Taco Tuesday will never be the same for these Chicago guys who love good tacos and Lucha Libre. Life is God. Family. Tacos. Lucha Libre. Santo Tacos is the new temple of tacos. We drove a long way to get there and we were - initially - put off by the appearance. It kind of looks like a strip mall fast food joint appropriating the Lucha Libre legend El Santo. We walked in - not expecting much and walked out full of great food and great company. This is a must visit for Lucha fans and taco lovers. My last Birria taco was in Puerto Rico at a little hole in the wall that made their name on Birria tacos. I decided to see if this little joint in Valparaiso could compete. I warned Chantal (our server and occasional photographer) that I had high hopes for the Birria. She was unfazed. She knew. She was confident. We started with a nacho plate with salsa and guacamole and warm cheese sauce. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We stuffed out faces as we marveled at the décor. We discussed who was who in which poster and which masks were in our personal collections. When Chantal brought the three tacos to the table, it was clear to see they were of the highest quality, perhaps even better than Puerto Rico. The spices were blended perfectly. The meat was moist and the tortilla was soft where it needed to be and crunchy where it was supposed to be. Fresh food always elevates the dining experience. This food was all fresh and well prepared. I have been having bad luck with smoked jalapenos lately so I only ate half of it. It was also quite good, but I know the danger that lurks in a smoked jalapeno. My buddy got a burrito - it was a monster. He and I have eaten many Mexican dinners before or after a Lucha Libre show. He tends to eat with moderation. Not this time, he destroyed that burrito talking between bites about how good it was. We had Chantal take some pictures around the restaurant at various spots. We're two corny old guys having fun with our hobbies (tacos and Lucha Libre). She was very patient and accommodating - doing everything in her power to get the best pictures she could for us. When the service is five star and the food is five star - the only problem is the distance. We will be back - of course - but sadly not every Tuesday as we'd like. read more

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I was traveling for work and stopped at Santo Taco for lunch. I had no issue finding a parking spot and was seated right away. In terms of ambiance, the staff was cleaning and the TVs were old (poor quality) and had nothing of interest on. I ordered the poyo taco (loved) and the alambre (hated - the steak was so chewy. I know it's skirt steak, but this was not edible). I also ordered the churros; which were fine. It may be worth going back and ordering something different, but you can also get a taco just about anywhere. read more

Ordered the appetizer trio. Chips wasn't good, salsa and queso was ok. The guacamole was the best thing I had. Had the birria tacos.. it was seasoned well. I like my food to come out hot but it didn't. Our waiter was nice. My friend had a Jalisco bowl I believe it's called. That was quite delicious. If I go back I'll purchase that meal instead of what I had. read more

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The food was seriously lacking in flavor. Everything was very bland and it seems like they use canned beans on the tacos; they were cold and very firm. The Al pastor was crunchy and hard. The chips were also hard and weird in consistency. I took a bite of each taco and the quesadilla, then threw it in the trash. Service was good. The decor is very nice. The prices are expensive for what you get -- flavorless Mexican. read more

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Never had a bad meal, love outdoors when the weather is nice. Our puppy dog likes the patio too.

Santo Taco is fantastic. Our server Jaz is the best server hands down. So polite and accommodating. Remembers your orders once you have been there several times. She also remembers all the orders by memory while serving the whole service floor by herself. I cannot say enough to describe how great she is! read more

Never had a bad experience here and have ordered pickup/ dined in over a dozen times! Very authentic.

This place is amazing! I had their El Pastor, Mushroom and Carne Asada Tacos as well as their Pollo de Caldo! Soooooo good! In my rotation now for sure! read more

Santo Taco - Pollo de Caldo mmmm - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Great atmosphere, love the the theme. Delicious food, we ordered steak and birria tacos. Definitely recommend. read more

