Came here for our Friday lunch date a couple of weeks ago (but forgot to write a review). We had a couple of their tacos (I had the Al Pastor as it was only available on a Wednesday ‍ and the wife had the Costra taco and it was all pretty good. Great flavors. We shared their Flamingo (crispy rolled flour tacos stuffed with cheese blend and roasted anaheim pepper, topped with lettuce, sour cream, avocado salsa, pico de gallo and cotija cheese) - VERY GOOD! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! We both had the Modelo Especial with lunch as well, as you gotta do it right! Service was quick as it wasn't that busy when we arrived and were seated - but it got busy not long after.. You can see its a popular place and right in the heart of Tempe so no surprises! It's not a noisy place but far, and quite open, so its pretty average for noise. We will be back - as there are some great foodie places around in Tempe, and Taco Chelo is definitely one of them! read more

Taco Chelo - Main dining, kitchen and bar area - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

So my husband said these are the best tacos he has had and his favorite of any we have had in Phoenix. I felt different. First of all, eating anywhere in Tempe, starts with a frustrating time.... Trying to find parking and having to pay to park. I don't understand why restaurants don't have parking for customers. Idk maybe I don't know where to look. Second, it's hot AF in here. I feel sorry for the guys cooking. It's 105 today and the restaurant is so small, it's probably impossible to keep cool during the summer. Finally, the food. It all tastes very fresh! NO SEED OILS is amazing. I feel like I have won something when I find a restaurant that uses olive oil and beef tallow to cook in. Best corn tortillas I have had for sure. We basically tried one of each taco. (Although some of the tacos we ordered were wrong, so we just kept adding) not a big deal, because they were delicious and we loved them. I felt like the carne was chewy but my husband loves chewier meat. The taco with the marlin was my favorite. And the one that came out kind of like a cheese crisp. It's loud in here and again the space is very small. They do not serve wine at all. But yummy margaritas! The bartender is working solo and working hard! She busted her butt and did an amazing job. And smiled the entire time. She was awesome read more

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Had the Taco Gobernador Marlin and shrimp), and the Costra (carne asada, onions, and cheese). Both were very flavorful and delicious. Although you order at the counter, the young lady stopped by our table numerous times after bringing our food to make sure we had everything we needed. Two, what I would call gourmet tacos for $10 seems very reasonable for this area. Their Roosevelt Row location is much closer to my home, and I will be stopping by there soon. read more

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I was looking for a quick spot for dinner that was in walking distance of my hotel (AC Hotel) and decided to try Taco Chelo based on their Yelp reviews. This restaurant is centrally located near the ASU campus and offers generous patio seating in addition to their indoor dining area. I was greeted upon entering and since I was dining alone I decided to sit at the bar. I didn't realize you were supposed to order at the register at the bar, but the bartender was kind and took my order from my seat at the bar instead. I started with chips and salsa, which came with guacamole but I'm not a fan so I didn't give it a try. The chips were perfectly cooked and seemed to be house-made or at least a high quality chip as they were thick and had a good salty flavor. The red salsa had good flavor but mild spice. The green salsa was bright and had a little kick to it. I wasn't super hungry, so I only ordered one chicken taco (without the avocado salsa). The taco was pretty good, although I was anticipating a chopped grilled chicken but it came with more of a pilled marinated chicken. Still good, just not what I expected from a more "authentic" taco. I also missed having a salsa bar with toppings (onions, pico, etc) that you can add. Instead these tacos came as designed by the chef. I also ordered the mango and original house margaritas, both were refreshing and hit the mark with the chips and tacos. They had a $5 margarita for a special as it was Monday, but my margarita was full price. Not sure what the difference was, perhaps a lower quality tequila? This is a great spot for a quick bite or a light happy hour. They are newer, so show some local support! read more

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Cannot wait to come back! I got the Fish Taco and Governador taco. Both were so flavorful. Fish in the Fish taco was so light. Their salsas are also very good. Felt like I was in Baja getting my fish taco fix. Stephanie was kind and a great host to a first timer here. Great atmosphere with the decor and music. Overall very clean. read more

