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    La Costena

    3.6 (347 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order La Costena Takeout or Delivery

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    LA COSTENA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - La Costena

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    Storefront
    Rochelle C.

    Excited to rediscover this place in its new-to-us location after formerly visiting decades ago (yup, I'm old!) when it was in the back of a grocery store on Rengstorff! It's now in a non-descript strip mall on Middlefield, in the same plaza as Dollar Tree. Ordering was at the counter - gone are the days where you walked along and requested toppings as they built the burrito in front of you. Seating was plentiful. There was no line - surprising - but it was a Saturday afternoon. I imagine they're more crowded on weekdays. Ordered a regular burrito ($9.16) and a super burrito ($17.41 plus $4.13 for adding cheese, guacamole and sour cream, so $21.54!). Whoa, that super burrito was the size of TWO regular burritos, so plan accordingly! Five stars for nostalgia and taste - The burritos were quite tasty, though my regular burrito had too many beans and not enough chicken. Also the whole burrito was a little dry - maybe I should have chosen a different kind of salsa instead of pico de gallo but I don't like things too spicy. My husband enjoyed his super burrito, which wasn't dry because of all the add-ons (at an extra price). Subtract one star for the poor meat-to-bean ratio and for the upcharges on the additional toppings. As mentioned above, the super burrito was $17.41 regularly, but after adding cheese, guac and sour cream, it was $21.54! Overall I'm glad they're still around, and we'll be back to try other menu items.

    Super Burrito with Meat
    Carlos C.

    The food is amazing and worth the wait in line! Definitely recommend to go prior to the lunch rush. This is a no frills taqueria that serves quality burritos and tacos. We ordered the Super Burriot with Carne Asada. It was filled with rice and beans and a dab of salsa. Disappointed that they charge to add anything extra including: onions, cilantro, jalapenos. They use to not charge for these. Despite the up charges, it is a solid burrito and we will be back.

    Super Taco
    Christine N.

    We were in the Mountain View area and craving Mexican food. We were intrigued by the size of the super burrito. The different visuals of the burrito sizes were super helpful. We got the super taco that had meat, onions, rice, and beans on a corn tortilla. I also got the loaded nachos with al pastor. The Al pastor meat was marinated nicely and they were generous with the meat portions. The super burrito carne asada was massive, it's pretty much the size of your forearm. The cheese, sour cream, and guacamole are all considered additional fees on top of the base $16 price so it comes out to $20 for a super burrito.

    Menu
    Sarah K.

    A no frills establishment that serves generous portions and reasonable prices. Came here on a Sunday afternoon and my boyfriend said this place used to be a taco stand that eventually got their own space. And I was not disappointed. We got 3 tacos each, horchatas, and a super quesadilla. The tacos had generous portions of meat. The super quesadilla was a bit spicy because we got it with spicy salsa, so if you're not good at handling spice, I'd stay away from the spicy. And the horchata were refreshing and were able to wash down the spice. My boyfriend drank both of our drinks because the salsa was so spicy! Service is pretty basic - you order at the counter and you seat yourself and clean up. There is a convenient sink by the door for you to wash up after scarfing down the food.

    The beautiful drink
    Perhaps U.

    I tired their foods three years ago, my favorite were burritos and their rice plant. Today, I came here again after three years and try their hibiscus flower tea. It's a great, refreshing taste after a hot summer .

    Regular Burito
    Ralph G.

    I almost always get the regular burritos here but the tacos are great too. Get the 3 taco plate and you can also get it with rice and beans. Usually I get today's special as it comes with a free can soda. My favorite is the chicken mole but all of them are really good. Service always awesome the cheifs happily make you food. Fresh ingredients and happy cheifs make great food!

    Thanh T.

    The burritos are really good here. The nachos weren't bad. The al pastor on top was delicious. But super good value. The super Burrito was crazy! I mean I saw the size but dang, when you pick that thing up it is heavy!!!! We are still eating it! The Burrito is really where it's at! But the spicy was spicy. Maybe will go medium next time. The Burrito was delicious though. No regrets. And the horchata was just the cherry on top!

    Al pastor taqui tacos
    Mike P.

