tl;dr the signature mesquite-grilled carne asada and thoughtfully sourced flour tortillas combine into a disappointingly inconsistent and mostly forgettable taco Sonoran-style tacos, featuring handmade flour tortillas and mesquite wood-fired meats, are a less common taco variety in Los Angeles. But a few purveyors of this regional delicacy are among LA's most highly rated taquerias. Enter El Ruso, an Echo Park taco truck that has been featured heavily in the media, from Taco Chronicles on Netflix to nearly every "best of LA" list. The all-black food truck is parked outside a Walgreens on a busy stretch of Sunset. Underneath its crimson, stag-laden logo, all-caps block letters promise a meal of "pura calidad!!" A handful of bright red plastic stools line the adjacent sidewalk. The hum of the truck's generator blends with the rush of traffic. My partner and I arrived for weekday lunch and were the only customers. Service was quick, but the vacancy of fellow patrons was deafeningly palpable. We opted to share the signature Taco de Carne with Carne Asada and all the requisite fixings. The two-hander, five-biter taco was larger than expected and piping hot. However, the definitive positives ended there. The bites ranged inconsistently from "eh" to eyebrow-raisingly good, and the chewy, good-not-great flour tortilla just wasn't particularly memorable. At $4.75 for a single, hefty taco, El Ruso isn't the worst deal. However, the best word to describe my experience at El Ruso is "underwhelming". To me, El Ruso didn't live up to the hype, and my first El Ruso taco will likely be last. read more

El Ruso - Taco de Carne Asada - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very wet tacos, which I def appreciate! Just make sure you're wearing clothes you don't mind some drip on. The red salsa is spicy! Parking is metered/street/Gelson's parking, but street parking is def doable. Appreciate the limes and cucumbers included in the order and the delightfully soft tortilla. Not much ambience, though they have a few plastic stools to sit on and the truck is pretty well lit compared to the street. read more

El Ruso - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Taco truck parked in a busy stretch of Sunset Blvd in Echo Park. I've been wanting to come here because I heard about their handmade tortillas. I came here specifically for the Chile Colorado Taco It definitely did not disappoint. A warm delicate, chewy tortilla that was strong enough to hold up the well seasoned and stew like meat. Add the lime squeeze for a little more acidity and it was a fine meal. I came here late afternoon / early evening so it was pretty chill around the truck. read more

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What took me so long to try El Ruso! Pinching myself for not coming here sooner, but better late then never. El Ruso is known for Handmade Artisanal Sonoran FLOUR Tortillas and now serving BLUE CORN tortillas! El Ruso has been featured on : Netflix, LA Time, /Bon Appetite magazine, Food & Wine, LA Taco/Eater, The Infatuation. I thought it was perhaps "hype" , but my trusted foodie friends recommended El Ruso, so off I went. We ordered: -Chile Colorado Taco: I had a bite, and it was stellar! Order it! 5/5 rating! -Chicken Taco con todo (with fixins): Unbelievable good! Normally I don't order chicken tacos. This was my favorite! 5/5 rating! -Carne Asada Taco con todo (with everything): He loved it. I thought it needed more salt(?). Otherwise decent char taste. 4/5 rating. Chile Relleno Burrito con todo : get it plain or with everything. Very very good! Next time I will add meat. 5/5 rating. Bean n Cheese Burrito: Skip. Good but not great or vegetarian. They use whole beans vs mashed re- fried beans. Good taste but the texture is off. 3/5 rating. SALSA: Fresh Red chili of some sort and SPICY! Ask for extra they skimpy, but not needed as the tacos are so flavorful. 5/5 rating! Am going back later soon (today/or the weekend) , lol! It's that good! Cash and Credit Card accepted. Parking in the Walgreens/Lassen's Market parking lot. read more

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El Ruso doesn't mess around. They make some dang good tacos. This truck is found in Echo Park in front of Lassen's. The tacos were really good. My family can be kind of picky with food and everyone agreed the food was excellent. The prices here are a bit more expensive than your typical taco truck, but they are worth the money. Like everyone said, the Carne Asada was the best. Really good! I also ordered a Chicharron and I don't remember what else I ordered, but I asked for the most popular tacos they sell. I also ordered a burrito for my son and it was massive. Great food! I'll be back! read more