Taco Chelo - Left: Taco Governador / Right: Fish taco - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Super inviting the menu is easy to understand and up front. Order your food and enjoy your beverage while it is being prepared. Great view of the futbol match wherever you sit. Soccer fans unite this is the place to watch a match. They are super clean everything is spotless sanitary and magnificent. The Carne asada is cooked to perfection full of flavor and zang. The happy hour is from 4-6 whence thy may receive tacos for the fair price of which you must come to see to believe. So now I'm full. I was unable to try the dessert unfortunately next time I'm gonna try the tacos. That way I'll have room for dessert but overall it was a definitely satisfactory experience. Very very convenient parking so now is the time to go to Tempe really because...... tacos are for everyone. read more

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Updated review for an updated menu! New additions include pickled veggies, spicy and delicious, and beans & rice which comes w salsa and guac. Also the gobernador, which was crispy and had smoked marlin, shrimp, avocado, pickled onions..might be the new fav. Whoever was in the kitchen was on fire today, everything was soooo good! Special mention to the homemade corn tortillas read more

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Love coming back to this restaurant it has become one of my favorites in town. Every taco and dish is perfectly crafted. Staff member Salem gives me the best recommendations and customer service. This is a local staple that I recommend to anyone coming into town. read more

Taco Chelo - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I met a friend at this restaurant for lunch. It is in downtown Tempe. Parking in and around Mill Avenue is definitely a challenge. But we found a parking garage nearby. As we approach the restaurant, there were a few tables outside with umbrellas and the exterior of the restaurant was all windows from floor to ceiling. When we entered, our eyes were nicely, pleased by the tall ceilings and beautiful Latin decor. We were pleasantly greeted by the staff when we walked in. It was a little warm outside so we decided to eat inside. I had the Piña to drink, Al Pastor Taco and Fish Taco. We also got a side of guacamole and chips. The pineapple juice was good, but my friend got the strawberry lemonade, which was delicious! I chose the Al pastor taco because it's only available on Wednesdays and it just happened to be Wednesday. It was delicious. I enjoyed the fresh pineapple and pickled onions that accompanied it. The fish taco was also very delicious! It was topped with freshly shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, spicy aïoli and pickled onions. As far as the chips and guacamole, they were good. I just feel like there could have been more guacamole for the portion of chips we were given. All in all we enjoyed this restaurant and would definitely return. Please see my photos below. read more

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I used to live in Phoenix, and I tried this place for the first time literally the same week I was moving to Denver. Out of all the restaurants I had before leaving Arizona, THIS ended up being one of the places I couldn't stop thinking about after I moved away. Ever since leaving, I've randomly craved these tacos constantly. I've tried other taco spots in Denver hoping something would compare, but honestly nothing really hit the same. So when I came back out to Phoenix recently to visit some friends, this was one of the first places I knew I needed to come back to because I had built it up so much in my head over time. And somehow... it was just as good again. The meat tastes incredibly fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned, and you can literally watch them prepare everything right in front of you, which makes the whole experience even better. There's something so satisfying about seeing the tacos being made fresh instead of food just appearing from the kitchen. You can tell they care about quality and consistency. The servers were also super friendly and welcoming both times I came here, which honestly makes such a difference. Everyone had great energy, the service was quick, and the whole place just feels inviting and authentic. I honestly think the fact that I remembered this place so vividly for so long says everything. Usually when you revisit a restaurant after hyping it up in your head for years, it ends up disappointing you. But this place tasted exactly how I remembered it, fresh, flavorful, comforting, and absolutely worth the obsession. Safe to say this place is officially a mandatory stop for me anytime I'm back in Phoenix now. read more

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So happy to find a taco spot with fresh hand made tortillas Very cute & bright Mexican vibe inside. The staff was very friendly, service was quick! Seemed like a very pretty part of Tempe as well. We tried asada, fish taco, carnitas, gobernador and costra. My top 2 were the carnitas then the fish, My husbands favorite was the gobernador (which was grilled shrimp & marlin) My only critiques: The breaded fried fish was slightly too oily and the asada was a bit tough. This could be situational though as we've only been once I'm not a huge fan of day of the dead/shrine situation. read more