    Solid Mexican joint that I truly believe is the "best in Mountain View"...but I think that's mostly due to lack of of competition haha. One KEY point about this place is that, despite the picture of the world largest burrito (from 2013), ironically, their burritos are not nearly as good (too much beans and rice, not enough meat) as their tacos, which come 3 for ~$8, which is pretty decent considering the area. Their al pastor is usually pretty solid, and definitely the best I've had in Mountain View, and I have no complaints about their carne asada. Their chicken tends to be a little dry, and unfortunately, their tripe could use a little more cleaning (blargh). I haven't tried the lengua, which is supposed to be good, but I'm a little wary after trying their tripa. Their salsa verde is decent, but I probably wouldn't recommend their mole nor their spicy sauce, which are pretty one-note. The green is a solid accompaniment to them all, however. Overall, a decent place to stop by for tacos if you're in Mountain View, though if you have the option, I'd probably try to make it to Sunnyvale or even San Jose for better Mexican fare. I'll be back (likely out of circumstance). --- sweet: good tacos, al pastor++ bitter: burritos are a miss, as are some meats.

    Super burrito con Alpastor

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    21 days ago

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    5 months ago

    Unassuming neighborhood burrito shop with the best burritos at great prices. Fast service and amazing food.

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    11 months ago

    The super burrito is a sight to behold. Excellent taqueria, high quality and fast service.

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    1 year ago

    Picked up 3 tacos today because the line at Subway was too long. Very glad I did! Food was exceptional. I will be back!

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

    I have been going to La Costena since 1983. Best tasting burritos in the South Bay! I've never been disappointed.

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    No AC on a rare hundred degree day! Reg burrito is 40/40/20 rice, beans & meat, but the portions are generous.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Burrito was ok, meat was good it's just that my whole burrito was mainly rice and beans with a smidgen of meat cheese guac and crème.

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    Page 1 of 9

    La Costena Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - La Costena

    Does anyone know if this place back in the mid 1960 to 1973 and on was a small Mexican grocery store and if you knew about it they had a small takeout area in the back of the store where you walked through a door and walk the line and get burritos?

    This is the same place. When their former location was re-developed, the grocery store closed (to the best of my knowledge) and the lunch counter relocated to the current location with expanded facilities.

    Thanks Tuan ^^ Are they still in business? I tried calling several times and just keep getting voicemail at 3 of their listed phones.

    Call (408) 839 - 6370 for catering. I haven't found them to take over the phone orders for a fast pick up.

    Is the order process like the former location? Or do we order and it's made behind the scene?

    It's not like the old location where you walk with your burrito adding ingredients Chipotle style. Now you order at the counter and you need to know what you want since you can't see everything. Still yummy but not as fun.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Estrellita Mexican Bistro

    4.0
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    Estrellita was such a cute, beautiful place to grab lunch and enjoy the beautiful weather we've…read morebeen having throughout the entire Bay! Right off the bat, I was so mesmerized by the colorful display they have from left to right inside their restaurant. What we ordered: Shrimp ceviche Enchiladas suizas Carne Asada Plate Pollo Asado Tacos FOOD: 8/10 Their food was flavorful, with hearty portions, and best of all, served piping hot! Chevy's could never! LOL. The shrimp ceviche was fresh; however, we wished it had more of the citrusy juice and was a bit dry. The cubed mangoes were a nice fresh addition to the ceviche. SERVICE: 10/10 The nicest staff to stumble upon. We were helped by 3 different people, and each of them was so kind and attentive. AMBIANCE: 10/10 Their ambiance is everything, whether it is inside or outside. Outside, there is a lot of nice seating to enjoy the weather. I can only imagine how it looks at night with the twinkle lights on. Inside was so beautiful and eye-catching. There was color everywhere, and I truly loved their rainbow-pattern theme, papel-picados and mariposas displayed all throughout the restaurant. The mixed colors and patterns of chairs per table were beautiful. Their bar area looked so cute and fun to be at. They definitely had so many different types of tequila brands displayed, which makes sense, but I thought it was nice. Parking was fine, thankfully, but it was very small. I wonder how it would be at night or when it gets packed. Overall, this is a great place to stop by!

    I used to pass by this restaurant all the time without realizing what a gem it was, but I'm so glad…read moreI finally stopped in. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were so friendly and helpful. My favorite part has to be the interior--it is incredibly cute and colorful. The whole vibe makes the dining experience extra special and fun. I'll definitely be coming back!

    Photos
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    Day of the Dead decorations
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    Outside seating
    Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan

    Tacos Al Vapor Michoacan

    4.2
    (187 reviews)
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    Small gem right in the heart of downtown Los Altos. They also see to have a truck that operates in…read moreSan Mateo. Tacos come with hand made tortillas. Everything is fresh and has great flavor. There's a small self-serve salsa station. The green sauce had the perfect taste without being too spicy. We tried the carne asada and the tripas. Tripas were perfectly crunchy (we made a point to ask for extra crispy). We also had a quesadilla, nothing to write home about, but the portion was very generous! The agua Fresca was also so good and not sweet. Service was fast and friendly. We came in on what seemed like downtime, so not sure how fast they operate when its bus.