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Really excellent tacos from an accessible taco truck on sunset boulevard. Had the carne asada, chorizo and chicharron. Carne asada was best, but all were super good. Easy seating, good shade and a Walgreens right behind for drinks / parking. Super nice spot and a great taco. read more

El Ruso - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I wanted to try some tacos with flour tortillas, similar to the ones I've had in Mexicali and Sonora, but this place was disappointing. The lady working there was alone, seemed unhappy, and was chewing gum. I tried to be nice to her, but something told me to head to the other taco truck that looked busier. Nevertheless, I decided to give this one a chance and ordered one taco de asada and one taco de chicharrón, both with all the toppings. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied; they were just okay for me. It seemed like the tortilla and meat had been sitting out for a couple of hours. After all the rave reviews from Taco Chronicles, I probably won't be coming back to El Ruso. I'd rather wait to visit an asadero in Mexicali or Sonora instead. This taco joint seems to cater mostly to its hipster clientele. read more

Tortilla is OUT OF THIS WORLD. So buttery, so good. Once you try it you'll know what you've been missing out on this whole time. Got the chile relleno and have to say, this is one of the best. read more

Best tacos ive ever had !!! I already wrote a review a year ago but i love this place so much i had to write another review.. their tortillas are made fresh to order and the asada is so juice tender and flavorful. The people are always nice and i can order less than 8 at a time wheres most people order 2-3 tacos. Highly recommend! read more

El Ruso - Taco Carne Asada - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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El Ruso posts up in a parking lot of a car wash with outdoor seating under hipster lights on Sunset north of Silver Lake Boulevard. Parking is difficult in this neighborhood, but fortunately, there are some spots in the lot for customers. They are known for their Sonoran-style tacos and sobaqueras wrapped in flour tortillas. The tacos are huge on a foundation of house-made flour tortillas. The tortillas are so delicious, and they were all I thought about while eating. The flour tortillas are supple and almost as tasty as pastry dough. They stand up to all the fillings, and you'll want to get the tacos with everything. The beans and cheese are soft and gooey. The cabbage and pink pickled onions add a cool crunch. The onions have some oregano for an occasional flavor burst. The taco de asada has nicely diced steak - tender with a little connective tissue. It's easy to chew, and the flavor is beefy. The carne asada is the best taco filling here. The avocado salsa and salsa roja provide a hint of heat. The taco de chile colorado is filled with red stewed shredded beef. The meat is soft and mild in flavor. read more

El Ruso - A couple tacos de asada and a taco de chile colorado - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of my favorite tacos in LA! The truck is parked in the same lot as a carwash. Parking is a bit difficult, but that's the case with a lot of spots in this area! I usually get the chile colorado mixed with the carne asada. It's so good! The meat is flavorful and spicy. Personally, I don't like beans so I usually ask for it without the beans. However, a lot of folks advise you to try it with the beans! The flour tortilla here really takes it up to the next level. Make sure you asked for some pickled onions! The tacos are pricey, but 2 will put me over the edge hahaha. I would highly recommend stopping by this spot if you want some sonoran style tacos! read more

El Ruso - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of my favorite taco spots in LA. These are Sonoran-style flour tortilla tacos served out of a taco truck on Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake, just across the street from All Day Baby and Spoon & Pork. They recently moved here from Boyle Heights, and they've extended their hours, greatly increasing their accessibility. There's usually at least four kinds of tacos available each day. I've had the asada, birria, chorizo, pollo, adobada, mole and chile colorado tacos, they're all good, my faves being the adobada and chile colorado. There are occasional specials like ahuja/costillo (ribs) tacos, and sobaqueros, which are like burritos. And in the past they occasionally offered corn tortillas. The tacos are larger than most, cost over $3.50 each with beans and cheese another 25¢ each, and it's all completely worth it. The handmade flour tortillas are fantastic, supple and stretchy and not too thick. For drinks they have horchata and a cooler full of sodas and water. There's a covered patio for dining onsite. They provide a baggie with sauces, onions, cilantro and radishes, which is much safer than having a communal table where everyone uses the same ladles to help themselves. There's hand sanitizer if you need it. Keep an eye on their Instagram for their schedule and any specials. This is truly one of the best taco stands in LA. read more