Taco Chelo - Tried 5 different options! - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The bartender was AMAZING! She was so friendly and actually cared which is hard to find in the restaurant industry. The food and margaritas are so amazing. Had the crispy shrimp tacos and the taco gobernador and you can't go wrong. They are pretty to look at and are delicious. I'm here every few months for work and this will DEFINITELY be my go to place when I'm here from now on. You can't go wrong with any of their food but their seafood is so good! Great flavors, fun ambiance and loved sitting there with my margarita while I waited. EVERYONE is super friendly which is so hard to find nowadays. So keep up the amazing work you all do! read more

Delicious variety of tacos with fresh handmade tortillas; full bar; great friendly service with a nice vibe; daily happy hour with indoor and outdoor dining too!! We really enjoyed their food and will definitely come back to eat there again soon. read more

I stopped by Tacos Chelo in Tempe, AZ near my job, always on the lookout for good Mexican food. Today I tried the carne asada torta and it was delicious! The bread was soft and fresh and they definitely didn't skimp on the avocado. They included three salsas to go. The orange one was my favorite with the best flavor and just the right heat, while the green had great flavor but could've used a touch more salt. I really liked the bright, colorful vibe inside with the decorative flooring and the bar that has a fun cantina feel. The staff was kind and humble when I picked up my order, which made the experience even better. Prices are a little on the higher side with tacos at $5.25 each. Next time I'll try two tacos since typically I would get three or four, but I can't justify paying that much for tacos. I'd also like to come back with more time to sit, maybe grab a cerveza or margarita, and enjoy the full experience. read more

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While in Phoenix, I tried Taco Chelo based upon a couple of TikTok reviews. The ambience was nice. Customer service was awesome! We were greeted immediately and given a menu and showed where to order food. I ordered the Costra Beef, Sonoran, and Barbacoa Tacos. All delicious! 9/10. My cousin ordered the Costra Beef, Al Pastor Taco, Crispy Shrimp Tacos and Pickled Veggies. She enjoyed it all but enjoyed the shrimp and al pastor tacos the most. We both ordered the chips with salsa and guacamole. The salsa and guacamole were good. However, we weren't fans on the chips just because they weren't fresh and a little hard. The bartender on the drinks definitely didn't skimp out on the alcohol! I had the Prickly Pear Margarita and my cousin had the Frozen House Margarita. I would definitely recommend Taco Chelo 9/10! read more

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Staff are top notch here. They are constantly moving and working hard. I order with lots of modifications, the cashier was able to handle it no issue and everything was correct when it got to our table. The standout for us is the fish taco and the green salsa that comes on the salsa and guac and chips plate. All the salsas are decently spicy so watch out if you are eating with kids but they are good! We will be back. read more

First impressions make a difference. The restaurant is bright and inviting with interesting artwork and tile. We were greeted and told what to expect regarding seating and the ordering process by a very friendly employee. I didn't go the taco route like my husband and son but mostly enjoyed my bean and cheese burrito with carne asada. (Some of the cheese wasn't melted but I'll fix that at home with the portion I brought home.) I've never had an agua fresca so I decided to try the piña colada flavor. I was a little put off by the $7 price but it was gorgeously presented, frozen, and very delicious. I probably wouldn't order it again but it was a nice splurge. Overall we liked what we saw here. read more

Taco Chelo - Piña Colada Agua Fresca - very tasty - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Can't believe I never visited this place before! I'd give their fish taco and asada taco a 5/5 because they were so good. The asada was tender and not too salty, and each taco was about $3.50. The fish taco is $4.50, a good size, super crispy, and made with beer-battered fish. The vibe is lively with open seating, and you can seat yourself. There are both indoor and outdoor tables, and the service was really friendly. Def will back for more tacos! read more

