El Tapatio made our wedding planning experience everything we could have ever wanted! The most important element for my wife was the food. With family coming from Mexico and Texas, we wanted to make sure the food was authentic to her culture and tasted like it was made by one of our very own relatives. Carolina went ABOVE & BEYOND to make sure every details was catered specifically to our liking. She made us feel so included during the taste test which ultimately is one of the most important and special things to experience as a same sex couple. I would highly recommend this business over and over, not just for catering, but also to visit their restaurant / food truck location for a quick meal when in the area! read more

See all

El Tapatio Catering led by Carolina Arunda did a superb job catering a wedding for 100 in a remote location in East San Diego backcountry. It was such a pleasure to work with Carolina. We had 100 % confidence that all would turn out phenomenally. Carolina was responsive and helped us to personalize the wedding event in many special little ways. She brought an excellent staff to take care of all the needs of our guests. We received much appreciation for the delicious food that was served. The entire team was seamless with service. We could not have had such a successful wedding without El Tapatio Catering. read more

We loved working with Carolina and her team for our wedding day. We had a large party and she helped tremendously with providing appetizers, amazing dinner options and a stellar taco truck. It was such a big hit with our guests and they truly loved the food. The service was especially great too. We cannot recommend her enough to others. read more

Thank you to Carolina and the whole team at El Tapatio! The delivered on an epic taco buffet even with all of our specifications. We asked for hand made tortillas in front of guest and Al pastor on a spit, carved in front of guests (with pineapple)! Every request I made, she said "no problem" and made it happen. They really delivered on the day of our wedding. Fresh, quality food! Thank you! read more

El Tapatio Catering - Caterers Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

They catered a banquet I attended at Bread & Salt. The set up worked well- two stands serving the same thing, plus a canopy that had the salsas, chips, and salad. They kept the guacamole at the stands which I thought was smart or else everyone would've scooped the guac by the time I got my food! I'm vegetarian so I opted for rice, beans, and asked for the mole sauce from the chicken mole to be poured over the rice. With a squirt of lime, it was SO delicious! My bf and I have brought it up a couple times in the past week. I also really liked their red and green salsas. If I ever need to cater a party, I would certainly think of them first. The servers were also really great. read more

If you want the absolute BEST caterer for your wedding or event I highly recommend El Tapatio! My fiancé and I tried to get everything done early in the wedding process and Carolina, Carla and the whole team were so amazing and helpful! From our consultation to the big day we were pleased with everything every step of the way and answering all questions we had. All our guests raved about our appetizers, the taco bar we had for dinner and the Churro bar was the talk at the end of the night for dessert. The food was absolutely delicious, we had delicious appetizers, el pastor, fish and carne asada tacos with rice, beans, chips, salsa and there was so much food available. All the staff were so kind and there wasn't a moment people weren't getting food offered to them. They made our day so special with the food and service and we cannot recommend El Tapatio enough. We will be using them for every event we have in the future. It was so nice to have a team for our big day that you didn't have to worry about and knew everything was going to be amazing. We cant thank El Tapatio enough for making our day special! If your thinking about booking them for your next event, do it! read more

I didn't realize we had a quality caterer so close to our house. Carolina helped us with our party and it turned out excellent. The food arrived in sealed trays with a variety of salsas and sauces. The guests complimented us on the quality of the food. I'm glad they also provide a taste of the Mediterranean and Italy on the their menu. We definitely try the other options next time. read more

Their food truck was parked in front of the Navy Exchange during lunch. I ordered their chicken street tacos which were generously stuffed with meat and guacamole. Very tasty! read more

We used El Tapatio catering for the rehearsal event before my son's wedding. The event was in fallbrook. They arrived on time and did an excellent job. The food was great and the bride and groom were very happy. Rigoberto and his coworker (I forgot her name) did an outstanding job. We have used El Tapatio catering before and have always been very happy. My family looks forward to using them again in the future. read more

Had these guys' delicious tacos at a pre-Cana program at Good Shepherd parish this past Saturday and I was pretty impressed. They came to set up about an hour before our lunch and they were ready to serve up some tasty tacos assembly line style for about 80 people. The carne Assad and pollo asado tacos were delicious. The meat had great flavor, their guacamole was bomb, and their salsas had a nice kick. They were also very nice and worked diligently to get us all plated and seated quickly. The rice and beans were also good. Not too salty, nicely flavored. Overall really enjoyed some good Mexican food from these folks and wouldn't mind seeing them at future events! read more