Santo Taco - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I had checked out the menu at Santo Taco and it looked like an intriguing taco joint that offered more than the traditional Mexican flair. I put Santo Taco on my list to try, plus they give a discount to Valpo students. The menu has a variety of tacos such as a Korean Taco, chicken pineapple tacos, and what might be familiar such as chorizo and al pastor. The place is very clean with a modern feel. The special tacos are $4 to $5 and the street ones are $2.25. A few things caught my eye that I wanted to try. I don't remember the exact name but under the appetizers, there are fried chorizo and potato balls. They came out hot and fresh. They were good but I would suggest adding cheese to the equation somehow. I like burritos more than tacos so I went with the AL Pastor burrito. The pork and pineapple were very tasty inside. The biggest problem though with the burrito was that it should have labeled Rice AL Pastor burrito. There was just too much rice. I wish the amount of rice would have been cut in half and some more of the good stuff be stuffed in. I was also curious about the roasted tomato and pepper sauce so I had some on the side. It was all right. Salsa and chips came with my burrito. It was probably a 1oz. container of salsa. There is a lot to like about Santo Taco but for me, a few more modifications would be nice such as less rice, more pork and pineapple in the burritoes and a little more salsa in the side. read more

Santo Taco - Chorizo and potato balls - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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This is my second visit. What I like most about Santo Taco is the atmosphere. The Tejano and Rancheras music is relaxing, and the atmosphere is cheery. The decorations are colorful and lively, too. We ordered chicken quesadillas, salsa and guacamole. It was delicious! Our server was friendly and attentive. For dessert we enjoyed churros dipped in caramel and chocolate. Churros y chocolate w/ helado! Yummy! Olé! The prices are reasonable, too. We will definitely be back. read more

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My boyfriend and I moved to Indiana late last year and have been on the hunt for authentic Mexican food like we had on every corner where we lived in San Jose California. The food here is amazing and our faces lit up as soon as our food came to the table, we knew immediately that we found our new spot! read more

Santo Taco - Birra tacos and carne asada tacos - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I took my wife out to dinner at 5:15 pm on a Thursday evening. This was our first time coming here and we heard good things about it. Right when we walked in, it was obvious that it was a very fresh and hip Mexican restaurant. Everything was clean and new. There were only a few other tables taken, so we were seated right away. Our server came right over and gave us our menus and took our drink order. The menu was large, and it had a good variety of dishes. From street tacos to Burritos, there should be something for everyone. We started with the Empanadas for our appetizer and ordered some tacos for dinner. After a short wait, they brought out the Empanadas and they were large and tasted OK. They were much better with the Pico de Gallo. It was not my favorite, but I'm glad I tried them. For dinner I went with the Carnitas street taco, and it was very tender, but on the greasy side. There really wasn't that much flavor either. It would have been better with roasted peppers instead of fresh ones, but that is my personal choice. It was good for the money. My wife got the fish tacos and she said they too were lacking in flavor. She said the fish really has no flavor, so it needed something else. Our overall impressions of this place were that it was a nice clean place to go on date night, but there are other Mexican restaurants that I like much better. I am glad I tried it out. read more

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The food was delicious, and the staff was attentive. The place is small but uses space well and was cute. Price was resonable for the food and service we received. read more

Santo Taco - We ate the Birria tacos, served with consomme for dipping, steak street tacos and chips and salsa. - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Love Santo! Service is always quick and staff is super friendly. Burria tacos are my favorite! Always perfectly done and delicious. Price is on par for the quality of food. Our new go to spot in Valpo! Smaller inside area, but never had trouble getting a table. Popular for take out as well, food holds up well even to go. read more

Santo Taco - Birria Tacos con Consome - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

My third time here.I am trying the Caldo De Pollo soup.Great Soup!!! Probably the best I've had. Potatoes, corn, carrots, rice, shredded chicken, fresh avocado nd tortilla strips with a side of salsa for a little kick...mmmmm. Come check this place out!!! Plenty of parking located next to Starbucks in the shopping center. read more

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Fast, delicious and reasonably priced! Cant beat that. I had the Baja Fresh and the Camaron with rice and beans. The specialty tacos come with 2 homemade corn tortillas for each taco. Perfect balance of filling to tortillas. Excited to try more! read more

Santo Taco - Baja Fresh and Camaro specialty tacos with rice and beans - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

Unexpectedly delighted my friends. Since moving to the area and desperately trying tacos at a variety of places we finally struck gold. The vibe is fantastic and perfect for everyone. read more

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Food is great and just sizzles in your mouth. Very fresh and the service was so so fast. Great atmosphere and well maintained cleaned restaurant. read more

