Absolutely delicious burrito for a great price. The service is very fast, and they are great people running the truck. My go to place to get some great mexican food! read more

A bit of a letdown, I have to say. This was the first time I've had Mexican food that was so lacking in flavor. I ordered the Camarones Plate because the picture looked absolutely delicious, but after the first bite, I honestly thought the cook had forgotten to season it. As I kept eating, I realized there was seasoning--it was just extremely mild. I've had plenty of Mexican food in California, Arizona, and many other places, and I've never had a dish this bland. It just didn't have the bold flavors I was expecting from Mexican food, or maybe it's a healthy version of it? That said, the restaurant was fairly busy during lunch, and most of the customers appeared to be Mexican, so it must be doing something right and is likely quite authentic. The service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. Unfortunately, the food just wasn't for me, so I'll probably try a different Mexican restaurant next time. read more

I don't recommend Mexican cuisine in Washington state to anyone. Compared to California, WA is way behind and there's no good authentic flavorful and consistent Mexican cuisine in my experience, and I eat Mexican food frequently whenever I can. PROS: - Great accessible location, plenty of parking, outdoor seating - friendly staff, reasonable menu and pricing - hot sauce was good - they take cards CONS: - possibly one of the worst Mexican food I've ever eaten. I got their popular items and they were nothing like what I've tasted anywhere else. Cabeza had no fat, did not taste like cabeza meat I'm used to, had no flavor. - the wet burrito was awful. Bright red tomato sauce poured straight out of a can (you can easily taste it, not homemade, no complexity or flavor), the rice inside was tasteless and not the typical Mexican rice. There was barely any cheese, tortilla was store bought and glue like, little to no avocado. Burrito had no beans, no salsa, not sour cream and tasted odd. I forced myself to get through it and threw away what looked like majority of rice. - the tacos had old soggy brown wet rotten cilantro!! I've never encountered this - it was gross and told me everything i need to know about the quality and freshness of their ingredients and food handling practices. This was not authentic Mexican food, no flavor and horrible stale ingredients. I have serious food safety concerns given what I got. Avoid. read more

I got a taco plate and a burrito. Service is quick, there is a mini fridge for sauces. The food was a bit bland I wouldn't come back. read more

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Really great service! The staff are super nice and work really hard to get the food out. The cuisine style reminds me of Eastern Washington Mexican food. The dishes are lightly seasoned and there aren't huge amounts of spice. The rice and beans are cooked really well and I feel like I'm eating at a family gathering. Portions are huge and their salsas are nice and simple. Simplicity is good and nothing is overpowering. I love seeing the long line of Spanish speaking folx and their family. read more

Yesterday was my last visit to Monarca. The tacos were always bland and very very dry, but in the past I told myself "at least it's only $12.50 for a plate of 5 tacos." Yesterday I was shocked to see that they were charging me $17.50, a nearly 50% increase in price for the same dry and below mid tacos. If it was a different taco truck with good tacos (there are a few here in north Seattle but you already know what they are) I would've gladly paid nearly $20 for 5 small tacos. But the meat from Monarca tastes like nothing and is dryer than the SAHARA!!! Seriously, give this place a pass. read more

I've come back here a few times since my first try and the food still tasted mediocre without a ton of flavor. A bit disappointing but very friendly staff. read more

Fairly priced & the best carnitas burritos tacos were okay but the best bang for your buck is the burritos they are hugeee

This is absolutely the best food truck I have ever been to. It has the best cooked meat, perfect ratios of ingredients, a variety of salsa options (including the best chipotle salsa I've had), and great consistency. I always know I am going to get a fire burrito when I go there. Plus, the entire team is so friendly and fantastic. & great prices. read more

Really great food served quickly! Always friendly service, too! Tacos, burritos, tortas, you can't go wrong!

Such good food! The woman working here was super sweet and they have great prices. I will be going back for sure. The horchata is authentic as well and definitely made right. read more

Fast and friendly service, cheap prices. You can get a big burrito for ~$8.50. Best for a breakfast burrito on the weekend or a quick lunch during the workday. The food quality can be a little hit or miss depending on what or when you order, but overall it hits the spot when you want to crush a quick burrito. read more

I just moved next to this place and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite places to go. Great food, quick and friendly service and a ton of choices. read more

Monarca Express - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm a regular at Monarca and it's always delicious and fast. Our go to favorite orders are horchatas to drink, spicy pork burritos, and carne asada tacos. We always get a full array of sauces too. It's also a lot of food for the money and has been a blessing during COVID for a quick and tasty lunch or dinner pick up. read more

An excellent neighborhood taco truck. How many families were kept a little saner from Monarca's hard work during the pandemic? We may never know. read more

Best food truck in the city. Staff is kind and quick, would recommend time and time again.

