This is the best Al Pastor Tacos I've try in Cali. I can say has the same flavor like Mexico. Will definitely be back for more

Great place, good food. superlative service. It might help if they clean off the grill from time to time. The food tastes like the grill hasn't been cleaned in years. Guess they figure it adds to the taste. Yuucky! Sorry, I call it as I taste it. read more

With many taquerias available in San Jose, it's so hard to choose just ONE favorite place. One of our recent finds was Metro Balderas and it easily became one of the places we would dine at again. My go-to protein is al pastor and I'm happy to say that the al pastor here is absolutely delicious. It's tender and deeply seasoned, topped with pineapple to balance it all with some sweetness. They also offer a taco deal on Wednesdays as well so if you didn't get your taco Tuesday fix, THIS is your place. There is parking on the side with 4 spots but you could also park down the street as well! read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al pastor tacos! - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

My new go to spot for tacos. A hole in the wall spot. I love the crunchy texture of the tripas, al pastor is good too. Salsa is spicy just how i like it! read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al Pastor, Carne Asada, Tripas Tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

This was a very authentic Mexican restaurant with traditional ingredients. Al pastor has always been my favorite so I was excited to try the Al pastor tacos. It's probably better to go on Wednesday for cheaper Al pastor tacos. Overall, the tacos reminded me of tacos el gordo with the style of Al pastor. I wish there was more pineapple ingredients. It came with an order of chips and salsa. All of the salsas are very spicy. read more

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Los mejores tacos. Si buscas tacos auténticos de centro de México. Este es tu lugar, los tacosde pastor y de suadero fueron mis preferidos.

Food is fantastic! Definitely recommend the chorizo. The Al Pastor was great, but a bit under salted. Solid experience overall.

La mesera No es nada Ablame, es la Unica Guerera que trabaja alli. Siempre nos recibe bien Rueda! Debertoa enfocarse en limpiar bien las mesas antes de atener a los clientes. Su personalida nos incomoda Siempre ! read more

Love the food super delicious but costumer service sucks all employees here are super rude.

SOOO GOOD!! The el pastor tacos are yummy! I can't recommend them enough. They give a solid amount of meat, the sauces are great (esp the red one), and the pineapple with it is chefs kiss. Parking is kinda hard to find but I recommend driving down the street where Martha's Kitchen is, I was able to find a good amount of street parking there. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - el pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

We are finishing up our Halloween night and found this place via Yelp. The reviews looked promising and I was craving tacos. The al pastor is really good and has diced pineapple which makes them super good. I give the Al pastor a solid 9/10. The carne asada is even better and I'm picky when it comes to carne asada. The carne asada was a 10/10, salsa verde tops it all off and some Jamaica for the win. Definitely glad I found this place. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al pastor 9/10, asada 10/10. Salsa verde is fire 10/10! - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I stopped by Metro Balderas for a quick lunch before heading back to the office. I ordered a burrito and it was made well; study and grilled. My only complaint was the Al Pastor since it was lacking in flavor this time. In general the service was quick and they bring your food to you if you dine-in. Also, free chips if you dine-in! read more

I truly enjoyed trying this place yesterday. I went for lunch, and I'm returning from now on (especially because they have more than one vegetarian option on their menu). The flavor is definitely there; the staff is friendly, and their menu is extensive enough with good options but still not overwhelming to focus on continuing to perfect the dishes they offer. Keep in mind the place is not too big, and there are only a few parking spots, but it is worth your time looking for a parking spot! I ordered "torta de huevo" -it comes with tomatoes, onions, avocado, jalapeños, and cheese. It was TASTY!! And with real telera. When you give it the first bit, your mind will transport you to your favorite lonchería in Mexico. Bonus: They bring you (with your order) their tasty and homemade red and green salsas! I highly recommend it! read more

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I was around 8 months pregnant when I saw a girl eating a Torta. It looked so juicy :) I asked her where it was from, she said "Metro Balderas." I had never heard of this place. I came and devoured that torta lol. It was good and satisfied my craving, but I wanted to come back not pregnant. I am back! We arrived, ordered at the front, and the person who took our order brought us our food. They do accept debit and credit cards. I ordered the pambazo and the torta. Hands down, the pambazo beats the Torta. The taste, the flavor, the sauce, the cheese, even the bread. EVERYTHING about the pambazo is DELICIOUS. My partner ordered a huarache and a pambazo. He loved his pambazo too! The sad taco de Asada was for my baby lol. Now, from the outside, the place is not decorated or aesthetically beautiful, but don't judge it. Come in :) Second, get ready to hunt for parking because it is a hunt. Cars block each other and people walk blocks to come here. We got lucky and parked right out front :) The price is marvelous. There is nothing better than delicious, finger licking food :) It is definitely worth the drive to downtown SJ. read more

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Tacos and burrito were okay. Good customer service. Limited parking space, street parking is available. read more

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Wow, came here to try out their tacos and they were amazing! I love corn tortillas much more than flour, and for some reason I can't find very many places that do corn around where I live! So was super excited to get the corn tacos here. The prices are great too - I paid about $10.50 for three tacos! Parking directly across the street is tough but there are plenty of spots if you drive a block or two away. read more

By far the best taqueria i've been to in San Jose! I haven't been to a place with better Al pastor or carne asada tacos yet. The pastor tacos are $1.35 on wednesdays and the pineapple pico is delish. 10/10 read more

Metro Balderas 1 - al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Food is delicious but the customer service could be a lot better. They seem put out taking your order.

It's the same they left because they had the best tacos. To be exact, it was the pastor tacos. This was the first Mexican restaurant to have the most authentic Tacos that actually Mexico had. Thanks for your business. read more

Back again. Ok, chicharron prensado is the hidden secret here. Seriously, one of the best meat choices you can make. Don't skip it!!! read more

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California is the undisputed (ok, maybe it's a bit disputed, but I don't think there's much of a contest) taco capital of the United States, and rarely does a Mexican Restaurant let me down when I am here in the Golden State. Metro Balderas 1 was no exception, the tacos here are AMAZING. I had four al pastor tacos and an agua fresca, and it was the perfect lunch. They actually have a real al pastor spit, although it was not running when I visited. Even so, the al pastor meat was juicy and tasted fresh, and was topped with (grilled!) onions, cilantro, and (this is important) freshly cut pineapple! The salsas were all a bit spicy but also a great complement to the tacos. The agua fresca was good too. Prices are reasonable, service was fast and friendly, and there's both indoor and outdoor seating. It's about a 10 minute walk from downtown San Jose, and definitely worth a visit! read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

If you need a quick and delicious bite, look no further. Metro Balderas (both locations) never disappoints with their great tacos and burritos. I personally love getting the lengua but they are known for the al pastor. This is also one of the more affordable taco spots in the area and they really pack the tacos with meat! I feel so lucky to have them in my neighborhood! read more

We came here at the recommendation of an acqaintance. It seems super authentic, but not in the best neighborhood. The salsas are spicy. The chicken is well flavored. I preferred the chicken over the beef tacos. My partner in crime enjoyed the regular burrito with chicken. Come here if you have reason to be in San Jose. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Interior - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

I have been coming here for many years because the food is really good and I work close by. Recently, I had a terrible experience. ROSA, provided the WORST customer service. I ordered 1 shrimp burrito and 2 al pastor tacos. She gave me 1 carne asada burrito and 1 carne asada taco. (This was a birthday lunch gift for my best friend at work and it was wrong, I was disappointed.) I called and let Rosa know there was a mistake and that I was overcharged for a taco I didn't receive. I also let her know the entire order was wrong. She proceeded to accuse me of being a liar and that I had taken a bag with 5 burritos and sodas by accident! LOL, absolutely ridiculous. She had obviously messed up several orders including mine. I just hung up and tried to get a hold of the owner. The way she treated me was not ok! Thanks to Rosa, Metro Balderas just lost a loyal customer because I will never come back. read more

This place is your typical hole in the wall, limited parking and low key establishment. The service was fast, there are a few stools inside to wait if you're picking up food but also outdoor seating. Tacos I got the Al pastor and chicken. The Al pastor was flavor but dry but the chicken taco was delicious. Be careful with the salsas they are deceptively spicy!! They accept credit cards. Not sure if there was a deal but got all 4 tacos for $8!! Definitely coming back :) read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al pastor and chicken tacos to go - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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Really solid tacos! The al pastor taco was super flavorful and the pineapple added such a nice balance to the dish. The super burrito was not only a decent size but extremely flavorful and spicy! It didn't have sour cream as advertised on the menu, but that didn't take away from the flavor at all. It would be nice to be supplemented a lime wedge for the super burrito to balance the flavor of the meat! Overall would definitely recommend both the al pastor tacos and (al pastor) super burrito. Food also came out quite quickly within ten minutes of ordering and the restaurant felt very much like a mom and pop shop! To address the earlier reviews regarding parking, we came on an afternoon around 2-3pm, and there was street parking not too far from the restaurant with less than a 5 minute walk! There are only two or three parking spots in front of the restaurant, but with a short walk and parallel parking, that shouldn't be a proble read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Wowww did I just find the best taco spot in SJ?? I was the only non Latino person here so I knew I found an authentic gem. The tacos are stellar and so are the tortas. My favorite meat was the suadero. You can't really find that at places in the Bay. This spot definitely reminded me of the tacos you can get in San Diego. The bread for the torta was delicious it was so light and buttery it was like eating a croissant. And for $10 the portion is huge and could be shared for two. They give you complimentary chips and salsa. They don't dumb down the spiciness here. They have a small patio out back. Street parking only. Will definitely be my new go to spot! read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Suadero, tripa, Al pastor - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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If you want authentic Mexican street tacos would recommend this place. I tried to find another place that make suadero (brisket) tacos but surprisingly they are hard to come by. We love carne asada tacos but sometimes you want another set of beef tacos. Camarones ala diabla is good if you like a smoky chipotle flavor. read more

