Visited here several years ago with a few friends and ordered probably four tacos ala carte. I can only remember that I got the lengua taco and it was tender and tasty. Decided to visit again with my parents in town. Chips and salsa were complementary immediately, and the salsa had a nice kick. We ordered a couple bowls of guacamole as well, and it was just a really good, smooth, and well-seasoned guac. I was feeling a bit famished, so I ordered the Taco Loco: Deep-fried tortilla with grilled chicken, beef, shrimp, mushrooms, and tomatoes over rice topped with cheese. If that doesn't make your mouth water, I don't know what will. It was absolutely delicious. Flavorful meats, sauteed mushrooms, and the cheese was out of this world. Everyone else enjoyed their food too. Definitely my go-to Mexican restaurant in the area. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Taco Loco - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I've been wanting to try this spot and wow it definitely lived up to the hype. The steak tacos were delicious and my favorite had to have been the chicken adobado tacos. They were tacos with marinated chicken that was juicy and had great flavor. They also give complimentary chips and salsa while waiting for the food which added to the experience. It's a pretty small space inside with a few booths and plenty of space at the counter to sit. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Top tray two on left : pollo Top tray three on right : Pollo Adobado Bottom tray top left : fried steak Bottom tray top right : steak - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Plantains were good although a bit greasy so I couldn't eat very many. I got no crema. The carne taco was pretty good, but a bit fatty, and definitely falls apart but that's normal for corn tortillas. Friendly service when we went in to pick up our order. I forgot to take pictures that time, but I went back recently for sopa de pollo and the guacamole app. This time the food was below average. I was surprised they used taco chicken meat in the soup instead of the traditional chicken breast pieces I was expecting. It was not as good because of that. It changed the texture too much and made it more like canned soup vibes. The guacamole was very basic, which is fine, but not worth the cost for the amount received (a tiny sauce cup worth more like $4 instead of $7.) I didn't care for the hard chips, although that is not uncommon for me at any Mexican restaurant, so I had my own back up at home. Overall, they seem really nice, but the food could use some work. I don't think I'll be back. Good luck to them though! read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Guacamole Dip and Sopa de Pollo poured into my own bowl (not great tasting) - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We just had an excellent meal. I got the pollo loco and my husband got a chimichanga. The food was fantastic!

Best tacos in the city of Cincinnati, probably also in the state of Ohio. Get in here now and buy a taco, you won't regret it.

We couldn't wait to try this place after early voting. First, we loved the decor. The red and white vinyl seating reminiscent of the 50s were clean and a fantastic throwback. The place sparkled. The owner helped us order and was very kind. And then there's the food. I ordered four tacos - pollo, carnitas, chorizo and pescado. The fish taco was absolutely outstanding! The flavors exploded in my mouth, were super fresh and well.. fantastic. When we go back I will definitely reorder. The chorizo taco was delicious. The carnitas and pollo, which I ate last, were a bit dry. Perhaps it was timing. I added some of the 'NOT hot' sauce to give them a boost. That's all they needed. Yum! I want to try some different kinds, but I will definitely have the pescado and chorizo tacos in the future. read more

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Love to pop in here for a quick mexican meal. I've only been at weird times so it's never been so busy i had to wait to sit, or wait long for my food. Everything has been delicious. I'd love for the shop to do a deep clean though as the vents up by the ceiling really need a good vacuuming. It does not stop me from going in and enjoying a meal...but should still get a good cleaning. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

5 star service Food wad amazing. Love the vibe and will come here anytime I am in the mood for the best tacos in town. read more

Really enjoyed our visit to Taqueria San Marcos and can't wait to come back. We ordered four tacos and cheese dip. All the tacos were good and would order again but the best two were the steak and the marinated chicken. The chips and salsa were good. Enjoyed the salsa having some spice and being onion forward. The cheese dip was delicious and thicc (that's not a typo). Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. She recommended great tacos. The vibe inside is cool and unique. I like that they kept the diner look. read more

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Many taco places were closed on cinco de mayo. But not this place. Lucky us!! It's our first time here. It's a clean establishment, and friendly service. This place served my taco craving need. We are glad we came here and would come again. read more

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Such a cute little local restaurant food was bomb!! The service was great. The food was authentic!