Excellent fish tacos, delicious carnitas burrito! Super friendly staff, and outdoor seating. Definitely a place to come back to. read more

Monarca Express - Fish Tacos - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food truck (not the nicest looking) parked in a shell gas station parking lot. Do not let that deceive you. They make good tacos. They give good portions and they are tasty. I had the pollo, adobada, carnitas, cabeza y lengua. My preference to order from here will be in this order: lengua, cabeza y pollo. But to each their own. They speak English and Spanish and are friendly. Their green salsa is better than their red. The red is thicker and has a little kick. Thought I'd warn you faint of heart ppl haha. Tacos are $2 and up. They also make burritos and full plate entrees. Enjoy. read more

Monarca Express - (Left) pork adobada (down) carnitas (right and top) **lengua y cabeza - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My friends & I ate at this taco truck because we had to stop & get gas on our way to a haunted corn maze, I was a tad bit disappointed with the food. I ordered the carne asada taco plate & the meat was very dry, it had no flavor to it & the green salsa was very watered down, the horchata was very good & the staff was friendly. read more

Stopped by to get some tacos on the way home. I got the adobada (marinated pork), carne asada (steak), & lengua (tongue) for ~$5. I ate the adobada and carne asada first, with just a squeeze of lime and found them to be quite lean and salty rather than flavorful. I started adding the green (smoky & slightly spicy) and the red (mild & fresh) salsas, which helped make the tacos much more enjoyable and flavorably balanced. I had learned my lesson for the lengua taco and generously topped it with the remaining salsas & lime - altogether it was my favorite taco of the trio. TLDR: Decent tacos. Add salsa(s) when eating read more

super good - the burritos are gigantic and fresh, tacos are savory delicious and the tortas are uberyummy. the cashier is nice and friendly. I look forward to trying the alambre tacos, prawns platter and the other dishes they offer. STAND OUT FOOD TRUCK - ALWAYS SUPER GOOD read more

Always the best truck in the area. Great portions and friendly service. I know a lot of randoms give negative reviews to places like Monarca, but I have lived in the neighborhood for four years and give them the highest marks. This is a five star food truck offering! read more

Great tacos for a good price, super quick and served hot so it doesn't need reheating at home.

My torta was pretty good, however the Plato Mexicano (carne asada) was not too good. Tacos de asada were also okay. Not the best Mexican food, will maybe try again in future to see if I have better luck. read more

I thought I'd already reviewed this awesome taco truck. Whoops! I love their food, especially the Mulita. So delicious with the avocado and especially with the Adobada (marinated pork). I wish their regular salsas were spicier, but their special chipotle sauce is fantastic and has a good kick. Free pickled jalapeños, carrots, and onions. Breakfast menu. Open 9:30am-9pm. Grab a 6-pack from the adjacent Shell station to go with your platter of tacos. They even have fish tacos and camarones and tamarind soda. AND you can call your order in advance, so no waiting outside when it's cold. What more could you ask for? read more

Monarca Express - Menu - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I ordered the fish burrito. The fish itself very very good and the grilling and flavor were excellent. Preparation time was reasonable. The fish was a bit heavy in the mix. The salsa was light. The sour cream was conspicuously absent. I picked up a couple of small containers of salsa to add. The green was okay. The red salsa seemed like simply tomato juice. Tortilla was lightly grilled. No chips were included. Lime and avocado would have improved the experience. For $9 value was... average. C+ overall. read more

Amazing taco truck! The adobada and cabeza were incredible. Fast and friendly service and lots of options in their menu. Great find. Would recommend! read more

Workers are friendly and conveniently located near my apartment. They were able to accommodate my need for no dairy without any hesitation. My new go to spot ! Delicious. read more

Monarca Express - Veggie Taco plate with rice and beans - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First time here, and last time ever coming here. The meat has no flavor whatsoever and the food is overall very bland in flavor. You're better off at any other taco truck, so save your money and don't come here. read more

Is a cheap place and I thank that, however, the employees seems to hate you and hate life :/ Also the meat was kind dry... so im not going there anymore read more

Best Mexican food I've had within the city limits. It's as close as it gets in the Northwest--tucked in an unlikely spot at a Lake City Shell service station in a green truck with squarish hand lettering that may have been done by someone's kid. I'd driven past it many times but petrol-side food trucks sometimes lure me less than they otherwise might. My loss, as it happens. I have huge affection for the staff--clearly a family operation--that huddles in there wrapped in scarves and thick gloves through the snapping cold and even scratched our Mexican food itch late in the day on Thanksgiving. "No turkey for you?" I asked a fellow patron, from Chiapas. "Turkey's so dry!" he replied. "I'd much rather have carnitas--Thanksgiving or no Thanksgiving." I'm with him; their spicy pork is an excellent choice. The steak is great too. My boys say it's their favorite burrito outside of SF's mission district. I'm a big fan of the simple, traditional tacos (served in the rustic style of typical street vendors in Mexico: savory meat, a sprinkling of onions, and lots of cilantro). I also dig their mulitas (kind of like two flat unfolded corn quesadillas with meat and beans in between). They don't serve guacamole here, but they do have avocado, so you may not miss it. It's usually about $24 for all three of us before tip, so an utterly fair price for a full belly. While winter is definitely not food truck season--those waits in the bracing cold are tough-the company is always reliably warm. Swing by when you're in the area. read more