    First time visiting this restaurant since I'm not local and was so glad I stumbled across it! Tacos…read moreare $4 per which I think is a fair price. I was disappointed that they were out of lengua since I'm not typically a fan of the other meats. The times I've had asada, it's usually dry, but I ordered it anyway not knowing what else to get and holy smokes was it good! It was so tender and flavorful that it changed my entire opinion of asada. It's really that good! Their chips were crispy and not stale and I just love their self serve salsas. It's usually a hit or miss at Mexican Restaurants, but it's great here! Unfortunately, it seemed like the employee did not want to be there and I felt a bit uncomfortable but the food well makes up for it.

    Photos
    Small dining area
    Small dining area
    8 taco combo - @rayz
    8 taco combo - @rayz
    Aguas y ricas salsas

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    Aguas y ricas salsas
    La Fiesta Restaurant

    La Fiesta Restaurant

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    Fully deserving of five stars. Everyone in the staff seemed to look out for our experience, helping…read moreto talk through the menu, the quality and care, different recommendations... Having been to Puebla before and being an ultra fan of mole poblano (negro), I'm always on the lookout for quality spots and this one delivered... So so flavorful! Indoors has lovely decor and outside you get fresh air! Oh, I should mention! You can 100% tell the refried beans are made from scratch... I never thought I would be able to tell but now it's night and day... My eyes are opened Something for everyone here to love!

    Located on almost the tail end of downtown off Calderon lies this gem that has been around for…read moreyears and years. I remember going to my Freshman and Sophmore years in HS with the girl whose family owns this place. I try to return when I am in downtown Mt View, Back in the 1990s when I lived nearby on Calderon I would come in here all the time, it was a quick walk, like 50 yards, if even. The place is spotless like usual, very friendly and attentive staff. I like all the decorations that they have up. Makes you feel like you are in Mexico somewhere. We arrived early and the outside and main dining area were jammed packed. I took pictures of the back room where the rest rooms are so you can see the great art work. By 7pm, it was complelty full. Had the Mole Enchilladas and it was very good. By the time you have the tortilla chips and chile and whatever you are drinking, you get filled up. Anyways as always...Gracias to La Fiesta and to you...Buen Provecho!

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    Dining Room corner
    Dining Room corner
    Milanesa
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    Inside
    Rincon Sabroso Restaurant

    Rincon Sabroso Restaurant

    3.8
    (419 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    Very solid taqueria featuring some of the best pupusas in the area…read more Today I had a pupusa revuelta (cheese, chicharrón, and beans) and another with carne asada and cheese. Both are hand-made to order with fresh masa and come out so hot you're gonna want to let them sit for a minute before digging in, if you can restrain yourself. The revuelta pupusa has a soft and flavorful filling that comes together kind of like cheesy frijoles charros. It's kind of the classic pupusa filling and I think for good reason. The smooth and well-mixed filling ensure every bite has masa, each element of the filling, and ideally a healthy pile of curtido and salsa. The asada pupusa is a little bit more of a novelty, but the asada itself is solid and I like the variety of having different feelings to work with. If this is your first time here, I recommend going with the asada. My only critique of these pupusas, which is a critique of pupusas I have in general, is that they could use a little more filling, particularly around the edges where the bites can be kind of masa heavy. Pro tips: they just got kiosks for ordering and you won't see a pupusa with asada on there as an option, but you can do so if you order at the register. By default, pupusas come with a traditional thin tomato sauce that isn't spicy, but I always ask them for the salsa they bring out when you get chips instead. It's chunkier, spicier, and slightly more acidic and I think it pairs better with the pupusas. I ask for this and plenty of curtido when I order takeout from here.