I am not sure if I missed something based on other reviews, but I am rounding up. The staff is nice and and the environment is welcoming. The steak fajitas actually had good flavor and the beans and rice were okay. My corn tortillas were light brown and stiff and cracking. My guacamole was starting to turn that darker color and the mole was overly chocolate tasting and did not taste homemade. Not horrible, but not what I was expecting. read more

Was excited to try this place after reading all the great reviews and seeing all the delicious looking tacos so I decided to go after work. Someone who has also lived in Los Angeles claimed these tacos to be very similar to LA tacos which caught my attention as I too have lived in LA for many years and have traveled to San Diego time to time to really know authentic tacos. This was kind of a miss. I say this because the tacos didn't have the best quality and taste. It was definitely lacking something; also it did not meet its increased price point of $3.50/taco OR $3.99/specialty meat taco. I have had $1 tacos that tasted way better and provided more meat. I normally get corn tortillas with my tacos but I gave the flour ones a shot. The meat to tortilla quantity was way off -- I had to make a tiny burrito. Jokes aside - the tripa was crispy, which is how I like it to be. The lengua wasn't that seasoned and the asada was kind of dry. The pescado was a little disappointing with the onion/cilantro to actual fish ratio off. The tortilla chips were stale and cold. The guac was subpar, but the salsa wasn't all too bad. The server spilled the horchata on our table and got us wet and sticky. We didn't really mind it and just moved to a different table. There weren't many tables available - the restaurant probably had 4 tables in total plus the bar top. The place was a little ran down with a slight butcher/meat shop smell to it. It seemed like there was only one person working in the back which pushed our wait time over 30 minutes. Definitely not a great first experience. I would still encourage people to give this place a shot as it is a family owned business -- it's always great to support local businesses. If you do, I hope your experience will be better than mines! read more

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This is a small, corner diner styled restaurant. I was searching for tacos and came across this little gem. Probably family owned, one guy was in the kitchen and one young, very sweet young lady was handling the front. I had the fish tacos with some of the sauces they had, accompanied with the famous Jarritos. I'd totally return to this little quiet, intimate spot for lunch again. I'm sure this place is a secret, because it's right in the neighborhood. Definitely give it a try from some authentic Mexican food. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Complimentary chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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SO SO SO SOO GOOOD!! I love this place. it's so quaint and delicious. best local Mexican I've had. service was great aswell!

Golden Foodie Rule: When your food-stylist friend experiences a moment of gustatory bliss that the server mistakes for a heart attack, you go to that restaurant as soon as you can. Ever since I learned of Mary's "moment," I've been dying to go to Tacqueria San Marcos. This little gem operates in a classic, 50s-era chili parlor (Murray's Chili), tucked away in a residential part of Norwood that the Rookwood developers have not [yet] un-roughened. A curvilinear bar with classic, diner stools in red/silver vinyl dominates the main room; we sat there since diners (exhibiting no signs of cardiac events) occupied all five booths when we arrived. The server greeted us with a friendly smile, and a basket of homemade chips and salsa, all complimentary. We ordered queso and guacamole to complete the dip cycle, thereby bringing the colors of the Mexican flag -- red, white, green -- to our meal. Olé! A cooler full Fanta, Sangria Senorial, Mexican Coke, and more flavors and colors of Jarritos soda than I ever knew existed contribute to the palette. Mexican pop music on the radio. Sizzling fajitas. Senses working overtime. The menu is overwhelming...in good way; I want to try everything! I start with a classic -- burrito especial -- served piping hot in under 10 minutes with a side of rice and beans. Delicioso. Same for my husband's trio of tacos in steak, pulled pork, and chorizo, the latter of which made me reach for my defibrillator. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Guacamole, salsa, y queso - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Really great local spot with large authentic menu and diner like inside. Will be back often! read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Steak and Chicken Taco - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Not that good. Cold chips. Water salsa. Flavor of tacos wasn't bad. Just would rather go somewhere else. Waitress was sweet. Nice, quiet atmosphere, but food was lacking. Maybe/probably a college crowd favorite, but not worth the trip. read more