Let me get this out of the way- I love Mexican food more than I love people, pets, and maybe even freedom and eagles. I thought the burritos at the Taqueria up on 196th in Lynnwood were the gold standard(and I've had enough burritos to justify being about 300 pounds heavier than I am). In fact, I was fully prepared to offer my hand in marriage to the man who made those burritos in spite of being staunchly heterosexual. This was before I went to Monarca Express. Yes, I live FAIRLY close to this truck. Why did it take me almost a year to go here? Why did I go to the truck in Northgate? The answer, citizens of Yelp, is because I'm a sorry excuse for a human being. Consider this review a personal apology to the angel in the form of a slightly below average height Mexican man who mans this truck. The menu is not wildly different from what you might find at any other taco truck(though they offer a Chorizo burrito and don't offer tamales), but the meat....the meat.....it's the key. The way they spice it and bless it with enough flavor to hype up Public Enemy in the 1980's pretty much leaves me with an overwhelming desire to go here every day. This place is not the recipient of review inflation- it is that good. It's good enough to go to Lake City, and those are not words I utter or write easily. read more

For this place to drop from a 5 to a 3 is really, REALLY saying something, and I don't take this lightly. When I write that we spent 3 months grabbing lunch or dinner here twice a week, and it decreased to the point of taking a break for a full month. I write it with an indescribable sadness. This WAS our go-to taco truck, and I was so excited to announce that on Yelp, but this update needs to be written. The food used to be prepared with love, but with a new face something has changed for the worst. The food, which used to take 10-15 minutes to put together now seems to take 5-7, and that usually isn't a good sign. It's obvious biting into the food that the quality and freshness has suffered a hit. I tried it again just last night and it was prepared by a tall man with a hair net. My heart sank, because he's cooked my food before and it's disappointed me anytime. ANYWAY, the taco meat was WATERY. You ever had watery taco meat before? Me either. Gross. read more

Delicious food - got takeout for a large group last night and everyone finished it before we knew it! Their tacos are out of this world - the pork and chicken are delicious, but the steak is out of this world. Nice people, amazing food cooked right in front of you. Such a find!!! Tip: eat it right there, hot off the grill. read more

Monarca Express - The truck, Ta dah! - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cheap and hits the spot in an area with few options. I paid $4.50 for a fish taco and carne asada, with free pickled veggies and salsas. The fish taco was in breaded and well flavored and the combo of the tomatoes and sauce made it really well balanced. The carne asada was pleasant but a little dry. Nothing to write home about but I will be back for the fish tacos. Right off the side of Lake City Way. read more

Best Fish Mulitas and beef tacos I've had so far. Some prefer their meat to be moist or soft and thus the bad review on here but to each his own. They make my tacos and mulitas stuffing just the way I like it, crisp on the outside but still juicy in the inside. I will stop by and support their business whenever I have a chance. read more

Oh... This is the best taco truck in Seattle. I have had many recommendations of others, and my "Significant Other" has eaten at about every one from North Seattle to Renton. I don't know why it took us so long to eat here - probably because we know so many excellent ones. Let me tell you why I am going to base this on one item on the menu... The Monarca Burrito with carne asada. It was the first thing I ordered, and frankly, it is one of the very best burritos I have EVER had. I have lived in Southern California, and believe me, I have had some good Mexican food. The ingredients and flavors of the burrito really stand out distinctly, and so do the flavors in the sauces and the pickled vegetables. Truly a culinary experience - what you might expect from a higher-end restaurant such as Oaxaca in Ballard - it is definitely on par with that. The Burrito is so good, we are afraid to try anything else. Seriously - that good. Not willing to gamble. However, the salsas are amazing - and the pickled vegetables... I think the vegetables are aged in cedar caskets or something - incredible fragrance, and done to perfection. The red sauce - beware of the heat if you are shy. It is SUPA-hot, but REALLY good. And yes - it is more consistent than any place you will go, from my experience. Pretty fast, too. read more

Im done w this place. I have been coming to this truck for over 4 yrs. Sometimes it is ok, more often than not it sucks. Their burritos are 90% dry, crispy rice and boring whole pinto beans. Add dry, tooth chipping scraps of charred beef and you have a big $9 pile of garbage. I will miss their escabeche and their salsa verde, which is pretty spicy. I wont miss the inconsistant nature of their food, their lack of avocado, or that feeling i get when i bite into a pile of garbage wrapped in a tortilla. Shame on you, Im willing to bet NONE of you eat what you serve. Atleast my DOG is happy. read more

I used to come here a lot but the last couple of times there was a guy running the truck and things seemed off. Last time I went I ordered a carnitas burrito to find no meat inside. I called and he offered to refund my money but I just don't want to deal with inconsistency so I will go to Loxicha Oaxacan food truck on 15th. read more

This place rocks. We come a couple of times a month it's great. The people are great. read more

Monarca Express - Food Trucks Near Me - Seattle, Washington