Lucky Star Cafe

I was at a nearby BofA and hadn't had lunch, but saw Chile Relleno and thought it would be good to…read moregive it a shot. I personally thought that the prices for Mexican food was a bit high, but found the quality of the food to be good. I ordered the Wet Burrito with salsa verde which came out to $9. The burrito was decent size and they packed it with good tasting rice, beans, and al pastor. The plate came with a side of salad and some chips and salsa. The chips were cold, but the salsa was good. Service overall was friendly and quick. I'd say if you're in the area and are looking for a quick bite, Chile Relleno would be a good option. Just don't expect it to be really cheap Mexican food.

I was in search of a sit down Mexican restaurant in the area so I last minute chose this place. I…read morethought it was odd they close at 6pm being a place that serves buckets of beer. The vibe was really off. The place is nice and clean and appealing but there was no music playing. They had on naked and afraid and some news on their TVs. We were the only people there so the place was so quiet and boring. The lady was very polite, but it just wasn't a "fun environment". The food came out at all different times which was weird because we were the only ones there. I'm always trying to find somewhere close to go hang out and invite friends to have drinks and eat but it was just so off I wouldn't want to go back with friends. Food- I had the fish taco which was good, the calamari was very chewy and not that good, and the enchiladas were decent Service - Service was good (flys were coming in tho so I think they should keep the door closed) Ambiance- lacking. They need some fun music and give me a reason to order some beer and hangout more. I don't really see this as anything other than a takeout place unless they extend their hours and improve the vibe.

Two taco special.

Delicious chile relleno

See all

On a rainy night

Top Shelf Tacos

4.3(1.3k reviews)

4.5 mi

This review is mostly based on customer service. Service to me is almost always more important than…read morethe food itself. Haven't been here in a while. They had a food truck parked out front. We asked if they had any plant-based or vegan options. They only sold burgers however the lady that helped us was very sweet, polite, and kind. She told what they had and what we could order inside instead. We walked in and the gentleman named Oscar G. cashed us out. He was also very friendly! Very professional and knowledgeable about the menu and non-dairy items. Provided us with what we needed right away, the container for the salsa and brought out fresh ones for me. Very nice guy. The food came out right away. The portions were big in my opinion. The prices were decent, the portion was great, and best of all the service was good. Their self-serve condiments was a PLUS! I've been to a lot of taco spots and these were by far the freshest and crispiest cucumbers, fresh cold salsa, onions and cilantro was also fresh. The food was good and filled us up. It was simple but fulfilling. Will definitely be back and highly recommend it. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor seats as well.

I stopped by Top Shelf Tacos in Carson on Taco Tuesday, where tacos were only $2 each. At that…read moreprice, it was easy to try a little bit of everything. I ordered the asada, carnitas, al pastor, tripas, cabeza, and lengua. The asada was tender with a nice grilled flavor, but my favorites were definitely the tripas and cabeza. Both were a little greasy, but in a good way--they had a lot of flavor and were probably the standouts of the meal for me. One thing I liked was the condiment bar. You can load up your tacos with as much onion and cilantro as you want, plus they have radishes and lime wedges available. They also offer two salsas, a red and a green. Both tasted good and had solid flavor, although I was hoping for a little more heat. Overall, it's a solid taco spot, especially on Taco Tuesday. Good variety of meats, reasonable prices, and plenty of toppings to customize your tacos. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area and craving some tacos.

See all

Loaded nachos! Yuma!

La Cocina Mexicana

3.6(148 reviews)

3.8 mi

I recently had lunch at La Cocina Mexicana, and had the chile relleno plato. It was delicious…read more Service was good, and they have homemade tortillas. I will definitely go back.

We came on a Friday evening and luckily there was parking and it wasn't packed. We were seated…read moreimmediately - chips and salsa 10/10, chips taste homemade. The menu has something for everyone - I got the chile relleno plate and to my surprise this came with 2 which was a lot, so I had some to go. Pricing is fair as my dish was $24 and smaller plates than this are far more expensive. The horchata is also delicious. Service was ok - the server didn't check up on us, he was only ever present when taking our order and dropping off food.

Festive bar

Authentic Mexican Food!!