No words for how good these tacos. We also tried the chicken chimichanga and that was delicious well. What really took the cake (or took the taco) was their guacamole. Clearly had just been made and was so good. The vibes inside are very fun, we sat at the counter. The spinning chairs slayed. We were in and out in less than an hour. Very quick and nice people. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Chicken Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I went to pick up my take-out order here, and did not expect to encounter such a cozy neighborhood diner atmosphere. They told me it would take 30 minutes to get my order ready -- most probably because of all the hands-on care in the preparation. So once I arrived, I had time to sit on the bright red stool, absorb the tantalizing aromas around me, observe the low-keyed local residents in their booths and strike up a conversation with the person waiting next to me. I felt like I had come in from the cold to this warm community. I was equally impressed with the food, once I got home & unpacked it. The caldo de camaron (shrimp soup) surprised me with the vibrant colors of the huge chunks of vegetables (did they wait and chop them up only when they started my order?). It was warming and hearty. The mole poblano was the biggest surprise though, with the best mole sauce I'd ever experienced -- first you tasted the complex earthly flavor you expect from mole, then got a little zing of heat. The alambres (steak pieces on corn tortilla) was hearty and flavorful, and the portion was huge -- I now have tasty meals for the next 3 days. All in all, amazing food in a laid-back neighborhood diner experience! read more

The Food Was Excellent. The Service Friendly. Prices Were Good. Dig the Mom & Pop Vibe. The Real Deal.

I really enjoyed the hot crispy chips and restaurant salsa that was just spicy enough. We had tacos and they were so yummy. Double corn tortillas topped cilantro and onion and served with a lime. I especially loved the flavor of the Al pastor. We also enjoyed a side of rice and beans and the tamarind Jarrito. It's a humble restaurant and the service is warm. I am a taco snob that has enjoyed tacos in the Deep South of Texas and Mexico-I plan to be back to try more of the menu! read more

I really wanted to love this little hole in the wall but I just didn't. When you walk in, the place does not smell good. It's a real turn off from the get go. Even a hole in the wall should smell like tasty food. The food was just ok. The chips needed salt. Salsa was too spicy. The cheese dip was ok. The tacos were ok. Everything was just missing a little something. We won't be back. read more

I recently tried Taqueria San Marcos. This review is solely based on a carry out order. We got the 20 tacos as well as some chips and guacamole. My favorite taco was the Carne Asada. All of the tacos had an excellent balance of flavors and just the right amount of fillings. The guacamole was hearty and had a great flavor. I would definitely recommend checking them out, and I would like to try more of their menu in the future. read more

While hanging out in the Norwood area we started looking for a good Mexican restaurant. This place had the highest ratings. I had high hopes. Their chips are hot, which I loved! The salsa was just okay. We ordered queso. The flavor was okay, but it was so thin! Shockingly so. We ordered a chicken burrito, a barbacoa burrito, and a torta. I can't remember what the torta name was, but it had a little of everything in it -- chicken, sausage, chorizo, etc. The best dish was the torta out of the 3. The taste of the food was good, but nothing spectacular. Oddly...we all agreed...we weren't full when we left. At ~$15 a dish, surely there's better options around. read more

