Tacos Gavilán means "Taco Hawk" in English, so if you're a hawk for well made tacos/mulitas/burritos or sopes set to a lively, thrumming soundtrack of South American music all at reasonable prices...then make like their namesake hawk and dive bomb your way to this restaurant! Your favorite Yelp correspondent was in the Downey area for a medical appointment when hunger pangs happily coincided w/ my need to kill a little time for traffic to abate. I ordered a mulita asada, a pair of asada tacos, my obligatory Diet Coke and a flan. The latter item would make my wife and doctor cringe because of my diabetes...So I ordered it solely for research, to give you fellow Yelpers an appraisal. My doctor and wife will be pleased to know I only sampled two bites of the flan. Tacos Gavilán features a well-provisioned self serve bar, brimming with all manner of flavorful sides. From refried beans to queso to finely minced onions y cilantro and multiple salsas, there's no shortage of items that'll elevate your order to Flavortown. The service is quick and friendly. The caliber of the food is good, tho not stellar. Certainly will fill you up and that's all you can or should expect at their (reasonable) prices The flan, made for Tacos Gavilán by a company called Flan-Tastic, is, true to its manufacturer, fantastic. Super moist, drenched in caramel with a bouncy, jello-like consistency. ALMOST as good as my best friend Mick's Cuban wife makes for special occasions. For my entree, two tacos, medium fountain beverage and dessert I spent $19.95, incl taxes. read more

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I tried this location for the first time and it didn't disappoint! Very delicious food and drinks. I loved my asada sope very tasty The tacos al pastor very also on point! Great customer service Nice and clean restaurant read more

Tacos Gavilan - Sope Asada - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

This location is always busy. I usually go with my kids after school and when I'm in a rush. Although, it has a lot of traffic, they are fast with their service. The ladies who take the orders are always polite and nice. It's always clean, too! Even the restrooms!!!! The food is always tasting the same, so no complaints, also why we always go back! Sorry, no oictyres, this time. read more

If you want to eat delicious, authentic Mexican food do not come to the Downey location! The service is horrible and the area is not safe. Found a hair in my food which is obviously GROSS!! With so many other options available for Mexican food in the area go somewhere else. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND! read more

This is literally right down the street from my house. I've never gone there cause I don't meat or chicken. Whenever my friends come to pick me up from Calabasas they always wanna eat Mexican food in the Beverly Hills of Latino. This is the place he picked. He ended up getting me a taco vegetarian style. It was actually good. I really like how the plates come with this shower cap over it very cool packaging concept for tacos read more

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This tends to be our go to taco spot when we need a quick fix. Service is fast and always respectable. The inside lobby always has the South America/Mexico soccer leagues going which is a blast to watch. The food is a little above average but it is a little expensive. Pretty decent servings and the service bar has roasted onions/jalapeños, beans and pickled carrots. I've had better Mexican food but rarely is there anything less consistent than Gavilan. read more

I went to a taping of Frasier and got out of the studio late so I stopped by this place on the way back to my hotel. Super quick service, great prices, and a big location. The parking lot is huge, the lobby and seating abundant, and portions large. The burritos, especially those with Carnitas, are super flavorful. Interior of the building feels about like any other current fast food joint, and the salsa in packets was weird. read more

Tacos Gavilan - Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

Fast services and spacious interior . Delicious authentic soft tacos and still given free salsa, onions and jalapeño! read more

Tacos Gavilan - Delicious Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

My go to for a late night snack. Literally they'll usually be open until 2-3am. Right across the street from my house. Always a clean location and super fast service. I will admit limited English but hey it's California we make it work. They know what I'm there for once I just repeat something on their menu. Staff is also very friendly and welcoming. Only downside is the parking and traffic read more

I like coming to this place - Everytime I come there is no lines . You have the option of ordering your food then pick up or they also have Uber eats available ;) restaurant is pretty clean . I always see a lady cleaning the tables and sweeping which is great . Whenever you feel like having tacos time - this is you spot . Enjoy !! ;) read more

This is my first time with this franchise and probably the last. Ordered the 3 taco asada plate for my wife. Didn't come with beans or rice. I guess you have to ask?? The menu says it comes with it. I preferred the Super Burrito. Suppose to come with avocado and sour cream. Nope! The lady at the counter looked like she wanted to be somewhere else. So did I. Place sucks! read more

This has been one of the toughest meats I've ever tried . The meat is not cut up smaller. This so called meat they call asada I could guarantee you it's not asada . They also added chunks of fat balls . Over all gross. Only thing I enjoy was the pina drink and the drama behind the counter with the lady's ! read more

Tacos Gavilan - Tacos (it's not asada) not sure what kinda of meat they use - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