Taco Chelo - Taco asada - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Impressive! My friend had a full Ratatouille moment with his first bite of the Sonoran Asada taco. Fish - 5/5 super solid and generous portions, well fried, well constructed--no notes. Asada - 5/5 sheeeesh, smoky, tender, and packed with flavor, easily one of one best in the Valley in terms of quality and taste. Barbacoa - 5/5 when the barbacoa is moist with a rich, meaty flavor like cabeza--you know you're in trouble! Costra - 4.5/5 cheesy and indulgent, can't complain! With so much cheese, it would have been nice with a little more onion or carne but most people would be happy as it is. Tortillas? Made fresh in-house and toasted to order--which is really the minimum if you want to talk tacos read more

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I've been a fan since they first opened, and they've never disappointed. From the beautiful design to the handmade tortillas, fire-grilled BBQ carne asada, and delicious margaritas--everything is on point. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, and the food is consistently fresh. Every visit takes me back to our trips to Mexico. The vibe is upbeat yet relaxed, making it the perfect spot to unwind. Definitely a favorite and a place you should check out. read more

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I have been a frequent visitor to the Phoenix Taco Chelo for some time now. I heard another location was opening near ASU campus and excited to have a location near home. They did a nice job of designing this place with beautiful décor that gives it cantina feel. It can be hard to fully enjoy the colorful floor tiles or hand crafted bar stools when this place is packed on football game nights. The outdoor patio area always has a good crowd. Taco Chelo is named for the chef's mother who influenced her cooking. The menu here at the Tempe location is the same as the one on Roosevelt Row. Taco Chelo offers a selection of tacos, appetizers and handcrafted cocktails. They also have a burrito, quesadilla and torta on the menu. The meat selection is the same with al pastor being offered only on Wednesdays. I grew on tacos and will never say no to them. I love the simplicity of the menu and how spicy and delicious the tacos are here. Definitely get some Frijoles A La Charra and chips on the side. Expect a college crowd on games nights and on the weekends. Parking here at Taco Chelo is metered parking around the campus area. read more

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Maybe it's because I've been living in Chicago, and we seem to have a scarcity of decent tacos, but I can't stop thinking about the tacos I had at Taco Chelo last week when I was in Tempe. We actually came here for second dinner, because I REALLY had to have tacos before we left the west (TM). We ordered 3 tacos- the sonoran, carne asada, and costre taco. The costre taco was incredible- I wish I had ordered 10 more! It was cheesy and delicious. The other two tacos were also amazing. The beef was flavorful, the onions were fresh, the tortillas were delicious! It is counter service and pretty fast. Nice area inside and out to sit and enjoy your delicious tacos. I wish I could have eaten more tacos- I can't wait to come back next time I visit! read more

Tried it a year ago.. and I was excited to be back. So far I enjoyed the costra- highly recommend it, carnitas, al pastor and tortas. Charcoal makes a huge flavor difference to grill the meats.. very delicious. Meats are nicely marinated- flavors are amazing. Finally they make their shells right there.. All in all.. highly recommended.. great value and flavors. Service was friendly and accommodating. Everything in a nice corner setup with outdoor seating. read more

This food is delicious! We had several tacos, shrimp ceviche, and carne asada fries and all were so flavorful. The fresh tortillas are delicious. Very casual atmosphere, ordering at the counter and then taking a number. Food came out quickly. Very good experience. read more

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Best Carne Asada Fries that I've ever had! This place is a great spot to grab lunch or dinner. It's super cute with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The food is made to order and it can get busy. They have a good selection of options! ig: @cravingswithcat read more

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Good tacos, quick service, fair pricing. Salsas felt a little weak on the spice levels. Would try again if I'm in the area and want a quick bite. read more

Taco Chelo - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This was my second time coming here and I forgot to order flour tortillas. The food was still excellent and I highly recommend the vegetable taco which has sweet potato in it. We got frozen margaritas and they were very good. read more

Taco Chelo - Quesadilla and beef taco - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great tacos, nice staff, and a fun atmosphere. This is tasty food and a fast casual vibe. The horchata was super tasty, and we all enjoyed the food. I especially enjoyed the veggie tacos. Also, very tasty guacamole! read more

We had such a great experience at Taco Chelo. The food is very authentic, simple, and absolutely delicious. There's something special about watching the team prepare your food right in front of you. You can see the care and attention that goes into every order. Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Sometimes the simplest flavors are the best, and they truly nailed it. We enjoyed everything we tried and will definitely be back for more. read more