El Tapatio Catering - Pre-Cana catering at Good Shepherd Parish. One carne Assad taco, one chicken taco, beans under all the rice! - Caterers Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

We had our pre-cana program on Saturday and El Tapatio Catering was there to serve us lunch. There was chicken, veggies, Caesar salad, bread rolls, and chocolate chip cookies. The food was nicely displayed and very organized. Each person was allowed one serving of each item that was offered, but the salad, rolls, and cookies were self-serve. The servers seemed happy to be there and had the chicken and veggies kept warm, so that was nice. The salad was really fresh and the chicken had a flavorful marinade. Everything else seemed generic and not homemade. Overall, the food was just okay to me though. read more

See all

We used El Tapatio to cater our wedding reception last month, and they were awesome. We hired them last minute after having trouble with another caterer. They were quick to respond and flexible with our needs and vision. We had 60 guest and they loved the food (especially the hand made tortillas). They don't offer nachos on their catering menu, but made a special plate for my husband on our day, and that was really special. Not to mention, he said they were some of the best nachos he ever had. All in all, they were great. The ONLY complaint I have is the grilled shrimp appetizer that we selected, and tasted at the taste test, isnt what was served the day of. We tasted a warm, butter/garlicky shrimp scampi kind of shrimp, but at our reception, we were served cold boiled shrimp. It still tasted good, I just wasn't sure why it was different. However, the guest didn't know and still liked the shrimp. They're great and will be exactly what you need for your event. read more

Amazing food! Lots of smiles! On time and done right! ¡Perfecto! The amazing thing is finding a caterer who has PERFECT record. But these guys totally deserve it! The taco bar was superb, with hand-made corn tortillas (ON THE SPOT!), luscious guacamole, rice beans, carne and pollo asado, peppers, and all the rest. I was attending an event with about 75 of my closest friends. Tapatio pulled this off effortlessly. I highly recommend this company. Their pride shows in every delicious bite! read more

El Tapatio Catering - Caterers Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

See all

El Tapatio Catering was our wedding caterer this April at the Carlsbad Flower Fields. Everything was perfect! My husband and I love tacos, and we wanted a taco truck at our wedding. We did tasting at El Tapatio Catering and a taco catering company in north county. El Tapatio's food was superior, and we did not feel pressured at all to need to make a decision quickly. Carolina made sure we got to try all the items we were considering for the wedding menu. Everything tasted great at both the tastings and the weddings (three different kinds of tacos + salads for dinner; taquitos, guacamole and ceviche for appetizers; churros for desserts). All the servers were nice. Everything was seamless. We highly recommend El Tapatio Catering, and will hire them again for other group events! read more

I have had the pleasure of hiring El Tapatio Catering for a wedding at the beginning of the year. The food was excellent and the staff was wonderful. Because of this experience, I reached out to them again for a Churro Cart for my sons college graduation. Carolina was there for me again, kind and helpful as always I know they were busy that day but she said she would definitely help me out. The churro cart was the hit off the party! Everyone loved it and complimented how much fun and delicious it was. I can't say thank you enough to Carolina, her staff and El Tapatio Catering. I plan on using them again!!! read more

Really good food!!! Great tacos, and drinks (except the jamaica was very watery) and they even bring dessert! Flan for everyone- I didn't hire them but I went to a party where they were catering and was really impressed. The only problem was that they didn't provide forks for rice and beans. But everything was still amazing- they even provided a salad and a variety of salsas read more

El Tapatio Catering - Caterers Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

We had the El Tapatio taco truck at our wedding celebration and it was awesome!! The food and service were amazing. It ended up being the perfect option for us because the meal was able to accommodate our guests varied food allergies/preferences. We also did the Churro Bar, which was incredible! So much better than wedding cake. We thought it was very reasonably priced as well. Highly recommend! read more

Delicious tacos! Pollo and Asada were flavorful and juicy. Salsas had the perfect amount of heat. Can't wait to try them again!!

