As much as I used to go to Beltway Plaza and shop in there, I never got any food from there... until now! Taco Tuesday means I have to enjoy some somewhere right?? El Taco Rico has some tables outside of the small restaurant, and there are a few inside. When you walk in, tables are to the left, and the register is to your right. They have a plastic screen up, and you can see their small menu... there are no physical ones, and I had to ask what their taco types were. From anyone just passing by, the place honestly doesn't look like much, and everything looks kind of old. I opted for 3 chicken tacos... which came to $12, I was surprised they were $4 each! Around my way I usualy expect things like tacos to be way cheaper lol. So I was a tad concerned... I went to sit down outside, and when the plate was brought to me (I chose dine-in) my jaw almost dropped when I looked at my plate. The tacos were bigger than I expected and they were loaded with chicken! They brought out 3 bottles of sauce and veggies to put on the tacos too! Presentation and size immediately took my concerns away. When I took a bite... yes. The pulled chicken was tender and I was STUFFED after I finished all 3. read more

El Taco Rico - Chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

This place is horrible!!!! I'm not sure how they have 4 stars and I don't understand how they're still in business. I will never ever ever come here again. I wouldn't even recommend this place to my worst enemy. First off they have no prices posted, secondly they only have about 8 items that they sell. I don't understand how they could mess up tacos to the extent that they did... I ordered 4 tacos (2 chicken and 2 steak). The tacos were $5.00 a piece and the quesadilla was $13 I believe. This was the worse $34.00 I've ever spent. The steak tacos were so small and they were dry but, they did have a little flavor to them. The chicken tacos were like dry shredded rubber--horrible. I couldn't even finish them, even after drenching them in all the sauce I had. The lime was so hard I had to fight to get juice out of it and when I did get juice to come out it was bitter--yuck! They doubled up on the wraps like most places do, but it was useless since the tacos were dried out. The cilantro and onions tasted fresh but that's about it. I removed the extra wraps and they were clean and looked unused. I thought the reason for the double wraps were to help support the first wrap so the taco doesn't come apart..... The wraps weren't even warmed together, they were literally separate--ugh.. The quesadilla was huge until my son opened it and looked inside. There wasn't much filling at all.The wrap was big and soggy--matter of fact I think it was a burrito instead of a quesadilla. It didn't look like it was heated nor was it cut. Everything is wrong at this place, I would avoid at all cost. This has to be the worst taco spot in Maryland.. I am very disappointed in this place, it was the worse experience ever. I've attached the pictures of all the bs they sold me. I read more

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Solid authentic Mexican cuisine. I just got a carne asada taco with cilantro and onion. Five bucks did seem a little pricy for a taco. But it is what it is, I guess. It's a nice little spot inside Beltway Plaza Mall. Clean restaurant and quality food. Good service too; I got my food in a couple minutes. read more

El Taco Rico - Carne Asada Taco - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

I love this place... they have the best tacos and quesadillas . Super nice . I saw someone complain about the price but , I'm not complaining, the portions are big and the foods worth the price ! Please see what's left of my food . read more

El Taco Rico - Chorizo quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

Not the most glamorous setup, by far. No menus, just pictures up on the wall---sans prices. If you're looking to "dine-in", be prepared to eat your meal in darn near darkness with cheap tablecloths and really bad chairs. I had my food to go. Don't let the settings fool you though, because this food is bomb. I was in the mood for Mexican for my lunch break and all I knew nearby that qualified for "Mexican" was Chipotle...I really wanted a change and I desired authenticity, and Yelp lead me to El Taco Rico. I know from experience that it's usually these hole in the wall places that are the best foodie spots, so I went without hesitation. My order took some time to make, which wasn't really a big deal since it is truly made to order, but I was on the lunch break time constraint so it was a little bit nerve-wracking...just some advice for folks trying to get out here on the hurry. I got the Quesadilla. Loaded with chicken and cheese (of course) but also lettuce, jalapeno, bell peppers, onions...everything that made this thing EXTREMELY flavorful. Came with two sauces on the side...had no idea what they were...but they were sooo good! The tortilla was a little crispy, a little soft, a bit of a mix of the two..chicken pieces were shredded and definitely marinated. It was so delicious. I'm definitely a fan after eating here today...especially since their tacos are only $2 each! I can't wait to sample other menu items. I don't care about the apperance of the place as long as I know I can take good, quality food home. I know that whenever I'm in the Greenbelt area and have a craving for Mexican, I'll skip Chipotle and head straight for this joint. read more