The horchata is the best in town! Tacos are delicious. Meat is juicy and taco toppings go really well with specific kinds of meats. I like the fresh sliced cucumber to cleanse my month before enjoying another tasty taco. Easy to place an online order. Food are ready quickly. No option to order drink online but no problem because the line to order takeout is short. read more

Taco Chelo - Carnitas Taco, Sonoran Taco, and Frijoles A La Charra - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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No need to look any further This place is so very good! Salsas, tortillas, chips, everything homemade & broke da mouth DELICIOUS! No joke, we didn't look to go anywhere else during Spring Training. We didn't eat at Stadiums, ever. We ate & drank here. Their chips & salsa, a must. They should give you more salsa, but it is very delicious! Their shrimp tacos & fish tacos really good. But the star of our show was the last taco listed on menu, Carne Asada with melted cheese. So fabulous! Service is efficient. Cute interior & exterior. Don't hesitate, this is the place to go. Happy hour would have been a great value, our timing just didn't work. read more

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Want delicious tacos? Taco Chelo is where you will get them. Inside there is an open window to the kitchen to see and watch the food being prepared. The corn tortillas, guacamole, and more are made fresh. Authentic flavors leave me craving more. The happy hour menu has great food and drink options with my kind of happy hour prices. I tried the chicken and carnitas tacos. Also the beef taquitos. All were very satisfying from taste to portions. It was so good my sister and I went back a few days later and tried the costra beef taco. I loved this taco. It put me in mind of an open faced quesadilla since the cheese on top is carmelized and there is only one toritilla shell. Service was great and the ambiance is very inviting with the brightness and decor. read more

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I went in for some tacos, they are the best tacos ive ever tried but what made it even better was the girl named salem! She was funny and made my day ! read more

Taco Chelo has been on my list to check out for months now and is less than 5min from my office. My friends wanted to take me to lunch for my 50th bday to celebrate and I only had tacos on my mind so it was a no brainer. I only wish I would have gone earlier! Looove this spot! We were greeted immediately upon walking in and walked through the menu. They were all sooo friendly. The vibe and decor give the experience an extra kick as well. The food was excellent! The aroma of the homemade corn tortillas cooking was next level. One of my friends is a vegetarian and there were plenty of options for her to select from. They have options for a variety of diets. We all loved everything we ordered, but my particular fav was the Costra Taco. That caramelized cheese on top though...perfection! On a scale of 1 - 10, I love you Taco Chelo. Let's do this again really super soon!! I need more of you in my life :) read more

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Great customer service and the food is amazing! Authentic! Make sure to have a margarita and strawberry horchata. Tacos are delicious and homemade tortillas on site make them extra special! Try them all! Our favorites were the vegetable, costra beef and fish! We will be back! read more

Salem is the best bartender we ever she is so pretty nice to my annoying self she is also so funny

4.7 stars? VERY hard to believe!!! VERY underwhelming! Asada was chewy, fish taco was mushy, and the Chelo salad was MEH! Two girls running the entire restaurant-(they were nice-why I am giving 2 stars instead of 1). The cashier was also the bartender...took forever to get our drinks. Would not recommend this restaurant! read more

Solid Tacos. Cute shop. We popped in to Taco Chelo after an event on Mill. I appreciated being greeted at the door, handed a menu, and being told where to order. I got the shrimp tacos, a fish taco, and beans and rice not realizing there are two shrimp tacos on an order. It was too much food, but I stuffed myself then brought home leftovers for a snack. The crispy shrimp tacos have a minced shrimp filling and are the fried crunchy ones I associate with the beach served with broth. The fish taco was perfectly crispy. Loved than the beans and rice came with a scoop of guacamole. Everyone was so nice including the cook who handed me a lid to go for my beans and rice. I work nearby though it had been a while since I walked up to the train station. Now that I know Taco Chelo is there, I'll stop in regularly. read more

Taco Chelo - Beans and rice - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Fun taco spot right next to ASU's Tempe campus. I ordered a fish taco and chicken taco and they were both really good. Get the chips and guac appetizer if you visit, it's great! read more