I accidentally found this place headed for a burger joint. Think Chipotle as far as what you put on to your selection.... Only better! Service is friendly and super fast! Sit down is like an in n out joint. I ordered the super burrito with Al Pastor and it was delicious! I would definitely return! read more

Pretty good food and fast service the carne asada is pretty good better then a few places around here I love that they're open till 3am so you can go and get some bomb food after a long shift or night out! Very clean store, there's always employees cleaning the dine in area! Now don't get me wrong there's nothing necessary special about this place but for the price and quality of food and quantity you get you'll be fully satisfied and wanting to come back! read more

Tacos Gavilan - To go order - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

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So first of all, if you really need to use a public restroom you need to purchase something from there first like most restaurants. Normal right? However the tall Mexican lady who looked at me up and down and smirked as she walked away, having the other cashier attend to me was absolutely putrid. Customer service is terrible here, and they act all smug and conceited for god forbid working at a Mexican food CHAIN where they aren't the only ones. The cashiers are terrible there and treat you as a second class citizen. I wouldn't say the same for the cooks but I recommend avoiding the location. Support a taco truck or a taco stall instead, even go to King Taco instead. This place is overrated. read more

Sorry but I had the carnitas taco plate and those were the worst tacos I've ever had; not to mention the worst carnitas meat. They were tiny chopped pieces full of fat and greasy. The beans were pretty good but the rice was basic. I would not recommend this place. I've had gavacho made carnitas tacos better than this sadly. read more

Tacos are on point and their beans are to die for. Only downside is their sauce is now prepackaged. I don't think it is a flavorful as it was precovid,but it will pass. read more

New Taco Gavilan locations give "Guy from the hood, moves out the hood and swears he grew up in the suburb" vibes. Totally lost identity. New Tacos Gavilan has nothing to do with the good ol Food Trucks from the hood where it gots its origin. I remember the truck on Slauson off rail road tracks late night, now its just so generic. I do love the cleanliness and fast service tho, tradeoff is food that has taste and not that good for you haha read more

This place always hits the spot. From the savory and crunchy sopes to the tasty burritos. The salsas are always authentic and fresh and the complementary beans onions, and peppers. I couldn't ask for more. This place always very tidy and clean the staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. This place will forever be the closest to home. Lastly I love how fast their service is. Ps the champurrado is so tasty. Keep up the great work. read more

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Been here 6 times, usually picking up a super burrito or quesadilla. The super burrito has very little to no meat, just tons of rice & beans but very little of the meat. I thought maybe it was a carne asada issue, I order al pastor. Still very little meat. Is it coming out of the employee pay checks? read more

Tacos Gavilan - Carne asada super burrito...with no carne asada, just rice and beans. - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

Quick and yummy tacos on a Tuesday! One of the few places whose street tacos are still under $2. Jamaica was pretty good, try mixing with sprite and let me know what you think! read more

Tacos Gavilan - Chicken & Asada tacos - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

September 2022, Out of all the locations I feel like this location is the most organized and had the best service. I ordered the Asada plate with 3 chicken tacos. The asada plate came with rice, beans, salad. I think the plate was more cost efficient but the portion size is enough to feed 2people. The salsa bar was set up with individually packaged condiments (green/red salsa, onion cilantro, lemon). The wait time for the order was fast and the drink station was well stocked. read more

Agua frescas are not good. Food is mid asf. Very disappointed and will not be returning.

Soo good Nice place definitely come every time so delicious Blah blah Your review needs 85 characters read more

stay away this place not even the same they try to be corporate like in and out but their food gets you feeling like crap. came in on a sunday to get dinner place looks all different doesn't even fell like a taco spot cooks not even cooking meat sitting in metal containers probably been sitting for hours. ordered to sopes sheesh the tortilla for the sope was hard as a rock thought we were doing a chevy truck commercial. just stay away go somewhere else a mom and pop place or a street tacos!!! read more

Tacos Gavilan - Hard as a rock sope!!! - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

Im usually not a big fan of chain restaurants but this place has a great deal for their meat plates and they give you free food! Ordered an Al pastor plate and was surprised that they gave so much food! It include tortillas, meats, rice, vegetables, guacamole, and where you pick up your food their is a station for free AYCE beans! Essentially, what I like to do is create my own bowl with the packets of onions and salsa on the side that is unlimited! Oh yea they give you those grilled jalapeños on the side as well! If you're looking for a good deal look no further! read more

Tacos Gavilan - Al pastor plate - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