More like 3.5 stars. Been there two times - really likes it the first time, but second time was a miss. They also increased their taco prices from $2.5 each to $3.5 for basic tacos and $3.99 for "special" tacos (like fish, shrimp, etc.) Service - slow usually, but exceptionally slow the second time, took us 50 minutes to get our tacos (we ordered 4-5 each). However, it looked like they only have 1 person in the kitchen and they get a lot of takeout orders. Understood it's a family run business and we are still in a pandemic, so I was fine with the wait. Second visit, they were out of most of the items - no tamales, no queso, no "special tacos" (the more expensive ones on the menu). Tacos were legit tho. Fried steak with like tacos was dry both times, would not recommend. Recommendations would be Al pastor, the combo one (steak and chorizo), and pescado (fish). read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The best tacos in Cincy!! It is the definition of hole-in-the-wall but so delicious. The salsa was delicious and spicy. The tacos were amazing! I got the shrimp tacos, my favorite, they were marinated and super flavorful. The fish taco was also amazing, flavorful and juicy. The al pastor was also full of flavor and perfectly cooked. This is a family owned and run business and it is awesome. Loved the food! read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Al Pastor Taco, Shrimp Taco, Fish Taco - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ordered delivery from here and was met with a universally bad experience. Some of the mistakes were attributable to the delivery service (the meal was late and items were cold), but the restaurant is certainly not absolved of blame, especially when the mistakes made could have led to an allergic reaction I ordered five shrimp tacos, one of which was missing. I ordered two campecano tacos, both of which included onion that I'd removed due to my colleague having an allergy. I ordered a tilapia taco, which was barely even half filled with meat. All of the tacos I ordered to have onions removed also had the cilantro removed, though this was not requested. I ordered fajitas, which arrived missing the listed mushrooms and which had unappetizing bits of various (probably fallen in) bits of meat. I was attempting to avoid meat for health reasons. The fajitas were also extremely greasy and - as the rest of the order was - cold. The side ingredients were crusted to the bottom of the aluminum container and the guacamole tasted off, with a weird funky vegetal flavour. I ordered a side of radishes, all of which were brown and one piece of which was rotten. I'd forgive small bits of this if the food tasted remotely good. As it was, it was bland and left me feeling like the ingredients were off enough to be worrisome. I regret ordering from this restaurant for whom I used to share praise, and that's upsetting. After years of loving this restaurant, it's just depressing. Oh. Now my coworker who ate some of the food is feeling sick. Glad I didn't post this after the prior sentence. I'm starting to feel a bit ill as well, and I didn't even finish my fajitas and tacos before spittinf them out in their foil/containers and throwing them away. Disgusting. Steer clear of this restaurant, if possible. read more

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Terrible food. The beans and kids tacos seemed like they were microwaved for an hour. Beans tasted like they were bad. They charged $15 for a pile of chips (vegetarian botana). read more

Why did I not know about this place earlier?? I've been doing monthly lunches with a coworker and always looking for us to try new places within 10-15 minutes from work. I looked up taco places today and came across Taqueria San Marcos, which had some great reviews. I am so glad we came here. I've been looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant to come to and this is perfect since it's close to work. (I love Mazunte but it's a different type of Mexican and a lot heavier than what I want for lunch). It's definitely a hole in the wall as it's not in a well known area or around much else. The menu ranges from Tortas and burritos to tacos and many fish dishes. I had the tacos and tried a chorizo and marinated chicken. The chicken was marinated so well and was very flavorful. The chorizo is just the right texture and right amount of spice they don't have beans or rice, just cilantro and onions and radishes to garnish. There's no cheese although you can probably ask for some but just the simple ingredients and special sauces make the tacos wonderful. The corn tortillas are my favorite. I also had some horchata which hit the spot. It's not too sweet like you get at some places. The staff was super friendly and we got seated right away even at a popular lunch time around 11:45am. It's a smaller place though so you may have to wait if it was any busier. The waitress didn't speak too much English but was friendly as can be and still able to communicate well. The food came out quickly and they were very attentive Both me and my coworker were pleased and the best part in my opinion is I didn't feel tired and overly stuffed since you can order single tacos to your need and they aren't greasy and fatty. Very flavorful meal and I cannot wait to go back here and bring more folks to check it out. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I had a seat looking into the kitchen watching the chef cook. The lack of cleanliness and unsanitary cooking made my food quite unappetizing. The vibes of the restaurant were not what I was expecting. It's a diner that serves Mexican should better set your expectations. The staff wasn't very friendly. It was a slow night, however it still took a while to find us a seat. read more