Taco Chelo - Fish taco and chicken taco - Tacos Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Atmosphere - Most the tables were occupied when we arrived, but there was still some space left at one of the shared long tables. There was a group sitting on the patio. They had a space heater out there. There wasn't a lot of tables and chairs in the shop. I think when they get busy, there won't be enough. It gets packed during game days since they are right next to the local university. I visited the restroom. The soap was in a sauce dispenser bottle. The paper towel dispenser was automatic. Toilet was not automatic. Not hot inside the restaurant. I have been to some places where it's been hot. During the day, the whole patio is in the hot sunlight. No water misters. Food: Fish taco $4.75 I'm not sure what made it so spicy, but there was something in there that was spicy. I think it might have been the pickled onion. It was pink and a little crunchy. Besides that, the rest of the fish taco wasn't that spicy. I liked this one a lot, besides whatever made it so spicy. Good flavor. I liked the crispy outside of the fish. Soft corn tortilla. beer battered fish, cabbage, pickled onion, chile morita crema, pico de gallo Crispy shrimp taco $6 df The whole taco was fried. The corn tortilla was crunchy. The corn tortilla on the fish was a little softer. I didn't like the seafood broth. It definitely tasted fishy. I probably wouldn't get this one again. Definitely shouldn't have any more fish broth. Cabbage, carrots, pickled onion, seafood broth Chicken $3.75 gf I didn't like the sweet flavor. I don't know what made it have that flavor. The cotija cheese was fine. I think the sour cream should have been fine too. I wouldn't get this one again. This also only came with a soft corn tortilla. adobo marinated chicken, avocado salsa, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, sour cream Carnitas (pork) $3.75 gf, df I liked this one. It wasn't fancy, but the shredded meat was moist and tender. Soft corn tortilla. onion and cilantro Barbacoa (beef) $3.75 gf, I really didn't like the sweet flavor of this one. I would not get it again. People who like salsa tlaquepaque would probably like it. I didn't know that salsa Tlaquepaque is made with instant coffee until I looked it up later. The sauce was the deep reddish color expected of salsa tlaquepaque. I don't know how it could be so sweet since most salsa tlaquepaque recipes don't include honey or sugar. I think I could taste more ancho chili than any instant coffee. Soft corn tortilla. df onion, cilantro, salsa tlaquepaque Sonoran taco (beef) $3.85 It has a lot of gristle and fat. I wouldn't get this one again. It has a lot of flavor. Tasted bbq-ed. Liked that it came with a flour tortilla, though. Wish we could have the option for flour or corn tortillas on all the tacos. Carne asada with flour tortilla, cabbage, Sonoran salsa, and avocado salsa If the Carne asada (beef) 3.75 gf avocado salsa, onion, and cilantro is basically the Sonoran taco, I would advise against getting it if you don't like gristle or fatty pieces. The same for the costra (beef) $3.85 Carne asada, caramelized cheese, caramelized onion served on flour tortilla. Chips, salsa + guacamole $5.50 vg, df I thought the guacamole could have been better. It tasted like it was made with unripe avocado, maybe this is better than being made with too ripe avocado. Some chips were overly salty. I liked that the chips were thin. The salsa asada had a dark red color, but didn't taste burnt. I thought it tasted like regular salsa. I didn't like the salsa verde. I usually like salsa verde, but the jalapeño or serrano peppers flavor was too strong. salsa asada, guacamole, salsa verde Service - There were many employees. The service here was quick once they got to us. The cashier was chatting with other people in the restaurant. Parking - The restaurant was located inside of a college area. Was not crowded since it was late at night. Parking meters and parking structures are available. You must pay for parking at the parking meters or the parking structure. Shaded spots available in the parking structure. Future - May come back although cost seemed pricey for small tacos and parking can only be found at the parking structure or parking meters. May try the al pastor (pork) $3.75, gf (WEDNESDAYS ONLY), but it is Wednesday only. I would think it is basically the same as the carnitas, though. onion, cilantro, pineapple The health record on Yelp shows that they are not participating at this time. read more

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