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Loved the Tacos! Service is amazing Ambiance I would definitely recommend coming here ! read more

If you want fancy and intimate, go somewhere else. If you want a great taco, this is where you want to go. It's located in Beltway Plaza Mall, so you'll have to walk inside the mall to find it. They serve food on plastic cafeteria plates, no frills, not much English, but great pork tacos. I used the sliced radishes to sample the 4 pack of sauces that were placed on the table. I like the darker of the green ones best. The tacos had fresh ingredients, and tasted delicious. Double tortillas, pork, fresh cilantro and diced onions compose the taco, while there are slices of cucumber, radish and a wedge of lime to fill the rest of the dish. Grab an Inca cola, and you're set! Sit outside on the mall floor if you don't want to feel crowded inside where there is a jukebox. Yes, a jukebox. Best of all, I could eat while watching the fish in the aquarium store across the mall! read more

El Taco Rico - 2 pork tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

The shortest version to sum up this review is this...on tacos alone, they're definitely not bad. 4/5 on those...but the service...for ppl they assume to-be NON-HISPANIC or definitely non Spanish-speaking... negative fuggin 3! Been here before when they were relatively empty, w/even more patrons already present/ordering b4/after me, also on a weekend, and my food came right away. Just 3 tacos... super simple. Today however, I watched and waited as multiple Hispanics came after me...and got their food first. Then miraculously, as soon as I go to the register and ask to speak to the boss, one of the women in the kitchen come out acting like she already knew what I was ordering, telling me it was out next. I told him/boss... How did all these people walk in after I did, yet got food b4 me? He tried to claim they were all "call in orders..." Funny....considering ppl who call in orders tend to come in to p/up, to take it away. That's the whole point of calling in. Nobody calls in, to sit down and eat...SIMPLE non complex taqueria orders. These clowns tried to play me. No problem... I don't go where my money is not respected... So I told him to process my refund. Again, miraculously as well...now my food is magically ready.... as they make mention of a refund huh?.Smdh. Funny how it takes no time at all to make 3 simple azz tacos, but apparently it's so lengthy and labor-intensive, that they weren't ready before me complaining about your prejudicial and preferential service! And here's the kicker funnier still... yo habla Espanol tambien puta! so any time I walk into a spot, in all my beautiful Blackness, they make the WRONG assumption that they can talk smack about ppl they think don't understand them. Guess what...that's how you fuck around and get popped in the mouth sayin slick shit to customers who are already hungry, and at this point now irritated because you're mimicking racist behaviors! 0/0....would NOT recommend! read more

Taste was good. I got 3, an al pastor, carne Assad and lengua. Al pastor did not have the sweetness to like I would have imagined. The tongue was great! I thought all the meats were a dry. So I had to put on a lot of lime and salsa. Good thing their salsa was not too spicy. I'd try it again, maybe during peak hours to see if that helps the dryness. Otherwise I'm not too eager to come back. I'd still recommend you to stop by and try it in the least. read more

4 stars for the food 2 stars for everything else The inside is dimly lit, and when I asked for a menu while standing at the counter I was told to look at the limited 8 item display which had very little information (no prices, no meat choices). I then tried to find out what kinds of meat were available and the lady didnt said chicken and beef. I asked if there was lamb (based on a previous review) and she said yes. I asked for two tacos, one beef and one lamb. When I tried to clarify the type of beef (carne asada, steak, al pastor) things got complicated. So I had to give up on english and switch to spanish, which was no problem for two reasons (1 I am brown, 2 I went to public school). At this point I found out that there was no lamb, and she had thought that I meant lengua (toungue). I corrected my order to be I chicken taco, and one carne asada taco, I supplemented this with a coconut water and waited at one of the outside tables. The tables were pretty dirty and had not been wiped. It took almost 20 minutes for my food to arrive, which is pretty unreasonable given that I only ordered two tacos. Once the tacos arrived (served with a lemon wedge and radish slices, + 4 types of salsa) I was quite happy. The taste was excellent. I will go back and give them another chance, just because the food was so good. However I think that they could improve significantly in other areas. read more