See all

Madre

3.8(1.9k reviews)

4.7 mi

I go to the happy hour here on occasion. They make a good spicy margarita and the Mexican lager is…read more$7 They also have discounted bar food from 3 to 6 pm. That said, the food is not bad, but a better Oaxacan option is El Jacalito in Lomita. It is just a step up in terms of taste and quality. Madre has 100+ mezcal varieties, but if you want mole or tlayuda or another Oaxacan staple. El Jacalito is the place.

Madre is a 3.5 all the way but can't put it on a 4. Couple things were great, rest was a pass…read more The ribeye taco is FANTASTIC. Wow. Shrimp, gringa were good. Pork not. Also had enchiladas which were fine. Both cocktails we got, frankly, were bad. Low in alcohol, overdone on sharp Overall it felt like Madre was going more for presentation than quality. Every dish was so instagramable. Truly beautiful, but then the taste did not match. One great taco if I had 3 of them it would've been excellent I do highly recommend that one!

Inside

Fried Quesadilla

See all

Squash Blossoms

Blue Burro Burritos & Cantina

4.1(369 reviews)

5.1 mi•Harbor Gateway

Food is great! Would recommend the burrito, also the customer service is fantastic! Would…read moredefinitely recommend anyone to come for a great time and delicious food or any special event.

Food is amazing! Would recommend the burritos, also the customer service is fantastic! Would…read moredefinitely recommend anyone who's looking for a great time and delicious food for any event.

Rolled tacos.

See all

Adobada Fries

La Capilla Mexican Restaurant

3.4(1k reviews)

4.7 mi

I haven't been back in a few years but it felt comfortable walking into La Capilla once again. They…read morehave a birthday special on the day of a birthday where you can choose from one of four 1 item combos and get a free meal and dessert by presenting your ID. They used to let you pick from more choices years ago but free is free right? I chose the number 4 which is a tamale with beans and rice. My wife ordered their chicken tortilla soup which has been a longtime favorite. The size of the bowl has diminished about 30% from what I remember but that's been a common theme the past few years in many places so oh well. We also ordered a side of chicken taquitos which came with a generous amount of sour cream and guacamole. The food was very good overall although the chunks of beef in my tamale were dry. I prefer chicken but unfortunately they were out. I should have asked for pork but didn't think about it till later. Our server was very helpful and just a sweet, thoughtful young lady. The gentleman bussing tables was also friendly and considerate. Prices have definitely gone up but those are the times in which we live. There is street parking and an underground parking garage a short distance away. There are quite a few restaurants in the area so parking can be a little challenging. With so many new restaurants in downtown Torrance, La Capilla may no longer be at the pinnacle of food choices but for longtime South Bay residents, it would be sad to see it go. It's nice to have places that bring back memories of wonderful times gone by.

Man, La Capilla you're one of the family spots we all grew up going to with our families for…read moredinner. Birthdays always included flan, and being called Panchito. However I think what kept everyone there was the pitchers of margaritas, and the specials on the wall to the left when you walked in. My dad lived for those. LETS TALK ABOUT NOW': HORRIBLE DOESN'T DO JUSTICE. The chicken taco fell completely apart, and was freezing cold. The burrito had no flavor, there was none in the sauce or the meat or anything. The rice made you want to gag, I don't think a stray dog would eat it. Lastly my meal, enchiladas. I mean, come on how do you eff that up?! The cheese wasn't melted, the tortilla was raw and needed to be heated (or fried) Either way save your money, and take the drive up to another well known spot.

Getting my free birthday promo

Chile Verde to go, comes with chips and salsa

See all

La Gordita Restaurant

4.4(188 reviews)

5.2 mi•Harbor City

Excelente staff very loving and welcoming and there food is the best there tacos burritos…read moreeverything is very good!!

La Gordita is a small restaurant with a few tables for dining in or take out…read more An older gentleman and his sweet wife prepare, cook and serve absolutely delicious Mexican food that is ALWAYS fresh and flavorful. The meat is always moist and tender. The tortillas are grilled to perfection with crispy edges. The gentleman is always friendly, polite and happy to serve you. The portions are generous and prepared with care and the prices are definitely reasonable. My family and I enjoy visiting La Gordita often ( and you should too) !

Definitely an old school mom and pop shop.

Carne asada wet burrito

See all

Miches de la Baja

3.6(454 reviews)

4.0 mi

I came across a really good taco ad for Miches De La Baja and decided to give it a try…read more When I walked in, the place was pretty busy since I stopped by during lunch, which is always a good sign. I went with their OG Battered Fish Taco, and I definitely wasn't disappointed! The portion of fish was generous, and the taco was really satisfying. I'll definitely be going back to try some of the other items on their menu.