This place was awesome. I was visiting cinci from Chicago and found the place randomly. We did a massive order for carry out over the phone and the amazingly sweet person taking the order was thorough and awesome. She was so patient with 12 different entrees. The taste was delicious, my family was actually quiet while eating! Their fiesta nachos were probably my favorite. We did pick-up, and the place inside was a really cute diner vibe. Would definitely go back post-covid for lunch/eat-in at the restaurant! They are on GrubHub or one of the delivery services, however their whole menu isn't on there. Apparently GrubHub calls them to place the order (they don't have electronic receipt), and don't do their own delivery. Can't wait to get their food again! read more

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Me encanta este negocio. El camarero, la comida y la ubicación eran muy agradables. Espero mi próxima visita! read more

Delicious tacos and good prices. Winning combination! Fajitas nachos were also great. Peppers and onions cooked perfectly. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Fajitas Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Holy tacos! These tacos were amazing and I would give the tacos 5 stars in a heartbeat. These are authentic delicious tacos folks. And they are at an extremely reasonable price. I got the marinated chicken and a steak taco. The marinated chicken was by far the better of the two. You have the option of flour or corn tortilla. We order the queso and it came out cold, asked for it to be reheated and at came back mildly warm. No one wants cold cheese dip, not appetizing but won't keep me from enjoying the tacos. Pro tip: BYO read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The foods good- I ordered the fajita nachos, the torta de asada and the pork Chile verde with the rice and beans on the side. The Chile verde had an amazing taste and the rice and beans were delicious as its side. It was served with a couple tortillas but I wish it was served with pico de gallo, crema, guacamole or cebollas but still so so good! The nachos fajitas were so so good and I was very happy that I got these- just wish they came with more chips. The torta de asada was the only thing that we were disappointed with. The taste was there and it was big but it had little meat Inside. read more

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Go directly to Taqueria San Marcos, do not pass go, do not collect tacos anywhere else if you are in the area. Seriously one of the best little places I've been. Dirt cheap, the staff is great and the tacos are phenomenal. Just order 3 from the get go. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The girlfriend and I wanted Mexican food, and even though I know of three or four great local places around, we felt like trying somewhere new. Plus, she wanted ground beef and there aren't a lot of traditional spots that do that. We called and placed an order, the woman on the phones (and working the front counter when we got there) was super helpful, repeated the order back to me and got it all correct. Asked if I wanted any salsa, I said mild (green) and medium (red). Quoted me twenty minutes, we got there after 15, ended up waiting ten. No big deal, seats at the former-diner counter were pretty comfortable, and it meant the food would be fresh and warm. Right? Not really. We got home and I was pretty unimpressed with the two burritos we ordered. Hers, the "especial" was tiny, and the accompanying rice was old, cold, and hard. My own burrito, a steak burrito with extra beans instead of rice, was poorly rolled and really unevenly filled, and the pieces of steak in there weren't particularly great on their own. Salsas were a mixed bag too, because the "medium' had to have been some kind of mistake, it was literally the hottest sauce I've ever had. as in I later tried to dilute it and mix it in to a whole container of genuinely mild salsa and it basically destroyed the entire thing. One drop of that "medium" salsa can spark an ulcer. Mild was delicious though! The food, in general, was just decent. It definitely wasn't BAD, but we literally passed on multiple GREAT places because I'd heard so much about San Marcos. Sometimes it's best to stick with what you know. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Burrito "especiale" basically an inside out burrito, with rice on the side. - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Good stuff...off the beaten path, small place, good service by nice people, tasty food...

cute diner with good service and food. i got a pollo asado torta which had lots of fresh vegetables and good chicken. good prices and vegetarian and vegan options too. read more

Taqueria San Marcos - Pollo Asado Torta - Mexican Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio