for a food stand and coupled with a lengthy order time. read more

After about five months in Paris without Mexican food, I was starting to have cravings. I decided to look for some good burritos, and stumbled across this great find. The burritos were excellent, and the service was extremely friendly. Plus, they spoke English, Spanish and French and were happy to help. While there isn't room to sit down, you're steps away from the canal where you can sit on benches and enjoy the weather, scenery, and people. This is definitely a go-to for Mexican food in Paris, where variety can be hard to find. read more

This place has the best authentic Mexican tacos you'll find in France. I had been searching for good tacos for almost a year in France and so happy I stumbled upon this place. It's a more of a taco stand so don't expect to go there for a sit down dinner. Usually the smallest hole in the wall spots are the best. If you are into real Mexican street food as opposed to crap like chipotle, this is the place to go while in Paris. read more

Finally a taco hole in the wall! How come we don't get these tiny places in London. Crying out for one for a late night snack. Loved these tacos. Got a bit of everything and they are good. It's decent and not on par with LA ones, but to be expected. But good effort! read more

After six days of French food in Paris, we decided to give Mexican a try....and were not disappointed. The owners were exceptionally friendly and gave us the history of their restaurant and cuisine. The carne asada burrito was very good, and the spicy salsas were incredibly hot. The pastor tacos were good, and it was a nice touch to see the tortillas rolled out before grilling. The chips and guacamole weren't incredibly special (the chips came out of a bag), but it was nice to sit outside, drink a beer, and enjoy something similar to home. read more

This place is definitely 3.5 stars, but I don't think those are allowed on yelp. The burrones not burritos will run you 8 euros. This includes meat, cheese, veggies and hot sauce. Coming from California where Mexican food is soooo goood I didn't have high expectations for this little burrito joint in Paris. But, once I read the reviews on yelp about how it was authentic mexican food I thought I was in for a delicious treat. The burrones were sub-par. I got the carne asada, but saw barely any in the burrito. The rice and beans were mediocre and they used cotija cheese as well. The fresh avocado and tomatoes added the freshness that made the burritos good! I was definitely missing mexican food from back home and this place did satisy my craving. If you could mind not having mexican food while in Paris then I would definitely skip this place, but if you are dying for it please come here by all means. *Their horchata was soo good! It was thick, creamy and had a great amout of cinnamon. (also if you are able to ask for mashed up peppers for your burrito I suggest you do so because they were soo delicious!) read more

...I'm from San Diego California, so Mexican food is the sixth food group for us. All I have to say is that the food here is like eating in Mexico. Why? Because they import their produce from Mexico. Boom goes the dynamite! read more

After reading on yelp I decided to give this a try as I live in Southern California . I found the tacos dry and rather bland the chicken burro was moist and favorable good job on that. over all not bad . read more

I repeat what others have said, "Best value Mexican in Paris"! I haven't been to every place in Paris, but after 10 years, I have been to a lot. Spicy sauce is spicy, so you've been warned. This is no 'spicy' frenchified. This is straight-up! read more

Great tacos in Paris. The tortillas are freshly made in house and the salsa is spicy.

hands down the best mexican food you will find in Paris. I'm from Argentina and was a bit frustrated for not being able to find a single good mexican place in Paris. Too bad it was such a cold and windy night, because good weather will make this place perfect to grab something to eat by the canal. Tacos and quesadillas as awesome, the real deal! Friendly staff and more than reasonable prices. I will come back many more times during summer that's for sure. read more

after a testy exchange with apt reno crew (late starts, wrong tiles etc), i thought the anglo-french entente cordial needed a reboot - via mexique food. so sprung for tacos and burritos for a chill al fresco lunch by the canal. up to then, the boys prolly not had any, other than maybe frozen taquitos from Picard. puis gracias El Nopal, am convinced your goodies helped finish the project on time and (almost) on budget. read more

Oh man. I had such high hopes for this little hole in the wall taqueria. The prices are right, the staff is so friendly and Mexican(!), but the burrito I got today just really disappointed. It lacked so much flavor, which baffles me because it smelled so good. I got the carne asada burrito and asked to add cheese and guacamole. I got the spicy salsa as well and I'm glad I did because aside from the heat from the salsa, the burrito was pretty bland. It was really sad, actually. It might as well not even had meat in it, the steak had so little flavor. I really feel like if they added a little salt to the beans and maybe some seasoning to the meat, it would be so much better. I'm from the San Francisco bay area, so I know a good burrito, but this just failed to impress. Bad times. Probably wouldn't go back, unless I was really desperate for Mexican. I hope the owner reads this review, because it really has so much potential. read more

what a disappointment, although I should've known better coming from SF. waited half an hour for a carne asada burrito that was beyond bland, even with salsa picante. and no joke, the rice was full-on Uncle Ben's, or the French equivalent (oncle benoît?). Seriously, Chipotle is better than this stuff. Too bad because the guys working there were really nice. read more

This is pretty much as good as it gets for Paris - coming from a Mexican girl raised in Southern California. I was desperate for anything even close to resembling my roots. This place is the bomb.com: they season their meat well, the tortillas are home made, and when you ask for spicy, its actually spicy (for Parisian standards) plus the guys are cool and its always nice to speak spanish. I mean, I waited for a burrito for an hour and a half the other day when Mexico won their first world cup match and it was absolutely worth it. read more

Real dank Mexican food in Paris. I didn't think it was possible but it was. The dudes are super friendly. Gotta bomb-ass burrito and cerveza. For sure a must. read more

small little place. i love the vegetarian burrito. it tastes so good. i didn't think I would be able to have good Mexican food in Paris but we did! the line was starting to get really long after we ordered! it tastes better than Chipotle!! the guy who took our order can speak English well, so thats a plus. Because yelp review is getting good, there are just so many American customers getting in line! read more

This is a great burrito that hits the spot. Asking for "spicy" delivers. Great with a drink and to sit by the canal with. Be prepared for both a crowd and a long wait once you've ordered. read more