Stopped by Miches de la Baja and went for the shrimp ceviche, potato tacos, and the 2 fish taco…read moreplate. Food: 7/10 - The ceviche was fresh and hit the spot. Fish tacos were solid -- good flavor, not over-fried. Potato tacos were a nice twist. Nothing blew me away, but everything tasted good and portions were fair. Atmosphere: 6/10 - Super casual spot with reggae playing, which gave it a laid-back vibe. It's definitely not fine dining, just a simple seafood joint. Cleanliness: 5/10 - This is where it lost points for me. Tables and floors were kind of dirty during my visit. For a place serving raw seafood like ceviche, I'd expect it to be cleaner. Bottom line: If you want affordable Baja-style seafood and don't mind a no-frills, slightly messy spot, it's worth a try. Come for the food, not the ambiance. I'd go back for the ceviche but hope they step up the cleaning.

Seating 06-17-2026

Birria tacos plate

See all

Los Compadres

4.2(881 reviews)

7.3 mi

Everything here is super delicious. I would recommend you to go have lunch or dinner The drinks…read more are worth trying out. Everyone here is super nice, helpful & super friendly. The plates start from $20 & up and I would say it's worth paying for it. They also have parking! Best part is that they just made a bar 2 months, you can feel the good vibes since you walk inside the restaurant. The atmosphere is 100% recommend. Just gotta keep in mind they do close early.

I bring my wife to Los compadres on pine st,Long Beach Ca. The service not to good…read moreMy wife order Red enchiladas of the house They were a disaster made with tomatoe Sauce and cover with cabbage the waiters take to long to take our order and l order one chicken enchilada with one Chile relleno my enchilada was a cheese and not chicken and when l order a beer we finish our food ant the waiters forget our beer and to pay we espend More time waiting for our bill you should train your girls to so how a good customer service

Front seat at the bar

Birria Tacos, not pictured, a jar of Horchata

See all

Menú price

Flores Cafe

3.8(200 reviews)

3.1 mi

Excellent Taquitos, beans and rice! My husband had tacos and…read morefinished them before I can finished my review! He loved them! I highly recommend a visit.

First time coming here after seeing it trend on social media and this place is actually pretty nice…read more plenty of room. The food was very good. It is very loud. The only knock on this place is the restroom. They only have 1 small restroom for men and 2 female restrooms with a 1 toilet each That's pretty bad we came on a Friday they had a Banda it wasn't that packed, but the line was pretty bad to use the restroom for both. That's the only thing that they need to upgrade. The servers was actually great. Our waitress was on top of it. She kept checking up on us constantly making sure we had drinks or anything else we need. I'll definitely come back to have some food here and maybe watch a game. They have plenty of TVs for any sporting event also

TACOS SAMPLER

Fish taco Platter

See all

Picture of the front of the restaurant, taken from the parking lot.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

15 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

John P.

Elite 21

219

216

175

3 years ago

**One Star Review: Lucky Star Café** My visit to Lucky Star Café on a Saturday morning left much to be desired. Excited to try their renowned chicken and waffles, I placed an order through Uber Eats, also adding a chicken breast with eggs. However, what should have been a delightful experience turned into a nightmare of poor service and incompetence. Upon receiving my order, I was shocked to find that I had been given someone else's meal of tacos, burger, and fries. This mistake was not only a reflection of their lack of attention to detail but also a clear sign of their disregard for customer satisfaction. Despite confirming my order on the app, the staff failed to double-check before giving it to me, demonstrating a level of carelessness that is unacceptable in the service industry. The attitude of the staff further added to the unpleasant experience, with their demeanor bordering on rude and unhelpful. I had always wanted to try this place out, but after this experience, I left feeling deeply disappointed and with no intention of returning. The manager should take responsibility for the poorly run establishment and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. read more

Angie M.

4 months ago

The fries were over cooked. The burger was small with a large bun and wilted lettuce. The burrito order was wrong. We ordered a carne Asad burrito dry with green sauce on the side. We got a wet burrito with red sauce. We asked for little bean and rice with extra meat. The burrito was loaded with rice and beans. As for taste, horrible. The burger meat tasted like freezer burn. We nibbled then threw it all away. Overall, worse experience ever. Thank you for forcing us to continue to cook at home. read more

Supajok C.