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My cousin selected the dinner spot after the All-Star game over the weekend last weekend! We found this as the top rated taco place in the Silver Lake area that was closest to the dodger Stadium For out of towners we couldn't find it, but when we parked we noticed it was a truck or a trailer that was serving these bomb tacos! I ordered the chicharron, asada - chicarron mix and something else! my cousin got a burrito! Their tacos were on point! They were on flour tortillas which street tacos don't normally come on, and the chicharron had this tomato base flavor that totally hit the spot! usually street tacos come with two corn tortillas which fill me up very quickly! but these flour tortillas plus their bomb meat hit the spot and satisfied my cravings! Looking forward to coming here on the next go round! read more

El Ruso - chicharron tacos on flour tortillas - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I don't know what the buzz is about. Basic. Nothing special at all. The taco I ordered (beans and "cheese") had solid black burned cheese. I had to ask for a new one. And it's really just a tortilla full of beans. Not exciting. The "caramelo" is a quesadilla? (The woman who took my order is the one who told me it is basically a quesadilla). But why is it called a caramelo? And it's just the same basic beans again and melted cheese. I wouldn't go here again at all. The sauces it is served with are spicy...the red one is anyway. The other is like a puréed avocado. Not my cup of tea. Also served with small bags of onions and radishes. Luckily, it's not expensive. But unluckily, it's not noteworthy. Pass. read more

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Where have you been all my life!? These handmade tortillas are everything!!! I got myself two carne asada tacos. And these flour tortillas are so good. This taco is filled with asada, refried beans, onions, cilantro, red and green salsas. A good kick from the spice. The beans are a nice touch. Each bite was so solid with everything together. Such a great taco. I gotta bring my friends here with me next time Recommendation: Carne asada tacos read more

El Ruso - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Way over hyped. Tried to find this location but they moved and there's no info. Ended up tracking them down on Instagram. Got their burrito but it was highway robbery! $20 for one burrito! This included a drink (not knowing). Either way, $20 for a hibiscus drink and burrito wasn't worth it. The hibiscus drink was mediocre, burrito didn't like taste anything spectacular. Will not be back here. Rated this 3 stars for the food but deducted an extra one for their pricing. This is too overpriced for LA read more

Under the shade of the ficus tree And sitting on one of those cheap plastic stools (that look like they would buckle under the weight of a 300 pound man) I sit and eat a burrito, staring at the stained sidewalk and 20 year olds in oversized vintage clothing walking past me. My thoughts wander to last night: A cowboy themed bar, a birthday party, a few too many mixed drinks, a dollar bill origami elephant, a beautiful woman. None of these ingredients, by themselves, would amount to much but perhaps under the right conditions, with good weather and a bit of luck, they amount to something special something that when I'm old and grey and sitting on a rocking chair in some overpriced beach community, I will remember with longing eyes and a tinge of regret. Did she like the origami elephant I gave her, should I have written my phone number on it, was she perhaps the one, One of one Or one of many ones? I find El Russo not too different from the "hot girl at bar" They are both hot and hyped and eventually Will disappoint you, as Most things do, I only have two gods weightlifting and protein, I remember as my tired hungover arms discard my half eaten burrito in the garbage bin and I make a beeline for the closest YMCA, a reasonably priced gym with uncrowded equipment 3 sets bicep curl 3 sets overhead press 3 sets dumbbell press 3 sets tricep extension 3 sets lat pull downs At home it's grilled chicken steamed veggies and a roasted potato It's not el Russo It's not hot girl at bar But at least the gods are smiling down on me read more