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Who should I be mad at? The fact that I barely knew about this spot or that all my friends gate kept it from me? This place is what you literally call a hole in the wall. The prices are ridiculously affordable. The prices are wiped out on their menu, but I can't remember the last time I got a SUPER burrito for $10.50. I finally made my over to what they call MB1. The original. You cannot go wrong and for first timers, you gotta do it right and go to the original. Slim parking, but there is street parking available. It does look like they used to have parking available but now it's outdoor tables which I like more. I love the colors and decor of the place. Really authentic looking. Standard taqueria menu, tacos, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, huraches, especialidades, and more. If you order in person, order do take a while to make, but remember, good food takes time. Wednesdays they have a $1.35 special for al pastor tacos. What a steal. After 20 minutes, I finally got my order and I was on my way. The food was delicious and fresh. They have good portion sizes with good meat. Again, you cannot beat the prices here. They are cheap! I will be coming back for an al pastor burrito, shrimp burrito and some suedero tacos. Their hot sauce is hot hot hot here. So beware. They also do not skimp on providing you with sauces! Open kitchen concept so you know there's no secrets. read more

They have changed alot since the last time i came here. Radish and lemons are not fresh. They charge now for the chips and salsa. Also charge if you want grilled onions. The staff not so friendly like before. This place lost its touch. They take long time helping people order their food. Why because they talking too much and forget the customers. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Bad lemons - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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This place is amazing! I've been to the Willow location and this location and I have to say that this place has a *slight* edge on it in terms of al pastor, but a *huge* disadvantage in terms of trying to find parking. Seriously; it's damn near impossible to find parking here unless you're extremely lucky. If read my other review/have heard about this place from the Chronicle, good news, EVERYTHING IS ALL TRUE! This place is amazing. While they have $1.25/taco Wednesdays (al pastor only), I actually think their main star is their chicharron prensado, which is deliciously crispy and packed full of flavor. That being said, unlike the Willow location, this place gives you sauteed onion and pineapple when you order al pastor, which kicks ass and thus gives it a slight edge over their Willow location. That being said, parking here is absolutely atrocious - they SHARE a total of 3 spaces with a liquor store, and street parking, like all of San Jose, is usually nonexistent at all hours. That being said, if you manage to get a spot, count your lucky stars because this place's tacos are bomb af. --- sweet: hella good al pastor, chicharron tacos bitter: parking sucks a lot. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Al pastor tacos! Perfectly crisp and flavorful. Love dat pineapple too. - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Quality, taste, and speed are still consistent during these times. Ordered some al pastor and brisket tacos for takeout and they were still piping hot 15 minutes later once I got home. I always love the crispy bits on the al pastor and the meat is juicy. To top it all off, they're pretty generous with the meats too! This is some seriously good stuff... I always somehow miss coming by on a Wednesday where the tacos are a $1 each, but these are so good regular-priced that I don't feel too bummed out. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - A taco plate of al pastor and brisket - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

Good tacos with good selection of meats. Not too much seating or parking but who cares tacos are bomb!

This place is the real deal. I moved to San Jose a little over two years and having grown up in East LA, the taco capital of California, I have high expectations for what you should get at a taco place. If you don't have radishes, you're out. If you don't have hot salsa, what's the point? If you don't serve it up with some kind of grilled Chile on the side, that's dumb. If your chips suck, move along. If you don't have a little grease on your tortillas, bye. If your carne asada and chorizo aren't just a bit crispy, why are you so lazy? This place hit every mark and took it to the next level. The place is nothing special from the outside but once you go inside there is a lot of fun artwork that covers the walls. Don't try to go here with a large party cause the few tables they have are small. But you don't go here for the ambience, you come here for the meat! The meat is juicy and flavorful and loaded on the tacos. Every bite you take is perfection and by the end you have been rocked so hard, you'll need a chiropractic adjustment. I haven't tried anything but the life changing tacos yet, but I look forward to coming back time after time! read more