    Searched best pupusas and saw this place. Our old favorite, La Bamba Taqueria, closed down a while…read moreago... Very sad. Read the reviews. There were a lot of complaints about service but no complaints about food so we decided to try it out. Ordered 4 chicharron pupusas and one carnitas taco. Just ordered the taco because I am a deep deep lover of carnitas and I wanted to try it. Under $25. The place was packed with all Latinos ... first good sign. Lots of the complaints were about timely-ness, and I say to those people, relax. Everybody was working super hard and fast, and it is just really busy at lunch. It takes a little time to get your food, but it was absolutely worth it. these might be the best pupusas I've ever had. They brought out three salsas for us, and I was partial to the green. The pupusas were chock full of cheese and chicharron to the rims. Fried perfectly. The carnitas taco was amazing! The pork was so crispy and delicious. As to the service, ours was great. The tables were all full, but a couple of guys said we could sit at their table because they had two empty seats. Thank you! A young person with bleached hair wearing a baseball cap (sorry I should've asked your name) was really attentive. He cleaned our table and brought us ice water. I can't wait to go back! I will be getting more pupusas, and my mom wants all carnitas tacos all day.

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    Enchilada a la carte
    Quesabirria. Instagram: TianTianEats

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    Los Altos Taqueria Mexican

    Los Altos Taqueria Mexican

    3.7
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    Literally everything is super fresh and clean. I was awestruck at first. They even look to cut…read moretheir own potatoes for the fries if you get an item with fries like I did. Review of the items I got: -Asada Fries: was hoping to get something similar to what I'm used to in SoCal. I got mine with Carnitas and no pics de gallo. Generally in SoCal we don't put pico de gallo on ours. Although this did not taste like the SoCal kind(that classic so heavy and rich heart attack flavor), it was still awesome. It had all the otherwise same ingredients, slightly less cheese but a more good quality type of cheese, but still was missing the heart attack flavor. The flavor was still with the same depth, just not heavy/greasy sensation on the stomach and taste buds. I think its because as I noted everything is literally made same day and even the fries they do fresh. The carnitas were also very juicy and overall the portion for everything was very large. I will get this again def. -birria taco: i like that they dont overcharge on these and again the fresh aspect is really good. -flan: better than most I've had. Very smooth and just right amount of sweetness. -Jamaica: Im very excited to say they do make the real Jamaica with the flowers themselves. They do not use the powder a lot of places do. It tasted perfect and not overly sweet so yeah I loved it. One mistake I made was I got so starstruck by the freshness and care of the ingredients that I didnt grab any salsas to try. Next time I'll do such so I can see if they have a super spicy one to my liking. Last note: the service was excellent. Everyone polite and helpful.

    Worse quality than the food truck down the street. The server gave me a tiny plastic fork and…read moreplastic knife to cut my carne asada steak. The metal utensils are in the same location. Going to the food truck from now on

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    Celia's Mexican Restaurant

    Celia's Mexican Restaurant

    3.6
    (368 reviews)
    4.1 mi
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    The reason I stopped here was only because I had had such a GREAT experience/nutrition at the…read moreCelia's in SAN RAFAEL two days prior (07AUG2026) while cycling a ~119mile/~192kms biketour around some of San Francisco Bay. It was there that I learned this local family-owned chain had a few more eateries open and operating, two of which were on el Camino Real/82-part of my route back to my starting point in Mountain View. I chose to eat at the Palo Alto location because it is closer to my final destination. I tied up my "FrankenBike" on the sidewalk beside this fine eatery and sat in a 2-seater table where I could see the pole/pennants from my machine--just in case...! The waitstaff were very accommodating to me, though they have NO responsibilities for my parking there. Fortunately, there was no foot traffic and only three peds passed by during my 2-hour stay, possibly exhibiting some interest in my much modified CruzBike.com + the added ebikekit.com 48V direct drive eSystem. Anyway, I ordered the weekly (Sunday) special, the Fajitas supremas (steak/chicken/shrimp) something a carnivore like me cannot resist. ¡I certainly was not disappointed! Prior to the feast of steaming/sizzling meal, I had some nourishment from the tostadas/salsa and icy clean freshwater (I stay away from all soft drinks--too dang much sugar!). But it was the two hot plates that were most welcome! I ended up combining the entree plates; what a huge amount of food--I ended up using a "to go" dog box which gave me TWO more meals later! I am so very pleased with this eatery, and look forward to returning; Definitely has my coveted "iWheel of Approval!"

    All of Celia's restraurants are my go to for a fun night out with great food. The vibe is casual,…read morethe service is usually good, and the food is always filling. Great go to spot for happy hour or girls or family night out! PRO TIP: Try to make it to happy hour, you get a $3.50 sampler platter with any drink order, can't beat that now-a-days!

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    Take out and indoor dining available today Monday 11 am-9pm

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    Take out and indoor dining available today Monday 11 am-9pm

    La Costena - mexican - Updated August 2026

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