El Tapatio catered my wedding at the Coronado Community Center. They offer other food options aside from Mexican food. They served chicken madera and roast beef for our dinner. We got alot of compliments on the food! Carolina is the catering manager and she was really helpful in the process. The food was delicious and we the staff was attentive. Highly recommend to consider them for your event. read more

These folks are the best! Carolina, the owner, helped us plan the menu for a celebration picnic in a public park. Their prices were reasonable and the food was prepared on site. Guests at the picnic raved about the food. I would definitely recommend them and hire them in the future. read more

The food and staff are awesome! Came early to make sure where to setup and were so friendly to everyone. I highly recommend them for your next party. Tony Pyros read more

Excellent catering and fantastic staff! Thank you so much for a great experience on our wedding day! Food was delicious and I would definitely have it again. We hired them to cater our wedding and they did not disappoint. Carolina was very sweet and helpful during the planning process. I had to plan the wedding from 500 miles away so we sent our parents to the food tasting on our behalf and she didn't even bat an eye. She was also able to accommodate many of my mother in laws requests. We ordered food for 90 people, and ended up having 67 plus a handful of kids. I don't know if we just has a lot of big eaters but we didn't end up with nearly as many leftovers as I would have expected. But the food was so good I don't doubt that people kept going back for more! read more

We love El Tapatio Catering!!! They catered our wedding of 120 guests and did an amazing job. My guests keep telling me how much they loved the food and even asked for their info to pass around as recommendations. They were very professional the day of, were on time, and the display was beautiful. Carolina was so easy to work with, and she helped me figure out the decor and everything turned out perfect! They worked with our budget and I can't rave enough on how great the food, service and price was for our special day. I highly recommend checking them out, you won't be disappointed. Thanks again for everything Carolina & staff! read more

Your food is delicious the meat is juicy and delicious everything is awesome the way you display your food is so pretty But your tortillas were little and store-bought you need a lady who makes them and then Your tacos will be a five star tacos. read more

I ordered food for my office. I ordered 20 of chicken enchiladas and cheese too. Also ordered rice, beans, and Caesar salad. Let me just say it looked beautiful and was so so delicious. Every bite was eaten and people wished there was more even though everyone had 2 servings. Carolina was so sweet and helpful. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food this is the only place you should go. read more

We have used El Tapatio for multiple events and they were amazing as always! The food was absolutely delicious and the employees were extremely friendly and professional. Our guests loved the food. I highly recommend them for any event. read more

El Tapatio is sooo delicious! They catered our wedding and there was not one complaint from anyone about the food. The staff were exceptional with their service on the tables, they were constantly keeping everything clean and free of any excess plates or trash. Carolina was so pleasant to work with. Everything was phenomenal. We will definitely be using their services in the future. Our mains were tacos (of course) beans, rice, salad and veggies. Our appetizers were lobster won tons and bacon wrapped scallops....delicious! Everything was ace! read more

El Tapatio Catering ranks at the top of all our wedding vendors, from start to finish. We had an outdoor wedding in November 2013. Carolina went above and beyond in helping us plan our menu, set-up and following up in a timely manner. Her professionalism and warm pleasant attitude set us at ease with our wedding planning. On our wedding day, Carolina and the rest of the catering staff worked diligently with our wedding coordinator to make sure everything went smoothly. They even helped out with other aspects of the wedding outside of their catering service. The set-up was very nice and we had a lot of great compliments on the food. I highly recommend El Tapatio Catering for any of your catering needs. read more

See all

Did an excellent job catering our wedding. \ .-' '.; ;..'.-'_' '-. \.;/ .'_. '- '.;;.'/ .-. .-'-.\;,-'-. _\|_ / ' \ |`--`| |'__.| | | |-..-| | ; ;'--'/ \._/ \( read more

We had tasty breakfast burritos. Staff is super nice Food is good.