Santo Taco - THE Bolas del Santo - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Santo has to be the best Mexican restaurant from Michigan city to Munster ! Nothing comes close to Santo.. It doesn't really matter what you decide to order because it will be delicious. Fresh, fresh, fresh! read more

Went there for the first time and had shrimp taco and fish taco and teriyaki taco. Also the sampler was good with amazing chips guacamole and salsa. This place is hidden away but worth the visit and wonderful staff. Prices are reasonable and you can even get a drink if you want. read more

Ok so I am sure people have written on this, but here is my take on it. Flipping amazing! FRESH MADE TORTILLAS!!! This place is right next door to the tomato bar. This place is super clean, the staff is super friendly, and the food is off the hook. I had two of their tacos. The first one was the Korean taco, the second one was their steak Santo taco. The Korean tacos meat was incredibly well marinated, the steak was super tender, and it tasted like I was eating at a Korean barbecue. The steak taco was a very well seasoned well marinated super tender busting at the seams steak taco. They have all sorts of different sodas, some beer, wine, and a very unique set of fountain drinks. While I did not get the guacamole or other appetizers I saw other people enjoying them and the fundito cheese looked amazing as did the guac. Furthermore all the ingredients seem to be super fresh and most importantly, they make their own fresh tortillas on the spot in front of all the customers. I cannot tell you how much I miss eating fresh made tortillas as opposed to premade ones. read more

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Food so so. Service good. Will go back as it is a comfortable place. Shrimp tacos are terrific!

We love tacos, this place had nothing that really stood out. The flavors could be better. I don't think we'll be back

Flavor city!!!! I haven't had Mexican food this good in a very long time. The tacos were incredible but don't snub their mint salad. If you don't want a whole salad then split it with the table. Their pozole is just as good as what I've had in New Mexico, top notch. read more

Love this Valparaiso taco place! Delicious tacos- tortillas to die for and love the sauce on the fish tacos. We also got the mint salad- and it was fresh and very tasty! Good portions and price! Highly recommend!! read more

Great addition to Valparaiso, we started with the pineapple guacamole, so fresh & yummy. We also had a chicken taco, a shrimp taco, a fish taco, a steak quesadilla, a chicken burrito and finished with churros. All of it pairs nicely with their unique soda fountain drinks. Everything was delicious. read more

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The food is awesome! We also wanted to say that we got this place catered my daughter's open house last year. Everyone came out and was loving all the food. It was a hit. Some of the friends can't wait for the next child's open house. read more

Stopped here on trip across Indiana. The service was excellent and the food was even better. The Koreano taco was spicy and excellent. Also the fish taco was the best. Great local beers too. I cannot too strongly recommend! read more

Walking in from the parking lot you can tell that the person who designed the outside decor has a very good eye and it was pleasing esthetically. Nice outdoor seating patio with great music on the inside. Very friendly staff all the way around and a good beer selection. Now let's get to the best part of my visit. THE MEAL!! Came out fast and fresh. The barria tacos were heaven. Crisp shells with melted cheese and a very generous helping of beef. Tons of flavor and once you drenched it in the broth I mean just no words. Got another serving to go they were so good! Highly recommend this place to anyone traveling through, that lives in valpo or even just the region! Will be coming back whenever I get the itch for another taco. Only problem I had was not knowing this restaurant has been around for a year!! Can't wait to come back. read more

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Great spot in Valpo if you're craving Mexican food! Their menu isn't massive but everything I've tried has been an absolute home run. My personal favorites are the "enchiladas con mole" or their classic chicken quesadilla. The flavors justify the price and this is a great spot to hangout with friends. read more

My mom and I ate lunch today at Santo Taco, and it was delicious. Our waitress was Angela and she was awesome! Super friendly, kind, and helpful. She even brought out an extra glass of ice with our iced tea since it was warm and had just been brewed. The food was great. We both got the chips and salsa to start ( really good salsa and fresh chips) and the tacos. We decided to try the Alambre taco and the Pollo taco, and they were excellent. So fresh and flavorful with good portion sizes. I will definitely be back! read more