182

128

2 months ago

It looks like the vast majority of negative reviews are from Black people, and the positive ones are from Latinos. The fact that they would cross contaminate a reported allergy is shocking. Are they "trying to get sued?" I kid you not. Read the reviews that chased us away from this place. Thank you YELP! read more

Vannessa C.

11 years ago

I use to love this place but it's not the same. The Carne asada burritos use to be so bomb. One day my mom brought home some carne asada burritos and the meat was nasty and fatty. If and when I do decide to come here all I get is a breakfast burrito. read more

Jasper p.

15 years ago

Great food, huge menu so you have a lot to choose from, and it's reasonably priced. I eat here once a week. The food is fresh they have a friendly staff and they have an A letter grade. They recently just added a lot of new healthy menu Items. read more

Alberto G.

3 years ago

Today on april 26th 2023 ordered a carne asada burrito and it came with corn peas and carrots inside. Needless to say I'm pretty upset. I would tell anyone considering eating here to go anywhere else. read more

Sandi J.

9 years ago

We eat her often because the food is delicious. It's cooked to order, so everything is always fresh. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable. read more

Elizabeth E.

7 years ago

Kicks Homeless people out ! A homeless man came in to eat and they told him he had to take his food outside to eat it. read more

Cesar T.

4 years ago

Great food and service great atmosphere to dine in or take out love this place never disappoints!!!!

Lara B.

Elite 24

6 years ago

Had the shrimp soup and it was full of shrimp. Large menu to choose from so it was hard to decide.

Eduardo F.

5 months ago

Learn how to keep track of the food tickets. How long does it take to make a hamburger with cheese?

M. C.

11 years ago

Didn't liked the service, the price of the food or the food. No wonder is always empty.

Nain D.

15 years ago

love the burger specials.. oh and a beer..!

Betty M.

14 years ago

Chili Cheese Omelete

Steve J.

15 years ago

yummy!

Lucky Star Cafe - mexican - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Carson, California Coffee near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Restaurants near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Desserts near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Tacos near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Things to Do near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Breakfast near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Parking near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Burrito near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Smoke Shop near Lucky Star Cafe

BEST of Carson, California Shopping near Lucky Star Cafe

Best of Carson

Things to do in Carson

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Lucky Star Cafe also viewed

El Primo Mexican Food

3.7

(38 reviews)

The food was good…read more Came here to get breakfast burrito with some o so delicious chorizo. This places breakfast burrito is good, hits the spot. They give you free chips and salsa, love that spice from the salsa. Come check out if you are here

I genuinely wanted to give this neighborhood restaurant a positive review. It has been here for…read morethree years, and as an Executive Leadership Consultant, I understand how important community support is to the growth of a small business. When I arrived, however, the restaurant was almost completely empty, with only one customer dining inside. That surprised me because, given its location in a busy industrial area, I expected it to be much busier. This was my second visit. The carne asada burrito I ordered the first time was fairly good, and since the restaurant is right down the street from my home, I decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, my second experience was worse. The tortilla was burned, so I cut away that portion. Then I discovered that the meat was burned as well. At $17 for a burrito, I expected better quality and more care in the preparation. I truly want to see neighborhood businesses succeed, but the food must give customers a reason to return. Sadly, based on this experience, I cannot recommend it.

El Taco Charro

4.2

(470 reviews)

I love their chicken tacos. Soft shell, full of flavor but not spicy with plenty of onions and…read morecilantro. The chicken is boiled instead of grilled and the flavor profile is on point. Crisp sliced radishes, lemon and pickled carrots are the perfect complement to my tacos. The carne asada is cooked well but not chewy or greasy. This place is a winner if you are in the mood for tacos!! Friendly customer service and the restaurant is ALWAYS clean.

Came across El Taco Charro in Carson, kinda tucked in a strip mall but definitely worth stopping…read moreby. Place is clean and the service was super friendly -- no complaints at all. I tried the chicharrón, cabeza, and chili verde tacos. All were really good, but the chicharrón was the standout for me. That crunch was next level great texture and flavor. Simple spot, good food, nice people... I'd definitely come back for those tacos again.