El Taco Rico - Facade - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

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Juicy tacos at a great price. I bought 3 tacos (steak, chicken, & beef) for under $10! I went in not know what to expect. Didn't realize it was going to be located in a mall. This is a hole in the wall restaurant you go to strictly for the food. Don't think of coming here for a date unless you're comfortable enough with each other after consuming tons of onions. My tacos consisted of a nice serving of meat, cilantro, some cucumbers to combat the spicy sauces they gave on the side, radish slices, & lots of onions.. which I love! **If you don't like onions, you better tell the cashier that. Otherwise, they'll add it into your tacos** After taking my first bite, I knew why this place was so highly reviewed. The soft shells are fresh and warm which compliment the other ingredients very well. I wish they had pico de gallo. I might just order to go next time and add that in at home. Overall, this is gonna be my go to taco place in PG County from now on. +fresh shells +good portion +no card minimum -limited toppings (3 spicy sauces & some pickled onions) read more

El Taco Rico - So yummy! 3 tacos for under $10!!! Woohoo - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

Let me tell you about this place , this May look like a hole in the wall but this place is absolute FIRE . I take my family here all the time . Absolutely authentic Mexican tacos!!! and the quesadillas are to die for . The salsa verde is the Bomb.com it just ties the whole meal together. I would absolutely recommend this place. It gets pretty busy to dine in on the weekend because of how small the seating is but trust me it's worth the wait. And the service/ severs there are so nice . read more

I love coming here and eating the Quesadilla De Pollo (chicken quesadilla). It's always delicious, fresh and filling.

El Taco Rico isn't located in the greatest location. The interior is a little grimy but there is seating outside of the restaurant/inside the mall which was better than sitting in the dark. For around $7, you get a great deal on a delicious meal (Yeah, I could spend $7 on fast food but that wouldn't be as tasty). The tacos are possibly some of the best tacos I've ever eat in my life and the huaraches were very good as well. My personal favorites are lamb, lengua and carne asada but they also offer chorizo, shredded beef, shredded chicken, al pastore. They come with 3 different salsas and pickled onions to spice up the tacos or whatever you order. If you're not a huge fan of spicy food, I recommend starting with the green salsa to ease into. The food was flavorful and filling -- I will definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

This location is in the middle of the mall in greenbelt. It's a small location with a couple seating areas. Myself and some coworkers order some tacos. Sadly disappointed with my order. My carne asada was extremely dry and stale. No flavor, the sauces are worst. The cucumber and radish provided is old and a couple were starting to go bad. Their food is overall price and NOT FRESH. Either we went on a bad day but this customer will not be back. read more

Their Milanesa Torta is tasty and nourishing. The wait is occasionally extended due to their volume of orders, but it's worth it . My only suggestion would be to add some refried beans. read more

A classic example of "Don't judge a book by its cover." This place doesn't look like much--to put it mildly--but my dinner was great. I lean vegetarian; I ordered the huarache sencillo. For just $7 plus tax, I got a delicious, very filling meal. Despite its sorry appearance, I'd give this restaurant five stars if they provided real silverware. It was a struggle cutting that tortilla with a plastic knife. Next time I'll get my order to go and eat it at home so I can use a real one. I'll probably finish my meal in half the time! read more

I havent eaten here in a while but everytime I come here the food is always sooooo delicious. This place is literally my childhood ive been coming here with my mom since i was veryyy little and i have always loved the food. This restaurant is the reason for my love of Mexican food. I always get their chicken quesadilla its soooo yummy with the cheese and lettuce. Love this place please never go away read more