Santo Taco - Pollo and Alambre tacos - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I had a steak burrito which i would give a 3.4 stars. The sauce they gave on the side was good. Service was good but they mixed my steak burrito with my friends chicken burrito and had them in different bags and the ambiance was cool ig. read more

My husband and I were traveling through and decided to stop here, such a great decision. I got the Birria tacos, which was a house favorite, and it did not disappoint! Definitely great food, and nice clean environment. Would recommend 100% read more

Santo Taco - Birria tacos - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I have tried 5 different kinds of specialty tacos here. My favorite so far is the chicken. I also tried the korean, shrimp, steak, and pork. The others were good but not great. The korean taco is interesting but the sauce could be a little less sweet. Steak avocado taco was a little bland. They need to work on the flavor balance a bit but there is plenty of filling and overall it wasn't bad. Chips were fine but I wish they would include salsa if chips are the side. The interior has a cool decor and the staff is nice. I would try some other things here. read more

Starting with the positives: the girls working were very sweet and were constantly making rounds to keep the place clean and cleared everyone's plates. They deserve 5 stars! The food was also served super quickly. It was our groups first visit; I wish there were menus somewhere other than the side wall right at the front of the line. I ordered the queso fundido and a Korean taco. The queso fundido was wickedly overpriced. There was a tiny bit of melted cheese in the bottom of a mini-skillet that congealed quickly. The chorizo added was tasty but had so much grease left in I had to take a napkin to it. The steak used in the Korean taco was super tender! That was a plus! I'm a sweet teriyaki kinda gal but I could see the teriyaki being much too sweet for some because it was borderline too sweet for me. Maybe a burrito or quesadilla would have been a better choice. read more

6/28/22 I've always liked the food in the past when we came to this Mexican restaurant. Tonight was a different story. My husband and I both had tacos and the steak was burnt to a crisp on both of ours. The server never came back to check on us, except to pick up the plates when we had already finished our meal. Service was poor and food was poor. It will be sometime before we come back here. read more

Went to this restaurant while in Valpo based on reviews here, however, we were not impressed. It was not the hole-in-the-wall authentic tacos place I thought it was. More of a cross between that and an Americanized Mexican restaurant. The asada street taco was finely, and I mean finely, chopped bits of flavorless meat. The chorizo taco was pretty good. But who wants pinto beans on a taco? I had them hold the beans. Our waitress was rarely at our table, and it took her so long to come back with sour cream that my husband was done eating two out of his three tacos. I thought the guacamole was good, but my husband said it was flavorless to him. And the chips were greasy and slightly stale/wet tasting. He also said the ice tea was way too strong and tasted terrible. Definitely not a place we would hurry back to! read more

Honestly a little shocked to be giving this rating after the hopes I had for Santo Taco coming in. Walking in you get the feel of a modern day Tex Mex joint. There are massive paintings of Mexican luchadors on the wall which I happened to find fairly unique and a nice touch. My fiancé and I started with an order of the queso fondito and added chorizo. It was big enough to be a comfortable appetizer for 2-3 people but had a layer of grease. On top of this it kind it was not friendly at all for dipping chips into. It wouldn't pull apart and needed fork and knife as the cheese didn't want to separate. Upon eating it was quite tasty but not worth the trouble. I ordered the steak taco with fried avocado, a fish taco, and the Mexican elote. The best thing of the meal was....my fiancé's korean beef inspired taco. The beef for both tacos was extremely tender but her taco was much more flavorful than my steak. The avocado in it mine had absolutely no texture for it being fried. The fish taco had a lot of fresh veg on it but it was entirely too much and the fish became lost. But the corn was probably the low point. It was drenched in mayo to the point that was all I could taste. The saving grace here is I really enjoyed the concept and menu options here so if I'm in town looking for tacos again I might check it out one more time just to see if the food was poor execution. read more

Santo Taco - Santo taco and Baja fish taco. - Tacos Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

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Most disappointing was no complimentary chips and salsa. Best part of our meal was fried avocado. Oh my! That was so delicious! We were there for lunch and were seated promptly. Our server brought our drinks and gave us plenty of time to decide what to eat. I ordered two shrimp tacos, rice & beans. Hubby got two steak tacos with rice. We did order chips and salsa for $3.50. We experienced great service, good food, and your typical Mexican decor and music. We probably will return. read more