Louis Burgers

3.3

(428 reviews)

Last visit 04-15-26. It's been a while since I had went to Louis Burgers and the reason for my…read morerecent visit was because too many ppl been telling me they have the best chili cheese fries. So I had to see for myself. Of course it was a long line in the drive thru when I got there lol. Don't know what the vibe was like on the inside of the restaurant. It's best to pull in off of Rosecrans being that it's more convenient to swoop in the drive thru lane. It probably took 15 mins though to order and then receive my food at the window. The service was quicker than I anticipated. I ordered the chili cheese pastrami fries. Fire !!! Out of all of the spots I've been getting chili cheese fries or any pastrami, theirs so far is the best. Still had some left over the next day. Fries were cold. Didn't wanna warm it up in the microwave. So I just finished the rest off being room temperature. Still was good.

Man I haven't been here in like 2 years cuz they had fell off....stopped by today and got a…read morecheeseburger with no onion and fries crispy...kept it simple lol...it's came up to $9.99 im just not gonna talk about that!...anyway this burger and fries took me back to the 90's....it was hot n fresh...tasted like the meat had been kissed by a flame...a burger and fries couldn't have been more perfect!

Original Taco Pete

3.5

(37 reviews)

The food went really, well. The ground beef is off the charts. Really good and Taco Pete deserve a…read morecommercial on the tube. Of all places I dine at as far as fast food is Taco Pete.

Visited this restaurant because I read that these Tacos tasted like the old Tito's Tacos in Culver…read moreCity. Far from the truth! Not even close to Tito's tacos from today or years ago. It was just okay in my opinion. The service took awhile because of a long line of patrons. I tried the beef and chicken taco. They were good but not great.

Tony's Burgers

3.8

(22 reviews)

This is ridiculous there portion of their food is a joke. You have to do better. Quality is ok.read more

amazing food , mid ah service. first time trying this…read moreplace, they forgot one of my items. the avocado bacon cheeseburger. had to circle back for that one. the second time, they got my order wrong. i asked for grilled onions, no tomatoes, & extra pickles on my burger but got none of that. just regular onions, tomatoes, & no pickles. that was sad. then the third time, ordered from uber eats, got the usual avocado bacon cheeseburger combo i always get but this time i received a small sized drink & fries smaller than usual. like huh ?? crazy. amazing food, mid ah service.

El Antojito

3.8

(697 reviews)

10/10 El Pastor Tacos - HOLY COW, I'm so glad I found this spot. These are honestly some of the…read morebest tacos I've tried in town!! The seasoning and cooking were seriously on point. I just wish they were a little closer to me because the drive is a bit far! Cost - $2.50 each taco.

I've eaten here a few times. The food is good mostly…read more If you don't look and talk like them they will leave you feeling like an outsider. It's an oddity. A food truck with no wheels. Or a sort of permanently stationed thing that really isn't a sit down restaurant but it has seating. I don't know what to call it. Parking is pretty much impossible. I returned multiple times and ended up leaving due to nowhere to park. You have to get lucky. Or live in walking distance.

Tacos El Patron

3.5

(15 reviews)

Took an employee to lunch at El Patron today. It was really good…read more We both ordered the taco plate - he had carne asada, I got carnitas. Mine was delicious and his looked good as well. Wasn't much left on either plate if that tells you anything. Awe sat a an indoor table and had table service instead of take out. Both the woman at the counter, who also served us at our table, and the cook were friendly to speak with and both worked quickly to deliver hot, fresh tacos to the table. Pretty small and parking is terrible but not much you can do about that in the LA area! $32 including drinks and a 20% tip. Good deal! There's a million taco shops in the area and I'm sure most are good but El Patron is definitely worth a visit.

I got a too good to go bag from this spot and it was actually much better than I expected! The food…read morequality was great, and the variety of food placed in the plate was amazing! The service was so quick and easy and the staff was so friendly. They made the experience so quick and easy and I felt very taken care of! I also had a chance to look at the other items on the menu and I would definitely return to try other things!

Mariscos Los Primos

3.4

(56 reviews)

The food is good, we stop here randomly for luch. The service wasn't that good we got our food the…read morewaiter never stop to ask if the food was ok or ask for something if we are ok. As she never came back we finish eating and she still did not come so we have to go to her and pay. May be I'm just tripping may be that is just the way they work or it could be more like fast food IDK. But is not a place that make you come back again and again. May be we will be back one day.

This local spot left a lot to be desired. The presentation of the food lacked and so did the…read moreflavor. We ordered food to go so not sure if that played a role but I do not think that I will return.

Rockin' Cajun Seafood And Grill

3.9

(693 reviews)