I'm so glad we decided to check out this place after lamenting that there aren't many good restaurants in the area of Greenbelt. This is a small hole-in-the-wall place in the mall. The first time I saw this place I thought it was pretty hopping. There were a lot of customers coming in and out of this place. That definitely peaked my interest of deciding to try this place out. This place doesn't offer a paper menu but rather there are only pictures posted at the top of their wall near where the cashier is. There aren't any descriptions of the food too so you'd have to ask the cashier what's in them. The cashier that I talked to had a hard time speaking English but was very helpful nonetheless. We ended up ordering shredded beef huarreche and pork tacos. The pork tacos are delicious. It has the right amount of seasoning in it. I can see why there are many Hispanics checking this place out. It is pretty authentic and the meat seems to be of high quality. The huarreche is also very good but not as good as the tacos. After trying out this place, I'm definitely putting this place in my list of places to visit again in the Greenbelt area. read more

It was ok. Was cited for health violations but maybe that is the secret herbs and spices. http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/investigations/russ-ptacek/2014/07/15/restaurant-inspection-app-closure/12687531/ read more

Wonderfully unsanitary conditions. The quesadillas looked a lot like huaraches--fresh masa used. I didn't try one, but it seemed to be the most popular item. Wife ordered 3 carne asada tacos. 3 stars. A bit dry. I ordered 3 tacos de lengua. 5 stars. Best lengua I have ever had. A bit pricey for tacos but they pack the meat in good. Salsa are good--4 different types, with pickled onions on the side. read more

So, like most reviews...it should be known that this place isn't fancy, it's dark, its in the mall (use the entrance by the beauty supply store) and they barely speak English. But, for me, that means super authentic. These were some pretty decent tacos that were packed with meat. I ordered 4 tacos because I wanted to taste different once but only made it through 2. The chicken and chorizo meat was slightly dry but they were both packed with flavor. I poured a little of the green sauce (medium heat), added some cucumber and that solved the meat moisture problem. Tacos were $2.99 each plus tax. I will definitely stop by this place again. Its a hop, skip and jump away from UMD's campus. read more

A true hole in the wall. I decided to check this place out because it was really close to my work. The menu is kind of limited, and the people working there didn't speak great english. But they were really genuine and friendly. The ambiance and inside the place is not much to look at, and having work, I just got my order to go. I ordered two tacos, one beef and chicken. Two double wrapped tortilla tacos came to be $5.30. The beef and chicken were shredded and very tender. The spices gave it a nice touch. They added diced onion and cilantro on top. In the bag there was a mild and hot sauce, and generous portion of diced turnips, diced pickles, and lime. It's not quite taco bar, but still pretty good. Quick tip: sometimes they're cooking in the back, so ring the bell for them to come up. read more

This is a very modest setting, middle of Beltway Plaza Mall. You will not find a menu online nor have one handy to reference aside from what pictures are located on the wall adjacent the register. No issues ordering, except that they were out of steak. I went with the chicken instead. It took about 12-15 minutes for my food to hit the table along with a few select hot sauces in jars and some pickled onions. The customer service was good, no issues there. Be prepared to throw a few Spanish words into your order. Corn tortilla (soft) shells for those that care. They also do take out orders. Good place overall. I hope they tighten up on the administrative stuff. I think, at the very least, posting hours, a website, and expanding the menu to more than four items may go a long way. Either way, I'll be back. read more

The food is great!!! The restaurant IS kinda cheap looking....but it's in the Beltway Plaza mall :-) what do you want? I go about once a week for lunch and have never been disappointed. And the prices are very reasonable read more

Had the Torta. Was the best I've ever had, and I've had quite a bit. Highly recommended.