El Ruso has been on my list for a long time and certainly lives up to the hype. Located in a low key alley in between warehouses, the El Ruso taco truck serves up asada and birria on tacos and sobaqueros among other things. I went with an asada sobaquero with beans and it was so good. Soft tasty tortilla, flavorful moist asada, and comes with a good amount of food all for $14. The hot sauce has a good kick and flavor so would recommend getting extra hot sauce! Parking along alley or street available. read more

Tacos and Caramelos. Pretty limited selection remained late lunch time the day I was there just carne asada, fresh chorizo, and melty fat heavenly chicharrons. You choose your meat - or you can combine the asada with chicharrons, pick your toppings and grab one of the tiny stools on the sidewalk while they prepare your order. The feinschmecker and I each went for two tacos, chorizo and the combo - they are of a decent size, distinguished by a super quality flour tortilla. Then we decided that wasn't enough so we split a caramelo - no mean feet to eat this on the street. Some reviewers describe the caramelo as a quesadilla, and while that is what it is close to, the caramelo is a looser, wetter, proposition. The salsa was really good too. Unlike many trucks, this one shines sparkling clean. read more

El Ruso - Two Tacos. - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

So of course I saw this truck on Netflix and had to try it my biggest draw was the hand made flour tortillas which is hard to find. When we arrived there was a line and a group of people waiting for their orders. The wait was not bad at all 10-13 min wait. They were out of birra but we got two chicken with cheese/ beans and all the toppings and two carne asada same as the chicken. I was underwhelmed with the first bite, the meat itself lacked flavor. I really wanted to like this place but it didn't do it for me. Too bland read more

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Great flour tortillas. Tried the chicken, al pastor, carne asada, birria, chile Colorado, ribeye, and they were all good. Both location are good, but only one does the sobaquero which was delicious read more

El Ruso - Taco - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing food truck!!! The tortillas are amazing!!! Love how they fry the cheese on it while they're warming up the tortillas. I had the asada ones and I can't wait to go back and have more! Go and enjoy these tacos from El Ruso, it's worth it! read more

Damn..! After every bite with those handmade tortillas de harina. Do yourself a favor and step away from the birria trend; give their chile colorado or chile relleno a try, or mix the two. You'll thank me later. read more

El Ruso - Chile Relleno Taco. - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This truck is parked on Sunset Blvd in front of Gelsons supermarket. I highly recommend the taco el muneco (asada with chicharron). The flavor of both meats is on point and work so well together. I also tried the Chile Colorado burrito, and this was my favorite meat. The flour tortilla was what made this burrito amazing. This place is famous for their handmade tortillas. And you can see them making each one in the truck. It took about 20 minutes to get my food after ordering. But it was well worth the wait. All the ingredients are fresh and the food is well worth the price. You can see the staff working hard to get the food out. read more

El Ruso - Menu prices as of 11/27/22 - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

There would be no way of me knowing about this place if not for Lucas at LA Times spotlighting them recently. I'm just not in the area often and I would have never spotted this truck tucked away in an industrial area sitting off the main street. The tortillas are the reason why you go here. They are so full of flavor and carry your generously meat-filled tacos or burritos so well despite being nearly transparent prior to hitting the flat top grill. Unfortunately, I was not able to try chicken but the asada was quite good. I would normally appreciate onions and cilantro when ordering "con todo" but I suppose that's just not the style for food here. They do accept credit cards which is a very nice convenience. read more

El Ruso - Asada tacos con todo except I didn't get onions and cilantro? - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

El Ruso is a spot on my LA taco hitlist that I have been meaning to try for a while. I was in the area and decided to stop by. At first look, I was not expecting much because of the tattered food trailer (see missing wheels) but I've learned not to judge a book by its cover. They offer a Sonora style taco which is a bit different from the tacos I am used to. These tacos feature cheese, beans and cabbage in addition to the protein of your choice, all served on a mini flour tortilla. With that being said, I was impressed by the tacos served up from this food trailer. The carne asada tacos were just okay. The meat was not bland but also not flavorful. However, the birria taco was one of the best ones I have had. The spice and flavor were on point, and the salsa complimented the meat. The shining star was the fresh handmade flour tortilla. It tasted better than many of the other competitors I've had. Overall, the food was freshly prepared and that puts them above other busy taco trucks in the area. Next time I will try the caramelo offerings. Definitely returning here. FIVE STARS. read more