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Hidden Gem taco spot the carne asada taco's are very good. The chavela was good also but we ordered it and the lady took forever to bring it out and I had to go back inside and remind her. The establishment is really small and they only have one table inside and it's mostly outside seating. The outside heater also doesn't work. Also, there is no parking anywhere near since there are multiple apartments near the area. I will come back to try the Suadero tacos next time. read more

Metro Balderas 1 - Chavela - Mexican Near Me - San Jose, California

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I never knew about this spot and I've been living in San Jose my whole life. I found out about this place because of someone's posting on Instagram. People have been saying that Metro Balderas has the best al pastor tacos and that they are $1 on Wednesdays. My boyfriend and I came here on a Wednesday. We ordered 6 al pastor tacos and 2 chicharron prensado (pressed pork cracklings) tacos. This is a pretty solid spot and their salsas are delicious. I like how they give grilled peppers and onions on the side as well! I thought the chicharron taco was okay. We really liked the al pastor tacos! I like how they put pineapple on top. I love the combination of al pastor and pineapple. I haven't really came across too many places here that add the pineapple. Would I say it's the BEST al pastor tacos? Hm, I don't know. I can't really say ONLY because when I order Mexican food, I usually always order carne asada. The al pastor tacos are definitely really good though! Also to add, the al pastor tacos are no longer just $1. It's about $1 something, I can't remember, but it is definitely cheaper than a regular day which is priced at around $2 something. I would definitely recommend Metro Balderas to someone for al pastor tacos on Wednesdays! I can't really speak for any other items on the menu only because I haven't really tried anything else. read more

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Recommended for take out or a quick bite Great food Great Service Kitchen like ambiance We went there at the very late hours on the Christmas eve when every other shop in the area was closed. The friendly owner went out of his way and fired up the stove to prepare some quality tacos for us and even gave us free snacks and was reluctant to accept the tip. The food was absolutely delicious! read more

I've been there twice and it's really amazing... Their taco El Pastor is the real deal and I have no idea why I don't visit here more frequently?! The staff is really friendly too. It looks like the rest of the menu would be good as well but all I ate here is the El Pastor street tacos read more

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The most authentic taqueria I tried in NorCal!!! Credit Netflix and Taco Chronicles for re-instigating my neverending search for real Tacos El Pastor, sliced right off the spit into a (homemade) tortilla. While Metro Balderas doesn't beat some of the places in SD, it somes as close as I found here in the Bay Area/Northern Cali after years of searching. Located in Downtown San Jose, on the edge of a residential neighborhood and with a liquor store next door, the appearance is very modest and inconspicuous. If I was driving by I'd never guess that some of the best tacos around are served inside. The seating is very limited with few tables by the entrance where the register is, or a few more and some bar seating on to the left, where the food is prepared. If you are eating in you will most likely have to wait as this place is the real deal and the locals know how good it is. Worth the mention is you will not be able to order if eating in if you don't have a table. At the register it's only to-go orders. And while it is tempting to just cut the wait and take the food to go, I am of opinion that this food needs to be eaten fresh at the spot. So after some waiting for the table, we were finally sat in the back by the bar and placed an order. No chips and salsa but they bring a small plate of pickled and grilled onions, radishes, and jalapenos. The real star here is Al Pastor taco, of course. While they initially messed up our order and we had to ask the waitress to fix it, once the tacos came it was all forgiven. More classic than Tijuana style with less adobo, I was impressed how juicy the meat was. Add some hot salsa and Jarritos soda, and it's hard to find a better, more fulfilling meal anywhere. Also tried Chicarron Prensado and Asada tacos, which were great too but other places do it pretty well too, so next time I'll just stick to pastor. The prices for tacos are slightly higher than most of the other taquerias, but I think just having to maintain the spit and having a dedicated taquero justifies this cost. While I can see some folks being discouraged to come to Metro Balderas, especially if not Spanish speaking, this is the place for tacos in South Bay. It won't be long until our next visit. read more

I was expecting a little more flavor and was disappointed; everything looked good but lacked salt and seasoning. The seasoning on the chicken (tacos) was not good; almost like a chipotle flavor, I guess if that's your jam, you might like it. The beans and rice were okay, LACKING SALT, served hot, but zero flavor. Carne asada was dry. I appreciate the fact they use yellow corn tortillas for their tacos, but one of my tacos the tortilla was warmed up, the other it was not and was very dry. Not sure why the table next to me got chips and salsa and I did not. Wont be going back, hard pass for me. read more