I ate the three-taco plate and they were authentic and tasty. So, I don't have any complaint with the food I ate. However, I have a couple of concerns with the restaurant which I'll share. First, there aren't any prices on the menu, which is posted on the wall near the cashier. When I asked the cashier, a young man, what the prices were, the replied, "You tell me what you want and I'll tell you how much it is." The obvious problem with this is that restaurants which do this often have a multi-tiered pricing system, i.e., they charge different customers different prices for the same service. I was charged $10 (including tax) for the taco plate. Other reviewers here indicate they were charged a similar price, so perhaps my concern in this regard are unfounded. If you go, I suggest observing what the other customers are being charged (you may need to understand Spanish) and see if you're charged the same. The restaurant, of course, could resolve this problem simply by putting prices on the menu. The other concern has also been shared by other reviewers and that is that the service is very slow. I believe it's because the kitchen is tiny and the staff is small: only 2-3 people including the cashier/server. When I went the restaurant was two-thirds full (it seats about 20 people from what I observed). I was told my order would take 25 minutes. So, I walked around the mall for 20 minutes then came back and grabbed a seat and they brought it out to me a few minutes later. I'm not sure if they can do anything about this because of the size of their kitchen. So, if you go I would simply suggest that you be aware of this and take it into consideration. read more

I would recommend this place, they are not as good as the tacos you would find in Mexico, but they are very close and cheap (Mexican speaking). Also they have other options, such as tortas, huaraches, quesadillas. The staff is very friendly and efficient and I did like the atmosphere and jukebox :) Who cares if it is ghetto? You go to eat nice tacos not to a fancy store please! If you are shallow and feel"unconfortable" with the place then order your food to go, problem solved! read more

Total hole in the wall dive---but SUCH great tacos. Their pollo and carne asada are hands down some of the best I've had in the area. There is no set menu aside from a few pictures on the wall, and they are not able to sell alcohol. Additionally---bonus points if you can speak Spanish...it makes it much easier to place your order, especially if you have any special requests. Prices are super reasonable, and the ambiance is certainly gritty (you're in the middle of the greenbelt mall...next to the beauty store) but if you want low-key, great mexican food...then definitely check it out. read more

Great food n great staff! We always do To-Go order. If you are as picky as me, order from this place. They are clean and the food tastes amazing read more

Really great food. I love the chorizo tacos. The salsa they give is delicious and give the tacos a nice kick. If you're not into authentic food, don't come here. It's not a tex mex, it's better. read more

Don't let the location fool you. El Taco Rico has the best tacos I've ever had. I love to get either their chicken tacos or chicken quesadilla. The quesadilla isn't exactly what you expect, it's even better. The sauces they serve with each dish are delicious and full of spicy flavor! I wish I lived closer to this fantastic establishment, but then I'd probably be there everyday! read more

I can not even begin to write this review I'm so upset. My boyfriend and I were starving, and I'd read such great reviews on Yelp that we decided to give El Taco Rico a try. My boyfriend is not very adventurous when it comes to new food, but I assured him that Yelp does no wrong and insisted we at least check the place out. We get there and its PACKED, but i'm assuming thats only because the food is good. We get inside and the lady at the counter offers no greeting, not even such much as a smile. Im expecting a greeting at least, so we're really just staring at each other until the phone rings. She puts up one finger and proceeds to answer the phone. huh? That should have been our cue to leave, but i'm still so willing to try their food, I stand there for 10 minutes while this lady takes an order over the phone. Mind you, we're black and I hate to even throw that out there, but it felt like because we were not spanish or spanish-speaking we were cast aside and given sub-par service. After she gets off the phone, she expects for us to know what we want. Meanwhile, we're staring up at the pictures on the wall that serves as a menu which offers no ingredients nor description of food selections. Other Yelpers might find that quaint, but I just see that as low budget. We finally decide on beef tacos for my boyfriend, and a chicken sandwich for me. The lady tells me that will be ten minutes to cook and my total came up to $10.18. My boyfriend and I decide to walk to the smoothie place next door. we sit and talk for about 10 minutes, and come back to El Taco Rico. There were 3 hispanic ladies who were ordering, and a man who was ordering behind them. We stood there for ANOTHER 7 minutes while the women who worked there just kept walking around us, offering no explanation as to why our food was taking so long. The ladies and the man who ordered after us BOTH got their food before we did. As we looked at each other dumbfounded, My boyfriend finally decided to say something. Before he could even get the words out his mouth the lady cut him off stating our food would be ready "in a minute". When we finally got our food we were so pissed we just took it and left. Upon arriving home we discover that this lady put ONE taco in the bag. ONE. Which means she charged me $5 bucks for one taco. I wasn't even mad that she overcharged me I just wanted to know why on earth the food took so long? How long does it take to make one measly taco? (Which BTW only had onions and cheese in it) My boyfriend was so upset he didn't even want the food anymore and neither did I. It was garbage and subpar just like their restaurant and service. NEVER visit this place if you are black, they will jip you and waste your time. Definitely better off eating Chipotle. read more