El Tapatio Catering comes through again. We've used ETC multiple times in the past and just hosted a retirement party for about 100 guests this past weekend. Great food and service. Very friendly team! Highly recommend!! read more

This is an overdue review of El Tapatio Catering. I had my wedding in June 2013 at the Mission Beach Women's Club. It was fabulous! I am extremely satisfied with everything El Tapatio Catering did for my wedding. The food was good, the linens were great, and Carolina, the representative for the company, did an outstanding job at getting back to me and answering all of my questions. You can tell she is always busy, but she will get back to you always with a great attitude. It seems like she has lots of experience doing this and being patient with brides and wedding planners. The food was good, the catering was good and on time. I do have to say one thing, but mainly for El Tapatio's sake: the bar tender would receive one less less star on my part, but my guests did love her. I believe El Tapatio independently contracts with their bar tender. I would give her one less star because she did not follow certain little instructions we left with her through our wedding coordinator. For example, we served margaritas and she did not include the limes with it, nor did she provide straws for the guests. Still drinkable and good margaritas? Yes. However, we did provide these instructions, so just a little thing to consider about presentation. I also have a very meticulous diet because of my food allergy and El Tapatio was good about working around that for me as the bride. I love their diverse menu and their service overall was absolutely wonderful--from the first tasting to the end of the night. I would love to do everything all over again, and I would include El Tapatio too. read more

The greatest customer service in the United States of America. Not to mention the quality of the food. Great Again!

I had El Tapatio cater my wedding and was very happy with my choice! Carolina was easy to work with and the food was delicious! I had a truck serve chicken, carne asada, and shrimp tacos. Many guests commented on how good the tacos were. Thank you El Tapatio! read more

LOVE EL TAPATIO CATERING. The service was excellent, and presentation was perfect. We used them for our wedding and had 60 - 65 guest The servers were met with a challenge, we could not get the stove into the back yard. The quickly came up with a perfect solution and saved the day! Very professional, outstanding service, and presentation. Our servers were polite and cheerful! The food was delicious.. and everyone was very happy. Highly recommend for a wedding or any large gathering! read more

El Tapatio catered our wedding, and we were impressed by both their professionalism and the authenticity of their cuisine! We received so many compliments from guests on how delicious the food was. Would absolutely use their services again! read more

I would highly recommend El Tapatio Catering for your catering needs. I reached out to El Tapatio while planning for an event on a Sunday. I knew the product I wanted, knew guest count attending, but was unsure on minor deals such as drinks I would be ordering and dessert. Ultimately, I began communicating with Carolina in planning for my event. Carolina assisted in answering questions and letting me decide how I wanted food to be served and when I wanted food served to guest. All the communication I had with El Tapatio was flawless. I decided on a taquiza which included two types of meat tacos (Tijuana street style) with guacamole, cilantro, salsa etc. On the day of the event, the setup was beautiful and professional. The staff was professional and ready to meet the needs of the guests. Everything was ready as ordered and the guests were ready to eat simply on how good the presentation was presented prior to the event. Once guests ate the food, I encouraged them to provide feedback. With over sixty guests in attendance not one person had a complaint on the food. Everyone had a positive thought whether it was the meat, tortillas, staff professionalism, set up or the drinks. Everything went smooth. At the end of the event, the staff from El Tapatio even offered to give back the left-over food. I collected the left-over food and thanked the staff for their service. I provided staff with a tip as everything went smooth with no complaints. I recommend El Tapatio for any event! -Meat was prepared and cooked on location of event -Salsa was prepared on location of event -Tortillas were prepared on location of event read more

El Tapatio nails it out of the park every time! High quality food and ALWAYS top notch service. Their taquero service is incredible and the tortillas are made ONSITE... as fresh as it gets. They decorate their station, too!! They cater all of my events, and they do SO much more than mexican! Perfect for bridal showers and luncheons!! Carolina is amazing!! read more

El Tapatio's taco bar was hands-down the best choice we could have made for our wedding. The food was excellent - we had numerous guests tell us after the event that the food was delicious and so cool to see the caterers hand-making the tortillas on the back patio. The food options also allow flexibility with numerous food allergies, as we had gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan guests, as well as a few guests with other allergies (including some very picky eaters...) and the taco bar accommodated all of them. Carolina was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process and everything went off without a hitch. El Tapatio also provided all linens and napkins as well as champagne flutes - made everything super easy for us. And all this at a very reasonable price - we couldn't be happier! read more

Everything was great from beginning to end. Carolina was easy to work with and provided me with a variety of quotes. I ended up going with their Taco bar service (for 90). It was fantastic and they made the tortillas on site! The catering staff was great and the food station was decorated beautifully. The guests loved the food and ate a ton, but we had plenty. We also rented tables, linens and chairs from them. read more