After shopping I came to Tacos Gavilan a well know and very popular Mexican restaurant that have expanded around Southern California they are well know their tacos,burritos,tortas and other Mexican classic. I was very hungry for tacos especially El pastors one of my favorite meats El pastors well season pork sound yes it delicious who try it. I order four El pastors tacos and one El Super burrito de Pollo it's chicken everyone. The burrito was big and thick that the named it. I took a bite it was really good they put so much about cream it also lost that flavor. The chicken was season well and really rice and beans were good. read more

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They are really going down in their service and quality. Ordered 8 tacos and 2 sopes for delivery. Although the beans were requested on all 10 orders, not one container arrived. Also ordered a large iced tea, and instead, received a large horchata. The drink was for a diabetic. So this is a waste! Their food is ok. But their service and attention to details to ensure an order is correct has been awful lately. read more

This place is amazing. The service is great. Wait for food was not very long. Ordered tacos 2 asada 1 al pastor and my boyfriend got the torta w/ asada and chorizo mixed (is obsessed now). Tacos were delicious! What makes it better is the side bar with all the toppings and beans. Beans were soo yummy like home. Definitely a favorite. read more

I noticed this name before and stopped by spontaneously since I was in the area and noticed a line. As for "corporate fast food", this location is A-OK, but it does not compete with mom and pops taco/ burrito places. There are a few enticing aspects- (+) various menu items (mulitas, sopes, tortas) and meat selections (+) an extensive salsa bar (including free beans) (+) It is open late As for the experience and price:quality:quantity ratio, would not find it that great. Have had way better and didn't find the $6-7 burritos worth it. read more

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First time trying this chain. Had the torta de carne asada and a couple tacos. For a chain, the dedication to standard dishes is good. Take out came with everything asked for like salsa and utensils. Taste was good along with ingredients combined with portions. This location is at a busy intersection, parking is plentiful and easy to get to. Recommend for sure read more

Tacos Gavilan - Torta Asada - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

This place was very good! i will recommend to every person that is hungry and it's a very good mexican restaurant.

Tacos here are not good, I would recommend a hard pass on these, the meat quality is subpar and the seasoning is just average. You do get free beans...lol read more

Tacos Gavilan - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

The one thing I like about this chain restaurant is that they remain open late for those midnight munchies. I went on a late Saturday night and there were only a few customers inside so even on the weekend it doesn't get busy. The burrito I ordered was good but not the greatest of the fast food that's out there. read more

I think this restaurant, need to let you know you will be charge if you ask for the meat well done .. the cashier she just add .49 cents with not telling me anything if I don't check my receipt I will never been told about the extra charge , pienso que si ordeñas carne bien cocinada debe el cliente ser informado por el costo extra .. no solo contarlo sin avisar imagínense cuanta gente debe de preguntar por carne bien cocinada y no les notifican nada de un cobro adicional .. la obligacjon de ellos es avisarte y no sólo de cobrarte .. read more

Tacos Gavilan - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

The food was mediocre. I tried the sope and the mulita. Both meats lacked flavor. I ended up giving half away. This definitely didn't satisfy my craving. read more

I appreciated my experience this morning with cashier Sofia C. The customer service was exceptional today. I went in to order a total of 60 tacos for my daughter's teacher appreciation week for her school, and Sofia was extremely nice, patient, helpful, and professional. My entire experience was beautiful, and the price was reasonable! read more

Great spot. Very Clean. I placed an order for an asada super burrito and a regular burrito. The super burrito tasted great! I tried it since I had heard it was delicious, but it was all they claimed it was. Remember that this is fast food; while it's good, it's not the greatest I've ever had. It was large enough, though it could have been larger, and it had all the major elements, excluding the lettuce. On the other side, the standard burrito was overly little and straightforward. Not nearly as tasty as a giant burrito. Although a little pricey for what it is, the update is worthwhile. After that, we ordered a homemade flan and horchata from a fountain. Quick Service. read more

My mom is a great cook. She loves King Taco, but this to her was not good at all. I got two tacos and ended up making quesadillas with one, and my son ate the burrito I got. Never again will I order from here. Not only that, they give you salsa packets as if it were ketchup read more

As a Canadian road tripping in the US this place was magical! Maybe to locals it's nothing special but to me it was amazing. Basically build your own Mexican made fresh in house with a phenomenal salsa and bean bar and even cute little packets of cut up cilantro and onion. Food was affordable and authentic. Think like 2X as good as Taco Bell but 1/3 the price of a sit down restaurant. The best thing about it for me is that it was open until midnights Sun-Thur and 3am Fri-Sat so it's the perfect place to come super late at night or after a concert (we drove 4 days to come see Taylor Swift...). And it was huge inside and an easy place to rest and take a break on a road trip. I did have to get some assistance from staff as we don't speak Spanish and literally everyone and everything was in Spanish - I think that added to the charm. 10/10 and I can't wait to go back before we start heading north to Canada. read more