This place gets business so I assumed it was going to be good. Plus the reviews were not bad either. The service was SLOW. Do not eat here unless you are in no hurry and/or place your order 2 days ahead. Waited 45 min for 4 tacos. While I waited I heard one of the servers apologize to another customer that the tacos they placed in front of him weren't for him. However they didn't remove them from him, didnt tell him "it's ok that's our fault, we will make some more for the other person" they just kept walking by without telling him what to do. I felt sorry for the guy cause nothing was actually told to him except for "sorry those aren't yours". Second, these are some of the most expensive tacos in the area. At 2.99 plus tax and a 40 plus minute wait, some of the most expensive ones I've ever encountered. Now, the food. This is where they gained 2 stars back. I ordered 2 steak tacos and 2 al pastor while my friend ordered a steak torta. The torta wasn't the size for the price but it had great taste. No too fatty when it came to the steak and great amount of cheese and the bread was toasted to perfection. It tasted like a Mexican cheese steak. The tacos, now these weren't bad, but weren't the best. The meats were both pretty bland and dry. They had a nice variety of sauces so it helped. These weren't very fatty at all and the meats were nicely chopped up. Overall they weren't bad. I would however, choose other locations before this one read more

El Taco Rico - 2 steak and 2 al pastor - Mexican Near Me - Greenbelt, Maryland

Really tired of people using the word ghetto to describe this place. You know what's ghetto? Applebees and Buffalo Wild Wings. Quality food with quality ingredients sold at a reasonable price at a place that isn't a processed food serving chain is not ghetto. It's good and if people got past their desire for a white washed mcdonaldized version of everything they'd see that places like this are great. read more

Man are their tacos good! The quesadillas I saw other folks order were huge. No diet sodas available and no chilled bottle water, but other that that the food was really good. No prices displayed is troubling. read more

Worst customer service here ever. I am a black woman and they did not want to serve me. I will never spend my money here again. I felt completely disrespected. The saddest part is I thought the food itself was actually good. read more

If you want to judge the book by its cover? This is not your spot. However, if you want some real tasty authentic Mexican food, this is the spot (or the hole). A friend told me about it and I was a bit skeptical but I'm glad I came. Had tacos al pastor, tripa, and cane asada and they were all so delicious. The place seems a bit unkept and I wish they did a little remodeling because is definitely not a place to "impress your date". I will def be back read more

If you are looking for the best taco's in the area this is place. Saying this place isn't fancy is an understatement. The tacos are served with radish slices, lime wedges, and a medium-hot green taco sauce. read more

Beltway Plaza is not great. And, No, that does not make me an elitist. A trip to the mall should not entail requisite "hoots" and "hollas" from neighborhood men. In spite of this, we tried El Taco Rico. I'm here to ditto what other reviewers have stated: Pros 1) The tacos are good! We ordered 3 beef and 3 chicken. Lots of meat in each. 2) The salsas are delish! Comes with green and red. 3) A good amt of cilantro and onions. The bag of radishes is a nice touch. 4) Convenient location Cons 1) The wait is ridiculously long. 20-30 minutes for 6 tacos to go, really? 2) Expensive for tacos. 3) The menu consists of wall pictures. Not very informative, nor descriptive. 4) The inside is not the nicest, so I recommend taking it to go. read more