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    King Taco

    3.3 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    King Taco Photos

    Business Info

    KING TACO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - King Taco

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    Reviews With Photos

    DY R.

    I've been coming to this place for around 5 years, but every visit lately has been more disappointing than the last. The food quality, restaurant atmosphere, and overall service mindset have all gone downhill over time. The biggest issue for me is the attitude from the staff. Right from the moment I walk up to order, it often feels like they don't want to help customers. Whenever I ask for something extra, even basic items like utensils or napkins, it feels like I'm bothering them. Everything now has to be requested separately, and the responses are usually cold and expressionless. The food also doesn't taste as good as it used to. At this point, there are plenty of taco trucks and smaller taco spots nearby that are cheaper, taste better, and provide a much better overall experience. Even the restroom, which I remember being fairly clean before, has become noticeably dirty lately. Overall, this place just doesn't feel like the same King Taco I used to enjoy years ago.

    2 Carne Asada and 2 Al Pastor
    Stephen C.

    The tacos are always bomb. Affordable lunch option. I get the asada and pastor. So good with some onions. Service is good. You gotta really listen for your number that they announce. The vibe is super casual. Parking: you have to find a lot. Overall: Will return for lunch

    Kevin J.

    I live in the Bay Area, but anytime I'm in Los Angeles, King Taco is one of the first places I hit. It's one of those spots I actively look forward to, and it never disappoints. This time I kept it classic: one carne asada taco, one al pastor taco, and a carne asada burrito. Everything was solid. The carne asada had great flavor and was cooked just right--juicy, not dry. The al pastor had that slight sweetness and depth that keeps you coming back for another bite. The burrito was simple, packed, and exactly what a carne asada burrito should be. The chili (salsa) really ties it all together--flavorful with a real kick. Spicy enough to let you know it's there, but not overpowering. It's the kind of salsa that makes you slow down and enjoy the food. King Taco doesn't try to be fancy, the restaurant is clean and simple with plastic seats, and that's the point. It's consistent, straightforward, and always hits. When I'm in LA, this stop is non-negotiable.

    Menu 1/2026
    Conor B.

    King Taco just hits the spot. It's a great place to get street style tacos & other Mexican dishes quickly. I also appreciate that they have cuts like Lingua & Cabeza which you can't always find a chain taco joints. The meats here are all tender and packed with flavor. The meats are all so tender and juicy that it feels like they could just melt in your mouth. I've truly never had a bad dish here. From the tacos to the quesadillas to the horchata, you're guaranteed to have a great meal here. The staff here is extremely efficient while also being very friendly. You know they are doing their best to move the line along, but they do what it takes to give each customer a personalized experience from ordering to picking up your meal. I truly appreciate it. This location is slightly small, but it is kept clean and inviting. It can, however, get full during peak meal times. Even with the second room all for eating, it might be a better idea to get your meal to go and eat elsewhere. I often come here before shows at the Civic Auditorium and just walk my meal back to the venue and eat out there. Even with a 10ish minute walk, my order still tastes as if I'm eating it right off the line thanks to how they individually wrap all of their food. In all, King Taco is an LA institution and rightfully so. Do yourself a favor and stop by. Even if you just ate and just have enough room for a single taco. Your tastebuds will thank you.

    Richard F.

    I went here recently on a weekend trip, and ended going twice because of how good the food was. The salsa verde is one of the best I've ever had. They have limitations on their salsa for a reason! I got asada and pastor tacos, pork tamales, and rolled tacos and they were all delicious. The tamales are fresh and have a good ratio of meat to masa. The rolled tacos came out super crispy while the meat still being juicy. The set up is ordering at the counter, and then waiting to call your number. Very fast and efficient. Prices are pretty good for a brick and mortar shop. I'm already longing for my next trip back to Pasadena just to return to King Taco!

    asada taco
    Emily S.

    no limes at a taco joint is so criminal. came here with a group of friends for a snack and the staff was skimpy with the salsas & napkins, and they didn't carry any limes. the taco itself was also so mid. boooo

    Nancy E.

    The place is clean and plenty of seating. Parking next door is $5 per hour. The 3 stars is for not having limes, radish, pickled jalapeños and carrots! For the price is the food, those items should be offered like all other taco places!!

    Suadero and Al Pastor tacos
    Francisco M.