El Ruso - Tacos: Carne Asada (L), Birria (R) - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Went to the truck on West Sunset Blvd AND WOW. 10000 stars. This is one of the best tacos I've ever had. The flour tortilla is top notch. We had the asada tacos and they were delicious. I'd drive hours for these. Totally worth a trek if you don't live nearby. read more

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El Ruso is probably my favorite taco truck in LA among so many good ones nowadays. Their location has changed up and down Sunset Blvd since, but the quality has remained the same. Now I frequent the one down in Echo Park in front of the Lassen's but I think there's another truck in Silverlake. They set up a few chairs on the sidewalk if you want to eat there. Everythjng is made to order, including the tortillas which you can see them flipping on the grill. They are super delicious, and the meats are also freshly grilled, smoky, juicy, with a little crunch. The tacos are substantial, a couple would be enough for a meal, and the burritos are huge. The salsa is nuclear spicy so be careful if that's not your thing! It's more expensive than your average taco truck, but you can really see why when you try it. Hopefully El Ruso himself will make your meal! read more

Place was very good. Big hefty tacos, and the meat was seasoned very well. Also loved the avocado salsa.

Average ass food. You're charging tourist taxes and rent for locals.. $60 for 10 asada tacos is Highway robbery. Pura calidad es pura paja. Se están pasando de verga cobrando tanto por taco regular Solo porque están en silver lake están cobrando tanto. read more

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Fantastic tacos, flour tortillas only. The flavors are deep and rich. I ordered the taco Asada, Chile Colorado, bistek Ranchero and chicharron. For me the asada was a top tier taco anywhere and the bistek and Chile were really solid. After missing the truck a few times I finally found it on a Thursday afternoon. Be ready to order in Spanish, I never did get the fork I asked for. El Ruso is worth a detour to echo park. read more

I think I got sick here. Not sure but it's the last place I ate. Not fun So I usually go to the taco stand near Lassen Ariza -Tasmanian Devil now but never got sick tried El Russo Carmelita's taco next day felt sick. Idk for sure but it's highly possible. read more

This is a taco truck in a parking lot of a carwash. Ordered 6 tacos and agua fresca which came out to be $45. Pretty pricey, each taco is more than $5. HOWEVER, their tacos are packed with meat. Don't think small street tacos, these are extremely filling. I tried the chorizo, carne asada, and their new item taco el muneco which is asada with chicharron. My fav was the carne asada, their steak is tender and juicy and seasoned well. Taco muneco was a bit too fatty for me and chorizo was a bit too salty. Parking can be a little difficult on sunset, but there's usually residential parking around the neighborhood. read more

El Ruso - Chorizo, carne asada, el muneco - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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On my endless quest for the perfect tacos. Found a solid contender here at El Ruso in Echo Park. Home made tortillas has the perfect chew and flavor. Fillings were hearty and well-seasoned with tender pinto beans in the mix. Fresh toppings and zesty salsa and you are good to go. Silver Lake location coming 9/30. I'll be there! read more

I was excited to try El Ruso when I learned about the new Silverlake location, and so far, I have not been disappointed. The taco truck is parked near a small car wash, and while they do offer limited parking on site, I've also generally had luck finding street parking nearby. There are also several tables for seating if you decide to eat on site. I've tried their tacos and their sobaqueras, and I've enjoyed both of them. I tend to order chorizo, but the carne asada is probably my second favorite meat option. I've also tried the chicken and chile colerado tacos, and for all the tacos I've tried, I've always been impressed by the amount of meet they include. The sobaquera is also very sizable and can definitely be enough for a filling meal if you are not famished. The tortillas are excellent, and you can can tell from the the chewy texture and fresh flavor that their tortillas are freshly made. read more

Been hearing about this place so I had to make my way .. I went to there Art District location cute area .. so let's start pricey ass tacos but worth it.. I'm not the type to get one taco or two, I need to try them all.. so I did and I took some home... well i didn't try them all the tacos are big your good with two.The Muneca is a must and that red sauce Fuego reminds me of my grandmas hot sauce... oh and the horchata is good. read more