    There's street or structure parking to get here. There's lots of seating inside. It's very casual place for a quick meal. It's mostly clean. The staff are good and nice. I got three tacos. Suadero, al pastor, and carnitas. They were all fairly okay. The suadero was the highlight. It was the most juicy and flavorful. I probably could've had a forth taco, but three were decent enough to get full.

    Carnitas taco
    Brian V.

    4+ This location (in Pasadena) is a classic. Over the years, I've been here many times and they have always been reliable for solid classics at reasonable prices. This location is great because of its proximity to bars or other eateries. It's open on the relatively late side (for Pasadena) as well. My go to order is usually tacos and/or sopas. The meat differs depending on what I'm in the mood for. My last trip, I just got a suadero and a carnitas tacos with green sauce. Both available salsas are pretty spicy in my opinion, but the green is the milder of the two. The service has always been quick and friendly when I've gone and the vibe is like a beloved regional chain spot that always seems to be somewhat busy. Never had a problem finding a seat, but if it gets too buys, it's perfectly okay and easy to get a take out order. Parking in the area can pretty busy, but there always seems to be a metered spot available.

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    King Taco Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - King Taco

    Does this location sell rotisserie chicken?

    Nope

    Can I order from this restaurant and have delivery to Verdugo Hills Hospital?

    Hello Diane. Please check Uber eats delivery. We sometimes get orders from your area. But It depends on the day and time.

    Where can you park?

    There is a pay parking lot near by. Otherwise street parking.

    Have they started serving nachos again? They reduced their menu during the pandemic.

    Yes! Nachos and taquitos are back!

    Heard that breakfast burritos was a thing at this location but I called and they said they don't have. Which is true?

    They used to. I think they stopped within the last couple of years.

    Have they started selling the chicken flautas again? That is literally the only reason we went there pre-COVID.

    They were back when we went last week!

    Do they accept phone orders for pickup?

    It's a hit or miss. I work nearby and my coworkers order often. Some days they do and others they don't. Try calling

    View All 8 Questions

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    Madre Maiz Taqueria

    4.3
    (481 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$
    Minority-owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Low-key on a mission to try everything here. So let's see if they're pretty good eh or ew. Everyone…read morehere is always super nice and food is always fresh and quality. This time I got their mango aguafresca, flan, esquite, and chicken torta to try. The mango agua Fresca was sweet mangoy and refershing. The flan was firmer than what I'm used to but was still super creamy, not too sweet and had plenty of this caramely toasty flaves. It's corn season and the corn in the esquite MNM. Amazingly buttery juicy sweet and generously topped with rich mayo, Cotija cheese and tajin. The torta was also REALLY YUMMY and was filled with crunchy fresh onions, lettuce, tomato, and radish, soft beans, savory cheese, and tender limey flavorful perfectly grilled chicken. I even added some of their super fresh yummy guac and omg pure deliciousity right there. Overall this place is still pretty good. Mango agua Fresca $5 Flan $5 Esquite $7 Chicken torta $12 +$4 guac

    Service was good. First time here. Menu looked good and lots of veggie options. Ate the Chicken…read morewith veggie burrito. It was good BUT it was a bit too salty and the rice in the burrito made it a bit mushy. If you like your burritos like this you would be ecstatic, but I was not. Putting chucks of veggies or cabbage would have made it less much.... Maybe even corn, I will come back to try other dishes on the menu, but not the burrito..... breakfast tacos next!

    Photos
    Tacos make me happy!
    Tacos make me happy!
    Arrachera taco
    Arrachera taco
    Service with a smile

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    Service with a smile
    Cerveceria Del Pueblo

    Cerveceria Del Pueblo

    4.7
    (206 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Great little beer spot in old town Pasadena…read more We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday and the place was packed, but we were able to find 2 seats at a communal picnic table inside. Small joint but they have a few bar seats and picnic tables inside and a nice outdoor patio with more seating. They don't offer food but usually have a food truck outside. We ordered a flight of beer to try a few different styles. The guy behind the bar was great and the beers were tasty.

    Small local brewery in Pasadena that's beneficial to the community, have seen people reserve a few…read moretables for parties and they have meet-ups. For example, they have a Spanish Language Brewery Meet-up every 3rd Thursday from 7:30-9:30pm monthly. Parking is street only so be mindful of the neighbors. There is no food service at this location but they seem to partner with a couple food trucks serving tacos. Some inside open air seating but the main draw is the relaxing patio. I liked their hard seltzers with fun flavors as jicama, tamarindo and passionfruit. I didn't like so much their signature Yerba Mate Pale Ale, but thought it was an interesting concept. The happy hour special is Monday all day and Tuesday-Friday open until 6pm $2 off full pours. Very family friendly, I always see a couple tables with children and dogs at them. Maybe I'm getting to be an old fuddy duddy but I hate when parents let their kids go free range. Screaming and running around like the establishment is a park these kids becoming trip hazards. There needs to be a revamp of their board game collection. There three boxes of games that looked incomplete or used up, not good with such games as Scrabble and Pictionary. Free Wifi with log-in is a bonus!

    Photos
    "Serrania" Sour beer
    "Serrania" Sour beer
    Housemade Michelada
    Housemade Michelada
    "Patria" Hazy IPA

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    "Patria" Hazy IPA
    El Portal

    El Portal

    3.7
    (1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    The average score is a bit harsh. This place is a solid 4 stars but I rounded up to 5 for the good…read moreservice. After visiting the Huntington Library in the grueling heat and hordes of people, looked for somewhere closeby to eat on co-pilot, and was suggested this place with a patio which was one of my requirements. Arrived and parked on the street on a Sunday which is free, and could not find the place it's kind of tucked away. After walking up a block found the charming little passage way with some patio seating. It seems like it's a family-owned and operated restaurant as always a great indicator of things to come is the complimentary chips and salsa. They were perfectly thin crispy non-salty and warm, paired with a nice salsa that seems house made but was a little too tomato/ketchupy but by no means bad. I had crispy taco with shredded beef and chili relleno combo. It was pretty good. ($21 )I enjoyed the rice and beans and it was a filling portion. Wife and mother-in-law split a carne asada plate the meat was flavorful and tender ($30) came with the cheese enchilada was also very enjoyable. They have a really large patio so it's hard to fill but people kept coming in and out so the locals know something. It won't blow you away but it is a very solid Mexican spot and I'm glad we stopped by. Dos Equis bottles were really cold, gracias para mi bungholio.

    We were seated right away when we arrived, great service, the margaritas were delicious !!…read moreMy daughter and I ordered the " Cochinita Pibill " it was delicious came with black beans and Rice, we had ordered Guacamole it was home made Came with "Chicharrón Never had it served that way, it was delicious. They had patio sitting we sat indoors since it was a cold night. I definitely recommend and will return.

    Photos
    Tacos callejeros
    Tacos callejeros
    Blood orange margarita
    Blood orange margarita
    Watermelon margarita

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    Watermelon margarita
    Bodegon No 69

    Bodegon No 69

    4.4
    (655 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I had a wonderful experience at this restaurant over the weekend with my mother and sister. From…read morethe moment we walked in, everything was exceptional. The customer service was warm and welcoming, the restaurant was clean and well maintained, and the ambiance created the perfect dining experience. What made this visit especially memorable was how authentic the food tasted. I recently spent two amazing weeks in Peru, and this meal instantly took me back. I was able to enjoy two of my favorite Peruvian dishes, and they were absolutely delicious and full of authentic flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food and a wonderful atmosphere. It was truly an amazing experience, and I look forward to coming back. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been if they offered traditional picarones for dessert!

    I've been eating here for a while and have generally been happy with the food and service. However,…read moreI had to lower my rating after a recent catering order experience that was disappointing. This was my second time ordering catering from them. The food was good, but the service was especially frustrating. I spent over 30 minutes on the phone, in both English and Spanish, trying to process payment, which lead to nowhere till I had to drive myself to the restaurant to swipe the card manually. When it was time to pick up the order, the restaurant could not spare anyone to help bring the food to our car, despite it being a large catering order and the pickup taking place on a very busy avenue. What was most disappointing was the lack of concern or willingness to offer any assistance. The food arrived late for our event as a result. While the food was good, the poor service has made me reconsider ordering catering from them again, returning as often, and recommending them to others. It's a shame because I genuinely enjoy the food, but there are other options available. Hopefully, the service issues I experienced with catering do not eventually carry over into the restaurant experience.

    Photos
    Alpaka greeters!
    Alpaka greeters!
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    Seafood Ceviche (Marinated well super rich and not raw leading to melt in mouth seafood)
    CHOCLO SERRANO

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    CHOCLO SERRANO

    King Taco - mexican - Updated June 2026

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