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I told my best friend that I wanted to have the best tacos in LA and he took me here. I was surprised to see that they served out of a food truck but whatever, when in Rome... I decided to order three tacos and went with the Taco de Frijoles, Chicken Taco, and Steak Taco. I had no idea they made their own tortillas and you can tell that it's homemade by the flavor and softness of the tortillas. I dug head first into the Taco de Frijoles and it was alright and very messy but it was good flavor. Then next I tackled the chicken taco and again it was very messy but the tacos were big in size compared to street tacos so I actually go full after eating those two tacos. I saved my steak taco and ate it later that night after a few beers. Now this is where I understand where El Ruso is one of the best taco joints in LA. Their steak taco was out of this world delicious. The steak was full of flavor and seasoned well and cooked perfectly. In combination with the soft homemade tortilla really blew the doors off of my taste buds. My only gripe is that I should have ordered 3 more because I wanted more after teasing myself with the 1 steak taco! read more

EL RUSO IS STILL INCREDIBLE. We went to their Silver Lake location on opening day and it's so wonderful to see that even in a new location, the food is still top tier. As much as I want to keep these tacos a secret all to myself, I tell everyone about how these are the best tacos in LA. At some point, I'd love to see some veggie options, but if it ain't broke... read more

El Ruso - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We tried a taco de carne asada and a taco de chicharrón "con todo" (aka with everything) after it was featured on Netflix. Tacos were pricey ($4.50 each but includes beans and cheese), so it's safe to say the expectations were high. Unfortunately, however, the carne asada was under flavored. It was grilled well and the quality of the meat was good, but it was still plain/bland, and we had to ask for salt to bolster the flavor. The chicharrón was sopping wet, and the tortilla was soggy and falling apart from the start. The flour tortilla was good though and you can tell it was hand made. We went on a random weekday around 3-4pm so there was no line. Parking is street parking and and there some plastic stools around the truck to sit on. The neighborhood around the truck is not the cleanest but that's something outside their control. read more

When I read that El Ruso had opened up a pop-up not far from me, I got pretty excited! I've read some pretty epic reviews of their tacos so I rushed over to grab some lunch. I arrived to find a small line outside of their food truck. Behind me was several folding tables and chairs for dining in the shade under a portico next to a small building they were using as a home base for the truck. I got in line and perused the menu while waiting. When I got to the window, I asked what was most popular to ensure I didn't miss out of their star attractions. With their recommendation, I got the carne asada and birria tacos. They asked if wanted beans & cheese so I said yes if that is what they recommended. While waiting for my food, I peered through the window to see them making the flour tortillas by hand. While I knew El Ruso was known for their handmade tortillas, I did not expect them to be churning them out from their food truck. My mouth began to water in anticipation. And after a short wait, I grabbed my plate and headed for the shade to enjoy my bounty. These were fairly decent sized tacos and they didn't skimp on the meat. I went for the birria taco first. As I picked it up and tilted it to grab my first bite, the hot juices started running out and onto my hand. I took a big bite and the flour tortilla burst open with a big rip down the middle. As I savored that bite, I watched as the rest of the contents of the taco fall into a messy heap on my plate. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I managed to use the torn shreds of tortilla to grab the remaining birria but it was not a pleasant experience. The combination of the really thin flour tortilla and the really wet birria obviously contributed to the bursting of the taco. With that knowledge, I approached the carne asada taco with more caution. Thankfully, it did not explode in my hand. Overall, they were pretty good tacos but nothing to garner the enthusiastic raves I have seen written. The birria had nice flavor and the carne asada had a nice char as would be expected. The other bummer was that they charged extra for the beans and cheese. it was a minimal charge, but it would have been nice to have been told that up front. What I thought was a recommendation was merely an upsell. Not cool. So in the end, did they warrant a glowing 5-stars? Nope...not in my opinion. They lost a star for the exploding taco and another star for the shady upsell. read more